A slight problem is Sun lacks reliably spammable ranged attacks to go with that position, as even Neverending Sunlight may falter. Which relegates her to occasional pot-shots and looking pretty.
Solid Core at least had a ranged main attack to go with Supremacy Zone.
OTOH, ally boost can be very good as it allows allies to benefit from Sun's exponential growth. Certainly, both Black Sky and World Eater (human) would benefit a lot from it - as would Ludger and Moon. Well, after we put some 3-5 levels into Sun Scepter (183---293-469-751-1202-1923). Sun Scepter 18 doubles Ana's Happy Trumpet damage, potentially almost-triples Ludger's damage (good for intercepts), and provides a solid punch to Black Sky's splinters.
Also, the image of someone daring to try and Smite Down The Sun persists. Temerity such as that must never go unpunished!
A slight problem is Sun lacks reliably spammable ranged attacks to go with that position, as even Neverending Sunlight may falter. Which relegates her to occasional pot-shots and looking pretty.
Solid Core at least had a ranged main attack to go with Supremacy Zone.
OTOH, ally boost can be very good as it allows allies to benefit from Sun's exponential growth. Certainly, both Black Sky and World Eater (human) would benefit a lot from it - as would Ludger and Moon. Well, after we put some 3-5 levels into Sun Scepter (183---293-469-751-1202-1923). Sun Scepter 18 doubles Ana's Happy Trumpet damage, potentially almost-triples Ludger's damage (good for intercepts), and provides a solid punch to Black Sky's splinters.
Also, the image of someone daring to try and Smite Down The Sun persists. Temerity such as that must never go unpunished!
It is a good and strong ability, that would be even stronger if Sun would possess her Omnicaster. Besides the fact that Sun isnt forced to stay in the air, even if the bonus is gone. Staying in the air when Sun cant do anything besides waiting of getting dmg is wrong/stupid anyway.
I'm not complaining, Dragou. It isn't what I would have wanted to get, in hindsight. But that is because there is little use for it in the current situation (armies are gone, summoners are rare, champion combat is prevalent), not because it is weak.
Disregarding the disappointment inherent to a super ability not being able to do one of the things that the ability it replaced did, this ability makes a strong case towards Sun being the one whom its better to upgrade Flight on.
Still doesn't make her firmly the better choice, but it affects it.
For Sun, higher Flight improves her ability to hit fast/evasive enemies and makes it easier to maneuver herself to ensure that Radiant Shine Unbroken is always functioning correctly.
For Moon, higher Flight improves her ability to be where she needs to be to Intercept stuff.
For both of them, higher Flight improves their ability to Dodge and to avoid 'bad touch' effects. The former prereq of Speed Gap also implies that it works better if Moon has higher Flight than Sun, which is worth considering if we try to get it.
Apologies, I spent quite some time watching a Let's Play of the new God of War over the last few days.
I am still not done watching it either, so the next Update may take a bit longer.
But I guess I should close the votes.
Adhoc vote count started by Naron on May 21, 2018 at 1:45 AM, finished with 4278 posts and 9 votes.
[X] Slowly walk towards the city. Follow the road/path if there is one. Don't enter until invited and look nonthreatening as best as you can.
[X] Slowly walk towards the city. Follow the road/path if there is one. Don't enter until invited and look nonthreatening as best as you can.
[X] EXP Plan Save It
-[X] Save it
Apologies, I spent quite some time watching a Let's Play of the new God of War over the last few days.
I am still not done watching it either, so the next Update may take a bit longer.
[X] Slowly walk towards the city. Follow the road/path if there is one. Don't enter until invited and look nonthreatening as best as you can.
Once you finish orienting yourself, it is time to get going. Ludger runs ahead and comes back, exploring the dirty road you soon find behind the woods. It leads directly to your destination, the town Timimoun.
You pass a smaller commune in the distance and spy a few people watching you, but nobody seems willing to come up and talk. Nobody runs away in fear either, so you take that as a good sign. Ana keeps looking around and shivers in anticipation, but nothing happens for a while.
It is already midday when you decide to take a rest; walking several kilometres takes a lot of time is what you have to realise. That other commune is no longer visible behind the distant trees, the withered concrete is hot on everyone's feet and you feel like resting up a bit. A town is visible ahead by now, hopefully the one you want to reach. You are not hungry though, so that is a plus. Being a Magical Girl is so useful if it helps with that.
"What are we doing once we get there?"
You shrug lightly in response to your sister's question, having yet to figure this out yourself. "I don't know yet. We have no idea what they are like, so we have to wait and see before we can decide on an approach."
"I guess? I still don't like that we go in so openly."
Ah, yes. She did complain about that before, but ultimately gave in to you after some discussion. Neither of you feels like going through that again, so you just pick up the dog and put him on her lap to distract her; Ana lets you and starts scratching his head.
Neither of you comments on the figure riding your way on... is that a horse? You are not sure because you never saw any before, but that might be it. There is only a wave of pokes and understanding and acknowledgement as you wait, eyes directed at the approaching person. They are clad in white is the first you see, her being a girl the next detail Ana makes out. More becomes apparent with every passing minute as the horse draws closer; eventually you stand up to greet the girl, smiling as best as you can. Only Ana frowns and no amount of nudging can stop her.
Your thoughts are calm and collected as you wait, going through what to say and what to do. You just hope there will be no fight.
The large animal stops just a dozen metres away from you and eyes everyone curiously; it looks pretty from up close with its fur and long mane, elegant too. The girl slides out of her saddle with practiced motions, coming to stand next to her steed and with a bow in one hand.
There is a momentary silence as you are all regarded with a measuring stare, then she starts to speak: "Please identify yourself. We were not expecting any outsiders today, much less children. Are you friend or foe? And what brought you here?"
Her voice is strict yet soft; a calm sound that immediately tells you this person will not like if you fool around. You quickly lower your heads a little in greeting before Rico speaks up; everyone agreed that she seems the most like a leader-type. "Hello, miss. Um... I am Primordial Sun, this is Primordial Moon, and this is World Eater. We heard that this is where Forsaken God lives?"
Her eyes narrow a little and you realise with a start that just calling her name may be pretty disrespectful. Maybe she is unhappy with your fast introduction or- "I see. I am Magical Girl Roaring Heaven and this place is indeed where her grace lives. You three have come to see her? Why?"
You also did not answer one of her questions... good thing you can do that now, even though she intimidates you a bit: "Um... well. We come from lands far away, from Europe. Our sister is a part of the government there and hopes to ally with... her grace."
"...an envoy? This is hard to believe from three girls that young."
She is still only frowning slightly right now, but you have to agree quietly; but Roaring Heaven already asks something else while you are still responding with a shrug: "What would your sister want to ally against?"
"""..."""
You all stare at her in incomprehension. "Against nothing. An alliance doesn't need a common enemy, just a common goal... and I really don't want to go into too much detail out here because if we get to talk to her... grace, we have to repeat it all."
The most difficult part is to remember not to be too casual, though your explanation turned the frown into a slightly baffled expression. She quickly masks it with indifference, yet does not manage to actually conceal it from you. After another moment of quiet consideration, the girl puts her bow away and lowers her head in return. "I see. Please forgive me for being careful, but we can not take risks with Magical Girls... even those as young as you. We will have to file some paperwork before I can let you into the town proper, please follow me."
Both of you attempt for a calm expression, but there is joy and hope surging around within your joint minds. Now that everyone starts to walk and the tension subsides, Ludger leaves your side to sniff at the new person and curiously bounce around the horse; it barely seems to notice after a confused moment and Roaring Heaven only throws him a quick glance... then does a double-take and continues to stare his way while taking the reins and leading her mount on foot.
Some time passes, a minute, then two. You anxiously follow her, but none of you can understand the mumbled stream of words flowing out of her mouth. She does not ask you anything, either.
Ludger does not care; he jumps here and there, happily playing and coming back for headpats once in a while. Though one time he tries to jump on Heaven's leg, making you call him back: "Down, boy! Come here."
He immediately stops his approach and darts to your feet, to which the older girl simply nods your way. At some point she even starts talking to you: "You are quite lucky, in fact. All outside Magical Girls go through me, so coming in while I was present will save you time. I'm a little surprised you speak the language so well if you're not from here, though."
"Oh, that's not us. The place we come from, Kibo, has a really great builder-Magical Girl; she can make incredibly complex machines, including these thingies that auto-translate everything."
You pull the tiny machine out of your ear for emphasis and turn it off; when you chatter at the older girl in Italian as you have been doing before, the immediate confusion on her face makes everyone else giggle. Once you put it back in however, she offers a curt nod. "I see. This is a rather useful creation and convenient to have. Would you happen to have any spares?"
In fact, you do and tell her so; they are actually meant for yourselves in case one breaks, though that has yet to happen. Giving one out as a present did not cross your mind before, but the older girl seems more at ease once she got to test the device herself. You tell her to keep it and that concludes the conversation.
. . .
Line Break Recognised . . .
The only other thing happening is that you sometimes float over the horse and pet its head. It is a pretty horse. Oh, and Ana gets hungry again.
After leaving the animal at some kind of stable, Roaring Heaven begins to lead you through a few populated streets; the people there throw curious glances at your group as you pass and some seem anxious, but there is no actual commotion. You yourself try not to stare, but it is difficult; aside from the dream with Ming, you never actually saw people with dark skin before. They look so weird, a bit like how Strength looked weird the first few times you saw her.
You try to stay on a path that does not bother too many people hiding in the shadows; your own beams take away the few cool places they have at the moment. Then a small but formal-looking building comes in sight; much here is made of stone, straw and wood, but this one is actual mortar and steel. Its windows are empty just like most others, holes trying to catch the few stray breezes.
Roaring Heaven unlocks the door and lets you enter first, revealing something that looks like a reception area followed by a common room. There is a bigger table in the back, with wooden chairs arrayed around it. "Please take a seat and stay transformed for now, I will be with you in a moment. Would you like some milk?"
"""Oh, thank you!"""
You are a little confused over why she specified that, but do as she says and sit down with Ana in the middle. Ludger quickly comes to lie by your feet, so you pass the minute or two by tickling him with your toes; his happy panting helps everyone relax and you use the moment to look around. There is little of interest, the walls are a light blue with golden stars and the floor is wooden, no other furniture but the table and chairs here.
There is some clanking from another room, followed by Heaven reemerging; she holds a tray with four glasses and a small bowl with water, the latter of which is placed near Ludger on the ground after you get the milk. It tastes different than the one back home, but you do not mind. All of you take a long sip before smiling up at the older girl, who nods again. "Thank you for your patience. We can start now. For the records, please explain again why you are here."
She pulls a clipboard you did not notice before from the tray and taps the pen against it once, then offers you an apologeptic smile. "I'm sorry about this, but keeping to proper procedures is necessary. We had a few people trying to exploit our lady's leniency before."
"It's fine, we understand."
You keep quiet about Ana's exasperation, even though you share it a little bit.
For the next fifteen minutes or so, you talk to Roaring Heaven. She takes your story again and asks each of you questions; it does feel a little weird how going from one of your bodies to the other still means she is talking to the same person. The older girl constantly takes notes while you explain, though she refuses to let you see them.
In the end, the glasses are empty and you just sit around expectantly; there is someone peeking through the window, but they run off the moment Ana turns her head that way. Heaven looks down at her notes again, then heads outside for a moment.
So far, you are certain things went well enough; the Magical Girl you met was not hostile and actually started to smile a little more the longer you spoke. Only looks are exchanged, yet your sister completely agrees. She is curious about what a goddess will look like... and hungry, but that is nothing new. And she has a headache... wait. "Ana?"
"...too many people, that's more than I ever had to sense at once before."
"Oh."
You quietly try to soothe her as best as you can until Heaven returns; her clipboard is gone and she quickly takes the glasses back onto the tray. "I sent word to the shrine and forwarded your story, but it will take a few hours until her grace finds the time... and it will be dark by then. Unless you want to talk to her at night, you may stay at my place for today and meet her grace tomorrow."
That is both good and disconcerting; you were hoping to meet Forsaken God today. Heaven's smile grows a fraction over your obvious unhappiness, though it looks more pitying than mean. "I understand that this is disheartening. There is still some time left of the day and I find myself off-duty; is there something in particular you would like to do?"
That, however, dispells your upcoming mood easily. Seeing new things and meeting new people is always great.
What do you do? Choose two:
(No splitting the party, everyone stays together)
[] Ask to spar with Roaring Heaven for a bit, it is always good to get some training in.
[] Offer to help out in town while you wait.
[] Look around town for interesting things to find.
[] Meet Forsaken God in the evening instead of tomorrow.
[] EXP-Plan
-[] Write-in what to buy
-[] Save it
=====
+10xp Met Roaring Heaven
+2xp Direct Approach
+10xp Progress
EXP gained: 22 + 22 + 22 = 66
Total EXP: 1,205
=====
(Unlocked Level 0 Character Sheet: Magical Girl Roaring Heaven)
[X] Look around town for interesting things tofind.
Keeping away from even playful practice violence is imo for the best right now. Id be totally down to spar depending on how our meeting goes tommorrow but tiring ourselves out unnessicarily when things could theoretically go bad at the simplest provocation strikes me as asking for more trouble.
Both of you attempt for a calm expression, but there is joy and hope surging around within your joint minds. Now that everyone starts to walk and the tension subsides, Ludger leaves your side to sniff at the new person and curiously bounce around the horse; it barely seems to notice after a confused moment and Roaring Heaven only throws him a quick glance... then does a double-take and continues to stare his way while taking the reins and leading her mount on foot.
But then I decided that it's quite difficult for us to actually justify that level of urgency during the negotiations. A reason why it should be urgent for them instead of just urgent for us.
Besides helping out in town, every option can be seen in a bad way and a good way. It is always like that.
I would like it if it is seen like say what we want and then give them time to think about it while we stay there and do further things. Besides the point that if we look at the personality of the twins it easely can be taken as: first work than fun. Like serious enough for such things (she wondered why kids were sent for such a task), but still nice little girls.
Because I dont assume the worst I said that this wont be taken as a bad thing. Most likely none of them will be shown as a bad thing, as long as people dont suddenly want to fight and murder people.
Nah, for me it's more an assumption that no option is unambiguously better than the others, with each one having some tradeoffs.
By that logic, the possible tradeoffs I can think of for meeting earlier are:
Forcing things makes us start negotiations on the wrong foot, making things more difficult (but still happening sooner).
Lose the chance to do other stuff during that time and not get that chance to do tomorrow morning what we would otherwise do tonight.
Go into the meeting without the benefit of some background info that we would gain tonight.
#2 is basically an extension of the tradeoff that the other options have relative to each other, "you can do A or B but not A and B". Opportunity cost.
