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“E-excuse me?” You stammer, dumbfounded by the words that the girl before you just uttered. She laughs, and it’s a high, joyful thing as her brown eyes shine in the Crucible’s eternal dusk.

“I said that we’re going to help you save the world.” Paloma repeats with a bright smile, her head of security just shaking her head with a smirk just behind her…and lurking behind them both, the Ikea just sits there, pristine and peerless in spite of the alien surroundings. It’s a fittingly stark punctuation to the other woman’s bold pronouncement.

“But you’ve never met me.”

“Oh, but everyone who’s anyone knows you by now! You’re a legend!” She fires back with a playful wink, her fingers threading together as she starts to clench her hands excitedly. “From the Monastery, to Laoc, to the cults, to Arcadia…gah, I could go on. But I won’t! C’mon, I know you’ve all traveled far, so come on in and get comfy-cozy!”

Without waiting for protest, she waves for you and your family to follow her towards the Ikean Fortress, gesturing to a distant side-door to indicate the hangar for the rumbling Metall Geschoss. November turns to you for guidance, and you give the chrome cyborg a cautious nod. Francine hangs back to partner up with her friend while the rest of you march down the valley’s gentle curve, slowly making your way to the sprawling structure that only seems to grow with every step forwards.

“Nerada?” You whisper, garnering the attention of the most out-of-place among you—a pale young child in an antiquated dress, and fellow Hive Mistress with an innumerable swarm of living shadows at her beck and call.

“Yes Ma’am?” She politely replies, and for all your twenty-some-odd years you feel absolutely ancient when she utters those two devastating words.

“Paloma said that the Fortress is pretty busy.” You echo, gathering what’s left of your dignity as you address the girl that’s maybe a third of your age. “Do you want to stay out here while we go in, like we talked about?”

She hesitates, fidgeting in place before she relents with a slow nod. Well at least that bit’s settled…but as for how best to handle your enthusiastic host, well…

…you have a plan for that.

>>Choose a team to take into the Ikea and who should stay behind to keep Nerada company (Write-In).

>>You want to get a better feel for Paloma before you waltz in to her territory—if she’s reasonable, she won’t object to talking outside for a little while.

>>Send a team inside the Ikea while you take a moment to get to know Nerada…and maybe take a lap or two around the Ikea, for reconnaissance’s sake.

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

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(Good Morning, Everyone. I hope you had a peasant week and a restful Halloween weekend, and it’s good to be back. I started working from home yesterday, so barring any odd issues I should have a relatively clear schedule with which to post. Voting shall remain open for the next three hours, with posting to resume in approximately four.)

(Also, Happy Belated Halloween, Everyone.)

>>5045066
gah, it feels really bad to just leave Nerada outside by herself. I certainly dont want to just abandon her but at the same time its just as rude to leave our hosts waiting too long.

but i thiiink i kinda have a compromise.

vote;
>You dont want to leave Nerada alone and waiting just yet.
>Quietly or at least subtly tell Paloma you want to take a bit to try and figure out a better solution for Nerada than just making her wait alone or wander off alone again, but in the meantime you trust Gina and Rath to get the tour and rundown on your behalf, and you'll meet up for a more in depth discussion soon.
>ask Dorian to join you and see if Amara wants to aswell, though no pressure if she really wants to see the Ikea.
>Use the excuse of wanting to inspect the area around the Ikea to take Nerada on a walk, taking a route that will end at the garage.
>Ask Nerada to join you, saying you think her shadows would be very useful in seeing whats about or if anything suspicious is going on.

>after starting the both legitimate but mostly excuse inspection, start up a conversation with Nerada when appropriate.
>"So... not a fan of crowds? hey, nothing to be ashamed of. ive seen crowds go south too, not pretty."

basically just ice breaking to try and hash out some details, before maybe inviting her to the Roost or something. maybe now we cant really fix her being alone but maybe we can at least leave off giving her something to look forward too instead of just hanging her out to dry.

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>>5045069
it was a decent enough week. alot was going on actually from work on a new setting and system to butchering my first chicken and an ongoing battle with a hawk preying on my younger chickens and driving me up a wall trying to deal with it.

so all and all a very mixed week.

but regardless, happy belated halloween to you aswell.

>>5045066
>“Yes Ma’am?” She politely replies, and for all your twenty-some-odd years you feel absolutely ancient when she utters those two devastating words.
Worse, we're technically younger than Nerada is. We are the youngest person in his group, and ideally we're the youngest person in the entire Crucible because the idea of a genuine infant in this nightmare place is deeply troubling. Like, a pre-verbal infant with the Hunger and biomorphic killing powers would probably wind up indistinguishable from a Hunger-mad Daughter even if it was getting enough food, right? It barely has object permanence, it doesn't realize that it's murdering people. Man, I do not like this mental image I've conjured for myself.

Anyways!

>>Send a team inside the Ikea while you take a moment to get to know Nerada…and maybe take a lap or two around the Ikea, for reconnaissance’s sake.
>>Write-In
>Apologize to Paloma for not immediately coming in. Nerada doesn't like large groups, and we don't want to scare her off. Can she warn the people inside not to crowd Nerada, if we do convince her to come in?
>Have Gina, Rath and Francine head inside. They're our tech girls, anyway, they'll be best to judge the Fortress' mobility proposal.
>Go for a walk around the Ikea with Nerada, Amara, and Dorian. Inspect the foundations, make sure everything is safe, also ask Nerada about herself some more.
>Once we're done with our walk/inspection, ask Amara and Orwell what they know about Paloma. Amara watches her stream, and Orwell might even know her as a fellow streamer (she does, but IC we don't know that). Is she serious about turning the Ikea into some sort of land-ship?


>>5045069
Happy Halloween, BHOP. Glad to hear that things shouldn't be so hectic for you today. And as always, good to be here in the meat apocalypse.

>>5045066
>Send a party of Swarmlings inside the Ikea while you take a moment to get to know Nerada…and maybe take a lap or two around the Ikea, for reconnaissance’s sake.

I need to remember what kinds of Swarlings Shu has, to build an adventuring party out of them.

>>5045101
Knight/Bishop/Rook is already a decent DPS/support/tank setup.

>>5045101
theres a link to that in BHOPs opening post.

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>>5045069
Well shit.
Boy have I got a horror story for you.

I had to get a root canal done on one of my teeth over the week. The scary part? I had no insurance and had to pay over $1k out of my pocket.

On the plus side, the muse for Cradleton's being more active and snippets of inspirational dialogue scenes have been making their appearances on the word doc for the rewrite.

I just hope I manage to finish the story before the quest itself finishes.

>>5045118
damn son, that burns.
dont have insurance myself so had to pay out of pocket for new contacts too. it was bad, but not 1000 bucks bad.

>>5045118
Well, damn, that is awful on several accounts. I'm sorry to hear that, anon.

>>5045092
(Oof, hawks are no joke. Back where I grew up, we had to contend with wild dogs and copperhead snakes if you wanted to raise any sort of animal, so I feel you with aggressive wildlife.)

>>5045118
(Oh, I'm so sorry...I do hope you feel better soon, and I'm glad the muse is being more active, at least!)

>>5045151
(Huh, name fell off.)

>>5045066

Supporting>>5045097


>>5045118
Ouch man..... on several accounts. I really hope you will have no complications at least.

>>5045069
week was alright. I retired a Charakter i have been playing for some time now last friday. I really liked her but i no longer liked the way the GM was handling things and was generally losing my fun at that particular game with that GM. The character was crazy enough that she had a dark seducer and a golden saint created from her self inflicted splintering of her soul. but i sill loved her.

And on saturday i had the pleasure to slowly roast my players over the fire as they tried to gain entry into a heavily guarded tomb and trying not to create to much destruction since they will be paid more.

So i say a good week though no one came for halloween.... i even placed candy outside..... and i really dont want to eat it. That would counteract my goals in signing up for a gym membership quite heavily.

>I started working from home yesterday

is this gonna be an arrangement for the forseeable future?

(Finishing up now, everyone. It's been a busy day, but a productive one.)

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>>5045066

“Paloma? A quick word, if I may.”

Your host’s curious brown eyes round on you as you draw near, and with an apologetic tone, you whisper; “Hey, the little one back there’s named Nerada, and she prefers to not be around large groups. We don’t want to overwhelm her or scare her off, so could you warn the people inside to not crowd her, when and if we can convince her to come in? I hate to dela-“

“Say no more!” The other girl dismisses, her smile ever-widening. “Take your time, there’s no rush! I’ll let everyone know to keep a distance so she’s not stressed out, so just come on in when you’re ready!”

With an appreciative nod to the Skintalker, you lock eyes with Gina and silently fill her in on your plan for her, Rath, and Francine to independently assess the Fortress’ mobility potential. Threading her arm through Rath’s, GG takes the lead with the sputtering redhead and most of your Dream Daughters in tow…save for B’ni, that is. The slight, dark-haired girl hangs back, nonchalantly sidling up to you as you beckon for Amara, Dorian, and Orwell to join you in a leisurely lap around the Ikea.

Reconnaissance and conversation. Two swarmlings, one stone.

“Thank you.” Nerada murmurs a minute or two into your initial lap, drawing your attention away from the sheer walls of the fort as you marvel at their peerless edifice.

“Hey, don’t mention it.” You reply with a smile, hands in your dress pockets as you continue your walk—Amara on your right, Nerada on your left. “I appreciate you being upfront with me. I’d have hated to drag you into a place you weren’t comfortable in.”

“Mhm.” She says, her appreciative (and embarrassed) hum barely audible over the rustle of wheat-like hair as a warm breeze flits across the plains that surround you.

“So, tell me a little more about yourself.” You prompt, switching gears as you try to avoid Nerada turtling up with embarrassment.

“Um…what do you want to know?” She asks with a shrug, and Amara’s all too happy to jump the gun.

“Do you have a Halo!?”

The other girl startles a bit, then nods before closing her eyes. When she opens them again, her left eye’s turned a glossy black, a paradoxically dark light pouring from the stygian socket.

“What does it do, exactly?” You ask, and when Nerada blinks her eye reverts to its original, innocent shade.

“Um…it lets me do anything my swarmlings can do. I’ve got all their powers for free. Oh! And I don’t have to worry about that dumb swarmling limit any more. That’s really nice.”

“Quite useful, I must say.” Dorian says approvingly, a kind smile on his face...while B’ni wears a decidedly neutral one, her eyes locked on the child at your side.

“Ohh, I want one like that!” Amara crows with envy before Orwell laughs just behind you.

“Oh, I think you've got enough anime references under your belt as-is, superfan.”

(Continued)

>>5045276

“This place is big.” Your fellow hive Mistress muses aloud, gazing up at the sheer wall that makes up the back of the fort, its stark blue cast a violet shade by the Crucible’s scarlet dusk. “Is it deep, too?”

A good question, and one you’re keen to answer as you tentatively terraform the ground at your feet. The answer; not by much, aside from the foundations. The fact that it’s literally *just* a building is perhaps more unsettling that finding roots, or perhaps some large Amalgam lurking just beneath your feet like a Swedish hermit crab.

“Hey!” Nerada perks up as she rounds on Amara. “Wanna race? Like, around the fort?”

“With powers?!”

“Of course!”

“I can officiate.” Dorian offers, winking at you as he steps forwards, lightning crackling around his sharp frame.

“I don’t know what that means, but sure!” Nerada excitedly replies. The three of them quickly establish some ground rules as you turn to Orwell with a question on your lips.

“So…tell me about Paloma.” You begin, glancing over to find B’ni still observing Nerada in stony silence. “I know Amara follows her streams."

“Subscribes to her story. Paloma posts pictures.” Orwell gently corrects you, suppressing the smile that plays on her lips. “And yeah; Paloma’s up there, as far as Skinternet personalities are concerned. Not so much on account of her content, but more of the fact that she’s in charge of most Daughters’ second-to-last stop on the way to the Cord.”

“Hell of a place, this.” You mutter a half-second before a burst of wind and the smell of ozone heralds the races’ start, with the three participants having disappeared around the building’s corner by the time you look their way.

“I met her once, actually. Paloma, I mean.” Orwell informs you as she shoves her hands in her pockets. “She’s…nice. Really talkative. Get a decent vibe from her, I guess.”

“So why don’t you like her?” You ask, picking up her clearly ambivalent tone.

“Eh, she wanted to team up. I wanted to do more of a solo thing. She’s kinda pushy, but…she’s fine. I think I was just not in the right headspace for it at the time.” The lanky teen replies with a shrug, before a smirk slashes past her lips. “Guess I’m not a solo act anymore, huh?”

“For what it’s worth? I’m glad you’re here, Orwell.” You say honestly, and she just snorts, trucking a strand of blonde hair behind one ear as she tries to distract from her awkward smile. Amara and Nerada dart around the Ikea for a third time with Dorian in hot pursuit, with B’ni’s sharp green eyes following their every move as Orwell cheers them all on.

>>Let Nerada tire herself out a bit more before you head in to the Ikean Fortress.

>>Ask Orwell a bit more—she seems a little more open than usual.

>>Touch base with B’ni…she’s just as quiet as usual, but she’s rarely this intense.

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

(Apologies for the wait, everyone. Just working out some kinks in the work-from-home setup. Voting shall remain open for the next three hours, with posting to resume in four.)

>>5045163
(The management was dragging its heels in fixing the mold issue downstairs, so I took over and arranged for a crew to rip out the walls and renovate the basement that flooded. They were all to happy to let me do it, since I tend to get results when it comes to arranging things. So, me working from here is just a temporary thing until my workplace smells a little more like work and a little less like a swamp.)

>>5045278
vote;
>Touch base with B’ni…she’s just as quiet as usual, but she’s rarely this intense.
>"hey... everything ok? you good?"
>"...something about Nerada not sitting right with you... because of you, or because of her?"

>>5045281
always 'nice' when people drag their feet, no?

>>5045276
>“Do you have a Halo!?”
Oh, blunt. Well, okay, neat to know what the Hive Halo does, though. Explains how Nerada can manage to be the endless shadow swarm. I want one.

>“Ohh, I want one like that!” Amara crows with envy before Orwell laughs just behind you.
You do. Your right eye's been glowing ever since you fused Neurotic Halo with Hollow Clone for Joyous Many. You're basically the inverse of Nerada. Go and be shonen anime rivals with each other.

>while B’ni wears a decidedly neutral one, her eyes locked on the child at your side
Huh, that's...worrying. B'Ni, everything alright? You worried someone's going to target Nerada to take her Halo for themselves? Guess that's yet more cause to get her somewhere safe to stay.

>>5045278
>Eh, she wanted to team up. I wanted to do more of a solo thing.
Oh, really now? A "solo thing", despite having a bodyguard? I'm onto you, Orwell. You're not really here, this is your projection!

>>Touch base with B’ni…she’s just as quiet as usual, but she’s rarely this intense.

>>5045281
Well, that sucks that you had to handle it yourself, but I'm glad that it's going smoothly enough. And that your employers trust you to handle things, even if their own passivity must be frustrating.

>>5045278

>>"She does seem pretty zealous...... what do you think the chances are to stop her from throwing this fortress at the cord?"
then
>>Touch base with B’ni…she’s just as quiet as usual, but she’s rarely this intense.
>"What is on your mind? Are you good?"
>"Or is something bothering you? Is it still you know who.... or something about Nerada? Did it bring up any memories?"

>>5045281
good to know but bad since management apparently could not make their mind up when it is fucking vital to make sure their employees do not get sick from mold

>>5045286
oh i really would like to ask her if she would be willing to give us a copy of it........ that seems so freaking useful if we can get everything our swamrlings get........ Imagine Shu with Flamethrowes spinning around on drills

>>5045278
>>>Touch base with B’ni…she’s just as quiet as usual, but she’s rarely this intense.

>>5045278
>Touch base with B’ni…she’s just as quiet as usual, but she’s rarely this intense.

>>5045278
So Nerada has the Hive Mistress halo. I was hoping we'd stumble across it during the quest so Shu could have it, but this is the second best outcome - in the hands of a nice young lady who won't abuse its power.

As for our course of action:
>>Touch base with B’ni…she’s just as quiet as usual, but she’s rarely this intense.

She has something important on her mind. Either something is bothering her (possibly about Sam's most recent interaction), or she has realized something unsettling about Nerada.

>>5045290
>oh i really would like to ask her if she would be willing to give us a copy of it........ that seems so freaking useful if we can get everything our swamrlings get.
It would be nice. It would be kind of scummy to push her on it, though, so best to save asking her for later, after we've built a good enough relationship that it wouldn't be predatory to ask. But if we can get a copy, yeah, I'd love that. It would add yet another thing for Shu to level, but it would be so worth it. Especially if we could get it to max and then hybridize with Trypophilic Hive. Or Spiritus Ex Testa. Or both, see if we can get a working four-way hybrid out of that.

>>5045317
>So Nerada has the Hive Mistress halo. I was hoping we'd stumble across it during the quest so Shu could have it, but this is the second best outcome - in the hands of a nice young lady who won't abuse its power.
Yeah, we've run into nothing but good kids, haven't we? You'd expect there would be at least some creepy cannibal children with no sense of right or wrong, but they've all been super polite and sweet and happy to meet us. I'm glad that the Crucible seems to have only chosen such wonderful children instead of ones that we'd have to kill and wind up feeling conflicted and guilty over. Maybe a prior Mother set that as her rule change, I don't know.

>>5045388
>Yeah, we've run into nothing but good kids, haven't we? You'd expect there would be at least some creepy cannibal children with no sense of right or wrong, but they've all been super polite and sweet and happy to meet us. I'm glad that the Crucible seems to have only chosen such wonderful children instead of ones that we'd have to kill and wind up feeling conflicted and guilty over. Maybe a prior Mother set that as her rule change, I don't know.

I agree! On the one hand, it's good that all the kids we've encountered have been sweet and nice. On the other hand, from a storytelling perspective, it would be terrifying to have a powerful child who destroys or warps everything in their path, like Anthony from the It's A Good Life episode of the Twilight Zone. Imagine an endgame-tier child who can barely be reasoned with and acts purely on impulse, with temper tantrums that can level villages. And they don't feel bad about their actions because to them, it's a game - like putting your Sims in a swimming pool and deleting the ladder for shits and giggles.

...I'm getting an idea for an original daughter.

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>>5045278

"Paloma does seem pretty zealous.” You admit, taking a step back before the two girls and their minder whizz by you a fourth time. “What do you think the chances are to stop her from throwing this fortress at the cord?"

Orwell’s eyes go wide.

“…fuck I hadn’t thought of that. Uh…shit." She mutters, starting to pace in a tight circle. “No. No, she…maybe? I mean, she’s never posted anything that would run counter-current to just giving Daughters a place to lay their head, but…now that we’re here, I’m not so sure.”

“If she’s planning anything like that, then what are the odds that I can talk her down?” You forward, and Orwell seems to relax a little, at that.

“I mean, c’mon. It’s *you*.” She fires back, as if your success is assured. As if your words held enough weight to sway those whose minds had been made up. But after the Monastery? After Magpie?

You’re not so sure.

“What’s on your mind?”

Your words seem to snap B’ni out of her own spiraling thoughts, and you wonder if you’re just avoiding a similar spiral as you approach your troubled ally.

“It’s…I’m not sure yet.” She replies, pausing when Amara and Orwell blitz by you to complete another lap. Amara’s blasting herself forward with jets of air while Nerada rides a roiling wave of shadow, all the while Dorian hangs back a bit, crackling with crimson bolts as he speeds by.

“Is it still you-know-who…or something about Nerada?” You add, lowering your tone on the second half of your question.

“Just thinking about earlier, really. It’s been a crazy day, so this is pleasantly quiet.” She replies with suspect nonchalance. “It’s nice to see Amara having fun. Feels like a dream.”

You’re about to open your mouth when the emphasis she placed on the last word makes you pause, and when you meet her eyes, a flash of emerald just makes you nod in silent agreement…

…as you open the Dreamscape’s line of communication.

[Worried we’re being listened to?] You start, standing silently beside Isabelle in the real as your voice echoes in her mind.

“Rosa herself said that Nerada's got a reputation as one of the strongest Hive Mistresses around, and her swarm’s small enough to where one of them could be on us and we wouldn’t know it.”

[A fair point] You concede, watching the girls complete another lap as you smile and wave when Amara glances your way for validation. [Aside from an abundance of caution, is there something you picked up on that makes you think she’s being disingenuous?]

“I…back in the city, it felt like she was feeling us out. And not just in a kid-way, if that makes sense? There was a method to it. Testing us, feeling out our defenses. Who takes the lead, who hangs back, and what we can do.” She explains, eyes narrowed.

What she’s saying…it makes a grim sort of sense, but her words carry more weight than the burden of mere suspicion.

(Continued)

>>5045466

[…I want to ask you something, and I’d like to ask it with the understanding that I’m not judging] You preface, and you can feel B’ni go on guard as you speak.

“Just say it.” She demands bluntly, eyes locked straight ahead. “I figure we’re here in the first place because we weren’t straight with each other when it counted.”

You bite your tongue, reminding yourself that there’s likely a clear reason for her prickliness…one whose face you’re currently wearing.

[Okay…are you seeing Nerada doing something you used to do?] You ask, keeping your emotions clear and open as you feel a knot grow in B’ni’s chest. [A strategy you used when guarding my cocoon?]

“…yeah.”

She sighs bitterly, forcing a smile as Dorian waves to her on his way by.

“Before I got stronger, that's what I had to do.” She continues, not daring to meet your eyes in the real as her voice dances in the dream. “Sure, I could regen…but I saw a lot worse than death in the time I was watching over you. Daughters who could make someone wish they’d just slit their throat and be done with it. So I had to be careful. Know what I was dealing with before doing what had to be done. I had to bait them out, and...yeah. That’s what it felt like Nerada was doing to us.”

You nod, considering the last few hours alongside the last few years as you weigh their contributions to B’ni’s current fears.

“Can I ask you something?” The girl beside you says before you can follow up on what she’d said moments ago.

[Of course]

A beat, and then-

“Did you ask Rath to talk to me?”

You blink, then shake your head slightly. [Nope. That was all her. I’d have thought that Uzu-]

“She did.” Isabelle interrupts. “She claimed up and down that it was all Rath’s idea, but…”

She trails off, and you shrug. [I get it. It can be hard to tell where I end and my family begins]

Isabelle finally looks at you, her mouth working to voice a question and an apology all at once before she goes silent in the real.

“...Sorry.” She murmurs, wrapping her arms around herself as another breeze wafts by, cooler than the ones before it. “I just...it’s been a lot. With Calliope, then with Sam, now...it’s bringing up a lot of stuff I think I’m getting over, and then it just hits me twice as hard as it ever did.”

[Two steps forward…]

“...three steps back.” She finishes.

[It really isn’t, though] You offer, and B’ni just chuckles under her breath.

“You sound like Uzu. Or maybe she sounds like you? You’re pretty similar, actually.” The girl beside you muses, watching another lap come and go with no signs of stopping. “Look, about Nerada...she seems like a sweet kid, actually. I’m sorry, I was just worried we were missing the big picture, is all.”

[No need to apologize. I know I’m-]

“The Motherfucking Defiant!” A familiar voice rings out from somewhere high above you.

(Continued)

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>>5045469

You look up, squinting into the deep red of the sky as an angular silhouette looses a throaty laugh, pulling something from their chest as they stand atop the Ikea’s roof. A flick of the figure’s wrist and space is torn asunder, the gap between her and you parted like a razor through bare flesh.

“Jackie!” You declare, grinning ear to ear as she plunges her obsidian dagger back into her sternum before throwing her arms wide.

“How the hell you been, Shu?” She laughs again as she practically yanks you into a sideways hug, careful to avoid pulling you against the hilt that protrudes from her chest. “Heard you’d been busy.”

“Yeah, but what else is new?” You fire back. “Made friends with one of those Apocalypse Amalgams, too. Hope it wasn’t the one you and the Crew were planning to go after?”

“You bitch! I love it!” She barks with glee, her smile a slash across the poster of a film star. “I’ve got half a mind to kick your ass and a full one to buy you a drink. Get your ass in here.”

“Just need to wait a second while the girls finish their race.” You say, and just as Jackie’s about to ask, three blurs zoom by, nearly robbing her of her jacket with the sudden gust of wind.

“-hiJackieI'mraci-!” Amara says, her explanation fading as her competitive spirit carries her by you faster than you can blink.

“Love that kid. Anyway, I heard from Quinn that your girls and the Doc were seen checking out the stalls, so I figured you’d be out here shooting the shit with someone.” The rail-thin woman says, adjusting her leather jacket to preserve some degree of modesty...or maybe just fashion, given her confidence. “You’re the talk of the appliance department, but Em said something about keeping things quiet?”

“Yeah, we’ve got a friend of Amara’s who’s not great with crowds, so we’re trying to accommodate.”

“If that’s the case, I can get you all in the back way. No need to make a scene until you’re good n’ready.” She offers, tapping the hilt of her jagged blade. The motion sends pulses of black liquid skittering just beneath the skin of her bony chest, and she raises the eyebrow of the eye that isn’t covered with crystalline pock-marks.

A tempting offer, and one you’re considering...once Amara and Nerada have had their fun, that is.

>>Politely ask Dorian to go ahead and call the race, then head inside the Ikean Fortress with Jackie. Given everything that’s been going on, a drink sounds pretty good right now.

>>Let the girls continue their race while you chat with Jackie for a moment. You get the feeling things are just going to get busier from here, so you’d rather catch up with her while things are relatively quiet.

>>Tell Jackie that you’ll meet her and the Crew inside—you’d like to continue where you left off with B’ni.

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

(Voting shall remain open for the next three hours, with posting to resume promptly at 10AM tomorrow, Eastern time. Thank you for your patience and participation, and I hope that you have a restful evening, one and all.)

>>5045471
well i mean... yeah. Nerada didn't survive by being stupid. Even Amara for all her flare clearly knows to take potential danger seriously and think things through at least a bit.
that said, wish Isabelle had said a bit more about how much she is worrying about Nerada NOW over back in the city, but is what it is. not too worried as i think the Barbers implied shes not outright aggressive to the point of trying to kill everyone she meets, so even if she was thinking about it unless im remembering wrong we're probably in the clear now.

vote;
>Give a look and mental ask to Isabelle to see if shes good or wants to talk more. if she is, politely tell Jackie you'll take the back way once the little ones are finished, and try to not have to bluntly tell her she interrupted something.
>If Isabelle is ok, then talk to Jackie til the kids are done. start off simple, catching eachother up on the details of whats happened.

>>5045466
>>5045469
Hmm. Yeah, Nerada was definitely feeling us out, but I'm not sure there's necessarily anything sinister behind her actions. She's a single kid roaming the Crucible alone. Her being cautious and knowing how to scout a potential threat is a good thing. It's worrying in the abstract for a child to know how to do that, but not something quite worth worrying about. Yet. We'll keep an eye out. And keep Dorian close, his anti-construct abilities would make him devastating to Nerada if she does turn out to be bad. Masque of War's heavy anti-construct damage combined with the presumably-low individual health of her spider motes means that if she does try any shit he can lock her down effectively.

>>5045471
Yeah, >>5045483 sounds good. Supporting.

>>5045471
So I guess the Crew being here explains why Paloma assigned so many rooms to us, though two dozen still feels excessive. Even if the Barbers are also joining us, that's still only sixteen rooms we need. Who's going to stay in the other eight?

>>5045491
Well, we do have a bit of a habit of picking up strays by this point.

>>5045497
I guess. Or maybe they're just way more progressive about Dream Daughters than I am and assuming they should have actual rooms of their own instead of just going back into our brains to rest while we shove their Spirit Shells in the closet.

>>5045491
>>5045497
strays and i guess the DDs.

>>5045471

>write in:

>After we make our decision to either continue the talk with either Jackie or Isabelle:

>when the little ones are almost finished with the race, make a sudden announcement: "Last lap with a sudden twist! Get around the obstacle course and hug me to finish the race!"
>Terraform a few obstacle blocks around you.
>Spawn hundred hands out of your back to brace for the twin impacts of two children hurling towards you at high speed.
>Take the moment to analyze Nerada's hive capabilities through the obstacle course race.
>When they impact, transfer the momentum via Psychica Spiralis, Heavens Drill via hand anchors, and Hundred Hands and swing them around like a carousel circle before coming to a stop and finishing with a group hug.
>If any of them asks who was the winner of the foot race and depending on how close the race was, deflect the answer with sayings like "oh it was a photo finish!" and/or if the race wasn't close, instead compliment both of their abilities, and ask a bit more about Nerada's powers as to how she combined her abilities to "go" as fast as Amara.

>>5045528
>>5045471
Addendum:
>If Amara's being pouty, give her a subtle wink.

Note: this write-in's mainly for flavortexting in having Amara and Nerada finish their foot race.

>>5045528
not sure how i feel about this, mostly in how much Nerada would be ok with that, but ignoring that for a moment i burst out laughing because im an idiot and imagined Dorian being cheeky and winning the race with Shu just unexpectedly just blown like a fucking mile backwards as he suddenly full speed hugs her just for the sheer joke of it all.

just... the look on everyone's face and the grin i imagine he would have.

>>5045528
I'm not keen on the hug part, but I do like giving a last finish for the race. Also a way to judge Nerada's abilities, a bit, that's good. Just sort of comment on how it's impressive she can coordinate her spiders together that well that they're like a fluid she can control. Maybe ask if that's something she learned to do or if it's something she got from upgrading her mutation.

>>5045543
I'm okay with this vote not making the update, the write-in was basically a spur of the muse who had gotten tired of the short bursts of Cradleton inspiration.

>Dorian wins the race
>Both Nerada and Amara pout and call "shenanigans"
>Somewhere Julia's feeling jealous or irritated for an unknown reason.

>>5045553

>I'm not keen on the hug part
It's only there in case if Nerada somehow does win the race and Amara gets salty.

>>5045471
ah dang. Its great to see some familiar faces and its goddamn Jackie. I hope the rest of her crew is here as well. Will be nice to reconnect with them.

Guess we should give her that duel soon. She wont get any weaker any time soon

(An update - between technical issues and work errands that I had to drive to address, the next update will have to go live at 12PM today instead of 10AM. I may shorten voting/posting time frames to account for this is everyone is amenable to the change. I hope your morning is going well, one and all.)

>>5046074
oof, but understandable.
so long as its not by extremes im personally ok with shortening the times a bit.

>>5046074
Ah, too bad. Well, take as much time as you need, BHOP. We'll see you then.

>>5046074
some shortening sounds okay to me.

See you at 12 then

I just hope that i will have the energy to vote after the gym

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>>5045471

[Hey, are we-] You begin, intent to touch base with Isabelle before Jackie takes full hold of the conversation.

“Good? Yeah.” The girl replies as Jackie holds you out at arm’s length to get a better look at you. “Do what you’ve gotta do, Shu.”

“Hey, uh…am I interrupting something besides the race?” Jackie asks, suddenly and keenly aware of what she’s walked into. “I can come back later if-“

“Ha, well…sort of, but I think we’re good.” You admit with a good-natured shrug. “Also, I want to let the girls have their fun racing…so! Catch me up on the latest exploits of the infamous Midnight Crew.”

She looses a laugh that has an uncharacteristic tinge of guilt but as soon as she speaks, it’s gone. “Shoot, where to start. Paloma’s been running us ragged in a good way—keeping us busy with hunting Relics and greasing elbows with other settlements in preparation for her plan.”

“Which is?” You ask, a glace over Jackie’s shoulder revealing a cringing Orwell.

“Ideally, it’s to get this place moving one way or another and scoot further away from the Cord.” The statuesque girl explains, placing a hand on one cocked and dagger-sharp hip as Orwell heaves a sigh of relief. “Daughters have been throwing themselves at the damn thing for over two years now, and the no-man’s land is expanding fast. Paloma’s already tried to warn the other settlement closest to it, but the shot-caller there won’t budge. Now that you’re here, I’m thinking she may want to see if you’d be willing to talk some sense into them.”

“I see…and what’s this about Relics?”

Jackie taps the hilt in her chest again. “She was interested in this thing’s properties, actually. Thought that we could cut a hole big enough to pull the fort through it, but booster Relics don’t seem to enhance…whatever the hell it is that this thing does. Her think-tank believe that only something of a similar caliber can alter or expand its capabilities, so we’ve been using my sword as a sort of dowsing rod for Paloma’s Neuromancers to find other weird Relics like it. I was actually waiting for her to get through with her other meetings so I could talk shop about the next job she’s got lined up for us…that’s when my girls caught sight of yours.”

“And as she’s exploring the weird Relic angle, she’s talking with Arcadia about moving the place physically?” You clarify, and Jackie just smirks.

“Yeah, she’s almost as busy as you…almost.” She winks, leaning close. “So what’s this about you smooth-talking the Apocalypse Amalgam?”

It takes you longer than you expect to catch Jackie up on the whirlwind last few days, and by the time you conclude all she can do is give a whistle of surprise.

(Continued)

>>5046160

“Yeah, tell me about it.” You say, drawing in a tired breath. “Next on our list was to figure out what Paloma’s deal is and then make time to go watch the Disassociated’s launch.”

“So you’ve already got one of the three Amalgams down…but do you figure one of the other two are going to make a run at the launch? Think you’ll have to throw down with one of those big bastards?” The other girl asks, dark eye shining at the prospect.

“It’s highly likely, unless we can get to one or both of them first.” You wearily admit. “I don’t relish the idea of dealing with either of them, though—Ziz was a sweetheart, but they made it pretty clear that Behemoth and Leviathan weren’t the most reasonable sort.”

“Eh, you’ve got a way of sweet-talking even the hardest of asses…hell, *we’re* friends, aren’t we?” Jackie grins, thrusting a painfully bony elbow between your ribs before she gets serious. “But I get it. If you can’t talk sense into them, then taking them to task is no easy feat. That said-”

“You and the Crew were there for Magpie and West Alpha.” You cut off, eyebrow raised. “I don’t want you to feel like I’m pulling in favors left and right.”

“I don’t, and neither do my girls. You’re Crew…same goes for the rest of your family, no matter how friggin’ big it gets.” She counters, eyeing Nerada as she and Amara make another, slower lap around the Ikean Fortress. “Then again, if you’re feeling the need for some kinda balance in this relationship…there’s still the matter of or duel.”

Oh, for-…she’s not going to let that go, is she?

“Very true.” You relent, watching as each successive lap your ward and Nerada make take longer and longer to complete. Part of you wonders if it might be best to just get the duel over with so that you can focus on more pressing matters, but starting a scrap right outside the fortress might not make the best impression...even though Jackie would be thrilled, you’re sure.

>>Relent to the duel at a later date; you don’t want to keep Paloma waiting if she’s got plans to make.

>>Jackie wants a duel? Very well…you’ll give her one, here and now. One more thing out of the way before you venture into parts unknown.

>>Ask Jackie something that’s on your mind…if she’s been working with Paloma, she might prove to be a useful source of info before you meet with the Ikea’s leader in earnest.

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

(Voting shall remain open for the next two hours, with posting to resume in approximately three. Thank you for your patience this morning, and I hope you day’s going well!)

>>5046160
>“Daughters have been throwing themselves at the damn thing for over two years now, and the no-man’s land is expanding fast."

>the no-man's land is expanding fast

.....So we've got another doom timer to pressure us from faffing about? Shit.

>>5046163
vote;
>Relent to the duel at a later date; you don’t want to keep Paloma waiting if she’s got plans to make.

not one to keep Jackie waiting but she didnt put much of a time limit on it while we are kinda actively keeping Paloma waiting.

>>5046160
Aww, so the Ikean Fortress is not going to become our awesome landship, just a new home base. I suppose that is far more practical and less risking of human life, but it does feel a bit redundant when we already have the Lair. Unless Paloma knows something we don't? Is Mara spying on us through the Lair? I wouldn't put it past her.

>>5046163
>>Relent to the duel at a later date; you don’t want to keep Paloma waiting if she’s got plans to make.
>>Write-In
>But soon. Unless something immediately pressing comes up, we can duel after meeting with Paloma.

I'm open to having the duel this Vein, let's just get our other affairs in order first. Have to work before we can play, even if I'm saying that while we're literally watching children play.

>>5046169
Arguably, faffing about should slow down this doom timer. If we run around fighting Daughters, there will be fewer Daughters to get into all-out war here. I'm sure there's a point of diminishing returns, but we can get at least a few fights (and accordant level-ups) out of it.

>>5046179
The fortress would serve as a home base that's closer to the Cord (and the no-man's land) which would be a really good staging point when we begin our final assault and scale the cord.

>>5046180
Yes, but Escher's Gear makes that a bit less of an issue. It's only important if we're worried about someone finding our spokes and spawn-camping them, which I suppose is plausible but isn't a major concern of mine. Ah, well, either way it's a neat new location to visit and encounter people at, and that's cool. I look forward to actually entering it and saying hello. I was just hoping for a landship. The sheer audacity of going everywhere in an ambulatory Swedish furniture store would have been utterly delightful.

>>5046189
i think he means for the actual last treck. we still have to walk to a place to put down a spoke, so having a place to actually scout from and then prepare for it without the hassle of constant teleporting is at least less tedious for sure.

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>>5046163

“While I’d rather not keep Paloma waiting if she has plans to make…” You begin, noting the flicker of hope that lances through Jackie’s black eye. “…soon. Unless something immediately pressing comes up, we can duel after we both talk to Paloma. Deal?”

“Hell yes, it’s a deal.” Jackie smirks, her razor-smile only widening as Amara and Nerada skid to a halt at their arbitrary finish line. Dorian coalesces out of undulating crimson paint and arcs of scarlet lightning, and you wonder if the girls realize he’s playing at being winded.

“Who won?” Nerada excitedly asks, the swarm of liquid shadow she’d been riding swiftly congealing back into legs.

“The first to the finish line is…the inimitable Miss Amara!” He declares, and Nerada lunges forward to hug your adoptive daughter as the two practically trip over themselves to complement each other’s technique.

“Alright girls, you two about ready to head inside?” You posit, and the pair excitedly jump to your side as Dorian, Orwell, and B’ni draw closer at Jackie’s behest.

“Head’s up—things are going to look weird for a half-sec, but just roll with it.” The leader of the Midnight Crew instructs you, and before you can voice any sound of protest she’s drawn her abyssal blade with a flourish, raking it down as reality itself parts before your very eyes. It’s every color you’ve ever seen, each shade tinged with a darkness that eats at your eyes as it sucks you into its gaping maw…

…and as the Silver Key flares in your pocket, a white void swallows you whole.

Your perception adjusts to an expanse of endless ivory. The scene before you is the brightest thing you’ve ever seen…your eyes burn, but you can’t close them. There’s nothing you can do to shut out the radiant glare of this place, but the longer you stare straight ahead the more you realize it’s not empty. Pick pricks of light shine in this void…shades of radiance, somehow distinct in their impossible brightness.

Five flicker within arm’s reach, colors piercing into your mind as you shift your involuntary gaze to their piercing light…

A deep-set emerald.

A distinguished ruby.

A fearful onyx.

A savage obsidian.

And finally—two lights that shine as one; joyous blue obscuring a sorrowful brown.

Behind you, you feel a tug. The thing that drew you here, trying to draw you out even as the Silver Key roots you to this place. You can still feel it at your side, bracing you against the pull of something cut from the same cloth as it.

A knife.

A key.

Neither of them were meant to be here.

Neither are you.

>>Whatever this place is, you want nothing of it. Pull yourself past this, and to the other side.

>>Reach out to one of the lights (Choose).

>>Move past these lights, and inspect the countless others that inhabit this place.

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

(Voting shall remain open for two hours, with posting to resume in three.)

>>5046315
>>5046179
ah well fuck.
i misread that vote and would've voted against agreeing to do it directly after meeting Paloma if i hadn't.
dammit thats a terrible idea.

>>5046316
>>5046318
i think ive mentioned it before but this is the concern with just assuming votes that dont contradict eachother are still good to combine.

>>5046315
vote;
>try talking to the lights, and whichever one racts best try conversing or interacting with it.
>otherwise, Reach out to the joyous-sorrowful light.

these weird dream areas usually have lead to some pretty useful info, so we should be careful but not ignore the place either.

>>5046318
>>5046319
(Ah, a fair point. That said, what Paloma has to say will give you a fairly clear out should you wish to delay the duel. Jackie's itching for a fight, but she's not going to out up a fuss if you end up taking a rain-check.)

(If I'm unsure in the future, I'll explicitly declare the possibility of a combined vote into get the approval of all parties involved - do you believe that would be an appropriate solution?)

>>5046326
(Also good Lord, I can't spell today.)

>>5046326
yeah i assumed if it was important Jackie wouldn't, was more miffed than actually angry or anything(specifically because of the fact we might run into an emergency or a clear 'do now' objective and i don't like breaking promises).

and yes, it would.

>>5046332
hey man my tiredness made me misread a vote and had me saying you're instead of your someplace else. dyslexia is a bitch if your minds not all there sometimes.

>>5046315
Well, that's an interesting development. I think we're seeing some sort of shared mental landscape outside normal reality. That seems like a reasonable assumption given the two Relics whose interaction caused this. The closest lights fit the eyes of people who were warping with us. Green for Isabel, red for Dorian, onyx and obsidian for Nerada and Jackie (probably. Might have it the other way around, if Isabel is right about Nerada), and a paired blue and brown for Amara which breaks my heart knowing that one of her lights is sorrowful.

>>Reach out to one of the lights (Choose).
>The obsidian.

>>5046335
>yeah i assumed if it was important Jackie wouldn't, was more miffed than actually angry or anything(specifically because of the fact we might run into an emergency or a clear 'do now' objective and i don't like breaking promises).

That's why I put in the caveat of "unless something pressing comes up". I agree, breaking a promise wouldn't be good, so I wanted to make sure we had an out if there was something time-sensitive.

>>5046338
eh, fair, but i still don't like the immediate date setting.
I want to give her her fight too but its just not all that important in even the lesser scheme of things, and as much as shes itching for it im sure she understands that too.
its the type of thing i'd 'almost' argue can be an 'after crucible' Shu problem.

>>5046347
I agree with that assessment. But that's kind of why I want to do it now. It's a minor thing, just get it out of the way when we have the free time so that it's not haunting our to-do list forever. We can delay if something else takes priority, of course, but if we have the free time I'd like to take care of it. In-character it wouldn't be more than a couple of minutes, fights are fast. Out of character, yeah, it could be day or two of posts, but I don't think it should take too long. We're not going to be trying to kill each other, the fight should be less intense and driven less close to the edge than our typical combats.

>>5046357
I guess we just have a very different perspective.
because my reasons for not committing and wanting to be more open to waiting are your exact same reasons for not wanting to.
amusing but doesn't leave much left to say i suppose.

actually regardless of when, i forget, did we discuss ground rules with her at all in character, or only among ourselves out of character?
it would've just been a small snippet if we did but i cant remember if agreeing to it in the first place came with any.

>>5046359
>amusing but doesn't leave much left to say i suppose.
Yeah, I suppose so, though I think we'll be better able to discuss on common ground after we talk to Paloma and know more about immediate time-sensitive priorities. Right now our disagreement is in abstractions, making this more concrete should make it easier to debate.

>actually regardless of when, i forget, did we discuss ground rules with her at all in character, or only among ourselves out of character?
We have not discussed ground rules for a duel yet, no. We'll have to do that before any actual fight starts, otherwise we could have some real awkward confusion.

>>5046363
yeah, it really could.
>"Wait, so i WASN'T supposed to stab you through the heart with my reality warping blade at maximum warp output while you're clearly 'tainted' with otherworldy connections? how was i supposed to guess, we dont need hearts anymore so its only important in metaphors!"

(Hello, Everyone. I've been struggling to get the next part out, and I've realized that this mornings events have just thrown off my entire day. I'll update tomorrow morning at 10AM Eastern time,and my apologies for the delay. I think I may go lie down or something, given how I feel.)

(Once again, my sincerest apologies and thank you for bearing with me,one and all.)

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>>5046483
take care of yourself, do what you gotta do, and get some good rest BHOP.
its tiring times for everyone and we all understand.

>>5046483
No worries, BHOP. Go, get some rest. Or go eat, I don't know if you have yet. Just, you know, go do things that will replenish your energy so you're not all drained and awful-feeling. We'll see you tomorrow, man. Have a nice night.

just got back from work and... wtf. HOLD THE FUCK UP.

lemme get some dinner in me belly first and then I'll decypher all the symbolism as I think I have a fairly good idea what's going on.

>Five flicker within arm’s reach, colors piercing into your mind as you shift your involuntary gaze to their piercing light…

>A deep-set emerald. (Isabelle)

>A distinguished ruby. (Dorian)

>A fearful onyx. (Nerada)

>A savage obsidian. (Jackie)

>And finally—two lights that shine as one; joyous blue obscuring a sorrowful brown. (Amara)

Behind you, you feel a tug. The thing that drew you here, trying to draw you out even as the Silver Key roots you to this place. You can still feel it at your side, bracing you against the pull of something cut from the same cloth as it.

>>5046483
A knife. (Jackie's Vorpal Knife) Bhop, I now know what reference you're going with. It's either the Vorpal knife from Alice in Wonderland the Subtle Knife from the "His Dark Materials" trilogy

A key. (Silver Key)
>>5046488
>>5046363

Okay. I've had some food, and now I'm gonna summarize what just happened. The Knife and Key were cut from the same cloth. The Key acts as a metaphysical dimensional anchor akin to an immovable rod, while the Knife basically creates a portal by tearing a hole in the fabric of reality (aka creating a vacuum). Nature abhors a vacuum and thus naturally acts to close it by shunting the people traveling through the tear in reality to the other side. However, Shu is in possession of the Silver key, and thus isn't immediately shunted out the other end.

So we have a couple options.

The dimension we're in most likely is in a metaphysical realm of the soul and the souls are represented by the colored lights we see within reach. We can reach out and interact with the souls because of our position within this dimension, we can explore the realm of the metaphysical soul, or we can cross the bridge and re-enter reality. The longer we faff/muck/delay in the meta-space between realities, the more violent our ejection from it, and the longer we make our friends and family wait in reality, even possibly worrying them. If we do interact with their "souls" they would likely feel an unknown influence and get jumpy. We could technically explore the space between spaces, but again, that would delay our return to reality and make our family worry. Jackie would likely have questions regarding as to why it takes so long for Shu to return to reality (as Jackie is likely to be used to instant teleportation).

>>5046709
Yeah, that's my interpretation of it, too. This is where Jackie cuts through to teleport, it's normally instant, but the Silver Key is giving Shu some extra inertia that's keeping her from being pulled through at max speed. And as a result we're seeing...something...connected to Daughters, that's visible on this plane. I'm not sure it's souls, exactly, but something related to people's identities, certainly. Maybe it's just an access point to those people, this multicolored void does resemble the glimpses we've seen of the Nothing. It could be his native plane, and those lights are the openings for him to look in at us.

I suppose it doesn't matter too much. I agree that interacting with the lights will probably cause interaction with the people. That's why I voted for the obsidian light, that's Jackie and I want to ask her what the hell is going on. Though you are right that it might be a more invasive experience that wouldn't allow for real communication, in hindsight maybe it's not a great idea. But I don't want to wander and interact with the more distant lights and risk getting lost, and I don't want to waste the opportunity by just letting the knife drag us back to our reality. So I'm willing to take a gamble on poking her light (or Amara's, as the other anon voted) and seeing what happens. We'll just have to apologize if it turns out to be a bad trip.

>>5046709
>>5046716
seems like a reasonable conclusion. kinda sorta what i thought too, with my only slipup being not connecting the dots to who was who aswell as i should've, mostly because Dorian just does not at all scream 'red' to me. i mean, i get he technically is in terms of power, but in terms of a representation of who he is its not the color id use for him. because of that, i kinda thought it would be 'important' souls, not those around us, but it being those around us does make more sense as like i said only Dorians doesn't really fit to me.

otherwise, thats kinda why i wanted to try talking to them first. wouldn't hurt and might end up being less invasive. otherwise we know these type of places like i said either give answers or are important, so trying to figure out something here i think makes sense. that, and i just have a sinking feeling with how the sword may be, it wouldn't actually be as simple or safe to just turn off the key to leave. I could be wrong, but you never know.

>>5046727
I think it's actually just eye color, and not anything symbolic. Isabel has green eyes, Dorian red, Nerada and Jackie black, and Amara has heterochromia with one blue and one brown eye. That's why I'm thinking it's a connection and not their minds/souls themselves, if it's reflecting physical traits like that. I don't know, maybe our friends have a really strong sense of their identity tied up in their eye color, but that feels weird to me.

I do agree that speaking to them before we try anything is a good idea for minimizing trauma, though. I'm not sure why I didn't put that in my vote, guess I wasn't thinking. So, a note to BHOP >>5046483 : I'm fine with that taking precedence as a combined vote.

And yeah, probably not just as simple as turning off the Key. I think that would let the sword drag us out, but it would also stop protecting us from whatever hazards might be in this place, and I fully expect those to be able to work very fast.

>>5046727
>mostly because Dorian just does not at all scream 'red' to me.

Well, he's a paint-themed flesh artisan and his core is tinted red from Scarlet Terror, which would naturally affect his eye color right?

>>5046768
as the other Anon mentioned i wasn't directly applying the colors to coincide with their eyes necessarily either way.

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>>5046315

"Hello?" You say, the syllables prompting the lights to flicker and dance, their colors intensifying at the sound of your voice.

"...They love her. They deserve her. It hurts, but what does that matter when I caused them so mu-" The emerald light echoes sadly before the onyx gemstone flares with contagious anxiety.

"Still not strong enough. I need to know. I have to know if I can stand on my own. If I can't, they're dead. They'll be dead and it'll be all my fault." It mutters to itself, words coming out as though between fingernails, bitten raw as it suddenly shifts tracks. "What if she kicks my ass? What if I win? What the fuck is either of those gonna tell me that I don't already know? It seemed like such a great fucking idea it the time, but-"

"It's settled, then - Rath." A masculine voice reverberates from deep within the shining ruby, his words resolute, decisive. "I should talk to her about it. I have to deal with this if I'm going to be enough for Julia. I need to be clear. I need to communicate. I may have his temper, but I have the tools to regula-"

"So long. So so long. Keep it together. Stay focused." The obsidian hums with a voice cool and clear. "You've fought it this long. Stay normal. They wouldn't like you if they knew what you'd done to get here. They need to like you. They're the first in so long to be kind. They're worth being normal for. Without them, you're no-"

"Smile! Keep smiling! That's what Mom does!"

The sky-blue light nearly engulfs your being when it suddenly quadruples in size, as if trying to drown out its fellows.

"I smile, they smile! Everyone smiles! Keep them busy! Busy people can't be sad!" It continues, voice shaking with an insistent shrill. "Mom keeps us busy so we can't be sad! Mom keeps busy, too! If we keep moving then Mom-"

"She's not your mom."

The brown light that lurked just behind its fellow nearly overwhelms the azure radiance, the blue sparkle fading steadily with every word it's twin utters. "You had a mom. Shu is nice. Shu is patient. Shu is kind. And because of that, she'll leave. To keep you safe."

"She wouldn't do that." The blue light timidly counters, trying desperately to rebuild the edifice that was cut down so swiftly. "I can help her. I've been training a whole lot so I can fight really well, and I know I can show her how mature I can be, so she has to take me! I can show Mom that I won't hold her back! We're going to beat the Cord, and then-!"

"And then she'll be busy." The brown light mutters blithely, countering every burgeoning hope with a hacknife of doubt. "She's busy enough right now. Do you think that'll get any better when she has the whole world to look after?"

(Continued)

>>5047105

"...but she doesn't want to do that. She said so." The azure light murmurs in dejected protest.

"We’ll see...but until then, what do we do?”

“...smile. Keep smiling.” The blue light answers with growing resolve. “Keep training. Keep smiling. Keep growing. Keep smiling. Keep-”

The voices subside, each light flickering low as the effects of your greeting fade. Your perceptions now wholly adjusted, you look around the sea of stars to find a mountain looming large to your left. Atop it thrums a silver-blue radiance, powerful and majestic as it keeps its patient vigil. Ahead of you, a large cluster of lights are gathered with a yellow spark at its heart. To your right flit a trio of lights whose hues set them apart—eon amethyst and white-hot citrine, with a binary star following close behind.

The tug behind you intensifies, but the Silver Key has rendered you an immovable object in this alien landscape. Here, in this interstitial place, you...

>>Hold the amethyst.

>>Embrace the citrine.

>>Reach out to the twin stars.

>>Touch one of the other lights whose voices reached you.

>>Ascend the mountain to meet the patient sun.

>>Loosen the Silver Key’s grip, and go back to where you belong.


>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL

(Good Morning, Everyone. Voting shall remain open for the next two hours, with posting to resume in three as I get back on track. Not sure what was going on yesterday, but regardless I appreciate your kind words and understanding. I hope your day is going well,and that it is a relaxed one.)

>>5047106
vote;
>Ascend the mountain to meet the patient sun.
its the only thing screaming 'of this place potentially', and im very much thinking we uhhh, we may have heard more than we should've and need to make some apologies. mind, i expected we miiight end up in this situation per say, i just didn't expect our voice alone to make them spill nothing BUT their deepest hidden concerns.

certainly if we dont see the mountain light we leave. touching the lights will probably be very much going too far, as just hearing that could be argued to be, even if we didn't think just talking would do that.

>>5047111
adding if people would prefer to leave i do have some ideas id like to put forth for how we handle it, but of course thats only if people end up leaning towards it. guess said ideas will probably be applicable eventually regardless, but still.

>>5047106
>>5047105
Goddammit Bhop. Here in the realm of the Soul, we see the deepest insecurities of our friends and family.

>Jackie's struggle against self-worth in needing to compare herself against Shu in a contest of strength.
>Nerada's struggle against loneliness
>Rath's inner struggles to maintain her temper
>Isabelle's self-torment over her past sins
>Amara's Optimism and hope clashing against the painful pessimism of her past.

It hurst so much.

>>5047115
>Rath
that was Dorian.

>>5047115
(Unlike the Dreamscape, there are no defenses here.)

(Only truth.)

>>5047117
(This is also truth.)

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722 KB JPG

>>5047118
>reality went full True Order on us.
ah shit. if we find a black book with red pages that bleed, dont open it and burn the fucker before it can say anything.

obscure jokes aside these type of places usually dont end well to be in.

>>5047112
>>5047111
We've now have the insight of their insecurities. If anything, we should approach these subjects in a one on one fashion in the real.

>>5047118
>>5047117
goddammit. I knew it was dorian earlier, but mistook him for Rath because of the mention of "temper" being associated with Rath.

>>5047111
>Patient sun

I'm willing to bet big that the Patient Sun is Ozmas on the throne of the Cord.

>>5047118
Also Bhop, There was never any mention of the Amethyst star in the update. Are you sure you've mistaken the Amethyst for Isabelle's Emerald?

>>5047127
nevermind. I see it now.

>>5047106
Amethyst is Definitely Gina
Citrine is Rath
Binary star is a mystery, I wonder who that is.

>>5047128
(No worries!)

>>5047126
(Are you voting to approach the patient star, or were you just quoting?)

>>5047132
quoting.

>>5047126
could be, but really doesn't feel like it fits her personality at all.
Powerful? maybe. but Majestic and Patient? im not seeing it, especially as this is supposed to be their deeper self, not shown persona.

>>5047130
...oh.... OH!
Anon you just fucking made me realize something pretty damn important from that.
see, i was gonna say "Well, its Orwell, she went with them right?"
but obviously, that didnt sound right in my brain.
because she didnt. because shes with us.
except my mind forgot that because she has no soul orb here.

>>5047133
(Okay, I just wanted to clarify. Thank you!)

>>5047130
>>5047134

so Orwell can not be seen with us..... that is interesting and disconcerting.

on the other hand it could be that she is mired in different glows due to getting sustenance from the emotions of other people. Or she is bound to someone or something else.

>>5047115
very true.... though Isabelle is probably still has a lot of feelings for Shu and seeing that she is so busy with everyone else probably hurts her that she can not have us alone with her... not saying that is what she would try when she would come back but something probably gnawing at her thoughts.


and at least i am on time for this one i was just so tired yesterday after visiting the gym i promptly went to sleep after cleaning up

>>5047134
>Silverblue
hmmm....Charon? Likely her because the silver reminds me of how Hexane aesthetics can't really perceive.
Or Marrow Dragoon? Then again, Mara's soul color would be steel grey if the phrase "Eyes are the window to the soul and eye color defines it" holds true in the setting.

>Orwell being with Shu in the liminal soul space
That doesn't really make sense. Only the holder of the Silver key would be able to stay this long in the liminal soul space, otherwise we would've felt the presence of another silver key in the space and would've been able to interact with Orwell.

>>5047134
>>5047139
so that begs the question: Where in this liminal soul space is Orwell physically?

>>5047141
no... anon reread what i said.
I didn't say Orwell herself should be here, I pointed out she was with us but she doesn't have a soul orb here to represent her. that clearly means something.

>>5047139
honestly the reasons could be pretty damn extensive and we probably wont know unless told while were here or we ask her.
it could just be she doesn't have any insecurities shes hiding, so theres not 'truth' to show up. or it could be the Orwell with us is actually a construct. or maybe she has a secret relic or ability that shields her from this.
or it could be Orwell is literally for some reason soulless.

like i said, the list is long as to why. the important thing is for us to remember its a thing.

>>5047144
>soul-less in the realm of the soul
>is physically frail
>feeds on the emotions of daughters to sustain herself
Could...Could Orwell be a daughter who is a hidden "Deprived" class?

like. I know it's probably a joke saying about how "greedy business people have no soul", but if we're in the realm of the soul, it would make sense. Mara can't ascend the cord because she's a deprived. So why hasn't Orwell for all her power and obsession of infosec, hasn't ascended the cord? Instead she opted to entrench herself in human society and feed off of people's emotions.

>>5047142
well, there doesn't seem to be much of a place to hide here, so my guess is nowhere.
her physical self is with everyone elses, she just has something going on to not have a soul orb.

>>5047126
>We've now have the insight of their insecurities. If anything, we should approach these subjects in a one on one fashion in the real.
maybe, but we need to first tell the group it happened in the first place, then leave it open to them after we apologize we're willing to talk to any of them about it if THEY want to, when they're ready. otherwise not our place to push the issue.
with one exception; Nerada.
and i say this because the difference is our family and friends know we can be trusted and all that, and some of those issues arent even exactly unknown.
But Nerada needs to at least be reassured that what we heard and what it means wont ruin her chances of staying friendly with us. its not right we heard without her permission, but its also something that now that its happened we need to make sure its not something that drives her away, due to her having a looser connection to us and our family.

>>5047142
>>5047144

Orwell is not a Ginger is she?

Though Rath has a soul Orb..... so she at least has a soul.... Maybe Orwell is the devil herself........ I am joking

But the theory of her being possibly a construct is something we should keep in mind.

>>5047106
> whisper "I won't leave you alone again if i can do anything to help it my daughter."
>>Ascend the mountain to meet the patient sun.

i think meeting the Sun could be interesting. And with what we know of Ozmas it is that she is not the most patient and also not truly with us. If we could see her from here that would mean we could probably at least make out small motes where daughters congregate between us.... or its just those people we actually have a true connection with that show up and the stronger the connection the more easily we can actually see them.

Also not married to the first bit. but getting reassurance might be something to make Amara truly happy instead of her trying to pretend to be happy.

>>5047148
hrm... I mean that might be the answer to why her soul orb isnt here but im otherwise sure she didn't climb the cord due to figuring like others it clearly wasn't actually a good idea.
we know to some degree people figured out before us the Cord was a trap(with others just having moral issues with it), but it wasn't til after us people figured out openly there were other options if you did climb it, i think.

>>5047150
im not against the first bit but two thoughts
>make sure we actually direct and instead whisper the line to Amaras S.O.
and/or
>Just give a general apology and statement to all of them before heading off.

also the 'my daughter' part im not against per say, it just feels a little weirdly worded or something.

>>5047156
so more like

> use your mind to direct a whisper to Amaras Soul Orb "Don't worry Amara I won't leave you alone again if i can do anything to help it."
>direct your mind to the other orbs afterwards and give them a small apology that you will take just a little while longer
>>Ascend the mountain to meet the patient sun.

the 'my daughter' part is not somethign i can actually truly improve on...... i know it was a bit tacked on. but i think she needs the acknowledgment. which we could possibly give her by calling her the name we gave her.

>>5047158
>>5047156
Making a direct whisper to Amara's Soul Orb with a promise that we won't leave her is gonna be a really big promise that we're gonna have to hold ourselves to. Are you folks sure we'll be able to hold onto that promise?
Childhood can't last forever. Eventually Amara will have to grow up. If anything we need to prepare her to be able to learn and move on for the event we do have to leave.

>>5047158
i think adding an 'And' after 'small apology' would fit better but otherwise sure.
though im unsure we need to or can use our mind to say these things. we can probably just say it, to make sure they actually hear it.

as for the 'daughter' bit, maybe something like.
>"im truly do see you as my Daughter, never doubt that."
or something.

>>5047167
i get the technicality you're meaning, but i thiiink she would understand we mean a more metaphorical or support type idea.
ok, well, re-reading it, i get what you mean.
i interpreted more as the 'you're always welcome back at home' and 'ill always be here to hear you out' and 'ill always support your endeavors'
over a 'i will literally never leave you alone and never expect you to be by yourself or not stand on your own' type deal.

>>5047158
>>5047167
maybe reword it to be a more 'ill always be here for you when you need me' or 'know you always have a place by my side when you need it' or something thats basically means the same thing but is harder to misinterpret?

>>5047173
>>5047158

>maybe reword it to be a more 'ill always be here for you when you need me' or 'know you always have a place by my side when you need it' or something that basically means the same thing but is harder to misinterpret?

Sure, but that vague generality is what got Amara burned once before in her past. It's very clear that she has parental abandonment issues, so issuing the same sort of promise would be a retread of old traumas.

>>5047167
that is the >if i can do anything to help it.
Part.
But i see your point.

>>5047168
>>5047173
Should i write something like

>"I wont leave you alone to learn and grow. Know that i will be there for you when you need me."
or
>"I will make sure that i won't just abandon you after all of this is over and you will always have a place by my side"

WOuld that be better? She does realize herself that she wants to grow and become stronger

Blerg, getting here a bit late, had stuff to take care of this morning that kept me away from a keyboard, let's see...

>>5047106
Yeah, I kind of saw this coming, but was hoping we might get something other than depressing insights into people's insecurities. Sad, that. Well, we should leave. Being here has the same problem as the telepathy we specifically cut off. It's an imposition on the privacy of the people we care for. They deserve better than that.

>>5047130
I think it's the Apocalypse Amalgams, maybe. Binary star fits how Ziz bonded with Amara and her heterochromia, and Amethyst and Citrine would fit Leviathan and Behemoth being potential binding partners to Gina and Rath.

>>5047134
Oh shit, you're right, I forgot about Orwell. Well, that provides some more evidence for the "that's not her real body" theory of mine. Her soul-orb is back at the Panopticon, this is just an avatar so it doesn't have its own here.

>>5047106
for now changing my vote from >>5047150
to just

>>Ascend the mountain to meet the patient sun.

until i figure out something better..... dang i'm hungry..... i just wanted to start cooking but this is a bit more important for the moment.

>>5047176
ehhh, but with that logic we shouldn't be trying to be a parent to her at all, which i dont think is what she needs.
and we're also way too late to not do.

she wants and needs good parents, all kids do, its like extremely important. us being the one she didnt get isnt at all a bad thing. its just a matter of giving her realistic expectations and then living up to them, which so long as we word it right i dont think this will interfere with.

>>5047180
huh...You're right. why didn't I think of that before?

>>5047180
>I think it's the Apocalypse Amalgams, maybe.
i still at least want to double check. in part because the mountain its on seems different than the mountain range said amalgam is supposed to be on, and that it just seems too potentially different that at least checking out if it truly is more of a 'this place' thing cant hurt. we'll just have to not talk i guess, and see if not doing that still allows us to see what it is.

the Amythest and Citrine im positive are Gina and Rath though. too close to be the Amalgams, especially if you're right about the mountain as those ones are nowhere near as big or bright as that one is.

>>5047179
maybe something like
>"Amara, know i will always be here for you when you need me. You'll always have a place by my side, and know you are a Daughter to me, truly."

>>5047182
>>5047181
Hmm... how about something akin to this?:

>"Don't Cry when it's over. Smile because it happened."
Taking a quote from Dr. Seuss here.

The Core message is to cherish the good things in life, even after it is long over. Amara might lose Shu as a parent if the endgame forces separation, but the lesson she learns that she will have many happy memories of her childhood.

>>5047189
eh, feels too off the mark from the core issue shes having.
maybe this is just something best addressed with her herself, or something.

>>5047183
I'd also hypothesize that the yellow light surrounded by a group of many other lights might be West Prime. I can't recall an explicit mention of West's eye color, but her art is Rutile from Houseki no Kuni, whose eyes are yellow, so it would fit. Let's avoid that light.

>>5047188
The thing on the mountain is definitely something unique. If that's anything we've encountered before, it's the Nothing, but even that feels unlikely.

As for the Amara issue, personally I'm against saying anything. Talking to Amara about her worries of abandonment is something to do with her conscious mind, not to whisper in her subconscious through an extradimensional link. It's the same problem as if we had kept our telepathy instead of excising it. It's a weird exertion of power, to say something to them that they can't consciously respond to.

>>5047188
>>5047189
how about we combine these and use them both?


i think Amara needs the reassurance that we will always have a place for her in our heart and that should hte worst come to pass she will still stay strong even if we should onlly remain a memory...

can't stay long dont want the fish to burn

>>5047191
hmmm... sage advice.

>>5047105
>make note of the worries of the Blue/brown binary star, but don't reach out.
>Ascend the mountain to meet the patient sun.

>>5047193
eh, now it feels like we're trying to overbloat the message.
like i said we might be better off just waiting to say anything deep til we see her in person.

>>5047191
>>5047193
>>5047189
yeah, thats a good point.
trying to go too deep here on their souls or whatever might have unintended effects.

after thinking on it more, i think i agree we either stay quiet or just give a general light apology to the group at best.

>>5047106
>>Ascend the mountain to meet the patient sun.
>>Write-In
>Don't say anything to any of the lights. Not here, at least.
>On our way to the mountain, avoid the yellow light. Just in case.

We definitely should do something about our friends' insecurities, but they deserve to have those talks as actual conversations and not subliminal whispers. Though props to Dorian, I guess. He's got some worries, but his subconscious mind is focusing on coming up with mature, responsible ways to address and manage those worries. Good for him. I know my subconscious isn't that sensible.

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>>5047105

You reach out to the two-tone light, desperate to—

…No.

No, this is exactly what you were trying to avoid. Your family’s hopes, fears, and dreams—their deepest selves are all laid bare before you in this place between places…and it’s not your place to influence them in a way they have no say in.

There’s a reason you turned your back on the empathic field.

There’s a reason you relinquished control.

Turning on your heel, you start making your way to the mountain as the volume of lights start to thin, a long stretch of empty white space between you and your goal. You walk, and with every step the void shifts to a darker shade of white. It’s a paradox…the darkest shade of white, a hue that defies explanation as your feet begin to shuffle through what feels like soft granules of sand. Ahead of you, the mountain’s base is surrounded by low-lying corona of luminescence, a will-o-wisp haze that serves as your guide in the unknown.

You trudge forward and the sand comes up to your ankles, then your knees, and finally you’re struggling to push through a sea of this strange material that’s almost at your waist. A few meters ahead of you a pair of lights dance about, whizzing this way and that as they dash themselves against each other over and over again. You’re almost upon them when the two lights surge towards each other one final time, and when one explodes into embers you feel fear and regret lance through your heart. The annihilated star’s embers fade to dull ash as they float down to join countless others in this ocean of soot and decay.

You look up to find the survivor darting desperately towards the mountain, and you barely have enough time to focus before it’s snuffed out by a trio of stars what sweep mercilessly past it. They, too, surge to join the haze…the swirl of vicious lights that guided you here revealing itself to be a swarm of hundreds, thousands of lights clashing and burn against one another, starbursts heralding the ends of lives in a display of sordid splendor.

It would be beautiful, if you didn’t know it was a massacre.

The lights ignore you as you push onwards, past the ocean of extinguished lives, past the bursting stars overhead, even as every snuffed light pierces your heart with dreams left wanting. You try to shut it out as the ground begins to slope upwards, and within moments you’re reduced to scaling the cliff face, struggling to find white handholds on white rock against a white sky. Glancing down, the haze is just that—a distant horror, but one that still clings to you. Where you’ve scaled is marked by ash and dust, a streak of grey up an otherwise pristine surface.

You keep climbing.

You have to.

You keep climbing.

It’s a part of you.

You climb.

What else is there to do?

You…

What else are you good for?

You-

(Continue)

>>5047241

You keep climbing, pausing only when you encounter a feeble spark whose descent slows even as you begin to pass it. It stutter-stops in place, and you watch as the light coils painfully, twisting upon itself before its form can’t take the pressure—it implodes under its own self-inflicted strain, the embers flickering into nothingness. You pause for a moment.

Then you keep climbing.

A shadow, in this domain of light and radiance. You first notice it from a distance—first a speck, now an affront as you start to pass it. The thing’s body boils, a fetid, semi-liquid vichyssoise of bubbling shadow with hard lines and jagged shapes floating just beneath its surface. It ascends alongside you like a fell insect, six scrambling limbs helping it claw its gurgling bulk up the mountainside.

It turns to you, and you can feel it smile.

‘Hello Darling’

…

…you keep climbing.

When you finally haul yourself over the precipice, you’re met with the reason you came here. A sun whose splendor and radiance seems to make this place of brightness pale in comparison. This close, what you took for silver is revealed to be a warm, bright grey that’s marbled with stunning blue. Behind it, the mountain’s peak can now be seen—the sun’s brightness obscured it, but you see now that you have not quite reached the summit. A throne sits, perched haphazardly on the jagged peak…in it, a small, wan light rests, defeated. Ready to be swept away.

A conqueror’s reward.

A Mother’s throne.

A fool’s prize.

“Hello.”

The sun’s voice is as sad as it is warm, tired as it is steadfast. You can feel the smile in its greeting, and it’s a true one, not the baring of teeth from the earlier shadow.

“Hello…” You reply, the familiarity of the presence slowly dawning on you. “…Mara.”

“It’s good to see you’re well, Shu.” Her radiant presence intones. “You’ve taken to the Silver Key faster than I did. And combining it with the Vorpal Knife? You never cease to impress.”

The last time you saw the Crucible’s finest warrior, it was in the aftermath of your greatest victory…one that followed your greatest failure. She stood as a beacon, once…she still does, her influence felt in every step of your journey up to this point. Some good, some bad, but all of it the building blocks that’ve helped you get this far, this fast.

After all this time…

…what do you say?

>>”Is this the Cord?”

>>”What is this place?”

>>”How do you know how I got here?”

>>”…I need to talk to you about Magpie.”

>>Say nothing. Just sit with her here, for a little while.

>>If you're going to talk to Mara, it'll be in the real...tell her you'll be in touch, then let yourself be pulled back to reality.

>>Write-In

YOU ARE BOTH IN CONTROL

(Voting shall remain open for the next three hours, with posting to resume in four.)

>>5047245
>You keep climbing, pausing only when you encounter a feeble spark whose descent slows even as you begin to pass it.
Don't you mean "ascent" instead of descent?

>>5047245
>A shadow, in this domain of light and radiance. You first notice it from a distance—first a speck, now an affront as you start to pass it. The thing’s body boils, a fetid, semi-liquid vichyssoise of bubbling shadow with hard lines and jagged shapes floating just beneath its surface. It ascends alongside you like a fell insect, six scrambling limbs helping it claw its gurgling bulk up the mountainside.
>It turns to you, and you can feel it smile.
>‘Hello Darling’
Oh that is definitely West Prime. Only she would address us as 'darling'. And we now know a hint of what West prime's true form looks like.

>>5047245

>A shadow, in this domain of light and radiance. You first notice it from a distance—first a speck, now an affront as you start to pass it. The thing’s body boils, a fetid, semi-liquid vichyssoise of bubbling shadow with hard lines and jagged shapes floating just beneath its surface. It ascends alongside you like a fell insect, six scrambling limbs helping it claw its gurgling bulk up the mountainside.

So.... Prime eh..... well well well...... even her soul feels fetid

And that No Mans Land truly is a place where massacres are commonplace.

>The sun’s voice is as sad as it is warm, tired as it is steadfast. You can feel the smile in its greeting, and it’s a true one, not the baring of teeth from the earlier shadow.

Mara eh i would say good to see you. but that does show that she has a soulpresence even as one of the deprived. So whatever the hell is up with Orwell just means that she is not a deprived that we could find with this method.

And she does seem to be tired.... the great dragon of the crucible. A master of War and the seeker of a way to surpass the hunger with a oceans worth of horrendous things she committed in her search Oh how Avenger would love to devour HER

>>5047245
>A throne sits, perched haphazardly on the jagged peak…in it, a small, wan light rests, defeated. Ready to be swept away.

Heavy is the burden of the throne, and the crown who rests upon the brow. Ozmas, your eternal rest comes soon.

>>5047245
vote;
>blink
>take a moment to let this all set in, to reorient yourself to what this all is.
>then... ask her a simple, straightforward question.
>"How are you? Holding up alright?"
>As she answers, take a seat next to her spark, and if shes interested, fill her in on whats been going on.
>after, ask her what this place is.


also, West Primes soul has become the antithesis of light and what a soul seems to supposed to be. the scary thing is, i doubt thats just a metaphor. at least some of the lights we saw fighting at this point cant have good motives to still be going for the cord, yet still were normal despite all that even reaching the cord alone may imply.
Im terrifyingly positive West Prime probably purposefully did that to her soul, herself, like with science.

>>5047257
*Bamboozle intensifies*

(In all seriousness, I do mean ascent.)

>>5047260
>>5047263

HOLD UP. WAIT A MINUTE. NOTICE THIS

>YOU ARE BOTH IN CONTROL

What and why is this?

>>5047266
... both... so Mara is in Control as well?

intersting. So she can easily choose to end this at a moments notice. Very very interesting.

>>5047263
good start. before we leave we should ask her if she knows of any other such items like the vorpal blade.....

also that name... now i am very very worried for our head. One natural crit and jack just kills us by chopping off our head.

>>5047266
well, it is Mara.
if anyone else would also have control, its her.
probably mostly metaphorical but we're also in i guess the fucking afterlife or something so who knows?
(and i get its maybe not technically or exactly the afterlife but it certainly aint normal reality or the dreamscape and we gotta call it something).

>>5047268
sure, but it would be unusual(though not impossible) for us not to get a chance to ask her more.
only other thing i'd add starting off is if we care about being humble enough to mention this was an accident. but that feels pretty unimportant overall.

>>5047269
well we could call it the Warp. the realm of souls
i know i know not the best thing

or maybe the Space between... this feels like a place that is just between... between atoms between moments

>>5047271
oh absolutely we can probably ask her more later.

i was just throwing things out we might want to ask before leaving.

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1.59 MB JPG

>>5047245
Vote.
>Sit down besides Mara.
>"I have so many questions, too many. And not enough time."

And not enough time to stay, for I'm leaving for work in less than 10 minutes.

>>5047273
hope work doesn't beat you down too harshly.
i need a nap myself here soon.

>>5047272
I mean any of them work.
speaking of which, its pretty morbid that we just pushed our way through basically a lake if not an ocean of soul corpse. i think thats a 'long shower with a tough scrubber' type moment right there.

>>5047273
(Have a good day at work!)

>>5047273
dang man. I hope that work won't break you and you will have a good day
i will head to bed soon. i feel like i was beaten with a stick over the head


>>5047278
yeah...... not just long Shower with a tough scrubber for me....

If that was me i would probably skin myself to be able to grow completely new skin that was not tainted by Soul Ash.

And to be honest i would Probably call this the Realm of Souls. this does not seem to be the void with Nothing at least... but probably half way there. Definetly better than the Afterlife... Since there is not a lot of living being done here after being killed.

>>5047245
>>sit down next to Mara after taking a moment to reorient yourself a bit
>>"How are you? Are you holding up well?"
>>"Could you see what was going on from here or do you want me to fill you in?"
>>if she wants to be filled in do it and then ask her what exactly this place is and if it could be described as a Realm of Souls or if it actually has a name

>>5047245
Wow. Mara must be mighty indeed, to have such a bright-shining light. I didn't even consider that it might be her. Impressive.

Also, interesting to hear that I was wrong about who the yellow light was. I wonder who that is, then, if West Prime is a terrifying inverted shadow monster? Maybe we'll meet them.

>>Write-In
>"How have you been, Mara? It looks like you're holding down the fort well enough, but I still can't imagine it's been easy. I saw West on my way here, has she been giving you any trouble?"
>"We've been giving her some, if that's any help. What do you know about the world outside the No Man's Land, do I need to catch you up on anything?"
>Let that conversation play out, then
>"Earlier, you sounded as if my getting here by combining the Key and Knife wasn't the expected way for someone to access this plane. What do you know about them? I've learned enough to tell they're something ancient, maybe even tied to the Crucible's origins, but there's a lot that's still vague. Where'd you even find the Key?"

I want to ask her about Magpie. But at the same time, I really don't want to ask her about Magpie until we've recovered Magpie's notes. We need to get on that. We should be in the right area for it after watching the Dissociated's launch, let's swing by Magpie's nest afterward and defeat her traps. Orwell and Amara couldn't do it, but throw in Shu, Gina and Francine to help defuse the defenses and Rath to tank any hits and we can probably get it open.

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>>5047245

You simply stand there a moment, and Mara seems content to let you reorient in silence. Finally, you take a seat next to the solar presence and glance up with your best attempt at a warm smile. "How are you? Are you holding up well?"

“As well as I could expect, here.” She replies to your pleasantries with a throaty chuckle. “The Cord’s hardly the most forgiving of places, particularly to those who’d bar the way for others.”

“Wait…you’re *in* the Cord?”

“I am. Just below the administrator’s throne, in fact.”

“But I thought you were just going to wait for me at the base?”

“That was my initial plan, but Sargatanas made it clear that he would not tolerate any attempt to act as a second moderator. After we had a surprisingly pleasant discussion, he graciously relented to me ascending. I’m sure he didn’t expect me to camp out just below game’s end…” She informs you, adding slyly; “…but then again, he didn’t ask.”

"Could you see what was going on from here or do you want me to fill you in?" You ask, still trying to recover from the revelation of her self-appointed task.

“Oh, I’ve been able to keep up with current events well enough. I’d much rather focus on what lies ahead than what’s past.” She solemnly declares, and you can feel her studying your eyes for a second before you speak again.

“So…what is this place, exactly?” You ask, unwilling to broach the subject that’s tugging at you mind as you instead cast your gaze across the bright white void. “It feels like the Dreamscape, but…not, somehow. I don’t know what to call it. It’s like some sort of…realm of souls, I guess?”

Mara laughs, and from the raw sound of it you get the feeling that it’s the first cause she’s had for one in quite some time.

“Ha, well…I suppose that’s one name for it. It is, in essence, the Dreamscape—stripped of the control granted to those that would inhabit it.”

“I…how so?”

“The Dreamscape grants a surprising level of autonomy to Dream Daughters. In my explorations with the Silver Key, I realized that the Dreamscape Phantasmal Conduits and other Daughters are able to casually access is something of an overlay on a far older, baser system. A thing of raw thought and emotion, where those within are merely things to be acted upon rather than individuals to be interacted with. ” Mara explains, her avatar of light lowering itself to sit next to you. “Defenses, rights, and customizability. If this were purely a battle royale, then what is the point of installing a system that grants these by default to those that would no longer be able to participate? I…”

She pauses.

“…I have had a great deal of time to think up here. Too much, for my taste.” She chuckles, this one possessed with a grim edge as she peers over the cliff. “I know that one will be here soon. The thing that West Prime’s become.”

(Continued)

>>5047400

“Can you beat her?” You ask, and Mara merely sighs.

“In a one-on-one fight? I believe so…though I doubt she will give me the opportunity to try.” The older woman intones with an audible scowl. “While ascent is encouraged in the Cord, descending is patently impossible. And believe me, I’ve tried. I presume West will hedge her bets and camp just below me to feed on the steady stream of hopefuls that manage to reach her. A spider with a constant supply of flies…it’s just like her.”

“So…what? Is she trying to starve you out?” You ask, alarmed.

“Oh, I doubt it. I’m fairly certain she’s ascertained the true nature of my Core by now…as, it seems, have you.” The Marrow Dragoon muses. “The Hunger is something that ceased to be a concern for me some time ago. As long as a Deprived can exercise their power, then they feed passively. No, I imagine that her plan is rather similar to mine, in some respects.”

“Which is?”

“To wait for you.” Comes Mara’s chilling answer. “She presumes to be able to defeat you and your family, and then, in turn, kill me and hack into the administrator’s throne to assume direct control of our Crucible.”

A cold silence settles between you two as you stare out into the void, watching the lights below dash themselves against the uncaring wall that is the Cord.

“I’m so sorry.”

Four quiet syllables, so quiet that you might’ve missed them if they’d been uttered in the real world. As it is, Mara’s apology carries the weight of the world on its shoulders…and perhaps the weight of deeds best left forgotten.

“If I could win this, I would.” She continues, softly. “But if it’s you, then…I think I can accept that. Maybe it’s a silly thing, after all I’ve done, but…”

She speaks, and you can feel the wry, sad smile in every word.

“I hope you don’t hate me, by the end of all this.”

>>Ask if there was a reason she decided to back your journey so fervently.

>>If you lose…if you die…what then? Does Mara have a backup plan?

>>Ask her the nature of her Deprived Core...and what influence she's wrought with it.

>>Bring up Magpie…she died trying to undo what Mara had done, and the question remains; why?

>>Tell her you'll decide that in person...because you'll be seeing her soon (Leave the Nullscape).

>>Write-In

YOU ARE BOTH IN CONTROL

(Voting shall remain open for the next three hours, with posting to resume tomorrow morning at 10AM, Eastern time. I do hope that you have a pleasant evening, and thank you for your patience, participation, and enthusiasm.)

>>5047403
vote;
>"I dont hate you. Its obvious, everytime we meet, everytime we talk, that now at least, you do truly care to help me, help others, and help this world as best you can. and im grateful for it, and what you've done for me and mind, and i hope you dont ever let yourself forget that..."
>Turn, and give her an honest, sad, but firm look.
>"...but there are things that have come up, things that make me have to question if that was always the case, things that have made me realize I should've been just looking at you, instead of looking up at you... and answers to those would do alot i think to settle some minds, even if the truth of them isnt what we may want it to be."
>Ask her about Magpie, about the settlement and the strange 'infection' about you and others.
>Ask her what it was really all about, before she found you.
>"...and if theres any last leftovers of hers you may need to look out for, good, bad, or outright strange."

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>>5047404
pleasant enough.
thanks for running today and hope your afternoon is a bit better than yesterdays.

>>5047403
Having trouble formulating my thoughts here for a proper write-in. I'm trying to say that we don't really know Mara well enough to hate her. That for all that we want to trust her, she's still very much a cypher to us. What has she done, who has she hurt, we don't know. We can guess that she's killed some people who were notionally innocent, given that she was hunting Kosi, but, and this is sad to say about the Crucible, that's not that evil. I mean, we've killed some people who were notionally innocent, we'd be a hypocrite to say that it's irredeemable. Hell, we're hanging out with B'Ni, even. So what's this horrible evil thing that she feels we might hate her for? Something to do with her settlements? We need to actually know more, Mara, being all "perhaps you might hate me, if you did know" isn't helping anyone. It's just a holding pattern.

>>5047403
>>Write-In
>"I hope so, too."
>"I appreciate all you've done for me, Mara, and I truly believe that whatever decisions you've made it was with the best intentions in mind. But there's so much I don't know about your actions, it makes it difficult for me to judge how I should feel about you. Truth be told, it's why I kept putting off calling you up on that FuzzBuzz I left you. I wanted to find more context before we had this conversation. Whoops."
>"But we're here now, so I might as well ask: What was the plan, Mara? Even with your Core, I'm pretty sure I was a last-minute addition. What were you building up to, and what did you have to do to make it possible? Does it have something to do with why Magpie decided to tear it all down?"
>"I know you've got regrets over this, Mara, and it's painful to drag it all back up. But that's why I want to trust you. If you were just a monster you wouldn't care. So please, talk with me. Help me understand."

Yeah, I'm not entirely happy with this, but I'm having trouble writing today and I'm tired of agonizing over making it perfect. I'll just leave it as something for BHOP to dismantle and use as he sees fit with the other write-in.

>>5047404
>>5047491
i'll go ahead and say BHOP can mix and mash as he thinks is appropriate with these.
still think i like the overall feel of mine better but i get some of the points and such the other anon was going for.

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>>5047404
See you tomorrow.

I swear, sometimes my progress with the Cradleton re-write feels so much slower to the point where I'm afraid that even if I do finish the story, in-quest time would have advanced so far that the ramifications of Carter's misadventures would feel like "last minute additions" to quest canon.

The storyline is clear, the beats straightened by the muse, yet the words are slow to flow from mind to matter.

Sometimes I wish I could crank out chapters with as much content and speed as your updates.

How's the hive rework coming along?

>>5047403
I'll try to stitch together these two posts:

>>5047408
>>5047491

Into this:

>"I hope so, too. It's obvious, every time we meet, every time we talk, that now at least, you do truly care. You've helped me, others, and this world as best as you could. I appreciate all you've done for me, Mara, and I truly believe that whatever decisions you've made it was with the best intentions in mind. I hope you don't ever let yourself forget that."
>Turn, and give her an honest, sad, but firm look.
>"...But there are things that have come up. Things that have made me question if that was always the case, that have made me realize I should have been just looking AT you, instead of UP at you. There's so much I don't know about your actions, it makes it difficult for me to judge how I should feel about you. Truth be told, it's why I kept putting off calling you up on that FuzzBuzz I left you. I wanted to find more context before we had this conversation. Whoops.
>"But we're here now, so I might as well ask: What was the plan, Mara? Even with your Core, I'm pretty sure I was a last-minute addition. What were you building up to, and what did you have to do to make it possible? Does it have something to do with why Magpie decided to tear it all down?"
>"I know you've got regrets over this, Mara, and it's painful to drag it all back up. But that's why I want to trust you. If you were just a monster like West, you wouldn't care about everything you've done, good and bad. So please, talk with me. Help me understand, while we have a chance to fix things."

(Writing now, everyone. Will be posting shortly.)

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>>5047403

"I hope so, too.” You reply, keeping your voice level even as you tread into territory you’ve been dreading. “It's obvious, every time we meet, every time we talk, that now at least…you do truly care. You've helped me, others, and this world as best as you could. I appreciate all you've done for me, Mara, and I truly believe that whatever decisions you've made it was with the best intentions in mind. I hope you don't ever let yourself forget that…"

You shift your focus to Mara, staring into the impossible brightness that you can somehow fix with a long, hard look.

"...But there are things that have come up. Things that have made me question if that was always the case, that have made me realize I should have been just looking AT you, instead of UP at you. There's so much I don't know about your actions, it makes it difficult for me to judge how I should feel about you. Truth be told, it's why I kept putting off calling you up on that FuzzBuzz I left you. I wanted to find more context before we had this conversation.”

She’s quiet for a moment, and you can feel her avatar pulse with brief confusion, then solemn realization, and finally a pulse of guilt before she dares to speak again.

“…When I gave you access to my home, did you find my study?” She asks, and you have to admit that wasn’t a counter-question you were expecting.

“I think so, yes.”

“It was empty, then?”

“…Yeah. I figured you’d cleared it out before we fought the Spiraling Fear.” You confess, and there it is again—that twinge of self-condemnation. “What was in it?”

“The context you’re asking for. Likely stolen by one who assumed you the truth would hamper what I saw in you.” She sighs, and then, with a wry chuckle; “Ha…I suppose this is what I get for being a coward.”

"Look, all that aside—we're here now, so I need to know; what was the plan, Mara?” You press on insistently. “Even with your Core, I'm pretty sure I was a last-minute addition. What were you building up to, and what did you have to do to make it possible? Does it have something to do with why Magpie decided to tear it all down?"

You can feel her open her mouth at the top of the Cord, so many miles away…and then close it, her throat working to explain that which she thought you already knew.

"I know you've got regrets over this, Mara, and it's painful to drag it all back up. But that's why I want to trust you. If you were just a monster like West, you wouldn't care about everything you've done, good and bad. So please, talk with me. Help me understand, while we have a chance to fix things."

“…very well.” She relents, and the radiance that is her soul turns to you, fully. Honestly.

Holding nothing back.

(Continued)

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>>5047974

“All my life, I’ve been fighting.” She begins. “Before the Crucible consumed our world, I fought to be at the top. I fought, and I won. In school. In college. In my post-graduate studies. And, finally…in banking. Deposits, returns, investments; the flow appealed to me, made sense. Almost as much as how easy it was to control it. Then the Crucible came, and control became my greatest strength…and the albatross around my neck.”

As she speaks, her form begins to slowly coalesce into something resembling her human form. She’s staring down at her hands, fingers splayed out as she recalls how it all began.

“It started as a small thing, quite weak, in fact—if I influenced something or someone, that interaction fed me and strengthened my Crucible body. The more profound or complex the interaction, the greater the boon. Eventually, as my power matured I found that I could subtly influence the direction events would take if my influence was in a great concentration, albeit in minor ways. But it was enough.”

“You…you draw power from control, itself?” You ask, and you can feel her confirming nod.

“I do. As a deprived, however…I could control everything but what mattered most. It was plain to see the Cord was a trap, but any interaction of a Deprived with any win condition would result in the eradication of humanity as a whole. Everything in my life had built up to this. I fought, I won. And now, when the fate of humanity as a species was a game to be conquered…I couldn’t.”

“So…” You say, realizing where she’s going.

“So…if I could not win personally? Then I would crown the winner, myself.”

Mara looks up, gazing down across the vastness of the null space before you.

“I searched for years, and all the while I expanded my influence. Building settlements as I went and empowering those who showed promise, or a new idea to save the world that I’d never even conceived of. There were so many, Shu. So many people with hopes, and dreams, and plans that could have saved this world. So many worthier than I to direct humanity to a brighter, better future.”

“What happened to them?” You ask, softly.

“They died.” She quietly replies. “Or went mad. Or abandoned their ideals in the face of man’s inhumanity to man. I tried to shepherd a few personally, but when the extent of what I’d done became clear, they became wary. Fearful. Disillusioned. To prevent that knowledge from damaging present or future investments, I began to restrict the range of what those closest to me could…communicate…about my plans and the lengths I went to, to ensure their growth.”

“The geas.”

(Continued)

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>>5047976

“Indeed.” She admits with no small amount of reluctance. “It was, in retrospect, barbaric. Fueled more by paranoia than good will. It was quite possible to reverse the process. If I’d known what Magpie was planning to do, then I would have removed it personally, without question. She could have simply asked—I would have done it, happily. After what she did, it became clear to me that she did not understand me, fully…and since she robbed you of the files and notes that were rightfully yours, it seems she did not understand you, either.”

“What was she trying to keep from me, then?” You press on. “What didn’t she want me to know?”

“I built settlements. Three different types, for three distinct purposes.” She intones, pushing onwards despite the regret in her voice. “The first were experiments, where alternative methods of Hunger prevention could be tested and observed. The Altered Altar is one such place.”

“I’m familiar with it, yes…it's the reason you were hunting B’ni, I presume."

“It is.” She admits, freely. “The second type were bastions, where Daughters could freely gather and trade information in a defensible location, typically gathered around one or multiple strong personalities. I often installed prospective ascendants there to test their capacity to problem-solve and deal with emergent crises.”

“Like the Monastery.” You forward, and Mara goes quiet for a moment.

“The third were investments.” She continues, resting her hands on her knees meditatively. “Often, I would find a person with great promise, but little power. I had tested giving them Relics, mentoring them personally, forcibly infusing them with strength via the Sparagmos Engines, and even throwing them into difficult situations to speed up their rise to power…the investment principle was a combination of these four philosophies. Places that could serve as both bastions and experiments, until the time came to tip the balance of power in the favor of someone who could save this world.”

She’s staring at you, now. Grey-blue orbs that bore into your skull.

“Investments were designed from their inception to be fallible, where my Core could quickly shift stability into a spiral…one that would create a test that, if conquered, would provide leaps and bounds of power to the worthy. Afterwards, I would bequeath them with a personally-selected stockpile of tools that could help them, and send them on their way. Repeated tests revealed this to be the most efficient method of growth and selection, while simultaneously providing valuable data to ensure exponential growth of future endeavors.”

You just stare at her, your blood running like ice in your veins.

She sounds so much like West, in this moment.

“The Monastery was an investment, Shu...” She confesses.

“…and I cashed it in.”

>>…

>>…

>>…Write-In

YOU ARE BOTH IN CONTROL

(Voting shall remain open for the next three hours, with posting to resume in four.)

>>5047984
I want to say this shouldn't of been unexpected, or we already kinda suspected this. or this, or that, or whatever.

but none of that would or is making this hit any less like a punch to the chest or easier to handle.
there is so much to be said or could be said that honestly... im empty handed here. because maybe its just my personal morals but, honestly?

all i can say is.

thats evil. pure, unfathomable evil.

>>5047984
So Mara made sure that the monastery collapsed when she needed it.... not that it might have not collapesed some time in the future anyway..... but she did cash it in as she said.... She forced it so that we could grow stronger. Interesting, disturbing, digsuting and sadly a pretty reasonable thing to do. without it we would have maybe never made it so far or would have been annihalated by Isabelle.

>>5047984
>"You know Mara.... i really really want to hate you right now..... but i can see why you did that. And while i strongly disagree with your methods it was what allowed me to save Gina and make sure Ozmas or someone with her power could not walk the earth again."
>Draw in a deep breath and look towards the bottom of the cord where a sea of destroyed astral selfs roils in the light
>"I can not condone what you did..... and i would have never allowed myself to be used as such if I had known. They say the path to hell is paved with good intentions...... I think that is true.... though we are already all in hell trying to reach paradise."
>lean back a bit
>"I think right now i am just a bit disappointed"


>>5047997
i don't think we can condone this. The pure scope of it speaks of how much of her humanity she has already lost. She truly is a covetous dragon only trying to reach one goal without any regard for how much damage she would cause. I have tried to put my thoughts to text with this write in. I am not particualry angry with her just very disappointed due to her methods even though they allowed us great triumphs they were build on an avoidable tragedy.

>>5047984
vote;
>Take a moment.
>take a few, deep breaths. strong, steady, and just let yourself digest it all.

>Then, quickly turn and slap her. as hard as you can muster.
>no emotion, no boiling of anger, just silent, hard, and fast.

>Sit back down, and let things sit before you respond simply.
>"that was wrong. Unjustifiable. There is no argument possible to make doing that right."
>sigh, and get up.
>"But going on a tangent on you wont change its far too late. You did it, and WE all have to live with it."
>Turn, not even trying to hold back the tears.
>"Im not sure i hate you for it, but i can say this..."
>"my own thoughts on this are irrelevant to the fact that punishment comes to those as they earn it. I can only hope you don't deserve so much it doesn't drag all of us down too... even West."
>Give her her moment to respond, before asking simply how to safely leave, and doing so.
>"Goodbye Mara.... I do hope we can meet again... though why I do will take some time for me to figure out."

i'll admit the 'even west' part may be too much and im open to hearing it be cut, but I both want her to feel a sting aswell as genuinely am trying to get a point across about how big a scope arguably she has wrong things. Even West *technically* longterm wants to "save" Humanity in her own way, sorta. my point being a bit of maybe she doesn't even deserve such a warped view of "save" to happen either.

>>5048009
yeah slapping her might be the right thing though we do not know how that will affect her or us.

the West part is to much. her version of saving humanity is making it into guinea pigs to experiment upon until she gets bored. At least i think that is what she would do before going out and murdering entire civilisations and eventually trying to know everything... and even Nothing and its people.

>>5048007
Im fine with some of the point of yours, but also feel its too lacking in emotion. mainly tidbit like 'a bit' disappointed. nah man, SHU is a person, who is allowed to at least be internally upset, even majorly upset. theres no 'a bit' here. both we and Shu have practically been having an unhealed scar on our heart over the Monastery. This is actually worse than if we had just failed a Friend, or at least very much is an equal side grade. its not a pleasant alternative at all for sure.

I mean... responding to all of it not just the write-in... yeah, we cant condone this. not even a little bit. our whole thing has been 'the ends dont justify the means' and i think we have VERY much proven it CAN work. not gonna say theres no issues, or its not slower, or anything. the point is, we after Mara would never of gotten where we are without that mindset. maybe we still would've gotten SOMEPLACE, but not here, with who we have by our sides and the allies we have.

this is... her simply saying "I am the opposite of all you hold dear." she built everything around 'the ends justifies the means'. she is just a West that lies about it, and im not saying that out of anger. in many ways she is factually that.

>>5048011
you're not wrong but you're forgetting West Primes ultimate goal IS to create paradise for all life.
You can not trust her paradise sure, i dont either, but i do think her end goal is important to why i mentioned her there and my explanation as to why.

>>5047984
That's fucking heavy. To think that the monastery Hunger riot was intentionally triggered.

And this came right on the heels of Isabelle's betrayal.

It hurts. It simply hurts.

>"Mara. I want to ask you one question. Back in your lair, I noticed that you used the restored Sparagmos engine once to revive someone dear to you. Who was she? What happened to her? Was she the catalyst that drove you into paranoia and creating the Geas system?"

>"Mara. I want you to know that there's a small part of me that feels relieved. That you're finally being honest. To know that you've got your own vices and virtues. And yet, there's now a small part of me that can't help but be both disappointed and mad at you for the ocean's worth of sins you've committed to help give people like me as well as the other settlements a fighting chance for survival."

>"You've influenced the events around my life since my birth into this crucible. But I think now's the time for me to cut the cut the puppet strings that's been guiding me so long. I've grown up."

>"When we meet again. I want an apology. For me. And for those who you sacrificed on the altar in your endeavors."

>>5047997
It's a moral horizon to cross. It's Mara's cross to bear. The only thing that's stopping me from going frothing mad is that she's human enough to show that what she did is what she regretted.

>>5048007
>She truly is a covetous dragon only trying to reach one goal without any regard for how much damage she would cause.
The price for power is that it shapes who you are. And for Mara it seems a Dragon who cannot ascend to godhood is the most fitting cost for her "Altruistic Avarice"

>>5048011
>>5048009
Man. This is a hell of a "Broken Pedestal Moment".

>>5048027
Yeah, I mean, I suspected most of this. Getting confirmation hurts, though. Especially because it's actually a bit worse than I expected. I thought she just set up unstable structures and had the good fortune for the Monastery to be collapsing around the time we were there. But actively sabotaging it and forcing that Hunger spiral? Jesus. She owes Uzu an apology that I don't know if it's possible to give.

>>5048017
you do make a good point. To be honest the whole thing with the monestary..... i was there when we fought the spiralling fear... and i did feel quite a few things.

however seeing that Mara truly regrets it.... it just doused that fire of anger i had when i first read her admission and left only bitter Ash. But you are absolutely right. I am not just a bit upset. I am very Very, VERY UPSET with Mara and positively absolutely and completely disappointed in her that she lost her humanity like that.

>>5048027
it kinda okay..... i never actually thought Mara was to be put on a pedestal. After her involvement with the settlements came to light i thought that she was as flawed as any other human with her goals though knowing that she pretty much manipulated causality to make it happen sooner did make me quite angry until that flame got doused to leave only dispappointment.

>>5048022
yeah im not jibing with this one at all.
feels way too emotionless and analytical, and i feel the question and relief statement are misplaced or not the time for.

the puppet parts a nice touch though, and wouldn't mind seeing it weaved in somehow.

>>5048032
It's hard to get emotional into the write-in without going overboard.
I want* to get emotional in the write-in. but lately work and irl events have been eating up so much of my time and energy that I barely have the time to put my proper thoughts into this quest and it's creating a disconnect.
That and the fact that if I *were* to get as emotional as your write-in I fear I would go very overboard in the drama as in "full on essay's worth of anger ranting, burn all bridges and let the world burn in a hunger-madness-meltdown" type emotional.

I dunno. I'll try and spice up my write-in in the time I have left before I have to leave for work.

>>5048027
>>5048031
>pedestal
yeah we all had our reservations about that for awhile now but... seeing it all come together and confirmed as to why she shouldn't have ever had her even remotely on one still stings bad.

>>5048031
nah, im still angry myself. not boiling raving mad, but simple anger.
Been here since the beginning, and this honestly despite being somewhat expected still has gotta hit in the top 3 moment emotionally. expecting something along the lines of it isnt the same as when it actually happens for sure.

>>5048038
ah, well real life nonsense is a fair as hell reason.
that said, just letting the words flow and letting us all see what works from all the options posted has worked wonders before.

>>5048009
>>5048022
>>5048030

>Stand up, draw in a deep breath and look towards the bottom of the cord where a sea of destroyed astral selfs roils in the light of mortal combat.

>Then, quickly turn and slap her. as hard as you can muster.
>no emotion, no boiling of anger, just silent, hard, and fast.

>Sit back down and let things settle for a couple of seconds and give her time to stabilize if needed.
>"You know Mara.... i really really want to hate you right now..... What was wrong. Unjustifiable even. There is nothing that can be argued would make that move right."
>"But going all speechy and on a tangent wont change things. It is too late for that. It happened because you made it happen and WE now have to live with that. You owe Uzu an apology i don't think can ever be truly made."
>Start tearing up a bit
>"I can not condone what you did... but my thoughts are irrelevant. You will be and probably are already being punished even if only by yourself for all that you did."
>"I just hope that it wont drag everything around you with it."

>Give her a moment to respond

>"I am so very disappointed. I looked up to you and now i realize i was little more than a puppet. Mara it is time I cut these strings that hold me to you."
>Breathe in and out once then fixate her with a hard stare.
>"Goodbye Mara. Know that i do not leave with hatred. Though... you will owe all of us a truly monumental apology while i try to figure out how such a meeting in the flesh can every come to be"

Would this be better? It is a lot more emotional without being quite as aggressive.

>>5047612
(The Hive rework is coming nicely, and I completely understand rewrites going slowly. The only reason I'm able to write as much as I do is a combination of a relatively (usually, anyway) light work schedule and the voting times forcing me to write.)

(Having a general outline is definitely key, though. Even a brief sketch of story beats you want to address can help to prompt prompt thoughts to flow.)

(...and in my case, a little bit of scotch never hurts.)

>>5047984
>"do you...have any idea how much the Monastery event has weighed on my mind? How heavy it was to think that it's fall was MY CROSS TO BEAR?"
>"To think that you pulled the strings of causality to nudge Uzu into her hunger spiral?"
>Work up a great deal of energy into an hour long tirade...and then suddenly deflate from exhaustion.
>Lean your head into her chest and beat one fist against her chest in silent anger before going quiet (if possible).
>"Can I ask you one question: Who was it that you revived in the Sparagmos engine back in the lair?"


>>5048046
>>5048040
I can't help but notice that we're missing a very big question: Who exactly did Mara revive back in the lair prior to her handing ownership over? I kinda want to weave in that question in the midst of our response of immense disappointment.

>>5048049
that is a good question.... and something i could probably still add to my write in.......

though what did you thing of that one i made in general? I would like to know if that was closer to the mark or not.

>>5048049
eh, like i said i just feel that questions out of place right now.
was something to have been asked before this, not now.

>>5048046
the part before the 'response pause' is not bad but some changes you made to some lines im not a fan of.

not liking the ending part after at all honestly.

>>5048052
I think you can weave abit of an incoming emotional rant, right after the slap before cutting off the rant and deflating in exhaustion and disappointment before moving on to our next point of response. Because honestly, we're all mad and yet that we can't really hold onto that anger that well before we let go from exhaustion like how the Isabelle betrayal arc left us emotionally exhausted from holding such a long grudge.

>>5048053
any thoughts on my secondary write-in?

>>5047984
>>…Write-In
>"...well, that's...that's...I'm sorry, just give me a moment, please."
>Walk off a slight distance, do some breathing exercises to calm down, then return.
>"I was really hoping I was wrong about that. I guess I was, in a way. I suspected that you had set up your settlements to be unstable. But actively interfering with them, to make them collapse? What the Hell, Mara? What the actual Hell! There are so many other monsters you could have had us fight, you didn't need to manufacture one!"
>Pull yourself back, don't let emotion overwhelm you. Be angry and disappointed, but remain coherent.
>"I can see the logic. It makes sense, in a brutally utilitarian way. But I can't condone it. You've done something awful, and there's no denying that."
>"We have to be better than this, Mara. That line of thinking is the same sort that's led every other Crucible to fail. Billions of worlds gone and every single one of them because somebody thought the sacrifices were necessary, and didn't care who got hurt so long as it all worked out in the end. If things are going to be different this time, we can't think of others as just resources to be spent for the greater good, however we define that. We can't save the world if we don't care about the people we're saving."
>"And I think you know that. You wouldn't be ashamed of your actions if you didn't still care on some level. That's the one thing you've got redeeming you right now. I'm angry, I'm beyond disappointed, but I still don't quite hate you. You've got a lot of making up for this to do, and I plan on holding you to it.

Again, not super happy with this, but I just wanted to say something and get it out while there was still time for other people to critique it. I keep doing this lately, spending so much time trying to work out a perfect response that I ghost out of the thread for hours while other people are debating. So please, tear this apart. I like the part about people having to be better or we'll wind up like every other Crucible, but I think it's a bit clunky in implementation.

>>5048053
>>5048056

>Stand up, draw in a deep breath and look towards the bottom of the cord where a sea of destroyed astral selfs roils in the light of mortal combat.

>Then, quickly turn and slap her. as hard as you can muster.
>no emotion, no boiling of anger, just silent, hard, and fast.

>"You are.... so SO...!!!" let the words hang in the air while your mind races and your face controts with anger while you try and come up with something, anything you could say. No SCREAM at her
>After a couple moments of tense silence breathe out and just shake your head slowly while holding back your tears.

>Sit back down and let things settle for a couple of seconds and give herand yourself time to stabilize.
>"You know Mara.... i really really want to hate you right now..... What was wrong. Unjustifiable even. There is nothing that can be argued would make that move right."
>"But going all speechy and on a tangent wont change things. It is too late for that. It happened because you made it happen and WE now have to live with that. You owe Uzu an apology, that i don't think can ever be truly made."
>Start tearing up a bit unable to hold the tears back before continuing carefully
>"I can not condone what you did... but my thoughts are irrelevant. You will be and probably are already being punished even if only by yourself for all that you did."
>"I just hope that it wont drag everything around you with it."

>Give her a moment to respond

>>5048049
this sounds interesting... but the question is probably misplaced right now.The Uzu part however is something very. Also the leaning into her chest thing is a bit too much for my opinion

>>5048060
just a quick critique before i head out to the gym for an hour or two.

This feels a bit more like something we should discuss with Paloma and our family.

And it fdeels a bit too analytical. Right now she has ripped open the old monastery wound and i don't think Shu is capable of reacting like that. I think i could be but i am not Shu... and neither are you. We are all her advisors and kinda hivemind in a sense to give her direction.

The first part
>"I was really hoping I was wrong about that. I guess I was, in a way. I suspected that you had set up your settlements to be unstable. But actively interfering with them, to make them collapse? What the Hell, Mara? What the actual Hell! There are so many other monsters you could have had us fight, you didn't need to manufacture one!"

This i really like i have to say

>>5048060
There are parts that I like, but the general consensus right now is that Mara's confession has revealed that many of the things she has done prior to her ascension of the Cord has put her past a certain point of no return.

Even if she were to try and redeem herself by pulling on the strings of causality to hold back the consequences, the situation's deteriorated far enough that it might end up as a bigger domino disaster the moment Mara's grip on the strings loosen.

>"We have to be better than this, Mara. That line of thinking is the same sort that's led every other Crucible to fail. Billions of worlds gone and every single one of them because somebody thought the sacrifices were necessary, and didn't care who got hurt so long as it all worked out in the end. If things are going to be different this time, we can't think of others as just resources to be spent for the greater good, however we define that. We can't save the world if we don't care about the people we're saving."

This part is a good line that I like, but that comes after the emotional tirade. It's gonna be hard to squeeze in the general consensus vote.

>>5047984
>>5048009
amending vote;
>Take a moment.
>take a few, deep breaths. strong, steady, and just let yourself digest it all.
>Then, slowly get up, before quickly turning and slap her. as hard as you can muster.
>no emotion, no boiling of anger. just silent, hard, and fast.

>Sit back down, and let things sit before you respond simply.
>"You know Mara.... i really really want to hate you right now..... that was wrong. Unjustifiable. There is no argument possible to make doing that right."
>sigh, and get up.
>"To think that you pulled the strings of causality to nudge Uzu into her hunger spiral?"
>lose control for a moment, your fist starting to raise... before you let it fall limply to your side.
>"But going on a tangent on you wont change wont change things. It is too late for that. You did it, and WE all have to live with it. You owe Uzu an apology that i don't think can ever be truly made."
>Turn, not even trying to hold back the tears.
>"As much as i could have to say... my own thoughts on this are irrelevant to the fact that punishment comes to those as they earn it. I just hope that whatever you deserve wont drag down everything around you with it."
>"You've influenced the events around my life practically since my birth. But I think now's the time for me to cut the puppet strings if you wont do it yourself, and finally find my own way to do things, truly, purely of my own control."

>Give her her moment to respond, before saying your goodbye.
>"Goodbye Mara.... I do hope we can meet again... though why I do will take some time for me to figure out."

>>5048059
I incorporated what i liked about both into this.

>>5048060
>>5048065
ah dang yeah that line at least i kinda like. posted too soon i guess.

>>5047984
ammending vote from>>5048007
to supporting >>5048066
while incorporating this line before the Goodbye

>"We have to be better than this, Mara. That line of thinking is the same sort that's led every other Crucible to fail. Billions of worlds gone and every single one of them because somebody thought the sacrifices were necessary, and didn't care who got hurt so long as it all worked out in the end. If things are going to be different this time, we can't think of others as just resources to be spent for the greater good, however we define that. We can't save the world if we don't care about the people we're saving."

>>5048064
>>5048065
Yeah, I'm not good at writing people having strong emotions. At least not while remaining coherent. My own strong emotional reactions trend towards ranting, so I have to restrain that if I want to get an actual message across and I tend to over-correct. Makes me look all analytical and cold, when I'm just trying to hold it together. I agree that Shu should probably be having a stronger outward response, I'm just not good at writing that. Glad to hear that there's something of use in my piece, though.

>>5047984
>>5048066
>>5048070
ill support adding this in there yeah.

Hmmm... Strings of Causality, huh? Sounds a lot like what Julia's new neuromancer friend is investigating...

Also, I'm curious, what do we look like in this place? Are we still normal looking or some kind of light like the others?

Also, we should definitely find out who she brought back with the engine. That seems very important...

>>5048081
We probably still look somewhat human considering Mara can force a shale onto herself and we have a literal key to stay here if we want to.

>>5048070
I am also this anon on mobile

>>5048081
its exactly what it was. Mara all but outright said 'the weird black smoke is my influence feeding me.'

good question on what we look like.
>>5048048
putting the question forward to the meatball who can answer it.

>>5048083
im actually dubious on its importance. sure, the person may be, but only if they didn't die again.
mainly though like i said before, feels a bit too little too late for that kinda talk.

>>5048081
It's almost certainly exactly the thing that Julia's friend is investigating. I think the only reason that Mara hasn't come right out and said that is because she knows we know about her Core and trusts that we can put that detail together.

>>5048089
>>5048087
>>5048084
Sorry. Bamboozleing a post.

>>5048087
>>5048081
(You initially started out looking very much like a point of light, thrn vaguely humanoid...the way your appearance is shifting over your time here will become explicit in the next update.)

>>5048066
This could use some emotional and narrative rearrangement. So here's my take on this write-in.

>>5047984
amending my vote >>5048022 (You) and >>5048049 (You) to

>Take a moment.
>take a few, deep breaths. strong, steady, and just let yourself digest it all.
>Then, slowly get up, before quickly turning and slap her. as hard as you can muster.
>no emotion, no boiling of anger. just silent, hard, and fast.

>"You know Mara.... i really really want to hate you right now..... that what you did was wrong. Unjustifiable."
>"To influence events and people like puppets on string?"
>"To pull the strings of causality to nudge Uzu into her hunger spiral to test me?"
>"There is no argument possible to make doing that right!"
>lose control of your anger for a moment, your fist starting to raise as you work yourself into a rage... before you let it fall limply to your side and deflate.

>Don't even attempt to hide the tears streaming down your face.
>"We have to be better than this, Mara. That line of thinking is the same sort that's led every other Crucible to fail. Billions of worlds gone and every single one of them because somebody thought the sacrifices were necessary, and didn't care who got hurt so long as it all worked out in the end. If things are going to be different this time, we can't think of others as just resources to be spent for the greater good, however we define that. We can't save the world if we don't care about the people we're saving."

>"But continuing on this tangent any longer on you wont change wont change things. It is too late for that. You did it, and WE all have to live with it. You owe those who you sacrificed on the altar of power an apology I don't think can ever be truly made."

>"As much as i could have to say... my own thoughts on this are irrelevant to the fact that punishment comes to those as they earn it. I just hope that whatever you deserve wont drag down everything around you with it."
>Step back from Mara once pace and put some space between you and her.

>"You've influenced the events around my life practically since my birth. But I think now's the time for this puppet to cut these strings that have guided her, and finally find my own way to do things."

>Give her her moment to respond.
>before saying your goodbyes
>"Hey Mara? Who was it that you revived on the Sparagmos engine? What happened to her? Was she worth the price you paid?"
>regardless of her answer:
>"Goodbye Mara.... I do hope we can meet again... though why I do will take some time for me to figure out."

>>5048089
>>5048084
>>5048087
your thoughts on my rearrangement of the general consensus?

>>5048095
I don't know, asking about her friend at the end after the emotional stuff feels weird, especially since we did functionally just condemn her. I'm not sure it's a good place to put it. But I'm not sure what would be a good place to put it, either.

>>5048095
im still strongly against that question.
it just does not fit, feels jarringly out of place and absolutely ruins the flow, ending, and feel of the entire thing.

otherwise the general order is fine but alot of the changes here and there i dont like.
i also kinda liked Shu getting up and sitting back down over and over. i felt it showed her being internally antsy even if not all the emotion was constantly spilling out.

>>5048101
>>5048099
Fair enough on the question ruining the flow of the response.

my reasoning for not including the constant "sit down and get up" cycle, is because it also somewhat ruins flow of the the initial outburst of anger where Shu just lets it out. If I had her sitting down after deflating it would have felt like she would be more petulant in a way. Instead I opted to have Shu remain standing to signify that She's making her emotional point and taking a stand for her argument of "we have to be better than this." towards Mara and lead into her declaration of independence instead of mumbling her "we have to be better than this" it into the world and not at Mara.

>>5048094
A question. Are we visible from the viewpoint of Reality? Because I can't help but notice that both Mara and West took notice of us while we're in this special liminal space.Because the sight of a visible point of light climbing the Cord with almost nothing barring its way would look prophetic af to the wider world, even to those duking it out in the no-mans land.

>>5048106
I still disagree, especially because i feel some of thats ignoring she takes time to collect herself while sitting, which i think on top of other things helps to show how shes trying not to actually just explode emotionally here. plus she still stands back up(or would) in both versions once shes actually making her statements.

>>5048110
im positive its because both Mara and West have something allowing them to 'see' this place unlike regular people. or something along those lines.

>>5048110
No one else seemed to notice us. Either we're not visible to most people and Mara and West are just special, or we are but everyone was too distracted fighting to pay much attention to this little mote of light zooming past them.

>>5048110
>>5048112
(Only those who have previously entered this plane of existence can see you.)

>>5048114
>only those who have entered can see people in it.
>we have entered it.
oh boy are we gonna have to wear sunglasses all the time now?

>>5047984
Final amendment to my vote >>5048095

>Take a moment.
>take a few, deep breaths. strong, steady, and just let yourself digest it all.
>Then, slowly get up, before quickly turning and slap her. as hard as you can muster.
>no emotion, no boiling of anger. just silent, hard, and fast.

>Sit back down, and let things sit before you respond simply.
>"You know Mara.... i really really want to hate you right now..... that what you did was wrong. Unjustifiable."
>get back up and stare at Mara dead on in the eyes.
>"To influence events and people like puppets on strings of causality that you control?"
>"To pull the strings of causality to nudge Uzu into her hunger spiral?"
>"There is no argument possible to make doing that right!"
>raise your fist as you work yourself into a rage... before you let it fall limply to your side and deflate. and look away, to stare at the astral world.

>Don't even attempt to hide the tears streaming down your face. Take some time to collect your thoughts before continuing.

>"We have to be better than this, Mara. That line of thinking is the same sort that's led every other Crucible to fail. Billions of worlds gone and every single one of them because somebody thought the sacrifices were necessary, and didn't care who got hurt so long as it all worked out in the end. If things are going to be different this time, we can't think of others as just resources to be spent for the greater good, however we define that. We can't save the world if we don't care about the people we're saving."

>Look back at Mara.

>"But continuing on this tangent any longer on you wont change wont change things. It is too late for that. You did it, and now we ALL have to live with it. You owe Uzu and those who you sacrificed on the altar of power an apology I don't think can ever be truly made."

>heave a sigh

>"As much as i could have to say... my own thoughts on this are irrelevant to the fact that punishment comes to those as they earn it. I just hope that whatever you deserve wont drag down everything around you with it."

>Step back from Mara once pace and put some space between you and her.
>"You've influenced the events around my life practically since my birth. But I think now's the time for me to cut these puppet strings you have on me, and find my own way to do things."

>Give her the time she needs to respond to our condemnation and declaration.
>"Goodbye Mara.... I do hope we can meet again... though why I do will take some time for me to figure out."

>>5048112
Made some edits to this write-in while keeping in mind your criticism.

And I have to get ready to leave for work.

>>5048116
Weird thought: How does that interact with Spiritus Ex Testa? We've been told that eventually it would let Shu create Spirit Shells for the rest of the party's Dream Daughters, so it's not limited to those she herself has eaten, just currently so. So what happens when Shu can perceive the bare Nullscape separate from any individual Dreamscape, with every mindstate visible to her? Can Shu just scoop up a dead Daughter's mind and reincarnate her with a maxed-out Spiritus Ex Testa, even without eating her flesh? That would be cool. Probably not super practical, but cool. Would really make Shu come off as messianic, though, she wouldn't like that.

>>5048119
well, dont think so?
people turn into dust here right when they die, so, at the very least there are no 'ghosts' wandering around. does bring up the question then though, where do Dream Daughters come from? it sounds like their souls are destroyed, so is that only them being destroyed here, or do they get reconstructed somehow inside a soul that consumed their remains?

>>5048116
I guess it could be worse.... unless.... we pick up some vampiric abilities then we could become a Vampire bee. Sound spretty cool i have to say.

>>5048095
Also sorry i did not say anything. I was kibda busy wiröth corcle training and that ia pretty crunch when it comes to time.

But i agree with the other Anons.

>>5048118
First off have a good day at work

Secondly. This does sound interesting and a nice edit from before i would say


>>5048119

This is. A trrifying thought.. since we would have unlimited acess to the dreamscape.

The screening rhough would be a nightmare. Dont want to accidentöy grab someone like the nad hatter or the girl that had Rath in her grasp when we safed our favorite and definetly not soulless redhead

>>5048118
(Have a great day at work, and take care!)

>>5048118
Have a nice day at work, anon.

>>5048118
a bit better yeah.
though i still feel the puppet line is a bit off.

otherwise its just a few tidbits like there being doubled up 'wont change' and the 'that' before 'what you did was wrong' stick out.
admittedly im being nitpicky and i make my own mistakes, but i felt like pointing them out more because sometimes BHOP copies our mistakes more than anything. which is equal parts amusing and gut punching because it feels like its throwing the mistake in your face, even though obviously i know thats not his intention.

>>5048121
i do not think we want to become soul vampires. that sounds like a bad route to take.

>>5048119
>>5048120
>>5048121
on mobile, having lunch prior to clocking in.
one catch: Jackie has the Vorpal knife. We don’t own the Vorpal knife.

>>5048126
I did not mean to become a soul vampire. If you read that out of my writing then that is probably my mistake.

I was trying to say that if we had to wear sunglasses everywhere we could go full vampire mode with a cape for us and ever single one of our little Swarmlings since they already could absorb health i think....if i remeber right

>>5048127
Well we can explain to her what it is and what we can do with it. If she wants to keep it i would say that she can. No true loss on our part. Unless we want to talk to Mara again

So it was probably more of an attempt of a joke that did not land right.

>>5048125
Yeah, I'm not super keen on the puppet line, either. Just feels like too much condemnation. I want to tell her we're not happy but not to the point where she sees us as seeing her as an enemy. I don't want her to be an enemy, even if I'm very upset with her.

>>5048129
>I was trying to say that if we had to wear sunglasses everywhere we could go full vampire mode with a cape for us and ever single one of our little Swarmlings since they already could absorb health i think....if i remeber right
That's more Dorian's thing, let's not step on his toes. He's the Relativistic Kinetic Kill Vampire.

>>5048127
thats actually hard to say.
i mean, do we just see them, or can we interact with them? probably just see, but the problem is i actually cant see Mara or West trying to mess with us while here like that.
Mara for obvious reasons, but even West probably knows that even if she could, it wouldn't give her our biomass nor stop our family, unlike if she leaves us alone to confront her in the Cord.
its not proof either direction, only we cant take either of their actions here as proof it CANT be done.

>>5048131
you think just swapping it for the version i have in my current vote would work, or that even that one needs some work too?
I think the puppet analogy at its core at least is a good metaphor to use here, but i understand f the ow needs some work.

>>5048133
Maybe? I think I just disagree that it should be put in there. I just don't like it. I think I'm still too hung up on trying to maintain Mara as a friend, even as we're condemning her. Part of it is that I want to keep thinking well of her, and part of it is worry over having her as an enemy. Makes me second-guess how harsh we should be with her.

>>5048138
>>5048133
make your choice, keep the puppet line or don’t. time is running out. I’m fine with getting rid of the puppet line

>>5048138
I dont think the current consensus or that line would make her an enemy. its not even necessarily outright breaking ties with her even.
sure, probably not gonna be calling her a friend after all that ill admit it, but in my opinion i guess I question wanting to call her one.
Isabelle didn't earn friendship back overnight either, and honestly for all she did? It was done out of emotion and trauma. not trying to suddenly excuse Isabelle, just saying Mara doesn't really have the excuses here that she did. Isabelle also for all her faults oddly purposefully kept her impact and influence small and to specific people. Mara purposefully implicitly tried to spread hers and specifically TRIED to spread suffering.

guess im trying to say in a long winded way, the situations arent the same at all, especially when it comes to the 'outright forgive' scenario.

>>5048138
>>5048143
yeah... actually i just realized there two puppet lines technically and so im not even sure after realizing that if we're all talking about the exact same one or both of them(besides myself, obviously).
so with such little time i think im ok just leaving my vote as it is. the other order might be a bit better but not enough time to finish hashing out the issues with it.

damn, how long has it been though since we last ran the wire down to the end like that though? not gonna say im not still impacted by the emotions here, but otherwise its oddly refreshing to do again.
though im also glad we dont do it all the time.

>>5048148
(Ha, at literally the last second before I posted I was going to have a two hour voting time, and then I looked at what I was about to drop and thought 'yeah, no, they're going to need more than that.')

clocking in for work. see you in 8 hours or so.

>>5048150
take care Anon, hope its not too bad a day.

>>5048149
Well, voting has to end sometime.
but yeah i think we got it done well enough in 3 hours.
maybe not perfect. but hey, maybe it makes sense, Maybe Shus not in a mindset to have things come off perfectly.

>>5048150
Have a nice day, Anon.

>>5048152
Yeah, I suppose that's true. There's no perfect thing to say, here. The time for that has passed, we'd need to have gotten on this issue before the quest had even started.

File: Mara, The Marrow Dragon.jpg (934 KB, 1280x1288)

934 KB JPG

>>5047984

You draw in a deep breath.

Then another…slowly, steadily, as you digest Mara’s confession. You’re acutely aware, now, how human you’ve come to look in this space. Your hands are balled tightly against your knees, fingernails sharp enough to bite into your palms as the compressed fire that is your avatar thrums with bright, multicolored light. Rising from where you sit, you stare down at Mara impassively for a long, quiet moment.

When you strike, your open palm sharply snaps her head to the side…your eyes still locked with hers, even now. Neither of you utter a word—your eyes hard and quiet, while hers still burn with regretful duty. Sitting back down, you study her impassive face in silence, composing yourself enough to trust that the words you utter next are chosen deliberately.

"You know, Mara...I really, really want to hate you right now.” You begin, wrestling the rage out of every syllable that escapes your lips. “That was wrong. Unjustifiable."

You rise again, your legs…no…every limb is burning. A fire that starts in your bones and radiates to every extremity. Rage. Indignation. Fury. There are not enough words to encapsulate how you’re feeling in this singular, pivotal moment.

"To influence events and people like puppets? Pulling the strings of causality to nudge Uzu into her hunger spiral? There is no argument possible to make doing that ‘right’!" You scream, your fist cocking of its own accord before you freeze it mid-arc…and Mara hasn’t even flinched. You sigh through gritted teeth, letting the limb drop to your side as you just shake your head at the woman before you.

"We have to be better than this, Mara. Yours is the same line of thinking that's led every other Crucible to fail. Millions…billions of worlds gone, and every single one of them because somebody thought the sacrifices were necessary, and didn't care who got hurt so long as it all worked out in the end. If things are going to be different this time, we can't think of others as just resources to be spent for the greater good, however we define that. We can't save the world if we don't care about the people we're saving."

Another deep breath, as you fight to keep yourself together.

"…but going on a tangent won’t change things. It is too late for that. Far, FAR too late. You did it, and WE all have to live with it. You owe Uzu and those who you sacrificed on the altar of power an apology I don't think can ever be truly made.” You choke out, white-hot tears now streaming down your face as you scowl down at the root of so much pain and sorrow.

You can’t stand to look out her now, and you instead turn your eyes to the endless void before you. Far below, countless lives are being snuffed out as Daughters throw themselves into the grinder that is the Crucible.

How many more have been snuffed out on roads of good intentions?

(Continued)