Voice of the smitten: "Look at our perfect Princess! Isn't she deserving of our unconditional love? Isn't she the fairest being in the whole universe, worthy of our praise and admiration? The kiss we exchanged was the most glorious moment of our life, eclipsing the stars in its brilliance."
The kiss is simultaneously the most touching and one of the funniest scene in the whole game IMO, the reaction of the narrator and how he goes full purple prose, with the smitten calling it *the good stuff* is just great.
The funniest route is still the Razor for me, so. much. black. humor, it is enough to make someone like me spend the whole time grinning from ear to ear.
(And in fact, I have already a scene where you get to have Sable give you the look written for next chapter, he has to convince you to use a normal name, after all, what, you thought it would be your idea? Of course not. )
I'm hard pressed to choose between the Contrarian, the Cheated, and the Cold myself. But the Smitten certainly has his highlights, even beyond making the kiss possible.
"I'm here to feel, not to think!"
"Don't worry, my head's always empty! *Sigh* Except for thoughts of her."
I do remember someone saying that the Smitten and the Contrarian are basically the writer looking at the predictable white-knighting and reflexive rebellion of players and going, "That's you. That's how silly you sound." I can't help but agree, and that just makes me like them more.
Ok, you get that one due to the fact you have the eye of the needle and not the adversary, but, hmm, he still had the voice of the stubborn you know, the guy whose middle name basically is *let's fight to the death… and beyond*.
Eye of the needle does mean he didn't listen to stubborn too much and tempered it to go farther, one way or the other.
[X] Plan Odd Teachers
-[x] The Damsel
-[x] The Specter
-[x] The Thorn
-[x] The Eye of the Needle
-[x] The Stranger
-[x] They want to try teaching people to help them resist the Grimm, the best bet for that would be to approach Beacon and see how they could be of use.
-[x] Sable Vault for Long Quiet
-[x] Stella Panoply for the Princess
Once you and the Long Quiet have decided on a course of action, you begin working on how to make it true.
The first step is to exist as a citizen in this world, fortunately for you, this world is not named Remnant for nothing. Refugees from destroyed villages that lost all traces of their previous existence are a known phenomenon, and that's not even taking into account the Bandit tribes you heard about, living disconnected from the four kingdoms.
You will simply have to pretend you are one of those people. However, you encounter a problem when preparing your backstory for it.
"No, I refuse to take a name similar to the ones they take, I will not be shackled to the impression a thing like this will give. They will call me Princess or Her Royal Highness and that is final." You explain for what is definitely the last time to your obstinate love. Your arms crossed and your expression thunderous, while all he does is look at you with an amused air.
For some reason, he has got into his bird brain that you would benefit from taking names, normal ones, and not simply announce who and what you are to the masses. Yes, it would attract less attention, but you want the attention, the first impression you give is crucial to how you will change in their eyes, presenting yourself as someone important is sure to help.
"Love, I know you told me that names were the thing they used to capture that which cannot be captured, but we are not acting here as gods. We may be more than what the Long Quiet and the Shifting Mound means, but that is not how we have to act here. We act as mortals, and that includes taking mortal names." He answers calmly, as if reducing yourself that much was a good thing.
Then he moves and before you know it, he is right against you, the nearest wall on your back and his hand above your head.
"Besides think about it that way: If you get a name that everyone else uses, you will be MY Princess, no one else's." He had said in your ear in his most suave tone, his breath tickling you.
You almost manage to resist before he gives you The Look.
This breaks your defenses, you cave on the spot. What happens next leaves you blushing everytime you think about it later.
Best three minutes of your life… well, besides the time you and the newly named Sable fought each other to the death before you transformed into his Adversary. That was fun. You hope you will be able to do so once at Beacon. The fighting, not the other thing. You don't need a dedicated arena to kiss.
With that underhanded tactic, you are now Stella Panoply, and your love is Sable Vault, poor refugees from a tiny village without a name. You barely managed to flee when a plague of Grimm attacked. You were the village teachers for the ones that wanted to fight and hope to be able to continue your career here. The clerk that takes your story seems a little skeptical when you mention wanting to try to go to Beacon, pointing out that it is a school for elites. He does not say that bumbling people from the countryside would not be able to teach here, but the fact that you feel yourself becoming said bumbling fool tells it for him. You anchor yourself to stop it, of course, but you still can feel how he sees you and only the calm presence of your partner stops you from trying to break this frankly insulting impression by showing him what you think of it.
Now that you exist as far as the local humans in charge are concerned, you present yourself at Beacon to try and get an idea of what is needed to enter their ranks. You are immediately presented with a problem after asking the secretary.
"Our establishment only accepts experienced huntsmen as teachers, given your status as refugees, you may be able to take the exam for the huntsmen license, but even so, you will need enough missions completed in official capacity to postulate. I am sorry." The young woman you got directed to for your question says, actually looking sorry. The impression you got from how she affects you even indicates she sees you as genuine, giving you Aura and fighting experience. The calm demeanor from your partner and your self-confidence born of the struggle in your prison probably helping there.
"I see… in that case, when is the exam for the license and how do we register?" You continue playing the veteran, keeping your calm and not letting the fact your plan will take longer than anticipated get to you.
"You two are lucky, the exam is soon, as for registration, I guess you don't have much money due to your previous life?"
"No, we did not interact much with the outside world before and had to leave everything to flee." You answer, hoping there is an alternative if what she implies about needing to pay the entrance is true. You may be able to get money by working in town, but you are not looking forward to doing menial jobs. You are a Princess, not a poor commoner.
"In that case, there is a test in place that can give a temporary license, it allows you to take some low-level missions with most of the pay being taken directly towards the entrance fee. I have to tell you that trying to pass as a huntsman is a crime with a hefty fine, and taking this test when not in any state to even manage it will see you banned from the license entirely. Do you still want to try?" She says calmly.
"What would the test entail? We can't really see if we would be able to take it without at least some idea, wouldn't you agree?" Your Partner cuts off before you can simply say yes. Seems like the Narrator taught him to be cautious of unclear wordings.
"You can, the test is a spar against a team of first year students, you do not have to win, just prove you can really fight at the level of a professional." Is the prompt answer, accompanied by what seems to be a hint of slightly more confidence in you if the changes you feel from it are any indication. You are slightly more cautious in her eyes, slightly more experienced.
"One against four or can we both fight together?" You ask, using the boost her image gave you to self-sustain her positive impression. Your voice being one of someone in control of the place.
"One against four. You will each fight a different team."
"In that case, we'll take it, when can it be done?"
"We can arrange it for the end of next week, do you have any obligations or is it fine?"
"It is fine." And with that, you take out the scroll you got from the fact everyone thinks you had one already to give your contacts to the secretary.
One week later.
You and the Lo… Sable, you have to remember to use his name, spent the week you were given to prepare for the fight, the first thing was to give him Aura, as every huntsman seems to have it. Then you familiarize yourself with this way of fighting, where nobody bleeds and things are boring and you want a real fight and….
A big part of said training is obviously used to try to learn to spar and not kill your opponent, using the gift you got when you and your lover fought may be dangerous here, your instincts when you are her threatening to overwhelm you.
Before you know it, the time to train has passed and you are in Beacon once again, escorted to the battle arena by the same secretary you had seen last time.
"I didn't think to ask when we came here, but you were able to arrange this exam quite fast, how come?" You ask idly while walking through the corridors.
"Oh, that is simple, all classes have regular team sparring in their schedule. All that was needed was to tell the teacher in charge that someone wanted to pass the temporary license exam and they put you in the program." The ever-helpful secretary answers, maybe you should learn more about her? You really look at her for the first time, acknowledging her as more than just *that human secretary*.
She is a young woman with short brown hair, shorter than you but clearly well trained if the hint of muscle you can see is any indication. Do the entire personnel of Beacon need to be huntsmen? No, this is ridiculous, it's probably something else. Anyway, the woman is garbed in a simple red jacket and white pants. All in all, she seems to ooze an air of friendliness that you somehow doubt is the norm among those that have her job normally. People are not things you like to interact with that much, and you doubt anyone can do so all the time without quickly becoming crazy.
Your inspection of your guide is cut short by your entrance into what seems to be the arena you were going to. A simple flat circle with seats arranged around to observe the fights. The students and teachers are already there and you are guided to the sole grown woman in the room, one that manages to gain your interest on the spot for once.
She is a blonde woman, her face strict and her countenance perfect. The only touch of color in her white and black garb being a purple lined cape on her back.
"Welcome, I am Glynda Goodwitch, the teacher in charge of the combat class. Class, these are the two prospective huntsmen you had been told about, Stella Panoply and Sable Vault. As you had been told earlier in the week, you will fight each of them in a four against one match. You two!" She suddenly turns from facing the students to facing you. "Before we begin, I want to remind you that trying this exam without any ability to fight is dangerous. We do not accept people trying to pretend they are huntsmen, if you are just pretending, you will be fined for wasting our time, do you still agree to the test?"
"Yes, do not worry, we both know how to fight." You answer with a confident impression. Manipulating how you are seen to get stronger thanks to the implications.
She nods, then begin working on her scroll.
"Very well, we will begin right away, Stella Panoply, you will fight against team CFVY. If you need to recover your weapon or put on clothes more appropriate for fighting, it should be done in the changing room."
"Do not worry, I do not use a weapon and this dress is all I need." At that, Glynda looks back at you with a critical eye, ready to chastise you for what probably seems like foolishness or overconfidence. You do not let any doubts appear in your form, meeting her gaze with an even one that speaks of experience.
"If this is what you want, I won't stop you. This is your test." Is her final response, breaking the staring contest to allow you to go to the central arena.
You enter it then wait a little since you had nothing to prepare. Your opponents enter and you eye them to learn more.
The impression you get from the first one is *beige*, her clothes, the dyed end of her brown hair, everything on her is either beige or black. She has a purse with a belt of bullets going into it on her side, most certainly her weapon. The way she confidently strides in front of the others is telling you she is probably the leader.
The second person you study is a big man, with a sword just as big as him on his back. He seems the most obviously armored of your opponents, but the existence of Aura means this is not a good way to be sure.
The third is a clearly blind faunus. This instantly puts you on edge, a blind person may well hear some tells you would be able to hide from view and weaken your impression. He also reminds you of how your love fought when you were the Eye of the Needle, fast and ready to exploit any and all openings for his advantage.
The fourth would seem to be the weak spot at first glance, but you are a consummate actor due to your everchanging nature and need to manipulate how you are seen to your advantage, and she is not as afraid as she pretends. The girl knows how to fight, of that you have no doubts, and the others seems to be ready to react if you go for her first.
The stage is set, what will you do?
Vote:
Form with subvote for strategy, options are:
[] As you are now. (will it be enough?)
-[] Strategy?
[] The Damsel (Why would you do that?) -[] Surely, they would not hurt such a delicate flower? You don't have to use violence, don't you? (No, seriously, why would you do that?)
[] The Thorn
-[]Strategy?
[] The Specter
-[] Strategy?
[] The Eye of the Needle -[] Strategy is for losers, attack from the front, if they can't take it, it's their own damn fault. Hope you don't kill them.
-[] No, you will control yourself… you hope. Strategy?
[] The Stranger
-[] Strategy?
A/N:
Woohoo! First fight!
While fanon tends to have the crossover protagonist instantly meet Ozpin and get a teacher job right there right now without any vetting, I think that's stupid and will at least require you to prove yourself first. Even if there may be factors that will help you get the place faster than normal. You are obviously strange, but if Ozpin never meets you he cannot see it.
Now, I'm sure you have seen it thanks to the Eye's subvote, but you have a little problem with your pure fighter option right now, namely, she is there for fights to the death, and this is... a spar.
Do you try to use a less specialized form and risks taking too much damages? Do you try to go as you are now and keep your transformation in your sleeves? Do you take the risk of losing yourself as the Eye of the Needle?
I have already thought about some ways to win in all these cases, you can do it, remember that you do not need to win the fight, just prove you are on a level where giving you easy solo missions should be ok. Hell, if you actually find a way to have the Damsel do something I will accept it.
Just, don't make it be her die.
Now, for some things I had forgotten to do at the end of the last chapter!
First, I want to thank Naron (no pings, he intends to come read the quest once he has played Slay the Princess when it goes on sale.) for helping me hammer out some important points during the brainstorming for this quest. If it wasn't for him, you would have been students and that would've been that, I know it's cliche, but it is cliche because it is easy to think of. I am really thankful he stopped me from following Stations of Canon right off the bat.
Second, still on Naron, I am going to credit the idea of a direct way to take the hunstman license on his fic, Radiant Rebirth, I added the idea of a temporary license because it makes sense to me.
We have indications several times that Beacon and Remnant in general has a system for those that don't have a verifiable identity, Nora and Ren where orphaned quite young and lost everything, Blake managed to get in despite clearly not having any past in a combat school.
And more importantly, the Brawen twins come from a bandit tribe who I seriously doubt is keeping their population in the kingdoms database, yet they still entered Beacon somehow.
Well, you arrive just as I was writing about some strategies, so I am going to include you in the same post:
You personally do not have narrative control of the environment, you can influence how you are seen with how you act on the other hand.
The Princess actually does it several time during the update, you got a scroll of your own because *everyone has a scroll* and you got Aura when you told people you were a huntress because *huntsmen have Aura*.
Act like you are in charge of the place? You are either delusional or deadly, and the doubt is enough to help you get deadlier if you don't crack.
Hope that helps.
Anyway, given the lack of plans right now, I think it may be a good idea to propose some of my own to encourage discussion. I did think that combat decision paralysis was likely to kick in only after the fact.
Most important thing out of the way first:
If you use the Eye of the Needle, you will beat them, the strategy is more about how you make sure they don't end up as smears on the wall while you do so.
This form is very, very good at violence is what I mean.
For the rest:
The spectre may not be able to posses them, but your goal isn't to beat them, it's to prove you can at least be trusted to do things. You can't hurt them... but they can't hurt you. You can exploit that to your advantage.
The Stranger, all I'm going to say is that there are five parts in her, and you have four opponents, surely there is a way to use that?
If you go as is, you will benefit from the fact that as far as everyone knows, you are qualified to be there. You will also be able to transform during the fight, something you can't do if you take a form from the beginning.
[X] "I reccomend you to surrender now, what comes next isn't going to be pretty." She laughs a truly dainty laugh, and reacts. If they choose to pursue the fight turn into the Eye of the Needle, and focus, on trying to cripple them, through two methods. One using our partner as a way to restrain ourselves not wanting to look terrible to our partner, and also through sadism, they can't suffer if they're dead after all. So simply pin them to a wall.
[X] The Stranger, you are an unknown, a shadow of many things and could have beens. What could have been a great village is now a waste, and you are here to hopefully teach. Teach these young ones about strangers and unknown semblances. For Goodwitch, you are a huntress who taught, of course you have a strong semblance useful for teaching and fighting
-[X] Alpha Bitch: Manifest as a preening alpha Nevermore in brilliant purple, sharp words and sharp feathers sever your enemies
-[X] Broken Bird: Manifest as a grey scale apathy, its just not worth fighting is it?
-[X] Deadpan Snarker: Manifest as a orange panther, the snarkiest of felines
-[X] Nice Girl: A simple pack of Beewolves, offers a nice easy fight
-[X] Token Evil Teammate: This is all you, distract with pretty monsters and animals, meanwhile your arrows, and daggers find their place in painful places
EDIT: Added extra alternative
No Grimm Alternative
[X] The Stranger, you are an unknown, a shadow of many things and could have beens. What could have been a great village is now a waste, and you are here to hopefully teach. Teach these young ones about strangers and unknown semblances. For Goodwitch, you are a huntress who taught, of course you have a strong semblance useful for teaching and fighting
-[X] Alpha Bitch: Manifest as a Purple Coco, alpha bitch vs alpha bitch, utilize her weaknesses against her
-[X] Broken Bird: Yatsuhashi in Yellow, if you start forgetting who you are, then that'll be best, you are a pitiful fake after all
-[X] Deadpan Snarker: Manifest as a Green Fox, he's already blind, let's make him deaf with snark
-[X] Nice Girl: Pink Version of Velvet, She likes copying others, lets see how she likes it
-[X] Token Evil Teammate: You look great in red, sneak in some good hits, seperate them, force them to fight as individuals
[X] The Stranger, you are an unknown, a shadow of many things and could have beens. What could have been a great village is now a waste, and you are here to hopefully teach. Teach these young ones about strangers and unknown semblances. For Goodwitch, you are a huntress who taught, of course you have a strong semblance useful for teaching and fighting
-[X] Alpha Bitch: Manifest as a preening alpha Nevermore in brilliant purple, sharp words and sharp feathers sever your enemies
-[X] Broken Bird: Manifest as a grey scale apathy, its just not worth fighting is it?
-[X] Deadpan Snarker: Manifest as a orange panther, the snarkiest of felines
-[X] Nice Girl: A simple pack of Beewolves, offers a nice easy fight
-[X] Token Evil Teammate: This is all you, distract with pretty monsters and animals, meanwhile your arrows, and daggers find their place in painful places
Hmm... I am tempted, will sleep on it, you did offer a reasoning on why it may be in theme....
Do keep in mind that Stranger will conglomerate at one point or another, what will happen when all this clash together?
Edit:
The main reason I am tempted is the conversation in the ending's cabin when you choose the Stranger as your first pick, they say they are sort of a lesser form of the Shifting Mound, even if they are not good at it.
No matter what, you are going in the right direction on using the Stranger, the question is more if I allow you to turn into creatures of Grimm outright.
No matter what, you are going in the right direction on using the Stranger, the question is more if I allow you to turn into creatures of Grimm outright.
I could alter it to just be afterimages that look like team CFVY which was my first idea, there are 5 people there(if you include Goodwitch) but I felt it was copying Blake's semblance to much. I was hesitant to do the Grimm because it reminds me of the Schnee Glyph's to much. Alternatively, the different faces of the Stranger could be "ex students" from her past, and she can fight alongside them.
I could alter it to just be afterimages that look like team CFVY which was my first idea, there are 5 people there(if you include Goodwitch) but I felt it was copying Blake's semblance to much. I was hesitant to do the Grimm because it reminds me of the Schnee Glyph's to much. Alternatively, the different faces of the Stranger could be "ex students" from her past, and she can fight alongside them.
But, no, I get what you mean, you want the other bodies to be some of the students because that helps in teaching them and that is how you are justifying it to the world (which is a thing the Princess has experience in, a good thing, no sarcasm here, you have to justify your forms to the world in a way).
Just a precision, I probably wasn't clear enough due to my tendency to lack in depth descriptions (something I hope this quest will hep with) but the entire first year class is here watching, not just your opponents and Glynda.
Unless you were counting the closest persons, in which case, you are right on only team CFVY being in the arena with you.
Yeah, I think it is better not to allow Grimm, at least for now, particularly an Apathy right in the middle of Beacon, too much risk of a panic anyway, the Princess would veto the Grimm plan, I will decide later if you could even have done it.
Yeah, I think it is better not to allow Grimm, at least for now, particularly an Apathy right in the middle of Beacon, too much risk of a panic anyway, the Princess would veto the Grimm plan, I will decide later if you could even have done it.
-[X] Broken Bird: Yatsuhashi in Yellow, he's already blind, let's make him deaf to
-[X] Deadpan Snarker: Manifest as a Green Fox, lock Tonfa's, anger him with counter snark
With that underhanded tactic, you are now Stella Panoply, and your love is Sable Vault, poor refuges from a tiny village without a name. You barely managed to flee when a vague of Grimm attacked. You were the village teachers for the ones that wanted to fight and hope to be able to continue your carrier here. The clerk that takes your story seems a little skeptical when you mention wanting to try to go to Beacon, pointing out that it is a school for elite.
"Our establishment only accept experienced huntsmen as teachers, given your status as refuges, you may be able to take the exam for the huntsmen license, but even so, you will need enough missions completed in official capacity to postulate.
"You can, the test is a spar against team of first year students, you do not have to win, just prove you can really fight at the level of a professional."
"Oh, that is simple, all classes have regular team sparing in their schedule. All that was needed was to tell the teacher in charge that someone wanted to pass the temporary license exam and they put you in the program." The ever-helpful secretary answer, maybe you should learn more about her?
She is a young woman with short brown hairs, shorter than you but clearly well trained if the hint of muscle you can see is any indication.
You inspection of your guide is cut short by your entrance in what seems to be the arena you were going to. A simple flat circle with seats arranger around to observe the fights.
She is a blond woman, her face strict and her countenance perfect. The only touch of color in her white and black garb being a purple cape on her back.
"Welcome, I am Glynda Goodwitch, the teacher in charge of the combat class. Class, these are the two prospect hunter you had been told about, Stella Panoply and Sable Vault.
"Very well, we will begin right away, Stella Panoply, you will fight against team CFVY, if you need to recover your weapon or put clothes more appropriate for fighting, it should be in the changing room."
The impression you get from the first one is *beige*, her clothes, herhairs, everything on her is either beige or black. She has a purse with a belt of bullet going into it on her side, most certainly her weapon.
He also reminds you of how your love fought when you where the Eye of the Needle, fast and ready to exploit any and all openings for his advantage.
The fourth would seem to be the weak spot at first glance, but you are a consumed actor due to your everchanging nature and need to manipulate how you are seen to your advantage, she is not as afraid as she pretends.
Velvet is the only faunus on their team, Fox is human.
For using the Stranger, I was under the impression that it was more centered around the Princess' own possibilities, not about copying other people. So I'd treat a strategy based on her more like this:
[] The Stranger
-[] In one instance, you seize the leader's weapon. In another, you trip the large swordsman. In a different possibility, you discombobulate the blind fighter by boxing his ears. In another, you attack the faunus girl. And in an entirely different tack, you evade the group entirely, ending up in a different part of the arena.
-[] Reality shifts. You have done all of these things.
But rather than treating this just as a fight to do well in, I'd like to focus more on how this is our first impression to not just Glynda and CFVY, but apparently the whole first year class of our potential students. If we manage to make them believe that we're a skilled Huntress and teacher while in our default form, then that will make us so in our interactions with them going forward, which becomes a self-reinforcing loop, making things go much smoother in the long term.
[X] As you are now. (will it be enough?)
-[X] First, introductions are in order. They were told your name, it is only proper manners that these prospective students of yours give you their own. Use your authoritative presence and emphasis on referring to them as students to give a strong impression of the experienced Grimm fighting teacher you're acting as.
-[X] Stand your ground, seemingly unconcerned as you invite the biggest looking one to strike the first blow against you. Then do everything you can to dodge his attack while making it look effortless. Once you've made them think you outclass them, you've won. Take them out one by one while using your improved expertise to give critiques and advice on their performance.
[X] As you are now. (will it be enough?)
-[X] First, introductions are in order. They were told your name, it is only proper manners that these prospective students of yours give you their own. Use your authoritative presence and emphasis on referring to them as students to give a strong impression of the experienced Grimm fighting teacher you're acting as.
-[X] Stand your ground, seemingly unconcerned as you invite the biggest looking one to strike the first blow against you. Then do everything you can to dodge his attack while making it look effortless. Once you've made them think you outclass them, you've won. Take them out one by one while using your improved expertise to give critiques and advice on their performance.
I like the idea of playing into the Shifting Mound's gimmick as far as we can, especially since the capabilities of most of our possible selves seem to depend on interpretation rather than some rigid set of talents. The more we expand our baseline, the more we can work with. Besides, the base Princess is actually quite a capable fighter. Since we got EotN, the Long Quiet knows this and thus his experience with her as an overwhelming force in battle should reinforce that impression.
[X] As you are now. (will it be enough?)
-[X] First, introductions are in order. They were told your name, it is only proper manners that these prospective students of yours give you their own. Use your authoritative presence and emphasis on referring to them as students to give a strong impression of the experienced Grimm fighting teacher you're acting as.
-[X] Stand your ground, seemingly unconcerned as you invite the biggest looking one to strike the first blow against you. Then do everything you can to dodge his attack while making it look effortless. Once you've made them think you outclass them, you've won. Take them out one by one while using your improved expertise to give critiques and advice on their performance.
The first impression is important.
To build a narrative, we need a clean state first.
To Gain a new perspective, one have to use the original.
We have fought our beloved, without any altering, these humans cannot compare to him.
At worse, we can always assert dominance later
Velvet is the only faunus on their team, Fox is human.
For using the Stranger, I was under the impression that it was more centered around the Princess' own possibilities, not about copying other people. So I'd treat a strategy based on her more like this:
Thanks for the corrections, will do that after this post.
For Fox, I had just rechecked very quickly and the guy is literally named Fox, seems like I assumed without a basis.
I'd say I ought to rewatch RWBY's three first seasons in more details, but I am pretty sure I had made the same mistake at the time.
For the Stranger, after sleeping on it, you are right that they are about the Princess' possibilities, but the plan as written would still work, it would just be you copying their styles and weapon instead of outright mirror copies of them.
No Grimm forms at all. The Stranger stays human, Stella is clearly a human and not a Grimm, so she cannot have become a Grimm... for the immense majority of people, those that know Salem may have some doubts, but even then that would be a Grimmified version of you, not a Grimm.
But rather than treating this just as a fight to do well in, I'd like to focus more on how this is our first impression to not just Glynda and CFVY, but apparently the whole first year class of our potential students. If we manage to make them believe that we're a skilled Huntress and teacher while in our default form, then that will make us so in our interactions with them going forward, which becomes a self-reinforcing loop, making things go much smoother in the long term.
Congratulation on deciding to exploit one of the trick for how to fight as yourself in this quest!
Self reinforcing loops of impressions are indeed perfect for how you work, you got a scroll from everyone assuming you had one, and you showing the scroll to people to show them that you have a scroll is an example of one that happened in the background.
You proving you have what it takes to obtain what it takes is absolutely in line with the Princess telling the hero *I am probably chained here for a reason, best not find out what I can do.* in a completely confident way to induce him to doubt and thus allow her to either get stronger or gain a weapon.
Yeah, I intend to look at what happens in a route (with some replaying for more options chosen) and decide *does that make sense for her?* based on that at any given point, not *Eye of the Needle can do only this and that's final*.
The Shifting Mound is everchanging, almost nothing about her is static (she still has a little bit of stasis according to the Narrator's explanation), why would the forms be stuck with a precise moveset?
No, they have an outline and they paint inside it.
hmm.
One can see it as the perspective we got was all the perspectives the long quiet could have got in a controlled setting where the narrator forces him to do so?
In a Controlled environment with controlled perspectives and controlled Narrative.
Of course things didn't go his way, because he realizes he cannot actually remove free will from the long quiet. Thus the long quiet gained his own perspective, then we took from. So when we meet new people, it will be fresh perspectives from new people, and not the ones our love gained from endless repeating cycle from the long quiet.
You can only gain so much fresh perspectives from the endless repeating loop after all.
