>>1804524
>"Yeah, we did want to talk to you. Who are you, and what do you want?"

>>1804697
>"Yeah, we did want to talk to you. Who are you, and what do you want?"
No use mincing words, time to get down to business.

"Harpe." An unusual name for such a violent woman, but she continues before you can ask more. "Why I'm here is a little more difficult." She carefully considers each of you in turn, hissing with a deadly tone, "You brats really need to stop getting involved with this place, before you hit on something that makes you a liability. It's bad enough you know about it." Her eyes dim to a threatening black as she stares at you, and you realize there are lights behind her irises she can control.

"So you're with the government," Donna guesses. "You guys are trying to hide something here?"

Harpe laughs with mechanical dissonance you're sure is deliberate. "That's not for you to know, little girl. Just go, and pretend you were never here. Better yet, get your memories erased. Your dear teacher should have already done that. I wonder what convinced him not to," she sneers. "Some sort of misplaced justice?"

Keith holds his tongue, obviously outraged at this situation but still concerned for Flores. His right arm begins to tremble a bit from a conflict between impulse and reason.

Sofia tries to reason with your attacker. "So what's your proposal? You let Flores go and we leave and never come back?"

"Precisely," Harpe grins shark, eager someone is willing to listen to her demands. "Just go back to school and be good little kiddies."

>>Just go back to school and be good little kiddies.
>"I'm not agreeing to anything until Ruth is clear of danger."
>"You threaten us and expect us to agree with you?"
>"I know who you work for."
>"Why do we have to fight? Aren't we all on the same side?"
>"I'm not leaving until I know the truth."
>"Fuck off."
>><Write-In>

>>1804790
>"I'm not agreeing to anything until Ruth is clear of danger."
>Why are you so eager to talk now? Last time, you just took a potshot from the roof before any of us even knew you were there.

>>1804968
Sorry, my post just got eaten and I thought I had it backed up but I didn't.

>>1805087
Nbd mate.

>>1804968
>>1805097
>"I'm not agreeing to anything until Ruth is clear of danger."
"I expected as much," she sneers, digging her flat 'foot' further into Ruth's abdomen and causing the fortune-teller to flinch. "Your type always does."
>Why are you so eager to talk now? Last time, you just took a potshot from the roof before any of us even knew you were there
"Because I wasn't aiming at you," she rolls her eyes as if it were obvious. For a machine, she's quite humanlike- perhaps too much so. "You saw something you shouldn't have before I was able to eliminate it. And you didn't stop showing up here. So I've been tasked with making sure you don't come back."

"It's the Curse you captured," Mr. Bennett says, his speech secret to the gynoid. "They must think it had some sort of important information. This must be connected to whoever killed that salesman."
He finishes typing something on his side. "I've set everything up to port Florez out if you go into battle. I can't get you all at once, but one at a time I can handle. The order is Ruth, David, Donna, Sofia, Keith, and then you, stopping if you guys think you can handle her. I'm ready when you are."

"Now, I'm going to take my foot off of your little friend here and we never see each other again," Harpe says. "Because if we do, someone is going to die. Your boy Bennett can't track me, so unless you chase me down he's no help to you- and you don't want to do that."

As soon as she says that, the waiters arrive with your food, and she slides away from the table. "Don't ever show up here again, you little brats. Enjoy your food."

She dashes off with that at lightning spped, causing David to release a breath he's been holding an unnaturally long time and Ruth to stand up. Keith puts aside his steak and clenches his fists.
"Goddamn it, this might be our only chance! We have to go after her!"

>>We have to go after her!
>"It's too dangerous- we don't know that much about her and she got the drop on us before."
>"What did you think I was planning to do?" (Head after her, <Write-In> party)
>"Mr. Bennett, port out..." (<Write-In>)
>"We gave our word. However crazy she is, she spared Ruth, and that's good enough."
>"Ruth, are you okay?"
>"I'm too hungry to talk. Just eat your dinner."
><Write-In>

>>1805120
>"What did you think I was planning to do?" (Head after her, <Write-In> party)
>Keith, Sofia, Donna
>Any objections to going after her?
>Ruth, are you okay?

>>1805168
>"What did you think I was planning to do?" (Keith, Sofia, Donna)
Keith is about to charge off before he cuts of a piece of his steak and uses the same fork to scoop up some of the potatoes and gravy at the same time.
Sofia, upon seeing this, stops her train of thought and stares at Allan. "You have the most skewed priorites of anyone I've ever met, I swear."
"Don't care. Steak is bad anyways. Overcooked." He clears his throat after swallowing.
"Let's go. We can eat later, I hope," Price prepares to lead the way. "I want to find out how a robot is involved in all of this."

>Any objections to going after her?
Nobody does, but David still seems very fearful of Harpe- which seems odd, given that as far as you know they've never met before.

>Ruth, are you okay?
You help Ruth up. She brushes hair out of her eyes and gives you an encouraging smile before letting go of your hand. "I'll be fine. Just don't get too hurt, okay?"
David walks over to her and says to you, "I'll make sure nothin happens in the mean time. Go ahead."
Blue circles appear under Ruth and David, blinking the first out and beginning to remove the second. As Evelake is ported out, you head in the direction Harpe left in.

It takes you a little bit to track her down, but eventually you find the robotic woman. You didn't notice this before, but she's much shorter than you, about the same height as David.
Shaking her head, the gynoid tsks at you. "All you had to do was leave, and then you would have been fine. Even with four of you, I don't think you can account for our difference in experience."

"Not a chance, lady," Donna shakes her head. "What the hell are you and your creep boss up to?"

"That's none of your concern," a heavily-modulated voice rings out, and a second, much taller android with a face completely concealed by a one-sided mirror mask steps up. He looks much hardier but less acrobatic than Harpe, a different model of different make.

"So they put out an update to the American version," Harpe giggles. "About time."

"Another one?" Sofia prepares herself. "Look, I don't know who you all are, but I'm tired of being afraid of thugs like you! You're going to explain who you are, now!"

"Yeah," Keith roars. "Get ready, because I'm going to punch you into scrap!"

The two machines take coordinated combat stances and prepare to fight.
COMBAT ENGAGED!
--!!!WARNING!!!--

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOn-HdEg6AQ

>>Command? (Roll 2d10 and add modifier, * options do not take up a turn)
>Proficiency/Knowledge/Charm/Courage: (+2/+3/+3/+3) + Faust(+1/+2/+1/+1) + Armor (+1/0/0/0) = (+4/+5/+4/+4)
>Test the waters for their Psychic resilence (Proficiency +4)
>Try to identify each droid's strengths and weaknesses (Knowledge +5)
>Try to trick them into spilling more information about themselves and their motives (Charm +4)
>Split them up by force for easier takedown (Courage +4)
>*Change Myth (Blackbeard(+2, +0, -1, +3), Velveteen Rabbit(+0, +0, +2, +1), Red Riding Hood(+1, 0, +3, -1), Demon in the Bottle(-1, -1, +3, +2))
>*Ask Mr. Bennett if there's anything he can say about them
>*Order (Tell another person to do something specific: Current party- David, Keith, Donna, Ruth, Sofia)
>Flee
><Write-In>

>>1805268
>*Change Myth (Demon in the Bottle(-1, -1, +3, +2))
>*Ask Mr. Bennett if there's anything he can say about them
>Try to trick them into spilling more information about themselves and their motives (Charm +6)
>So the tall one was made here in the states, but Harpe is from somewhere else...

The way I see it, we're probably better off fishing for information and then extracting before they beat the shit out of us too badly.

Rolled 9, 8 + 6 = 23 (2d10 + 6)

>>1805303
Whoops, dice roll wasn't formatted right.

>>1805303
>>1805305
>*Change Myth (Demon in the Bottle(-1, -1, +3, +2))
>*Ask Mr. Bennett if there's anything he can say about them
"Normally, I'd say that's top-secret information and I can't tell you, but I'm already knee-deep in it as it is. If he was made in America, he's a Paladin unit. They're part of a secret development to create humanoid soldiers, spies, and agents of a similar nature- their nature is concealed by Dreamcatchers and the fact htat there are only a few of them. I can't identify him: They must have put out a new model or something. I think the other is from Japan."
>Try to trick them into spilling more information about themselves and their motives (Charm +6)

>So the tall one was made here in the states, but Harpe is from somewhere else...
When you mention that you know the android is a Paladin unit and his counterpart is Japanese, he shrugs. "It's useless for you to know such things- you'll be wiped either way."

"Japanese?" Harpe laughs. "Yes, I suppose you could say I am. Created in Japan by wicked scientists, I 'disappointed' them by rebelling aginast their inhumane treatment. So, of course, when they haded me off to the States, well..." she shifts into her Myth, a dark-clothed woman with a mane of snakes rather than hair.
"I wasn't in my best mood..." she cackles. "I escaped and was recaptured... Now, all these years later, I finally have my chance to show them how human I can really be."

Keith, refusing to let the two talk further, charges Harpe with D'Artagnan. The android moves to intercept and transforms into a heavily-armored knight, deflecting Keith's rapier and striking with his lance.

Harpe, who has taken the form of Medusa, turns her terrible gaze on Sofia, who covers her eyes just in time to block a dull red light emenating from Harpe's Mythical pupils from reaching her own.
Donna, seeing the conflict has turned south, releases a burst of light-birds from Cordelia, but Medusa's gaze sweeps over them and obliterates them.

>>Command? (Roll 2d10 and add modifier, * options do not take up a turn)
>Proficiency/Knowledge/Charm/Courage: (+2/+3/+3/+3) + Demon in the Bottle(-1, -1, +3, +2) + Armor (+1/0/0/0) = (+2/+2/+6/+5)
>Test the waters for their Psychic resilence (Proficiency +4)
>Try to identify each droid's strengths and weaknesses (Knowledge +5)
>Try to trick them into spilling more information about themselves and their motives (Charm +4)
>Split them up by force for easier takedown (Courage +4)
>*Change Myth (Faust(+1/+2/+1/+1), Blackbeard(+2, +0, -1, +3), Velveteen Rabbit(+0, +0, +2, +1), Red Riding Hood(+1, 0, +3, -1))
>*Ask Mr. Bennett if there's anything he can say about them
>*Order (Tell another person to do something specific: Current party- Sofia, Keith, Donna)
>Flee
><Write-In>

Rolled 4, 6 + 6 = 16 (2d10 + 6)

>>1805403
>Try to trick them into spilling more information about themselves and their motives (Charm +4)
>I take it those business men you tried to keep us away from were related to your former owners?

>>1805462
Typo Music (last post): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc6f_2nPSX8

>Try to trick them into spilling more information about themselves and their motives (Charm +6)
>I take it those business men you tried to keep us away from were related to your former owners?
The way you phrased your question seems to have pissed off Harpe.
"I have no owners!"
She turns her eyes your way, and your new form hides in its bottle to escape her ruby gaze.
"The businessmen you talk about: I'm sure they were connected to those damn scientists one way or another." She steps over to pick you up, but Sofia's Pythia hurls flame in the snake-woman's face, causing her to reel back and hiss in pain.

"You may have suffered a lot," Carrollo admits. "I don't know how I can help you with that. But what does this have to do with us?"

"Well, little girl," Medusa turns at Sofia, who covers her eyes again, "I have a sypathizer who's been very gracious, considering my track record. I can't say, but you'll find out one way or another. He has a plan for this world, and its relationship with what you might call the 'real world'. A nostalgia trip of Mythical proportions."

Donna and Keith attack Lancelot with little effect. "What's that supposed to mean?" Price asks. "'Nostalgia trip'?"

"Wait..." Keith realizes something as he barely parries a lance strike. "This world can affect the other one? I thought it was one-way only!"

"You'll find out more when we're finished," Harpe states, before trying to catch Allan in her light.

(Medusa is mildly injured, Lancelot is moderately hurt but still in good health)
>>Command? (Roll 2d10 and add modifier, * options do not take up a turn)
>Proficiency/Knowledge/Charm/Courage: (+2/+3/+3/+3) + Demon in the Bottle(-1, -1, +3, +2) + Armor (+1/0/0/0) = (+2/+2/+6/+5)
>Test the waters for their Psychic resilience (Proficiency +2)
>Try to identify each droid's strengths and weaknesses (Knowledge +2)
>Try to trick them into spilling more information about themselves and their motives (Charm +6)
>Get revenge on Medusa for trying to pick you up by blowing smoke in her face (Courage +5)
>*Change Myth (Faust(+1/+2/+1/+1), Blackbeard(+2, +0, -1, +3), Velveteen Rabbit(+0, +0, +2, +1), Red Riding Hood(+1, 0, +3, -1))
>*Ask Mr. Bennett if there's anything he can say about them
>*Order (Tell another person to do something specific: Current party- Keith, Donna, Sofia)
>Flee
><Write-In>

Rolled 3, 3 + 5 = 11 (2d10 + 5)

>>1805491
>Get revenge on Medusa for trying to pick you up by blowing smoke in her face (Courage +5)

>>1805512
>Get revenge on Medusa for trying to pick you up by blowing smoke in her face (Courage +5)
You hop out of the bottle for a split second and unleash the power of inebriation in the form of a thick cloud of vapors that you follow up with a small spark to turn it into a gout of flame.
Hissing, Harpe reels back, and Sofia steps forwards to follow it up with her own power. However, Medusa sweeps aside enough smoke to cause a small beam to shine through and land in Sofia's range of sight.
Halting and freezing up, Sofia shifts out of Pythia's form and collapses paralyzed.

"These odds are bad as they are and they just got worse," Bennett declares. "I'm getting you all out of there!" After a few seconds, he ports out Sofia. "Hold tight. Donna will go next, then Keith and then you. This whole day has been a shitshow."

Medusa's gaze turns back towards you, pinning you in the bottle for fear of getting caught in her paralyzing gaze, and Donna and Keith struggle more against Lancelot, who strikes Cordelia so hard she hits the ground and rolls, turning back into Donna's human form for a short time.
Keith continues his assault, but Lancelot's armor is too thick and his ice attacks, while effective, only slow the enemy down a bit.

(Medusa is moderately injured, Lancelot is hurt but not bloodied)
>>Command? (Roll 2d10 and add modifier, * options do not take up a turn)
>Proficiency/Knowledge/Charm/Courage: (+2/+3/+3/+3) + Demon in the Bottle(-1, -1, +3, +2) + Armor (+1/0/0/0) = (+2/+2/+6/+5)
>Keep Medusa distracted while (Proficiency +2)
>Try to create a smokescreen for an easier escape or better odds in battle (Knowledge +2)
>Taunt both of the enemies into attacking you (Charm +6)
>Try to fight Medusa while staying out of her gaze (Courage +5)
>*Change Myth (Faust(+1/+2/+1/+1), Blackbeard(+2, +0, -1, +3), Velveteen Rabbit(+0, +0, +2, +1), Red Riding Hood(+1, 0, +3, -1))
>*Ask Mr. Bennett if there's anything he can say about them
>*Order (Tell another person to do something specific: Current party- Keith, Donna)
>Flee
><Write-In>

>>1805572
>Change Myth (Blackbeard(+2, +0, -1, +3))
>Back up Keith and Donna against Lancelot

What should the roll be for this be?

>>1805572
>Keep Medusa distracted while the others escape
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcKTdbf2CB0
Sorry for so many errors.
Low poster count saps my motivation. Thanks for sticking around.
>>1805585
Courage.

Rolled 1, 10 + 6 = 17 (2d10 + 6)

>>1805588
No problem, Judge.

>>1805585
>>1805604
>Change Myth (Blackbeard(+2, +0, -1, +3))
>Back up Keith and Donna against Lancelot
You shift into Blackbeard, whose smoking beard helps shield your eyes from the red beams coming from Medusa. Trying to keep the pressure off of your friend, you turn on Lancelot and let off a salvo in the knight's direction.
Lancelot is forced to move out of the way, and catches a few blows from cannonfire, but the dents in his armor aren't deep. Thankfully, it does take the heat off of your friends, so Donna can escape and Keith is able to gain a teporary upper hand by lodging his sword in Lancelot's visor and twisting.

While this is all happening, Medusa tries to grab you by the throat and you barely twist out of her grip before she can force you to look at her. A few snakes nearly bite you and you can feel Blackbeard's clothes tear.

You try to stay out of their way as the setup for Keith's escape happens, but it's two on two and Lancelot seems to have picked up on your idea, using it for himself and charging you. You're tossed through several tables before Lancelot relents and pulls away, leaving you sliding on the ground.

"Solomon!" Keith cries out, and moves behind Medusa before freezing her head so she can't turn her gaze on you.

"Hold on, you're up next!" Mr. Bennett ports out Keith, sounding a little tired. "Just run! I've got you locked on, don't try to fight them both!"

(Medusa is slightly bloodied, Lancelot is heavily injured)
>>Command? (Roll 2d10 and add modifier, * options do not take up a turn)
>Proficiency/Knowledge/Charm/Courage: (+2/+3/+3/+3) + Blackbeard(+2, +0, -1, +3) + Armor (+1/0/0/0) = (+5/+3/+2/+6)
>Take Bennett's advice and just beat feet (Proficiency +5)
>Try to learn what little you can while trying not to get killed (Knowledge +3)
>Ask Lancelot what his real name is (Charm +2)
>Break Medusa out of her ice the hard way (Courage +6)
>*Change Myth (Faust(+1/+2/+1/+1), Demon in the Bottle(-1, -1, +3, +2), Velveteen Rabbit(+0, +0, +2, +1), Red Riding Hood(+1, 0, +3, -1))
><Write-In>

Rolled 9, 4 + 5 = 18 (2d10 + 5)

>>1805662
>>Take Bennett's advice and just beat feet (Proficiency +5)
Let's nope right the fuck out of this situation.

>>1805666
Nice! Typically people would be running from the devil, but I guess this time it's the other way around.

>>1805666
>>1805672
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US1-R-R9lYQ
(Of all the days to get Satan as a player...)

You remember that one of the many important techniques of pirating is to learn when to not be present. Blackbeard was known for picking his battles, and this is not one of the ones you were willing to have.
Making like a madman through the crowds, you surprise Lancelot by not turning and fighting him. Medusa breaks out of her temporary distraction, but it doesn't matter to you. Pushing your way past a waiter, you blink out of reality for a second before finding yourself back in Avalon.
Keith, Donna, and Ruth all jump up to meet you and ensure you're all right.

"Damn, you really took a beating," Keith mutters. You didn't notice it before due to adrenaline, but he's right. You feel a sharp pain in your side and fall to a knee.

Mr. Bennett stands up from his seat, the Siege Perilous, with sweat rolling down his red face and a small tissue stuffed in one of his nostrils. "This wasn't supposed to happen," he mutters nasally.
Drawing in a deep breath, he seats you in one of the chairs and gauges the damage. "Big bruising. Really big. You'll hurt for a few days."

Shaking his head, he looks at Sofia, who appears to have fallen asleep on a cot nearby, no longer paralyzed, and David, sitting nearby and twiddling his thumbs. "They were right."

"What?" Ruth looks at Mr. Bennett with an incredulous expression. "You don't mean we're giving up?"

"I shouldn't have let it get to this. The next time they find you, they'll kill you. There may be more of them. Whatever's down there isn't worth getting you guys killed." Walt removes his sunglasses and rubs his face with his hands.

"That isn't the problem anymore!" Keith yells. "Whoever that guy is that got those bots in here, he's planning something big, and he's going to involve us whether we fight them or not."

"I'll handle it," Bennett says. "I'll get some old friends together to hunt them down. You guys don't need to get involved."

>>You guys don't need to get involved.
>"We're already involved."
>"You think we're going to back down after THAT? That just made me mad."
>"Good, your friends can help us track them down."
>"Even if we don't go back into Babylon, we can find out who's responsible for this."
>"We only lost because we didn't know what they could do. Now we do."
>"As much as I hate to admit it..."
><Write-In>

>>1805714
>"Good, your friends can help us track them down."
>"We're already involved."

It's been fun Judge, but this is where I step out. Thanks for running.

>>1805743
It's fine, I'll call it a night with the next post unless someone else shows up. Will announce on Twitter next runtime.

OOC: Sorry, got delayed. Doesn't really matter, though.
>>1805738

>"Good, your friends can help us track them down."
"That's not what I meant," he growls, and sits down.
>"We're already involved."
You try not to sound bitter, but Walt isn't hearing it. "Yeah, well..." He puts his sunglasses on and sighs. "You guys obviously have your mind made up." Deep concern enters the teacher's face as he pulls out the bloody tissue from his nosebleed and snorts. "But right now, you guys really do need to rest. It's too dangerous to head back in there right now."

Sofia is still asleep, and Evelake is trying hard not to cry. Looking at your group, you ultimately agree with Mr. Bennett, and head back to your rooms once Carollo is awake and able to walk of her own power.
You're too tired to do anything of note for the rest of the day.

File: Ultra Greatsword.jpg (604 KB, 2048x1153)

604 KB JPG

EARLY MORNING, September, September 8th (Weather: Partly Cloudly. Forecast for tomorrow: Light Rain.)

You feel a little depressed when your Ultra Greatsword didn't come in yesterday, but when you wake up, there's a mail receipt pushed under your door.
Eagerly, you rush to the main office to find Ms. Crew sitting at her secretary's desk. Asking her if anything's come in, your patience is rewarded with a large package being drawn out from another room. It's the right size!

You hastily sign for the package and take it back to your room. Ms. Crew smiles and waves as you go. "Take care."

As soon as you get back, you tear it open, and as you hoped, there it is. Your pride and joy. The blade is comically over-sized and it looked sorta goofy objectively, but there was no denying it.
The one and only Ultra Greatsword- your inner kid feels giddy just holding it, and your instinct tells you to find a Void Lord to strike down.

(Got Ultra Greatsword: Courage +1 when wielded in battle)

You put the thought aside and put it in its sheath to prevent the outrage of a student carrying around a bladed weapon. You know Donna and Ruth are going to the convention, but not who else might be.

>>Early Morning
>Invite someone to the convention <Write-In>
>Get in touch with Ruth and Donna
>Take some time in the morning to buy something from a school store
>Buy a snack/drink from one of the vending machines
>Try to get to breakfast early and see if they have anything special today
>Check your e-mails
>Contact your parents
>Check Anonymouse
>Change into cosplay and head straight to the convention to get in early.
><Write-In>

>>1807323
>Check your e-mails
>Check Anonymouse
>Get in touch with Ruth and Donna

>>1807348
>Check your e-mails
You have an e-mail from Sofia.

>TO: Solomon Read
>MESSAGE: Can we talk about my position as secondary leader and what happened when we fought those two droids? I don't know who else to bring it up with.
>Whenever you're open.

Being paralyzed seems to have affected her greatly.

>Check Anonymouse

>ANON: CONVENTION DAY BOIS
>ANON: FACE IT AND FIGHT FEATHERMAN MYSTIC
>ANON: gaaay
>ANON: They've got some kid dressed up as the green ranger doing announcements and stuff.
>ANON: Probably just a short nip
>ANON: Just gonna buy my stuff, try to get some cosplay bitch drunk, go home
>ANON: >Cosplay Chads
>ANON: Argus-sama! *Heart*
>ANON: 4th floor is all to do with Featherman, has an open question panel. Try not to spill too much spaghetti you fags
>ANON: Did you actually spell out '*Heart*' the fuck is wrong with you

>Get in touch with Ruth and Donna
You contact them by a direct call. Donna is the first to pick up.
"Man, am I excited. Already got breakfast, ready to go. Ruth is being slow, we can go and she'll meet up with us later."

>>Ruth is being slow, we can go and she'll meet up with us later.
>Let's go.
>I'll go with Ruth, you go on ahead.
>Has Sofia seemed off to you lately?
>I need to do something first <Write-In>
>Have you seen David recently?
>Hey, make sure to keep an eye out for those crazy robots.
><Write-In>

>>1807423
>Let's go
>Has Sofia seemed off to you lately?
>Hey, make sure to keep an eye out for those crazy robots.

>>1807463
>Let's go.
"Gotcha. I'll meet you at the train."
>Has Sofia seemed off to you lately?
"Huh? Uh... I guess? She's always sort of 'off', if you ask me, but now that you mention it, she's been even more uptight than usual." She coughs.
"Maybe you can help her with that. Over, uh, hot coffee."
>Hey, make sure to keep an eye out for those crazy robots.
"I doubt they'd be stupid enough to attack us in the middle of a crowd, but okay," she replies, unconcerned.

---

You take the train to Clover Tower. Thankfully, the lines aren't that long yet. The Tower is huge. You're surprised that such an important buisiness would stop its lower-floor operations for a convention like this.
The building is an example of its time, with some outdated aspects of 70s color and design, but it's filled to the brim with people and tables. Donna's poorly-fitting cosplay gets a few odd looks, but she doesn't seem to mind.

There are signs pointing to stairs, as well as a conspicuous sign in front of an elevator that stands out to you in Japanese, with the English subtitle 'VIP Visitors'. You're not likely to sneak in, given that there's a pair of men in suits nearby watching the hall.
Food and drink are on this floor, ranging from Crescent City classics to Japanese cuisine. There are also manga and doujinshi for sale, and lots and lots of merchandise. The second floor is devoted to cosplay, and the third is hosting some panels. More shops fill five ansd six, and seven and eight have more panels.

Donna rushes towards the manga and begins to look for titles she's interested in. A girl in a white mage costume notices you for s split second before looking away, dashing off into the food court.
There's so much to do you feel a bit overwhelmed, and decide to focus on one thing for now.

>>The convention
>Try to look for an interesting panel
>Join Donna in looking at manga and art
>Try and buy some cosplay weapons for real use.
>Look for something to eat in the food court
>Sign up for whatever cosplay competitions they have on the second floor
>See if you can find Mr. Clover anywhere (who knows?)
>Keep an eye out for Harpe and her 'friend'
>Try to find the white mage you saw
>Head to the fourth floor
>Look for a way to approach the elevator
><Write-In>

>>1807520
Have an error music.
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bQwin3Vv0k

>>1807520
>Join Donna in looking at manga and art
>Try to find the white mage you saw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy6Arnjp-hQ
>>1807632
>Join Donna in looking at manga and art
You come across an interesting manga about a man who summons a ghost to fight by his side. It seems almost like a Myth, but you put the thought aside- it's not based on a mythological figure, and you don't transform into it.
The first doujin you pick up is about a cliche alternate-universe harem situation for some game or other. The fanservice is too overt for you to care about the story, which isn't that good anyways. You wonder if you could tolerate a harem, but then realize that you'd probably be torn apart by jealous girls if you tried.
Another manga you pick up is painfully gorey, so much so that you wonder about the artist's mental health. Surprisingly (or perhaps not) it's written by a woman. Eventually, you find an Ultra Fantasy manga: You weren't aware the first game had a set of 'canon' characters.

Donna is reading a shoujo manga where the heroine is surrounded by several men. She seems to be caught up in it, and you leave her be.

>Try to find the white mage you saw
You head into the food court and notice that Sarpino's has a stand. To your surprise and delight, Sofia is working- in cosplay, as the white mage you saw. She seems incredibly uncomfortable when she notices you.
Sarpino is in a Fighter's gear, and has no such witholdings, serving from pre-prepared boxes with a smile. They'll take a break about two hours before lunch, seemingly to rest and prepare for the lunch rush.

"What's-" Donna walks up from behind you with a bag and drops it when she sees Carrollo. She pulls out her phone, and Sofia turns beet-red, trying to stay out of Price's photos.

Ruth shows up at this timing, confused as to what's going on. "Hm? What are you two looking at? I thought we were doing a group cosplay."
>>What are you two looking at?
>"Oh, nothing."
>"Donna, put the phone away, come on."
>Order something from Sarpino's
>Pull out your phone, too
>"Yeah, we should go do that."
><Write-In>

>>1807699

>>Pull out your phone too.
>>Discreetly text Sofia that we can try to meet with her to have that talk once she's on break.
>>"Yeah, we should go do that."

>>1807699
>>"Yeah, we should go do that."

>>1807723
>>1807831
>Pull out your phone too.
>Discreetly text Sofia that we can try to meet with her to have that talk once she's on break.
Sofia seems almost hurt when you pull out your phone, until she realizes what you're using it for. Afterwards, she feels her pocket and gets back to work when you put your phone away.
>"Yeah, we should go do that."
You pull Donna away from the food court and towards the stairs. "Hey! Hands off the merchandise!" After you release her to prevent odd looks, Ruth pulls her instead, causing a few viewers to laugh a bit.

You all find a line to stand in. An eager fanboy asks, "Hey, where'd you buy one of those? They don't have anything from before Seven on sale here."
Explaining that you got it in New York, the fanboy nods. "Cool. I came all the way from Seattle."

"Uh, he goes to school with us nearby," Donna clarifies.

The fanboy snorts and talks down to her. "Uh, was I talking to you? I bet you haven't even played any of the Ultra Fantasy games."

"No need to be rude," Ruth mutters, and pulls out her cards. "Here, let me read your fortune."

The man laughs and wiggles his fingers. "Ooh, I'm real scared. That sort of stuff is all hokey, you know?"

At this, Florez's presence becomes very intense, so much that she scares a few people nearby. "I think we'll find out, won't we?"
She draws before he can speak again. "Your past- Reverse Emperor. A lack of self-discipline or the ability to deal with authority. Weakness. A lack of ambition."

"I said I didn't want to-" the manchild says, but is shushed by Ruth.

"Present. Judgment. Reversed. You refuse to change and suffer for it. You might be able to break out of your routine of failure- if you ever grew a spine."

"Uh, Ruth?" Donna pokes her, and notes that this fanboy is becoming increasingly angry, clenching a fat fist.

>>This fanboy is becoming increasingly angry, clenching a fat fist.
>Wait for the last card
>Cut her off
>Look for help nearby
>Get ready to intercept an attack from fat man here
>Try to break up the tension a bit (Roll 2d10+3 (Charm))
><Write-In>

Rolled 5, 3 + 3 = 11 (2d10 + 3)

>>1807837
>>>Get ready to intercept an attack from fat man here
>>Try to break up the tension a bit (Roll 2d10+3 (Charm))

Rolled 9, 3 + 3 = 15 (2d10 + 3)

>>1807837
>Wait for the last card
>Try to break up the tension a bit (Roll 2d10+3 (Charm))

>>1807847
>>1807887
>Get ready to intercept an attack from fat man here
You resign yourself to the fact that this is probably going to end badly and prepare to step between them. Florez really shouldn't have provoked him, but on the other hand, he shouldn't have run his mouth either.
>Try to break up the tension a bit (Roll 2d10+3 (Charm))
You point out the fact that Ruth and the fanboy are making a scene and need to chill out, causing them to stop for a few seconds before Florez draws a deep breath and continues.
>Wait for the last card
"Future- Tower, upright." She hesitates to speak. "Something in your life is about to change greatly."

You know that the Tower is usually more negative than that, but pissing this guy off more won't help.

"Like I said, it's fucking pointless." he moves to grab the cards away from her, but you stop him. "Get out of my way!" the fanboy exclaims, and shoves you. It's about as useless as you might expect, but you feel your patience thinning out dealing with this jerk, and bump into Donna.

"Could you not?" one of the men further up is dressed like a fighting game character and steps up to break up the argument.
Unfortunately, the nature of the costume fails to tip off the raging neckbeard and he swings a fist at the fighing game cosplayer, one which is easily dodged.

"Don't do that again," the fighting game man warns, and the fanboy eventually backs down, storming off. "What's with the city these days?" the martial artist mutters. "Everyone's so pissed off all the time."

You remember how you learned that the Witching Hour can affect this world. Is there something going on there causing this discontent and selfishness?

The three of you sign up for the cosplay competition. After a few photos, you're told that the rankings (and any prize you might win) will appear later in the day.

---

After a little more browsing and admiring cosplays, you get a text from Sofia.

>SOFIA: I'm on break at the moment, in the food court. Look for the burger stand.

Meeting her down there, you get a burger from the stand and sit down next to her at a table. The other two girls are continuing their shopping, planning to eat later.

Carrollo bites her lips, sighing and trying to cool off from the cloak she's wearing. "You know how I said I was wondering about being secondary leader? I'm not so sure I should be any more."

>>I'm not so sure I should be secondary leader any more.
>"Come on, everybody got stomped by those guys."
>"If you really want to, I guess."
>"Maybe you should think this over more."
>"Do you feel like I'm putting too much pressure on you?"
><Write-In>

>>1807976
>>"Come on, everybody got stomped by those guys."

>"Maybe you should think this over more."
>"Do you feel like I'm putting too much pressure on you?"

>>1807976
>>"Come on, everybody got stomped by those guys."
>>"Maybe you should think this over more."
>>"Do you feel like I'm putting too much pressure on you?"

>>1807996
>>1808005
>"Come on, everybody got stomped by those guys."
"I know, but..." she finds it hard to put her concerns into words.
>"Maybe you should think this over more."
"I know! But..." Sofia leans back. "I'm repeating myself. I just don't know if I have what it takes."
>"Do you feel like I'm putting too much pressure on you?"
"No, of course not!" she says, a little more loudly than she intended. "But... when I was paralyzed, I was... scared. Really scared. So scared that I... I don't want to go back."
Carrollo shakes her head and considers a tray with burger and fries in front of her. "You saw how terrified David was of those machines... Now I understand why."

You'll have to carefully consider what you say next- she seems very conflicted.

>>You saw how terrified David was of those machines.
>Are you scared of dying, or are you scared about who would be hurt if you were killed?
>That's one of the things I was wondering about, actually. How does he know them?
>If you really don't want to go back, I won't make you.
>I'll make sure you don't have to go through that again.
>I'll be honest- I can't promise your safety, but you wanted to get justice, right?
><Write-In>

>>1808034
>>Are you scared of dying, or are you scared about who would be hurt if you were killed?
>I'll be honest- I can't promise your safety, but you wanted to get justice, right?

>>1808034
>Are you scared of dying, or are you scared about who would be hurt if you were killed?
>I'll be honest- I can't promise your safety, but you wanted to get justice, right?
>I know we haven't been a team for very long, but we're strong together. We all have each other to rely on, there's no problem that we need to face alone. So, you don't need to be scared, you have all of to back you up.

Bleh, why did I make this write-in so cheesy

>>1808036
>>1808071
>Are you scared of dying, or are you scared about who would be hurt if you were killed?
"My father..." she chokes up a bit. "I can't do that to him."
>I'll be honest- I can't promise your safety, but you wanted to get justice, right?
"I know. But... Is this really our problem to solve?" She takes a bite to eat out of the burger, swallowing before speaking again. "Mr. Bennett said he had this handled. We're still 'kids', at least relatively."

>I know we haven't been a team for very long, but we're strong together. We all have each other to rely on, there's no problem that we need to face alone. So, you don't need to be scared, you have all of to back you up.
Sofia stares at you for a short time before covering her mouth. You see a single tear roll down her face before you realize that she's trying to stop herself from laughing instead of sobbing.
Eventually, she gives up and doubles over, giggling out loud for a bit before putting a hand on your shoulder and wiping her tears. "Solomon... I know we're at an anime convention, but…"

Feeling a bit stupid, you let your expression fall a bit, and she tries to re-assure you. “No, I don’t mean...” Carrollo refocuses and winks at you. “You’re right, even if that was completely cheesy. I keep on forgetting that it’s not just me out there putting myself at risk. I’ll be there to back you guys up.”

Sofia trusts you a bit more, causing both of you to feel a bit better about yourselves in turn.
(Your bond with the Caregiver increased to Rank 3!)
When you score a critical hit in battle, Sofia will follow up with one of the following powers:
>Maiden’s Judgement: Hand-to-hand assault on one target with high chance to strike fear in other enemies.
>Lady’s Gift: Heal all allies greatly.

“Fantastic,” Keith sits down with a box of supreme pizza from Sarpino’s, shocking Sofia and breaking up the calm mood. “Sorry, you guys were closed, so I read the paper you stuck on the door and came here.”

“That’s Uncle’s lunch!” Carrollo declares angrily. “Why are you eating it?”

“Because it was the last box you guys had and I promised to work for the rest of the day for free to make up for it?” he sheepishly replies.

>>And now for someone completely different
>“Learn to read the fucking mood, Keith!”
>“Wait, you couldn’t just go somewhere else or wait until they made more?”
>“At least everything’s back to normal...”
>“Give me a slice.”
><Write-In>

>>1808164
>>“At least everything’s back to normal...”

>>1808164
>“Give me a slice.”
>So, who's going to show up next? I'd better not run into Mr. Bennet carrying around a dakimakura of his waifu.

>>1808172
>>1808195
>>“At least everything’s back to normal...”
You sigh and let yourself slump onto the table, picking at the fries in front of you.
>“Give me a slice.”
Keith shakes his head. “Dude, no, buy your own!” Whether he sees the hypocrisy of this statement or not, he continues eating and you are not able to
>So, who's going to show up next? I'd better not run into Mr. Bennet carrying around a dakimakura of his waifu.
“Nah, he’s with his girlfriend, or at least that’s what David said.”

“He’s here?” Sofia asks, leaning forwards.

Keith vacuums up another slice and shakes his head ‘no’. “They’re doing something else, like I said. Apparently whatever they’re doing, it’s a big deal and David’s really nervous about it.”

“You don’t think he’s planning on proposing to her?” Carollo clasps her hands together and bobs up and down, visibly enjoying the idea.

“Maybe. I don’t care,” Allan shrugs. “I haven’t seen David, now that I think about it. I only talked to him over the phone.”

“He’ll be fine,” Sofia declares. “I’ve got to get back to work after this… and so do you,” she tells Keith, who sighs in resignation.

You head back into the heart of the convention after finishing your meal and saying goodbye to Keith and Sofia. Price and Flores are attending a panel for voice actors of some obscure anime you’ve never watched. However, you notice there are a lot of people heading towards the Featherman panel.

>>Convention
>Go with the crowd to the Featherman panel
>Check up on your group cosplay standing
>Call David
>Try to see if you can get into the VIP area
>Call Bennett during his date
><Write-In>

>>1808238
>>Check up on your group cosplay standing

>>1808238
>Check up on your group cosplay standing
>Go with the crowd to the Featherman panel

>>1808240
>>1808252
>Go with the crowd to the Featherman panel

When you get to the Featherman panel, Donna immediately recognizes one of the speakers. “Look, it’s one of the women that was talking with Clover and Bennett! And there’s another standing nearby- the blonde one!”
You realize you recognize them as well- from the waterpark. The blonde woman looks very serious and is wearing a concealing suit.

Ruth blinks and reconsiders the speaker. “Is she the old Argus? Why do they keep showing up?”

“They must have been in town for the convention and stayed for the week.”

As the lights dim and you’re shushed, a shorter man in a green Featherman suit walks in front of the stage and faces the crowd with a microphone attached to his helmet.

“Today, sponsored by the Clover Corporation, we’re happy to announce the pilot episode of Phoenix Ranger Featherman Mystic, which will be shown on-screen for your viewing pleasure!”

He repeats this in Japanese, and Donna reflects on him. “That voice...”

A cry of shock comes from the crowd as Ranger Green does a standing backflip onto the stage, landing with a thunderous shock and posing. “Face it and fight, Featherman Mystic!”

As the trailer music blares, a roar goes up from the fans, almost deafening you. You can barely hear or see what’s going on at the stage. After the trailer is over, things finally calm down, though you feel cheated.

The green ranger returns to the stage once the lights come back on. “Now that we’ve come to know all the new rangers, I’d like to introduce one making her return! Please welcome Featherman Victory’s Pink Argus!”

Once the panel begins, Argus speaks in Japanese, with Green translating for her.

“God dammit, who is that?” Donna asks. “I know that voice...”

"Urgh, I don't care!" Ruth shakes her head. "Just being in this room is deafening. Let's get the prize and go."

>>That voice
>Ruth's right, let's get out of here.
>I want to ask Argus a question...<Write-In>
>Don’t tell me that’s Bennett. Please, no, God, no.
>That’s obviously David, come on.
>Did Clover lose his sense of dignity?
>I want to talk to that blonde woman.
><Write-In>

>>1808311
>>Don’t tell me that’s Bennett. Please, no, God, no.
>Ruth's right, let's get out of here.

>>1808316
>Don’t tell me that’s Bennett. Please, no, God, no.
Your stomach twists at the idea of Bennett being in that suit. In fact, you want to curl up and cry. Thankfully, it’s face-concealing, so if it is him, he has plausible deniability- good for everyone involved.

>Ruth's right, let's get out of here.
You quickly leave the raucous room and head downstairs. After a few quick questions to staff, you’re told that the prizes can be accessed by the elevator. With this in mind, you identify yourselves and are waved inside by the VIP’s guards.

“Take a right once you get to the ninth floor and go into the third door on the left after the turn. Don’t wander- this is still private property.”

One awkward elevator ride later, and you’re on the sealed-off ninth floor, face-to-face with someone you haven’t seen in a while.

“Oh, sorry, we’re here to collect prizes!” Ruth waves her hands. “Fifth place.”

“It’s no problem,” Durandal speaks to you, this time with his mask off. He looks like an ordinary guy, to your relief. You’re sure it’s him by his voice and eyes, and he recognizes you. “Ah, right. Solomon Read, was it?”

The two girls are confused, but you quickly remember that they never met him.

>>Solomon Read, was it?
>Durandal? You healed up?
>Ruth, Donna, this is one of the ‘old friends’ Bennett was talking about.
>Uh, yeah.
>Buncha weird stuff going on at this convention, care to explain?
>Tell it to me straight, has Mr. Bennett lost his mind?
><Write-In>

OOC: After you return to Olympia, I'm ending for the night.

>>1808394
>>>Durandal? You healed up?
>>Ruth, Donna, this is one of the ‘old friends’ Bennett was talking about.

>>1808394
>Durandal? You healed up?
>Ruth, Donna, this is one of the ‘old friends’ Bennett was talking about.
>Tell it to me straight, has Mr. Bennett lost his mind?

>>1808398
>>1808448
>Durandal? You healed up?
"Indeed I did." He pats his side, which is clothed by the same kind of suit the blonde woman was wearing. "They have ways and means these days, it's actually quite incredible. I feel like I’m twenty again."

"’Durandal’? What kind of name is that?" Donna insinuates just loud enough for everyone present to overhear.
Florez is terrified, but Durandal just rolls his eyes, as if he gets that a lot.

>Ruth, Donna, this is one of the ‘old friends’ Bennett was talking about.
You explain that he helped protect you when you were first starting out, and make sure to leave out the part where he got taken out by a freak attack.

However, the guard is more humble. "Don't play me up that hard. I got knocked out by a cheap shot by a Curse, and Solomon here picked up my slack and saved all four of us before Walt could show up."
He smiles warmly and lays a hand on your shoulder. "It's good that you have him as a leader. As for me, it turns out that I've been overworking myself for a while and after taking a long break, I'm even better than new."

>Tell it to me straight, has Mr. Bennett lost his mind?
As you walk to the prize room, the experienced Myth-User raises an eyebrow. “What are you talking about? Isn’t he on a date?”

You tell him about your suspicion that Bennett is in the Feather Green suit, and Durandal hands you the gift basket. “I don’t know about that, but if he is, I’ll knock some sense into him the next time I see him. You just don’t stand a lady up like that, especially not over a stupid gimmick like that.” You overhear an argument in Japanese coming from a room to the left of the elevator, but figure it would be best if you don't get involved.

Most of the basket is candy and useless junk, but there are a lot of tasty sodas and a full set of Phoenix Featherman bobbleheads and some DVDs. Feeling you’ve made out pretty well for the convention, you head back to Olympia and enjoy watching the campy show and even more ridiculous dub on some of the Entertainment Center’s screens.

---
I'll end it here for the night, unless you have something else you want to do, and answer questions as needed. Sorry for the bad timing, >>1808448.

No, I'm not telling you whether Bennett was Feather Green or not, you'll learn that later.

The rest of the weekend passes in a series of rainstorms. There’s a memorial of the victims of 9/11 observed on Tuesday, and while you personally weren’t alive when the tragedy occurred, heavy rains and in-class discussion help remind you that your uncle was part of New York’s Bravest during the attack- thankfully, he was not killed in the effort.

Young boys often aspire to be firefighters, and you sure did after seeing what his job was like. You wonder how many lives he was responsible for pulling from danger, and feel thankful your parents weren’t in either of the towers at the time.

EARLY MORNING, Thursday September 13th (Weather: Moderate Rain. Forecast for tomorrow: Light Rain.)
>>Gold Day Schedule:
>English
>Math
>Computer Studies
>Science (Chemistry)

You’ve been studying your bottom off for the exams this week, and have a baseball game after school. Martinez’s first game is tomorrow, you remember intending to attend.

>>Morning Business
>Meet up with someone before school
>Do some quick cramming
>Take some time in the morning to buy something from a school store
>Buy a snack/drink from one of the vending machines
>Try to get to breakfast early and see if they have anything special today
>Check Anonymouse
><Write-In>

Calling it a night, then. May archive this thread if it goes much lower.

>>1816696
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/1804524/
Archived. Also have a new and improved linkbin: https://pastebin.com/Nrccskfg

>>1816978
Sorry no one showed up. I've tried to participate in most of the threads up til now, but I'm back in college so staying up until 3am isn't really an option anymore.

>>1817078
I understand completely, my dude.
I'm currently in coursework too, so I'm gonna make my running schedule more reasonable from now on.

>>1815856
>>Try to get to breakfast early and see if they have anything special today

>>1817686
Hey, sorry, but I think this'll be the end of the thread. I'll write in your post to the next one.

>>1815856
>Meet up with someone before school
>>David
>>Ask what he was up to yesterday

>>1817785
Second
Sorry I missed the thread Judge I've been busy couple few days and I totally forgot about the new running schedule.