[X] Plan: Two Fronts.
-[X] Have Parvati sneak in ahead of time to lay an ambush. Scout the place out for us if possible.
--[X] Once it starts, Ciel and Giano will hit them hard and fast before they can react.
---[X] If the opportunity presents itself, Parvati will spring the ambush and kill the Prophet.
This isn't what happened when a lone woman fought the Prophet, why would it happens now?
Plus, we are high enough in augmentations that canon fodder is barely a speed bump to us, and getting mobbed is not the most likely result.
[...]
Reminder that Giano acknowledges that the guard and the crowd exists... before immediately dismissing them as non threat, despite knowing just as well as us who is in it.
We just saw that while loyal to an extent, the congregations members are not willing to risk their jobs and life for the Prophet, that considerably reduces the risk of them even trying to fight against us in time.
Because there were probably less people in the crowd back then, on top of the fact that the prophet and her guards looking like they could handle a single woman? We are coming in as 3 people with weapons through a crowd that has people who are combat ready though, on top of the prophet probably getting more protection due to the size of the crowd. I don't expect us to be treated the same way.
I'm not even sure Giano is aware the crowd is a possible threat. You say she acknowledged the crowd, but I only see her referring to 'a bunch of security but only two or three of them are on our level'. We actually have 0 idea what the power level of the people in the crowd are, only that there will be a bunch of fixers and syndicates there.
And depending on Giano to be single-handedly capable of taking the crowd on is not something I would count on. I think we already made this mistake back with Darius and Rookwood. Giano is much more likely to ditch our asses if things goes wrong than them though.
I honestly do not expect a straight-up attack to end well, even if the kill on the prophet succeed without a hitch. Unless when we can interrogate the fixers one by one to pressure them, a mob runs by emotions. And there will be plenty of that if the prophet is killed.
Are we sure? I know we have leg augments but I don't think they are at a 'jump 100s of feet over hundreds of human obstacles in one go' level. Well, it could be remedied by coming from the roof though.
With the members of the sermon being regular fixers and syndicate members, Parvati would completely blend in. Rushing right in does carry some risk of getting zerg-rushed by multiple lower-ranked fixers and syndicate members, but we are two Grade 6s and a Grade 5 Hana, it's not going to be too likely we'd easily get rushed that way.
Feels a bit like one of those "Who would win between 1 billion lions or one of each Pokémon" puzzles, to be honest. On one hand you could claim the billion lions would win on just sheer amount alone, but the opposition have things like bending time, reality, and other god-like powers.
Yeah I'd still say we can rip and tear through lower grade fixers when push comes to shove. Hope this works out!
Only if said plan is on it's own without adding a rushdown distraction on top of it.
Which is again, the best kind of plan. Like seriously. Stop voting for a single action only plan when you can stack the deck and murk the enemy way quicker.
Here's my new plan after 10 minutes of thinking. Given that the current plan is 'Unga Bunga the Prophet will be beaten because we got the bigger stick', which while a much more preferable win over the favor with Shadow vote, isn't that good yet.
A plan having more parts doesn't necessarily makes it better, I want Unga Bunga because this is a case where complicated is detrimental, due to being more easily read.
It becomes far more difficult for the Prophet to dodge if the only thought in front of them are *must, kill, prophet*, instead of a bigger reasoning.
Just going with the flow is how you beat mind readers, stop thinking, start hitting.
[X] Plan: Two Fronts.
-[X] Have Parvati sneak in ahead of time to lay an ambush. Scout the place out for us if possible.
--[X] Once it starts, Ciel and Giano will hit them hard and fast before they can react.
---[X] If the opportunity presents itself, Parvati will spring the ambush and kill the Prophet.
With the Prophet appearing as lost family members, what are the chances that Parvati will see them as her dead brother and possibly hesitate in a moment she shouldn't?
With the Prophet appearing as lost family members, what are the chances that Parvati will see them as her dead brother and possibly hesitate in a moment she shouldn't?
Has already been anticipated, this is part of why I want a blitzkrieg, difficult to capitalize on hesitation when there are two others trying to kill you, and definitely no time to try and talk to increase the distraction when you would have to follow two roles simultaneously, plus have to dodge the member who is immune to your trick.
They seem to also do things like deliver payment for jobs, which makes sense as I doubt the City has a proper widespread electronic banking system in the backstreets.
[] Rush in once it starts, just hit them fast and hard before they can react
"I guess it doesn't make sense to have any big plans," you begin after mulling it over, "If the prophet can read minds, then any sneaking in may give the game away. I don't like dragging it out and trying to kill everyone on the prophet's staff means we can get mobbed. So how about we just, well, rush in once the prophet gets on stage? The building has an open roof, maybe we can get at them from above?"
The other two listened patiently, brows each scrunched in thought. Giano is the first to nod. "You're not wrong. I never had to fight a mind reader before, but going right for the throat does seem like our best option."
You keep quiet about the idea to call on Shadow, or rather Hifumi. As much as you would value his expertise in this mission, you are more than a little greedy here and want to keep that favour up your sleeve for the Hana examination.
"It's risky though," Parvati cautions. "Running straight toward an Urban Plague is normally suicide at our numbers and Grades."
You agree, which makes it kind of ironic considering your past life. "But we were always good at hitting and running."
"There is always risk involved in being a Fixer," Giano adds with a little grin. "Part of the job, especially if you're helping someone who aims for Hana. But no matter, for the next week you two get the lay of the land while I try to dig up more information on the prophet's defenses."
She receives two nods, no one needing it explained that she is too conspicuous to look around the area.
That week passes quickly and mostly eventless. You and Parvati leave your larger weapons at home and just walk around, a hand on your knives more often than not; the area is thinly populated with gangsters and Rats, not quite a dump but definitely not well off. The building the prophet appropriated for sermons is among the largest, maybe a decrepit baseball stadium or something. Some of the more obvious holes were patched over and a suspicious number of people patrol the streets around it. No uniforms or anything, but they move with a certain purpose the random passersby lack.
Thankfully, even the prophet's guards forget to look up most of the time. You only dare pass by them twice at ground level before taking the rooftops for another look; there is no convenient way on top of the building, but you may be able to scale the walls if you are quick.
The next thing you do is watch the guard patrols from far away to try figuring out a pattern. Parvati and her improved senses are invaluable here, but even she needs four days of drawings and notes to figure it out with your help through discussion. Giano is pleased when you present the mostly complete patrol plan.
"Either they're amateurs or not being paid enough to randomise their routes," she comments. "Maybe a bit of both. Whatever it is, we can use this."
The final two days before your raid are spent planning a route and going over what vestiges of a plan you have. It is ultimately simple and meant for speed; go in, kill the prophet, split up and run for the hills. Nobody expects it to work that easily, but you trust Giano and Parvati to handle complications. The important bit is not to get bogged down in any fights. The crowd may just start attacking you too, hence why that is repeated a number of times by everyone during the planning.
Once the day comes, you are prepared. Mai seems to realise something is going to happen even after Parvati kept discussions of the job down at home; she glances between the two of you during breakfast but says nothing beyond wishing you good luck. Parvati throws her sister a little smile before she heads out, then it is time for you to go as well. You run your treasure through your fingers and feel the soft texture to calm your nerves, then put it down with a sigh. Taking this anywhere outside just risks getting it dirty, torn, or stolen.
You meet up with Giano in silence, your thundering heartbeat the only noise in your ears. Nobody talks and the crowds once again part before Hana's white. You take to the rooftops soon enough and cross over buildings in a straight line toward your destination; it feels a little like walking to your own execution, though you try your best not to think like that. Parvati's pocketwatch says you have an hour until the sermon starts, which is ample time to set up shop near the place.
Parvati is also your lookout, what with her choice of augments outdoing even Giano's enhanced senses. She peers over your cover from time to time and frowns down at the patrol routes you drew on a map, nodding to herself. It seems they do not switch up their patterns during sermons either.
The crowds of people are new, though. Dozens stream through the streets, many together and some alone. You almost get spotted by a pair of Fixers coming over a nearby roof much like you did earlier, the noise startling all three of you. Even Giano twitches violently. Yet the cultists keep going, so you can relax seconds later.
It still takes a while for the adrenaline to leave your system.
A part of you insists this is too easy. Something should have happened or gone wrong. Maybe something will still go wrong, but you expect that already. Nothing you can do about it except reacting and hoping you are prepared enough. If all else fails, the three of you can retreat and come back another time.
Minutes tick by agonisingly slow until it is finally time; just as the sermon is slated to begin, all three of you leap over your cover and to ground level. You rush through one of the blind spots you identified in seconds and reach the wall, each leaping atop various protrusions. Giano moves up ahead thanks to stronger augments, but you and Parvati follow with fluttering coattails and dress respectively.
Reaching the roof is another part of the plan done; no alarm was sounded yet. You look down into the stadium to find a small crowd around a stage built near the center. It is only several hundred, nowhere near enough to fill this huge building. But that is still several hundred people you have to worry about.
Then Parvati gasps and you follow her gaze to the stage itself, where a distant figure speaks to the crowd. "It reaches all the way here," she explains and covers her eyes for a moment. "Looks so close to my brother that I'm going to be sick."
Giano frowns downward. "I can't see them clearly from this far away. Get moving, we circle around and attack from behind the stage."
She indicates how the crowd is arrayed in a half-circle, probably so the prophet can look at most of them at once; you both nod and follow her lead along the edge of the roof. Giano mutters about not having splurged on something for camouflage, but neither you nor Parvati had the money for it.
It is another agonising five minutes as you creep closer and closer; the speech the prophet holds slowly becomes audible.
Then you make the mistake to glance down and stop in place, transfixed by what you see; a wave of brown hair and high cheekbones, the usual lethargic look replaced by a gentle smile. She stands tall and thin as Mu always has, so eerily similar you have to remind yourself that it was you who cut the organs from her belly. An iron weight rests in your stomach at the sight and memory, a longing you have not felt in a while.
Parvati slaps your side and pulls you out of the moment, making you shudder. Even knowing what the prophet does almost made you wish it were true.
This is sick.
More than that, this bastard playing with your memories like this makes you angry. A soft growl rumbles in your throat, but you clamp down on it and keep following Giano. The prophet will get hers soon enough, even if the thought of running Mu through makes you feel ill.
Mu is already dead, this is just an impostor. Maybe you can actually believe it if you remind yourself enough times.
"What do they look like to you?" Parvati asks Giano quietly, no one paying attention to whatever the prophet says.
The redhead squints down and hums. "Lanky and bald, with six prosthetic legs that make them look like a spider. Might be their entire lower half is prosthetics, but I'm not sure on that."
You grumble at the news, a pang of distaste now mixed with the anger. "That explains how they dodge so good. At least we know whatever causes the illusion is a mental effect." And oh, do you hate knowing someone is playing with your mind while being unable to do anything about it.
It feels like an eternity until you reach a good spot to descend from. Nods are exchanged, then the three of you explode forward. Giano takes a single, bounding leap to ground level while you grab Parvati's waist and slow your descent with a downward blast of wind. The first few are beginning to turn when you reach the ground, but nobody is prepared for three Fixers charging right at the stage.
Fumbling guards are ignored as you clear the three metres height difference without even slowing, weapons drawn. Mu, the prophet stares at you in surprise but glides right under your first sweeping blow. Parvati tries to step her, but that little bit of hesitation in her motions gives the prophet enough time to dodge. She shouts something you don't hear over the roaring of blood in your ears and makes to duck between you and your partner when Giano's greatsword slames into the solid stone right by her feet; a shriek of tearing metal follows but the prophet manages to duck under your Lucerne, leaving behind a mechanical foot.
That is when the guards swarm onto the stage; one comes your way at speed equal to yours, but you turn away and follow what still looks like Mu. The crowd roars.
You try your best to stay on the prophet, but there are too many guards. You have to slow and stab one who goes down screaming, then evade the faster one. Giano tears through a whole group in one swing and distracts them momentarily. Some gangsters are climbing onto the stage by now, but the Fixers are too scared by the Hana Fixer in clear view.
Giano is fixated on the retreating prophet and pursues, but the sound of battle draws your gaze behind; Parvati is stabbing her trident into guard after guard as the largest group of them seems to converge on her at the rear. She seems fine, but a pang of worry dampens your anger. [] Follow Giano, trust Parvati
The main question is who we're trusting to be able to handle things solo - Parvati with fending off the guards, or Giano with chasing and finishing off Prophet (and handling whatever ace up their sleeve they might have)
Tomorrow's Expression is a non-fightable Abnormality that can be encountered in Abnormality events in the Mirror of Mirrors. It is related to Today's Shy Look from Lobotomy Corporation. Tomorrow's Expression has a humanoid upper body wearing a brown cloak with multiple, large spider-like legs...
limbuscompany.fandom.com
Would fit in the pre cog and memory disguise aspects
