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A Game of Gods Season 3: Terminus

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LatverianBadger Calamity is a housewife from gacha hell Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
Calamity is a housewife
#3051: Feb 17th 2019 at 6:14:01 AM

Kirito, Fourth Floor

I was soon approached by the sci-fi woman I had been talking to before, which reminded me of the physical exercise schedule she had promised to help me devise. Oh yeah, I probably should've put more effort into making that schedule myself...

"Hey there... uh..."

I internally panicked as I tried to recall if she ever introduced herself, and was granted reprieve by fate when it turns out that she hadn't, and was introducing herself right then and there. As much as I was going through, I had to admit that destiny liked to throw a bone my way a little more than I'd expect it to.

"Right, KOS-MOS, then."

As she asked about breakfast, wouldn't you know it, my stomach rumbled.

"Um... I'm gonna have to agree with my stomach, that's a 'no, I haven't'. Hehe.... heh..."

"Shake the dust." - Anis Mojgani
Makaioh Since: Jan, 2015
#3052: Feb 17th 2019 at 2:16:59 PM

Campfire Site

"Eat. A growing boy needs to have proper meals to be healthy." Tutting as people finally began making sounds of the long-winded variety, Komachi simply gestured towards the campfire while allowing the KOS-MOS to take on the role of exposition since it was a drab role that the deadpan gynoid would be better suited for. Though...

"Who crafted such an apparel for you? It seems rather... clashing with your personality." Though she wasn't one to talk about revealing garments, the vessel of Mary Magdalene definitely took the cake and left nothing to the imagination even if it did cover up more than the tanned deer hunter sitting across her. Content to while away the time with small talk, the youkai continued listening in on the conversation from afar with a slightly raised eyebrow after what she heard.

With Umbrella Girl

"I am unsure as to do next myself. If you ever require sustenance I can at least help out in that regard. Perhaps we should see what is to come next on this journey... so you know what it is that you have found yourself bound to now." Sighing as she reverted back to a more casual human guise with all the leathers, Lucifer tilted her head up towards the entrance to the fifth floor.

Boomer75 Since: Aug, 2017
#3053: Feb 17th 2019 at 3:20:14 PM

Haseo- 5th Floor, w/ the Disrupter

Listening to the Disputer, he couldn't help the situation being a smidgen familiar. Different contexts, of course, but choosing to live in one, theoretically safer, more confined world to leave the larger, scarier main one was something the Adapt Rouge had more than a bit of experience with. Much as he wanted to just rush forward and get the job done already, he also knew that people like to stop for a bit. Besides, it's not like he couldn't use the downtime to get something out of it.

He decided to join the crew going to the house, alongside Ryo (& maybe 2B). Mentally facepalming at his fellow climber's... promiscuity, to put it in a way, He addressed the Disputer.

"Let's start here then. How exactly did you get to being at this part of the tower specifically?"


Jubei- 4th Floor

The group on this tower was... eccentric, certainly. Between someone sticking venison in front of him, someone cooing over the fact they're a cat, and another actually explaining the situation to him, Something told him this situation was going to be quite a handful.

"...Ah, alright." He chose to respond to KOS-MOS, mulling over the information told to him, and putting a few things into local terms. "So, I'm stuck here for a while, eh? Well, I'd say this was poor timing, but if time isn't a factor here, then not much to complain about, is there? I'll head along. Not like I got too much of a choice anyways."

"Thanks, you two. Name's Jubei." The cat introduced himself, taking the meat and looking to the picture-taker. "And I'm not exactly a normal cat. At least, not in the way you're going about it."

Lastly, he looked to the fire, and started to approach it.

"Anyone here mind if I use this?"

Edited by Boomer75 on Feb 17th 2019 at 6:20:38 AM

LittleMako A dogged fellow, aren't we? from the Great Indoors Since: Jul, 2016 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
A dogged fellow, aren't we?
#3054: Feb 18th 2019 at 5:49:01 AM

Alisaie - Tallhome, with Locksmith

So, this settlement's inhabitants were here to shelter from a world that was... forgotten? Frightening, in some way? There could have been worst tidings - the prospect that these were the descendants of an earlier failed ascension had not been an encouraging one - but Alisaie couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. What could drive a people to move their civilization into this damnable tower?

On top of that, it was hard to miss the tension between the Locksmith and this 'Disputer'. Alisiae had to wonder what apostasy the blind, incapacitated man had committed to earn that title, and whether it was even appropriate to ask. As much as she wanted to hear this story for herself, she had questions for their own guide, and she had no idea if she'd be able to find him again in this rabbit warren.

"Locksmith." Alisaie waited until the old man had finished speaking before stepping up and lowering her voice a little. "You don't fully trust the Disputer, do you? Is there some sort of... bad blood between you? Can we trust him?"

Catching herself, she softened her stance a little and let some of the interrogative zeal drain fro her tone as she added, "If... if you'd rather not say, of course, I shan't press you."

2B - Tallhome, Disputer's shrine

2B had been about to move deeper into the settlement when one of the human climbers ran up to her, the android tensing up and glancing behind him, searching for pursuit or danger. Of course, there was nothing, and the man apparently just wanted to ask her a lot of questions.

Snorting softly at the compliment and shooting Ryo an unreadable look, 2B continued on her way not looking over again as she replied, voice cool.

"I'm 2B. I can see just fine, and my outfit is standard issue."

This pattern continued as the group moved on, 2B answering the man with what seemed like the least possible number of words required. If she was bothered by his blatant ogling, she didn't show it.

"Four years." "No." "A warzone." "I don't have one."

Of course, she wasn't oblivious to what was going on. She'd deflected enough of 9S's overtures to recognize the same from this Ryo Saeba. If her experiences played out true here, he'd lose interest eventually.

As Ryo apparently proved 2B correct and moved to proposition one of the locals, 2B paused and looked around. The mission came first, of course, and she wanted nothing more than to get another completed floor beneath her. However, the Locksmith didn't even know where the gate was yet, and until he found it...

2B realised she hadn't rested in quite some time. Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea after all.

Edited by LittleMako on Feb 18th 2019 at 2:50:42 AM

Alecoene Since: Jun, 2013
#3055: Feb 18th 2019 at 8:06:01 AM

Ryo Saeba - Tallhome

Judging from her glancing behind Ryo, the white-haired woman was wary of him being a possible danger. Tough her reaction to his blatant hitting on her was obviously very negative, he didn't mind one bit. It just means he would have to try real harder. And so his spirits didn't show any sign of being lowered by her cold demeanor.

Tough her answers were rather odd even beyond the unfriendliness. Her name was ...Toobee? And her ouftit was some sort of uniform, as improbable as it sounded. Then again, the fact that she could see trough her blindfold might mean it was more than meets the eyes. What she said next was however even more shocking. Not so much the warzone part, as her behavior was rather fitting of a soldier and her having no boyfriend was good news. No, the more shocking part was her stated age. He shouted in surprise. "Whaaat? Four years old? How is that possible?" He visibly looked at all her body parts in succession to reinforce the fact that her appearance didn't fit her supposed age at all.

FergardStratoavis A Fluff Ringer from Bellveins (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: A gay little love melody
A Fluff Ringer
#3056: Feb 18th 2019 at 1:41:25 PM

Claw, This Is A Tallhome Now

There was friction in the air. While the Locksmith and the Oracle seemed amiable enough with each other, there was no love lost between him and the Disputer. That naturally paved way for the next reveal: that the world they were to enter was unlike the ones they've been to. A "dead" shell of a realm, near-forgotten by those who now lived in the Tower. A world supposedly privy to most of the Climbers, though likely not in the form they themselves would recognize.

Deciding to take the Disputer up on his offer, Claw stepped carefully between the buildings. Though familiar with slums of port cities, the place was still somewhat of an enigma to him. It didn't quite reek of hopelessness and despair like he first expected. The people of the Tallhome lived austere lives, but they seemed happy in their shelter. It was a confusing layout of a place, but at least he didn't have much trouble with the balance. Saeba was hitting on yet another woman - a running trend, seemed - while the others asked more pressing questions, both for the Locksmith and the Disputer.

Perhaps it was a good time to take a breather. "Make that the two of us, Miss Ilya." He said, looking idly towards the local girl the little mage seemed to get along with. Children will be children, in the end. He had to admit, the smell from the corridor on the right was pretty tempting.


Blacker Baron, Deer's Guts

"Donchu worry, dawg. Baron's gun deliver!" Offering Guts a huge golden thumbs-up, the magnificent opulence swaggered over to where a bunch of familiar and unfamiliar faces - damn, what was that lady even wearing? - were prepping a deer. Also, they had another cat person in their ranks, though this one seemed less dour than Mr. Whiskerbeard. "Sup', playas? Can dis here golden man ask for a slice of dis fancy-ass treat?" Seriously, seeing an unmutated animal was still something of a culture shock for him even three worlds in. "I'd slice it, but ya know" Here he raised his giant golden hands ever so slightly. "I ain't very delicate with dem tools."

"Gotta feed Gutsman over dere, or he'll get even crankier. Y'all already know he's a cranky mofo." Here he gestured towards everyone's favorite Black Swordsman (sorry, Kirito). To be fair, he was getting kind of hungry himself - even cyborgs had to eat - but they could get to that in a moment. And then a new familiar face showed up. "Oh hey, ya're dat magician girl from Gensokyo! Been a while." He waved over to Sumireko, though it seemed she was more interested in the cat in a raincoat.

Fortunately, people were taking care of the lesser Black Swordsman, so that problem was taken care of.

StephanReiken Since: May, 2010
#3057: Feb 18th 2019 at 6:26:39 PM

The Tower - Following Disrupter

Jibril looked from one guide to the other. A ruined world, is this what happens when some world falls prey to a catastrophic event. So this is what the world of Disboard might have turned into had the Suniaster not manifested in the hands of Tet. With only the creatures beneath the notice of all others, humans, surviving. Then there was this mention of an 'Oracle' as another guide to this tower. What did Locksmith mean by helping the Oracle finish? This was all new information to her, and it fascinated her. It tickled her mind, what secrets still lay amongst her supposed allies about this place they had yet to tell her. After some quick thought she made an offhand remark. "If it would not hurt to rest than it would not hurt to hear what this person has to say. After all, it is not as though we are under time constraints to complete this game."

Lithely moving her body around objects and awkward doorways, Jibril floated along the path made of chaos. Scavengers clearly, how these people lived was perhaps one of the worst ways for humans to survive during The Great War. They did try sometimes, but inevitably using the remains of a fallen dwarf or elf city triggered a magic signal and someone like Jibril would kill all within the area.

She glanced at the others who had chosen the same. Was that human flirting with a machine? Perhaps he could not tell, having only overheard the conversation without focusing on it, Jibril reviewed her mental log of what happened in the tower. Android, yes this word was something in Masters' dictionaries that indicated an artificial construct, a machine. It was quite difficult to tell at a glance that she was one of these. The true irony of species bonding with eachother, procreation impossible, made even worse with the species that had no feelings. Jibril could feel the drool escaping the side of her mouth as she butted into the converstation. "Perhaps have you have no experience with other species? You know that difference races mature at different rates. My creator of course, created me in the perfect form you see before you. Surely her creator sought to create his vision of perfect in this form. But, eheheh, to seek... kinship among other species is quite interesting! Is your interest only in the form they present?"

Jibril decided to focus a bit on the small talk at hand, but she wasn't about to waste time not asking a question of Disrupter. "I also have a question or two for you, Disrupter. What wish will the god of this tower grant for a successful climb? Could I kill him if I ask for that, or could I get him to override The One True God of my world? What kind of limits does he have? What concept does this Old Dei represent? The Locksmith has given us some information but I would like to expand upon it and verify what I can with multiple sources."

Edited by StephanReiken on Feb 18th 2019 at 7:23:41 AM

RedCedar The Mighty Pen from Elsewhere Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Buried in snow, waiting for spring
The Mighty Pen
#3058: Feb 19th 2019 at 9:29:57 PM

Kashira Lavellan - Fifth Floor - Disputer - Memories of the Grey

Kashira listened in quiet dread as the Locksmith described their task and their goal upon this floor of the Tower. A world at the end of its time and a people hiding from the Void within the infinite wasteland of this place, scavenging off the scraps of worlds and travelers. And a nameless key with nothing standing in their way of obtaining it. It's never that easy. Something's not right here beyond this story...something we aren't seeing. Maybe this key is alive? It was impossible to speculate at this point. Presented with a few options, a dark part of Kashira's mind whispered that perhaps these people survived by preying upon unwary Climbers. She silenced it and stayed close to that Disputer as his litter was carried deeper into the village.

As they walked through the narrow alleys, Kashira was reminded of nothing so much as the Alienage slums that her kindred were confined to in human cities. The few bits of warmth and happiness stood out against the bleak, crushing expanse of it all, somehow making the scenes all the more saddening. This is worse than an Alienage. Even there, there's some hope of escaping, finding the Dalish, finding a town too small to pen elves away. Where else can these people go? What hope do they have for anything better? How do they keep going? But then, she remembered a story of an old fisherman alone with the sea and smiled briefly. Well...in some ways, they are wiser than me. She half-heard the chatter beside her, but paid it little mind. Ryo was going to meet with little success for quite a while with technique like that, she suspected.

She half expected to see a vhenadahl when they emerged into what could only be a public square or some manner of sacred ground. Or both. Instead there were patches of grass, which she too carefully avoided stepping on. After a couple others had asked their questions, she asked one of her own.

"The world your people came from, the place where we're going...how did it end? What makes them fear even its memory?"

A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving. -Lao Tzu
nman Since: Mar, 2010
#3059: Feb 20th 2019 at 12:01:31 AM

Minneapolis - Fourth Floor

"Sure."

Minneapolis gave Jubei a small smile. What did a cat need with fire? She didn't know. But she hoped to find out soon.

She finished off her cup of tea and nodded a few times to Komachi, muttering "thanks" roughly as she set the cup down and looked up at the big man who was here now. She scratched her chin for a moment and looked him up and down.

Then she stepped to the other side of the deer and quietly cut off a plus-sized chunk of meat from the center of it, yanking out a section of its ribs with her hands clutched around the four bones attached to the chunk. Looking at the size of the chunk, then at the Baron, she nodded and put held it out to the Baron.

Imca (Veteran)
#3060: Feb 20th 2019 at 3:35:05 AM

Kawakaze - Fourth Floor

Being able to smell cooking food and looking for any kind of escape from the cold she could find, Kawakaze approached the campfire site herself... or at least she started too until one of the other people at the site of the fire caught her eye... It was defiantly not a situation she was looking forward too for any kind of first meeting or introduction... causing her to eyes to narrow a bit, and her herself to hang back, away from the fire, and from every one else even if she was cold.

nman Since: Mar, 2010
#3061: Feb 21st 2019 at 1:35:00 AM

Anabel - Fifth Floor

"This is quite the place you've built here," Anabel commented once she and her Pokémon had arrived in the main room - though she had to carry some of them in their Pokéballs during that narrow trip through the cave - and took a moment to look up at the place.

All of her Pokémon were excited for a chance to hang out with the locals in their own way. Lucario simply stayed close to Anabel, venturing where she went. Alakazam went over to Ilya and the girl and tried to get in on the magic show by doing some cool psychic tricks with his spoons. Weavile scurried over to the grass and walked around in it. Mismagius floated over towards one of the buildings, poking its head in through the wall to see if it could spook someone. Salamence flapped his wings and flew on up, high up towards the ceiling so he could soar around freely. And Snorlax.... Well, Snorlax just walked over to a nice cozy spot and took a nap.

She raised an eyebrow as one of the men with them spent a good deal of time pestering a scantily-clad woman with a battery of questions, only to withdraw and redouble his efforts on one of the local women instead. And then went back to her. He really needed to make up his mind. Gritting her teeth, she approached the two.

"I've interrogated suspects less intensely than this," she said, giving Ryo a stern gaze. "Still, she seems to have considerable practice at not letting herself be bothered by it. For now," she complimented the android. Of course, if she wasn't wearing a 'uniform' that was so revealing it would make Battle Girls and Swimmers blush, she probably wouldn't have to deal with so many people like Ryo to begin with, but that wasn't a polite thing to mention in proper company. Lucario seemed to be drawing a similar conclusion, as she looked at 2B's heels for a few moments, and then at her own angled canine feet.

"We're all worn down a bit from a long day and an uncomfortable night, maybe you should hold off on the questioning until we've all had a chance to recover from the previous floor?" she helpfully suggested to the City Hunter. "It can be a little tiring, after all."

Lucario growled slightly.

Minneapolis - Fourth Floor

Minneapolis growled when she showed up.

She planted her feet firmly and bent her knees in case she needed to move in a hurry, widened her shoulders to make herself look bigger, balled up her left hand into a fist while the right still clutched Ryo's knife, and scowled at Kawakaze.

"What are you doing here?" she grumbled. "I lived, bitch." "If you want to cause trouble, it won't be like last time."

FergardStratoavis A Fluff Ringer from Bellveins (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: A gay little love melody
A Fluff Ringer
#3062: Feb 21st 2019 at 6:02:29 AM

Baron, Peacemaker, Fourth Floor

Without any problem, The Blacker Baron was provided with a tasty piece of a deer prepared by a scantily-clad hottie, among others. "Much thanks! Dis here Baron's grateful." He grinned and presented a golden thumbs-up of approval to Minny the Ship Girl. Unfortunately, there was some friction between her and the fox lady avoiding the campfire. Well, that wouldn't do! "Whoa whoa, back da fuck up. What dis?" He gestured between the two rival sides.

"Come on now, no one ain't gun' do no wrong in dis mudda. You, fox girl, get in dat social circle. You, deer girl, don't go bristlin' like dat. Sure looks like ya know each other, but we ain't no enemies in dis Tower. We've got enough of dem Gutses running 'round all doom and gloom, for fuck's sake..." Speaking of, it was time to deliver the much-needed nutrition to the aforementioned Black Swordsman. "So y'all be nice for a bit. Baron be back in a sec."

He strutted over to where Guts sat, the steaming hot piece of deer on the plate proudly displayed. "And here's da treat. Jus' dun be turning up nose at it, ya hear?" The Black Swordsman thus received the food item. Much fanfare was had.

LittleMako A dogged fellow, aren't we? from the Great Indoors Since: Jul, 2016 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
A dogged fellow, aren't we?
#3063: Feb 22nd 2019 at 1:53:13 AM

2B - Tallhome, Disputer's shrine

Turning to face Ryo, 2B crossed her arms with a faintly exasperated grunt.

"I'm an android. My personality file was activated four years ago. There's not much else to say about it."

She gave Jibril a small nod as she chimed in. As weird as she was being about it, she wasn't wrong. Perhaps sensing a kindred chiming-in spirit, pod 042 bobbed a little lower into the small group.

"In order to facilitate interactions between the two groups, early androids were designed to outwardly resemble humans. This practice has continued into the modern day, despite such facilitation being largely unnecessary."

Meanwhile, 2B just gave Anabel a shrug. "He can hold off on the questioning indefinitely as far as I care. I have no interest in that sort of... 'kinship'."

Edited by LittleMako on Feb 22nd 2019 at 3:58:02 AM

Alecoene Since: Jun, 2013
#3064: Feb 22nd 2019 at 3:53:19 AM

Ryo Saeba - Fifth floor

Jibril butting in the conversation didn't bother Ryo in the slightest, even if her way of talking was a bit weird. And now that he was looking at her in a context other than talking about possibly sacrificing a young girl, she was pretty hot. He replied to her cheerfully and without any shame whatsoever. "Nope! Never met anyone that wasn't a plain old human being. And yeah, I am very interested in her shape and kinship with her. And I must say, yours aren't bad either!"

Then Anabel and her "Lucario" from earlier arrived and issued him a thinly-veiled warning to stop if he didn't want to get beat up. But if daily hammer blows to the head didn't stop from trying to get some, then a weird humanoid dog is nothing! He still took a step back from the pokemon, tough. Better safe than sorry. "Well, I think that if we're going to work long-term, we need to know each other a little better, no?"

2B's answer to his question was somehow even more shocking than her stated age. "Wait, you're a robot? But you..." He eyed her from top to bottom. Nope, she didn't seem to have any mechanical parts whatsoever. Her flying robotic thing unexpectedly talked to explain she was build to appeal to human, but that was beyond any technological mimicry he would have tought possible. "What are you made of?" He crouched to get a better view of her "skin", and then a made a move to cop a feel from the thigh exposed by her skirt to check the texture.

Edited by Alecoene on Feb 22nd 2019 at 1:03:10 PM

Imca (Veteran)
#3065: Feb 22nd 2019 at 4:16:43 AM

Kawakaze - Fourth Floor

"Avoiding the cold", Kawakaze replied without near as much emotion to her voice as the other bote was likely displaying, instead she just kind of stood there. "I am here for the mission, if I was going to attack would I not have done so already? I am no where near as built for a standup fight" she replied... tugging slightly on the harness over her back where the torpedo payload she had with her was stored for emphasis.

nman Since: Mar, 2010
#3066: Feb 22nd 2019 at 11:37:33 PM

Minneapolis - Fourth Floor

"....sorry..... but you already betrayed us for the Sirens once before," Minneapolis said flatly to Kawakaze. "And after what happened... I was on guard." She glanced up at the Baron. "But it seems we're all in this same boat together, I can make peace for the sake of surviving this."

She relaxed her posture a bit, unclenched her fist, and lowered the knife a tad.

After another moment of thought, she inclined her head at the roasting deer, then looked at the other boat.

"You want venison?"

She cut off a set of ribs from the thing - though more appropriately-sized than the serving she had given the Baron - and held it out as a figurative olive branch.

Anabel - Fifth Floor

Lucario growled slightly, but Anabel put a hand on her shoulder and shook her head slightly. It would be for the best if they didn't interfere just yet. Arceus only knew what might happen to them if they were between the woman with the swords and the man trying to touch her.

darksidevoid Anti-Gnosis Weapon from The Frontiers (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Robosexual
Anti-Gnosis Weapon
#3067: Feb 23rd 2019 at 12:07:04 AM

The Tower, Fourth Floor

"Understood." KOS-MOS gave a short nod at the tell-tale sign of hunger from the younger Black Swordsman. "Please stand by. I will return momentarily." She paced with purpose over to the deer overhanging the fire, and stooped briefly to draw her knife from its holster on her left ankle. She stopped to analyze the cooked creature for a few moments, then began carving up one of its legs.

"These clothes were specially created by one of my designers, Shion Uzuki," she answered Komachi as she worked, and plainly ignoring her company at the cookfire aside from a slightly prolonged stare at the cloaked girl, "When pressed regarding her design choice, she referred to my current attire as 'trending' and 'hot'. I am unable to verify whether her first statement was correct, as I do not possess any data on trends in human fashion. However, I can confirm that the latter observation was invalid, as these garments do not efficiently conduct or retain heat."

Having carved two sizable pieces off the animal, the blunette sheathed her blade and strode over to the seated spider-woman, proffering one chunk. "Would this meat be sufficient as payment for two of your compacted rice masses?" she asked the arachnid youkai, "I believe we would both profit from such an exchange."

Edited by darksidevoid on Feb 23rd 2019 at 3:09:27 PM

GM: AGOG S4 & F/WC RP; Co-GM: TABA, SOTR, UUA RP; Sub-GM: TTS RP. I have brought peace, freedom, justice, and security to my new Empire.
GameGuruGG Vampire Hunter from Castlevania (Before Recorded History)
Vampire Hunter
#3068: Feb 23rd 2019 at 6:03:41 PM

Sabrina, Fifth Floor w/ Locksmith

So this town's leader was someone like the Locksmith or the Oracle, and called himself the Disputer. The Disputer asked the Locksmith to figure out what the challenge of this floor was... A dead world with its only residents being those in this town who have chosen the Tower for refuge. The world is unnamed, but the residents have named the Tower Tallhome. In essence, what was left of the dead world was Tallhome. Then the Disputer invited them to stay in Tallhome for the day as the Locksmith planned to search for where the gate was.

Her Pokemon were also happy to be out of their Pokeballs and among the locals. Espeon decided to sleep near Snorlax, needing a much-deserved break. Sabrina's Alakazam joined Anabel's in trying to get in on the magic show by doing some cool psychic tricks with his spoons for Ilya and the girl. Mr. Mime seemed to be doing her own thing by miming actions for passersby, though it seemed like only Hypno and Jynx cared to watch. Interestingly enough, it was Gallade who followed Sabrina who was actually following the Locksmith, as she had no real interest being anywhere near the perverted thoughts of Ryo Saeba.

"I'm sorry for disrespecting you back there, Locksmith," Sabrina bowed and apologized to their guide through the Tower. "I do think we will stay for a while, since I have a hunch we won't get any rest once we go through this floor's gate, and we will need to be prepared for a trek through a dead world."

"But I am with her," Sabrina nodded to Alisaie. "Do we have anything to worry about from the Disputer?"

Edited by GameGuruGG on Feb 23rd 2019 at 8:04:30 AM

Wizard Needs Food Badly
Makaioh Since: Jan, 2015
#3069: Feb 24th 2019 at 12:18:28 AM

Tower Campfire

"Indeed, your garments serve no function other than to cause others to derive pleasure from simply viewing it. It will not protect anything and will only cause the internal temperatures of people to rise from sheer exposure." Agreeing with KOS-MOS' words and wondering just how perverse her creator was to give the combat gynoid something like this as her go to 'uniform', Komachi simply inclined her head in a slight nod before bartering yet more rice balls for a hunk of meat. The last of her stock even.

Much as she liked the protein and essence of animal flesh, Japanese cuisine was something she had a weakness for and thus the decision was not lightly made. Still, it would be for a good cause and she'd derive some entertainment value out of future proceedings regarding the chain of bartering so it was for a good cause that she donated her wares. The fact that she could simply trade for more in the future whenever possible was also yet another reason as to not be stingy in the least.

"Here is looking to future trading sessions then. I do so enjoy a good show with my meals so please, take it as compensation for such." Mildly amused by all that was currently happening (and hiding her smile under the garb of scarf), Komachi rather enjoyed the communal dining experience she was receiving. It was ever so liberating to be able to do what she wanted without needing to worry too much about offending those plebians ensconced in their musty traditions.

No need to worry too much about convoluted etiquette or the ever toxic tongues of the court that would wag at the mere attention of any perceived slight or imperfection. The finery and gild of the decadent Heian period was colorful and ephemeral yes... but also so very much built on a the equivalent of a cancerous hubris and self-destructive corpulence. It all came tumbling down like a tower of cards in the end once the pleasures of the flesh eroded the mind and power of the current rulers so that the seeds that would germinate into the succeeding era flourished from such negligence. Truly, life was indeed droll.

For all her efforts to warn those in power that they should not place too much importance upon enticing appearances and be wary of the passage of time, her hints were not heeded and her importance waned once the beauty of youth wilted after being watered too much by the flowing river of time. In the end, it was all for naught and she too was buried in obscurity as people no longer paid heed to an increasingly wizened and decrepit crone who lost the luster of beauty that had made her so eye-catching in the first place.

Shifting her wandering mind from the melancholic memories that flowed about like falling sakura petals, Komachi decided that her second life would simply be used to indulge in what she truly wished without paying heed to the larger picture. Power most mighty and youth most unyielding in her possession due to the method of incarnation that gave her a second chance, the youkai let loose the chains that entangled her to the past loose and looked towards the future with bright eyes.

There was now no more Heian cages to consider, just a new road that led to a distant horizon rife with possibilities now that her part in history was over. Truly, was this not the dream she had yearned for? To be able to do as she wished without being burdened by societal expectations? Such thought of liberation all but caused her spirit to blaze with yearning once more for that most desirous of romance dawns.

Already there was so much fun already had and so much more in the future to come. Was this not the best answer to the woman who yearned for such freedom? Exulting most gaily as her passions burned all the more brightly, Ono no Komachi was only all the more hungry for what was to come. New horizons to see, new new plateaus to climb up, new peaks to overcome. A journey that was fresh and bold and new, something denied but now within grasp.

Yes, she truly was blessed to be able to enjoy all these new experiences to the point that if it was not for the face obscuring scarf she wore, the woman would have looked utterly desirous to the point of being compared to a state of great arousal. As it was though, her eyes were all but twinkling with a most covetous gaze that looked not at any singular thing but at unseen future possibilities that were just waiting to be experienced. For someone as selfish a thrill seeker as her, there was no better gift such as the participation in this Tower's game.

wikkit Since: Sep, 2009
#3070: Feb 24th 2019 at 10:10:40 PM

Ilya, Claw n' Friend Goin' to Eat, Fifth Floor

Did you really think this girl would ever be able to turn down that request? She immediately nodded so much her neck might snap, and started to run off deeper into town at full speed.

She was quick enough on her feet, and the path winding enough, that they'd be reduced to hearing her quickly-disappearing footsteps no matter how well they were able to maneuver in this mess. Given about ten seconds, even if they didn't try to follow her, that girl turned up on her own as she ran back to them with a look of confusion on her face. "Why...why didn't you...oh! Oh!"

"You don't know where food is! That's...that's really weird!" She smiled eagerly again, because she now had one of the most enviable positions around: teaching people. And not just any people, the Ascending Ones! This time, she walked off much, much more slowly, making sure to check over her shoulder every few seconds to see she hadn't lost them. They'd go deeper into the town like that, mostly in silence.

Their guide was just as pale as the rest, and through the bulk of her wintry, utilitarian clothing you could tell she was very thin. Her ragged hair might've looked black at first glance, but passing through the few well-lit spots in their path and looking closely revealed it was more of a dark, muted green-brown. A very sickly green-brown. Even at her young age her face seemed weathered, but she was smiling pretty much the whole time as is.

Food, a wonderful thing, appeared before them soon enough. There wasn't any signage, or inscription or anything separating this door from the rest, but as she walked inside without warning, the faint draft that had been tailing them stopped prevailing and the scent of cooking came over them.

"Ah, Tohch," the resident chef said to the girl as she bounded up to him. He was a balding man, who while not fat or even chubby still had about the roundest face they had seen in this place. "You better not be..."

He looked up at Claw and down at Ilya, and he dropped the ladle in his hands in shock. Somehow, the news hadn't gotten to his ears yet. There wasn't anything he could've said at this point, so in his stunned silence he did what he knew to do well: get a clean ladle and pour out two bowls of soup for the two of them.

This place was not very large, there only being a few feet between the wall to their left and the wall to their right, but the other side of the room was very far. It was essentially two walls of cafeteria-style seating, with dozens of small, very worn metal chairs placed underneath small shelf-like tables on the wall. Right now, they were the only ones here. A lone empty bowl at the other end of the room made it seem like either people had been here recently, or the owner was just lazy. It also had an absolute rarity compared to the rest of this town: a space heater sitting on the ground. Everything felt comfortably toasty in here. The lights were at least warm, if not bright.

"I...If there's anything you'd like, j-just ask, and it'd be yours! Anything!" The old man bowed low to the table, actually putting his forehead on it.

The bowls were filled with something that could probably be called "vegetable soup". There were vegetables, and there was some kind of cloudy liquid, and together it looked very much like they could be referenced as soup. If you had to ask what kind of vegetables, or after eating it what kind of broth, you'd be kind of hard pressed. It was...fine, though. Had some potato-tasting things in it.

The girl, Tohch, looked up at them excitedly without any food in her own hands. Just watching them eat was going to be its own treat.


The Pokesquad, Fifth Floor

The lot of Anabel's creatures got even stranger looks than the people in Gensokyo gave them. Lucario at least was shaped like a human, but the rest? Entirely alien, with nothing to compare them to. There were a few isolated screams from the few gaps in the upper structure as these people who saw something giant inexplicably suspended in the air above them. Snorlax got a spot to lay his fat ass down near the entrance, where he'd be very quickly bothered by the prodding of children...and a couple adults.

One climbed up onto his stomach and tried to mirror his splayed out pose up there. He seemed very comfortable. Another started rubbing his face and asked plainly "Why are you so big?"


With the Disputer on the Fifth Floor of the Tower

This book-holding woman did Ryo a kindness, for he was to be their saviour in the end. She gave him a whole two minutes to stand there and continue requesting the other people here, which they seemed to be remarkably resistant to. Once he bent down to inspect the integrity of 2B's chassis (presumably), she tapped one of the two burly men behind her on the stomach before whispering something to him.

With his frame belying his speed, he managed to get a grip on Ryo very quickly. One on his collar and one on his belt, he hoisted the detective up like he was made of paper, and carried him just like that. Silently, no matter how much his passenger wriggled or protested, the brute of a man walked forward with massive strides, put Ryo close to the ground...and gently put him down, facing away from the rest of them. He leaned forward to whisper something in his ear, and then let him do whatever he wanted as he walked back.

Now with that big, fat disturbance out of the way, the Disputer was able to exposit at his own leisure. "How we got here is...a good place to start," he said to Haseo. "Hmm...I suppose that I could say frustration giving way to complacency is why I sit here, and not at the top of the Tower. That group of mine, in their time, had great difficulty in finding their goal. They took time unlike many other floors...even years may pass in completing a challenge, but they took many more than I have seen. No matter how they tried, they could not find that Key...and soon, I think they gave up."

"They grew old, those that could, at least. They took in these people. Gave them a home, taught them to grow food, gave them and each other families. Some died, in the intervening years. The rest...I was not told as to why, but they left. They seemed like they knew what they were doing, but they then...left..."

The Disputer let his rictus grin down for a moment, and sighed deeply as he rubbed his forehead. "Never returned. Only one stayed behind, and she never told me their plan before she wasted away. Time passed, and what do you know...some two hundred years later, these Tower people found the Key themselves. It turns out they were overthinking it, this whole time."

"We cannot bring it inside, me or them. It was enshrined where it lies today, and...more time passed. I could speak of minutiae, of deaths and births, dwindling, fires forcing us to renovate...but ultimately, you're the first real stimulation I've had since then. Thank you for that, at least."

This angel, something that he of all people should recognize, spouted quite the fount of questions at him. His countenance got just a little better as he smiled at her wryly. "What can I tell you, that the Locksmith cannot have? Once we take these roles, we're no more than the same person, and our knowledge rarely grows...if I have been locked here for this long, what can I find out?" He waved his hand around. "Though, I can say this: why, in the Ruler's infinite power, would he let you kill him? He values his life just as you do. I am sure that he could make you the new God of your own world, and leave you to do what you wish with the old one. I...don't know what you mean by 'concept', but it sounds important."

The old thing, seeing Kashira's own worry in her question, mirrored it with what limited facial expression he could make. He turned his head around and, finding no one besides their group here, spoke of the end of this world: "War. Not one, but many."

"I cannot speak with authority here, as I'm merely relaying what I knew through my own little scry of the world, when I felt that much younger. These people, at the height of their world, thought that whatever calamity came for them, it'd be the end in one stroke. They never thought that people would rebound, rebuild a new civilization...and then repeat their mistakes. Again and again. By the time I guided my own up here, there were only some thousands left, nestled in one corner, built on the graves of billions of others."

"They had killed the only other pocket of civilization out of hunger. We didn't feel like prosecuting them...and they seemed very repentant on their own. They've gotten better."


With the Locksmith on the Fifth Floor of The Tower

The Locksmith slowly moved forward, hobbling one leg over the other over the gnarled staff as he made his own way through the maze. His sense of direction was just about non-existent, because he lived in nigh-featureless rooms for the overwhelming majority of his life where the only directions that mattered were "outside" and "upwards". His turns were only guesses. The old man was thankful, though, for having someone to correct his mistakes.

"...Do not worry. Even among your group, your words hardly bite. Let alone your actions." He shook his head at Sabrina as he turned a corner to yet another line of dark hallways, only to turn back a few seconds later when he saw it was obviously a dead end. "Hardly to think of the others I have shepherded in my time. Some, in their anger, or their callousness, decided I would be best used as practice! Ahh...you are a madonna in comparison..."

Some parts of his body ached in a phantom way, just recalling those ascensions. "But...as for your question, I am a failure in my role to say that I cannot tell you with certainty. Meeting the Oracle, as I did two floors below this one, may come only once in a long time, but it is not rare. We speak of things, but the most sought after knowledge is of others in our position. I have heard of someone matching his description...duplicitous, and corrupting in his nature, but I have never heard of him by name. Just a faceless, withered thing, with a wheezing voice."

"Whether he is as I have heard...I do not know, either. For you, we must be truthful, but amongst ourselves we can lie as we please to each other—Ah! Sir! Sir!" He was halted by the appearance of a man infront of him that he immediately tried to wave down, getting him to listen. "May you, pray, take us whence to the Gate of this Floor of the endless Tower?"

"...Err...the...gate?"

"The glowing...outside. Take us outside, please." The man seemed to understand that part at least, and started to walk ahead of them. The Locksmith sighed and continued to follow along at his slow pace. "If I am thankful for one thing, it's having you and your companions understand me. So many have complained about my speech..."


Sumireko, Fourth Floor

"Well I know you're not a normal cat, but you're still cute," Sumireko explained as she took the last of her photos. One of those was taken mid-word from the cat, and it kind of looked like he was shocked because his mouth was hanging open, so that was prime reaction image material right there. Saved! Sumireko put her phone away finally, and gave a very half-assed bow to him. "Thanks for putting up with me, see ya."

How much of a goodbye it could be when she was gonna go over less than ten feet to talk to someone else was up to debate. Her first target: a big "Hi!" to the big, scary gold man that had been helping out for a while now. Nice guy, probably could do a lot more with his fists than she could at all. "It's been like a day is all! I haven't seen anyone else outside of the people that met up at the Shrine honestly, so I guess we all just got separated. Got a crummy broken nose for what it's worth, but...you know, at least everyone else was able to pull through..."

The peace was interrupted, two weird woman with animal ears (or one with animal ears only?) and really tiring-looking metal parts squared off in front of everyone. Just as she had, they ran into their own home's enemies, eh? Sumireko hoped that Koishi had ended up running upstairs without her already, or at least didn't just jump up behind her and start shouting "boo" or anything.

Oh well, they proffered peace with...venison. Wonder where she bought that.

Sumireko carefully placed herself on the other side of the eating circle away from the boats, and by KOS-MOS' side. She kind of wanted some of that venison, having never had it herself, but when she saw the machine woman actually trading for food instead of just sharing, her heart sank. So this was how it was gonna have to be, huh...

"...Hey, can I also have some? I'll make sure to pay you back," she said to Komachi and Minneapolis. She also said "I'm sorry I didn't help...at all, but I hope everything went okay with the gap hag" to KOS-MOS.

Edited by wikkit on Feb 24th 2019 at 10:17:02 AM

JustSomeGuy732 Since: Jan, 2012
#3071: Feb 25th 2019 at 1:16:45 AM

Ilya - Tallhome Kitchen

"Sure thing! The more, the merrier, right~?" Nodding at the cat pirate and the two Pokemons who had joined in on the whole magic trick, the homunculus followed after the energetic guide. She attempted to summon one of her familiars to follow after the girl when she went way far ahead, only to be of naught when she returned. Instead, the magus simply giggled at how overly enthusiastic she must be.

Said girl turned out to be named Tohch by the local cook who immediately changed his tone upon encountering them. Oh? Was she the local troublemaker around these parts? Now that's definitely something she wants to hear.

When food arrived, Ilya wasted no time at all to dig in. "Itadakimasu~" While she might've preferred a more delectable palette, it tasted fine enough. Not good on the level of the meals prepared daily by her maids or, better yet, Shirou-level cooking, but at least it isn't as bland as she thought it would be seeing how cobbled together this place seems to be.

Now if only the cook could just be his natural self and not be overly devoted like the rest of the masses from earlier. In-between the bites, the homunculus began addressing to the old man. "Sure thing! First: Just be normal! I don't mind adoration, but it can be a bit much for me and the other Climbers. I'm sure my friend here feels the same. Instead, just treat us like... visitors or house guests, maybe?" Wait, do these people even have visitors being isolated as they are? Ah well, she'll think about it later!

"Secondly, my compliments to the chef! This tasted better than I expected, but I do hope we're not eating away at your reserves." She was wondering where they get their food from, if they have a limited storage or if they have them grown somewhere but there's something far, far more important that she wanted to ask first.

"And finally," It was then the homunculus sported a mischievous grin on her face. "what were you about to say to Tohch? I was thinking of having her be our very personal guide during our stay, buuuuuut I want to know what kind of person she is and wonder if we can trust her. Isn't that right, Mr. Claw~?" She gave the cat pirate a small nudge to hopefully get him to play along.

That was all a lie, of course. Ilya was going to have her follow them around regardless because she looks like fun. She just wants to see the girl get flustered, that's all.

Edited by JustSomeGuy732 on Feb 25th 2019 at 5:18:04 PM

Alleydodger Since: Jan, 2012
#3072: Feb 25th 2019 at 9:46:17 PM

The Kid, Fourth Floor

The Kid ate and watched silently as the machine lady spilled out pretty much every little detail related to what was happening to them all to the new arrival, a cat in a coat, including stuff he had forgotten himself. Regardless, the lady could really talk. And seemed to like doing it a lot.

The sparks of conflict started between the dark-skinned woman and another white-haired woman that had appeared, this one with animal ears on her head, for some reason. The young soldier tensed briefly, readying himself to get clear of any fighting that might have broken out, before the situation was quickly dealt with. Instead then, The Kid's attention turned towards the woman who had given him tea, returning the cup quietly to her. He paused for a moment, noticing an odd intensity to her gaze as she seemed to look off into the distance, curious what it meant.

FergardStratoavis A Fluff Ringer from Bellveins (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: A gay little love melody
A Fluff Ringer
#3073: Feb 26th 2019 at 9:39:34 AM

Claw, Foodstuff of the Tallhome

It seemed one of Sabrina's pokemon joined them on this gourmet adventure. The little one, despite looking much older than she should have any right to, had the corresponding energy, leading them to where their kind ate. The chef bowed down deferentially the moment he saw them; a notion that honestly made the pirate queasy. Ilya, naturally, appeared to be in her element. "The soup's fine. And, by Neptune's beard, listen to Miss Ilya here. She couldn't be closer to the truth if she tried."

He was honestly getting a bit hungry, so the local delicacy worked out just fine for him. His small Magus friend's little play was as obvious as they came, but these people would probably jump into the fire if one of them told them to. "Quite. It would be a shame if she proved to be some kind of hoodlum." Here he gave the chef a long look of vague amusement, curious to see his reaction in kind.

Makaioh Since: Jan, 2015
#3074: Feb 26th 2019 at 11:05:47 AM

Fourth Floor

Breaking out of her nonverbal ecstasy while taking a few seconds to get her excited shivering back under the rather thin veil of a calm and respectable woman as just about the next wave of people started clamoring for her attention, Komachi wondered why it was that she was getting so popular lately. She hadn't even uttered a poem or asked people out for some tea yet.

Then again, food was a good motivator for such especially when people were hungry and didn't have the exact set of abilities to gather such nutritional necessities in foreign environments. There was a girl with a phone that was buzzing around for pictures and who was now the latest in line to ask about her edible wares.

Perhaps she should open up a cozy little teahouse in the future? It'd give her a place of comfort and allow for all manners of visitors to enjoy themselves while splurging their various forms of currencies or alternate matters of compensation... A tranquil little oasis that allows for one to soothe their souls... Such a wonderful thought that was.


For now though, a question needed to be answered. Peering at the rather eccentrically dressed student, Komachi couldn't help but get the feeling that this girl was... flighty. Like the sort of patrons who would eat and run before inevitably being taken down by the city guard. Or perhaps one of those shady salespeople who had snake oil as their wares. No trustworthy person would ever say they would 'pay you back' in such an uncertain term.

As the silence stretched out only to be punctuated by the sounds of meat juices sizzling over the hungry little fire she set up, a slight sigh was let out before the jorogumo plucked a skewer of rib meat off the licking flames on over to Sumireko. Despite her vices, the poet still had a soft spot for the young and despite the fact that she knew this was an act of pampering, couldn't really say no to such a sorrowful looking girl.

Inwardly, the artist hoped that the girl would firm up and get some more measure of trustworthiness but she was young and thus had enough time to hopefully mature on that front. "You can repay me by simply being a reliable companion." Her long life meant that she could more or less read people to a certain extent and from what she was perceiving... she sincerely hoped that the con artist firmed up eventually.

Feeling the intent stare of someone else, the Monster inclined her head towards the direction of The Kid. Short of stature yet as solid as super compacted earth, the boy reminded her somehow of that of a dwarf save for the fact he had no beard. Whereas the psychic girl was as breezy as a leaky balloon to her mind's eye, this boy was like a tree stump in feel, damaged and yet stubbornly holding on.

He had the look someone who had gone and fought and came back to find there was nothing for him left. Much like those unfortunate peasants who were drafted in their fickle and selfish provisional lord's army, forced to trade a hoe for a spear. Soldiers who had lost pieces of themselves in the war effort, hollowed and embittered. Yes, she knew that look all too well when they sought comfort and she delivered it to those who could either afford such services or whom she felt enough of a spark to go and calm them down of her own accord.

Truly the human race was one of selfishness and conflict as they clashed and harmed one another for the most idiotic of reasons. Many were those who were hurt in such pursuits, far too many for her to count or even remember as she traveled the lands and worlds. Even now in the Tower, she saw people who reminded her of such equivocal comparisons, weighing down the heart with sadness at this inescapable misfortune that seemed to sink its hold in so many places.

"Is something the matter, boy? You seem to be rather focused on me.~" Teasing words drifted out, gentle as the spring breeze due to the brief pang of maternal feelings that laid nestled in her bosom awoke from seeing such a young boy sport the same sort of shellshocked countenance that the battlefield survivors wore when they stumbled back home.

Tall Home, Simply Wandering About

Stalking through the area after talking to her sort of adopted charge and telling her to be safe, Lucifer took in the various scenery and people that populated such a drab and patchwork land with a somewhat disgruntled expression on her face. The fact that so much people could populate the area meant discomforting revelations to the angel, her expectations plummeting even more than it was until her facial expression became as lacking in any sort of overall warmth to the point of being equating to that of permafrost.

darksidevoid Anti-Gnosis Weapon from The Frontiers (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Robosexual
Anti-Gnosis Weapon
#3075: Feb 26th 2019 at 6:47:17 PM

The Tower, Fourth Floor

"Everything went well with Yukari Yakumo, if that is what you mean, Sumireko. She was very amicable after we explained that we were not there to steal her umbrella, although she was in poor health. I am glad you are feeling so energetic after yesterday, in any case," KOS-MOS replied, smiling down at the hatted girl. After thinking, she offered one of the riceballs she had traded for to the psychic to accompany Komachi's generous gift. "Take this. You are still growing, so a balanced diet is important. Regrettably, we lack fruits and vegetables, a deficit we will need to correct as soon as possible."

That much done, she turned and beckoned at the younger Black Swordsman. "Kirito," she called, "come here, please." Maybe it seemed a little capricious of her, given that she had earlier told him to wait, but after analysis of the spider-lady's relaxed attitude, the gynoid had concluded that breakfast as a group had a high probability of leading to better team cohesion. Assuming he did as asked, the blunette would proceed to hand over her remaining prizes of venison and grilled onigiri, then kneel by Komachi's fire.

"May we join you?"

GM: AGOG S4 & F/WC RP; Co-GM: TABA, SOTR, UUA RP; Sub-GM: TTS RP. I have brought peace, freedom, justice, and security to my new Empire.

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