File: Jackie.jpg (82 KB, 750x900)

82 KB JPG

>>4142662

The following minutes are spent making introductions and the dispensing of autographs per Rosa’s fervent pleadings, and with insistent haranguing she makes off with a veritable royal flush of signatures etched in a place of honor just above her left hip. Once the Barbers’ leader has been appeased, you brief the Crew on what you’re up against, though it turns out that Dorian did a serviceable job on the way over.

“So you got Alpha tryin’ to hunt you all down, and you’re planning to split up into two groups; one to try and spawn an Amalgam with anti-Relic properties, and the other to go have a little chat with Magpie. That about right?” Jackie recaps, and you nod from your seat at the round table Gina’s constructed on the spot. “Cool, cool…what’s the plan for fighting Alpha, then?”

“Kinda don’t have one.” Rath mutters with a shrug of her slight, yet powerful shoulders. “Relics are what she relies on, and if we kick that crutch out from under her, then hopefully she’s easier to take down.”

“We’ve been changing up our fighting styles after the Spiraling Fear.” Ace rumbles, her heavy footsteps shuddering through the dark flesh at your feet.

“We sure have!” Keane chimes in, catching her breath after finishing her dance with Amara, the younger of the two barely even winded. “Quinn’s our opener, and she can amp up super-fast now! But before that, Ace jumps in and weakens ‘em, while Jackie gets the killing blow to level her-“

“Point is…” Jackie grins, shooting her younger ally a pointed glance. “…I’m thinkin’ that we use the same principle we’ve been going by, just with more people. Have several small parties that tag in and out as needed. Nobody’s in danger all at once, and we keep Alpha on her toes with having to shift Relics more often than she’d like. Now, as for where to fight her, that’s a whole discussion in and of itself…”

“We’re kind of playing things by ear right now, but I’d appreciate any help you’re willing to give.” You say with a genuine smile. “And like I told the Barbers – I owe you a lot, so after all this I’ll-“

“A duel.”

You blink.

“I’m sorry?” You ask, and Jackie’s thin lips form the slash of an anticipatory smile.

“A duel.” She repeats, resting her hand on the hilt of the blade embedded in her chest. “You and me, one on one…after all this silly bullshit with Alpha and Magpie is over and done with, of course.”

An odd asking price, to be sure…but while you’re not exactly thrilled at the prospect, you’d be willing to do much more than that to secure the allies necessary for what’s to come.

You can only hope it’ll be enough.

>>Construct your party or parties, and assignments plus Relic Loadout for both [Midnight Crew and Barbers are available].

>>You’d rather hammer out the details of how and where to fight Alpha sooner, rather than later.

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

>>4142662
>“God, it’s good to see you, Jackie.” You say, moving forward to hug the slender girl that stands before the hilt of a sword bumps into your chest, the foreign object protruding from Jackie’s own sternum. You lean to one side, noting the absence of the blade you expect to be poking out from the back of the girl’s long coat. You just cock an eyebrow at her as she gives you a shrug.

>“New weapon, long story, not the tale I’m here to listen to.” Jackie says, brushing off your unspoken question with a self-satisfied smirk.

Oh my god. She's got a Legendary Piece of Shit. She has become the Seppucrow. Leaning real hard on your party's theme, huh Jackie?

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

(A few notes; there's a small addendum at the end of the Relic Pastebin regarding Forge Tiers. While I'd planned to include what I'd written regarding Sparagmos Engines, I realized in writing it out exactly why I hadn't shared it earlier, as their abilities and the differences between individual Engines is spoiler territory and something that's best answered in the fiction. Also, for the writer of Journeys Through Europe, I'll be answering your questions later this week, as I should also have an abundance of free time later on for when the Quarantine inevitably envelops my area and workplace. As it stands, I am still at work.)

(That being said, I do hope that everyone present is doing well, and I look forward to diving back into the Quest with you all.)

>>4142665
>“A duel.”

I just hope its not to the death Jackie..... Seriously we dont nee do t kill each other. and we do kinda have other things to do..... And Shu is so not a powerhouse in a duel..... As long as we can keep her at bay it may be fine btu god if she gets into melee she will wreck us.

>while Jackie gets the killing blow to level her-“
What kinda power did you get Jackie? A weapon that eats daughtes and gets their movesets? is that why you want to fight Shu to get her powers? Just kidding but seriously Jackie we will need some knowledge about what you guys are rocking now


>>4142671
Ah yes the Quarantine. I am confined to home as well already as a precautionary measure by my company. Our execs are going fuckign crazy We do Home office now and god how much do i hate that one coworker.... he sent my bloodpressure sky high. If this goes on i will need some medicine to lower my blood pressure before i can get back to work in April.

A refresher on Magpie's abilities, for planning this out:

>Magpie – The Raven-Haired Sniper

>CORE: Hive Mistress (Ravens)
>HEALTH: 420% (90% REGEN)
>BIO: 690% (130% REGEN)
>ACT: 3/3
>Abilities: The relaxed and composed ex-partner of the melee-focused Marrow Dragoon is a long-ranged threat in her own right. Her rifle is the result of a Calcite Armorer/Flesh Artisan/Generator Triple-Hybrid tree, while her Core skill tree is maximized to focus on wide area-of-effect damage, creating no-mans-lands of swirling, indiscriminate corvids that Mara could stride into with ease to dispatch their targets. Magpie is also capable of mid-range ‘teleportation’, which is a Generator/Vitrivian Hybrid that allows speedy movement with a chance of HEALTH/BIO loss. The rounds she fires can be specialized, and since you last interacted with her, she has a number of Anti- Flesh Artisan rounds at hand to lend her lethal expertise to your cause.

>>Magpie: if the single rifle and odd assortment of Relics at her disposal were Magpie at her least serious, the raven-haired woman’s current Loadout is her playing hardball. Her long, reinforced jacket grants her moderate protection against all elemental damage types, while the living necklace she has tucked into her shirt grants her a heightened chance to avoid critical hits and allow her a counter-attack on dodge. Meanwhile, the Heaven’s Guns are a sextet of devastating firearms that offer a ballistic solution for nearly every problem, though with an unfortunate drawback. Where’s Magpie’s concerned, violence isn’t a solution - It’s the question…and the answer is ‘yes’.

>cont.

>>4142676

-Magpie’s Arsenal-

>>Scylla & Charybdis (Twin M1911 Semi-auto pistols): ELEC-infused pistols that have the ability to generate a powerful magnetic pull between targets shot with their rounds, pulling them together and allowing Magpie to follow up with…

>>Lupara (Sawed-off Double Barrel Shotgun): The devastating buckshot delivered from each barrel deals catastrophically potent piercing and slashing damage, with the blade-like flechettes igniting furiously if left within a living target at the end of the round.

>> Strelitzia (FN P90): A curious weapon for a curious woman, the Strelitzia fires a cascade of alternating elemental rounds, ensuring that any elemental weakness her foes possesses is capitalized upon. Additionally, any elemental weakness hit while firing the Strelitzia automatically notifies the wielder of their foe’s vulnerabilities, making follow-up hits from other elemental damage sources (belonging to Magpie or her allies) much more powerful.

>>Red Dahlia (Pfeifer-Zeliska .600 Nitro Express Revolver): The second-most powerful weapon in Magpie’s arsenal, a single shot from the Dahlia is fully capable of knocking even large Amalgams and targets flat regardless of their ability to resist being stunned or knocked prone. Additionally, the creeping ACIDIC properties of the round spread through the target’s body, dealing unparalleled damage over time. However, this obscenely powerful weapon can only be fired once per round, rendering it a situational, if lethal tool.

>>Alex’s Mercy (Mosin-Nagant):, The crown jewel of Magpie’s arsenal is a thing of unrivaled damage potential, easily capable of piercing through the toughest of armors…even that of the living fortress, Marrow Dragoon. It is a simple thing, optimized for sheer, simple piercing damage, with untold amounts of biomass and sacrifice invested in its creation to ensure that even a single shot fired from this most terrible of weapons is enough to end any threat Magpie encounters across the Fleshscape. A single shot, a swift death…it’s a gift of mercy, in a world gone mad.

>>4142665
weird price there Jackie, weird but fitting. we'll have to have medics on close standby for that for sure, but an issue for another time...

>>4142671
While I'd planned to include what I'd written regarding Sparagmos Engines, I realized in writing it out exactly why I hadn't shared it earlier, as their abilities and the differences between individual Engines is spoiler territory and something that's best answered in the fiction.
even just the two we have/what we have discovered about them? dont think anyone expected spoilers, but still having what they can do, at least in as what we have discovered, i think is what people were asking when they talked about that.

>(That being said, I do hope that everyone present is doing well, and I look forward to diving back into the Quest with you all.)
doing well enough. this whole virus going on is... a thing, thats for sure.

>>4142671
Also didnt you want to put the Write Ups and Storys written into the front page post?
You were asking for permissions at the beginning of the last thread i seem to recall

>>4142676
>>4142678
Magpie has likely much higher stats than listed here at the present time, though given how difficult it is to raise ACT number she hopefully hasn't increased that. BHOP has also mentioned that her deconstruct-reconstruct teleportation is a low-level application of the skill, and that she has higher-level versions that are genuine teleportation.

So, here's my thinking as to who would be useful for dealing with her.

>Gina
Burrowing should make Gina safe even from Magpie's heaviest weapons. Even Alex's Mercy would likely struggle to penetrate dozens of meters of fleshscape without slowing or tumbling in its path. Meanwhile Gina is free to retaliate with terraforming to remove Magpie's hide sites, Amethyst Jack level nine to wipe out crow swarms, and Neon Ascendant level four to penalize teleporting given that it's a Generator hybrid.

>Dorian
Dorian is fast enough that he would be hard to keep away from even with teleportation. He gets bonus ACTs for killing constructs now, with how many Magpie spawns and Dorian's ability to sweep through an entire swarm he might end up with even more ACTs than Julia did fighting Yurei. And if he can get into close range he could lock Magpie's teleportation down with Masque of War.

>Amara
For an attempt at convincing Magpie to stand down, Amara's calm aura will help considerably. In the likely incidence that we can not, she can render us all invisible to make things much harder on a sniper. Additionally, turning terrain hostile to Magpie will further impede her hide sites, and a mass field of Joyous Many running Queen Crimson should have excellent anti-projectile properties.

>November
Less certain on this one, we might want to send her with the Amalgam Spawner team. But they have some history together, November might help in talking her down. And if she can't...well, nothing flushes out a sniper like artillery fire.

>>4142686
you're forgetting we need to go to the Amalgam spawning area too,and Gina, Francine, and Amara are the best suited for that. the Barbers and Midnight Crew really dont fit the profile for what we need there, save Sia, and she alone wont make the progress we would need.

with that in mind, my own votes going to be;

>Magpie Team;
>>Shu, Dorian, Rath, November, and the Midnight Crew

>Amalgam Team;
>>Gina, Francine, Amara, and the Barbers

any tactical issues with Magpie we can shift or cover alot easier than a lack of actual brain power and/or proper abilities at the Amalgam spawning area, and assuming Magpie will listen, its gonna be Shu or nothing anyways, as unlikely as it seems it will happen.

>>4142689
I can kind of see the logic for sending Gina to the Amalgam Spawner, not sure she's the best fit but I get it. What's the logic for Amara, though?

>>4142689
I can see the Midnight Crew though i think we should have Gina with us and instead send Rath tot he Amalgam Spawner. She will probably be helpful as our forgemistress for them helping them to fine tune tha amalgams ability. I think she might have an instinctual understanding on what could help against relics. And Nikus Expertisse on the matter is not small thing either.

>>4142685
(Gah, you're quite correct. I'll rectify that with the start of the next Vein, and I'll try and remember to post the Pastebin with all the links when I get home.)

>>4142692
i can make a note myself that i give you heads up again before the beginning of the next vein. Just to make sure you remember.

>>4142690
Amaras Skintalking has more than once just given her oddly unexpected but deep insight into little bits and pieces of the crucible, aswell as gives her the best and easiest connection to a plethora of information to cross reference and build upon, aswell as ask for aid from should it come to seeing what a chat room can spit out.

Skintalking just seems to be an ability that significantly can help with these processes, but im not sure i trust Sugar to be able to cover it properly, aswell as we simply dont know how her personal Skintalking bends and weaves, as it was.

>>4142691
Rath would not at all be whats needed at the Amalgam Spawner(minus potential need for defending themselves, but i think they can cover that well enough without her.). we dont even know how the spawner might work, which would heavily involve needing the abilities and expertise Francine and Gina have constantly shown to have that works well in these situations. maybe after they actually understand the Spawner, but cutting out Gina could stop or slow that down significantly, and thus would defeat the point of Rath being there at all.

we could split up the Barbers and Midnight Crew to even things out maybe to send Rath in exchange for some of them, but i feel like they wouldn't like that and it would ruin the other teams effectiveness, whereas our family is alot more used to breaking up and working with other teams.

>>4142679
(I'll give it a second look, and I'll update the Pastebin with your Engine's capabilities shortly.)

>>4142697
>Amaras Skintalking has more than once just given her oddly unexpected but deep insight into little bits and pieces of the crucible, aswell as gives her the best and easiest connection to a plethora of information to cross reference and build upon, aswell as ask for aid from should it come to seeing what a chat room can spit out.
I guess I see it. I'm not sure the chance she'll come up with something is enough to have her definitely on that team, but she would have some value. I'd agree to send her to the Spawner if we bring a few Many along to see Magpie. Both for handy communications and for getting some buffs and terrain effects off, I think we'll need them.

I'd rather the Midnight Crew went to the Spawner, though. Given that Francine will be there, they're the more likely group to be hit by Alpha. The Midnight Crew are unexpected, Alpha doesn't have adaptations for them pre-installed. And they have their own adaptive abilities that might help in fighting off Alpha long enough to exfiltrate the team with the Gear.

>>4142707
im not sure Alpha has pre-installed upgrades to face the Barbers, i think its just our team. that, and i cant see Sia being much help against Magpie, but i can see her potentially helping with the Spawner. mind you, im sure shes no slouch in an actual fight, but she still seems to have given up at least a little of that kick for other things, which makes her more suited to the spawner by a long shot.

the Midnight crew would just be muscle, but i disagree Alpha is a goo enough reason to send them there, as we would just need to hold off long enough to evac, which i think the others and Barbers could do just as well, but with the added benefit over the Midnight Crew of having one person almost certainly who can help with figuring out the spawner and... well Sugar theoretically could help too, but probably wont be of any help. but theoretical help is still higher than the Midnight Crew will probably be.

>>4142709
I think Sia would be useful against Magpie, just not in a direct fight. We want to lure Magpie away from the Altar Splinter Faction, whether we fight her or not. Shrouding our group in one of Sia's prosopagnosia fields and running could get Magpie going after us, make her think we're her prey. That would be a pretty effective way to keep the fight away from the Altar Splinter while they flee.

As for the Barbers at the Spawner...I guess they might be useful. Not really sure how much, even Sia's field is less to do with biology and more neurology. I think both teams would be equally dumb muscle there. And I wasn't thinking that Alpha had upgrades for the Barbers pre-installed when she started out, but she knows about Sia and Sugar and so might have built herself some countermeasures by now. Depends on how much weight she can loft in her jet mode, I suppose, that determines what extra modules she has already on her,

>>4142712
i guess i can see that for Sia, but that would entirely depends on just how far she can extend her field, which im pretty certain we have not seen her go that far. she would have to be able to reliably hold up a field she thinks can fool Magpie, otherwise however little it is, she and Sugar still can offer something to the Spawner besides muscle, over the Midnight Crews nothing, which could still make a difference and is enough of a reason to put them there.

>>4142716
Maybe. I don't know, I'm just worried that without Gina to nerf most of Magpie's arsenal we're going to be on the defensive during the fight and need to do more setup to counterbalance. Maybe we can just terraform the entire area flat, leave Magpie no perches to snipe from.

>>4142722
maybe, but with the ranges Magpie has, Gina probably wouldn't be of use really anyways, and especially not in the terrain department, no more than Shu at least. unless we happened to take Magpie in a close fight, but if we did that, arguably, we very much have a plethora of other ways and abilities to help counter and beat her down.

>>4142716
>>4142701
BHOP, what is the limits of Sias illusion abilities, as far as we would put them to use here, at least.

(Gentlemen, I will say this regarding the team split and Magpie's state of mind; she both likes and respects Shu and her family, but that respect does not extend to the Crew or Barbers. The choice here is a balancing act; more numbers equals a better chance to succeed, but a higher chance that Magpie won't pull her punches when dealing with your reinforcements.)

>>4142724
(Sia's field is such that she can reliably cover a medium-diameter area. I'll be happy to answer any other specifics.)

>>4142725
Honestly, I wasn't expecting her to pull her punches anyway. But I guess it's good to know that she'd be holding back at least a bit. We won't be. Heck, my plan was to have Gina scramble her molecules by causing massive feedback on a teleport.

>>4142725
i mean, kinda expected something along those lines, but i doubt if she forces us to put her down, she wont fight as if she hasn't just forced us to put her down. that, and honestly im worried the 'bad end' to our fight with her isnt death, but her temporarily crippling us, then Shu just hearing "Ill wake you up once its your time." or something, before Magpie dumps her and our family into basically cryo pods for who knows how long. and im not sure we would like what we wake up to.

>>4142665
>Look at the blade embedded in Jackie's chest.
>"Is that a T-5 Relic in your chest? No wonder you're itching for a duel."
>"Sure. I can duel you. I hope I can satisfy your expectations."

>>4142675
Jackie's got a T-5 Legendary relic. Calling it now. Just like how our Contender gun can level up the more we fire it, I think Jackie's Soul-edge blade levels up the more souls she feeds it. I can't think of any relic that can ramp up in strength over multiple veins over each killing blow that isn't a T-4 or lower.

But the drawback feels just as lethal. The blade's embedded in Jackie's chest which means it's figuratively and literally a soul-blade as Jackie will have to put her life on the line every time she draws the sword. If the blade shatters....
But that's just my speculation.

>>4142712
Actually I think Sia will be useful against Magpie. Remember her Illusionist abilities? She can disguise the reinforcements as Shu's family members so that Magpie will try to pull her punches as long as the disguise holds. As long as they don't talk that is... the illusion can cover visual tricks but not audible tricks. if we had Ace talk while wearing the disguise of Dorian then the discrepancy will tip Magpie off.

>>4142733
>>4142667
>>4142671
im guessing then the thing in her chest is a blatant and obvious reference then?

>>4142733
i can imgaine it is...... god i hope that thing was in here before i started writing my own story.....it would really suck if someone came here reading this read my story and thought i just copied this thing.

It might not even be that the blade shatters but that she does not manage to feed it enough souls to keep it satisfied. I would think something like that probably has its own very leathal mind and will kill and take over its wielder if it does not feel appreciated. Or maybe i just gave out to to many weapons and items possessed of dangerous and sometimes malevolent spirits

>>4142736
that.... literally will not work at all. literally the second a fight breaks out, the illusion would easily be seen through, as they would fight nothing like our family. doubt someone like Magpie doesnt notice little mannerisms and ticks either, so before the fight, she might easily notice they dont act like our family, and might not appreciate us trying to trick her like that. i mean, shes in no position to point fingers, but it still might make her less likely to listen, what little she might.

>>4142665
Vote;
>Construct your party or parties, and assignments plus Relic Loadout for both;

>Magpie Team;
>>Shu(and Holly), Dorian, Rath, November, and the Midnight Crew
>>>Take 20 Joyous aswell

>Amalgam Team;
>>Gina, Francine, Amara, and the Barbers

Relics:
>Shu; Contender(3 Honey, 3 Parabellum Each), Matrons, and Pacekeepers.
>>Holly; Shawl and Uzi(3x Elemental Mags, 3x Standard), and Gamma Pharynx.

>Dorian; Manus Caelorum, Ventrem Lanceam, and Sui Interitus.

>Rath; Gutgrab Daggers and Ignition Gauntlets.

>November; T5 Forge Core, Sacrificium(Chest), Ego(Leg), Nail(Leg), Dainsleif(Arm), Margraves(Arm)(Shu), Crimsons Jester(Head), and Whistle(GRA HIR)(T5 Slot).

>Gina; The Spine, Tollo Cadere, and Membrum Automata.

>Francine; Surgeon Generals, Inspectors Spectacles, Hydras Heart, and GoreGrowth Box(Gatling Fang).

>Amara; Vocem Virtutis(Free: OMA)(Enhanced: GRA and RHO), Vocalis Nocere, Red Devils, Hearth Rod, and Shawl(Upgraded).

>>4142733
I think it's already broken, just a hilt with a bit of

>>4142738
Not a super blatant one, but given that the Midnight Crew are one big Homestuck reference it's hard not to see it as a reference to Dave Strider's swords. All of them are broken in half, and one of the two creatures that went into making his sprite (spirit guardian things made of fusion of two things, at least one of which must have been dead or doomed to die) was a crow with a sword stabbed through it, making everything prototyped with said sprite have a sword through its chest.

>>4142742
I think we should also give everyone a plate-thoughtling as well. It would cut into our swarmling cap a bit, yeah, but everyone in the group benefiting from Psychica Spiralis is a huge survivability increase. Unlimited auto-counters stated to be "slightly weaker" than the Neurotic Halos' perfect counter should offer a lot of protection.

>>4142744
oh.
thats actually what i thought it was a reference to, but the sword itself isnt really anything special in any of its versions, so the way you guys were talking as if the reference made you know exactly how it would work made me think it was something else.

>>4142742
If anything else. Spawn 4 Rooks and have the Midnight Crew Wield them as a shield so that if Magpie has to look through her scopes, then she can teleport swap with the rooks to ensure that Magpie will be forced to hesitate when looking through the scope. Sure, Shu might take hits, but it's a good way to prevent Magpie from going all out on the Midnight Crew.

>>4142748
>>4142751
i guess, but i was under the impression/saving more in depth planning for the next Vein Update.

also we still have the VISCERA VINCULA if anyone has ideas for it, but i cant see Tethering to Magpie at all working due to her Teleportation, and out of all her unknown abilities, escaping from grapples like that of any kind seems like exactly what she would have up her sleeve, given her build. but i otherwise dont know who on the Amalgam team would make much use of it.

>>4142753
I think Viscera VIncula would be put on Shu. She's got Hundred Handed as one of her skills and can rapidly telescope her reach to put a hook on Magpie. If anything, the Hooks can be used to throw Magpie's aim off until she teleports away.

Given that our primary objective in facing Magpie is distracting her aim so that her window of opportunity of sniping settlement leaders is gone, or talking her down. We primarily aren't aiming to kill her and bhop has told us that Magpie will pull her punches when fighting Shu, so I'm thinking we get need Shu to be in Magpie's face as often as possible and as long as possible. Viscera Vincula would aid our grapple checks if marginally.

>>4142759
i can see it, though that will only matter assuming we take Magpie at anything close to a 'close' fight, otherwise the hooks wouldn't reach. though again to be fair, alot would depend on taking Magpie in a close fight, over what she would prefer.

>>4142761
I think our best chance is to designate Dorian as our spawning point for Trypophilic level fourteen, have him bum-rush Magpie, and then spawn a Rook from him so we can teleport in just before Dorian goes Masque of War.

>>4142742
is Contender in Gatling Maxim or is it in default revolver?

>>4142742
Oh, and we need to give the Gear to the Amalgam team. They're the ones more likely to need to warp out. Also, damn do we need to get another Gear. Got to find the blueprints somewhere.

>>4142763
i could see it, sure. we'll see how that unfolds once we're at that point, assuming the most likely that we cant avoid it.

>>4142665
>>4142742 (You)
Amending Vote;
>Construct your party or parties, and assignments plus Relic Loadout for both;

>Magpie Team;
>>Shu(and Holly), Dorian, Rath, November, and the Midnight Crew
>>>Take 20 Joyous aswell
>>>Give each person on both Teams a Plate-Thoughtling.

>Amalgam Team;
>>Gina, Francine, Amara, and the Barbers
>>>Let them have the Gear, so as to be safer from surprises.

Relics:
>Shu; Contender(3 Honey, 3 Parabellum Each), Matrons, Viscera Vincula, and Pacekeepers.
>>Holly; Shawl and Uzi(3x Elemental Mags, 3x Standard), and Gamma Pharynx.

>Dorian; Manus Caelorum, Ventrem Lanceam, and Sui Interitus.

>Rath; Gutgrab Daggers and Ignition Gauntlets.

>November; T5 Forge Core, Sacrificium(Chest), Ego(Leg), Nail(Leg), Dainsleif(Arm), Margraves(Arm)(Shu), Crimsons Jester(Head), and Whistle(GRA HIR)(T5 Slot).

>Gina; The Spine, Tollo Cadere, and Membrum Automata.

>Francine; Surgeon Generals, Inspectors Spectacles, Hydras Heart, and GoreGrowth Box(Gatling Fang).

>Amara; Vocem Virtutis(Free: OMA)(Enhanced: GRA and RHO), Vocalis Nocere, Red Devils, Hearth Rod, and Shawl(Upgraded).

>>4142764
we currently have no reason to ever not have it in Maxim form, so until we do, consider it our new base form.

>>4142765
always, always right when i post....
anyways, i only went to bed at 4am with not the easiest time falling asleep and already this is gonna be waking me up at 12pm to check on it, so im heading back to bed for a bit.

>>4142767
Have a nice nap anon

In the meantime>>4142665
Supporting>>4142767

>>4142767
It didn't really specify which form the contender's in. All I see is (3 Honey, 3 parabellum each) which might not be enough of a hint for Bhop given the fast amounts of information the he will have to process when voting is over.

Also, I think it's safe to have a pair of Hundred Handed Arms out by default as a pair of spare arms while our original pair hold the Dual Contender Revolvers.


>always, always right when i post....
>anyways, i only went to bed at 4am with not the easiest time falling asleep and already this is gonna be waking me up at 12pm to check on it, so im heading back to bed for a bit.
I'll go amend your post and make revisions in your stead anon.

>>4142767
>anyways, i only went to bed at 4am with not the easiest time falling asleep and already this is gonna be waking me up at 12pm to check on it, so im heading back to bed for a bit.
Good night, anon.

>Construct your party or parties, and assignments plus Relic Loadout for both;

>>4142665

>Magpie Team;
>Shu(and Holly), Dorian, Rath, November, and the Midnight Crew
>Take 20 Joyous aswell
>Give each person on both Teams a Plate-Thoughtling.

>Amalgam Team;
>Gina, Francine, Amara, and the Barbers
>Let them have the Gear, so as to be safer from surprises.

Relics:
>Shu; Contender(Gatling Maxim with Gemini Glades active: 3 Honey, 3 Parabellum Each), Matrons, Viscera Vincula, and Pacekeepers.
>Holly; Shawl and Uzi(3x Elemental Mags, 3x Standard), and Gamma Pharynx.

>Dorian; Manus Caelorum, Ventrem Lanceam, and Sui Interitus.

>Rath; Gutgrab Daggers and Ignition Gauntlets.

>November; T5 Forge Core, Sacrificium(Chest), Ego(Leg), Nail(Leg), Dainsleif(Arm), Margraves(Arm)(Shu), Crimsons Jester(Head), and Whistle(GRA HIR)(T5 Slot).

>Gina; The Spine, Tollo Cadere, and Membrum Automata, Escher's Gear.

>Francine; Surgeon Generals, Inspectors Spectacles, Hydras Heart, and GoreGrowth Box(Gatling Fang).

>Amara; Vocem Virtutis(Free: OMA)(Enhanced: GRA and RHO), Vocalis Nocere, Red Devils, Hearth Rod, and Shawl(Upgraded).

Active Constructs:
Shu:
>2 Hundred Handed Arms as spare arms while Shu's original arms hold a Contender in each arm.
>16 Psychic-Platelings (platelings with Psychic Spiralis modifiers), one for everyone
>9 Bishops
>5 Rooks
>3 Stealthed Scoutlings
>8 Jacklings
>2 Grapplings
>3 Recursive Knightlings (4 Knights inside each)
>2 Recursive Banelings (10 banelings inside each)
>1 Basic Swarmling (50 swarmlings inside)
>Magpie's Fuzzbuzz
>Holly (Not sure if she counts as an active construct that eats up one of Shu's swarmling slot)
>>4142773
>>4142770
I've added Active constructs that we'll be crafting beforehand well before confronting Magpie. And gave Gina Escher's Gear.
Any thoughts on this amended loadout?

>>4142797
Holly is a Spiritus Construct she does not count towards the swarmling limit.

The Arms are fine its just that we probably dont want to go in there with the guns already out.
It might be useful however since we wont have to spawn them then in the first turn.

And not sure on the active swarmlings. Rocking up with our army out will make Magpie be super on edge. She knows what our constructs can do so she would assume we are there to kill her instead of trying to talk to her.

>>4142804
You make a good point there...Although I do want to lessen the damage dealt to the crew and family if push comes to shove. I'll need to think on it.

>>4142797
>>4142665
Amending my vote
>Magpie Team;
>Shu(and Holly), Dorian, Rath, November, and the Midnight Crew
>Take 20 Joyous aswell
>Give each person on both Teams a Psychic-Plateling.

>Amalgam Team;
>Gina, Francine, Amara, and the Barbers
>Let them have the Gear, so as to be safer from surprises.

Relics:
>Shu; Contender(Gatling Maxim with Gemini Glades active: 3 Honey, 3 Parabellum Each), Matrons, Viscera Vincula, and Pacekeepers.
>Holly; Shawl and Uzi(3x Elemental Mags, 3x Standard), and Gamma Pharynx.
>Dorian; Manus Caelorum, Ventrem Lanceam, and Sui Interitus.
>Rath; Gutgrab Daggers and Ignition Gauntlets.
>November; T5 Forge Core, Sacrificium(Chest), Ego(Leg), Nail(Leg), Dainsleif(Arm), Margraves(Arm)(Shu), Crimsons Jester(Head), and Whistle(GRA HIR)(T5 Slot).
>Gina; The Spine, Tollo Cadere, and Membrum Automata, Escher's Gear.
>Francine; Surgeon Generals, Inspectors Spectacles, Hydras Heart, and GoreGrowth Box(Gatling Fang).
>Amara; Vocem Virtutis(Free: OMA)(Enhanced: GRA and RHO), Vocalis Nocere, Red Devils, Hearth Rod, and Shawl(Upgraded).

>Active Constructs
Shu:
>2 Hundred Handed Arms as spare arms while Shu's original arms hold a Contender in each arm.
>16 Psychic-Platelings (platelings with Psychic Spiralis modifiers), one for everyone
>16 Bishops one for everyone (the ones in the amalgam team are set to activate at the start of combat and deactivate once the buff expires)
>5 Rooks (1 for each of the Midnight Crew and Dorian)
>3 Stealthed Scoutlings
>4 Basic Recursive Swarmlings (20 swarmlings inside each)
>2 Recursive Banelings (10 banelings inside each)
>3 Recursive Knightlings (4 knights inside each)
>Magpie's Fuzzbuzz

The appearance of Shu's swarmling army will be mostly defensive, with half of Shu's Army being defensive boosters and support units that help our allies, while the offensive Units (the recursive swarmlings, banelings, and knights) will have a minimal presence at first and act as a Red Herring that soaks up Magpie's Aoe sniper crow bullets.

>>4142773
>>4142804
I know this is something that we could discuss in the interim, but when, where, and how will we deal with Alpha?

>>4142823
we need to find a suitable place. preferably somewhere where we can outmaneouver her where she cant easily turn whiel we dart around and hit her multiple angles. Sadly i dont think there is a place that she cant just level.

Her suppressors might also be coming off so she might start to turn into a wild animal so she might devlop a low cunnign or somethign similar.

SO we might need to go ahead and prepare an arena for her. and then call her there Somethign filled with traps and dangerous terrain that she cant simply circumvent. at least not without spending titanic resources.

Possibly something similar to the swamp. And Skintalker Spells.... Lots and lots of spells. We probably want a couple hundred JoyousMany to cast debuffs on her and buffs on us.

>>4142823
I'm not sure. Someplace where her rocket thrust won't give her a significant movement advantage. Somewhere crowded, I guess, keep her from moving in a straight line any significant distance. I don't know where we'd have that fight that wouldn't be just as bad for us, though.

As for how we fight her, I have no idea. I had ideas, but then West apparently gave Alpha special anti-Defiant weaponry, and now I don't now. Because she's definitely got some heavy resistance if not immunity to Skintalking now, right? So GRAV REV VITA to knock off 87% of her max Health on turn one probably won't work.

File: Holly, the Ravenous.jpg (485 KB, 1280x1776)

485 KB JPG

>>4142665

“Gina? I’d like you, Francine, and Amara to investigate the spawning zone.” You declare, turning to meet the girl’s hazel eyes before looking to Rosa’s scarlet ones across the room. “Rosa, would you and yours be willing to accompany them?”

“Be happy to!” Comes her cheerful answer as Sia tilts her head towards her friend, and even with the Neuromancer’s facial distortions you can sense the glare she’s shooting Rosa’s way.

“Much appreciated. As for me, I’ll be taking Holly, Dorian, Rath, and November to meet with Magpie…” You continue, trailing off as you survey the Midnight Crew. “…and given the fact that we may come to blows there, I’d like to have you with us.”

“Now we’re talkin’!” Jackie says with a grin, throwing her arms wide, glancing over her shoulders at her fellows. “You hear that girls? We’ve got ourselves a hell of a challenge on our hands…”

“…and a hell of a payout, when it’s all done.” She concludes, flashing you a mischievous grin.

After an exchange of heartfelt goodbyes and well-wishes shared among all present, along with a round of hugs from Amara to literally everyone, you and yours finish gearing up with your growing collection of bizarre Relics. You take your leave of the swamp-obscured base, trudging towards the closest waystation with a team two-dozen strong, your numbers bolstered by the twenty Joyous that dutifully march in lock-step with your team. Keane pouts when she realizes they’re not nearly as playful as the genuine article, and after she abandons her attempts the only sounds from your party are their own stomping feet intermingled with the furtive whispers of the Neesons as they bring up the rear of your little platoon.

Your feet collectively carry you northwest at a respectable pace, the rolling plains of raw, reddened flesh slowly giving way to jagged fangs of calcite that rip and tear through the landscape seemingly at random, like bloody teeth bared at a false sky. Your eyes unceasingly rove the terrain, those set in your head as well as those embedded in the shells of the swarmlings that circle high above, an ever-present vigil against the Crucible’s innumerable dangers.

“Hey…you okay?” Holly asks tentatively, yet just as kind and hopeful as always. You smile, finding the expression a little forced given everything you’re up against.

“I’ll be fine.” You insist, though the suspicious look in the girl’s emerald eyes tells you she isn’t convinced, though she knows better than to press the issue. Silence settles among you all once more, and amid the steady static of your family’s squelching footfalls you have a moment to consider how best to pass the time until…

…well, until the inevitable.

>>Actually...you will ask Holly something.

>>See what Rath and November are talking about.

>>Speak to Dorian, he’s been quiet.

>>Catch up with the Midnight Crew.

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

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

>>4142878
(As an aside, this day is proving to be filled with meetings regarding recent news, so my apologies for the longer voting times. I hope to cut them a bit shorter soon, if I can.)

>>4142872
>>Actually...you will ask Holly something.
>"What do you think Holly? Any ideas on what could get through to Magpie? I... I am afraid.. that i will mess this up... and will have to face her in combat"
>Try afterwards to clear up the mood a bit and gesture for the relics
>"On the other hand. Are you okay with that monster of a relic stuck in your mouth? Anything you could think up for the future so we can keep you competitive?"


>>4142882
Four hours are fine OP God on the day we were told that we would have to work from home we were in meetings constantly as well. I could see the color draining from my bosses face every every time i saw her. At the end of the day she was pretty done.

>>4142882
>>4142878
Hey, it's the virus. it's inevitable that things will get tied up.
My state closed down all restaurants, so it's horrible for those waiters and bartenders. I think they do deliveries only now. Although I'm not affected by that so much as the paperwork regarding my leave of absence.

>>4142872
>Speak to Dorian, he’s been quiet.
>"Care for some company?"
>Let Dorian speak his mind and listen.

>>4142892
>that coworker
Big OOF right there.
How big of a pain is she in the workplace?

>>4142882
hey, take your time man. alot of people no longer even have work or school at all anymore, so take your situation as you will.

>>4142872
>Catch up with the Midnight Crew.
>>Ask them how they've been, what interesting things they've been up to, and how things seem to be out there from how they can tell.
>>Jokingly ask Jackie whos all shes pissed off this time around too, and what sorta trouble she and hers has caused.

>>4142892
>>4142896
(A big 'oof' to that coworker, indeed.)

>>4142896
>>4142904
My Boss? She is a real stickler for the rules. But she is getting more relaxed now that routine has returned to the workplace after some big and sorely needed hires.

My Coworker on the other hand...... I will not badmouth him but god he makes my blood boil. Just thinking about him is making my blood pressure rise to unhealthy levels again. And having to walk him through the process of how to install a piece of software that we have a step by step manual for.............

>>4142892
>I... I am afraid.. that i will mess this up... and will have to face her in combat"
im not really a fan of this line. feels way too fickle for Shu, and also way too late by this point to be having reservations about the most likely outcome of this situation.

>>4142918
So more something like this? More forceful and direct. Seeing the Battle more like an unnecessary waste of resources than somwthing to truly dread to have to face someone Shu likes in combat
>"I hope that i can reach her and prevent this battle. Maybe you can help me find an angle that i haven't thought of yet?"

>>4142919
that works yeah.
a main part of it id say is the fact us having to meet her in person is already based on the fact things failed, just, not Shu who failed id argue. also felt a bit too much like it ignored that however much it sucks, we are going there to kill her. we might hope that wont actually be necessary, but both we and Magpie had our conversation and said quite clearly we were gonna stop her, and she very much made it clear it probably wont be through words.

damnit Magpie, you didn't even deserve it, but all you had to do was accept a slap on the wrist. now, even if we talk you down, theres no way we wont still need to be harsher with you.

>>4142872
Ammending my vote from >>4142892
to
>>Actually...you will ask Holly something.
>"What do you think Holly? Any ideas on what could get through to Magpie? I hope that i can reach her and prevent this battle. Maybe you can help me find an angle that i haven't thought of yet?"
>Try afterwards to clear up the mood a bit and gesture for the relics
>"On the other hand. Are you okay with that monster of a relic stuck in your mouth? Anything you could think up for the future so we can keep you competitive?"

>>4142925
actually, i just thought of a good idea for part of Magpies punishment if she does get talked down.

she has to listen to a long winded lecture from Amara while we encourage her to use lots of words too big or complex for her age.

>>4142950
that's cruel you know. good for comedy, but this is a sort of drama moment.

>>4142952
well yeah, which is why i'd only happen afterwards assuming things calmed down.

>>4142950
And Amara getting words wrong is definitely at least halfway intentional, so telling Amara to use complicated words would get her doing it for every other noun.

>>4142872
>>Catch up with the Midnight Crew.

File: EQTSnP5X0AEDIxI.jpg (118 KB, 1000x1329)

118 KB JPG

>>4142904
hey BHOP, heres something cool i just found, thought ya would like it.

https://imgur.com/gallery/j5jjErv

also, an awesome doggo picture.

>>4142983
(Well this is just the coolest thing I've ever seen. Thank you for sharing!)

(Headed home for the day Gentlemen, and I'll be posting once I arrive.)

God damn it i thouzght i had fixed my sleeping schedule and with working from home letting me stay up longer but i still need more time to adjust.

Ah well i will head to bed now. Good night anons

Good Night OP

>>4143257
Good night, anon. We'll try not to get anyone killed while you're gone. Sleep well.

>>4143257
(Sleep well, Anon. You probably won't be missing much, as I'll likely make this next post the day's last so I can try and get some pre-work done and then get some rest for tomorrow.)

>>4143264
(This is me, posting from the first time since I got home.)

File: The Crew's New Look.gif (6 KB, 650x450)

6 KB GIF

>>4142872

You fall back a bit, weaving through the field of Joyous as you sidle up to Jackie and the rest of her Crew, intent on a much needed catch-up.

“Everything’s been going so fast, I wanted to pump the brakes a bit and ask what you all have been up to.” You announce, glancing among the four Paladins even as you survey from high above as your brood soars on translucent wings. “Who’s Jackie pissed off this time around? Anyone interesting?”

“Been busy.” Ace says, surprising you by the simple fact that she’s the first to speak up. “Boss here’s keeping us on the move.”

“To get stronger, that’s what we gotta do!” Jackie fires back, giving a pointed wink to her armored companion despite only having one eye with which to emote. “Took up hunting down a few Amalgams for some quick levels, to try and get some momentum going after you let us shuffle around our powers a bit. We’re all pretty happy about that opportunity, I’d say.”

“I know I sure am.” Quinn chimes in, giving you a playful wink as she flexes one powerful arm. “Now that I’m not taking freaking forever to amp up, I can play vanguard alongside Ace Attorney, here.”

“Oh, oh! Ace and I figured out a new move!” Keane interjects excitedly, struggling to shove her way past the Joyous that’ve boxed her in. “She drains whoever she’s in close combat with, but a lot faster now, so I suck off the surplus and use it to heal the rest of us!”

“Okay, first? Phrasing.” Jackie grimaces, prompting Keane’s cheeks to go red. “And second, Ace’s DPS is nuts now that we were able to clone that axe of hers, and Quinn’s a goddamn force of nature.”

“So…what about yourself? Gotta say, I’m getting curiouser about that sword by the minute, and you being all cagey about it doesn’t help my wonderings.” Comes your inevitable query, complete with your own wry grin.

“Ha, alright, if you insist…” The slender girl relents with a shrug of her sharp, angular shoulder blades. “Figured picking up an odd job here or there would help us cover the Relic side of things, so we took a job to plunge into some old Hexane ruins…and this time ‘round, we didn’t have a full-blown skirmish on our hands.”

She sticks her tongue out at you, continuing before you counter that Ozmas’ home was her idea.

“Anyway, we find what the commissioner was looking for, which was this weird-lookin’ tea set…at least, I think that’s what it was. Dunno how the Hexane drink, but anyway.” The girl just shakes her head, getting back on track. “In the same room there was the little shrine, everything cleared away from this sword. Biomass seemed to avoid everything but the sword, actually…the veins and gristle and shit just seemed drawn to it, like it was trying to eat it. I took it by way of payment since Paloma said we could keep anything else we saw there, and when we returned with the cups and junk, she was pleased as punch.”

(Continued)

>>4143316

“So much so that Paloma gave us a second job! The one that took us to Carroll’s Forest!” Keane adds, a note of pride in her high voice. “Suffice to say that we nailed it, after only a pinch of having to deal with horrific nightmare trees!”

“Paloma…that name’s been thrown around a lot lately.” You muse.

“She pays well, and she’s about as safe a haven as you can get with everything that’s been going on, what with Hunger riots and the three big-ass Amalgams that’ve been on the move.” Jackie comments with a shrug, a diminutive bat fluttering away from one of the voids in her skull as it flits over to your shoulder. “She also said if we knew anyone who’s not trying to make the world worse off, then to send them her way.”

A brief series of chirps and squeaks issue from the bat’s tiny mouth, the sounds forming into a place, a destination…a purpose, as Jackie grins.

“So I told her I knew just the gal.”

>>IKEA Coordinates: Acquired

"And as far as my sword, well..." Jackie trails off with a sly smile.

"...I've got a keep a few tricks up my sleeve if I'm gonna beat you."

You exchange a bit more idle chatter with the Crew, touching on such topics as Quinn’s fixation on a rumored biological male that’s supposedly jumping from Waystation to Waystation around the Crucible, and all the way to Keane’s long-winded monologue about how she’d fix some of her more beloved webcomics, that vast majority of which you’ve never even heard of. You’re so immersed in conversation that you almost don’t notice the subtle shift in terrain, the teeth growing closer and closer together until you’re reduced to clambering over the interlocked fangs, measuring speed against caution as you all make your way over the treacherous calcite canopy.

The sight of smoke on the horizon makes your heart skip a beat. For a single, panic-stricken moment you think you’re too late, ice running through your veins as you surge ahead, propelled by the unrivaled force of your Ravenous Maw’s prehensile tongue. Your urgency carries you with utmost haste to the top of a pointed ridge, and at the summit you see an encampment nestled in the slope of the valley, trails of smoke billowing from the tops of the assorted tents. There’s no gunfire, no violence, no chaos, but instead merely an oddly familiar scent wafting up from the cavernous valley.

"Chris, is that a weed I'm calling the police?!" Quinn rattles off behind you, and you're turning around when Ace immediately counters.

"Nine-one-one, what's your emergency?" She urgently intones from within the confines in her armor, you you crack a smile as the Midnight Crew cackles among themselves. You have to admit a certain sort of relief now that you've located the Altered Altar's offshoot, perched at the edge of a...

...huh.

(Continued)

>>4143320

You quint, realizing that their camp rests on the precipice of a yawning void, the teeth that you've clambered over leading into the rasping throat of a colossal, lamprey-esque maw. It begins to breathe in slowly, and you watch as the smoke is drawn downwards, slowly spiraling into the land's greedy mouth as it breathes deep, steady breaths. In any case, you've beaten Magpie to her next target and all that's left is to wait for her arrival...

...and for better or worse, you don't have to wait long.

She comes stalking up the ridge far below you, trudging up the path of interlocked fangs on long, slender legs. You have the high ground, waiting atop the lip of the massive mouth as you watch her slowly make her way to where you and your assembled allies stand. Magpie takes her time, walking as though she has all the time in the world as her hovering eyes orbit her head of raven hair. From your swarmlings' point of view, you see the twin pistols strapped to her waist, while her revolver's tucked into an underarm holster that's revealed when a fetid breeze wafts across the tooth-infested hills that surround you. Her compact machine gun's dangling lazily from one hand, while her rifle and shotgun are nowhere to be seen. Magpie's finally arrived, equipped for a fight...no.

Not a fight.

A massacre.

The older woman finally stops a few dozen yards below you, leaning her head to one side as her neck pops with an audible crack.

"I'll admit, I'm impressed you beat me here." She drawls, slowly reaching into her pocket as you and your allies collectively tense, until she reveals a cigarette and lighter clutched in the spindly fingers of her left hand. "Impressed...and a little disappointed, if I'm bein' honest."

"I want to talk." You declare, staring down at her as she cracks a smile.

"I'm sure you do." She grins.

"I want to *understand*, Magpie. I want to know why you're doing this." You continue, your defensive swarm hovering around your allies as you take a step forward. "I want to give you a chance. A choice...and I hope you'll make the right one."

"Kiddo, I hope you know that I'd tell you if I-" She says, and she almost drops her lighter as her hand spasms, a wince of pain crossing her features as her grin transforms briefly into a grimace before reverting back as she lights her cigarette.

"You want a 'why', Shu?" She finally says, every word deliberate as she tilts her eyeless sockets towards you. "I cannot say."

"We don't want to hurt you, Magpie." Rath growls, her balled fists radiating enough heat to prompt both the Crew and the Joyous to take a collective step away from her. "But we'll stop you from hurting anyone down there if that's what we-"

"You mean you'll kill me, is what you're trying to say. Hey, you'd hate to kill me. Heh, I get it." Magpie interrupts with a grin, followed by a shrug. "You seem a decent sort - I hate to die."

(Continued)

File: Magpie, Bound and Gagged.jpg (165 KB, 490x700)

165 KB JPG

>>4143323

"No-one has to die today, Magpie."

You take another step forwards, spreading your arms as you open your empathic channel once more to the woman before you. As her thoughts wash over you, you find they're like steel - cold, unwavering, and hardened in the rusted trap that is her mind. Guilt weaves through them, though not at what she intends to do...no, that is merely what must follow as a result of that which she should've done. Could've done. Would've done, if only she'd been stronger. If only she stopped her when she had the-

"Sure they do." Magpie replies, breathing out a lungful of smoke as her mind retreats from your own prying consciousness. "Look...I really don't want to hurt y'all, either. Nobody here wants to hurt each other...'cept your spitfire there. She's itching to acquaint her knuckles with my jaw, but that's just how she is."

It's Rath's turn to shrug.

"But what we have here is an impasse, a failure to communicate...though that's not the fault of anyone here....ow. Heh, shit...too close, huh?" Magpie softly chuckles, taking another drag on her cigarette after wincing once again. "Ah...but I'll make a deal with you, kiddo."

She extends her arm, her dwindling cigarette held taught between two long fingers.

"You want to talk...so I'll listen, for as long as it takes for me to finish this." Magpie says, a curious lilt to her voice. "Seems me talking is getting a little hard, so you've got this old woman's ear for a minute while I enjoy my last little vice."

She brings it to her lips, the ashes glowing bright as she inhales, and you watch as the light slowly fades as she exhales another deep breath of thick, whirling smoke.

Her eyes are on you.

You swallow, hard.

"Ball's in your court, Shu."

>>You have her here, face to face...and you can make Magpie understand [Write-In].

>>You can tell Magpie's not going to back down...so you know what you have to do [Initiate Combat].

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

(Gentlemen, I shall be pausing here for the evening. Voting shall remain open for the next fifteen hours, with posting to resume in around seventeen, give or take. As always, I'll be around for the rest of the evening to address any questions you all may have, in addition to any criticisms, comments, and the like.)

(I do hope everyone's day has gone well, and I look forward to seeing where you all take this encounter. I wish you the best, and take care.)

>>4143326
>"Kiddo, I hope you know that I'd tell you if I-" She says, and she almost drops her lighter as her hand spasms, a wince of pain crossing her features as her grin transforms briefly into a grimace before reverting back as she lights her cigarette.

>"You want to talk...so I'll listen, for as long as it takes for me to finish this." Magpie says, a curious lilt to her voice. "Seems me talking is getting a little hard, so you've got this old woman's ear for a minute while I enjoy my last little vice."

Something's definitely off about Magpie.

>that filename: "Magpie, Bound and Gagged"

Okay. There's a big hint about Magpie. Bound and gagged? Magpie's bound by something, and that contract binds her from doing anything else except follow the terms lest she risks the consequences. Is there a Geas on Magpie? or does Magpie have something that's she's forced to be mum about? She seems like she wants to talk and willing to listen, but the same message we might be preaching might not work again.

>>4143320
>Quinn’s fixation on a rumored biological male that’s supposedly jumping from Waystation to Waystation around the Crucible
oh, Guess Carter has a fan. good luck with that Carter, dont think the Midnight crew are the best to upset.

>>4143331
hope your afternoons quite good BHOP, and hope none of this panic or the actual virus is too close to home.

also, can Shu tell if this is the real Magpie? id assume so, as we got a read off her, but id like to double check.

>>4143335
i mean, her emotions seemed pretty clear. not saying you're wrong, only whatever she might be bound by, she almost certainly accepted willingly. that is, assuming its not saying she feels bound by past mistakes and such. she also seems to be suffering some disease cutting her time short. maybe that Spiral hit never healed properly? as far as we were aware, such effects shouldn't be permanent, at least so long as the inflictor is killed, which they were. but maybe the Spiral had enough materials to break the standard, which we know isnt impossible.

>>4143335
>>4143326

It seems that every time she talks, she is inflicted with pain that she tries to suppress but she winces with said pain from some unknown geas.

>"But what we have here is an impasse, a failure to communicate...though that's not the fault of anyone here....ow. Heh, shit...too close, huh?" Magpie softly chuckles, taking another drag on her cigarette after wincing once again. "Ah...but I'll make a deal with you, kiddo."

>"though that's not the fault of anyone here...ow."
Magpie seems to go on longer but something seems to make her verbally wince in pain
>"Heh, shit...too close huh?"
Magpie chuckles at the bind she's in because what she's trying to do cuts too close to violating the terms she's apparently bound to. The longer she stays her hand from pulling the trigger, the more pain she's in.

>>4143340
That's not it. remember the relic weapons she's crafted?

>Magpie: if the single rifle and odd assortment of Relics at her disposal were Magpie at her least serious, the raven-haired woman’s current Loadout is her playing hardball. Her long, reinforced jacket grants her moderate protection against all elemental damage types, while the living necklace she has tucked into her shirt grants her a heightened chance to avoid critical hits and allow her a counter-attack on dodge. Meanwhile, the Heaven’s Guns are a sextet of devastating firearms that offer a ballistic solution for nearly every problem, though with an unfortunate drawback. Where’s Magpie’s concerned, violence isn’t a solution - It’s the question…and the answer is ‘yes’.

The relic weapons have a drawback. It's not stated, but it's heavily implied that Magpie must inflict violence and fill a quota in order to not receive a backlash. That's why the quote of " violence isn’t a solution - It’s the question…" is relevant. It's asking the wielder: "Will there be violence?"

>>4143348
yeah.
but she still chose to pick the weapons up, and still has no qualms about what they are making her do, if they are even really forcing her hand, over just speeding up the process.

>>4143348
Can we redirect the need for violence? Like, say, towards a killer cyborg? If she has to kill for whatever reason, and she says she's doing this to help us, maybe telling her that she'd do a much better job of helping us by fighting Alpha alongside us would manage to redirect the geas she's under.

>>4143340
(As far as you can tell, this is the real Magpie. At the very least you can tell that this is not a construct or a mere illusion.)

>>4143326
>As her thoughts wash over you, you find they're like steel - cold, unwavering, and hardened in the rusted trap that is her mind. Guilt weaves through them, though not at what she intends to do...no, that is merely what must follow as a result of that which she should've done. Could've done. Would've done, if only she'd been stronger. If only she stopped her when she had the-

>>4143350
look closely at the dialogue here:

>"Kiddo, I hope you know that I'd tell you if I-" She says, and she almost drops her lighter as her hand spasms, a wince of pain crossing her features as her grin transforms briefly into a grimace before reverting back as she lights her cigarette.

>"You want a 'why', Shu?" She finally says, every word deliberate as she tilts her eyeless sockets towards you. "I cannot say."

She was going to say something, but she was interrupted by pain. Then she switched her answer to saying: "I cannot say".
This means that she would like to say the answer, but she's been bound by a geas or an oath to not divulge on pain of death.

We're trying to save the settlement here and trying to talk Magpie down.

>>4143363
Well, at least that means that if this does come to blows, Dorian should be able to use his initiative boost to Masque of War her and keep her from playing teleport sniper-tag with us.

>>4143368
and you're outright ignoring what im actually saying, and the point im making, aswell as other info given to us about her mental state.

>>4143368
Maybe if we can knock her out we can put the Neurotic Crown on her, remove that geas effect. To bad we don't have enough Neurotic Halos spare on hand to assemble the Crown right here and now. Oh, Ascendants' Crown, you're so powerful but so very impractical to make use of.

>>4143326
>Have a swarmling do a quick whizz by, blowing out her cig with a gust.
>"Hrm, well theres at least a few seconds longer. you seem to not be doing too well, a last vice might not be a good idea, regardless of how this turns out."

>"We're not here to negotiate Magpie. You know what we stand for and why we're here. You're not hurting anyone else, causing anymore chaos or problems. just a matter of how much of yours and ours bloods on the ground before we stop you."
>"Just... please. drop the weapons. toss them aside, and we can take you in, and settle this like actual adults, instead of whatever you're pretending to be."
>"what is this really about? why are you so damn intent on doing this? sure, you've said your spiel about the Spiral and all that nonsense, but you'r either way too thick of skull or way less bright than you seem, if you think im blind to the clear picture theres more to this than just that."
>"This have to do with Mara? and what you helped her do? what? Mara didn't have the best intentions when she made all these groups, is that it? so because you and her were asses, it doesn't mean they cant be used for good, cant change their direction? it means they all gotta be killed and buried?"
>"Or maybe its something else. maybe those guns give you an itchier trigger finger than normal?"
>"....But none of that changes the fact you still chose this, you chose to pick up your weapons, and you chose to go slaughter people like cattle, and its you standing here not having any qualms about what you're doing... only what you didn't do."
>sigh, and let your tone go soft.
>"Hasn't the Crucible seen enough needless bloodshed? hasn't it seen enough people, who refuse to try something else but to cut a path forward? Whatever you did, or didn't do, stop letting it eat you up. ive seen enough of where that leads... and put enough people down over it. but i have put them down, as necessary, and ill do it again."
>"You need something to shoot, we need a hand against actual threat, actual problems. not ones you wish to make out of only possibilities, but real, current ones. We got some good, wonderful healers with us. toss down your weapons, come with us. we'll get that wince looked at, we'll figure out what needs to be done about what you've done, but at least you'll actually have a chance to do some good, instead of littering the fleshscape with corpses on a hunch."

>Take a moment to hint at your team to be prepared for the worst, and put your hand on your Contender.
>"Or. we do what you, not us, chose. we put you down, and save lives. its what we're good at, afterall, just like you said."

>>4143377
(It's 'Awesome, but Impractical' to its core. Potentially game-breaking with some tinkering and forethought, to be sure.)

>>4143326
>"Magpie, Look I don't know exactly your more personal history regarding the time you've been awake, nor your beef with Mara, but I think I get the basic gist of your situation. You're bound under a geas right? You're compelled to seek and create violence. I don't know what forged the geas, so I can only guess that it's the weapons that you've made."
>"I've made my heartfelt speech to you over the phone, but saying the same thing here won't work."
>"So...I'm going to have to try and convince you in a different way."
>Gather up your resolve and take a deep breath.
>"I want to hire you for a job."
>"I've got a problem that needs to be dealt with. And I need your help and your guns. Violence will be required."
>stress the word "will"
>"I have a veritable Terminator named West Alpha who is specialized in hunting my family down. Strong, durable, fast, melee based, Veritable cold berserker. Makes Relics and weapons on the fly and in great quantities due to having a working Forge built into her gut. A walking loot pinata. Fought Mara to a stalemate after 6 hours of constant fighting. My family is not equipped to deal with her. Not sure if we can even win."
>"Help me take her down, please. As payment, Any relics Alpha makes from her forge in combat will be yours for the taking."

You can yell at me for being a dumb shit, but hiring her is just a temporary stopgap measure. It saves the altered Altar from the immediate threat if Magpie is convinced, and we get additional help in fighting against Alpha. This will hopefully sate Magpie's Geas quota, but it also gives us time to help figure out Magpie's deal with her guns and her long drawn out hidden vendetta.

>>4143413
>>4143326
yeah no im highly against this. it ignores the very real and very heavy fact that whatever else might be motivating her, she still very much had a say, choice, and has emotionally shown herself to be more than ok with the path she is going down.

plus, i refuse to give her payment, both after what she has done, and because again, she very much had a choice in getting down this route and very much still wanted it to some degree. the last thing we need is to make her more powerful, especially with Alpha tier relics, and im not gonna trick her either and say we will then refuse to give them to her or something.

even if she is under a geas, its a terrible plan, in my opinion.

>>4143425
give me some time to think on this, you've helpfully pointed out Magpie's mental state and convictions. so I'll try to come up with some supplementary lines to go with your write-in.

>>4143413
>>4143326
Revoking my own vote.

>>4143413
>>4143447
also, on the Geas part. your plan wouldn't work anyways. if it is a Geas, it seems to be per gun. shes taken down two factions, she is now missing two guns. she has at least two more, assuming the pistols count as a pair. Alpha would only count as one, assuming whatever 'contract' she has, doesn't have further rules, such as 'taking out groups.' which would mean, she either would have to take down the entire Proxy catalog, or at least enough to say she did, and no matter what she would still have at least one to go, and for sure needing a 'valid target' for it, not just any ol amalgam, which we actually after Alpha currently dont have.

this is, of course, an educated guess, but it may fall a bit flat due ot her having NINE other settlements she planned to hit. which implies one of two things; Quality/Quantity matters, the Contract is preset and cannot be changed, or she knows exactly how this works, and just planned to pick them up again. which, even if im right about the rest, both the amount she planned to hit, and he demeanor at all this, makes it clear the last one is probably true regardless of the rest.

>>4143458
If I'm reading this right, then "for each settlement" Mara has founded, Magpie has made a gun solely for destroying said "settlement".

>>4143494
not exactly what i was thinking, but... honestly? id not be surprised. at all. would mean less she plans to pick these back up, and that she has another stash somewhere instead though.
but, i think that would be semantics at that point, or at least currently.

damn, that really does sound like her though... yet is a very annoying idea if true.

File: ETDRnT3UEAA-VF3.jpg (1.61 MB, 4096x1609)

1.61 MB JPG

>>4143377
>>4143363
>>4143494
i think the phrase "id be highly impressed if you weren't such an asshole." is the perfect phrase for how im feeling about Magpie at the moment.

>>4143458
>if it is a Geas, it seems to be per gun. shes taken down two factions, she is now missing two guns.
I'm not sure about that. She took out the Apex before losing the long guns, remember? So it can't be by group taken out, because she would have only lost one since last we saw her if that's how it works. It's either by value of target or number of targets. Assuming that she is able to discard guns as she completes hits, and that it's not something else. It probably is that, but the fact that Six Black Heaven's Guns is a reference makes me think that they're meant to be a set of six and that she didn't have a seventh gun before she took down the Apex.

Though I guess both discrepancies could be solved by "is able" not being the same thing as "has to". So she held onto one of the guns after taking out the Apex despite having the opportunity to lose it, and only decided to ditch it after seeing Shu at Laoc because...she's feeling guilty about us, maybe?

>>4143523
She does see a lot of Alex (her son) in Shu, there may be some guilt associated with that. From the thoughts that we could glean when our field brushed up against her mind, her guilt has the "should've would've could've" thought of being able to prevent SOMETHING that happened in the past, and she's beating herself up about it.

>>4143523
maybe she thought it was still useful. it being made to take down the Apex and being 'contracted' to them, doesn't mean it might not be useful against the Altar.

but then she took them down and ran out of an excuse to use it. could also be an ammo/ custom ammo thing. she had rounds leftover, then used them up. its also assuming she hasn't altered her loadout beyond the guns since she made them, even assuming they were made for specific settlements/contracts, and had custom ammo that now didnt fit the gun originally intended for said target.

just dont think her having hit two targets and missing two guns is random is all.

>>4143532
wait, hang on a tic, where does it mention Magpie missing two guns from her repetoire?

>>4143537
>>4143532
Never mind, found it.

Okay, I'm reading over her words again, and I'm not sure that Magpie took the guns up by choice.

>"But what we have here is an impasse, a failure to communicate...though that's not the fault of anyone here....ow. Heh, shit...too close, huh?" Magpie softly chuckles, taking another drag on her cigarette after wincing once again.

Saying that the reason she can't communicate isn't the fault of anyone in the current conversation triggered the geas. And the "too close, huh" suggests she was trying to get around the geas. Someone else is responsible for her being set on this warpath, and she's just resigned to having to follow it. The "if only she stopped her when she had the-" isn't referring to Magpie's guilt over not stopping Uzu before she could become the Spiraling Fear, an event that convinced her she has to do these executions. It's referring to her guilt at not stopping whoever is making her do this.

>>4143582
im not sure about that. still sounds like she just means she just feels we're not on the same page, but doesn't blame anyone for this.

it feels just about the opposite of Magpie and how she is to ever be ok being a puppet. her personality is more of one where she would just take the pain and possible death if it was that, and certainly wouldn't be so emotionally ok with the situation.

unless she was still ok with what goal she was given, i guess,but that wraps back around to her simply being ok with it and that itself being a major issue, regardless of anything else.

>>4143589
Maybe. But the fact that saying "no one here is responsible for this" triggered the geas still has me worried. It suggests that either the person responsible is somewhere else, or that just the act of trying to communicate lack of blame makes the guns angry. Either one is really bad, but I'm hoping it's the first because at least then communication is possible. Very difficult, but possible.

>>4143607
i mean, its a pretty vague statement, that could mean too many things to pin down, even considering the Geas. but she still is way too ok with all this for this to be entirely outside what she wants.

>>4143612
She's resigned to it, not okay with it. She's feeling guilty for not stopping the chain of events that lead to this, but she doesn't feel she has a choice. I don't know, it's got me worried. I'll work on my write-in once I've eaten, I started making dinner way too late. See if I can say something that conveys "okay, I'm not sure how much culpability you have here but I've got to stop you regardless, so if there's any chance you're being forced to do this, I'm sorry for what has to be done and hope that there's a way to communicate with you freely afterwards".

>>4143612
It could be a condition of "learned helplessness", Magpie's okay with this because she resigned to the fact that she'll have to slaughter more settlements, but that doesn't mean she's truly helpless. Otherwise she and bhop wouldn't have given out hints that she's under a geas.

>>4143619
>>4143620
i disagree. heavily. shes not the type who would just be ok with being a puppet or resign herself to this, doesn't fit her personality at all, nor at all do i agree all the bits and pieces at all add up to that.

>>4143620
Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. She might be able to fight it, but whoever is responsible is strong enough that she thinks that even if she can it's not worth the struggle anymore.

>>4143624
Her personality has shown itself to be pretty depressive. I can easily believe that she'd eventually give up on fighting a geas. And the bits and pieces definitely add up to there being someone else involved. How else are you going to interpret the geas punishing her there?

>>4143630
not so damn depressive she would be ok with this if it wasn't what she wanted, and nothing about the potential Geas means she didnt choose to pick them up and someone else is pulling the strings, nor that one line.

plus her personality is still way too stubborn for just accepting this, and earlier she was being pretty honest to use about still wanting to do this.

>>4143639
>not so damn depressive she would be ok with this if it wasn't what she wanted, and nothing about the potential Geas means she didnt choose to pick them up and someone else is pulling the strings, nor that one line.
But she's not okay with it. You keep saying that, it's not true. She's resigned to it, that's not the same thing. She thinks she has no other choice but to do this, but she's not alright with that fact. We're explicitly told that she feels guilt she couldn't stop this from happening. And while that line doesn't necessarily mean she's unwilling, it does cast doubt on her culpability if there's another party involved that she's not allowed to speak of. I'm not saying that Magpie is some completely innocent didn't do anything victim in this process. But without knowing more I'm hesitant to have Shu castigate her. Honestly, I'm not sure what Shu's response should be, I doubt the geas will let her surrender. I'm leaning more and more towards just fighting.

>>4143326
>>4143326
>>You have her here, face to face...and you can make Magpie understand [Write-In].
>"God damn it, you're clearly geased. Is there even a point to having this conversation, Magpie? Could you even surrender if you wanted to? Will the geas let you tell me that? I mean, I don't know if you want to, it's unclear how much of this is you and how much is you being controlled, but it would be nice to know if it's at least possible."
>"If you can back out from this, if that's an option, please just set your guns down. I've got so many bigger problems to deal with, and if you were honest about your desire to clear the way for me you could do that so much better by helping me with them. Kill some people and things that deserve it, instead of a bunch of hippies. Please, I'm begging you. I don't want to have to fight another person I care about because they're being too stubborn. Uzu and Isabel were enough."
>"And if you can't back out from this, if the geas is controlling you too much...then I'm sorry, but you know I have to stop you. I'm sorry for what would have to happen, then. Though afterwards, you're going to give me some answers on how you got this geas. I really hope you didn't put it on yourself, I don't want there to be some mastermind but I'd like to think of you fondly."
>"Either way, Magpie, the choice is yours. If you still have a choice. Please make the right one."

>>4143326
>You take another step forwards, spreading your arms as you open your empathic channel once more to the woman before you. As her thoughts wash over you, you find they're like steel - cold, unwavering, and hardened in the rusted trap that is her mind. Guilt weaves through them, though not at what she intends to do...no, that is merely what must follow as a result of that which she should've done. Could've done. Would've done, if only she'd been stronger.

>>4143648
no, you're just reading it how you wish it was. nothing about that makes her seem non complaint, but actually outright ok and resolved to see this through. it doesn't sound defeatist, doesn't sound resolved, but sounds exactly like shes stubbornly determined to do this.

Here's a thing that I noted:

Our conversation with Magpie over the phone:
>"You talked, now you get to listen." The older woman cuts you off with a hardness to her voice that wasn't there before. "The Monastery wasn't your fault; it was mine. Please don't feel guilty about it, Shu. There wasn’t anything you could’ve done, not with…"

>A bitter sigh, exhaled with intent.

"I was too much of a goddamn coward to stop it when I saw what was going on, and now that I have nothing in my way I'm damn well going to correct that mistake." She declares, her tone leaving zero room for argument."

Note that Magpie changes the subject mid sentence. and follows up with a declaration.

Here's our conversation with Magpie face to face:

>"I want to *understand*, Magpie. I want to know why you're doing this." You continue, your defensive swarm hovering around your allies as you take a step forward. "I want to give you a chance. A choice...and I hope you'll make the right one."

>"Kiddo, I hope you know that I'd tell you if I-" She says, and she almost drops her lighter as her hand spasms, a wince of pain crossing her features as her grin transforms briefly into a grimace before reverting back as she lights her cigarette.

>"You want a 'why', Shu?" She finally says, every word deliberate as she tilts her eyeless sockets towards you. "I cannot say."

Magpie also changes the subject here, but makes it plain that the reasons are enforced by pain if she intends to state the motive behind the killings.

>"But what we have here is an impasse, a failure to communicate...though that's not the fault of anyone here....ow. Heh, shit...too close, huh?" Magpie softly chuckles, taking another drag on her cigarette after wincing once again. "Ah...but I'll make a deal with you, kiddo."

Again, I'm seeing a common line here.
If Magpie tries to state a motive, she cannot answer properly. If she states that no one is at fault for something, she's interrupted by the geas.

Motives of why, the "who's to blame", if magpie cannot find a reason nor a target to blame, then the geas punishes Magpie.

Come to think of it, the Six heavenly Guns is a reference to Guilty Gear's song Six Black Heavenly Guns.
So...are Magpie's guns a set of Guilty Guns that demand a target to blame?

>>4143582
Agreed.

>though that's not the fault of anyone here....ow. Heh, shit...too close, huh?

She's trying to imply that it IS the fault of someone who ISN'T here. And apparently, that was too close to the truth, and the geas triggered.

A thought, as to who's controlling Magpie: This occurred when we liberated all of West's proxies, like immediately afterwards. And when we did so, West Prime told us that we had made a big mistake. Could this be something that was triggered as a result?

>>4143732
>>4143582

HOLD THE PHONE.
Didn't Magpie get one of those Crimson Cord Cutters implanted in her head by a West Proxy?

>>4143676
This is why I think that she's being influenced by someone else. Because she did state a motive, earlier. When we spoke to her via Hivephone she did state a motive, that it was to prevent more Monasteries. If she's unable to state her motive now, that suggests that what she told us earlier wasn't true. It was a lie, and therefore not caught by the geas.

>>4143732
Probably not, Magpie was already planning on going after the Altar before we freed the Proxies. If our guess about the sparsity of Mara's notes being because Magpie took them is true, then she was planning this as far back as the Spiraling Fear aftermath, but at minimum she was preparing for it at Laoc. I don't think this is one of West's dead man's switches. I don't know who the person influencing her geas is, but it's probably not anyone we've met yet.

>>4143736
Yes, Francine. Are we going back to being paranoid about Francine?

>>4143732
not really possible, and i still dont think its that. you're forgetting she was doing this and had the guns long before then. well, long game-time was, at least.

>>4143676
still doesn't change the fact she was very much ok with taking down both the first faction, and also the Altar aswell. also that first line isnt acting like the others, and just sounds more like a 'you wouldn't understand' type of thing, with how she did the sigh.

>>4143736
she got it from Francine, just like us.

>>4143741
>>4143739
>Francine being the one that implanted the CC cutter.
Oh. right.

>Magpie.
Damn.

>>4143739
the evidence points way too far back for this to not be on her. things that staple you with a Geas typically dont like you beg away from them, and the timeline doesn't line up with her being under their influence as far back as when she started planning this.

maybe, MAYBE, someone convinced her to use them, but the evidence simply does not point towards this not being on some level her choice and what she wanted. at best, our last conversation convinced her, but as she said at the end of our last one' its too late to change now'. if she is under the weapons or someone elses influence, it was by choice with the Altar and other one.

>Francine
no, and i think Francine by now would either have told us if she had made one compromised, or if there was a gap in her brain about it. but i dont think thats the case, from what we know, she was 'free' in terms of being away and doing her own thing and whatnot from the Proxy network basically since the moment she got to her position, and by the time Magpie visited id think she was probably already having doubts about the whole plan.

>>4143331
Hey Bhop. Do we have any active swarmling constructs with us?

>>4143753
I agree that she probably submitted to the geas, but I think it's likely it was a heavier control than she was expecting. There's just too much weirdness with how she's acting for me to think it's entirely her free will. I don't think she's blameless, I'm not saying that, but it's weird and I want to find out more before I make a definite judgement.

>no, and i think Francine by now would either have told us if she had made one compromised, or if there was a gap in her brain about it.
Oh, yeah, that was just me being sarcastic. I don't think Francine did any funny business. If she did, man would we have made some big mistakes. Whatever is going on with Magpie's weird behavior, I don't think it has anything to do with West, it's just an unfortunate coincidence.

>>4143758
yes, the post says we have a good swarm about us and our allies. probably based off what was voted on while i slept.

>>4143760
i guess fair enough, i guess its in my opinion a slight moot point, as it very much seems she even now is at least ok or very much was ok with the goal of it, and certainly had a part in the situation. ok, so maybe you're not as happy with the strength of the Geas or inability to stop once you got the ball rolling. you still decided to go along with it and were ok with it, to some degree, for more than an ok period of time and actions.

if anything, it sounds more like depressing ironic karma, or something.

>>4143760
>>4143753

I've got no counterargument about the fact that the geas placed on Magpie was entered entirely of her own volition.

But I'm hoping there's a workaround on the Geas.

For now, lets try and figure out the terms and conditions of the Geas, and the apparent limits.

>>4143758
(Yes, you have the fleet that was discussed earlier. However, I left their numbers/types vague so as to allow for last-minute adjustments if need be.)

>>4143775
we probably dont have time. i doubt the cig timer was just a suggestion, Geas or no Geas.

>>4143775
Well, clearly she's forbidden from talking about the actual motivations for why she's doing this. She's more or less outright stated that. I also believe that talking about the geas itself is forbidden, given that she got a shock for telling us that she'd like to tell us what's up but can't.

Other details are less clear. I believe the shock for "that's not the fault of anyone here" indicates an outside party that Magpie's not allowed to speak of, but I'll concede that that's still an unknown and I shouldn't assume yet. Likewise the guns seem to have something to do with it, based on their item description and the fact that Magpie is now missing two of them, but we don't know the particulars. Though removing the guns would be a good move if this comes to a fight anyway, so maybe we'll find out as we disarm her. Everything else is either unhinted at, or hinted at so subtly that we're not picking up on anything.

>The sight of smoke on the horizon makes your heart skip a beat. For a single, panic-stricken moment you think you’re too late, ice running through your veins as you surge ahead, propelled by the unrivaled force of your Ravenous Maw’s prehensile tongue. Your urgency carries you with utmost haste to the top of a pointed ridge, and at the summit you see an encampment nestled in the slope of the valley, trails of smoke billowing from the tops of the assorted tents. There’s no gunfire, no violence, no chaos, but instead merely an oddly familiar scent wafting up from the cavernous valley.

>"Chris, is that a weed I'm calling the police?!" Quinn rattles off behind you, and you're turning around when Ace immediately counters.

>"Nine-one-one, what's your emergency?" She urgently intones from within the confines in her armor, you you crack a smile as the Midnight Crew cackles among themselves. You have to admit a certain sort of relief now that you've located the Altered Altar's offshoot, perched at the edge of a...

>You quint, realizing that their camp rests on the precipice of a yawning void, the teeth that you've clambered over leading into the rasping throat of a colossal, lamprey-esque maw. It begins to breathe in slowly, and you watch as the smoke is drawn downwards, slowly spiraling into the land's greedy mouth as it breathes deep, steady breaths.

Is it me or is the fact that the Altered Altar are camping out here means that the colossal Lamprey Land is kept pacified because the weed that the Altered Altar frequently smoke is keeping the damn Landscape High and pacified as a kite?

Oh shit. if Magpie massacres the settlement, the blood spilled will caused the Lamprey Land will become bloodthirsty instead of pacified and stoned out of its mind.

>>4143888
That is actually a good point. They're keeping the sarlacc pit smoked out. They die and it awakens and hungers. We've already got three giant super-monsters running around, let's not add a fourth one. Unless this is the land-bound Apocalypse Amalgam, maybe, and they caught it early? Whatever the case, let's not let the Altar Spinoff falter in their duties until we're capable of killing something like this.

>>4143902
would it be another good point in convincing Magpie to stand down? Speaking of which, how did we ever figure out that this place is Magpie's next hit?

>>4143910
It might be worth mentioning, yeah. As for how we figured it out, off-screen research of what limited files on the settlements were left in Mara's office combined with the conclusion that she was probably not actually going to leave off on hunting the Altar.

>>4143326

>Gesture at the Sarlacc pit.
>"We're standing at the lip of the mouth of a Continent sized worm. The Altered Altar are keeping the Apocalypse-class worm pacified indirectly through the weed that they smoke."
>"You start shooting up the settlement, you awaken a bigger monster than you intend to keep suppressed."
>"We've already got a Apocalypse-class flying Amalgam on the loose. What's there is to say that there's a sea-based Amalgam that's apocalypse class out in the fleshscape? or a Land-based Amalgam of the same category? Do you really want to stir up bigger shit just to fulfill your quota of 'violence'? Do you really have to make my job harder?"
>"Is it really worth obeying that Geas?"
>"If it's possible, if there's an alternative to help sate that quota that you've been compelled to do, then I'm offering you a job."
>"My family is being hunted by West Alpha. I'm sure you've heard of her. I need your help in stopping Alpha."
>"If you're able to, if you're being presented with the option to, if it satisfies the conditions that you're forced to do...then help me hunt West Alpha..."
>"If you can't...well...consider this an intervention."
>"Please don't make me stop you. You and I both know it doesn't have to end like this."

>>4143961
>"We've already got a Apocalypse-class flying Amalgam on the loose. What's there is to say that there's a sea-based Amalgam that's apocalypse class out in the fleshscape? or a Land-based Amalgam of the same category?
We actually know for a fact that there are. Charon told us that, there's one for land, sea and sky.

>>4143971
We do know that, but what about Magpie? does she know?

>>4143980
Probably. I think there would have been conversation about the trio of giant monsters showing up. Even if she doesn't, it would probably be better to phrase it as a certainty instead of a hypothetical. There are giant monsters, this one is being kept asleep, let's let it stay asleep so we can focus on the ones we already have awake.

>>4143961
>>4143326
Amending my vote:

>Gesture at the Sarlacc pit.
>"We're standing at the lip of the mouth of a Continent sized worm. The Altered Altar are keeping the Apocalypse-class worm pacified indirectly through the weed that they smoke."
>"You start shooting up the settlement, you awaken a bigger monster than you intend to keep suppressed."
>"We've already got a Apocalypse-class Amalgam on the loose. And Charon has told me that there are two more roaming the planet. Are you really willing to wake up one more apocalypse class amalgam? Do you really want to stir up bigger shit just to fulfill your quota of 'violence'? Do you really want to make my job harder?"
>"Is it really worth obeying that Geas?"
>"If it's possible, if there's an alternative to help sate that quota that you've been compelled to do, then I'm offering you a job."
>"My family is being hunted by West Alpha. I'm sure you've heard of her. I need your help in stopping Alpha."
>"If you're able to, if you're being presented with the option to, if it satisfies the conditions that you're forced to do...then help me hunt West Alpha..."
>"If you can't...well...consider this an intervention."
>"Please don't make me stop you. You and I both know it doesn't have to end like this."

>>4143264
>>4143316
>>4143320
>>4143323
>>4143326
Wont be missing much my ass...... Its probably a good thing i didnt read this before bed. otherwise i probably woldnt have slept for the rest of the night

>>4143326
Supporting>>4144000

>>4144000
>>4143326
yeah im voting against this. we have no idea what the pit actually is and this is really jumping the gun on that and relying on a total unknown too much. for all we know, its just a pit. we've been here all of 2 minutes afterall.

>>4143668
im still not a fan of this one by itself really, but at least being Geased seems much more likely and it doesn't totally ignore it was still probably her choice regardless.

for both, i still really feel like relying on trying to trick the Geas sounds like a horrible way to have it backfire even worse on us, and especially im not sure i want her anywhere near Alpha or what she could give her, especially if her minds not actually fully changed or worse, shes not in control even for that.

>>4143668
i will throw my support behind this combined with mine >>4143378
as a comprise though, but i really dislike and think its a mistake to be trying to rely on the Geas here, especially basically only it like you folks are.we can only educatedly guess, not confirm, that its even there, much less what its actual rules are or why she has it in the first place, and what we can ascertain as the most likely possibilities really dont shed any better a light on Magpie, nor sound like they are something that will actually bend in a way that wont backfire. though, doesn't necessarily shine her in a worse light than before, but certainly not a better one. i think it also says something not to be ignored that she and Magpie would be willing to make something with such a drawback, she would go along with it, and she would keep them around too.

cant think of how to properly combine them myself though, but i trust BHOP to figure something out.

>>4144182
>>4143326
whoops, forgot to link it properly.

File: From Whence Did It Come....jpg (47 KB, 493x600)

47 KB JPG

>>4143326

With a quick, furtive movement, a small swarmling darts by Magpie’s face. The sniper doesn’t even flinch as her cigarette flickers out, and she merely plucks it from her lips, cocking her head to one side as she regards you with sightless sockets.

"Well, there’s at least a few seconds longer. You seem to not be doing too well, a last vice might not be a good idea, regardless of how this turns out." You say, gesturing towards the edge of the ridge. "Look, we're standing at what looks to be the mouth of a Continent-sized worm. For all we know, the Altered Altar are keeping the Apocalypse-class worm pacified indirectly through the weed that they smoke. You start shooting up the settlement, you awaken a bigger monster than you intend to keep suppressed. We've already got an Apocalypse-class Amalgam on the loose, and Charon has told me that there are two more roaming the planet. Are you really willing to wake up one more?"

At that, Magpie’s lips twitch with the hint of an amused smirk as she lazily re-lights her cigarette.

“That’s…not exactly what’s going on here, but trying to play off that wasn’t a bad idea.” She muses, exhaling a trail of smoke. “Not sure if you were just reaching, or if that was a bluff…but I think Mara’d be proud, regardless.”

“Christ, Magpie…do you really want to stir up bigger shit just to fulfill your quota of 'violence'? Do you really want to make my job harder?" You growl, deciding to work off a hunch based on her recent behavior. It’s the last play you have left, really.

"Is it really worth obeying that Geas, Magpie?"

Her grin falters. Her hand spasms. In her silence, there’s no protest, no confirmation…

…but it’s confirmation, all the same.

"If it's possible, if there's an alternative to help sate that quota that you've been compelled to do, then I'm offering you a job." You continue. "My family is being hunted by West Alpha. I'm sure you've heard of her, and I’d like to ask you help in..."

“I see what you’re trying to do, kiddo…” The older woman interrupts, cigarette dangling from her loosened fingertips at her side. “…and I’m gonna make it real simple for you. Me coming here? With these?”

Magpie languidly gestures to the pistols strapped to her side, her machinegun still clutched in her off-hand.

“This is my choice, Shu. I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but this is my solution.”

She sounds so…resigned. So very, terribly tired. Almost diminished, in a way…as though she’s less than a full-fledged being, in a way you can’t quite put your finger on.

"…Then consider this an intervention." Comes your stony response. "You and I both know it doesn't have to end like this. You know what we stand for and why we're here. You're not hurting anyone else, causing anymore chaos or problems. And now? It’s just a matter of how much blood is on the ground before we stop you."

She nods, slowly.

(Continued)

>>4144340

"Just... please. Drop the weapons. Toss them aside, and we can take you in, and settle this like actual adults, instead of whatever you're pretending to be." You plead, taking another step as she regards her dwindling cigarette with a weary sigh.

“I’ve come too far to stop now, kiddo.” She replies, her forlorn reply nearly sending you over the edge.

"God damn it, you're clearly geased!” You growl, frustration mounting. “Is there even a point to having this conversation, Magpie!? Could you even surrender if you wanted to? Will the geas let you tell me that? I mean, I don't know if you want to, it's unclear how much of this is you and how much is you being controlled, but it would be nice to know if it's at least possible. If you can back out from this, if that's an option, please just set your guns down.”

Her grip is unwavering as you heart continues to sink.

"Listen, just…hasn't the Crucible seen enough needless bloodshed?” You ask. “Hasn't it seen enough people, who refuse to try something else but to cut a path forward? Whatever you did, or didn't do, stop letting it eat you up. I’ve seen enough of where that leads...and put enough people down over it. But I have put them down, as necessary, and I’ll do it again."

“So do I, Shu.”

“Then kill some people and things that DESERVE it, instead of a bunch of hippies! Please, I'm begging you! I don't want to have to fight another person I care about because they're being too stubborn. Uzu and Isabel were enough! Does…does this have to do with Mara? What? Mara didn't have the best intentions when she made all these groups, is that it? So because of that, you think they can’t be used for good, can’t change their direction? It means they all gotta be killed and buried!?"

In the face of your fury?

Silence.

"Christ, Magpie…you know what? If the geas is controlling you too much...then I'm sorry, but you know I have to stop you.” You say, your own resignation creeping into your exhausted tone of voice. “I’m sorry for what would have to happen, then. Though afterwards, you're going to give me some answers on how you got this geas. But either way, Magpie…the choice is yours, if you still have a choice. Please, I’m begging you…make the right one."

Bringing the cigarette to her lips, she takes one long, last drag, its dim light flickering out as your time…and hers…runs out.

“You’ve gotta do what you gotta do, Shu…” Magpie replies.

“…and so do I.”

The cavernous maw in the valley behind you draws in a steady breath, and in the interval between inhale and exhale, a cold silence settles around the Fleshscape. You stare, unblinking at the sniper’s halo of disembodied eyes, and with a twitch of her hand, the butt of the spent cigarette tumbles to the ground.

It lands at Magpie’s feet at the same instant a rifle crack rolls through the calcite hills with deafening finality.

(Continued)

File: The First of Many.jpg (226 KB, 2600x1462)

226 KB JPG

>>4144342

>>ARBITER’S JUDGEMENT Activated: Unassailable surprise round in effect.

In a spray of scarlet and crimson, Dorian falls, his chest blossoming with a gout of his liquiform essence. The Joyous move as one to shield you and your allies as Magpie swings the Stelitzia up with the staccato of machinegun fire. A handful of Joyous are cut down on the spot as your Swarm mobilizes, forming an armored wall just as you hear something explode overhead. November’s twin blades swing out, covering you, Dorian, and her niece as a shimmering powder falls across you and the Midnight Crew. It doesn’t hurt, even as it shimmers around you and the vast space it’s been spread over…it’s not doing damage.

It’s doing something much worse.

>>AREA LOCKDOWN ACTIVE: Inbound/Outbound teleportation PROHIBITED.

“Dorian! Dorian are you okay?!” You scramble, darting to the young man’s side as the unceasing report of gunfire roars around you.

“I…dammit, I’ll be alright, I just…” He groans, struggling to rise to his feet as he finds his wounds refuse to heal, his movements sluggish and faltering. “…that shot came from the hill, northeast of here. I’m not sure how, but there’s two of her, and I don’t think it’s a construct.”

>>DORIAN: 1 ACT/Round. Regeneration/healing cancelled.

Diminished, tired…the Magpie that’s opening fire, the one that you’ve been talking to…it’s both real, and not. You knew she could teleport, but this?

Magpie may have surprised you once, but now it’s your turn.

>>COMBAT INITIATED

Shu, the Defiant

VS.

Magpie, the Blackwing Executioner
HP: 1680% (+345% [Dominus: Untethered], Matrons, Viscera Vincula, Pacekeepers, Matron’s)
BIO: 2570% (+320%. 16x Psy-Platelings, 9x Bishops, 5x Rooks, 3x Stealthed Scoutlings, 8x Jacklings, 2x Grapplings, 3x Recursive Knightlings, 2x Recursive Banelings, 1x Basic Swarmling, 1x Magpie's Fuzzbuzz. 50/50 Swarmlings active.)

CONTENDER: Gemini Forme - Honey x3, Parabellum x3 (Both guns)
RAVENOUS MAW: Primed.
HUNDRED-HANDED: 2 Arms.
ACT: 3/3

HOLLY: 2,480% ([RESIST: Heat, Cold. IMMUNE: Acid] Shawl and Uzi(3x Elemental Mags, 3x Standard), Gamma Pharynx)
DORIAN: 578% (+0%, Sui Interitus, Ventrem Lanceam, Manus Caelorum)
RATH: 2950% (+550%, Gutgrab Daggers, Ignition Gauntlets.)
NOVEMBER: 4370% (Sacrificium(Chest), Ego(Leg), Nail(Leg), Dainsleif(Arm), Margraves(Arm)(Shu), Crimsons Jester(Head), and Whistle(GRA HIR) (T5 Slot).

JOYOUS: 14/20 Remaining.

MIDNIGHT CREW: Full capacity, itching for a fight.

THREAT: Twofold – One half of Magpie’s Biomass at Medium distance, continually firing at you with the machine gun Strelitzia (heavy elemental damage, cycling), second half at Long distance proving ranged support, invisible to the eye.

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

(Voting shall remain open for the next four hours, Gentlemen. I wish you the best of luck.)

>>4144348
(Also, for your information; the Relic that granted Magpie a surprise round can only active once per combat, so normal initiative order will be in effect. It's part of the specially-crafted Arbiter line of Tier 5 Relics, much like Arbiter's Appetite.)

>>4144347
Damit Magpie.........

Alright Dorian is nearly down shit. I dont want to have to explain to Julia he got killed by Magpie..... So we probably need to keep him out of Magpies sight for at least a round. Which is gonna be hard.

And i have an idea of what she is doing she is trying to take out Dorian since he is the only one capable of closing in on her snipers Postion now with teleportation on Lockdown. And over 2100% Damage damn it i hope that was a critical hit due to the surprise round but i fear its not. if he gets hit again he is toast

>>4144350
I kinda guessed it was with its name and all that......

Out of curiosity. How many relics does that line have? and how long ago were they created?

>>4144347
Okay, so Magpie isn't missing her guns because of anything to do with her geas. She's missing them because she gave two to her other body to run overwatch with. Lovely. So that body has Alex's Mercy and Lupara, deadly sniper attack and a nasty short-range punch.

>>4144352
(The damage from Alex's Mercy was on the low end of what it's capable of, and was not a critical hit.)

>>4144353
(They're a set of seven Relics, crafted well over a year ago by Mara when she found her first Tier 5 Forge Core.)

(Also, I forgot to mention that everyone's Halos are primed. I'll update the status tracker with that info next round.)

>>4144340
>>4144342
whelp. like i said, this was clearly what she wanted to have happening. alright Magpie, then lets damn well do this.

>>4144347
smart move taking out Dorian first. probably our best bet is to use her own dust and situation against her. i doubt we can fully stop that damn rifle, over having to spend counters like crazy, but our options to get to said sniper are limited, and the sniper is most likely outside the anti-teleportation bubble too.

but the other one? bit closer to home.

>>4144359
which Magpie is the FuzzBuzz on?

>>4144359
>(The damage from Alex's Mercy was on the low end of what it's capable of, and was not a critical hit.)
Ah....... fuck..... but kinda what i expected

>(They're a set of seven Relics, crafted well over a year ago by Mara when she found her first Tier 5 Forge Core.)
Good To know that Mara was terribly overpowered a year ago already.... considering the pure level of fuck you you need so much BIO to craft these things Could make for an interesting interaction though if she were to meet Mina and her Group

>>4144359
>(Also, I forgot to mention that everyone's Halos are primed. I'll update the status tracker with that info next round.)
They've got Thoughtlings, too. So I guess that Magpie has a way to ignore auto-counters, then. Is it a property of Magpie's skills or of Alex's Mercy? There's no mention of Psychica Spiralis blocking the shots from Strelitza, but that could just be due to a need for brevity.

>>4144360
(The FuzzBuzz is on the Magpie in front of you.)

>>4144363
got it, thanks.

>>4144363
Can we spawn the giant ball of arms from Hundred-Handed level six as an offensive move? I'm thinking that if she has a FuzzBuzz on her we can just have it bloom into a huge tangling mess that immobilizes this body and keeps it from shooting, leaving us free to deal with the sniper. Normally I'd hate to do that to a FuzzBuzz, it's a symbol of friendship, but if Magpie is going to be like this...

>>4144362
(Magpie's skills - it's a weird interaction between her Hive Mistress skill tree and her bullets, where her Lvl 18 skill allows any piercing damage she deals to ignore any form of damage mitigation (much like Cheruem's late-game ability to do the same for slashing damage)...considering an element of her bullets is the beaks of her swarm, she's enabled the same effect on the rounds she fires.)

>>4144365
(Absolutely.)

>>4144365
please do not.
lets not use Fuzzbuzz as a weapon. it will defeat the point of them and taint their image. if we do that, all a Fuzzbuzz becomes is a tool for us to track others and keep them in line, over a gift we give to friends we trust. i just plan to bring it back, to show her she no longer deserves it.

>>4144365
I think a fuzzbuzz arm ball might help us since she will most likely be unable to teleport though i wouldnt count on that she could not just move usign her semi teleportation as is may not count as proper teleportation. but worth a shot quite possibly.

On the same page. If we can find her other version we move there very quickly using the hundred handed ability since it is near instant to generate and collapse it might be our only way to surprise her there on her perch.

>>4144366
Okay, that's a clever exploit. An annoying one, but clever. So Psychica Spiralis will be useless here except as a way to prevent some teleportation tricks. Not even all of them, necessarily, just some. Blerg.

>>4144371
Yeah, alright, that's fair. How about we shoot her with a bullet from the Contender and spawn arms from that? We can do that, the bullets count as our constructs.

>>4144374
assuming we can hit her, sure.

>>4144374
>>4144375
I think we may be forgetting that the arms expand near instantly(Generator constructs and all that) if we can get a construct just near her we can spawn the arms and grapple her in like a split second.

There shouldn't be much she can do about that so maybe even going for quantity over accuracy would be alright as well

>>4144377
true, but near instantly is still not instantly, and if it comes from Shu she will be all the more prepared for it. i think ive got an idea for that, but gotta finish writing up my vote first.

>>4144347
Vote;
SHU;
>Activate Dominus of MG Magpie and Dorian. If it cant get Dorians Regen moving, then attach it to Holly.
>Use the Rooks to Shield everyone from the sniper fire. Cycle out the Scoutlings, Basic Swarmling, and a Gappling, so they can double up their protection.
>Using your Jacklings, Dome in yourself, the Midnight Crew, and MG Magpie. She wants to keep you all here? Then you all will damn well stay here, for now.
>Use the Jacklings to try and keep track of the Sniper Magpie, incase she moves around, so the Rooks can keep blocking her.
>Unload with the Contenders, but purposefully miss with most, to use as a screen for one slightly ajar from aiming at her. Once that one is as close as its gonna get, have it explode into a ball of both grappling and angry fists, to at least disrupt MG Magpie, if not grapple her and beat her down.
>Keep the Knights back to act as extra Defense, but send the Banelings forward and out of the dome, to Harass Sniper Magpie.
>Call back the FuzzBuzz from Magpie. No tricks, no signs its going to do anything. It wont. FuzzBuzzes aren't for combat, and they will never be used as a weapon against those they were given to. That would ruin the image and point of them. But that doesnt means you cant recall a gift, from someone no longer worthy of having it, and you can make damn well sure your eyes tell Magpie exactly that as you bring it home.

DORIAN;
>Slip out some Inklings before the Dome forms, and have some go to harass Sniper Magpie, the others take up positions on any other hill or likely place she may try to teleport to. Have them try and keep a flat profile, to avoid detection as much as possible.
>Go Masque of War Form, but keep it inside the Dome and with the Rooks on its outside. Make sure she isn't immune to her own anti-teleportation, and if she is, is at least Punished for using it.

RATH;
>Toss out a 10 Boil strong barrage on MG Magpie, to give folks a moment.
>then, toss out a second 10 Boil Strong Barrage on her along with Shus Contender shots, but teleport in with one if it survives, as Shu unleashes her HH Swarm, to give you cover.
>Dig the Daggers into Magpie deep with one set of Hands, then start wailing on MG MAgpie with eight other Hydra Arms. try and work with Shu to twist her around, so she is exposed to the rest of the team, over Rath blocking sight to her.

NOVEMBER;
>Use the Sacrificium and Jesters combo to keep yourself at the height of the Initiative Order, and to lower Magpies Critical Chance and Damage, or at least try to.
>unload on Both Magpies with both Porcupine and Spooky, to give Shu and others time to react.
>Once the Dome is up, switch to only Suppressing MG Magpie, until you need to stop due to Rath and Shus plans.
>Once Rath and Shu give you your shot, if they can, hit MG Magpie through the skull with a REX round.

(1/2)

>>4144390
>>4144347
HOLLY;
>Use your Maw to try and quickly get to the side of MG Magpie. We need to put some spacing between us all, just enough she can't suppress the whole group.
>spray MG Magpie down, to help give others an opening and give her a taste of her own medicine.

JOYOUS;
>Always have at least one Joyous back and hiding, to spawn new Joyous,though if extra can be spared from other orders, then have them split too.
>Keep a wall of Queen Crimson between us and Sniper Magpie, as best they can.
>Have the Joyous unleash a GRA RHO CUNT(or just GRA RHO, if Crimson activation takes an Act) with their remaining Act.

MIDNIGHT CREW;
>We Trust you to know what to do.
>>Dorian needs aid, if Keane thinks she can fix his regen issue, and unless they think they can safely reach Sniper Magpie, quickly taking down MG Magpie, and making sure she goes down, over throwing any tricks at us, would do us good, and she needs to go down fast.

(2/2)

>>4144390
Considering what you want to have holly do i would say that we just leash her directly. And Dorians Regen is suppressed completely there is nothing ther for the Leash to strengthen. if you add half of 0 to 0 its still zero

Other than that......

Seems good to me. I would also kinda guess that the MG Magpie will be also used as a spotter if we hide behind the wall so i would expect the others Magpies Aim not to degrade to greatly though the wall will help with deflecting the projectile. Could we weave random poles of calcite and cihtin into the wall to make sure that if a bullet penetrates it it will start being deflected and pushed off course by an inconsistent interior of the wall

The less Queen Crimson has to do the better i would say

>>4144347
>tfw Magpie has a clone ability
of fucking course. Magpie can't really commit to the crow theme if she didn't have a whole murder of clones to back her up.

>>4144390
Here's a thought, Have we tried aiming directly for destroying Magpie's guns?

>>4144390
Oh, wait, I just thought of something we should do:

>ERUPTING GRASP (Lvl 5)[MAX]: At a cost of 300% BIO, Rath may prime a debilitating blow that is an escalation of this ability’s Lvl 3 power. On hit, this expensive attack automatically causes all equipped Relics on the target to violently recoil, turning boons into devastating status ailments or causing weapons to misfire in the user’s face. (HEALTH +60%, BIO +30%, HEALTH REGEN +10%)

Have Rath hit Magpie with this, disable her defensive Relics and make all the guns blow up.

>>4144398
im not sure. i dont think we can really create new terrain types with terraforming, only use whats around.

lets ask.

>>4144367
BHOP, whats the... type? Quality? whatever of the terrain we have to terraform like? would trying to go full Abram modern armor at least in theory make the wall better? would it cost more?

>>4144402
Relics are notoriously difficult if not impossible to destroy, especially higher Tier relics. only Rath(as far as we know, as we dont know what the Midnight Crew has) has even slight chance of being able to dish out or have abilities that could do that, and that wont matter if she cant first get close and see if she cant even land a hit on Magpie.

>>4144403
that could work, sure, if Rath can get close and hit of course.

>>4144402
I think unless you have an ability that can specifically damage relics they are near impossible to destroy with conventional means. If you have such an ability..... lets just say that they can crumble pretty quickly.... especially if the ability is pretty strong

>>4144407
>that could work, sure, if Rath can get close and hit of course.
Yeah, but it's a primed ability, it will discharge when Rath hits rather than being an attack on its own. There's no downside to the action economy to add it into the orders.

>>4144413
>>4144407

Well one thing's obvious right now, the old Crow's main way of attacking is with Relic Guns. Her innate abilities are currently secondary. We can disarm them, but one thing that's bothering me is that aside from her personal guns, she never shows any innate offensive abilities like spawning a storm of crows. I'm worried that we might never know what other hidden aces she has up her sleeve.

>>4144403
The other issue is that it only affects one "Magpie", and doesn't really state the duration.

>>4144416
depends on how the clones work. if its like Isabelles Clone ability, it actually might effect both. depends entirely on how the clones work though, which we dont know.

>>4144407
(The terrain is quite pliable, and would serve to slightly throw off the bullet trajectory of all her guns save for her revolver and sniper rifle.)

>>4144416
She will definitely have her crows as an ability, i would guess if we force her to switch we will get a fight of the super carriers between Shu and her.

And that is no a battle i am to confident about in our ability to win without Dorian to clear out her constructs.

>>4144418
>>4144415
>>4144416
We should get on replicating that one Relic Dr. Fran has. her spectacles. Those things are super useful and we should have one for every party of people. i just noticed how we have so little real time information about her.

>>4144420
oh, well, the one gun we need it to.
not surprised, just disappointed. well hopefully it will at least throw off her aim. even a 1% extra miss chance would be helpful against her and that thing.

>>4144416
>We can disarm them, but one thing that's bothering me is that aside from her personal guns, she never shows any innate offensive abilities like spawning a storm of crows.
She doesn't have control over her flock, remember? She's got an Augment that makes them stronger and more numerous but at the price of not being able to direct them, they just attack everything, including her. That's why Magpie isn't using them, with one of her bodies in the melee with us it would be counterproductive. Now, once we take out CQC Magpie, Sniper Magpie will probably start dropping crow swarms.

>The other issue is that it only affects one "Magpie", and doesn't really state the duration.
Yeah, but just affecting the one Magpie will be effective. All her guns backfiring will deal some hefty damage, plus inverting her defensive Relics will help us deal more damage of our own. That way the CQC Magpie dies faster so we can put more focus on Sniper Magpie.

>>4144347
>>4144390
Amending Vote;
SHU;
>Activate Dominus on MG Magpie and Dorian. If it cant get Dorians Regen moving, then attach it to Holly.
>Use the Rooks to Shield everyone from the sniper fire. Cycle out the Scoutlings, Basic Swarmling, and a Gappling, so they can double up their protection. It’ll be expensive, but keep those Shields up, unless they prove wholly ineffective.
>Using your Jacklings, Dome in yourself, the Midnight Crew, and MG Magpie. She wants to keep you all here? Then you all will damn well stay here, for now. Try and make the Dome thick and ‘Abrams Armor Style’ with internally shifting angles any shot has to work through.
>Use the Jacklings to try and keep track of Sniper Magpie, incase she moves around, so the Rooks can keep blocking her.
>Unload with the Contenders, but use them as a screen for one slightly ajar from aiming at her. Once that one is as close as its gonna get, have it explode into a ball of both grappling and angry fists, to at least disrupt MG Magpie, if not grapple her and beat her down.
>Keep the Knights back to act as extra Defense, but send the Banelings forward and out of the dome, to Harass Sniper Magpie.
>Call back the FuzzBuzz from Magpie. No tricks, no signs its going to do anything. It wont. FuzzBuzzes aren't for combat, and they will never be used as a weapon against those they were given to. That would ruin the image and point of them. But that doesnt means you cant recall a gift, from someone no longer worthy of having it, and you can make damn well sure your eyes tell Magpie exactly that as you bring it home.

DORIAN;
>Slip out some Inklings before the Dome forms, and have some go to harass Sniper Magpie, the others take up positions on any other hill or likely place she may try to teleport to. Have them try and keep a flat profile, to avoid detection as much as possible.
>Go Masque of War Form, but keep it inside the Dome and with the Rooks on its outside. Make sure she isn't immune to her own anti-teleportation, and if she is, is at least Punished for using it.

RATH;
>Toss out a 10 Boil strong barrage on MG Magpie, to give folks a moment.
>then, toss out a second 10 Boil Strong Barrage on her along with Shus Contender shots, but teleport in with one if it survives, as Shu unleashes her HH Swarm, to give you cover.
>Dig the Daggers into Magpie deep with one set of Hands, then hit Magpie with a barrage of Hydra Hands, aiming to activate the relic Disabling effects of Grasp on her.

NOVEMBER;
>Use the Sacrificium and Jesters combo to keep yourself at the height of the Initiative Order, and to lower Magpies Critical chance and Damage, or at least try to.
>unload on Both Magpies with both Porcupine and Spooky, to give Shu and others time to react.
>Once the Dome is up, switch to only Suppressing MG Magpie, until you need to stop due to Rath and Shus plans.
>Once Rath and Shu give you your shot, if they can, hit MG Magpie through the skull with a REX round.

(1/2)

>>4144395
>>4144429
>>4144347
HOLLY;
>Use your Maw to try and quickly get to the side of MG Magpie. We need to put some spacing between us all, just enough she can't suppress the whole group.
> spray MG Magpie down, to help give others an opening and give her a taste of her own medicine.

JOYOUS;
>Always have at least one Joyous back and hiding, to spawn new Joyous,though if extra can be spared from other orders, then have them split too.
>Keep a wall of Queen Crimson between us and Sniper Magpie, as best they can.
>Have the Joyous unleash a GRA RHO CUNT(or just GRA RHO, if Crimson activation takes an Act) with their remaining Act.

MIDNIGHT CREW;
>We Trust you to know what to do, so just some requests/suggestions.
>>Dorian needs aid, if Keane thinks she can fix his regen issue, and unless they think they can safely reach Sniper Magpie, quickly taking down MG Magpie, and making sure she goes down, over throwing any tricks at us, would do us good, and she needs to go down fast. If Jackie can spare it, we could use something to try and get rid of Magpies eye constructs, to blind her.

(2/2)

>>4144347
Supporting>>4144429
>>4144430

>>4144430
>>4144429
Have we considered jamming Magpie's Guns by stuffing our bees between the hammer and firing pins? swarmlings laden with honey could also work.

>>4144429
>>4144431
Looks good. Block Magpie's sight lines, force her to relocate the sniper body, dazzle and preoccupy the CQC body so that she can't spot for it.

>>4144347
Supporting.

>>4144434
that sounds way too micro and precise to be worth trying, especially on someone whos entire shtick is guns, meaning she both knows to protect them, and is probably already gonna be swift and hard to lock down, let alone aim specfically not just for the guns, but the back end hammers of the guns.

plus, it would depend on the model of gun if thats even really viable.

>>4144434
Probably not worth the effort, we've got several other methods of disabling CQC Magpie's fire that we're using. Adding another would require too much micromanagement.

>>4144439
True... Although another thing has come up my mind. Magpie has a secondary swarm. Her swarm of eyeballs right? We should have our scoutlings search for the eyeballs and have our swarmlings split into recursives in order to widen the search pattern. destroy her eyeballs and we limit her sight, and give her more distractions to deal with.

>>4144442
>>4144439
We have 3 Honey B.33 rounds loaded in each contender. We could shoot Magpie's guns with the Honey Rounds and wait for the honey to explode and jam up her firing mechanisms.

>>4144444
we dont the swarmling slots, so if you would actually read my vote, im asking Jackie if she cant spare some bats for that.

>>4144447
those are way too Macro in how big they stretch for that. the good news is, if they hit her, they'll probably do that anyways. the bad news is, they really dont work for that precise of an action.

that, and its the same issue with just trying to jam the guns in the first place. those are small targets to aim for, relatively speaking, and ones she would know to protect from such things. aiming directly for them without an opening is just asking to waste rounds.

>>4144444
Right now just taking out CQC Magpie is the priority, since she could just make more eyes in this close area. But yeah, once we've got her dead we should do a sweep for any stray eyeballs.

>>4144447
If we bind Magpie up in honey that would keep her from firing anyway, no need to aim specifically at the guns. They make a pretty big splash.

>>4144367

>AREA LOCKDOWN ACTIVE: Inbound/Outbound teleportation PROHIBITED.

Does this mean teleporting into the combat zone or out of the combat zone is prohibited? or is any form of teleporting within the combat zone prohibited?

>>4144458
(Any form of teleportation is prohibited, unless it has has explicit exemption granted by a level in a given skill tree or via Relic.)

>>4144459
So Dorian's Canvass Form movement, Shu's "Castle" Swap with her rooks, and Rath's Bomb swap are prohibited?

>>4144459
Is Magpie exempt from teleporting? or does the anti-teleport field also affect her?

>>4144462
>>4144459
ah damn, forgot Raths Boils are technically that. gimme a moment gents, gonna have to switch that out for just her strands and hope its good enough.

>>4144462
(Yes, those are all blocked.)

>>4144463
(As I alluded to above, it would be a safe bet that she has some way around it at her current skill level and given her expertise.)

>>4144464
Do you think we should send a Joyous to go warn the Altered Altar and have them pack up and settle elsewhere? Magpie's got higher forms of teleportation, and we may not be able to kill Magpie this encounter. If we could warn the settlement and have them flee the scene while keeping Magpie tied down long enough, then we could consider that a win.

>>4144429
>>4144430
>>4144347
Amending Raths Orders;

RATH;
>Toss out a 10 Boil strong barrage on MG Magpie, to give folks a moment.
>Then, toss out a second 10 Boil Strong Barrage on her along with Shus Contender shots, using the momentum of throwing them to toss out a limb with your strands and combined with a boost from the Tormentis to slingshot yourself towards Magpie, while the Boils and Shus Arm explosion give you cover.
>Dig the Daggers into Magpie deep with one set of Hands, then hit Magpie with a barrage of Hydra Hands, aiming to activate the relic Disabling effects of Grasp on her.

>>4144465
>(Yes, those are all blocked.)
Shouldn't Dorian still be able to mist-teleport? He has immunity to anything that would prevent his movement. It doesn't matter much, since he's in no shape to go mist-dashing anywhere, but once he heals it could be relevant.

>>4144466
not sure we have the time or levity to spare on that. plus if one of her wants to go after them, its already too late just on account there were two of her and one can still teleport.

>>4144469
(Ah, my apologies. I overlooked that he has that caveat. So yes, he could potentially do that.)

>>4144470
We have the numbers. Sniper Magpie is currently trying to keep us pinned. Sending the Crew to try and occupy Sniper Magpie will tie her up, and while Shu ties up CQC Magpie and MG Magpie with her dome, that leaves the Joyous and several others free to assist and prevent potential collateral should we fail in the fight against Magpie.

Our overall objective here is not only by trying to stop magpie, it's to also ensure the safety of Magpie's potential victims. That includes warning them of the impending doom.
Should we fail to stop Magpie completely or if she somehow flees, the least we can do is to have the Altered Altar flee and prevent them from being massacred.

>>4144470
The moment we let slip a Magpie clone from our attention, they will turn their attention towards the Altered Altar. That's why we have to warn the settlement and evacuate them.

>>4144475
The Altar will be warned by a literal fight breaking out on their doorstep. I also kinda doubt they will care about a kid or anyone really trying to get them to move. I just cant see it if they are really as stoned out of their mind as i think they.

>>4144475
theres only two magpies, and again ,the one outside can teleport. all sending the Midnight Crew out would do would send them on a wild goose chase, while the team fighting MG Magpie is half down a Dorian.

Magpie also just showed the ability to take our members down in one shot. however, we know this is a split process, where both Magpies are real. that means both have vastly more limited resources, and are a massive investment. Sniper Magpie abandoning MG Magpie to die could potentially cripple her ability to properly deal with the Altar Sect, or future plans, especially if she uses up resources trying to get past us to them, knowing the second she tries that we wont stop perusing.

that, and we cant do anything like that while both MG Magpie is pinning us down with machinegun fire and a sniper is aiming at us. Midnight Crew, Joyous, anything that tries to go warn them will be a priority target for both. we cant help anyone if we're dead. lockdown MG, Do our best to block off Sniper, and quickly deal with MG so Sniper doesnt HAVE any leeway in the first place.

>>4144480
this too. no way this is quiet. we cant babysit everyone to the degree you want. they either hear a damn fight and know to react, or they wouldn't react anyways.

>>4144480
Yeah, it's going to get pretty loud, especially once November starts firing her railgun. I'm just glad we've all got regeneration, otherwise we'd probably face permanent hearing damage being so close to that thing.

>>4144477
>>4144482
>>4144483
IF the Altar isn't completely out of their minds they will run as soon as they hear the fight. If not.. well some of them might run or maybe one or two of them might even check out what the hell is going on and could possibly be reinforcements mid battle.

Even if they would probably be nothing more than meatshields..... (I would guess magpie killed their heaviest hitters first in her first hit on them.)

>>4144475
also, no, its really not a win. if we dont stop Magpie here, its a complete and utter failure. she'll keep hunting the Altar, who would constantly be on the run, and once they're gone, she'll just move onto the next target. we cant afford to keep chasing her or hopping in her way, especially if all we accomplish is people having to go on the run. it both defeats the purpose of trying to stop her, and doesn't even actually protect them for very long.

>>4144486
>>4144485
>>4144483
>>4144482
Fair points.

>>4144471
BHOP, how far does Shus empathic communication reach? could it be boosted with the halo or anything we have, like maybe jacking in a satellite dish Jackling? or sending an Empathic Comm to Gina or Amara, to use their powers or Orwells to relay the message to the altar Fragment?

>>4144489
(It may be slight spoilers, but Orwell's already warning the Altar, now that she literally just set up and got eyes on you this round.)

>>4144493
oh, fair enough.
though, would it still be possible to get our own message to them, regardless?

>>4144493
Thanks, Orwell. We'll try to get you a good story to show on your channel as pay back.

>>4144494
(Yes, your empathic field would be able to reach them given their, ah...'expanded' mindstate.)

>>4144497
pff, haha.
not the reasoning i expected, nor am i exactly sure im ok with it... but it is what it is.

>>4144497
What are they taking?
Ground up Forgecores?

Interesting that must be some heavy stuff if it can sedate what is probably a titanic amalgam and expand their mind like that

>>4144497
>>4144503
>>4144500

in terms of modern comparisons what's the closest analog comparison between the drugs that humanity made and the drugs made in the Crucible? How big/bad is the trip?

Probably a combined cocktail of the Psycho Serum Relic and Sedatives. But given that they're smoking Weed as well....do you think there's a plant-based daughter that provides the weed?

>>4144505
Maybe..... Or they get it like Julia gets her tea leaves.......

I have no idea on the drugs i dont even smoke or drink so..... I am not sure i can draw any comparison.

>>4144505
Well, there are a lot of weird fungi that we've seen. There's probably something out there producing psylocibin.

>>4144497
So what happened to the gifts that we gave to the crew? did they put it to good use?

>>4144347
>>4144429
slight add-on to my vote, aswell as consolidating for BHOP;

SHU;
>Activate Dominus on MG Magpie and Dorian. If it cant get Dorians Regen moving, then attach it to Holly.
>Use the Rooks to Shield everyone from the sniper fire. Cycle out the Scoutlings, Basic Swarmling, and a Gappling, so they can double up their protection. It’ll be expensive, but keep those Shields up, unless they prove wholly ineffective.
>Using your Jacklings, Dome in yourself, the Midnight Crew, and MG Magpie. She wants to keep you all here? Then you all will damn well stay here, for now. Try and make the Dome thick and ‘Abrams Armor Style’ with internally shifting angles any shot has to work through.
>Use the Jacklings to try and keep track of Sniper Magpie, incase she moves around, so the Rooks can keep blocking her.
>Unload with the Contenders, but use them as a screen for one slightly ajar from aiming at her. Once that one is as close as its gonna get, have it explode into a ball of both grappling and angry fists, to at least disrupt MG Magpie, if not grapple her and beat her down.
>Keep the Knights back to act as extra Defense, but send the Banelings forward and out of the dome, to Harass Sniper Magpie.
>Call back the FuzzBuzz from Magpie. No tricks, no signs its going to do anything. It wont. FuzzBuzzes aren't for combat, and they will never be used as a weapon against those they were given to. That would ruin the image and point of them. But that doesnt means you cant recall a gift, from someone no longer worthy of having it, and you can make damn well sure your eyes tell Magpie exactly that as you bring it home.
>With FuzzBuzz encouraging you and yours from your shoulder, Send a message to the Altar Fragment; “Magpie is here for you. Me and my family and allies are doing our best to stop her, but shes no slouch, and not one who wouldn't be willing to slip away to come after you. You have a choice here. You could bunker down, but if we fail, she will not show you mercy. You could run, but if we fail, she will not stop hunting you. Or you can fight. I know you’re scared, I know shes strong, and I know its alot to ask of you. But this is your home she threatens, your lives, your friends, your way of life. And not just yours she threatens. There are nine other Settlements she has in her sights, nine other communities she plans to bring to ruin. With or without you, we will do everything we can to stop her. Here, now, before she can carve a path of death forward. But you have a chance. To help others, to help us prevent her from harming others. Anything you can do, if you’re willing, do it. But if not, be prepared for the worst, as Magpie wont hold back.”

(1/2)

>>4144347
>>4144430
>>4144467
>>4144527
DORIAN;
>Slip out some Inklings before the Dome forms, and have some go to harass Sniper Magpie, the others take up positions on any other hill or likely place she may try to teleport to. Have them try and keep a flat profile, to avoid detection as much as possible.
>Go Masque of War Form, but keep it inside the Dome and with the Rooks on its outside. Make sure she isn't immune to her own anti-teleportation, and if she is, is at least Punished for using it.

RATH;
>Toss out a 10 Boil strong barrage on MG Magpie, to give folks a moment.
>Then, toss out a second 10 Boil Strong Barrage on her along with Shus Contender shots, using the momentum of throwing them to toss out a limb with your strands and combined with a boost from the Tormentis to slingshot yourself towards Magpie, while the Boils and Shus Arm explosion give you cover.
>Dig the Daggers into Magpie deep with one set of Hands, then hit Magpie with a barrage of Hydra Hands, aiming to activate the relic Disabling effects of Grasp on her.

NOVEMBER;
>Use the Sacrificium and Jesters combo to keep yourself at the height of the Initiative Order, and to lower Magpies Critical chance and Damage, or at least try to.
>unload on Both Magpies with both Porcupine and Spooky, to give Shu and others time to react.
>Once the Dome is up, switch to only Suppressing MG Magpie, until you need to stop due to Rath and Shus plans.
>Once Rath and Shu give you your shot, if they can, hit MG Magpie through the skull with a REX round.

HOLLY;
>Use your Maw to try and quickly get to the side of MG Magpie. We need to put some spacing between us all, just enough she can't suppress the whole group.
> spray MG Magpie down, to help give others an opening and give her a taste of her own medicine.

JOYOUS;
>Always have at least one Joyous back and hiding, to spawn new Joyous,though if extra can be spared from other orders, then have them split too.
>Keep a wall of Queen Crimson between us and Sniper Magpie, as best they can.
>Have the Joyous unleash a GRA RHO CUNT(or just GRA RHO, if Crimson activation takes an Act) with their remaining Act.

MIDNIGHT CREW;
>We Trust you to know what to do, so just some requests/suggestions.
>>Dorian needs aid, if Keane thinks she can fix his regen issue, and unless they think they can safely reach Sniper Magpie, quickly taking down MG Magpie, and making sure she goes down, over throwing any tricks at us, would do us good, and she needs to go down fast. If Jackie can spare it, we could use something to try and get rid of Magpies eye constructs, to blind her.

(2/2)

>>4144347
While i think it is slightly superfluous i will ammend my vote from >>4144431
to >>4144527
>>4144529

>>4144532
eh, BHOP is colorblind and trying to piece together changes and add-ons is already pretty annoying as it is. figured if i was gonna add more, may aswell put it all in one place for him.

>>4144534
oh no i was thinking it could be necessary so that OP wont have trouble finding what option i truly want to support. I am aware that he has his problems due to being colourblind.

I didnt mean to sound like i was criticizing you just making sure that OP will find it easier to count the votes

>>4144534
>>4144537
(I appreciate the consideration, you two. Truly, it means a lot.)

>>4144521
(You'll see.)

File: 031920_by_julian_faylona_(...).jpg (31 KB, 1068x748)

31 KB JPG

>>4144537
oh, my bad, sorry.

>>4144541
no problem.

(Gentlemen, I'm nearing completion with the update, though posting may be delayed as I am in the office with my chattiest coworker, bless her heart. Thus, if I am unable to get the post out within the next half-hour, I'll update as soon as I arrive home. Thank you for your patience, Gentlemen.)

>>4144347
Wait, I just realized something, looking through the character sheet: Platelings and Bishops don't count to our swarmling limit so long as they're attached to someone, we get that from Trypophilic Hive level twelve. Too late to account for that now, voting period has ended, but we should fill up our twenty-five spare slots on the next turn. Spawn a huge mass of banelings to dive-bomb CQC Magpie or to hunt down Sniper Magpie.

File: 1578305467724.jpg (453 KB, 1920x1735)

453 KB JPG

>>4144561
hey, i understand. take your time, and i hope she at least can keep a situation interesting for ya. plus, assuming she isnt a drag, dont cut socialization out of your life over us.

>>4144561
No worries, BHOP. Take your time, we're plenty willing to be patient in getting our fix of this quest. Go, talk with your coworker, it's all good.

>>4144561
Its fine. Such things sometimes just take time If you dotn post in the next half hour i will go to sleep then as i do still somewhat need it.... Even though my day hasn't been as much of a shitshow as yesterday. My coworkers mostly left me alone so it was actually a nice day

>>4144563
well shit. You're right.

>>4144564
>>4144570
(Ha, thank you. She's great, and I can't exactly say 'not now, I'm writing about apocalypse cannibal lesbians and need to focus' without sounding completely insane.)

>>4144563
(I would like to say that while the Platelings won't count since they're equipped, the Bishops are free floating and not attached yet. However, at the beginning of your next vote you may attach them and then spawn more to fill those slots, if you like.)

>>4144581
oh, i thought they were already attached, just not yet injecting. would've said to go ahead and do that otherwise.

>>4144581
Wait, really, we haven't attached the Bishops yet? Shit, I wish I had known that, we should have attached Bishops. Ah, well, chalk it up to Shu being a bit rattled by the multi-body shenanigans. I just realized those are kind of our nemesis in this quest, aren't they? Any time someone shows up with more than one body, it's going to be a real bad time for the party.

>>4144587
I have to say..... those multiple bodies for Shu now sound really tempting.... Well we melted the ability down for stats nothing we can do about that now. Could be really useful to just have an army of Shus running around capable of going to several places at once and all that....

>>4144589
not sure it would be worth it, given the usual drawbacks of those abilities, and our family makes that much less necessary, especially with the Spiritus.

>>4144589
I don't think it's really needed. The reason that multi-body opponents are so tough is because they reverse our typical set-up of ganging up on an enemy to take advantage of the action economy. Fighting more than one foe at once makes things harder for us. Fighting more than one foe, who are as coordinated as our team is, makes things very hard. Shu would only benefit from being a multi-body if she was completely separated from the party and her entire swarm.

>>4144589
As tempting as is, I don't think it's worth the investment. A cloning ability sounds more like a playstyle suited for solo play. And with our current build, we're more of a support fighter that shits out specialized bees that defends and amplifies our allies while providing all the coordination and information control to maximize battlefield effectiveness. Besides, we already have a daughter who can clone herself. No need to wrestle our way into her gimmick. And moreover it just makes bookkeeping a bigger hassle.

File: Hotel November, Mk. 2.jpg (127 KB, 1280x1121)

127 KB JPG

>>4144347

November’s frame screams with speed, her Porcupine and ‘Spooky’ minigun roaring to life as she lays down a hail of suppressing fire on the Magpie in front of you. Magpie retaliates with a single pistol shot from Scylla, drawn with startling swiftness from her right-hand holster with its round clipping November in the shoulder. The quickshot throws off November’s downrange aim, even as a barrage of hot lead tears through Magpie’s coat and draws a spray of black blood.

In the moment that Rath’s first volley of boils gives you space to breathe despite the gunner's deft dodge, your Dominus stretches out in two opposite directions - tethering you to the Magpie before you and the wounded artist behind you. The former’s regeneration is rapidly siphoned to you, while the former fails to find purchase thanks to the ill effects of Magpie’s cheap shot. A legion of reinforced Rooks surround your party to deflect the incessant gunfire, while your Jacklings descend as one to terraform a dome around everyone as you shift the leash to Holly, who’s already lunging forward at your silent command with Dorian’s paintlings hot on her heels.

Holly’s own rapid-fire staccato joins Magpie’s in a deafening concert of lead, the former’s Uzi and the latter’s Strelitzia roaring at each other defiantly as the paintlings are promptly shredded int he crossfire. Magpie’s rounds crack and pierce through Holly’s carapace, their weakened elemental damage secondary to their devastating piercing capabilities. Holly tumbles, and with the same unerring speed with which Magpie drew Scylla, she holsters it and withdraws a familiar flask of yellow liquid in one fluid movement, hurling the container towards the assembled Joyous just as the terra-dome closes safely around your allies. Flask bursts against the ground as you and November evade the explosive radius of citrine crystals that spring to life, encasing both the remaining Joyous and your dome in a dense prison of unidentifiable material.

“Keane, if you can hear this, heal Dorian!” Jackie orders, stepping forward as she gestures to Quinn. “Break the kids out of that fuckin' piss-crystal while Ace and I keep pressure!”

“Aye, cap’n!” The blonde affirms, starting to wail on the wall bare-handed as the other two members of the Midnight Crew join you in rushing down the Magpies, the closest one’s coat stained with black ichor. You bring one of your twin Contenders to bear, a volley of shots spearing past the machine-gunner as Jackie darts past her, bee-lining towards the sniper’s nest with uncanny speed. Your intentionally sloppy aim peppers the area around the closest iteration of Magpie, but her attentions are drawn towards more urgent matters.

Namely the wall of angry swarmlings and incendiary boils that’re raining down on her head alongside Ace's deadly ace-swings…

…just as her bloodied wounds begin to writhe with black feathers.

(Continued)