"Yes, there are other Climbers besides you all. This is actually a rather strange event in general because the Ruler usually doesn't bring in as large an overall group as he did in this instance..." Musing but keeping any further thoughts to himself, the Climber gave out the bare minimum of information. "The other Climbers are already in the other side of the floor, and they are pretty easy to spot in a crowd at the least." Real informative, this man.
edited 4th Nov '17 8:30:30 PM by Makaioh
Did you know this section has a character limit?
Qrow - Arena
Well, shit.
Qrow knew that at this point he had two options. Without his weapon (even with it at this point, no ammo to recoil-boost with) he had no way of changing his flight path. So Taiga was gonna grab him, smash him to the ground, and pummel him until aura broke. Qrow could probably break out of his grip at some point, but he didn't know how low in aura he'd get before that happened. And how strong Taiga was now.
Except Qrow did have one way. The question was, did he want to? Revealing a secret in front a information dealer was not how he wanted this to go down. But who was here to exploit it? There was two girls who were teammates with a Silver-Eyed Warrior, and had been friend with a maiden candidate. Ruby was off looking for a rogue Fall Maiden, she'd have to be told about that at some point, and would she keep it a secret from her best friend and her sister?
Besides, Guts didn't seem like a blabbermouth, 2B had left, and he was pretty sure he could get Toph and the big guy to keep mum.
And if he didn't say it was a secret, Kage wouldn't know it was something to sell.
Taiga would probably be surprised when the flying man disappeared and a bird took it's place. The bird flapped once, sped right over Taiga's grasping hands, and became Qrow once more. He flipped in mid-air, hit the opposite cage wall with his feet, and launched himself at Taiga once more, lower this time. Qrow hoped his punch would hit a kidney, but if the yakuza-killer turned around, a crotch would do.
Both caused the type of pain to lay a strong man out, but hitting the kidney would mean Taiga would piss blood for a week.
Calamity is a housewife
Kirito, The Tower
I smirked as Uzume confirmed her ability to me. Guess I didn't have a reason to worry.
"Hehe, sounds like a pretty unorthodox name to me. I'll take your word for it."
With that, I looked to Samus, hoping she'd lead the frontline on our way through the gate.
Guts, Coliseum Bleachers - What wizardry is this?
The fight happening before him was certainly remarkable. The drunk proved to be more acrobatic than his drink earlier would've allowed. Even so, there was no need to contemplate on the competitors, until now.
The drunk disappeared, leaving his opponent grabbing at the air. Then he reappeared, in a different position, and already making a move. As a spectator, Guts' perspective of time slowed to a crawl, as his single eye widened, waiting to see what would transpire.
"Shake the dust." - Anis Mojgani
Samus Aran -Tower Gate—-> City Entrance
Hm, so there were more people than this group currently climbing the Tower. That would make collecting the money much easier, but she did wonder what would happen if multiple people reached the top of the Tower. Would everyone receive their wish, or would they have to fight over it? That seemed like something too far ahead in the future to think about, so she didn't bother asking a question. Taking Kirito's cue, though she hadn't actually intended to "lead" anyone anywhere, she stepped through the gate, cannon up and ready.
The street sh ended up on looked like something out of a history book to her. The cars and buildings were significantly older in style than the ones from the Earth colonies she'd seen. Her usual weapons were most likely overkill then. Samus lowered her arm cannon and looked around for anyone that didn't seem to belong here. Further down the street, there was what looked like a pointed eared woman in conversation with someone in an old black truck with a simple wheelchair in the back of it.
"That group stands out," she said, pointing out the truck with her hand this time. After waiting for the rest of the climbers to pass through the gate, Samus walked towards the truck.
Uzume & "Junko"- Tower
Okay, so they aren't in this alone. Should make the money collecting much easier.
Though, Junko was bothered by something
So, they stand out in a crowd... but didn't he say he was... well, that's not important right now.
"Alright, We'll get this money and reach to the top in a flash. Let's go!" Uzume said
"Well, doesn't look like I'll be allowed to leave anyways, so, eh, why the hell not?" Junko said
And with that, the two followed after Samus through the gate.
Uzume & "Junko", Tower Entrance
It's been a while since either of them have seen a city not in ruins. The sight of which prompted Uzume to gaggle at. Junko, meanwhile, just thought back to her own world. Eventually, she looked to see an Elf talking to a Someone in a Car.
So, if they look like they're going to a cosplay convention, it's probably a climber... "Junko" thought.
The two joined Samus in walking to the truck.
"Hiya! You wouldn't happen to know how a girl can make a quick buck, right?"
Let it be known that "subtle" was not in Junko's vocabulary.
edited 5th Nov '17 8:44:36 AM by Boomer75
Yang - Club Elise
"Yeah...." Yang said slowly, quietly taking a few steps away from the side of the bar the nerd was at while setting down her rag and the clean glass. "I'll go get you a waitress, okay?"Smile falling as she turned around, she marched towards Sabrina and the Kid. Or actually, just Sabrina. The Kid seemed to be missing, that was odd, she had only looked away for a minute to deal with the man at the bar. Putting aside that mystery for now, she wound up near Sabrina, leaning against a nearby chair. "I don't think that guy understands how a restaurant works," she said, pointing a finger towards the bar while not paying much attention to the demands some other weirdo was making of the Pokémon gym leader. "Think you can put him at a table before he cries out his life story on the countertop?"
KITT - Streets Near Entrance Portal
"That group stands out," KITT himself said, noticing a tall armored figure with some sort of arm-weapon emerging from the portal with a pair of young women. Switching into a reverse gear, KITT, in all of his F-150 glory, slowly backed up towards the portal, as one of the young women approached him."Hello. I am the Knight Industries Three Thousand. You may call me KITT," he said to Samus, Uzume, and "Junko" (and anyone else). "I have also come from the Tower portal which you have come through. As for how to acquire resources, we are currently in the process of determining how best to go about that."
edited 5th Nov '17 11:45:12 AM by nman
Samus Aran - City Entrance
The truck backed up towards them, and then introduced itself in an automated voice. Oh, so this one was self-piloting. This was more what she was used to, but why would a machine want to climb a tower? Was it sentient? Well, even if it wasn't, it was definitely an advanced one if it could speak so well.
"So you're an AI then. My name is Samus," she said to KITT. Intelligent machines didn't bother her, and having a vehicle would definitely come in handy. "This place is supposedly crime infested. Would the local law enforcement have some form of reward from bringing wanted men in?" she asked the group in general.
KITT - Streets Near Entrance Portal
"I get that a lot. I am unique, the only Artificial Intelligence of my kind," KITT said to Samus. "As for your question, it is unclear what manner of bounty may be available for us to claim by killing any of the more-notorious gang leaders. However, there may be a way for us to obtain the requisite funds in much the same manner from them directly."The paneling on his chassis lit up like a screen, showing headshots of the criminals who had assaulted them earlier, the detective, and statistics presented next to the images that listed observed and estimated information about them.
"The local police have exhibited severe apathy when it comes to prosecution of crimes," KITT continued. "Due to the existing relationship between those who enforce the law and those who break it. Criminals flagrantly break the law, but due to legal and cultural factors are poorly equipped when doing so. Several members of a local gang attacked, but were unable to reach the point where my subroutines determined them to be a threat to the lives of any of my passengers. When they were subdued, a local detective merely released them - but not without securing the funds from their wallets. Extrapolating from their apparent low-ranking status in their gang, I would estimate that our most-likely method of obtaining sufficient funds in an acceptable period of time would be to liberate it from the criminal elite of this city."
Uzume & "Junko"- City Entrance
Well, Uzume did not expect to find other climbers so easily. She must be super lucky and stuff.
"Woah, a talking truck? That's so cool! Name's Uzume Tennobushi."
Meanwhile, Junko just kinda felt reality itself was broken for a moment.
That's a truck. A truck. and it came here. And talked to me. A truck. A truck. Of all the things this "Ruler" can bring to the Tower. A truck.
Honestly, her problem was not that the truck could move. If Fujisaki could make a strong AI that's almost human on every level besides organic, automated vehicles are not out the question. It's the fact that out of the entire multiverse out there, this Ruler felt a Truck was going to be able to make it to the top. How does it even climb stairs.
"... Um..." Uzume tapped Junko
"Oh, right, sorry. Hello, my name's Junko Enoshima."
This is... rather surreal...
So, then KITT described his plan.
"So... Robin Hooding it?" Junko got the gist of the plan."I have no idea how I can fit into this. I'm a fashionista, not a felony convict. I'd say I could be a getaway driver, but that seems rather unnecessary given the fact I was told this by a talking truck." She emphasized the last two words.
"Oh, that's easy, if your a fashionista, that makes you charming, right?" Uzume seemed gung-ho for the idea.
Junko didn't like where this was going.
Vampire Hunter
Sabrina, Trading Tasks
"If you can deal with Tuna Fish Guy over there," Sabrina pointed her thumb at the guy offering 2 million yen, before discussing things quietly with Yang. "While the offer he's giving is tempting, the guy is obviously here to troll us."
Once Yang agreed to the trade, Sabrina would walk over to the bar.
"Come on," Sabrina began, willing to be help the guy to one of the tables. "Let's get you to a table, and you can talk to one of the hostesses here about all your troubles."
Wizard Needs Food Badly
Samus Aran - City Entrance
KIT Ts explanation of how things worked in this city was enlightening. It looked and sounded even more corrupt than Samus had assumed, like those backwater planets where the Federation's influence was barely present. This could be an advantage for them. If the criminals were poorly equipped, then having superior firepower would be more than enough to extort them for money.
Junko didn't sound like she was entirely on board with the group's idea, but Uzume did come up with an interesting role for her.
"You could serve as a way to lure the elites out of their bases," Samus said to Junko. "Either that, or we force our way in." Both could work, but she was more experienced with the latter.
KITT - Streets Near Entrance Portal
"I am not a talking truck," KITT admonished Junko. "I am a highly-advanced artificial intelligence embedded into a mobile nanotech platform."After a momentary pause, he continued. "I simply look like a talking truck at the moment," he conceded. "The streets of this city are not a safe place for a young woman to walk alone at night, and by extrapolating from my existing data, it is also not safe for a young woman during the day. As far as my calculations can determine, the safest place outside of the tower is inside me. Your heavily armored associate seems more than capable of handling things herself."
Yang - Club Elise
"Troll.... Tuna?" Yang said absently to Sabrina. She took a look at the so-called Tuna Fish Guy, her left hand balling up momentarily while she scowled."So you like tuna, huh?" she said, taking a seat in the strange pink sofa nearest the man. "I know a girl who likes tuna, almost feels like a lifetime ago though. Haven't seen her in months." She leaned back to recline, propping her feet up on the table as she did so. One of her boots lightly tapped against the light at the center of the table, dangerously close to knocking it over. "When she saw a nice big juicy piece of tuna... there was nothing like it. Couldn't stop her mouth from watering, her eyes lit up like they were diamonds... I've never seen anything in the world like it. But who am I kidding, words don't really do a good job describing it, you should have been there. Well not you, you're some sort of weirdo. I mean more along the lines of someone who matters."
She curled up her left hand, cracking the knuckles in them with her right. "And there's nothing I won't do if it means seeing that just one more time. Those diamond eyes, lighting up for something... even if it's just tuna. Nothing. Even if it means having to play nice and work here. It's just one shift, though. One shift where nothing goes wrong, and then I get one step closer to her, and one step further away from this place. So I don't know what your problem is. I don't care. But if you make a scene and ruin this for me, I'm gonna ruin a lot more than just your night."
Uzume & "Junko"- City Entrance
"Oh, so just because I'm a fashionista, I can pull off a honey trap? I'm not that kind of girl!" Junko was not approving this direction, something she made clear on her face. "Plus, I'm still in high school, I'm probably too young for them. I really hope I'm too young for them." she added.
"Well, maybe not charm... but can you distract them somehow?" Uzume tried to change her wording.
Junko sighed. "Well, I suppose I can try. Not like I can just go back home, can I? Though even if we succeed, wouldn't we have at least a lot of gangsters and likely the cops on us?" Junko responded. She would think this world was pretty crappy, but... not a good time to go there. She had to focus on here first.
"Uh huh. Alright then." A nanotech platform? Huh. Wonder if he can turn into other things. She'll try to find a way to ask without making her seem suspicious.
"Hey, I've dealt with the streets before. Though..." She shifted her demeanor from pissy to something more positive "I suppose if you're offering, I have no reason not to take it. Just don't try anything, okay?"
Plus, it would make certain things a lot easier. And with that, she entered the truck.
"Oh, I'll take the trunk." Uzume said, stepping into it.
Calamity is a housewife
Kirito, City Entrance
Kamurocho.
I'd never heard of that part of Japan, and I was trying to convince myself that it wasn't due to any ignorance of geography on my part. I still wasn't convinced that this wasn't an elaborate VR simulation, but my only method of getting answers, for now, was forward.
Samus Aran (the kind of name I'd hear in a video game, now that I thought about it), led us to a woman with pointed ears and a truck capable of speech. If these were our fellow climbers, I was in for one hell of an eccentric crew, at least in appearance.
The truck introduced itself as KITT, and Samus correctly deduced that it was piloted by an Artificial Intelligence. Finally, I'd thought, something realistic. Still, a truck wasn't the usual place you'd put an advanced AI. KITT explained the state of the city, claiming that corruption was high and suggesting liberating Kamurocho of its criminal elite.
From slaying virtual fantastical creatures to toppling the rich and powerful who may or may not be virtual as well. That was quite the jump... and I wasn't certain how useful my swords would be. Speaking of which, they felt like they were getting heavier, and my body slightly more fatigued from carrying them.
A plan was already forming amongst the rest, and I had a sinking fear that things were going a little too fast for me to handle. If the words I was hearing were accurate, things were likely to get violent, fast. And though I'd indulged in being the gilded hero of a fantasy, I wasn't as eager to be the reluctant rookie in a political thriller.
I raised my hand, coughing lightly to try and get someone's attention.
"You think... uh, there might be a way to topple the criminal elite without violence?"
"Shake the dust." - Anis Mojgani
Lizard Metabolism
Blacker Baron, Trouble A Brewing At Elise
Everything seemed to be proceeding well. The nerd was escorted to the hostesses, so perhaps now he could find some relief. The Tuna Guy was being handled by Yang - kind of roughly, probably would get them penalized by Akiyama, but whatever, they had other things under control - and now it was just a matter of these three Yakuzas causing trouble by being too rowdy.
...aw, shit, figures there would be Yakuzas here too. Well, at least it was something to do. Casually, the magnificent opulence that was The Blacker Baron strolled over to the gangsters' table. "Good evenin', gentlemen. I hear ya havin' fun here at Elise, but yanno, dis a place for everybody to have fun in, dig?" He looked at them from beneath his pink goggleshades before looking over to the hostesses accompanying them, trying to ascertain if the Yakuzas were doing something less savory than just being loud.
How do lizards fly?
Veronica, Batting Center
And just like that, the fight was over. It had certainly been more entertaining than Veronica had expected. A rematch wasn't likely an option since this guy wasn't coming back with them, but he didn't need to know about that. She used the time Majima spent violently reprimanding his henchman to retrieve any blades she'd thrown during the fight and re-stash them.
"Yes, I should get back to him. We've uh, probably still got a lot of work to do."
She realized as she spoke that she didn't know how much money anyone else had collected. It felt like ages since she'd even seen any of them. Hopefully someone else had been enjoying more success...
Lizard Metabolism
Claw, Out Of Movie Limbo
Somewhere between the lines, Claw had managed to finally get things done with that stupid horror movie. Well, at least the cash was nice; a tenth total of what they needed to climb up further.
It was probably prudent to carry the briefcase full of yen right to the Tower; less chance of it being lost due to unforseen circumstances. Lo and behold, the cat pirate managed to stumble upon a group of brand new Climbers congregated around some truck. "Well, ain't you a colorful company of Climbers." He greeted the newcomers with a salute.
How do lizards fly?
Samus Aran-City Entrance
Samus glanced at the front of the truck when K.I.T.T. immediately identified her as female, but she figured that the AI was capable of picking up on small nuances beneath her armor or had a bio scanner built in. Uzume had effectively convinced Junko to help with the plan, so now it was time to track down a target. Maybe Junko could use a self defense weapon of her own though... Samus did have her paralyzer pistol on hand.
Samus vaulted over the side of the truck with one arm, making a solid landing beside Uzume that might have strained K.I.T.T.s shock absorbers a little. She looked at Kirito as he asked his question and tilted her head at him. "We will hopefully not have to use actual violence. Criminals tend to not want to fight when they know they're outmatched, but if you come up with a better suggestion, feel free to bring it up." She looked back over at the truck's front cab. "Where would be the best place to start our search?" she asked K.I.T.T. as another stranger approached the car.
This one, who definitely recognized them as fellow "climbers", looked like a large cat dressed in extremely outdated clothes, even for the area around him. It wasn't the strangest thing she'd seen in space, so she didn't stare at Claw like an oddity. Samus gave him a short head nod to acknowledge his greeting.
edited 9th Nov '17 11:58:31 PM by ScorpioRat
The Kid lowered the dead weight of the sleeping man to the curb, mindful to not just drop the man onto the solid surface. Re-entering the building, giving a friendly nod to the girls moving past as they worked, he was quick to notice the increasingly rowdy men. He paused for a moment, watching them and the people around them. There wasn't anything wrong with enjoying yourself, but it looked like it was beginning to disturb those nearby.
The young soldier moved towards the men, catching sight of their pins as he came close. He frowned briefly. Hopefully these ones were more like their boss, and not like the ones they'd met first. He really didn't want a fight to break out in here. Which meant being polite. "Excuse me. Would you three be able to be just a bit quieter?"
KITT - Streets Near Entrance Portal, On the Road Again
"Unfortunately, while they are a cowardly lot once their thought processes register that they are severely overwhelmed, it is also very difficult to convey one's superiority to the criminal element," KITT said to Samus as she hopped in the back. She certainly weighed more than your average human, that was certain. But he was currently no ordinary truck, and she was likewise no ordinary woman - and making a comment about a woman's weight was never a wise decision."We have yet to explore much of this city, as we were interrupted by a handful of locals almost immediately. Once we acquire a suitable target, I can provide support. To begin with, please take an earwig." His glove compartment opened up a bit to reveal his 3D printer, inside of which were a few earpieces he had printed out. "If you do not already have the means to remain in contact, these earwigs fit easily into your ear and will allow for constant communication between us."
After giving anyone else a chance to hop on, he drove off in search of something they could all blow up together.
Shifting a bit as she saw that Yang was now taking the time to educate the peons in the distance, the fallen angel couldn't help but rub the bridge of her nose before sighing and deciding to go help just in case there was trouble. Sidling up near the wall while remaining quiet and aloof, the woman let herself drift near enough to be able to wade into action if it ever began.
Samus Aran-Streets near Portal —-> Road
"We'll just have to patrol until we see something suspicious then..." Samus said to K.I.I.T. After taking an earpiece from KITT and syncing it with her helmet, Samus got back into the truckbed. "I'll try and keep a lower profile while we're moving, but I should still be able to hear you over the radio." She then went into morphball mode, her suit somehow folding into a rounded sphere only about half her original height of around 6 ft. Hopefully they would attract less attention this way. The morphball was somehow able to keep still in the moving vehicle, and it kept next to Uzume and mostly out of sight of people passing by.
"Greetings, Climber, and welcome to the Tower. You have been chosen to climb this tower, conquer its challenges and reach the top, where you will be rewarded with whatever your heart desires. I shall answer any and all questions you have to the best of my ability, for it is my purpose to guide you to the top." The blind man stated in a slow but rehearsed tone in front of the cat-ant girl, obviously clear that he was extremely familiar and tiring somewhat by now of this line.
"You have been chosen by the Ruler, who sits at the top of The Tower, choosing and challenging people from all across the Multiverse to climb. As for why you are chosen, I do not know, beyond the fact that the Ruler sees in you the potential to reach the top. None are chosen that can not climb all the way." Continuing the explanations in a way to try to curb as much overall questions as possible that he's heard all too much, the orator continued.
"On every floor of the tower, there is a locked door and a black and gold gate. It is my job to interpret the lock and figure out what Key is required to ascend to the next floor. It can tangible or intangible, items of great significance or something with no worth to anyone but you. Next, you Climbers walk through the black and gold gates and search for the Key in the world beyond the gates. Passing through the black and gold gates will take you to a different world, chosen by the Ruler to test your abilities. You may enter a feral world where monsters stalk the lands, or an advanced civilization, or a blasted wasteland where survival will be a challenge in itself." "Take as an example, the door over there." The Locksmith indicated the door adorned with the yen symbol and a number still very close to ten million.
"The door of this floor demands that you gather in total 10 million yen, the local currency of the world beyond the black and gold gates, and deposit them in the lock. When the sum is met, you may proceed to the next floor. The world itself is a moderately advanced human civilization, and the gates will deposit you in the entertainment district of one of the world's largest cities. The Challenge of this floor is to seek your fortune in this unknown land, in a city locked in conflict between criminal forces and those who would forge a justice from the lawlessness." With that all said, the sightless elder then settled back down.
He looked back up, wiping sweat from his brow. "Please, if you have any questions, now would be the right time to inquire."
The Mighty Pen
Kashira Lavellan - Street - Weeding Out Bandits
Kashira's eyebrows rose somewhat as the watchman briefly described how organized the local syndicates were. Not even the Carta is that well organized. Although, I"m willing to bet that neither are these clans. Rank, assigned tasks, alliances, and rivalries in a thieves' guild are rarely fixed for longer than a moment, anyway. She also resisted the urge to slam a hand against her brow as the speaking aravel gave away most of the reason why they were all here. No way the watchman hadn't picked up on it. She now had much less to trade information with than previously. Still, she had asked, and it was a reasonable enough answer. She mulled over how to proceed for a little while, taking note of the newcomers emerging down the street in the process. The seven-foot armored warrior was hard to miss.
"Well, whatever path he follows," she answered the watchman at length, "It will end the same way. Someone like him won't be satisfied with anything less than being on the highest level of power. Whoever sits the throne among these clans, that's who he's moving towards in his own way. And if I had to guess, I think he might encounter something significant along the way, but I can't be sure, by any means. Before I start a guessing game, is there anything else you wanted to ask, or to tell me? You started to speak about the earlier mysterious arrivals in your city before we were interrupted."
A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving. -Lao Tzu
Uzume- Tower
Well, nice to know that she'll not have to waste her wish on going home. Still, going native is not in her plans. She has a duty to her home, so she's not going to stay anywhere.
It seemed that the others were making introductions.
"Thanks for the offer," Uzume responded to Kirito "But I'll be able to more than handle myself if things get heated. My name's Uzume Tennobushi. Bet you haven't heard a super dope name like that, huh."
"Junko"- Tower
That... didn't answer her question, but the message was clear. Just follow along. She was good at that. Too good, in fact.
"Well, if I don't know, I guess I won't then. Problem solved!"
The group introduced themselves, so she might as well return the favor.
"I'm Junko Enoshima. Charmed, I'm sure."
She then turned to the Old Man
"So, last question. Is it just us, or are there other climbers in there?"