Your name is Shu, and in your quest to kill the gluttonous god that devoured your planet whole, you’ve made truer friends than you ever had before the end of the world. It’s been a little over two weeks since you woke to find the familiar people and places you once surrounded yourself with replaced with Amalgams, twisted horrors that stalk a pulsing Fleshscape of muscled hills and pumping rivers of bile. Those that survived have been gifted abilities that warp what it means to be human, and now you and every other Daughter on the planet are journeying to the place where it all ends; the Cord, a location that promises, once scaled, a resolution to this hell coupled with a curse of repeating the cycle anew.Now, you and your team of Rath, Julia, and Amara stand before the Forge you crossed a river of seething acid to locate, though you’re less than pleased with what you’ve found…Archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Body%20Horror%20QuestCharacter Abilities: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15ctgm_liaNO0e0B6zAcIUrmfDN0tWiXds3L4FvogI2M/edit#gid=0Relic Listing: https://pastebin.com/8qNSREwWTwitter: https://twitter.com/bodyhorrorquest?lang=enTeam Equipment: Julia – Ignition Gauntlets: Amara – Whistle (Empty), Shawl
“Bullshit!” Rath yells, she sheer force of her kick sending hairline cracks splintering across the base of the obsidian hearth. The infuriated redhead paces as you stare at the inactive Forge, your fingers on your chin as you ponder what could’ve happened in the short time since you were last here. “Did you know they could be deactivated like this?” You ask, and she turns her flushed and freckled face your way.“Nah, man. From what Niku told me, they’re supposed to be all glowy and shit but somebody went and ripped out the shiny bits.” She replies, staring at the dull onyx stonework before giving it another jab with the balls of her right foot. “Now this thing is just a shitty stone igloo, as far as I’m concerned. It’s useless without the core.”“Hmm…” You hear Amara muse aloud beside you, and you glance down to see she’s mimicking your contemplative pose until she makes a sudden declaration. “…I can find it!”“What?” Rath breathes, one pale eyebrow arched at the seven-year-old beside you.“I can find it!” She repeats, staring up at you with two-tone eyes and a wide smile. You’re about to request an explanation when she runs off, light blue dress swaying about as she exits the Forge room and emerges into the crimson light of the fleshscape’s eternal dusk. She points at the ramshackle town that stretches before you when you rejoin her side, and you see that Julia gazes out on the same depressing sight, her dark eyes wary. “It went thataway!” Amara says, and just before she can march off, Julia’s hand is on her collar faster than your eyes are able to follow. The artist’s dark gaze meets yours, the unnaturally cold whipping around her long, straw-colored hair.“I d-don’t like this place, Shu.” Julia says, her timid voice a barely audible whisper, an utterance nearly devoured up by the vicious bluster that’s picked up since your arrival. “Is the F-forge w-worth it?”“Totally.” Answers Rath, joining the three of you from the dim depths of the Forge room as she cracks four sets of knuckles, her extra limbs glowing a luminescent and volatile orange. “We’ll beat the hell out of whoever took that core and maybe figure out what else it can be used for. I’m game if you are, ladies.”Rath’s bright amber eyes stare into yours as do those of Amara and Julia, so you know you need to make a call. >>Follow Amara’s lead in tracking down the Forge’s Core into the twisted town. If a Forge can be used for other things, you’d like to know what the thief has in mind.>>Continue on around the town and towards the wastelands beyond it. You trust Julia’s instincts that this is a trap, and you’re not interested in pursuing it further.>>Even if the Forge is a temporary bust, Doctor West’s workstation is also a notable location to inspect. You’ll head there, figure out what she was up to, and then decide where to go from there.>>Write-InYOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>3397756>Follow Amara’s lead in tracking down the Forge’s Core into the twisted town. If a Forge can be used for other things, you’d like to know what the thief has in mind.
(Voting shall close in one and a half hours, Gentlemen.)
>>3397756Hey BHOP, does Julia mean she doesn't like the town the Forge sits in? Also, since Amara is in our party, our swarmling cap is temporarily boosted to 22 slots right?>"Think of it as this Julia, A forge is like an artist's tool. Everyone uses it to make relics or works of Functional art. If you were a sculptor who took a break from working on a granite sculpture, then found out that someone stole your Hammer and Chisel while you're away, how would you feel?">Spawn a Camo-Scout-Swarmling (I think this will cost 10% BIO) and send it ahead of us as a forward scout hopefully as a early warning system. Spawn a Knight Class swarmling as well. Then load up a Hollowpoint and a parabellum. >"Amara sweetie, Miss Julia is scared that the town might hold nasty monsters like the one you, Julia, Rath, and Dorian fought. Can you ask the town if there's any nasty surprises like said monsters or daughters?">Amara has the whistle readied with "VUL RHO" (spell effect: debuffs the enemies)Why do I get the feeling that B'ni's the thief that stole the forge keys? Also, glad to see ya.
>>3397787(Good to see you as well! It's good to be back. Also, you are correct regarding Julia's feelings towards the town and the Swarmling cap boost.)
>>3397756If they can't consume the core then they most likely took it to use as bait, whoever they are. Safe to assume this is a trap. We have to turn the tables on these hunters if we want to recover the core. Can you talk to the land and learn as much as possible about what came through here and where they went? We'll progress slow and cairful. [Can we use a camo-stalwart on Rath and have a camo swarm lift here to keep her camo'ed against the sky as a hidden flying overwatch? ... or a secret Rath bomb I suppose.]
>>3397799(One Knightling would be strong enough to lift an armored Rath skyward.)
>>3397802Air-force division now daughter. On a side note. I was thinking. Ascending the cord gives you one wish. Any one wish. We learned that this virus that consumes planets is a multitude of ultra apex-predators essentially. Why not make the wish to convert this virus into an anti-body. Make it become a consumer of worlds that tracks and consumes the other viruses. Also each one seems to be an encyclopedia of everything they consume. Furthermore it is not unreasonable to assume that if ascending the cord gives you access to the virus' power for a wish, having the anti-body consume viral-bodies would give access to their archives and power. Top the food chain. Stop the consumption. Rebuild in whatever image pleases you. Just a thought.
>>3397802>>3397799I gotta say, I'm liking Knight-lings more and more.>>3397809Um. Anon, Shu IS the Air Force. We unlocked Knight Class Swarmlings, with enough time and preparation, we can spawn enough knight-lings that function as living Jetpacks. Which reminds me, I'm still itching to create a set of Relics that basically function as booster rockets/jetpacks for Rath.
>>3397817Next Objective:Acquire flight jackets and aviators for all members of the party.
Ah damnit mondays, missed the first vote by 3 minutes. Still, glad to see this back in action! ill catch the next deadline.
(Writing now, Gentlemen.)
>>3397756“She's kind of an artist with a Forge, Julia.” You say, feeling your back ache, your spine throbbing as a Knightling works its way out of your hive, turning to Rath. “So I know you’re not a fan of water. How about heights?” Despite the face she makes, within a few minutes a cloaked Knightling carries an armored Rath high above the cramped city as you, Julia, and Amara venture forth into the twisted corridors deeper within. High, crumbling walls loom on either side of you, the alleys of the town seeming to draw you further into its belly. You glance above you when you sense Rath’s empathic connection to you suddenly cut out as you’re loading rounds into the Contender, at the same moment the little girl in front of you bolts forwards. “It’s this way!” Amara says just ahead of you, darting into a half-collapsed doorframe as Julia gives chase, and with a start you realize you can’t sense them in your empathic field despite the short distance. “Rath?” You broadcast skyward. “Rath, can you hear m…” It’s at that moment that the earth around you erupts in a shower of stone and meat, and it’s by a hair’s breadth that you avoid the spines of earth that spear out from the right as you roll into the open doorway. When your eyes adjust to the haze of particulates blown up by the terraforming, you’re able to focus on the hallway ahead of you as you see Julia disappear around the corner in pursuit of your youngest teammate. You attempt to transmit across the field but all you can sense is static, a steady crackle in your mind when you attempt to commune with your wayward friends. You’re on your feet in an instant, racing down the hall to regroup with you friends when you run headlong into Julia, nearly knocking her over as you round the corner where you last saw her. “Are you alright?!” You ask, hands on her shoulders as you peer past her, revealing only the faded emptiness of the hallway beyond. “I lost her.” She replies dejectedly, gesturing towards the dim corridors ahead. “She was too fast. I’m so sorry.” Your breath hitches, fear gripping your heart as you become vaguely aware of the direction of the jamming signal, somewhere in the opposite direction of where you saw Amara run off to. “It’s fine, we just need to get everyone back together.” You say, and large dark eyes stare into yours, unblinking. “I’m not sure where she went. Do you want to take the lead?” She offers, gesturing down the hall. “I’ll support you from behind and we’ll find her in no time.” >>Julia’s right. Amara’s the weakest among you, and you have no idea where she is. Take Julia and track her down, as quickly as you can. >>Try to make your way back outside and flag down Rath. She's up there alone, and that just won't stand. >>Pursue the source of the jamming signal. You’ll be able to get a hold of Rath and track down Amara once it's down. >>Write-In YOU ARE IN CONTROL
FUCK. We're in a maze. A terraformed maze. A maze that cuts off any empathetic field due to the jammer it has.
(Voting to close in one and a half hours, Gentlemen.)
>>3397893The maze will be deadliest the closer we get to the source, which is also what's jamming us, presumably.Rath is alone, but arguably the safest/capable of taking care of herself. It may be worthwhile to bring her down and have her join us, if it can he done fast. Amara is in danger, yes, but no need to throw us into danger needlessly to follow her. She can friendship-no-jutsu enough to stall some threats, no doubt. >>Try to make your way back outside and flag down Rath. She's up there alone, and that just won't stand.
>>3397893>>3397919Supporting
>>3397893>>Julia’s right. Amara’s the weakest among you, and you have no idea where she is. Take Julia and track her down, as quickly as you can.Rath isnt trapped and is more than capable on her own. Meanwhile Amara is literally only support.
>>3397893>>Try to make your way back outside and flag down Rath. She's up there alone, and that just won't stand.At first i was gonna vote the other way but then i started wondering what the hell the knightling would do without a connection to us. Safe to say i don't quite feel so smart anymore.
>>3397893"We need to get to Rath. I can't reach her across the channel, and my connection to my swarm is hazy at this range." You reply, starting back down the passage from whence you entered the crumbling building. "If she fell, we need to help her.""Okay, good. Then we can get the five of us back together." Julia replies with a hasty nod, and you hesitate mid-step."Julia, it's just you, me, Amara, and Rath." You reply, studying her familiar face. "Are you okay? Is the interference getting to you?"Her blonde brow furrows as she massages her temples, eyes screwed tight."Yeah, I'm alright. I think that's it, yeah." She says finally, giving you a weak smile. "I'm worried about Wrath, we need to go help her."You open your mouth to respond when a flurry of sounds from the street ahead of you echoes through the town, the high, grating howl of shattered glass coupled alongside the guttural collapse of concrete on stone.You pray that wasn't Rath making a landing.As you take a step forwards, a distant scream sounds from somewhere deep within the building behind you, making you turn, looking over Julia's blonde head of hair and towards the source. The sounds of another clash from the street reaches your ears from outside, but no other voices echoes out from the depths of the complex you're in.You're pulled in two different directions, torn between a scream and the sounds of a fight just past the bone lances that bar the door outside. You sense your Platelings just beyond your view, but you can't tell if they're still attached to your friend, or if their owner is moving.You wish the thought didn't make your veins run cold as you struggle to decide, Julia edging closer to you as you find yourself in the unenviable position of prioritizing one life over another.>>Run towards the sounds of battle from outside.>>Run towards the source of the scream behind you.>>You'll take one, and Julia will take the other. You're not going to choose one life of a friend iver another, and you trust Julia. (Decide who goes after whom.)>>Write-In YOU ARE IN CONTROL
>WAKE UP>Hit yourself/shoot youself in the foot with a hollowpoint.THE WHOLE THING IS A TRAP. WE'RE STUCK WITH NEUROMANCY ILLUSIONS! Look closely at the Filename and images of Julia pickman! something's up!
>>3398072>>3398061Linking this. Also, motherfucker.
>>3398072Oh, my thought was a Dopplerganger, someones wearing her face, not that we git dream'd.>>3398061>Turn and study Julia. Something isnt right here. Either this isnt real, and/or that isnt Julia, or at least not her under her own control. Ask her something inly she could answer.
>>3398061>>3398072>>3398093When comparing the last two pics, it does seem suspicious. Supporting to try these first and if it doesn't work then let's try thinking of something else.
>>3398093>>3398096Only issue is i cant think of a question. Maybe ask her about her artwork, or make up a lie and see if she falls for it. We sadly have not gotten alot of one on one time with Julia just yet to ask anything super deep or personal.
>>3398072>>3398061Changing my vote to shoot Julia with a Hollowpoint.
I wonder if her calling Rath Wrath was a typo/auto-correct issue in BHOP's end. Are they pronounced differently enough that we can justify noticing it IC?The weaknesses of all mental attacks is dealing with those who have multiple personalities/identities. See if the two girls we've consumed have anything to say. Better yet, can we talk to our gun? [The name escapes me. Enigma?]
>>3398108(The Contender goes by Karma.)(And 'Wrath' was no accident.)
>>3398108BHOP has literally deleted and reposted the update over less important things than messing up a name. It was intentional.
>>3398103>>3398061Re-amending my vote: >Impulse Swallow/Executioner's Jaw at Julia for a grapple and close range attack>Then follow up with a Parabellum shot if she escapes the grapple.>"Nice try, but you fucked up 3 things. >1: Julia has an inherent stutter>2: you mentioned "5 of us">3: You included a W in Rath's name.
>>3398124Oh shit, you beautiful bastard, i was just coming back to mention we didn't see her stutter.Its a Dopplerganger guys, though whether in a dreamscape or just a mimic ability is yet to be known, though, usually we have some sorta hint it's the dreamscape which we haven't seen.
>you see Julia disappear around the corner in pursuit of your youngest teammate>You’re on your feet in an instant, racing down the hall to regroup with you friends when you run headlong into Julia, nearly knocking her over as you round the corner where you last saw her.THAT JULIA IS FAKE
>>3398061A slow, dawning realization strikes as you stare into Julia’s dark eyes, studying her face for a half-second longer than you would have if you hadn’t noticed her sudden lack of stutter. “Julia, I’m trusting you to go help Amelia.” You bait, taking a step away as you feel your stomach roil, your tongue coiling at the ready. “I’ll go check on Rath, since I don’t think her electricity would do anything to help her land.”“Okay, awesome.” The stranger in front of you replies with a smile, not missing a beat as her unblinking stare remains fixed on you. “If you want to go on ahead, I’ll go look for Amelia and…”Something in your face must’ve given it away, since her voice falters as her sentence tapers off into nothingness, the two of you just staring at each other from across the hall for a long, silent moment.You both move at once.A flick of her wrist sends a sleek calcite dagger streaking past your face, a jerk of your head sparing your eyeball and instead sending it slicing past your right ear as your stomach-jaws open wide, sending your prehensile tongue rocketing across the space between you both as she ducks low to close the gap with uncanny speed. When your sticky fifth limb hits home she jerks back, the girl’s flesh pulled away like a limp sheet as your tongue strips away her façade. The fluttering sheet of skin disappears into your ravenous maw as you bring the Contender to bear and pull the trigger, all in a single, swift motion. A high-pitched clang follows the Contender’s guttural blast, the sound of bullet meeting blade echoing through the building, and when the dust settles you aim down the barrel at your adversary, revealed. A conniving gaze meet your own from over the knife’s edge, and as she lowers it to flick your blocked round to the floor before you, a Cheshire grin splits across her face as she speaks.“April Fools, ya’ cheeky cunt.”(Continued)
>>3398236“Name’s Penny, luv.” She says with a grin, cockney accent thick on her tongue as she spins her knife around one forefinger. “Oof, yer a tall drink a’ liquor, inn’t ‘cha? Wot’s yer name?”“Shu.” You reply coolly, taking a step back in time with her step closer. “And you’re a shitty actress, Penny.”“Ah, tha’ stage wus never my passion, troof be told. Say, s’a pretty dress you got there, luv.” She says, grey eyes staring at you playfully from underneath dark green tinted bangs, tapping the toes of her left boot against the concrete floor as she sizes you up. “You in’ yer lot wouldn’t ‘appen to call yerselves tha’ Midnight Crew, hm?”“I’ve never heard of them.” You say, finger caressing Karma’s trigger, ready to pull at a moment’s hesitation. You note a small amount of tension leaving Penny’s slender frame at your admission, and she smiles wider.“Oi, fukkin’ neato. S’way you was carryin’ on with four gals an’ tha like, I thoug’ for a sec’n them rumors was true. Solo job ain’t no big to-do, then. Don’t ‘chu worry your pretty little head ov’rit, yeah?” Her eyes narrow, her hips lowering as she gets ready to pounce, glittering gaze fixed on your every move.“Mah mates an’ I ‘ill make this quick for you n’ yours, right?”Shu the DefiantVS.PENNY DREADFULHP: 136%BIO: 105% (1 Knightling, 5 Platelings on Rath, 6/22 Active) CONTENDER: Hollowpoint loaded, second barrel empty. Basic Form.RAVENOUS MAW: Primed.ACT: 2/2Threat: Close, cocky, preparing to strike.YOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>3398240She's a Homestuck fan, we need to show her our stabs her for the good of Humanity.Our guns the best bet we have here, keep her at a distance with swarmlings and pepper her with bullets.
>>3398274Thing is that even though we can spend the time to fight her, We have more pressing business. Like Finding Amara, regrouping, and cutting the Gordion knot in this damn maze in getting the forge key. Also, because I haven't even seen Homestuck, where's the reference?
>>3398240Hah, homestuck fan. >We need to end this quickly. Shes got friends, and one of ours isnt made to be on their own. Julia and Rath both have it within them to at least hold out, though Julia might be with Amara.>Spawn eight swarmlings, recursive, and one Knightling.>Send four in each direction, two wide, two close, to box her in hard.>Aim down the middle but slightly to the left, though still on her. Try and get her to block the left shot, or dodge right, then strike.>Shoot out our tongue the moment she counters our shot, the knightling riding under it to hide it. One or the other should get a hit on her.>Have the swarmlings cut off her back and sides, then swoop in once we get a good hit in. No mercy, aim for the eyes, throat, Achilles tendons. Any place that isnt pleasant and brings her down hard.>As a last ditch effort, spawn two arms hidden on our back, so if she somehow gets close we can surprise sock or block her.
(Voting to close in two hours, Gentlemen.)
>>3398283The midnight crew is a gang of chitinous sentient chess peice based folks(loosely, they all look like pawns honestly), specifically the black side, and at one point the black queen joins them and wears a space themed black dress with green stars on it.
>>3398394She does not. She joined the Felt instead (mobster gang of green time manipulators).>>3398283They also have a song.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br294PLbHBA
>>3398409Im not gonna get into a homestuck arguement as i hardly care, but she specifically is with Jacks crew for a bit, in at least one side story/iteration. Or maybe jack is just fucking there too for some damn reason, fucking story is such a goddamned mess that dragged on into a terrible ending i honestly couldn't care less anymore.
>>3398430(Homestuck is absolute chaos with a non-ending. Fun characters and interesting ideas that deserved better, but that's neither here nor there.)
>>3398439>When your story is so fucked you need to make retcons an in-universe mechanic.
>>3398240>Spawn 10 basic swarmlings to harry her and generally cause mischief. If she's sufficiently distracted, run for it and regroup with Rath.>load up a B.33 Special.>
>>3398578(My apologies, but I think that the site might have eaten part of your vote, Anon.)
>>3398626I may have forgotten halfway through typing it on what I was gonna have for a follow up. I remember now. It was>Spawn 2 pairs of HundredHands to pin her in a grapple and hold her at gunpoint if Penny pursues.Also, stomach ulcers are pure anathema to enjoying good food that sits in your stomach after eating it.
(Gentlemen, as work has been a little hectic this Monday, I will most likely have to wait until I get home shortly to finalize the next update. It won't be too large of a pause, but I just wanted you all to be aware. Thank you so much for participating, and take care.)
Spiteful Embrace Born of twisted feeling and caring hateful emotion these swarmlings are a sadly sung mirror of platelings. Flying to meet the object of their attentions they embrace them with armored petals mournfully serrated and dripping with acidic loss. Their cutting, burning constriction leaves the entombed vulnerable to a devastating tearful strike. Swarmlings that grapple the foe and apply physical and acidic DoT. Five successful grapples entomb the foe blinding and restraining them. Any Good? If so i would think spawning a host of em would be great for one on one fights like this even if the enemy kills a few. [Assuming this really is a one on one].
Remember to like BHOPS posts, we need to evolve him into a skeleton lord.
>>3398873
>>3398880>This quest is wish fufillment for skeletons who have no flesh suit to keep them warm.
>>3398240Your spine twitches with creative potential at the same moment she’s surging forwards, eight swarmlings squirming free of the holes along the open back of your dress. Her right arm flings out mid-charge and you flinch, a flurry of jagged blades filling the hallway and slicing into your brood’s shells, but they continue on, relentless in their pursuit as she closes the gap as fast as you can bring the Contender to bear.You squeeze the trigger, and all other noise is drowned out in the gun’s bellowing warcry. It kicks in your hand, the recoil carrying it out of your line of sight in time to see Penny hurtling at along the floor in a baseball slide that carries her past your ankle. A cold chill of pain slithers up your left leg as the gash she’s carved along your calf reaches your brain. You round on her despite the frigid lance of agony that spears up your leg to see her rising behind you, interposed between you and the door. She smirks at you during the brief instant where she's delighting in her successful strike and when she's realizing the massive Knightling that was hidden on your back is tearing towards her on furious wings.A second blade emerges from her hand almost instinctually, allowing her to parry your Knightling's attack at the last second as it flies past her. “Oi, a ‘Ive Mistress!" She calls out, keeping an eye behind her as she calls out to you. "We got wunna those, only wit’ slicey buttaflies n’ whatnot. She taught me 'a few tricks'n how to deal wiv you lot."The sound of a grinding crackle sounds from around you, as the serrated knives imbedded in your swarm burrow into their shells, a hasty glance behind you showing the blades slowly carving them apart from the inside out as they struggle to rise from the floor. You turn back to your foe, caught between you, your rejuvenating swarm, and the Knightling that hovers between her and the door. An extra pair of limbs snake out of your shoulders, flexing-newly formed digits as you prepare for her next assault. It's funny...in her haste to put herself between you and the exit, she allowed herself to be flanked, which only serves to...You finally see it; a scarlet strand, slowly leeching your blood from the wound on your cheek and left foot, linking you to the serrated knife held in her off-hand grip. Somehow, she smiles wider, bright white teeth glinting at you from the middle of the hall, a taunt that makes you ball each of your four fists in anger."Hope you wusn't countin' on yer healin', luv."HP: 108% (REGEN redirected to Penny, 1 Stack of BLEED active)BIO: 103% (2 Knightlings, 5 Platelings on Rath, 8 Swarmlings affected with something unknown, 15/22 Active, 2 Extra Limbs) CONTENDER: Empty, Basic Form.RAVENOUS MAW: Primed.ACT: 2/2Threat: Between you and the door, flanked by you and your Knightling.YOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>3399042right. shes fast. and she isnt gonna let us get away either. speed has always been a weakness of ours.>spawn two banelings to sever the cords on us.>see if the recursive inner swarmlings cant deal with the knives, otherwise have them rip out from their underbelly silently and make their way towards us.>switch contender to sword mode.>go forward like you are bent on attacking, hoping to goad her into either parrying or lunging too.If Lunge;>Stop dead in your tracks and have the recursives shotgun forward to act as a screen, from the floor to the ceiling.>using her momentum against her, spawn four more fists and bring them all forward at different angles to take a sock at her, she only has two arms, so she can only deal with two.>when she goes for a stab, twist those arms to catch the blades in your bones, throwing her off balance and even potentially temporarily locking her in place.>bring the sword forward for a stab once you get her in this position, then go for a tongue grapple while your Knightlings, Banelings, and Recursives go for a swarm maul.If Parry;>Keep going forward, but not for an attack.>Have our Banelings lunge forward while our Knightling keeps her from retreating. >Have our Recursives use the moment to go across the floor to dig into her feet and legs.>with her focus on blocking an incoming attack, use our tongue to latch onto a point past or near her and pull ourselves towards her at lightning speed.>Becomes the ball of arms, spawn like 8 more and come at her like a wrecking ball.>if she can even move with our recursives and banelings knawing at her legs, all moving will do is let us go, otherwise she has to take the hits. all of them.
>>3399042She's fast enough to dodge all Contender shots and can easily put down normal swarmlings. Make another 3 or so to help the knight occupy her while we sever that cord/help our swarm shake off her ability.
>>3399042>>3399098Analysis:She's a hit&Run assassin type. And she also has experience fighting against us. Bleedstacks are a thing. Her knives inflict bleed as well as scramble swarmlings with an unknown status effect. Probably confusion or slowness. Her win condition is stopping Shu from regrouping. Our win condition is to escape stop her from harrying us. She expects us to keep on relying our swarmlings. She aims to bleed us dry with a thousand cuts.>Spawn a set of arms from the Knightling, have the knightling grapple her limbs.>Contender to sword form and cut the lifelink >if she tries to make another bleed stack lifelink to her, bite the arm that holds the knife or grab her legs with the executioner's Jaw. >have our Tongue grip her leg. Our best option is to go for a full grapple. Don't spawn any more swarmlings. Use what we have.
>>3399134i dont think we need to avoid more swarmlings, nor using the ones we already have. we just have to do what we usually dont do, which is focus on our other abilities more with swarmlings only being there to aid them, rather than the other way around.
>>3399187A thought occurred to me.Penny is experienced with fighting against hive mistresses as in killing the chaff and whatnot, but what if instead of outright attempting to kill her, what if we use the numbers we have to simply grapple her into submission? swarm her such that with our many arms and swarmlings that she can't escape a grapple.>>3399042Amending my voting option>Have our Knightling spawn a second pair of human arms, increase the grapple chance. >Dogpile the girl have our basic swarmlings join in.>Spawn 2 swarmlings from the Hollowpoint (A pair of platelings that will cuff and lock her knee joints)>Have our Ravenous Maw and Tongue lasso and grapple her to maintain grapple superiority>once we confirm the grapple, Put the Karma gun to her head and load up a Parabellum.
>>3399187Or we could focus on the differences between us and who she practiced with. Slicing butterflies are easier to hit with but do less damage than burrowing bugs, I'll bet. Land one and she won't be prepared to extricate it.
>>3399232That is a good idea. She might also be unfamiliar with Platelings. Actually, lets throw platelings at her and disable her Iron Maiden style.
>>3399232>>3399241the biggest issue is that butterflies are probably faster or at least much harder to hit, so she has excellent aim at our own bugs, hence me focusing on using them more as support and relying on other abilities to do the actual damage and use her own agility against her where we can.
>>3399244They're also squishier, which is why I wanted to help our swarmlings shake off her attack. She won't expect them to recover.
>>3399281yet she still got all our swarmlings down already, maybe not dead but clearly dying. like i put in mine, either the recursives are the key, or our swarmlings are already dead and we should use what we got inside them to other effects.
>>3399286If they were dead they wouldn't be struggling to recover
>>3399351>maybe not dead but clearly dying>not deadyes i very clearly pointed that out. they still are on the ground with knives, and i quote>a hasty glance behind you showing the blades slowly carving them apart from the inside out as they struggle to rise from the floor.id say, as i said, that implies they are dying.
>>3399376I think they're suffering from Bleed damage. We should have them reswarm Penny and attack her via grapple then use the health-pollen they gathered to repair/heal themselves to counteract the bleed knives.
>>3399392i feel like being torn up from the inside out implies much more than bleed damage personally.
>>3399401I feel like it happens pretty regularly above a certain level. Spartan tanked it for a while.
>>3399412>>3399401from all the abilities Penny's shown so far, she's got a couple of levels of Humoral Paladin, Flesh Artisan stealth/camouflage, and Calcite Armory for knives. She's basically a stealth assassin with her kit, but we still haven't figured out which of those abilities is her true core skill.
>>3399042>>3399098A freshly-spawned pair of Banelings fly over your shoulders to sever the scarlet thread as the Contender warps in your grip, twisting into an elongated blade that you bring to bear against the girl before you. You lunge forwards alongside your brood to bait an attack, and Penny takes a single step forwards, her eyes glinting with confident mischief.Mid-step, you watch as the skin on her arm ripples, the only warning before she flips her knife around in her off hand and tears the roiling flesh off her arm, flinging it towards you. You leap back as it expands to fill the space before you, a translucent sheet that blocks your view of her and your Knightling, just as a pair of arms erupt from from its glossy shell."Ha, brilliant! You wanna' know 'ow to beat a 'Ive Mistress, luv?" She cackles from behind the screen, and you suddenly hear what sounds like the grinding of teeth from beyond your line of sight. You command your Knightling to attack as your swarmlings lazily fly towards the screen, slowed by the barbed and twisting calcite thorns tearing them apart from the inside out. They attack the screen with all they have, and you begin to realize their their sluggish movements are only being hampered by the sheet as it clings to each bladed claw that tries to tear it down. After a few long moments, the sheer weight of your brood pulls down the sheet, revealing Penny wielding a cruel-looking blade, admiring her handiwork before she turns towards you with her ever-present Cheshire grin.A longer, wider blade, its length revving with a narrow spinal cord edged with jagged teeth, the sort that are still grinding apart your brood as they lie incapacitated under the sheet of adhesive skin. You glance behind her to see your Knightling pinned to the wall by a second sheet, its severed claws and pair of humanoid limbs scattered beneath it. The crimson strand that's slowly draining your wound resumes now that line of sight has returned, a scarlet, barely-perceptible thread that keeps your woulds from healing, despite the efforts of the Banelings that hover by your side."First part is flypaper. I ya' don't 'ave a swatter, a chainsaw'll do." She laughs, though behind her confident, mocking smile, you sense something else, something that wavers within her.Your ability to grapple has her rattled as the sounds of the skirmish outside intensify.HP: 108% (REGEN redirected to Penny, 1 Stack of BLEED active)BIO: 97% (2 Knightlings [1 SPIKED], 5 Platelings, 2 Banelings, 8 Swarmlings [8 SPIKED], 17/22 Active) CONTENDER: Empty, Basic Form. Hollowpoint Active behind you (BIO:10%)RAVENOUS MAW: Primed.ACT: 2/2Threat: Between you and the door. Wielding a single chainsaw blade.YOU ARE IN CONTROL
(Gentlemen, voting shall close in one and a half hours.)
>>3399439Alright, make platelings and bog her down with them and other minions that can still move, then execute with the Contender.
>>3399439>Load up a BB Special and a Fullbore>spawn two limbs on our knightling and have him pull himself free.>spawn platlings and cover our tongue, but do in inside so she doesn't see.>with a body of arms and sword at the ready, have our banelings attach to two arms to act as weapons and run forward.>If she tries to wrap us in the skin, the acid and drills should eat through it aswell as our sword, but still sidestep it if it comes.>go in for overwhelming force, but as soon as she tries to chainsaw us, wrap it in the armored part of our tongue to keep it pinned even temporarily then go apeshit on her with our arms and sword.honestly im at a loss, so all i can think of is simply rushing her with brute force. shes almost too perfectly a counter to us.BHOP you have been forgetting your ID.
>>3399482Seconding. She has experience with Hive Mistresses, and with her flypaper, she can bog down our minions and shred them apart with her chainsaw. In addition, her knife attacks do damage over time as well as slow our regen, so she'll just evade our attacks and use hit and run tactics to wear us down.The best way to counter her is to get up close and hit her as hard as we goddamn can.
>>3399482(Thank you for letting me know! I didn't even realize, I just assumed it was there.)
>>3399506Is the chainsaw blade a two-handed weapon or a one-handed weapon?
>>3399506no problem.>>3399482also adding>Knightling should be ready to pounce forward and BEAT on her like a champ and to get some revenge.>if we get a shot once up close, try and get a shot from either barrel into her, but dont yet waste them if we cant confirm a hit.>if we can, kick her hard in the crotch. maybe it will at least shut up her cockiness if nothing else.
>>3399521(Two-Handed.)
>>3399525Well then, that clears things up. We're at a good grapple advantage. Also, is the Karma gun still in Lionheart form or in basic Derringer?
>>3399482>>3399522wait, chainsaw. honey. clogs. a chain weapon is worthless if it cant spin, and we have a shot made to clog things up.amending>as we go forward, once we know shes not gonna skin throw at us, fire off the BB into her gun, to clog it up.>do the rest as planned, now only waiting to fire the Fullbore if we get a good shot.just like the tongue, it may not fully stop it, but it should at least weaken its effectiveness.
>>3399561>*into her chainsawpfft, whoops. thinking too on the fly my bad.
>>3399439>Have your Hollowpoint spawn a Honey engorged Baneling (I'll call it a Sapling) that suicide charges itself into the chainsaw and explodes with sticky honey-sap>Send your banelings to suicide against her chainsaw. they'll act as distraction aid as well as a way to weaken her chainsaw as Shu charges in for the grapple. >Transform Contender into LionHeart Blade, Charge and Parry> use your spare arms to Grapple her arms.>use your tongue to grapple her waist, then Grapple/bite down with Executioner's Jaw/Ravenous Maw. >"Sorry to be a Buzzkill, but I've got places to be. Not time to stop for tea and Crumpets, except Julia's. Unless you've done something to Julia. That's when I'm MAD.">>3399561What if we had a swarmling that's basically a controllable version of the B.33 Special? instead of spending an act to load up our gun to aim and fire, why not just spawn a bug version of our ammo?
>>3399530(Karma/Contender is still in Lionheart mode, my apologies.)
hello. also huh homestuck refrences? i love homestuck. anyway wasnt expecting this on april foolz day (wasnt watching btw was just watching 4chan untill i saw it pop up XD hey bhop though
>>3399634(Hello, I'm glad you could join!)
>>3399634this is me btw whoops forgot my name resets when i change wifi. im home for spring break
>>3399504>>3399465>>3399565>>3399640So Gentlemen, to compile all of our general plans as well as sort out the details, We're going for a full grapple in anticipation of parrying and pinning Penny's chainsaw blade. Things in agreement>have our spare limbs and Karma (GunBlade) parrying and grappling the chainsaw blade to also grapple and pin Penny.>Knightling grappling her from Behind with another pair of arms.>Banelings fly in to intercept any adhesive sheet skin by acid detonation, the rest go to attack Penny>Ravenous Maw to grapple and chomp down on Penny with the Tongue to propel her and Shu together faster than expected.Now the one of the things in contention is the fact that we have to aim and fire gun with the B.33 special as our selected round. What I propose instead is this:>use the Hollowpoint Hive to spawn a Bug version of the B.33 named "Sap-ling" and have that swarmling suicide itself and jam the chainsaw teeth. Saves us the problem of aiming the gun.Does this sound like a good composite of our plans for this round?
anyway so this guy is taking away our regen right how much regen is that anyway ? i might just go into the pastebin though right now >>3399648also sounds good anyway im hanging around but im doing art in the background (maybe i should do some fanart for this while im at it :? eh whatever
>>33996585% per round. She would be a hard counter to B'ni. >>3399439Sending compiled plans to BHOP. See here >>3399648
>>3399648Its been said in the past we cant spawn new swarmling types so a no go on that sapling.Sticking with my own plan for now regardless.
(Writing now, Gentlemen.)>>3399658(Good luck on your art, Gen! A friend of mine has actually taken an interest in the story and she's also doing some fanart for it, since she has a few favorite characters so far.)
>>3399788Are you sure about that? We invented Winglings and a few other swarmling types on the fly. We just need the required ability skills to spawn them. Saplings (honey filled swarmlings) are pure Hive Mistress type as well as a mix of Gluttonous class due to the gluttonous brood augmentation. >>3399808BHOP. I would like your ruling on this case. Is it possible to spawn the bug version of our ammunition (the B.33 special but as a controllable swarmling instead of a bullet)?
>>3399834(I will pause writing momentarily and rule that you may spawn the Swarmling version of the B.33 round. I designed the system with player agency in mind, with particular credence with Calcite Armorers, Hive Mistresses, and Neuromancers having a high degree of freedom in how they evolve and manipulate their abilities.)
>>3399834>>3399846Ah, my bad. I know for a fact earlier a similar idea was shot down as it was ruled 'we can only edit their form, not add or make new abilites.'
>>3399857(If something is game-breaking, then I'll usually veto or offer an alternative. However, since the B.33 round is locked-in as a viable Contender Round, then it makes sense that it could also be a Swarmling variant, though it would still cost 10% BIO to spawn, though it would lack the penetrative power of a fired round. By this logic, the Herculean Fullbore is also able to be made a Swarmling.)
>>3399864eh, fair enough. not something im a fan of, as it feels like it takes away from the contender too much and kinda feels like it goes against past rulings, but your game so do as you please.
>>3399857It's fine. Glad that BHOP laid down the groundwork on how far we can push the boundaries. The mindset that I was having when I thought up of converting the B.33 bullet into the Sap-ling was the idea that constructs (like our swarmlings) were built around a theme (in Shu's case, Bees) and a core ability (hive mistress). Our banelings came from the combination of our Gluttonous ability (stomach acid is a feature of the Gluttonous class, used to break down flesh into usable bio for daughters ) and our Core Hive mistress.Soundlings and Gauntlings were jointly created with daughters of a different class, which they provided the necessary ability class to make the respective specialized swarmlings. (Neuromancy and Calcite armory)Cicada-lings and Winglings were a modification of our existing base swarmling by modifying their wings to either be very loud or powerful which stays within our modifying parameters. You get the drill. tl;dr I basically come up with swarmling ideas that can be made with our current set of bio-classes (Hundred handed, Bee-themed Hive, Stomach Glutton jaws) and either motify or mix different aspects of each class to create something entirely new within reason and with BHOP's approval. >>3399864Thank you for the ruling. Also, I can't help but imagine an Abathur Amalgam wandering the wastes somewhere in the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_-CbVureyU>>3399891I understand the sentiment. I'll try to not turn the our powerset into a swiss-army-hive of sorts with these on-the-fly creations of different swarmlings. As for taking away Karma's thunder, Personally I don't think it does. The Karma gun I feel is a compliment to our Hive skills. A more direct method of dealing damage to the enemy by firing our swarmling variants at them for different effect.
>>3399912nah trust me, as a gun nut i get the difference between shooting something at high velocity and having it fly at bug speed, i just thought it made sense and helped both our ability and the relic feel unique to have their abilities be different.. i also just simply am more iffy on the wishy washy feeling of the ruling. im fine with things being more open, and like BHOP taking our ideas into account, but i also think boundaries and rules need to have actual defined lines, eve if they are far apart, if that makes sense. i simply feel i was told something before that defined greatly how i played the game, only for it to suddenly be changed on me. eh, whatever. it is what it is.
>>3399439You focus, spawning three pairs of arms for your twin Banelings and your pinned Knightling, the latter's newfound swole-ness unnoticed by your foe given your intimidating brood hovering on either side of you, as you bring your blade level to Penny's face with a taunting smirk You adjust your footing, and the moment you make a move forwards, she comes for you.Two quick strides close the gap as she brings her chainblade in a vertical arc down across your chest. You block high with the Contender's Lion Heart form, and everything in your body rattles as the saw's teeth rev hungrily, clashing repeatedly against your blade's peerless form. Her grin falters when your Banelings erupt from behind you, wrapping their arms around her own and hauling her backwards. Penny's surprising strength is slowly overwhelmed with your powerful legs as you push, straining forwards as you begin to overwhelm her vicious offensive.It gives your little friend a clear shot.From underneath your arm, the black-and-yellow Sapling darts out and into the inner workings of Penny's blade. The moment she disengages from you she revs the chain, and it first stops, then breaks entirely. The chain-linked teeth lash out and carve through its wielder's shoulder opening a bloody gash that sends a crimson splatter across the floor and wall.When she opens her mouth, her curse turns into a gasp when your tongue wraps around her bloodied arm, yanking her forwards. She's off-balance, completely taken off-guard as she watches her arm get drawn into your waiting, ravenous jaws. It all happens in an instant that feels stretched into minutes, her eyes widening as your guillotine teeth clamp down, cleanly severing her arm from the elbow down. A scream of rage and pain precedes her kicking against your shuttered second mouth, sending you stumbling backwards and her sprawling against the floor."Fuckin' Gluttons." Penny growls through gritted teeth, slowly rising to her feet, staring daggers at you. "Fuckin' teethy bitches, all'ov 'e...fuckin' hell!"Your Knightling has its revenge as it wraps a pair of arms around her remaining limb, having freed itself to give you a chance to end this...though with the feral girl writhing in its grasp, you're certain she's not going quietly.HP: 108% (REGEN redirected to Penny, 1 Stack of BLEED active)BIO: 138% (2 Knightlings [1 Armed], 5 Platelings, 2 Armed-Banelings, 8 Swarmlings [8 Stuck], 17/22 Active) CONTENDER: Empty, Lionheart Form.RAVENOUS MAW: Primed.ACT: 2/2Threat: Between you and the door. Disarmed, restrained, furious.)YOU ARE IN CONTROL
(Gentlemen, I feel like here is a decent place to stop for the evening. Voting shall close in nine hours, and I shall resume writing in a little less than twelve hours from now. Additionally, I shall open rapid-posting two nights from now, on my Wednesday night as usual. I shall be around for a little while longer to address questions, concerns, and criticisms, and please know that I welcome it all. Thank you all for being such a fantastic audience, and I hope you have a wonderful night.)
>>3399954>have the Banelings grapple her legs and inject their acid.>rush forward, using your tongue to pull yourself along quicker.>Once close, hve half your arms grapple her, the others pummel her.>Have Knighty boi spawn another arm and punch her in her face to keep her under control more.>Impale her chest with your contender then fire off the Fullbore.>Then for good measure twist and pull the blade upwards to come out her neck.>if we succeed, waste no time. cut out swarmlings free and rush after Amara/ the fight to our back.
>>3399954Act 1: Swarmling Action>Banelings should Impale themselves on her legs and lock arms with each other to form a Bug-Bola. Injecting acid, locking her movement down, and preventing her from shedding her skin.>Have the Knightling Impale its Stinger right through her back. Then force her forward by flying momentum. She'll be off balance due to the Knight-ling's wing strength.>Dissolve the 8 Basic Swarmlings stuck on Penny's flypaper to free up swarmling slots. I get the feeling that with the abilities she's shown so far (a skin tight disguise of all things as an aspect of her Flesh Artisan abilities), she's got at least a defensive option that lets her shed her skin to evade that. Impaling her would prevent her from doing that. Act 2:>Prehensile tongue wrap around her neck and end it directly into her mouth then pull yourself and her forwards and bite her head off.>Load up the Lion Heart with the Fullbore While you're pulling her forwards, impale her heart with the Lion Heart, once you have confirmation of the sword sticking into her gut, fire it point blank. Have it cause havoc on her heart and spine. Double/Triple Tap to confirm the kill. Once she's dead ,we can have our Knightling carry her corpse for us to consume and use as portable spare BIO.
>>3398439I'm not THAT well-versed in this quest, but from reading 2-3 threads here's my guesses. Homestuck is trash, but Classpects are a bar of gold in a dumpster-fire.Shu - Heir of LifeAn Heir is protected unknowingly, and Life is the Aspect of growth and positivity. Shu's been protected by one thing or another for a LONG time, even before the Cord. Her social status, B'ni's devotion, her Swarmlings or her allies has had her back in some form or another, the first two without even her awareness. B'ni - Thief of RageA Thief takes for oneself, and Rage is the Aspect of madness and strength. Despite her betrayal, all must admit that B'ni has been instrumental in turning Shu into the sweetheart she is today. Even the personality-scrambling head wound, the first step on our journey, was inflicted by B'ni. A pity that it seems the nicer we get, the more spiteful and driven she becomes. Gina - Seer of HeartA Seer seeks out knowledge, and Heart is the Aspect of identity and empathy. If Shu died, Gina would be the one to step up and hold the group together. Her ability to access information grows ever more potent, and she sees deeper into other's psyche than almost anyone else we know of.Rath - Bard of TimeA Bard invites destruction around them, and Time is the Aspect of action and finality. Destruction rules Rath. Others, herself, it is only the positive influence of the group that allows her energy to be channeled into more constructive purposes. She's fickle, yet determined, in that whatever she wants WILL get done, but what she wants may change at any time.Julia - Knight of SpaceA Knight wields and shapes their tools, and Space is the Aspect of building-power and creation. Passive, but intensely protective of those she cares for. Julia is content to wait and watch, to maintain the hearth'n'home, and to better the world one small flesh art-piece at a time. Dorian - Witch of DoomA Witch subverts expectations, and Doom is the Aspect of restrictions and decay. Rulebreakers and defiants, a Witch makes the best of what they get by writing over the worst of it. How else would a lone 'Daughter' live COMFORTABLY atop a twisted Sparagmos Engine, a daughter-eating Spartan, in a bloodthirsty forest, all while coming from a family that rejected him? Dorian would probably pass The Kobayashi Maru test, yet not know how they did it.Amara - Page of BloodA Page knows limitless potential, and Blood is the Aspect of bonds and unity. Unlike anyone else, Amara has been surrounded by support, friendship and care from day 1. Even when she's alone, the land itself sings to her. She really is never alone, above and beyond what even Shu has accomplished. Just as bonds and unity are attracted to her, so too does she draw in and strengthen those around her, and I feel her capabilities are only just surfacing. Amara could be one of the real game-changers, given time! Wasn't Mother a Skin-talker, after all?
>>3400095(This is fantastic. I do enjoy the classpects from Homestuck, and this write-up is well done.)
>>3400095Classpects are something alone i can be glad homestuck existed for, and one of the only things i can. Good write up my man.
>>3399954Your Banelings dart towards Penny’s legs, locking arms with each other and emptying their acidic payload into the back of her knees as she struggles with your Knightling. The effect is instantaneous and excruciating, with your foe letting loose an agonized scream as she collapses to the floor. She’s yanked upwards by a pair of arms and the lethal stinger that spears through her chest, courtesy of the Knightling that abandoned her arm in favor of clinging to her back.You ready your blade, hearing your swarmlings dissolve behind you with a silent command while your stomach roils with anticipation. You see Penny’s skin ripple, struggling to enact a countermeasure, a last-ditch effort to save herself from what she knows is coming. The confidence she once swelled with is utterly gone, replaced with a fearful gaze that is fixed on your grinning abdomen, a merciless, smiling guillotine. Her attempt to shed her skin like a panicked snake is interrupted by her getting yanked forwards by the strength of your Knightling, and as she’s carried forwards your tongue lashes out, wrapping around her throat and diving into her mouth, cutting off her final, furious curse.She hurtles towards you and your waiting maw, her head and shoulders disappearing into your abdominal cavity before your teeth snap shut with a savage snap. Her body twitches once, twice before you bury the Contender’s edge deep in your foe, severing her spine and spearing her sternum in a single, decisive blow. You scowl as her skin flutters across her body.Your friends are in danger, and you don't have time for this bullshit.You pull Contender’s trigger, sending your Herculean Fullbore round directly into her back, where it burrows frantically towards her heart. Tearing your blade free, you kick the headless corpse away from you in disgust, taking a moment to catch your breath as you watch her torso crumble from the Fullbore’s efforts, her body hollowed out to ensure she stays down. You’re little worse for wear after that skirmish, but the static that clouds your mind persists, leaving you in the dark as to the status of your team. The sounds of combat from outside have ceased, and the interior of the building is now utterly silent.HP: 113% BIO: 164% (2 Knightlings [1 Armed], 5 Platelings, 2 Armed-Banelings, 9/22 Active) CONTENDER: Empty, Lionheart Form.RAVENOUS MAW: Primed.ACT: 2/2Threat: Neutralized.>>CONSUME (Takes 1 Turn): Fully heal and select new abilities if you wish to do so now.OR>>PURSUE: Go after an ally of your choice with Penny’s corpse in tow via a your Knightling.YOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>3400965>>PURSUE: Go after an ally of your choice with Penny’s corpse in tow via a your Knightling.>AmaraShe needs our help the most, Rath is probably the most capable on her own, and we dont have tine to be greedy with consuming, aswell as Amara and Julia need the levels the most.
>>3400965>>>PURSUE: Go after an ally of your choice with Penny’s corpse in tow via a your Knightling.>Amara
>>3400965>PURSUE: Go after an ally of your choice with Penny’s corpse in tow via a your Knightling.>AmaraThat anti-HM flypaper skin strat was neat, but Shu has several tools in her arsenal.
>>3400965>>PURSUE: Go after an ally of your choice with Penny’s corpse in tow via a your Knightling.
From our status screen, Our Knightlings and Platelings that we gave to Rath are still active which means she is still alive. If she wasn't we Amara's Swarmling slot buff is still active which also means she's still alive. Amara also has the Camo Shawl so she should be able to go about undetected, and if found, her passive aura would stall. The only unknown is that Julia's pure melee she might be against a hive mistress which bodes ill. >>3400965>Load up a Hollowpoint and a Parabellum.>Spawn a Camo Scout-ling to scout the path ahead.>If possible, Have the Knightling that's with Rath set to Escort and Guard Rath. >Pursue Julia
>>3400965You will your Knightling to carry Penny’s decapitated form, following you as you race into the facility. It’s after a minute of stalking the halls that you nearly jump out of your skin when a pair of invisible arms wrap around your leg, holding fast to your half-healed leg.“Miss Shu, it’s me!” Amara whispers hastily, her voice a child’s stage whisper. “I found the lady that’s watching everybody, she’s got a spinny thing that’s stopping me from talking to stuff!”You breathe a heavy sigh of relief as you pat the girl’s Shrouded head, ushering your Knightling to the shadows, hoping to obscure the headless corpse in its grasp from Amara’s view. You’re guessing that whatever’s jamming Amara’s abilities is doing the same thing to your Empathic Channel.“Where’s the tar…the woman with the spinny thing?” You ask low, trying not to draw attention to the existence of your small ally.“Down the hall, and around the corner.” Amara replies, and from the movement you feel through the shawl, you realize she’s pointing in the general direction, her invisible gesture utterly no help. You glance down the corridor, dim light filtering through broken windows in the adjoining rooms interspersed down the space.Odds are high that the group attacking you has their support in the room just ahead…but if they’re worth their salt, then they’re also aware of your proximity.HP: 118% BIO: 174% (2 Knightlings [1 Armed], 5 Platelings, 2 Armed-Banelings, 9/22 Active) CONTENDER: Empty, Lionheart Form.RAVENOUS MAW: Primed.ACT: 2/2Threat: Medium range, aware of you. Capabilities unknown.AMARA HP: 80%YOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>3401201>Make 3 cheap swarmlings and scout her out.
>>3401201>Load up a BB and a Hollow.>Spawn three camo-lings, two will swishy swooty the floor, the other the ceiling.>Have BHOP tell us how many arms we have activated, but be sure its at least 4 extra.>See what our scouts see, but otherwise have Amara stay hidden and cautiously go forward.>Have knighty boi set down the corpse and take position on our left, the banelings our right. They should be ready to intercept any nuromancer cords meant for us.>Amara and the camo-lings goal will be to potentially get/stop the spinny thing, but obviously to wait til the opportunity comes about if its in the girls actual grip.
(Gentlemen, voting shall close in one and a half hours from now.)
>>3401215(You currently have two extra arms, and your Swarmlings that have extra arms are noted.)
>>3401215Have knighty boi keep the corpse. If we have an opportunity to surprise them I want to launch the corpse at them. Stop judging me.
>>3401265Id agree if using such tactics didn't go against shus character.
>>3401201>Walk out front and center, bring attention to yourself.>Have Amara do sneaky stealing/sabotage by having her steal or stop the spinny thing.>Try and do diplomacy negotiations or bluff/stall.
>>3401201You silently load a pair of rounds into your pistol as your Knightling stashes the corpse in the shadows before rejoining your side, the holes on your back distorting as a trio of Camo-lings writhe out from within you. Amara is chomping at the bit to join your side, but she relents to your hushed demand for her to stay still and silent as you proceed down the hall, following the trio you’ve sent just ahead of you.Through their eyes, you round the corner into a room laced with pulsing biomass, bright pink flesh strands looping into and through the walls of the open room, a large, empty space save for the individual in the center, a miniature dyson-sphere-esque object in her hands. Her hair is cut in an uneven bob not unlike your wayward companion’s, and she sits cross-legged in the center of the otherwise bare room. A pair of obsidian rings with a calcite circlet in the center spin around a compact sphere of grey matter, the device hovering just above her outstretched palms.The walls flutter open, dozens of eyes staring at your cloaked Swarmlings the moment they enter, and the girl just cracks a half-smile.“Oh my god, you killed Penny.” She says, her intonation somehow simultaneously flat and sarcastic. “You bastards, yadda-yadda. Never much cared for that one, anyway.”She rises to her feet, a single forest-green eye staring at your brood from underneath her bangs, an orb the same color as the numerous duplicates that stare into your line of sight, unnerving even though she’s on the opposite side of a concrete wall from your body, proper.“You’re kind of a pain in the ass, you know that? Killing one of my crew, even if you did do me a favor. My other pawns are tied up with yours, so I suppose it’s up to me to put you down personally. You and yours will make a fair consolation prize since the Doctor skipped town that that OP chick.”Keeping the orb hovering in one hand, she flicks out the fingers of the other, five strands of bright pink skin leashing themselves to the tips as a second pair of extra arms emerge from your shoulders, hands balled into fists.“A one-on-one sound good with you? I’ll give you a moment to catch your breath, I’m sure Penny had you on the ropes for a hot second.”Her confidence is wholly different than that of the cock-sure girl you just fought. There’s almost something serene about her as she stands there in the center of her command station, composed with a faint smile on her lips as she grants you a moment to think, a moment to plan.You’re certain she’s doing the same.HP: 123% BIO: 140% (2 Knightlings [1 Armed], 5 Platelings, 3 Camo-lings, 2 Armed-Banelings, 12/22 Active) CONTENDER: B.33 & Hollowpoint Loaded, Lionheart Form.RAVENOUS MAW: Primed.HUNDRED-HANDED: 4 arms active (Shoulders/Back)ACT: 2/2Threat: On the other side of your wall. Aware of your Camo-lings.AMARA HP: 80% (Cloaked, Whistle: VUL RHO)YOU ARE IN CONTROL
oh hey I made it just in time for a fight . timings getting good mm though still not to good with deciding how we should fight ill let yall handle it
>>3401390Shes in a room of her own biomass, entering there is a death sentence.>Have the camolings fly in a random pattern towards her legs, arms, and head, one each.>Rush forward and fire the hollowpoint like were aiming at the sphere, but our main focus is to use it as a distraction, so we can land our second BB shot on it, fired under the guise of the first and using the camolings to distract from it as best we can.>From where ever the hollowpoint embeds itself, spawn 5 swarmlings and have them test her defenses from different angles, if the wall eyes start attacking, which They probably will, have them start tearing at them to disable them.
maybe figure out a way to get her out of the room though :?
>>3401390>"Oh. You mean Dr. West and Isabelle? Darn. looks like I missed them again.">Pretend to stare at the eyes on her head (the one that looks like its a hair clip) you had PTSD, when in reality you're readying your aim at her hands.>"Dear god don't tell me eye lasers are a common ability with Eyeball themed daugters, you're giving me flashbacks of Envy City">Have the Camolings crawl around in a meandering fashion to make her drop her guard, but do steady progress towards her feet, they'll act as our seismic-monitors when She does her Terraforming puppetry.>Free Transform the LionHeart Blade into Karma's Derringer before firing our bullets. We don't want to give her the idea that we can still shoot her in sword form. >Aim and Fire the Hollowpoint as a Test fire at her hands to provoke any preliminary defences aim for one of the eyes in the wall just behind her, then pretend to curse about needing to reload. When she goes and use any offensive Terraforming action, Dodge TOWARDS her and Fire again, aim at either one of her hands or the hovering item she controls. >Spawn 2 Cicada-lings to prep for Amara's hidden assistance.>Once we have her full attention, Amara will quietly sneak in. Looks like she's a mix of Terraformed Neuromancy that specialize in Eyeball maneuvers. Occular attacks, strands of puppetry and flesh fiber.That south Park reference.
>>3401390>"Where's the Forge key?"
>>3401458(If i may ask, at what point in your interaction would you wish to interject this?)
>>3401543Thinking about it, I don't think there's a point to it. As much as we would like to try diplomacy for Amara's sake, I don't think it would amount to much. They clearly intended to kill and eat us.
>>3401543Towards the end, probably. Once she knows we have an interest in the forge key, she'll have one more reason to kill us. No sense in letting our moment of rest be cut short.
>>3401552>>3401555Personally see no reason to talk to her at all. Id think shes gonna see right through it, no one who actually knows how to fight complains about their weaknesses and all that. If anything all that stuff does is let her know more info to guess our actual plan off of.
>>3401543so my call is don't interject this question.
>>3401596(Undertood. Writing now, though it may take a little time as the end of day is getting hectic.)
>>3401390"You mean Dr. West and Isabelle? Darn, looks like I missed them again." You announce as you step around the corner, your gaze flickering between the eye in her skull and the one affixed to her hair. All the while you caress one of the Contender’s bony triggers, ready to take aim at the Relic hovering above her right hand."You know, you're giving me flashbacks of Envious City.” You continue, sparing a glance at the orb-studded wall. “Do all eyeball-themed Daughters have lasers, or just the one I defeated?”Your camouflaged brood meander around, slowly making their way towards her feet, and she spares them a bemused glance before training her gaze on yours. The eyes along the walls begin to weep steadily, a constant stream of tears slithering down the walls, snaking towards the floor as she cocks her head at you before speaking.“Why don’t you come and find out?”Shu the DefiantVS.THE VISIONARY PUPPETEERYour blade instantly shifts into pistol form before you let fly with the Hollowpoint. A snowflake pattern of crystallized liquid spears out from the streams of tears towards you, but they’re far too late to deflect or block your Hollowpoint round as it hurtles towards the sphere…and lances straight through the liquid facsimile, which promptly explodes with a splash of tears against the bio-threaded floor. The spears curve mid-stab, lancing towards you and catching you in your outstretched arms.You curse under your breath as you pull back, acting as though you need to reload when the girl leaps forwards, launched towards you via a springboard of biomass at her feet. The remains of the dummy sphere crystallize in her hands as a glaive of yellowed crystal that she brings down at your right shoulder, intending to deprive you of your sword-arm. (Continued)
>>3401778Your last-second block with the Contender’s derringer form comes out painfully, your aching arms bleeding from a plethora of oozing pinpricks, combined with the sheer force of her strike that rattled your teeth in your skull. You twist the gun in your hand and pull the second trigger, firing your B.33 round into the other girl’s shoulder, the kick of the gun flinging the shaft of her glaive away from you as you back up. When your shoulders hit the wall and pain explodes across your back, you see that the head of her weapon has forked into a rake of twisted barbs that now drip with your blood.“Oh I’m sorry, you thought you blocked it, didn’t you?” She mocks, that half-smile still on her lips even as her shoulder weeps scarlet from an open wound. “As far as my little Relic goes, do you really think I would…”From somewhere distant, the sound of an explosion gives you both pause…and you become aware that you’re now down to a single Knightling, the one that you left with Rath now nonexistent. What’s more troubling is that your foe’s face tells you she has no idea what just happened either, and given her darting gaze as she shifts through other points of view she’s less than pleased about what she sees.As a pair of Cicadalings emerge from your back you hope Amara’s made her move, sneaking into the room with you to enact the next phase of your plan, but with your Empathic field still jammed from somewhere within this building you realize there’s no guarantee.There’s also no guarantee of who among you is still alive.HP: 108% BIO: 144% (1 Armed Knightling, 5 Platelings, 3 Camo-lings, 2 Armed-Banelings, 2 Cicadalings, 14/22 Active) CONTENDER: Empty, Lionheart Form. (B.33 Detonation in 2 Rounds)RAVENOUS MAW: Primed.HUNDRED-HANDED: 4 arms active (Shoulders/Back)ACT: 2/2Threat: Close, armed.AMARA HP: 80% (Cloaked, Whistle: VUL RHO)YOU ARE IN CONTROL
(Gentlemen, voting shall close in one and a half hours.)(Also, please note your current Swarmling capacity is 13/22 since your other Knightling disappeared. My apologies.)
>>3401784My guess is either a third party joined in, or Rath did a last ditch effort move sacrificing our knightling in the process.>Spawn four extra arms, use them as literal meat shields as we go in for a slash to speed up our BB.>Spawn 4 recursives and have them spread out to take care of the eyes, thier deaths only leading to more minions to absorb hits and eat out eyes, as eyeballs are squishy and sensitive even to small things.>Keep our mouth shit tight til we need to, use it as an emergency get away or to snag one of her limbs if she lets her guard open up.>The knightling should try and go for her legs and keep her off balance, the banelings stick to our arms to try and use acid to dissuade too agressive of attacks.
Now I think her abilities are more clear now. Terraforming Neuromancy, sensory enhancement with eyeball theme, Liquid manipulation of occular fluid (tears) into crystallized weapon form. BHOP, does it take a free action for her to shift the liquid weapon into a different form once per ACT? Because it seems that she used an act to transform the tear sphere into a glaive and terraform a springboard then another act to shift the tear-glaive into a rake.And what happened to the Hollowpoint? Is it still active or was it destroyed?
>>3401851>>3401784Also, I forgot to link the question.
>>3401851(She has leveled that ability to where she is allowed a maximum of two form shifts per turn as a free action. Also, the Hollowpoint is indeed still active.)
>>3401867How many eyes in the room are there from her Terraforming? If those eyes are able to see through Camo, then Amara's attempt to sneak in won't work.
>>3401893(Roughly three dozen. She's been here a while waiting for Doctor West. Also note that the Shawl's camouflage is several times more effective than your Camolings at their current level. The Shawl is very potent.)
>>3401784supporting>>3401849And of course, make sure her attention is entirely on us so Amara can sneak and do her thing.
>>3401784>"Oh dear, she went Nuclear."ACT1:>Have Hollowpoint Spawn 5 swarmlings and have them poke out the eyes in the room have them prioritize them to attack the eyes that keep an eye on the entrance. >Armed Banelings will hover around and intercept any of Puppeter's limb or arm swinging with a grapple-lock. >Send the knightling to the entrance of the room just around the corner as if to guard the entrance, have it quietly signal Amara to come closer and help Shu. >all 3 Camo-lings should siphon any stream of liquid tears and convert the bio eaten into bio-pollen if possible. That should slow or divert any bio-income that Puppeteer uses to form her liquid weapon. Have all converted bio be used to upgrade the Camo-lings. They shall feast on her tears. I want to try this out because I'm getting the feeling that Puppeteer uses the wall of tears to fuel her crystal weapon, and Penny gave me a good idea when it came to her knife siphoning our health regen.>Cicadalings will generally hover around Puppeteer's ears and do the equivalent of the "airhorn interrupt" if she attempts to do something that requires neuromancy terraforming concentration.Puppeteer's a fluid manipulator so I don't want to have Baneling acid used against us. ACT 2:>Free action: Transform Karma into Lionheart form again. >Go in close. Force her to turn her liquid weapon into something appropriately close ranged.>Parry any solid crystal weapon swing with a pair of spare arms, riposte with Lion Heart and limb grapple with spare arms.
(Gentlemen, due to some unforeseen circumstances I have not been able to leave work yet, so I shall be extending voting by an additional hour and a half. Thank you for your patience, and take care.)
>>3402222>dem digits personifying BHOPS inner REEEEEEyou do what you need to. work is hell but it comes first.
>>3402230(You always so supportive and I really appreciate that, Anon. Thank you.)
>>3402238hey, its no problem. you give good content, ive been a DM myself so i know how that all works, AND I USUALLY WORK 10 HOUR SHIFTS SO TRUST ME, I KNOW HOW WORK GRINDS AT ONES NERVES AND FREE TIME.
>>3402250Stop posting spoilers for the final boss.No one CONSUME'S like Gamalgston.
>>3402296damn you my roommate heard me laughing through the walls.
>>3401784The flesh on your exposed back twists, warping into another two sets of arms as you kick off from the wall, the Contender lengthening into full Lionheart mid-charge. The quartet of recursive swarmlings that tear free of your spine immediately spread out, slashing at the walls as you direct a lethal stab towards the girl's center of mass. Her glaive splits in two, a pair of forked blades held in each hand as she matches you step for step, pinning your blade between hers while keeping the other level with your stomach, threatening to spear your tongue if you dare send it forth. Blade locked with yours she somehow holds her footing, her one-handed shortsword braced against your two-handed Contender. She's strong, far stronger than she looks despite half a foot of height difference between the two of you."You assumed Neuromancers were weak? Didn't think I'd have gotten a hold of a strength reinforcement power?" She chuckles, digging in her heels. "They're dreadfully common, I'm afraid." A second blast sounds, shaking the biomass that lines the box of death you willingly entered, rattling the broken windowpanes and sending tremors through you body. The shaking of the floor beneath your feet intensifies, and you step back in time to avoid the sheet of bio-laced concrete that erupts from the floor, completely obscuring your view before you...A hole, pre-built into the barrier as it rises that allows the spear to pierce through cleanly and right into your stomach. You stagger back, two of your spare arms held tight against your abdomen to stem the gushing flow of blood. Your Baneling pair affixed to your real arms to stave off any offense as the wall before you crumbles, revealing your foe frantically batting away your Knightling's fervent assault, nail and talon clashing against hilt and crystal.In the commotion, you alone see a pile of biomass in the corner pulled apart by an invisible set of hands, revealing a spinning orb nested within.Well done, kiddo.HP: 74% BIO: 146% (1 Armed Knightling, 5 Platelings, 3 Camo-lings, 2 Armed-Banelings, 2 Cicadalings, 4 Recursive Swarms, 13/22 Active) CONTENDER: Empty, Lionheart Form. (B.33 Detonation in 1 Round, Hollowpoint: 10% BIO)RAVENOUS MAW: Primed.HUNDRED-HANDED: 8 Arms active (Shoulders/Back)ACT: 2/2Threat: Close, armed.AMARA HP: 80% (Cloaked, Whistle: VUL RHO)YOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>3402510right, we just gotta keep her distracted while we help Amara deal with that thing. also, its a gamble, but Rath might be trying to EXPLODE her way in here. the issue? the amount of shrapnel and force going EVERYWHERE once she finally breaks through might turn this into a death trap for everyone involved, enemy or ally.if we could talk to her to time it right, this wouldn't be an issue. plan coming shortly,i felt this info needed to be out first.
>>3402510>>3402521>Send the Banelings forward aswell as the Camolings to try and overwhelm her, all of them doing hit and run tactics in a large swoop to build up speed to make themselves harder to hit and hit harder.>the swarmlings can keep keeping the eyes busy, spawn two more Recursives to help with this. once they are no longer needed with the eyes, they may join the swarm.>Load up a BB and a Fullbore, and spawn yourself 3 platlings, and 3 to arm your tongue.>goad her with a fakeout shot, then rush forward, only to pull your 8 arms inward to absorb her blow as a full body shield as you lash out your tongue, using the platlings to turn it into a hard hitting flail, aswell as your forward momentum, to smash into her hard. as you do, jump up, so the force of hitting her pushes you back, then unwind your arm shield only enough to aim out and hit her in the leg with the BB, body or head with the Fullbore, if line of sight permits.>Spawn a small speedling, something made to be fast and hard hitting to fly low to go help Amara crack the orb and end its use.Hopefully we have a turn to crack open the orb, get communication back, then plan this all out with Rath better.
>>3402516What's the building integrity looking like BHOP?, because I'm guessing Rath is being the living battering ram that she is to kool-aid man her way in. Will the building hold?
>>3402516Also, is the spinning orb that Amara uncovered the Forge core?
>>3402552(The building is in poor shape, and will not be able to survive the continued assault.)
>>3402558(She's discovered the actual jamming Relic.)
>>3402546As much we'd love to finish her off, we have a collapsing building caused by a nuclear redhead. We need to escape with Amara. Snatching the Relic Jammer will be a bonus. Our B.33 Special is due to detonate this coming round, and Amara's whistle hasn't been used yet. We need to bog Puppeteer down with enough debuffs and distractions that both Amara and Shu can escape the building.
>>3402546Backing, as well as we should pump out as mant extra swarmlings as possible. This girl is the leader, and we have a lot of bio left. Maybe some more banelings to melt her?
>>3402579I'm sorry to tell you, we're in the middle of a collapsing building. I don't think it's wise for us to stay and fight her.
>>3402577shes a terraformer and most likely is trying to keep an eye on the relic to some degree.if we dont keep her busy physically, and keep her eyes taken out, we wont get the ability to escape at all. the BB will stop HER from moving, it wont stop her from stopping us from leaving.like i said, keep her busy this round with brute forse, so when Amara and our speedling take care of the Jammer, we can communicate with Rath to not cave us in. otherwise, we try to flee with no actual preparation or with this girl still active enough to Terraform, and were trapped anyways as shes not gonna let us flee that easily, especially if she knows or thinks the place is gonna collapse.
>>3402577>>3402587keep in mind we have no real way through a terraforming blockade, certainly nothing fast at least, and nothing extremely viable if shes still trying to attack us. our best bet it to tell Rath not to cave us in, and/or hope the building can last one round so we can disable her a bit.
>>3402579whoops, missed your question. i think i hit the swarmling cap in my post, though changing a few to recursive banelings im not against.
>>3402510>Have Amara attempt a manual disable the orb ASAP. Once the Jamming is disabled, have her blow her whistle.>Once the Empathy Communications method (ECM), send out a Empathy shout at Rath "DEMOLITIONS GIRL, DO NOT BLOW UP THE BUILDING! Jamming is down! Building structurally unstable!" >Cicadalings attach to Puppeteer's ears and go "full airhorn" mode to drown out the skintalker whistle lexicon. Hopefully the volume will blowout an eardrum or two and make her deaf.>Spawn another Knightling to back up our Armed Knightling.>Spawn a Sapling that detonates on the Jamming Relic if Amara can't hack the relic. If you make it stop spinning, then the jamming will stop.>Any bio-pollen that the Armed Knightling gets from damaging puppeteer will go towards repairing itself.>Armed Banelings fly at her legs and lock arms with each other while injecting acid into her knee joints, Becoming a bug bola to screw with her footing. >Have all Recursive Swarmlings form up a defensive screen that intercepts all melee attacks >Camo-lings will attach themselves to Shu as "hidden armor". >Shu herself will advance and enter melee range and go for the Grapple and Ravenous Maw chomp. She's got 8 goddamn arms. WHY AREN'T WE USING THEM?
>>3402564Hey BHOP, there's something that's bothering me. Where's the Bio-pollen gauge? We just got Gluttonous Brood one vein ago, and our swarmlings have been dealing damage, so there should be a bio-tank meter that shows the total amount of bio-pollen that our swarm has gathered.
>>3402546actually adding Sapling properties to the speedling going to aid Amara is a good idea, adding that.
>>3402636(I have it on the notes, but there's a ton of numbers here behind the scenes and I've been trying to maintain a careful balancing act of giving you all enough information to work off of while not making your status sheets an entire post in length. If your swarmlings have dealt damage, they've been passively building bio-nectar. Your Knightling in particular is stuffed with it, and I'll work on trying to figure out a user-friendly abbreviation for how much healing they contain. Thank for the head's up!)
>>3402637Just make it a sapling. or are you adding the sapling property to speed up the rate in which the "sticky" effect settles in?Also, I see a gross under-utilization of our currently active swarmlings, and Amara. We have a Debuff spell ready and waiting. We have Cicadalings ready to go "airhorn interrupt" to drown out Amara's whistle. Why aren't we using them? Would you like me to compile our ideas together?
>>3402583>what is making bees while getting the fuck out
>>3402651>Your Knightling in particular is stuffed with itoh. OH. I think I have an idea on how you can do that. For our swarm info, why don't you include a bracketed number at the end of each categorization to show us an average percentage of bio-nectar if they've gathered any. for example: (1 Armed Knightling {35%} , 5 Platelings, 3 Camo-lings, 2 Armed-Banelings {12%}, 2 Cicadalings, 4 Recursive Swarms {5%}, 13/22 Active) >>3402510>Have our knightling consume the ALL of the bio-nectar its gathered to heal and UPGRADE ITSELF. Make it a more dangerous monster for Puppeteer to face. I want to see our Knightling upgrade itself into a Hornet Hellknight!
>>3402672(...that's a really damn good idea, I'll tweak it a bit and include it in the next fight. Thank you!)
>>3402654Well, as far as i am aware Amara cant do much til the device is deactivated, but sure, if we do she can Debuff.I highly disagree with the swarmling statement, and simply forgot about the cicadalings, which we would have to rely on them surviving getting close, but again, sure on that aswell, but im otherwise sticking with my plan.
>>3402677(Never mind, I'm including it this fight. It's too good a shortcut to pass up.)(1 Armed Knightling [54%], 5 Platelings, 3 Camo-lings, 2 Armed-Banelings, 2 Cicadalings, 4 Recursive Swarms, 13/22 Active) >>3402683(The jammer merely shuts down enemy Empathic fields and their non-offensive communication-based abilities, except for Crimson Cord, of course. Amara's Lexicon is still potent and viable.)
>>3402690Ah, well that's my bad. Her wording earlier made me think differently.
>>3402690>54% of Bio-nectar:BHOPI WANT TO SPEND ALL OF THAT BIO NECTAR. ALL OF IT to HEAL and UPGRADE our Knightling. Make him into a Swole, fast, and dangerous Hornet Hell knight. 14% will be used to heal our Knightling, the rest will go towards upgrading our Knightling into the biggest, fastest, meanest Bee there can ever be.
>>3402510>>3402546amending my plan here to make it easier for BHOP to locate the info.>Send the Banelings forward aswell as the Camolings to try and overwhelm her, all of them doing hit and run tactics in a large swoop to build up speed to make themselves harder to hit and hit harder. the Banelings can unleash acid as they please to keep her in pain.>The Knight should use his Bio to keep himself in the fight, and any accumulated Bio Pollen from the swarm should be focused on keeping themselves in the swing of things, however in rotation one at a time should split off to bring us back whatever they have.>the recursive swarmlings can keep keeping the eyes busy, spawn two more Recursives to help with this. once they are no longer needed with the eyes, they may join the swarm.>Load up a BB and a Fullbore, and spawn yourself 3 platlings, and 3 to arm your tongue.>goad her with a fakeout shot, then rush forward, only to pull your 8 arms inward to absorb her blow as a full body shield as you lash out your tongue, using the platlings to turn it into a hard hitting flail, aswell as your forward momentum, to smash into her hard. as you do, jump up, so the force of hitting her pushes you back, then unwind your arm shield only enough to aim out and hit her in the leg with the BB, body or head with the Fullbore, if line of sight permits.>Spawn a small Sapling speedling, something made to be fast and hard hitting to fly low to go help Amara crack the orb and end its use.>the Cicadalings should go for our opponents ears, or at least time their chirping close to her in line with Amara blowing her whistle. however, her min focus is the device and disarming it.>if the device gets disarmed, yell really loudly at Rath not to cave the place in on our heads, and for her to to use more focused force to make a small opening to enter in with to aid us.
>>3402659>>3402683Gentlemen, I've compiled our ideas together into a single cohesive plan:From what I can interpret, we're trying to overwhelm the Puppeteer with overall brute force and force her to focus solely on her own survival. Amara:>Disable the Relic asap.>Once the relic is disabled, blow your whistle. ACT 1:Swarm:>The moment the Relic is disabled, scream at Rath in the empathy channel to stop hitting the building, Shu and Amara are inside the building. >Knightling should heal and upgrade itself with the Bio-nectar it's gathered. Keep attacking while you're upgrading. Become a scary evolving monster. 14% bio on healing, 40% on upgrading.>Camolings go on the attack>Banelings do the Bug Bola, inject her knees with acid, lock arms with each other, tie up her legs.>Cicadalings go full Airhorn in Puppeteer's ears to mask Amara's whistleblowing.>Load up a B.33 special and a Fullbore>spawn 2 Recursive swarmlings>Spawn 3 platelings that coat our tongue.>4 Recursive swarmlings go poke out the wall eyes. 2 of them become a defensive screen that intercepts any liquid attack that Puppeteer attempts on the Knightling. >Fire a Speed-Sapling that suicides itself against the jamming relic if Amara can't disable it. Total Bio cost: 55% Bio, Swarmling slots 20/22ACT2:>Charge and fire our tongue as an improvised Flail cannon while grappling her.>Hundred Arms will parry or block any liquid weapon attack. >Attack her with the Lionheart Blade, then fire Is this acceptable?
>>3402727Linking this to >>3402510As an amendment of our plan.
>>3402727>>3402723i mean, and i mean nothing by this, i think our plans minus two things are the same, but mine in more detail a bit?the two differences i see(minus said detail) is;>Banelings use>2 Recursive Usehrm...well>>3402751means its too late, though id otherwise say the recursives would not be needed as they would already be stopping said attacks by going for the eyes. the banelings i see the point and have little strong opinion on, other than that would take them out of the rotation for healing us, which we actually need a little bit of.
>>3402760My original plan involved doing a Debuff distraction and mobbing puppeteer with swarmlings while making out like a bandit, but certain posts describing the circumstances forced me to adopt a different plan. More or less yours, but utilizing more of our current resources like our bio-nectar.
>>3402510You watch as Amara lifts the Relic from its hiding place, and slams it back down, the cracking of the trio of rinds coupled with a sudden flash of pain that makes all of you wince, your mind and vision exploding with static."No!" Your enemy screams, and you seize the opening to rush forwards with your Banelings and Camolings in tandem, led in their charge by your Knightling. It's body warps mid-air, its shell cracking from its bulging form as four more scythe-like talons tearing out from its abdomen. The girl's twin swords re-shape into a pair of triple-headed flails, the walls spearing forth with crystalline blades, thinning your recursive swarm but doing nothing against the bulk of your forces. Your noisier brood scream around your enemy's head, and you see Amara uncloak behind the skirmish, cheeks puffed out just before she blows hard on the whistle, its sound lost to your swarm and the sounds of battle.It's effects, however, aren't.Your enemy's skin cracks, open sores erupting wildly along every exposed inch of skin as her parries and wild swings slow, her face a blistered, panicked mess. She's growing desperate to end this...good.You level your reloaded Contender and fire once, a feint that goes wide thanks to an errant crystal flail, but she's bringing the second flail down in a hard arc, your Knightling thrown just out of range to tank the blow. Your eight arms move as one, and you feel the forearms of three of your extra limbs buckle under the assault, but no matter; your mouth opens, your plateling-clad tongue lashing out at high speed, a flail of your own that crashes into the other girl's sternum with a sickening crunch, sending her backwards and into the opposite wall. "Amara, with me!" You yell, and the little girl's head bobs towards you, the rest of her fully cloaked. She's behind you in a flash, and you have your foe on the ropes, swinging frantically to deter your pursuing swarmlings, just as your B.33 detonates in her shoulder, weighing down one arm entirely. You have this.You are in control.Your enemy's face goes pale, her eyes go wide, and you watch in bewilderment as she simply turns tail, dropping her weapons and running flat-out as your empathic field reactivates, clarity finally piercing through the static haze as you take aim with the Contender for one final shot, the one that ends this."...ulia and I are okay, just get the hell out of wherever you are, I'm begging you!" Rath's voice explodes in your mind, run through with pure panic. "Someone's shelling the whole goddamn tow...!"Sound, fury, then blinding white.You turn, taking Amara in your arms, her terrified face the last thing you see.Then darkness.(Continued)
Well FUCK. WHY THE FUCK DID WE STAY INSIDE A GODDAMN COLLAPSING BUILDING? WHY THE FUCK DID WE TUNNEL VISION THAT FUCKING HARD? GODDAMMIT
>>3402851When you regain consciousness, a high-pitched screeching is all you can hear. You strain to push yourself up from the darkness, your eyes adjusting to see Amara beneath you, breathing fitfully with her entire body covered in concrete dust and shards. You look around, pain lancing down your spine and down your legs, and you collapse against the rubble. You close your eyes, listening to the harried breathing of your little friend as you open the empathic channel, locating Rath and Julia, wounded but approaching rapidly.Crumbling concrete and the unsteady beat of your own heart fills your ears as the ringing fades, the shifting of rubble reaching your ears just as...You bring your five remaining arms to bear, your sword arm wounded, too slow to block the crude hammer that shatters through three of your duplicate limbs."Dumb...dumb, stupid bitch." She girl groans, raising the misshapen mace with her one remaining arm over her head. You lash out with a kick through the pain, sending her stumbling backwards into the ruins of the blasted building. You rise...and fail, falling to your knees as pain wracks your body. "...not going to die here." She mutters to herself, her stump glistening with a shell of crystalline tears as liquid ones stream down her face. "Can't die here, I'm getting them back. I'm getting them all back, you stupid goddamn bitch. It's not today, and you're not gonna be the one to..."Rath and Julia are still a ways out, picking their way across the shelling zone towards you and the unconscious Amara. Your reinforced Knightling, the only one remaining of your original brood, digs its way out of the crumbling wreckage of the room that once existed only a short distance away. You glance down at the small, fragile form just next to you, Julia's dress covered in broken mortar and grey dust.You're not going to be the one that dies here.You can't afford to.HP: 23% BIO: 58% (1 Armed Knightling [54%], 7 Platelings [3 on Tongue] 8/22 Active) CONTENDER: Empty, Lionheart Form. (Hollowpoint: Destroyed)RAVENOUS MAW: Primed.HUNDRED-HANDED: 3 Arms active (Shoulders/Back)ACT: 2/2Threat: Annihilated.AMARA HP: 80% (Cloaked, Whistle: VUL RHO)YOU ARE IN CONTROL
(Gentlemen, I shall be pausing here for the evening and resuming in approximately twelve hours. Voting shall remain open for the next ten hours, and I shall be around to address any questions, concerns, or criticisms you may have. Thank you all for continually keeping me on my toes and for being such an incredible group of players, and I hope you have a wonderful evening. Sleep well, everyone.)
>>3402878>Protect Amara.>Have Our knightling rush to knock the girl over, digging claws into her and mouth into her throat.>if she tries to bat him away, use the moment to fling out our armored tongue to smash into her again.>otherwise, use our remaining arms and tongue to defend Amara and ourselves from any killing blows, if our knightling isnt fast enough.>spawn two Camo-lings and have them go low and gnaw her Achilles tendons then dig into her and work their way up too, just to be safe.>Knightling should only use what Bio Pollen he absolutely needs, but should save the rest to get to us as soon as the girl goes down.>>3402876because we had no reason to think it was a shelling. that is entirely out of the blue. and honestly? being outside in a shelling is just as much if not more of a death sentence. being in a collapsing building is horrible, dont get me wrong, but we dont know how far we would've had to go to be safe, or if any other building could've been used as cover.it was a fucked situation no matter what we did.>>3402886fun as always BHOP.
>>3402878(Amara's status should read; AMARA HP: 54%)(My apologies, Gentlemen. It's been a long day.)
>>3402903the whistle should also be empty, right? its ok, we all have long days.
>>3402914(Lordy, yes it should. Thank you for that.)
>>3402886Why is Puppeteer still alive and kicking when you marked the threat as Annihilated?Also, I understand it's been a long day for you so I'll let the error slide in understanding. Can I ask for the proper threat level?
>>3402924One more thing, is our reinforced Knightling out of bio-nectar?
>>3402924Shouldn't the knightling be a hellknight?>>3402937
>>3402937(Ah, that was from the neighboring doc with Rath's skirmish that I copy-pasted and missed.)(Threat: Close, determined.)Rath did well, to say the least.
>>3402945(It is.)>>3402953(It's still considered a Knightling. It's just buffed considerably.)Hell Knights come later.
>>3402955Are the platelings equipped on Rath close enough for them to fly to Shu as a Fast equip?
>>3402961How close is Rath and How big of a distance can she cover with a slingshot maneuver? can the distance be increased if she used more arms?
>>3402961>Armed knightling >Buffed considerablyI am now imagining the world's swolest bug and it's glorious. Now I'm imagining the s
>>3402963>>3402971(They are, but they would arrive at the middle of the turn order. Rath moving at top speed (which she already is) will arrive at the end of the turn and be available to command then. More arms do not increase her speed at her current level, though you're on the right track. )
>>3402988>>3402971i mean, explosions make things go faster. its just a matter of how much she can take, how good she is at gauging how much to put out, how much Bio she has left, and if Julia can get out of the way in time, and if stopping Julias advance would be worth her getting here faster and basically as an uncontrollable missile.
>>3402988What if we had our Knightling fly out and be a flying anchor point for Rath to grapple hook onto while simultaneously slingshotting herself a greater distance? Would that work?
>>3403003>>3402988What if we had our knightling fly towards Rath and meet her in the middle to serve as a mobile aerial anchorpoint that slingshots her even further? It's reinforced, stronger and faster due to the bio-nectar it drank. She flies faster as a cannonball projectile instead of a running redhead.Also, de-equipping herself of the platelings should boost her speed.Or have her detonate napalm bombs in a controlled fashion in one direction that act as improvised Rocket boosters?
>>3403001(Rath can no longer make explosions, since her Cystemic Burn mod now makes her cysts erupt into flares.)>>3403003(Devoting your Knightling to helping Rath get to your side will allow her to arrive at the middle or end of turn, depending on her roll, and with one ACT remaining.)
>>3403003>>3403010honestly i feel like knighty boi is the only thing that might keep us alive. sacrificing him holding this girl back for Rath sounds like a needless risk for sure.
>>3403020huh, i thought they still had a bit of explosive power to them. i mean, the phosporus coatings gotta spread somehow. i knew they were weaker but not THAT much weaker an explosion. never exactly felt like it either.
(I shall be heading to bed, Gentlemen. I hope you all have some good rest yourselves, and I look forward to seeing what you've planned in the morning.)
>>3403026(True, they still have a burst, but not enough to propel her, nor enough to blast apart buildings immediately or anything like that. )
>>3403037well to be fair, i thought part of the building thing was her increased strength. literally blast punching her way into the place in a fit of rage. sound like her to me at least.
>>3403041(That's absolutely in-character, you're right.)
>>3402878>take the platelings on our tongue flail and attach it to our 3 extra arms as 3 buckler shields. Equip them on our spare arms.The acid claymore effect and the smoke chaff that occurs from her flail cracking the plateling shell will deter her and cover her in acid. Have our arms block any attack that gets through the swarm>Shield Amara's body with your own. >Spawn a squad of 12 basic swarmlings. 6 on defense intercepting any fluid weapon hits, 6 on offense biting and stinging her limbs and eyes out, have them aim for her hands, head, and legs. >Spawn 2 cicadalings, Air-horn interrupt her if she tries to concentrate on Terraforming. Focus on one of her ears. >Knightling should charge tackle her to the ground, and impale her while she's distracted by the sudden swarm of swarmlings when she's distracted. >Send a command to the platelings on Rath's body to fly towards Amara, they're fast enough for a middle of the round equip.>>3403037So then what/who caused the shelling? The only possibility I can think of is a tank, or a cannon. And if she and her gang not involved and our group doesn't have the power to do that, then what 3rd party has the power to a flat out artillery bombing?
>>3403028One more question, we lost Penny's corpse in the building collapse did we?
>>3403067to be fair we have met someone with a dragon. mix that with an upgraded version of Raths original Boil ability but upgraded, and its something i could see.granted, thats just a single possibility. give Rath a few more levels, and again, her old Boils, and she could probably hard chuck some big bombs. plenty of ways to go about it if you think about it. use a muscle power to turn arms into tyranid like bio guns, making a construct catapult or cannon, ect.this is assuming no one found an old artillery piece, or even a group finding a group of them. the REAL question is 'why'? there wont be much to to CONSUME after firepower like this, and it seems like a waste as the town seemed mostly deserted. the Forge isnt a target that requires shelling to destroy either, and any individual target would be too hard to hit with this type of attack.im thinking in our rush to fix the forge, we overlooked something major about the town, and ended up in the middle of something we did not need to be a part of.
>>3403020Darn, I just had to be reminded of that. Goodbye to Terraformed Cannons since firing a cannon needs bomb-grade explosions in order to fire projectiles in a cannon-like fashion. I wonder we get to toggle between bomb types if we advance Radiant boil further up.
>>3403086Well, Puppeteer WAS in control of the town with a relic that produced a biological version of town-wide ECM that scrambled all empathetic and neuromancy communication. A blockhead that loved brute force would've simply keyed in on the strongest signal source and blew it to smithereens with no care for collateral.
>>3403126True, but i dont think its unfair to say someone has to have at least a bit of brains in their head to get and keep that level of firepower, though i suppose that could just be meathead fighting prowess and nothing else.
>>3402878The platelings within your maw detach from your tongue and cling to your three remaining arms, a dozen swarmlings tearing free of your hive with half devoted to defense, the other half to harassing the girl that’s just staggered to her feet in front of you. You fight to your feet, interposing Amara’s form with your own as your foe's single forest-green eye stares at you, her brow furrowed with rage. The sound of clicking behind you makes you whirl around to see the last of your platelings locking into place around Amara, letting you know their original wearer is not far behind. When your foe darts forwards the tears streaming down her face lash out, stabbing wildly from her cheeks to deter your swarmlings, who in turn claw frantically at the girl, just out of reach from their bladed talons as her crystalline spines keep them at bay. She brings her flail down on your head, your arms reacting instinctively to block the attack, chitin and bone cracking as one before a cloud of smoke and acid explodes from the broken gauntlets. You foe staggers back with an enraged scream, stomping her foot into the rubble just as she summons the debris and detritus to her defense…but her efforts are for naught, your newborn Cicadalings moving through the smoky haze to issue their piercing wail directly in her ears. Crystal blades, see-through tears mingled with their wielder’s scarlet blood cleave your brood in mid-air, your enemy’s focus on tearing through the swarm before her. She doesn’t see your Knightling until it’s too close and far too late to stop. Its engorged, glossy mass slams into her at full speed, its humanoid limbs hanging on by a handful of ravaged tendons. The girl’s flail is left behind mid-air as she’s sent sprawling painfully into the jagged ruination to your left, just when concrete behind you buckles from the impact of something small and fiery. “Sorry I’m late, are you and the squirt okay?” Rath asks, out of breath. You can’t help but smile, and she returns the grin with one of her own, blood trickling down her lips and cheeks from countless cuts. Four extra glowing arms are cocked and ready along her back and shoulders, leaking bright white fluid down along their rippling muscles. Rath’s actual arms are shaved of skin in several places, revealing subcutaneous armor laced with a pattern of hairline cracks and gouges. She glances to Amara before turning to you once more, looking you up and down. She grinds her teeth together so hard that her jaw pops audibly, her face flushed with pure fury. “Who do I need to hurt?” She growls. HP: 33%BIO: 58% (1 Armed Knightling [7%], 6 Swarmlings, 2 Cicadalings, 4 Platelings, 16/22 Active)CONTENDER: Empty, Lionheart Form. (Hollowpoint: Destroyed)RAVENOUS MAW: Primed.HUNDRED-HANDED: 3 Plateling-ed Arms active (Shoulders/Back)ACT: 2/2Threat: Close, prone. RATH HP: 83% (6-Armed Form)AMARA HP: 54% (Visible, Whistle: Empty) YOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>3403737BHOP, isnt' Amara equipped with 4 pieces of plateling armor?
>>3403733>Point, have minions keep her pinned while Rath cooks her.
>>3403746(She is, I had to leave it off due to character limits.)
>>3403733>Point with a tired arm and smile to the girl.>Recall Knightling to heal you.>Shu and her brood focuses on defending Amara and keeping a lookout for any further surprises.>One swarmling should go and get Rath the flail, or at least keep it from the girls grip.>Rath should lob a few bombs at our foes, Fire is hard to block, and if she uses terraforming, its wasting her few prescious resources.>Bull rush forward, ready to bust down any terraforming defenses and simply pummel this girl to death.
>>3403737How much Bio does Rath have left? I would like to know if her Herculean strength buff is still active and whether or not if she's equipped with replicant phantom arms or regular arms.
>>3403751(Rath is at 66% BIO, and her arms are the Phantom Limbs, hence the odd coloration and curiously colored blood.)
>>3403751(So no, her strength buff is no longer active, but her Phantom Limbs are stronger than her default ones.)
morning . Question do we still have that body from the fight before the last one or did we lose it at some point in the collapse?
>>3403770(You'll see.)
>>3403733>make a head nod gesture at Puppeteer's direction "She's the leader of the little group that ambushed us. Also, she had the Relic that jammed my empathy channel. But I don't think she's the one that ordered the fucking artillery strike.">Rath: Your opponent is a eye-ball themed girl that weaponizes her own tears. Her core ability is based around liquid manipulation, with some levels in Terraforming based Neuromancy and Fibromancy strength buffs. Fast and strong in close combat, uses her tears as melee weapons that can easily change forms. Missing one arm, but she can put up good melee. But now's not the time and place for a second slugfest, she's still dangerous. We're all banged up badly and I would rather want everyone alive and whole than have Amara waking up to find out one of us died and crying. >Rath Act 1: Light her on fire. I don't want her to pull any tricks, and even if she did, she'll still be on-fire.>Rath Act 2: Garrote wire her limbs. or alternatively pummel away. Shu Act 1:Swarmling action>spawn 6 more swarmlings. Have all 12 of them hover and harass menacingly above Puppeteer to force her to spend an action either rolling out of the way remaining prone or using making another weapon to swipe away the swarmling squad. This will distract her enough for the Knightling to do its glomp/impalement>Have one swarmling yoink the flail made of tears. >Knightling glomps Puppeteer and impales her limbs (main stinger impaling her torso), pinning her to the ground. If she wants to escape, then she needs to get this big boi off of her.>Cicadalings, same tactic, airhorn interrupt any of her actions that require concentration. Target the same ear as last time, I want it loud and I want a ruptured eardrum. Act 2: >Load up Parabellum. End this fight.>>3403771Oh motherfucker, She consumed Penny and was waiting to pop the consume options so she could tactically heal herself back to full.
>>3403733"She's the leader of the little group that ambushed us.” You reply, nodding towards the one-armed girl that hauls herself to her feet, her crown of hardened tears stabbing wildly at your Knightling as the last of its threadbare arms is severed. “Also, she had the Relic that jammed my empathy channel. But I don't think she's the one that ordered the fucking artillery strike."“The kid’s out cold, yeah?” Rath asks, and you nod.“Good.”Rath stretches out her original arms as she stalks forwards, her phantom limbs tearing free the numerous cysts that begin to glow along her forearms. Your foe’s eye goes wide before she’s caught in a flare of white when Rath hurls the entire payload at once, her body obscured by the half-dozen hissing grenades that barely drown out her screams. Rath just marches forwards until she’s standing above the writhing form, and as limp over to her you generate a single Parabellum round in the Contender. Rath’s halfway through her savage work by the time you’re looming above your foe, the flares crushed and dying out as Rath’s phantom limbs ooze white liquid all over the ground, her real knuckles stripped down to the bloodstained armor underneath her skin. Heedless of her own wounds, her slow, steady beating of the girl continues, pounding charred flesh to blacked pulp, the gore mixing with the powdered concrete to form a slurry of carnage. She’s little more than a scorched torso by the time your friend rises up to admire her handiwork, and you bring the Contender up with a steady hand, aimed squarely at your foe who’s still somehow fighting to draw breath.The immolated girl opens her mouth to give one final scream before you send a Parabellum round shattering through her charred and flesh-bare skull with a resounding howl from Karma’s barrel. The girl beside you breathes deep from the smoke billowing about the both of you, and smiles.“You smell that, Shu?” Rath grins, turning back to look at you with a glint in her yellow eyes, barely obscured by the cloud of acrid smoke that wafts from the corpse between you both.“Smells like victory.”>>COMBAT: CEASED
>>3403807The mysterious shelling has mercifully paused for now, allowing you and your allies some much-needed time to catch your collective breath and tend to your wounds, though for how long the quiet will last is anyone's guess. Julia runs up shortly after the dust settles, touching base with you before rushing to Amara’s side, propping the child’s head in her lap and checking her for broken bones or contusions.“No clue what the hell that blitz was all about.” Rath replies when you ask her if she could pin down the source of the devastating barrage, with Julia contributing an exhausted shrug. You glance out at what remains of the town, a blasted ruin all that remains of the cramped and unwelcoming streets and buildings. The three of you sit around in silence for a few moments until Amara rouses from her slumber, and within a minute or two she’s up and running around, playing among the rubble despite Julia’s half-hearted protests. She tried, bless her, but Amara’s enthusiasm could not be hampered by something as minor as a brush with death.“Miss Shu, I found treasure!” Amara calls out, waving at you from a nearby pile of rubble. You limp over to see her hopping up and down next to Penny’s headless corpse, half-trapped under a collapsed wall.“See? Treasure!” She repeats happily before trotting off to rejoin Julia’s side after another stern warning.…You worry about that kid, sometimes.>>Talk with your allies as you pick over the rubble for any other items/corpses of note.>>You’re not sure when the shelling will resume, so haul the bodies to a covered location well away from the blast zone before you talk or consume (Inactive Forge or Lab).>>LEVEL UP: 8 Points to distribute between the two bodies (Vote on distribution).>>Write-InYOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>3403810Do we still have any active swarmlings?
>>3403819BIO: 68% (1 Disarmed Knightling [7%], 4 Swarmlings, 1 Cicadaling, 4 Platelings, 10/22 Active)
>>3403810>>You’re not sure when the shelling will resume, so haul the bodies to a covered location well away from the blast zone before you talk or consume >Head for the forge.>Ask Amara if the fleshscape knows where its core is still.>>LEVEL UP: >JULIA 4 points>AMARA 4 pointsborh of them desperately need levels up, Julia to diversify her kit, Amara for basically every reason imaginable. Rath is clearly good with what shes got, and Shu too wont be under the rung from a single skip on levels.
(Voting shall close in one and a half hours, Gentlemen.)(Additionally, if everyone is up for it, rapid posting will go into effect roughly five and a half hours from now and continue until the end of the evening as per usual. However, if too few players will be available to participate, I will simply have a normal posting schedule. Please let me know, and I hope your day is going well.)
>>3403810>You’re not sure when the shelling will resume, so haul the bodies to a covered location well away from the blast zone before you talk or consume (Inactive Forge).>Once there, ask Rath and Julia what happened to them since they were separated and inform them in turn.>Julia: 2 points>Amara: 6 pointsJulia is at level 8, which is almost respectable minus the lack of secondary ability. With this, they should both be level 9 and 10.
>>3403832Maybe meet in the middle? 3 Julia 5 Amara. Despite her high level i still feel 2 is too little to properly diversify/improve Julias kit.
>>3403810>Talk with Julia while we pick through the rubble. Thoroughly apologize to her about the ambush mess, and for making her worry. Share your concerns about Amara and discuss about the idea of giving her a bio-weapon ability. Even though she's a child, there will be a point where she needs have some ability where she can fend for herself. >"Amara, can you tell us where the Forge core went? If you stay close and don't wander off, Mr. Knight here will give you a piggyback ride." Have the Buffed Knightling FLEX AND POSE for Amara.>Spawn a Strider-ling to serve as a pack mule for the corpses.>Have our Knightling regrow its arms with the bio-nectar it gained. Shu will pay the 3% for the left over arm. Then have it accompany Amara. maybe, even have her ride it like a flying horse. while she explores the rubble for more "treasure". But keep her on a leash. If the Forge core treasure is too far away, then convince her that we'll try and come back for it later. Level up point distribution:>>3403855>>3403832>Amara: 5 points>Julia: 3 pointsSounds nice for a Julia 3 Amara 5.My reasoning is for getting Julia's core ability to lvl 10 and giving her a second ability to branch out on. Rounding her core abiltiy at lvl 10 will probably give her a milestone augmentation from Mother or something. We can then spend the last point on a Consume option and give Julia more fighting options when things come down to it.Amara needs to level up her lexicon and get a secondary ability.
>>3403863I personally think giving Julia 2 would be better, a bit of diversity without a doubt has proven its worth.But i also see your point on the level 10, but all that does is make me want to fall back to a 4/4 split...
Give shu at least 1 guys cmon
>>3403880The thing with Amara is that we really can't figure out what to do with the kit that she has currently. A lvl 3 lexicon by itself and her abilities help her with lots of utility and a couple of wordcast spells, but we don't have a big enough word library and she lacks a direct combat option. >>3403886And what do you propose to have that one point go towards?
>>3403887Consume on the Neuromancer.
>>3403886She really really does not need it at all compared to upping the other two heavily.>>3403887That really doesn't feel like an argument agaisnt or for either point spread, more of the general statement about Amaras current position.
>>3403810>>LEVEL UP: 8 Points to distribute between the two bodies (Vote on distribution).>Shu 1>Rath 1>Julia 3 >Amara 3This way the new girls get the biggest bump but we need levels too.
>>3403894Backing this. It's fine to let stragglers catch up but we dont want anyone to stagnate. Especially with Moms hunger buffs. Everyone should get at least 1.
>>3403890And how does it help Shu with her current kit? What ability are you hunting for specifically?Because with the allies we have and their individual skill sets, Shu's top heavy and can manage herself fine, Amara's too weak and desperately needs levels, Rath is currently fine, and Julia needs to diversify. Besides, I can't seem to find an ability that Penny and Puppeteer displays that synchronizes well with our current kit for Rath and Shu. Julia and Amara might, and their ability set lacks diversity and immediate impact.>>3403894What makes you think Shu and Rath needs levels besides staving off the hunger?
>>3403863>>3403827As much as id prefer a 4/4 split, ill change to back this guy. Id rather a spread i dont want on the right characters than wasting levels on those who do not need them right now.
>>3403900I can see some synergy between bone blades and our swarmlings. We can make a swarmling full of bone spires, attach it to our tongue, and use it as a mace.We can make some blades on the swarmling's hands and stab fools with it.
>>3403900We will continue to need levels until this quest ends. We will never 'not need' levels unless we eradicate the world like a psychopath and have all of them for ourselves. We're going up against Mother. And Doctor West. And possibly B'ni. And probably but hopefully not Mara (Marrow Dragoon) down the line. We are all absolutely going to need levels. You've seen B'ni's stat sheet, and according to Dr. West that's not enough to tackle the cord, not enough to even get to the cord. She might be trying to manipulate B'ni Into one of her power traps with that statement but she probably Isn't entirely wrong either.In any case, I'd always like the chance to either consume something useful or at least Increase our base abilities, even a little bit. Even small developments can be vital to success or death. (Choosing acid plating and then being saved from unconsciousness In an acid river by acid resistant swarmlings. One level, one ability was what saved us there. ONE.)
>>3403907Also, (and I am sorry for double posting) we can't forget that she had that absorbing tether. I'm sure we can work something out with that and our current regen abilities.
>>3403918oh. you mean the Humoral Paladin life-link ability? oh fuck! We can get the Sanguine Brood Augmentation again!
>>3403916We may never "not" need levels but especially in a party system you have to know how to balance things. Sometimes yes, a character is good where they are at and do not need resources, especially when other characters are lagging behind or on need of something desperately.That one level we stole from them could make all the difference to them keeping up, and one level here, one level there, next thing you know we have uselessly put Shu too far ahead of everyone else and made one or even more characters worthless and unusable by having them drag too far behind.
>>3403924How can Shu pull ahead when she's getting 1/3rd the levels of everyone else? You're being ridiculous.
>>3403924….That's why Shu and Rath get 1, just 1.Julia and Amara are getting 3, because they need them more.
>>3403863>>3403810backing this. Julia and Amara need to catchup real bad.
>>3403827Shiming in from the side. I think we need 4 and 4 now just to up them a bit, and then next give like 1/1/3/3 and after the same amount or so.
>>3403938Oor we could do 1/1/3/3 the next three times.
>>3403927>>3403928Because Shu is always in our party and we dont always only give her 1 when we give her any? If anyone is going to accidentally or otherwise get ahead, its gonna be her. And with thinking like you guys its gonna absolutely happen to a larger degree.Plus again that doesn't do anything to disprove the idea the others need them alot more nor that Shu and Rath can afford to skip out ONCE to let the others catch up.
>>3403948How about Rath 1Julia 3Amara 4
I'll just this one last thing to support my view of doing a 1/1/3/3 and then let It be.Opponents are unique, and their consume options are unique. When we see the opponent has good synergies with someone's kit (This girl had life-steal bonuses, which we wanted earlier) we shouldn't pass It up If we can. This way we get to pick up something very cool to add to our kit and Rath's kit and still give Julia and Amara a massive boost that lets them stand on their own better.Everyone gets what they want this way.
>>3403945>>3403938>>3403928>>3403948>>3403921>>3403918Hmm.... I feel like we're getting close to a general consensus on the level distribution, but the ratio is the point of contention. We're tied between giving two voted options so far:>Julia 3 Amara 5>Julia 3 Amara 3 Rath 1 Shu 1Agreed points so far:>Julia and Amara get the lions share.Point of contention>Whether or not Shu and Rath should get 1 point each or abstain.
>>3403922Yes, the lifelink.Voting for 2/3/1/2Julia/Amara/Rath/Shu, with 1 point for the blades and 1 for the sanguine brood for Shu.Maybe Rath can make some sort of grenades with bone spikes, and increase her range/damage; that's why she gets one point.
>>3403894Alright, supporting this
>>3403948>And with thinking like you guys its gonna absolutely happen to a larger degree.Hey now, don't be like that. I'm not trying to make Shu consolidate all the power, I'm trying to give her access to *Unique abilities* while I can. Besides, It's not like other party members couldn't potentially level up when we aren't around. Julia was fighting on her own for a long time after we met her before she joined.I'm asking for a compromise, I agree Julia and Amara should get the Lions Share and they are. Is this course of action really as bad as you think It Is?
>>3403962I'mma have to stop you right here and call you out on same-fagging anon. We have unique anon IDs for this reason.
>>3403953No, Rath seems to need them even less than Shu...and im saying this with Rath being like my favorite kit/character too.>>3403863>>3403827Honestly im backing either one of these, whichever is otherwise closer to winning and needs the vote. At this point so long as its Julia and Amara alone getting the points im for it.
>>3403968>>3403962wait my bad. I just realized you were changing your mind on a vote.
>>3403967Yes, i think its that bad.
>>3403968>>3403973Actually I had supported this before then deleted.I think it's my first post on this thread since I mostly lurk.
>>3403975>>3403967For what it is worth, nothing about what i said was meant to be personal, i just genuinely believe its not what needs to happen here and have comprimised and lost out on way too much that i think lead to us being weaker and in less good a position as we could be in to not play hard ball in what ways i can.
Well waddya know. We're still all tied up between >Amara 5 Julia 3and >Amara 3 Julia 3 Rath 1 and Shu 1.From our latest count.
>>3403894i agree with this onesorry for my lateness here guys
>>3404005voting closed 4 minutes ago so your level distribution vote may not have counted.
>>3403985I appreciate that anon, but when you say 'with you guys doing x It's gonna get worse'... When we can only communicate via text, we have to be careful how we write things. Shu can die. If Shu dies It's over. Shu needs the means to have survivability In the case we miss a vital detail and get hit hard. Upgrades are unique based on the opponent and this girl has synergies. You genuinely are trying to help the quest and so am I. A lot of times we have to pick up a lot of the slack, and I want to be In a position where we can do so without bringing ourselves to the brink of death as we have In multiple fights, yet I also understand Julia and Amara NEED these levels. You also have to consider the hunger, we don't know how bad It Is right now and I don't want our head (or Raths!) to get screwed with because we passed up a free meal. We almost died from this Artillery strike, and as this episode shows sometimes we have to fight on our own, so I think we she always take at least 1, just 1 to slowly Increase our own power In some fashion. >>3403995Of course. If BHOP has to let It come down to a coin flip, just whatever we do don't samefag. That goes for my selection too, lets not go down that road. I don't want votes to be plagued with finger-pointing and paranoia In this quest over same-fagging.
>>3404005the tiebreaker might be appreciated so BHOP may or may not take your vote.
(Gentlemen, the tie shall be decided via coin flip as per usual. Writing now, and please know I appreciate your civility with each other.)
>>3404015I really dont have time due to work to say much more than the obvious 'i disagree and hope you understand i have long winded good reasons.'Sorry.
>>3404021can you reflect the civil discussion on the level up distribution we anons had as in-character discussion between our party members? I feel like stuff like this makes good drama in a quest.
>>3404022Nah, I get your points I just don't agree with them. It's fine that we don't agree with each other, but when It comes to votes that means we're gonna clash. It's all good anon>>3404005I appreciate It, but you got screwed by the bell gen.>>3404021It comes down to fate now. I'm okay with whatever happens.
whoops whelp i guess its too bad XDi was doing some reading so i wasnt quite prepared i guess
>>3404028(I like this suggestion, bear with me, Gentlemen.)
>>3404048Oh man I was wondering If you were gonna do that.>>3404028Who would be for what though? I suppose whichever wins the coinflip Is what Shu ends up supporting but In the Instance that Shu or Rath wanted a level and didn't get them, who would Julia or Amara be to deny them? Or would It be the reverse, with Shu and Rath Insisting It all goes to them? Probably the latter, If OP saw the suggestion and saw a way to get It to work.
>>3404056I believe Rath and Shu will be all for giving the levels to Julia and Amara. Julia might be one that doesn't want to take the levels, and Amara wants to give a level to Shu and Rath despite getting the lions share of the "treasure"
>>3404028>>3404048>>3404056>>3404069Lets be honest, it would be a shitshoe of everyone turning down taking levels themselves trying to be nice and care for everyone else.Minis maybe Amara who would want it spread out equally
>>3404084i think the discussion would have a bigger undercurrent of concern about whose closer to succumbing to hunger and the need of surviving future encounters. there’s also the issue that Shu, Rath, and Julia want to keep Amara’s innocence relatively intact and can’t stand the thought of seeing her enter direct combat and putting her life on the line.
>>3403810The four of you begin to pick through the rubble for a while for any trace of your foes, though the unstable footing and settling dust hamper your efforts considerably. You take a moment with Julia while rath and Amara search elsewhere amid the debris to apologize for everything that happened, and for making her worry. She just looks up at you with her big, dark eyes and smiles.“I was worried, b-but I trust you. You can t-take care of yourself…I see that v-very clearly, now.” She replies simply before glancing over to where Amara hops from stone to stone, arms outstretched for balance. “It’s her I’m w-worried about.”“Same, honestly.” You say, the Stiltling behind you shifting its two burdens around on its carapace to better distribute the corpses’ weight. “I know she’s just a kid, but she’s going to have to get another ability or two so she can protect herself. Hey, Amara!”She trots up, staring into your eyes either her two-tone gaze expectantly as your Knightling hovers close. The moment it touches your back, a pair of muscled arms sprout of its shell and begin to pose, prompting a fit of hysterical laughter from the little girl, along with a giggle from your resident artist.“If you stay close and don't wander off while you search, Mr. Knight here will give you a piggyback ride."You fear the resulting squeal of joy can be heard from miles around.When you beckon your fellows to join you back at the Forge, Amara hovers up to your side atop the Knightling, holding out the shattered remains of the jamming Relic that gave you such a hard time. You take the broken rings in hand, noting that the sphere of tightly bound grey matter is still intact and little worse for wear, despite the dust. There may be hope for it, yet.“Nicely done, I’ll have to get Gina or Niku to check that out when we meet up later.” You say with a smile as you hike up the hill before a question crosses your mind. “Hey Amara, did you get the chance to ask the fleshscape where the Forge core is?” She grins, and points off into the distance as you squint from your perch atop the hill where the inactive Forge is nestled. You can see it now, barrel smoking as it rolls down the far-off hill. It is a hideous thing, a ramshackle war machine held together with threads of skin and gristle, treads like centipedes churning the earth beneath its path as it crawls slowly towards the far end of town from whence you just came.You usher the rest of your allies into the Forge room, casting one last glance at the rumbling metallic beast before ducking inside.(Continued)
>>3404125Ten minutes later and you’re massaging your temples as you sit on the hearth, having gone round in circles with Julia and Rath about how to divvy up the bodies stacked to your right, Amara using the pair as a grim high-chair with which to survey the debate.“Julia, I mean no offence, but as strong as you are you need some versatility, girl.” Rath says, backing you up in your request for both Julia and Amara to share in the spoils. To your surprise, Julia’s put her foot down on the issue, and it’s taken the better part of the discussion to have her waver from splitting the meal evenly between the four of you.“I understand that I’m n-not as v-versatile as you both, b-but I don’t want anyone to succumb t-to the Hunger.” She reasons, pleading her case with her trademark passion.“Man, I’m all in favor of us not losing our minds, but Amara needs to get swole, and fast.” Rath fires back, her tone even-keeled despite her insistence. “As fun as it'll be watching her Thuum-ing people left and right, she needs some immediately kick-ass options, stat. Shu and I will be fine, we can handle ourselves.”“Hey, we’re a party like in my video games, right?” Amara pipes up, absent-mindedly kicking her feet against Penny’s headless shoulders. “Everybody gets to be stronger in those, and the weaker heroes level up faster! Why can’t we do it like that? Miss Julia and I eat some more, but you and Rath get some to?”“At this point, I think she raises a good point.” You finally interject, rising from your seat and surveying your friends. “With a weighted split, Rath and I get some more options that might save us down the line, while the two of you get stronger as well. I’d say that’s fair, wouldn’t you all?"Julia seems hesitant before you speak again."We all need to be able to fend for ourselves. We will try to stick together, but if something like this happens again, we need power and options, and a weighted split will give us both, hopefully."You find yourself sharing a nod with your other two companions, and you set about dragging the bodies to the center of the room and trying not to think about the fucked-up implications of a seven-year-old having the deciding vote as to who gets what in a cannibalistic feast.However, if she's going to survive in this world, she needs strength. Innocence and hope are easier to preserve if you're alive to have them.SHU - LEVEL UP x 1>>SWARMLING (Lvl 8, BIO+)>>RAVENOUS MAW (Lvl 6, HEALTH+)>>HUNDRED-HANDED(Lvl 3, BIO REGEN+)>>CONSUMERATH - LEVEL UP x 1>>TENSILE STRAND (Lvl 5, HEALTH REGEN+)>>RADIANT BOIL (Lvl 5, BIO+)>>PHANTOM LIMB (Lvl 3, HEALTH+)>>CONSUMEJULIA - LEVEL UP x 3>>SCULPTRESS OF FLESH (Lvl 9, HEALTH REGEN +5%)>>CONSUMEAMARA - LEVEL UP x 3>>HOLISTIC LEXICON (Lvl 4, HEALTH +10%)>>CONSUMEYOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>3404125bloody hell, the forge core was taken to power a damn BIO-TANK?
>>3404142(Yes.)
>>3404134SHU>SWARMLING (Lvl 8, BIO+)RATH>RADIANT BOIL (Lvl 5, BIO+)JULIA>CONSUME x3AMARA>HOLISTIC LEXICON (Lvl 4, HEALTH +10%)>CONSUME x2I almost thought of having Rath level up Tensile Strand and have her first new forge creation reflecting on her Choice, but without Gina here, we can't connect during the Choice. If it's not a core ability, it shouldn't trigger it, right?
>>3404134Damnit, well may aswell make the wasted resources as little wasted as possible.>SHU>>RAVENOUS MAWwe still could use more health and its a great ability thats done us hell of alot or good.>RATH>>PHANTOM LIMBboils and strands are good, her kit is more than good, but more SWOLE will do her amazingly.>JULIA>CONSUME x3Her kit needs serious fleshing out and i think only giving her one would be a mistake, and reaching level 10 is much less important than her diversity right now.>AMARA>>HOLSITIC LEXICON>>CONSUME x2Similar situation, and remember, she's not guranteed new words from level ups, and can get them elsewhere implied more often THAN level ups, and said words are its main strength.
(Voting shall close in two hours from now, Gentlemen.)
>>3404134Shu consumesRath - radiant boilJulia - Consume x3Amara - Lexicon x3
>>3404174Somewhat agreeing with this. Shu must consume, so we can get that lifelink ability!We can level other things up later.I'm thinkingSHU - CONSUME 1XJULIA - CONSUME 3XRATH - PHANTOM LIMBS 1XAMARA - CONSUME 1X ; HOLLISTIC LEXICON 2X.
>>3404134Remember, this girl has good Life-Steal passives, Shu should definitely CONSUME.SHU - LEVEL UP x 1>>CONSUMERATH - LEVEL UP x 1>>PHANTOM LIMB (Lvl 3, HEALTH+)JULIA - LEVEL UP x 3>CONSUME x 3AMARA - LEVEL UP x 3>HOLISTIC LEXICON (Lvl 4, HEALTH +10%)>CONSUME x 2
>>3404134>ShuUhhhh, Consume>RathAlabaster Endoskeleton that op forgot(If we can't for whatever reason I vote for Phantom Limb)>JuliaConsume 3x>AMARALexicon 1xConsume 2x
>>3404184>>3404187Guys, the ability options we get are rolled randomly between all who consume. It is not guranteed Shu will even have that option to pick.
>>3404195(This Anon has a point; Alabaster Endoskeleton (Lvl 2, Health +10%)
>>3404196You are correct, but It seems likely we will get something regen related.Even If we don't get that, we still get something nice. Worth a shot.
>>3404205Eh, fair enough i just wasn't sure if everyone knew that and personally thonk our kit is more than solid and as much as diversity is great, neglecting our current abilities is bad too.Lets not also forget we have so many options already we constantly overlook and forget about them, so id argue too much diversity is wasteful and even a hindrance almost.
>>3404217I agree with you anon, if we get too many abilities we will end up not using them to their full extent (as in, we won't be able to level them enough to really be a game changer) but I also think we should try to have more options at our disposal.4 per character seems like a good number (while we don't get any to their level cap that is)
Also anyone else amusingly upset that BHOP teased us with a better forge only to turn it into a massive death trap with no forge?Damn i really wanted to see what it could do too...[Spoiler]i got bamboozled hard and i feel like i really should of seen it coming...[/spoiler]
>>3404134Shu>ConsumeFishing for Augmentation synergy.Rath>Tensile StrandMAKE THE CHOICEJulia>Consume x1>Sculptress of Flesh x 2I want Julia to be lvl 10 in sculpting>Amara>Holistic Lexicon x 1>CONSUME X 2
>>3404246well. We did see it coming if the pattern we're sensing is correct. we can't have everything since time marches forwards. Any opportunity we take will always have missed opportunities.
>>3404261Then i personally regret more of our past decisions.
Actually wait one second, all of these points come from one Daughter correct, or Is this from both of the daughters we fought? Weren't Rath and Julia fighting daughters too? Did they get away and I just missed It somewhere?
>>3404310the only corpses that we've managed to recover are Penny's and Puppeteer's corpses. They're all heaped together into one giant pile of bio-loot. The rest may have been blown to bits by the fucking tank.
>>3404320That or Rath didn't leave much to consume, what with fire and mega punches. Julia probably just didn't think about it.
>>3404320>>3404323(In their haste to find you, they abandoned their kills to reach your side.)
>>3404328Good to know, thank you OP. Can we vote to go corpse hunting here In a moment? I'd rather not have our effort be lost to amalgams and scavengers.
>>3404340we went to take shelter from the tank and spent 10 minutes arguing over level distribution. those corpses may have been picked clean.
>>3404340>>3404345(You may certainly try after the level ups.)
>>3404195this ALL THE CONSUMES (honestly i love excessive consuming)hope im not too late on this vote
>>3404362Please take note that BHOP always posts a timer after an update. >>3404152
>>3404353>You may certainly try*Sigh*, I just got the most ominous vibe from that statement.Wonderful.
>>3404362>(honestly i love excessive consuming)
>>3404134SHURAVENOUS MAW RATHAlabaster Endoskeleton JULIACONSUME X2SCULPTRESS OF FLESH X1AMARAHOLISTIC LEXICON X1CONSUME X2
(Gentlemen, bad news and excellent news. Something has come up at work and I will have to stay later to work on a project, so the next post will be delayed a bit. On the upside, the rolls for the Consume option came back with a ludicrous amount of versatile and high level options, so when I post it will be Christmas is the fleshscape. Pic related is how I felt when rolling.)
>>3404608>the rolls for the Consume option came back with a ludicrous amount of versatile and high level options
>>3404608>The rolls for the Consume option came back with a ludicrous amount of versatile and high level options, so when I post it will be Christmas is the fleshscape.WOOHOO, UPGRADES!Merry April 3rd, everybody!
>>3404608oh thats really exciting
>>3404608>mfw just got home expecting to have missed most of the discussion on the consume options.>mfw come home to this instead.
>>3404639woe be the girl that has a demonic board as her tits. the flat jokes will never cease.
>>3404653 its ok anon, she didnt have anything there before anyways.>mfw you remember Ava is supposed to be near the same age as maggie somehow.
(Headed home soon Gentlemen, and I shall resume writing shortly. Thank you all so much for your patience and understanding, and I hope you find the options shall be worth the wait.)
>>3404819I'm already satisfied and I haven't even seen them.Then again, If the choices are that good then uh, this votes about to be hell Isn't It.
>>3404968Child with Whistle: I am growing stronger
>>3404968when are these type of votes not hell? opinions mixed with choices that could literally make the difference between winning or losing. best to sharpen you tongue and enjoy the nuclear fire it brings, its no place for those who do not enjoy a good argument.
(Back home, and formatting this is going to take a second. Would you all like me to post all at once, or post each section once I've added the flavor text and dolled it up a bit per usual?)
>>3404996As per usual chief.
>>3404996I'll take the version with the flavor text please. we have the patience. Take your time. Since this is a vote on what powers to consume, we need the time to think and you need the time to wind down and do your writing.
>>3404996whichever you would prefer honestly. though voting gets less chaotic when you post it all at once, so as to encourage people not to post in between the sections as much.
>>3404996Your call chief, I trust your judgement.>>3404987I have prepared my will, I am ready to die In the ensuing upgrade war.
>>3404819>On the upside, the rolls for the Consume option came back with a ludicrous amount of versatile and high level options, so when I post it will be Christmas is the fleshscape.Can't wait, BHOP. The Level Up and Consume options are some of my favorite parts in this already awesome quest. If this is Christmas, then I feel like a kid on said Christmas, waiting for their parents to wake up so we can start opening presents. Best kind of anticipation.
(Julia's CONSUME section and possibly Amara's are going to have to be split into two, there's just so much to parse through. Thank you for waiting, I am nearing completion.)
>>3405046Except that in this case as soon as you see the presents your parents start arguing which to open.
>>3405073>>3405075THEN WAIT TIL BHOP SAYS TIME TO VOTE. >>3405071Please end the Power vote dump with your call of "VOTING STARTS NOW". to control the debates and voting. We'd like a clean menu without any anons interjecting.
>>3405084Shut up.Negro.
>>3405084(That's not a bad idea, I'll post before and after the abilities to try to ensure nothing interrupts it for ease of viewing.)
>>3405087I'll let that insult slide. Point taken.
>>3405071oh boy, this is gonna get hectic i can already tell.>>3405084yeah lets do this please.>>3405087is that the best you have? your 4chan games weak my friend.
>>3405098ummm, I dont know this 4chan you speak of, this is 4channel.
Now, now, everybody, let's not bog down this awesome quest with any infighting. Let's just be patient and let BHOP do their thing.
>>3405101honestly that 'split' is the most worthless thing imaginable when 4chan still links to all the "4channel"" boards. its literally like putting up a fold-able wall that doesn't even block off half the room and calling the other half a different house.
>>3405115Its also how to make an oldfag rant 101
>>3405117kek. if you say so. im not even sure by oldfag standards im counted as one. but thats a whole nother topic best suited for other places.
>>3405122I might be biased, but more or less anyone here before 2014 is usually ok.
>>3405126(I certainly feel like an old coot; I've been around since 2007.)
>>3405126>>3405128started browsing lightly in like 2012-2013, but the ukrainian riots and revolution of 2014 is what really made me stay on the site. truly, those were glorious times.
>>3405128Truly BHOP is an Antediluvian Entity of this plane.
>>3405133(Antediluvian, you say?)
>>3405126I got here In 2014, guess I'm too late to be an oldfag.
>>3405084Why are you CAPS LOCKing at me, I almost never post. You hurt me anon.>>3405098>KSBDGood taste.>>3405126>I'm one year too lateSorry I guess
>>3405142sorry.
(Posting shall begin now, Gentlemen.)
>>3404134SHU - LEVEL UP>>CONSUME (OPTIONS TO FOLLOW)RATH - LEVEL UP>>PHANTOM LIMB (Lvl 3): throwing caution to the wind in pursuit of justice, Rath can go beyond her body's natural limits to gain access to an utterly devastating blow that comes at the cost of her own health. She may choose to expend 20% of her current HEALTH and 1 ACT to combine any number of Phantom Limbs with one of her real ones, imbuing it with impossibly destructive power that scales with the number of limbs consumed in its creation. The resulting blow, if struck, deals five times critical damage and will automatically knock a target of any size prone. You may not see her naming her smashes after locales of note, but the effects have to be seen to be believed. (HEALTH+10%)JULIA - LEVEL UP>>CONSUME (OPTIONS TO FOLLOW)AMARA - LEVEL UP>HOLISTIC LEXICON (Lvl 4): She walks without fear, the very ground she trod upon bowing to her will. Amara may now cross difficult terrain as if it were normal, and she makes saving throws against the effects of hazardous terrain with advantage. Additionally, if she would take damage regardless of making a save against terrain effects, she takes half the damage. A child shall lead them, freed from the wrath of the earth the treads upon. (HEALTH +10%)>>CONSUME (OPTIONS TO FOLLOW)(Continued)
>>3405186It begins. Arm yourselves, brothers.
>>3405186SHU - CONSUMECHOOSE *ONE* FROM THE LIST BELOW>>EXSANGUINATING LEASH (Lvl 1): Blood seeks blood, a cycle of life fed by death. You now possess the ability to actively drain the wounds of Daughters in within medium range, siphoning their lifeblood into yourself. Affected Daughters will have their HEALTH REGEN reduced by one third, and you will begin to benefit from the healing they would have otherwise enjoyed. Additionally, you will deal steady damage as long as the link remains active, as you slowly seep the target of that which you crave. At its current level, the toggle-able health drain can only target a single individual, though enemies or allies may be targeted at will. (HEALTH + 30%)>>FUEL THE FLESH (Passive Version): Life fuels life, no matter the form. You now possess the ability to draw on your own reserves of HEALTH instead of BIO to craft constructs, should you not possess the necessary BIO reserves. At a cost of 1.5 times the base BIO cost of whatever you wish to create, you may elect to consume your own life to ensure you claw your way to victory. After all, it doesn't matter if you're hanging on to life by a thread if you're the last one standing. (HEALTH +50%)>>MOLTING BROOD (Swarmling Augmentation): Your Swarmlings feed, they hatch, they kill...and now, in their pursuit of something akin to a true life, they shed. Swarmlings of any class now automatically shrug off one status ailment at the end of each round, prioritizing the one that would either rob you of control or deal them lethal damage, if multiple afflictions are present. Slowly but surely, your brood are changing into a plague the like of which this world...any world...has never borne witness to. (BIO REGEN+10%)>>HARDENED HEART (Passive): Wounds serve to strengthen our resolve, allowing us to withstand greater cruelties as life trudges on. When an area of your body suffers damage, you may now choose to expend BIO equal to the damage taken to coat the wounded area in an ablative sanguine plating, a crimson defense that rivals the most hardened armor boasted by Calcite Armorers. (BIO +30%)(Continued)
>>3405186> will automatically knock a target of any size prone.Holy shit. Rath - Titan Toppler.>You may not see her naming her smashes after locales of note, but the effects have to be seen to be believed.Rath is now All Might.GO BEYONDPLUSULTRAAAAAAAA
>>3405190JULIA – CONSUME (Page 1/2)CHOOSE *THREE* FROM THE LIST BELOW >>BLOODY RIPPER (Hybrid, Lvl 1): The signature hybrid skill of the inimitable Penny Dreadful, this combination of Calcite Armorer and Humoral Paladin abilities allows the user to generate a wicked trick weapon of their own devising at a cost of 20% HEALTH and BIO to summon. The weapon possesses the ability to restore the health of the wielder with each successful strike, healing 20% of the damage inflicted on top of dealing wounds that refuse to close until the beginning of the targets next turn. While initially simplistic in design, the weapon generated by this skill will eventually grow and evolve according to the will of the user, gaining a multitude of forms that may be swapped out depending on how death must be dealt. (HEALTH +20% % BIO +20%)>>INSIDIOUS MOLTING (Lvl 1): Penny was little more than a vicious snake in the grass...but even snakes have tricks you'd like to try. Julia now possesses the ability to shift her skin to mimic the appearance of anyone she's seen at the cost of 30% BIO and 1 ACT, using her artistic talent to its fullest to perfectly mimic her target visually. While the transformation is limited to her the exterior base form of a humanoid of equal stature, the potential for growth in this ability is unknown. Perhaps with time, one could become a wholly different person, with all that entails...(HEALTH REGEN +10%)>>SCULPTOR'S ARSENAL (Lvl 1): Julia's skill with twisting her own flesh along with her witnessing the skill and craftsmanship of Calcite Armorers has inspired her to take a viciously effective page out of their book. She now boasts the ability to warp her skin into a variety of weapons at the cost of 20% BIO per form and possess a medium range. While initially not as strong as the weapons generated by the warriors devoted to crafting an arsenal, they are capable of benefiting from any passive abilities she has related to her skin, granting them a level of unmatched versatility. Truly, her craft will know no bounds. (BIO +40%)(Continued)
>>3405200IS THATA MOTHERFUCKINGBNHA REFERENCE? I noticed It too, but didn't want to say anything. Did OP just delete one of the lists?
>>3405207JULIA – CONSUME (Page 2/2)>>WEEPING FLESH (Sculptress of Flesh Augmentation): Flesh will tear, flesh will break, flesh will weep. Julia's MALLEABLE SKIN stacks now inflict the affected enemy with open sores that continually weep a steady flow of blood, resulting in a steady loss of blood that continues until the stacks or removed or her foe is bled dry, with the drainage increasing in urgency with each stack applies. However, this augmentation will make it obvious when a target is afflicted with MALLEABLE SKIN stacks...though when they're reduced to little more that a living, breathing wound, they won't be in any position to voice an objection. (HEALTH +30%)>>RIGOR DERMIS (Sculptress of Flesh Augmentation): The body's largest organ is such a brittle thing, so easily shattered when it goes stiff. Julia's MALLEABLE SKIN stack now inflict a movement debuff alongside their other capabilities, as the victim's skin slowly stiffens with each stack, with five halving the movement range of the target, ten removing 1 ACT from their active pool, and fifteen rendering the victim utterly helpless and immobile. (HEALTH REGEN +10%)>>CREEPING CONJUNCTIVITIS (Sculptress of Flesh Augmentation): Infection, swelling, and then...darkness. Julia's MALLEABLE SKIN stacks now begin to effect the accuracy of their target's attacks by 3% with each stack, slowly encrusting the victim's eyes (regardless of number or placement) with amber-like crystals that will eventually completely overwhelm the delicate spheres. (BIO REGEN +10%)(Continued)
>>3405215AMARA – CONSUMECHOOSE *TWO* FROM THE LIST BELOW>>TERROR-FORMER (Hybrid, Lvl 1): A curious hybrid skill of two schools of Neuromancy that forgoes manipulation of the mind in favor of a more visceral sort of combat. Amara may choose to permanently manipulate the terrain in a short range around her, but with a catch; the form the manipulation takes wreaks havoc on the mind, inflicting the fear status effect on foes as long as they remain close to the twisted creation. This warped world is one thing...but what she can create now is something beyond the vision of those responsible for this monstrous world. (BIO +30% & BIO REGEN +10%)>>QUEEN CRIMSON (Lvl 1): A scarlet crown for a cheerful queen. Amara now gains the Humoral Paladin's skill to manipulate her own bodily fluids, with manifestation dependent upon emotional state. Channeling her boundless energy and outgoing nature, Amara's sanguine temperament has altered the depressive Puppeteer ability to suit her own disposition. With an upkeep cost of 10% HEALTH and 20% BIO per round, she has the ability to toggle a latticework of blood that works to deflect incoming attacks and viciously lash out at those that would dare come too close, all within close range. As though it has a mind of it's own, it will eventually grow to adopt more complex forms and features as it evolves. You're not sure how something this delicate and complex works...it just does. (BIO REGEN +5%)>> GRINDING EARTH (Lexicon of Flesh Augmentation): The hateful earth has no love for any but her. Difficult terrain created by Amara’s Lexicon now actively strikes out at foes, drilling into them should they venture too close or tread across its unforgiving surface. Though the sort of terrain she generates is currently random, the ground will deal repeated and considerable damage to those within range, resulting in catastrophic damage should the ground render the target immobilized. (HEALTH REGEN +10%)>>ARTISTIC REBIRTH (Passive): Amara has decided to take after her most ardent caretaker, as she is now capable of spending a single ACT to shrug off a single status effect inflicted upon her by molting her skin off mid-fight at the cost of 20% BIO and 1 ACT. She may give the artist a hard time, but Amara admires the endlessly supportive girl more than words can express...and she has quite a few of them. (HEALTH +20%)>>FEARLESS STRIDE (Passive): The walls whisper their secrets, for her ears only. Amara's communication with the fleshscape reaches now heights, as the surrounding terrain will now inform her of any active threats lurking nearby, regardless of cloaking or Neuromancy. Additionally, the radius of terrain passively granted sentience by Amara's ability is widened to three hundred yards, allowing her to become aware of threats before they pose an issue. She aims to ensure something like what just happened never threatens her loved ones ever again. (HEALTH +30%)YOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>3405212>>3405200>Baps anons with Newspaper.You two just couldn't resist could ya?
(There we are, Gentlemen. Voting is now open for the next two hours, and thank you so much for your patience. Best of luck, one and all.)
>>3405225Oh boy - choice time. Let the voting wars begin!Shu>>MOLTING BROODJulia>>INSIDIOUS MOLTING (Lvl 1)>>SCULPTOR'S ARSENAL (Lvl 1)>>CREEPING CONJUNCTIVITISAmara>>QUEEN CRIMSON (Lvl 1)>>FEARLESS STRIDE (Passive)
>>3405225>SHU>>>>HARDENED HEART (Passive): (BIO +30%)As much as Shu needs more HEALTH, she really does not need ANOTHER level up chain that will only eat away further at levels, and having any wound that gets through give us immensely strong armor is in its own right more health.>JULIA:>>>>BLOODY RIPPER (Hybrid, Lvl 1): (HEALTH +20% % BIO +20%)Are you kidding me? 20% heal on hits? Bleed effect for one turn? Later can be more complicated? She was a fucking beast in CC before, but with this? Holy hell.>>RIGOR DERMIS (Sculptress of Flesh Augmentation): (HEALTH REGEN +10%) >>CREEPING CONJUNCTIVITIS (Sculptress of Flesh Augmentation): (BIO REGEN +10%) and then give her signature ability not one, but TWO more debuffs? Then she would be a living nightmare if we get her close.Now I see the argument for Sculptors arsenal, but BLOODY RIPPER easily makes up for not having her weapon deal these effects itself, and she will be close enough to still inflict STACKS as she also inflicts DEATH with said weapon.>AMARA:>>QUEEN CRIMSON (Lvl 1): (BIO REGEN +5%) now I understand the hesitation given its steep cost nad her stats, but think of it more as a last resort should someone get close. They wouldn't expect her to have such a strong defensive AND offensive ability. Plus...>>GRINDING EARTH (Lexicon of Flesh Augmentation): (HEALTH REGEN +10%) Not only is this a kickass augmentation to her Lexicon that makes her a hellish nightmare, but the HEALTH REGEN outright heals back the cost of QUEEN if it works as intended and keeps her out of damage and danger. Perfect combo in my opinion.
>>3404125I asked for a flesh tank. I guess we got one.Step one: capture flesh panzerStep two: profit
>>3405235only thing i wish to say is, Julias Insidious Molting option both feels entirely out of character, for both her AND how we play the party, aswell as the fact with how we adventure it is really not something we could of, would of, or may ever use. we just arent those that trick others before battle, we try to be open and earn friendship, or confront those we see as wrong doers. tricking them, if we even got the chance, just isnt how we handle social or combat interactions. and i feel thats both ok and justified.
>>3405244Hmm, you make a good point. Although it's an interesting and useful ability, I don't see Julia using that power, given her sweet and honest personality.In that case, I'd be fine with replacing that with BLOODY RIPPER.
>>3405225Shu>>MOLTING BROOD (Swarmling Augmentation)Julia>>BLOODY RIPPER (Hybrid, Lvl 1)>>RIGOR DERMIS (Sculptress of Flesh Augmentation)>>CREEPING CONJUNCTIVITIS (Sculptress of Flesh Augmentation)Amara>> GRINDING EARTH (Lexicon of Flesh Augmentation)>>FEARLESS STRIDE (Passive)>>3405244Yeah that's what I was thinking. And I can't really imagine Julia successfully tricking someone like that, either due to nervousness or guilt.
>>3405225ShuCan't decide yet give me some timeJuliaGoddamn OP>RIGOR DERMIS>CREEPING CONJUNCTIVITISAmara>QUEEN CRIMSONSo Many good passives
>>3405225>>3405186>>3405227So It begins.Shu>>EXSANGUINATING LEASH (Lvl 1): It's so good, It's exactly what we wanted just about. God I know Molting Brood Is beastly and I want to make our swarmlings Invincible but It DENIES REGENERATION, and then WE GET THAT REGENERATION. We deal damage, deny regeneration and heal all from one ability, and later we will no doubt be able to use this on multiple targets. This Is the ultimate attrition ability right here.>>BLOODY RIPPER (Hybrid, Lvl 1):Gives her more damage, healing, and Anti-regen. Damn good.>>RIGOR DERMIS (Sculptress of Flesh Augmentation): Petrification will be GREAT for a big boss fight>>CREEPING CONJUNCTIVITIS (Sculptress of Flesh Augmentation):An accuracy/blindness debuff too? Let's just make her stacks super nasty by giving them more and more debuffs.>>QUEEN CRIMSON (Lvl 1): A scarlet crown for a cheerful queen. Amara now gains the Humoral Paladin's skill to manipulate her own bodily fluids, with manifestation dependent upon emotional state. Channeling her boundless energy and outgoing nature, Amara's sanguine temperament has altered the depressive Puppeteer ability to suit her own disposition. With an upkeep cost of 10% HEALTH and 20% BIO per round, she has the ability to toggle a latticework of blood that works to deflect incoming attacks and viciously lash out at those that would dare come too close, all within close range. As though it has a mind of it's own, it will eventually grow to adopt more complex forms and features as it evolves. You're not sure how something this delicate and complex works...it just does. (BIO REGEN +5%)Here's her offense. Level this up and she gets death-field. It'll be amazing.>> GRINDING EARTH (Lexicon of Flesh Augmentation): The hateful earth has no love for any but her. Difficult terrain created by Amara’s Lexicon now actively strikes out at foes, drilling into them should they venture too close or tread across its unforgiving surface. Though the sort of terrain she generates is currently random, the ground will deal repeated and considerable damage to those within range, resulting in catastrophic damage should the ground render the target immobilized. (HEALTH REGEN +10%)Imagine the fact that this facet might level up with the Lexicon Itself, she deals so much damage just by being present. Imagine.
>>3405269as much as i dont want the Hybrid ability for Amara, i feel like we waste the point of giving her levels if we dont give her an upgradable tree, as that was basically a major point of giving her so many, to flesh her out and give her more options than just her Lexicon. >>3405274you forgot one for Julia. id prefer BLOODY RIPPER but SCULPTORS ARSENAL is a good alternative, even if i obviously dont prefer it.also honestly for Shu only EXSANGUINATING LEASH or HARDENED HEART sound worth it to me, but i just cant bring myself to care considering she shouldn't of gotten a level much less a Consume option in my opinion, so all i see hers as is a bargaining chip in a compromise for other things.
>>3405225Shu:>Exsanguinating leash The perfect hard counter to B'ni's monster regen. Or any amalgam or daughter that uses health regen as their main gimmick.Julia: >Rigor Dermis>Creeping ConjunctivitisThose Sculptor's flesh augmentations are too delicious.>Sculptor's ArsenalAmara:>Fearless StrideThe ultimate radar map. Total information control on scouting and exploring, No more getting ambushed. We get to find ALL THE SECRETS. >Grinding EarthNow her TER component of her word can give her passive health regen and a way to deal indirect AOE damage.
>>3405312>>3405235>>3405238>>3405269>>3405274>>3405291thine votes have been cast. Lets begin the debate, bartering and arguments.Agreed upon votes:Julia:>Rigor Dermis>Creeping ConjunctivitisPoint of contentions:Julia: >Bloody ripper in majority, one counterpoint for Sculptor's Arsenal, one counterpoint for Insidious molting.Amara:>Fearless Stride as a Majority, Grinding Earth and Queen Crimson are vying for second place. Point of contention for Amara is which two powers we are aiming to select. Shu:>Hardened Heart and Exsanguinating Leash with Molten Brood
>>3405296 I actually like EXSAGUINATING LEASH more but I feel like HARDENED HEART will be more useful >>3405274Julia>>BLOODY RIPPER
Hoo boy.SHU:Exsanguinating leash. Too good to pass up, and just imagine what sort of crazy stuff we'll be able to do with it at later levels.JULIA:Bloody Ripper, Creeping Conjunctivitis, Rigor Dermis.AMARA:Grinding Earth, and torn between Queen Crimson and Fearless Stride, whichever one wins.
new votes brings the totals to:>SHU: (1)>>HARDENED HEART: 1>>MOLTING BROOD: 2>EXSANGUINATING LEASH: 3>JULIA: (3)>>>>BLOODY RIPPER: 6>SCULPTORS ARSENAL:2>>RIGOR DERMIS: 7>>CREEPING CONJUNCTIVITIS: 7>AMARA: (2)>>QUEEN CRIMSON: 4 >>GRINDING EARTH: 5 >>FEARLESS STRIDE: 3which sadly means my Shu change is no longer needed, but i still feel it is a MASSIVE waste to not give Amara another Ability Tree.
>>3405359(I cannot thank you enough for tallying these, Anon.)
>>3405274ALRIGHTShu>EXSANGUINATING LEASHAmara>>GRINDING EARTHsince I still want CRIMSON QUEEN to win and FEARLESS STRIDE is unfortunately too close to it
>>3405367as much as i appreciate your kind words BHOP, i must be honest and say i do it soley to use as argument fuel to get what i think is best.SPEAKING OF:>>3405359>>3405371>SHU: (1)>>HARDENED HEART: 1>>MOLTING BROOD: 2>EXSANGUINATING LEASH: 4>JULIA: (3)>>>>BLOODY RIPPER: 6>SCULPTORS ARSENAL:2>>RIGOR DERMIS: 7>>CREEPING CONJUNCTIVITIS: 7>AMARA: (2)>>QUEEN CRIMSON: 4 >>GRINDING EARTH: 6 >>FEARLESS STRIDE: 3
>>3405375(Ha, your candor is equally appreciated.)
>>3405341Ah. Thanks for the correction. Gah. Fearless stride seems like a really awesome passive for Amara because it increases her sensory range and also expands the area in which she can hear HIDDEN SECRETS. plus. Active Radar that can penetrate all forms of cloaking. The Mileage you can get out of this passive is ludicrous. But the Crimson Queen and Grinding Earth combo ticks off all of our boxes and check marks for giving Amara a really good secondary powerset.
>>3405359It feels more like Rath's point in consumption was the one that was wasted in hindsight. Giving Amara Grinding Earth, Fearless Stride, and Queen Crimson would've made everyone happy when it came to amara. Also you bamboozled me.>>3405382 was for you.
We're all on the same page about Julia I think and AMARA Is mostly agreed upon as well, or at least the three abilities In the lead are all ones I love though I think If she doesn't get Queen Crimson as an active that would be really really bad. She needs an active.That just leaves Shu.Exsanguinating Leash Is a hell of an ability, It makes our attrition game that much worse and seriously strengthens our survivability and damage while debuffing the enemy.On the other hand, Molten Brood Is just simply 'My Swarmlings Are Unbeatable!' The ability. If this wins over Exsanguinating I wouldn't be upset. It's very useful to stack immunities or our core ability.On the other hand, we have Hardened Heart. While It claims to give us strong armor, It's not activatable. It's a reaction that happens to getting hit, and It's only for one body part.Let me put It this way, It doesn't stop us from getting stabbed, takes BIO to activate (and man do we use a lot of BIO) and then only covers that one part. What's to stop the enemy from stabbing/shooting any other part? All they have to do Is aimed where our armor *Isn't* and the ability Is useless, If not detrimental for the BIO drain. I suppose maybe way way down the line It'd be useful, when we could afford to Intentionally take an acid bath or a fire shower and gain a full coating of armor but you know, we already have armor. We already have Chitinous Stalwart which Is something we can put on *before* we get hit, and Is something which can get stronger as we upgrade swarmlings and give It new alterations.Definitely the weakest of the Shu ones In my mind.
>>3405375>>3405381i re tallied the vote to check my numbers, and only thing i was wrong on was Julias RIGOR DERMIS is at 6 not 7.i know i know it changes everything, the entire foundation of the vote is now different. im sorry.
>>3405398I just want you to know I really appreciate your list, so now I don't have to throw myself Into a panic as the votes and discussion goes on wondering where the majority stands. Even If you did It for yourself, thanks for doing It.
>>3405392Do you remember seeing the hp regen rate on B'ni's char sheet? if Shu lifelinks her regen to B'ni's regen...Also I distinctly remember seeing Hardened Heart as a consume option before as is Fuel the flesh. >>3405398>>3405381Also, I find it surprising that this CONSUME vote has a largely agreed upon consensus with almost no one wanting to negotiate votes.
>>3405411(Your memory serves you well. Fuel the Flesh popped up once before as a leveled ability, which was rarer than the passive. There are several abilities that have both active and passive versions, with the passive ones having more initial stat boosts to make up for their static effects.)
>>3405411No big point on negotiating if you're satisfied with either result I guess.The only thing that bothers me is that GRIDING EARTH seems to be just a passive terrain-based QUEEN CRIMSON and I'd honestly prefer FEARLESS STRIDE, but it got too close to QC, which I don't want to risk losing.
>>3405411I also had to do a double take at Fuel the Flesh being an ability, I thought I'd seen It before.>>3405418Wait a second, you mean you don't give us piping hot fresh upgrades unique to every enemy, and throw all of your hard work In the trash when we don't pick them? You actually keep them around and pull them out, like a 30 year old virgin pulls a hotpocket out of the back of the freezer and heats It back up because he ran out of food and Is struggling to pay rent? What kind of recycled discount bullshit Is this? I demand an explanation.
>>3405439>You actually keep them around and pull them out, like a 30 year old virgin pulls a hotpocket out of the back of the freezer and heats It back up because he ran out of food and Is struggling to pay rent?That was very specific, anon. Are you OK?
>>3405406hey its no problem, i appreciate it.ive also already updated the Character sheets with Raths and Amaras set in stone level ups.whew, does Rath have some Health to throw around.>>3405411well, on Julia it was gonna be the passives that dont give the stacks away almost guaranteed, it was just a matter of which of her weapon options people chose. im actually surprised by which one is winning.for Shu, of course everyone goes for the shiny lifesteal one(overall). Amara is actually not very concise, its just the spread of opinions so far results in two winners, and no one but me has made an argument for why people should change. ill again say not giving her a level-able ability is a huge waste, but clearly none listen. i will admit though, without Grinding Stride to offset Queen Crimsons cost, its very risky to take, but i dont think its amiss to say together due to the health regen they fit really well together, hence if you pick Queen as the levelable ability, not picking Grinding feels like your gimping her hard.i also have no reason to change my Shu vote, my negotiating tool, because changing it wont matter at the moment.>>3405435see above, without the health regen as much as i want Queen, Queen would be costly to take. but not giving her a Levelable is(opinion) a waste. its a hard decision, but at least it gives her a attack option that she can stay at range to use, no?
>>3405439(I posted this once, and I'll do it again.)
>>3405445>Queen would be costly to take. but not giving her a Levelable is(opinion) a waste. its a hard decision, but at least it gives her a attack option that she can stay at range to use, no?You're right anon, just hope we roll FS again later (or something similar to it).
>>3405238>two debuffsAnon. You'd be surprised at how loaded Julia's Malleable stacks will be after this consume vote. Looking at her char sheet. to wit a single malleable stack can: >Reduce atk power by 5% per stack (additive)>Reduce Hp regen AND bio regen by 5% per stack (additive)>Increase Julia's damage by 5% each time she lands an attackJulia's current stack limit is 10.Now add in the following effects after this vote>Reduce enemy accuracy by 3% per stack (additive)>Half their movement at five stacks, remove 1 ACT at 10 stacks, paralyze them at 15 stacks.At max Malleable stacks without Julia consuming them for Artisan's peak, the enemy be afflicted with the following:>accuracy reduced by 30%>Movement halved>Lose 1 Action per round>Attack reduced by 50%>Hp regen and Bio regen reduced by 50%
>>3405235this though im fine with any option so long as shu gets the molting and amara gets the crimson queen
>>3405473oh yeah, it will be wonderful. we just have to keep her healthy til we get in clo-hrm, i doubt it, but what IS the malleble stack? like, lore wise, not game mechanics wise. could she tag a swarmling and have it deliver it to a target as a duel tech? just a thought.>>3405480is that with or without the fact he changed INSIDIOUS MOLTING to BLOODY RIPPER?
>>3405491thats fine. sorry didnt notice that but as i said the two i said were the ones i wanted anything else ill go with XD
>>3405498ok.>>3405381>>3405375new Tally is:>SHU: (1)>>HARDENED HEART: 1>>MOLTING BROOD: 3>EXSANGUINATING LEASH: 4>JULIA: (3)>>>>BLOODY RIPPER: 7>SCULPTORS ARSENAL: 3>>RIGOR DERMIS: 6>>CREEPING CONJUNCTIVITIS: 8>AMARA: (2)>>QUEEN CRIMSON: 5>>GRINDING EARTH: 6>>FEARLESS STRIDE: 4>>3405498ill change my Shu vote to Brood so its a tie roll if you change your Amara vote to QUEEN and GRINDING instead of QUEEN and FEARLESS.
>>3405491Julia's profession as a clay sculptor and her mechanics probably translate into a VERY DEEP Tissue Massage. A massage that hits the nerve bundles on a target's flesh and scrambles their function to deteriorate or become a hindering to the main body al la Fist of the North Star. I can easily guess that Julia's capstone ability will be full on "Omae wa mo Shindeiru make peoples bodies explode by starting an explosive apoptosis chain reaction"
>>3405509yeah i can see that being the case. just a thought and curiosity is all. north star is cool anyways so she can take on said fighting style all she wants.
>>3405439I'll explain it to you. BHOP has a table where he rolls dice to see what abilities we get according to the classes that the defeated enemy exhibited before said enemy became a pile of flesh.
>>3405269>>3405504I'll switch to QUEEN CRIMSON and FEARLESS STRIDE. I really want FEARLESS STRIDE.
>>3405439>>3405527(I think this Anon was being facetious, unless I misinterpreted his second paragraph.)
And thus begins the last minute voting shuffle.
>>3405531ffffffffssssssssssssshhhhhhh your basically nuking QUEENS viability if you do that but ok.>>3405535>>3405504New Tally:>SHU: (1)>>HARDENED HEART: 1>>MOLTING BROOD: 3>EXSANGUINATING LEASH: 4>JULIA: (3)>>>>BLOODY RIPPER: 7>SCULPTORS ARSENAL: 3>>RIGOR DERMIS: 6>>CREEPING CONJUNCTIVITIS: 8>AMARA: (2)>>QUEEN CRIMSON: 6>>GRINDING EARTH: 5>>FEARLESS STRIDE: 4>>3405498my boi the deal is still on the table! a tie roll is better than a guaranteed loss!
>>3405535I do have a question BHOP, when you activate Crimson Queen, do you pay the upkeep cost upfront to have it manifest and perform one action before disappearing?
>>3405545(That is correct.)
>>3405541im taking that deal sorry bit late
>>3405557ayyy, AWESOME.>>3405541>>3405549new tally with i think less thant 10? 5? minutes to go.>SHU: (1)>>MOLTING BROOD: 4>EXSANGUINATING LEASH: 4>JULIA: (3)>>>>BLOODY RIPPER: 7>SCULPTORS ARSENAL: 3>>RIGOR DERMIS: 6>>CREEPING CONJUNCTIVITIS: 8>AMARA: (2)>>QUEEN CRIMSON: 6>>GRINDING EARTH: 6>>FEARLESS STRIDE: 3
>>3405560You're tearing me apart anon.
>>3405560Your efforts to advance your agenda are commendable, list-anon. Once again It seems we will let Fate decide our upgrade choice.
>>3405564>>3405566sorry i couldn't risk a last minute change losing out on the QUEEN/GRINDING combo, and like i said, i literally did not care about shus vote and as also stated, it was fully up for negotiations for me to change it. Gen took the opportunity, no one else was willing.If it at least helps, know i make my choices wishing the best for our characters, rather than what i think is cool. though i will admit im a more combat oriented guy so im probably biased in said thinking towards more combat useful abilities.
>>3405560>>3405566Gah. The utility of Molting brood with 10% additional bio regen versus the lifelink ability that can potentially hard counter B'ni should we encounter her while keeping Shu topped off on health. It'll be a coin toss alright. >>3405227And TIME IS UP
>>3405568Oh you misunderstand, Julia and Amara ended up exactly as I wanted I'm more than happy.As far as Shu's vote goes, both of those abilities are so good and I was extremely torn on which to eventually vote for, I won't be disappointed In either outcome. It's rather fitting that It's down to a coin toss, since I want them both almost equally.
...You know, I thought this vote was going to be screaming blood and death but everything turned out to be rather peaceful. Everyone sat around sipping tea and nodding their heads and everything turned out just fine, points were made but not one argument was had.
About the case of the missing Forge Core. Why don't we have Amara ask the fleshscape who visited the forge before it went cold? We know for a fact that Ceres and her crew intended to visit the forge when they got to the other side. I just want to make sure that they weren't the ones that yanked the core out.
>>3405225>>SHU - EXSANGUINATING LEASH - UNLOCKED>>JULIA - BLOODY RIPPER, RIGOR DERMIS, CREEPING CONJUNCTIVITIS - UNLOCKED>>AMARA - QUEEN CRIMSON, GRINDING EARTH - UNLOCKEDAs your morbid feast reaches its conclusion, you resume your seat on the cold obsidian hearth, weighing your next move as you do with every spare moment you're not fighting for your life. You take a deep breath, almost choking on the dust that you suck in with the cool, stale air. When you find yourself staring out the open door as your allies chat around you, staring out into the scarlet sky beyond, and you can't help but wonder how far ahead of you she's gotten. She's out there, possibly with one of the most dangerous individuals you've happened to meet itching to make your old friend even stronger...though to what end, you couldn't hazard a guess.You only realize your foot was tapping against the floor when you catch Amara staring at your leg quizzically. Julia and Rath quiet down, watching you with questioning eyes.You make the call. You're in control.>>Continue west towards the Cord, picking your way across what remains of the blasted city and over no-man's land. You came out here to continue westward, and a little bombing run isn't going to stop you.>>You have the resources and the power...it's time to go retrieve the Forge's missing core and maybe take control of a tank in the process, if you play your cards right.>>Go back to the Monastery and regroup with your allies. You just survived a bomb blast, and you could use some friendly, dust-free faces.>>Investigate Doctor West's abandoned laboratory. With any luck B'ni hasn't convinced her hanger-on to pack up and return, leaving you free to poke around a bit.>>You have a moment with friends you just survived one hell of a struggle with. It would be shame to not spend some time to bond with them before you head out. (Choose up to two allies to converse with from the following; Rath, Julia, Amara, or Gina via Crimson Cord)>>Write-InYOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>3405595i know, its strange as hell. who are you people and where did my fellow players go!? >>3405596this is a good idea. though to be fair, they dont seem like the type to indiscriminately bomb an area. im not gonna say thier morals were in line with ours, we certainly dont know enough, but they certainly were not cold blooded killers and unlike every other group, seemed to actually care about each other, which says alot about them and how they think.then again, maybe they didnt know anyone was in the town, or we were. gotta test out a new toy on something afterall...
(Gentlemen, I shall be pausing here for the evening. My apologies that the planned evening of rapid-posting was thrown off by other duties, but I am satisfied with how things turned out, if I may say so. I shall be resuming in approximately eleven hours, and voting shall close in ten. Thank you all so much for your time, patience, and enthusiasm. I look forward to continuing soon and have a restful evening, Gentlemen.)
>>3405605>>You have the resources and the power...it's time to go retrieve the Forge's missing core and maybe take control of a tank in the process, if you play your cards right.>>As we follow its trail, converse with allies: Amara and Julia.i think we can do it if were smart, and damn it, I WANT THAT FORGE! YOU WONT STOP ME FOREVER BHOP, YOU HEAR ME!?>>3405608you have a good night BHOP! thanks for running as always!
>>3405595Well, the points made once taken into consideration did make very much sense with the playstyle that we went for. It was also very fortuitous of us to be blessed with a good selection of upgrade choices.I think the issue with the previous vote (Shu's choice in augmenting her swarmling brood from swapping tips with Dinea) was that one of the options voted upon seemed super situational (Kynar Chitin)in contrast to the more useful (exsanguinating brood) which in hindsight in the light of events turned out to save Shu's ass.>>3405605>Investigate Dr. West's abandoned Lab. The more we leave B'ni alone, the worse things get for B'ni in the long run. I wanna fuck up the Doctor's plans a bit more.
>>3405605Wait a second OPWe discussed this before the vote but It wasn't on the list.Can we add>Check for the bodies of the other enemy daughtersto>>You have the resources and the power...it's time to go retrieve the Forge's missing core and maybe take control of a tank in the process, if you play your cards right.Because these are the two things I want to do.
>>3405634(By all means.)
>>3405641I'm 90% certain we won't get a string of level ups from It, but we might get a relic missed In haste and some clues about what happened.Unless of course you want to be extra nice and give us another buffet to maybe fight over.
>>3405641BHOP, Do we still have any active swarmlings in our swarm slot like that reinforced Knightling? that Knightling better not have dissolved. a Knightling that's been buffed with 40% bio-nectar is something that I would like to keep active.
and with that, the Character Sheets should be fully up to date! only potential issue is i only have Julias main Debuff listed up top, but the speed one is way too impossible to list short hand, though i suppose i could put the 3% hit chance loss up there. maybe to save space list it as -5/3%?
>>3405634Seconding. Before anything else, let's pick through the ruins and see if there's anything, or anyone, that we missed. Afterwards, let's go get the missing core and look into the possibility of acquiring a meat tank.
>>3405667(The buffed Knightling and your Stiltling are still active, yes.)
>>3405681Oh, BHOP, if you dont mind, who did Rath and Julia fight, and overall how did they do? Dont have to give a full summary of course, just general performance.
>>3405721You'll have to spend an action to talk to Rath and Julia about it instead of going Leeroy Jenkins at a Tank.
>>3405724Why? Id argue it would've come up in the level up discussion as a way to gauge everyone's current strength.
>>3405634>>3405619Well since I'm getting out-voted on this issue, I might as well give you a suggestion to think about when we wake up. We'll need time and preparation if we're going to disable a tank.
>>3405785Screwing up Wests plans Is probably a good Idea In theory, but you can bet your ass she's warded the place, heavily. Remember when she visited back In the town? She ensured complete safety for a few days after she left with just one ability. I'm sure she's been *very* thorough with that ability with her lab. Not to mention anything else she might have In store.
>>3405605Does Rath know where the shells came from? Can we check the damage to see if it was directional at least?>Check for the bodies of the other enemy daughtersAlso >>Investigate Doctor West's abandoned laboratory. With any luck B'ni hasn't convinced her hanger-on to pack up and return, leaving you free to poke around a bit.
>>3405785>>3405804I personally just dont think we should base what we do around either west or b'ni. Yes they are a threat to be dealt with, but unless we an to drop and ignore everything to either catch up to them, or even surpass them, then there really is no point in running around like headless chickens over them. Like any other issue, we will deal with it as it presents itself, or as it is something we feel we can imediatly deal with.And hey, our goals naturally counteract both them and others of their ilk anyways, simply playing as we have and for our own goals has already hindered thiers and others plans more than once now, there is no reason to let them control our actions and lead us to panic over what we already know; which is alot of folks out there are powerful and selfish and are doing things we disagree with so they can win the crucible themselves. As much as it might sound...i dunno, dampening? Just because we know about west and b'ni doesn't mean they are the biggest issue that might be out there, nor the biggest issue we may need to prepare or or focus on.Moreso, unless we feel we can take the brute force of them seeing us as an obstacle to be removed, trying to hinder them too hard will only lead to trouble we cant handle.
>>3405605Check for the bodies of the other enemy daughters>>Investigate Doctor West's abandoned laboratory. With any luck B'ni hasn't convinced her hanger-on to pack up and return, leaving you free to poke around a bit.
>>3405721(After I post the next update, I'll do a quick write-up about how their fights went. Also, thank you so much for updating the character sheets!)
>>3406220>>3405881These votes seems contradictory, since Dr. West's lab is in one direction and the corpses of the enemy daughters that we fought will be in the ruined town where the Tank now resides.
>>3406268No problem.>>3406273I thought the tank was on the other side of town/out of it and on its way by now? You still may be right the corpses may be closer to it, but wasnt west lab also near/in the town too anyways?
(To clarify, the lab is very close to the Forge, while the tank was last seen on the far end of town, some distance away. Looking for bodies will take you a little ways away from the lab, but making your way back should pose no issue, unless trouble arises.)(So, Lab and Forge: short distance. Bodies/battleground: Medium distance. Tank was last seen at long distance. Obviously these aren't combat related distances, but more for comparison's sake.)
>>3405605You resolve to give the town another sweep before inspecting Doctor West’s lab, and your allies seem amenable to your plan. Reconfiguring your Stiltling into a simple scout, you send it skyward as you and your allies creep down the hill towards the ruins of the town, keeping a close eye on the tank at the far end of the shell-shocked set of buildings. From what you can see it’s at a standstill, chitinous treads held in place as its turret languidly sweeps from side to side, scanning the area, though there remain a few free-standing structures to help block its line of sight as you go to search for your foes’ remains. “So how’d your fight go?” You ask when Rath sidles up to you, glancing towards the tank intermittently between scanning the ground for anything of interest. She shrugs, golden eyes darting back and forth amongst the rubble.“Meh. She fought like you, but with butterflies that cut stuff. She tried to use some illusion stuff, but between you and Gina, I kinda knew what to expect. She talked a lot of shit, tried to bring up…” She stops mid-sentence, her cheeks reddening slightly, and you note she swallows hard before she continues. “…She just talked big, is all. You should’ve seen the look on her face when she had just shat out a whole mess of her swarm to try and finish me off, and I just plowed through ‘em and punched her face off.”You chuckle, and her hand is on your shoulder, eyes wide.“I’m serious, her face went flying through a fucking window.” She insists, struggling to keep a straight face. “It was amazing...that part was, anyway. She didn’t hold a candle to you, though.”“I have no doubt.” You reply with a smirk, and Rath’s eyes light up with an idea.“You know what? We should have a go at it, sometime! Just for fun, yeah? Your swarm and my fists, it’ll be epic!”“I’m not all long-range, you know.” You comment, feeling your abdomen twist in knots, the prehensile construct within twitching at the mere thought of use. “My tongue skills have improved considerably. I like to think I'd give you a hard time, if we went at it."She's silent for a moment, and when you turn it's to see a flush creeping into her cheeks a half-second before Julia knocks the two of you prone, sending you sprawling to the debris at your feet.“Julia what the he…” Rath begins, but she’s shushed harshly, Julia jerking her head to indicate the threat you didn’t even see less than a hundred yards ahead of you, just over the small ridge of a building’s remains.“Amara s-saw it f-first.” Julia whispers, glancing back to where the little girl belly-crawls her way to the three of you. You peek over the ridge, and you see a figure rise from the ruins.(Continued)
>>3406415It stands nearly seven feet tall, a humanoid figure composed of rusted metal and fetid meat, brassy armor made duller from the light of the bloody sky. A helmet with a razor-thin visor scans the landscape, a severed arm clutched in a long-taloned gauntlet. The limb disappears into its bloody hands before it stoops low once more, digging through the wreckage.Its shoulder shake as it pulls more remains from the wreckage, the flesh absorbed into the piping along the plated forearm before it glances around once more.You’re not sure how you missed it as you switch your view to your swarmling high overhead, and then you see. Its rust-colored armor blends perfectly into the reddened brick of the decimated house where it kneels, picking through what remains. You now see the thick cords that trail out from its back, snaking over the detritus all the way back to the bio-tank, still slowly scanning the landscape.“is it a vill…” Amara begins, and instantly the being’s visor snaps to attention towards your hiding place a low hum beginning to emanate from deep within its metallic body.“ssState yOur naMe aNd ppUrpose.” It demands, artificial voice ringing out from its hollow faceplace, its tone laced with the crackle of radio static.“Fuck.” Rath breathes as it raises one arm, the flesh of its talons receding into its gauntlet before three rifled barrels slide out, trained on your position. “CccCivilliaN or coMbaTant? sssTate YouR iNtenT.” It demands with the same emotionless, cracking tone as before. “ttHiss iss YoUr LaST waARninG. I wiLL tAkE leTHal actIIon iF a rEplY iS nOt giVVen.Amara has the Shawl, and you have a refilled biomass reserve… and your scout also informs you that the tank’s imposing turret is trained on your position.>>Camouflage yourself and your allies and fall back. The turret’s trained on you, but you have a clear shot at getting back to an area where you’ll have cover.>>Given the layout of the terrain, you have a good shot at flanking this thing. It appears tied to the tank, so maybe if you take it down, you’ll nullify the infernal machine as well.>>If it wants you to state your intent, then so be it. (Write-In)>>Write-InYOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>3406419>"Civilian. We here looking for a Tier 3 Forge Core that has gone missing from a nearby forge. And to scout the battlefield of remains.">"Can I ask who you represent? Is your commander in the tank? I would like to speak with your commander."
>>3406419>"Civilian, Adventurers. No threat to anyone so long as they dont make themselves a threat to us.">"If you wish to talk, put away the weaponry, and we can talk from a distance. We dont want to fight, but we wont go down without one either.">"You the one who shelled the town and owns that Tank? Maybe you're in no moral position to be deciding what constitutes a Civilian or a Combatant unless you treat the prior differently."
>>3406432>>3406441Huh, strangely quiet today. Maybe combine our ideas? Basically all of mine could basically just replace the 'civilian' word in yours, before we ask your questions.
>>3406419>>If it wants you to state your intent, then so be it. (Write-In)Civilians, searching for a missing girl who we think might be in danger.
(Apologies for the delay Gentlemen, I'll be posting shortly...it's been a productively busy day.)
>>3406419"Civilians. No threat to anyone, so long as they don’t make themselves a threat to us." You reply, standing up despite Rath trying to pull you back down. You rise, palms out as you stare down the barrel of the soldier’s forearm. "If you wish to talk, put away the gun and we can talk from a distance. We don’t want to fight, but we won’t go down without one either." There’s a moment of tense silence before the barrels recede into the soldier’s arm, replaced with the wickedly taloned hand that comes to rest at its owner’s hip. You let out the breath you were holding, and pose your next question. "Can I ask who you represent? Is your commander in the tank? If so, I would like to speak with them." “ThE coUNtrY I seRVEd No lONgER ExisTS, anD tHe PeoPLE I Once SworE AlleigancE to HavE ExileD mE.” The being intones, body and voice as rigid as steel. “I aM a Free aGEnt and the SolE OwneR and OperatoR of TtHE MetALL GeschOSS. My desiGNAtion is HoTEL NovemBER. "Are you the one who shelled the town? Maybe you're in no moral position to be deciding what constitutes Civilian or Combatant unless you treat them differently." You reply, and their shoulders slacken by a fraction of an inch. “I ScaNNed tHIS toWN one HunDrED and ThiRTy-twO seCONDs BefoRE I begAN the tEST bomBARdment to Ensure that ThEre was no onE Present. My scans retReturned no AAActive life SignS. The death of inNNocents was NeVer my InteNTIOn. Were thEY your SisteRS in arMS? You have to stifle a smile at Rath’s hushed ‘hell no’ from behind you before you reply. “We were looking for a Core that has gone missing from a nearby forge, and to scout the battlefield of remains. Are you a Daughter?" November nods slowly, their response resonating throughout every inch of their ironclad form. “aFFirmatiVE, and I alSO took tHe coRE. I am afraid I canNOT return it uNLEss your eeEXistence depENDs on iT. I do not wwiSH to coME to blOws over tHIS.” You watch as the Daughter’s hand recedes back into their right forearm beforeRath crests the hill, standing by your side against the soldier. “Then we’re in agreement, November.” You reply coolly. It’s odd…unless you’re mistaken, November’s gaze is fixed on the girl beside you, a fractional tilt of their head indicative of something like curiosity, relaxing ever so slightly. >>Put the lab on hold for a while to search the rubble alongside November, and try to make conversation. You have to admit some curiosity over November, since she’s the first Daughter you’ve met that has such a uniquely metallic form. >>See if November is interested in accompanying you to West’s Lab. Having some extra firepower may help, and you might be able to leverage something you find to get the Forge core back. >>Part ways and continue on to Doctor West’s lab with your allies. November makes you uneasy, and you’ve learned to trust your gut about these things. >>Write-In YOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>3406752>Put the lab on hold for a while to search the rubble alongside November, and try to make conversation. You have to admit some curiosity over November, since she’s the first Daughter you’ve met that has such a uniquely metallic form.>Ask about when she woke up and what she's been doing since.>Ask if she's willing to accompany us to the Forge and temporarily reactivate it after searching the lab. She may be able to craft something for herself, after all. That might interest her.
(Voting shall close in one and a half hours, Gentlemen.)(Also, this evening as well as tomorrow evening will have earlier ending times, as some personal plans have been shuffled around a bit. Thank you for participating, and I hope you're having a great day, Gentlemen.)
>>3406752>>Put the lab on hold for a while to search the rubble alongside November, and try to make conversation. You have to admit some curiosity over November, since she’s the first Daughter you’ve met that has such a uniquely metallic form.
>>3406777Supporting, When In doubt, befriend the competition. Really though, If November turns out to be pretty cool It'd be good to bring them In the fold.
>>3406777Ill support this. At least then we get to use it once. Damn decent people who aren't outright threats messing up our plans, haha.
Also i may just he slow, but i just realized the jammer is what caused November to think no life was present, or so i would guess.Also flesh tanks are a thing. You can make flesh tanks. We need to keep this close to our heart, it is very important information.
>>3406419>>If it wants you to state your intent, then so be it. (Write-In)Just generally supporting for diplomacy
Befriending November would be good. Also if she unfortunately dies in the future, having a military consultant in our head sounds good, not to mention swarmlings with guns and Rath getting a grenade launcher or something similar out of her. (I don't plan on killing her Just planning ahead)
>>3406752“We also came by to pick through the ruins a bit before continuing on. Would you be open to searching it together?” You ask, and November considers your offer for a moment before giving her reply.“vEry WelLL, I AccePT yOUr…ForgGIve mE a MOmeNt.”You watch as November reaches up to her neck, digging into a thin set of ridges before tearing open a plate, yanking a black box dripping with crimson ichor from within and tossing it to the side. She slides a small bag free of a holster on her side, ripping it open and revealing a replacement filter that she slides into place, locking the plate back before resuming conversation.“Much better.” November declares, her voxel-laced voice clear of static or warble. “As I was saying, I accept your offer. Shall we proceed?"With that, the five of you collective settle into an odd rhythm of sifting through the remains, an uneasy silence settling over you all as Julia stops Amara from climbing atop the massive Daughter multiple times before you strike up a conversation.“November, how long have you been awake if you don’t mind my asking? Are you open to sharing what you’ve been up to since you woke up?”“Six months, two weeks, three days.” Comes her steady, resonant reply. “I was drawn west, as per our directive. I sought…peace, and I surrendered a great deal to that end.”“And what of you all?” November continues hastily, her helm’s visor inclined towards you while keeping the redhead next to you in line of sight. You give her the cliff notes version of your collective story, introducing each of your allies in turn.“What’cha got under the hood, man? Calcite, Sculptor? I bet it’s Calcite.” Rath enthusiastically interjects from near your left shoulder, and November rises to her full height, towering over the much smaller redhead. “Rath…well Rath, I have a Hive Mistress Core along with a few bells and whistles.” She replies thoughtfully. “Though this body’s ability to produce my swarm has been cut drastically by inhabiting this new form. Roughly 13% of my original form is present in this suit courtesy of the Disassociated Ones.”“The who?” Rath asks, orange eyebrow arched.“Excellent band.” November fires back, a steady set of three static bursts approximating something like a low chuckle. “Ah, the Disassociated Ones occupy a mountainous stronghold a few miles north of here, built into the remains of a military facility. They’re a group of Daughters that endeavor to reject the physical form and replace their bodies and minds with inorganic material, keeping only a bare minimum of biomass in order to function. They believe that it will spare them of the Hunger, and all signs point to them being correct in their hypothesis.”“W-wait, t-that’s possible?” Julia asks, staring wide-eyed from a few yards away.(Continued)
>>3407034“Debatably.” November replies dully. “After the teansplant, my abilities, my memories…things are jumbled, but I am still alive and…sane. To what degree of success this entails is subjective, to say the least…but that’s neither here nor there. Where are you all going after this?”“We’re actually headed to an abandoned lab nearby see if anything of note can be salvaged.” You say, and you share a quick glance among your friends to touch base before you add the next part. “You’re welcome to join us in the salvage, though the place may be trapped in some capacity.”“If said traps are related to Neuromancy, then this body is largely immune to such interference.” She intones, a note of pride in her otherwise flat voice. “I will join, and I would like to insist on taking point as well. Consider it an apology for not being more thorough in ensuring the town was free of life before testing the ballistics.”November glances to your left once more before turning back to you. “I am exceedingly glad you all survived.”“November, would you be willing to accompany us back to the Forge and temporarily reactivate it, for just a little while?” You broach, fingers crossed that you may be able to get the Forge back up and running, if only for a short time. “After we search the lab I referred to, of course. You may be able to craft something for yourself, and we won’t need it for long.”“I…will consider it.” She replies hesitantly, glancing back towards her tank.>>You don’t think you’re going to find anything after your time searching around the rubble. It’s time to go ahead and search West’s lab with November’s assistance.>>Ask November more about herself and the Metall Geschoss. You’re more than a little curious about how she came across a tank, and you’re sure rath is biting her tongue, chompit at the bit to ask about it, herself.>>Ask her about the Disassociated Ones. The existence of a group like what she described intrigues you…as does the fact that they’re apparently sitting on an old military installation.>>Write-InYOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>3407044>Head towards the lab, talk as you do.>>Ask November more about herself and the Metall Geschoss. You’re more than a little curious about how she came across a tank, and you’re sure rath is biting her tongue, chompit at the bit to ask about it, herself.>As a sign of goodwill, offer to have your party use thier own biomass for November's forge project aswell. This both means she will be at an advantage in resources so wont have to fear betrayal as much, will have more options than just her own bio types to build off of, and shows we trust her aswell.
>>3407070Oh, maybe even let November make us something too, instead of us make ourselves something, but im less sure on this than the rest.
>>3407044>Ask November more about herself and the Metal Geschoss. You’re more than a little curious about how she came across a tank, and you’re sure rath is biting her tongue, chomping at the bit to ask about it, herself.>Ask her about the Disassociated Ones. The existence of a group like what she described intrigues you…as does the fact that they’re apparently sitting on an old military installation.>As a sign of goodwill, offer to have your party use their own biomass for November's forge project as well. This both means she will be at an advantage in resources so wont have to fear betrayal as much, will have more options than just her own bio types to build off of, and shows we trust her as well.As a Neuromancer that can interface with technology, Gina may be interested in a technological cache and the group that's using it.And I support offering biomass since it seems logical that a consequence of cyborgification is lower amount of BIO to use.
>>3407113>>3407070There's also the fact that November seems to require a daily intake of biomass from amalgams and daughters to keep her body functioning. Literally using flesh as fuel.
just quick thing. no life signs? how is it possible that there were no life signs detected out of curiosity . in 130 seconds. Was there some sort of interfearence with that? i havnt seen any answears or questions about it so im curious. Or was it that we were unable to be detected among the biomass surounding us :?
>>3407128(To offer a bit of clarity, when November scanned the town to check for Daughters, the Puppeteer had already activated the jamming Relic in advance of her ambush, so November's scans returned nothing.)
>>3407044>>Ask November more about herself and the Metall Geschoss. You’re more than a little curious about how she came across a tank, and you’re sure rath is biting her tongue, chompit at the bit to ask about it, herself.> ask her about what kind of tank it is, and compliment her on whatever she says about it.
>>3407044>>3407070Oh, in addition to this can we get her to discuss her Hive Mistress insights with us for the biomass? That way it's not like we're giving it to her for free, which would make her suspicious because if you get something for "nothing" that usually means you're the product.
>>3407044"Tank commander in a past life." November replies brusquely to your inquiry about her time before the world's end, tugging on the cables at her back and watching her bio-tank lumber forwards to join you. "Did two tours in Afghanistan before coming back home and trying to pick up where I left off." "So...that tank's pretty great. What...model is it?" You falter, having no idea where to start with your queries regarding heavy mobile artillery."Light Tank, M24. Seventy-five millimeter gun, good penetration." November replies, her ease of voice yelling you she's far more comfortable detailing the finer points of machinery than herself. You can empathize. "Lighter armor than some, but it grants some maneuverability and adaptability with the world like it is, now. When I saw her sitting in war museum on my travels this way, I knew I had a project on my hands.""Oh, she's a Chaffee tank, right?" Rath pipes up. "I thought she looked familiar. I mistook her was a Sherman at first, but then I remembered that the Battle of the Bulge...the movie, not the actual battle...used the old Caffee in place of 'em.""Indeed they did." November replies, a tone of approval in her voice as Rath continues speaking animatedly."Was that one of the ones that was used...""In Vietnam?" She finishes Rath's sentence with a smile clear in her voxeled voice. "Yes it was. You know your stuff, Rath.""Oh, I uh...I watched and read a lot about that sort of stuff growing up." You smaller girl replies sheepishly, scarlet flooding her cheeks as she realizes how much she was talking. "Sorry for getting all...weird, I guess.""Hey, don't feel like you have to apologize." You say, patting her on the back as you trudge across the pulsing ground. "I like seeing you talk about things you enjoy, Rath. And see? I'm not the only one."Rath's face is shining a bright shade of crimson by the time you all arrive to the entrance of Doctor West's lab, a concealed entryway that takes a shout from Amara to open. You reach out a hand to pull Rath back from the threshold when you find November's hand there first, hauling back the impulsive girl and imposing her rusted plating between the four of you and the doorway."Stay behind me." She intones to the young woman behind her, voice leaving no room for argument as she leads the way into the unknown.(Continued)
>>3407452As you feared, West left an attic's worth of cobwebs before she left alongside your old friend, only with these strands boasting a Neuromancer's touch. Thankfully your invitation for November to join you has paid dividends, as you find her boasts of her armor's capabilities fully withing the realm of reality as she strides forwards, tearing the path clear of any impediments as you work your way downwards into the hill. The narrow passage eventually opens up into a vast floorspace, no doubt terraformed or shifted there by the Doctor herself. Luminescent sacs dangling from the ceiling spring to life as you approach, shading the laboratory in an unearthly azure light. After making your way into the lab and doing a general sweep of the place to ensure no other countermeasures are present, you send your allies out across the sizable floor plan to investigate, with you locating what appears to be a central area of study, located at the heart of the room. It's a simple desk, with a bio-mass crafted lamp illuminating several stacks of paper, each neatly labelled with subject material and notes with cramped, nigh-illegible handwriting. A picture frame lies face-down at the desk's edge, and a cursory tug on the drawers reveals them to be unlocked and heavy with even more densely-bound sheafs of paper."Rath, you find anything?" You call out, and her voice shouts back from the far end of the room."I got a storage room that's locked tight, but there's this little window that I can seem some weird stuff through." Rath calls out before shouting at the soldier across the room from her. "What do you see, November?""Dissection room. Well-used" She shoots back. "Ah, gross." Rath declares. "Good to know.""Julia could you make sure Amara doesn't..." You begin just before you witness the child bolt towards the dissection room, only to be scooped up beneath the arms by your lighting-quick artist. "Thank you, Julia.""D-don't mention i-it." She replies over Amara's over-dramatic groan, and with your youngest ally out of harm's way, you turn back to West's belongings.There's just so much here, you're not even sure where to start. Between the two rooms, her desk, and the piles of labelled notes, there's a lot to cover...and you're not sure how much of it is even going to be of use in the long run.>>Break into the Storage room.>>Visit the Dissection room..without Amara, preferably.>>Review notes on the Cord.>>Review notes on Classes.>>Review notes on Hybrid Abilities.>>Review notes on Persons of Interest.>>Review notes on Self Improvement.>>Review notes on Mother.>>Rifle through the desk.>>Examine the picture frame on her desk.>>Write-InYOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>3407480godamned this is alot to sift through. BHOP, we obviously cant read/do it all, so what would you say is the limit here on things we can do?or, well wait, i still want an answer but....>snatch up the notes on Classes, Hybrid Abilities, the Cord, and Self Improvement. we can read them later.>Break into the Storage room.honestly, im curious whether were gonna find dissected Daughters or amalgams..or both in said room, but we already know shes a bad person so know just how bad is less important than looting her goods.
It may be worth moving the notes and anything we can easily access outside the lab before we set off anything else.
(Voting shall close in two hours, Gentlemen.)>>3407505(You may absolutely take the notes and read them all later, or sift through some of them now, or do it all. However, moving through only a few things at a time will devote more exposition to them, as opposed to a cliff-notes view if you try to skim it all at once, if that makes sense.)
>>3407513i mean, surely one of us has pockets, or Julia can make some pockets. maybe if we really are worried, wrap the notes up in skin and chitin?
>>3407523it does, thank you. ill keep my vote then, to review at a better time. at the moment, theres more important things to sift through.honestly im mostly interested in the Class and Hybrid notes, so i really want those in good detail, but again, in due time.
>>3407480>"What did the walls tell you about the Dissection room that made you want to go in there Amara?">Examine the picture frame on her desk.>Review Persons of Interest. >Spawn a FuzzBuzz, Leave it as a present with a note attached saying: "For cuddling, not dissecting!">>3407505I don't think it's advisable for us to go full murderhobo and knick a lot of things from her lab as creepy as Dr. West maybe. If anything, she might be the type that gets easily irritated if someone ruins her hard work. I kinda want our breaking and entering to send a message that tells her "We're borrowing a few things."
>>3407568i disagree. at least on the notes. information is king but sitting down reading it all now sounds dubious. its also all info we honestly could use, both IC and OOC, not making sure we have access to it would be wasting this opportunity to such massive ends im not even sure how to describe how big as waste it would be.i also have to say, the persons of interest is the least important out of all of those. at least self improvement might work on us aswell.and on top of that, she encouraged and promoted the use of the engine. fuck her. i dont want into the storage room just to see what we might like, i also want to know if theres anything in there we need to destroy.
(Gentlemen, in order to keep the writing at a quality I approve of, I will actually be pausing here for the evening to recover from a full week thus far. I shall keep voting open for the next twelve hours, and I shall resume in approximately fourteen hours from now. I will of course be available to address any questions, comments, or criticism, and as always I welcome it all.You are all fantastic, and I hope you have a restful evening.)>>3407523
>>3407639hey i understand, you take a well deserved breather BHOP. its actually my birthday tomorrow so as you stated you were going to be busy aswell tomorrow, that works out splendidly as ill be pretty busy too haha.also given this development and no work tomorrow i happen to have more free time than expected. as one wishing to improve things myself, if anyone, BHOP or otherwise, has ideas for improving the Characters Doc, im happy to hear them out and try to implement them.
>>3407671(Happy Early Birthday, Anon! I hope you have a great one!)
>>3407639Good rest OP.>>3407671 Happy (early) Birthday Anon! May you quest with us for another year!
>>3407706thank you, i hope your plans go great aswell!
>>3407724thank you aswell. i plan to be here longer than merely a year, dont you worry. besides, we all know no ones actually allowed to leave this place.
>>3407734 indeed, we're here forever
>>3407480One step at a time. Let's do the things that we can only do while we're here, mainly:>>Visit the Dissection room..without Amara, preferably.We'll have Julia watch her while Rath, November and us go to investigate.>>Rifle through the desk.I'm getting a strong feeling that the Doctor might come back, so let's try to keep things in the state that she left them in. Because it's the polite thing to do and the Doctor doesn't terrify me at all, not in the slightest.
gosh diddly darn it all that glorious information and no one wants to learn it. maybe this is the feeling that drove West to be who she is haha.
>>3407568>>3407821wait, actually, why are you guys being so cautious anyways? we literally broke in, and have no way to cover that up. we already crossed the multiple lines she drew in the sand and shes not gonna buy we broke in here just for a tea party. were already gonna be on her bad side for doing this if she realizes it was us, we really should be making the absolute most out of this, as i grantee you if she knows we did this, it'll be our last chance ever to get this information out of her.
>>3407639Thanks for running!
>>3407568>>3407480Amending my vote to not leave a swarmling and a note for Dr. West.>>3407998You... make a good point. We could spawn some swarmlings to help gather up the notes. If she does come and confront us, She'd probably prioritize rescuing her research notes and all of the published findings. Having swarmlings carry the research notes would let us set her off on a chicken chase. Problem is that November might not be able to escape with us. Her life is literally tied to her tank.
>>3407998There's "we broke in to look for clues a out B'ni and couldn't resist being curious about the research of a genius" and looting.After all, West doesn't see us as a threat in any way and if anything would be understanding about people being overawed by her majestic narcissistic self.What we have to do is make sure to keep Amara and wossname painter dude away from her in case West wants their unique abilities providing she doesn't already have them.
>>3408043true, but think of it this way:if it comes down to that, we have a Tank. our goal wouldn't be to kill West ourselves, but get our new friend to the one weapon that may actually be able to kill, or at least harm her. probably easier than trying to take her down ourselves.granted, mind you, i dont want it to come to that obviously, id just be against abandoning November and am pointing out compared to usual our chances here if she gets upset at us might be greater than usual.i like the Swarmling idea by the way, again obviously i dont want to lose any of the notes but if the worst case happens it might save our asses and make sure we get SOMETHING out of it. or well, increases the chances. if any of her Hive Mistress abilities involve flying insects then maybe not, but its still a better shot than otherwise we would have.
>>3408049i dunno. thing is, West isnt dumb. i mean, obviously, but i mean so far shes shown herself to actually understand how people think and be able to manipulate them to some degree. stroking her ego probably wouldn't work because she would expect that and see it as us trying to cover something up.i just cant see her cooperating with us ever again after this, doing it your way might only at best let us leave without a fight, but im firmly of the thought i dont think we could worm our way into keeping her trust. the minute we broke in it became a gamble of either she doesn't know it was us, so we have no reason not to loot, or she does, so if we want this info we have to get it now.
>>3408068West isn't dumb, but she's arrogant. She'll know we're stroking her ego, but honestly? Both her and us know that her notes are by far the most valuable thing. It's only natural we would want to look at her work, if she were us and ran across it could she resist?However, they're much less valuable to us because she won't expect us to fully understand them. Were a bunch of teenagers after all, and specifically the leader is outright literally braindamaged. She'll know we're sucking up, but also that it's not baseless flattery and she'll enjoy it because it's true.Whereas if we don't wreck her place and suck up to her, she'll know we fear and respect her enough to not get in her way. So she'll keep using us, and she won't decide we're inconvenient or irritating and that it's less energy to wipe us out.
>>3408068Besides who else is she going to show off her brilliance to? As long as we seem to be, heck probably outright are due to the state of the world, useful pawns slash allies, she won't be upset at us for being curious of her.After all? She firmly believes she's going to be the winner anyways.She clearly has a scientific interest in observing the growth of daughters as well, and in that regard us and our squad are pretty unique in our Fools path, and interconnected but separate communal bond.There's no way she would want to pluck us before we're ripe for harvesting.
>>3408117>>3408125i disagree with that. maybe if she didn't care about winning, but that fact alone means she almost certainly knows when to draw the line between a risk and a threat. the fact we broke in alone shows us to be a threat, and willing to meddle in her affairs, which is probably another line she most likely doesn't tolerate. just thank the lord she doesn't know we blew up the engine.if you wanted to stay on her good side, im of the very firm opinion we never should of broken in. now that we have, it would be outlandishly foolish to not make the most of it.
>>3408144>>3408125You know this makes me wonder if Dr. West know about us blowing up the engine that she discovered and was willing to use.
>>3408161probably not unless that reputation of ours has reached her ears. which, honestly she actually does seem like the type to keep up with gossip, if only to see who or what is useful to her. mind you, i mean she may be able to make an educated guess it was us, unless our giant razorblade wielding friend actually outright said what we did and somehow said info has already spread.but id say its still not guaranteed, maybe a 50/50? 40/60?
>>3408173So what are we really aiming to do here? Smash and grab? what documents are we going to grab?
>>3408202im gonna go ham out here so i apologize if this seems excessive.>>Break into the Storage room.Important; even if we do not wish to rob her, we know she is more than willing to use monstrous relics and means for her own goals. yes, getting LOOT is a bonus, but we really should see if we cant hamper her plans, or at least remove dangerous pieces from the board.>>Visit the Dissection room..without Amara, preferably.Middling; we already know she is a bad person, so we dont need to see daughter corpses. the only potential point of interest is the fact Amara was interested in it, and ill admit that means something, im just not sure it means something over the other options.>>Review notes on the Cord.High Middling; while knowing more is never a bad thing, we already know a decent amount. it may reveal things but i cant see it revealing as much as other options might.>>Review notes on Classes.High Importance; knowing how the class system actually works both IC and OOC would give us a major advantage in making our level up choices and countering other Daughters abilities.>>Review notes on Hybrid Abilities.Middling; as much as this would be very useful, it is alot more a nich'e topic. unless it reveals more ways to get them besides upgrading 2 trees to the same level(at the same time?) then it simply wont be as useful information, no matter how much i want it OOC.>>Review notes on Persons of Interest.Low; unless we aim to aid anyone she might be hunting or warn them about her, then its nothing we can use. and we happen to know those she takes an interest in could often be the type we morally cant justify hanging out with.>>Review notes on Self Improvement.Middling; risky, and only useful if they can work on us and not break our morals. but there is a chance that is the case, its a gamble.>>Review notes on Mother.Low; we actually know a good amount, and unless it would help us fight her, which admittedly it might, it wont do us much.>>Rifle through the desk.Low; literally a 100% gamble. while i doubt it will be a full on waste of time, it just feel too up in the air how much it could help.>>Examine the picture frame on her desk.Very Low; we dont need to know about her personal life, it simply wont change enough if shes already so dead set like she is.but yes, we take what we need and get the hell out. if we really want to be a dick, let Rath burn the place, but that honestly should fully depend on if we find something in here we feel we cant let her keep.
>>3408238>Let Rath Burn the place>When we have a perfectly usable and loaded Biotank sitting at the lab entrance.I'm scandalized that you didn't think of this.
>>3408144Yeah, but doing a smash and grab will pretty much guarantee that she'll hunt us down anyways.We might as well just snoop for now, and decide later if we'll risk pushing her off for sure if we find anything that makes it a moot point.If we don't find anything critical, at least when we encounter her next we'll have a chance of not having a sudden Boss Fight with her right away.
>>3408144Unless we find something here that would guarantee us winning against her, I think we should be minimally invasive.
>>3408238>>Break into the Storage room.We could have Amara skinshape a small hole to put a wasp in through.I actually think looking at the picture is key, it will let us know how to deal with her better.And we should read all the notes.Man I thought you meant like, stealing supplies and stuff from her. Not just looking around.
>>3408243i did, but Rath actually enjoys that type of stuff, while November seems too professional and doesn't have any personal stake in the burning, so unless Rath gets to pull the trigger i was throwing her a bone as it was.>>3408245*shrug*still disagree. but not to sound...something(damn dyslexia), i feel like ive already made points against what you just said, no offense. i just feel like this is becoming a circular argument.
>>3408256what? no, well i mean if we find soemthing worth keeping sure cool, but the only thing i wanted to guaranteed take is the notes. read BHOPS explanation, if we dont take them and try to read them here, we will get significantly less info out of them potentially. hence wanting to take them to read when we have more time to thoroughly look them over.i wish to make BHOP have to post a pastebin doc theres so much for each set of notes, rather than being able to post any of it here damnit.
>>3408275Oh you want to take the notes?Why when Gina can just copy them like how she made a map on her phone?I'd also like to not cross the line into actually robbing West.
>>3408352Gina isnt here and like i said, we already crossed the line too far to not take what we want/need.
>>3408352>>3408275Gina's not here. However we COULD have Julia use her Flesh Artisan skills to duplicate the entire stacks of research paper down to the ink with her Flesh Artisan skills. She does deal with skin. I wonder if Julia's capable of accomplishing something like that since she's a lvl 8 Flesh Artisan...
>>3408360also we would have to flip through literally every page to get her to mentally memorize them over the connection we have to her, if she can even do something like that at all, by that i mean 'see' what we see, or the mental image of use seeing the page but not reading it.>>3408363if she can, im for it, but im still firmly of the idea we do not leave the notes behind.
>>3408363Forgot Gina wasn't with us. Maybe she could do it through our link? After all it's just copying, if she can see through our eyes it could work.Well the less we wreck things or take things, the lower priority we will be for West to come after us. So the skin thing is worth doing.How soon do you all want to fight her?
>>3408373Also let me point out that West wouldn't necessarily fight us head to head. She might go after party members left behind, or try to pick off a target then retreat, or attack us during another fight, or lay traps for us like she did with the giant bugs.
>>3408373>>3408374dont break into her lab then if you dont want to fight her/be on her bad side, all im gonna repeat.
>>3408377There's degrees of pushing her off though.Some we can possibly recover from.Some might make her hunt us down. I have no confidence in going against her in an area she prepared. Especially since we're slightly underpowered because we went with a large group of people instead of just us or a couple people taking all the bioloot.
>>3408426id kinda argue a team can actually more than make up for lacking consolidation. if its a good team that is, which i think we got. granted we probably still arent ready to face her, but dont then break into her lab. we did that, we should make the most of it, instead of wasting the opportunity.
>>3407480Let’s try to not steal as many things from her. We’re mainly here for information from the research she has gathered thus far. >”Julia, is it possible for you to copy and duplicate these Research papers down to the ink it’s written on? if that’s possible, then please do so. Start with notes on The Cord, then work your way to Notes on Classes, then hybrid classes, Then persons of Interest please. I’ll look after Amara.”>Spawn a FuzzBuzz for Amara>Spawn an armed swarmling to serve as your “proxy thief”, have it rifle through the desk in search for small relics or a personal diary of sorts.>spawn a scout swarmling and post it by the lab entrance to keep watch> “so Amara, what’s so special about the dissection room?”>if Anara asks about the lab, tell her a cliffsnote version of Dr. West and her never ending curiosity, with a cautionary lesson of the following: “curiosity can get people killed, it’s okay to be curious, but personal safety is number one”
>>3408452>>3407480I like this.
>>3408452ThisAnd if West catches us, act like us being here is no big deal. Maybe make a cup of tea?
>>3407480“Julia, is it possible for you to copy and duplicate these Research papers down to the ink it’s written on?” You request as you spawn a duo of swarmlings, one to watch the lab’s entrance and the other boasting a pair of arms to rifle through “If it is, then please do so. Start with notes on The Cord, then work your way to notes on Classes, then Hybrid Classes, then Persons of Interest, please. I’ll look after Amara.”She nods, shaking her blonde hair about her neck as you take Amara’s hand, slowly making your way over to the lab as a palm-sized Fuzzbuzz pops out of your hive, delighting the little girl by your side as she pets it when it alights on her shoulder.“So Amara, what’s so special about the dissection room?” You ask, and an enthusiastic grin precedes her answer.“There’s a big bug in there!” She declares with such utter joy, and you can’t help but smile despite her worrisome statement. “Hey, Miss Shu? I was wondering, whose house is this?”“Well…it belongs to a woman named Doctor West. She’s…curious. A bit too curious, actually.” You reply, and you look to your side to see Amara staring at you with a quizzical expression. You suppose a little elaboration wouldn’t hurt…particularly where a lesson could be imparted that relates to when your little companion rushed ahead earlier.“Doctor West is really curious about how things work…how everything works, really. Curiosity is a good thing in moderation, but when curiosity leads you to not care about what happens to the things you want to learn about, or when you rush ahead and put yourself and others in danger…” You add, and a guilty look crosses Amara’s face. “…well, then curiosity can lead you to do things that aren’t good, even though curiosity in and of itself is a good thing. Curiosity can get people killed, Amara. It’s okay to be curious, but safety is number one.”“So it’s kind of like that old saying, curiosity milled the bat!” Amara adds helpfully, forcing a chuckle out of you as you arrive at the double doors to the room ahead, squinting through the scratched-up glass.“I think it’s curiosity killed the…killed…” You falter, coming to grips with what you’re seeing through the cramped window set into the dissection room door. You’re dimly aware that Amara’s asking you what’s wrong as you gaze at the massive wall at the far end of the room beyond the closed door, a massive creature pinned to the wall like a stuck insect, flayed open and neatly labelled like a high school science experiment.You’re looking at the vivisected remains of the Amalgam Sororitas.>>…Have Rath look after Amara for a moment and loot the Storage room, while you go into the Dissection room alone to pay your respects.>>…You’ve seen all you need to. Take Amara back to Rath and work on seeing what’s in the Storage room, then get the hell out of here.>>…Copy what you can, take what you can’t, and order Rath to burn this place to the ground.>>Write-InYOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>3409088>…Have Rath look after Amara for a moment and loot the Storage room, while you go into the Dissection room alone to pay your respects.> Maybe you could consume the remains and give them some peace within you. It's worth a shot.Well damn. That's going to be bad news to tell Gina when we return to the monastery.
(Voting shall close in one and a half hours.)
>>3409088fucking. see you guys? its not just about whether we get on her bad side, its about the fact we dont need or WANT to continue interacting or not hindering a person like this.>>…Have Rath look after Amara for a moment and loot the Storage room, while you go into the Dissection room alone to pay your respects.>>…Copy what you can, take what you can’t, and order Rath to burn this place to the ground.i get your guys concern about her strength. but this is just one* victim. one of many she probably has done, and will do. this is why i want to make sure she doesn't have anything in the storage room we cant let her keep. we may not be able to fight her directly yet, but we shouldn't let fear stop us from doing what we can to hinder her now, get what use we can out of her work to put to some good, and frankly, ive known for awhile that we have no reason to stay or want to stay on her good side. it goes against everything we have tried to stand for to care what a person who would do things like this would think of us.
>>3409088>Rath: via empathy channel "spawn remote bombs. My swarmlings will plant them in strategic hard to find places. Set them to detonate on your command. Please look after Amara and distract her by going through the storage room with her. There's something I have to do." >Have your Armed swarmling stop its task in rifling through the desk and help Rath with Remote bomb placement. Plant a bomb near the note piles, and another in the storage room. >To the rest via empathy:>Go to the dissection room, pay your respects.>To the corpse of Soroitas: "Hey there... Shu here. I'm sorry to see this happen to you. For what its worth, you did very well on your journey. Rest now.">consume Soroitas' remains. They never deserved the slow torturous death. At the very least, you can liberate their essences and have them accompany you on your journey in spirit.>After Consuming Soroitas head out of the dissection room. "We're wrapping up. Take what you can and leave the rest. We're leaving."
>>3409098>>3409179>>3409117ill add to mine that we see if we cant get them as new head buddies. poor shu though, its both cute and horrifying to know if this works she gonna have an entire classrooms worth of little kids fanclubing over her everytime she sleeps. i mean, BHOP did hint that after what we did they saw us as a sorta nice older sister type, but after they learn everything else we may of done?or we could have Amara do it so she has headbuddies her age to keep her company, but while im positive she would treat them well thats more a concern of if she herself is emotionally mature enough to handle seeing that and doing the act under those circumstances.
>>3409190>>3409179You know. Amara could use the extra levels. And I think Soroitas would enjoy being with Amara's headspace. And while Shu consuming them seems fitting, that's gonna put her 3 more levels ahead of the curve and I don't want to have a top-heavy party again. I'm going to amend my vote. >Have Amara accompany you while you pay your respects to Soroitas. >To the corpse of Soroitas: "Hey there... Shu here. I'm sorry to see this happen to you. For what its worth, you did very well on your journey. Rest now.">To Amara: "This was a group of girls like you, who stuck with each other thick and thin as one.">Amara can consume the Daughter as she needs the levels more than Shu.>Rath: via empathy channel "spawn remote bombs. My swarmlings will plant them in strategic hard to find places. Set them to detonate on your command.>Have your Armed swarmling stop its task in rifling through the desk and help Rath with Remote bomb placement. Plant a bomb near the note piles, another in the storage room, and a third on the lanternlights.>After ensuring Amara consumes Soroitas head out of the dissection room. Broadcast this via empathy channel: "We're wrapping up. Take what you can and leave the rest. We're leaving."
>>3409224>>3409224>>3409224ill change to support this. it might also help harden Amara a bit to reality, as despite everything she does seem slightly disconnected. not that i want to mentally scar her or anything, but a bit of grounding and showing her just what were fighting against doesn't sound like a bad thing. Julia might not be happy though, though id sadly say she herself mght need to come to terms with the idea we cant shield Amara from the horrors of reality forever, and it may be best to find a way to let her come to terms with it, rather then it hitting her all at once out of our control.then agian, she called a headless corpse treasure so maybe Amara is just like that no matter what happens, but then the argument would be she doesn't need protection from the truth at all.
>>3409088>>…You’ve seen all you need to. Take Amara back to Rath and work on seeing what’s in the Storage room, then get the hell out of here.I really don't want to fight West unless it's on our terms.
>>3409224>>3409088I'm down for this though. If we're going to leave here, though, instead of blowing it up we should booby trap it.Maybe we can get Amara to help us line the floor and walls with Banelings and Firebombs and bone shard shrapnel.Maybe after her power-up?I'm weirded out that West didn't consume the Sororitas but just dissected them.
>>3409267maybe she was planning too but was still studying them, afterall as much as its not excuse for what she did, it is obvious why she did it, as they are incredibly unique.>>3409266er, your page not refresh correctly my friend?
>>3409274yeah I forgot to turn auto on>>3409224support
>>3409274you know, i’m reminded of where we met Soroitas. We met them in the factory bunker that had the engine underground right? what if they were a product of a daughter engine fusion gone wrong? but them using Ringo’s engine wouldn’t make sense, so they had to have used an engine before, otherwise they would still be four separate daughters. Dr. West must have captured and studied them because they were a product of an engine fusion. Why else would the doctor have captured and dissected them?
>>3409301because we have never seen a daughter that is a collection of several girls working together but still kinda being separate? i get what you mean on the engine, but even if they arent related to it they are still incredibly unique.
>>3409088You take Amara by the hand and lead her into the dissection room, letting the double doors swing silently shut behind you. You pace around a pair of stark white tables and to the Sororitas, suspended against the wall, seven sets of dead, glassy eyes staring off into nothingness. It’s very cold, and very quiet."Hey there... it’s Shu.” You say, trying to keep your voice level for both your sake and the child next to you. “I'm sorry to see this happen to you. For what it’s worth, you did very well on your journey. You reach out and put a hand on one of theirs, fingers cool to the touch.“Rest now."“Miss Shu, what’s wrong?” Amara asks, her arms flung around your waist, her brow furrowed in concern."This…was a group of girls like you, who stuck with each other thick and thin as one." You explain, staring up at the Sororitas. “They were good kids. They trusted each other, enough to join together like this. Doctor west…she was curious about them.”“Doctor West is a bad woman then, right? She’s a villain?”You turn to face your ward, a mismatched set of blue and hazel eyes staring up at you, your own hard expression mirrored in them.“…Yes. Yes, she is.” You reply, before opening the empathic channel to Rath and November."Rath, I’m going to need you to spawn remote bombs. My swarmlings will plant them in strategic hard to find places. Set them to detonate on your command, alight.”You get a curt ‘Affirmative from November, while Rath hesitates a moment before she replies. “You’re saying you wanna light this bitch up? You want *me* to light this bitch up? Is it Christmas?”“Make it like Fourth of July, only more violent...once the charges are set, we’re wrapping up. Take what you can and leave the rest. Fuck this place."Amara lets go of you and walks up to the Sororitas, holding the same hand you touched moments before. You watch as she begins to draw what little biomass she can from the body, assimilating as much as she can, her eyes scrunched tight in concentration. The vivisected corpse withers slightly, and Amara stares up at it for a moment more before turning, fixing you with a hard, uncompromising gaze.“I want to get to know them, I want us to all be friends…and I want to stop West from hurting people, Miss Shu.”Her eyes glimmer with a child-like sense of determination, a naive sense of justice. Defiance, in the face of what the world fallen into, actively rejecting what the world would have you become. You have to wonder if your eyes shine with the same light as hers.“You and me both, kiddo.”AMARA - LEVEL UPPLEASE CHOOSE *THREE* FROM THE LIST BELOWOPTIONS MAY BE CHOSEN MORE THAN ONCE>>HOLISTIC LEXICON (Lvl 5, HEALTH REGEN +5%)>>QUEEN CRIMSON (Lvl 2, BIO REGEN +5%)>>CONSUME (???)YOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>3409403>>HOLISTIC LEXICON (Lvl 5, HEALTH REGEN +5%)>>CONSUME x2perhaps we can find some skills to keep her out of danger?
>>3409403>>QUEEN CRIMSON (Lvl 2, BIO REGEN +5%)>>CONSUME (???) x2i think consume is how we get head buddies and it feels right to do honor them.and whoops, folks talking distracted me so i misread how many we got haha.
>>3409426>>3409403>>CONSUMEx3actually no, i change my vote. lets pull a Gina here, honor her fully with a full CONSUME.
>>3409403>>QUEEN CRIMSON (Lvl 2, BIO REGEN +5%)X2>>CONSUME (???)
>>3409403>QUEEN CRIMSON (Lvl 2, BIO REGEN +5%) x2>CONSUME (???)
>>3409441>>3409447Aw c'mon guys at least do 2 consume. this is a special occasion level up, not just a normal one. Its a friend we lost like before like with Gina, we need to make it special like then.
>>3409403>>CONSUME (???) X2>>QUEEN CRIMSON (Lvl 2, BIO REGEN +5%)It may not be today, it may not be tomorrow, but West is in for an ass beating never seen before.
>>3409403>Consume x3This is Soroitas we're talking about. We ain't gonna be pick and choose, lets consume ALL of them.
>>3409469plus on the off chance that all of the Soroitas had powers of there own before the merge we may get quite an interesting range of skills
>>3409403changing to>>CONSUME x3
>>3409477Agreed. I think like i said, its safe to say we IC at least are ok not interacting with her civily anymore
>>3409403AMARA – CONSUMECHOOSE *THREE* OPTIONS FROM THE LIST BELOW>>STERNUTATION CANNON (Lvl 1): Inelegant, straightforward, and devastatingly effective, Amara now has the ability to sneeze on command, with each blast possessing the destructive effect of a shotgun. The blast comes at a cost of 20% BIO per shot and possesses a Medium effective range, with sharp damage falloff past that point. Easily capable of shattering Calcite and severing limbs in close range combat, the sheet power of this ability will only increase with time and training. Gesundheit. (BIO +20%)>>HOLLOWED CLONE (Lvl 1): Two’s a pair, three’s a crowd, and four’s a distraction. Amara now possesses the ability to generate remote-controlled hollow duplicates of herself to distract and befuddle her foes at a cost of 10% HEALTH and BIO per clone with a maximum range of fifty feet. Possessing little mass, 1% HEALTH, and no offensive or recon capabilities, they are nevertheless indistinguishable from their controller, allowing Amara to bait out attacks and distract foes without putting herself in danger. (HEALTH REGEN +10%)>>ZENITH CHRYSALIS (Lvl 1): Amara regularly soars on wings of hope, fragile though they may be. Amara may spend 50% BIO to generate a shell around herself, and after one turn she emerges boasting a pair of gossamer wings resembling those of a large butterfly. They grant her the ability to hover a medium distance above the ground, though her range will doubtless increase with time. While fragile and currently lacking any overt combat abilities, the sheer mobility these grant her cannot be ignored, much like her vibrant personality. (BIO +10%)>>COMPASSIONATE GRAFT (Lvl 1): The biomass that makes up Amara’s diminutive form has now taken on a uniquely adaptable quality, allowing her to both give and receive biomass from willing individuals, resulting in a swapping of HEALTH between allies. Amara may drain or gift HEALTH when she in in close proximity to an ally, with a two-to-one ratio of deduction and addition. While not yet the most efficient or comfortable form of healing, it is healing nonetheless in a world that prioritizes death and suffering. What’s a little meat between friends? (HEALTH +20%)>>IMCOMPREHENSIBLE FORM (Passive): Amara’s body has taken on an amorphous quality, rendering her physical form a shifting oddity, though nowhere near as volatile as the Sororitias’ bizarre physiology. She now takes half damage from critical hits and has advantage on escaping bindings or grapples. Additionally, she has gained resistance to conventional bladed or blunt-edged weaponry and effects. However, in exchange for these benefits, she gains vulnerability to liquid and flesh manipulation effects. (HEALTH +30%)YOU ARE IN CONTROL
(Gentlemen, voting shall close in two hours. Thank you for participating and I hope you are having a good day.)
>>3409652>>HOLLOWED CLONE (Lvl 1)>>ZENITH CHRYSALIS (Lvl 1)>>COMPASSIONATE GRAFT (Lvl 1)I'm thinking full support role>>3409655and I hope you are having a good day as well bhop
>>3409652>>IMCOMPREHENSIBLE FORM (Passive): >>HOLLOWED CLONE (Lvl 1)>>STERNUTATION CANNON (Lvl 1):
>>3409652>>STERNUTATION CANNON (Lvl 1): Inelegant, straightforward, and devastatingly effective, Amara now has the ability to sneeze on command, with each blast possessing the destructive effect of a shotgun. The blast comes at a cost of 20% BIO per shot and possesses a Medium effective range, with sharp damage falloff past that point. Easily capable of shattering Calcite and severing limbs in close range combat, the sheet power of this ability will only increase with time and training. Gesundheit. (BIO +20%)giving a snot nosed twerp a snot nosed shotgun? YES PLEASE.>>HOLLOWED CLONE (Lvl 1): Two’s a pair, three’s a crowd, and four’s a distraction. Amara now possesses the ability to generate remote-controlled hollow duplicates of herself to distract and befuddle her foes at a cost of 10% HEALTH and BIO per clone with a maximum range of fifty feet. Possessing little mass, 1% HEALTH, and no offensive or recon capabilities, they are nevertheless indistinguishable from their controller, allowing Amara to bait out attacks and distract foes without putting herself in danger. (HEALTH REGEN +10%)fits with the soritas theme, and is excellent for keeping enemies off of her. also, with time, maybe her clones will be much more than a distraction. plus its REGEN cuts off its own worse negative trait.>>IMCOMPREHENSIBLE FORM (Passive): Amara’s body has taken on an amorphous quality, rendering her physical form a shifting oddity, though nowhere near as volatile as the Sororitias’ bizarre physiology. She now takes half damage from critical hits and has advantage on escaping bindings or grapples. Additionally, she has gained resistance to conventional bladed or blunt-edged weaponry and effects. However, in exchange for these benefits, she gains vulnerability to liquid and flesh manipulation effects. (HEALTH +30%)not only is this one the best honorable take in line with the soritas, but also gives her the most HEALTh and keeps her out of harm extremely well.
>>3409652>Zenith ChrysalisAmara gets to be a FAIRY>Compassionate GraftYES. A MEDIC ABILITY.>Sternutation cannon.SHOTGUN SNEEZE SURPRISE.Queen Crimson is a Zoning tool. Sternutation cannon is the close range shotgun Compassionate Graft is a healing ability that can be upgraded to be stronger. Healing abilities outright rare in this world, and besides, B'ni's main gimmick is basically being wolverine and healing through all the damage.Zenith wings gives her better mobilityLexicon is Lexicon.With these choices I think we're set.
>>3409688We need a tally. I'm open to negotiations. I'm willing to trade Zenith Chrysalis for Hallowed Clone if you drop Incomprehensive Form for Compassionate Graft.
>>3409680>>3409709i get it will be upgraded, but GRAFT isnt really a heal, its a transfer that loses half its HEALTH in the process. it really feels like we never could use it, as unless one is healthy and one is almost dead it would be a horrible waste to use.ZENITH also feels like a horrible waste. wings are cool but hardly as useful as the other options. feels too much like a 'rule of cool' choice over something more practical. CLONE and FORM id argue do much more to keep her out of harms way than the wings. ranged/Medium length attacks that could hit her at a Medium hover are not rare at all, but outright lowering or avoiding damage even if "hit" is much more useful to keeping her alive, especially when we already plan to keep her off the front lines. plus, shes a fleshtalker, wings get her further away from the fleshscape she is connected to, and that feels wrong, even if it might not exactly have mechanical implications.
>>3409722VOTES SO FARAMARA(3);>>STERNUTATION CANNON (Lvl 1): (BIO +20%)- 3>>HOLLOWED CLONE (Lvl 1): (HEALTH REGEN +10%)- 3>>ZENITH CHRYSALIS (Lvl 1): (BIO +10%)- 2>>COMPASSIONATE GRAFT (Lvl 1): (HEALTH +20%)- 2>>IMCOMPREHENSIBLE FORM (Passive): (HEALTH +30%)- 2damn that stupid wait time between posts.
>>3409652>ZENITH CHRYSALIS (Lvl 1)>COMPASSIONATE GRAFT (Lvl 1)>STERNUTATION CANNON (Lvl 1)
>>3409724>>3409726upon second thought we can provide temporary flight with our swarmlings, right?if so I believe COMPASSIONATE GRAFT is the way to go
>>3409724You make a good point on the wings. My only issue is the increased vulnerability to Hydromancers and Flesh Artisan manipulation shenanigans if we choose Incomprehensible form.I'll drop the Zenith Chrysalis in exchange for Hallowed Clone. My vote will be amended as thus:>Sternutation cannon cannon>Hallowed Clone>Compassionate Graft
>>3409731i knightling can pick up Rath, it can certainly pick up Amara. you already voted for GRAFT though so what would you change it to?>>3409726VOTES;AMARA(3);>>STERNUTATION CANNON (Lvl 1): (BIO +20%)- 4>>HOLLOWED CLONE (Lvl 1): (HEALTH REGEN +10%)- 4>>ZENITH CHRYSALIS (Lvl 1): (BIO +10%)- 2>>COMPASSIONATE GRAFT (Lvl 1): (HEALTH +20%)- 3>>IMCOMPREHENSIBLE FORM (Passive): (HEALTH +30%)- 2fuuuuck, ok i really dont want to lose FORM so sadly i might have to give up something else, as thats my main go-to this round.>>3409746change has been taken into account, though it doesn't make me jump for joy.
>>3409652>>HOLLOWED CLONE (Lvl 1): Two’s a pair, three’s a crowd, and four’s a distraction. Amara now possesses the ability to generate remote-controlled hollow duplicates of herself to distract and befuddle her foes at a cost of 10% HEALTH and BIO per clone with a maximum range of fifty feet. Possessing little mass, 1% HEALTH, and no offensive or recon capabilities, they are nevertheless indistinguishable from their controller, allowing Amara to bait out attacks and distract foes without putting herself in danger. (HEALTH REGEN +10%)>>ZENITH CHRYSALIS (Lvl 1): Amara regularly soars on wings of hope, fragile though they may be. Amara may spend 50% BIO to generate a shell around herself, and after one turn she emerges boasting a pair of gossamer wings resembling those of a large butterfly. They grant her the ability to hover a medium distance above the ground, though her range will doubtless increase with time. While fragile and currently lacking any overt combat abilities, the sheer mobility these grant her cannot be ignored, much like her vibrant personality. (BIO +10%)>>IMCOMPREHENSIBLE FORM (Passive): Amara’s body has taken on an amorphous quality, rendering her physical form a shifting oddity, though nowhere near as volatile as the Sororitias’ bizarre physiology. She now takes half damage from critical hits and has advantage on escaping bindings or grapples. Additionally, she has gained resistance to conventional bladed or blunt-edged weaponry and effects. However, in exchange for these benefits, she gains vulnerability to liquid and flesh manipulation effects. (HEALTH +30%)
>>3409746we have seen so few Hydromancers i cant see it as an issue. flesh artisans ill admit will be, but again, we try to keep her off the frontline, and its other benefits i think heavily outweigh that negative.sadly i cant comprimise with you as its only 1 vote we disagree on, and as much as i REALLY want the 3 i picked, im willing to trade out the other two to anyone in exchange for FORM getting more votes. its just too much thematically Sorita to not take.
>>3409771>>3409754VOTES SO FARAMARA(3);>>STERNUTATION CANNON (Lvl 1): (BIO +20%)- 4>>HOLLOWED CLONE (Lvl 1): (HEALTH REGEN +10%)- 5>>ZENITH CHRYSALIS (Lvl 1): (BIO +10%)- 3>>COMPASSIONATE GRAFT (Lvl 1): (HEALTH +20%)- 3>>IMCOMPREHENSIBLE FORM (Passive): (HEALTH +30%)- 3haha, and so 2 i want are ahead, the one i want the most is tied with the 2 i feel are the worst picks. fitting, somehow.
>>IMCOMPREHENSIBLE FORM (Passive): Amara’s body has taken on an amorphous quality, rendering her physical form a shifting oddity, though nowhere near as volatile as the Sororitias’ bizarre physiology. She now takes half damage from critical hits and has advantage on escaping bindings or grapples. Additionally, she has gained resistance to conventional bladed or blunt-edged weaponry and effects. However, in exchange for these benefits, she gains vulnerability to liquid and flesh manipulation effects. (HEALTH +30%)>>ZENITH CHRYSALIS (Lvl 1): Amara regularly soars on wings of hope, fragile though they may be. Amara may spend 50% BIO to generate a shell around herself, and after one turn she emerges boasting a pair of gossamer wings resembling those of a large butterfly. They grant her the ability to hover a medium distance above the ground, though her range will doubtless increase with time. While fragile and currently lacking any overt combat abilities, the sheer mobility these grant her cannot be ignored, much like her vibrant personality. (BIO +10%)these two i definitly want for the last one though ill say >>STERNUTATION CANNON (Lvl 1): Inelegant, straightforward, and devastatingly effective, Amara now has the ability to sneeze on command, with each blast possessing the destructive effect of a shotgun. The blast comes at a cost of 20% BIO per shot and possesses a Medium effective range, with sharp damage falloff past that point. Easily capable of shattering Calcite and severing limbs in close range combat, the sheet power of this ability will only increase with time and training. Gesundheit. (BIO +20%)but yall can convince me to change my mind . the top two are high priority for me
>>3409784VOTESAMARA(3);>>STERNUTATION CANNON (Lvl 1): (BIO +20%)- 5>>HOLLOWED CLONE (Lvl 1): (HEALTH REGEN +10%)- 5>>ZENITH CHRYSALIS (Lvl 1): (BIO +10%)- 4>>COMPASSIONATE GRAFT (Lvl 1): (HEALTH +20%)- 3>>IMCOMPREHENSIBLE FORM (Passive): (HEALTH +30%)- 4really i probably should wait for more votes before updating, but as i wish to say im willing to give up my vote on CLONE or CANNON to get FORM another vote, even for...uhg, the waste that is ZENITH, im updating it again anyways.im dead set on FORM so sadly if i must ignore my gut instinct to not settle for ZENITH to get it, so be it, i will.
>>3409821I'll be willing to trade Compassionate Graft for Incomprehensible form. As much as it pains me to do so, but the polls have indicated that it's got the least priority. It's a shame really. Amara has such high Health Regen after this consume vote, she could exploit Compassionate Graft to donate 20% of her own health to heal someone else for 10 and heal the lost health back in a single turn. And some of our allies don't have innate Health regen.
>>3409873i get what you mean, but it still feels like a 50% loss in Health is still a steep price to pay.and my thing is, even if an Ability can get batter, an ability that starts off better will continue to get better, one that you only see potential in is still starting off worse and is playing catch-up compared to other abilities, which feels much less worth the investment.
>>3409821so unless >>3409873was actually confirming a vote change, it seems were once again letting fate decide between ZENITH and FORM.man we really are good at somehow getting rolls made on these things, you think a tie, or at least constantly getting one, would be much rarer.
>>3409652>STERNUTATION CANNON>HOLLOWED CLONE>STILL UNDECIDED