<ROUND 1>

Skylar and Paige joined the party!

Chi stares at the two Grey Iti, confusion writ clear across her face.

CHI: …I’m fairly certain I did not send word to you two.
CHI: Paige and… Skye-fry, was it?
CHI: I wasn’t exactly expecting any Iti to join this mission.
CHI: Not only are sapient Iti are quite rare, but, well… We’ll likely be coming into conflict with the Iti of the Northern Reach to guarantee the region’s security.
CHI: Are you two sure that’s something you want to be a part of?
CHI: This may be your last chance to back out.

---

JOE… joined the party?

A mysterious, farmlike presence manifests in the airship… only to fail to gain a character sheet, since the GM does not feel like handling this. Please settle on one trait, and preferably one that doesn’t break the game in weird ways like these ones do!

---

Basil joined the party!

After the strange Iti siblings and the ghost of farms past, Chi looks positively relieved when Basil steps forward.

CHI: Ah, Ms. Thyrsiflora!
CHI: I was hoping you would accept.
CHI: To be honest… These reports of strange Iti coming out of the Reach are a bit alarming.
CHI: What if they’ve been evolving beyond our capability to handle, out here where we weren’t watching?
CHI: Even without the Butterflies controlling them, they are still dangerous to Locaa. I hope this mission provides us with some clarity on how to handle them.

She glances at Skyler and Paige awkwardly.

CHI: …No offense meant.

---

Debbie joined the party!

The Queen of Sapphire Skyline introduces herself as a friend of Adria, Sophia, Hannah, and Dorothy. Bass waves.

BASS: oh man
BASS: its been a while since ive seen those four
BASS: brings me back to the good old spherebreaking days
BASS: we were always hanging together
BASS: watching morbius
BASS: uh
BASS: breaking spheres
BASS: you know how it is
BASS: that may or may not have ever actually happened
BASS: …
BASS: hows mari doing?
BASS: she get the girl yet?

Alas, poor Mari.

---

Lepidodendron joined the party!

Lepidodendron introduces themself to one Bass Americana, extremely specifically. Bass glances at the cowboy-hat-wearing Chairian across from him, and then at the book in their hand.

BASS: oh hey
BASS: experience to meet you too

He lowers his voice, leaning in slightly.

BASS: hey, you doing okay?
BASS: you know what they say about assuming but
BASS: you seem like ex-rose to me
BASS: speaking as an ex-rose
BASS: not that i know what youve gone through or anything

---

Kalis joined the party!

Kalis, tumbling out of a vibrantly colored portal, makes their triumphant return to Sussui. Chi looks on in horror as her airship’s floor is, for the second time today, coated in a foreign liquid.

CHI: …Good to have you back, Mx. Kalis.
CHI: (What’s a… “bonus action?”)

---

Sakura joined the party!

Sorry, my bad. Cherry joined the party.

The definitely-not-exile-princess immediately flubs her introduction, her facepalm met with a similar one from Chi. The doctor adopts an unusually severe tone.

CHI: Sakura Yedonesis.
CHI: I don’t know how you obtained my summons, or why you thought joining a government operation was a good way to hide your identity.
CHI: …But I also believe that you were barely more than a scared and neglected child when you committed those crimes a year ago.
CHI: I’ll allow you on, on one condition.
CHI: Any direct order I give you, you will follow.
CHI: If you disobey, you’re off the team, and we’ll leave you to find your own way back to civilization.
CHI: …I hope I don’t have to make good on that promise.

---

Eroa and Vent joined the party!

The love goddess and her human assistant introduce themselves. Chi smiles at Eroa.

CHI: Well, this is something of a relief.
CHI: I was worried none of the Autech gods would show for the last few days.
CHI: I hope you aren’t too offended by Miss Omorika’s rather strict travel laws… She’s trying to avoid too much fear among the people for the first few years.
CHI: After all, the only two aliens to come to Sussui for hundreds of years prior almost caused the end of the world…
CHI: (I sincerely hope none of these new ones do the same.)

Behind the group, a door swings open, out of which peers a young-looking Chairian man wearing what appears to be a lighter version of a bomb suit.

R-8733: Oh, hello!
R-8733: I see everyone else is already showing up.

He heads over to Vent.

R-8733: Hello, Vent! My name is R-8733, and I am an artist.
R-8733: I overheard that you are an artist as well! An artist from an alien planet. That’s awesome!
R-8733: We should exchange tips! It can be our own little cultural exchange.

Chi shoots R8 a look.

CHI: Is the maintenance work on the cannon done?
R-8733: Yeah, I got that done ages ago, boss! I want to meet all of the newcomers.
CHI: Fair enough. Don’t let me stop you.

---

Pardon joined the party!

Chi nods to Pardon Dreason with a smile.

CHI: It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Dreason.
CHI: I’ll be grateful for your assistance. This could be a very dangerous mission, and another healer is always welcome.

---

Maria joined the party!

Maria Praefortis, heir to the Chaoscreeper fortune, appears in spunky teenager form. Chi at first seems not to recognize the new arrival until Maria introduces herself.

CHI: Oh! You were Miss Praefortis’s ward.
CHI: It’s easy to forget that time passes differently between worlds, isn’t it…

Maria then asks for permission to record the ensuing events, assuming security review afterwards. Chi’s eyebrows furrow.

CHI: …Well, yes, if you turn over any footage to us afterwards, you can certainly film.
CHI: But I wouldn’t get your hopes up about much of it being publishable, at least for a while.
CHI: If things go exceptionally well, then maybe. But this could just be the start of a long-running investigation.
CHI: And if that’s the case, we’ll have to keep it on lock for months or even years.
CHI: Assuming, indeed, that this new field doesn’t fry your cameras.

---

Blacklight joined the party!

Blacklight appears. Chi attempts to smile at him, but finds it difficult to look at him for longer than a few moments.

CHI: Ah, you’re Calibri’s friend.
CHI: Good to have you aboard.

---

Leaf joined the party!

Nidra’s stuffed koala silently appears. Chi looks at the koala, ever more perplexed, but shrugs. Bass gives Leaf a mid-air fist bump (it is unclear if actually touching fists would be considered scandalous in Chairian society).

---

Doc joined the party!

The plague doctor enters, withering a poor potted plant on his way in. Chi gasps.

CHI: Sir, are you… Are you sure you’re feeling well enough to come on this journey?
CHI: Not that we couldn’t use the help, but I am a doctor as well.
CHI: And I’m sure the Echo Collective would be happy to help!
CHI: Although I suppose they’re the ones who referred us to you…
CHI: In that case, this must be the best course of action before us.
CHI: (Please try to be careful around the plants, though…)

---

Leintinula joined the party!
(Well, not her character sheet yet. We’ll get to that soon enough.)

Lentinula arrives! She professes her desire to avoid killing people.

CHI: Yes, well… I’d like to avoid that too!
CHI: I hope we won’t get in trouble with your superiors if we do have to kill some Iti, though?
CHI: I’m not sure if they count as “people” according to the Echo Collective…
CHI: Of course, some are clearly sapient and should be protected, if we can. But most just behave like wild animals, or worse.
CHI: And they can’t be healthy for the local ecosystems, can they?
CHI: Perhaps Ms. Thyrsiflora would know better than I on that count.

---

Warryn joined the party!

The Deltarunic figure silently boards next to Skylar and Paige. R-8 gives Warryn a friendly salute, but notices them trying to talk to the Iti twins and says nothing.

---

Ilex joined the party!

Chi stares at Ilex for a few seconds.

CHI: …You!
CHI: Cypress told me about you! You’re Ilex Cassine!
CHI: The one who… Oh, Helix, you almost ruined an entire stretch of forest for decades!
CHI: And I thought Cypress could be reckless in the pursuit of science.
CHI: I… I suppose, if Woodthorne trusted you to come in his place…

Chi looks over to Doc, Kalis, Skylar and Paige, and back over to Ilex.

CHI: (I’m going to be responsible for the destruction of an ecosystem, aren’t I.)

---

Des joined the party!

Des, the mysterious gambler, appears. Bass nods approvingly.

BASS: yo we should host a game night
BASS: winner gets to steer the ship or something
R-8733: Bass, there are children aboard!
R-8733: I hope you weren’t thinking of excluding them from high-stakes airship piloting.
BASS: wouldnt dream of it my man

---

A few hours of slightly awkward conversation later, a (noncombatant) Chairian assistant rushes down from the abovedecks.

ASSISTANT: Ms. Manchineel, Iti have been sighted approaching the ship!
CHI: How long will it be until we arrive?
ASSISTANT: Well, if we were to keep pace and the winds don't change, it should be about another thirty minutes...
CHI: ...Well, we all knew what you were getting into. (I hope...)
CHI: Let's go do our jobs.

As you all scramble aboard the deck, you get your first proper view of the area. Far below you are snow-capped mountains and deep, forested valleys. The air up here is brisk and chilly, and it only gets colder with every passing moment. Gravcore-studded floating islands dot the sky in all directions, most empty save for bits of rock and snow. And, perhaps most notably, more and more grey-tinted winged Iti begin to leap from those few islands they had gathered on, flapping towards the airship with hunger in their eyes.

CHI: If we defeat enough of them, maybe we can convince the others we're too tough to make good meals.
CHI: Let's get this airship to Amora safe and sound!

<PRELUDE: NORTHERN SKIES, ROUND 1>
This is what you've been waiting for, isn't it? Don't disappoint me.

Eroa simply nods at Chi’s comments.

EROA: Of course, precautions like that are something I can understand.
EROA: We did have our own run in with dangerous outsiders quite recently. While it is hard to compare, given the scale and strength gap between Chairians and gods, planets and universes…
EROA: Events like that are surely to put you on guard, as it has for you, as it did for us for some time. It is only recently once all the issues with the Danir were ironed out that we have been able to breathe a sigh of relief.

Meanwhile…

VENT: R-8…733? That is quite the odd name out for Chairians, or other… organic beings in general.
VENT: I recall hearing other kinds of names, like Taeda, Aoki, Cypress. R-8733 feels unconventional for sure.
VENT: But I digress. You say you’re an artist? Well, this is quite the opportunity indeed! Meeting an artist from another world is something that I’d scarcely dreamed of until recently…

Vent pauses for a moment.

VENT: That lady, Chi, mentioned you… finished maintenance on a cannon.
VENT: Would you happen to be a more technical artist? Pyrotechnics, engineering? Those are all arts for sure, but I'm not exactly one of those.
VENT: I’m a painter, but I have nothing more at the moment than a pencil and a sketchbook.
VENT: Even if our professions are different, however, I’m sure there are some things we could exchange…

Vent decides to open his sketchbook, flipping to one of the later pages. Upon that page lies a rough sketch of a scene.
A view of a great city, stretched upon a mechanical beast resembling a tiger. Laced throughout the machine are some sorts of circular objects, connected to one another with some lines. Clearly, it is enormous, with the city resting atop it almost reaching the clouds in this depiction.
The city itself is an exception to the rough sketch, seeming to have had parts erased over and replaced with intricate detail. Rows and rows of buildings, dotted by domes and monuments stretching for what seems like the entire length of the city, save for the tail on which no buildings exist.

VENT: T-this is a sketch that I’ve been working on refining. It is of the city where I currently live, Ria.
VENT: It is quite a beautiful place indeed, full of life and art. Artists from all over come to work together to make beautiful things in Eroa's name in this city.
VENT: Maybe you could visit one day!

Vent waits for a response.

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

Eroa immediately turns to the danger, shield in hand. Vent turns next.

VENT: Enemies!
EROA: So soon, how unfortunate. Some more time to get to know one another would have been nice...
EROA: Vent, get to safety. I'll handle this.
VENT: Yes, my lady! You're probably better at this than me, anyways...

After Basil does her scanning thing, Eroa spawns in at N22 and moves to L20 and using Pow Hammer with Kalis' Blessing on Breaker2.

EROA: Stay put.

Northern Skies

QUOTE (Irecreeper @ Mar 8 2023, 10:11 AM)

SAKURA: Hey. Maria, right? Nice to see a fellow royal. SAKURA: But... what the hell happened to you? Like, you were gorillain' tiny before. SAKURA: Far as I know, humans don't grow that fast. SAKURA: It's only been a year or something. Do some people just grow that fast?

Maria turns to the unfamiliar voice-the person who said their name was Cherry and who Chi says was Sakura Yaedonis. A fellow virtual idol on the side, disowning the name, superhero identity? Only thing Maria could tell was that it wasn't very good. "Oh, hello! I don't actually recall you at all!... Well, I vaguely recall someone lying on the couch at that house on the last day who was supposed to stay there, and now look. Isn't that naughty of you? But I suppose that giant man hanging around you was to blame, wasn't he? How awful, to be in the clutches of such a dastardly brute! If we ever come across him again for some reason, I will be sure to teach him a lesson, on a beautiful princess's honor!" Maria says. Her face remains the same unreadable, even, eager smile-but the subtle movement of flesh underneath her skin, briefly, becomes somewhat less subtle.

"Oh, but to answer your question, well, most would say 'Void Time.' Once you leave a given universe and enter the Void, 'linear time' becomes a suggestion. It's incredibly confusing, and far stranger has happened-but in this case it appears that far more time has passed in the Echo Collective than on Sussui," Maria says. "It's awfully confusing, I know!"

---

Just as everyone was settling in with some comfortable small talk-Iti swarms. Perhaps that wasn't entirely unexpected.

"I take it we're to just batter them off?" Maria asks. "... Okie-dokie! Let's do our very best everyone!" Maria says, cheerier.

She spawns on the airship-

"Ohmygosh, look at that cute thing on the rock over there!" Maria says, pointing at the Splinter Spitter. The odd, lone Splinter Spitter inexplicably stranded upon a rock perilously close to lava. Her tone has shifted straight into exciteable glee-she certainly sounds much closer to the Maria of one/several year(s) ago now eyes glittering with joy. "I'll save you, mister spider! You deserve life!"

... She spawns on P20 and Sprints to Z13 (using the teleporter node to warp from R18 to X13), then uses her bonus action Tame on the Spider. With her trait, it's a 27 out of 30 chance the Spitter will enjoy the nature of her existence enough to follow her around. She then retreats to Y13.

"How'd you even get up here, you silly little bean?... It's OK, whatever it is I will make sure you are safe and sound and well-fed and happy forever and ever! Or at least for a while!" Maria says, completely unconcerned with the Harpies. "Just go this way, mister spider!"

Assuming the Splinter Spitter enjoys Maria, it will follow her vague instruction and sprint to R23 (again using the teleporter spot).

"Oooh, and the fairies! Honestly wow everything here is so adorable I could just die instantly. LIke I was already suppressing the urge to squee in the airship but oh my golly gee everything on Sussui are all just such precious little things, aren't they?! Hiiii, precious little fairy thing! Are you grumpy? It's kind of hard to tell from over here!" Maria shouts at Cinderwing2. "Is something up? Can I help?"

The Northern Skies

Debbie ponders Bass's question, before frowning and shaking her head.

DEBBIE: Um, while I don't tend to pry on personal affairs... I believe her and Adria are just friends.
DEBBIE: Perhaps it wasn't what you expected... my apologies.

Debbie reacts pretty quickly to Kalis accidentally spraying colored... stuff on the floor by hopping a bit off the ground and briefly floating using air magic. She then visibly (and faintly audibly) cringes at Sakura's... uh... very sloppy and rude introduction. What the peck was this girl's problem!? But Debbie understood she had an image to keep, and kept her rapidly spiking temper in check.

DEBBIE: ...I'm... going to pretend I didn't just hear... whatever that was.
DEBBIE: Ms. Chi, I have... several questions-

But soon enough, the ship was beset by Iti. Debbie... doesn't appear too scared of the Iti. A little nervous, maybe. But not outright scared.

DEBBIE: Okay. The questions can wait.
DEBBIE: For now, let's... see if we can deter them without much harm first.

---

Debbie spawns at (O15), Sussui Traveler set to High Ground, and uses Nature Power - Laser Booster! She fires it SouthEast, turning South at (Q17). She spawns Fluidsand at (O13) and (O17). How Fluidsand is able to appear on an airship remains completely unknown. And probably concerning...

Basil sees many new faces join the party, eeping with delight as she spots several outsiders among them. And Iti! Real, live, speaking- and mostly importantly sapient- Iti! Her shyness melts away beneath her desire for discovery, causing her to approach Skylar and Paige quite closely.

BASIL: Excuse me, you two are Iti, right?
BASIL: I've studied many Iti before but I have never seen anything like either of you!
BASIL: My name is Basil, and you said yours were Skylar and Paige, correct?
BASIL: Would you mind if I examine you? I'm absolutely fascinated by this combination of machinery and Thyme Matter you possess!

She looks excitedly and expectantly at the two of them.

~~

Basil! In combat! She "spawns" at N20 (she never actually moved from this initial position) and shuffles to M17. She rapidly analyzes Breaker1, scanning it for +2 Scan Regen. She then guards.

Roleplay -

QUOTE (Dedomeni @ Mar 7 2023, 07:20 PM)

<ROUND 1> Warryn joined the party! The Deltarunic figure silently boards next to Skylar and Paige. R-8 gives Warryn a friendly salute, but notices them trying to talk to the Iti twins and says nothing.

Warryn, though sitting next to the Iti Twins initially, realizes that sitting next to a giant pot of toxic mac-&-cheese with a scorpion tail... thing... is probably not the best idea. Deciding that they probably don't want to do that initially and that they'll return after they socialize a bit, the monochromatic figure moves over to R-8 after noticing the friendly salute.
* Hi. Sorry if I brushed you off earlier.
* If you wanted to talk, I can talk.
* That being said, I don't have much to say, so...
* If you have questions that may be for the best.

The Northern Skies -
However, after a couple bits of somewhat stilted conversation between R-8 and maybe the Iti Twins, Warryn mostly returned to their own devices until the Northern Skies became somehow hostile. Getting up from their seat, they spawn at O15 before preparing for battle. Hearing Maria's suggestion to not harm the opponents immediately and Debbie's general concensus, he responds and cracks his knuckles.
* So we're defending this turn. Got it.

Moving through spaces P15 and Q16, Warryn proceeds to stop his movement on the edge of the ship at R16 before raising their shield and getting ready to Guard against a few attacks.

Pardon looks around at the Team, or well, most of the Team.

He looks with concern at Doc's entrance before realising he has stepped into the colorful liquid that Kalis created.

He has no time to consider what lingering effects that has as that is when the Iti attacks...

Pardon: I don't suppose we can convince them that we are too tough of a nut to crack instead of killing them?
Pardon: No?
Pardon: I'll see what I can do...

Pardon spawns in at O15, than moves to P16 and Q17 to R17.

Pardon: Let me do this first...

Pardon uses Thorn Patches, creating intricate walls of spikey thorns from nothing onto N21, O20, O22, P21 and R18.

Than he teleports away using the telenode during his retreat Mov to O23 where he overwatches the rest of the Airship

Of course, Sakura is immediately recognized by Chi. Yeah. Awkward. She's immediately told off for having the dumbest idea known to man.

SAKURA: H-Hey, you think this was my idea?
SAKURA: It was- well, it was like, a drone's?
SAKURA: No idea who owns the gorillaing thing.
SAKURA: And, well, look...
SAKURA: I-I... have my own reasons for being here, o-okay?

The princess sighs as Chi lays down a few ground rules for her. Or well, a ground rule. Obey every single direct order she receives from her. Sakura scoffs.

SAKURA: What, do you think I would listen to you?
SAKURA: You're short on help, aren't you? You'll need to take-

Far, far more people flood into the area. A goddess that causes her core to doki, a lizard guy, a sentient plushie, a plague doctor, someone from the Echo Collective, a soldier-type vessel, a Chairian nursing a coffee, and a musically-inclined gambler.

SAKURA: ...Alright, fine.
SAKURA: I'll... I'll cooperate. Whatever.
SAKURA: Just don't think I'll die for this, okay?

Of course, there were also a few familiar faces. Blacklight and Maria. Though, Maria was certainly... older. Wasn't she a tiny little girl before? She strides towards the virtual idol, sitting as close to her as she can aboard the airship. Finally, fellow royalty! Someone she could truly relate to in this hell of deviants and miscreants.

SAKURA: Hey. Maria, right? Nice to see a fellow royal.
SAKURA: But... what the hell happened to you? Like, you were gorillain' tiny before.
SAKURA: Far as I know, humans don't grow that fast.
SAKURA: It's only been a year or something. Do some people just grow that fast?

Though there's conversation about, Sakura feels no need to converse with them. She's here for a job, plain and simple. No need to get attached. Besides, they were all beneath her, anyway. She was the rightful heiress of this country. The only one that could even dream of standing on equal footing with her was the other princess aboard this motley crew. And so she sat, legs crossed, waiting for liftoff.

---

The shrieking of some irrelevant assistant jolts Sakura from her thoughts. Up she goes onto the deck of the ship, where clouds of Grey Iti swarm the skies ahead. She unsheathes her... popsicle. This thing had to go, soon as possible. She thrusts it towards the winged beasts, electricity crackling along the edges of the frozen treat.

SAKURA: Iti, huh.
SAKURA: Shouldn't be a problem. I'll blast them out of the sky with my superior-

...She looks around her. Nobody is scrambling to kill anything at the moment.

SAKURA: Wait wait wait, what the hell, guys?
SAKURA: They're TRYING TO KILL US! Why are you holding back?
SAKURA: Ugh, fine! I'll play along, sure.
SAKURA: I'll pretend I care about these stupid things, too.

Sakura channels dark energy through her elderberry popsicle, unleashing a shadowy blast at the encroaching Iti. Though it certainly wouldn't kill anything, it'd at least stop them from shredding her into woodchips. She also takes a moment to flick Basil on the back of the head, morphing a wooden tendril from the ship to bop her from a distance.

SAKURA: HEY! NERD GIRL!
SAKURA: Congratulations! You have the honor of serving me!~
SAKURA: You should be honored~

Basil has been appointed as Sakura's Simp. This is a title she likely won't wear with pride.

---

Orders:
- Spawn on (N22), hop to (M22).
- Cast Decaying Sigil upon (H19), applying (Weaken4, 4).
- Appoint Basil as your Servant. I realize I forgot to include a range of appointment, so probably 1-5?

Kalis scrunches their eyebrows in confusion for a second as to how somebody could not know what a bonus action is. Other universes are so weird.

KALIS: A bonus action is... a small thing you can do in the middle of doing something else?
KALIS: Like when you cast a spell faster by spending more mana on it.
KALIS: Those are harder to do now, you can only do one every dop.
KALIS: ...just in case that's also something people here don't know, dops are one of the three fundamental units of time, along with the frame and the tick.
KALIS: But yeah the rules of reality changed and now you can't do quite as many things in a short period of time.
KALIS: Probably for the best in the long run.

They make a few more adjustments to their build, grumbling a bit about Opening Act being removed but begrudgingly admitted it was an effective way to put the brakes on the dive comp metagame.

-----

Kalis spawns on N20, in position to fire on the Scuttletongue in a few turns if it comes to that.

They do some math, determining that the enemies on the left side of the ship could be in for a very bad time if they cast Aerobeam... but the group decides to hold their fire in case the game has a more pacifist route. Fair enough.

So instead, they cast Mass Animation, spawning Fallen on P23, Q23 and R23 and a Zombie on R21. Then they wait. :kalissit:

Doc nods at Chi's concern.

Doc: Your concern is not unfounded. The miasma I carry comes with a powerful sickness.
Doc: However, I can assure you I am in all-but perfect health.
Doc: My attempts at making a cure for this miasma have caused it to form a symbiosis with me.
Doc: I can never get sick, and my lifespan has been extended significantly.

Doc sighs as the nearby potted plant collapses dramatically.

Doc: The detriments, however, greatly outweigh the benefits.

---

Doc spawns at O15 and moves to R17.

---

Doc pulls a spyglass from an unseen pocket and affixes it on the distant Aelio. He then pulls out a small notepad and begins writing down observations.

---

Doc SCANs the Aelio at W21.

Lepidodendron runs their finger down the book as they talk, tilting their head.
LEPIDODENDRON: I would say I am doing… “okay”, yes.
LEPIDODENDRON: You would be correct in your.. Hypothesis? Assumption? Theory- Guess.
LEPIDODENDRON: Your guess. I am formerly of the Rose Cult.

They trail off.

LEPIDODENDRON: I suppose I never did formerly- formally, leave them. But they did.. Breakdown? Detonate? Crumble? What’s the.. Dissolve! Dissolved, I think. Not many people to file a resignation to anymore, as it were!
LEPIDODENDRON: In the past, regardless. New me, new start!

---

Lepidodendron perks up as their hear the shouts of Iti approaching the ship. They reach underneath their seat, and pull out.. A rather large suitcase. It has wheels. Slinging their railgun over their shoulder with one hand, they use the other to pull the suitcase, walking up to the ship’s deck and looking out at the approaching horde.

LEPIDODENDRON: I wasn’t exactly planning for a aerial fight, but I did come prepared!

They swing the suitcase around, letting it lie on the ground in the front of them.

LEPIDODENDRON: Oh, what was the.. The.. magic? Spell. The spell.

They flip through their book again, muttering to themselves. Eventually they settle on a page, nodding, and tracing their finger down it.

LEPIDODENDRON: Right! Mass Animation! Arise, and serve me!

Crimson light streaks from the book to their hand, and then down to the.. Suitcase? The suitcase is forced open- from the inside, as a skeletal hand shoves it open. Lepidodendron’s luggage is revealed- a pile of bones, which hop out of the suitcase and proceed to animate themselves into combat-ready forms. Lepidodendron claps appreciatively.

LEPIDODENDRON: Easy as.. Pie? Cake? Easy as.. Something that’s really easy. Easy as that.

Lepidodendron mutters something else under their breath, their eyes glinting red. The eyes of their skeletal servants do as well- a shared design empowering them!

The hatted necromancer then looks down at their now empty and mildly dusty suitcase.

LEPIDODENDRON: (..hopefully I don't have to replace those. I couldn't fit any more skeletons in there. Even after throwing out all my clothes. And the backup coat. And the backup hat..)

---

- ACE IN THE HOLE: Sol
-Lepidodendron spawns at (O14), then moves to (M14).
- They then cast Mass Animation on (O14)! A Zombie appears at (N15)! Skeletons appear at (N13), (P13), and (P15)!
- (Note Mass Animation scaling for all of these! They also get the Armorpierce modifier.)
- Shared Design applies (Empowered5, 3) to all these Mass Animation summons.
- As a result of Multitude, Lepidodendron now is benefitting from Empowered6.

Battle - The Northern Skies

Blacklight wasn't really talked to by anyone on the flight. He can't particularly blame them given his... unnerving nature, but still. Kinda stings.

Not that he has forever alone with his thoughts, given the sudden incoming assault of gray Iti. For a moment, he visibly considers it odd that they'd be under attack. He knows the strange creatures became... less feral, shall we say, when they got grayed during the war against the sphere. But oh well.

"Interesting... Alright, if fighting is what we must do, then we shall fight."

He gets out of his seat and moves to the top deck to join the battle...

Blacklight spawns on P20, moves to R20, and fires a Pinning Shot at Harpy6.

"You do not have drip. Begone."

He doesn't bother retreating since he's fine where he is.

The Airship - Before the Battle

QUOTE (Dedomeni @ Mar 7 2023, 08:20 PM)

Ilex joined the party! Chi stares at Ilex for a few seconds. CHI: …You! CHI: Cypress told me about you! You’re Ilex Cassine! CHI: The one who… Oh, Helix, you almost ruined an entire stretch of forest for decades! CHI: And I thought Cypress could be reckless in the pursuit of science. CHI: I… I suppose, if Woodthorne trusted you to come in his place… Chi looks over to Doc, Kalis, Skylar and Paige, and back over to Ilex. CHI: (I’m going to be responsible for the destruction of an ecosystem, aren’t I.)

Ilex: I understand your concerns completely.
Ilex: Don't worry, though, I've spent a good sum of my time since then boosting the precision of my creation.
Ilex: Believe me, an outcome such as that is far less likely now.
Ilex: Though that reminds me, I am intrigued in finding new ways to utilize this system...

BATTLE - The Northern Skies

Ilex rushes to the deck at the first sign of commotion.

Ilex: Alright! I was wondering when I'd get a chance to test these things!
Ilex: Time to show 'em what you can do, ARCTC!

Ilex presses a button on the mechanical device he has been fidgeting with. Almost instantly, he is surrounded by hundreds of thousands of tiny, glistening silver nanobots. They coalesce around his arm, forming an enlarged version of his own hand.

Ilex: Ha! It's working!
Ilex: Seems like we're not looking to go on the offensive quite yet, but that's alright!
Ilex: ARCTC excels in control!

Ilex notices the Aello threateningly close to the core. Leaving them there seems like a dangerous prospect. But that can be corrected! ARCTC performs a flicking motion with its fingers, and a wave of nanobots rushes forward, creating a large gust of wind behind it. The Aello is flung far from the ship, and the nanobots from the wave swarm around it, ready to harass them further.

Battle Summary:
Ilex spawns on P22. He moves to Q22 and casts Guiding Hand at Aello4, pushing them to AB25.

Skylar

QUOTE (Dedomeni @ Mar 8 2023, 02:20 AM)

Skylar and Paige joined the party! Chi stares at the two Grey Iti, confusion writ clear across her face. CHI: …I’m fairly certain I did not send word to you two. CHI: Paige and… Skye-fry, was it? CHI: I wasn’t exactly expecting any Iti to join this mission. CHI: Not only are sapient Iti are quite rare, but, well… We’ll likely be coming into conflict with the Iti of the Northern Reach to guarantee the region’s security. CHI: Are you two sure that’s something you want to be a part of? CHI: This may be your last chance to back out.

Distracted, Skylar huffs robotically in annoyance as Kalis spills more gunk on the airship floor, hopping off its seat and deploying its scrubber attachment once again.

SKYLAR: AH, APOLOGIES
SKYLAR: [ENGAGING INTRODUCTION PROTOCOL]
SKYLAR: I AM THE SKYNET SUBIOTI 14 PRO
SKYLAR: I WAS CREATED JUST BEFORE THE FALL OF THE SPHERE BY ONE OF THE SPHEREBREAKERS AND RENDERED SOME MINOR ASSISTANCE DURING THE BATTLE AGAINST TRINITY
SKYLAR: PLEASE, CALL ME SKYLAR
SKYLAR: THOUGH I WAS NOT EXACTLY INSTRUMENTAL IN THE SPHERE'S DOWNFALL, I HOPE I MAY BE OF SOME ASSISTANCE NOW

SKYLAR: AS FOR YOUR CONCERNS:
SKYLAR: THEY ARE NOT NECESSARY
SKYLAR: I DREAM OF A WORLD WHERE ITI MAY COEXIST PEACEFULLY WITH CHAIRIANS
SKYLAR: BUT NEW WORLDS ARE NOT BUILT IN A DAY, OR EVEN A MONTH
SKYLAR: TRUST THAT I AM PREPARED TO FACE OFF AGAINST MY BRETHREN

QUOTE (Eris @ Mar 8 2023, 07:09 AM)

Basil sees many new faces join the party, eeping with delight as she spots several outsiders among them. And Iti! Real, live, speaking- and mostly importantly sapient- Iti! Her shyness melts away beneath her desire for discovery, causing her to approach Skylar and Paige quite closely. BASIL: Excuse me, you two are Iti, right? BASIL: I've studied many Iti before but I have never seen anything like either of you! BASIL: My name is Basil, and you said yours were Skylar and Paige, correct? BASIL: Would you mind if I examine you? I'm absolutely fascinated by this combination of machinery and Thyme Matter you possess! She looks excitedly and expectantly at the two of them.

Skylar puffs up a little bit, pleased by the compliment. (Well, as much as a sentient pot-scorpion robot can 'puff up'.)

SKYLAR: OH?
SKYLAR: YES, I SUPPOSE WE CAN SPARE SOME TIME FOR THE SAKE OF STUDY
SKYLAR: HAPPY TO HELP, MISS THYRSIFLORA
SKYLAR: ALTHOUGH
SKYLAR: I AM UNSURE IF ALLOWING YOU TO STUDY PAIGE IS WISE
SKYLAR: IT MAY BE UNSAFE
SKYLAR: TO PUT IT MILDLY

QUOTE (Dedomeni @ Mar 8 2023, 02:20 AM)

CHI: Ah, Ms. Thyrsiflora! CHI: I was hoping you would accept. CHI: To be honest… These reports of strange Iti coming out of the Reach are a bit alarming. CHI: What if they’ve been evolving beyond our capability to handle, out here where we weren’t watching? CHI: Even without the Butterflies controlling them, they are still dangerous to Locaa. I hope this mission provides us with some clarity on how to handle them. She glances at Skylar and Paige awkwardly. CHI: …No offense meant.

SKYLAR: NO OFFENSE TAKEN
SKYLAR: IT IS A REGRETTABLE TRUTH THAT MANY OF THE ITI ARE STILL NAUGHT BUT BEASTS
SKYLAR: A LITTLE CLARITY ON HOW TO HANDLE THEM WOULD BE APPRE-
SKYLAR: PAIGE DON'T EAT THAT

From the corner, Paige looks up guiltily, hunched over what remains of the potted plant.

PAIGE: But-
SKYLAR: NO BUTS
SKYLAR: PUT THE PLANT DOWN
SKYLAR: WE'RE IN POLITE COMPANY
PAIGE: It's just gonna go to waste!
SKYLAR: IT IS ALSO LIKE
SKYLAR: SUPER DISEASED, PROBABLY
PAIGE: ...
SKYLAR: ...
SKYLAR: [PLAYING exasperatedSigh.mp3]
SKYLAR: *siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh*
SKYLAR: PLEASE?
SKYLAR: I'LL FIND YOU A SALAD OR SOMETHING LATER, OKAY?

Reluctantly, Paige trudges back over to the group, stopping once or twice to gaze wistfully at the dead plant. Skylar clears its digital throat.

SKYLAR: AS I WAS SAYING
SKYLAR: A LITTLE CLARITY ON HOW TO HANDLE THE MORE... BEAST-ALIGNED ITI WOULD BE APPRECIATED
SKYLAR: I'VE BEEN MEANING TO CONDUCT MORE RESEARCH ON MY OWN
SKYLAR: BUT I'VE HAD MY HANDS FULL WITH KEEPING PAIGE, WELL
SKYLAR: CIVIL, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD
SKYLAR: I HOPE WE CAN COLLABORATE ON THIS RESEARCH, MISS THYRSIFLORA

---

Paige

Meanwhile, Paige notices Warryn's stare. She wanders over to him, absentmindedly tapping away on her cell phone.

PAIGE: Yo.
PAIGE: What's up? Need anything? :)

---

Battle

As the grey-tinted Iti impend, Skylar hrmms anxiously. It calls out to its brethren the Breakers.

SKYLAR: IF ONE OF YOU IS SAPIENT
SKYLAR: PLEASE ASSIST US IN FENDING OFF YOUR FELLOWS
SKYLAR: WE INTEND TO COME IN PEACE-

As the Breakers alight, Paige tenses from her spawn on O15. Her eyes dilate to abnormal slits, claws pop out of her skin with a snikt (already crackling with electricity), and she suddenly screeches, leaping forward to M16 with abnormal speed- and promptly being yanked backwards by a well-timed Guiding Hand from Letintula, outlined below.

SKYLAR: OH
SKYLAR: OH NO
SKYLAR: OH DEAR
SKYLAR: PAIGE, PLEASE!

From its vantage on Paige's back, Skylar casts Guardian Classic, buffing Lepidodendron, the Skeleton on N13, and Basil for kicks (and also because it can't reach anyone else).

SKYLAR: PAIGE!
SKYLAR: SNAP OUT OF IT!

Lentinula's statsheet is up!

Lentinula nods her head quickly at Chi.

Lentinula: Oh, yes, of course I just.
Lentinula: Want to make sure.

She lifts up and flutters around the cabin a bit and whispers in Chi's ear, quiet enough that hopefully nobody else hears.

Lentinula: I just... don't know how much I trust some of the people here. Some of these guys are kinda sketchy.
Lentinula: And, also this is like... the first time I've been on a proper mission without... backup at least.
Lentinula: Or, I guess there's plenty of backup just...
Lentinula: I'm used to having support on call if things go especially bad, so I'm a little nervous.
Lentinula: There aren't many places we operate that the Collective doesn't have at least a little jurisdiction, so Sussui's been kinda different.
Lentinula: I think Cika will be doing most of the work here if things get actually dangerous though. I'm just supposed to be like, the 'people person'.

Lentinula settles down once more, on a new perch this time.

Lentinula: Oh! And also I have a little thing they gave me that's supposed to let me pick up bodies and stuff.
Lentinula: As long as we take down the iti we fight non-lethally I can... ah what did Cika call it?
Lentinula: 'bag and tag'?
Lentinula: I'm supposed to hold onto the animals until I can drop the ring off back at the outpost, and talk to the intelligent ones to see if they can be helped or convinced to move somewhere...
Lentinula: a little safer.


PCs:
As the ship is taking off, Lentinula seems to have taken note of a couple of other party members.

She makes a mental note to tell Echoss that... someone else who is definitely from the Echo Collective is here without permission. Wasn't Princess Maria...
Lentinula suddenly goes pale. Right.
Maria is someone who is very definitely not supposed to be on Sussui right now.

First she flutters over to Pardon Dreason
Lentinula: Hey are you okay? You seem a little lost.

After her conversation with Pardon she flits over to Lepidodendron and Bass. She seems a little hesitant at first but finally speaks up.
Lentinula: So you two were like... in the Rose Cult thing?
Lentinula: I still remember the emergency broadcasts during the last day of the Sphere crisis.
Lentinula: Like... what kind of thing were the butterflies, that they were able to terrify everyone that badly?



The Northern Skies
Ventinula shoots up in the air when she hears that there's iti. She stops to steady her breathing for a moment, then pulls out a frosty looking wand. She's about to speak when Maria says the whole thing about "trying not to kill iti"

Lentinula: O-Oh! Yes, exactly that. Let's... see if we can get through this without having to fight too much maybe?
Lentinula: ...that's a lot of monsters out there.


Battle Action:
Lentinula spawns at O14 and moves to M13
Before she can do anything she notices Paige going feral and whirls around, casting Guiding Hand on Skylar and Paige as they spawn in.
Lentinula: Why are you two here if you can't control yourselves!

RP wise this is used to reduce Paige's MOV to stop her from murdering Iti too early, mechanically... Let fuffy move his char(s) how he wants an extra 3 tiles I guess?

After that, Lentinula free action casts Vampiric Venom once, on Lepidodendron.

/RPnull

Pardon looks at the fairy. Strangely, despite being much bigger than Lentinula, she has a strange sense that he is able to look her in the eyes instead of vaguely the entire body.

Pardon: Ah, apologies.
Pardon: As you can see, I am new to this place
Pardon: well, more than new to this place
Pardon: This is my first time at existence like this
Pardon: It’s…complicated.
Pardon: I just need a few minutes to adjust…
Pardon: I ask for your…heh, pardon in this.


Pardon leaves a lull for Lentinula to converse in, as he takes off of his flower crown and entwine the blue manabloom into the weave of pink cubical flowers with nimble fingers.

The Airship
DES: Game night, eh? Count me in.
DES: Seems like we've got more pressing matters to attend to first, though.
DES: Let's make some magic happen. Roll me.

Des rolls a handful of ice, and...
46: Mass Animation
15: Cultural Exchange
28: Overload
19: Sword Beam

DES: ...these are definitely spells.
DES: Also what the hell happened to my dice. Why are they frozen now.

Interlude, in which Des remembers to add numbers for their trait.
Trait Values
2 buff levels, +1 per 10 SPC
3 intellect, +1 per 5 SPC
-20% MP cost, -1% per 1 SPC

Additional change, in Cursed Hand's Time to Fold:
"lose a Gambled Slot on the following round" -> "lose your bottom-most Gambled Slot on the following round."

The Northern Skies
• Spawn N20.
• Move to L20.
• Cast Cultural Exchange using GDG's MP Cost buff and 2 Manafuelled. Results in 11 MP Cost, gaining (Enlightened5,3) and (Energized5,3).
• Retreat to L21.

A small figure in an elaborate gothic dress, less than two feet tall but with the proportions of an adolescent, emerges onto the deck. On closer inspection, she's a doll made of what seems to be plastic, with distinct joints. Though she's quite cute, she has a bit of an unsettling aura about her.

???: O-oh! So that's where all of you were!

The figure bows hurriedly.

???: Pleased to meet you all!
???: My name's Rhiannon. Sorry I'm late - I had to make sure I looked presentable.

The ball-joint Rhiannon has for her right wrist suddenly starts leaking a strange, viscous ink-black liquid. She pulls out a handkerchief from her handbag and presses it against the source of the leaking.

RHIANNON: Whoops.
RHIANNON: I'll have to head back down and fix that. S-sorry! I-I'll be back in a bit!

Rhiannon quickly hurries back into the interior of the ship.

Rhiannon Meika Dehashi has joined the game!

(I'll make my battle post later)

<ROUND 2>

Eroa expresses her sympathy for Locaa’s restrictive immigration policies. Chi smiles gratefully at the goddess’s acknowledgement, turning away to focus on the rest of the arrivals.

Meanwhile, Vent is a bit confused about R-8’s name, and also the type of artist he is. R-8 gives Vent a winning smile.

R-8733: R-8733 is my… stage name? Every great artist has a stage name!
R-8733: Not to suggest that you are not a great artist because you don’t have a stage name, Vent. Maybe it’s a Sussui thing.
R-8733: Every great Chairian artist has a stage name! Especially ones who had to change their names in order to join a rebellion.
R-8733: And, yes, I am an expert in pyrotechnics. Most specifically, explosions.
R-8733: Unfortunately, my art is too cutting-edge to be… used in public, legally. Ever. So I have expanded my repertoire to include set design.
R-8733: But luckily, the boss invited Bass and I to this mission! No one can prosecute you for “unauthorized explosions” when the explosions are authorized.

Vent then shows R-8 a sketch of his home city. R-8 gazes at the image in awe.

R-8733: Wow! It must be a super advanced place.
R-8733: How many people must live there? Maybe as many as in a Tabletopian city.
R-8733: I’d love to visit, but…
R-8733: I wouldn’t be gone for, like, a hundred years, would I?
R-8733: Have you seen what happened to that Maria girl? It was only one year for us, and ten years for her!
R-8733: I’d hate to get back to Locaa only to not recognize anyone, you know?

---

Maria talks to Sakura!

She also does some in-battle RP. Which will be addressed in the battle itself.
(This is me letting you know that this will be addressed in the battle.)

---

Debbie sinks Bass’s ship.

BASS: damn
BASS: i was hoping at least one morbius fan wouldve found love
BASS: but no dice
BASS: hey at least theyre still friends thats chill
BASS: my ex spherebreaking crush is too busy being the pope of the entire country
BASS:
BASS: if anyone asks you didnt hear that

Bass remains unaware that someone is watching his every word anyway.

That someone being me, of course.

---

Warryn acknowledges R-8’s salute, asking if he has any questions.

R-8 glances at Warryn’s tactical vest.

R-8733: I just thought you looked interesting, new friend!
R-8733: And I was curious about your vest. Are you a soldier?
R-8733: Lots of people here look like civvies. But it’s hard to tell with some of the aliens.
R-8733: You look like a soldier, though. Like that Daskter fellow. Or me, kind of.

---

Sakura reluctantly agrees to Chi’s ultimatum.

Chi nods sternly, still sounding more firm than Sakura can remember hearing her. Not that Sakura interacted all that much with Chi in the past.

CHI: Good.
CHI: We could certainly use your help, Ms. Yedonesis, but you shouldn’t for a second imagine that we need it.
CHI: This is a chance for you to do some real good for Locaa. Don’t waste it.

---

Lepidodendron admits their former Rose Cult affiliation. They then eagerly commit themselves to a new start.

Bass gives Lepido a thumbs-up.

BASS: hell yeah
BASS: were all about new starts here on team airship
BASS: we got two ex rose, princess cherry over there, a girl that im pretty sure has eaten several people alive
BASS: and even some non criminals
BASS: this must be the greatest cast in history to ever go into the northern reach on an airship one year after killing god

---

Skylar asks for clarification on how to handle the more bestial Iti. Meanwhile, Paige tries to eat a plant.

In lieu of an answer from Basil, Chi shakes her head.

CHI: I suppose we just… treat them like any other wild animals? Even if they are odd in comparison…
CHI: Try to scare them off or avoid them if we can, kill them in self-defense if we must.
CHI: I hope the local ecosystem hasn’t been too badly mangled by the Iti up in the Reach.
CHI: (I wouldn’t particularly mind if they had driven the Fell Beasts extinct, though…)

---

Lentinula shares her concerns, and her abilities, with Chi.

Chi nods at Lentinula’s worries about some of the party members.

CHI: (I… can see what you mean.)
CHI: (But I’m sure there are far more reasonable people here than unreasonable ones…)
CHI: (And if we are going into something approximating a Thymefield, then no matter where we come from, everyone is roughly equalized.)
CHI: (If anyone tries anything… untoward… we can stop them together.)

Lentinula then brings up her body-grabbing tool. Chi sighs.

CHI: Yes, that would be useful.
CHI: Just… try not to prioritize a peaceful solution over a safe one.
CHI: I don’t know what the situation on the ground is like, but Iti are erratic creatures.
CHI: Which I suppose isn’t too surprising, given their creator’s behavior.
CHI: There’s no way to know how they’ll behave when captured like that… and my duty as leader of this mission is to protect the people of Locaa, and to protect you.
CHI: If that means killing Iti to make sure no one on this team gets badly hurt, then that’s what I’ll have to do.

---

Rhiannon joins the party! Unfortunately, everyone is a bit too busy fighting to acknowledge her arrival this second. Luckily, she'll probably join the fighting in a second.

---

<PRELUDE: THE NORTHERN SKIES, ROUND 2>
The party's pacifism plan doesn't seem to have placated the attackers, but then again, neither did you get seriously hurt in the process. A few more enemies have shown up, but it shouldn't be anything you can't handle... Unless that Scuttletongue gets mad, maybe.

Doc cranes his head to get a look at the harpy now carrying him.

Doc: I say! Please put me down.

The harpy does not put Doc down.

Doc: Come now. Put me down.

The effect of the comment is roughly the same as previously. Doc withdraws a bottle from his belt. The liquid within is translucent, and a white newt can be seen within.

Doc: Last chance... put me down.

The harpy gives no response. Doc levels his arm and bashes the bottle against the Harpy's face, sending fluid flying into both its face and Doc's face.

Doc: I'm afraid you've just been subjected to a fast-acting hallucinogenic.
Doc: As you collapse to the ground, not knowing which way is up, can I ask you to try to land on the airship?
Doc: It makes observations much easier if I don't have to fall to my death to get them.

Doc looks around momentarily.

Doc: I'd test it on myself, but as I'm observing now, the only effect on me is that it makes the color red a bit more vibrant.

Unseen, the white newt crawls down Doc's arm and nestles itself into a similar-looking, albeit empty, bottle.

Doc then turns to look at the Cinderwing nearby.

Doc: You there!
Doc: I should warn you, standing close to me may prove hazardous to your health.
Doc: My body carries a deadly miasma, and if you linger too long I cannot be held responsible for the consequences!


---

Doc casts Living Plague on the Harpy grabbing him, then immediately spreads the plague inflicted to himself.