- Pronouns
- She/her
I had voted for both of 'em, and now I removed the vote for the version with the letter.
Earth Bet: House of the Sun (Cultist Simulator/Worm)
- Thread starter Witherbrine26
- Start date
-
- Tags
- cultist simulator worm horror
The results of this vote saddens me greatly. Not a single summon being done. Not even by Charlotte. Only one pseudo-social with Sol. No follow-up on the Nat 100 letter. Who will steal the local artifacts for our benefit now?
[X]Plan: Gotta catch em all
- Pronouns
- She/her
Considering Level 5+ books is how we keep the Lantern Name around, gonna have to disagree on that one. There's no guarantee there will be anything besides the specific thing we're looking for in a scryed expedition, and getting it wrong means poof! No more Lantern Name, no channeled Lantern or SH Influence for the Haustorium, and no follower to scry for even more high-level artifacts and/or books.
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Vote Closed
Winning Vote:
[X] Plan: Gotta catch em all, RotT over Letter
-[X] On work and the people you preach to.
--[X] You'll end a few minutes early, nobody will know of course (Gain an extra action)
-[X] On furthering the cause.
--[X] Assist somebody else in their task
---[X] Sol is collecting more scraps of information and Lore for the cult, why not stop by and help him out?
-[X] Cast a Ritual
--[X] The Calling of Influence (Secret Histories)
--[X] The Reflection of the Tapestry (Easiest expedition site with at least 2 Level 5+ books)
--[X] The Attention of the Laws (Lantern)
-[X] On the goal, of rites, rituals, and summoned creatures
--[X] Search the White Plane for summonable creatures
--[X] Search the Desolate Stairways for summonable creatures (X3)
-[X] On Charlotte, and her aid (These are actions exclusive to Charlotte)
--[X] She should double down on recruitment
-[X] On Sun Sparks and their leadership (These are actions exclusive to Sun Sparks)
--[X] Prepare a plan for somebody, granting them a single reroll
---[X] Who? (Emir)
-[X] On Good Baldomerian and her brilliance (These are actions exclusive to Baldomerian)
--[X] Cast a Ritual
---[X] The Reflection of the Tapestry (Edge 6 artifact weapon)
[X] Plan: Gotta catch em all, RotT over Letter
-[X] On work and the people you preach to.
--[X] You'll end a few minutes early, nobody will know of course (Gain an extra action)
-[X] On furthering the cause.
--[X] Assist somebody else in their task
---[X] Sol is collecting more scraps of information and Lore for the cult, why not stop by and help him out?
-[X] Cast a Ritual
--[X] The Calling of Influence (Secret Histories)
--[X] The Reflection of the Tapestry (Easiest expedition site with at least 2 Level 5+ books)
--[X] The Attention of the Laws (Lantern)
-[X] On the goal, of rites, rituals, and summoned creatures
--[X] Search the White Plane for summonable creatures
--[X] Search the Desolate Stairways for summonable creatures (X3)
-[X] On Charlotte, and her aid (These are actions exclusive to Charlotte)
--[X] She should double down on recruitment
-[X] On Sun Sparks and their leadership (These are actions exclusive to Sun Sparks)
--[X] Prepare a plan for somebody, granting them a single reroll
---[X] Who? (Emir)
-[X] On Good Baldomerian and her brilliance (These are actions exclusive to Baldomerian)
--[X] Cast a Ritual
---[X] The Reflection of the Tapestry (Edge 6 artifact weapon)
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I have made another reading for the plan's results:
Six of Pentacles - Dawnbreaker Core
Four of Pentacles - Bitterblack Salts
Nine of Swords - Dedication: Enlightenment
From the looks of it, we're going to have quite a successful turn this time. The reading seems to be more immediate, so I'm guessing we'll have good results on the summonables, and they will likely be helpful for whatever expedition we find. Let's not squander the opportunity coming our way.
Six of Pentacles - Dawnbreaker Core
Four of Pentacles - Bitterblack Salts
Nine of Swords - Dedication: Enlightenment
From the looks of it, we're going to have quite a successful turn this time. The reading seems to be more immediate, so I'm guessing we'll have good results on the summonables, and they will likely be helpful for whatever expedition we find. Let's not squander the opportunity coming our way.
I wonder if in the long run once we are done saving up we should blow a large sum like 500 Bits to Baldomare and tell her to have fun?
We would likely get some really, really nice stuff out of that with little AP expenditure, and can use the Discretionary Reserves for summoning afterwards if we can justify it for the expedition.
We would likely get some really, really nice stuff out of that with little AP expenditure, and can use the Discretionary Reserves for summoning afterwards if we can justify it for the expedition.
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him
This isn't a mlp crossover, you don't need to use ponyspeak.
Let's try the $100 option first to see what it's like. And I'd rather use the funds on summoning things.
Fair, I was suggesting going big because this could save us AP on Artifacts or Shinies gathering (TM), but if we go too small would not be very worth an Name AP?
Well if it does turn out to be a shiny pinata, then we can later put a bigger amount of money in. But it might not be that, so better to put in the minimum amount in case the action isn't really to our liking.
Thinking a bit about expeditions.
We specified easiest expedition for 2 level 5 books. This means we might just get it done personally, without extra help - and we won't have much extra help next turn. Well, we have Teresa and Charlotte, but we need Teresa on scrying duty for a forge artifact and maybe some other things. On the other hand, the weapon expedition I expect to be quite hard. So I think next turn is best spent summoning in preparation for the weapon expedition and doing the book expedition.
We specified easiest expedition for 2 level 5 books. This means we might just get it done personally, without extra help - and we won't have much extra help next turn. Well, we have Teresa and Charlotte, but we need Teresa on scrying duty for a forge artifact and maybe some other things. On the other hand, the weapon expedition I expect to be quite hard. So I think next turn is best spent summoning in preparation for the weapon expedition and doing the book expedition.
Interestingly, if we learn about the expedition through a ritual, will we also learn about all the trials of this expedition?
By the way, which artifact are we going to look for next?
I suggest looking for a 3+ heart artifact that has the dance with death effect for Ashley.
According to Witherbrine26, she currently has 2 health points instead of 3 due to malnutrition, and considering that her role is our ultimate weapon, this is simply unacceptable.
We have invested an insanely large amount of time and effort in Ashley, if she dies, everything will go to waste, so I believe that we must find the artifacts of the Heart for her as soon as possible to protect our investments.
Of course, it is advisable to give her the artifact of winter later to protect her mind, but this is just a safety net, but the artifacts of the heart are an urgent necessity.
By the way, which artifact are we going to look for next?
I suggest looking for a 3+ heart artifact that has the dance with death effect for Ashley.
According to Witherbrine26, she currently has 2 health points instead of 3 due to malnutrition, and considering that her role is our ultimate weapon, this is simply unacceptable.
We have invested an insanely large amount of time and effort in Ashley, if she dies, everything will go to waste, so I believe that we must find the artifacts of the Heart for her as soon as possible to protect our investments.
Of course, it is advisable to give her the artifact of winter later to protect her mind, but this is just a safety net, but the artifacts of the heart are an urgent necessity.
- Pronouns
- She/her
Wouldn't it be better to give her an artifact that would give her more effective health so she stays up and useful rather than just a only-technically-not-dead effect? Or use FR to fix the problem in the first place?
We do not know if such an effect exists, if it does not exist, then we are wasting Teresa's limited time because the ritual will fail.
If you mean naturally healing, then the heart artifact should speed it up anyway by adding its rating to the final result.
FR this is a mandatory action when we have a stylish enough forge. But even 3 health points is not enough. while dancing with death actually allows you to temporarily lower your health to minus values.From a practical point of view, add + 1-2 health points and if you're lucky, even more, which, combined with our ritual of transferring vitality, will allow Ashley to survive even after losing half of her body. And besides, from a practical point of view, the artifact of the heart gives resistance to negative effects affecting the body and enhances healing, which, given Ashley's combat orientation, would not be superfluous.
- Pronouns
- She/her
Wdym "we don't know if such an effect exists". That goes for pretty much any artifact effect we could think of, including a Dancing With Death effect, because that's not from this quest. But if we're talking feasibility, "a Heart artifact that can absorb damage for its wielder" seems both more likely to exist than one that replicates a specific Heart Realization effect and also more useful, because Dancing With Death nukes your Lore levels to 0 while it's active.
Also presumably less traumatizing for Ashley, who doesn't have Velvet's Winter levels to cope with having not died only by the barest of technicalities.
It has been confirmed that Charlotte has a similar effect.
We could have tried to find such an effect, but for Dancing with Death there is a real example of its existence. In addition, I disagree, the effect of undying is a little more suited to the theme of the heart than the effect of not getting wounded.
It's better to let her be traumatized than dead.
- Pronouns
- She/her
You mean the Lore/Principle invoked for the purposes of preservation and protection and can which can bolster vitality, enough to protect against a Worm infestation if you have enough of it? That's the Lore you're skeptical could have an anti-wounding/temp. Health effect? Eternity isn't Heart's one and one only theme.
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The primary aspect of the heart is not the denial of the possibility of wounds, but the affirmation that life will continue no matter what. This is the most vivid embodiment in Thunderskin.
In addition, the heart does not protect against worm infestation, this is done by a lantern and a moth, but instead the heart allows you to get rid of the infestation.
Edit. In addition, I implied that the effect of dancing with death is more likely than absorbing damage. It's not that it's impossible to find such an effect among the artifacts of the heart.
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Turn 13 - Results, Part 1
[X] Plan: Gotta catch em all, RotT over Letter
-[X] On work and the people you preach to.
--[X] You'll end a few minutes early, nobody will know of course (Gain an extra action)
-[X] On furthering the cause.
--[X] Assist somebody else in their task
---[X] Sol is collecting more scraps of information and Lore for the cult, why not stop by and help him out?
-[X] Cast a Ritual
--[X] The Calling of Influence (Secret Histories)
--[X] The Reflection of the Tapestry (Easiest expedition site with at least 2 Level 5+ books)
--[X] The Attention of the Laws (Lantern)
-[X] On the goal, of rites, rituals, and summoned creatures
--[X] Search the White Plane for summonable creatures
--[X] Search the Desolate Stairways for summonable creatures (X3)
-[X] On Charlotte, and her aid (These are actions exclusive to Charlotte)
--[X] She should double down on recruitment
-[X] On Sun Sparks and their leadership (These are actions exclusive to Sun Sparks)
--[X] Prepare a plan for somebody, granting them a single reroll
---[X] Who? (Emir)
-[X] On Good Baldomerian and her brilliance (These are actions exclusive to Baldomerian)
--[X] Cast a Ritual
---[X] The Reflection of the Tapestry (Edge 6 artifact weapon)
-[X] On work and the people you preach to.
--[X] You'll end a few minutes early, nobody will know of course (Gain an extra action)
-[X] On furthering the cause.
--[X] Assist somebody else in their task
---[X] Sol is collecting more scraps of information and Lore for the cult, why not stop by and help him out?
-[X] Cast a Ritual
--[X] The Calling of Influence (Secret Histories)
--[X] The Reflection of the Tapestry (Easiest expedition site with at least 2 Level 5+ books)
--[X] The Attention of the Laws (Lantern)
-[X] On the goal, of rites, rituals, and summoned creatures
--[X] Search the White Plane for summonable creatures
--[X] Search the Desolate Stairways for summonable creatures (X3)
-[X] On Charlotte, and her aid (These are actions exclusive to Charlotte)
--[X] She should double down on recruitment
-[X] On Sun Sparks and their leadership (These are actions exclusive to Sun Sparks)
--[X] Prepare a plan for somebody, granting them a single reroll
---[X] Who? (Emir)
-[X] On Good Baldomerian and her brilliance (These are actions exclusive to Baldomerian)
--[X] Cast a Ritual
---[X] The Reflection of the Tapestry (Edge 6 artifact weapon)
Baldomerian's voice broke the quiet as the two of you shared breakfast. "I do admit this was quite interesting," she said, her words floating through the air with a casual ease that belied their weight.
You blinked, the fork pausing halfway to your mouth, surprised by her sudden remark. Setting down your utensil, you looked across the table, catching her eyes just as she extended a single sheet of paper toward you.
Confused, you accepted the paper, immediately noticing the text so small you had to squint. A frown tugged at your lips. "What is this?" you asked, tilting the page to catch the light, wondering why she would hand you something nearly illegible without magnification.
"The expedition," Baldomerian replied as if it should have been obvious, her tone light but tinged with satisfaction. "You asked me to locate a potent Edge weapon, did you not? Well, here it is."
Her calm delivery caught you off guard. "So soon?" you asked, thinking back to the conversation just the day before when you had casually mentioned the search.
You had expected results eventually, but not with this speed. Then again, you were dealing with a Name—a being of extraordinary power, and perhaps you shouldn't have been so surprised.
Baldomerian merely shrugged, the gesture elegant in its simplicity. "I had the time. So I asked a few of your colleagues to prepare your Master's cellar," she continued, as if orchestrating complex magic and pulling together people was no more than a casual errand. "I must say, they are wonderfully trained. You should take my compliments to heart."
A slight flush crept up your neck at her praise. It wasn't really your doing. Sol and Lady Mylissa had trained the cadre. You had helped organize them, ensured things ran smoothly, but the real credit lay elsewhere. Still, it felt good to hear such a powerful Name commend your team's efforts, even if it was only partially yours.
"Well, thank you," you managed, slightly sheepish. Then, as you glanced back at the tiny script on the paper, you sighed. "Do you mind explaining it aloud? I won't be able to read this without some serious magnification," you added, setting the page down carefully on the table.
Baldomerian's head tilted ever so slightly, as though the idea of you being unable to decipher the text hadn't occurred to her. After a brief pause, she nodded, a soft smile tugging at her lips as she indulged you. "Very well," she agreed, taking a slow sip of wine—your wine, no less—before beginning her explanation.
"It's in China," she said, voice smooth as silk. "Specifically, the Sichuan province. You'll want to have some extra cash on hand because the border guards will undoubtedly expect bribes. Bribery there is as natural as breathing." She paused briefly, her gaze flicking toward the paper before continuing. "Next, you'll find the artifact, and there's a list of potential sites on the sheet. You'll need combatants, of course—the guards will not step aside quietly, and the vault will require some finesse to crack open."
Her tone was so matter-of-fact, so blasé about the idea of dealing with armed guards and a high-security vault, that you were momentarily struck by how vast the difference between you and her was. She spoke of dangerous, intricate tasks as though they were nothing more than checking off items on a grocery list.
"And," she added with the same effortless ease, "there are a few other things of interest I noted. A blueprint, an old journal from the artifact's creator, and some Alchemist's Powder. You might find them useful."
It was astonishing. You had summoned Baldomerian knowing her prowess, knowing she could do what few others could, but seeing her in action was something else entirely. She had not only pinpointed the location of the powerful Edge weapon you sought but had also uncovered a treasure trove of other valuable items, seemingly as an afterthought.
"I'm… impressed," you murmured, rising slowly to your feet as you glanced again at the paper. There was so much detail there, so much to sift through. But, as much as you wanted to dive into the specifics, that would have to wait. You would need to upload the document to your computer, magnify it, and carefully examine each note she had made. This was going to be more helpful than you had anticipated.
Baldomerian, ever graceful, waved a hand, dismissing your admiration with a casual air. "It's nothing," she said, already turning her attention back to her wine, as though this monumental achievement was just another day's work.
"Well, thank you again," you said, gathering the paper carefully as you stood, your mind buzzing with plans. You had asked for her help, and she had delivered more than you'd dared to hope for. Now, it was up to you to take advantage of the opportunity she had laid before you.
With a final nod in her direction, you left the dining room, already heading toward your office, eager to pore over the details.
Baldomerian has found the location of a potent Edge artifact, located in the depths of China. You have gained access to the expedition Gunpowder's Cradle.
Due to her roll, you have discovered the dangers of the expedition and possible extra rewards. The leader on the expedition will receive a +20 bonus to all hurdles.
You moved quietly through the dimly lit cellar of Lady Mylissa's estate, the flicker of candles casting long shadows that danced across the stone walls.
You were ensuring everything was in order for the ritual, your eyes scanning the intricate sigils drawn on the floor, the placement of the ritual tools, and the arrangement of candles that would illuminate the path ahead.
This was no simple endeavor. The ritual you were about to undertake wasn't just for idle curiosity but for something more specific—something more demanding. You were scrying for books, but not just any books.
These tomes had to be worthy of a Name, books that would capture the interest of Baldomerian herself. She had made her desires quite clear in her own subtle way: if you wanted her continued presence, she would need something to occupy her mind, tomes and texts to read. The prospect of finding reading material that might sate her demanding intellect wasn't one to take lightly.
It wasn't going to be easy. You couldn't expect to stumble across such treasures nearby, but you held onto a shred of hope that the scrying would be favorable. If it wasn't, you would simply steel yourself for whatever challenges came.
With one last circuit of the room, you confirmed everything was ready. The sigils were pristine, the implements in their proper places, and the air thick with the tang of anticipation.
"Well done, everyone," you said, your voice cutting through the quiet as you addressed the cadre of assistants who had been helping you prepare. Their dedication had been invaluable, but the most crucial part of the ritual would fall to you. With a final nod of acknowledgment to your cadre, you stepped into the center of the ritual circle, the polished stone beneath your feet cool to the touch.
[Secret Histories Roll: 28+11(Piety)+5(Intuitive)+20(Secret Histories)+38(Cadre) = 103]
Once in position, you breathed deeply, invoking Secret Histories. The world around you began to shift, reality itself bending in strange ways as you called upon the esoteric forces that would guide your scrying. You felt it immediately—the sensation of being unmoored from the solid ground, as though you were drifting weightlessly through a vast and boundless sea.
The experience was unsettling, as it always was, like floating in the grip of a potent hallucinogen. Your senses screamed that what you were seeing wasn't real, but the deeper part of you—the part attuned to these powers—knew otherwise.
Before your mind's eye, you saw threads unraveling, winding and twining in an infinite array, stretching across time and space. These threads were like strands of hair, delicate yet infinitely complex, each one representing a possibility, a truth hidden from mundane sight.
Your fingers flexed as if weaving through those ethereal strands, searching for the one that would lead you to what you sought. And then you found it—a single thread gleaming brighter than the rest, vibrating with potential.
[Success]
With a focus born from practice, you began to exalt that shining thread, pulling it free from the chaotic weave. This act of purification required precision and strength of will. You felt a rush of power course through you as the thread was made clearer, sharper, the information embedded within becoming accessible.
It was intoxicating—this sense of making the impossible tangible, of reshaping the unseen forces of the world with nothing more than your knowledge and skill. The feeling was divine, like you were brushing against godhood itself, but you remained grounded, keeping the surge of pride in check.
[Lantern Roll: 24+11(Piety)+5(Intuitive)+30(Lantern)+38(Cadre) = 108]
Your focus sharpened as the thread revealed its secrets: the Boston Library. It was a place of wealth, not just in knowledge but in history. The second largest library in the United States, a grand archive that undoubtedly held ancient tomes, some of which could be precisely what you sought for Baldomerian. It made sense that such a place would house the sort of books you needed, though the challenge wasn't over yet.
You delved deeper into the thread's guidance, seeking more than just the destination. The steps you would need to take unfolded before you, a sequence of events wrapped in possibilities.
The approach—mundane folk, innocuous, blending into the crowd of those walking the library's vast halls.
The finding—either by sheer luck or the practiced eye of someone who knew what they were looking for.
The acquiring—whether through fire, the destruction of barriers, or the subtle turn of a key in the dead of night.
The escape—silent, unnoticed, leaving no trace behind.
These were the strands that wove together to form the path you would have to take. The ritual had shown you what was possible, and now you would have to seize that possibility with care and precision.
[Success]
The vision faded, and you staggered back slightly, the room rushing to reassert itself around you. The cellar felt much too solid, too immediate, after the abstract expanse you had just traversed. You blinked, trying to steady yourself as your mind slowly came down from the ritual's high.
Your hands ached, and when you glanced down, you saw faint lines of blood seeping from your palms. Thin cuts, like the marks left by weaving out tangled knots, marred your skin—small sacrifices to the magic you had worked.
"Could somebody bring me paper and a pen?" you asked, your voice steady despite the light tremor in your limbs. You pressed your hands together to stem the light bleeding as one of your cadre quickly hurried off to fetch the supplies.
You needed to write everything down before the finer details slipped from your mind. The ritual had been a success, but that was only the first step. You would need to act on the knowledge gained, and for that, you needed it clearly recorded.
Minutes later, the blood had stopped, and you found yourself seated at a small desk, pen in hand, writing out everything you had seen. The Boston Library, the approach, the risks—it was all there. It wasn't as grand a feat as what Baldomerian might have accomplished, but it was more than sufficient for your purposes. The road ahead was clearer now, and with this knowledge, you could finally begin to deliver on your promise.
You have cast The Reflection of the Tapestry, costing you 25 Funds
You have discovered an expedition with at least two Level 5 books. You have gained access to The Boston Public Library.
In addition, due to your roll you know all the dangers of said expedition.
You found yourself once again standing within the ritual chamber, the familiar scent of wax and incense clinging to the cool, stone air. It had only been a handful of days since your last foray into the arcane, but this ritual was different.
The one before had required precision, a delicate touch to sift through the threads of fate and unveil a hidden path. This time, however, you sought something grander—something more forceful, more imposing.
You were calling upon the power of Secret Histories. This would not be the kind of subtle magic that slipped unnoticed between the seams of existence.
No, this was a force that would change your very day-to-day life and disrupt the very fabric of your future rituals if not handled properly. But that was of no concern to you. You understood the price, and you were more than willing to pay it.
Your cadre was already assembled, standing by with quiet anticipation, their faith in your abilities unwavering. The site had been prepared meticulously, each sigil drawn with care, the candles burning steadily, and the tools laid out in perfect alignment. There was no need for hesitation. Everything was ready.
You stepped forward, your mind already slipping into the familiar rhythm of invocation. The air, still and calm, held a weight that only you could perceive, and as you moved to the center of the ritual space, the power you sought began to stir.
[Secret Histories Roll:
And then, nothing.
To the untrained eye, to your cadre, it would seem as though nothing had occurred at all. There was no tremor in the air, no flicker of light or sound to signal the beginning of a great work. But you knew differently. The truth was that the air had already trembled—it had done so the moment you had willed it. The ritual had already come to pass before you had even truly begun.
There was no need for the motions of calling upon the Lores, no intricate gestures or recitations of arcane words. You had already done them in some sense, though you could not recall the exact moment. Time itself seemed to blur around the act, as if you had stepped into a moment beyond moments.
The power of Secret Histories had unfurled before you, vast and inexorable, and you were now merely following in the wake of your own success. You were not performing the ritual—you were sailing behind it, riding a wave that had already crashed against the shores of reality.
Your cadre remained silent, watching, waiting. To them, nothing had happened. They had been summoned here for what appeared to be no reason at all, their expectation lingering in the stillness. But you felt it—the shift, the subtle but undeniable pull of something far greater. A powerful force now swirled within you, unseen but potent. The ritual had been cast.
For your cadre, this was a wasted effort. For you, it was anything but.
You are now under the effects of A Rippling. 30 Funds have been removed for the cost of this ritual.
You have gained 1 scrap of Secret Histories Lore.
Secret Histories Lore is now Level 3
Nothing has changed. An interlude to follow.
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- Pronouns
- She/her
Nice, Sun Spark helped us out there with that SH Influence. SH Realization incoming! Now for our new expeditions.
While I think we can get away with just using cult followers for the library, I think we should strongly consider summoning Mopsy for the Cradle. Max Grail Influence + Teresa + Mopsy should give us enough coverage here, I think, and get us the bonus rewards too. Especially since the better we do (i.e. not repeating hurdles), the more we should be able to knock off from the final price. Biggest problem is combat, tbh, since we're still Frightened, Teresa's a noncombatant, and Mopsy's an unknown.
Four hurdles here: Moth/Grail, Lantern/SH, Forge/Knock, Moth. And not very expensive, considering the reward. We can probably handle this next turn easily enough with our SH Influence and 1 or 2 cult followers of Moth and/or Knock.
A hard expedition, which is expected for such a powerful artifact. Five minimum hurdles: Grail, Lantern/SH, Combat, Knock/Forge, Moth/Grail.
While I think we can get away with just using cult followers for the library, I think we should strongly consider summoning Mopsy for the Cradle. Max Grail Influence + Teresa + Mopsy should give us enough coverage here, I think, and get us the bonus rewards too. Especially since the better we do (i.e. not repeating hurdles), the more we should be able to knock off from the final price. Biggest problem is combat, tbh, since we're still Frightened, Teresa's a noncombatant, and Mopsy's an unknown.
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The +5 intuition bonus is not taken into account here.