Puella Magi Megami Tensei

Herofox · Jun 26, 2024

JAGwin said:
The other explanation is that Kyoko is about to become a Witch, therefore we need to cleanse her now, and not just because Ophelia is a pain in the ass to fight.

I thought QM said that her corruption wasn't at a point we should worry about though?

JAGwin · Jun 26, 2024

Isiri Pudireach said:
Can you provide a quote on that please?

From the Two Year Q&A (plus the question that the QM was responding to for context):

ThaTrueRealmWalk said:
Is there anyway you currently have planned to allow use to return a MG's soul, but keep their current abilities/spells as they are. Getting them out of being stuck at level 30, and able to learn basic spells is a goal of mine. I'm fairly sure we can train them all to get back to their current strength and help them relearn their current abilities, but that may not be wise with the threats coming up.

TremendousMilk3 said:
6. They would need to have the summoning program first. Then, you need to use Samerecarm specifically.

Herofox said:
I thought QM said that her corruption wasn't at a point we should worry about though?

As I said, I can't think of another explanation that makes sense to me.

Herofox · Jun 26, 2024

JAGwin said:
As I said, I can't think of another explanation that makes sense to me.

The rapid corruption and cleansing of a soul? Like pouring hot water onto something than cold water.

It's not exactly a thing Souls usually deal with. Either way, as long as she doesn't use her MG magic she should be fine for now.

JAGwin · Jun 26, 2024

Herofox said:
The rapid corruption and cleansing of a soul? Like pouring hot water onto something than cold water.

If that was capable of cracking a Soul Gem, then just using a Grief Seed would do it. I doubt I need to explain why I consider that possibility to be beyond remote.

Herofox · Jun 26, 2024

JAGwin said:
If that was capable of cracking a Soul Gem, then just using a Grief Seed would do it. I doubt I need to explain why I consider that possibility to be beyond remote.

A Grief Seed takes corruption and absorbs it into itself.

The way we do it eradicates it in its entirety to my understanding. It's a way more brutal method in comparison.

Edit: Actually, do we even know what cracks a Soul Gem in canon? The reading I know of has the SG crack under strain like fighting off mind control.

Witch birthing doesn't count for obvious reasons.

JAGwin · Jun 26, 2024

Herofox said:
A Grief Seed takes corruption and absorbs it into itself.

The Grief Recycler also takes the corruption out of the Soul Gem before doing anything with it.

Herofox said:
The way we do it eradicates it in its entirety.

The Grief Recycler converts the corruption into macca. Where did you get the idea that it completely erases it?

Herofox said:
It's a way more brutal method in comparison.

How? And why would it matter when the part the Soul Gem experiences (corruption being extracted into something else) is exactly the same regardless?

Isiri Pudireach · Jun 26, 2024

JAGwin said:
How? And why would it matter when the part the Soul Gem experiences (corruption being extracted into something else) is exactly the same regardless?

It could still be due to the Recycler, because it is a prototype so it's extraction method may not be as gentle as Grief Seed. Not something you might notice when extracting Grief in small amounts, but when you extract a large amount...

Herofox · Jun 26, 2024

JAGwin said:
The Grief Recycler also takes the corruption out of the Soul Gem before doing anything with it.

Ngl I forgot we used that. Also, does this mean our Recycler has a capacity?

JAGwin said:
The Grief Recycler converts the corruption into macca. Where did you get the idea that it completely erases it?

Cause perfect conversion of ethereal energy into matter makes my brain hurt and stop thinking.

Like, can we convert a Soul itself into money? Lmao

JAGwin · Jun 26, 2024

Herofox said:
Like, can we convert a Soul itself into money? Lmao

Well, that's one way to get Victoria to actually contribute something to the world for once in her life…

Isiri Pudireach · Jun 26, 2024

Herofox said:
Ngl I forgot we used that. Also, does this mean our Recycler has a capacity?

No? The converter itself is a magical program, so unless the program itself is getting fragmented as we use it (which would be a bug that needa to be fixed), it's at most a throughput issue.

BethofDeath · Jun 26, 2024

This does bring up the questions: did the Grief Recycler cause this, or was it Hino's runes? Or the interaction between lingering effects and the Recycler? Or even Pixie's efforts to untangle Hino's shit?

The program is a prototype, after all. And iirc Kyoko is the only one its been used on? Or at least had it used the most often.

JAGwin · Jun 26, 2024

BethofDeath said:
And iirc Kyoko is the only one its been used on? Or at least had it used the most often.

Kyoko is the only one whose Soul Gem we've used the Grief Recycler on, and even then, only twice unless I'm forgetting something. First time was right before we fused Devil Dog and Lorelei, second time was at the church after we defeated Father Fuckwad. Only other time we've used it was on one of Homura's Grief Seeds.

TremendousMilk3 · Jun 26, 2024

JAGwin said:
I would like to remind you that the QM stated that we need both Samarecarm (which the Balm of Rising can presumably substitute for) and the MG to have the Demon Summoning Program in order to not depower them when we uncontract them.

...I don't know why I said that they "need" the Summoning Program. They don't need it to keep their powers, only to get new spells. That seems a little inconvenient for no reason, anyhow. Consider it retcon'd.

JAGwin · Jun 26, 2024

TremendousMilk3 said:
...I don't know why I said that they "need" the Summoning Program.

It could be that you misunderstood TrueRealm's question because of how it was worded, or it could be that I misunderstood your response, again because of how TrueRealm's question was worded.

TremendousMilk3 said:
They don't need it to keep their powers, only to get new spells. That seems a little inconvenient for no reason, anyhow.

Good to know. That changes some plans for later.

TremendousMilk3 · Jun 26, 2024

I thought you guys would like to know that I'm starting my Vergil Playthrough for DMC 5, and I'm streaming it.

TremendousMilk3 · Jun 26, 2024

I really need to add more skills to Dante and Vergil's kits. The more I play DMC, the more I realize this. I might have to rework Vergil's, too. Who thought playing games could make so much work?

DragonOfAtlantis · Jun 26, 2024

[X] Get up, fast, but attempt not to overly disturb Kohaku.
-[X] "Kyouko?" Get her attention, don't startle her.
--[X] "What happened, how do I help."
---[X] Keep prepared to use the cleansing function and/or a Balm of Rising at literally any moment.

Infinity · Jun 26, 2024

[X] Get up, fast, but attempt not to overly disturb Kohaku.
-[X] "Kyouko?" Get her attention, don't startle her.
--[X] "What happened, how do I help."
---[X] Keep prepared to use the cleansing function and/or a Balm of Rising at literally any moment.

TremendousMilk3 · Jun 26, 2024

Vergil, who has been roped into baking with Mami: I need more flour.

Mami, handing him a cup of flour: Here you are!

Scheduled vote count started by TremendousMilk3 on Jun 25, 2024 at 11:12 PM, finished with 35 posts and 10 votes.

5 people have voted
[X] Get up, fast, but attempt not to overly disturb Kohaku.
-[X] "Kyouko?" Get her attention, don't startle her.
--[X] "What happened, how do I help."
---[X] Keep prepared to use the cleansing function and/or a Balm of Rising at literally any moment.
2 people have voted
[X] Plan Amalgamation+Alteration+Aexpansion: An Absolutely Amazing Alliterative Approach!
-[X] "...Oh shit." Get up. Slowly. Carefully. Ko' deserves to sleep more, and you need a closer look to understand how fucked the situation is.
-[X] "...How bad is it? Do you know?" It's tempting to just panic-drop the strongest healing items you have, but... you're not going to ignore her agency because you're freaking out. You're not cop-punching!Yumi anymore.
--[X] "I don't want to risk Stephen's app too much on this... we got away with it once, but I don't know if he took into account damage to the gem itself in how it works. We... do have another option, but I haven't tried it specifically yet?"
---[X] Bring out the Balm of Rising. "This... is basically a bottled Recarm, like I used on the Soul Gems the Witches dropped, except more powerful? Hopefully we can just... use it directly? But if it works like Recarm, you *will* de-Contract."
----[X] Offer it to her. If she starts to protest, "No. If you die, we'll all be fucked up from it. *Yuma* will be *despondent*. Mami will despair, and probably hate me for not doing more to stop it. As far as I can call it, you're family -- this isn't charity, it's the minimum family does for each other." Push it into her hands. "The choice is yours, but whatever you decide to do with it, don't let it go to waste. I have two, anyway."
-----[X] "I still need to get you a cellphone, too -- especially if you decide to use that. The Demon Summoning App can run on a smartphone, I dunno if a feature phone can do it too? I can help you get up and running with it like I did with Sayaka and the others, or if you'd rather work with them instead, that's an option too. I'll show you where the dwarf's forge is, we can get some armor and ask them to replicate your spear, if you want?"
- BethofDeath
- lobonLight63
1 people have voted
[X] Cleanse Kyoko's Soul Gem now! Doesn't matter if you knock Kohaku over getting there, there's no time!
-[X] Assuming Kyoko does not become a Witch, call Gabriel and ask her if she knows how to fix a cracked Soul Gem
- JAGwin
1 people have voted
[X] Cleanse Kyoko's Soul Gem now! Doesn't matter if you knock Kohaku over getting there, there's no time!
-[X] Use Balm of Rising in a panic.
- Kutenaiabi
1 people have voted
[X] "...Oh shit." Get up. Slowly. Carefully. Ko' deserves to sleep more, and you need a closer look to understand how fucked the situation is.
-[X] "...How bad is it? Do you know?" It's tempting to just panic-drop the strongest healing items you have, but there is such a thing as overkill. Maybe not for something like a damaged soul gem, but just throwing a Balm of Rising or something at the problem and calling it a day feels...
- Genih Wat

TremendousMilk3 · Jun 26, 2024

[X] Addressing the giant problem.

You try not to disturb Kohaku too much as you get out of your seat...

(AGL CHECK: 14+10)

...And barely even move her as you slip away to Kyoko's side. "Kyoko?" You nudge her carefully, speaking in a whisper.

"It's about my Gem, huh?" She asks, her eyes not leaving the large crack on its surface.

"What happened? How can I help?" You look at her Soul Gem, trying to think of anything you can do.

"Her Pops threatened to break it in his hand, but one of his guys stopped him." Kyoko grimaces, "Said they could use me to draw Kohaku out. You know how that played out. Now, I can't move very well."

"You... Can't move?" Worry begins to set in.

"Not easily, at least." Kyoko gently rests her Soul Gem on her lap, "Like, I can still feel everything, but I just... It's like my body is deciding not to listen."

"Kyoko, do you want me to--?"

"I fuckin' hate being this... Vulnerable." She practically spits out the word, "I couldn't even get over here without your Grandma's help."

You hazard a glance to her Soul Gem, and immediately put your Gauntlet to it. How did it blacken so quickly? It was fine a second ago!

"Shit, I guess I'm done, huh?" She chuckles dryly, "Finally catching up to the rest of--?"

"Do not say that." You nearly growl out, "You're still just as much a friend to me as you have been. Nothing's changed."

"Everything's changed." She sneers back, "I can't hunt anymore. I can't move on my own, I can't even fucking take care of myself. Fucking Hino...!" She seethes.

Her Soul Gem is dancing between black and red as your Gauntlet pulls grief off of it. You don't have a choice, nor do you think she's in the best headspace to make a decision.

You hate that you have to pull this without getting her consent...

[] ...But she can barely keep herself together.
[] ...But you're not gonna let her die.
[] ...But you need to help her.
[] Write in a reason?

You produce one of those jars with the Balm of Rising inside, setting it on the coffee table. Then, you carefully take Kyoko's Soul Gem from off of her lap.

"Wha-- Hey, give that back!" She tries to grab it back, but can't lean too far out of her seat, "Yumi, what the hell are you doing?!"

"Saving you." You reply, holding the Soul Gem above the Balm, "...I hope." With a nervous breath, you submerge her Soul Gem in the Balm.

Kyoko's Soul Gem pulsates slowly as the Balm of Rising seems to seep into it. Once the jar is empty, you raise up. At first, you don't think anything has changed.

The Soul Gem fades away into a bright red light, gently and methodically flowing into Kyoko's chest. She stares at her chest for a moment, her hand on her sternum, before looking back up at you, obviously angry.

[] ?????????????????????????????????????????

JAGwin · Jun 26, 2024