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Previously on 999 Quest:
You had finally decided to do the smart thing and begin exploring the city you'd ended up in, finally leaving the abode of Notes-Of-Hunger to do so. Though not before getting a means to locate suspected allies. Finally, after a little bit of preparation, you decided to head to the city park, with Spanko being your guide.

Once there, you found a bunch of plant spirits who were in need of some aid. Namely, one of their elders had fallen under some dark influence, and had twisted their spiritual grove into something vile. You decided to aid them in exchange for further information on the local area, and we're more or less successful in purging the corruption.

Well, you had *hoped* that you did, as you look in the direction of the pulsating darkness in front of you, from which six tall thin and spindly things drop to the ground and slowly push themselves up upon boneless limbs. An odd nursery rhyme echoes from the shadows in front of you as the entities begin to move towards you, blindly groping at the air.

>>3971642
well it cant really see where we are and its moving on thin and long legs
or it can see and the groping is just how it moves i would aim with ranged attacks on the legs a purify attacks to weaken it

>>3971642
>>3971878
Roll a 2d100.

Also, apologies for being gone so long. Exams came up with little forewarning, and I got sick starting from yesterday.

Rolled 16, 79 = 95 (2d100)

>>3971900
Also get tree spirit out of the way. It can surely manipulate environment to our advantage but it needs time to recover

Rolled 16, 13 = 29 (2d100)

>>3971900

Rolled 87, 57 = 144 (2d100)

>>3971900

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>>3971931
>>3971945
>>3971984
144. Not the best result, but the Saved are kind of dumb so it balances out. Writing.

>>3971878
>>3971931
>well it cant really see where we are and its moving on thin and long legs
>or it can see and the groping is just how it moves i would aim with ranged attacks on the legs a purify attacks to weaken it
>Also get tree spirit out of the way. It can surely manipulate environment to our advantage but it needs time to recover
You move back, as the six *things* shift and sway, still seeming unsure of themselves. The darkness behind them deepens and spreads as they draw nearer, and above you, the skies have grown cold and dim, as though their light is being snuffed out.

Suddenly, the thin humanoid creatures almost seem to stand straight, faces turned to properly face you. Or, that's what you WOULD say, if they actually had any features.

Instead of eyes, or a nose, or a mouth, all the black coated things have are three oozing cross-shaped stitches. They begin to move towards you, actively groping towards you as they do.

You raise a limb in the air, and a ball of purifying flame manifests, before you toss it forward, immediately lighting the nearest of the unshapely ablaze, as it silently falls to the ground, and starts to writhe against the flames. The others of its kin either do not notice, or do not care about their ailing brethren, instead continuing their silent advance.

"Blorble!" You turn over and shout at your companions to get the tree spirit out of here. It wouldn't do for it to get captured again so quickly.

Blackwood and Spanko nod and squawk in the affirmative respectively, before picking up the spirit's limbs, and dragging it over to the sides of the grove. Leaving you, Red, Blue and Purple against the oncoming foes.

"Oh don't be so scared, deary." An old, strangely soothing voice croons from the shadows writhing behind the creatures. "It'll all be over soon. You'll be Saved, and you won't have to suffer that pain ever again."

>>3972848
Orange: Snow storm it up
Blue & Red: Melee it up
Purple: Put Vuindred's book to use and see how to seal that tear in space up

>>3973330
Roll a 3d100.

Rolled 97, 21, 68 = 186 (3d100)

>>3974044

Rolled 18, 6, 31 = 55 (3d100)

>>3974044

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>>3974051
>>3974109
186. Pretty good teamwork. Writing now.

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>>3973330
>Orange: Snow storm it up
You raise your limbs into the air, frigid power dancing along your body as your Dream Trinket pulses in tone with the resonance cascading over your own frame. And with a mighty shout to the darkening skies, you unleash a raw wave of permafrost that rises up and solidifies against the thin ropey limbs of the five approaching horrors, with the one that you left one the ground getting absolute smothered under the layers of frost.

>Snow Storm (E++)

The creatures make no response to the sudden freezing. Isntead, they silently begin to dig their way out and continue their advance. But theyre stopped short when-

>Blue & Red: Melee it up
Blue and Red dive in to try and take them in melee, Blue going in with his Gauntlets whilst Red channels a coat of flames around himself and his sword. They move in as one, striking and cutting at the odd lanky creatures.

Once more, the entities make no response or even sign of remote discomfort. Instead, they begin to beat on Red and Blue, or try to grapple against them, pushing through flame and decay to latch onto them and pull them in a direction.

After a while of struggling, thry push and toss Red up and over and into strand of those strange black webs, which promptly entangle themselves against him and don't seem intent on removing themselves.

"[H-Hey! Let m-me go!]" he cries out, before to your eyes, something seems to start drifting from his body and into the web-like strands, pulsating and wispy.

>Roll a 4d100 for any attempt to save Red from Granny's Threads. Highest roll of the first three wins.

>Purple: Put Vuindred's book to use and see how to seal that tear in space up
Purple moves forward next, channeling whatever power he can muster from the Tome of Astral Travel towards fighting against the oppressive blackness rising up all around you.

Energy crackles in the air as violet sigils weave themselves into existence, as Purple starts what sounds like part of a chant. But before he can do much else, his defensive and warding spells violently rupture, causing his eyes to widen as the now wild and arcing magic lances outwards in every direction n sends him toppling back.

"[It's too strong! I can't make an effective counterspell! We need more power!]"

Rolled 87, 100, 19, 4 = 210 (4d100)

>>3975073
Orange: Swipe a purifying tentacle at black webs
Purple: Joins the fight with Blue

Rolled 56, 54, 96, 29 = 235 (4d100)

Rolled 96, 59, 52, 71 = 278 (4d100)

>>3975073
Burn the webs with Purifying Touch.

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>>3975330
>>3975356
>>3975396
278. And the webs are gone. Can't say that Red will be feeling very good after this, though. Writing.

>>3975330
>>3975356
>>3975396
>Orange: Swipe a purifying tentacle at black webs
>Burn the webs with Purifying Touch.
You turn to Red who's entangled by the twisted black strands, and raise a limb, spreading raw purifying power in his direction.

The webs crackle and hiss as thry fade out of existence, dissolving quickly against the weight of your touch.

>Purifying Touch (B+++)

Red manages to push himself up, but he looks unsteady, unsure of himself.

"[I-it w-was...w-wrong. And y-yet...a-almost i-inviting?]" he shakes himself, almost seeming to shudder. "[N-No. Never again. T-thanks a lot, Orange.]"

You nod at him, before turning back to the ongoing fight.

>Purple: Joins the fight with Blue
Purple moves over to support Blue, crackling bolts of aetheric magic racing through the air to strike the tall gangly monstrosities trying to grasp at him and pull him into the same black webs they tossed Red into. Black oozing limbs go flying, and holes are punched through dessicated flesh, and yet the monsters Keep coming.

It's only when Blue and Purple come together and strike at a single wounded one with force sufficient enough to reduce the thing to a sizzling mush that it finally ceases to move. You'd almost jump for joy at finally having results here.

Well, if it weren't for that gaping hole in the world filled with oozing darkness suddenly pushing out six more of the things in response.

"[...Alright. Purple? Orange?]" Blue for what might be since the first time you've ever met him, actually pauses as he assesses the situation. "[I think this calls for a tactical retreat. Agree or disagree? I'm personally feeling for a 'Agree' here, but I'm starting to get better with listening to other opinions.]"

>>3975463
Contact Blackwood for his status and location
Assume animal forms for greater speed
Run!
Btw does this ''Grandmother'' have anything to do with Grandmother from old world of darkness? https://whitewolf.fandom.com/wiki/Grandmother

>>3975520
Roll a 3d100 to shift form and speed away.

>Btw does this ''Grandmother'' have anything to do with Grandmother from old world of darkness? https://whitewolf.fandom.com/wiki/Grandmother
If she did, you (and most everything else) would be pretty fucked. Fortunately, Granny Stitch here is simply a very powerful magath instead of being a malignant cosmic principle embodying Oblivion itself.

>>3975556

Rolled 25, 60, 6 = 91 (3d100)

>>3975556

Rolled 88, 40, 46 = 174 (3d100)

>>3975556

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>>3975589
>>3975591
>>3975820
174. Well, you shift form and move away, at least. Writing.

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>>3975520
>Contact Blackwood for his status and location
>Assume animal forms for greater speed
>Run!
You leap away as one of the creatures limbs gropes in your direction, slashing any other offending appendages away as you, Blue and Purple press yourselves towards each other.

"[I agree with Blue here]" Purple remarks (he pointedly ignores the "[About damn time!]" that turns up). "[We can't fight this. Not right now. We need to regroup, re-analyze the situation, and come up with a plan.]"

You nod, already turning your efforts towards getting into contact with Blackwood.

"9..9..m....b..y? W...e'.v....al....r..e..d..y..l..t! A....r....e.....y..o....."


It's too distorted to fully make out, but you can make enough a guess that he and Spanko managed to make it to safety.

Can't say the same about you though.

You shift your body, taking on the form of a small squirrel, as Blue and Purple go for a wolf and slithering serpent respectively. Almsot as one, you turn and try to speed away.

The creatures behind you seem hopelessly confused at this, clearly not made with the necessary intelligence to account for rapidly moving prey. But the thin black webbing you saw earlier is moving deceptively quickly. Or more accurately, it's manifesting the further along you push into the woodwork.

"[Look out!]"

You can only barely make out Blue's cry before the black threads seem to almost erupt and snap over your body. Choking darkness leeches into you, almost constricting your much smaller frame. And yet...it's almost like it's whispering that it will all be fine.

And just as soon as that feeling comes, it goes away, and you're dropped unceremoniously to the leafy ground. Looking up in confusion, you stare at Blue and Purple, who similarly don't seem to have a clue. Around you, the remaining black threads are dissolving and hissing as they break apart into nothingness.

It's only when you look back to where those creatures where, and the dark portal that begat them, that you have a clearer understanding of what exactly might have happened.

Moving forward, slowly but surely, there's a small multicolored bear. It's just as quiet as the creatures it's striding towards, except this isn't a tainted silence laced with eldritch hunger. This is a resolute silence, an assurance of safety. There's a warmth in the air about it even as its small steps continue to press down against the grass and soil. As it moves, you can almost seem the threads, and even the strange entities, almost visibly recoil and pull back.

There's a light to this small bear. One that resonates with the Feather of Hunger you still have stashed away inside you. A familiar one too, as you almost recognize this bear.

...2295?

>>3976763
Based literal care bear

>>3976763
Greet, 2295

>>3977068
>Greet, 2295
"Blorble? Blorble!"

You shout and wave at the little bear, a friend you didn't expect to see here. But instead of responding, 2295 continues to move towards the twisted entities, who shrink away for a moment, as though considering retreating towards the Dark gateway that thry emerged from.

One of them doesn't seem to catch on however, and 2295 reaches it, wrapping its arms around its leg. You blink a little at this. You're usually the hugger here!

"[What-]" Blue is about to start speaking, but then the strange entity begins thrashing and tossing its limbs to and fro, silent as ever but seeming panicked nonetheless. The others begin to back up even further.

2295 removes its arms from around the creature's leg, and it topples over onto the grass, still thrashing. It holds its stubs out, as something thin and black and filmy dissolves in its grip. Looking back to the still writhing creature, you see an entire huge portion of its leg is just GONE. As though it were surgically removed.

2295 ignores the creatures struggling, and moves up to it, putting it's arms against it and slowly but surely taking away more and more pieces of it, removing whole chunks of its existence with the kind of skill only a practiced doctor might have.

In but a few seconds, it's finished with its grizzly task, leaving nothing behind save a few trace motes of dark dust that dissolve in the open air. It turns to the other entities.

They stiffen at its gaze, and just then and there, more thin black strands shoot out of the darkness behind them and drag the silent mockeries of life back into the oozing blackness, before the rift itself vanishes with a loud rending noise.

2295 continues looking in the direction where the things had once been for a few moments, before it turns back to you. It waves back to you.

>>3977396
Hug 2295 and twirl him around
''What a wonderful surprise to see you here? What have you been up to, 2295?''

>>3977396
Rush to 2295 and hug him.

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>>3977419
>>3977689
>Hug 2295 and twirl him around
>Rush to 2295 and hug him.
>''What a wonderful surprise to see you here? What have you been up to, 2295?''
You quickly rush over to 2295, lifting it up with your limbs and spinning him around. His black button eyes seem to convey a sense of being startled as you whirl him around for a bit before pulling him close.

"Blorble blorble blorb-blorb blorble? ["Where have you been, 2295? It's great to see you here after all this time! What have you been up to?]"

Your rapid string of questions as you hug the little guy closer is interrupted by a coughing noise behind you. Turning around, you see Blue and Purple coming up, looking like they have questions of their own, but are holding them back for now.

"[It would be most wise if we left before that anomaly can start another attack, Orange. We can continue talking with 2295 after we've moved to a safer location.]"

You nod to Purple's words, finally placing 2295 down on the ground. The small bear wanders over to the side, and 'taps' at the open air.

In but a few seconds, a glowing green rift akin to the one that brought you here is opened, complete with what sounds like Blackwood and Spanko on the other side. 2295 waves you over to it, before jumping in ahead.

>>3977916
Go through the rift.

>>3977916
YEET

>>3978132
>>3978676
>Go through the rift.
You decide to go along with it. Perhaps you'll finally be able to get some proper answers here. But first...

>>3978676
>YEET
With a quick moving pseudopod, you drag Blue forward and toss him at the rift. To test the waters you know.

"[I'm getting you back for this Orange, you assho-"] Blue's angry rant gets cut off as he's pulled through.

Just testing the waters. You shrug at the flat look Purple gives you, and cheerfully leap in after your all-too aggressive family member.

Once you step through the gateway however, you find that things aren't 1uite as what you'd expect.

"You clearly did not provide us all the information we could've possibly needed for this endeavor." the curt voice of Lord Blackwood cuts into the air like a knife. And you hear Spanko giving several angry-sounding "Cacks!" of his own.

"We told you enough, little thing." the gruff and weathered voice of one of their elders responds.

"*Yeah, I think we gave you everything you needed. It's not our fault you came in unprepared.*"

"As I always say, pas de regrets!"

"Agreemsnt/Acknowledgenent/Refusal To Accept Blame."

"sowereallywonderifyouguyswouldlikesomeessenceorsomethingorwecouldjustplay-

This goes on in a heated continuous back and forth for several long minutes. And neither side seems to be letting up even now. 2295 is next to a dazed looking Blue, head tilted in obvious befuddlement.

Might be wise to try and defuse things.

>>3978726
''Now now, Sir Blackwood there's no reason to be so upset. The Elder spirit just said there was *something* evil which tainted one of their own it couldn't have know it was this ''Grandmother'' who infected them. Speaking off which how are they doing?''

>>3980578
>''Now now, Sir Blackwood there's no reason to be so upset. The Elder spirit just said there was *something* evil which tainted one of their own it couldn't have know it was this ''Grandmother'' who infected them.
"Even so,my boy, we cannot let this get off lightly! What if there is to be a repeat incident!"

Blackwood is understandably very upset.

"Hmph, you're an amusing whelp." a grunt sounds out from one of the older looking trees. "The fact that you think the Grandmother could EVER enter our grove without our awareness speaks volumes of your foolishness, little root."

Well, that's kind of rude.

"*We'd have *noticed* if something that powerful broke into our grove to try and corrupt one of our elders. Granny isn't subtle*"

"Acknowledgement/Truth/Lashing Wood Is Correct."

Well that's-That's just...Huh. So something else is behind all this? But, what?

>Speaking off which how are they doing?''
"Blorble blorble?"

You look around for the spirit you helped, eager to know what happeneded to them, but you don't see them anywhere.

"I am here, my friend."

Beneath you, the ground rumbles with the sound of their voice, as vines and plant life suddenly push upwards into a new growth, resembling a bizarre almost human-shaped tree.

"*E-Elder!*" the voice of Lashing Wood corals, amongst several others, all of them clearly surprised.

"I am not so weakened that I need your personal defense, saplings." the old tree responds, before turning to you. "You aided me. You aided me, and you did so without any real cause to. Even being informed that you desire information in some form, that is less than many other spirits would ask in your position. Not even a single drop of Essence did you ask in return for completing this task."

"I wish to know why, little sapling."

>>3980736
>"I wish to know why, little sapling."
Because I can

>>3980736
Why do cats meow, why do wolfs howl? Perhaps it is simply my nature, elder spirit

>>3980736
>>3980818
Support.

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>>3980765
>>3981120
>Because I can
You *feel* the air grow tense with your response. As though something has entirely changed in the atmosphere here.

You feel the elder spirit's gaze focus on you like razor.

>>3980818
>Why do cats meow, why do wolfs howl? Perhaps it is simply my nature, elder spirit
"Blorble, blorb blorble? Blorble blorb."

And much like a passing wave, the tension in the air vanishes. Replaced with something almost...kindly, in nature.

"Well spoken, young root." the tree spirit's branches and vines sway in unison, making an odd crackling noise as they do. "Very well. A debt is owed, and a debt we repay."

"You came seeking answers, sapling. And answers you shall have. Our roots spread far, and we are always listening for changes on the winds. Ask your questions."

>>3981159
1. What was that entity which corrupted you?
2. How could we contact a hunter pack?
3. You wouldn't happen to know a spirit who goes by ''Notes-of-hunger'' ?
4. Does ''A horrid thing of armor and fire is tearing through Shadow and Flesh'' ring any bells?

>>3981220
>. What was that entity which corrupted you?
"I doubt it had any true name, and I did not recognize it. I only recall eyes of deepest black, and dying stars."

>2. How could we contact a hunter pack?
"There is one not far from our current location. If it is your wish, we could attempt to earn you an audience with them, young root."

>3. You wouldn't happen to know a spirit who goes by ''Notes-of-hunger'' ?
The tree spirit seems to stiffen slightly. In fact, most of the trees and plants around it seem to freeze at the question.

"You...are familiar with the Knowing Hunger?"

"[Yeah. We kinda met it as one of our first meetings in this joint.]" Blue, to the surprise of none, is blunt and to the point.

The greater tree spirit seems to bristle at the words, shaking its vines and branches rapidly after a time.

"We dare not tread upon the Hunger's domain or those it has protected. Greater than we have tried. All have met their ends. Had we known that you had met with it, perhaps we would not have been so distrusting, sapling."

>4. Does ''A horrid thing of armor and fire is tearing through Shadow and Flesh'' ring any bells?
"We know that there is something vile that has converted the Shadow into a macabre dominion of fire and iron. Many of our kindred spirits have already fallen victim to whatever plans it has for this place. We have even heard word that the great hunters themselves are falling victim to its calling. Beyond that, our knowledge is faint."

"Is that all you wished to know, little one? Perhaps there is more you desire to ask? Speak. We will listen."

>>3981969
Ask them what they know about this town in general. We're still new here.

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>>3981984
>Ask them what they know about this town in general. We're still new here.
"Blorble-blorble?" you look around the area a bit,your gaze curious as none of the humans seem to have noticed any of you yet.

"Ah, that explains some things then." the elder spirit, sighs, before chuckling a little. "You're still young and unfamiliar to this place. Though I suppose the way your Essence flows even now should've been evidence enough."

Beneath you, the roots of the various trees seem to push upwards somewhat, before going back to a resting position.

"This land is old, saplings. Even before the fleshlings of the Suhahdu came with their cities of metal and stone, the Hisil was alive here and ever-changing, a remnant of the time before when there was still a First Hunter to separate what held flesh from what did not. The city came later, when those of the flesh came to the land, attracted by its power that even they could feel through their limited perceptions. Eventually, so too did the children o Wolf and the Mother Moon come."

"Deals were made, walls and limitations made and enforced, and we of the Hisil found ourselves free to do as we wished, so long as we abided by the laws that the younglings of Wolf worked tirelessly to enforce. Eventually, some of our own even shaped themselves around the goal of preserving this city and this land. So was the Court of Silent Tides born."

"But alas, all that has changed. Delirium has come, from where I do not know, and the land suffers from it. This city is caught in its maelstrom and it seeks to swallow us all, all under the inscrutable whims of its Red Queen. We have been engaged in this war of Tides and Red for much longer than most would think, sapling. Even what few of Wolf's children that guard this place are finding themselves driven to the brink trying to bring its end. And I fear that darker things are being drawn here by this continued madness."

The tree spirit seems to slump at those final words, before the collective of other spirits all start to speak up and console it. 2295 moves up to you and presses an arm against your side, tugging. You turn and look at it, little button eyes reflecting off the afternoon light as the little bear seems eager to take you somewhere, other arm pointing into the distance. You look back to the spirit.

"Go with your friend, young root. If they are who I suspect they are, you will need their aid soon enough. You have done so much to aid us. You will always be welcome to return should you need somewhere to rest."

>>3983266
Ask 2295 where he wants to go and go with him.

>>3983341
>Ask 2295 where he wants to go and go with him.
2295 tugs you forward, pulling on your jelly flesh a little as he guides you onwards. You look to the others for help, but they're simply waving goodbye to the park spirits and choosing to follow along.

You sigh, deciding it would simply be wiser to follow along with whatever 2295 wants.

After a while, you slip past the boundary of the 'Shadow' as the spirits called it, and are forced to once more move about where humans can see. Since 2295 doesn't have a talisman to disguise himself, you instead decide to pick him up and carry him, with him pointing to where he wants you to go and Spanko calling out from above occasionally to help in avoiding certain unpleasant areas.

It takes a little while (let it be known that travel on foot is long and kind of dull), but you eventually come to a run down building on the farther side of town, right on the edge of its more abandoned parts. With the much lower humsn presence, 2295 is no longer relegated to your hold, and jumps down, moving over to the ramshackle building.

"[S-should we stop him?]" Red asks, looking back and forth between the advancing bear and the rest of you.

Blue shrugs, Spanko pulls at some tree leaves stuck in his wing, and Blackwood and Purple defer to you.

"[It might be wise to ask him where he's taken us, and why here of all places, Orange.]"

"I agree with the purple lad, my boy. Best not to be walking into some kind of inconvenient situation if we can help it, I say."

Well, it's up to you.

>>3983747
Ask 2295 where we are and why he brought us here.

>>3983827
I wonder also

>>3983747
Bah, just go in 2295 is cool

>>3983827
>>3984366
>>3984470
>Ask 2295 where we are and why he brought us here.
>Bah, just go in 2295 is cool
You decide it would be better to just trust 2295 on this. He's your friend, right?

Still, you go up to 2295 to ask him why you're here all the same.

"Blorble-blorble?"

2295 doesnt answer you immediately, instead unhinging a piece of moderately sized metal and putting it to the side, revealing a large hole in the side of the building. He steps inside, turning and gesturing for you to follow.

You decide to indulge your curiosity and follow him in, as the others start doing the same with Red coming in first, then Blue and Spanko (with the doctor perched on top of the former's head), and finally Purple and Blackwood who pull the metal sheet back over the hole.

Inside, you're stunned by how alarmingly tidy it all is. Desks are arranged to the sides of a modest room and show few if any signs of wear, small lamps light up the dim of the room and bask it in an oddly captivating twilight glow, a few beds are lined up near the far wall, and any holes or other signs of damage seem to have been fixed up with bits of multicolored patchwork, aligned in such a way as to not clash with the rest of the room's design. On the desks, there's an absolute clutter of things, with papers and pens and news articles and even crayons scattered about, with some trailing off onto the floor.

2295 moves towards the desks, and pulls over a chair to stand on, shuffling through the pile for something.

"[Heh. He's just as messy as you are, Purp-ow! Hey! What was that for?!]" Blue shouts, his remark having been cut off to a slap to the head that dislodges Spanko and shifts his body mass.

"[You being an idiot, clearly.]"

2295 seems to eventually find whatever it's looking for, and calls you over. You move over to the desk to find 2295 eagerly (or perhaps, anxiously) tapping at a newspaper article.

>22 Kids Go Missing On A Candy Hunt.

Below the headline, you see details being given regarding the missing kids and statements taken from grieving families. But the paper seems dated, with a faded yellow coloration to it. You don't see the connection.

2295 pulls up another, somewhat more recent paper.

>20 Students Disappear After A School Field Trip

Much like the other article, this one details the disappearance of several people who went on what was supposed to be a three day trip. The article notes that the trip ended up getting cut down to two days following other students noticing that many of their fellows did not return. Mention of the last mass disappearance is made, and possible connection.

2295 then proceeds to pull out a third article, this one looking by far to be the most recent.

>Police And Detective Team Reported Missing After Failed Case

The article opens with mention of the previous two mass disappearances, and how a team was made to try and track them down, even connecting them to a similar string of disappearances throughout city history.

>cont

>>3984728
>cont

The combined police team was reportedly last seen entering the abandoned sections of town, which were suspected as being tied to the series of missing person cases. That was the last time any of them were ever seen.

Finally, the little bear pulls out a drawing, hashed out with pen and pencil, as though whoever made it was hurriedly scribbling it down. The drawing depicts one of the creatures you fought back in the grove, crossed out featureless face and all. But there's something behind it. A large mass of black scribbles and dark pen ink overshadowing the form of the creature in front, that for some reason, even on this sheet of psper, you get the distinct impression that it's watching you. Black stains mar the edges of the page.

You put the paper down, as 2295 starts to fidget, idly rubbing the nubs of its arms together. Clearly, he was waiting on you to start putting the pieces together for yourself.

>>3984737
1.so there seems to be periods of times where these creatures suddenly appear
2.and take people away
3.and the targets seem to be older and older each time
let 2295 answer with yes and no to these statements

>>3984737
1. Cross reference the location of where detectives went missing with places of interest we learned from Notes
2. Is there a specific time period between each missing case? A year? A decade?
3. Could the figure in the back be... the Black King?

>>3984728
I think the first place we should investigate is the "abandoned sections of town" where the cops disappeared. Also, do the first two articles make any mention of the location of the candy hunt and field trip? Those places are worth investigating as well.

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>>3984781
>1.so there seems to be periods of times where these creatures suddenly appear
2295 gives a nod.

>2.and take people away
Another nod.

>3.and the targets seem to be older and older each time
A shake of the head. 2295 picks up a piece of paper and a crayon and scribbles something down, before showing it to you.

>"DOESN'T CARE 'BOUT AGE. YOUNG OR OLD. SMALL OR BIG. TAKES ANYTHING."

>>3984897
>1. Cross reference the location of where detectives went missing with places of interest we learned from Notes
Hmm, time to take a closer look at this. You hand the article talking about the detective investigation to Purple, who scans it over.

"[Says here that the detectives went missing near the more abandoned portions of the city, where we are currently situated at the very edge of. So, doing a bit of logical deduction, I'd say that these might be the same abandoned buildings we had Spanko scouting out. The ones with an abnormally low spiritual presence, from what little we could gather.]"

You look to 2295 for confirmation. He nods again.

>2. Is there a specific time period between each missing case? A year? A decade?
Looking through, the first article seems dated back to sometime around the middle of the 80's, apparently being the supposed 'culmination' of a string of smaller disappearances around the time period. The second one was sometime in the last year or so, with the latest being around a year following the last mass disappearance.

>3. Could the figure in the back be... the Black King?
"Could that nightmarish beast perhaps be the Black King, lads?" Lord Blackwood gestures down at the page, pointing to the massive looming figure in the back, jagged dark limbs splayed outwards.

2295 visibly stiffens at the mention of the Black King, which you notice, before violently shaking his head with a lot more force than before. He picks up another piece of paper, quickly and hastily writing down what he wants to say before flashing the page to you.

>"GRANNY STITCH."

2295 then proceeds to pull out a little multicolored feather, the air distorting with a haze of energy rippling off of it. Within you, you feel your Feather of Hunger resonating with its twin.

>>3985189
>I think the first place we should investigate is the "abandoned sections of town" where the cops disappeared. Also, do the first two articles make any mention of the location of the candy hunt and field trip? Those places are worth investigating as well.

"[The first article has much of the information faded out, aside from a single word. 'Northridge'. And the field trip was apparently scheduled for a trip to the 'Oakshade Community Museum', but if they came back after one day, it's unlikely they stuck around for long.]" Purple helpfully explains.

>>3985279
>I'd say that these might be the same abandoned buildings we had Spanko scouting out
I vote to go there.

>>3985748
Same

>>3985748
>>3986050
You voice a desire to go and check out the various abandoned buildings on the very outskirts of town.

"[Sounds like the best plan if we intend to get more answers.]" Purple agrees, before turning to the others. "[But first, we need to come to an agreement. Namely: Split into groups to cover more ground easily, or stay as one cohesive whole to make up for any of our respective weaknesses?]"

Let' see [I'm assuming 2295 is coming, we should give him a name at some point, huh?]
Occult/lore experts; Blackwood and Purple
Flyers; everyone but Blackwood and 2295
Can't talk; Orange, 2295 and Spanko

Group uno; Orange and 2295 and Blackwood/Spanko duo
Group dos; Purple, Blue and Red
Both teams can fly and have an occult expert

>>3986420
Oh, btw ask sir Blackwood to maintain a telepathic link between us so we could contack the other group if we need to and vice versa

You know what we haven't done in a while? Dancing

>>3986316
We should stay together in case whatever took the humans comes for us. Especially since Granny Stitch is involved.

>>3986420
>>3986430
>>3986472
Roll a 3d100 for me, if you would.

>>3986468
That's true. Going to need to catch up on that after all this.

Rolled 19, 32, 95 = 146 (3d100)

>>3986523

Rolled 4, 28, 75 = 107 (3d100)

>>3986523

Rolled 98, 10, 1 = 109 (3d100)

>>3986523

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>>3986535
>>3986609
>>3986779
146. All in favor of splitting the team say aye. Writing.

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>>3986420
>>3986430
>>3986472
>Occult/lore experts; Blackwood and Purple
>Flyers; everyone but Blackwood and 2295
>Can't talk; Orange, 2295 and Spanko
You blanch a bit at the division between you. Hey, it's not that you can't talk! It's just...not as eloquent as you'd like!

"[Suuuuuuuuuuure.]" Blue drawls, sounding unconvinced. "[Whatever you say, Orange. Anyway, what else we got?]"

>Group uno; Orange and 2295 and Blackwood/Spanko duo
>Group dos; Purple, Blue and Red
>Both teams can fly and have an occult expert
>Oh, btw ask sir Blackwood to maintain a telepathic link between us so we could contack the other group if we need to and vice versa
"Sounds like a wise proposition, my boys. And maintaining thep sychic link is always a good plan." Blackwood says after considering, twirling a finely kept moustache hair. "But we should also consider-"

>We should stay together in case whatever took the humans comes for us. Especially since Granny Stitch is involved.
"[Perhaps we should consider not diving in so quickly and dividing our overall manpower?]" Purple suggests. "[At the very least, someone should stick around to keep an eye on things here and monitor for any sudden shifts as we try to track down leads. Though, if we insist on splitting up, I shall not oppose your decision.]"

It's up to you in the end.

>Split the team. You'll be able to cover more ground that way
>Keep the team mostly whole, and possibly leave someone behind to monitor things whilst you go out
>Perhaps, there's another option? (Write-In)

>>3987365
>someone should stick around to keep an eye on things here and monitor for any sudden shifts as we try to track down leads
As in someone stays outside the building to watch? Is that what you have in mind? Because a construct masquerading as an orange moss on a tree or a flower and linked up telepathically ,if Orange can't sense through his constructs yet, could do the job

>>3987365
Hmmmm... if this is really ''Grandmother'' doing I think we should hold off for now. We could hardly put down her minions. 2295 what if we focused on bringing this city's natural defense systems back up? I believe we should push Red queen and the entity turning hunter packs againts eachother and then assault the Grandmother with combined forces of spirits and hunters

I like both ideas

>>3987365
>>Keep the team mostly whole, and possibly leave someone behind to monitor things whilst you go out

>>3987760
Support

>>3987386
>As in someone stays outside the building to watch? Is that what you have in mind? Because a construct masquerading as an orange moss on a tree or a flower and linked up telepathically ,if Orange can't sense through his constructs yet, could do the job
"[I suppose that could work.]" Blue admits. "[But we'd have to make a lot of set up and factor in a ton of things in order to ensure it was all functioning and coordinating properly, and it would just be a pretty major hassle is all I'm saying.]"

You and the others stare blankly at him.

"[What?]" he shrugs a bit. "[I'm not an idiot. I *do* listen when it comes to certain things.]"

"[I'm impressed, Blue.]" Purple says after the shocks wears off, a slightly proud (and dare you say, smug) tone entering his voice. "[It seems I truly AM rubbing off on you.]"

"[Oh, stuff it you ass.]" Despite the words, Blue's tone is more amused than anything else.

>>3987760
>>3987980
>Hmmmm... if this is really ''Grandmother'' doing I think we should hold off for now. We could hardly put down her minions. 2295 what if we focused on bringing this city's natural defense systems back up? I believe we should push Red queen and the entity turning hunter packs againts eachother and then assault the Grandmother with combined forces of spirits and hunters
2295 taps its arm against its head as it contemplates the idea, before moving over to a specific set of papers it has stuck go the opposite wall, pointing at a set of diagrams.

Looking at them, you can see that they detail a rough map of the general area beyond the building you're in right now, which 2295 has simply designated as "HOME." You note "PARK", "BIG SCHOOL" and "ZOO" as some others, with PARK being colored in all green crayon, the school with shades of blue that grow deeper the closer you get to the center with specks of red dotting only the barest edges, and Zoo having blue and red split down the middle, with a heavy ring of orange lining everything up. Underlying and crisscrossing everything area mess if multicolored squiggles and lines.

"[Is this...a map of competing forces in the immediate area?]" Purple ponders, looking over the roughly drawn childish diagram. A quick nod from 2295 confirms it.

"And these," Blackwood steps up then, pointing to the messy lines running between them all. "I'm going to hazard a guess and trust my gut, and say that these are some kind of ley-line system, mayhaps?"

2295 jumps up into the air, clapping a bit. It almost looks like the patchwork bear is doing a little dance. He quickly picks up a pencil and starts writing down words.

>"LEYLINES MESSY. UNSTABLE. TOO FULL. COULD GO OFF ANY TIME."

Then that means...

>cont

>>3988137
>cont
"[That the city is basically a ticking bomb.]" Purple concludes. "[It could go off any day. All it would need is something to agitate it enough.]"

2295 finishes writing something else around that point.

>"RED AND BLUE COURTS FIGHTING MADE IT BAD. GRANDMOTHER MADE IT WORSE. NEEDS TO BE CHANNELED SAFELY."

The little bear takes a crayon and moves forward a bit, pushing itself up on the balls of its little feet to draw a purple ring around a particular portion of the diagram, some distance away from HOME.

"Ah, I see." Blackwood assesses, clearing deducing the meaning behind the act. "You wish to draw the overcharged ley-line energy to a place where it will do the least damage. At least, to the civilian populace. A brilliant idea, lad. And if all goes well, you can use it to deal critical damage to this 'grandmother' entity, and possibly defuse the ongoing war."

2295 nods again, hopping up and down a little, before taking a new piece of paper to write on.

>"NEED TO DRAW OUT ONE OF THE COURTS. TO CARRY THE ENERGY."

It sounds like a good plan on paper. But how much info on these Courts DOES 2295 actually have, if he intends to make this work?

>>3988138
Ask him what he knows about the red and blue courts.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3881903/#p3892946
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3916100/#p3918231

>>3988138
Screw it I say we get werewolf help firet. They specialize in spirit stuff
>The Zoo: [No idea when he went to check this out, but the city apparently has an animal enclosure of a decent size, situated next to a woodland preserve. Spanko has noted that he could 'smell' (closest approximation) something akin to a lot of fur and ash, so if we're looking for lycanthropes, this would be a good bet. But he's also said that he encountered a number of weird spiking and burning...'things' out there that immediately drove him out when they caught him, so there are certainly confirmed hostiles. Danger Level: High.]"

Merry Christmas!

>>3988761
Merry Christmas!

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>>3988197
>Ask him what he knows about the red and blue courts.
"Blorble blorble?"

"[Yes, I would also like more information on these 'Courts', if you have it available, 2295.]" Purple speaks up from beside you.

2295 ruffles through the clutter of papers, before picking out a few that seem to have stuff already written on them, along with drawings.

>BLUE COURT: NATIVE TO CITY. SILENT TIDES. KEPT CITY STABLE AND RUNNING. MOSTLY MOVE ABOUT CITY KEEPING ORDER. STOIC AND COLD. NOT EVIL, BUT DISTANT.

Above the words, weird abstract entities colored with blue crayons and pencil take up much of the page. They almost seem to glow on the paper itself.

You move to the next paper, this one depicting and mess of long red tendrils, or possibly hairs, and numerous mouths and crying faces.

>RED COURT: DELIRIUM. NOT NATIVE. FROM ELSEWHERE. THINGS GROW UNSTABLE WHEN NEAR. TOO LOUD. SCREAMING AND CRYING. ALWAYS HOSTILE. TOXIC TO REALITY. HURT TO BE NEAR.

Not nearly as much information as you'd been hoping for, but it will do for now, you think.

>>3988760
>Screw it I say we get werewolf help firet. They specialize in spirit stuff
"Blorble blorble. Blorb-blorb?"

"Hmm? The Zoo, my boy? Hmph, yes. That would indeed be a good first target if we intend to go searching for lycanthropes." Blackwood seems to take the idea into consideration.

"Cack! Wisenforth tulips have all say mesqueaks! Cack!" Spanko shouts out, seeming to agree with the idea.

"[B-But how exactly will we get there?]" Red seems to shift nervously, not really seeming confident in the whole idea.

"[Leave that to me.]" Purple replies, before racing a limb, and drawing the Tome of Astral Travel and flipping it open. Strange energies course up his body as he begins to chant soemthing from the work, the weird syllables flowing together into an almost deafening noise that only stops when the space between you splits open, opening up into a strange radiant gateway. An arch of cobbled together stone and pulsating smoke clouds.

"[I've been practicing.]" Purple says a little sheepishly. "[But I *think* I can use this to get us to the zoo from here. We just need to step into it, then I can triangulate the needed positioning from within.]"

>>3989151
"Ok, I trust you."

Enter the portal.

>>3989151
Jump in first

>>3989234
>>3989598
Final roll for the quest. Roll me a 4d100.

Rolled 60, 25, 84, 28 = 197 (4d100)

>>3990023

Rolled 60, 37, 97, 6 = 200 (4d100)

>>3990023

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>>3988761
>>3988828
Little late, but Merry Christmas all.

>>3990193
>>3990263
200. Well then. Purple did better than expected. Will start writing in the morning.

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>>3989234
>>3989598
>"Ok, I trust you."
>Enter the portal.
>Jump in first
"Blorble." You pat Purple with an arm, and give him a smile. You trust him and you're certain it's going to be fine.

Purple looks at you for a moment, mild worry in his expression, before he finally sighs.

"[Okay. If you have faith in me, then I'll have faith in you.]"

You decide that it would be best if you went in first to scope things out. Nobody voices any complaints, instead giving you the utmost approval and regards.

"[We'll follow you in after you go, Orange. I'll try to make the trip as easy as I possibly can from here.]" Purple says, already gearing up to provide the necessary words of power.

You nod to him, turn to face the portal, steel your nerves, and step in.

Once you take that first step beyond the threshold though, you witness everything descend into an odd purple haze, the world getting sucked away until only a thick fog surrounds you on all sides.

"Blorble? Blorble!"

You call out into the void. No one answers.

You decide that this must just be the transitionary phase and that if you keep walking, you'll eventually end up where you need to be. But you still feel like there's something wrong here...

You're walking for a few minutes through the thick fog when you feel a pressure in your head-rather, your whole body. As if you're getting crushed by a heavy static pressure. White noise starts to flood your mind,growing louder and louder and louder. Out the corner of your eye, you catch long tentacles, a shatp suit, and the barest glimpse of a thin blank face.

You keep walking.

You keep walking away from the thing slowly following you.

You keep walking away from the crushing and the inevitable.

You keep walking until you can ignore the all-consuming static.

You keep walking until it stops hurting.

You keep walking.

And suddenly, the purple fog clears and reality reasserts itself and you stumble out into the cold night air, and the sounds of sleeping and not-so sleeping animals. Trees sway in the breeze, and you can see streetlights past the thick metal fences. You're at the Zoo, just like Purple said you'd be. The faceless nightmare you've been having constant thoughts of is nowhere to be seen. You're safe.

Or so you'd think, at least. As suddenly the air grows sweltering, a wave of heat passing you by, as strange balls of spiked metal and weird masses of roaring flame and feathers ripple into existence before you.

"Kill! Kill!" they keen, a single warbling cry of madness. "Burn! Burn! The interlopers cannot find! More metal to grind! More flesh to burn! Kill! Kill!"

You draw your sword, glaring at the things. They clearly aren't the werewolves you came to find, But their intentions are clear, you look back at the gateway, which pulses and shifts patiently. The others aren't through yet, and you can't let these things get past you or destroy the gate before they can get here.

Whatever's going on here, you're going to solve it.

>cont

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>>3991274
>cont
You slice your blade through the air, a wave of raw purifying force meeting the abominations head-on and obliterating them, their screeching cries finally being brought to a halt.

The gateway behind you shudders once, and out comes Blue, rolling along the ground, before leaping up to his feet, weapons already drawn.

"[Alright, just point me at what needs killing.]" He says as he touches down, before he notes the bits of metal and ash particles. "[Hmph. I see that you've already started. Really couldn't help yourself, huh?]"

You turn away, just a bit bashful.

Of course, the silliness fades as the world seems to ripple again, and more of the strange spirits burst into existence with the crackling roar of flames. And something else with them, a figure which almost seems to step out of the darkness of the zoo to stand in the middle of the mad spirits.

Before you stands a rather muscular youth, shirtless and covered in a myriad tattoos that lightly pulse across his body with orange-red light. He looks at you impressively, as if judging you.

"I do not know who you are or why you've come here, but unless you've come to pledge allegiance to the master, you are not welcome." his voice is cold and lacking in emotion. "Either submit, or be destroyed."

"[Listen here, buddy.]" Blue steps up, putting himself between you and the man. "[We just came here to find some werewolves. So, if you could quit being a jackass and just point us to them, we'll be-Agh!]"

Flames erupt beneath Blue's feet, crackling violently along the ground.

"Submit, or be destroyed." the man repeats again, voice still cold and impassive.

"[Yeah, that's not gone a happen."] Blue punctuated his statement by manifesting his gauntlets, their entropic power crackling through the warped air.

"So you choose destruction then."

The man tilts his head somewhat, almost like a dog, before his face breaks out into a snarl. He clutches at his chest as his muscles start to bulge and swell, his tattoo markings crawling along his body and twisting unnaturally, blazing with reddish light. An open growl comes from the man as his clothing is shredded under his new bulk. Black prickly fur darts up his body, and starts to cover him, until almost every inch of his person is buried beneath the tide of fur.

Soon, in short order there is the unmistakable bulk of a werewolf standing before you, body rippling with muscle. But something's wrong with it. Glowing cracks mark its body where the man's tattoos once were, and its flesh seems burnt in some places, melting almost.

"Kill! Kill! Kill the interlopers! Kill for Linggan Zhao!"

The spirits chorus again, and as the werewolf stands to its full height, and howls to the skies, you feel as though it's joining them.

You bring your blade to bear, as Blue stands firm. Whatever's going on here, you'll figure it out. You won't let this city fall prey to this.

With echoing cries of your own, you and Blue leap into battle.

-999 Quest 19 End-

>>3991301
Awesome. Thanks for running, OP!

>>3992299
Thanks for participating! Now, time to rest and contemplate how the plot's moving forward from here on.

And we're finally archived. Took a bit, but I got around to it.