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Interior Shipping District, Miir, 1st Floor
15th of 6th, 1173. 9:00PM.

"...and in the name of the serpent beloved, I ask that you forgive my sins and grant me the wisdom of ancient times." You mumble into your hands. "Please, give me a sign. A voice in the dark, a vision, something so I can..." You reach for the words, sigh and let yourself fall forward, hitting your head against the wooden back of the bench in front of you with a dull 'thunk'. "So I can stop making such a fool of myself..." You groan into the sheets.

Your name is Netana Holls, and you're an idiot.

Calling her a dark master- what were you thinking? Stupid, stupid, stupid! Now she'd never listen to you. Probably call the cops on you. And then you'd have to go up in front of Brother Paar and explain that you told some random girl that you were a-

Ugh.

"Netana, is that you?" A voice called from behind you.

You turn and look over your shoulder. Coming down the aisle between the benches was a man in his thirties, brown hair cropped close and dressed in simple clothes. "Master Bryant." You push up to your feet, turn and bow respectfully.

"What are you doing out here so late?" He asked. "Is something troubling you?"

"I-" You nearly answer his question automatically, a brief urge to confess all that had happened and ask for his guidance overtaking you. You force it down with effort. No way you were getting dragged into spiritual detention over that one. "I'm just stressed. Finals results are due soon."

Bryant scoffed. "Prayer won't help with that." He shrugged as he walked past you. "For what it's worth, I'm sure you did fine."

"R-right, thank you." You bow again, holding it until you heard the loud click of the prayer hall's door shutting. The doors were heavy brass painted a dark color. To hear your friends who were in the acolytes tell it, they were meant just as much to keep whatever sacred works the priests did behind it in as well as keep people out. They looked like they weighed a ton, but the priests always seemed to swing them open effortlessly, even though they weren't true masters.

Well, true as it gets, anyway. Blessed.

Picking up your coat from the bench, you make your way out of the hall and through a side door, shutting it quietly beside you. The maintenance halls of your little wedge of the city plate were dimly lit- there were no windows to let natural light in this far out, after all. The floors were as well-maintained as they could be, given the circumstances, but not enough to keep dark stains from being worn into the stone over time.

A conversation suddenly stopped as you drew near one of the open doors. The suspicious eyes of Mrs. Yannis and Mrs. Paylor peering back out at you suddenly relaxed as you passed by the door and waved. They knew your face, and you knew theirs. You knew most everyone's faces. Perhaps not a name, since there were just so many of you, but enough to know at a glance whether they were one of you.

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>>4397836
Except for the clergy. Nobody knew exactly how many of the clergy there were. Sometimes people would be accepted, only to disappear so long it was assumed they had died, or been killed on some holy mission, only to turn up years later. Your own uncle had done so, suddenly reappearing at your fourteenth birthday after vanishing seven years prior. It wasn't like anyone got to meet with the Father. At least, by appointment.

It was said you could tell when you were in the presence of a master- a real one. You could feel the soothing cold in your bones and teeth, and how it pressed down on you. That's how it felt when you spoke to Tiiris. You remember her brow furrowing at you, her face growing stern and serious, the sacred wings on her face capturing all of your attention as her eyes bore into you. You'd had your suspicions before - especially from the way her uniform had grown strangely taut over the week - but the sudden faintness and twisting of your stomach that had come over you when speaking to her... that left no doubt. She just didn't see it.

...or didn't want to tell you.

You sigh, and push another maintenance door aside. There were no proper thoroughfares this far down, just industrial streets with no sidewalks and not enough shoulder to justify the danger. Maybe you should just go to the masters about it. They probably wouldn't believe you, and you'd get into more trouble for even mentioning the faith to someone else, but...

Maybe you should try talking to her again- no, the mere thought of doing that made you feel queasy and unsteady. You shake your head. No sense worrying about it now, you already screwed it up.

Pushing your shoulder into your front door, you turn the knob as slowly as you can, hoping it wouldn't creak too loudly in the old frame. It opened with a faint, ancient groan, and you switch your hand to the other side of the knob, pushing it back into the frame before slowly turning it back to neutral. There was no lock, of course. You were well within the guarded perimeter. Mom and Dad were already out cold in bed, it seemed. Long hours took their toll, and the two of them had to get out of bed early for their shifts.

Placing a foot on the staircase, you slowly creep upwards, taking two steps at a time when you knew one would creak. Random noises in the night were just an accepted fact of life here, but you'd hate to interrupt their sleep anyway.

At the top of the stairs, you open the waiting door and duck into your little room. It was supposed to be the only bedroom of your unit, but with the three of you and occasional guests in here... you'd wound up with it. Taking off your coat, you toss it onto your desk chair and delicately slam down onto your bed, back first. Rubbing your eyes with a sigh, you lean back in bed.

>>4397839
Maybe you were a fool. She might just be imposing, beautiful, mystical completely naturally. That happened, right?

...yeah, no.

>Maybe just... one more prayer for guidance before bed.
>All you need to do is confront her with irrefutable proof of her divinity. Then she'll understand.
>This is too beyond your ken... you should seek guidance from the masters...

>>4397841
>Maybe just... one more prayer for guidance before bed.
My favorite homeworld inspired fetish quest is back.

>>4397841
>>Maybe just... one more prayer for guidance before bed.

>>4397841
>Maybe just... one more prayer for guidance before bed.

>>4397841
>This is too beyond your ken... you should seek guidance from the masters...

>>4397841
>>Maybe just... one more prayer for guidance before bed.

>>4397841
Ohhh cool, perspective shift to the cult kid.
>All you need to do is confront her with irrefutable proof of her divinity. Then she'll understand.
I like this. Tiiris's inevitable reaction to the "proof" should be great.
Netana has no idea what she's getting into.

>>4397839
A POV flip was not what I expected today
>All you need to do is confront her with irrefutable proof of her divinity. Then she'll understand.
Ah yes, this person is made out of person

>>4397977
We were told that there would be a POV shift. Just didn’t expect it to be her.

>>4397841
>>All you need to do is confront her with irrefutable proof of her divinity. Then she'll understand.
Brilliant plan! She’ll never send her war skins to kill me for sure!

>>4397841
>All you need to do is confront her with irrefutable proof of her divinity. Then she'll understand.
Dis gon be good

>All you need to do is confront her with irrefutable proof of her divinity. Then she'll understand.

A chance to get a inside spy in a cult, yes.

>>4397841
>>Maybe just... one more prayer for guidance before bed.

>>4397841
>Maybe just... one more prayer for guidance before bed.

>>4397841
>>This is too beyond your ken... you should seek guidance from the masters...

>>4397841
>Maybe just... one more prayer for guidance before bed.

>Major plot decision? A handful of votes
>Dealing with an important NPC? Scattered voting.
>Should we be slim and graceful or an amazon? Very busy, divisive vote.
>Can we make our cultist friend embarrass herself? Lots of votes
Never change, COADE.

>>4398677
It’s been some time since the last “tits or ass” or clothes shopping vote bentus. We demand more!

>>4398923
You're broke tho.

>>4397841
>All you need to do is confront her with irrefutable proof of her divinity. Then she'll understand.

>>4397841
>All you need to do is confront her with irrefutable proof of her divinity. Then she'll understand.

>>4397841
>Maybe just... one more prayer for guidance before bed.

>Maybe just... one more prayer for guidance before bed.
Writing.

With a sigh, you roll over and off the bed, swinging your legs down to the ground and resting your elbows on the covers. One last prayer, it was only good form to offer prayers of fealty before bed.

...although tonight, maybe they could excuse your presumptuousness.

Folding your hands, you lean your head forward onto your hands, take a breath and begin quietly murmuring. "Divine members of the darkness... please grant me wisdom and guidance... I need to know how to-"

"Help me..."

"To..." You falter. "To speak..."

"Help... save..." A strained voice floated to you without reaching your ears.

You scramble to your feet. The hairs on your neck stand up, and a chilly breeze passes over you despite the lack of windows or vents in your room. Your breath picks up, and you start to feel your heart hammer more insistently in your chest. "The... hell..." You stammer quietly.

There was a strain, and a sigh, and then the room was faintly warm again, leaving you feeling strangely hot. For a few seconds, you stand stock still, waiting for anything else. Then you quickly begin pacing back and forth, smothering your mouth and muttering to yourself and making the sign of the wings repeatedly. One finger, from brow to brow, cheek to cheek, then forehead to chin.

"Oh fuck, oh fuck..." You groan into one hand. That couldn't have been- no, there's no way. A voice in the dark? That wasn't something just anyone was supposed to get- priests, sure, and enlightenment, but not random girls! And... it needed your help? A master needed your help!

But... for what? And how? Where? Would it tell you what you needed to do? Or... how to... no, no that wasn't a helpful revelation at all...

It was still a revelation, though! You can't help but give a strangled little shriek of joy before composing yourself. Mom and Dad were still asleep, and you had- you had to go tell someone about this. Get help interpreting your first divine sign- from the... masters. Except- which masters? Obviously the clergy, but... they weren't real masters. They were... pretenders. The real masters were locked inside the clergy. The clergy were the ones who were supposed to receive the visions, and yet you'd just gotten one.

So why would they understand any of it? After all... you knew where you could find a living, breathing Valkan right now.

>Go to Tiiris.
>>[Sub-Option] In fact, go right now.
>Go to the clergy.
>>[Sub-Option] It's not too late, some of them should still be up.

>>4399904
>Go to the clergy.
>>[Sub-Option] It's not too late, some of them should still be up.
There is the possibility that this isn't time sensitive, but it's probably a good idea not to risk it.

Maybe Xol would know, but i don't think that it's a good idea until we make sure that the info isn't going to leak.

>>4399909
After a little more thought, this could be what remains of Wander reaching out, somehow.

>>4399904
>>Go to Tiiris.
>>>[Sub-Option] In fact, go right now.
Ha ha ha yes. Nothing can go wrong.
Please don’t say that we should make her a spy. She just can’t shut her mouth or look normal for her own sake.

>>4399904
>go to sleep

>>4400000
Get

>>4400001
Fucking fateshits stole my dub reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

>>4399904
>Go to Tiiris.

>>4399904
>Go to Tiiris.
>>[Sub-Option] In fact, go right now.

>>4399904
>Go to sleep

>>4399904
>Go to Tiiris.

>>4399904
>Go to Tiiris.
Going to Tiiris is stupid, but it's even more stupid to do it right now.

>>4399904
>Go to the clergy.

>>4399904
>Go to Tiiris.
no bulli cultist-chan
of course this could turn serious real fast, but eh

>>4399904
>Go to Tiiris.
>[Sub-Option] In fact, go right now.
Go to the same people who totally discounted the obvious evidence that Tiiris is a holy Valkan? No thanks.
Tiiris, now, she's a bit scary but definitely real and powerful. She'll know things. Best time to go is now. Late at night. When we probably don't even know where she is.
That's the sort of very logical decision someone like Tiiris would make, I bet.

>>4399904
>Go to Tiiris.
>>[Sub-Option] In fact, go right now.

>>4400671
amending with
>>[Sub-Option] In fact, go right now.

>>4399904
>Go to Tiiris.
>>[Sub-Option] In fact, go right now.

>>4400700
>That's the sort of very logical decision someone like Tiiris would make, I bet.
Of course!

>Go to Tiiris.
>>[Sub-Option] In fact, go right now.
Writing.

There was only one true master you knew. Whether she acknowledged you or not, she deserved to know about it. Maybe if you showed you were on her side, she would trust you more. Or maybe it would stir something in her... if she didn't know. How could she not?

You rush to the door, grab your coat, trip on the lip of the door and rush down the stairs. Opening and closing the front door and quickly- and when it creaks loudly, closing it the rest of the way with a more reserved effort. You run down the halls, find the maintenance stairs, slip on an untied shoe and tug it back on before finding the local lift. The numbers tick by agonizingly slow as you wait for it to reach the surface. Then you bolt out and-

Wait, where the hell does Tiiris live?

You... actually neglected to really stalk her or anything- as soon as that thought occurs, you realize it's probably a good sign that you didn't. But still... you knew she wasn't rich- chose not to be rich, rather. So the second floor or below... this sector, since you went to the same school... dammit, where the hell would you look? You'd already run all the way up here, it probably wouldn't hurt to check one or two places...

>She was with that girl you'd met once before. Kara, you think her name was? Everyone knew her dad owned a video store on the second floor, maybe you could go and ask her?
>The school would have her address on file. So, obviously, you needed to break into the school. You know some of the cloister did this stuff all the time, how hard could it be?
>Maybe you should backtrack and ask the clergy if they knew how to find where people lived. They had to, right?

>>4401393
>She was with that girl you'd met once before. Kara, you think her name was? Everyone knew her dad owned a video store on the second floor, maybe you could go and ask her?
Not being creepy about it would definitely help.

>>4401393
>The school would have her address on file. So, obviously, you needed to break into the school. You know some of the cloister did this stuff all the time, how hard could it be?

>>4401393
>She was with that girl you'd met once before. Kara, you think her name was? Everyone knew her dad owned a video store on the second floor, maybe you could go and ask her?
Maybe don't ask for Tiiris' home address, though. If she chooses to be poor, then Tiiris probably chooses to not use her divine powers for money, and has a regular job somewhere. Maybe ask about that?

>>4401449
This

>>4401393
>She was with that girl you'd met once before. Kara, you think her name was? Everyone knew her dad owned a video store on the second floor, maybe you could go and ask her?

There is also a good chance that we might notice Kara as well.

Remember to watch out for Skall and, LL if they are there since i don't think Skall is going to ask many questions before he starts blasting.

Also we should still have a spare machine heart, and LL has access to chemical restraints so if we absolutely needed to, we could probably implant her with the last one in order to make her keep our secret.

>>4401393
>The school would have her address on file. So, obviously, you needed to break into the school. You know some of the cloister did this stuff all the time, how hard could it be?

>>4401638
>Also we should still have a spare machine heart, and LL has access to chemical restraints so if we absolutely needed to, we could probably implant her with the last one in order to make her keep our secret.

Why? Such an around terrible idea. The priests in her cult will notice the changes. And what has he she done to deserve a machine heart herself? She’s not half valkan herself or someone we care about. She’s just a creepy stalking weirdo cultist to Tiiris.

>>4401691
Considering the fact that she can hear things while not only unaugumented but without a Valkan somewhere in her bloodline, indicates that she likely has gained an affinity for the Abyss as is, and will likely continue to develop it over time And if it continues unchecked bad things are likely to happen. one of the ways to prevent this from occurring would be the implantation of a machine heart.

>>4401719
Not really. Remember when Bentus said that abyss affinity is created out of extremely traumatic events? I believe all of Tagara has gained a little abyss affinity from the the destruction of the Valkan fleet above orbit.

>>4401393
>>Maybe you should backtrack and ask the clergy if they knew how to find where people lived. They had to, right?

>>4401723
It always starts slow and gets stronger over time, We're also likely to be going off exposing ourselves to strong enough sources like the Rosary or the other stronger foci we have It didn't take long for Wander to show up either.

Found what i was referring to Thread #15 Post >>4287947

>>4401393
>The school would have her address on file. So, obviously, you needed to break into the school. You know some of the cloister did this stuff all the time, how hard could it be?

>>4401719
Or she could just run away from her cult and everything. They don’t seem like a healthy environment to grow up in. Join the armed forces or something.

>>4401987
I'm not sure that anywhere the Military could send someone would be outside their reach, if they wanted to make a point.

And at the moment there would probably be a couple of stages of deprogramming that we would need to go through before we could motivate her to want to drop everything and leave. Also considering that she probably wouldn't normally remain outside the of the Cult's various compounds and secure areas for an extended period of time would make planing and executing said plan difficult Unless it's just to stick her on the Rontah and leave her there or something.

Inb4 Tagara is Valka and this is part of a closed-time curve.

>>4401393
>She was with that girl you'd met once before. Kara, you think her name was? Everyone knew her dad owned a video store on the second floor, maybe you could go and ask her?

>>4401393
>She was with that girl you'd met once before. Kara, you think her name was? Everyone knew her dad owned a video store on the second floor, maybe you could go and ask her?
Oh yeah, the schizo girl. She should know. That makes more sense than breaking into the school late at night.
IMPORTANT: Don't call her nuts again. People get weird about that and stop talking to us for some reason.

>She was with that girl you'd met once before. Kara, you think her name was? Everyone knew her dad owned a video store on the second floor, maybe you could go and ask her?
Writing.

There were a lot of video stores on the second floor...

One of your neighbors owned a CHS projector they set up in one of the meeting halls. Every Friday they were playing some old tape in there for the rest of your congregation, but they got those tapes from the community storage, so you'd never had a reason to visit one of these stores yourself. You'd gone from store to store, your nose buried in your phone as the grey glow of the clouds faded from the strip of the horizon and was replaced by the featureless black of night.

Each of the stores you had visited were- well, most of them were closed. Of the few that were open, whenever you asked - or searched when they refused to tell you - who the owner was, none of the names given rang a bell. Although it was entirely possible that one of the stores you'd visited already had been it, you didn't see a reason not to check all of them first.

Virtual Home Cinema was a nice building. It reminded you a lot of home, except... cleaner. It's windows were completely dark, and from the sign in the front door, it had closed an hour ago at eleven. Website said to contact an Adan Makagan about business inquiries. That rang some bells, actually. Looking up, though, you couldn't help but notice there was a second story built onto it. A loft apartment? Wouldn't that just be your luck if the owners lived right above...

Circling around the building, you notice a side grate door in the alley. Behind it were two locked doors- one glass, leading into the video store, and one wood that presumably would lead up to the loft. Both locked, so you'd probably have to ring the bell to get in, although you're not really sure you want to wake the people up in the middle of the night.

...well, you were trying to get the location of someone you think might be a Valkan out of them, so none of this was really proper. It is an emergency, though.

Lights were out in the windows above, too. They must be asleep. That, or about to sleep. Although, given the size of the loft, there could only be so many rooms in the building above. There wasn't a window directly above the entrance, so that was where the stairs went... on the other side of the building was an extra-wide swing-out window, so that was probably the kitchen. Which meant the bedrooms were the ones in the back. A master with an attached bathroom, and a regular bedroom.

>Just ring the bell. They'll be grumpy, but it's the least creepy option you have.
>Maybe you could try hitting the bedroom window with something, get Kara's attention.
>>[Sub-Option] Throw some pebbles.
>>[Sub-Option] Throw your coat.
>>[Sub-Option] Throw yourself. There was a building directly next to it, after all.
>No unnecessary conversations, so you'll break in. Obviously.

>>4402988
>Maybe you could try hitting the bedroom window with something, get Kara's attention.
>>[Sub-Option] Throw some pebbles.
We only should only need one or two in to get Skall's attention, who will likely attempt to wake Kara for a decision on what to do . The important thing to do will be to look as non threatening as possible, so Netana doesn't get herself shot.

>>4402988
>Maybe you could try hitting the bedroom window with something, get Kara's attention.
>>[Sub-Option] Throw your coat.
Throwing pebbles is just asking for a broken window, maybe the coat has less chance of damage?

>>4402988
>Maybe you could try hitting the bedroom window with something, get Kara's attention.
>>[Sub-Option] Throw yourself. There was a building directly next to it, after all.

>>4402988
>>No unnecessary conversations, so you'll break in. Obviously.

>>4402988
>>No unnecessary conversations, so you'll break in. Obviously.
Time 2 die

>>4402988
>Maybe you could try hitting the bedroom window with something, get Kara's attention.
>>[Sub-Option] Throw some pebbles.

>>4402988
>No unnecessary conversations, so you'll break in. Obviously.

>>4402988
>Maybe you could try hitting the bedroom window with something, get Kara's attention.
>>[Sub-Option] Throw some pebbles.
Ah yes. The good old "throw pebbles at the window to get the attention of the person inside" trope.

>>4402988
>Just ring the bell. They'll be grumpy, but it's the least creepy option you have.

>>4402988
>Maybe you could try hitting the bedroom window with something, get Kara's attention.
>[Sub-Option] Throw some pebbles.
Pebbles Netana, not rocks, please.

>>4402988
>Maybe you could try hitting the bedroom window with something, get Kara's attention.
>[Sub-Option] Throw your coat.
I can only imagine the FLOMP as a bundled up coat hits the window, and laugh at the absurdity. But second choice is the more practical:
>[Sub-Option] Throw some pebbles.

>>4402988
>Maybe you could try hitting the bedroom window with something, get Kara's attention.
>>[Sub-Option] Throw yourself. There was a building directly next to it, after all.
This is too funny to not be done

>>4402988
>No unnecessary conversations, so you'll break in. Obviously.
Definitely won’t get you killed

>>4402988
>Maybe you could try hitting the bedroom window with something, get Kara's attention.
>>[Sub-Option] Throw your coat.
>>[Sub-Option] Throw yourself. There was a building directly next to it, after all.

>Maybe you could try hitting the bedroom window with something, get Kara's attention.
>>[Sub-Option] Throw some pebbles.
Writing.

All you had to do was get her attention. It was summer, she couldn't be going to bed on time, right? Besides, you really didn't want to talk to her father if at all possible. He'd probably have questions and ask why you suddenly showed up in the middle of the night like it was a crime or something.

At first, you consider chucking something large and heavy at the wall next to it- there were plenty of bricks around, after all. But you realize that plan might not be the best when there was a distinct possibility you'd miss the wall. Or wake her father up. So, failing that, you hunt around the edges of the alley, looking in the gaps between the alley floor and the walls of the buildings to either side and picking up the bits of gravel that had lodged within.

Once you had a little pile going in your hand, you returned to the window, took a piece and gently chucked it. The speck of gravel sailed up and promptly fell short of the window. You tried again, and promptly missed the window, the small pebble smacking against the wall. Frowning, you carefully aim and toss the pebble underhand dead on, if not as fast as you'd like. It somehow fell short, along with your next couple tosses, no matter how sure you were of your aim.

Growing frustrated, you close your hand around the gravel and rear your arm back, intending to pitch the entire fist forward so at least one of them would hit. As your fist came forward, a shadow appeared in the window, flicking the latch before pulling upwards.

"What are you doing?" A girl asked as she stuck her head out the window.

You squeaked and pulled your hand back, relaxing it only to end up spraying your fistful of gravel all over your head and down the back of your shirt and onto the pavement.

She snickers as you hurriedly shake your shirt out. "If you were trying to be sneaky, I think you failed."

"U-uh." You collect yourself and look up at her. "You're Kara, right? Kara Makaan?"

"Makagan, yeah." She rested her elbows on the windowsill and gave you an odd look. "And you're...?" She asked in confusion before suddenly wincing. "Wait, no, I remember you..." She groaned as she squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed her head. "What do you want?"

"I-I, um..." You fidget, feeling strangely under the spotlight when talking to her. "I was wondering, do you know where Tiiris lives?"

"Didn't she tell you?" Kara asked.

"Um, no..."

"Then why should I?" She drawled with a bored tone.

"Please? It's important!"

"Oh?" She quirked an eyebrow. "Why's that?"

>Explain in as vague terms as you can. No need to alarm her.
>Refuse to explain the details, just that you need to talk about something personal with her.
>Trust, right? She obviously trusted Tiiris enough to tell her about her mental illness, so she must be a favored servant or something. Come clean.
>Make up a story about something else.

>>4404336
>Explain in as vague terms as you can. No need to alarm her.

>>4404336
>>Trust, right? She obviously trusted Tiiris enough to tell her about her mental illness, so she must be a favored servant or something. Come clean.

>>4404336
>Explain in as vague terms as you can. No need to alarm her.
If she won't tell us, ask if she could call her for us.

>>4404336
>>Make up a story about something else.

>>4404336
>Trust, right? She obviously trusted Tiiris enough to tell her about her mental illness, so she must be a favored servant or something. Come clean.
With the Kara calls Tiiris backup plan

>>4404336
>Trust, right? She obviously trusted Tiiris enough to tell her about her mental illness, so she must be a favored servant or something. Come clean.

>>4404336
>Explain in as vague terms as you can. No need to alarm her.

>>4404368
This or
>>4404406
This as a 2nd choice

>>4404336
>Trust, right? She obviously trusted Tiiris enough to tell her about her mental illness, so she must be a favored servant or something. Come clean.

>>4404336
>Explain in as vague terms as you can. No need to alarm her.

>>4404336
>>Trust, right? She obviously trusted Tiiris enough to tell her about her mental illness, so she must be a favored servant or something. Come clean.

>>4404911
No matter what we say Kara will see us as crazy anyways

>>4404336
>Trust, right? She obviously trusted Tiiris enough to tell her about her mental illness, so she must be a favored servant or something. Come clean.

>>4404336
>Explain in as vague terms as you can. No need to alarm her.

>>4404336
>Trust, right? She obviously trusted Tiiris enough to tell her about her mental illness, so she must be a favored servant or something. Come clean.
Hmmmm makes sense. Sure why not.

Maybe Tiiris has her own cult. One that works out a lot. She's real good at track and gymnastics. We should've exercised more. Who could've guessed it would be end up being a religious thing? Hindsight is always 20/20.

>Trust, right? She obviously trusted Tiiris enough to tell her about her mental illness, so she must be a favored servant or something. Come clean.
Writing.

"I need to talk her about, ah..."

"About?" She says with a bored voice. "Don't you have her number?"

"Uh, no. We're not exactly friends..." She mutter.

"Then why do you need to talk to her so badly?" Kara leaned on her windowsill casually, looking down at you.

"Um..." You take a breath and look down. Here goes nothing. "Tiiris is... I don't know if she realizes it herself, but she's..." You hesitate. You've never talked about this stuff to an outsider before. It was hard enough to confront Tiiris about it. "...a Valkan." You finally force out. "And-" You hear a clattering of wood, and look up.

Kara was throwing her legs through her bedroom window, kicking her body out and grabbing onto the sill before letting go entirely and dropping down to the ground. She practically stomped up to you, a hand reaching out.

"What are you-" You start to say before she grabs your shirt and bodily shoves you up against a wall.

"You have ten seconds." She hissed through gritted teeth. "To explain who told you before I have Skaal blow your brains out." Next to her shoulder, a shape emerged from the darkness. A floating dome with glowing red lenses that clicked and focused on your intently- and a large barrel protruding directly into your face while making an awful humming sound. A series of harsh and almost hateful stuttering clicks ripped forth at you from behind it.

You shriek and cover your head with your arms, turning away from Kara. "Ah! I'm sorry! Please don't kill me!" Your heart starts hammering in your chest. What the hell was that thing? A blessed engine?

"Start talk-" Kara made a pained sound, and you peek through the gaps between your arms as she lifted her free hand up to her forehead, kneading it with her knuckles. "I..." Her expression flickered, changing from anger to horror in the blink of an eye. Her hand abruptly let go of your collar, and she backed away. "I- I'm sorry. I... I'm not myself. I don't know why I did that." She rubbed her head as if she was dizzy, although she was standing up. "You had a- no, I'm sorry."

You slowly lower your arms. "Are... are you okay?" Something about her behavior was strange, even moreso than someone simply reacting in anger. You spare a nervous glance at the engine floating next to your head. It had gone still, it's... gun-mouth still pointed at you, but the camera beneath had swiveled to look at Kara.

"...no." She shakes her head. "But I'll be fine eventually." Something seemed different about her... and it wasn't the sudden anger. You could swear she didn't look that way when you first met, although you couldn't put your finger on exactly what it was. The freckles? They might be slightly thicker than before, but that couldn't...

>Is she... Valkan?
>Blessed, maybe? Like the clergy were, but by Tiiris?
>No, it's nothing.

>>4405963
>No, it's nothing.
See if we can head inside, so we can get off the street, and ask about the phone call, it still might be somewhat important that we talk, since Skall decided to show up.
What are the chances of randomly finding, not one, but two. Real Valkans?


I'm starting to think that it would probably be easier to just cut our losses and deal with the body at this point, since all the cards are now on the table to have Tiiris put under further scrutiny and linked back to the explosion at Y'avel, and her friends in danger.

>>4405963
>>Is she... Valkan?

>>4405987
Hiding the body is the easiest part. Just ask Rontah to dunp it on the deepest ocean trench.

>>4405963
>Blessed, maybe? Like the clergy were, but by Tiiris?
Poor Netana is going to drop so much spaghetti this chapter.

>>4405963
>>Is she... Valkan?
Netana say hello to the hole in the middle of your brain.

>>4405963
>Blessed, maybe? Like the clergy were, but by Tiiris?
I think we can dial it back a bit on seeing secret Valkans everywhere. There isn't even one living in residence with the Clergy, as far as we know.
A bunch of Valkans randomly just going to school with us and being normal people is a really silly fantasy.

>>4405963
>>Is she... Valkan?

>>4405963
>Blessed, maybe? Like the clergy were, but by Tiiris?
Valkans are supposed to be super rare, right? So there's no way we could find two... is there?

2nd choice is
>Is she... Valkan?

>>4405963
>>Is she... Valkan?

>>4405963
>Blessed, maybe? Like the clergy were, but by Tiiris?

>>4405963
>>Blessed, maybe? Like the clergy were, but by Tiiris?

>>4405963
>Blessed, maybe? Like the clergy were, but by Tiiris?

>Blessed, maybe? Like the clergy were, but by Tiiris?
I do enjoy how quickly the thread whiplashes between making fun of Netana and plotting her demise. Writing.

...no, no she wasn't. Something was clearly up with her, and you suspect it had something to do with Tiiris, but you doubted Kara was also a Valkan. That would just be too improbable. The freckles weren't in the distinct wings, and her figure was only slightly more curvaceous than you remember. Maybe not, you could be mistaken. Either way, it was probably best to treat her with some deference. "I- I know this is sudden, but I really don't know who I can turn to." You say, clasping your hands and taking a step forward- after warily checking the blessed engine for any sudden movements.

Kara rubbed her head and furrowed her brow before looking at you carefully. "You don't look Valkan."

"I'm not..." You shook your head. "I think that would be obvious."

"Then how did you..." Something seemed to click behind her eyes. "...oh."

You feel her picking you apart with her eyes. "I... look." You mutter. "I don't know any real mast- Valkans. I had... a vision, and I don't know what to do about it. I need her help."

Kara was starting to look very anxious. "And why do you think Tiiris is one?"

You give a little smile. "She looks like one, and- sorry, Kara, but you kind of gave it away the moment you..." You jerk your thumb at the blessed engine hovering next to you- blessed robot, you guess?

"...ah." Kara suddenly looks rather put out and guilty.

A small voice in the back of your head asks why Tiiris would hide the fact from you, since Kara was clearly aware of it. Why would she think you weren't a loyal worshiper? Were you not worthy, maybe? You'd been feeling pretty unworthy lately...

"Okay." Kara sighs. "What do you want?"

"I just want to talk to Tiiris." You say. "In person, if possible, but if not..." You sigh and shrug. "I'll take what I can get. I know I've done something to anger her, so I understand if she doesn't..." You trail off, your shoulders slumping. Now's not the time to feel miserable, Netana. Pull it together.

Kara peers at you slightly, then digs in her pants pocket, fishing out her phone. She dials something and puts it to her ear.

"Um-"

She holds up a finger as it begins to ring. "Hi. Yeah, it's me. Listen, I know it's late... yeah, look, something's come up and... yeah..."

You couldn't help but bristle slightly at the casual tone she was taking with her. That was a god she was talking to- no, no. Calm down. She was blessed, this was probably just a perk of it or something.

"For the moment, yeah. But there's someone here who needs to talk to you. No, but she's... she's figured some things out and she only wants to talk to you... no, and I didn't really understand any of it. She's standing right here. I'll put her on now, yeah." Kara turned to you and fixed you with a look before holding out the phone. "Here."

You take it, and carefully lift it up to your ear.

"Hello?" A confused voice came through the speakers, even and deep, for a girl.

>>4407358
"Uh... hi." You stammer. "It's, uh- it's Netana..."

"Oh..." The confusion vanished from her voice as it suddenly cooled, dropping down into a lower, slightly angry tone. The same one she took with you on the roof... "I thought I told you to leave me alone."

"I... I'm sorry." You stammer out. "I wouldn't have... I'm sorry, I don't know what I did before- I just..."

The voice was silent for a while, before you heard a rush of static as Tiiris sighed. "...what is it? Are you in trouble?" Her voice became gentler, but it was still laden with suspicion and hostility.

"No, I..."

>Start by telling her about the voice you heard, and ask for her guidance.
>Tell her that you don't know any Valkans you can turn to- the ones in your community don't speak to you, after all.
>Ask if you can meet face-to-face for this.

>>4407359
>>Ask if you can meet face-to-face for this.

>>4407359
>Ask if you can meet face-to-face for this.
Some things shouldn't be said over phone lines. Alternatively, ask her if she trusts Kara enough to share exactly what happened with her, to be transmitted physically to Tiiris.

>>4407359
>Ask if you can meet face-to-face for this.

>>4407359
>Start by telling her about the voice you heard, and ask for her guidance.

>>4407359
>Ask if you can meet face-to-face for this.

>>4407359
>Tell her that you don't know any Valkans you can turn to- the ones in your community don't speak to you, after all.

>>4407359
>Start by telling her about the voice you heard, and ask for her guidance.

>>4407359
>Ask if you can meet face-to-face for this.

>>4407359
>>Start by telling her about the voice you heard, and ask for her guidance.

>>4407359
>>Start by telling her about the voice you heard, and ask for her guidance.

>>4407359
>Ask if you can meet face-to-face for this.

>>4407359
>Tell her that you don't know any Valkans you can turn to- the ones in your community don't speak to you, after all.
>Ask if you can meet face-to-face for this.
Y'know, it's really weird to see (or hear) the MC act or speak from another PoV. It's like hating the sound of your own voice.

I secretly hope that Tiiris will simply murder her

>>4407359
>Ask if you can meet face-to-face for this.

>>4407359
>Start by telling her about the voice you heard, and ask for her guidance.

>Ask if you can meet face-to-face for this.
Writing.

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"I... I really don't know how much of it I should say over the phone." You murmur.

"Nobody's listening, you can say it." Tiiris said reassuringly.

You nearly ask 'nobody Valkan' before thinking better of it. You don't know Tiiris, and you don't know what sort of precautions she took. After all, while she made it sound like the line was secure, she might have been trying to reassure you. That or she was saying that nobody could overhear them, Valkan or otherwise. Although, why would Valkans want to spy on each other's conversaitons? Everyone knew that they were united in purpose! "...I just really need to meet in person." You finally say. "Is... is that okay?"

The other end was silent for a second. "...okay. Do you know Contact Day Memorial Park?"

"No?"

"Look it up on your phone and head over there. I'll meet you there."

"Okay..."

"Now, give the phone back to Kara."

You nod before realizing she can't see it, then pull the phone away from your ear and hold it out to Kara.

Kara takes it from you. "Yeah?" She paused. "You think that's a good idea? Do you want me... not great, I'll admit. Is that bad? Okay... yeah... I understand." Kara looked slightly put out, but also strangely relieved as she hung up. She spared you a look before gesturing with her phone. "Get going, I'm not doing anything else?"

"You're not coming with?" You ask.

"Can you not find your way there on your own?" She replies.

"Well... I have my phone..."

"Then you don't need me." She shook her head, then looked up at her bedroom window, as if dreading having to crawl back in through it.

For a moment, you're tempted to offer to pick the lock on her front door for her. That thought doesn't last long, and you know when you've been dismissed. Before she can shoot you any more withering looks, you turn on your heel and scurry out of the alley, fumbling with your phone to punch in Contact Day Memorial Park.

It turned out to be only a few blocks away from Kara's home. A little artificial park, set just a few blocks away from the towering support strut of the sector plate. The artificial lights were off this time of night, leaving only the yellow glow of street lamps to light the path as you follow it inwards. This time of night, it was practically abandoned, with only a few people walking along it's outside on their way home.

You realize that Tiiris never told you exactly where to meet, and so you end up gravitating towards the center. There was a fountain there, the slight rush of it's jets being the only sound this time of night. Despite the darkness, the statues in the center were lit by a ring of lights on the inside that bathed it in a warm, yellow glow. Models of ships that appeared to be suspended on jets of water, pointed towards the sky. A memorial for the lost who tried to resist.

Bloody fools...

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621 KB JPG

>>4408807
"I used to come here often, you know." A voice began from behind you, sending you whirling around. "Almost every day, when I was younger." The owner's gaze hung on the fountain behind you for a moment, before sliding down to fix on you.

Tiiris Elson was a girl whose appearance and behavior were almost completely at odds with each other. She was tall- taller than most girls you knew, standing a good half a foot taller than you. Her figure was hidden behind a thin, white sweater and a pleated skirt- but from the way the sweater stretched and then pulled in, and the amount of shelf the skirt rested on before falling loose, whatever was under there was substantial.

Her face was soft, rounding to a point and framed by golden blonde hair that hung just past her chin and was cut straight across her eyebrows. Wide lips and thick, dark brows and a pair of startlingly bright blue eyes- not at all hurt by the dark clouds of freckles that swept over her cheeks, brow and up her nose. They looked like images of the stars that were behind the featureless grey dome of the sky, the highest mark of beauty you knew of. She looked like she should be holding court, or having afternoon tea with other ladies in a garden.

That was not the kind of person her demeanor described.

A shifting of her expression - her brow furrowing, lips turning down into a disdained frown and eyes narrowing - was all it took to send her appearance from elegant, even beautiful to almost terrifying. Her expression was almost hawkish, the pupils of her eyes contracted into thin points that made the normally striking and exotic color of her iris seem unnaturally bright and silver.

You squirmed under her stare, your heart starting to beat faster and feeling slightly dizzy and cold despite the summer heat. Her arms were folded under her chest, not coyly pushing them up so she could stick her hips out like she was trying to get a date. One finger tapped an elbow repeatedly.

"You got me." Tiiris said. "So what do you want?"

>Explain that you had a... vision. No, a message? A gift from the mas- er, Valkans, and you need her help interpreting it. Unless she sent it herself?
>You just wanted to say that you were sorry. For whatever it is you did.
>Is there some way you could make her more comfortable? Buy her dinner?
>Stammer and generally make a fool of yourself.

>>4408810
>Explain that you had a... vision. No, a message? A gift from the mas- er, Valkans, and you need her help interpreting it. Unless she sent it herself?

Maybe we should try and see if the voice tells us anything else, now that we have found Tiiris.

>>4408810
>Stammer and generally make a fool of yourself.

>>4408810
>Explain that you had a... vision. No, a message? A gift from the mas- er, Valkans, and you need her help interpreting it. Unless she sent it herself?
and then, if we get the chance:
>You just wanted to say that you were sorry. For whatever it is you did.

>>4408810
>Stammer and generally make a fool of yourself.

>>4408810
>Explain that you had a... vision. No, a message? A gift from the mas- er, Valkans, and you need her help interpreting it. Unless she sent it herself?

>>4408810
>>Stammer and generally make a fool of yourself.

>>4408810
>Stammer and generally make a fool of yourself.
We’re standing in front of someone we consider a goddess in all her glory

>>4408810
>Explain that you had a... vision. No, a message? A gift from the mas- er, Valkans, and you need her help interpreting it. Unless she sent it herself?
>Stammer and generally make a fool of yourself.

>>4408852
This

>>4408810
>Stammer and generally make a fool of yourself.
I feel like this is less of an option than it is just you telling us what will happen. Netana *will* spill her spaghetti. That's just her personality.

>>4408810
>>You just wanted to say that you were sorry. For whatever it is you did.
>>Stammer and generally make a fool of yourself.

>>4408810
>>Is there some way you could make her more comfortable? Buy her dinner?
This’ll be the most fun option

>>4408810
>Explain that you had a...
We need to focus. We heard a voice. We felt a presence. They need our help. Tiiris can help us figure it out. Focus.
>Stammer and generally make a fool of yourself.
NO DON'T FOCUS ON HER EYES though they are amazingly pretty DON'T GET LOST IN HER EYES.
SHIT, DON'T STARE AT HER BOOBS.
Maybe a bit lower NOPE, LEGS NOT SAFE EITHER.

>>4408810
>Stammer and generally make a fool of yourself.

>Stammer and generally make a fool of yourself.
Writing.

"I..." You falter. "Where d-do I start, ah... you see... it's..."

Tiiris continues to stare at you, clearly waiting. Her eyes moved in sudden, short movements. You weren't sure if she was evaluating you, or... checking you out, if not in the way you wanted. She shifted her hand onto a hip and gestured. "Well?"

"Voices!" You blurt out. "I was praying and, I- uh... you see I saw the- heard, but I saw the thing that made the noise so I saw the thing that I heard and I-" You blabber. "B-but I just wanted your help..." This was because she was angry at you, wasn't it? You remember this same pressure from before. The weak knees, the dizziness. She was mad at you, and even if you didn't like it, you knew you had done something wrong to deserve this.

"Oh?" Tiiris said intelligently, raising an eyebrow. You must have been imagining it, but you could have sworn her lips twitched upwards. "You're hearing voices?"

"Y... yes!" You nod furiously. "And... and I thought you might be able to help me."

"It's not my problem if you're cr..." Tiiris suddenly trailed off, as her expression suddenly shifted. The furrow disappeared from her brow, and she suddenly seemed to be seriously considering what you were saying. "...okay, keep going. What did you hear and when?"

You shrug. "I was praying just before bed, and suddenly the room got really cold and I started hearing someone calling for help."

"Cold?" Tiiris tilted her head, considering. "Why do you think that's relevant?"

"Well, I don't have AC in my room..."

Tiiris' frown deepened, and you could swear some of the pressure let off, now that her ire no longer seemed to be directed at you. Honestly, you can't believe you're standing this close to her. She was gorgeo- "How did you hear it?" Tiiris asked. "Was it like this-" Her free hand reached out and quickly snapped next to your ear. "-with ears? Or like this?" She paused.

"...like?"

"You can't hear that?"

"You aren't talking, so... no?" You shake your head. "Is this some kind of test? Did I fail?"

"What?" Tiiris seemed distracted, now. "No. No..." She turned away from you and slowly circled while tapping her chin. "That's all it said? 'Help'?"

You nod. "'Help', 'help me'... I don't know who's voice it was. A woman's, I think?"

"Any sense of direction?" She asked.

"No..." You shake your head. "It was just the two times and then it was gone..."

Tiiris lapsed into silence, quietly tapping her side as she thought. "...the problem is." She began. "I'm just really not sure I can trust you."

>You never told anyone about her. She's literally a goddess and you didn't tell any of her loyal worshipers about her. Even if you weren't completely sure yourself...
>There's really nothing you can do to prove it beyond the shadow of a doubt. She's just going to have to trust you back.
>And neither can you, but you have to try.
>What can you do for her in order to prove that you can be trusted?

>>4410239
>And neither can you, but you have to try.

Weird things are happening, so we just need to go slow and figure out why whatever reached out did so, and what it wanted Netana to do.

Tiiris should probably check and see if it was Wander, and see what she thinks of the situation, i think we were a little heavy handed with our response to finding out she was lying.

Netana may be able to eventually be able to help with identifying the old man that was looking for Kathari's journal if we ever go looking for him.

>>4410239
>And neither can you, but you have to try.

>>4410239
>What can you do for her in order to prove that you can be trusted?
Ah-ha. A holy quest, a test of faith. Now we're back in Things Making Sense territory. Religion saves the day once again!

>>4410239
>And neither can you, but you have to try.

>>4410239
>You never told anyone about her. She's literally a goddess and you didn't tell any of her loyal worshipers about her. Even if you weren't completely sure yourself...
"Believe in the me that believes in you"

My hypothesis is that Netana is developing a Shadow, which would be extremely bad for her. Room getting cold is an abyss thing and so I would further hypothesize that Tiiris, with the 2 key points
>room getting cold
>hearing a voice
could come to that conclusion as well.

>>4410239
>>There's really nothing you can do to prove it beyond the shadow of a doubt. She's just going to have to trust you back.

>>4410239
>And neither can you, but you have to try.

>>4410239
>What can you do for her in order to prove that you can be trusted?

>>4410239
>>And neither can you, but you have to try.

>>4410239
>You never told anyone about her. She's literally a goddess and you didn't tell any of her loyal worshipers about her. Even if you weren't completely sure yourself...

>>4410239
>>And neither can you, but you have to try.

>And neither can you, but you have to try.
Writing.

"And..." You hesitate. "I'm... I'm not sure I can trust you either." The words feel like blasphemy coming from your lips. They probably were, come to think of it. "I don't really know what I've gotten into, and... I don't know why you aren't a part of the clergy if you're Valkan. Everyone knows all the real Valkans are part of our community. So something's up with you, but..." You trail off. "I... I need to try, and you're the closest thing to divine insight I have." You force yourself to look right into Tiiris' eyes. "Please."

She held your gaze, her eyes narrowing. Then she closed her eyes and sighed. "Okay. I'll help you-" You drew your breath to speak, but she held up a finger for silence. "-for now. And I hope it would go without saying that you will not mention one word of what I am to your... 'community'."

You hesitate. "U-um-" You flinch at Tiiris' expression flashing back to a glare. "-Yes! Yes, of course! But..." You steel yourself before asking. "...why?"

Tiiris' expression flickered. "W-we-" She caught herself slightly, as if she had just said something wrong. "We didn't all start cults, Netana."

Your brow furrows. Why wouldn't she, though? That didn't... what? You open your mouth to ask, but the sour look on Tiiris' face makes you think better of it. "R-right. S-so what now?"

"Now?" Tiiris thought for a moment. "Now... I need to think." She rubbed her neck. "I can't exactly go back to your place. If you could tell I'm Valkan, your cultist friends would probably recognize what I am." She looked mildly frustrated at those words, as if she was having difficulty with something.

"Who wouldn't recognize such beauty?" You blurt out like an idiot.

Tiiris shoots her a look. "More like such freckles. Either way, I either need to hear this... 'voice' of yours myself, or you need to hear more of whatever it was saying. Maybe both."

>If it would be inconvenient for Tiiris, you can try and puzzle out more of it on your own before reporting back.
>You can probably sneak her in. With a hoodie and... a lot of foundation. Probably.
>Why wouldn't she be able to sneak in? She has to have some power to avoid detection, otherwise how is she not surrounded by fawning worshipers yet?

>>4411675
>Why wouldn't she be able to sneak in? She has to have some power to avoid detection, otherwise how is she not surrounded by fawning worshipers yet?

>>4411675
>If it would be inconvenient for Tiiris, you can try and puzzle out more of it on your own before reporting back.
Could we get some sort of contact details from her, for if it happens again or something?

>>4411675
>>If it would be inconvenient for Tiiris, you can try and puzzle out more of it on your own before reporting back.

>>4411675
>If it would be inconvenient for Tiiris, you can try and puzzle out more of it on your own before reporting back.

>>4411675
>If it would be inconvenient for Tiiris, you can try and puzzle out more of it on your own before reporting back.

>>4411675
>You can probably sneak her in. With a hoodie and... a lot of foundation. Probably.

>>4411675
>If it would be inconvenient for Tiiris, you can try and puzzle out more of it on your own before reporting back.

>>4411675
>If it would be inconvenient for Tiiris, you can try and puzzle out more of it on your own before reporting back.
We need her phone number

>>4411675
>>If it would be inconvenient for Tiiris, you can try and puzzle out more of it on your own before reporting back.

>>4411675
>Why wouldn't she be able to sneak in? She has to have some power to avoid detection, otherwise how is she not surrounded by fawning worshipers yet?

>>4411675
>If it would be inconvenient for Tiiris, you can try and puzzle out more of it on your own before reporting back.

>>4411675
>>Why wouldn't she be able to sneak in? She has to have some power to avoid detection, otherwise how is she not surrounded by fawning worshipers yet?

>>4411675
>If it would be inconvenient for Tiiris, you can try and puzzle out more of it on your own before reporting back.
A test of faith! And hearing!

>>4411675
>If it would be inconvenient for Tiiris, you can try and puzzle out more of it on your own before reporting back.
It amuses me that with the way we play Tiiris, Netana is gradually getting into her good books just by constantly admiring how pretty she is.

>>4411675
>If it would be inconvenient for Tiiris, you can try and puzzle out more of it on your own before reporting back.

>If it would be inconvenient for Tiiris, you can try and puzzle out more of it on your own before reporting back.
Writing.

"I don't exactly have some secret back door anywhere..." You trail off. "...well, we do, but it's hardly secret if everyone we're trying to sneak you past knows about it. If you don't know for sure, I can..." You glance up at her nervously. "I can go back and try to find out more?"

"But then you might..." Tiiris looked mildly conflicted, as if she was weighing something in her mind before shaking her head. "Here, give me your number."

"Oh, um..."

She nodded, although she made no move to pull out her phone as you rattled it off. "Alright. We'll do this for now. Go back to your place and see if you can glean anything more helpful than a word or two. We'll... I suppose we'll see where to go from there."

"Um... how will I be able to-" Your phone buzzes in your hand, and you blink down at it in confusion as you receive a text message.

T: This is a secure line.

"Text that number. It's a lot more secure than others, although-" She tilted her head, as if someone was interrupting her. "-not perfectly secure."

"So that was... you?" You look down at your phone, then look up, trying to keep the awe out of your voice. "...did you just bless my phone?"

"N-" Tiiris paused, her lips thinning. "...yeees. Yes I did."

"Wow..." You look down at your phone before carefully tucking it back into your pocket. "I'll uh... I'll go, then?"

"I'm not your boss." Tiiris made a vague gesture, her arms once again folding.

"I'll... right, yeah. I..." Your gaze lingers on her for a second before you turn and almost immediately start sprinting as fast as you can.

Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit. You just talked to a real Valkan. Fuck, you just talked to her really disrespectfully and she didn't kill you on the spot. Did that mean she liked you? No, she didn't seem all that happy to see you. Still! This was huge, holy shit-

The manic energy carries you all the way back to your little apartment, practically blowing past your neighbors and opening your door with a slam-

"Netana!"

"...sorry!" You whisper harshly. "I- uh, sorry..."

"For cryin' out loud..." Your mother grumbles and rolls back over in bed, already halfway back to snoring before settling on her side.

You very carefully and as quietly as possible close your rickety front door and tiptoe back up to your room. Okay, maybe a bit too excited. But you can't help it! You've got a mission now...

...and you have absolutely no idea what to do next.

>You were praying before. Try again now- and later, if that doesn't work.
>>[Sub-Option] Surround yourself with as much blessed iconography as you can while you're at it.
>It was quiet and in the middle of the night before. Maybe find as quiet of a place as you can?
>You really can't know what the conditions were. All you can do is be patient and wait for another sign.

>>4413320
>You were praying before. Try again now- and later, if that doesn't work.
We should try again now, and attempt to replicate the conditions tomorrow assuming that we don't get anything more concrete.

And if that fails, the next step would be to see if handing her a focus helps or not.

If Netana ever met Xol, I'm sure that a very interesting conversation would be had.

>>4413320
>You were praying before. Try again now- and later, if that doesn't work.
recreating as many conditions as possible is best, so maybe pray in a quiet, dark place?

>>4413320
>You were praying before. Try again now- and later, if that doesn't work.

>>4413320
>You were praying before. Try again now- and later, if that doesn't work.
>[Sub-Option] Surround yourself with as much blessed iconography as you can while you're at it.
I'm curious what all this iconography is.

Blessed phone, heh. Guess that goes front and center now! Always keep it charged, or you're a dirty heretic!

>>4413320
>>You were praying before. Try again now- and later, if that doesn't work.

>>4413320
>It was quiet and in the middle of the night before. Maybe find as quiet of a place as you can?

>>4413320
>You really can't know what the conditions were. All you can do is be patient and wait for another sign.

>>4413320
>>You were praying before. Try again now- and later, if that doesn't work.
>>>[Sub-Option] Surround yourself with as much blessed iconography as you can while you're at it.
She’s gonna get possessed by two dozen valkan shades

>>4413320
>>You were praying before. Try again now- and later, if that doesn't work.

>>4413320
>>You were praying before. Try again now- and later, if that doesn't work.

>>4413320
>You were praying before. Try again now- and later, if that doesn't work.

>You were praying before. Try again now- and later, if that doesn't work.
Writing.

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271 KB JPG

Feeling a bit silly, you close the door to your bedroom as quietly as you can. Where were you? Right, you were... kneeling here. And you... had the lights off, right. Elbows on the bed, hands pressed against your head, and... what was the prayer? Ah, right.

"Divine members of the darkness... please grant me wisdom and guidance... I need to know how to speak-" Er, that prayer wouldn't work anymore, would it? Since you've already spoken with Tiiris, that was sort of a lie. Perhaps... ah, wait. You've got it. "I need to know how to please T- my master..." You mumble. "I need to know what I do to offend her, and how I might properly serve her. So please..." You squeeze your eyes shut tighter and press your head against your hands.

...nothing. Maybe the voice was weak, and that's why it was so quiet? The mere thought leaves you slightly disconcerted. If it was in some kind of danger, it might be too late, but without anything new... the only thing you could do was wait and try again.

Holls Household
16th of 6th, 1173. 10:04PM.

Nothing...

17th of 6th, 1173. 9:27PM.

Still nothing...

17th of 6th, 1173. 11:04PM.

Come on! Something, anything!

18th of 6th, 1173. 10:29PM.

You sat with your head buried in the sheets of your bed. Nothing... you'd gotten not even a peep in days. Had whoever called for help died? Did you fail their test> All of the possibilities make you feel dejected, and sick to your stomach. You'd blown it, you of little faith, and now you were going to-

"...hel..."

You freeze, stiffening upright. That couldn't have been- you try to still your thoughts, strain your mental ears for just another scrap of sound.

"...plea... elp... me..."

Instinctively, you tilt your head. It was hard when you were dealing with a voice without direction nor even words. There was no sound to it, only faint, distant meaning. You couldn't quite say that there were words or even a message exactly, just flashes of feeling, and the faintest, quietest... 'images'. Not images like a picture, but flashes of sensation. Darkness, seclusion... it was coming from outside your apartment.

Getting up, you find your way to the stairs and carefully creep down and out of your apartment again. Closing the door with a quiet click, you make you way out into the hall.

"Please..."

To your right. Down the hall, you stop and listen for the next message, but despite knowing you were closer to the source, the next words were even fainter than the first time.

"I..."

You pick up the pace a little, hoping to catch some more of the words before it faded entirely. You knew exactly where this passage led, and the mere thought of it made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up stiff.

"In... here..." The words finally said before completely fading.

Carefully, you lean into the prayer hall, and stare at the great brass doors of the cloister at their end.

>This is the part where you call Tiiris.
>Keep going by yourself for now.

>>4415011
>Keep going by yourself for now.
Text Tiiris, that we found something and that we are going to investigate while we continue moving.

>>4415011
>This is the part where you call Tiiris.
Uh, yeah. Mystery voice begging for help from INSIDE the priests' secret sanctum? Definitely above our pay grade.

>>4415011
>This is the part where you call Tiiris

>>4415011
>This is the part where you call Tiiris.

>>4415011
>This is the part where you call Tiiris.

>>4415011
>Keep going by yourself for now.
It’s a trap

>>4415011
>Keep going by yourself for now.

>>4415011
>This is the part where you call Tiiris.
Obvious trap is obvious (or maybe it's some kind of reverse psychology intended to make us do this, or maybe it's not even a trap at all), and as amusing as it would be to get our pet cultist-chan kidnapped or worse I'd rather not.

Also regarding the possibility of a Shade - as far as we know, Netana has not been dabbling in the Abyss (which iirc is what triggers non-Valkans to gain them (she also seems like a garden-variety human so far)) and when we gained Wander she (it?) did not emanate from a fixed spatial location like this, so I'm inclined to think that this particular fuckery is not Shade-related.

>>4415011
>This is the part where you call Tiiris.

>>4415011
>Keep going by yourself for now.

>>4415011
>This is the part where you call Tiiris.
I agree, this does seem pretty trappy. At the very least let Tiiris know before we go walking into it.

>Keep going by yourself for now.
Writing.

>>4416417
WAIT NO THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT VOTE.
>This is the part where you call Tiiris.

You rifle through your pockets and pull out your phone, quickly tapping out a message.

>N: I think I know where it's coming from.
>T: Where it's coming from? Did you hear any more?
>N: Not anything useful, but it's definitely coming from somewhere specific.
>N: Problem is, I'm not allowed in there.
>T: Technically not allowed or crime not allowed?

One time, another girl around your age tried to get into the cloister. Normally, the priests were just fine with people jockeying and pulling on the heavy metal since almost nobody could force it open themselves. Somehow, though, the girl got in. She didn't get far, but the next week you were all treated to a long speech on the dangers of meddling with divine powers and how mortal hands were not able to handle them. All with the girl on stage. She'd disappeared when you'd gotten into high school. Mom said she'd probably joined the cloister, but...

>N: Heresy-level not allowed.
>T: Right, I get what you mean.
>T: I'm coming down there.
>N: One problem with that...
>N: It's kind of in the middle of where I live.
>N: If that makes sense.
>T: Unfortunately it does.

You look up from your phone and frown. How were the two of you going to get in, though? Actually, no, the more pertinent question was how you'd get Tiiris down here first. One step at a time.

>N: Got any ideas?
>T: I'm pretty good at not being seen.
>T: If you let me in I'm sure nobody will notice me following you.

>You're not sure that's a good idea. Then again, it all seems beyond your ken.
>Actually, you have a better idea. (Write-In)

>>4416549
>Actually, you have a better idea. (Write-In)
maybe we should do some reconnaissance before we try and break in, blueprints for the area so if there are any access routes or anything that we might have overlooked.
locating and establishing a presence on the local network could possibly provide useful access to the cameras, and / or useful background information on the organisation.

Do we have any idea where the HVAC system is with any luck, it might permit a drone access.The dumb ones on the Rontah are pretty small, though may need to be ferried to the location by one of the others to maintain stealth.

>>4416549
>You're not sure that's a good idea.

>>4416549
>You're not sure that's a good idea. Then again, it all seems beyond your ken.
In Tiiris We Trust
We gotta tell her about the whole cloister thing though

>>4416575
(it must really not be a good idea if there isn't even an option to approve it)
Might there be some way to remotely let ST into the local network to help? I seem to recall that they are able to navigate computer networks. Shame we can't use anything we find out doing that to shop them all lest we get cultist-chan nicked as well (unless, of course, that's the desired outcome). Also I don't think N knows for sure we can use invisibility, though I wouldn't be surprised if she has her suspicions from the roof meeting escape.
If T does get rumbled despite her cloak, I think the most likely reaction of the cultists (especially the rank and file) would be to fall to their knees rather than shank her (and then probably go berserk and not take no for an answer).

>>4416549
>You're not sure that's a good idea.

>>4416549
>Well, if she's sure, then why not.
Let's see what amazing, mystical, and definitely not underwhelming method she has to get in. Can she walk through walls? Does she turn into mist, or starlight? Maybe she can shrink into a tiny Tiiris? Can she teleport?!

>>4416549
This is a bad idea

Classic COADE
Important decision
>5 votes

Cosmetic decision
>15 votes

Are anons just shy or afraid to fuck up

>>4416844
>(it must really not be a good idea if there isn't even an option to approve it)
Nah, sorry that was bad phrasing on my end. From Netana's perspective it seems like a horrible idea because she doesn't know about the cloaking device.

>You're not sure that's a good idea.
Writing.

>N: That seems like a bad idea.
>T: Trust me.
>T: Where should I meet you?

You hesitate. What could she be planning? This seemed like a recipe for disaster, but... well, you'd said it before. Neither of you could trust each other, and that meant you had to take a few leaps of faith. Maybe she had some divine ability that would stop people from recognizing her.

Turning around, you make your way upstairs as casually as you can, towards the rough perimeter of your community. It was actually a public service tunnel through the sector plate used by tons of people each day, but there were always a few of you up there keeping watch. Case in point, as you walked out you spotted Mr. Sarak sitting on a bench having a conversation with someone else.

"Evening, Netana." He raised the beer in his hand with a smile. "Going for a late night walk?"

"Just getting some fresh air." You thank the relative gloom of night for masking your guilty expression. "How's things?"

"Eh, it's Monday night." He shrugged. "Mostly just people on their way home from work. The usual."

"Any students?" You ask with a slight smile.

He laughed genially. "Why would there be? You're all free like sand serpents for the summer!"

Someone tapped you on your shoulder, and you turned in surprise. Before you could make a sound, an finger pressed against your lips. You look down and see nothing but air, and your phone buzzes.

"See something?"

The finger releases from your lips. "Oh, just thought I saw a weird bird."

"What'd it look like?" Mr. Sarak asked with interest.

"Uh, kind of small with a big red throat."

"Hmm. Can't say I've heard of that before." He scratched his beard. "Might have been a brown-throat in a weird light."

"Maybe!" You say with forced cheeriness, glancing down at your phone.

>T: Go on, lead the way.

You swallow, smile to Mr. Sarak and duck back through the tunnel entrance. You slow down once inside, waiting uncomfortably for... the drone or Tiiris or whoever it was to catch up. Someone gently pats your back, and you take it as a signal to keep on walking. You lead her down through the stairs and small turns it took to get past the outer edges where your neighborhood mixed with the shops and other apartments on this plate. Occasionally, you stop, unsure of whether you accidentally lost her, only to feel a faint nudge a few seconds later.

People glance at you as you pass, and you simply smile and wave, trying not to glance behind you too much, irrationally worrying that they'll suddenly see the invisible person with you. If they were a person. Eventually, you meander your way up to the prayer hall, and mutter under your breath. "This is it."

Someone leans down over you, and you try not to shudder at the tingling sensation on your back. "What's behind there?" A very quiet voice says.

"Don't know. Not allowed in."

>>4418309
"Let's see about that..." The pressure on your back releases, and you blink and look behind you. What could she- you turn back around and look at the heavy brass doors. For a few seconds, nothing happened, and you must have overreacted. Then with a shudder, and a groan of metal, one of the doors suddenly swung outward- not very wide, but more than wide enough for someone to walk through. You stare for a few seconds, paralyzed.

>Follow her.
>Stay behind.

>>4418310
>Stay behind.
Monitor the that the door so if it closes we can let Tiiris know, since there might not be another way out.

>>4418310
>Stay behind.

>>4418310
>Stay behind.

>>4418310
>Stay behind.

>>4418310
>Follow her.
Obey priesthood, or follow divinity?

>>4418310
>Stay behind.
Tiiris is invisible, we on the other hand aren't.

>>4418310
>Stay behind.

>>4418310
>Follow her.

>>4418310
>>Follow her.

>Stay behind.
Writing.

As you stare, the door looms, then slowly closes, apparently on it's own, before shutting with a sharp click. For a few long seconds, you wait for something to happen. A sound, or a sign or... Tiiris walking back out is what you'd prefer, come to think of it.

You sit down at one of the pews and wait, folding your arms over the back of the pew in front of you and staring at the door, watching for any movement - or sound, come to think of it. If you had spiritual ears, you can imagine they're straining right now. The doors beyond sit imposingly, even as they swam slightly, and moved in and out of focus-

"Wake up, kid." Someone was gently shaking your shoulder.

"Buh?" You make a incoherent noise, turning your head to peer up.

One of the priests - you can't remember her name - was looking down at you with a raised eyebrow. "Bit of late night prayer?"

"Uh... yeah." You yawn. "Yeah, sorry. What time is it?"

"About eight in the morning." She said, tugging on your shoulder slightly. "Come on, skip morning prayer and go get some proper breakfast."

"Thank you..." You mumble quietly, sleepily rising to your feet. While you make your way upstairs, you fumble out your phone and send a vague good morning text to Tiiris. She probably slipped out while you were asleep. Instead of cooking for yourself today, you just settle on a convenience store bagel as your brain begins to slowly reboot.

You glance at your phone. No replies...

...she was fine. Probably. She had to be. Anything else would just be too ridiculous. She's probably just reconnecting with the other Valkans in the cloister. Had to be. Or she was fighting them. Or busy with other, more important Valkan things way beyond your ken.

And even if she was, what could you do about any of it?

>The doors were shut, but logically there had to be at least one way in.
>Not everything important took place in the cloister considering how often the priests left it. Maybe follow and eavesdrop one of them?
>Go and ask Kara for help.

>>4419676
>Go and ask Kara for help.
It may be a good idea to attempt to pray before we go, to see if we get a response.

And considering that we didn't wake up to the place burning or under rubble things can't have gone too badly.

Hopefully Tiiris remembered to not go willingly into a trap without adequate protection and took the Lifesuit, and either the Bound Blade or the Plasma Rifle with her.

>>4419676
>Go and ask Kara for help.
KARA, WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY HERE!

>>4419676
>The doors were shut, but logically there had to be at least one way in.

>>4419676
>Pray first
>The doors were shut, but logically there had to be at least one way in.
I'm not sure how much help Kara would be. She's still suffering from the implantation effects, doesn't have any special items or abilities (I think?) and her battlebot is not designed for subtlety.

>>4419685
The following should be Append to the vote
>Try and call Tiiris, and see if anyone answers.

>>4419856
On a totally meta level it's that she can talk to Tiiris's drones and see what they know about whatever happened, if they don't it can get them searching for her / working on a search plan, and if they do it might even filter back to us.

>>4419892
Oh yeah, I'll add that to my vote as well.
>Call Tiiris
>Pray
>Talk to Kara
>Look for a way in
In that order of happening.

>>4419676
>Call Tiiris
>The doors were shut, but logically there had to be at least one way in.

If Netana gets Tiiris hurt then she’s getting murdered on the next thread.

>>4419676
>Go and ask Kara for help.

>>4419676
Call her, FIND HER

>>4419676
>Go and ask Kara for help.

>>4419676
>The doors were shut, but logically there had to be at least one way in.

>>4419676
>PANIC
>Call Tiiris

>Call Tiiris
Writing.

She's probably fine- she has to be. But maybe she can forgive you if you just...

You raise the phone to your ear and anxiously wait as it rings.

"Hello." A woman answers the phone- not Tiiris, though. Older than her...

"U-uh, hi?" You ask. "Is this Tiiris?"

"No." The woman replied. "I'm a friend of hers, though. You can call me ST."

"ST?" You ask in confusion. "What doe-" You shake your head. "...I'm Netana. I don't know if Tiiris told you about me. Do you know where she is?"

"Yeah, she told me about you." The woman said. Her voice was very calming and even- she almost had the sort of professional drawl of a phone operator, or pilot. "I haven't heard from her, though. Isn't she with you?"

"No, she went into the..." You hesitate. "...place? The one she wanted me to show her. I was waiting for her and fell asleep, and I was wondering if she ever left."

The woman on the line gave a little hum of consideration. "I haven't seen her yet. Are you worried about her?"

"A little..." You murmur. "Aren't you?"

"She's a very capable girl." The woman- ST mused. Maybe you misheard, and her name was Est? Esteme? Kind of old fashioned names... "I do worry about her, though. Unfortunately she's not exactly in a place I can go without causing problems for a lot of people."

"Like what?"

"I'll keep that to myself." Est sounded amused. "Needless to say, it would create problems for Tiiris."

"Then what can we do? If she needs help, then..."

"How far are you willing to go?" Est asked idly.

"...well." You swallow. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't afraid to die, but this is... helping Tiiris might be the most important thing I've ever done. T-that has to count for something, right?"

"I wouldn't think less of you for not doing so." Est replied. "...describe this place for me. Where did she go?"

"Uh..." You move a little further down the hall, towards the quieter sections of the sector where you could have a more private conversation. "It's uh, a sealed room in the chapel where the priests live. I don't know what's behind it, and it's really hard to open for some reason. Er, if you're not-"

"Valkan, yes. Sounds as if it's warded. Not necessarily an obstacle, but going in through a warded door isn't particularly subtle. Does it have any other entrances?"

"None that I know of..."

"The normal function of a ward is to contain something." Est sighed, and you could swear you heard the clicking of a pen on the other side. "If the same is true of this, then any entrances will be of similar size and make."

"I think we would have definitely noticed there being one if that was the case..."

"Then it is a fair assumption they only require the singular entrance. That makes entry difficult, but it also cannot be particularly large- how many people did you say live in there?"

You think. "Fourteen? Give or take, the number can change."

>>4421711
"For fourteen people to live and work, the power and utilities required would dramatically increase the size of that space, meaning it's a reasonable assumption that they are hooked into the city's power and water supply. Not to mention food and other essentials. All of the places those enter their perimeter are gaps in the defenses."

"And if they do make it all internally?"

"Then they use far more space than can be reasonably protected with their apparent resources, giving us another entry point."

"Right..." You think. "Well, obvious weak point is the priests themselves-" You can't believe you're saying any of this. "-but that would require actually dealing with them... a-and I'm not the greatest with people. Or lies." You mumble that last part. "So..."

>Try and hang around the priests a little bit and pick up on anything you're not supposed to know.
>Take a more direct approach- are there any literal gaps in their defenses? Air ducts? Plumbing?
>Bold move: just wrench the door open and march in.

>>4421712
>Take a more direct approach- are there any literal gaps in their defenses? Air ducts? Plumbing?
Could eST use our phone as bridge to connect to the local wireless network, since they can't be here in person. as it might provide Information to allow us to better understand our options.

>>4421712
>>Take a more direct approach- are there any literal gaps in their defenses? Air ducts? Plumbing?

>>4421712
>Take a more direct approach- are there any literal gaps in their defenses? Air ducts? Plumbing?
Smooth ST. I wonder how she would react if she realised she was talking to a warskin.

>>4421712
>Take a more direct approach- are there any literal gaps in their defenses? Air ducts? Plumbing?
We can pick locks and and were considering breaking into the school. A squeeze through a maintenance duct or something sounds doable.

>>4421712
>Take a more direct approach- are there any literal gaps in their defenses? Air ducts? Plumbing?

>>4421712
>Bold move: just wrench the door open and march in.

>>4421712
>Take a more direct approach- are there any literal gaps in their defenses? Air ducts? Plumbing?

>>4421712
>Take a more direct approach- are there any literal gaps in their defenses? Air ducts? Plumbing?
Damned good ST

>>4421712
>Bold move: just wrench the door open and march in.

>>4421712
>Take a more direct approach- are there any literal gaps in their defenses? Air ducts? Plumbing?

I like Est. Esty? Whatever. She sounds like a reliable sort of person. Calm and pleasant, good at break and entry, four doors. Plus, her confidence in Tiiris is very reassuring.

...wait, no, not four doors. That'd be silly. People don't have doors. Forget I said that.

>>4422702
Esty must be a locksmith! That’s how she knows all of this right?

>>4421712
>Take a more direct approach- are there any literal gaps in their defenses? Air ducts? Plumbing?

>Take a more direct approach- are there any literal gaps in their defenses? Air ducts? Plumbing?
Writing.

"...yeah, probably better to avoid talking to people." You say a bit sheepishly. "But I don't know anything about power or... utility hookups."

"The sewer mains and power lines probably occupy utility floors inbetween the regular residential floors, but let me get the plans first." There was a brief clacking of a keyboard. "Okay, got them. Yeah, looks like there are... two or so utility floors that service your section of floors. On which floor is your ward?"

"A62?"

"Looks like the one that should be servicing you is between A59 and A58. You'll need to find an entrance."

"Doesn't it show one on the floor plans?"

"They're online government plans, Netana."

"...point taken. They probably all connect from the strut though, right?"

"Yes, but that's where the utility stations are. They'll be guarded."

You allow yourself a little smile for the first time in a while. "I'm quite good at getting into places I'm not supposed to."

"There's probably security, too. I can help with some of that."

"Any help is great by me." You say honestly.

"Good answer." Est made a slight clicking sound with her tongue. "Could look for one of the maintenance hatches on the floor itself, but I doubt these floor plans are up to date."

"What makes you think that?"

"Where are you right now?"

"Er- A70, near the intersection of Hatz and Maal?"

"Are you currently standing in the middle of a gym?"

"What? No!"

"Then they're very out of date, I'm afriad."

"There's the janitorial closets and back room, but I'd get recognized there."

"The closer you are, the more likely it is you'll find a direct connection."

>Go closer to home, you know it better there.
>At least you know there'll be a big, obvious 'DO NOT ENTER' door out at the strut you can look for.
>...what about their food? They can't just grab takeout every night. Could you sneak in with a shipment?

>>4423276
>Go closer to home, you know it better there.
We might be able to use another entrance that we already know the location of and take longer to find our way to the relevant subsection in the plate, though it would likely complicate the return journey if we get noticed.

We should probably drop by our house real quick, or at least let our parents know that we're going to be out for a little longer. Since we didn't return overnight and we don't want them to get worried, and maybe go looking for us since that would probably alert the priests that we're doing weird things and forewarn them that we're looking around.

>>4423276
>>At least you know there'll be a big, obvious 'DO NOT ENTER' door out at the strut you can look for.

>>4423276
>Go closer to home, you know it better there.

>>4423276
>Go closer to home, you know it better there.

>>4423276
>>...what about their food? They can't just grab takeout every night. Could you sneak in with a shipment?
Surprise birthday party!

>>4423276
>Go closer to home, you know it better there.

>>4423276
>...what about their food? They can't just grab takeout every night. Could you sneak in with a shipment?