Before Auth delivers his extremely important gift to Nana for their date, he has something very important to do. A few barrels of hours just came in.

AUTH: Hah. Thank you, Echoss. I will be able to make use of these.
AUTH: I know what I'm doing, I've worked with these before. I will save the wry comment, though, for after I've got my shard of sharpened time.

Auth walks down to the basement...



----

AUTH: Alright, sounds good. See you later, Chloe.
AUTH: Oh! Yes, before I forget. When Taeda wakes up, can you let me know? I need to have a word with her, and it's important.

Auth glances to the sleeping Chairfriend, concerned.

----

Auth, now having finished everything else, heads over to the porch. He's got an extra pair of wings going now, and a new-old weapon at his side. It would seem he's been doing a lot of work of late. So he seems pretty happy when he sits down next to Nana.

AUTH: Hey, Nana. I finished what I had to do. I hope it wasn't too long, I didn't want to keep you waiting.

Auth smiles, and then rummages around in his pockets. He presents a velvet box to Nana.

AUTH: I got this for you, while I was working around the house. I felt like you'd need it.

The D31 Strikes Back

13 - She / Her

---

Chloe

CHARA: While I am capable of shapeshifting like any other Witch, I mostly prefer to use illusions instead. Far less disorienting than having to adapt to a new body, and, well...
CHARA: I like remaining me.

A gloomier, oddly sullen expression graces the "young" traveller's face, before being replaced by a slight smile again. She puts her sheet away, rising back up.

CHARA: As for your question, the answer is: they don't.
CHARA: People die there all the time. They get better. Permanent death takes actual effort to achieve, and there is even a guild of people who are trying to do just that.

She pulls her right sleeve down to reveal a simple, pure black ribbon wrapped around her forearm.

CHARA: They aren't often successful. The closest most people manage is to get torn into enough pieces to constitute as a human jigsaw puzzle. That is, unless they journey further north, or go back to the surface.
CHARA: See, the Sun and the Bazaar once had a side fling that resulted in a daughter. I'd make a joke about protection, but that is both distasteful, and I don't exactly have much knowledge about crustacean anatomy and whether that is even possible.
CHARA: Long story short, they decided to hide her away in the Neath to escape judgement for "Vile Breeding" from seven dragons, one of which would later... become the Neath...

Chara pauses, trying to ease her Homestuck-induced migraine.

CHARA: Look, I never said that world made a generous amount of sense. I said that confusion was expected, and very, very normal.
CHARA: This half-star is known as the Mountain of Light to those in the south, and as Stone to the zailors. Her glow, depending on how far north you are, induces immortality, longevity, prevents decay.
CHARA: She also has a daughter herself, Mt Nomad. She is a living glacier who is used by her father, the Thief of Faces, as a base of operations.
CHARA: Welcome to the Neath. Leave your sanity at the door and prepare to be swooped by Gilgamesh.

In a sudden unexpected turn of events, a certain dream demon returns to the party! He's more ready to do things than ever before.

POPE BILL: Hey, folks, I'm back. 'Sup?

---

THYMIUM SHEET:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xSq...id=0&range=A629

Oh yeah. This takes place a few rounds ago (https://dtgforums.jcink.net/index.php?showtopic=102&view=findpost&p=19609), but Ziah's a slow dumb, so it's only up now. RP also contains a craftpost, which is separated to make things easier.


Up on the roof of the house, Ziah is pacing back and forth as he finally begins to settle on a decision. One he may regret, but the decision he ultimately believes to be the best choice. Noticing Echoss to the side of the house, Ziah heads back down the trellis, and heads over to meet him.

Echoss, meanwhile, is busy sketching out some tentative plans for the house expansion he and Omorika are working on, scribbling away and occasionally erasing or tearing off an entire page and crumpling it up and stuffing it into his pocket while shaking his head. He looks up as he notices Ziah coming towards him.

ECHOSS: Oh, hello Master Ziah. Did you need something?

Ziah pauses, noticing Echoss and Omorika working on something, and his voice grows slightly sheepish.

ZIAH: I did…
ZIAH: Is this a bad time? I can come back.

Echoss looks up, and back over at Omorika who is presumably trying to think up her own workings. He looks back down at his pad of paper and sighs.

ECHOSS: While it probably isn't ideal, I'm having a little difficulty making these plans come out exactly as I want.
ECHOSS: It wouldn't hurt to pause to help you with whatever you need.

Ziah falls silent for just a moment, seeming hesitant to take Echoss up on that, even though he'd offered. Despite this, he begins to inform Echoss of what it is he needs help with.

ZIAH: Do… you remember how you offered me escape? W-With the Echo Collective?
ECHOSS: I do indeed. I'm assuming you've made up your mind on that then?
ZIAH: I have…

He sighs.

ZIAH: I still don't feel one hundred percent right about this, but… I think I should go.
ZIAH: I'm not really doing very much here, I feel… weak. A lot weaker than when I got here.
ZIAH: Kinda just doesn't feel right to stay here… but I guess it doesn't feel right to just leave either…
ZIAH: If that makes any sense.

ECHOSS: That's understandable. Perhaps you should say goodbye or at least leave a note for anyone you've befriended here. I don't think anyone here would blame you, but it would be best to let them know that you're going.
ZIAH: I'm… not actually sure anyone would care, but leaving a note was actually my plan…
ZIAH: I was thinking of leaving something useful with it, too. An item or something.

Echoss nods.

ECHOSS: I think I can help with that then. Did you have something in mind?
ZIAH: Sorta. I was thinking of making something like… some luck potions.
ZIAH: Representative of me, I guess. And I'm sure people could use that to do some good damage.

Echoss nods.

ECHOSS: Then we should get started on that.

Echoss turns to Omorika.

ECHOSS: Miss Omorika, I will be back soon. Master Ziah here needs my aid for just a bit.

-=+=-

CRAFTPOST

Echoss and Ziah head down the stairs, heading into the basement. Glancing around for a moment, Ziah spots the potion brewing stand off to the side. He searches the inventory for some ingredients for the potion; some yellow sap blobs, a few goneblossoms, some psychoid leaves, and an effect egg that he identifies as lucky. He then takes these ingredients over to the potion brewing area. Ziah first places the yellow sap blobs into a set of vials to use as the base for the potion. Taking a mortar and pestle, he thoroughly grinds up the goneblossoms, then adding some psychoid leaves which is also ground. Ziah then adds a bit of water to the bowl in order get the consistency of a gooey paste. He then adds a… special extra ingredient, so to speak. He takes a small blade and carefully slices a small bit of his skin, wincing a little at the sharp sting. A small trickle of a blackish reddish liquid rises to the surface. Mimic blood. It's only a tiny bit but it's enough to make the potions very potent. Ziah stirs, before adding the paste to the vials of yellow sap blobs, pouring in a bit more water to for a more easily consumed consistency. For good measure, Ziah cracks a luck egg, putting a small amount in each vial, before allowing the potion to brew.

While the potions brew, Ziah takes a piece of paper and a pen, and writes a note. It's short and to the point, though his reasoning is vague. It reads:

"I'm heading offworld. Echoss has offered me a way out, which I've taken up. If you'd like to talk to me for whatever reason, you should be able to do so through him. I'm sorry for disappearing like this, but I have no doubt you'll be able to handle this. I've made a few potions as a parting gift, I guess. They'll hopefully help if I haven't messed them up.

Good luck with the sphere.
Ziah"

-=+=-

With the potions crafted and the note left behind, Echoss leads Ziah down to where the resource collection portal he created a while back is.

ECHOSS: Are you ready then?

Ziah hesitates at first, thinking back on the two days or so that he'd been around, before nodding.

ZIAH: Mm… hopefully nobody gets too mad at me, though I'm not sure they'll care all that much.
ZIAH: I'm sorry about this, again… I know you guys can do it though.
ZIAH: Still wish you good luck though. Never hurts to have some.
ECHOSS: Thank you, and I understand. If you aren't actively fighting, it isn't best to stick around here if you don't have to. You'll be able to check in and say hi if you want to though, I think I know how to do a bit of communication if needed.
ZIAH: How would I do that…?
ECHOSS: Well, a phone or video call possibly. My time of pushing the boundaries of the thymefield is definitely over, but I can probably do that at least.

Ziah nods.

ZIAH: That'd be nice…

He sighs taking a small step forward.

ZIAH: Well.. I should go. Thank you again for your help.
ECHOSS: Of course. Let me turn it on, there'll be a woman on the other side in a blue skirt on the other side. Her name is Charity, and she'll be helping you settle in. The Echo Collective is a big place, so it helps to have a guide. Is that okay?
ZIAH: Mm, that would help.

Echoss nods and walks over to the portal, pressing a few buttons on the screen. The portal slowly whirs to life.

ECHOSS: Whenever you're ready.

Ziah takes a deep breath, giving a small wave to Echoss as he passes through the portal.

ZIAH: See ya...
ECHOSS: See you soon.

The portal whirs down and shuts off. Echoss stretches for a moment, and then heads back to continue working with Omorika. Ziah is in good hands.

Irongutta wanders to the Southern Hallway for a look around. It didn't seem to be occupied by any weird cultists at least, save for those eyes poking out of the wall. The ork shoots them a quick glare before continuing about his business.

Noticing the hastily constructed boards over the doorway at S49, he decides to inspect them more closely. Attempting to be as stealthy as possible, he held his breath and tried to peek through any gaps that may have been between the boards while listening intently.

After whatever happens there, Irongutta notices the room behind him is labeled as an armory. "Ooh, those grots left the door open? Guess they're invitin' me to, er, browse their stuff for perfectly good reasons." Unable to ignore his looting habits, he entered the armory to see what - if anything - was left behind.

<ROUND ONE-HUNDRED EIGHTY FOUR>

First, stats! Are we surprised? No? Okay.

---

Echoss continues his work. This involves his golems harvesting the farm! They loot 30 Coffee Beans, 30 Wheat (+20 seeds), 36 Serena Flowers, 3 Celefruit, 20 Manabloom (+20 seeds), 36 Pretty Flowers, 30 Yggherbs, 3 Fragapples, 3 Cinderfruit, 24 Uniform Logs, and 12 Refined Wood. He then plants a whole bunch of other things.

Then, 60 Fresh Manabloom is delivered to Omorika, meeting her MP requirements. She immediately gets to work, breaking down the fragile flowers into a bundle of mana potions.

OMORIKA: Oh, perfect.
OMORIKA: I'm certain this will be enough. Thank you again for your help.
OMORIKA: Now, to get to work...

As Omo begins creating potions, Echoss also continues his visit to the Rosen Catacombs, seething with hatred as he vents about the cultists. He does quickly calm down, though. Chloe seems to kinda share his sentiment.

CHLOE: Hey, it's alright to hate these guys.
CHLOE: They are like, the minions of the Butterfly itself.
CHLOE: Although, I can't help but feel bad for them, still...
CHLOE: They must've had lives before this, right? Before the Rose took them over.
CHLOE: I wish there was a way we could help them...

Echoss then flies off to go and meet with the Chairian Trio via hologram, opting to not visit through the front door like a reasonable person would. This has an adverse effect on Clausa's mental health.

CLAUSA: THE WALL'S BEEN BREACHED THIS PLACE ISN'T SAFE
WILLOW: Oh, shut up. It's nothing to worry about!
WILLOW: It's just Echoss. Hi!
SALIX: Greetings.

SALIX: We're doing quite fine, thank you.
SALIX: We're out here to compile a damage report.
SALIX: Damage which was supposedly caused by you guys.
WILLOW: Thanks for making our job harder~
WILLOW: Buuuut, you guys did what you had to do, right?
WILLOW: Did you get the thingy? Please tell me you got the thingy.
WILLOW: It's for the report. We're really hoping a Seeker didn't eat it, or something.
CLAUSA: With all of the carnage, it'd be m-more surprising if they didn't get the Glyph.
CLAUSA: ...You did get it, right? O-Otherwise, t-they're going t-to make us search for it... i-in the cold, w-when there are known Fell Beast sightings...

Willow holds up a small bag of candy.

WILLOW: Oh, yeah.
WILLOW: I was told I needed to give people candy, or something?
WILLOW: Red guy. Wide smile. Buried us in the ground.
WILLOW: Y'know, that guy.
WILLOW: Want some?

...Halloween candy. Is Echoss too old for this? Anyway, Echoss also takes time to complete requests since Chloe is unable to: first, Echoss heads to the portal he's set up, and warps away. Several minutes later, he returns with a Scanner that's full of empty- that is to say, the Iti have been purged! Kinda.

ECHOSS: Well, the intention was to send the scanner back to the Echo Collective and have the system flushed out and kill the Iti when they popped out....
ECHOSS: But we didn't harden the computer we were doing it with well enough so now we have an Iti-possessed computer in quarantine.
ECHOSS: They left the scanner though so I think that's a win?

He also produces a stack of 8 Masterwork Spellbooks. Must've grabbed them while he was out.

ECHOSS: Not much to say about this retrieval, we use a lot of spellbooks in the Collective. Magic is useful.
ECHOSS: It was simple enough to request these from the storage system, hopefully they'll work just fine.

Around the same time, Pionobot shoves an entire tree's worth of stuff into his inventory- that is to say, he shoves a tree into his inventory. This automatically decomposes into 12 Elden Everwood.

---

Daskter works on the Airship! He tosses 5 Sanctified Brick and a Helix Totem at the Aesthetics category, creating an altar! +10% Aesthetic! With that, the Aesthetic Category is complete... and by extent, the Airship is finished! He also throws 15 Copper Gears at it, making it more steampunk. +5% Aesthetic!

With the airship done... perhaps a name should be considered for it? On the Thymium Discord, within #annoucements, a voting form has been opened up! Suggest a name, and you'll be able to vote for one later!

Around the same time, Daskter begins his raid on the room that's seemingly on fire by throwing an Incantation into the room! This is followed by horrible shrieking(?) as the Incantation burns in a literal gigantic pit of hellfire. Who the hell designed this place!? Fortunately, only his summon died. Not him. Imagine what'd happen if he charged in there himself. That'd be messy.

---

Venia attempts to talk with the figure in grey. She holds out the Grey Card as she begins to speak. The figure continues to look over the railing as they speak. Yeah. They can speak. How fortunate. They're definitely female, and they sound... kinda collected, but they might be faking it.

???: Ah, welcome.
???: Took you guys long enough, but I guess that's what happens when most of your minions are mutes...
???: Hopefully, you guys will be able to help us. Or something.

Nia notices a silhouette of sorts appear beside her- a figure holding a weird scythe? She flinches back, taking a step away from it.

NIA: U-Um-

The cloaked figure then twirls around. There's a small hint of pink in their hair, though it's mostly a light grey. Behind their cloak appears to be a tattered suit of what's likely leather armor, with the occasional frill and flourish here and there. There's surely a hint of realization in Venia's eyes as she attempts to introduce herself.

???: Okay, so-
???: Wait, WHAT THE gorilla!?

...It's Droplet. That Eliti from two zones ago. Like the other Iti around her, she's been taken over by the curious phenomenon that makes Iti grey. A long blade immediately flashes out of her cloak- her Mic Scythe! The other Iti in the area turn to witness the commotion- or at least, those of them that care, anyway.

DROPLET: OH, YOU HAVE SOME NERVE SHOWING UP HERE!
DROPLET: YOU KILLED MY BOYFRIEND, YOU gorilla!
NIA: S-She... what?
NIA: ...Wait, Iti can have romances?
DROPLET: Yeah. We can.
NIA: Huh. Cool.
DROPLET: It was a rare, precious thing...
DROPLET: AND THEN SHE KILLED HIM.

Nia takes a moment to stare at Venia, annoyed. While she does that, Droplet continues her little freakout.

DROPLET: MY DAIKON!
DROPLET: YOU KILLED MY DAIKON!
DROPLET: THE ONE PERSON I CARED ABOUT!
DROPLET: DIE! DIE!
NIA: W-Wait, I-I'm sure she can-

Droplet lunges for Venia! Before she can connect with any sort of weapon, she vanishes, and returns to her spot at the railing, facing the edge. She's quick to turn around, and re-brandish her weapon. In this time, Nia and Venia are able to brandish their own armaments, and Droplet takes a moment of pause, still furious.

DROPLET: Oh come on, now!?
DROPLET: God, it's always when I try and do something important...
NIA: Hey, can we chill for a second?
NIA: I feel like we could avoid this if we just talked about it for a bit!
DROPLET: ...

Droplet sighs, and stores her blade back within her cloak.

DROPLET: Fine.
DROPLET: I already lost the element of surprise, anyway.
DROPLET: So, why shouldn't I gut her?

It's a parley, you suppose. But what to do? Stab her? Maybe. It's a complicated situation.

---

Bow Kid investigates a room. She heads to the room directly to the west of her, and gently opens the door. She's immediately greeted by a wall of spikes! It promptly falls towards her! Fortunately, she's quick enough to get out of the way, but it still nicks her for (13) damage!

Inside, a bunch of Rose Cultists begin yelling.

CULTIST 1: OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH
CULTIST 2: JEBAITED, NERD
CULTIST 1: OOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
CULTIST 3: guys
CULTIST 1: OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
CULTIST 2: THE TRAP
CULTIST 3: Guys.
CULTIST 3: They dodged it.
CULTIST 1: ...
CULTIST 1: oooohhhhhhh?
CULTIST 2: hahaha, gorilla

One of the cultists facepalms.

CULTIST 3: As the one guy who's been perpetually sober...
CULTIST 3: I told you so.
CULTIST 2: hahaha look at me i'm not drunk
CULTIST 2: wow, i'm sooooo coooolllll

CULTIST 2: anyway i think we had battle plans
CULTIST 2: we did, right
CULTIST 3: Fortunately for you, I made some.
CULTIST 3: <0> knows a single trap couldn't stop a whole raid.
CULTIST 3: Ahem...

The cultists attack!

- = S T R I F E ! = -

Elsewhere, Mustache Girl deals with some Shuria! She frees a tree from the ceiling next to her, causing it to fall! This instantly obliterates one Shuria, and the resulting collapse of another tree pancakes the Shuria lowest to the ground. No mortar shells required! She then pickaxes the other Shuria to death fairly easily. 4 Samples gravitate towards Mustache Girl, entering her inventory.

---

Lukas investigates a dubstep-based disturbance. He opens the northermost room to the west, and steps in. Inside, he's immediately hit with ear-quaking music and an array of flashing lights, complete with a gigantic disco ball! Somebody within the room notices him, and the music stops with the generic sort of record scratch.

JESTER: ...
JESTER: This isn't the pizza guy.
JESTER: The hell are you?

It seems to be the Dark Carnival! Lukas, being a fairly new member of the Spherebreakers, doesn't seem to be recognized.

JESTER: He looks like a punk who doesn't belong, that's for sure.
JESTER: Yo! DJ!
DJ: ayyy whaddap
JESTER: Hit it.

The DJ in the back of the room swaps records, and drops a funky beat. The entirety of the Dark Carnvial begins to snap in an intimidating fashion at Lukas as the disco ball begins to spin at an increase rate. Soon enough, it falls to the ground, suddenly swells in size, and deploys a few limbs.

JESTER: Seems like a good chance to test our new machine!
JESTER: Sure, we might've been left behind when Bonzu left, but we can still get our revenge!
JESTER: Let's get him, boys!
JESTER: ...and Drop Dancer.

- = S T R I F E ! = -

---

Auth prepares to meet with Nana. But first, he bids adieu to Chloe, asking for her to grab him if Taeda wakes up.

CHLOE: Hm? Alright.
CHLOE: I'm pretty sure she's awake about now, though.
CHLOE: Anyway, see ya!

With that out of the way, Auth goes to meet up with Nana on the swinging bench. Even with a cup of coffee in hand, she's still having a hard time keeping her emotions in check.

NANA: H-Hi! It's fine, I-I didn't wait long!
NANA: I also like your s-sword! It's really colorful!
NANA: S-So, u-um...

She's then gifted a velvet box, containing the four Buff Catalysts! She blushes a bright green. She puts them away for later, as ingesting them mid-conversation would be rude. This however, still applies all four buffs to her, ranking her up to Tier 4.

NANA: O-Oh, a gift?
NANA: A-Ah, I wish I b-brought you something!
NANA: Maybe I can m-make you something later...?

NANA: A-Anyway, here!

She grabs a cup of coffee, which she hands to Auth. She gently sips on her own coffee, trying her best to be casual.

NANA: S-So...
NANA: U-Um, a-about what I w-wanted to say...
NANA: U-Uh...

Nana's breathing goes into overdrive, and she's having a hard time formulating coherent words. It takes her a few moments, but she finally does manage to piece together a sentence! She says it incredibly fast, and it's almost hard for Auth to hear.

NANA: I-I...
NANA: I have a huge crush on you, A-Author!

Once those words leave her mouth, she goes into a total overdrive of fluster, totally incapable of saying anything. If the two of them are going to have a nice conversation like they planned, he'll likely need to calm Nana down first.

...Also!

ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: Awakening-er-est

This drops a casual 32 Samples.

---

Chara teaches Chloe that people die. Or like, they die within London a lot. Any sort of travel plans Chloe had are now in the recycling bin, which she promptly right-clicks and empties.

CHLOE: ...
CHLOE: S-So... you can't die in London?
CHLOE: A-And... dying is a n-normal part of life?
CHLOE: London... seems like an ideal place for masochists.
CHLOE: And crazy people.
CHLOE: Of which I'm sure the population is, but they're still likely wonderful people please don't take that personally.

CHLOE: ...Also, how do a Sun and a Bazaar... h-have a "fling"?
CHLOE: What the hell is even going on over there!?

Chloe is getting overwhelmed by this new information. Keep it up, and she'll probably overload.

---

Interrupting their own Roleplay, Ziah makes some potions! He combines 3 Yellow Sap Blobs, 12 Goneblossoms, 12 Psychoid Leaves, and an Effect Egg together. This, due to additional effort, ends up splitting into 5 Bottled Luck! Delicious! Maybe! Actually, probably not! Still, that's a potent luck effect, and odds are it'll last a whole battle. Nice!

---

Irongutta peeks into a room. It's... vacant. And also incredibly disgusting. There's a corpse, plenty of sap stains, and hey look more corpses. There also appears to be some sort of machine in the room. With one investigation out of the way, he heads over to the armory directly to the east to check it out. It's pretty plundered, probably as he expected.

There is however, a guard of sorts! It's a statue, and odds are it fires lasers. Or something. We don't actually know. Careful now, if you want to plunder the room!

---

...Chloe, wanting to get some exploration in too, peeks into the armory on the northern wing of the base. She peeps in. There's a few figures, but she can't really make any of them out. She figures that she should go and grab some-

MAGNOLIA: C'mon! Don't be shy!
MAGNOLIA: Come on in!
CHLOE: ...

Chloe dares not breathe. Magnolia's in the other room. Perhaps, Magnolia is one of those paranoid people who says things like this every so often just to throw people off. A few seconds later, the ground shifts beneath Chloe, revealing a skeletal arm that shoves her straight through the door. She awkwardly stares at Magnolia.

CHLOE: U-Um, hello!
MAGNOLIA: Hi! How are you?
CHLOE: I-I'm.... f-fine?
MAGNOLIA: Good, good!
MAGNOLIA: C'mon! I wanna introduce you to my friends!
MAGNOLIA: Taaaa-daaaah~!

Magnolia, still refusing to let go of her axe, happily presents what seems to be a whirling mass of scales. Magical energy randomly pours out of it.

MAGNOLIA: This is one of my buddies!
MAGNOLIA: He doesn't talk much anymore, but I think he's happy to meet you!
MAGNOLIA: C'mon! Say hi!
CHLOE: H-Hello?
MAGNOLIA: Yay! Now that you're both acquainted...
MAGNOLIA: Let's play!

...Magnolia snaps her fingers, and a wave of chaotic energy ripples through the air. Shrieking begins to emit from the northern room. Before Chloe can discern the source of the shrieking, Magnolia springs forward!

- = S T R I F E ! = -

---

<BOOZY BARRACKS, ROUND ONE>
Seems to be a fairly standard battle. Watch out for the Stone Rose and Fractal Garden: these devices can result in the Rose snowballing out of control in a rather quick fashion! Destroy them if you can! Otherwise, it should be fairly straightforward.

<CLOWNVERTED BARRACKS, ROUND ONE>
Welcome back to the Dark Carnvial! If you need a refresher on how they work: basically, there's a Beatmap, and the Carnival performs actions based on that beatmap. The Geo Panels have also returned for this one battle, once again as a dance floor. They must be convenient or something.

<SCALEFUSED CHAMBER, ROUND ONE>
This battle should be interesting. There's a few new foe types here: the Scalenoid, the Scalewind, the Damned, and... Magnolia herself! Be sure to study up on their effects- they're all quite interesting foes! Magnolia in particular- insane basic attack damage, a wide variety of skills, and a retreat mechanic!

Overworld:
For the geopanel system up top, Echoss delivers 2 of the masterwork spellbooks, as Omorika requested. This completes the last resource requirement.

The golems begin working on taking pieces from the outer edges of the pile and setting up the framework for the house expansion.
(Ire please expand the map out as detailed in the thing here. I believe it needs 3 more tiles of space sideways.)

With Chloe in the Rosen Catacombs, Echoss nods mournfully.
"It leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Especially..." he shakes his head, and the hologram transforms back into a butterfly as footsteps can be heard coming down the hall. Echoss has arrived for real.
"I suppose it's time for me to help with clearing this place out then?"

And with the events atop the Northern Tower, Droplet hears a small polite coughing. An Echoss hologram is perched on the windowsill.
"If I may Miss Droplet. I do not know the full story of what happened in the battle with you and Daikon, but even not knowing that I can offer two reasons to at least hold your fire for right now.
First, killing Venia, even if you were successful, would in all likelihood not stick for a handful of different reasons.
Second, the others know she's up here. Any successful attempt on her life would be... unideal for your negotiating position.
So perhaps we can talk this one out?"


With the trio, Echoss sighs
"Well, the damage was... sort of caused by us. It likely would've been a lot cleaner if the Iti, Rebels, and a creature known as the Husk hadn't all decided that it was a good time for an ambush as well.
I'm assuming the people from the caravan made it back home okay? We took a lot of pains to try and reduce casualties as much as possible, which was rather difficult thanks to the other assailants."
He nods at Willow's question.
"We did indeed get the 'thingy'. Or, we did afterwards. The Husk smashed clean through the storage unit and ran off with it into the church..."
Echoss winces visibly
"Which does not seem to have made it through the ensuing fight unscathed. Good grief what happened in there?"
He shakes his head.
"Anyways, yes, we do have the glyph. The thing in the sphere has not taken hold of it."

Echoss restrains a chuckle at Willow's enthusiasm.
"It might take me a bit, my little projection here is a bit small for stashing away candy effectively." He stashes away a number of pieces anyways.
"Ah, and Master Clausa, how many sightings? We encountered a small pack of them earlier today. While I would still advise caution, the ones that were roaming nearby won't be bothering you any time soon."


And to finish things off, Echoss auto-crafts:
a single craft of Searing Powder (2 units)
a Searing Bomb


Current Building plans:
Floorplan
Security options:
- More Turrets
- Geo Panels Probably complete.
- enchanted windows
- Portals between parts of the house?
(more turrets, anti-Iti geo panels?, barbed wire)


Echoss is requested to do another collection form. Specifically some AI cores and computer parts.
Ire will have the RP bit.


Finally, Battle Actions.
Whew, this post is big. Hopefully I can tone it down again soon.

Echoss enters the Scalefused Chamber battle AFTER Tazz and Crystal do their crafts down in later posts.
Why?

Echoss spawn:
Player Crafted Inventory: 3x Searing Bombs
Winter Festival Hat: Mana Vial, 2x Chairian Brew
Echoss spawns at C18, "You're Magnolia, yes?"
He moves down to F19 before loading a crystal bombshell (payload: ashen crystal) into his cannon.
"You have a lot to answer for."
The bombshell slams into Magnolia's forehead at bulletlike speeds and shatters, inflicting her with ignublight.
"Tick Tock Miss Magnolia, your time is running out."
He retreats to E20.

Nia is asked to join the battle as well, and perhaps charge up super soak? This is not final, should someone else give other orders those override.

Droplet

Venia's face is the kind of smile reserved for a horrific surprise you can't help but smile at in the vain hope it might just be a joke of some kind. Or the kind of surprise that is a joke while simultaneously being a deathly real situation.

"Why must literally anything I so much as breathe on have to result in major negative long-term consequences. Why. Why. Why. Ugh, you complete idiot!"

After a mental freakout and a brief pause to absorb the situation, and god almighty it was a situation, she takes an incredibly deep breath.

"Because I happen to have knowledge on chronological magic manipulation," Venia says. "I might be able to get you out of your jam. As well as whatever other jam you're also in that you were about to describe before cutting yourself off."

A pause. Venia keeps a very close eye on the shade of Droplet next to Nia, and simultaniously on the rest of the Iti around her. She figures if anything goes bad that the Warp Ring could bounce them out of harm's way.

"... This was definitely not the situation I anticipated. Definitely not. Last entity I expected. Not even going to try to lie you caught me completely off guard and I am internally screaming. I'm going to just ignore all of our hostilities in our previous battle, apologize for my 'psychological warfare,' and ignore in kind all the hostility you had on account of extraneous circumstances that are no longer in play. I'd just like to help, like, not even as apology. I'm not delusional, you're not gonna forgive me because of cheap talk, no matter what that cheap talk is, but I'm not going to be an ass and refuse someone's obvious plea for help."

Venia presses a hand to her temple and closes her eyes, taking another deep breath.

"I need a recap. What happened since we last met. Spare no details. What is it that you need help with? Is it just this, or is there more? I need as much information as possible to diagnose the symptoms and otherwise, uh, you know. Help. You sent for us, despite the risks, because you wanted help, right? Here's your help. I'm here to give it to you. That is why you do not want to gut me right now. Please, let me help you."

Venia keeps Nia close, hand in hand.

---

Maria

Today is a peaceful day in the village. Maria is a horrible goose silly child. Continuing her beeping and booping from before, she stands up quite suddenly and simply walks off with the controller in-hand, heading towards the southern tower's basement entrance.

"Boop bop beep beep bip boop."

---

Crafting/Equip

Venia autocrafts three searing bombs for Echoss's enjoyment.

Venia shifts her Chrono Trigger's element from Ice to Light.

---

Battle: Scalefused Chamber

Venia pops into the fight via time manipulation, standing at C20. She blurrs out a bit, and her eyes wind up with a red haze, seemingly focused far afield... That quickly turn white as her Pokeball Capacitor whirrs to life, though they don't turn back to normal. Due to rolling everything in advance, she spawns with the Farsighted Flux Mutation and the Duchess Chibi Venia (who pops in at C19). Venia then moves up to F20 and her Chibi Venia to E20.

"Sup. How was the Yggcrawler meat? Hope the fight's as fun as the chow."

She doesn't provide context as she exploits her Flux Mutation to snipe Magnolia with CROSS, instantly dispelling the Flux Mutation. This applies Unify-i have only now just remembered its "targeted" not "hit," and therefore I can apply it even if I miss the shot. Venia blinks as the glow in her eyes subsides and they return to normal. She then summons a Corruption at G19.

From a puff of multicolored smoke a towering thing crops up, a beast not of flesh but of metal, smooth constructions like skyscrapers dominating their form without rhyme or reason save that it be vaugely humanoid, wrapped in a suit made of money and laced with golden liquids. It has no face, and its lower body is just a blob of black ink, but it does have a rather massive, menacing cleaver-oversized as it is. It looks at the rosen horde and almost seems to snort, daring them to approach.

Corruption stats here

Venia then retreats to E21. Meanwhile, her Chibi Venia uses its ability to toss a free Lumipod into Magnolia and retreats to D21.

"Chloe! Prepare Ordo, let them come to us!"

Suddenly, a portal opens up...

PLAY: Tool (Neural Recall) - Project Thymium

amemiya_v25 has returned!

Since she's been gone, she's been trained a lot more on more suitable data...

She picks up Indomitable and Reflect Slash for perks, and puts 1 KP each into STR, SKI and AGI. She then dumps the rest into HP for now.

---

??
amemiya detaches a part of herself and sends it up to the top of the North tower. Using her newly gained deepfake powers, the detached part turns into a perfect replica of Miki-chan33, and by the time she arrives, she...

ыMiki-chan33: hey, sorry i didn't get here earlier!!
ыMiki-chan33: remember me....?
ыMiki-chan33: i'm the girl you talked to a day or two (or three) ago ;; sorry if i seem kinda off. i'm ... not exactly all here, if you get what i mean ^^
ыMiki-chan33: anyways i saw you online again and had to come up here! so.
ыMiki-chan33: umm. i hope you're alright, genuinely. i didn't really hear much of what happened, but from what i know...

"Miki-chan33" trails off.

ыMiki-chan33: yeah... well... uhh....
ыMiki-chan33: just don't do anything rash, alright? i'm here. not all here, but i'm at least partially here. alright?

---

The Attack of the Clowns!

Daskter enters the battlefield onto O10 and summons a
Shock troop at N8

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Bhm...#gid=1362547574


Attack: Crushing
Weak: 10%Water/20%Psychic/30%Dark

==CRAFTING==
Nezira suddenly gets a totally inexplicable urge to upgrade a Dispenser Headgear.



Dispenser Headgear upgraded to the T5 Dispenser Tophat!
Stats: (+6 MHP) (+2 STR) (+2 DEF) ('Spencer Here!)
(Spencer Here!): During Regen, you restore 4 HP and 1 MP to all allies within Range 1.
Resists: Piercing (10%) Crushing (20%) Electric (-30%)

She then autocrafts a Searing Bomb.

==BATTLE==
Arthur, boasting a resistance to noxious fumes from practically living in an alchemy lab (well, it was well-ventilated, but still) joins the Boozy Barracks Brawl!
He spawns at O8 with the Armistyx set to Crushing, moves to K5, throws an Alchemist's Fire at Seer 1, and then deals them an uppercut blow with a CAULDRON FLAIL SCYTHE. That done, he retreats to L5, assuming he hit the Seer with the attack, and sets his Armistyx to Psychic.

Before Pope Bill heads to the Boozy Barracks to maybe get some good booze catch some action, he equips the Dispenser Tophat and moves 1 point in STR into MHP so that there is 65 MHP.

Once that's done, Pope Bill spawns at O10, moves to L9, and sets up a Malignant Tumor at J9. Finally, he retreats to M8!

A flurry of petals appears behind Bow Kid. A hand emerges from it, and drags her in, bringing her out of the Barracks. From the petals emerges a soft, pastel-pink-haired boy, carried upon ever-shifting wings.

---

Lukas swaps with Bow Kid, then charges up a Purge.

Before Bow Kid gets pulled in, she shouts at the rose cultists, "I'll deal with you peck necks later!"
Nobody's really sure if that was supposed to be threatening, considering who it came from...

Anyway, Bow Kid swaps with Lukas!

...A new beat can be heard in the Clownverted Barracks. It's coming from the recently-arrived Bow Kid. It's a MOBILIZE -> ATTACK -> ATTACK beat. Oh boy...

She devours a slice of the Princess Special, and moves to (L12). The entire room begins to shimmer with rainbow, and grows hazy. Bow Kid starts smugdancing. "You think you're so good at this? Imma beat you at your own game!"

"I Don't Have To Prove Myself... ...TO ANYONE" activated! Bow Kid receives buffs.

Thanks to her special, she is able to burn:
-3x ATTACK (Effective +10 Buff levels)

She doesn't burn MOBILIZE, STATUS or UNIQUE, due to them being redundant when her target's gonna die a horrible death anyway, and her 1 retreat is enough to keep her safe.

She points a finger gun at Jester 4, and "fires" a Hidden Flow at them. This is probably horrid overkill... she retreats to (L13), smugdancing the night away.

---

/working

Crya runs in at O10 in the Boozy Barracks before going up to L10 and casting Hailstorm at H9. She then retreats to N11.

CRYA: Eugh, you guys need to moderate the drinking a bit...

Nidra puts two points into SKI.

---

The Stuffed Koala carefully undoes a small section of its threading on its side, then grabs a bunch of Spiralfloof Floofballs from the inventory. It takes out some of its own stuffing, and stuffs itself back up with some of the Floofballs. This grants it some of the the explosive ability of a Spiralfloof, allowing it to assist Nidra in dealing more splash damage. The stuffed koala then carefully sews itself back up with a needle and some Puresilk.

---

Nidra then grabs some Roseblight Logs from the inventory. She taps the end of her Spidersilk Pillow Staff to the pile of logs, and it vanishes. The wood of the staff has been replaced with roseblight wood, and the associated pillow is now a slightly redder shade of purple. The vanishing-from-existence property of the wood has been modified to allow certain minor magics to vanish from the location of the staff and reappear in the location of the pillow.

---

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1iJq...dit?usp=sharing

---

Nidra joins the Chamber battle at C19, self-sleeps, moves to G20, basic attacks Sinner3 and Sinner4, and retreats to E21. She then Power Naps Chloe.

Laranei takes 3 Skillpoints out of INT, and puts them and the 2 Skillpoints she had left (5 Total) into STR!



Joining the rest of the spherebreakers in their raid, Laranei first proceeds to the place where she's most in her element - almost literally - the Hellfire Room.

While most people would have some difficulties here... Laranei's 170% Fire Resist means that everything here heals her. So, she does what she does best, and enters the room. Looking around, she spots the chest and loots it, then leaves the room, petting a Cinder on her way out.

Laranei joins the Boozy Barracks Battle!
She spawns at O8, moves to K5, uses a Warp Ring to go to H3, then casts Fury on herself!

Nice, new battles. Time to prove my worth!

Brutishace joins the battle at the Clownverted Barracks, spawning in at O9. If the two Jesters are in front, sitting on Green Geos... then the best way to attack them would be...

Eh, it'd be an inefficient waste of mana as of right now. Brutishace advances to N7 and shoots the third Jester with his Necrotic Arcana Pistol. Even with a lot of armor, that should deal some good damage as a start to the engagement.

Leaf tilts her head at Nia's strange name choice for her spider.

LEAF: Eggo…?

She'd never really heard someone name a spider anything like that, but there was a certain… charisma to it that she liked. Leaf smiles.

LEAF: That's an interesting name.
LEAF: If we're naming our spiders…

Leaf looks down at her widow, which makes spidery noises in response. She nods, almost as though translating a message from the sounds.

LEAF: This is Aria.

Leaf pauses for a moment.

LEAF: It's been a while since I've raced on a spider this big. Back home, we have something similar, but they're not very common.
LEAF: So you'll have to forgive me if I'm a bit rusty at this.

She laughs softly, before taking a look around.

LEAF: I assume you know where the Gallow's Nest is?

-=+=-

Kokichi, in the flesh (maybe, who knows at this point) decides he wants to check out the Rosen Catacombs and cause zero trouble whatsoever, you can take his word foe it. Regardless, his nonsense senses start tingling as he enters. The hallway to his left... Oma heads down it, humming happily to himself. Noticing the eyeballs, he jumps a little.

KOKICHI: Gross...

Kokichi pulls a small rock out of his backpack, keeping it held firmly in his hand. Strafing around that wall, he makes his way over to the bench and... as his senses told him, a quiche beneath it.

KOKICHI: What's a perfectly good quiche doing here? What a waste.

He picks it up, placing it into the inventory. As he begins to exit the hall... Kokichi tosses the rock at the wall with the eyes and darts off towards the entryway. As he's looking around for anything else that might interest him, Kokichi notices someone he hasn't seen before. He approaches the Rebel.

KOKICHI: Hey, hey! You're a rebel aren't you?
KOKICHI: Did you, a rebel, rebel against the rebels to join the rebellious rebellion against the sphere?
KOKICHI: What a fun, multilayered betrayal! I like you.
KOKICHI: My name's Kokichi Oma. Nice to meet you~

Kokichi extends his hand, presumably for a handshake.

Auth quietly nods to Chloe. Taeda's already awake? That's good, although she probably needs more time to rest...

AUTH: Ah, I'm glad to hear that she's alright. If she's awake... she's probably tired. I'll talk to her...
AUTH: If she's up to it, that is. Wouldn't wanna impose.

Auth waves to Chloe, and flies to see Taeda, while also being in the house because Nana. Squiggly Wiggly Time-y Wime-y Stuff.

AUTH: Hey, Taeda... are you alright? Would you like a pick-me-up, or something for any wounds you might have?

Auth looks surprisingly wounded himself, and not from the battle with the Butterfly either. If she accepts the help, Auth places his hand on Taeda's forehead, and closes his eyes. Unlike all the other times, though, his new sword glows a bright cyan, which the ink he heals Taeda with matches. She'll feel a surge of energy - and memory. Perhaps glimpses of the battle start to return to her?

AUTH: I hope this isn't too forward of me, Taeda, but... I need to ask you something. It's kind of important. How much of the battle do you remember?

Auth waits quietly for a response from Taeda. What could be be asking about? Only one way to find out.

----

Auth smiles, chuckling slightly at Nana's compliment towards his sword. It's hand crafted, so hearing Nana express approval makes him quite pleased.

AUTH: Thanks, Nana. I'm glad you like it, I made it myself just before getting here. Wanted to make sure I had everything prepared before I forgot it.

Auth smiles, since Nana seemed to like the gift he got her too... even if it's another purely practical gift, Auth likes the crystals. He thinks they're actually rather pretty.

AUTH: Hah. Don't worry, Nana. Your company is the only gift I need.
AUTH: I'm fully aware of how horribly cheesy that is, but it's true, really. I like spending time with you.
AUTH: I like being a little bit horribly cheesy sometimes. Haha.

Auth happily accepts the cup of coffee. Even though he doesn't like coffee much... well, he takes a sip. It should be fine, so long as it isn't bitter. It's the bitterness Auth has a problem with... and Auth relaxes a bit. Smiling, he's doing his best to make Nana feel comfortable. He can tell she has something she's having trouble saying.

As Nana starts to hyperventilate, and struggle putting coherent sounds together, Auth reaches to put one of his hands on her shoulder. Try and comfort her, just a little. And then Nana says the words. The words, perhaps, that have been hanging in the air for some time. Auth smiles, his face flushing just a little.

AUTH: It was a question of who said it first, wasn't it? I had a hundred million different ways of trying to say the same thing to you, Nana. But to put it most simply? Now that you've said it...
AUTH: The feeling's mutual. Although, I admit that does feel a bit anticlimactic. I don't mind that, though.

Auth chuckles, and smiles. He then remembers a conversation from earlier.

AUTH: I think I might've told you this already, but when I gave you that sleeve it was a purely practical thing. I saw a problem, your arm blades being hard to control, and a method to fix it. The thought crossed my mind that might mean something, but I only actually found out what it meant this morning.
AUTH: I fully intend to follow up on that meaning, or at least, what I got told it was. I'll be there to protect you, and I want you to know that.

Will this calm her down? Perhaps. It's equally likely to make her just as excited and overheat, but Auth will be truthful with her. He puts his hand quietly back down on the swinging bench.

----

In Battle, Auth is still bearing a nasty wound. So he eats some Sugared Porridge. This has the side benefit of allowing him Swift1. He runs to J12, Liberating the Drop Dancer, and using the overkill healing to punch Juggler2 in the face. Hard.