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>>34201915

H-

No, no. That won't do at all.

Let's try this scenario...?

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>>34201940

Context is important.

You are ANON, and you've just told your friends everything.

--------------------------

It's late. So late it's almost early - The candelabra overhead shedding a numinous golden radiance, a radiance that echoes the first rays of dawn creeping across the horizon.

It's the dawn of a new day, and - As the echoes of your last words fade away to nothing - you feel an immense peace; A lightening of the invisible burden you didn't even notice - Not until it was gone.

And it *is* gone. All the secrecy, all the lies...It's finally and definently over. It's all in the open now.

It's just the three of them - Kazuya, Natsumi, Yui - your best and closest friends, the only ones you can trust in the world. The aftermath of the revelation lingers in the space of the abandoned lounge - One of the many rooms in the guest dormitory, the beginnings of a golden glow limning the stained glass.

"...So that's how it is," Kazuya says. At some point, he's risen to pace, to work off the nervous energy in his form; Now, he stands in profile next to a window, silhouetted by the light. There's a symbolism in that, somehow - A distant figure limned in gold, his hands in his pockets; Brow furrowed as he exhales, slowly, his eyes half-closed...Breathing out the tension that's wound through him all this time, like a mainspring.

He smiles - A wry smile, a smile that's honest and somehow sheepish at once.

"-That's why we couldn't tell you," he continues, shoulders lifting in a slight shrug - His gaze resting on Natsumi, apology in his words. "We...Anon and I - We weren't sure how you'd take it."

(Continued)

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>>34202094

He glances in your direction, sidelong - It's hard to connect Kazuya's inherent warmth, his *humanity*, to the cold, aloof Chrome Cypher...But then, everyone has a different side to them. If nothing else, that's something you've come to learn through bitter experience.

Yui gives your hand a slight squeeze. Her eyes are soft, her fingers cool against yours; She's listened to the entire thing without flinching, the catalog of horror and destruction and the long, long nightmare that followed. She's held your hand the entire time - Even when you told her about Cybele, about everything that came before and everything that might follow.

That betrayal must have hurt her, most of all - Her free hand pressed to her heart, a spasm of pain flickering across her features, eyes moist with unshed tears - but she *understands*. More, she's forgiven you.

"...It's not your fault, Anon-kun," she murmurs, her voice low, her eyes downcast - Until her gaze meets yours, and the pure and simple love in them - That uncomplicated, unconditional affection - is enough to make a new warmth tingle beneath your skin.

"S-so you're saying..." Natsumi bites her lip, in agitation - "...*That's* what you've been keeping from us? From me? All this time-" Her sleek throat works, as she swallows - Choking back tears, a growing redness to her eyes. "...The two of you - You're such *idiots*..."

She presses her hands to her mouth, her shoulders trembling, muffling her words.

"...Why didn't you *tell* me?"

Kazuya coughs, lightly - Scratching at his cheek, looking uncomfortable, now - Shooting you a brief, imploring look.

"Uh, Joker...Maybe you should handle this...?"

[ ] To Natsumi: "-We were trying to protect you, Natsumi."
[ ] To Natsumi: "Natsumi...You have to understand, we didn't think that you'd *believe* us."
[ ] To Kazuya: "...I'm not sure I know what to say."
[ ] To Yui: "-I'm sorry. So, so sorry."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE [C]ONTROL

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>>34202094
I am confused.

>>34202094
>And it *is* gone. All the secrecy, all the lies...It's finally and definently over. It's all in the open now.
>It's just the three of them - Kazuya, Natsumi, Yui - your best and closest friends, the only ones you can trust in the world.

Hi OP.Seems like we get one of the better endings ?

>>34202242

What in actual fuck is happening?

>>34202274
>Hi OP.Seems like we get one of the better endings ?
It is not a good ending, Near.
>>34202286
I think I know why Utopia was so amused last time.

>>34202242
"I wish this were real."

Ruler told us when he introduced himself: He can give people what they want.

>>34202242
"Is this your idea of a joker, Utopia?"

>>34202242
"Something is very wrong here."

>>34202302
>"I wish this were real."

It felt good to read what could have been. Let's just leave it at that.

>>34202317
>>34202304
>>34202302

The scenario isn't working? What do I-

> "I wish this were real."

You wince, as the beginnings of a migraine pulse at the edges of your vision. The pain is sharp, stinging - Your vision tunneling, as you taste copper in your mouth.

There are strange, alien thoughts in your mind - Thoughts that are not your own. Hurting you, somehow...Making your vision flash red at the edges, as you reach up to squeeze the pain away-

> why Utopia was so amused last time.

-are you? How are you in here?

> "Is this your idea of a joke, Utopia?"

"What?"

Kazuya frowns, his expression quizzical. He turns, looking over his shoulder-

"Joker...We're the only ones her-"

> "Something is very wrong here."

Something is not right.

"Something is very wrong here," you say, and the words are not your own. Then, again:

"*Something* is *wrong* here."

"Anon-kun...*Anon*?" Yui leans forward, towards you - A flicker of concern in her eyes, a low gasp of worry coaxed from her lips. "Anon, you're *bleeding*-"

(Continued)

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>>34202401

"Oh, no-" Kazuya's at your side, now - "...Another fit," he mutters, his voice echoing as if from a great distance - Cloudy, like echoes at the end of a deep, dark tunnel. "Natsumi, get Mio here-"

-hurting me. His thoughts are hurting me-

"Anon-kun, *hang on*-" Your limbs go numb, your head number. Distantly, you hear frantic footsteps - The door slamming. And then there's Mio; An angel with golden hair, her eyes wide with panic.

"Oniichan - *Please* don't go. Please-"

-is...chaos. So many voices, so many people-

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE-

YOU-

YOU HAVE [CONTROL]

>>34202469
"I'd rather sit around in Hell than be stuck in this artificial Utopia."

>>34202469
"Yui, do you remember? I broke your heart when I said there was someone else. We hardly know each other."

"Kazuya. You're terrible with secrets, no way you'd have kept this one so long. Besides, Chrome Cypher is SILVER, not GOLD, and he needs a voice scrambler to keep his emotions in check."

"Natsumi, you're a crybaby. You'd have started crying and run to the bathroom at the very start."

"Mio, if we're related we're in trouble."

>>34202469
"You know, this scenario would be more credible if everyone was killing each other."

Try to access the Red.

>>34202469
"This is no different from a dream, you fool. Once you take a second look around you, the inconsistencies become apparent."

>>34202553
This

>>34202554
Hopefully that won't have bad results. Utopia might have anticipated us doing this.

>>34202469
"No, I do NOT have control here!"

>OP's name changing the capitalisation and the trip.
Neat.

Looking at the spoiler text, this really doesn't sound like Ruler except for the two lines in what should be the Hellion window. He should be supercilious and conniving, not confused and uncertain. Joker could be far enough removed from his experience to throw him off his game, but it seems too early for that.

>>34201915
Forgot to ask: How was your week, OP, crash notwithstanding? Have fun with Knight Quest?

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>>34202576

He shouldn't be able to *remember*-

>>34202553

Your head is pounding. You push away the hands pawing at you, ignoring the red threads pulsing at the very edges of your vision.

> "Yui, do you remember? I broke your heart when I said there was someone else. We hardly know each other."

She flinches, as if every one of your words cuts into her.

"Don't *say* that-" Yui manages - Her voice trembling, right on the edge of tears. "-Anon, don't say such awful things-"

> "Kazuya. You're terrible with secrets, no way you'd have kept this one so long. Besides, Chrome Cypher is SILVER, not GOLD, and he needs a voice scrambler to keep his emotions in check."

"-You're delirious," he says, his lips setting in a thin line - "Joker, you don't know what you're *saying*-"

> "Natsumi, you're a crybaby. You'd have started crying and run to the bathroom at the very start."

Natsumi just smiles, sadly. Her hands are in her lap - She looks down, bowing her head without a word.

> "Mio, if we're related we're in trouble."

The world seems to splinter at the edges. To crack - As fragile as a backdrop of spun glass.

"No, I do NOT have control here!"

Your bellow echoes in the room's confines. The anger wakes you up a little, sharp pains shooting through your form - You get one hand on the edge of the table, pulling yourself up. The fires within you bank higher, as you bite your lip so hard you taste the blood.

>>34202511

I can't-

Give him what he *wants*.

> Try to access the Red.

Everything-

goes-

to-

pieces-

---------------------------------

STAGE:

STAG- Don't bother. The scenario, as they say, is what counts.

But I don't want t-

It is the end of the world.

(Continued)

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>>34202655

(Yep, I'd say things went fairly well.)

>>34202729

Overhead, the skies burn red - The black moon a weeping, bloody eye at the heart of a bruised sky. Before you, a vast wasteland of jet cinders and blackened material, bulbous, shattered, crusted. The sky is domed, full of rushing, splintered cloud - The black landscape cracked open into a stinking abyss.

A pit of skulls.

Good. More.

Billions of skulls, every single one tainted by the echo of its own death-scream. Buildings before you, towers and spires and cyclopean citadels, all ruined, all made of solidified night. A murdered city - Stained by unimaginable ages spent in consuming darkness.

Better.

And a howling, a howling in the distance, the air heavy with ash and decay...

-You stand at the very peak of a vast mountain, all but drowned in a sea of heaving flesh. As far as the horizon, the city brims over with warped life, with things born from the black slime that boils out of the deepest, darkest chasms. Armies of them, creatures wrought from the raw stuff of nightmare, a pulsating layer of filth that floods the world like a foul ocean.

Before you - A shape, titanic, winged. The face a wet maw surrounded by mandibles, dozens of eyes blinking in the hideous head, some fell amalgam of flesh and metal and wrath. Every eye is fixed on you - The last thing left alive in the ruins of creation, the wind whipping against your grey armour-

...Your

-grey-

-armour..

(Continued)

>>34202655
Perhaps it's his Hyades?

>>34202778

A name, at the very corner of your vision:

FROST CESTUS

The vast, tortured creature - The *demon*'s - begins to laugh, a revolting, wet, guttural sound issuing forth.

JOKER

A scream, a wail-

Joker

A raw shriek of despair-

Joker

JokerjokerjokerJOkEr-

It rises, from a web of black granite spurs - From the concrete throne, witchfire ambling across the creature's limbs. It is a mutating horror, swathed in flayed skin; Great hooves crushing skulls underfoot, giant horns topping the wedge-shaped skull, a mouth full of ragged teeth inside a mouth full of ragged teeth, inside-

It looks at you, and it *hates.*

And around you, all around this plateau-turned-arena, a tide of living flesh squirms and convulses and writhes on every side. You push yourself to your feet - One arm grossly deformed, yet achingly familiar at once; Sheathed in a great, tank-busting fist. The dirty brown cloth that swathes your pitted form whips in the breeze, your joints creaking as you flick through a series of lens, finding optics that still work, that aren't marred by the howling winds.

HP: 100%
Meter: 0%
Cartridges: N/A

YOU HAVE [CONTRO]L

>>34202854
"Ah, nostalgia."
Well, fuck this thing up.
Break its legs.

>>34202854
guns please come back baby we can work it out.
Uh, shit. We either run or try to hit the skull parts of it with our tankbusting fist. Fleshy bits will probably shrug off the damage.

>>34202854
"Man, you could've at least been a bit more original about this, Ruler."

Punch the thing in its ugly face.

>>34202854
Do not hesitate. This is a fake world where rules are distorted to follow the wishes of the Master, but he is not omnipotent. Ignore the rules and limitations and crush this stupid realm.
"Is this your idea of Hell? This childish imitation of a low-budged lazy videogame? Don't make me laugh!"
Smash the Demon's face in.

>>34202729
Oh of course, him and his Hyades both.

>>34202854
"Hyades, are you even trying? A million is a statistic, hell is individual, a personalized tragedy. Let me help you recapture it: Recall waking up in an alien world, your Essence struggling to form armor and failing, instead giving shape to flesh and blood. Your stay of death didn't last long, weak and fragile as you were, and all Moratoriums are born to become Hyades. Did you last a day? Weeks? Or mere minutes before you were made into someone's free lunch? The suffering you faced then was nothing compared to what waited for you, of course. What was it like, being remade into what you are now? Tell me. Show me; show HIM."

"Relive Hell, little Hyades."

"Ruler, I can hear every word you say. I'm curious: What does impotence feel like? Please explain your everyday life, there's little difference."

>>34202911
>"Relive Hell, little Hyades."
Have I mentioned I like your thinking? We can't win by playing in the illusions, just like in the manor. If our thoughts hurt, what do her memories feel like?

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The heavy fingers of your right hand - A monstrous limb, lined with green enamel and patient tics of lightning - curls into a fist.

You charge. The fusion reactor at the base of your spine throbs, sputtering to fitful life; Rusted servoes growling, tangled power cords tightening brutally.

It's been a long, long time since you had to do this.

Your legs move. Your joint protest, the unnatural ossified growths shattering and grinding against each other, as you stumble forward - Off-balance, at first - accelerating to a staggering run, then to a *charge*. The links of your upper left-limb lock briefly, too long out of service; And you *force* it to work, overpowering the motors, purple-blue smoke venting from your armour as the distance narrows, as the quasi-humanoid shape surges forward with a sound like screaming, gale-force winds...

-It is *fast*. Deep lacerations open up in your armour, alarms flickering across your field of vision as the ground cracks underfoot-

...As you put everything you have, all the strength you have, into a single driving punch that shatters the sound barrier.

(Continued)

>>34202991

The impact slams into it. Bones break; The thing's carapace crumples inwards. It roars, a terrible sound like a black wind of knives - Blitzing you with a wall of noise, so loud that all your sensors fuzz into blank static. You hurl yourself to the side, tumbling and skidding - Claws of deepest black slash past you, drawing great sparks from the rock, the talons gouging deep furrows in the stone.

When the great, horned blur of smoke and stinking air lashes out at you, you bring your right arm up to block - The titanic force nearly throwing you off your feet. Your boots dig into the stone - You refuse to give anything, even a backward step, to the titanic lie before you.

You reject, you *deny*, and the scythed tail whips across, blurringly fast, and flings you away.

You cross the ground on your back - But your arm comes up, your fingers spreading to reveal the snub-nosed barrel concealed within your fist. The antique loading mechanism *clunks*, green telltales winking to life-

>>34202908

Your words echo in the fuming air. You've seen worst things - You've *done* worst things.

>>34202911

They can *hear* us-

...

He - they're - telling me *things*-

-Finish it.

HP: 82%
METER: 17%
CARTRIDGE: N/A

YOU [HAVE CON]TROL

(SYSTEM: Frost Cestus's attacks are powered by the Cartridge System - When a Cartridge is loaded, he can fire it directl as an ice attack, or use it as 'fuel' for a subsequent manuver. There are three kinds of Catridges, in escalating levels of power:

Brass - 10%
Chrome - 25%
Silver - 35%

Cestus can load any number of Cartridges - But only one 'type' at a time. When activating an attack - Or firing - he discharges *all* stored Cartridges.)

>>34203099
Should we fire a single Brass cartridge now or do we wait for more meter to load Chrome?

>>34203120
Sounds to me like this thing needs some extra OOMPH to take down. A bigger charge is probably necessary

>>34203099
Load Brass cartridge.
Follow up with a punch to the face while it's stunned.

Utilize the blind spot between legs and tail.

>>34203099
What kind of ice are we talking about? Giant spikes or Ice-9 growths?

>>34203099
>CARTRIDGE: N/A
Is this still correct ?

>>34203099
"It's a bit primitive and simple for my liking, but I can still make do even on this stage."
Load the Brass Cartridge, take aim and fire.

>>34203129
I think double Chrome should do it.
Can we survive that long?

Also, OP, I love this system.

>>34203141
It means that we have no cartridge loaded.
Cartridges are created from meter. We can load any amount of a single type and then unleash it either as attack or as physical boost.

(Gentlemen, my sincerest apologies: I had Frost Cestus's movelist available, but it was lost in the crash. I'll need a few minutes to type it back up, from memory.)

>>34203140
I'd like to add that knowing this is very important to strategy.

>>34203141
Since we haven't loaded a cartridge it would be.

>>34203141
We need to spend meter to load cartridges.

>>34203154
Why am I now thinking of Smash Bros movelists?

>>34203151
>Can we survive that long?
We took a single attack in that exchange and blocked a second for 18 damage, gaining 17 meter. Two chrome requires two more like this, so assuming we take four hits and deal two for the required meter we'll lose between 70 and 80 health. Cestus can make it, barely, and one errant crit and it's over.

This is of course an illusion, so I imagine the rules can change at any time. It'll probably happen the second this one dies or seizes an advantage, which is why I recommend trying to break the illusion the way we did the peaceful one.

OP, can we feel anything from the real Joker right now? The Sphere, Cybele's emblem, Midas, guns? How about our surroundings, anything changed?

>>34203181
Mac's the only Smasher with a stockpile, and 4 isn't out yet. Kinda get what you're saying though.

>>34203279
>Midas
>Frost Cestus with Midas arm
Oh god yes.

>>34203279
>OP, can we feel anything from the real Joker right now? The Sphere, Cybele's emblem, Midas, guns? How about our surroundings, anything changed?

Try summoning a weapon or the GARM ?
Imagine or visualise what "isn't" there ?

(Apologies for the delay: Here's the movelist, from memory. Once again, I apologize for the makeshift look of it - I lost the detailed document in the crash.)

http://pastebin.com/ZbaJxwtr

>>34203387
>.ii) Glacier Spike: Frost Cestus strikes a surface, and a great spike of jagged ice erupts forth: This happens near-instantly, creating an instant barrier - Or impaling an unwary target.

Time for a Chrome cartridge, I think. This allows us to impale and thus stun the enemy and then follow up with a punch.

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>>34203387
My God.

>>34203387
Frost Cestus has a nasty moveset. I'm really curious what a conceptual Gold cartridge could do. I'm thinking "Fimbulwinter".

Debuffs=god, so load a Brass and fire a Rime. Follow up with a punch to the center of mass, from the side. Kite it.

>>34203445

>>34203421 here
This also works.
Rimejob him.

>>34203445
Seconding. Buys us room for error.

>>34203460
Would Rime affect the entire corrector or part of it ?

>>34203445
>I'm thinking "Fimbulwinter".
You would.

>>34203135
>>34203144

The autoloader clunks, a single brass cartridge cycling - The sound is achingly familiar, echoing across the hundred years down in the dark. Thought begets deed: Your mind stabs at the firing circuit, and the blast *discharges* - The muzzle erupting in a polar flash, white mist fuming in the boiling air.

The demon is caught mid-leap, one limb glittering with sudden, inexplicable ice - It wails, convulsing in raw distress, falling short; The tumbling mass crashing down a mere meter from you, sprawling-

You bring both hands together overhead, in Satan's own axe-handle, and bring them down in a crushing blow.

Chips of ice splinter into the air - Crystal shrapnel, zinging off your armour, shards as brilliant as glass. The demon's limb *snaps*, like a twig; The severed stump red and raw and weeping as it lurches round, lashing out. You stagger back just in time, the four points of it's talons making a shrieking sound as they drag backwards across the sides of your armour, leaving bare scratches in the pitted metal.

It doesn't stop you. Nothing stops you. Strange how quickly the old instincts return; you drive a brutal kick into the thing's side, hard enough to break ribs - Leading with your right hand, always the right, you *stab*, fingers stiffened into spears-

Something ruptures. Flesh warps and tears, vile ichor spewing forth, flashing to black, dirty ice on your armour - You don't stop, wrenching and ripping and pulling-

He's hurting me-

Utopia? Utopia?

He's HURTING me-

HP: 75%
METER: 22%
CARTRIDGE: EMPTY

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>34203471
Flesh can freeze too, you know.

>>34203471

(Part of it. It's not actually a wide area of effect - One limb, maybe two, if you're fortunate.)

>>34203503
Load another bronze cartridge and Freezing Buster while it's down.

>>34203503
Dual Brass freezing buster?

"Are you sure that you want to work for him, girl? Shouldn't it be the other way around?"

>>34203503
I'm feeling reminded of Nanoha, except that the cartridge system here makes actual sense.

>>34203471
Depends on how Mechawarrior the system is. Hit a limb and lower performance of that limb. Hit the torso/head and overall efficiency decreases. Ice is traditionally one of the splash elements, but it's described as a beam so it probably only affects what it directly hits.

>>34203503
One more hit, then load a Chrome and Glacier Spike the monster.

"He knows. He doesn't care. You've watched him as long as you can remember, know him better than anyone. You know what he really thinks about you.

"If you love him, you can save him. But he won't miss you."

>>34203503
Aim for the limbs, try to bring to the ground, even if for a moment. Load a Brass Cartridge and smash it's head in with Freezing Buster.
>"You are alone, little Hyades. Used and abandoned."

>>34203506
You had absolutely no clue what I was asking about.

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>>34203495
Well hey, what do you suggest calling an all-consuming storm?

And it makes sense if you look at it: A gold cartridge would cost 50 meter, in keeping with the 15 point progression, meaning you could load multiple at 100. It would probably have a single ability to match the declining number of skills available per tier.

>>34203577
Chill out, Near. That isn't very... ice.

>>34203632
>And it makes sense if you look at it: A gold cartridge would cost 50 meter, in keeping with the 15 point progression, meaning you could load multiple at 100. It would probably have a single ability to match the declining number of skills available per tier.
OP, does any action unleash the cartridges?
Or can we decide to keep them loaded but inactive?

>>34203644

(You can keep them loaded but inactive, but when you use a special attack you fire them all.)

(Also, you can stack - for example - as many brass cartridges as you like, but you can't load a chrome cartridge while you have brass cartridges 'chambered'.)

>>34203662
>200% Antipode
Lava becomes a nice bath.

>>34203632
>Well hey, what do you suggest calling an all-consuming storm?
Sharknado
>Chill out, Near. That isn't very... ice.
Understood

>>34203530
>>34203533

No-

> "Are you sure that you want to work for him, girl? Shouldn't it be the other way around?"

It's scrabbling away from you, now - Hissing, spitting - armoured thorax half-crushed, carapace crumpled from your blows. Like an image painted on glass, the visions on hell on all sides shatter and fall, in great, glowing shards. The crushing fingers of your right hand close around the demon's skull - The great pistons in your fist compacting, retracting...

-And then releasing, with explosive force. White vapor vents from the sides - The ground cracks, as the misshapen creature's skull crumples inwards. Two brass cartridges means that the *force* of the blow judders up your arm, the recoil compensators - Perfectly remembered - whirring with feedback-

It doesn't die. It refuses to die.

> "He knows. He doesn't care. You've watched him as long as you can remember, know him better than anyone. You know what he really thinks about you.
> "If you love him, you can save him. But he won't miss you."

But-

-He's all I *have*-

The thing is three times your size. You can't begin to imagine how much it weighs.

You lift it with one hand, by the throat-

And then you begin to *squeeze*.

The sky falls dark. The Correctors melt away, as the waves of an acid ocean lash against a beach of black sand. But your grips remains, like the jaws of a vice - Mauling your target, your world narrowing to the *presence* you've trapped, even as reality boils and warps around you-

-pia, help-

------------------------------

-switch-

------------------------------

"Let *go* of her-" Kazuya's voice is raw with anger - He's wrenching at your arms, yelling at you, as your hands vise around Mio's throat. You're squeezing, squeezing; Her fingers clawing at you, her eyes begging, pleading, asking

Whywhywhy-

"For the love of god-"

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>34203680
Extra cartridges boost Antipode's range, not power.

>>34203700
Kiss Mio and break the Hyades's neck.

"He's not all you had. Remember that, and go back to sleep."

>>34203700
"Utopia, you are an utter coward. You have made an enemy."
What do we do?
It's an illusion, but the idea of killing Mio is kinda nasty.
Do we have any way to make it quick, at least? Break her neck?

>>34203742
Pretty sure this is the real world. Probably.

>>34203756
To test that, we can try to access the Red or feel for any of our relics.

>>34203756
I'm pretty sure that this is Utopia's scenario, while the others have been her ideas.

>>34203770
Yeah, we should do this immediately, then snap her neck if we still aren't in the real world.

>>34203780
"Let me quickly check my phone while I'm crushing your throat."

>>34203700
Check for the relics, check the surroundings. The moments an inconsistency becomes obvious, snap her neck.

>>34203770
Preferably by focussing on the Nihl, and not releasing one hand from not-Mio's neck so she can het away.

The question is, how much access to our memory do the Hyades and Utopia have ?

>>34203696
That movie was execrable. I really need to sit down and finish it. http://www.amazon.com/review/R1ASRI3ODO5514

>>34203755
Unfortunately, he can't hear us at all. It's actually quite clever of him, putting her in a situation where we can kill her after all.

He makes me sick. We're going to see him dead, but not ourselves. Maybe we bring him along to fight Kraken, that worked in the past.

>>34203756
It's not. The Hyades was the Corrector. We hurt her when we hurt it. We had our hand around its throat, and when we switched back to the "happy" scenario we found Mio in the same position.

>>34203801
>He makes me sick. We're going to see him dead, but not ourselves. Maybe we bring him along to fight Kraken, that worked in the past.
He deserves the hat treatment.

>-are you? How are you in here?
>-is...chaos. So many voices, so many people-
>They can *hear* us-
>He - they're - telling me *things*-
After Ixion and now the Hyades, I'm starting to wonder if people being able to hear us isn't just a cool meta thing

How long does Harrow last, again?
I would like to permanently mark Utopia Ruler.

>>34203835
He doesn't have a heart. He is controlled by the souls that he absorbed.
That's why he processes essence so quickly.

>>34203835
>inb4 RJ is actually the amalgamation of all the Players that died back in Fissure

>>34203828
Would you really want to wear a Relic made from his Essence?

>>34203845
>How long does Harrow last, again?
Until log out. I wanted to do the same to Ogre.

OP, a small suggestion: Create a pastebin account, and upload future documents as "private". That hides their existence entirely, and even if someone were to access the URL they would not see anything without your account. When the time comes you can set it as public and post the link.

I don't recommend that for your notes and pictures, but you might consider Google Docs or a flashdrive.

>>34203845
Too bad Exec_Reap only works on Players.

>>34203835
>>34203845
>>34203850
What if the Black World is *our* world?
Red Joker is immune to the black goo because he is controlled by souls from the Black World.

>>34203904
>I don't recommend that for your notes and pictures, but you might consider Google Docs or a flashdrive.
I would definitely recommend some cloud system. Probably something with local folders that automatically synchronize.
Google Drive, Dropbox, Onedrive, whatever.

>>34203912
For fuck's sake people you fucking had her. Why would you think it was anything but an illusion, seriously?

>>34203912
[ ] Live
[ ] Absorb her essence

>>34203911
God I hope not. That's one of the factors that killed HGW Seattle. Meta on that level is toxic to quests.

>>34203923
Don't look at me, I thought it was obvious.

>>34203942
Depends on how it's handled, really.

>>34203912
>[x] "Live, Kill, Survive. Kill her before she kills you."

>>34203958
Remember the old mantra:
Step by step.
Let's get out of this like we got out of that Hellhole.
We wouldn't be here if we were capable of giving up.

>>34203742
>>34203755
>>34203780
>>34203786
>>34203795
>>34203798

Your attention wavers - Just a flicker, just for a moment -

It is not your hands that vise around her throat, but your mind. This place is no more real than a dream - But some who dream never awaken again. For the space of a second, she finds a chink in your armour, in your doubt-

...And pulls free.

DIE

It isn't a word. It is a white-hot sword, burning wires of psychic venom wrapped around a monstrous cudgel of mental force that smashes into the back of your skull. You go blind, instantly - No, not blind. Deaf. No, not deaf-

You are falling, falling into the deepest pit - Molten lead pouring into your ears, suffocating all sounds. Black, stinking blood wells out of your mouth, your nostrils, your tear ducts, stabbing pains vicing and wrenching at your guts. You feel your legs buckle beneath you, your fingers snapping off one at a time-

The pain is total. All-consuming. It swells to fill your universe.

A terrible pressure pushes your eyes back into your sockets. You feel them burst, jellied matter dribbling down your cheeks. Claws ram down your throat, your lungs rupturing within you-

The agony is too much, infinite and eternal.

The only way out, the only sane thing to do, the only thing you could ever do is-

[ ] Die

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>34203958
Damn it JQOP.

>>34203980
"Sorry it had to be this way."
Finish her.

>>34203980
[ ] Heal with Cybele's power

>>34203958
You are not sane. You are not limited by what you "could" do.
Win and Survive. Reach out and grab her throat , but do not give her a second chance to escape. Kill her before she kills you.

>>34203958
>[ ] Free
You 'can't' die. Both Cybele and the armor probably wouldn't let you. And you have seen people, like Palladium Rook, survive worse.

>>34203954
I suppose theoretically it's possible for it not to be awful, but every time it's a surprise in any medium it all goes to hell. Look at the Dark Tower. Or rather, don't, because it was awful. If it's built in from the start it's one thing, but if it's not then it goes bad almost immediately.

>>34203974
Not true at all. We gave up on Fuesil.

>>34203980
Throw out an arm, she won't have gone far. This time don't give her the chance to get away, even if most of the voices in your head can't read context.

>>34203980
Call out to Cybele.

She might be inert, but our win in the Hyades games apparently gave her some power back.
And the Hyades powers are what prevents the combat arenas from becoming your enemy.
I bet this illusion is related.

>>34204024
It's pretty decent if it's handled as vaguely as possible. The only example I can think of is Bravely Default, where all the summons are real-world vehicles, and the game accesses the 3DS' player facing camera during the final boss.

>>34204035
Call out to Hellebore instead. We don't want to rouse Cybele at all.

>>34204061
>>34204035
I honestly do not want to deal with either of them right now. Especially not Hellebore.

>>34204084
Joker and the girls...

>>34204039
I think I remember reading that the BD summons were in-universe entities. The face thing was the only implication, and had no actual bearing on the plot. The only reason it worked is that they left it as implication and didn't elaborate in any direction. I don't think that would be the case here, and I desperately don't want to see it in any form.

>>34204090
Let's not start this in any direction.

>>34203980

(Gentlemen, my apologies - I kept messing up the formatting.)

>>34203994
>>34203988
>>34203966
>>34203974
>>34203931
>>34204006

Your hands curl into claws. All that remains is the strength to strangle.

An eternity passes. There are things in the darkness, as you fall into the infinite - Your mouth yelling but making no sound. A noise, in your head - The buzz of static at the end of the programming day. The sound remains for the longest time; A lifetime, it seems.

Buzzing, buzzing, buzzing.

One one thousand.

Small hands, clutching at your forearms.

Two one thousand.

-please please *please*-

Three one thousand.

-don't want to die, i'm sorry, sorry, sorry, don't want to *die*-

Four one thousand.

-om stop no *anyone* why why whyyyyyy-

Snap.

The flicker of a message, sparking and sputtering across the blank screen of your mind. Faint and garbled, like a poorly transmitted signal - Losing cohesion, imploding, a lost signal in the void.

-

(Continued)

>>34204120

Everything goes away.

----------------------------

STAGE: TIR NA NÓG

It's dark. Not pitch-black, but a natural absence of light - Of settings reverted back to factory zero. Beneath you, the floor is bare metal, the armored shutters of the demense silently retracting, rolling back to reveal starlight; Illuminating, for the briefest moment, the place where they meet.

And then the sky darkens to grey, a low whine of fading power hanging in the air. Your hands are before you: Motes of emerald light spiraling upwards from them, the great accumulators hissing faintly as they draw in the light.

Your armored gauntlets flex. The familiar sensation of the Red Joker's armour returns to you - The vanes of your Tempest Scrander cycling, autoreactive talons gouging against the floor. Your fingers are still curled in a throttling grip, locked around empty air...

Before you - Footsteps. Black-buckle shoes and the tap-tap-tap of a cane.

"Well," Utopia Ruler says, with distinct satisfaction - He sweeps his hat in an arc, that settles it back on his mirror-masked head. "...It took you long enough, dear boy." A white-gloved hand cups his pointed chin, as the dandified figure adjusts his waistcoat. His Hyades mark is on the palm of his hand - It glows, briefly, the sigil twisting upon itself, struggling to hold cohesion...

-Utopia mimes blowing a kiss, and pixels of light gust across his open hand, and twist into the air.

"Still - I always knew you had it in you."

He sighs, an affected sound - "Exteunt, dear Inia; When you walk in the valley of the shadow of death-"

"...The call of death is the call of love."

[ ] "-I'm going to kill you, you bastard."
[ ] "You son of a bitch."
[ ] "...Are we done, here?"
[ ] "-You really don't give a damn, do you?"
[ ] "Utopia - Shut up."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>34204256
>[ ] "...Are we done, here?"

>>34204256
"Why?"

>>34204256

(My apologies: The line should be...

> "When you walk in the valley of the shadow, the call of death is a call of love."

>>34204256
>[x] "Are you here to hold up your end of the deal or is was it nulled after your original plan failed?"

>>34204256
>[ ] Free"You owe me. Big time."

If he doesn'agree with that, activate Argus and attack. And yes, he may be a very fiddicult opponent.

>>34204256
"Do you enjoy making enemies?"

>>34204256
>[X] "...Are we done, here?"
>[X] EXEC_DICTUM. "Utopia Ruler, Die"

This has been a long time coming, really. I don't know what effect such a command will have, but we should be ready to shoot if it causes him to try to perform a Joker-assisted suicide.

>>34204310
I don't think it works.
Otherwise I'd dictate him to feel. Because it isn't fun if he doesn't suffer.

>>34204310

Let's not do this. This way, we don't have to fight him.

>>34204310
>>[X] EXEC_DICTUM. "Utopia Ruler, Die"
He likely has a high system access, especially against "mind tricks"like these.

I'd like to point out: He's what we've become with regards to Cybele thanks to certain decisions. The fact that we hate him for it doesn't change that.

>>34204256
My only regret is that he will not be able to understand on any significant level why he's going to die.

"That was clumsy."
>[X] "-You really don't give a damn, do you?"
>[X] "...Are we done, here?"

>>34204275
You know why.

>>34204294
>>34204290
Cool it, both of you. Near, the deal was that he got us into the Diadem in exchange for breaking his contract. He kept his side, and made sure Joker kept his.

>>34204310
Vetoed. It won't work anyway.

>>34204310
Veto
>>34204275
We know exactly why.

>>34204334
Vote withdrawn. He's still an ass****, though.

>>34204351
>censoring yourself
>on 4chan

>>34204351
Did you really just censor yourself on 4chan?

>>34204334
>Cool it, both of you. Near, the deal was that he got us into the Diadem in exchange for breaking his contract. He kept his side, and made sure Joker kept his.
Wasn't the deal that he would give us information on Pazuzu in exchange for destroying the contract? Entering the Diadem was his plan, not Joker's.

>>34204351
>ass****
Please.

>>34204256
"Have you ever wondered if you should meet a psychatrist?"

>>34204374
Joker has no right to say that.

>>34204384
We could go to group therapy.

>>34204334
Vetoed

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257 KB JPG

>>34204359
I phrased that poorly; the deal was he'd become "our man" in exchange for breaking his contract, meaning he'd lend his skills and mind-reading powers to Joker's cause. He suggested the Diadem as the means of doing this. Since that failed, he ensured we kept our side of the bargain.

Oh, that reminds me. >>34204256
"Remember your place, Ruler."

>to everyone ragging on Near, pic related.
What the hell is the unicode character for umlaut a?

>>34204398
Group therapy does jack shit for people like Players.
>>34204401
What are you even Vetoing?

>>34204421
Just Google it

>>34204421
>umlaut a
äÄ

...I hate the Metal Umlaut. Mötörhead sounds hilarious with proper pronounciation.

>>34204268

> [X] "...Are we done, here?"

Utopia considers - His hands folded over his cane.

He nods.

> [X] "Why?"

Ruler sniffs. He tosses his cane from one fist to the other, the silver polygons of his waistcoat gleaming.

"Because I needed her *dead*, Joker. Rest assured, I was acting only in truest self-defense..."

"-It was her or me."

> [X] "-You really don't give a damn, do you?"

"Dear boy, you wound me." His voice is flat, despite his casual words - A hand pressed to his chest. "-I was nothing but invested in your valiant struggle. Why, I faced a Sispheyan task of my own; Giving her just enough direction to lure her in, not quite enough to succeed. Upon my honour, I am nothing but honest when I say..."

"...We killed her *together*."

> [X] "Are you here to hold up your end of the deal or is was it nulled after your original plan failed?"

"-Ah." Utopia seems to consider this - "...That *is* the question, isn't it? You've certainly done me leal service, but...You hardly intended to. Like me, you were acting for the most selfish of reasons...Your own survival."

"This poses a conundrum."

He holds his wand-cane out before him, parallel to the ground.

"One on hand: My personal survival is ensured. More, you clearly have great reserves of willpower, drive...And hatred, of course. Never forget that. Without your help - Even unwitting - it's unlikely that we would have carried the day."

He tilts his wand the other way, his white-gloved hands immaculate.

"...But on the other hand - I mistrust that gleam in your eye, dear boy." Utopia cants his head to the side: "Perhaps I can't read your mind...But you're a sentimental one, aren't you? Yes, yes, I see it - Killing women, even by proxy, depresses you." He sniffs: "-As if taking two lives instead of one is somehow more virtuous."

"So...Elucidate me, Joker. Why *shouldn't* I go on my merry way?"

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>34204256
>[X] "...Are we done, here?"
>[X] "You could have just asked."

>>34204428
Wata suggestion, obviously

>>34204464
It's that or we kill him, I suppose. Maybe we can offer him a place in our faction?

>>34204428
Therapy is mostly for people who don't recognize they have problems or can't admit/deal with them; it's a means of working through them. Joker is well aware he has problems; the issue is that they don't lend themselves to peaceful resolution. Given a proper ending to the Player game he'd be much more psychologically stable than most Players, though the nightterrors would be bad all his life.

>>34204434
Alt-132. ä.

>>34204464
"I have one more satellite weapon platform pointed at you than you do at me. Are you faster than the speed of light?"

>>34204464
"It determines if you become a hat or a new gun."

>>34204518
>"I have one more satellite weapon platform pointed at you than you do at me. Are you faster than the speed of light?"
Our meter should be pretty high from killing a Hyades.

>>34204499
>Maybe we can offer him a place in our faction?
Why would you trust a sociopath?
He's literally incapable of feeling loyalty. You are lucky if he just keeps his end of a bargain if he has no incentive to do so.

>>34204518
You can do better Wata. Keep the secrets secret, no matter how great a threat it is.

>>34204536
I don't trust him. But he'd be useful, and I'm sure he'd find it interesting.

>>34204518
"A chance to wreak unprecedented chaos and havoc in enemy ranks if you work with me"

>>34204464
"Depends on whether you want to take part in the war that will likely kill all of us."

>>34204518
I like it.

But we should start the firing procedure and continue chatting while it warms up. No negotiations, Utopia Ruler must die. He's too toxic to live.

>>34204464
A bond like that isn't broken without some pain. I'm just looking for that scrap of satisfaction.

>>34204601
We would need to know our meter level for that.

>>34204536
We can run the whole system off of the Cobalt Booster using the ring.

>>34204538
Fine.

>>34204464
"Because that was the deal. You get freedom from your contract and I get you. It's hardly my fault you failed to specify the means. You hardly want it known you reneged after you got what you wanted, that could do terrible things to a reputation."

"As for the second... Trust in the red, Utopia. You don't stay the Red Joker by being sentimental. You've nothing to fear from my guns or fist. If that's not enough you can take your chances with the Smilers. Speaking of, have you seen Bardiel's new look? I'm sure you'll do fine as part of the newest iteration of Corrector."

"Like a very humbled man said after he tore of his face for me... Don't fuck with the Joker."

>>34204622
>We can run the whole system off of the Cobalt Booster using the ring.
Right. Fuck.
Completely forgot.

>>34204622
So we load the satelite in the background while we talk?

MASER would make the most sense.

>>34204622
In case it wasn't obvious, I'm withdrawing my suggestion to use Leukocyte as a bargaining chip; Foucaldian paranoia says if someone might be listening in at any given time you'd best act like you're someone is at all times.

>>34204657
Tempted to do it anyway, but Power_Transfer is very distinctive. Sit and seethe and wait. There'll be a time. We can't make the world right, but we'll have the chance to make it better.

>>34204520

> "It determines if you become a hat or a new gun."
> "I have one more satellite weapon platform pointed at you than you do at me. Are you faster than the speed of light?"

A low, thoughtful sound, as Utopia considers this.

It's a long, tense moment - Until he says:

"...Well, a fugitive existence is hardly a new lease of life. Normally, I'd be more amused than concerned, but..."

"-Dear boy. There truly *is* something...uncanny...about you, isn't there?"

> "A chance to wreak unprecedented chaos and havoc in enemy ranks if you work with me."
> "Depends on whether you want to take part in the war that will likely kill all of us."

"War," Utopia Ruler says, airily, "-is a waste of effort. The randomness, the chaos, the muck and blood...No room for a cultured soul, like myself."

"And yet...It rather *does* seem that we're going to have to pick a side eventually, doesn't it? 'With us or against us', and all the usual bombast...Dear me."

>>34204622

"-Ah." A pause. You can almost hear the gears turning in his mind.

At last, he sighs, his shoulders heaving.

"Very well, then. I'd say, however, that this necessitates a change in the terms of our agreement...After all, you've succeeded in the spirit of the contract - But not the word. More..." And Utopia acknowledges you, with a slight shrug - "...To be frank, I don't feel safe around you, my dear boy. Another attack of sentimentality might have unfortunate consequences...For all of us."

Utopia adjusts his hat, to sit at a rakish angle. His cane vanishes, as he pats his hands together.

"So! You've done me an unwitting service, Joker; in return, I shall do you a service of which you are...unwitting."

(Continued)

>>34204707

The turn of phrase...Could be a lot better, to tell the truth.

"At some point, in the immediate future-"

And the demense begins to blur around you. Utopia's form wavers at the edges, becoming a drawn silhouette, becoming a ghost.

"When the time comes for the dirty work, knee-deep in the dead-"

"...Joker - I'm going to save your life."

His mirror-mask goes dark, reflecting only the descending gloom.

"-Whether you want it or not."

JOKER QUEST

EPISODE 103

TO BE CONTINUED

>>34204717
Welp, the shit meter has officially reached HABBENING levels.

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>>34204717
>"...Joker - I'm going to save your life."
>"-Whether you want it or not."

>>34204717
That's probably the best promise that we could ask for, really. It ensures our survival regardless of any temporary emotional turmoil that might lead to some sort of martyrdom or sacrifice.

>>34204717
Asshole

Yeah, he definitely has to die.

>>34204717

(Gentlemen; My apologies, but I'm entirely exhausted. I would love to continue, but I have an early start tomorrow - In addition, this looks like a natural cliffhanger.

I'll admit that the level of detail in this episode was hampered by the loss of my notes, and for that I am sorry. Hopefully, I'll be able to overcome that handicap next time.

Good night and God bless - You've been a wonderful audience, and I hope to see you again soon.)

>>34204717
Goddamn it why does everyone know more about what's coming than we do? I can guess at some, but it's not all there.

>>34204737
Thanks for running. ETA on next thread? Estimate of how much charge we'll have to spend?

>>34204737
Thanks for the thread

>>34204769

(Most likely same time next week. Also, it should be quite a bit...Well, barring any unexpected occurrences.

I'll note that pushing Cherubim production and Cores to medium reduces the amount somewhat, though.)

>>34204807
That's not ominous at all.

>I'll note that pushing Cherubim production and Cores to medium reduces the amount somewhat
That was the idea; since we had no idea how long this would take nor how much additional charge the VAs would bring in, I wanted to avoid capping it and wasting the surplus. Cherubs and cores are both needed, so it made for good investing.

>>34204737
Is Frost Cestus going to make another appearance, perchance? His moveset is super cool.

>>34204922

(It depends. I've written up his character sheet in case of any eventualities.)

Makes you wonder what fucked us up so badly to lose our STRONK arm

>>34204955
I'm going to go out on a limb and say it was something bigger and stronger that rammed a hole through Joker's chest six years ago.

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>>34204986
>go out on a limb

>Collective Game, Joker, Joker Quest, End Utopia

I guess I'm not the only one who wants to kill Utopia Ruler.

>>34205313

But he's on our side! Sort of!

>>34205391
He's Masakaki with a Daft Punk outfit.
Nothing good will come out of this.

>>34205313
I'd be surprised if anyone wants him alive.
The guy is basically every nasty and hateful psychopathic trait rolled up into one insufferably smug package, with an extra serving of manipulative bastardry.
When we first saw him my first reaction was to kill him as soon as possible. Of course, genre savvyness made me realise someone like him would not meet the mass murderer with somehing that, on a good day might be mistaken for a conscience, without some form of insurance.
Working with him was bound to bite us in the ass sooner or later.
Of course, now we are at the mercy of the guy whose definition of saving someone is to kill someone he loves because love is a filthy lie and he's doing us a favor.

>>34205520
I want to install an offshot of the Argus system onto our satellite.
Let it track his location in the Red.
Then we will kill him IRL.

>>34205520
I do

That whole scene with Utopia makes me want an image of a giant laser satellite bursting through the atmosphere with the text saying I WARNED YOU BRO!