Archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?searchall=nothing+short+of+a+miracle
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ConfettoQM
Mechanics: https://pastebin.com/aaba22s6
OP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RhWAYp-yvc

Uh, character album thing next time, I guess.

>>3226521
>No mercy.

>>3226521
>No mercy.
Accept no prisoners

Oh, man, welcome back Confetto. Missed the last thread, but I'll try to catch up.

>>3226541
>>3226548
No mercy

>>3226570
Happy to be back.

Writing

>>3226521
Stella is actually good at something?

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You sigh in resignation. “Okay.”

Lilac, shifting over, moves the board over between you while Ember crawls over to the side. The cards are set, and when you give her the cue, the game starts.

Siege a frantic two-player game that consists of five cards per player in addition to a Crown card, played on an eight-by-eight board with the goal of crushing the enemy through thaumaturgy and wit. Each turn lasts for five seconds and given that you have to micromanage six of your cards and six of your opponents, there are plenty of mistakes to be made.

The first turn is even more frantic than a usual one, assessing what strategy the opponent is trying to implement while going through with your own. Before a minute has passed, you’ve already set up a solid defense while Lilac creates a spearhead to pierce through. A collision occurs, and four cards in total are thrown off the match, exchanging hands. In no time at all, you’re forced to defend a second attack while playing down what used to be her cards, throwing them in front of your Crown as a makeshift meat-shield.

She begins to retreat, having an extra card advantage on you.

Ember gasps, “What’s going on?!”

Rye commentates, “Stella sacrificed her Beasts for a weaker position? No, wait!”

“There!” you shout. Fusiliers pointed at her Crown, they aim from diagonals, a wide, multi-point pin that forces Lilac’s forces to split in half or otherwise leave herself vulnerable! You dive in with your remaining pieces, reclaiming material and even more!

But instead of fully retreating, Lilac throws her defenses wide open. Before you can reposition your cards after the attack, she’s already on the offensive—a last ditch attempt to win! At this rate, she’ll slip past and win the same way she did to Ember!

You act.
>Go on defense, quick!
>Attack, defeat her before she can defeat you!
>Split concentration, you can do both!

>>3226636
>Go on defense, quick!

>>3226636
>Attack, defeat her before she can defeat you!
BASE RACE

>>3226636
>Attack, defeat her before she can defeat you!

>>3226650
Def

>>3226656
>>3226661
Atk

Writing

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You won’t let that happen!

All of your cards pointed at her Crown, you throw them forward, throwing attack after attack from countless angles, more than she can attack yours with! You dodge and sidestep her attacks one after the other, moving the Crown at the last second while concentration on ending the game as quickly as possible. She throws a Beast down in front of what would be the finishing blow, blocking the hit!

Accruing enough to use them as a shield of your own, you, however, do not do the same! Denying her any more cards, your Crown slip between the strikes before the enemy pieces finally close in. It’s then that she runs out of sacrifices, and you instantly move to seize victory!

Her Crown flies off, landing on the floor to the side.

“...I lost,” Lilac sighs, “Good game.”

“Good game,” you reply, “A turn more and I would’ve lost too.”

Rye says, “That’s a lie. You had more pieces while still having Beasts to use a shield. If you played right, that wasn’t a position you could lose from.”

Whatever was processing inside Ember’s brain finishes, and she says out loud, “Remind me to never play against Stella.”

You let your face fall on your sheets, replying with an indiscernible muffle.

Ember asks, “What was that?”

You raise your head. “I’m going out!”

Throwing yourself off your bed, you make your way to the door in a huff before a handful of knocks cause you to stop. You open the door as if that was your plan all along, finding three other thaumaturge students standing outside.

The one in the middle with the large fur coat asks, “Hey, who’s the leader here?”

[1/2]

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>>3226752

“Is it you?” she asks, “I’m Wolf. Race me.”

“Eh?” you reply, taking a step back. She’s a head taller than you and her death glare can just about bury you into the ground. “N-no, I’m not—“

Ember, overhearing, replies, “We don’t have one. Whaddya want?

“We need to make it clear here who’s in charge of this hall of Covens,” she replies, “And I’m saying it should be me.”

Rye opens her book again. “Stella, can you close the door? Thank you.”

Before you can even think about it, Wolf steps in, a hand pushing it wide open. “If you’re saying you’re fine with it, I don’t mind.”

One of the girls behind her says, “Hey! She’s making you a deal!”

The other adds, “Yeah! How dare you be so disrespectful!”

You repeat, “A deal?”

Wolf looks at you. You wonder if it’s just how her face is, always giving the impression that she’s about to tear you limb from limb. She says, “Race me. If you win, I’ll leave you alone. If you lose, then when I give orders, you all listen to them. And if you don’t listen, you’ll have the rest of the hall against you.”

Ember pulls you back. “Give us a minute!” Pulling you, Lilac, and Rye in a circle, she whispers, “What do we do?”

Rye flatly tells her, “Don’t care. I’m not getting involved.”

“What?” Ember asks, “Didn’t you hear what she said?!”

“She’s full of hot air.”

From the doorway, Wolf announces, “Actually, I’ll let two of you race against me. Doubt you stand a chance otherwise. First past the finish line wins.”

Ember hisses, “She’s looking down on us!”

Lilac mumbles, “Sorry, I-I can’t.”

It looks like Lilac and Rye are sitting out.
>Ignore Wolf.
>Race against her with Ember.
>Give into Wolf’s terms of leadership.
>Write-in.

>>3226812
>Write-in.
Why do you even want to be in charge? I don't see a point.

>>3226812
>Write-in.
>Ok, I accept... but if we win YOU have to listen to OUR orders!

>>3226840
This

>>3226812
>Ignore Wolf.
get off my lawn

>>3226861
>>3226826
>>3226812
Actually a combination of asking and ignoring is best for me

Next vote breaks tie or I roll a die in 5

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>3226826
>>3226861
1
>>3226840
>>3226849
2

Writing

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Sticking your head out of the circle momentarily, you ask, “Why do you want to be in charge? I don’t see the point...”

“Huh?” she says.

One of the thaumaturges behind her tells you, “It’s chaotic when thaumaturges try to work with each other! They have to worry about not stepping over each other’s toes!”

The second adds, “If you don’t make the chain of command clear or follow along, you’re just making it harder for everyone!”

You tell everyone else, “Sorry, I don’t really want to get involved either.”

Ember ruffles her hair. “Tch. I wanted to show her but if no one wants to, I won’t.” To Wolf, she declares, “Forget it! We don’t care!”

You try and add, “We can always decide when the time comes...”

Wolf’s eyes narrow. “Sure you will. Don’t complain after I’ve warned you.” She closes the door, and you let out a sigh of relief.

The room falls into silence, broken when Lilac decides to clean up the Siege cards laying around. There’s a kind of awkward atmosphere lingering.

Ember grumbles, “What’s with that girl?”

Rye gets up. “I’m going to town to buy some supplies. Anyone want to come?”

Ember hums thoughtfully. “Supplies?”

“Instruments, alchemy ingredients, the usual.”
>Go with her.
>Go with her, but mostly because you want to walk around town.
>You’d rather stay in today.
>Write-in.

>>3226953
>>Go with her, but mostly because you want to walk around town.

>>3226953
>>Go with her, but mostly because you want to walk around town.

>>3226570
Haha, just finished with the first thread.

Plant-body horror, in my magic academy? It's more likely than you think.

>>3226959
>>3226961
Distract the hell out of her

Writing

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Going with her, you change and tidy yourself before leaving. Though you’ve been here a while, you haven’t ever really gone anywhere outside of the Anlaecende. Thankful you’re travelling with a guide in this twisting, unfamiliar urban jungle, you walk beside her down the downhill path into town. The buildings crowd around, the steep change in height of the streets below to the road you’re on slowly becomes less and less extreme.

“You’ve never been there before, right?” Rye asks, talking about the shop she’s heading to. You shake your head, and she tells you, “You’ll like it. There’s an assortment of interesting Instruments there.”

How did she know? You suppose your wand and knack for Siege might have given that away. “Really? I can’t imagine there’s a shop for them. All the ones I’ve seen where I used to live were mostly made-to-order.”

“We have an easier time making them here,” she explains, “Easy enough to do it for fun, but not quite enough to make it cheap. Do you recall the Anlaecende’s Shard?”

“Oh!” you say, “Is that what the island’s protection comes from?” They must’ve surrounded it with Instruments to forcibly warp its radiating energies. “Wow, that’s really convenient.”

“It is. I believe there is an Instrument crafting class that we all have to take at some point,” she thinks out loud.

As you talk about all sorts of Instrumental oddities with her, your eyes dart around, trying to absorb all the different places around you. There’s all sorts of strange places around, some rowdier than others. Passing by a shop with a large leaf-shaped sign, you peer inside and stop everything before backtracking.

“Stella?” Rye calls you.

You squint. There’s someone inside, wearing the store’s uniform, and when she turns around to put something on the shelf, you see her face—Lavender.

That said, you haven’t seen her at all in the castle. You put two and two together.

You found her when you weren’t looking for her?
>Step in and hi.
>Leave her be.
>Write-in.

>>3227054
>>Step in and hi.

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>>3227054
>Step in and hi.

>>3227054
>>Step in and hi.

>>3227054
>>Step in and hi.

>>3227060
>>3227070
>>3227072
>>3227080
>me in charge of not dropping words

Writing

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“Sorry,” you tell Rye, “I’m taking a quick detour!” You enter the shop, the bell on the door ringing to announce your entry.

Lavender, turning around, says, “Welcome!” taking a curio from a crate and sliding it into place on the display. She sees you, and her face betrays a strange, complicated blend of emotions. You think you caught a hint of bitterness in there, or maybe it was from the dried roots nearby.

“Hi Lavender,” you greet, “It’s been a while, huh?”

“Yeah,” she says, nodding. A pause. “You made it in.”

“Mm,” you affirm.

She stretches, extending her arms into the sky, as if wringing unwanted sentiments out of her body. “Gah! I’ll get better, and I’ll try again then!” The bell rings behind you as Rye enters, seeing you and turning away to see what is in stock. Lavender calls out to her, “Welcome!”

“I’ll be rooting for you,” you tell her. Taking a look around, you finally notice all the bottles and mixtures Lavender’s been putting up. “Wow, you work in an alchemist’s store? There’s so many things here,” you point out, eyeing the rows and rows of various types of dried flowers.

Lavender nods. “It’s my parents’ store. I’m just helping them. I... can’t really make things good enough to sell.”

“What about the two you used during the exam; you made those, right? Those were amazing!”

She purses her lips. “I did, but there’s already better stuff on these shelves. Look!” she says, pointing at a line of vials in a glass cabinet. “These are twice as effective as my invigorating brew in half the amount, and... they don’t taste like you’re eating grass.”

“W-well,” you say, “What about the other one?”

“That was supposed to be cold medicine, but I messed it up,” she says, quietly trailing off.

“O-oh.”

You should stop talking about that.
>Distract her by asking her what the nearest strange thing is.
>Further attempt to cheer her up.
>Ask if she can recommend something for a specific purpose. (Write-in)
>Take your leave.
>Write-in.

>>3227158
>>Distract her by asking her what the nearest strange thing is.
We should think about buying something. maybe to use in case the bullies try something on us

>>3227158
>>Further attempt to cheer her up.

>>Further attempt to cheer her up.

>>3227163
Distract and bribe

>>3227175
>>3227183
Do the impossible

Writing

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“Lavender,” you say, “If you can make such great explosives accidentally, think about what you can do if you put your mind to it!” That didn’t sound right.

She giggles. “That’s true, but I’m not sure if I want to do that for a living. I like making remedies, not things to hurt people with.”

“O-or maybe if you try to make explosives, you’ll make the best cold remedy?” you stammer. “Anyways! I still think your potions are nice, even if you don’t think that yourself.”

Lavender gives you a smile. “Thanks, Stella.”

An idea pops into your head. “Hey, can I buy one of those?” pointing to the vials she mentioned, the ones that were basically an improved version of her brew. “I think I might need one down the line.” You didn’t like the way Wolf barged in or the way she left, and you’d rather cover your bases.

She gladly rings up your purchase, and after, Rye purchase a handful of things. Taking a peek, you can’t make sense of what she bought.

When you leave, you wave Lavender goodbye, promising to be a patron, and when you’ve taken a few steps out the door, Rye quietly says, “There was a cheaper place a few minutes from here, but this should be fine.” She off-handedly asks you if you knew Lavender, and with a few words, you bring her up to speed.

With your new purchase safely tucked in your bag, you see what else catches your eye.
>There’s sounds of fighting and extravagant shouting!
>Not your eye, your nose! There’s a mouth-watering scent going around.
>A strange building of pure white stands out from its neighboring structures.

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Be back in an hour or so

>>3227266
>>A strange building of pure white stands out from its neighboring structures.

>>3227266
>>There’s sounds of fighting and extravagant shouting!

>>3227266
>>There’s sounds of fighting and extravagant shouting!

>>3227266
>A strange building of pure white stands out from its neighboring structures.

>>3227266
>There’s sounds of fighting and extravagant shouting!

>>3227268
>>3227288
Thoughtful architecture

>>3227275
>>3227277
>>3227311
Thoughtful combat

Writing

Awwwww, poor Lavender. I was rooting for her!

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“What’s that?” you ask, pointing to the white building ahead. It’s blindingly so, too.

Rye studies it for a moment. “That’s where we get milk.” You wait for her to continue, but she doesn’t.

“Huh?!” you exclaim.

“That’s a cowlith, a portmanteau of cow and monolith. There are thaumaturges inside day and night, tending to and working the stone udders. It’s white because the walls are soaked with milk after collecting it from the air, and it’s then harvested through osmosis.” You stare at Rye in awe. She stares at you back. “I’m kidding.”

“Gah! I knew it!” you groan.

“You took it so seriously,” she tells you. “It’s a chapel.”

Shaking off your annoyance, you ask, “Is it like a shrine?”

“Yes, a bigger, more organized one. This one is dedicated to the Shard underneath the Anlaecende,” she explains, “I never visit it; it gives me the creeps.”

You can’t say you like it either. “Hey, I think I hear something,” you point out, “Let’s go check it out.” You take the lead, guided by your ears as Rye wordlessly agrees. As you walk down the street, you’re redirected twice by Rye before she’s the one in the lead again. Progress is clear, seeing as how the noise grows louder by the minute. Cheering erupts in odd intervals, and soon, you realize why.

There’s a crowd gathered before a stage, where a play takes place. You and Rye make your way closer, though you find it impossible to get close enough to be able to see what’s happening properly.

Finally, you can see the two leads in combat.

One, with short orange hair, dashes forward, her coattails flapping in the wind. Her sword strikes what is sure to be a clean blow, but the other combatant leaps backwards, floating into the air! Her long flowing dress matches her white hair and is covered in a thin layer of frost as she performs a Miracle. A barrier of ice halts the steel shortly before transforming into deadly spines. They spew outward, nearly catching the swordswoman! She parts further incoming spines with her sword that shines a brilliant white, melting some on contact.

The swordswoman declares, “Snow! Surrender now, for I will not ask again! The battle is lost for you and your army, and try as you might to save your King, it is hopeless!”

“Never!” the apparent Snow shouts. “I will never forsake my people, my King, my duty! Into death I will gladly march with my pride, for it is all that I have!”

“Fool! What a hopeless endeavor this is! What salvation can you seek, even if you slay me?!”

“You will never understand, Dawn!” Snow retorts, “You’re born of the land, how can you possible see? Back to the wastes, beasts; no soil you walk upon will ever be free from savagery!”

The crowd cheers once, deafening.
>Push your way closer!
>Hover into the air.
>Complain to Rye you can’t see.
>Write-in.

>>3227494
>>Hover into the air.

>>3227494
>>Complain to Rye you can’t see.

>>3227494
>Complain to Rye you can’t see.

R-Rye, this obstruction of light is too powerful! Please, help me.

>>3227494
>Push your way closer!

>>3227505
Fly

>>3227515
>>3227545
Rye, help

>>3227551
Bulldoze

Writing

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“Rye,” you call, “I can’t see anything.”

She turns to you, waiting for you to say something. “Do you want me to part the crowd the seas?”

“Maybe that’s a little too much.”

She checks the heads of everyone in front of her. “Do you want to get on my shoulders?”

“W-what?” you say, “Hold on, I’ll just hover.”

“That’ll be rude,” she replies, “Get on my shoulders. Unless you’re saying you’re too fat for me to carry, and in that case, don’t get on.”

You huff, “I’m not! Fine, crouch a little so I reach!”

You climb on her back and she lifts you up. You soon realize she’s barely carrying your weight at all, lifting you up with a Miracle. Embarrassment quickly overtakes any other though and you try to make yourself as small of a presence as possible. You feel like a child.

It’s soon forgotten as from behind the stage, music begins to play, drowning out the other noises altogether.

https://files.catbox.moe/y6f5hq.mp3

“It is you who is blind!” Dawn says, stepping backwards. “How can you live under tyranny? With the strength of Gods, we need no Kings or Queens!”

“Not all of us are blessed with such power,” Snow replies, her head lowering. Her hair threatens to hide her face.”

“Your heart has melted altogether...” she replies, “Do you not think you have the strength to live for your people?”

“No, that is not true.” Snow’s fists tighten into a grip. “It is them who do not accept me. I am the one forced to walk alone. I carry their wills; it is the only thing I am able to do!”

“Snow...”

Her dress sways in the wind. “It is only in the battlefield that I feel I am at home.”

Dawn’s grip on her sword weakens. “I know. I am the same.”

“No, you revel in it!”

Changing her footing, Dawn raises her sword once more. Her expression hardens. “Because I have nothing else,” she tells Snow, “And it is a sin to not enjoy life.” She steps forward, and her being flashes. As if the sun itself had appeared on the stage, she becomes a brilliant light that crosses the stage in an instant. Before anyone can know it, the final blow was struck, and Snow collapses onto the ground. “Farewell,” Dawn says, sheathing her sword. She doesn’t look back. “May we meet again in another life.”

The curtains fall, hiding the stage.

Another voice booms, “And so, with the fall of Snow so too the Northern Empire. The continent finds itself split once more, fragmenting the landscape into small clusters of civilization, huddling for warmth around the Shards that color the ends of the world.”

The curtains part again, revealing Dawn hiking up a rocky trail, fighting against the harsh winds.

Continuing, the narrator says, “The Golden Knight would wander with purpose, helping those who she’d come across, heading to the Mountain of Tomorrow. Although many await her, she would never return. The End.”

[1/2]

>>3227658

The crowd erupts in a cacophony. You thought you were mistaken at first, but you think you hear someone sobbing even.

Finally, Rye puts you back down. She says, “That was... certainly an interpretation of the war. For one, Snow isn’t dead.”

Rye looks like she wants to complain at length.
>”Haha, wow, we should get going. Where were you headed again?”
>”Okay, okay, what is it?”
>”It wasn’t that bad... was it?”
>”I liked it.”
>Write-in.

Sorry, misjudged the length.

>>3227665
>>”Okay, okay, what is it?”

>>3227665
>”I liked it.”

Dawn > Snow every time

>>3227665

>Write-in.
What's the real story then?

>>3227665
>>”I liked it.”
Stella is precious and likes even hokey interpretations of historical events for plays, obviously

>>3227679
>>3227697
>>3227693
>>3227711
combining into some hideous abomination

Writing

>>3227723
YEAH! ABOMINATIONS!

>>3227723
there's a not insignificant chance Stella is or is related to a hideous abomination, based on my earlier shadowrunnings and the metamorphosis dream, so perhaps it's fitting

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“Okay, what is it? What’s the real story?” you ask, giving into her eagerness.

“First of all, the only time they fought was before the war even began! They both disappeared near the end of it but they were nowhere near each other!” Rye begins to lay it on you. “Only Emerald’s testimony mentioned any kind of conflict with them together at the end, and she’s a complete lunatic! This is the same Emerald that wrote ‘The Chains of the Anlaecende’ and suggested everyone who wasn’t a thaumaturge to siege the castle!” Her information pours on you much like the experience of standing underneath a small waterfall. “Also, Snow was never that wordy! Even in her speeches she was frighteningly succinct!”

“I-I liked the play,” you tell her, “I thought the fights were neat.”

“And it should be! They sacrificed all the accuracy for it,” she replies in a huff. “That was an impressive Miracle that Dawn pulled off at the end. I wonder how many people it took for it to look so flawless?”

Silently, you express your relief at Rye calming down. You and her exchange a few more words, pointing out how dangerous the props were and the effects. You note how tidy and detailed their costumes were, and Rye tells you that the plays that happen around here rake in quite the bit of money. Apparently what you just witnessed was a group of new actors trying to break into the scene, hence the free viewing.

Before you know it, the two of you finally reach the Instrument shop, Rye entering before you. On wooden racks, various carved and shaped objects are on full display. Some are clean, sharp, and focused, while others are wild and wicked. From plant growth to color dyes, there’s just about everything in here.

Rye goes up to the shopkeep by the counter, and a glimmer catches your eye. She has a ring on her hand, it’s a blue ring that for a moment, you thought was red.

You check out what’s on display.
>A ribbon to falsify your voice.
>A bell that banishes the dark.
>A necklace that absorbs a blow.
>Just look around.
>Write-in.

>>3227785
>>A necklace that absorbs a blow.

Now this will be useful.

>>3227785
>A bell that banishes the dark.

Quest like this, darkness is far scarier than blows.

>>3227785
>A necklace that absorbs a blow
we could probably banish the dark ourselves lol

>>3227785
>A ribbon to falsify your voice.
This will surely be useful somehow

>>3227803
>>3227817
In case you get into a tussle

>>3227809
In case you need a night light

>>3227822
In case you need to commit fraud

Writing

>>3227785
>Glasses that see beneath
I WANT TO SEE THE GARDEN. I WANT TO SEE ALL THE GARDENS.

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Taking a look around, you begin to realize how intricate some of these Instruments are. There’s a massive variety of shapes and sizes, making up for the fact that there are no duplicate Instruments. Though one might make another similar to another, no two are the same. Instruments are hand-shaped by a non-thaumaturge getting perilously close to a Shard. Although you don’t know the details of the process or what happens exactly when you touch a Shard, you realize it’s just one of those things you just shouldn’t do, similar to how you shouldn’t stare at the sun. Then again, you’ve never seen a Shard in person, so you never had to make that decision in the first place.

Many Instruments catch your eye, but a necklace is what causes you to stop. The small label underneath it details its purpose: much like the protection of the castle, it serves as an energy dampener. Not a nullifier. Still, it should serve well to guard against a single blow before breaking. You check the price and wince, picking it up anyways.

You need to find a job.

Letting your fingers run across the Instrument, you realize the shapes that are stringed along it are, in fact, teeth. Some aren’t just teeth, but metal and wood fused seamlessly to the shapes. It’s morbid. You think if you’re ever going to wear this, you’re hiding it underneath your shirt.

You look around for a little more and spot a row of besoms. You’re never going to replace yours, of course, but some of these are ridiculously fancy. One even has padding for your bottom! Absolutely mind-boggling.

Before you can regret it, you purchase the necklace and wait for Rye as she purchases a handful of wands. She looks at what you bought.

“This isn’t because of Wolf, is it?” she asks.

You reply,
>”It’s not!”
>”I can’t be too safe.”
>”...It is.”
>Write-in.

>>3227924
>>”...It is.”
>>”I can’t be too safe.”

>>3227924
>”I can’t be too safe.”

>>3227960
>>3227982
This

Writing

>>3227924

>”...It is.”
>Write-in.
She seems the type to pull something. I've met bullies like her before

>>3228049
Alright, no reason to not count this one too.

>>3228057
Ah yeah, 19 sec difference, didn't realize you had closed the vote.

I hope we don't have to fight back against Wolf. I remember a kid in my class we nicknamed 'brick'. Small guy that got picked on by a bigger kid a lot. Then the small guy decided to permanently make sure he wasn't picked on ever again with a brick in a ladies handbag. Swung and broke the bigger kid's rib and then broke the leg when big kid was flat on the ground.

>>3228092
Hot damn. Something tells me Stella wouldn't be quite capable of pulling that off though lmao

unless maybe some freaky shit was going on similar to the garden situation, but we can't predict that

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“...It is,” you admit.

“True,” she replies, “Though that might be overdoing it.”

“She seems kind of unpredictable,” you tell Rye, “I can’t be too safe.”

She tells you, “I’ve seen her fight. If you stay a good distance behind her, she can’t do anything.”

You reply, “But that means I’ll lose!”

She shrugs. “It’s just a race. Does it matter more than your health? And when it’s not one, it wouldn’t matter if you’re behind her or not.” Rye grabs her bag of newly purchased Instruments. “Personally, I think you overthink things. The solutions are simple.”

You pout. “Doesn’t mean they’re great.”

“A mediocre solution is better than none,” she replies.

Seeing as how she won’t be changing your mind, you change the subject. “Why did you buy so many wands anyways?”

“Alchemy’s going to be a pain. I’m probably going to burn through all of these in a week.”

You grimace. “That’s a waste.”

“Better the wands than my hands,” she replies, “You’re confident about tomorrow, huh?”

“...Tomorrow?” you tilt your head. “What’s tomorrow?”

Rye stares at you. “The first day of class?”

You blink. “Eh?”

>You have a {Dampening Necklace}!
>This is a Trinket. Trinkets can be used during an Encounter at any time without taking up an Action.
>{Dampening Trinket} Select a skill. Any incoming [Shock] instances from it is reduced to 1 this turn only.
>This is useless against skills that instantly overflow your [Shock] stack.
>You also cannot use this in Races that forbid Trinkets.

>You have an (Invigorating Potion)!
>This is a one-time (Skill) that consumes an Action.
>It will increase your Constitution and Speed by 3 for the rest of the Encounter.
>You can only bring 3 skills to an Encounter, but since you don’t have a Talent, this isn’t a problem.

Thanks for playing. I'll be back tomorrow, same time. Maybe a little later.

>>3228163
Thanks for running!

>>3228109
Yeah, Brick was an outlier and sort of random for a quest. It's just something I remember when it comes to bullies. It seriously messed Brick up for the rest of his life. After being bullied, he had no sense of holding back or proportion. If he fought, he fought to try and kill you. It was possibly one of the most unnerving thing to witness if you're just a 12 year old. Most kids will stop after knocking you on the ground. Brick would try to smash your head open with a cinder block.
The only reason the bully survived Brick was because a whole bunch of other kids had to dogpile Brick and calm him down. He had no chill, forever.
Ended up going to jail eventually.

>>3228163
Cheers, man.
Good night.

>>3228163
Good night! Stella a cute.

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The Courtyard.

At first, you thought it’s merely the unkempt grassy space between the castle and the ruined walls that surround it. Now, you know it’s the unkempt grassy space that is used for psychophasia, because after scratching your head and running around for a little while, you’ve discovered that the class is being held outside. Maybe it’s a one-off thing.

That is why you find yourself waist-deep, treading awkwardly through to where students have gathered.

“Stella,” someone calls out to you from behind. You feel your heart leap from the sudden voice. Turning around, you find Lilac running up to you. “You’re here too.”

You reply with a nod, “Let’s get going.”

Turning around a corner, you find a little less than two dozen others, waiting. Some of them are talking amongst themselves while others are making idle motions.

You quietly point out, “Looks like it hasn’t started yet.”

Lilac taps your shoulder to get your attention. “Um, what’s this class for?”

You pause. “I’m not sure, but I think we’re going to find out.”

She quietly mutters, “I hope we don’t have to race.”

A quick scan and you spot someone awfully familiar. Her hair stands on end, a permanent state of levitation. Plume! Of course she made it. It looks like she’s conversing with someone, the same person who was with her when you saw her before the entrance exam.

You should...
>Go and say hi.
>Keep your distance.
>Write-in.

>>3230470
>Go and say hi.

>>3230470
>>Go and say hi.

>>3230470
>Go in and hi

>>3230470
>Go and say hi.
Friendship power activate!

>>3230486
>>3230492
>>3230512
>>3230516
hello

Writing

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Inadvertently with Lilac in tow, you head toward Plume before you’re attacked by a landshark or something. She spots you and gives you a little wave.

“Stella, it’s been a while. Glad to see you’re here,” she tells you.

“Hi, Plume,” you greet. “You look well.”

“I wish I could say the same for you; you look as if you’re on the edge of a cliff.”

You shyly laugh. “Really? I’m always like this.”

“Hey, hey,” Plume’s friend interrupts, “Who’s this? Is she the one who beat you in the entrance exam?”

Pretending to not sulk, she replies, “She isn’t, we tied. When are you going to stop rubbing it in?”

“I don’t know. I think you just gave me more arrows to shoot at you with,” she replies with a grin.

Plume rolls her eyes. “Macaron, this is Stella. Stella, this is Macaron.”

[1/2]

>>3230565
>"I could have won! If I felt like it..."

>>3230598
Dude...
>[1/2]

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>>3230565

“Hello!” she says, “Thanks for putting up with Plume.”

And to that, Plume replies with a singular, “Macaron.”

She’s small, shorter than you. Her arms are much like twigs and she looks like she would topple over at the slightest breeze, yet she carries herself with full confidence.

You mumble, “I could’ve beaten Plume, if I had...”

“What was that?” Plume asks.

“Nothing!” you reply. For a second, you almost said the same thing she did. Forgetting it, you introduce them to Lilac, who meekly greets them and thus finishing the round of introductions.

Macaron wonders out loud, “Isn’t it kinda weird we’re all out here? I’m pretty sure I saw something move in the grass earlier.”

You can practically hear Lilac frown in dismay. You do the same, but you hide it a little better. “There’s something out here?”

She nods, “Yup! Want to check it out? Ninety-nine percent sure something is moving around.” Other thaumaturges nearby give her side glances.

Plume gives her a look, one that seems as if she’s reconsidering the state of her friend’s mental health.

Lilac tells you, “I think I’m going to stay here.”

Tempting.
>Go with Macaron.
>She can check it out, you’ll stay right here.
>This really isn’t the time to mess around.
>Write-in.

>>3230642
>>This really isn’t the time to mess around.

>>3230642
>>This really isn’t the time to mess around.
>>Write-in.

" Plume, did a girl called Wolf talked to you too?"

>>3230642
>This really isn’t the time to mess around.

Maybe tell Plume that Lavender didn't make it

>>3230689
And Ember almost bleed to death.

>>3230651
>>3230674
>>3230689
>>3230701
This

Writing

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“This really isn’t the time to mess around,” you tell her.

“Eeeh? Aren’t you curious?” Macaron asks. She keeps walking, but when she realizes you’re serious, she stops. “Fiine.” She crouches where she is now, not too far from you, looking for whatever it is she’s looking for.

Turning to Plume, you decide to tell her about Lavender. She listens to you wordlessly, and when you finish with how you saw her in an alchemy shop she was working in, Plume seems to struggle with the right words. It’s almost as if she’s trying really hard to be considerate in front of you. “That’s a shame. True, she could try again after a while. Perhaps she’ll awaken some latent power by then.” It’s as convincing as she says it is.

And then, you add, “Oh, Ember almost died.”

She blinks. “Pardon?”

You give a short summary of the events, and when you’re done, Plume says, “I don’t think she was in that much danger.”

“What do you mean?” you ask.

Lilac speaks up. “Do you know the two rules of leechcraft?” she asks. When you shake your head, she continues, “First, don’t damage the brain. Second, don’t get eaten.”

You’re speechless. No, wait, you’ve got something to say. “Isn’t that... obvious?”

“I-I mean...”

Plume clarifies for her. “It’s the point of no return. It means even with a Miracle, it’ll be impossible to return her as she once was.” You touch your head, starting to panic. Your brain is too vulnerable!

Lilac attempts to reassure you. “It’s okay, even if it does happens, leechcraft staff are the best of the best.”

You change the conversation before it can really get to you. “Okay, unrelated, but Plume, did a girl called Wolf talk to you?”

“Haven’t heard of her,” she replies. “Why?”

Lilac explains, “She barged into our room,” she pauses for a moment, “and challenged us to a race.”

Plume adjusts her hair. “Sounds like petty Coven politics.” She doesn’t seem interested in it at all, and as you start to try and ask her why, a booming voice interrupts you.

[1/2]

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>>3230792

“Is that everyone?” someone shouts. A woman is standing on a balcony in the castle, overlooking this part of the courtyard. “Good morning!” You recognize her! It’s the same person who poked at your brain a while ago! “I’m Doctor Aurora, your teacher for psychophasia.” A few mumbles and whispers are exchanged below. She continues, “For those of you who don’t know, psychophasia is the construction of meaning within the mind. In other words, how a Miracle is performed. I know what you might be wondering: why are we out here in waist-high grass instead of a classroom? That’s because we should actually be in ankle-high grass, and the groundskeeper is busy on an errand that he has yet to finish!” She says that last part with great annoyance. “Until he finds that damned ring, you’re going to have to make this place useable for yourselves! And fortunately, the first task to be done is pulling weeds.”

Audible complaints arise. “What?! Hire someone for that! Why are you making us do lowly work?!”

The doctor laughs. “They’re immiracle weeds. They’ve overrun this blasted courtyard, feasting on the Shard’s energy, and in turn, the protection it provides. Minor worries; they’re weeds after all.”

Behind you, Macaron bursts out of the grass. “Hey, look what I found!” In her hand is a squirming blade of grass, thrashing in her grip.

Plume’s eyes widen. “Get away from that!”

Doctor Aurora says, “Consider this to be a quiz—I’ll split you all into groups of four. Deweed your part of the courtyard for an A, or return to the castle. If you choose the latter, for every member you lose, a grade point will be deducted. Now, let me wake them so you can actually tell them apart from the rest of the grass.”

In the rising panic of the other students, Plume reaches Macaron, thankful that she hasn’t went too far. Exchanging momentum, she throws Macaron to you just as the earth itself lights up. The doctor’s feeding it with raw energy, and whatever was down there below catches a whiff of the lavish banquet set out before it. A white border separates you, Plume, Macaron, and Lilac from the others.

It bursts out of the ground at every inch, thrashing, squirming, consuming the air around it. And then it notices the thaumaturges standing before it.

Plume’s right in front of tide of green. “Fight! We can’t all get away!”

Lilac shouts, “It’s too much! We can’t beat it!”

In an instant, a plan is formed.
>Fight.
>Flight.

>>3230877
>Fight.

Let's go!

>>3230877
>Fite

>>3230877
>Flight.
Let's go!
If we help groundskeeper find his damned ring do we pass?

>>3230896
>>3230907
Fight

>>3230909
Flight

Writing.

>>3230909
>If we help groundskeeper find his damned ring do we pass?
You actually just missed it.

>>3230946
blue/red one? One the shopkeep had?

>>3230957
Yes. It's not the groundskeeper's ring, it's Aurora's.

>>3230967
Oh right.

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Plume’s right next to it, and Macaron’s not that far away. If you don’t start fighting it now, the likelihood of you beating is close to zero. And if Macaron was any further away, Plume wouldn’t have reached her in time.

The situation is uncomfortable, but not unsalvageable!

“Fight!” you declare. Throwing yourself onto your besom, you speed away from the tide as it threatens to pull you under. The others, too, do the same.

The... thing behind you grows and grows, rising higher and tearing through the dirt as it advances. It’s giving chase.

> You are in an Encounter. Specifically, this is a Hunt.
>Every Hunt consists of a participant chasing another, where the win condition is the incapacitation of the other party.
>Hunts will often have secondary win conditions.

It’s a jumble of plants, melding with blades of grass, crashing into the ground and burrowing closer and closer. Just by sheer proximity you can feel your concentration drain! To your left, you hear someone from another group cry out before they’re pulled underneath the flora, disappearing.

Your eyes widen in horror.

[1/3]

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>>3231019

>The Immiraculous Poaceae is a Special Participant. It has 6 skills.

[Immiraculous Poaceae]
Con: 45
Miracle: 0/0 [+0]
Speed: 7
Position: 0

Skills:
>(Whence All Things Came) No characters will recover from [Shock] overflow this encounter. [Passive]

>(Festering Soil) You occupy the point you are on and all that behind it. All enemy skills require an additional Miracle to be cast. In addition, you can take two actions per turn. [Passive]

>????


[Plume]
Con: 10
Miracle: 10/20 [+2.5]
Speed: 10
Position: 0

Skills:
>(Untouchable) Expend 8 Miracles. For 1 turn, nothing undesirable can affect you. Gain [Haste 3]. This action resolves first this turn. [Cooldown: 6]

>(Psychic Shock) Expend 3 Miracles and select a target within 10 Lengths. Obliterate 2 Miracles from their pool. Repeatable on the same target.

>(Peerless Poise) Expend 10 Miracles. For 3 turns, nullify all incoming [Shock] or [Slow] instances, and all [Stun] instances are transformed into [Slow 5]. [Cooldown: 12]


[Macaron]
Con: 4
Miracle: 3/10 [+2.5]
Speed: 9
Position: 7

Skills:
>(Easy Come, Easy Go) If your [Shock] instances overflow, you are stunned for 1 turn instead the normal amount. [Passive]


[Lilac]
Con: 8
Miracle: 6/12 [+2]
Speed: 8
Position: 14

Skills:
>???

>>3231044

Goal: Defeat Immiraculous Poaceae or Reach 80

[Stella]
Con: 7
Miracle: 6/10 [+1.5]
Speed: 10
Position:11

Skills:
>(Prismatic Burst) Expend 2 Miracles and select a target within 28 Lengths. Blast them and deal 3 instances of [Shock]. If they target you with a skill this turn, apply an additional 2 instances.

>(Illume) Expend 5 Miracles and select a target within 25 Lengths. Deal them 2 instances of [Shock]. If you have not targeted them using this skill before in this Encounter, for 1 turn their perceived distance of you is increased by 10 Lengths. [Cooldown: 2]

>(Invigorating Potion) Expend no Miracles. Increase your Constitution and Speed by 3 for the rest of the encounter. [One Use]

>(Ram) Expend no Miracles and select a target within 5 Lengths. Take half your speed and deal that many instances of [Shock] to them. You also receive half of the number of [Shock]s dealt.

>(Pace) Expend no Miracles. Choose either to [Slow] up to 6 or to [Haste] up to 3.

Trinkets:
>{Dampening Trinket} Select a skill. Any incoming [Shock] instances from it is reduced to 1 this turn only. [One Use]

>>3231062
>(Prismatic Burst) Expend 2 Miracles and select a target within 28 Lengths. Blast them and deal 3 instances of [Shock]. If they target you with a skill this turn, apply an additional 2 instances.

pew pew
let's see what it can do

>>3231062
Tell Plume to keep it busy.

>>3231189
And of course:
>(Prismatic Burst)

>>3231174
>>3231189
>>3231194
This

Writing

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https://files.catbox.moe/eerpsw.mp3

“Plume, can you distract it?!”

She shouts back, “I can’t promise anything!”

Before anything, you see something chance in Plume’s eyes.

>[Plume] uses (Peerless Poise)!

She deftly flies forward, slipping between the rising blades of grass.

You force your anxiety down. There’s no time for that! You’re not the only one at risk here. Raising your wand back, you fire!

>[Stella] uses (Prismatic Burst) on [Immiraculous Poaceae]!
>[Immiraculous Poaceae] receives 3 instances of [Shock].

A shimmering glow tears apart some greenery, but quickly more move back to fill it. There’s too many of them, they’re just going to keep going!

Behind you, you see Macaron, who presses on ahead, not wanting to be any closer to the damned thing! “G-give me a second!” she cries out.

>[Macaron] uses (Pace) [Haste 3]!
>[Macaron] gains [Haste 3].

In front of you, Lilac turns her head. Her eyes narrow in concentration, and she shouts, “Get out of there!”

Between Plume and Macaron, unnatural flowers spring to life, coloring the landscape underneath their feet. They endlessly blossom and crowd around one another, fighting for attention.

>[Lilac] uses (Full Bloom) on point 5!
>(Full Bloom) Expend 5 Miracles and select a point within 25 Lengths. For five turns, you and any allies within a 5 Length radius of the point gains [Haste 4].

>[Plume] and [Macaron] receives [Haste 4]!

Suddenly, the ground begins to rumble. Macaron shouts, “Plume!”

The soil bubbles before exploding, an eruption of grasping blades that encircle her! One after the other they reach for her, spiraling around before she slips past one after the other. Even when it surrounds her, she manages to find a gap to pierce through!

>[Immiraculous Poaceae] uses (The Tall Grasses) on [Plume]!
>(The Tall Grasses) Expend no Miracles and select a target within 2 Lengths. Instantly overflow their [Shock] stack.
>[Plume] dodges it!

The attacks abate after a moment, and instead, the weeds stab into the soil. Two come out. It repeats, again and again, threatening to close in at any moment. It creeps closer, and you can your hairs stand on end.

>[Immiraculous Poaceae] uses (Instantaneous Germination)!
>(Instantaneous Germination) Expend no Miracles. Move forward by 4 Lengths. You can only use this once per turn.
>[Immiraculous Poaceae] springs forward to position 4!

[1/3]

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>>3231242

[Immiraculous Poaceae]
Con: 45
Miracle: 0/0 [+0]
Speed: 7
Position: 11 (4+7)

Status: [Shock]x3

Skills:
>(Whence All Things Came) No characters will recover from [Shock] overflow this encounter. [Passive]

>(Festering Soil) You occupy the point you are on and all that behind it. All enemy skills require an additional Miracle to be cast. In addition, you can take two actions per turn. [Passive]

>(The Tall Grasses) Expend no Miracles and select a target within 2 Lengths. Instantly overflow their [Shock] stack.

>(Instantaneous Germination) Expend no Miracles. Move forward by 4 Lengths. You can only use this once per turn.

>??


[Plume]
Con: 10
Miracle: 2.5/20 [+2.5]
Speed: 10 (10+4)
Position: 10 (0+10)

Status: [Haste 4]

Skills:
>(Untouchable) Expend 8 Miracles. For 1 turn, nothing undesirable can affect you. Gain [Haste 3]. This action resolves first this turn. [Cooldown: 6]

>(Psychic Shock) Expend 3 Miracles and select a target within 10 Lengths. Obliterate 2 Miracles from their pool. Repeatable on the same target.

>(Peerless Poise) Expend 10 Miracles. For 3 turns, nullify all incoming [Shock] or [Slow] instances, and all [Stun] instances are transformed into [Slow 5]. [On Cooldown, 12 Turns Left]


[Macaron]
Con: 4
Miracle: 5.5/10 [+2.5]
Speed: 16 (9+3+4)
Position: 16 (7+9)

Skills:
>(Easy Come, Easy Go) If your [Shock] instances overflow, you are stunned for 1 turn instead the normal amount. [Passive]

>??


[Lilac]
Con: 8
Miracle: 3/12 [+2]
Speed: 8
Position: 22 (14+8)

Skills:
>(Full Bloom) Expend 5 Miracles and select a point within 25 Lengths. For five turns, you and any allies within a 5 Length radius of the point gains [Haste 4].

>??

[2/3]

>>3231266

Goal: Defeat Immiraculous Poaceae or Reach 80

[Stella]
Con: 7
Miracle: 5.5/10 [+1.5]
Speed: 10
Position: 21 (11+10)

Skills:
>(Prismatic Burst) Expend 2 Miracles and select a target within 28 Lengths. Blast them and deal 3 instances of [Shock]. If they target you with a skill this turn, apply an additional 2 instances.

>(Illume) Expend 5 Miracles and select a target within 25 Lengths. Deal them 2 instances of [Shock]. If you have not targeted them using this skill before in this Encounter, for 1 turn their perceived distance of you is increased by 10 Lengths. [Cooldown: 2]

>(Invigorating Potion) Expend no Miracles. Increase your Constitution and Speed by 3 for the rest of the encounter. [One Use]

>(Ram) Expend no Miracles and select a target within 5 Lengths. Take half your speed and deal that many instances of [Shock] to them. You also receive half of the number of [Shock]s dealt.

>(Pace) Expend no Miracles. Choose either to [Slow] up to 6 or to [Haste] up to 3.

Trinkets:
>{Dampening Trinket} Select a skill. Any incoming [Shock] instances from it is reduced to 1 this turn only. [One Use]

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>>3231268
Be back in an hour or so. Next turn, you'll have full command over Lilac. Or maybe not, if you don't want to.

>>3231268
Ok we're never gonna get this thing to Shock 45. It would take 14 more turns and we'd need to slow down just to have enough time. We also really don't want to get within 2 lengths or it instakills us. So unless other witches start whacking away

>Haste 3

>>3231268
Ask Macaron and Lilac if they hve anything to shoot it. Then:

>(Pace) to Lilac and Stella

>>3231296
>Haste

>>3231295
I mean we might be able to take it down if the others have damaging moves

>>3231458
>So unless other witches start whacking away...

We still need to speed up, with that grow 4 move it has an effective speed of 11, and can instakill us if it gets close. We also know Plume has no offense, and is useless against this thing.

>>3231543
She could use the strategy she did last time and ram into it while she's immune to damage

>>3231295
>>3231296
>>3231302
Haste

Writing

>>3231584
Yeah and it stunlocks her forever the very next turn.

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“T-there’s no way,” you say, “There’s no way we can bring it down!”

Macaron yells at you, “Of course we can! There’s four of us and one of them! We just have to take it down before it beats all of us!” Then, she adds, “And I’m not leaving Plume behind!”

You choke. Your body ebbs as something rushes upon it. It’s as if your skin became paper and bones became glass. The space around Macaron threatens to tear apart at the seams, her very being standing on a precipice. You... you need to get away from her!

“Stop it!” you yelp. Ahead of you, Lilac bends over, curling up against her besom.

“I’m sorry, but I’ll be careful!” she replies. It recedes, but you felt as if the wind could’ve shredded you into pieces.

>[Macaron] uses (Fragile Presence) twice!
>(Fragile Presence) Expend 2 Miracle. Everyone else within an 8 Length radius gains 2 instances of [Shock] while you gain 1. Repeatable.

>[Macaron] receives 2 instances of [Shock]!
>[Immiraculous Poaceae] receives 4 instances of [Shock]!
>[Stella] receives 4 instances of [Shock]!
>[Lilac] receives 4 instances of [Shock]!
>[Plume] dodges the skill!

Unwilling to be near her, you speed on ahead. This is all damned!

>[Stella] uses (Pace) [Haste 3]!
>[Stella] gains [Haste 3]

Lilac, too, tries to get away.

>[Lilac] uses (Pace) [Haste 3]!
>[Lilac] gains [Haste 3]

Behind even the immiraculous flora, Plume crashes into the countless plants, shredding them!

“Is that all you’ve got?” she says between blows.

>[Plume] (Ram)s [Immiraculous Poaceae]!
>[Immiraculous Poaceae] receives 7 instances of [Shock]!

“Come and get me!” Its countless limbs raise, and fall, clearly choosing to leave her alone. Deciding that this prey was too difficult, it chases after the others.

There are plenty, after all.

Every single part of its beastly body rears before plunging itself into the ground. Everything below you becomes unstable, and before Lilac can react, a handful reaches upwards and grabs her from her besom. Crying out in surprise, she is thrown off by the sudden attack, her hand latching on at the last moment and swinging her body back, forcing herself to dangle in the air.

>[Immiraculous Poaceae] uses (Rooted!) on [Lilac]!
>(Rooted!) Expend no Miracles and select a target within 40 Lengths unaffected by [Slow]. [Snare] them and give them 3 instances of [Slow 4].
>[Lilac] receives an instance of [Snare] and 3 instances of [Slow 4]!

In that very same motion, the flora pours out of the ground anew, reducing the gap you’re trying to make even further!

>[Immiraculous Poaceae] uses (Instantaneous Germination)!
>[Immiraculous Poaceae] springs forward to position 15!

Your eyes widen. It can think? It’s not some stupid creature; it knows exactly what it wants and how to get it. You were quick to dismiss whether or not you could fight it, you didn’t even consider if you could get away at all.

[1/3]

>>3231652

[Immiraculous Poaceae]
Con: 45
Miracle: 0/0 [+0]
Speed: 7
Position: 22 (15+7)

Status: [Shock]x14

Skills:
>(Whence All Things Came) No characters will recover from [Shock] overflow this encounter. [Passive]

>(Festering Soil) You occupy the point you are on and all that behind it. All enemy skills require an additional Miracle to be cast. In addition, you can take two actions per turn. [Passive]

>(The Tall Grasses) Expend no Miracles and select a target within 2 Lengths. Instantly overflow their [Shock] stack.

>(Unravelling Miracle) Expend no Miracles and select a target within 12 Lengths. Nullify all effects from them this turn.

>(Instantaneous Germination) Expend no Miracles. Move forward by 4 Lengths. You can only use this once per turn.

>(Rooted!) Expend no Miracles and select a target within 40 Lengths unaffected by [Slow]. [Snare] them and give them 3 instances of [Slow 4].


[Plume]
Con: 10
Miracle: 5/20 [+2.5]
Speed: 14 (10+4)
Position: 24 (10+14)

Status: None

Skills:
>(Untouchable) Expend 8 Miracles. For 1 turn, nothing undesirable can affect you. Gain [Haste 3]. This action resolves first this turn. [Cooldown: 6]

>(Psychic Shock) Expend 3 Miracles and select a target within 10 Lengths. Obliterate 2 Miracles from their pool. Repeatable on the same target.

>(Peerless Poise) Expend 10 Miracles. For 3 turns, nullify all incoming [Shock] or [Slow] instances, and all [Stun] instances are transformed into [Slow 5]. [On Cooldown, 11 Turns Left]


[Macaron]
Con: 4
Miracle: 4/10 [+2.5]
Speed: 9
Position: 32 (16+16)

Status: [Shock]x2

Skills:
>(Easy Come, Easy Go) If your [Shock] instances overflow, you are stunned for 1 turn instead the normal amount. [Passive]

>(Fragile Presence) Expend 2 Miracle. Everyone else within an 8 Length radius gains 2 instances of [Shock] while you gain 1. Repeatable.

>?

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>>3231712

Next turn’s resolution order will be: Plume, Stella, Macaron, Immiraculous Poaceae, Lilac.
Characters with [Bolded Names] are ones that you can input an Action for.
Everyone but Stella’s inputs are optional. If you do not pick one, I’ll do it for you.


Goal: Defeat Immiraculous Poaceae or Reach 80

[Stella]
Con: 7
Miracle: 7/10 [+1.5]
Speed: 13 (10+3)
Position: 31 (21+10)

Status: [Shock]x4

Skills:
>(Prismatic Burst) Expend 2 Miracles and select a target within 28 Lengths. Blast them and deal 3 instances of [Shock]. If they target you with a skill this turn, apply an additional 2 instances.

>(Illume) Expend 5 Miracles and select a target within 25 Lengths. Deal them 2 instances of [Shock]. If you have not targeted them using this skill before in this Encounter, for 1 turn their perceived distance of you is increased by 10 Lengths. [Cooldown: 2]

>(Invigorating Potion) Expend no Miracles. Increase your Constitution and Speed by 3 for the rest of the encounter. [One Use]

>(Ram) Expend no Miracles and select a target within 5 Lengths. Take half your speed and deal that many instances of [Shock] to them. You also receive half of the number of [Shock]s dealt.

>(Pace) Expend no Miracles. Choose either to [Slow] up to 6 or to [Haste] up to 3.

Trinkets:
>{Dampening Trinket} Select a skill. Any incoming [Shock] instances from it is reduced to 1 this turn only. [One Use]


[Lilac]
Con: 8
Miracle: 5/12 [+2]
Speed: 0 (Snared)
Position: 30 (22+8)

Status: [Shock]x4

Skills:
>(Reinvigorate) Expend 2 Miracles and select a target within 15 Lengths or yourself. Remove 2 instances of [Slow] and [Snare] and apply [Haste 3].

>(Full Bloom) Expend 5 Miracles and select a point within 25 Lengths. For five turns, you and any allies within a 5 Length radius of the point gains [Haste 4].

>(Dew Drop) Expend 5 Miracles. You and your allies are purged of [Stun] instances and are immune to (Diverge) for 2 turn.

>>3231733
>Prismatic Burst

>Reinvigorate on Macaron

File: the great beyond.jpg (20 KB, 470x337)

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Oops, accidentally gave away one of Immiraculous Poaceae's skills. It should be fine.

>>3231733
>Stella
>(Prismatic Burst) Expend 2 Miracles and select a target within 28 Lengths. Blast them and deal 3 instances of [Shock]. If they target you with a skill this turn, apply an additional 2 instances.
On plant guy

>Lilac
>(Reinvigorate) Expend 2 Miracles and select a target within 15 Lengths or yourself. Remove 2 instances of [Slow] and [Snare] and apply [Haste 3].
On self

>>3231755
Let's go with this for now.

>>3231741
>>3231755
>>3231777
Burst

>>3231741
Reinvigorate Macaron

>>3231755
>>3231777
Reinvigorate self

Writing

File: the end comes.png (163 KB, 1024x1024)

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Once more, Plume tears through the plant life, inching everyone closer to victory.

>[Plume] (Ram)s [Immiraculous Poaceae]!
>[Immiraculous Poaceae] receives 7 instances of [Shock]!

You raise your wand. You hesitate. No, you’re not hesitating, you’re waiting. Waiting for the perfect moment to strike. The creature rears once more, and you fire, ripping free layers and layers of the damned thing, scattering fragments into the wind!

>[Stella] uses (Prismatic Burst) on [Immiraculous Poaceae]!
>[Immiraculous Poaceae] receives 5 instances of [Shock]!

And even though you saw it coming, there was little you could do to avoid it. Homing into your location, all manner of flexible cellulose burst from underneath and latch onto your besom in an instant.

>[Immiraculous Poaceae] uses (Rooted!) on [Stella]!
>[Stella] receives an instance of [Snare] and 3 instances of [Slow 4]!

Almost flying off, you hold still, unwilling to let go! It begins to twirl around the wood handle, solidifying its grip, and slowly, it begins to drag you down. Hand on its wicked grip, you begin to tear it away.

Macaron shouts your name. You finally notice she’s been trying to get your attention, and she says, “Hit me!”

You can’t think. You can’t reason why she would say that. “What?!”

“Trust me, hit me!” she demands, “Do it!”

>[Macaron] uses (Pace) [Haste 1]!
>[Macaron] gains [Haste 1].

Not knowing what she’s getting at, you attend to more pressing issues. To Lilac, you ask, “Are you okay?! Can you free yourself?”

She stammers, “I—I can try.” The plant life holding her down relents, bursting free!

>[Lilac] uses (Reinvigorate) on herself!
>[Lilac] loses 2 instances of [Slow 4] leaving none left!

As you’re held still, you watch the thing close in at an alarming rate.

>[Immiraculous Poaceae] uses (Instantaneous Germination)!
>[Immiraculous Poaceae] springs forward to position 26!

And in an instant, it is upon Lilac.

[1/3]

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>>3231999

[Immiraculous Poaceae]
Con: 45
Miracle: 0/0 [+0]
Speed: 7
Position: 33 (26+7)

Status: [Shock]x26

Skills:
>(Whence All Things Came) No characters will recover from [Shock] overflow this encounter. [Passive]

>(Festering Soil) You occupy the point you are on and all that behind it. You can take two actions per turn. [Passive]

>(The Tall Grasses) Expend no Miracles and select a target within 2 Lengths. Instantly overflow their [Shock] stack.

>(Instantaneous Germination) Expend no Miracles. Move forward by 4 Lengths. You can only use this once per turn.

>(Rooted!) Expend no Miracles and select a target within 40 Lengths unaffected by [Slow]. [Snare] them and give them 3 instances of [Slow 4].

>?


[Plume]
Con: 10
Miracle: 7.5/20 [+2.5]
Speed: 10
Position: 38 (24+14)

Status: [Peerless Poise]x1

Skills:
>(Untouchable) Expend 8 Miracles. For 1 turn, nothing undesirable can affect you. Gain [Haste 3]. This action resolves first this turn. [Cooldown: 6]

>(Psychic Shock) Expend 3 Miracles and select a target within 10 Lengths. Obliterate 2 Miracles from their pool. Repeatable on the same target.

>(Peerless Poise) Expend 10 Miracles. For 3 turns, nullify all incoming [Shock] or [Slow] instances, and all [Stun] instances are transformed into [Slow 5]. [On Cooldown, 10 Turns Left]


[Macaron]
Con: 4
Miracle: 6.5/10 [+2.5]
Speed: 10 (9+1)
Position: 41 (32+9)

Status: [Shock]x2

Skills:
>(Easy Come, Easy Go) If your [Shock] instances overflow, you are stunned for 1 turn instead the normal amount. [Passive]

>(Fragile Presence) Expend 2 Miracle. Everyone else within an 8 Length radius gains 2 instances of [Shock] while you gain 1. Repeatable.

>?

[2/3]

>>3232004

Goal: Defeat Immiraculous Poaceae or Reach 80

[Stella]
Con: 7
Miracle: 6.5/10 [+1.5]
Speed: 10
Position: 44 (31+13)

Status: [Shock]x4

Skills:
>(Prismatic Burst) Expend 2 Miracles and select a target within 28 Lengths. Blast them and deal 3 instances of [Shock]. If they target you with a skill this turn, apply an additional 2 instances.

>(Illume) Expend 5 Miracles and select a target within 25 Lengths. Deal them 2 instances of [Shock]. If you have not targeted them using this skill before in this Encounter, for 1 turn their perceived distance of you is increased by 10 Lengths. [Cooldown: 2]

>(Invigorating Potion) Expend no Miracles. Increase your Constitution and Speed by 3 for the rest of the encounter. [One Use]

>(Ram) Expend no Miracles and select a target within 5 Lengths. Take half your speed and deal that many instances of [Shock] to them. You also receive half of the number of [Shock]s dealt.

>(Pace) Expend no Miracles. Choose either to [Slow] up to 6 or to [Haste] up to 3.

Trinkets:
>{Dampening Trinket} Select a skill. Any incoming [Shock] instances from it is reduced to 1 this turn only. [One Use]


[Lilac]
Con: 8
Miracle: 5/12 [+2]
Speed: 11 (8+3)
Position: 30

Status: [Shock]x4

Skills:
>(Reinvigorate) Expend 2 Miracles and select a target within 15 Lengths or yourself. Remove 2 instances of [Slow] and [Snare] and apply [Haste 3].

>(Full Bloom) Expend 5 Miracles and select a point within 25 Lengths. For five turns, you and any allies within a 5 Length radius of the point gains [Haste 4].

>(Dew Drop) Expend 5 Miracles. You and your allies are purged of [Stun] instances and are immune to (Diverge) for 2 turn.

>(Ram) Expend no Miracles and select a target within 5 Lengths. Take half your speed and deal that many instances of [Shock] to them. You also receive half of the number of [Shock]s dealt.

>(Pace) Expend no Miracles. Choose either to [Slow] up to 6 or to [Haste] up to 3.

>>3232008
>Stella rams Macaron

>Lilac reinvigorates herself

>>3232028
Uh, are you sure? Ramming her would cause you to overflow your own [Shock] stack.

>>3232008
"I hope you know what you are doing."
>(Illume) on Macaron

Lilac
>[Haste]

>>3232008
How about we hit the girl who wants us to hit her with Prismatic Burst rather than Ram?

>>3232008
>Stella
>Illume on Macaron

>Lilac
>Haste
Shouldn't she go above haste 3 because she's in last or did I misread the rules?

>>3232028
>>3232034
I dont know if you guys know this, but Lilac's going to get hit with The Tall Grasses next turn. Festering Soil means it can reach anywhere behind it.

>>3232034
>>3232037
Fuck, I mean >(Prismatic Burst)

>>3232042
Different Encounter. This one is a flat Haste 3. It changes depending what you're doing since sometimes it's useless and sometime's it's broken. In Hunts, the amount you can Pace is always a flat amount.

>>3232030
I may have interpreted hit too literally

I can change to prismatic spray

If Lilac is lost, I guess she should go out by ramming it.

>>3232043
Well shit.

Lilac >(Ram)

Stella:
>>3232028
Ram Macaron

>>3232034
Illume Macaron

>>3232037
>>3232042
Burst Macaron

Lilac:
>>3232028
Reinvigorate self

>>3232042
Haste

>>3232089
>>3232078
Ram

Writing

>>3232043
F

File: invasion.png (83 KB, 1024x1024)

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“Lilac!” you scream.

As if your urgency gave her courage, she musters the last bit of strength left and throws herself against the swirling flora. Bits of green rain where she struck, leading inside the blur of movement. Plume joins her too.

>[Lilac] (Ram)s [Immiraculous Poaceae]!
>[Immiraculous Poaceae] receives 6 instances of [Shock].
>[Lilac] receives 3 instances of [Shock].

>[Plume] (Ram)s [Immiraculous Poaceae]!
>[Immiraculous Poaceae] receives 5 instances of [Shock].


And then she flies out, teetering on her besom and breaking into the air. Just as she thought she was free, a vine tears her besom from underneath her.

>[Immiraculous Poaceae] uses (The Tall Grasses) on [Lilac]!
>[Lilac] is in [Shock].

Without pause, innumerable blades of grass reach forward, vanishing her.

She’s completely gone.

You stare in disbelief. In a fraction of a second, she was buried. You desperately ask to no one in particular, “She’s okay, right?! She has to be fine!”

Macaron shouts at you, “Stella! Hit me!”

It’s hard to aim with your hands shaking like that. Raising your wand, you point it at her, and then—

>[Stella] uses (Prismatic Burst) on [Macaron]!

Something sticks into your mind. Not physical, but mental. A paper-thin tendril, expanding like roots, seeping in. You try to say something, instead only making a choking sound. Empty. Your head is empty. Every time you form a thought, something steals it away. You gasp, blind. Your head is about to burst.

Like a bubble.

>[Immiraculous Poaceae] uses (Unravelling Miracle) on [Stella!]!
>(Unravelling Miracle) Expend no Miracles and select a target within 12 Lengths. Nullify all effects from them this turn that requires any Miracle.

The world returns to you in an instant, and you find that when Plume passed you, she pulled you free from your restraints. You fall forward, catching yourself before you hit the ground and flying off of it.

Clutching your head, you grit your teeth. Confusion slowly bleeds into anger.

Finding there is no more time to wait, Macaron lashes out at the incoming attacks. As if stealing life itself—or rather, giving away the damage done—Macaron visibly reenergizes as the blades of grass wither and die.

>[Macaron] uses (Don’t Underestimate Me) on [Immiraculous Poaceae]!
>(Don’t Underestimate Me) Expend 6 Miracles and select a target within 22 Lengths. Triple your [Shock] instances and throw it at them.
>[Macaron] no longer has any instances of [Shock].
>[Immiraculous Poaceae] receives 6 instances of [Shock]!

It attacks back. This time, it’s Macaron who is almost thrown from the sky, roots latching onto her besom.

>[Immiraculous Poaceae] uses (Rooted!) on [Macaron]!
>[Macaron] receives an instance of [Snare] and 3 instances of [Slow 4]!

The rising immiracle mountain has been thinned, but it has caught up. The shadow it casts as it looms over you is suffocating.

[1/3]

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>>3232233

[Immiraculous Poaceae]
Con: 45
Miracle: 0/0 [+0]
Speed: 7
Position: 40 (33+7)

Status: [Shock]x43

Skills:
>(Whence All Things Came) No characters will recover from [Shock] overflow this encounter. [Passive]

>(Festering Soil) You occupy the point you are on and all that behind it. You can take two actions per turn. [Passive]

>(The Tall Grasses) Expend no Miracles and select a target within 2 Lengths. Instantly overflow their [Shock] stack.

>(Unravelling Miracle) Expend no Miracles and select a target within 12 Lengths. Nullify all effects from them this turn that requires any Miracle.

>(Instantaneous Germination) Expend no Miracles. Move forward by 4 Lengths. You can only use this once per turn.

>(Rooted!) Expend no Miracles and select a target within 40 Lengths unaffected by [Slow]. [Snare] them and give them 3 instances of [Slow 4].


[Plume]
Con: 10
Miracle: 10/20 [+2.5]
Speed: 10
Position: 48 (38+10)

Status: None

Skills:
>(Untouchable) Expend 8 Miracles. For 1 turn, nothing undesirable can affect you. Gain [Haste 3]. This action resolves first this turn. [Cooldown: 6]

>(Psychic Shock) Expend 3 Miracles and select a target within 10 Lengths. Obliterate 2 Miracles from their pool. Repeatable on the same target.

>(Peerless Poise) Expend 10 Miracles. For 3 turns, nullify all incoming [Shock] or [Slow] instances, and all [Stun] instances are transformed into [Slow 5]. [On Cooldown, 9 Turns Left]


[Macaron]
Con: 4
Miracle: 3/10 [+2.5]
Speed: 9
Position: 51 (41+10)

Status: None

Skills:
>(Easy Come, Easy Go) If your [Shock] instances overflow, you are stunned for 1 turn instead the normal amount. [Passive]

>(Fragile Presence) Expend 2 Miracle. Everyone else within an 8 Length radius gains 2 instances of [Shock] while you gain 1. Repeatable.

>(Don’t Underestimate Me) Expend 6 Miracles and select a target within 22 Lengths. Triple your [Shock] instances and throw it at them.


[Lilac]

Status: In Permanent Shock.


[2/3]

>>3232313

Goal: Defeat Immiraculous Poaceae or Reach 80

[Stella]
Con: 7
Miracle: 6/10 [+1.5]
Speed: 10
Position: 44

Status: [Shock]x4

Skills:
>(Prismatic Burst) Expend 2 Miracles and select a target within 28 Lengths. Blast them and deal 3 instances of [Shock]. If they target you with a skill this turn, apply an additional 2 instances.

>(Illume) Expend 5 Miracles and select a target within 25 Lengths. Deal them 2 instances of [Shock]. If you have not targeted them using this skill before in this Encounter, for 1 turn their perceived distance of you is increased by 10 Lengths. [Cooldown: 2]

>(Invigorating Potion) Expend no Miracles. Increase your Constitution and Speed by 3 for the rest of the encounter. [One Use]

>(Ram) Expend no Miracles and select a target within 5 Lengths. Take half your speed and deal that many instances of [Shock] to them. You also receive half of the number of [Shock]s dealt.

>(Pace) Expend no Miracles. Choose either to [Slow] up to 6 or to [Haste] up to 3.

Trinkets:
>{Dampening Trinket} Select a skill. Any incoming [Shock] instances from it is reduced to 1 this turn only. [One Use]

>>3232319
Let's Finish the fucker.

>>(Prismatic Burst)

>>3232319
>Prismatic Burst on Planty

>>3232319
Lazor the plant, avenge our fallen comrade, steal the kill!

>>3232319
>Illume the plant

>>3232334
>>3232337
>>3232350
Prismatic Burst

>>3232369
Illume

Writing. So close.

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It’s too much. You can’t do it.

All it takes is a single stray whip for you to be thrown off and onto the soil. Tumbling, you swiftly push your face off the dirt before it can latch on. Your feet, however, are already bound to the ground.

You hear Plume shouting at you, to get moving, but you won’t make it. You panic. You don’t know what to do but to burst the immiracle flora down, so you weakly raise your wand. You know what to do.

>[Immiraculous Poaceae] uses (Instantaneous Germination)!
>[Immiraculous Poaceae] springs forward to position 44.

Sunlight peeks through the gaps where the plants have thinned too much to cover. You do not hesitate; you wait. Waiting, even when it rises high enough to smother the sky, even when it begins to fall. And right before it hits, you change meaning itself. Light erupts from your wand, tearing through the attack, sundering the floral tide for as long as you can hold it.

>[Stella] uses (Prismatic Burst) on [Immiraculous Poaceae]!
>[Immiraculous Poaceae] receives 5 instances of [Shock].
>[Immiraculous Poaceae] is in [Shock].

When your wand sputters, so too does the attack, but unlike your wand, it continues right after the misstep, crashing down onto you.

>[Immiraculous Poaceae] uses (The Tall Grasses) on [Stella]!

And you are gone.

The force you are struck with throws your balance all around. There is no up or down, nor is there even a glimpse of sunlight to clue you in on your orientation. You open your mouth, only for something to smother it.

With the last of its life, the immiracle plant hides you from the world, the muffled calls of Plume and Macaron drowned by silence.

[1/2]

>>3232403
Would Illume have saved us?

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>>3232403

It’s a curious sound. It’s unrecognizable and completely foreign, a kind of sound that you have never heard before in all your life. It’s a sound no human body should make, and yet, it is coming from you.

Dismissed as absurdity, the idea, you reason, can be replaced by the rational explanation that the sound is coming from underneath you. That is why the bestial groans and creaks are so muffled.

In the dark, you are bound. Compared to before, the immiraculous poaceae moves barely at all, and what little movement it does make is slow and strained. Everything around you squirms and shifts. It’s a dizzying, uncomfortable experience, made all the worse by the tightening grip on your neck.

While one of your arms refuses to move, the other can resist just fine. With your good hand, you try to slip your fingers around whatever is threatening to cut off your air, but they fail to find purchase. Instead, something snaps. A sharp pain and a warm sensation grows inside your chest. Your eyes move down, only to find nothing.

And then, something curious happens.

A vividly red rose forces its way out past your lips, blooming. One after another, flowers begin to emerge from your mouth, a beautiful variety of all shapes and sizes, all the same color. They spill outwards, continuously, and when there is no more room, petals are pushed out instead. They slowly descend onto shifting walls, eventually landing. They are then carried up, dragged by the floral motions.

And once they have travelled a sufficient height, they fall back down. Ever so slowly. It’s reminding you of autumn as it dyes the insides an unmistakable red. You close your eyes, satisfied, allowing yourself to be swept up by the growing noise.

There, in your garden, you fall asleep, right as the source of the creaking breaks.


>You have a Talent.
>(The Starlit Path) Expend 4 Miracles. All participants in permanent [Shock] this Encounter are removed from the path, and anyone within 10 Lengths of them receive 5 instances of [Shock]. [Cooldown: 2]

Thanks for playing. I'll be back tomorrow to finish up the thread. There won't be much.

>>3232412
Yes.

>>3232457
>>removed from the path
I have a bad feeling about this.
>>3232464
Thanks for the game, man.

>>3232457
That’s pretty sad. Bummer that it could grab us the same turn it went into shock. Also, what a world where teachers can casually direct young girls to their deaths. I guess Plume and Macaron will get a C, since Lilac and us seem to have been murdered. Thanks for running, I’m curious to see where the Starlit Path beyond this mortal coil takes us.

>>3232555
Ya got an A. You would've gotten a C if the other two escaped and didn't take down the big plantboi

>>3232607
>Deweed your part of the courtyard for an A, or return to the castle. If you choose the latter, for every member you lose, a grade point will be deducted.
Ah, just goes to show I can’t read beyond a third-grade level. I’ll sleep soundly now though, knowing our neck was snapped for an exemplary grade.

>>3232464
Thanks for running.

My bad on voting for the lazor. Still getting the hang of the rules. Thought we'd go first.
The important part is we A) Passed with good grade, B) Secured the kill, and C) Managed to earn a talent.

(The Starlit Path) sounds interesting. Not too useful in a race, but in other modes like Hunt where people get stunned permanently it could be decent. Sounds like its basically a corpse explosion. Explode them into stardust to prevent them from getting rezed by others, and possibly damage the person that just put them down.

>>3232650
I hope it doesn't literally fucking kill whoever it "removes from the path" though.

also, jesus, the description of the flowers is quite possibly actually a description of blood fucking spraying onto the plants from Stella's mouth.

>>3232457
Man, this school fucking hates safety regulations

>>3232457
This was fucking disturbing.
That anon who dropped the quest was on to something

>>3232650
>>3232464
By the way, the rules pastebin doesn't contain the rules on initiative.

>>3233068
W E A K

>>3233092
Not everyone can savor little girls' death scenes.

>>3233105
I suppose it comes down to a sense of detachment. I’m quite squeamish about watching anything involving maiming or death in real life and try to avoid it, but fictional things I don’t have a problem for a second.

>>3233105
Huh, I do wonder how old these characters are, though, now that you mention it. I’ve kind of thought of them as around early high school age.

>>3233105
Terrible shit happening to kids often swings to the extremes of "Oh my god this is terrible I'm panicking and making the worst choices I'm dead." or "Pshh, I'm so hyper-awesome-godlike this shit doesn't even phase me. Losers."

There aren't many that try a little closer to the middle, so I fully support any attempts.

>>3232607
What would happen if plantboi took down all 4?

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Your eyes open wide, as if suddenly you awoke from a bad dream.

You touch your neck, moving the uncomfortable blanket off of you. Sitting up, you notice you are in the leechcraft clinic. Sitting there silently, you try to fill in the gaps in your memory, unable to figure out how you went from the courtyard to here. The immiracle tsunami slots into place, and you piece the rest together.

A nurse passes by, stopping when she sees you. She says, “You’re awake.” Pulling the clipboard from the end of the bed, she checks over what was written. “How do you feel?”

A slow blink. “Tired. Like I just woken up from a long nap.”

“Do you feel like yourself?” she asks, “Any strange pains?”

You rub your nape of your neck. “I don’t think anything’s wrong.”

“Great,” she tells you, “If you even so much as feel that something’s the slightest bit misplaced, come back immediately. Don’t shrug it off, okay? You’re free to go, otherwise.”

Slowly, you drag your body up and out of bed, tying your ribbon around your collar back into your place. You pat your hair down while you walk. A few steps out past the drawn curtains, you see Rye helping Lilac out of her bed.

There’s a moment before all three of you exchange quiet greetings. Lilac avoids eye contact as you walk up to her.

“We should’ve ran...” she mumbles.
>”You’re right. It could’ve gone a lot worse than it did.”
>”Are you still hurt anywhere?”
>”I think we did fine.”
>Write-in.

>>3233901
>"I think we did fine."

>>3233070
Thanks. It's added underneath turn order.

>>3233108
I think I sprinkled enough hints for you to figure it out. Not too important, though.

>>3233547
The quest would immediately end because clearly this system was too complicated for you and me. In all seriousness, they would've gotten a free trip to the clinic. Nothing world-ending, not yet.

>>3233901
>”Are you still hurt anywhere?”

>>3233901
>>”I think we did fine.”

>>3233906
>>3233922
Call Lilac a wuss

>>3233917
Health check

Writing

“I think we did fine” - girl who LITERALLY DIED

I mean, we did, but still lol

File: lilac after being witness(...).png (146 KB, 1024x1024)

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“Are you still hurt anywhere?” you ask.

Lilac shakes her head. “I’m okay.”

You let out a sigh of relief. “When I saw you being pulled under, I freaked out. I’m glad to see you’re okay.” Rye gives you a questioning glare.

It’s someone else who vocalizes her thoughts. “Do you not pay any attention to yourself?” Plume asks, entering.

Macaron follows in, giving a little wave. “Hey, glad to see you two are up.”

You say, “I think we did fine.” You stop to think for a second. “We did beat it, right?”

Macaron cheers, “That’s the spirit! Can’t let a hundred or two pounds of grass crashing into you get you down.”

Lilac mumbles, “Two of us still got hurt.”

“True,” you concede.

Plume crosses her arms. “We passed her arbitrary quiz with the highest mark and we all seem to be intact. What is there to complain about?”

Withdrawing, Lilac quiets. She says, “N-never mind. I think I need to lay down a little more.”

Macaron hisses, “Plume!”

She tilts her head. “What?”

So callous.
>Scold Plume.
>Check on Lilac.
>Leave them be. You should stretch your limbs.
>Write-in.

>>3233976
>>Scold Plume.

>>3233976
>Check on lilac

Plume prolly has her own issues. Might just be the zoomed out pic but her hair is looking rather subdued.

>>3233984
It looks subdued because that's not Plume.

>>3233976
>Check on Lilac.
Seems more in line with Stella’s oddness and shyness and niceness

>>3233976
>Check on Lilac.

>>3233980
Scold

>>3233984
>>3233996
Lilac

Writing

>>3233987
Me being blind is also likely

File: zombie.png (91 KB, 1024x1024)

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Following Lilac, you check up on her. Poking your head around the drawn curtains, you wait until she notices you before saying anything.

“Sorry for dragging you along,” you tell her.

“...I messed up,” she says, head on her pillow. “If I predicted it, I could’ve...” You’re not quite sure as to what she’s talking about.

You do, however, throw a guess out. “Are you talking about when it grabbed your besom? Come on, it happened so quick. No one can blame you for that.”

When she speaks, it’s more as if she’s talking to herself than you. “A-and then I performed a Miracle on myself instead of you. I could’ve...”

Stopped the snare the instant it caught you. You didn’t have to be caught at all.

You try to reassemble her shattered confidence. “Hey, come on, we all make mistakes—“

Pulling the blanket over her face, she mutters one last thing. “...I always mess up when things matter.”

You stand, bearing witness to the death of the conversation. It wasn’t even one in the first place; it was wholly one-sided. Beginning to stew with doubt, you question your choice of words when you shouted at her back then. Just how many mistakes riddled that exchange? Such was the chaos of any fight, you suppose.

Rye taps your shoulder, telling you in a muted tone, “She’ll be fine. She just needs a moment to herself.”

You find it hard to leave Lilac like this.
>Give her space.
>Tell Lilac something. (Write-in)

>>3234034
>Give her space.
>Go to our bed, hide under the blanket and shiver all day.

>>3234034
>>(Write-in)

"It was very courageous of you to ram it like you did."

>>3234034
Backing
>>3234045

>>3234034
I can't decide if this is a good idea or not, but maybe something along the lines of
"You helped every bit as much as I did, you know. Maybe more."

>>3234040
Space

>>3234045
>>3234061
Compliment

>>3234065
Reassure

Writing

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Struck with indecision, you consider following Rye’s advice. Lilac lays still under her sheets, silent.

You can’t just leave her like this. Hardly feeling as if you got through to her, you offer one last bit of encouragement.

Picking your words carefully, you say, "It was very courageous of you to ram it like you did, and we couldn’t have done it without you; Plume and Macaron wouldn’t have gotten away if you weren’t there,” you pause, “So don’t be so hard on yourself.”

The only clue that she listened to you at all was her pulling the blanket tighter. You linger for a while longer before accepting that she won’t reply.

You grab your things and leave, stepping out into the hallway. Glancing back, you hope clinic visits won’t be frequent. Maybe that’s a fruitless wish. Outside, on a bench, Ember is sprawled out and snoring. You poke her awake and she jumps, startled. You make a joke, and she grins at it.

You pace down the halls, surrounded by the soft murmurs of other thaumaturges conversing. Light spills through the windows, always reminding you of the outside. At some point, Plume and Macaron head somewhere else. You continue. When you take a step into an unfamiliar hallway, Rye reminds you of the way back, but you stop.

A small, shifting shadow disappears past a corner, and when you follow it out of curiosity, you see an empty hallway. You hear something, freezing. There’s nothing but cold stone ahead splitting into different paths.

Ember, catching up to you, puts a hand on your shoulder. “Hey, where are you going? Dorms are this way.”

“What’s down there?” you ask.

Rye answers, “Unused space. There’s plenty in the castle—they tend to be empty rooms or hallways that lead nowhere. What’s wrong?”

You sit in the silence. “I thought I heard something. I guess it was just me,” you tell her, turning away. For a moment, you thought you heard a rattling wail. Strange.

Maybe you should get yourself reexamined.

[Chapter 2: "Docile” - End]

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ED: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zja5mILOn3o
Twitter: twitter.com/ConfettoQM

Thanks for playing! That was barely a session but I wanted to wrap things up. I have a painful amount of work I’ve procrastinated on, so I’ll be busy with that. I can roughly estimate the next thread will be on Sunday, but I really don’t know.

As always, comments, criticism, and questions are very welcome.

>>3234133
>https://twitter.com/ConfettoQM
Tanks for the game, man. Until next time.

>>3234133
Thanks for running!

When do we need to start worrying about the world ending stuff?

>>3234168
>When do we need to start worrying about the world ending stuff?

That's for me to know and you to find out.

>>3234195
>WORRY

I wonder how long til everyone figures out that Stella isn’t quite right in the head.

Looks like we’re making progress there though ehehehe

>>3234133
Was that a mind trap from the head fuck professor or an actual grass monster? I wish ember was there, she would have made hay.

>>3234314
Real. Someone's got to clean up the courtyard, and it won't be her.

Did we get that talent because we lost? Did the grass infect us? Fucking STIs

>>3234399
i'm glad we have caring staff at this school

>>3234133
What a relief, I really thought we’d died for good when I saw
>There won't be much.
Thanks for running! Lilac is best girl

>>3234399
wow, too bad we didn't go and help the old guy out. We could have avoided all this

>>3234749
Maybe we will get a chance to tell him that we saw it.

>>3235170
We don't know that was it.

>>3235178
"I saw similar ring, you might want to check it out"