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>>29963678

HOLLOW SUN: 10.8%

http://pastebin.com/z93fyLYa

RED COMET GUIDE:

http://pastebin.com/7vzY4Zp2

(Gentlemen: My sincerest apologies for the cancellation. My relatives were involved in a serious car accident - Fortunately, no-one was seriously injured; However, the vehicles involved were totalled.)

(UPDATES:
- The LEUKOCYTE'S Tachyon Disintegrator does not provide Essence from a kill, if it utterly disintegrates an opponent: I'll update the Pastebin at a later juncture.)

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>>29963753

The house at the end of the world has never seemed more empty. The wind keens through the rafters, dust trickling down from the ceiling in dry puffs of vapour; Outside, beyond the cinderblock walls, the storm rages on unabated, the scouring, abrasive gale eroding all meaning. The sullen glow that filled the chamber has dimmed to a wan illumination that only makes the darkness dirty - The power drawn away from this place, dwindling to a distant memory.

Before you, Vertigo Trisagion sheds a suppurating light of his own. His form - Raw myomer fibre exposed - is adorned with piercing and knotwork and furrowed lines, so that the whole resembles an anatomist's diagram of human musculature; The skin flayed away, revealing the wall of muscle around the ribos, the tendons of the arms, the sinews of the throat...

-It's not just for decoration. Smoke wisps from his spinal array, stub horns curling from his discoloured skull; A lipless mouth - Like a gash in the middle of his violet facemask - shapes a gleeful approximation of a smile, stretching the crude stitches that criss-cross his form.

Nestled in his arms, the Chaos Trebler purrs, the sound jangled and discordant. Vertigo's triple-jointed fingers caress the instrument's golden lines, as the echo of his words die away.

(Continued)

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>>29963678

JUST in time. Welcome back sir!

Found some art for your folder.

And I was wondering: When we left off last time, you mentioned that The Assault would be Tomorrow.
Will we have a brief period of time to see cybele before then? Having our emblem working again would be nice, and there's some really weighty shit to talk about - the bit that comes to my mind is this:

If our body and avatar were seperated by the storm, its entirely possible that her letting us go saved us. If the body/red world link was indeed broken, then our body was fighting on autopilot, on its own, without the Luck Game spilling over.

I don't think it's ever happened before, but talk about a potential Matrix Death! Body dies, and the spirit's still stuck in the game.

Oh boy, time to meet dubya. Which of our acquaintances is involved in the death game this time?

>>29964000
She didn't let us go, the connection cut out and we were ejected into the real world.

Sort of like what happens when an online game times out and you're booted back to the main menu.

>>29964000
If we don't have a chance to chat with her I think our best chance for making up is to draw a heart around the Joker Symbol we leave when kill people.

It's morbidly romantic, which I think Cybele would like. Because I really want to be able to heal up during the Assault, especially in between fights.

Your timing could not have been more perfect. I just finished a game of Pathfinder.

>>29964038
>She didn't let us go, the connection cut out and we were ejected into the real world.

False! See the end of 71 and the beginning of 72. She pulled us out of the stage and we were all like 'send us back! send us baaaacckk!' and she did

Evening OP. All's well, I hope?

>>29964075
Read closer. She was about to retort to what you said and then Anon fell out of the Red World.

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>>29964109

(It's been a bad few days, but things are looking up.)

>>29964000

(That's an excellent picture. And yes, if you make time for it.)

"-As I thought: *That* got your attention," Trisagion smirks, with insouciant glee; He seems vastly amused, as if at some secret joke. His smoke-cloak unfurls over one shoulder, as he sizes you up - Head canted to the side, his inhuman eyes staring out of his mask slits at you.

He pauses, as if savoring the moment: An insect tic to his neck, rotating back into alignment. "It's better like this, isn't it?" he muses aloud, half to himself; "So wonderful when everything's all quiet - Away from the bleating of the others. Mindless, grubbing, greedy..."

"-You can almost *smell* it, you know. Their stupidity. Like...Keratin, perhaps. Or pus. Something thick and clotted and *oozing*."

Trisagion clears his throat, with a crackle of static - A sound like something brittle crinkling.

"...But you're different, aren't you? Head-and-shoulders above the others. If they could turn you out by the thousands, on some production line..."

A beat.

"-Well. This game would be very different from the last one."

[ ] "Who *are* you, really?"
[ ] "Who are you working for?"
[ ] "-Get to the point."
[ ] "Are you the White Joker?"
[ ] "And what does the 'White Joker' want?"
[ ] "I've never heard of a 'White Joker' before."
[ ] "...You're talking like you know me."
[ ] "I don't have time for this."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>29964040

Hah! we actually could use that to write messages to her - if she's watching us.

Either we need to appease cybele, or recover the joker memory in the one day we have. (check out The Spire, maybe he dropped it there?). Both are pretty fucking big ticket items.

>>29964202
>(It's been a bad few days, but things are looking up.)

I'm so sorry to hear about the car accident! Omg! Is everyone ok?

>>29964202
>"Are you the White Joker?"
>"And what does the 'White Joker' want?"

>>29964202
>[x] "-Get to the point."
>[x] "And what does the 'White Joker' want?"

Those two are the most important questions since A)He isn't the white Joker, B)It's obvious he was watching us for a long time and C)We MUST meet the White Joker to see what the hell is going on. Could WJ be the one the Hollow Sun and the ultimate armour are meant for?

>>29964202

Take a seat. This is going to be one of those long, headache inducing days.

"Games have rules. Rules which can be bent or broken. As much as I enjoy the compliment from a fan who doesn't shoot first when trying to get an autograph, get to the point. We're allies, by chance, fate, or design, let's refrain from playing games amongst one another - games will get us killed."

>>29964244
>>29964280
Those, but don't ask if he is the White Joker since I highly doubt he is.

>>29964296
>As much as I enjoy the compliment from a fan who doesn't shoot first when trying to get an autograph, get to the point.

Just that would be fine, no need to rant about games and rules anon.

>>29964202
"Don't be absurd, no mass produced model could match my sense of showmanship or panache. We both know that.

What do you actually want? I'm not asking what my White cousin's offer is, what does Vertigo Trisagion want?"

[ ] "And what does the 'White Joker' want?"

>>29964202
"There's a White Jok--of course there's a White Joker. Why not an entire fucking Joker sentai team, there's already three of us. Six years go by without contact, and then all at once... excuse me, I need a moment."

Blow the mark into the floor, we forgot to after beating Ogre. Use the vulcans, this is stress relief.

"This was far more satisfying when I knew putting it down would scare people off for a few days. Whatever he wants, this had better be good, or fast."

I just catched up to the Accel World novels and this situation highly reminds me of the White King.

>>29964340
Yeah, might as well do the Joker mark since we are here.

>>29964202
>[ ] "...You're talking like you know me."
Also: He's talking like he was there during the last game. What does he know about that?

>>29964280
More likely the WJ is the antithesis to the black - we met the one of death, carnage, cancer and murder before we met the positive force of like.
>>29964340
>"There's a White Jok--of course there's a White Joker.
hahaha.

"How many decks are we playing with, anyway? So many jokers!"

>>29964367
WJ could be both.

>>29964202
>"It's better like this, isn't it?" he muses aloud, half to himself; "So wonderful when everything's all quiet - Away from the bleating of the others. Mindless, grubbing, greedy..."
>"-You can almost *smell* it, you know. Their stupidity. Like...Keratin, perhaps. Or pus. Something thick and

Lets analyze the words here. This is the words of a intelligent, arrogant man - and his use of clotting casually, instead of bleeding? That's habit. He's a doctor.

"Hello Naoya."

>>29964391
No, bad anon, don't give away any hint to him that we could know his RL identity.

>>29964410

Why not? Everyone else is cutting to the chase.

>>29964391
We have met another doctor. The one in charge of Tsukimi/Hecate's real body.

Last thread he quoted I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream. Cribbed most of his speech from it, for that matter.

>>29964444
Joker can't afford to give away his hidden aces.

>>29964391

Do not reveal who we suspect he may be. No. Bad.

>>29964226

(Fortunately, no-one was seriously injured: It was a close thing, however.)

> [x] "-Get to the point."
> [x] "And what does the 'White Joker' want?"

"So terse and humourless, this one," Trisagion says - His lipless mouth twitching at the corners. "You're all the same, deep down. Always struggling to stay civil...But the beast just wants off the leash, doesn't he?"

He chortles, at his own words - Perversely, smugly amused.

"Oh, don't be like *that*, Joker. You'll find out why *that's* funny, and very soon."

>>29964296

"-Much as I'd miss your drum circle...I like to think I know a little more than the others do. You think I got this old not knowing how to stay alive?"

>>29964357

"Ah, be careful there. There's only two things of worth in the Red World: The first is murder." He leans towards you, as if about to share some significant truth.

"The other is *secrets*."

Trisagion winks, grotesquely - A flap of flayed flesh twitching over one eye. "We can trade secret for secret later, Joker...But that one's on the house."

>>29964340

Your fists clench down on the stirrup-grips, your Vulcans erupting in a flash of emerald fire; Each bolt erupts against the ground in a plasma fireball, heat sinks hissing as stone chips ping off your armour - Wisps of steam rising from your molten mark, scorched into the scuffed surface of the floor.

Trisagion flinches, slightly, at the flare of harsh light. He hides it well, but it's there: A chink in the armour.

On some level, beneath all the bluster, he fears you.

(Continued)

>>29964510
>But the beast just wants off the leash, doesn't he?
Hahaha, I wonder what that's a reference to. Maybe a certain leashed Corrector?

>>29964510

> "How many decks are we playing with, anyway? So many jokers!"

"Let's see: There's the one in play, the one that's hidden, and the one in plain sight...Or are they one and the same? I keep forgetting. It comes with being a writer, you know...Though I don't believe you've read my book." A flash of a smile. "-Too many words for you, I think."

Vertigo Trisagion strums a few cords on his Trebler, the notes echoing through the cavernous silence.

"From thee to thou, the message is very simple." His tone is light, but there's a sharp gleam to his eyes as his gaze fixes on you.

"'The Smilers are not *your* enemy. Sic transit gloria mundi; Let things take their course, for the matter is well in hand'. If you persist in your insolent resistance, what comes next is on your own head.'"

He's watching you avidly, now, despite his casual air - As if the last words are the most important. Trisagion's curiosity is a palpable force: Unlike the rest of the message, he doesn't *know* what the rest of it means, try as he might.

"'From one Joker to another: Ten years is long enough.'"

"'Doesn't she deserve to be free?'"

A silence descends, at last. Trisagion seems almost expectant, his fingers strumming his trebler - Distorted echoes of phantom music, a soft melody, winding through the air. The moment stretches: The servoes of your armour whirring, faintly, the cherry-red glow of your Plasma Vulcans cooling to matte-black.

"And that's it," Trisagion says, abruptly - With a little bow, as if he's completed a particularly trying performance. "A message from the White Joker to the Red, in familial confidence. Something to think about, wouldn't you say?"

He shrugs, as if glad to have the burden off his shoulders, at last.

"Now...I wonder what your answer might be?"

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>29964757
"Is he the one who saw her, or the one who kept up the search?"

>>29964757

> "Tell him he can fuck right off."

>>29964757
>"Now...I wonder what your answer might be?"

"You're wrong about one thing. Not off the leash - out of the kennel entirely. I hate this game, and what it does to people...."

"....I think I'd wonder why they were locked up in the first place. Odd, that someone's not just been killed instead."

"i'll humor you, though - what book did you write? "

>>29964757
"Tell him that I have no reason to stop. I've always been ready to accept the consequences, regardless of how horrible they may be."
"Also, I don't consider death freedom. Giving up on a life while there's still a chance?I don't forgive just rolling over and dying, regardless of whether it's an ally or enemy. I'd be long dead if I could accept something like that."

>>29964757

Wait, what? Did I read this wrong, or can he talk to Kotone too? I thought the bad guys wanted to reach the Promised Land.

>>29964757

"My answer? My answer is simple. I know it all. I know nothing. I have all of the cards. I have none of the cards. Who knows what the answer is? Do you? Do I? Nope. When the time is right, our answers will be answered; yours, mine. Everyones."

>>29964757
"A hundred years wasn't enough for me. Don't think i'll just let her off with a mere ten."

>>29964757
"If she mattered that much to him he'd have been better served seeking me out than warning me off after doing me wrong. And he's forgotten the last rule: Jokers are wild."

>>29964757
"Your book...The City in the City?"

"Tell the White Joker to talk to me. Every Smiler I've seen has been better off in a body bag then walking around on their own two feet.

Plus, given my other relation, the White Joker probably isn't the best of folk."

>>29964792

"You'll have to ask the White Joker yourself," Trisagion says, loftily - "You must have *so much* to talk about."

>>29964834
>>29964795
>>29964895
>>29964878

"Good!" Vertigo says, cheerfully; The exuberance to his words is a little surprising. "That's *very* good. I had a feeling you'd say that, Joker - That's the answer I was hoping for."

He cocks his head to the side, his lipless mouth drawn in a line:

"-Whoever 'she' is, you must really hate her. Love and death and hatred...A rivalry with *teeth* in it. It should make for a grand show."

>>29964869

"Well, that's a mouthful. I'll paraphrase...But I'll make sure the White Joker gets the message."

>>29964798

"A humanist, in the Red World? A red-armoured killer, with a heart of gold!" Trisagion winks, outrageously; "Oh, Joker...You're the most amusing of them all. Guilt's the privilege of the powerful - A drama exists to be writ large across the world!"

> "i'll humor you, though - what book did you write?"

"That *would* be telling."

>>29964945

"Ah, so you *are* a man of letters." Vertigo straightens, seeming to preen beneath the attention; "-It was just a vanity project," he assures you, modestly - "Still, I feel the quality of the prose speaks for itself...Anything to please my small but rabid following."
He chuckles again, his Trebler responding with an odd, atonal moan. Trisagion, it appears, takes a perverse amusement in everything - Even doom.

(Continued)

>>29965028

> "Plus, given my other relation, the White Joker probably isn't the best of folk."

"Without a doubt."

A sigh of satisfaction purrs from Trisagion's speakers - A sound that seems to originate from somewhere deep in his chest. He turns his head to the side, as if suddenly bored with it all.

"You know, Joker...I *do* like you. You really *are* trying, aren't you? No, don't deny it - Keep me in suspense." His larger eye seems to dilate, into a perfect circle of blackness. "...How about this? I'll trade you secret for secret...Or secrets for codes, rather. Like the one you used on Iron Ogre."

He chuckles, at the memory: "I must say, that *was* a fine one." Trisagion spreads his hands, miming Ogre's fury and confusion - "I suppose that it must come easy to you. After all...Practice makes perfect."

A dubious note enters his voice: "I have to wonder, though...Why limit yourself like that? I see you only use your predecessor's weapons; In memory of him, perhaps? Or vanity? Or...Is it a lack of imagination?"

[ ] "...'Limit myself'? I don't understand."
[ ] "-Those are the only weapons the armour *has*."
[ ] "You can use Codebursts, too?"
[ ] "Thanks, but I don't need your help."
[ ] "Fine, I'll play your game."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>29965028
Pop one of the Plasma Casters, "Where is it...Where's the White Joker? Also, you seem to know about this game. Start talking."

Target him with the Argus System but don't tell him, then [ ] "Fine, I'll play your game." but make sure to drive home the fact that he better not fuck with us.

>>29965216

> [ ] "...'Limit myself'? I don't understand."
> [ ] "-Those are the only weapons the armour *has*."

Does this mean we have EVEN MORE GUNS?

>>29965216
>[ ] "...'Limit myself'? I don't understand."

DINGDINGDING RED JOKER LIMITER REMOVED ALARM

>>29965255
Woah, woah, woah. Let's not seem unknowing or stupid in front of this guy.

We have to approach him as an equal; not give any hints of weakness.

>>29965240

Vetoing this one, because we'll look really dumb if we lash out. If we play along, we can get some valuable information...And spells!

>>29965216
"Probably imagination, I like plasma and chunks of metal going very fast. Not everyone decides to start an experimental one man band when they come to this place."

Try to remain nonchalant and joking, let the possibility of doubt remain in his mind, that we could do more but we haven't bothered yet.

>>29965314
S'not really lashing out. I'm just saying we should keep the Caster out now that we got it out.

But, other then that, I'll change my vote to this >>29965340

>>29965351
We don't have the Caster out, the Plasma Caster is pretty much an energy shotgun and it takes meter, we had the Vulcans out in order to draw our symbol, and they're really part of our arms and can be activated whenever we want.

Though I would not object to pinging our surroundings with the Argus system.

>>29965216

Do we even have any information that's worth trading for?

>>29965216
"After my secrets, are you? Fine, but I'll expect aught of equal value for these: The frame is compromised. Shortly after I became the Red Joker I had an encounter that resulted in a perfect double fatality. IT reached into my chest and cored me like an apple. I still feel the cavity. In exchange, I activated a 100 meter weapon. I survived because I earned enough essence to level several times over as I died.

"When I woke up, I was a crimson skeleton hemorrhaging green. Factory zero, or somewhere below that; I was lacking basic Player functionality. But you know, when all you have is your hands and a million circuits of printed hate... you learn to hold on."

"Besides, my predecessor used a Beam Magnum. If I had that one, I'd be using it."

Did I guess this right? Who knows! Speculah is fun.

>>29965240
He's not threatening us, Christ lay off. No vulcans.

>>29965376
Fuck it, Vulcans. It's too early.

>>29965401
Oh sure. Moratoriums, hyades, Black Joker, The Manifold Towers...First, we need to probe what he knows.

>>29965216

"Well, to be perfectly blunt, I'm still unlocking weapons. As most Players have speculated, the Joker armors are black boxes with near unlimited potential if you can fuel them with enough Essence. I don't know what my theoretical ceiling is or will be, but I do know that everyone seems to want it. That mystical allure, huh? Plucking the fruit of forbidden knowledge thinking it's the holy grail only to be stonewalled by something more."

>>29965216
"I prefer a concise toolset. Better to know all your tools inside out than to have hundreds of weapons that you barely use.
But if you have a way for me to get more specific weaponry - Spit it out. I'm all ears."

...Did he see the Crisis Arm?

>>29965452
>Oh sure. Moratoriums, hyades, Black Joker, The Manifold Towers...First, we need to probe what he knows.
I *think* that he wants to give us secrets in exchange for our codebursts.

If we really want to have hilarious results, we need to teach him about REND. But our anti-equipment burst (forgot the name) should be kept hidden.

>>29965255

This + [ ] "You can use Codebursts, too?"

>>29965240

Popping one of the Vulcans and pointing it at him followed up by saying, "I wonder what your soul would craft if I turned it into a fashionable set of clothes."

Retract the Vulcan.

"That was a joke."

>>29965568

Lets NOT offend this guy :(

No

>>29965028
>"A humanist, in the Red World? A red-armoured killer, with a heart of gold!" Trisagion winks, outrageously; "Oh, Joker...You're the most amusing of them all. Guilt's the privilege of the powerful - A drama exists to be writ large across the world!"

As a response-counterpoint to this:
(it was all a huge block of text, so i'm hoping w can get a wordin edgewise)
"When looking at jokers, People only see the armor - not the person underneath"

>>29965216
[X] "-Those are the only weapons the armour *has*."
Tell us your secrets, Harlequin!

>>29965573
Seconded. Some people don't like a weapon pointed at them, joke or not.

[x ] "...'Limit myself'? I don't understand."
[x ] "-Those are the only weapons the armour *has*."
[x] Fine, I'll play your game

>>29965602
>Tell us your secrets, Harlequin!
And then Joker was legion and built his army of free spirits, equipped with clothes crafted from souls.

>>29965629
>[x] Fine, I'll play your game

we can hold off on that - negotiations first

>>29965630
Now that you mention it, the Correctors ARE a lot like insect spirits...

>>29965340

Trisagion sighs, hugely.

"Such a boring answer. It's up to you, of course, but...'A bullet for every name'. That's what the Red Joker *does* - Don't deny what you are. After all..."

And his eye gleams. "-it makes for a better show."

> "When looking at jokers, People only see the armor - not the person underneath"

"Does it?" Trisagion seems to consider this; "Should it be any other way?" He grins, at this - It's a nasty smile, wide and unpleasant. "No-one's going to love you for who you *are* Joker, if that's what you're wondering - They only care what you can do *for* them."

His chuckle becomes a cackle; "That's what women tell *me*, at least."

>>29965472
>>29965509
>>29965602

He gives you a curious look; There's something sharp in his gaze, all of a sudden - Something calculating, weighing, as if a new factor has entered the equation. "Well, well..." Trisagion muses aloud - "Now, isn't that interesting."

> "But if you have a way for me to get more specific weaponry - Spit it out. I'm all ears."

"Oh, don't mind me," he answers, loftily - "I wouldn't dream of telling the Red Joker his business. Your reasons are your own...There's no need to justify it to *me*."

>>29965439

"Ah, that makes for a good story." Trisagion sniggers; He pats his hands together in quiet applause, the gash of his mouth drawing up in a jagged smile. "A story with blood in it...Well worth the price of admission."

"-I'll give you that one, but I'm talking *secrets*, Joker. It's hardly fair if it doesn't sting a little. I'm sure you can think of a few..."

[ ] "I know what Argent's plan is."
[ ] "-I'm in possession of the Hollow Sun."
[ ] "'Cybele' is the name of my Hyades partner."
[ ] "The Black Joker's true name is 'Kotone'."
[ ] "Totenaz has assembled the pieces of the Fatal Abyss."
[ ] "My armour can activate Manifold Towers."
[ ] "The Nihl Sphere is in my possession."
[ ] "That's all you get."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>29965684
[ ] "The Nihl Sphere is in my possession."

If he doesn't know what the Nihl Sphere is, then tell him that telling him would be another secret.

>>29965684
>[ ] "Totenaz has assembled the pieces of the Fatal Abyss."
>[x] "My armour can activate Manifold Towers."
>[x] "The Nihl Sphere is in my possession."
>[x ] "-I'm in possession of the Hollow Sun."
>[x ] "'Cybele' is the name of my Hyades partner."

One at a time. Let's see how he reacts to our Hollow Sun ownership first.

Also, isn't our hyades badge clearly visible ? And do we know all the Hyades partners yet ?

>>29965684
>No-one's going to love you for who you *are* Joker, iyou're wondering"

Break out laughing at this.
"Sorry, sorry. We've just met someone who did exactly that already."

>>29965684
Hmn.
Lets see what he's after.

"Secrets, you say. I know the black joker's true name, and who is after - and close to attaining, if they haven't already, phantom edge's legacy. Or perhaps you'd like to know about manifold towers?"

Lets start off easy, see what he wants.

>>29965684
>[ ] Free

"i know where you can ask the red world for secrets yourself"

>>29965684
>[ ] "Totenaz has assembled the pieces of the Fatal Abyss."
>[ ] "The Nihl Sphere is in my possession."
These two are the least likely to fuck our plans up.

We do NOT want to get other people involved. Especially ones that we care about.
Kotone and Cybele should be protected. And telling about AP is just evil.
Hollow Sun I'm not sure about.
Yes, we rattled out Totenaz, but that might actually safe him in this case.

As for Manifold Towers... Depending on what the White Joker is about, he might want to kill us if he learns about it.

>>29965684
>[x] "Totenaz has assembled the pieces of the Fatal Abyss."
>[x] "My armour can activate Manifold Towers."
>[x] "I know what Argent's plan is."

>>29965757

maybe we DONt want to share that pool's info, tho

>>29965798
Oh, fuck, right.
Where was that black stuff again?

>>29965755

Yeah, I think we should leave Cybele's name out of it. Same for the Manifold tower secret.

>>29965821

the manifold tower one's safe to share - argent's isn't

>>29965684
"Alura Une is Kraken's Hyade partner."
"The Black Joker's true name is 'Kotone'."
"The Nihl Sphere is in my possession."
"I know where the Armor of Midas is."
"I know where one of the Black Cardinal's journals is."
"Holophusikon held the physical remains of Phantom Edge."

You know, the fun thing about a story is that it doesn't have to be true. Let's think of some creative lies to get Players we hate in trouble.

>>29965755
NOPE to the Hollow Sun and Cybele. Those are distinct advantages. Manifold Towers are also freaky as hell, we shouldn't talk about it until we can control it better.

>>29965807
>>[x] "I know what Argent's plan is."
FUCK no.

>>29965813
Nara Dreamland.

>>29965798

Oh, this one's a good one. I think we should proceed on the assumption that the bad guys are going to find out everything we tell him. Since they already know about the pool, it should be find mentioning it.

>>29965684
"Of course I know secrets. I'm the Red Joker, if Players had children they'd tell stories about me to get them to shut up and listen.

I could tell you of the towers that rise to the sky, I know deeply both Hyades and Moratorium, I know of artifacts that some would spend their lives searching for, and they probably have, I know the true names of many and for some their plans.

Tell me Trisagion, you who would trade secrets with me while hiding your fear, what secret best left buried would you take a shovel to?"

Gauge his reaction, I wouldn't trust him to tell the trust about what interests him, try to see what he cares about most, and what doesn't hold interest for him. Then we'll probably want to tell him the ones he doesn't want.

>>29965799
>As for Manifold Towers... Depending on what the White Joker is about, he might want to kill us if he learns about it.

Let him try. This is an appotunity to see his "cards". Better before the Hive mission, as opposed to him leveling up a lot during that.

>>29965684

"A Joker and a Jester exchanging secrets now, eh? What a clever scheme one has concocted, yes I must say. Clearly, the greatest secret would be the identity of the one behind the Mask himself. What secrets would the Jester exchange?"

We can always see what his best secret is. We can work out a deal with the devil if he coughs up something juicy.

>>29965837
>Let's think of some creative lies to get Players we hate in trouble.
I don't think if that's a good idea.

Then again...
"I remember using a card to enter the Red World. I think the Tachyons fried my brain."

You know what the biggest fuckup is that we could have?
Tell him about Misericode.

>>29965684
Maybe:
"I already told you a few secrets during the briefing. What do I get for those ? You're cheating.

>>29965841
Actually they might not, we saw a vision of Pazuzu getting his staff, I don't think it was at the memory pool.

>>29965850
Dude what, Trisagion isn't White Joker. White Joker has just been implied to be the Smilers ACTUAL leader, or at least to be sponsoring them. If we encounter White Joker at any time in the near future, he will not be leveling up, he will be in our ranks and killing our dudes.

>>29965873
Yes that is the biggest fuckup we could make, we are never mentioning that to anyone.
>I remember using a card to enter the Red World.
Hue.

>>29965909
>Dude what, Trisagion isn't White Joker. White Joker has just been implied to be the Smilers ACTUAL leader, or at least to be sponsoring them. If we encounter White Joker at any time in the near future, he will not be leveling up, he will be in our ranks and killing our dudes.

I never said HOW he would be leveling up.

Oh, two more for the list:

"Cocytus' collapse was caused by a Player named Ixion."
"The Joker's Memory is missing."
"Incidentally, that's what the end of my white counterpart's message is supposed to strike upon. Unfortunately for him, the only ghost in my shell is my own."

>>29965957
Touché.

>>29965974
>"The Joker's Memory is missing."

Hm. maybe save that one?
then again, he may know where it is

>>29965974
Hmm. I'd like to meet the White Joker "before"playing the game. We might be in a better position to play Trisagion's game after that.

>>29965684
[]Cybele is my Hyades Partner
[]The Black Joker's true name is Kotone.
[]The Black Joker is coming back.
[]Totenaz has assembled the Fatal Abyss.
[]A Player called Ixion destroyed Cocytus
[]My armour can activate the Manifold Towers.
[]I know what the Manifold Towers do.
[]I'm in possession of the Hollow Sun.
[]That's all you get.

Then, maybe codebursts.

Also, I would recommend not telling him about the Nihil Sphere. Pazuzu will do anything to get it back, so he can become whole.

>>29965974
>>29966020
DO NOT TELL HIM THE JOKER'S MEMORY IS MISSING.

That's madness. We already know the Thief has it.

>>29966055
>[]Cybele is my Hyades Partner
>[]The Black Joker's true name is Kotone.
>[]I'm in possession of the Hollow Sun.
VETO VETO VETO
And I'm iffy on the Manifold Tower part. It's true that it might give us a hint about White Joker's nature, if he sends out hitmen.

(My apologies: Removing one answer due to the veto.)

> [X] "The Nihl Sphere is in my possession."

"-Ah." Vertigo's sigh is a surrusation, almost a whisper. He glances at your right arm; "I *thought* I felt something...familiar...about you. Like the shards the Smilers use, but so much more."

"That gauntlet of yours...It hides it well. But once you have the scent, it never quite goes away. It's quite an enigma, isn't it? A precious, precious one."

> [X] "i know where you can ask the red world for secrets yourself"

Trisagion's eyes brighten: "Nara Dreamland? Now, *that's* enlightening. After this...I might visit, myself." His pose belies his calm words - A tremor of excitement ripples across his form, like a frission of electricity.

> [X] "Holophusikon held the physical remains of Phantom Edge."
> [X] "Totenaz has assembled the pieces of the Fatal Abyss."

"Well, well." Trisagion murmurs - Then he adds another "-Well," for emphasis. That's all he says: But you notice how he goes absolutely still, his arm curling against his Trebler defensively.

"So the rumours *are* true," he says, almost to himself. "Interesting times, indeed."

> [X] "Cocytus' collapse was caused by a Player named Ixion."

"Oh, I remember him," Vertigo says, loftily. "-He was always so *sure* of everything. The way of the things, and his role in it - Talking to him was like an answer to a question you haven't asked *yet*."

He seems almost misty-eyed, at the memory...Before he adds:

"God, I hated him *so much*."

(Continued)

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>>29965857

> "What secrets would the Jester exchange?"

"Clearly, those that aren't his own." Trisagion brushes his cloak back, with a flourish; The air shimmers, the smoke-fibers of the brilliant fabric catching the air, as a blurred shape takes form. It's an odd shape, vaguely spherical - But with odd protrusions, long fibers extending from the base like trailing roots...

>>29965848

> Tell me Trisagion, you who would trade secrets with me while hiding your fear, what secret best left buried would you take a shovel to?"

"That," Vertigo says, "-is for me to know."

Matter solidifies, at last: The indistinct shape in his grasp becoming solid, becoming *real*. For a moment, you're not *quite* sure what you're looking at...Until your optics lock on the ragged shreds of metal and trailing myomer fiber that remains of the neck, as Trisagion holds it out towards you with a lipless smile.

He's holding a severed head.

(Continued)

>>29966075
>Talking to him was like an answer to a question you haven't asked *yet*."

hue

>>29966074
Kotone? What the fuck is he going to do with Kotone's name? She's the most dangerous thing there is.

Also, Kraken and the Smilers know we own the tower Hollow Sun anyway. No reason not to tell him.

And Hyades aren't that big a deal. If we veto anything, it should be the Nihil Sphere one and telling him about the Joker's Memory.

>>29966020
We know where it is. Totenaz has it. We just have to track him down. Which will be hard, since he's been the one to initiate every meeting we've had.

>>29966021
We're trading secrets for codebursts and other secrets.

>>29966055
>[]Cybele is my Hyades Partner
Vetoed. Stay mum.
>[]I'm in possession of the Hollow Sun.
Vetoed. Probably safe, since Kraken knows, but if Argent and his faction find out we had it, I want us to be the ones to do it.
>[]My armour can activate the Manifold Towers.
Liable to cause a panic, if this gets out we'll have a much harder time with third parties.

>>29966068
We know where it is. No one else does. And when people realize we've been fighting on our level as a cripple, it'll do wonders for our standing. And make a lot of people afraid of what we'll be whole.

>>29966089
Put it back, I'm okay with it. Unless we're still getting the same stuff by holding that one back, then keep it quiet.

>>29966074
>VETO VETO VETO
We're not the fucking EU . you can't just nullify another anon's answer because you like to. (Unless OP implemented a veto system, and I missed that)

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>>29966100
Oh boy, where's this going.

>>29966135

I'm not sure if we have a veto system, but I'd rather not tell him who Kotone is.

>>29966117
The Smilers already know we have the whole Hollow Sun. Most people don't know what the towers are, so really, it will only interest those who know and as pointed out in the thread, the Joker being a wildcard, a skeleton key, is already highly speculated.

I don't see how Cybele's identity is a secret. They all saw us try to use her and most of the other champions are well known.

Also, WHY would we want people to know we're weaker? Half the reason they might fear us is because they think the Joker is whole and besides, since when has ever admitting weakness made someone look stronger?

>>29966135
Meh, it's fine.

>>29966117
>And when people realize we've been fighting on our level as a cripple

Older players who haven't lost their memory might be able to use it to fuck us over. Then again, we re-learned a lot siince we lost our memory.

>>29966160
>Also, WHY would we want people to know we're weaker? Half the reason they might fear us is because they think the Joker is whole and besides, since when has ever admitting weakness made someone look stronger?
The logic is that we are fucking everyone up while having our hands tied behind our back.

>>29966100
Should we go on alert/use the argus scan ?
Is he holding an ally's head ? why did he hide it from us so far ?

>>29966200

SECRET NOT TELLIN'

>>29966100

It's not a *human* head - It's a Player's helmet, ash-grey and lined, the neck severed with untidy force. It's not a clean cut: The damage speaks of sawing, of hacking without precision through gristle and vertebrae - Of gauntlets clutching and pushing, straining to defend.

But the knobbed, twisted length of spine beneath - The myomer threads extending like cilia in all directions - is momentary nauseating. Anywhere else, your gorge would be rising...If you had a stomach, that is.

The eyes have been put out, cross-stitches across the black holes where optic sensors once were. The mouth has been welded shut - Melted into place, with a thin line of slag across the speaker grille. Those little details, for some reason, strike you as the most disturbing: They tell of calculated and deliberate atrocity.

"You know what they say: Three can keep a secret if two are dead." Trisagion quips - He holds the head out towards you, in both hands; The slow drip-drip-drip of coolant fluids drooling to the floor beneath, in a saline puddle.

"Here you go, Joker - It's all yours."

[ ] "What *is* that?"
[ ] "What do I *do* with that?"
[ ] "Is this some kind of joke?"
[ ] "...Wow. And I thought I'd seen everything."
[ ] "So, now what?"
[ ] "Did you do this?"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>29966135
>>29966145
If enough people weigh in, OP lets it go through. There's a few places where it's been helpful, and many more where I wish I'd read what people were saying and not just waited.

Or wish I'd been on at all, like the Cybele thing.

>>29966160
We're not exactly sure how the Hyades can be identified. Some people recognize the crests, probably, but most will associate the names with the abilities. So by giving away Cybele's name, we could be giving away our ability.

And we don't know what Trisagion is doing with this just yet. He might be asking for the sake of knowing, which is cool and practical, but he could also be planning to spread what we're telling him around. Which he would do because he's interested in seeing what happens. So suddenly everyone would know both that we're in the race to decide a Chalice Queen, and that we have a healing power. At least the latter I'd like to keep in as few circles as possible.

>>29966168
Correct.

>>29966167
It's not our memory, it's the memory of Red Joker. Perhaps the combined essence of our predecessors, or all of their weapons and abilities, or their secrets.

>>29966100

I don't like where this is going.

>>29966217
"I didn't know you were from Mexico. Or that players exist in other countries, for that matter."

>>29966224
>We're not exactly sure how the Hyades can be identified. Some people recognize the crests, probably, but most will associate the names with the abilities. So by giving away Cybele's name, we could be giving away our ability.
>And we don't know what Trisagion is doing with this just yet. He might be asking for the sake of knowing, which is cool and practical, but he could also be planning to spread what we're telling him around. Which he would do because he's interested in seeing what happens. So suddenly everyone would know both that we're in the race to decide a Chalice Queen, and that we have a healing power. At least the latter I'd like to keep in as few circles as possible.
There's also the matter of true names.
It's possible that the White Joker has an ability that is based on knowing someone's name.

>>29966217

"Stop rubbernecking or I may lose my head in suspense."

>>29966217

>[x ] "Did you do this?"
>[x]Free. So this guy is number one. Who's two ? And what's the secret ?

>>29966217
With as much sarcasm as we can manage.

"Elegant."

"What am I supposed to do with a severed head? Dead people aren't all that much of a secret around these parts."

>>29966217
Jesus what.
[X] "What *is* that?"
[X] "...Wow. And I thought I'd seen everything."
[X] "So, now what?"

[X] "And you do realize what you accidentally suggested when you said that, yes?"

Dammit, I'm trying to find that scene from Gargoyles. "Now what? Do I eat it?"
"Precisely."

>>29966252
I suppose, but there's no indication that that's a thing in universe.

>>29966291
Carlos....

>>29966315

>Carlos....

Hangmen always keep their customers in the loop now.

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>>29966346

>>29966373

I'm thinking we take a little off the top. it'd give 'em that new English smell - what was it, Charles I?

That still means we have our hands behind our back. Wouldnt you go all out to try and kill the joker if he might become even stronger.

>>29966426

Everyone wants to get ahead of the Joker now. All we gotta do is ensure we don't stick our necks out.

>>29966291
>>29966294
>>29966314
>>29966239

> "Stop rubbernecking or I may lose my head in suspense."

Trisagion's laughter buzzes through his speakers: "Good~! Very good - I think I might use that." He hefts the head, cradling it in both hands - It weighs more than it looks, apparently, and he's having some trouble keeping a good grip on it.

>>29966315
>>29966294

"It's a *head*." Vertigo doesn't seem troubled in the slightest, tilting it so he avoids being splashed by the coolant. "Waste not, want not, as they say: If you're going to kill someone, why not *use* him? It's not like he minds."

He seems to ponder this, then chuckles again. "'Minds'."

>>29966314

> "What am I supposed to do with a severed head? Dead people aren't all that much of a secret around these parts."

"Ah, but it's what's *in* the head that counts." Trisagion clears his throat, with a rasp of static. "Storing secrets in the Red World isn't easy, Joker; Everything you know stays - right - here."

He taps a finger against the side of his head, for emphasis.

"Then I realized...What if I used someone *else's*? All that space, going to waste...It's an awful shame, when you think about it." Trisagion's clearly proud of his discovery: "As they say - A mind is a *terrible* thing to waste..."

"-Especially when it can hold so much more."

> [X] "And you do realize what you accidentally suggested when you said that, yes?"

"I knew you were a quick study."

A witchfire glow gathers at the seams, at the grille and welded eyesockets of the helmet. It looks oddly forlorn, like this: Leaden, heavy, the tangle of cabling beneath mimicking the sickening consistency of flesh.

"Secrets for secrets, Joker. All you need to do..."

"-Is look into it's eyes."

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

No one knows a Hyades abili until it is seen. And of course he's going to spread what he knows around; the guys slimey as fuck, especially with a RedSuit like that. We've already been in one Hyades fight and Inassume all of them can watch like Cybele can; since we've accepted her offer, we've made our bed.

>>29966451

>inb4 it fries our sensors with EMP

You heard the squid. Get to crackin'.

>>29966451
"if only it had some." then look.

I suggest, when we go into the tunnels tomorrow, we make sure he stays there.

Also, insist we get an equal amount of secrets if this only gets us one.

>>29966451
"Why not, I've looked at uglier things than your spare brain in the last week."

Now look deeeeeeep into its eyes, Red Joker. It won't hurt. Much. Too bad that both you and the armor resist anything messing with you, isn't it?

>>29966488
As long as he keeps his side of the bargain, he's no worse than the Thief.

>>29966451
"Know this Vertigo, if this is your attempt at a trap, or you otherwise try to kill me, I will hunt you down no matter how deep and dark a hole you try and hide in. And you had best hope that the secrets within are worth what I have paid."

Look into the head's eyes.

>>29966451
Maybe Argus first to look for any hidden onlookers. And/or deploy the shroud.Or how about taking the head to a safe location first ?

>>29966522
>I will hunt you down no matter how deep and dark a hole you try and hide in.
...At least until we find another cute girl.

>>29966522
>>29966568
No point. If this were a trap he'd have fled when we burnt the mark into the ground.

>>29966575
He doesn't know about that, and we did murder the fuck out of Bardiel, Pazzy is a bit of a long term murder project but he's on our list of people to slaughter.

>>29966568
And yeah, we should probably sweep the area with the Argus System. No real reason not to, and I don't want to be caught off guard.

>>29966485
>>29966488
>>29966502
>>29966522

When the head settles into your grasp, it seems to sag, dragging your hands down - Far heavier than it should be, as you brace your arms: Your optic visor buzzing, locking in place. You're not sure what you should be looking at, if at all - It's an ugly, dead thing, the steady drip-drip-drip of fluids faintly nauseating...

A flicker of motion, at the corner of your eye. You try to turn your head, but you can't - You can feel a lead weight within you, a fiery heat that curls up within your bowels. Phantoms dance at the very edges of your vision - Moving, shifting, blurring...

The eyes open. They're empty pits: Black holes, yawning into infinity. A dizzying surge of vertigo sweeps across you, as your vision begins to warp - You're *accelerating*, somehow, falling without moving, the rushing howl of the descent echoing in your ears...

-And then all you hear is static.

ERROR

ERROR

ERROR

The world strobes in and out of focus: You move between moments, as your vision clouds over with streaming code. Alien symbols flicker before you, half-glimpsed - Their meaning eludes you, smoldering with cold import, twisting and coiling upon themselves in burning glyphs...

You can't let go.

You *can't let go*. It feels like your brain is boiling - Dimly, you can feel metal warping as your hands curl into fists; The charging elements of your armour beginning to smoke, visible tendrils of code streaming up towards you, sketching themselves into existence in chains of searing light...

(Continued)

>>29966592

The fire burns through you. Your hands are locked in place, but the pain wracks through you: Your joints autolocking, keeping you from crumpling to your knees. You're a statue in crimson armour, as the vicious heat eats into you from within-

Black.

**********************

A low hum. The rising whine of systems engaging, your vision beginning to clear - The absolute blackness of a system shutdown giving way to winking green telltales and the darting piper of your crosshairs.

Vertigo Trisagion is gone. The chamber is empty, now; The doors open to the storm, swaying back and forth on their hinges.

In your hands - Ash flakes away, beneath the pressure of your gauntlets: The helm crumbling, little more than a burnt-out husk, warped by the force you've exerted. Smoke, or something like it, coils up from the hollow eyesockets.

You feel -

Code forms spider across your visor, and you know what they mean. The sensation is eerie, the import transferred directly to your mind: You can't *read* them, but you know - *This* means...

> EXEC_DICTUM

This Codeburst temporarily boosts your System Access rating, allowing you to exload a command signal - An override of the highest authority and clarity, long enough to give a command that must be obeyed.

When activated, you can speak a single word, one that momentarily overrides the target's ability to control his Player form: While this happens instanteounsly, a Player with a higher System Access rating may be more resistant to your command. Notably, EXEC_DICTUM works best when the opposing Player is surprised - A Player previously targeted in the same encounter, or 'on guard', may not be as comprehensively affected.

(COST: 60% COBALT BOOSTER.)

(Continued)

>>29966722

>single word

For Enfer, simply say Explode.

For Rusty? Shutdown.

>>29966765
Kraken:
"Sushi"

Rust Kaiser:
"Switzerland"

Anyway, we just upgraded by looking into the eyes of a decapitated head that was given too us by a hardcore LARPer in a deadly open world game of cannibalism.

>>29966765

I wonder what happens if you tell them 'come'.

>>29966722
Only players ? Correctors are data/Essence too, after all

>>29966876

(The problem is that Correctors can't process the code.)

> EXEC_REPULSE

When activated, this binary invocation creates an electromagnetic pulse - A barrier that violently repulses everything in the vicnity as it expands, resolving into a flickering ring of charged energies. The radius is roughly ten feet in every direction; After the initial blast, the distortion field remains, disrupting nearby systems with visible electric effects - Players in the vicnity tend to 'seize up' if not sufficiently protected, slowing down while within the reach of the barrier. Correctors experience severe discomfort within the area of effect, until they're forced out of the radius.

(COST: 90% COBALT BOOSTER, 30% Upkeep.)

> EXEC_REAP

At the moment of a Player's destruction, a brief window exists between the dissipation of the Essence charge and the disintegration of the armoured shell. When activated, this Codeburst allows you to glean information straight from the dying, by reaping the data directly from their armour - By staring into their optic sensors/eyes and focusing on the subject of your inquiry.

It should be noted that all answers are relative to the Player in question: If the Player lacked the relevant knowledge, only silence will follow - And while the decaying armour lacks the capacity for deceit, there's the chance that inaccurate information might be passed on.

Generally, you can ask one question per destroyed Player: Two, if you're lucky.

(i.e. This Codeburst allows you to 'speed-read' through a Player's recorded sensor data, with a focus on the subject of your inquiry.)

(COST: 75% COBALT BOOSTER)

(Continued)

>>29966936

> EXEC_SMITE

A detonation of raw code in the crudest form, this Codeburst is anything but subtle: When activated, it creates a blaze of insane geometry cut from liquid light - A visible distortion and compression of the targeted area - before it explodes in a blast of something not quite fire, not quite lightning, with a devastating effect on anything in the vicnity.

Notably, this invocation requires no gestures or charging elements to activate: Targeting is entirely visual. (i.e. - If you can see it, you can make it explode.) There is a brief lag before the resulting explosion, however: The effect can be detected, if you know what you're looking for.

(COST: 125% COBALT BOOSTER)

For a moment, you hesitate - But the imparted revelations seem to have come to an end. Slowly, the crawl of code across your HUD defaults back to a clear field of vision, as your armour comes back to life.

It's grown dark, outside. Dust scuds across the floor, crunching beneath your armoured boots. Hydraulics whirr, as the tension drains from you: The red receding, at last, giving way to the dimly-lit hall of the the Cross Corner.

(Continued)

>>29967018

The cage is empty, your shadow spilling across the green baize of the table. It takes you a moment to catch your breath, as your vision swims - Dark spots dancing before your eyes, the sense of dislocation palpable. Your head aches, within and without: The smell of tobacco smoke hangs in the air, as the cage door creaks back and forth.

A glance at your watch - You've been here for nearly two hours. Shuya is long gone; You can make out his footprints in the dust. Rather optimistically, he booked the table for three.

[ ] Go home.
[ ] Play a few rounds.
[ ] Get a drink at the bar.
[ ] Call someone.
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>29967050
>[ ] Free
See Cybele, the get some rest. We need it.

>>29967050
>[ ] Free
Go and visit Hecate at the hospital

We're off for a big mission and everything will be thrown into motion after that, we won't have the time after that.

>>29967067

I think we should go home before we try and contact her. We don't want to end up in the same room again.

>>29967067
>>29967074
>>29967078

(My apologies, gentlemen: I updated the post a bit. Part of it got cut off before - I'm not sure how that happened.)

>>29967085

Mine is >>29967074 and its a free option so it doesnt really change my vote.

>>29967065

There's more that two options? Knew something was missing.

> [X] Get a drink at the bar.

>>29967115
Why ? we have better stuff to do.

>>29967074
Sure

>>29967115
>>29967130

Yeah, we need to make peace with Cybele before we run headlong into disaster. Now's not the time.

Seconding this one:

>>29967078

>>29967074
now would be a suitable time in plot to go back

>>29967146
>>29967130
>>29967067
>>29967074
>>29967085

(Gentlemen: My sincerest apologies - I've found that I'm more exhausted than I'd initially expected. However, I'll be available to continue the session tomorrow, if nothing comes up.

Once again, my apologies for the brevity of the session. I'll pick up from the current option - i.e. Going home, then attempting to contact Cybele - when we next begin.

As always, good night and god bless: You've been a wonderful audience, and I hope to see you again soon. I'll strive to start earlier tomorrow, so as to cover more ground.)

>>29967215

Thanks for runing JokerOP.

>>29967239

(I'm still getting back into the swing of things, I'm afraid. The past few days haven't been very conducive to planning for a session: And while I've tried to prevent the planning from bogging down, we've spent quite a substantial amount of time on a single day - Several chapters worth, in fact.

Hopefully, the next one should make up for it.)

>>29967264

Hey its the biggest op we're doing.

Alot of planning was to be expected.

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>>29967215
>>29967264

It's alright OP, take it easy.

>>29967264
>we've spent quite a substantial amount of time on a single day - Several chapters worth, in fact.

Information is ammunition. If this happens again in the future it wouldn't be a problem- this is how I expect a rp-heavy quest to be.

So Joker can now smite people with his eyes, force them to kill themselves, create an EMP shockwave and read the minds of dieing enemies.
We are getting more and more insane.

>>29967397

The powers we're getting are REALLY, REALLY dark, when you think about it. EXEC_REAP is clearly evil, and EXEC_DICTUM just begs to be abused.

>>29967992

Smite is the best one of the lot. It's our first offensive codeburst, and it's a doozie. the other ones aren't nearly as good.

>>29966936
>>29967018

That is a lot of spells. They're not immediately useful, and I can't see us relying heavily on Codebursts in a fight. Most of them are about as deadly as damp squibs, except for Disrupt.

>>29967992

Reap is incredibly useful. We kill someone, we ask him where the rest of his group is.

>>29967992
I can't wait until we encounter Rust Kaiser again.

>"RED JOKER COMMANDS YOU: DIE."

>>29969968
Wait, aren't we hijacking the armor?

How about:
"Overclock" or "Logout"

>>29969968

We only can give one-word orders. I do like the idea of just shouting:

> "DIE."

>>29970216
Not an order I'd let us get away with. How about "Freeze" while we charge up the Crisis Arm?

>>29970292
>"Weep"

I say we should get around to upgrading the Hellions and researching their weaponry, instead of blowing energy from the Hollow Sun on player essence conversion. The last time we ever did anything with them was researching Virtue-class Hellions, and we haven't really touched the Red Comet yet. Just think of what those fully pimped-out Hellions could do once we've got a good 6-7 upgrades in.

>yfw we send out the massively-upgraded Hellions against Kraken and his Corrector army

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>>29971142
>yfw we send out the massively-upgraded Hellions against Kraken and his Corrector army

It sounds delightful.

>>29970071
>Commanding Rust Kaiser to Overclock

Oh yeah, that doesn't sound like it could go HORRIBLY wrong.

>>29970292
Why not? It fits the criteria. A single word command which they must then obey. Unless they can break out of it, they will try to end their own life in the most efficient way possible.

But yeah, I'm really liking the idea of EXEC_DICTUM. So many potential applications

>DIE
>STOP
>SUBMIT
>OBEY
>FLEE
>DISARM

>>29971496

>DIE
Unlikely to work and if it does, it'll be like Death spells in JRPGs - work on the mooks, useless against proper threats.

>STOP
Good catch all, explicit and even if there's wiggle room, stopping anything in the middle of combat is likely to fuck someone up.

>SUBMIT
To what? To whom? If you're trying to get them to obey...

>OBEY
...there's no way this code will let us set up what amounts to an infinite loop.

>FLEE
Another good, catch all. Even if the duration is short as hell, just turning your back on the Red Joker is a bad idea.

>DISARM
And then they disarm you. Nah, not a good one.

We're best treating these like wish spells. Make useful, uncomplicated commands that even if they're interpreted differently will still benefit us. In this case, things that a target can only do to themselves.

To whit:

>SLIP
>LOOK
>WEEP
>FORGET
>WAVER
>SPASM
>DANCE
>DANCE
>DANCE

>>29971697
>To what?
Gravity Cannon, for example.

>...there's no way this code will let us set up what amounts to an infinite loop.
You say it when someone wavers. Like, you are commanding a squad and someone wants to disobey.

"PURGE"
I wonder what that would do.

>>29971697
>DANCE
>GROOVE
>RHYME
oh god the potential is infinite

>>29971838

Ah, using it on allies. Interesting.

>>29971986

Oh hey, yeah.

>RALLY
>RETREAT
>DUCK

It also lessens the risk of the damn thing being reinterpreted, so you can get away with stuff like,

>SUPPORT
>HEAL
>DEFEND
etc.

>>29972270
>>RETREAT
Very useful for Iron Ogre.

>>29972404
Oh god, I don't know why but typing this reminded me of Shrek.
Shrek is love. Shrek is life. Why is that copypasta stuck in my head?

Anyone, does anyone else think that we might at some point depend on the Hollow Sun's Hellion army?

>>29971697
>FORGET

And thus, the Red Joker became a memory eating nightmare.

>>29971697
I dunno.

From the description, it seems to be a single word of absolute authority. Assuming the target has a lower system access than we do, I can't see the DIE and OBEY commands not working. They're probably limited duration, is all. Obviously with DIE it doesn't really matter because they would probably try to end their own life in the most efficient way possible, which isn't hard, but with OBEY, you might only get a few seconds to command them further, and it might carry harder limits than EXEC_DICTUM. IE, if somebody has been given the OBEY command, they still basically work as they did before, but it forces them to recognize Red Joker as their superior for a short time. If a superior tells you to kill yourself, you probably won't do it.

>>29971697
Oh, I have another few good ideas.

>FEAR
>SLEEP
>SUFFER

And one which we should use on the Tri-Stars at the next available opportunity:

>SURVIVE

>>29972630
>Survive
It's Code Geass all over again.

>>29972759
JQOP gave us a geass, what the hell were you expecting?

It's gonna be fun.

Guys, come on. It's obvious what book he wrote. The book about the red world that we borrowed early on in the quest.

>>29972872
>The book about the red world that we borrowed early on in the quest.
Woah, what?

>>29972872

Requesting the slowpoke screencap.

>>29972872
Yeah, The City in the City.

That one was really obvious.

>>29972872

Yeah, uh, we already figured that out mate. Here:

>>29964945

Well guys, next time we get the Emulator Chip in the hollow sun.

Period. Its clearly codeburst related, and we just got a holy shit upgrade on our codeburst side

>>29971142
>>29971347

Hellion research also has the added benefit of unlocking other research paths as well.

Since we just multiclassed wizard, anyone in favor of seeing if we can teach the Tri-Stars any spells? Worth a try at least.

Speaking of the Tri-Stars, anyone in favor of handing off the Immolator to one of them after this clusterfuck resolves itself?

>>29974556
>Speaking of the Tri-Stars, anyone in favor of handing off the Immolator to one of them after this clusterfuck resolves itself?

No.
..... maybe.

Here's what I'd like to do:
Research Audito Arrays.
bring Cyebele a master node - the least we can do, even if we don't agree with her motives, is give her a phone.
Make more Void Anchors, and instruct the tristars to plant them when they get kills - we NEED to up our intake.
Get our Codeburst Artifact from the HS.

Let the tristars get upgrades of their own now and then - if they're contributing to essence income, they should be able to use it, and we may just be able to break death flags.

Then: Start further research, and toggle essence core production to Low - we need to start building up a stockpile for when we finally pull the trigger. (the essence/core eject one in particular is hilariously amazing because it denies kills)

And then stage 3: Personal upgrades.
Heavy Fusion Cell research, 2 talons, two heavy fusion cells, and maybe lucifer bits.
This lets us enter the battlefield with THREE heavy weapons, two of which are pre-primed no booster cost graviton cannons.
Salt and pepper immobile enemies with no-hands-needed missiles and offensive Bits.
If things get serious, we eject and start fighting 'normally'

>>29972596
>>29972630
>>29972759
You've missed the fact that it's a MOMENTARY command. It'll last a few seconds, at most. "Die" and "Obey" aren't very good, since the first is something no one we encounter would ever do willingly, meaning they'll resist the fuck out of it, and the second won't last long enough for us to articulate a useful command.

>>29975693
>and the second won't last long enough for us to articulate a useful command.
It's enough to tell someone to get into the chopper instead of waiting for his buddy.

>>29975781
Heh, that might work.

>>29974795
Re: Cybele: I'd rather not actually. There's probably a maximum range on the audito comms system, and if there is she's certainly past it since when her moon moves far enough Red Joker gets logged out of the game entirely.

We don't want to place Void Anchors willy-nilly, we'll want to place them in areas that will hurt the Smilers and where they don't overlap. Remember that they destroy stages over time.

Lastly, you're drastically overestimating how powerful the Graviton Cannon is.

>>29976025
>Lastly, you're drastically overestimating how powerful the Graviton Cannon is.

Maybe. Lets say we carry two into battle, though - we can use the gravity sphere to keep people from moving while we hit them with other weapons.

talon makes em recharge faster, and we carry twice as many of them.

I don't care about how powerful or damaging it is - the real utility is in using the sphere to lock people down in one spot with repeat shots while other guns bring the pain

>>29977719
I don't think the Talon lets us carry more of them, just start with one ready to go. Also, it didn't shut down Asura for an appreciable length of time. There ARE situations where it will be useful, but not much in Player battles near our level.

Besides, in this next mission we're going in with a huge group of people, some of them are going to want the Graviga Gun.

>>29978011

Two Light in holsters + 1 heavy on back
+1 talon on arm. Potentially +2.

Gotta keep positioning in mind.

That's potentially -three- heavy weapons, only two of which we can use at any time.

>>29978660
Problem is that a Talon locks down that arm entirely, uses the charging element and you can't hold anything in the hand. So no Tau Gun, no Sinistral if the Talon's on the left arm, no Crisis Arm or Exec_Consume if it's on the right. Have to ditch both Talons if you want to use the heavy weapon strapped to your back.

Completely not worth it.

>>29978797

That's the part you're missing, actually. It only locks the arm down while a weapon is attached.

All those problems you just cited? They go away if you jettison the gun, or don't have one equipped.

Attention People!

I just finished an in-depth review of the hollow sun's options

http://pastebin.com/v0WcMF0K

I was bored, sue me. Let me know what you think

>>29978893
A fair point, but I don't think the ROI would be worth 20 units of Hollow Sun energy. It be good for a quick Revolve Bazooka attack before switching to the main guns.

>>29978978
Quick note, you're wrong about the auditio array. Building the Dominion will destroy the Hollow Sun, so it's still a one shot option.

>>29979100

10 points, actually. Its -cheap-.

>>29979100
>Quick note, you're wrong about the auditio array. Building the Dominion will destroy the Hollow Sun, so it's still a one shot option.

I don't think so. Last I remember it came up, it was something about 'permanently leeching energies from multiple locations to fuel its exorbiantly expensive cost, being an artifact tank'.
Little bit different than blowing up the sun.

Again, though - having enough essence income means we can start building the dominion slowly instead of the all-at-once default method.

>>29978978
I'd kick the Hellion Launcher up to a four or five. It'd be a primary weapon with variable ammo types. HE, shock rounds, acid rounds, etc. Very useful.

The Dirge Caster is very important as well, because it lets us both disable target locks on ourselves and prevent enemy communication and coordination. It means, if say someone (Kraken) is directing Corrector swarms at us, we can play the dirge and break their formations. And if we ever corner Pazuzu, this could prevent him from calling for help.

Capa will probably drain a lot of the Assault Shroud material. Muleta is better because it might increase the shroud's energy resistance at last.

Also you've read the bit upgrades wrong, they're all replacements. It's not "Add Hellion AI to Interceptors" it's "replace current Interceptor system with a kind of Interceptor that has a built-in AI". Also the interceptors have never been useful, just ignore outright.

I'd also say the Argus Bits are the most important upgrade for the Red Comet, remember that we killed Bardiel because we blinded him.

>>29979180
For both arms, he means.

>>29979212
> -And something else, too. A final project, one that will most assuredly drain the very last ergs of energy from the Hollow Sun, that will leech all power from the Red World around it.
The words "final" looms large.

>>29979429
>Also you've read the bit upgrades wrong, they're all replacements. It's not "Add Hellion AI to Interceptors" it's "replace current Interceptor system with a kind of Interceptor that has a built-in AI". Also the interceptors have never been useful, just ignore outright.

No, I get that part. It straight up replaces what we have with a hellion version: instead of launching rifle bits, we launch hellion bits.

The specific part i don't think i enuncianted clearly enough was the reason the lucifer bits are superior:
As Artifacts, that means they have Artifact Foundry Tweaks. Who cares if they don't come with hellion autonomous ai? we add that in later.

with 20% cost for all interceptor options, might as well go for the best one.

I think you're getting confused about my confusion - joker op did hint offhand that we weren't able to make custom interceptor loadouts. It was a oneliner ending in 'yet'.

The way to get that upgrade is either leveling up the interceptor ability, or purchasing other alternative bits - right now we only have one option to put there anyway.

>>29979665
The Lucifer Bits probably won't come with all the Foundry modifications. They're just built using the technology that goes into the Hellions. The modified bits have an actual AI in them.

Still, the Interceptors haven't done us much good. I'd rather spend the charge on things that will.

>>29979832
>The Lucifer Bits probably won't come with all the Foundry modifications. They're just built using the technology that goes into the Hellions. The modified bits have an actual AI in them.

Right, that's what i'm saying. If the lucifer bits are made with hellion tech, then either they come with hellion ai, or there's a further upgrade/foundry project to code one for it.

>Still, the Interceptors haven't done us much good. I'd rather spend the charge on things that will.
That part we agree on though. I'm just saying that of the bit options, the lucifer bits are the best

>>29978978
You know, I think getting the Hellion upgrades will unlock stuff in the Foundry. We've been talking about the Auditio comms, but why wouldn't the reactive plating make armor upgrades available?

>>29980217

Hum. That's a good point, and something i didn't consider. There's a LOT of tech we haven't seen.
Researching the Virtue got us a slew of ecm and comms related upgrades, after all

>>29978978
The Hollow Sun only came into existence a little while ago. It replaced the Spire. It was damaged by Pazuzu attacking it, and then doing a mass teleport retreat that carved out a chunk of it.

What'll probably happen when we fire the Hollow Sun is that it'll open up. When that happens the structure will start to decay, since the things inside are not sufficiently solid. That's why the Dominion has to be a rush job, since it'll be built as the Hollow Sun decays, so why not drain everything in the area to make something really big. Even then the Dominion will decay over time.

Also the shields are very good, it's an entirely separate HP bar for the Hellions. Turns them into Protoss: Limited HP, regenerating shields.

>>29980217
>You know, I think getting the Hellion upgrades will unlock stuff in the Foundry. We've been talking about the Auditio comms, but why wouldn't the reactive plating make armor upgrades available?
>>29979429
>Capa will probably drain a lot of the Assault Shroud material. Muleta is better because it might increase the shroud's energy resistance at last.

Hum. Reactive plating theory being applied to one of the most reactive artifacts around?

Still. 35% HS cost. 15% for the research, 20% ish for the tweak it would unlock

>>29980779
>Also the shields are very good, it's an entirely separate HP bar for the Hellions. Turns them into Protoss: Limited HP, regenerating shields.

I kind of want to see what would happen if we equip our Virtues with a Helios Array.
More firepower!

Also, for what its worth, there are some artifacts here we should go back and make more of

http://pastebin.com/7imTDxQ0
e) CORTEX REGULATOR:

This helmet modification takes the form of a drop-down visor, deploying over the user's ocular sensors. In addition, it features a retractable 'crusher' - A mouthpiece - that locks in place when in use. The Regulator seems to consists of a hyperdense material, one that is oddly resistant to surface scans.

c) IONIC AMPLIFIER:

A complex network of capacitors, diodes and inductive modules - complete with arm-mounted dischargers - within a set of gauntlets, greaves and back armor, the efficiency of Ionic Amplification Array seems directly related to the user's capacity to generate and control energy.

>the efficiency of Ionic Amplification Array seems directly related to the user's capacity to generate and control energy.

>>29980779
I think you've got it. We're the Protoss: Super high tech, very expensive. Smilers are the Zerg, organic base, very cheap (spread creep), some superheavies. Sterling Industries is Terran, they're the middle faction with some shockingly effective special abilities.

Of course, if we research Garm we might be able to make Siege Tanks. Or maybe that's what the Siegebreaker Chassis is for?

>>29980868
We really don't need those. The only energy generation we do is through the Tempest Crash, and the Regulator would get in the way of the Carnifex.

>>29980868
We gave that stuff to tyrian and volt, maybe we can advise them on how to evolve better and not die horribly.

>>29981052

oh duh. Weren't those part of the upgrades we handed out to the tristars?

>>29981069
Yeah, that's why we don't have them. We also gave the Apex Blade to Bishamon.

>>29980805
Isn't that the Choir Beacon? The Helios Array sounds like an adaption.

Speaking of armory upgrades and such: the holophusikon got destroyed, but volt used to manage most of its systems and armory. Since we put him in charge of the hollow sun maybe we could have volt try to replicate stuff like the siege perilous so we could have more mobility and control.

>>29981312
You mean Tyrian, right? Tyrian is the tech guy. Volt was the damage dealer.

We should still use him in his last week of life. Have him go recruiting, or try to track down rumors about the Smilers, or other secret stuff.

>>29981536
>We should still use him in his last week of life. Have him go recruiting, or try to track down rumors about the Smilers, or other secret stuff.

Fuck that! break the death flag

>>29981605
We have to wait until the cultural festival for that. Maybe powering him up can preemptively break the flag, but nothing in the Hollow Sun really matches him. We need another way to do it.

>>29981605
I agree we need to keep the tri-stars alive, we need allies ones we can trust.

>>29981674
well it worked on bishamon!

>>29981605
Do you have a suggestion on how to do that?

>>29981721
That's what I mean. There was an obvious match for Bishamon's abilities in the armory. Nothing like that (except the Amplifiers) for Regios.

Maybe giving him control of Red Comet and telling him to grab people and GTFO could do it. Still, we've gone a long time without major character death. OP has to itching to whack someone.

>>29981862

Well, it was implied that the black joker was coming for im.

>>29981165

No, its one of the Hive Assault Solutions we paid for.

Hasn't made its way to the armory yet.

Basically it sucks power from one player, but amplifies nearby hellion weaponry: Primed stuff is better, and nearby weapons can be fired unprimed.
One guy in the fireteams sucks it up, and everyone gets FIREPOWER.

Seems like a logical thing to throw on our command units.

>>29982097
Oh. Well then he's fucked.

>>29982190
I think he means "Isn't the Choir Beacon going to have the same effect? The array sounds like an adaption of the Choir Beacon".

Okay, what are the odds of running into Enfer again? He needs killing. Cool guy, but he's a mad bomber who gets off on massive collateral damage.

Sort of like Joker, but we don't go out of our way to maximize it.

>>29982743

last i recall, enfer got thrown to the wolves by the smilers. They cut him off and expected him to die.

He could probably make an ally attaking them, actually. We just need money.

>>29983251
He's on board with their goals though. He's not out for revenge, he's going to wait for them to win.

Hell, he'd sign up again if they asked.

>>29983412

maybe. He said he wouldn't betray a client's trust while he ws on the job - but i doubt he'd work with htem again after what they did to him.

that betrayal - its something we can use as a wedge to get him on our side.

Also, there's the question of whether he takes essence, artifacts, or cash for his payments.

>>29983476
He was willing to die for them, for their ideology. He's not someone we can convince to our side. And he's not someone we WANT on our side. He's amusing as a character, but he's a real piece of work.

>>29978978
>http://pastebin.com/v0WcMF0K

Some interesting ideas in there. I hope JokerOp wakes up, he might have some things to say about it.

>>29983599

No, i think he's just a professional. He WASN'T willing to just instantly turn on the smilers when they betrayed him - he's still a merc with an honor system.

But now that that job's done?

>>29983869
Check again. He's still waiting for the Departure, whatever that is. He's not willing to take up arms against them because he's a believer.

>>29983979

is taht like The Convergence?

>>29984655
Probably a different name for the same event.

That or we've got three or four endgame gambits posed to go off all at once.

>>29984672

Are we continuing from this thread, or are we opening up a new one? How long is it until autosage, anyway?

>>29987167
Well, OP said an hour ago that he'd start in an hour. Given the usual pattern, you need to add half that again and root the whole thing before multiplying by the lunar phase. Add 20 minutes and it means he'll start sometime eventually.

That said it's probably worth starting a new thread, since the bump limit on /tg/ is 300 posts. My $0.02.

>>29987226
A bit late, but new thread at >>29987287

>>29980957
>We really don't need those. The only energy generation we do is through the Tempest Crash, and the Regulator would get in the way of the Carnifex.
Didn't you comment a while ago about us having too many energy weapons?