The Alien Wars 6: Da Capo

Session 646

Session Start: Sun May 21 17:09:15 2023
Session Ident: #TAW-Session646
<DeathStar> 5
<DeathStar> 3
<DeathStar> 1
<DeathStar> -0-
<DeathStar> Date: 10-654.6.9
<DeathStar> Location: Smuggler's Planet
<DeathStar> *The Aquarius has been on the planet for the past few weeks, looking for information on the two pirate ships, attempting to locate them. Taiga has arrived awhile back to check on Tora as well and help Seniga with the ship.*
<Seraphna> **Si shows some of the new girls the art of Bunny Fu**
<DeathStar> *Yuki muses, eyeing all the data the group has gathered from the various people on the planet while they've been there*
* Xanatos has joined #TAW-Session646
<Seraphna> **Nox hangs out in a secret fort with Mire**
<DeathStar> <Yuki> All I can think of is the ships are in this area. *She points to an area of the planet that has storms and a cave system*
<DeathStar> <Yuki> But the kicker is those storms are suppose to be able to tear ships apart
<DeathStar> <Yuki> But if they did manage to reach the caves, they could be hiding from scans
<Alicia> <AKatsuki> "Why would they have storms in a cave system?" <Jikuu> "Maybe the storms don't reach there."
<DeathStar> *Yuki blinks at the two*
<Dias`> <Id> Well, they've already showen the ability to adapt. So it's not out of the possibility that they found a way to circumvent the storms
<Seraphna> Thena> The perfect hideout! Must have secret way in involving space whales.
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Space whales, aside. We must assume that they have a way to navigate the maelstrom."
<Seraphna> Thena> Space whales.
<DeathStar> <Aya> So do we wish to try to force our way through the storm?
<DeathStar> *She leans back, sipping coffee*
<Dias`> <Chad> I suppose that would depend on if this ship can handle these storms. I've looked at the data that's available on them. And it's...interesting to say the least.
<Seraphna> Cookie> Well they must have precogs from what we’ve seen. I could use that to get through the storm.
<Dias`> <Chad> Pre-cog wouldn't counter the storms itself.
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "No, they'd need to predict the weather."
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Yuki, set up a simulation of the storm and see if Cookie can indeed navigate the sim."
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "Storms aren't constant."
<DeathStar> <Yuki> I'll talk to Taiga and see if we can program a simulation for her. *She heads to the simulation room*
<Dias`> <Chad> You'd be better off using a Geyze spirit to try and over power a section of it.
<DeathStar> <Mireille> I could try to boost our shields.
<Seraphna> Nox> I mean… maybe Fae if the storms are wind driven. It would matter how the storms are created.
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Unfortunately, they would likely detect a use of spirit poer to manipulate the storm directly."
<Seraphna> Nox> I haven’t quite tried to control the Dark of space yet.
<DeathStar> <Cloé> I-If we can't use any of our spirits
<DeathStar> <Cloé> HOW do we get there?
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "The storms *aren't* constant, right?"
<DeathStar> <Aya> Constant
<Seraphna> Thena> Space whales.
<DeathStar> <Aya> Hence why no one goes to this area of the planet.
<Dias`> <Chad> It's possible there's a back entrance to the cave system. Smuggler's tend to be resourceful.
<DeathStar> *Aya muses* Back entrance.
<Xanatos> <Pepper> I could go scouting again.
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "Chad's right. I thought they were just waiting out the storms, but..."
<DeathStar> <Aya> If we are willing to abandon the Aquarius, there might be a way to reach the cave systems.
<Dias`> <Chad> Which means even if they found a way through the storm, they have a way out if we come in.
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "What's that?"
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Fidn the alternate route. If you are successful, then prepare an action team to exploit it. The Aquarius can act if they try to make a break through another entrance."
<DeathStar> <Aya> Either we trust the Aquarius' flight abilities to Cookie, or I could bring in some digging equipment and try to bring us in underneath as far as we can and then use your teleporters to get into the cave systems. They are on the maps.
<Seraphna> Cookie> They must have away they can get their ships through.
<Dias`> <Chad> We'd have to move quick, Aya. They'd most likely pick the equipment up.
<DeathStar> <Aya> That's the problem. Plus it'd be time consuming
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "... I had a solution, then realised it would not work."
<DeathStar> *Cloé tilts head*
<Seraphna> Nox> Suggest away!
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "Foxholes, right?" *Jikuu nods. "Or hyperspace teleportation."
<Dias`> <Id> We're also assuming they haven't left.
<Xanatos> <Pepper> They'll detect any abilities and use them.
<Dias`> <Chad> You'd need to generate one big enough for a ship and then hope you pick the an area big enough for the ship to fit in.
<Xanatos> <Pepper> I wonder if that applies to my shapeshifting. I could slither in there like a snake.
<DeathStar> <Aya> They'll detect them, yes. But if we get close enough, it shouldn't matter
<DeathStar> <Aya> It's why I think going underneath and then using the foxholes or hyperspace to get into the cave will not matter.
<DeathStar> <Aya> You'll have to move fast then though
<Jackieness> <Airym> "If you can get on to their hips an neutralize the source of their capabilities, then the Aquarius should be able to oufight them."
<Dias`> <Chad> I think, with Id's help, I've come up with an algorithm to actively search for the weird signal that their ships put out. If it's active, and depending on the energy output from the storm, we could maybe narrow down the area they're hiding
<DeathStar> *Yuki returns* Taiga is preparing the simulation for Cookie
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "You don't think the weird signal somehow helps with the storms, do you?"
<DeathStar> <Yuki> So what's the plan? We flying?
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Yuki, how long ahve the storms been occurring?"
<Seraphna> Thena> Space Whale noises.
<Dias`> <Chad> No. It's either the by-product or the output from the device they're using to copy innate abilities.
<DeathStar> *Yuki brings up the planet's records* It looks like they're naturally occurring storms in the lower region of the planet due to it being a desert ish planet. These storms in the lower quadrant blow year long - for this planet - and never stop, and are more powerful than any hurricane on Earth. In the old days ships apparently tried to hide in the storms from authorities and were destroyed
<Seraphna> Thena> None of our copy cats make strange signal do they?
<DeathStar> <Yuki> Hence why the smugglers avoid it
<Seraphna> **Thena inspects Aya for strange signals**
<Jackieness> <Airym> "It is strange that they use this planet at all."
<DeathStar> <Yuki> Don't look at me.
<DeathStar> *Aya eyes Thena*
<Dias`> <Chad> Not really. It's in a decent spot for smugglers and shipping lanes to cross through Cartel Space
<Jackieness> <Airym> "I do not expect you to have all of the answers, Yuki."
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "I don't even expect Jikuu to have." <Jikuu> "...ah..."
<Seraphna> Thena> **paws**
<DeathStar> <Aya> Anyway, I'm going to go get the digging equipment. <Yuki> I'll go prepare Cookie.
<Seraphna> Nox> I still wanna know how they have done if those powers.
<Dias`> <Chad> Well...*he pauses then nods to Yuki and moves to help Aya*
<Seraphna> Cookie> Eeee?
<DeathStar> *both parties move to get their jobs ready*
<DeathStar> -SHIFT-
<DeathStar> Location: Geyze
<DeathStar> *Adeline studies the first spirit with her equipment, musing*
<DeathStar> <Adeline> So this tiny Spirit is the first Spirit?
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "That's right!"
<Seraphna> Terra> Origin! She likes fruit and is therefore Good.
<DeathStar> <Adeline> *muses* What an ironic name. *She studies the results she is going*
<Seraphna> Terra> My Hero has strange tastes.
<Jackieness> <Lana> "She was apparently living in the Spirit realm this entire time in some sort of miniature version of the spirit shrine."
<Seraphna> **Terra pats Ceil**
<DeathStar> *The tiny sprite like spirit lands on Ceilidh's head. Sylph seems to be watching them all*
<Xanatos> 6* Simon steps up and sets down his travel pack, looking at Origin with interest.
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "Oh, you realised too?"
<Xanatos> <Simon> Hello all, you have made a great discovery I see.
<DeathStar> <Adeline> *Turns to peer at Simon* I see the news has reached you, too
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "Great discovery is an understatement."
<DeathStar> *Peace paces in his room, fretting, wondering when this job he's taken from Lumi has gotten so hard, eyeing all the requests*
<Xanatos> <Simon> A bit ago but I had an assignment to finish up. The first spirit...fascinating, I always assumed it was one of the original three
<Dias`> *Id floats beside Simon* Hmmm. I was reading reports on it.
<Jackieness> <Lana> "Ah, no... they didn't even remember this one."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> I came here for another reason when I learned of it.
<DeathStar> <Selena> *nods to Lana* It seems Aska, Shade, and Void had no memory of it. This one made the spirit Realm and went into a slumber
<Xanatos> <Simon> Do we know how the first spirit became...a being?
<Dias`> <Id> So Origin as it's been named. Created them?
<DeathStar> <Selena> No it didn't make them
<DeathStar> <Selena> Just the spirit realm
<DeathStar> <Selena> From what I know - and Lana knows more than I, Geyze made it first and this one kinda floated off.
<Jackieness> <Lana> "And then all the other spirits formed later."
<Seraphna> **Terra forms a melon and puts a straw in it, giving it to Adeline**
<Dias`> <Id> And what aspect does she have control oveR?
<DeathStar> <Selena> Hm, *She eyes Lana, unsure how much she should reveal*
<Jackieness> <Lana> "Ahhhh?"
<DeathStar> *Origin seems to flicker between colors, then mimics the growing a melon thing, those her's looks more spirit like*
<DeathStar> <Selena> She has creation...ability?
<Xanatos> <Simon> Hello Origin.
<Jackieness> <Lana> "...should I say?"
<DeathStar> *Origin floats to Simon* <Hello... Simon> *it speaks into his mind, then lands on his head*
<Dias`> <Id> Interesting. *Id seems to scan when she does that*
<DeathStar> <Selena> Why not. *She slumps* It's not going to blab to the world. And word is already spread some
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Clearly
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "Is it the powers of all the spirits?"
<Jackieness> <Lana> "Ahhh... yes... ahem... basically... as far as we cna tell, she is essentially the spirit of reality."
<Dias`> <Id> So she has reality powers then more or less.
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "So... Origin was a good name indeed."
<Xanatos> <Simon> May I cast a spell, study your spritual energy a moment? You will feel nothing.
<Jackieness> <Lana> "More or less. So far she has manifested it in spontaneous creation."
<Xanatos> <Simon> Hm...reality. You must take great care to protect her then.
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "That goes without saying."
<DeathStar> <Origin> <I do not mind> *So far it seems more like a child for one of the oldest spirits*
<Xanatos> 6* Simon nods and begins to form to the runes to do the scanning spell.
<Dias`> <Id> If she has that kind of power. Then she will most likely be very useful for what's about to come.
<DeathStar> *Simon's scans would indicate Origin has a highly strange spirit output - that seems to be drawing it's power from somewhere else*
<Dias`> <Id> I see. Simon, did you get the same data that I did?
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "She's been asleep a long time."
<Xanatos> 6* Simon starts making notes, nodding to himself.
<Xanatos> <Simon> Yes, Origin is a conduit.
<Dias`> <Id> And it appears shes pulling from the mirror universe.
<Seraphna> Terra> Like Fox Girl here, but for there?
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "This has implications."
<Xanatos> <Simon> Oh you were able to track a location already? Fascinating.
<Jackieness> <Lana> "Ahhh.. that makes sense since all this was originally in the Mirror Universe."
<Dias`> <Id> What's more fascinating is that I'm picking up trace material of a compound.
<DeathStar> <Selena> Like?
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "Is it... ah... classified?"
<Dias`> <Id> Vision.
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "So... close."
<Xanatos> 6* Simon pauses and glancews to Lana and Selena.
<Jackieness> <Lana> Well... Vision was refined from a substance that was, ironically, called Origin."
<Dias`> <Id> Lana is correct. But I believe that information was supposed to be kept classified considering how dangerous the source material was.
<Xanatos> <Simon> It's certainly a worrying implication.
<DeathStar> *Adeline crosses her arms, studying the Spirit* Well, either way, if news of this Spirit gets out even more, it'll be in danger
<DeathStar> <Selena> Danger from what?
<Dias`> <Id> Adeline is correct. It will become a major target for the Hunters and anyone that's helping the Serpent.
<Seraphna> **Terra nods** Spirit Fortress!
<DeathStar> <Selena> Ah... them
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "The implications of this are going to take a while to unpack..."
<DeathStar> <Selena> So it's going to be another who do we trust situation
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Not to derail the conversation, but the reason I came here was to talk to Lana.
<Seraphna> **Terra looks between Lana and Adeline**
<Jackieness> <Lana> "Ahhhh?"
<Xanatos> <Simon> Those situations arise often, unfortunately. 6* He pauses now and glances at Adeline.
<DeathStar> <Adeline> I managed to remove the Mark placed by our eldrich friend, but it caused a lot of ... issues. *she relays the song tower and how it almost corrupted the song mages*
<DeathStar> <Adeline> I was wondering if it would be possible to ... make the process safer for the rest of the marked
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "At least we know they can be removed."
<Dias`> <Id> That seems like...quite the trade-off. Hopefully that doesn't come back to hurt us.
<Jackieness> <Lana> "...so it contaminated the song magic machinery...? That makes sense actually. The mark behaves like a cancer."
<Seraphna> Terra> Momma had cat-set?
<Seraphna> *ser
<DeathStar> <Adeline> Yes. I fear the Tower is still not in great shape.
<DeathStar> <Adeline> But if we could somehow make the process safer, or cleanse the tower - I would like to learn how. We have a few marked who will otherwise go insane.
<Jackieness> <Lana> "Right.. well... I was actually able to contain it for a time before it finally broke free."
<DeathStar> <Adeline> I am aware.
<Jackieness> <Lana> "Of course, thatw as with its primary physcal artifact. The marks are probably faaaaaaar less potent than the Shining Trapezohedron."
<DeathStar> *Before Adeline can say anything else, Peace comes running up, out of breath*
<Seraphna> **Terra moves to sit next to Adeline**
<DeathStar> <Peace> W-We have a ... problem
<DeathStar> <Selena> ... *mumbles under her breath about the man*
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "And who is that man?"
<Seraphna> Terra> What wrong Mr. Pieces?
<DeathStar> <Peace> I-It's PEACE.
<Seraphna> **Terra squeaks**
<DeathStar> <Peace> *he holds out a comm that's oozing black ooze* THAT's the problem
<Jackieness> <Lana> "Ahhhhh?!"
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "That should not be happening."
<DeathStar> *it seems to be wretched and as it touches the ground, turns it into something wrong and unnatural*
<DeathStar> *oh no, it's about to touch Peace's hand*
<Seraphna> Terra> **huffs and traps it in a sphere of stone, hovering it up**
<Dias`> *Id begins scanning it*
<Jackieness> <Lana> "And...ahhh...what channel was it tuned into when it started doing this?"
<DeathStar> *it looks to be eldrich horror, much like Nyarlathotep*
<Xanatos> <Simon> The eldritch...situations...I do not miss these I must confess.
<DeathStar> <Peace> Y-Your friends from the bar called and then that happened
<Dias`> <Id> I am picking up signs of it.
<DeathStar> *Peace wipes his forehead with a handkerchief*
<DeathStar> <Peace> I do say this has quite shaken up my day
<DeathStar> *he eyes the ground turning into maggots*
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "I think they're in trouble." *pauses* "I think we're in trouble."
<Jackieness> <Lana> *weaves a seal of the Elder Sign and casts it down on the contaminated ground*
<Dias`> <Id> I would say it's....increasing it's range
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "Protect the spirit!"
<Seraphna> **Terra floats it up into a sphere above the ground, then starts to burn it all**
<DeathStar> *Origin peeks around Sylph*
<Xanatos> <Simon> Should we check on Asarar's group?
<DeathStar> <Selena> Damn. *She eyes Origin, then the bar*
<Seraphna> Terra> Can only disintegrate it.
<DeathStar> <Selena> I don't want to leave it here alone, but we shouldn't take Origin with us
<DeathStar> <Selena> Sylph - Peace, watch Origin
<Seraphna> Terra> I take to Spirit Fort?
<DeathStar> <Selena> Alright, Terra
<Seraphna> **Terra moves over to Origin** Come, we go to secret Spirit Kid Base. Safe! Lots of Fruit.
<DeathStar> *Sylph floats Origin after them. Peace follows while Selena goes with the others to Asarar's*
<DeathStar> -SHIFT-
<DeathStar> Location: Earth
<DeathStar> *Lemon eyes the piece of paper given to them a few months ago, still unsigned by her*
<Xanatos> <Kane> You're quite burdened by this offer.
<DeathStar> <Lemon> I mean we are building something ourselves; I'm unsure if we're doing two steps back taking this.
<DeathStar> <Lemon> I know Zephyr has taken the offer and Chad says he'll do it.
<DeathStar> *Lemon motions at the monitor on the wall, with Chad's face*
<Xanatos> <Kane> Yes but we are still very dependent on the earthgov contracts. My patents being non-combat are often only picked up if there's a surplus in the budget...
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> I'm sure Andrea wouldn't be insulted if we turned down her offer.
<Xanatos> <Kane> I enjoy the freedom and I know we will make it if we keep it going, but reliable income for the children's sake is something to think about.
<Xanatos> <Kane> This is even assuming this nonsense with the Serpent goes well for us and we're all not eradicated.
<DeathStar> <Cheryl That is true. If you took her offer, you'd be leading the greatest EarthGov forces
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> She might be just trying to kill you
<Xanatos> <Kane> My thoughts are that once this is over Andrea will likely not want to continue being president and we could also retire once the new regime takes over.
<Dias`> <Id> The only thing it really does is make it easier for Earthgov forces to listen to your commands.
<Xanatos> <Kane> But the pressure of leading...it is a lot to consider. I understand why this has taken so long, I too feel conflicted.
<DeathStar> *Lemon puts the paper in her bag* Well, lets go see the President. *Cheryl muses on something and Chii hops out of her chair.*
<Xanatos> 6* Kane places his usual devices in his various pouches and pockets, standing to go.
<DeathStar> *after a jump, the group arrives at the Tokyo Presidental Building where Zephyr is waiting, in a General outfit*
<DeathStar> *it looks like she's healed up*
<Xanatos> <Kane> General. 6* He nods in greeting.
<Dias`> *Id floats behind to the side of Kane*
<Seraphna> **Angela is hanging out with Zephyr**
<DeathStar> <Zephyr> This way. *she motions and leads them up to see Andrea and Noire, who seems to be doing better lately after spending time with Ren*
<DeathStar> *Also there is John in his outfit, having Hotaru on his lap*
<Seraphna> **Tabetha is toying with get datapad and sets a can of soda down in Hotaru’s cleavage**
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "Well, at least I'm staying cool."
<DeathStar> <Andrea> .... And sticky if that spills
<Xanatos> <Kane> You called a meeting Madam President?
<Alicia> * Hotaru carefully removes the can
<Seraphna> **Angela takes a seat as Tabetha floats the can to her**
<DeathStar> <Andrea> Right. *Lemon finds a spot* <Andrea> My spells to sense when the serpent tells me that it will likely happen next month at the latest.
<Xanatos> <Kane> How does that timeline line up with the preparations being made/
<DeathStar> <Andrea> I plan to turn the governing over to Marcus and enter the leylines by over the end of the week to start preparing the rituals needed to begin the shield
<Dias`> <Id> And are you going to need someone to protect you while your inside them?
<DeathStar> *Zephyr looks at the data*
<Xanatos> 6* Marcus steps in and sits down, eating a sandwich.
<DeathStar> <Zephyr> I believe what Fate gave us, sometime in mid-late summer is when it awoke
<Dias`> <Id> I believe that was the best average.
<DeathStar> <Andrea> Once I enter the leylines, I'll be safe. I just need to make sure I enter them. Probably the Hunters will be most active until then
<DeathStar> <Andrea> I'd keep an eye on any politicians, those close to me, family, you know the works
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "So we'll have to be the most vigilant then."
<Dias`> <Id> Well seeing as Earth's safety most likely hinges on her entering it, then yes.
<Xanatos> <Kane> We could be your personal guard in that moment.
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> Hm. Well, I think Fate showed us she never reached the leylines
<Xanatos> <Marcus> I'll make sure she gets there.
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> *Studies Marcus*
<Seraphna> Angela> We should have enough kickass here to ensure it.
<Dias`> <Id> It won't hurt to perhaps send some Reploids along with some of the NGW's to help
<Xanatos> <Kane> Pity she never elabroated on why she does not reach it.
<DeathStar> <Zephyr> I'll reach out to Blue.
<Xanatos> <Kane> Future beings can be fickle sometimes, I suppose. Though knowing of the challenge at all is helpful.
<DeathStar> *Zephyr stands up and exits the room*
<DeathStar> <John> Hm. I wonder where Fate is
<DeathStar> <John> We're nearly at the end. Shouldn't she like show?
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "She usually turns up at the most important moments. I don't feel like we're there yet."
<Seraphna> **Angela frowns softly, glancing at others**
<Dias`> <Id> I believe that won't happen anymore.
<DeathStar> *Andrea brings out a map8
<Xanatos> <Kane> Oh? Is her time up?
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "... did something happen?"
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> I think the higher planes people punished her or something
<Dias`> <Id> The prevailing theory is that she crossed the line too many times and has been punished
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> For always interfering instead of observing
<DeathStar> <Andrea> This is where the leyline entrance is at. *She points at a spot outside of Tokyo* It's in a wooded area, with lots of ambush spots
<DeathStar> <Andrea> There will be a cave like entrance. But once I get in, no one can follow me
<Dias`> <Id> You could just level the area of trees.
<DeathStar> <Lemon> ... That seems mean
<Dias`> <Id> Tree's can be replanted.
<Dias`> <Noire> Seriously? <Andrea> Like leylines really exist.
<Xanatos> <Marcus> Air drop above the cave, run in.
<DeathStar> *John taps Id, making voices*
<Dias`> <Id> My apologies. I downloaded a video on how to throw my voice. It does not appear to work proper.
<DeathStar> <Andrea> If no one has objections
<DeathStar> <Andrea> In a few days time, we'll air drop me in
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "None here. Air drops seem the safest."
<DeathStar> <John> I'll fly the plane
<DeathStar> <John> Unless Hota wants to
<Seraphna> Angela> You’ll have a Beta Escort on the way down, blasting anything that dares come near.
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "Feel free, but I want to be there."
<Seraphna> Angela> I have a few surprises I’ve been saving for the Endgame. Perhaps you’ll get one.
<DeathStar> *Zephyr returns, sitting down*
<DeathStar> <Zephyr> Blue and her people will be there to assist any plans we make
<DeathStar> <Chii> Just remember - a Hunter or two - will be there to fuck whatever we plan up
<DeathStar> <Chii> So keep your eyes open
<Xanatos> <Kane> We will need a ground team to counter any enemy anti air.
<Seraphna> Angela> We’lluse a Chii strategy. Blow them to hell the moment they make an appearance.
<DeathStar> <Chii> Hmph
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> I'll help with ground
<Seraphna> **Angela grins and rubs her ear**
<DeathStar> <Lemon> Same
<DeathStar> <Zephyr> I'll set up to shoot
<Dias`> <Id> Winter's will send his Weapons where ever one is needed.
<Xanatos> <Kane> As will I.
<DeathStar> <Andrea> And Noire will be there in a cheerleader outfit for me
<DeathStar> <Andrea> I like this plan already
<DeathStar> *She claps her hands together*
<Xanatos> <Marcus> We need a werewolf papoose in case shit goes sideways and I need to carry you in.
<DeathStar> *John pauses at that*
<Seraphna> Tabetha> Later, Johnny.
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "Okay, now it's starting to sound like an actual plan."
<DeathStar> -SHIFT-
<DeathStar> Location: Asarar's Bar
<DeathStar> *When the group arrives, dark sludge is all over the place. Someone can be heard trembling behind the counter, trying to wipe the eldrich slime away, but it simply rots the cloth*
<DeathStar> <Selena> By the spirits. *it seems the corruption has started from upstairs*
<Dias`> <Id> I am picking up massive signs of residue
<Xanatos> 6* Simon holds his spear cautiously, peering around.
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "Gah, this is terrible!"
<Xanatos> 6* Simon leans over to peer over the counter.
<DeathStar> *Riki is back there, trying to avoid being touched by the stuff*
<Seraphna> **Alita peers around and taps her staff on the floor, creating a purifying aura** Ms. Riki, please carefully make your way to us.
<DeathStar> *The dog fauna trembling*
<Jackieness> <Lana> "Ahhh... what happened here?!"
<DeathStar> *Alita somehow gets a very high lucky roll, and purifies the bottom floor*
<DeathStar> *Riki scrambles over the counter and hides behind Alita*
<DeathStar> <Selena> ... *relaxes*
<Xanatos> <Simon> Are the others alive?
<DeathStar> <Selena> If the higher floors are like the bottom was just a moment ago...
<Seraphna> Alita> One should hope. Thank goodness the kids are mostly on the Aquarius these days.
<DeathStar> *Selena tries the elevator, but it simply makes a noise and refuses to open*
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "Where did the sludge come from? Above or below?"
<DeathStar> <Riki> A-Above
<DeathStar> <Riki> Asarar and the others ran up
<Jackieness> <Lana> "...if my memory serves, one of the rooms upstairs was warped in a previous incident.."
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "... oh no."
<DeathStar> <Riki> They said they had to check on a room
<DeathStar> <Riki> Something about a relic
<Xanatos> 6* Simon glances at the others and then starts making his way up.
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "S-Simon!" *hurries after*
<Seraphna> **Alita seals up the purifying zone so they can use it later and moves up after them**
<DeathStar> *as the group moves up, thankfully the floors moving upward have lower stuff; the gunk on it seems to have traveled downward along it, like a creeping chaos, straight down each floor, but it is now slowly infesting the floors it passed*
<Dias`> *Id happily scans as they follow it to it's source*
<Jackieness> <Lana> *moves up the stairs*
<DeathStar> *Selena makes a face as they travel upward, eyeing the stuff on the stairway as it went down*
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "Great. It has a goal."
<DeathStar> <Selena> What was the goal? To get out?
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "I have no idea."
<DeathStar> *indeed, eyeing each floor, it does look like it might be headed for windows*
<DeathStar> *now that the bottom floor is "purified"*
<Xanatos> <Simon> I hope alita has the ability to purify more of these, or we may need to find a way to contain this.
<Seraphna> **Alita muses, then starts to route flame into some of it**
<Seraphna> Alita> Fire and Ice I think, Simon.
<DeathStar> *Alita's attack doesn't fully achieve it's goal*
<Jackieness> <Lana> "I can use my seal to drive it back, but it will still try to find weaker paths."
<DeathStar> *And there's so many floors*
<Xanatos> 6* Simon pauses and nods, starting to cast ice spells in an effort to seal the windows further.
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "I hate to suggest this, especially before checking for survivors, but... we may have to burn the place down."
<Seraphna> Alita> Work up what you can Lana. We will carve a path. I can purify floor by floor but it will take an effort.
<DeathStar> *The ice seals the window for now; the creeping stops on this particular floor, and it begins to seek out other paths out*
<Seraphna> Alita> If all is lost I can destroy the building pretty thoroughly.
<DeathStar> <Selena> Damn..
<DeathStar> <Selena> I'll keep seeking the source
<DeathStar> *She rushes up*
<Jackieness> <Lana> "I could potentially. weave a seal large enough to hit the whole building in one go, but I'll need help to pull it off."
<Xanatos> <Simon> If the fire isn't having the effect you want, burning it down won't eradicate it.
<DeathStar> *Those on the stairs begin to noticeit's creeping towards them slowly, probably realizing it's fucking with them*
<Seraphna> Alita> I was thinking a pillar of pure Void.
<Seraphna> **Alita spins her staff and taps the floor again, replicating her spellwork from before**
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "We may need to protect ourselves too."
<Jackieness> <Lana> *weaves a barrier in front of theteam, further weavign the Elder Sign into the barrier*
<DeathStar> *Alita gets another lucky strike and purifies the area around 4 floors; the barrier going up and protecting them from any sneak attacks*
<Xanatos> <Simon> I feel like this won't matter if the relic isn't contained, perhaps we some of us should join Selena.
<Seraphna> Alita> There, we can work from these areas.
<Xanatos> 6* Simon blinks and nods, then moves after Selena.
<Seraphna> Alita> We should be able to head after her to an extent now. **she works her way up**
<DeathStar> *Simon says that, he notices floors 5 and 6 are trying to cut them off*
<DeathStar> *he barely makes it past the cut off*
<Jackieness> <Lana> "Ahhh... not good."
<Seraphna> **Alita muses and draws a sword, then sends slashes of Void out at the cut off, since Simon and Selena will probably need a way out**
<Alicia> * Ceilidh follows with Alita and Lana, replicating Alita and Lana's sealing techniques
<Xanatos> 6* Simon writes out a rune and then casts a spell to ehance his abilities for a short period of time, doubling his speed.
<DeathStar> *As Simon speeds on up*
<DeathStar> *Alita's void attack hits the stuff and...*
<DeathStar> *it seems to be at an impasse, doing little damage to it due to the roll*
<DeathStar> *As far as Ceilidh, they manage to finish off the barrier*
<Seraphna> **Alita muses and points her staff, letting the Daemon Head at the top activate and gout flame at their block**
<DeathStar> *Barrier = block, aka it's gone already*
<DeathStar> *Simon meanwhile catches up to Selena, who seems to have found Bonnie, sitting there and dusting off her suit*
<Xanatos> <Simon> Is she unharmed?
<DeathStar> <Bonnie> Oh, hi mister Simon. Someone who isn't scared of me. *She coughs up blood. The side of her suit is soaked in blood, with some strange eldich looking thing growing in it* <Bonnie> I'm fine.
<DeathStar> <Selena> She doesn't look fine
<Xanatos> 6* Simon reaches out, examing the energies with his spell.
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "Uhhh... she looks like she needs medical attention, and also ritual purification."
<Alicia> * Ceilidh works on the medical side, letting someone else do the purification
<Xanatos> <Simon> Can you tell us what happened while I attempt to make you feel better?
<Xanatos> (Ceil isn't with Simon and Selena)
<Alicia> (Oops)
<Alicia> (Ignore the medical attention line too then)
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "So, can we get to the others?"
<DeathStar> <Bonnie> Um, sure. Suddenly, the air began to get heavy. And felt strange. Asarar and the others went to check it out. We found the room with that shining thing in it open and stuff coming out of it. This black stuff. The others went in to try to figure out what was going on. *She points further up*
<DeathStar> *Ceilidh, Lana, and Alita would see the way up right now is clear, due to Ceilidh's purification*
<DeathStar> *But the barrier is slowly regrowing*
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "We should probably hurry..."
<DeathStar> *below them it looks like the ground floor is also slowly being recorrupted too*
<Seraphna> **Alita nods and moves to join the two above**
<Xanatos> <Simon> How long as it been since you've heard from them? 6* He attempts to carefully isolate the corrupted energy into ice.
<Jackieness> <Lana> "Right. We need to stop the soruce or it sill just keep growing." *heads up*
<Seraphna> Alita> We need to deal with the source, this is a battle of attrition.
<DeathStar> *As the three keep moving up, they would see floor after floor of the stuff trying to get out of windows or through cracks - around 80 floors worth*
<DeathStar> *meaning if they opted to stay and deal with each floor - it would have been a long fight*
<Dias`> <Id> Well I imagine the source is whatever we sealed up the last time that was affected Bonnie. *Id floats along the lower group trying to catch up*
<DeathStar> *soon they come across Simon, Selena, and Bonnie*
<DeathStar> <Bonnie> Um, lets see.... 20 mins since I dealt with this monster that attacked us and fell down the stairs
<Seraphna> Alita> How is this bar building so tall?
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "... oh. Wait, what is happening here?!"
<DeathStar> <Bonnie> *stands up, ater being treated, stumbling*
<DeathStar> <Bonnie> Ah, thanks, Mister Simon
<DeathStar> *he'd notice she's faintly see-through, indicating her mana is low like she doesn't have a familiar master right now*
<Xanatos> <Simon> Id, can you provide Bonnie with some mana?
<Dias`> <Id> Yes. *Id floats over, and begins to glow a bit with mana and then plops on her head to transfer it*
<Seraphna> **Alita takes out her mana crystal and tosses it to Bonnie**
<Seraphna> Alita> A full mage dose there. You should get a Mistress, Bonnie.
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "I'd offer, but I'm not a good choice."
<Xanatos> <Simon> ...let's continue on and hopefully find the others.
<Seraphna> Alita> We need to find that relic.
<DeathStar> <Bonnie> Thank you, both
<DeathStar> *As they continue upward, the group finds Aska and Shade trying to keep back the corruption*
<DeathStar> <Aska> Hail, Sir Simon
<DeathStar> <Shade> This stuff crawled into my bedroom
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "Of course it did... it wants all the spirits..."
<Jackieness> <Lana> "There is ana ctive eldritch artifact on site."
<Seraphna> **Alita begins a new purifying spell**
<DeathStar> <Aska> But I was positive Lana had the room with it sealed.
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "Apparently past tense."
<Dias`> <Id> Seals weaken over time.
<DeathStar> *this time it's only partially successful.8
<Jackieness> <Lana> "Or its influence elsewhere allows it to chip at my defenses here."
<DeathStar> *Bonnie points down the hallway toward a room; a lump of something that might be Asarar can be seen before it*
<DeathStar> <Bonnie> There.
<Xanatos> 6* Simon approached carefully.
<DeathStar> *Aska and Shade move to help back him up; the black veiny stuff running form the room - on the walls, ceiling and floor seem to be corrupting everything and throbbing as if alive, turning it into a petrid smell*
<Xanatos> <Simon> This is...quite vile.
<DeathStar> <Aska> I am using all of my holy purification to keep this place from transforming further
<Dias`> <Id> The level at which this is expanded is fascinating.
<Xanatos> 6* Simon tries to get a look at if the lump is Asarar or not.
<DeathStar> *as they near the doorway, the black glob of a person can be seen with purple hair; inside the room there is no relic, but something with tons of crawling parts that leaps at Simon*
<Xanatos> 6* Simon steps back trying to get off an ice wall spell to pin it up to the ceiling...if he's fast enough.
<DeathStar> *it hits the ice and begins to hammer against it*
<Seraphna> **Alita spins her staff and casts her Stay Awaken spell, healing, refreshing, and purifying energy beating out from her**
<DeathStar> *Aska hits the creature with her holy energy as it breaks through*
<DeathStar> <Aska> I cannot hold it for long
<Dias`> *Id scans the thing to see if it can figure out what it is*
<Seraphna> **Alita nods and starts to channel that purification towards the purple haired one**
<Xanatos> <Simon> Is this one of our allies or a beast of some nature?
<Seraphna> Alita> I am… unsure. It could be the relic manifesting a form?
<DeathStar> *the creature begins to push against Aska's holy beam*
<Jackieness> <Lana> "Ahhh... it could be either..." *starts to weave another seal*
<Dias`> <Id> It seems to be a piece of Nyarl itself. It is similar.
<Xanatos> 6* Simon refreshes his freezing skill but decides to rush past it and try to get a better look inside.
<Dias`> <Id> Or perhaps it's something that was turned in to a something similar to it. It's hard to tell honestly.
<DeathStar> *Bonnie's hands glow as she turns purple haired and begins to punch the creature while it's being blasted; inside Simon would see no sign of the relic. The the pedastal with it is completely empty now*
<Xanatos> 6* Simon glances around for people too.
<DeathStar> *Asarar is freed from her gunk; it looks like she was being transformed as she gasps for air, parts of her missing, but thankfully it looks like it was her biotect parts*
<Xanatos> <Simon> The pedastal is empty, no relic is in here so that may be it.
<Xanatos> 6* Simon shouts out at the others.
<DeathStar> <Asarar> Haaa..haaa. *She eyes her parts being transformed.....*
<DeathStar> <Asarar> WHAT THE HELL!?
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "Where are the others?"
<Seraphna> Alita> I believe we know what the thing is now.
<DeathStar> <Asarar> *turns to answer when the Bonnie ans Asarar finish off the creature*
<DeathStar> *Aska even
<DeathStar> *Asarar sways and falls over*
<DeathStar> <Selena> *Drives her sword into the thing*
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "Uhhh..."
<DeathStar> <Selena> What?
<Alicia> * Ceilidh looks for the others, purifying gunk to try to find them
<DeathStar> *As the creature falls, the gunk begins to receed*
<Seraphna> **Alita looks over it carefully**
<DeathStar> *the entire place begins to purify along with the creature*
<Jackieness> <Lana> "It was all tied to this being?"
<DeathStar> <Selena> Is that normal?
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "...I have no idea."
<Seraphna> Alita> **starts to chant in case the creature was a friend**
<DeathStar> *a human body can be seen underneath*
<Alicia> * Ceilidh continues searching
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "Found one!"
<DeathStar> *Ceilidh sees Kira with a sword through her*
<Jackieness> <Lana> "Ahhh... its hard to say what is normal when dealing with these eldritch entities."
<Seraphna> **Alita looks to see whose human body it is**
<DeathStar> <Selena> ... Wait. *She pauses* Wait
<Xanatos> 6* Simon steps out of the room if he's unable to find anyone else, frowning.
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "... this... is very not good."
<Jackieness> <Lana> "Ahhh...not good at all..."
<Alicia> * Ceilidh checks for life signs, and begins emergency treatment if it's not too late
<DeathStar> *Ceilidh's treatments causes black gunk to emerge from Kira's body and minor life signs to come forth*
<DeathStar> *with a sword still in her*
<Jackieness> <Kira> *gasps*
<DeathStar> <Selena> Should I pull this out?
<Seraphna> **Alita pulls the blade as she carts Full Heal on her**
<Seraphna> **casts
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "Well, it's out now."
<DeathStar> *Selena takes it back*
<Xanatos> 6* Simon helps Asarar up, or lifts her up if she's not able to stand on her own.
<Seraphna> Alita> Was anyone else here?
<DeathStar> <Asarar> *Grunts while Bonnie moves when someone falls on top of her*
<Xanatos> <Simon> Was it just the three of you? 6* Referring to Asarar, Kira, and Bonnie.
<DeathStar> <Bonnie> Urk
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "I hope so..."
<DeathStar> *The tiny familiar has been crushed*
<DeathStar> <Aska> Oh yes, there's the final one
<DeathStar> *she points at Logan, having been wedged in the ceiling*
<Seraphna> **Alita rolls it off her with her staff and starts healing him too**
<Xanatos> <Simon> ...while you are quite a capable group, I fear this is beyond your means.
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "Emergency response has never been such an emergency."
<DeathStar> <Selena> We're going to need to find that thing
<DeathStar> <Selena> But who would have stolen it?
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "... I feel like that's obvious."
<Jackieness> <Lana> "...it might have wandered off on its own. It does that."
<DeathStar> <Selena> .... what?
<Seraphna> Alita> A hunter is more likely.
<Xanatos> <Simon> Assume stolen for now, we should warn Ymir, correct?
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "Correct."
<DeathStar> <Selena> I'll do that. *rubs face*
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "We stopped the spread of corruption, and saved lives though, so I count this as a success."
<Xanatos> <Simon> Selena, Kira is alive, please don't take the stabbing to heart. You didn't know.
<Jackieness> <Lana> "Well..." *pushes u ehr glasses* "...no one broke into my vault on Geyze. It just slipped away."
<DeathStar> *Selena considers, then nods* Thanks, Simon
<DeathStar> *Bonnie listens to them all, looking a bit troubled*
<Seraphna> Alita> Did we not deal with a Hunter on that same day?
<Xanatos> <Simon> Bonnie?
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "What's wrong?"
<DeathStar> <Bonnie> Ah? Oh. I'm the only one not really critically injured. I'm sure Chelsea will probably blame me. She's fond of Asarar. *Which is weird for her to say, due to them being married*
<DeathStar> <Bonnie> I'm turning into bad luck
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "We can vouch for it not being your fault."
<Xanatos> <Simon> Sometimes things just do not go our way. You fight and you lose or win. All you can do is your best.
<DeathStar> *Bonnie nods* We'll get you all fixed up. *She pats Logan's head*
<Xanatos> <Simon> If you do that and someone isn't pleased with you, the problem lies with them.
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "Plus, things have been rough lately."
<Xanatos> 6* Logan groans
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "How are you doing?"
<Alicia> *to Logan*
<Xanatos> <Logan> ...you ever felt a million spiders crawling around in your brain
<Jackieness> <Lana> "OH? Please desribe it in more detail."
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "It's like that, is it?"
<DeathStar> <Selena> ... Lana is becoming like Id.
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "I'm not seeing enough fatalism for that.
<Alicia> "
<Xanatos> <Logan> ... 6* he looks at the others and the just sighs, laying his head back.
<Xanatos> <Simon> Let's get them downstairs.
<DeathStar> -SHIFT-
<DeathStar> Date: 10-654.6.12
<DeathStar> Location: Smuggler Planet
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Alright. Cookie can pass the simulator with decent results
<DeathStar> <Aya> And I have the digging equipment.
<DeathStar> <Yuki> So this all comes down to - do we wany to do both operations at once, or focus on one?
<Seraphna> Cookie> I do better when we play God of Thunder by Van Halen.
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Aya, select a strike team to go down and infiltrate the smuggler caves. The rest will remain on the Aquarius to go in if needed."
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "They will be able to react less well to both at once, but it is more difficult."
<Dias`> *Chad leans back as he listens*
<DeathStar> <Aya> Alright. *She turns to her Chad* This may take a few days to do the digging and get to them. You should return to Earth to you know what
<DeathStar> <Aya> I'll take Id with us
<Dias`> *Chad grumbles a bit at that* I'll have a Weapon take my place then here.
<DeathStar> <Aya> Alright. I'll set up our strike team and get everything ready
<Seraphna> **Thena paws at Aya**
<DeathStar> *Aya pats Thena*
<DeathStar> -SHIFT-
<DeathStar> Epilogue:
<DeathStar> Location: Geyze, The Academy
<DeathStar> *While the Kumen team lays in the medical wing, Peace runs around panickedly*
<DeathStar> <Selena> What now. *She sets her tea down*
<DeathStar> <Peace> This is a disaster. *he stops before Selena and the others*
<Jackieness> <Sasha> *emerges from the admin building/temple and crosses the courtyard* "Peace, you are the acting leader of the PEacekeepers. These public panic attacks need to end!"
<DeathStar> <Peace> I've been getting petitions for Origin to be allowed to summoned like the other Spirits. *he shows her the huge stack of papers*
<Xanatos> <Simon> These are wholly unique energy signatures. I can trace them locally, but Lana have you been able to determine a way to do that...globally?
<DeathStar> <Peace> I'm getting more and more requests each day. Where is the spirit anyway? <Selena> I haven't seen it today.
<DeathStar> *Her
<DeathStar> <Peacekeeper> If this keeps up, the Alliance will start getting these requests and you'll be flooded with them, Madame Sasha
<DeathStar> *Peace
<Jackieness> <Lana> "Ahhhh? Ohhhh... I can weave a cognition spell on to a digital transmission and then use a satellite network around the planet."
<Jackieness> <Sasha> "Then delegate the task to a bureacrat and supply them with a 'Request Denied' stamp."
<DeathStar> *Peace rubs his head* Oh, I fear this is going to be bad. Just who is telling people about the spirit and that it can create anything. The soldiers seem to want the spirit to make them weapons and armor. *he moves off, mumbling*
<Xanatos> <Simon> That is an excellent idea, Lana.
<DeathStar> *Sylph lands on Sasha* I'm still #1, aren't I?
<Jackieness> <Sasha> "...in all our hearts."
<DeathStar> *Sylph beams and hug Sasha*
<DeathStar> *giving her a rare fruit*
<DeathStar> *Then flutters off*
<Jackieness> <Sasha> "...thank you, Sylph."
<DeathStar> -TBC-
Session Close: Mon May 22 00:00:00 2023