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“Shu, why the hell would I be mad?" She asks, looking up at you. "I…I totally get it. Aunt Heather told me that she asked you to keep it a secret, and you stayed true to your word. Shit, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't even be here, and I'd have...I'd have died without ever knowing that some part of my family was still..."

November's taloned hand finds her niece's shoulder, giving it an affectionate squeeze before kneeling beside Rath.

“Given some recent re-assessments, I would like to offer my services to your cause, Shu…if you’ll have me, that is.” She intones, her voxel-distorted voice crackling in time with the Forge's unnatural heat. "You extended the offer once before, and I was afraid. You gave me courage that day, and I have your words to thank for bringing Rachel and I to this point. So please, I want to help in any way that I can."

You take her offered hand with a smile, pulling up and prompting her to rise to her full height, illuminated in the hearth's glowing embers.

“It would be an honor." You say earnestly. "Glad to have you, Heather.”

>>NOVEMBER HAS JOINED THE PARTY

>>November’s Abilities: https://pastebin.com/gYYErPQh

“So, if it’s alright with you I’d like to tell the others on my own time…is that cool?” Rath asks, hands behind her back nervously. You nod, and she breaks out in a relieved smile before her eyes go wide with an idea. She fishes in her pocket, retrieving the three shimmering Forge crystals that you gifted her the day before, turning them over in her palm before meeting your gaze with her citrine eyes.

"Aunt Heather let us use the Core of her tank to make breakfast, but I kinda wanted to run an idea by you." She begins, glancing between you and her Aunt. "What do you say to re-making the Tier-3 Core and letting her have it? Or even just a Tier-2, and we use the other one to have our own Forge here? It'll make her stronger, and we can swap them out as we need to!"

You ponder it a moment before looking up at November, and you're treated to the sight of her throwing up her clawed hands in deference.

"Hey, don't look at me!" She says with a crackling chuckle. "I gave you that Core in good faith, and how to use it is up to you. I'm good with what I've got...with who I've got."

She puts an arm around Rath's narrow shoulders and hugs her lightly, and you stare into Rath's eyes as you weigh how to proceed from here.

>>Decide what to do with the three Forge Gems you have.

AND

>>Go ahead and get seated. You're starving, and the smell of food and the scent of freshly-brewed coffee that Julia's somehow scrounged up are too good to pass up.

>>The Midnight Crew don't seem to be up yet, so you may as well take a moment to inspect the hidden room from earlier before you settle down to talk shop over breakfast.

>>Go and wake the Midnight Crew so they don't miss the good eats your team has lined up, and grab Magpie from wherever she's holed up, as well.

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

>>3570740
>>NOVEMBER HAS JOINED THE PARTY
Yay! November is cool, I'm glad she's on the team now. And she uses a parallel upgrade track to the rest of the party, giving us interesting new mechanics to play with. Wonderful.

>>Decide what to do with the three Forge Gems you have.
Upgrade November to Tier Three. As Rath says, with her on the team we'll be able to swap them over any time we actually need higher-Tier Forge services. And given the raid we're planning, we might get another Core out of it anyway. Besides, Cyborg Aunt deserves it.

>>The Midnight Crew don't seem to be up yet, so you may as well take a moment to inspect the hidden room from earlier before you settle down to talk shop over breakfast.
Open the mystery box while we have the chance. Then, assuming what we find in there isn't too world-shattering of a reveal, wake up the rest of our guests for breakfast.

>>3570740
>>Give November the Tier 3 core but plan to use it first.
I get making her stronger but we have a forge right in front of us and are about to go on a raid, some Upgraded and new gear would go a long ways to helping with that.

>>Go and wake the Midnight Crew so they don't miss the good eats your team has lined up, and grab Magpie from wherever she's holed up, as well.

(Gentlemen, voting shall remain open for the next two hours. I hope you are all having a good day, and it's good to be back.)

>>3570740
>Give November a Tier-3 Forge Core
>Inspect the hidden Room.

Also, Screw with the Core Console and make the following changes:
>Playground gets removed, but the Fuzzbuzz Ball-pit gets to stay.
>the two L-couches are removed or pushed to the corners
>Set up a breakfast bar (buffet style) for Claire to set her cooked goods
>Buffet tables
>The window gets blinds/curtains to help those who still suffer from the hangover.
>Install a Ventilation system that wafts the smell and sound of sizzling hot breakfast into the bedrooms of the people that still slept. It should help them wake up faster.

>>3570748
>Checks November's Char sheet
>Plasma Winchester Shotgun
>Gundam Vector thrust backpack
>Browning Machinegun
>Autumn Protocol
Nice.
Hmm.... Is that the Vector Cannon from Zone of Enders 2?
I think we should take the time to upgrade her suit's integrity, not just November's Forge Core Systems. Maybe even forge her a new Forge Body-type. Like a Speed-type or an Aerial-type in-case her current suit gets too damaged for operation.
Also I think you've missed a prime opportunity for Robocop references.

>>3570756
(She still has plenty of skills and reference to unlock, no worries.)

>>3570756
>Hmm.... Is that the Vector Cannon from Zone of Enders 2?
Not without revolving the life ring. Whatever that is. Seriously, what the hell is a life ring and how does spinning it help you create a giant doom-beam?

>>3570756
Well, maybe. Im still of the opinion we use the T3 core first before we hand it to her, and was hoping to use the opportunity to make forging things a collab with the Midnight Crew, but if we just hand it off to her i doubt the T1 she currently has is high enough grade for anything worth giving her.

(For the sake of clarity, your decision to remake the Tier 3 Forge Core will not negate the ability to make new Relics before you head out; November will equip the stronger Core when you're done.)

>>3570767
Hey Bhop, any new relics that we can forge with a T3 Core? Or did you not have time to balance out the new forge ideas yet?

>>3570767
Fair enough.
also, would people wish for me to add November to the character sheet, or fine with it off? Her design while kickass, doesn't lend itself to needing to be consolidated nor easily upgraded in the same way as standard Daughters, making its format less useful for her. However i also understand wishing to have all the information in one place to save on how many tabs one has open, so om fone either way.

>>3570777
I don't think the list he gives us was ever the limit to what we can forge, only the known ones to our characters. We can always discover new ones or experiment, like rath and the whistle.

>>3570740
November joined us.... Nice
>>She can have the tier 3 Forge Core. since she joined the Family we can probably get it back anytime without a big hassle if we want to forge
I do wonder though if we can take the tank with us into the Armory if we were inclined to take her with us on the raid

>>take a look at the Secret room we discovered during the preparations

>>Wake the midnight Crew and get Magpie so everyone can get some food

>>Then get seated and enjoy the morning after feeling, maybe open a window or something to let "fresh" air in

>>3570779
I'd like to have the information all on one sheet, yeah. Like you said, cuts down on the number of open tabs needed.

As for Relics, what are we planning on making? I know that upgrades to Sui Tormentis and Cursus Alas are obvious choices, but does anyone have anything else in mind?

>>3570787
Ive already got my idea pre written, but basically, without how to split the costs, it was upgrade Sui twice, Cursas once, then collab with the Midnight Crew to make 1-3 new items for each team.

>>3570787

Well, there were a few relic ideas that were made in the past couple of veins, and I'm hoping on debating on wanting to craft them.
>>3570790

Do you think this would be a good collab piece with the Crew? Given the fact that the Crew lack any hp or bio-regen, this should help them with becoming more efficient with the actions they take per combat turn.

>HEN CORPORIS SONA SHIN: An oversized Belt buckle made out of bone. There is a curious empty slot on the belt buckle. The Buckle generates a ring of bone and fiber that circle and wrap themselves around the waist of the wearer when worn. The Wearer must then insert BIO (either a construct or a piece of their own flesh for classes that the ability to generate constructs) from their core class to activate the Belt's true function: Instantaneous Body Armor stylized and modeled after their core class, granting the wearer 200 additional bio, and an increased effectiveness in core class abilities and bio efficiency by 35%. Upon taking Lethal Damage or Critical Damage, the wearer can choose to negate all damage taken in exchange for Breaking the armor and losing the additional benefits, forcing the Relic into emergency cooldown and rendering it unusable for the rest the current combat with a cooldown period of 1 day. You may not be a hero, but using this relic sure makes you feel like one when you transform with it. (100% Virtruvian, 100% Generator, 100% Calcite Armory)
>Additional feature: (Base cost + 10% SkinTalker, 10% Phantasmal conduit): The belt now includes a transformation jingle that plays a class dependent tune when the daughter armors up. A rare and exquisite feature that lacks utility other than audible flair for the relic's activation, but worth the cost.

>>3570790
I agree on the Tormentis and Cursus levels, I was thinking much the same myself. Improve Rath's ratio, let her spend it on armor and speed as well, and make Dorian even more of a speed demon. What are your thoughts for new Relics, though? I think something healing or bio-recovering could be good for the Crew. Some sort of Estus Flask-style thing where they can set aside resources at a Forge, let themselves regenerate out of combat, and use the stored for a quick recovery in a fight.

>>3570798
Im unsure, as their playstyle lends itself it feels to more team oreinted ideas, and thats more of a 'guard this individual' relic than anything.

>>3570800
Honestly i was gonna just let the dice/IC decesions make the call, like when we just let Rath make whatever and got the whistle. The Kuolema rifle is the only one that really interested me out of the current list.

>>3570809
OH!
We still owe Amara a FuzzBuzz buddy.

>>3570818
I'm ready to sacrifice 100% bio just to make it a masterwork FuzzBuzz with all the augments and the ability to have it gain autonomy and talk.

>>3570821
Same.
Otherwise, re-looking over the list, the only relic that might be worth making we already know about is the Vocalis Nocere for Amara, though not sure if it is worth it still.

>>3570740

“Hhey, this has been real touching and stuff, but do you mind if I finish cooking for y’all?” Clare mumbles from behind you with a stake lined with raw meat, and you hastily oblige before shuffling out of the Forge room. Waving to Julia and Dorian, you stride over to the Core Console and make some minor quality-of-life adjustments to the living space, chiefly by making a buffet area for easy breakfast access, some blinds for the windows to hide the darkness outside, and collapsing the playground back into the walls and flooring.

The FuzzBuzz Fluff-Pit stays, though.

Lastly, you conjoin the hidden room to yours via a small passage before locking down the console, heading into the darkened room and shutting the door behind you. Proceeding through the narrow hall, you find yourself in an equally cramped room, twin shelves rising on either side of you with a desk-and-chair combo sandwiched between them.

Books, notes, and countless files array the space, neatly packed into the looming shelves. The shelf to your left is emblazoned with marked print that says ‘Declinations’, and is by far the most packed of the two. Scanning the titles, most of the ones on your left appear to be marked with a small, bloody thumbprint next to their names or crossed out entirely…they bear the names of women, Daughters like yourself. Your eye catches a pair of vaguely familiar titles emblazoned on side-by-side folders, ‘Lysergic Domina’ and ‘Hollowed Host’…the code-names of Mara’s allies during her assault on Kosi’s city.

The space to your right is nearly bare, a stark contrast to the other’s cramped shelving. A series of folders lean haphazardly against each other, their shelf labelled ‘Investments’. You thumb through them, taking notice of the titles…particularly the fact that files labeled ‘Magpie’, ‘Claire’, and ‘Shu’ are at the top of the pile. Finally, on the desk nestled between the shelves rests a small picture frame that holds a worn, weathered photograph depicting a pair of young women, roughly your age. Though tattered, you can make out a younger Mara standing side-by-side with a woman with a head of voluminous dark hair, both of whom are dressed in graduation gowns and matching caps. Tucked behind the frame is a small stack of folders labeled ‘Persistence Operations & Incubations’, and thumbing through them reveals such intimidating titles as “Vitruvian-Immortal”, “Vitruvian-Replicator”, “Predator-Turritopsis Dohrnii”, and “Fle…

…the last title has been messily torn off, the folder curiously empty.

A cursory test of the drawers reveals them to be empty, save for the right-hand one, which remains stubbornly locked.

>>Flip through some folders of your choice while you have a quiet moment.

>>Inspect picture frame.

>>Force the drawer open.

>>Go ahead and have breakfast with everyone.

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

(Voting shall remain open for the next two hours. Also, the Forge process will be a rather open-ended affair, as without the Monastery Forge restrictions in effect, you may now posit other items of interest from older threads as possible Relics to be crafted. It will be a rather free-form process, and the voting period will likely be a little longer as a result since that will also be the time I will open up the team composition vote as well.)

>>3570827
>>Inspect picture frame.
Okay. Declinations is those Daughters who either failed Mara's standard or are dead. Not much worth looking for in there. Investments is our group, probably would feel weird to go flipping through that. Persistence Operations and Incubations is Mara's search for a sustainable meat source: immortal Vitruvians, self-replicating Vitruvians, that Unnatural Predator is of a species of jellyfish with regeneration, the removed folder is probably "Flesh Artisan" of some sort. Again, nothing that I'm too interested in reading. Let's take a closer look at that picture, though. Is this who Mara lost and activated the Restore function on the Sparagmos Engine for?

>>3570827
>> Inspect the Picture Frame there may be a name on the back of the Photograph that could give us a clue as to who the person in the frame is next to mara and maybe even if she is who Mara sacrificed the charge on the Engine for. Mabe she is/was maras Partner for a long time

>>Get the File Magpie and thumb through it, If it is relevant bring it up with Magpie later after Breakfast
>>Take a look at the Claire and Shu Files(just thumb through them to see when Mara became aware of us and through which means) while your at it and and see if it is something Claire might be interested in

>> We should probably leave the Drawer at least for now. It is probably something Mara left behind for us and will probably open/unlock at the time we are ready

>'Declinations', 'Investments', 'Persistence Operations and Incubations'
Well that explains Mara's Business-like Mindset.
Declinations are probably daughters that either died or aren't promising enough. 'Investments' are daughters that showed Mara promise of potential. And then 'Persistence Operations&Incubations' are Mara's findings on trying to find a way to stall the hunger via live cannibalism.
>"Vitruvian-Immortal"
That's Isabelle.
>"Vitruvian-Replicator"
Mystery girl. Functions like Gretchen, but different.
>"Predator-Turritopsis Dohrnii"
Immortal Jellyfish. Probably Dr. West Prime.
>"Fle-[title torn off]
Mystery girl. First bit implies Flesh Artisan.

>>3570833
Well shoot. I've got a longer shift today so I might end up missing out on those votes. shame.

>>3570827
>Inspect picture frame.

>>3570838
I'd rather not bring up the whole "files" thing up to Magpie.

>>3570827
Are Lysergic Domina and Hollowed Host crossed out or marked with a bloody thumbprint?

I'm thinking crossed out means dead and marked means alive and might be encountered.

>>3570827
>>Go ahead and have breakfast with everyone.
I trust her enough to not care about all this personally.

>>3570841
>>3570827
Changing my vote to
>Go ahead and have breakfast with everyone.

>>3570843
(They are crossed out.)

>>3570841
I would at least like to know if there is something there that might be good to know and might be relevant for Magpie though can understand where you are coming from, it could seriously weaken the Trust we have gained with Magpie so far

While I would be willing to let that go, I still would like to look at the picture frame and see if there are names there (at most a 10 seconds investment and then we can go and have breakfast)

>>3570841
I don't think it would be West Prime since she has a jellyfish Hive Mistress, not a jellyfish Unnatural Predator (to our knowledge).

If it is a real daughter instead of just speculation on mara's part, I wonder if we'd meet her in loli form due to her power reversing her age?

>>3570827
>Flip through some folders of your choice while you have a quiet moment.
Folders labelled "Declinations" with the bloody thumbprints and those labelled "Persistence Operations & Incubations", in case we run into any of them and where we may be most at risk to do so. If the Crew is in the declinations, skip them though.
>Inspect picture frame.

>>3570833
Oh neat. Well ill have to dig up my relics list if i have time.

>>3570851
If we're going to look through ANYONES file, let them look through it and know about it first, unless we simply do not care about that person trusting us.

>>3570827
>>3570869
Taking this into consideration....
Amending my Vote
From >>3570838
to
>> Inspect the Picture Frame there may be a name on the back of the Photograph that could give us a clue as to who the person in the frame is next to mara and maybe even if she is who Mara sacrificed the charge on the Engine for. Mabe she is/was Maras Partner for a long time

>>Ask Magpie and Claire if she knows about the File on them and if they wish to do something about it or would consider letting us look through it
>>See if we can find a file on the Midnight Crew and proceed with it like we did with Magpies and Claires
>>Take a look at the Shu File(just thumb through them to see when Mara became aware of us and through which means) while we are at it

>> We should probably leave the Drawer at least for now. It is probably something Mara left behind for us and will probably open/unlock at the time we are ready

>>3570878
I don't think the drawer will unlock on its own, but I do expect that it's got some mechanism in there so that anything inside would be damaged by forcing the lock. A little acid vial, something like that. We'll have to find the key instead of just smash it open.

>>3570787
Oh right, forgot to ask, what color should November's sheet be?

>>3570933
Something akin to raths colours i reckon maybe more into the blue

>>3570933
Red, I guess, for the rust and fire. Speaking of which, can November benefit from Sisters' Constellation? Because if so, that would fix a lot of her weaknesses. Just have Rath give her a fiery healing hug every now and then.

>>3570936
(She can, yes.)

>>3570936
That just recharges November's HP pool which she uses for power. Her real health is her Bio meter or her suit integrity.
....
We need Nanomachines, son. Nanomachines for November.

>>3570941
Nice. Okay, aunt and niece power team is go. They're even both armored figures with fire attacks, we've got a family resemblance.

>>3570947
Yeah, but her Health is still important. It's good that she doesn't have to worry about it as much when Rath is around.

>>3570934
So..a more pink side of purple?

>>3570936
Hrm, i can see what i can do but we already have alot of red.

>>3570954
>Hrm, i can see what i can do but we already have alot of red.
Maybe a gunmetal grey, then?

>>3570954
Yeah to make it more of a felshy contrast to her more metallic exterior
It could show that she is still human underneath it all

>>3570960
I can see a rusty grey or something working yeah.

And I have to leave for work.
I'm not gonna lie, the prospect of me missing out on something juicy as new info and forging new relics while on the job is something I will miss out on.

>>3570970
Its ok, ill probably miss out on some things today too. Life's like that. Hope work goes well though!

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>>3570827

You gently pick up the frame from the tables dark, glossy surface and turn it over, sliding the cover back to reveal elegant handwriting on the back.

“To twelve years of friendship, four years of hell, and one of the best friends I could ask for. Take a bite out of the sharks for me, Mara, and when you hit it big think of me when you have accounts to open, ‘kay?”

“Love, Gwen”

You put it back down after inspecting the frame for any other bits and bobs, thumbing through one or two folders to find them filled to bursting with Mara’s cramped shorthand. Softly, the walls around you vibrate with Amara’s voice, carrying with it an alert that everyone’s up and ready for breakfast. At that, you turn, your bare foot nudging a scrap of paper that’s slipped under the right-hand shelving. You stoop down to pick it up and find it resembles something of a sticky-note, an addendum that you have to squint at to make out…

‘Abbey; nearing redemption period. Find suitable investment for upcoming deposit.’

A few moments later you re-emerge into the living room to find three of the four members of the Midnight Crew struggling into chairs, with Keane taking the head of the table facing away from the window and massaging her temples, eyes screwed shut while propped up on her sharp elbows. To her right, Quinn is just slumped in her seat, a thousand-yard stare fixed on the far wall as she heaves a heavy sigh that shows no signs of stopping. Keane and Ace seem in better spirits, the former bouncing up and down in her seat and surveying the magnificent spread of available foods while the armored warrior sizes up November, her expression inscrutable as she take a seat alongside Ace, with Rath beside her.
You take your place at the opposite head of the table across from Jackie after getting yourself a plate, and the moment you sit down a pair of Amaras scoot out the chair beside you to make way for a third, with the pair of clones rejoining their creator the moment they push her closer to you.

“You smell funny!” Amara declares, her newly-sensitive nose scrunched up at you. “Like the shooty-lady!”

“Oh…uh, thanks?” You say, not quite sure how to reply to that. “Where is Magpie, anyway?”

“Beats me. Can’t sense her. Think she left.” Jackie mutters, taking a long sip of coffee and groaning with satisfaction. You glance towards Amara and she inhales deeply, placing a finger to her lips as her cat-like ears twitch. She just shrugs as Jackie leans forwards, and you feel a small pang of disappointment at this revelation. “So, you wanna talk shop, or…?”

“If you’re up for it, then by all means.” You reply, stabbing your bacon on the tines of your calcite fork.

(Continued)

>>3570997

“So here’s the deal. We got coordinates from a contact at Golgotha.” She begins, shoving half her omelet down her throat before continuing. “Checked it out, and it's legit. Well-hidden and super friggin’ hard to detect with Neuromancy or anything like that, so it’s secure and unopened.”

“How’d your contact find it, if I may be so bold?” Dorian asks, peering at Jackie from over his teacup as he blows to cool it down.

“She’s a Skintalker, runs an info-business trading favors for scraps of what she’s gleaned.” Jackie fires back. “When I first met you guys, my Crew and I just got through trying to convince one of the arena regulars who lives out east to give up the location of a Skintalker pal of his. Tried to play dumb, like I wouldn’t realize his ‘Augs were Skintalker buffs applied before the fights. Threatened to tell the refs about his bullshit, he got pissy, and we had it out.”

“…S-so what happened after all t-that?” Julia asks hesitantly, and Jack just chuckles.

“He’s alive, if that’s what you’re asking.” She says, thrusting another bit of egg into her mouth. “Refs broke us up, asked us to leave. Might have trouble at Golgotha if we go back, though.”

“Last thing, though; girl that discovered it is a solo kinda gal, and she was able to open the Armory with her powers. Got a peek inside, then shut that shit right back up and kept moving. Important bit is this…” Jack trails off, setting her obsidian gaze directly at the child beside you. “…the place responds to Skintalkers, so Amara’s gonna be key if we’re going to crack this thing wide open.”

There’s a small gasp beside you and you turn, catching Amara’s wide, shining gaze as a massive grin spreads across her face.

“I’m the Princess of Destiny.” She whispers in awe, barely able to contain her excitement. Keane starts to applaud, quickly stopping as Jack and Quinn give simultaneously pained groans.

“I’m not sayin’ we gotta leave right now, but I don’t want to sit on this for too long.” Jackie says, massaging her temples. “We got time before we head out, so if there’s anything you wanna clarify or hash out, I’m all ears.”

Jack shoots Keane a playful glare as the younger girl shrugs innocently.

“Just don’t say it to freakin’ loud, alright?” she finishes.

>>Compose your party of four (Midnight Crew is joining you for this session).

AND

>>What Relics do you Forge/improve?

OR

>>Forge ‘retroactively,’ putting the vote off until later.

ALSO, DECIDE HOW TO APPROACH THE ARMORY

>>Cut a path through Carroll's Forest to get to the Armory. It's by far the most direct route, and you’ll avoid complications with Golgotha and the DO’s.

>>Warp to Golgotha and circumvent Carroll's Forest entirely. Longer route, but less confrontation…hopefully.

>>Go to the Disassociated Ones and through the mountains to get to the armory.

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

(Voting shall remain open for the next two hours, Gentlemen. Also, I do not have access to the new Dual Techs at the moment due to technical issues, but do know that there are four; Shu and Jackie, Dorian and Julia, Rath and November, and Amara and Keane.)

>>3570998
>>Party:
Shu (Party Leader we have to take her Duh)
Amara(She is the Skintalker apperrantly that place likes them)
Rath(Damagedealer and some Healing)
Julia(Debuffers are a must for any raid)

I would like November with us but without more knowledge about the Conditions on the Ground she might be rather amiss in that situation if we can not get her Tank in there with her

>>Relics improvement
>>Sui Tormentis at least one Level
>>A Relic that increases regeneration(gonna need a lot of Vitruvian Biomass for that one)
>>Create a Relic for Amara with Neuromancy, Unnatural Predator and Skin Talker BIOMASS to increase her defenses and reflexes(maybe something like a necklace or a Ring/Earring)

>>Cut a path through the Forest it is the direct approach and we do not want any problems with Golgotha which might choose to lump us in with the Midnight Crew even if we try to explain the situation and we do not need them to be our enemies right now
>> The DOs are not really interested in stuff that does not concern them and they might simply choose to ignore us or they might get pissy that we tried to pass through their territory and accidentaly stumbled upon something they did not want us to see

>>3570998
>Shu, Amara, November, Dorian
Amara is necessary, i wanna try out November, and i feel like Dorians fluidity would help us alot.

>>Cut a path through Carroll's Forest to get to the Armory. It's by far the most direct route, and you’ll avoid complications with Golgotha and the DO’s.

>Upgrade Sui Tormentis to level 3(total; 120% Calcite, 165% Fibromancer)
>>Calcite; 40%(60% Bio) Health from Julia, 40%(60% Bio) Health from Rath.
>>Fibromancer; 50% Bio from Shu, 40% Bio from Rath, 50%(75% Bio) Health from Rath.


>Upgrade Cursus Alas to level 2( total; 80% Hive Mistress, 40% Generator)
>>Hive Mistress; 40%(60% Bio) Health from Shu, 20% Bio from Shu.
>>Generator; 26%(39% Bio) Health from Rath, 1% Bio from Rath.

>Work together and/or with Midnight Crew to produce 1-3 new relics(per team), get creative but try not to gimp anyones stats too hard.

Sadly, i will be gone for a while today, so here is my relics list.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1b_-8s0tin7DCQxITm6C69QULRnM_ibDfg18iV4dc7Fc/edit?usp=drivesdk

Most of the good new ones are at the bottom, im particularly proud of GUTGRAB DAGGERS and GUARDIANS HEART and would recommend both.

>>3570997
>‘Abbey; nearing redemption period. Find suitable investment for upcoming deposit.’
Mara has a "broker" helping her find good prospects. Someone to investigate, I suppose, when we have the time. Though I'm a bit worried that Mara has redeemed investments before. I'm not sure what that means, in this metaphor. Hopefully just something like "allied Daughter assisted in acquiring useful resources". It can't be that sinister, or else Mara probably wouldn't have left the documents just lying around when she gave the keys to her house to us.

>“You smell funny!” Amara declares, her newly-sensitive nose scrunched up at you. “Like the shooty-lady!”
Damn it, Magpie pulled an Itachi, didn't she? She shoved a crow down Shu's throat while she was sleeping, and that's why we smell like her. Some sort of tracker or security measure or something. What the hell, Magpie? That better have been all you did, if it turns out that you vanished suddenly because you yourself are inside Shu I will be very cross.

>>3570998
> a Skintalker pal of his. Tried to play dumb, like I wouldn’t realize his ‘Augs were Skintalker buffs applied before the fights. Threatened to tell the refs about his bullshit, he got pissy, and we had it out.”
His? He? Another transman like Dorian, or the Crucible glitching and converting someone biologically male?

>>Compose your party of four (Midnight Crew is joining you for this session).
Okay, we have Escher's Gear, so the party we bring with us is not necessarily the party we use to raid the armory. We can drop a fast-travel point at the armory and quickly pop back to Lair to swap party members. So, with that in mind, I'd like to try out November. She's resistant to neurological attacks, that means Carroll's Forest shouldn't be able to affect her easily. And if it tries to mess with us, she can burn it down. Amara is also vital, her senses will make it easier to penetrate the illusions. And for our fourth...I'm going to say Dorian. He'll be able to move more easily in the forest than anyone else will, and he can make himself immune to illusions at the cost of blocking direct comms.

>>Cut a path through Carroll's Forest to get to the Armory. It's by far the most direct route, and you’ll avoid complications with Golgotha and the DO’s.

>>Forge ‘retroactively,’ putting the vote off until later.


>>3571005
Aww, Amara made a friend.

>>3571042
I really like the Uzi as a way to make use of Excess Biomass and it could come in handy in close Quarters for someone woh is not wielding a weapon or hell even as a secondary weapon for Shu


Also a Relic i came up with that could help someone like Julia or Dorian by granting enhanced Regen while turning its wearer slowly into a monstrosity
Hydras Heart:
A relic in the form of a blood drop held by the coild form of a seven headed hydra.
This Relic while roughly the size of a small medal is worn on a necklace made from sinew and grants its wearer the ability to recover HEALTH at the cost of BIO with a ratio of 1 Bio to 5 Health while granting a passive regeneration Bonus of 10% per Round. Taking damage from attacks which cauterize the wounds the damage can not be regenerated in this manner while the wound remains cauterized (Vitruvian +60%, Unnatural Predator +40%)

Locked(Lvl 2); The pendant grows closer to its wearer integrating itself into the wearers skin right above their heart and increasing its regeneration bonus to 15% per Round and
staring to transform the wearers skin to scales. Just patches at first granting a minor boost to defense against piercing and slashing attacks (Base Cost+ Unnatural Preator +20%, Vitruvian 20%)

Locked(Lvl 3); Sinking beneath a layer of finely scaled skin the pendant comes to rest next to the wearers own heart. While not increasing regeneration its conversion rate of BIO to HEALTH goes to 1 BIO to 10 HEALTH. As teh wearers skin is replaced by scalesIt also grants an increased resitance to piercing and slashing attacks as well as poisons as it is driven out of the body by any way available(Level 2 Cost+ Unnautral Predator +20%, Calcite +10%, Vitruvian +30%)

Locked(Lvl 4); Replacing the Heart of the Wearer the Heart grant sits wearer to near instantaniously regenerate any and all limbs severed from the Body at a cost of 10% Bio per limb removing all status effects and undesireable constructs attached to the limb before destruction. The Wearer also becomes nearly immune to any form of Toxin while their skin toughnes into a strong scaled hide (Level 3 Cost+ Calcite +20%, Unnatural Predator +30%, Vitruvian +30%)

Locked(Lvl 5); Hybridizing comepletely with the wearer the pendant does not increase the wearers Health Regeneration any further but it now happens everytime they act in Combat as well as giving the Wearer a small boost to theier BIO regeneration (5%) per Round of Combat. The Wearer is also granted the ability of the terrifying Hydra of Myth every Extremity lost regenreates into two more extremitys if so desired with each limb after the first regenerated not costing BIO to create (Level 4 Cost+ Calcite +50%, Vitruvian +30%, Unnatural Predator +20%)

>>3570998
>don’t forget to let them know how the threat system works

>>3571068
We should also inform our party about the information Gina gave us about B'Ni, while we're on the topic of non-mission critical information sharing. Something like

>"I got in contact with Gina last night. She said that B'Ni was on the edge of the forest for some time, just standing there. She thinks that Mother was talking to her. After a couple hours of that, B'Ni started moving again, deeper into the forest. Mother also made some vague threats when Rath made her Choice, something about how while we were resting she would be acting. Taking that together, we need to consider that Mother may be aiding B'Ni somehow, planning on using her as an agent. Hopefully we won't encounter her on this mission, but be prepared for if she shows up."

>>3571067
Would honestly work better on Rath or Julia, but not outright against it.

>>3571042
>>3570998
I guess while i have time, my vote/ideas are;
>A triple or double combined knighted-nomling with a GUARDIANS HEART for Amara. (I don't count this as one of the 1-3 because reasons)
>A set of GUTGRAB DAGGERS for Rath probably.
>Sure an Uzi too, probably good on jist about anyone.
>I can back up that Anons Amulet sure
>Then help the Midnight Crew with their ideas in exchange for help with ours, im thinking the Kite Shield or a variant would work well on Ace, though she might need a secondary weapon to use while its out.

Anyways, yeah good luck anons, not sure when or if ill be back today, so hope it all goes well you you all.

>>3571067
>I really like the Uzi as a way to make use of Excess Biomass and it could come in handy in close Quarters for someone woh is not wielding a weapon or hell even as a secondary weapon for Shu
We could have some Hundred-Hands wield it. They're explicitly dextrous enough to wield extra weapons. Leave Shu's main hands free to hold a Rook Shield or turn into a Heaven's Drill, while a pair of sub-arms wield the Contender and Uzi.

>>3571094
>Would honestly work better on Rath or Julia, but not outright against it.
I'd vote for Julia, personally. Rath already has a Relic that's going to fuse with her, leave some for the rest o

>>3571108
How did I post that? Must have bumped the mouse by accident. Anyways, I was saying, Julia could use it well too. Plus, with all her skin-related powers, a snake motif wouldn't be that bad for her. Shedding skin and all that.

>>3571111
Damn i like the Way you think didnt think about that at all

>>3571081
Shit i completely forgot that...... we should skirt around the forest, no sense in confrontig Isabelle already. While it might be stupid to not confront her as soon as possible(she will get stronger) if we want to safe Gina we need stronger Halos/Phantasmal Conduit Powers to transfer her to us as i am not sure how to contain her if we defeat her..... shit shit shit i do not want to lose her......................... and i can see no way to hold isabelle for any amount of time while leaving her with only minimal guards

>>3571081
(I do wish to provide some context that Shu would be aware of and that I should have made more obvious; B'ni was at the western edge of the forest, so she is leaving it behind as she goes further west.)

>>3570998
>take the Disassociated ones mountain route
>Create a party bus using a Party-technique that creates a mountaineering off-road Vehicle.
and this is the most i can contribute to the discussion because i’m at work.
BHOP, can we create the hivecraft hummer as a party-tech as our way of transportation?

>>3571147
(You absolutely may, or you may elect to take November's tank if you wish.)

>>3571139
Ah, I see. I actually expected she was out of the forest by now, but didn't realize she already was at the start of her journey. Well, still give the team the information. "Hey, Mother's probably got something planned involving B'Ni, B'Ni is somewhere past the forest already, here's hoping that whatever garbage she's going to pull we don't have to deal with today."

(Gentlemen, I am going to have to extend voting for an additional two hours due to a sudden work issue, though this may work well as I know several players are out due to work. I hope your day is going well, and apologies for the delay.)

>>3570998
Amending my Vote from>>3571040
to
>>Party:
Shu (Party Leader we have to take her Duh)
Amara(She is the Skintalker apperrantly that place likes them)
Rath(Damagedealer and some Healing)
Julia(Debuffers are a must for any raid)

I would like November with us but without more knowledge about the Conditions on the Ground she might be rather amiss in that situation if we can not get her Tank in there with her

>>Relics improvement
>>Sui Tormentis at least one Level
>>Forge the Hydras Heart:
>>3571067
>>Forge the Goddamned Uzi
additionaly the Suggestions of WorkAnon
>>3571094

>>Cut a path through the Forest it is the direct approach and we do not want any problems with Golgotha which might choose to lump us in with the Midnight Crew even if we try to explain the situation and we do not need them to be our enemies right now
>>i guess Isabelle moved on already I dare not speak of hope
>> The DOs are not really interested in stuff that does not concern them and they might simply choose to ignore us or they might get pissy that we tried to pass through their territory and accidentaly stumbled upon something they did not want us to see

I think we should put an Escher's Gear warp point at the Armory. It gives us a guaranteed waypoint on the other side of the Forest. It allows us to swap our party out, so we can take one group excellent for getting through the Forest and then switch to one better suited for a dungeon delve. It means that we're not limited by how much we can carry when retrieving materiel from the Armory, since we'll be able to take multiple trips. And it possibly allows us to take over the Armory and fortify it as a second base, if we ever need it. Even if the spokes can't be re-used (did we ever get confirmation on that?), I still think it's a good move.

Oh, also, what is Claire going to be doing while we're on this quest? Is she headed back to her fishing shack, sticking around the Lair, what?

Heading out now

Have a great time everyone

(Back home and writing now, Gentlemen.)

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>>3570998

"Alright...direct route it is, then. I have a team in mind, but just in the interest of full disclosure;” You say, leaning back in your chair as you divert your attention to your team. “I got in contact with Gina last night. She said that B'Ni was on the edge of the forest for some time, just standing there. She thinks that Mother was talking to her.”

Your friends tense, while Quinn leans over to explain the situation to her allies, her knowledge courtesy of her gossip-swap with your pair of chatty artists.

“After a couple hours of that, B'Ni started moving again, deeper into the forest. Mother also made some vague threats when Rath made her Choice, something about how while we were resting she would be acting. Taking that together, we need to consider that Mother may be aiding B'Ni somehow, planning on using her as an agent. Hopefully we won't encounter her on this mission, but be prepared for if she shows up."

“Also, I’m thinking we shouldn’t have any issues with Charon even though our threat level is high after we all took down the Fear.” You segue, cutting your bacon into smaller strips. “We can make a vehicle I have in mind and take the waystation without worry.”

“Woah, back up.” Jackie says, her face a mask of confusion. “Who’s Charon, and what do you mean by ‘threat level’?”

“Is it over nine thousand!?” Keane yells suddenly, causing Quinn to wince as you begin to explain Charon and Karma to the Crew. Jackie’s face shifts from confusion to incredulity as you go over the numbers, finishing with a scowl as you wind to a close.

"Keane?" Jackie says after a moment's pause, rising from the table with her eyes fixed on yours. "You're goddamn right we're gonna be over nine thousand. Let's raid the fuck outta that Armory, see if that boosts our numbers a bit."

"Uh, Jack?"" Quinn starts, glancing between you both nervously. "I don't think she meant it as a challen..."

"If chaos is a game, then you bet your sweet ass our names are 'gonna be at the top of the board, Shu." She says with a wicked grin...one that you return, in kind. After breakfast, you make your way to the Forge room, the newly-remade Tier 3 Core available for use. You share a look with Jackie...

...then you get to work.

>>SUI TORMENTIS: UPGRADED [LVL 3]

>>CURSUS ALAS: UPGRADED [LVL 2]

>>NEW RELICS: HYDRA'S HEART, GUARDIAN'S HEART, FERALI PRAESIDIUM, GUTGRAB DAGGERS...

>>...AND A GODDAMNED UZI;

>>ACQUIRED

You look over the fruits of your efforts, made possible in part by the sizable contributions of biomass by the Midnight Crew on the condition that you take point in your foray into the Hexane Armory, a caveat that you don't fight given their contributions to the Spiraling Fear's defeat. You gather your allies and leave the Crew to their machinations, and the last you hear of them before you exit the Forge is Keane begging Jackie to let them give her an Uzi, too.

(Continued)

>>3571464

They rejoin you later, just in time to marvel at the bio-mechanical vehicle you've crafted just outside the waystation's cave in the Town of Rust. It's a thing of...somewhat grotesque beauty, capable of frightening speeds while boasting a luxurious FuzzBuzz down interior. Amara trots up, taking the back driver's side passenger seat without comment, too invested in the efforts of strapping the Swarmling you've crafted her into the middle seat. You can't help but chuckle as she wrestles with the fluffy behemoth, its sheer floofy mass utterly dwarfing its master's. Dorian settles in behind where you'll be sitting after Julia gives a quick squeeze of his hand while November climbs into the driver's seat, making good on her offer to be the wheelwoman for this excursion.

"We can make you one, if you like." You offer from the passenger's seat, catching Jackie's envious eye as you back up to descend into the waysation.

"Ha, thanks, but we got the boat. We'll shift it a bit and it'll be good to make the trek to the forest." She dismisses, waving for her crew to follow her to the waystation. "We hid it on the eastern shore, so I'll meet you at the town across the river, 'kay?"

You agree, and within less than a half-hour the wind is whipping through your hair as you blaze a trail across the barren, blasted Fleshscape that precedes Carroll's Forest, the eerie twinkling of things akin to stars moving against the darkness of the 'night' sky.The journey's passing in relative silence, snippets of the Midnight Crews' laughter and conversation from ahead of you reaching your ears through the rushing winds, while your ride remains surprisingly quiet. You glance around, and realize that with November and Dorian being the silent types and with Amara in the midst of trying to teach her massive FuzzBuzz pattycake, the burden of conversation falls to you in the absence of Rath or Julia to initiate it.

>>Who do you want to speak with, and about what?

>>Reach out to Uzu to ask about the journal, instead.

>>Just enjoy the drive in silence.

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

(Voting shall remain open for the next two hours, Gentlemen.)

>>3571273
(Claire is a force of nature, so she's just decided to hang out at your place for the time being. The dice only know where she'll go from there.)

>>3571467
>Ask November a bit about her time in the DOs, if shes up for it. Say she can talk about what she wants, and skip over What she does not.

>>3571469
Well at least she seems to be enjoying herself. Seems like a swell lady.

>>3571467
Not having any better idea, I'll support>>3571488
And if she does prefer not to talk about it, then
>Reach out to Uzu to ask about the journal, instead.

>>3571467
>>Who do you want to speak with, and about what?
November. Get to know her a bit better. Nothing in particular, doesn't have to be about her tme with the Disassociated, just small talk. We know she's Rath's aunt, that she's ex-military, and that's about it. Let's learn about the woman behind the cybernetic power armor.

>>3571467
Supporting >>3571554

>>3571464
Damn, I wasn't expecting crafting to by so quickly. Suppose it's too late to propose a Koku Serum? Now that we have gurrenlings, whose main downside is low health, being able to make nearly indestructible constructs is even more valuable. Potentially an even bigger deal is that it can probably also be used on Amara's clones, making them harder to kill than she herself is. Also it's really cheap. Would you folks consider making one next time?

>>3571581
(If your suggestion receives votes, then I'll be happy to make it retroactive if you wish.)

>>3571581
I guess sure. It'll help on the Amara clone network too yeah. My issue is they really work in numbers but they are far from free, especially with good reason to spend the Bio on other Relics.

>>3571582
Speaking of, did we leave an Amara behind as a watch dog?
Also id assume the shield was still for Ace?

>>3571581
>Would you folks consider making one next time?
Sure, I can see some uses for it. Though I'd rather armor up FuzzBuzz than one of Amara's clones. He's the one taking hits for her.

Also, speaking of construct durability, do the HP modifiers from the templates change how effective Platelings are as armor? Which would make Shu's optimum defense come from wearing Spiraling Plate, I believe.

>>3571594
(The shield is for Ace, but the crew has plans to make a replacement one if you wish to keep it. Also, Amara has two clones at the Roost.)

>>3571598
(They certainly do.)

>>3571599
A gift is a gift and she will take the shield.

>Two Amaras left alone to their own devices with The only supervision a 'force of nature' who was slowly getting drunk.
Hrm, thinking about it, i can think of a few kinks in our plan here.

>>3571605
(Ha, Julia and Rath are there as well, so no worries.)

>>3571599
>(They certainly do.)
Nice. And that would apply to making her best shields be Spiraling Rooks, too. And of course there are the drill stingers the armor can eject for enhancing punches or as a reactive defense. Lot of spirals, now. See, Uzu, we don't hate you. We adopted your motif for our armor, we wouldn't do that if we didn't think you were cool.

Oh, just remembers something: Did Forgemistress' Fingers enhance any of the Relics we forged, or did we not roll any upgrades from it?

>>3571605
Nah, Rath and Julia are still back there, remember?

>>3571608
Ah, yes, though you forget Rath is the perfect counter to Julias calm... until she crosses one too many lines at least.

>>3571615
Yeah its just been awhile since we actually had to leave someone behind haha.

>>3571615
(No upgrades as of yet, unfortunately. However, that chance increases as it levels up.)

>>3571620
It's not that long, it's only been one fight.

...oh god, it's only been one fight. All this madness and it's been two days from Shu's perspective.

>>3571630
Yeah, I figured it would. By the end game we're probably going to want to recycle and remake all our Relics, just to get the benefits of a level 15 Forgemistress's Fingers on them.

>>3571632
Dude, its been like three weeks out of character at least, as we had everyone to fight Isabelle aswell.

Okay I'm back from work. What did I miss?

>>3571638
We built relics and made Jackie envious with our kickass hummer and threat level.

>>3571645
what did we forge and who's in our expedition party?

>>3571645
Also, what's the resulting hp/bio cap after crafting a shit-ton of relics?

>>3571652
November, Dorian, and Amara because she is necessary to open the Armory.

We built;
>>SUI TORMENTIS: UPGRADED [LVL 3]

>>CURSUS ALAS: UPGRADED [LVL 2]

>>NEW RELICS: HYDRA'S HEART, GUARDIAN'S HEART, FERALI PRAESIDIUM, GUTGRAB DAGGERS...

>>...AND A GODDAMNED UZI

The Guardians Heart is inside Amaras new FuzzBuzz, and the Ferali is for Ace.

>>3571656
No idea as the Midnight Crew helped out.
Oh, and potentially a Koku Serum too.

>>3571682
>>3571656
(Only Shu ended up being effected, as Julia and Rath donated the lion's share. Your HEALTH and BIO were reduced by 40% and 70%, respectively.)

(Also, you got a Koku Serum out of the deal.)

>>3571690
Yet another way in which the Crucible's mechanics actually encourage teamwork and forming alliances.

(Writing now, Gentlemen.)

>>3571731
Oh, for the Uzi, how many mags of what size can we assume to have made?

>>3571738
(Five of the standard 32-round mags.)

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>>3571740

"November...I'd like to hear a little bit about your time with the Disassociated, if you're willing to share." You say, finally breaking the steady hum of tires on flesh, and of wind in your ears.

"...What do you want to know?" She replies after a pause, keeping her inscrutable visor trained on the road ahead.

"Whatever you're willing to share." You reply with a shrug, watching the road. Nothing you don't."

She's quiet for longer this time before she finally begins to speak, slowly and deliberately.

"I told you I did a couple tours overseas, right? Saw a lot of things I didn't want to see over there. Lot of things I wish I never saw...but my family made it worth it." November intones, her voice low. "My brother, his wife and their kids...they might've been hard ass bible-thumpers like my folks were, but they were good people. My niece, most of all. I had them, no matter how bad it got."

"Then I didn't."

Her words hang between you a moment before she continues.

"Woke up here, and got by 'til the nightmares started getting worse. I started to wonder if this was...I don't know, punishment? Was any of this even real, or was it all just a hell made for me because of what I did in the war? I kept asking until I heard about a place where they could make you better...different, if you wanted. Freer. So I went to the Disassociated Ones, and I asked them to make it all stop."

"What changed your mind?" You ask, and to your surprise she blurts out a static-laced chuckle.

"The one that was in charge of my transition to...all this." She replies, gesturing to her corroded plating. "She asked me, every step of the way, if this is what I wanted. I kept saying yes, until she asked me something different, one day. She said, 'why do you want to be like everyone when you're a someone', with this weird look on her face. I asked her what she meant, and she just told me to forget it. I pressed, and then she got all mad...yelling about how anything I had would be gone once I forgot, saying there's no 'me' but 'me', and that once I was gone...that was it."

"I see." You reply, mulling over her words. "Did you catch her na..."

November suddenly yanks the wheel to one side, sending the hummer into a sharp skid for a few perilous seconds before it slides to a stop next to the Crew's idling, crystalline construct.

"DO IT AGAIN!" Amara screeches, while Dorian's shaking his head irritably.

"What the hell was...!" He begins, but then he sees what you're all looking up at; a wall of trees, dark lacquer trunks rising over fifty meters above you, their tops glittering with pinpricks of light. Trunk and treetops, both blending into the black horizon and evening sky perfectly, the space beyond shrouded in pitch darkness.

An uncanny trick of the eye.

"We're here." She murmurs.

>>PLEASE CHOOSE RELIC LOADOUT

>>Is there anything else you wish to do before entering? (Assign tasks to Amaras, generate constructs, etc.)

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

(Gentlemen, I shall be pausing here for the evening. Voting shall remain open for the next eleven hours, while posting shall resume in approximately twelve. Thank you for your patience with the updates today, and I shall be around to address any questions, comments, and criticisms you may have. I welcome them all, and I hope you have a restful evening.)

>>3571690
How many charges of the Serum do we have?

>>3571801
(One vial, three doses.)

>>3571789
How has November upgraded from swapping from a Tier One core to Tier Three? Is that enough to boost Mind of Steel? Because we're going to need it.

We should spawn a couple of Amaras. Everyone gets one and keeps her close. We'll watch over Amara Prime. Have them coordinate their various enhanced senses between each other. Neurotic Halo, Skintalker terrain-interrogation, and kitty senses. Between all that it should assist a lot in detecting any non-psychic illusions. Have the Amaras ready to cast GRA FOL THA if needed. Actually, given the exponential reproduction ability of the Joyous Many, we might just have a constant chorus of it active. Each clone spawns two clones then spend the rest of their actions on GRA FOL THA. By the time they've exhausted their BIO there will be more clones ready to take their place.

I'm also thinking we should spawn a Plate-Jackling for every non-clone person. Having a swarmling on everyone will help us keep track of them. We may be able to assist them from range with the Jacklings' connections to their minds, too. Plus, Jacklings boost Shu's concentration, that will be very useful if she has to roll to resist illusions.

Have Keane connect everyone with mucus threads. We don't need the resource-pooling technique yet, the point should be to keep us all in contact so we don't get separated.

What are Shu/Jackie's and Amara/Keane's Dual Techs? Anything that might be useful for suppressing negative effects, seeing through tricks, or bolstering allies?

>>3571794
Thanks for running, BHOP.

>>3571839
(It's my pleasure, and I'll be posting November's Tier 3 Armor shortly.)

(Gentlemen, here is November's updated character sheet.)

https://pastebin.com/C1K4TXvq

>>3571917
>MIND OF STEEL: November has COMPLETE IMMUNITY against Neuromancer and Phantasmal Conduit abilities. ADDITIONALLY, Neuro-Phantasmal abilities used against November have a high chance to recoil on the user, dealing greatly increased critical failure damage and a high chance to score a critical hit. This power is upgraded by installing higher-tiered Forge Cores into November’s suit.

And this is just at Tier 3? Oh my. What happens at Tier 5, do enemy psychics just spontaneously start exploding the moment they get near?

>>3571925
(The armor's creator has a particular hatred of Neuromancers and Phantasmal Conduits.)

(So yes, they do explode at Tier 5)

>>3571067
So does the heart give the wearer 10% bio regen on top of the 1:5 Hp to bio conversion? or is it Hp regen?

>>3571931
Is the anti Neuromancy/Phantasmal Conduit thing selective fire or is it indiscriminate due to the Creator's hatred against Neuromancers and Conduit Classes?

>>3571931
Huh. Based on the things the cyberneticist said to November, I'm guessing it's either one of Francine's enemies within the Disassociated who was disgusted with the idea of West being a hegemonizing swarm, or Francine herself expressing a rebellious urge against the rest of the West collective subverting her will.

>>3571942
It only triggers against powers intended to be used against the armor's wearer.)

>>3571839
Relic Loadout
Shu:
>Contender Derringer
>1 Rook Class given a 1 dose of Koku Serum
Amara
>Cloak
>Whistle
>Guardian's Heart
>Amara's FuzzBuzz gets 1 Dose of Koku Serum

Dorian:
>Sui Tormentis
>Hydra Heart
>Cursus Alas

November:
>Uzi (4 standard Mags, refit 1 Mag filled with Parabellum "Bolter" Rounds)
>Dagger
tfw i just realized November's basically a space Marine with this set-up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2B6de1Geks
Also relevant for November given that she's got a Tier 3 Forge Core.

Sui Tormentis synergize Daughters with having a ton of Hp/Bio Regen. Proper preparation and enough time will enable the wearer of Sui Tormentis to effectively outscale everyone in any stat.
And when we consider the following:
>The Midnight Crew has absolutely Zero HP/Bio Regen.
>November is without her Tank. So she's also running on Zero hp regen. Giving her a relic that runs on Bio is effectively a death sentence on November.
>Amara Prime has a hp heavy regen rate of 80 hp/35 bio regen
>Shu's got a relatively balanced regen rate of 35 hp/60 bio regen
>Dorian has a Monstrous regen rate of 125/100 bio regen
>Dorian's build is a dedicated agile speedster build that relies on hit-runs while regenerating any damage or lost bio within a single round.
>Sui Tormentis lvl 3 gives a 1:4 ratio on Health spent to bonus gained.

Dorian is the perfect candidate for wearing those two relics
Having Dorian spend at least 1 round sacrificing 125%hp worth of stats to boost his agility will give him a instant 500% speed, defense, or Strength bonus.

And given the fact that we are preparing to do a dungeon crawl, I say we take at least 3 rounds to buff ourselves up. Have Dorian spend at least 1 action a round spending 125% hp to give himself 500% bonus Strength, Speed/Agility, and Defense.
Now, consider the fact that Dorian has Spring Heeled Jack, Accumulated Charge, and Canvas form Teleportation...Jesus. Dorian's gonna be such a speed demon.
>>3571961
Where are the New Dual Techniques?
Also, what are the spoils that Amara gathered from exploring and Ransacking Mara's apartment?

>>3572011
This setup works for me. Ideally we won't run into combat until after we get through the forest, but I know that's unrealistic to hope for. Probably some Amalgam or Daughter adapted for stealth and good senses, take advantage of the illusions while avoiding being caught in them. But hey, if we kill them then we can let Amara consume them for even better senses and those stealth powers we want for her, so everything's good.

What are your thoughts on my ideas regarding Amara clones and Plate-Jacklings? Think those are a good way to keep everyone from being separated?

>>3571738
am WorkAnon home now...after one long as hell trip out of town...

>>3571794
thanks for running like always BHOP.

>>3572011
im ok with this overall, though id like to note that id imagine the Guardians Heart cannot be taken out or reconfigured from its settings, so it probably isnt worth saying it is with anyone but Amara and her FuzzBuzz.

you are also forgetting about the Gauntlets, and honestly i feel like Dorian would do better with either the Gauntlets or the Daggers, it feels like Novemeber really isnt meant to be up close to use a melee weapon, only that shes not fucked if she is, meaning the Daggers especially are wasted on her.

>>3571839
also this seems like a decent plan to keep us all together and from getting tricked. supporting.

>>3571917
right, not sure if i am fully happy with the colors, but Novembers sheet is up and running.

>>3571938
>>3571067
If you read the last and second to last paragraph i intended it to increase HEALTH regeneration and only the last Level grants a BIO regen upgrade
It is BIO to HEALTH conversion

>>3571839
Supporting this

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>>3571961

>[Lewis] Carroll's forest
>A place only a skintalker can access alluding to the Wonderland features including a little girl with a hyperactive adventure.
>We're entering the Armory via a rabbit hole in the tree.
>Amara is a Catgirl who knows the way. And we have to rely on the Cheshire Cat.
>Neuromancers lose their minds trying to dive deep into past Crucibles.
This Armory Raid is "Alice in Wonderland": Body Horror Edition. And we're entering a rabbit hole.
Bhop, You motherfucker.

>>3572156
The Armory isn't in Carroll's Forest, it's on the other side. But yes, Alice In Wonderland is definitely the inspiration for this place's name. Which makes it fun that we're being guided by a Cheshire catgirl, yes. It just means that we chose this, instead of it being a bamboozle on BHOP's part.

>>3572011
>>3571839
(I'll address the dual techs shortly, thank you for the reminder.)

(Gentlemen, here are the Dual Techs I mentioned earlier in the thread. I had to recreate the wording from memory as my draft was somehow lost, so let me know if you have any questions about how they work.)

-SHU & JACKIE-

>>KING’S ENVOY: A potent combination of your empathic channel and Jack’s ability-boosting Humoral Paladin skills, this Dual Tech allows you to funnel nearly all of Jackie’s boosts into the effects of a single skill tree or passive, eschewing a variety of boosts in exchange for tremendously increasing said ability’s powers. While the effects of this skill are quite variable, there is no question that the affected skill’s powers will reach heights most Daughters only dream of. (Cost: -50% BIO/turn from each participant)

-AMARA & KEANE-

>>LEGION’S PLAYDATE: A result of Amara and Keane’s late-night brainstorming, Keane may now immediately shift HEALTH AND BIO around from Amara’s nearby clones to one another and even Amara Prime, herself. This will, in effect, allow Amara to take hits from attacks that would otherwise bring her to death’s door, instantly restoring her HEALTH when she would go down. (Cost: -60% BIO from Keane, 1 ACT ongoing to keep effect active.)

-RATH & NOVEMBER-

>>FAMILIAL ARMAMENT: A price paid in blood…for the sake of her family, she’ll pay it gladly. The HEALTH cost for November’s abilities may now be paid by Rath, as long as both of them are in short range. Additionally, November may also sacrifice her HEALTH to empower any ability Rath uses that would cost her own life force to use. (Cost: Variable HEALTH from Rath/November, 1 ACT from donator)

-JULIA & DORIAN-

>>STORMFRONT’S WALTZ (Passive): A burgeoning spark foretells a gathering storm. Dorian may now bring Julia with him when he moves using Canvass Form, and his Accumulated Charge generates two STACKS per movement zone crossed as long as he is traveling with his sworn Lady. (Cost: None, always active.)

>>3572011
(Amara found Mara's candy stash. There were no survivors. Aside from that, the Dragon's Roost was quite bare, as the most lived-in space was the hidden room that you found.)

>>3572539
rip candy

>>3572539
Thank the old world for sugar crashes then otherwise none would get any sleep.

>>3572536
These are really nice I can see a lot of potential for Rath and November with this... Could make Rath much more Viable especially in her Indignant Indignation Form with Novembers massive HP Pool she can deal a lot more damage now by using her Construct Arms that draw from their combined Health

STORMFRONT'S WALTZ: Awww that is pretty sweet


>>3572536
A Question BHOP: Should i fix the Wording on HYDRA'S HEART as i noticed i made some mistakes in my sentence structure and forgot to mention that all Regen except the last level is HEALTH regen? Or will you do it while writing it down with the other Relics?

>>3572558
(I'll make the correction, thank you though!)

>>3572536
>>3572544
>reads Amara and Keane's dual tech
Okay...
So let me get this straight:
>It takes 30 hp & 20 bio to produce a Amara clone that has 150 hp and 100 bio.
>Amara has 80 hp regen, 35 bio regen.
>Optimal efficiency would be to produce 1 clone per round from Amara Prime. The clones would make the same thing but now be at 120hp/130bio after producing a 150hp/100bio clone of themselves under optimal conditions.
>It takes Keane 60 bio to initiate the dual tech, and 1 act per round to keep it active after paying the initial cost to activate it
>Amara has no clone limit, only a range limit of 200 yards from Clone's origin.
>The result is that all of Amara's clones have their health and bio collectively pooled together as Keane's constantly shifting them around.
Each clone produced gives 150 hp and 100 bio buffer for Keane to play with and divert with a party-wide mucus ball-network dual tech in conjunction with Keane and Ace's Dual Tech.
So basically, each of Amara's clones are walking health and bio potions that restore 150 hp/100 bio a clone. And they can self-replicate. That's an exponential growth curve on the Cost:return policy.
That's fucking broken.
But utterly cruel and monstrous if we were to exploit Amara clone's to death.

>>3572570
Actually the clones only cost 25/15 due to halo and have unlimited range.

>>3572536
>-RATH & NOVEMBER-
Well, that's pretty powerful given that Rath can regenerate November's Health just by standing next to her when she's in Ignition mode. Nice.

>-JULIA & DORIAN-
Does Julia have to travel the full distance Dorian moves, or can he drop her off along the way and continue his movement?

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>>3571789

You slide the Contender out of its holster with one hand as the black chitin surrounding your Hive unfurls, a massive swarmling clawing its way free of your back. A Rook, torso-wide and imposing hovers on silent wings before you, and when the Koku Serum’s needle finds a space between its impenetrable plating you jab it in, depressing the plunger and sending the mixture coursing through your construct’s biomass. Stepping back, you watch as its shell goes grey, then dark red and finally a glossy black as the serum’s effects take hold, and a glance to your left sees the same effects overtake Amara’s Guardian FuzzBuzz right before she disappears under Shalaev’s Shawl.

You find November loading her Uzi next to Ace, her expertise evident as you watch her bone-shearing talons effortlessly load the magazine and turn the weapon over in her hands with practiced ease. A third armored form covered with the pair, one you don’t recognize until it occurs to you that it’s Dorian, his scarlet paint having unified the color schemes of the Sui Tormentis, the Cursus Alas, an Gutgrab Daggers into a coherent and strikingly red form.

Meanwhile, Keane begins work on tethering everyone together before your joint venture into the darkened wood, while Quinn finishes off a cup of coffee she brought along to help shake the party’s aftereffects.

“Ready to go, Sam?”

Your head jerks around to see Jackie striding up to you, wearing the tight black pants and dark turtleneck you first met her in.

“What did you just call me?’ You breathe.

“Uh…I asked if you were ready to head in there, Shu.” Jack replies, her eyebrow arched as you feel a tug on your hand. Looking down, you see the air beside you shimmer before Amara throws back the hood of the shawl and Jack chuckles at the girl’s head suddenly appearing in mid-air.

“I gotcha!” Amara declares, squeezing your hand with a big smile on her face. “I’ll keep my ears and nose out so nothing bad happens, ‘kay?”

You give her a nod before you turn to address everyone present.

“Alright everyone, we’re headed in. Stay together, stay on guard…”

You inhale, glancing at the wall of trees that looms over your party.

“…and stay focused.”

(Continued)

>>3572643

A soft, barely-audible vibration emanates from every trunk you pass as you collectively march into the choking depths of Carroll’s Forest. Aside from the ever-present thrum behind the jet-black bark that surrounds you, there are no other sounds save for the steady tread of eight pairs of feet. It’s not until after about an hour of walking that the natural sounds of nature begin to filter into your ear, punctuated by the odd pulse of static, almost like waves breaking on a rocky shore. It’s rather pleasant, and a welcome distraction from the impenetrable shade of the surrounding woods and the creeping shadows that reach out from the murky gloom.

“Amara, can you sense anything now that we’re further in?” You ask, and you can feel the girl jolt up with pride at your question.

“Yep, lots’a things!” She declares, and you find yourself wishing that you’d asked a little earlier if you knew she was going to stay quiet on the subject.

“Over that way, there’s a big mean thing that’s waiting to be fed, and he’s super hungry!” She explains, pointing straight north. She whirls around, pointing south as she continues. “And over there’s a cute little house! Nobody’s home, though.”

“What about further west or east, anything bringing up our rear?” November intones, and Amara’s happy to explain.

“Up ahead is a buncha people having a party!” She says, clearly having saved what she thinks is the best for last. “And…uh, behind us are some things that’re…kind of hard to explain? But kinda like these flat, flappy things, lot of them! They’re not too fast and they don’t seem to be mean…or much of anything, really.”

“What about the birds, and the static?” You ask, and Amara’s ears twitch in curiosity. “Where is that coming from?”

“…Um…I don’t hear anything like that, Miss Shu.” She says, your heart beating a little faster. “I can listen harder though, then I’m sure I could hea…”

“You’re hearing it, too?”

You glance towards Dorian, standing still to your left and fixing you with his helm’s visor fixed on you.

The Midnight Crew’s stopped a little ahead of you, staring back as you and your allies stand in the middle of the small clearing and you debate what to do with the information Amara’s gleaned.

>>Creep up on the beast to the north.

>>Explore the house to the south.

>>Investigate the party to the west.

>>Try tapping into one of the nearby trees via Neuromancy.

>>Tune in to the sounds of the birds and static that you and Dorian hear.

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTOL

(Gentlemen, voting shall remain open for the next two hours.)

>>3572642
(She does not have to travel the full distance, no.)

>>3572646
>Tune into the birds and static

Ok we aren't insane

>>3572646
>>Tune in to the sounds of the birds and static that you and Dorian hear.
Then, if its nothing or nothing we can deal with
>>Investigate the party to the west.
Probably not a party but we shall see. Approach with caution and stealth however.

>>3572646
>>“What about the birds, and the static?”
>>“…Um…I don’t hear anything like that, Miss Shu.”
>>“You’re hearing it, too?”


This is not good...... Since when does Amar call us Miss........ Do i need to be alarmed?!?!?!

>>3572660
>>3572662
Anons, I'm seeing lots of Wonderland References.
>Party
That's the Mad Hatter's Tea Party with March Hare
>Beast to the North
Jabberwocky?
>House:
Eat me and Drink me houses? I can't remember.
>Flock of birds
I can't really remember. but I think there was a flock of birds in Alice and Wonderland.
If we're going to navigate Lewis Carroll's forest and get to the armory, we'll need to navigate the forest well.

>>3572646
>Tune in to the sounds of the birds and static that you and Dorian hear.
>Investigate in all directions with three pairs of subversive swarmling and soundling.

>>3572675
Well, yes, and are you saying you DONT want to meet fleshscape mad hatter?

>>3572677
Though thinking about it this is probably the better move.

>>3572675
And the flappy things are probably playing card people. Which in this context would be some grotesque Amalgam made of living sheets of skin.

>>3572685
>>3572686

>>3572662
>This is not good...... Since when does Amar call us Miss........ Do i need to be alarmed?!?!?!
Amara calls us Miss Shu sometimes, but I'm not sure when she adopted it.

>“Ready to go, Sam?”
>“What did you just call me?’ You breathe.
>“Uh…I asked if you were ready to head in there, Shu.” Jack replies, her eyebrow arched as you feel a tug on your hand. Looking down, you see the air beside you shimmer before Amara throws back the hood of the shawl and Jack chuckles at the girl’s head suddenly appearing in mid-air.
Here's the real red-flag.

Anons, I think the forest plays merry hell on Neuromancers with visual and auditory hallucinations.

>>3572675
If it is the Jabberwocky it could be worth it to destroy him, but we probably need a lot of cutting power to kill him, as he is probably the thing that scared our good doctor West

Meeting the Mad Hatter might be interesting though they probably are insane Neuromancers as we have started noticing Halucinations before we even entered the Forest like >>3572692
pointed out

So staying inside the Forest might be very very bad for us and Dorian. imo we should not jack into anything to try and get a bigger picture just rely on Amara and especially November to bring us through this thing without any big problems


>>3572692
>>Amara calls us Miss Shu sometimes, but I'm not sure when she adopted it.
That makes me feel a bit better

>>3572692
>Anons, I think the forest plays merry hell on Neuromancers with visual and auditory hallucinations.
Yeah, it's not high level but Dorian does have Neuromancy on his sheet. That's probably why he's hearing the birds, too. On the other hand, there's that thing about how Carroll's Forest can reveal information about past Crucibles, so maybe it's not an intentional mind-screw. Maybe it's just an attempted data transfer and it's messing with our heads because the process is incomplete.

>>3572704
>>3572701
Should we switch to Neuro-Isolation mode? Because if the Forest is playing Merry hell with Neuromancers, I think it'll be wise for us to shut it out.

>>3572708
If we do, we need to get those Plate-Jacklings on everyone. That way we'll still be able to communicate by way of the Jacklings' connection, even without our empathic field being active.

>>3572692
I could've sworn we were told Neuromancers had some advantage in the forest, but maybe i just misinterpreted some info.

>>3572712
(Oh, they do. You should be glad everyone is linked together or already has Neuromancy.)

>>3572708
We can try it definetly but i am not sure it will help us to much even if we isolate ourselves. We muiight also have to turn of our Empathic Field(could it be classified as somethign akin to neuromancy?)

It is definetly worth a shot you are right.

>>3572710
Can we still use that connection, over the Plate-Jacklings, even if we isolate ourselves?
Maybe you could argue that we can use it because we are jacked in which could be counted to be outside of the limitations of the Halo....... It may make us vulnerable to the Hallucinations again as we do not know how they are transmitted. If everyone picks them up and only neuromancers are affected we just multiplied the strength of the Halucinations on ourselves

>>3572714
>Maybe you could argue that we can use it because we are jacked in which could be counted to be outside of the limitations of the Halo....... It may make us vulnerable to the Hallucinations again as we do not know how they are transmitted. If everyone picks them up and only neuromancers are affected we just multiplied the strength of the Halucinations on ourselves
The mental isolation is actually a side-effect of the actual purpose of that mode, which is to prevent any sort of feedback when jacking in to other Daughters. I'd think that would protect us from the visions getting through them to us. Also, Jacklings give a stacking boost to Shu's concentration so long as they're active, which would also help resist the effects.

>>3572719
I wonder if they also boosts Dorian's concentration since it comes from the exact same ability, now held by multiple people.

>>3572708
>>3572710
Er, folks?
>>3572713
We might want to rethink this. With both us hearing shit AND what BHOP just said the birds might be something else. Not saying we jump down the rabbit hole but maybe check it out before we jump to conclusions.

>>3572723
Good thinking the Birds might be considered harmless by Amara but could be extremely vicious and dangerous

Mental Isolation might be useful for Dorian as long as Shu stays open to take the worst effects. Boosting our Concentration might be veryy useful.

We are gonna have to rely on our friends to bring us through this as we will not be able to trust our senses and might have to contend with Sam.....
This is the kind of situation i can see her coming out to play and mess stuff up

>>3572723
>We might want to rethink this. With both us hearing shit AND what BHOP just said the birds might be something else. Not saying we jump down the rabbit hole but maybe check it out before we jump to conclusions.
I think we're hearing the birds because of the advantage Neuromancers get, yes, but that doesn't mean we should tune into them. We've been told that Carroll's Forest has some sort of archival properties, Neuromancers can tap into the trees to get information about past Crucibles. I think that's what's going on, we're hearing the Crucible's memory of an actual forest. I don't know what would happen if we tried to tap deeper into that, though. Would we alert the Forest to our presence? Get lost in the simulation-memory? Just have a pleasant little vision of nature? I don't know.

>>3572726
>Good thinking the Birds might be considered harmless by Amara but could be extremely vicious and dangerous
Amara can't hear the birds. The flappy things that she thinks are harmless are something else. Given that this is Lewis Carroll land, I'm guessing they're giant living playing cards made of skin.

>>3572701
>If it is the Jabberwocky it could be worth it to destroy him, but we probably need a lot of cutting power to kill him, as he is probably the thing that scared our good doctor West
In what context and where did you get that source?

>>3572734
Sorry i meant those flappy creatures when i wrote Birds
I can imagine that these Creatures are something that descends on prey in swarms and chokes/smothers them to death


>>3572758
I think it was a while back when we saw Isabelle against West
maybe i misremeberred something from that conversation, but West did not appear to want to go deeper into the forest

>>3572646
>>Have Dorian isolate himself while Shu provides everyone with Plate-Jacklings
>>Let Amara keep a tap on the Jabberwocky and the Crads while we all creep closer to the "party" to try and find out what is going on
>> the Party might be a Honey Trap to lure in victims until the Monster strikes stay on Guard in case the beast moves

>>3572760
I don't think the isolation modes a good idea, as it was said our Neuromantic connections were very much a good thing.

>>3572767
Well i want to let Shu be neroumantic overwatch while we see if the Birds stop if we isolate ourselves by seeing if Dorian stops having the same hallucinations (If it does not stop for him we can just reactivate it because then it makes no difference)

jacking everyone with a Jackling might give them the hallucinations to...... that would be interesting to know but probably not the best to test it out right now

>>3572646
>Tune in to the sounds of the birds and Static.
>Have Jack boost our signal strength when tuning into the Static.
>Also ask anyone if they've read Alice in Wonderland.
>"There's a Beast to the North...probably The Jabberwocky."
>"There's a party up ahead but that's definitely the Mad Hatter's Tea Party."
>"And Amara's our Cheshire Cat."
>"Amara, can you ask the ground where the Red Queen's castle is at?"

Armory...Armory... You can't hide an Armory in the forest. You'd have to keep the Armory under lock, key, and guard. And if this is wonderland... then there would be the Red Queen and the King, along with a castle and the 52-deck army of Card Sharp Guards.

>>3572646
>>Investigate the party to the west.
They're in our path. It's either deal with them or divert around and deal with the giant monster or the house that is definitely going to try to eat us. Let's just be cautious, stealthy, and ready to run if things go bad. As we get closer, Amara should be able to get a better sense of what's going on there.

>>3572775
>Armory...Armory... You can't hide an Armory in the forest.
Right, which is why it's not in the Forest. It's on the other side. We're just taking a shortcut through the forest, because we decided mind-screws were better than dealing with any bad blood the Crew left behind at Golgotha. I'm starting to regret that line of thinking.

>>3572775
Well yeah, because we're going through the forest to get to the Armory on the other side.

>>3572773
It could be our connection to them already somewhat protecting them from any effects. With the Halos, Empathic channel, and mucus strings, it could be some odd reroute to where Neuromancers can absorb the effects for their team, but i dunno, i can guess though that cutting our connection to the forest would stop us absorbing the effects though if that is whats happening, and if this is actually bad we don't need the whole team affected.

>>3572788
Maybe i expressed myself poorly. i do not want Shu to isolate herself i want to see what happens if Dorian Isolates himself and if that makes any difference

With the Jacklings we also can keep the connection up much more efficently if we get broken up during a battle or attacked by the big beast

So i agree with you to not isolate ourselves completely

I do not want them to be without Neuromancer Support that would be stupid especially if we consider what BHOP said

>>3572788
Yeah, we just don't know enough to say whether we should activate it right now. I think if things start getting really spooky we should use it, because then it will be an emergency that justifies it, but otherwise we should hold off. Still not sold on the "tune into the birds and static" plan, though.

(Gentlemen, from what I'm seeing it looks like tuning in to the sounds while sneaking towards the party seems to be the prevailing vote. If this is correct, do you want Dorian to mentally isolate himself via his Halo?)

>>3572800
No. Not now.

>>3572800
If we break it down into steps, yes. I don't want to have Dorian isolate himself, tune into the sounds, and sneak towards the party all at the same time. But if we have Dorian isolate himself to check if that shuts down the effect, then have Shu tune into the sounds, then once we're done with that sneak towards the party, yes. That works for me. I just don't want to be managing multiple possibly-weird neurological effects while trying to sneak up on what may be a group of Alice In Wonderland-themed maenads.

>>3572800
If i can change nothing about tuning into the sound(as i do not want it) ...i at least want him to isolate himself, if he feels something is off though he should immediatly stop isolating himself and get back into the System

Ammending >>3572805
to include>>3572804
you brought it to a good point Anon

>>3572800
Ill say no, but Dorian shouldn't try and connect to the sound himself.

(Writing now, Gentlemen.)

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>>3572817

"Dorian, set your Halo to block transmissions. If that stops the sounds, let me know." You say, turning from him to the others. "Everyone, I'm going to tune into the sounds I've been hearing if Dorian's Halo stops what he and I are picking up, and after that I want to approach that party...discreetly, if we can."

You turn back to Dorian, his head low as he listens intently before looking to you.

"Nothing. I can't hear it anymore, Miss Shu." He declares. "No I'll effects from shutting it out, it seems."

Alright, then. Your turn.

You give your team a sharp nod before you close your eyes, and listen. The static intensifies though not painfully, and what you took to be the chirping of birds take on a curious tone, resembling more the rhythmic chirps of some form of echolocation. You sense movement around you, and your eyes fly open to reveal that your allies are gone, absent from the sprawling field you stand in, a night sky stretching across the open horizons, filled with unfamiliar constellations. The dark foliage underfoot is springy against your heels, allowing the odd flock of creatures in the distance to bound across the field with ease, their three pairs of legs carrying them meters at a time with each bounding lea...

...a pop, and a predator is upon them, tearing out of space itself and bringing ravenous fangs and angular claws to bear in ravaging one of the flock. They panic, but another five hounds tear out of the surrounding air and bring the rest of the creatures down with perfect unity.

The Tindalos in their element.

You look to the skies above at the chirps of the vast, undulating creatures that soar in the skies overhead, and past them, you see it; a red, pulsing thing, a wound in existence. As it grows closer the hounds look up as one, baying their strange cry at the heavens, at the thing that is coming to bring their existence to an end.

They are but a memory of a world long gone.

You blink, and you're back in the forest, surrounded by your allies as you take a deep breath, the air silent save for one steady, constant sound.

The trees around you hum with history...at the same frequency that your Neurotic Halo's gem pulses with, right above your heart.

"Seems like the woods are a little more insistent about their lore than I expected." You say, giving your team a quiet gesture to continue forwards, and away from the creatures that are slowly closing the unseen gap behind you.

Within a few minutes, Amara leads you to the edge of a medium-sized clearing, with the ruins of an old home barely illuminated through the gaps in the treetops above. You turn to your little ward in time to see the smile run away from her face, her eyes darting back and forth as she whispers to the Fleshscape.

"It's...not a party, not really." She says, disappointed as she struggles to understand what she's being told. "It's like a...a tea party? There are a lot of girls there, but...not, if that makes sense?"

(Continued)

>>3572851

You enhance your vision, peering into the ruins and catching movement in the dimly-lit dining room you can see from your hiding place. Over a half-dozen young girls stumble to and fro around the length of a dining-room table, another six or seven seated along its length, some as young as Amara with the oldest perhaps around Keane’s age. Their dull-eyed attentions are directed towards a woman seated at the head of the table, a tall, lanky figure around Mara’s age, maybe older. Her stringy brown hair falls haphazardly about her wan face, a tall hat perched precariously atop her head. She titters and laughs inaudibly, making animated conversation among all present, though she receives no reply. It’s then that you notice each of the children is each wearing hats of their own, each unique headwear mismatched and worn with time.

“Looks like an older woman, and a bunch of younger Daughters.” You transmit across the channel, keeping a close eye on the proceedings. “Nothing of note that I can…”

You stop dead in your tracks as you watch a pair of ambling Daughters bump into each other, their hats sliding off their heads and revealing the hollowed-out skulls they obscured.

The older woman’s screaming now, howling at the animated corpses to pick up what they’ve dropped. They clumsily reach down, their limbs getting tangled until they can manage to re-affix the articles. Suddenly, the woman is serene once more, gesturing to the oldest girl present that wears a faded top hat. She paces forwards, a thin trickle of drool dribbling down her lips, her dull eyes staring forwards thoughtlessly as she obeys. The Daughter leans over and doffs her top hat, the woman gleefully slicing a thin sliver of grey matter from her offered head, adding it to her plate and neatly slicing it into quarters before bringing it to...

You turn away, your veins pumping with painful cold as you draw a hard, shuddering breath.

“See, I told you it was weird!” Amara says, her face scrunched in confusion as you reach an arm around her, drawing her close. “What’s she doing with…um, what’s wrong?”

Amara…she doesn’t understand.

Good.

You’re so very glad she doesn’t.

>>Engage the hatter with impunity.

>>There’s nothing worth saving from this place. Sneak past, and continue to the armory.

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

>>3572876
>Engage the hatter

Levels and prevention of future victims

>>3572851
>The trees around you hum with history...at the same frequency that your Neurotic Halo's gem pulses with, right above your heart.
Huh. Is the forest itself a Hexane artifact, or did the Hexane just reverse-engineer the Halo's information-sharing protocols from Crucible structures like this?

>"It's like a...a tea party? There are a lot of girls there, but...not, if that makes sense?"
Oh, god damn it! We must be mad, or we wouldn't have come here.

>>3572876
Reminds me of how we met Rath. You think a Subversive Baneling's enough to take down this one, or are we going to need something heavier?

>>3572880
Should we try for an assassination like with the Dollhouse daughter that captured Rath when we met her?

The brain eating is making me think of a Necromancer-Gluttonous. Does Ashen Fortitude work on an individual plateling sent out on it's own rather than used for armor? To counter the neuromancy.

Though a silent, cloaked Gurrenling is probably better. Unless... we stealth in a Knighted-Gurrenling that's covered in Subversive Platelings.

>>3572884
>>3572880
>>3572881
The thing that I'm having issue with is the fact that's she made Carroll's Forest her HOME. Assassination won't be easy. And we might draw the attention of the jabberwock.
Speaking of... I have to leave for work now. You people best not fuck things up. Fortunately I'll be free all day tomorrow.

>>3572876
And I'm not sure if we should sneak or engage. We didn't let the others know about what's ahead.

>>3572887
It might not be easy, but it's the right thing to do. Plus the stronger she is the more levels we will get.

>>3572876
>>Engage the hatter with impunity.
But lets try and ambush her of course.

>>3572876
>>3572884
>>3572881
>>3572887

We can not leave the Hatter..... We just cant, this would violate our ethics we have to set these Girls free form thii torment, even if they can no longer feel it their souls must be set free

But we can not bumble into this without a plan we need more intelligence on her abilities. Is she like the daughter we saved Rath from on our first meeting? Will she have Filament that can stun us? Or is it a Neuromantic power?

Can she transfer herself to all these bodies? IF yes we have to destroy them all damn how i would like wrath right now

If we hit her we need to make sure there are no other daughters that are with her(unlikely but still better safe than sorry)

Communicate teh Battle Plan with our Team and the Crew
Battle Plan
>> Load the Contender with two Parrabelums and get a cloaked gurrenling ready
>>Dorina powers himself up over three rounds with SUI Tormentis for his entire HP regen 500% Strength and 500%Speed/Reaction and 500 % Defense
afterwards

SHU
>>We should hit her with a subversive Baneling for a start
>>and then blow her brains out with a Parabellum
>>Do not show ourselves

NOVEMBER
>>Get out there and get her attention you are immune to Neuromancy so fuck her shit up if she tries something
>>November spools up her Minigun and starts shredding the bitch while blowing other bodies away with her shotgun

Midnight Crew
>>loop November into the Network to provide her with health if needed

>>stay on Guard in Case we piss of the Jabberwock i do not think we have the Vorpal Blade with us to kill it easily just jet

Dorian
>>stay Isolated and go in there
>>Activate your anti Construct field these bodies are controlled so they (or watever controls them) might be considered a construct

Amara
>> FOL RHO CUNT the bitch make sure she drops whatever she is doing
>>Stay out of sight of the Enemy afterwards

Work in Progress...
ANY more Ideas Anyone?

>>3572887
True, she's probably got some good senses in order to be able to survive this place. But she is distracted, we might be able to work that to our advantage for a stealth assault. Or just have November blow the place up from range. She's got a cluster bomb launcher, I think that can level the house.

>>3572899
>>>stay on Guard in Case we piss of the Jabberwock i do not think we have the Vorpal Blade with us to kill it easily just jet
We don't know it's a Jabberwock. It could be a Jub-Jub bird, or the frumious Bandersnatch. Lots of weird monsters live in the tulgey wood.

(Gentlemen, works picking up so voting shall be open for the next two hours.)

>>3572876
>>3572896
right, guys, lets do this;

AMARA, ACE and DORIAN;
>send in a clone, try and act like you are interested in the party and super naive.
>Get as close as you can to the hatter.
>Have Ace teleport swap with the Amara clone once it is as close as it looks like it can get, and teleport swinging hard to cleave the bastard in two.
>Have Dorian teleport behind the hatter but out of friendly fire range of Aces swing, ready to dig in and hold the hatter in place with the daggers and then choo into him with scythes in critic form, if the hatter tries to flee or can flee in time.
>Dorian should sink Health into the Sui for speed boosts as necessary.

NOVEMBER, SHU, JACKIE, and QUINN;
>after the initial fight starts, rush in and try and mow down the Daughters under the hatters control quickly. if you absolutely can, see if any can be saved, but do not risk life and limb for the off chance one might not be brainless.

KEANE;
>use your mucuslings to clog and block any exists the hatter can take.

>>3572919
it seems that the mad hatter is very peculiar when it comes to her set pieces. if we throw her groove off by distracting her with having her try have another temper tantrum at her puppets that should give us a window of opportunity to take the initiative without bhop throwing the dice.

>>3572919
hmmmm. Your plan has merit and is probably a lot more subtle than my own and less likely to attract that much attention..... I just want to turn that house into a slaughter fest but i will make some suggestions

>>Right before teleporting FOL RHO CUNT her
that should drop her concentration on ongoing effects, so if any daughters are not completely braindead but under her command they should struggle to not fall over(easy way to see any we can most likely safe)

Otherwise i would like for dorian to power up
>>Sui Tormentis Up the Speed at first and if you have time up your strength

>>3572924
Amara can make biomass talk out loud so that the rest of us can hear it, she just usually has it muted for stealth purposes. What if she gets the ground around the table to yell out "CHANGE PLACES!"?

>>3572930
I can get behind Amara yelling that sure.

Dorian can throw on some strength too, so her can better hold on and gouge the bastard out.

I was thinking just spamming regular rec-swarmlings for now to help keep his minions at bay, bit im open to other suggestions too.

>>3572952
Yeah basic swarmlings might be our best best bet to deal with teh minions if she can even direct hem while under heavy assault. It might be a concentration power but still putting them down with mass might be useful or will at least distract them so we can kill her.

I am still worried thoug that she can maybe swap her brain with her puppets as long as they wear the hats...

>>3572952
What if we had some more Amara clones maintain a perimeter fence of Queen Crimson? If we use the freshest generation of the exponential doubling trick, then they'll be able to maintain the fence for seven rounds. I don't think we've had a fight go longer than that so far, so we shouldn't have any problems.

>>3572956
Then we simply leave no puppets or hats behind. An uzi, a shotgun, a machinegun, plus a swarm of Constructs can help do that id recon.

>>3572963
Yeah, i like the sound of that, help Keane lock down the perimeter.

>>3572876
Amending my Vote from >>3572899
to >>3572919
with the Additions of having the Amara clone used for the distraction top disrupt her concentration with a
>>FOL RHO CUNT

and having Dorian power up before the battle
>>First round 125% Health for 500 % Speed
>>Second round 125% Health for 500% Strength

>>3572876
>>3572919
Edited Plan;
AMARA, ACE and DORIAN;
>send in a clone, try and act like you are interested in the party and super naive.
>Get as close as you can to the hatter.
>Have Ace teleport swap with the Amara clone once it is as close as it looks like it can get, and teleport swinging hard to cleave the bastard in two.
>Have Amara shout FOL RHO CUNT as she teleports away.
>Have Dorian teleport behind the hatter but out of friendly fire range of Aces swing, ready to dig in and hold the hatter in place with the daggers and then choo into him with scythes in critic form, if the hatter tries to flee or can flee in time.
>Dorian should sink Health into the Sui for speed boosts as necessary.
>Dorian should sink health into strength as necessary once her gets ahold if the hatter.

NOVEMBER, SHU, JACKIE, and QUINN;
>after the initial fight starts, rush in and try and mow down the Daughters under the hatters control quickly. if you absolutely can, see if any can be saved, but do not risk life and limb for the off chance one might not be brainless.
>have the flying constructs aim to disrupt the hats, though only if that proves to be effective.

KEANE and AMARA;
>use your mucuslings to clog and block any exists the hatter can take.
>Have a clone at each entranceway using Queen to help block said escape routes.

>>3572876
Okay, let's try to actually chart this out.

PREPARATORY PHASE

>>Amara
>Spawn two of the Joyous Many. Each spawns two of their own, then the next generation each spawns two more.
>Results: Six Many with 120% Health and 60% Bio (heretofore known as the Chorus), eight Many with 150% Health and 100% Bio (the Fence)

>>Dorian
>Spend two rounds putting 100% Health into Strength, 100% Health into Speed, and 50% Health into Defense
>Results: +400% Strength, +400% Speed, +200% Defense

>>Shu
>Spawn four Knighted Nomlings.
>Spend the remaining time spying on the Hatter, see if we can spot any weaknesses

>>Keane
>Spawn enough mucuouslings to clog up the entrances

ACTION PHASE

>>Amara
>Send in one Chorus, acting like an excited little girl eager to join the party.
>Once it gets close, cast FOL RHO CUNT

>>Ace
>Tele-swap with Amara. Lay into melee with the Hatter

>>Dorian
>Tele-dash in. Pin the Hatter with the daggers, then lay into her with scythes.
>Fire lightning bolt if Hatter seems about to flee.

>>Amara
>Direct Chorus to deliver a continuous round of debuffs
>Move Fence in to deploy Queen Crimson and keep anyone from escaping.

>>Shu
>Send in Nomlings to harass puppets and Hatter
>Deploy Ravenous Maw and enter into melee

>>Jackie, Quinn
>Fight as they will. They know better than us how to use their abilities to shut down the enemy.

>>Keane
>Jam up the entrances with muscouslings

>>November
>Provide covering fire with Porcupine.

>>3573043
i still would prefer Dorian to this round spend his health as he needs it, over a rigid, unadaptable schedule. while it does bear some risk, him making the decision as he needs to to make sure this goes as planned is much more important i feel.

otherwise dont forget November has the Uzi...im not sure why, but id think the standard ammunition is pretty cheap to produce so making use of it is far from a bad idea. Gat hand and Uzi working together to lay down the lead.

(Writing now, Gentlemen.)

File: Amara.jpg (1.02 MB, 1280x1422)

1.02 MB JPG

>>3572876

Reluctantly, you turn to your other allies and the Midnight Crew, reaching out through the empathic field to show them what you’ve witnessed. Dorian’s face goes white with shock, then red with rage as November’s clenched fist creaks, and Quinn and Keane both go green in sheer disgust. Jackie’s jaw pops as she clenches her teeth, and when you lock eyes with her you know, instinctually, you’re of the same mind.

You know what you have to do.

A minute later, Amara trots up to table, finding her footing over the pile of rubble that used to be the eastern dining room wall. She waves as the figure within, and you feel your stomach roil when a wide grin splits the wretch’s face. She rises, ambling over to the young girl who stares up sweetly, whispering something that the Hatter can’t quite make out. She kneels, and you see her mouth ‘what’?

“FOL RHO CUNT!” Amara screams in the Hatter’s face, shattering what’s left of the windows and staggering her victim. You and your allies dash forwards as one at Amara’s cue, and when the wretch rounds on your young ally she’s faced with a furious armiger, battle-axe mid-cleave and intent on dividing the Hatter cleanly in twain.

She’s fast, too fast by half as she leaps back, her gangly limbs hiding uncanny strength and wiry speed as she avoids the deadly blow and slips past her stumbling children, her hold on them completely disrupted. You see her jaw begin to split down the middle, yawning wide as she begins to scream…one that’s cut short as a sharp crack and guttural boom announce Dorian's entrance, his scarlet armor slamming into the Hatter's body and pinning her against the wall, hairline cracks splintering its surface.

Amara's chorus is a constant stream of alien words and native epithets, keeping Dorian's victim pinned as four scythes arc out from the armor with violent fervor, the Hatter's Gluttonous teeth being sheared away bit by bit as her teeth move to deflects the furious blows. Her mouth is opening wider and wider by the second as your Knightlings surge forth, tearing her puppets' bodies asunder as Keane plugs the exits with wall of mucus. Your tongue lashes out, snagging one of the ruined pillars and hurtling you into melee range, and that's when the Hatter's entire body lets loose with a furious screech, and the brim of her hat tips back.

The ground moves, incessant screeching joining the Daughter in her mad cry as hundreds, thousands of starved rats erupt from the grounds and walls of the ruined house, pouring forth from every crevice and swarming towards her attackers. Her screech cuts short as the hat leaves her head, thin fibers stretching out and yanking it over the far wall and out of sight. The body it inhabited just crumbles, a limp sack of empty skin filled out with misshapen rats as more of their kin join the fray.

One vermin to another, they answer their Mistress' call.

(Continued)

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>>3573208

November opens up with the Porcupine, its sharply rhythmic retort tearing through wave after wave of rat as they stream out in a torrent of mangy, infected flesh while Amara keeps the perimeter on lockdown, her clones driving back the tide of rats back towards the house...back to where her true body lies in wait.

You redirect yourself mid-leap for your tongue to carry you over the wall, and you land with a tumble on the other side of the dining room space to a shattered patio just as Jackie and Quinn follow you around the other side. You rise to face...

She is a hideous, gnashing thing, all teeth and fur and carnal want. Her naked, wiry body stands nearly seven feet tall, covered in patches of discolored fur and the faces of chittering rats. The hat latches onto her verminous, multifaceted skull, its Neuromantic power lancing along her body as every pair of eyes on her body glitter with uncanny light. You look around, and even in the dark you can see them, a sea of ravenous mouths and shining eyes, roiling towards you with chattering teeth glinting in the light of November's assault.

Thanks to Amara, the Hatter's trapped…as are you.

Your eyes meet hers, and she just laughs.


Shu the Defiant, Hunter of Gods

VS.

THE HATTER OF HAMELIN

HP: 610% (+35%)
BIO: 530% (+50%, 4 Knighted Nomlings, 4/25 Active)
CONTENDER: Empty, Base Form.
RAVENOUS MAW: Primed.
HUNDRED-HANDED: None.
ACT: 3/3

AMARA HP: 400% (+80%, Shrouded)
DORIAN HP: 330% (+125%, Tormentis Boost: 500%)
NOVEMBER: 1290%

Threat: High, close. You are surrounded by her swarm and in melee range of her.

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

(Gentlemen, my sincerest apologies for the delay and my thanks for your patience. Voting shall remain open for the next two hours, and I hope that you are having a good day.)

>>3573212
this fukkin bitch.

NOVEMBER;
>use your arsenal as you see fit to keep her swarm occupied.
>if you see a good opening, and have the time to spare, fire off a KAISER FLARE at the Hatter.

JACKIE, DORIAN, KEANE, and AMARA;
>work together to use your liquid like constructs and Amara clone Crimsons as a secondary wall to aid November against the horde.
>Have Jackie amplify their abilities so we can better keep the swarm off of us.

ACE and QUINN;
>Get out front and have Ace act as our main guard against the Hatter, blocking incoming hits and Quinn taking pot shots at what Ace blacks to get her anti-bodies kicking in.

SHU;
>Load up two BBs and fire one into each of the Hatters legs.
>Spawn a Bishop for Quinn and Ace.
>Spawn two Knighted-Armlings and have them go to pin down the Hatters arms.
>Spawn 6 Rec(5)-Bane-Drillings to dash for the Hatters joins and necks. the acid should make any attempt to eat them become a bad nightmare, if their drills dont allow them to dig out alone.
>Spawn a cloaked, Knighted-Nomling, as big as you need, and have it fly high. when it sees an opportunity, have it dash to eat and destroy the hat.

DORIAN;
>keep on the move, and be prepared to use your strength and daggers to pin down the Hatter if it tries to flee.
>increase Strength as needed to hold him down.


>>3573216
its no problem, hope work wasn't too harsh, as id assume that is what grabbed hold of ya.

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(Gentlemen, I believe I will be extending the voting period until tomorrow morning and pausing the thread here for the evening on account of work and some personal plans shifting around unexpectedly. I could try and push it, but I feel as though that wouldn't be fair to you if I sped through my calculations and writing, as I wish to bring you accurate and effective information during combat and I have the sneaking suspicious I would end up having to bamboozle myself more than I'd like. Thus, voting shall remain open for the next fifteen hours, with posting to resume shortly thereafter.)

(I shall be around intermittently this evening to address any questions you may have to help get your combat plans in order, as usual. Please note that I have omitted the Midnight Crew's stats for space, but I will put them up if any of them suffer damage or ailments that warrant particular attention. Please do not hesitate to ask if you have any questions, and I hope you have a good evening.)

>>3573238
you do what you need to do, enjoy your personal plans!

>>3573212
Do we still have the rook?

>>3573238
No worries, hope your evening goes well too.

>>3573246
thats a good question. having two to help Aid Ace in taking hits would be a good idea,if they weren't so expensive. having to replace it would be pretty hefty a price.

>>3573246
(You do still have the Rook, yes. Amara's Guardian is staying close by her and is attuned to her, so it does not count against your limit. My apologies, your Bio status should read as follows;)

>>BIO: 530% (+50%, 4 Knighted Nomlings, 1 Rook, 5/25 Active)

>>3573233
adding in;
SHU;
>Have your 4 Knighted-Nomlings help November hold off the horde.
>Have your Rook help aid Ace in her efforts.

>>3573238
That's fine, BHOP. Have a nice evening.

>>3573233
We should form our armor, too. It gives resistance to Neuromancy, we'll want that if we're in close proximity to the Hatter. And I wouldn't be upset to have its drill-stingers automatically deliver a load of exothermic acid to any limb of hers that touches us.

>>3573288
my hope was that Ace would be enough for now, as honestly ive been thinking about cutting back on some of what Shu might spawn as i think i calculated all her actions out to a cost of 400+ Biomass at its current.

i guess she doesn't REALLY need the 4 Knighted-Nomlings honestly so she could recycle them?

>>3573288
maybe this will work better? cuts down on her costs significantly.

SHU;
>Load up two BBs and fire one into each of the Hatters legs.
>Have your 4 Knighted-Nomlings fall back and recycle into Chitinous Armor for Shu, and otherwise help eat the cost of other Swarmlings.
>Have your Rook help aid Ace in her efforts.
>Spawn a Bishop for Quinn and Ace.
>Spawn two Bane-Armlings and have them go to pin down the Hatters arms.
>Spawn 5 Bane-Drillings to dash for the Hatters joins and necks. the acid should make any attempt to eat them become a bad nightmare, if their drills don't allow them to dig out alone.
>Spawn a cloaked, Knighted-Nomling, as big as you need, and have it fly high. when it sees an opportunity, have it dash to eat and destroy the hat.

>>3573315
The math on recycling is a bit tricky, since we can split them apart but not join them together, at least at range. Give me a minute, roommate just got back with takeout, I'll work out the order of how to do this after I eat.

>>3573328
we can get 3.07(39% out of 40%) Armor Sections out of each Knighted-Nomling, meaning we only need to break down two for the totality of the Armor, the rest can go to Baneling variants.

AAAAAAHHHHHH
GOD FUCK
SHIT
WORK WAS STRESSFUL TONIGHT

>>3573351
you're telling me haha
well, that sucks, but you have some time to unwind and plenty of time to plan out our next move with us other Anons, so no rush man, go get some food or something.

>>3573339
Yeah, but then we have 1% on one and 14% on another and it's a mess. But I'm overthinking it. We have the two Knights we turn into Platelings transform as they move over to join with Shu, she'll be able to grab the remaining bits of biomass as they drag it over and combine it thanks to it being in contact with her. So that's a full set, plus 15% left over to turn into Banelings. Want to spend the Health cost for the Gurrenling augmentation instead of the Bio cost? We're at full Health currently and will regenerate that 30% spent by the next round. So that would make three Bane-Gurrenlings. I don't think we need five of them, if we're also going to shoot the Hatter in each leg. We can focus them on her arms and neck, while the B.33s in her legs get to work taking out her knee caps.

(Also, it would look so cool. Two giant insects crash into Shu from either side, unfolding into armor plates that wrap around her. Then a trio of drill-tipped living missiles launch out from her back and embed themselves into the Hatter.)

Also, I'm not sure we should use the Grapplings. Despite their name, they're not actually that great at grappling. They don't actually have hands, just fist-shaped clubs. They can't hold down the Hatter themselves, we'd have to conjure Hundred-Hands from them. We can spawn Hundred-Hands from the Gurrenlings embedded in her flesh. They'll be less powerful on their own instead of with the Grapplings' boost to the skill, but the Hatter doesn't strike me as a strength-focused build. They should be able to hold her on their own.

So that just makes it two Bishops and a Subversive Knighted Nomling. We can still have two Knighted Nomlings helping hold the line, too. That makes the total cost (30% Health, 145% Bio). Oh, and whatever we spend on Hundred-hands to grapple her, so let's say another 30% Bio for ten arms?

>>3573351
I'm sorry to hear that, anon. But hey, you're home now and can relax and unwind and plan out how to fight a Rat Queen with us.

>>3573351
(I hope you can get some rest, Anon. I know how you feel, and I'm glad you're off work, now.)

am >>3573351
Back at my own computer.

>>3573404
I need a situational report on where everyone is what they did in the opening round of combat, where they are now at the start of round 2 of combat. what constructs there are in play, and what did the Hatter of Hamelin did in the opening round.

Please and thank you.

>>3573464
Same question extends to
>>3573397
and >>3573397

>>3573527
Hatter tried to do something, but Ace and Dorian interrupted her. Her body was destroyed, but as we feared it's not her real form. It looks like the actual Hatter is either the Hat itself, or at least able to transfer between bodies using the Hat. She is currently occupying a body heavily corrupted by Hive Mistress skills, making it a gross many-headed rat monster. Said rat monster is currently engaging Shu in melee, Quinn and Jackie are close enough to aid and Dorian can probably get here in a moment. There's also a swarm of rat constructs in here. A wall of Amara clones running Queen Crimson is maintaining a perimeter so that none of them can escape. November is burning them away with her plasma weapons.

>>3573464
>>3573546
(The second Anon's link should have everything you need. If you have any other questions, please let me know.)

>>3573546
>a mad hatter
>A literal talking hat
This is gonna be a case of kill the Lich's phylactery.

>The body it inhabited just crumbles, a limp sack of empty skin filled out with misshapen rats as more of their kin join the fray.

Hmm....
Okay. Lets walk and talk this out step by step.
She's a Hive Mistress type daughter who has Gluttonous secondaries... And her construct theme is rats... Where have I heard this before? I vaguely recall that we had a brainstorming session in a previous vein where an anon listed out Hive Mistress Daughter ideas for Bhop...
If the swarm of rats is an indication, then the Hatter has choosen the Swarm route of her Hive Mistress path since there's literally no way that a Hive Mistress can command that many rat constructs.
We know that for a fact because Queen Route Hive Mistresses are limited to a few or several constructs as their swarm limit, Shu's the only "balanced" Hive Mistress in the world as she took the Fool's choice. And Diana's leech swarm seemed innumerable which is the same as Hatter.

So Hatter definitely has a Hive Mistress Core and a Gluttonous secondary. Or a hybrid of Hive Mistress and Gluttonous which still resulted in a swarm-type upgrade path.
And her construct puppets are simply rats in a skin-sack.

>>3573568
>>3573546
Also, I can't help but notice that Shu has a (Boss) subtitle after her epithet. Subtitles are something reserved for Bosses, yet you gave Shu a subtitle. Did we really deserve that? because holy fuck that's a hefty title to live up to.

Additional questions:
I know for a fact that Hatter, Shu, Jack, and Quinn are on the broken Patio of the house, Dorian and Ace are in the Dining Hall, So where is Amara Prime, November and the Amara Clones in relation to the Patio?

>>3573569
>Shu's the only "balanced" Hive Mistress in the world as she took the Fool's choice.
Probably not the only one. It's a big planet, I'm sure there are other Hive Mistresses flipping off Mother. But probably the only one around here, yeah.

The Hatter may have Neuromancy abilities, too. The Hat is certainly Neuromantic, though whether it's a Relic or a weird skill is less clear. Either way, we definitely want to destroy it. I'm leaning towards skill, though. I think even with rats in the puppets, they were coordinating the bodies better than just moving around in a skin-sack. Hatter probably has some sort of Jackling equivalent. Hatlings.

>>3573592
>Also, I can't help but notice that Shu has a (Boss) subtitle after her epithet. Subtitles are something reserved for Bosses, yet you gave Shu a subtitle. Did we really deserve that? because holy fuck that's a hefty title to live up to.
Are we or are we not hunting the would-be gods of the Crucible? When you're something more than flesh, ascended, and you've taken on the rest to end it, she'll find you in a dream tormented. Godhunter's gonna hunt you down.

>>3573592
(Amara and her Clones are a medium distance away from all combatants, at the edge of the clearing which is roughly three movement zones in diameter. November made in to the dining room before opening fire, and is currently firing the Porcupine at the waves of contructs.)

>>3573397
right, sorry, took a nap and grabbed some food.

>Yeah, but then we have 1% on one and 14% on another and it's a mess. But I'm overthinking it. We have the two Knights we turn into Platelings transform as they move over to join with Shu, she'll be able to grab the remaining bits of biomass as they drag it over and combine it thanks to it being in contact with her. So that's a full set, plus 15% left over to turn into Banelings.
yeah, and even if we lose a few % points its still saving us more than if we didn't do this.

>Want to spend the Health cost for the Gurrenling augmentation instead of the Bio cost? We're at full Health currently and will regenerate that 30% spent by the next round. So that would make three Bane-Gurrenlings. I don't think we need five of them, if we're also going to shoot the Hatter in each leg. We can focus them on her arms and neck, while the B.33s in her legs get to work taking out her knee caps.
yeah i can support this, makes sense.

>Also, I'm not sure we should use the Grapplings. Despite their name, they're not actually that great at grappling. They don't actually have hands, just fist-shaped clubs. They can't hold down the Hatter themselves, we'd have to conjure Hundred-Hands from them. We can spawn Hundred-Hands from the Gurrenlings embedded in her flesh. They'll be less powerful on their own instead of with the Grapplings' boost to the skill, but the Hatter doesn't strike me as a strength-focused build. They should be able to hold her on their own.
yeah...i see what you mean, its just i wanted something to help deal with its arms, but yeah we can probably do that other ways.

>>3573212
>>3573233
>>3573660
so new plan currently looks like, and is amended to;

NOVEMBER;
>use your arsenal as you see fit to keep her swarm occupied.
>if you see a good opening, and have the time to spare, fire off a KAISER FLARE at the Hatter.

JACKIE, DORIAN, KEANE, and AMARA;
>work together to use your liquid like constructs and Amara clone Crimsons as a secondary wall to aid November against the horde.
>Have Jackie amplify their abilities so we can better keep the swarm off of us.

ACE and QUINN;
>Get out front and have Ace act as our main guard against the Hatter, blocking incoming hits and Quinn taking pot shots at what Ace blacks to get her anti-bodies kicking in.

SHU;
>Load up two BBs and fire one into each of the Hatters legs.
>Have your 4 Knighted-Nomlings fall back and recycle into Chitinous Armor for Shu, and otherwise help eat the cost of other Swarmlings.
>Have your Rook help aid Ace in her efforts.
>Spawn a Bishop for Quinn and Ace.
>Spawn 3 Bane-Drillings with Health to dash for the Hatters joins and necks. the acid should make any attempt to eat them become a bad nightmare, if their drills don't allow them to dig out alone.
>Use Hundred Handed from the Bane-Drillings as necessary to help tie up and hold the bastard down.
>Spawn a cloaked, Knighted-Nomling, as big as you need, and have it fly high. when it sees an opportunity, have it dash to eat and destroy the hat.

DORIAN;
>keep on the move, and be prepared to use your strength and daggers to pin down the Hatter if it tries to flee.
>increase Strength as needed to hold him down.

>>3573651
How many clones did Amara spawn? and where's Keane?

>>3573669
>DORIAN;
Let's not forget that he should be building up a decent charge with all this running around, too. We can have him fire a Static Burst at the Hatter if it looks like they'll escape.

>>3573684
very true. was hoping to save it more for a large hit at an opening, but i suppose he can spend it early to keep the bastard down if necessary.

i wanted him to build up a seriously big stack then unleash it alongside a burst from November in a turn or two, once we see more of how much we can keep its swarm down and what tricks it may have to keep us from holding it in place for them to get their shots. but like i said you're probably right using it as a stop gap measure is probably smarter, though i do imagine the damage dealt if we could pull off said maneuver would be tremendous.

>>3573669
(Fourteen clones are active, and Keane is currently close to Amara Prime and keeping her safe.)

>>3573684
(Dorian currently has two stacks active, and I'll make note of it on the next update status tracker.)

>>3573663
>>3573602
The issue I'm seeing with this is that this is assuming Hatter will stay and fight. Hatter knows she's out-numbered from the opening round, and the first thing she did after having her first two actions of the opening round rebuffed was flee.
We need to ensure that this trap firmly closes shut.

>>3573696
Looking at Dorian's Char-sheet he's got:
>Cursus Alas: which gives him maybe 1 or 2 additional zones of movement range if used
>Spring Heeled Jack, which gives him an additional zone of movement range
>500% Sui Tormentis Boost (Type speed I think?) We need to clearly define what stat the boost is for.
>Canvas Form, which gives him a teleport-type movement.
>Plus Dorian's Base movement speed
>that's probably about 10 zones of movement.

Hey Bhop, with Dorian's 500% Sui Tormentis boost, Spring Heeled Jack, Canvas Form, and Cursus Alas lvl 2, how many zones of movement can Dorian cross in a single action? How many zones can Dorian cross if all actions was spent on movement?

>>3573709
also, what stat is Sui Tormentis augmenting by 500%?

>>3573712
...like all of Shus orders are focused on keeping it pinned, the only potential thing we could add is Shu going in for a slash to activate the BBs sooner, which is a bit risk til we see what this thing can do a bit more.

you are also overlooking Dorian is assigned ot kpee it from running, and if November can blind it, it wont be able to properly run, ASWELL as you are overlooking both Keane and Amaras barrier is still up, its just something already in place with not upkeep cost does need to be re-mentioned, but if it helps you work with the plan i can put it on there just for the sake of it.

>>3573712
You know, we might want to just have him zoom around the house a few times. Switching from Critic to Canvas causes him to do a minimum of four attacks to each opponent he passes along his way on the same turn. He's currently in Critic. Swap over, have him do a lap of the area, and it should shred all the rats. Unless the rats are so individually small they don't count as valid targets for the blood wind's attacks, but it is a blood wind, after all. Should be able to do area of effect well.

>>3573712
>>3573716
(Tormentis is augmenting speed, and Dorian may now cross twelve zones in a turn. He may now quite literally run laps around the combat zone several times over with both ACTs devoted to movement.)

>>3573734
i doubt he could get them all alone, and two machineguns, a shotgun, mucus constructs made to fight other constructs, and a loli wall of red twirling blood whips can probably do the job better. mostly i want his ACTs a bit more free incase he needs to chase down the Hatter, which is easier to have him do if he just aids with paintlings, rather than running around outright focusing on the rats in melee.

>>3573734
What if we had all of that movement directed towards running around in literal circles around Hatter? It's got lots of fur. Fur helps accumulate Static Electricity, which helps Dorian gather even more static electrical charge.

>>3573709
How much Bio-nectar/bio-pollen have our Knighted Nomlings gathered?

>>3573744
Do the rats count as valid targets for Red Death level three?

>>3573747
His movement is so high and the arena so small that we could easily work the blood cyclone into a movement action meant just to get close to her. He's got a few extra zones of movement, they'd just go to waste otherwise. And we want him close anyway, a Dorian in her face is better able to respond to her trying to escape.

>>3573764
That and he's got the GutGrab Knife for Grapple melee.

Also, I bet keane is gonna pull an 40k Ork Reference to how "red wunz go fasta"
Should we also have Dorian sacrifice some hp to boost his defense or his strength? I have the feeling he's gonna need it in order to power through the literal river of rats his mist form is gonna swim through. or for grappling the Hatter.

>>3573744
Also, Bhop, where did the hat go? or did the hat transform into the Giant rat that we're looking at?