Sleuth is rehired, this time to scan a Cinderguard.


At the Duneyrr, with Omo.
"I... Yes I'll be okay. I'm just a little distracted, that's all."


Looting
In the Catacombs the Echoss golems steal the Hybrid's cryo tube and smash the statue in the Standard Barracks for good measure.
"Filthy thing."


A Quick Craft
Materials used: Wheat x10, Bag of Salt x1, 2 chocolate eggs, 4 Mighty Bananas, 2 Celefruit, 2 purchased food packages, 1 bucket of pure water, 2 iron ingots. some paper sheets. 2 Ashen Crystals
Roll out the wheat to make the flour.
Grind the celefruit to makes sugar. It's not exactly cane sugar but it will suffice, probably give it a nice taste too actually.
Remove butter and eggs from one of the food packages, mix those with some of the sugar to begin the batter.
Add the flour, some baking powder and milk taken from the other food package.
Mash some of the bananas, add in to flavor the batter.
Mix everything together.
Realize that you don't have cupcake tins
Quickly grab some iron ingots and mold them into a proper cupcake tin. Make cupcake lines with magic and paper sheets.
Pour batter into their slots.
Put cupcakes in titanium oven, powered by the 2 ashen crystals.
While that bakes, take the leftover eggs, butter, and milk, and the rest of the sugar. Add in more bits of banana and mix until smooth. Frosting complete.
Cupcakes are done.
Pull out cupcakes and decorate with frosting. Top with banana slices.
Is this kinda cheesy? Maybe. Too late now.


Everground
Pionobot heads right.


Battle
Echoss moves up to P9, and does a few things.
Those few things being firing his two PCI fluxblades into the Heart at high velocity. With Power Throw

First one gains advantage from: Railgun Inventory and Power Throw (as well as the fluxblade advantage against Rose Cult which stacks separately)
Second one doesn't gain power from Railgun Inventory.
"You and your filthy false god will BURN."

Hoshi moves to J15, and the cylinders of the Twin Pistol Katanas begin to whirr in spite of how that probably isn't how guns work.

"Well, I don't envy the poor intern that has to handle this."

All five of her basic attacks fly to the Netcore before she backflips to J16.

This is a decision I'm making, I guess.
Volt Smoothie>Convert to Ordo>I15>Resolution to the right>Bag+2, focus Bilebaron

Nidra:
Move to H14.
Channel Magic Status Clone from JOE to Crya.
Power Nap Mari.

BATTLE: I move to I9, then cast Illusory Trap double illusion on I and J 7, because I don't know where to Terraform, and my basic Attack isn't so great, while my Illusions have... it Should be 8 buff levels but it's listing seven. (Eight because 3 from Resonant and 5 from Enlightened 5, which would be enlightened Five because Schemer)... either of which, though, brings my Spells well and truly ahead of my ordinary Attack. If those illusion-spawn tiles are filled, anywhere else in range 1-3 of the Heart which isn't full is good too.

Out of Battle: I conclude that if I can put enough Order magic into the soil, it might stop the chaos-copies from growing, without requiring me to remove the chaos bits. So, I take a bunch of iron, and remove away any impurities by hitting it repeatedly. I think that's how that works? Then I carve the iron into perfect cubes, each with a perfectly round hole from each side to the centre, all perfectly orderly. I carve 9 of these, and I carve four of them out of cobblestone, and I carve one of them out of wood, and I carve 16 of them out of bricks (which I make from clay). I arrange these cubes around the fertility-boosted dirt in concentric squares, and carve concentric square divots into the ground between each square of cubes, with orderly markings regularly spaced. I resist the urge to use the Tier six order singularity, because while it wouldn't necessarily be a waste it would be incongruous with my past highly economical low-tier-ingredient crafting, which would make the inclusion disorderly. Also, if this ritual doesn't work the first time, I can just keep trying, which would make the ritual increasingly orderly via increasing normalcy, which would make it work eventually, probably. Anyway, I proceed to transform into my true form, a perfectly orderly cube fitting the specifications of the other cubes, and hover above the chaos-containing soil, reciting orderly click-like sounds in frequencies, volumes, and collections which encode the first 100 prime numbers (keeping the volume always very quiet, however, so as to not attract attention), over and over. a great orderly nothing happens, because anything showy, such as beam of white light from the sky, would be non-orderly, and so antithetical to the ritual itself. So I just keep floating there for a period of precisely 9 minutes and 41 seconds, then leave. Hopefully the chaos-bits in the soil are neutralised now.
Oh, and I leave that true form to turn into my second true form, which is the one I was in before. I have about 27 true forms, give or take a few hundred. yep.
...this is almost certainly inconsistent with my roleplay back in earlier thymium, but since I don't remember most of it, who cares?

Auth smiles, trying to reassure Nana.

AUTH: It's okay. I'm not going to say that I don't understand why you were freaking out.
AUTH: Gosh, I hope you don't see me as that threatening, it'd make me really sad...

Auth muses that he might be unintentionally scary, and that makes him kind of nervous, and a little upset. Auth seems a little distracted as they go into the deadly spike room.

And that lack of attentiveness leads to Auth sliding down the oil-slicked ramp... but Auth floats over the spikes, unharmed. He seems a little tuned out.

...And when he finally tunes back in...

AUTH: Good lord! That's... a lot of spikes. I guess this is where that last Projection Code went...
AUTH: What a painful way to go...

Auth looks up at the box and grunts. Seems like he's trying to think up a way to try and catch anyone thrown through the box. Auth looks around the rest of the room, and spots an elevated spike cluster. Auth floats down to it, carefully, and with extreme precision, attempts to open the chest down there.

AUTH: Hey, Nana, I found something down here. I'm going to open the chest I found, and I'll tell you what I find.

Auth's hands are very still for someone as evidently unnerved as he is.

----

Auth seems relieved that Maple's squad is... mostly okay. Getting fired...

Well, assuming "Fired" doesn't mean burned, it's not the worst thing that could happen. Auth seems worried as Maple starts to panic, and then as she flies over into the Duneyrr to hide. Auth watches, a bit stunned and very slightly amused, although he wouldn't admit that.

Auth flies over to the Duneyrr, and knocks on the door (or door-equivalent) to get Maple's attention again. He was close enough to hear her.

AUTH: The answer is girlfriend. I was going to say... maybe I could introduce you to her? Nana is kind of shy, from my experience with her, so I think a friend could be good for her.
AUTH: I didn't mean to imply that I thought you were trying anything, Maple, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that, I was concerned about how it would look to my girlfriend.
AUTH: Mind coming back out? I should have that last ingredient very shortly, then I can get your eye healed.

Auth looks at the machine, very concerned for the Valkyrie.

----

As for with Magnolia... Auth nods.

AUTH: Alright. Thank you, it's much appreciated. I'm sure we can arrange something.

Auth attempts to lift Magnolia off of his lap. This leads to one minor problem. Auth is... not very strong. Attempting to carry Magnolia may be a futile effort.

AUTH: When I figure out how to get moving, that is...

It takes Auth a while, but one thing does come to mind. Something he hasn't actually done yet. Something he doesn't know how to do, exactly. But hey, it's basically magic, isn't it? Maybe just focus will help induce the desired effect. Although, that might be a dangerous idea, too. Auth shifts his weight to move Magnolia, freeing his legs.

AUTH: I apologise in advance. My strength is lacking, and so carrying you is a considerable effort for me.
AUTH: The solution which would enable me to carry you properly is... perhaps dangerous, without more knowledge of... the both of us, actually.

Auth does a decent job for someone with such low strength, keeping Magnolia off the ground as he walks out towards the Old Pass with Magnolia. He responds promptly to anything Magnolia says, evidently paying plenty of attention to her, but deeply in thought about something himself.

AUTH: Can you tell me what exactly you need for a body?
AUTH: I'm wondering if there's a third option for what would work as a body for you. I don't know any individuals who would be willing to surrender themselves, please don't take that the wrong way...
AUTH: And I'm worried about disrespecting the dead by using a corpse. Can you see where I'm coming from with that?
AUTH: So if I can come up with a third option that does neither... I'd understand if there's nothing that can be done, of course, but... on the off chance...

Auth stops at the statues outside the Church of Helix, specifically with the statues around them. and with a great deal of struggle, holds up Magnolia to see.

AUTH: This is where I think there could be something. Does this place look relevant to you? Or give you any ideas where the solution is?

Auth awaits Magnolia's response.

----

In battle, Auth flies over to O10, downs a Stardew Potion, and blasts the ~~Telltale~~ Mutilated Heart with a cast of Liberation.

Hexagon blasts over to K5, then activates his weapon skill, moving K4-L4-M5-L6. This procs movethrough on the heart, which is followed up on with a firey basic attack. He then retreats to J8, and
with a burst of 8 Ember, pops a Power Well on J8.

<ROUND 225>

Venia aggresses on the Reaper! She presses the button that overloads the lights. The stagelights slowly begin to glow stronger and stronger, before they explode outward in a flashbang-like explosion! Glass peppers the area as well, turning the stage into what's basically a deadlier field of Lego bricks.

The Reaper staggers backward, falling over just below the ball of chains. It grips at its eye, unable to react as Venia springs forward! She takes aim, and begins to riddle the Reaper with blasts of Ordo! This rips meaty holes in the reaper. They'd fall over if they hadn't already fallen earlier. Venia takes aim at the reaper, and attempts to finish it off. However, one of the mannequins suddenly springs to life, the crimson substance on its joints causing it to "jump" in an uncanny fashion. It dives by the bullet's flight path, tanking it. It crashes onto the stage as the Ordo fries the substance off its joints. This de-assembles the wooden body.

The other mannequins mobilize in a similar fashion, forming in a crowd in front of the reaper, obscuring Venia's view. They then begin to not simply shamble forward, but instead bolt towards her in a furious rage, their limbs twisting and flailing in every which way to try and make it over the seats to Venia.

BASS PLUSHIE: i think this is its last line of defense
BASS PLUSHIE: once these things are gone, there shouldn't be anything stopping you from shooting it
BASS PLUSHIE: go venia go
BASS PLUSHIE: go venia go

While Venia prepares to deal with the approaching mannequins, Mr. Krabs asks the Smith as to why they couldn't just unlock the room, and reset the gravity.

SMITH: I SUPPOSE THAT CAN BE ARRANGED
SMITH: ESPECIALLY SINCE I CAN LEAVE THIS ROOM NOW.
SMITH: I'LL DISABLE IT IN TEN MINUTES.
SMITH: MAKE SURE NO IDIOTS ARE AROUND TO VIOLENTLY SPIN THE STATUE WHEN I RELEASE IT.
SMITH: IT'S A HUGE PAIN.

...Seems like he has his orders. But still, he asks what he's working on.

SMITH: ARMOR.
SMITH: DESIGNED TO RESIST ENTROPIC SUBSTANCES.
SMITH: GIVEN OUR LINE OF WORK, IT'S AMAZING NOBODY'S THOUGHT OF THIS BEFORE NOW.

Smack. Smack. They continue working, counting the ten minute timer to themselves. Also, Venia decides to use the Research Nanomachines on MMPBoost v2!

---

Hannah continues her work in the Everground. She grabs a floating chunk of Gravcore Ore, obtaining 6 units of the stuff. She also then smacks a stone spire, catching the 12 units of Sanctified Alloy in her inventory. The sheer weight of loot she has is now a bit crazy, but oh well. Maybe there'll be another one of those anomalies later. Or perhaps she could engineer a way to get her items to the surface?

Boshi also parks his corvette, and repairs his boat with 3 Plasteel and 10 (0) Green Sap Blobs. This restores (30) of the ship's HP. He then sails over to the wooden ship, and makes some repairs with 6 Skyroot Logs, and 10 Green Sap Blobs. The job is... surprisingly passable. At the very least, if he decides to take it with him, it'd be seaworthy enough. Or at least, seaworthy enough to survive the journey home. One can't help but wonder what his plans are with the boat. Maybe he's making a navy. I'm not sure how useful that'd be, but it'd be a huge flex.

---

Echoss does stuff. Like, a lot of varied things, so I'm just going to call it stuff. First, with Omo, he notes that he's just a bit distracted. The librarian tilts her head to the right.

OMORIKA: Alright.
OMORIKA: If you say so, sir Echoss.

Elsewhere, some golems continue to pilfer the Rosen Catacombs, obtaining a Broken Cryotube, and 20 Red Rock worth of destroyed statue. While they do that, Echoss arrives at the kitchen. He then tosses 10 Wheat, a Bag of Salt, 2 Chocolate Eggs, 4 Mighty Bananas, 2 Celefruit, 2 Food Packages (10 Crafting Credits), a bucket of Pure Water, 2 (0) Iron Ingots, 12 (2) Paper Sheets, and 2 Ashen Crystals. This creates a batch of Banana Cupcakes! The tray of 12 cupcakes is stashed into the inventory. It's not a consumable though!

Meanwhile, in the Everground, Pionobot presses to the right. He comes across a gigantic hole that drills deep into the earth, as well as... some sort of gigantic nerve ending. Something big used to be here. Or perhaps its still here. To round out the post, Echoss tosses 100 Credits at the Sleuth, and asks him to go investigate the Cinderguard. He nods, and soon enough, he's off!

>Codex Updated!

---

JOE attempts to remove chunks of Chaos's flesh. Unfortunately, Chaos's powers of not making any darn sense trump over JOE's powers of trying to make sense, and the soil remains chunky. It's probably impossible to remove Chaos's flesh from the soil, especially since the initial statement about 500% soil fertility was just a throwaway line. Your efforts here are most likely always going to be wasted. Just so you know.

---

Auth muses that he might be scary. Nana blushes as she waves her hands frantically.

NANA: Y-You're not scary! R-Really!
NANA: I-I just... g-get scared e-easily, okay!?
NANA: I'm surprised they c-conscripted me initially, really...

After tumbling into the spike pit, Auth flies over to the chest within the pit, and attempts to pry it open. However, it's a bit hard to open, mostly because it's covered in spikes. Still, they're comically large spikes, so he just reaches for bits without spikes, and... ouch! Looks like even the surface of the chest is coated in microscopic spikes. He also detects the presence of Locustblight on the spikes as well. Fortunately, he's able to dispel the infection from himself in time.

NANA: If you get the chest out of the pit, I-I can help!
NANA: I-I could... try and open it with woodmancy, if it's too dangerous to touch! T-That might work!

Elsewhere, Auth follows Maple to the Duneyrr, knocking on the airlock door. It slides open. Chloe's there, with an oil-stained shirt. She also has a wrench in hand, and a few tools hanging off of her belt. She waves to Auth.

CHLOE: Oh, heya Auth!
CHLOE: So... what'd you do to Maple, you big bully?

Chloe cracks a smile.

CHLOE: Eheheheh~
CHLOE: Don't worry, she's fine.
CHLOE: I'll go grab her for you. One sec, please!

Chloe heads deeper into the Duneyrr. Moments later, she returns, Maple following the swordswoman to the door. Maple's cheeks are still flush, and she's practically hiding behind her idol. Chloe then steps to the side, leaving her face-to-face with Auth.

MAPLE: U-Um, hello!
MAPLE: F-Fancy seeing you here! So, w-what is it?
MAPLE: H-Have I mentioned I'm sorry yet!?

He promptly explains a few things to her. Maybe he could introduce her to Nana? The scarlet nods.

MAPLE: O-Oh, um... t-that'd be nice!
MAPLE: I'm sure she's a nice gal...

Auth also apologizes for his behavior. Maple waves her arm up and down, in sort of a wavy motion.

MAPLE: It's fine, it's fine!
MAPLE: I was the one who freaked out, anyway!
MAPLE: But still... apology accepted!
MAPLE: I'll... come out now.

Maple boosts out of the airlock, dashing a short distance past Auth. Chloe pokes her head out the airlock.

CHLOE: See you later, Maple!
MAPLE: Alright!~

Maple hovers just outside of the Duneyrr.

MAPLE: Ah, not to be a bother, but...
MAPLE: Could I have a place to crash for a bit?
MAPLE: I'm a bit pooped, and... w-well, it's starting to get late.

It is quite dark out. Maybe show her to your base, and give her a place to sleep? Elsewhere, Auth decides to take Magnolia with him, heaving as he tries to carry the gigantic waraxe. She's cooperative as they go out to visit the Church of Helix, Auth asking about what she'l need for a body along the way.

MAGNOLIA: Um... I'll need a real body.
MAGNOLIA: Or I think how it works is that I need a Core to work with?
MAGNOLIA: I dunno! I've never really questioned it.
MAGNOLIA: The Rose Cult have given me lots of bodies! Surely it wouldn't be a problem to take another?

MAGNOLIA: Or maybe we could grab my old body! I liked her dress!
MAGNOLIA: ...Wait, I think we destroyed that body. Meanies.
MAGNOLIA: I'm sure the dead person would be really happy to have their body be used, though!
MAGNOLIA: I'd let somebody use my dead body if they needed it!
MAGNOLIA: Mostly because I'd have no choice in the matter, so I'd need to accept it!

The two of them then arrive at the Church of Helix. As they pass over the crest, Magnolia pipes up.

MAGNOLIA: Ooh! There! The crest!
MAGNOLIA: The arrows! They know the way, but only if you spin like a clock!
MAGNOLIA: I don't know where to start, but the last direction for every Projection Box code goes to the right!
MAGNOLIA: It's kinda weird!

The arrows, from the 12 o'clock position to the 11 o'clock position, go...
Up Down Left Left Down Down Down Left Up Right Left Left

I don't know if that's the sequence I gave before, or if I even gave a sequence before, but it doesn't really matter.

---

<ORIGIN OF SIN, ROUND SEVEN>
With a flurry of slashes, the First Sin’s heart is torn open in dozens of spots. Severed veins scatter the fleshy grounds, but nothing seems to bleed. Or at least, until Bass (and his clone, Flux Bass) sheathe their scimitars with a flourish. The satisfying screech of the sheathe signals the Heart’s demise, a verifiable storm of Fluxblood surging out in each direction. The First Sin’s innards are covered in a fine layer of his own blood.

Meanwhile, in the depths below, a horrible poison grips the Netcore. It groans and trembles, before going limp across the ground. Poison and Thyme Matter ooze from its dozens of wounds, large gashes sliced in its comically large chunks of grey matter. Chloe, and many of the other inhabitants down in the Netwyrm’s Tunnels breath a sigh of relief. The battle was finally over. While it’d be messy, they could probably crawl their way up the throats of one of the Netwyrm’s many heads. Disgusting? Yes. The only way out? Probably.

CHLOE: Oh god.
CHLOE: I’m absolutely sick of this place. Let’s get out of here.
CHLOE: I’ve had enough of these pulsating, sticky walls to last a lifetime.
CHLOE: And… w-wait, why are they still… pulsing?

Chloe jams her blade into the nearby wall, Thyme Matter jetting out from the wound. She pulls it out, and sprints over to where the Netcore lays. Already, it is beginning to regenerate, swathes of its brain stitching itself back together. Perhaps, the Netwyrm is a more complex being that she thought. Or perhaps, they hadn’t killed it thoroughly enough.

CHLOE: I-IT’S STILL ALIVE!?
CHLOE: A-AFTER ALL THAT!?
CHLOE: ...Maybe poisons aren’t so effective against something this big.
CHLOE: W-Whatever! E-Everyone! Before it regenerates!

The group down below immediately returns to hammering the Netcore, ramming chunks of flesh off of it. However, it seems that every last facet of the Netwyrm’s power is being redirected in an attempt to regrow its control center. Surely enough, the regeneration is outpacing the damage they can deal.

CHLOE: A-Agh! How!?
THE SLEUTH: The detective smoked a few bubbles, pondering the situation.
THE SLEUTH: Perhaps the Netwyrm is cannibalizing what’s left of the First Sin to bolster its regenerative properties.
THE SLEUTH: That was surely the case. He cleared his throat. “Miss Elem, I-”
CHLOE: Y-Yes, thank you!
CHLOE: U-Ugh, think, think! What could POSSIBLY kill something this big?
CHLOE: We’d need a nuke! Or… multiple nukes!

CHLOE: W-Wait! Everyone!

Chloe pulls out a Rosebuster Bomb from the inventory. Not just one, but EIGHT. She violently jams them into the Netcore, wedging them into wounds or its mouth.

CHLOE: I’m setting their timers for five minutes!
CHLOE: Tell everyone on the surface, and get them to run! I’ll be with you in a bit!
CHLOE: This place is gonna blow!

With the bombs set, Chloe immediately bolts for one of the various tubes around the halls of the Netwyrm’s innards. The rest of the party follows suit, with those less able being carried by those in better shape. Ette hoists Nana over her shoulder, and takes off, scrambling up one of the necks immediately. Three minutes into the countdown, and they begin to surface, one by one, out of the limp maws of the Netwyrm. Chloe peeks her head out of one of the maws, falling out covered in various juices. She scrambles to stand up, and immediately grabs a surprised Nia by the arm.

CHLOE: H-Hey!
NIA: Oh! You’re not dead!
NIA: Congratulations!~
CHLOE: T-Thanks!

CHLOE: Oh, right.
CHLOE: Netwyrm. Exploding. RUN.
NIA: W-Wait, what?
NIA: I-I mean, I heard you, but… w-what!?

Nia, Chloe, and various others alert the party, and the evacuation immediately begins. Marron is on standby to pick up Asha the moment she emerges from a maw, flying off towards the exit with her in tow. Nia hops on Cushion’s back the moment Venia’s out in the open, and the two sail away on a romantic(?) escape. Mari picks up the smallest party member (probably Hannah), and yeets them towards the exit as hard as she can. The Sleuth resists the urge to activate Sepulchritude, and opts to just have Lukas fly him out. Chloe meanwhile, decides to ferry Insert away from certain death, totally not accidentally crashing into a wall due to the extra weight

With precious seconds to spare, the entire party has evacuated the Origin of Sin. They scramble down the hall, when suddenly, a massive shockwave rattles the entire Rosen Catacombs. The bombs, designed to destabilize an area by collapsing in upon itself, do wonders upon the gigantic combination of the First Sin and Netwyrm.

Imagine a spaghetti noodle, except it branches out in many, many areas along the strand, with those areas also eventually splitting into more heads. Think of some sort of terrifying spaghetti hydra. Now, imagine that you are at one end, and begin slurping it up. That’s basically what’s happened to the Netwyrm. All of its gigantic, thousands of tons of mass are all being destabilized, drawn to this one point in space. From across Sussui, Netwyrm heads are sucked into the ground, pulled hundreds of miles through the underground, and being annihilated in some hellish singularity that the Rosebuster Bombs have created.

As the matter of the amalgam is pulled in, the power of Purging causes radiant light and crimson smoke to surge up from the singularity, only to be pulled back in to create some terrifying misty haze. This all coalesses into a rather small point in space, before exploding outward with incredible force. Somewhere on the surface, nearly a mile off from the Church of Helix, the ground splinters upward and spews forth a cloud of dirt and rock, spraying every which way. The ground then collapses in upon the Origin of Sin, thousands of tons of rubble falling into the once decorated hall.

Whatever surviving parts there were of the Netwyrm, or the First Sin, are crushed underneath the weight of the earth. The First Sin has been slain. The Netwyrm has been slain.

Back in the Steps to Oblivion, the party settles down. The tremors are easing up, and it doesn’t seem like the hallway is going to collapse any time soon. A collective sigh of relief signals the party’s triumph over the First Sin!

CHLOE: Oh thank god.
CHLOE: It’s over. We killed it.
CHLOE: Or I really, really hope we did.
CHLOE: Nothing could survive that, right?
MARI: Statistically speaking, the odds of it living have gone up because you said that.
MARI: Thanks.
CHLOE: Y-You’re… welcome?
CHLOE: I’m just glad it’s over.

CHLOE: We all did great, didn’t we?
CHLOE: To think we’re able to defeat a beast like that…
CHLOE: It’s incredible what we can do, when we come together like that!

With the First Sin defeated, Zone 4 is over! You’ll have some time to breathe before the next zone loads up. For now, why not chat with the NPC’s, upgrade your gear (You may now have three pieces of T6 gear!), spend skillpoints, or do… other things with your time? Who knows. Thanks again for playing, and we’ll see you in the next zone!

Pope Bill moves up to Q10 and attacks the Mutilated Heart!

RP: Magnolia

In the midst of the battle against the Origin of Sin, Irongutta planned his next move. Now was the perfect opportunity for everyone to attack the heart, yet for the first time, he hesitated.

"Zog it all, there has to be some way to do this roight..." Irongutta mused to himself out loud. And then, he thought to check his scanner. He remembered the device was usually the best way for figuring out how to deal with a difficult foe. Sure enough, the crew had already found... something. Irongutta read the strange data file, which only deepened the pit in his stomach as he read on.

"Er, Mags. You oughta read this scanner entry thing. I don't think we got much of a choice on how we deal wivv the heart. Think we gotta do wot must be done an' all that."

---

Battle: The Origin of Sin

And so came time for his action.

Irongutta used his special, moved up to L5, and attacked the heart for massive damage.

Mirror Kalis moves to I6 and activates Chaos Control. They shoot the Heart with the Elemental Blaster set to Light, then cast Chaos Bolt on the Heart.

Kalis moves to N10 and activates Chaos Control. They shoot the Netcore with the Elemental Blaster set to Electric, then cast Chaos Bolt on the Netcore.

Stat Nonsense

-Venia equips the Grand Duchess Coat (+3 MMP, +2 STR). The Magical Resistance is set to Poison, again.
-Venia swaps out the Pokeball Capacitor for the Valor Catalyst. As the Key and the Heart Bracelet are exceptions to the usual Tiering, these swapouts are, to my knowledge, legal. (-1 MHP, +1 STR.) The Physical resistance remains the same; the Magical Resistance is changed to Poison.
-Venia +1s STR to get up to 20 STR. The dream. She also +1's her RES.

-Venia recommends that Nia picks up the Luminous Rose trinket over the Silver-Gold Chainbracelet. If Nia does so, Venia switches off the Ultra Glove on her Heart Bracelet for the Luminous Rose. This makes Venia lose a skillslot, +1 Move on movement skills, and a lot of resistances-but gives her +3 INT, more Glitch and Ice resistance, and a really powerful and synergistic passive. This causes her to lose Team March as a direct result.
-If the above condition is met, Venia takes a skillpoint out of INT (leaving her with 22 INT) and puts it into her MHP.

-Not he own statting, but Venia recommends Mari replace her eyepatch with the Mysterious Processor. Or somehow make the Mysterious Processor an eye-patch, somehow.

---

Lab Nonsense

Venia researches and purchases the following things:

-MHP Boosterv.2, for 200 Samples. (250 remain.)
-Dimensional Reacharound, for 120 Samples. (130 remain.)
-Weapon Upgrade: Light Laser Cannons, for 50 Samples. (80 remain)
-Fluxblood System, for 30 Flux. (66 remain)
-Reverse Autoclave, for 10 Flux. (56 remain.)
-Well of Power, for 5 Flux. (51 remain.)

---

The Rosen Catacombs And A Whole Lot Of Talking

Venia was about to strike up a more deep conversation with Asha, after the coast was clear with that-but, things happened, fast. The Netwyrm's abrupt regeneration, the bombs, fleeing, more. Escaping death by a hair's breadth. Her heart still races, drumming in her chest, and much of her body reveals her liquid nature-a sign of stress.

And yet, It is over.

Venia looks back at the carnage she wrought. Every last little pebble there entombed whatever itty bitty bits of flesh could be said to be possessed by the First Sin, annihilated the center of the Rose Cultist base, and more besides. The First Sin-puppet leader of the Rose Cult-is dead, and (possibly) every last one of the Old Guard with them, plus the Iti's own Netwyrm Network, annihilating a massive deal of the Iti's resistance across the land and making them considerably less surprising. The Rose Cultist's leadership torn to shreds and all its interpreters dead, the Rose Cult's remaining members are unlikely to even cause trouble. It's hard to say if the Rose Cult is effectively dead or they'd still run around like a headless chicken trying to kill the heretics, but a lot of their operations were without a lot of leadership. It is over.

"Who's a good boy? Who's the fluffiest bestest boy of all! You are! Yes you are! You are getting all the pets, you did very good, you were very brave. Maria's gonna be so proud of you," Venia says, cooing over Cushion like the good fluffy boy he was. Venia wasn't sure if she'd have escaped in time with everyone else without him.

"Who's a great girlfriend? You are!" Venia says, springing up from Cushion and dragging Nia into another hug/kiss. Venia could get used to this amount of hugging and kissing every day. A thought crosses her mind-it won't always be like this-but she spurns it and says that she'll try to make every moment feel like this.

The moment of intimacy balanced out, Venia sets Nia down, and positions herself roughly dead center in the group, before coughing loudly to get everyone's attention.

"The mission is a total success!" Venia shouts. "I do not believe that the Rose Cult have been totally routed, but every member thus far remaining in the main base is considerably less hostile than the rest. In addition, information gathered from the First Sin means that, of the fifteen Old Guard, presumably the former fifteen Guardians of the Rose transmogrified into the slave-lieutenants of the butterfly-we have slain ALL of them! Now, there may be more, but either way, we have dealt an incredible blow to the Butterfly's forces here, symbolically and actually. You have done wonderfully, and it is great to see!"

"After this, we are heading out to the Skylabs, the sole remaining Glyph Location. Previous scanning has revealed the majority of forces present will be Chairians lead by Cypress-who may or may not be on our side, hard to say-and Rebels likely looking to sabotage the island to claim the Glyph, and on top of that we believe the Electrophorus Iti-the one that likes to lurk around the Chairian Outskirts river-favors attacking the area. Electricity-resistant gear is advised. In addition, with no new information about Xavier's whereabouts, the Skylabs are his last known location. It is hard to say if he will be allied to us or not, but his most recent communication was him personally asking us to free Nia and giving us the tools to do so, so I believe that he may be a potential ally to our cause, and should not be approached with hostile intent. I should point out that Chaos may really hate Xavier, though, so... Let's be prepared for that."

"Oh! And because it's so high up, we ought to beware Aardia-sorry if I got her name wrong-whoever she is she's Sophia's aunt and she's the one who turned her into a digital ghost if I'm not mistaken, because she has lost her mind. As for why the height is an issue, I have not been blind to Sophia's plight-and I have noticed that Sophia has fared very poorly when faced with any sort of ascending elevation, and it isn't due to the Underground Curse, she hasn't gone down to the Everground... So we may have to deal with psycho aunt on top of everything else, and intelligence tells me that she's under a mental influence that extremely agitates aggression. On the flipside, she hasn't made any moves other than that, but her targets are young children, so I want watch on the little ones tonight to be extensive, until we either deal with her or the Thyme Field is gone so we can take issue directly."

"So, basically-pretty much everyone there hates us except maybe like a few people. You know, the usual, except we'll be miles up in the sky. If there's any consolation, between what we just did and the location, I doubt more Rose Cultists will try to ruin our day up there."

"That's all I've got!" Venia says. "Let's head back home already and prepare for the night watch! Whatever's left here we can deal with in the morning."

Venia looks over everyone, briefly gazing over everyone-including Echoss. A pang of guilt is sharply reminded-and then a dozen of other worries about him. She She diverges from the center of the group, tactically waits a few seconds, and then flags down Echoss after her commotion has settled.

"... Oh, hello, Echoss, uh, one more thing. Echoss," Venia says, turning to the digital avatar. "Before you say anything-I apologize for the whole scene up there, it was just very emotional, probably shouldn't have acted that way anyways. I am your friend and your ally, and I don't want you feeling like a sack of shit for losing it at me being a little shit." Venia says, genuinely as she could sound.

"...Which is why I'm going to very, very politely ask you take it easy tomorrow," Venia says, a bit more sternly but not harshly. "For real. I mean-aside from the usual paranoia factors behind leaving multiple avatars around all the time, it is telling that you have been suffering physically and mentally the whole day, and not just with me either. Yes, I noticed the whole blowup with Marron, the Kitsune was down there and they told me everything." Venia says. (The Kitsune, indeed, was down in the house's first floor since they picked up Maria from the Chapel and hadn't left since). "You've shorted out multiple times and collapsed at least once, and that's just what I can definitely prove. I don't think anyone wants to see you break down, and I don't need to say what'd happen if it happened mid fight. Chloe would be devastated. We have loads of fighting people, and not to worry you-but the Thymefield is a big fat question mark powered by a godmodding construct, a plot-altering substance, and Descendancy, even the most esoteric forces in reality would crumble to one of those. Fight smarter, not harder, and all that-and right now fighting smart is not fighting, at all. Please. Please!."

---

The Rosen Catacombs, Mr. Krabs Edition

Rest being an alien concept to a meme, Mr. Krabs nods. "Aye aye, matey! And don't worry, ah, there's a lot less Rose Cultists to tend for than there used to-might be able to get yerself some better accommodations around here if that doesn't pan out, ahahaha!"

Mr. Krabs then soars back up to the Spinning Chamber. "Found a smith-lookin' feller in the ruined room. Said he'll fix it when he's done smithing AND you won't spin the damn corridors like teenagers spin bottles at sleepovers," Mr. Krabs says, punctuating it with an accusatory pincer to the chest (in a non-damaging way). "He'll need a few minutes. So, ah, about Magnolia's dad..."

---

Basscaper

"Alright, just take care of these fools and I'll have a clean shot. Or..."

Venia waits, building power at her feet-the reaper being blind wouldn't be able to see, and the mannequins don't have eyes, or ears, and might just be blind all the same. Then, as the Mannequins get a notable distance towards her-and away from the reaper they were defending-Venia forces the power beneath her feat to explode! Venia rockets upwards, well over the line of mannequins and soaring directly over the stage, firing midair to pepper the reaper with bullets, landing-not on the stage, but at the front row, away from the deadlier glass shards.

Of course, midair aiming is bad, and though Venia's accuracy is good she wouldn't be surprised if she missed due to the flight path she took. But that's OK, she isn't done yet. She has one more trump card that you probably forgot about in all of this to play-one she's now close enough to use.

Static-and then just above the Scale Reaper comes a screaming banshee, Venia's soul roaring to life, manifesting roughly between the ball of chains and the Scale Reaper, coated in Ordo. Being that it flies, landing onto the death zone is a nonissue. It rears its head back only for a second, and then bursts forwards, unleashing a burst of Salvation directly into the Scale Reaper's face, causing the whole stage to light up in the power of charisma!

Seconds later, Venia whips the calm mind shard out and draws the Pulchritude into it, to prevent lasting damage, and also to ensure she's killed the damn thing, just long enough to turn around and ensure the oncoming Mannequins won't kill her.

---

Post-battle

+2 MP

Hannah keeps piling on the poison until the Rosebuster Bomb was placed. Then she skedadles. Once she's out of the tunnels, she grabs ahold of the nearest person as they pass by (probably Mari in this case). Once out of the way of the resulting chaos, she was thrilled at the success. And that she got the "killing" blow. "Heck yeah!"

She sits down; the mines and the fight have taken a lot out of her. It allows her to overhear Venia's spiel. "Skylabs, huh... wonder what they have up there..."

Venia mentions Sophie's situation, and Hannah interjects when she mixes up Adria's name. "Adria. Her name's Adria."

"And yeah, Sophia hasn't been down there with me. That being said, aside from the random iti or something, it's pretty safe when you go down a little bit. I'll hang out in the mines; I'll be fine. Probably not safe for the others, though, so keep the rest of us kids safe, yeah?"

"I'm going back into the mines."

Hannah gets up and walks offscreen, uses her timepiece to go back into the mines where she left off.

---

Mines

Hannah hears about the cultist who can help them transfer their stuff to the inventory. She goes to them immediately, yeets a bag of 100 credits to their feet, and yeets all her stuff into the resulting rift. She also takes the time to time travel out of the mine to fight the First Sin in the past. She comes back moments later after beating the First Sin. Time anomaly resolved.

---

Boat

Boshi ties the repaired boat to his corvette properly this time, and then notes the chairian on the small island. That guy must have some pretty solid guts to stick around here. He sails over to them. "(Hey. Want a lift?)"

---

???
"...Hmph. Smartgorillaes. Need a new plan..."
"They will be mine..."

Near the house area, leaves rustle as something flees. It occurs near a perched Echoss butterfly, but by the time it'd notice, whatever was there had already left.

I swap my Rage Catalyst trinket for the Valour Catalyst trinket if nobody else is planning to use the Valour Catalyst trinket. Aside from that possibility, I keep my equipped items the same. I swap out Encourage for Deep Thinking, because Enlightened 7 (Via schemer, it's 7 and not 6) for three rounds and I guess also the knowledgable 6, that's a great boost. I'm not sure where I'll put the two stat points, I'll decide after Zone 5 starts since the suit I'm using tiers up at that point. anyway...

I harvest the Tornadopetal, Yggherb, one of the Manablooms, and the Deathcap if an action In Round 226 can harvest something that matures On 226. I then replant accordingly.
I also continue work on the Farm. Those holes in the ground are for more then just being holes; Using Terraform, I extend a cramped tunnel from each of them into a new subbasement which I dig out beneath the farm, accessible from my sleeping-alcove. what's going to be down there? compost. Any wildlife corpses which fall in the holes will help that, and I imagine most chairians and other sentients will be smart enough to avoid the holes. Regardless, at the moment I haven't put in any material to compost in here; just made a dank, wet hollow underground to do it in.

SKILLS

I put one of my skill points into defence and the other into skill.

---

CRAFTING

---

ROLEPLAY

I take a look at the wreckage of the First Sin and rub my hands together with a healthy bit of glee.

"FRAN": Well, wasn't that something exquisite!

I turn to my dear not-sister Marron, eyes wide with admiration.

"FRAN" Wonderful needlework, sis.
"FRAN": 141 damage! I don't think I could accomplish that against a completely unarmoured child, much less a horrifying Chairian abomination!
"FRAN": Even if I did end up with this lovely bouquet of eyes afterward!
"FRAN": Oh, right, apologies. Not sis. Freudian slip.
"FRAN": Although I'm sure our dear dear friend Freud is disappointed that blood ties don't exist between us.
"FRAN": Now there's a thought. Freud as a crackshipping fanfiction author... I'll get on that posthaste.

At some other arbitrary point in causality, I witness Venia's speech about triumph and pressing onwards and all that. Really, quite inspiring. I don't exactly have a personal stake in this fight, nor did I really need the pick-me-up from Miss Rich Utopian Duchess, but I appreciate it all the same. I forsake my anonymity and call out from the crowd.

"FRAN": Nice speech, Venia!
"FRAN": Really outdid yourself there.
"FRAN": If you ever need advice on how to spice it up, you know where to find me.
"FRAN": Or find "me," if I no longer, no longer exist by then.
"FRAN": Oh, and say hello to Nia for me.

This last remark is accompanied by a wink meant to indicate exactly who I am, if Venia hasn't caught on yet. That, or the message that I'm with her girlfriend. Which isn't true, but if the duchess wants to misinterpret my message that way, I certainly won't tell her otherwise. Petty drama is, of course, the best kind of drama.

Finally, I spare a moment to catch up with my "real" self, who is now mimicking my creator and/or other "real" self by being an actual fucking mirror.
(Why is everything so wonderful?)

"FRAN": That was a hell of a boss fight.
"FRAN": It can't be as interesting as team drama, though. I hope you haven't been too busy while I was gone~
"FRAN": I demand you share all of the juicy gossip immediately.

Upgrades!
Two points are put into DEF, two more into RES, and the last into HP.

Looting:
Echoss's golems sneak past the party and drop into the sideways hallway, landing on the first pillar down from the entrance. One of them grabs the other, heaves it up, and launches it through the single remaining unopened door.

Everground:
Pionobot tosses all his loot into the inventory vortex opened by Hannah, he then makes a grand flying leap across the gap and begins mining out bits of Sanctified Alloy.
This somehow triggers the team with the Duneyrr further North/Up in Zone 1 taking off, moving the Rebels to where they need to be and taking the Duneyrr and Linseed back to the house, because that needs to happen now-ish.

Post-Battle RP:
Echoss goes around, checking to make sure everyone is alright.
"Are you alright? Is everything okay? Hang in there, okay?"
He comes to Chloe.
"Mi-Chloe. Are you okay? You got swallowed by that thing and... are you alright?"

Venia makes her speech, and Echoss nods. He's got his butterflies out and about, that should be enough to keep wise of Adria for now.
She then approaches Echoss. He almost backs out of it but she comes to him first. She apologizes for how she acted earlier. He seems a bit surprised, but doesn't betray it for long.
"It's.... it's fine Miss Praefortis. I did not behave particularly suiting for one of my status either."
His expression darkens when she asks him to sit things out.
"Miss Praefortis I can take care of myself, I assure you. I miscalculated the extent to which I could push my abilities through the thymefield, as I overstepped after my initial successes during the first while of me being here. I will not be 'shorting out' again, as I have a more proper understanding of what I can and can't do now. There is too much to do and... for me to sit out on the sidelines, and it is hardly as if I can abandon my duties elsewhere either."

+2 DEF
Swap Deck for Rage Catalyst, swap Withered Shroud for Lepidoptera, swap Relinquish Will for Fluxblade.

Character Stats:
+1INT
Remove 1 Limit Breaker
No Change in Stats. Yet

-2MMP -2KP
Perk: Preparedness x2
x2 Manabloom Biscuit: Restore (6-6) MP, then gain Energized2 for two rounds.

Spells:
Incantation
Elemental Singularity
Decaying Light

Crafting Stuff

C R A F T T I M E

Link to all Equips crafted (also some future crafts xd)







----------------------------------
Meanwhile, Crya meets up with Destiny.
DESTINY: Well, I heard those explosions from up here, so I can assume the job is done. What do you want now?
CRYA: ...I'm trying really hard to keep it together. I... had some rather unsavory Trials memories come back up.
DESTINY: So you want to hand power back to me?
CRYA: Yeah, let me... handle the flashbacks and all in a room. You can do the fighting from now on.
DESTINY: That's easy enough. Put your hand on my hand.

Destiny holds her hand up, and Crya puts her palm on it. Both of them glow, Crya glowing light blue and Destiny glowing neon green, before both glows fade.
CRYA: Now I'll just go talk to Scalta....
Crya walks off to the house and sits on the couch. She takes out a communication rune, and atop it a tall goddess appears. Both of them begin talking about the Trials and their horrific experiences with a fleshy dungeon.

Meanwhile, Destiny is now my player character. Link to equips and stats can be found here.

Auth releases a held breath, in relief.

AUTH: That's good... I was worried for a minute.
AUTH: If I'm to be perfectly honest, I'm surprise they conscripted you too. Did they ever give a reason for it?
AUTH: I mean, I'd understand if it was random or desperate, but...

Auth shakes his head. Could the Legion be in such a state to need such... weak-willed combatants? Surely not...

AUTH: On the topic of people who aren't us, though, you and I have a dinner invitation. I've kind of accepted already, sorry. I thought it might be nice to introduce you to a new member of the team.

Auth blows on his hand, letting it recover from getting stabbed by the trapped chest.

AUTH: You think you can open it? Be my guest, I'll try and bring it out. I was gonna try something else, but...
AUTH: Maybe it's best to let the expert have a go.

Auth slides some ink underneath the chest, and then raises it up in the air like a platform. Auth walks around the spikes on the ground to take the chest up to Nana, carefully placing it far enough away from her that it's not likely to cause her any harm.

AUTH: I'm curious what they've hidden in here that could be worth protecting so much.
AUTH: How about you?

----

Auth waits quietly for Maple... and seems somewhat surprised when it is, in fact, Chloe that pokes her head out of the Duneyrr.

AUTH: Hello, Chloe. I didn't know you were in there.

Auth deftly dismisses Chloe's accusation of being a "big bully" with a subtle change in expression. One near disapproval, or disappointment. He shakes his head and sighs.

AUTH: I'm sorry I can be of no help in maintenance. I have no, er... mechanical empathy, shall we say. I don't get machinery and it just doesn't like me either.
AUTH: Else I would have assisted in some way with the airship, too. It's not right...

Auth mumbles something about "spacefaring locomotives" and "ideal form of transport" before getting back on topic.

AUTH: I'm glad Maple isn't terribly upset, I was worried I'd done something terrible when she flew away like that.

Auth smiles slightly as Maple appears out of the Duneyrr.

AUTH: It's quite a surprise to see you here too, Maple.
AUTH: You have definitely mentioned that you're sorry. Have I told you not to worry about it yet? Don't worry about it, communication faults happen, it's fine.

Auth steps back as Maple announces that she's going to leave the Duneyrr, and then is blown backwards as she boosts out. Clearly not what Auth was expecting her to do. As Auth dusts himself off, looking at the hovering Maple, he considers her request. Not for very long, though.

AUTH: Yes, we do have a base. I'll show you the way, you can take one of the single rooms in the basement. Although, by the time we get there, I might be ready to fix your eye.

Auth leads Maple back to the house, walking her through the front door, and then leads her over to the couch.

AUTH: Wait here just a moment, and I'll bring who I need.

Elsewhere, but at the same time, Auth walks up to Marron.

AUTH: Hey, Marron. I hope this isn't a bad moment, but I could use your help shortly. As in "In the next ten-fifteen minutes". I wanna try and fix up our new recruit's eye. It'd help as a second test for that spell - see if it works on Chairians too.

Just after that, Auth walks over to Omo, who is nearby.

AUTH: I have good news. Preliminary testing indicates positive results. You may be able to see how it turned out, if you look at Asha's arm.
AUTH: Ideally, since I think I'll have the resources, I'll be performing a second test on Maple's burned eye, but at this point, I think it's probably safe to indicate to Cypress that we have a treatment on the way for Acacia.
AUTH: I mean, if the next test doesn't work I'll tell you, but... I have a good feeling, knock on wood.

----

Speaking of that spell, let's get that last ingredient.

AUTH: You need a core, huh...
AUTH: I see. Hm. I can understand why you'd never need to question it though.
AUTH: I mean, you're correct. They do have lots of bodies, and chances are they wouldn't care if you took one, but...
AUTH: I don't know, really. Something about it... unsettles me. Imagine if you were a family member of a person being puppeted, y'know? Although, maybe I'm overly empathetic...

Auth's posture changes a little as Magnolia mentions her old body.

AUTH: I agree, I thought her dress was quite fashionable. I thought that was your fashion sense, Magnolia!
AUTH: I must confess I am partial to that aesthetic. It reminds me of home.
AUTH: You may be correct, in that the dead don't really have a say in what's done with their bodies, but... well, I believe saying any more would be repeating myself, right? There's no point going over it again.
AUTH: Even if we both disagree on what should be done with bodies... I'll still hold up my end of the deal.

Auth listens quietly as Magnolia explains how the crest leads to the secret pathway. Auth looks down at the crest, and turns a few times. Then he begins to walk into the church. It seems this is really starting to take a toll. The thought occurs to Auth that he could transform into a Chairian, and that it would make the journey easier...

But he isn't really sure how to do that yet. And he's not sure how it would go with Magnolia. So he struggles on, until he reaches one of the many projection boxes, and then follows this path:

Left, Left, Up, Down, Left, Left, Down, Down, Down, Left, Up, Right. I don't remember what the correct translation would be, but he does that.

----

Crafting? Not today, but I do have one thing to add...

Auth uses one of the Soul Keys we've been collecting.

Lost in Reflections (#086940) (Level: 3 / 3)
When you cast a spell, give yourself a stack of Lament. Max of 5 stacks.
Failing to cast a spell in a round will cause you to lose a stack.

Lament: Every stack of Lament gives you 1 AC, gives you 10% Resistance in an element chosen at the start of a battle, and reduces the cost of spells by 5%.

At max stacks, gain +2 AC and +20% Resistance.

Modifiers: +1 AC at max stacks per 6 SPC. (Cap of +3.)

Locked Down at 10 SPC. (You may go over 3 stacks of Lamentation Lock for no additional benefit, other than having a buffer to not cast spells.)

(feel free to add more at this point, if you wanted to)