Echoss and Star:
"That should actually be quite simple, let's relocate."
Echoss leads Star down to the dueling hut, and gives the brief primer on how to access the inventory. This would normally be an RP bit but I've given the explanation like three times this zone alone.
Echoss watches and waits while Star picks out a weapon/some equipment.


Echoss and Aoki:
Echoss nods to Aoki.
"Take your time to recuperate, Miss Aoki. You'll be contacted if your assistance is needed urgently.
Welcome to the Spherebreakers."


Eren and Maple:
Eren smiles and laughs a bit at Maple's comments on doom lasers, then answers her question.
"It's not like, directly blocking my memories.
For some reason the thymefield is taking issue to most of my individual physical features, instead of me as a whole, at least in terms of thymecursing instead of just the general power reduction most of the outsider spherebreakers are getting.
Some of my stuff is constantly on the fritz as the thymefield curses it and then my systems repair it again and the thymefield curses it again in a loop. The armor plate in my shoulder came loose because all the thyme smoke was gunking up my insides so it's sorta venting it right now.
The problem is that for some reason some of my weapons don't tick off the thymecursing unless they activates, which means there's already a lot of power flowing through them and...
Well, it means that I have to balance how much I use my things, or they shut down entirely for a bit. And using 'em makes more of the smoke so more comes out of my shoulder.
It should fix up once the Sphere's down. Or at least hopefully, it still hurts having a chunk of my 'skin' swinging open like that admittedly.
In terms of memories, I assume it's related to that stuff. The things getting thymecursed are part of me so parts of my mind are getting thymecursed too? I don't know."


Not!Echoss bulli:
Not!Echoss blinks as Hannah fades away.
With all player characters having left the area, Not!Echoss has abruptly fallen out of the render distance and despawns.


Not!Echoss Not!Bulli:
In the machining and fabrication room Chloe climbs back out of the cockpit from telling Adria what the agenda items are to discovery that the Escape Pod Chair has been deposited just outside the machine without either her or Adria noticing. How about that.


Security hub:
Eren nods at the Oracle's response.
"Yeah, that makes sense I suppose.
I was more asking because it seems to be a running theme even beyond just the praetorians. Random legion and rebel officers being strangely murder happy. Half of the High Chair and at least one of the Zabuton members. Also literally the entire Rose Cult.
...actually it's not like the other outsiders we've run into have been any better. There was an entire cult of apocalypse clowns holed up in the royal library when we got here.
Whatever, I'm stretching the battle banter allowance already, idle observations can wait for after the praetorian bashing."
BATTLE ACTION:
Eren moves North a tile, then procs poetry pamphlet again. Ephram receives Focused3 and Knowledgeable3 for 3 rounds, Eren receives teraveil3 for 3 rounds (which also gives him the effects of Empowered4 and Guardian3).
He waits for Ephram and Venia to take their turns, then basic attacks Termites 8 and 10.


To-do List:
Also maybe chat with Creation?
Echoss should handle moving the plants up out of the basement. Probably to the roof.
If the Xavier drone hasn't been talked to by the time Security Hub is done, Eren can do that.
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.

Battle: Security Hub

Venia's Featherduster Maid uses a Sprint to get to D12 and activates the Hackdrive to lightbomb(Informant).

Venia herself moves to M5 and waits for Ephram to act. On the assumption that the Informant is asleep, Venia uses Hope Rides Eternal to L3. Otherwise, she does not. She then turns to the Legionaires and utilizes Purge to nuke the Sentient Blaster in a swift and efficient manner. "Kanzan, I'll repeat the warning. You Praetorians are people before you are Praetorians, and what you do is a job, not a clearance for civilian immolation or whatever other depravities you think of. Behave how you should, or else. We clear?"

---

Maria

After a long pause, Maria finally puts on the afro with a smile. Guess she had to feel sorry about herself for a little while longer. "... We're gonna tell daddy that I wanna stay, right?"

---

The Everground

Venia spies the large vein of Eversteel and opts to collect that next. Of course, as the description says, it is unclear whether or not any conventional pickaxe could possibly mine the Eversteel. But Venia fears not, for she has a solution! Naturally, only very unconventional pickaxes can mine the Eversteel.

Traditionally speaking, using Mighty Bananas as pickaxes is considered very unconventional but for the shape. So, naturally, Venia takes a Mighty Banana, skewers it with a stick, and slams off the Eversteel from the rock with the sheer power of her absense-of-logic.

---

Acacia

Venia beams as Acacia revives, but feels like she shouldn't join in any group hugs. "We, ah, fought in the Skylabs, you did not win, Spark tried to, you know, kill everyone, yourself included because... He's an asshole, basically. He, uh, he technically succeeded, but he didn't really, uh, as he couldn't burn you to ash, and uh, and we had that 'restore your body' thing handy, which was, uh, based upon a ressurection ritual we had," Venia says. "We're retrieving footage now, so uh, we may be able to, uh, jog your memory, in case you can't remember."

Venia pauses. "You are, uh, currently in our base of operations, our house. It's the former house of, ah, Abies, but we didn't know that until Omorika told us, uh. Our need kind of, uh, came first, but we have a way to restore it so like, don't worry about that. No need to rush off or do whatever, I guess."

---

The Forge

Venia looks at the Scion, then at Auth. "Auth has a point... And I'd rather this doesn't break into an argument. I'd rather it be done right than done fast, and we have means to obtain it without disrespecting the dead. We just need a sliver, and the Chairian Sap we still need anyways... And if memory serves there was a whole artificial river in the Rosen Catacombs we need to get. More than enough."

Venia takes a tweezer and plucks one splinter from one of the healthier parts from a corpse, putting the Livingwood Splinter into the inventory and thus into stasis.

Zone 3 - The Endless Gardens

"...well, shit."

Calibri awkwardly wrings his hands as he looks at the spot where Rufa disappeared from. Somehow, he has the distinct feeling he blew that opportunity completely. Hopefully nobody will know about it if he just pretends nothing happened...

Calibri abruptly disappears in a flash of shadow, off to go be somewhere else. Namely in the battle, which was transitioned into earlier so I won't repeat that here.


Battle - The Security Hub

Anyway, now for this part.

Calibri glances at the Magirifler.

"Y'know, from what I'm seeing, the current legion forces have a fair number of people weak to electricity, and virtually nothing that resists it. Just a thought. Anyway, watch me take down one of their guys in one shot."

He then wanders through the door, heads to M14, gives himself Ordo via the True Heroine Chloe Plushie, casts Exertion, and applies a minimum of about 70 damage directly to Mechanic2. After that, he hops over to N15, then turns and glances at the Darkknight.

"Good to have you. Anyway... eh, you're the one in the mech suit, I'm sure you've got a game plan sorted already. Lemme know if you need anything, I guess? We've got more than enough spare items, pretty sure nobody's gonna miss some mana potions or... smoothies... or whatever else..."

---

Zone 3 - Recollection Lake

"..."

Verdana sighs, sensing that things have been settled now. Then, he glances upwards at the sky, pondering things briefly... With an abrupt shift, he launches off into the sky, disappearing from this scene.

Same deal as Calibri. He's leaving the area and transitioning to something that already had some stuff established earlier. Now let me just pop that in position...


Resurrection A(cacia)

Now back to this scene.

Verdana notes Marron's reply, starting to ponder some things. The spell relies on language in some way, from what he heard? He's never learned a language before. Given points of divergence, neither has his predecessor, technically. It would be a rather new experience, and a bit of a tall order...

VERDANA: ...I'd be willing.

By the time he says that, of course, the ritual has already been done. So, almost like an afterthought, he decides the best he can do is give Marron a leg up on recovery. Verdana's idea of a recovery is to briefly pick up the Transfusion spell to have a mechanical reason regarding why letting vaguely-defined energy flow into Marron would do anything, letting that happen for a while, then handing her a Yggapple from the inventory.

Then, he turns his attention to Acacia, who has probably been in need of some talking for a wee while. Where to begin...

Verdana soon moves down, crouching beside Acacia.

VERDANA: Okay... It's a bit of a story.
VERDANA: And I wasn't there for it, so my take might be a bit flawed.
VERDANA: But I'll do my best to go over it with you.

Beat.

VERDANA: Spark stabbed you in the face and you died.
VERDANA: Things were sad for a while.
VERDANA: Then we brought you here and Marron did a thing to resurrect you.
VERDANA: She's the one with the pink hair over there, in case you didn't already know.

He indicates in Marron's direction, then turns back to Acacia. What more to say here... Oh yeah. He should probably give her the thing he was planning to give her a fairly long time ago. He rummages around inside some ambiguous space for a moment.

VERDANA: Oh right! I made something for you a while ago.
VERDANA: Let me just remember where I put it...
VERDANA: ...probably in the inventory by now, last place I put it was under that christmas tree earlier today...
VERDANA: That's also a bit of a story, anyway found the thing.

He pulls out a wrapped present, which AFAIK had paint stains or something on it in the christmas tree craft. It still has the same label on it. Verdana glances aside briefly when he remembers the label.

VERDANA: Ehe... Don't mind the label.
VERDANA: It was poignant at the time. Now it feels a little embarrassing...

---

The Old Pass

"..."

Loading.

---

The Everground

S.E.D continues analysis of the situation. It needs a way to block off the top area. But how? The drone flicks through a few gadgets for a while, before remembering it has virtually nothing in its arsenal to do that with given the small size of the drone and the big size of the entryway. It makes a disappointed whining noise.

Then it remembers it's not alone down here. And also that Vulcan had been blocking the way earlier with that barrier thing. Perhaps...

The drone draws up a quick plan, then presents Vulcan with a diagram that looks so awful it was probably drawn by a duck operating a joystick. The important parts are still there, at least.

-Vulcan: Block the entryway with that barrier summon thing
-Auth: Do the cutty thing with the rapier to remove infected flesh
-S.E.D: Destroy the worms through application of intense FIREpower
-Venia: If she wants to be a part of the heart surgery plan, maybe she can also help keep the heart calm, or something else if she has ideas

Hopefully, the drone's plan is accepted.

ZONE 0 - STAR

Star picks up some miscellaneous gear and examines it before donning it. I won't get into every item; suffice it to say that I know what equipment Star will use when Zone 6 happens.
What is noteworthy is the weapon they select. They weigh the shapeshifting weapon Sol Aeterna carefully in their hands.

STAR: It is sleeping?
STAR: Perhaps you and I will paint the stars together one day little violence flame

Star then spies the Harlequin Cap.

STAR: Yes I think this will complement my high speeds very well,
STAR: But something about its shape bothers me
STAR: Where did you get this sodden headmask.
STAR: Is it a brand of humiliation for Spherebusters who are too red and comedic to mark them as comedians?

---

ZONE 1 - GOLEM

"The Scion" blinks at Dawn's outburst, and then starts giggling.

"THE SCION": Umm... I think you're a little confused, Mx. Dawn.
"THE SCION": I was the one who put those crystals into you and gave you light powers.
"THE SCION": You're as mortal as me, I think... actually, probably more mortal, considering you don't have... sorry, I'm rambling.
"THE SCION": But I think your lights look really cool! It's very pretty.

---

ZONE 5.5

The Reflector finally notices the prototype weapon near Wattle (I noticed it a long time ago, but was too lazy to do anything about it) and glances at it meaningfully.

THE REFLECTOR: ah another of cypress's prototypes his early weapon designs i see.
THE REFLECTOR: i would not take it without your permission of course under no circumstances but i must ask is there any favor you would ask of us in exchange for that item?
THE REFLECTOR: you see the spherebreakers the party the organization we are quite obsessed with collecting weapons for our many varied fighting styles and well cypress would also like to see his designs completed and enhanced and finalized.

Meanwhile, "the Scion" is aided by a sudden and unexpected Crya.

"THE SCION": Oh, um... thank you?
"THE SCION": Also, maybe back up, hehe.

She takes the mystery prototype weapon from the frozen/impaled Ohmnic's grip and pockets it, then slams her own staff onto the ground. A moist greenish mist seeps out, enveloping the room. The Pins find their thyme matter core's cells beginning to fill with excess water and lyse uncontrollably, bursting into tiny puddles of liquid thyme matter and destroying their miniscule nervous systems. The flowers would also die were they not holograms, but the Pin in the hologram projector will still be affected. Just maybe a little later than the other ones. Gotta let that mist seep in.

"The Scion" appears extremely dehydrated after that show of force. Her skin is dry and flaky, her eyes are sunken, and she seems quite a bit wobbly. Regardless, she gives Crya a thumbs-up.

---

OMOCATION

As soon as Omo is ready for Totally A Normal Vacation, "The Thaumaturge" nods to her and outstretches his hands. With an accompanying scent of pine needles, a white rift tears itself into existence before Omo, bitterly cold air rushing out at her.

"THE THAUMATURGE": I suggest you put on a (oat before a((ompanying me, Miss Omorika.

"The Thaumaturge" strides calmly into the portal. When Omo follows, she steps out into a vast, icy tundra, seemingly devoid of any animal life. A few distant ruined stone buildings dot the landscape. The portal closes behind them (just to prevent anyone from accidentally wandering in and getting lost).

"The Thaumaturge" stands there silently for a full minute before speaking, regardless of Omo's reaction. Finally, he smiles sadly.

"THE THAUMATURGE": Wel(ome to Omtose Phella(k.
"THE THAUMATURGE": It was on(e a great testament to my people's ingenuity.
"THE THAUMATURGE": Now, it is their grave, though you will find no bodies.
"THE THAUMATURGE": It remains, however, a spe(ta(ularly well-preserved history exhibit in many pla(es. Feel free to look around.

Recollection Lake

As Dorothy approaches the unconscious Venia to help carry her... well, Ette's current emotional state caught her attention really fast. She goes straight into hugging the ex-puppet, equally upset and trying not to let it get to her. She's shaking - scared, from the looks of things. She still tries to reassure Ette

DOROTHY: E-everything's... everything's gonna be alright...

...But someone needs to carry Venia back. Fortunately, Ette nor Dorothy are really needed as Feynsik flies straight across the lake, landing right next to Venia, Ette, and Dorothy.

FEYNSIK: I'll take Venia back home. Give you two some time to recuperate.

He takes Venia off Ette's hands, carrying her in a fireman's carry. Quickly as he arrived, he takes off after Krabs. Both Hannah and Venia should be tucked in back at the house shortly.

...Of course, this leaves Dorothy and Ette in their place. One very scared, and one very confused. Dorothy wonders in the back of her mind - should she tell Ette what's going on? Probably. But at the same time... it's not a very good idea right now.

---

Calscape

Sophia blinks. She's somehow completely unfazed by entering the void. She stared into it, and it stared back. And yet Sophia kept staring, undeterred.

SOPHIA: ...ok.
SOPHIA: Dunno, thought I'd be like floating or something.
SOPHIA: Eh, I've experienced worse. Way worse.
SOPHIA: Having-your-soul-ripped-out-of-your-body worse. Yeah.
SOPHIA: But, um, sorry for worrying you!

SOPHIA: So like, what's this about a 'completion'?
SOPHIA: So I entered the void, and it spoke back. Sorta.
SOPHIA: "What did you expect? I am a void - by definition, empty. But since you are so curious, take this piece of my truth. They were made to counter the butterfly - to counter entropy itself. But they are incomplete. They were not designed to survive completion. Their fusion is flawed. It will end them."
SOPHIA: What's that about?

Sophia waits patiently. She peers into Hangman's eyes, her startling lack of fear apparent in her glare, looking straight into his eye sockets. So unafraid that she lowers her weapon.

---

Yggdrasil's Approach

Once she's done with the armor, Adria decides to sit on the Armored Anti-Magic Field on top of Grandifolia, legs crossed and dangling over the device as everyone wails on the trapped person below her. This might somehow be even more disrespectful than a kick.

ADRIA: I'm going to enjoy reverse-engineering that little rune on your suit of armor.
ADRIA: It'll be of more use to Sussui, your people, and the universe with us than with you.
ADRIA: As a matter of fact... yes, that sounds like a better use of my time.
ADRIA: Goodbye.

Adria hops off from her perch, gives Grandifolia a light kick with her heel, and walks into the woods. She's probably gone, don't bother looking.

House - Basement

True to her word, Adria hops down to the basement workbench. She pulls out the armor she just took and starts scouring it for the rune. Once she pinpoints it, she takes it out and looks it over with excruciating detail. Holding it up to a light, holding it under a microscope, poking it, doing that kinda thing and recording the results.

---

Distant Chapel

Sophia shuffles around in her pockets. Seeing as Sythia wanted in, who was she to turn her down? She pulls out the key to the lock and unlocks the front door. She opens the door, revealing the interior.

It's... kinda messy, all things considered. But at least it's pretty for what it is.

SOPHIA: Whoa.
SOPHIA: They... didn't do a great job at cleaning, huh?
SOPHIA: I guess you could just rest while I sweep or... something.

She heads in, pulls out a broom, and starts sweeping. She also removes the rubble that's lying around the place to make it look a bit more pleasing to the eye. She also pushes the (F101-G101) bench back to (F99-G99) to line the benches up with each other.

SOPHIA: It's not the best job, but I think it'll do.

---

Skylabs

ADRIA: Can do!

Adria takes a thorough look at the joints - the arms and legs were disabled by way of arrows. She locates the area of damages on each joint, using a bit of Plasteel and Wire Scraps (or better should she need it) to create new joints. She removes the plating temporarily, then decouples the joints for a more thorough repair job. She then scours the shelves for anything else that she may need.

Then, she gets to work on the joints themselves, cutting away the damaged bits and installing the new joints. She moves them into place, and connects the wiring that she needs to connect. She gives the joints a test, moving them about, ensuring they move correctly, and making adjustments as needed. Once satisfied, she re-applies the plating.

She does the same for each appendage until she's done. She also hoists the conveniently-placed Escape Pod Chair to Chloe to install in the cockpit. How nice!

---

While walking about, Shelly also stumbles into the central labs. She touches down on the second floor, and looks at the Praetorian pinned under the rubble. My word, it must suck to be them. Well, assuming they're still down there. They might be gone by now.

If they're not gone for some reason, Shelly plonks down the Armored Antimagic Field Generator, turns it on, and leaves the Praetorian under the rubble for someone else to take care of.

Regardless, she also hauls the sleeping Splintershot over to the rest of the apprehended Chairians, and ties them up much like the rest of them. She then leaves them there.

Heading up to Floor 3, Shelly slips around to the Arkalloy cart, trying not to attract too much attention, and harvesting as much as she can from behind it.

She then gets a message of some kind. She nods, sending a Timeclone out to... wait patiently elsewhere. Meanwhile, Prime!Shelly stands guard at the entrance to Level 4 Research West. Almost as if she's... waiting on someone.

Auth thinks quietly.

AUTH: I wouldn't exactly call what they played Chess, but I understand what you're getting at.
AUTH: I find the standard game more enjoyable, but perhaps that's because it doesn't leave me on the cusp of having brain damage.
AUTH: Remind me to take it easy when we play, though. I've had a nasty habit I've been trying to kick of playing rather mercilessly and it doesn't help newbies trying to learn.

Auth, merciless? That would be a sight. Auth stretches his fingers as they walk through the jungle, considering the question Nana posed...

AUTH: Not too much longer, I think. Winds have been quiet, so I think the Viric Jungle is...
AUTH: Actually, I'll save the explanations for later. Suffice it to say...

Nana may have noticed the occasional mirror amongst the trees here and there, but the area they walk into is truly abundant with them, along with a stark change in colour pallet. And, even better, within sight is an enormous tree with apples growing from it. Or, well, something that looks like it's made of solid gold and is in the shape of an apple growing from the tree. At the foot of the tree, however, are a whole bunch of snakes.

AUTH: Well, that was easier than I was expecting it to be. Knock on wood.
AUTH: Watch your step, and keep your voice down for a minute. I can fly up and grab a couple, stay nearby.
AUTH: After I've got them, we'll follow the river back to my base camp. Easier to do that than use a mirror here to go to London and then find our way back.

Auth takes to the air, points in a direction that was definitely not the way they came here from, and then slowly rises towards the tree. Seems he's doing his best to limit noise.

---

At the Forge, Auth frowns with immense disapproval.

AUTH: We're not touching these, other than to ensure they get treated properly for whatever is meant to be done for Charians after death.
AUTH: As Cypress stated, there are other ways to create Livingwood which do not require us to do something I would posit as immensely disrespectful to them.
AUTH: It's not like getting the machine up and running can't wait.

---

With the Remnant and Vulcan... Auth nods slightly to Vulcan's assertion that a surgical removal is "crude".

AUTH: I don't think that's incorrect, but none of us as far as I know really know a way to appropriately obliterate Iti. At least, not in a way that would be helpful here.
AUTH: My immediate thoughts, to immediately stop further infection and decay, is to just remove the infected flesh. With no obvious treatment coming to mind, the only thing I can think to do is to just remove it to stop the spread.

Auth thinks for a moment as Vulcan demonstrates the sharpness of... herself. Auth, looking at the gash inflicted on the wall...

AUTH: A rapier is not what I would normally associate with a cutting blade, which is what I need here...
AUTH: Yet, you appear to have an extremely sharp blade, which I definitely need to minimise possible discomfort. If you're sure it's alright, you might be the sharpest thing we have to hand here.

Assuming that there is a subsequent trade-off, with Vulcan handing... herself off to Auth, he takes to the air and begins checking the sites he'll have to cut out. Best to know where he's going before the bait is set off.

---

Auth watches carefully as Marron does the resurrection ritual. He's pretty sure that they won't need to do something like this again for a while, at least.

AUTH: Thanks, Marron. I can only imagine how much it would suck to have to keep putting yourself under this sort of stress.
AUTH: It really does mean a lot to the people it affects, though. Believe me.
AUTH: Would you rather crash on the couch over there or something? It might make it easier for a transfusion, is what I was thinking.

Assuming Marron wants to be moved over there instead, Auth helps her (if she wanted to) lay down on the couch, and then hook up the blood jars for transfusion. Once Marron is being replenished, Auth takes the initiative to start debriefing Acacia.

AUTH: You mentioned your memory is hazy? I think I can help fill it in, I think.
AUTH: You died. Spark killed you, impaled you with a big sword. He was trying to burn you completely, but we managed to prevent that...
AUTH: Welcome back to the world of the living, Acacia. We brought you back to our base because it seemed like the most appropriate place to resurrect you.

Auth speaks slowly and softly to let Acacia come to understand what was just explained to her.

AUTH: If you have questions, we'd absolutely understand. Please, ask whatever you need and take as long as you like. Even though you should be in perfect form...
AUTH: I would still suggest taking it easy for a while, to readjust to having a body.

---

Auth remains where he is, for now, and casts Perseverance: Fire on himself this time. Fairly useful in case he gets targeted by something in the near future.

BATTLE: this one
Can't be bothered with rp, no need to skip anything.

Eph casts Glitchform last dream on Informant.

Zahlia attacks Termite4 and sets the Elemental Blaster to Electric. If she misses, she Elemental Blasters Termite4 and retreats to F11. Otherwise, she stands her ground, Judgement Cuts Termite2, and uses the Elemental Blaster on Termite15.

Sky Labs

((Finally getting back on doing RP with R-8 and Magnolia here wooooo))

Irongutta had to do a double take when Magnolia mentioned them not having any bugs. It took him a second to remember the phrasing he used before. "Wot? Oh, naw that's just a sayin' Magnolia. I just wanted to see wot R-8 'ere has been up to since we've been too busy stompin' the local gits and all."

With that said, he turned to R-8 again. "Magnolia and I wanted to give ya our thanks fer that grenade launcher, by the way! It really packs the roight punch."

<ROUND 291>

Crya freezes a fountain! Rushing by the Scion, she waves her wand. A wave of ice immediately overtakes the fountain, probably damaging some pipes in the proess. She then shatters the frozen water into a storm of icicles, which slice up the Ohmnic! Its limbs drop from its body as it loses cohesion and falls apart. The weapon clatters on the floor... and immediately fires a beam through the nearest wall.

The remaining Pins in the room, apparently unfazed by the murder that happened just now, continue to attempt to possess things! Though, odds are the Reflector will get to act first. Once we get to their post, anyway.

---

Eren explains why the Thymefield takes offense to him to Maple. It's not so much that it hates him as a whole being a killer robot, but his systems are capable of dispelling parts of the Thymefield before it re-curses him again. Hopefully, destroying the Sphere would fix that problem. Maple however, is interested in Eren's "special power".

MAPLE: Whoa, you can dispel the Thymecurse?
MAPLE: That's super cool! Even if it only works for like, a sec or two.
MAPLE: I thought that only like, Nia could do that or something.
MAPLE: Apparently, she's really, really smart! In some ways.
MAPLE: I think it's like, butterfly stuff. I dunno.

MAPLE: On a different note though, you gotta show me what you can do when the Sphere's gone!
MAPLE: I mean, maybe we'll have a hard time finding something for you to show off against, but...
MAPLE: Maybe we can like, find a Fell Beast for you to beat up? Nobody likes those guys. Even their meat's stupid poisonous.

Maple pulls out a little map from her... pocket, or something? She's doodled a little rendition of the landscape around Sussui. There's even little symbols around it stating things like "CERTAIN DEATH" and "MORE DEATH" here and there. How fun.

Elsewhere, Not!Echoss delivers the Escape Pod Chair to Chloe and Adria. Chloe, looking down from the cockpit of the machine, cheers quietly.

CHLOE: Oh, cool! A chair!

CHLOE: ...Is this how Ire feels whenever he does anything?
CHLOE: Oh look, a chair! I am now going to commit incredible violence with this chair.
CHLOE: YEET

Chloe yeets the old chair from the robot. It clatters across the floor, immediately breaking apart and despawning due to generally just terrible quality. She patiently waits for Adria to pass the escape pod chair up to her.

---

Maria finally equips the afro. Her style statistic shoots through the roof. Chaos then gives her a pat on the head, pat being significantly dampened by the afro. She then asks Chaos if they're going to ask Regalus to stay a bit longer.

CHAOS: [t]ha[t] we are, my small friend
CHAOS: we are going [t]o s[t]ay
CHAOS: for a[t] leas[t] [t]wo more hours
CHAOS: and we are going [t]o order a pizza
CHAOS: you like pizza righ[t]

Chaos only asks the most important questions. Meanwhile, down in the Everground, Venia decides to defy convention to mine some ores! Equipping a Mighty Banana and combining it with a stick to create the Bananaxe. She takes a swing at a vein of Eversteel. The banana predictably smushes upon impact, and the ore is unfazed. Until it isn't, spontaneously shattering apart into lootable chunks! Venia shoves 20 Eversteel into the inventory. She's... not sure how she'll shape it into anything useful. Odds are, one might need to get create to work with this!

Back at the house, Venia explains what's going on to a freshly resurrected Acacia. They fought in the Sky Labs, she ate gorilla, Spark murdered her thus causing her to eat gorilla a second time, and also she's been resurrected. Acacia blinks once, then twice.

ACACIA: ...Wait, it's... k-kinda coming back to me.
ACACIA: ...Right. gorilla.
ACACIA: H-He... really did gut me, d-didn't he?
ACACIA: O-Or did he like, stab me? S-Still a bit hazy...
ACACIA: goooooooooooorilla.
HERSILIA: H-Hey, easy now!
HERSILIA: You've... well, I've never r-really dealt with a r-resurrected individual, b-but I think you need plenty of rest.
HERSILIA: O-Okay?
ACACIA: Ugh, f-fine...

ACACIA: Y-You guys g-gotta let me get back at that jerk, o-okay?
ACACIA: I-I swear, when I see Spark, I'm going t-to... t-turn him to cinders...
HERSILIA: And n-no fire magic, either!
HERSILIA: Y-You... really messed y-yourself up back there.
HERSILIA: You need to t-think about what you're doing t-to yourself, o-okay?
HERSILIA: T-These past few months, y-you've been losing yourself, l-lusting for power and recognition, doing crazy, reckless things to try and prove yourself...
HERSILIA: And it ended w-with... w-well...

Hersilia goes silent. Though she doesn't know exactly how it went down herself, she remembers the moment she found Acacia's body.

HERSILIA: If it w-weren't for the Spherebreakers, y-your story would've e-ended there.
HERSILIA: S-So... please.
HERSILIA: T-Take care of yourself, a-alright?
ACACIA: B-But I can kill him! Just give me a second, and I'll END him!
HERSILIA: W-What did I just say!?
HERSILIA: J-Just rest for a bit, please!
ACACIA: Muhhhh...
ACACIA: F-Fine.
ACACIA: B-But... only because it's you.

Acacia remains on the floor, a bright green beginning to flood her cheeks. She's too weak to move. Especially with Hersilia on top of her. Finally, down at the Forge. Venia loots a Livingwood Splinter! She stashes it into the inventory with stasis. Should be handy.

---

Calzone. That's a very inspired first part of the post, I know. Anyway, Mr. Hangman shakes his head, wondering if she'll just leave after she picks up Xavier. Chloe shakes her head.

CHLOE: O-Of course not!
CHLOE: At the very least, I owe it to everyone who's saved me to see this through!
CHLOE: Also, the universe might end. So I can't really just sit down after I save him, either...
CHLOE: Maybe I'll get him to help us?

Over with Sophia, Hangman discusses something that's not really in riddles for once. Apparently, the void speaking to someone isn't really normal. They mention a file, and the... Operative? Chloe does remember someone named the Operative. Isn't that...

CHLOE: The Operative? I-Isn't he that guy my Mindscape self made out with?
CHLOE: I-I'm not sure about Mindscape-me's taste...
CHLOE: But... a Fusion? What's this about a Fusion?
CHLOE: I've seen Calibri and Verdana fuse before. Is it similar?

At this point, Chloe's not entirely sure if she's threatened by Hangman anymore. At the very least, Sophia's not afraid of him. She's quite the brave child, isn't she? Chloe would a proud parent, if she were Sophia's parent. Who are her parents, anyway? Probably best not to ask.

Elsewhere, Verdana explains to Acacia the circumstances of her death, and rebirth. It's nothing she hasn't really heard from Venia, though.

ACACIA: Yeah, yeah. I died. Cool.
ACACIA: And... w-wait, what do you mean you have something for me?

Verdana delivers a gift to Acacia! Hersilia takes the liberty of unwrapping it for her. It's a boxed set of paint and brushes. She blushes ever so slightly brighter.

ACACIA: W-Wha, r-really?
ACACIA: W-Who told you a-about the whole p-painting thing?
HERSILIA: There's no need to be embarrassed about that!
HERSILIA: You're an amazing artist, you know.
ACACIA: O-Oh come on, I wasn't that good...

While Acacia continues to blush and stare at the tools she was given, S.E.D sorta indirectly asks Vulcan if she could create a barrier to hold off any Iti that might come from above. She nods.

VULCAN: Maintaining a barrier while letting myself be used as a weapon could be tricky... but I'll manage.
VULCAN: I managed to survive this long down here for a reason.
VULCAN: Go for it.

It's a plan, then! Begin when you'd like.

---

The Scion notes that they empowered the golem. Or uh, Dawn, as they have called themselves. They're the one that slotted in all those crystals, and gave them power over light. Plus, they're very pretty!

DAWN: ...YOU CREATED ME?
DAWN: I LACK EYES TO SEE, BUT I SENSE THAT IT IS YOU.
DAWN: THE PROGENITOR.
DAWN: THE GOD ABOVE ALL GODS.
DAWN: I AM... SORRY FOR MY INSOLENCE. PUNISH ME AS YOU MUST, CREATOR.

Dawn tilts forward about twenty degrees, sort of vaguely bowing if you think about it hard enough. One can't really be sure what the golem wants at the moment, though. At least the Scion is now legally considered to be a god by at least one person. Meanwhile, over in the Central Labs, a few shenanigans occur. First, the Reflector asks Wattle for permission to use the experimental armament. He considers what they might be able to do for him for a brief moment.

WATTLE: Hmm.
WATTLE: Could you procure for us some sort of powerful ranged weapon?
WATTLE: My men are thinking that mere Splinter Rifles may not be able to stand against the increasingly powerful hordes of Iti.
WATTLE: The Spherebreakers have a wide variety of armaments. Do you have anything in reserve?

Ooh. Pick something shiny, and get something shiny back! Whatever item you pick will likely lose all 3 of its Crafting Charges though, so be sure to choose wisely! Up a floor, the Scion does battle with some Pins! But before anything gets demolished, they loot the Prototype Weapon! Inscribed along the side is "FIRST PRISM". How shiny! Prototype: First Prism obtained! The Scion then decides to unleash a poison mist that floods the room, unmaking the three Pins. The room is now rather vacant, save for a potentially-poisoned Crya. She probably moved back though, right...?

Finally, Omo goes on a totally normal vacation. Stepping through a portal, she finds herself in a woefully frigid area that the Thaumaturge calls the "Omtose Phellack". Notably, Omorika did not bring a coat. She instead uses Incantation, creating a wooden creature that flows around her like a cloak. It also glows with a gentle hum, warming her up considerably. She glares around the frigid tundra, observing ruins from a distance.

OMORIKA: Hmm.
OMORIKA: I have not stepped foot in a place like this in my lifetime.
OMORIKA: Ice as far as the eye can see, and not a tree in sight.
OMORIKA: It has its beauty, and yet... seeing a civilization that's fallen like this fills me with a melancholy.

She steps forward, clogs imprinting in the snow or ice. Towards the nearest of the ruined buildings. She looks behind her, seeing if the Thaumaturge follows.

OMORIKA: This is... not a locale that I would associate with a vacation.
OMORIKA: Tell me, why have you brought me here?
OMORKA: And, if you know... what happened here?

She feels as if she's asking quite the loaded question there. Ire cackles in making other people write exposition. muhahahahahahaaaaaaa

---

Dorothy hugs the Ette. Ette hugs Dorothy back, pulling her nice and tight like she was a teddy bear. Of course, she's still being careful not to crush Dorothy or anything. Ette silently nods as Feynisk explains that he'll be taking Venia home. Not very interested in doing much of anything, Ette remains balled up with Dorothy.

Elsewhere, over at Yggdrasil's Approach, Adria sits upon the Armored Anti Magic Field. Which, of course, is currently upon Grandifolia's back. She taunts him a bit, but he refuses to say anything back. After giving Grandifolia a kick, she hops off down to the Basement of the house, experimenting with the teleportation rune. It's located in the back of the armor, behind a few armored plates. Prying those out of the way, she looks it over.

Far as she can tell, the teleportation rune is engraved on some sort of unidentified crystal. Hard and black, and barely even translucent. Really, one might be tempted to call it a boring piece of rock. Engraved into is an unidentified symbol, enchanted with powerful magic. When electrical power is delivered to the rune, matter that it has been attuned to will be teleported to a specific, pre-designated location. As for how power is typically delivered to the rune, there's a bundle of psychic crystals in the Praetorian armor. This suggests some sort of mental link, so that the user can trigger hands-free it when required.

...She wonders, how to change the rune's warp location? It'd be a bit hard to experiment, but perhaps she could ask Cypress... or Helix forbid, Grandifolia?

Meanwhile, over in the Distant Chapel, Sophia begins to wander around the chapel, Sythia following behind her. She then takes a broom, and begins sweeping away bits of rubble. As Sophia works, Sythia moves to a nearby bench, sitting down and placing the Chloe plush next to her. She then presses her hands together, entering a state of meditation. The wind, which once rattled against the windows of the chapel goes silent. Sophia steps forward, her steps not even making a sound as they clatter against the wooden floors. The room is deathly quiet. Sophia can't even hear her own breathing. In this sudden silence, Sythia appears to relax, leaning up against the back of the bench.

Finally, over in the Sky Labs, Adria begins to look through the joints. Making use of 5 Plasteel and 5 Joltwire, she's easily able to repair the damages and replace the joints. She also tosses the Escape Pod Chair up to Chloe, which she happily bolts into place. She hops back into it, achieving a state of comf.

CHLOE: Okay, I think that about does it!
CHLOE: We can work on the hull next, but I wanna be sure that this thing actually works.

CHLOE: On that note- I'm just about done the circuitry up here!
CHLOE: I think I can give it a test drive, if you'd like.
CHLOE: Anything else you wanna do before I start this bad boy up?

While Adria considers the possibilities, Chloe slips her arms and legs into various harnesses meant to be used by the pilot, getting a feel for them. She's pretty sure that it's meant to mimic her movements. Probably. Also, just a few rooms over, Shelly investigates the Praetorian. Except they actually probably should've been long gone by this point, oops. She also migrates a Chairian over to the main group of tied-up Chairians, and then stealthily loots 10 Arkalloy from a cart before bullets go flying her way. Nice.

---

Auth and Nana finish their little voyage. They arrive somewhere in the jungle, near a gigantic tree with golden(?) apples(?) hanging from every branch! From the boat, Nana watches carefully as Auth prepares to take flight.

NANA: A-Are those t-the... Hesperidean Apples?
NANA: T-They're... so shiny! A-Are you sure those a-are actually apples, a-and not gold bars s-shaped like apples?
NANA: And, t-those snakes down there... a-are they guards?

She cautiously watches the snakes from the safety of the boat. If one were to stare back at her, she'd probably give a quiet yelp and immediately break eye contact. Snakes be scary. Especially snakes that exist in a weird place like this. Maybe they secretly light people on fire or something!

Meanwhile, down in the Everground, Auth scopes out the Remnant's infection. There's three main patches, but it seems that aside from those it's not present anywhere. The infected clusters are large, likely reaching some distance into the heart itself. He reckons that even if he played it smart, it'd take at least two large cuts to remove each bit of the infection. He'd probably need to heal the Remnant immediately after each segment removed. Especially since he's dealing with one whole heart over here. Those things bleed like mad.

Then, back in the house with a freshly resurrected Acacia, Auth asks Marron if she'd like some help getting moved over to a couch or something. She nods.

MARRON: that'd be nice
MARRON: also some chocolate milk, if that's fine with you

Marron allows herself to be carried off to the couch. She smiles faintly as she's plopped down against its soft surface. Auth then heads back to Acacia, explaining to Acacia that she was killed. Again. Not that she really minds. I mean, she probably does, but whatever.

ACACIA: W-Wait, Spark tried to incinerate me?
ACACIA: T-That gorilla! I'm gonna break his-
HERSILIA: I-I think we should just be glad that w-we could bring you back!
HERSILIA: The Spherebreakers p-probably forced him to just settle for a normal kill...
ACACIA: Well... thanks, I guess.
ACACIA: Could've tried to make sure I didn't die in the first place, but whatever.

She continues to lie there. This might be the trend for awhile.

---

Irongutta explains to Magnolia that they weren't talking about literal bugs there. Magnolia doesn't get it.

MAGNOLIA: Wait, is that like... something like "hit the hay"?
MAGNOLIA: Someone told me they were gonna do that, and I was really, really confused to see them sleeping!
MAGNOLIA: I thought they were gonna launch a haybale across the room! Like I can! Wham!

They then wander off to go meet with R-8733, Magnolia quietly humming to herself as they travel. Eventually, they meet with him somewhere in the Central Labs. There, they find him looking down at the Dream of Unity. Is he admiring it?

R-8733: Ah, master! Good day!
R-8733: I'm glad you're enjoying the Rosebomb! Are you enjoying it too, miss Magnolia?
MAGNOLIA: Yeah! It's super great!
MAGNOLIA: I wish it could fire more bombs though! Like, at once! For lots of explosions!
R-8733: Oh, that might be possible!
R-8733: I've made fireworks that shoot fireworks. Making bombs that do that should work, too.

R-8733: But, master Irongutta! See the vessel down there?
R-8733: I wonder what this thing was capable of when it was still active?
R-8733: From what I can tell from here, its primary cannons would be capable of causing massive explosions from an equally massive distance!
R-8733: I'm getting inspired to try and build something on our own airship now!

Perhaps the Ork has some ideas of what the Dream of Unity is capable of? Or maybe he could go and actually make R-8733's inspiration a reality? Who knows.

---

<SECURITY HUB, ROUND 3>
More threats from the vents, as per usual. However, looks like a few Rotting Widows have arrived! Don't get bit- that'll probably suck for you! There's also the security breach in the backline, but that shouldn't be much of an issue at this point I feel. Also note that the Ballista took out a Server. This isn't really a big deal, but it has left a gaping hole in your security. Don't let any foes in- that'd be incredibly awkward!

Echoss and Star:
Echoss nods as Star looks at Sol Aeterna.
"Yes, I believe Aeterna is the... sibling? of two of the other Spherebreakers. If she wakes up perhaps she'd appreciate not being left in the inventory for long periods of time, though you'll need to ask her if she wakes up."
He chuckles at the Harlequin Cap quip
"No, merely something we acquired from one of the more malicious Eliti we encountered yesterday. I don't think anyone is making use of it without extensive modification of their own."


Eren and Maple:
"I don't think it's actually dispelling the thymecurse. I think it's more like... disassembling then reassembling the weapon parts that are affected? I'm not sure, the thymecurse memory addling is in the way.
I've heard from the others that Echoss knows how to bypass the thymefield a little bit too though, I guess that's something else to maybe ask him about later?"
Maple suggests he show off and he chuckles a bit, though kinda nervously.
"I, yeah, sure I guess I could show off a bit...
Not thymecursed I don't think a fell beast would be too big of an issue though. I'm built for... much more dangerous fights than that.
When I commented about pionobots being able to totally destroy massive landscapes that wasn't an exaggeration, no matter what we do I'm probably not going to be showing off everything I have."


Chores Mk1: (Echoss moves the plants from the basement to the roof)
This is pretty quick, Echoss makes one or two of his little light golems temporarily and him and the two of those take Lutea and Beluta's plants up to the rooftop where they can sit in the sun until those two can set them up more properly.


Chores Mk2: (Check in with Linseed)
Echoss makes his way down to Linseed's door in the basement. He knocks on the door.
"Hello Linseed. I know you are not presently disposed towards talking with us, but it has been a while and I am uncertain if any of the others have taken the time to check in on you.
Are you doing alright in there? Would you be willing to eat anything if it were delivered to you?"
Echoss seems to be completely unaware that Not!Echoss phased Linseed's hands into the floor stealing a bowl of not-candy.


Chores Mk3: (quick crafts)
Echoss takes out 4 Rebellion Banners, unravels some simple fabric for a pile of thread, and uses an iron ingot to make a needle, and quickly tears down and resews that rebellion banners into a set of 12 sleeping bags. He stuffs them with a bit of spiralfloof floofballs a
I would elaborate this more but the sleeping bags are likely to be lower tier than the higher end materials are and they're just here so that sleeping arrangements are less complicated tonight.
Echoss places them in a pile in a corner of the barracks.


BATTLE ACTION:
Oracle is confused at the cultists.
"Oh, no they were cultists there were two groups. Rose cult was throwing a rave with an Outsider cult called the Dark Carnival. They're the clowns I was talking about, it's... it's complicated. I'll explain after if you need me to."

Eren moves down to M13, then uses his item action to toss the darkknight a prepared Exotic Sandwich Stuffs sandwich (Mana Fruit, Pepper Chunks) giving them Mending10, Energized5, and Swift1 for three rounds. Eren gestures up at Shinai (Darkknight should move to N13 and fire Northeast)

R-8 should drop a grenade at (C6) and his turret will finish off the rotting widow.
Mari moves to L8, and free action gifts her active drone to Venia, then waits to finish her turn.

All of the following happen after Destiny moves:
Auth moves to M3, then purifies Destiny
Mari basic attacks Shinai, gaining Direct Hit and +20% damage on the hit thanks to the drone on Venia. She then uses her item action with the ammo crate to remove her reloader.

Eren acts last on the player team.
Before acting, Eren gives a very pointed glare to Ninja 2. They're probably not gonna stand down even with the unholy beating we're about to deliver to the others, but you know, can't hurt to try.
Eren then doles out two basic attacks. If Ninja 2 doesn't stand down, they get one. From there he targets someone his basic attack can down or just going for damage if no such opportunities are available. If everyone's dead Jim then he doesn't use any spare hits):
Shinai
Kanzan
Halberdiers
Ballista
Robe
Mechanic
Termite


To-do List:
Also maybe chat with Creation?
If the Xavier drone hasn't been talked to by the time Security Hub is done, Eren can do that.
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.

After Nettle acts, Destiny moves to O3 and casts Heat Death on Q11!
As her hair grows to be silver and her eyes to be green, a sudden coldness begins to encroach on her targets.
The universe bows to ME!

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

Crya just kind of stares blankly at Scion's state for a bit before slowly giving a thumbs up as well.
...uh, you're doing alright, right? I'm not sure if this is part of your magic or anything.

Scion responds in a way that tells Crya that this is probably normal.
Well, I guess your magic would rank as a "moderate" on the scale of very strange things I have seen in my time as a goddess.

Battle - The Security Hub

Calibri assesses the situation. Now that he's seen some action go off, he's decided on the things he sees as big threats. The Ballista, and Kanzan. Thankfully, the ballista is reloading, so he can ignore it right now. But Kanzan... That's going to require some tending to, ASAP. He waits until the area is clear, which should be by the time Eren is finished acting...

Then he springs to action, moving to N13, then rummaging in the inventory. Pulling the Warp Ring out, he concentrates, using the Warp Ring to teleport to R12. Then, he grins.

"Just where I needed to be."

Calibri turns, raising his key and pointing it at Kanzan. Honorable Duel activates, giving Calibri and Kanzan a 50% damage bonus against each other, and 50% damage resistance against everything else.

"You, uh, sure do like calling everything filth... Anyway, you've had you go. Now, how about I show you my destructive capability?"

He winks, then slides over to Q9, crouching down and aiming the key at Kanzan like a marksman. The air fills with a powerful white energy, surrounding Calibri, the hoodie-wearer closing his eyes and seemingly resonating with the power. His whole body begins to glow. Then, he opens his eyes, Ordo energies surging out from them, similar energies igniting along the length of the key.

CALIBRI: Let justice be done. By the power of Ordo...
CALIBRI: Be PURGED.

That heavenly power explodes out from the tip of the key and from Calibri's eyes at the same time, converging into a single beam that blasts at Kanzan. If she's incredibly lucky, she will have already taken the opportunity to not let herself be in the path of that beam. Otherwise, she is very definitely screwed.

50 minimum base damage.
Empowered6 = 30% damage boost.
Ordo = 10% damage boost.
Bushi Road = 20% damage boost.
Honorable Duel = 50% damage boost.
Total damage boost: 30% + 10% + 20% + 50% = 110%.

50 + 110% = 105 minimum damage.

After firing off such a powerful shot, Calibri looks visibly drained. He twitches for a moment, then his arm drops to his side, and he just backs up to P8 to hopefully be more out of the way.

---

Resurrection... actually she's been resurrected by this point, so shall we just call this Zone 0 - The House now?

Verdana can sense quite a lot of things at once. In his opinion, it would probably be best for Acacia to rest. But how to pass the time... He fiddles with his hands for a moment, then shrugs. Maybe she liked the gift. Hopefully...

VERDANA: Eheh... Long story. Saw some of your artworks.
VERDANA: You do have a talent for it! ^_^
VERDANA: (How did I even say an emote out loud?)
VERDANA: Anyway, hopefully-good gift aside, uh...

Verdana briefly flashes back to previous events. He wasn't exactly there to see them, but he can at least do his best to visualize what happened based on aftermath reports and... things. The images of a battle he never fought in flash through his mind... He can foresee a lot of problems in the near future of "tomorrow in-universe".

VERDANA: Rest assured, we'll go after Spark at some point.
VERDANA: Before then, we'll need to know what to prepare for, and we'll also need to get up to strength.
VERDANA: I do have plans to make sure he can't try for another takedown... hm...

Internally, some part of him realizes that going on about combat might be a bad idea. So Verdana abruptly changes track with a clap of his hands, doing his best to offer Acacia a friendly smile.

VERDANA: Oh, that can come later. Seems too unfair to ask things of you this soon.
VERDANA: So! Putting all that business aside for now...
VERDANA: Is there anything you'd like? Food or drink, a tour of this place, or... anything else, really?

---

The Old Pass

"..."

Loading.

---

The Everground

S.E.D makes a nodding motion with its main gun, then turns towards the heart, "staring" at it for a few seconds. Perhaps it's just taking in the sight... Then, it rolls into position on the wall, setting up at AE276, machine guns with incendiary rounds primed and ready to shoot at worm things. Think of it like Watchful Eye. But, even with that setup, S.E.D needs some way to alert everyone that it's time to begin.

The drone decides the best way to accomplish this is by making a loud blaring foghorn sound, echoing through the chamber. The moment the noise concludes, it activates the Itisa Bait.

Hopefully everyone else is ready to fulfill their part of the plan.

REGALUS

When will we kill Regalus? Who can say. Until then, one Reflector is stuck with him in the Shadow Realm.

---

ZONE 0

Star shakes their head at Echoss's response to their hat comment.

STAR: No no no no no no you are missing a jigsaw.
STAR: Something about this, something, something, is very
STAR: Familiar.
STAR: How do I know this situation how why when wheremst?
STAR: It is thyme on the wind;
STAR: .........
STAR: Would you endeavor to begin sparring?

---

ZONE 1

"The Scion" smiles sheepishly at Dawn's proclamation that she is, apparently, a god.

"THE SCION": Well, no... I wouldn't say I'm a god...
"THE SCION": I mean, all I really do is spread disease everywhere.
"THE SCION": I wasn't even the only one who made you. I think... I think the crystals you were grown out of were originally from someone named, Asha?
"THE SCION": But I've never met them...
"THE SCION": I guess that makes us something like co-creator-gods...?
"THE SCION": Sorry. Sometimes I just talk for a while, even when no one really cares about what I'm saying.

---

ZONE 4

"The Scion" frowns. She pockets the corpses again.

"THE SCION": ...Fine. If you're too squeamish...
"THE SCION": I'll just... feed these to an animal, then. Like where they would've ended up without me anyway.
"THE SCION": You could've at least thanked me...

She walks as fast as she can out of the Forge, closing the door behind her with just a little too much force. Looks like she's headed back to the house.

---

ZONE 5

"The Scion" nods weakly. She looks decidedly woozy, and her voice is dry and sandpapery.

"THE SCION": Hehe, this is nothing...
"THE SCION": You should see me when *hack* I do some real magic.

---

ZONE 5.5

The Reflector presents the Self-Defense Rifle to Wattle.

THE REFLECTOR: how about this ingenious clever shielding firearm yes?
THE REFLECTOR: i am not sure it packs much more of a punch than your splinter rifles, your rifles already in possession but it should make things quite difficult for your foes!
THE REFLECTOR: and after all you are only holding a position not pushing into a new one.

---

OMTOSE PHELLACK

"The Thaumaturge" steps into the ruin Omo is investigating and reaches down, prying a tablet from beneath the snow. It is engraved in a language unintelligible to Omo, but a detailed illustration of a gigantic tower is still clearly visible.

"THE THAUMATURGE": I have brought you here be(ause the Refle(tor's experien(e on Sussui reminded me of my past.
"THE THAUMATURGE": Of what was on(e lost.

He holds the tablet in the air, measuring it against the horizon. As he does so, bits of ice and brittle parchment swirl out from his other hand, coalescing and building into a hollow facsimile of the same tower. Its structure is hollow and its design spartan, but it stretches up for nearly as high as Omorika can make out.

"THE THAUMATURGE": We were a strange people, the Jaghut.
"THE THAUMATURGE": Obsessed with philosophy and (ulture to an almost self-destru(tive degree.
"THE THAUMATURGE": A fitting preo((upation for a ra(e as long-lived as us. The Forkrul Assail were even longer-lived, and look what they be(ame.
"THE THAUMATURGE": ...I digress. Apologies.
"THE THAUMATURGE": We built vast monuments to show our unifi(ation, and then mere de(ades later tore them down to show our dedi(ation to independen(e from one another.
"THE THAUMATURGE": We went on (rusades against the idea of death itself but (ould not muster even an army to fa(e our on(oming doom.
"THE THAUMATURGE": I refer to the T'lan Imass.

"The Thaumaturge" sweeps his hand, and the false tower ignites in a pillar of (harmless) flame. Ghostly images of skeletal humanoid warriors trod through the snow around it. He shakes his head.

"THE THAUMATURGE": Forged in the fires of Tellann, our foes hounded us a(ross the land.
"THE THAUMATURGE": We are powerful as individuals. Our a((ess to this dimension, Omtose Phella(k, the Hold and Elder Warren of I(e, makes us powerful mages, and also served as a home and (apital for us for millennia. One on one, no Imass would have stood a (han(e.
"THE THAUMATURGE": But in numbers, and with the immortal undead fire raging within them, my solitary people were (ut down by the T'lan Imass. One by one.
"THE THAUMATURGE": Those who tried to flee ba(k into Omtose Phella(k invited only death, for the T'lan Imass are trained to dete(t sor(ery and (an destroy it just as easily. But most Jaghut had long sin(e abandoned this realm for greener worlds.
"THE THAUMATURGE": The only reason it is safe for me to do so here is that there are no T'lan Imass to pursue the (onne(tion on Sussui.
"THE THAUMATURGE": And that the Refle(tor is not truly Jaghut, of (ourse.
"THE THAUMATURGE": By my last visit to my homeworld, the undying warriors of Tellann had killed nearly every Jaghut on the planet. The few that remained were As(endants, gods, and the extremely lu(ky.

"The Thaumaturge" smiles with a great deal of bitterness.

"THE THAUMATURGE": I find it odd, how different your people and I are, and yet how similar these (ir(umstan(es seem.
"THE THAUMATURGE": Do you see the point of (omparison as well? Perhaps I am simply a man too obsessed with my so(ietal theories.
"THE THAUMATURGE": Or, perhaps not.

Security Hub
Psycho Link Mechanic1 to Shinai.
Toss pillow at Nettle.
Power Nap Mari.

Recollection Lake

Dorothy doesn't seem to be keen on moving either, so I guess Ette and Dorothy are gonna be there for a while.

While Dorothy's still shaking, Ette's warm hug kept her from getting too afraid. Hopefully Dorothy's return hug was doing the same for Ette.

---

House - Venia

Feynsik enters into the house behind Krabs (wherever he went), laying Venia down in a bed nearby once they reach them. Feynsik then sighs in disappointment, and absentmindedly walks off down the stairs.

---

Distant Chapel

Well, this is something very interesting indeed. Sythia effectively silenced the entire area. Out of everything that's happened, this is the one that creeped Sophia out the most. It must take some seriously slow or unconventional burns to get her to react.

She couldn't hear her own footsteps. She couldn't hear herself breathing. She couldn't even hear her own heartbeat as she worked.

Once she's done working and taking out the trash, Sophia wanders through the chapel in eerie silence, pacing back and forth, looking left and right out of anxiety, breath inaudible though visibly shaky and movement a little sporadic.

Eventually she sits next to Sythia carefully and tries to calm herself down. She takes her purple top hat off and fishes around in it for a moment.

She then pulls out two small stuffed dolls - a science owl and a alpine skyline mountain goat - and starts playing with them.

Is this unsuitable for a church? Probably. But at least she's trying to have fun.

It's not like anyone could hear her anyway.

---

Calscape

Sophia tilts her head leftwards.

SOPHIA: ...Hm...
SOPHIA: Gonna be honest I expected something way more... grim.
SOPHIA: Like they'd die on a full fusion or something.
SOPHIA: Something, something, call of the void, blah blah blah? Dark stuff tends to be grim.
SOPHIA: But I mean, if it just means that they're only weaker, then it might not be too huge a deal?
SOPHIA: Hmmm...

She tilts her head the other way and closes her eyes.

SOPHIA: Maybe Auntie Adria could help? She's super smart, and I think you guys are technically robots?
SOPHIA: I might be wrong on that last thingy, idunno. But maybe she could still help even if not...
SOPHIA: Mari too maybe? Actually I'd be kinda shocked if they haven't already met somehow...

...Sophia doesn't seem to be paying too much mind to everything else. Lost in her own thoughts probably.

---

Central Labs

ADRIA: Just a quick checkup to make sure everything's good, but that shouldn't take too long.

Adria does a thorough investigation of the body's internals, makign sure everything's properly connected and able to operate. She also takes a look at Chloe's circuitry. If everything's good, Adria hops down and gives Chloe a thumbs-up.

ADRIA: All good! You should be ready to start it up.

Adria backs up away from the mech for safety purposes. She remains Chloe's acting supervisor for this as another Adria pops in to start work on a project that requires the things in the lab.



Satisfied, the Adria Timeclone heads out again.

Adria also equips the Moonshocker Drive and shuffles her stats to accommodate.
-5 RES
+2 INT
+1 SKI
+2 MMP
Force Nail -> Familiar

---

Praetorian Armor

...Phooey. Runes and magic like this are out of her paygrade.

Adria sketches the rune on a piece of paper with a standard pen, and on another piece of paper, sketches the armor and the way it works (including the crystals), and on a third piece of paper, notes on her findings so far. She takes the notes and heads off to the Skylabs. On the journey, her Drone reads off the papers for data collection purposes, storing their data for future use.

On the way, she sees Mari. She probably has a drone or something out, so Adria assumes they're also a smart gal. She approaches to greet her, drone flying close behind her. She waves.

ADRIA: Hello, you wouldn't happen to know anything about runes, would you?

Her drone projects the various notes and sketches from earlier onto a hardlight display in front of her. The sketches were detailed, the scale being of a suitable size, and her writing... wasn't the best, but it's still clear and legible enough.

ADRIA: I've been meaning to reverse-engineer the Praetorian's runes to understand how they work, and by extension how to use it and or replicate it for our own purposes.
ADRIA: Unfortunately, I don't know enough about runes to even begin to decipher this.
ADRIA: Think you could lend a hand? Either with your own knowledge or sending me to someone else who knows more, I'd appreciate it.

...She'll probably be redirected to Cypress. If she is, then she'll ask him too.

Move to F15. Basic Attack Termite 1. Move to F17. Judgement Cut Termite7. Basic Attack RWidow3.

Act after Venia

- Nettle moves to M10, tosses a Forest Storm at each of Termites 2 and 4 (4MP; the first one is free), then executes them with Rampant Growth (60 SP total; 17 Threshold).
- She then continues her movement up to P7, where she expends a Root Domain charge to execute Termite17 (+15 SP, 18 Threshold due to third kill).
- She uses Sing Unto Me to drag Termite8 out of the vent to R6, then uses one Forest Storm and Rampant Growth (4 MP, 40 SP) to kill it.
- With her now-19 Threshold, she'll take the execute action on the Ninja, "killing" it (+15 SP).
- Chug another free Restoration Potion, Rampant Growth the Standardbearer (20 SP, 20 Threshold).
- Turn ends, upheaval goes off.

Battle: Security Hub

Venia's Maid moves to H11, uses Riposte, Guards, and activates the Remote Airship Controller. The Traktor Cannon is commanded to target U11 and all entities immediately surrounding it four tiles west to Q11. It will also ping off Rotting Widow 1 with a Laser Light Turret shot.

Venia herself moves to P7, and uses the Warp Ring on Shinai to move him to R10, before taking a shot at the Standardbearer-which should reduce their HP to 1 thanks to their trait. Venia retreats, reluctantly, to Q8.

"Nettle, tie up that Standardbearer and let the Upheaval burst! Destiny, after she's done slam down with your Heat Death!"

---

The Forge

Venia's eyes pick up when she starts to understand what the Scion is getting at. "Oh, no, forgive me, thank you for going out of your way to try to help us! It's just that, well, I'd rather avoid more pointless conflict, we don't have to rush this particular bit, and it is probably better to get a semi-sustainable source of Livingwood set up anyways."

Oh the irony. Thankfully for both parties at this moment in time, this is before Venia's incident at Recollection lake.

---

the Everground

Venia continues to harvest more Prisma, slowly. -tbd, don't use this if it's not finished.

---

RP: Magnolia and R8 - Central Sky Labs

Irongutta scratched his chin and considered Magnolia and R-8's joint idea for a Rosebomb upgrade. "Ooh, like some kinda cluster bomb eh? Can't go wrong wivv more explosions!"

R-8 then drew his attention to the stunning ship below, eliciting a whistle from Irongutta.

"Yer roight R-8, she's a proppa beaut. Though... she's just on display 'ere, collectin' dust? That's sad, that is." Irongutta took a quick survey of the room, looking like he was planning out a heist in his head.

"Well, if that doesn't work out we could always just nick the weapon design..." Irongutta half muttered to himself. He enthusiastically turned to R-8 again now that he's done being lost in thought. "Well, if we can't free her from her confines, I'd settle fer improvin' our own ship I guess. Massive explosions from long range, ya say? Yeah, that sounds good an' proppa. Hell, bet we could use somethin' like that to crack the Citadel wide open!"