Shards of a Broken Sun [Megaten/Shugo Chara/Exalted]

[Nero200]

This is well outside what I'd imagined anybody pulling at this stage, but it works within the mechanics I've outlined, and it would do… something. It's also a potential three-point stunt, if you refine it a bit, because wow

I can't guarantee the outcome, but I can guarantee it'll be dramatic.

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Refine hm?
And you said to vote for the better story, so here we go!

Screw it.

[X] Plan: Dream Again

@Nero200 I'd suggest trying to say something to Saaya at some point during that. Explanation, reassurance... something, at least, before trying a mental attack.

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Seems like a good idea in general, to try and explain.
Update to plan!
[X] Plan: Dream Again
Saaya is calling both herself and Amu monsters. Possibly because she remembers her time as Himamori Dream, in addition to her own powers lashing out. Which means she can theoretically access those powers. She needs the 'jumpstart' that Amu had, those two years ago.

- [X] When Amu thinks Saaya will be able to actually hear her: "Saaya, I know you don't want to hear from me right now, or probably ever, but we don't have time. I've given you what I got, back when I was first learning about all this. The day we met, actually. The Lock is going to give you control, help you, and I'm going to try and lend you my power as well. I don't want you to die Saaya. I'm sorry for what's happened, but we are in this together now. If you can, remember that I was trying to help, when you Dreamt last."
-- [X] This isn't the best speech, and that should work in our favour. Saaya will hopefully be able to tell that we aren't using UMI or reading her mind, that this is just plain old human speech.

- [X] Remove the Humpty Lock, and loop it around the unresponsive Saaya's neck. It will boost her resistance further, yes, but that's what we want. Push her hazy partial immunity into the full bloom of Psionics, to bring clarity to the confusion, while giving her back the skills she is so scared of someone else using on her.
-- [X] If she isn't moving even after that, then we will have to take a wider view. Attack her one last time, mentally, to force her to defend herself. Not with full power, but enough to force her to react and wake up.
-- [X] If she is the cause of the rift, then her control should be improved enough to fix it.
--- [X] The Lock took the brunt of this rifts rebound earlier when we looked at it, so we are going to need to lend our power to Saaya.
She's going to need it. Tap every reserve available, including Willpower. Saaya's powers are likely based on ours to a large extent, she should be compatible if we fuel the Lock rather than transferring directly to her.

How about making a hold in the floor and go that way.

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I'm all for Plan Dream being incorporated, but I don't think Saaya can leave without this thing reacting at the moment. It's focused on her and Amu, running seems like a trap.

 

[PistachioCookies]

Okay, so plan "chuck a desk through the wall" is not a good idea as long as there are still people there.

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I'd think it would be pretty safe so long as Amu picked the section of wall closest to 1-A's exterior wall. That would be the corner of 1-A and there really shouldn't be anybody there if they are all busy evacuating.

This plan is essentially the only action I can think of to make Saaya actually trust Amu.

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This is also not the "guaranteed success" method, if Baughn wasn't expecting it and we're getting dice for it. It's also high-risk. If it fails, we might not be able to use the Humpty Lock for the upcoming fight.

Is the reward really worth the risk, given the alternative of just grabbing her and legging it and sorting out her issues later?

It's focused on her and Amu, running seems like a trap.

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Running is difficulty 1. Doesn't seem likely.

 

[Skelm]

I really don't like the idea of giving up the Humpty Lock. Whether or not it would work, I just don't think resolving Saaya's issues right now is worth that. We don't have to stay here! We don't have to fight whatever comes through! We've been specifically advised not to do that!

Okay, so plan "chuck a desk through the wall" is not a good idea as long as there are still people there.

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How do you feel about

[X] Escape, with Saaya
-[X] Tear a hole in the wall with telekinesis, scoop up Saaya, and run for the exit!

(Repeating my old vote here)
[X] Escape, with Saaya
-[X] Throw a desk through the nearest wall, scoop up Saaya, and run for the exit!

 

[Embler]

We've told all the people nearby to evacuate, there really shouldn't be anybody on the other side of these walls. Keep it simple, stupid. Hit the wall really hard and leave.

 

[Baughn]

Running is difficulty 1. Doesn't seem likely.

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Running is guaranteed to succeed. Doing so without further harming Saaya is difficulty 1. Although, fairly obviously, if you run then you're leaving this vortex to do whatever it wants in the middle of a school.

It's been two minutes since it started opening.

 

[PistachioCookies]

@Baughn - Which classroom was Tadase in? 1-C or 1-A? Also, what does Amu know about what Saaya's been doing since the beginning of middle school?

 

[Baughn]

@Baughn - Which classroom was Tadase in? 1-C or 1-A? Also, what does Amu know about what Saaya's been doing since the beginning of middle school?

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Tadase is in 1-A, along with Nagihiko.

Amu hasn't paid very much attention to Saaya. The girl got a lot quieter after her encounter with Lulu, and didn't really make a nuisance of herself anymore. That trend continued into middle school. To the degree Amu thought about her, she hoped that maybe Saaya had given up on bothering her.

If you want a better point of view, I refer you to the video I posted earlier. It's amazing, actually; every single line is relevant.

 

[PistachioCookies]

Tadase is in 1-A, along with Nagihiko.

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If Tadase is there, the risk of accidentally hurting anyone by breaking the wall drops dramatically, since he'll probably be able to defend them. On the other hand, your comment about the rift eating the school makes me think Kukai upstairs might not be so lucky.

But the same comment also implies that if we stay, there IS a chance of shutting down the rift. Most likely by fighting whatever comes through, rather than just helping Saaya, since the listed option to convince Saaya indicates that we would still need to fight, even if we fully succeeded at getting her up and on our side.

I guess that's the big reward for staying and recruiting Saaya - we get a shot at shutting the thing down here and now.

That might justify the risk of losing the Humpty Lock.

Is there any chance you could say how easily Amu would be able to break through the wall behind without transforming? If running without helping Saaya is a guaranteed success, could we take it that she has enough telekinetic might to break the wall without the Humpty Lock?

 

[Baughn]

Is there any chance you could say how easily Amu would be able to break through the wall behind without transforming?

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It would take her about half a minute. Not to break a hole in the wall, but to widen it enough to make passage safe and reasonably easy.

I guess that's the big reward for staying and recruiting Saaya - we get a shot at shutting the thing down here and now.

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No, but you do get that as well.

 

[PistachioCookies]

What about how long it would take for her to transform, break the wall while boosted and then de-transform? Would that also take Willpower?

 

[Baughn]

What about how long it would take for her to transform, break the wall while boosted and then de-transform? Would that also take Willpower?

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Yes. …and approximately the same time. It becomes a problem of overpenetration.

I think you might be suffering a misconception, however. Amu doesn't need the locket in order to transform. It makes it easier, because it makes everything easier, but the transformation is her own doing.

Yes, in practice she uses them in combination. She doesn't absolutely have to.

The transformation is a power stunt, emphasis on stunt. In practice, it's-

- The locket. This is what raises all her psionic skills by one. Using it costs a point of willpower.

- The transformation. This is <spoiler>, and <spoiler>s her for the duration, but the net effect is to give her a bonus on the specific acts her charas are/were good at. It also costs 1WP.

- Used together, the combination costs… 1WP. You get a discount because <spoilers>. You do not get +2 on overlapping skills.

 

[PistachioCookies]

Amu doesn't need the locket in order to transform. It makes it easier, because it makes everything easier, but the transformation is her own doing.

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But without the lock, she doesn't get the skill boost even if she does, does she? Ah yes, just saw your edit.

No, but you do get that as well.

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I mean, other than having a healthy Saaya. Though some might just question how much a reward that actually is.

 

[Baughn]

But without the lock, she doesn't get the skill boost even if she does, does she?

I mean, other than having a healthy Saaya. Though some might just question how much a reward that actually is.

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Edited in an answer.

And who knows, when it comes to Saaya? She's a complete brat, but she's also twelve. This would also be the second time you've rescued her.

 

[PistachioCookies]

@Nero200 - What do you think about having Amu transform before draining her Willpower dry feeding the lock? I assume the transformation should stick around for the upcoming fight, even if Amu had no Willpower left.

 

[Quickshot0]

Yes. …and approximately the same time. It becomes a problem of overpenetration.

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That seems a bit weird to me, transformations are near instant in actual real world practice and it shouldn't take her that long to get a wall down I'd think... Unless you mean one would need a properly worded stunt to make the power usage less wasteful.

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Also not to sure one really wants to power up Saaya, I guess it's easy to forget with all the mess and troubles and so, but Amu thought from her mental touches with her that she isn't really a good person... and with that kind of basis to work from, she probably isn't. I can't help but be a little concerned about a not all that good a person getting actual psychic powers, wouldn't be the first time that such a person turns out to be a bit of a hypocrit. Certainly Saaya in the past was not the nicest when she thought she had some level of power/influence.

 

[Baughn]

That seems a bit weird to me, transformations are near instant in actual real world practice and it shouldn't take her that long to get a wall down I'd think... Unless you mean one would need a properly worded stunt to make the power usage less wasteful.

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Amu isn't short on power, and the drywall isn't particularly strong, but it does contain reinforcement beams and electrical cables that make holes a bit risky. She can't simply blast open a larger one, because it might hit someone on the other side. Tadase could block that, but doesn't know he needs to, and Amu isn't practiced enough with telepathy to talk with anyone who isn't actively cooperating. Not if she intends to get across something more complex than "stop being a ball!", at any rate.

The transformation would give her a bit more power and finesse, which speeds the process up… by a couple of seconds. The transformation itself is fast, but not actually instant. It ends up being a wash.

You can try to prod Tadase and hope he gets the idea, I suppose, but that's definitely risky.

 

[Quine]

Man, it's so weird being on this side this time.

Plan Dream Again is so damn risky. I'm usually the one helplessly trying to get other people to acknowledge risks they dismiss out of hand. This time, I'm voting for the riskiest plan proposed, and not because I'm missing the risks. We could lose the Humpty Lock permanently if this goes bad enough.

But Plan Dream Again is highly empathetic. Instead of just trying to stuff our feelings down Saaya's brain, we show with our actions that we really do care. We take her seriously. We do our best to give Saaya the power to face her fears, at personal risk, even though she's been frankly awful to us. If things go right, Saaya might become an important foil for Amu, and help her grow in ways she doesn't yet realize she needs to grow. Ways she might not grow for years otherwise.

I really hope this works.

 

[Nero200]

@Nero200 - What do you think about having Amu transform before draining her Willpower dry feeding the lock? I assume the transformation should stick around for the upcoming fight, even if Amu had no Willpower left.

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I'd be worried about it locking the Lock to Amu. The transformation with it tends to use it as a centre piece. If it can be used and then passed off, then sure.

Also not to sure one really wants to power up Saaya, I guess it's easy to forget with all the mess and troubles and so, but Amu thought from her mental touches with her that she isn't really a good person... and with that kind of basis to work from, she probably isn't. I can't help but be a little concerned about a not all that good a person getting actual psychic powers, wouldn't be the first time that such a person turns out to be a bit of a hypocrit. Certainly Saaya in the past was not the nicest when she thought she had some level of power/influence.

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Saaya was a brat of a kid, and then got traumatised and mentally attacked for months, while having all her concerns ignored.

In her favour, she is currently telling Amu to leave. Not to stay and face whatever is happening / she's involved in.
She's not trying for revenge or to get Amu involved in danger, she just... wants to be left alone to possibly die, rather than be hurt more by UMI.
It's tragic that she's been pushed this far into a corner, and feels she has no way out other than just probably dying to this thing.

That's the sort of person that deserves a chance.

But Plan Dream Again is highly empathetic. Instead of just trying to stuff our feelings down Saaya's brain, we show with our actions that we really do care. We take her seriously. We do our best to give Saaya the power to face her fears, at personal risk, even though she's been frankly awful to us. If things go right, Saaya might become an important foil for Amu, and help her grow in ways she doesn't yet realize she needs to grow. Ways she might not grow for years otherwise.

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Yeah. Saaya has been hurt by Amu (and Easter and Lulu, but Amu is the one here now), and been left questioning reality. Trying to make that right seems like the 'Right choice', and it also puts Amu on a path to realising the damage she can unknowingly cause.
Which, you know. Ethically good for Amu to be aware of the collateral she's been causing.

 

[Quickshot0]

Saaya was a brat of a kid, and then got traumatised and mentally attacked for months, while having all her concerns ignored.

In her favour, she is currently telling Amu to leave. Not to stay and face whatever is happening / she's involved in.
She's not trying for revenge or to get Amu involved in danger, she just... wants to be left alone to possibly die, rather than be hurt more by UMI.
It's tragic that she's been pushed this far into a corner, and feels she has no way out other than just probably dying to this thing.

That's the sort of person that deserves a chance.

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Maybe, though I'm not fully convinced that this is really the whole reason for it.

Regardless of what the case is though, I think I'd just prefer the far safer and more sure option of evacuating with her as we were very strongly advised to do. Getting fancy up front and exhausting all resources on something with a good chance of failure and then leaving us much more vulnerable to any problem the portal might throw up... with her and Amu possibly dying or being heavily injured for it. So can't say I favor it. There are times and places for things and in my opinion this really isn't the time and place for this.

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[X] Escape, with Saaya
-[X] Tear a hole in the wall with telekinesis, scoop up Saaya, and run for the exit!

I'll go with this for now I guess, though we probably should write a stunt up for it. Kind of favor the idea of possibly transforming in case making the hole doesn't go fast enough and we need to turn around and fight something off.

 

[Nero200]

Maybe, though I'm not fully convinced that this is really the whole reason for it.

Regardless of what the case is though, I think I'd just prefer the far safer and more sure option of evacuating with her as we were very strongly advised to do. Getting fancy up front and exhausting all resources on something with a good chance of failure and then leaving us much more vulnerable to any problem the portal might throw up... with her and Amu possibly dying or being heavily injured for it. So can't say I favor it. There are times and places for things and in my opinion this really isn't the time and place for this.

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[X] Escape, with Saaya
-[X] Tear a hole in the wall with telekinesis, scoop up Saaya, and run for the exit!

I'll go with this for now I guess, though we probably should write a stunt up for it. Kind of favor the idea of possibly transforming in case making the hole doesn't go fast enough and we need to turn around and fight something off.

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We have Lulu calling people to get backup to us, plus Tadase and Kukuri if need be.

Moving Amu and Saaya seems like it's going to cause this rift to trigger, and that likely has negative implications for the classroom above us, and the surrounding area depending on what exactly is coming through.

You have a point on resources though, it might be better to alter the plan to just be 'fuel as needed' rather than immediately dump everything.

EDIT: This is assuming Saaya even can be moved. She bit Amu the last time she tried, she might just pull out Himamori Dream telekinesis to fight Amu off if she tries again.

 

[Quine]

Oh, gotta repost my vote to pick up the edited plan.

[X] Plan: Dream Again

EDIT: nope, that didn't work. I think @Nero200 might have to edit out the first version.

 

[Quickshot0]

Moving Amu and Saaya seems like it's going to cause this rift to trigger, and that likely has negative implications for the classroom above us, and the surrounding area depending on what exactly is coming through.

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Well I understand why you think this, though I suspect that the rift is fairly static and is already busy triggering anyway. If I were to guess, it probably won't follow them or anything like that either, not when it took so long to form here. Also Lulu didn't note that as an option really.

Though I guess one could form the hole first and then bail out with Saaya instead, better to create the path then juggling carrying and creating at the same time.


PS, I suspect it is the Humpty Lock that is keeping damage away from Amu. Though it is possible that it needs Amu being able to use it to be some what effective at doing so, in which case her briefly drawing on it when first cautiously trying to contain the portal would be what's keeping the effect up.

 

[Nero200]

Oh, gotta repost my vote to pick up the edited plan.

[X] Plan: Dream Again

EDIT: nope, that didn't work. I think @Nero200 might have to edit out the first version.

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I'll just repost the whole vote, if that works?
[X] Plan: Dream Again
Saaya is calling both herself and Amu monsters. Possibly because she remembers her time as Himamori Dream, in addition to her own powers lashing out. Which means she can theoretically access those powers. She needs the 'jumpstart' that Amu had, those two years ago.
- [X] When Amu thinks Saaya will be able to actually hear her: "Saaya, I know you don't want to hear from me right now, or probably ever, but we don't have time. I've given you what I got, back when I was first learning about all this. The day we met, actually. The Lock is going to give you control, help you, and I'm going to try and lend you my power as well. I don't want you to die Saaya. I'm sorry for what's happened, but we are in this together now. If you can, remember that I was trying to help, when you Dreamt last."
-- [X] This isn't the best speech, and that should work in our favour. Saaya will hopefully be able to tell that we aren't using UMI or reading her mind, that this is just plain old human speech.
- [X] If it can be done and still remove the Lock after, transform before the next action.
- [X] Remove the Humpty Lock, and loop it around the unresponsive Saaya's neck. It will boost her resistance further, yes, but that's what we want. Push her hazy partial immunity into the full bloom of Psionics, to bring clarity to the confusion, while giving her back the skills she is so scared of someone else using on her.
-- [X] If she isn't moving even after that, then we will have to take a wider view. Attack her one last time, mentally, to force her to defend herself. Not with full power, but enough to force her to react and wake up.
-- [X] If she is the cause of the rift, then her control should be improved enough to fix it.
--- [X] The Lock took the brunt of this rifts rebound earlier when we looked at it, so we are going to need to lend our power to Saaya.
She's going to need it. Tap every reserve available, including Willpower. Saaya's powers are likely based on ours to a large extent, she should be compatible if we fuel the Lock rather than transferring directly to her.

Well I understand why you think this, though I suspect that the rift is fairly static and is already busy triggering anyway. If I were to guess, it probably won't follow them or anything like that either, not when it took so long to form here. Also Lulu didn't note that as an option really.

Though I guess one could form the hole first and then bail out with Saaya instead, better to create the path then juggling carrying and creating at the same time.


PS, I suspect it is the Humpty Lock that is keeping damage away from Amu. Though it is possible that it needs Amu being able to use it to be some what effective at doing so, in which case her briefly drawing on it when first cautiously trying to contain the portal would be what's keeping the effect up.

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I'm pretty sure that Saaya is the reason it's static at the moment.
She's mentally catatonic after telling Amu to run. That's pretty much a sure sign that she's holding it down until.
Well.
She dies to it.
Buying time for Amu to escape.

And yes, that's part of why I want the Lock transferred to Saaya. Saaya is currently the one holding it down / the cause of it, so boosting her power is the best way of applying our resources to solving this issue.

While also maybe helping a girl who was in part driven to passive suicide by Amu.
While is a very nice bonus to achieve, considering she's current willing to die.
(Saaya is twelve.)

 

[Baughn]

Is Amu good enough at Illusion to make a hole in the wall that she and Saaya can actually pass through?

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No. Interesting idea, though!

 

[Quine]

I'll just repost the whole vote, if that works?

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No, it still takes the first posted version for my vote.

I'll just do this instead, I guess:

[X] Nero200