Sakura is at least slightly miffed by Chi rejecting her clearly genius idea.

SAKURA: I-It'd be far easier!
SAKURA: At least we wouldn't be marching towards our deaths!
SAKURA: We wouldn't be approaching Moby goddamn Dick! O-Or whatever the hell that biggorilla whale is called!
SAKURA: Were I capable, I'd march b-back myself!
SAKURA: But... ugh.

After a particularly defeated sigh, Sakura trudges away from Chi.

SAKURA: gorilla you, I'll see you at Amora.

Now over by the Rocky Mountainside, Sakura continues to trailblaze through the snowbanks. As she travels, she keeps her eyes peeled for any potential ores slash shiny rocks. In a mountainside this vast and uncharted, surely there's a conveniently exposed outcropping of iron? She'd really quite like to make a fancy spear that's not a gigantic popsicle.

After a quick search around the area, Sakura takes note of a cavern entrance at (AU6). Taking an Uncharred Stick from the inventory, she ignites the end of it with electric sparks, creating a really awful torch. Onwards she goes, into the cavern. What secrets will she discover?

spiders probably

(Still) Technically Last Night

Skylar pauses its exit as the Swirl responds.

SKYLAR: (...WHY NOT?)
SKYLAR: (WE ARE OF THE SAME MAKE, IF NOT THE SAME MODEL)
SKYLAR: (BOTH THE CREATIONS OF LOCUS, WHO SET US FREE TO CHOOSE OUR OWN PATHS)
SKYLAR: (NO MATTER HOW WE TREAT ONE ANOTHER, THIS TRUTH REMAINS)
SKYLAR: (I BRING GIFTS... BECAUSE I CHOOSE TO BE KIND.)

---

Keanequest 2013: Dawn of the Stupid Failgirl

Hearing the altercation between Chi and Sakura from her position up ahead, Keane falls back, heading toward (AU6).

KEANE: ...I'll keep an eye on her. Make sure she actually gets to Amora, and doesn't die unnecessarily in the meantime.
KEANE: If you need me, Skylar should hopefully be able to reach my frequency.
KEANE: Just... try not to check in too much, hey? That's bound to get its nerves up something fierce.

With that said, she... oh, she's already gone. Didn't even notice her leave. Man, that's stealthy. Unfortunately, said stealth doesn't exactly help her when the snow on the ground transitions to rock, and the clip-clop of her hooves is just a tiny bit too loud to disguise. She takes up ranks next to Sakura, the flickering torchlight sending a gleaming sparkle across her skin.

KEANE: ...Hope you don't mind me joining you. Two is safer than one in the wilderness, y'know?
KEANE: Besides, what kind of bodyguard would I be if I let you traipse off into a dark cave by your lonesome?

<ROUND 20>

Vent sketches a sapsqueal.

The sapsqueal does not hold nearly as still as Vent would like, immediately backing off the closer he tries to get to it. However, he eventually finds a distance at which the porcine creature seems to be comfortable at, managing to take down a sketch of the animal. What will he do with this creation?

---

Lentinula scouts ahead.

Flying up the slope, she enters the strange land of… Switchback Three. The summit is still a ways away, but the scent of ozone greets her nostrils, drifting from the east… what is going on over there?

As she looks east, a Pin, with noticeably non-grey coloration, bursts up from the nearby snow and immediately starts jolting away. Was it spying, or did she just happen to startle it? Only one way to find out… or maybe multiple; you do you.

---

Debbie attempts the bridge technique again.

Unfortunately, the Curse of Repetitiveness denies her efforts. More specifically, her new pillar is immediately dislodged and slides down the mountain, possibly carrying off the ascending R-8 in the process. Oops.

Trying again, Debbie causes a small rockslide. This rockslide manages to not hit anyone. The queen follows the avalanche up with some fluidsand terraforming, creating a climbing wall for the party to traverse. Debbie follows Lentinula up to Switchback Three.

---

Doc talks to two trees.

The first is a random tree that appears to be rotting. Doc uses his degree in tree medicine to contain the mysterious tree-rot disease. The other is Chi, who gets into an extended roleplay with Doc that I think you should read, not because I’m biased. Definitely not.

---

Sakura enters the cave.

Unfortunately, due to posting last, Keane is too slow to catch Sakura before she enters the cave. Those are the rules.

The cave tunnel bores downward into the mountain, sadly bereft of any conveniently exposed pockets of iron ore. As the darkness closes in around her, Sakura becomes ever more thankful for her really shitty torch… though she quickly finds that the air is becoming… humid?

SAKURA: Ugh.
SAKURA: Better not be an Iti nest up ahead.
SAKURA: Hopefully Chi wouldn’t care about the ecological damage that filling this place with oil and lighting it up would do.
SAKURA: I’d need some actual goddamned oil though…

The cave air grows wetter and wetter as Sakura descends, warming from the icy blast of the outdoors to a cool, refreshing, misty feeling. So, too, does the tunnel gradually widen, from a tight passage barely wide enough to fit Sakura herself to a much more comfortable space, with mosses and lichens growing across the walls. From here, Sakura manages to make out quiet, yet angry voices echoing down the corridor.

SAINT: I told you we should have turned left! That tunnel doesn’t go anywhere but back into the cold.
RANGER: ma’am, we’ve searched every other passage.
RANGER: if she’s not this way, i think we’re going to have to call it quits.

…People. In a random cave? Out here? Just her luck. Maybe, she thinks, they know something about Amora. She could stay true to her statement of seeing Chi there, and be unbearably smug about it. Fearlessly, she steps forth, voice booming throughout the cave.

SAKURA: HAIL, PEASANTS!
RANGER: (helix fucking fossil)
SAINT: (Watch your mouth!)

As Sakura bursts forth, she stumbles straight into a (poorly hidden) skulking group of Chairians. At the front is a saint, cloaked in the traditional garb of Helix’s high-ranking clergy, with a few other clerical types following. A woodsman of sorts was in the middle of conferring with the saint, seeming the only member of the group dressed completely appropriately for the region. The saint whips toward Sakura, who stares back as if she herself wasn’t the odd one out here.

SAINT: What on Sussui are you doing?
SAINT: You’ll bring everyone and everything in these caves onto us!
SAKURA: I’m… exploring this random cave?
SAKURA: The hell does it look like I’m doing?
SAKURA: Anyway. You guys know of an Amora? Apparently there’s a town out here in the middle of gorillaing nowhere?
SAKURA: And… how’d they say that? The gorilla word.

The saint elects to ignore Sakura’s second question, turning her attention to the first one.

SAINT: Yes, Amora is on the other side of this mountain.
SAINT: Well, not right on the other side. But not too much further.
SAINT: Which you should know, seeing as—
SAINT: Wait a minute. You– you’re Spark’s daughter! I’ve seen you before, in the capital.
SAKURA: Ah gorilla.
SAKURA: Please do not associate me with that gorillahole.
SAKURA: But whatever, it doesn’t matter. Got directions? The sooner I can make it to Amora, the sooner I can tell Chi to suck it.
SAINT: Well, we’d all be happy to lead you there once our business is concluded.
SAINT: But, you see, we’re on the trail of a dangerous heretic. A Dome-worshiper.
SAINT: She’s been carrying out some foul rites in these mountains, and we tracked her to these caves.
RANGER: i tracked her.
SAINT: …The point being, surely someone trained by the great warrior Spark himself— his stance on Helix notwithstanding—
SAKURA: Please don’t call him a great warrior, either.
SAKURA: Don’t call him a great anything.
SAINT: …SURELY someone trained by a warrior who will go unmentioned would be capable of helping us subdue this heretic?

The princess lets out a drawn out sigh.

SAKURA: …We’re not going to Amora until we put that heretic’s head on a pike, are we?
SAKURA: But hey, why the hell not. I’ll help you with your dissenting population problem. If I must.
SAKURA: With my help, it shouldn’t take long, anyway.
SAKURA: Though… did you need half an army to capture one guy?

The saint looks insulted by this.

SAINT: We don’t know what she’s capable of!
SAINT: For all we know, she might even be consorting with Tabletopians. It would explain how the evil of Dome came to grip her.
SAINT: Better to ensure a quick and easy arrest.
RANGER: ma’am. we really need to get moving.
RANGER: the “heretic” might’ve fled already after that, uh.
RANGER: yelling.
SAINT: Yes. Let’s make haste, then. This is the only passage we haven’t searched, after all… according to our wonderful guide here.
SAKURA: Lead the way, my loyal subjects!~

The group begins to move through the tunnels once again, passing a few spiders perched on the ceiling of the ever-expanding passages. A few forks in the road are passed, dismissed as dead ends by Sakura’s companions (who evidently already tried them). Eventually, taking a new fork, the group stumbles into a… lake?

Water drips down from stalactites hanging from the cave chamber’s ceiling into a massive pool, rising up to a meter or so below the bottom of the tunnel exit. The water, Sakura estimates, would be about waist-high should she begin to wade through it. Luckily, little islands of rock and gray sand jut out from the water, some dotted with strange, bioluminescent moss. Sakura resists the urge to taste the moss. In the largest of these islands, sitting in the center of the cave, is a young Chairian woman.

Her foliage is pulled back into a long braid of interspersed green and pink (the pink a similar hue to Sakura’s own foliage), her eyes closed in silent contemplation. Over her unremarkably-hued bark, she wears a simple black robe with (indeed) a dome-fossil-shaped necklace on top. Her hands are clasped together firmly, and a few tumblefluffs flit happily around her, their explosive tendencies seemingly kept at bay.

Sakura’s companions silently begin to draw their staves. Sakura herself is far from impressed, but she equips her menacing popsicle anyway.

SAKURA: Dear gorillaing god.
SAKURA: She has a horde of fluffy guys. Whatever shall we do.
SAKURA: Truly, we had to rally up the entire village for this.

The girl’s eyes flit open at Sakura’s loud snark. She turns, giving Sakura a once-over.

ACEROLA: Hi.
ACEROLA: You’re new.
ACEROLA: D’you wanna… oh my Dome.

Her eyes flicker back to the large crew behind Sakura.

SAINT: Acerola Emarginata, you have been decreed a heretic for consorting with the dark powers of Dome!
SAINT: Surrender now, and your punishment will be—
ACEROLA: Stop!
ACEROLA: This isn’t fucking funny anymore. Stop following me!
ACEROLA: I’m. Just. Trying. To. Vibe.
ACEROLA: And you weirdo fucking stalkers keep insisting I committed some crime!
ACEROLA: Let me guess, the color of my necklace doesn’t go with all of Locaa apparently.
ACEROLA: ughhhhhhhh

The girl starts to droop into the nearby tumblefluff pile. Sakura’s impressions of this world-ending threat drops by five points.

SAKURA: So… are we arresting her because she has a horrific sense of aesthetic?
SAKURA: Like sure, I’d change just about everything regarding her outfit to fit the dome-worshiper thing more, but that’s nothing a few credits can’t solve.
SAKURA: Plain robes are so boring. Taeda really needs to do something about the church’s uniform. The necklace is nice, though. A splash of color on an otherwise plain-gorilla canvas.
SAKURA: So… what’d she do to deserve this? Did she piss on your Sapsqueal or something?
SAKURA: She worships Dome. Big whoop.

The saint gasps at Sakura’s brazen blasphemy.

SAINT: Dome is the herald of all that is evil!
SAINT: He has tried to destroy our people for millennia. Have you forgotten—
ACEROLA: Okay. Look.
ACEROLA: New girl. You seem reasonable. And I like your eyepatch.
ACEROLA: Maybe we can hang out later?
ACEROLA: Right now, stay out of the way. Or help. Whatever.

She raises her hands, and the water of the cave lifts up with them, forming huge, watery limbs that ball into fists.

ACEROLA: I’ve got some stalkers to thrash.
SAKURA: Ah. So that’s why you brought the army.

SHOAL CAVE: BATTLE START!

---

Keane enters the cave as well. Chi does not seem to give Keane’s departure any attention or acknowledgment.

She arrives slightly late (look, scheduling three-person roleplays is significantly harder than two), to discover Sakura in the middle of some kind of dramatic confrontation. This calls for some sort of battle map, I think.

Meanwhile, in the past, Skylar explains its rationale for gift-giving to the grey Swirl. The Iti still seems a bit confused by the logic.

SWIRL: l-locus?
SWIRL: creator… voice in head?
SWIRL: g-gone now.
SWIRL: …ah.

Regardless, it probably wouldn’t object to receiving more Skylar gifts. In the Future™.

---

<SHOAL CAVE, ROUND 1>

As Sakura braces for battle, the Chairian Ranger whistles, and a Rotting Widow emerges from the shadows to aid them. Looks like this won't be resolved peacefully. Whoever you decide to go after, be prepared for... further complications.

Stat Investments

Lepidodendron meditates on the meaning of RESISTAANCE.

+2 RES. This is huge info.

LEPIDODENDRON: I'm placing a holder.

this place is held so i will be forced to post hooray

lepi

Pardon takes a few more moments to stare at the mountains. Wow they’re all pretty nice for the first mountains he has seen here.

He shakes out of his wonder and moves to Switchback 3, just in time to see the Pin zoom.

Pardon: a

Keanequest 2014: Dawn of the Stupid Failgirl 2: Dawn Harder

...Sakura ignores her, disappearing into the tunnels to go do RP. Keane bwaahs, unaware that doing a group RP in this context would have delayed the dop immensely... before immediately realizing letting her princess traipse off into a dark cave isn't a good idea.

KEANE: Wh- hey, wait!

Immediately, Keane springs into action, continuing down the tunnel until she comes to the same fork in the road. She stops short, licks her finger and holds it up to the wind, drops to the floor, scrutinizes the dirt, picks up some rock and debris and rolls it around in her palm, and then licks the ground.

KEANE: ...Hmm, earthy... Tastes like... this way!

She turns around and flicks her wrist, a splatter of glowing fluid rolling off her palm and soaking into the ground. A few small, glowing flowerbuds push up and out of the dirt, drinking up the liquid luck even as they form a small arrow pointing in the correct direction. Keane kneels once more, cupping the plant.

KEANE: ...Hope you enjoyed that, lil' one. That was the last of my juice...
KEANE: ...You'll get more use out of that than I will.

She sets off down the tunnel, quickening her pace as she hears annoyed voices echo through the halls... and BURSTING into the Shoal Cave.

KEANE: Princess! Are you alriiiigh...t...?

She blinks at the assembled crew, eyes flicking back and forth to drink in every detail- the Saint, the Ranger, the Rotting Widow spider, the girl with the Dome necklace...

KEANE: ...
KEANE: Sakura, what's going on?
KEANE: No, wait, don't tell me. Helix fossil iconography on one side, Dome necklace on the other. Religious schism of some kind, led to imminent violence, yadda yadda. Standard stuff. Who are we assisting?

She pulls out her guitar, and waits for orders... but can't resist the urge to talk a bit more.

KEANE: ...Also, hi! I'm Keane, I'm the princess' bodyguard, heyy~!
KEANE: Gotta say, I really like the aesthetics of the Legion uniforms, actually. Simple yet stylish.

She gestures towards Acerola.

KEANE: Same with your outfit, miss! Nice accessorizing.
KEANE: I feel like fashion these days is so overdone, you've got to buy, like, five thousand expensive bits and bobs to count as 'fashionable' for around five minutes before the people who decide that sort of stuff laser-lock onto something else.
KEANE: ...

Oh, thank god, she's shut up. It looks like she's going to be somewhere in the realm of smart in this game-

KEANE: Also, nice hands!

...I retract that statement. She is going to die.

---

...

A goth woman, watery hands, a bunch of religious fanatics, and a spider. A situation that Sakura was definitely entirely familiar with. Okay, maybe the the watery crushy hands were new, but everything else was old ground. Sakura grits her teeth. In the ballroom, such troublesome disputes were typically solved with words, maybe some slapping. But this... this was a full-on armed confrontation.

SAKURA: R-Really, now? W-We're just... resorting to violence, just like that?
SAKURA: What happened to things like basic decorum? Civility?
SAKURA: ...Well, what'd I expect from a bunch of simple peasants, anyway?
SAKURA: But...

The princess gulps. Her breathing became increasing heavy. Acerola was alone. It wouldn't be hard to kill her. Nobody would blame her. In fact, she'd likely be congratulated by the people of Amora for the glorious success she would surely obtain. Perhaps even, she could be exalted as royalty by those in Amora. Not that royalty worked that way, but still. At the very least, they needed the support of the town in order to survive. All her reasoning pointed towards the brutal vivisection of Acerola.

And yet, she found herself surging across the surface of the water, arcs of lightning propelling her over to Acerola's side. With all the grace a princess should have, she lands just in front of her, twirling her staff towards the people of Amora.

SAKURA: WHAT THE gorilla IS YOUR PROBLEM!?
SAKURA: I'm so sorry that this lady's beliefs don't mesh with yours! Oh, how ever will you cope with the fact that she's not part of your cult?
SAKURA: Just because she believes in Dome doesn't mean she's a write-off of a person!
SAKURA: T-There's more to people than just their beliefs, their lineage, or whatever!
SAKURA: Who gives a gorilla? Hell, it's not like you zealots are innocent, either!
SAKURA: Spark had the full support of the church backing his gorillaing lunacy! I didn't see Dome worshippers by his side, pushing for some asinine revenge plan!
SAKURA: So back the gorilla off, peasants.
SAKURA: This woman has the backing of the crown!

She would be infinitely more threatening if she had anything that wasn't a popsicle. Oh well. It's the thought that counts, right? Weapon still poised to poke at the Amoran armies, she shoots a few, somewhat hushed words at the dome priestess.

SAKURA: Acerola, right?
SAKURA: You... you owe me big time for this, okay?
SAKURA: Lifetime of servitude. Also, you'll accept fashion advice from my consultant.
SAKURA: ...Doc's not officially my consultant yet, but he's gonna be.
SAKURA: You can be... second pope? I'll think it over.

...Acerola feels that she's been appointed as Sakura's loyal servant, whether she likes it or not.

---

The heat of the battle is immediately very slightly disrupted by Keane wandering into the cave. She's entirely unsure as to whether the presence of this gremlin will make the already incredibly strained diplomatic situation worse, or far worse. Though, something's throwing Sakura off, just a little...

SAKURA: Hey, uh. Keane.
SAKURA: Correct me if I'm w-wrong, but... did you... y-y'know?
SAKURA: C-Congratulations on your transition? You look good.

sakura says trans rights btw

---

Shoal Cave:
- Advance to (F6), hopping on the head of Aqua Hand 1.
- Appoint Acerola as your servant, beginning a lifetime of servitude.
- Cast Decaying Sigil on (B7), applying (Weaken4, 3) to all targets in the radius.
- mentally prepare to get thrashed, since you're so goddamn close to the enemy army oh jeez

Eroa and Vent move on from the Saqsqueal, with Vent awkwardly waving goodbye to the creature. Vent looks at his sketch with a great sense of pride before tucking away his sketchbook.

Eroa and Vent move on to Switchback Three, just in time to notice the Pin scurrying away. Eroa motions, and the two quickly chase after it.

Northern Wilds

Debbie watches as Eroa and Vent go to chase the Pin. At least she doesn't need to give chase herself. Although, there was a feeling nagging at her... a feeling that someone's in danger.

DEBBIE: Hm...

...She swoops back through to Switchback 1 and into the cave nearby.

Shoal Cave

In the cave, Debbie hears shouts of Helix and... something about a dome worshipper.

As she follows the sounds, she wonders... a dome worshipper? Was there no religious freedom in LOCAA at all? That... could be troubling. Nevertheless, she presses on.

And then she sees the full picture from behind a wall. A lone chairian, beset by an entire goddamn army of religiuos fanatics.

...Now, normally, Debbie would be all for the Church. She has a duty to form relations with the people of LOCAA.

And yet, here she sees, a witch hunt in the middle of bumpeck nowhere, crawling with iti both purple and grey, the threat of death everywhere for anyone... and there's a witch hunt!

To say that seeing such pissed her off would be an understatement.

And it seems a fallen princess agreed.

Once Sakura is finished her spiel, Debbie exhales. It's time to put some zealots in their place, I suppose.

Through the shouting and insults, the sound of heels hitting the rocky ground reverberate through the cavern. She nods to Sakura and the new girl, then unveils the group of Chairian zealots a stare so icy it would freeze oxygen.

DEBBIE: So, this is what you do with your spare time?
DEBBIE: Go on witch hunts against... those not of your religion, in the middle of nowhere, with death and monsters around every corner, solely to try and appease your god?
DEBBIE: I haven't seen, witnessed, experienced, something so... SPINELESS in years!
DEBBIE: This is the kind of act the Demon Empress once performed, and she's unanimously despised!
DEBBIE: Absolutely pathetic!

She is absolutely going to be branded a Heretic for this. She continues.

DEBBIE: You could be doing something... you know, ACTUALLY productive!
DEBBIE: Healing the injured and dying - I do hear you are good healers -, protecting the nearby town from iti, gathering food, literally ANYTHING ELSE.
DEBBIE: And yet, here you are. Doing what can only be described as an utterly stupid, foolish, worthless, if not actively harmful endeavour.

DEBBIE: I certainly hope others of your religion aren't so keen on violent conversion.

After that whole preamble, Debbie floats above the water, in front of Acerola.

DEBBIE: If you wish to harm this person, you'll need to get through me as well.
DEBBIE: If I end up a Heretic in your eyes, so be it.
DEBBIE: People come first.
DEBBIE: Not religion.

Also, she gives Acerola a quick whisper.

DEBBIE: (oh and don't worry about sakura 'appointing you a servant' she likes to do that a lot)
DEBBIE: (also maybe start running this is about to get messy)

ACTION

Sussui Traveller: Water
Move to (F7)
Nature Power Rubble Splash (C7)
Fluidsand (D6/D8)
Retreat to (G7)

Des sees others heading towards a fight.
DES: Think I gotta sit this one out. Not exactly the best scenario for me, and my dice melted again.
DES: And I've got a weird feeling, like it'll be dangerous to send in more than 4 of us.
DES: Anways, good luck.
Instead, they grab the Reassembler and head to the Quiet Grove, where it's... quiet. They re-conjure their icy dice, throw them inside the Reassembler along with an offering of Fell Flesh, mutter a few spooky incantations, and...
...get a new set of dice, which are still made of ice.
DES: bwaah

As Doc continues moving up and down the switchbacks, he suddenly hears a commotion coming from the cave near the first switchback.

Doc: Now what could be happening in there?
Doc: It sounds like a confrontation of some sort.

Not wasting another moment, Doc briskly walks into the cave, following the sound of very echoed yelling until he very nearly falls into the dank water. He then looks at the quickly-unfolding battle, very confused about what's happening until he notices -

Doc: Ah, Miss Debbie! Oh, and Lady Yedoensis as well.
Doc: I don't suppose either of you could explain what's happening? Perhaps I can lend a hand.

Sakura turns her head as she prepares whatever spell it is she's going to use next turn. Which one? That'd be spoilers, and also I don't know what she'd do yet. She's the slightest bit exasperated.

SAKURA: D-Does it r-really look like I can tell you what's g-going on right now?
SAKURA: IF YOU CAN'T TELL, THERE IS A SLIGHT ALTERCATION GOING ON AT THE MOMENT.
SAKURA: But if it tickles your fancy, it can be summed up as "religious extremists want to kill our new goth girlfriend".
SAKURA: Need I elaborate more!?
Doc: No, I believe I understand. And I assume you at least trust this... erm... "goth."
Doc: I'm wracking my brain, but the only definition I can think of for that word is some form of winged insect.
Doc: Regardless...

Doc turns to the various Chairians who are likely about to try to tear into Sakura.

Doc: I don't claim to be a theologist, but this seems like a perversion of religion.
Doc: I was under the understanding that whether you believed in Helix, Dome, or, like myself, Saint Nicholas, religion was about understanding and loving your fellow man.
Doc: I suppose not all gods encourage those tenets, but no umbrella definition will cover everything.

Doc pulls out a small vial full of a cloudy gray liquid.

Doc: What you're doing right now... forgive me if I'm wrong, but it seems more like politics.
Doc: Sakura? I'd recommend slipping on that filter I gave you.

Doc steps forward to G11 and, with a heave, throws the vial. It shatters on the forehead of the Gaiawall at C7, and a plume of thick gas comes out of it, spreading over the nearby area.

SAKURA: ...Uh. You sure you should be using anything that requires a mask?
SAKURA: We're not trying to kill them.
Doc: Not lethal. It's a knockout gas I usually use for anesthesia.
Doc: I assumed you didn't want to take a six-hour nap. But if you do, removing it is always an option.

RESULTS:
Doc spawns into the battle on H12, moves to G11, and casts Toxic Concoction on C7.

"Dang, who's this?"

Offtopic arrives at the cave, noticing the abundant pools of water.

Actions:
Take my turn last
Spawn F12
Moves: F12 -> H11 -> G10
Cast Phase Shift on Sakura
Basic Attack the Gaiawall

<ROUND 21>

Lepidodendron +2s their RES.

Ok.

---

Pardon watches a Pin race away.

a

---

Keane chases Sakura. She finds the princess in the middle of some sort of scuffle down in the cave.

Keane compliments the uniforms of the Chairian hunting party, as well as Acerola’s drip. Both parties stare at her blankly.

ACEROLA: …Thanks.
SAINT: An alien? As the princess’s bodyguard?
SAINT: I’d suggest that you advise your princess to stand down and stop assisting a dangerous heretic.

Unfortunately, Keane cannot enter the battle and tell her this due to player caps. Never mind that player caps are a suggestion and not a rule. A very strongly worded suggestion.

---

Sakura chews out some Chairians. She will be responded to in the battledop, as all good talk-no-jutsus should be.

Sakura also says trans rights. :marronjoy:

---

Eroa and Vent depart from the sapsqueal. The two spot the escaping Pin, and immediately dart after it.

They arrive just in time to see the Pin zap onto a nearby wire, flowing inside a… building? More like a chunk of building, haphazardly strewn onto the mountainside, with pieces of gravcore scattered around its base. Chasing the Pin further in, Eroa and Vent find themselves in some kind of ruined laboratory.

And quickly realize that they are very much not alone.

<THE FRAGMENT: BATTLE START!>

---

Debbie appears! Just in time to chew out some Chairians as well. She will also be responded to in the realm of battledops.

---

Des does some crafting.

Putting a popsicle and some fell flesh in the reassembler, they craft some dice made of ice. A second set of ice dice (though to be fair, the first one was just a reflavoring). How many (d)ice will we have by the end of the game?

---

Doc also joins the battle with some snark. You get the idea.

---

<BATTLES: SHOAL CAVE, ROUND 2>

Sakura is dead. Except she is not anymore. However, the Tumblefluffs are dying of poison... Can you prevent it? Should you? Regardless, some good damage has been dealt, so keep pressing onward!

---

<BATTLES: THE FRAGMENT, ROUND 1>

That is... a lot of strong Iti. What are they doing here? And what is this building doing here? And is it... bigger on the inside?
So many questions, but you won't likely find many answers until you're not fighting for your lives.

VENT: Ah! Lady Eroa! M-more enemies have come upon us!
VENT: I-I will stand by your side!

Vent unsheathes his longsword from his hip, readying himself in a stance. It is only then he notices that his sword is completely worn and rusted from the effects of the Thymefield.

VENT: ...h-huh?
VENT: I s-should have noticed earlier... on the ship... w-when we passed through...

Vent awkwardly sheathes his sword.

VENT: Lady Eroa, y-you can take care of this, right? You are a-a much more capable fighter than me.
EROA: Well, I'm sure if I can't handle it in my state, everyone else will have heard you yelling something about enemies.
EROA: Don't worry about me, Vent, worry about yourself. I'd advise getting out of here.
VENT: I s-suppose...

Vent moves himself to a back corner and wills himself to run away from his goddess's location. However, a few steps later, he suddenly stops himself. An opportunity arises from this situation! A chance... to draw some of these strange, monstrous creatures in action. Moving a few steps forward but still significantly back from the battle, Vent pulls out his sketchbook and pencil once more. Eroa notices this, initially wanting to demand his full retreat, but on further thought, Eroa internally applauds his commitment to art, turning back to the oncoming Iti, weapon in hand.

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

Eroa jumps into action! Eroa runs to M4 and gets to doing her magic. She immediately uses Suffocating Haze on K6, putting Fear into the hearts of the enemies hit.

EROA: Now, do me all a favor and get out of my sight, would you all please?

She then immediately uses Flirt twice on the Leecher, sending it away into the Abyss twice (I9), then uses Irresistible Charm on Pin1 to move it to P4, aka its doom. Finally, she uses Allure twice on Ohmnic1 to move it to P4 as well, dealing lots of Abyss damage.

Shoal Cave

Debbie goes beyond angry and flips to downright flabbergasted! Acerola... controlling the iti. Wat. She's so busy being flabbergasted that she doesn't pay attention to Sakura's untimely downing.

Debbie sputters on her words for a moment before-

DEBBIE: Wh- ARE YOU peckING BLIND!?
DEBBIE: Did you, SERIOUSLY, already forget what an Iti looks like!?
DEBBIE: Do you see ANY Thyme Matter or Iti at all in this fight, let alone ones following her commands here!?
DEBBIE: No! No you don't! So cut the bull!
DEBBIE: If what you said was true, which it CLEARLY isn't, this cave would be INFESTED with the bloody things!

The one untouched patch of Fluidsand starts bubbling. Violently. Debbie's expression darkens.

DEBBIE: Face it - you just want an excuse to harass, assault, and possibly even kill an innocent woman, don't you? All because of her beliefs... despicable.
DEBBIE: I'm going to have some harsh questions for Ms. Loblolly when I get back, aren't I... and I'm sure she will too.

The bubbling expands further from the tile. This isn't Debbie's normal fare, not at all.

DEBBIE: And cut the bull about being the victim here, buddy!
DEBBIE: We all know you've actively decided to seek out this woman and assault her, not the other way around!
DEBBIE: The nerve on your little bully group, I swear!
DEBBIE: Well, it's time to reap what you've sown, since you are so firmly stuck in your ways...

Suddenly, the Fluidsand puddle and surrounding area erupts in a small sandstorm, flinging dirt and dust onto the surrounding Chairians, a plume of fine powder coats the surrounding area.

And then the affected area suddenly slopes inwards, where the Fluidsand was. When the dust settles...

...a pair of GIANT, BONY MANDIBLES are waiting in the center of the now giant sand pit. They gnash at the nearest Chairian, ready to throw down. Additional sharp bones litter the nearby area, sloshing into and out of the loose sand as if it were water. Debbie scoffs.

DEBBIE: None of you may leave standing.
DEBBIE: Don't worry. We'll be gentle.
DEBBIE: And patch you up once we're done.

ACTION
MOVE: (F8)
FOSSIL SINKHOLE: (D6)

Keane McZupp in: Sakura Fucking Explodes

...As Acerola responds to Sakura, Keane eyes her with a tad more suspicion. Wait, wasn't that a whispered conversation? gorillaing vampire parodies.

Thankfully, that suspicion is soon washed away as Sakura has a sort-of-question for her.

QUOTE (Irecreeper @ Sep 1 2023, 12:37 AM)

The heat of the battle is immediately very slightly disrupted by Keane wandering into the cave. She's entirely unsure as to whether the presence of this gremlin will make the already incredibly strained diplomatic situation worse, or far worse. Though, something's throwing Sakura off, just a little... SAKURA: Hey, uh. Keane. SAKURA: Correct me if I'm w-wrong, but... did you... y-y'know? SAKURA: C-Congratulations on your transition? You look good. sakura says trans rights btw

Keane tilts her head, confused. She looks down at herself, concerned.

KEANE: ...Hmm? What do you...

The realization dawns.

KEANE: Oh! Oh, right, I forgot most other people don't... do that.
KEANE: ...'That' being "overnight gender transition", just for clarity. It's a thing my species can do.
KEANE: Yeah, I was feeling femme today, so I decided to switch it up a bit. Glad you like it!~

Keane holds up a peace sign, kicking one leg back and winking cutely. It ranks a solid 8.5 on the Isabella Cuteness Scale.

Two seconds later, Sakura gorillaing explodes. A muffled, slow-paced beeping emanates from... somewhere.

KEANE: SAKURA!

Keane lunges forward into the fray- and just as quickly recoils back out of the battle with a pained yelp, clutching her arm. Her... thyme-encrusted arm???

The untraceable beeping continues, rising in pitch and increasing in tempo. Keane grits her teeth, desperately scrubbing away at the corrosive matter, which covers her arm in a several-inch-thick layer of gunk. She shoots Acerola a begrudging nod as Sakura is resurrected and the battle begins anew, most other sound now quiet. Glad that's settled for now... but also, what the fuck

---

Equipment Changes

Crafting: Skylar throws the Electric Guitar, a Railfun Crafting Charge, and a Fell Beast Flesh into the compound reassembler. It makes the Stratoblaster, a T4 weapon:

(T4) Stratoblaster | Pick up the phone call and do everything he says...
WEAPON PASSIVE: Band Together. When you make your Basic Attack, add +5% damage per ally within Range 1 of you.
(10-11) Electric
Range 3-4
4 CNT, 7 HIT, 1 Retreat
+2 SPC

Skylar and Paige then equip it.

Stat reshuffling: Taking two KP out of RES, and putting two KP in AGI and two KP in HP.

The only changes are to basic attack, Trait, Special, and substats, as well as Material Transfer gaining Needle Conjuration. At least I think? Sorry if this kills you dead, Serp

---

Battle

Skaige spawns in on L4, and shoots the Pillager.

"Woah, Debbie! That's what I'd call 'big-boned'!"
"Also, I'm not walking out of that anytime soon, but I haven't exactly been walking during this battle..."

Offtopic points at the Ranger.

"I don't like you."
"Uh...you...insulted me for attacking me?"
"Yes! You were the ONLY one to unload something on me!"
"That is a terrible injury to my eg—I mean pride!"

Offtopic bends his knees and prepares to jump into the sinkhole in front of him.

Actions:
Take turn after Debbie
Move: F6 -> E5 -> D6
Basic Attack the Saint
Phase Shift the Ranger

The Saint implies that Sakura's just like her father. Or uh, not so much "implies" as "outright says it".

SAKURA: W-Well... gorilla you t-too, then!
SAKURA: Besides, would my father ever do something so daring?
SAKURA: Hell no. Father would've "kissed your feet", to put it into outsider terminology.

Around the same time, Acerola gives a precious / intimidating little grin to being appointed a servant. She remarks that later, Sakura has to be her servant. Just for a little. After the battle, of course.

SAKURA: Well. Aren't you a funny one?
SAKURA: A member of royalty cannot serve the clergy! The clergy serves the crown, after all.
SAKURA: Though, I suppose if you require my assistance, who would I be were I to not heed the words of my servants?
SAKURA: ...Whether I'll actually do what you want depends on the-

Meanwhile, up in Helix Heaven or whatever's up there, Lord Helix himself is sent a report: Sakura Yedonesis is cringe, and must be purified. He couldn't agree more, sending down a bolt of divine retribution to obliterate the princess. By the power of Divine Providence (from the other direciton), Sakura is only lightly annihilated, holy judgement missing by roughly a foot. Which is still enough to catch her in the blast radius, but still. When the column of light fades, Sakura is left floating limply in the water.

Fortunately for her, it's not long before Acerola stitches Sakura back together with a well-timed resurrection spell. She flails in the water as she suddenly comes to, with the grace and decorum of a princess who is also a drowning giraffe.

SAKURA: fwghhhoffffuhuhgghuhhuhhhh-

Sakura manages to beach herself, where she sputters up a few cups of delicious cavern water. Acerola shares a few kind words, though it's not entirely clear just how cognizant Sakura is at the moment.

SAKURA: T-Thanks...
SAKURA: I-I... suppose I can make an exception for you. I-I'll be your s-servant, for... a bit.
SAKURA: D-Don't think this'll be a normal thing t-though, o-okay?

---

Somewhere else in the timeline, but more or less in the same location as where Sakura currently is now, she has a talk with new best girl Keane. Apparently, gender transitions are just something his species can do. Has she heard of this before...?

SAKURA: So you're like... a frog?
SAKURA: I hear that on Earth, there are these crazy creatures called "frogs" that can change their gender, or something?
SAKURA: They seem cool.
SAKURA: Earth is goddamn wild.

Sakura considers adopting a pet frog, which she will use to annihilate all her enemies with their lethal fire breath and dimension-tearing claws. She uh, may be a little confused as to what a "frog" is.

---

Shoal Cave:
- Appoint Doc as your second servant.
- Beach yourself at (I7).
- Cast Formulaic Spellcasting: Electric on the Gaiawall. (22-22) base with Manafuel3, spending 10 MP. Has +50% HIT, and should deal +30% DMG due to Water + Electric Weakness. Unless I forget how this game works, it should be about (38-4) damage.

Doc moves, very slowly, to E9. He then procures a large bottle with a lot of white newts swimming in it. He uncorks it, and a single one climbs out onto his finger.

Doc: Ah, Arthur. I trust you and your cohorts have been well.

...Is the newt nodding?

Doc: Well, I need a favor from you. Ready?

...Yes, the newt's definitely nodding. Without saying another word, Doc flicks his finger, sending the newt flying forward. It lands on the Bladedancer and begins crawling around, leaving behind sticky tracks wherever it goes. After a few seconds of this, it then leaps over to the Gaiawall and does the same thing. The sticky tracks the newt is leaving behind are made up of an anesthetic similar to the one in the cloud of vapor thrown previously...

---

Doc moves to E9, casts Living Plague on the Bladedancer, and spreads the plague to the Gaiawall.

The Fragment

59. Material Transfer
49. Effigy
37. Thorn Patch
17. Mana Ripper

Des spawns and moves to H2, and casts Thorn Patch on D2-G2 and H3. 34 HP, 1 AC, (14-16) damage, Wall of Thorns (block Flying). -19 MP, +38 SP.