Field Mission 5: Il Prigioniero, Part 2

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Once you sacrifice something here, you don't get it back. NAVIGATION Click here for the RNG thread! 1. THE MANAGER'S CHALLENGE A. MEET THE BOSS Once upon a time, there was a man, a woman, and a little boy. They were a family. They loved each other very much. Once upon a time, there was a monster, a protector, and a dreamer. They never asked to be a family. One by one, they fell under the pressures of each other. There are always layers to any story. There are at least two sides to any reality. When a man kills his wife with no consequences, what is the end of the story? Will the universe allow such an unhappy ending? Or are there forces that drag it on long past its natural span? With a single act of resistance, four Reclaimers have Remembered and thereby broken the cycle of the Night Show. But this isn't the end. This is barely the middle. Because the Wonderland you've seen so far is a layer of new pink skin over an ugly infection, one that goes deeper than anything the Bureau has seen so far. You can see what's underneath, now, as the theme park is whipped away in an implosion of void-space to show you . . . Emptiness. A space that is no space, blank and white in all directions. Free of gravity, every Reclaimer in the park — and, shockingly, Angus McDonald — is held in place with hands cupped and outstretched in front of them, all facing the same way. They cannot move. They cannot speak. They are the audience. Before them stands a man. Slim, tall, nondescript. He wears a bow-tie with a pattern of Rolands on it. And he is smiling. "Welcome to my Wonderland! My name is Adrian Morgenstern, and I am the Manager. It's a pleasure to meet you. Each and every one of you have had a very interesting effect on my Wonderland in my absence. Some more than others, and at greater cost to yourselves — but I encourage individual choice in Wonderland, and ownership of personal consequences. Suffering is a part of life. It builds character. "So, I am proud of you. So proud, in fact, that I've decided to bring you all backstage. You kept trying to see behind the curtain, didn't you? You'll really enjoy it. There is a great deal to do, so much to explore, and so many games to play. Every second you breathe in Wonderland is a game with stratospheric stakes. You're very brave to take the risk. "And to make things more interesting, I have set up a very special game for you little detectives, who so love to stick their noses into strange secret corners. I challenge you to a Scavenger Hunt. You accept, because you have no choice. Here is what you must gather: "The vacant bodies of Leonardo da Vinci, Minato Arisato, and Henrik Merryweather. The people who have been lured here after your carelessness shattered their livelihood. Have you located them all already? Or did you miss a few? Ten lost little elves, misled and apprehended. And, lastly— "My son. Bring me my son. Bring Niel to me, and I will give you the Compact." There's a crack in the facade. A literal crack; something in the structure of his face is off suddenly, like something has fractured and slid. One cheekbone higher than the other, a hairline fracture underneath his eye. You blink, and it's fixed. His smile is wide, but his face is whole. Suddenly, in each Reclaimer's outstretched hands (and in Angus's), there is a single three-sided die. On each side is written a word: BODY, MIND, or SPIRIT. "Don't lose these, now! These are your cheat codes. If you find yourself struggling with the scavenger hunt and in need of a little help, you can play a little game of chance to give Wonderland something of yours. It won't take anything that will kill you, don't worry. But it will take things that matter, and it won't give them back. "One more thing, and then I'll let you go. I've given you some cheats, but in order to keep you from finishing the game too quickly, I'm taking something away, too. Everyone, please take good care of yourselves while you're here. You're all precious cargo. And there's no healing in Wonderland." He winks. And blinks out of existence. And suddenly, the nonspace you occupied is gone, and you are Somewhere Else. Back to top 2. WONDERLAND, UNDER THE SKIN B. THE ILLUSION COMES DOWN CW: Emetophobia, body horror, reality caving in on itself For a short time after Adrian leaves, everything is as it should be. Wonderland is Wonderland, but quiet and still aside from the background music. After a few breaths, heartbeats slowing, the music warps and bends like rotting wood, going further and further off key until it grinds. Clangs once, loudly, down to your bones, and halts. The world freezes in absolute silence. Then. A sizzling noise. Burning paper. The illusion starts to die. To your left, the floor peels up like it's made of paper, mist, waving like a mirage before your eyes. Colorful red velvet floors reveal dark green and glowing violet moss and fungus. Gold tile floors give way to ebony wood, gone rock solid in atrophy. Disease. A small black vine reaches from the floor towards you, towards Life, but withers and hardens before your eyes. You need to leave. To your right, a wall bleeds. Is it actually blood? Sap? The color seems to run away from your eyes - goldredwhiteyellowblackblackblack - covered with an iridescent sheen, an oil slick, pouring out and up and towards in ways that burn your eyes and soul. You need to leave. All around you, the Wonderland you've come to know burns like shadows in sunlight, or sunlight to shadow. The ceiling and walls and everything morphs to the inside of some unfathomably large tree. Roots and branches and gouged out holes, forming paths of the most non-ecludian sort. Some... things out of sight climb up and down in the darkness, looking for purchase, escape, travel. Far too many limbs, or none at all. You need to LEAVE. Not yet. You want to help. You need to help. You grab the nearest non-reclaimer - an elf, a visitor, someone - and they are both far too light and far too heavy. Stiff like wood in your hands. Their skin is gray, ashen, black veins in porcelain skin. Eyes gone solid black, they try to say something, but all that comes out is a spew of thick black tar - leaking from their eyes, ears, nose, vomit, cracks in their joints and once-flesh. The amorphous Black they just expelled pulses, then skitters down between the wood at your feet. You look at your skin. Your veins are too dark. Visible. Present. A weight builds in your heart, The Reclaimers (and Angus) can still move, bolt for what was once a cascade of colors, lights and joy. Now it's a gaping maw, jagged edges like splintered teeth around a hole like a cavity, sap like pus seeping out of the edges. The once-elevator now-branches bring you back to Shadowdale, covered in a charcoal smog that seems to smile at you from every angle. C. THE CAVALRY ARRIVES Lucretia, after receiving Sans' text about the current state of affairs within Wonderland, is faced with a decision that only she could make. Years ago, she came upon this place and lost decades of her life, all in an attempt to stop the mechanations of this horrific landscape. Her biggest failure, a thorn in her pride, she assembled the Bureau of Balance not long after her visit in order to take down places like this. People or things who obtain a power they should not have. She doesn't know why Wonderland is the way that it is, she can only guess that the Grand Relic has corrupted the World Tree down to its core. But more than that, more than the years she put onto her life for a wager of chess, more than the meticulous, maddening obsession she has with destroying every single one of these objects that threaten the world- her Reclaimers are here. Her Reclaimers. Against the judgment of most of her advisers and Moon Base employees, she grits her teeth and holds tight to her staff. Carey, Killian, and Lucretia descend upon the forests of the Cormanthor region. It takes them far, far too long to make it through the wilds. The forest can sense when someone is coming to destroy it, and thus, sends everything it can against them. Enchantment after enchantment gets flung their way, but she knows better. She's seen Wonderland before and she reckons that no one has ever visited this place twice. Arriving in Shadowdale, she looks up to see Yggdrasil in its sad, sorry state. Clasping her staff in place, finally here, she is resplendent in her detestation of this unholy place. A few of you might be there at the base of the tree when Wonderland transforms into its hellscape, and you might see her approaching, purposeful, as if every step is one of reclamation and poise. Angus McDonald looks upon her and tilts his head, trying to figure out what exactly it is that's going on. Lucretia warmly smiles at him. "Hello, Angus. I've heard much about you." "Ma'am?" But her attention is turned to another little boy, terrified otherwise. His face is darkened, sickly colors rooting through his veins and showing up against a pale skin. Niel. Ah, she remembers him, too. Her face gives no sign of anger, of fear, or resentment. "Don't worry, Niel. We'll free you from that monster." She doesn't renege on her promises. Lucretia slams her white oak staff on the ground and in an instant, a flash of brilliant luminescence fills all of Shadowdale, expelling the darkness that lingers around the corners of the sleeping town. She erects a magic dome from the center of her origin, expanding out from her as she concentrates on her magic. Lucretia's gifted in the arcane herself, you see, and a giant Globe of Invulnerability spell now blocks entrance nor exit from this zone. And for the first time in centuries, Shadowdale sees sunlight. Carey and Killian flank her. She needs to concentrate on this spell in order to keep it active, and they're there to stop anyone who thinks about getting in her way. D. NEW RULES OF WONDERLAND It's a zero-sum game here that Adrian is wagering. Lucretia didn't bring Dr. Tank down to Shadowdale for a very specific reason; an expert chess player herself, she always thinks in terms of move by move encounters. She figures that the rules would change quickly once the Reclaimers had figured out what was behind the curtain, so to speak. There's no way that Wonderland would allow healing or restoration of a body within its confines. She aims to cut this place off from the outside world. To quarantine it away from escape and cage it inward like an animal. No, Dr. Tank would be useless here, and if anything... dangerous, to put their chief of medical staff here in the middle of the mission. And thus, no one can come in or out of the area once she's erected the barrier. Returning to base is no longer an option for the remainder of the mission, including any and all facilities provided by its administration: Bender's food, Fantasy Costco, items you may have left behind, etc. Those of you who have opted out of the horror plot for the month will most likely be spending your time in Shadowdale for the next two weeks, providing back up and support to Lucretia. The work you do out here is equally as important as the work that needs to be done on the inside. Whereas the forest was quiet and still before, it seems to have taken on a new life of its own, now that it senses the Source of its life deeply threatened. Killian takes command from here on out. Anyone not willing to go up to Wonderland needs to stay down here and stop the encroaching darkness from attacking. And she means that, literally. As you look around the outskirts of town, the dome extending well beyond the vantage point you can see, there are creatures, made of darkness, dripping a deeply red sap that sparkles in the newfound texture of light Lucretia's spell provides. One bounds forward from the edge of a building, four legs crawling and made of pure shadow, and attempts to make an attack towards the Director. Carey cuts it down as it splits into two and vanquishes into a dark dust. "What the hell are these ugly gods-damned things?!" Some of you might've noticed it before in your rolls, but in the light provided by Lucretia's spell, there's no denying it. Negativity forms a dark cloud straight from Carey's mouth, as her eyes go wide at the sight of it. The monster at her feet, now a cloud of dust, seems to feed on it as it reassembles back into its form. What the actual fuck. Back to top 3. A TASTE OF GOOD SUFFERING E. REEDS GROWING OUT OF MY FINGERTIPS The Wonderland the Reclaimers and Angus find themselves in now looks nothing like the Wonderland they left behind. The feel of it is similar, except that the creeping dread has officially crept. It's here now, fully-formed and breathing down the back of every single neck. What was whispered before is screamed now: Wonderland is here to hurt you. The fun it seeks is not for you, but fuel for something else, something you haven't found yet. Nonetheless, you're here to feed it. And so, you begin to realize, is Yggdrasil. The naturally-minded among you begin to realize it with sickening certainty: the roots, the veins, the stiffness and the ever-present tarlike substance stem from the sickness of the World Tree. Wonderland, and all of you, are within Yggdrasil's rot now — and as much as it tries to reject this magic, the insidious power of the Compact has taken over too far. The tree is dying. Inside of it as you are, you can practically feel it. The entire place is a warren, structured like the tree it's draining the life out of. From the central trunk, the central locations that used to be Squares slide off from the main body in long, twisting branches that turn in nonsensical directions before abruptly coming to a halt. Each Square exists in uncomfortable parody here — or maybe the original was the cruel joke, because the purpose of Wonderland is suffering. At any turn in your path through the channels of Wonderland, you'll be swimming through darkness creeping in on all sides. No light can penetrate past your periphery, with very few exceptions; you are a moving lantern in this blackness, functioning on faith that whatever comes at you, a mystery until the last moment, will be something you can handle. Stumble into Battle Square and find yourself face-to-face with a monster of vicious intelligence and amorphous shape, delighted to cut you to ribbons over a period of hours while telling you every secret shame you've ever harbored. In Event Square, a knot midway up the endless trunk, time goes taffy-sticky as you trip through loops of memory blasted on every wall, loud and confusing and overwhelming, going on for what seems like forever. There's more, of course — more discrete spaces than you could even see in Wonderland. Any manner of horror you can consider can be found here, as vast as Yggdrasil itself. One or two places, though, will be particularly easy to recognize — and difficult to escape. F. THIS IS NOT FOR YOU Sometimes, investigation gives us little tips and tricks for solving the next stage of the puzzle. For example: Michael found a map to the mirror maze, back in the first iteration of Wonderland. But unfortunately, sometimes the setting also cheats. Ghost Square is still here — but maps aren't going to do you any good. Enter this section of Wonderland and the door behind you doesn't exist anymore. It doesn't pop out of existence; it just isn't, like it never was, like maybe you imagined it in the first place. A hallway, apparently manmade, stretches out in front of you, dark and cold. It appears to be approximately 60 feet long. The walls are black. When you reach out to touch them, they are freezing to the touch and too smooth to be natural, not shiny enough to be polished, too hard to be plant matter. You have no idea what they are, but touching them saps the warmth out of you, so you stop. You keep walking, a halo of light around you but stretching no further than a few feet in any direction. You walk for 60 feet. The hallway keeps going. It hasn't gotten longer, but it hasn't gotten shorter, either. It keeps going. It keeps going. You continue until your feet hurt or you get sick of this bullshit, whichever comes first, and then you turn back the way you came. Maybe you think you'll see a door, or maybe you're not thinking very clearly anymore. Back the way you came, there is a staircase. It wasn't there before. You certainly didn't pass it. It spirals down into the depths. It could be a story deep or a hundred. You have no way to know. You turn back towards the direction you originally walked, and there is only a wall. It's the spiral staircase or it's nothing. You go down. As you descend, it gets colder. Colder and darker, and the darkness and cold press against you, creep under your skin and make you shake. The halo of light around you begins to dim the deeper you go. If you go deep enough, it will be hard to tell what's light and what's your imagination. Because really, honestly? The longer you stay in this place, the more you begin to think you're hearing things. Whispers just beyond your ability to decipher. A soft laugh, like that of a child or someone trying to stay quiet. And if you stop, or rest, or feel something negative — anger, frustration, sorrow, despair, it doesn't matter, because a black fog drifts out from between your lips. And in the distance, something roars. Just a little bit closer every time. Every once in a while, as you descend the staircase, you will pass a mirror with a red X taped near the top. Sometimes you'll see yourself in it. Sometimes you'll see something worse. When you get right down to it, what you get out of the world has a lot to do with what you put in — so we hope you're staying positive, or you might see something really nasty. G. THE SONG BEYOND THE SONG The aftermath of MARIA's destruction, the Area That Was Once The Night Show is a blasted husk. More than anywhere else, the walls ooze Yggdrasil's lifeblood from where something... was. Something large used to be chained here. Open gashes and empty sockets line the walls and floor. A large root knotted like a spine shoots through the very center of the room, a support pillar, entwined into the ceiling and floor and Everything of this cavern. Growths like tumors rise from the floor - what was once gambling tables look more like grasping hands. A few curl into themselves, knocked over, shattered to splinters in the wake of what was once there. Maria is gone. She is free. There is a sob. Small. Weak. Mortal. At the base of the pillar, half-absorbed into the plant matter of Yggdrasil is Stylosa. Black roots creep up through her arms, chest, face. Her tears are tinged black, but the eyes are still hers. One arm reaches out. She whispers 'please help, it hurt̷̟͂s̶͕̓ ̵̻͂ĩ̸̺t̸͔͐ ̴͙̍ḧ̷̜́ù̸̘r̶̢̓t̶́͜s̸̫͒ ̸͑ͅî̶̺Ṱ̴̿ ̵̠̃H̷̙͊U̸̻̒R̶̯͛T̸͓͠S̸̢͌`- The world goes static, right then wrong then right again, and the original Wonderland surrounds you. Silent - for a second. An explosion of color and canned applause comes from behind you. What was once a stage opens once more. There is the Henrik some of you were searching for, skin plaster, eyes matte black, a rigor mortis smile across his face. His voice booms out of speakers that aren't there. "Welcome, one and all, as we embark on this, our first night! To the new and improved Night Show, with one hundred percent more audience participation!!! Guaranteed to keep you rooted to your seats, haha!" Confetti falls from nowhere, more false cheers from an invisible audience. He bows, stiff and chipped as a wind-up toy. It gives you a chance to angle your gaze to where there used to be an exit. It is there no longer. Doors appear and disappear in wrong places. Chandeliers swap between designs. The new Show is still trying to acclimate itself. "Now, I know some of you have had a bad time here before, but please romaine calm. We-" And then Da Vinci's Body, appearing from nowhere, the same black eyes and battered smile, smacks him upside the head. A slapstick comedy in all the worst ways. "That one doesn't work! We're in an ash tree!" "No, we're in a cactus!" "Ahahaha! Oh, Henrik, you know I'm a succa for your jokes!" Both them and the invisible audience crack out into raucous laughter, doing matching poses like they're both on the cover of Vogue magazine. They whisper something to each other and 'Da Vinci' runs off stage to prepare. "Tonight, in celebration, we'll be holding our first ever... talent show!!! Our main acts are just boooring now. You know what I mean? Look at this mess-" A hand waves out, and Minato unfolds up from the floor, harp welded into his hands, painted and decorated and held in place with pipes and wire. 'Da Vinci' waves her arms, unveiling the elaborate music box. His hands play against his will, plinking out the sad notes to a certain Velvet Room theme. He gets left alone in tired silence for a bit before a note goes off key. 'Da Vinci' yanks his face into the same smile, freezing it in place. TODAY IS A JOYOUS DAY, we are all so very HAPPY, and the eyes of 'Minato' go black. The room is filled with cheers and rainbows, an excited irish jig played out by their wind-up stage musician. 'Henrik' doesn't wander the room, choosing instead to make sure the background music keeps going. The statues and paintings once lining the walls bend before your eyes - reforming into memories from your home, replays of your failures, but all done up in catchy pop-art style and played for hilarity. Rather than Marias, all newcomers are visited by a black-eyed ghoul wearing a human skin. They hand out drinks and paperwork, what would you like to participate with in our talent show? The winner not only gets a job but- One wish from the Compact. Surely that's way more interesting than trying to get out, right? Back to top 4. OOC In order to keep to our goal of providing the most personalized Wonderland experience for all of you, we're setting a limit of 1 RNG attempt per character this log. Additionally, please be aware that while some mundane rolls will have standard-level DCs, many rolls, including those with the potential to uncover plot information, will be high-risk high-reward and will have a very high DC along with steep penalties for failure. As always, we will let you know of this before we roll, and you have the option to decline any roll at any time. If you would like to gain a bonus of +2 on any given roll, those who have opted in to horror content may make the choice to sacrifice something of body, mind, or spirit. We will determine your sacrifice based on your horror homework. It is up to you whether this sacrifice is for the duration of the mission or a permanent sacrifice. As an additional reminder, there is no healing in Wonderland. To a few of you, this will be even more detrimental than usual. To those of you who went too far with your debts or your choices, who have lost your very Selves to Wonderland. A list: ○ Michael ○ Kaede Akamatsu ○ Minato Arisato ○ Akira Kurusu ○ Guido Mista ○ Ryuji Sakamoto ○ Leonardo da Vinci ○ Willard H. Wright Despite Lucretia's spell, the Light won't effect you guys. Over the course of part 2 you'll find you're slowly falling prey to what hit everyone else in wonderland. Your skin will turn pale, your veins will turn dark, you'll start vomiting viscous Abyss that occasionally comes to life, and eventually your eyes will turn black and you will Petrify. Should you as a player not want to play out the vomiting part, it can be exchanged with breathing out black mist. Whichever's cool with your school guys. The speed/intensity of this change and all of its symptoms is also up to you. There are two exceptions. Da Vinci, while she is still a Roland, will simply start going rotten, seams growing old and fur collapsing away. Constant Mending will mitigate this, but she's on a timer to get her body back now. Willard will find that as the hardening of the glass continues, it will start to lose all color and begin to crack in places. These cracks will leak the same tar infecting the other players. Minato, despite being a Music Box right now, is still in his physical body and is not an exception. On a more general note, we encourage you to make your own mini-horrorscapes in this setting! The entirety of Wonderland is available to dark-side, with the exception of what we've already laid out for Ghost & Wonder Squares. Improvise and make a mess. Just make sure to tag anything warning-worthy. Anything on the OOC post is fair game, and if there's something you'd like to try, please don't hesitate to let us know on the RNG thread. Should you have any questions, please direct them to the OOC post linked above. Back to top blurb code by photosynthesis

Comments

RNG

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Reminders for this log:

○ Questions for this log can be directed over to the mission's dossier
○ No more than 1 RNG request per character at this time, please! In the event of multi-character RNGs, whoever posts the request uses up one of their slots; other characters involved do not. As in part 1, we strongly encourage sharing rolls!
○ Plot-relevant rolls are high-risk, high-reward. Proceed with caution.
○ For a +2 on any given roll, those who have opted in to horror content may make the choice to sacrifice something of body, mind, or spirit. We will determine your sacrifice based on your horror homework. It is up to you whether this sacrifice is for the duration of the mission or a permanent sacrifice.

[korekara]

oh god i'm breaking in the RNG thread WOW FEAR

ANYWAY! Since healing is off the table, Honoka is instead going to do her best to use Bardic Inspiration on Niel in the hopes of helping him fight off the Petrification effects! She knows she probably won't be able to fully heal him, but she just?? doesn't want to sit around and do nothing while he's obviously suffering. We might even get some passable poetry out of her, because this is such a serious moment but don't bet on it.

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We gave a -1 to the DC because this is adorable. That said, you're still trying to use Bardic Inspiration to emulate Sanctuary. That's still a DC of 15.

And Honoka got a 17. So her poetry is literally capable of divine intervention. At least here.

However good or bad the poetry is (probably bad) the spirit is enough. It's at one point, where Niel devolves into a fit of giggles, that it changes. He's still pale, eyes still sunken, but the black cast to his skin and veins pulls back. There's a few coughs, last dredges of dark mist escaping, and then she gets a smile like sunshine.

Thanks Honoka. He needed that. Sorry he's being a downer.

[slieght]

Forgoing his roll to do some hollering.

Kokichi's going to find himself as secluded of a spot as possible, taking care not to be followed by monster or person alike, before just. Calling out to the manager to try and see if he'll pop up. It worked on Monokuma, it just makes sense that it'd work here too. Morgenstern, he'd like to have a few words with you!! He's got some questions as a participant of your game and a patron of your park!!

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As soon as Kokichi calls, the manager appears. Or sort of appears, anyway. It's pretty clear he's not physically there; this is a projection, a magical hologram of sorts. But he's here enough and clearly sees Kokichi, and smiles at him.

"You won't win if you play with such emotion, young man. But please. Ask your questions."

[gotyourbach]

Let's save!! That boy!! (feat. Blake and Shinjiro, special guest Minato tbd)

Kaede will grab that paper from the poor ghoul and sign herself right tf up to perform, not knowing for sure if it'll get Minato off that stage, but willing to try just about anything. She'll put herself down as the SHSL Pianist, of course, and if her lovely pianodog has survived the chaos, she'll use it in its grand piano form to compete. Otherwise, she'll demand a piano from not!Henrik and use her performance as Bardic Inspiration for her team. Mostly in an attempt to combat that negativity she can sense from Minato, but also to try to inspire everyone else. Shinjiro will use Know Your Enemy on Henrik in the meantime.

Blake is going to try to sneak Minato out during Kaede's performance, but Minato will just turn around and come right back inside to try to save Kaede, so like. That's a thing.

Once the show is over and she realizes that they intend to just put Minato right back up there, Kaede, full of righteous, somewhat possessive Paladin fury, and backed up by Blake and Shinjiro, is going to refuse to let them have Minato mount the stage. "I won't let you take him!" Depending on what's allowed, this might go a couple ways!

1) Kaede successfully is allowed to exit stage left. Kaede, Blake, Shinjiro, and Minato fight to keep them from putting Minato back on stage.

2) Kaede is not permitted to leave the stage, or is unable to thanks to the performance itself. Blake, Shinjiro, and Minato fight to get Kaede off the stage.

3) Kaede is permitted to leave the stage, but can't stop them from rendering Minato an incapacitated music box. Kaede, Blake, and Shinjiro fight to get Minato off the stage.

Whomever the final Fight Team makes up, they're going to do everything they can to make sure Minato isn't trapped there. If this means nothing other than Kaede will take his place on stage and Minato will go free, that's absolutely fine! Otherwise:

Blake's Shadow Clones will serve as a distraction for Kaede and Shinjiro to try to grab Minato and run. Kaede will prioritize Shield of Faith on Minato, under the assumption that he'll be any attacker's primary target.

Should it come to a straight fight, Shinjiro has Improvised Weapon and Champion, and will use Disarming Strike on "Da Vinci" or "Henrik" if needed. Blake can use Mage Hand Legerdemain to toss stuff into their opponents' ways, and has Evasion if need be. Kaede is actually pretty good at using a rapier, and has the full gamut of Bard skills at her disposal, making as much use of the Sleep spell as possible (primarily on attempting to neutralize 'Da Vinci' without harming her) and Vicious Mockery if that fails.

If Minato gets to be part of the fight, he also has the full range of Bard skills, and if he's not a music box himself, will use his Evoker to summon Orpheus to lower someone's attack if needed. He can cast his path spells through Orpheus if he can summon him but not do anything else, again with Vicious Mockery, Sleep, and Bardic Inspiration for his team. Kel wants me to include that Minato's Vicious Mockery will be reminiscent of the kind of insults one might hear from Gundam Tanaka.

It's worth noting that Kaede won't inflict lethal damage on either "Da Vinci" or "Henrik." She is willing to sacrifice her pianodog if needed, but will be sad about it. :(

Both Kaede and Shinjiro will be using their Cheat Code Bad Times Dice for a total of +4 -- both of us as players are choosing to sacrifice spirit.

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Kaede is able to sign up, of course! The more talent, the better. Pianodog follows her up on stage and Minato is released to step down. However, once his toes touch the floor and hers touch the stage, she’s trapped — that’s all for Kaede for now in terms of path actions. She is The Entertainment. By taking his place, she has become the Performer.

One last thing before she goes full feral piano gal, though: Kaede rolls a NATURAL 20 on Bardic Inspiration! This means that not only is everyone inspired as fuck and fighting like hell, but someone will have advantage on a bad roll later in this rescue attempt! Stay tuned.

Unfortunately, Know Your Enemy does very little. All Shinjiro learns is that Henrik is pretty much ready to kill somebody at the least provocation, or no provocation. His motives are: The Show. His goals are: The Show. He is very likely to fight. Pretty much guaranteed, in fact.

In terms of the fight, everyone is remarkably successful! Blake is a vision, Naruto-ing it up with all of her shadow clones, throwing shit at Henrik, Da Vinci, and the assorted tar monsters, and zipping around keeping out of range of all comers. As it happens, Shinjiro is also a vision, albeit a less funny and more brutal one. With a combo of Improvised Weapon + Champion + Disarming Strike, he rips a branch out of the wall and attacks fake Da Vinci. There’s no way to remove the weapon of a creature made of pure negativity, unfortunately — so, with Disarming Strike, he just knocks her arm off of her body.

Get it?

With appropriate levels of irony, Minato puts on the most impressive performance. Using Orpheus to weaken his opponents, he casts Sleep on Henrik very successfully with a 19. His Bardic Inspiration is an unsuccessful 6, and his first attempt at Vicious Mockery is a critical failure — but, inspired by Kaede’s own Bardic Inspiration, he tries again and gets another natural 20. This is good enough, in fact, that the psychological hold on Kaede shrinks back away from her, and she is freed from the stage.

Well done, everyone! You’ve performed remarkably. There’s just one problem.

There’s still no door. And while Henrik and Da Vinci are down for the count, there are still a lot of shadows spawning. What do you do?

[rockymountaindie]

Alright, so! Alex is going to commune with the Raven Queen for any insight on Wonderland- what she can see, what she's feeling regarding it, if there's anything death-like tied here. It's the kind of unnatural thing a servant of the Raven Queen should be examining, right?

Sayori's using Bardic Inspiration to help him out, reciting a poem about the Raven Queen. To make sure this actually can get through to her and because he doesn't have much faith in himself tbh he's going to use his cheat dice for a +2. I'll take any sacrifice, you guys've seen my homework so just fuck me up.

[balancemod]

The Bardic Inspiration helps with a +1, but that's still a 15 against a 17. The only thing he hears is the flapping of wings, time, an unquestioning fate. Untranslatable white noise, but furious. No dice.

But wait! Yes, dice. A guaranteed +2 to pass. He rolls SPIRIT and something bleeds out from his throat in one long black-tinged gasp. The world rearranges itself, slightly, and he Sees everything from the other side. Everything in his life he saw as saving people. Now, he looks back, one eye seeing the same. The other, dyed black and red, Hers, sees Balance Disrupted. Death is an end, yet a beginning, a Law upon the universe, it Must be obeyed.

The noise he hears convalesces into a voice enraged, turning on him with feathers like blades to his throat.

"Do you hear me," she hisses. Hears that she is heard, loosens. "A century overdue. That kid Niel should be dead by now. This is a command. Bring Him To ME."




For clarity's sake, the part of his soul he lost for SPIRIT wasn't his ability to care for people, but more his ability to justify it at the expense of all else. Sometimes things have to be given up for the greater good.

[protegge]

NOW IN MY ACTUAL ACCOUNT AND NOT THE MOD ACCOUNT JFC

mista (roll cost), maya, alex, and farnese are going to try to save stylosa. mista and alex will both be using +2s on the dice. this will be happening roughly at the same time as kaede & the gang's save minato quest in order to divide and conquer/hopefully provide additional distraction in the former night show, but will be totally separate efforts focused on different individuals.

each individual's roles are as follows: mista is working to free stylosa, maya and alex are providing support and covering fire, and farnese is providing distraction and interference.

when they enter the room, mista will immediately cast shield of faith on stylosa and command on henrik, instructing him to attack fake da vinci. maya will reinforce this conflict by casting force distrust on henrik and da vinci. if maya's roll on force distrust fails, alex will also cast it for a second try. maya and alex will both cast necromantic touch on the portion of the tree that stylosa is hooked into in order to weaken it. maya will also use speak with plants to tell stylosa's restraints to chill the fuck out, please. if maya's does not work, alex will also try speak with plants. with these clever tactics out of the way, mista will use his sword to try to just hack stylosa free of her confines. alex will support him with eldritch blast if he is unable to fully cut through any portion of the restraints.

should henrik and da vinci break loose of command and force distrust, or should the dice betray us, we essentially have four lookouts: alex's familiar, nick jr, the pistols, and farnese. alex's familiar and nick jr will be focused on stylosa and mista; farnese and the pistols will be watching all corners of the room. should henrik, da vinci, or any barfed-up monsters start to make trouble, farnese will use her canon skill basically blink and thorn whip to distract, surprise, and apprehend whoever is trying to make trouble.

any dc is fine. collectively we consent to getting real ruined.

[balancemod]

Since you said you timed this off to match Kaede's quest, we're gonna do something different.

In the wake of Kaede's roll result, the two head spoops have been KO'd in two very different fashions. This makes parts of your roll/plan redundant, but we can work with this. As such, you have two options for this plan to go:

1) Mista and co. get trapped in the Illusion with Kaede Squad and break it from the inside.

Or 2) Mista and co. get trapped outside, and try to break it from Stylosa's end.

Which one's more important? Please pick a preference and your dice rolls shall be delivered. :)

[ribticklers]

It's time to r-r-r-r-research!

Sans will be leading a research team on looking into the nature of Wonderland--the reality warping going on, the magic in play, and any structural (as much as anything going on here can be said to have a structure at all) weaknesses, particularly regarding whatever/wherever is attaching Yggdrasil and Wonderland.

Most of this research will be taking place in Shadowdale, because it's the safest place for doing something like this. Sans, Shuichi, Battler, Ferran, and Wash (who opted out of horror) all provide potential INT path boosts. Erika isn't INT, but she's very smart and familiar with weird reality things. Kokichi researches for fun, and Sayori already did some research in Shadowdale, so she already has a head start on where things are as far as potentially useful material in the bookstores. Maya will be researching and providing teleportation information, as well. Shuichi's Detective's Intuition gives him a +1 on investigative, if that applies to him participating in someone else's roll. Sans will be utilizing his previous extensive research of timespace/magic/quantum physics/how all of these things combine together. If Wash got any information from the elves in part one, he would use that as well if it was useful here.

Sayori has gone to Angus to ask him to help out, so it's possible he might be involved, too.

Sans will be using his various Lucas-given items (his soundwave helmet, the now-cleared-of-cursed-videos orb, the bracer, and his bracer-compatible USB to link things up) to measure as much data as he can.

There will be field missions into Wonderland by a few characters (Shuichi, Kokichi, Sans, Maya, Ferran, Erika, and Sayori) to gather data directly, but only when definitely necessary, as of course they would rather research as safely as possible.

Sayori will be using Bardic Inspiration on the researchers to motivate them! This is important Bard work.

[balancemod]

With a bonus of +3 (2 for all these jazzy folks helping out, 1 for Shuichi all on his lonesome), the research team gets a 16! Here’s what you find:

Unfortunately, not much in the books. Actually, nothing in the books. There is no written record of Wonderland. Zero. And while Shadowdale is long abandoned, it is a little strange that there’s not even a mention. As far as other potentially relevant information, it’s mostly what the Reclaimers already know: the importance of Yggdrasil as a pillar of the world, its ancient strength, its power and sturdiness. Nothing to explain why it might be, you know, rotting and stuff.

Gathering data goes somewhat better. The results you get are consistent, if not entirely comforting. It’s certainly enchantment you’re dealing with, but then you already knew that from what Lucretia told Wash. More significantly, with expeditions into Wonderland, Sans is able to get a good idea of the geography of the space.

There is no geography of the space.

Sending the same person to the same place five minutes later, it doesn’t exist. Sending the same person to a different place five minutes later, it’s the place they went to last time that was halfway across the tree. To be blunt, there is no spatial consistency from one minute to the next. The entire place could be reforming a hundred times an hour, and there would be no real way to measure it. By extension, without a consistent structure, there are no consistent structural weaknesses.

But to backpedal a bit: look at all these INT boosts. You guys can figure this out. This is a space that was layered under another space which also wasn’t entirely spatially consistent. Better than this, but still. Sans, with all his fancy gadgets and all that experience, has a thought:

Our brains are showing us a space that doesn’t exist.

It makes sense. The world’s most powerful enchantment. The biggest shared hallucination imaginable. A space that shifts without rhyme or reason. Wonderland doesn’t actually exist, except as a mindspace that the Reclaimers are all stuck in. One that somebody, whoever it is that’s holding the Compact, has control over.

[epistemologies]

Eleanor, Michael, Mia, Battler (roll cost), Aziraphale, and Crowley are going to try to locate the ten missing elves!

With no clear idea of where the elves were taken, the group's just sort of searching Yggdrasil in general, aiming towards where the Re-education Ride used to be. Battler, as a detective-type, will be leading the charge, using both his normal detecting abilities and Detect Magic. Our theory is that he can find one of the regular petrified elves that's lying around, see what the magic used on them looks like, and then find other elves by scanning for matching magic.

The group's trying for stealth. They'll primarily be using Eleanor's Message to coordinate, and between Michael's Major Illusion, Battler's Thaumaturgy, and Crowley's Darkness, they'll try to remain unnoticed by any monsters.

[balancemod]

Major Illusion and Thaumaturgy are one a pop for a total of +2! Darkness doesn't really do much to help you be sneaky from the monsters, since they hunt via how down in the dumps someone is feeling. Thankfully, this wouldn't have helped you all anyway, because your grand total is a 4.

The entire area around where the ride used to be is eerily silent. A few monsters skitter up and down the walls, just out of sight, but keep to their own devices. But as they walk they'll notice space gets strange. Party members bash into each other, or suddenly get too far apart. Eleanor notices this a bit too late, when she loses track of Michael, Battler, and Aziraphale. They're out of sight. Out of range of her Message.

Eventually, Michael, Battler, and Aziraphale will find themselves, alone, standing in front of some kind of... nest? Upon entering the inside, it looks like the husk of some dead thing. Eleanor and the others are nowhere to be found. Their only clue is this... thing. All three stay silent as death, climbing on top to try and see inside for their missing comrades - then black vines, tendrils, explode from the Thing, strapping them down. Inescapable. It writhes, rising in one long shudder, flesh sloughing off and repairing itself with the Tar. Underneath the glimpses between the ink it's easy to make out what it is - it is everything. Multiple parts of countless things, living and non, welded together into one monstrosity. In front of Michael, a hand with a centipede fingers taps out something on something unseen. A disgusting whirring noise, then a rip, and through the darkness a white strip of paper is pulled out from one of the mechanical sections and politely stuck to his bracer.

'Hello! Thank you for the hard work. :)'

The vines clamp down, jaws over three new entries to its Mass, when it stops. No matter the form, all of these monsters hunt negativity. So it shouldn't be surprising that the constraints loosen. Not enough to be free, but enough to not be devoured. It then bolts through a hole in the wall, taking all three with them for a joyful ride.


Change cameras! How's everyone doing at home, guys? We know our reality show's been kiiiinda boring, but we're all about that educational stuff in here! Morality! Great for the kids at home. Today's episode... an ethics-flavored logic puzzle.

Eleanor, Mia, and Crowley after being separated find themselves at the bottom of what seems to be vast cavern heading upwards. The path winds and wanes, matching up with itself in the strangest places, endless veins. As they walk, the walls themselves pulse, roots reaching for their feet. It means they have to travel at a fast clip, foregoing some of their stealth in favor of speed. At the same time, they don't have to worry about any monsters. In here is just the sound of roots growing and dying and... someone moaning.

Crowley spots them first, eyes used to Darkness as they are. There's a large crack between the roots here, their path continuing to go downwards while the one across the way veers sharply to somewhere they can't see. Seven of her elves are unconscious, strapped to the ground in various ways, eyes black. The other three are bad off, but still aware. They notice her immediately and begin screaming in panic. They don't know what happened. The Rolands took them somewhere dark and filled with people they used to know and then it was like the world melted.

She tells them to stay calm, she'll get them out. This is a lie. She goes to step and a root has wrapped up around her leg. All three are pinned in place. In the distance, something wails, wrenching deep in their chests. It oozes around a corner, as if it's made of the walls itself, and advances. Fast. Too fast. Battler's team is seemingly stuck to the nightmare's back, completely ignored in the face of the delicious despair that lies in front of it.

Thus, we are brought to our question. Eleanor, as the one with Message, is now presented with a choice. An ethical dilemma, if you will. On one track lie ten elves, petrified into place. On the other stand three people - Mia, Crowley, and Herself - rooted into place. The nightmare approaches in the distance. She can see it, but those on cannot see her. There is no way to stop it. There is no way to escape it. The only thing Battler's team can do is...

Switch rails. :)

Thaumaturgy will let Battler shine a bright enough light to change which direction the monster takes. Does she send a Message to the team, telling them to steer the beast towards their own team? Or stay silent and let ten innocents die? A real life exercise always helps with figuring out these kinds of answers, right?

[feytality]

So 76, Shinjiro, Shuichi, Kokichi and Maya (rng roller) are starting the hunt for Henrik 2: Revenge of Henrik. They are searching for the real Henrik (probably a Roland), and looking to find and rescue him as well.

Maya has a +2 from Know Your Gnomes, and will be using one of her +2 dice (body), 76 will be using a +2 dice (spirit), and so will Shinjiro (mind)

As for skills, Maya can use Nick Junior to see through his eyes -- as well as Wild Shape to transform into a wolf and hunt by smell!!! She has various combat spells and skills to assist, and if there is any plantery aside from Yggdrasil (this is a long shot), she'll use Speak With Plants to get clues. She also has Misty Step to get around.... not that they can see very far in the darkness.

76 will ask Henrik's body where the real Henrik is and uses Command to say "Answer", as well as Insight to tell if it's lying or not! He's Buff and Tuff and also has various combat skills such as Radiant Sun Bolt, Divite Smite, Flaming Sword, and Shadow Step. He can also use Aura of Courage, will be using Shield of Faith on the entire party, and can use Perform Oath on Maya and another teen if things get hairy.

Shinjiro has Rustic Hospitality (if that still applies), as well as Know Your Enemy, Champion (if any enemies they run into are humanoid), Improvised Weapon, Sonic Blade, and Second Wind -- if it's still useful despite no healing.

Since Shuichi and Kokichi have already investigated Henrik, we were wondering if that would give the group at large an edge, since uh... they know what Not to do now. Shuichi also has a +1 to all investigative rolls, Inquire, has Careful Hands if anything requires coordination (such as pulling Henrik out of vines or something), Poison Tip, as well as poison made from dying forest plants, if that could be used in any way.

Kokichi has a +2 to any plot relevant lies he tells if deception/trickery is necessary, as well as silver tongue. He's also got Cat Burglar for reaching high places , Thieves' Tools if there are traps or secret areas to access, and Mage Hand for some Master Hand action!!

On a side note, I updated my horror homework I was told to say that

[balancemod]

Okay, so! A couple things before we start. First, Henrik’s body is no longer possessed by a nasty Wonderland ghoul, so there’s nothing to interrogate, unfortunately. Secondly, Know Your Gnome is absolutely just going to send them back to Henrik’s body, not to Henrik himself. Thirdly, Maya’s doggo boost is no more, per the previous Kaede-Mista clusterfuck roll.

All of that being said, with the 3 cursed dice boosts and Shuichi’s investigative bonus, you’re still working with a +7, which gets you a 14. Not normally good enough, but in this case, it does actually get you something. After a great deal of investigation and a lot of dead ends, the team comes to—

A roller coaster.

What?

Well, the tail end of a roller coaster, anyway. It’s kind of weird. It’s a loop of coaster in the middle of the dark tree, like something cut it off at the beginning and at the end and just forgot to cart this part away. You almost stumble across it in the dark. There’s a cart dangling on the very end of it, and it looks as though something has been catapulted from the cart to the wall beyond.

When you get closer, you can see that it’s . . . Rolands. Or pieces of Rolands. There’s something on the wall, sharp like barbed wire but times a billion, and the combination of the force of the coaster and the vicious sharpness have absolutely shredded them. Which would be kind of grim on its own, but as soon as you approach them, you hear a voice cry out — one that old-timers will most definitely recognize.

It’s Henrik’s. It says, “Help me. Please.” And soon enough, it’s followed by other voices, almost all unfamiliar. They all need help. They’re all stuck in separate Rolands. If you want to get these souls out of here, you might have to get a wheelbarrow.

Before you can do that, though, three things happen in quick succession.

Crack. Maya’s leg goes glass. Fully, completely, transparent glass. Any cracks will ooze with tar, bleed with it, fracture, and eventually break fully. It’s heavy, but so fragile. Be careful with that. Don’t trip over a root or anything. It’ll make an awful mess if it shatters.

76 turns to look at the sudden transformation and, as he does so, becomes certain of a very important fact: he was mistaken before. He’s confident now that Overwatch was not, in fact, disbanded. Everything’s fine. There was no betrayal. He’s fucking Captain America. He remembers the truth, but he knows that this is what actually happened. Idealism pays after all.

Shinjiro glances at 76’s face, puzzled by his expression, and forgets that he died. Forgets that he can die, even. Shinjiro looks at the shredded bears and wonder what it is that they’re so worried about. Death isn’t really that big of a deal. Not to him, anyway.

[shootstyles]

Deku wants to save folks caught in the Ghost Square from themselves. And since he doesn't have a copy of House of Leaves to burn, the next best thing he can do is try to spread Bardic Inspiration across the labyrinth, trying to protect everyone from the Minotaur, or whatever it is down there.

He'll try and find a place near the mirror with the X a place where it echoes and take up his violin and start to play a soft melody. It's not overly upbeat nor sad. It's quiet but hopeful.

Don't Give Up. He sends his feelings through his Message skill. We can get out. We can find each other.

When the hallways shift, he moves with it, trying to stay where the echo of his music is greatest. After all, where there is no echo, there's no description of space of love. So he wants to keep everyone hearing his song over the distant roar. He wants them to stay positive. He'll put everything he has into this. If his song can't reach others, then he'll try to put more in more of his feelings to make up for it.

To accomplish this, he'll roll a sacrifice die. (MY BAD for some reason I thought you picked. ROLL ME UP FRIENDS)

[balancemod]

This is a DC 18, obviously, with a +2 from the dice. Also, as a thing? The mod conglomerate agrees that not only is this the most Deku thing to ever Deku, it is a dope as hell idea. Consider this us personally shaking your hand, granting you a bonus +1 for it.

Also you should thank us since your roll was a 15. All your mods combined gave you an 18!

He tosses the die pretty carelessly, too focused on his song. The music seems to do nothing at first but before his eyes, the mirror next to him shimmers like the surface of water. He doesn't know how he knows, but he feels his magic expand, passing through the surface. In one end, refracting out of countless others. Deku's heart reaches into countless others, grabbing their attention, their souls. They step as one towards the sound.

Something taps against his foot. Despite the dice tumbling endlessly downstairs, he hears the taps it makes bouncing down from behind him. His shoe blocks it, letting him see the word. BODY. Not now. He needs to focus on his song. Don't Give Up. We can get out.

We can find each other.

No. He can't.

He keeps playing, hands long since memorized the notes, but his world grows darker and darker before his eyes before going pitch black. Now Deku sits, playing his song, and hopefully someone will actually reach him soon. Considering he can't go back upstairs if he's blind.

[seasaltkeys]

So, in responding to Angus's request, Roxas will be launching an investigation into finding more books/illustrations like A Trip to Wonderland, and looking for a name.

He'll be heading the roll, but will be assisted by Carmen, Sans, Washington, Sayori, Alex, and Hayner.

Roxas has been spending a decent amount of time in the various bookshops of Shadowdale to have an idea of what's there, along with Sayori, who can also provide bardic inspiration. Carmen was also part of the initial find.

Sans, Washington and Alex are also there with having intense research experience, with Wash's INT path in there as well.

Hayner is there to help out (and has a +2 available if that last little bit is needed for a success).

Trusting in Ango's instinct's here. Let's do this!

cw: domestic violence, murder, child abuse

[balancemod]

As it turns out, Hayner doesn't need to sacrifice a thing! With the combination of Bardic Inspiration, Wash's INT, and the belief of Angus McDonald, the world's greatest detective and your very best friend, the squad comes out of this with a 17+3=20!

It takes less time than one might expect to turn up something relevant. In a small residence near the bookshop in which Roxas found A Trip to Wonderland, they will find a small leather-bound journal. Its pages crackle with age, yellowed and stiff when they're pulled apart. Many of them are damaged, but a few entries are readable. There is no lock on the journal, only a thin leather tie, easily undone.

The first entry is dated over one hundred years ago.

October 2.

Mama gave me this to write in. She said it would help to put down my feelings somewhere. She said she does the same herself. I asked if I could see what she wrote and she said no. I think this is unfair, because she asks me to share but she won't share with me. I know what she's feeling anyway. It's not hard to tell. I just wish she'd say.

Dad hit her again last night. Her eye looks wrong.

I don't want to write anymore.

—

December 20th.

Mama's arm is broken. She's been sick for a few days. Not getting up sick I mean. Usually when she's sick she gets up anyway. I don't know how her arm got broken but I can guess.

She gave me a book to read while she's resting. It's called A Trip to Wonderland. I can't decide if I like it or not. It would be nice to go to Wonderland, but it's fake.

—

January 3.

He killed her.

—

March 4.

We left home and went somewhere else. I don't know where we are. In some woods. Dad's acting like he didn't do anything wrong. Like this is some kind of trip. Like I don't know what he did. Like I didn't see.

I colored over Mama's face in the book. I feel bad about it but I'm mad at her too. She shouldn't have left me behind. She shouldn't have let him do that. He shouldn't have done it and I hate him too but I don't

—

July 9.

He broke my arm. I'm writing with the wrong one so my writing's bad. Sorry. It hurt a lot and now he's acting like everything's fine. Sometimes I think about doing to him what he did to Mama and sometimes I think about running away. Sometimes I think about how he did what he did to Mama and how he still smiles and laughs and I wonder if what's in him that makes him able to do that is in me too.

If I could make Wonderland it would be the safest place in the world. No one would ever hit anyone, or drink, or be sad. Everyone would be happy all the time. No one would ever leave me, at least not for long. If I could make Wonderland somehow I'd do it right now but I can't so I just have to wait to see what he'll do next.

—

September 19.

He's been drinking all day. He's asleep now but I don't think he will be for long. I don't know what he'll do when he wakes up.

I found something funny in the woods. It looks like the kind of thing Mama would have on her dresser. I told it about Mama, but it didn't do anything. I told her how Mama died, and then I got mad and tried to break it, but it wouldn't break.

I'll tell it about Wonderland later. Even if I'm just looking at a picture of myself, it's like talking to another person.

The rest of the journal is blank.

[unrecovered]

Niel needs a hug and we need answers, so hey, let's do a roll!

Wash, Roxas, Honoka, Kokichi, Maya, Sayori, and Angus (if he's up for it - they'll have invited him) are all going to find Niel and ask him about Wonderland - his role in it, if he knows anything more about it, etc. They'll definitely be bringing his journal along.

Kokichi and Honoka are taking point, since they are Super BFFs with Niel! Kokichi's plan of attack would be encouraging him to talk about the journal and what happened. As his boss, he's there to listen to him, no matter what, and talking about it might help everyone out! Just a hunch he has as a super awesome leader. Just following the same process he was before. No pity or anything, just trying to help him. Honoka is also 100% there to help and support Niel.

Sayori and Maya are acting as emotional support and general genki squad boost. Sayori would be using bardic inspiration to help the conversation go smoothly; Maya would be able to provide general support and also animal therapy in the form of Nick Jr. and Wolfy, the wolf companion she made for Angus.

Angus would hopefully be able to relate to Niel, as the person closest to Niel's age in the group.

Wash and Roxas will be hanging back and are on monster duty, because if this conversation is going to go into negative territory (and given the contents of the journal, it probably will), then someone needs to be ready to defend everyone from monsters, just in case. (Plus, it's probably best to keep a Big Scary Dad type out of the conversation proper.)

We'll be using Wash's roll. Kokichi is willing to roll sacrifice dice, but only if it looks like things are going south and he thinks it'll be able to help.

[hxppythxughts]

Sayori has recruited, to put it simply, a WHOLE BUNCH of Reclaimers to assist in one thing: using their anchoring moments, their most powerful positive memories, to weaken Wonderland. Hopefully so it will be less of an impossible Eldritch torture chamber and recovering the Relic will be a lot easier!

It's basically gonna be a hippie drum circle around the base of Yggdrasil, just, like, with no drums. The people participating are as follows:

Sayori
Kaede Akamatsu
Maya Fey
Guido Mista
Kokichi Oma
Sans
Maki Harukawa
Agent Washington
Honoka Kousaka
Shinjiro Aragaki
Battler Ushiromiya
Shuichi Saihara
Izuku Midoriya
Aziraphale
Crowley
Mia Fey

For a total of 16 Reclaimers. Their general memory contributions can be found here. Sayori herself will be thinking about sharing poems with the Literature Club, and all the new, wonderful friends she has made at the Bureau (particularly during the camp interlude.)

And Sayori would invite some of the NPCs to help too--Angus, Matthew, Carey, Killian, and Lucretia--either joining the circle or participating remotely as appropriate! (Don't want to distract Lucretia and the Regulators too much.) So, however many of them are willing and able to participate in this by thinking happy thoughts. Anne has confirmed that Angus would help!

Sayori is going to instruct them, all at once, to think of their happiest memories and hold on to those feelings. Sayori, Kaede, and Deku will all be using their Bardic Inspiration to increase morale for this endeavor and empower the positivity. Kaede and Deku will play uplifting songs on their violins while Sayori recites a new poem.

Should their positivity seem to be having an effect, Mista will use Emphatic Duty on Yggdrasil to help the tree feel that positive energy. Aziraphale and Mia will attempt to use Sanctuary and Tranquility respectively to enhance the evil-banishing vibes. Additionally, Kaede and Mista have some Paladin Oaths that could facilitate the spread of this positive energy to their Oathed (Shuichi and Minato for Kaede, Maya and Sayori for Mista.) Plus, Shuichi still has The Untainted Leaf(tm), presumably destined for greatness.

TEAMWORK!!!

[doubledsofjustice]

Did you think Bad Decisions Squad was done? Sure wain't! And this time they brought Eleanor. So some fucks are gonna touch some dead bodies this round.

Who we've got: Mia (as Ghost) & Maya Fey, Will, Lion, and Eleanor

What: so! Maya, Will, and Lion are going to get Ghost!Mia to remember she can use Mystery of Death with a little help from Eleanor's Bardic Inspiration. The target of Mia's path is going to be the corpse of An Elf among the dead 10. Maya's there to mostly offer guidance and Genki support, aaaaand because without her Mia might have a bit more trouble. Will will will himself into being conscious enough to commune with our youngest medium to keep a watch on things, and Lion, while also there with gun, will be attempting some protection via Sanctuary. Eleanor's Bardic Inspiration will at least be well received by the girls even if it horrifies Lion, but hey, let's see if it does more than just make them smile.

RNG IS CLOSED!!!!

[balancemod]

A little bit late due to irl things, but rolls are closed! All existing rolls will be wrapped up, but for everyone else, please wait warmly for the CTAs.