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Hello and welcome back to Mortal Kombat Konquest. Our last episode was unfortunately cut short, due to me having to leave to go to a wedding and then taking a weekend off, so we'll continue it now!

In our last episode, we followed Kung Ling as she ventured across the realms to spend time with her father, Lao. However, while at the Wu Shi Academy with Cao, the grandmaster was suddenly afflicted by a terrible illness. Quickly deducing its connection with her strange dreams, Ling realized that Noob Saibot is the cause of it all. Through the use of a mysterious orb, he is infecting the Old Defenders with a deadly plague, killing them from the inside out.

We join our heroes as they venture into the Netherrealm. Their mission: Find Noob Saibot, steal the orb, and save the day!

Thread Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAwWPadFsOA
Past Threads: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Mortal+Kombat+Konquest

Official Thread Document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12-IT8pOV-Zql8AQeJwJuojjMDWRtzdPb60i-9qKCQeo/edit?usp=sharing

Rules of Kombat: http://pastebin.com/xtgE60XZ

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DamashiKonquest
Discord: https://discord.gg/8BHvxRH
Novelization: http://archiveofourown.org/works/6325183/chapters/14492272

Our story continues now!
>>
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The team has been split into two groups. With Kaito, Sheeva and Mileena down for the time being, Fireseed and Cassie have taken command of the two teams. One of them will infiltrate the Netherrealm via the island's portal while the others take the Dragon Wing into the foul realm and dock at the city of Nekros. From there, they will proceed towards Noob Saibot's spire, which he has taken over from Shinnok. Team Striker, led by Fireseed, will serve as a distraction while Team Silent infiltrates the tower.

Neither team leader is prioritizing the defeat of Noob Saibot; only the capture of the orb. Once it is taken from him, he can no longer infect the heroes. A full retreat to the New Defenders base will then be initiated. If the opportunity to defeat Noob is presented, it may be taken, but only if it does not mean that the mission cannot be accomplished.

Ling stands on the deck of the Dragon Wing alongside the other members of her squad; Cassie, Vapor, Lex, Frost and Cao. Each of them has been selected for their infiltration skill, and in Lex's case, she's along for the ride. They watch as Jon of Haven captains the crew in Mileena's place, readying them for the trip to the Netherrealm. The team watches as the ship is encased in fog, and when it comes out on the other side, they behold a sight that is quite unlike anything they had expected.

The Netherrealm was once a land of fire, lava and burning souls of the damned. Now, ever since Noob Saibot has taken over the vast majority of its landscape, it has become a desolate, grey, depressing wasteland. Rivers of lava have cooled and the ground is black; it is lifeless, bleak and drained. It is just as daunting as it was before, but in whole new ways; this is Noob Saibot's hell now, and his influence has snuffed out the flames of this place.

"I thought hell was supposed to be hot," Frost says, looking over the side of the ship as it sails down a river of grey water.

"Not anymore, apparently," Cassie says as she scans her eyes across the horizon. "Looks like we're in wraith territory." She looks up at Jon. "How much longer to Nekros? Are we sure it's even still there?"

"Not far," he replies.

Ling's grip tightens on her staff. This place brings an unease, a pervasive and dark feeling of being watched. She doesn't like it.

>Wait until you reach Nekros
>Speak with Cassie
>Speak with Lex
>Speak with Cao
>Speak with another team member
>Other (write-in)
>>
>>643691
>>Speak with Lex

Who needs those other nerds
>>
>>643691
>>Other (write-in)
Take a seat and try if we can expand on our precog a little bit.
>>
>>643691

> Lex
>>
>>643782
Turn your trip off, gaylord.
>>
>>643709
>>643782

Ling pulls Lex off to the side as they look at the grey landscape. "Not quite what you imagined, is it?" the white-haired monk asks.

"No, actually... In my dreams, I saw this land overrun with a black oil. I guess that's what happened, in a manner of speaking. I mean look at this place, it's completely lifeless, like a grey desert..."

"I don't like it," Lex says.

"I feel the same. Let's try and spend as little time here as we can, okay?"

"That depends on how long it'll take to get that orb," Lex points out. "We might be here for a while."

From the owl's nest of the ship, the scout Okaru calls out, "Captain! Red skies ahead!"

The team and many members of the crew head to the front of the ship to see what he is talking about. Up ahead, the sky turns from grey to red in a slow transition, and underneath the red sky, the Netherrealm looks more normal---or at least, the way it is supposed to look. The land is one of brimstone, smoke, ash and fire, with lakes and rivers of lava. The nearer the ship grows to the city, the warmer things get.

"Looks like not all of the Netherrealm has turned," Jon of Haven says, looking further on. "All hands, keep her steady! We're sailing in!"

Cassie and Ling look over the side of the ship as the water turns grey to red as well, until it is like they are sailing on blood. Cao joins them a moment later, but only to throw up over the side of the ship.

"Ugh, nice one," Cassie says, patting him on the back. "You need a minute there, prince?"

"He needs a bucket is what he needs," Ling says with a smile.

Lex walks up and helps Cao sit down as well. Ling makes a note of how attentive she seems to the Kahnzedah.

"I didn't think I had anything left after the last one," he says as he rubs his stomach.

Up ahead, the river splits off. They follow the split, which leads towards a large city. The city is built with a massive wall surrounding it, and the river goes directly up to a great gate built over it.

They are forced to stop and drop anchor as they approach the city. From the walls, guards armed with lances and bows shout down at them.

"Halt! You approach the city of Nekros, under the protection of its new lords: the Deadly Alliance!"

Everyone reacts in different ways, but the most common one is to look at each other in realization of what that means. "Oh, shit," Cassie mutters. "Is THIS where they are based?"

"We cannot know for certain," Jon replies. "But this is one of the few uncorrupted regions of the Netherrealm, so it would make sense if this city was their new home..."

The guard calls back down. "In this time of war, we enforce a strict toll upon entry. Twenty souls, no less."

Ling looks over at Cassie and Jon.

>Let someone else do the talking
>Advocate paying the toll somehow
>Advocate sneaking into the city
>Advocate demanding to speak to the leader
>Shout something up at the guard yourself
>Other
>>
>>643889
>>Let someone else do the talking
>>
>>643889
>>Let someone else do the talking
>>
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>>643934
>>643985

Ling stands back as Cassie clears her throat. "So, how do you accept payment of souls? Do you take checks?"

"By contract!" the guard says. He takes out a scroll and opens it up. "Payment is to be delivered upon entry, only once you have signed on this in blood above the dotted line!"

"Great," Cassie mutters. She calls back up and asks, "Can we do like a mail order or something? What if we don't have the twenty souls right now? Can you take an IOU or something?"

"No payment, no entrance! Twenty souls!"

Cassie looks back. "Well, I'm not about to sign twenty people over to some city in hell. There must be another way inside."

Jon thinks for a moment. "We could always teleport the ship within the city walls, into the harbor on the other side. But it would require some clever thinking."

"Lay it on us, Jon-o'-Haven," Cassie says.

"First, we would need someone to sneak inside the city and get a good look at the harbor, so we can know where we're ending up."

"I can do that," Vapor says, suddenly intruding on the conversation. "If anyone can get inside, it's me. They'll never even know."

"Perfect," Cassie smiles. "What's Step 2?"

"Once Vapor comes back, she'll be the one to take the ship into the city, using her knowledge of where to end up. But in order to not be seen, we'll need to cause a distraction inside the city."

"That could be a problem," Cassie replies, crossing her arms. "Vapor can get our team inside, but once we're in, what then? What kind of distraction, and how do we know the Deadly Alliance won't come to investigate?"

"We don't," Jon admits. "We may not even need to get the ship into the city, but if we don't, I can't keep the ship here outside its walls. It's too risky---if it's attacked, we'll be too vulnerable. And if we need to head back, we won't be able to come in for a rescue in quick enough time."

Cassie scratches her chin, deep in thought. Lex looks at you, unsure of what to think herself.

>Sneak the ship into the city
>The team will sneak into the city, but the boat will leave the Netherrealm
>Sail off and look for another option
>See if you can somehow rip off or trick the gate master
>Other
>>
>>644141
>>The team will sneak into the city, but the boat will leave the Netherrealm
>>
>>644184

Cassie's brow furrows. "Alright, well, it's not ideal and we were hoping to keep the ship in as another escape route but we'll just have to continue on foot." She looks up at Jon and says, "Return to base. Or better yet, see if you can gather as many afflicted individuals as you can from across the realms; start with the Edenian royal family. Bring them to base. When we get the orb, it'll be easier for them to be treated."

"Understood," Jon says.

Frost and Cao walk up. The thief looks up at the walls of the city and asks, "So, we're going in there, huh?"

"Once we're inside, I'll link up with Fireseed and we'll figure out our next move from there." She takes out her radio in preparation and then looks at Vapor. "You sure you can get us all inside?"

"It won't be easy on me, but I can do it," she says. "Okay, uh... everybody sort of huddle up. Real close."

Cao looks around the the five women and shrugs. "I'm alright with this."

"Shut up," Frost says as they all gather in close. Vapor gets in the middle as they all wrap their arms around each other.

"Hold on tight!" She closes her eyes and turns into smoke, which envelopes all of them. They are whisked away up into the air, towards a nearby grate in the wall. They travel as fog through the pipes until they make it out the other side, down into a dark alleyway. They reform and fall apart, each of them physically affected by the transition from gas to solid matter, though none more than Vapor, who was struggling to carry all six of them at once. She sits down and has to take a breather.

"Great work, Andela," Cassie compliments her.

"Yeah, you're definitely the best person we have for turning us into smoke and getting us past giant walls," Frost says sarcastically as she rubs her head.

Ling and Lex lean on each other for support as they let the dizzying sensation pass by.

Strangely enough, Cao feels fine, and brushes himself off. "I've been through worse," he says with a shrug.

Cassie gets on the radio with Fireseed. As she does, Ling looks towards the exit of the alleyway and pokes her head out to get a better look at things. The city's buildings are made of stone, wood and often bone, decorated devilishly with symbols and runes of all manner and sizes. Many of the rooftops are jagged and pillars lined with spikes can be seen everywhere. The people of this place are many and varied, some dressed outlandishly and others in simple robes. Warriors in black leather straps patrol the streets, along with more ghoulish and demonic creatures. The streets are actually very lively in nature, with many people out at once.

There even appears to be some sort of parade going on.

Ling finds herself fascinated, but doesn't want to stray too far from the group.

>Stay with the group for now
>Go out scouting on your own
>Take Lex and explore for a bit
>Move the group out of the alley and into the streets
>Other
>>
>>644536
>>Take Lex and explore for a bit
I'm sure cao will follow us or something
>>
>>644536
>>Stay with the group for now
>>
>>644573
>>644581

Can I get a tie breaker?
>>
>>644610
I'll switch to
>>644581
>>
>>644581
>>644616

Ling walks back to the others as Cassie puts her radio away. She starts fiddling with her gear as she says, "Alright. I made contact with Fireseed; he and his team are somewhere in the city as well. We're going to link up and figure out the best route to Noob's tower."

"Do we know where they are exactly?" Vapor asks.

"No. That's why we're going to split up."

"I'm glad you're in charge, because I would think that's a really fucking stupid idea," Frost says.

Cassie glares at her. "We're not going to go far from each other, and only in three groups of two. Nobody goes anywhere alone. Now does everyone's communicator work?"

A quick check of everyone's wrist-radio confirms this. Outside of the alleyway, a horse-drawn carriage rolls by, with the horses spewing fire from their mouths. After it passes, Cassie looks at them and says, "Remember, stick together. I'll try and hone in on Fireseed's signal. If anyone finds them, contact the group as a whole. And try to blend in---we don't want to let the Deadly Alliance know we're in town."

"Right, because we blend in so well," Frost says.

Cassie looks like she's about to go with the blue-haired cryomancer before Lex steps in between them. "Ladies, ladies, ladies, let's remember why we're here, alright?"

Cao, leaning up against the wall, merely smiles, amused by their antics.

>Go with Lex
>Go with Frost
>Go with Cao
>Go with Cassie
>Go with Vapor
>Other
>>
>>644739
>>Go with Frost
>>
>>644739
>>Go with Frost
Make sure to karate chop her on the head. She needs to save this shit for home, not when we are trying to save our teammates, our masters, and possibly the world.
>>
>>644760
>>644764

Ling pulls Frost off to the side to separate her from Cassie. "Save this kind of shit for when we get home," Ling tells her in a serious tone. "People are dying."

Frost is a bit surprised by her demeanor. "Look, Ling, it's just how I cope. I don't mean half the crud that comes out of my mouth, you know that."

The youngest Kung looks back at the other four. "I'll go with Frost. We'll keep an eye out for Fireseed's team and a low profile."

Lex steps up next to Cao. "I'll go with the prince," she says with a bright smile, putting her arm around his.

Cassie looks at Vapor. "That leaves me and you, then. Alright. Let's try and pick up on any chatter while we're here; maybe fish for some rumors. Anything we can learn about the Deadly Alliance or Noob Saibot. Break!"

The three teams of two leave the alley and walk off in different directions. Ling and Frost cross the street and start walking down the cobblestone sidewalk, which upon further inspection is not cobblestone at all, but skulls.

'This place,' Ling thinks to herself. 'Literally can't take a step anywhere without walking over the dead. How fitting.'

>Check out the parade
>Head for a tavern
>Stick to back alleys
>Climb up to the rooftops
>Other
>>
>>644803
>>Head for a tavern
I'm sure a couple of sexy ladies like us can seduce some information. Dont we have a seduction skill?
>>
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>>644818

Ling is good at Manipulation, Dancing and having hips for days.

There might be something to work with there.
>>
>>644803
>>Head for a tavern
>>
>>644818
>>644881

Alright, we'll head into the tavern.

I'll be resuming right in the morning.
>>
>>644935
Damashi, I want to make a Detect Sarcastic Skull and Skinless Man roll, what's my DC?
>>
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>>644975

We'll see.
>>
No, I missed it! What's with all the frost hate, I thought she was on point.
>>
>>645150
Uh, no one is hating on her?

We just told her to be serious for a bit.
>>
>>645155
> splits the party
>"Don't split the party!"
>"Be serious Frost!"
It was a valid objection.
>>
>>644830
I mean, it worked wonders for Jade. Then again, she's an Edenian, so she's especially well-suited for the art of seduction.
>>
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It's not that Frost isn't on point about things. It's that, as far as anyone can tell, Frost literally can't stop being a bitch about things. She was impetuous before, but jealousy about losing Sub-Zero and accidentally freezing herself for years brought out her inner cunt, and it won't shut up.
>>
Good morning everyone. We'll be resuming in a bit. I know it's early, so I'll be light on things.

>>645150
>>645166

I don't mean to make it seem like there's widespread hate for Frost, but she and Cassie have quite a few issues. It's not good for a team if she constantly attacks every order Cassie gives.
>>
>>644881
>>644818

Ling's eyes scan up and down the road, eventually focusing on a sign hanging above a door with what appears to be a bouncer in front of it. The sign reads "The Wet Devil" with a painted picture of a big-breasted red-skinned devil woman pouring a flagon of ale upon herself.

"Looks like a tavern," Ling says to Frost, whose own eyes hone in on it. "Might be a good place to start."

Frost cocks an eyebrow. "Look, I know Fireseed likes to drink, but you don't think he's in there, do you?"

"I meant for picking up information. You can learn all sorts of things in a place like that."

"Or get shanked."

"What, you don't think we can take care of ourselves?" She nudges Frost with her elbow. "Come on."

They approach the bouncer, a burly orc-like individual with green skin and tusks, whose eyes glow bright green. He looks down at them with an expressionless face, but makes no move against them as they walk past and inside. Down a dimly-lit stone corridor of steps and candles, they can hear noise up ahead. When they reach the bottom of the stairs, their eyes are treated to the sight of a Netherrealm tavern in all its spectacle.

The entire room is shady and seedy, warmly lit by torches, candles and dark lanterns hanging from chains that cross the ceiling. Patrons of every shape and size, of species both familiar and bizarre, dome alive and others dead, sit at the bar and around tables, drinking and cheering for the dancing girls. Scantily clad women with red skin, horns and pointed tails wear fetishistic leather outfits as they contort around poles and behind bars of cages. Koins are thrown at their feet as much as punches are thrown at other patrons---barfights are common and are both explosive and quickly resolved.

Ale flows freely as a female bartender, one of the devil-folk, serves up mugs quickly and refills them just as fast, provided they have koin to pay.

Frost leans over. "Well, this was your idea. What first? Let's try and not look like tourists, alright?"

>Find a secluded booth
>Talk to the bartender
>Take a walk around and look at everyone
>See if there's a back entrance and leave
>Other
>>
>>645880
>>Other
Try to find a lone patron, one that is particularly rich and or powerful looking and start working that magic
>>
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>>645892

Ling looks up and down the bar, eventually settling her eyes on a larger patron who is throwing around lots of koins. He is large, fat and looks like a pig---literally. She can't tell if he was a pig in life or became one after death. His porcine head slobbers and chortles as he holds onto two serving girls who are fawning all over him. He wears a suit which is casually open in the front, allowing the meat and drink he is consuming to spill out over his distended belly.

"Yuck," Frost says as she follows Ling's gaze. "What are you thinking of doing, exactly?"

"Trying to get some information," she replies. "Cover me."

"With what?" But Ling is already walking towards the pigman. She grabs the hair of one of the sexy demon girls and yanks her away before sliding up next to the wealthy patron.

"Hello, handsome," she says, putting on her best and most manipulative face, despite how disgusted she is.

The pigman's eyes go wide and he snorts. "I haven't seen you in here before, my lovely little flower. Where did you come from?"

"Outworld," she says, trailing her fingers up his arm. "I'm just lost and looking for some directions."

The other girl on his opposite arm is all but ignored now as he says, "Well, I'd be happy to help... for a fee, of course..."

In the background, Frost watches suspiciously, ready to jump in at a moment's notice. A rather thin and ugly bar-goer walks up to her with a drink, but she freezes his face before he can offer it to her.

>Offer him a dance
>Offer to take him somewhere more private, where you will then threaten him
>Hold your spear up to his neck and threaten him here in the bar
>Start asking him questions while chatting him up, try to butter him up a bit
>Other
>>
>>645985
>>Offer him a dance
Ah fuck it
>>
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>>646012

Ling smiles seductively. "Well, you know, I'm a much better dancer than any of these girls on the stage. What's say I give you a show and then you give me what I want?" She lets those last few words roll off her tongue masterfully, baiting him into doing whatever she wants.

He starts snorting in excitement. Looking up on the stage at the girl currently in front of him, he shoos her off and makes the way clear for her.

Ling smiles and steps up onto the stage, taking her staff and turning the head into a spear before stabbing it down to make a pole to dance on. "Alright then, time for a show!"

Many of the other patrons are now watching with great interest as the 'fresh meat' as it were gets ready to do her thing.

Ling spins and flourishes out her arms as the cheers begin---it's not often that a live one gets up on stage!

>Let's have a 1d100+10 to dance!
>>
Rolled 40 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>646071
Oh lord why are you making me do this alone?
>>
>>646077

I work with the vain hope that others are lurking. But it's still pretty early.
>>
Rolled 7 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>646071
>>
>>646096
Fuck off.
>>
Rolled 33 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>646071
>>
>>646077
>>646096
>>646111

Ling starts her routine, shaking her hips to the drums that are playing, but as she gets going, a sudden burst of flames shoots out at her from the side. She narrowly avoids the fireball as it flies past, impacting on the nearby wall.

Ling looks further up the stage and sees a beautiful but deadly red-skinned devil woman approaching with fiery red hair and matching skin. A long, thin tail that ends in an arrow-like point twirls behind her as she walks. Her hands swirl with fire as she gives the outworlder a fanged smile. "Who said you could come up onto MY stage, wench?"

She throws another fireball, forcing Ling to spin around her staff to avoid it. The crowd goes wild with applause, drinking and hollaring for more. Frost stands up and moves closer, ready to stop this, but Ling holds up her hand and tells her to hang back.

Taking her spear in hand, she takes it out of the ground. The devil dancer throws a fireball, which she deflects with the head of her weapon, creating a small shower of sparks.

"Oh, this just got interesting," the girl says, her fingers alight with flames and her eyes dancing playfully. "You think you've got what it takes to survive up here? Let's see!"

She leaps towards her, ready for a fight!

>1d100 and an action! +10 if you incorporate some kind of dance move!
>>
Rolled 10 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>646126
My dance move is called the face kick. It's where we end our dance with a big kick to the Devils face.
>>
Rolled 10 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>646126
capoeira sweep this bitch off her feet
>>
Done today
>>
>>646202

Come on now, variety in posts is never a bad thing. I hate working off just one post.

>>646137
>>646185

As the woman throws another fireball, Ling dazzlingly leaps under it, spinning and kicking out with her legs to stun the audience. But when she lands and attempts to follow up with a kick, the devil woman flips over her attack and lands behind her before moving her heel back to trip her. As she falls, the woman catches her and holds her bridal style.

"You're going to have to do better than that, honey!"

She then turns and throws Ling further up the stage. The outworlder hits the ground and rolls before coming to a stop against one of the cages. Inside, a second dancer reaches out and grabs her, holding her in place even as she attempts to break out of the hold.

The crowd cheers as her opponent's hand lights up with another fireball. "You're gonna learn the hard way that hell is hot!" She winds the pitch back up and throws it right at her. Ling closes her eyes as she struggles to get out of the way.

A single ball of ice flies through the air, impacting on the fireball. Both collide and turn to steam. From the crowd, Frost leaps up onto the stage. Rather than boo, the audience seems to love this new turn of events as the cryomancer holds up her hands. "You best back off, bitch," she warns the devil.

"Oh, what have we here? Another new friend? Let's see if we can't get you warmed up, too!"

Her hands ignite as Ling frees herself and stands up alongside Frost. Koins from the patrons are thrown onto the stage as the two girls prepare to face off against their foe.

"Aren't we supposed to be here for something else?" Frost asks.

"Maybe, but let's just roll with it!" Ling holds up her spear as Frost forms ice daggers.

>1d100 and an action! +10 if you incorporate some kind of dance move!
>>
>>646217
Maybe we could use the poles surrounding the stage to move quickly and show off our acrobatics skills.
>>
Rolled 88 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>646233
Rolling for dad shame
>>
Rolled 63 (1d100)

>>646217
Lure her under a cage and have Frost break the chain to drop it on her
>>
>>646239
>>646233

Ling and Frost charge in as two fireballs are thrown. The Lin Kuei ducks beneath the first while Ling leaps up, grabbing onto a pole and spinning around it. From this pole she leaps to another and then another in a dizzying display of acrobatic skill. Where Frost darts in low, Ling dives down from high, and together they quickly overwhelm their foe.

In a flash of ice and fire, they knock her down and hold their weapons up to her neck. The crowd cheers some more. They point their weapons at her neck, but she knocks them aside with a hand and uses her tail to trip Frost before she gets back up in a fighting pose.

>>646330

As they attack her, she fights back; turns out she can hold her own in a fight as she blocks their attacks with her arms and legs. But as they push her backwards, they lure her under an open cage. Ling moves in to keep her in place while Frost flips backwards. She points her hands up at the chain holding the cage up and freezes it, shattering it and causing it to fall.

Ling turns and kicks her into the spot beneath the cage, and it lands on her, trapping her inside. The crowd goes absolutely wild, tossing koins with abandon.

The devil gets a smile on her face. "Great show! It's about time we had some real talent up on this stage. Let's get you backstage and paid."

The two of them exchange confused looks and lower their weapons. The devil lifts up the heavy iron cage as if it were nothing, setting it aside and gives a bow as more koins are thrown onto the stage. She takes their hands and urges them to do the same before practically dragging them towards the back and behind the curtain.
>>
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>>646368

"That was great! Are you two professionals?"

Frost cocks a brow upwards. "You... could say that."

The girl brings them to a room full of mirrors and dressing tables where various girls are prettying themselves up with makeup and gossiping. Ling gives a bewildered look around, feeling as though she's suddenly stepped into an entirely different plane. The girl they were just fighting walks over and puts on a satin robe and ties it in the front.

"We've never gotten more koins than we just did for that!" the girl exclaims. "I'd love to hire you full-time. You looking for a job?"

Ling coughs. "Uh, well, we're already working full-time somewhere else. We were just looking to exploit some horny demons for information."

"What's the going rate?" Frost asks, at which point Ling nudges her foot with the blunt end of her staff, making her hop up and down on one foot for a moment.

"Well, if information is what you need, that's the least I can get you. Come into my office." She leads them into a secluded room and sits behind a desk with two chairs in front of it. They awkwardly sit in front of the girl they were just fighting as she places her hand on the desk and smiles.

"Who are you, anyway?" Ling asks. "Do you own this place?"

"I co-own it. A risky venture, but we've managed to turn a tidy profit. I think it's the location. Anyway, I'm Wildfire, and after the money you just made this place, I'd be happy to help you in whatever you need."

Frost lets out a chortle. "Okay, but what's your real name and not your stripper name?"

The devil girl blinks. "...Wildfire."

"So your parents named you that?" she laughs.

Ling rolls her eyes. "This coming from the girl named 'Frost'..."

>Ask for information on the Deadly Alliance
>What is the best way to get to Noob Saibot's spire
>Information about the town of Nekros
>Ask to get paid for the show
>Get to know her some more
>Other
>>
>>646379
>>What is the best way to get to Noob Saibot's spire
i doubt noobs people go out to bars much
>>Get to know her some more
Do demons have parents? Don't they just kinda cra out of the lava or something?
>>
>>646379
>Get to know her some more
>Information about the town of Nekros
There has to be a reason the town isn't as black and dead as the rest of the place
>>
>>646394
>>646421

"So, what can I help you with?"

Ling scoots a bit closer to the desk. "Actually, I'm just curious, but what is it like being a demon?"

"I'm only half-demon, thank you," she says with a smile. "Half-edenian as well, on my father's side."

"Who's he?"

She sighs and waves a hand. "Oh, just some meglamaniacal madman. Nothing special."

Frost and Ling exchange a slightly worried look. Ling then asks, "You seemed to have some skill out there, but are you a fighter?"

"Any demon or half-demon worth her salt and sulfur can fight. Out there, that was just a show; if I were you I wouldn't want us to be really trying to kill each other." She throws in a wink towards Ling along with a giggle.

Frost then asks, "Who do you co-own this place with, anyway?"

"It's a relatively recent establishment, I admit. The entire town's been undergoing changes ever since the change in management; once the Deadly Alliance strolled in and took control, a lot of businesses shut down or changed owners. I'm left to manage the day-to-day affairs of this place, while my co-owner just gets his half of the income."

"Who is he?"

"Quan Chi."

Both Ling and Frost's eyes snap open as she says that name. "Quan Chi... owns a strip club?"

"We don't prefer that term, it's more of an 'exotic entertainment establishment' if you will. And he only co-owns it. He also co-owns the slaughterhouse with that big fat pig you were cozying up to out there. Quan Chi killed the previous owner and took it over with the pig."

Ling's brow furrows. "Why has he invested in all these businesses? What does he need with the money?"

"We don't ask those kinds of questions and live, honey," Wildfire says with a smile. "Now, if you don't mind me asking... what brings you into town?"

>We're here to take on Noob Saibot
>Just passing through
>We'd like to learn more about the Deadly Alliance
>Dodge the question and ask ones of your own
>Other
>>
>>646526
>We'd like to learn more about the Deadly Alliance
>Dodge the question and ask ones of your own
Let's just be vague on what we want to learn about the DA
>>
>>646550
Agreed
>>
>>646550
>>646716

Thinking quickly, Ling dodges the question and replies with, "I'm sorry, but I'm curious about the Deadly Alliance. You said that they just strolled in and took control?"

"Well, Nekros was always safe from the wraiths due to the sorcerers that ruled it. After Quan Chi and his new allies came back, he enslaved all of the sorcerers and now essentially rules the town."

"So they live here?"

"No. Their actual home is further away, in the Nekropolis. They travel here and there either by portal or hellbeast mounts. The only way to get there is the Krossroads."

"You're pretty forward about this stuff," Frost notes.

Wildfire shrugs. "This is all common knowledge. You're not getting anything from me that you couldn't get from anyone else."

"But the Deadly Alliance, do they come here at all? To visit or anything?"

"Sometimes. But most of their attention is focused on other things, I'd imagine. Ever since the Brothers Chi vanished and Noob Saibot's Army of Darkness took over most of the surface-level Netherrealm, their attention has been focused on taking back as much territory as possible. It's because of them that this town is protected and safe." She leans back. "Ah, I miss the good old days, when you could stroll outside and walk along the rivers of fire. It's so bleak and depressing out there now ever since Noob took over. Makes me miss when Shinnok was in charge."

"So, is it fair to say that you consider Quan Chi an ally?" Frost asks.

Wildfire chuckles. "You don't really make allies in hell. Even that Deadly Alliance is full of people who are at each other's throats as much as their enemies; I hear that Goro and Motaro can't even be in the same room at once without a fight breaking out. I'm 'allies' with Quan Chi as far as he allows me to run this place and make some koin." She leans forward a bit. "Say, that reminds me, I still don't know your names..." She looks at Frost, trying to remember what Ling said earlier. "Freezer or something?"

>Introduce yourselves
>Avoid letting her know who you are
>Keep asking questions
>Cut to the point and ask about Noob Saibot's tower
>Other
>>
>>646773
>Other
Freeza and Liang
>>
>>646788
These seem good
Slow day today isn't it
>>
>>646788
>>646788
This works.
>>
>>646788
>>646810
>>646884

"She's Freeza and I'm Liang," Ling quickly improvises.

Wildfire's brows slowly rise upwards. "You don't say." She reaches for a nearby cup of a blood-colored liquid and takes a drink. "Well, since we're being honest with each other, I don't know that the symbol on your outfit," she says as she looks at Frost, "belongs to the Lin Kuei, one of Noob Saibot's enemies. I also don't know that the owner of an establishment like this picks up a lot of secrets and street chatter. And I most certainly wouldn't be willing to trade information without Quan Chi knowing about it." She takes another sip. "Since we're being honest."

Ling understands. "Well, since that's the case, we're not interested in learning secrets related to Noob Saibot's tower. We're also not interested in getting more information about the Deadly Alliance without them knowing about it, and we're not interested in making sure that either of them never knew we were here."

Wildfire and Ling share a smile, but Frost is seemingly lost. "Wait, we're not?"

The monk lets out a sigh and gives her friend her best 'stay quiet' face.

"Let's not get down to business, then," the devilish woman says, leaning closer and whispering. "There is an entrance at the base of Noob Saibot's tower in the form of a runoff pipe---it spews black liquid, but you can walk through it. He took it over from Shinnok but hasn't changed the place up too much. If you can get to the lift that runs throughout his spire, you can ride it all the way up to the top to the throne room."

"Understood," Ling says. "We don't appreciate the not-help."

"I think we could come to be good friends if we keep not helping each other," Wildfire says with another wink.

At that moment, their comms blink with a message. They hold them up to their faces and listen in. Cassie communicates, "I just linked up with Team Striker. Team Silent, meet us by the belltower near the center of the town. Out."

"That's our cue," Frost says, moving to stand up.

Wildfire puts her hand on Ling's and says, "You can use the back door. I'll show you where it is."

They follow the girl out of her office and to a secluded hall with a door at the end. She looks back at them after opening it and says, "Come back anytime; I'm sure I'll have some more information that I won't share with you in exchange for more favors."

Ling gives her a wink of her own as they step out into the alleyway. Once outside, Frost looks at her and asks, "What the hell were you two on about, anyway? Talking in all those negatives? Why not just talk like normal people?"

"Just making new friends," Ling replies.

>Head straight to the belltower
>Link up with your team enroute
>Take the long way around
>Radio Cassie and relay the information
>Other
>>
>>646918
>Link up with your team enroute
>Radio Cassie and relay the information
>>
>>646918
>>Take the long way around
I bet we're running pretty hot right now with that little show so I think we should be cautious. Maybe tell Lex (wonder why she's so keen on Cao) or something cause we most certainly don't like Cassie
>>
>>646918
>Take the long way around
We'll inevitably be tailed in this town.
>>
>>646964
>>646981

I'll need a tie breaker.
>>
>>646981
>>647023

Nevermind, writing now.
>>
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>>646981
>>647023

The two of them move quickly through the streets, but decide to take a slightly longer route back to the others, in case anyone from the tavern is following them. After a show like the one they put on, they wouldn't be surprised. As they move through the alleys and down more barren streets, careful to look behind them and ensure nobody is there, they begin to hear something. At first it sounds like a far-off bell, but then it grows louder and louder, with more joining the cause.

Then, the town bell itself rings, loud and heard throughout the city. "You don't think that's because of us, do you?" Frost asks.

"I sure as hell hope not..." Ling mutters, but then they hear shouting in the streets, echoed from the guards on the walls.

The men on the walls are running and shouting as loud as they can. "Gashadokuro attack! Gashadokuro attack!"

"Gasha-whatnow?" Frost says, but then they both stop and stare up at the city wall as a massive skeletal hand appears over it. They watch as another hand follows, and then a giant head peers over the wall down at the city with large empty eye sockets.

Two more massive skeletons appear alongside it, looking as though they are about to climb over the wall. The guards are all readying the town defenses.

"I think we should go," Frost says. "If this town is about to get attacked by those things, the Deadly Alliance might show!"

"But the team!" Ling points out.

Above, the first skeleton reaches over and picks up a guard. The man shouts as he tries to attack the boney fingers. It lifts him up to its mouth, whereupon it bites down on his head, sucking the blood out of his neck.

>Help fight the spooky giant skeletons
>Radio your squad leader
>Make for the town exit
>Head to the belltower like you were doing
>Other

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OkpRK2_gVs
>>
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>>647190
>Head to the belltower like you were doing
>>
>>647190
>>Radio your squad leader
We need coordination but if we don't get a signal or something I say we keep going to the tower
>>
>>647190
>Radio your squad leader
>>
>>647201
>>647212

Ling quickly brings her wrist-communicator to her mouth. "Cage! We have a problem! Giant skeletons are attacking the city!"

Cassie replies, "We can see them from the tower! Get away from the walls and head towards us! We'll figure a way out of the city from there!"

They watch as one of the skeletons steps over the wall, smashing a cart beneath its foot. Catapults with flaming metal projectiles are launched at them, smashing one's head clean off. The guards throw ropes and chains around another's arm, pulling him down close where they attack him with hammers.

Ling and Frost high-tail it towards the center of the city. About halfway there, they skid to a stop as a massive skeleton steps in front of them. He turns and leers down at them as he stands between the buildings, and both Ling and Frost suddenly feel very, very small and vulnerable.

The gashadokuro reaches down towards them!

>1d100 and an action!
>>
Rolled 2 (1d100)

>>647278

> Jump across the rooftops to avoid the panicked crowds.
>>
Rolled 62 (1d100)

>>647278
Smack his hand away with the Spear and yell about how he's a bad skeleton
>>
My d100's always suck. god fucking damnit.
>>
Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>647278
Remember that Lex always talked about how skeletons are susceptible to blunt damage. Turn our spear into a mace and club him in the ankle to hobble his movement. This should give us a chance to get away.
>>
Rolled 100 (1d100)

>>647278
Slice some of its finger bones off and book
>>
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>>647303

Ling and Frost quickly dart apart, but the skeleton manages to grab the monk by her leg. He starts to lift her up as she hangs upside-down, struggling to escape his grasp. He lifts her all the way up, dangling over his mouth as it slowly opens. Panic races through her as she prepares to defend herself from being eaten alive.

Frost looks up and sees her friend in danger and immediately puts her hands together, firing a beam of ice at the skeleton's mouth. When the gashadokuro attempts to drop her into his maw and bite down on her, she instead lands on a hard chunk of ice. The undead giant is unable to close his mouth. Ling slides off his chin and falls to the ground, hurting her leg.

She gets up and limps towards Frost, but the gashadokuro reaches back down for her after he manages to crush the ice in his mouth.

>>647309
>>647320

In the midst of her panic, she remembers Lex once giving her a piece of advice about fighting skeletons, and how effective blunt weapons are against them as opposed to blades. Turning the head of her shapeshifting qiang into a ball-hammer, she turns around and shouts as she smacks the fingers away from her. Nearby, Frost again blasts at the skeleton, this time aiming for his reaching hand, freezing it completely.

>>647330

Ling focuses and changes the head of her weapon into a meteor hammer, a heavy ball on the end of a chain, before swinging it around her head. She then uses her staff to gain leverage and leaps upwards, bringing down the head of her weapon upon his hand, shattering it completely! The skeleton reels backwards from his hand being destroyed as Ling lands, grimacing from the pain in her leg.

Frost runs up to her and puts her arm around her shoulder, helping her to escape.

They leave the skeleton far behind as they escape through an alleyway and make it to the belltower. There, a skeleton is climbing up the side of the structure as the New Defenders fend it off.

Cao appears at the top of the tower, holding out his hands. The Wrath Hammer of Shao Kahn appears in his grasp and he leaps from the tower, running down the stone wall towards the head of the gashadokuro before leaping onto its skull and bringing the hammer down upon its forehead, shattering it completely.

The skeleton falls, taking Cao with it, but right before he hits the ground, Lex leaps up and grabs him out of the air. They both hit the ground and roll as the giant corpse behind them topples and breaks into large fragments.
>>
>>647431

Ling and Frost run up to the team, where Lex is picking up Cao. Cassie and Vapor run up to them. "Glad to see you two are okay," Cassie says. She then notes Ling's hurt leg. "Are you alright? Can you walk on it?"

"I'll be fine," she says, feeling odd over how concerned Cassie seems. "I just landed on it badly. I can go on."

"If you're sure," Cassie replies. She looks at the rest of her squad and says, "Team Striker is already on their way out of the city. We can't stick around any longer, unless we want to run into Quan Chi and his bad dude crew. Let's hear some ideas."

Just then, they all hear the braying of strange beasts and the stomping of hooves. A small group of demonic hell-goats ride by, pulling a carriage. It stops as it nears them, skidding to a halt on the street.

They all watch as the fat pig man from the tavern sticks his head out of the window. "There you are, my dear!" he says as he looks at Ling. "The city is under attack! Come with me to the slaughterhouse, it's safer there!"

Cassie looks at Ling with a strange and curious look on her face. Ling looks at his hell-goats as the fiery creatures stomp on the ground, snorting fire from their nostrils, and notes that there are six of them, and her team has six members.

>Steal the carriage; kick the pig out
>Steal the goats
>Ride on top of the carriage and take it out the city
>Kill the pig man and take his stuff
>Other
>>
>>647440


> Kill pigman take stuff

Murderhobo Ling? Murderhobo Ling.
>>
>>647440
>>Steal the carriage; kick the pig out
Killing the pig would make Quan chi the sole owner of the slaughterhouse which seeks like it would hurt us in the aftermouth.
>leaping onto its skull and bringing the hammer down upon its forehead, shattering it completely.
dats my boy
>>
>>647458
>>647476

I'll need a tie breaker again.
>>
>>647440
>Steal the carriage; kick the pig out
>>
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>>647476
>>647565

Ling smiles and walks over to the pig, bringing up a finger to scratch his chin. "Aw, you're just my big hero, aren't you?" His ear flop happily, right up until she grabs him by the neck and hooks the end of her spear around his shirt. She then leans back and pulls back on the staff, using it as a lever to yank him out of the carriage and onto the ground. As he flops onto the street, Ling puts a foot on his back.

"Wait! What are you doing?!" he squeels. Ling motions to the others to get in the carriage.

Lex smiles. "I call driver!" She then runs towards it and performs a flying kick on the man who was holding the reigns of the goats, kicking him off and taking his seat.

"You know what? I won't even ask," Cassie says with a smile. "Good work, Ling."

As she, Cao, Vapor and Frost climb into the carriage, Ling looks down at the pig man. "I hope you can run, little piggy, otherwise those skeletons might end up enjoying some pork tonight!"

She extends her staff's length to push herself upwards and atop the carriage to sit next to Lex. She blows the pig a little mocking kiss as Lex snaps on the reigns, urging the goats forward.

The pig man gets up. "Wait! Come back!" He's about to shout more when a skeleton comes around the corner and looks down at him. He quickly throws his driver behind him and runs away, squealing all the while.

"So, you've been busy?" Lex says with a smile.

"The Netherrealm is an interesting place," Ling replies. "We should come here more often."

"I know! I've punched normal-sized skeletons, but never giant ones! Nobody ever told me about this! It's like a whole new world has opened up to me!"

Ling pats her on the shoulder. "Later, Lexxy. Let's focus on Noob Saibot for now."

They approach the city gate and crash through it; the hell-goats blast the door with fire and make a hole for them to fit through. Now they're out on the open roads of the Netherrealm, leaving the city of Nekros far behind them.

"Well, now what?" Lex asks. They both look far in the distance, to where the sky turns darkest, and gaze upon the great spire of Shinnok, now owned by Noob Saibot.

>Stick to the main road
>Follow the river
>Cross the great bridge
>Ditch the carriage halfway and continue on foot
>Other
>>
>>647616
>>Follow the river
We know we're near when the water turns gray. Ask Ling what her deal with Cao is.
>>
>>647616
>Follow the river
>>
>>647616
>>Follow the river
I wonder what the Netherrealm slaughters for meat at the slaughterhouse
>>
>>647760

At one point, it was Meat.
>>
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>>647648
>>647681
>>647760

At Ling's bidding, Lex turns the carriage off the road and onto slightly bumpier terrain, towards a nearby river of grey water.

Once here, they start following it, going upstream towards the tower.

Ling looks over at Lex and asks, "So, you're getting awfully cozy with the Kahnzedah. What's your game?"

"Jealous?" she asks with a mischevious grin.

Ling elbows her in the side softly. "Come on now. I'm serious."

"I'm allowed to have more friends than just you, Ling. You get to hang out with the prince as much as you like! I'm just being friendly with him. Besides, I think he's funny."

Suddenly, Cao sticks his head out the window and holds up a dark bottle with a red label. "Hey, that pig-thing had booze in here!"

Cassie grabs him and pulls him back inside, where she scolds him on not drinking during missions.

Lex lets out a giggle. "See?"

"Yeah, he's hillarious," Ling rolls her eyes. "I just wouldn't want to see him in charge of Outworld."

"Well, if that happens, maybe he would need an empress to 'reign' him in," Lex says, heavily implying something as she snaps on the reigns of the hell-goats.

Ling gives her an estranged look. "You can't be thinking what I think you're thinking..."

"What? I didn't say anything," Lex shrugs.

Up ahead, the sky turns completely grey. The landscape becomes withered and bleak, and the water turns from grey to black. They both grow silent as they leave the warmth of the Netherrealm's hellscape and enter the cold, desolate wastelands of Noob Saibot's wraith-controlled territory.

Far ahead, they can see the black spire. It rises from the ground all the way up into the sky, where dark clouds conceal its top. Ling swallows a lump in her throat as she looks upon it.

"Familiar?" Lex asks in a low voice.

"From my dreams," Ling whispers back.

>Continue on foot
>Take the carriage to the base of the tower slowly
>Race towards the tower at high speed
>Stop and get in contact with Team Striker
>Other
>>
>>647819
>>Stop and get in contact with Team Striker
>>
>>647819
>Stop and get in contact with Team Striker
Let's take stock.
>>
>>647819
>>Stop and get in contact with Team Striker
>>
>>647866
>>647899
>>647979

Writing now.
>>
>>647866
>>647899
>>647979

With the carriage pulled over, the team takes a moment to get in contact with Team Striker. Fireseed has managed to escape the city, and will soon be in a position to attack Noob Saibot's spire, thus creating a diversion.

Ling and Frost fill Cassie in on the info they got from Wildfire. The sergeant paces for a moment, then begins to formulate a plan.

"Okay. As soon as Fireseed and his team are ready, we're going to go in through that pipe, get on the lift and make our way up to the top of the tower."

"Brilliant," Frost says. "Nobody else could've thought of that."

"Frost, I swear I am two words away from straight-up pistol whipping you," Cassie says as she grits her teeth.

Before Frost can reply, Cao steps in.

"Let's just cool it, alright?"

Frost shakes her head. "Can't believe you just said that."

"Sorry," he says. "Can we keep you two from tearing each other's throats out until at least we've stolen that orb?"

Cassie crosses her arms. "Fine."

Frost does the same. "Fine!"

Lex leans over and whispers in Ling's ear, "Is it always like this?"

"More or less."

>Take the carriage to the tower
>Leave it here and walk
>Stealthily approach the tower
>Come up with a different plan of approach
>Other
>>
>>648120
>Stealthily approach the tower
Since a horse-drawn carriage is decidedly un-subtle.
>>
>>648120
> stealthily
>>
>>648144
>>648247

I'm just getting some food; I'll resume in a bit.
>>
>>648120
>>Stealthily approach the tower
Put a neon sign up on top of the carriage that says "THE HEROES ARE HERE!" with an arrow pointing down at us.
>>
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>>648144
>>648247
>>648291

Leaving the carriage behind and untethering the hell-goats to send them back to Nekros, the team moves on. They sneak across the terrain of the Netherrealm, sticking to the shadows and concealed areas as best they can. Slowly, they progress towards the spire as they cross the grey landscape.

Eventually, the come to a small canyon where the black river is fed by a pipe spewing black fluid from the base of the spire. The team carefully moves up, mindful of any guards, but none are seen.

"Hang on," Cassie says, taking out her gun. "I don't like this. We've been hearing about this 'Army of Darkness' for months; where the hell are all the wraiths?"

"Maybe out fighting somewhere else?" Cao wonders aloud.

"His spire wouldn't be undefended," Frost points out. "Noob Saibot's too clever for that. I smell a trap."

"Well then, what do we do?" Vapor asks. "Should I go in there and scout it out?"

Cassie shakes her head. "Nobody goes in alone. But I don't like this..."

Ling thinks for a moment. "Well, those skeletons were attacking Nekros. Maybe his army is somewhere else, fighting the Deadly Alliance's army or something?"

Lex cracks her knuckles. "If there's a trap, I say we spring it."

>Go into the tower
>Contact Team Striker
>Split up
>Find another way inside
>Other
>>
>>648639
>>Go into the tower
>>Other
Expect Shadow Wraiths and Priests to pop up as soon as we open the drain pipe, because I think that's what happened last time we did this.
>>
>>648651

last time?
>>
>>648639
>Go into the tower
>>
>>648639
> contact team striker
> go into the tower
Should probably let them know what we are up to so they know what to write on our gravestones.
>>
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>>648651
>>648756
>>648843

They all agree to wait for now. Eventually, they get the signal from Team Striker; they've engaged the enemy. In the distance, they can hear the sounds of battle, and so they move on with their plan.

One by one, they head up to the pipe and help each other climb up into it. The sludge is thick and gooey, but not very hard to traverse through. Once inside the tower, they need to rely on lights of their own in order to see where they are going, as the interior is completely dark.

The walls are all coated with a strange black resin. Ling approaches a wall and runs her hand alongside it, feeling the unnatural surface; nothing is completely flat or smooth, it constantly changes texture.

"This place is about as creepy as I expected," Cassie says. "Like we're walking right into a damned xeno nest or something."

"Everyone remain calm," Vapor says, trying very hard to remain calm herself.

Cao takes out his Wrath Hammer and commands it to glow green to provide further illumination. They begin to move through the tunnels and eventually come to a large central room with a solid platform at its heart. Though the strange resin does reach the platform, the platform itself is neatly clean. Gears line one wall, covered in thick black goo, with a lever nearby.

"This must be the lift," Ling says.

"Curious that it's already on this level... Almost like it was waiting for us," Cassie says.

"Let's take it up and get this over with," Cao suggests. Lex has her fists up and at the ready.

Everything about this situation unnerves them greatly. Ling feels as though they are being watched and every step they take is one that brings them closer to whoever it is who is watching them.

Cao approaches the lever and gets ready to pull it.

>Stop him; let's look for another way up
>Ride the lift upwards
>Search the room thoroughly
>Wait for some time
>Other
>>
>>649060
>>Search the room thoroughly
Look for any goop quickly sliding into the walls as we approach
>>
>>649060
>Search the room thoroughly
If it's too convenient, it's a set-up. If it's not a set-up now, it will be later.
>>
>>649060
>>Search the room thoroughly
>>
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>>649088
>>649122
>>649253

As Cao approaches the lever, Ling moves up and stops him. "Wait," she says. "Let's just... Search the room first."

The thief looks around. "I don't see anything."

"Just humor me," she says. Cassie seems to agree and the team splits up and begins to actively search the walls. Everyone approaches a wall

Cao leans on his hammer. "We're wasting time," he points out.

Lex and Ling thoroughly pat down one of the walls. Frost, nearby, attempts to freeze a section of the resin and then break it; nothing happens.

Cassie sighs. "I just can't shake the feeling that something is---"

As she speaks, she places her hand on part of the wall, whereupon a black figure emerges from it, materializing out of oily goo. Cassie shouts and leaps back, her hand covered in black oil as the mass takes the form of a woman, who finishes her sentence. "Here?"

Just then, the walls come alive. The team all step back as the strange resin all begins to change and take new forms; the wraiths begin to bleed off of the walls and onto the floor, rising from black pools.

"We have been expecting you," the female wraith says as she appears. She looks at Cassie and stops, tilting her head a bit. "My... You look just like Sonya Blade, do you know that?"

Cassie takes out her glock and aims it. "You... Wait, I know you! My mom told me about you! You're... Sylence!"

"I'm flattered that she hasn't forgotten about me," Sylence says, reaching behind her and taking out two daggers. "And soon enough, she'll be one of us."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Our king's new Wraith-Plague," Sylence says. The group all begin to back up onto the platform as the dark figures close in. "It is consuming them from the inside, and soon enough, it will turn them all into wraiths. With such powerful allies, our army will be unstoppable."

"It's not going to work," Frost shouts. "We're here to stop you freaks!"

Sylence laughs. "The only reason you got this far is because you were allowed to, little girl. Our king wanted you to come here, and now here you are... caught in a web like flies!"

The spectral Special Forces member leaps up high and aims her punching daggers downwards as she attacks!

>1d100 and an action!
>>
Rolled 45 (1d100)

>>649447

> Spear top point up. Let her impale herself.
>>
Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>649447
Step to the side and swing our staff up into her gut as she descends.
>>
>>649447
Assuming the enemy has no air mobility, let them gut themselves on our halberd.

>Sylence
Are we supposed to remember that name? Wasn't she originally one of Sonya's ex-specops members?
>>
Rolled 34 (1d100)

>>649513
>>
>>649513
Noob turned her into a wraith during Noob Saibot Quest
>>
>>649542
>Noob Saibot Quest
Shit, man, that was a long while ago.
>>
>>649548
yeah

and still no Elvis Quest
>>
>>649570
...Yet.
>>
>>649602
>Bark
>Lick
>Sniff
>Urinate
>Other
W H E N
>>
>>649614

Honestly I would kill for Damashi to write some meaningless fluff like that. His little moments always end up being the best. Like Vampire Jones and her damsel Cao.
>>
>>649646
>Vampire Jones
Who? Nitara?
>>
>>649664

Yeah when we went into dusty place and reptile jobbed for the 32nd time out of the 890 times thus far.
>>
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>>649487
>>649488
>>649513
>>649527

Cassie aims her gun up at the wraith, but Ling steps in front of her and point her spear upwards. With a mental command, it extends, shooting the head straight at the falling foe, impaling her and sending her flying backwards. Ling's spear hits the wall, taking Sylence with it, as she grips the shaft penetrating her gut. Black blood oozes down the shaft, and with another command, Ling retracts it, letting her fall to the ground.

The remaining wraiths move in. Cao swings his hammer, smashing three of them while Lex's fists burn with a fiery magic; she punches one in the head, causing it to explode. Cassie fires off her entire magazine, emptying it into one of them, but when it has no effect she casts the pistol aside and and charges at it with green glowing fists. Nearby, Vapor reaches behind her and takes out a three-section staff, which she unfolds and begins to twirl around; she smacks several hands that reach near her, splattering them on the ground.

Frost quickly gets back-to-back with Ling as they both fend off the oncoming wraiths. The cryomancer manages to conjure of a wind of freezing energy that solidifies several of them; Ling turns the head of her staff into a hammer and then smashes them all with one wide spinning swing.

The six of them manage to stick together and move completely onto the platform, keeping the wraiths at bay with their attacks. Little do they realize that this is what was intended, as Sylence gets back up, clutching her stomach, and approaches the lever. She pushes it down and they feel the floor beneath them begin to move; they are quickly lifted upwards and away from the horde.

"What the?" Cao looks around. "Why did they do that?"

"She said we were expected," Cassie says, taking out a stick of gum and popping it into her mouth. "I think we're going to meet the man in charge."

Slowly, they are brought upwards. The approach to the top of the tower is met with no resistance, but now that they know the wraiths live on the walls, they could be attacked at any time. They all look up as they near the top, and when the lift comes to a complete halt, they are in the throne room.

They all look upon the throne of Shinnok, now coated in black oil and shining in the light of the white orb that rests upon a pedestal in front of it. Their eyes are all drawn to this item, the only source of illumination in the entire room, shining like a star in the night sky. Ling's mouth slowly parts as she looks upon it; it is just as it was in her dreams.

Behind the orb, upon the throne, two bright white-blue eyes open. A pair of dark hands appear and rest upon the orb, almost cradling it protectively.

"Welcome," a sinister voice reaches their ears. "I don't believe we've been properly introduced. I know some of you, of course, but this... 'team' of yours has yet to face the new king of the Netherrealm."

Frost's eyes narrow. "Noob Saibot."

>Attack!
>Spread out
>Go for the orb!
>Talk
>Other
>>
>>649707
>Attack!
Fuck talking, it's always going to be the same mustache twirling and how he's tied Team Striker to some railroad tracks outside with a Netherrealm train heading straight for them
>>
>>649707
>>Talk
Noob Saibot! Your baby snatching, mustache twirling days are over! Our companions are already dismantling your ghost train with precision suplexes as we speak!
>>
>>649707
>Talk
Noob Saibot. My name is Kung Ling. You threaten my father, Kung Lao. Explain yourself before I gut you where you sit.
>>
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>>649769
I think a netherrealm train would look more like this instead of ghostlike
>>
>>649707
>>Attack!
>>
>>649783
Nah man, totally looks like this.
>>
>>649750
>>649769
>>649779
>>649785

Seems like a tie.

I'll write a combination.

>>649807

Good thing we can suplex those.
>>
>>649837
>Good thing we can suplex those.
Yes, which is why
>Our companions are already dismantling your ghost train with precision suplexes as we speak!
>>
>>649750
>>649769
>>649779
>>649785

Cassie takes out her remaining gun and aims it. "So, let me guess: this is where you give your whole villain speech, right?"

"I don't prefer talking too much."

"Bullshit, you talked a lot the last time we met," Frost points out.

"Well, since you mention that, I really must thank you, Frost. You as well, little girl version of Smoke---I forget your name." Vapor's grip tightens on her section-staff as Noob Saibot rises from his slick throne. "You see, my defeat that day was a humbling experience. After I reformed in the Netherrealm, I realized that I was too narrow-minded, too focused on my brother and his clan. I was stagnating. I decided that I wasn't accomplishing my goals quickly enough, and so I turned to a new purpose: my Wraith-Plague. You've already seen its deadly effects, and soon it will spread throughout Earthrealm, Edenia and Outworld---and beyond! All peoples, in all realms, wraiths---under my control!" He holds aloft the orb. "All thanks to this mystical orb! To think, for so long I was using it merely to spy on others, when all along it held the key to my ultimate victory!"

Cassie pops her bubblegum. "Gotta admit, that's a good villain speech." She spits out the piece and aims at the orb. "But you made the classic mistake: revealing your weak point!"

She aims at the sphere and fires. The bullet bounces off the artifact and impacts on the wall.

Cassie stands there, a bit embarrassed for a moment, as Noob chuckles. "Foolish girl. It cannot be destroyed by your puny mortal weapons. This was a tool of the Elder Gods themselves! My ally, the cleric of chaos Havik, taught me its secrets and now I will use it to spread my darkness throughout all realms."

Ling then steps in front of her. "Noob Saibot! I've seen you in my dreams. I've known you had this orb for a long time, and now we're here to take it away from you."

Noob lowers the orb and stares at her. "I don't know you," he says simply.

Ling suddenly flares her nostrils. "You're trying to kill my father!"

"That doesn't narrow it down too much. Your entire team is composed of lesser sons and daughters to actual threats that I am killing."

"Do you know me?" Cao asks, mostly out of curiosity.

Ling ignores him and continues speaking. "Well, then know this: I am Kung Ling, daughter of Lao, of the House of Kung! And I'm going to tear that orb out of your hands and beat you to death with it!"

"Try it, then," Noob says, holding the orb in front of him. "Go on."

>1d100 and an action!
>>
Rolled 30 (1d100)

>>650048

> Try it.
>>
Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>650048
Extend that power pole and knock the orb out of Noob's hands. That orb is going to be a focal point for the entire battle, so let's set it upon neutral ground.
>>
Rolled 11 (1d100)

>>650048
Ask him if he knows Cao.
>>
Rolled 78 (1d100)

>>650048
Let's go with a staff kick
>>
Rolled 64 (1d100)

>>650048
>>650048
Umm, I don't know anything about this guy...
>Extend staff to knock the orb out of his hands

Oh oh, looks like Cassie is all out of bubblegum
>>
>>650062
>>650113
>>650135
>>650122

Ling lunges forward, thrusting her spear at the orb. Noob continues to hold it out in front of him, as if letting her do this.

Once the head of the spear is under the orb, she pushes down on the back of the shaft, forcing the head upwards and knocking the orb out of his hands!

It flies up into the air, drawing everyone's eyes due to its brightness, exactly as Noob had anticipated.

>>650120

Saibot then lunges out of Noob's chest, flying directly at Ling over her spear. The shadowy clone tackles her to the floor, where he loses solid form and spreads out over her, his oily skin becoming like a glue that holds her to the floor.

Noob then rushes forward and leaps in the air, kicking the gun out of Cassie's hand. When he lands, he trips her, allowing another wraith to appear from the floor and grab her just like Ling and hold her down. Noob himself then falls upon the floor and vanishes.

Frost attempts to catch the orb, not noticing Noob teleporting behind her through the ground. He grabs her and drags her into a dark portal at her feet. They appear on the other side of the room, where she is thrown out of the portal and at Cao, who barely has time to react and cannot get out of the way. They both collide and fall to the floor, where wraiths appear to bind them.

Lex charges at Noob and attempts to deliver a flaming palm-strike to his back, but ends up only attacking his shadow as the real Noob rises behind her. She realizes this too late and strikes backwards, only to have him catch her arm and drag her down to the floor, where two wraiths leap up from the oily ground and hold onto her.

Noob then appears in the middle of the room, standing in front of Vapor, where he catches the orb in one hand.

In the span of less than three seconds, he incapacitated the entire team---save for her.

"You're a bit too slippery for me to take down like the others. You know, I was friends with your father once," Noob says to her in a calm voice, as though he had extended no effort in capturing the others. The section-staff in her hands shakes slightly as he approaches her. "I even got to watch him die. He was my partner during Shinnok's invasion. He was very useful, and I could use another ally like him."

Everyone struggles against the oily tentacles holding them to the floor. Cassie shouts out, "Vapor! Don't listen to him, attack! Free us!" She is silenced by a black hand rising out of the ground and slamming over her mouth.

Ling closes her eyes and reaches for her staff, which had been knocked out of her hands. If she could angle it right, she could escape...

"The enenra demons have sworn fealty to me," Noob says as Vapor backs up against the wall. "Do you know what you really are, child? You could be so much more than you are right now."
>>
>>650281

Vapor stops shaking. "I know what I am."

She then vanishes into mist, flowing around him. Like razor-thin sheets of metal, her tendrils of smoke cut through the oily bonds holding each of her team members down, just as quickly as he had originally captured them.

They all rise and quickly group back up in the middle of the room, facing him and ready for his next move, with Vapor appearing in front of them. She holds her staff in front of her defensively.

"And my name is Vapor."

Noob seems amused. "Very well. We're going to do this the hard way, then."

He takes the orb and places it in front of his chest. Everyone watches as he then sucks it inside of himself, as though concealing it in some kind of pocket dimension. He then raises his arms and all around him the wraiths rise; to his immediate right is Sylence.

"I brought you here so that I could see what you really are, New Defenders. And so far I'm not impressed."

He points at the group and the wraiths charge!

>1d100 and an action!
>>
Rolled 48 (1d100)

>>650285
Vault the pack of wraiths and get on Noob directly.
>>
Rolled 63 (1d100)

>>650285
Split Noob down the middle, he's got to have the orb somewhere
>>
Rolled 48 (1d100)

>>650285
skip mob, attack boss
>>
>>650409

As the horde of wraiths moves in, so to does the team. Ling, however, plants the head of her spear in front of the charging wraiths, sticking it into the ground. She kicks up with her legs and pole vaults over the group of them, flying over their heads and landing right in front of Noob.

>>650462

Ling shouts as she lands, turning the head of her spear into a dao and bringing it down upon him with all of her might! She slices into his black flesh, cutting him nearly cleanly in half, splitting him right down the middle!

The two halves separate, but then strands of oil shoot between them, holding him together like glue. They slowly begin to pull the two parts back together, but Ling isn't about to just let him! She quickly swings her staff again, cutting him in half at the waist, and then chops his legs off.

Noob falls onto the floor, convulsing slightly, before melting into a puddle of black oil.

Ling pokes around in the puddle, looking for the orb. She leans in close when suddenly a hand reaches out, grabs her, and pulls her in.

Ling finds herself in a dark room with no light, utterly alone. She stands up, pointing her spear around and desperately looking for a way out.

Noob's voice echoes all around her. "You know, I don't care who you are or who your father is."

Her grip is so tight on her staff that her knuckles are turning white.

"You're just another pathetic fighter who thinks she can make a difference. You have no hope. You have no chance. You think you can defeat me here in my home?"

From the darkness of this place, several pairs of eyes stare at her, all belonging to Noob.

"In here, I am a god!"

He suddenly appears in front of her, materializing out of shadow, swinging a scythe at her. She turns and blocks the attack with her own polearm.

"Still some fight in you? Good. I like my subjects to be broken both physically AND mentally before I turn them!"

They part and he holds his scythe up high. "Just as your friends outside my tower are dying, so too will all of your friends die. But do not despair---they will not stay that way for long."

>1d100 and an action!
>>
Rolled 59 (1d100)

>>650565
Chances are the orb is in here. Keep dodging and move around so his eyes can light up the room and possibly find the orb.
>>
Rolled 33 (1d100)

>>650565
Vault kick?

Maybe some crazy Kung magic
>>
Rolled 28 (1d100)

>>650565
Calm down and focus. This is exactly what Kung Lao was talking about during the trip to the shaolin temple. Cool your jets, and don't get riled by Noob.
>>
Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>650565
This >>650626
Also this guy seems like he would appreciate a couple of fireballs to the face. Who can do fire magic, Cass' fire punches?
>>
>>650595

Ling steps back as she blocks each of his attacks. Noob cackles maliciously as he forces her further and further backwards with each swing of his dark weapon. Ling stays mobile and dodges or blocks each strike, intent on trying to figure out a pattern behind his attacks, some method to his madness---the orb must be here! But where?

>>650608

Deciding that defense is not exposing the orb, Ling attempts to go on the offensive with a vault kick, but as she does, Noob falls backwards into the floor. He pops up behind her and swings his scythe, leaving a cut on her arm. She grimaces in pain as she falls down onto a knee, holding her wound.

She looks at it and sees that the wound is black. Before her eyes, the skin around it begins to turn grey, with black veins appearing beneath.

'Poison,' she thinks as she begins to feel woozy.

>>650626

Behind her, Noob Saibot chuckles.

"Of all your little friends, I think you will be the first to fall. I can see it on you as plainly as the clothing you wear: you lack conviction. You have no will. You are weak... like your father."

She closes her eyes and tries to focus, remembering what her father spoke to her about earlier, remembering what it was like to

>"Do not think. Feel."

"You will turn. Your friends will turn. Your father will turn." She hears him lifting up the scythe, preparing to bring it down upon her.

>"You must surpass your self-imposed limitations if you are to truly see what your opponent is doing."

And Noob is doing something... All of this is a distraction, she suddenly realizes. The orb is here... and she knows where!

"Now, little girl... you shall die."

>"Do not think. Feel."

Noob swings!

>1d100+10!
>>
Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>650664
DODGE
>>
>>650672
Forgot the +10 but still a good roll
>>
Rolled 22 (1d100)

>>650664
"You said you didn't care for my father. Alzheimer's set in early for wraiths?"
>>
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>>650731
What have you done
>>
Rolled 73 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>650664
Get up trinity, get up!
>>
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>>650672
>>650731
>>650751

Ling turns to the side, letting the scythe pass within an inch of her skin, before leaping up to her feet. Though her arm burns, she opens her eyes and stares at Noob Saibot's bright blue orbs.

'Orbs,' she thinks.

She looks all around at the many eyes staring at her and realizes that he is concealing the orb behind one of them, attempting to trick her into thinking that he is all around her---when in reality, he isn't even here at all!

Lifting up a hand, she banishes the vision in front of her. The wound on her arm vanishes as well---all of these things were conjurings of her own making. Fueled by Noob, yes, but only because she allowed it!

Staff in hand, she swings it across the room, banishing all of the eyes around her, until only one of them remains. With the shadows cast off of it, the orb is revealed!

Ling approaches it and places her hand upon it, thinking that now she can return to her team. As she does, she suddenly experiences a vision---Team Striker have been overrun by the wraiths and brought to the throne room, held against the walls like the others were earlier. Ling realizes that Noob had planned to bring them all to the throne room at once; he had merely been delaying up until this point.

As she realizes this, the black world around her is torn violently away. She is expelled with great force from this pocket dimension within Noob and out into the throne room, where her friends are battling for their lives.

Noob rises from the floor in front of her. "You think yourself clever?" The orb emerges from his chest. "I hold the power in my hands! You are nothing!"

Ling backs up onto her feet, pointing her spear at him. Out of the corner of her eye, she can see her entire team in trouble, some of them trapped and held against their will.

"Now, with all of you in one place, I will use its power to infect all of you at once with my plague!"

Ling's eyes widen as he holds it up high, but then there is a bright flash from the center of the room as someone teleports in. A flaming skull flies through the air and blasts Noob in the chest, causing him to drop the orb and fall back. Ling is quick to reach out and grab it for herself, but then looks and sees who is responsible.

None other than Shang Tsung, who was also waiting for the right moment to strike.

"Shang Tsung?!" Noob shouts. "How can this be?"

"Everyone forgets about the old man," Shang replies, his hands glowing red and orange with portal magic. He turns to his side and creates a new portal with his sorcery. "Everyone, back to the island!"

Noob leaps up. "No! I won't allow this to happen!"

He charges at Ling, materializing his scythe in one hand!

>1d100 and an action!
>>
Rolled 23 (1d100)

>>650926
If he made the scythe then chances are it can be destroyed like him. Slash it in half then slash him in two.
>>
Rolled 63 (1d100)

>>650926
Shang Tsung ex machina, eh?

Stand our ground and allow the others to retreat before us.
>>
Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>650926
Counter Strike
>>
Rolled 91 (1d100)

>>650926
Have more dice
>>
>>650926
Get in front of him and use our amazing seer powers that have a high DC to dodge and be really frustrating.

>>651014
That's a crap action. What, use dice as caltrops? Heh.
>>
Rolled 19 (1d100)

>>651078
Fugg
>>
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>>650962

Ling tosses the orb behind her so that Shang Tsung may catch it, just in time to bring up her spear to block Noob's scythe!

As the others work on freeing each other, she pushes back against the wraith.

"You will not take it from me!" he shouts.

>>650963

Ling stands her ground, gritting her teeth as she holds him back. Behind her, the others are starting to escape.

He stares into her eyes, as though penetrating her very soul. "THE ORB IS MINE!"

A hand taps on his shoulder. He turns and suddenly a spiked mace is smashed against his skull.

Noob Saibot falls down, though he immediately turns back to see who this newest offender is. Ling looks up and gasps as she gazes upon a man with half of his face torn off.

"Havik?!" Noob shouts. "What is the meaning of this?!"

"Sorry, old friend, but the orb isn't yours any longer. It's been a good couple decades, but the time has come for my plans to be furthered instead of yours."

Noob's white eyes flash even more brightly. "BETRAYER!"

Havik shrugs. "Chaos."

Ling smiles as she steps back, remembering Wildfire's words, 'You don't really make allies in hell.' With Havik distracting Noob, she turns and runs back towards the portal, where she sees Cassie and Lex helping Forrest Fox and Takeda into the swirling vortex.

She looks back to see Noob attacking Havik, his attention completely focused on the cleric and not the heroes. It seems their partnership is truly at an end, but before Ling can question it further, Sylence leaps out and tackles Cassie into the portal! Both she and Lex quickly run through.

Shang Tsung created the portal to lead to the beach of his island. Tundra was the last person to run through, and once he has done so, Shang closes it behind him.

Sylence is attacking Cassie. Lex walks up behind her and grabs her by the neck, pulling the wraith off of the blonde before delivering a powerful punch to her face. Sylence falls down onto the beach, knocked out cold. Or in her case, colder.

Ling falls onto her knees, breathing heavily. Frost kneels down alongside her. "What happened back there?"

"Your mission was a success," Shang Tsung says, holding up the orb. For a moment, they are all worried he may wisk it away for himself, but after inspecting it, he drops it in the sand. "You needn't thank me. Without the people who run this place, I don't have the maids for my castle."

"Havik appeared as well," Ling tells them. "He betrayed Noob Saibot and let us escape with the Orb. I think he wanted us to..."

"But why?" Cassie asks. "Everything we know about that guy was that he's a schemer and was allied with Noob. With them no longer friends, all that means is that he's got some kind of scheme in the works, and it involved us having the orb."

"I don't like it," Jin says, walking up. Behind him, Tundra and Takeda look on, just as concerned.

Fireseed walks up, wrapping a bandage around his arm. "What matters is that Noob doesn't have the orb anymore. Let's check on the others."
>>
>>651113

In the medical ward, the New Defenders walk in to see the condition of the afflicted heroes stabilizing. The plague appears to be in retreat; without Noob Saibot's influence over the orb, it cannot sustain itself. There is some tissue damage and a variety of other minor complications, but the doctors are expecting a full recovery from everyone, even those they could not reach in time.

Ling walks past a row of beds containing various old Defenders and steps in front of her father, who is resting peacefully. He seems comfortable. She kneels down alongside him and stares for a moment before reaching up and touching his hand. Nearby, Cyrax watches silently, respectfully allowing her time to be with her unconscious father.

The diagnosis of most of the others is good, but the doctors have confirmed that the illness Lao was dealing with before the Wraith-Plague symptoms set in was mostly unrelated. The attack from the unnatural plague also unfortunately accelerated the prior-existing disease.

They do not believe that it is fatal, but they will need to run additional tests.

She stays there for a good while, even after others have already left.

Eventually, Jin walks up and sits next to her. Not far away, Frost and Lex wait patiently as well, standing in the corner.

"We should get some sleep," Jin says to her, gently touching her shoulder. "He'll be here in the morning. Don't worry."

"I will be, too," Ling replies. "...He's still got more to teach me."

They stand up and walk towards the exit, heading towards the barracks. No words are spoken along the way there, giving Ling a chance to reflect on all that has happened. She takes a deep breath and is glad that it's finally over and that they can move on.

As they pass by the rec room, Cassie suddenly kicks open the doors and bursts out from it, holding a dildo in her hand. "ALRIGHT, WHO'S THE WISE GUY, HUH?!"

Everyone blinks a few times before Ling and Frost burst into crying laughter while Cassie rages.
>>
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>>651235

I think I'll call it there as a good end to the episode. I think I could write more but I'm very tired.

I hope you all enjoyed this continuation and conclusion to Ling's episode; I know I did.

This thread will have more coming, but I think I'll need to go to bed first. I'd like to write more material for it, tie up a few loose ends, you know.

Next up is going to be our first non-New Defenders character episode. I'd like every fifth episode to be special, so it'll be an episode from an outside perspective.

I know I've done polls up until this point, but I'd kind of like it to follow Kotal Kahn.

What do you think? Would you like to vote, or not? Let me know.
>>
>>651235
Yes the Dildo gag payed off, excellent
>>
>>651284
Railroad me into Kotal senpai
>>
>>651284
>No Meat and Yorick.
You make me sad Damashi.
>>
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>>651346

I couldn't think of a way to fit them in organically; the "ticking clock" of the orb had me keep things moving along. The tavern encounter/dance off/Wildfire was what I primarily wanted to have as the sole 'slice-of-life-in-the-netherrealm' kind of thing. With pacing and timing there's only so much I can include to keep things interesting and moving forward, you know?

I mean I go into these things with lots of ideas; at one point I wanted to reintroduce Father O'Reilly in this episode as a priest trapped in hell and battling wraiths with a shotgun and holy hand grenades. Sometimes I miss Kathy Long, too.

The point is, Yorick and Meat are out there, somewhere in the realms, I promise you this.
>>
>>651380
>Yorick and Meat are out there
We need to find them and be best friends again.

Also, I'd like to see O'Reilly and Kathy Long again too.
I like to imagine that Kathy wrote a book about the Tournament and Invasion and has a mildly successful self-defense school.
>>
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>>651392

Poor Kathy, first person ever fought in the quest and doomed to obscurity ever since outside of a cameo in MK3.
>>
>>651420
She always seemed like she wasn't the "Save the world from Outworld invasions type."
>>
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>>651433

She really wasn't, but I still miss all the little side characters.

Speaking of which, Sylence was captured after Lex punched her out and put into a secure containment unit; just thought I'd get that out of the way.
>>
>>651448
Speaking of side characters, whatever happened to our bro Tortek?
>>
>>651460

H...He died, anon

Onaga killed him
>>
>>651481
What? Nooo!
He was too good to die. I hope he got into heaven with all the Hamburgers he could eat.
>>
>>651501

His kid is going to show up at some point. He got with a lot of Tarkatan babes.
>>
>>651506
We should build Tortek a statue in the Shrine of Fallen Earthrealm Heroes and burn a pile of hamburgers before it every day.
>>
>>651511

Kaito took an arm blade from his body and keeps it in his room, next to some other artifacts from the old days, like the book on the Crimson Thunder and Asgaarth's purple cape.
>>
>>651506
>tarkatan babes
I wonder if the tarkatan females brought back some male concubines from their raids
>>
>>651716

A sexy and short-lived existence.
>>
>>652091
Being taken as a tarkatan husband/concubine must involve a lot of nasty, fucked up hand holding and gentle caressing
>>
>>652200

One can only imagine.



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