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Archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?searchall=nothing+short+of+a+miracle
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ConfettoQM

Mechanics: https://pastebin.com/aaba22s6
Characters: https://pastebin.com/yCEXMZNz

OP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RhWAYp-yvc


There’s a character pastebin now. I'll make an album eventually. In maybe a decade or two.

>>3267884
>Watch patiently.

>>3267884
>>”Hold it still and I’ll burst it!”

No mascots, I take it?

>>3267884
>”Open the door and toss it out!”

>>3267884
>>”I’ll open the window, you throw it out!”

>>3267898
>>3267911
>>3267926
>>3267927
...Everything?
Next vote breaks tie or I'll roll a die in 3

Rolled 2 (1d4)

>>3267898
1
>>3267911
2
>>3267926
3
>>3267927
4

Well this is a first for me. Writing

>>3267890
Ah, posting best girl I see

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It’s been a month since the courtyard cleanup and you’ve settled in alright. You’re at least comfortable enough to declare the following:

“Hold it still and I’ll burst it!” you tell her.

“What? No!” she replies, jumping off the desk and swinging her besom around. “Unless, you want to pay for the damages!”

You lean back, tempted to rescind your offer. “I’ll do it gently. It’ll only lose a couple of fibers.”

“I refuse!” she replies. She begins to furiously swing it around with wild abandon, threatening to launch the thing in any unfortunate direction.

Behind her, you watch as your wand is lifted up by a Miracle performed by Rye and tossed your way. It lands in your hands, and you take that as her explicit approval for you to risk missing and leaving a scorch mark onto the wall.

“I’m going to do it, Ember!” you announce.

She starts to fret. “Wait, wait, wait, I think I have a plan. What if I just open the door and toss it into the hallway?”

“I’m not going to be late for Professor Civet’s class, so stand still!”

“Who cares?!” Ember replies, “That old wart won’t do anything!”

“You’re only saying that because she called your potion terrible!” you reply, “Last warning!”

“Stella, stop!” she retorts, swinging around so that her body is blocking your direct line of sight. Too bad you can curve your attacks!

Roll 1d100.

Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>3267970

Rolled 18 (1d100)

>>3267970
>Roll a 100
>Besom is untouched
>Bed is obliterated

Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>3267970

>>3267978
>>3267986
>>3267993
31!

Writing.

Rolled 48 (1d100)

>>3267970

Rolled 47 (1d100)

>>3267970

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You focus! You wring every last bit of concentration out of your brain and perform two Miracles in succession! It takes you a handful of seconds and an inordinate amount of effort, but you manage to distort space and light itself, bending your view so you can fully see the duskling. Wand at the ready, you pull the trigger, pulling in light and warping it in a straight line!

And then Ember moves.

You freak out and hurry to readjust your view in the fraction of a second, but it’s too late! The prismatic burst lands right on her face, a brilliant, dazzling shimmer that sends her off-balance and toppling onto her back, her besom flying above her. It strikes the cursedly located nightstand and knocking the lamp on top of it, which begins to teeter.

And then ever so slowly, it begins to fall toward Ember’s scrunched up scowl of displeasure. Right before it hits, however, Rye stops it and gently puts it back into place. As Ember picks herself up, she backs away to see that her besom is duskling free and in fine condition. She wipes her face, sputtering. Finally, after collecting heself, Ember reevaluates her surroundings again and finally sees what you see.

It’s trying to climb onto your bed.

Lilac makes a quiet, inward scream in response.

You’ve got to do something!
>It’s time to bail. Lilac and Rye can handle this, you need to leave!
>Burst it again!
>Sacrifice yourself for the greater good.
>Write-in.

>>3268024
>Sacrifice yourself for the greater good.

>>3268024
>It’s time to bail. Lilac and Rye can handle this, you need to leave!

>>3268024
>Sacrifice yourself for the greater good.
"Sorry Ember!"

We can take it.!

>>3268033
>>3268036
sacc

>>3268035
run

Writing

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Dusklings are considered to be filthy, filthy things, tracking all sorts of grime wherever they go while adding in some things that shouldn’t have even existed in the first place. At best, they make for a very, very poor guard animal for a farm. At worst, a fully-formed dusk would be attracted to your location and threaten more than your livelihood.

This is why your next course of action is recognized as the inevitable. You must sacrifice yourself for the greater good, if what is what it must take to finally end this evil!

“Sorry, Ember,” you apologize. Satisfied with those as your final words, you throw yourself off the bed, having tasted the bittersweet knowledge of your incoming doom. A soft sensation strikes your chest as you collide with the beast, and then you hit the floor.

“Oof,” you wheeze. Softness has transformed into wetness as you pull yourself up, the splattered shadow now ruining both the rug and your pajamas. It’s also all over your face and your hair.

Ember watches in shock. “Why did you do that? What if it attacked?”

“There’s no dusk around,” you reply, “It’s fine.” You try to wipe the dripping shadow off of your face, but your hand simply goes right through it. You drop your hands. “Yuck. I think some got in my mouth.”

Rye starts ushering you out the door. “Please don’t drip any more. If you’re going to do it, do it outside.”

You stumble out, the taste of defeat in your mouth despite having won. Receiving some odd looks by passersby, you start to make your way to an open terrace where the sun can dry you out.

[1/2]

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>>3268092

When you are stain-free, you take off.

You are late, most-definitely so. While you make most of the trip by besom, you finish the rest on foot with Ember behind you. By the time you make it to the end of the path, you see a small gathering. You spot a familiar someone in a fur coat listening. Past the group of people is Pokkin, standing on a wooden crate, and beside her is Professor Civet. Bandages cover her eyes and then a deluge of hair covers that. She hacks some gibberish to Pokkin, who then translate it into something understandable and audible.

“Before everyone goes, you all remember the rules of getting stuck in a faerie’s animasphere, right?” Pokkin asks. “What’s the first thing you do?”

Someone else answers, “Lie there and die.”

“No, you try to rip it apart with a Miracle. Like popping a bubble,” she answers, “If that fails, then what do you do?”

The same person from before answers, “Now you lie there and die.”

“Correct!” she replies, “Hope that we retrieve your body before something else gets to it.” Pokkin pauses while the professor whispers something. “Wait, that’s not quite right, you sit still and hope the faerie doesn’t do anything to you. Okay, good luck everyone! Go on now, stop standing around. Go find those flowers.”

Everyone begins to scatter in pairs.

It doesn’t look like Pokkin or the professor noticed you or Ember.
>Blend in, follow someone. Learn by seeing what they do.
>Deftly wait until Pokkin’s alone to ask her what’s going on.
>Admit your lateness like a responsible human being.
>Write-in.

>Blend in, follow someone. Learn by seeing what they do.

>>3268157
>>Deftly wait until Pokkin’s alone to ask her what’s going on.

>>3268157
>Deftly wait until Pokkin’s alone to ask her what’s going on.

>>3268157
>>Admit your lateness like a responsible human being.

>>3268160
Sneaky

>>3268161
>>3268169
Pokkin, help

>>3268171
Human bean

Writing

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You stop Ember and whisper, “Hold on, I have a plan!”

“Um, okay,” she replies, “I don’t know how good your plans are considering you decided earlier to body slam a duskling, but I’ll go along.”

Taking cover behind a particularly thick tree and some foliage, you watch and wait until the Professor goes back inside the massive tree... house... thing. A minute passes before you decide it’s safe, hurrying to Pokkin. You wave and say something halfway between a whisper and a shout. “Pokkin!”

“Hey,” she says, no longer walking away. “What’s up?”

Ember instantly replies, “We kinda came late. What’s going on?”

Pokkin stares with tired eyes. “Do I really have to explain this again? Where do I even start?”

You plead, “Please! Don’t make us ask the professor.”

Ember nods, “We’ll owe you one.”

She sighs, giving in to your calls of desperation. “We’re practicing locating things through superimpositional spectra.” She waits a moment, taking the blank stares as a sign to continue. She sighs. “Miracles are performed through superimposition of reality, and sometimes it produces feedback when you want it to. Superimpositional spectra are one-to-one with the Miracle and whatever it is you’re superimposing over, so you can use it to determine objects you can’t directly see. We’re searching for baneweeds this way.”

Rubbing her eyes, Ember says, “I understood half of that.”

Pokkin rolls her eyes. “I’m going to teach you how to perform a certain Miracle. It’s kind of like echolocation. When you hit baneweeds, it’ll taste purple, which is the easiest and simplest feedback.”

You nod and accept it.

[1/2]

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>>3268268

“Blergh!” You and Ember spit out nothing in particular, though you and her wish it did something to get out that disgusting taste out.

Pokkin stifles what would be howling laughter as she puts down the muskdew flower. “It looks like you’re ready.”

You complain, “I didn’t know I could taste something like that.” Ember bends over and acts as if she’s hacking up a hairball.

She replies, “Prepare to taste a lot of that and more while looking for baneweeds. You now have the most powerful tool of an alchemist at your disposal!” Pokkin says in some faux-royal tone, “Go forth with this knowledge, and bring back the most powerful of elixirs!” She stops, and checks how high the sun is. “Maybe not. You two can stay here if you want. It won’t be fair if you get half the time compared to the others. Ah, the professor might be mad if she finds out.”

“What?!” Ember shouts, “I didn’t taste that for nothing!”

“Hey, I can’t stop you. Be sure to stick together; you shouldn’t go anywhere alone,” Pokkin replies with a shrug.

You should...
>Head out quickly! Surely you can still find some baneweeds.
>Accept Pokkin’s offer.
>Write-in.

>>3268334
>Head out quickly! Surely you can still find some baneweeds.

>>3268334
>Head out quickly! Surely you can still find some baneweeds.

>>3268334
>>Head out quickly! Surely you can still find some baneweeds.

>>3268338
>>3268339
>>3268340
Hurry

Writing

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“Let’s get going,” you tell Ember as you grab your besom. “Thanks again, Pokkin!” you tell her as you speed off into the forest.

“Mm, stay safe,” she replies.

In an instant, your view of her is blocked by the countless trees and dense shrubbery. The canopy has been hacked away so that sunlight manages to peek through, and where it fails to reach, lanterns are there to illuminate.

Leading the way, you perform a Miracle. Everything becomes in view, a vivid arrangement of strange shapes and colors, tinging your senses as reality shimmers.

You want to vomit. Tears fill your eyes and snot starts to fill your nose. Every possible flavor and texture brushes along your nostrils and back of your throat in different combinations at different times, a cascading flow of existence that dulls your existing senses. You begin sniffling. “Ember,” you manage to say, “You do it next! We’re taking turns for this.”

Soon, Ember is in the same state as you are, and after even a longer length of time, it begins to fade away as your brain learns to stop interpreting all of the information with such magnitude. And in all that time spent, all you’ve seen are plucked baneweeds, only tiny stems with roots remaining every time you thought the ordeal could finally end.

“There!” Ember calls out after a long while. “I... I think I see something!”

You rub your eyes. It’s true! An actual baneweed, in the flesh! It’s black petals and yellow center vividly standing out amongst the rest of the plant growth. Excited, you speed ahead, about to pluck it—

“Careful now,” Wolf says, sweeping down and ripping it out. “You almost crashed into me.”

You stop your besom, in shock. “That was ours!”

Another thaumaturge stops beside Wolf, in her hand already countless baneweeds. “Huh? We got it first.”

Ember grits her teeth. “What do you need all those for?”

Wolf shrugs. “Some people can’t find them, so I’m helping out. I’d gladly share,” she says, “But you did say you wanted to work alone.”

Ignoring her for a second, you think you spot another patch of baneweeds in the distance. Wolf follows where you’re looking, to your dismay, and she spots it too.

Ember’s getting angry.
>She looks like she wants to rip the flowers out of the other girl’s hands. You’re fine with that plan!
>You can reach those baneweeds before Wolf can, you’re sure of it!
>Forget it. Even if you have to wander far, you’ll go searching elsewhere.
>Write-in.

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Be back in an hour

>>3268400
>>You can reach those baneweeds before Wolf can, you’re sure of it!

"Looks like you got your race."

>>3268400
>>3268405
+1

>>3268400
>You can reach those baneweeds before Wolf can, you’re sure of it!

>>3268405
>>3268414
>>3268475
vroom vroom

Writing

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Your eyes flicker to Ember, who takes notice at what you were looking at. Time seems to stand still as you and the other three slowly come to the same conclusion.

Wolf gives you a toothy grin. She calls out to the other girl, “Syrup!” The other thaumaturge miraculously ties the bundle of flowers together and throws it to the back of her besom.

And that’s all it takes to signal everyone into action. You spring forward in a burst of speed, unhappy with how they have a head start given their position.

Between all the trunks and branches, you have barely any room to focus at all! Looking ahead, you catch a grin from the girl besides Wolf.

Goal: Reach 60.

Pick 1 to NOT bring with you to the Encounter.
>(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]

>(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]

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Sorry that took a while

>>3268607
>>(The Starlit Path)

Too risky.

>>3268607
>(Invigorating Potion) Expend no Miracles. Increase your Constitution and Speed by 3 for the rest of the encounter. [One Use]

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https://files.catbox.moe/sav7ty.mp3

Weaving between trees, you dodge the incoming terrain the best you can. There’s too much of it, but at least your besom steers you ever so gently away from them.

Your eyes are glued to the black petals in the distance.

“Looks like you got your race,” you tell Wolf.

Wolf asks, “Did I really?” She turns away from you. “Syrup, deal with Ember.” At least she seems to remember your names.

Wand at the ready, you prepare yourself.

[1/3]

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>>3268704

[Wolf]
Con: 17
Miracle: 3/5 [+2]
Speed: 9
Position: 2

Status: None

Skills:
>???


[Syrup]
Con: 10
Miracle: 7/15 [+3]
Speed: 8
Position: 3

Status: None

Skills:
>???

[2/3]

>>3268708

Goal: Reach 60. You can pick Ember’s actions.

[Stella]
Con: 7
Miracle: 6/10 [+1.5]
Speed: 10
Position: 0

Status: None

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]

>(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]

>(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 5 or to [Haste] up to 5.

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


[Ember]
Con: 9
Miracle: 2/8 [+2]
Speed: 11
Position: 0

Status: None

>(Roaring Flames) Expend 4 Miracles. Apply 3 instances of [Shock] and 2 instances of [Slow 2] to all enemies within 7 Lengths.

>(Blaze Ahead) Apply 1 instances of [Shock] to yourself and gain [Haste 7]. If there are more than 2 enemies behind you, give yourself an additional 3 instances of [Shock].

>(Scorched Earth) Expend 6 Miracles. Everyone within 15 Lengths behind you receives 15 instances of [Shock]. [One Use]

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I'm going to stop here, thanks for playing. I'll leave this vote >>3268607 open overnight along with this one.

>>3268720
Cheers, man.
Good night.

>>3268607
>Don’t bring the Starlit Path
hahaha oh man I am way too concerned that this thing will possibly literally murder people to want to bring it

>>3268708
As for our actions... no reason to fire shit off at them when it’s so early on and we don’t even know their abilities yet. Might as well just work on dealing with that head start of theirs.

>Stella: Pace, Haste 5
>Ember: Blaze Ahead

>>3268607
Nah screw that, we gotta see Starlit Path in action. It's absolutely perfect with Ember.

>Stella: Prismatic Burst Wolf
>Ember: Pace Haste 5

With that, Scorched Earth will Shock both of them. We just need to get Ember ahead and with 2 turns of MP regen to nuke them.

If they've got Shock reducing skills, Stella can apply as needed.

If they're focusing down Ember, Stella can start pumping out Rams and they'll be forced to retask onto the one actually attacking them.

If they focus on speed, then we can switch to Roaring Flames and have Stella speed ahead.

>>3268607
>>3268708
>>3268715
Whoops. Forgot to add:

>Leave Invigorating Brew behind

>>3268607
Let's not bring (the starlit path).
I'm not concerned with it killing people, the magic barriers in the area prevent that sort of thing.
But it is simply not useful in a race like this, where there is no 'permanent' shock. At least as far as I understand the rules, all statuses of shock will be removed after enough time.
60 isn't a very far race, so the brew won't make as much of a difference, but its still more useful than a corpse-explosion. Plus the Con bonus it provides will be useful against Wolf.

>>3268708
Wolf has a hell of a con. Based on her naming convention, I suspect several 'melee' style attacks, or possibly some that work off that huge con stat. Probably a lot of damage trading skills or bezerker spells. Our illume will probably be super useful here, to prevent her from actually being 'in-range' with any of her moves.

Syrup is the caster of their party, it seems. Probably has some sort of slow/debuff spells.

And Ember is all about the racing and damages.

>>3268715
>Stella
Should pop that encounter long buff with the (invigorating Potion), we'll need that Con I think, and the speed bonus on top of that is extra nice.
>Ember
Doesn't have the mana for (Roaring Flames) yet, I think. If she will, use that then. If not, she should use (Blaze Ahead), while she's behind the two enemies. That way she only takes 1 shock instead of 3.

>>3268607
>Dont' take Starlit Path. It only works if there are people in permanent Shock, and we have no means to inflict it. That's not starting on what it does to those people...

>>3268715
Holy crap, Wolf has 17 con. I think it might be prudent to just outrun her.
Syrup seems to be her DPS, so her we may take out.

>Stella: drink Invigorating Potion
No hoarding potions, this is not an RPG!
>Ember: Blaze Ahead

>>3269487
How does Ember inflict permanent shock, pray tell?

>>3269820
>>3269837
Okay I doublechecked with OP.

Permanent Shock IS a different thing from overflowing Shock stacks, but there will be new mechanics to understand those if we take Starlit Path now.

So I want to bring it so we can see how permanent shock works.

>>3268715
>Don't bring potion

>Haste 5
>Blaze Ahead


>>3269861
How'd you check with OP?

>>3269861
Uh that's not quite right. You've already seen the mechanic for permanent shock. The last fight had it.

>>3270826
I'm on discord. You can find me in the qtg one. I don't really like talking about my quest there but if you want to talk to me about other things, I'm there.

>>3270956
But if it's just a flat passive, then is the only difference between permanent shock and being kicked out of the game is that you can't explode them for 10 shock?

>>3270984
Sorry, what you thought was getting kicked out of the game is just permanent shock. Whence All Things Came makes shock permanent. There are special skills that do this.

We should focus on knocking out Syrup
Taking her grass and then living

>>3270995
That's a VERY good idea.

>>3270994
But if they're in permanent shock, what's the point of kicking them out of the game?

>>3271004
The point is to explode them and shock everyone else.
> anyone within 10 Lengths of them receive 5 instances of [Shock].

>>3271004
They're not kicked out of the game? Lilac was still on the position line picture.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

I'm out of bed!

>>3268614
>>3269367
>>3269820
>>3269837
The Starlit Path

>>3268632
>>3269487
>>3270826
Invigorating Potion

Stella:
>>3269443
>>3270826
Pace = 1

>>3269487
Burst

>>3269820
>>3269837
Potion = 2

Ember:
>>3269443
>>3269820
>>3269837
>>3270826
Blaze Ahead

>>3269487
Pace

Update whenever I finish

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You move closer, faster, inching your way toward the patch of flowers! One look at Wolf and you can tell—you won’t be taking her down anytime soon. The mere thought of it is discarded in an instant.

>[Stella] uses (Pace)!
>[Stella] gains [Haste 5].

Wolf warns, calm as ever. “Don’t get too close.” She waves her hand in your general direction, and the air ripples. In alternating intervals, you almost split apart at the seams, pulled apart in every imaginable direction. You shut your eyes from the sudden attack, gritting your teeth!

>[Wolf] uses (Shred) on [Stella]!
>(Shred) Expend 2 Miracles and pick someone within 7 Lengths. Deal 2 instances of [Shock] to them. Add an additional 2 for each time you’ve selected them with this skill.

When it fades, you open your eyes just in time to dodge an incoming branch, ducking quickly. You still feel a trace of the blow on you, despite it leaving no physical wounds. One step closer to becoming undone.

Beside you, Ember explodes in flames. And though it might lick at the flora around her, it fails to stick anywhere besides on her very self. Kicking herself forward, she runs straight at Syrup!

>[Ember] uses (Blaze Ahead)!
>[Ember] gains [Haste 7] and 1 instance of [Shock].

And that is precisely when Syrup turns her head back, her eyes widening while her pupils narrow. From thin air, a viscous tide of amber liquid floods toward Ember, who crashes straight into it. She spins and sputters before getting back on track with her flames doused.

>[Syrup] uses (Slow as Molasses) on [Ember] twice!
>(Slow as Molasses) Expend 3 Miracles and select a target within 15 Lengths. Apply a new 3-instance stack of [Slow 2]. Repeatable up to 3 times. Targets cannot be affected by more than 3 stacks of this slow. [Cooldown: 2]

>[Ember] receives 2 separate 3-instance stacks of [Slow 2]!

“What is this?!” Ember spits out, “This is disgusting!”

Syrup just sticks out her tongue.

[1/3]

>>3271313

[Wolf]
Con: 17
Miracle: 3/5 [+2]
Speed: 9
Position: 11 (9+2)

Status: None

Skills:
>(Shred) Expend 2 Miracles and pick someone within 7 Lengths. Deal 2 instances of [Shock] to them. Add an additional 2 for each time you’ve selected them with this skill.

>??


[Syrup]
Con: 10
Miracle: 4/15 [+3]
Speed: 8
Position: 11 (3+8)

Status: None

Skills:
>(Slow as Molasses) Expend 3 Miracles and select a target within 15 Lengths. Apply a new 3-instance stack of [Slow 2]. Repeatable up to 3 times. Targets cannot be affected by more than 3 stacks of this slow. [Cooldown: 2]

>??

>(Here, Catch!) Expend no Miracles and select an ally within 7 Lengths. Toss them the flowers along with this skill with the cooldown shared. [Cooldown: 1]


[2/3]

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>>3271321

[Stella]
Con: 7
Miracle: 7.5/10 [+1.5]
Speed: 15 (10+5)
Position: 10 (0+10)

Status: [Shock]x2, [Shred]x1

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 5 or to [Haste] up to 5.

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


[Ember]
Con: 9
Miracle: 4/8 [+2]
Speed: 14 (11+7-2-2)
Position: 11 (0+11)

Status: [Shock]x1, [Slow 2]x2, [Slow 2]x2

>(Roaring Flames) Expend 4 Miracles. Apply 3 instances of [Shock] and 2 instances of [Slow 2] to all enemies within 7 Lengths.

>(Blaze Ahead) Apply 1 instances of [Shock] to yourself and gain [Haste 7]. If there are more than 2 enemies behind you, give yourself an additional 3 instances of [Shock].

>(Scorched Earth) Expend 6 Miracles. Everyone within 15 Lengths behind you receives 15 instances of [Shock]. [One Use]

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>>3271321
Uh, oops.

>>3271329
>>(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.
>Syrup

>>3271329
>Stella: Use Invigorating Potion
I didn’t want to do this early on because I wasn’t sure we’d need it, but... yeah Wolf will probs tear us apart if we don’t, Illumeing once isn’t gonna be good enough with Syrup in play.

>Ember: Roaring Flames
Nuclear Launch Detected

>>3271377
+1

I just hope we don't lose Ember, mid race.

>>3271370
Burst syrup

>>3271377
>>3271386
Invig pot and gao

>>3271394
Forgot not only to say I was writing but also this:

Goal: Reach 60 or Incapacitate whoever holds the flowers.
You have a secondary win condition. As a result, Syrup has gained an extra skill.

>>3271329
>Stella: Illume at Wolf
>Ember: Blaze Ahead

My plan is next turn Ember receives +2 Miracles and uses Scorched Earth to nuke everyone, while Stella protects herself with Dampening Trinket.

>>3271451
Shit, I was late!

>>3271451
That's what I was thinking, but let's focus on Syrup for now.

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Ember shouts, “Gah! I’m getting you back for this!” The goo that’s been coloring her from head to toe bubbles before splashing off as the temperature around her rises into an inferno! The licking flames sweeps outwards, engulfing Wolf and Syrup!

>[Ember] uses (Roaring Flames)!
>[Wolf] receives 3 instances of [Shock] and 2 instances of [Slow 2].
>[Syrup] receives 3 instances of [Shock] and 2 instances of [Slow 2].

In a second, both of them emerge from the attack as soon as it stops advancing, covered in a bit of soot and looking a little worn. Syrup, not wanting to stick around for a second attack, speeds ahead.

>[Syrup] uses (Pace)!
>[Syrup] gains [Haste 4],

You barely paid attention to it all, because you were too busy worried about what Wolf just did to you. At this rate, she’s is going to knock you off your besom before you can even skid to the baneweeds. From the back of your besom, you take the only thing you have tied on there: the potion you bought from Lavender. Uncorking it, you toss it back and down it all as quick as you can! Which might be a bit too quick since some got in your throat. Coughing, you let go of the glass bottle and it falls to the back of your besom once more.

>[Stella] uses (Invigorating Potion)!
>[Stella]’s Con increased from 7 to 10.
>[Stella]s base Speed increased from 10 to 13.

Wolf’s eyes narrow, but they can’t intimidate you now! Or at least, not that much! She says to you, “You’re more serious than I thought.” Then, to Syrup, she commands, “Stop her!”

“G-give me a second!” she replies, “I can’t do it yet!”

Not giving any cue she heard her, Wolf attacks you once more!

>[Wolf] uses (Shred) on [Stella]!
>[Stella] receives 4 instances of [Shock]!

You feel a cut on your arm and wind through another in your shirt! As you grip your besom even tighter to ignore the looming threat, you move to address another right in front! Ahead, the forest is impossible thick, so much so that whoever goes through first must pierce it first if they weren’t going to slow down.

And at this rate, it’s going to be you!

>There is a terrain Obstacle ahead. Obstacles have no stake in an Encounter, although they might be collateral.
>Obstacles only reveal themselves as you progress in an Encounter. Alternatively, scouting ahead or receiving knowledge beforehand will allow you to know their location earlier.

<Thicket>
Con: 2
Miracle: 0/0 [+0]
Speed: 0
Position: 30

Skills:
>(Return to the Soil) You will not recover from [Shock] overflow this Encounter. [Passive]

>(Hard Collision) If a participant passes you and their speed is higher than 7, deal them and yourself the number of [Shock] instances equal to your Constitution. [Passive]

>(Crumbling Foothold) You do not check [Shock] instances on Step 4. Instead, overflow is instantly examined and triggered. [Passive]


[1/3]

>>3271467
This plan would've nuked both Syrup and Wolf at the same time.
This is a moot point now though, because you've spent all of Ember's mana.

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>>3271470

[Wolf]
Con: 17
Miracle: 3/5 [+2]
Speed: 7 (7-2)
Position: 20 (11+9)

Status: [Shock]x3, [Slow 2]x1

Skills:
>(Shred) Expend 2 Miracles and pick someone within 7 Lengths. Deal 2 instances of [Shock] to them. Add an additional 2 for each time you’ve selected them with this skill.

>??


[Syrup]
Con: 10
Miracle: 7/15 [+3]
Speed: 6 (8-2)
Position: 19 (11+8)

Status: [Shock]x3, [Slow 2]x1

Skills:
>(Slow as Molasses) Expend 3 Miracles and select a target within 15 Lengths. Apply a new 3-instance stack of [Slow 2]. Repeatable up to 3 times. Targets cannot be affected by more than 3 stacks of this slow. [Cooldown: 1 Left]

>??

>(Here, Catch!) Expend no Miracles and select an ally within 7 Lengths. Toss them the flowers along with this skill with the cooldown shared. [Cooldown: 1]


[2/3]

>>3271499

Goal: Reach 60 or Incapacitate whoever holds the flowers.

[Stella]
Con: 10
Miracle: 9/10 [+1.5]
Speed: 13
Position: 28 (10+18)

Status: [Shock]x6, [Shred]x2

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. [No Uses Left]

>(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 8 or to [Haste] up to 2.

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


[Ember]
Con: 9
Miracle: 2/8 [+2]
Speed: 7 (11-2-2)
Position: 25 (11+14)

Status: [Shock]x1, [Slow 2]x1, [Slow 2]x1

>(Roaring Flames) Expend 4 Miracles. Apply 3 instances of [Shock] and 2 instances of [Slow 2] to all enemies within 7 Lengths.

>(Blaze Ahead) Apply 1 instances of [Shock] to yourself and gain [Haste 7]. If there are more than 2 enemies behind you, give yourself an additional 3 instances of [Shock].

>(Scorched Earth) Expend 6 Miracles. Everyone within 15 Lengths behind you receives 15 instances of [Shock]. [One Use]

Fixed Pace

We’re gonna hit the thicket — the only way we can avoid that is through gambling on Syrup slowing us down enough to not hit it but not enough to let Wolf mulch us. We just need to blow through it.

However, Wolf can’t actually hit us with shred right now. She MIGHT have a long range move to snipe us, but Syrup is more likely to be sniping, I think. So we just need to plow the fuck through and prevent Syrup from hitting us. If this works, fantastic, if not, oh well, we can be the sacrificial lamb for Ember while she regains her mana.

>Stella: Use Illume on Syrup
>Ember: Pace, Haste 5.

>>3271501
Wolf is at distance 8 from us so we're safe from Shred. We have to either incapacitate Syrup in one turn (otherwise she'll throw the flowers to Wolf) or try to be first at 60. Ember is unfortunately out of range to ram Syrup and has no mana for Roaring Flames, so I propose we try to finish first.

>Stella: Illume at Syrup
This will prevent Molasses, and next turn we'll be out of range

>Ember: Pace to the max
Let's try to save some mana for Scorched Earth.

>>3271521
Oh, well, hmm, with fixed Pace we totally could slow down enough to not plow through the thicket, but I’m still worried that if we do so Syrup catches Stella with a slow move and Wolf fucking murders her.

>>3271513
Quoted the wrong post. Vote in >>3271527

>>3271530
THicket deals 2 Shock and the next Shread we eat deals 6, so I think we better stay ahead.

>>3271521
>>3271537
You can Burst the Thicket. Since it has a Speed of 0 and your action resolves first, Crumbling Foothold will send it instantly into Shock and it can't hit you.

>>3271537
Yeah. Great minds think alike, ehehe.

>>3271521
>>3271527
+1

>>3271538
Yeah, I know, it’s Syrup I’m fonferned about. Uh, question though, move or actions process first?

>>3271543
Actions go into Movement and then into Actions. You just moved. I should rearrange the turn order because right now it's kind of awkward.

>>3271521
>>3271527
>>3271541
This.

Writing. I have a feeling I was a little too vague for the hint I gave, but I won't give you guys any mercy anymore.

>>3271556
Hahaha OH BOY I knew you were hinting against the current action but I chose not to listen
Wolf’s gonna snipe Stella I bet
And that’s actually fine if that’s the case, I was prepared for Stella to be the sacrifice for Ember too

>>3271565
I can't complain since I got here late, but we shoulda Illumed Wolf just to make sure we'd be clear of her. She's committed to shredding us and told Syrup to handle Ember, so suddenly worrying about Syrup hitting us isn't the best idea when Wolf is stacking Shreds on us.

>>3271556
Oh fuck wait lol is there another thicket. That’d off Stella on the spot, oof

>>3271582
Shred isn’t the problem, Wolf is already out of range to use it because it’s a 7-range spell and she’s at 8 range and is slower than us. If she whips out a new long range spell Stella’s in trouble but Shred itself isn’t the problem

>>3271585
She's one space out of range. If she or Syrup have a boost move that's gone.

>>3271590
We’re significantly faster than her, however, by base speed, so even if movements went before actions it would take a VERY serious boost to get Wolf in range

>>3271595
You'd think so but we've been surprised before. Turn order is confusing.

>>3271602
Oof yeah she had that boost move. Big oof. Told you.

>>3271590
Well looks like I’m about to be eating my words in record time

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Ember, busy ridding whatever’s left of Syrup’s attack off of her, tries to speed up ahead.

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

The thicket closes in, but you can’t worry about that now! You brace yourself, crashing through it and almost getting knocked off your besom!

>[Stella] passes the <Thicket> first!
>[Stella] and <Thicket> receives 2 instances of [Shock].
><Thicket> breaks away, scattering along the forest path.

You point your wand at Syrup. Fearing that she’ll do the same to you as she did to Ember, you distort space itself, a brilliant, blinding light causing her to turn away.

>[Stella] uses (Illume) on [Syrup]!
>[Syrup] receives 2 instances of [Shock].
>[Syrup]’s perceived distance of [Stella] is 38.

You wait for her to use her skill on you, but she doesn’t. Instead, she sticks a finger into her mouth and seals her lips around it. Her cheeks practically balloon outward as her mouth fills with something. Whatever it is, she swallows it with a huge gulp, opening her mouth for a breath of air as your Miracle dissipates. Shuddering, she lets out a laugh.

“I’m ready!” she tells Wolf.

>[Syrup] uses [Sugar High]!
>>(Sugar High) Expend no Miracles. For three turns, you can use a skill twice a turn with the cost of one. Afterwards, all cooldowns are permanently doubled. [One Use]

Hearing this, Wolf locks her eyes onto you. The innards of her pupils swirl, her body tensing as if on edge. Her smile widens and twists into a thirsting grin. She declares to you, “I love a good race.”

>[Wolf] uses (Thrill of the Hunt) on [Stella] three times!
>(Thrill of the Hunt) Expend 1 Miracles. If you are at least 10 spaces behind someone, increase your Speed by 3 permanently until you reach them. Repeatable on the same target with a maximum of 3 total times. [Cooldown: 2]

>[Wolf]’s base Speed increased from 9 to 18.

And she begins to close in, tearing through the forest as if it were nothing! The bushes and branches are swept past as she weaves and crashes through the woods, gunning right at you! She’s so fast, your heart feels like it’s about to leap out of its chest. Every movement you make she follows close, as if she were hungrily stalking a prey.

[1/3]

Forgot about the thicket

Don't suppose anyone remembers what Rye's advice was?

>>3271619
I think it might have been just to not get involved with Wolf? I don’t remember

>>3271619
>>3271620
Stay far behinf and she can't do aninithing.

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>>3271610

[Wolf]
Con: 17
Miracle: 2/5 [+2]
Speed: 16 (18-2)
Position: 27 (20+7)

Status: [Shock]x3

Skills:
>(Shred) Expend 2 Miracles and pick someone within 7 Lengths. Deal 2 instances of [Shock] to them. Add an additional 2 for each time you’ve selected them with this skill.

>(Thrill of the Hunt) Expend 1 Miracles. If you are at least 10 spaces behind someone, increase your Speed by 3 permanently until you reach them. Repeatable on the same target with a maximum of 3 total times. [Cooldown: 2]

>?


[Syrup]
Con: 10
Miracle: 10/15 [+3]
Speed: 6 (8-2)
Position: 25 (19+6)

Status: [Shock]x3

Skills:
>(Slow as Molasses) Expend 3 Miracles and select a target within 15 Lengths. Apply a new 3-instance stack of [Slow 2]. Repeatable up to 3 times. Targets cannot be affected by more than 3 stacks of this slow. [Cooldown: 1 Left]

>?

>>(Sugar High) Expend no Miracles. For three turns, you can use a skill twice a turn with the cost of one. Afterwards, all cooldowns are permanently doubled. [No Uses Left]

>(Here, Catch!) Expend no Miracles and select an ally within 7 Lengths. Toss them the flowers along with this skill with the cooldown shared. [Cooldown: 1]


[2/3]

>>3271629

Goal: Reach 60 or Incapacitate whoever holds the flowers.

[Stella]
Con: 10
Miracle: 5.5/10 [+1.5]
Speed: 13
Position: 41 (28+13)

Status: [Shock]x8, [Shred]x2

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 left]

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

>(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 8 or to [Haste] up to 2.

Trinkets:
>{Dampening Trinket} Select a skill. Any incoming [Shock] instances from it is reduced to 1 this turn only.
[Ember]
Con: 9
Miracle: 4/8 [+2]
Speed: 10 (11-2-2+3)
Position: 32 (25+7)

Status: [Shock]x1

>(Roaring Flames) Expend 4 Miracles. Apply 3 instances of [Shock] and 2 instances of [Slow 2] to all enemies within 7 Lengths.

>(Blaze Ahead) Apply 1 instances of [Shock] to yourself and gain [Haste 7]. If there are more than 2 enemies behind you, give yourself an additional 3 instances of [Shock].

>(Scorched Earth) Expend 6 Miracles. Everyone within 15 Lengths behind you receives 15 instances of [Shock]. [One Use]

>>3271631
Sorry to bother you about the mechanics again but I’m trying to make sense of Wolf’s position here since getting a solid grasp on it is kind of life and death for Stella

Wolf’s position this turn was adjusted by 7 — shouldn’t it have been adjusted by 18, since choosing actions means we’re at step 7, meaning that Wolf used Thrill of the Hunt at last turn’s step 8, and the speed adjusting step happened between then and now?

>>3271625
Yeah but that means we lose the race.

>>3271631
Ok so if I understand this right, Wolf is going to be at distance 45 next turn, 27+18. We will be at 54, 41+13. So that's perfect. Less than 10 means she can't thrill of the hunt us, and more than 7 protects from another shred. And next turn we'd win at 60. So I vote as follows:

>Stella Prismatic Bursts Syrup
>Ember uses Roaring Flames

Syrup getting shocked is a lose condition too, so they'll have to worry about her having 9 shock stacks at 10 con. She'll need to waste a turn tossing the flowers.

>>3271642
Uh, wow never mind. Thrill of the Hunt was a really old skill. It should be give separate instances of [haste 3]. I should've paid more attention.
Completely my fault, sorry. Her position is correct.

>>3271645
That's exactly what Stella said.

>>3271645
Haha holy shit Syrup is literally ONE space away from being able to double cast the slow spell like I think she wants to. I’m not sure about blowing Ember’s wad like this though — if Ember hastes I think she can outspeed Syrup next turn even with a slow, just enough to nuke her out of existence instantly

>>3271631
If Ember manages to stay ahead, next turn she can use Scorched Earth and win the encounter. But if she can't, it's better to use Roaring Flames and try to nuke Syrup.
Syrup's Molasses are still on cooldown, but she has an unknown skill which she's likely to employ now.

I'm sleepy and don't have enough time so I won't vote. Someone please calculate whether Ember can stay ahead of Wolf to use Scorched Earth next turn.

>>3271661
Molasses had 1 turn of cooldown left last turn so I think Confetto may have neglected to tick it down

>>3271661
I don't think it matters. As long as Stella Illumes Wolf next turn, she can't shock us before we cross the finish line. We should be putting our hopes on Stella here.

>>3271664
Yup, that's another mistake. I'll also remind you guys you have a trinket.

>>3271664
Uuuunless things calculated so Sugar High doubled that cooldown, in which case we may not want to take the risk with Syrup’s Talent at all. In that event, yeah, we might want to Roaring Flames and not take the risk. I just hope Wolf’s Talent isn’t another surge forwards

>>3271645
If there's no other votes, I'll call for this.

>>3271645
>>3271631
Alright I did a lot of thinking here and I’m going to support this plan because Roaring Flames will hit Wolf too and the slowing should make any last minute bursts from her unknown Talent ineffective and the cooldown means Thrill of the Hunt isn’t a problem

>>3271661
Forgot to mention 2 things. Stella is out of range of her stacking slow, but Ember is not. So Ember is probably gonna get slimed by syrup. She can't slime Stella, because if she does our PS will do 2 extra shocks and we win right there by incapacitating the flower holder. Stella is out of range on top of that. So having Ember use roaring flames is needlessly risky, especially if Wolf is holding some super high damage move in reserve.

>>3271671
Stella also has a trinket to avoid the next stun. Ember does not. Really not sure why Ember is being viewed as the prize horse in this situation.

>>3271683
also lol if Syrup DOES shoot her talent at us this turn, unless it blocks Stella’s attack then the burst will KO her

>>3271684
>>3271672
Disregard this, mixed up roaring flames and blaze ahead. I'm dumb.

>>3271689
Don’t worry, it’s 4chan, we’re ALL hopelessly retarded

>>3271680
>>(Blaze Ahead)

>>3271645
>seconding this
if my earlier declaration wasn’t clear enough, which it well might not have been. Sorry for making my vote confusing here Confetto

>>3271696
>>3271704
Oh I already started writing when I saw it. Update in a little bit.

God we’re so fucked if there’s another thicket

>>3271707
We have that trinket that reduces any hit down to a single instance of shock, so maybe not.

>>3271716
Oh, shit, right, I looked back at thread 2 because I forgot how trinkets actually work and yeah we can use it at the same time as we use an action

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“Hey, I’m still here!” Ember shouts, erupting another burst of flame. It sweeps up Wolf and Syrup, but neither of them are concerned!

>[Ember] uses (Roaring Flames)!
>[Wolf] receives 3 instances of [Shock] and 2 instances of [Slow 2].
>[Syrup] receives 3 instances of [Shock] and 2 instances of [Slow 2].

Syrup loudly asks Wolf, “You or Stella?”

With a snarling grin, Wolf replies, “Why not both?”

You wonder if Syrup knows you can listen to her while she tells things to Wolf! Pointing your wand at her, you take aim while you know the path ahead is safe. Waiting for the moment her concentration is at its limit, you fire, just as she seems to point at you!

>[Stella] uses (Prismatic Burst) at [Syrup]!
>[Syrup] receives 3 instances of [Shock].

The burst of light strikes at Syrup, but she raises her hand not at you, but at the ground in front of you! The dirt shifts, and before you have any time to react, something explodes outwards, knocking you backward.

>[Syrup] uses (Lolli-POP!) on Position 42!
>(Lolli-POP!) Expend 8 Miracles and select an empty point within 20 Lengths. In a radius of 4 Lengths, everyone behind the point is shot back and everyone before it is pushed forward, the distance being half their Speed. [Cooldown: 2]

>[Stella] is forced back to Position 34!

The sky blends with the earth as you’re sent tumbling back. Your sense of balance is completely thrown off, but you reorient yourself in an instant, fearing Wolf at your back! Then, behind you, another humongous circular... thing erupts behind them both, sending both thaumaturges forward!

>[Syrup] uses (Lolli-POP!) on Position 31!
>[Syrup] springs forward to Position 28!
>[Wolf] springs forward to Position 35!

As Wolf flies through the air, she tries to swipe at you, but it misses completely with the speed she’s at.

>[Wolf] uses (Shred) on [Stella]!
>[Stella] is out of range.

She comes back closer to the ground again, shrugging it off. “Oh well.”

You clutch your heart. You thought you were done for a moment.

[1/3]

>>3271728
It even rounds up? OP!

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I'll be back in a hour

Uh okay, never mind. Forget the whole thing. Math is way too hard. I'll write the conclusion when I come back for real.

>>3271740
wait a second

Wolf has 7 speed, since she passed us and lost thrill of the hunt bonuses. At position 51, she'll be at 58 next turn.

We're at position 47 and have 13 speed. We'll be at the winning 60 next turn. If we use the trinket to guard against Shred and hit Syrup with a Prismatic Spray, I see no reason why we wouldn't both stun Syrup and beat Wolf to the goal.

Either way I vote to
>Burst Syrup

>>3271761
>>3271773
Nice
Stella’s just too fast, she’s a shooting star

>>3271773
>>3271796
Anyone nervous? I wasn't, no, not in the slightest.

>>3271804
Oh my God I was so nervous the entire time lmao

>>3271773
+1

>>3271773
Also tell Amber to grab Syrup's baneweeds since she already wanted to do it.

>>3271878
Naw, let’s not have Stella be that mean, doesn’t seem totally consistent. She gets a bit frenzied with terror but she’s not cruel. If we win the race there’s no reason to snatch the flowers from Syrup

>>3271886
no reason other than to take all their flowers and teach them not to fuck with the best the best the best

yea it would be OOC though

I'm back. Writing

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>>3271728

Except it was only a moment.

Swinging back into action, you chase after Wolf, right behind her and threatening to fly right past. You’re not afraid!

Her eyes widen. Distracted only for a moment by your approaching figure, she crashes into a bush before picking herself back up. Covered in leaves and soot, she looks like a complete mess. Kicking off, she takes off the instant you pass her.

In that moment, she attacks you one last time in a desperate attempt to stop you!

>[Wolf] uses (Shred) on [Stella]!

Pain course through your entire body as wounds lay across your body and clothes, red petals spilling through. You fly off your besom in shock, crashing onto the grassy ground in a roll and skid. But you spot it. In the corner of your eye, a flash of black seizes your attention completely, and reaching out your hand, you rip all of them free as your momentum carries you past them. A second later, you finally come to a stop, grass and earth in your mouth. Disgusted, you spit them out, bracing yourself against a tree.

Wolf comes to a stop while behind her, Syrup crashes into a tree, Ember’s last hit knocking her off. A wretched thought goes through your mind. Ember could take Syrup’s flowers at any moment. You seriously consider it too, and for that, you recoil in disgust.

Ember stands there, watching Wolf stand over you. You dare to glance up to find an annoyed expression and an extended hand. You stare at it for few seconds before taking it, allowing yourself to be lifted up.

You mumble out a “Thanks.”

When Wolf pulls her hand away, you find that she’s left something in your hand. “That should fix you up.” She looks like she wants to say something but chooses not to. Walking away, she calls out to Syrup, “Syrup, let’s go.”

You examine what she gave you. It’s a small rhombic prism, organic and inorganic elements fused together.

A charm to mend wounds.
>”If this is you pitying me, I don’t want it.”
>”...Thanks.”
>Say nothing and let her go.
>Write-in.

>>3271976
>>Write-in.
"...Thanks, but realy, what was the point of this?Why all this leadership, talk?"

>>3271976
>”...Thanks.”
we did it reddit, we got dem flowers

Should probably not just lie there and be maimed though, even if Stella probably finds the petals prettt.

>>3272000
If we did this I guess I’d want Stella to ask a bit more tersely, I don’t think she’s assertive enough to put it that way. Something more like “Why..? Why all of... this?”

>>3271976
>”...Thanks.”

I don't understand, but ok. Good thing we didn't steal the flowers I guess.

>>3272000
>>3272005
>>3272020
>>3272027
ty

Writing

Well, I gotta go vanish off to work. It’s been a lot of fun, Confetto, other two posters!

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“...I don’t really get it,” you say, pausing, “But thanks.”

Wolf opens her hand and her besom flies toward it, allowing her to snatch it out of the air. “There’s nothing to get. Stay away from Quince and I’ll leave you alone.” You’d expect her to elaborate more, but she seems to be conservative to word usage. Annoyingly so.

Ember steps to the side and lets her pull Syrup off the ground, who mumbles incoherently before walking away. You and Ember stand there for a silent moment before Ember asks, “What the heck was that?”

“I... don’t know?” you reply, using the charm. It pulls the Miracle circulating the air and reshapes it. Slowly your cuts begin to close along with your clothes. One less thing to worry about, you suppose.

A hand on her chin, Ember voices her considerations. “Was it like one of those things where you can only settle it through a fight? Like how besom gangs do it, you know, ‘Let’s talk it out with our fists’!”

Taken aback, it takes you a while to come up with a reply. “If it was a conversation, then it was really one-sided...”

Picking up your own besom, you begin to head back to Pokkin and the others. Strange, now that you look back to it. Despite seeing for yourself how easily Wolf can send you to the dirt, she doesn’t seem to be as scary as when you first met her.

You wonder if you should be worried.

[1/2]

>>3272071
Maybe she's not scary anymore because we kicked her ass in a race! Rekt!

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>>3272071

“Wow, Professor Civet is actually really great!” Ember tells you on the way back to the dorms.

You sigh. “You’re only saying that because she told everyone their potion should be like yours.”

“Hehehe, maybe if she did that more, I would actually want to go to her class.”

“Oh come on,” you tell her, “It’s not that bad.”

“Maybe you’re right,” she replies, grinning, “If I’m a baneweed brewing pro, who knows what else I’m secretly amazing at?” Stepping through a wide, open window, you land in the hallway before Ember does. She almost runs into you too. “Hey, what you stop for? Everything okay up there?” she asks, motioning toward your head.

You stare blankly. You pat your body. You turn on your heel to look out the window. It’s so far away.

“...Stella?” Ember calls out.

Blank.

You’re drawing blanks. Something’s wrong. It’s as if something has scooped out a part of your brain. “Um,” you start to say, trying to vocalize your worry. You, of course, fail to, seeing as you can’t even form the intended meaning in the first place. “Something’s not right?”

She twirls her hand, asking for you to continue. “Okay...?”

“Uh, um,” you stammer. More blanks. Blanks on top of blanks, a wiped canvas, an obscuring veil drawn across your mind, partitioning it in a blossoming— “Never mind,” you say, shaking your head, “It’ll come back to me later.” Discarding the feeling as an intrusive thought, you start walking again.

Ember lingers before choosing to accept your words as it is.

Thanks for playing. I'll be back tomorrow.

>>3272066
Take care.

>>3272219
Good night, chief.
Man, I really wish this was more popular.

>>3272229
I do admit it's pretty niche. Then again, everything I ever ran was pretty niche.

>>3272219
Thanks for running!

>>3272229
I blame the race system. It confuses everyone, even OP.

>>3272268
I like the race/hunt system. Would be cool to see something similar for land encounters if Qonfetto is up for it.

>>3272268
>I blame the race system. It confuses everyone, even OP.
Oof

>>3272324
I have a duel system but that takes even more work for you all. I also have a much simpler distance-based combat system that I never ended up using since it was for a non-draw quest I'm sure no one would read. If I were to do a land encounter system, it would be using the distanced-based combat thing. Definitely not up to reworking every single skill to have an alternative version.

Ah, we’ll figure the race system out eventually. Hell, I’ve got it mostly grasped myself.

I will say that if people want more visibility for the quest they should vote it up in the archive — The first thread hit purple but the second hasn’t hit green, which is a shame.

Also, a question that occurred to me: Was it at all possible for Lavender to get into the school? Would she have had to get first without tying?

Also damn Confetto’s continual teasing of what’s up with Stella has me hooked.

>>3272396
No, because she's an awful thaumaturge and her getting first place wouldn't have changed that. It was more about deciding your relationship with her. Also, the joke was that if you were a good enough thaumaturge to get first place, you should be good enough to get in.

>>3272407
We should visit Lavender again soon, she’s a f r e n

>>3272552
Lavender's FRENCH? Why didn't anyone tell me!?

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You drop your quill and allow your face to fall on your desk. A day later and countless drafts after, you can’t seem to put what you want to say in words correctly. At this rate, Grandma’s going to think you died or something. That reminds you, you should probably leave out your dangerous escapades lest you give her a heart attack.

Rye, walking over, asks, “Need help?”

You say, your voice muffled, “I need a distraction.”

“You do?” she asks.

You’ve been in some kind of strange stupor for a while and you can’t seem to understand why. It grows increasingly frustrating the more you think about it.

Ember’s disappeared to somewhere, Lilac went to the leechcraft department to help out, and Rye is... reading. She’s always reading, isn’t she?

You could also visit Lavender, you tell yourself. Finally, you get up, crumple the half-written letter, and toss it into the trash can.

You need to find something to distract you.
>Look for Ember.
>Look for Lilac.
>Look for Lavender.
>Bother Rye.
>Write-in.

>>3274346
>>Look for Lavender.

>>3274346
>>3274365
>>Bother Rye before going

>>3274346
>>Look for Lavender.

>>3274346
>Bother Rye.
She's the closest one

>>3274365
>>3274369
>>3274376
>>3274386
magically combining these

Writing

>>3274346
>Bother Rye

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“Rye,” you start to say.

She immediately counters, “I’m not a distraction.”

You give her a pleading look. “Please?”

“You’ll be bored out of your mind,” she rebuffs.

“Pretty please?”

Rye lifts the book in her hands and shows you its cover. “What are your thoughts on the philosophy of animism and the nature of the thaumaturge?”

You get up, stretching. “I could go for a walk right now,” you say, wistfully looking around. “I wonder what Lavender is doing?”

She puts it down. “That was fast. This book is a more powerful repellant than I imagined.”

“I was kidding!” you tell her, turning on your heel. Very quietly, you add, “Kind of.”

Sighing, she asks you, “Shouldn’t you go to the leechcraft clinic already? Are you sure you don’t have the echoes or something?”

“But, I haven’t hiccupped at all,” you answer.

“You just don’t want to go there again.”

You pause. “You can’t prove that.”
>”Tell me more about your book!”
>”It’ll go away, definitely.”
>”What’s in your bookshelf, anyways?”
>”Okay, maybe you’re right.”
>Write-in.

>>3274452
>>”Tell me more about your book!”
>>”What’s in your bookshelf, anyways?”

>>3274452
>>”What’s in your bookshelf, anyways?”

>>3274452
Also, deaf girl or komi-san?

>>3274452
>What's in your bookshelf anyway?

Any CHEESY ROMANCE NOVELS?

>>3274452
>”It’ll go away, definitely.”
>”Tell me more about your book!”
I do wanna visit Lavender

>>3274452
>”Tell me more about your book!”

>>3274468
>>3274489
>>3274510
get learnt

>>3274468
>>3274469
>>3274488
What are you hiding?

>>3274489
diejoubu

Writing

>>3274473
Neither. I was referring to the cover of the book.

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“Tell me more about your book!” you ask of her. She looks at you as if you were insane. You reassure her, “I’m serious.”

“Oookay,” she replies. “To start, you’ve noticed how an animasphere functions, right?”

You thoughtfully put a finger on your chin. “I think Doctor Aurora said it was separating your consciousness and putting it in somewhere else? Whatever happens to your body inside doesn’t exactly happen to your body outside.”

“Only because we think of it as consciousness as some abstract thing. Cirrus, the author, compiled a ludicrous number of theories here into his thesis, despite his inability to prove most of them. Basically, he says that of we imagine animaspheres as an overlapping realities on different planes, then we can draw the conclusion that our existences and bodies inside of one are one and the same as any other,” she explains, “Imagine you brain hooked up to entirely different network despite while being attached to your body. The signals it sends and receives are met with false feedback from an external source, but if it’s affecting your body in the external source, who’s to say that source was ever external in the first place? If it can feel and see the same as your brain interprets it to be, then can’t you say that it’s an extension of your will? In a sense, it’s a real part of you.”

“Uh... huh,” you nod. You’re barely grasping any of this at all.

“In summary, Cirrus supposes that our reality is no different than an animasphere, and that by performing a Miracle, you’re crushing two animaspheres together while only keeping the aspects of reality you want.”

“What?” you mutter, shaking your head, “That’s insane. Aren’t dreams animaspheres?”

Rye replies, “I’m skipping over a lot of what he says. But you’re right. It’s only a thesis.”

This is a little too much for you. Wanting to change the topic, you go over to her bookshelf. “Is everything in here like that?” you crouch, scanning the spines. “Any cheesy romance novels?”

She blinks. “Ember keeps hers under her pile of clothes.”

“Where?!” you say, bolting upright.

[1/2]

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>>3274585

“Wait, we probably shouldn’t,” you reply.

“Sure,” she replies, getting up.

You turn your attention back to Rye’s bookshelf. Giving them a quick scan, you read the names out loud. “The Chains of the Anlaecende, Miraculous Warfare, Essence-Soaked Snow, The Fault of the Forest,” you say, “Don’t you have anything... lighter-toned?”

While digging around in the closet, she replies, “Don’t get me wrong, I read other things too. I just don’t keep them. Usually I sell them back or give them away.” Movement suddenly stops. “Found it.” Stepping out, she shows you what she was looking for. “It’s a classic.” When you walk up to her to see the cover, she hands you the book. Roses line the corners of the cover in the foreground while behind it, a knight dances with a woman in a white dress.

You start to cover your eyes.

Rye asks, “Is something wrong?”

“I saw that in my grandparents’ shelves once.”

“Oh.” She pauses. “Have you read it?” she asks. You motion you haven’t with your hands. “Do you?”

That’s the most questionable thing anyone has ever asked you.
>”...Maybe.”
>”I should get going.”
>Write-in.

>>3274659
>>”I should get going. Do you want anithing from the city?”

>>3274659
>”I-I should get going!”

>>3274659
>"YES. Just for the experience of course! Strictly for learning purposes! "

>>3274671
>>3274676
No

>>3274678
Yes

Writing

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“I-I should get going!” you say, grabbing your things. “Do you want anything from the city?”

She thinks for a second. “I could use a new torch. Don’t go out of your way if you can’t find one, but I’ll pay you back if you do buy one.”

You nod, taking your leave. Strange now that you think about it. You’ve always used your wand for that, and it wasn’t exactly intentional you turned those Miracles into something you can use in a race. Minor worries, you suppose. Deciding to take your besom to save yourself the trouble of walking, you leap out the window and fly off, heading to Lavender’s shop.

It doesn’t take long for you to get there. It’s exactly as you remembered it, though the leaf-shaped sign might’ve been a little more polished than when you last saw it. You land as people below give you a wide berth. Peeking through the glass, you spot who you were looking for tending to another customer. You step in just as she finishes handing her change.

“Lavender!” you greet.

“Stella,” she replies, “Welcome!”

“You’re a lifesaver!” you tell her, “Remember that potion I bought a while ago? It was amazing! I was going so fast with it that I couldn’t believe what happens afterwards.”

She beams. “I’m glad you’re happy with it!” she tells you. Putting her hands together with a clap, she leans in, “Oh, do you want to buy another? If you get two, I’ll even throw in a discount, just for you!”

“Haha.” You shyly scratch the back of your head. “Sorry, I’m a little low on coin.”

“Aw, shame,” Lavender replies. “But how have you been?”

You wonder.
>”Actually, I have a bit of a problem.”
>”Probably the wrong place to ask, but do you sell torches?”
>”Speaking of, are you hiring?”
>”Well! How have you been?”
>Write-in.

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Be back in an hour or so.

>>3274753
>>”Well! How have you been?”
>>Write-in.
Theach her the echolocation miracle if she doesn't know.

>”Speaking of, are you hiring?”

>>3274763
Forgot one.

>>”Probably the wrong place to ask, but do you sell torches?”

>>3274753
>”Probably the wrong place to ask, but do you sell torches?”

>>3274753
>"Actually, I have a bit of a problem"

>>3274753
>”Probably the wrong place to ask, but do you sell torches?”
Afterwards, after a pause:
>”Actually, I have a bit of a problem...”

>>3274763
>>3274770
>>3274774
>>3274777
All this

Writing

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“Oh, I learned a neat Miracle the other day. A kind of... spectra echolocation thingy?”

Lavender lifts an eyebrow. “Superimposition spectral imaging?”

“Right!” you say, nodding, “That. I was wondering if you already knew it.”

“I do,” she replies, “But I use a wand for it. We have specially built Instruments in the back to help discern ingredients and mixtures. It’s really handy, even if you feel like cutting off your tongue afterwards.”

“Ah, that’s convenient,” you reply, “Also, probably the wrong place to ask, but do you sell torches?”

She pauses, “We don’t carry torches, but I think there’s a charm shop down the street. If you’re looking for something that makes light, we do have some things here.” She ducks to leave the space behind the counter, beckoning you to a row of cabinets. The one she stops at is filled with bottles of all shapes and sizes, some of them able to fit in your palm while others you need to carry around on your back. “Illuminating solutions are categorized by how they light up. Some create light in after coming in contact with the air, while others are teeming with dormant immiraculous creatures that when exposed to a Miracle would emit light.”

That makes you unnerved, but you don’t say it. Lavender pauses when she sees that you wanted to say something, and you take the chance to do so. “I don’t think any of these can really replace a torch.”

“You’re right,” she replies, “Most of these are either used for general lighting or something like a signal flare. But you know, with the added ease that old world stuff doesn’t have.” And then she tilts her head as she realizes something. “Hold on a minute, why would you need a torch? You can do that with your wand. I remember, you can light things up.”

[1/2]

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>>3274995

With a shy laugh, you answer, “It’s not for me. I don’t think I ever had this problem before.”

“Sorry,” she replies, “I can’t really help you here.”

“Don’t worry about it,” you tell her, “Actually, I have a bit of a problem. Maybe you know how to fix it.” You wait a moment for her to wordlessly signal for you to continue. “I can’t seem to...” You stop there.

A long minute passes before Lavender breaks the silence. “Seem to what?”

You open your mouth, as if you were going to speak, and then stop. Two more times of this and you finally get out, “Think? It feels like I can’t think of something.”

With worried eyes, she tells you, “That sounds really serious. I don’t think you should be coming to me with this kind of thing at all!” Lavender titters before adding, “Maybe see a doctor?”

“No, it’s,” you say, stopping, “It doesn’t feel serious?”

“Then why did you phrase it like a question?” she asks. “Completely unrelated but I’ve been meaning to ask: where did you get that besom? I wish I had something that handled that well.”

“This?” you ask, lifting up. “I got it from...” You blink. “My grandma. It’s an heirloom.”

“No wonder,” she notes.

You hesitate.
>Something’s wrong. (Write-in)
>You’re fine.

oh god
do we have to figure it out
I have to find brain cells oh fug
Guess I’ll search earlier in the thread and see if anything comes up during the race

>>3275069
You don't have to. The option's right there!

>>3275074
I USE BRAIN LIKE HUMAN HRGH
Whatever it is, it has to do with our possessions, Stella was patting herself for something when she walked back inside. Maybe we dropped something? Hmmmm

>>3275044
"Something’s wrong and I cant even put it into words. More like I dont even what's wrong with me. When I think about it everything becomes a blur."

Closing the vote in 5.

Fuck me. Are we missing the little dangly bit on the top of our besom that can be seen in the thread 1 OP or did Confetto just elect to not draw it since it’s a simple drawing? Or was it not there in the first place?

>>3275044
Hell with it I’ll just have us check ourselves
>Something’s wrong.
“Hum. Um. I guess it really is kind of silly for me to ask you about it, but maybe I lost something?”
>Check our besom over again. Are we missing anything on it?

>>3275087
>>3275111
>>3275116

Writing

>>3275044
>Something’s wrong. (Write-in)

>"I blank out. Coming back from a race yesterday I had moved down the hallway without even noticing, like I was sleepwalking for a minute."

>>3275119
>he linked to my post of musings
interesting
I wonder if I’m right, but considering how it is just a detail I might also be trying too hard to play spot the differences. I’ll trawl through thread 2 and thread 1 to see if it’s present I suppose

>>3275128
It shows up consistently in thread 1, once that I saw in thread 2, and once near the beginning of this thread — but it doesn’t show up after the battle in this thread, despite Confetto hinting at the besom slash showing it a couple of times extraneously afterwards. Either I’m right or I’m turning into an actual conspiracy theorist.

And, well, I was the shadowrun anon in thread 1 so that’d make sense too

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You stare at your besom. Something’s wrong.

No, you know what’s wrong with you, but that’s not quite right. Something’s off, but you don’t know what’s off! That’s the problem, and try as you might to vocalize it, it might as well be asking for someone to read your mind and then some.

“Hum. Um. I guess it really is kind of silly for me to ask you about it, but maybe I lost something?” you ask.

Lavender thinks for a moment. She furrows her brow in concentration. “Didn’t you have charms tied to it?”

You hold your besom up, your hand running through the hole in the handle. “I don’t remember there being any.”

She replies, “Maybe I was just seeing things.” The bell on the shop door rings as someone enters, and her attention snaps away. “Welcome!” To you, Lavender says, “Sorry, I’ve got to get back to work. If you need anything, tell me!”

Leaving you to mull over whatever it is going through your mind, she heads over to help with a customer.

You stare at your besom.

Nothing’s missing. Right?

You tell yourself that, but a part of you refuses to believe it. Gripping the handle, you squeeze it tight as you walk out the shop. Your mind is empty, desperate to focus on whatever it is eludes you.

Getting onto your besom, you fly back to the Anlaecende, and when you reach there, you trace your steps, one by one. In a trance, you follow down the halls, hunting for something particular.

You enter your dorm room, and Rye says something to you. You don’t hear it. One foot after the other, you follow the trail you’ve made and circle back outside. Rye watches you with concern, though you don’t notice it.

In this state, you walk back out to the Anima Forest, eyes darting all around. Birds fly out into the sky, the noises of the wildlife all that you can hear. A couple of students walk toward you, heading back to the castle. You stand there, silent, searching.

Finally, you latch onto the smallest concept that manages to form. “Where is it?”

Thanks for playing. I'll try to wrap up the thread on Wednesday.

Hahaaaaaa I figured it out
Functioning brain confirmed

>>3275203
Thanks for running, man.
Good night.

>>3275203
Thanks for running!

>>3275111
good catch senpai

>>3275208
Nice one, man.
I was thinking of the teacher or plant mindfucking us caused this.

I wonder if it was running into the thicket that lost the charm.

>>3275242
That or the flower grabbing after eating a nasty shred

>>3276328
Or Wolf snatched it while pretending to help us.

>>3275203
Thanks for running. I've been lurking, otherwise unavailable while the quest was running, or unable to post. Sorry about that, but there are definitely us lurkers watching.
Forgot to mention it last thread, but I'm really liking these background songs you put up to listen to while racing or whatnot. It really gives it a bit of extra, magical, feeling to it all.

>>3274585
Not going to lie, these are some interesting philosophical questions. I'd argue that the original body you are born in, the one your brain is innately tied to, is the 'true' body. While all other simulated bodies inside of animaspheres are more like an avatar, than a proper true body. They are made right when you enter the animasphere, and as far as I know, disappear the moment your mind leaves the animasphere. If it was a proper body, it would have a sense of permanence.
Though I guess it also comes down to how much 'you believe it, and its real, because magic' the magic in this world is. Magic seems to be pretty belief based, based on how our Illume spell works. Perhaps if someone believes their avatar in an animasphere is their real body hard enough, it does become their real body, and they cease to be connected to their old one.

>>3276369
I'm not too sure on that. Wolf is aggressive and domineering to an extent, but she doesn't seem the type to steal and cheat for petty reasons. She wanted a duel, and she accepted our choice when we said no. Then she got one, and we beat her fair and square in an honest race. She honored the terms and left it at that.
My bet is we just lost it somewhere along the race. Either through the shrubs, when we got hit by the lolly-pop, or when we decided to try to use our face as a landing gear.

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A common misconception is that one can use light to banish the dark.

Those who says such things have never wandered into the unseen themselves, watching the firelight flickering in the distance. They have never seen the fading incandescence draw the outline of the things that lurk in these depths, revealing them to everything that has the luxury of sight. It is the weak that skulk in the shadows, like rats scrambling for a hole to crawl into.

Each step into the light of the lanterns sends something scuttling away, shifting figures fleeing by your approach. The sunset has made things dim, but the smallest of light can still be blindingly bright with a backdrop of black. You push aside a shrub, stepping further into the wilderness. It’s been half an hour since you left the alchemy department. It has been thirty-minutes since someone started following you.

You don’t know who it is, nor do you care, seeing as how they’ve been keeping their distance.

You approach the border set out by the alchemy staff, made clear by the sudden lack of lanterns on the trees. Beyond here, no one can guarantee the state of the forest. But you can taste it.

Every minute, you perform a Miracle. You can taste a lack of something, a missing sensation that has been by your side all this time until now. What replaces it is something that resembles its likeness instead, a slight deformation and change. Little to go on, seeing as how it could be something else completely, but it is your only trail.

So you follow it.

The sound of a dead leaf being crushed causes you to freeze. The weight alone tells you it’s a person.

They’re still there.
>Call out.
>Pretend you haven’t noticed and keep going.
>Burst.
>Write-in.

>>3280458
>>Pretend you haven’t noticed and keep going.

>>3278998
Thank you! Reassuring posts help a lot, I swear.

>>3280458
We shouldn't be in this forest alone.

>>Write-in.
See if it's someone from our coven.

>>3280484
Or someone we known otherwise keep going.

>>3280458
>Call out

>>3280461
Pretend

>>3280484
>>3280487
>>3280490
See

Writing

>>3280458
Why is this pic so hot

>>3280513
The face shape is sharper and better defined than normal I think.

>>3280513
... Are you sure Stella is legal?

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This has gone long enough.

One hand in your bag, you reach for your wand.

“Who’s there?” you ask. Nothing. A moment elapses.

Rye steps out. “Where are you going?” she asks.

Your attention withers. “I dropped something.”

Firmly, she tells you, “It’s dangerous out there. If you’re going, at least tell someone.”

“It won’t take long; I’ll just take what’s mine and leave,” you reply. You can barely put effort into your words; they come out more as whispers than anything.

Her eyes betray her suspicion. She steps closer to you, and you step back. “You’re in a trance.”

“Don’t stop me.” You turn continue. Your jaw clamps shut as the newfound flavor of human to your collection of knowledge of spectra.

Wordlessly, Rye follows you. “What are you looking for? Let me help.” You don’t ask why. You don’t need to know. A minor thing.

You perform a Miracle once. You’re getting close. In a murmur, you answer, “A ring of charms. A feather, a tooth, a scale, a pebble...” You recite them one after the other, searing it into your mind. You’ll carve it all over if you have you. You refuse to forget.

That is why you can spot it even when it’s scattered and torn apart before you.

[1/2]

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>>3280547

https://files.catbox.moe/q0g2hm.mp3

You can hear her, the hunched girl mumbling between sobs. Her voice.

Meaning fails to form, a staggering stumble that threatens to split you at the seams. The connection between ideas is not severed, but snuffed out.

Her. Her, Her, Her, Her, Her—

Scattered pieces of a misshapen whole, torn feathers, and split scales, a trail that leads you to Her. You were looking for Her, so she has become so. The world seems to bend your meaning, your reality, your will.

The definition of a Miracle—except it wasn’t yours.

Her hair in knots and braids, it is a curtain draped across her back, hiding herself but not her hands. In it is a string, a cracked cubed. A woman in the dark.

Rye says something to you, reaching out, but you step closer, away from her hand.

“Please don’t cry,” you whisper.

Pained wails. The One Before You holds the crushed charms so tightly against her chest.

Your heart rends. You wish you could see Her all this time, and you meet like so! You can’t stand it.

>You want to rush over and hold Her tight.

>Run into her arms soothe Her as she soothed you.

>Tell Her about all you’ve done, how you’ve followed Her footsteps.

The line between the real and the unreal disappears.
>Disprove Her. (Write-in)
>Reunite.

>>3280573
>Tell Her about all you've done, how you followed Her footsteps

>>3280573
>Reunite.

>>3280573
>>Disprove Her.

"No, she's not in this world anymore. She said to look for her in my dreams. You are not here, you are not her!"

>>3280573
>Disprove Her.
Supporting >>3280596

>>3280573
>>Tell Her about all you’ve done, how you’ve followed Her footsteps.


>Disprove Her. (Write-in)
This isn't a dream... But I wish it was.

>>3280578
>>3280607
Footsteps

>>3280592
Reunion

>>3280596
>>3280603
>>3280607
Disprove

Writing