>>957237
My assumption isn't that we'd actually choose to "fight everyone", my assumption is that if we fight this group and somehow win then sooner or later the xotl's will make that choice for us.

Even though we used the alarm for the opposite side of the base as cover for our activities, we've left a trail of goop and empty uniforms behind starting from the incinerator room to here where we've got an energy weapon pointed at our head.

Whoever is in charge of the xotl patrols on this side of the base? They've noticed that, and have steadily increased not only the number of soldiers in each patrol but also the number of patrols, what each patrol is armed with and the accompanying elite troops. (first actual patrol had a fafnir drone, which would have undoubtedly killed Alice if she wasn't capable of firing harpoon bones and managed to pierce the focusing lens)

There's going to be a tipping point sooner or later. And if we keep aggressively eliminating almost every xotl we come across? Then we'll hit at that tipping point. And I don't believe the penguin crew will survive it.

Evidence suggests that you are a successful sample of the horrible experiments they have been trying: A hybrid with this plant stuff who has still maintained your mind and reason. You are valuable for that reason. You should uh.. downplay just HOW successful they were. Do NOT recite any names, dog tags, or witty banter.

Indicate the affirmative, but do so in a way that suggests it is more difficult for you than it actually is. Nod, if that is a gesture these guys will understand, or if you respond verbally, enunciate badly and with theatrical difficulty. This may also help stall for time while your ribs heal.

>>957119
this fucker is not playing around.
there is no fighting, there is no running. nothing you have on you will help.
remain calm, try to buy time until you find an opportunity. being surrounded is not an opportunity.

talk, Alice. you need to talk.

Talk.
Do you know any words in the xotl language? I wouldn't trust machine translation with your current voice (you're pretty much a talking CAPTCHA for now) so if you can bypass it if needed...

>>957256
Hm. I wonder if they're at all keen on intelligent hybrid variants as much as weapon technology they can control and command. One of the main issues they may be running up against could be the instinctual revulsion Alice feels regarding creating anything like actual modern weaponry.

You gotta have SOUL

assuming similar abilities in each group more healing type abilities sounds good so another soul ability

Body. Telekinesis wasn't quite cutting it against zombie super mutants.

Enhance Body! Let's discover a new ability.

Body! get swole or go home.

>>957059
>this time brandishing what looks like a freaking shock rifle in its multi tool arm.
This is why Tear told you to not be a vigilante! You just risked your life slithering out there like that!

Make sure you get a picture of the bot with the shock rifle!

>>957060
Open the doors to let Haley in and tell her that there’s a PK cruiser already here, but if she hurries, she can get here before they land. Make sure you close the doors once she’s inside.

And don’t forget to warn her that the cleaning bot has a shock rifle!

>>957060
Tell Haley where that cleaning bot is hiding.

And since the PK cruiser is blocking the camera's view, you need to make sure you don't look away from where that cleaning bot is hiding! If it moves, you need to be able to tell Haley where it's going!

Kaktus 2020/02/24(Mon)12:10 No. 957260 ID: 1301e8
File 158257504599.png - (96.28KB , 700x550 , 70.png )

>This is why Tear told you to not be a vigilante! You just risked your life slithering out there like that!
You’re not so sure about the life part. Considering the length it went through to make sure Drizu was okay after it attacked them, you were probably never in any mortal danger. Of course, you still got caught in the moment and acted on instinct, which is never a good thing in a situation like this… maybe you should dial down on all those detective shows you like to watch…
>Make sure you get a picture of the bot with the shock rifle!
You got more picture of this fella than you have of yourself by this point.
>Can you get to the main gate controls without getting spotted? Or is it already open?
The data pad that Tear gave you can control most things inside the junkyard, including the doors… which means you might have been able to catch that cleaning bot if you just moved the big magnet crane over- No, you’re thinking like a fan girl of detective shows again. Stop it. You don’t even know if this place has a crane in the first place…
>Since the PK cruiser is blocking the camera's view, you need to make sure you don't look away from where that cleaning bot is hiding! If it moves, you need to be able to tell Haley where it's going!
It ran back into the hatch that it came out from. It’s probably running as far away as it can and not coming back.

>Open the doors to let Haley in and tell her that there’s a PK cruiser already here, but if she hurries, she can get here before they land. Make sure you close the doors once she’s inside.
NULL! I’m already too late!
>And don’t forget to

Message too long. Click here to view the full text.

Ask for their badge numbers or names or something ostensibly for paperwork purposes. Leave with Haly, apologize for not calling her first. Is there something we should know? That was a fast response time for a call about junkyard scrap theft, and those guys were REALLY high strung. Is there some internal PK issue we're getting dragged into? 'Cause we'd like to know what's going on.

>>957260
Message Haley and ask what the hell's going on. These PK are being way too pushy for what they themselves admit is a minor crime.

Play it off like you're playfully embarrassed by it. "Well... it's a bit personal. Promise you won't laugh?" Be sure to smile as you say it, or else it might come off as too serious and ruin the mood. Most likely she'll say she promises not to laugh, but if she doesn't, just say something like "I guess I'll just have to risk it then!" (In a playful tone, of course.)

"So... it says I'm an excellent lover. Yes, in that way." Then put your hands up in faux defensiveness. "I swear it's the truth!"

If she laughs, laugh with her, because you aren't afraid to have a chuckle at your own expense. (And because, while planting the seed in her mind, it also helps her see it as a good thing.)

Now, at this point she might get a bit more personal and ask how it's affected your life, especially your love life. If she doesn't, don't push the subject further; but if she does, tell her that, ironically, it's kind of led you to be more selective and hesitant when it comes to whether you'll make love to someone. Having this sign makes you feel pressured to, ah, perform, you know? And if there's truth to it, then you think you should be choosy about who you bed, because what you've got shouldn't be given away to just anybody. You prefer to save it for someone... special. (Make eye contact with her when you say that, so that she starts wondering if she's on that roster of special people you'd take to bed with you. Which, of course, she is.)

And then change the subject by asking about her hobbies and interests, so that she doesn't have a chance to ask you directly if you were referring to her. That seed needs to be left to germinate -- ideally we should want to leave her thinking about it all day.

>>957232
this

>>957232
Yes, but, hmm. If she does pursue this topic, saying it like that might make her think that you've slept with a lot of people in the past (and she wouldn't be wrong huehue). So in a way you should reassure her that this isn't the case. Perhaps by saying that, sadly, you've only got to have a fuck of your life- I mean, experience the act of lovemaking, a few times, and thus the sign hasn't helped you in that aspect at all, which is why you're single right now.

"It means "The one who pleasures" or "The one who pleases", pretty much someone that brings enjoyment and I do hope I'm living up to that?"

Well. The marking is sort of hereditary. You inherited this marking from your father, and his father before that. As a child, remember. So. Ahem. The meaning would be 'giver of sexual gratification.'

>>957234
I dunno, it seems like you are going for adorable awkward, and it seems a bit out of character for the dude who kicked in a door and knelt to kiss her hand

So we thought about becoming invisible under the water and we actually become invisible. We then move our essence and become a towel. So then this trickster blade thing of illusion is real and definitely is us. So taking the other blades powers might just be meeting them and copying their abilities liek a metaphysical ditto.

Should probably focus on becoming Penny again until we can experiment in a more private place. Unless our wish of not wanting to be seen somehow extended to the spa?

So, imagine something, and you will appear like it, albeit with size and format change to suit the current size and shape of your body?

This seems more ideal to pretend to be people, though, or else your illusions will look weird unless you shape yourself accordingly. I wonder if you can change your voice as well?

>>957249
Yeah. Return to Penny mode and stop experimenting for now, we don't know when Roz will be back or anyone will pass by.

Actually, wait a minute.

Did the old towel disappear as well? Did you somehow *absorb* the towel to become a large humanoid version of it?

Imagine uhh... the towel not being a part of your body anymore?

Huh. Could be useful, but I don't think now is the time for in depth experimentation.
Does the towel feel like its diappeared, or is it still there but hidden?

Remove the towel and return to regular invisibility. Wrap the key in its lanyard and hold it in a fist so that its invisible.

>>957157

Agreed. Some upstart he wanted to get rid of got himself offed without needing to get his hands dirty. He pretends to give a shit about a trial, and comes out clean.

>>957068

Yes, if I'm reading Krix correctly, his use of the term "deserter" is very much an effort to goad us further. He knows we hate his guts, and wants to see if we're fool enough to act on it.

He could be calling Moss a deserter cuz he wants to frame Moss for deserting the guard so as to have a reason to kill him. While Krix doesn't need a reason to kill Moss, having one could help keep his underlings from being as scared of him.

Idk, my case is flimsy but I have this gut feeling he is going to gut Moss as soon as he walks out of the cell regardless of what he says.

Yeah, can we ask for clarification? Anything to say... in confidence? As a commoner to a noble, a soldier to an officer, or as next of kin to a killer? Dont harangue him for using violence to solve his problems, you are in a cell for murder.

>>957157
That's one way to look at it. my take is that Krix disapproves of the entire mess because of how it was handled by a suspected traitor, even though the murder victim had it coming and also that BECAUSE it was a stone noble under Krix he has to personally sort it out instead of continuing to do.. Well, whatever it is that Krix has been up to.

(I'd be very surprised if, in an alternate universe, we made this Krix's problem he would have sided with Sayanos over Moss)

>>957034
“I’m not the kinda guy who likes to pick fights I can’t win. We’re both in our current position not because of some barbarian, but because a particularly opportunistic noble wanted to see what’ll happen. If you care about this whole charade as much as I expect you do, which is to say little more than a passing curiosity, then I hope you’ll see me out of this cell and back at my post. I wouldn’t be able to beat Fen, I wouldn’t be able to beat you, but I could certainly handle some upstart bastard who thought he was ready for political discourse.”
Your best chance is a minor deflection; don’t draw much attention to the whole deserter thing as that will tell him what your future intentions may be, but ignoring it altogether will just solidify whatever opinion he has of you already.

>>957161
Agreed, a proper magical girl is also a weapon specialist.

>>957142
Not all emotions are that intense. Also, you can learn to control yourself better, or control your emotions better. It is merely a challenge, and you are inexperienced, that's all. Rise to the challenge.
Food for thought: sadness is what people experience when people close to them die. This means you're causing sadness when you eat people. Now you understand them better, and understand the consequences of your actions. Experiencing more emotions will allow you to further expand your understanding, allowing you to blend in better, which is one of your main priorities is it not?

Hmm, what CAN we do right now? What do you need to do next to get your hunting license?
Oh, ask Red Eyes how she deals with intense emotions. Does she know any special techniques?

>>957161
This. We need more weapon training.

>>957161
Agreed.

We can't rely on magic for everything.

>>957161
Yeah this. We need to be able to defend ourselves with weapons when magic won’t. Our slime powers should be a last resort, a last surprise for threats we have yet to see.

Also Emils, try not to push those emotions away. Attempt to experience them and understand them. Others experience them to so understanding how it feels and why they feel it will help you develop empathy.

>>957085
Tell her you found a wrecked camp with this map in it, and you're super lost so you wanted to find someone to talk to and get your bearings.

poodle moth
snake
chinchilla

>>957093
I second this

>>957093
Just acting on the assumption that clothes don't seem to exist in this world anymore, anyway.

>>957085
A male snake
A Moth girl
A Crocodile

chameleon
monitor lizard
condor

"Does Brass have any problems he needs dealt with?"

>>957185
What's Brass do with his free time? Like... is there anything you could find in common with him, like a hobby?

Does Brass often ask for... friends/

Tell me what know can about preceptor Brass’ personality and whatever you know about his job.

Has he ever noticed Preceptor Brass doing anything strange outside sermons?

Consult Ssoolaku; ask about his progress on the egg, and whether asking to enact another policy would interfere with that. (It would be a waste not to spend our Inertia.)

Our Inertia production will get higher as we build and gain more improvements. Will we A) get to a point where we're generating more than we could ever spend on Policies, B) see Inertia costs for Policies increase the more we enact... or C) get more stuff to spend Inertia on besides Policies?

Baron 2020/02/23(Sun)15:42 No. 957191 ID: fd2dfa
File 158250137465.png - (231.83KB , 1000x1400 , 69.png )

You consult with Ssoolaku over the progress of the egg. "It isssss. Complete."

He gestures to his quarters, refitted to become a hatching chamber for the egg. "The old textsssss entail the egg be placccced in a chamber where moonlight isssss captured and incubatesssss the egg day and night."

"For how long?"

"Asssss long as the Sssssirassssssar within desssssssiresssss."

"Unacceptable" you shake your head. "Is there a way we have it hatch sooner? Give us a set timeline."

Ssoolaku strokes his antennae. "The Ssssirassssate at home would demand blood ssssacrifice. Ssssshe claimed it would feed her egg and hasssssten the hatch. But I do not know if it is true or if ssssshe sssssssimply wasssss thirsssssty."

>Sirassar egg incubating
>You may choose to hasten the process by bathing it in blood.

>Kavonika needs to be reassigned to a city before she can begin a divination for the land around it.
>Slaves cannot yet be repatriated until the Slave Rites are finalized(the rites a slave must perform to be recognized in your family's holdings as ready to join it as citizens)

Baron 2020/02/23(Sun)15:43 No. 957192 ID: fd2dfa
File 158250139695.png - (932.88KB , 1636x2233 , 70.png )

>As Autumn cools the world, families take this opprotunity to strike at enemies before winter stalls continued warfare.
>Fighting breaks out between Rivals in Vek Sotao. You only know this because prisoners of war are turning up in Suzo's slave markets.
>Silida launches a counter-invasion to reclaim lost territories in Vak Seru. The battle is deadlocked.
>Meanwhile Silida seeks to annex Vaa Telo for additional war material while Makag launches an invasion of Vot Sadbe from the sea to cut off pirate raids
>Vogu sends a strike force into Varas Itvar make of royalist-slave soldiers. Their purpose is to slash and burn the forest to give the family a killing ground come winter while thinning the numbers of their enemy. Few are expected to return.

Turn 14

Resources:
Food(in tons):23
Industry:21
Kushel(money): 1860(+1060)
Inertia: 195 (+45)
Influence: 130 (+5)
Holdings :Tamos-[City] (10,5)

Message too long. Click here to view the full text.

Keep the slaves in Sazoga. I guess we should start building a walled Garrison there, too? Assign them to that if we can.

Also, have we gotten spy reports back from the earthen fort? Send some 'bolds to to get us an update if not. We should do something about it before winter.

Also also, Ask Ssoolaku if he can draw up some plans for a policy involving project management? It would be nice if we could see how much industry each construction is consuming, how long each project will take before committing, maybe have an apparatus for applying Kushel per turn during construction instead of requiring up front investment. Ect.

Attacking before winter might be a good move. We can lick any wounds we receive while waiting for shardfall to end. Perhaps send both armies, just to make sure the fort is crushed.

>>957057
Vote yes because he is right about this being more like a prison. But honestly, we can't have him acting out this way if we are to cooperate. Here's what we should say.

"Alright Rivrik, i'm going to vote yes for you, but before I do we need to set some ground rules. As the chef you will allow free access to the kitchen for all who need food. Your job is to be the keeper of the kitchen knives. No one is allowed in the kitchen without you present to make their own meals. If they need one of the knives you give them one at a time, and never for longer than needed. Also, part of your job will be to safeguard the knives. They don't leave the kitchen as long as you are there and they stay there. The reason I want rules like this in place is because you're right that we shouldn't trust Pink and this is more like a prison. However, we can't have it be survival of the fittest, we need to have bonds and trust if we're to work this out."

>>957100
I do not think we will have enough time to say all that in the 10 second countdown, lol
It is probably best to just silently approve him, and not say anything as he might not be too happy with us telling him what to do, since he is already not happy with us being law enforcers. Just approving him and nothing else can keep that trust with him if we ever need his help with escaping, even if nobody else votes to approve him as chef.

>>957100
>>957115
I agree that we should probably have a chat with Rivrik, but this is neither the time nor the place. If we confront him right now he is more likely to lash out at us like he did with Vivlly.

And as a way to rephrase perhaps:
"I hope you have a plan to keep people from sneaking into the kitchen and stealing your stuff. I'm not sure if I'll be much of a help if I'm having to chase down stray knives rather than looking for things that might be able to protect us."

This way, we can bring up the problem without directly ordering Rivrik about, and (hopefully) he understands that our objective is to find a better way out of this place.

Ah, so these are the incentives that we are going to be working with.

Of the items here, I would say that there are to presiding themes, combat and survival gear. If someone were to get the winter coat, some of the snacks, and the flare gun, they might have a reasonable chance of surviving on the surface and maybe finding help. But if someone were to grab the other items like the pistol, gas grenade, and gas mask, they would be able to try and seize control of the group. It looks like Pink wants to test us in a prisoner's dilemma sort of situation. Everyone is going to rush to get items that could either harm others or ensure their own safety, and entirely miss out on the proper survival gear we're going to need when we leave this place. The group is already paranoid of one another and starting to fragment, we need to be able to counteract that.

Maybe try:
"Pink's trying to test us. He's putting in the weapons and protective gear as decoys so that we will all turn on each other. If we focus on each getting a winter coat and some of the other wilderness supplies we all could get out of here and look for help before the thirty days have passed. But if we get paranoid and start grabbing vests, guns and grenades we'll only be trapping ourselves in this place to continue Pink's experiment. We can beat Pink, all we need to do is stay focused on what we need to escape."

>>956992
Careful, that staff is glowing. I say B, throw the knight to purposely block or make any ranged attack difficult. Close that distance and follow up with whatever attack is quick if you can.

C.Throw a prisoner, use the other to counter any blows she throws at you

>>956992

B. Use that prisoner like a battering ram, and take her down.

D, A - Drop prisoners in a stack, stomp on them to pin them down, and breathe fire as a threat. Explain that you will prevent the prisoners from leaving, one way or another. The glamoured spellcaster and her charcoal friend should cut their losses and run, or you will start with the roast in your claws before the ones in the stonework..

B) Though I worry what pure brute force will lead to with a magic counter.

Toxoglossa 2020/02/23(Sun)14:02 No. 957179 ID: c70ff4
File 158249537872.png - (135.52KB , 700x517 , 11-36.png )

Kol settles back, bouncing on the well worn seats. “Heh, not used to hiring a ride. I’m too used to Gabe just taking us places immediately.”

Caleb squishes up against him in the cramped cabin.“Ahh where’s the fun in that? Traveling is half the fun.”

Toxoglossa 2020/02/23(Sun)14:03 No. 957180 ID: c70ff4
File 158249538565.png - (160.12KB , 700x500 , 11-37.png )

A short trip later and the carriage pulls up on front of Hearthfire. The suspension slings back and forth as the selkie climbs out, offering Kol a hand down. The mouse hands off a handful of coins to the driver and checks out the bakery.

>>957180
Oh? New lighting? Raithe probably had some interior design ideas. Head on in maybe grab some breakfast if they're around too

Ooh, fancy. Best to announce yourself and indulge in some pleasantry before easing the pair into the "just wanted to make sure you aren't suspects, oh, and BTW, do you know anyone who might also be suspect" topic.

>>957180
Are the colors symbolic?

Dogs of War SSgt. Eingrid 2020/02/09(Sun)23:44 No. 955937 ID: c8ada2
File 158132066522.jpg - (772.13KB , 1737x1903 , Debrief.jpg )

Two days earlier.

Her name was Staff Sgt. Eingrid, and this shit was officially above her pay-grade.

“Report: where’d you find him.” She hissed. The walk- limp, to the medical tent was killing her. Shooting pain, all up her leg. Damn mud, it was slippery and fucking everywhere.

The soldier following her —Private First Class Nuwberg, bless his salty soul— spoke in that irreverent drone that all grunts are well practiced in; his was particularly good, “Uhhh, sector seven, in the old growth. He was badly injured, covered in blood, couple of Hael corpses lying around him. He killed ‘em.” The grunt hesitated, “Unarmed.”

Bullshit. “Unarmed, like with his bare fucking hands.” Eingrid scoffed.

“No. ...he had a rock.” Nuwberg sounded skeptical himself.

Total bullshit. Maybe their Team Leader could tell the story straight. “Whatever. Where’s your CO?” Damn her her leg hurt.

His tone remained flat, like he was commenting on the weather. “Corporal Viry stepped on a claymore, blew his legs off.” The Private mimed an explosion and made a sound with his mouth. “Nothing we could do for him. Gave him painkillers, took his gear, the valuable stuff, and left the body.”

Message too long. Click here to view the full text.

Is he conscious? Ask for name and rank.

Question him. What are his orders? Where are his allies?

Dogs of War Grid Iron 2020/02/23(Sun)12:48 No. 957172 ID: d0d852
File 158249093407.jpg - (152.39KB , 700x600 , 5603CA23-CB1C-4790-BDAB-153CC8D79B4D.jpg )

Two days later.

The walk was fucking killing him.

His leg hadn’t healed yet, the bayonet gash on his thigh having long ago opened back up was bleeding through his fatigues.

Just one foot in front of the other. He’d get there eventually, or he’d die trying. Worked out either way.

“Fuck my life.” He mumbled.


The camp was close. The rain made it hard to see, but he picked out the flag of the 23rd Razors against the forested hill behind it; crossed lightning bolts, split by a dagger.

A voice crackled over his radio, “That you approaching, Grid Iron? Over.”

He clicked his radio on, “Yeah, shoot me and I’ll fucking kill you.”

A laugh sounded over the line, “Roger that, brother. Come on home.” Silence returned.

He chuckled grimly to himself. Brother. Home. They mean nothing to me. He touched a hand to his bandaged eye. ...nothing really does, anymore.

He was so tired

Does Eingrid matter?

3/4 Claudio 2020/02/20(Thu)11:43 No. 956858 ID: 4fd362
File 158222779102.png - (162.37KB , 1600x1200 , AQ 31 Rip and Tear.png )

Elder’s son:… that thing is still moving!

The alpha’s body starts being ripped apart, while it continues to burn. Fur, organs and even entire limbs start fall to the ground…

4/4 Claudio 2020/02/20(Thu)11:44 No. 956860 ID: 4fd362
File 158222785620.png - (332.31KB , 1600x1200 , AQ 32 Eldritch parasite.png )

???: SCREECH

Elder’s son: WHAT IS THAT THING?!

Edwin: It’s… It’s a…

… It’s an E-Eldritch parasite …!

Burning was SO the right call.

More bolts! More fireballs! Stay at range! Use Land Strike to keep it at bay or trip it in the eye!

Alright, what do you remember about what an eldritch parasite is? Any weaknesses or vital info?

It might be a good idea to run away. It's on fire, which means it will eventually burn to death right?

>>957072
>to the right there's an arrow pointing to "West Dewhurst."
Don’t you mean East Dewhurst?

>Where to?
Let’s go to town.

>>957076

Whoops, good eye! Just pretend Melodie got them mixed up.

Town it up

let's head to town.

Dew the dewherst

>>955601
A)2 and B)1. We shouldn't be too direct with the arsonist stuff, not yet.

A-2
B-2
You sunk my battleship

A-2, then B-3: "I heard that your sister's been feeling guilty about something she did some time ago. Do you know what that's about?" Go for the cold-read approach; then, regardless of the answer, shift to B-1: "Maybe you should talk to her?"

>>955601
A-2/3) "Remember that zealot yesterday? I found this dagger he dropped before he was dragged off. I took it to the Father in case it was religious, but he said it was a normal dagger and to turn it in to you"

>>955704
Seconding this -- B3->B1 seems like a good way to both confirm whether the dream had any truth to it, and potentially help Nennekee with her problems.

This is fine, he is learning how it works.
Make more Yip sounds. Approximate contentment sounds when subject returns to range. We are a helpless eggbaby and you should take care of us, big guy.

Now that he's stopped the probe should output the closest approximation it can simulate of a whimper to try and coax it back, then begin the low-intensity reward signal if it steps closer.

Yip again to make him come back, then it's time for another Generic Reward when he does so.

Give him some time to figure it out. Give him more reward signals if he touches or picks us up.

Yip Yip?

So what happened back there?

Talk to the guy who's willing to talk.

>>956675
Talk.

Pay half a mind to what's going on. Anything to distract you from... what happened.

Pray to bird Jesus.

>>956671
So what happened? Did you play anything or did you get stage fright and give up without doing anything?

>>956673
Talk to the person that’s willing to talk.

Talk to the one who feels serene. Maybe they know where Luvi's at?

She's probably self-conscious about her glasses, and hair and figure are probably a bit too forward for her - she seems the type to shy away at the slightest provocation, so going for a direct proposition is likely to backfire horribly and be terrible for everyone involved.

C: Compliment her fashion sense and sensibility. A compliment that highlights her shy wholesomeness without pointing out anything she'd be ashamed of is probably the way to go.

>>956915
B) She looks cute with those glasses.

F COMPLIMENT THOSE EARS

>>957081
Them's some mighty fine ears, yeah.

B.