Fandom [Homestuck] The Mobius Strip

[Orikanyo]

> Be Rudy


You plant an arm upon the ground, you hurt, you hurt alot. You've felt like this before in your life. Many tumbles, some leaps of faith, sometimes misstakes whilst learning how to actually use those spears and various other things mom taught you.

She taught you many things.

She taught you how to survive even when she wasn't around, she taught you that no matter what you should never underestimate a wounded animal.

Its how you lost dog so long ago. With a friend like that you feel you can take anything, and a beast wounded like that... So big and mighty, it would have made Mom proud.

Lessons learned.

A lesson in pain, witten in blood.

Pain was the ultimate teacher, it didn't teach your mind alone it taught your body, it taught your core. Today, would be the beginning of alot of pain. Emotionally, your heart ever so worries for your friends even if you cannot tell them so, thinking of each of them going through things like you are is terrifying, it breaks your hert that all you can do is watch but you cannot let them know.

It would make them worry as well, you must endure.

Mentally, you curse yourself for not being smarter, what if any of this is your fault? You know what is your fault after a moments recollection but you cannot figure out the whys and hows and it hurts ever so much. You are not smart, you never were.

But you are smart enough to know this, you must endure.

Physically, you feel the pain. It pounds hroughout your body like lightning, each neuron firing and demanding to be heard as a cocophany of voices tell you each and every portion of your bruised form is injured.

But, they also tell you that you can feel them, they are there, they are alive.

You must endure.

To endure is to learn, to learn is to succeed, a lose is not a lose, a win is not a victory.

True victory is learning.

And today.

We will learn.

> Strife: Round 2

The young man scales the stairs once more, the ogre stands, he brought friends, imps of pitch. The crowd cheers, the underdog takes the arena once more.

The ogre performs the same blow from before, Rudy learned, and met thrusting fist with spear, the antlers mangle the incoming arm. Imps swarm, the second spear is engauged with a spin causing the rending of the underlings asunder.

With adrenaline pumping, Rudy pulls the ogre forward with it's momentum from the earlier thrown punch, the bladed antlers reach the neck, the beast pops.

Rudy gains another level.

Lessons learned, pain endured, victory ahead.

Rudy enters the portal.

>​

 

[SerbianMounted]

===> Saul

You turn around, swearing you heard something, or perhaps just felt it in the bottom of you chest. You can feel that somewhere out there, a friend of yours is fighting for their life. A pang of anxiety washes over you, before you pat your chest, willfully pushing that sensation down. You know you can't afford to be so easily scared anymore, at least not show it. Not when you need to do your best and trust that your friends will all do the same. You don't think it's possible that they'll be okay, you know it, because you just don't have any other option.

You proceed through the cold tundra, littered with the remnants of fullsized gingerbread houses and candy. Dreams, huh. You wonder what happened to all these sweet little edifices, and if there were any gingerbread men and women that used to populate their houses. The notion would've seemed silly to you a few hours ago, but after what you've just been through it's not exactly like you think continuing to suspend your disbelief for these sorts of things is prudent. You walk past the purple figure. If it's another enemy you're not exactly keen on fighting it. You set your sights on the plume of smoke in the distance, tightening your scarf as your footsteps crunch into the piles of fresh white powder. ​

 

[Squad141]

> Time to throw down

Well, this certainly isn't good.

You manage to get only two arrows into the chest of the beast before you're forced to Youth Roll to the left to avoid the thing's massive fist smashing down onto the wood of the platform, slightly denting the stairs you just arrived on. While the gate awaits, just out of reach, it'd be bad to leave this thing here waiting for you or anyone else that ends up on this rock.

You run to the opposite end of the platform and try to think on your toes. You can't make any kind of gadget; the gooey ogre would most likely just follow you, and you're not sure you could get past it anyway. You take a look through your Sylladex and take stock of what you can use. Your bow and arrow, obviously. You still have the Beckoning Cat, but that's practically useless. You can't edit your own home or call for help. The only left are those prototype bow and arrow things, so it looks like you're to your wits.

You face the ogre and formulate a plan that might just work. You make eye contact with it, and for a second, the only noise being the shifting of the gate above. Then, with the twitch of the beady eyes of the beast you face, you both hurtle towards each other. You manage to get off three shots in the sprint, two in the chest, and one landing in its leg, causing it to stumble. Using this to your advantage, you jump up as high as you can, take out all five of the Spiralstring Arrows, turn around, and land on your feet, the dense stringy items wrapped tightly around the Ogre's neck.

As it attempts to get back up, you press your shoes into its gooey back, getting a slight footing. It manages to get into a slight crouch, but you're still on it, choking that thing with all you might. You feel it move, and see it begin to reach a hand up to grab you. Shit, there's not enough time! As the fingers reach beyond its neck, with only a second to spare, you pull its head back as hard as you can, making it lock eyes with the gate, and plunge an arrow into its head, popping it with a viscous sound.

You kneel for a second, catching your breath, before returning to your feet. You look up at the patterned disc of potential but turn and begin descending once more. Yes, you beat it, but you don't know what will happen after you pass through the gate. You need to be prepared.

You arrive back at the alchemiter, and with the extra grist you've just accumulated, create a few more things.

You make a handful more boxes of the Moonlight Creme pocky sticks, as well as raid your fridge to find some leftover soup, plus some uneaten rice balls. You take it all but leave a few snacks in case your mother returns from wherever she went.

You need to focus on physical upgrades this time, instead of just decorative ones. You change your ATHLETIC SHOES with your BLACK LOAFERS, since you won't have to deal with shoelaces, and the other shoes fit better anyways. You get out your pin board and combine your SONIC PIN with your shoes to make the BLACK JOGGERS, which are the same kind of loafers save they make you slightly quicker (which you'll have to get used to) and have the silhouette of a ring emblemized on the top. Combining your TELESCOPE with your Tactical Snapshot adds a lens that lets you shoot much more effectively, as well as making the casing steel instead of vinyl.

You also decide that you need more ammo. You create more Spiralstring Arrows, obviously. Those could be useful for setting traps and such. You then collect a few more things to make arrows with. Combing your JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE POSTER with a practice arrow creates the STAND ARROWS, which are just cool replicas... right? Combing some SCISSORS with the arrows make the SCISSORSPLITTERS, arrow heads that open into two prongs when shot. MAC TONIGHT + Arrows makes NIGHTLIGHTERS, which just glow in the dark, and finally, the KNIGHT PIECE and the arrows create the L-BROS, which are bent in the middle, and can curve in the air like a boomerang.

Sufficiently satisfied with your new upgrades, you ascend once more, lucky to avoid many enemies (including an ogre) and jump up to touch your first Gate.​

 

[qingwa]

> Lacy: Come back to your senses

Come back? You're sure you were always in them. You find yourself surrounded by- oh, that's a lot of GRIST. This is what you've been up to this whole time? Well, what else were you supposed to do. Anyway, you're hella rolling in it, but you have no idea what it does.

Well, whatever. It's decoration for the garden, let's say.

> Lacy: Admire the architecture

Yes, your home is a big thirteen story bordering on manor surrounded by greenery. Wait, what? Is this Mari's doing? Curious! You enter your home, climbing to one of the newly appeared staircases.

> Lacy: Ascend

You climb, climb, climb to the very top of the building, only to be greeted with... another one. A big one, what a pleasant surprise! Rapier in hand, you were about to charge at it, before a thought struck your head harder than the OGRE would've.

>Lacy: "And Rudy?"

Oh, shit. You bound down the flights of stairs and into your room, a graceful ABSCOND. You open up the SBURB application.

> What dah Rudy doin'?

> Lacy: Oh goodness.

Ah, you completely missed him on his way down, damn controls. You put his bed -or whoever's bed it is, you're not even sure anymore- next to the little puddle of Rudy on the ground.

​

Spoiler: Open Pesterlog

CC: Rudy, are you alive?
CC: You want another lick of the cylinder?

​

​

 

[GamerKitty205]

> Bria: Gaze in awe

You will not! This is exactly what you expected of such a process… you are just a tad worried that your dear familiar has not gained any speaking capabilities. Just a fairly comical appearance

> Catch Up on Memo
Your hope that the various levels you and your friends where spread across were somewhat close is pretty much dashed. Everyone has extremely different areas, and if any of the were awfully close to each other there would be signs. Then is that what the Gates are for? Saul mentioned them and the name does imply travel…

> Began Grinding

Yes, yes. You must face GLORIOUS BATTLE to advance in this system, so a foe you must seek out. Though, before you proceed you sigh and re-equip your shoes. You will simply have to apologize for the crime later, it’s not as though your house can get that much messier.

A PITCH IMP appears. You summon your METAL DIP PEN and level it at the beast. It hisses and bares its claws.

BRIA: Ohohoho! What is this? Does such a lowly creature truly believe that it can take down me? A DEMON PRINCESS RULER OF ETERNAL NIGHT
BRIA: Such folly. Surrender now and I may just spare your pitiful existence

The imp does no such thing. It lunges for you, and you ALLUDE it’s attack. It slams into the wall and turns towards you slightly dazed. When it it tries to strike you for the second time, you sidestep yet again. This time it is able to land a decent hit on you, but in turn you kick it to the ground. Before it can attack again, you AGGREIVE, impaling the thing with your METAL DIP PEN. It poofs away, leaving only grist behind.

> Collect the Spoils of War

You let out a triumphant laugh as you pick up the grist. Okay, now it is time for an upgrade. After a little bit of fumbling (and quite a bit of wasted grist), you figure out how to get the alchemiter to create useful items.

The first of which is a KNIFEPEN, your regular metal dip pen combined with a kitchen knife. Now the nib is almost comically oversized and quite a bit sharper than it was before. This should be much more effective.

The second thing is a RAIN CLOAK. A combination of your DEMONIC SHAWL (a present from Mari) and an umbrella. The stiff garment seems thoroughly waterproof while retaining a appearance befitting of one of your stature! This should make exploring quite a bit easier.

The last thing (and the one that gave you the most trouble) is PEN OF PAIN (x3). A modified version of your PENS OF SHAME. They are now made out of glass (therefore more fragile) and the ink is now infused with the strongest spice mix you could make. And well, you have a very large spice rack. The rain might wash the ink out of the imps’ eyes, but it won’t stop the burning!

> Test your new equipment

You decide to test your new weapon on a group of imps outside. They seem to be loitering near the stone path in your yard. Perfect! You toss a PEN OF PAIN towards them, and it bursts! The ink flies into the faces of the imps AGITATING them as they try to wipe the liquid away. Perfect.

> Strife

A few moments later and your KNIFEPEN has had its first taste of blood. Yes! Those imps will learn to fear your name! They will regret having ever crossed paths with you! You collect the grist your fallen enemies dropped and head back inside to prepare.

> Acquire the Necessary Materials for Adventure

Yes, yes. First things first, you grab your laptop. While you can check Pesterchum on your phone, sburb seems to lack an app. You spend a minute or two building up Kiyo house. The first gate seems easy enough to reach from the house, but the rest will require some help… Okay! Done.

Back to alchemizing! You take a horn headband and alchemize it with a roll of shiny washi, receiving GLITTER AND GOLD HORNS, a pair of demon horns decorated with fake gold jewelry. Cute! If not that useful.

You alchemize your RAINCLOAK with a bat statue your dad had to create the WATERWINGS OF DARKNESS. A cloak that will allow you to swim through air! Okay, you’re pretty sure it would let you glide at the very most, but it’s still very cool! The bat wing details add even more to your Queen of the Night look. All without being too inconvenient.

You also make a couple more PENS OF PAIN. These are too useful to not have a couple in your sylladex. Finally, you grab a ladder to bring outside. There’s no way you’re making it to the roof without one.

> Bria: Ascend

 

[SpectrumCrow]

> Mari: Sneak attack!

Maybe you can sneak up on that thing? It looks super tough… and if you can catch it off guard, maybe you’ll be able to defeat it! But how to distract it…? Perhaps you can throw something so it turns away from you!

> Mari: Throw something

Hmm what to throw? You look through your sylladex, looking for anything small enough to throw and that you’re willing to sacrifice just in case. Hmmmmmmmmm… oh! The generic object! It might be a bit hard to throw, but you’ll give it a shot.

> Mari: Throw the Perfectly Generic Object

You throw the object as far as you can, which is a respectable distance all things considered. While the ogre does notice it, it doesn’t fully turn around. Ah well, side attack should work too.

> Mari: Strife!

Wielding your scissors, you sprint and jump at the ogre. The blades pierce its… questionably solid form. You sneak in a few more stabs to its side before it turns and flings you off of it. You begin flying off of the tower of stairs, only to find yourself encased in a gray glow as your body is transported back to the platform.

You look over to see that the beam originates from Tomboysprite! Awww, he saved you! You’ll have to get him that tuna later as thanks, but for now a thumbs up will do.

He sets you back down where you now face the ogre who doesn’t look too happy with you.

Alright, go time.

You dodge to the left as it swings its fist at you, just narrowly dodging. Ew. Some of the goop got on your skirt. Ew. You take the opportunity to attack its hand, slicing through to partially sever it.

It hits you again, albeit not sending you off the platform this time, but it does hurt. You yelp before picking yourself up off of the ground, seeing Tomboysprite hover around the things head, then scratching its cheek. Using the ogre's distraction to your advantage, you leap again at it, forcing your scissors through its chest a few times while cutting.

Once it realizes that you’re up and attacking it again, it grabs you with its good hand and slams you into the ground. From there, you take your scissors and stab it in the back of its calf.

The beast is defeated as a load of grist appears around you and only remnants of goo are remaining. You take a moment to simply lay on the ground, steadying your heavy breath while every inch of your body hurts. Propping yourself up, you sit in a tangled mess of hair, sweat, and ogre… blood, you guess?

After taking a minute to catch your breath, you stand fully and collect the grist. Ow. You’re going to be hurting for a while, huh? But you did it!! And now…

> Mari: Ascend​

 

[Eidolon Astronaut]

> Lacy: Observe boy skylark.

You watch as Rudy gets up and re-engages in STRIFE with the ASPHALT OGRE. He seems fine, just needed to get knocked on his ass first. Classic Rudy. Speaking of Ogres, you have a pretty ORNERY ONE yourself. You might want to get on that.

Looking out the windows again, you have no idea how Mari is building up your house, the PLANT MATTER seems to be wrapping around the entire building.

> Bria: Ascend to highest point of the house.

Blasting through Imps like nobodies business, you ascend through the newly added levels of your home, and after a few floors break past the TREE CANOPY, seeing the dull grey sky with it's pretty heavy RAINFALL. Off in the distance, you see a PITCH BLACK TOWER much like your friends have seen before you. You also see that the MANGROVE TREES extend outward as far as you can gather, as if the whole PLANET was a giant swamp.

Reaching the current top of your home, you see the ASPHALT OGRE guarding the FIRST GATE, seemingly waiting for you.

> Saul: Watch out.

You easily avoid the LAKESIDE BEAST by not even coming CLOSE to approaching it as you cut through through the CANDY CANE FOREST.

And in a "twist" that is obvious to anyone savvy in the genre, doing so puts you right into the path of a another one, a bipedal FOREST BEAST. Purple like it's kin, this one is mostly just a blob on two giant chicken-like legs, with an unsavory MAW and tiny little arms protruding from it's front. The territorial creature is ANGERED that you have entered it's forest and ROARS at you with enough force to blow your hair back.

> Rudy: Enter primary gate.

You DEPART, curious as to where you'll end up next on this GRAND ADVENTURE. The gate redirects you and drops you off somewhere deeper into the land.

You arrive in a SCENIC LANDSCAPE of ROLLING HILLS AND PLAINS stretching out as far as the eye can see, the sight only broken by large STEEL BROADCASTING TOWERS dotting the place, scraping along the bottoms of the massive FLUFFY WHITE CLOUDS everywhere. Various THINGS are built atop the drifting nimbi, CASTLES, HUTS, and even the odd VILLAGE or two, though most of them seem to be in a state of DISREPAIR. Scattered across the scene are UNDERLINGS, IMPS and OGRES, but also some kinds you haven't seen before. They seem to cluster at the bases of the BROADCASTING TOWERS.

A little TEXT BOX drifts into your vision before disappearing after a few seconds, welcoming you to the location.

You have entered the LAND OF CLOUDS, TOWERS, AND ADVENTURE.

> Kiyo: Enter initial gate.

You EMBARK, passing further into the mysterious realm that you have been transported. The gate carries you away to reveal the mysteries of this STORM OF UNKNOWNS.

You arrive -predictably- in the MIDDLE OF THE DESERT. The THUNDERCLOUDS are closer here, but still don't approach from their DOMAIN. You are surrounded by NEON CACTI of CYAN, YELLOW, and MAGENTA, and the small streams of fluid that streak through the land are of the same three colors as well. They don't look potable. Massive RED ROCK FORMATIONS are everywhere as well, forming NATURAL BRIDGES over the various RAVINES in this WILD WEST WASTELAND. DILAPIDATED SHACKS occupied now only by UNDERLINGS can be found in the distance, as well as what appears to be some kind of GHOST TOWN?

A message pops into view, clearing up the nomenclature of this place before vanishing.

You have entered the LAND OF STORMS, DUST, AND INK.

> Mari: Enter starting gate.

You ENGAGE, launching yourself forward into the EXCITING. You are whisked away by the gate to somewhere new to explore.

You arrive on the edge of a CITY built on the WATER. Well, not water, per se. The rivers that pass through the canals of the entirely ABANDONED CITY are filled with the same semi-luminous GREEN LIQUID, which now that you are closer to seems to be bubbling like a witch's POTION. Underlit by the sea of green and emerging from it, you see other TALL PAGODAS off in the distance, large POWER LINES connecting them to each other, and to the ones in the CITY. The FIREWORKS are brighter here, CLOSER maybe. You can hear UNDERLINGS crawling through the alleyways scrounging for TRASH and FOOD.

A pop-up displays the title of this area before absconding after reading.

You have arrived in the LAND OF BREW, ENERGY, AND FIREWORKS.​

 

[SerbianMounted]

===> Saul: Run!

Yeah no. Fuck no. You stare face to face with a giant purple beast in front of you and feel your blood run cold. You immediately start to run away from it, finding yourself adjacent to another FROZEN RIVER as it tries to pursue you. It's chicken legs cause the earth to shake as it stomps along after you. This isn't like one of the normal underlings. And with the ogre you had the homefield advantage and ample time to prepare. With enough time and resources you could handle any enemy. But right now you are a 13 year old with a crappy knife shovel and VERY FEW other resources. You'd kick yourself for being so stupid as to not alchemize more items before departure if you didn't need both to run for your life.

It roars again after you, still chasing until you both begin to slip and slide on the river. You look behind you to find the beast's movement is as harshly impeded as yours is on unstable terrain. You look down, look at your shovel, and grin. Perfect. You stab the KNIFE SHOVEL into the ice like a pick and launch yourself forward into a glide with a taut pull. You are sent gliding forwards on your FLAT FOOTET PAJAMA BOOTS, repeating the process as the ODDLY PORPORTIONED BEAST slips and falls behind you, unable to keep pace.

Sure you're a coward, but who wouldn't be in front of that beast? You keep sliding forward, cleverly deciding to SKATE the ice rivers along the land to get closer to that smoky mountain in the distance in half the time it would've taken to trudge through heavy snowfall. ​

 

[GamerKitty205]

> Bria: Analyze Big Guy

This hulking brute is no match for one such as you! However it would be remiss of you to just charge into battle. That thing looks like it could fling you off the tower with a single swipe. Too bad you aren’t strong enough to just toss it off the side…

Wait

> Plot

You make a couple rude remarks towards the Ogre’s probably nonexistent mother. And while it certainly gets angrier, it’s not as much as you would hope. It begins to walk towards you, and you wait till it’s right in front of you to pull down your hood and toss a PEN OF PAIN right in it’s face.

It yells and swings for you, but as it cannot see, you easily avoid the attack. Retreating towards the edge of the the roof, you call after the ogre. It angrily charges at you, and you dart out of the way. It clips you in the side, but does in fact overshoot and end up wobbling on the edge of the roof.

> Push The Ogre

You run up to it, and literally stab the Ogre in the back. You keep a tight hold onto your weapon as it just barely tips over the side of your house. Falling all the way down. You hear a thump. Welp, you’ll have to get that grist later. You honestly don’t feel like trekking all the way back down. You look down and grimace at the soggy substance clinging to your cloak. Horrible. At least the stupid rain will wash it off soon enough.

> View Scenery

Nothing but trees as far as the eye can see. Save that tower. If there’s anything notable down there it’s hidden behind masses of leaves and branches. You look at the Pitch Black Tower. Okay, that has to be important. Unfortunately it is not visible from the ground and you lack any sort of compass… then again you aren’t even sure if those would work wherever you are. Finally, it’s just as rainy up here as it was below the trees. Great, you’re going to be soggy the entire duration of this game, aren’t you? Finally you turn towards the gate.

> Enter Gate

Well, the only other thing to do is head all the way back down so you enter the spirograph.

 

[Orikanyo]

>Rudy: Lad scamper



You ran, and ran, and ran as fast as you could.

The brilliant grass, the magnificent hope on the wind.

Your heart could only beat with joy form the sights before you.

Your tailwind gathered behind as your evermore continuing march forth towards certain victory! it'd be places like this you'd just hope the game would give you a horse or something to ride!

You will however make due, for you defeated the guardian of the gateway, and now this land was your to explore...

And so, you set off towards... a DIRECTION!

> Follow the trail of foes.

And so it shall be their woe! To the nearest broadcasting tower you shall go!​

 

[SpectrumCrow]

> Mari: Do not take a sip

You gather every ounce of restraint to not drink the brew. It is extremely difficult, but you manage not to. Who knows what it would do? But a part of you is curious despite that.

> Mari: Navigate to the nearest pagoda

As stealthily as you can, you crouch down as you try to navigate the city streets to one of the pagodas. You don’t particularly want to get into a loud fight, it might attract even bigger baddies.

Still, you keep your scissors in hand, ready to defend yourself if spotted. It’s always good to be prepared!

You can’t help but wonder… where are the fireworks coming from? What are the potion rivers made of? What’s with the tower things? What about your friends? What is it like where they are??

So many questions! So many answers to find! But for now, you want to see what you can find out in the immediate area, and those towers seem like your best bet.​

 

[Eidolon Astronaut]

> Saul: Slip 'n' slide.

This is a very hard thing you have chosen to do, and you look very silly trying to stay upright. You are glad no one can see you doing this.

Behind you, the LAKESIDE BEAST and fights the FOREST BEAST for entering it territory. The FOREST BEAST falls, it's body instantly dissolving into vapor and the many BONES in it's gullet drop to the ground, which the LAKESIDE BEAST then eats. The horrible circle of aberrant life continues on?

You reach the other side of the FROZEN LAKE, trying your best to ignore the other PURPLE NIGHTMARES that swim beneath the ice. Once on solid footing again, you maintain a course towards the SMOKE behind the mountains. On your way you find a destroyed sign post, illegible, but clearly meant to designate the MOUNTAIN PASS you see behind a few trees at the mountain's base. You hear some unsavory noises coming from down the pass. Sounds like...

... Fighting?

> Bria: Enter first gate.

You hurl yourself through the red gate to be transported anywhere but here.

You land in some mud. Hey, at least you can actually stand and walk here. Rising from the MUD and WATERS of the swamp are tall, often off-balanced BUILDINGS, perfectly circular towers that have weathered the weather for who knows how long. Probably a LONG time judging by the SKELETON of a BIPEDAL CROCODILE you see buried in the mud. A pathway leads deeper into the swamp, snaking between the MANGROVE TREES and generally being about 80% more confusing then they need to be.

Drifting into your vision is a notification informing you of your location.

You have entered the LAND OF KNOWLEDGE, DOWNPOUR, AND MIRE.

> Rudy: Rush headlong into danger.

As you approach the nearest BROADCASTING TOWER, you see that the the PITCH IMPS are pretty much just hurling their bodies at the tower, coating it with the viscous black SLUDGE they are made of.

Guarding them are two RESIN BASILISKS, made of the same off-putting substance as the IMPS. They have not yet seemed to notice you.

> Mari: Traverse city streets.

You become a master of stealth, non-existent to all but the most observant as you slink through the streets, lit only by the FIREWORKS from above.

You immediately bump into a PITCH IMP when turning into an alley. Expert stealthing there, jackass. However, instead of AGGRIEVING you, the imp instead runs away like a feral raccoon you found digging through your trash.

You hear a SILENCED GUNSHOT, and when you peek into the street where the imp ran into, you see naught but a PILE OF GRIST.

That's concerning.​

 

[SerbianMounted]

===> Saul: Investigate fighting

F-fighting? You take a few shaky steps forward as you approach the sound of the noise and the source of the smoke. You aren't really interested in getting involved in more scraps. Anyone can call you a coward but unlike Rudy you're not exactly delusional about the lethality of your surroundings. You take a few steps forward, trying your best to STEALTH towards the situation although you don't have much cover coming down the pass towards the noise. You tip toe forwards, your heart pounding. ​

 

[Squad141]

> Continue your journey.

Too bad Darumasprite didn't follow, as your sure that he'd have some insightful information on wherever you'd been displaced. As your eyes adjust to the new landscape, you take in your surroundings. Walking over to some of the flora, you admire the three colors that criss-cross various sections of the desert your adventuring in. This also confirms your subconscious suspicion that these 'levels' of SBURB have definitely not placed you in places across Earth, but probably some kind of pocket dimension or game universe. Beating the game probably lets you out, if popular media has taught you anything.

Looking into the distance, you take note of the shacks and the possibly deserted town (though you have your doubts). Perhaps this is some kind of storyline? Either way, it's a better target than wandering around the stormy red rocks of this vast plain. You begin the trek forward, your Snapshot in hand in case any of the Underlings leap from the shacks before you can make it to the Ghost Town.​

 

[SpectrumCrow]

> Mari: Strife?

Shit shit shit. You didn’t mean to bump into anything noooo! But before you get a chance to go on the offensive, the imp scurries away. You stare at where the imp turned around the corner, flinching at the sound, left in the dread of the lingering silence.

Your better judgment says to not investigate. You’ll get shot next. But your curiosity is immense. Curiosity killed the cat. Curiosity killed the cat. Curiosity killed the cat. You repeat those words over and over.

But satisfaction brought it back.

> Mari: Toss Trash

You grab a can from the trash the imp was searching in and roll it into the alley, looking to see if you can get an idea of where the shot came from or if it will even fire again.​

 

[Orikanyo]

> Rudy, consider the lore implecations of sticky underlings

A theme has been noted thus far in terms of the enemies, you kneel behind a bush and gaze at the strange creatures... Resin Basilisks?

Asphalt Ogres

Pitch imps.

All together what do they make....?

Nothing but a gigantic sticky mess as far as you are conscerned. If you were making a GIGANTIC INDUSTRIAL SIZED MACARONI PICTURE you'd expect this to be the materials, big noodles withstanding. They were coating the thing with the substances, it would be best to either stop them, or just...

Move along?

> Make the choice already chosen.

It didn't take long for Rudy to find a path of assault, he knew the path to survival lay squarely in understanding your enemy, but also in managable portions. Two basilisk is bad, but one? He didn't know if it was managable but he'll get close to only dealing with one as possible. His sneak attack merited him the first action, both spears dug down deep into the Resin Basilisk, biteing deep as the beast began to screech wordlessly and subsequently...

> Run amock.

Oh boy this is bad. Holding onto his spears for dear life the creature bucked leapt wiggled and bashed it's way into anything it could to get Rudy and his pointy weapons out. The final thing it tried in it's tongue flailing and projectile spewing fury was it's other, who was also spewing it's own balls of whatever the game called a projectile at rudy, but missing due to the erratic nature of the scene.

The two basilisk's bashed into one another, sending Rudy off but landing nicely, both weapons sailing with him. The boy swirled around, ready to fight once more, he had to be crafty and smart for this battle! Come now Rudy!

Let us STRIFE in proper-!

Rudy looked abit coy as he flashed a look away from a poor duo of pitch imps that were waiting their turn politely, who were ruthlessly stabbed with the business ends of two antler headed spears.

The narrator shakes their heads in disappointment.

> STRIFE-PROPER​

 

[Eidolon Astronaut]

> Saul: Approach noises.

You enter the open MOUNTAIN PASS where you heard the noise coming from.

In the snow you see many BONES and GRIST, the former of which slowly dissolves into the latter. A purple WINGED MONSTROSITY swoops down from the skies towards you, but before it can lay a single strike, a violet BLUR streaks through the sky and the monster suddenly evaporates, dropping the skeletal contents of its stomach. The BLUR darts out of sight before you can get a good look at it.

The source of the SMOKE is closer, just on the other side of the MOUNTAIN the pass snakes around.

> Kiyo: Approach town.

You travel forward, setting your sights on the GHOST TOWN up ahead. The UNDERLINGS take notice of you, PITCH IMPS and CREOSOTE LICHES watch as you walk, but do not leap to attack... it's almost as if they are WAITING for something.

Once you are about halfway to the town, the STATUS QUO is altered. The DARK, OMINOUS STORM that has lived only on the horizon begins moving -quite quickly you might add- directly towards you. As it gathers closer, you see a HORDE OF UNDERLINGS stampeding underneath, as if the two were connected. As the horde approaches, the various shack-bound underlings join in like some twisted WILD HUNT, Imps and Liches ride astride RESIN BASILISKS.

You should probably pick up the pace.

> Mari: Bang bang.

Sure enough, another BULLET collides with the trash in the alley way, coming from the second story window of a building across the street. A HUMANOID FIGURE can be faintly seen behind the glass, but it's too dark to make out any features.

A second bullet fires from the window, striking the WALL you are hiding behind. You've been made! You might want to take evasive action before you end up as target practice.

> Rudy: STRIFE!

The remaining PITCH IMPS pay you no mind, continuing to coat the steel beams of the pylon with INKY GOOP. A nearby CLOUD is drifting close to the tip of the tower. A blunt, heavy STICK falls and explodes the already damaged BASILISK into grist.

The other RESIN BASILISK charges at you.​

 

[SerbianMounted]

===> Saul: ?

What....was that?

You look around, intent on trying to find any trace or glimpse of that blurred figure. Where could it have gone? You are hesitant, not even moving for a second before the cool whistle of the wind through the jagged peaks underscores a true resolution to the action that happened here. Well, waste not want not. You pick up the various forms of RARE and COPIOUS grist that are dropped by these rather dangerous enemies you would otherwise stand no chance against. You briefly regret not being able to collect the spoils of war on your own merit. But if the alternative is death, you're not exactly interested in it.

You carry onward through the rest of the pass, trudging through much lighter pathways of snow and finally approach the source of the SMOKE. ​

 

[SpectrumCrow]

> Mari: Abscond

Oh shit. Shit, shit, shit!!! You book it. You don’t want to get shot, obviously, so you decide to get the fuck out of there. You go back the way you came, still trying to be stealthy and hide from imps once out of immediate danger. Maybe you’ll go down a different street so you don’t get, y’know, shot.

Yeah, that sounds good. It might be a bit longer, but you figure that if you go around the location of the gun-wielding stranger, you should be fine. Plus, you're going to be EXTRA careful not to bump into anymore imps like a dumbass! So it'll be great!

> Mari: Head towards tower, but through a different route​

 

[Orikanyo]

> Be Rudy

Channeling the energy you found in that very serious Crime Drama/Karaoke/Slot car racing simulator you... Huh... Where did that big stick come from?

Is that a natural occurance?

Is there a big tree somewhere?

> Pay Attention

You pay attention just in time to avoid the big chomping jaws of the basilisk, you counter accordingly with a double stab!!!

Which is like a singular thrust but better because you do two.

Simple math, its why you use two weapons. You checked the math with Saul and everything because its cooler and better.

Math was cool.

Kinda...

With a twirl of your right spear you deal the final blow to the chonkyish beast, tben turn you gaze to the imps.

A few seconds of gratuitious violence, and you have succeeded in clearing the bottom of the... Big radio tower.

Which now leads to that cloud.

Neat.

> Go up the tower because you have no sense of self preservation.

Yer dang tootin'. But that stick comes with.

> You got, and cool stick!​

 

[GamerKitty205]

> Bria: Take in your surrounding

You flick the mud off your cloak with a look of utter horror on your face. Of all the places they had to drop you, did it have to be in a puddle of mud? Then again… every bit of ground is either covered in water or mud. There did not seem to be a way to get through this land without getting muddy or wet. Which is wonderful. Your hair is never going to dry. You must look absolutely dreadful. And not in a cool demon way either!

> Observe Text

A yes! It seems that the land you have been set down in is the Land of Knowledge, Downpour and Mire! A name as appropriate as it is long! Which is to say, somewhat of a mouth and somewhat fitting. Mire and Downpour both dashes your hopes of things getting any drier, and describes the scenery in a very interesting way! It’s much more interesting than say.... Rain and swamps, or mud and storms. Though you have no idea what knowledge could connect to. Perhaps the worn spires are ancient libraries filled with spells and lost texts! Oh, that would be just wonderful!

> Onward!

You head towards one of the crooked towers— keeping a careful eye on the crocodile skeleton. You’ve read enough fantasy to know that corpses staying dead is never a certainty. In fact! As a Demon Princess you have extensive knowledge on the subject! ...At least when it concerns your particular brand of demonic magic. Who knows how the specifics of this game work? Certainly not you. ​

 

[Eidolon Astronaut]

> Saul: Investigate source of smoke.

You arrive at a secluded MOUNTAIN VILLAGE.

Small huts and tents are built around a central BONFIRE to keep warm in the freezing cold. The populace of this town are humanoid in nature, but are covered in a dark, segmented CARAPACE. These "carapacians" are not all monochromatic, about one in ever couple dozen have a lighter shell. They all seem to be ANXIOUS, no doubt about the giant orchid monstrosities that swarm the land.

> Mari: Traverse city streets (again).

You attempt another LASS SCRAMBLE through the city streets, trying your very best to not been seen.

You hear noises coming from behind you, SKITTERING and SHUFFLING noises. That can't be good. Just as you are about to run away, a cold HAND grabs you and pulls you into a nearby alley. You watch as a swarm of about a dozen or so IMPS and BASILISKS scamper down the street you were just on, unaware you your presence. You are released as the underlings vanish, giving you a good look at your new... acquaintance(?)

A TALL, RESPECTABLE looking gentleman wearing a large coat and BOWLER HAT, all black. At the absence of skin, he has a pitch black CARAPACE like a crab. Tucked into the band of his hat is a PLAYING CARD, the ACE OF DIAMONDS.

He puts a finger to his lips, noting you should be SILENT, and then walks into the streets, beckoning you to follow him if you want to live.

> Rudy: Ascend.

You captchalouge the strange, kind of twisty STICK, hooked on one end somewhat like a cane.

You begin your climb up the bare steel beams of the BROADCASTING TOWER, trying your best to avoid the MYSTERIOUS SLUDGE near the base. Once you reach the dishes at the top, you see a ROPE drop down from the edge f the cloud for you to climb, which you do without even thinking. The ROPE is pulled up once you grab on.

At the top of the cloud, you see a STORYBOOK CASTLE, drawbridge and all. You also see the one who tossed down the rope, and presumably, the STICK. A squart little fellow clad in a heavy suit of ARMOR with a HELMET, wielding a different hooked stick, the CROOK OF CHIVALRY. A SYMBOL is etched into the breastplate of the knight, it is that of a PLAYING CARD, the TWO OF CLUBS.

He tells you he appreciates the help in defending the castle.

> Bria: Enter building.

The bipedal crocodile skeleton remains INERT.

You enter the TILTED LIBRARY, and man, is it sure MOLDY in here. Most of the books in here are WATER DAMAGED or covered in MILDEW, all illegible at this point. Great. Just what you were hoping for. Something catches your eye with a glint of light. You find a RED GEM in a pile of toppled books.

Trudging out of a nearby aisle, a strange creature approaches, a TURPENTINE ABOMINATION. That... that doesn't look like an Underling. It shuffles towards you like a zombie.​

 

[Squad141]

Kiyo: Make haste.

Well, this is certainly troubling. You turn on your heel, temporarily sliding the arrow back into the quiver as you begin a jog in the other direction of this crowd of monsters. Despite the set-up for some kind of small-town drama or duel, you feel slightly betrayed that this is becoming a marathon at best. Luckily, you're wearing the Joggers, the shoes are a tiny bit faster than usual that you alchemized just before you left. Sneaking a peak every now and again, you begin to try and weave past any shacks, surprising enemies, or cacti that get in your path. You keep a steady pace, though. Using all your energy now might not pay off if the storm chases you for more than an hour.​

 

[SpectrumCrow]

> Mari: Squint

You squint at the man. This is a textbook example of shady. But he did save you there! So maybe he’s actually nice! And if not? You have your scissors!

To make sure he knows you mean business, you give him the ‘I’ve got my eye on you’ gesture. Additionally, you make sure you can get to your scissors ASAP in case you need to defend yourself! But you do try to be discreet about it.

But hopefully that won’t be necessary and this guy will be a new friend! He’s probably an important NPC, but it doesn’t hurt to be safe!

> Mari: Follow the NPC​

 

[SerbianMounted]

===> Saul: Interact with villagers

You're pleasantly surprised to find the source of the smoke wasn't some kind of burning building or massive fight going on. You approach some of the villagers and see their reasonable fear in the presence of the GIANT ORCHID MONSTROSITIES. You go up to the nearest one and give a simple greeting, though it's impeded by your less than bubbly demeanor. You decide to give them a gift. Before you left the house, you decided to at least stock up on vegetables. You hand the villager a CUCUMBER and a HEAD OF LETTUCE and proceed to ask why they have a giant bonfire in the middle of town. ​