>>39491041
> Give the book a more thorough read. Maybe there’s something about these baubles in there.
> Use the baubles to try and tame the mass that is your hair.
> Closely examine the baubles and see if there’s any tricks to them, like the Civ armor vest.

>>39491041
> Give the book a more thorough read. Maybe there’s something about these baubles in there.
> Use the baubles to try and tame the mass that is your hair.

>>39491041
> Give the book a more thorough read. Maybe there’s something about these baubles in there.
> Get some vinegar and polishing rags and prep these things for sale.

>>39491550
>>39491625
>>39491693

You idly polish the mirror as you look over the Civ symbols inlaid into it. Also, you run the brush through your hair, the bristles are made of metal, and it's the same strong metal that the mirror's frame is made of.

You puzzle out a few symbols on the mirror, one for 'Beauty: Feeling Beautiful About Yourself' 'Beauty: The Beauty Beyond the Flesh' and other variations.

Still, the book is your main focus. As you saw earlier when you flipped through the thing in the museum, the majority of this thing is charting family trees, bloodlines, and marking if they were a Joy-In-Whatever or not.

Near the from of the book you find a very useful thing. A map. It has a bunch of cities, and marks some roads, rivers, and it has notes that apparently cross reference to families in the book. People apparently kept track of what bloodline went where.

A map this big could be useful, but your world has been rather small. None of these cities are on the map, and you've never heard of any of these Canyons, or Mesas, or Forests that are listed. People who go out and explore, usually die.

What else is there in this thing?

> Roll 1d8

Rolled 2 (1d8)

>>39491901
Maybe an instruction manual for the whole Joy-In-Something schtick? That'd be great.

Rolled 1 (1d8)

>>39491901

Rolled 2 (1d8)

>>39491901
we gonna die?

>>39492114
No, but we are going to find a very dry treatise on the safety and efficacy of vancomycin and its mechanism of action.

Fascinating to certain people, yes, but not much help to Joy-In-Ashes.

>>39492062
Nothing...wait...hang on. One thing that's a little interesting.

There's one entry in this book that's not listed as DEAD or UNSUITABLE.

Emily Blesk
AKA: Emmy Carcel
Parents: Aimee Carcel, Randolph Carcel (Adoptive Parents, Suitable)
-Joy-In-Embers-
BORN: 130 A.E.
Genesis Settlement: East Gate

East Gate...yeah, that's really deep into Genesis Territory. They've got actual farms there. Only official Genesis Citizens are allowed in that area.

Well, that's a pity. You guess. Good for Miss Carcel...or Blesk...or Embers. Whatever.

You close the book and look at the rest of your haul. What to do with this stuff?

Better give it one last look over.

> Roll 1d8

Rolled 2 (1d8)

>>39492327

Rolled 7 (1d8)

>>39492327
Hopefully more luck shall be with us.

Rolled 3 (1d8)

>>39492327

>>39492382
Okay, now we're talking. The best thing was figuring out that the vest you got could collect a charge from a battery. You also note that it drained that battery REALLY quickly, so you'll be pedaling again, soon. Also, an entire battery only gave the suit 15% power.

Still, it's warming capabilities aren't that big of a draw if you set it on it's lowest setting, so you've got it under your Suit, and it is very nice.

Also, the comb plays music. The bridge has a very tiny music box in it, that you wind by twisting one of the tines. It's also marked with the Civ Symbol for 'Grace.'

The barette's heart shaped jewel is an actual ruby. It's small, about the size of a bean, but the clarity and cut are perfect. Also it has a small light in it that lights up when you squeeze it. Not that bright, just a simple LED. It has the Civ symbol for 'Love.'

The brush's handle pops out and there's a secret compartment in the head. (Empty sadly.) But the hidden part of the handle is a blade of good quality. 'Kindness' is written upon it.

As far as you can tell, the Mirror and the Ribbon are exactly as you see them. Good quality, and the ribbon has actual gold leaf in it. The mirror, as you knwo is marked as 'Beauty' and the Ribbon has 'Thought' or 'Wisdom' or 'Knowledge' stitched into it. (The symbol can be read any of those ways, depending on how you hold, or fold, the ribbon.)

> Keep it all.
> Sell it all to the Red Caravan.
> Maybe sell one or two pieces to the Red Caravan. (Name which items here.)

>>39492622
>> Keep it all.

>>39492622
> Maybe sell one or two pieces to the Red Caravan.
Sell the mirror, barette and comb.
The brush could be useful, and crazy old man said the ribbons would suit us.

>>39492901
This

>>39492622
> Keep it all.
Potentially one-of-a-kind items. There will be other finds, less related to Joy-in-Ashes shenanigans.

>>39492622
Sell just the barrette - real ruby is the only super-valuable part, and the others seem good for trying to at least maintain appearances.

Also, this is just a guess but based on our knack for profanity, Joy-In-Ashes probably has no lost Love for Love.

Someone really hates your quest and screwed with its tag on sup tg archive

The hell did you do?

>>39493132
You really do like the ribbon, and you’re never one to turn down a free knife, and a decent hairbrush. The rest...well...you should at least see what you'll get for them. You carefully wrap up the rest in a spare sheet, and you head out of the RV to the Streamline where Molly-Dolly is. (Yes, it’s a stupid name, but she won’t sell to people who don’t call her that.)
Molly’s wearing a long sea-green wig with fake seashells in it, and her leggings have a scale pattern on them. Molly got too near a Power Station’s fallout area when she was little, all her hair fell out, and not a single strand has grown back. Hence she spends most of her days creating new versions of herself, and thus she became Molly-Dolly.
Crazy, no doubt. But she’s also very good at haggling and very accurate at numbers.
“Little Lupa!” She grins as you enter. “Welcome to my Grotto. What treasures have you brought this siren?”
You calmly get out the sheet with the items, trying not to betray too much in your eyes.
“I like your hair.” Molly says. “Not sure about the color, but it works for you.”
“Thank you.” You say. Then you lay out the baubles.
Molly’s eyes go wide and she lets out a low whistle. “Little Lupa, you are a marvel.” She makes a reach for the mirror, but you pull it back. She makes an apologetic smile. “You’re wasted with that brute. You should be with us. You know you don’t have to be a Lantern Girl.”
You don’t say anything, but you demonstrate the light in the barrette and the musical comb. It’s clear that Molly is interested and wants the items, and she can see that you can see her want.

(cont)

>>39493660
“Alright little Lupa, I’d never try to use my Mermaid Magic on someone as cute as you.” The woman says. (You feel part of you clench at the mention of ‘magic’) She rummages around in her streamliner and starts putting things on the table. “We found this stuff in a Critter filled store that had a bunch of dead Screens in it. I know you’ve got a talent for Civilization stuff, so this is the good stuff.”

> You can trade all three items for three things.
> You can also decide to not sell them all and only take one or two. Please specify what you keep and what you sell

> Dried food. It’s about a week’s worth, and that’s even with sharing with Pytor. The interesting thing is that the bags have on them pictures of food, a smiling girl in a goofy outfit, and in Civ it’s written ‘Best Food For Increasing Your Child’s Joy!’
> A breather mask that’s got Civ markings on it. Molly claims that she got it from someone who actually survived scavenging at a Power Plant.
> A Fresh Battery. One of the big ones that help power the RV and you can use them to charge your Vest.
> A small metal lump, about the size of an unshelled peanut. It has Civ markings that tell you that it’s apparently a battery.
> A high quality knife, it has Civ markings on it, and it looks like something attaches to the handle. Input holes.

>>39493695
> Dried food. It’s about a week’s worth, and that’s even with sharing with Pytor. The interesting thing is that the bags have on them pictures of food, a smiling girl in a goofy outfit, and in Civ it’s written ‘Best Food For Increasing Your Child’s Joy!’
> A Fresh Battery. One of the big ones that help power the RV and you can use them to charge your Vest.
Barrette and Mirror.

>>39493695
>Dried food and fresh battery, for any two of the three items she wants.
We're picking from her pile, may as well let her pick from ours.

Make a hard Salvage/Translation Roll

> Roll 1d12

Rolled 11 (1d12)

>>39493897

Rolled 1 (1d12)

>>39493897

>>39493922
Well, no need to roll after that. Wouldn't want to chance-
>>39493952
...Nevermind.

>>39493952
Thank you for killing my roll anon.
>>39493969
Best roll and see if you can get a 12.

>>39493922
>>39493952

Here's the very interesting news. Remember that mirror ball bayonet? That battery would be the perfect size for it. Also, the wires would be a perfect fit for the knife.

The bad news? You can also see that the input holes in the knife are cracked. The knife is broken...beyond being a good quality knife.

I don't think crits works with these low dice. Jeesh.

>>39494112
And when I say that battery, I mean the little one, not the heavy duty one.

Although, if you'd like to know, you and Pytor have 5 large batteries. You charge them by way of the solar panels and the bike charger. It takes 1 to heat the RV, 1 to make it drive, and you use 1 more for the lights/hot plate/anything else you need. Leaving you, currently, with 2 spares.

>>39494292
> Dried food. It’s about a week’s worth, and that’s even with sharing with Pytor. The interesting thing is that the bags have on them pictures of food, a smiling girl in a goofy outfit, and in Civ it’s written ‘Best Food For Increasing Your Child’s Joy!’
> A breather mask that’s got Civ markings on it. Molly claims that she got it from someone who actually survived scavenging at a Power Plant.
Gonna vote for these two. Better scavenging with the mask, and we can probably maintain it.

>>39494292

> Dried food. It’s about a week’s worth, and that’s even with sharing with Pytor. The interesting thing is that the bags have on them pictures of food, a smiling girl in a goofy outfit, and in Civ it’s written ‘Best Food For Increasing Your Child’s Joy!’
> A high quality knife, it has Civ markings on it, and it looks like something attaches to the handle. Input holes.
We have tagged Repair, we can probably fix it

Someone already archived the quest under Post-Modern Magical Goyle Quest and pretty much went mental on the tags

Is this even fixable?

So, I'm seeing a clear vote for the food. Do the people who voted for the big battery wish to change their votes, given this new information?

>>39494585
yeah, just get someone to contact the site administrator with the proper tags, name, and description and inform them of the intentional mistagging.

may take some months, but they are USUALLY banned from further tagging after caught.

>>39494678
Only one for big battery Echo.

>>39493790
>>39493854

Two

>>39495053
Use the small battery then.im
>>39493790

>>39495109
You point at the small battery and the large box of dried food. Molly nods and slides them over to you. Then you gesture for her to help herself to any two items.

The mirror is snatched up almost instantly. Molly gazes into it lovingly, and then she drums her fingers and then she picks up the comb. You let slip a little disappointment in your eyes. Molly clucks her tongue, and shakes her head.

"Oh, little Lupa. Don't fret!" She sighs and then picks up the barrette and carefully places it in your hair. "There. Now you look that much lovelier. That's for free.” She smiles at you. Then she sighs and rolls her eyes and slides the large battery closer to you. She shrugs. “Like anyone else is going to buy that little thing, although you must know how to use it to make that heap Pytor drives fly.” She puts a hand on the battery though. “I want something else though, just to make it fair, and so Grand Dame doesn’t scream at me.” She pulls out a small booklet and drops it on the table. You know what that is. It’s a manual for the Bike Charger. Not that surprising that the Red Caravan has one…but they probably aren’t using it properly. She taps her finger on it. “Translation, and I’ll throw in the big battery.”

The Red Caravan has always been kind to you, and they’ve never screwed you or Pytor over. Also, you do slightly owe them for helping you not have to deal with Genesis. You write out a translation of the bike charger, and how they can get more life out of their batteries. Molly cheerfully slides over the large Battery and playfully flicks your nose before you leave with your goods.

(Cont)

>>39495545
Pytor is back in the RV, looking at his own map, when you get back. He nods appreciatively at the food and the new battery as you put them with the other supplies. The book, ribbon, and hair brush are exactly on the small foldout table where you left them. Pytor respects your things.

“No good work at Red Caravan.” Pytor says. “Grand Dame wants me to be their muscle and you to be their translator and scavenger.” He grunts and sneers. You know Pytor doesn’t like the idea of working for anyone, but this time he isn’t as emphatic about it.

“They say that the Confessors, and Preacher Raymond Williams III have some work.” He says. “They’re getting ready for eventual Genesis arrival. They need scavengers to find weapons, help with fortifications, make it so they can negotiate with Genesis and not get rolled over.” He nods. “They often pay in fresh meat.” You nod in agreement. The Confessors aren’t bad as far as Preacher and Flocks go. Preacher Bill is nice, and you ummm…know his son well. Biblically well. He’s also nice enough. Plus they make really good rabbit stew.

“Of course,” Pytor sniffs. “There’s always the option to try the ruins that are across that bridge. Genesis is close enough now for us to make a run for it if we need to. They’d pay for recon intel, and we’d get First Scavenge Rights.”

And then there’s one more option, although you’re not sure how to tell Pytor about it. You could try and go into Genesis Settlement and get to East Gate. Meet Joy-In-Embers, and possibly discover more about what’s going on.

> Stay with the Red Caravan
> Go to the Confessors
> Strike out on your own
> Try to get to East Gate

>>39495571
> Go to the Confessors

>>39495571
> Strike out on your own
... this sounds the most interesting to me.

>>39495571
>> Go to the Confessors

Embers is looking like mid-late game. We need more prep.

>>39495571
> Strike out on your own

>>39495604
>>39495636

>>39495632
>>39495649

So, is there another vote, or should I say that Lupa flips a coin?

>>39495890
flip a coin?

>>39495890

Just flip a coin/ roll 1d2.

I wonder where everyone is, usually there is a bit more activity in your quests.

Not that I'm complaining. Reminds me of early lamia daughter quest.

>>39495571
>> Go to the Confessors

>>39495571
Was going to for striking out, but I see that's just put us right back into a tie. Eh, either way.

I think echo went and flipped a coin and is now writing.

>>39495604
>>39495636
>>39495994

"I like rabbit." You say.

Pytor nods, and he starts the RV, in a few moments, the Red Caravan are just a few red dots in the distance, and then they're gone.

"I like rabbit." You say.

Pytor nods, and he starts the RV, in a few moments, the Red Caravan are just a few red dots in the distance, and then they're gone.

You pass the time by charging up the batteries on the bike, and slowly figuring out how the peanut battery hooks into the mirror ball. Whatever this thing is, it more complicated than just a flashlight, but it looks like this thing can be connected to a large number of things. Also, you don't know if the peanut has a charge or not, and it’s not something that can be hooked up to the bike or the solar panels.

> Roll 1d8 for repair.

Rolled 6 (1d8)

>>39496128

Rolled 2 (1d8)

>>39496128

Rolled 1 (1d8)

>>39496128

Rolled 4 (1d8)

>>39496160
.... god damnit

>>39496160
Oh, ffs. This is ridorkulous already.

/tg/ loves it low rolling dice I see.

>>39496160
Whats with the steady stream of ones?

>>39496402
Low numbered dice means a higher chance of crits.

Good news, the peanut has a charge, and you can get the mirror ball to slowly rotate.

You have absolutely no idea what that does, but...it's something!

The sun is just starting to set when you get to the Confessor’s ranch. There’s the large network of fences, the small watchtowers, and the large tent city that houses the majority of the population. And of course, the center attraction, is the chapel of Father Raymond William III, leader of the Church of Confession, a huge black and silver tent. It has the Civ symbols for ‘Faith: Strength’ and ‘Redemption: All Encompassing’ painted on the sides in giant 30 ft. letters. That’s probably thanks to Raymond William IV, Preacher Bill’s son. He knows Civ Symbols too, but you’re better at it than he is.

A few guards dressed in black and silver robes flag Pytor and he drives the RV to a collection of other vehicles. You see a couple of cars that have Genesis markings on them. Most of them have Black and Silver Faith/Redemption symbols on them.

Pytor rolls down the window and a smiling face looks at the both of you. “Welcome back, brother Pytor. Sister Lupa. Are your souls weary?”

“More our stomachs.” Pytor says. “We’re looking for work. Heard you needed arms and material scavengers for…current events.” He nods at the Genesis vehicles.

The Confessor guard nods. “You heard right, and it’s good to see people answering our holy call for aid.” He nods at the tent. “If you want to join us for the service, you can also join us in our free dinner.”

Ahh, the secret weapon of the Confessors. A free meal with actual meat in it. All you need to do is sit through a sermon.

Pytor gives you a quizzical look.

> Shake your head. You’ve got dried food and hot water. You can pass on the preaching.
> Nod. Who in their right mind would pass up actual meat? Plus you’ve heard Preacher Bill’s sermons before. You can sit through another if it means rabbit stew.

>>39496434
Seems like we keep getting the shit end of the stick. Oh well. Well get our eights sooner or later.

>>39496473
>> Nod. Who in their right mind would pass up actual meat? Plus you’ve heard Preacher Bill’s sermons before. You can sit through another if it means rabbit stew.

Hell, might learn a little something related to current personal events.

>>39496473
> Nod. Who in their right mind would pass up actual meat? Plus you’ve heard Preacher Bill’s sermons before. You can sit through another if it means rabbit stew.

>>39496473
> Nod. Who in their right mind would pass up actual meat? Plus you’ve heard Preacher Bill’s sermons before. You can sit through another if it means rabbit stew.

People would do a lot for free food. Just sitting for a while is nothing

You nod. You've heard Preacher Bill's stuff. It's better than the crazy that comes out of other Preachers.
The Confessor guards happily let you park the RV, and guide you a Pytor up to the tent. It’s warm in there, Preacher Bill uses his batteries to run large space heaters. There’s people sitting on benches, looking up at a small stage. There has to be 50 people in here, give or take. Along one side of the tent-church you see a few long tables that has Confessors stirring large pots of something that smells VERY good.

The congregation has been singing a hymn when you and Pytor enter and sit down near one of the space heaters. The hymn finishes, and up to the stage walks Preacher Bill. You’re not sure if he’s bigger than Pytor but he’s the closest you’ve ever seen. He’s carrying a small saucer, and in that saucer there’s a small amount of beans.

The crowd goes quiet as he gently rolls the beans around, making sure that the megaphone under his arm picks up the sound.

“I killed a man for this.” He says. “A handful of beans. For this I took a man’s life! I was young, and this was before I saw the light of Redemption in the Lord. I was like all of you, scrambling to get by, and not sure if I would see tomorrow. So the night I found myself with a half-empty tin of beans…I thought I was blessed. THANK YOU LORD! I said in my heart. TONIGHT I EAT! Of course, what happened next? A young man, no older than I was, came to my campfire. We greeted each other, warily, and the man asked if he could have some of my food.” Preacher Bill sighs. “Look at that…a meager mouthful…barely enough for even one. I told him no. I admit, I was less than polite. The other man took exception, after all he was starving too! So, he pulled his knife…and I pulled mine. We fought…and I killed a man over a mouthful of beans.”

A long silence.

(Cont)

File: Preacher Bill.png (250 KB, 846x768)

250 KB PNG

>>39496878
“There are those who will say that I was in the right. That I was justified. There was not enough to share. That he drew his blade first. That he could have helped find more food. There are a THOUSAND PEOPLE who will say ‘Preacher Bill…don’t you feel one drop of shame for what you did. It wasn’t murder. It was survival.’

He nods…you and Pytor cover your ears, you know what’s coming next.

“IT WAAAAAASSSSSSS MUUUUUURRRRRRRDDDDEEEEEEERRRRRR!” Preacher Bill screams. “I ENDED A MAN’S LIFE. I have to LIVE with THAT until I die and go before THE LORD and HE WILL MAKE ME ANSWER FOR THAT.” He nods. “THAT voice that you hear? The one that justifies…the one that gives excuses…the one that so sweetly says ‘Oh, they’ll be okay. They’re smart. Things will work out for them.’ That voice that tells you to TURN upon your fellow man and woman and DESTROY them? THAT VOICE SPEAKS THE WORDS OF THE DEVIL! KNOW WHAT YOU DO, AND DO NOT MAKE EXUSES FOR IT!

“HOWEVER…God does understand. We are mortal. We are flawed. ALL OF US. THIS WORLD WAS CAUSED BY OUR FLAWS…and it is ONLY BY OUR EFFORTS that it will be REBUILT! But we must OWN our flaws…and ADMIT them…then we can be better. I know there are thieves in here. People who have turned their back upon their fellow man and left them to die.”

He notices and looks directly at Pytor. “Murders too.”

He is a good preacher.

I don't like him.

“But HERE, HERE, HEEERRREE! Is the place where you can be FORGIVEN. Where you can be the person God WANTS you to be…and we can REMAKE this world!”

There’s cheering.

“Now…now confession is a private thing.” Preacher Bill says. “But if there’s someone here, who feels the spirit in them, and wants to come before me, these people, and the LORD ALMIGHTY and confess…then step forward and be CLEANSED!”

The next part is a routine you've seen before. A few Confessors come forward and confess to stealing, and then one confesses about how he left his ailing mother to die. That usually opens the floodgates and the new arrivals, and a few Genesis Citizens come up and confess.

A hand taps you on the shoulder, and you look into the smiling eyes of a masked face.

“Hello Lupa.” Raymond William IV says. “Do you want to help us serve the stew? You’ll get a bigger portion as thanks.”

You jump up from the bench and go with him. It’s no secret that he likes you. You’re pretty sure that you were his first. His father did NOT approve, but you get the feeling that he was just thankful his son had an interest in women and wasn’t with a Lantern Girl. So Preacher Bill didn’t scream much more than he did just now.

Of course that means that Raymond thinks you love him, which complicates things. Either way, more stew is the guiding star.

After the public confessions, Preacher Bill and the Confessors take the audience to line up to the small confession booths. (Take two refrigerator boxes, cut some holes, and add a lot of curtains and whisper.) Then after the wicked have bared their sins, they’re told what they can do to redeem themselves, usually they get suggestion that hours of working on the ranch, or donating supplies, or leaving Genesis would do it, along with prayer. Then they get to line up and get some of the Famous William’s Family Rabbit Stew.

You’re doling out the stew, and then…

> Roll 1d8

Rolled 1 (1d8)

>>39497410
Oh boy.

Rolled 5 (1d8)

>>39497410
Echo crits on a d8 are killing us.

>>39497435
thanks anon
seriously qm can we use different dice

Rolled 8 (1d8)

Huh, wonder what-

>>39497435
FRIGGEN REALLY?!

Rolled 6 (1d8)

>>39497410
rolling

>>39497463
thank you

>>39497463
Holy shit did I just counter a crit-fail?

...That's a new one for me.

>>39497435
Fuckn christ
Drowning in failure

we've roll 3 nat 1s on 3 different sets of rolls. I agree. The crits just aren't working

Rolled 5 (1d8)

>>39497410
>>39497435
>>39497463
Appease the RNG

>>39497463
Our hero~

>>39497486
Okay, for the mercy of everyone. When I say Roll a d8, rolling a 1 will no longer be a 'Fuck You' moment. If there are 2 '1' rolls, it just means you get the least possible result. 3 '1's then the dice gods hate you and you're fucked.

Anyway, so I'm playing the 8.

>>39497556
thank you

>>39497556
Based Echo.

>>39497556
Fool

You insult the RNG

How dare you!!

>>39497575
I don't see how he's insulting it, it's proven that we have a 1/3rd chance to roll a 1 every time he calls for rolls. That seems a bit high to impose a harsh critfail every time.

>>39497605
The RNG wants it !!FUN!!

It drinks our pain and tears

It must be fed to receive its blessing

>>39497636
Yeah, but if it happens too often we'll get used to it, and our pain and tears will be lacking. Critfails that are more rare and hit harder produce the maximum suffering, and please the dice gods the most.

>>39497463
In approaching levels of 'Oh Fuck' are the following things that you're noticing.

1) Your head is throbbing again. It's not painful this time, but it's still noticeable.

2) The little heart barrette is lighting up. You can see it flicking on and off.

3) There's three men standing in line. They're wearing Confessor robes, but they're Wrong. The Civ symbols are wrong. The cut of the robes is different, and they don't have the 'Happy I'm going to get stew/serving God' face that most of the other Confessors do. Also, their robes are hiding their hands.

4) They're slowly making their way to where Preacher Bill is happily talking to people as he serves stew, and they aren't Genesis.

5) There's an Eyeless that's wrapped around one of the Not-Right men's leg. It's a different kind of Eyeless though. This one looks like a giant worm, only it's a long clear sausage casing that's filled with that red pus, and lots and lots of Larvae.

"Lupa?" Raymond asks. "Is there something wrong?"

> Quietly: "Get your Father out of here!"
> Loudly: "STOP THOSE MEN!"
> Throw a bowl of searing hot stew at the fakers.
> Open your Heart To Joy.

>>39497728
> Open your Heart To Joy.

>>39497728
> Loudly: "STOP THOSE MEN!"
> Throw a bowl of searing hot stew at the fakers.

>>39497728

If we can double up?

>> Quietly: "Get your Father out of here!"

Then >Open your Heart To Joy

once he's clear.

>>39497728
>Quietly: "Get your Father out of here!"
>Open your Heart To Joy.

Others can be misinterpreted. These two are probably safest.

>>39497728
> Open your Heart To Joy.

Freude...

>>39497728
> Quietly: "Get your Father out of here!"
> Open your Heart To Joy.

>>39497728
> Quietly: "Get your Father out of here!"
> Open your Heart To Joy.
The second one, preferably when out-of-sight.

I hate trodding out the "ebil gubbernment gunna exploit you" line, but in this case, I do not trust the Genesis people to not take advantage of us.

>>39497728
> Quietly: "Get your Father out of here!"
>Heart Joy Yaddas Yadda

>>39497728
> Quietly: "Get your Father out of here!"

>>39497728
>Loudly: "STOP THOSE MEN!"
>Throw a bowl of searing hot stew at the fakers.

I have to say. This is called a 'Magical Girl' quest, but nothin' about this really screams Magical Girl, post-apoc or not. More like she just has a super mode.

This is NOT a bad thing, I'm just noting.

>>39497822
There's still plenty of time for fellow Magical Girls/Love Interests to show.

>>39497728
>Loudly: "STOP THOSE MEN!"
> Throw a bowl of searing hot stew at the fakers.
> Open your Heart To Joy.

>>39497883
I actually hope there is no love interest in this quest. I'm not against them in general, but I've been in a lot of quests lately that seem to get bogged down a bit on that front. I could use a break.

>>39497936
The rage when someone's waifu gets denied though.

>>39497728
> Quietly: "Get your Father out of here!"

>>39497780
You grab Raymond’s shoulder. “Get your Father out of here!” You hiss at him.

He frowns and blinks. “Why?”

You point at the three fake Confessors. Thankfully Raymond’s pretty quick at playing catch up. He sees the false Civ symbols and takes off to grab his father. Then you run off as well in the direction of the confession booths. One’s empty, and everyone’s too busy paying attention to the food.

Right before you close the curtains, you see Preacher Bill calmly walking away with Raymond, and the guards are moving into the crowd. You close the curtains and close your eyes…

‘Where do you find Joy?’

“I find Joy even in the Ashes.”

You feel your vest underneath your suit grow very warm, and there’s a brief pulse of light, and then when it’s gone you are now VERY much different. Your suit looks like it’s been merged with the vest. Your mask is on, and…you have pigtails that go down to your hips.

‘The fuck?!’

‘Just seeing what we can do for the look. Too late for the hair color.’

‘Who ARE you?’

‘Joy-In-Ashes, You are Lupa. Also I’m Lupa, and You are Joy-In-Ashes.’

‘What?’

‘I’m a part of your brain that’s keeping you sane, otherwise you’d uncontrollably reach out and touch the mind of another human, go into mental shock at the experience, and die.’

‘What?’

‘Thankfully for you and Embers, the Energy’s been left alone for long enough that it was able to warp itself and develop this countermeasure. You’ve had ancestors in the past 150 years who weren’t so lucky.’

‘What?’

‘You want to skip this and focus on the fact that there’s an Eyeless, two Hives, and a Vainglory in here?’

(cont)

>>39498178
We really need to talk to Joy and get more information. Sometime when we aren't in mortal danger.

File: Joy-In-Ashes Twintails.jpg (24 KB, 500x300)

24 KB JPG

>>39498178
‘A what?’

‘Vainglory. Its what happens when a human turns into a Hive for an extended period of time and the Hubris Larvae burrow into every piece of the person’s being. Usually they just have a massive heart attack and brain aneurysm and die, turning into a new Eyeless. However, if a fully Infected Hive runs into an Energy source, or a fallout zone, or something that puts out a lot of Energy…like say a certain girl with bad hair…then you get a Vainglory.’

‘What do they look like? And why does that Eyeless look like a worm?’

‘There’s a bunch of different kinds of Eyeless, and as for the Vainglory, it depends on the host. Anyway, they know they’ve been found out.’

You peek out past the curtain and you see that the crowd is starting to move away from the three imposters. (Two of them you can now see are covered with Hive pus, the tallest one just has cracked skin, like he’s been broken and put back together poorly.) The Confessor guards are circling, and the men have reached inside their robes.

The worm eyeless is slithering around the legs of the three men. Hubris Larvae twitching in its pus trail.

‘Now’s your big entrance moment…you for a big speech, or a show of light or…what?’

> Jump out and go for a speech
> Jump out with sparkling lights and flying ash
> Both
> Just attack, aiming first for the Hive/Eyeless/Vainglory

>>39498298
> Jump out with sparkling lights and flying ash

>>39498298
>> Just attack, aiming first for the Hive/Eyeless/Vainglory

We don't do flashy. We just handle business.

>>39498298
>Just attack, aiming first for the Hive/Eyeless/Vainglory
Not gonna pull a sailor moon speech about love and justice. It would just get us shot or laughed at.

>>39498298
> Jump out with sparkling lights and flying ash

>>39498298
> Jump out with sparkling lights and flying ash
At the same time
> Just attack, aiming first for the Hive/Eyeless/Vainglory

>>39498298
> Just attack, aiming first for the Hive/Eyeless/Vainglory

>>39498298
> Jump out and go for a speech
"To, uh, protect the world from devastation! Er, well, a bit late on that, I guess..."

>>39498298
> Just attack, aiming first for the Vainglory
Maybe a one-liner though? I'm trying to think of a good one centered around ashes, and the cyclical nature of all things on Earth, that all things are born upon the ruins of old, and shall themselves give birth to what follows.

>>39498298
> Just attack, aiming first for the Hive/Eyeless/Vainglory

>>39498461

...
"Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust. So am I, so shall you be."

>>39498329
>>39498360

Who's your target? The Eyeless Worm, Hive A, Hive B, or the Pre-Hatch Vainglory?

And what attack are you going to use?

Here's your skill set.

Physical Abilities:
Peak Vision (All times Visibility is as if you were in a well lit room)
Better Reaction Time 2x Normal
Better Speed 1.5x normal
Better Stamina 1.5x Normal
All others, same as normal

Spells
'Humility,' Can Cleanse Hives, Touch
'Clear Sight' Can cause others to see Eyeless/Hives/Vainglory true forms.
???? - Ranged 10ft, LOS
???? - Self

Also, you have your knife with you, and you always can Punch or Kick.

>>39498461
>>39498520
Maybe that's what I was half-remembering, Here's what I was thinking.

"Ashes to ashes. May better things come of yours."

>>39498542
>Vainglory
>'Humility'

Sucker-punch the tough one, mop up the rest later.

>>39498542
Vainglory
???? - Ranged 10ft, LOS

>>39498577
it won't work. Vainglory's are past saving, they've been consumed.

>>39498542
>>39498577
>>39498603
Change 'Humility' to
>???? - Ranged 10ft, LOS

I have a bad habit of not reading posts in enough depth.

>>39498542
'Clear Sight' Can cause others to see Eyeless/Hives/Vainglory true forms.
Get the congregation to help you. We need to get them to help or get out of the fight.

>>39498542

>Clear Sight

Get the collateral out of here. Once the number of potential hosts is lessened, we can fight in earnest.

>>39498542
Use clear sight to get some more reliable help
Then use Humility to cleanse Hive A

>>39498582
>>39498642

'We said that Vainglory thing was going to get worse, tell me that we've got something that can take it down NOW!'

'Sure...ummm...fuck! Not much to work with at the moment...okay okay! Got it! Aim for the eyes!'

> Roll 1d20

>>39498542
'Clear Sight' Can cause others to see Eyeless/Hives/Vainglory true forms.

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>39498779

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>39498779

Here's hoping we can shoot.

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>39498779
rolling

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>39498779

Rolled 16 (1d20)

Pretty sure Clear Sight would cause a panic.

>>39498779

>>39498806
Pretty sure that means we only hit center mass or something.

>>39498806
The Confessors will all debate about this moment. What they can agree is that the Grey Haired Girl emerged out of nowhere, and gestured with both hands. Then a plume of ashy smoke shot out from her hands and the cloud sped out across the room like a cloud of hornets and then stopped right at the tallest of the attacker's head.

'Damn it...that was supposed to be a lot stronger. We'll need to practice. What now?!'

'Clear Sight!'

Then the Grey Haired Girl raised one hand, dropped to her knee and threw another handful of ash into the air, and then the ash exploded like a flashbang...and that's when shit REALLY got weird.

(cont)

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>39498944

First, there’s about five armed Confessors in the room, along with two Genesis ‘penitents’ (Read Scouts/Spies), along with Raymond, Preacher Bill, and Pytor.

Only three of them have firearms. (Pytor has his revolver, a Confessor has a rifle, and the Genesis Spy has a handgun) The rest have knives.

They suddenly see three people turn from suspicious looking people, into three monstrous looking people, and a demonic looking worm on the floor.

The two Hives draw their arms out from their robes. They both have knives, and they scream somethings through a mouthful of pus and start walking towards the Grey Haired Girl.
The Worm thing spasm like someone electrocuted it, and it starts going towards the Grey-Haired Girl.

The third guy waves away the could of smoke around his head, and then…he hatched. His head split right open and this…thing crawled out of it. It was humanoid in shape. It had arms, legs, a head, a torso, eyes, and a mouth. However it was all like it was made out of black pipe cleaners that had been dipped in glue and rolled around in metal shavings. Its eyes were two metallic looking spheres that oozed this golden pus. The golden pus dripped from its mouth, hands, and feet, and it hissed when it touched the ground.

It turned to the grey haired girl and it opened its mouth and vomited a mass of that golden pus.

Rolled 4, 9, 18 = 31 (3d20)

>>39499192
But the Girl is just poof! Not there when the pus hits her. It his a cloud of ash, and she's actually a few feet to the side.

Raymond and Preacher Bill fall back, both of them praying.

Pytor, the Confessor with the rifle, and the Genesis Spy all open fire on the Vainglory

>>39499231
Pytor and the Confessor's shot miss, but there's something to be said about Genesis and their training drills. He nails the thing. It howls and a large gout of goop sprays out like a punctured hose.

The four other Confessors and Genesis Spy are unwilling to get close to these things, as they are oozing pus, and in one case that stuff is giving off hissing noises.

Your turn
- Possible Options
> Ash Cloud shot a target
> Humility on one of the Hives.
> ???? self
> Draw your knife and stab something.

>>39499291
>> Humility on one of the Hives.

Lets try to clear out the fodder at least.

>>39499291
>> Humility on one of the Hives.
>

>>39499291
> Humility on one of the Hives.
mystery box is so tempting

>>39499291
> Humility on one of the Hives.
Save those you can save.

>>39499317
It's probably an overclock/Dragon Install-type stunt.

>>39499291
> Humility on one of the Hives.

>>39499299
The Grey-Haired Ash Girl then dived forward and rat AT one of the pus covered men with knives, and gestured with her hand, drawing something that looked like Civilization writing on the guy's chest!

> Roll 1d20

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>39499358

>>39499377
That hive goes puff and collapses. Also... no one else roll.

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>39499358
>>39499377

And now no one wants to roll.

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>39499393
Wacky crits are fucking retarded.

Rolled 16, 15 = 31 (2d20)

>>39499377
Then she flicks her wrist and the entire ash symbol flies, in mid air, across the room to land on the other pus-covered man's chest. Preacher Bill swears to this, the girl made Civilization Symbols float across the room.

Then there's two bright flashes of light, one after the other, and the men aren't covered with pus and worms anymore. They both collapse to the ground.

'Holy shit, how'd you do THAT?'

'What? YOU'RE the voice in my head that knows this shit. I thought YOU knew!'

'What I do know is that you better not be in the same place again. The Eyeless is lunging at you and Vainglory's spewing again!'

'Shiiiiiiit!'

Rolled 5, 14, 15, 16, 18 = 68 (5d20)

>>39499478
The Ash Girl tried to get out of the way, put the worm thing sprung at her and wrapped around one wrist, and the girl screamed, banging her arm to get it to break loose, and when she did that black-metal shaving thing had sprayed pus over her, causing her to scream again as she rolled on the ground, ash cloud springing up from her every move.

By this time the other people there had swung into action, and you had five men with knives jabbing at the ground trying to spear the worm thing.

>>39499522
Wait, so did we get hit or barely dodged?

Rolled 11, 13, 7 = 31 (3d20)

>>39499522
The only one that missed was the Genesis guy. The Confessors cut that freaky thing to pieces and it then dissolved onto the ground, and the larvae all curled up and dried out into little husk that were them stamped into dust.

Meanwhile, the three people with guns were still shooting at the monster.

>>39499555
The Confessor claims that his was the second shot that got the thing.

Then the Ash Girl...

> Ash Shot
> Knife
> ???? - Self-based

>>39499578

>???? - Self-based

Screw it, let's hit the button, see what happens.

>>39499578
> ???? - Self-based
mystery box save us

>>39499578
> Ash Shot

>>39499578
> ???? - Self-based

>>39499554
You got hit twice, at the moment, Eyeless hit on 16+, Vainglory on 15+

You have 6 hits total.

>>39499591
>>39499594
>>39499612

And then, the Ash Girl closes her eyes and it looks like that ash cloud that hangs around her suddenly covers her, head to toe, save for her mask. Then she opens her eyes and they're like two spotlights! They're just pure white light, and then the ash EXPLODES off her body as her entire body BURSTS with light.

- Bright Burst

> Enemies in range (5ft) automatically take 1 hit.
> Roll 1d20, Under 10 Joy-In-Ashes takes one wound, 16 or Higher enemies take extra hit, 11-15 no additional effect. Once per battle. (For now)

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>39499693
Ooh, fancy.

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>39499693

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>39499693
Put your faith in the light

>>39499715
nicely done.

>>39499715
Good stuff.

Also, seems like we're gonna have to take a breather after this.

File: 1360025250174.jpg (100 KB, 476x353)

100 KB JPG

>>39499715
Good shit anon.

>>39499715
That blast goes off, and when everyone can see again. The monster pipe-cleaner-pus-metal flake thing has been completely turned into ash. Its standing there, hands trying to cover its eyes, a grey crumbling statue.

The girl then took two steps towards it, and she spoke.

"Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust. So am I, so shall you be." And she waved her hand and the entire monster crumbles, and joins in that swirling ash cloud that surrounds the girl.

Then she turned to the people who helped her, and Preacher Bill and his son.

"Ashes to ashes...may better things come of yours."

The she made a sweeping gesture with her arms and there's a burst of light and an ash cloud and when it was over, she was gone. Just some ashes left on the stage where she stood.

"What. Just. Happened?" One of the Genesis guys said.

"A miracle." Father Bill said.

Joy-In-Ashes reappeared in the middle of one of the rabbit hutches, out of sight from anyone else. Coughing and still stinging from the pain.

'Calm down, we heal quickly now.'

'Did we teleport?'

'Short answer: No. Longer answer: We became slightly less solid as we moved on wind currents. Same trick we used to dodge earlier.'

'We aren't very good at it.'

'We'll get better. Ugh, getting groggy...that last bit was a huge drain...yeah, get ready to go back to being just Lupa.'

'Wait! We...I...Lupa have a lot of questions!'

'We'll be very disappointed when we find out how little we actually know. We're just about to hit the wall, really. We only know about Embers because we read about her.'

'Can we ask any questions?'

'As long as we can...yawn...last...and know the answer, we'll tell you. But first...do we like this hair? The twin-tails work, right?'

> No. They don't
> Fine, let's stick with pig-tails

> Any questions for Us?

>>39500016
> Fine, let's stick with pig-tails

i cant think of any but im just shit

>>39500016
> Fine, let's stick with pig-tails
Good enough as a disguise.


> Any questions for Us?
Tell me more about Energy. If I'm leaking the stuff I need to learn how to control it.

>>39500066

This. I'm not a fan of pigtails, but we need SOMETHING to differentiate us from normal Lupa.

>>39500016
> Fine, let's stick with pig-tails

>>39500016
> Fine, let's stick with pig-tails

>>39500066
'Fine, fine the Twin-tails work. They keep people from seeing Lupa.'

'FINALLY, some proper style. Oh, loved the coup de gras lines. Classy stuff.'

'What's this about Energy? Are we leaking the stuff? I need to learn how to control it.'

'Well, first, it used to be called Clean Energy. People didn't like saying 'Magic.' During the Golden Age and the War Age, everyone used it for everything. Even your batteries run on a mix of chemical and Clean Energy processes. It's why batteries are nearly infinitely rechargeable.

'Anyway, we don't leak it. We produce it, like a Clean Energy Node, but it's more of a tiny trickle than those massive waterfalls that nodes are. You know all those Power Stations the people avoid? They're all built on nodes.

'One big difference is that the Clean Energy we put out is SUPER refined in comparison, and we can shape it to do the shit that we do.

'Oh yeah, added bonus, unlike poor Molly-Dolly, we can walk into a place with Energy Fallout, and we'll be fine. Well...mostly fine. Eventually we'll get to the point where our presence will 'clean' fallout. No, we don't get stronger the more energy we soak up. We can only use as much energy as our body allows. Eventually we'll be able to do some serious shit, and could need to clean up fallout fields to get the juice needed, but it's like putting extra batteries on a device. It doesn't make the device run better just because more power's hooked up to it.

Also, if we tried it now, we wouldn't die, but we'd get REALLY sick, so keep avoiding Power Stations.'

'Yawn. Anything else?'

> Joy looks like she's only got one more question in her before she has to rest, and Lupa goes back to being Lupa.

>>39500340
I'm good.

>>39500340
Mmm...I got nothing. Kinda curious about what the absorbing stunt we pulled at the end was, but that aside, I'm good.

>>39500340
Ask what enemies we will face in the future. We have already fought eyeless, hives and Vainglory. Any specific enemy we should avoid?

>>39500385
'Anything we need to worry about 'absorbing' the Vainglory?'

'Nah, that's just us getting the Clean Energy that the Vainglory has collected. Don't want that stuff just floating around where Eyeless, or Hives can get at it. Or worse if it makes regular people sick. Okay...good night.'

You feel your skin tingle, and there's another quick burst of light, and then your hair's back to its normal length and color, along with your clothes you're back to being Lupa.

Also you note that your vest is now fully warm, not just lukewarm. A quick hem check shows you that the status is at 100%. Sweet.

You leave the Rabbit Hutch and head back to the tent, soon you hear footsteps approaching, and you see that it's Raymond William IV. He's out of breath. "Lupa...oh man...you missed it!"

"Sorry." You say, pointing back towards the parking lot. "Ran to check on the RV. Worried about thieves."

"Are there more?" Raymond asks, sharp fear appearing in his face.

"More what?"

"More monsters! You didn't see...there was this girl...and this guy's head cracked open and...holy sh...by the Lord in heaven. You wouldn't believe me if I told you!" He motions for you to follow him back to the tent. "We found out who sent the monsters after us too."

You slow down. "You did?"

"Yeah, it was the Righteous Flock." He nods frowning. "Two of the men, they were with the monster and covered in goo and then the ash girl wiped off their goo and put them to sleep and, wow, that sounded weird."

You give him a raised eyebrow of confusion.

Raymond backpedals and as you two walk to the tent, he describes the fight. He's big on talking about how the ash girl was 'graceful' and 'showed no fear.'

"I swear to Heavenly Father Above that this actually happened." Raymond says. "Father will back me up on this, so will Pytor."

You've reached the tent. You see that the two former-Hives have been stripped to their underwear, tied to chairs, and that Pyotr has been torturing them.

(cont)

File: Raymond William IV.jpg (6 KB, 236x188)

6 KB JPG

>>39500634
"Lupa!" Preacher Bill comes up to you and gives you a bear hug. "Ray tells me that you were the one to spot these snakes in our garden." He lets you go and then gently dabs your head with something. "I can think of no one better to first receive the Angel's blessing."

You touch your hand to your forehead and...yep...he just blessed you with your own ash.

"Thank you, Preacher Bill." You say. You nod at the men. "Who are they?"

Preacher Bill sighs and looks at the two Genesis agents and then to Pytor. "Your...guardian...has found that out for us. Apparently they're followers of the Righteous Path, people who listen to the words of James Plath."

"That's Father Righteous, blasphemer!" One of the men says through a mouth of broken teeth.

Pytor punches the man in the stomach. "Shut up." He says. He points at the other who is less beat up. "Where?"

The man shakes his head. "We keep the Holy Congregation on the move at all times, so that the Godless," He looks at the Genesis. "And the heretics." The Confessors. "Can't find us and stamp out our cause."

"Never thought I'd see a man who makes a Confessor look rational." The Genesis man says. "No offense."

"None taken." Preacher Bill says. "But I WILL be sending a strongly worded complaint to the Security Advisory Council about your practices, and we may have to renegotiate meat prices if this nonsense continues."

The Genesis Spy opens his mouth, but Pytor holds up his hand. "Enough."

The two men stop bickering. Pytor walks up to the scared man and gently taps his crowbar against his cheek. "Why? Why do you obey a madman? What does he do that turns you into...that? Drugs?"

"Father Righteous is a miracle worker. He can walk into the most cursed areas and walk back out. He speaks the lost language, and converses with ancient sages. He knows where the Sleeping Angel lies. When he wakes her, she'll return us to glory...and we will see the Age of Joy."

Oh there were SO many bad terms in that rant.

(cont)

Fuck, these guys are willing hosts to Hubris.

>>39500795
Great. This means it's a race to get to Ms. Hothead first.

>>39500853
Also that 'speaks the lost language' shit is nothing. We do that shit on the regular.

>>39500853
You think they meant Ember? I thought they might mean a old Joy, one of those who led to the apocalypse.

>>39500795
Righteous Path lead by Righteous Plath.

>>39500795
Pytor decks the man with his fist, and the man goes out cold. "Drugs. Man has a few talents probably some Civ tech, tells others he's God." he sniffs derisively. "Must be a poor Preacher. The good ones can get people to obey them mindlessly with a bowl of stew."

Preacher Bill just rolls his eyes. "I'll take the compliment. But what do we do with them?"

"They should be sent to Genesis." The Genesis Spy says. "Also, we need to further interrogate them...properly." He frowns at Pytor. "They pose a threat to our Township."

"They attacked my Flock. They attacked me!" Preacher Bill says. "But these aren't trained spies," Another needle look at Genesis. "I think these men can be saved. We'll keep them under lock and key here, and we'll show them the error of their ways, and they'll confess and be on the truth path to God."

"I say we should just take them out back and shoot them." Pytor says.

Raymond looks at you, eyebrows raised, and very concerned.

> Support Genesis/Bill/Pytor
> Whisper for Raymond to support Genesis/Bil?Pytor
> Say nothing.

>>39500878
Possible, but I'm thinking 'sleeping' as in 'unknowing of her power yet' kinda like we didn't.

>>39500893

Mmmm...I'm gonna go with

>Support Genesis

If only to build up trust with them for when we eventually need to waltz into Ember's hometown.

>>39500944
...I hope I don't go uncontested...

>>39500973
>...I hope I don't go uncontested...
It is the smart choice.

>>39500893
> Say nothing.
I think... we don't know enough. Bill seems look a good person, and Genesis seems like they are doing their best to do prosper. Even if they are jerks.

>>39500944
I don't think this is needed, at least not now. Genesis already has evidence that we helped them. It's not worth possibly alienating the Confessors.

>>39501022
I suppose.

>>39501022
Maybe we can work out a deal?
They go with Genesis to be 'properly interrogated'. After they get what they need, Genesis hands them over to the Preachers for religious conversion.

>>39501065
>They go with Genesis to be 'properly interrogated'. After they get what they need, Genesis hands them over to the Preachers for religious conversion.
Properly interrogated sounds... nasty.

>>39501084
Yeah now that you mention it, it does.
Maybe religious conversion, then interrogation? Hopefully they'd be more cooperative after conversion.

Or just tell Genesis to not slice off their fingers and arms/legs.

Thinking about it some more, I recall reading an article about military interrogation. The interrogator was more like a friend than foe, so instead of torture, it was more like a friend telling another friend stuff.

>>39501084
'properly interrogated' means 'Actually interrogated in a way that DOESN'T include torture' and not the 'Swift interrogation done by an anti-social man with a crowbar who isn't bound by Genesis Law or Confessor Scripture.'

We should slip the Genesis guy the barrette and Ember's name/location. I wouldn't mind there being more than one MG running around.

>>39501133
>Actually interrogated in a way that DOESN'T include torture
This is the most boring post apocalypse ever.

>>39501137
Genesis is a commune...if we could give it to him as Ash, it'd end up in her hands because her officials would be '...alright, let's play her gam-HOLY FUCK SUDDENLY MEGUCA'. Right now, though, he'd just hand it over to someone at random or the commune would spend it.

>>39501123
This is more accurate. Genesis may have their heads up their asses, but they aren't bad guys. They have rule of law, and they don't torture...that's why they let Pytor do it.

There's always just one or two assholes.

Also, and this is a normal piece of knowledge that Joy can tell you. It's not known if Hubris Larvae are attracted to asshole, or if they turn rational people into assholes. It's a chicken-egg thing. By the time that they're Hives, rational thinking has gone away.

Also, as far as Joy knows, there's no other threats to the world apart from the Hubris, and the Hubris were spawned due to the collapse of the Clean Energy plants.

>>39501141
Well, you're in a rather tame area. Things will get nastier the further you go away from home. Also, remember, your very presence attracts Hubris and creates Vainglories.

>>39501133
>>39501141
But Echo, we all know how much you love MCs who will use torture to interrogate young children.

>>39501191
So maybe we can strike a deal between Genesis and the Preachers, yeah? Both sides gets what they want, its just that one of them has to be patient.

>>39501232
>>39501065
>>39501123

"Do they have to be exclusive?" You ask. The three men turn to look at you. "Maybe they should stay here until Preacher Bill could tell them to confess to Genesis? Or Genesis could get their information from them, then give them to the Confessors after...there WILL be people left after, right?"

> Roll 1d12

Rolled 6 (1d12)

>>39501288

Rolled 11 (1d12)

>>39501288
Didn't think it'd come down to a roll.

Seems like the place is empty. I'm guessing this'll be the last update for tonight?

Rolled 9 (1d12)

>>39501288
>>39501443
I'm still here. Was lurking until now.

>>39501443
I lurk most of the time.
I have self-confidence issues when it comes to contributing my ideas to a quest.

>>39501324
(Who said you were rolling for that?)

OW! Your head just had a piercing pain in it. It’s not the same as a Hubris presence though. Well…it’s gone now.

You notice that Raymond starts as well. “Sorry.” He says, “Zoned out for a bit.”

Thankfully it seems that your suggestion was enough to make both sides consider shared custody and compromise. Now they’re just bickering over details of who gets to go where and do what.

You feel a weird cross of emotions as you follow Pytor back to the RV. Part of you is upset. You were trying to help and someone spat in your face. Another part, feels very VERY relieved.

“We’ll be salvaging beyond the bridge tomorrow.” Pyotr tells you. “Preacher Bill thinks he’s found the location of weapons. Wants them to help strengthen his position with Genesis.” He nods. “If there are extra weapons, we’ll sell to Genesis too. Be ready for Critters.”

You nod and get into your cabinet and go to sleep.

>>39501653
* * *

“And she destroyed our Champion, and defiled our Blessed Brothers?” James Plath asks the fourth Righteous Path member. The one who booked it when he saw the others were made.

“That’s what they say. An Angel of Ash.” The man says.

“No…you see the Heathens and the Godless have harness a demon. A denizen of Hell, sent to torment us by trapping us in this nightmare of a life.” He nods. “Go commune with your brothers, my child. We will be moving again soon. This…is something I must meditate on.”

The man nods and leaves.

Plath sighs and grabs a small square device from his ‘shrine’ in his double-wide and turns it on he taps letters on the screen.

PROBLEM. GAFT GOT ONE OF THE UNSUITABLE TO ACTIVATE. SHE’S HELPING GENESIS & CONFESSORS.

He waits for a minute. Then the square chimes with a tone and more letters.

DO THEY KNOW ABOUT OLYMPUS/HESTIA/J-I-T?
- - -
NO. WILL NEED MORE CED TO CONTROL HUBRIS FLOCK. ALSO NEED MORE HOSTS. IF THEY GOT ONE (ASHES?) THE OTHER ONE IN AREA IS THREAT. (EMBERS)
- - -
UNDERSTOOD
- - -
REQUESTING PRIORITY TARGET CLARIFCATION DUE TO NEW DATA. DESTROY CONFESSORS? CORRUPT GENESIS? ELIMINATE GAFT’S P-O-J CIRCLE?
- - -
NEW ORDERS
PRIORITY TARGET: JOY-IN-ASHES

End Part 2

>>39501683
>HESTIA
IT KEEPS HAPPENING.

Thanks for running EG.

Can you clarify what "You’re pretty sure that you were his first" in >>39497410 meant, exactly?

Also you might want to get a more distinctive OP pic and stick with it; almost didn't catch the thread in the catalog.

>>39501726
We banged him.

>>39501734
B-But muh purity.