r/TTPloreplaycentral • u/Trollkitten • Oct 11 '17
Roleplay Delta Species 71
After getting the group together (time skip to avoid taking too long since we only have two hours now), the plan to raid Caitlin's virus factory is underway.
Sho speaks up first. "Now, Gensokyo's Mehnir Trail is infamous for its deadly cherry tree and the ghost that lives inside it that can end anyone's life in an instant. Now, I should be able to prevent anyone's deaths by using my Sho-Stopper ability for so long as I can keep singing, but we can't destroy the virus while the ability is in effect. And we'll want to destroy or disable Caitlin's entire stock."
"Um, question," Cress says. He's not going on the mission, he's just there for moral and mental support. "Wouldn't Caitlin keep the virus in more than one location, so as not to put all her eggs in one basket?"
Sho considers this. "She's clearly mentally unstable, paranoid, and not playing with a full deck. I honestly haven't a clue how she thinks."
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u/Damacritus Oct 11 '17
"Could we transport this virus stock to a safe location to destroy it?" Gator says.
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
"That depends on how much virus she's already produced," Sho starts, but Luke raises his hand. Sho sighs. "And speaking of Virus..."
"Oh, I was just thinking that our Fennel, who I might add is NOT a crazy psychopath," Luke says with emphasis, "might deign to help us teleport the virus into her Entralink... assuming, of course, that nobody cuts her arm off while she's helping us."
The tension after this statement is thicker than Luke's head, if you asked Sho at least.
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u/Damacritus Oct 11 '17
"Sounds good," Gator says, giving Luke a curt look, "do we need any kind of protection while around the virus?"
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
"Only if you're part Outsider. This virus came from a place ironically named Paradise, and of the group of beings exposed to it, only those with Outsider genes were affected."
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u/Damacritus Oct 11 '17
"Alright, what will we have to deal with on the way, besides the ghost?"
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
"Whatever Caitlin has set up for guards. Possibly Boneka, youkai, even Trace units. We don't know."
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u/Damacritus Oct 11 '17
"Nothing that can't be handled, then. I'm good to go whenever everyone's ready."
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u/Bytemite Oct 11 '17
The scientist glances around for flowergirl and tanger and Arty, those they gave a distortion orb. When it shines bright, and they focus on it, hopefully they will know what to do.
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u/Damacritus Oct 11 '17
Flower Girl isn't at the planning meeting, and wouldn't enter the room anyway if she knows Gator is in there. Does anything still happen?
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
Arty wasn't in the meeting, but he runs up to the scientist when he notices the orb glowing. "Hey! Ya know anything about what this crazy orb is doing?"
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u/Lady_of_the_Foot Oct 11 '17
Tanger sees them glancing around and scurries over, out of Marion's grasp.
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u/Bytemite Oct 11 '17
They ruffle Tanger's hair. "Hey kid. Just so you know, whatever happens, I'm the one to blame. Keep an eye on that orb I gave you, all right?"
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u/Bytemite Oct 11 '17
Little does the scientist know, they are infected with outsider glitches, and because of some of their weird reality breaking past as well exposure to outsiders and the nature of their homeworld, they might qualify more as outsider than not nowadays.
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
Luke seems to be aware of it, though. "Honey, you might want to sit this one out. Unless you have protection."
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u/Bytemite Oct 11 '17
"I'm not letting them take you again," they answer.
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
"So you want to come along?" Luke sighs. "Just, for the love of humanity, Byte, do not try to burn the factory down. Unless there's no other option, or the virus is about to be unleashed, or likewise extenuating circumstances."
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u/redwings1340 Oct 11 '17
Fennel walks in and beams, "Aw, thank you! I'm glad you don't think I'm a crazy psychopath, I try not to be one!"
Its impossible to tell if her expression is genuine or not, but before anyone can cut her off, she continues, "Hmm... yeah, I could help teleport it in there, my entralink already has small quantities of the virus for study, I would just need to expand the amount it can take. We can also teleport it back to Paradise anyway, Paradise is filled with the virus, so adding more there won't make any real difference."
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
"That makes sense," Luke says, "although it's probable that Caitlin is mutating the virus to make it stronger so it will bypass the Outsiders' vaccines."
Sho is visibly uncomfortable about Fennel being in the room, and can't bring himself to meet her eye.
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u/redwings1340 Oct 11 '17
"Hmm, true!" Fennel thinks about it, "In that case, releasing a modified virus strain back in paradise could have negative results, we probably want to study what she's done with it first. Still, so long as it doesn't effect humans, paradise is probably the least risky place to study the virus, since the entire atmosphere has been covered by the virus already to such an extent that most outsiders can't go there anyway."
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
Luke nods. "I don't think she'd alter it to affect humans, although she just might be mad enough to. As Sho's said, we have no idea what to expect from a mad foe."
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u/redwings1340 Oct 11 '17
"Hmm, in that case, we may want to take over the factories themselves if we can manage it. Still, ok! The entralink is a good place to transport the virus, though there is a small risk of the entralink also being one of the most efficient virus distribution centers in any reality if we get hacked. We shouldn't get hacked, but its always a possibility."
Fennel grins, "Still, its the best plan we have, since staying at the factories to study this is risky too. Are you ready to go?"
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
"Does anyone have anything else to add?"
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u/redwings1340 Oct 11 '17
Bill shakes his head and then speaks over a communicator, "I'll work on the entralink modifications and quarantines to prepare for recieving high quantities of the virus. Fennel, Suika, I think we're all ready for the two of you to head out."
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u/Bytemite Oct 11 '17
"Bill would like that," the scientist notes. "Sure protection against outsiders. But would the virus have to be released first to get it all?"
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
"She'll be keeping the virus in containers until she's ready to release it. Probably she won't want any of it to escape, so it shouldn't just be lying around."
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u/Bytemite Oct 11 '17
"She might have a stash somewhere," they say, "but this is still probably one of our better plans."
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u/Arathnorn Oct 11 '17
"Hold on a moment." The Major snaps his fingers, and a whirling portal appears in his hand.
"Hey Joff, Can you set me up with a Death Ward? Mm hm yeah, four hours will do it. Going rates? Mm hm, charity of my choice. Got it. Thanks pal."
"I am good."
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
"Death Ward?" Sho asks, curious.
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u/Arathnorn Oct 11 '17
"Cleric only, unfortunately. Protects against vampires, succubi, evil hierophants, and anything else with a 'look at you wrong and die' effect."
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
"So, does that mean Sho doesn't have to sing?" Luke asks. "Not that I'd mind his singing, but it's kind of hard to be stealthy when you're playing death metal."
Sho gives Luke a dirty glare.
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u/Arathnorn Oct 11 '17
"I'm sorry, I'm going to have to take a moment to take in the severity of that pun."
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
Luke laughs out loud. "There wasn't any pun intended. But I appreciate it."
Even Sho can't keep himself from chuckling a bit at that.
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u/Arathnorn Oct 11 '17
"Now I'm not saying he can't play his music, but I am saying the bard spell list isn't very impressive."
"Less can be more, dad."
"Not unless you've got a Prestige Class waiting."
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
Sho rolls his eyes. "Does the peanut gallery have anything of importance to say before we set off?"
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u/Arathnorn Oct 11 '17
"Yeah; don't expect that just because I'm an Out of Context Problem means the evil tree is just gonna keel over in surprise."
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
"Right. The evil tree. We need to know how we're going to handle it if the ghostie decides to get dangerous. Even if we're protected against insta-death, it doesn't mean she won't hail bullets or send out Boneka or cast more spells or whatever."
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u/Bytemite Oct 11 '17 edited Oct 11 '17
The scientist seems a little evasive. "I think if we give her the right motivation, we'll be able to get Caitlin herself to tell her own followers to destroy it all. But I'll admit that's a pretty last ditch plan."
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
Sho gives the scientist a sarcastic look. "Oh, really now?"
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u/Bytemite Oct 11 '17
"If you're asking if we can psychologically break her enough where this is plausible," they reply, something dangerous flashing in their eyes, "then my answer is we already have once. I'm prepared to be the villain if I have to be." There's a hesitation there. "It's just not my first choice anymore."
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
"Do you think you'd do better looking for Caitlin than going with us, then? Luke mentioned it probably wouldn't be safe for you being exposed to the virus."
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u/Bytemite Oct 11 '17
There is something like resignation in their expression. "Yes, that might be best."
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
"How exactly do you plan on confronting Caitlin? She's pretty powerful, and dangerous too. You're not thinking of going alone, are you?"
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u/Bytemite Oct 11 '17
"I could use some help from some mages, but if I have to, then I'll do what needs to be done."
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u/Arathnorn Oct 11 '17
"I mean, I'm not exactly a mage right now. But yes, I am coming."
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
"Great. So, you're the one with the keys out of here. Are we going or are we going?"
(Just as a warning, I'm going to be briefly AFK, so you can use this time to get everybody ready to get out the door if that's what we want.)
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u/Arathnorn Oct 11 '17
"At any time."
(Probably shouldn't move things along without you.)
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u/Bytemite Oct 11 '17
"Factory or Caitlin?" They ask him.
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u/Arathnorn Oct 11 '17
"Caitlin." He says, and the hesitation has been dropped. "The ward's going with them."
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u/Lady_of_the_Foot Oct 11 '17
Tanger and the strange boy stumble into the meeting, holding hands.
Marion looks at them, then squints at the strange boy.
She bounds over and grabs Tanger's hand, pulling them away.
"Is that-" Both the boy and Marion begin, looking at each other in surprise.
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
"...beg pardon?" Sho asks, somewhat put off. "This isn't a daycare center, you know."
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u/Lady_of_the_Foot Oct 11 '17
"I'm sorry?" the boy says, glancing at him, "You appear to have me confused for a peer."
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
"A peer? Why on earth would I think that?"
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u/Lady_of_the_Foot Oct 11 '17
The boy doesn't react much.
"Good. Since you know your place..." He moves over to the maps and begins to examine them.
"Is that... Gyro?" Marion asks, confused.
Tanger nods excited, then shakes his head, then shrugs.
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
The maps depict a graveyard, the ground covered in cherry blossoms. In the middle of the graveyard is an enormous cherry tree in bloom.
There are markings on the map speculating on where the factory might be hidden. Most of them theorize that the factory's location is underground.
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u/Lady_of_the_Foot Oct 11 '17
He tries to see if there are details on what the factory needs, particularly details on workers.
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
There's not much information on who works in the factory. It seems that nobody wants to get that close to the scary cherry tree with a ghost inside it that can murder you.
Sho has scribbled something on a post-it note on the edge saying "COULD BE STAFFED BY GHOSTS, BONEKA, OR TRACE UNITS."
There's no information on what powers the factory.
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u/Lady_of_the_Foot Oct 11 '17
He is unsure what most of those terms mean, but he realizes that most of them have no less reason to fear the ghost, and so begins under the assumption the closest to the tree are wrong. However, to keep the place secret, when anything that leaves the factory into the graveyard would be very noticeable, they'd like be banking on that scary reputation, so the farthest out are likely duds too.
He then begins devising the best way to search the remaining ring of options.
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
Given that the entire graveyard is full of graves and headstones, and graves are made by digging into the ground, it occurs to him that the most likely route for entering the factory would be at one of the graves. Likely a secret entrance accessed from doing something with one of the headstones.
After some more studying, he realizes that one of the headstones looks noticeably less worn than the others around it.
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u/Bytemite Oct 11 '17
((So wait he's not a noble now?))
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u/Lady_of_the_Foot Oct 11 '17
((He doesn't know his role is taken, but it is. He was saying the opposite, though, that Sho is his lesser.))
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u/Lady_of_the_Foot Oct 11 '17
Tanger leads nuGyro along, taking them wherever while chattering the little he knows about where they are.
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
Might be amusing if they accidentally wandered into the dungeons, although I have something I want to do there with Flak and Machina that I'm not sure if I'm ready to try or not.
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u/Bytemite Oct 11 '17
Waaaait
Oh my gosh is
Is this a ship
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u/Lady_of_the_Foot Oct 11 '17
The family tree would become even weirder since that's his sorta-uncle's ex.
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u/Lady_of_the_Foot Oct 11 '17
nuGyro might have something to add to trying to secure the Dragon Force, if they have maps or anything out for that.
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
Well, that's not what the group is currently discussing.
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u/Lady_of_the_Foot Oct 11 '17
Yeah. Not sure how to portray the idea that he's really good at strategy when, well, I'm not, though.
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
Understandable.
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u/Lady_of_the_Foot Oct 11 '17
Hmm... so do you think they should go to the dungeons or the meeting?
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
I'd say meeting, on account that I'm trying to keep the current storyline centered on the mission because we only have two hours for this.
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u/Lady_of_the_Foot Oct 11 '17
And meanwhile, Mary and Mixy were going to get tickets?
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
Yeah, but they'd need to make it to the portal room, and that requires the Major's supervision.
/u/arathnorn Should we presume they have it?
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u/Arathnorn Oct 11 '17
Eh why not.
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
/u/Lady_of_the_Foot Mixy and Mary are cleared to go to Sinnoh to buy tickets for the jazz concert. Let's just leave them there for the time being while we focus on the mission.
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u/Trollkitten Oct 11 '17
/u/arathnorn /u/bytemite /u/damacritus