1. She's an extremely beautiful (Appearance 5 + Beautiful In My Way) and apparently single young Baroness sent to Area 11 by her family, obviously to look for a marriage. Interested men are going to want to find out more about her.
2. She just utterly trashed two Countesses in Social Combat in front of the Earl who was throwing the party. (As an aside, I wonder if Milly has met them - they were probably catty with her at some point, I'd bet. She'll get a laugh out of it if she finds out.)
3. She was just kidnapped by two apparent terrorists, and the police are going to want to get her statement. As Lelouch mentioned, they might try to check on Valyria's identity.
once people dig into her that she is not real will become apparent, we're going to want to give investigators reasons for someone to have made a fake person. Maybe spin the whole mess as some black opp that got out of hand and pin it on someone we want to embarrass? it kind of feels like a waste to let some chaos like that go to waste.
Actually, on a similar note, do we have any way or want to take advantage of all of that? Either as her or as Lelouch?
We have the general "Fuck Britainia" mission (I'm sure we could find some way to spin it into this, but would it be worth the time and effort), we have our Hell cults (draw attention away from them?), we're seeking out the Abyssals, we have the Lunars we're kind of half-heartedly paying attention to whenever they show up...
Maybe. I'm not actually sure what we'd do that would be very useful with it. Diethard might come up with something since he's good with propaganda.
Also, if identities start appearing and disappearing like her, that'll probably start getting special attention focused on the area in general, which is something to think about as well.
once people dig into her that she is not real will become apparent, we're going to want to give investigators reasons for someone to have made a fake person. Maybe spin the whole mess as some black opp that got out of hand and pin it on someone we want to embarrass? it kind of feels like a waste to let some chaos like that go to waste.
I'd rather they find something that can explain it so they don't spend resources there.
It'd be just our luck for some heroic detective figure to show up and start poking where we do not want.
The more control we have of the situation, the less likely it is that something comes out of the left field to wreck all our work, so IMO we shouldn't get cocky and leave any opening.
I'd rather they find something that can explain it so they don't spend resources there.
It'd be just our luck for some heroic detective figure to show up and start poking where we do not want.
The more control we have of the situation, the less likely it is that something comes out of the left field to wreck all our work, so IMO we shouldn't get cocky and leave any opening.
[X] Wait, no, humans don't taste like rainbow, so whatever that thing was, it at least wasn't human. You'll need to consult Seyrun to make sure of the actual level of personhood those things had, but they are, at best, suspect. And explain to Imaginary that no, you had not been cannibal until that last moment. And probably are not one even now.
-[X] You eye at the tongue for a moment. Well. Now that you are more clear-headed, maybe just one more bite would give you a better idea about what just happened...
AN: This party took one year to complete. I can't decide if I am amazed or horrified at myself.
====
[X] Wait, no, humans don't taste like rainbow, so whatever that thing was, it at least wasn't human. You'll need to consult Seyrun to make sure of the actual level of personhood those things had, but they are, at best, suspect. And explain to Imaginary that no, you had not been a cannibal until that last moment. And probably are not one even now.
-[X] You eye at the tongue for a moment. Well. Now that you are more clear-headed, maybe just one more bite would give you a better idea about what just happened...
Wait. No, people-humans don't taste like rainbow and other delicious stuff, so whatever that thing was at least it wasn't human. You latch onto this reasoning with all your mental strength, holding on it like a lifeline lest you lose your mind. You aren't sure what scares you more, if the thought you may have just eaten a sapient being or the fact you lost control of yourself so thoroughly.
You'll need to consult Seyrun to make sure of the actual level of personhood those things had, but they are, at best, suspect.
Oh, and explain to Imaginary that no, you had not been a cannibal until that last moment. And probably are not one even now.
Yozi. Why is this now your life?
"I am not a cannibal." You state firmly while looking ahead. Staring at Imaginary's eyes would be ideal, but you need him to look at the road. "For a human to be a cannibal they need to eat the flesh of a fellow human. Those things, while having the appearance of one, weren't human."
"Oh?" You can still detect some trace of skepticism in the spy's voice, but it appears your firm and confident tone managed to persuade him. "How can you tell, then?"
"Humans don't taste like rainbow. And cream. And fruits." You pause and consider what you just said. "It is probably related to me being a Chosen of Oramus. But I'm currently not in the mood to discuss the ethical issues of a sapient being eating another sapient being."
"And the only ethics I care about are my own work ethics." You see Imaginary cracking a small smile on the rear-view mirror. "In that case, what were they?"
"Good question." You eye the tongue for a moment. Well. Now that you are more clear-headed, maybe just one more bite would give you a better idea about what just happened. 'Seyrun!'
"Boss! You're feeling better?" The demon sounds relieved. "You started ignoring everything I said the moment you began finishing off your kidnappers. I was about to call Anesidora and Sinnihtáre."
'Please don't.' You need to be at your best to deal with them without ending with a migraine, especially Anesidora. Today's quota of craziness was more than enough, thank you very much. 'On a more important note, do you know what those things were? And how much they count as a person?'
Meanwhile the tongue is still pouring blood all over you, even if by now it's just a trickle, so you put it into your mouth and take a bite. The flesh tastes like cotton candy, and the blood like cider. There's some symbolism at play there, you're sure of it.
"Sorry Boss, I don't really know. While I share your senses I'm not an Exalt, I don't have the ability to understand what you sense as you do. Well, I could tell they weren't humans, some kind of spirit maybe, but nothing beyond that."
You chew slowly, marveling at how the food melts into your mouth. Sadly, while good the extra serving doesn't help you understand more about the source. Normally you would call eating something without knowing the ingredients foolish, but for this instance you'll withhold your judgment.
"And what do you mean, how much they count as a person?" Seyrun continues, sounding confused. "Isn't that a term you humans use to indicate each other without specifying the gender?"
'Defining personhood is still a controversial topic in philosophy and law-' You begin. Then you remember demons drink liquors made from pieces of fellow demons. 'Nevermind. Forget I asked.'
-0-
October 3rd
"So romantic!" Milly gushes after you finish to recount your tale, minus the eating part of course. "I want to be kidnapped by a dashing, handsome and dangerous stranger too!"
"I'll make sure to call you next time it happens, then." You reply, oozing sarcasm from every pore.
And, of course, all of it flies straight over the blonde's head. "I'll hold you to that!"
"Now I'm kind of regretting giving up the invitation. I had no idea Britannian parties were that entertaining." Reinart says with a shit-eating grin, his duck sitting at his feet and happily lapping from a bowl full of whiskey.
With friends like those, who need enemies?
"A city in the Akita prefecture, one with a factory owned by Earl Arundell..." Kaguya muses, deep in thought. At least you can count on her to be serious when it counts. "Ah yes, it's surely Nikaho! Before the war the electronics firm TDK had a factory there, and after it was bought by the Arundell firm."
"And a chronic disease so happened to hit all the workers?" Andres Granados scoffs, clearly showing what he thinks of it. "It may be not much of a clue, but it's something. It may be an attempt to damage Arundell."
"Or one to make proselytism for an Abyssal death cult." Imaginary adds. "It's a scam used often: create a problem, and then show up to 'miraculously' resolve it."
"It could even be both: an attempt to gain followers and, at the same time, drag Arundell into a trap." You reason. "It's not much, true, but it's worth checking it out. Kaguya, do you have contacts in the Akita prefecture?"
"I do: I'll immediately send word for them to start investigating." She nods.
-0-
XP I didn't realize I owe you all until now. Consider it another New Year's gift.
+15 Xp for Scenes
+20 Xp for main objectives
+3 Xp for bonus goals
+35 Xp for active participation
Total: 73 XP
-0-
October 4th
You're taking class like usual, with even a subject that you actually enjoy, when you receive a message from Sayoko saying that there are an hellhound and a tentacle monster who have an urgent need to talk with you. You briefly wonder if she wrote it with a straight face, because you certainly aren't reading it with one, before standing up and raising a hand. "Professor, I'm not feeling too well. Can I go to the infirmary?"
"Certainly. Go on Mister Lamperouge, go on." He replies while staring straight into your eyes. It's a bit creepy how him and the whole class follow you with their stares as you leave the classroom, and you try to ignore the implications.
"I hope..." You pant while walking inside your house, having run all the way there. "That you have a good reason to-"
"A Peer is being chased by a Wild Hunt." Jikhs interrupts you. "She requests immediate assistance."
Well, that is certainly a good reason. You stand up and steel your features. "Who and where?"
"The Peer goes by the name of Yuno Gasai. She's accompanied by a Lunar, who is apparently her mate." An allied Lunar? Wonderful news, this may be your ticket into the Silver Pact. "They're approaching Tokyo on foot from the south-west, hiding among the ghettos. At the moment they're hiding near the Tama River, I run all the way here after receiving her request for help."
"They counted at least eight Dragonblooded chasing them!" Kasr adds, his tentacles quivering. "This is no joke!"
No shit, you could tell even without the Peronelle's input. Calling Akito is a must, the same for Lehrmann: direct combat is a job for Slayers, but obviously you can't send them to face eight Exalts alone. You need to call more of your forces.
The question is, which ones?
[] Write-in
Current: 200 Xp
Total acquired: 461 Xp
In-Training:
Dexterity 5 (1/30 days accumulated)
Intelligence 5 (13 days left) (7 XP not yet paid)
Dodge (19/18 days accumulated)
Athletics (25/24 days accumulated)
Resistance (25/24 days accumulated)
Firearms (15/12 days accumulated)
Preposterous Molding of Zero (Oramus - 8 XP, 2 Days)
====
AN 2: There is a Moratorium of three (3) hours before you can start voting. The next chapter will get out the 2nd January, my birthday, I swear it by all that is holy!
Abandon thread! No, abandon planet! EVERYBODY OUT OF THE UNIVERSE!
...
Ahem. Sorry about that.
Anyway, a Wyld Hunt with at least eight Dragonbloods? That's not a force we can deal with trivially, as any DB who's part of a Wyld Hunt is going to be combat specc'd with decent artefact gear and together they'll have coverage for most situations. It's also quite possible (even likely, depending on exactly how rare and scattered Dragonblooded are) they have an Elder or two in the Hunt as well, which would just be bad news all around. One on one a Solaroid might badly outclass a Dragonblood, but when you have that many of them who are (in all likelihood) well set up to work together? With possibly Elders present too? That's when things get dicey.
Anyways, Wild Hunt. Just great. Ok, so our default roster would include...
Lelouch (Command role, firearms user)
Akito (Slayer, Murderhobo)
Ernst Lehrmann (Slayer, Tank Dude)
Black Green Fangs
Yuno herself is there, and is combat capable.
Yukiteru is there and has some combat abilities with his darts, but it's not much.
That's something like four and a half Exalts and a bunch of demons, which is not enough to go against eight experienced Dragonbloods, unfortunately.
Akio, Yelena, Nadir, and Lian have gone to Malfeas. Which is a shame because they could all be useful here as they all have combat capabilities. Bad timing on them leaving, as we could really use any of them. Nathan is also gone, but he's worthless here.
Milly can run fast, and has some combat Charms, but is something of a glass canon. Beggars can't be choosers though.
Kaguya is largely social spec. She's got a single Charm for combat, but I don't think she's appropriate here.
Rakshata isn't a combatant either.
Imaginary has firearm skills and good Dodge, and I think some of his Charms are combat applicable but I don't see them on the doc for Ebon Dragon Charms so I'm not sure. He's not a direct combatant, but he could work I guess?
Andres has some firearm skills. But no Charms to back it as far as I can see. I'm not sure he would be worth bringing.
C.C. would be worth bringing, if she's willing. She's got combat skills, and can't actually die. Plus her Geass magic shit could be really useful. We might need to bribe her with pizza, though.
We might want to bring in some additional forces. Leila and her unit could work well with Akito. Kallen and some of the Black Knights could be useful as well. I'd bring at least one of those two groups since the enemy might have at least one Knightmare on site. (@Alexander89 - do we have any further intel on the enemy forces?)
Anyways, Wild Hunt. Just great. Ok, so our default roster would include...
Lelouch (Command role, firearms user)
Akito (Slayer, Murderhobo)
Ernst Lehrmann (Slayer, Tank Dude)
Black Green Fangs
Yuno herself is there, and is combat capable.
Yukiteru is there and has some combat abilities with his darts, but it's not much.
That's something like four and a half Exalts and a bunch of demons, which is not enough to go against eight experienced Dragonbloods, unfortunately.
Akio, Yelena, Nadir, and Lian have gone to Malfeas. Which is a shame because they could all be useful here as they all have combat capabilities. Bad timing on them leaving, as we could really use any of them. Nathan is also gone, but he's worthless here.
Milly can run fast, and has some combat Charms, but is something of a glass canon. Beggars can't be choosers though.
Kaguya is largely social spec. She's got a single Charm for combat, but I don't think she's appropriate here.
Rakshata isn't a combatant either.
Imaginary has firearm skills and good Dodge, and I think some of his Charms are combat applicable but I don't see them on the doc for Ebon Dragon Charms so I'm not sure. He's not a direct combatant, but he could work I guess?
Andres has some firearm skills. But no Charms to back it as far as I can see. I'm not sure he would be worth bringing.
C.C. would be worth bringing, if she's willing. She's got combat skills, and can't actually die. Plus her Geass magic shit could be really useful. We might need to bribe her with pizza, though.
We might want to bring in some additional forces. Leila and her unit could work well with Akito. Kallen and some of the Black Knights could be useful as well. I'd bring at least one of those two groups since the enemy might have at least one Knightmare on site. (@Alexander89 - do we have any further intel on the enemy forces?)
So it's entirely possible we're actually up against nine or ten of them (or even more if we're really unlucky).
Second, it's extremely likely they have Sorcerers amongst their ranks- that means potentially having to deal with Demons, Elementals, Minions of the Eyeless Face, etc, in addition to whatever buffs, support, and combat spells they bring along.
Yuno told Jikhs and Kasr only that there are Dragonblooded chasing them in what is obviously a Wyld Hunt, and that she counted at least eight different people. That's all.
[X] Anyone with use
- [x] The Black Green Fangs. While not exalts themselves, if they can pick of stragglers, it's worthwhile
- [x] Milly - while not exactly the most combative, beggars aren't choosers
- [x] Imaginary - probably the best fighter not already selected
- [x] Andres - he doesn't have any charms, so just see if we can put him in a building at a distance. Every mote we can force the enemy to spend is good.
I'd say we send all our fighters with mortal and demons meatshields. And a few Knightmares. This is the Wyld Hunt, and unlike in Creation, they have a fully functional Empire to get reinforcements
I just thought of something.
Imagine if Lelouch had a craft focused Infernal make CC a pizza.
I mean one that could throw 13 die at cooking 'before' using charms, then was able to use an Excellency to bring it to 23 die.
I just thought of something.
Imagine if Lelouch had a craft focused Infernal make CC a pizza.
I mean one that could throw 13 die at cooking 'before' using charms, then was able to use an Excellency to bring it to 23 die.
[X] Plan Support and Intel
-[X] Lelouch, Black Green Fangs, and C.C. if she's willing (say you will use your magic to make her a unique pizza later to bribe her, if need be)
-[X] Akito, Leila, wZERO unit
-[X] Lehrmann
-[X] Milly
-[X] Imaginary
-[X] Andres
-[X] Call up Kaguya and ask that she contact any resistance groups in the area you're working in to get information and lookout for the targets.
Ok, looking over things Lelouch, Imaginary, and Andres can by and large help with ranged combat - maybe put some sniper rifles in their hands depending on the terrain. Ebon Dragon shit can be used from range to make people fail at stuff, too. Milly is something of a mid-ranged combatant with her Charm, and will largely be hit and run I think. C.C. isn't meant to be a main combatant, but she's got abilities that are something of an out of context problem for the enemy. Akito and Lehrmann are meant to be the direct combatants. Leila and her unit will provide Knightmare support, and Leila's abilities will boost them. Dark Green Fangs can deal with a number of things, and Dragonblooded don't really have a good way to see immaterial spirits so they're good for ambush.
Not bringing in the Black Knights because I kind of want to avoid them being directly associated with this if any of the Wild Hunt gets away, so wZERO provides a degree of confusion as to whether or not this is a Euro Union op or a BK op.
I believe this force should be enough to deal with a Wild Hunt team, especially if our objectives aren't strictly to kill the opposition but rather to secure the targets.
I just thought of something.
Imagine if Lelouch had a craft focused Infernal make CC a pizza.
I mean one that could throw 13 die at cooking 'before' using charms, then was able to use an Excellency to bring it to 23 die.
I've suggested using Charms to make pizza for her in the past. Flowers Bloom Like Madness would give Lelouch inspiration to make a truly unique pizza. Just put a fairly harmless Derangement on himself ("The core of the moon is made of cheese!") and get to work. So, including that in the plan as a bribe to get her on board.
[X] Plan Support and
-[X] Lelouch, Black Green Fangs, and C.C. if she's willing (say you will use your magic to make her a unique pizza later to bribe her, if need be)
-[X] Akito, Leila, wZERO unit
-[X] Lehrmann
-[X] Milly
-[X] Imaginary
-[X] Andres
-[X] Call up Kaguya and ask that she contact any resistance groups in the area you're working in to get information and lookout for the targets.
An update and a promise of yet another update that soon for this quest? This is the best after-Christmas present in a while. Except for Lelouch somehow botching the occult-roll. *Grumple grumple, fricking Sidereals probably messing with the probabilities, grumple grumple...*
On what to do against the Hunt, well. That is quite many Dragonblooded who are at the very least competent enough in combat and related activities to be included in it. That is obviously not good for us. Which is why I'm hoping that I or somebody else can come up with a subterfuge-based approach in addition of a combat fall-back. Maybe re-directing them somewhere else with a false trail, or someone else with a more urgent priority, like the Abyssals... Of course, we will be limited in what we can plan with the currently available information, which will hopefully change in the next update, but we should optimally have rough outlines for both direct and indirect ways to handle this already in this vote.
If we can, we should try to split the hunt up as much as possible; the way DB Charms work means they gain much more from engaging as one block than we do. We also need to think about the long term consequences of this rescue- because if we send in a large group, we're going to reveal to the Brittanian Empire that there's a large, powerful, and well connected supernatural group at work in Japan. That's a very bad outcome for us, and one that we should avoid if it's at all possible.
Except for Lelouch somehow botching the occult-roll. *Grumple grumple, fricking Sidereals probably messing with the probabilities, grumple grumple...*
