Sayaka can make a contract with Kyubei in this loop.
Nanoha can make a contract with Kyubei in this loop.
"Game Over" refers to the Game no longer continuing for a reason other than getting the Golden Ending, Higure ending the Quest before an ending is reached, or Higure no longer posting in this thread before an ending is reached.
If Game Over occurs, the Game will either return to an earlier state or the Game will start over from the beginning.
Game Over occurs if the Heroine's Soul Gem breaks.
Game Over occurs if the Heroine Witches out.
It is possible to get a Game Over for other reasons.
It is possible for the Game to reach a state where the Golden Ending is impossible even if the Heroine is alive and hasn't Witched out.
There has been at least one loop that where Walpurgisnacht was defeated and Madoka was still alive and not a Witch.
The Cashier of Miyazaki Books is also the owner of Miyazaki Books.
The Cashier of Miyazaki Books is the author referred to as Honya.
Remnent, the planet that is the setting of RWBY, is an alternate version of Earth.
Rose and Snow are the local counterparts to Ruby Rose and Weiss Schnee.
The local counterpart of Yang Xiao Long exists in this timeline.
The local counterpart of Yang Xiao Long is a Puella Magi.
The local counterpart of Blake Belladonna exists in this timeline.
The local counterpart of Blake Belladonna is a Puella Magi.
Second-person POVs from Akemi Homura's perspective are all from the Heroine's perspective.
First-person POVs from Akemi Homura's perspective are all not from the Heroine's perspective.
At least one instance of the use of "I" instead of "you" when the POV is supposedly second-person from the Heroine's perspective is intentional and not just an error.
What Higure refers to as the "Golden Ending" refers to more than just the standard definition of the term (the best possible ending).
The Rokkenjima Massacre refers to the massacre of the Ushiromiya family and the people on Rokkenjima during October 4 and 5 of 1986. The Rokkenjima Massacre occurred in this loop.
The Rokkenjima Massacre occurred in at least one previous loop.
The Rokkenjima Massacre occurred in all previous loops.
Here "Witch" will refer to Witches and Sorcerers in Umineko and similar beings.
At least one Witch that isn't Higure or a member of Sufficient Velocity is significantly involved in this Game. Making or delivering Halloween gifts, giving advice, and delivering messages are not considered significant involvement.
There is a Player in this Game that isn't Higure or a member of Sufficient Velocity.
What Higure refers to as the "Golden Ending" refers to more than just the standard definition of the term (the best possible ending).
The Rokkenjima Massacre refers to the massacre of the Ushiromiya family and the people on Rokkenjima during October 4 and 5 of 1986.
The Rokkenjima Massacre did not occur in this loop.
The Rokkenjima Massacre did not occur in at least one previous loop.
The Rokkenjima Massacre did not occur in any previous loops.
Here "Witch" will refer to Witches and Sorcerers in Umineko and similar beings.
At least one Witch that isn't Higure or a member of Sufficient Velocity is significantly involved in this Game. Making or delivering Halloween gifts, giving advice, and delivering messages are not considered significant involvement.
There is a Player in this Game that isn't Higure or a member of Sufficient Velocity.
Sayaka can make a contract with Kyubei in this loop.
Nanoha can make a contract with Kyubei in this loop.
"Game Over" refers to the Game no longer continuing for a reason other than getting the Golden Ending, Higure ending the Quest before an ending is reached, or Higure no longer posting in this thread before an ending is reached.
If Game Over occurs, the Game will either return to an earlier state or the Game will start over from the beginning.
Game Over occurs if the Heroine's Soul Gem breaks.
Game Over occurs if the Heroine Witches out.
It is possible to get a Game Over for other reasons.
It is possible for the Game to reach a state where the Golden Ending is impossible even if the Heroine is alive and hasn't Witched out.
There has been at least one loop that where Walpurgisnacht was defeated and Madoka was still alive and not a Witch.
The Cashier of Miyazaki Books is also the owner of Miyazaki Books.
The Cashier of Miyazaki Books is the author referred to as Honya.
Remnent, the planet that is the setting of RWBY, is an alternate version of Earth.
Rose and Snow are the local counterparts to Ruby Rose and Weiss Schnee.
The local counterpart of Yang Xiao Long exists in this timeline.
The local counterpart of Yang Xiao Long is a Puella Magi.
The local counterpart of Blake Belladonna exists in this timeline.
The local counterpart of Blake Belladonna is a Puella Magi.
Second-person POVs from Akemi Homura's perspective are all from the Heroine's perspective.
First-person POVs from Akemi Homura's perspective are all not from the Heroine's perspective.
At least one instance of the use of "I" instead of "you" when the POV is supposedly second-person from the Heroine's perspective is intentional and not just an error.
Sayaka can make a contract with Kyubey in this loop.
Nanoha can make a contract with Kyubey in this loop.
"Game Over" refers to the Game no longer continuing for a reason other than getting the Golden Ending, Higure ending the Quest before an ending is reached, or Higure no longer posting in this thread before an ending is reached.
I will not answer at this time.
I will not answer at this time.
I will not answer at this time. It is possible to get a Game Over for other reasons.
It is possible for the Game to reach a state where the Golden Ending is impossible even if the Heroine is alive and hasn't Witched out.
There has been at least one loop where Walpurgisnacht was defeated and Madoka was still alive and not a Witch.
I will not answer at this time.
I will not answer at this time.
Remnant, the planet that is the setting of RWBY, is not an alternate version of Earth.
Rose and Snow are the local counterparts to Ruby Rose and Weiss Schnee.
I will not answer at this time.
I will not answer at this time.
I will not answer at this time.
I will not answer at this time.
Second-person POVs from Akemi Homura's perspective are not all from the Heroine's perspective.
Our Heroine is Akemi Homura.
Every instance of the use of "I" instead of "you" when the POV is supposedly second-person from the Heroine's perspective is just an error.
First-person POVs from any Akemi Homura's perspective are all not from the Heroine's perspective.
Some First-person POVs from any Akemi Homura's perspective are from the Heroine's perspective.
First-person POVs from any Akemi Homura's perspective are all from the Heroine's perspective.
First-person POVs from any Akemi Homura's perspective are all from previous loops.
Ruki's wish is related to the Yamato.
There is a Player in this Game that isn't Higure or a member of Sufficient Velocity and that does not control the Heroine like we do.
There is a Player in this Game that isn't Higure or a member of Sufficient Velocity and that directly opposes us.
There is a Player in this Game that isn't Higure or a member of Sufficient Velocity and that has a different Piece.
There is a Player in this Game that isn't Higure or a member of Sufficient Velocity and that is an Umineko-type Witch.
Game Over occurs if the Heroine's Soul Gem breaks.
I will not answer at this time.
Well, THAT's exceedingly interesting and notably non-concrete. Pre-Edit: Thought now that I think about it, 'breaks' does not necessarily mean gemsmash...
Otherwise... The Quest ends when it no longer continues, and may or may not be rerolled at the QM's whim, as one might expect. Witching out isn't necessarily a loss.
A Game Over can occur even if Homura is alive and within the usual bounds of sanity. The definition of Game Over provided constitutes all non-Golden Ending endings along with any non-standard failure conditions, so that doesn't say much, especially since the last set of reds stated we have a finite, possibly-replenishable number of loops. If on our final loop everyone but Sayaka gets out okay, that would fit in the set defined here as Game Over.
At the same time, there's something more to the Golden Ending than just being the best ending, which would seem to somewhat preclude there being other endings at all.
At least there doesn't seem to be any indication of Noita being involved. That would be a unsatisfying, though momentairly funny, nonstandard use of the phrase...
So, looking off into the future... The Yamato Restoration will probably still be rolling Engineering for fixing up the guns. As befits a Grand Undertaking, it's 500 progress would take several days for Ruki or Homura working alone to complete (maximum 13 Turns for Ruki working alone, 15 Turns for Homura working alone, or 7 turns working together) even with their +40 and +33 respectively when working on the Yamato. However, that does not mean that it will take that entire time. There is a chance, though it's less than 8%, of completing the current stage of Yamato Restoration after only two days of Ruki and Homura working together on it!
If we bring Ruki along, then that offers a chance for Ruki and Homura to train together on Engineering, though they would need another 9 combined levels of Engineering between them to drop the maximum completion time from 7 days of working together to 6. Training together does offer notable benefits so it's worth keeping in mind.
On the other hand, we've studied Magical Development under Oriko before, and it's a section of our skillset that will likely see more use in the future. Without an immediate benchmark it's hard to say what DCs we will want to aim for, but we'll have more information on that should we successfully research a Theoretical Spell. Otherwise, I'm wondering if the best way to train Magical Development is to just try and develop spells in the same turn that we take the training action. It's not going to be as fast as training under an instructor or with a book to help out, but it will get her started on the process. Bringing her along to London offers not just her precognitive insight (though it's possible that it will be clouded) but also her magical expertise as well.
In this timeline Remnant does not exist.
In this timeline Remnant never existed.
In this timeline Remnant never will exist.
In RWBY Earth does not exist.
In RWBY Earth never existed.
In RWBY Earth never will exist.
In RWBY Remnant orbits a star with a spectral classification of G2V.
In RWBY Remnant's orbit has a semi-major axis of 149,598,023 km, an eccentricity of 0.0167086, and an inclination to the invariable plane of 1.57869°.
In RWBY Remnant's age is 4.54±0.04 Ga.
It is possible for someone with the potential to become a Puella Magi to become unable to become a Puella Magi through means that are impossible in Canon.
First-person POVs from any Akemi Homura's perspective are all not from the Heroine's perspective.
Some First-person POVs from any Akemi Homura's perspective are from the Heroine's perspective.
First-person POVs from any Akemi Homura's perspective are all from the Heroine's perspective.
First-person POVs from any Akemi Homura's perspective are all from previous loops.
Ruki's wish is related to the Yamato.
There is a Player in this Game that isn't Higure or a member of Sufficient Velocity and that does not control the Heroine like we do.
There is a Player in this Game that isn't Higure or a member of Sufficient Velocity and that directly opposes us.
There is a Player in this Game that isn't Higure or a member of Sufficient Velocity and that has a different Piece.
There is a Player in this Game that isn't Higure or a member of Sufficient Velocity and that is an Umineko-type Witch.
Not all first-person POVs from any Akemi Homura's perspective are not from the Heroine's perspective.
Some First-person POVs from any Akemi Homura's perspective are from the Heroine's perspective.
First-person POVs from any Akemi Homura's perspective are not all from the Heroine's perspective.
First-person POVs from any Akemi Homura's perspective are not all from previous loops.
Ruki's wish is related to the Yamato.
There is a Player in this Game that isn't Higure or a member of Sufficient Velocity and that does not control the Heroine like we do.
I will not answer at this time.
I will not answer at this time.
I will not answer at this time.
In this timeline Remnant does not exist.
In this timeline Remnant never existed.
In this timeline Remnant never will exist.
In RWBY Earth does not exist.
In RWBY Earth never existed.
In RWBY Earth never will exist.
In RWBY Remnant orbits a star with a spectral classification of G2V.
In RWBY Remnant's orbit has a semi-major axis of 149,598,023 km, an eccentricity of 0.0167086, and an inclination to the invariable plane of 1.57869°.
In RWBY Remnant's age is 4.54±0.04 Ga.
Rose and Snow are expies and not counterparts.
It is possible for someone with the potential to become a Puella Magi to become unable to become a Puella Magi through means that are impossible in Canon.
In this timeline Remnant does not exist.
In this timeline Remnant never existed.
In this timeline Remnant never will exist.
That is beyond the bounds of this game.
That is beyond the bounds of this game.
That is beyond the bounds of this game.
That is beyond the bounds of this game.
That is beyond the bounds of this game.
That is beyond the bounds of this game.
You need to give me specific definitions in red for the expy/counterpart question. Even with the above clarifying post, I'm still not entirely sure what you mean.
The strict means by which potential may be lost in Canon are unknown, so that is beyond the bounds of this game.
*spends a hour trying to come up with something, gives up*
I'm just going to delete my counterpart/expy Blue.
It is possible for someone with the potential to become a Puella Magi to become unable to become a Puella Magi through means other than any of the following: Incubators; Puella Magi; Witches; Wishes; Act of Madokami; Act of Homucifer; anything mundane such as injury, disease, old age, and death.
Sorry. I'm still not entirely sure what you meant, but I'll clarify in normal text that they're basically shadows cast on this world from the girls of Remnant--not just coincidental people who are similar by virtue of parallel universes, and not just crude imitations that use their faces. I think that's sort of what you were asking, maybe.
It is possible for someone with the potential to become a Puella Magi to become unable to become a Puella Magi through means other than any of the following: Incubators; Puella Magi; Witches; Wishes; Act of Madokami; Act of Homucifer; anything mundane such as injury, disease, old age, and death.
It is possible for someone with the potential to become a Puella Magi to become unable to become a Puella Magi through means other than any of the following: Incubators; Puella Magi; Witches; Wishes; Act of Madokami; Act of Homucifer; anything mundane such as injury, disease, old age, and death.
Its possible for someone with the potential to become a Puella Magi to become unable to become a Puella Magi due to a life-changing event leaving them with nothing to Wish for.
Its possible for someone with the potential to become a Puella Magi to become unable to become a Puella Magi because their soul was separated from their body in a non-lethal manner that does not involve the creation of a Soul Gem.
Its possible for someone with the potential to become a Puella Magi to become unable to become a Puella Magi due to a life-changing event leaving them with nothing to Wish for.
Its possible for someone with the potential to become a Puella Magi to become unable to become a Puella Magi because their soul was separated from their body in a non-lethal manner that does not involve the creation of a Soul Gem.
It's not possible for someone with the potential to become a Puella Magi to become unable to become a Puella Magi due to a life-changing event leaving them with nothing to Wish for.
It's not possible for someone with the potential to become a Puella Magi to become unable to become a Puella Magi because their soul was separated from their body in a non-lethal manner that does not involve the creation of a Soul Gem.
Sorry. I'm still not entirely sure what you meant, but I'll clarify in normal text that they're basically shadows cast on this world from the girls of Remnant--not just coincidental people who are similar by virtue of parallel universes, and not just crude imitations that use their faces. I think that's sort of what you were asking, maybe.
It's close enough. Not quite what I was asking, but the clarification still answered it.
It is possible for someone with the potential to become a Puella Magi to become unable to become a Puella Magi by having an extremely powerful entity, equal to or greater than Kyubei, having ownership of the person's soul.
It's close enough. Not quite what I was asking, but the clarification still answered it.
It is possible for someone with the potential to become a Puella Magi to become unable to become a Puella Magi by having an extremely powerful entity, equal to or greater than Kyubei, having ownership of the person's soul.
It is not possible for someone with the potential to become a Puella Magi to become unable to become a Puella Magi by having an extremely powerful entity, equal to or greater than Kyubey, take ownership of the person's soul.
Obviously, such a thing might facilitate crippling someone in that way, but it would take more than just having their soul owned.
It is possible for someone with the potential to become a Puella Magi to become unable to become a Puella Magi by making them completely and permanently imperceptible to Incubators.
It is possible for someone with the potential to become a Puella Magi to become unable to become a Puella Magi by making them completely and permanently imperceptible to Incubators.
It is not possible for someone with the potential to become a Puella Magi to become unable to become a Puella Magi by making them completely and permanently imperceptible to Incubators.
Homura needs a Hug.
Homura needs multiple Hugs.
Homura should be provided Hugs at every opportunity.
Hounra will not ask for needed Hugs, so we need to get Kyoko to tell someone about the Hug deficit.
Homura needs a Hug.
Homura needs multiple Hugs.
Homura should be provided Hugs at every opportunity.
Homura will not ask for needed Hugs, so we need to get Kyoko to tell someone about the Hug deficit.
Homura needs a Hug.
Homura needs multiple Hugs.
Homura should not be provided Hugs at every opportunity.
Homura will not ask for needed Hugs, but you do not necessarily need to get Kyoko to tell someone about the Hug deficit.
"Daru! Show me the results!" I demand, extending a hand dramatically to accept the document I have asked him to prepare.
He hands them to me without even a hint of flair, "Yeah, here you go. Everything I could dig up on the Akemis. Didn't you already read this, supposedly?"
I, of course, have. I've read the Akemi documentation several times before.
I was not close friends with Takeshi Akemi on those World Lines, however. Perhaps something will be revealed now, having spent so much time with him.
Hours pass as I review the documents again and again, cross-referencing them against the internet and my own memories.
They've changed. Not much, but a little. Their ancestry's still the same--an ancient Japanese family who brought a Welsh noblewoman into their bloodline, and began making Western-style clocks based upon the knowledge she brought with her. Strange enough, but stranger still is the genetic insanity that soon emerged; not a proclivity for mental illness, not even a guarantee of madness, but a single, common brand of mania that ran through the bloodline, only rarely skipping a generation.
That Welsh woman had a brother--that's nothing new, she did before, too. Yet, his life has changed. Where he once seemed to disappear from history, now he remains prominent, until eventually his children intermarry with House Britannia.
House Britannia, which never existed before.
Of course, as strange as that is, it is unremarkable compared to the other oddities I've observed on this World Line. Hacking SERN--I've had Daru do so several times already, and it seems they have bigger problems than us--reveals that the system they used to detect signs of time travel has failed entirely; it now warns constantly of time travel throughout the world; they believe that it is some error in their system, but I know better.
Thanks to Reading Steiner, I can see the truth. History is warping around us, and their device is misreading those changes as time travel--or so I hope. The alternative is that there are countless time travelers throughout the world, using their machines constantly, and that's not something I can possibly solve.
No, it must have a common cause. I have to assume that.
"I'm going home." Daru's voice cuts through my reverie, as he stands and stretches. Strange, that--the Future Gadget Lab members are currently sharing an apartment--a tight fit--but Kurisu was also able to acquire a suitable location for a new laboratory. Admittedly, it's merely another apartment a few doors down, but surely we could have simply obtained a larger space in which to both live and work?
Then again, I suppose things do explode in here on occasion. I will never build a time machine again, but we have been working together to develop a portable device for detecting temporal anomalies. Sadly, that has proven very difficult, but I believe I am on the brink.
"I said I'm leaving!" Daru's voice again grabs my attention, and I turn from my notes to regard him.
"Rest well, for science never does, and time waits for no one!" I proclaim, realizing only after I've said it that it's contradictory, but simply running with it. People will often accept anything, if you say it with enough confidence!
Daru, however, merely sighs, "Yep. I, however, collapse after 18 hours of research. Good night." With that, he closes the door behind him, and leaves me alone in the lab.
I turn back to the documents with a yawn, leaning on my arm as I try to keep my attention on them. There must be something that I'm missing, but I've been staring at these for three hours now.
...
"What is this, Kyouma?" I shoot up from my desk as the cold voice of a young girl rouses me from my sleep.
"Wha? Who?" I search the room for the source of the voice, but don't find anyone. Where could she be speaking from?
"Here, Kyouma." I jerk my eyes towards the voice, and find Homura Akemi sitting on my bookshelf for some reason I cannot begin to fathom. Actually, it's really a very nice dramatic angle, putting herself physically above me while forcing me to turn to face her. Huh.
"What are you doing here, Akemi-san!? How did you get in!?" I scream, the last thing I want to deal with is a kidnapping accusation, and, while she's certainly creepy with those cold eyes of hers, she's still a stray child that has found her way into my lab.
"The window." She answers, as if that's the end of the issue.
I laugh, as if relieved, "Haha! Ah, yes, of course! The window! The fifth story window! Which was closed! That makes sense!" I let the silence linger for a long moment as I imagine the supposedly feeble Akemi child scaling her way up the wall of the building--or, more likely, sidling her way along from an overlooking railing on the same floor, "Yes, of course, very reasonable that. Except it's not! How did you get in here!? Did Daru let you in?"
She does not respond to my demands, to my irritation, blowing me off like so many of my friends do when I'm hamming it up. Of course, I am not hamming it up at the moment, I am afraid that she will get herself killed, and I will end up arrested!
Yet, she just calmly repeats herself, instead of explaining, "What is this, Kyouma?" She holds up a stack of papers. For a moment, I panic, thinking she has discovered my investigation of herself, but, looking down, those papers are still on my desk, where I was sleeping on them.
Glancing back at the sheets she's holding, I can see a familiar diagram; those are the documentation for Future Gadget 13: The Temporal Anomaly Detector! Kurisu will kill me if something happens to those!
Bracing myself, I stand, approaching the girl, and growl out, "A very important project that someone special to me has put a lot of hard work into. I would appreciate it if you would return it, Akemi-san." Children are generally receptive to shows of anger, and frankly I do not want her thinking she can just break into my Lab--or get Daru to let her in, for that matter. The old Future Gadget Lab may have been more-or-less safe for children, but there's actually dangerous equipment here now, with the work Kurisu has been doing.
She just nods, skimming the documents, apparently completely unbothered by my attempt at intimidation. Really, am I so pitiful that even a child isn't scared of me?
"I did some digging into your background. I don't recall having met you, before, and I wondered why you were in my father's circle of friends: Junko Kaname occupies a position of substantial importance at the New Beginnings company, Soichirou Mikuni was a billionaire CEO until his business crashed overnight under mysterious circumstances less than a month ago, Kayaba Akihiko is a coworker and technological genius, and you…seem to just be a normal man, still studying in university, with no great wealth or influence. Unimportant." Her analysis bores into me almost as much as her gaze does, tearing apart my ego with a cruelty I usually expect from Kurisu--only, this is not banter. She's simply stating the facts.
I wince, in spite of myself, "You don't have to--" She ruthlessly cuts me off.
"Rintaro Okabe, that is. So I looked into Hououin Kyouma next. I found some internet posts from a few years ago, talking about John Titor, the supposed Time Traveler, and his theorems. Odd, but not notable. So, why would my Father be invested in you?"
She raises a good point, and one I would love to have an answer to. Unfortunately, I do not know why he chose to invite me to join his Pathfinder campaign--only that, as of this loop, we have been associates for a number of years, following an online encounter that developed into a passing friendship.
A strange coincidence, as I had never spoken to him except to question him about the Akemi myth of the True Clock until this loop, and rarely at that.
Fortunately, I have an answer that will suffice, and will surely drive her off for the moment.
"Do you not understand, Child of Clocks?! I am Hououin Kyouma, Mad Scientist! Chaos incarnate, the incarnation of Anarchy who transgressed upon Steins;Gate, in accordance with its will! BWAHAHAHA!" Throwing my arms wide, I hurl my head back, laughing as I always have, and know I will for the rest of my days.
"Explain." I finish laughing, then look down to where Homura Akemi is standing directly in front of me, eyes locked with mine.
A shiver goes up my spine. I've seen those eyes before. Not looking at Takeshi, no--looking in the mirror, in those unending days. That's where I've seen those eyes.
"What happened to you?" I can't help asking, though I can hear my voice shaking as I do. I never wanted to see those eyes again, and certainly not on a child's face. She didn't look like this at session--or no, maybe I wasn't looking for it properly, even if she was odd--but the dead cold in her eyes is all too obvious now.
The girl doesn't answer, but something subtle softens in her expression as she stares into my own face. I wonder if I still have those eyes, if you look close enough? I can't see it, but maybe others can. I hope not.
She takes me by the arm, and pulls me over to my sofa--well, Kurisu's, technically--with surprising strength, "Sit down. Now, tell me; what is Steins;Gate?" She sits down, and I join her, feeling awkward.
I stare at her, feeling my lips twitch upwards slightly, "It doesn't mean anything, Akemi-san. It's just a silly word I made up."
"You're lying. Whatever it is, it means something to you." I want to protest that it really is just a meaningless word, but she's not wrong, either. Not really. Steins;Gate was both the will that guided me to that perfect worldline where everyone lived, and the name my future self gave to it. A dream, and a destiny enforced by my own will. Thinking about it that way, I suppose I was, in some sense, Steins;Gate myself.
"It's where you truly wish to be, and the will that guides you there." I answer, pruning out anything too revealing, but getting the point across. Maybe it will help her with whatever has happened to her.
She nods, "I see. Steins;Gate, huh?" Her lips quirk upwards, clearly pleased, although I cannot truly say why. Perhaps she merely likes the name. "You reached it, then? Your Steins;Gate?"
I nod, hesitantly, "I did. It took more struggle than I can describe, but I got there, eventually."
She stands, walking towards the open window to my great concern, "I'll be back, Kyouma-san. I wish to find out how you reached your Steins;Gate, and what your current objective is, but you've given me much to consider. I think--" She pauses for a moment, then looks over her shoulder at me, "I think we could perhaps be friends."
With that, she leaps clear out the window, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I rush over immediately, of course, thrusting my head out as I look down in search of her body, then upwards to see if she has somehow grabbed on to something and begun climbing, but she seems to be entirely gone.
I should perhaps tell Takeshi about this, but, honestly, he would never believe me. No, better to keep this quiet, for now, and see what comes of it.
I would like to know where she got those eyes. Perhaps it's time to do some investigating.
"Back off!" Sayaka throws herself forward, blade swinging up to defend you as you're sent sprawling, her legs set firmly and determination strong in her form.
Our adversary shows not an ounce of mercy, kicking the girl in the stomach and launching her to crash into you where you lay.
You make it to a knee in time to catch her, though, and leap back to set her on her feet, barely holding on to your sword as you do so.
"Good! You won't stand a chance alone, so keep your allies in play where you can." Miho says as she charges, already closing in to press the attack, but you duck under her swing and try to close as Sayaka's sword parries her mother's strike.
Unfortunately, the elder Miki sidesteps around your attack, and brings her sword back around with surprising control from the parry, forcing Sayaka to backpedal and allowing her to bring her weapon neatly down on your neck from behind, only just tapping your throat to indicate your defeat.
You drop your weapon and abandon the field to watch as Miho thrashes Sayaka with almost casual ease.
The training--which Sayaka was dragged in for the end of--done, the three of you settle in in the living room to recover, Sayaka wincing a bit as she sits down, "Okay, training armor's great, but it doesn't do a thing for the muscle strain, and some of those landings were rough. You sure you can't go a bit easy on us, Mom?"
You almost expect a laugh, but instead you get a solemn shake of the head from Miho, "No, Sayaka. You may not always have a sword on you--although I still hope you're carrying that baton I bought you?" Sayaka nods impatiently, apparently having heard this often, "Good. You may not always have a sword, or even a weapon, but knowing how to handle yourself in a fight is essential. It takes only one person with ill intentions to end your life, and there are plenty of them in the world." Her hand, clutched around a glass of iced tea, shakes slightly, and you hope she doesn't shatter it.
'Those words,' you think, 'Come from first-hand experience.'
"Mrs. Miki, would you mind if I asked you something personal?" You ask, leaning on formality a bit to give her a clean opening to refuse.
She stiffens a bit, but shakes her head, "No, that's fine, Homura-chan." She turns her eyes to focus on yours, flicks them down slightly, breaking eye contact, then back up again.
Sayaka looks at you wide-eyed, drawing a finger across her throat in a silent warning, but you push through.
"What happened, to make you worry so much?" You ask, taking a less slightly indirect approach to lessen the pressure of the question.
She pauses, then heaves a sigh, "Well, I suppose the two of you are old enough for me to just tell you. When I was right around your age, I was attacked on the way home from school--a man cornered me with a knife, intending to kidnap me, and he ended up stabbing me as I tried to escape. I don't know if he was actually trying to kill me, or if he just panicked, but either way, I was left bleeding out alone on the side of the road."
You share a look with a wide-eyed Sayaka, who clearly has never heard this story before.
"In the end, someone found me and saved my life, and we became friends, but I promised myself I'd never make someone else save me like that again, so I took up kendo, and the rest is history."
You want to ask more, but Miho stands suddenly, stretching, "Anyway, that's enough for one night. You girls get some rest."
Sweeping the hand which carries your self through the air, the purple light of your soul flaring, a rift opens up in the depths of Mitakihara City Park, where the trees are thickest and the sunlight does not reach.
You leap in without hesitation, mundane reality vanishing as you enter the Witch's Barrier. It's, once you're inside--the lightless abstract forest, alien in the way all Witch Barriers are, where your footsteps leave glowing footprints in your passing, and each step you take upon the ground is announced by the loud crunch of broken leaves. You've killed this Witch many times over the years, although you've never figured out her exact weakness, at least not that you remember. You suppose you never really tried.
"You should, these girls have their own stories we should remember."
"I'll give it a shot, for you, but I'm here for Seeds, not stories."
"Those hurt too much, huh?"
You ignore Kyouko's snark pointedly, and turn your attention firmly to the Barrier.
You can see nothing here, at first glance, except for faint outlines of trees cast by the distant flashlights and torches of the Witch's familiars as they hunt for you.
This Barrier, however, is uniquely ill-suited to threatening you, as their searching is inevitably in vain, as you simply stop time in bursts to avoid the guards, and rush through the barrier with all the tremendous speed of a Puella Magus holding nothing back, a brilliant purple light flaring from your Soul Gem and illuminating the area as you leap and bound across ground and tree and branch, the world becoming a blur of motion that your magically enhanced brain and senses nevertheless process with ease.
Deeper and deeper into the woods you venture, searching for the Witch you know hides here in the shadows, where the lights never reach.
Eventually, you find her, skulking behind one of the trees, somehow fully concealed by it in spite of dwarfing the great oak. She makes not a single sound, even as she tears rivets into the wood.
The titanic faceless humanoid shrinks back from your light for a moment, stiffening as her head turns around, seemingly searching the area in spite of her apparent blindness, then lunges at you, her talon-like fingers making not a sound as they tear through the trees and leaves and earth, footsteps leaving only darkness, in sharp contrast to the shining marks you have left in your passing.
Her claws rake towards you, and you know from experience that they'll tear through your regalia like paper, if they hit, thanks to the tremendous raw strength of this Witch.
Rather than trying to block such a thing with your shield, you instead simply leap backwards out of the path of the first swipe, then forward and over the follow up with the other hand, placing yourself quickly in the air over the Witch's head.
In an instant, one of your rocket launchers is in your hands. This Witch is a nightmare in extended combat, able to vanish smoothly into the darkness and pick Magical Girls off with hit-and-run tactics, but she has one massive weakness--she is very fragile, by the standards of Witches, and a single well-placed rocket can end her cleanly.
You take careful aim, the Witch below already whirling up to face you, and fire the rocket without hesitation, sending the explosive projectile hurtling down at her with tremendous speed and precision.
She tries to dodge with her frankly uncanny speed--you've seen her dodge these before, and have paid for it--but she's too slow to respond this loop, taking the rocket directly to her featureless "face."
Thrashing silently, the Witch's form dissolves into the darkness before you as the barrier fades away without a sound, leaving only a Grief Seed, sitting abandoned in the grass of the forest.
You don't see the body. It will likely not be found for some time, if it was left somewhere in these woods--it may have been destroyed, or be inside of the Seed still, for all you know.
"Well, at least we got the seed. I want to figure out her story next time, though."
"I did try, but…what do we know? She Witched in a forest? Perhaps she was being chased, considering she hides herself even now."
You get a feeling of frustration from Kyouko, "Maybe? I feel like we're missing something, but…eh, we'll get another look around next time."
"My best friend is an idiot. Well, one of them, at least. The one who constantly ticks me off. He runs into things when he shouldn't, and thinks with his heart more than his brain half the time.
It's infuriating, and I have to deal with it all the time, but that's friendship for you. It's not easy. You'll hurt each other, and abandon each other sometimes, and you'll want to throw them away for it.
The most important thing about being a good friend is simply not doing that. You're going to have to forgive a lot. You don't have to just take it, of course--get your own hits in, make sure they know how you feel, and know you won't back down--but fighting back is not the same as giving up.
Be strong for them, and try to come through the other side of crisis stronger and closer, rather than weaker and further apart. That's what it takes, even when it hurts.
If they do the same thing for you, when you're the one that messed up? Then you've got a real friend you can count on. If they don't, then you may not have a friend at all."
Target Mami with a Social Action to advance her Social Link!
Creative Actions
Heart Surgery Spell Research
Base "Heart Surgery" Spell Research DC: 25
Ambition DC Increase: 25
Final "Heart Surgery" Spell Research DC: 50
Rolled (62) + 5 = 67 | Success!
Prototype - Heartmaker
School: Puella Magus
Cost: 15 Magic
A spell that uses Medical Expertise to remodel the heart into one that works perfectly and will persist as a mundane organ after the spell has run its course. As it is creating an organ which operates perfectly within the rules of mundane reality, the creation of this spell requires the Medical Expertise of a heart surgeon.
Development DC: 100
Special Prerequisite: Medical 75
Sleep Actions
Research Training
Research (37/60) > Rolled (26) + 50 > (113/60) > Level Up! > (53/65)
Research 12 > 13
Homura spends 1 Charge from the Grief Seed of Sachiel to reduce Grief from 845 to 0.
Item Acquired: Flashy Dress
[Texts and Emails]
[Madoka]
Madoka: "I got Azumi to agree to meet with us! It's online, so we should be able to do it while you're overseas if you want! Just let me know when you're ready!
Homura: "Thank you for looking into her. I'll let you know."
Madoka: "In the mean time, I'm going to see if I can't lure Kyouko into some vigilantism, maybe try to quietly heal some people."
[Kyouko]
Kyouko: "Madoka told me she needed a hand with something. A little suspicious, but…eh, it's hard to say no to her."
Homura: "Trust me, I know."
[Ruki]
Ruki: "Getting back to work on Yamato!"
[Snow]
Snow: "Don't forget to text me whenever you head off to Britain, or if you need help at all."
[Arcana Magi, Requests, and Akemi Madness]
If you wish to perform an Action as a different Arcana Magi (Kyouko, for now), simply add the following subvote to the action:
-[ ] Arcana - Kyouko
If you wish to Request help from another character(s) for an action, add the following subvote to the action:
-[ ] Request - (Character Names)
If you wish to use Akemi Madness for an action, add the following subvote to the action:
-[ ] Akemi Madness
[Available Characters]
The following characters you can contact for Requests. Keep in mind that Alllies will expect a Favor in return, while Friends will help as long as they have time and are willing. You do not get information on willingness and availability prior to the vote, due to the amount of complexity this would add to the process. Social Links values are listed here--multiply these by 10 to determine the size of the die they will roll when assisting with an Action.
Keep in mind some characters may not be suitable for some Actions--Homura will simply not involve a mundane individual in magical combat, for example, unless there are extraordinary circumstances. If you really feel the need to involve someone in something they normally should not be (like involving Miho Miki in a Witch Hunt, or anything Magical), please include a justification as a subvote, for mine and Homura's consideration.
Friends
Madoka Kaname : 10
Sayaka Miki : 5
Kyouko Sakura : 4
Mami Tomoe : 2
Ruki Shironome : 4
Miho Miki : 3
Yuma Chitose : 1
Junko Kaname : 2
Hououin Kyouma : 2
Allies
Nanoha Takamachi : 2
Rose : 1
Freya : 1
Akane : 1
Oriko : 3
Kirika : 2
Snow : 2
Clovis Britannia : 2
[Investigative Actions: 2] Mysteries
[ ] Friends? (598/2000) [Madoka]
"Igor claims there are 14 special friends I need to find. I should try to find more of them…and maybe find out how they're my friends if I don't know them."
"I did experience a strange connection to Nagisa when I met her, and she's apparently "The Death."
"I have a strange memory of Matoko, which led me to her Barrier. She was clearly older--in her late teens, I'd say--and I'd swear I was the same age, in that moment. It's impossible, but the memory remains."
"I encountered Yuma Chitose, and she has appeared among the list of Arcana Magi in the Velvet Room, as the Wheel of Fortune."
[ ] Black Cats (Progress 0/500)
"There have been a tremendous number of black cats seen throughout the city. That's never been the case before."
"One appeared in the road where Amy would normally be run over. It seemed hostile, and its presence forced me to reveal magic to Madoka."
[ ] Igor's Contract (Progress 0/1000)
"I don't remember signing any Contract with Igor, but he insists I did."
[ ] Attack on Mami's Apartment (Progress 0/1000)
"A massive dog monster and an immortal titan attacked us at Mami's home while we were asleep and Mami was unconscious. Their strength was absurd, and the timing suspicious. The dog is missing and the titan is trapped inside a Witch's Barrier."
"We found a tuft of short black hair where the dog monster was last seen. I thought it was white, but maybe it had some black on it or could change its color."
[ ] False Memories (121/200)
"I have doubled memories of my first meeting with Weiss. I'm sure there are probably others I haven't noticed yet, too. Maybe if I can recognize them, I can figure out more about this strange timeline?"
"I got in touch with Clovis Britannia, apparently a childhood friend as well. His family's background seems to mesh poorly with the rest of history, suggesting he is an artificial addition, rather than someone that's supposed to be in this timeline."
[ ] A Missing Memory (0/1000)
"When I was talking to Igor, there was a memory that I couldn't find. It was something about selfishness? The Devil? What could have happened?"
[ ] Akemi Madness (199/500)
"There's a strange inherited insanity in our family. It's always been a fact of life before, but others seem scared by it. Maybe I should try to find out more? Looking into our family's history should be a good place to start."
"My Father apparently knows something about this. Meeting with him might help me make some headway, too." (You can spend a Social Action with Takeshi Akemi for a Clue)
[ ] Unknown Caller (0/100)
Voicemail Message: "I'd like to discuss a potential business arrangement. You can find us in Pluto's heart. I'll be in town for a while. Witches are not invited."
"Who sent this, and how did they find me? What do they want? They apparently know about Magi, at least. Pluto's Heart might be somewhere in the Meiosei District."
Districts
[ ] Mokusei, The Business District
[ ] Suisei, The Shopping District
[ ] Tennousei, The Upper End District
[ ] Meiosei, The Underworld District
[ ] Kaiousei, The Docks District
[ ] Ansoku, The Suburbs
[ ] Kasei, The Historic District
[ ] Iriguchi, The Hanging Gardens District
[ ] Dosei, The Technology District
-Ansoku-
[ ] Madoka's House
[ ] Sayaka's Apartment (Home)
[ ] Ruins of Mami's Apartment
[ ] Matoko's House
[ ] Mitakihara Middle School
[ ] Mitakihara High School
-Kasei-
[ ] Homura's Apartment (Residents: Kyouko and Mami)
[ ] The Akemi Workshop
[ ] Miyazaki Books (126/300)
"It's a very excellent bookstore, which seems to have books on some sort of Magical System."
"We encountered a dying Familiar just outside, although we couldn't find what killed it."
-Iriguchi- [ ] The Hanging Gardens of Mitakihara (Homura Refuses)
-Dosei-
[ ] Cronus' Electronics
People
[ ] The Military Magi
"I've met some of them, but only some, and I know little of their abilities."
[ ] Nanoha
"I have some idea of how she got here, but there may be information she's not sharing, or is not aware of."
[Home Actions: 2]
[ ] Social: Sayaka
[ ] Social: Miho Miki
[ ] Special: Play SAO with Sayaka and Miho Miki
[ ] Training: Help Sayaka Train
[ ] Training: Melee
-[ ] With Sayaka
-[ ] With Miho Miki (Bonus: Sword Specialist Training)
[Mission Actions: 1]
[ ] Go Shopping
-[ ] Shopping List
[ ] Go Thieving
-[ ] Thieving List
-[ ] Target Location
[ ] Witch Hunt (Roll 1d10. On a 1, no Witch is found. On a 10, it's a strong Witch and a Miniturn begins.)
[ ] Attempt to repair the Akemi Workshop Clocktower. (Roll Engineering or (Clocksmithing + 20))
[ ] A Royal Invitation (Will involve leaving Mitakihara for several days. The crown is providing a private jet.)
-[ ] Choose 1 Puella Magus to join you.
[ ] Write-In (Subject to QM Approval, Cannot Overlap with other Action Types.)
[Creative Actions: 1] Applicable available resources will be used automatically.
Craft Actions
[ ] Craft Something (Appropriate Craft Roll Required)
-[ ] Product Type (Clock, Gun, Etcetera)
--[ ] Ambition (1-20; Higher Ambition produces a better product, but sets a higher DC.)
--[ ] Rough Description
-[ ] Special Product
--[ ] Exact Product Description. (Ambition will be decided by QM. Some products may fail automatically.)
Magic Actions
[ ] Spell Development (Development Roll Required)
-[ ] Existing Prototype Name or Spell Description (Broader descriptions are more likely to produce easily developed Spells.)
[ ] Spell Usage
-[ ] Spell(s)
-[ ] Action.
-[ ] Reason for action.
[ ] Attempt to perform a Magical Working. (Magical Theory Roll Required)
-[ ] Working Objective. (Ambition will be decided by QM. Some workings may fail automatically.)
Research Actions
[ ] Research a Theoretical Crafting Product
-[ ] Product Type (Clock, Gun, Etcetera)
--[ ] Ambition (1-20; Higher Ambition produces a better product, but sets a higher DC.)
--[ ] Rough Description.
-[ ] Special Product
--[ ] Exact Product Description.
[ ] Research a Theoretical Spell
-[ ] Spell Purpose
-[ ] Ambition (1-20; Higher Ambition produces a better product, but sets a higher DC.)
[ ] Research a Theoretical Magical Working
-[ ] Working Objective.
Grand Undertakings
[ ] The Restoration of the Yamato (0/500) [Ruki]
[Training Actions: 1] Applicable available resources will be used automatically. Students may refuse lessons if they are busy, or don't know you well.
[ ] Train a Skill
-[ ] Skill
[ ] Train someone else in a Skill.
-[ ] Skill
-[ ] Student
[Sleep Actions: 4]
[ ] Sleep (Gain 20 + Modifiers Sanity)
[ ] Write-In Action of another Type (Cost: 20 Sanity)
Ok, I didn't comment on it for whatever reason I can't remember the last turn, but the lack of rollover on socials is killing me. Is there a reason I missed for why you're not allowing overflow for socials but do for training skills and such? I may be missing something obvious 'cause I'm spitting this out quick before getting some sleep I should've got hours ago, but yeah.
