Raiseth
I Find Your Lack of Memes Disturbing
- Location
- Russia
Just because Sabrina is a witch it doesn't mean her nose is long, please stop stereotyping.
Puella Magi Adfligo Systema
- Thread starter Firnagzen
- Start date
-
- Tags
- puella magi adfligo systema puella magi madoka magica be gay do crimes (gay) female protagonist bad decisions dating mami tomoe (tomoe mami) diabolical laughter friendship is the best ship handholding identity crises microwaving tea gets you put in the bad place names are important the body is the fursona of the soul this is not the baked goods thread we don't talk about rionna what could possibly go wrong? who in the world is azure sanfrancisco?
Just because Sabrina is a witch it doesn't mean her nose is long, please stop stereotyping.
Spectral Waltz
Scatterbrained Writer
- Location
- Walking the Endless Corridors
They started this by scrying us, we know for a fact that they are coming to our city with the intent to pillage and most likely murder. Should we give them some lenience because they're not completing the trifecta to go full viking? No, we should not.
The only reason we should have any restraint in this is for the sake of our friends and allies. The Iowa group have not in any way earned restraint. They have earned swift and precise removal as a threat, regardless of how that is done.
The only reason we should have any restraint in this is for the sake of our friends and allies. The Iowa group have not in any way earned restraint. They have earned swift and precise removal as a threat, regardless of how that is done.
Get with the times, Grandpa!
Hidden Machines are no longer a thing in Pokemon!
Recurrence
Armchair Parapsychologist
- Location
- Limbo
Get with the times, Grandpa!
Hidden Machines are no longer a thing in Pokemon!
Nyeh, people still understand my expertly coded message anway. Get off my lawn.
- Location
- Canada, probably
Feh, as if that will ever happen.Get with the times, Grandpa!
Hidden Machines are no longer a thing in Pokemon!
But seriously, it's 2011. Rock Smash is a TM now!
Torgamous
Aspiring Gynoid
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Agreed. Pokémon's move away from HMs has gone unaddressed in this thread for too long.
The Phoenixian
The Glacier Witch
- Location
- My own little world
If that is your argument then I think you misunderstand where I'm coming from. My argument was not for lenience. It was to temper emotion and accept responsibility for our actions and their consequences. It was to do these things because it was an argument made so that we might chose consequences desirable to us, instead of rashly acting in ways that undermine what we seek to accomplish.
This is why I'm willing to consider physics-based shows of power and attacks. For the effectiveness it could have if the collateral damage could be managed and for the statement it makes of the power that we could use, but do not.
For the most part, however, I do not see harsh or unrestrained measures as theoretically "better" but for the morality of them. I see their lack of morality, and the restraint we place on them, as fundamentally intertwined with a lack of practicality. For physics stuff? That's the potential for collateral damage and otherwise doing more harm than we intend.
As relates to the what started the argument itself however, I disagreed with the "Moe treatment," notably distinct in that post from the act of us gemming people and thus with that the act of us gemming the Fukushima group, because it's something I could only read it as deliberately ripping Iowa group members limb from limb. And while dismemberment is something I could understand as an inevitable result of in a close range clash, it is not something I can see any point in using as a deliberate, calculated goal. Not as something that would come up on the vote tally.
Even, with gemming, we already know exactly how it could be defeated, both in the attempt or afterwards. We ourselves have plans we idly discuss for retaining conscious even after being gemmed. We've just never seen someone actually do so yet. And as it turns out the containment measures that could protect against that are also 90% of the containment measures that could stop someone without gemming them in the first place. The remaining 10% being a good, solid cocoon. Which is trivial.
This is going to be such a weird Sabrina-ism if we talk enough for her to mention it offhand in timestop.
Well, we've already called Atsuko "Kuvira," and even deliberately told Nadia about the earthquake to watch out for later this year. Accidentally dropping Secret Future Pokemon Knowledge isn't such a grand break.
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Something I wanted to float is that there's a chance we aren't actually going to hit Iowa when we hit SEA.
I mean, yes, there are certain factors that make it seem more likely that it's Iowa, namely, the scrying technique having a long wind-up period and the counter-scrying preparations around the scryer.
Still, those are reasonable techniques for a group that's worried about third party interference.
It may be we're headed not towards Iowa themselves, but Iowa's latest victims.
It's a long shot, I know. I'm only posting this because Firz said he wants to do "the reveal" as soon as possible, and I'm trying to come up with one of the wildest ideas that could feasibly work.
I mean, yes, there are certain factors that make it seem more likely that it's Iowa, namely, the scrying technique having a long wind-up period and the counter-scrying preparations around the scryer.
Still, those are reasonable techniques for a group that's worried about third party interference.
It may be we're headed not towards Iowa themselves, but Iowa's latest victims.
It's a long shot, I know. I'm only posting this because Firz said he wants to do "the reveal" as soon as possible, and I'm trying to come up with one of the wildest ideas that could feasibly work.
- Location
- Illinois
I want to say, I am mostly of a mind with you, Phoenixian, but I don't want to go into this with our team thinking we don't want then using the maximum force available to them.
And honestly, I find that I -am- generally embracing the possibility of taking the legs off an Iowan as part of this fight, if we are given the chance.
Like, let me draw a line between motivations, here.
If we go about maiming these people to "put them down" or "destroy them", that's something I Do Not Like. I Do Not Like the "Moe Treatment" line. Violence is something to be regretted, not glorified.
If it's about keeping safe the people who have chosen to fight with us -- to embrace the possibility of positive change and help stop this horrible system -- then... Then, to me, the only questions are whether it is meaningfully helpful with that, and whether the people on the receiving end don't deserve better.
When I said this:
What I really meant here was, "Iowa has done nothing to indicate that they deserve better than being taken down with whatever level of force is necessary to ensure the safety of others." Rather, given that our default stance is that all meguca are victims who deserve better than that, Iowa have had to actively give indication to the contrary.
So my stance here is, I am seriously considering voting to direct Sabrina to take maiming-but-not-gem-hitting shots against Iowa, because my feeling is that they pose a real threat to people who deserve a lot better than they do, and that throwing plasma at mach 8 is probably significantly more likely to score a telling hit than Sabrina trying to approach this with lesser force, because Iowa are just going to be way the hell faster than us (I assume. Perhaps we can change that with enchanted grief?) (Do note I *am* omitting our allies from this consideration).
There is obviously an argument that every human being matters and it's not an argument I will disagree with. Iowa are people. They are not demons. But I will make two counterarguments to this: first, that valuing them as much as the people on our side is a deeply unhealthy attitude towards a band of roving murderers and our friends, second, that Iowa is a direct negative for other humans and we a direct positive.
And honestly, I find that I -am- generally embracing the possibility of taking the legs off an Iowan as part of this fight, if we are given the chance.
Like, let me draw a line between motivations, here.
If we go about maiming these people to "put them down" or "destroy them", that's something I Do Not Like. I Do Not Like the "Moe Treatment" line. Violence is something to be regretted, not glorified.
If it's about keeping safe the people who have chosen to fight with us -- to embrace the possibility of positive change and help stop this horrible system -- then... Then, to me, the only questions are whether it is meaningfully helpful with that, and whether the people on the receiving end don't deserve better.
When I said this:
What I really meant here was, "Iowa has done nothing to indicate that they deserve better than being taken down with whatever level of force is necessary to ensure the safety of others." Rather, given that our default stance is that all meguca are victims who deserve better than that, Iowa have had to actively give indication to the contrary.
So my stance here is, I am seriously considering voting to direct Sabrina to take maiming-but-not-gem-hitting shots against Iowa, because my feeling is that they pose a real threat to people who deserve a lot better than they do, and that throwing plasma at mach 8 is probably significantly more likely to score a telling hit than Sabrina trying to approach this with lesser force, because Iowa are just going to be way the hell faster than us (I assume. Perhaps we can change that with enchanted grief?) (Do note I *am* omitting our allies from this consideration).
There is obviously an argument that every human being matters and it's not an argument I will disagree with. Iowa are people. They are not demons. But I will make two counterarguments to this: first, that valuing them as much as the people on our side is a deeply unhealthy attitude towards a band of roving murderers and our friends, second, that Iowa is a direct negative for other humans and we a direct positive.
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AuraTwilight
The Sorcerer of Smiles
- Location
- The Silver City
We're not killing anyone. Not only is there no need to because we're STUPIDLY powerful, BUT A) If there's anything that can contribute to a Sabrina witch-out it's having Gemshards on her hands, so to speak, and B) It gives Kyubey ammo to poison the well against us. We cannot afford to give Sabrina, the witch-girl, a reputation of killing any Meguca who don't play her game.
We don't even have to outright say that it's going to happen.
Just say, "You know, it would be nice if Nintendo and Game Freak outright retired Hidden Machines from Pokemon. If they have to include obstacles, just find a way for players to get past them without needing to teach one of their Pokemon a specific move."
Torgamous
Aspiring Gynoid
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I feel like they've gone in the wrong direction, though. Like, my dream Pokémon game has never been one where they replace me riding my Wailmer with a floating bicycle, it's one where they replace the regular bicycle with me riding my Ponyta. Sure, maybe having the Pokémon dedicate a move slot to the activity isn't the best way to go about it and they should gate it behind a saddle key item or something, but the point is that I have a magical pony made of fire and it needs to be ridden.
Raiseth
I Find Your Lack of Memes Disturbing
- Location
- Russia
Ah, I've figured it out. I've cracked the code.
It's Iowas all the way down, when we all should be looking up.
It's a front. We were so stupid not to realize it sooner. Iowa presents itself as an obvious threat, attracting attention, organizing high-profile raids, traveling the world, while the other group, the real masterminds, you see, they stay behind in the United States, planning, scheming, shitposting on the Internet to conceal the reality of the world.
This is some real deep state shit right here. The Meguca group that effortlessly controls all others, the government, even Incubators!
I'm talking, of course, about the perfidious and dastardly Ohio group.
It's Iowas all the way down, when we all should be looking up.
It's a front. We were so stupid not to realize it sooner. Iowa presents itself as an obvious threat, attracting attention, organizing high-profile raids, traveling the world, while the other group, the real masterminds, you see, they stay behind in the United States, planning, scheming, shitposting on the Internet to conceal the reality of the world.
This is some real deep state shit right here. The Meguca group that effortlessly controls all others, the government, even Incubators!
I'm talking, of course, about the perfidious and dastardly Ohio group.
- Location
- Illinois
...
It strikes me that because @Firnagzen is writing this quest, Fukushima (or at least Yuki) is guaranteed to know the seventy maxims by heart.
It strikes me that because @Firnagzen is writing this quest, Fukushima (or at least Yuki) is guaranteed to know the seventy maxims by heart.
Aranfan
Team Plasma Grunt
The seventy maxims of maximally effective mercenaries? Alas, I only remember a few of them:
Pillage, then burn.
The enemy of my enemy is my enemy's enemy, no more no less.
A sargent in motion outranks a lieutenant at rest.
A demo expert at a dead sprint outranks everybody.
Aranfan
Team Plasma Grunt
This reminds me that: Everything is air dropable at least once.
And that: Close Air Support covereth a variety of sins.
Lowlife pt. 15
You stare out into the gloom of the time-frozen storm. Animating Grief takes but a sliver of attention, nanofog batting raindrops from the sky and keeping your platform in flight. Another part of you keeps a watchful eye out, surveying your city, your home, for things that might be out of place despite the grip of Homura's power. Still yet another part of you enjoys having Mami snuggled up against you, a warm presence tucked against your side. Your anchor, in many ways, to being human.
And the rest of you worries, churning thoughts rattling against each other in the dark corners of your mind.
"What are you thinking about, Sabrina?" Mami asks, her hand stroking slowly through your hair.
"That 'rattling' implies a certain emptiness and it's not really the best adjective to use on thoughts," you say. "Also, Pokemon should move away from HMs, because forcing you to dedicate a slot to a move just to get past some obstacles is tiresome."
"The emptiness might well apply to you," Oriko says drily. "You really should drink more green tea."
"Hey," you protest, spinning your chair around to face her. "But... Alright, reconfiguring a second."
You shuffle the seats around your flight platform so you form a loose square facing each other - Sayaka, Homura, Oriko and Kirika, you and Mami.
"So..." You sigh, rubbing your face. "I mean, truth be told, I'm... worried that this isn't going to go as smoothly as I'd like it to."
Homura's gaze shifts to you, sharp and perhaps a touch concerned.
"No plan survives contact with the enemy?" Sayaka says, raising an eyebrow. "I mean, we all know that."
"Well... yeah," you say. "Exactly. We've got this big pretty plan about hunting them down with the help of Homura's power, but I'm worried that that's... where it trips up. I'm new to this, and so are you, Sayaka, and Oriko and Kirika too. I don't really know how to, to evaluate risks. My one big engagement was Sendai."
"Neither can we say much," Mami offers with an apologetic look. "We know too little, at this point - we don't even know how many magical girls they have."
"Which..." you sigh. "Which is the problem, right? We... we barely even know where they are."
"Ah... we do know where Iowa is," Mami says. "My trace on them is... mm, a compass effect of sorts. And I'm maintaining it with ease, now that I've started it." She smiles at you. "It's not that different from tracing a Witch, now that I think about it. I could try teaching you later, if you'd like?"
"I would, but..." you trail off unhappily.
"Second thoughts, o fearless leader?" Sayaka asks teasingly.
"I... well, yeah," you say. "I'm just worried. These, these people. Heck, even that's a gap in our intel, I'm only assuming that it's Iowa - I'm pretty sure, but it's still an assumption. If it's Iowa, they're people who pose a threat to everything I know and love." You raise a fist, and let it drop weakly.
"I try and see magical girls as victims first. Victims of this system, of life, of Kyuubey," you say slowly, eyes sweeping from Mami, to Homura, Sayaka, to Oriko, and Kirika. "Most of us wouldn't be in this situation if we weren't manipulated into it, but I... I haven't found a lot of sympathy in myself for Iowa. If they're a threat, if they're coming for me, for us, then I want them crushed."
"Isn't that why we're going now?" Kirika asks, giving you a narrow-eyed look. "I mean... you're grabbing everyone you can, and we go in and smash 'em flat. Smush. Done."
"And for that exact reason I've been... I've been going over the thought of all of us cutting loose," you say quietly. "We have a lot of power at our disposal, and that's before we factor in the fact that with me around, we have unlimited magic. If they weren't in a population center, maybe I should just... open with a thousand-ton chunk of rock doing orbital reentry velocities. Airburst it, and use it as a distraction."
"There are people around, Sabrina," Mami murmurs, giving you a worried look.
"Which is why I have zero intention of doing it - as I said, if they weren't in a population center," you say. "But if wishes were fishes, the Incubators would be fishmongers and I'd still only got the one." You hesitate, well aware that that last thought wasn't the most coherent. "We have a lot of power. Should we be using it? Pushing ourselves, against them?"
"You're scared." Homura's words bring you up short, killing your momentum and your rant in an instant. Her eyes lock onto yours, tired and hard, but... leavened with just a touch of sympathy and painful understanding.
"I-" You trail off, hunching your shoulders. Mami takes your hand in hers, squeezing gently. "I guess I am, a bit. I'm scared that we don't know enough, and I'm scared of how this might go if we just blunder right in. I'm scared that approaching too close results in us tripping some... I dunno, some whatever that counts as enough of a connection to bring them in here with us. I'm scared that they might have hostages."
"Better afraid than overconfident," Homura says, still holding your eyes.
"I have to agree," Mami says quietly. "We know our limitations. Knowing that, we can consider ways to mitigate them."
"I..." you sigh. "The best thing we can do is find someone who's fought them before. Then we'd have accurate information, but... I have no idea how."
"Miss Tsuruya mentioned the previous place they attacked," Homura points out. "It's... an option."
You study her for a moment - you can tell she doesn't relish the notion, and you can't blame her. From the way Mami shifts a little beside you, neither does she, with the time spent in the grip of Homura's magic.
"She did, in India. It'd be a few hours even at top speed in atmosphere," you murmur. "But it would be... it would be a good option, leaving aside the possibility of actually finding them in the city."
"Assuming anyone was left alive, I could find them," Oriko murmurs. "My clairvoyance seems to have an affinity towards... people of relevance. However, given the reputation they've built, and given their mode of operation... anyone left behind, it seems, would not be long for this world."
You bite your lip.
"Hey, uh, listen," Sayaka says. "Miss Tsuruya knows that stuff, shouldn't we grab her and uh... see if she's scared up any more information in the short term?"
"The research you put to Miss Saito and Miss Watanabe, too," Homura notes. "They haven't had much time, but there might be something useful."
"That's... true," you admit, and flick a gaze in Sayaka's direction. "I... well, Oriko, I don't suppose you can scry through Homura's timestop?"
"I've never been on this side before," Oriko says. "I certainly couldn't, in the other direction."
"That reminds me," Sayaka says, expression hardening. "Mikuni. Give me your hand. I'm going to copy your power."
Oriko doesn't object, reaching out wordlessly, and you bite back any and all of the teasing remarks that you might make. Best not to, with the suddenly tense mood, and especially not with Kirika looking distinctly sour about the whole thing. Sayaka's grip locks tight on Oriko's - not painfully so, or not deliberately, you don't think, and you feel the familiar surge-ebb of Sayaka's magic as she does her thing.
Sayaka sits back, thoughtful. "Clairvoyance," she mutters. "Hrmph."
"... To answer the question, Sabrina, I'm certainly willing to try, with Miss Akemi's permission," Oriko says after a moment. "But I'm uncertain if I would have any more success than I did before, given that their defenses are presumably still up."
She hesitates for a second.
"Much as I hate to suggest it, it's possible that Miss Miki might have more success, by combining powers," Oriko says.
"... Miss Kure," Mami says thoughtfully. "Are you capable of dispelling other people's antimagic?"
"I... guess?" Kirika mutters, apparently still sulking. "I just gotta tune it right, I suppose."
"Then it's entirely possible that working with Miss Mikuni -or Sayaka combining your powers- you might be able to penetrate the effect preventing Miss Mikuni from observing them," Mami says slowly. "It really does depend on whether you can manage to use your powers in tandem like that, of course."
"... we can make it work." It's like watching the sun rise, a steady glow of excitement taking over Kirika expression as she considers the notion. "I bet we can make it work!"
"I do suspect we'll have to be closer to them," Oriko murmurs. "Now that we no longer have the direct link of their magical works to trace, I'd need a firmer idea of the search area."
"I'll try, too," Sayaka says dubiously. "Pity I doubt they're currently parked under a storm, or I could try turning the storm-scrying back on them."
"Alright, that's... that's a start," you say, nodding. "I'm still kind of terrified of tripping some kind of forward defenses of theirs, but... that's a good start."
"It's not enough to go on," Mami says thoughtfully. "But even if they somehow know about Homura's power, I don't believe it's reasonable that they would be specifically prepared against it - it's an exceedingly versatile one, and one that isn't easily defended against." She smiles warmly at Homura. "And even then, I believe that with our allies, we have a critical mass of capability that should help us avoid, and notice any initial issues. And when we get closer, we can reconnoiter."
And that's a thought that's been bouncing around the back of your head - no plan survives contact with the enemy, but it's valuable in and of itself to have discussed with everyone your general goals, to share your capabilities. An overall plan might fall apart, but each of you are individuals capable of thinking and taking opportunities as they come, and of working together.
"So, in summary, plan A: we gather everyone, get closer but not directly on top of them, and then reconnoiter via scrying and re-plan?" you summarize, biting your lip as you think about it. "Plan... I dunno, Plan Aleph: we try and find survivors. Solid intel, but the chances are low. Plan Alpha: show of force to open with?"
"I reckon it'd be a good idea to grab everyone first," Sayaka notes. "I mean, look, we're gonna have to go over the same discussions again whatever we decide, right?"
Mami squeezes your hand, giving you another warm smile as you try and work through it in your mind.
[] Vote in abeyance
[] Head to Thiruvananthapuram and try to find survivors
[] Travel towards Iowa, but stop short to scry
[] Something else? (Write-in)
=====
Well. This update saw a considerable bit of rewritingmostly because I completely misinterpreted the vote but hey I get to carry forward a good chunk of it to the next update.
And the rest of you worries, churning thoughts rattling against each other in the dark corners of your mind.
"What are you thinking about, Sabrina?" Mami asks, her hand stroking slowly through your hair.
"That 'rattling' implies a certain emptiness and it's not really the best adjective to use on thoughts," you say. "Also, Pokemon should move away from HMs, because forcing you to dedicate a slot to a move just to get past some obstacles is tiresome."
"The emptiness might well apply to you," Oriko says drily. "You really should drink more green tea."
"Hey," you protest, spinning your chair around to face her. "But... Alright, reconfiguring a second."
You shuffle the seats around your flight platform so you form a loose square facing each other - Sayaka, Homura, Oriko and Kirika, you and Mami.
"So..." You sigh, rubbing your face. "I mean, truth be told, I'm... worried that this isn't going to go as smoothly as I'd like it to."
Homura's gaze shifts to you, sharp and perhaps a touch concerned.
"No plan survives contact with the enemy?" Sayaka says, raising an eyebrow. "I mean, we all know that."
"Well... yeah," you say. "Exactly. We've got this big pretty plan about hunting them down with the help of Homura's power, but I'm worried that that's... where it trips up. I'm new to this, and so are you, Sayaka, and Oriko and Kirika too. I don't really know how to, to evaluate risks. My one big engagement was Sendai."
"Neither can we say much," Mami offers with an apologetic look. "We know too little, at this point - we don't even know how many magical girls they have."
"Which..." you sigh. "Which is the problem, right? We... we barely even know where they are."
"Ah... we do know where Iowa is," Mami says. "My trace on them is... mm, a compass effect of sorts. And I'm maintaining it with ease, now that I've started it." She smiles at you. "It's not that different from tracing a Witch, now that I think about it. I could try teaching you later, if you'd like?"
"I would, but..." you trail off unhappily.
"Second thoughts, o fearless leader?" Sayaka asks teasingly.
"I... well, yeah," you say. "I'm just worried. These, these people. Heck, even that's a gap in our intel, I'm only assuming that it's Iowa - I'm pretty sure, but it's still an assumption. If it's Iowa, they're people who pose a threat to everything I know and love." You raise a fist, and let it drop weakly.
"I try and see magical girls as victims first. Victims of this system, of life, of Kyuubey," you say slowly, eyes sweeping from Mami, to Homura, Sayaka, to Oriko, and Kirika. "Most of us wouldn't be in this situation if we weren't manipulated into it, but I... I haven't found a lot of sympathy in myself for Iowa. If they're a threat, if they're coming for me, for us, then I want them crushed."
"Isn't that why we're going now?" Kirika asks, giving you a narrow-eyed look. "I mean... you're grabbing everyone you can, and we go in and smash 'em flat. Smush. Done."
"And for that exact reason I've been... I've been going over the thought of all of us cutting loose," you say quietly. "We have a lot of power at our disposal, and that's before we factor in the fact that with me around, we have unlimited magic. If they weren't in a population center, maybe I should just... open with a thousand-ton chunk of rock doing orbital reentry velocities. Airburst it, and use it as a distraction."
"There are people around, Sabrina," Mami murmurs, giving you a worried look.
"Which is why I have zero intention of doing it - as I said, if they weren't in a population center," you say. "But if wishes were fishes, the Incubators would be fishmongers and I'd still only got the one." You hesitate, well aware that that last thought wasn't the most coherent. "We have a lot of power. Should we be using it? Pushing ourselves, against them?"
"You're scared." Homura's words bring you up short, killing your momentum and your rant in an instant. Her eyes lock onto yours, tired and hard, but... leavened with just a touch of sympathy and painful understanding.
"I-" You trail off, hunching your shoulders. Mami takes your hand in hers, squeezing gently. "I guess I am, a bit. I'm scared that we don't know enough, and I'm scared of how this might go if we just blunder right in. I'm scared that approaching too close results in us tripping some... I dunno, some whatever that counts as enough of a connection to bring them in here with us. I'm scared that they might have hostages."
"Better afraid than overconfident," Homura says, still holding your eyes.
"I have to agree," Mami says quietly. "We know our limitations. Knowing that, we can consider ways to mitigate them."
"I..." you sigh. "The best thing we can do is find someone who's fought them before. Then we'd have accurate information, but... I have no idea how."
"Miss Tsuruya mentioned the previous place they attacked," Homura points out. "It's... an option."
You study her for a moment - you can tell she doesn't relish the notion, and you can't blame her. From the way Mami shifts a little beside you, neither does she, with the time spent in the grip of Homura's magic.
"She did, in India. It'd be a few hours even at top speed in atmosphere," you murmur. "But it would be... it would be a good option, leaving aside the possibility of actually finding them in the city."
"Assuming anyone was left alive, I could find them," Oriko murmurs. "My clairvoyance seems to have an affinity towards... people of relevance. However, given the reputation they've built, and given their mode of operation... anyone left behind, it seems, would not be long for this world."
You bite your lip.
"Hey, uh, listen," Sayaka says. "Miss Tsuruya knows that stuff, shouldn't we grab her and uh... see if she's scared up any more information in the short term?"
"The research you put to Miss Saito and Miss Watanabe, too," Homura notes. "They haven't had much time, but there might be something useful."
"That's... true," you admit, and flick a gaze in Sayaka's direction. "I... well, Oriko, I don't suppose you can scry through Homura's timestop?"
"I've never been on this side before," Oriko says. "I certainly couldn't, in the other direction."
"That reminds me," Sayaka says, expression hardening. "Mikuni. Give me your hand. I'm going to copy your power."
Oriko doesn't object, reaching out wordlessly, and you bite back any and all of the teasing remarks that you might make. Best not to, with the suddenly tense mood, and especially not with Kirika looking distinctly sour about the whole thing. Sayaka's grip locks tight on Oriko's - not painfully so, or not deliberately, you don't think, and you feel the familiar surge-ebb of Sayaka's magic as she does her thing.
Sayaka sits back, thoughtful. "Clairvoyance," she mutters. "Hrmph."
"... To answer the question, Sabrina, I'm certainly willing to try, with Miss Akemi's permission," Oriko says after a moment. "But I'm uncertain if I would have any more success than I did before, given that their defenses are presumably still up."
She hesitates for a second.
"Much as I hate to suggest it, it's possible that Miss Miki might have more success, by combining powers," Oriko says.
"... Miss Kure," Mami says thoughtfully. "Are you capable of dispelling other people's antimagic?"
"I... guess?" Kirika mutters, apparently still sulking. "I just gotta tune it right, I suppose."
"Then it's entirely possible that working with Miss Mikuni -or Sayaka combining your powers- you might be able to penetrate the effect preventing Miss Mikuni from observing them," Mami says slowly. "It really does depend on whether you can manage to use your powers in tandem like that, of course."
"... we can make it work." It's like watching the sun rise, a steady glow of excitement taking over Kirika expression as she considers the notion. "I bet we can make it work!"
"I do suspect we'll have to be closer to them," Oriko murmurs. "Now that we no longer have the direct link of their magical works to trace, I'd need a firmer idea of the search area."
"I'll try, too," Sayaka says dubiously. "Pity I doubt they're currently parked under a storm, or I could try turning the storm-scrying back on them."
"Alright, that's... that's a start," you say, nodding. "I'm still kind of terrified of tripping some kind of forward defenses of theirs, but... that's a good start."
"It's not enough to go on," Mami says thoughtfully. "But even if they somehow know about Homura's power, I don't believe it's reasonable that they would be specifically prepared against it - it's an exceedingly versatile one, and one that isn't easily defended against." She smiles warmly at Homura. "And even then, I believe that with our allies, we have a critical mass of capability that should help us avoid, and notice any initial issues. And when we get closer, we can reconnoiter."
And that's a thought that's been bouncing around the back of your head - no plan survives contact with the enemy, but it's valuable in and of itself to have discussed with everyone your general goals, to share your capabilities. An overall plan might fall apart, but each of you are individuals capable of thinking and taking opportunities as they come, and of working together.
"So, in summary, plan A: we gather everyone, get closer but not directly on top of them, and then reconnoiter via scrying and re-plan?" you summarize, biting your lip as you think about it. "Plan... I dunno, Plan Aleph: we try and find survivors. Solid intel, but the chances are low. Plan Alpha: show of force to open with?"
"I reckon it'd be a good idea to grab everyone first," Sayaka notes. "I mean, look, we're gonna have to go over the same discussions again whatever we decide, right?"
Mami squeezes your hand, giving you another warm smile as you try and work through it in your mind.
[] Vote in abeyance
[] Head to Thiruvananthapuram and try to find survivors
[] Travel towards Iowa, but stop short to scry
[] Something else? (Write-in)
-[X] For yourself, ask Kirika if she can make antimagic enchantments with what you have handy. You'd rather not gem people if there's a better way and you think she's met or fought everyone on our side but Mika, Akemi, and Noriko already, all of whom are in town to be picked up early.
[X] Overarching flight goals: In the time before you arrive in SEA you need...
-[X] to understand your opponents as best as possible so you aren't taken by surprise
-[X] to make sure you and your allies all know enough about each other to fight together effectively
[X] Gather Mitakihara and head to Fukushima. Plans for the first leg, to Fukushima and back to drop off Atsuko:
-[X] You're going to need a bigger Mobile Operations Platform. Make a full on flying saucer.
-[x] Put on some music or other white noise in the background. (Take requests.)
-[X] Given that you're going halfway to space by the end of this, and general utility, can you use grief fog sensors instead of windows? Can you make a "very foggy array?" (Thousands of mechanical grief micro cameras distributed throughout your fog and/or the hull of the MOP. Do not trance.)
-[X] Gather basic info prior to a bigger tactical discussion once you've picked everyone up.
-[x] Enchant more Grief on the way
--[X] Generally offer your enchanted grief for any one tool your friends might need and don't have, with a note on the limits of what you can make
[X] Overarching flight goals: In the time before you arrive in SEA you need...
-[X] to understand your opponents as best as possible so you aren't taken by surprise
-[X] to make sure you and your allies all know enough about each other to fight together effectively
[X] Gather Mitakihara and head to Fukushima. Plans for the first leg, to Fukushima and back to drop off Atsuko:
-[X] You're going to need a bigger Mobile Operations Platform. Make a full on flying saucer.
-[x] Put on some music or other white noise in the background. (Take requests.)
-[X] Given that you're going halfway to space by the end of this, and general utility, can you use grief fog sensors instead of windows? Can you make a "very foggy array?" (Thousands of mechanical grief micro cameras distributed throughout your fog and/or the hull of the MOP. Do not trance.)
-[X] Gather basic info prior to a bigger tactical discussion once you've picked everyone up.
-[x] Enchant more Grief on the way
--[X] Generally offer your enchanted grief for any one tool your friends might need and don't have, with a note on the limits of what you can make
=====
Well. This update saw a considerable bit of rewriting
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Spectral Waltz
Scatterbrained Writer
- Location
- Walking the Endless Corridors
I say we check for survivors, if Oriko's right and they aren't long for this world, we might be able to save them from that.
Recurrence
Armchair Parapsychologist
- Location
- Limbo
I say we war council with our allies in timestop before heading off to check for survivors, just talking back and forth with our core squad has lead to a lot of developments the thread has been bandying about being brought up, others may be able to help us refine our ideas.
BlackoutSampler
So Easily Forgotten
I must say, I disagree with Sabrina here. I feel the Pokemon series should lean more into HMs while making some side quests that involve using some "standard" moves in the overworld as well. All while limiting the pool of "HM Slaves" available so people arn't encouraged to make one pokemon carry all the weight. (also bumping up HM power so it doesn't feel like you are wasting a slot on the HM)
If you design around the player using HMs all the time, that both allows the team to show off the non-fantasy-dogfighting aspects of Pokemon better, and can make traversing the over-world more interesting. Maybe have a series of "Surf Canals" with a heavy current that have your character shoot off in one direction once you enter the water. and have it drop you off at various points of interest with a treasure chest and a half-life esque "Door to before" to unlock. make a silly little mini-game that you can't access without Strength, like a "sumo match" or something more absurd like "boulder baseball".
Also, making the UI for using those HMs better. maybe set a wheel to one of the triggers that pops up with all the available HM moves, with a mini-pic of the pokemon who has the move next to the name. Then the player flicks the stick to the move they want to use, and the relevant Pokemon pops out to do the move. that way you aren't stopped by prompts to use the HM or the goddamn nesting of the og Pokemons.
Provided, this requires Gamefreak to actually have a sane lead director and hire some talented programmers while maintaing a creative direction and having decent intercommunication between employees, which I understand is out of their budget. But one can always hope Pokemon can one day be actually good.
And.
Remove.
We're scared. Mami's the sacred one.
The Phoenixian
The Glacier Witch
- Location
- My own little world
Yeah, after this I feel checking up on the Thiruvananthapuram group, or their remnants, is pretty important here.
The state, and mere existence, of any survivors (or lack thereof) will be a pretty solid insight into Iowa's character, let alone anything those survivors can tell us.
That said, it probably requires putting actual thought into dealing with the lichbomb and maybe even the witchbomb.
On related news, I found myself looking into news from around this time in Thirvunanthapuram and Myanmar, to see if there was anything at all in the real world that could be related to Iowa in PMAS.
And as it so happens, both are true. In the Indian city, we see that a temple there was under investigation for corruption, with an important moment in that affair around May 2011.
Likewise in Myanmar, we see that 2010 and 2011 were the start of a long series of reforms, again, with a notable (if quite controversial) moment, releasing political prisoners, in May. Which was also one of the first major moves.
BBC news link
Wikipedia article
There may be better candidates to look at... but both of those being the top results when I looked into news kinda jumps out at me, particularly given the role magical girls play in society and its evolution.
--------------------------------------
As far as actual plans go... a small construction:
[] Discuss whether you can work with Moe and Sasami in casting shadows with grief and whether the value of Luce Prima and lesser grief-light sources to both their powers.
Because I've wondered for a while now if Sasami could take in a laser beam for her own use and redirect it. With half-memories of getting that thought from someone else here. Because wherever it came from, it was a good thought and we should do it.
The state, and mere existence, of any survivors (or lack thereof) will be a pretty solid insight into Iowa's character, let alone anything those survivors can tell us.
That said, it probably requires putting actual thought into dealing with the lichbomb and maybe even the witchbomb.
On related news, I found myself looking into news from around this time in Thirvunanthapuram and Myanmar, to see if there was anything at all in the real world that could be related to Iowa in PMAS.
And as it so happens, both are true. In the Indian city, we see that a temple there was under investigation for corruption, with an important moment in that affair around May 2011.
Article: The Padmanabhaswamy Temple treasure is a collection of valuable objects including gold thrones, crowns, coins, statues and ornaments, diamonds and other precious stones. It was discovered in some of the subterranean vaults of the Shree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram the Indian state of Kerala, when five of its six vaults were opened on 27 June 2011. The vaults were opened on the orders of the Supreme Court of India, which was hearing a private petition seeking transparency in the running of the temple. The discovery of the treasure attracted widespread national and international media attention as it is considered to be the largest collection of items of gold and precious stones in the recorded history of the world.[1][2][3][4]
Article: The temple located in the state capital of Thirvunanthapuram shot into limelight after the Supreme Court in May 2011 ordered a detailed inventory of the articles in the temple vaults which had long rumoured to be holding immense riches.
Likewise in Myanmar, we see that 2010 and 2011 were the start of a long series of reforms, again, with a notable (if quite controversial) moment, releasing political prisoners, in May. Which was also one of the first major moves.
BBC news link
Wikipedia article
There may be better candidates to look at... but both of those being the top results when I looked into news kinda jumps out at me, particularly given the role magical girls play in society and its evolution.
--------------------------------------
As far as actual plans go... a small construction:
[] Discuss whether you can work with Moe and Sasami in casting shadows with grief and whether the value of Luce Prima and lesser grief-light sources to both their powers.
Because I've wondered for a while now if Sasami could take in a laser beam for her own use and redirect it. With half-memories of getting that thought from someone else here. Because wherever it came from, it was a good thought and we should do it.
Out of selfishness against taking on unwanted heartaches, I would rather avoid visiting Iowa's past attack zone.
Out of concern for Firnagzen getting trapped in wiki-walk-research, I would rather avoid visiting Iowa's past attack zone.
Out of irritation for the name "Thiruvananthapuram", I would rather avoid visiting Iowa's past attack zone.
Out of impatience for stomping Iowa ASAP, I would rather avoid visiting Iowa's past attack zone.
My point is, unless it's a throwaway paragraph or three, scouting out "Thiruvananthapuram" is the worst kind of tangential sidequest that will... 'steal' three to five updates, unless off-screened or glossed over.
I mean, unless there are no survivors to social-interrogate-triage, in which case we go straight from "Protect Mami's Smile" mode to "JUSTICE FOR THE DEAD" mode and move on Iowa within a single turn.
Out of concern for Firnagzen getting trapped in wiki-walk-research, I would rather avoid visiting Iowa's past attack zone.
Out of irritation for the name "Thiruvananthapuram", I would rather avoid visiting Iowa's past attack zone.
Out of impatience for stomping Iowa ASAP, I would rather avoid visiting Iowa's past attack zone.
My point is, unless it's a throwaway paragraph or three, scouting out "Thiruvananthapuram" is the worst kind of tangential sidequest that will... 'steal' three to five updates, unless off-screened or glossed over.
I mean, unless there are no survivors to social-interrogate-triage, in which case we go straight from "Protect Mami's Smile" mode to "JUSTICE FOR THE DEAD" mode and move on Iowa within a single turn.
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