>>2875199
>"I'll stick around to make sure you don't try to get them doing things they shouldn't." Also so you can be there to lead them off when they get bored.

>>2875199
>> “Don’t hurt them. I’ll be back.” You need some you time, anyway.

>>2875199
>> “Keep it brief.” You’re staying right here with them in that case.
Let's not give them the chance to break our shiny new toys before we have a chance to use them.

Welcome back!

>>2875199
>> “Keep it brief.” You’re staying right here with them in that case.

45 minutes seems good enough. Writing!

>>2875199
>>2875225
>>2875231
>>2875250
>>2875317
You look at the kids, who sure enough, seem fairly interested. “Alright, but keep it brief,” you decide. You don’t need to interfere, but just in case she starting getting too much, it’s probably worth hanging around for now.

To Owlia’s credit, she keeps it down to a squeal, and quickly gathers the kids around her.

And what follows is about a solid hour of just her explaining various parts of planes and how they work...couched in Owlia speak, though. A lot of theorizing about what ELSE the parts could do. Although...you have to admit. She’s a lot more, well. Calm than you expected. She’s got an air of an excited teacher, but the manic energy she seems to usually effuse is...not gone, maybe, but muted. Focused.

“So now, here’s what happens if there’s a breach in the fuselage…uh...wait, anyone got a match?” Well, at least until that.

-----------

You barely have time to let her finish explaining to you that no, she wasn’t going to actually blow it up, before you get a call. Checking, it’s from the Care House. “Hello?”

“Hello! Miranda Styles, right? We’re calling to request your kids be brought back; they’ve reached the end of their first period of stay with you.” Huh. Really?

“I thought it’d be longer,” you admit. “I’ll bring them by as soon as possible.”

“By the end of the cycle is fine,” the voice assures. “Thank you for your cooperation!” And the line goes dead. So...basically by the end of the day, huh?

>Just head back with them. Might as well get it over with and give them and you time to process things.
>Well, maybe you can keep them around until the day’s out. They’re not so bad.
>Other

>>2875455
>>Well, maybe you can keep them around until the day’s out. They’re not so bad.

>>2875455
>Well, maybe you can keep them around until the day’s out. They’re not so bad.

>>2875455
>>Well, maybe you can keep them around until the day’s out. They’re not so bad.

>>2875455
Ask if they wanna hang out a bit longer. This is down time for us too.. enjoy it

>>2875455
>>Just head back with them. Might as well get it over with and give them and you time to process things.

>>2875455
>>Well, maybe you can keep them around until the day’s out. They’re not so bad.
Order some chinese or a couple of pizzas for the kids and Owlia.

>>2875508
This

>>2875455
>>Well, maybe you can keep them around until the day’s out. They’re not so bad.
So we got them beds for nothing? I hope we leased them or something

Pizza party with the kids, sure!

>>2875568
They'll be back, don't worry.

>>2875586
yay

>>2875455
>>2875462
>>2875479
>>2875491
>>2875507
>>2875495
>>2875508
>>2875568

Mmmm...well, if you’re only gonna have them for a bit longer, then maybe you can send them off with something nice. “Okay, kids, gather round.” They do so, and you take a breath. “Turns out the Care House wants you back by end of the cycle.”

“Awww, that rips,” Noran admits, and the other two seem to agree, nodding sadly.

“I’ll be seeing you all soon enough, I think, so don’t worry. That aside... I think you kids were alright, and you might have potential. So I’m going to do something I don’t normally do.” With that, you look towards Owlia, who’s looking back in curiosity. “You up for pizza tonight?”

The cheers that go up nearly deafen you.

About an hour or so later, the lot of you are in Owlia and Cylica’s apartment, having decided that her two bedroom was bigger and had more room than your own. Owlia had called her significant other to check, and while it took some wheedling, the imperious girl had allowed it provided no one went into the bedroom or spilled anything.

It’s no rowdy get together, no, but the kids are more energetic than you expected, thanks to Owlia revealing her ‘secret stash’ of chocolate and junk food, and you and Owlia have to field a number of further questions from them...mostly innocent stuff, though. ‘Have you ever punched down a building?’ ‘Have you ever had a cool rain fight?’ Stuff like that.

It’s not too bad, and really, it’s probably just the allure of junk food that does it, but you find their tongues loosened significantly, the buzz of junk food abounding in them. In fact, if you were feeling curious, you could probably approach and ask one of them about anything you wanted…

>Approach Noran.
>Approach Harp.
>Approach Tami.
>Nah, no need.

>>2875747
>>Approach Noran.

>>2875747
>Approach Tami.

>>2875747
>Approach Harp
Why does she want to be an outgoer? The other two seem like they were cut out for this but she seems too timid. Even couriers have a chance of getting into a scrap, so curious what she's thinking。

>>2875747
>>2875782
This.

I'll give it 5 more minutes.

>>2875747
>>2875782
+1

Locking. Scaredysnek it is. Writing.

>>2875813
So on a scale of 1 to Nazi, how unethical would it be to practice harmonizing mana with the kids and Izumi, both so that we can learn more about it for researching harmonized mana blasts, as well teaching the kids the "basics" of mana manipulation and maybe healing? I think that's how Izumi heals others right?

Alternatively, get her to teach them how to project their mana in an aura, so that Thunder Dome is easier for us to learn.

Also I would like to add "Mana Shock" to the list, which would be a ranged taser attack like a stripped down Chain Lightning and just be the

> Ionizing a pathway with a low-power mana beam then sending our electric / burning aura down it

Part.

>>2875904

Very unethical because the kids aren't ours and we are putting them into risk by basically being our guinea pigs.

>>2875904
Clever. Can't see the harm in it myself.

>>2875904
We just told Owlia not to use children as test subjects in the last thread.

>>2875913
>>2875920

Ah. Might be thinking of it differently. I took it to basically imply a sort of training for them that you'd use in other ways later, not as actual test subjects perse. Yeah, that isn't friendly.

>>2875747
>>2875760
>>2875767
>>2875782
>>2875793
>>2875811
All things considered, there’s one of them that you find yourself the most curious about. Harpsicorie. Tami and Noran, they seem to have something closer to the personalities you’d expect for people wanting to become Outgoers. Harp, though? She’s...well, she’s scared. Of a lot of things. Not talkative at all, very prone to hanging in the background of things.

You have to admit, it’s a thought that’s been running through your head for some time now, and when you get close to her, you can see her smile from her enjoyment of the food (and Tami’s impromptu puppet performance theater) waver when she realizes you’re coming over. “Oh, h-hi! Thankssss for all og thissss! I-I appreciate it...”

“It’s fine,” you wave off. “You all deserved it, I felt. Especially considering you all were willing to come into this with pretty much no experience and take what was essentially a field test on your first day. Although, speaking of that...” and here you fix her with a look. “I was wondering about you in particular.”

Tami, eyes flitting between you two, seems to read the mood, clapping Harp on the shoulder (causing her to flinch) and making for the kitchen where the rest of the pizza was.

The smile shrinks further. “Uhh...I’m ssssssorry if I didn’t…”

“No, no, you’re fine,” you quickly wave off. “I was just curious...why would you want to become an Outgoer? You don’t seem like the type to enjoy conflict, but even Couriers get into fights and need to defend themselves. So...why go for something where that’s almost guaranteed?”

“O-oh...yeah, I-I guessssss that would be confussssing…but I...I don’t…” Pausing, she takes a deep breath. My mother. I guesss...it wasssss b-because I failed her. I-I want to not...I...” A small hitch in her voice sounds, and you’re not sure whether you should urge her on or not. It sounds like she might need some emotional release, but maybe...

>Let her continue at her own pace. She really should get this out amongst friends.
>No, just apologize for bringing it up. This isn’t supposed to be some sad time social.
>Keep quiet, maybe drag her into the bathroom or something to keep it personal.
>Other

>>2875913
Actually, now that >>2875904 mentioned magic harmonization, what's the magic situation with people who end up in the Intersection? Can anyone learn how to use magic here, regardless of what the mana level of their homeplane was, or is it only certain people? Is it like a muscle in that if people use spells more often, they can gather a bigger mana pool? And what's the current mana pool situation with our students?

>>2875937
I mean like, training them to pass mana balls to each other so that they could feel the difference in Mana Wavelengths. Maybe trying to keep the mana balls the same.

Or practicing extending their auras like how Izumi does.

Then we would add the combat stuff to the basics later.

>>2875937
That was the gist of

>>2875941
>Keep quiet, maybe drag her into the bathroom or something to keep it personal.

>>2875941
>Let her continue at her own pace. She really should get this out amongst friends.

>>2875941
>>Let her continue at her own pace. She really should get this out amongst friends.

>>2875942
I think handler explained that wayyyy back. There are some people that can use magic and some that can't and need to rely on trinkets and external mana tanks.

>Is it like a muscle in that if people use spells more often, they can gather a bigger mana pool?
I'm pretty sure it already happened to us and lorelei when we were on the sky islands mission.
>And what's the current mana pool situation with our students?
I'm guessing that is very small because they are kids. Maybe harp's is bigger because she is overall bigger, but nothing extraordinary.

>>2875955
Oh,well, that doesn't seem bad. maybe when they return we could try it.

So Handler confirmed that there were S ranks right?
And I've been wondering for a while why Handler said that no one has reached the rank yet.
Then I realized he just said that no one has reached the rank yet, not that there has been no one in S.
Then there are the jobs, B can accept Continental wide missions, while A can accept World wide, what can S rank accept? Galactical? Universal?
No, most likely much larger, Dimensional wide most likely.
Then there's their power levels, as a B-rank, Miranda is capable of destroying a city/island with Nebula Buster, also having the potential to be an A-rank.
How powerful could S-ranks possibly be? Mass teleportation, perfect and unmovable shapeshifting, dimension hopping, capability to destroy a continent or greater?
Long story short, S ranks are the Deal Makers
Which makes me think who the higher high up is, then I remember Lamia Child Quest
Intersection is the final boss, the expansion is used to eat all of the dimension and integrate them to the Intersection

>>2875941
>>Let her continue at her own pace. She really should get this out amongst friends.
>After she's finished, tell her a little about the people we lost before we came here.
>"Y'know, it's always hard to talk about people you've lost. And the hurt never really goes away entirely. But the fact that it hurts means it shows how much they meant to you."

>>2875973
It kinda makes sense, but the intersection is just the size of a city and eating other dimensions is bad business.

>>2875942
What >>2875964

Put simply, if you have it, you have it, if you don't, you don't. There are devices magical and magitechnical that can allow normal people to wield magic in a form, but it's not something everyone just gets. In fact, due to the Intersection's natural magic dampening nature, it's harder to utilize magic here than in other planes of existence. But, to use your analogy a bit, it can be kind of like training in weighted clothes and whatnot, depending on your natural reserves. Overall, though, yes, you can train and build up a bigger magic pool, provided you have one in the first place. Just being in the Intersection shrinks your capacity severely unless you're in one of their shielded areas.

Miranda still isn't back at the peak of her original power because of this issue.

>>2875941
>Keep quiet, maybe drag her into the bathroom or something to keep it personal.

>>2875994
You left a name on.

Let it out, as they say.

Been doing a lot of listening lately.

Writing.

>>2875973
>Lamia Child Quest
There's a name I haven't heard in a long time. That was what hooked me on quests. Glad to see it isn't entirely forgotten.

>>2875990
>bad for business
Which kind of got me thinking, why bother with a long-term plan really? Why not just get all of these money by simply stealing them? Why go the hard why?
Plus, I don't think the Intersection would just simply be used as a business platform and just continue growing, it HAS to be used for something.

>>2876091
I'm guessing it relate to how money and anything of value gets converted into motes. But in reality it just boils down into "Fuck you, that's why" territory.

>>2875941
>>2875959
>>2875960
>>2875964
>>2875986
>>2875994
Agh, no. If she doesn’t let it out now, she’s probably going to think she was doing something wrong. It’s not, though, really. Slightly annoying, but not at all wrong. So you stay silence, and let her work up the courage to talk, herself.

It takes several minutes, but she finally whispers something you can tell. “It’s my fault. I didn’t...I didn’t listen...I couldn’t fight. So she...saved me. But everyone else...”

Huh...sounds serious. But what she said… “Couldn’t fight? You were supposed to?”

She nods, timidly. “I...was ssssupposed to sssstop some bad people...but I was too ssscared. I...I don’t want to be ssscared anymore, but...it’ssss really really hard…”

“Makes sense,” you say before you can stop yourself. Even YOU get how tactless that was, however, and you quickly kneel down to her sunken position, looking her in the eyes. “And by that, I mean that, well, don’t worry about it. Most Outgoers who’ve showed up here came here because something made them. But, honestly? Everyone who did has something in common.”

“W-what’s that?” she asks, eyes not meeting yours.

“They’re stronger than they look at first. And you haven’t shown anything to suggest anything different.”

She just looks at you with wide eyes, and for the rest of the day, until when you drop them off amidst thank yous and hugs, she’s completely silent. Before you can turn away to leave, she races forward, enveloping you in a hug for all of a second before she slithers off back down the hallways.

Honestly...it might actually be interesting to train them. See how they turn out.

But with them gone for now...back to work.

>Will continue tomorrow.

Gotta say, it's good to be back, mostly. Got some ideas for how to progress things, so yeah.

>>2876371
Good night boss, thanks for the run!

>>2876368
Aww.

Also, we've got to get a vehicle that can hold four people without it being a major safety hazard. Unless we dropped them off in the chopper, which would be pretty cool.

>>2876371
Night boss! Glad to see you back.

>>2876371
Thanks for running. Good to have you back.

I wonder if we can combine the Gravity Flamberge and that axe, maybe make it like the Charge Axe from Monster Hunter.

>>2876398
Our flying scooter can accommodate as many people as necessary, barring Intersection road (air?) laws

>>2876502
Could also tape our launcher to it and make a Rocketaxe. Owlia would have fun with this...

>>2876502
>>2876561
Those two concepts sound very stupid, but should look REALLY cool.

>>2876571
> https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cMqX6mnPZfQ

Miranda LOVES cool but impractical things! It's what she's all about!

Wait . . .

>>2876597
that looks equal parts cool and impractical

>>2876927
I also stand by transforming weapons being terrible unless it's magical transformation.

Even then, you now have to git gud with two different weapons. Izumi would be all over that, but Miranda has always seemed more of a brawler / nuker combo to me, who wasn't really especially skilled with melee weapons but compensated with her magically buffed speed and strength.

The sword already increases its gravity, anyways, so all that putting it on the axe would do is make it more awkward to use. Might as well just strap the sword to a long pointy stick.

I'd much rather use Crystal technology to let the gravity manipulation of the sword be applied in a more flexible manner, allowing say temporary flight, or tractor beam like qualities, or to project the gravity effect to use it to trap or restrain people.

Make a crystal gravity lense, instead of sticking it on a longer pointy stick.

>>2877574
I'd actually prefer if we could do something with that axe we brought back. Maybe put some sort of crystals that can levitate and propel it? Hopefully we can get it to fly us around like a surfboard, we need something that can get us airborne.

>>2877609
A magical girl surfing through the air on an axe, I like it. If we go with gravity crystals and mass control then this thing will be great to work with as a weapon too.

>>2877609
Depending on how we can manipulate gravity with it this might be pretty great, even if it ends up as simply lightening the object it's put in, our swing speed would be impressive + would be intimidating

>>2877661
It already does this with the sword. It lets us swing the sword at it's normal weight, and then increases the gravity when the strike hits, no? So it's not really that beneficial to have a heavier weapon that's bigger and more awkward unless you need the range. But Miranda has plenty of powerful ranged attacks anyways.

I honestly don't see why you guys want the axe so badly, it seems to only have stylistic qualities and the style that clashes with Miranda's practical and conservative style that people have played up until now, with the exception of when she was playing the villain for a bunch of underpowered scrubs who she was hired to lose to anyways.

>>2877710
i think that originally we just wanted it as a trophy and now we are trying to see if we can adapt it to our needs. Although personally i´d prefer to have some knuckle dusters that are more fit to our style

>>2877710
I just want to do SOMETHING with the axe. We took it from a challenging enemy who we had a pretty intense fight with, and it makes for a pretty good trophy. To have it just sit around collecting dust doing nothing drives me up a wall. I suggested it because it does something with an item we don't really use right now, instead of one that we have on us in nearly every mission and that already has a set of unique properties. Otherwise, what's the damn point of having it?

>>2877746
What's the damn point of having it, indeed. I'd rather have it be a nice narrative trophy, instead of awkwardly trying to shoehorn it into the quest just because we have it.

We already have things we don't use often because they don't fit the play style. Why add to that list and take time away from improving the things we actually use, or interacting with other characters etc.

Otherwise we're just going to be constantly getting sidetracked by features of the week, until we turn into Joker Quest.

>>2877746
We already know that it's more or less useless outside of being heavy, and it doesn't mesh well with literally anyone's fighting style. Just drop it, there are cooler and better things happening elsewhere in the story.

Practicing magic when?

I'd really, really rather see that we spend a few posts throwing die to learn the spells we came up with (except sticky bombs) than trying to find a use for our new mantle piece (please don't make the axe the new sticky bombs).

>>2877801
I'd like to continue to refine our ability to control mana. Open up a path to the mana taser, or the Thunder Dome, or the Mana Knuckles that were brought up which is a mini orbital ring we can wrap around our hand and punch people with.

>>2877818
Mana knuckles were my idea, it didn't make it into the pastebin however. Glad someone still keep it in mind.

I'm biased to them if we get the opportunity, but getting a handle on chain lightning or thunderdome will be sweet. If we practice harmonized blasts we should get the other girls in on it too, it's one of those things that should be easier with more hands.

>>2877818
>Mana Knuckles that were brought up which is a mini orbital ring we can wrap around our hand and punch people with.

I'd rather we go for the physical knuckles or gauntlets, or sheathe our hands in our energy. Less chance of exploding fingers.

>>2877757
>>2877776
How about we give it to Owlia and tell her to come up with something for it? That way, she'll do something that would be beneficial for the axe and us, and we won't have to bicker about whether or not we should do something with it. That okay?

File: Sith Lightning.gif (666 KB, 500x214)

666 KB GIF

>>2877839
Chain Lightning was my idea, but I always envisioned us working our way towards it in steps.

Learning harmonized mana would help with learning to put a "charge" in the mana to carry the electricity. It would also help us learn how to "target" people with it and avoid hitting people/things in the way.

Learning Thunder Dome would help with learning to expand and "charge" the mana as well.

Mana Knuckles would help us learn to better shape the mana.

I would also be down with learning more about Fireworks, because it's a small step from Mana Flamethrower to pic related.

>>2877859
> Less chance of exploding fingers.

Well that would be what we would be working to prevent, yes. Or we could just throw them when they're about to explode.

I mean

> or sheathe our hands in our energy.

Is literally what Mana Knuckles would be all about.

Regardless, all roads lead to Chain Lightning.

>>2877859
Alternatively, why don't we use the materials in the Axe to make physical hand guards that we can then wrap the Orbital Ring around to protect us against explosions.

>>2877859
>sheathe our hands in our energy.
That's what it is. The orbital ring is supercondensed mana, essentially it will be like wearing lead. The orbital ring is extremely solid and only explode if subjected to a greater force. People, especially fuckin Wizards, aren't going to pack several dozen fireballs to protect their teeth from being punched in. Well work on shaping and solidifying the energy. With enough practice, I envision that when we master the technique we can form it like a shaped charge explosive - "This side towards enemy". So despite the astronomic odds of it happening, if an outside source disrupt them it won't turn us into meaty chunks.
As a bonus, we can detonate on contact, basically punching people with claymores

>>2877875
Listen, I'm honestly trying to compromise here and not be an internet jackass. We can make handguards with Owlia pretty easily, likely out of stuff stronger then the axe. What I'm suggesting with said axe is to let Owlia go nuts with it. It might be something amazing, it could just end up slag. At this point, I'll be fine with either option, just so it doesn't end up taking space for nothing. Is that alright?

To be honest I think we should give it to Jago.

>>2877942
...I'd be alright with that. It'd make for a nice welcoming gift.

>>2877952
I would support that.

What are we going to do, cut the entire handle off the giant axe we give to the tiny robot?

Quite frankly, I don't give a damn about the axe so long as it's not the new sticky-bombs.

>>2877989
He might decide to upgrade his chassis to something bigger.

>>2877989
Either shrink it with magic or just give it to him as is for a laugh. With the latter, he'd probably would either take it as a challenge, or he'd alter his frame so he can wield it.

And as long as the axe isn't taking up space in our tiny as fuck apartment gathering dust, I'm fine.

>>2878006
Why do you care if it's sitting in the apartment or our bag? Just let it be a trophy. Pretend it's unusable or something.

>>2878013
>>2878006
This, exactly. This is like carrying a thousand brooms and cups in Skyrim. Just because we take something doesn't mean we have to use it.

This is actually worse than the sticky bombs, because at least they unlocked things like Mana Harmonization and progressed both the character and the story.

Honestly I'd rather trade the axe in for motes, even just a single small mote.

>>2878013
Because we're in a small apartment with kids hanging around us. Also, the whole "Do something with the axe" thing is going to come up again if it sticks around us.

I'd like to at least try the thing out properly before modifying it or selling it. We've got strength to spare, and I could see it being using on occasion.

>>2878042
Because the rest of our Outgoers kit isn't dangerous.

>>2878075
>I'd like to at least try the thing out properly before modifying it or selling it.
That was kind of my thought process too, but...

>>2877924
I'm all aboard for MAD SCIENCE on the axe.
We'll end up with one of three things, a door knocker to break the gates of hell down, a pretty good magic axe, or a neat looking trophy/paperweight.

>>2877924
As far as we know, the axe is just a big chunk of metal (iirc). We need to either test the thing out, or get it appraised before wasting Owlia's time.
Unless we'd rather her spend time determining if she can do anything with a maybe-magic axe instead of working on our aircraft.

Starting soon. May be a shortish run, but yeah.

You wake up the next day half expecting to see a number of faces waiting for you before you remember they’re gone. With the kids back in the Care House, you’ve got some time to yourself now. You’re probably not getting them back until after you go on another job, but that doesn’t mean you have to do so right now. Heck, there’s a number of things you could spend the day on. It’s been a bit since you’ve engaged in active training. Could work out some, maybe try your hand at working on some new techniques. Then, there’s also seeing to your HQ a bit more. You’ve got some spending money for it now.

Sitting down with a jam filled crepe and milk, you flip on the local channels for once. Seeing a few advertisements reminds you that there’s that new Outgoer team setting up. Could be worth a looksee, if nothing major.

What to do, what to do…?

>Focus on training for today. You could do with the excercise.
>See about working on your HQ. It was woefully unimpressive the other day…
>Go riding, maybe find out a bit more about that new group…
>Other

>>2878217
>>See about working on your HQ. It was woefully unimpressive the other day…
Which shouldn't take that long. Afterwords, let's see about some magic training.

>>2878217
>>See about working on your HQ. It was woefully unimpressive the other day…

>>2878217
>See about working on your HQ. It was woefully unimpressive the other day…

Time for some basebuilding.

>>2878217
>>See about working on your HQ. It was woefully unimpressive the other day…

>>2878217
>See about working on your HQ. It was woefully unimpressive the other day…

>>2878217
>See about working on your HQ. It was woefully unimpressive the other day…
I for got how we were doing financially, now would be a good tiem to check.

>>2878217

Thinking back...those kids really weren’t impressed with your HQ. Honestly, you couldn’t blame them. It was still largely just...a big open building with little, if any, kind of decoration or otherwise interesting rooms. Your laboratory was nice, but...that was really about it, barring the meditation room, which you’re pretty sure Izumi uses more than anyone else.

You might be due for another upgrade- if everyone chipped in, you could probably afford anything in the catalog. The question, though...what would everyone be willing to pay for?

Well, only one way to find out.

----

About an hour later, everyone’s available, set around a table in HQ. “Alright, so. I’m thinking we need to spruce this place up.”

“Waait, we gonna haffa clean?” Mono asks- all the while munching on what seems to be a bag of spicy chips.

“Eventually, yes, but not right now,” you explain. “I mean I think we need to expand our HQ. As usually, if anyone wants to chip into the HQ fund, feel free, but other than that, any preferences?”

“Actually, I would ask you look into that physical training room,” Izumi speaks up. “It would be refreshing to not have to walk all the way to the clinic after a session of meditation. I’d gladly chip in towards that.”

Mono shrugs. “I’m good for whatever. If ya need help, just tell me how much. You’re the boss, boss.”

Cylica raises her hand, surprisingly. “Actually, I was wondering if perhaps you’d be amenable to purchasing the Blank Room addon to the the laboratories. I could use somewhere to execute some...private research.” She frowns as she says this, eyes briefly unfocusing. “I would be quite grateful if that was chosen.

Lorelei humms and haws. “Hmmmm...maybe we could get the hangar and be done with it? Don’t want those beauties sitting just outside for everyone to gawk at!”

“Actually!” Owlia pipes up, causing a glance from Cylica, “It’s gonna sound weird from me, but maybe we could spring for the Ranged Training Area?” She immediately shuts up, not elaborating.

There’s a brief silence as you look at your more mechanical members of the group. “Hm? Whatever are you staring at me for?” Prima asks.

“Oy...think they want us ta weigh in,” Jago clarifies.

“Oh! Terribly sorry. Er, I feel as we have yet to obtain any funds of our own, we would be remiss in-”

“Oh, jus’ say whatcha want, darl!” Jago gripes. “Ain’t no ‘arm in it!”

“Er, well, I suppose I WOULD enjoy a resting area of my own…” Prima looks away shyly, like she didn’t want to admit that.

“Same ‘ere,” Jago says simply. “ ‘Like the lass says, though, no coin ta spend, so don’t worry ‘bout it fer now.”

Hm. Well, all that considered…you know they’ll chip in regardless, but how much is dependant on how okay they are with whatever you pick. Some’ll be fine...others won’t be down.

https://pastebin.com/TCtu0QfZ

>You’ll purchase the Physical Combat Area.
>You’ll purchase the Blank Room addon.
>You’ll purchase the Ranged Training Area.
>You’ll purchase the Hangar.
>Other

>>2878379
>You’ll purchase the Physical Combat Area.

>>2878379
What's our current company funds? And what actually is the Blank room? doesn't have a description or cost in the pastebin.

>>2878379
>https://pastebin.com/TCtu0QfZ
How much does the Blank Room cost?

The Physical Combat Room is something everyone can be helped by, but costs 130 Large Motes. That's a lot.

>>2878419
That's in the pastebin, really.

Sorry, I'll update it. Blank Room is an empty room with sound, psionic, and extra-magic nullification. It's 40 Large Motes.

>>2878403
>>2878379
Oh, geez, didn't think physical training would be 130 large.

>>2878445
To be fair, you're getting a lot with it. It comes ready for you to use!

Also, updated pastebin with costs.

>>2878379
Would the hanger also be usable for robot stuff?

>>2878475
Yep.

>>2878379
>>You’ll purchase the Physical Combat Area.
Its the room that most of us will get a decent boost from; the aircraft looked like they were pretty much intact after being buried for god knows how long, so they don't really need a hangar right now, cylica and owlia got their lab recently-ish and i don't feel like giving rooms to prima and jago is that much of a priority. We could try to give them a closet room or something like that in the mean time i'm going by the logic that they work like the robots in futurama

>>2878379
>You’ll purchase the Physical Combat Area.
Everybody has melee skills, so this would be useful for everyone.

>Blank Room
If Cylica can help out by footing half or maybe a third, we might be able to afford it.

>>2878454
So this is accurate?
>Miranda: 97 LMotes
>Current HQ Finances
> 0 Motes

We literally can't afford some of this stuff without help, and it's not really fair to keep asking them to chip in like this; They all have bills to pay.

>>2878379
>You’ll purchase the Physical Combat Area.
This is the most useful to the most people, but man is that expensive.

>>2878522
More jobs. We just have to take more jobs.

>>2878544
More jobs isn't the answer. Better jobs is the answer; and we are getting them.

>>2878379
>You’ll purchase the Physical Combat Area.
The hanger should come next, both for nabbing vehicles, and for the robots.

>>2878379
>>2878403
>>2878485
>>2878510
>>2878522
>>2878553


“I think...the Physical Combat Area would help us the most. We all are capable in melee, no reason to not want to improve there,” you decide. Owlia groans a bit, as does Cylica, but they nod. Lorelei pouts as well.

“Excellent,” Izumi says with a small smile. “I’ll understand that one’s expensive, so I’ll put in, say...35 sound good?"

"Alright. That'll help with the split. I'll put in..."

> 30
> 40
> 50
> 60
>Other

>>2878588
>> 40

>>2878588
130
-0
-35
---------
95 remaining
/5 (max)
19 per person
but I dunno if the Scientists will want to chip in much.
so
95
/3
---------
31.6 per person

> 50
this should cover anyone that doesn't want to or can't pay a full amount. And we're not hurting for cash.

>>2878588
> 40

>>2878613
Seems good, supporting

>>2878588
> 40

How much to add rooms for Jago/Prima?

>>2878613
Change >>2878713
To

> 50

>>2878588
>>2878603
Switching to
> 50
To speed things along.

50 it is. Writing.

this is a personal opinion but why do some posters always use 'will/would' and other definitive when describing on trying to invest in training, or experimenting new stuff/obtaining/modifying a new equipment? how do you know something will /definitely/ result in an expected outcome? you people speak as if what you say is based on some facts while you're another player. maybe this isn't a problem for some of you guys but I am speaking out now in particular due to the increase of such format of posting recently. you don't see researchers go 'this will do x as y would z' when they didn't learn or even experiment and experience x y and z beforehand. they theorize 'it might do x as y would z and interact with x in correlation to results from research/experience. who knows what you're training will eventually lead to what you want, unless there was related material that we could look up. oh wait there's literally a library in the intersection, maybe starting from there could have made us skip a good deal of unnecessary steps trying to fucking reinvent the mana manipulation theory(if such a theory exists, in which I would be very surprised if it didn't exist regarding the nature of the intersection).
although handler said miranda was more of a bruiser than an academic type this does not rule out doing basic research before diving straight in. of course, this is assuming she doesn't know much. it is still relevant even if she did know fair bit about this field however, due to the relevant data that can be learned from related experiments. like sticky mana blasts for example. if someone didn't try something like that and record it in the past, then at the very least learning mana behaves or interacts in certain conditions would be useful since it could reveal some ways to introduce the 'stickiness' characteristic to the experimental sticky blasts, for example.

frankly speaking it sounds like those particular people just want to play powertrip isekai fantasy cyoa character rather than just interplanetary mercenary(which might potentially become powertrip if we decide to take on easier missions but that's rare and relatively unprofitable compared to harder missions) building up little by little after managing to break even for 80 years. or this might sound like some random anon ranting for no fun allowed for someone.

>>2878756
While I don't necessarily disagree, a large rambly block of TL;DR with some insults thrown in isn't going reach the people you're talking to. Part of your issues are handwaved for gameplay reasons (magic research, which I could make up several reasons for why things are the way they are), but the other part is just anons being anons, good luck getting them to change.

>>2878756

Hmm, i guess you do have a point in the library stuff. He have been trying to brute force the upgrades instead of choosing the smarter route.

Meanwhile on the original outcome point, if you don't take into consideration the more extreme paths like the femme fatale and chain lightning upgrades, they are all kind of logical. The reactive armor is an offshoot of the sticky bombs, the harmonized mana blasts are a combination of our flux wave and the normal mana blasts. even some theoretical finishers like the localized nebula punches are slight adaptations of things we already understand.

>>2878792
REEE I MAD
to be fair if people wanted some progress I'm all down to it, it's just that the way they speak really rubs me the wrong way. they say it as if they deserve something they want and everything will go along the way they think it will rather than treating it like natural progression over time as miranda as a person hones her skills in various fields.
if people are antsy about not feeling powerful enough I can understand(I assume the rather low number of runs recently might have increased this effect) but that's literally not a problem since we can opt to take easier missions rather than the somewhat challenging but manageable and well paying missions we've been doing as of recently. increasing our powerlevel won't make us safe if we just continue to take harder missions releative to our abilities. (other than increasing the pay due to harder missions) of course that would mean we will grow slower as a company but there's nothing wrong with going slow and steady. if we're having problems due to bulking up our small team too fast for our income to handle, we can opt to just not recruit more people until we stabilize. plus we are near our limit given by sal anyway.

>>2878801
>He have been trying to brute force the upgrades instead of choosing the smarter route.
exactly. just going 'hey we could get this cool stuff' and just expecting the dice rolls to be good and planning it to be done eventually doesn't seem like a good time investment plan for me.

>Meanwhile on the original outcome point if you don't take into consideration the more extreme paths they are all kind of logical.
logical yes, but logical doesn't always mean correct. without basic chemical knowledge one might assume a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen mixed in a 2:1 would be extremely volatile, for example.yes, people do, if you call it Dihydrogen Monoxide, point still stands however.

>>2878801
Chain Lightning was always intended to be an "end of path" ability as stated >>2877862. It wasn't meant to just be fully realized in one session.

I don't remember Femme Fatale?

>>2878756
>>2878847
Are you the same autist posting multi paragraph complaints in FMMDAMG Quest?

If so, go get some sleep or something.

>>2878588
>>2878613
>>2878614
>>2878710
>>2878715
>>2878724
“I think...the Physical Combat Area would help us the most. We all are capable in melee, no reason to not want to improve there,” you decide. Owlia groans a bit, as does Cylica, but they nod. Lorelei pouts as well.

“Excellent,” Izumi says with a small smile. “I’ll understand that one’s expensive, so I’ll put in… 35.”

“And I’ll put in…”

“50.” That seems more than fair. And sure enough, Izumi seems a touch surprised. “I’m planning on getting a lot of use out of it myself.”

“Oh, true. Still, thank you!” You just smile a bit as you look at the others.

Mono shrugs. “I guess I’ll put in like, 20. Sound okay enough?”

“Yup. That leaves…Lorelei, Owlia, Cylica?” You look at all of them in turn.

Lorelei makes a face, but shrugs. “Fiiiine. How’s ten?”

You nod, and then look over to your scientists who both look a touch put out. Cylica simply sighs and wordlessly sends fifteen your way. Owlia, who seems to have gotten out of this without having to pay anything, just sighs.

“Thanks, all. Putting in the order now. Should be…” checking it, you’re surprised at the answer. “About four cycles to get the parts ordered properly and then delivered.”

>Total Motes: 47.

“Alright, now that we’ve got that settled, might as well ask if there’s anything to bring up at the moment?” You look around at everyone…

cont.

>>2878869
Lorelei pipes up. “Actually, yeah! So, by now everyone SHOULD know about Prima and Jago, but I’ve been thinking about really trying to make them feel welcome and all!”

Cylica speaks up here, mouth set in a grimace. “Whilst I appreciate the idea, and must admit some fascination with them myself, I’m not so certain I’m up for another round of gallivanting around the city…”

Lori just shakes her head. “Nah, I get that- you wanna join me, that’s up to you! Just sayin’, it’s gonna be awesome! We’re gonna really hit the town tonight, so if you’re game…”

“Aaactually, I’m gonna be busy,” Mono opines. “After we got back, I starting thinkin’, and then I got an idea, y’know? Did some lookin’ around, and there’s a couplea actin’ groups that I might wanna try out for. Y’know, keep the skills sharp. A couple got tryouts this evenin’. Anyone wanna come with, though…”

“Now, THAT seems more my speed,” Cylica agrees with a smile. “I think I might join you, then.”

“Izumi, didn’t you say we were gonna hit the library today?” Owlia asks. “You mentioned your friend there that threw me out last time…”

“She was only doing her job, and yes, we’re still on for that. Don’t worry, I’m sure she’s forgiven you,” Izumi says plainly. “You’ll be able to do your ‘sub-sigil’ research in peace.”

“What about you, ‘Randa?” Lorelei turns to you, playfully sticking out a tongue. “Training again?”

“There’s no shame it in, Lorelei,” Izumi notes. “In fact, considering you’ve got the rest of the day free, I daresay YOU could use some training yourself.”

“GASP.” She actually says the whole word. “Me? Really? You doubt my-"

Izumi gives her a LOOK, and even you can't help cock an eyebrow.

Frowning, Lorelei throws her hands up. "UGGGH. Fine. I guess it'll just make tonight all the sweeter. Let's go get sweaty...oy. Oh, but I'm getting my workout gear first! I'm not pitting out my best blouses!"

Izumi claps as Lorelei walks away defeated. "That's the spirit!"

>That's all for now- tomorrow will be busy, but the day after? Entirely free.

>>2878866
in what?

>>2878847
But that would apply if we didn't knew more or less what we were doing. In our case we DO have basic magical knowledge and 90+ years of information backing up the stuff we are trying to do.

>>2878853
Femme fatale was some series of upgrades that would basically make us a souped up version of a ...famme fatale from noir films. Pheromones to distract and weaken enemies, ultra sharp senses, high reaction times, increased empathy to read the other people better and what not. Pretty cool and it would allow us to be close to the perfect infiltrator/assassin but we literally had nothing to work upon and when we had the chance to use it, its mana cost was higher than the nebula buster for just a few seconds of it.

>>2878879
Fuck Me, My Daughter's A Magical Girl Quest
Yes, really. It's run by the guy who did Rock Quest and Cyberpunk Motorcycle Courier Quest.

>>2878884
A funny quest. He's a good fella.

>>2878883
Sounds more like Loreleis gig anyways.

Exploding Punches sounds like Miranda.

And I just put off her not reading up on Mana Theory as her being a kinetic learner, which in turn makes more sense for her to learn from other people, by watching what they do then coming up with her own intuitive way of replicating the effects. Especially given how much variety and individuality there is between how people in the intersection deal with magic and magical abilities.

She IS 90 years old, so I assume she knows the "basics", but figuring out how to apply that to here perception of mana and such is something she has to feel out rather than theorize in detail.

File: 1.jpg (127 KB, 640x958)

127 KB JPG

>>2878912
>>2878883
Just gotta FWOOMP then GASHAAN and there you are.

>>2878912
Basically. Miranda can, if necessary, hold a conversation about Mana Theory, as shown when we first were trying to talk to Owlia in her home dimension. But she prefers to use what she knows to finagle out applications rather than read the more advanced stuff straight from a book, mostly because she knows she might stumble upon something useful by accident otherwise.

And to be fair, that 90 years wasn't her being entirely like THIS, personality wise.

>>2878872
thanks for the run handler. glad that the quest is back in action.

>>2878883
I knew I forgot mentioning something. yeah, she does indeed have 80+ years worth of using mana. that does not render my argument moot however. physical skill and experience does not equal academic knowledge(she does have latter as well but still). by no means I am discrediting the experience she has from her career, but solely relying on that would be just overconfidence. understanding how it feels and reacts is different understanding how it works while feeling and manipulating it.

if we can learn some examples from some archive without having to slog through the effort done by whoever wrote those, and make our training easier than how it is currently, why not?

>>2878884
oh that quest? no. I do participate but I don't write in at all, rarely a line or two. wait it is running now.

>>2878912
>Sounds more like Loreleis gig anyways.
agreed.
>but figuring out how to apply that to here perception of mana and such is something she has to feel out rather than theorize in detail.
I agree on the physical part, but there's still no loss in trying an academic approach. there's always some things one can miss that others discover, which might be lucky enough to be recorded and stored to be useful to us. I mean even if we find something we still have to try it out, that's a given.

>>2878921
ooh, nice.
>But she prefers to use what she knows to finagle out applications rather than read the more advanced stuff straight from a book, mostly because she knows she might stumble upon something useful by accident otherwise.
is there some equivalent of google scholar in the intersection? if such a thing exists I'm certain it could be useful if we're trying to reach for the cutting edge part of magical theory. if it doesn't just various research database with a search function would be useful for looking up what we're trying. I'm sure she's knowledgeable enough to understand those if we need to.

>>2878921
>>2878945
Literally word of God pointing out why Miranda isn't a nerd.

Just . . . Get off it man. You're writing like how I do when I do blow and come here.

Ultimately I don't want to dick about rolling for finding and then reading books. That's boring and power-gaming. Let's take risks, throw magic at the wall and see what sticks and what blows up and what we can stick to people before blowing them up. Wait, already did that.

I would much rather practice the benign stuff like mana harmonization with the kids and Izumi. Especially since we just dropped a ton of motes on the gym. Let's test that shit out!

>>2878945
Also if you're going to be Autistic, Valen Quest is back.

>>2879004
>That's boring and power-gaming, get off it man
oh. I'll stop, sorry.

>I would much rather practice the benign stuff like mana harmonization with the kids and Izumi. Especially since we just dropped a ton of motes on the gym. Let's test that shit out!
I'm not opposed to this...

I'm interesred in how psychics and magic mix I this world.

>>2879045
Just saying, I like how the current system has us "fail forward" with bad rolls, and to go on missions with half formed or wonky abilities before they're fully refined.

Makes us a more flexible character and encourages innovative use of abilities so that everything isn't just "magi-blast with modifiers" equivalents.

>>2879225
Sounds like you just want to go into situations with no plan and come out purely because of protagonist status and bullshit.

>>2879225
Personally, what attracted me to the quest, was how competent Miranda is, and how she's powerful and capable..

I dont mind the occasional conflict where she meets some sort if difficulty, by i prefer by far to see the badass and competent Miranda.
My favorite arc so far was the western one, with elemental rocks and robots - the main reason being how overpowered Miranda seemed in it, also a big plus with the whole gory part of killing a small town full of people, because that was what the job was

>>2879269
It's called lateral thinking. Instead of just rolling dice at a problem, you have to use your tools and abilities in creative ways.

Like honestly, one of our most used talents is our danger smell. Because it's useful.

Another one is our blinding light flash thingy. We use that a ton.

Or how we used light barriers in the wrestling match against Chef McEveryone HatesEm. Fantastic display of creative power use.

>>2879276
Yeah, but we already have big ass nuke spells.

We need more flexible things that use less mana / are more precise. So that we can destroy more stuff for longer without losing money.

>>2879420
>It's called lateral thinking. Instead of just rolling dice at a problem, you have to use your tools and abilities in creative ways.
I'd believe that if we wouldn't have to roll dice at those tasks too.

>>2879425
Clever tools and tactics only mitigate failure, not eliminate it.

>>2879420
Lateral thinking doesn't require that we be underpowered, have half-baked or half-formed tools and techniques.
Having refined and completed abilities gives us more options, not less.

And it sounds like you want to play more like Lorelei, with her improvisation, rather than the dedicated professional that Miranda has been shown to be.

>>2879437
true, but that wasnt the point

>>2879438
Well, ideally we'd succeed our rolls and learn the new stuff, but yeah I enjoy not having it just be automatic power ups.

We have a bunch of other specialists we can talk to in the intersection as well, but it seems like reading up on it would be a waste of time because we're trying to find specific applications for general theories instead of outright copying other people.

And it's not like we're just going to find magic spells in books lying around. The intersection is full on capitalism. We would probably have to pay for knowledge like that. Motes best spent elsewhere.

I prefer the more organic evolution of our skills because it forces us to sometimes be creative about what we end up with.

Otherwise we might as well just reduce it to modifiers for combat roll.

>>2878756
Two reasons. Number one is that it's impossible to convince others of your idea if you're being wishy-washy with could, should, maybe, possibly and other vague words. Secondly, if you can't present your idea and what YOU want out of it, you are putting ALL the work in the QM's hands.

Hypothetical scenario: You say "I want a spell called thunderdome!" and then Handler gives us that spell but because you never provided a good description or told anyone what you expected from it, it's completely different from what you envisioned, and then you'll most probably get frustrated and get into arguments because you try to use the spell in a way that simply doesn't work, because the spell that got implemented isn't the one you wanted.

Quests are a team exercise. If someone comes up with a cool new spell with a concrete idea behind it, possible applications and scenarios of where and how it should work and people vote for it, it's because they like that particular set of ideas. If not, they start a discussion and we come to an agreement somewhere down the line.
We just did the hard work and then it's up to the QM to accept or deny it. If everyone knows from square 1 what to expect, Handler is free to think up jobs and scenarios with it in mind, ahead of time instead of spending his time having to do everything and hope that we're all okay with what we get.

To stay in this quest, frequent requests for NV goggles and that fucking "counter-sniper" that no one really understood what it was were completely shut down. Meanwhile we got murmur stones instead of walkie-talkies and mana batteries.

>>2878945
Sitting around reading fucking books and rolling for knowledge is shit you do when you're playing pen&paper because the rules are already there, you're sitting at a table and it all takes about 5 minutes.

Doing it in a quest where time is the one thing we don't have the only thing it does is add another layer preventing us from continuing the game. Hand on your heart, do you Really think spending a couple of updates, which can be several hours or even a whole day, when we only get a dozen updates a week, is a good use of everyone's time? If you say "no, only one update is enough" then all you accomplished is forcing a few extra dice rolls that may or may not prevent us from just practicing the damn skill.

It's not even fun to roleplay going to the library. At best we go there, read a book and leave. At worst, we're made to interact with other characters that slow down the quest even more. The trick is to trim as much fat as possible because no one is going to stick around if they have to sit for hours to vote on actions that don't do anything.

>>2878883
>Femme fatale
My idea was to modify flux wave to use mana to subtly alter a state of mind instead of making them puke, like a low powered aoe Jedi Mind Trick. I think the name changed the perception and it grew into something really weird.

>>2879515
The only time going to the library is fun even in tabletop for me is when we're going there to try and shakedown some nerd mage or something.

>>2879524
FUCK NERDS!

But seriously >>2879515 this is a concise, polite, and thorough explanation of all the concepts I wanted to get across.

Like.

I want to work towards bigger and better abilities by improving our smaller abilities and seeing what works and what doesn't and maybe over time it will go in a totally different direction, but it will at least all be "useful" in a sense in that it will have influenced what we use later and how we play.

Instead of just getting a bunch of abilities that we vote for because they would be super cool, and then end up never using g because it's just a nuke spell reskinned to be more expensive.

Hell even sticky bombs weren't a bad experiment, because even though they're rather useless, they opened up the idea of sticky mana.

Which lead to Reactive Armor and Mana Knuckles, and Fireworks were a failed attempt at mana napalm.

So even the failed attempts to experiment can give us benefits is what I'm saying.

We still should develop a better means of non-lethal takedown for strong opponents we're supposed to keep alive.

Or, just buy a high-tech or magitech stungun.
If it's electricity based, it'd be useful on robots, too. We haven't done a really high-tech world except via backstory yet.

>>2880227
Didn't the Stone Shotgun have electric stone rounds that could do that? We could see if the guy who sold us the fire stone-like stones has any, and maybe see about finding or creating some sort of stun prod or lightning mace or staff.

As for fighting robots, let's try working with Flux Wave so we can send out EMPs.

>>2880227
>>2880256

That's what shock touch is for. If we develop the chain lightning technique we can surely dial down the current to a stun and EMP settings.

>>2880227
The problem is that when we carry around a batman bag of tricks, we don't use most of the stuff.

>>2880256
> EMP flux wave

Thunder Dome. We've had enough trouble with the Flux Wave having too large an AOE to be useful, adding ruining electronics to the mix just makes that problem worse.

We should focus on tightening up the flux wave so we can reduce the range, if anything with it. A Focused Flux of higher intensity but smaller radius.

>>2880285
Or just Shock Beam. I keep saying, start simple with a straight beam of charged mana to send the electricity down.

Chain Lightning is and always has been the final evolution of that.

I see us having to develop Shock Mana Beam, Thunder Dome, and Mana Harmonization before Chain Lightning is viable.

>>2880285
>If we develop the chain lightning technique we can surely dial down the current to a stun and EMP settings.

True, but I think that the Flux Wave might be closer to where we should start from with the EMP stuff. One or two blasts is usually enough to knock out most electronics, at least from movie reality. Of course, I'm coming at this from a "Mob of robot minions" place. For more concentrated shots, shock beam's probably the way to go.

>>2880293
>Thunder Dome.
Once we get it into the 3000-3500 range, sure, but the 5000 mana it costs currently concerns me. We could fire off two Orbital Rings that can subdue things AND explode with that, all without frying the electronics inside of a robot. I'm okay with training it, but I don't see much use for it in missions until we get to that range.

Actually, don't we have tazer hands already? Because now that I'm thinking it over, I remember near the first few threads where we were walking through a castle tazing the shit out of this guy who was ranting up a storm about taking over the Knights of the New Moon. Or is this supposed to be a ranged option?

Anyway, the thing I'm more interested in is that while we've got super jump abilities, we're not actually capable of true flight and hovering. It's never a bad idea to find a way to get above an enemy for some covering fire, or to see what's going on without buildings getting in the way. Maybe we should check in with Owlia about that, seeing as flight is one of her powers?

>>2880403
>we're not actually capable of true flight and hovering
Why not see if someone has another Gravity Stone that we can have put into a belt?
Much more mana efficient.

>>2880610
The lady who put the one we found on our sword said they were "extremely rare", and I can't imagine they'd be more common here (or less expensive), so it'd be easier to ask Owlia if she could synthesize the crystals she's placed in her staff to fly.

>>2880403
Based on the other more complex spells, I'd imagine True flight would be expensive mana-wise, or require concentration rolls to use it and anything else.

>>2880645
>and I can't imagine they'd be more common here (or less expensive)
The Intersection is an inter-universal trading hub; just because something is rare in one universe doesn't mean it's rare in all universes.

>>2880662
This is correct, he's not wrong about the price. Just about everything is expensive in the Intersection, especially anything treated for outgoer work.

>>2880645
Maybe it could be grown like other crystals?

>>2880651
Well, it doesn't mention the mana cost on either Owlia's or Cylica's technique pastebins, so we're going to have to get an official ruling, but I'm theorizing that it can't be that much, given how their mana supplies are much smaller then Miranda's.

>>2880662
True, but let's check out how Owlia does it first. She's already figured something out that works, and it's cheaper to use something that she already knows how to make.

>>2880677
Yeah, that's what I was going for. Owlia's an expert on synthetic crystals already. Hell, it was the reason why she joined us, so let her use her skills to figure out the solution.

>>2880694
It can't hurt to ask, but she's already got a lot on her plate, and we keep piling on more. At some point, we're going to need a formal research/production queue or something.

>>2880705
She doesn't seem like the kind to worry about that, though if you mean we should have her finish some of the stuff we've already got going then yea,best postpone thid for now.

>>2880705
Fair enough. Maybe we could give her a couple of motes as compensation, though, or put it down as an advance on the Blank Room? Otherwise, I'm fine with it taking a mission or two before we get the results.

>>2880717
Just use the gem in the sword. I mean, do we even really need a sword?

Give it to Owlia to mess with, see what we get back.

A gravity gauntlet would be dope though. We could use it to throw things or draw things in.

Does gravity affect mana?

>>2880947
Agreed to the gravity gauntlet, Randa has always been best at unarmed

>>2881136
Can we agree to stop namefagging though?

>>2881171
Sure if there is a good reason to

>>2881189
More like there's no good reason to do it. We've gone dozens of threads without it after all.

Look at the issues we have with people disagreeing on the axe. God forbid we had namefagging during the votes for upgrades.

I mean, I even agree with your votes but bringing names into /qst/ just causes drama.

>>2881193
I see your point, someone who think of my votes to be consistently bad to a quest they like might start to call me out on it.. idk tho, i think it can add some good too - i know i feel more obligated to make thorough decisions and add quality feedback to the qm..
But I will consider your words, since im not a very active voter on this quest..

>>2881201
Yeah, but namefagging alienates everyone else who plays because it seems like people are trying to get special treatment.

>>2881201
> I know i feel more obligated to make thorough decisions and add quality feedback to the qm

Why do you need a name for that?

Like, I'm thrilled to have new people come to the quest say from Artificer quest. But if you get personally invested in the quest, that makes me concerned about how you're going to handle people not voting the way you want, or the story not focusing on what you want to do.

Because there's nothing I hate more myself than people writing complaint posts about how they're just going to sulk and take their ball home instead of play because they aren't getting their way.

>>2881206
Well no i dont NEED it, but it helps.. I dont think im the type to make a fuss about things not going my way

>>2881205
I think I understand your point, that is not my aim however. And I dont think you have to fear Handler giving special treatment because of names either

>tolerating unnecessary namefagging
Why tho

>>2881211
I dunno man.

But I have a solution. If we are ALL Salamandra, then it doesn't matter.

Real mature.. Im out of this discussion, it isnt adding anything to the quest

>>2881212
NO, I AM SALAMANDRA!

>>2881216
Just wait until we start a new thread and I get the name before you.

>>2881216
Honestly not sure what you expected when you came walking in here, swinging that big old name dick around.

>>2880301
Well like I said, we have shock touch, we got the steps to reach chain lightning. Creating a magical taser wire is like the first step in the process

>>2880947
>I mean, do we even really need a sword?

I kind of like having the sword, honestly... I personally don’t know why we need to use the gem instead of making gravity crystals, though. Nothing says Owlia can’t just reverse how her flight crystals act.

>>2880947
Technically no, we don't need the sword. But it's cool, powerful and plenty neat. It's a great piece when we go on medieval jobs, I rather have it than pick up some kind of silly mundane thing on site.

>>2881289
I dont mind keeping the sword, especially with its ability, but I think Miranda should focus on her unarmed more

>>2881302
I don't see how keeping gadgets and weapons mean we neglect our core?

>>2881302
If we had dice modifiers to our rolls I’d see your point in focusing on unarmed, but we don’t.

>>2881309
I think Handler did confirm Miranda was better unarmed than say, with an axe, but I dont know if it's calculated off screen

>>2881303
Didnt say we shouldnt keep gadgets

>>2881321
I think the sword should be an outfit item then, maybe? That way we would actually use it when thematically appropriate.

>>2881352
We already do use it as part of an outfit. It gives us +1 intimidation and +1 otherworldly.

>>2881360
And I’m pretty sure it changes form to fit our outfit on missions, based on our rapier when we did that Shining Hearts mission.

>>2881360
Well shit. Let's still give it to Owlia and see what can be done with it.

I just want Handler to give us some options to vote on so we can stop talking about it. I can't care anymore..

>>2881364
You sure your not confusing it with the axe?

Anyway, I’m fine with leaving the sword alone. It’s served us well and it looks cool.

>look away for a second
>everyone becomes Salamandra
How horrifying

>>2881405
GASP. It's even got you too!

OH NO, ITS SPREADING

I dunno what’s going on with you guys, I feel just fine.

>>2881432
ONE OF US.

ONE OF US.

ONE OF US.

cool name :)

I'll be starting in about an hour or so.

>>2878872
After a quick change, you find yourself with Lorelei (who’d also brought along Prima and Jago for ‘moral support’ in her own words) in the Clinic’s training area as usual. The number of bodies here reminds you just why it was a good idea to buy your own area- it wouldn’t be nearly as gigantic as this, but it’d be more than enough for your purposes. There’s actually a lot more people here than usual...and a ton doing sword training, seems like. In the padded area a few meters over is a whole circle of people that seem to be doing mass group training, hoots and hollers coming from the area.

“Alright, now…” You don’t need to stretch, perse, but it’s just good practice. Lorelei’s now in pink short gym shorts and a baby blue tank top- you’d opted for your green shorts and sports tank as well. As the both of you lean over, hands to toes, she looks over your way. “So, what are we doin’? You just wanna work out some aggression? I know kids can be a handful…”

“Well, no, they were fine,” you admit. “I was thinking about trying out some new techniques.” The pylons around the ring you’d reserved would prevent any errant magic from getting free, so you could test things out to your heart’s content.

Lorelei gives a sardonic smirk. “Really? Yikes, so I’m guinea pigging it up, huh? Well, heck, maybe I should try something new, too…”

“Don’t worry, Ms. Lorelei!” Prima cheers. “I’ll be sure to record all aspects of the training exercise for review later!”

Jago just guffaws. “An’ I’ll do me some loive critique!”

Ha. Glad they’re not all that attached to YOU yet.

>What technique do you want to work on? Improvement rules: https://pastebin.com/d1FAecB1

>Or, come up with something new?

>>2881526
Reactive armour

>>2881526
>Mana Knuckles

I'll go find the thread it was posted in

>>2881526
Well, there was some talk about sheathing our hands in mana so they could act like armored gauntlets. I’m thinking we work on that, the sticky mana idea to have it work as glue traps or wall restraints, and trying to throw lightning bolts instead of mana blasts to stun people.

>>2881526

>>2881541
Here, http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/1880552/#p1895493
it was a later innovation of the Shotgun Punch http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/1801665/#p1806965

>>2881526
Harmonized Mana Blasts

If we can change the frequency of mana blasts, then maybe we can harmonize with someone's magic shields to get Shield Penetrating Magibeams.

>>2881550
Oh, yeah, forgot about flight.

>>2881556
Oh, it's actually the post above.

>>2881557
>SP Beams

Careful, researching SP tech gets Terran black ops on your ass

>>2881556
Didn't some anon compile all the testing abilities into a single file?

>>2881526
>Mana Knuckles/Explosive punches
As much as i like the idea of the sticky bombs, i feel we can leave on the side that project for a while.

>>2881526
Hey, Handler, how many options can we suggest?

Rolled 17, 12, 6, 20, 16 = 71 (5d20)

>>2881569
I'll give you 2.

Oh, and while I'm at it, lemme do something real quick...

>>2881526
Let's see... The mana punch and other unarmed boosters are cool, but we should look at shoring up what we aren't so good at first.

I'll go with simple lighting (chain seems a little tough and expensive for now) and the harmonized blasts I guess.

File: ACACADF0-762A-4587-8A99-A(...).jpg (48 KB, 500x375)

48 KB JPG

Alright then.
>Mana Knuckles
>Lightning Bolts

>(rolled dice)

>>2881526
>Harmonized Mana Blasts
I'll pick improving the sticky bombs as my 2nd vote since we're allowed to choose 2.

>>2881526
>Lightning bolt, Improved Flux wave.

>>2881568
>>2881526
Oh shit, didn't know we could choose two options, then
>Mana Knuckles/Explosive punches
>Sticky bombs

>>2881526
>>2881557
Harmonized Mana Blasts
Sticky Mana Bombs

Locking votes.

Seems like Knuckles and Blasts win out. One moment.

>Mana Knuckles: An idea taking the general concept of the reinforcement you use for your Orbital Ring and shrinking it down to loop around brass knuckles. Being able to perform this while keeping the strength of the knuckles without the violent risks of when they break is...iffy, but you might have an idea on how to stabilize the flow to essentially create magic handguards- essentially allowing you to punch magic out the air, even.

>Estimated mana usage: ~3000

Roll for the theory and initial attempt, 1d20, Need to hit 18 or higher to pull it off. Next will be the harmonized blasts.

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>2881623

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>2881623

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>2881623

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>2881623

>>2881647
Noice

>>2881568
Yeah I did, but that list never made it into Handler's paste.

That's a miss, but a close one. Next attempt, the DC will be lowered.

Next up, is the usage of Harmonized Blasts. You've already theorized this one, so we're looking for 4d20, with a total over 40 for success. Best of 3!

>>2881667
Actually scratch that, I forgot my own rules, 16 is a pass.

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>2881667
Fuck, so close. oh well, here comes next roll.
>>2881655
Maybe you should post it again? Probably handler was dead on those days.

Rolled 2, 2, 10, 15 = 29 (4d20)

>>2881667

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>2881667
Fuck captchas

Rolled 16, 10, 19, 6 = 51 (4d20)

>>2881667
>>2881670
Fuck, i think i did it wrong.

Still have to roll 4d20, though.

>>2881670
I was reading my own rules in my pastebin. It's a pass, but it's a bare pass, so actually executing the move or improve it will still require some high rolls.

Rolled 14, 3, 1, 20 = 38 (4d20)

>>2881667

Rolled 11, 19, 1, 8 = 39 (4d20)

>>2881667
Rolls.
>>2881669
WE DID IT, BOYS

>>2881678
>>2881679
lol

yay, we passed!

Good work for a start. Writing!

>>2881566
SP tech? What SP tech, all I see are diamond mines!

>>2881526
>>2881625
>>2881629
>>2881633
>>2881647
>>2881671
>>2881674
>>2881678
Thinking about it, you’d floated around the idea of maybe miniaturizing your orbital ring, maybe doing something with it that’s a bit less...all encompassing. It was useful, to be sure, but maybe you could use the density of it for other purposes...yeah, that should be feasible. Heck, maybe you could give it a shot now?

As the two of you square up, you try to focus on making just one ring- this one barely more than a handwidth in size, just enough to slip around your knuckles. Don’t need as much mana to form it, but keeping it dense and, more importantly, STABLE at that size takes more effort…

You end up with something wavy, not quite stable, but more looking like a ring of thick gel around your knuckles, and Lorelei already looks nervous. “Whoa, what’re you trying there?”

“Just something new; nevermind it for now,” you dismiss, the mana sloughing off and dissipating into the ground with fizzles. It was a start, but… “Let’s get going.”

“Ready or not!” And with that, Lorelei leaps headlong towards you.

Lorelei really did underestimate herself, you can’t help but think as you slip two quick jabs and launch a series of open palms at her stomach and face, which she takes flush, reeling back a few steps before recovering as you close in, launching a low sweep which you’re forced to hop over and thus get out of position for your followup, letting Lorelei reposition to try a quick knee- this is deflected, and the two of you back off briefly to reassess the situation. To her credit, Lorelei only seems somewhat winded. She really wasn’t bad at fighting at all, just needed some extra oomph behind her shots. Very focused on dodging and not getting hurt, which you can respect. “Doing alright?” you ask, more out of politeness than real concern.

“Peachy,” she says after a deeper breath. “Just...phew...hate taking punches I don’t need to.”

“No one likes that,” you quip. “Although, speaking of, mind sitting there for a second? I wanna try something, and if it works you shouldn’t even be hurt.” ‘At least, not much,’ you think to yourself. You’d considered the idea of mana blasts harmonized to one of your friends, and by now you think it’s high time to give it a shot.

You point a single, outstretched hand to Lorelei, who frowns in concern. “Aaaare you sure about this, ‘Randa?”

You don’t answer her, instead focusing on her mana signature, the ebb and flow. It feels like it takes ages, but finally you feel your own pulsing in time with hers, just for a second. And matching the frequency...there!

You fire off a single bolt, opening your eyes immediately as it flies forward and impacts Lorelei flush, who lets out a small ‘oof!’ of surprise, the impact actually pushing her back a bit and causing her to fall her on her backside. “Hey! What was that about?” she yells in annoyance.

cont.

>>2881907
“Methinks ye shoulda moved, huh?” Jago quips.

“Oh, hush!” she yells back, before turning back to you. “Seriously, Randa, that could’ve hurt!”

“‘Could’ve’?” you ask quickly. “Not ‘did’?”

She narrows her eyes slightly. “Wha- no, I mean, there was like, a tingle, but that’s cause that was like, a super-weak one! If you’d actually tried-”

“It wasn’t a weak one, though,” you explain. “That was one of my usuals. And besides, I DID say that it shouldn’t hurt, right?”

“I mean...yeah, I guess,” she relents. “So, what was that supposed to be?”

“Friendly-fire proof bolts,” you explain. “It’ll take some getting used to, but the idea is that anyone I’m around, I get a read on their mana signature, and I can try to imitate the wavelength, so if that person might get hit accidentally…”

“Ohhh, basically, they won’t end up messing themselves over,” Lorelei finishes, having clued in. “Huh, that’s pretty thoughtful of you, actually…”

“Thanks. Those and what I was trying to do earlier, make a sort of set of ‘magic brass knuckles’, are my big goals for now. I’m thinking that-”

Suddenly a cheer goes up from the next ring over, where the mass of people were training, and one boy- some black-haired teenager in a black bodysuit, steel hawk mask and feathered cape- raises a fist in victory, a heavy-set looking boy in what looks like old Victorian gentleman clothes, and a long legged, redheaded feline girl in a what looks like an equally red cocktail dress applauding him, amidst a number of fallen competitors, all of them taking heaving breaths as they try to recover their energy. Off to the side, though, stands a young, clean-cut man in what looks like old-school knight armor, pitch black with gold trim, glowing faintly and fancy epaulets, along with a thin sword in a similarly colored scabbard. He has a small black crown on his head encrusted with jewels as well, and with just as fancy a cape. The man nods in approval, politely clapping. “Excellent. Your strength is no longer in doubt, and you’re just what I’m looking for. Being able to take on several opponents at once is a sign of skill, strength, and tactical acumen. Not to mention, I do LOVE the style you have. Welcome to the Knights Resplendent.”

(cont. 2/3)

>>2881910

“The what…?” Lorelei mutters, but it seems her voice carries enough to get the fighter and his compatriots to look over your way- which causes the knight to do so as well. “Ah, well hello there! Must say, I didn’t notice you, otherwise I’d have invited you over! Interested in the Knights Resplendent, are we? We’re a new Outgoer group, currently holding tryouts, actually! ‘To execute with grace and power!’- that’s our motto! Of course, we’re...” he seems to want to start to go into his sales pitch, but a low uttering from Lorelei cuts him off.

“Yikes.” He stops, and it seems like time freezes for a moment.

“I beg your pardon?” He asks with only some annoyance leaking through. However, you follow her eyes, and she’s not looking at him at all. She’s looking at the masked guy. More specifically...his footwear.

His shoes are...well, you’re not sure, actually. They’re not quite curved moccasins, but they aren’t genie shoes, either, and they’re a light green with a darker green stripe- kinda your color, actually. You’re not sure what to make of them on him, though.

Lorelei, for her part, doesn’t even seem to notice him talking, as she’s fixated on the footwear. Eagle Mask seems to catch on, though, head tilting down and up again several times. “What? Is there a problem?”

“I believe Ms. Lorelei is under the belief that your footwear doesn’t match the rest of your outfit in coloration nor design style, and is therefore unfitting.” Prima quickly explains, to Lorelei’s surprise.

“Means she thinks yer shoes is rubbish, mate.” Jago elaborates with a snicker.
Everyone on his side is stone still. Lorelei doesn’t even know what to say, and you-

“You. Me. Ring. Now.” Eagle Mask growls out, accompanied by glares from all remaining individuals standing. “My shoes are GREAT.”

...uh?

>...you’re not getting involved with this. As long as she doesn’t get killed.
>Yeah, okay, time to try and smooth things over…
>Well...they are kinda ugly.
>Other

>>2881914
>“Not debating that they’re not cool, just that it’s not what I thought you’d go for, given the armor. Although I am curious, where’d you get them? Is it something you bought in the Intersection, or did you bring it back?”

>>2881914
>“Not debating that they’re not cool, they aren'tjust that it’s not what I thought you’d go for, given the armor.

>>2881914
>Other
They do clash with the rest of the outfit.

>>2881914
>>2881930
>>2881953
I'd like a combination of these.

>>2881914
lmao

Goddamnit, lorry!

>Well...they look like hand-me-downs.

>>2881914
>Well...they are kinda ugly. No sense in pretending that they aren’t. It would be a real bummer if you went through the rest of your life wearing those things without at least some kind of reality check.

>>2881914
We'll need to have a chat with the robots later about speaking your mind and picking fights.

>Yeah, okay, time to try and smooth things over…
We've already got one enemy Outgoer group, we don't need another.

>>2881914
Supporting >>2881953
>They do clash with the rest of the outfit.
He needs different footwear for that armor and a different outfit for those shoes. Can't have both at the same time.

Also supporting the idea of later on talking to the bots about minding what they say

Rolled 11, 16, 9 = 36 (3d20)

Locked.

I'm gonna need a roll for this one.

1d20, best of 3.

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>2882001

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>2882001

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>2882001

Oh yes

FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!

>>2882003
>>2882008
>>2882011
(sigh)

>>2881914
We should fight dirty.

And introduce him to the Chef guy.

They'll get along like a house on fire.

Welp. We tried.

Writing!

Miranda: Fashion Police

>>2882032
I wonder if we can use the harmonized mana attack to trick him.

Act all frustrated that it didn't work, pretend it's our only attack.

Really ham it up, villain style.

Then we can summon a bunch of mana blasts and not harmonize them and he won't dodge because he'll think we're a scrub.

>>2882046
Eh. I like it, but take in consideration that he might be a little bit above our power level.

>>2882023
The chef? Remind me who he was, because I’m drawing a blank...

Actually, belay that. I'll be taking a breather for a couple hours, but will be back later in the day.

>>2882051
The guy we fought at that event and who we agreed to spar with later on

>>2882059
You mean the Aussie guy?

...ugh...