BATTLE: Wartorn approach
(Don't bother skipping to the bottom, the action's already been posted. Remember to give me my reagents though please, thanks.

EPH: No!

Eph slams his fist into the cover in a fury as he watches Marron go down. If he had only noticed a little sooner. If he had only reacted a little faster. He watches Taeda go over to heal her, and Adria take revenge, but he's still frustrated, and is going to take that out on the nearest enemy he can find- Splintershot4.

Eph calls upon the Helix Relic's strength to empower him (+1 to empowered) and lunges over the cover, and soars to K13, skidding as he hits the ground. His raven flies to L13 and fires off a burst of spectral feathers at Splintershot4 before retreating to K11.

EPH: Flashpoint!

Eph holds his right palm out, and uses his left hand to support his arm. A small, barely visible star quickly floats from his hand before making contact with Splintershot2, where it explodes violently into a blinding chromatic light which envelops his target.

He watches Verdana swap places with Calibri and effortlessly tear through a Darkmorph, which fills him with a certain drive to push himself further. "I need to be useful." Eph thinks to himself, shaking splinters and blood from his hand. He takes a deep breath and steps forward to I12, feeling safer amongst Marron, Nidra and his raven familiar, and locks his eyes onto his next target: Grandifolia.

---

Ressurecting Acacia

In a separate timeframe where Venia is not having a mental breakdown, Thymium is now a townbuilding game and Hersilia is therefore reasonably nearby in the house. "Oh, Hersilia, over here! Uh, we're ready to start the ritual to ressurect Acacia! We're just waiting on Marron to get ready, it... Takes a toll on her. Acacia will probably need some calming presences."

A pause. Venia turns to Marron. "Yo what's your bloodtype, again? I think we can probably get some transfusions in if you're running too low."

---

The Rosen Catacombs

Venia blinks at Vulcan's statement about the Old Rosen Oath. Seconds later, Venia gets on her knees. "I need to see that now, right now, Vulcan. Anything and everything else can wait. It's important! The key-it's incomplete, it's missing, I think-no, I KNOW that the Old Rosen Oath is the key. Can I see it? Is there a way?"

"... Uh, also... You considered just, like, getting a surgeon to clean out the Iti infected bits? It's not too severe right now, so if we're reasonably swift, while the Everground's not full of monsters, it'll probably be easy. Auth here is... Basically the healer supreme, he can probably cook something up, and if this isn't up his alleyway we have some other guys who can probably do something."

"And you're free to join us, by the way. We can always use the extra help. God, I know I need it..."

---

Maria

-tbd-

---

Regalus

Honestly after the above RP and given how things are currently going I'm confident in basically putting this off until everyone's ready for a big RP thing. Seems fairly clear where this is going.

Meanwhile, Rebecca... -tbd-

---

By the power of Search, I am remembering what my stuff was.





With those crafts probably out of the way, Auth swaps out Wound Cleansing for Abyssal Breathing, and tags out Purity for Lyonne, which will be named Kindness to fit with the naming theme of Spells I've had. Further, Auth will take 3 KP from HP, and put 9 KP into MOV, putting him up to 6.

---

That was fun! Next... Nana! She makes quite the silly assertion. Auth appears to be struggling to stifle what would be manic laughter, given how traumatically incorrect Nana's statement is. Auth succeeds in his struggle, however, so it isn't too long for him to regain proper composure.

AUTH: Nana, I have no way to describe how painfully wrong you are about their ability to play chess.
AUTH: You remember how my coat got stained really badly with rainbow goo? And how the kitchen table got completely destroyed? That was the aftermath of those two trying to play chess.
AUTH: It goes without saying, but that obviously is not supposed to happen.

Auth does not think that rainbow works well on him at all. Anyway, with that out of the way, Auth releases an unconsciously held breath. Nana seems to have calmed down, after finding out that they've passed a place like the Smoking Shore.

AUTH: With the distance we probably have to travel? No way. Even if you weren't especially vulnerable to fire, I would have gone over. This is far easier than trying to go on foot!
AUTH: Don't worry about it, the course tends not to be constant so it's hard to keep track sometimes.

Auth hugs Nana back while keeping the boat on course... he can definitely notice that Nana's not doing too well on the waterway.

AUTH: Not quite got the legs for sailing? I understand, one moment.

Auth slams his foot into the hull in the middle of the ship. Boards appear from under the sides, spreading across the middle of the boat, leaving a very solid crossbar for Nana to sit on. Auth looks through the inventory... if it's okay, Auth offers Nana some tea. Auth looks around as Nana asks where they are.

AUTH: Currently, we're on the Wanting Way. I'm rather glad it's being nice today. it can be nasty at times.
AUTH: About the skyline... the mountains, right? There's a very long story behind it, but those mountains separate the Wastes of Want and the Wanting Way. They're hanging because... well, I'm not quite sure why. It's the realm of dream, after all...
AUTH: On the topic, can you smell that? Lucky us, we're near where we want to go. It means we'll only need to make one trip.

Auth pulls the boat to shore near one patch of Jungle. Nana might not be able to smell what Auth does yet, but as he helps her out of the boat, she might start to smell tropical fruit - particularly, mango.

AUTH: Don't stare too hard at the leaves, because they can make you sleepy. Other than that, we're gonna walk for a bit. This is the Viric Jungle, where a lot of dreams take place.
AUTH: It's safe, I know as a matter of fact that the protectors of the area are on patrol right now. So we can walk through and take it easy.

Nana might enjoy a gentle, easy walk. There's nothing to worry about, at least, according to Auth.

---

Auth listens quietly to Vulcan's explanations of what the Everground is. It causes Auth to frown, as he considers what was said.

AUTH: It sounds like something of a familiar story to me. I know of another, similar place where Shames are consigned.
AUTH: I don't know if we found any Ordo artefacts on the way down, so "lost to time" is probably a fair description.
AUTH: Prophecy of Crimson Wings... that sounds familiar...

Auth seems to remember that they have something that sounds like that in the Inventory. He rummages through his many, many pockets to produce the Spherebreaker's waterlogged copy of the same book.

AUTH: I thought so... we've seen a small amount of the Prophecy. Would it be possible to inform us as to what the rest of the Prophecy is? It might be safest to assume we know none of it.
AUTH: I have a feeling that this might end up being relevant to us.

Either way, Auth allows Vulcan to continue before saying his other thing that he wanted to add...

AUTH: You mentioned that the Remnant was ill, yes? I am, to some extent, a medic.
AUTH: I... believe that we should at least try to conserve life. I... would feel bad if we just killed it without at least trying to save it.
AUTH: It's based on the infection, I suppose.

Auth is, as Venia said, Medic Supreme.

---

Auth, being one of the people who pushed most for peaceful entry into the Security Hub, floats down to meet the Escort.

AUTH: Hello, I'm Auth. I'm here with the Spherebreakers, I believe we're ready to collect the footage.
AUTH: Thank you for taking the time to let us in.

---

Auth is standing ready to try and run support for Marron in the resurrection ritual. He genuinely feels bad needing to ask her to do it all the time, since there's nobody else who can do it right now.

AUTH: Marron, are you sure there's no way for somebody else to help out while you do this?
AUTH: Or, well, could you teach someone else to do it? I feel really bad needing to call you up all the time for this sort of thing.

Auth is also preparing to help bring Acacia back, but Marron's wellbeing (as the one performing the task) is currently the relative priority.

Battle: Wartorn Approach

Irongutta schmooves to F13 and grabs the Expert Sage, throwing it to G15 with Skeletal Toss!

<ROUND 289>

Okay, so: due to an ordering thing, I'll be beginning with Echoss's post! Echoss talks with a variety of people. He mentions to Aoki that he's the leader of a... rather large not-country, so he has experience in the field. She ponders this for a second. What if he's an evil dictator? Nah, probably not. But you can never be too sure with those types, right? Still, she keeps her mouth shut on the subject. Anyway, Echoss also informs Aoki that Spark was the one who killed Acacia.

AOKI: ...Really? Truthfully?
AOKI: Far as I've heard- and this is not government propaganda, but gossip among various soldiers- that Spark and Acacia were... in a relationship of sorts.
AOKI: I am unsure about the legitimacy of these claims, of course. The point is, she certainly was smitten with him in one way or another.
AOKI: ...Is this sort of crass gossip commonly discussed in these groups? I wonder what sort of equally degenerate rumors surround myself?
AOKI: It's probably best that I don't find out.

Elsewhere, Maple watches as Eren exerts himself further, purple smoke spewing from his body. He insists that he's fine, to which Maple responds with a pout.

MAPLE: Mmm... I'll take your word for it.
MAPLE: If you're lying to me though, I'll kick your butt.
MAPLE: After you're better, though. It's hardly heroic, jumping someone who's already injured.

He also mentions that healing magic somehow works on him. How does that work? Unfortunately for her, Maple isn't knowledgeable in the field of healing magic.

MAPLE: Really? Healing magic works on you?
MAPLE: Imagine how simple life would be for the Rebellion if they could fix up all of their fancy vehicles with healing magic!
MAPLE: ...I mean, they CAN in terms of game mechanics, but shhhh!
MAPLE: Maybe you're like, made of some sort of stuff that reacts well to magic?
MAPLE: Uses the energy to like... power some sort of nanomachines? I dunno. That's just my theory.

Then, when the Anti-Magic Core is finished, he presents it to Cypress, proposing two different designs. One would be an armored generator of sorts. The other could be say... a blaster to apply the field from a distance? He nods, and immediately produces some blank blueprints. Deftly, he sketches a design for an armored generator.

CYPRESS: Armored generator: simple. Relatively speaking, anyway. Will produce. Just one moment.
CYPRESS: However, the blaster.
CYPRESS: Complicated design. Certainly possible. Could use basis...
CYPRESS: Thought. New antimagic gear. Elemental Sniper.
CYPRESS: Requires concentrated effort. Commission?

Taking 2 sheets of Arkalloy, as well as the Antimagic Core, Cypress gets to work! Soon enough, the Armored Antimagic Field Generator is created! Looks like it can take a beating. He hands it to Chaos, who immediately puts copies of the device for sale! Mari also thinks she could take a crack at the device to improve it, adding a new investment opportunity! The original is then returned to Cypress, and added to the inventory.

Meanwhile, over with Biflora, Not!Echoss continues his offensive! As Biflora goes after Hannah with her claws, Not!Echoss creates a cloud of dust and smoke! Using this as a veil, they slam into Biflora's side! While this fails to do much in the way of damage, she realizes juuuust a bit too late that she's been handled her own guided missile. Which she promptly throws at Hannah. It explodes in midair, the blast radius frying both of them somewhat. Biflora still refuses to slow down her assault, though! At the very least, it seems like she's starting to falter somewhat. One or two more good blows should do it.

Finally, joining the Rebel-sent escort, Eren decides to venture into the Security Hub. Along with likely a few other members, the squadron of 4 Eviscerators press northward, through the Thyme Matter. Fortunately, the puddle is thin enough to wade through, and any Seekers that pop out are swiftly dispatched with a blade to the throat. Soon enough, Eren finds himself within the Security Hub itself. It's rather quaint by the Sky Lab's standards. Not that it needs to be, though. Most of the hub is dedicated to a large meeting room, with holographic projections of each segment of the Sky Labs upon it. There's also a locked-off server room, and a somewhat more isolated room with a variety of screens and terminals.

Of course, the place is crawling with Rebels. Not as many as one might've thought, however. Perhaps they're all doing more important things at the moment, or the fact that this might not be a Rebel battle has inexplicably shifted reality to remove a large number of Rebels. Who really knows? However, a familiar face sits at a table across the room, with a piping hot coffee and a stack of fire grenades. The Informant.

INFORMANT: Pah. You guys.
INFORMANT: To think everyone would agree to cooperate with you lot!
INFORMANT: The glory of the Rebellion does not shine upon you, Spherebreakers.
INFORMANT: Why, with you lot in the area, I'm sure you'll do something unbelievably stupid that'll get us all killed.

...Ignoring him, Eren is escorted over to the primary access point of the Security Hub. Now this room is a deal less quaint, with screens and wires strung all about. Though messy, it certainly has its aesthetic. A male Oracle is interfacing with the console there, already working on extracting the footage for the Spherebreaker's use. They wave Eren over, their body covered in all sorts of equipment. Including a mini-drone hangar. Huh. Of note is that they're... weirdly small. Are they perhaps a bonsai of sorts?

ORACLE: Oh, Spherebreakers!
ORACLE: You've arrived, as Kudan foretold. Welcome.
ORACLE: Can't say I'm the happiest with our partnership, but... I'm not gonna question his orders.
ORACLE: Besides, I think we'd all like to knock Spark down a peg or ten! In fact, I've already bugged the network, so that once you send the footage out, I should be able to get a hi-rez photo of Spark's face!

ORACLE: Now, I should have your footage in just a moment.
ORACLE: The download's going to take a bit. Especially since I'm not actually the most-

The lights flicker, and the download process interrupts itself. A map displays itself on screen, indicating that vibrations have been detected in the ventilation. They flip through the messages. Something's coming, and fast. Soon enough, rattling is audible all around the room, from the ventilation. Is that... chittering?

ORACLE: T-That's... new.
ORACLE: No life signatures detected. It can't be Iti. What is it?
ORACLE: Well, I'm sure we're about to find out. Rebels! Battle positio-
INFORMANT: Quiet, you!
INFORMANT: My rank is far higher than your own! You obey ME!
INFORMANT: It's the Spherebreakers! Surely, they're up to something!
ORACLE: We can't know that.
ORACLE: ...In addition, life signatures detected at the eastern side.
ORACLE: Stay alert!

The rumbling crescendos as from out of the ventilation, and through cracks in the ground, machines come forth. Wooden cogs, intertwined with bits of scrap metal and armor plates. Robots. About the size of a rabbit, these machines rip forth, and beset upon various Rebels. With terrifying efficiency, multiple Rebels in the room are torn to a pulpy mess. Before any sort of order can be established, the eastern wall blasts open. A... surprisingly low number of Chairians step out from the ash and smoke. Among them is a Praetorian.

SHINAI: MUHAHAHAHA! VUNDERFUL!
SHINAI: Rebellion! Prepare to face the glory of Shinai, and his wonderful creations!
SHINAI: I'd ask you to surrender, but my Termites know no mercy!
SHINAI: Now, perish!
INFORMANT: Oh, of course.
INFORMANT: First the Spherebreakers, then you gorillas.
INFORMANT: They must be connected. So I'll just destroy you both!
SHINAI: ...What?
SHINAI: No matter. Destroy the servers, my machines!
SHINAI: They contain lies! Lies, I tell you! ALL LIES!

Welp. This is already a mess. Good thing you're all professional people-janitors, right?

- = S T R I F E ! = -

---

With ordering resolving itself by doing the above post first, Hannah attempts to finish off Biflora! Chains emerge from Biflora's shadow, thick shackles restraining her to the ground. Due to general poison, exhaustion, and being blown up earlier, the chains are more than enough to prevent her movement. Then, the Early Burial in hand, Hannah steps forward. Biflora immediately begins to panic.

BIFLORA: I-If it wasn't for your reality b-bender friend, y-your head would be mine!
BIFLORA: S-Spark, If-forgive me for this failure...

With a flash of light, Biflora engages their teleportation rune. They're instantly spirited away to the Citadel, a pile of 500 Credits being left behind. It's not entirely clear how the teleportation left her credits behind, or why she was carrying money in the first place... but loot is loot! A shame she wasn't able to deface her target's armor, though. At least with the Biflora gone, she'll have ample opportunity to tend to her own wounds.

Meanwhile, approximately six areas to the west and a single area south, Dorothy and Shelly continue evacuation efforts of the farm. With the additional help from the newly-arrived Hannah, the rest of the evacuation is rather smooth, and all the plants are now safely in the basement. Lutea hops over, and one by one, gives her helpers big hugs.

LUTEA: Thank you, thank you, thank you!
LUTEA: You don't know how much this means to me! Thank you, again!
LUTEA: B-But... let's get out of here! Before anyone shows up!

Ever so quickly, Lutea gathers her personal belongings. Beluta follows suit, taking his inventory rather quickly due to his summons. Now you'll just need to lead them through the portal... and also maybe move her plants outside. The basement cannot possibly be good for them.

Meanwhile, over in the Calscape, Sophia shows her umbrella to Chloe. Apparently, it's her first ever weapon. The vanilla keyblade or wrench. Reliable, and still good for killing things. Of note is that it's not that lethal, which is probably what Sophia's going for. Chloe nods.

CHLOE: I like it!
CHLOE: It's very kind of you, bringing a less-lethal weapon to battle.
CHLOE: Though... I think you can probably afford to use like... a bigger umbrella or something, when it comes to dealing with Iti.
CHLOE: ...What's that about beasts, though? M-Maybe tell me another time, though.

They really do have more pressing matters to attend to, yeah. Later. Meanwhile, over at the house, another Sophia decides that it'd be best to get Sythia out of the house. Nudging her, Sophia asks if she'd like to go for a quick walk. Though she's the slightest bit groggy, she doesn't need her translation tablet to convey a response. Nodding, she stands up, and follows Sophia outside. Perhaps they'll really have a pleasant walk? It might be best to explain why she's been brought out here.

Meanwhile, over in the Central Skylabs, Adria fiddles with the Fabricator. Throwing in an Electromagnetic Cluster and 30 (20) Wire Scraps, the Fabricator (again, eventually) produces an EMP! She then lobs the EMP grenade into the cockpit of the mechsuit, and takes aim at the Pin that'll likely pop out. A blue field rolls from the device, and the purple glare of a Pin shoots out! It jolts out from the machine, up towards the Ceiling. It immediately jumps for the Fabricator! Fortunately for Adria, she's more than capable of putting a bolt in it before it can reach the thing. Chloe cheers as the Pin fades and sparks out of existence.

CHLOE: Nice shot, Adria!
CHLOE: Now we can... investigate the thing! I think.
CHLOE: I'll go first. Just in case.

Cautiously, Chloe approaches the mechsuit. After poking around it for a minute or so, sword drawn in case of attack, she declares it "safe enough", waving Adria over.

CHLOE: I think we're good!
CHLOE: Just... watch for exposed wiring, bits that could crush your fingers, and- well, I'm sure you know your way around a robot!
CHLOE: While this... isn't really the sort of thing I'm used to working with, I could help you fix the thingy!
CHLOE: I've worked on robotics before, but this is a lot bigger than I'm used to.

Could Chloe win all the science fairs back on earth? Probably not, since Xavier also exists. Speaking of Xavier... well, you can probably go investigate the map, right? :niaowo:

---

Daskter requests an upgrade to the Pocket Calculator! Handing it and 100 credits over to her, Nia upgrades it into the... Pocket Abacus?

NIA: I'm gonna be real, I think this is a downgrade.
NIA: But logic doesn't apply here, so it's probably actually an upgrade!
NIA: I hope you know how to use this thing, though. 'Cause I don't!~

Uh, alright. Upgrade complete? You'll probably need to equip it after you exit combat.

---

Calibri engages Rufa in combat! Obviously, not full combat, but still. Given that he figures that he can yeet Rufa in a single hit, he proposes something else to him- let him throw an EMP at him. Then they can vibe in the forest. Rufa shrugs.

RUFA: okay not what i expected
RUFA: like i'm pretty sure that i could take a hit from you, but at the same time why risk it?
RUFA: sure why not

He looks over at the Biodome, and the evacuation efforts. Looks like they're about done there.

RUFA: oh, well that takes care of that problem
RUFA: mission failed, we'll get em' next time
RUFA: assuming they're not a civilian target, anyway
RUFA: if they were military, i'd totally destroy them hands down

RUFA: but anyway
RUFA: just like, throw the thing and me, i'll land
RUFA: then for extra points you can like... mess up my armor a bit so it looks like i really needed to leave
RUFA: okay?

Anyway, Calibri yeets the EMP at Rufa. His wings vanish, and he falls down into the woods below. Now they'll probably have a cool conversation or battle or whatever. Meanwhile, over in the Calscape, the entity known as Hangman explains himself to Chloe. They're the manifestation of Calibri's instincts. To kill things in a generally violent fashion. Chloe mentally notes that Calibri should probably see a therapist. Though, what they're saying... raises a few questions.

CHLOE: So... you're the voice inside of Calibri's head.
CHLOE: W-What do you have to gain, popping up like this?

...It seems she's actually legitimately confused as to what his game plan is. Probably to defame Calibri, if she had to guess. Still, she remains on guard, sword still drawn. Finally, over in the Everground, S.E.D drives down to analyze the Eversteel. The harpoon they fire at it bounces off, spiraling down into the bottom of the cave. Huh. Given the Everground's entropic nature, perhaps the answer lies somewhere in entropy or ordo? Whatever the case, good luck breaking it!

As for the Remnant, S.E.D scans the infection. Far as the scanner can tell, it's the infantile form of the Netwyrm. A small maggot that takes over and transforms the host. Physically, the infection is spread by the maggots worming their way around the host, transforming healthy tissue into some odd thyme-corrupted mess. While slow, more worms can spawn from the corrupted flesh, eventually reaching exponential growth rates. Killing the worms with conventional weaponry, while possible, would likely result in more harm to the host than the worms. Odds are, a doctor would need a specialized tool. Nanomachines, maybe? Who knows. But even then, one would need a way to convert the infected flesh back into something standard.

This may be a fairly hard medical operation.

---

The Scion continues their work on the golem! Taking 5 Brainburn Crystals and a Crystallized Memory of Light, they imbue these into the Golem. All of a sudden, the golem really hurts to look at as ethereal flames envelop its body. Arms extend forth from it as well, connected by long wispy strands of light. As a final touch, a piece of Starite is gifted to the golem. The voices in its head transmorph it into a majestic spear, which it holds at the ready. Looks like the Golem's ready to mature! Until it does mature, more alterations can likely be made. Or maybe you can speed it up instead? Who knows.

Elsewhere, the Scion deposits 4 bodies over at the Rosen Forge, before another instance of them decides to disable the barriers on Floor 2 of the Central Labs. With that out of the way, they decide to go and visit Cypress's office. Fortunately, the office is relatively free of threats. It's actually quite the beautiful place, filled with loads of unnecessary holograms and other eye-candy. Cypress certainly has a taste for design. Perhaps there's a terminal they can use here to end the lockdown?

---

Crya does some research! With the Research Nanomachines, she manages to research HITBoost v1! Everyone's HIT rises by 1! Kinda surprised that wasn't gotten earlier, but whatever. Meanwhile, down in the Rosen Catacombs, Destiny forces a 'dog eating cultist to leave. 30 seconds.

CULTIST: AAAAAAA HOLD ON HOLD ON
CULTIST: I'D LIKE TWO MORE PUNCTUATION DOGS TO GO PLEASE
CHAOS: ok sir would you like ex[t]ra ke[t][c]hup or
CULTIST: AAAAAAABSOLUTELY
CULTIST: AND MAKE IT SNAPPY

Chaos gives two more hot dogs to the cultist, each one fully drenched in ketchup. They place these somewhere in their robes, before walking off... to the south, into one of the empty barracks. That's uh, probably not what she meant by "leave". You may need to escort them out anyway. Or get them to stop screaming. One of the two.

---

Echoss performs a mass exodus! Many, many NPC's from the Sky Labs are relocated! Hemlock, Carrot, Aoki, Twig, Mentha, Salix, Clausa, Willow, Hersilia AND Atalus are moved into the house! The house, much like the universe, is becoming a rather crowded place.

---

Venia says some swears. Though, with Nia not in the area, there's not really anyone around to help her after her meltdown. Except, she's been trailed! A bit worried for the safety of Hannah and Venia, Ette decided to follow along in secret, and I'm totally not retooling this text here to fit now, nope. She doesn't understand most of the crass language that Venia managed to put out there just now, but her worry is palpable anyway.

ETTE: V-Venia? A-Are you alright?
ETTE: I-I... well, you aren't. I'm not sure why I asked, but... I'm here for you, i-if you want!
ETTE: I can go grab Nia too! She's really nice.

Regardless of what Venia says, Ette wanders over to the duchess and gives her a hug.

ETTE: It's okay.
ETTE: Ette's here.

Should Hannah say anything rude to Venia at this point, she'll probably get a death glare. Actually, Ette seems to be giving her a bit of one anyway. A relatively friendly, not-that-malicious death glare, but a death glare nonetheless. The sort of death glare that tells you that she'll put your hand in warm water when you sleep so that you wet your bed.

As for the resurrection of Acacia, Hersilia is called over. While she doesn't say much of anything, she brings over Acacia's body. Is... that actually required? Who knows. At the very least, Acacia might get a kick out of seeing her old body. Or not. As for Marron, Venia asks what sort of blood type she's running in her build.

MARRON: Oh, uh, my blood type is...
MARRON: ...
MARRON: I have no gorillaing idea.
MARRON: CHAOS! WHAT'S MY BLOOD TYPE?

Chaos pokes through the floor.

CHAOS: sriracha sauce
MARRON: ...A-Actually?
CHAOS: i dunno it might be
CHAOS: i forgo[t] [t]ha[t]'s a value i [c]an assign
CHAOS: bu[t] le[t]'s say like, ab nega[t]ive?
MARRON: O...kay.

Marron feels her very essence shift as her blood type is confirmed by Chaos. Anyway, with Acacia's body here, Marron here, and probably a few others, the ritual can likely begin! Just nudge Marron and she'll do it, unless there's anything else you want to do beforehand.

Finally, down in the Everground, Venia immediately asks if she can have the Old Rosen Oath. Vulcan is ever so slightly taken aback. That was sudden.

VULCAN: Whoa. Easy now.
VULCAN: Tell you what. You can have the Old Rosen Oath if you help out the Remnant.
VULCAN: I'm... still not sure what can be done for it, but if you think something can be done... go ahead.
VULCAN: The worst thing you can do to it is kill it at this point.
VULCAN: Which, sad as it is, will happen sooner or later if we don't do anything.

...One final task to obtain the Oath. Shouldn't be too hard, at least in theory.

---

Auth does a lot of things! To begin, he does a few crafts. Taking the Solio Iustitiae, 6 Rotten Phoenix Down, 8 Soulblessed Alloy, 20 Harpy Feathers, and a single thing of Fae Pollen, the Tutamen Cherubin is created! It promptly gains more MP, in addition to the other requested effects. The Crown of Life is also created, using an Arkalloy Sheet, 3 Rubies, 5 Bronzewood, and a Spiralfloof Floofball. He then rotates out a few perks, swaps some spells, and gets a whole +1 MOV. Oh lawd, Auth is now the fastman.

Anyway, back in a mirror, Auth does his best to stifle his maniac laughter as he explains to Nana that Marron and Asha are not chess experts. Nana tilts her head. You're not meant to cause a rainbow fallout during the average game?

NANA: E-Eh? That's now how you play the game?
NANA: B-But then... how do you play?
NANA: I don't have any a-actual context for the game, y-you know!
NANA: Maybe they're playing a different v-version?

Y'know, the crazy person version of chess. Anyway, after a bit of panic, Nana is given a place to sit. She's quiet as Auth mentions the mountains, noting their behavior as likely being part of the dream. Then, Auth directs her to the jungle. Apparently, if she looks too hard at the leaves, she'll get sleepy.

NANA: H-How can the leaves make you tired j-just by looking at them? N-Normally, you'd need to smoke or ingest a leaf to get tired... or any sort of effect.
NANA: Is it because this is a d-dream?

Anyway, Nana is then directed towards a patch of the jungle which they've docked near. Is Nana ready to walk? Though she's the slightest bit uneasy, she nods her head. She takes Auth's hand, waiting to be led out of the boat, and into the depths of the jungle.

Meanwhile, down in the Everground, Auth shows Vulcan the waterlogged copy of the Prophecy of Crimson Wings. She looks it over with great interest. A hardcover version? How fascinating.

VULCAN: Ah, this must be a transcription of sorts, or something of the like.
VULCAN: Of course, that's what I'm guessing. It's hard to tell with the sorry state that this is in.
VULCAN: For all I know, that's an updated version. Or perhaps, a less faithful version.
VULCAN: What I have might be the original. Or at the very least, it's a transcription of the original.

VULCAN: As for the Prophecy of Crimson Wings... I'd explain it to you now, but...
VULCAN: It's... a long story. It does date to before the Chaos Butterfly overtook the cult, too.
VULCAN: It's also not something the GM is willing to write at this very moment in time. Try next round?
VULCAN: So sorry.

As for the infection, Vulcan directs the Author to S.E.D, and the scan data he obtained when examining the Remnant. Finally, over at the House, Auth asks if anyone else is capable of casting the resurrection ritual. She shakes her head, holding out her blood-soaked parchment.

MARRON: I mean, unless you have a very good understanding of Chaos's blood magic system, no.
MARRON: I basically like, wrote the spell down in my own language so I could use it. Or well, I kinda re-wrote it, but that's not important.
MARRON: So, unless you're willing to make your own version, you can't help.
MARRON: Unless you have like, a lot of my specific blood type lying around in a jar.
MARRON: ...Since you're a vampire though, you might actually have some. That's... kinda gross.

MARRON: Y'know, given that someone like me was able to write their own version, maybe you can, too?
MARRON: Or you can like, cast the original? No idea how viable that is.
MARRON: Point is- you're kinda smart, right? You can probably figure it out.

Kinda smart! How generous of her. Or rude. Depends on how Auth is feeling at the moment.

---

<WARTORN APPROACH, ROUND 3>
Uh. Well. That was rounded up quickly. This means you now have a Praetorian in your possession! What will you do? Stuff them in the inventory? Prepare more prison cells? Or take them down to the Rosen Catacombs for storage? Whatever you do though, you should probably loot their equipment. Also start kicking them, since Marron's a bit bitter that Grandifolia's squad KO'd her.

MARRON: I'm offering this... two day old cookie to whoever kicks him the most before he falls unconscious!
MARRON: It's probably still good, I swear!

<SECURITY HUB, ROUND 1>
That is. A lot of bugs. The bulk of the Chairian forces haven't arrived yet, so now your chance to slaughter as many of them as you possibly can! Be sure to protect your Rebel allies here- they'll probably be helpful when it comes to taking down the swarm, as well as the Chairians once they arrive! AoE would be handy.

Destiny switches Phial Burst to Whirling Blades (sry ire).

Destiny spawns at (G6) and waits for Nettle, then moves to J7, waiting for Eren to use the Calvinboard Pamphlet on her. After that, she activates Whirling Blades, moving to K8, L9, K10, K11, L12, M13.

Destiny looks at the Rebel Magirifler, and their incoming reinforcements.
You'll want to stay a bit behind me, preferably. An ally of mine should be trashing these Termites with water in a moment, so here'll be safe.
If she doesn't properly work the sprinklers, it's best you run into the server rooms, I'll handle the rest of the Termites from there.

Echoss and Star:
Echoss chuckles and shakes his head.
"There's been a recent uptick in things that need to be done around the house, so if for now you know the layout we'll skip that part of the introduction.
If you'd like to perhaps get outfitted for when you're ready for combat, we could perhaps head out to the dueling hut for you to demonstrate your combat abilities? Not on me, I mean, on the practice targets."


Echoss and Aoki
Echoss chuckles.
"Who is in a relationship with who is a rather popular topic of rumors. It seems almost to be a built-in interest for just about any species with enough intellect and social tendency to build their own civilizations.
For my part I find trying to keep track of who people think I'm 'entangled with' rather entertaining, though that might be because it's been quite some time since I've had romantic relations with another and it thus winds up having less bearing on my own life.
As for Acacia... from what I gather Miss Aneura was quite smitten with Spark, likely spurred further by him leading her on to keep her for use as a weapon. If Spark was reciprocating I doubt it was from a place of honesty. Though I suppose from how willing he was to execute her personally that's rather obvious."


Echoss and Carrot



Eren and Maple
"I mean, it's possible. Magic-reactive technology's a pretty strong staple in a lot of places. There's even a term for technology that relies on integrated magic, even if it's not a very creative one.
No clue how it works for me though. I've got general blueprints for my own make rattling around somewhere in the memories the thymefield's blocking off, but they don't give the technical specifications of any of the individual components or materials so they're still pretty much just gibberish to me.
It means the healing magic thing comes in handy though. I can't exactly repair myself by hand if it's anything too severe to heal by itself."


Not!Echoss bulli
Not!Echoss watches Biflora disappear.
"Darn I should've stolen her stuff first I guess. Suppose that's why they say 'pillage then burn'. You okay kid?"


Security Hub:
Eren follows with the rebel escort, nodding to the other rebels they pass. Then he sees the Informant. Eren stops, you can almost hear the gears turning in his head as recognition suddenly dawns in his eyes.
"Hold on a gorillaing second I know who you are! You're the jerk who almost got us killed because you couldn't wait 30 seconds to use your iti beacon for Acacia to be in a better swarming spot!
Goll if you're the same guy the others were talking about from the royal gardens... is it just entirely your fault we've had to fight the rebellion every step of the way instead of working together to destroy the stupid wooden apocalypse orb?
Whatever. Stay out of the way and don't blame us this time if you decide to set yourself on fire again."

Eren grins when the oracle mentions getting the high-rez shot of Spark's face.
"Nice. It's good to actually get to work with people again, makes me glad we were able to contact Kudan instead of having to fight our way in like we usually do.
Makes for a nice change of pace, especially when the allies are already a step or two ahead of the curve."

And then it all went to pants.
The praetorians gives their monologue. Eren stares at Shinai, then at the Informant, then back at Shinai. Then he glances back at the Oracle, pulling out Armistyx for the fight.
"Is this some kind of 'thing'? Do people just go crazy if they get too strong on Sussui? Or is this something screwy with the Sphere like how Spark plowed through low grade artillery fire right after we trashed his airship because the thymefield gave him a boost out of spite? Almost all of the normal people have been reasonable or at the very least not..."
He gestures at the praetorian and informant.
"Not that. There's been a huge divide in sanity between the leaders and the regular folk, is what I mean to say. I think Kudan is the only one so far who hasn't been at least a little off-kilter. It's disconcerting."

BATTLE ACTION:
Eren motions for the two eviscerators to fall back a bit.
"You two keep your distance and watch the vent back there in case more of these stupid automatons come out of that one too. We're better equipped to clear out these stupid things quickly than you are, focus on protecting your supports until we've got better access to things for you to hit."

Eren spawns at G7 with Electric type scythe (it's extendo-joybuzzer scythe for those wondering). He then waits.
When Destiny spawns, he uses the Calvinboard Pamphlet to apply the following to her:
Uninspired2 for one round
Empowered3 for three rounds
Guardian3 for three round

Eren then waits for Zahlia to spawn, and when she does, casts Eagle Eye on himself and her. He then makes his way down around to K10.

Both NPC orders happen after Nettle's turn:
Mari is ordered to hack the sprinkler console and activate it at L14, then use the hackdrive to activate the Sentient Blaster on our team afterward. IMPORTANT, sprinkler then turret activation. Killing the turret with the sprinklers would be dumb.
R-8 spawns at F7, places proximity mines at H4 and H8. He places a firework turret at G6


Reminders:
Auth needs to cast Fire Perseverence on Nettle
Robros, and Woodthorne still need actions.


To-do List:
Also maybe chat with Creation?
Start on crafting goals in the "questboard". Notably, I need to make lots of sleeping bags so the NPCs we seem to suddenly be acquiring en masse need to sleep somehow/where.
Also hand the Subspace Grocery Box to Cypress when he heads back to the house
Gibbet needs to be upgraded to full party member.
Sleuth hire again.
Linseed probably needs to be let out of the floor and fed.

Okay phine I'll write a craftpost skeleton for now of what I intend to do

Yamato
-Simeon decides he's very much strapped for time in making a weapon
-Decides to do a very fast study on weaponry to improve the Kusabimaru
-Reads up in the Royal Magus Spelltomes for anything to try understand the principles behind the construction of Ars Alas
-Examines Elite Chairian weapons, just looking at their shape, as well as that of the Kusabimaru, does a blade-study
-Takes an ingot each of Arkalloy, Sanctified Alloy, Soulblessed Alloy and Ohmetal, folds them all together in sheets to form a billet prototype
-Heats the prototype blade over an adjusted Orchid Jet, it's the fastest way to melt the metal to a workable way, and at the same time this is also done to glitch out the alloy to make it a completely new highly cursed element to make this sword blade from, making this treated as a single type of metal
-Work with existing scraps of metal to form a guard
-Change the blade and wrappings of the Kusabimaru with Roseweave, effectively a Ship of Theseus of the Kusabimaru
-Forged into basically the Yamato, a stronger Katana-archetype
-Craft up a Gaiameld sheathe, wabi-sabi, rough but ephemeral?

Use remaining scraps of metal to forge a companion-blade
-Examine metal of CQC Knife and Eviscerator Bladetip
-Look at images, copies of existing compelte Eviscerator Blades
-Forge up another similar weapon of similar principles, a companion-blade for the Yamato
-Add serrations, another sheath similarly made
-Distill some Serenea and apply it to this blade, get it sheathed to keep it from reacting with the air

Meanwhile Zahlia does a sidegrade of the Harlequin Cap
-Cuts it up into cloth strips
-Stitch together a certain strip
-Grind up a Blackhole Regalia, infuse it as a powder into the fabric
-Add powdered Gravcore to stabilize it, use the energy of the regalia to make it lighter again
-This "mass/graviton paste" basically in the fabric

(T6) RAMBO Sweatband (Trinket)
Gets your ass to Mars.
(+4 STR) (+2 AGI) (+4 SPC)
The Fifth Element: Twice per battle, as part of movement, you may teleport to Range 1 of an impathable tile within Range 1-5 if you're also in Range 1 of an impathable tile.
Water (20%), Earth (20%), Fire (20%), Air (20%), Psychic (-20%)

(T6) Yamato
"I need more power"
WEAPON PASSIVE: Show Me Your Motivation. Passively, your basic attacks deal additional Mana Damage equal to 50% of your damage roll. Dropping a foe to 0 MP with a Basic Attack will cause you to deal (36-36) Piercing Damage to them, then fully restore their MP if they live. Won't work on foes without MP gauges. +1% Mana Damage per SKI. Damage from this passive scales with STR at a x2 rate. In addition, you have a Concentration Bar which begins at 0/3 at the beginning of each battle. Concentration increases by 1 every time you successfully Meditate, Counter or hit an attack, and decreases by 1 whenever you sprint, take damage, or miss an attack.
Depending on how high your concentration is, you gain additional abilities: Judgement Cut: For 1 Concentration, you can Basic Attack from up to range 4. At 3 Concentration, you can Basic Attack everything in Range 1-3 in exchange with Reloader. These basic attacks are unaffected by STR scaling, and also resets your concentration.
(12-12) Slashing
Range: 1
Retreat: 3

Counter 6: Deflect
Range: 1-2
Reduce the damage taken from the enemy attack by 66%, then deal (11-13) Mana Damage to them. Scales with SKI at a fourth rate.

Hit: 8
+2 AGI, +2 SKI, -2 DEF

(T6) Longinus (x2 Trinket)
"Why is this not a weapon"
(+3 SKI)
Hope Rides Alone: If an enemy attacks you within Range 1, deal (4-6) Slashing Damage and apply (Weaken2,2) to them before their attack connects, scaling with SKI at a third-rate.
If this downs / kills the target, you don't take damage. This activates regardless of a successful counter.
Triggers once per round.

Annihilation: As an action, you may deal (10-10) Lethal Slashing Damage to a target within Range 1 who has 25% HP or less. Unavoidable. This disables Hope Rides Alone for the round. Scales with STR/SKI?

Serration: Your attacks ignore 20% of Slashing Resistance. Against a foe with no Slashing Resistance, applies (Armorbreak3,2) instead.

Okay so assuming these equipments are unchanged I'll be respeccing a bit as well once they're equipped

HP 4, MP 6, 14 STR, 14 AGI, 11 SKI, 2 DEF, 14 RES, 8 SPC, 6 MOV

And now Zahlia joins the Security Hub, spawning on F11. Moving G12-F13, where they Basic Attack Termite4, follow through to attack Termite 5 and then move to F14 to Judgement Cut Termite16.

ZONE 0 - STAR

Star considers the proposal, then nods.

STAR: I am very proficient in your weapon-usage but also I have never used a weapon before;
STAR: Where is your supply of death machines? I will peruse it for the correct items that will
be the most beautiful

---

ZONE KIND OF 0 - REFLECTOR

The Reflector continues leading Regalus to the Rosen Catacombs. They'll get there eventually. Whenever Tazz decides is a suitably dramatic moment for an assassination.

---

ZONE 1

"The Scion" tries to speak to the golem again.

"THE SCION": Umm... Hi! Can you, uh... can you talk now?
"THE SCION": Or, maybe you can communicate with me telepathically...
"THE SCION": Sorry to presume, I just... you know what I'm trying to say, right?

---

ZONE... 5? - PROJECT OMOCATION

At some point in the day, the Reflector taps Omorika on the shoulder as politely as they can.

THE REFLECTOR: hello ms. omo! we well this is awkward quite awkward indeed to spring upon you, spring so suddenly but we had a proposition.
"THE METALLURGIST": Our little ghost here wanted to show you something. They thought it would be interesting for you.
"THE THAUMATURGE": A trip to a lo(ation from my past. Though I (onfess wholeheartedly it was not my idea. All (redit must go to the Refle(tor.
"THE METALLURGIST": It's probably just an excuse for him to talk his ass off. Number three loves the sound of his own voice.
"THE THAUMATURGE": What say you, Miss Omorika? I (annot transport us a(ross the stars from here, but I (an do something else.
"THE THAUMATURGE": The best theories are universally appli(able, but sometimes you must en(ounter outside (ontext in order to truly understand your own (ir(umstan(es.
"THE THAUMATURGE": Would you like to see another world?
"THE THAUMATURGE": Give the word, and I will open the door.

---

ZONE 5.5

"The Scion" nabs the prototype weapon from the crate in Cypress's office. She decides not to interfere with the lockdown until everything else is handled.

Nettle switches Elveil back to Upheaval (earth-type glacier drop).

Then, she joins the Security Hub, spawning in with the Mercantile flux mutation (Restoration Potion).

She moves to J7, uses Rampant Growth on the two corpses (60 SP due to her hat), then scans a Termite (without dealing damage). After Destiny acts, she uses Rampant Growth on all the Termites in her Threshold. A reminder that every second Rampant Growth costs only 20 SP.

She then uses Sing Unto Me and Heavemarch to drag the S6 corpse to O8, before using Rampant Growth on it.

Recollection Lake (1)

Welp. Hannah did not expect a breakdown of this magnitude. Especially when Venia starts crushing her neck and tears forth a memory she had long repressed. The added fact that Yew asked Hannah to kill Venia as well as Regalus.

HANNAH: Ghh--
HANNAH: Lemme... l-lemme go...!

Hannah could barely even squeeze out something as simple as that. It hurt to even say that much. And, of course, her body betrays her enough to try and struggle free. When compared to the much larger Venia, who had the full intention of holding her like that... she fails.

Venia rips into Hannah with insults not meant for sane ears, and many somewhat more decent. Not that they were at all decent to begin with.

And yet, the now-shuddering Hannah notices something... something about the way she shouts contradicting the way she's acting right now. She very much says that she would have killed Hannah during the meeting if it weren't for everyone watching, and now she had the perfect opportunity to without anyone else to see it happen... but didn't. It didn't make sense...

Then she notices the tear. The first one.

HANNAH: ...Nhh?

More shouting. More insults. And, slowly, more introspection on Hannah's part.

More tears. At this point, Hannah couldn't help but feel... awful. Guilty. She was just as much of an asshole as she said Venia was. But, at this point, it was far too late to stop Venia. Hannah's ears were ringing, barely able to keep a coherent thought.

...While Michaela, Adria, Sophia, and Dorothy were all busy with their respective tasks... there's one not currently preoccupied. A pair of beaming red eyes emerges from the dark treeline. Watching the duo's every interaction. Drawn to Venia's shouting, most likely.

...And then, everything stops. Each moment felt like an hour.

Hannah is unceremoniously dropped to the ground; while she lands on her legs at first, she immediately falls onto her back. While unharmed, the ordeal does seem to have left an impression on her, staring blankly at the sky, breathing shallow for a few moments before returning to relative normalcy, albeit a deal quicker. Sparks of guilt light up her entire face as she turns on her side, shivering, arms crossed in a vain attempt at self-comfort, facing away from the now sobbing Venia. She loses herself in thought, trying to recollect her jumbled thoughts, stuck in a limbo.

She doesn't even register Ette's sudden appearance...

Then... another memory comes to the forefront... perhaps released thanks to Venia tugging at her mind. Coincidentally, it was a memory immediately following the one drawn forth.

---

Far Off Field

Judging by the fact that her arm wasn't bleeding, Hannah's not in any immediate danger. Though there's still a scar of sorts on her arm and of course tattered clothing at the site of injury.

With that being said, Hannah doesn't look all that surprised at Biflora disappearing on them. In fact, she... doesn't look like she's all there. She simply nods, and fades out of existence. Must have been a Timeclone. Or maybe the timeline destabilized enough to allow that to happen. Who knows, I'm not keeping track very well on who's the real one and who's not.

Still... those actions... might be a little concerning...

---

The Replantation

Hannah nods... much the same way she nodded at Not!Echoss. And she fades in much the same way.

Of course, this causes intense worry in both Dorothy and Shelly.

DOROTHY: ...I-I got a bad feeling about this...
SHELLY: Yes... that's... not how she normally acts, not at all.

Shelly turns to Lutea and Beluta, who are ready to head out, and Auth on standby to escort them. Both Dorothy's and Shelly's Timeclones fade out of existence, seems they're no longer needed at the moment.

SHELLY: You three... we'll close the portal behind you. I need to talk with Dorothy about something... important that happened earlier today.
DOROTHY: H-huh?
SHELLY: Stay safe.

Once the trio are through the portal, Shelly turns it off and pockets the rune. Then, ensuring there are no other Chairians around, takes Dorothy by the hand and guides her to a secluded corner of the Replantation.

SHELLY: I don't believe I should keep this from you any longer.
SHELLY: Come. We don't have much time.
DOROTHY: Wh-what's happening...?
SHELLY: *sigh*... well... allow me to explain...

Time slows down around the two - not much, but enough. Shelly then proceeds to explain to Dorothy the events, in detail, of ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM (pg. 260).

Needless to say, Dorothy was left utterly speechless. What worry was already there has been amplified to a ludicrous extreme.

DOROTHY: N-n-no...!
DOROTHY: Wh-where, where i-is Hannah now!?

Shelly briefly taps her ear, not even flinching.

SHELLY: The middle of Recollec-

She darts off in a panic to Recollection Lake as fast as she's able to. Shelly sighs, frowning.

SHELLY: ...Praefortis... of course she'd be involved...
SHELLY: I... need to get someone else to help deal with what Hannah's feeling, but who...?

She decides to go to the place most densely-packed with Spherebreakers: The Skylabs. Of course, she heads past the House, looking stressed to the nines, and ends up in the Skylabs through the portal, still looking stressed.

And what does she see but Adria rambling rhymelessly to Venia... somehow. Then she remembered - oh, right, crude temporal technology. Sounds like a headache to be in multiple places at once without Timeclones, she thinks to herself. So many loopholes to go through just to ensure a stable timeline, and they're not sync'd up like Timeclones were.

...Not important right now. She's supposed to be looking for someone that could help her get through to Hannah...

...Though, given recent happenings, that might not be as relevant anymore.

---

Recollection Lake (2)

Dorothy arrives at Recollection Lake's edge. However, there's a body of water in her way, how is she going to-

Oh. That's how. She's literally walking on the surface of the water. Or, is she using a form of solidified air to make that illusion? Either way, she runs towards Hannah's location.

DOROTHY: H-HANNAH!

Hannah barely registers Dorothy's approach, still lost in a trance.

No sooner when Dorothy reached solid land had she embraced Hannah in a tight hug.

HANNAH: ...
HANNAH: ...I-I...
HANNAH: ...r-really... don't d-deserve your... kindness...
DOROTHY: W-why not!? We're friends, right?
DOROTHY: I-I'm not gonna leave you! Not like this!

Much like Ette with Hannah, Dorothy gives Venia a "death" glare. Also like Ette, it's... not threatening in the slightest, and Dorothy looks more hopelessly worried than anything else.

(3)

Hannah doesn't react to Venia going bonkers again. Dorothy certainly does though, moving to cover as much of Hannah's body as she possibly could.

Then, suddenly, Krabs. Krabs shoots both Venia and Hannah in the face with a sleep shotgun, knocking both out. Understandably, Dorothy freaks out at Hannah suddenly going unconscious, trying to shake her awake until Krabs explains their reasoning and plan. SHe calms down shortly after.

DOROTHY: ...A-alright, I'll... I-I'll follow your lead.

She lets Hannah go, allowing Krabs to take her. She moves to help Ette take Venia, seems Krabs was sorta just leaving her there.

---

Calscape

In a place where no mental breakdowns are taking place, Sophia scoffs, fear effectively absent from her gaze as she glares at Hangman.

SOPHIA: Like you'd even be able to even catch me!
SOPHIA: But really though, you don't want me to get a sword. Or a mace. Or a nailbat.
SOPHIA: You now know why~

SOPHIA: Now... I wonder what's in that room...

Keeping her umbrella trained on Hangman, Sophia moves herself towards The Void. And, eventually... into The Void.

This is almost certainly a bad idea that Sophia is willing to do anyway.

---

House

Finally getting around to Rebecca after god knows how long, Sophia smirks.

SOPHIA: Oh? Then what's with the not-a-landmine-at-all under that patch of dirt?
SOPHIA: Isn't that, like, a really mean thing of you to do?

...She drops the smirk.

SOPHIA: Except actually seriously. That's really mean!
SOPHIA: We're not gonna hurt you, so... why?

If Rebecca attempts anything, odds are Sophia's gonna give chase or evade whatever's thrown at her. And we all know how good she is at both of these things.

...

Meanwhile, at not-exactly-the-house, Sophia takes Sythia to the Distant Chapel - a great route for a leisurely stroll, she thinks. The turrets are concealed as of right now; there's minimal threats around after all. Unless there are things around.

SOPHIA: Some of us found this place earlier - I think my aunt Adria was one of them!
SOPHIA: ...They sure did leave a mess though. But the place is still really pretty!
SOPHIA: They've also been growing a Godblossom here! Or, so they said.
SOPHIA: ...

SOPHIA: U-um... so, I'm not gonna lie... I-I just had a bad feeling about something probably happening back home.
SOPHIA: S-so I wanted to bring you here instead!
SOPHIA: Y-yeah.

---

Skylabs (South)

...Adria realizes she's rambled on without Venia saying a single thing to her.

ADRIA: ...I rambled on again, didn't I?
ADRIA: Um... s-sorry. I'm... sure you have places to be.
ADRIA: But, remember, if you ever need anything - advice, help with something you're working on, even just taking over for you in a certain circumstance - don't be afraid to give me a holler.
ADRIA: Just... don't do anything too rash, you hear? Many more people care for you than you may realize.
ADRIA: Take care, dear.

She bows, waves goodbye, and leaves stage left. Unless Venia wants to stop her, Adira ducks behind a corner, out of sight. Should she look then... she'll be gone.

---

Skylabs (Central)

Adria can't help but smile at Chloe's praise.

ADRIA: Ah! Thank you!
ADRIA: You helped a lot too - I would not have thought to bring an EMP.
ADRIA: Or I would have been pinned underneath t-that... corpse...
ADRIA: So... thank you for that too!

Adria approaches the machine once Chloe determines that the Exosuit was safe to approach.

ADRIA: Alright... let's see here... what's damaged...

Adria combs over the Exosuit for damages - she pulls out her arrows using electrically-insulated gloves, and looks through all the damaged parts to find what she needs to repair or replace, either because of damages she, the EMP, or the Pin caused while it was in there.

---

Post-Battle - Wartorn Approach

Adria only sighs, not kicking Grandifolia even once. She still approaches them.

ADRIA: Should have turned around and left.
ADRIA: And yet you chose the violent option.
ADRIA: Pitiable, really.

Adria then gets to work on removing their armor and other gear.

Zone 3 - The Endless Gardens

"...Well that went surprisingly easy."

Calibri shrugs, then hops down into the forest. He's lowered his guard, but all things considered it would probably be a dumb idea to attack him. As such, he's pretty sure he's safe to talk to Rufa.

Once down there, what is there to talk about? Well, there's a couple things, really. Which topic to talk about first, though... Calibri contemplates this thought for a while, then wanders over to Rufa, leaning against a nearby tree.

"So... Before I do the whole armor messing up thing, couple points of interest. First, some of the smarter spherebreaker people put something together that can supposedly stop the recall rune thing from working. They're probably trying it out right about now. Second..."

Calibri pauses, thinking on the specific phrasing. Hopefully what he says isn't too offensive.

"How come you joined up with Spark anyway? What I've heard of him so far doesn't exactly paint the picture of the nicest guy out there. Even without the whole... questionable orders issue. Was he always like that?"

---

Zone 3 - Still the Endless Gardens

After the battle ends, Calibri takes a moment to give Grandifolia a very solid kick in the back, then turns to Verdana. Or, at least, where he was standing prior to the whole "swap out" deal.

"Welp. I've done what you called me to do. You're up again, bro."

Calibri promptly disappears. Verdana returns to the focus of this section.

"...Hmm, now where was I... Oh, bother."

The albino turns his attention over to the east. He should've been there long ago. Maybe if he had, he would've been able to keep things from escalating. After all, following the death of Acacia which he had been completely out of the picture for, did he not promise to himself to intervene in situations like these? Without another word, he mobilizes, sprinting eastward at first, then his form flickers as his Core detaches from the illusory body and races off much faster. Having accidentally abandoned the illusory body, said humanoid form promptly collapses into dust.

Hopefully people don't get the wrong idea.

Recollection Lake

A small solid spherical object flies onto the scene, rising up into the air briefly, then slamming into the bridge right between where Hannah and Venia have been arguing. A pulse of telekinetic force promptly carries the arguing pair a reasonable distance away from each other for safety purposes, then a wall of solid red crystals manifests between them, forming a nice solid barrier so that there's no risk of one killing the other. At least, it'll break direct line of fire. It's no good for blocking, say, water currents.

Thankfully, Verdana manifests on top of the crystal wall, an aura of outward-directed gravity rippling out from him, both helping lock Hannah and Venia down, and forcing the waters below to remain settled. After that's sorted, Verdana first turns his attention over to Hannah, thankfully seeing that Dorothy is on hand.

"Hannah, take five. Don't let the self loathing get to you. Even if it feels like nobody SHOULD care for you, there will always be those who do, no matter how far gone you think you are. Dorothy... Look after her. You know her better than I, so I'll leave the specifics in your capable hands."

Then, he turns to Venia. For a moment, Verdana closes his eyes, feeling the very distinct feeling of a metaphorical pedestal cracking under its own weight. Then, he opens his eyes again. Given the circumstances and one of his elemental affinities, the average observer would probably expect him to have some level of anger. On another day, and to another person who had similarly pushed things as far as they've gone, perhaps he would. But in this case...

All he can manage, in expression and voice, is pity.

"...Venia."

Okay, he dropped the "miss". That's probably a sign of something significant. Without fanfare, Verdana hops down from the wall he constructed, moving up to her. Hopefully their height difference doesn't neuter whatever influence or authority he can lay claim to.

"I understand you're mad at Hannah right now, and for justifiable reasons. But... Maybe don't kill her? That wouldn't be very productive."

He falls silent momentarily, trying to think of what to say, then raises one hand towards Venia. He doesn't actually know what to do with it, but maybe she'll take it as a handshake offer or something.

"I'm always around if you want someone to talk to. Or vent to. Or just hit really hard without risking accidental murder. But mostly talk to. So... Let's just talk for a while, maybe? Unless there's something else you'd like to do."

---

Battle - The Security Hub

...Man, I do have quite a few segments now.

Before joining the battle, Calibri sets his key to the Range 4-6 version.

Before Zahlia spawns, Calibri appears in the battle at F7 and moves to H12.

Once Zahlia spawns, Calibri casts Fury on her, with the Shared Rage modifier so he can benefit from it too.


RP segment: Calibri just sort of appears with the key in his hands. He looks around for a moment, noticing that the rebels are currently allied, and relaxes a little.

"Okay, cool, this makes a nice change. Normally we walk in and everything's not an ally. Or, almost everything. Hope y'all have got this area, I'm gonna try and set myself up."

After that, he wanders into position, following the actions I put up above this segment. Hiding behind the door, he opens it a crack and peeks out, trying to get a good look at the new enemies, and a potential route up to appropriate firing range. As he does this, he notices the absolute shitton of termites, and some asshat named Shinai.

"...Welp. That's... probably a problem. Lot to deal with, at least. Bet I could pull off a bold assassination somehow on something important..."

---

The Old Pass

"..."

Loading.

---

The Everground

S.E.D has completed an analysis of the big heart shaped thingy, and decides to present its analysis to those around it. Then, the drone focuses on the heart once again, uncertain about how to handle this matter. It decides to run some theories by everyone else first.

Right away, it has a pretty simple idea. The infection currently stuck to the heart is made of small maggots, but more importantly, those maggots are Iti. Thus, if it calculated the variables correctly, they might be drawn away through the application of bait. But where would one get bait? Well, S.E.D shifts to get something out of the inventory, then holds it aloft for all to see.

Itisa Bait, the summoning item drone that simulates a large amount of essence.

Theoretically, if one could block the chance of Iti getting in from above, the only ones nearby who would sense the essence would be the infection worms. It logically follows that they would be drawn to the powerful call of the bait, and thus clear the way for removing infected tissues and replacing them with something more healthy.

---

Resurrection A(cacia)

VERDANA: ...

Verdana glances from side to side, then back down at Acacia's dead body. Then, at those surrounding it. Then, at himself, somehow. Then, he decides to say something.

VERDANA: This might be a stupid question, but does the resurrection have to be done with blood?
VERDANA: Or, theoretically, could it be something more vague than that?
VERDANA: I'd be willing to donate blood, but I don't really... have that, for obvious reasons.
VERDANA: I do have vaguely-defined energy. By vaguely-defined, I mean that even I don't know what it is.
VERDANA: Normally I just channel that a certain way and it becomes a healing spell...

Battle: Security Hub

Venia squints at the "informant." "... I don't even know who you are, other than an idiot. I've met you three times and that's everything I've got on you-you're an idiot."

She turns to the Praetorian. "So... I'm going to spread the word, just in case you didn't already hear about it. You Praetorians are bound to Spark or whatever, but your role is a job, not a magic pass for immorality. We're not going to sit idly by while people threaten civilians with burning to death for not going fast enough on the job they were already doing, or issue death warrants for people with an association to us that can be described as 'not throwing themselves at us like idiots.' So you? Behave, or else."

Venia spawns on G7, moves to H8, and summons a Featherduster Maid at H7.

"They have to, have to come to us, not the other way around. Don't go after them, make them come to us, and uh, protect those servers!"

---

Hannah/Ette

Venia's face contorts back into pure, berserk fury as Hannah responds-but before she can shake free of Ette, or before she can think to try turning Hannah's head into the consistency of salsa, two shotguns cock and blast both Venia and Hannah dead in the face, and they fall to the ground limp, and very unconscious.

Mr. Krabs Cosplaying As General Greivous (For Money) strolls out of the woods, two smoking shotguns in the shape of Nidra clutched in his pincers. I am going to remind you that this character is in fact a thing that exists, and is actually a figure in the plot.

"Ahoy, me lass! I like money," He says to Ette as Venia and Hannah fall unconscious. "Don't worry about them, I shot them with Concentrated Essence of Nidra! Or, put another way, they're just asleep. Let's get them back to the house, the girls just need some bedrest and then they can sort out their problems without explosive tantrums."

Being that Venia was already in Ette's hands, Mr. Krabs grows two extra pincers and, with surprising gentleness, hoists the unconscious Hannah up and carries her away.

---

The Everground

"I'm, uh, terrible at medical stuff. Most I can do is, uh, purge him-relieve him of his entropy. I'm fairly sure, uh, fairly sure that won't work out for actually saving his life at this point, though," Venia says. "Auth here is our, uh, our finest healer-between him and the, the resources we have, it won't be too difficult. We have like, uh, infinite fluxblood, so bleeding out shouldn't be an issue, at least... I think..."

"Would it be a bother if I took some of these resources? I don't think they're doing anyone good just sitting here, either way."

Assuming Vulcan doesn't speak out, Venia's Maid walks up to the Prisma crystals embedded into the ground. She observes their magic very closely, and quickly comes to the conclusion that they're perhaps far too active for their own good. Fortunately there are ways around these issues. The Maid's arm morphs into a few thin metal tendrils, which encircle the area around the Prisma cluster. Energy pulses through seconds later, flickering to life-and at once the Prisma dulls. This done, the Maid uses her other hand to carefully and delicately dislodge a crystal from the main cluster-each potential explosion nulled by the antimagic field dulling their extreme potential-but temporarily and not completely.

---

The Forge

Venia was so absorbed in making sure all the materials were in the correct position that she doesn't quite register when the Scion arrives-but the door already being open and not having any way to close it, she also doesn't have any way to stop the Scion from rolling the bodies down, and only notices them when she turns around.

"Uh."

Venia stares blankly at the Scion. Her speech is hesitant. "... I'm sorry? Uh. What? Livingwood is Chairian flesh? Are you quite sure about that?"

Venia pauses, and then starts dialing up Cypresss. "Hello, Cypress? Venia here. Uh, what is Livingwood, real quick, and how does one obtain it in reasonable quantities? There's an important project I'm working on right now that requires some Livingwood chips..."

---

I equip the new trinket I got from Nia.

Auth tilts his head slightly. He's confused how Nana could think that rainbow fallout was a reasonable or appropriate thing to expect from a simple tabletop board game.

AUTH: U-uh... yeah, that was definitely, absolutely, not how you play the game. I watched them "playing" and it almost gave me an aneurysm.
AUTH: Chess is a game where you move your pieces around a game board to capture the opposing king. It's not too complicated once you understand it.
AUTH: Part of me thinks that they willfully misunderstood the game, I don't think even the most bizarre variants of Fairy Chess would end up with actual destruction like that.

Auth nods to Nana's question. It's a fair question, after all. Nana might notice, even if she's not looking at them too hard, that the leaves are an intense green.

AUTH: The colour of the leaves is a potent soporific. Viric, after all, is the colour of shallow sleep... although, maybe it will affect you differently?
AUTH: Viric can encourage plant growth in some circumstances... not here, though. Either way, don't look at it too hard.

Auth's eyes are darting around, keeping an eye out, as they walk into the jungle proper. Auth closes his eyes as he guides Nana through the bright green Jungle. He appears to be relying on his ears rather than his eyes to avoid trouble.

Faintly, green eyes observe.

---

Auth nods, slightly.

AUTH: If you don't quite know if this book is what we think it is, that's okay.
AUTH: It's a shame in my opinion - even if it was wrong I very much would have liked to know what it said.
AUTH: Even if yours isn't the original, it's certainly more than we have.

Auth nods to the understanding that the Prophecy is very long and possibly still unwritten, and so elects to focus on treating the Remnant for the time being. SED's data allows Auth to understand the problem. That being: parasites.

Yuck. It's a rather nasty-looking infestation, too. Fortunately, despite initial appearances, the treatment shouldn't be that difficult. In theory.

AUTH: I was going to suggest something similar, actually. I think this is a good time for us to use that baiting device - draw all of the Iti within out. While they're being drawn to that, I can excise the infected flesh to stop more from spawning. Then, you kill every last worm currently present within the Remnant.
AUTH: We can certainly then treat the subsequent wounds with time.
AUTH: Just... be ready, there might be quite a few, given the extent of the infection as far as I can tell.

Auth does not draw his sword to use for this endeavour. Instead, he pulls out an Eviscerator Blade Tip, attaching it to a very, very sturdy stick for a makeshift scalpel. Auth was looking for the sharpest thing he could find, after all - the sharper the object he uses to cut, the less pain that is inflicted.

---

Auth nods to Marron, assuming that nobody else has given Marron the appropriate indication that she should get started.

AUTH: Wait, before we continue this, I think we should actually get the spell out of the way. We can talk about how others can do it afterwards.

I will assume that Acacia will wake up again and we'll all talk to her in a bit. So, in the meantime, I'll just continue the conversation anyway.

AUTH: Ah, I see... so it's interpretation of the spell into your own system, which is why it costs you a significant amount of blood to use when the original spell scroll didn't seem to call for it. Did I understand that right?
AUTH: Depending on how the system works... well, no, actually...
AUTH: Just because I'm half-vampire, it doesn't mean I keep blood laying around. I do not even drink blood. My mother swore it off and I've never had the stomach for it.

Auth had... not considered that he could just... cast the original spell.

AUTH: I should have thought of that earlier. Just casting it in the original design feels like it should have been something I thought of earlier.
AUTH: I guess we just knew that your casting is reliable, so none of the rest of us had thought to try since.

Marron is reliable! What a compliment, and it might not even be backhanded!

---

Auth sets Perseverance to Light/Fire, as is the default. He also sets his Variable Resistance to Fire, since there's only two sources of Magical Damage in this entire fight and both of them are Fire.

Auth spawns on... a spawn point, and moves to H5, casting Perseverance: Fire on Nettle.

Remiel does some consumable crafting.



Total materials:
2x Mental Cluster
10x Electrum Ingots
20x Entrophies
15x Arkalloy
30x Plasteel Ingots
1x Purest Explodium
5x Coilgun Parts
75x Incendiary Rounds
10x Searing Cluster

Eph joins Security Hub, moves to I6, and meditates. If Focused isn't nullified by the meditation upgrade, he instead moves to K6 before meditating.

<ROUND 290>
Echoss and Eren do the do. As one does. First, Echoss recounts some of what he's heard to Aoki. Far as he knows, Acacia was quite smitten with Spark. Was Spark reciprocating her love, though? He doubts it. Especially since he sorta ganked her.

AOKI: I suppose there may have been a bit of truth to those rumors.
AOKI: However one-sided her love may have been, there certainly was... something.
AOKI: But, hm.

Aoki stretches her arms, holding them high above her head. There's a little bit of a crick as she does so, followed by a yawn leaving her body.

AOKI: We have been chatting for quite some time now.
AOKI: It's been lovely, sir Echoss. Though, I am getting a bit tired, roaming the Sky Labs and fighting for my life as one of Spark's troops...
AOKI: May I retire for a brief moment? If I am going to follow you into combat, I should be fully rested so as to ensure that I can fight to the best of my ability.
AOKI: Perhaps I'll grab myself a drink as well...

Should she be dismissed, Aoki will likely go elsewhere in the house to vibe. Have some wine or something. Whatever it is a songstress might do. Meanwhile, down in the basement, Echoss and Carrot have a rather lengthy conversation about what he did to those Rose Cultists, which is immediately followed by Carrot getting drunk again. You can probably find her floating around Hemlock if you need her again.

Elsewhere, Eren explains to Maple that he might have technology that responds to magic. Probably, anyway. He does have blueprints somewhere in his head, but there's nothing much about technical components or materials in there. This... makes it a deal less useful. Maple delivers a quick duo of gentle knocks on Eren's head.

MAPLE: Huh, the Thymefield's blocking your memories?
MAPLE: I mean, I guess you're a killer robot, so that makes sense. Shouldn't the field be completely shutting you down, though?
MAPLE: Like, it did that to a Tabletopian battleship. Also kinda shot it down, too. The Sphere, I mean.
MAPLE: It was wild! Super large purple laser tore the thing clean in half!
MAPLE: I'm surprised the Sphere doesn't shoot lasers at things more often. Maybe it's tiring?
MAPLE: Like, if I were a giant wooden sphere with ambitions of destroying the world, I'd fire a laser at the plucky adventurers trying to stop me!
MAPLE: Even if it's ultimately hopeless, since we're gonna win in the end!~

She winks in the general direction of Eren, tongue sticking out. Meanwhile, over a few hundred tiles, Eren can't help but wonder if power tends to drive people insane on Sussui. The Oracle decides to chime in with their own insight.

ORACLE: While I don't believe there's any actual correlation between insanity and power, about 75% of Spark's Praetorians are some type of insane.
ORACLE: Maybe insane people are just easier to control, so he's able to push them more into those positions of power.
ORACLE: Of course, there's always that chance that we're the insane ones, talking rationally and not letting power overtake us.
ORACLE: Then again, it's not like I have all that much power. Even if I do have the almighty sprinkler systems at my disposal.

Sprinklers. Could those defeat Eren? Probably not, but it certainly could ward off EN-913. But that'd be bullying, and this is a no bulli operation.

---

Simeon and Zahlia do some crafting? I mean, this does look more like a skeleton than anything, but... I'll allow it anyway. Looking through this, the following items use the following materials.

Yamato: The Kusabimaru, a bar of Arkalloy, Sanctified Alloy, Soulblessed Alloy, and Ohmetal, 5 Rose Weave, and 2 Gaiameld Ingots.
RAMBO Sweatband: The Harlequin's Cap, a Blackhole Regalia, and 2 Gravcore Ore.
Longinus: A CQC Knife, the Eviscerator Bladetip, a bar of Arkalloy and Soulblessed Alloy, a Gaiameld Ingot, and 4 Serenea Flowers.

They also do a moderate respec, which has now been processed. Snazzy.

---

The Scion attempts to communicate with a Golem. It, uh... speaks with a chorus of a thousand discordant voices, all joined in harmony. It's as if Twitch Chat all decided to spam the same thing at once. Radiant light surges from their body as they "speak", assaulting the Scion's mind.

DAWN: SILENCE, MORTAL!
DAWN: YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO BASK IN MY RADIANT LIGHT!
DAWN: I AM THE LIGHT OF DAWN, THE RISING SUN, THE ETERNAL LUMINANCE!
DAWN: WHY HAVE YOU COME HERE?

...An organized Twitch Chat with a god complex, my bad. Guess this is what happens when you give a Hivemind Regalia heavenly power. At the very least, they're not immediately blowing away the Scion... assuming they're capable of that. Maybe it's all just for show.

Elsewhere, the Reflector and their various visages offer to take Omo on a... vacation? While the concept of such a thing is terrifying, Omo does not possess a proper concept as to how terrifying the Reflector can be.

OMORIKA: ...Hm.
OMORIKA: An interesting offer. I shall accept.
OMORIKA: Though, I must request that this is not to be a long incursion. I still must help the Spherebreakers.
OMORIKA: But regardless, carry on.

That's a yes! While the Thaumaturge likely prepares to yeet Omorika into another universe, the Scion reaches for a weapon! Unfortunately, the shelf does not appear to want you to actually have it. As the Scion approaches, the shelf closes up on its own. There's a burst of white noise from the shelves, as it immediately opens once more. A few dozen Pins shoot out, surging across the ground as the Shelf then rips from the wall, morphing into an Ohmnic. An Ohmnic that's armed with the prototype weapon. While it's not a proper combat encounter, the Scion feels that they should probably stop that thing from firing. Who knows what it can do?

---

Hannah has a bit of a freakout! As it turns out, interacting with Venia isn't the best for your mental health. Hannah has a bit of a freakout in the presence of Ette, going over stuff that has been put into a spoiler for the large amounts of self loathing that is it. Ette unfortunately, is unable to really process any of this. She begins to sniffle.

ETTE: H-Hey! There's no need to be like that!
ETTE: W-We care about you! O-Of course we do!

Even as Dorothy arrives, Ette doesn't do much to calm down. Then, in a sudden moment, Venia nearly unleashes her fury against Hannah once again- or at least, she would had some force not intervened, putting both Venia and Hannah to sleep. Ette stares at their unconscious forms.

ETTE: H-Huh?
ETTE: W-Why i-is everyone s-so... sad? W-Why did it come to this?
ETTE: I-I don't get it. W-Why can't we all just be... nice and h-happy?
ETTE: I-I thought w-we were all... f-friends?

Ette falls backwards, onto her rear. Tears begin to roll down her face, and she silently bawls to herself as she curls up into a ball. It seems that Dorothy may need to roll her home at the very worst.

Elsewhere, just south of the House, Sythia and Sophia go for a lovely walk. They stroll across a cute lil' lake of Thyme Matter that was the remnants of the Mobile Home Iti, and soon reach the Distant Chapel. Sythia's quiet as usual, Chloe plushie held tight in her arms. At the very least through, she seems happy enough to drink in the sights, even as Sophia informs her of the real reason they're here. Sophia can't help but feel that something bad is going to happen at the house. She nods, not requiring any further elaboration. She then walks up towards the front door. Does she want in? That's probably the case.

Then, in the Sky Labs proper, two gals examine a robot. Chloe beams back at Adria, blushing as she receives praise. Not quite what she expected here today, but she's not complaining.

CHLOE: Aw, you're too sweet!
CHLOE: Now, c'mon- I'll help you out with the investigation!

The two of them buzz around the exosuit, compiling a little list of what damages need to be repaired. Disabling the robot really did a number on it, it seems. Arrows are pried from the machinery, and fried circuitry is removed. After a few minutes of hard work, Chloe reads their combined agenda aloud.

CHLOE: So, it looks like we're gonna need a few things.
CHLOE: First, we'll need to repair the joints of the machinery. That... shouldn't be too hard.
CHLOE: If I recall, your accurate shots managed to knock a few key bits out of place, so we'll just need to replace those. You can handle that.
CHLOE: Secondly, we'll need to replace bits of wiring around the cockpit. Circuitry n' stuff.
CHLOE: The EMP fried a few circuit boards, but I think we have literally infinite of those. I'm pretty good at that sort of thing, so leave it to me!
CHLOE: And finally, we'll need to replace a few bits of the hull. The bot got knocked about a bit during that, and we can't have compromised armor!
CHLOE: Though, I guess that's low priority. We can work on that later.

CHLOE: Anyway, ready to get to work?
CHLOE: With the two of us, this shouldn't take too long!

Chloe immediately hops in the cockpit. With a bit of finesse, she manages to remove a few of the plates that concealed the inner circuitry. Replacing more burnt circuit boards and wires, she begins to make her own replacements using the old circuitry as a baseline. Despite the fact that this is a large exosuit, the circuitry is oddly simple. Perhaps in a standard Chairian fashion, parts of this machine are operated through magic.

CHLOE: Oh, yeah. Fourth agenda item!
CHLOE: We gotta put a better seat in here. This one's kinda hard.
CHLOE: I get that this was probably in development, but geez! My back's gonna hurt when we're done here...

Finally, down in the Wartorn Approach, Adria refuses to kick Grandifolia, much to Marron's dissatisfaction. Not that she really cares either way, though. Adria then gets to work removing Grandifolia's armor and other equipment. This yields the ATLAS type of Praetorian Armor! Somehow, she feels like that she'll be able to collect a full set sooner or later. Imagine how rude it'd be to show up to Spark's battle wearing as many different types of Praetorian armor as possible!

---

Calibri attempts communications with Rufa. He's cooperative, up until the point he mentions how the party's learning how to put something together that can shut down the recall rune.

RUFA: oh gorilla what you can do that!?
RUFA: uhhhh.
RUFA: hold on.
RUFA: excuse me i'm just gonna-

Rufa immediately dips, teleporting back to the Citadel. It's unclear if he was testing his rune, or if he was just plain terrified at that prospect. Spark's probably going to be aware that you can shut down teleportation now. Or at the very least, when Grandifolia fails to return, he'll put two and two together and realize that you can do it. It's a shame, though. Rufa and Calibri could've had a really swell conversation.

Speaking of swell conversations, Hangman decides to chat up Chloe after she questions what his deal is. Why is he here? He says a bit of philosophical stuff that Chloe doesn't quite understand. Who's Blacklight? Does Verdana have a cool shadow alter ego person too? Does everyone she know have a cool shadow alter ego? Nia had Persephone. Does she have one? But she's getting sidetracked. Hangman then asks a simple question- what might she do if she finds Xavier? She's... fairly blunt.

CHLOE: I'm gonna punch him in the face for being a stupid idiot, first of all!
CHLOE: ...Then I'll give him a hug.

CHLOE: But... really. There's a lot to discuss, g-given what he did to Nia, a-and how he just up and vanished...
CHLOE: Now's not the time to ask those questions, though. What matters is that I find him, and I make sure he's safe.
CHLOE: What happens later... is a story for another day. I'd imagine he'll probably get arrested.
CHLOE: Or maybe the government will finally use this as an excuse to kidnap him and use his tech for R n' D stuff.
CHLOE: He says that he's been keeping the government off his tail, but I seriously do not believe him for a second there.

...It appears she's been sidetracked. Or at least she is, until Sophia runs directly into the void. Chloe reaches an arm out to stop her!

CHLOE: S-Sophia, no-

She panic moderately subsides when Sophia seems to blink back to where she was before. She gives the girl a blank expression.

CHLOE: Sophia... no?
CHLOE: U-Uh... I'm confused.
CHLOE: Don't... don't do that again though, alright?
CHLOE: Even if you're capable of defending yourself.

CHLOE: But... what happened?
CHLOE: I... think I heard him say something? I dunno...

While Chloe continues to be confused, Calibri decides to kick Grandifolia. He doesn't say much of anything as he's kicked. That was a solid kick, but Marron's rewarding the cookie based on number of kicks, and not the meatiness of kicks. Still, she's fairly happy with this. Then, down in the Everground, S.E.D considers the feasibility of using the Itisa Bait to call the maggots out of the heart. That could definitely work! Though, there's always the issue that a bunch of Harpies from a higher floor will come down and chase the bait. So if that's the plan, consider having a way to clog the way down here?

Finally, Verdana asks if Acacia's resurrections needs to be done with blood. She shakes her head.

MARRON: I mean, it's my spell, and I use blood magic.
MARRON: So I just sorta... use a lot of blood.
MARRON: If someone else transcribed the spell into their own language, they'd probably be able to use it without suffering from immense bloodloss.
MARRON: But, I doubt anyone's really willing to do that.
MARRON: So I'll just use a loooot of my blood, as per usual.

She's the slightest bit bitter about this. Only a bit.

---

Venia asks if she's allowed to take the Everground's resources. She nods her head.

VULCAN: Fine by me.
VULCAN: Not like they'll stick around after this place goes under.
VULCAN: Or, if you do save the Remnant... I suppose we can also call that payment.

Venia then decides to attack one of the Prisma Crystals, using an array of thin metal tendrils to pulse energy through the crystal. This creates an anti-magic field of sorts, temporarily dulling the crystal. With one of the veins successfully neutralized, she manages to shove it into the inventory. Elemental Prisma obtained! It's really quite shiny. Though, it still feels like it'll explode at any moment. That's probably fine.

Then, Venia decides to call up Cypress. What's Livingwood? How do they get it in reasonable quantities? Cypress is quick to respond.

CYPRESS: Livingwood: Chairian flesh. Hard to procure.
CYPRESS: However, recent innovations! Simplified process.
CYPRESS: Livingwood: obtain sample. Usually, from Chairian. Keep sample healthy. Submerge in sap. Then, combine woods.
CYPRESS: Livingwood takes over. Converts wood. More livingwood. However, conditions apply. Must remain submerged.
CYPRESS: Once converted, permanent. Will not revert. Good for medical.

CYPRESS: Reasoning: Chairian biology. Normal wood. Attach to Chairian. Becomes Livingwood eventually.
CYPRESS: Old methods: painful. Pluck from volunteers. Slow. Painful. Even if regrows.
CYPRESS: As a note. Stored supplies. Floor one. Large crate. Loaded with Livingwood.
CYPRESS: Locate if required.

So, it is Chairian bodies! It also seems that it's a bit like Chlorophyte, in the sense that it grows in the proper conditions. While the corpses will likely work for materials, more can be produced if required. Or you can seek out that cache underground. Either would work!

---

The Author continues his trek through the mirror. He recounts his almost-aneurysm watching the two of them play Chess, noting how one is actually meant to play. You're meant to move pieces around a board to capture the opposing king, and the actual game isn't meant to involve rainbow explosions.

NANA: The game they played honestly sounds a lot more... energetic.
NANA: Maybe they're different games for different kinds of people?
NANA: I-I know I wouldn't be t-too happy to play a game w-where the board can explode!
NANA: S-So I'd probably enjoy the standard version more.

While she briefly wonders what Fairy Chess is, she probably figures it's another really weird version. Maybe the pieces fly in that one? That'd be really cool, she thinks to herself. Anyway, she sits tight as Auth explains the powers of Viric. The color of a shallow sleep. It can apparently encourage plants to grow, but she probably still shouldn't look at it too long anyway. Though she rather appreciates the sights, she manages to drag her vision away from them. She continues to observe her surroundings nonetheless, watching as Auth pilots the boat with his eyes closed.

NANA: How m-much further to our destination?
NANA: I-I need to say, a j-jungle with odd powers l-like this gives me the creeps...

Is there a color that can light her on fire? Nah, probably not. That's the Correspondence, which isn't a color. Probably best to not tell her about that, though. Elsewhere, down in the Everground, Auth adds on to S.E.D's plan. After they bait the little worms out, he can use something sharp like this Eviscerator Bladetip to tear the infected flesh free. The very thought of this is enough to make Vulcan wince, but...

VULCAN: That's... crude, but I suppose it'd work.
VULCAN: I'll do my best to keep the Remnant calm when you do that then.
VULCAN: I hope you're as good as miss Praefortis says you are, sir Author.
VULCAN: Though, I don't suppose I have any reason to doubt your skills.

VULCAN: Also, if you're looking for something sharp... you could use myself.
VULCAN: I may seem a bit dull, but I can make up for that.

Though she is a rapier- a stabbing weapon- she shuts her eyes as she unsheathes herself. With a few words, a crimson gleam runs along her blade. To make a point, she sweeps herself at a nearby wall. Though her blade is impossibly thin and would usually snap upon contact with the rock, she effortlessly cuts through. Auth is given a moment to examine the cut. It's perfectly clean.

VULCAN: Simple enchantment, really.
VULCAN: Just pick me up, and I'll be the perfect tool.
VULCAN: I promise I won't try and possess your body. Promise.
VULCAN: You're the one with the medical expertise, anyway. I'd probably kill the poor thing.

Finally, over with Marron... she grows impatient. At least she was called reliable, though. One complement is enough to keep her running for another thirty or so minutes.

MARRON: Okay, y'know what?
MARRON: I'm just gonna do it.
MARRON: But if we're doing this again, someone else is casting it, alright?
MARRON: I'm just gonna do a few quick bits of preparation.

She equips the necessary materials. With one sample of Godblossom Extract, a bag of Gaiadiamond Dust, a Yggdrasil Splinter, the vial of Wattle's Sap, and the Soulcatcher, she sets the ingredients out in front of her. Mixing them on the spot the same way she's done a few times before, she soon has a bottle that glows a radiant jade- the same hue as Wattle's sap.

MARRON: Ooh, pretty.
MARRON: Anyway, I... don't think I've done this without something to pour the mixture on.
MARRON: Like, I poured it on Ette's puppet body before, and I poured the mixture on Maple's face before, too.
MARRON: I also poured it on Toaster's arm stump. Good times.

MARRON: So... what the hell am I meant to pour this on?
MARRON: I could just like, dump it on the floor.
MARRON: But that hardly seems tidy.
MARRON: Speaking of the floor, one sec.

Marron throws a pillow behind her position, before dragging Acacia's corpse over to herself. Equipping Magnolia from the inventory for a second, she slams it down on one of Acacia's hands, severing it clean off and leaving a large mark on the floor. She then returns Magnolia to her proper location in timespace as Hersilia screams at her.

HERSILIA: W-WHAT WAS THAT FOR!?
MARRON: I need something to pour it on!
MARRON: I think, anyway. This isn't really an exact science.
HERSILIA: W-What do you mean t-this isn't an "exact science"!? Y-You're really playing with Acacia's s-soul in an i-inexact science!?
MARRON: Hey, this is inexact magic! Large difference!
MARRON: Besides, I needed a sample of whatever a Chairian is made of.
MARRON: And, since Acacia's not using her body, I figured-
HERSILIA: Y-YOU COULD'VE J-JUST PLUCKED A SPLINTER F-FROM IT!
MARRON: ...Eh, I guess.
MARRON: But then I might miss with some of the solution, and who knows what'd happen then.
MARRON: Anyway, moving on!

Hersilia malds in the background while Marron places the hand in front of her. She unwraps it from the spider silk wrappings, casting them aside. Splaying the hand out forcibly, she holds the concoction over it carefully. With a deep breath, she turns the bottle over. The jade fluid splashes out onto Acacia's hand, not a single drop hitting the floorboards like Marron feared. She then looks behind her, making sure the pillow's still behind her.

MARRON: Anyway, this is gonna suck.
MARRON: For me.
MARRON: Deep breaths...

The seamstress sits incredibly still, entering a state of concentration. As she does so, Acacia's hand begins to twitch. It curls up into a fist, as the bark lights up with a jade light that runs up and down its entire surface. Rapidly, the wood of Acacia's hand begins to rapidly grow outwards, forming her torso in the span of ten seconds. The growth shoots down her body, creating two legs. It then regenerates her other arm, before the growth immediately refocuses its attention on the hand Marron originally poured the mixture on. It cracks and splinters, falling away bit by bit like an eggshell. Beneath the surface is a brand new hand.

Finally, shooting up the neck (which it promptly creates), Acacia's head is slowly brought into being. Probably due to it being a deal more complicated than the rest of the body. Everyone in the area is treated to the beautiful(?) sight of Acacia's core being procedurally generated, bits of sap flying every which way as it struggles to put it together. But soon enough, the core is formed, and the remainder of the head finishes its construction. The final touch is an "explosion" of foliage, forming itself in about a second. The jade energy then coalesces around Acacia's throat... and shoots out of her mouth. Acacia coughs violently as the energy fades into the air.

ACACIA: OW, gorilla.
MARRON: g-good first words
MARRON: anyway welcome back to this mortal plane
MARRON: i'm gonna go leave it, thanks

Marron flops backwards onto the pillow she set out earlier. She's rather obviously not dead, but just a bit low on blood. Someone should go give her the infusion she requires. Acacia meanwhile, is busy trying to find the strength to move.

ACACIA: W-What. The hell. H-Happened?
ACACIA: M-My memory's... really gorillaing hazy, a-and... w-where's my-

Hersilia leaps on top of Acacia, giving her a hug.

HERSILIA: T-They... r-really did it...
HERSILIA: I-I'm... h-happy...
ACACIA: W-Wait, what? W-What'd they do?
ACACIA: W-Why are you hugging me? W-What'd I do?

...Someone should probably explain to Acacia that she died. Most people tend to not be great with the concept. Would she be upset that her resurrection was less flashy than the others? Probably a bit. But this is like, the fourth time we've used the ritual? It doesn't need to be that fancy.

---

Remiel does some crafting! Taking a grand total of 2 Mental Clusters, 6 Electrum Ingots, 10 Entrophies, 6 Arkalloy, 9 Plasteel Ingots, a thing of Purest Explodium, 5 Coilgun Parts, 50 Incendiary Rounds, and 6 Searing Clusters are used to create a wide variety of consumable items! The Explosive Runes, Fortification Runes, and the Cluster Runes! R-8733 would be proud.

---

<SECURITY HUB, ROUND 2>
There's going to be more and more termites until Shinai falls, so make him a priority target! Pushing in could be difficult with all the reinforcements they've just obtained: be careful! Though, there's a fair chance they'll be shooting for the server room, so prepare for a fight around there!

Nettle uses two of her free Forest Storms on Termite10, then kills it with Rampant Growth (40 SP). She moves to M9, casts another Forest Storm on Termite8, then executes it with Rampant Growth (20 SP). She casts Upheaval at R11, empowered by Ensnaring Eruption.

Destiny moves to P14 and uses the Access Point to control() on the Gaiameld Slugger. Destiny observes Shinai and the Slugger uses Shatter Rocket on Shinai.
Destiny then activates Whirling Blades once again, moving Q13, R12, R11, R10, S9, S8, and R7. She retreats to R5.

-------------------

Meanwhile, Crya suddenly bursts in next to Scion, a trail of ice following her. Crya lifts her staff, and the right fountain quickly freezes over. Waving her staff around, Crya then causes the frozen water to shatter into icicles, which she raises in the air over the Ohmnic. She then releases them, firing at the Ohmnic and impaling them with a heck ton of icicles.

Take this!
Hey there, I was just gonna go check on Destiny real quick, but I saw you needed help. I'll give you a hand!

Crya stands ready for what is next.