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Your name is Shu, and as screams fill the bone-lined streets of the town called Laoc while madness rips through the populace like a plague, you find yourself short on time and high on stakes.

“Hate to say it, but splitting up is our best bet.” You announce, turning from where you stand within the warm hall of Laoc’s tavern to address your family and friends. “You heard Jeraha; about two-dozen townspeople fell to the Hunger, so we need to put them down as quickly as we can to prevent others falling to it from panic. If anyone’s got any ideas to that end, let’s hear them now.”

“I've got the Tier Five Forge Core installed, and I have the Tier Three on me." November says brusquely, her steely voice relaying her capabilities in an instant. "The Metall Geschoss would be at a disadvantage here without a reliable spotter to lob my shots, and the risk of collateral damage is high, but could be worth it if things get FUBAR. The top of Town Hall's a superb vantage point…Magpie, do you think it would offer you…”

“A sniper's nest?” The raven-haired woman supplies, arcing an eyebrow over one empty socket. “Afraid not. Laoc's a maze of skinny corridors and high walls at weird angles, bad for clear shots unless you got a plan to boost me or my targets higher. Besides…range isn’t going to be an issue.”

At that, Magpie re-adjusts her one-handed grip on her obsidian shotgun, three of her floating eyes glancing pointedly at the buckshot-riddled remains of Ruth near the bar.

“Alright, better in the field. Got it.” You say, turning to Gina, Rath, Amara, and the rest of your family. “We need to get a hold of Julia and Dorian and get them on board with whatever we come up with. Any ideas where they went?”

“Said they were going for coffee. Someplace quiet Dorian had seen when we were first here.” Rath replies, scowling. “No idea where it could be, thou-“

“West quarter. Kath’s Caff.” Sierra answers immediately, the lithe bartender stepping forward as her massive azure eye narrows. “Stupid name. My coffee’s better, anyway.”

You turn to face her, realizing with some relief that standing right next to you is a source of something you’re going to desperately need in the conflict to come.

Information.

“Sierra, could you give us a quick run-down of the town’s layout?” You ask, and she’s happy to oblige.

~~~

Previous Vein: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3917562/

Capillary Intermission: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3933303/

Archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Body%20Horror%20Quest

Character Abilities: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15ctgm_liaNO0e0B6zAcIUrmfDN0tWiXds3L4FvogI2M/edit#gid=0

Trypophilic Hive, Ver. 3: https://pastebin.com/bUWG6TNF

*UPDATED* Relics, Ver. 5: https://pastebin.com/Qwme4CGr

Dual Techs: https://pastebin.com/2jZ5Zhyx

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bodyhorrorquest?lang=en
>>
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"Laoc's a walled city in the shape of a rough circle, and it's divided into four quarters; North, South, East, and West, with the Town Hall in the dead center, where we are now." Sierra explains as she strides over to the bar and, with one tendril's caress across the surface, transforms it into a rough map of what you're dealing with. "The Eastern Quarter is the first one you entered into, and it houses many vendors and their assorted wares while the Western Quarter has a variety of homes and 'restaurants', which are really just parlors for various delicacies, novelty foods, drinks, and the like. The Northern Quarter is where the higher-class wares can be found, in addition to the Library. Finally, the Southern Quarter is an upper-class neighborhood, and it's where the Mayor is right now."

"North and south have solid firing lines, but west and east are full of clutter." Magpie notes, racking the bolt of her imposing rifle. "Shots won't be impossible, but straightaways'll be a bitch to find."

"What of the device atop the roof?" Francine interjects, a point of calm in the sea of growing agitation around you. "What can it do, precisely?"

"It's the Town Hall's broadcast tower, and it can transmit a Neuromancer, Skintalker, or Phantasmal Conduit's power city-wide thanks to the Relic up there." Sierra replies, casting her single eye towards the tavern's double-doors. "You'll need it if you're going to get intel on where conflict's popping up around Laoc."

""I think we may have a more immediate solution to that." You say, turning to your resident Skintalker. "Amara? Can you get me a status o-"

"Seven North, nine East, eight south, and six west." The girl replies quickly, sheathing and re-sheathing her sword impatiently with her thumb. "Dunno what powers they have since big bird's flyby has the terrain all confused too, but there seems to be more people getting spooked in the north and west."

Thirty targets.

Mere moments ago, it was just over two dozen. Now...

"Nicely done, Amara." You say, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder as you turn to look at both Lara and Magpie as concern stirs in your chest. "Alright, we're going to need to split into teams to tackle what's ahead, and to do that effectively I need to know what you two can bring to bear."

Lara glances over to Magpie who merely gestures for her to go first, much to the girl's chagrin.

“I’m a lot, uh…’sturdier’ than I look.” She replies with a flutter of her wings, and just behind her you catch Rath’s lips twitch with the hint of a smile. “If I get hit, then this dust comes out. Doesn’t do much on its own, but when I burst some light from my eyes, then it’s blinding. Makes it easy to go into melee, and it catches fire real quick, too."

"Hitting elements and critting to end fights fast from afar's still my bread and butter." Magpie sighs, chuckling when you cock an eyebrow at the veritable arsenal she's brought to bear. "No surprises there."

(Continued)
>>
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>>3951969

“Good to know." You nod, still a little perturbed by the indescribable sensation you get when you look at any of the six black guns Magpie now wields. "Okay, as for the rest of us, we…Holly, what are you doing?”

“Stretchin’!” She replies happily, touching her toes before crouching on the ground and promptly doing a split to test the limits of her new body. “I’ve been training with Johanna, but I wanna make sure I’m used to this thing before I fling myself into the fray, yeah?”

Catching Gina's eye, the brunette just gives you a small shrug of her shoulders before you get back on task and address everyone present. "Alright. Speed and efficiency is key in this. No drawn-out plans, no amping up. We get Julia and Dorian back on board and we end this, hard and fast as possible. Understood?"

A series of fervent nods from your family is the only answer you need as it all comes together in your mind. Four sections, over a dozen active threats, and a town living on borrowed time. You take a breath, holding it as your mind churns with ideas and strategies to stop Laoc from turning into something like the Spiraling Fear before it's far too late. Then as now...you hate this. The people that succumbed to the hunger couldn't help what happened to them. A twist of fate, a roll of the dice, and their lives and sanity were ripped from them by something torn from their worst imaginings. Regardless of their current states, you know you can't afford to hesitate with what comes next.

For the good of everyone, you know what you have to do.

"Alright." You declare, with an air of finality. "Here's the plan."

>>ASSIGN TEAMS, GOALS, & RELICS FOR THE FOLLOWING DAUGHTERS

>>[Shu, Gina, Rath, Amara, Holly, November, Francine, Magpie, Lara]

>>RELICS: https://pastebin.com/Qwme4CGr

>>THREATS REMAINING: N:7, E:9, S:8, W6 (Amara will keep you informed of the number of active threats, and this UI be updated continually as more succumb to Hunger or are successfully neutralized.)

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>
>>3951970
BHOP, would it be alright to assume what relics Julia and Dorian had on them, or did they bring nothing, due to assuming no threat would be present?
>>
(Gentlemen, voting shall remain open for the next three hours to grant you time to plan and me time to answer what questions you may have. Below and in the post that follows, you'll also find a more in-depth recap from the Intermission regarding Lara and Magpie's capabilities. I hope your morning is going well, and good luck.)

>>Lara: Despite her fragile appearance, Lara's shell and wings are incredibly durable, and her HEALTH capacity is quite high, being an Unnatural Predator. Her melee attacks deal potent slashing and piercing damage, while attacks against her have a chance to proc a blast of dust from her wings, afflicting the foe with a coating of chaff-like dust that has a chance to blind them, foil any extrasensory abilities they may possess, and renders them incredibly vulnerable to flame-based attacks. In fact, Lara may scatter a large cloud of this exceedingly flammable material over a wide area, subsequently flaring an incredibly bright light from her luminous eyes and reflecting the beam wildly off her dust, allowing her a massive AOE chance to blind her foes with a high rate of success. She may also flare her eyes in melee range as part of a follow-up attack to give her the edge in a skirmish. No mid-to-long range damage abilities to speak of, as most of her kit allows her to close the gap and inflict devastating melee wounds. Finally, her surplus of limbs coupled with her surprising strength allows her to easily carry up to two normal-sized allies during flight, with a third being capable at the cost of use of her upper arms.)

>>Magpie: if the single rifle and odd assortment of Relics at her disposal were Magpie at her least serious, the raven-haired woman’s current Loadout is her playing hardball. Her long, reinforced jacket grants her moderate protection against all elemental damage types, while the living necklace she has tucked into her shirt grants her a heightened chance to avoid critical hits and allow her a counter-attack on dodge. Meanwhile, the Heaven’s Guns are a sextet of devastating firearms that offer a ballistic solution for nearly every problem, though with an unfortunate drawback. Where’s Magpie’s concerned, violence isn’t a solution - It’s the question…and the answer is ‘yes’.

(Continued)
>>
>>3951972

-Magpie’s Arsenal-

>>Scylla & Charybdis (Twin M1911 Semi-auto pistols): ELEC-infused pistols that have the ability to generate a powerful magnetic pull between targets shot with their rounds, pulling them together and allowing Magpie to follow up with…

>>Lupara (Sawed-off Double Barrel Shotgun): The devastating buckshot delivered from each barrel deals catastrophically potent piercing and slashing damage, with the blade-like flechettes igniting furiously if left within a living target at the end of the round.

>> Strelitzia (FN P90): A curious weapon for a curious woman, the Strelitzia fires a cascade of alternating elemental rounds, ensuring that any elemental weakness her foes possesses is capitalized upon. Additionally, any elemental weakness hit while firing the Strelitzia automatically notifies the wielder of their foe’s vulnerabilities, making follow-up hits from other elemental damage sources (belonging to Magpie or her allies) much more powerful.

>>Red Dahlia (Pfeifer-Zeliska .600 Nitro Express Revolver): The second-most powerful weapon in Magpie’s arsenal, a single shot from the Dahlia is fully capable of knocking even large Amalgams and targets flat regardless of their ability to resist being stunned or knocked prone. Additionally, the creeping ACIDIC properties of the round spread through the target’s body, dealing unparalleled damage over time. However, this obscenely powerful weapon can only be fired once per round, rendering it a situational, if lethal tool.

>>Alex’s Mercy (Mosin-Nagant):, The crown jewel of Magpie’s arsenal is a thing of unrivaled damage potential, easily capable of piercing through the toughest of armors…even that of the living fortress, Marrow Dragoon. It is a simple thing, optimized for sheer, simple piercing damage, with untold amounts of biomass and sacrifice invested in its creation to ensure that even a single shot fired from this most terrible of weapons is enough to end any threat Magpie encounters across the Fleshscape. A single shot, a swift death…it’s a gift of mercy, in a world gone mad.

>>3951971
(They do not have any Relics equipped, no. However, you are welcome to send Relics to them via teammate or Swarmling, though it'll take some time to get to them.)
>>
>>3951973
alright, thanks.
and glad to see this back, already cooking things up haha.
>>
>>3951973
BHOP, do the clones give off Amara Aura of calm?
>>
To reiterate:

>North: Library, No notable defenders located. 7 Targets. Magpie notes that she may have good vantage points from the tower.
>South: Neighborhood and Plaza, 8 Targets. Magpie notes that she may have good vantage points. The Mayor is located there.
>East: Vendors and Market district. 9 Targets. No notable defenders. Poor vantage points for sniping.
>West: Restaurant District, 6 Targets. Julia and Dorian are located there. Poor vantage points for Sniping.
>>
Can Shu die? Will the quest end if Shu dies?
>>
>>3951970
Relic Loadout;
Shu:
>Contender(Twin Maxims)(3x Honey)(3x Fullbore).
>Matrons, Whistle(OMA SUTH).

Rath:
>Sui Tormentis, Gutgrab Daggers, Ignition Gauntlets, Pacekeepers, Deliverance of Ego.

Gina:
>Spine, Rebuke + Montags Flame.

Amara:
>Vocem Virtutis(Free: SUTH)(Upgrade: SUTH, RHO).
>Shawl, Void Orrey.

Francine:
>Spectacles, Hydras Heart, Sui Sacrificium.

Julia:
>Cutis Tractus, Caelorum.

Dorian:
>Sui Interitus, Margraves Blade.


November:
>Slotted: Dainsleif(Arm), Uzi(Arm), Cursus Alas(Leg), Nail(Leg), Crimson Jesters(Head), Gamma Pharynx(T5 Slot).

(1/4)
>>
>>3951970
>>3951985
Teams;
Tower Team:
>Amara Clone, Gina.

North:
>Shu, Holly, Amara and Fuzzbuzz.

West:
>Julia and Dorian.

South:
>November and Geschoss, Magpie.

East:
>Rath, Lara, and Francine.

(2/4)
>>
>>3951986
>>3951970
Individual Orders;
AMARA:
>Spawn 32 Clones.
>>Send 4 North, 6 West, 12 East, 10 South.
>have a clone climb the Tower, and use it to hit the town with a constant GRA SUTH OMA.

SHU:
>Spawn 8 Stealthed Jacklings, send two to each Sector to get a layout of whats going on and keep tabs easier on things. Try and make a connection with any groups you can to help coordinate and consolidate efforts.
>Have 3 Double Stealthlings go find Julia and Dorian, taking them the relics listed for them.
>Send a Stealthed Rook to each Sector, and make them find a good group to bunk down with.
>Armor up yourself and Holly(20 pieces) in a full set of Chitinous, with added Recursive and Rook Properties.
>Give Holly a Spriteling.
>Give Rath, Holly, and Lara a Bishop.
>Fill out the rest of your Slots with basic Swarmlings.

RATH:
>Attach a group of 3 Controlled-Boils to Shus Rooks, to give you easy access to getting around the town.

GINA:
>Climb the tower with the clone, and intermittently swap out with it, hitting the town with the Halos stun targeted at all enemies. Have the clone help the ability lock onto enemies only if necessary.

Team Orders;
ALL;
>focus first on connecting to and consolidating surviving daughters, to both calm them down and stop further losses.
>try and gather info on top threats to isolate and take down first.

North;
>Focus on the heightened fear, use Shus fame and Amaras Aura to get everyone calm.
>Use the Clone and extra Swarmlings to lead all survivors to the most advantageous location possible.
South;
>Find the Mayor and follow her plan.
>Use the tank as both a barricade and covering fire to give more time to gather under the Mayors banner.

East;
>Have LAra use her flight to help better rescue and consolidate survivors, before teaming up with them and Rath to bring the hurt.

West;
>Julia and Dorian can both Handle the panic and level of threat, we trust them. Along with the Relics, send them word of the plan, and that we trust their judgement. They should, obviously, consolidate daughters first before striking hard.

(3/4)
>>
>>3951981

(Yes, though clustering multiple clones will not make the field additive.)

>>3951983

(She can absolutely die, though there's a system in place to continue the Quest. Even my death will not stop it, as others have strict instructions to continue it upon my incapacitation or demise.)

(I will not stop.)
>>
>>3951987
so just to explain some things;
we dont need full on Amara to cast spells from the tower, nor for her aura i think, so i think having the real Amara out and about would be better. Ginas stun going town wide could easily turn the tide, but she has to be there for that, but i think its worth the loss of her being in the field.

Shu North to help clam people down, and i think her combined with amara field will easily do that. combine Shu, Holly, and the real Amara, and i think we can clean North up REALLY quickly to get everyone there to other sectors.

i trust Julia and Dorian to the west. its not the most in danger numbers wise, and i trust Julia and Dorian to calm people down.

November and Magpie south, as their ranged weapons will work best there, and its the second in most need, and they bring alot to bear.

Lara and Rath East as its most in need numbers wise, but i trust Raths strength. plus, combine Raths blinding boils with Laras chaff flash? i think together they can actually take care of the higher numbers really really well. Farancine just to help out as it is still the most in need area and she can heal them and help with her swarm.

(4/4)
>>
>>3951988
awesome.

and neat to know on both of those second accounts. im actually glad to see Shus death is a possibility, makes it have more bite to it.
ill send bodyhorror manga and figurines to your loved ones if you die BHOP, to honor your memory.
>>
>>3951985
just realized i forgot to change something. November will have the Rebuke and Montags Flames, Slotted, and... never decided who to give the Uzi to honestly.
>>
>>3951996
>>3951985
oh, pfft fuck. Amaras tower clone has the Void Orrey too, not Amara specifically.
>>
>>3951997
give it to Holly.
>>
>>3951998
the void Orrey? why? its a massive AOE that if we do end up using, would be better suited in the middle of the town and doesn't need to be in a combat zone. Holly wouldn't get anything from carrying it.
>>
>>3951999
I meant give the Uzi to holly. Sorry, my bad.
>>
>>3952001
oh, ok, yeah that works.
>>
>>3951985
>>3951970
Amending Relic Loadout;
Shu:
>Contender(Twin Maxims)(3x Honey)(3x Fullbore).
>Matrons, Whistle(OMA SUTH).

Rath:
>Sui Tormentis, Gutgrab Daggers, Ignition Gauntlets, Pacekeepers, Deliverance of Ego.

Gina:
>Spine.

Amara:
>Vocem Virtutis(Free: SUTH)(Upgrade: SUTH, RHO).
>Shawl, Void Orrey(Tower Clone).

Francine:
>Spectacles, Hydras Heart, Sui Sacrificium.

Julia:
>Cutis Tractus, Caelorum.

Dorian:
>Sui Interitus, Margraves Blade.

Holly:
>Uzi(x2 Mags of Heat, Frost, Acid, and Radiant).

November:
>Slotted: Dainsleif(Arm), Montags Flame(Arm), Cursus Alas(Leg), Nail(Leg), Crimson Jesters(Head), Rebuke(Chest), Gamma Pharynx(T5 Slot).
>>
>>3951987
I've got an issue with you idea of having a clone do a constant cast of Gra Suth oma. The issue is that it costs 34% bio and 3 ACTs in order to cast that spell chain and a clone carries only 100% bio. and will be only viable for 2 turns before completely running dry. If we are to have a clone stay up there and continuously cast Gra suth oma, then we need to set up a clone duplication system up on the tower. And even then, that'll leave 32% bio left after 2 turns of casting for the clone that was used for the Gra Suth oma.

So I'm thinking about this as a solution:
>Send 2-3 clones up to the tower. the first clone is used as a battery to power the Gra Suth Oma spell chain while the other two focus their efforts on duplicating themselves. A clone Duplicating itself would cost 30 hp and 20 bio from it's static 150% hp and 100 bio pool per fresh clone. A clone could create 5 more duplicates before completely dying from lack of hp and bio.

>Clone #1 spends 2 full rounds powering the Gra Suth Oma spell, expending itself down to 150% hp/32% bio.
>Clones #2 & #3 spends 2 full turns churning out 4 fresh clones each. to a total of 8 new clones per round before moving out to form a 6-clone squad to a nearby district with 2 clones left over to stay at the tower every other round.
>Every 3rd Round, Clones 1-3 move out from the tower to form a 8-clone squad to support the fighters while 3 fresh clones stay at the tower to repeat the process.

Also, I was thinking making OMA free and upgraded using Vocem Virtuitis, but then I realized that it eats up the upgrade. So never mind that.
>>
>>3952009
Gra and Suth are both free(in my setup), so it will only cost 30% and for them being able to spawn new ones and that being its ONLY job, i see not issue.

we can send up two clones if you're that worried though, so they can more easily switch off, but we really dont need to waste more resources than that on it.
>>
>>3952009
>>3952013
actually, the Tower already makes the spell an AOE automatically, so OMA might not be necessary, making the spell 100% free.

>>3951988
would adding OMA to the tower spell be necessary or give any benefits?
>>
>>3952017
(It would not, no.)
>>
>>3952019
>>3952009
awesome, problem solved. clones can just to GRA SUTH for free constantly, so only one is necessary.
>>
>>3952019
>>3952022
I just had a horrifying thought for Julia:
>You're in this town on a date with your boyfriend, suddenly 6 daughters have gone hunger mad
>Then you hear the shrill screech of your niece yelling "Gra Suth!" followed by "RHO CUNT" in the town loudspeaker.
>>
>>3952024
hahaha
she will never forgive us for letting Amara change the word to that. dont we still have like 5 word changes saved up? still honestly dont have any ideas i like for that, the curse word ones alright but theres few options there that dont feel forced to change like that.
>>
>>3952026
considering Amara's mischievous nature and backstory (which makes her a ripe candidate for skintalking), it would make sense that she might've overheard grown adults using swear words on the occasion.
>>
>>3951970

I'm not really good at helping out with these, but >>3951985 >>3951986 >>3951987 seems like a decent plan.

Current music mood for this fight to me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjmF4BPA4Hs
>>
>>3952030
well, yeah, im not saying theres no excuse to change them to such, only theres limited options for what words can really change what spell word and it still be easy to remember what it does.

I guess RHO kinda does a bit of everything, so 'Fuck' might work for it, but do we really want Amara saying FUCK THA all the time?
Julia might just have a heart attack if Amara lovingly yells that in her face.
>>
>>3952022
I had a thought. Rath's got the Sister's Constellation augment, which means her flames cause literally Zero friendly fire issue. Shame about the collateral property damage though.

>>3951987
But it does bring to issue of what the orders are for the Amara clones:
Should the brandish their bone katanas and strike down hunger mad enemies? or should they be ninja escorts to rescue the townsfolk?
>>
>>3951987
>>3951970
just incase no other changes take place, change;
>have a clone climb the Tower, and use it to hit the town with a constant GRA SUTH OMA.
to
>have a clone climb the Tower, and use it to hit the town with a constant GRA SUTH.
>>
>>3952035
well, i was just kinda gonna let them go with the overall flow assigned to the teams, so second part first, then switch to the first once they have consolidated their areas as best they can. for BHOPS sanity's sake, im pretty sure once the teams split off, we wont really have control over them, so hopefully they can follow the flow and orders of eveyone else in their area well enough.

...wait, is Rath, Lara, or Francine 'in charge' of East Team? its gotta be its gonna naturally fall on Francines shoulders, Lara doesnt seem that outgoing and Rath is dumb but i cant see her being a tactician either. poor Francine. i still think it makes sense to put you on that team, but it also puts you 'in charge' or a very rowdy bunch.

also i sent a Tank into the rich kids neighborhood. the Town can rebuild, but there has to be people left to do that with first. everything else does not matter except the tower.
>>
>>3952037
This plan may need refinement. We should also keep Jackling comms to all fighting squads.

Also, come to think of it, Even though it's not bio-efficient, we could have Gina subtly Terraform several places in a town district to help rescuers get an avenue of escape while aoe-stunning the mad mob.


>Sending a giant moth, a rowdy Fire elemental, and a "Dr. West" into a rich kids neighborhood.
>Rath burns down the buildings and has a time of her life
>Francine be like "come with me if you want to live" to terrified daughters.
>And then there's Mothra.
>>
>>3952042
the plan already has jacklings going to each sector. sure, not specifically our teams, but the point is to consolidate forces, so that shouldn't end up being an issue at all. plus, with Amaras backing them up and the main Amara with us, we have a line of communication still aswell. communication really should not be an issue. Gina being up in the tower might even give us some options there aswell.
>>
>>3952032
>>3952019
A fitting theme song for a event like this:
But I'm sure Bhop has this song in his playlist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma-WJUidpRU
>>
>>3952042
>>3952037

Rath is rowdy and generally takes the most direct path through opposition, but isn't a freaking pyromaniac. I mean, she doesn't think about collateral damage to structures, but she isn't actively going to just light things on fire for giggles.

The image of a cackling Rath throwing firebombs, while Lara watches enraptured going "oooooh", and Francine face palms so hard it breaks time and space does entertain though.

>>3952047
I... now want a BHOP Darkest Dungeon mod. Sometimes I curse my lack of artistic/programming skills for such things.
>>
>>3951987
>Armor up yourself and Holly(20 pieces) in a full set of Chitinous, with added Recursive and Rook Properties.
>Give Holly a Spriteling.
I think we should amend that with Holly's platelings being plate-Spritelings. That way she gets five Spritelings' effect connected to her.
>>
>>3952077
alright, sure.
>>
>>3951987
>>3951970
amending orders to;

Individual Orders;
AMARA:
>Spawn 32 Clones.
>>Send 4 North, 6 West, 12 East, 10 South.
>have a clone climb the Tower, and use it to hit the town with a constant GRA SUTH.

SHU:
>Spawn 8 Stealthed Jacklings, send two to each Sector to get a layout of whats going on and keep tabs easier on things. Try and make a connection with any groups you can to help coordinate and consolidate efforts.
>Have 3 Double Stealthlings go find Julia and Dorian, taking them the relics listed for them.
>Send a Stealthed Rook to each Sector, and make them find a good group to bunk down with.
>Armor up yourself in a full set of Chitinous, with added Recursive and Rook Properties.
>Armor up Holly in a full set of Chitinous, with added Recursive and Spriteling Properties.
>Give Rath, Holly, and Lara a Bishop.
>Fill out the rest of your Slots with basic Swarmlings.

RATH:
>Attach a group of 3 Controlled-Boils to Shus Rooks, to give you easy access to getting around the town.

GINA:
>Climb the tower with the clone, and intermittently swap out with it, hitting the town with the Halos stun targeted at all enemies. Have the clone help the ability lock onto enemies only if necessary.

Team Orders;
ALL;
>focus first on connecting to and consolidating surviving daughters, to both calm them down and stop further losses.
>try and gather info on top threats to isolate and take down first.
>Those with Sui or similar Relics, Build up their bonuses as you see fit, to prepare for a hard fight.

North;
>Focus on the heightened fear, use Shus fame and Amaras Aura to get everyone calm.
>Use the Clone and extra Swarmlings to lead all survivors to the most advantageous location possible.

South;
>Find the Mayor and follow her orders, aswell as convey the plan to her.
>Use the tank as both a barricade and give covering fire to give more time for daughters to gather under the Mayors banner.

East;
>Have Lara use her flight to help better rescue and consolidate survivors, before teaming up with them and Rath to bring the hurt.

West;
>Julia and Dorian can both Handle the panic and level of threat, we trust them. Along with the Relics, send them word of the plan, and that we trust their judgement. They should, obviously, consolidate daughters first before striking hard.
>>
>>3952086
Oh, and do we have to have the Amara clone actively working to channel its calm aura through the broadcaster? Or is the fact that that's passive mean we can just assume it will? A ruling, BHOP?
>>
>>3952088
>>3952019
linking the question to BHOP, though GRA SUTH should be free on ACTs so im thinking it wouldn't make a difference here.
>>
>>3952088
we've already talked about it and have an amara clone to work on the problem.
>>
>>3952088
(It will simply work, so no worries there.)
>>
>>3952094
Yeah, but we want to double it up if we can. As much calm as can be had.

>>3952104
Okay, cool. Time to get hit by a big calm bomb, Laoc.
>>
>>3952094
if Gra Suth is Free, then should we have Amara cast "Rho Cunt" as the spell (that consumes the clone's action economy after Gra Suth? We could also cast "Rho Tha" to boost their mental resilience against stress factors and hunger.
>>
>>3951970
Amara clone in the tower:
>Free spell: "Gra Suth"
>Spell: "Gra Rho Tha" or "Gra Rho Cunt"
>>
>>3952108
If we get a replication chain going up there to make sure that the Amara clones don't run out of Bio to fuel it, sure. Cycle them through, keep the spell up.

Wait. Oh my god, I just had the stupidest idea and I'm sure it will not work but I need to say it: Joyous Many is a Phantasmal Conduit ability. BHOP, can the Amara clone up in the tower broadcast Joyous Many to have clones pop up throughout Laoc?
>>
>>3952108
Rho Tha would just add armor, but we dont need that as much right now. also i thought the concern was the Clone running out of steam, so i figured just let her focus on the singular spell. she would have to stop and switch to the other one anyways, which starting out i dont think would be a good idea too, not until we get things a bit more stabilized.

>>3952111
>>3951970
and im voting against adding this.
>>
>>3952115
(They'd still use Amara's biomass to spawn, but yes. I intended for it to offer you a variety of clever applications for your current predicament.)
>>
>>3952115
im not sure thats a good idea honestly. we dont know the layout nor how much we can control that. it could easily just end up with a bunch of wasted biomass from them spawning and getting killed. sending them in squads will still work better i think, allows them and us to survey the way forward and make sure they arent wasted as easily. plus, the Tower uses Amaras, over the Clones, so thats not gonna be as viable either.
>>
>>3952125
Ah, so we can't get a ton of clones everywhere for free. That was the "I'm sure this won't work" part I was thinking of. Ah, well. As for other clever uses, while we could do interesting things with broadcasting Dominus Bloodline or Neon Ascendant or Creation's Strings from the tower, I think those party members would be better off out in the field where they can use all their abilities instead of just using their Neurotic powers from the tower. That's the advantage of Amara, she can be in more than one place at once so having a clone up in the tower using Skintalking doesn't diminish her utility elsewhere.

Wait, maybe Shu can be in two places at once for this: Can Succlings be used as a stand-in to channel Dominus Bloodline through the tower? Those remove the need for line of sight on Leash/Bloodline. So we send a Succling up with Amara, it broadcasts the Dominus Bloodline for us, every hostile Daughter in the town gets an Exsanguinating Leash draining half their regen and dealing constant damage. Is that viable?
>>
>>3952125
>>3952132
id think the Tower has a limited number of abilities that it can work with at once though, so im not really sure its worth it to try and setup too many options. wont really have the room to switch them out, least not for the first few rounds.
>>
>>3952138
Yeah, but if it works I'd like to have the option lined up for if we get the chance.
>>
(Writing now, Gentlemen.)
>>
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>>3951970

“Amara, you’ll be with me along with Holly…and I’m going to need thirty-two more of you for what I’m planning.” You declare, and the skin along the younger girl’s exposed arms immediately begins to writhe, as if trying to escape its youthful owner. “Gina? Take one of Amara’s Joyous up to the tower with you. It’ll spam calm throughout the city while you terraform evacuation routes for the townspeople the Joyous and my swarm are able to round up.”

“Gotcha.” Gina nods, giving your hand a quick squeeze before scooping up a barely-humanoid blob of flesh from the ground at Amara’s feet, the jelly-like flesh slowly coalescing into Amara’s form even the brunette disappears around the corner.

“I trust the Western Sector to Julia and Dorian.” You announce, rounding on the two tallest members of those present as you continue relaying your plan. “Magpie, November? You’re my heavy munitions, so I’m deploying you to the Southern Quarter.”

“Affirmative.” November intones, immediately setting off with Magpie hot on her heels and with that, you turn to Rath, and Lara. “I’m thinking that the two of you can do great things with flame and dust, just be sure not to set the whole quarter on fire, alright? You’ll be taking Francine with you, too. Follow her lead and get everyone to safety.”

At that, the good doctor just cocks her eyebrow at you, amused at the implication of her being your choice of leader. In any case Rath doesn’t argue, settling to give you a smirk and a high-five as she leads Lara to the tavern’s exit, with Francine giving you an ungloved thumbs-up just before the door shuts behind the unlikely trio.

Left with Holly, Amara, and the latter’s faithful Sir FuzzBuzz hovering by her side, your hive begins to ache with the effort of creation.

“Alright you two.” You say to those remaining, wincing as a series of Jacklings begin to squirm forth from your spine and take flight, filling the air with their silently hovering forms. “Ready?”

Amara’s blade sharply clicks shut, and Holly’s stomach splits into a wicked vertical grin, matching the horizontal one on her excited face.

As if you really had to ask.

Throwing open the doors of the Town Hall, over fifty Swarmlings explode forth, their glossy black shells reflecting the scarlet light of the false sky above. You and Holly flank Amara, the two of you clad head-to-toe in the sleek green-black armor of the Chitinous Stalwart while the girl between you holds her ivory sheath at the ready. Townspeople scramble back and forth, casting a few furtive glances your way as their pace begins to slow, and once you reach the bottom of the calcite steps, their collective gaze falls.

When you meet their eyes, watching their expressions go from fear, to recognition, to awe…you realize.

They know you.

They trust you.

So here goes everything.

(Continued)
>>
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>>3952202

“Haha! I’m the merc with the mouth! Get it?” Holly jokes quietly, pointing at the grinning line of vertical teeth that stretch along the length of her torso and trying to lighten the oppressive atmosphere’s that’s settled along the mainstreet. Amara stifles a laugh, even as the three of you make haste through the Northern Quarter, a host of your swarmlings and a quartet of Amara’s Joyous Many serving as your vanguard into the unknown.

“We need to focus. We know numbers, but that’s only half the battle.” You urge, vigilantly sweeping the streets with your omnipresent gaze as you round a gentle curve in the immaculate street. “We’re going in blind as far as the Hunger-mad’s capabilities, so…”

“It’ll be alright! We’ll make this quick, then we…uh…” Holly trails off, helm tilted forwards as she notices the sight that’s given you and Amara cause to stop in your tracks. “…what the heck *is* that?”

The street ahead of you is wrong. Your scouts showed pristine calcite avenues and alleys only moments before, but now that’s you’re almost upon them you find the architecture choked with the stench of rot and decay, the well-maintained walls sloughing off layer upon layer of their previously hardened flesh, now liquefied and plopping to the streets just below them. The calcite’s hardly better, the ground at your feet struggling to maintain its rigidity even as it buckles and warps under the influence of something that remains a dangerous unknown.

A pair of screams from nearby cut through the chaotic din that engulfs the whole of Laoc, and your vision shifts to the swarmling closest to the source. Through the compound eyes of your creation, you see them; a woman with a young child held tight in her arms, scrambling on unstable legs to escape their dogged pursuer. The hunter’s a ragged-looking young woman propelled after her prey by over a dozen jagged limbs of blackened bone, the Calcite Armorer’s spikes holding their creator aloft as she cackle incessantly after the terrified woman and the bawling child she’s trying to save. Your breath hitches when the woman trips, her bare and bloodied feet practically ripped out from beneath her as she screams, having been caught on the carpet of obsidian thorns that have erupted from the street that would have been her salvation.

You move, lunging forwards until Holly’s tongue yanks you back with rib-crushing force just as the main street begins to bubble and froth, suddenly shifting into a grotesque path of foul-smelling sores that blister into open wounds within seconds when the rot advances towards you with alarming speed.

(Continued)
>>
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>>3952204

Amara’s hand is on her blade as you steady yourself in time to witness the source of the infection stagger from the side street a few meters ahead of you. The teen’s ragged clothes hang off her waning frame, the vast majority of the skin on her left side little more than a tremulous shroud of reddened, rotting flesh. Open sores appear and disappear all along her constantly decaying body, while empty sockets endlessly weep a thick red jelly from the voids in her skull.

“…Healthy.” She coughs, as though her lungs are filled with viscous fluid. “S’all healthy. Why can’t I…why am I…?”

A begging, pleading scream from the next street over causes your heart to clench in your chest, the insane Armorer almost upon her hapless prey while your path forward is blocked by a living infection. The diseased girl steps forward, forcing you and your team to take one back as the infection surges forwards, urged onwards by its source’s unsteady gait. For a single, fleeting moment, you’re frozen in place.

And then…

…you MOVE.

Shu the Defiant, Hunter of Gods

vs.

>>FOETID FASCIITIS

&

>>ONYX BUTCHER


HP: 1620% (+325% [Dominus: Untethered])
BIO: 1940% (+270%, 8x Sneak-Jacklings, 3x Double-Stealthlings, 4x Sneak-Rooks, 10x Recursive-Rook-Platelings, 1x Spriteling, 3x Bishop, 25x Banelings, 54/54. Matrons, Whistle: OMA SUTH. Armored)
CONTENDER: Gemini Maxims. 3x Honey, 3x Fullbore
RAVENOUS MAW: Primed.
HUNDRED-HANDED: None.
ACT: 3/3

AMARA: 1490% (+230%. Vocem[Suth:FREE], Cloaked. HUNTER’S HONOR: 5 Charges)
HOLLY: 2,480% (RESIST: Heat, Cold. IMMUNE: Acid. Uzi(x2 Mags of Heat, Frost, Acid, and Radiant, BISHOP: Untriggered. Armored)

THREAT: Butcher advancing on two low-level Daughters, medium distance to your left and one street over. No line of sight. Fasciitis is advancing upon you, pushing ??? your way. Medium range, line of sight established.

THREATS REMAINING: N:7 [2 Engaged, 5 Unknown], E:9, S:8, W6

YOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>
(Gentlemen, voting shall remain open for the next three hours. I do hope your day is going well.)
>>
>>3952206
Wait, so is the idea to have Gina do a city wide stun not viable? Because if so, if have liked to know as id have set her on a different task then.
>>
>>3952206
Saving the daughters should be a priority.

>Shu propels herslef up using her Hundre handed ability and gets the terrified dauhgters with the same ability once she has established line of sight.

>Unload the Contender into the Onyx Butcher to trap her whiel we deal with the Fasciitis

>Available Banelings rush the Fasciitis to try and kill her if they ares startign to ebcome corrupted via exposire to her let them detonate before they become unusable
>Amara casts CUNT GRAH SUTH to impede the enemy in front of us while the Onyx Butcher has to get to us.

>Activate Queen Crimson to defend the two low level daughters from the enemy


>Holly goes in for maybe a quick bite i am not sure what her other powerset is aside form her core and hold teh enemy at bay until the swarm we have can deal with them
>>
>>3952208

(Apologies, it did go off, though some passed the save or were immune. The current status is as follows;)

THREATS REMAINING: N:7 [2 Engaged, 5 Unknown], E:9, S:8, W6

North: 4 Targets stunned, 3 Active

East: 6 Targets Stunned, 3 Active

South: 4 Targets Stunned, 4 Active

West: 2 Targets Stunned, 4 Active

(Thus, your plan has practically cut the number of active threats in half.)
>>
Right, let's do some analysis.

>>3952204
>Onyx Butcher
Calcite Armorer, obviously, with some sort of Augment that I'd guess refines the edges of her bone blades. Obsidian sharpness, that sort of thing. Calcite abilities focused on generating articulated bone-limbs, expect flexible attacks at unexpected angles. Some degree of terrain manipulation, generating caltrops to impede ground-level mobility. Not aware of Shu and party, surprise attack possible.

Currently bearing down on two noncombatants. Prioritize rescue.

>>3952206
>Foetid Fasciitis.
Class uncertain, given themes of disease and comments on being healthy I'd expect some sort of highly-derived Vitruvian power. Be prepared for Vitruvian-style defenses, if so. Likely to be able to inflict status effects and damage over time thanks to infections. Currently infecting fleshscape, creating terrain obstacle that at minimum will harm mobility thanks to gooeyness. Aware of Shu, currently attacking.
>>
>>3952206
Orders;

SHU and AMARA CLONES;
>Have what clones are close by bide their time.
>Have one of the areas Jacklings stab the ground, to try and give you the rotting girls location if she tries to dive underground.
>send forth the first wave of Swarmlings as a distraction and to test this girls abilities, quickly replacing them with a wave of banelings. See if you cant melt the rot away with acid, and if not the acid, the fire damage it now gives off.
>Fire off the Honey maxim into the rotting girl, see if you cant pin her down or at least slow her down.
>Have the Nearby Clones cast RHO CUNT and RHO 'Terrain radiant' if fire damage does the trick.
>If the Honey rounds work, fire the Fullbore Maxims into her.
>Keep back for now. You need to end this quickly but a terrain controller like her is nothing to take lightly.

AMARA, HOLLY, and FUZZBUZZ;
>use swarmlings to slingshot both of you up and over the rotting mess to get to the other fight. Neither of you are suited to fighting a blob of rot anyways.
>Put yourselves between it and the Butcher. Have Holly disteact it with swings and grapples of her tongue, to give Amara an opening with her swords unsheathing bonus.
>Have Amara Activate Queen Crimson.
>Add a blast from Oxygenic artillery to Amaras lunge to add some speed to her unsheathing attack.
>>
>>3952220
Ignoring the rotting girl is a bad idea, we dont need to box ourselves in here.

>>3952222
Alright, thanks.
>>
>>3952224
Fasciitis is aggro'd to Shu, that leaves Holly, Amara, and 4 clones open and active.
>>3952222
>North: 4 Targets stunned, 3 Active
That means Bone Butcher and Foetid Fasciitis are 2/3 of the active threats.

>>3952229
We can have Amara cast "Rev Ter" to halt the bubbling terrain effects and make it passible.

>>3952228
We can't afford to hold back. We need to take out Foetid and rescue two daughters.
>>
>>3952229
was >>3952138
getting pizza BTW.

>>3952231
dont think that would be necessary? it didnt seem to be anywhere near as bad over where they were, and Im unsure she would have the Acts for it.

also im not holding back, im just not having Shu rush forward against an opponent that possibly has an aura of rot everything. we may need to go quick but it would be stupid to underestimate our enemies either. we cant save anyone if we get ourselves killed, and terrain controllers like her can be very deadly. it sucks be having Shu hold back and test her defenses and what will work very easily could let us kill her faster, over rushing forward without knowing what she can do and getting ourselves seriously outplayed or injured.
>>
>>3952229
We need to get the two daughters out of dodge and under our protectzin. They are prone already they are really close to dying and or breaking. the quickjest way for us to do that would be by catpultign shu up using hundred handed and getting them back to us while pinning the butcher. SO then we can go all out on the rotting girl

and the clones should make more clones if they can we can always use more clones

i thikn the rotting girl will be bad news for our honey so i would advice agaisntz it the butcher would at least take a round to get out of them so we can actualy take care of them without the butcher or the rotting girl following us.

Splitting up even more is a bad idea though i like the idea of using the jacklings to determine where the girl is
>>
>>3952237
no, if we dont hold off the rotting girl and keep her separate they are dead anyways. Using her Tongue and Swarmlings Holly can easily get over there with Amara, and unlike Shu neither of them have any way to fight the rotting girl, while Shu has much better methods to do so.

we also already split up and are only like going one street down. Shu will also have some clones probably near her. we cannot afford to not take both threats into account, and Shu is the only one with a clearly viable method to fight the Rotting Girl. we'll see on the honey but even if it only helps for a second it will be useful and we wont know until we test it out.
>>
>>3952231
>>3952235
actually wait, Vocem gives and extra Act so Amara should be ok for that spell.
>>
>>3952206
SHU and HOLLY
>Bungee-tongue up to roofs on our left, carrying Amara.

SHU
>Fire three Ravenous Parabellums and three Attract-mode B.33s into Fasciitis.
>Attach Dominus Bloodline to Holly, to grant regen.
>Bombard Fasciitis with Banelings, seeking to set on fire or corrode flesh with acid.

AMARA
>Clear terrain effects with OMA SUTH TER, removing caltrops and foetid ground.
>Have clones activate Queen Crimson and Oxygenic Artillery, fire upon Fasciitis to knock back and cause damage.
>Aim thrust from Artillery to land clones one street to the left, drawing Butcher's attention both from the sound of the Artillery and the sudden appearance of the clones.

SHU and HOLLY
>Upon Butcher being distracted, use bungee-tongues to grab civilians with Impulsive Swallow, bring them up to roof where they will be safer.

SHU
>Attach second Dominus Bloodline to Butcher.
>Fire full clip of Honey-mode B.33s into Butcher.

AMARA
>Use remaining ACTs for OMA RHO CUNT to impede movement of foes.

How does this look? Foes appear to be close-ranged from current knowledge of them, so I'm trying to keep everyone at a distance and preferrably off the ground. Everyone who isn't one of the Many, anyway.
>>
>>3952240
I think we could use Neuromancy to deal with the Fasciitis. With Dominion Tethers combined with the Dominus Bloodline and Halo in Isolation mode, we could Dominate the Foetid and then go for a Coup- de grace.

Issue is that Foetid's main gimmick is rotting everything with advanced necrosis. Elemental attacks could do the trick and bypass the fact that all bio-equipment rots within close range. in fact...

>>3952246
Do you think we can have Amara enhance our attacks with Radiant Damage? She's got NUKA in her library.
>>
>>3952246
Looks much bettter than the other attempt.

maybe have two clones move up and activate queen crimson and the other hang back?

Just in case the enemy has an AOE move they could use against the clones. We dont want to risk loosing all or most of them.
>>
>>3952246
it might nto be terrain effects,so that may be a waste of a spell, hence me aiming for Amara to turn the enemies terrain into an attack, as that wont depend on an unknown.

i still think Shu should focus the rotting Girl alone, i think Holly and Amara can deal with the other and only Shu can really attack her anyways. Shu should stand her ground to keep the thing more distracted, if she runs off with Amara and Holly it will just cause issues i think with keeping too many enemies in one area.

you and the other anon are under utilizing our numbers heavily and how dangerous it would be for the others if the Rotting Girl isnt kept distracted by a full on enemy before her.

>>3952250
maybe, but the fact she isnt stunned already makes Neuromancy an iffy option.
>>
>>3952257
Point. What's your opinion on imbuing Radiant Damage into Shu's attacks? If Rot-girl has an AOE that melts flesh, bone, and relics, she would theoretically be vulnerable to elemental attacks.
>>
>>3952250
>Do you think we can have Amara enhance our attacks with Radiant Damage? She's got NUKA in her library.
Maybe. I'm not sure Fasciitis is weak to it, though. I can see the logic, radiosurgery to burn out an infection, but let's see how she fights first before we make that call.

>>3952251
Oh, they're not attacking with Queen Crimson, not getting into close range. They're activating it for the sake of level 6's effect that boosts damage and critical chance of ranged attacks.

>>3952257
If you're worried about it not counting as a terrain effect I'd be fine with changing the spell Amara casts. I definitely think we need to get Shu up onto the roof with Holly, though. I want two bungee-tongues ready to grab the civilians, just in case they've been separated and the woman is no longer hold the child. I agree that Fasciitis is potentially very deadly, but that's why I'm getting everyone out of her reach. Up on the roof away from her aura, with the Oxygenic Artillery attacks blasting her away while we burn that infection out.
>>
>>3952228
>>3952206
Second Draft;

SHU and AMARA CLONES;
>Dominus the Rotting Girl and Holly.
>Have one of the areas Jacklings stab the ground, to try and give you the rotting girls location if she tries to dive underground.
>send forth the first wave of Swarmlings as a distraction and to test this girls abilities, quickly replacing them with a wave of banelings. See if you cant melt the rot away with acid, and if not the acid, the fire damage it now gives off.
>Fire off the Honey maxim into the rotting girl, see if you cant pin her down or at least slow her down.
>Have the Nearby Clones cast RHO CUNT and RHO TER NUKA if fire damage does the trick.
>If the Honey rounds work, fire the Fullbore Maxims into her.
>Keep out of the rotting zone. You need to keep her attention on you buy you cant risk getting infected.

AMARA, HOLLY, and FUZZBUZZ;
>use swarmlings and Hollys Tongue to slingshot both of you up and over the rotting mess to get to the other fight. Neither of you are suited to fighting a blob of rot anyways.
>Have Amara cast TER SUTH to give a clean landing zone.
>Put yourselves between the downed girls and the Butcher. Have Holly distract it with swings and grapples of her tongue, to give Amara an opening with her swords unsheathing bonus.
>Have Amara Activate Queen Crimson.
>Add a blast from Oxygenic artillery to Amaras lunge to add some speed to her unsheathing attack.
>>
>>3952262
well, im hoping the clones can turn the terrain into a Radiant attack, but id hope the acid and/or heat damage will be enough, and am unsure its worth the ACTS to imbue her attacks with it over going for more direct damage, given the Radiant Terrain attack could possibly more easily burn away the rot if it works.

>>3952263
I disagree with pull Shu away instead of her acting as a heavier distraction, and i think Oxygenic has too limited a range for that, aswell as my earlier statements Amara and Holly can do more good focusing on the Butcher. we also dont actually know how many Clones we have to play around with, as their job was not specifically to stay near us.
>>
>>3952263
Ah okay i thought they were geting ther to interpose themselves between the enemy and the two girls my mistake.

>>3952265
I think you are still ignorinn the fact the Butcher is almost upon the two dauhgters and will kill them unless we provide a very good distarction pretty much immediatly.

Sure ignoring the rotting girl is not a good idea but we could have Shu attaack her with a barrage of cosntruct arms to try and deal with her without geting infected, while getting the other girls out of dodge and away form the butcher as well.

Holly and Amara could even take them of our hands(Read intercept them in the air and let them down on the rooftops outside of the firect reach and line of sight of the butcher) when they go over there.
>>
>>3952276
no, im not, hence having TWO character throw themselves at the Butcher and putting themselves intbetween it and the others.

like, its almost like two entire characters orders are based around that fact or something.
>>
>>3952270
>and i think Oxygenic has too limited a range for that
Huh. You know, I've been assuming it's a ranged attack because Isabel used it as one, but it doesn't actually state the range. Maybe it doesn't get ranged capability until a higher level.

Hey, BHOP >>3952206, can you clarify on Oxygenic Artillery's range?

>aswell as my earlier statements Amara and Holly can do more good focusing on the Butcher
My priority is getting those two Daughters out of the fight. I don't want to just put Holly and Amara in between them and Butcher, I'd like to evacuate them to a safer position. Butcher's got all these weird branching spikes, I'm worried that would count as AoE and do harm to the civilians.

>we also dont actually know how many Clones we have to play around with, as their job was not specifically to stay near us.
I think they're still pretty close to us, they were described as our vanguard. I suppose they could have moved on, though, it is a bit ambiguous. Another thing to ask BHOP, then.
>>
>>3952280
the civilians can get themselves away if we give them the opportunity, we'll do them more good taking the heat off them and trying to get RID OF the Butcher of just playing 'juggle the civilians'. you also have to remember we need this fight done NOW. we need them to engage and kill the Butcher NOW, not in one turn after we get people who can do their own thing away. they will do everyone better outright damaging the butcher and focusing on simply brute forcing it back and maybe even hurt it badly, over wasting time and ACTs only focusing on helping the Civilians. every second we're here others could be dying. at some point, those we're rescuing have to have a bit of self autonomy or this will literally never work, we cant keep getting them out of harms way while also trying to kill things we dont have time to waste turns on.
>>
>>3952280
also id think the Oxygenic is close-to-medium, im just not sure medium will be long enough here either. plus, i want her to focus her ACTs on the Butcher.
>>
>>3952280
(Oxygeneic artillery has a medium range, though like most cone-type attacks it's most potent at close range, with medium range having decreased power and long range being practically nothing...though this can certainly be mitigated at later levels, as you saw when B'ni used it's stronger form and it was catastrophically powerful.)

(Also, the four clones you sent to the Northern Quarter are within long range, and can return to you by the middle or end of the next round depending on their rolls and if they can successfully navigate the Daughters they’re helping to safety.)
>>
>>3952207
>>3952290
BHOP, would THA TER basically make a piece of terrain warp to be beneficial to your allies?
>>
>>3952290
>>3952280
>>3952276
>>3952262
id honestly prefer for the Clones to keep helping whatever Daughters they are myself, was kinda the point of them.
>>
>>3952290
>>3952291
oh, sorry, meant TER THA here.
>>
>>3952295
If Amara is cloaked, wouldn't it be better to hit the Butcher with an Oxygenic Artillery at point blank range?
>>
>>3952297
>>3952291
(Yes, it would. While the exact nature of the benefit is somewhat random, it's guaranteed to be helpful in some way.)
>>
>>3952298
dont think so. i think the unsheathing bonus would still do significantly more damage. it also keeps it in the killzone, while Oxygenic might do less damage and push it out of reach, which both i want after it are melee fighters.
>>
>>3952285
You're right that we need speed, I'm still just worried for these two. The mother(?) is injured, specifically via caltrops, she's going to have trouble walking. As for taking Butcher out fast, I'm just not sure a single Hunter's Honor strike will do enough damage. I think this is going to take at least two turns no matter what we do. But hey, maybe I'm wrong and she's not that durable, that would be nice.

>>3952290
Ah, alright then, that idea is busted. Didn't realize they were already off and helping other Daughters. That's a good thing they're doing, I'm not going to draw them back from that. And if Fasciitis is not getting blasted back then we need to do something else to handle her. I guess having Shu focus on her is the right thing to do, then.
>>
>>3952206
I think i will amend my vote from>>3952220 to this

HOLLY
>Bungee-tongue over the roofs on our left, carrying Amara.
>Get in the butchers face by using your tounge to fling yourself through their defenses

SHU
>Fire three Honey rounds into the Rotting girl.
>Attach Dominus Bloodline to Holly to grant regen and over the swarmling to the Butcher. We can safely drain her regen
>Bombard Fasciitis with Banelings, seeking to set on fire or corrode flesh with acid.
>Stay out of the rotten zone by utilising your tounge movement

AMARA
>Clear terrain effects with TER THA, to make the groudn benefical to you and allies instead of dangerous
>Activate Queen Crimson to improve the damage of the ranged attacks
>Get in there after Holly made an opening by distractign the butcher to swing in with your blade
>Use remaining ACTs for GRA RHO CUNT to impede movement of foes greatly making it easier ot target them and more difficult for them to land a hit.

Keep clones back and have them start replicating as soon as they can to help out the people that need helping towards the town center
>>
>>3952300
great, thanks.

>>3952303
a x5 Unsheathing bonus on top of whatever Holly manages to do will easily cut the amount of turns here down though, guarantee it. and will still cut them down more than not attacking her here will do. i Also disagree, in the sense if we keep the Butcher busy i think they'll be more than fine, walking or crawling away.

ill compromise and have Shu move to a higher vantage point though, but i still want her in a different location than Holy and Amara to draw the Rot Girl further away from them. getting the rot away from them and the downed girl certainly will help more than drawing it towards them.
>>
>>3952265
>>3952206
third Draft;

SHU;
>Dominus the Rotting Girl and Holly.
>Have one of the areas Jacklings stab the ground, to try and give you the rotting girls location if she tries to dive underground.
>send forth the first wave of Banelings as a distraction and to test this girls abilities, quickly replacing them with a second as you can. See if you cant melt the rot away with acid, and if not the acid, the fire damage it now gives off.
>Fire off the Honey maxim into the rotting girl, see if you cant pin her down or at least slow her down.
>If the Honey rounds work, fire the Fullbore Maxims into her.
>Keep out of the rotting zone, get to higher ground, but make sure the rot Girl stays focused on you. You need to keep her attention on you but you cant risk getting infected.

AMARA, HOLLY, and FUZZBUZZ;
>use swarmlings and Hollys Tongue to slingshot both of you up and over the rotting mess to get to the other fight. Neither of you are suited to fighting a blob of rot anyways.
>Have Amara cast GRA TER THA to give a clean landing zone.
>Put yourselves between the downed girls and the Butcher. Have Holly distract it with swings and grapples of her tongue, to give Amara an opening with her swords unsheathing bonus.
>Have Amara Activate Queen Crimson.
>Add a blast from Oxygenic artillery to Amaras lunge to add some speed to her unsheathing attack.
>>
>>3952206
Gina:
>Maintain Stun
>Pin active Daughters with Terraforming if possible via impalement.
>>
>>3952310
>a x5 Unsheathing bonus on top of whatever Holly manages to do will easily cut the amount of turns here down though, guarantee it. and will still cut them down more than not attacking her here will do.
Sure, it will cut it down. But I think my plan would have done pretty well, too, prioritize getting rid of Fasciitis while getting Butcher's victims out of the way, then focus fire on Butcher once Fasciitis was down. But the clone Artillery barrage doesn't appear to be viable, so let's just scrap that plan. Whatever, move on.

As for the current plan, I'd like to propose that we split the B.33s between Honey and Swarm rounds, not all Honey. Swarm will boost the damage the banelings do to her. We only actually need one Honey round to get her trapped in a big ball of honey like Pooh Bear. We should fire more than one, for the sake of spray-and-pray, so how about three and three? Triple the chance for the honey ball, and if the Swarm rounds land the Banelings will do up to 33% extra damage.
>>
>>3952316
Can we have SIR FuzzBuzz Ferry the two daughters away? iirc, Sir FuzzBuzz is a knight-class Swarmling.
>>
>>3952331
im not sure we can actively switch if its honey or Swarm round, so it being pre-loaded it might be too late.

if so, fair we can switch two over i suppose, im just not sure we can. my thought was if the rot slowly eats away at the honey extra honey will help mitigate that. Im also hoping the fullbores being instant damage will do a hefty blow, and again, are already loaded in.

>>3952334
he is a x4 Knighted-Nomling yes. however, the entire downside to the heart is we have no control over him.
>>
>>3952334
Huh, now there's an idea. He is about the same size as Amara, he could at least take some of their weight and make it easier for the mother to hobble away. Yes. I like that. Assuming we can convince him to leave Amara to help protect another little girl, of course. That's going to be the hard part.
>>
>>3952207
also BHOP, im unsure if it was a mistake or something else, but we switched from just giving Holly a Spriteling to making her Chitinous set all Spriteling based. was that not viable?
>>
>>3952344
(No, that's totally viable. You'll see the correction on the next update. )
>>
>>3952347
oh, ok cool.
also, is the Swarm/Honey modes for the BB set in stone or more like a switch?
>>
>>3952353
(It's more like a switch, if I recall correctly. I'm away from my notes at the moment, I'm afraid.)
>>
>>3952412
alright, thanks.

>>3952316
>>3952206
Fourth Draft;

SHU;
>Dominus the Rotting Girl and Holly.
>Have one of the areas Jacklings stab the ground, to try and give you the rotting girls location if she tries to dive underground.
>send forth the first wave of Banelings as a distraction and to test this girls abilities, quickly replacing them with a second as you can. See if you cant melt the rot away with acid, and if not the acid, the fire damage it now gives off.
>Fire off the Honey maxim into the rotting girl, see if you cant pin her down or at least slow her down. Dont go full Dakka, see if the honey works, and if it does, switch to Swarm rounds, otherwise if its at least slowing her down keep up the honey.
>If the Honey rounds work, fire the Fullbore Maxims into her.
>Keep out of the rotting zone, get to higher ground, but make sure the rot Girl stays focused on you. You need to keep her attention on you but you cant risk getting infected.

AMARA, HOLLY, and FUZZBUZZ;
>use swarmlings and Hollys Tongue to slingshot both of you up and over the rotting mess to get to the other fight. Neither of you are suited to fighting a blob of rot anyways.
>Have Amara cast GRA TER THA to give a clean landing zone.
>Put yourselves between the downed girls and the Butcher. Have Holly distract it with swings and grapples of her tongue, to give Amara an opening with her swords unsheathing bonus.
>Have Amara Activate Queen Crimson.
>Add a blast from Oxygenic artillery to Amaras lunge to add some speed to her unsheathing attack.
>>
(Gentlemen, I'll be leaving voting open for another hour as I wrap a busy workday, so if you haven't voted yet, please do so now.)
>>
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>>3952532
hope work wasn't too brutal BHOP.
>>
>>3952554
(It was busy, but the good kind. Given the sheer amount of actors in play in the current combat, then there's a lot more moving pieces than usual.)
>>
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>>3952554
>>3952532
>>
>>3952532
I don't think I've updated my vote, might as well formalize it. Supporting >>3952422

You know, thinking about it, I feel bad for Fasciitis. For all the Hunger-mad Daughters, of course, they didn't ask to turn into monsters. But she seems less aggressive than lashing out in fear. She's probably a Vitruvian, she hasn't personally experienced the body horror that other Daughters do, and then her flesh starts rotting off her bones. And now we're going to come along and start burrowing insects into her flesh, furthering the "living corpse" imagery. Not going to be a good experience. I know she can't be talked down, the Hunger has her permanently locked into a fear state, but I still feel some sympathy for her. Let's hope there's enough of her corpse to recover past the decay and damage we'll inflict that someone can eat her and give her a nice Dreamscape to live in.
>>
>>3952565
>giving her a nice dreamscape to live in
that requires consuming one of her abilities for a chance or her core ability for a guaranteed invitation.
Granted we can always melt down the core for stats in an engine and reconfigure if we find a good hybrid combination.
>>
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Art for stuff while waiting.
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>>3952560
i split between 'but why?' and 'ive seen better pictures for that before.'

>>3952557
oh, i thought you meant actual job work, not game work.

>>3952565
actually, she does seem oddly lucid, but then again, Holly wasn't totally mentally gone either, and it was clear she couldn't be saved, and Uzu had some clarity, though that was from death clarity i think. Niku fought back physically too, but i think that had to do with her not being the one in control, and more like a phantasmal construct sorta i think.

still, point is, the Hunger is a fucking nightmare where you're half lucid but still cant stop yourself from hurting people infront of you it seems, or at least for some.

>>3952581
melting for stats is never a bad thing, but we can handle the consuming issue later. might have to hook the Appetites up to the tower or something so people can save what friends they can... we'll see.
>>
>>3952592
Oh the Saryn Warframe.
>>
>>3952581
Well I didn't mean us, necessarily. Maybe she has friends or family here in Laoc who would want to take her in. Though if we did consume her, I'd have no problem with just grabbing her Core just for stats and preserving her mind. It would only be a single level per Daughter in exchange for big stat gains, I think that's an acceptable trade-off for not putting that level into our main abilities.

>>3952592
>still, point is, the Hunger is a fucking nightmare where you're half lucid but still cant stop yourself from hurting people infront of you it seems, or at least for some.
Yep. The ones who go full berserk or turn into sadistic monsters I don't have an issue with killing. They're too far gone for sympathy, turning them into Dream Daughters is undeniably the best thing to do. But the ones that have some awareness of what's happened to them are horrifying.
>>
>>3952592
(Oh, I was referring to actual work with the first part, apologies for the confusion.)
>>
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>>3952598
i think the girls getting a bit too friendly with her construct there...
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>>3952608
She might be that way because it might be her boyfriend piloting that snake construct
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>>3952608
girls with sharp teeth.
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>>3952614
how would that work? I know BHOP said some girls find their husbands and such as Amalgams but i dont think he has said or we have seen proof of their minds being salvageable.

bet any Daughter who could do that though would have one hell of a good business opportunity.
>'for only ten, yes ten levels ill tears your husband outta that nasty Amalgam body and shove him inta whatever you want! eachadditionalfetishaddedcostsoneextralevelafterthethridnotresponsibleforanyrelationshipissuesorinstanitythisallmaycause!"
>>
>>3952630
Maybe it was someone she hooked up with post-Crucible. A glitch like Carter or a transman like Dorian. And then they died and she consumed them and now lets them pilot her constructs.
>>
>>3952630
(There's a Phantasmal Conduit/Neuromancer Hybrid out there currently that running this exact business.)
>>
>>3952640
Well shit, let's hunt her down. Sounds like she'd be very helpful in engenerating the stored minds after we hack the Cord.
>>
>>3952640
>>3952630
A damn shame that daughter didn't visit Cradleton.
>>
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>>3952639
maybe, but both are pretty rare for that.

>>3952640
oh, well ok then. Im a bit unsure how to take that. wait, even the fetish part?!
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>>3952650
do we really want to go down that tangent?
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>>3952651
no, but we have before. for worse, definitely for worse that we have. but still, hasn't stopped us before.
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>>3952657
>>
>>3952650
(No, not the fetish part...but don't give her any ideas.)
>>
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>>3952732
..ignoring the more awkward applications of that line of thought, that does bring up some odd ideas for some martial arguments and issues...

>"What do you MEAN you turned down the promotion because it required hybridizing your Neuromancy with Skintalker abilities!? i do NOT slave over a radiant oven just for you to keep us in a two bedroom house!"
>*Husband slams down fists.* "LOOK WOMAN, ive already told you, im am just NOT comfortable with those kinda abilities! Aint having that be a part of me, especially cause I know th type of folks who have access to that damn skinternet or whatever. damn people like kevin down the street, fuck kevin."
>"OH, maybe i just will! least he apparently has the makings of a CEO, unlike SOME PEOPLE!"

and this is how Amaras are made.
>>
>>3952745
welp. somethings are constant in all civilization. Domestic arguments and family drama are one of them.

>"Mommy goes to Kevin's house every Wednesday!"
>"...Honey, I want to cut the Cord."
>>
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>>3952753
...huh, i do wonder how the 'crimson cord' like connection will affect marriage(and friendships, seeing as how its any connection that can make such a thing.). seeing as how its in part time based, would it be a thing where you are encouraged not to get married til one forms you think?

cutting it would absolutely be part of the divorce process though yeah.

oh god, i just had a fucking HORRIBLE thought.
>Be technical Construct.
>But basically an individual.
>made from mommy and daddy working together as a symbol of their love.
>...now they dont love eachother anymore and are are afraid about what 'each getting half of you' means...
>>
>>3952762
Divorce Court apparently is a VERY messy process and not one to be taken lightly.

It also somewhat highlights the problems the Hexane had to face in their civilization before they did the arduous process of making a global empathy/telepathy network which Ironically made their civ progress stagnate.
>>
>>3952772
helps them though that their relationships were much less permanent due to the lack of offspring from said relationships.

though maybe literally emotion melding took the place of that or something, so splitting up left you both cutting off a very intimate connection or something.
>>
>>3952776
I still say that their reproductive strategy makes no sense. No way that's a natural trait, they had to have reproduced some other way in the past. Something their ancestors decided would disrupt their empathy network and so removed from the species.
>>
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>>3952796
maybe, but there are both creatures on earth who at least have that option, and they are technically plant based, and i think some plants can do similar too.

mind you, talking alien plant here. alien plant that became basically an animal for all intents and purposes. so. something.
>>
>>3952805
>"Oh! sweet outfit! where'ja get it? did you make it from your core?"
>"Please, I just need some decent clothes!"
>"Ooh! an Amalgam hunter! Whadidja hunt?"
>"Just get me a decent shirt and pants! PLEASE! I'm tired walking around in fish guts and yanking squid tentacles out of-" *sigh*
>>
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>>3952814
two kinds of people i suppose...
>>
>>3952805
Oh, sure, I believe that they're naturally capable of parthenogenesis. What I don't believe is that parthenogenesis is naturally preferred method of reproduction. Because the Hexane only produce one offspring in their entire life, maybe two if they're very lucky. It's no way to build a population, that just doesn't work. In earthly life that's capable of parthenogensis it's used mostly as a last-ditch method if normal fertilization is not available. I assume that's why the Hexane evolved it, and the modifications made to them have sterilized their normal reproductive abilities.
>>
>>3952823
or maybe the need a species middle man to transfer the pollen back in the old days.
>>
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>>3952823
well, the one offspring thing is cultural though, right? nothing says they can only have one, as far as i can remember. its just cultural they dont have a kid til they are ready to off themselves, i dont think anything biologically is saying they could not continue to live after making said offspring or that they could not make more than one in their life.
>>
>>3952828
I got the sense from Silvis' description of it that it was biological, not cultural, but maybe it was. That they could produce more budlings earlier in life but didn't anymore thanks to cultural conditioning. That is possible. I still feel fairly certain that they had to have some means of reproduction that shared genetic information, though. They have a pair bonding instinct, you don't have that if you don't mate.
>>
>>3952891
maybe. but ill admit im no expert on alien plant humanoids that for some reason look like angular carved stone.
>>
>>3952895
Well, their planet had two suns, so maybe it's an exoskeleton to protect against the heat?
>>
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>>3952904
oh, im sure there is an explanation, im just pointing out how utterly bizarre they are as a species is all. honestly their odd affinity with Hexagons, while not impossible for nature, still feels a bit... 'tindalosy', if that makes sense. like, not that they are related to said doggos, but they have something odd like they are going on in their development.
>>
>>3952904
More like an exoskeleton to keep the water in. High winds, two suns, lots of wind, a civ that builds its infrastructure underground, making solar panels and wind turbines while the rest of the plant people live in cool damp (and most importantly moist) areas with water.
Their bodies adapted to the harsh surface climates first, then they discovered the natural cave systems of their planet and then evolved from there.
>>
>>3952909
Well that's what I meant, I guess. Prevent water loss from the heat, not protect against heat directly. There's a plant called the stonebud that I was thinking of, a type of desert succulent that looks like a stone because of its tough outer skin holding in water.
>>
(Posting now, Gentlemen.)
>>
>>3952206

The Dominus Leash finds two targets in Holly and Fasciitis, and the instant your bubbly companion throws an arm around Amara’s waist a half-dozen of your Banelings surge forth, obscuring the rotting girls’ vision and allowing your allies to slingshot over towards your real target. You’re disappointed but not surprised when the first barrage converges on their prey only for their shells to dull, then melt into bubbling piles of biomass that collapse at the girl’s feet as the acid does nothing to her bare legs.

She’s less confident of her footing when the acid catches fire, dark green flames rapidly spreading throughout her field of corrupted terrain as Holly and Amara disappear, having vaulted to the next street over and leaving you with the rotting girl before you. Another step, and she falters as the flames start to gout billowing, noxious smoke into the sky. It's thick, but not enough to throw off your shot as you send a pair of B.33 rounds burrowing into Fasciitis' chest.

You can feel them through your connection, drilling into her stomach until...they're gone, rotted to nothing and instead absorbed as fuel for the girl's alarmingly durable form. The flames continue to crack and blacken the seething biomass, but despite the obvious damage she’s taking she continues to advance past the remains of your second swarm of Banelings even as a sudden melee erupts from the next street over.

“GRA TER THA!” Amara roars, her enhanced command shuddering the streets and prompting a frustrated howl of fury from the unseen Butcher, almost making you miss when Fasciitis attempts to dive into the corrupted ground at their feet to extinguish the flames and doubtless sneak in a strike.

Relief isn't so forthcoming, thanks to your foresight.

Your Jackling's powers flare to life, causing the biomass just below the infected surface to resist the rotting girl's attempt to dive, and she looses a gurgling scream of irritation as the flames continue to spread...

...and then you hear the strangest thing.

A sneeze of a volume more akin to a clap of thunder, and then it's as if the sound itself is cut short by the whistle of blade on sheath. You can't see it, but as the air a few meters away from you sizzles with a perfectly-placed stroke, everything else falls away when you hear Amara's blade snap back to its sheath, followed by the shattering of obsidian remains on the unforgiving pavement.

>>HUNTER'S HONOR - CRITICAL BLOW

>>ONYX BUTCHER - ELIMINATED

[...Did she just]

"Yeah. I...fuck. Yeah, just...fuck, holy shit." Holly answers across the empathic channel, her voice filled with a healthy mix of awe and fear. "Anyway, I'm, uh...I'm gonna help this mom and kid out, Amara's on her way to you now!"

{You wanna hear some bullshit?!}

Gina’s voice suddenly lances through your mind, her unrestrained fury readily apparent in her tone. {Some dickbag out there’s breaking my goddamn stuns in the Eastern Quarter}

(Continued)
>>
>>3952942

“Two! Two bags of dicks!” Amara declares suddenly, cutting across your channel with a blurt of static. “There’s two Daughters messing with the Hungry people!”

{Wait, like...*sane* Daughters?} Gina asks incredulously, and Amara sends a flicker of affirmation as she ushers the woman and child to safety alongside Holly.

"Yes! I'm sorry I couldn't see them, but I could only ask so much!" Amara cries apologetically, and you send a pulse of comfort across the line as Gina's attention shifts back to you.

{Look, the Relic installed up here’s got a short cool down, so I’m not sure how well it’s gonna hold up if both the Joyous and I keep alternating with it} She urgently explains, her frustration and indignation blending with yours into a swirl of rage at the idiots who’d throw fire on a crisis situation like this one. {I need to know if the calm or the lockdown’s more important, Shu}

You’re about to answer when a thunderous explosion roars across Laoc from the opposite side of town, and across your empathic field you sense Amara’s satisfaction at the annihilation of two threats with a perfectly-arced shell from the Metall Geschoss. Another ping of joy from your young ward, and you see a flash of a Hunger-mad Daughter shredded by a single booming blast of Magpie’s double-barreled Lupara that almost drowns out a distant peal of thunder.

Through Amara, you sense two more are felled, one in the East by a mob of townspeople, and one in the West...you don't have to guess how that one met its swift end, given the bolt you heard mere moments before.

Hope.

Hope blossoms, as you feel the woman and child reach safety outside the range of your empathic field, as you sense the tide start to turn. Hope, as...

You kick backwards, a hair's breadth saving you from being subsumed by the lunging carpet of corrupted biomass that spears forth from the obscuring flames. You land just outside the field's range and land in time to watch the rot spreading faster than before, the flames continuing to lick at the spreading biomass, but not fast enough to overcome the decay that siphons the ambient terrain's very nutrients back into the Fasciitis' failing body. Goddamnit, if ony she were a target you could-

The crack of a whip sounds overhead as Holly's tongue lashes out, snatching a handful of fist-sized objects from the air before they can fall upon you. Your ally gives a yelp and a hiss of pain as her Ravenous Maw swallows the foreign objects, and you turn your attentions skyward through your swarm to observe the new threat from above as well as the advancing one before you.

A limp, languid Daughter gazes down at you from high above the town, the air she hovers on screaming with a high, buzz-saw like screech that only grows in volume as her insectoid wings bring her closer to you. Her hair’s cut short, leaving a pock-marked face fully visible as she stares down at you with a pair of large, yellow…

…hornets.

(Continued)
>>
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>>3952948

From out of the girl’s empty sockets crawls a pair of African Hornets, their antennae and claws sprouting into wickedly sharp needles. Each spine is nearly twelve inches long and growing ever longer as the hornets unfurl to full size, while even more members of the growing swarm pour forth from their host’s eyes and slackened jaw, freed from the living hive that is the girl’s entire body. The girl’s swarm surrounds her, a vast cloud of spiked constructs that churn the very skies they infest as the terrible din of their collective wingbeats descends upon the melee you’re embroiled in.

Her furious vanguard surges down towards you and the rotting girl, and while your swarm moves to protect you, there's a terrible clash of claw and needle as both swarms find themselves evenly matched, deadlocked as they tear each other apart in mid-air. The rotting girl pays them no heed even as she single-mindedly advances on you, heedless of the massive hornets as they stab and spear at her dying flesh, her dead nerves forbidding her from registering any pain as her aggressors melt away, first their bodies, then their stingers, powerless in the face of the Fasciitis' unstoppable curse.

Shifting focus again, now that the aerial Hive Mistress is closer you can see newborn hornets emerging not only from every hole in her face, but squirming forth from gaping wounds in her joints, from the tears in her pants and shirt as they pour forth from innumerable orifices, both natural and not.

The things she's spawning are wild, unpredicatable agents of wrath, swarming forth across the Western Quarter with no aim but to exact their bloody fury.

You, your allies, even the Foetid Fasciitis...

...this living hive's hatred is indiscriminate, for one and all to bear.

>>MANDARINA’S HOST has joined the battle.

HP: 1620% (+675% [Dominus: Holly & Fasciitis])
BIO: 1940% (+270%, 8x Sneak-Jacklings, 3x Double-Stealthlings, 4x Sneak-Rooks, 5x Recursive-Rook-Platelings, 5x Sprite-Platelings, 3x Bishop, 14x Banelings, 40/54. Matrons, Whistle: OMA SUTH. Armored)

CONTENDER: Gemini Maxims. LEFT: 1x Honey. RIGHT: 3x Fullbore
RAVENOUS MAW: Primed.
HUNDRED-HANDED: None.
ACT: 3/3

AMARA: 1490% (+230%. Vocem[Suth:FREE], Cloaked)
HOLLY: 2,480% (RESIST: Heat, Cold. IMMUNE: Acid. Uzi(x2 Mags of Heat, Frost, Acid, and Radiant, BISHOP: Untriggered. Armored)

THREAT: FASCIITIS is advancing upon you. Medium range, line of sight established. HOST'S swarm is attacking indiscriminately, with a new focus on you and your allies. Long range, airborne.

THREATS REMAINING

North x8: 2 Targets Active, 5 Stunned, 1 ELIMINATED

East x8: 7 Targets Active, 1 Stunned, 1 ELIMINATED

South x5: 2 Targets Active, 3 Stunned, 3 ELIMINATED

West x5: 4 Active Targets, 1 Stunned, 1 ELIMINATED

>>Please reload the Left-hand Contender with 1 FREE round.

YOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>
(Gentlemen, I shall be pausing here for the evening. Voting shall remain open for the next thirteen hours, with posting to resume in fifteen, give or take. I'll be around a little while longer to address any questions, concerns, or criticisms you may have, though I will be heading to bed in the next hour or two so as to catch up on some sleep and hopefully not burn myself out too early like I so often do. Thank you all so much for your continued patience, participation, and enthusiasm, and I hope you have a restful evening and a wonderful night's sleep.)

(As an additional point of interest, Holly's Bishop has yet to trigger, as Amara dispatched the Butcher so comically fast that I thought it would be foolish to trigger it when there was no need.)
>>
Last update:

North:x7 4 Targets stunned, 3 Active

East:x9 6 Targets Stunned, 3 Active

South:x8 4 Targets Stunned, 4 Active

West:x6 2 Targets Stunned, 4 Active

Current update:

North x8: 2 Targets Active, 5 Stunned, 1 ELIMINATED

East x8: 7 Targets Active, 1 Stunned, 1 ELIMINATED

South x5: 2 Targets Active, 3 Stunned, 3 ELIMINATED

West x5: 4 Active Targets, 1 Stunned, 1 ELIMINATED

And then add the two daughters that are screwing with Gina's lock-in.

>>3952956
Bhop, is it possible for Amara to tell which district the anarchist daughters are at?
>>
>>3952956
Can Amara tell us how the Towns doing in resisting the hunger, and how much she at least thinks her Aura and spells are affecting that?
>>
>>3952956
oh, and how much does it cost Amara to spawn an unsheathed version of the sword? her level one entry does not say.
>>
>>3952956
Also, of the stunned daughters, how many of them have broken lock?
>>
>>3952942
Okay, guess Hunter's Honor was enough. Damn, that's a good sword. I owe you an apology for thinking it would take two hits, Amara. Now sheathe that thing so it can start recharging.

>>3952948
>“Two! Two bags of dicks!” Amara declares suddenly, cutting across your channel with a blurt of static. “There’s two Daughters messing with the Hungry people!”
Vultures. We've got vultures, taking advantage of this. They want to rile this up into a massacre so that they can scavenge the remains. Rath, burn them alive, please.

>>3952949
>From out of the girl’s empty sockets crawls a pair of African Hornets, their antennae and claws sprouting into wickedly sharp needles.
BHOP, this is going to sound a little crazy, but can we improvise Ironblood Brood to raise the temperature of our swarmlings without detonating the acid? There's a technique called "heat-balling" that bees use to kill hornets. They swarm around them, raise their body temperatures, and cook the hornet alive in an oven made of their own bodies. I want to do that here. Swarm Mandarina with banelings, have them heat up, cook her out of the sky.

Also, wait, Mandarina? Mandarina is a type of snail, not wasp. Oh my god, this is inspired by that "nature has developed aircraft carriers" meme someone posted here a long time ago of a snail with a wasp nest built on its shell, isn't it? Is that the joke you are doing with her name, BHOP?
>>
>>3952956
How many new daughters have succumbed to the hunger riot?
>>
>>3952956
(A correction; the North Quarter Threat should read as follows.)

North x7(not 8): 2 Targets Active, 5 Stunned, 1 ELIMINATED

>>3952959
(They're in the Eastern Quarter, as you can see by the sudden shift in numbers.)

>>3952961
(The town is doing very well, or else the active threat would have increased dramatically. Everyone got good resistance rolls, thanks to Amara's calm field.)

>>3952965
(30% BIO)

>>3952966
(Hostiles that have broken stunlock are moved to the 'Active' threat list, so by my count there are six targets that broke free, though half of those were not of their own volition.)
>>
>>3952977
hrm, didn't answer my question really, unless you are implying they are only doing so well because of the calm field?
>>
>>3952977
does the "Gra Suth" spell/Calm aura last the entire town event or is there a need to refresh the spell?

How many daughters have successfully evacuated to safe areas from the assistance of the Amara clones?

>>3952979
Anon. I think it's time we changed priorities on the Amara clone army. We've got them spread out and distributed, now we need to have them divide and conquer.
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>>3952985
depends on what you mean by that. they are a very useful tool to getting the townsfolk together.
>>
>>3952979
(Apologies; yes, Laoc's only really holding up so well as a result of Amara's calm field.)

>>3952985
(Due to the properties of the Relic atop Town Hall, it needs to keep being cast. Also, the Joyous are currently funneling the townspeople to the Town Hall/Tavern to keep everyone safe, and will continue to do so unless directed otherwise.)

>>3952976
(None, though the Hunger checks get incrementally harder for each turn that passes, so you're effectively on the clock if it wasn't obvious already.)

>>3952975
(That's quite possible, yes.)

(As far as the meme, it was actually hilariously opportune; when they posted that pictures, I was already concepting for a Hive Mistress whose when the 'numbers' path of her Choice with her corruption, resulting in the girl you're fighting now. However, 'Vespa Mandarinia' is the name of the Asian Giant Hornet, which is her given swarmling. I tweaked it a little, and thus it became her name.)
>>
>>3952949
first draft. note, i will respond, but ID may change for a sec as ive been waiting on BHOP to post before getting food for like two hours.

SHU;
>Load up Free Round as a Honey round.
>Send the Banelings forward to keep pressuring the HOSTS swarm, but then spawn Grapplings into the new slots, except for one.
>Spawn a Stealthed Knighted-Drillling, and have it wait for its opening next to Amara.
>Have the new Grapplings focus on Sending out a swarm of HHs to gather up and grapple as many of the Hornets as they can, making an opening.
>Once the SK-Drillings sees its opening,Have Amara give it a speed boost with Oxygenic Artillery to slam into the HOST and drill her brains out.
>If the Grapplings need it, fire a Honey round into the Hornets to help wrap them up. But dont waste the round if it is not necessary.
>Otherwise, give Amara supporting fire with the Fullbores if you can.

AMARA and FUZZBUZZ;
>get to an advantageous vantage point, and Use Oxygenic to launch extra swords through the Rot Girl.
>Slow the rot Girl down with GRA NUKA CUNT TER.
>When its time, help out Shus Knight, as in her orders.

HOLLY;
>Lay down Uzi Covering fire into the HOSTS swarm.
>If and/or once Shu has the hornet swarm under control, unload Radiant and/or Heat magazines into the Rot Girl.
>If you think you see an opening you can risk, take a bit of rot damage to swing by her and deal a massive biting blow to her, though whatever you do, spit out her rotting biomass, PLEASE!

GINA and AMARA CLONE;
>Keep up the Calm Aura and Spells.
>Have Gina go on a special mission; Find and kill/hinder the saboteurs. Her Neuromancy and ability to swim in the fleshscape should give her easier access to getting to them quickly, aswell as at least slowing them down safely.
>>
>>3952999
>>ive been waiting on BHOP to post before getting food for like two hours.

(Oh my word, I'm so sorry. I'll say this for you and anyone else that's ever waited for me to post; if you're holding off on something so you don't miss an update, please let me know so I can either try and speed up or let you know a time range that I'll be posting. I make everyone lose enough sleep with combat and level-ups, so please don't put off eating on my account, too.)
>>
>>3952993
>(Apologies; yes, Laoc's only really holding up so well as a result of Amara's calm field.)
Okay, definitely drop the stuns, then, it sucks but we need this more. However, we may still be able to use Gina using Neuromancy from range. She can use it on anyone she can see and has telescopic and X-ray vision. The effectiveness drops off the farther from the target she is, but how much does it drop off? Because I'm looking at

>NEON ASCENDANT (Lvl 4): Adding yet another cruel trick to her growing arsenal of abilities, Gina may now focus her attentions on a single Daughter for the cost of 2 ACTs and 200% BIO, forcing the next use of a Neuromancer, Generator, or Phantasmal Conduit ability used by the target to backfire catastrophically. This also doubles the negative effects of the resulting backlash, be it the severity of the status effect applied, the amount of damage inflicted, or the strength of the Dream manifestation that is summoned. However, this ability may only be used against a given target once per combat. (BIO +40%, BIO REGEN +20%)

and having very nasty ideas. Amara spots for Gina, Gina zaps them with a backlash debuff, their heads explode the next time they try to rile up the crowd. Unless the distance from the top of the tower to anywhere in the city is just too far without the broadcaster, then we should have her going hunting like >>3952999 and zap them once she gets closer.
>>
>>3952999
>>3953006
Last update:
Total of active threats: 30

Current update:
Total of active threats: 25

>>3953006
Hey bhop, there's something that I've been meaning to ask:
If the entire town is a battlefield, and 5 enemy daughters just died on the first round, does that mean Julia gets 5 additional temporary ACTs from Carnivorous Carver's Rage on this upcoming round?
Total of active threats: 25
>>
>>3953006
Nah, i mean, ill do it if you're ok with it but part of it is I don't want to rush you or make you hold off for me.

Its also part my stubborness. Usually, it takes you an hour after voting closes to post. So i waited an hour, but wasn't hungry then. Then, i remembered heavier sections like this, the average is two hours... So i waited another... Then i was like 'damnit, ive waited this long, ill wait another!'

Not my smartest moment, but damnit, im allowed to have those.
>>
>>3952993
>(None, though the Hunger checks get incrementally harder for each turn that passes, so you're effectively on the clock if it wasn't obvious already.)
Then why does North district still have 7 active targets this round?

It was 7 targets at the beginning, and we killed Bone Butcher, which should bring the number of Active threats down to 6.


How much of the populace have successfully evacuated from all the combat areas?
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>>3952999
Rather than using Oxygenic Artillery, which might impact accuracy of the ranged attacks, we should just have Amara get into Medium distance of of both Shu and Holly. Queen Crimson boosts the ranged damage of all allies within its radius of effect. It also deflects melee attacks back at nearby enemies, meaning that if the hornets try to sting us, Queen Crimson will have them stinging each other.
>>
>>3953016
(Technically, the town's broken up into the four distinct Quarters, so only fallen foes in the Quarter that Julia's in would trigger her ability. That said, the Hunger-mad that Dorian just blitzed with her will trigger an instance of Rage.)

>>3953020
(I'm totally okay with it if you speak up, and the same goes for any other player that has a timing issue, as I'll try my best to take those into consideration or work with them to ensure they don't miss anything or wait on something I can give them a more precise time on.)

(Also, I forget to eat all the time by just putting it off until it's time to go to bed or something silly like that. Half the time if my wife works late, I'll just forget to have dinner...and I never eat breakfast, so...)

(...hrm.)

>>3953024
(Good grief, I can't math today. The number of active threats IS six, you're quite correct.)
>>
>>3953025
she has no other way to use her own swords as projectiles though and she wont do aswell against the swarm, aswell as we have plenty else to deal with the swarm. she can hold off the rot Girl until the HOST and her swarm thats making a mess of the entire north area is taken care of.

>>3953028
hey, on only have like two meals a day myself. but seriously BHOP, eat, eat good meals, you deserve it.
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>>3953028
I now imagine you as a charlie brown in a meat world.
>>
also
>Two daughters causing trouble.
>Two Daughters kicked out by the Mayor.
>Two Daughters asking about Magpie.
well i guess we know the type of assholes that one group used to house.
>>
>>3953042
Good thing they're in a different district.
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>>3953035
>she has no other way to use her own swords as projectiles though and she wont do aswell against the swarm, aswell as we have plenty else to deal with the swarm.
She's already got Queen Crimson active anyway, I'm saying that we might as well bring the entire current group into its area of effect. Let everyone get that boost. As for using her Hunter's Honor blades as ranged projectiles, they don't have to be swords, just bladed weapons. And she gets an automatic critical with each new type of blade she spawns, so let's have her cycle through a lot of bladed throwing weapons for Queen Crimson to boost. A shuriken, then a throwing knife, then a chakram, a hatchet, a boomerang, etc. Things designed to be thrown so she doesn't need a wind-blast to give them enough momentum, and taking advantage of the first-hit critical effect.

>>3953042
Shit, you're probably right, aren't you? They were Apex Sisterhood, too, of course they'd see something like this as an opportunity to "climb to the top of the food chain" or however they'd justify it. We should have Gina make sure to point out to them when they fight that they're scavengers, not predators.
>>
>>3953046
for now. we dont know what they are even actually doing. could be they plan to make their way through every sector and make a ruckus, and if it is them, and they spot Magpie?

well, as much as i trust in November, Magpies, and the Mayors strength, I doubt those daughters will be open and blatant about whatever they pull, and in a sector that at least started out less well off.
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>>3953050
>"Apex huh? So why are you slinking around like scavenging starving vultures?"
>>
>>3953050
i thin kit still has to be melee weapons, other Calcite abilities have been limited like that before.

and shes still just a kid, and the Oxygenic will add to the damage still.

we also wont really need her Queen Crimson, and again, she'll do a better job of holding off the Rot Girl if she is not actively drawing it towards the rest of us.
>>
>>3953050
>>3953056
oh, but yes, we can have her cycles weapon types regardless.
>>
>>3953028
oh BHOP, you overlooked a decently important question here;
>>3953008
>>
>>3953059
(Ah, thank you for bringing this to my attention.)

>>3953008
(It's typified as long range, though the distance from the tower to anywhere in the city is out of Gina's range of effect, so she will likely have to hunt for them or find some alternative to bring them closer to her striking distance.)

>>3953038
(Ha, that's a rather adorable mental image, come to think of it.)
>>
>>3953056
I hope it doesn't have to be just melee weapons, what ninja is complete without their shurikens? But if that is the case we can still probably justify knives and hatchets and stuff, smaller weapons that while meant for melee can be thrown. That way we wouldn't have to use Oxygenic. I get the idea, you want to accelerate them that way, but I'm worried that the throws will go wild if she does that.

Fair point on distracting Fasciitis, though we'd have to have Amara drop stealth to really provide a good distraction.
>>
>>3953070
>(It's typified as long range, though the distance from the tower to anywhere in the city is out of Gina's range of effect, so she will likely have to hunt for them or find some alternative to bring them closer to her striking distance.)
Dang. Okay, then she'll have to go hunting, though given her X-ray vision she should definitely inflict backlash before she engages them in combat. Just peer up through the ground and zap them, if we're lucky she won't even need to fight normally.
>>
>>3953070
you didn't really answer the question of how much of the populace is out of harms way. Because I believe much of our plan would be waiting for the all-clear for Shu's family to let loose and go on a killing spree on the hunger mad.
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>>3953071
im not thinking it will be that big a deal. i suppose i get the concern but Amara has little if any strength enhancements so i simply cant see her getting the strength necessary to really deal a good hit or even possibly get the range she needs via throwing them normally.

plus, making each connecting hit that much more potent should hopefully end this sooner.

Actually...

>>3953070
BHOP, any Northern Clones both free and close enough to cast a spell?
>>
>>3953077
(Ah, apologies. I'll also include an evacuation tracker in future updates, as well.)

EVAC: 17%

(100% would mean that everyone is either safe in the center of town and closest to the calming field, or safe with other townspeople and barricaded indoors and effectively rendered safe from any outside threats that could locate them.)
>>
>>3953078
>>Clones
(Yes. Of the four you sent northward, two are close enough to you to connect with a spell.)
>>
>>3953089
ah, neat, thank you.
>>
>>3952999
>>3952949
Second Draft;

SHU;
>Load up Free Round as a Honey round.
>Send the Banelings forward to keep pressuring the HOSTS swarm, but then spawn Grapplings into the new slots, except for one.
>Spawn a Stealthed Knighted-Drillling, and have it wait for its opening next to Amara.
>Have the new Grapplings focus on Sending out a swarm of HHs to gather up and grapple as many of the Hornets as they can, making an opening.
>Once the SK-Drillings sees its opening,Have Amara give it a speed boost with Oxygenic Artillery to slam into the HOST and drill her brains out.
>If the Grapplings need it, fire a Honey round into the Hornets to help wrap them up. But dont waste the round if it is not necessary.
>Otherwise, give Amara supporting fire with the Fullbores if you can.

AMARA CLONES(2);
>Have one Clone cast THA GRA NUKA on Amara to give her attacks a Radiant edge.
>Have the other closeby clone cast GRA RHO CUNT TER on the Rot Girl to help keep her back.
>After casting spells split as you can and go back to business as you were.

AMARA and FUZZBUZZ;
>get to an advantageous vantage point, and Use Oxygenic to launch extra weapons through the Rot Girl, cycle through weapon types for the new bonuses.
>Slow the rot Girl down with GRA NUKA CUNT TER.
>When its time, help out Shus Knight, as in her orders.

HOLLY;
>Lay down Uzi Covering fire into the HOSTS swarm.
>If and/or once Shu has the hornet swarm under control, unload Radiant and/or Heat magazines into the Rot Girl.
>If you think you see an opening you can risk, take a bit of rot damage to swing by her and deal a massive biting blow to her, though whatever you do, spit out her rotting biomass, PLEASE!

GINA and AMARA CLONE(tower);
>Keep up the Calm Aura and Spells.
>Have Gina go on a special mission; Find and kill/hinder the saboteurs. Her Neuromancy and ability to swim in the fleshscape should give her easier access to getting to them quickly, aswell as at least slowing them down safely.
>>
>>3953096
I just remembered something: Fear To Tread has a tractor effect on enemy constructs. Flyers get sucked right down into the spiral. We can skip the stuff with the Grapplings, just make a vortex and pull her hornets all out of the sky.
>>
>>3953204
the issue is that if we're to use it effectively, we need to put it down with Fasciitis as the epicenter or put it at the midpoint between Host and Fasciitis
>>
>>3953210
Why? We could just make a big enough one, they're both within range of the maximum size spiral. Fasciitis will get knocked down and prepped for Amara's nuclear barrage, and the sky will be cleared of hornets. Holly can scoop up Amara and take them into the air for that initial spiral formation to keep them from getting caught in the knockdown effect, too.
>>
So, my vote. Pretty similar to the other one, just with the added use of Fear To Tread. Which with the other terrain effects we're throwing at Fasciitis, should put her in a thermonuclear blender.

>>3952949
AMARA and HOLLY
>Get to positions of high ground, to avoid what is to come

SHU
>Allocate free reload to Swarm B.33
>Spawn Subversive Knight-Drilling
>Create spiral with Fear To Tread reaching to Long range
>Fire both B.33s at Mandarina
>Once hornets are sucked down, send Banelings to heat ball Mandarina
>Replace any killed Banelings with Bane-Grapplings aimed at keeping the hornet swarm busy
>With Mandarina occupied, have Knight-Drilling charge in to eviscerate her
>Fire Fullbores at Fasciitis, support Amara's barrage

AMARA CLONES
>One clone casts GRA NUKA THA on Amara
>Other clone casts GRA RHO CUNT TER on Fasciitis after she's knocked down by Fear To Tread
>Resume aiding evacuation afterwards

AMARA
>Cast GRA NUKA CUNT TER on Fasciitis
>Bombard Fasciitis with thrown Hunter's Honor blades, cycling through blade styles to maintain critical bonus
>If possible, use Oxygenic Artillery to accelerate Knight-Drilling's charge

HOLLY
>Provide suppressing fire with Uzi at Mandarina
>If made unnecessary, switch to Heat magazines and target Fasciitis
>If opening presents itself, swing in for a bite, spitting out flesh afterwards to prevent serious infection.

TOWER CREW
>Joyous Many keeps up calming aura and spells
>Gina goes hunting for saboteurs. Have Joyous Many swarm spot for her, while she uses her own Neuromantic senses and burrowing to approach them stealthily.
>Upon finding them, zap with backlash-inducing Neuromancy effect from behind cover.
>After they take damage from their own Neuromancy, do best to kill or at least drive off saboteurs.
>>
>>3953240
>>3953215
Hate to bring it up so late, but the issue that I'm having with Gina leaving her watch tower post is that without her to maintain the Town-wide stun, North District (where Shu's group is located) will have 4-5 rampant daughters regaining agency and action.

Can we have at least 1 Amara clone in each district spend 1 action creating 4 more clones? The more clones we have, the faster we can evacuate the town and the more manpower we can provide in the riot suppression.
>>
>>3953250
It's a problem, yeah. But she more or less explicitly said that the broadcaster could either keep up the calm or the stun, and I think the calm is more important. I'd be fine with having the Many start multiplying, but it will take a turn for them to get the cycle really started and that will still leave us vulnerable for a bit. On the plus side, Fear To Tread actually accelerates friendlies passing through it, so that will help us get people out of the quarter. Just head for the nuclear flesh-vortex and it will pop you out closer to safety.
>>
>>3953260
Judging from one round of conflict, this might take 4 more rounds before the entire town event is done, so having at least 1 amara clone in each district start multiplying each round would help us greatly in stabilizing and suppressing the situation.
>>
>>3952949
I will support this >>3952999


>>3952999
One questiont though.
If your shooting the Contender we can also reload it since in the past it was reload and fire in the same action. As far as i can remember
>>
>>3952949
>Amara Clone squad: Have at least 1 amara clone in each district create 4 clones to bolster their numbers.
>>
>>3953240
Only 'issue' i have is I don't think Fear is at all necessary and thus is extra costs and Acts i dont think we need to spread out. Swarmlings that survive can easily be changed or reused too, Spiral can't as easily.

Either idea i think will work so im just going off the only other thong to go off here really, in which I don't think its worth or necessary for the extra resources here for that.
>>
>>3952949
Amara Prime and FuzzBuzz:
>Fuzzbuzz shields Amara from Hosts's hornets
>Amara Prime activates Queen Crimson and redirects and Funnels all of Host's Hornets to Fasciitis
>Gra Nuka Cunt Ter
>Send FuzzBuzz to assist Shu in landing a decisive killing blow on Host with a new slashing weapon.
>Throw bone hatchets and other slashing weapons at Rot girl.
Amara Clones in Northern district close to the fighting: (2)
>Cast Nuka Tha on Shu and Amara respectively

Amara clones that are away from combat in each District:
>Have one of you spawn 4 more clones.

Shu:
>Load up Honey Round, fire one at Rot-girl and Host.
>Banelings pressure Host Hornets and maintain bombardment on Rot girl by keeping the engagement area on top of Rot girl's head
>Contain the hornet spread by spawning recursive swarmlings to tie up the Hornets
>Contain Rotgirl's Flesh rotting influence by terraforming.
Holly:
>Lay down covering Uzi fire with one Nuka Mag at Rot girl
>Swat the hornets.

Gina:
>We've got Saboteurs, go out and deal with them. Deal with them by dragging them into the ground with your terraforming and entombing them, or kill them if necessary. Just take them out of the equation. They're vultures with Neuromancy.
>>
(Finally able to sit down and write after a busy morning. Update dropping as soon as I'm able, Gentlemen, so thank you for your patience.)
>>
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>>3952949

[Gina, I need you to find the assholes that’re messing with your stuns and end them] You order, splitting your attentions between the hovering Hive and the infected girl before you.

{Alright…I’ll give one more pulse of the stun, but it’ll drop sooner rather than later} She hastily replies. {I’ll find ‘em, Shu, so don’t worry about that…but are you sure you’re okay with dropping the city-wide lockdown?}

The crack of a rifle ripples through the city, Amara’s senses informing her of another threat that Magpie’s swiftly disposed of.

[Do it] You reply, and with that, she’s off. At your silent command another fleet of Banelings takes to the skies, clashing with the Host’s vicious and varied multitude. As her swarm draws ever closer, you can make out distinct classes among the yellow-black swarm akin to those in your own brood; heavier variants whose claws are practically reaping scythes dart to and fro, while a few hornets are hanging back, twitching at odd intervals as they observe the proceedings with increasing irritability as your swarm and the Host’s repeatedly tear each other to pieces in a flurry of claws and stingers. The brutal mid-air trades shower you and your other ground-bound foe with acid that just rolls off your bodies harmlessly yet cracks and sizzles against her creeping infection…and to your credit, the shower of corrosion isn’t the only thing you sent your brood on a suicide mission for.

With your swarm thinned and your concentration freed, it’s time for reinforcements.

Your back aches as a fleet of unnerving newborns emerge from the holes along your spine, their chitnous shells immediately sprouting arms that thicken with artificial muscle the moment they squeeze free of your hive…all except one, that is. The moment they’re free Amara’s at your side with incredible haste, surrounded by the thin, wispy tendrils of blood that make up the formidable Queen Crimson as the threads lash protectively at the air around their ward.

The Fasciitis stumbles forward once more, desperate to catch you and the girl at your wide within its lethal field before Amara loses a thunderous sneeze, Oxygenic Artillery launching her sword blade-first and busying the weapon in your foe’s chest all the way to the hilt…and the diseased young woman doesn’t even flinch at the wound, ignoring the impact completely.

“GRA NUKA CUNT TER!” The child bellows, and the Fasciitis’s laborious gait is slowed even further with the potent effects of Amara’s Lexicon, the ground at your foe’s feet becoming a clinging, shifting thing, even as it blisters and pops with the infection’s cruelty. She grins, and in her small moment of victorious distraction you swing the Contender to bear with your right hand, two consecutive pulls of the trigger sending a pair of Fullbores tearing into and through the twin Reaper Hornets that were almost upon her.

(Continued)
>>
>>3953714

Through their shattered remains flies another, faster construct, barreling towards its young target with its stinger lancing towards her eyes, and just as you’re about to shift your aim you find the thing plucked from the air and summarily dismantled by Sir FuzzBuzz, who simply does not truck with such silliness. Two more hornets dart in and promptly receive the same treatment, shorn to pieces with nigh-surgical precision by Amara’s faithful guardian before he picks her up and carries her to the rooftop to your left and out of the rot’s path, dropping her next to Holly as the blonde promptly fills the air with a staccato of gunshots, courtesy of the Uzi whose recoil she’s fighting to control. Vicious hornets begin to drop like pathetic flies as her cloud of lead tears through the swarming mass, and with every construct the bullets tear through, the twitchy hornets in the fringe of the conflict grow ever more restless.

If this irks them, then they haven’t seen anything yet.

Your Grapplings surge forth as one, a sudden burst of Hundred-Handed reaching out from each of them and seizing hornets by the armful before drawing them in close, quickly clearing the skies of over half the swarm in one fell swoop…and that’s just the opening you and Amara were waiting for. The little one unleashes a sneeze with such force that the windows on the both sides of the street are shattered from the change in pressure, the blast of concentrated wind hurtling your secret weapon directly towards the Hive Mistress that lords high above you. Your foe’s left with no time to react before your Knighted Drilling’s cloak drops a mere meter from impact, and just as she opens her mouth, the Drilling’s spear is thrust into the front of her face and out the back. Its drill revs, and that’s all it takes to snap the girl’s neck as you watch her head twist at an impossible angle…and keep twisting, as a flurry of hornets flee her body as her entire form curls up and around the offending drill.

There’s no blood, no muscle, no bone…just an empty shell of papery skin.

You see what she’s become as your drilling pulls back and away from the four newborn Reapers that surround their Mistress’ Core, nested within a small, fast hornet that glares down at you with unnervingly humanoid eyes, wild and wide with the glint of madness. Her too-large eyes light up with the erupting pillar of flame that reaches skyward from the East Quarter, and the combination of Rath and Lara’s volatile skill sets claims the lives of three of the Hunger-mad in a dazzling display of destructive force. A second booming rifle shot rings out across the chaos of Laoc, followed up by a terrible crash as another set of hostiles are felled by the consummate professionals you sent to deal with the issues of the Southern Quarter.

(Continued)
>>
>>3953715

Your relief almost makes you miss the sudden shudder of movement from the immolated zombie that shuffles towards you, her right arm raising up and towards you in judgment…a half second before it and the shoulder it’s attached to are shorn free in a blur of dark green armor and golden hair. Holly skids to a stop just outside the ring of rotted street, a grin on her lips as her second mouth violently expels the shredded limb in a pile of bone and saliva while she slings the Uzi over one shoulder.

“Well, Host was a bust, but I think we got this in th-!” She begins before a shudder overcomes the Spiritus Shell. You and she glance down simultaneously, watching the constructed body’s lips begin to crack and blister, the tongue bubbling with yellowed cysts as it roils in her stomach. All the while, the Fasciitis continues forth, the infected area spreading over every surface is sight eve as her body continues to burn and decay, your efforts beginning to wear her thin.

“Oh, fudge.” Holly mutters, her second set of teeth starting to turn black as you scramble to formulate some sort of plan…your efforts made harder as you realize that time’s about to run out on Gina’s stun, freeing the rest of the Hunger-mad throughout the city. Things are going to get much worse before they get better…

…and it’s up to you to ensure the second part of that holds true.

HP: 1620% (+675% [Dominus: Holly & Fasciitis])
BIO: 1940% (+270%, 8x Sneak-Jacklings, 3x Double-Stealthlings, 4x Sneak-Rooks, 5x Recursive-Rook-Platelings, 5x Sprite-Platelings, 3x Bishop, 2x Banelings, 24x Grapplings, 54/54. Matrons, Whistle: OMA SUTH. Armored)

CONTENDER: Gemini Maxims. LEFT: 2x Honey. RIGHT: 1x Fullbore
RAVENOUS MAW: Primed.
HUNDRED-HANDED: None.
ACT: 3/3

AMARA: 1490% (+230%. Vocem[Suth:FREE], Cloaked)
HOLLY: 2,127% (RESIST: Heat, Cold. IMMUNE: Acid. Uzi(x1 Mags of Heat, Frost, Acid, and Radiant) BISHOP: 2 ROUNDS REMAINING. Armored

>>HOLLY INFECTION: 29%, Torso.

THREAT: FASCIITIS is advancing upon you. Close range, severely wounded. HOST'S swarm is largely bound but alive, Eight Reapers active, 4 ??? vibrating strangely. HOST Core is long range, airborne.

THREATS REMAINING

North x5: 1 Targets Active, 4 Stunned, 2 ELIMINATED

East x7: 5 Targets Active, 4 ELIMINATED, 2 NEW HUNGER-MAD

South x0: AREA PURGED

West x5: 3 Active Targets, 1 Stunned, 2 ELIMINATED, 1 NEW HUNGER-MAD

EVAC: 28%

>>Please reload the Right-hand Contender with 1 FREE round.

>>ALL STUNNED TARGETS WILL BE FREED IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT ROUND

YOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>
(Gentlemen, voting shall remain open for the next three hours. Thank you for your patience, and I do hope your day is going well.)
>>
>>3953722
>>3953724
oh, hrm, did i misword that then? I kinda meant for Holly not to go for any attack there unless it looked more like a killing blow, not just to impede it or damage it. this situation is literally exactly what i was trying to word her orders to avoid.
>>
>>3953724
also, would Amaras Oxygenic Artillery currently hve the effects of the Nuka damage addition spell, or did that not go off at all?
>>
>>3953725
(It would've been a killing blow if Holly hadn't botched the dice roll, as Fasciitis is hanging on by a literal thread due to the interaction noted >>3953727. Fasciitis is terribly weak to Radiant damage.)
>>
>>3953730
grah, fair enough i suppose.
>>
>>3953733
(I'm mad, actually. I wanted to write Holly being a badass and getting that kill, but I'm sure she'll have her time to shine soon enough.)
>>
>>3953737
hopefully.
am I/was i right to assume that the rot effect would subside once the daughter causing it was dead, just like with Kosi and the Hound? as, though probably obvious, was what i was aiming for to make that attack safe.
>>
>>3953741
(It won't clear 100% on source death, but it will disappate over time instead of ticking up.)
>>
>>3953730
if south district is clear, where will November and Magpie go next?
>>
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>>3953743
ah, alright. good enough.
like always, thanks for the answers.
have a meme.
>>
>>3953743
Good to know. Given that Fasciitis is so close to death, let's finish her off this round and save Holly any further trouble.
>>
>>3953722
First Draft;

SHU;
>Free Reload; Fullbore Round.
>Fire off a Honey round into your own Grapple piles, to help them grab more Hornets and hold captive the ones they do have.
>Jump onto your Knighted-Drilling and take to the skies, draw the attention of the core Hornet and its protectors. Fire off Fullbores(then Parabellums for cost effectiveness) at the core to rile them up and take pot-shot swings at them with HH Drill tipped lunges.
>While doing this, have the rook we sent to this area try and stealthily fly high and above the Core Hornet, before dive bombing for it.
>Once the Rook is as close as it can get without being noticed, Teleport swap with it, then FLare out a net of HHs to try and stop it from being able to escape, before slamming into it with you revved up drill you have been hiding on your back.
>Have the knighted Drilling charging from below, just as a backup.

AMARA and FUZZBUZZ;
>Aim towards the Rot Girl and Burn a path to her with Oxygenic Radiant Bursts before finishing her off with whatever you need to bring to bear.
>CUNT OMA GRA RHO TER the second Holly gives word the other foes are aproaching.

HOLLY;
>For the first half of the Round, help keep the skies under control.
>About just before we expect the stun to wear off however, turn your attention outward, and be prepared to suppress any newcomers to the fight, to give Shu and Amara time to deal with our current adversaries.
>If you see a good Maw opportunity on a new foe, go for it, but only if it doesn't break formation or impede otherwise on holding them off for Shu and Amara. If doing so would benefit keeping them back of course, go for it.

sorry Holly, the works not kickass, but it may just save our asses nonetheless.
>>
>>3953715
>and just as you’re about to shift your aim you find the thing plucked from the air and summarily dismantled by Sir FuzzBuzz, who simply does not truck with such silliness
You're the best, Sir FuzzBuzz!

>>3953743
Ah, that's a relief.
>>
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>>3953751
yeah, glad to see Sir Fuzzbuzz finally doing his job getting some limelight.
also i refuse to believe it is not Canon Amara brushes/washes him in a way that makes his fluff seem even fluffier.

>>3953743
speaking of, any Clones free, or are they all busy again? perfectly fine if they are, they have a main objective afterall we want them doing.
>>
>>3953746
(That's up to you. By default, they'll head toward the next most affected area, which will be the East Quarter, though they can be directed elsewhere, as the East's narrower streets will give Geschoss some trouble.)
>>
>>3953754
where is the Mayor heading?
>>
>>3953754
also, and sorry for the constant split posting, but would the West Qurter be much better for the Geschoss?
>>
>>3953753
>yeah, glad to see Sir Fuzzbuzz finally doing his job getting some limelight.
And he didn't even take any damage, this time. Instead of taking the bullet for Amara he snatched it out of the air and tore it apart. Best bodyguard bee.

>also i refuse to believe it is not Canon Amara brushes/washes him in a way that makes his fluff seem even fluffier.
Yeah, I think there's no possible way that Amara isn't keeping FuzzBuzz as fluffy as possible.
>>
>>3953753
(Not currently, as they're speeding EVAC efforts.)

>>3953755
(West Quarter.)

>>3953758
(No worries! It would, marginally.)
>>
>>3953722
Is the New Hunger-Mad count included in the number of Active targets, or is it added on top because they've just turned and aren't properly "active" yet?
>>
>>3953761
(They're part of the total threat count and will be free to act at the beginning of next turn.)
>>
>>3953750
>>3953722
MAGPIE and NOVEMBER;
>Magpie, head East.
>November, head North.

East needs some help severely but i just dont think adding a massive tank with porr arcs of fire to that will help. Magpie at last has some guns that will work in CC. November does too, but the tank can help more elsewhere. the Mayor also is no pushover and West while not doing superb doesn't seem to be doing bad, so i think she will be enough. meanwhile, we're not doing bad, but worse case November and her Tank are overkill and help us clean up the north sooner to help other areas, and is also the other area her Tank has good angles at.
>>
>>3953767
I disagree on this. Magpie should go north and November goes east. Metal slug stays in town center for artillery support. apex daughters are in east district and are sure to gun for magpie. beaides, the apex seem to be neuromancers if they are able to break gina’s stun lock.
>>
>>3953772
well, i Disagree with that. Magpie can handle herself and she wont be alone. Gina is already after them too. it may even help us stop them if they get distracted by her, especially if that stops them from causing more trouble elsewhere.

its also a significant waste AND risk to allies to do artillery fire over putting November and the Geschoss to direct use, especially into areas of tight quarters, as artillery fire is much more inaccurate.
>>
>>3953775
Yeah, let's not shell the most populated region, that's a recipe for friendly fire. Rath doesn't burn who she doesn't want to, it's okay for her to go all-out with big plasma blasts in tight quarters. November doesn't have that insurance.

As for Magpie, we can just warn her to be on the look out for the saboteurs and that they might try to take advantage of the chaos to get a hit in.

>>3953767
>When giving orders over November's commling, tell Magpie about the saboteurs, that we think they might be Apex Sisterhood, and that Gina is hunting them.
>>
>>3953775
>>3953781

makes sense.
>>
>>3953722
>>3953750
Second Draft;
only a minor change and otherwise just consolidation really.

SHU;
>Free Reload; Fullbore Round.
>Fire off a Honey round into your own Grapple piles, to help them grab more Hornets and hold captive the ones they do have.
>Jump onto your Knighted-Drilling and take to the skies, draw the attention of the core Hornet and its protectors. Fire off Fullbores(then Parabellums for cost effectiveness) at the core to rile them up and take pot-shot swings at them with HH Drill tipped lunges.
>While doing this, have the rook we sent to this area try and stealthily fly high and above the Core Hornet, before dive bombing for it.
>Once the Rook is as close as it can get without being noticed, Teleport swap with it, then FLare out a net of HHs to try and stop it from being able to escape, before slamming into it with a revved up drill you have been hiding on your back.
>Have the Knighted Drilling charging from below, just as a backup.
>New Swarmlings should be Bane-Grapplings, to try and essentially suicide grab the Hornets to keep Shu and the Knights path clear.

AMARA and FUZZBUZZ;
>Aim towards the Rot Girl and Burn a path to her with Oxygenic Radiant Bursts before finishing her off with whatever you need to bring to bear.
>CUNT OMA GRA RHO TER the second Holly gives word the other foes are approaching.

HOLLY;
>For the first half of the Round, help keep the skies under control.
>About just before we expect the stun to wear off however, turn your attention outward, and be prepared to suppress any newcomers to the fight, to give Shu and Amara time to deal with our current adversaries.
>If you see a good Maw opportunity on a new foe, go for it, but only if it doesn't break formation or impede otherwise on holding them off for Shu and Amara. If doing so would benefit keeping them back of course, go for it.

MAGPIE and NOVEMBER;
>Magpie, head East. Warn Magpie about the saboteurs and who we think they might be, aswell as Gina going after them.
>November, head North.
>>
>>3953828
Just to be sure, is Shu wearing a subversive swarm to better sneak up on the Core Hornet?
>>
>>3953838
no, her armor is just recursive and rook. she doesn't really need to be sneaking, in matter of fact sneaking would be disadvantageous here.
>>
>>3953838
The Rook is subversive though, so it should have a good chance at getting into position and getting us close. Though i think the stealth works significantly better on the ground or walls than the air with how it works.
>>
>>3953828
Actually, can I propose a modification real quick that I just thought of close to the wire? Conceal the drill in our Maw, not on our back. Swallow Mandarina's main body, hold it in place while the drill goes to work. She's a construct-sized object, the Ravenous Maw is perfect for grabbing her.
>>
>>3953873
Sure, if we can put a drill in our maw.
Im not home to make that change though.
>>
>>3953722
Supporting >>3953828
With the change of
>Grab Mandarina with Maw before drilling her
>Spawn drill inside mouth, on Hundred-Handed protrusion if needs to be a limb.
>>
>>3953722
Supporting>>3953828

Add in
>Try and conceal the drill in Shus Maw if possible to swallow Madarinas Main Body and put the drill to work on her ther eso she can not escape.
>>
(Back home and writing now, Gentlemen. Planning to have the next update posted within the hour and will likely pause there for the evening, given how exhausting today proved to be.)

(I do hope everyone's day has gone well, and thank you for bearing with me through a busy week.)
>>
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>>3953967
day went well for me. sorry to hear yours was so exhausting, but hopefully dinner and/or a bit of extra sleep will make up for it.
have a hair crab crystal girl for your troubles.

actually, looking at this again, those hair claws really are a very neat design.
>>
>>3953968
(Oh my word, that's really neat. Thanks for sharing!)
>>
>>3953967
I'm sorry to hear you had a rough day, BHOP. Get some rest when you can, friend.
>>
>>3953722

[Magpie, go east. November, you take the North] You order as you take aim with your left-hand Contender. A squeeze of the trigger causes the gun to buck and roar as a B.33 round impacts the tangle of arms, swarmlings, and furious hornets high above you, fusing the writhing mass into a gooey ball of chitin and rage that begins to tumble back to earth. Holstering the other Hexane Relic, you reach up with your freed hand to grab hold of the of your Knighted Drilling that swoops overhead at your command, hoisting you skyward as Amara prepares to bring the Fasciitis to rest.

The decaying girl sees it coming; the glow of lethal radiance that’s building within the girl, rays of light flickering as her nostrils flare, her deep breath signaling the annihilating blast that’s about to rock the entire street. Fasciitis tries to raise one failing arm, willing the corrupted carpet of rotting biomass to reach out, to stop the inevitable…but she falters, for a mere second.

A relieved smile plays on cracked lips just before she’s engulfed in searing light and howling wind.

Sight returns to you as you soar overhead, and there’s nothing left as the infection begins to wither and blacken, the flames freely overtaking the blistered flesh at the incineration of its source. In a fluid motion you holster one Gemini Maxim and snatch the other from the opposite leg with a sweep of your free hand, two gunshots ringing out as you clip a pair of the Reapers that hover close to the Host’s true form.

Immediately a pair of them dive for you, only to be suddenly faced with the Grapplings that reach out with a chain of hands and use you to fling themselves to your defense at break-neck speeds, the duo colliding with the Reapers in a clash of blade and raw muscle. You continue to pepper the Core with gunfire, and Holly joins you with the Uzi’s trademark staccato as the unencumbered Reapers’ shells begin to crack and splinter from the sustained assault, and when the ball of limbs and constructs finally crashes to the ground, it’s almost as if it’s in punctuation for what’s to come.

The Rook high above the Host drops its cloak as it plunges towards her, a chunky battering ram of a missile that spears past the trio of oddly red and vibrating hornets with tremendous force. The Reapers are turning, trying in vain to protect their Queen when in a twist of color and a tearing of space you switch with your Rook, colliding with the Host's true form Maw-fist. Your teeth dig in, prompting a terrible screech from the Host as you both hurtle towards the unforgiving street, your tongue warping into a drill before spearing into the Hive Mistress' constructed form. She tries to free herself, but it's no use as innumerable hands erupt from your armor, holding her tight against you and leaving her completely defenseless for when your Knightling surges up to meet you, tearing another hole clean through your prey.

(Continued)
>>
>>3954041

Shell turns to shards, then flesh to pulp as you meet the ground with a shattering of pavement, the impact absorbed by the incredible plating of the Chitinous Stalwart. You look down at the shredded remains, only just now realizing that the chitinous shards in your mouth aren't the yellow of the Queen, or even the golden sheen of the Reapers.

They're red.

You whirl, looking up to see the Host hovering in place of one of the scarlet hornets. Of the three vibrating constructs only two remain, their carapaces turning an even deeper, more violent shade of red as more and more of their kin are slaughtered and shredded by Holly's hail of gunfire that manages to catch more errant hornets than you expected. With every hornet slain, the twitching things become redder, more agitated...until they can't take it any more.

At the Queen's sides the Barbaric Hornets erupt into a rage, shells barely able to handle the sudden and cancerous growth of blades that spear forth from their thickening bodies. Their previously quiet wingbeats now slash the air like helicopter blades, blood-red eyes obscured by the bladed armor that takes shape over their vicious forms. A one, they dive, a pair of flying armories that spear towards you with killing intent. They're fast, faster than you can react as the first one carves a deep, bloody gash through your armor, carving deep, painful grooves across your chest and the arms, your reflexes the only thing that stopped the blades from slashing through your visor and eyes, both.

Your armor spews forth a cloud of caustic spray and choking ash as the first hornet retreats while the second follows right behind it, its claws raking past nothing as your world churns. Your breath is ripped from your lungs as you're hauled back and into Holly's waiting arms, her tongue unfurling from around your waist. You think she says something sweet, or maybe a clever one liner, but whatever it was it's lost to the barrage of gunfire she looses at the speeding Barbarians.

Eyes to the sky, you see the Host glaring down at you, her oversized eyes staring daggers into your own as you wonder what she has to be mad about. Holly's gunfire ceases as the pair of raging hornets return to their Mistress, and the sound of the other Reapers colliding with the ground makes you realize that the Host's escape came at a steep cost. The honey-ball of hornets is motionless, while the creations that were on par with your very own Knightlings tumble lifelessly to the ground. You look up again, realizing the grievous wounds you dealt her are healing slowly...too slowly, given the tremendous damage you just inflicted on her, and you can't help but smile as she glares down with pain and fury, body covered in teeth marks and run through with still-open drill holes. The many, sacrificed for the few...and even that wasn't enough to save her from your wrath.

You've forced her to use her trump card, it seems.

Oh, but you're just getting started.

(Continued)
>>
>>3954045

“We got a party-crasher, girls!” Holly suddenly announces, drawing your attention to the being that’s begun charging down the street towards you. You spare it a glance, revealing a heavyset figure running flat-out towards you. They're wearing some sort of heavy armor, but the thing's upper torso.is a mess of at least three different humanoid figures, formed from the bright scarlet ichor that's overtaken the thing's body. They're yearning, reaching out to you as they're carried forward by the only part of them that still looks remotely human, and you just have to wonder what fresh hell is this.

>>THE BLOODY BATTALION has joined the battle.

“CUNT OMA GRA RHO TER!” Amara roars without missing a beat, and you watch as the street is suddenly pock-marked with expanding and contracting holes, the newcomer's rampant stride broken when an entire leg is subsumed by the newly-turgid flesh, and its attempts to free itself are hindered by the continually winking orifices that...

...oh god.

What the fuck, Amara?

{Bad news, good news, and worse news, Shu!} Gina declares across the Empathic channel. {Bad news is that the suaboteur's fuckery caused three more Hunger-mad to pop up in the Easter Quartes. Good news is that I found the Apex bitch! Tried some Neuromancy on me, and her head popped like a grape. Good news, great news}

Your connection to Gina flares with the girl's frustration before she lays it on you.

{Worse news is that I can't find the second one, and I'm thinking they split up} She concludes as you keep an eye on the Battalion's struggles to free themselves from the field of...anyway. {By the by, I'm broadcasting this to everyone through the Crimson Cord's link and daisy-chaining it to your Commlings. Hey everyone!}

"S-SHU!" Juli stammers across the line, and never have you been so relieved to hear that girl's voice before. "We're s-so glad you're okay!"

[Could be better, but we're getting there] You growl, glancing back up as the Host and her two Raging Hornets begin to circle overhead, building up a worrying amount of speed. [Are you okay? Are you with Dorian?]

"Pleased to hear your voice, Miss Shu." Dorian answers smoothly, smile evident in his tone.. "Lady Julia and I certainly keep running into spots of bad luck where quiet moments are concerned, don't we? However, any chance to spend with her is certainly worth the-"

"Sorry to cut in, but we may have a situation." November interrupts, her artificial voice echoing in your mind. "I'm en route to your location, but there's unrest in the crowd that's gathering at Town Hall. We need to split them up somehow, or else we've just made a big-ass target for the other Apex to capitalize on."

"C-capitalize on?" Julia asks, concerned.

"Aunt Heather's sayin' that someone may WANT everyone all clustered together." Rath interject, and you feel a sudden shock of panic run through the channel.

(Continued)
>>
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>>3954059

"Wouldn't put it past something to blend in with the evacuees and then start some shit when everyone's together." November continues with the air of a woman who's seen something like this before. "The clones are good at gathering everyone and keeping them as calm as they can, but everyone's still on edge. One false move and this could reignite again in a place where we can't put out the fire."

You're about to reply when you catch a subtle movement out of the corner of your eye, down the alley that connects to the next street over. A slender, twitchy figure furtively darts from cover to cover, haphazardly sneaking towards you until it notices you, noticing it. The figure just freezes, staring at you through the fogged eyeports of its gasmask, its strange, fibrous body tensing as it watches you, unmoving. Flaring your empathic field, you find the being's mind unclouded by the Hunger, though as for any other insights, you're just met with an artificial wall of static that pushes back against your efforts. An ability? A Relic?

You don't have time to ponder it as the Bloody Battalion surges forward, having finally found a dubious handhold on the ever-shifting terrain as it continues to advance, vicious intent clear in the yearning cries of the viscous homunculi that strain towards you. The Host above, the Battalion ahead, the evacuees to your south, and...whatever that thing is, off to your right.

You see your options, and you make your call.

HP: 1419% (+325% [Dominus: Holly])
BIO: 1940% (+270%, 8x Sneak-Jacklings, 3x Double-Stealthlings, 4x Sneak-Rooks, 5x Recursive-Rook-Platelings, 5x Sprite-Platelings, 3x Bishop, 2x Banelings, 18x Grapplings, 48/54. Matrons, Whistle: OMA SUTH. Armored)

CONTENDER: Gemini Maxims. LEFT: 1x Honey. RIGHT: Empty
RAVENOUS MAW: Primed.
HUNDRED-HANDED: None.
ACT: 3/3

AMARA: 1490% (+230%. Vocem[Suth:FREE], Cloaked)
HOLLY: 2,263% (RESIST: Heat, Cold. IMMUNE: Acid. Uzi: Empty. BISHOP: 1 ROUND REMAINING. Armored)

>>HOLLY INFECTION: 18%, Torso.

THREAT: HOST'S swarm is now focused solely on you. Only two Raging Hornets left, other capabilities unknown. BATTALION making its way to you through the terrain, oddly resilient. STRANGE FIGURE hanging back, motivations unknown. Does not appear to be influenced by the Hunger.

THREATS REMAINING

North x4: 4 Targets Active

East x7: 4 Targets Active, 3 ELIMINATED, 3 NEW HUNGER-MAD

South x0: AREA PURGED

West x4: 4 Targets Active

EVAC: 52%

>>Please reload the Right-hand Contender with 1 FREE round.

>>Please direct November with how to deal with Evacuees.

YOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>
(Gentlemen, I shall be pausing here Given that my efforts for an early bedtime were stymied last night, I do wish to try and get a good night’s rest this evening so as to not burn myself out. Voting shall remain open for the next thirteen hours, with posting to resume in approximately fifteen. Additionally, given my last night's sleep I shall be around for the next hour or so to address any questions you may have before I head to bed, so please tag this message with your queries so that I may address them tonight or first thing tomorrow morning. I wish you a very restful evening, and take care one and all.)

(Apologies for the bamboozle, I had to correct one or two things, chiefly the updated EVAC gauge. The Joyous are doing a bang-up job, I have to say.)
>>
>>3954071
BHOP, would CUNT VIE THA VIE actually have any effect? i feel like were missing a word that would need to be in-between it. my original goal was to turn their allegiances, but im unsure this spell would actually do anything. Im also having trouble imaging any word would be something as basic as 'to' too though.

regardless, hope you have a good nights sleep BHOP!
>>
>>3954065
Just throwing my two cents before I leave.

If Gina can't find the other Apex and/or whoever was messing with her stuns if it wasn't one of those two, she should return to the town center to both help guard it, exposing anyone trying to sneak in, and go back to dishing out those stuns.
>>
>>3954071
oh, and Amara has... 3 charges on her sword right now, yes?
>>
>>3954075
(It would not, I'm afraid.)

(But you do have access to the words that would allow you to attempt what you're thinking of.)
>>
>>3954071
Is the Bloody Battalion a single enemy (presumably a Humoral/Phantasmal hybrid) or multiple Hunger-Mad Daughters having been consumed by a Humoral Paladin and merged together?

>>3954077
Actually, the Neurotic Halo lets Gina and Amara both read people's surface thoughts by looking them in the eye. We get a bunch of Joyous Many moving through the crowd and scanning people, seeing if any of them are thinking about opportunities to eat everyone.
>>
>>3954087
we do? because im not seeing them, due to the massive limitations on how Rev works.
>>
>>3954084
(She does, yes. In all her sneezing, I lost track of the charges. My apologies.)

>>3954089
(You guessed correctly on the former, as the Battalion is a Humoral/Phantasmal Hybrid. Nicely done.)
>>
>>3954093
(It doesn't involve Rev. Without giving too much away, I'd ask you to consider what a Hive Mistress is doing if she's not creating more constructs to come to her aid, as perhaps her focus and concentration is tied up in something rather crucial to her current setup.)
>>
>>3954103
hrm... no, nothings coming to mind, not with how hardline to the definition lexicon words must adhere to.
>>
>>3954096
>(She does, yes. In all her sneezing, I lost track of the charges. My apologies.)
Shouldn't it be eight? She gets a charge for every ACT she's not using her sheathed sword, not every turn. So two turns without doing iaido means eight charges stored in the sheathe.

>(You guessed correctly on the former, as the Battalion is a Humoral/Phantasmal Hybrid. Nicely done.)
Damn, I was really hoping it was a conglomerate and that was all four remaining Hunger-Mad Daughters in one. Would have saved us time hunting them down.

>>3954103
Oh, I was thinking REV SUTH VIE THA, "reverse calm on enemy constructs" in order to make them go berserk. But it sounds like you're suggesting it's just FOL THA, "disrupt enemy concentration".
>>
>>3954110
(That's fair, though you do have plenty of time to consider it. Be advised that that's only one of many different options you have available to you to deal with this particular foe, as using oxygenic artillery with radiant damage was truly inspired. Truly, you all never cease to impress me.)
>>
>>3954103
if i were a hive girl and i’m not making bees, i would be scouting and making my next move, or i would pulling micro management on a secondary squad to maneuver for better a position, or i have a secondary hard hitting attack that requires space and concentration
>>
>>3954114
i think that would need to be a 'CUNT' at the end. and it might work, but they are already berserk so im not sure making them more berserk would do much.

he may be hinting their berserk state is making controlling them a concentration effect, but it seems odd for a hunger mad Daughter to have that level of control in the first place. i get it probably is that, but im personally just not comfortable going off a whim like that when it very well could be a different explanation.
>>
>>3954115
wait, did our double Knighted-Drilling die? i may be having a blind moment, but i dont remember reading it did.
>>
>>3954123
>i think that would need to be a 'CUNT' at the end. and it might work, but they are already berserk so im not sure making them more berserk would do much.
Yes, sorry, got THA confused with CUNT, somehow. Not sure how I screwed that up.
>>
>>3954069
>A slender, twitchy figure furtively darts from cover to cover, haphazardly sneaking towards you until it notices you, noticing it. The figure just freezes, staring at you through the fogged eyeports of its gasmask, its strange, fibrous body tensing as it watches you, unmoving. Flaring your empathic field, you find the being's mind unclouded by the Hunger, though as for any other insights, you're just met with an artificial wall of static that pushes back against your efforts. An ability? A Relic?
You just stay right there, creepy Doctor Who monster. I see you there, being a weird Empty Child/Weeping Angel hybrid, and we have no time for your nonsense.
>>
>>3954114
>>Oxygenic Artillery launching her sword blade-first and burying the weapon in your foe’s chest

(This action interrupted the process, so by the time I had Amara retrieve her sword from her foe's remains due to the initiative order this turn, three charges were able to be accumulated. The blade still needs to be in the wielder's grasp to build charge, which is a rule that I'd like to have added to the character sheet, if I may. The ability to build charges while out of reach comes later in the skill tree and is key to some silliness that she'll be able to pull off with it later.)

(However, I'll go back and check my math. I may have made a mistake somewhere, so I appreciate you bringing it up.)

>>3954128
(Darn, cool little guy wasn't even on the list. I'll slide him in there next update, since he's actually still alive.)
>>
>>3954069
First Draft:
Bit iffy on Shus plan, but i still think it'll work. a bit convoluted but as i said in the plan, im hoping she'll see it coming the first time, and react, so the second teleport will then be unexpected and if she odes any any tricks, shell have already used them.

SHU;
>Free Load; Parabellum
>Load up Right with 1 Honey and another Parabellum, then toss it to Holly.
>Load up left with two Fullbores.
>send 8 of the Grapplings to help the Amara Clones with the Strange Figure.
>make four Quad-Knighted-Drillings, from existing swarmlings as possible, to send two each at the two super Hornets.
>Make yourself a proper sized Knightling for you ride its back upwards into battle, and start charging the Queen Hornet.
>Also, make a second stealthed Rook and send it up.
>fill out the rest of your ranks with Bane-Drillings, and see if them and the remaining Grapplings aswell as the last Honey Round cannot keep the super hornets busy, if not outright kill them.
>As you charge the Queen Hornet, have the two Rooks position themselves near her, one coming from either side. Try to make it look like you’re charging her down with another Maw Drill, tongue and arms latching out to try and catch her, before teleporting once again. But this time, once you charge towards her, know she’ll be expecting another teleportation and hope this proxies anything she has left in store, before quickly teleporting again.
>Then have the Mount-Knight, and both Rooks, sprout HH nets to block her route away, and slam the contender into the Queen, and fire off both Fullbores point blank into her.

AMARA and FUZZBUZZ;
>Unleash a GRA SUTH CUNT VIE on the Hornets, see if that has an effect.
>Hitch a Ride with Holly, unleashing a Radiant Oxygenic into the face of the Battalion as you go over it, then another once you land behind it.


HOLLY;
>Once you get the Right Maxim, unload it into the Battalion.
>Then, pick up Amara And swing her in close to the Battalion, before setting her down behind it.
>Take a swipe at it with the Maxims bayonet on the way over, if you can.


(1/2)
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>>3954158
>>3954069
NOVEMBER and the GESCHOSS;
>Have the Amara Clones try and read everyone's intentions to see if any of them are the Saboteur, though with such a big crowd this is unlikely to work.
>Have November use her soldiers intellect to pick out the more stable and prominent daughters of the crowd quickly. Its risky, but we don't have time to do interviews.
>Have them help her split up the group, and send them in spread out smaller groups into the now clear Southern Quarter, under the guise that it will now get them further from combat than the center, which is not entirely untrue, aswell as the also not untrue fact an entire cleared quarter will be less cramped and give more room for them all to breath than the Town center. Have Amara clones accompany each group leader, both to help and keep an eye on them and each group for suspicious activity.

AMARA CLONES;
>Have Shu send word out about the odd Strange Figure who hasn't fallen to the hunger, see if Magpie or anyone recognizes her.
>Otherwise, have the Northern Clones each split off at least one new clone to try and surround her and figure out whats going on. Send the Northern Jacklings to help, especially if she is willing to communicate, but also incase the clones need some quick backup.

GINA;
>hook up to all our Jacklings across the Sectors, and have them pulse the ground with light Terraforming, to see if they cant help Gina find her target.
>Otherwise, if the Strange Figure is seen as the Saboteur, go for her, if not, stay East and help get it under control.

(2/2)

Also, the plan with November will hopefully mitigate any damage done if we cannot find the Saboteur. the issue with pull back Gina is the Eastenr Quarter is not doing well and only seems to be slipping further away. it NEEDS some more help, and November really isnt suited for that sector, and is already 'trapped' dealing with the center issue.
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>>3954151
>(This action interrupted the process, so by the time I had Amara retrieve her sword from her foe's remains due to the initiative order this turn, three charges were able to be accumulated. The blade still needs to be in the wielder's grasp to build charge, which is a rule that I'd like to have added to the character sheet, if I may. The ability to build charges while out of reach comes later in the skill tree and is key to some silliness that she'll be able to pull off with it later.)
Oh, I think there was some confusion, that thrown attacks were supposed to be with fresh blades with Amara holding onto her iaido sword. I wasn't trying to have it charge outside her grasp. Ah, well, doesn't really matter, it helped put down Fasciitis faster so I'm not going to complain.
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>>3954165
also, with the eastern quarter, even if the saboteur is behind most of it, the total number of enemies basically not dropping CANNOT be good for moral over there, or the evacuation. im hoping a fresh face like Ginas will not only help the fight, but re-invigorate everyone there aswell, to stop further chain reactions.
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>>3954165
>hook up to all our Jacklings across the Sectors, and have them pulse the ground with light Terraforming, to see if they cant help Gina find her target.
What's your thinking here, that the other saboteur would be underground?
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>>3954185
no. its a bit of a longshot, but i figured if the saboteur is not already hiding among the crowd, then they will be 'out of position' if that makes sense. they would otherwise be someplace we wouldn't expect to see someone who isnt a civilian. like with the Tinker, yes BHOP i saw what it was before you corrected it Stranger is. it probably wont work, but i saw no harm in giving it a try.
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>>3954191
Okay, but how does pulsing the ground do anything to help with that?
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>>3954193
easy, because its a terraforming pulse. even if we arent spending massive amounts of biomass to actually terraform anything, its still temporarily 'controlling' the terrain, which should allow Gina to get a read of where anything is standing or hiding if its touching it. she probably wont know exactly WHAT everything is, only its clearly something moving, or humanoid with two feet, and generally where it is. it probably still wont be the cheapest though, but i cant see just a minor pulse 'control' actually being detrimentally draining either.
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>>3954191
i have some insight and other opinions i would like to posit but i’m on my phone and eating dinner atm, so bear with me until i’m done and at a computer
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>>3954201
alright thats fine, but got an ETA at least?
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>>3954199
I think we can just use Neurotic senses for that, no need to terraform for it. We've done that with Jacklings before, sensed what was on the ground.

On other topics, I'd like to propose using Fear To Tread again. Suck down the hornets into the vortex, and stun the blood soldiers coming off of the Battalion. Keep the Empty Angel from approaching, too, since she won't want to enter the vortex.
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>>3954211
30 min at least
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>>3954215
alright.

>>3954214
i still dont think Fear is worth it. its only two, and id be very surprised if the Queen isnt immune to Construct specific effects.

also the Battalion has not and does not appear to be splitting anything off. also no idea what this Angel you are mentioning is. if you mean the Gask Mask Girl, she already didnt want to be seen, i dont think shes gonna approach us at all.
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>>3954220
>i still dont think Fear is worth it. its only two, and id be very surprised if the Queen isnt immune to Construct specific effects.
I'm not talking about sucking down Mandarina herself, just the swarm surrounding her. Take out the Barbaric Hornets and anything else she has up there, leave her open to attack.

>also the Battalion has not and does not appear to be splitting anything off
She's growing blood constructs off her body. They're still attached, but BHOP confirmed she was a Humoral/Phantasmal hybrid and so Fear To Tread should stun the Battalion's soldiers.

>also no idea what this Angel you are mentioning is. if you mean the Gask Mask Girl, she already didnt want to be seen, i dont think shes gonna approach us at all.
Yes, it was a joking reference to her. She's like some weird hybrid of the Empty Child and Weeping Angels. She was sneaking up on us, and only stopped after she realized we knew she was there. I want her to stay back if we can do it.
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>>3954223
the two Hornets are all thats left, so its not worth it for them. not all Phantasmal abilities spawn constructs, most haven't actually. we have seen much odder than three bodies permanently stuck together, and if she could spawn constructs, doing so would've been a perfect way to either clog up the holes to get to use, or possibly extend reach over them via flinging the smaller constructs or something.
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>>3954229
>the two Hornets are all thats left, so its not worth it for them
That's fair, I got a bit confused and thought there were still more left. I still think it's worth it, though, pin these things down. These things are going to come after Shu anyway, we drop the smallest size spiral at our feet and it will grab them as they charge us.

>not all Phantasmal abilities spawn constructs, most haven't actually. we have seen much odder than three bodies permanently stuck together, and if she could spawn constructs, doing so would've been a perfect way to either clog up the holes to get to use, or possibly extend reach over them via flinging the smaller constructs or something.
Oh, come on, they're definitely constructs. She doesn't have three bodies stuck together, she has one body that is spawning humanoids made of blood off of it. The narration calls them homunculi, they're something she's made rather than a part of her. They probably just need to remain close to her for some reason, to maintain the Sanguine Humoral connection or something like that

But okay, if you don't want to bother with Fear To Tread, we can do other things to mess with Battalion's constructs. How about swapping that GRA in Amara's spell for a OMA, suppress the blood soldiers as well as the hornets? Also, regardless of what we do, we need to change that spell's grammar, VIE needs to be at the start of a spell to affect all constructs. It affects the words that follow, not precede. So it has to be VIE GRA SUTH CUNT.
>>
Am >>3954215

>>3954220
>>3954191
Okay some insight on what options that I think the saboteur could take depending on its allegiances:

If it's part of the apex sisterhood that plan on causing havoc, they would obviously split into two avenues. Someone who keeps the riots going and another to incite them. In our case Gina's already taken care of the Neuromancer that's trying to keep the hungry mob going. As for our masked stranger, option one would be to try and survive while making off with all of the meat-loot gained from killing the Hunger-mad daughters like a scrap picker/Vulture.

If they are truly part of the apex (and knowing that their leadership and overall organization has been
scattered), they would try to revive the apex influence by finding as many opportunities to consume the corpses of the fallen before coming back to try and bully others again.

Option two would be to try and infiltrate the refugee crowd and cause another spiral incident. This method is clearly a suicidal option since it involves setting off as many hunger strikes as possible while dying for it. But like you said, it involves being able to successfully infiltrate the refugee flow. and it's been only 2 rounds since the saboteurs made their appearance. Gina's already killed one of them, so the other must've fled and re-positioned to try and find another opportunity to either exert her influence or to make away with scraps.

Thing is that if they started in the east district, they would circle around to find a better angle. There's a statistic that shows that people usually pick the right side if they're faced with a fork in the road or face a roadblock. Our mysterious saboteur might be that strange figure. Given that it's the apex sisterhood, their organization would commonly run war-gear relics that would boost their combat capabilities, which that gas mask is perfectly capable of.


Hornet Host insight:
I think you've figured it out by now, but I think Hornet Host's concentration actions are tied up with keeping a firm leash on the two Raging Hornets. The Hornets are in a berserk state and don't turn on the closest target (Hornet host herself)
>>3954229

If anything, we need to have one clone track and shadow the saboteur and one swarmling to track the Saboteur as well to cover the birds eye view. We can't risk it infiltrating the refugee influx because we don't know the face behind the mask.
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>>3954243
>>3954220
Option three for our masked stranger is that it might take the time to loot what relics it can find, which is dangerous given her current location.
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>>3954243
Yeah, it sounds like GRA FOL CUNT might cause her constructs to attack whatever's nearest to them. I'm not sure if that's necessarily a good idea, though, taking them off the leash makes them unpredictable and possibly more dangerous. After all, if she's in control we at least know that they'll be attacking Shu. We can plan around that.

As for the saboteurs, the remaining saboteur might try to strike at the edges. Get a Hunger cascade going with them on the outside so they can escape it. Let everyone tear into each other, mop up the survivors. I mean, these are not very strong Daughters, if they were they would have just fought off the Hunger-Mad themselves. So the saboteur could be hoping that they could take out the winners of a Hunger cascade before they had the opportunity to absorb their victims, and get the food that way.
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>>3954241
and i still dont think it is. we have plenty of other methods to deal with them, without risking them getting near Shu.

>Oh, come on, they're definitely constructs.
ah yes, because BHOP has never bamboozled us before or something turned out to be wrong. i could be wrong, sure, but they still had very good reasons to leave their hosts side if they are, and they didnt, so at the moment we have no reason to assume and waste ACTS on something unconfirmed. they probably will be, but signs also point towards other options, and we have other things to worry about and can spend those resources more assuredly on.

>Also, regardless of what we do, we need to change that spell's grammar, VIE needs to be at the start of a spell to affect all constructs. It affects the words that follow, not precede. So it has to be VIE GRA SUTH CUNT.
no, thats only if we want to use it to boost the next words strength, not for the Construct part of it. for the construct part of it, it needs to be later in the spell. its a double meaning spell, and for the part im interested in, it needs to be placed elsewhere.

>>3954243
good points, though i guessed some of it. hence already trying to deal with both the TinkerStranger and the crowd, and the possibility of the Saboteur being at either location. we'll see. if i had to take a wild guess, the Stranger is a bamboozle, and just someone else trying to take advantage of the situation. but if so, that hopefully should mean they are more willing to just back off, but it also means our saboteur is somewhere else. gosh i hope at the very very least splitting up the townsfolk at least mitigates any damage here, but if shes already in the crowd we honestly cant do much, unless we get lucky and the Amara clones spot her.

>Hornets
probably. but again, i dunno. id still rather take a more assured route than gamble on an unnecessary risk. SUTH has helped even on non berserk opponents, so if it doesn't mitigate their rage state and the clear increased attack power it gives, it should at least give them pause, which considering all we need is to distract them to get at the queen, should be more than enough. actually taking out the Rage Hornets may not matter. i mean, it might, she could teleport again, but teleporting into what could easily be a ball of our swarmlings would be a bad idea, and Shus double teleport should probably mitigate that if she does pull that off.
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>>3954254
>>3954261
>You growl, glancing back up as the Host and her two Raging Hornets begin to circle overhead, building up a worrying amount of speed.
Is Hornet Host doing what I think she's doing?
I think Hornet Host is going to throw the Raging Hornets like a giant Bola missile at super high speeds at Shu hoping that Shu won't have the speed to dodge or counter it.
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>>3954267
that...would be interesting, and is a possibility. id think the primed teleports would probably go off at that, so i think we're technically good, if not all our swarmlings going after them acting as a buffer, but if you're worried i can add specifically to be ready for that i guess, though i could've sworn reactive teleportation was already a thing? or maybe we just do that so often im misremembering.
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>>3954267
Could be. Maybe not a bola, but gathering speed for a charge. Actually, now that I think about it, disrupting her concentration would make the Raging Hornets fly out of control and crash, with them moving at such high speed.
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>>3954277
>>3954274
We should fire a Cicada bullet at Hornet Host.
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>>3954280
maybe, but im still not sure its at all necessary.
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>>3954277
>>3954267
can't remember who said it, but i suppose i can comprise and change Amaras spell to add on 'OMA' if you're that worried about the Battalion, but i still think the Spiral really isnt worth it. plus, if we actually do what we should, even with a large Spiral the Battalion could easily be out or range for its constructs to be pulled in, if thats even what they are.

Especially if Amara and Holly end up catching its attention. which considering im hoping they deal it some good damage, would be ok.
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>>3954311
No, that doesn't really work for me. Honestly, I'm turning against the entire plan for taking out Mandarina. Why should we try to fly up to her? We should be doing the opposite, pulling her down. We've got a ton of tether grabs. I'm thinking that instead of flying up on a Knight, we should have our swarmlings swarm her, and then use Impulse Swallow to pull the whole mass of them down to earth. Charon did say that would be an effective use of our powers. Hit her with a Cicada Cry first, too, so she loses control of the Raging Hornets and can't use them to screen against an attack.

Also, something I realized we haven't done yet: reassigned our second Dominus Bloodline after Fasciitis died. Who do you think we should put it on, Mandarina to hasten her death or Battalion to see if sucking up her blood is an effective move?
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>>3954346
how about Stranger? spawn a stealthed succling/jackling and plant the bug on stranger to force stranger to back away until stranger breaks Line of Sight. That would make Stranger think she's in the clear when she doesn't notice the stealthed tracking jackling on her. That way we can keep track of stranger as a suspicious person even after she takes off the mask while we deal with riot suppression.
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>>3954349
I'm hesitant to make the first strike when so far she's just being a creepy observer. She might back off if we attach a Bloodline, she might attack and give us another foe to deal with.
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>>3954355
fair point. I'm still for planting a stealth bug on Stranger to make sure she's not up to any good.
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>>3954346
well, because she may not be expecting it, especially if shes planning to send her Rage Hornets down after us, moving Shu up would be safer, and possibly dodge those attack outright. we also, again, cannot guarantee she can get grappled properly. shes avoided it so far. if we dont try and chase her down, she could easily escape. closing the distance prevents that option for her, or makes it much harder to pull off. She also would be expecting the grapples and such to be going for her, so would be more prepared to avoid them.

we also still have no actual confirmation its a concentration effects, its an utterly retarded move to rely on a 'what if' when we have better reliable methods that dont rely on a gamble.

as for the Dominous, the Battalion. its fresh so we wont have to worry about swapping it again.

>>3954349
>>3954358
yeah lets not attack her first.

>>3954349
>>3954355
we shouldn't ignore her or only just track her either though, thats just asking for trouble. shes acting suspicious, we confront her about it, its that simple. she makes herself a problem, then we deal with the problem, but itll be on our terms, instead of having to try and rush to stop her later if she runs off and tries something.
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>>3954364
>well, because she may not be expecting it
She just saw us do it, I think she probably has a plan for it.

>especially if shes planning to send her Rage Hornets down after us, moving Shu up would be safer, and possibly dodge those attack outright
I disagree. The hornets are much more mobile in the air than we are. At ground level they have more predictable angles of attack, and should be easier to see coming and dodge.

>we also, again, cannot guarantee she can get grappled properly. shes avoided it so far
Because we tried to grapple directly. I'm talking about swarming her with a big ball of swarmlings, then using Impulsive Swallow to pull them down with her along with them. She'd be engulfed first, then grappled.

>we also still have no actual confirmation its a concentration effects, its an utterly retarded move to rely on a 'what if' when we have better reliable methods that dont rely on a gamble.
Fine, if you're so worried it won't work, we can combine plans. Send some of our swarmlings to harass the hornets and distract them, so they can't interrupt.

>we shouldn't ignore her or only just track her either though, thats just asking for trouble. shes acting suspicious, we confront her about it, its that simple. she makes herself a problem, then we deal with the problem, but itll be on our terms, instead of having to try and rush to stop her later if she runs off and tries something.
Sure, but I don't want to attack first. If we can spook her off, let's do it, but save the attack until it's confirmed we have to fight her. I'm good with the "send over Amaras and Grapplings to wall her off and tell her we're not her mummy" plan for now.
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>>3954376
>She just saw us do it, I think she probably has a plan for it.
and she only had one trick to pull against it, and we can overwhelm that attempt or make it suicide in its own right to try.

>I disagree. The hornets are much more mobile in the air than we are. At ground level they have more predictable angles of attack, and should be easier to see coming and dodge.
and i disagree here. and Shu shouldn't even be worrying about the Hornets herself, which is a major point of my plan. our own swarmlings should be dealing with them, and easily can match them in the air, and will do better in the air.
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>>3954386
>and i disagree here. and Shu shouldn't even be worrying about the Hornets herself, which is a major point of my plan. our own swarmlings should be dealing with them, and easily can match them in the air, and will do better in the air.
I guess my issue is that I'm just not confident that SUTHing the Hornets will reduce their power enough. They might get less aggressive, but I think that it's a gamble to assume they'd lose all their combat adaptations. If she loses control of them and can't direct them well I'd feel safer, or if we could be certain they'd get less powerful in addition to less aggressive, but as-is it just feels really risky to go up into the air with those.

Oh, I just had an idea that would make me fell more confident, but it might not work. Depends on how far the Hornets are from us right now. A question for BHOP, then, when he sees this:

>>3954071
How far are the hornets and the Host from Amara? Close enough that she could flare her calm field and force them to disengage from attacking Shu while Shu gets into position? That would actually be more ACT efficient than casting a spell (less BIO efficient, though), Amara should have to cover only two zones with her field for two ACTs instead of the three ACTs needed to cast a SUTH spell.
>>
>>3954408
what? SUTH will still do something and nothing about my plan relies on that alone being enough, nor did i ever say or imply it would fully pacify them. the difference is we know it will do something to them, over a spell or round that may not actually have an effect as we cannot actually guarantee what their parameters or methods are.

its literally not a gamble, as its going to have some effect, over something that is a gamble, because it relies on info we do not 100% know for sure, and if we're wrong about is 100% wasted. it is literally by definition not a gamble, compared to what you want which is by definition a full on gamble, even if you want to argue its an educated gamble.
>>
>>3954412
No, it's a gamble. We do not have confirmation that calming them down will do anything, or that if it does do something it will be effective enough to keep them from tearing through our swarmlings and coming after us. It's an educated gamble, it makes sense that it would work, but we do not know this. Just like trying to make Mandarina lose control over the hornets. All that differs is where we each put our confidence intervals for the two ideas. But, that's why I'm proposing we use Amara's calm field. Because that has certainty. In addition to calming the hornets it will make certain that they can't attack Shu when she goes up into the air. I am wrong about it being more ACT efficient, though, that was me forgetting that Vocem Virtutis has been set to remove the ACT cost for SUTH this fight.
>>
>>3954431
no, it is literally factually not. we have seen and know SUTH can work in combat and at least gives a moment of pause. it may not do much, but it 100% should do something. regardless, its an option we have actual experience to back up, over none.

also is SUTH wouldn't do anything, neither would Amaras field. both are just a calming effect, if they are immune to one/it not doing enough, neither will the other. not to mention the Spell doesn't require Range or Amara herself to be present, which is an utter waste to pull her over for an opponent she doesn't need to focus on physically and can do more good elsewhere.
>>
>>3954433
>no, it is literally factually not. we have seen and know SUTH can work in combat and at least gives a moment of pause. it may not do much, but it 100% should do something. regardless, its an option we have actual experience to back up, over none.
Okay, then I guess I'm misunderstanding why you want to use SUTH on them. It's just to interrupt them, it's not because you're hoping that calming them down will cause them to lose the power boost they got? Oh, okay, then. I think RHO would work better for interrupting them, but SUTH should as well and it's free for this fight, so sure, let's do that.

>also is SUTH wouldn't do anything, neither would Amaras field. both are just a calming effect, if they are immune to one/it not doing enough, neither will the other. not to mention the Spell doesn't require Range or Amara herself to be present, which is an utter waste to pull her over for an opponent she doesn't need to focus on physically and can do more good elsewhere.
Well, again, my logic wasn't "they may be immune to calm effects" but "calming them down might not cause their mutations to recede and turn them back into normal hornet swarmlings". But if that's not what you're going for, then whatever, forget it. I apologize for my confusion.

That said, I still think it might be worth it. The flared aura widens the window of "can't attack their targets" from an instant to the entire round, pretty good if we're trying to get Shu into position to attack Mandarina. There wouldn't even be a need to send the swarmlings up to distract them (though we should, for the sake of redundancy). And it's a flare of the aura, it won't require Amara to stay close. She can flare it then swing off with Holly to blast the Battalion.
>>
>>3954439
well, regardless of anything else, it still has a limited range im pretty sure, so if thats even viable(well, without her having to rush to Shus side, which might have other issues attached to it), depends on BHOPS answer, so im gonna go to bed, but ill try to wake up a bit earlier than usual then to discuss it further once more info is on the table. no point afterall, as its a change that may not even be possible as an option to make til he answers us.
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>>3954445
Yeah, I should head to sleep, too. Good night, thread. We'll see in the morning.
>>
>>3954059

Also, did amara just turn the ground into a floor made of VAGOOS?

>>3954445
>>3954439
anons. I think we need to seriously consider changing up the word designation of CUNT as a spell word. It's fun and games as a meme, but when the terrain turns the floor into "that", I think it's safe to say the buck stops there.
>>
>>3954545
Yeah, I was wondering about that myself. I'm concerned that Amara's access to the Skinternet is having all kinds of consequences - we absolutely need to talk to her about things once we have some downtime.
>>
>>3954408
(They are close enough to be caught in Amara's Aura, yes.)

>>3954545
>>3954650
(No, it was merely a field of what appears to be buttholes, to the casual observer. More of an in-joke from the early days of playtesting in which a player used a similar string of words and hastily described what you see now, imagining something more akin to pores on skin, but the mental image stuck. I summarily added it to the random hindering terrain chart, and the rest is history.)
>>
>>3954682
that was my guess too, but honestly i was just trying to ignore that part. but very blunt of you BHOP.
>>
>>3954069
>>3954158
add in;
>If Amara can afford to flare her Aura, do so aswell.
>>
>>3954682
hey, BHOP, i cant find the exact wording (as you never put in on her sheets), but how is the Geschoss limited? only to Novembers base suit abilities + its own weaponry right? or was it technically just 'something of Novembers' so it could use an amped up version of something her slotted relics can do?
>>
>>3954688
(Besically, yes. It works as an extention of November's possible ability originations, thereby expanding her range.)
>>
>>3954689
ah, alright. that'll be handy to remember going forward. sadly unless she suddenly need to flammer tank the entire civilian population, im not sure it'll help her much out here. and considering shes irish, not german, im about 75% sure that would not be her first choice to deal with the situation anyways.
>>
>>3954682
Oh, okay. So they're very large pores, but there's a heavy resemblance to buttholes. Phew, that's a lot better. Thanks for the clarification, BHOP.
>>
>>3954069
Amara clones:
>Have the Clones that accompany the townsfolk divide to provide enough manpower to herd the citizens while November does a soldier's duty.
>>
>>3954707
I'd be fine getting rid of the VUL to CUNT thing all the same, though. The "innocent little girl swearing all the time" joke's kind of worn out its humor value. I mean, we never even followed through on changing the rest of the words to profanity, so the joke's been orphaned. We should change it back to VUL, or get a new word altogether.

Also, it occurs to me thinking about VUL that Vultha's name is Skintalker for "enemy-friend". That had to have been weird for early game not-yet-villainous Ozmas.
>>
>>3954809
eh, im fine keeping it. for one, its already there, for another, it did have its amusement value aswell as some lessons to teach her, aswell as i still think the joke hits home every now-and-again still. Amara is also far from the innocent little kid persona, and hasn't been for awhile.

i do agree further changes did kinda die out and we dont need to drag the joke further though. really, the word changes dont have much use, as theres few options honestly in the same like of 'CUNT' that both feels like theres a reason to change it too, and still sticks close enough to the base word to give a good instant indication of what it is, aswell as without lengthening it to much.

neat and appreciated idea, but i do think theres a good reason we haven't used more than one. only thing i can think to do with them is make some of the more alien words something easier to instantly come to mind, but again, doing so without removing the charm of the word would be difficult. hilariously 'Nuka' is probably exactly what we would've changed that word too if it was different most likely, while on the subject.
>>
>>3954815
Oh, yeah, NUKA is perfect as-is. No question there. What silly name could you possibly give to the radiation word that's better than that?

And I don't know, having CUNT be the target word is funny on occasion, but most of the time it just feels awkward to me. I think it's because we converted such a commonly-used word, actually. Has kind of worn the shine off the joke to hear it told so often. If we had made a less common (though still applicable for when we want to really castigate an enemy) word into profanity, then I think I'd still find it funny. Maybe if Amara could use both profane and regular versions of the word, so that we can reserve the CUNT for when we know it would have some impact, that would be good.
>>
>>3954830
eh, different tastes i suppose. for me it doesn't really ruin the joke as I dont really view it as more than just a word except in specific circumstances anyways. the context makes it funny or not, not how often the word is used or anything.
>>
>>3954069

“Uzi’s out, Shu!” Holly yells across the battlefield, even as both of your pistols are siphoning biomass to refill themselves in your grip. Flinging a freshly-reloaded Contender over to the other girl, your swarm moves with a flurry of activity, eight of your Grapplings darting off to converge on the gas-masked figure as Holly opens fire on the Blood Battalion the moment the Hexane Relic reaches her capable hands.

[Anyone got info on this…person?] You ask across the empathic channel, pulsing an image of the strange individual to everyone you’re connected to as a majority of your swarm reconvene on you, covering you in a shifting mass of chitin that reforms into a quartet of Knighted Drillings. You family answers in the negative, and with a thought you send the quartet skyward to meet the Raging Hornets head-on…but with a twist. You jump in place, and right on cue your steed arrives as you ascend on the back of your Knightling, charging the Host alongside your brood even as more Bane-Drillings pour forth from your hive in a trail behind you.

“GRA SUTH CUNT VIE!” Comes Amara’s skyward cry just as her Joyous and your Grapplings converge on the furtive figure, and you wince through borrowed senses when a device at the being’s hip screeches. The Raging Hornets slow, then twitch as their boundless rage lessens…but not enough, as they dive with merciless fury towards-

“gRa SuTh CuNt ViE!” Amara’s voice echoes, this time distorted as if through a rusted, tinny speaker. The pair of hornets bank hard, thrown off course by the double-layered effects and utterly helpless when your Knightlings fall upon them. The origin of the follow-up phrase is revealed through your Grapplings; a grotesque megaphone-like Relic aimed at your foe’s direction by the strange figure.

What happens next renders the next few seconds a chaotic blur.

You fire off your B.33 round, catching both Raging Hornets in the honey trap as you hurtle past, aiming for the real threat. Far below, Holly and Amara are a blur as they leap over the Bloody Battalion, the former slashing at the straining arms of the scarlet homunculi and cleaving an opening for a burst of the latter’s Oxygenic Artillery. The blast strikes the Hunger-mad Daughter at point-blank range and secures their safe trajectory, the last you see of them as you focus on ending your aerial threat. A pair of Rooks surge towards the Host from opposite sides as you charge, a twist on your last and near-lethal strategy. She remembers, turning towards you as she frantically tries to summon a fresh batch of swarmlings to her aid, their new forms writhing forth from her belly. She turns, instincts serving her well even in madness as you reappear to her right in a whirl of distended space, ready to meet your charge with the furious brood she’s bringing to bear…

…and when you teleport again to the opposite Rook, her rear’s completely unguarded.

(Continued)
>>
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>>3954879

Your mount and Rooks erupt into a flurry of angled limbs and grasping hands, seizing the Host is place. With a single, well-placed blow you sink the full length of your Lionheart blade deep into her torso, a series of rapid trigger pulls sending your Fullbores tearing into her body. Her too-large eyes go wide, then dull as the Fullbores devour what little is left of her while your Hundred Hands let go, sending the Host tumbling lifelessly to the street below.

You watch her fall, and in that moment you catch sight of the masked figure far below as their arm twists awkwardly behind their back. The Joyous tense, blades at the ready as it begins to turn a small key into its back, giving the thing three quick turns before its body vibrates, then vanishes in a spray of shattered pavement. The Joyous are completely thrown, glancing around frantically until they find the figure again, darting behind Holly and Amara at break-neck speeds, two new items in its grasp.

Shalaev’s Shawl is now clasped in the Daughter’s left hand, while the thief has your goddamn Uzi in the other. You dive towards the rogue, watching as the thief smacks your Uzi against their left shoulder, the wire-like flesh instantly assimilating the machinery into a working shoulder-mounted gun, aimed at your allies, caught utterly off-guard as they turn to face the new threat. A wire racks the bolt as the thing stretches the Shawl between its hands, the cloth shimmering as it plays with the fabric, just before the staccato of gunfire from the stolen weapon echoes through the alley. Their aim is perfect, a barrage of spontaneously-generated bullets tearing through the regenerated scarlet constructs as the figure aims between your allies, throwing the Shawl over them as you leap from your steed and land beside the bizarre figure, watching the enhanced cloak render both Amara and Holly utterly imperceptible.

You charge forward at the same instant the figure takes several rapid steps back and out of range, raising both hands innocently as it finally speaks in a high, artificial voice.

“youhelppeopleihelppeopleweworktogether.” They say, every word striking the air like the clack of a typewriter. “youhaveplanihavenoplantellmeyourplansoihelpyourplan.”

“Why’d you steal our stuff?!” Amara demands while Holly keeps a watchful eye on the Bloody Battalion’s efforts to free itself from the undulating terrain.

“sorryforborrowingmyaplmswereitchyandilostmyotherrelicsinmylastfight.” The figure replies, cocking its head to one side to look at the Battalion. “iknewthisgirlherpowerisamplifiedovertimeifwedonotstophernowshewillbetrouble.”

“tinkertailoriswhattheycallme.” She says, glancing towards you once more. “ihelpyouyes?”

(Continued)
>>
>>3954883

{Shu! I found the other Apex!} Gina suddenly interjects, drawing your attentions elsewhere. {She’s in the East quarter with some refugees, and we’ve got a handful of new threats that’ve popped up thanks to her using some kind of Relic…panic…bomb things, I dunno, but they’re bullshit. Can be thrown like grenades or set like timed mines, she keeps switching them. I’m headed there now}

“Where are we on the evac?” You demand across the open channel.

“I’ve formed a handful of squads and we’re headed to the South Quarter now.” November supplies succinctly. “Joyous are close to each team leader as ordered.”

“Julia and I can handle the West Quarter.” Dorian chimes in just before he’d drowned out by a surprisingly vicious battle cry from Julia in the background. “Doctor Francine is trying her best, but they’re struggling against some surprisingly resilient…”

“Fuc*er just won’t GODDAMN DIE!” Rath roars furiously in the midst of an obvious melee. You’re about to reply when the wet, sickening sound of tearing flesh erupts from behind you, revealing the Bloody Battalion’s shorn its way free of the pulsing street, now elevated on powerful legs of flowing blood and with a pair of engorged arms, as well.

Chaos in the East Quarter’s quickly flaring up, but it seems as though the other quarters of Laoc are rapidly stabilizing thanks to you and your family's efforts. You look down again at the thin, short masked girl that stands before you, ready and willing to assist even as her old friend lumbers toward you in the throes of madness.

Seems there are some good Samaritans in Laoc after all…odd as they may be.

>>TINKER TAILOR has joined the battle.

HP: 1620% (+325% [Dominus: Holly])
BIO: 1940% (+270%, 8x Sneak-Jacklings, 3x Double-Stealthlings, 4x Sneak-Rooks, 5x Recursive-Rook-Platelings, 5x Sprite-Platelings, 3x Bishop, 4x Knighted Drillings, 1x Knightling, 13x Bane-Drillings, 8x Grapplings, 54/54. Matrons, Whistle: OMA SUTH. Armored)

CONTENDER: Gemini Maxims. LEFT: Empty. RIGHT: Empty
RAVENOUS MAW: Primed.
HUNDRED-HANDED: None.
ACT: 3/3

AMARA: 1490% (+230%. Vocem[Suth:FREE], Shrouded. HUNTER’S HONOR: 7 Charges)
HOLLY: 2,480% (RESIST: Heat, Cold. IMMUNE: Acid. Uzi: IN TAILOR’s HANDS. BISHOP: 1 ROUND REMAINING. Armored, Shrouded)

>>HOLLY INFECTION: Cleared

THREAT: BATTALION making its way to you through the terrain, oddly resilient.

THREATS REMAINING

North x3: 3 Targets Active

East x9: 6 Targets Active, 3 NEW HUNGER MAD, 1 TARGET EXECUTED

South x0: AREA PURGED

West x4: 2 Targets Active, 2 NEW HUNGER-MAD, 2 TARGETS ELIMINATED

EVAC: 52%

>>Please reload the Right- AND Left-hand Contenders with 2 FREE rounds each.

YOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>
(Gentlemen, voting shall remain open for the next four hours, given how the day's been going. I hope yours is less hectic than mine, and that you had a restful night's sleep, as well.)
>>
>>3954886
(Please be aware that EVAC is now at an even 70%. My apologies for the misprint.)
>>
>>3954886
oh, shes outright an ally. thats... unexpected. i figured she wasn't actually going to be a direct threat, but that i was not expecting. learn to ask over take though girl, seriously.

>>3954891
BHOP, does the Tinker have to help us, or can we send her elsewhere? would we need to give her an opening first?
or, more importantly, does her clearly strong relic abilities at all make her suitable or able to possibly go help with those panic bombs?
>>
>>3954889
also, im sorry to hear your days been so tough.
>>
>>3954886
>Evac: 70%
>Saboteur located in east district
Good. Now quarantine East district to contain the fighting, the saboteur and establish a perimeter in South district to prevent fighting from crossing over into our designated safe zone.
Shu:
>Free action: "I appreciate your helpTinker"

Hey bhop, how many clones are there in each district? Can we get a sub percentage of the evacuees in each district?
Granted, south district has all the refugees, but how many still need rescue in each district?
>>
>>3954883
Huh. She's got the Etain frame, basically. With the wires and gasmask she has a bit of a cybernetic vibe, maybe she's ex-DO and the Etain frame was based off of her. Well, good, I'm glad for the help. Wasn't expecting her to be outright on our side, but any bit of assistance is welcome. Honestly kind of surprised there aren't more Daughters fighting the Hunger-Mad alongside us. You all have superpowers, you do know that? I know most of you don't have very strong superpowers, but you have superpowers all the same.

>>3954889
I did not get a restful sleep, but I'm coping. Sorry your day is rough.
>>
>>3954879
>“gRa SuTh CuNt ViE!” Amara’s voice echoes, this time distorted as if through a rusted, tinny speaker. The pair of hornets bank hard, thrown off course by the double-layered effects and utterly helpless when your Knightlings fall upon them. The origin of the follow-up phrase is revealed through your Grapplings; a grotesque megaphone-like Relic aimed at your foe’s direction by the strange figure.

Is that an Echo-phone relic? (megaphone that allows the wielder to "throw their voice" from somewhere else and copy a skintalker spell)
>>
>>3954889
Sorry to hear your say has been so busy.

While i only got like three ours of sleep thanks to my guts trying to murder me in my bed iam less than fresh but stilll good to go sionce my workday was not very busy and instead we had an early christmas party sponsored by my bosses

>>3954907
Many daughters in Laoc are not fighters as OP said a while ago so many of them probably just cant handel the stress of a real life or death battle while they were living relatively cushy lives
>>
>>3954886
First Draft;

SHU;
>Free Rounds, 2 Fullbores.
>Load up the rest of the ammo slots with 2 Swarm and 2 Honey.
>Dominous the Battalion.
>Unload both Maxims into the Battalion. Raw damage, Grappling, and Damage increases and decreases, all in one.
>there should still be two other threats up North here. Send our 8 Grapplings out to find them, and hopefully pin them down to avoid them causing further trouble.
>Have all our remaining swarm rush the Battalion, clearing the way as much as they can to it. Tear it to shreds, but focus on the blood bodies on its head.

SHU and HOLLY;
>Toss Holly back her Contender, then once the Swarmlings have done their dues, have both Shu and Holly latch on to either side of the thing. Swing by, tearing what chunk of the Battalions actual body you can off, aswell as cutting any ‘true limbs’ you can off with the Contenders.
>once you land behind it, have Maws ready to latch on and pull anything it has left back, to give Amara her opening.

AMARA and FUZZBUZZ;
>Wait for your opening, and hop onto Fuzzbuzzes back.
>GRA VIE NUKA SULK your Sheathed Sword, in preperation.
>Once Shu, Holly, and the Swarm open the Battalion up as much as they can, give Fuzzbuzz an Oxygenix boost, and unleash your built up stacks onto the Battalion with your sword.

GINA and AMARA CLONES;
>Gina, Focus on the apex, over the bombs. While it sucks to ignore them, the apex is the real issue here.
>Have the Amara Clones in the East split tasks. Spam splitting new ones, and as horrible as it is, see if they cannot sacrifice themselves to stop the bombs from having an effect… no matter how far they have to go.

TINKER;
>If you can do something to help in the east, have two-thirds of the Amara Clones here and two Knights escort her to the East. she can keep Borrowing the Uzi.
>If she cannot, see if she cannot help the Amara Clones and Grapplings find and prepare for the last two Threats here in the North.
>>
>>3954897
(You're free to send her elsewhere if you wish, though now that the Battalion is accelerating in power you'll likely need to give her some sort of opening before she can get away, as her Wind-Up Step is on cooldown.)

(She'd be rather capable of disarming them, with the right rolls. Each would take her at least an ACT or two given their complexity, however.)

>>3954900
(It's perfectly fine, I just wish the silliness I'm dealing with had hit earlier in the week instead of now, when I'm trying to actively work on bringing you the 35th Vein.)

>>3954902
(The remaining 30% of refugees are split between the East and North Quarters; 22% East, 8% North.)

(Joyous; 7 north, 13 west, 26 east, 16 south.)

>>3954907
(I'm sorry to hear you didn't sleep well, Anon. I do hope you get a better rest tonight, then.)

>>3954910
(Indeed it is.)

>>3954911
(Ah, I'm glad you had a good party then!)

(And yes, most everyone in Laoc are very low level and came here since they're averse to violence.)
>>
>>3954914
Question:
Did Tinker temporarily upgrade Shavlev's shawl?
>>
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>>3954914
ah, well to the East she certainly goes then. that place is a fucking mess. more relics for her to mess around over there with anyhow, and not just talking the bombs.

also, maybe this gif can at least help your day out a bit.
>>
>>3954917
(Yes. As a quirky show of good faith, it has been temporarily enhanced to cover up to two targets, and it is much more durable for the rest of the current combat.)

>>3954918
(Ha, that's actually Francine's original portrait, if you'd ended up fighting Gamma a little earlier. It's nice to see, and thanks for sharing.)
>>
>>3954913
This may sound odd, but what if we fired Honey B.33 Rounds at Battalion's head and sealed it with honey? It seems like the way it spawns constructs is through the head. It's a humoral paladin core so anything that prevents or slows bloodflow will cripple the Blood Battalion greatly.
>>
>>3954913
>GRA VIE NUKA SULK your Sheathed Sword, in preperation.
I'm not sure if that works. There's no target word in there, it wouldn't be aimed at the sword. I'm not sure what target word we would use, I guess if there's a word for "attack" or maybe "weapon". There's a word for "Relic", but the sword is actually an ability so that wouldn't count.
>>
>>3954924
Sounds reasonable to me, though we'd need to first get the existing layer of blood soldiers off of her so that we'd have access to her head. Maybe if Amara can blast them off with an Oxygenic Nuke.
>>
>>3954922
huh. odd but alright.

and man, the Tinker really does not understand proper etiquette, does she? battle or not there were MUCH better ways to go about that whole introduction. guess its not the normal girls that got into the Crucible though, heh.

>>3954924
i mean, the way Honey works id imagine hitting it would cover its head anyways. i dont think we need to specify.

>>3954925
im not sure it needs target word, im pretty sure Amara has done spells with intent before. i think target words just increase the accuracy and effect, as it were.
also made weapons and the like count as constructs too, so VIE would be the word, if you're that worried about it.
>>
>>3954886
Would the Hydroformer augment on Dominus Bloodline help in pulling off Battalion's blood soldiers? We connect to them, start terraforming the liquid off?
>>
>>3954886
>"Here is the plan Tinker" spawn neurojack "I need to upload my plan into your head, it's faster that way."
>Throw a neurojack into Tinker upload the following information of the town situation into Tinker's mind:

>Town status: Evacuation at 70% remaining evacuees are split between East and North District. East: 8%, North 22%

>North District: 3 threats Active, situation stabilizing, 8% of town population remains to be evacuated.
>West District: 4 threats (2 active, 2 new hunger mad)
>South District: Secure, 70% of town population relocated. Amara clones keeping population stable and calm.
>East District: 9 threats (1 apex saboteur, 3 new hunger mad, 5 active), 22% of population remains to be evacuated.
>Request to reinforce East district
>East district situation:
>Current defenders: Rath, Gina, Francine, Lara, Magpie. 26 Amara clones
>Gina is hunting Apex Saboteur.
>Francine, Rath, Lara, and Magpie are engaging current Hunger mad. Amara clones are helping with evacuation efforts
>Apex Saboteur uses Grenade relics to force Hunger checks on vulnerable populace.
>Reinforcements needed in East District ASAP.
>Priority target Saboteur, prevent saboteur from creating new Hunger-mad daughters. secondary priority is containing East district and killing hunger mad daughters

>Spawn a Knightling for TinkerTailor to ride to East District.

November:
>Give the Town populace a situational update. Tell them number of Hunger mad is being reduced and that the situation in West and North district is currently being contained and handled, and reinforcements are enroute to East district. Half the number of hunger-mad have fallen and taken care of. Evacuation efforts in east district are intensifying as we speak.

Town Hall Amara:
>Cast "GRA RHO CUNT"
>>
>>3954952
im against switching the tower spell heavily. BHOP already said the town was only holding up as well as it was due to the aura and SUTH spell combo, and the LAST thing the east Quarter needs is for that to stop. switching spells could cause a cascade, the combo might literally be the only thing keeping some people sane.
>>
>>3954952
>>3954886
Amending my vote
Town Hall Amara:
>Maintain "Gra Suth"

>>3954959
Good point.
>>
>>3954913
>>3954886
Second Draft;

SHU;
>Free Rounds, 2 Fullbores.
>Load up the rest of the ammo slots with 2 Swarm and 2 Honey.
>Dominous the Battalion.
>there should still be two other threats up North here. Send our 8 Grapplings out to find them, and hopefully pin them down to avoid them causing further trouble.
>Have all our remaining swarm rush the Battalion, clearing the way as much as they can to it. Tear it to shreds, but focus on the blood bodies on its head.
>If you can, help your swarm out via Hydroformer to impede the blood bodies effectiveness.

SHU and HOLLY;
>Toss Holly back her Contender, and Unload both Maxims into the Battalion. Aim for its True body where possible, but its Head with the Honey round to try and impede any further Blood Bodies if it can.
>then once the Swarmlings have done their dues, have both Shu and Holly latch on to either side of the thing. Swing by, tearing what chunk of the Battalions actual body you can off, aswell as cutting any ‘true limbs’ you can off with the Contenders.
>once you land behind it, have Maws ready to latch on and pull anything it has left back, to give Amara her opening.

AMARA and FUZZBUZZ;
>Wait for your opening, and hop onto Fuzzbuzzes back.
>GRA SULK VIE your Sheathed Sword, in preparation.
>Once Shu, Holly, and the Swarm open the Battalion up as much as they can, give Fuzzbuzz an Oxygenix boost, and unleash your built up stacks onto the Battalion with your sword.

GINA and AMARA CLONES;
>Gina, Focus on the Apex, over the bombs. While it sucks to ignore them, the Apex is the real issue here.
>Have the Amara Clones in the East split tasks. Spam splitting new ones, and as horrible as it is, see if they cannot sacrifice themselves to stop the bombs from having an effect… no matter how far they have to go.

TINKER;
>go do what you can to help the East. have two-thirds of the Amara Clones here and two Knights escort her to the East. she can keep Borrowing the Uzi.

NOVEMBER and the GESCHOSS;
>If you are able, and only if Gina confirms she at least has the saboteur busy, Head East. Make sure to only use the Geschoss sparingly to avoid Friendly Fire, but even if it is not where you are suited, the east needs more help.
>>
>>3954930
(Ha, this *is* her being polite. There was a sizable chance of her just popping in, stealing your shit and then running off to help people with your Relics if she hadn't realized who you were. She's far from normal, but her heart's in the right place at least.)

>>3954939
(They would interact well, yes.)
>>
>>3954991
haha. honestly she does not sound the smartest either.
'oh hey, these folk are helping take down the Hunger mad Daughters, but because i dont know who they are, ima steal their shit and run off, damn be if that causes them to lose, and thus more problems for the town!'

you would think a Tinker would think things through a bit more than that.
>>
>>3954999
(High Int, low wisdom at its finest.)
>>
>>3955000
oh no, shes gonna be an 'adorkable' type, isnt she? love to see what she, Rath, and Niku could get on about though.
>>
>>3954990
Yeah, this looks good. Supporting >>3954886.

>>3955003
If we can get her to slow down her speech patterns. I think Rath would have trouble following her. But once they do, they'll get into an endless feedback cycle of awkward nerd-girling. Just two Daughters and a ghost, hanging out at a Forge and getting super excited at the things they can make.
>>
>>3954886
Supporting>>3954990
>>
>>3955009
wonder why she does talk like that. speech impediment? faulty relic(similar to Novembers old voice box)? Ability Corruption? only thing is, it feels like any of those she would make a relic to fix(or fix the relic). that, or shes just an idiot who does not understand the importance of being able to properly communicate.
>>
>>3955011
>>3955009
(While Tinker Tailor is normally a motormouth, she's sped up considerably because of her speed-enhancing Relic, which also drastically boosts her cognition in addition to reaction time, when it goes on cooldown, she'll speak normally...as much as she can, anyway.)
>>
>>3955011
I'd say not faulty Relic, but Relic-related. Her speed appears to be tied to the clockwork mechanism in her back. When the spring is wound tight, she's fast. When it winds down, she's slow. That's probably what's influencing her speech, I would not be surprised if on the next turn her speech is drawn out and slow due to the spring having wound down.
>>
>>3955011
Tinker might also be a neuromancer and made her mouth move at the same speed as her mind.
>>
>>3955011
She might not be an idiot. She might have a damaged relic to synthesize her voice(or she might have been moot before the crucible and never really learned to speak properly)

Or she might have been damaged in the fight and didnt have the time/resources to fix it

>>3955000
Wouldnt even call her high int. More like medium int and low wisdom. Stealing something from someone who is using it to fight the same enemy you want to is just stupid and has nothing to do with situational awareness in the moment. At least that is my own look on things
>>
>>3955011

Feels like the relic is literally just "putting words in her mouth", like it's bypassing the muscular time it takes to speak and saying it as quickly as she can think it.

>>3955020
That's also a possibility.
>>
>>3955024
so real-time text-to-speech at the speed of thought?
>>
>>3955019
Ah, alright.
Still, terrible side effect.
>>
>>3955034
do you think directly uploading the town situation via neuromancy is a good way to put tinker up-to-date with the current situation?
>>
>>3955053
She has severely enhanced cogniton probably similar in scoßpe to what we as Anons can pull with Shu. it is the quickest way of telling her and she will be able to quickly understand and work on her part of the plan and might be able to nick a few relics in additon to helping us
>>
>>3955053
Maybe, but not without consent.
>>
>>3955053
She's got some sort of screen against our empathic field. A jack might be able to do it, though, get a more direct and high-bandwidth contact.
>>
and I'm off to work
>>
>>3955077
Have a nice day at work Anon
>>
>>3955070
We could also just have the Amara clones yap her ear off on the trip East.
>>
>>3954886
>>3954990
Oh, and add some quip when we allow her to keep(only borrow, you well meaning thief), to let her know we appreciate her being willing to help, even if shes odd in how she goes about it.
>>
>>3954990
(For clarification; are you inferring for Holly to give you her gun, you reload it, then you hand it back to her so you both can fire and then use the double-bite?)
>>
>>3955177
You know, if we're going to do these sorts of tricks with handing a gun off to Spirit Shells, we should definitely get Construct's Swordarm the next time we get a Contender level-up. It looks like it would actually be really effective now that we have something better than a bee to have wield it.
>>
>>3955177
Whatever is necessary to reload her gun yes.
I mean, i guess Shu could just reach over and shove them in while Holly grips it tightly, but I'm not sure you do that on a first date.
>>
>>3955182
That's... actually a good point and a really interesting idea. We should keep that in mind for Spiritus users.
>>
>>3955177
>>3955183
Oh, and i am the other Anon. An internet upgrade just turned into an ordeal as it turns out our internet goes through a government contracted outlet or something, so im on phone possibly til tommorow sometime.
>>
>>3955183
(Oh, I'm sure Holly wouldn't mind if it's Shu.)
>>
>>3955196
She's been inside us, time to return the favor.
>>
>>3955196
Hah, true enough.
But really, however works best, i just liked the mental image if them both mirror moving from the beginning, and im sure Holly is more than happy to fire Shus gun.
>>
>>3955207
if only Shu was a glitch like Carter somehow...
>>
>>3955296
Clearly, she doesn't need to be.
>>
>>3955305
Not to get too blue, but she does have the world's longest tongue and an arbitrarily large number of hands. Shu's got everything she needs.
>>
>>3955318
Well, Hollys got the first, and BHOP has told us how gluttonous 'fights' end up...
>>
>>3954886

Your mind whirs with the beginnings of a plan, your hive thrumming with activity as you engulf everyone present in your empathic aura.

[Tailor, I’d appreciate your help. Go do what you can to help the East when we give you the opening] You finally declare, turning to the odd girl. [My little girl’s clones will go with you, as will two of my Knights…and you’re welcome to borrow the Uzi, for now]

The odd girl gives you a stiff salute, and with that you hone your focus on Gina and Amara.

[GG, I’m going to ask you to handle the Apex while Amara has her Joyous track down any Relics that haven’t detonated yet] You ask, and at the pulse of acknowledgement from her you then reluctantly turn to Amara. [Hey…I’m giving you veto power about how you want your clones to engage the bombs. Once they find them, you can have them wait for Tailor to-]

“I’ll be okay!” Amara replies sweetly, despite her worry being evident across the channel. “I…just don’t want anyone else to get hurt, so I’ll do my best to get the Hungry bombs away from everyone! No arguments!”

“…Thank you, Amara.” You say aloud, finally turning to face you looming foe. You breathe in, and as you breathe out a flicker of your empathic field instantly relays your plan…and then, across the city of Laoc, you and your family move as one.

“Karma’s out!” Holly announces with a sly grin, tossing you her Contender with her left hand and snatching the reloaded one you toss her out of mid-air. The two of you bring your Gemini Maxims to bear on the hulking brute of a Daughter that lumbers towards you on sturdy legs of hardened blood. A slender strand of scarlet springs to life, your Dominus Leash tethering you to your foe as your swarm surges past you, a hail of stout, glossy insects that engulf the Bloody Battalion in a cloud of green-black chitin. The growing titan of crimson ichor swats a handful of your brood away with a surprisingly agile sweep of one arm, the constructs stuck in the offending limb as the Battalion sweeps with the other...but this time your brood has time to dodge as the Daughter's artifical body slows, the liquid that makes up its arms and legs coagulating into a syrup of sluggish biomass.

And that's when you strike.

(Continued)
>>
>>3955487

You and Holly dart forwards with Amara between you, riding valiantly on the back of Sir Fuzzbuzz as she takes the lead. The Battalion looses a hail of crystallized blood at slow you but it's no use, the blades promptly caught and thrown back by the protective threads of Queen Crimson. You and the Gluttonous blonde open fire, filling the thick, humid air with a storm of bullets that burst into golden honey, thick and snaring as it restricts the homunculi atop the staggered beast...and what happens next is almost ballet.

You and Holly simultaneously aim and fire your prehensile tongues, snaring the rooftops on either side of the street and lunging past each other with only centimeters to spare. The blonde gives you a smirk and a wink as you pass each other, and with nigh-perfect timing the two of you each tear off a massive chunk of biomass from the giant construct; you from the side, and Holly from the shoulder.

Both of you land well past Amara's treacherous terrain as the Hunger-mad Daughter's vengeful screeches pierce the air, drowning out your smaller ally's preparatory epithets. Holly spins on her heel with a flourish, giving you a gleeful thumb's-up until she realizes the beast is still standing. Not only that, but it's turning as it slowly begins to regenerate, furious at what it perceives as the greatest pair of threats on the field.

How foolish.

With a sneeze like a roaring shotgun blast, Amara leaves Sir FuzzBuzz in the dust as she launches herself towards the Bloody Battalion, blade at the ready. The small girl hurtles towards her obvious target, and you hear it one more time...the sound of a peerless blade being drawn by a peerless hand.

>>HUNTER'S HONOR - CRITICAL BLOW

From the creature's multitude of mouths an air-piercing screech lances through the air, but Amara pays it no heed as she flops onto Sir FuzzBuzz's downy form when the swarmling catches her with ease, settling next to you and Holly.

"Y'know what? I don't think I'll ever get tired of watching that." The blonde chuckles, watching as the Bloody Battalion struggles to rejoin its top and bottom halves, your Neuromancy hindering the fusion of its bifurcated form. "Thing's hardier than I expected, though..."

"We need to end this thing, now." You say, mildly irritated that your combo wasn't enough to bring the titan's existence to an end. "We don't have time to waste when things in the East Quar-"

A second set of screams joins the multitude, your swarmling scouts having located a second group of evacuees, some of the last in the northern section of Laoc.

(Continued)
>>
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>>3955496

Three young women flee down a street five over from you, pursued by a thing that slings itself between the alleys and rooftops with unparalleled grace and speed, like a flower carried on the breeze. A girl pursues the trio of terrified women, her chest flayed open like the petals of a blossoming rose, her entrails lashing out as she propels herself towards her prey. Your swarmlings dive in an attempt to stop the creature, and with a flicker of movement a series of tendrils slash past your brood and send them tumbling down to earth, their movements arrested by the girls' bizarre assailant.

>>DART RAFFLESIA spotted, final threat of Northern Quarter.

"...Fuck." You breathe, brow furrowed as yet another event snags your fraying attentions. "GG? I'm gonna need a status update, stat."

{East block's a madhouse Shu, I'm not gonna sugar-coat it} She immediately replies, voice terse. {Hunger bombs keep fucking us over hardcore, and Rath, Lara, and Francine are up against this asshole who keeps duplicating herself and a Glutton that eats elements, so...yeah, things could be better. Magpie's almost here, but we gotta either bring everyone this way, or split these fucks up somehow, hell, we have to do SOMETHING...or else things are going to get a whole hell of a a lot worse}

[What about the last Apex, do you have eyes on...]

"Her corpse?" Magpie interjects. "Why, yes. Yes, I do."

[You got her?] You reply, relief creeping into your tone before Magpie's irritation floods back in response.

"Yeah...yeah, but the bitch went out gloating." Magpie growls. "I'm thinking we've got a lot more bombs that're going to go off before all this is over."

Goddamn it, you don't have time for this. Between the chaos in the East Quarter, the endangered civilians a few blocks away, and the infuriatingly persistent giant that only continues to grow in threat...you have to make a call.

You can only hope it's the right one.

HP: 1620% (+875% [Dominus: Holly & Battalion])
BIO: 1940% (+270%, 8x Sneak-Jacklings, 3x Double-Stealthlings, 4x Sneak-Rooks, 5x Recursive-Rook-Platelings, 5x Sprite-Platelings, 3x Bishop, 4x Knighted Drillings, 1x Knightling, 13x Bane-Drillings, 8x Grapplings, 48/54. Matrons, Whistle: OMA SUTH. Armored)

CONTENDER: Gemini Maxims. LEFT: Empty. RIGHT: Empty
RAVENOUS MAW: Primed.
HUNDRED-HANDED: None.
ACT: 3/3

AMARA: 1490% (+230%. Vocem[Suth:FREE], Shrouded. HUNTER’S HONOR: 0)
HOLLY: 2,480% (RESIST: Heat, Cold. IMMUNE: Acid. Uzi: IN TINKER’S HANDS. BISHOP: exhausted. Armored, Visible)

THREAT: BATTALION, Medium range. On last legs, but cannot be allowed to regenerate. RAFFLESIA: Long range, capabilities unknown.

THREATS REMAINING

North x2: 2 Targets Active. Joyous killed the third one this round.

East x10: 8 Targets Active, 2 NEW HUNGER MAD, 1 TARGET EXECUTED

South x0: AREA PURGED

West x2: 2 Targets Active, 2 TARGETS ELIMINATED

EVAC: 88%

>>Please reload the Right- AND Left-hand Contenders with 1 FREE round each.

YOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>
(Gentlemen, I shall be pausing here for the evening...for I am so very, very tired. Voting shall remain open over the weekend before I hope and pray normal posting resumes on Monday morning at 9:00AM, Eastern time. I’ll be available over the course of the weekend to address any questions, comments, or criticisms you all may have, and thank you once again for being such an amazing group of players. I hope you have a restful weekend, and I’ll also try my best to get some much-needed R&R, if I can.)
>>
>>3955496
>"Y'know what? I don't think I'll ever get tired of watching that."
Agreed, Holly. Amara is best little ninja.
>>
>>3955510
you take a long and relaxing weekend. i figured something came up today, and i hope you can at least get some good sleep to recover from it.

>>3955507
and grah, yeah this just did not go as planned at all. was hoping at LEAST West or North would be able to clean themselves up quickly from the beginning, but fuck me both have been bogged down like hell and East already was in no position for that even before all this.

>>3955510
dont rush to do it, but, Novembers status?
>>
>>3955510
Ooph. Must have been a really rough day. You get a lot of rest and relaxation over this weekend, BHOP. You've earned it.
>>
>>3955507
How does the West district still have two threats when there were only two last round?
>>
>>3955518
(November's on her way, and Francine's been working with her to come up with a plan that may be able to turn the tide when November finally arrives.)

(Also, using the Neuromancy was superb, as that's effectively crippled the Battalion's speedy regen, so it's been effectively neutered as a threat unless it isn't dealt with swiftly.)

>>3955526
(Apologies, I knew there was something I left out; two other Daughters went Hunger-mad, though Julia and Dorian are getting prepared to sweep them both since they're in the immediate vicinity.)
>>
>>3955531
>(Also, using the Neuromancy was superb, as that's effectively crippled the Battalion's speedy regen, so it's been effectively neutered as a threat unless it isn't dealt with swiftly.)
Okay. so we should kill it real quick before we move on. Probably can be finished with an Oxygenic hit, I figure, scatter. Or dropping some banelings on them, assuming they don't have any elemental resistances that would ruin that plan.

>(Apologies, I knew there was something I left out; two other Daughters went Hunger-mad, though Julia and Dorian are getting prepared to sweep them both since they're in the immediate vicinity.)
Damn. What's the total casualty count up to now, assuming that no more go Hunger-Mad or get eaten by the Hunger-Mad?
>>
>>3955507
SHU;
>Free Reloads, two Fullbores.
>Shu...make the hard decision, but what must be done.
>Spawn two Knightling speed mounts.
>turn to Holy and Amara, nad point to the mounts. “Eastern Quarter. NOW. Amara, get all clones you can over there, and spawning as many as they can.”
>Spawn 4 more of the Knight-Drillings, and send all 8 along with Amara and Holly to help out.

SHU(combat);
>Dominus Stun the Battalion.
>Then, unload both Contenders into it. 3 Honeys, 3 Fulbores.
>If thats not enough, Rush it with your Maw and two Drills and simply tear into it with everything you got.
>Once you take down the Battalion, Teleport swap with one of the rooks once they are close, and Immediately fill out any empty Swarmling slots with basics, as fast and as numerous as you can to try and drown the Raffle in them.
>Dominous the Raffle, and Snare it with your Maw, bringing yourself towards it for a bite while Contenders and Drills are ready to slash and gore it as much as possible. No time, no holding back. Your bio and health reserves are high, and your low on time. Its gonna hurt, but if it ends the fight sooner, a bit of pain is worth it.

SHU(Swarm);
>Have the Rooks position themselves as Shields for the three Civilians.
>Rush a new set of Grapplings to make a hand net infront of the Civilians and to try and ensnare the Raffle.
>have the Bane-Drillings suicide rush the Plant, their aim to simply force her back and destroy her tentacles, even if thye must die. This should at least slow her down, or eat away at her biomass.
>While the other sets are distracting the Raffle from the front, have the Knightling mount and a new brother for it fly high and drop behind her, before rushing in to tear at her backside.
>while this is all going on, have the Jackling(s) of the area, jack the Ground, so Shu can Terraform protective measures between the Civilians and the Raffle, especially to give the rest of the Swarm time ot arrive.

HOLLY, AMARA and FUZZBUZZ;
>Rush to the eastern Quarter, and help out wherever those in the know say you are needed most.


East is falling apart. we have one basically dead foe, and one fresh. Shu can handle one dead foe and a singular foe. East needs reinforcements, ESPECIALLY the kinda help Amara can bring in person.
>>
>>3955550
(Over two dozen by my last count, including the Hunger-mad and those slain by them. I'm away from my notes at the moment, or else I'd give you an exact figure.)
>>
>>3955560
I'm uncomfortable letting Holly out of range of Shu's Dominus Bloodline. If we're going to send her away (which I'm not sure we should, I'm worried about Rafflesia), we should spawn a Succling to attach to her and extend the Bloodline's range past line of sight.
>>
>>3955562
(As an addendum, the casualty count is slowing due to most of the Hunger-mad getting distracted by you and your team, as well as the collective efforts of the Mayor and a few mobs of citizens that're fighting back.)

(There's a comical amount of things going on in the background, really.)
>>
>>3955564
yes well, m worried about the Quarter thats only been getting worse as time goes on. Shu can handle herself, and more importantly, Shu NEEDS to handle herself. we should've been done and elsewhere turns ago, especially with how bad East was already doing. same with West honestly. we have already taken way too much time here, and Shu simply does not need the help, or more importantly, will have to do without it. others are in much much worse situations than her having to fight one enemy. she still will have some Clone help, and Shu is also arguably never alone either.

Im also not worried about Holly there, nor do we have the resources for that in my opinion.
>>
>>3955564
>>3955571
also, an entire town is at risk. the entire Eastern Quarter and everyone in it is at risk. there are more important issues, no matter how hard it is to admit, then keeping Holly close to Shu just to keep her safe. shes a combatant, and said combatant is needed much more elsewhere, its as simple as that.
>>
>>3955562
Well, fuck. On the plus side, at least everyone's getting Core stat boosts.

>>3955566
What happened to Laoc's defenders? Why has it just been us, the Mayor, and some mobs? Were they underleveled and died first? Were they the first to fall to Hunger and we've been fighting them? How was the town so unprepared for an attack when the Apex Sisterhood live nearby?

>>3955571
I'm worried because rafflesias are parasitic plants that use pheromone signals to manipulate insects. I hopefully am reading too much into it, but if Dart Rafflesia is a rafflesia-themed Unnatural Predator she could have a very good power set to counter Shu with. I'd prefer to have someone else here with us. Then again, maybe Holly counts as sufficiently insectile for any such defenses to affect her, too. So it could be better to get her out of here for her own safety. Now I don't know.

As for throwing a Succling into the mix to keep Holly connected, I don't see why that's too much resource investment. It's a pretty small cost for the template (at this point in Shu's life), and we have the slots free for it. Why not leave her with that lifeline?

>>3955574
Right, which is why I want to give her a Succling so she can stay safe away from Shu.
>>
>>3955583
(You're quite correct...you *are* fighting most of the town's protectors. Given the stresses of keeping the people of Laoc safe, they were perhaps the most susceptible to the Hunger wave, in a twist of bitter irony.)

(As for the latter part of your question; as would have been revealed if you'd spoken to anyone about the Apex, you'd have learned that their leader had made a deal with the Mayor to leave the town alone, though the details of the arrangement are ambiguous and the subject of much debate.)
>>
>>3955593
I was afraid of that. We're going to have to raise up new defenders after this, get volunteers and force-feed them Daughter bits, I guess.

Anyways, a question about tactics: Would Knight-riding Holly and Amara get to the East Quarter within the current turn? I'm wondering if their ACTs will refresh and it would be worth it to have Amara cast a spell before she leaves.
>>
>>3955583
if it'll get the compromise to send Holly and Amara where they are actually needed, fine, ill compromise and give her a Succling.

You also could be right, but like you said, Holly wouldnt be anymore immune to Raffle if that is the case, hell, if that is it, we would WANT Holly to leave, not stay. Shu also have other tricks here she can use to mitigate Construct hijacking, we've done it before. if you think its best, i can change/add for all going after Raffle to be on self-detonation mode.

also, thinking about it, maybe we could have one of the Jacklings setup a Blender trap? iffy here, as once Shu teleports in, we could try and draw the Raffle into a trap, but my issue is i am unsure it would actually take the bait. i dont think it would see a trap coming, merely i am unsure we could actually pin it down or pull it into the trap, or get it to come down into it.

It would rely on much shakier circumstances to get it to fall for a trap, then attacking it head on for sure. it already cut down a good number of Grapplings before they could even spawn a single set of hands, afterall. i cant see another attempt at that doing much, besides drawing its attention away from the Civilians. not worthless, but not helpful to get it into a blender.
>>
>>3955599
(They would reach them on the back of Knightlings, as you're actually closer to them than Magpie or November were, since the conflict is mostly in the North-Eastern part of the East Quarter.)

>>3955518
>>3955521
(Thank you both so much for your kind words. I appreciate them more than you know.)
>>
>>3955604
would you say we have any IC reason for Shu to know/learn quickly about the Rafflesia plant and its possible issues?
>>
>>3955571
>>3955583
should we have the clones play minesweeper or should we have them dogpile the hunger mad?
>>3955593
hey bhop, how much of the populace in the east district have evacuated with the assistance of 26 clones?
>>
>>3955608
(Thanks to Sam's interest in insects and things related to them, she actually would. Shu has knowledge related to the Rafflesia plant, no worries.)
>>
>>3955602
>if it'll get the compromise to send Holly and Amara where they are actually needed, fine, ill compromise and give her a Succling.
I figure Shu can just apply the Succling template to Holly's Bishop before they leave. Tap it, refill its stimulant tank, apply Succling at the same time.

>You also could be right, but like you said, Holly wouldnt be anymore immune to Raffle if that is the case, hell, if that is it, we would WANT Holly to leave, not stay. Shu also have other tricks here she can use to mitigate Construct hijacking, we've done it before. if you think its best, i can change/add for all going after Raffle to be on self-detonation mode.
Maybe. I'm less worried about outright hijacking so much as jamming and interfering with control, self-destruct wouldn't help much for that.

>also, thinking about it, maybe we could have one of the Jacklings setup a Blender trap? iffy here, as once Shu teleports in, we could try and draw the Raffle into a trap, but my issue is i am unsure it would actually take the bait. i dont think it would see a trap coming, merely i am unsure we could actually pin it down or pull it into the trap, or get it to come down into it.
Firmament's Spiral spawns a spiral beneath any target hit with the drill. If we could get Rafflesia down to the ground we could drill into her, get her stuck in the trap that way. And remember that we turned out to be misinterpreting the "spirals can't be altered" thing and that we can do the terraforming after they've been established. So we pull her down, stab her, tele-swap out, then terraform the spikes.

>>3955604
>(They would reach them on the back of Knightlings, as you're actually closer to them than Magpie or November were, since the conflict is mostly in the North-Eastern part of the East Quarter.)
Ah, so they'll still be on the same turn and their ACTs won't have refreshed. Okay, let's leave their ACTs for fighting the duplicator over there, then. Amara casting an OMA GRA RHO CUNT TER should do a lot to help.
>>
>>3955612
>should we have the clones play minesweeper or should we have them dogpile the hunger mad?
We gave her free reign to take out the bombs as best she saw fit. It's in Amara's hands, now. Good thing she's such a badass kid.
>>
>>3955608
>>3955599
I think given the major populace’s is located in the southern district, i think we should have them temporarily evacuate the town in case apex bomber has rigged the entire town of hunger bombs
>>
>>3955613
alright.

>>3955612
we already left it up to the discretion of Amara, but playing Minesweeper i think is more important. doesn't matter if they take combatants down if more keep popping up from the bombs.

>>3955615
>Maybe. I'm less worried about outright hijacking so much as jamming and interfering with control, self-destruct wouldn't help much for that.
we'll see then. better safe than sorry though. and if its spores or something, it may still 'work', in the sense exploding them would kill an infected insect and give us a fresh slot, aswell as the explosion possibly dealing damage. it would be better then getting stuck with stunned swarmlings clogging our forces.

>So we pull her down, stab her, tele-swap out, then terraform the spikes.
that implies we can pull her down, and im very uncertain that could or would happen.

>>3955619
dont think thats the case. they started in the eastern, we have only seen their effects in the eastern, and they never got out of the eastern.
>>
>>3955612
(Almost everyone should be evacuated by the next turn, save for a few stragglers in the East.)
>>
>>3955625
can we program the swarmlings to auto self-destruct if they’re hit by a status effect like we did against Zahira/Lepisma? Send banelings to attack and have them self destruct if she does anything to them
>>
>>3955615
>>3955625
eh, screw it, gimme a second. i think we can set it up to not RELY on the blender, but still try and use it. worse case, we hopefully at least deal some good hits, but cant do it all.
>>
>>3955619
On the one hand, they're definitely attacking opportunistically, so I'd expect the bomber to have not gotten the chance to spread them. On the other, the bombs are Relics, not abilities. What was this Apex Sister doing with a bunch of panic-bombs on her? Maybe they were planning to cause a Hunger spiral, and the Apocalypse Amalgam just moved up their schedule.

>>3955625
>we'll see then. better safe than sorry though. and if its spores or something, it may still 'work', in the sense exploding them would kill an infected insect and give us a fresh slot, aswell as the explosion possibly dealing damage. it would be better then getting stuck with stunned swarmlings clogging our forces.
True. It's worth a shot. We'll also have to avoid her tendrils, I'd bet those have a life-drain function. We should Honey blast them to her body.
>>
>>3955560
>>3955507
Second Draft;

SHU;
>Free Reloads, two Fullbores.
>Shu… make the hard decision, but what must be done.
>Spawn two Knightling speed mounts.
>Turn Hollys Bishop into a Succling-Bishop.
>Refresh Hollys Succling-Bishop and melt down the two Bishops on others if they are empty. Give Holly two fresh ones to give to whoever the Eastern Quarter decides is best once she arrives.
>turn to Holy and Amara, and point to the mounts. “Eastern Quarter. NOW. Amara, get all clones you can over there, and spawning as many as they can.”
>Spawn 4 more of the Knight-Drillings, and send all 8 along with Amara and Holly to help out.

SHU(Combat);
>Dominus Stun the Battalion.
>Then, unload both Contenders into it. 3 Honeys, 3 Fulbores.
>If that's not enough, Rush it with your Maw and two Drills and simply tear into it with everything you got.
>Once you take down the Battalion, Teleport swap with one of the Rooks once they are close, and Immediately fill out any empty Swarmling slots with Banelings, as fast and as numerous as you can to try and drown the Raffle in them.
>Dominous the Raffle, and Snare it with your Maw, bringing yourself towards it for a bite while Contenders and Drills are ready to slash and gore it as much as possible. No time, no holding back. Your bio and health reserves are high, and your low on time. Its gonna hurt, but if it ends the fight sooner, a bit of pain is worth it.
>HAve the Jackling and you connect to eachother with a HH chain as soon as you have the Raffle in your grasp, and drag her down into the pit. Have the auto-Spiral combine with Spikes from the Jackling, to start up a death blender that crushes in on her.
>Have shu teleport out to the second Rook, before she kills herself in the trap, but cut it close if you must to ensure it works.

SHU(Swarm);
>Try and have all Swarmlings going after Raffle be detonatable. Whether Hijack or Disruption attempts, keep them out of enemy hands or from clogging our ranks with dead weight.
>Have the Rooks position themselves as Shields for the three Civilians.
>Rush a new set of Grapplings to make a hand net infront of the Civilians and to try and ensnare the Raffle.
>have the Bane-Drillings suicide rush the Plant, their aim to simply force her back and destroy her tentacles, even if thye must die. This should at least slow her down, or eat away at her biomass.
>While the other sets are distracting the Raffle from the front, have the Knightling mount and a new brother for it fly high and drop behind her, before rushing in to tear at her backside.
>while this is all going on, have one Jackling of the area jack the ground, so Shu can Terraform protective measures between the Civilians and the Raffle, especially to give the rest of the Swarm time to arrive. Have the second one setup a hole trap hidden by a thin layer of dirt, and hide at the bottom.

HOLLY, AMARA and FUZZBUZZ;
>Rush to the eastern Quarter, and help out wherever those in the know say you are needed most.
>>
>>3955639
laoc and the mayor would be tip shit pissed that the apex would attempt that despite their treaty.
>>
>>3955643
can we make it a the bug on holly a jackling? aAs much as i’m all for it, a digital escape pod would work wonders for holly, unless the succling would provide the same effect.
>>
>>3955645
well, the apex apparently is dead, so at this point it was just individuals doing it. i guess there could be a new group trying to reform, but you certainly dont expect any treaties to hold up after a group gets fucked like they apparently did.
>>
>>3955649
it cannot be all three. i think Succ is just a Succ, as it is based on the leash, not the Dominous.
theres two Jacklings in each quarter if it comes to that, but we already are running our swarm thin as it is, and are already sacrificing slots to give her things she will need more to avoid needing an escape route at all.
>>
>>3955651
apex only lost their leadership. but the splinters could still coalesce. but fair point given their apparent philosophy of literal darwinism
>>
>>3955653
then what if we create a domling (swarmling based on the dominus)?
>>
>>3955649
We can withdraw Holly's mind so long as we're in contact with her. Dominus Bloodline counts as contact. It also gives her regeneration that automatically kicks in if she takes fatal damage, giving us the opportunity to withdraw her. I think the Succling makes more sense.

>>3955658
Probably a power struggle within the ranks, new leaders going to eat each other until one emerges as victor, and these two thought they could get away with it in the chaos.
>>
>>3955658
no, or well, the Rumors and people we can trust said the Apex fully disbanded, not just that their leaders died. even the two we saw earlier didn't deny that was the case. im sure there are some in there that formed adequate sized groups maybe, but probably nothing close to calling a major faction again.

>>3955660
that only boosts the Dominous effects, but still requires the direct line of sight of the Dominous, which simply wont be possible to maintain with her.
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>>3955631
Could we modify the plateling making up our helmet to include a scent filter? It just occurred to me that any pheromone aura Rafflesia has may include the notoriously terrible smell of the rafflesia plant, used as a disorienting stink bomb. I'm thinking an area around our nose and mouth that's generating our own pheromones, with a lining of FuzzBuzz fluff to help trap it and keep out foreign odors. Would that be possible?
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>>3955690
(I'd rule that you could make a rudimentary one, yes.)
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>>3955695
Excellent. Probably won't completely block out weaponized rafflesia odor, but so long as it keeps us from being stunned by the terrible stank it will do its job.

Also, thinking about it, those petals look like they're meant to close on people who get near, for a Gluttonous attack. Since Rafflesia's too Hunger-Mad for us to do the "two Gluttonous Daughters eating each other turning into making out" scenario, we should put some drills on our back, too. That would discourage the petals enveloping us. Actually, make drills all over, we've got Heavensbreak Stinger and can put drill-spikes anywhere on our armor.

>>3955643
I propose we add

>Reshape helmet to include smell filter
>Add drill spikes all over armor to punish attempts to envelope us

to Shu's actions.
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>>3955707
I do have an idea, given that Shu's immune to Acid and 1 level of fire resistance, why don't have Shu set herself on fire?
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>>3955707
Im unsure the odor thing is necessary. as for the drills, we cant, or well, cant do anything extra than what we have already, as we already have the armor set to things.

>>3955708
no thats a terrible idea. Resistance is not immunity. Shu does not need to be burning herself alive, no matter how slowly.
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>>3955708
If we need to cause a fire inside Rafflesia's body, the spikes can just release the pyroacid directly. No need to set ourselves on fire prematurely.

>>3955710
>Im unsure the odor thing is necessary. as for the drills, we cant, or well, cant do anything extra than what we have already, as we already have the armor set to things.
I don't know, rafflesias smell really bad. And why can't we add the spikes? That's a basic feature of all Chitinous Stalwarts, that Shu can make them grow stingers anywhere she wants them to.
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>>3955718
i dont think it is, its just we can apply templates to Chitinous, but it already has the Rook template added, and id prefer to keep the extra defense from that.

and otherwise, if the drills in the past were a standard thing, then adding the spikes is worthless and only gives the tactic away, where spawning them reactively like in the past would work better. which im still pretty sure was only possible due to having a different template/a template that did not replace that.

Regardless, its either not possible, or would work better to not add them beforehand.
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>>3955725
Can't we just drill through Raffle gurren lagaan style?

On the topic of going headfirst into a raffle flower, we could always use the hundred handed arms to hold her petals in a way and burn off her intestines. I just also had another thought, why don't we make a drill-shield? if my hunch serves me correctly, raffle would have a close range shotgun ability that sprays stunning pollen from the center of the flower or from the petals. So I think we should bind the petals with hundred handed grapplings that grapple her from behind while Shu goes for the drilling blow center mass using a giant drill as a shield of sorts to prevent pollen from hitting Shu directly.
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>>3955718
also, doesn't the Rafflesia just smell like rotting meat or something? Shu almost certainly smells worse regularly in the fleshscape. hell, we just fought and burned a girl with rot effects. that cant have been pleasant.
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>>3955738
the thing is Shu and company stayed outside of the stench zone throughout the entire combat with rot girl. for Raffle, Shu's going directly into the stench zone.
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>>3955725
It's not a template, it's part of the base ability.

>CHITINOUS STALWART: taking inspiration from the Chevalier, Shu now has the ability to generate swarmlings that form a sort interlocking armor plating. Expending 80% BIO crafts an incredible resilient and intimidating suit of slate grey and emerald green chitin, whose pool of BIO serves as both damage buffer and swarmling generator. You may also choose to enhance parts of the suit, allowing varying armor pieces to grow brutal drills that deliver a corrosive payload upon either defensive or offensive impact, though a clever strategist may find further uses for the adaptable fortress. Additionally, you may draw on the biomass that comprises the suit to generate the swarmling classes you have access to, though this naturally reduces the efficacy of the armor, in turn.

As for having the spikes be reactive instead, I'd prefer to discourage Rafflesia from even attempting it, rather than correcting after the fact. My intent is not to deal damage to her when she envelops us, but to keep her from enveloping us in the first place. Keep the grapple under our control by not letting her get her limbs get any purchase on us.

>>3955738
Yeah, but if it's an Unnatural Predator skill (it admittedly might not be, but just a corruption aesthetic) it would be enhanced beyond the actual rafflesia plant. Ultimately the value of the stink filter depends on how long it takes to make a small modification like that, if we can fit it in to our "prep for this round" actions at the beginning where we're spawning swarmlings, I see no real reason not to do it. Maybe it wouldn't be needed, but better safe than sorry.
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>>3955737
we... kinda already are trying that? just not relying on the Drill alone to work, that would be silly. Im also pretty sure we cant control the Drill enough to make a proper enough shield.

We also already saw our Grapplngs fail to even have a chance to pin her down and her being a plant does not mean she wont have any Heat resistance. hell, being plant based, id expect her to specifically have gone for them. Relying on all that would simply result in us fumbling around and accomplishing nothing. she also is clearly mobile, so getting close is our best shot from the evidence we have seen to actually be able to pin her down or land damage on her.

>>3955742
I disagree. smell doesn't work like that, and we regularly went over or very close to it too.

>>3955745
well, i disagree. Getting her to waste ACTS and resouces, aswell as take damage, from falling into a reactive trap will do us more good than her staying back, especially when we need to get close to her in the first place to deal any significant damage, as the Drill and Maw are our biggest damage dealers by far. we dont have time to play around like that with her here.
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>>3955751
>well, i disagree. Getting her to waste ACTS and resouces, aswell as take damage, from falling into a reactive trap will do us more good than her staying back, especially when we need to get close to her in the first place to deal any significant damage, as the Drill and Maw are our biggest damage dealers by far. we dont have time to play around like that with her here.
Isn't she already going to try to keep away from Shu's charge on the grounds of Shu wielding a giant glowing drill-lance? I think that would do more to make her want to avoid us than the smaller drills on the armor. All the armor spikes would do is keep her from getting purchase on our limbs. I'm not seeing the problem here.
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>>3955789
we can wait to spawn the Drills til right when we need them though. hell, BHOP almost always does that anyways, regardless of if we ask. so no, she wouldn't see the Drills coming, and keeping the armor ones discreet to keep her from running and to make her waste resources and take damage activating them would be much more beneficial to us.
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>>3955797
doesn't Amara have her patented skintalker trait that lets her find relics more easily? magnify that by all the clones in the district.
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>>3955695
question: of the town's original defenders, who survived the hunger checks so far?
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>>3955800
kinda? whats your point? shes already leaving our zone of more direct influence and her(her clones at least) are already set to using whatever they can to stop the bombs.
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>>3955797
I'd rather prevent it than punish it, but whatever, we're just not going to agree here. Something I think we can agree needs to be added to the plan, though: Hundred-Hands when we grapple. Let's get as good a grip on her as possible when we pull her down to earth. We should spawn a few arm-chains looping around her once we grab a hold.

>>3955800
Interesting thought. That might make it easier to find the bombs.
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>>3955815
maybe. but we're already going for her with Maw, Drills, and Contender Blades. i think we're good, and it could already be implied easily to be there when we pull her down. really, im already 100% certain we're far over Shus actual ACT limit, so its more of a 'what can Shu actually get off here', and without a doubt HH would need to be saved for pulling her down into the pit.
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>>3955815
>>3955808
So if we're going for a charge into grapple and pin, I feel like we should go for a spinning pile driver technique.

I've been reading Raffle's movement descriptions, and she's more of a floating flower who relies on being airborne and long ranged zoning attacks considering that her observed movement options thus far is using her entrails like tentacles to sling herself along the rooftops. like a demented kite. If we ground her, then we can finish her off.

Another thing that I want to add this:
>have a set of grapplings and one spiraling stay on ground level directly below Shu.
>Shu charges Raffle, gets into melee grapple range
>Have Shu spawn one pair of hundred handed that extends itself down towards the grappling while the grapplings extend their arms to Shu and meet halfway, once handshake is confirmed, retract the arms to pull Raffle and Shu down to ground level at frightening speed. Raffle will take the brunt of Fall damage.
>Grapplings will criscross their arms to anchor Raffle.
>Spiraling will initiate small Spiral.
>Shu will spin the drill in the opposite direction
>result: putting a flower to a grinding millstone.
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>>3955827
Well, reasonably, yes. Honestly, this is going to have to play out over multiple turns, because we've got to finish off Battalion and outfit Amara and Holly, then take out Rafflesia. If we had to split it into multiple turns, I'd put turn one as

>Spawn swarmlings (1/3 ACTs)
>Terraform shelter for fleeing civilians (2/3 ACTs)
>Finish off Battalion with barrage (3/3 ACTs)

and then fighting Rafflesia would take place on the second turn. That's how I'd divide it up, given Shu's priorities.

>>3955838
That is what we're doing. We're grabbing her, pulling her down with Hundred-Hand chains, and drilling into her as we start a blender spiral up. Then we're going to teleport out with a Rook.
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>>3955838
we're already basically trying to do that.

>>3955845
probably, but i suppose the only way i can think to word this is, BHOP does give slight wiggle room, so we'll see what we might be able to pull off. but with things like the HH, id prefer not to risk that wiggle room being used in the wrong place if it does happen.

As Swarmling related endevours all take up a single ACT, im hoping at the very least our swarm will do some damage, or at least give us a very clear picture of her capabilities and fighting style going forward.

Really, the most frustrating thing is, we really cant afford to drag this into another Turn, but its probably gonna have to happen. even assuming we somehow got a good chunk of the plan off, our luck has far from been holding out enough for us to get a one turn kill. but we certainly cant afford not to take as little turns as possible regardless.
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>>3955845
I think we can milk the swarmling ACT to the maximum potential. Spawning them and giving the existing swarm orders counts as a single ACT if I recall.

>>3955827
Another idea: What if instead of simply focusing down Battalion with a single ACT, why not Impale and Carry Battalion with us while we're enroute to intercept Raffle? Impale Battalion with a Heaven's drill, have the Heaven's drill's constant DoT damage finish off Battalion, then while we're enroute to Battalion, toss Battalion's corpse as a decoy projectile to get the jump on Raffle by having her occupy her entrail whips with Battalion's corpse?
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>>3955859
yeah, no. ACT wise that wouldn't save us any, nor is that at all worth the risk.
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>>3955859
>>3955864
not to mention god forbid if the Raffle could do anything with an entire corpse of free biomass.
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>>3955864
what risk? we're risking the lives of 3 other civilians. I'd rather get my enemies all in one place and kill them all in one go.

>>3955865
Consuming a corpse that provides levels would require 1 full round of uninterrupted channeling to get the full effects. Raffle could go for the corpse, but that would give Shu lots of Attack of Opportunities to go for coup de grace moves.
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>>3955857
Yeah, it's going to suck having this drawn out one more turn. At least we'll have most of the party in the East Quarter, along with Taylor (five bunks says that's what Tinker Tailor's name is) to defuse the panic bombs.

>>3955859
Seems kind of inefficient. Now, if Rath was here and we could take advantage of her "downed enemies turn into high explosives" effect, then it could be worth it. But as-is, can't see much reason to toss Battalion at Rafflesia.
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>>3955872
no, we're really not. we're send all available swarmlings to aid them and terraforming to aid them. and its risking Shu letting the Battalion live, Shu cant help anyone if she get hurt, and those Civilians are even MORE fucked if letting the Battalion live longer allows it to try even one thing on Shu to hold her up longer.

also thats not true at all. she could very well have an ability that can do something else with the corpse, or allow her to consume faster. not to mention we will probably have to kill it before we can be sure we can safely send off Amara and Holly too, as we specifically need to kill it quickly to avoid its regeneration being an issue, as we have been told, even despite the dominous.

its an utterly terrible idea.

>>3955876
yeah, Hopefully Francine's plan works out too. Taylor and the Amaras. good job killing the last saboteur too Magpie, though im suspicious of why you found her. or more, maybes im not at all surprised you found her, as its very much a possibility she was trying to find you.

>Taylor
that does sound like something BHOP would do.
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>>3955887
>Tinker Taylor

Now I'm just thinking of Tim Taylor from Home Improvement and transplanting that characteristic where Tinker just tries to add more 'power' to a relic.
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>>3955896
well, that certainly seems to be at least part of her gimmick. wonder what her actual limits are, and how permanent she can change relics is?

also wonder what her core is. cant imagine it was Relic focused right off the bat. something that could easily lead to it sure, but she would have to have been damn lucky to survive with a relic based ability right out the get-go.
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>>3955903
Maybe a Flesh Artisan skill based around making tools? Little pseudo-Relic constructs.
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>>3955906
I could see it, would certainly be neat as hell.

anyways, im at that point where being awake is causing a mild headache, so im gonna hit the hay. any further ides or suggestions, ill respond to tomorrow. for once, we have a bit or leeway on that regard. night folks.
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>>3955912
Or, another idea that just hit me, she could be a Fibromancy/Flesh Artisan hybrid (as she does have to connect via the fibers, and her name is "Tailor" after all), with the Fibromancy being the original Core.

Anyways, good night, anon. Sleep well, and see you tomorrow. I think I'm going to stay up a bit later, myself, read a little. Anyone wants to talk I should be here for a while.
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>>3955906
>>3955912
>>3955918
(Ah, Tinker Tailor has one of my favorite power sets thus far. Also, it occurred to me this morning that Dart Rafflesia sounds like a boss from the Mega Man X series.)
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>>3956484
minus the whole... fleshiness, it reminds me more of the Zero games bosses personally. the other Zero, without the weird green chest boobs.

also, does the Tinker have an ability specifically around fox swiping relics from others? because i cant imagine Amara letting the shawl go so easily. the Uzi was easy, due to being empty, so Holly probably wasn't directly holding it.

also you missed an interesting question here it think
>>3955807
though it might also be too spoilery i suppose.

speaking of, didn't you describe Laoc as a small settlement? makes me wonder what the hell a large one by Crucible standards looks like, because this place is(was) surprisingly bustling it seemed like.
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>>3956510
(Yes, Tinker has massive bonuses to swiping Relics off others in addition to a host of fun passives to mess with how Relics work.)

(And Mega Man Zero is one of my favorite series.)

>>3955807
(You'll be meeting them soon enough, so my apologies for keeping mum for now.)

(Also, there's are some far larger settlements, yes.)
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>>3956484
I knew it sounded vaguely familiar for some reason. It's because it has the MMX naming scheme.

And now I'm wondering what combat titles our party would get from the perspective of other Daughters, assuming they didn't know our reputation and get calling us things like "Defiant" or "Heartbound". I feel like "Eviscerating Monarch" is appropriate for Shu, what with the swarms and leadership and her so many ways to gut people.
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>>3956515
well, i think they would still get those titles, as those titles are actually an ingrained part of the Crucible to some degree from what i remember. it would just lack the context they need to see it positively possibly.
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>>3956515
They would certainly vary.

iirc, We saw a bit of that happening when we looked into Isabelle's POV and she was about to initiate combat with Shu (during the break up scene) and Shu had this title: Shu, THE BETRAYER

>>3956510
>megaman zero

That series had some really wicked character designs, the story was top notch as well especially in the 3rd installment.

>>3956512
>larger settlements

Well Laoc certainly has quite a high population density for a town that "small". It just makes me wonder about the larger settlements and how they would survive the Crucible.

I'm thinking Port cities that establish themselves at the shorefront of the Abyssal Oceans, back to the age of whaling where sailing fleets of daughters hunt for Whale amalgams to feed the populace. New York, Boston, Nantucket, all the major ports of trade back in pre-crucible times.
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>>3956541
large settlements id imagine have to have at least some cult like properties honestly. even if its only Monastery level. i mean, fucking hell, can you imagine being the defender/cop in the Crucible equivalent of new york? fuck that shit. you think the stress of defending Laoc would be bad? i honestly might not even wish that level of stress on Mother even.
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>>3956512
>>3956517
>>3956515

Here's a fun relic that might work wonders in the Crucible.

>HORN OF LORD HELIX: A horn in the shape of a spiral conch shell. There is a pull-string attached to a ring to allow easy use. To activate, pull the ring until the string is taut, then let go. The Horn will then play an audio recording of an answer/hint of at least one secret within the fleshscape's immediate vicinity after which the horn deactivates and goes immediately into cooldown until the secret is found, the relic trades hands, or the relic moves into a different area. Abuse of the relic will lead the horn to give out unhelpful hints that may lead to the daughter's demise, so handle the horn with care.
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>>3956592
Yeah, there's definitely a maximum size you can reach with laissez-faire management of a community. The more people you get in one space the less food available to each one and the greater chances of conflict breaking out. You need to get some ideological conditioning going to keep everyone stable.

>>3956609
Pretty neat. Kind of redundant for any party with a skilled Skintalker, but definitely useful for those without.
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>>3956609
interesting enough but i despise spongebob so i have an natural bias making me highly dislike it based on that alone.
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>>3956620
To be fair, I too share a dislike of spongebob, I only made functional it for the memes since the original idea was to make a relic based on the Helix fossil memes from twitchplays pokemon red, but I couldn't find a viable function for it so I fused it with the magic conch shell.

it might also help in the fact that there may be some daughters who have taken it upon themselves to smash every iteration of that relic they see having grown up watching spongebob and finding themselves hating the show.
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>>3956512
so... could Tinker do anything with the Contender, or is its unique properties even above her?
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>>3956666
I'd rather not try it, just in case it winds up breaking our attunement to Karma and makes us have to start leveling her all over again.
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>>3956668
you're being utterly paranoid there about a question that hasnt even been confirmed if its possible, and it would be silly if it is for that to be an issue.

plus, thats not even how the Contender works. it could have levels for every character without losing levels for another, any upgrades wouldnt affect that im utterly positive of. it would defeat the point of anything the Tinker doing, if she can, being an upgrade, nor do i think someones whos entire thing is Relic tinkering would both not understand that or have that massive a negative to their tinkering.

and knowing BHOP, even if it was, he would 100% try and make it clearly worth the restart if it was on the table, which i still dont think would happen.
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>>3956675
No, the Contender resets when a new user attunes to it, that's why we don't swap it around between party members. Gemini's Blade lets us share the second gun (especially if it's with one of our constructs), but we still can't let someone else attune to it or it loses its upgrades. If Tinker Tailor's Relic fusion counts as attunement, she'd be unable to use all of Karma's upgrades and it would be a waste of time.
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>>3956686
no, it doesn't. it very specifically keeps all its upgrades individually. if we hand it to Rath, it would be at level one FOR RATH, but the minute its cooldown resets and we hand to to Shu again ,it would be back at level 10 or whatever with Shus upgrades for it.

that was outright the entire point of the Contender and how it works. upgrades are not shared but they are not lost by handing it around. the reason no one ever let it be handed around, is because then said experience is being shared, meaning Shu wouldn't have as many levels with it, due to say, Amara having held it long enough to get some upgrades, aswell as if you unnattune it it is locked out ofr the rest of the session, meaning you cant hand it off very often and its stuck with whoever it is with for while if you do.

But it does not, as a very core part of its design, lose its levels permanently if someone else uses it.
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>>3956693
Okay, I think we're talking at cross-purposes. I'm not saying that the Contender would lose Shu's profile. I'm just saying that making Tinker Tailor have to level up her profile from base wouldn't be a good move. Base Contender is not that great a gun for this point in the meta. It's not a good trade-off, to lose one of Shu's most powerful weapons in exchange for someone else getting a poor one. That's why we don't share it around. Even with the boost, I don't think that Tailor using the Contender would be an effective use of our resources. Now, if she can boost one of the Gemini copies without breaking our attunement, then that would be awesome, but otherwise we should have Shu retain the Contender for the rest of the fight. We can let her experiment after Laoc is safe, maybe, though given its importance it would probably be more meaningful if the first guest user we let attune to the Contender was Gina or Rath or maybe Amara.
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>>3956748
but... i was never saying to have the Tinker level up the Contender. at all. or even have her attune to it. at all. that was not what i was asking nor what i was saying she should do with anything here.

nor was i asking to have her do anything here in the middle of battle, but just what she could do in general.

i also significantly and highly disagree the base Contender would be bad for anyone. we have no damage upgrades really on the contender, just more uses out of it. it is 100% possible the new ammo types and variations someone else might have at base would still be totally worth it even this late in the game, both for us and them.
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>>3956765
>i was never saying to have the Tinker level up the Contender.
*not saying have the Tinker Level up her levels with the Contender.
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>>3956765
>but... i was never saying to have the Tinker level up the Contender. at all. or even have her attune to it. at all. that was not what i was asking nor what i was saying she should do with anything here.
I get that, I'm saying that her Relic Fusion ability probably counts as attunement, in which case the boost would be affecting a level one Contender that needs to be leveled up (possibly with temporary levels from the Fusion's boost) again to be in fighting shape.

>nor was i asking to have her do anything here in the middle of battle, but just what she could do in general.
Ah, apologies, then. I assumed since we're in the middle of battle you were wondering about a possible tactic we could use.

>i also significantly and highly disagree the base Contender would be bad for anyone. we have no damage upgrades really on the contender, just more uses out of it. it is 100% possible the new ammo types and variations someone else might have at base would still be totally worth it even this late in the game, both for us and them.
"Bad" might be the wrong word. "Sub-optimal" is more along the lines of what I mean. It's possible someone might get a really strong bullet type, but it would still be a single-shot pistol without any of the upgrades that expand the Contender's utility. And giving them that single-shot would remove Shu's primary means of ranged damage and (because of Defender's Edge and Gemini's Blade) reduce her defense. The odds of it being a worthwhile trade are low.
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>>3956788
well, she didn't have to keep the shawl on her for the upgrades to stick. I disagree she would have to fuse with the Contender to give it any boosts, even if without doing so it would probably be more minor a boost. It was also, well, part of the point in asking perhaps? to you know, actually find out her limits as much as we're allowed?

>The odds of it being a worthwhile trade are low.
i disagree. heavily. significantly heavily. especially on how much you think it would effect Shu. but whatever, thats a topic people set n stone a long time ago, an im not gonna bother trying to change it, especially if people are gonna ignore how the relic actually works that significantly.
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>>3956804
>well, she didn't have to keep the shawl on her for the upgrades to stick
Relics don't have to remain in direct contact with the user to remain attuned. But maybe you're right, and she dropped attunement to the Shawl when she draped it over Amara and Holly.

>It was also, well, part of the point in asking perhaps? to you know, actually find out her limits as much as we're allowed?
Well, I misunderstood and thought you were asking about doing this in the middle of this fight, which would be a pretty bad move. Again, sorry for my mistake. If you're just asking for curiosity's sake then there's nothing wrong with that.

>i disagree. heavily. significantly heavily. especially on how much you think it would effect Shu.
Shu gets twelve attacks an ACT and two bonus auto-parries with a high chance of success thanks to the Contender. Good crowd control with the upgraded B.33s, too. Yes, I'd say that losing that would require a pretty strong bullet type on the new user of the Contender for the trade to be fair.
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>>3956847
>Shu gets twelve attacks an ACT
she gets at best 6 from the Contender. and her ammo types probably are far from the potential more blunt Cores would give in actual damage.

>Yes, I'd say that losing that would require a pretty strong bullet type on the new user of the Contender for the trade to be fair.
well, you're wrong.
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>>3956847
>>3956856

don’t modify what already works anons.
Shu’s main damage output thus far has mainly been from the gun, with out swarms mainly used as utility
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>>3956935
im actually pretty sure thats untrue.
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>>3956856
>she gets at best 6 from the Contender. and her ammo types probably are far from the potential more blunt Cores would give in actual damage.
No, she gets twelve, remember? Gatlinggunner's Maxim doubles ammo capacity.

Anyways, in an unrelated note, just found some art that could be really good for Shu. Looking further through this artist's catalogue, they actually did the picture that BHOP posts for Shu's level-up posts, so it's pretty appropriate. Shu probably isn't meant to be this busty, though. That's Gina's thing.
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>>3957088
no, its 6, hence why the split maxim is still stuck to only three shots. it was asked about back when we first got the upgrades and 6/3 was confirmed by BHOP to be its maximum.
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>>3957252
No, he said that the Maxim still doubles ammo capacity on the individual Geminis.

From Vein 30:
>Post #3807756:Question: If we pick up Gemini's Blade and a new gun form (i.e. Super-shotgun), is it possible to split Contender into two separate forms? (basically Full Lion Heart Form in one hand and Super Shotgun in the other hand using Gemini's dual-blade function)
>Post #3807763 (BHOP): (Oh, absolutely.)
>Post #3807769: How does that affect Gemini Blade splitting ammo capacity between the two weapons?
>Post #3807773 (BHOP): (With six rounds available, you'd get three rounds per weapon.)
>Post #3807777: Yeah, but I mean, Gatlinggunner's Maxim doubles the ammo capacity. So if we had the Maxim in one hand and the Lionheart in the other, would that give six rounds on the Maxim?
>Post #3807778 (BHOP): (Indeed, it would.)

You're remembering wrong. Is this why your plans this fight have only been to load up to three bullets in each gun? I thought that was just you wanting to conserve Bio for some reason.
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>>3956512
hey BHOP, how does the Thousands Matron interact with our ability to combine Swarmlings, and also to break them down into smaller variants?

>>3957291
well, then he lied later on. im certainly not trusting you here, thats for damn sure.
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>>3957291
Also, if that's not enough, you can go back to our fight with Yurei and see that the Gemini Maxims have six rounds each.

From Vein 31

>Post #3853673
>CONTENDER: Gemini Maxims. FIRST: 6x B.33s. SECOND: 3x Parabellum, 3x Fullbore.
>>
>>3955643
>>3955507
Third Draft;

SHU;
>Free Reloads, two Fullbores.
>Shu… make the hard decision, but what must be done.
>Spawn two Knightling speed mounts.
>Turn Hollys Bishop into a Succling-Bishop.
>Refresh Hollys Succling-Bishop and melt down the two Bishops on others if they are empty. Give Holly two fresh ones to give to whoever the Eastern Quarter decides is best once she arrives.
>turn to Holy and Amara, and point to the mounts. “Eastern Quarter. NOW. Amara, get all clones you can over there, and spawning as many as they can.”
>Spawn 4 more of the Knight-Drillings, and send all 8 along with Amara and Holly to help out.
>Reconfigure your Chitinous Armor with protections against any spores or smell based abilities the Raffle may have.

HOLLY, AMARA and FUZZBUZZ;
>Rush to the eastern Quarter, and help out wherever those in the know say you are needed most.

(1/2)
>>
>>3957354
>>3955507
SHU(Combat);
>Dominus Stun the Battalion.
>Then, unload both Contenders into it. 6 Honeys, 6 Fullbores.
>If that's not enough, Rush it with your Maw and two Drills and simply tear into it with everything you got.
>Once you take down the Battalion, Teleport swap with one of the Rooks once they are close, and Immediately fill out any empty Swarmling slots with Banelings, as fast and as numerous as you can to try and drown the Raffle in them.
>Dominous the Raffle, and Snare it with your Maw, bringing yourself towards it for a bite while Contenders and Drills are ready to slash and gore it as much as possible. No time, no holding back. Your bio and health reserves are high, and your low on time. Its gonna hurt, but if it ends the fight sooner, a bit of pain is worth it.
>Have the Jackling and you connect to eachother with a HH chain as soon as you have the Raffle in your grasp, and drag her down into the pit. Have the auto-Spiral combine with Spikes from the Jackling, to start up a death blender that crushes in on her.
>Have Shu teleport out to the second Rook, before she kills herself in the trap, but cut it close if you must to ensure it works.

SHU(Swarm);
>Try and have all Swarmlings going after Raffle be detonatable. Whether Hijack or Disruption attempts, keep them out of enemy hands or from clogging our ranks with dead weight.
>Have the Rooks position themselves as Shields for the three Civilians.
>Rush a new set of Grapplings to make a hand net infront of the Civilians and to try and ensnare the Raffle.
>have the Bane-Drillings suicide rush the Plant, their aim to simply force her back and destroy her tentacles, even if they must die. This should at least slow her down, or eat away at her biomass.
>While the other sets are distracting the Raffle from the front, have the Knightling mount and a new brother for it fly high and drop behind her, before rushing in to tear at her backside.
>while this is all going on, have one Jackling of the area jack the ground, so Shu can Terraform protective measures between the Civilians and the Raffle, especially to give the rest of the Swarm time to arrive. Have the second one setup a hole trap hidden by a thin layer of dirt, and hide at the bottom.

and this better damn well work BHOP, considering you've been cheating us out of 6 shots this entire time when we dont have time to waste like that.
>>
>>3957303
(Hm...well, if you're asking if Swarmlings affected by Thousands Matron could be combined or broken down, then the rules are a little loose by design. The general idea is that 'building up, i.e. combining long-living brood members typically keeps and even adds to the bonuses, while dividing them or breaking them down into lesser classes divides the bonuses among those created.)

(I fear I may have missed the intent of your question, so if I have then please let me know.)

>>3957291
>>3957303
>>3957304
(Also, regarding this debate; I believe that my original intent was to be able to double the magazine size of the base Contender from 6 to 12, with the split individual gun capacity to be six rounds, hence why in the Yurei fight there were six rounds in each Gemini Maxim as referenced in >>3957304. I am terribly sorry for the confusion, as when I answered the questions posed in the 30th Vein as quoted by >>395729, I left an undue amount of ambiguity.)

>>3957355
>>and this better damn well work BHOP, considering you've been cheating us out of 6 shots this entire time when we dont have time to waste like that.

(I'm supremely upset I missed that, and you've been given a backstage buff that will last the number of turns that you've participated in combat thus far to make up for it. Fair's fair, and that's on me.)
>>
>>3957367
> The general idea is that 'building up, i.e. combining long-living brood members typically keeps and even adds to the bonuses, while dividing them or breaking them down into lesser classes divides the bonuses among those created.
Do the bigger swarmling types get bigger bonuses, or would maturing some smaller swarmlings and then mushing them together a good way to stack for even greater gains?

>(I'm supremely upset I missed that, and you've been given a backstage buff that will last the number of turns that you've participated in combat thus far to make up for it. Fair's fair, and that's on me.)
Eh, I'll take some of the blame for that, too. I didn't notice that we were only loading a couple shots each turn until today. We used six rounds per pistol in the Yurei fight, I should noticed the confusion and spoken up sooner, we could have taken out Fasciitis faster.
>>
>>3957367
>Hm...well, if you're asking if Swarmlings affected by Thousands Matron could be combined or broken down, then the rules are a little loose by design. The general idea is that 'building up, i.e. combining long-living brood members typically keeps and even adds to the bonuses, while dividing them or breaking them down into lesser classes divides the bonuses among those created.
yes actually, that is exactly what i was asking. my thought or idea was, that it would be kinda silly to have to have 45 active swarmlings around us at all times to try and build them up. i mean, that would get crowded, and im pretty sure some settlements or new encounters might not see that or be ok with that too much, i could see that causing us some issues. but a few slightly bigger ones we could then break down to get the equivalent possibly of having a smaller amount(albeit it sounds like requiring more time for the split to be as effective), would help mitigate that a bit i think. well, sorta. i guess having a few absolute units of a swarmling following us around isnt much better actually, but having those swarmling slots open for immediate situational spawning, rather than getting stuck as whatever we have already made, is without a doubt something i wanted to keep on the table.

which seems like we can sorta do, if we're ok with the building up ones being overall slightly less proficient once split, if im reading you correctly?
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>>3957377
>i guess having a few absolute units of a swarmling following us around isnt much better actually, but having those swarmling slots open for immediate situational spawning, rather than getting stuck as whatever we have already made, is without a doubt something i wanted to keep on the table.
We can leave swarmlings in hibernation and not have them count to the cap. If Thousand's Matron applies to those we could stick any Quad-Rooked Gurrenlings (since those are the most expensive swarmlings) in a storeroom in the Lair and take them out before we go on an adventure. That way we'd only have to keep whatever storage swarmlings we were actively planning on breaking down with us at any time. It would be like how some families have barrels of pickles or preserved onion in their basement, only for us it's giant insects. If Thousand's Matron applies to hibernating swarmlings, that is. Does it, BHOP? >>3957367
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>>3957377
though, i have thought of one issue here. even things like triple or quad knights seem to die pretty easily. hell, while sure, the Statues are no pushovers, we had an entire ballpit of Swarmlings combine together and those bonuses still weren't enough for it to even survive one hard assault. and we hardly should expect things to only get easier compared to the statues for sure.

i just cant see any swarmlings lasting long enough for us to really get past maybe a days of growth. certainly with how slow the Quest actually goes, i dont think we will ever reach the week maximum, id be surprised if we reached half that, without outright sacrificing being able to use Swarmling slots for looong while game-time wise.

>>3957388
>>3957367
i thought BHOP was already asked that and he said they had to be active swarmlings. that certainly does not change the fact game-time wise we wouldn't actually be getting anything out of that augment for about half a year now that im thinking about it.

mind you, it was mostly a symbolic gesture, so it is what it is, but its actually a pretty damn long-term investment to actually try and see what it can do, one im not sure we can actually afford to try and get.
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>>3957373
(The bonuses are percentage-based, so two Knightlings being merged would have a greater stat pool than two Banelings, if that makes sense.)

>>3957377
>>3957388
(The intent was that they do need to be active for them to accumulate gains, though with more points in Trypophilic Hive, that'll certainly be easier to do.)
>>
>>3957403
alright, thanks for the confirmation.

>>3957388
yeah, so we'll have to find some sweet middle ground i think. cant just have a bunch of school bus sized behemoths following us around, but we also need to keep our swarmling slots more open than not. especially if we leave anything behind, which im iffy on doing personally. going forward, we're gonna need very slot we can honestly.
>>
>>3957412
>>3957388
or well actually, fuck DONT we have a Bus sized Swarmling?
fucking Shu making everyone walk everywhere. c'mon Shu, cardio no longer matters anymore, we dont need to stay in shape, the Fleshcape does that for you!
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>>3957395
>mind you, it was mostly a symbolic gesture, so it is what it is, but its actually a pretty damn long-term investment to actually try and see what it can do, one im not sure we can actually afford to try and get.
You're not wrong, we do take a long time to go through even one day of in-game events. At least Sir FuzzBuzz will benefit from it. Eventually. But yeah, the real significance of that Augment was solidarity with the ant queen. And, if my hopes about the Amalgam spawner are right, it might be an end to Hunger. Though again, probably not fast enough for us to notice anything for another year of gameplay.

>>3957403
Alright, cool, that makes sense.

>>3957415
I was just typing that up. Yes, ride on the Magic Swarmbus. A big yellow swarmling with friendly eyes and whose carapace we can ride in. November making terrible dad jokes can be our Carlos.
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>>3957403
...BHOP, could we make a doodle swarmling? like, instead of doubling up its size or more just making it a bigger model, could we just make it get longer and longer and longer instead?

or would that and similar changes be too much, that might give us too many options we arent meant to have? honestly i can see it being an issue, im just loving the mental mage of the entire family riding on the back of this ridiculous millipede super long Swarmling as they march through the fleshscape. the fucking look on Daughters faces as we march into a town on the back of that would be priceless.
>>
>>3957425
a swarmbus would be neat. though BHOPs made it canon such a reference is already out in the Fleshscape.
>>
>>3957403
>>3957425
>>3957445
wait, BHOP, could we implant a Hollowpoint into a magic swarmbus so we can have room inside of it to travel in?
>>
>>3957445
>>3957425
didn’t we make a Swarmling bus in the form of the hivecraft humvee back in vein 22 when we were heading out to Ozma’s house with the midnight crew?
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>>3957497
well, sorta sorta not. that was a family tech, and didnt count as a construct anymore. we also only used it once and as far as we know, its still sitting where we left it unless its been hijacked.

part of the point is, Shu already had a way to give us better transportation, and both before then and after we haven't used it for that. aswell as the fact, now we have a reason to make a giant swarmling, as unlike the Humvee this one would be 100% materials to make smartlings from.
>>
>>3957497
Yes, but it's not as whimsical as a Magic Schoolbus reference.
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>>3957538
we could go steal Mother Bubbles.
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>>3957430
>>3957450
(Yes, and yes. The former would take some time to birth, but you certainly could.)
>>
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>>3957547
>both Noodle Busling and Hollow Busling are possible.
im not sure how a noodle would take longer to make than a bus, but awesome all the same. Amara shall be pleased, others will be both confused and utterly horrified.
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>>3957544
But I don't want to. Those kids deserve their own schoolbus.

>>3957547
Excellent. All aboard the bee train.
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>>3957557
i know, it was a joke. a flat one, but still.
Hollow Noodle Magic Busling it is then.

....now im wondering if we could put a small forge in its back, and toss in one of the lower forgecores, if only for minor things like Uzi ammo on the go. then again, how does one even aquire the black stone that makes up forges? because im pretty certain Mara didnt just have hers in her penthouse. probably not the engine either. i mean, i guess its possible, but something about the penthouse makes me think otherwise.
>>
>>3957565
if you make it too long, you'll end up with a centipede.
>>
>>3957565
No, I got it was a joke, I was just playing along.

As for the Forge, well, we know where one can be found. There is a spare inactive Forge back at the town where we first met November. Maybe it's not so heavy that the bug bus couldn't carry it. We definitely could haul it home with Escher's Gear, we did that with Yurei's Engine (probably how Mara got her Forge and Engine into the Lair, too), but I don't know how heavy it is for regular carrying.
>>
>>3957581
We probably should make it like a centipede. Have it be modular, take up say...three swarmling slots to have it be made of three bugs holding on to each other. That way we can dismantle one of them for biomass and not lose the entire vehicle.
>>
>>3957581
that was kinda the joke/point yes. though kinda wanted more of a millipede, i think bee legs kinda fit that better, if only due to the angle. that, and the fluff.

>>3957584
true, weight is an issue there. something to test later, i suppose.

>>3957547
actually, is Bus Sized actually our max still for the combining, or was that only the max size i think you said Shu herself can spawn a swarmling as in one go? though, again, you may of said smaller but i dont remember. from when Jackie boosted us so we could super spawn things, i know you said something about max sizes then, but thinking about it i think that was only what Shu could spawn from her back, not further combine once spawned. though, i guess im also asking/confirming the limit on that aswell.
>>
>VESTI BOOTIES; these fluffy, fuzzy booties can split to accommodate a Daughter or Construct of any number of feet, being cozy and comfortable, making walking like sliding across a pillow of silk and clouds. While they only work outside of combat, these booties make any terrain or angle traveled as easy to traverse as if it was a smooth, flat plain, including straight up or even upside down, making traveling any distance or terrain an easy, simple task for the wearer. While these effects do not continue during combat, they do mitigate any surprise opening terrain effects applied under your feet, negating terrain based ambushes and giving you proper time to prepare in that critical opening turn. Even better, upon an opponent's opening attempt to terraform under your feet, the failed attempt is replaced with a massive discharge of built up static shock into the area, the range and potency increasing based on the number of miles you have thus far traveled to build up the static. While the fashion might be a bit silly to some, none can deny the advantage of comfortable footwear on a long journey.

no idea exactly what brought these to mind, but here they are.
>>
>>3957592
(Bus-sized is your current max.)

>>3957655
(...these are adorable. Heh.)
>>
>>3957655
Is it wrong that I want to put these on Sir FuzzBuzz? They'd be useless on him given that he can fly, but they'd be so cute.
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>>3957660
Bus-Sized, got it.
really makes me wonder what the max size a Queen can be, if middle-of-the-road gets you Bus Sized.

>>3957660
>>3957671
haha, glad you find them cute.
and i mean, i can see why you would, though i feel like he would get grumpy over it haha.
we already want to build him some armor, so Armor+Booties sounds fucking hilarious.

>>3957660
actually, you did confirm we could stick a Hollowpoint in Fuzzbuzz right? or, did you? it was hard to tell, because you 'confirmed' it via saying we should shoot him, then said you were joking about shooting him, but never asked if you meant the rest aswell.

allowing Fuzzbuzz to spawn his own defenders would be interesting though.
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>>3957655
>Vesti booties

is it bad that it reminds me of this video?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocDpc9Ip8J8
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>>3957686
haha, i remember that. loved that show.
i guess in theory that could happen if you traveled enough distance and then had the conditions met to activate it, yes.
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>>3957678
(You totally can stick a Hollowpoint in FuzzBuzz or any other Swarmling, absolutely. It's a great strategy, especially once the Hollowpoint upgrade becomes available.)
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>>3957699
would we have to worry about draining Fuzzbuzz/the Swarmling, or could it siphon from the fleshscape through them? albeit id assume they would have to sit still on a patch at least and forgo anything else.
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>>3957699
>hollowpoint upgrade
That upgrade better be worth it bhop. It was one of our default ammunition types upon getting the Contender and yet it's so underused that it's almost criminal.

Also, have you seen or heard of the Horn of Lord Helix? >>3956609
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>>3957713
the issue is its just too limited in what it can spawn, especially because they cant pool their max resources, to take it over another shot. Bio also really hasn't been an issue for while, when it comes to filling out our swarmling slots too.

even back when we just had 6 slots it really was an iffy idea. maybe if we could land all 12 shots into a single target, the drain on their biomass might be enough to make it worth it, but again, over other rounds? just for at best two banelings per? i dunno, just still feels like we could put the Contender to better use.
>>
>>3957713
>>3957743
>>3957699
though, i will say, another issue might be the type of game this is. the main advantage of the Hollowpoint is locational spawning, but the nature of this being 100% text based with little if any true indicators of proper layout make actually visualizing or using that hard if not impossible. i mean, we usually dont actually truly know where most of our swarmlings are anyways, hell alot of times even allies and enemies, over just a vague idea.

I think part of the issue is, BHOP gave us a round that from his perspective with all the background knowledge, its advantages and uses are very easy to see, but in reality from how the game runs from our perspective it really does look like it has any use in that regard.
>>
>>3957699
Hmm. I'd still rather upgrade the Parabellums next time we get an ammo upgrade, but I am getting curious because of that.

>>3957743
Yeah, none of our swarmlings are cheap enough to make it all that useful. If we could have a Knight pop out of someone's wound, then it would be pretty great. But the 10% Bio limitation kills it. If the upgrade boosted its cap on Bio it can spend, or let it siphon Bio from the target to make swarmlings, or something like that, then I could see it. But otherwise it's not particularly practical.
>>
>>3957772
honestly the Fullbore kinda mitigates the Parabellums usefulness too. without actual damage numbers, its hard to tell which is actually stronger, but i cant remember the Parabellums effects actually ever seeming more potent.

It has rare uses where something that can last multiple turns or dig can be useful, sure, but in most cases the Fullbore really feels like the better choice.
>>
>>3957743
Another thing to consider is that our enemies also have varying levels of auto bio regen. even if we unload 12 shots into the enemy, chances are that their bio reserves could heal the bio lost from the forced spawning.

I do wonder as a possible buff to the Hollowpoint. If we had fired a hollowpoint an enemy, instead of attacking their current bio reserves, have it instead deal direct damage to their bio regen rate due to how painful and violent it is to suddenly have a giant fisted bumblebee spawn right out of your liver (if you had one) and start punching you in the face.

>>3957757
fair points. Hollow point seems to be like an ammo type that Shu would fire off into certain locations as part of a preparation round. Like setting up a trap.


>>3957772
then again, we don't really have a good opportunity or a scenario where firing hollowpoints makes perfect sense in the logic of attacking an enemy from the inside out would work...come to think of it, Hollowpoints would be the poor man's parabellum, but you would get more control in what internal organ damage you would want your swarmlings to cause.

>>3957784
in retrospect, the fullbore (which I designed) was designated to be the metaphorical "magnum round" for the contender to deal with hard-targets (Calcite, Unnatural predator, and Fibromancer daughters, etc.), with the ability to control where it goes as a neat little trick in case the bullet misses or hits a different spot.

I think the Parabellum would be better designated as a ammo type that deals maximum damage against soft-targets (Gluttonous, Flesh Artisan, Neuromancy, Skintalker, etc.)
>>
>>3957713
(How the heck did I miss the Horn of Lord Helix? This is fantastic, I'm so sorry it slipped by me. I love stuff like this.)

>>3957706
(They'd have to sit still, but yes, that would work.)
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>>3957803
>Bio Regen
i mean, it would still technically mitigate their max Regen potentially on a technicality, but i still cant see it being enough to work. not to mention how often enemies can end up having ways to remove such intrusion on their body, sometimes without even really putting any effort into it.

>Preparation Round
i guess it could work then, but we could also just spawn and place out a ton of Stealthlings of various types. which considering the increased malleability of spawning them from ourselves would still probably work better by a ton, over a swarm of free Banelings.

could still have some uses though in that situation though, sure, considering we really wouldn't be giving up much if anything to place them over during combat. but we almost never, ever, get that kinda situation.

>Fullbore VS Parabellum
the issue is, the Fullbore with how it works still works just as well on soft targets as hard targets. really, the DOT is the only thing the Parabellum has over it, which fair, is something, but i dunno, its just really really rare immediate carnage would not be preferable, which the Fullbore excels at. well ,that and the aforementioned fact the Parabellum lasts a few turns, which means you can do a bit of setup work with it at times. which again, is useful, just actually very limited in when you would use it over a Fullbore.

>>3957827
ah, alright. thats what i thought, but still neat.

though, hrm, just thought an issue. it would only be worth giving that to Fuzzbuzz if it doesn't impede upon our own swarmling count.
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>>3957832
>preparation round

On the other hand, stealthlings would eat up valuable swarmling slots that might otherwise be taken by more combat viable units like knightlings. Planting hollowpoints during the preparation round would give us prepaid spawning points that don't eat up swarmling slots that give us the benefit to spawn any type of swarmling from that advantageous location whenever we need it.
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>>3957863
Hollowpoint still uses swarmling slots and we can spawn stealthed Knightling and Knightling variants.
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>>3957863
>>3957870
also no, Hollowpoint wouldn't allow that. 10% spawning limit, remember?
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>>3957875
10% per bullet. Although that makes me wonder if it's possible to meld bullets together to increase the bio cap.

>>3957827
Forwarding said question to bhop:
>"If we use Hollowpoints, is it possible to increase the spawning bio cap if we shoot more than one hollowpoint at the same place? (i.e. shoot 3 hollowpoints to create a spawning hive that has a spawn limit of 30% bio)
>>
>>3957885
no, its not, BHOP has answered that question before, multiple times. that is literally what we have been saying, and a major point in why we say the round is not viable. because he has, multiple times, said they cannot combine their maximums.
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>>3957885
(Please see >>3957890, as he has the correct answer. It was one of the many issues of the old round. The answer I just deleted pertains to the updated version of the round and is a testament to why I shouldn't answer questions when I'm tired.)
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>>3957900
>tired
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>>3957900
what do you mean by 'updated'?
you mean upgraded?

also get some sleep BHOP.
that, or a coffee.
or, if your sunday is free, dont i suppose, and sleep all sunday instead or something, if you really want to stay up. but personally i dont like staying up when im tired.
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>>3957898
(Yeah, no, you're absolutely correct. I was thinking of the new round, my sincerest apologies. The new round is built to have a stacking effect with a bonus for each Hollowpoint in effect, which is one of the effects I wish I'd put in the original.)

>>3957902
(Yeah, no kidding.)
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>>3957906
(Sleep. Sleep sounds good. Goodnight Gentlemen, and I hope you all rest well.)
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>>3957908
as asked here
>>3957906
do you mean thats the next upgrade to it? or with how your talking, do you plan to just replace what we have after this fight or something?
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>>3957912
Good night, BHOP. Sleep well.
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>>3957913
(No, it's part of the upgrade round that makes it viable 'til the endgame, same with all the upgrade types for your current round types.)
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>>3957917
ah alright, so just the next upgrade then(if im reading that right.)

Guess it would make it at least viable yeah, we'll see how the next Contender upgrade round goes though.

>>3957912
Night BHOP, catch you on the flip side.

>>3957832
still doesn't fix the issue with giving it to Fuzzbuzz though, but eh, not all ideas stay afloat.
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>>3957917
Oh, so it's just one level of upgrade to each of the ammo types? That makes things simpler, then, good. Mean we only have to put four Contender levels in if we want to complete the set. Not sure we actually would, I'm sure there will be plenty of other shinies competing for our attention, but it does simplify the process.
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>>3957917
bhop. when you wake up, I just want to let you know that I don't see the data entry for Rook Class swarmlings in our Trypophilic Hive pastebin.
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>>3958212
(Thanks for letting me know. This will be about the third time I've updated it and Pastebin has eaten my update, but I'm sure there's something to be said about 'third time's the charm.')
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>>3958541
Theorycrafted some new bullet types for Contender. Read, enjoy, and most importantly: relax bhop.

>Super Spiral Shell (Firmaments Spiral): The Spiral Shell is classified as heavy munitions, reserved for weapon forms that can carry heavier caliber ammunition. As the power the shell is derived from, the shooter can opt to increase the piercing and damage output by “revving/charging” the shell prior to shooting it (baseline = lvl 2 piercing penetration, 1 rev = lvl 3 piercing penetration, 3 revs = piercing immunity penetration). With a spiral drill form this heavy ammunition is even capable of piercing targets that are immune to piercing damage given enough revs. Yet this is only the tip of the spear. Once the shell buries itself into the target, the fractal payload is deployed as the shell then causes the tissue surrounding it (from the bullet to the entry wound) to twist into a painful “live spiral” that warps the flesh, twists bones, grinds internal organs and rips tissue while creating a fear to tread zone (size based on rev count) that lasts as long as the shell’s spin (Massive DoT duration = rev count). (tl;dr: Heavy ammunition, “rev” ammunition for increasing penetration and damage, creates massive fear to tread zone, DoT flesh artisan damage on internals lasting x rounds where x= rev count)

>Blood Pollen (B.P) Paintball (Exsanguinating leash): Where as the B.33 special is an adorable bullet that pops with honey and suppresses enemy regeneration, its cousin the Blood Pollen Paintball is insidious and pops with blood. With a silencer-effect as its call from the gun barrel and the distinct whine as a sign of the bullet’s passage, the needle-like paintball flies head-on into vulnerable flesh. Upon impact, the needle opens a way directly into the target’s regeneration pool and extracts vitality filled blood to leak out in bloody splotches (read: creates a bleed stack), cutting into the enemy regeneration, and increasing the siphoning rate of exsanguinating leash and the pollen gathered from gluttonous brood. A single bite may be an annoying itch, but be bitten one too many times and someone will find themselves being drained dry.

>HUNDRED FINGER HAND NET: The Finger shaped bullet Shu Loads into has 6 levels of strength in correlation to the BIO cost used to make the bullet: Pinkie (15%), Ring (20%), Middle (25%), Index (30%), Thumb (34%), and Hand (50%). Unlike the B.33 special which only has 1 setting, the Hand Net activates automatically on impact, spiderwebbing across the body of its target and binding its limbs (and eventually its body) together, The fingers digging in to its target and preventing any escape shenanigans. Like a Chinese Finger Trap, the more you struggle, the harder it is to escape. Note: Targets of the amorphous variety require higher strength rounds.

Note: Bio cost for Super Spiral Shell and the Blood Pollen Paintball will be determined at you discretion bhop.
>>
had another idea come to mind. might need a bit of balancing though, though at the same time if you expect to get into more than one fight with it before you go home or find another forge, its cost could skyrocket massively.

>ULTIMATUMS SPITE; looking like an old fashioned flintlock, with wood as burnt and polished bone with still burning embers, and a barrel of obsidian, this hearty, heavy handgun packs a mean, nasty punch. Able to to ignore Blunt immunity and armor to deliver one nasty, Blunt shot of heavy damage, this strange pistols true uniqueness is in its intended purpose as an opening action. Only able to be fired as the first action one takes on the first round of combat, this guns projectile has a nasty surprise in store for whoever it strikes. So long as the bullet hits its target, all of the victims abilities and augments, save for the first level of their Core, are locked down for the next three rounds of combat, giving the wielder a tremendous and terrifying opening advantage. The gun however cannot be reloaded during combat, and as stated, will refuse to fire if not the opening move one takes. Its bullets also costs a whopping 1000% Biomass to forge each time, having to be made at a Forge too, and has the penalties accompanied with forging a relic aswell, making each shot a devastating sacrifice to have on hand, though without a doubt one that could end a battle swiftly. To be challenged, to duel, and to kill swiftly. That if the Ultimatum you put forth, and with spite behind every word.

>>3958553
i think the Contender is only supposed to get rounds based off our Core. which im personally more than ok with that limitation, its already versatile and powerful enough with just that.
>>
>>3958583
parabellum is actually based on Holly’s core: Ravenous Maw

So there’s a precedent for having ammo types based on other core abilities that we acquired through consuming.
>>
>>3958583

am >>3958553
>>
>>3958639
I dont think thats true. certainly dont remember it and nothing about it personally seems like it would need to be.
>>
>>3958643
fair point.
if anything productive were to come from this, these would make excellent custom made ammunition
>>
>>3958647
maybe. Consumables are an odd territory though, especially on something that can already be fed custom rounds.

>>3958553
>Super Spiral Shell
eh, i dont like this one. it impedes way too heavily on the Fullbores and Parabellums territory, and the two already do that to eachother. custom round or Contender round, we do not need and would never use all three. something would end up getting the metaphorical boot, and personally i find that a bad design choice when you already have something that it would be doing that to.

>Blood Pollen (B.P) Paintball
eh, i dislike this one too for the same reasons. BB.33 already impedes regeneration as its core principle. again, its just kicking an already existing round to the wayside for a new one, which i dont like.

>HUNDRED FINGER HAND NET
aaand, same for this one too, for again, the same reasons.

these honestly just arent unique enough i personally feel to justify, without just becoming an upgrade to something we have, which seems super iffy to me. not a fan of these at all, ill be honest.
>>
>>3958711
in the defense of the spiral shell, it was designed to be a munition for the tank. And I’ll be frank, i should have been more explicit on that point. Your criticism on the other ammo types are valid however.
>>
>>3958777
oh, i interpreted that as you were trying to possibly limit the Contender forms that could use it at best, like maybe requiring the Sniper form or only the base Revolver Form(as depending on certain factors the Revolver would be higher caliber than the Maxim).

i mean, fair enough. in that regard, sure it has a decent use, albeit the Tank can use the Railgun now. to be fair, you did say 'bullet types for the Contender' though.
>>
>>3958807
i dunno, the railgun feels more like a stronger gun to fire all different kinds of heavy munitions other than solid iron slugs. if we put the spiral shell in that category, i would designate the spiral shell as an AP round.

Now that i think about it, I should be able to design another munitions type for the tank... after i get out of work that is.
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>>3958851
im not sure thats how that works though, especially with how said abilities are applied to the Tank. it really wouldn't make sense, at least for the tank, if the ability sharing was not more like a round type/application itself, over like, reforming the tanks existing barrel. for the Tank at least, it feels like id need to be one or the other, especially for balance purposes, and logic purposes.
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>>3958857
Here's a thought, aside from Shu's portable airforce of bees, do we have any viable form of anti-air like flak cannons or Surface-to-Air Missles?

Also, I think creative use of the Tank's quadrupedal form will allow the tank to become an impromptu anti-air platform.
>>
>>3959443
Yeah, we're not bad for it. November's autocannon can spray enough plasma bolts to do damage in a cone area of effect, should be good at sweeping the sky. Rath's firebombs have homing properties. Gina range-stunning targets can knock them out of the sky, depending on their form of flight. And Dorian's cloud form is big enough and his threads long and numerous enough that he can intercept a lot of flyers at once. We're more melee-focused than we are range, but what range we have is good.
>>
>>3959471
its things like these just makes me try to pull my hair out in my effort to continuously think of ways to improve Shu's family in any ways possible. be it relics, ammo crafting, or just talking about stuff that inevitably gets shot down due to well placed criticisms. It's nice that we have a solid set of powers in each family member, but situations like these make me nervous. The town's pushing our coordinating efforts and personal power to a limit and I can already feel that limit is near during the hunger riot event.

There has to be some idea or angle that hasn't been explored that I can theorycraft and improve our family.
>>
>>3959490
I mean, we can always use more Relics. I remember we had a conversation a while back about how we're underutilizing the crafting system because we're kind of afraid to fully min-max it. Too much worry it would unbalance things, give us a lot of benefit for relatively minor costs. But if we're up against things like this, then maybe that would be a good thing. We definitely need more Relics for November, now that she's got a Tier 5 Forge Core her progression is entirely dependent on getting her more Relics. Unless there are even higher Tiers, that is. Come to think of it, did we ever actually get told the Forge Cores only go up to 5 or did we just assume because those were the highest-level examples we knew of?
>>
>>3959443
>>3959471
the Uzi has worked wonders as AA. id imagine Novembers guns could too. i actually think Raths Boils could work out well enough, god knows we could probably have the strength to throw them high enough. Amara could probably Oxygenic enough shrapnel into the air maybe, though that ones iffy. Francines ancient critters already fly too.

we already have a few relic option in the archives that i think could work too.
>>
>>3959510
im fairly positive we were told T5 is the highest. though, i think maybe only OOC oddly enough actually.

as for the Relics thing, the issue there is and one of the points is, well, for me personally i dont WANT to break the game, i hate that shit, aswell as the fact BHOP DOES want and try to balance the game, and that includes Relics. if we stop self regulating, he would and will have to start putting parameters and balancing acts into place, which i mean, maybe we need anyways, but kinda was a 'why force that when we have avoided it' type of deal.
>>
>>3959528
>im fairly positive we were told T5 is the highest. though, i think maybe only OOC oddly enough actually.
Ah, that's good, then. Keeps me from wondering.

>as for the Relics thing, the issue there is and one of the points is, well, for me personally i dont WANT to break the game, i hate that shit, aswell as the fact BHOP DOES want and try to balance the game, and that includes Relics. if we stop self regulating, he would and will have to start putting parameters and balancing acts into place, which i mean, maybe we need anyways, but kinda was a 'why force that when we have avoided it' type of deal.
Oh, I certainly agree with you. I don't want to break the game, make things so easy as to have fights be meaningless and boring. I'm just saying that if the danger level is escalating, and if we're worried that it's escalating faster than our ability to meet with via level-ups, then Relics might be the solution. We should still hold ourselves to limits, of course, but raising the limits higher might not be a terrible idea. I do recognize, however, that charting exactly where to put those raised limits is difficult. We'll see, after this is over, get more of an idea of how tough things are getting with the Apocalypse Amalgams running around and the overseas Daughters finally reaching our area. Get more than this single data point of a fight.
>>
>>3959558
>>3959528
I also tend to agree. We're barely just halfway from being ready to climb the cord, yet our list feels so long that the pace we're going makes it feel like we won't finish that list before we're compelled to climb. And the thing with Relics is that they tend to accelerate the rate and pace we progress through the quest.

Also. Rate this relic.

>Bug Bomb (consumable): A metal aerosol can sealed with a fleshy cap. The face of the can is labeled with the word "RAID!" in faded letters. Below the label is a picture of a bug. The bug is dead. A relic fashioned after a common everyday item in the civilization of pre-crucible humanity. The bomb can be wired to set off on a timer, proximity, or on impact. When used, the Bug Bomb explodes in a radius, spraying an aerosol mist of chemicals in a cloud of noxious fumes that persists for three rounds. All constructs caught within the cloud are stunned and take moderate DoT damage for 3 rounds, constructs that are made from hive mistress daughters take double damage. Hive Mistress daughters caught in the cloud suffer the "Bug bombed" status effect (effect: status starts at 100% potency, decreases over time, creating constructs costs double the bio/hp cost and constructs spawn with half the stats. creating constructs while "bug bombed" re-ups the stack).
>>
>>3959558
honestly i dont feel like we're struggling really here. or well, in the sense we're underpowered or something being why we have any issues. its just a situation anyone would struggle with, especially when you take into account the Crucible at its core is mostly set up for 1 v 1 fights. i mean, from the sounds of it(though could be wrong), even in the East, its not that say, Rath is getting her as handed to her and nearly dead, its just the constant escalation from the saboteurs combined with some bad and unpredictable enemies that are either super tough to put down or a counter to who we sent a bit are making it a slog. normally, a slog doesn't matter, we just so happen to not be in a position where that is something we can do. Our only mistake so far was thinking we could put down the West and/or North fast enough to get help to the East sooner, but annoyingly literally everyone here from me to BHOP made a utterly massive oversight that could very well have made that not the case, so this fight as an example is also horribly skewed and cant be trusted at all, as those 6 rounds would've significantly opened up our utility and damage potential, both with them alone and how we could've shifted resources, aswell as justified some risks and guesses more.
its frustrating as all hell honestly for that, as it now feels like we're getting punished over something that was no IC mistake and really should of been caught it feels like, and while the gesture is appreciated, a buff does NOT make up for how many rounds back this may of set us, due to the time constraints.

I do feel we maybe could've played some parts of this better, but only in a VERY catch 22 kinda way. we got stuck up North for example, when maybe we actually should've left sooner, despite the situation not being resolved yet in the North, yet the issue there is, that may of just lead the North to quickly cascade into just as much of a problem before we could return to it. lots of iffy what-ifs here.

>>3959575
eh, i have a feeling we're a bit farther from climbing the Cord than we think. well, then again, i agree with you we probably aren't over halfway, at best, and that took over a year OOC and 3 weeks IC so, maybe we are 'closer' than i think. we'll see. plenty of time to get some stuff done though.

>Bug Bomb
seems reasonable enough.

any thoughts on mine?
>>3958583
>>
>>3958583
High risk, high reward. The cost to abuse the relic is also high as well to dissuade gunslinger builds from abusing the relic on a consistent basis. Also, wouldn't gunfire be considered a piercing type damage? the blunt immunity bypass would make the relic seem more effective if used as a pistol whipping club instead of a single-shot golden gun that cripples the opponent.

reasonable. The issue that I have with the 1k bio cost is that it feels like it doesn't level the playing field for all daughters. the 1000% bio cost would act as a paywall to stop low leveled daughters from using a forge to reload it, and yet there are certain builds in high-level daughters that have a crap-ton of bio that while costing a good cut of meat, won't hinder them that badly. Good design on paper, what I'm nervous is the field testing. It would make it a very effective relic if the stats are locked with the abilities, yet I can't help but feel it'll turn into a very powerful assassin's tool that will make things very "unfun" in playtesting since having the ultimatum gun land a hit would make things go downhill very fast if the daughter wielding it was a no-nonsense sort of character, and if the QM running the body horror setting was super sadistic. It definitely escalates the swing of the fight as a relic that makes you "win more" if you land the shot, and has the definite potential to break the game if the players munchkin'd very hard to center their build around the relic.

I could see it as a big issue where one of Shu's family or an NPC suddenly gets assassinated simply because of the relic's presence and use. And godforbid Bhop pulls out Ultimatum's spite on Shu. I can already see the Salt that would spew forth when the relic makes itself known in quest canon.

The only way that I feel would make the weapon a bit more balanced is if there was an additional condition that restricts its use, like making a formal declaration of a duel to the death in order to use the relic. Otherwise Ultimatum's spite will simply become an assassin's gun that can make the quest unfun when the weapon is drawn on as the opening move during an ambush.
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>>3958583
Another thought has occurred to me, if I were to balance the gun, I would make the act of using the weapon an action that eats up the wielder's entire action economy. I feel like it's a very dirty relic and as such the cost of pulling a dirty move like that would match the effects as well on top of the heavy cost to manufacture ammunition for the relic.
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>>3959591
Care to discuss your design philosophy behind Ultimatum's spite? I'd very much like to hear your thought processes behind such a powerful relic. what's the inspiration? what did you had in mind when you designed it?
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>>3959632
>Blunt Damage
it was supposed to be a balancing factor mostly honestly, on top of just a joke about it being such a beefy round its hitting more like a high velocity fist than a stab.

>Bio Cost
true to locks out low end Daughters, but i was thinking the fact it counts a relic forging, thus temporarily removing that 1000% from High level Daughters would still be a pretty big hit, albeit true, not as much. I kinda had the idea for making the shot cost X% of your Max Biomass, but in my opinion thats even more iffy, as after a certain point that honestly would make it not worth using, as despite its potential i can still easily see plenty of Daughters getting to a point where X% of their total biomass is still not worth even the shots effects.

>Assassins tool
kinda, it is pretty strong without a doubt, but note it only locks down abilities, not stats. still very very powerful and potent, but id also argue even medium level daughters could very potentially still be able to survive 3 rounds on stats alone on a more even or skewed towards the defender field.

>Extra Restrictions
i mean, you already HAVE to do it as the first action. if you even so much as move you forfeit losing it. thats alot harder than you think, even for an ambush, to pull off, and is already a massive restriction on when you can use it.

>>3959636
that would basically make it worthless, as that would potentially leave you too vulnerable. if you're using it on an even field or against a stronger opponent, firing it could actually end up killing YOU from the opponents raw action economy, or they could have an entire turn to very possibly get away and end combat status before you can find them, thus wasting the shot.

i do agree it needs some balancing work, but i actually do feel its on a precarious middle ground where maybe its leaning too far toward too powerful, but its still limited in scope enough to where alot of your suggestions would actually slam it down into too costly or risky to ever actually use. I guess we could always ask BHOP what he would change/do to it.

>>3959648
honestly nothing really. the idea just came to me, so i wrote it out.
might sound like a cop out but thats really it. was laying down, the idea just kinda started mulling about, thought on it, got up, wrote it down and fleshed it out and tinkered with it. no specific thing really made me think of it or anything.
>>
>>3959673
>might sound like a cop out but thats really it.
it is a cop out I can agree on that. That much I dislike about it too. But I can guess the keywords that started turning the gears in your head:
>duel
>cripple
>one-shot


>Restrictions, bio cost, and balancing

Fair enough on your reasoning. Knowing the thought you put behind it puts me more at ease somewhat.
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>>3959710
well i mean, thats just kinda how i do these things. even with 'objectives' like making say, Julia and Dorian their own armor sets, i didn't have an idea or goal on HOW to do it. there was no specific part of their ability set or personality or anything i reeeally tried to build off of, i just sat down and went with whatever idea mulled about in my head i liked and thought i could do something with.

I really honestly dont do 'inspiration' like normal people, in matter of fact like ive mentioned before, i actually dislike direct references most of the time with very very few exceptions, so i even actively turn down my own ideas if i feel its taking inspiration too much from something specific. its why when you ask for design philosophy or inspiration, i really draw and blank and have no answer at all, because i actually actively avoid HAVING inspiration the way you and others view the word. i dont got into these things with a goal, other then like, background things like at least trying to balance it and such, which i think is overall a 'goal' a bit separate from the actual overall design process.
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>>3955507

Resolve.

Determination.

Defiance.

All of that and more coalesces into a single decision.

"Go."

The Knightlings that erupt from your back unfurl their wings as Holly's Bishop rejoins you, its form bolstered by your touch while Amara voices her protest.

"What?! I won't-"

“Eastern Quarter. NOW." You order, a quartet of Knight-Drillings unraveling their wings, the air pierced with the screech of their drills. "Get all clones you can over there and spawning as many Joyous as they can.”

Her eyes search yours, looking for some sort of crack in your focus, some kind of hook to make you let her stay. And then...she just nods sharply, determination alight in her eyes as she mounts a Knightling
alongside Holly.

"Kick their asses, Mom!" Amara shouts as they take flight, speeding off towards the chaos with eight Knighted-Drillings hot on their tails. You can't help but smile as you watch her go...you'd give that girl the world, if you could. Anything she wanted, you'd make happen...

...and this is one wish you'll grant with relish.

Across the Dominus Leash there pulses a wave of Neuromantic power, seizing the Bloody Battalion down to its very core. Your aim is true, a dozen rounds erupting forth from the Contender's twin barrels in a hellish barrage that shatters into your frozen foe. Its movements arrested, the Battalion's left powerless as golden ooze weaves through its form, the Fullbores free to chew into its core with vicious abandon. It's just fighting the inevitable now, it's existence ticking away with the rhythmic motions of the Fullbores burrowing into its heart...and your world tilts, because you have somewhere you need to be.

The trio of civilians gasp when you erupt into existence between them and their pursuer.

You find the Hunger-mad monstrosity assailed from all sides by the Drillings that were your vanguard, her motile intestines grasping at your brood to no avail as they explode into showers of acid one after another, scorching through her tentacles as quickly as the Rafflesia can spawn them. The pain of creation at your back is dulled through a haze of pure adrenaline as you dart forwards, and the Rafflesia slows its mindless advance when the sheer might of your newborn forces darkens the air around you as you lead the charge. From her flayed chest a cloud of mist billows forth to enrapture your swarm, and the Rafflesia's frustration is palpable when the constructs she intended to hijack explode into a torrent of stinging acid.

Your Grapplings dart forth, forming a net of hands through their sheer number as the Rafflesia's utterly overwhelmed with numbers beyond her power. She's so focused on beating back your swarm, so focused on avoiding the torrent of acid that's awash in the street that she has no time to react when you burst forth from the flood of gore and chitin, a butcher with the Heaven's Drill in one hand and the Lionheart in the other.

(Continued)
>>
>>3960554

Your Drill, your Contender...you've put her on the back foot as she frantically tries to deflect your attacks, fearing your dogged savagery with either implement. So, she's not immune...a though that gives you hope as, hundreds of meters away, you feel a Fullbore pierce the heart of another.

>>BLOODY BATTALION: ELIMINATED

Perfect.

The Dominus springs to life once more at the same moment that your prehensile tongue lashes out, seizing the Rafflesia's waist and yanking it forwards to meet you, tearing its tethers with your maw's indomitable strength. She resists, tentacles slicing out through the air and bracing herself against the calcite cobblestones of the street and the architecture on either side of the avenue...and it's all for naught. A pair of Knightlings bring up the rear, spearing tooth and stinger through the Daughter's back and shoving her into your arms the two of you tumble to the ground. Your tongue and her entrails are in a grotesque deadlock, your pull versus her push having stuck you both in a tug of war with no victor in sight. Rafflesia's Glasgow smile widens, her jaw swinging wide like a pair of mandibles just in front of your visor as her tongue splits, then splits again, again and again as her mouth blossoms with poison-tipped tendrils that frantically try and worm their way through the gaps in your Chitinous Stalwart. Your reinforced helm proves stronger, and your foe's wild eyes go wider when she realizes what you've done a half-second too late...

...because you've kept her focus on you, and off the Jackling you've put in position for this very moment.

Rafflesia is absolutely feral as the street opens up to swallow you both whole, the vast pit that yawns open beneath you lined with drill-like teeth and slicing claws. She reaches towards her salvation with tentacles spawned anew, only for her grip to fail and fizzle when they meet the acid-slicked streets above. You fall, you tumble, and there's a look in her eye that you can't mistake. She knows she's about to die...and for a brief, fleeting instant, there's a flash of victory mixed with the horror of mortality. For a moment, she thinks she's taking you with her.

Space contorts, ozone crackles, earth moves with terrible finality...and you grant your foe a crushing disappointment.

>>DART RAFFLESIA: ELIMINATED

You breathe in.

You breathe out.

"Are you three alright?" You intone as you round on the trio of women standing behind the quartet of Rooks that have been defending them.

"Yes, we...you're her, aren't you? The Defiant?" The middle one breathes, brushing a lock of blonde hair away as if she can't quite fathom what she's just witnessed...or perhaps it's that she can't believe who stands before her, in this moment of crisis.

"Get to the South Quarter. Stay fast, stay safe, stay alert." You command, sending a few Swarmlings with them before your own Knightling steed scoops you in its claws to speed you into the very heart of the conflict.

(Continued)
>>
>>3960556

The Eastern Quarter is awash with flame, the streets slick with bloody biomass and rife with the stench of death. You find your family fighting for control of the situation in the long, wide main street, eight Hunger-mad Daughters bringing the full force of their abilities to bear against the ones you love. Dorian and Julia dart and weave through a horde of duplicate constructs, keeping them busy while Rath's blocking off alleys and turning the street into a flare-lined arena as Gina raises a pair of terraformed walls on either side of the conflict. Countless members of Francine's swarm swirl around your individual foes, while you find the Doctor herself a short distance from Gina, tethered to the brunette and terraforming the windows of the various businesses to solid sheets of calcite.

You draw closer on your Knightling, seeing Lara dusting the entire field with her incendiary glitter while Holly full-body tackles a fellow Gluttonous, with Amara leading a squadron of two dozen Joyous along the rooftops in a chorus whose intent remains unclear. One bloodied Hunger-mad tries to take flight on bat-like wings only to be snatched from the air by a grotesque shark, Francine's eel-like
predator flailing wildly as it tears the Daughter's head free of her body, the corpse tumbling to the madness in the street below. Your family...wait. What you assumed at first glance to be scattered conflicts reveals itself to be intentional positioning of friend and foe, the situation engineered and sculpted to an end that you didn't plan.

What the hell are they...?

"Now, everyone!" Gina and Francine yell as one across the open channel. Dorian darts off with Julia down the escape route Rath's left, and your brawler slings herself to safety down the same street
before sealing the exit with a barrier of flame. Both Neuromancer and Physician flicker with amethyst light, the ground shifting beneath them and the remaining members of your family just as the voices of Amara and her Joyous call out a phrase that renders the street a gummy mess to the Hunger-mad still stuck above-ground. Your heart swells with pride as you realize that what you're looking at isn't a street. Not anymore.

It's a firing lane.

"November? It's all yours, Darling~" Francine crows across the line as both she and Gina disappear below ground...and like a Kool-Aid man crafted from platinum and vengeance, November promptly bursts through the southern wall with the blazing white orb of her Forge Core exposed. You shut your eyes just before the blinding nova that is the Autumn Protocol lances along the gunner's alley, the space altered in advance to be an inescapable funnel for an annihilating beam.

There is sound, and fury, and then...

...silence.

(Continued)
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>>3960559

Opening your eyes, the first thing see are the Joyous clambering over November's staggered form, already removing November's Core and replacing it with the one from the Metall Geschoss. Your gaze sweeps over the charred and blackened street, and you breathe a sigh of relief as you watch your family emerge from the safety of the underground and the side streets that were blocked off from the apocalyptic blast. Rath stumbles out the alley she disappeared down with your artists, and is promptly set upon by both Lara and Francine, the latter tethering herself to your brave pugilist. You immediately leash your Dominus to the young redhead as you land next to Gina, who throws her arms around you the moment you dismount.

"Holy shit, you scared me." She breathes against your neck, tightening her hold as you put your arms around her, in turn. "When Holly told me what you did, I..."

"I'm fine, it's alright." You assure, rounding on Amara as she picks her way over to you across the smoldering glass that is now the street's cracked surface. "How many are left?"

"Three." Gina answers, their profiles filtering into your mind across the Crimson Cord as Amara hugs your leg. "The Mayor's en route to the newest Hunger-mad that popped up and ran off towards City Hall before we could corral them into Francine's trap, and there's two more that are apparently some slippery little shits. We need to get eyes on them bef-"

"Found them." Amara declares, brow furrowed. "A fast one, and a tricky one...that's all I can tell. Both of them are headed towards the excavated people in the South!"

Three remain...and no more.

Because you'll make damn sure no one else has to suffer today.

HP: 1620% (+325% [Dominus: Rath])
BIO: 1940% (+270%, 8x Sneak-Jacklings, 3x Double-Stealthlings, 4x Sneak-Rooks, 5x Recursive-Rook Platelings, 5x Sprite-Platelings, 1x Succling-Bishop, 8x Knighted Drillings, 1x Knightling, 4x Bane-Drillings, 6 Grapplings, 45/54. Matrons, Whistle: OMA SUTH. Armored)

CONTENDER: Gemini Maxims. LEFT: Empty. RIGHT: Empty
RAVENOUS MAW: Primed.
HUNDRED-HANDED: None.
ACT: 3/3

GINA: 1328% (+120%)
RATH: 923% (+510%)
AMARA: 1490% (+230%. Vocem[Suth:FREE], Shrouded. HUNTER’S HONOR: 0)
HOLLY: 2,480% (RESIST: Heat, Cold. IMMUNE: Acid. Uzi: IN TINKER’S
HANDS. BISHOP: 2 Rounds Remaining. Armored, Visible)
JULIA: 2132% (+350%)
DORIAN: 1760% (+535%)
FRANCINE: 547% (+300%)
NOVEMBER: CORE LOADING...

THREATS REMAINING

North x0: AREA PURGED

East x3: 3 Targets Active, 8 TARGETS INCINERATED, 1 EXTERMINATED (Area had 10 then 2 New Hunger-Mad came to be from the evacuating stragglers.)

South x0: AREA PURGED

West x0: AREA PURGED

EVAC: 100%, COMPLETE

>>Please reload the Right- AND Left-hand Contenders with 3 FREE rounds each.

YOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>
(Gentlemen, voting shall remain open for the next four hours. Everyone is equipped with what you requested earlier in the Vein, though I had to trim things down for this update since I couldn't fit the full stat blocks without splitting off another update. I do hope you had a good weekend, and that your day is going well.)
>>
>>3960563
What's Lara's health at?
>>
>>3960564
(Close to max, given her formidable regen. 2230%, to be precise.)
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>>3960563
damn, Dorian really is fast, he got there and into the action in a fucking blink, when it took others like two turns from closer quarters.

>>3960563
>>3960564
and Magpie, if you dont mind BHOP
>>
>>3960563
oh, do we still have a Rook/Boil combo in the Southern Quarter?
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>>3960563
grah, sorry, keep thinking of things right after i fucking post, damnit.
hows the bomb situation in the east?
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>>3960567
(Dorian's absolutely insane. I was laughing when I realized it'd take him half a turn to blip on over.)

(Also, Magpie is still at maximum as she has not taken a single hit.)

>>3960568
(Yes, you do.)
>>
>>3960569
(Ha, well...considering that defusing the bombs would take too long for her taste, she's instead simply massing the bombs together and is currently hauling them out of the city for a safe detonation.)
>>
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>>3960573
right, fair enough haha. she need any help to do that safely? would just clones be enough? hate for one to go off on her, but anything we can pull away from that would be useful, so long as it doesn't put her in unnecessary danger... compared to what is unavoidable, obviously.
>>
>>3960573
Lets hope Tinker is not anywhere near those when they go of then. I would hate to have to fight her... Since we then also probably wouldnt get back the Uzi....

Lets hope she isnt forgetful of who owned the things she borrowed
>>
>>3960574
(She'll be alright. She's a very high level Flesh Artisan with Relic specialization, so she's incredibly resistant to Relic-based effects in top of being able to suppress timed Relic effects.)
>>
>>3960581
alright, awesome.
>>
>>3960562
First Draft;

SHU and RATH;
>Free Rounds; 3 Honey, 3 Honey
>Load up 3 Full bore and 3 Fullbore.
>send the Grapplings to try and slow down the Foe going for the Mayor and the middle.
>Melt down everything else but your Armor, the Southern Rook and Jacklings, the Bishops, and a Knightling-Mount for those who need the speed boost(so not Dorian and Julia, if he carries her).
>Use the Rook and Boil in the South to teleport down there and cut off the two foes advance.
>Quickly use the Jacklings to try and pinpoint the two Foes movements and intercept them.
>Once there, quickly spawn a new set of Bane-Drillings, to impede the two Foes advance South.
>Fire off the Honey rounds into them, to try and ensnare them as they approach, before unleashing the Fullbores into them if it proves necessary and worthwhile, and of course you think you can hit them.
>Once ensnared in your Honey, have Rath bombard the two Foes with Boils, Before teleporting forward with one to Smash them both in the face with at least a x8 Flail punch from her combined arms, so long as they dont prove immune to Cold or Radiant damage.

GINA;
>From atop your Knightling mount, stay low to the ground and Terraform what you can to try and slow down the advance of both the two Southern Foes and the Central One.
>Head for the Town Hall, just incase they do end up needing some extra help.

LARA, FRANCINE, and HOLLY;
>Unless faster to mount a Knightling, have Francine and Holly ride your back.
>Rush with Amara South.
> goal is to cut off the two Foes escape with Franciens Swarm, your Blinding Chaff(aswell as possibly make Raths boils burn harder, if you get there in time), and Hollys tongue to bungee maw any more slippery foes.


DORIAN AND JULIA;
> with Dorians Speed, Carry Julia after the Central Foe to aid the Mayor, hoping is utterly devastating speed can cut it off, and unleash what hell they must upon it.

MAGPIE and NOVEMBER;
>Catch rides high to get a vantage point, one sliding towards the center, the other south.
>If you find your targets, take what shots you can… Once November is up and running, of course.

AMARA, FUZZBUZZ, and AMARA CLONES;
>Hitch a ride with Fuzzbuzz.
>Have you and your clones stack THA GRA SAN and THA TER GRA SAN(if necessary) to speed everyone along.
>head south, to impede any attempts from the two Foes to retreat back to the east or elsewhere.
>Use whatever means you need to put these bastards down.

TINKER;
>Keep chucking those bombs like a bad game of hot potatoe. A few clones will help you, though less because you need it and more because we probably cant get them all into position without clogging the streets anyways.
>>
>>3960588
>>3960562
add in for Shu;
>Keep Rath on the Dominous, then try and get the ‘Slippery’ one with the other.
>Stun the ‘Slippery’ one with the Dominous if you can, though getting either one is better than none.
>>
>>3960588
Anon, isn't one of our sneak rooks in the southern quarter?
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>>3960646
you mean the one im using to get Shu and Rath to the South? yes, it is.
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>>3960554
>"Kick their asses, Mom!" Amara shouts as they take flight, speeding off towards the chaos with eight Knighted-Drillings hot on their tails. You can't help but smile as you watch her go...you'd give that girl the world, if you could. Anything she wanted, you'd make happen...

Oh shit. Amara said it. Amara called Shu "Mom"
We've got a LOT to live up to.
>>
>>3960588
Rushing over to the south district and starting a conflict will inevitably panic the evacuees. I think now's a good time to blow the OMA SUTH whistle when we get there to give the townsfolk that extra boost in soothed nerves. Otherwise they'll start panicking badly.
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>>3960661
sure, good a time as any. but it'll cause more panic if we dont cut them off and otherwise dont reach them in time.
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>>3960563
bhop, how many clones are in the southern district?
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>>3960667
(Twelve remain.)
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>>3960562
Amara:
>Have the clones in the southern district start herding the townsfolk west, have them stay away from the Town Hall. Give the Townsfolk an update on the Hunger Riot Status: "We're moving to the west district, the west district's a safer place. Much of the Hungry people are gone now. There three hungry people left. the Mayor and the others will soon catch them."
>>
>>3960588
Wait. Anon. Dorian and Julia can take care of both the Central enemy and the two that are approaching the southern district.

Julia's got her rage proc'd and she's got 8+ ACTs to spare on top of her innate 2 ACTs.

Julia can spend her 10 ACTs to speed over to the town hall to eviscerate the daughter there before rampaging towards the southern district.

>>3960562
Dorian and Julia:
>Dorian, your speed will be Crucial. You may have the speed, but Julia has lots of rage and damage that can be used to efficiently slaughter any daughter she comes across. All you need to do is to ferry her over to the Town Hall and let her do her work in killing the daughter there, once she is done, if she has any leftover rage, ferry her to the Southern district and meet up with us there. We will tie down the two hunger-mad daughters and hopefully take deal with them, if not, we have you and Julia.
>Julia, maintain your rage and spend your actions if needed to deal with the hunger mad. Dorian will ferry you with the waltz to the hunger mad, let him take care of that.
>>
>>3960693
thats silly. im against that. we have no idea WHAT these Daughters are, they could still take a bit even from her. we have more than enough family members to spare, we have absolutely no reason to try and have them dash everywhere nonsensically. besides, Shu and Rath can teleport, which may be the one instance they are faster than Dorian. they'll be in position long before she even reaches her first target.

plus, though hopefully not, it'll put our fastest fighters in a position to react to anything new that pops up.

>>3960693
>>3960562
vetoing.
>>
>>3960700
fair point.
>>
>>3960562
retracting suggestion on this post>>3960693
>>
>>3960704
you know, this is gonna be a mess once we finish this. figuring out who all died, who should be the dream daughter of who... Trying to actually get the survivors organized in any sense of the word, especially with all the emotional trauma they will undoubtedly have. oh god, and all the damage to the town too. and having to try and figure out how much we should, can, or can even afford to help with(Im thinking mostly the immediate body identification and calming down, but certainly not any of the rebuilding.).

Messy, Messy messy messy.
and we still didn't get like even more than two hours at best to enjoy the town damnit.
>>
>>3960724
considering the losses, I think the total population loss is equivalent to an entire district considering that much of the concentrated fighting happened in the eastern quarter. so that's a 25% population loss.

It's messy, but I think our actions and reputation will considerably boost morale.
>>
>>3960726
possibly, but losing (potentially) 25% of your acquaintances and friends is still a pretty hard blow, no matter what legend stands before you or how much worse it could've been.

some(hopefully not) might even blame us in their grief for not preventing it in the first place or something. we'll see though, but certainly Laoc will need alot of time to heal, as much as may be possible for it.
>>
>>3960748
in Shu's persepctive, it's leagues better than having another Monastery Monster come out of it. I don't think Shu could quite forgive herself over that in spite of everything she's done.
>>
>>3960751
oh, well yeah from Shus perspective, but im not talking about Shus perspective.
>>
Blerg, thought I'd get free to post way earlier. Sorry I'm late to the party, everyone. Okay, what did I miss?

>>3960554
>"Kick their asses, Mom!" Amara shouts as they take flight
Ah! Amara outright called us Mom! Oh, I wish that the first time she said it didn't come during a horrible event like this, but I'll take it.

>>3960559
>and like a Kool-Aid man crafted from platinum and vengeance
The phrases that get said in this quest, I swear.

>>3960748
I worry that it's going to lead to people wanting to give up on Laoc as an idea. Decide that it's obviously not making them safer than if they were roaming the wilderness, and maybe making it worse because of the risk of Hunger spirals like this. I hope people don't make that decision, though, because honestly most of these people aren't cut out for the wandering murderhobo life. We're going to have to convince them of that, once we're done here.
>>
>>3960866
i mean, technically not, but at the same time, they ARE the ones who were able to stave off the hunger. albeit with out help, but that still does say something. the biggest issue with convincing them is the Crucible itself. while ending the threat of the Cord wont necessarily make things all rainbows and sunshine, its certainly a very big stick beating down any arguments for a long lasting stable life.

I mean, i still agree giving up on Laoc would suck, but, its also gonna be a hard sell and they unfortunately would have a point.
>>
>>3960872
The reason they were able to stave off the Hunger is because they were safe and protected. BHOP said that most of the Hunger-mad Daughters we've been fighting were Laoc's original defenders, because the stress of keeping everyone safe made them more susceptible. Take these people outside of a (relatively) safe environment and they're not going to do so well. Combine that with their low average level and they might not get caught in Hunger spirals but they'll probably be in an overall higher level of personal danger. I'm sure there will be some walk-aways, but I'm hoping we can convince the majority of that fact.
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>>3960887
yes, i saw BHOP say all of that. changes nothing about what i said.
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>>3960892
Yeah, I wasn't refuting you, just stating what we're going to have to convince the citizens of Laoc of.
>>
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>>3960562

“You okay, all things considered?” You ask, striding up to Rath after disseminating new orders instantly over the channel, prompting Lara to hesitantly leave her side and take flight with Francine and Holly.

“You kiddin’ me, man?” She replies with a smirk, trying to hide the winces she makes with every step as she watches the Unnatural Predator leave the ground a little ways off. “Just had an eight-foot-tall moth woman fawning over wounds I got while being a badass. Don’t know what you’re talkin’ about, I’m having a grand old time.”

“Ha, ready for the final push?” You grin, moving your hand to help the girl stand on her own as your swarm surrounds you both while you add newborns to their number and reshape others, still.

“For you?” She grins back. “Always.”

Your arm’s around her shoulder when you both blink out of existence, your biomass violently broken down and reassembled in the place of a Rook and a grenade to leave you staring down a pair of Hunger-mad barreling down the street towards you. To your left slithers an aqueous form, ill-defined and staring with wide, translucent eyes at the civilians behind you. The one on your right is almost upon you, a muscular Fibromancer whose bulging arms hurtle its rippling mass towards you with terrifying haste.

Immediately your Dominus Leash is trained on the liquiform Daughter, her suddenly-stiff legs sending her tumbling to the street as Rath lunges forwards, heedless of her own injuries as she throws herself towards your other, more muscular foe. Bane-Drillings tear forth from your hive, darting towards the Hunger-mad as at your back the streets rise at Gina’s far-off command, blocking the evacuees from the melee. You swing your Contenders up, a half-dozen rapid squeezes of the trigger sending three rounds each at your targets. The golden payloads explode across your foes before they’re followed up by an equal number of Fullbores that render your foes a pair of sticky, howling messes…only for their roars of fury to be drowned out by Rath’s own warcry, her Radiant Boils screaming through the air as they set your foes alight.

“Hey kiddo! Think you could make it an uppercut?” Crows a familiar voice across the channel.

Rath’s last grenade bursts mid-flight into the grenadier’s own form with her arm cocked, the explosive force of over half a dozen limbs packed into a single fist. The resultant uppercut crashes hard against the Fibromancer’s jaw, sending her skyward just in time for the inimitable crack of Magpie’s rifle to pop the Daughter’s skull into a shower of gore.

>>THREADED BRAWLER – EXECUTED

The aqueous Daughter’s struggling against your stun, fighting to turn and flee only to find that retreat’s been rendered impossible; a fleet of Joyous lead by a sword-wielding Amara appear, Lara soaring high above them with both Francine and Holly in tow…and a few more additions to your side.

(Continued)
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>>3960963

Francine’s swarm of ancient fish dart down to earth, and when Holly gleefully leaps from Lara’s arms she lands on the back of the eel-shark that’s there to catch her on the way down. Both blonde and swarm fall upon your liquiform foe with merciless hunger, tearing through her rigid form in a matter of seconds. You watch, stupefied as Holly bounces back to her feet, her primary and secondary tongues licking both sets of lips with relish before giving you a wink and wave, as though you’ve spotted each other in the park, and not in the bloodstained aftermath of a war against madness itself.

You adore that girl…but that certainly doesn’t stop you from having a healthy respect for her surprising brutality.

>>OOZING CHAOS - DEVOURED

“Shu, Mayor Jeraha, Lady Julia, and I have succeeded in laying our target to rest.” Dorian chimes in across the channel in a stoic, yet audibly drained tone. “We’re heading your way to assist wi-“

“Dorian, I…” You pause, glancing around with you and your scouts’ myriad of eyes, scanning the town for any trace of new threats, and mercifully finding none. “…we’re done.”

The smell of blood hangs heavy over Laoc, as you breathe a sigh of bitter relief.

“It’s over.”

>>COMBAT: Ceased

The gathered civilians are surrounded by a ring of gently smiling Joyous, the constructs pulsing waves of calm throughout the massive group as you and your allies ascort them to the clearing at the center of town. Dorian, Magpie, and Lara are on reconnaissance, surveying the town on land and sky to ensure the chaos has truly died down while Julia and Gina work to extinguish the necessary blazes Rath ignited in the East Quarter. With Rath, Holly, and Amara by your side, November and Francine bring up the rear as you approach the Town Hall, finding Mayor Jeraha seated on the front steps.

“Defiant.” She says, rising to her feet as you move forward to meet her. You reach out to shake her hand, and she uses the gesture to pull you in for an exhausted hug that the two of you sorely need. “Thank you. It’s…you deserve a whole hell of a lot more than just words, but that’ll come later. For now, the people of Laoc need words, and actions.”

“I’m sure they want to hear you speak.” You say, gesturing towards the somber crowd.

“You sure?” She says, eyebrow cocked as she nods towards them again. You turn at her prompting, realizing that the townspeople’s gaze isn’t on her. Young and old, cared and brave…

…all eyes are, once more, on you.

>>Let Jeraha speak to the town first, then address them personally.

>>They’re looking to you…so give them something to listen to, as well.

>>Let Jeraha give her speech…you have work to attend to.

>>Now’s no time for speeches. You need to discuss with Jeraha what needs to happen next.

YOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>
(Gentlemen, voting shall remain active for the next four hours as I close out an exceptionally busy work day. I do hope your Monday is going well, one and all.)
>>
>>3960970
finally have 2 days of rest. take your time.
>>
>>3960967
>>Let Jeraha speak to the town first, then address them personally.
They might be looking to us as a big damn hero (and we are), but Jeraha is the leader of Laoc and I think it will help to restore order if they get words from her first. A reminder that they had internal defenders, and weren't completely reliant on some wandering adventurer-types happening to be in town.
>>
>>3960967
>smile, and turn to Jeraha.
>Grab her hand, and pull her up the onto whatever platform you can, together.
>"Together Jeraha... because no one, not even me, could've done this, could've gotten this far alone."

ill try to word this so Jeraha can add stuff in, but gonna be kinda iffy to do.
>Look out to the Townspeople, sigh, and nod, holding yourself tall.
>"Look... I know you're all looking to me, wanting, hoping i can say something, speak something to make this all alright. to make it like this didnt happen."
>"...But i cant. But... thats ok. Because this was terrible. painful. something no one should have to go through... But knowing that, acknowledging thats ok."
>Sigh, and smile.
>"But we survived. all of us. and that means its not over. I know alot of you lost people, friends, family, loved ones... Trust me, i know.. i know how that can feel."
>"But that doesn't mean we give up. we continue. we take that pain, that loss, and we build something from it. we survived, so we continue, for them, for the others who did too."
>Give them a second, some time to let the words mull in their minds.
>"Nothing can make this easier, not really. Nothing can fill the loss. but we still have people. the towns survived, you all have. you can rebuild, grow stronger, tougher, make the loss mean something."
>"The Crucible i cruel... life is cruel... it always will be. But we can ease that, we can prevent it where we can. together. I know you all want to hang your shoulders, let the pain and misery eat at you. Ive felt it too. Dont. fight it. for yourself, for those still around, for those gone. so long as one soul remains Defiant, no matter who that is, the Crucible has not won. we have. so long as one person still moves forward, theres hope. let it burn, together."
>>
>>3960967

>Let Jeraha speak to the town first, then address them personally.

>"By all accounts, the Crucible should have wiped us all out within half a year going by Earth's Calander. It should have claimed its one winner who's desperate enough to climb the cord, reach the top, become the next Mother, and then wiped humanity out and left Earth as a clean sterile rock.
>"By all accounts, the system was rigged to alienate each and every one of us from each other, to foster a sense of mistrust, paranoia, hatred, and hunger. It was rigged in a fashion that making settlements would inevitably destroy it in one fell swoop with a cascade of Hunger riots.
>"But it didn't. More than two years have passed since it begun and the Crucible and its God still have difficulties trying to stamp us out. We're still here despite the hunger riot caused by that giant amalgam."
>"Humanity still exists. We even managed to give God a bloody nose to show for it. Be it staying here despite the call to climb, be it climbing the Cord to stop the cycle, or simply making a settlement to live your lives and preserve what culture we have left.
>"So be proud. Even if you're the type to shy away from violence and conflict, be proud of yourselves. Be proud that in spite of the dangers of the world, despite the hunger, pain, misery, you never faltered. You never gave up. You were defiant in the face of the hunger riot.You keep the fires of human civilization going. While we wander out in the wastes to clear the world of dangers in preparation to stop the Crucible, You help by maintaining the home front, keeping the fires lit, the hearth warm, and a good brew hot to soothe our nerves when we come back home from each expedition."
>"And I that, I think is the best way you can repay us. To have a settlement to return to so we can drink, be merry, have a sense of what it is to have a normal human life as a way to defy the death game that is the crucible."
>Bow to the town of Laoc. Envelop the townsfolk with your empathetic field and show your gratitude for their ability to stay calm, composed, and defiant in the face of what could've been an escalating scenario that would created another Monastery monster and wiped out another settlement of Humanity off the map. A sincere heartfelt thank you
>"Thank you, all of you."
>Straighten up from the bow, and give them a winning smile.

I think the best way we could inspire the townsfolk is to be humble in front of them and show our gratitude.
>>
>>3961080
Oh, I like that. I'm typing up something similar, about how Shu's proud of the people of Laoc for preventing this tragedy from becoming even worse. But this is good, and if nothing of my write-in makes it into the final post I'd be very happy with this.
>>
>>3960992
>>3961080
eh, i disagree with that. showing unity by standing with Jeraha will help with show unity alot more than doing it separately, which i think they need alot more than just humility. plus, it could put some off that we arent willing to talk(in what it would appear to be at first).

>>3961080
>>3960967
that, and im certainly against this message significantly. Vetoing.
i think it way way too heavily ignores the loss and feelings everyone would have right now. it way to heavily feels like its just brushing aside how terrible what happened just was. it feels way too upbeat too, when we should really be humble to the tragedy of what just happened. you can give hope without having to be wholly upbeat, or undermine the loss like that feels likes its doing heavily.
>>
>>3960970
hey bhop.

What was the fastest cycle ever in any crucible strain (crucible finding a planet, initiating the crucible, having a denizen of the planet becoming the next Mother)?

Does Humanity hold the record for longest currently active Crucible in any strain?

>>3961102
You have a valid point. I didn't really consider how to address the losses the town population sustained.
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>>3960967
changing my vote >>3961080 to support >>3960997

>>3961102
I'll try to think of something to add to the overall message that you're trying to convey.
>>
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>>3961131
sure.
i mean, mind you, you had some good ideas in yours, which ill be fair and should've mentioned, i was talking as a whole though.

It was more i guess if i had to try and mix both or compromise or whatever word, it would feel more like it would need to start with mine, and transition into yours tonally, if we wanted to not end on a somber note. though i dont think a somber notes necessarily bad personally, but can also understand if its a bit too low a tone for others.

That though, and like i said, id prefer to try and mix our speech with Jerahas, so trying to leave some room for her to speak too. though i still think we can mix/add more without impeding on that too.

also, my backlog of art to post keeps growing. terrible issue to have, i know.
>>
>>3961146
Gonna put some captions and lore on that pic you've posted:

>SPIRAL CITY:
>"Of all the settlements that I've been to, Spiral City's the most ambitious piece of work I've laid my eyes on. A central spire that grows day by day using Mount Everest as the baseline foundation of all possible places, and smack dab in the middle of a giant mountain range with literal dragon amalgams prowling the valleys."
>"What I've heard of the leader, she's a flesh artisan who has a fractal theme going about her. Guess that explains the layout, but not the spiral spire she's building. What is that gal planning on? The most obvious thing coming to mind is making a secondary Cord. A man made Cord. One that reaches the membrane in the sky and reaches down into Earth's core below. But We all know Mother will do anything to topple a settlement that LARGE. So why isn't she? Something's not right.
>>
>>3961164
I love it. Maybe we should come up with more weird settlements or locations found in the Crucible.
>>
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>>3961164
oh god.
if the one anons right and like, "we" exist as like buzzers in Shus head or something, then its actually possible Amara may of 'seen' our posts. we're all dead men. buzzers? head parasites?


but huh, neat idea yeah.
>>
>>3960967
>>Write-In
>"I'm proud of you all. I know this doesn't seem like something to be proud of, and I don't deny the tragedy that happened today. A lot of people died. But your actions prevented it from being worse. You kept your calm and showed compassion and courage defending your neighbors. You're all the heroes, today."
>"In the wake of an event like this, when we're faced with so much sorrow, it's easy to think that we should just give up. That it's pointless, that the horrors arraigned against us are just too great, that we're doomed to failure. But I still have hope, and it's because of people like you. People who, in a world of death, still cling to life."
>"It's been nearly three years, that the Crucible's been trying to kill us. Three years, and yet you all still stand, not just surviving but thriving. So grieve, if you need to. I can't say you shouldn't. But you've survived worse than this, just by making it to now. You're all so much stronger than you know, and you can be stronger still. Don't give in to despair. Stay defiant, take that sorrow and let it remind you why you're still alive."
>"Because the Crucible hasn't won so long as there's one person left who remembers what it means to be human. To treat each other with kindness, and decency, like we all deserve. Like you've been doing, to each other, this whole time. So keep it up. Keep lighting that candle rather than cursing the darkness."

Blerg, not happy with that ending, but can't think of anything better..

>>3961164
Oh, very nice. A Crucible travelogue would be great. We've already seen some good ones in the interludes, like the newly-reborn Crystalline City of Envy or the Ikean Fortress. A lot of the fun of this quest is seeing all the weird post-apocalyptic locations.

>>3961177
If that's the case, what do you think the odds are that Amara imprinted so strong on Shu as a mother figure because she could see all our posts of affection for Amara? She knows that no matter what else might divide the parallel thought tracks running through Shu's mind, the one thing they can all agree on is that we love Amara and think she's the absolute best.
>>
>>3960970
>>3961187
actually BHOP, how many townsfolk did actually help in the defense? i know at least one Amalgam was taken down solely by them but bedsides the mayor not much was said or shown or other defenders.

>>3961187
maybe. still an odd concept, and im positive even if it is that its a much more reasonable, IC version and explanation, so it would probably actually end up looking alot different.
that being said, sure, id still be drowned in us thinking shes great, so if its that, it would probably be part of it. mind you, Shu shows that love plenty actually IC, so dont think id be necessary, but i guess it might explain why she tipped from choosing Julia to us. though personally, still find her decision a bit odd. we personally fit the caring but cool aunt motif more i think. Julia even has a 'dad' figure for her to cling too aswell, on top of her utterly homely personality. even odder thinking about it,as it seems like neglect may be a factor of her old life, which i do actually think shes spent more time with Julia than us, though hard to calculate that.
>>
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>>3961199
I think it's more of what we've actually managed piece together of Amara's background and the trauma she's suffered pre-crucible, and how Shu fills that void.

From what we know of Amara's background pre-crucible:
>Single mother
>Mother was foreman of the Factory that refines the raw materials extracted from the town Amara lives in
>Amara was likely traumatized by mother's death
>Amara's mother likely either keeps Amara confined to home or to a single room whenever she has to bring Amara with her to work.
>Amara's core as a skintalker means that Amara's voice wasn't heard to her mother's ears in her desires and needs to have a fun and healthy childhood.

Now lets see the similarities, differences between Shu, Julia, and Amara's previous mother:
>Shu and Julia are both loving and kind to Amara, Amara's mother might've been loving and kind but the difference here is that Shu and Julia are able to spend that time to give Amara the attention she desperately needed.
>Julia and Shu may have been motherly towards Amara, but Julia tends to be the type that would like to have Amara stay at home. Shu on the other hand is willing to take Amara with her and go on adventures, giving Amara the permission that she never would've gotten in the pre-crucible days like letting her play with the Ant Queen's larva babies.
>Before, Amara's voice would not be heard in the pre-crucible days, and the times that her biological mother would listen to Amara's request would be once in a blue moon
>When it comes to Shu and Julia, both of them take the time to make sure Amara's input and voice is heard, but Shu actually Listens to what Amara has to say and acts upon it.
>Julia may show familial love to Amara, but Amara seems more like a secondary concern compared to Dorian.

tl;dr: In Amara's eyes, Shu has the traits of an ideal mother that Amara sorely wished she would've had in pre-crucible days.
>>
>>3961119
(Technically speaking, the fastest Crucible took around a month, our time. It was on a very small planet inhabited by beings capable of far faster movement and cognition that most species are. They weren't all that numerous and were fairly single-minded apex predators, so their Crucible was over quickly.)

(They were one of the beta-test Crucibles I ran a while back to try and 'speedrun' the whole thing.)

>>3961199
(If they were present, many offered ranged support if they could afford to, but most helped to evacuate while you and your allies took up the brunt of the combat since it was assumed that you'd want casualties to be a minimal as they could be, given the situation. That said, if you'd opted to leave a particular quarter less defended then they'd have pulled more weight, but you'd have also had more succumb to the Hunger, too.)
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>>3961232
On top of that, Shu's an authority figure. Julia, bless her heart, is still quite uncomfortable in her own skin (pun not intended) and can't really be the sort of reassuring presence that a child needs. You can take comfort in Julia being kind and loving. You can't take strength in it, so much, not yet. She's got a core of steel in her, but she's still working on bringing it to the surface. Shu may have her own insecurities and fears, but she's much better at managing them and keeping them from being obvious from the perspective of a child. I can see why she's the more natural choice to see as a parental figure.
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>>3961232
i guess i can see it. i kinda disagree Dorian takes priority over her, but otherwise sure. im sure Julia would love nothing more then to be able to justify staying back and keeping Amara out of harm while providing everyone with a good home to return to, but even with Julia admitting thats not really possible, im sure the emotions there, while appreciated, still affected the outcome.

>>3961233
makes sense. well glad some still did their part though. good on em, and all that.
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>>3960997
>>3961080
>>3961187

Okay, I've taken elements of all three of these and stitched them together into something. Tell me what you think.

>"Look... I know you're all hoping I can say something to make everything okay. To take away the loss, ease the pain, to make it as though the last few hours didn’t happen."

>"...I can’t. What happened here today was terrible. Horrible. Something no one should have to go through. And acknowledging that is okay."

>"We survived. All of us. And that means it’s not over. I know you have all lost people. Friends, family, loved ones... trust me, I know how that can feel."

>"By all accounts, the Crucible should have wiped us all out within half a year going by Earth's calendar. It should have claimed its one winner who was desperate enough to climb the cord, reach the top, become the next Mother, and then wiped humanity out and left Earth as a clean sterile rock.

>"By all accounts, the system was rigged to alienate each and every one of us from each other, to foster a sense of mistrust, paranoia, hatred, and hunger. It was rigged in a fashion that any settlements would be inevitably destroyed in one fell swoop with a cascade of Hunger riots.

>"But it didn't. More than two years have passed since it began, and the Crucible and its God still have difficulties trying to stamp us out. Two years, and yet you all still stand, not just surviving but thriving. We're still here despite the hunger riot caused by that giant amalgam."

(Cont. 1/2)
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>>3961250
>"Humanity still exists. We even managed to give God a bloody nose to show for it. Be it staying here despite the call to climb, be it climbing the Cord to stop the cycle, or simply making a settlement to live your lives and preserve what culture we have left.

>"I'm proud of you all. I know this doesn't seem like something to be proud of, and I don't deny the tragedy that happened today. A lot of people died. But your actions prevented it from being worse. You kept your calm and showed compassion and courage defending your neighbors. You're all the heroes, today."

>""The Crucible is cruel. Life is cruel. It always will be. In the wake of an event like this, when we're faced with so much sorrow, it's easy to think that we should just give up. That it's pointless, that the horrors arraigned against us are just too great, that we're doomed to failure. Hope flickers, like a candle against a storm. But I still have hope, and it's because of people like you. People who, in a world of death, still cling to life."

>"So be proud. Even if you're the type to shy away from violence and conflict, be proud of yourselves. Be proud that in spite of the dangers of the world, despite the hunger, pain, misery, you never faltered. You never gave up. So grieve, if you need to. I can't say you shouldn't. But you've survived worse than this, just by making it to now. You're all so much stronger than you know, and you can be stronger still. Don't give in to despair. Fight it. For yourself, for those still here, for those who are gone. Stay defiant, take that sorrow and let it remind you why you're still alive. Because so long as one person still moves forward, so long as even one person is still standing, the Crucible hasn’t won. We have. By treating each other with kindness, and decency, like we all deserve. Like you've been doing, to each other, this whole time. So keep it up. There’s still hope. Let’s help it burn, together."

(2/2)
>>
>>3961250
>>3961253
eh, I dunno, still not clicking with me personally.
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>>3961250
>>3961253
the issue that I'm having with the two messages that we're trying to deliver from >>3960997 and >>3961080 is the tone and context and both of them somehow feel mutually exclusive:

The former shows a grimdark acceptance of the tragedy, and acknowledges it, but doesn't have the sort of defiant tone that the people make it out to be from Shu's reputation. It feels more like a grim speech of acceptance that doesn't really give comfort to the townsfolk for the situation, it more of just shoves the facts straight in their face and expects them to find comfort in those words. It does try to give them comfort and the message of staying defiant, but it doesn't really give much to motivate them to make the townsfolk feel relevant to the situation.

The latter while justified, ignores the tragedy and tries to make light of the situation by praising the townsfolk for how they handled the situation and how it helps both Shu and Humanity as a whole, in keeping the fires of human civilization alive and defiant in the face of the crucible by highlighting the importance of the settlement and its citizens. But it also glosses over the tragedy that has occurred.
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>>3961279
Hmm. So the best solution for this is to deliver a message that has the best of both. A way to acknowledge the tragedy that has occurred without causing the townsfolk to despair, while inspiring them for the future and helping them maintain hope in spite of the Crucible.
>>
(Gentlemen, upon arriving home I realized that the day had taken more out of me than I'd realized, so I shall be extending the voting period until tomorrow morning at 9:00AM Eastern time, with posting to resume thereafter. My apologies for the delay, as I do wish to unwind and then focus my efforts on doing everyone's excellent write-ins the justice they deserve. I do hope your day has gone well, and thank you for your time, participation, and patience.)
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>>3961362
hey, i understand BHOP. Mondays suck. get yourself... whatever it is living meatballs eat, and enjoy your evening. and whatever else it is you enjoy doing when not this.

my bets on poetry. terrible, cheesy poetry.
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>>3961387
>greenteaneko
I see you are also a fellow that enjoys the weird comedy the mad artist brings.
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>>3961362
No need to apologize, BHOP. Get some rest, man.
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>>3961394
haven't looked through all his stuff before, but when it does appears it never disappoints. or well, arguably it DOES, but in the 'why the fuck would you think of that?' way, not in an entertainment way.

also, just had a very disturbing thought. Forges are upgraded via shoving Daughters inside of them... do the Daughters 'survive' in the Cores, or is their entirety consumed in the upgrade process? hopefully the second. i mean, bad enough to be used a upgrade fuel afterall.
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>>3961474
I hope not, but knowing how Daughter crystals work, they probably would. The Crucible is powered by atrocity.
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>>3961474
More disturbingly, iirc you posited a theory that Forge tech was made possible using Cruelty as the basic foundation in the emotional spectrum which bhop confirmed was close to the truth. So it's more likely it's basically a Dark Souls style bonfire that's fueled by firekeepers... except we're throwing the fire keepers into the bonfire, with each tier of forge core an indicator of how many daughters are martyred for fuel to fan the flames.
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>>3961496
...well fuck. we'll need to check ours then, see how that works. to be fair, if ever it would get rid of them, the Forge Cores would make the most sense, considering the power strain that must go into... whatever FUCK they are.

im still pretty sure they basically just work by heating biomass up enough to 'play-dough' it for 'forging', but really we havent really gotten a real description on how its done.

>>3961503
i think maybe i posted that, but may of been someone else. for sure i do not remember BHOP confirming that.
I do think i remembering making a comparison to the fact both T5 specialty and the upgrade process was both oddly consistently cruel.
i also know nothing of dark souls, so...
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>>3961511
>...well fuck. we'll need to check ours then, see how that works. to be fair, if ever it would get rid of them, the Forge Cores would make the most sense, considering the power strain that must go into... whatever FUCK they are.
Well, it's only the after-market upgraded Cores that we know have Daughter crystals in them. We don't know how they were originally made, it's quite possible that they all have people inside them but it could be that ones that came out of the factory at higher Tiers were made more humanely. So hopefully it's just a few Forge Cores remaining from Ozmas' experiments that have Hexane mind-states in them. Well, those and whichever Cores that West has gotten her hands on, no way she hasn't rediscovered that process.

Wait, shit, the Tier Three Core that we have was used at one point by West Gamma. Okay, we need to check that one out for sure. Check all of them, but start with the Tier Three.

>im still pretty sure they basically just work by heating biomass up enough to 'play-dough' it for 'forging', but really we havent really gotten a real description on how its done.
Maybe. It's clearly not just heating the biomass, though, the black stone framework of the Forge itself is needed for something. I'd guess that the heat is as much for powering the Forge's functions as it is for making the biomass more malleable.
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>>3961529
true, it would help if we knew how to make a T1/ new Forge Core at all if this is even a big issue. but yeah, check them, better safe than sorry, and all that.

....hrm, if there IS a Daughter in one, wonder what freeing them would do? id very much not be surprised if its not the same thing as the relic crystal scenario.

>Black Stone
i mean, i was being a bit facetious with the word heating there. its clearly not all it does, i just meant more it activates whatever allows biomass to be so malleable, and well, heat usually does that, so hence without knowing the process better not having a better way to say it.

as for the stone, sure. there very very clearly is something up with that stuff. wonder, is the material artificial? or just some rare alloy or something the Hexxane just happened to have access to. the fact 2/3 at least of their tech uses it says something. hell, we haven't seen a pure Halo that wasn't an ability before either, wouldn't be surprised to see those as space obsidian too.

actually, did we ever get a description of the ascendant Crown?
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>>3961543
I don't think we have gotten a description of the Crown, no. It being the black stone wouldn't be surprising. From what we know, it's hard to say if the black stone is natural or artificial. It might be the stone itself doing things, in which case it would be artificial since there's no way something that omni-functional isn't a designed material. But it might just be some sort of neutral material useful as a substrate for other mechanisms to be embedded within, like the silicon crystal a microchip's computing elements are etched onto.
>>
right, so i got to thinking. while November will never truly be melee focused, i do think she could be pretty good at it with the right relic set, but we really dont HAVE many such relics to properly build such a, well, build. so, let the old noggin run wild thinking her up some ideas. thoughts? Tiers? suggestions?

>VENTREM LANCEAM; A singular gauntlet that upon activation, requires one to straighten out their arm, allowing the entire limb to be encased in a glistening, horn like growth ending in a pointed tip sharper than Mothers ego. Once formed at a cost of one ACT, the lance allows one to lunge forward at their chosen foe with slight homing capabilities, the devastating Piercing damage of this lance increasing by one level of damage per movement zone crossed, and removing one level of resistance to Piercing damage from the target per zone moved aswell. Furthermore, the deadly lance may rack up a stacking charge, one for each ranged attack that impacted its master, granting them one movement zone of free movement per charge. These also only are consumed upon zonal movement with the weapons charge, meaning multiple, albeit smaller, uses of the charges are possible. The only issue one might have, is such a weapon is quite ineffective once the initial charge attack is combelet, and actually quite restricting, often requiring compression again and thus another ACT later to activate. But for such an outstanding gap closing measure, who could complain?

VISCERA VINCULA; an odd set of armor, looking more like a pile of old, blood stained rusty chains woven into a mockery of chainmail, old meathooks hanging off it at odd placements. Providing a base defensive bonus equivalent to 300% Biomass and one level of Slashing Resistance, this Armors true purpose is one of grudgeful affection. Starting out with a base of 3 hooks, each additional one casting a whooping 1 ACT and 300% biomass to construct, these deadly hooks may be launched out for one ACT(though any number of Hooks per Act), up to medium Range, to which each one may dig into an opponent and fuse into their flesh. This horrid tether prevents the opponent from moving further than medium range for the armors master, ensuring they are always close enough to be drawn into a brutal melee. Any attempts to move outside this range restriction will result in a strength based tug-of-war, to where the loser is knocked down and may be dragged by or towards the winner. The chains are nigh invulnerable to being shattered too, with only the toughest of opponents being able to split such a tight and deep grip into their person. Truly, some Daughters like dishing it out up close, and why should others be allowed the option to not enjoy the fun?

(1/2)
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>>3961684
>HISCE IRA; a sturdy, one handed axe, with a handle like sewn sinews and a blade of weeping wounds, giving off an aura of agony and dripping with matter best left unknown. While even a single handed axe packs a devastating punch all on its own, this weeping blade of gore takes brutality to a new level. Each successful strike of the weapon upon the same target that wounds results in a bleed effect being applied to the recipient of the barrage, aswell as a terrifying stacking crescendo effect, in which the weapon may get a free extra attack the next round of combat for each wound inflicted, so long as it is again upon the same target. These free attacks may themselves add more stacks of free attacks, potentially creating a chain of ever increasing barrages of blows against a singular target. The one issue with the axe is that once one has drawn blood with the axe, they may not target another enemy until either their chosen foe has died, or all built up stacks have run dry on the weapon, potentially locking them into a brutal situation themselves as they are forced to ignore other threats. But in the right hand, in the right situation, this weeping blade is one of nightmares.

(2/2)
grah, aaand i fucked up one of the greentexts. damnit.
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>>3961684
>>3961685
I'm about to head to sleep, so not quite in a place to give cogent comments, but they look pretty good. I'd say Tier 3 for the first two, Tier 4 for Hisce Ira just for its exponential damage-dealing. Even with the limit that it can only be directed at one foe at a time, it's still really strong, especially in boss fights when the party's ganging up on a single target.
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>>3961684
>meat hook Cape/mail
You know, that armor would work wonders as a grappling utility armor for rock climbing as well as acting as support anchors for November's heavy armaments.

>Arm lance
good gap closer. I think Dorian would greatly benefit from it. Although I do wonder if it's possible to modify it into a drill? (I know it's cribbing on Shu's innate Gurren Lagaan drill ability, but hey a good improvement.)

>1v1 Axe
You know, that axe would be the death of the user if it's used on someone/thing that's immune to bleed or slashing damage. Very devastating though.

>Speech
Do we have any good compromises or are we just tired?
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>>3961715
feel free to get back later, id both appreciate it and look forward to it, but thanks for what you did give, and rest well Anon.

>>3961722
>Hooks
i... well certainly rock climbing and support anchors was not at all what i was thinking about, but far be it a complaint that you're seeing other uses for it. though, has kickback actually really been an issue for her?

>Lance
Honestly Dorian really doesn't NEED it. he probably would never get hit by most range and doesn't need free movement either. plus while he doesn't do bad at all in true CC, he still excels more at skirmish melee, which the weapons kinda not intended for. as for making it a drill, id prefer not honestly. kinda had more than my fair share of drills, to be frank.

>Axe
maybe, though, would it? im not sure it could actually count as giving a wounding blow if they are immune to both. certainly could be exploited though, you're right, in the right circumstances.

>speech
i mean, im so-so on being tired myself, but otherwise not really. both of us were so-so on the other anon admiral but faulty attempt to combine all three, and you yourself i think said but never put forth any addition suggestions or whatnot for mine.

I mean, i guess arguably a risk(?), but some of the 'gaps' in mine could be filled by Jeraha due to the nature of it, so im personally not worried. if i had to take a guess, with mine i think having the most support right now, overall BHOP id think would do his usual, but with the other write-ups being used to fill the gaps as Jeraha as wanted. but thats just a educated guess based on whats being asked and how BHOP tends to do things, could be wrong of course.
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>>3961253
>>3961250

Too lovey dovey and tender. You're treating everyone here like they're children in need of shepherding.

Which is fine, because speeches mainly target those in need of leadership anyway, but you lack a hook which addresses the more competent members of the crowd. The ones for whom this is really even still some of the more pleasant stuff they've dealt with.

So maybe throw in a shout-out to those people before you sign off. Something like "And for those of you who are sneering at the tender heartedness of my speech while reminiscing on the far worse hells you've been through in the past 2 years or less...You give me hope too, because even if you've moved beyond the need, desire, or capability of grief, sorrow, or hope you're here peacefully among your fellows. Just by existing you demonstrate to all of the young that we can weather storms."

Or something, anyway. Not everyone's gonna have had someone they care about die, and many will have had far worse than this happen to them before. Sounds patronizing to say they're full of strength on the one hand while also talking to them like this was a supreme disaster on the other. In terms of scale, we're considerably better off here than the spiraling fear.
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>>3961825
Finally some good input.

So how are we gonna address the more competent and brave of the townsfolk. It's likely they'll be the ones that take up the banner of the town guard.

How about this?
>"To those of you who've weathered far worse, have been awake far longer than myself or my family, and have seen combat regularly. You and I know that this is just another day in the life of the Crucible, you and I know that events like this can happen at any time. But your presence is gives me confidence that this town will survive because your bravery and willingness to act will keep that flame of defiance alive and show others that not only it's possible to survive together but it's possible to grow stronger together because of it."
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>>3961825
>>3961841
you say that, but even once the evacuations were done in areas, the only two to go out of their way to continue helping were the Mayor and the Tinker. mot saying no one else did anything, they did, but i still think it does say something no one felt they had it in them to go back to help more directly once other issues were complete.

i also disagree we need to signal any group out over another. everyone went through shit and everyone helped. what was done, or happened, still happened as a group and community, and they could be addressed together to help keep that unity, as going forward thats whats really gonna help them rebuild and recuperate from this.
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>>3961849
fair points
>>
Oh, and though may not matter, for some reason the thought was stuck on the brain, but if we WERE going to let Jeraha go first, it kinda wouldn't make sense to pre-make a speech, as anything we say would kinda need to build off of hers to really make sense, not to mention avoid redundant or awkward doubling up on points or topics.
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>>3960967

"We do this together, Jeraha.”

You force a smile, turning to Jeraha and taking her hand in yours. “Because no one, not even me, could've done this alone."

She studies your eyes for but a moment before she steps forward, clearing her throat as she gazes out on her townspeople.

“I know you.” She begins, surveying each and every face in the crowd with slow deliberation. “And you know me. You know I’m not usually one for words, but…you need them, and so do I.”

Jeraha takes a breath, and continues.

“What’s happened today is a tragedy. We’ve all lost friends. Neighbors. Sisters. Soul mates.” She says. “Now, how we handle it? How we pick ourselves and each other up and keep walking for the sake of those we’ve lost? Well…that can be a victory, if you let it.”

“I’m going to work with you through each and every step of what comes next.” Jeraha continues, her firm, commanding voice leaving no doubts as to her commitment to the people gathered before you. “We will rebuild. We will heal. We will thrive. I promise you that.”

She turns to you, pausing for a long moment before she looks back toward the crowd.

“The only reason I’m here to make that promise to those of you that stand here today is because of her.” Jeraha affirms, a great number of the townspeople nodding solemnly. “Shu and her allies did what they could to keep Laoc from falling like the Monastery did. We can rebuild, heal, and thrive thanks to your strength…and hers. So, on that note…”

Laoc’s Mayor steps back, and with a gentle sweep of her hand, you have the floor. Stepping forth, you feel the weight of their eyes upon you as you hold yourself tall, and even as you do so you can you’re your mind and body strain from everything you’ve just fought through. You just want to sleep. You just want to sit down. But…you *need* to speak, to offer hope in the face of hopelessness.

So, here goes everything.

"Look...I know you're all looking to me, hoping I can say something to make this all alright. To make it like this didn’t happen." You begin, holding the tear-stained gaze of a woman you see in the crowd. “I can’t…but that’s okay. Because this was terrible. Painful. Something no one should have to go through…but we survived. YOU survived.”

“By all accounts, the Crucible should have wiped us humanity out within half a year.” You say, beginning to pace in front of the crowd as your gaze flits between the faces within it, a field of eyes that pierce into yours. “It should have claimed a winner who's desperate enough to climb the cord, wiped humanity out, and left Earth as a clean, sterile rock. The system was rigged to alienate each and every one of us from each other, to foster a sense of mistrust, paranoia, hatred, and hunger. It was meant to break us.”

You pause, allowing a brief moment to let your words settle in the minds of Laoc’s people.

"But you? You didn't break."

(Continued)
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>>3962499

"You. Did. Not. Break." You emphasize again. "You’re still here despite the Hunger riot caused by that giant Amalgam. I know you lost people, friends, family, loved ones...trust me, I know. I know exactly how that can feel. But that doesn't mean we give up. We continue. We take that pain, that loss, and we build something from it. We survive, we continue for them, for the others who did, too."

You draw in a deep, shuddering breath as you fight against the tightness that’s work its way around your heart.

"Nothing can make this easier, not really.” You admit. “Nothing can fill the loss. But we still have each other. The town’s survived. YOU survived. You can rebuild, grow stronger, tougher, and make the loss mean something. The Crucible is cruel. Life is cruel, and it always will be. But we can ease that, we can prevent it where we can. Together. I know you all want to hang your shoulders, let the pain and misery eat at you. I’ve felt it too. It's easy to let it devour you whole.”

“Don’t.” You command, your voice filled with resolve and pure, clear defiance. “Fight it. For yourself, for those still around, for those gone. You keep the fires of human civilization going with every step you take towards the future. So long as one soul remains Defiant, no matter who that is, the Crucible has not won. So long as there’s one person still moving forward, there’s hope. Let it burn…together."

With that, you expand your empathic field to encompass the entire crowd, and what you feel almost brings you to your knees. Grief, agony, despair…it all hits you in a wave, your body wracked with the collective loss of everyone that stands before you. They feel you, too; your exhaustion, your pain, your yearning for something good to come from the hell that’s swept over the people of Laoc.
When a woman who looks vaguely familiar steps forward, you expect…you’re not sure, really. Resentment? Anger, for not having done more to help the city? This isn’t the Monastery, but the guilt weighs on you all the sa-

“Thank you.” She says softly, her daughter at her heels. You recognize them, now; the woman and child that we fleeing from the Butcher. The first pair of citizens whose lives you saved. “For me and my daughter. Thank you, Shu.”

Beyond their sadness, beyond their pain, you feel a wave of gratitude and hope begin to ripple through the crowd. Even as you wrap both mother and daughter in your arms a low murmur of thanks rises up through the people, their appreciation evident for your actions and words, both. A trio of women step forward; the three girls you saved from Rafflesia moving as one to reach out, each one placing a warm, gentle hand on your arm as they smile at your through their tears.

There’s no judgment. No anger. No bitterness.

Instead…there is love. There is hope. There is the best of humanity.

There is defiance, in the face of tragedy.

(Continued)
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>>3962503

Jeraha assumes command of her people, swiftly splitting them into teams to assist in clean-up, fire control, and the identification of their dead. Your allies assist where they can; Amara and the Joyous comb the city, offering assistance when and where they can as Rath, November, and Lara take part in the much-needed cleanup of debris. Francine accepts Gina’s offer of help in finding and attending to the wounded, while Dorian, Julia, and Holly set about the task of ferrying people to their tasks with utmost haste.

Through your swarmlings’ eyes, you survey the town’s populace as they keep moving, watching them pick up the pieces of something that they’d hoped would never break. Your brood helps where they can, swift flight a boon to the recovery efforts. You can’t help but admire the people of Laoc. They’ve just experienced a sudden, senseless loss, a tragedy of the highest order…but still they do not falter, they do not stop. Alongside them stands your allies, with every member of your family helping do what they can in the aftermath of Laoc’s tragedy…all except one, that is. Glancing up from where you stand in front of City Hall, you find Magpie is perched atop the building’s looming spire, cigarette smoke creeping into the sky from where she sits. Within the Tavern, Jeraha directs the clean-up as the town’s appointed leaders shuffle in and out the massive double-doors with news and status reports. Meanwhile, you…

You’re just standing there, watching the movement around you as you take a breath. Laoc’s only standing because of you, but here, in the aftermath…you’re not sure what to do. These people are not your family, and getting roped into staying for the entirety of the recovery and rebuilding would eat into time you just don’t have…and the thought makes you feel guiltier than you care to admit. Laoc is not the Monastery, and while neither were your fault you can’t help the feeling of wanting, needing to help.

In any case, you weigh how you and your family need to proceed…and you make a call.

>>Speak with Jeraha privately about Laoc’s future and the fate of the dead.

>>Find one or more of your allies and help them with whatever they’re doing (Write-In).

>>Talk to Magpie and take a slightly longer rest.

>>You and your family will help Laoc a little longer, but then you have places you need to be.

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>
(Gentlemen, voting shall remain open for the next three hours.)
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>>3962505
>>Find one or more of your allies and help them with whatever they’re doing.
>>Find Amara, and congratulate her on her bravery, aswell as apologize both for asking what you did of her clones, and for making her worry about you.
>>Then, find Julia and Dorian. You know its not your fault, but even if its with a hint of a joke, to apologize for their peace yet gain being interrupted. lucks just not on your families side for rest it seems, but if they want or need anything after this, its theirs.
>>Lastly, find Magpie. you dont blame her for anything, but things she was caught up in very clearly may of affected things here, and if nothing else you want info on how much you should worry about said remnants going forward. send a swarmling ahead of time, to make sure she doesn't squirrel away before you can talk to her.
>>
>>3962505
>>Find one or more of your allies and help them with whatever they’re doing

>Find Amara first. Thank her for her help with her clones and give her a hug. While hugging her quetily mumble into her ear about how glad we are to have a gloriously aweesome daughter like her

>Find Francine and Gina that are dealing with the wounded offer some of your own BIO and HEALTH and mabe help them with a quick Dominus boost if possible.

>Find Dorian and Julia and tell them. "Next time w you two go out together you should probabl,y find a dserted stretch of beach where you could not come to our aid even if you wanted to. You two deserve some peace and quiet together after these two disasters"

>If she is still there by the time we are done find Magpie(after grabbing a good bottle of Whisky or something to share with her) and have a small chat with her. About her feelings to all of this and if she thinks those two saboteurs throwing panick bombs belonged to the Apex. Then just relax a bit watching the town while our brood helps out the reconstruction effort
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>>3962505
>Pay for a good bottle of booze.
>Find Amara, try to surprise her if possible and scoop her up into a surprise hug!
>"AMARA! You little magical samurai ninja! you were so cool with that Katana!"
>"Thank you Amara, for all that you did."
>Call Sir FuzzBuzz over.
>"Sir FuzzBuzz, Guardian of Amara. I commend you for your services in keeping our ward safe and aiding her when she needs it. Keep up your efforts."
>Place a hand on Sir Fuzzbuzz's head and give him a stat update.
>"Hey Amara, do you want to see the town from a bird's eye view?"
>if Amara assents, go to the town hall tower. Travel by Knightling.

>Talk to Magpie and take a slightly longer rest.
>Hand her the bottle of booze.
>"Care for some company?
>"I came here to give you as much company as you're comfortable with. Magpies usually do come and go in pairs. That and Amara would like to see the bird's eye view."
>Open a private channel with Magpie.
>[I know it's none of my business but...that contract you're taking up on after this...you're set on wiping out last of the apex sisterhood are you?]
>"Stay safe Mrs. Magpie. If you ever need help... talk to me through this"
>Hand her a Fuzzbuzz, give her a flat stare.
>"This one's not to clean your gun barrels with."

>Then find Dorian and Julia, apologize to them for the ruined date. Ask them if they need anything or would like anything to compensate.
>>
>>3962503
wait, so is that actually that womans daughter, or is it an adoptive daughter? i mean nothing wrong with that, just thinking about how fucked up with would be to wake up in this hell to find your actual mother/daughter in a pod next to you, not to mention then having to bring them along through all this.

>>3962556
must you always try to add unnecessary heaps of dialogue?
>>
>>3962561
If I could I can. too much for your liking?
>>
>>3962565
well on an overall issues thing i dont like making assumptions like you constantly do, but its more I like to leave things more open ended to let BHOP write things at times, which of course, now wont happen. typically dont like the feel of that at all either though too.

>>3962556
>>3962505
vetoing this dialogue.
>>
>>3962561
(The younger girl is the woman's actual daughter, yes.)
>>
>>3962505
I'm Canceling this vote >>3962556 bhop.
>>
>>3962572
oh, damn, thats certainly something then. holy hell, im afraid to ask, but which one woke up first?
>>
>>3962578
(The mother stood vigil over her Daughter's pod for about a week before the latter woke up.)
>>
>>3962582
That must have been an absolute nightmare for her....

alone, scared and worried about her daughter slowly being pieced together.... Its a miracle she didnt succumb to the hunger then and there
>>
>>3962585
The opposite would be equally nightmarish.
>>
>>3962576
>>3962565
(I understand why you're cancelling, but I do want to say that I enjoy your dialogue, as even if I don't end up using it, it certainly helps me imagine the interaction I end up writing. You'll often see me borrow from dialogue others have posted even if their vote isn't chosen, since I appreciate what they've put creative energy into. Additonally, if I'm struggling to think of a starting point, seeing dialogue has helped in the past to jog my mind into action, so I appreciate you taking the time to write it out.)
>>
>>3962582
ah, ok. much better than the opposite. that must've been hell though, but thankfully it was only a week. if it had been the daughter, that would've been some damn harsh trauma.

its also interesting to note both of them were applicable to be Daughters. which unfortunately could say some bad things about their pre-crucible life.
>>
>>3962611
Hardship and domestic abuse is common but not unreasonable to infer. For both of them to be conscipted into the Crucible, it makes me wonder about the cores they carry.
>>
>>3962618
yeah, very likely unfortunately. it would be neat if their cores play off each-other well though, homely too.
>>
>>3962505
>>Speak with Jeraha privately about Laoc’s future and the fate of the dead.
>>Write-In
>Tell her about the Arbiter's Appetite, and that we can ensure that any of the dead who have friends or family still alive can have their mindstate taken in by people who care about them. That should help some with the grief.

>>3962582
What a badass mom, then.
>>
>>3962588
I agree, it's always good to see people writing dialogue for characters. It adds to the game and inspires all kinds of ideas.
>>
>>3962676
This could actually help a fair bit, we could ensure that people are still connected with their loved ones while strengthening the town's remaining defenders.
>>
>>3962676
supporting >>3962505
>>
>>3962676
>>3962713
honestly i was still planning to do that, i just figured we had time to check in on our family first. they, uhh, kinda have to find and identify all the bodies first anyways, afterall.
>>
>>3962713
Yeah, that second part was something I was thinking but worried stating outright would feel crass. But it definitely is something that Laoc should do, feed the dead to new defenders to reclaim their strength.

>>3962718
I was thinking of it as a "in addition to these other votes" thing. I like what other people have voted for. Just putting the telling Jehara part in, so she knows and we can get this organized. Pass the word along about it while we're retrieving all the bodies.

Hey, speaking of bodies, what happens to the levels and Core in the Daughter that Holly ate alive, Oozing Chaos? Is there enough of her left to be recovered?
>>
>>3962743
it said 'Devoured' over 'Eliminated'. which, may of been a joke, but i took it as actually meaning something else.

i mean, we COULD argue that it should at least proxy Shus Maw special. technically mechanically, Holly is piloting a Construct under Shus control, so we could argue Hollys Maw is currently also Shus Maw. though it is a stretch.

>>3962588
still a good question to forward to BHOP, seeing as how she did devour it, but unless theres an odd hidden gem to the Spiritus we dont know about, im interested to know where the biomass went aswell.
>>
>>3962505

Through your multitude of eyes, you find Amara directing a number of Joyous to assist around Laoc, and you promptly birth a stout Knightling to ferry you across the rooftops to her side. Her ears twitch just as you catch sight of her with your own two eyes, and she turns to face you with a wide, happy smile as you land.

“Hey, Amara. When did you get to be such a cool leader, huh?” You ask, glancing among the Joyous while ruffling the little girl’s hair, prompting Amara to giggle. “About the same time you became an awesome samurai, I’m guessing?”

“I’m a ninja!” She corrects, sticking out her tongue at you before meeting your gaze in earnest. “What’s the matter?”

“Ha, I’m fine.” You reply, sticking your tongue out at your young ward in reply. “I just wanted to stop by and say ‘thanks’.”

“Um…for what?” She asks quizzically.

“For everything you’ve done.” You answer honestly, walking down the alley in which you found her. “I know having so many Joyous active can be a strain on you, but you kept cranking them out even while you were bringing your ninja skills to peoples’ defense. That was pretty incredible, and I’m really proud of you.”

To your surprise Amara buries her face against your leg bashfully, and you can’t help but chuckle at her uncharacteristic silence. When she looks up at you again her brow is furrowed in concentration as she whispers something vague and inaudible, scowling even harder when she purses her lips in frustration.

“I’m trying to get the ground to give you an even bigger hug, but it’s being weird!” She huffs, staring at the ground by your feet. “Not like before when the big bird flew over, though. It’s more like it’s all confused. It keeps saying things that make no sense, like it’s all opposites and-“

“Double-think?” Supplies a voice from nowhere that puts you on edge and makes Amara’s eyes go wide with recognition. “I’m afraid that’s my doing, cuties~!”

You watch as the alley walls morph into a collection smiling faces, each one a photogenic angle of the same girl with wide, welcoming eyes and perfect cheekbones.

“Shu the Defiant, as I live and breathe…well, in a manner of speaking.” The figure coyly remarks, excitement and opportunity evident in her tone. Noting Amara’s presence at your side, the being smiles even wider, the dozens of faces all turning their attentions to the heterochromatic girl’s gaze.

“Super-fan Amara!” The Daughter declares happily, the corners of her faces’ eyes crinkling with joy. “Hello there! I have to back up what Shu was saying, you absolutely killed it out there, girl!”

“Don’t mean to be rude, but some introductions are in order.” You interrupt, voice low as you edge your ward to stay behind you.

“Shu, it’s Orwell!” Amara answers just as the faces are about to speak. “The girl I told you about earlier, remember? From the Skinternet!”

(Continued)
>>
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>>3962902

“Guilty as charged!” Orwell affirms, her high, tittering laugh filling the alley with a cacophony of sound that makes you wince. “Pleasure to finally meet the living Legend herself, and her amazing little ninja, too!”

“To you, as well.” You reply tersely, the faces coalescing into a single visage as wide as you are tall, smiling at you from the wall opposite where you stand. “So if Laoc’s biomass has stopped being scrambled from that Amalgam’s fly-by, why are you keeping it that way?”

“Ah, getting down to brass tacks right off the bat! I love it!” Orwell chuckles, her tone shifting from pleasure to business as her artificial gaze settles on yours. “I’ll be brief, with respect to your patience and time; no-one knows what’s transpired in Laoc, or how things have shaken out. They saw the fly-over, that’s old news. What’s yet to break are reports of the aftermath, since the second I got my signals in I jammed everything thanks to that nifty Relic they’ve got stashed up in City Hall. Anywho, I thought now would be as good a time as any to see how you want to spin this! Tweaks, touch-ups, you name it!.”

“…What are you talking about?” You ask, confused.

“Look, it’s no secret you’re up to something with the Proxy.” She replies exasperatedly. “With a little re-write, I can make it seem like she was here…or not, if you’d like. I’m talking tactics, I’m talking strategy! If you control the flow of information, then you’ve got it made, babe!”

“And what would you get out of doing us a favor?” You fire back suspiciously.

“Exclusivity!” Orwell immediately replies, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “Seems like everyone’s got blinders on when it comes to this whole Crucible-Cord business, and only a handful like you and me are thinking about the big picture! What comes after, how to rebuild, so on and so forth. You’re on the cutting edge of something big, but how many legends do you know of that write their own stories? So! I’d be happy to play with what happened here, tweak things how you like, and in return…”

The wall smiles wide.

“…I’d like to help you when you move on Doctor West’s lab. Exclusive streaming rights…time delayed, of course.”

You remain silent in the face of her knowing grin, your lips a tight, irritated line.

“Haha, don’t look so mad, I wanna help! Wasn’t hard to figure out, if you’re wondering how I knew. It’s not like your Proxy is the first to try and shake things up…operative word being *try*.” Orwell explains off-handedly. “She’s just the first to make some friends before toeing the line, is all!”

Well, that’s illuminating, at least…

…though you’re still not terribly fond of how Orwell’s chosen to make herself known.

>>Accept Orwell’s offer.

>>Decline Orwell’s offer tactfully.

>>Ask the girl more about what she means (Write-In).

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>
(Gentlemen, voting shall remain open for the next three hours.)

>>3962743
>>3962757

(Holly drained the HEALTH from the body, and currently has the girl’s biomass still within her and ready to be consumed or given away. Additionally, the HEALTH increase to be gained from delivering the final blow to the Hunger-mad can be applied to either Shu or Holly’s current Spiritus Shell, should you choose. That’ll be part of the Level-Up vote.)
>>
>>3962906
>>3962909
>Orwell
George Orwell's 1984?
Also, she seems like the interprid reporter type who wants to be a big name on the skinternet when it comes to streaming.
>>
>>3962909
Is the level up gonna be tonight?

because i probably cant participate then if that is the case.......


>>3962917
Seems like it she seems ot be rally on the up and up on what is going on. I wouldnt be surprised if she was crazy good at information gathering, manipulating and distributing if she is based on 1984.............

God jsut thinkin gabout that Dystopian world still gives me nightmares sometimes....


Anyway
>>3962906
>>Ask the girl more about what she means
>"lets say i accept what you offer me. What can you bring to the table to help with the West Lab directly? I see you can scramble a lot of information and mask our approach but what could oyu do when we arrive? Would you jsut stay and watch while settign up drones to capture as much footage as possible or would you interfere in the battle itself?"
>>
>>3962906
>"...If you would omit Francine's presence for now, id appreciate it, and let you tag along to help with the Proxies."
>turn and face her directly, keeping eye contact hard.
>"However, im not one to lie or bend the truth unnecessarily. you cover my stories, you keep it as truthful as you can without putting lives in danger. nothing more, nothing less. Otherwise, you'll find yourself sorely in need of off-hand sources for anything, ill make sure of it."
>"Hopefully it wont come to that, but Im neither in need of nor will tolerate a propaganda machine in my name. Folks dislike or like me? thats their decesion, based on the truth, and thats what it needs to stay."
>Move on to the rest of the people you wish to talk to.
>>
>>3962906
>"Exclusivity? As in first dibs? or are you planning on having a monopoly in the press?"
>>
>>3962917
Yeah. Amara didn't tell us about her, technically, she told us about a Daughter named Erica Arthur Blaire. George Orwell's real name was Eric Arthur Blaire. It's definitely a 1984 reference and not Orwell's other work, though, she's communicating via Telescreen and offering to be our Ministry of Truth.
>>
>>3962909
alright, thanks for the response.
thinking the health upgrade should go to Shu, and Hollys shell may be malleable, and worse case we just build her an upgraded shell. cant exactly do that for Shu.

>>3962906
>>3962928
also, have Holly hand over the biomass to the Town. if it comes back around to us, so be it, but we need to at least give the Dream Daughter a chance to end up with who she should be with first.
>>
>>3962909
have we sent Arbiter's appetite to Jehara?
>>
>>3962948
i think we're still working our way down the list, as it was. we'll get to it, once walls stop interrupting our walk around .
>>
Speaking of helping.

>>3962909
Where's Tinker Taylor right now? She wasn't present during the speech I don't think.
>>
So do we want to keep Francine's involvement hidden? I'm not exactly sure which would be best. On the one hand, part of our plan is to lure a loyal Proxy to go after her so we can capture them. On the other, we do want to maintain control of how that information is presented to the Proxies. Is there a way we could spin the information to ensure a Proxy goes after her in a way we can predict?
>>
>>3962980
yeah, id like to get a chance to talk with her, but unfortunately its not as big a priority as other things right at the moment. we still need to get the Uzi back (and maybe have a talk with her about the RIGHT way to offer help), so we have a good excuse, but not over other things for sure.

...id love to see what she could help us forge at a T5 forge too, but, baby steps, and all that.
>>
>>3962922
(No, the level-up is going to be a while coming, considering everything on the docket.)

>>3962980
(Heh, she's a bit busy at the moment, but she'll get around to returning your Relic soon enough, no worries.)
>>
>>3963003
>>3963003
>making a T5 forge
that's gonna require about 5 dream daughters and a still beating heart and then setting them all on fire for eternity.
>>
>>3963000
eh, my worry here is the towns been through enough. using it as bait could end very poorly for them, aswell as we have waaay to many things going on atm to properly stick around to actually use it as bait i think.

its not a bad idea, but it would not feel right to draw extra attention to this place while its rebuilding, even if we did stick around. not only will the chaos of rebuilding make it REALLY difficult to properly control the situation, but what if West Alpha or another high level West comes around, and is more than happy to slaughter her way through the town to absorb Dream Daughters to interrogate, or something akin to that?
>>
>>3963013
we uhh, we already have a T5 forge, remember?

>>3963011
oh, glad to hear we'll get our conversation with her. hopefully not too soon though, i dont trust Magpie to stick around forever.
>>
>>3963013
We already have a Tier 5, anon. We looted it from Yurei. November's been using it, but she can always pop it out when we want to Forge.

>>3963014
Oh, that is a good point that I had not considered, if the Proxies go after Francine because of this they may tear through Laoc on their way. Shit.
>>
>>3962922
it's already exists here in real life. just look at China and the policies the CCP are enforcing. They're even trying to push that sort of life onto hong kong.
>>
>>3963172
with an name like Orwell, id hope she took the lesson as he intended, not as a guidebook... but she wouldn't be the first one to do that either...
we'll see, i suppose, but certainly dont think id hurt to make our position clear.

that, or it'll start a massive propaganda war against us. but oddly, i think we could handle that, and in some ways it would be a relief that thats all that happens, compared to the usual.
>>
>>3963183
If she took the lesson as intended, then why does she have a skintalker for a core? The fact that she HAS the potential to become a propaganda machine worries me so.
>>
>>3963186
im not sure being a skintalker has to do with taking the lesson correctly or not. but you are right, its still a worry. maybe she was just testing us, but we dont seem to have a habbit of being lucky.
>>
It occurs to me that we should probably get our party's approval before we agree to a streaming deal. They'll probably agree, Skintalking means we're broadcasting everything anyway, but we shouldn't make deals on their behalf. How does this sound?

>>3962906
>>Write-In
>"Well, I'm not exactly looking for a Minister of Truth, but I could use the help with information security. Consider your offer tentatively accepted, I'd like to discuss it with my party but I think they'll be agreeable. It's not like Skintalking doesn't mean we're all broadcasting everything anyway."
>"How about this: As a show of good faith, you edit Francine from the narrative for now. Laoc doesn't need the attention she could bring here from the Wests. In exchange, after we're putting sorting through the rubble and getting the corpses squared away, I'll sit down and have an interview with you. Then afterwards, I'll talk with my party and we'll get the larger deal sorted out. Does that work for you?"

A more private thing, just dealing with Shu, and with the rest of the party getting involved with further streaming series if they accept.
>>
>>3962906
>"I think I should ask Francine her opinion first. I'll get back to you afterwards."
>>
>>3963195
Even though this sort of thing is a natural consequence of becoming a big name player by reputation, it still makes me concerned that Orwell benefits by having the power of information control if we are to engage in such a deal with her.

Speaking of which. If Orwell's core is a skintalker, I wonder what sort of issue she had pre-crucible that would warrant her perception of having her voice be overshadowed? And in what way? Surely being a small name player on youtube doesn't warrant getting a skintalker core does it? That would be super petty.

>>3963202
>>3962906
this type of offer doesn't seem half-bad.
Omitting Francine and getting information security for an exclusive 1-on-1 interview with The Defiant herself as a good will gesture. The additional benefit is that this one-time deal is done on our terms and we can control where this "contract" goes in the future.

>>3963195
any thoughts on this?
>>
>>3963202
>>3963210
Eh, nah.
I want to be firm in our stance. If she can accept that, maybe, but shes being a bit too blunt to not be a bit more blunt back.

>>3963195
Am this guy out grabbing food.
>>
>>3963210
>Speaking of which. If Orwell's core is a skintalker, I wonder what sort of issue she had pre-crucible that would warrant her perception of having her voice be overshadowed? And in what way? Surely being a small name player on youtube doesn't warrant getting a skintalker core does it? That would be super petty.
I'd guess she was probably an independent journalist pre-Crucible, had the "voice shouting into the wilderness" problem that a lot of journalists do. Had things she thought were important to say, but no one was listening.
>>
>>3962906
bhop, do note that I'm not supporting this vote >>3963210
>>
>>3963202
i do agree though on talking to our family about it, but you'll note in my vote i dd not say nothing could be arranged. ill just admit, im just way too iffy on her offer not to be a bit blunt with her. if it was JUST Francine and the Proxies deal, sure, be a bit less stern. but thats not at all how she worded things or at all all she was putting on the table, and im more than a bit offput by her insinuations, as it were.

I really want to make it clear to her that no, we do not want the truth bended in our favor where it is not necessary to stop a genocidal madwoman, and that we're not ok with letting it happen either.

>>3963210
yeah, she certainly has cards in her hand, not denying that. also i mean, it would be petty, but depending on the context i could see it being part of it.

>>3963232
hopefully that did not warp into 'if no one will listen to what i think is important, ill DECIDE whats important.'
>>
>>3963268
>hopefully that did not warp into 'if no one will listen to what i think is important, ill DECIDE whats important.'
Don't worry, it didn't come out like that. Just you disagreeing with my position. Though with further elaboration it's not so much that you disagree as that you want a different sort of emphasis in the discussion. So we're all good.
>>
>>3963291
oh, well i mean, that too, but i was talking/responding to your part about Orwell.
>>
>>3963294
Oh, blerp. I"m sorry, I'm kind of out of it, today. I didn't even see which post you were pointing to, just the (You). I thought you were needlessly apologizing for some reason. Now I apologize for presuming.

But yes, here's hoping that Orwell is using 1984 imagery ironically. I do not want to have always been at war with Hexania.
>>
(Back home and writing now, Gentlemen.)
>>
(Gentlemen, I'm afraid my evening has come with some unexpected developments that shall delay my writings. Thus, consider voting reopened for the next twelve hours, with posting to resume in roughly fourteen.)

(My sincerest apologies for the delay, and I'll endeavor to keep the interruptions to the minimum for the rest of this week, if I can do anything to help it.)
>>
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>>3963466
oh, sorry to hear your evening got interrupted. hope nothing too terrible? regardless, i hope it smooths out and your night at least has a peaceful slumber. dont feel too terrible over things you cant control either, we understand.

Pic related might be applicable though it sounds like, heh.
>>
>>3963476
(That's...basically how this week's felt, yes.)

(I appreciate your kind words, truly.)
>>
>>3963466
No need to apologize, BHOP. I hope whatever's happening with your evening is resolved without undue stress. Take care of yourself, friend. See you tomorrow.
>>
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you know, just had an interesting thought. with the oddity of abilities, especially Unnatural Predator ones, living in the water(even the acid nonsense of the Crucible) would be entirely possible. i am 100% certain more than a few Daughters have tried to make an Atlantis. one might even of succeeded!
and she probably ruins it by being a buncha pirates too i bet.
>>
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>>3963623
>that pic
that is a very attractive fishlady.

Unnatural Predator settlements:
fish people in the oceans
Lizard/dragon girl settlements on the savannahs
Birb girls (aka harpies) in the mountains

what other sort of settlements will Unnatural predator class daughters make?
Also, seeing them fall to their Feral instincts will be simultaneously amusing and horrifying at the same time.

Oh god, much of the Insect kingdom are attracted to bright lights. Rath's going to gather a natural harem of Insect Themed Unnatural predator girls.

pic related is the feral instincts of how foxes hunt in wintertime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2SoGHFM18I
>>
>>3963653
yeah, its a good picture. shame the game basically takes us away from anyplace we would really see sea themed Daughters though.

and id think Unnatural Predators would probably be a bit more broad than that in their packs, though sure i can still see them having plenty of places only they can reach. (Winged Daughters on cliff-sides and such, heat resistant in sands, like you said). besides water and sky though, theres not really much i can think of that would actually require specifically UP to uniquely inhabit though. i mean, with how abilities work, probably doesn't even specifically have to be UP abilities, though point being made is that would be the most common and easiest way to go about it.

treetops i suppose. plenty of climbing animals, in which while humans can, we certainly dont excel at that. oh god, imagine an entire settlement of squirrel and monkey Daughters. that would be hell.

true, though its not a... meme? common theme? as often that things outside of Moths are depicted as such, so the Crucibles natural love of themes and traditions might actually mitigate that issue pretty heavily, especially if said other insects have much more prominent traits to apply and enhance on the Daughter. Raths gonna have wardrobe issues though, if Lara does stick around.
>>
>>3963653
Dont forget the many types of undrground settlements possible with how many creatures burrow and live large parts of their lifes underground.
>>
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I'm thinking on something based on Iruburu village in Made In Abyss. A settlement that was made from the body of a Daughter. It has an effect for those that are willing to become permanent residents where upon entering, the corruption from their abilities will max out as if they were all leveled up to 20, even the abilities that cap at 15. This warps their bodies so much that it looks as though the village was operated by Unnatural Predators. The residents also cannot feel the Hunger anymore, but are physically incapable of leaving the settlement.
>>
>>3963842
Terraforming, too. Subterranean construction should be easy when there are people who can carve out spaces and build in reinforcements just by thinking about it. Though they can't go too deep or they risk running into the zone of enlightening madness you hit about a fifteen hundred meters down. I feel like we really should try going deeper into the mines beneath the town to investigate that, at some point, but I'm really not eager to go dungeon crawling into a nightmare cave. Subterranean labyrinths where your perception of reality is warped are one of my phobias.

>>3964049
Oh, that would be cool, Iruburu is one of the neater locations in the Abyss. What sort of Core would lead to you becoming Iruburu, though? Skintalker, maybe, some skill based around peaceful communication. Probably some Vitruvian power similar to Alicja's, too, to keep your own Hunger at bay.
>>
>>3964178
>>3964049
>>3963842
I feel like that would be mixed with the terrible shenanigans that is Dwarf Fortress. Where Hunger Riots and demonic amalgams from the deep could ensue because a daughter dug too deep.
>>
>>3964201
That works disturbingly well and I now want to make a Crucible mod for Dwarf Fortress in the same vein as that other post-apocalyptic biopunk mod.
>>
>“Haha, don’t look so mad, I wanna help! Wasn’t hard to figure out, if you’re wondering how I knew. It’s not like your Proxy is the first to try and shake things up…operative word being *try*.” Orwell explains off-handedly. “She’s just the first to make some friends before toeing the line, is all!”

You know, something is disturbing about this statement. Orwell implies that Francine's not the first proxy to try and shake the status quo by rebelling against the West collective.

And then in the interlude options, we had a snippet where that West Tau was visited by two people whose presence instill literal terror into her.

I have a feeling that not all is well in the West collective. And I'm thinking that West Alpha was created at first as an experimental test subject to test out the cloning powers, but then modified into a Terminator in order to keep the proxies in line.
>>
>>3964178
WHile that would be really cool i am not sure many people would like to live there... I for instance would get really uncomfortable living underground..

Maybe i am just a bit squeemish about living underground sice i quiete like to feel the frsh air moving and all my experiences with underground stuff has been cramped and mostly relatively stale air.....

But if they were of a UP nature they woudl probably be better able to cope but it is not impossible people would live there to avoid Surface level predators
>>
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>>3962906

"...If you would omit Francine's presence for now, I’d appreciate it.” You reply, turning to face Orwell’s massive visage directly, your own face hard and stoic. "However, I’m not one to lie or bend the truth unnecessarily. You cover my stories, you keep it as truthful as you can without putting lives in danger. Nothing more, nothing less. Otherwise, you'll find yourself sorely in need of off-hand sources for anything, I’ll make sure of it."
The last little threat you tack on doesn’t illicit any negative reaction, much to your surprise; instead, Orwell’s grin just widens more, and if her eyes had any color to them at all, you’d imagine they’d be shimmering with excitement.

"Hopefully it won’t come to that, but I’m neither in need of nor will I tolerate a propaganda machine in my name. Folks dislike or like me? That’s their decision, based on the truth, and that’s what it needs to stay." You conclude, and you’re treated to the sight of the wall leaning forward and backwards with the girl’s emphatic nod.

“See?! THAT’S stardom! You’re absolutely incredible, and I know we’re going to do some amazing things together, Shu!” Orwell titters happily, tilting her head towards you as she continues. “I know you must have some terribly important business to wrap up, but when you’re ready for that sit-down, you know how to find me. Isn’t that right, Superfan?”

Orwell gives Amara a sly wink, and your young ward gives her a goofy grin coupled with a sharp salute just as the wall begins to return to its original shape.

“You’re already a legend, Defiant.” Orwell smiles. “Just think of what you can be with us working together~”
With her words hanging in the air, you’re finally left alone with Amara and your own churning thoughts.

“This is so exciting!” Amara says, hopping in place beside you. “You two will get along super well!”

“Yeah…yeah, it’ll be interesting. C’mon, let’s see how Julia and Dorian are doing.” You say hesitantly, and between your Swarmlings and Amara’s senses the pair of artists are found within seconds. When your Knightling lands, Dorian holds himself back from speeding up to you, opting to walk alongside Julia as they approach while you dismount.

“How’re you two holding up?” You ask, nodding to Dorian as Julia scoops Amara up in her arms swinging her around gleefully.

“Fair, Miss Shu.” Dorian replies, exhaustion evident in his tone as he casts his azure gaze down the street behind you. “With my speed, Julia and I are able to cover a vast amount of ground. We’ve…seen a lot of Laoc, at this point.”

He begins to walk, and you catch onto the pointed glance he gives you. Walking alongside him a little ways away from Julia and Amara, he casts another glance back toward them before he speaks again, voice low.

“There’s a lot of casualties.” He says sadly. “And Laoc’s lost its defenders.”

(Continued)
>>
>>3964261
What worries me is that Orwell said "toe the line". Not "be killed", but "return to the status quo". One way or another, they're convinced to stop pursuing their own interests and work for Prime again. I doubt it's as simple a matter as convincing them that Prime's plan is the best, or even just intimidating them with West Alpha. They're probably being operated on to exert more control over them. If the visitors that came to West Tau were to address her growing rebellious, I'd bet that one was West Alpha and the other was an "inquisitor" there to reprocess Tau.
>>
>>3964282
>“She’s twelve, Magpie.”
I thought she was seven? Amara, have you been lying about your age to mess with people? Oh, you little ninja.
>>
>>3964292
(Damn, bamboozle incoming, for multiple reasons.)
>>
>>3964278

“I spoke with the Mayor, and when she did a sweep of the dead she realized most of the town guard were the first to succumb to the Hunger.” Dorian continues, keeping an eye out for anyone that might overhear. “That was a magnificent speech you gave, Miss Shu…though now that we’re street-level, as it were, I can’t help but wonder if Laoc will be able to fend off the attacks it’s been able to, up to this point.”

“…I see.” You breathe, massaging your temples with one hand. “What do you suggest?”

“I…don’t mean to sound cold-hearted, but as much as I wish to help, this place isn’t our goal. The Cord is, and anything that delays us from bringing the Crucible to an end…” Comes Dorian’s pragmatic reply, his brow furrowing. “…Lady Julia, on the other hand, wishes to help. If we don’t do something to assist the people here, I believe she’ll be…vocal, to put it lightly.”

“You think she’d put her foot down?” You ask, and the gentleman beside you just nods. “Hm…did you bring up the whole timing of the Francine issue, along with the Crucible plan?”

“Indeed, I did. She’s…very passionate, and very difficult to argue with.” He says guiltily. “I know now’s hardly the time to dispute the point, but I thought you should be made aware of where she stands on Laoc.”

“Thanks, Dorian. Yeah, I’ll…I’ll add that to the list.” You sigh, patting him on the shoulder with a weary smile, just as Julia and Amara run back up to the two of you.

“D-Dorian, there’s some m-more townspeople that n-need our help.” Julia says sweetly, and with a gentlemanly bow, Dorian takes his leave of you to attend to the recovery efforts alongside his love. Taking Amara’s hand once again, you cast your gaze to the summit of city hall, making a decision you hope you don’t regret. A short jaunt brings you to the tavern, and when you try to purchase a bottle of whiskey from Sierra she insists that it’s on the house. After she wins that little argument, you relent and ascend to the top of city hall atop your Knightling, with Amara in tow as you find your target finishing her cigarette, tilting her ear towards you at your approach.

“Hey.” The sniper greets, simply.

“Hey.” You echo, staring out at the expanse of Laoc. “Mind some company?”

Magpie just pats the shingles next to her, and you settle down, allowing your aching legs to dangle off the edge while Amara scoots beside you. Wordlessly, you offer the unopened bottle to the older woman, and she just cracks a toothy grin before swiftly uncorking it and taking a long drink from the container.

“Want a swig, kiddo?” She offers, reaching past you and extending the bottle to Amara. You stop her from snatching the bottle right then and there, cocking an eyebrow at the raven-haired woman.

“She’s seven, Magpie.”

“Ah, a growing girl.” She replies simply, bottle still extended. “Two swigs, then.”

(Continued)
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>>3964296

You swiftly take the whiskey bottle from Magpie’s grasp, eliciting a raspy cackle from the dark-haired woman while Amara just pouts beside you.

“Thanks…for the drink.” Magpie clarifies, listening to you take a swig from the bottle yourself before handing it back to her. “What brings you to this old crow’s perch?”

“Just checking up on a friend.” You reply honestly, watching the woman’s angular features intently, your empathic field at the ready. “Are you planning on tracking down the rest of the Apex, since you toppled them?”

“Heh, I hadn’t intended on it.” She replies, off-handedly acknowledging your suspicions.

“Your strike on them…was it a contract?” You counter, and she weighs her response before voicing it aloud.

“No.” Comes her curt answer, with an odd twinge of guilt across the channel. “It was personal. For me, anyway…not for them.”

“I…see. So, where are you headed now?” You segue. “You seemed pretty concerned about the Altered Altar, so do you have a friend there?”

Another twinge, this time of something like…worry?

“Yeah, I do.” She smirks, her thumb rubbing the hammer of her massive revolver. “Old friend of mine from before I met Mara I wanna catch up with. Been too long, and aside from you an’ yours, friendly faces are in short supply for an old bird like me.”

You just nod, swallowing hard.

She’s lying.

She’s lying to your face.

You empathic channel flickers with her storm of emotions, precisely none of them you can pin down to help you arrive at an answer. Rising to your feet, you look down at the inscrutable expression of the woman before you, weighing your response. Across the channel, you can feel the wariness, the feeling of trepidation billowing off her at what you’re going to say next. You can feel her readying another lie, another deflection, the sadness in her heart prepared to ward you off from the truth of what she’s doing.

She doesn’t want your help, clearly.

What isn’t clear is what you should do in the face of someone who refuses to open up to you.

>>…Bid her goodbye, and wish Magpie a good time with her friend.

>>…No more secrets. Press her on what she’s doing.

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>
>>3964299
>"Well, me and mine had a bit of business to take care of over there ourselves. Friends are in sore supply indeed Magpie, and the way you're blatantly lying to me makes it clear you're starting to forget what that word means. we'll go together, once we're all prepared. and id prefer if you didn't put up too much of an argument here, please."
>Sigh, and flop back down next to her, putting a friendly hand on her shoulder.
>"Look, whatever it is you have to do there, i wish you'd just be honest with me about it. but if you cant... then at the very least, you going there with us will make sure you know exactly when we are there and when we leave, so you wont have to worry about getting us caught up in it if you cause a ruckus. alright?"
>Smirk, and pull her into a half hug.
>"You wont convince us not to go, that much you should know, so we're kinda forcing your hand here anyways."

Damn you BHOP. damn you and your bamboozles.
>>
>>3964278
also, Orwells feeling like another Isabelle situation, in that it feels like she ignored what we actually said over just trying to please us in the moment. Also, Amara is being a bit of a kid fangirl there. i mean, thats obvious, but she very clearly is just seeing what she wants, over the clear concerns we have over Orwell.

>>3964296
damnit Magpie do not become the cool win aunt for Amara, thats the last influence we need on her!
>>
>>3964299

>Sigh and flop back
>"I get it you might not want to tell me but as your friend i ask you to at least tell me. Even if i cant change your mind i would like to at least know if i have to speed up my own plans now as well. Dont worry we wont blab about your plans"
>"You dont have to lie to me Magpie. I still have business with the Altered Altar to take care of myself. SO we will go there with you even if you wont tel us or so we can make sure we dont suddenly get caught up in whatever fallout that is gonna happen from whatever is about to go down there"
Smirk at her while pullng her into a half hug
>"You wont convince us not to go, that much you should know, so we're kinda forcing your hand here anyways."
>Whisper into her ear "And i ask you as a firend to not give my daughter alcohol"

>>3964308
We might have to set up a very strict contract of what she can and can not do with what she learns form us. Maybe find a specialist that can make it so that contracts that are singed can not be easily broken and enforced on both parties through the crucible itself?
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>>3964310
maybe. that sounds potentially more like a Relic type deal, very high tier relic type deal. for now though, shes... kinda sorta but not really backed off, but she not pressed us yet either, so we'll have to see. maybe once we have that sit down, we could make the points clear enough without extra help.

Or maybe trying to will cause her to label us an enemy, who knows?
>>
>>3964316
Maybe. She might see it as trying to cut into her journalistic freedoms.

But we could probably convince her to agree to signing a contract to make sure that we at least get to see what she is gonna write before she posts it.

If she presses it i would hate to have her as an enemy i think she can probably pull shit like the Ministry of truth by editorializing very specific things and she can also probably enforce her truth. She quite likely has very powerful friends or even memetic powers to influence those that see her content
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>>3964319
probably, but we hardly need to be her pawn or accomplice either. she makes herself a problem, we find a way to deal with it. sucks, but thats the gist of it. we know where we stand, and she either understands and respects that(even if she doesn't otherwise help us because of it), or she makes it a problem.
>>
>>3964319
Five bucks says she has a Neuromantic power called "Memory Hole".
>>
>>3964302
>>3964310
this is nice, but the wording of it implies that we're detouring for Magpie.
>>
>>3964324
i was trying to imply with 'we'll go together, once we're all prepared.' meant we kinda were not. as in, we are not prepared, so dont you damn dare go rushing off without us.
>>
>>3964324
>>3964329
fuck ,hit send too early dammit.

ON TOP OF THAT, if shes not gonna wait, shes giving us no choice. sorta. i mean, it IS just a Gemma shard there, i i guess its not the biggest loss, but still. i guess it would also depend on how things end up going between Gemma and Julia too.

so i guess we could just let her go, but at this point it feels like for her sake in some ways that would be a bad idea. but it wouldn't be the biggest loss to not go with her, im just saying if we DO want to visit the Altered Altar, she IS potentially forcing our hand here to go with her, as she very well could cause trouble that cascades to make that not viable once she is done.
>>
>>3964299
>>Write-In
>"You do remember that I'm an empath, right? I can tell you don't feel what you're saying. If there's something you really don't want to talk about, you can just say that. But lying to me is only going to get me worried for you. Honestly, you've got better chances of keeping me out of whatever business you've got planned by not deflecting like this."
>"I understand if you're worried about someone else getting caught up in this. But we've got business with the Altar, too, so sooner or later we probably will get caught up anyway. So it will be safer for us both if we talk about this now instead of then. You'll have someone to watch your back, and we won't go stumbling in unaware."
>"Besides, I care about you. I'm not going to let you walk into danger without doing something to help you, first."
>>
>>3964299
>"Magpie. You can stop lying to yourself."
>"You wouldn't have watched over me in my sleep in the Dragon's Roost if you didn't care how I felt about you."
>"But you do. What is it that you're hiding that you're so afraid of telling me?"
>"The truth is, I care about you. Even though you have the air of a woman who's prepared to go to the grave after her business is done, Even if you aren't ready to tell, even if it's so shameful that you refuse to open up. I still care about your well being."
>"Look. I don't know what business you have with the Altar, but it seems you have personal business. If you're willing, tell me what you have in store. But if you can't, then let us come with you to keep you out of trouble. My family and I also have business to deal with that also involves going to the Altered Altar."
>>
leaving for work, will lurk on mobile. I hope this conversation with Magpie goes well. Crow lady's too cool for her baggage to kill her from the sheer emotional weight.
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>>3964396
>>3964299
amending the vote to add:
>”Also because you are a cool woman”
>>
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>>3964285

"Well, me and mine had a bit of business to take care of over there ourselves.” You declare, leaning back on your elbows as you gaze out over the city. “Friends are in sore supply indeed Magpie, and the way you're blatantly lying to me makes it clear you're starting to forget what that word means.”

At that, Magpie doesn’t even try to defend herself against your accusation, merely taking another long gulp of whiskey.

"Look, whatever it is you have to do there, I wish you'd just be honest with me about it…” You say, reaching out and placing a hand on the woman’s narrow shoulder. “…but if you can’t, then at the very least you going there with us will help settle things. I understand if you're worried about someone else getting caught up in this, but we've got business with the Altar, too, so sooner or later we'd get caught up, anyway. It’ll be safer for us both if we talk about this now instead of then, if you're open to it. You'll have someone to watch your back, and we won't go stumbling in unaware."

Magpie opens her mouth to say something, then closes it, thinking better of voicing her protests as she just shoots you a smile that’s more a terse line across her face that anything. In turn, you move your hand from one shoulder to the other, pulling the spindly sniper into a warm half-hug that she makes no move to resist.

"You won’t convince us not to go, that much you should know. We'll go together, once we're all prepared.” You insist, and Magpie wordlessly tilts her head towards you. "Besides, I care about you. I'm not going to let you walk into danger without doing something to help you, first. You’re really cool…”

At this, you lean in to whisper in the other woman’s ear; "…but as cool as you are, I have to ask that you not give my daughter alcohol."

Finally, the older woman cracks the unnerving smile that her face just isn’t complete without.

“Alright…guess there’s no changing your mind, then. That empathic junk’s pretty irritating, I have to say. Always hated when Mara would whip out her keen little observations…anyway, yeah. Yeah, I’ll bite.” She relents with a hearty and theatrical sigh. “I’m headed out two days from now. Who knows, might be nice to have your perspective."

A tinge of dishonesty, but still…it’s better than earlier, since she actually seems open to teamwork. Well, now that she’s been attended to, you have some other items on your list to address before you can take a true breather.

>>Venture back down the tower to talk with Mayor Jeraha about Laoc and the dead.

>>Find another one of your allies to check up on, given everything that’s happened (Write-In).

>>Try and figure out where the heck Tinker Tailor went. She owes you a goddamned Uzi, after all.

>>You’re not quite done talking to Magpie, since you wanted to ask her about (Write-In).

>>Try and adjust the timing of your eventual trip to the Altar.

>>Write-In

YOU ARE IN CONTROL
>>
(Gentlemen, voting shall remain open for the next three hours as I close out the work day. I hope yours is going well, and thank you for your patience and participation as always.)
>>
>>3964585
>Venture back down the tower to talk with Mayor Jeraha about Laoc and the dead.

two days sounds fine. we already promised the Ant Queen we would be back sooner than later, and theres pleeenty else to fill that gap. not to mention, Julia still needs to talk to Gemma anyways first.
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>>3964585
>>Venture back down the tower to talk with Mayor Jeraha about Laoc and the dead.

>"See you around Magpie. I have to have a talk with the Mayor. Figure out what to do about this whole mess."
>Gesture to the devastation
>"Maybe i will find Tinker there as well. She still owes me my Uzi back."
>toss her a swarmling
>"If you see her let me know. If you can, that little guy should let you contact me"
>>3964590
Had an alright day Could have been much better but well lifes life and problems have to be fixed

I hope your day has been going well
>>
>>3964585
>>Venture back down the tower to talk with Mayor Jeraha about Laoc and the dead.
So here's what I think we should do: Firstly, we grant open access to the Arbiter's Appetite. Then we put out a call for people to come consume. First serve are those who knew the dead and want to grab them as a Dream Daughter so they won't be separated. Second serve is vetted volunteers for a new Laoc defense force, using the Appetite to get a power boost and make up for their relatively low levels. Then we set aside some of the flesh to keep in the town granary or whatever it has, preserve it for times of famine. And then we'll take a cut of a few levels, putting off our own level-up voting process as long as possible because we all know that takes days.
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>>3964644
>And then we'll take a cut of a few levels, putting off our own level-up voting process as long as possible because we all know that takes days.
nah, that wouldn't feel right. if they give us a reward, thats on them, but im against trying to plan for it or ask for it. personally id turn it down too. they'll need everything they can get to rebuild, and we can survive one pass up to do the right thing. might also be a good way to set Julia at ease too, over risking her staying behind or us having to split our non main teams time in ways we cant afford.

plus, practicality, doing that and truly gaining the towns favor would arguably be a potential bigger boon than the level up too.
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>>3964649
You're not wrong. Really I've just got that tangled up in the hope there will be a Core or two left for some reason. Not taking those would just be foolish, for many reasons. But no, in all likelihood they'll all be consumed by other people and I should curb my enthusiasm.
>>
>>3964655
we really dont need more cores. i mean, i get its a good stat boost, but id still prefer to just take a minor hit on our stats in favor of really dumping some levels into existing abilities, if it does come to a level up.

and we certainly in my opinion still dont need more abilities.
>>
>>3964649
>>3964644
While i would not plan for a level up I think if they insist on giving us a gift we can probably safely take at least a portion. Modesty is nice and all but on some level people are gonna ask questions about our Motivs if we turn away a gift completely.
Some of the townspeople might want to give us a level or two for helping them out.
>>
>>3964660
i mean, maybe, but we have a pretty obvious and good reason to turn it down. it doesn't help(or does help?) that they would be handing us chunks of their friends and family too.
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>>3964659
I just want more brain friends. Especially now that every Dream Daughter that Shu acquires is a potential new summon. Definitely agreed we don't need more abilities, though. Maybe an Augment or Passive if it looks especially good, but at this point it would take something really strong to sway me. Any level-up we do gain I'd want to put at least one point into Hive and one point into Hundred-Handed.

Speaking of improving Laoc's defenses, though, how about we forge them some Relics? I'm sure they've got a Forge here, and we've got a Tier 5 Core (once November recharges it). Plenty of people to take a tiny tax of Bio off of, add it together and we could make some really good weapons and armor for Laoc's armory. Maybe some autonomous constructs, too, get a bunch of Knights and Sharks patrolling the airspace.
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>>3964674
Mostly autonomous constructs maybe with limited intelligence would be good to supplement their forces. have them stationed aroudn the city to act as a first response unit in case of an emergency and cannonfodder in case of a full scale attack so that more competent fighters can have time to gather..

It would also help if most people would get a power boost to make sure they are more prepared the next time

And some stress relief relics would be helpful as well to make sure the dfenders had mroe time for themselves to deal with their own life insteead of worrying about the citizens all the time.

The biggest threat Laoc faces is the hunger now with the Apex shattered and only titans and Apocalypse Amalgams roaming around... and lets be honest right now we probably couldnt take on one of those(at least the latter). Ther arent a whole lot of dangers left a well organized force couldnt beat back

>>3964666
I was more thinking that they would transfer a level or two over via a Sparagmos engine not that we would take the chunks and pieces of the fallen.

If they dont have one we could jsut get one quickly to help them reorganize a little.

At least to have the new town guard optimize theri builds
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>>3964585
>Try and figure out where the heck Tinker Tailor went. She owes you a goddamned Uzi, after all.
>>
>>3964674
>I just want more brain friends.
i guess thats fair. i just overlooked that as i, and i apologize for it, assumed that not to be the case, due to the massive paranoia over even using Spiritus. because of that, i dont/didnt see the need for Shu or her family specifically to take cores for that reason, as we would never use them for that.

i mean, mind you, sure, save the Dream Daughters just to be nice, but with an entire town im sure someone else would be willing to do that just to do it, even without the personal connection.

As for the Relics, sure, but would probably be better to just loan them the Forge Core(under someones watchful eyes) and some Biomass. whoever will be defending the town will probably know what the Town and themselves could put to use the best compared to us. we can have Rath and people help forge them of course, im just saying the designs themselves would be best left to their hands... especially considering how many they could end up needing...

>>3964682
maybe. we'll see i suppose. i just dont want to abuse their or ignore their situation, when we can afford to let things go for sure at least this once. nor let their kindness let them ignore the severity of their situation, that one im very worried about.
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>>3964682
>At least to have the new town guard optimize theri builds
That's actually not a bad idea. Escher's Gear can move the Engines around, and we've got two. We'll need the spare back eventually, we're planning on using it to deal with the Proxies, but we can port it over real quick and let the new municipal defenders edit their builds for maximum effectiveness.
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>>3964689
> due to the massive paranoia over even using Spiritus
My paranoia has decreased greatly now that we've upgraded Spiritus Ex Testa and Dominus Bloodline. Just a few levels into each of those has made the Shells considerably more survivable.
>>
>>3964585
>>3964597
adding in;
>Let her know about the Appetites and that we have an Engine we can let them borrow for a bit, though we would need it back, possibly on quite short notice, later.
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>>3964689
Yeah we cant have them ignore the situation and we would probably shoot most of them down if they wanted to give us stuff since they will need it for reconstruction.

But we also cant neglect our own growth.

Like you said before we should probably hold off on judgement if we are to take anything in terms of levels. I think Relics are less probalematic since they are in comparisson fairly easy to replace if you have a competent forge Mistress or two on hand. (i dotn see why Laoc wouldnt have at least one of those)

We should probably have Rath watch the core and maybe Lara... No... better not do that Lara would be distracted by ratth and Rath by her... Now that it think about maybe have Julia watch over it. She might decide to stay in town a little longer to help the people out more anyway
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>>3964692
honestly id not be surprised is Spiritus itself would ease our fears greatly along its line, if we are willing to level it up a bit more. wouldnt be a against a slight burst to it for sure myself, especially that supposed part of it eventually allowing allied DDs too.

That alone would help tremendously with its viability.
>>
>>3964585
Amemndign my vote slightly>>3964609
to add in
>Tell the Mayor that we have an engine we would be willing ot loan to them for a while but might need it back on short notice. And we have a relic to guarantee that the Dreamdaughters can be saved and their cores be consumed by those that meant soemthign to them. The Arbiters Appetite
>>
>>3964585
>>3964597
>>3964693
you know, ill just consolidate things anyways. mostly because i forgot something i would need to add anyways;

>Venture back down the tower to talk with Mayor Jeraha about Laoc and the dead.
>Let her know;
>>About the Artesenal Appetites ability to guarantee Cores and thus Dream Daughters, so people can at least sorta keep their loved ones around. should help a bit at least.
>> that we have an Engine we can let them borrow for a bit, though we would need it back, possibly on quite short notice, later.
>>You would allow them to use your T5 Forge core, albeit under someones watch, and even donate some biomass. but you would need that one back sooner than later, compared to the Engine, though how fast would depend on some things, after you talk to your family about things.

>>3964698
we have other ways to grow, and our growth is not based on levels alone.
>>
>>3964699
Yeah, Spiritus Ex Testa is high on the priority list for Shu's level allocation, to me. It goes Hive>Spiritus>Dominus>Handed>Maw>Spiral>Neurotic. Hive is definitely top of the list, though, I'm really hoping that this level or the next finally gets us proper access to the specialized armor types so we can just stop assuming "well, Rook should be the most durable" and see if Knight or Bishop have anything cool to offer. I'm hoping Knight Armor gives flight, personally.
>>
>>3964710
we'll see, though im fine with what we have now personally. like the idea of riding the swarmlings like battle mounts more myself anyways. plus, we could already just attach one or two winglings to her back if we really cared that much. would personally like to see something much more unique than flight if we're gonna get things like that, as we dont at all need a special flight armor variant to get flight. would be a waste in my opinion.
>>
I have an idea.
Make a spirit Shell construct, then have that combine with Shu megazord style. Shu wears themed Armor, dream daughter gets to fight in tandem with Shu. It sounds horrible and weird, but it would be awesome somehow.
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>>3964919
im not sure if that would even really work, from the perspective of really being worth it. plus, there is advantages to having more pieces on the board, over doubling them up.

whethers its even possible or not, would depend on if the Chitinous can the applied to the Spiritus, but i do know there were SOME limitations there, specifically Swarmling types i think, which is what i think Chitinous counts as.
>>
>>3964919
>>3964935
also, wearing our Dream Daughters as a shield is quite iffy to me.
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>>3964919
It depends on if there are additional benefits unlocked from leveling up enough for it to be possible. Some sort of special combinations and such.
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>>3964585

"See you around, Magpie." You say with a sigh as you rise, calling your Knightling back to your side. "I have to have a talk with the Mayor, maybe figure out what to do about this whole mess."

Nodding towards the battered town of Laoc, you take a moment to spawn a small swarmling; a FuzzBuzz, to replace the one you have Magpie what feels like forever ago.

"Here. Feel free to reach out when you're ready to head over to the Altered Altar...or if you see a girl in a gasmask, actually. Tinker Tailor still owes me my Uzi back." You mutter, narrowing your eyes when you watch Magpie take your offered construct with an impish grin. "...And use that little guy as a friend, instead of as a barrel swab. Just a thought?"

Magpie chuckles, waving you on your way as you and Amara mount the over-sized Knightling. Your business with the unnerving sniper concluded, you swoop back down to ground level, entering into the tavern that's part and parcel of City Hall. Pushing open the heavy oaken double-doors, you find Jeraha directing a group of four other Daughters in the recovery efforts and, upon noting your entrance, she waves them off to allow yourselves a moment of solitude.

"Defiant." She greets with a nod when the four strangers leave, the doors swinging shut behind them. "I'm glad you came."

"Yeah, there were a few things I wanted to make you aware of, before the recovery got too far underway." You explain, prompting the other girl to raise one eyebrow.

"Complications?" She asks, suspiciously.

"The opposite." You reply, and from there you take the time to explain the nature of the Arbiter's Appetite that Mara gifted you after you toppled the Spiraling Fear. After that, you offer her the temporary use of the Sparagmos Engine, explaining its safety and uses once a concerned expression crosses her face. Finally, you posit the use of a Tier Five Forge Core under Rath's supervision, complete with the offer of biomass though with a stipulation of timing; you have November's frame to consider, after all.

And after all that?

She's quiet.

For a good ten to twenty seconds Jeraha just stares at the floor in silence after you conclude, making you wonder for a fearful moment if you'd overstepped some bounds you were unaware of...at least, until she speaks.

"You know...before the Crucible hit, I was a believer." She says, finally meeting your eyes as she leans against the counter. "Went to church. Talked the talk. Walked the walk. After, well...not so much. Seeing what I've seen. People at each others' throats. Tearing each other apart. Man's inhumanity to their fellow man...it's enough to make you feel like there's just nothing looking out for us. That there's no plan, no point to everything. That we're all just...ephemeral. Inconsequential."

(Continued)
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>>3964976

"Have to say that it's hard to brush off you coming here when you did as anything less than a miracle." She continues,watching your face intently. "Even harder when you lay out a plan to not only help my people get back on their feet, but to give them closure, of all things. A chance to be with their loved ones again."

"Jeraha, it's the least I can..."

"I'm not sure what'll be left after the bodies have been identified, but whatever's left over, I'd like to go to the townspeople." She interrupts. "Specifically who I pick to be the next town guard. That said, I have a storehouse of Relics that Tailor helped us make with our Forge and with Mara's input. After she touches base with me and we get this whole matter settled with the Arbiter Relic you mentioned, then you'll get your chance to see what we have. If you see something you like, then it's yours. No questions asked. On top of that, if you have any Relics that you'd like upgraded, then we can do a swap of favors. Tailor's got this power...not sure how it works exactly, but she should be able to take at least one or two of your Relics and majorly amp them up. That'll be on the house, obviously."

"I...thank you." You stammer, taken aback at both the offer and the namedrop of the Marrow Dragoon. "But I have to insist tha-"

"I'm not done." Jeraha says, cutting you off sternly. "There's a building we've finished recently in the Southern Quarter. Fit to house upwards of a dozen people. I'm not sure where your base is now and I don't want to know, but consider that house yours, if you ever need it. I'll have it fully stocked with beds, clothes, and amenities. It's secluded, so you'll have some peace and quiet when you need it."

You blink, trying to find the word to thank Jeraha when she just holds up a hand.

"Let's just...dispense with the thanks. One leader to another? I can't begin to repay you for what you've done for me and my people, so I'll consider what I just rattled off as a good start." She says, striding towards you. "Laoc's only standing because someone or something saw fit to put you where we needed you most. So on behalf of the people of Laoc..."

She reaches out, and you take her hand in yours with a solid shake.

"...you and yours have a home here, if you or anyone you vouch for ever need one."

You thought it was going to be a good day. And then? Chaos.

Yet here, in the midst of tragedy, there's hope. There's a future worth working towards. You, Jeraha, and your family see it. So, too, do the people of Laoc. Your journey to the Cord is only going to get harder from here, but thanks to what you and your allies have done here today, you've stoked the fires of defiance for you and countless others. The people of Laoc will rebuild, thrive, and grow. They'll never stop fighting.

And neither will you.

You're going to fight tooth and nail through the hell that is the Crucible...

...and just like today, you're going to win.

>>Thirty-Fifth Vein: Closed
>>
(Gentlemen, thank you all once again for your time, patience, and participation. The gap between the 35th and 36th Veins will be a longer one than usual due to plans over the holidays, so I'll set a tentative start date for Monday, January 6th, at 9:00AM Eastern time, and as always I'll update on the Body Horror Quest Twitter when updated become available. The next Vein will be a shower of level-ups, Relics, and other boons, so I'm very much so looking forward to what you do with your spoils. Please also know that I will continue to monitor this Vein for any questions, comments, or criticisms you may have, and I welcome them all.)

(Additionally, I truly cannot thank you enough for being the best group of players and readers I could ask for. This story has been going nigh-continuously for over a year thanks to your input and inspiration, and I just wanted to express my gratitude for making this experience as enjoyable for me to write as I try and make it for you to participate in. I wish you nothing but the very best in all things, and thank you again, one and all.)
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>>3964989
>"I'm not done." Jeraha says, cutting you off sternly. "There's a building we've finished recently in the Southern Quarter. Fit to house upwards of a dozen people. I'm not sure where your base is now and I don't want to know, but consider that house yours, if you ever need it. I'll have it fully stocked with beds, clothes, and amenities. It's secluded, so you'll have some peace and quiet when you need it."
That actually solves an issue I've been thinking about. The Daughters in the pods being guarded by the remaining Phalanges are going to need someplace to go after we recover them and they wake up. Having a house in Laoc already will make the situation easier, no need to negotiate for it after we've already got people to put there. We can just let them crash at our second home.

>>3964998
Well, shucks. Thanks, BHOP. You should take some of the credit for that, though, you've done a great job of fostering a community that encourages friendly participation in this quest. I look forward to resuming it next month, even though I'm going to have some definite withdrawal symptoms in the meantime. See you then, friend.
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>>3964989
hrm, well you can have the biomass. as i said, would be iffy to take it anyways, and you're right, you need the levels for damn sure.

Your offer of Relics and Upgrades is quite appreciated, though the first part does feel a bit counter productive. we'll see how that goes when we get to it though.

Was not expecting a house for sure. im... i mean, the gift is appreciated, without a doubt, but besides being a place to either send our couples in a honeymoon mood or send everyone else when said couples are in said mood, i really cant see a use for it. the Penthouse is fucking amazing, its just hard as hell to compete with. not to mention while being in a town and around people is nice, we dont need a house there to visit Laoc easily, not at all. all it would do is give fangirls an easy way to constantly annoy us. not that their fangirling isnt appreciated, but still, it would almost certainly happen. i guess it'll give us a good middle ground with Julia though. compromise with her. if we need her out on mission, we need her. but when shes not with us or on a secondary mission, she can huddle up there and help out.

>>3964998
oof, thats one hefty long pause, but i understand i suppose. did feel a bit sudden a pause, but with the holidays and how this week has been going for ya, i again understand. still though, will miss it while its gone.

I do hope your holidays are fun and peaceful BHOP, or at least enjoyable if nothing else. you deserve it for damn sure. thanks for such a wonderful Quest BHOP, its been an absolute amazing experience overall without a doubt, and i cannot say how much i appreciate your running it and your utter dedication to it. its also helped me through a pretty fucking tough year as ive said before, and as silly as it may always sound, know i could never thank you enough for that.

I know i can be a more than a bit hard on ya and some aspects of the Quest at times, but for what its worth, know in my own stubborn way i do it because of how much i love the quest and both respect and admire what you have made here, even if in the moment it doesn't come off like that im sure.

ill of course be around til the Vein drops off the board, but still, I do with you and everyone else an absolute blast of a Holiday and end of year, and look forward to seeing you all come the next one. we butt heads folks, but the Quest wouldn't be half as great or fun without you all here to even do that with. cheers to over a year of wonderful questing folks.
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>>3964998
>A long holiday break between Vein 35 an Vein 36

Good on you bhop. You definitely will need it.
You've stopped at a good time too. My work schedule for the coming holidays has my misfortune of having to work through the holidays. All of them.
And coming up with a description and tags for this vein will be relatively straightforward too.
I enjoyed this session for the parts that I did manage to participate and post in. And I am sure that I enjoy this quest very much.

I'll be here til the Vein rots off the board.
hopefully, with the time allotted, I'll be able to finish writing Carter's adventure and have it ready to post by next vein.

>>3965013
>Another house
If anything, it'll serve as a new FOB (Forward Operating Base) for us, despite us having Escher's Gear to Teleport to and From Mara's house since Laoc is the Westernmost Settlement on the other side of the River of Tears we've been to so far.
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>>3965092
well yeah, but the Etchers Gear makes that unnecessary. we certainly shouldn't give up the Penthouse, for so so many reasons, and because of that, to properly use the Laoc house we would have to keep a spoke there anyways(assuming it doesn't have a waystation near it, i cant remember).

but, regardless of that, the Etchers Gear makes any base a FOB. especially with Joyous and Swarmlings to easily keep eyes on places for us, on top of other potential methods. we just really have no practical reason to need it.
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>>3965092
>You've stopped at a good time too. My work schedule for the coming holidays has my misfortune of having to work through the holidays. All of them.
Ouch. I'm sorry to hear that, anon. I hope it doesn't prove too stressful, though I fear it will. Take care of yourself.
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>>3965112
I think the best use of it would be to use it to house any Daughters we rescue, such as the ones in the pods that the remaining Phalanges are guarding. It keeps the house from going to waste, helps tie the rescued Daughters to a community that can help them, and gives us a neat PR boost from the Defiant doing a charitable deed.
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>>3965142
perhaps. not a bad idea, but i cant imagine such communities dont already have a at least fair system to allow new daughter to earn their place. us sending them there alone might to wonders there too. could be a good temp home for that though, let them hold up there til they earn their own place. a middle ground between leaving them with nothing, and letting them move on too. might in that way kinda become a charity home though, but for, uhh, better or worse, im thinking we wouldn't have trouble with it getting overcrowded... though, might not be a bad problem to have, considering why i think that wont become an issue.

or like i said, vacation home, and/or a temp home for Julia as a compromise. though, again, with how Etchers and things work that seems unnecessary, though sentimentally she might still prefer it.
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>>3964998
Thanks for Running OP

I hope that pause will allow you to relax and recharge your batteries.

I hope that i will have chapter 9 of Minas Journey finished by the time the next vein rolls around. I struggled to get it started but its running now and i should have enough time to to get it finished during my vacation.

>>3965092
>My work schedule for the coming holidays has my misfortune of having to work through the holidays. All of them.
Uff sorry to hear your work will keep you so busy.... Best of Luck I hope that your work wont kill you
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>>3964998

>Hunger Riots are the worst. They can easily swallow up a town like Laoc whole if Shu doesn't put down the hunger-mad fast enough.

>35th Vein Archived:

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3951968/
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>>3964998
Question:
Have there been hunger riots in the past? Have there been hunger riots that turned into town-sized Hunger-mad daughters like the Monastery Monster?
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>>3964998
Question;
>How does Raths Cystemic Burn ‘Attack Mod’ act in relation to Pangean Arsenal? First off, Pangean effects Augments, which im not sure if Cystemic technically is, over a unique thing for Generator classes? I also ask as it doesn't seem like it would be so simple as just turning it off. Cystemic and similar skills outright change how the ability is as it levels up significantly. While it doesn't effect the Boils due to their hybridization, for other Generator abilities in similar situations, it doesn't seem like it would work to just be a switch, due to how heavily it effects the Ability. I mean, maybe thats the trade off, but it would either be super complicated and change several levels worth of the abilities and what they give us, or just deactivate them is what it seems like.

>Who was the toughest individual enemy in this past fight, and who had to face them?
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>>3965013
>Donating Biomass for Forging
Umm... If we really are going to have some of the family donate biomass for daughters to use at the forge, that means some of the family will have to stay and recover their health and bio reserves.

>>3965965

>Timeline
That brings to the next subject that I have concern for. The timeline for our activities.

>Today's plan: Visit town of Laoc, then head to Sigma's lab for a Raid?
>Tomorrow: Free schedule, assuming we take that day to rest. Alternatively, we go hunt down the Digging Amalgam since that day is the day it resumes leisurely digging towards Ant Queen's Territory.
>Two days from now: Magpie goes to the Altered Altar to attend personal business. Personally I'm thinking Magpie aims to kill the Altar with her weaponry given that she's bearing lots of guilt, carries lots of weaponry with her, and the Altered Altar is presumed to be founded by Mara.
>Three Days from now: The DOs launch their Arkship, this is possibly their earliest time(?)
>Four Days from now: The DOs Launch their Arkship, this is possibly their latest they can launch(?)
>Five Days from now: ???
>Six Days from now: ???
>One week from now: the daughters guarded by the Remaining Phalanges awaken from the pod

I know it's a bit of a big concern considering that we just apparently cut a deal with a skintalker who takes herself to a theme of George Orwell's Ministry of Truth, but I've also forgotten our purpose in raiding Sigma's lab. What were our plans for it, how would it affect the West Collective, and how would this help Francine in her war against Prime? And considering the snippet of West Tau's Interlude that we've seen and the implicaiton of West Prime having an "Inquisition system" in place. How do we deal with that?
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>>3965997
Raidxing west was to drag her to an engine to cause and then implant her with a kill command that will affect the West collective to kill all her proxies in one swoop.

So we will prbably have to keep a timeslot open to go kille West Prime if she decides to do a mad dash for the cord after her prxies get offed.

Or we have to fend of her retribution if we cant kill the proxies the way we planned
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>>3965997
not really, we have room to spare, especially if we spread it out between everyone. though yes, some have more wiggle room than others.

>Timeline
You know aswell as i do we do not ever have things go that smoothly as to be able to plan at all further than our next Action, if its not decided for us.

>Sigmas Lab Raid
that depends. we promised the Ant Queen we would be back around a Days time or so, so we may not have time for something that major. Not to mention, we might not be able to afford to wait on hunting down the Flying Titan. we also HAVE to talk to Julia about Gemma and deal with that before we head out with Magpie, though yes we have two days there, we cannot ignore how difficult it is to squeeze things like that in if we do not treat it as a 'must do now' type of deal. Oh, and Orwell. gotta talk to her before then too, due to the deal we have at least put on the table. that, and you forget raiding he Lab is not the plan anymore.

otherwise like i said, you're trying to hard to do something that has never once actually worked out past maybe a Day. its just not how these things worse. its why for my own list, i just list them by priority, not order or priority or when we should do them.

>but I've also forgotten our purpose in raiding Sigma's lab.
all we need is a West Proxy. Francine is some kinda virus that could mind wipe all West Proxies upon next group update, somehow using an Engine and captured Proxie to do this. killing off West Primes entire Proxy network would be a massive blow to her in multiple ways.

to add to what i said above, the reason Sigma specifically MAY not be the plan anymore is because we now know West Prime may be on to us, so may try and hunt Francine down. but if shes gonna hunt Francine down, then the Proxy we need is already coming to us, thus no reason to try and raid the Lab, that she may be prepared for us doing. so we have that plan with the Barbers, remember? whats-her-face thats the Gemma shard in their group can disguise herself as Francine, so we can force West to send TWO proxies to two different locations, then teamup via teleportation against the weaker one. but we need to forge them a teleportation Relic first too. you also forget we cannot do this plan or raid the Sigma Lab til Francine figures out a work around to her plan that doesn't involve suicide, which she has not yet confirmed, so we cannot do anything against the West Proxy Network til she does. which, considering that was like, maybe 2-3 hours ago IC before we first went to rest, then did this whole mess, id be very surprised if she is ready by now.
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>>3966023
Wouldn't Francine wiping all the West Proxies in the next group update mean Francine sacrificing entire herself in the process?
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>>3966039
>>3966023
sorry. stupid question. I'll talk with you after I'm done with work.
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>>3966039
>>3966043
well just for clarity yes, it would. dumb bitch got slapped and hugged over it. hence the issue with we cannot continue that til she finds another solution or a work around to that.

hope works not too rough on ya Anon. or that a good dinner or something can at least somewhat make up for it later.
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>>3966023
>Not to mention, we might not be able to afford to wait on hunting down the Flying Titan.
I'm not sure we have the capability to hunt it down, though. Leaving aside how powerful the thing must be as part of the Crucible's anti-invasion system, it's a supersonic flyer. How do we even catch it? We'd need to find some place where it roosts, and lay a trap for it there. But again, supersonic flyer, it would be a huge range in which it could have a resting spot. We need a wide sensor network to track it. Maybe one even larger than the Joyous Many could provide, they can only spread through the Crucible so fast. I think what we should actually do is start a Skinternet group tracking sightings of the Apocalypse Amalgams. That way we can have predictions of their movements and get warnings out ahead of time, and eventually figure out if they have nests we can target.
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>>3966207
maybe, but my point was if its just flying around causing events like this, it doesn't matter how easy it would be to find or track, we literally could not afford to not drop everything else and find a way to hunt it down. nothing else matters if its causing similar ruckuses all over the place, especially if it spawns even just one more Spiraling Fear like entity. we would constantly be having to intercept and stop crucible ending threats, over other issues, on top of the cascading effects of settlements and groups constantly being struck by Hunger waves like that and the hunger waves of fear said news and rumors would cause, on top of said Super-Hunger Fallens, and the issues of having those settlements and groups all fall or get super injured aswell.

if its causing trouble, we dont have time to wait on something like the Skinternet or other things, over finding whatever we can as an immediate way to deal with it.
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>>3966229
Oh, I agree. I just don't think there is an immediate way to deal with it. It's too fast for us to catch, and could make its nest anywhere in the world. Hunting it is going to take time. In the meanwhile, a Skinternet-based tracking initiative could both provide warning so people can evacuate ahead of its movements and narrow down the search region for its nest. That's the best we're likely to be able to do for now, short of it attacking the launching Disassociated ship and us intercepting it there. That's the earliest I could see us fighting it, if it does that.
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>>3966241
eh, i disagree, on top of thinking thats just excuse making. if its as big a threat as it could be, then we find a way, not brush it aside and just wait. if its causing trouble, our next task IS finding a way to track it down immediately and stop it ASAP, not just pushing the effort off onto others and twiddling our thumbs.

trying to say 'this is the best we can do' is just being lazy and trying to brush off the problem, over actually trying to solve it.
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>>3966253
Yeah, I think you misunderstand. I'm not saying "push the work off on someone else and ignore the problem for now". I'm saying "get help in tracking it, because there's no way we can do that on our own". I'm just acknowledging that even with the help of a widespread community of Skintalkers, tracking this thing down to where it sleeps is going to take some time. But it will take less time than if we were hunting all on our own, and the advantage of having an entire community of trackers is that they'll be able to spot the thing coming from farther off and warn people in its path sooner. That will help prevent things like Laoc from happening again.
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on another note, i wonder if the other two Titans have the same effect or something similar? neither would be as bad, due to more limited movement, but that would still make ignoring them pretty precarious. even the sea one would be a major problem, if it effects coastal cities, or worse, is still small enough to go up some rivers.

though unless it can go up rivers, i really cant see us ever really being able to go after it ourselves or really learning about it. not like theres a massive trade network across the sea either for it to interrupt. from how it sounds(plus, im positive there must be at least some inter continental waystation knowledge, though id also not be surprised if its limited and unfairly extorted, but thats a different issue.)
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>>3966379
I wouldn't be surprised if they had similar auras, no. Maybe not Hunger for all of them, but something disorienting to fit with their role as planetary defenses systems. Scramble the enemy's mind, that sort of thing. Although, that is going with the assumption it's deliberate, and not just something like these things being so desperate to find their intended targets that the desperation is leaking out and affecting everyone around them.

I think the sea monster probably can travel by river, if only because there are some big rivers in the Crucible. The Spiraling Fear took several turns to cross that river of acid. And the planetary defense Amalgams came from the Cord, so the sea monster has to get out to sea someway. I can see it following a river down to open water, Hunger-blasting every community it passes along the way. Shit, how many other towns have been affected and we just haven't heard of them yet? Orwell, you got any details on that?
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>>3966398
Amara/ the Skinternet might. i doubt if its starting to be a problem, that it'll go under the radar for long. that being said, we were also told the Skinternet was kinda falling apart, aswell as many settlements going dark. fair, it was very clearly stated at least a decent chunk of that was deliberate on the settlements part, with a known reason behind such things, but still, could be a very bad case of such Titan related things being accidentally hidden among the other reasons.

we should without a doubt investigate all of this though, and yeah, hopefully Orwell has some insight... assuming we can end up trusting her.

also, we have seen at least two Skintalkers(albeit one perhaps a hybrid, though we dont know the other isnt too), with some pretty hefty and far reaching direct information gathering abilities. im starting to think a hybrid for Amara core might almost be necessary, albeit i too understand not jumping on it too soon, though mostly because i dont think we have anything at all to directly help its information gather capabilities to add to it. some things that would help, sure, but nothing at all to the implied level some of these others seem to have.
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>>3966408
Yeah, I don't think Amara has anything on her that would expand her Skintalking range too much. The best she might be able to do is Joyous Many, since the clones can be repeater stations for her, but she already can do that and I doubt it would be worth giving up leveling Many directly. Let's keep an eye out for perception-enhancing Neuromancer abilities, that's probably our best bet for expanding her range. Or hey, maybe we'll get lucky and Lexicon will start offering expanded range on its own. That would be nice, no need to pick up another skill and start leveling it to a hybrid point, keep the character sheet nice and compact.
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>>3966423
we'll see. the issue is Lexicon has so far seems pretty sporadic. id not be surprised if it is another case of Amara having the 'standard' version to show off the class to us.
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>>3966049
back from work.

A thought has come to my mind.
Remind me of why we chose to strike a deal with Orwell and have her scrub Francine from the skinternet records when it comes to Laoc's Riot Hunger.

In retrospect it seems so odd and against the flow. And from first impression of how Orwell made her entrance, I find myself creeped out and suspicious of her. The fact that she glossed over clearly stated threat and was more jubilant at the fact that we accepted her deal made it feel like we made a deal with the devil and that we are going to pay for it in the long run. It also told me that she might have cards to play that would put her one step ahead of us if we were to even try to hunt her down in the future.

I find myself more and more suspicious of Orwell. Not because of her name, but also the apparent influence that she has over Amara when it comes to the skinternet. Even though it seems harmless, we may have to teach Amara a lesson about the dangers of "poisonous friends".

Either way. I want to know what sort of content is floating around the skinternet and who controls the levers. Amara is seven years old. She may be emotionally mature for her age, but she still hasn't had much of the more subtle nuances of morality instilled since Shu took on the role of being Amara's adoptive mother.
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>>3966799
well, we kinda didn't accept her, not yet. we just didnt outright turn her down, to give ourselves time to talk to our family and see how she is in person.
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>>3966799
>Remind me of why we chose to strike a deal with Orwell and have her scrub Francine from the skinternet records when it comes to Laoc's Riot Hunger.
It was worry that having Francine associated with Laoc could lead to West Alpha coming through the town on the way to finding her. We'll lure the Proxies to us once we've got a trap laid, and we can prevent collateral damage.

And yeah, Orwell is a bit creepy, and definitely someone to be careful when dealing with. I'm not sure she's malicious, though, might just be a desire to keep in control of a situation. That would be a perfectly normal thing for a journalist to want, they can make a lot of enemies. We know that she was fine with meeting Paloma on friendly terms, so it's also possible she's the sort of person who compartmentalizes and acts completely differently in a professional context than in a personal one. And we haven't made any commitments to her yet, we're still in the "trust, but verify" stage, so I think we're okay. As for Amara and learning that the internet can be a dangerous place, yeah, that part is worrying. Orwell knew her as a "superfan", so does that mean that Amara has been posting in the comments on her vids? I hope she hasn't given away too much personal information that she could be manipulated with. Before we speak with Orwell again we need to have a conversation with Amara about her where we ask for details about her videos and what she has to say, and "never post in the comments, Amara" can be a lesson we impart then.
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>>3966851
>>3966799
we also have to be careful. Amara is a 'superfan' afterall. she may see us as a Mother, but fangirling can be strong. she might not take it well if we're too paranoid on Orwell or turn her down, as she could be blinded to why.
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>>3966858
True. Got to present it as a mom being interested in her daughter's hobbies sort of thing, with our urging to be careful not specifically directed at Orwell but a more general "it can be dangerous for a kid on the internet, especially now when the world is full of cannibals".

Also, we should try to be as straightforward and plain as possible, when speaking with Orwell. Don't leave any ambiguity where omitted footage could be used to imply a different narrative than the truth, so nothing that needs further explanation or context to sound right. Maybe also try to add some sensory detail into the footage that shifts by a pattern that's hard to imitate, so if she cuts things out people watching it will be able to notice there's missing footage. Swarmlings buzzing about us in a dance, or something like that. So if the video suddenly cuts to the bees being in totally different positions than they were a moment ago, it will be obvious there was an edit.
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>>3966880
agreed on both, though i think we can be more subtle on the second one probably.
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>>3966880
Wait, no, she might be able to edit the movements of individual entities separately, and get the swarmlings to seem to shift their position. That's not complex enough. Fractals, that's what we should do. Use the color-changing aspects of Subversive Platelings to have our armor shift through a fractal pattern. That would stay on Shu, be much more obvious if there was a jumpcut.
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>>3966851
>>3966880
>Shu and Amara on the couch watching Skinternet video files late in the night after a long day.
the mental image feels wholesome.

>>3966858
I think we can foster and guide Amara's interest in the whole skinternet thing now that we know one of Amara's hobbies.

As for Orwell, we really need to find a time and place to negotiate this "contract" between us and her and the legality things. within the timeline. Sure, some exposure is nice, but exposure is a double edged sword and a person like us will attract as many enemies as we do allies.

>>3966023
>you also forget we cannot do this plan or raid the Sigma Lab til Francine figures out a work around to her plan that doesn't involve suicide, which she has not yet confirmed, so we cannot do anything against the West Proxy Network til she does. which, considering that was like, maybe 2-3 hours ago IC before we first went to rest, then did this whole mess, id be very surprised if she is ready by now.

We just had a cooldown moment with Francine, a relative 2-3 hours of peace while taking a stroll around Laoc. Francine took the time to go to raid the library with Gina and checkout about a dozen books with the plan on spending the day to read them. But then the Hunger Riot happened and now we're spending time doing clean up. And that's all within the same day. There's not enough time for Francine to fully process the moment and find time to do navel gazing,introspection, and actual relaxation before we proceed with the Raid on Sigma. And we have other things to do on the time table too!

So it brings up the question that's been bugging me throughout the session during the Hunger Riot town event: After all of the level-up opportunity, and the clean-up efforts in Laoc, Where do we go from here?
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>>3966994
>So it brings up the question that's been bugging me throughout the session during the Hunger Riot town event: After all of the level-up opportunity, and the clean-up efforts in Laoc, Where do we go from here?
I'm not sure. We've got Altered Altar in two days, the Disassociated's launch in three to four, and at most a week before the Daughter pods the Phalanges are guarding hatch. So those are our limits for events. For more general goals we've got stopping the planetary defense Amalgams before they can cause more harm and finding a solution to the West Proxies.

I'm thinking the first thing we should do is call a group meeting. Talk about Orwell's offer for information security in exchange for streaming rights as well as Ozmas's offer for intel. Depending on what is decided there we may call either or both of them up, Orwell to discuss terms and Ozmas to interrogate. If we do speak with Ozmas and decide we can trust her we should be able to get some good information on the workings of the Sparagmos Engines and the behavior and capabilities of the planetary defense Amalgams. After this I'm thinking we should go hunt the drill-mole, just to get that issue out of the way. While we're at it we can leave Francine and Amara behind to work on longer-term goals, Francine to experiment with the spare Engine and Amara to (with an adult to chaperone her, I'm thinking November) set up a Skinternet group to track the flying titan.

After hunting the mole and the resulting level-ups, we should have either Gina or Shu use Neuromancy to support Julia's conversation with Gemma where we establish some boundaries on not endangering the entire party. If we still have time to do it before we have to go meet with Magpie to visit the Altar, I'd suggest we then hit the Phalanges and recover the Daughter pods. Probably won't have time for a level-up before we have to leave, though, so stash that meat for later. But regardless, we'll visit the Altar, talk with their Gemma, maybe get in a gunfight that Magpie started, and go back home. Again, if we have time (and haven't done it already), we should then go fight the Phalanges. If there isn't time we should then go to watch the Disassociated launch, should be around then. Bring the whole party and plenty of firepower, because I don't trust the Crucible to not interrupt them. Should probably CC Cassandra on Amara's kaiju-watching group when we make it, just on the off chance she doesn't already know. And then once that's all done, we can delve further into anti-Proxy research and hunting the kaiju.
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>>3967061
>fighting the phalanges
why fight the phalanges when we can direct them to walk the earth with Charon? It feels weird to kill the remaining entities that keep Ozmas in the system. And we don't even know if Ozmas released the phalanges from her contract. We also don't know if they've regained their consciousness or sanity like Silvis did before we put her statue down.
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>>3967093
Killing them wouldn't erase Ozmas, just leave her on even less life support than she currently is. She's got three tokens left, killing each of them removes one token, she'd just barely be alive. As for peaceful communication...I mean, we can try it. Maybe they've started to develop some of the originals' memories like Phalanx Vultha did. But I don't know, it seems like a stretch to me. They're not meant to be people, just weapons, Phalanx Vultha realizing they were a statue was a fluke that was likely helped along by us killing them. Feels like we're probably going to have to fight the Remnant Phalanges anyway. But hey, we try. Ask Ozmas "hey, what's up with the remaining Phalanges and why are they collecting Daughter pods?" if/when we interrogate her.
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>>3966994
well, besides like i said we're not really planning to raid Sigmas Lab anymore, we have no choice BUT to let her have her time to figure things out. either Francine finds her new path, or West Prime gives us no choice to but to act. simple as that.

as for what to do after Laoc? like i said earlier, we promised the Ant Queen we would be back sooner than later. go deal with the digging Amalgam to appease our promise, while letting her know the other issue is more complicated. Julia can stay behind to give Laoc a boost, but with us letting her know we need her to deal with Gemma before we head off with Magpie.

This is assuming of course, we simply cannot do anything or do not need to do anything about the Titans, especially the flying one, right away.

>>3967105
>>3967093
no, BHOP said Ozmas is down to 1-2 points. we kill the Phalanges, we kill Ozmas. what the one Anon is forgetting is a few things;
Firstly, they have hostages. the hostages come first, and if they have to die, they have to die to save them.
Second, they are Statue Amalgams, not Hexxanes. we have already been told that despite them possibly gaining some of their minds back, they are still not at all themselves nor fully free from their amalgam instincts, so communication might not be possible.
Third, even if we were to try and free them, doing so could still easily count as defeating them, thus killing off Ozmas last points.
Fourth, Ozmas is not worth the effort to keep alive, damn be what she knows. lives are in danger, from her creations no less, and if killing them kills her, then so be it.
Fifth, Ozmas freed any and everything that had a contract. so they would be too, if they even fall under that category.
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>>3967105
also, i think we were told each statue is worth a point, plus an extra point for defeating all the statues, so it would be 3 points regardless.
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>>3967125
Regardless of Ozmas's predicament, I still think it's appropriate that we should hear out what she has to say before one of her summoned Amalgams bites the dust and takes Ozmas along with it to the systems purge. We did tell her that we will hear her out when Ozmas gave us the phone call.

That said, if the lab raid on Sigmas is put on hold for now, then we should take advantage of the freed up timeslot in today's schedule IC.

what happened thus far today:
>Morning: Visit Ant Queen, Brightslap Francine and give her a cooldown hug to make her get a hold of herself, give her time to navel gaze
>noon: Daytrip to Laoc,to rest, relax, and-Goddammit, A HUNGER RIOT!?
>Afternoon: clean up the town after the hunger riot, level ups and what not
>Evening: Mole Amalgam hunt. Diplomacy with Ant Queen.
>Night: Free slot.

I'm thinking that we spend the night talking with Amara about the skinternet and her interests to make it wholesome as well as figure out what sort of person Orwell is from Amara's point of view.

It also means that we have Tomorrow free to do what we need to do before Magpie's trip to the Altered Altar two days from now. As for Tomorrow, I'm thinking we should get the information out of Ozmas before we have to deal with the complications that is the phalanx amalgams.


>>3967061
HItting the phalanx amalgams would mean we would miss out on the sort of information that Ozmas was going to tell us from her end. yes yes, I know a majority of us hate her and all that, but we did tell her that we would hear she has to say before she bites the dust from us killing the phalanx amalgams.
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>>3967177
we told Ozmas that before we found a direct issue with trying to keep her alive over other things. things have changed, and she has less of a priority over other things. simple as that.

we also NEED to figure out stuff about the titans as a priority, over anything else. and if it turns out they are too big a threat, a way to deal with them, now, not later.
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>>3967193
Then we should speed up talking to Ozmas really. She should have all the information we could want on those things.

And it might get us information on the specific of the phalanxes powerset (not type of power but specifics so we can plan a counter strategy)and possibly even their "programming"

I am all for offing Ozmas but a bit of pragmatism has to come before pleasure in this case
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>>3967203
i highly disagree. we've more than gotten by without her, and she is not worth bumping up the list over other things, regardless of what she could know. she is by far not the only source of info on things, and we without a fucking doubt have much more important things than pure info to take care of right now.
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>>3967203
>Asking Ozmas for just information on the phalanxes

Why just that? we have bigger fish to fry when putting Ozmas under the spotlight. Why did Ozmas place the phalanxes there in the first place? Was it of her own will? or was it automated by the system? A Quartet of four daughter pods being guarded by the remaining phalanxes seems off. why would the phalanxes be there in the first place if the amalgams themselves are supposed to be opponents for high level daughters? And why would they guard daughter pods?

>>3967210
Another thing to consider is that I think the Ant Queen only needs at least one threat to be cleared in order for her hive to expand. Clearing the Tunnel Frog/mole (drill amalgam) would allow the Hive to expand in the direction of the Amalgam's nest and keep the hive happy until they need to expand again.

The direction that leads to the phalanx and the daughter pods could be left alone until we actually find the time to deal with them and Ozmas.

I agree that Ozmas isn't worth the time and priority right now at this moment, but later on we should keep our promise. it's just in bad taste to say we'll hear them out but then pull the plug and rug out under them by killing off the phalanxes. It'll just make Shu a fucking hypocrite.
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>>3967225
well, the thing is, her worry was both issues were a threat, not specifically that they were impeding on expansion. that was part of it, yes, but she feared them coming to her too i think. so both still need to be taken care of.

plus, we said we would help with both.

and i disagree. we never really promised anything.
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>>3967210
Correct me if I am wrong but right now it appears to me like you are trying to off Ozmas before we get anything out of her.

That is highly illogical. Yes because of her many people are in danger but that is all the more reason to have a talk with her about everything she unleashed.

If we are to effectively engage the Titans and any other threats we need information. And we can't just collect that information normally. What do we know about the flying Amalgam? It's super fast, hunts for Intruders and had a hunger Aura. Everything else is a mystery. We can gather information in the normal way sure but that will run counter to your wish to act quickly and decisevly against the Apocalypse Amalgams.

We have the font off all knowledge when to comes to the shit going on/ being unleashed and you want to cast her aside before even asking what information she has that we can use to fix this shit?


And we did tell Ozmas we would come back to her since right then and there we had not the state of mind to deal with her.

>>3967225
I brought up the phalanxes as an example we have more questions that were brought forward during the intermission. And I agree that Ozmas should not be highest priority but maybe that we should deal with her before either we or someone else finished off the phalanxes.
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>>3967231
no, its illogical to bend our efforts or put lives at risk over her. she simply is not worth the effort to keep alive, and trying to keep her alive could put other people and efforts at risk, aswell as bumping up talking to her.

and no, we can easily get info here other ways. easily.
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>>3967232
I got the feeling you either misinterpreted what I was saying or I made some mistake in my wording that make it cond across differently than I had intended.

How about this. I have to start working now but I would like to get back to this later. I think it also goes towards midnight or one in the morning over where you are while I got up about an hour ago so we simply might be missing what the other is trying to make a point about
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>>3967231
Things to ask Ozmas that are relevant to the current situation:

>The Armageddon Class Amalgams, their purpose, how to deal with them, why did she release them, etc.
>why the Palanxes are guarding daughter pods
>Does Ozmas still exert a degree of control over the amalgams she summons?

And my personal list of questions, trivial, but relevant:
>What's it like sitting on the top? Was it worth it or do you regret it?
>If there are regrets you harbor, what is it that you do regret?
>We have your journal, we still haven't read it. Your former friends say burn it or throw it away, but you're the owner here what would you like us to do with it?
>Any last words you would like to say as your lasting legacy?

>>3967232
>and no, we can easily get info here other ways. easily.
So cite your damn sources right now if you claim we can get them that easily.

>Ant Queen
our conversation to the ant queen were this:
>“Allow me to scout those threats, and see what we can do to help.”
>“How immediate a threat are these things to you and your brood?” You ask, turning to the Pyreant Queen.
>“I DO NOT FORESEE EITHER BECOMING AN ACTIVE THREAT UNLESS WE EXPAND THE HIVE TO ACQUIRE MORE MEAT.” She explains with some reluctance. “BUT WE MUST EXPAND, IF WE ARE TO TREAT DAUGHTERS AS FRIENDKIN.”

>“Alright. If both possible threats don’t seem to be major issues immediately, then I would like to wait for a short while to formulate a plan.” You explain, sending a wave of reassurance across the empathic channel when you feel the Queen grow anxious. “If you’re willing to trust me to come up with a plan, I can bring the full might of my own fa…my own hive to help you. It’s what friends do.”

>"I believe that both possible threats can be dealt with, and I promise you that I will return to do so.”

The key word here is "possible" and "can be dealt with", with the omission of the exact methods as well as the time.
The Ant Queen just wants the threats moved out of the way so she can expand her territory. She doesn't care about the method.

Lets just deal with one thing at a time. Mole Amalgam can be dealt with immediately today with an expediton group of 4 daughters, but the phalanxes need time and effort.

We visit Ozmas, have our words with her, get the information we need as well as the information she wishes to divulge, and then deal with the phalanxes however we please. Or we can find a way to move the pod daughters and the phalanx amalgams. We're tasked to deal with the "threats" but we're not restricted to simply killing them asap.
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>>3967243
>So cite your damn sources right now if you claim we can get them that easily.
Charon, Ringo, Orwell, Sugar, the Hexxanes, Mara, all of the Skinternet for a start and all we have reason to believe could actually have info on this, and given the circumstances even the more hard to reach or busy members of that list, we would have a valid excuse to try and contact. we also could simply put word out about the threat and our want of info on it, put up a reward even.

we do not need Ozmas, by a long shot. no one else who has info has needed her either, its very much implied many and more wrung answers out of the Crucible by their own merit, not through Ozmas.

and no, i dont agree with that plan, as we have no reason to do it. in matter of fact, its a stupid, shit plan. we already have much more important things, and cannot at all plan for that. we have exceedingly pressing matters before we can even feel right to help the Ant Queen, and thats already waaay above the list of talking to Ozmas.

also, you're blatantly just interpreting that conversation with the Ant Queen how you want it to. she needs food, just like us, and to do that she needs to expand. but she did not list both of those as a problem lightly. we promised to help, and she clearly wanted and clearly implied sooner than later. she will only wait so long, and we should only keep her waiting so long. not to mention how long before those things cannot be ignored too.

It is absolutely utterly mentally retardedly absurd to be trying to finagle in Ozmas unnecessarily when our list of things to do is already so bogged down with things that cannot wait and are on a timer, especially when trying to finagle her in could easily put lives at danger just for our own benefit and to make things slightly easier on ourselves, when we know she is not necessary for what we want to do.
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>>3967177
>HItting the phalanx amalgams would mean we would miss out on the sort of information that Ozmas was going to tell us from her end. yes yes, I know a majority of us hate her and all that, but we did tell her that we would hear she has to say before she bites the dust from us killing the phalanx amalgams.
I agree. Like I said, telling the party about Orwell's and Ozmas' offers are my top priority. Give them the information, hold a vote on what to do with it. If the party agrees that it's worth it to speak to Ozmas, we'll speak to Ozmas. I won't be too broken up if they don't, but I want to get the options on the table before we progress further.

>>3967251
>Charon, Ringo, Orwell, Sugar, the Hexxanes, Mara
Not trying to poke holes in your argument, genuinely asking: Can we contact Charon, Ringo, and Mara? I'm not sure how much communications capability the FuzzBuzzes we gave them have. I guess Mara and Ringo (and through her, Charon) should be possible to contact via Skintalking, but do we need an address for that? Something to bring up with Amara, when we ask her more about the Skinternet.
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>>3967125
>Second, they are Statue Amalgams, not Hexxanes. we have already been told that despite them possibly gaining some of their minds back, they are still not at all themselves nor fully free from their amalgam instincts, so communication might not be possible.
The Neuromancer's capabilities might do something on that front. She was a top tier neuro player in her Crucible, after all. Plus we've managed to talk with Amalgams before, so all in all that gives them a better chance of being handled with diplomacy than other Amalgams. We should probably still ask our dream Hexanes or Charon about them before engaging with them in any measure though.
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Random thought: a new senpai fic ship has surfaced from the skinternet called “The bird and the bees” featuring Shu x Magpie
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>>3967236
Am this Anon

>>3967251
>Charon, Ringo, Orwell, Sugar, the Hexxanes, Mara, all of the Skinternet for a start and all we have reason to believe could actually have info on this


Mara is gonna be difficult to get in contact with as will be Charon and Ringo. Though they are probably already working on something i can imagine. Sure the Skintalkers and Neuromancers among them might have quite a bit of info but how much of that is tinted by their own view of the crucible? If i can get info straight form the Systems Admin that has acess to pretty much any informtaion then i will ask hima nd the nerdy community digging into the criuucible itself to take its secrets.

And while we dont NEED ozmas . Right now she however can be an asset. So i can not support jsut gettign rid of her without even trying to get her in soemwhere before we finish her off. She can do pretty much nothing anymore and mostly wants to die herself. The one thing we can still get from her before we send her to whatever afterlife she believes in is to take whatever scrap of information she has about those Apocalypse Amalgams and spread that knowledge far and wide to prevent shit like Laoc from happening again because of a lack of information.

The thing about the Skinternet is that it will still take time to gather anything from it and our only conduit for that information is Amara. She is also our only way of talkign to the fleshscape and unless we find the prisons of the Amalgams we will probably not get anything form it. that wil be particularly useful. Not enoguh to discurge using it of course.

Also Charon was a glorified taxi driver and also an enforcer for Ozmas, Ringo was pretty much a prisoner and so both of them will still be limited in what exactly they know. If they had knwon of ways to fight the Apocalypse Amalgams they woudl have probably told us right then and there when they visited us or they would be spreadign a method of getign rid of them right now. So they probably know about as much as we do if not less.

>also, you're blatantly just interpreting that conversation with the Ant Queen how you want it to. she needs food,

Yes the Ant Queen needs food. And for that she needs to expand. But she does not need to expand in all directions at once. We have to very different directions so we can take out one threat and coem back later to take out the other tzhreat once we know more about them.
If we go into the dreamsacpoe to talk to our allies and Dramdaughters we could easily fit Ozmas in there. Or if you hate her so much that you woudl waste what little value she could maybe add to dealign with the titans jsut a biut quicker and more effectively we could send her a mail with what we want to knoiw what her deadline is and how she shoudl answer. Then we just go around doing other shit while we wait for her response.

Hell if we go out and hunt the Frog Amalgam today we can have the "night" to maybe have a talk with Ozmas
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>>3967243
I had written down one more question for her thya<t might be interesting
>Crucible patchnotes and possible future patches that may be implemented by an automated system.

We might also want to ask. Just soemthing that came to mind
>How likely is sit that the Amalgam will interfere with the rocket launch of the Dos?

>>3967660
That is hilarious but with how theri relationship being more like parent and child with Magpie seeign things in Shu that remind her of her son it is more than likely never gonna happen, no matter what daughters all around the world want.
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>>3967415
well, we can activate the Fuzzbuzzes and have then scrape down a message, if nothing else. for Mara ill admit i was assuming a bit much. we know the Cord doesn't block all communication inward and outward, but it would be a gamble on where she is inside it if thats even safe.

Actually, can we tell, even just general location wise, where our swarmlings are? they have infinite distance, so if we activated them, would we get even just a general marker assumption of where the person holding them is?

otherwise, id not be surprised if the ex-Waystation guardian and crucible hitman was being watched hard, aswell as the growing pack of surprisingly non-hostile Tindalos.

...assuming one of those non commissioned Joyous arent following them. I could actually see Amara being both curious and worried about Ringo enough to do that.

>>3967536
oh, very possible yes. but it shouldn't be assumed, especially with lives at stake, and them being 'sentient' does not at all mean friendly. i very much worry about what they want those Pod Daughters for, very much.

>>3967660
id say something about how its gross to ship a mother figure and daughter figure.... but its the shipping community, that probably only makes them like it more.
yes i know you mostly said that for the joke.
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>>3967670
magpie will really feel her age if/when Amara calls her “Grandma Magpie”, but granted Magpie isn’t the sort of woman who gets to have the chance to act like an actual mother, a grandmother less so.
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>>3967667
well, you've been ignoring my argument aswell and im done repeating myself.

so i disagree heavily and hard and you're horrendously wrong aswell. but as stated this would be about the third time ive tried explaining myself and my points without the opposing side doing anything but only reading the points and interpreting it how they want, so im done with this conversation, and im certainly not trusting your opinions after this.
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oh, speaking of our new house and... Laocs now more open real estate...
we do have quite a few allies with no real home or abode. could always put the word out that the keys under the doormat for them, as it were. just as another option there.

cant see the town feeling too iffy about having even the temporary protection of a squad of semi-famous daughters we trust around. though i can see it being awkward for them to show up just to rest without helping, so might not be something any ones actually gonna take the offer on. still, as said it is something else to do with it. though turning it into a temporary wayhome for daughters we rescue sounds good too, like that idea alot aswell. depending on how big the house is though we may be able to do both, albeit depending on how full it is at any given time.

actually how big is it? id imagine Jeraha is not blind to the size of our family, but thats one big house to just have on hand to give us, even taking into account the... current tragedy, that happened.
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>>3967726
The Hyenas are said to be looking for a roof over their heads and employment. That said, they've already got a list of employers who are eager to hire them.
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Am >>3967675
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>>3967744
im not sure 'eager' was the word used, but they certainly had prospects. not sure how Jeraha would feel about mercs though, but assuming they have not yet found employment, sure, that is an option.

...though, im not sure we have a way to find them easily.

haha, oh man, that would be... well, a thing, have Amara basically put up an housing ad on the skinternet.
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>>3967758
>Amara posting an ad of a house for rent
>the pictures and text are all in crayons and has the spelling grammar of a 2nd grade student
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>>3968083
>its literally written in crayon.
>like, right onto the skinternet, like some sorta eldritch wax from beyond the stars right onto your brain.
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>>3968506
>Crayons
Given that November was part of the military, I wonder what Amara will think of November if we bring up the military meme of US Marines eating crayons. The mental image of November in her forgebody just eating a crayon in front of a horrified Amara amuses me so.
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>>3968570
especially because her mouth, if she has one, is probably a weaponized blender with a plasma dump in the throat.
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>>3968570
>>3968571
Isn't November Army, not Marines? Maybe that's why she did it, as an inter-service jab. She pretends to eat a crayon and starts acting like the most stereotyped jarhead Marine ever, then once Amara is good and confused she stops and says "That's why you don't eat crayons, Amara. You become a Marine. No one here wants to see that happen to you, kid."
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Just made another character. Introducing Harmony the Krasue.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r99LTQJgi8zzIK6Z1GTVnbDbX1Wd78n8mHIirJV_sK0/edit?usp=sharing

Yes, the initial inspiration was from a mob enemy in a game. But I thought the design looked cool compared to how this monster is usually drawn, and that the inspiration in general would fit pretty well into the world.

I have another idea I like for a character, but I'll hold off on that to think up a previous Crucible instead.
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>>3972095
Really cool character. Got some neat powers that synergize well together and make for excellent visuals, and I love the idea of a Daughter searching the world for a loved one that was in another country at the time of the Crucible's landing. Sounds like she's got at least some idea about Dawn's current condition, thanks to the post-cog powers, but didn't until they had already moved past each other. She went so far that she's apparently decided it would take less time to head all the way around the globe than to turn back.
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(Gentlemen, apologies for the radio silence, as it was a busy weekend. I'll be catching up on questions and posts shortly, and replying when I'm able. I hope everyone is doing well, and that your weekend went smoothly!)
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>>3973760
day and weekend went well. hope your monday wasnt as chaotic as usual.
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To preface: I'm only up to thread 17, but I had an overnight thought that I had to share that's probably not original. Back when the thread was talking to Mother she said that this was like a virus and one of countless or something like. I'm calling BS.

We know how these things reproduce on account of eyewitnesses. The Mother descends on a world, the Crucible occurs, the Favored Daughter is chosen and the Mother dies, and then the world cracks and a new Mother goes forth. You start with one fleshy abomination, you end with one fleshy abomination.

However many of these things there are is precisely what they started with, minus however many have died. Given that a galactic federation hasn't intervened I'm guessing interstellar travel is hard, how many worlds could possibly have gone into making this?

My thoughts thusly: Is Mother lying through her pointy teeth or has she simply been misled?
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>>3975502
Without giving away too much, the current most popular theory is that Mother was correct and telling the truth, but there's something broken about our Crucible. It's supposed to be able to spread exponentially with each world, but something has locked it into this phoenix life cycle of only creating a single replacement. We have good cause to believe there are others out there who aren't malfunctioning, though. Further details behind spoilers:

Remember that jamming device that the group by the riverside town used to ambush us? It's not a jammer, that's just it malfunctioning. It's actually a map of the galaxy, made by some prior species to befall the Crucible, psychically projecting information into the user's mind. The jamming was the projector showing static, we've since repaired it and it's broadcasting properly now. One of the map's functions is to chart the locations of Crucible-type organisms. When we turned it on, the entire galaxy lit up with active signals. There are billions of Crucibles.


Anyways, nice to hear from you, anon. I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the quest, and I hope to see you in the next active Vein. We're taking a brief hiatus for the holidays, won't resume until early January, so you've got plenty of time to catch up.
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found a meme, made me think of this place.
>>
(Gentlemen, my week has been rather chaotic, but in a good way. I wish each and every one of you a magnificent holiday season before this Vein drops off the board, and the questions you've posted are ones I'll address at the beginning of the next Vein. Take care, and I'll see you all when the 36th Vein opens on January 6th at 9AM Eastern time.)

(Thank you for your time, patience, and enthusiasm!)



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