>>1929463
>Have Keith rejoin us
>Have the girls take care of Long John

>>1929486
>>Have Keith rejoin us
>>Have the girls take care of Long John

Nodding and listening to your request, he leaves the weaker pirate to the girls, who slowly begin to tear him apart, Ruth starting by putting Silver to sleep before the other two attack him.
The Monster remains with you four.
"Fine! I'll fight you all myself!"
His hand is crackling with electricity.

>>Command? (Roll 2d10 and add modifier, * options do not take up a turn)
>Proficiency/Knowledge/Charm/Courage: (+3/+3/+3/+3) + Blackbeard (+2/+0/-1/+3) + Armor (+1/0/0/0) + Weapon(0/0/0/+1) = (+6/+3/+2/+7) +1
>Focus more fire on the Monster (Proficiency +7)
>Try to coordinate the girls' arrival (Knowledge +4)
>Try to negotiate with the servant Curse (Charm +3)
>Force the attack Jonah is charging up back on him (Courage +8)
>*Change Myth <Write-In>
>*Ask Mr. Bennett if there's anything he can say about them
>*Order (Tell another person to do something specific (+2 condition bonus): Current party- Keith, David, Kenneth)
>Flee (Sealed)
><Write-In>

>>1929486
support

Rolled 4, 8 + 8 = 20 (2d10 + 8)

>>1929596
Whoops, ninja'd

>>1929590
>Force the attack Jonah is charging up back on him (Courage +8)

Rolled 3, 10 + 7 = 20 (2d10 + 7)

>>1929590
>Focus fire

>>1929604
>>1929611
OOC: Sorry, I got interrupted.

>Force the attack Jonah is charging up back on him (Courage +8) (4, 8) + 8 = 20 (SUCCESS)
Waiting for him to strike, you brace yourself for impact, and the Monster lunges towards you, shoving you towards the ground. You are bale to brace yourself well enough that you only fall to a knee instead of and sends a shot of lightning jolting through Blackbeard. Thankfully, Blackbeard lacks Faust's vulnerability to electricity, so you're slowly able to reverse the pressure he's putting on you until Kenneth's General socks the Monster a new one with a nuclear-powered fist.

Getting back to your feet, you realize you endured the worst of it. David uses his powers to lower Jonah's defenses as Keith follows up where Martinez left off. Jonah is now flickering in several places, the boiling red and black beneath surfacing in places like lava seeping through a static-filled television.

"Pitiable fools..." Jonah stands up again, hurt more badly than you are. The girls are slowly taking apart the last of Long John Silver, and will soon defeat him.

>>Command? (Roll 2d10 and add modifier, * options do not take up a turn)
>Proficiency/Knowledge/Charm/Courage: (+3/+3/+3/+3) + Blackbeard (+2/+0/-1/+3) + Armor (+1/0/0/0) + Weapon(0/0/0/+1) = (+6/+3/+2/+7) +1
>All four of you attack at once (Proficiency +7)
>Look for a way to sink the damaged ship faster(Knowledge +4)
>Distract him by getting him to talk (Charm +3)
>Just pummel him (Courage +8)
>*Change Myth <Write-In>
>*Ask Mr. Bennett if there's anything he can say about them
>*Order (Tell another person to do something specific (+2 condition bonus): Current party- Keith, David, Kenneth)
>Flee (Sealed)
><Write-In>

Rolled 2, 10 + 7 = 19 (2d10 + 7)

>>1929780
>>All four of you attack at once (Proficiency +7)

Rolled 1, 9 + 7 = 17 (2d10 + 7)

>>1929780
>All four of you attack at once (Proficiency +7)
ALL OUT ATTACK

Rolled 4, 6 + 7 = 17 (2d10 + 7)

>>1929780
>All four of you attack at once (Proficiency +7)

Rolled 5, 3 + 7 = 15 (2d10 + 7)

>>1929780
>>All four of you attack at once (Proficiency +7)

>>1929787
>>1929796
>>1930047
>>1930063
>All four of you attack at once (Proficiency +7)

You call on the other three to wait until your signal to fire, and David agrees out loud. "Okay, Boss!" The other two are silent but steady as Jonah lines up another attack.
Right before Jonah summons a set of lightning bolts, and a hint before you're ready, Kenneth fires off his General's nuclear blast, causing the other two to instinctively react as well. You're caught with a glancing bolt of shock as you move slightly after the other guys, but it's more of a success than a failure, as Jonah is knocked to the rails by a mixture of elemental power, giving you the opportunity to line up a good shot from Blackbeard and knock him through the railing and over the side into the water below.

You don't have time to celebrate, because a hunch tells you that wasn't the end of the Monster. The whole cruise ship begins to tilt and roll with a sudden change of tide, and the clouds turn dark overhead. While the girls are finishing up destroying Long John Silver, one shockwave tosses Sofia into you and causes her to fall onto you, knocking you on your back as she tumbles over you and stops on the other side of where she started. Your head aches when it's slammed against the deck by your collision, and you quickly try to brace yourself as rain falls.

"What's going on?" Donna whines as she stands up from a pile of chairs she was tossed into. "Didn't we beat him?"

"Maybe not..." Keith groans and rolls his neck. Two huge, shadowy hands cling to the side of the cruise ship as the storm gets worse and the wind whips up. Lightning flashes and strikes the deck nearby.

"All hands on deck," Bennett tells you over the crash of the waves. "He seems to have stuck around."

"Insolents! I'll drown you all!" the huge, less detailed Jonah adds, a behemoth instead of a human-sized creature.

>>Command? (Roll 2d10 and add modifier, * options do not take up a turn)
>Proficiency/Knowledge/Charm/Courage: (+3/+3/+3/+3) + Blackbeard (+2/+0/-1/+3) + Armor (+1/0/0/0) + Weapon(0/0/0/+1) = (+6/+3/+2/+7) +1
>Blind the giant- aim for his eyes (Proficiency +7)
>Search for a weak point on the huge fellow (Knowledge +4)
>Inspire the others (Charm +3)
>Secure everyone to the deck (Courage +8)
>*Change Myth <Write-In>
>*Ask Mr. Bennett if there's anything he can say about them
>*Order (Tell another person to do something specific (+2 condition bonus): Current party- Keith, David, Kenneth)
>Flee (Sealed)
><Write-In>

OOC: Sorry for slow update rate tonight, a lot of stuff has been happening on my end.

>>1930165
>>Search for a weak point on the huge fellow (Knowledge +4)
>*Ask Mr. Bennett if there's anything he can say about them

Rolled 2, 5 = 7 (2d10)

>>1930165
>Crazy idea but how bout we throw him off this ship?

Rolled 4, 2 + 4 = 10 (2d10 + 4)

>>1930169
>>1930165
Sorry, forgot dice.

>>1930170
>>1930208
>>1930170
>>1930169
>*Ask Mr. Bennett if there's anything he can say about them
"Well, he took your cannon fire personally, so I'd keep up with fire-element attacks, and based on the fact that he's grappling the deck at this point, he's going to try to use it to knock you all off your feet and keep you unable to fight back."
>Crazy idea but how bout we throw him off this ship? (2, 5) + 4 = 11 (FAILURE)
You try to think of some way to do it, but you don't feel like you're in control here. The hands gripping the ship now look less like fingers and more like tentacles- a kraken-like creature in semihuman form seems to be controlling the storm. Before your group can get used to the rolling and shaking of the ship's deck, the Monster makes it worse by trying to tip over the ship altogether with you on board. There are a few yelps from your group, and Ruth outright screams as she slips to the side of the deck, grabs the railing, and clings on for dear life.

Sofia is looking for some way to get to Ruth, but is slipping up herself and remains holding tightly onto a statue secured to the floor. You curse your luck and decide you need to prioritize. Donna is safe, and trying to reach out to Keith to move him to a securer spot. Kenneth is holding onto David's hand and David is gripping a secure piece of ship structure. Keith is awake but looking seasick and of the ship moves the other way he'll slide into danger. Florez is in the most active danger, and is clinging to one of the rails with all the strength she can muster.

Your party is in various states of knockdown as the seawater soaks your pants and rain pours down.

>>Command? (Roll 2d10 and add modifier, * options do not take up a turn)
>Proficiency/Knowledge/Charm/Courage: (+3/+3/+3/+3) + Blackbeard (+2/+0/-1/+3) + Armor (+1/0/0/0) + Weapon(0/0/0/+1) = (+6/+3/+2/+7) +1
>Go for the eyes as suggested before (Proficiency +7)
>Get the Monster's grip off the ship (Knowledge +4)
>Distract the Monster so the others can get to safety (Charm +3)
>Rescue Ruth (Courage +8)
>*Change Myth <Write-In>
>*Ask Mr. Bennett if there's anything he can say about them
>*Order (Tell another person to do something specific (+2 condition bonus): Current party- Keith, David, Kenneth)
>Flee (Sealed)
><Write-In>

Rolled 6, 7 + 8 = 21 (2d10 + 8)

>>1930237
>Rescue Ruth (Courage +8)

Rolled 5, 5 + 8 = 18 (2d10 + 8)

>>1930243
Support

Rolled 4, 6 + 8 = 18 (2d10 + 8)

>>1930237
>>1930243
support

>>1930243
>>1930272
>>1930280
>Rescue Ruth (6, 7) + 8 = 21 (SUCCESS)
She's about to fall off the ship, so there's really only one answer in your mind. You have to get her out of there and closer to the center of the deck.Letting go of the deck yourself for a short bit, you let momentum take you close to the edge, then use Blackbeard to slow your movement and grab Ruth by the waist, pulling her to Sofia's location by stabbing Blackbeard's sword into the deck and pulling yourself closer to Carrollo with it. Once she is close enough that Christine can secure her safety, you brace yourself for a wave of water rushing over you and barely stay secure yourself. If you had been less focused, you could have gone over the side yourself.

"You know, I'm getting really sick of this guy," Allan grumbles as he and Donna crouch in what used to be a hot tub to protect from being washed away. "Let's bring the fight to him!" his Gascon Myth holds out a hand to create an ice barrier to split the flow, but it's quickly being dissolved by the constant waves. It's a brief bit of respite, though so you cough up some seawater that got caught in your mouth and think.

>>Command? (Roll 2d10 and add modifier, * options do not take up a turn)
>Proficiency/Knowledge/Charm/Courage: (+3/+3/+3/+3) + Blackbeard (+2/+0/-1/+3) + Armor (+1/0/0/0) + Weapon(0/0/0/+1) = (+6/+3/+2/+7)
>Make sure that thing doesn't tip the cruise ship again (Proficiency +6)
>Divert the water flow another way (Knowledge +3)
>Rally everyone in a single location so you can talk in relative safety (Charm +2)
>Cannon fire (Courage +7)
>*Change Myth <Write-In>
>*Ask Mr. Bennett if there's anything else he can say about the Monster
>*Order (Tell another person to do something specific (+2 condition bonus): Current main party- Keith, David, Kenneth)
>Flee (Sealed)
><Write-In>

Rolled 9, 7 + 3 = 19 (2d10 + 3)

>>1930310
>>Divert the water flow another way (Knowledge +3)

>>1930462
It's getting a bit too late for the next post, so I'll save this until tomorrow.

>>1930465
That's fine.

>>1930462
>>>Divert the water flow another way (9, 7) + 3 = 19 (SUCCESS)
Using your honed critical thinking skills, you determine that one of the ways the water can go that doesn't immediately hurt you is down, and accordingly point Blackbeard's cannons towards the deck. The resulting explosion provokes a screech from Jonah and a very nice drain for the excess that's been pooling on deck so far.

Jonah twists the cruise ship again, throwing you and everyone else to the ground, but you're not much worse off than soaked, prone, and bruised. Crawling to your feet, you try to get your brain back in gear so you can finish off the Monster before the ship sinks. Loud mechanical groaning can be heard multiple decks down through the hole you made, so hurrying would be a good idea. If only the damn thing weren't so persistent.

"I can't stand you people! Always involving me in the most petty disputes! I have more important things to do, you know? And when I do try to exercise my authority, nobody listens! What's the point of being in a position of power if you can't do important things with it instead of just giving the crowd whatever they happen to want today? SHUT UP AND LET ME USE THE POWER YOU GAVE ME!"

You really don't care at this point, you just want him to quit yammering and go away so Hall can pull himself together. The huge hand reaches towards you to crush you in its grip.

>>Command? (Roll 2d10 and add modifier, * options do not take up a turn)
>Proficiency/Knowledge/Charm/Courage: (+3/+3/+3/+3) + Blackbeard (+2/+0/-1/+3) + Armor (+1/0/0/0) + Weapon(0/0/0/+1) = (+6/+3/+2/+7)
>Dodge and weave away from Jonah (Proficiency +6)
>Get Jonah to hurt himself accidentally using the environment (Knowledge +3)
>Rally everyone in a safer spot (Charm +2)
>Aw screw it, just hit him with as much firepower as you can muster (Courage +7)
>*Change Myth <Write-In>
>*Ask Mr. Bennett if there's anything he can say about them
>*Order (Tell another person to do something specific (+2 condition bonus): Current party- Keith, David, Kenneth)
>Flee (Sealed)
><Write-In>

Bonus Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRja4HUsRu0

Rolled 8, 7 + 7 = 22 (2d10 + 7)

>>1931688
>Aw screw it, just hit him with as much firepower as you can muster (Courage +7)
Fuck this guy

Rolled 9, 5 + 6 = 20 (2d10 + 6)

>>1931688
>*Change Myth
>>Red Riding Hood: +1/+0/+3/-1
>Rally everyone in a safer spot (Charm +6)

Rolled 2, 7 + 7 = 16 (2d10 + 7)

>>1931688
>Aw screw it, just hit him with as much firepower as you can muster (Courage +7)

>>1931710

>>1931703
>>1931734
>Aw screw it, just hit him with as much firepower as you can muster (8, 7) + 7 = 22 (SUCCESS)
You point Blackbeard's cannons at the huge hand and fire, tearing through the boneless flesh. When the monster reels back in pain, two more of your allies contribute to the attack in a potent fashion. Sofia and Kenneth channel their Myths besides yours to coordinate your attacks.

(Fusion: Meltdown)

Blue radiation and red flames crackle and boil the exterior of the monster's limbs, starting from a few focused bonfires on the arms to nuclear blasts in its eyes. Even with the rain, the heat is strong enough for everyone present to feel, and gives off brilliant light next to the lightning storm.
Jonah is finally starting to see some serious damage, and screeches accordingly. Letting go of the ship, the monster leaves itself open to a final attack, and crackles and flashes with static, the sounds it creates becoming more and more inhuman.

Bennett indicates to you, "Now's your chance to deal a final blow! Put it down!"

>>Command? (Roll 2d10 and add modifier, * options do not take up a turn)
>Proficiency/Knowledge/Charm/Courage: (+3/+3/+3/+3) + Blackbeard (+2/+0/-1/+3) + Armor (+1/0/0/0) + Weapon(0/0/0/+1) = (+6/+3/+2/+7)
>One good shot between the eyes (Proficiency +6)
>FInd a way to drive the boat into it (Knowledge +3)
>Let others deal with it as you bring everyone back together (Charm +2)
>Pick up a nearby statue and hurl it into the Monster (Courage +7)
>*Change Myth <Write-In>
>*Ask Mr. Bennett if there's anything he can say about them
>*Order (Tell another person to do something specific (+2 condition bonus): Current party- Keith, David, Kenneth)
>Flee (Sealed)
><Write-In>

Rolled 4, 10 = 14 (2d10)

>>1931835
>D E V O U R

Rolled 7, 1 + 6 = 14 (2d10 + 6)

>>1931835
>>One good shot between the eyes (Proficiency +6)

Rolled 1, 2 = 3 (2d10)

>>1931835
>D E V O U R

>>1931889
>>One good shot between the eyes (Proficiency +6)
You decide to put the shot in a slightly less lethal spot so that the Monster does not dissolve right away, and the blast leaves a huge hole in what remains of Jonah's shoulder. After this, your instinct takes over, and you change Myths almost without thinking.
>>1931861
>>1931927
>D E V O U R

Faust reels back and howls, before holding out his claws and gathering in the fading image of Jonah. You feel power flow through you, and your senses thrill at your newfound strength.
(Proficiency: 0/7->6/7 (+1))
(Courage: 6/7->7/7! -> 2/12 (+1 -> +2))
Faust's Courage has increased! Proficiency/Knowledge/Charm/Courage: +1/+2/+1/+2

Thankfully, Jonah vanishes without any more of his blathering, and the sky clears. Unfortunately, the cruise ship is still heavily damaged, and everyone else is slowly recovering.

"Let's get out of here," Keith mutters, brushing his mopped-up hair out of his eyes. The ship groans and tilts, supporting this suggestion.

---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n93nLKmi9M

Thankfully, the way out is faster than the way in, but everyone's too exhausted to talk. Bennett has bought pizza and some towels, making it less than terrible. You recall fantasizing in the past about Sofia being soaked by the rain when you both were working in the bookstore, but right now you're just not feeling it for some reason. Probably because Hall's Monster has been tossing you about for the past half-hour or so.

Something about the most recent battle has been bothering you, and you're not sure why. You feel like there's a connection to be made between Hall's Monster and Kronos, but you can't pin it down.

"Ah, right, I just remembered something," Bennett mentions, breaking your line of thought. "You asked me to make armor for you guys a while back, right? Or was I thinking of something else?"

>>You asked me to make armor for you guys a while back, right?
>Yeah, that's right. Is it finished?
>Well, honestly, we could use sidearms a lot more.
>At this point, I just want cash.
>So we got to him before Kronos did.
>I think I know who our mysterious harasser is... <Write-In Kronos's Identity>
>Man, this pizza is good.
><Write-In>

>>1932071
>Yeah, that's right. Is it finished?

>>1932071
>Yeah, that's right. Is it finished?
>So we got to him before Kronos did.

Bleh, I can't think of who it could be right now.

Let's see, some stuff Kronos mentioned that might be worth remembering:

>"I have come too far to be stopped by meddling brats such as yourselves. You will be spared, but your Myths will become mine."
He wasn't out to wantonly kill us.

>"I have been aware of this world longer than any of you have been alive,"
He's probably middle aged at least?

"Tch. Just like Brown, then. You don't know when to give up."
He was acquainted with the principal and knew about his multi-myth ability.

So, whoever it is they could possibly be one of the people involved with the Dig that Brown was involved in?

>>1932220
And the two names we have associated with that are Charles Clover and Petrus Orosco.

File: Tacticool Vest.jpg (10 KB, 300x300)

10 KB JPG

>>1932123
>Yeah, that's right. Is it finished?
"Yeah. I sent your uniform sizes for the makes. It's not really elaborate, but it'll resist small arms fire and cutting. It also beats fighting in your school uniform." He brings out shipped boxes of relatively thin majority-coverage black body armor, similar to that worn by a military unit or police squadron. Out of the group, David is the most comfortable wearing it, then Kenneth.

(This Body Armor negates incoming piercing and slashing-type attacks if either die result is a 10. It grants +1 Courage in battle.)

>So we got to him before Kronos did.
"Thankfully," Bennett frowns, as if he was hoping that the subject wouldn't come up. Kenneth looks around and sees everyone's reactions to the mention of the enemy. Sofia's fists tighten, Donna's face falls, Keith tenses up, and David grabs his left arm with his right and looks at Walt.

>>1932220
>>1932256
Ruth looks at the ground, and seems to come to the same conclusions you do. "This Kronos... Do you know who he is?" she demands of Bennett. "He obviously knows the Principal. If anyone has the information needed to figure out his identity, it would be you."

The computer teacher's lips purse. "I have an idea. But I can't risk being wrong, and neither can you."

"Then at least tell us who you think it is," Donna suggests, crossing her arms.

Bennett's teeth clench, and he radiates frustration- he's incredibly conflicted about his suspicion. This is the most emotion you've seen out of him since he nearly saw you killed. "I-I can't."

"Can't- or won't?" Ruth accuses him, a bit uncharacteristically aggressive. "I'm sick and tired of you always hiding things from us!"

"That's rich, coming from you," Bennett grumbles, shocking Ruth and silencing her. "Look, if I tell you, you have to promise not to go after him until I'm absolutely sure I'm right."

David looks at you, having so far stayed out of this conversation. He seems very nervous and almost seems to be begging you not to pursue it. The decision, as with most major ones, falls to you.

>>If I tell you, you have to promise not to go after him until I'm absolutely sure I'm right.
>Okay.
>No need for that, I know who he is.
>Never mind, let's drop it.
>What did you mean by "coming from you?"
><Write-In>

>>1932289
>I’d rather come to my own conclusion
>If Bennet tells us now we’d be biased

>>1932289
>Okay.
>What did you mean by "coming from you?"

>>1932289
>>I’d rather come to my own conclusion
>>If Bennet tells us now we’d be biased

>>1932317
>>1932362
>I’d rather come to my own conclusion
>If Bennet tells us now we’d be biased
That seems to calm down Evelake, who is very tense at the direction towards conflict this conversation is taking.
>>1932324
>Okay.
>What did you mean by "coming from you?"
Bennett turns to Ruth as if expecting her to answer, and everyone except Kenneth puts her in the hot seat.

When Florez hesitates, Walt explains his own reasoning. "Besides the fact that we still don't know who this Phantom fellow is, you spoke to the character of Beatrice and Virgil despite allegedly not knowing them at all. Pretty fishy, if you ask me. But that's just speculation. More alarming is the fact that you were able to use your Myth apparently without anyone else showing you how, and the fact that you not only have limited precognition, but you can hide it from me."

He adjusts his sunglasses. "Or, more accurately, whoever is telling you about the future is hiding it from me. You also saw the arrival of Harpe before anyone else- including me. As if you were anticipating her. Pretty strange how the Phantom knew where she was, if you ask me." Bennett asks with a severe glare, "So you tell me, then- who's Kronos? Maybe the Phantom can tell you."

Donna is shocked at this- she seems to have come to the conclusion the Phantom and Kronos are one and the same, and she stares at Ruth with a gaze hoping for an explanation. "H-Hey, he's not right, is he?"

"That's..." Ruth swallows and coughs. "Look, I've just been going with what he's been telling me. I don't know if the Phantom knows who Kronos is or not. They could be completely different people."

>>They could be completely different people.
>It's been a long day, let's call it in.
>I think you should stop listening to him.
>There's no way they're the same person.
>They're definitely the same person.
>Not listening. Need pizza.
>Ruth, can we talk later?
><Write-In>

>>1932401
>It's been a long day, let's call it in.

>>1932324
>There's no way they're the same person.
>Ruth, can we talk later?

By the way, another few relevant details from our interrogation of the businessman last thread:
>>1885580
>"He was wearing a suit, and he had this reflective mask on. His voice was artificially altered. He said the papers I brought him were 'useless' and spoke about how 'They thought they could kill me'. Then he started gloating about his powers. He said he could 'control this world' and 'dealt with the assassin'. I don't know what any of it meant. I guess the conspiracy tried to have him killed?" He shuts up again, and this time you don't think you can get anything else out of him.

This makes me lean towards Charles Clover as Kronos, since he might have been 'killed' but survived the attempt and now he's out for revenge.

>>1932413
>It's been a long day, let's call it in.
You're hungry and tired. There's pizza here. You don't want to argue when you could be stuffing your face before taking a nice hot shower and going to bed.
"Yeah," Keith sighs, before walking away. Donna runs after him, stopping for a second to look at Ruth before continuing.
Martinez is the next to leave, then Carrollo and finally David.
>>1932415
>There's no way they're the same person.
"If you insist," Bennett mutters, waving the idea off. He removes his sunglasses to knead his brow.
>Ruth, can we talk later?
"I don't see why not," she says in a resigned tone. "What did you want to discuss?"

Bennett eventually leaves you two be, and you and Ruth move to some benches outside the school to discuss, after you head to your respective rooms and change. Florez seems guilty about the charges made against her earlier.

"So what did you want to ask about?" she laughs grimly, before staring at the ground. "Look, I really don't know what to do at this point, okay?" It's obvious she feels lost.

>>So what did you want to ask about?
>The Phantom.
>Kronos.
>Virgil and Beatrice.
>Bennett.
>Nothing serious. How are you doing in general?
><Write-In>

>>1932497
>>The Phantom.
>>Kronos.

>>1932497
>The Phantom.
>Kronos.
>Virgil and Beatrice.

>>1932501
>The Phantom.
"I don't know what else to say on him that I haven't already," Ruth adds. "He just seems to know everything and then some. I don't know how he does it. It's really creepy, actually. I feel like I've made a deal with the devil or something."

>Kronos.
"He's definitely not Bennett, at least, or Principal Brown." Ruth shakes her head. "Who would have the means and motives to do all this? What is he looking for? Does he intend to drag Crescent City into the past somehow? I guess that would fit with his 'Kronos'."
You correct her that Chronos and Kronos are different figures in Greek Myth, but she only chuckles and winks at you. "You would know that, wouldn't you?"

>Virgil and Beatrice.
You ask her how she knows them, and she waits for a bit before saying, "Well, I really only know Virgil. Beatrice- she talks to you." Twiddling her fingers, she says, "Do you think... Do you think they're human? I mean, would it be okay to, you know, let them come to school?"

---

Sorry, this is where I drop off for the night. I'll be back hopefully tomorrow or Friday. Hit up the Discord if you have any questions.

>>1932521
And of course tradition dictates I fuck up the last post of the night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2NVD52yv3g

>>1932569
Ruth looks up into the sky and stares at the fading light, kicking her legs and shaking her head. "Urgh. Sometimes I wish we didn't have to get tangled up in this, and others, I'm happy that things are so exciting." Turning to you, she shrugs, "I mean, who else gets to do stuff like this?"

>>Who else gets to do stuff like this?
>I guess it's what you make of it, just like everything else.
>No regrets. That's the way I like to live.
>I wish someone else had to deal with this.
>Yeah, but you're gonna eventually want out, right?
><Write-In>

>>1945682
>Honestly, sometimes I wish we didn't have to deal with this (internally cringe at the fact that your soul is on the line because of this) but hey we're doing some good work and that's enough for me.

>>1945710
add
>You still haven't answered how you knew them

>>1945710
>>Honestly, sometimes I wish we didn't have to deal with this (internally cringe at the fact that your soul is on the line because of this) but hey we're doing some good work and that's enough for me.
Ruth nods. "A good attitude to have." She pulls out her deck of tarot cards and shuffles it absentmindedly.

>>1945838
>You still haven't answered how you knew them
"O-oh, sorry." she apologizes, and twirls her hair with her fingers. "Uh, well, I... I spoke to Virgil back in my home town, when I awakened to Christine. He wanted me to talk to someone. This was before the Phantom got involved." She coughs and restarts her shuffling. "I don't really know them that well, but they're important I guess? Beatrice never spoke to me."

Ruth fumbles one of her card shuffles out of nervousness, causing blue-backed cards to spill out everywhere. "Oh, dammit," she quietly curses, and begins to pick them up. "Say," Florez adds, trying to change the subject, "I heard the school is holding a camping field trip soon for some environmentalism cause. We're supposed to be able to pick our three-person groups, though they have to be unisex. I guess I already know who I'm going with," she laughs. "I suppose you're going with Keith and David?"

>>I suppose you're going with Keith and David?
>Yeah, probably.
>Nah, I'm gonna try to mix things up.
>Come on, it's not like people are gonna be sleeping in each other's tents.
>Roll back that thought a bit. He wanted you to talk to someone? Have you met their boss?
>You awakened to Christine before the Phantom spoke with you? Do you remember anything unusual happening between those two points?
><Write-In>

>>1945938
>Yep
>Roll back that thought a bit. He wanted you to talk to someone? Have you met their boss?

>>1946002
OOC: Sorry, connection has been shitty tonight.

>>Yep
Those two are probably your best allies for a camping trip. David probably doesn't even get exhausted. But then the next thing she says snaps you out of thoughts of s'mores.

>>Roll back that thought a bit. He wanted you to talk to someone? Have you met their boss?
She picks up one of the last cards before responding. "Yes, why?" Florez turns back to you. "He seemed to want to help me. I'll admit, he seemed to be a strange old man, but he didn't really want anything from me besides me stating that I would take responsibility for my own decisions." She shrugged her shoulders. "Nothing that serious, it seemed. He gives advice from time to time, but not enough to be really useful."

So a far cry from your own 'sponsor', it seemed. It was good to know that at least she wasn't in the same trouble you were, even if the Phantom was still unknown.

"Anything else you wanted to talk about?" Ruth puts her deck back together, then considers the order of the cards. "Hm. I suppose I could give you a reading." She concentrates before flipping over the first three cards. "Past: The Star, upright? Ah, it seems like we've gotten past a major checkpoint or threat. Present: Hermit, Reversed. Someone's isolation has lead to them making mistakes. Future: The Sun, reversed?" She frowns. "I guess it's not going to get any easier, then."

(Your bond with the Creator has reached Rank 3!)
(Ruth can now provide readings upon request, and with more specific application- Such as to do with a particular subject.)

She stands up. "Well, unless you have anything else you wanted to bring up, I'm getting a bit tired."

>>Conversation
>Nah, I'm getting tired myself.
>See you later, I want to talk to someone else before it gets too late.
>Actually, do you think we could meet more regularly?
>Do you think the play preparations are going well so far?
>I need to tell you more about how I got my powers...
>There's some stuff about Olympia you all need to know.
>I want to tell you who I think Kronos/the Phantom is and why.
><Write-In>

>>1946308
>Nah, I'm getting tired myself.

>>1946313
>>Nah, I'm getting tired myself.

"Alright, take care of yourself," Ruth waves goodbye with a smile.

---
You have a dream about Sofia and Beatrice fighting over your affections. It ends with both of them immolating you for simply standing by instead of picking a side.
---

LATE MORNING Saturday September 22st (Weather: Sunny. Forecast for tomorrow: Cloudy.)

You wake up tot he sound of your cell phone buzzing relentlessly. Groggy, you check the messages.

>DONNA: Brd brd brd brd.
>DONNA: Ltz do smthn k?

You wonder what qualifies as excitement to her given what happened just last night.

>KEITH: Going to the Toreadors game tomorrow.
>KEITH: If you're going you need to buy tickets today.

>SOFIA: Something happened.
>SOFIA: If you'd meet me at Black Cover Bookstore today, that would be ideal.
>SOFIA: Please respond to confirm.

Boy, you hope it was nothing serious.

>DAVID: This morning my pet goldfish Chum breathed(?) his last.
>DAVID: He was a gift from Bennett's parents.
>DAVID: I'm getting a new one from the pet store once I bury him if you want to go.

Rest in peace, Chum.

>???: I, Beatrice, have acquired this number.
>???: If this is Solomon Read, please respond.

You wonder whether it would be worse not to respond.

>>Morning Business
>Call someone/Reply to a text
>Do some studying for later exams
>Buy something from a school store
>Buy a snack/drink from one of the vending machines
>Check Anonymouse
>Great time to brush up on Starcraft
>Just rest and relax
>Think a bit more
><Write-In>

>>1946553
>To Donna
>Busy today maybe next time
>To Keith
>Thanks for the heads up I’ll think about it
>To Sofia
>I’m going
>Mind filling me in
>To David
>RIP Chum. I don’t think I’ll make it but thanks for the offer
>To ???
>How’d you get this number and who’s the idiot that gave you a phone

>>1946589
>>To Donna
>>Busy today maybe next time

>DONNA: Ya w/e I gues

>>To Keith
>>Thanks for the heads up I’ll think about it

>KEITH: Cool.

>>To David
>>RIP Chum. I don’t think I’ll make it but thanks for the offer

>DAVID: Okay, thanks anyways.

>>To ???
>>How’d you get this number and who’s the idiot that gave you a phone

>???: That's no way to address a lady.
>???: Besides, the method of acquisition is trivial.
>???: The important part is now we can communicate at distance!

>>To Sofia
>>I’m going
>>Mind filling me in
Your blood runs cold when you see Sofia's reply.
>SOFIA: Miss Patricia had a stroke.
>SOFIA: As far as I know, she survived, but I don't know which hospital room she's in.
>SOFIA: Please advise.

You hurry to Black Cover as soon as you can. There are a pair of police officers outside the building, and Sofia sits nearby. They look grim, and whisper between each other.
Sofia looks crestfallen, and has wrapped her arms around her legs as she stares into her lap.

"Are you another one of the employees?" One of the officers asks with a bit of hesitance. "I'm afraid we have some bad news."

>>Are you another one of the employees?
>Yeah, I came here as soon as I heard.
>What exactly happened?
>Miss Patricia is okay, right? Or at least alive?
>Can we get a room number for the hospital? Sofia is a close acquaintance of hers.
>Wait, what's going to happen to the bookstore?
>It didn't get worse, did it?
><Write-In>

>>1946734
>Yeah, I came here as soon as I heard.
>What exactly happened?

>>1946756
>Yeah, I came here as soon as I heard.
>What exactly happened?
"Well, your fellow employee Miss Carollo entered this morning and reported that she found Miss Patricia unconscious on the floor. She had suffered a stroke early this morning Thankfully, the timing was early enough that it's not too likely to be fatal." The officer is trying not to get your hopes up too much. "As far as we know, it's an ischemic stroke, so treatment should be able to restore bloodflow- but I'm not sure you'll be able to speak to her until later."

The next half-hour seems to blur into itself. The policeman and his partner begin to ask you general procedural questions, and after some discussion with them, you sit down with Sofia, who still remains silent. It seems impossible that this could happen, but a lot of impossible things have happened lately.

"Why? Why does this sort of thing keep happening?" whispers Sofia sorrowfully. "I-I just want a normal life. Is that so much to ask?" She begins to cry quietly, putting her face in her right hand. "Oh God, it's going to be Uncle or Father next, isn't it? I just keep losing everyone." Streaks of makeup work their way down her face as she begins to cry more loudly. You're not sure how to comfort her.

>>Is that so much to ask?
>(Remain silent)
>We can only hope and pray everything turns out alright.
>Can I do anything to help?
>(Look for something to give her)
>(Hug her)
><Write-In>

>>1946939
>Hug her
>Let her cry it out

>>1946973
>Hug her
When you put your arm around her, she nearly throws it off and punches you in the cheek. "You fucking cad! How dare you!" However, when she looks at you, she immediately takes it back and hugs you instead, crying into your chest. "I'm sorry... I just can't deal with this..."

>Let her cry it out
She cries for a long time, almost painfully so given she's leaking tears onto your shirt and marking it with makeup. Also, she's leaning on you and the part she puts pressure on nearly goes numb. But you tough it out. This is more important than temporary discomfort. Once she catches her breath, she wipes her face off with her sleeve and then looks at you with bloodshot eyes.

"Sorry for punching you," Carollo mutters, brushing herself off and standing up. "It was instinct. T-Thanks." She clears her throat and tries to regain her composition. "I guess this is what you meant by leaning on others for support? I seem to be doing that a lot." She tries to laugh, but it sounds forced. "I just.. I just hope she turns out alright. I still need to find out where she is- at least the hospital, so I can visit her later."

Sofia looks at the bookstore. "I don't know if she'll be able to keep operating if she's recovering from a stroke. I know that's not the best thing to talk about right now, but... I think this place is part of her life too. I'd hate to see it taken away."

>>I think this place is part of her life too
>Does she have any relatives that could take care of her and the shop?
>Maybe we can keep operating it until everything is worked out.
>I don't know. As much as I hate to say it, this shop was on its last legs.
>Jesus, you really have an arm.
><Write-In>

>>1947119
>Maybe we can keep operating it until everything is worked out.
>Place has kinda grown on me too

>>1947130
>Maybe we can keep operating it until everything is worked out.
"I hope so," grumbles Sofia. "I don't think that they'd allow high school students to be in control of business finances, especially if it belongs to someone else."
>Place has kinda grown on me too
"You don't know it like I do, but you're still so connected to it," Sofia comments. "Man, you've really taken to this city like a duck to water, haven't you?" A sense of admiration enters her voice.

Even though the tone of the day has been darkened considerably, Sofia seems to have regained some of her focus, and she prepares to walk to the hospital. You share a conversation as you head to see if there's any way you can follow up on Miss Patricia's condition.

---

That'll be it for the thread, then.