Remove ads

[Exalted/SMT] Shard of a Broken Sun

Reader mode
Hmmm, well this is a pickle.

I guess one has to start gambling on what might happen and what to do at this point.

- Option 1

The Demiurge is nearing the end of its strike, so one can hold out to the end. The cautious conservative approach. If one is wrong on this though, then Amu will burn out soonish one expects... at latest when those reserves hit 0%.

- Option 2

The Demiurge might be nearing its end, but it might pummel Amu for some time longer.

So a way to reduce pressure on her resources atleast a little might be needed, even if at the cost of further limit.

Possible method would be to increase her Essence further, if only fractionally.

A possible means to achieve this? For instance merge in a further Chara, though this might only be possible by unlocking the Humpty Lock (Assuming she can), a definite risk in such a situation though.

- Option 3

Try to knock the Demiurge off balance with some kind of new defence or counter strike to make it stop pushing? Risky for sure if it changes in trying to burn you alive instead... Also it's hard to see what kind of counter strike would phase it much at all...

- Further options not currently thought of... Any one else have ideas?


(I also considered abandoning the situation and saving yourself, but it seems unlikely a compassion 5 person would do that unless a very convincing reason indeed was given)
 
She poked the fastening of one of Utau's ponytails. The idol shrieked, then turned and looked up at her. "Oh, it's you. Amu, wasn't it?" Utau sighed, and slowly continued. "I'm not going to apologize for anything, but… thank you, I suppose. Your parents did tell us why we're here. Not the others, they're too young, but I wouldn't want to risk it out there. I do appreciate not needing to."

Utau narrowed her eyes. "Ikuto's still mine, though. Do you understand?"

Amu looked at her in confusion. Still hers? Did that mean -

"Oh God, I so did not need this," Ikuto groaned. "Amu, please let me introduce you. This is Tsukiyomi Utau." He paused, and her eyes widened in realisation. "My blood-related younger sister. It'd good if both of you remembered that. Utau, this is Amu, -" He paused, dramatically "- my adoptive little sister. Get along, will you?"

His what?

"Your what?"

Amu stared at him in total, genuine incomprehension. She was joined in that by Utau, who'd actually shouted the question. Ikuto smiled at them with some amount of glee.

"Well, you see. I was talking to your mother, Amu-chan, and she brought up an interesting detail. Apparently chara users have a much better chance of survival, even if you don't completely succeed. Therefore, since we already know each other - and because I'm the oldest one here -" He smirked, holding up a signed contract. "Welcome to the family, Tsukiyomi Amu. I'll do my best to be a wonderful brother."

The room had gone completely quiet. Amu looked around desperately, but it seemed Dad had bundled everyone out of the room before that conversation - Mom was still there, but she just nodded.

Letting him meet Mom had been totally, utterly the wrong idea!

She found her gaze inevitably, magnetically attracted back to Ikuto.

"Of course, you're still on the Hinamori family register as well. It's a bit unusual, and maybe not strictly speaking legal, but for the time being you can use both names. Doesn't that sound great?"
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
This was fucking ador- OH GOD WHAT DID WE DO WHAT IS HAPPENING OH JESUS
 
Honestly, I'm just throwing a stunt at the wall, not something to actually necessarily be voted on.

Because I don't want to give up, and I don't want to wreck Amu trying.
 
I just hope that stunt doesn't burn off our knowledge on infernal charms. Solar stuff should be something we can relearn, but if we lose much more of the yozi stuff we might not be able to create any charms based on it later
 
It's more like burning off stuff that isn't relevant anymore, like what the Lidless Eye that Sees could do in battle and why he this was important to kill him.

But like I said, it's not so much a stunt as it is me throwing shit at the wall and hoping I can pry a hint--or at least a little better performance out.
 
How hard did we fuck up.

Like... Seriously how did we make things go this badly?!
 
Lilithium said:
How hard did we fuck up.

Like... Seriously how did we make things go this badly?!
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
We exist in Megaten, and for once, Exalted metaphysics don't take priority.

In short, even if we were an Essence 10 Solar, we're still liable to get punked by the High End, and Kagutuschi is High End, even if he's not in his prime right now.

And we're going against his direct will here.

We haven't fucked up, we're just taking on an Endgame Foe shortly after character generation.
 
Things are actually going significantly better than they could have~~~

EDIT: A hint, was it? Sure, you can have one. A hint, a hint!

There can be no perfect victory.
 
Baughn said:
Things are actually going significantly better than they could have~~~

EDIT: A hint, was it? Sure, you can have one. A hint, a hint!

There can be no perfect victory.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Figured as much, would my write-in help our odds any, while minimizing our losses?
 
Alectai said:
Figured as much, would my write-in help our odds any, while minimizing our losses?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
It could. There will be a cost, no matter what, and it will be one you'll feel - but you can to some degree decide what the cost is.

For what it's worth, Kagutsuchi is having a very bad day indeed.
 
Baughn said:
It could. There will be a cost, no matter what, and it will be one you'll feel - but to some degree decide what the cost is.

For what it's worth, Kagutsuchi is having a very bad day indeed.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Costs are acceptable. As long as it's one that can be paid without destroying us or Amu.
 
Zefferen said:
I just hope that stunt doesn't burn off our knowledge on infernal charms. Solar stuff should be something we can relearn, but if we lose much more of the yozi stuff we might not be able to create any charms based on it later
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Amu has natural shaping skills and you're worried about some old broken yozi cruft? Burn it all off.
Alectai said:
Figured as much, would my write-in help our odds any, while minimizing our losses?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
You're changing where our losses occur, sure.
 
Baughn said:
It could. There will be a cost, no matter what, and it will be one you'll feel - but to some degree decide what the cost is.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Will we be deciding the cost, or will Amu?

Also, calling it: we might be able to mitigate damage by sacrificing one or more Charas, maybe to act as a reality-maintaining thingy/barrier maiden.
 
Speaking of Infernal charms...

Could we somehow grab a bunch of ascendancy mantles? I mean we're already forcing Glory to the Most High, so what's a few more sets of horrific long term consequences for a short term gain? At the very least the Malfeas mantle wouldn't be too bad- it's just more limit, and we used to be a slayer shard. I think the extra dots of essence could be what we need to pull through here.
 
Baughn said:
It could. There will be a cost, no matter what, and it will be one you'll feel - but to some degree decide what the cost is.

For what it's worth, Kagutsuchi is having a very bad day indeed.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
I...I'll give you hugs and omakes as bribery to make the pain hurt less q=q
 
Wander said:
Speaking of Infernal charms...

Could we somehow grab a bunch of ascendancy mantles? I mean we're already forcing Glory to the Most High, so what's a few more sets of horrific long term consequences for a short term gain? At the very least the Malfeas mantle wouldn't be too bad- it's just more limit, and we used to be a slayer shard. I think the extra dots of essence could be what we need to pull through here.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Ahaha. "Just more limit."

Willpower is life in Exalted, especially given the willpower tax we have to use anything outside our body. What is most likely 12+ more limit (probably higher given it innately sets us at 5 limit permanently) is going to tank our willpower reserves so bad we'll be crippled for months.
 
Cytokinesis said:
Ahaha. "Just more limit."

Willpower is life in Exalted, especially given the willpower tax we have to use anything outside our body. What is most likely 12+ more limit (probably higher given it innately sets us at 5 limit permanently) is going to tank our willpower reserves so bad we'll be crippled for months.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
As I said, horrific long term consequences for a short term gain. We REALLY need that short term gain right now.

Edit: And actually, I only remember the effect of the Malfeas mantle off hand. What do the others do again? Because at least one might be better than the others if we can pull it off.
 
We can't ignore the Long Term though, especially as We will be at war the moment the Conception ends, even if we succeed.

And the Vortex World is a harsh fucking thing, that you only survive in by being the baddest motherfucker around.

Until the world has been fully reborn, we're going to be at war. Crippling Amu for months means we'll lose a lot of reality before she's up to helping with the defence.
 
I... I think we need to consider the possibility of Amu sacrificing herself. To talk her out of it if that's unacceptable to us as a whole, at least.
 
Winged One said:
I... I think we need to consider the possibility of Amu sacrificing herself. To talk her out of it if that's unacceptable to us as a whole, at least.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
That's what we're for, and part of what my stunt's for--to get our Exaltation to be willing to lessen itself for once (Even if only in the form of information), in order to help it's host.

...

Honestly, I'd be okay with us getting a Chara-like avatar though.
 
Hard mode, not Impossible Mode.

According to Baughn, we're actually doing quite well. It remains to be seen if it's enough, and if we can bear the costs to be a savior.
 
Hm. Could we slap together an Ascendancy Mantle of Amu? What would the drawback to that be?
 
Winged One said:
Hm. Could we slap together an Ascendancy Mantle of Amu? What would the drawback to that be?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Way, way, way too many to even contemplate unless we're treating her as a sacrificial lamb. That thing shouldn't even be compatible with Glory to the Most High, it's a Native Infernal charm, and it'd be cludged together without any preparation whatsoever.

My personal guess is 20 limit if we try.
 
Reader mode
You must login or register to reply here.
Remove ads
Back
Top