Origin of Sin

After an eternity in stasis, Chara comes to once more. They barely have any time to take a look around themselves and at everything they've missed, when the group starts evacuating from the imminent explosion.

With a deep sigh, they slump against a wall, or the closest equivalent thereof. In the confusion and panic that ensues, it's only natural that they'll be overlooked. Just as they had overlooked Chloe being eaten, Chloe dying...

CHARA: Sazanami no you ni yurete iru yo...

Of course. Of course it had to happen like this. Just can't force yourself not to be completely useless, ain't that right, Chara? Just couldn't make yourself act, or even pay attention. Not for three rounds.

CHARA: Kokoro no naka no tooi kioku...

Why do you do this anyway? Your existence is perfectly configurated for games such as these. You have entire days to plan a response, and yet you do absolutely nothing. You have full control of your situation, and yet you squander it, waste it. Waste of time. Waste of space. Waste of combatant slot. What is your purpose here?

CHARA: Ima wa tada toumei na kaze no naka...

No, really, what is your purpose here? Your job is just to learn about the world and milk it dry for powers. Nobody forces you to go into battles like this, so why bother? Is it to play hero? Come on, we've established you can be neither that, nor a protagonist. Fucking furniture scrap. The Hauptrolle is hers, you know? And for Best Supporting Actor, you wouldn't make it in the top 10 even. Who would ever root for the tryhard edgelord? Who in their right mind would ever want to be saved, or even helped by a worthless murderchild? Murderchild. Murderchild. Murderchild. Murderchild.

CHARA: Shizuka ni nemuritai tsubasa wo daite...

The Apprentice Witch spares a glance at the bombs merrily ticking within their wound-cradles across the room. Some thirty seconds remain until everything in the immediate area is erased from existence. The thought of staying there and joining the First Sin in it crosses their mind, but what good would that do?

After all, they're already nonexistent.

---

The distinct sound of fabric tearing is heard as a hole in reality is made. Their figure completely slumped, Chara shambles out of it and into the group gathering. Taking a cursory look at everyone present they straighten out... before landing face-first on the floor.

CHARA: I'm tired.
CHARA: Lovely speech, though. Could've used more gestures and intonation, but the baseline is decent.
CHARA: Oh, and don't worry about dragging me to the house either. I can spend the night here if all the beds are taken.

Momentarily raising their head to take a deep breath, they lay it back down, their body stilling to an uncanny degree.

---

FRAN: Gossip?
FRAN: I'm stuck. Literally forgot to give the transformation an off switch, save for an automatic one if you break the mirror.
FRAN: For the imaginary twenty minutes that you were gone, all I've done was stand here and marinate in my own salt.
FRAN: There's plenty of it to go around, you know.
FRAN: And, if you're on the level of meta I think you are, you also know what the actual juicy gossip is.
FRAN: Are you in, or not?
FRAN: And more importantly, can you take a hammer or something and free me from this shoddy thing? It's cold, and my limbs are numb.
FRAN: Please, not-sis?~

---

What's left to wrap up...
Right, three conversations.Not to mention that I'm supposed to start a fourth one.
I suppose I'll just have to see them in my dreams, then.

Near the door of the house, a knocking sound can be heard. It seems to be happening intermittently, as sighs of boredom can be heard.




(also here is Character Sheet https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1a5Y...G5c9VAQiwIF0xI

Asha changes a ton of stats. Like- almost all of them.

-1 MHP = 8
-3 MMP = 9
+3 STR = 3
+5 AGI = 14
-2 INT = 10
+2 SKI = 4
-1 DEF = 2
-5 SPC = 9

She then picks up the Cracked Shell from the Temmie Store and equips it along with the Mysterious Processor (in place of Deck of Spells), giving her pretty much the same stats as before, but with decent STR and a possible deathwish.

An orb of light drifts past Lukas, and flies off into space. It catches his attention, and he dissipates into flower petals, blowing in the wind, seemingly trailing behind the light.
-----
A drop pod lands near the fountain at Zone 0. Its door pops off, revealing a dark-skinned, armored man. He steps out, and slowly looks around. He walks towards the House, and sits down at the door.

New sheet!

[S] Berg: Return, Finally ^{(You Only Said You Would, Like, Twice Already)}

cA: I... LIIIIIVE!

I have... a lot to update.

I have 38 skill points to spend! Dang!

I put 10 into HP, 2 into MP, 8 into STR, 2 into AGI, 3 into INT, 3 into SKI, 5 into DEF, and 3 into SPC. I think that means I get reduced self-Slow on my special attack, and my trait gets Manaburn. I also choose the perk Indomitable.

Since, I can upgrade my trait, I was thinking of a 50% reduction to MOV when enemies enter my ZoC.

I swap Phial Burst for Sword Beam.

I equip Firefighter's Mail, Slayer's Helmet, the Heroine's Charm and Chaos Spaghetti, and the Sin'Dorei Morningstar. I am going to craftpost the Ice-Armed Arm v1.1 into something else soon, but I am having writer's block at the moment.

==SPEC!==
Crystal decides to rejigger his build.

First, the equipment changes.

He needs to make a customized Nightmarron, for one... for that, a Hand of Protemitor will be useful.
He sits down with the Hand, tears it apart into mechanical components and materials, sorts through them, and assembles them into a replica of Nightmarron, with significant customizations and upgrades.

Nightmarron Custom crafted!
It's a T6, and has the following differences from the "base" Nightmarron:
Damage up by 1;
HIT and CNT each up by 1;
Stat changes are now +2 AGI, +2 SKI, -2 DEF;
the Counter now has Armorpierce2;
and the Petal Strikes are now:

Crystal also upgrades his Withered Shroud.
The Withered Shroud becomes the Ancient Shroud;
T5 > T6
+9 MHP > +7 MHP
+0 STR > +4 STR
30% Piercing resist > 40% Piercing resist
[Whatever buffs or lack of such to Light Eternal Ire sees fit to provide]

Crystal then reshuffles his build, equipping Nightmarron Custom (Magical element: Light) and the Ancient Shroud, as well as swapping the Discordance Headband for the First Hat, the Chaos Spaghetti for the Whispering Gauntlet, aka Ga'aunt, and the Poetry Pamphlet for the Golden Revolver.
(Does Ga'aunt's Crimson Fall passive apply to the Petal Strikes too?)
He sets Ga'aunt's resists to Piercing and Fire.

He then reshuffles his skillpoints, removing two from DEF and removing his Manabloom Biscuit perk.

He then puts his 6 total free points into:
+5 MHP, 7 > 12;
+1 MMP, 1 > 2.

He also swaps Exertion for Abduction.

<ROUND 226>

Yeah. I'm a bit late on this one.
Terraria 1.4 came out, though. Can you blame me?
...

Yes.

Anyway, stats.



Whew! And that's the... update?

...Wait, there's still a whole update's worth of content to get through.
Well then.

---

Venia does a large amount of things. We'll begin with the research: MHPBoost v2, Dimensional Reacharound, and the upgrade for the Light Laser Cannons are researched, eating 200 + 120 + 50 Samples, for a total of 370 Samples. Ouch. They then also throw some Flux around at the Fluxblood System, the Reverse Autoclave, and the Well of Power, spending 30 + 10 + 5 Flux, for a total of 45 Flux.

With that out of the way, Venia gives Cushion a few quick pats as a reward, then pulls Nia into a tight hug, the two of them lying upon Cushion as they share a few passionate kisses.

NIA: Haah, if you pay me like this every battle, I'll follow you wherever you need me~

The two then break off. Nia gets comfy on Cushion's back, as Venia clears her throat and prepares herself for a speech. Maybe this'll drop at the end of the update? In the meanwhile though, Mr. Krabs heads up to the Spinning Chamber, and pokes the Cultist in there in the chest. Apparently, the smith will unlock the rotation controls when he's done smithing. The cultist nods.

CULTIST: ...oh.
CULTIST: wait wait, you better not be accusing me of spinning this thing
CULTIST: it was not me
CULTIST: i swear

...With that out of the way, Mr. Krabs asks about Magnolia's dad.

CULTIST: oh, right
CULTIST: he's been out on a business trip
CULTIST: for like, a couple hundred years?
CULTIST: i think he's perfecting the art of like
CULTIST: that weird thing where you can put someone into an item
CULTIST: nobody's seen him for awhile

CULTIST: apparently he has a private retreat somewhere out in locaa
CULTIST: he does have a few apprentices who occasionally come to this place, bearing the fruits of his labor
CULTIST: he's been responsible for several of our advances in the tech
CULTIST: kinda freaky if you ask me

They shrug. Is that good enough for Mr. Krabs? Who even knows. Finally, within Bass's Mindscape, Venia takes initiative, rocketing over the approaching mannequins, peppering the Scale Reaper as she flies through the air! Only a few rounds connect, but that's enough to leave the Reaper totally vulnerable to any further attacks! She promptly donuts the Scale Reaper, firing a burst of Salvation right through its skull. (If it has one.)

The Scale Reaper begins to spasm and break apart, Ordo lighting up its body. Behind Venia, the mannequins joints suddenly catch fire, Ordo consuming them as well. They break and fall apart, wood clattering across the seats behind Venia. Soon enough, the Reaper has totally transmuted into a crimson smoke, which fades away as it wafts into the air.

...The ball of chains in the center of the room begins to crack as well. The various chains holding it in place tense up, before snapping violently, sending shards of metal every which way! A few of these hit Venia, but she's probably okay due to non-Reaper sources probably being unable to hurt her. The Bass Plushie pokes out of Venia's pocket, watching the chaos. Suddenly, the ball drops to the ground, splitting open like an eggshell, two piles of gigantic chains forming on opposite sides of whatever's inside.

...Speaking of that, a figure in a rather silly costume was floating in the center of the sphere. It seems they're dressed as a pirate, or... something. Are there pirates on Sussui? Who even knows. At the very least, they look like a pirate. They lower to the ground ever so slowly, whatever force that was controlling them gently laying them out on their back.

BASS PLUSHIE: That's... me.
BASS PLUSHIE: Really wish I didn't have the silly costume on, but that's part of the last performance I did.
BASS PLUSHIE: I don't know what you did, but... I believe he's linked to the entire network of this mindscape.
BASS PLUSHIE: Channel some Ordo through him, and... well, you'd wipe out all of the entropic interference in here.

BASS PLUSHIE: ...Of course, this'd also wipe out any sort of entropic powers I have.
BASS PLUSHIE: Which would mean I wouldn't be of much help. At all.
BASS PLUSHIE: So... what to do?
BASS PLUSHIE: We can always just leave this for after the Sphere's gone.

...Going through with purging the mindscape of this crimson influence might render Bass less useful as a Minor NPC, if it doesn't render him useless in combat entirely. It also however, would massively improve his quality of life, and possibly provide some other benefits. It's your choice.

---

So we back in the mines! Hannah tosses 100 Credits at the Cultist, who immediately opens a portal. Hannah then promptly vomits up (6) HP worth of themselves into the portal, then also empties their inventory into it. 8 Samples, 10 Elden Everwood, 33 Gravcore Ore, 2 Core Regalia, 12 Sanctified Alloy, and 500 Credits obtained!

Elsewhere, Boshi decides to tie the damaged boat to his corvette, before sailing both of his boats over to the island with the fisherman upon it. He hails them, asking if they want a lift. They shake their head.

FISHERMAN: Hm? How'd you get here?
FISHERMAN: Haven't you seen any of the signs?
FISHERMAN: Nobody should be here, except for field operatives.
FISHERMAN: Electrophorus roosts here at... night, usually.
FISHERMAN: Being at this lake is incredibly dangerous!
FISHERMAN: There's no way that ship of yours could outrun it if it decided to attack.

FISHERMAN: Fortunately for you, they're not here right now.
FISHERMAN: This equipment scans the water for its presence.
FISHERMAN: I'd get out while you still can.
FISHERMAN: I'll be fine, though.

They reel in a Barkfin, which is thrown into a bucket near their position with a satisfying splash.

FISHERMAN: ...You don't happen to have any bait, do you?
FISHERMAN: I don't have much to do here. Equipment that isn't specially designed to give off minimal electrical interference is forbidden.
FISHERMAN: Electrophorus eats that stuff up.
FISHERMAN: So, I fish.
FISHERMAN: And now I'm low on worms.
FISHERMAN: Anything helps.

...A quick inspection reveals that the Fisherman has also stumbled upon a Titanium Crate. Doesn't seem he's opened it yet. Maybe it'd be worth taking? But is he willing to part with it?

---

JOE harvests the farm. He gets a netgain of
2 Tornadopetals, 18 Yggherbs, 18 Fresh Manabloom, 9 Manabloom Seeds, and 3 Deathcaps. He also decides to create a tunnel network with those holes he made earlier. I guess you might catch an animal, somehow?

---

"Fran" turns towards Marron, striking up a conversation. She immediately calls her "sister", prompting the puppeteer to deftly slap her across the face, the sound of the impact resonating ever-so-slightly.

MARRON: H-Hey! I thought you said you'd stop calling me that!
MARRON: I am not your sister!
MARRON: And what the hell are you doing here, anyway!?
MARRON: I thought you weren't a combatant, or something.

Nia, seemingly realizing what's going on, covers her mouth as she giggles furiously. Marron turns around to face the wizardess, shrugs, then returns her attention to Fran, who's gushing about the damage Marron dealt.

MARRON: U-Um, thanks?

MARRON: ...
MARRON: I still don't know what your deal is.
MARRON: Please stay away from me. Thanks.

Marron moves over a few feet. Ette follows, waving to "Fran" as she passes by.

ETTE: Sorry!
ETTE: Sis really doesn't like that you call her sis.
ETTE: It makes her really, really angry, so please stop!
ETTE: Although, I'd be happy to have you as my little sis-
MARRON: No, we're not adopting her.
ETTE: Aw.

Ette returns to patching up the puppeteer, carefully wrapping bandages around her sister's arms and legs.

---

Some Echoss Golems investigate a room in the sideways hallway! They come across some... tribespeople? Alright. They're immediately smacked away by the guardsman at the front door, who was surprised by the golem's intrusion. With a spider fang club, too. How'd this even happen?

Elsewhere, Echoss runs around the main Catacombs, checking up on everyone. He comes across Chloe, who's busy chanting a few healing spells on her various bumps and bruises. She gives him a gentle smile as he comes along.

CHLOE: Oh, I'm alright!
CHLOE: It was crazy down there! When I got swallowed, I entered this tunnel system, and... well, i-it was actually really gross, and I-I'm gonna take a bath for a few hours, but...
CHLOE: I'm alright! Don't worry.
CHLOE: Thanks for checking up on me, though. How are you holding up?

...Seems that Chloe's just about finished tending to herself. He shouldn't need to worry about that now. Then, just now, the Duneyrr within Zone 1 makes the trip to Zone 0 (and other locales), taking Maple to the house, and delivering the Rebels to safety. After escorting Linseed to a room (and locking it up tight), Maple flies up to the roof, lands on the chimney, and takes in the sights.

MAPLE: Ooh! I used to live around here as a child!
MAPLE: Kinda weird, coming back here now.

Meanwhile, in the Everground, Pionobot tosses some items into the inventory vortex. 1 Cyclone Regalia, an Exhibition, and 10 Elden Everwood obtained! He also flings himself across the gap, slamming into the vein of Sanctified Alloy, knocking 7 chunks loose into his inventory.

---

Auth and Nana fiddle with a chest. As they examine the thing, Auth asks Nana if she ever got a reason for her conscription. She shakes her head.

NANA: W-Well, I got the same reason e-everyone else did.
NANA: "We are low on soldiers because the Chairheir killed them all."
NANA: "If you do not help us, we will all die."
NANA: I-It... also doesn't help that I'm the perfect age for this sort of thing...

After Auth gets his hand pricked, Nana pulls out a block of wood and morphs it, placing a little wooden bandage around his injured finger. Just a thin layer of bark. He then asks if she could open it.

NANA: I-I... don't know.
NANA: I-I don't have much experience with this sort o-of thing, b-but... I think I have the key!

Still clutching the block of wood, Nana forces its material into the keyhole. It explodes upward, breaking the chest right open. The top of it flies a sort distance, skittering across the floor. Nia silently cheers, grinning from ear to ear.

NANA: I-I did it!
NANA: There's a reason the Legion doesn't put anything valuable into a simple lock-and-key box nowadays!
NANA: N-Not because of me, b-but... w-well, you saw w-why!

Nana peeks inside the box. It seems there's a little spiked doll in there. Nana refuses to touch it.

NANA: C-Creepy...
NANA: I guess it's not surprising there's a spiky thing in t-the spiky box...
NANA: Y-You'd think there'd be something more important in there, though!

...The same wooden mass Nana used to blow open the box picks it up, and throws it into the inventory. Nail Doll obtained! With the item safely stored, Nana loosens up, deciding to take a seat against the wall, resting. Seems like she's had a long day- take her home?

At the Duneyrr, Auth sighs; he's glad that Maple isn't upset. Chloe simply nods, then steps out of the way for Maple to take the stage. The two of them chat. Auth says that she shouldn't worry about it- communication faults happen.

MAPLE: I know.
MAPLE: Doesn't stop it from being embarrassing, though...
MAPLE: D-Don't tell anyone about it t-though, alright?
MAPLE: The squad would l-laugh at me if they found out...

Auth then joins Maple as Echoss begins the process of walking the Duneyrr back to the base. He promises her a bedroom, among other things.

MAPLE: Like... my own bedroom?
MAPLE: Huh. That sounds... really nice.
MAPLE: Back at the base, you always had to bunk with at least a few people.
MAPLE: Privacy would be nice~

When they get home, as Maple flies off to explore the place, Auth seeks out Marron. Could she be around to help with a ritual that he's about to perform?

MARRON: Uh, alright.
MARRON: I'd appreciate more notice next time, though.
MARRON: Doing dinner and a ritual is going to be a gorilla, but maybe I can get Asha to mix the...

MARRON: ...
MARRON: Ooooor, I can just get really, really good at multitasking.
MARRON: But yeah. I'm in.

He also approaches Omo, noting that preliminary testing has been positive! Omo gives him a nod, and a gentle smile. She taps the spine of her tome with her fingers, playing a steady rhythm.

OMORIKA: Ah. Most excellent, sir Author.
OMORIKA: I'm sure Acacia would be happy to hear it.
OMORIKA: So would everyone else scarred by flame, I'm sure.
OMORIKA: Perhaps when the war is over, we could find a way to... mass produce the cure?
OMORIKA: A true way to cure burn damage. We've never had a true solution to that.

Omo begins to think up the logistics of this system. As that happens, Auth asks Magnolia how she'd feel if she were the family member of someone being puppeted. Magnolia blinks a few times in quick succession, then attempts the cute anime headtilt thing. It fails, as she's an axe.

MAGNOLIA: Eh? I don't see anything wrong with that.
MAGNOLIA: Is there something wrong with that? I dunno.

Auth then agrees on Magnolia's old body having a fashionable dress. He thought it was her fashion sense.

MAGNOLIA: It was!
MAGNOLIA: Her dress was so nice that I didn't even bother to change clothes while I had that body.
MAGNOLIA: I want another dress. They're really frilly, and pretty!
MAGNOLIA: And I need a body to wear one! So we gotta get me one!

Magnolia then takes a moment to describe the pathway. He decides to go left, left, up, down, left, left, down , down down, left up, right. He emerges into what seems to be a small retreat of sorts, with a fountain dedicated to Lord Helix. It's not operating, but it seems that there's... something here.

MAGNOLIA: We found it! Hurray!
MAGNOLIA: We're super smart! Yeah!

(As a note, the map for this room has appeared in Zone 3, because consistency.)

---

Chara sulks against a wall. Suddenly, she feels someone rub her shoulder. Chloe.

CHLOE: Heya.
CHLOE: Are... you alright?
CHLOE: You seem kinda... out of it.
CHLOE: Want anything? If you're feeling ill or something, well... we're marching back home soon.
CHLOE: I'm sure that Cushion would be willing to give you a ride.

Chloe remains by her side for a moment. She rummages through her pocket, pulling out a Chocolate Egg from the inventory. She offers it to her.

---

In the middle of the catacombs, Venia celebrates the party's achievements: utterly smashing the Rose Cult! And now, they should be heading off for the Skylabs to gank whoever's guarding the last Glyph, all while watching out for Xavier and whoever Sophia's aunt is. Venia claps her hands as she suggests for the party to return home to prepare for the night. Chloe nods.

CHLOE: Well said, Venia!
CHLOE: I'd like to get going myself: I might be facing my brother tomorrow, a-and, well...
CHLOE: I'll need to be prepared, mentally and physically.
ETTE: I'd like to rest, too!
ETTE: Being tired feels really weird!
ETTE: My arms are heavy, my legs are wobbly...
ETTE: I can't wait to take a nap!

...Ette wobbles, Marron quickly taking her side. The seamstress struggles to keep the puppet upright as they walk, with Marron soon loading her up onto Cushion's back. She plops down next to Nia, instantly falling asleep the moment she gets settled in Cushion's fluff.

NIA: C'mon, everyone!
NIA: Let's go!

With that, the group packs up, and takes a somewhat snaking road out the front door, eventually emerging in the basement of the Church of Helix. Taeda gazes up through the gigantic hole in the ceiling of the basement, the moon "visible" through a stained glass window. Prismatic light coats the rubble splayed about the room.

TAEDA: Just so you know, I'm holding you all responsible for these damages.
TAEDA: Once the Sphere's done with, we're going to clean this up, alright?
BASS: not a chance, my dude
TAEDA: Aw.

TAEDA: ...I didn't really mean it. I'm not holding anyone responsible.
TAEDA: It'd be nice if someone could stick around to help.
TAEDA: This place is probably low priority on the list of repairs... and I don't want to leave my home in disrepair.
BASS: legally speaking, this is / was also my home
BASS: maybe i'll help
TAEDA: Huh? You'd really help?
TAEDA: That's so sweet of you! Thanks!
BASS: i really don't have anything better to do
BASS: because iiiiii quit
BASS: my job
BASS: as a cultist
BASS: they can't fire me now because i've quit
BASS: checkmate, non-atheists

Up a spiraling staircase they go. Soon, the group is outdoors. It's really quite cold with the sun gone, everyone's breaths clearly visible in the pristine skies. Bass turns to face the Church of Helix, standing there solemnly as the rest of the group advances. Chloe stops and turns, heading up beside him.

CHLOE: Hey, what's wrong?
BASS: Hm.
BASS: What do you think will happen to the Rose Cult now?
BASS: With the death of the First Sin, I'm not sure what they'll do.
BASS: As much harm as the cult has caused, most of their members really are harmless.
BASS: More... "insane", rather than "butterfly fanatics".
BASS: And yet, they're dangerous.
BASS: Do you think we should leave them alone? Or wipe them out?
CHLOE: U-Um...
CHLOE: That's a heavy question, y'know.

CHLOE: But... I think we should leave them be.
CHLOE: It's just... even if they do worship an evil god, they can't be all bad.
CHLOE: I bet a lot of them are decent people. People who just wanted to seek out a nice community.
CHLOE: I-I mean, "nice" is subjective, but y'know-
BASS: ...Yeah. I get it.
BASS: I can relate.
CHLOE: Alright.
CHLOE: Anyway, I'll see if I can talk Venia- or anyone else, for that matter- out of wiping out the straglers.
CHLOE: I think they've already been through enough.
BASS: ...Thank you.
CHLOE: It's not a problem~.

...And with that, the group leaves the Old Pass. Through the mountain tunnel. Through the woods. And surely enough, they're home. Nana doesn't even hesitate to fling open the door, falling on her knees once she's inside.

MARRON: Whew...
MARRON: God. That was an... experience.
MARRON: I'm ready to go to bed...
MARI: Didn't you lounge around with Toast all day?
MARRON: H-Hey, shut up!
MARRON: I-I think we all have the right to the tired after fighting the gigantic vore monster!
MARI: I'm not saying that you don't deserve to rest, or anything.
MARI: Just-
MARRON: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I was lazy today.

MARRON: I'll make dinner at least, alright?
MARRON: It's the least I can do.
MARI: Oh, cool.
MARI: I'm feeling pasta today. Do you make pasta?
MARRON: Pasta? Yeah, sure.
MARRON: Haven't done that in awhile.
MARRON: Lasagna sound good?
MARI: Wait, really? You'd do that!?
MARRON: Like I said. The least I could do.
MARRON: I'll get started.
MARI: ...Thanks.

With that, the group disperses! Thanks to FORUM GAME TIME™, Marron should already be done cooking, so help yourself? You'll have a bit of time before day comes, so... enjoy the night? Socialize with NPC's. Continue working on gear upgrades. And, since you'll be visiting the SkyLabs, having a properly-equipped airship would be essential! Sorry for taking so long to complete this update, but hopefully the next few won't take as long!

Now that Lepidoptera's officially freed up I officially equip it.
[crafting at some point maybe]
At home...
I climb up the fire escape ladder, open the door on the second floor as quietly as possible, then walk over to the bunk bed in the far corner and throw a sack of dice into the chest next to it before climbing the ladder and passing out in the top bunk.

Looting the Catacombs:
In the catacombs, Echoss's golems seem unamused. They merge together, making one even larger golem, which promptly punches the defending cultist so hard that he smashes through the barricade of the spider nest on the other side of the room. The golems promptly unfuse, and prepare themselves for fending off the "natives".


Everground:
Pionobot finishes mining the sanctified alloy, kicks the fluxflesh into the hole, and hops back up to the ledge where Hannah is.


Finishing the post-battle RP:
Echoss nods, clearly relieved that Chloe is alright.
I'm glad you're okay. I'm... doing alright. It's been a long day, and there's still things to do but I'll be alright.


Making sure Linseed doesn't escape:
In the house basement Echoss expends x8 titanium ingots to make another additional door on the wooden door to Linseed's room. This basically functions as a reinforcement, but on the chance that Linseed has some last kind of firebomb or whatever left on his person this will keep him from being able to burn it down.

At the house, Rosemary seems to have quit knocking on the door...and in fact has realized the door has unlocked, and has seemed to enter the house and subsequently just...kinda flop down on the couch and pass out. Seems she was tired.

I clamber back down into the tunnels, and drop some green sap, bundles of silkweed, uniform logs, and some wheat into a pile in the centre. As an afterthought, I chop up a few barkfins and add them to the mix. From there, I set two Aurora crystals into the ground to maintain temperature,and divert a tiny trickle from the stream to keep it moist- Excellent conditions for compost, assuming I'm remembering how compost works correctly- then climb back up to keep watch over the farm.

Auth sighs.

AUTH: ...Ah, I see. Desperation, then. I can sort of see why, I guess. I can't exactly begrudge the legion for it, I suppose.

Auth shrugs. Seems he more or less understands why they would have done it. Even if it's silly, well... bringing in anyone and everyone available isn't exactly unheard of when a military faces a manpower shortage. After Nana applies a "bandage" to his hand, he flows ink underneath to treat the wound as best and as quickly as he can. Although, notably, he leaves the bandage on afterwards, rather than taking them off, even if he fully healed the injury.

AUTH: I believe in you, Nana. I'm sure you can do it better than I can right now, ehe.
AUTH: That... block doesn't... well, you'd know better than me.

Auth stifles a laugh as he watches Nana explode the chest open. He appears to be adequately impressed by such a display.

AUTH: Very impressive! I rate it an 8/10, just needs more performance.
AUTH: Still, though... seeing such a devastating blow to the chest, I definitely understand. I wonder if I can learn to do that...

Auth looks in the chest with Nana, slightly amused at what's in the chest. He observes the doll...

AUTH: It's an unsettling thing, isn't it? I feel uncomfortable just looking at it...
AUTH: What is it doing here? Do you think Magnolia or Bass might have any ideas? Or any of the other living weapons?

Auth then turns around to see Nana exhausted, and puts his thoughts to rest for now. He walks over, and helps Nana up.

AUTH: A question for later, I suppose. Let's get out of here. I think both of us could use a rest.
AUTH: Although... mmph. Nevermind.

---

For the sensibility of this post's structure, Auth and Magnolia will be next!

AUTH: Hm. Perhaps it's a matter of perspective, then. You've lived in an environment where such a thing is okay, but I haven't.
AUTH: The issue would be... hm, how to put it...
AUTH: Imagine the body of someone important to you being piloted around by someone or something that was very specifically not them. Can you understand it that way? I'll let it go if you don't, I've tried to explain my issue with it and I can at least make peace with that.

Auth chuckles, slightly.

AUTH: Well, then, I certainly won't criticise that choice, no.
AUTH: I would advise changing, though. At least so you have enough sets of clothes so you can wear one set and wash the stains out of another.
AUTH: I can certainly manage making in that style. I can make something very impressive if you can handle the weight of the material.
AUTH: Imagine walking into a room, and having all the lights around you go out.

Auth is describing a dress made of Thirsty Bombazine, a fabric that absorbs light. It's a distraction, as they walk through to a new room... one with what appears to be lots of Godblossom Extract, and...

AUTH: Is that...? There's no way...
AUTH: I wonder if we could take that flower with us and cultivate it... I'll have to ask Nana and Taeda about it tomorrow.

Auth pulls out some empty vials, and collects as much of the extract within the fountain as he can.

AUTH: Alright! We can go and look around for a body now. I... hm. I guess I can... probably agree to letting you take a Rose Cultist. Since they would probably see that as an outcome.
AUTH: Although, when you pick, before you choose one properly, would you mind letting me to a little work on whoever it is? To fix up the body and delay decomposition, mostly.

---

Now, with Godblossom Extract in hand...

AUTH: Mum's the word, then. Didn't happen.

Auth floats alongside Maple, back to the house. He listens to her express issues with dormitory living.

AUTH: I believe we have one to spare, yes.
AUTH: ...unless someone decides it would be bright throwing Linseed into it. I must confess, dormitory bunking like what has been prepared is not something I am terribly comfortable with either.
AUTH: Perhaps I am spoilt... maybe I should actually try going home to sleep for the night, though. I certainly have no intention of sleeping in the bunk beds in the second floor dorm. Far too open...

Auth sighs, and Auth takes stock of the inventory as Maple goes off to explore... and Auth pulls out a faintly glowing Vial.

AUTH: Oh, nice. Maple! Could you come into the living room, please!? We're ready!

Before Maple gets there, Auth speaks with Marron and Omo. Marron first, though.

AUTH: I apologise, Marron. Had I known who I was going to be performing the spell on, as well as having had the materials earlier, I would have warned you.
AUTH: Please forgive me, the circumstances did not permit more forewarning than this.

There may or may not be an ever so slight note of sarcasm in that comment.

As for Omo...

AUTH: I agree, I would hope she's happy to hear that her condition can be treated.
AUTH: As for mass-production... I'm not sure if it's possible. It would be incredible if it was possible, though!
AUTH: I must admit... if I am able to contribute to it in some way...
AUTH: It would mean more to me than I am able to convey.

Auth almost has a nostalgic look on his face.

AUTH: That's not quite true, I suppose.
AUTH: Well, it would be incredibly meaningful, but I do have a way to convey it, I believe.
AUTH: To make... a very long story short and vastly oversimplified, my father was diagnosed with an incurable illness... thirteen years ago, I want to say? My memory of dates from that time is hazy, unfortunately. He was one of the lead developers on a cure for his own illness.
AUTH: I believe burns, being untreatable permanent injuries, are of a similar level. And being able to do as my father did and achieve the impossible in finding a way to heal those injuries...
AUTH: It would be meaningful.

---

ROLEPLAY

@Franciacorta
I step up to the mirror bearing my own likeness and retrieve a hammer. I'm sure you recognize it, if you have good taste in collaborative literature. I wait to shatter the glass until after my response for the purpose of pacing.
"FRAN": Yes, you were quite beautifully stuck in that mirror. I know.
"FRAN": I was merely hoping you'd allude to the whole dramatic situation with Echoss so I could seem conspiratorial.
"FRAN": But, alas, instead I am forced to play into your own plans of subterfuge!
"FRAN": (For the record, I am absolutely in.)

---

@Marron
I stagger backward, the slap leaving my face reddened, and grin.

"FRAN": Oh, that's the stuff!
"FRAN": Nice one, s... uh, Marron! I knew you were an offensive powerhouse, on or off the battlefield!
"FRAN": And, not a combatant? I'm hurt. Didn't you see my cool shield stunt?
"FRAN": I even had the same face and everything!
"FRAN": It's true that I usually have Chara for hands-on work like that, but as it so happens, I'm currently not the one pulling those strings.
"FRAN": Or maybe I am. There's a little of me in every body~
"FRAN": We really need to do some catching up.
"FRAN": Maybe in a form that doesn't fill you with such loathing and discomfort?
"FRAN": But I'd really hate to have such a great conversation with you and not even be there. Me sans myself might be an even worse conversational partner than I am.
"FRAN": I'll leave you sisters to it. Just...

I flick a piece of paper out of my sleeve at Marron and Ette. As they inspects it, they discover a chain of digits, formatted like a phone number, though a phone number that is almost certainly not Sussuian (or from Earth, in case you wondered). Signed below it, "FRAN." Yes, quotation marks included.

"FRAN": Call me.

Bauhaus-93 slowly pushes- or pulls, depending on how the House's front door works- the, er, House's front door.

"Is anyone here?"

He looks around, and there is someone there. A lot of people, actually.

"Hello?"

Stats
Hannah removes the new Agonizer and takes... another Pop Pop. oh jeez

She uses her 2 leftover skillpoints and puts them into MMP.

---

Mines

Hannah, finally being free of her burden of being over-encumbered, decides to settle down here for the night. But not before cleaning out that Thyme Matter puddle down there.

She grinds up a Searing Cluster and throws it at the pool, hoping to ignite it.

She heads back up to (AI153), and places down the tent. It's ruined, but she can do some quick patch work on it to make it usable.

She uses some iron to repair the poles that hold the thing up, and silkweed to patch up the holes. Her weaving's somehow even cruder than Boshi's, but it'll get the job done.

She stretches and yawns. "All this work is exhausting..."

Hannah climbs into the tent and falls asleep.

---

boatshi

Boshi nods. "(Returns at night. Good to know. Chances are it'll be dead come tomorrow.)"

At the mention of bait, Boshi rummages around in the inventory for something suitable. "(Would spider meat do?)"

If it would, he unloads about 50 chunks of it to the fisherman, says "(Take care of yourself, yeah?)", and drives off back down the river, parking the boats at the dock and tying them. He also pulls up both boats for good measure.

Then he gets to repairing the boat some more, filling in whatever cracks in the main ship were left with Green Sap. There really aren't many glue-like items... (and i'm too lazy to craft more right now)

With that, Boshi starts to head home... on the way back, he notes the Duneyrr. "(What the... I missed that today? This is clearly rebel tech... wonder if there's something I can fix in this thing?)"
Boshi jumps into the Duneyrr and takes a look at any remaining damages.

---

House

Back home, Sophia and Dorothy finish up what they were doing down in the basement, and head up to the dining room for some food. Lasagna tonight? Niiiice. Dorothy lets Sophia serve herself first, in case she messes her up somehow. She serves herself a moderate-sized piece. Once Sophia's got her meal, Dorothy serves herself a noticeably smaller piece; less than half the size of Sophia's.

Sophie eats her meal significantly faster than Dorothy. Once Sophie finishes, she neatly places her utensils on her plate, and carries them over to the sink. "Thank you for the meal!~"

"I'm goin' upstairs. Meetcha up there!"
Dorothy only nods as she nibbles. Sophia, thinking nothing of it, heads upstairs.

Dorothy has barely touched her meal, instead staring out the window as if there's someone creepy outside. Yet, there's nobody like that even close. She also looks... anxious. Tense. Afraid of something. A gut feeling, perhaps?

Either way, it's clear she doesn't like what she's feeling...

Basscaper

"Leaving it to me, hrm?" Venia says, looking at Bass's main self. All that's transpired makes the silly costume mostly just curious, rather than laughable. Still, she came here for a reason.

"You're not giving yourself enough credit, Bass. And trust me-we have enough stuff that we can gear you up for battle even without this corrupting crap in your system, eh?"

Venia pauses, lowers herself to Bass's form (careful even with her boots to not step on any particularly jagged shards of upturned glass), and rubs her hands together. Then, she takes the Calm Mind Shard, putting it to Bass's forehead, breathes in, and lets the Ordo overtake his body in a calm, gentle glow.

---

Rosen Catacombs

Mr. Krabs digests the information he has been given, and then follows up with a question: "So is that blacksmith down there one of his apprentices?"

---

More?

-tbd-

Asha finally upgrades her girlfriend's scarf.

Materials:
1x Core Regalia
3x Gaiametal Ingot
3x Electrum Ingot
1x Barrel of Unseasoned Hours

Asha does Asha things. First of all, she takes the Crystalweave Scarf which she's technically had in her possession for like 6 months for upgrading, but let's just handwave that part. Her main goals here are to improve its flexibility, aid in how it strengthens Marron, and maybe increase its defensive capabilities while we're at it.

First up, she six ingots, and places them in a hexagon shape, denoting that she is very obviously using them for magical purposes. While unlikely to make effective alloys together, she should at least be able to infuse the properties of one into the other for a similar effect.

"Alto Palni Kenko-Kara."

Focusing her will on the Electrum Ingots, a wispy, cyan mist seeps off them, coalescing into a small cloud above- leaving the remains dull and brittle. She discards this, and quickly places a Gaiametal Ingots into the cloud, incanting:

"Alto Palni Kenko-Kara-Ah'stin."

Twice more she does this, leaving the remaining ingots infused with the properties of the electrum. At this, she moves onto stage two. Now, I don't really know what a barrel of hours is, but it likely has time properties, and there's enough to fit in a barrel. Maybe she melts the hours, or does whatever it is she needs to do to make them into a liquid form. I'm really not sure what they are at all. In any case, she dunks the new ingots in, and waits for them to absorb the "time essence" of this stuff. Turns out this takes all of one negative second, and she takes it out one second earlier than she put it in.

The penultimate step is to apply the Core Regalia to her scarf. Lacking her crystal arm which, despite all its flaws, could have helped her here- she is instead forced to use the magic language once more.

"Sithos Shill Linis Shill Tiko."

A swirl of magic, and the Core Regalia vanishes, swept into the shards of the Crystalbond Scarf. Finally, she picks up the ??? ingots, now unrecogniseable as either gaiametal or electrum. The magical aura from it is now tangible enough for Asha to influence it into the Crystalbond Scarf. It's now a little quicker yet sturdier, allowing Marron to avoid attacks she has absolutely no right to avoid.

Hat: Crystalbond Scarf (T6)
Effects: (+5 STR) (+2 AGI) (+2 DEF) (Shimmering Shards)
Resist: Slashing (20%). Fire (30%). Dark (20%). Light (-20%).
[Shimmering Shards]: Whenever you perform any type of critical hit, gain 12 Bonus SHP. Whenever you deal weakness-boosted damage, gain 4 Bonus SHP. Each may only proc once a round.

Five months late, she gives this to Marron.

Ziah is visibly worried at the mention of the sphere's imminent explosion, and the damage it will do to the universe, for obvious reasons. He gives a small nod as Chloe mentions it being a 'problem'.

ZIAH: Oh...
ZIAH: Oh God, um...
ZIAH: That... must be really stressful.
ZIAH: I'll do what I can to help, but...

Ziah's voice trails off, and he's silent until Ette mentions the Glyphs, and how they're supposed to give them access to the Sphere. Her words don't sound very assuring, however, and Ziah asks for some clarification on the Glyphs.

ZIAH: Do you...
ZIAH: Have any ideas what the glyphs actually are?
ZIAH: ...or does it not really matter?

Then, the duo reacts positively to Ziah's willingness to join and help, mentioning that everyone they've met has either joined them or attempted to kill them. They do, however, tell him that he needs to stay and rest for a bit longer. Doctor's orders, and all that, while Chloe herself prepares to head out and Ette stays with him.

ZIAH: O-oh... um...
ZIAH: Alright...
ZIAH: I'm fine with that.
ZIAH: Hopefully I'll be able to help out soon, though.

Chloe then heads off, leaving silence in her wake. After a few moments, Ziah decides to break said silence.

ZIAH: Hey, um... Ette?
ZIAH: Looking after me isn't stopping you from anything you need to do, is it? Or anything you'd rather be doing?
ZIAH: Are you sure you don't mind having to look after me?

-=+=-

Also, Ziah does some things. He buys the Invoker's Orbs with a coupon, and equips it, then swapping out his current hat for the Primal Baubles. And also the new operator's suit flavoured as:

Magehoodie...? | Doesn't wearing the Operator's suit under your magehoodie get stuffy?

With the Tentacle Gift and Relentless Chase passives.

In the House, a saltshaker falls, spilling salt onto the floor in a circle. A figure enters through the door, then sits down in the middle.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ekJ...it#gid=43839275