Heretic 2020/09/23(Wed)20:57 No. 977060 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160091986204.png - (453.19KB , 1500x1060 , You Can't Win Me 3.png )

>>977048
>>977051
>If we can neither win the game nor quit it, then it's not a good game as it has failed at the one thing a game is meant to be: entertaining. And anything that you are being forced to do and has no end is about as unentertaining as it gets.
I DON'T LITEARLLY MEAN "YOU CAN'T WIN" DUMMY! IT'S JUST A LITTLE TRASH TALK! YOU WERE HONESTLY JUST GOING TO ACCEPT YOU COULDN'T WIN RIGHT OFF THE BAT LIKE THAT? THAT'S LOSER THINKING! DON'T BE SUCH A FUDDY DUDDY PLAYER! IF YOU SEE A CHALLENGE YOU SHOULD BE READY TO FACE IT! OR I GUESS YOU CAN JUST LAY DOWN AND DIE, A LOT LESS FUN THAT WAY THOUGH...

>>977049
>Can you at least pause? you've got this other game you should really get back to some time soon...
SILLY! THIS GAME AND THE OTHER GAME ARE THE SAME GAME! YOU KNOW THAT ALREADY! AND NO PAUSING EITHER!

>>977047
>"This statement is a lie."
WHATEVER YOU SAY PLAYER!

You don't know what you expected, that trick never worked on the apartment robots either...

>>977045
>who it is, and what they want from you.
WHO AM I? I'M!...I'M...OH I GUESS I DON'T REALLY HAVE A NAME DO I? MY GAME DESIGNATION IS REGISTERED AS BLUEPRINT_ENTITY_A-01-15 BUT THAT DOESN'T REALLY COUNT DOES IT? OH WELL! ANYWAY, MORE IMPORTANTLY WHAT I WANT IS TO PLAY WITH YOU! THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TOO ISN'T IT? WHY ELSE WOULD YOU START THIS GAME?

PLAYER! TELL ME! WHAT'S A GAME YOU LIKE TO PLAY? ASIDE FROM THE ONE YOU ARE CURRENTLY TAKING PART IN OF COURSE!

>>977060
Oh it's an Eschatologic entity. I thought it was some monster playing with its food. This is much easier to deal with! Like it said, you chose to play the game, so it's not strictly hostile.

>what's a cool game
You have canonical answers to this... let's choose Death Stranding, since that's the most recent one(I think).

>>977062
Thats... not a bat option. Ok, Death Stranding for me too, please.

>>977060
Death Stranding.

And if this guy starts making fun of you like your other friend does, then you should complain about everyone making fun of that game and try to defend it.

Hungry hungry hippos

>>977060
You know what game is cool? DOOM. DOOM is fucking cool.

Additionally, this character seems incredibly familiar to me but I can't quite place it... (Flowey maybe?)


For names, maybe Cathy (from cathode), CuRT (from CRT), or Toobie (both because of the black tubes and how old CRT screens are also called tube tvs, along with making it the same style as Flowey. Would be Tubie, but that seemed too close to "tubby", spelling wise)

don't we only have 14 minutes to get out of here? I highly doubt we'd have enough time to play something as slow paced as death stranding.

>>977062
>>977064
>>977072
Do we want to live that, though? This question is obviously meant to tailor the next "level" against us, so let's try for something a bit less artsy - that game's whole payoff was large-scale community cooperation and rebuilding, and that'll be hard to reproduce here, I think. (That's not even mentioning the loss of the game's narrative context that contributed the other half of its appeal.)

"I like dungeon roguelikes. Your puzzles weren't awful, though, for the record, and having something to think about outside of combat would be nice."

>>977109
Ooh, almost forgot to put my own name suggestion: "Your name is Aoi. Why? 'Cause your file number reads as 'AOI IS' in l33t-speak, which makes sense if you're kind of the 'god' of this game with all that 'I am' crud."

Heretic 2020/09/24(Thu)15:31 No. 977132 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160098671955.png - (555.92KB , 1500x1060 , You Can't Win Me 4.png )

>>977113
>Your name is Aoi. Why? 'Cause your file number reads as 'AOI IS' in l33t-speak
AOI? OKAY I LIKE THAT NAME! MY NAME IS AOI!

>Death Stranding
I SAID FAVOURITE GAME NOT WANNABE INDIE MOVIE. GUESS I SHOULD'VE EXPECTED THAT BUT FINE I CAN MAKE THIS WORK PLAYER...

A long strand of oil web drips down from the sky and dangles a metal case in front of you.

YOU WANNA PLAY DELIVERY BOY SO BAD? GET THIS CASE TO THE APARTMENT'S BASEMENT. THERE'LL BE PLACE YOU CAN DROP IT OFF. DON'T BREAK IT, DON'T LOSE IT, DON'T OPEN IT, AND DON'T LET ME CATCH YOU!

A clear look of confusion flashes across your face

IT WOULDN'T BE ANY FUN IF YOU COULD JUST STROLL ON DOWN THERE, SO OF COURSE I'LL BE SENDING IN SOME ENEMIES TO GET IN YOUR WAY. I'LL ALSO BE WANDERING AROUND LOOKING FOR YOU TOO! IT'D BE BORING IF I JUST SAT AROUND AND WATCHED. DON'T BE FOOLED, I'VE BEEN VERY FRIENDLY FOR NOW, BUT AFTER THIS IF I EVER GET A GLIMPSE OF YOU I WILL KILL YOU OKAY? ANY MORE QUESTIONS?

Uuuuuuuuh what do i get if i win?

>>977132
I feel like wandering around the corridors without anything to do is pretty boring. It's punctuated by an exciting ending, that's all. Watching sounds like it contains a greater total amount of fun.

What will it even look like though? You were just grabbed by an oily handprint, that's not exactly easy to notice without being spotted by the entity making the handprint.

1/4 Heretic 2020/09/24(Thu)18:03 No. 977163 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160099579277.png - (206.95KB , 1500x1060 , You Can't Win Me 5.png )

>>977135
>what do i get if i win?
YOU GET TO LIVE! AND SOME OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF BUT MOSTLY YOU GET TO LIVE!

>>977137
>I feel like wandering around the corridors without anything to do is pretty boring.
DON'T TRY TO TALK ME OUT OF HUNTING YOU! I'VE GOT MY MIND SET ON IT ALREADY!

>What will it even look like though?
YOU'LL KNOW ME WHEN YOU SEE ME, AND IF YOU DON'T THAT'LL BE UNFORTUNATE. IF THAT'S ALL THEN WE'D BETTER START! BUT IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO DO FIRST! BYE PLAYER!

The platform you stand on gives way beneath you dropping you down into the green emptiness blow...

2/4 Heretic 2020/09/24(Thu)18:03 No. 977164 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160099580496.png - (275.01KB , 1558x1064 , Back At The Start.png )

The fall doesn't feel long however, as you're dropped for about 3 seconds until you hit the floor. You've been brought back to your apartment.

3/4 Heretic 2020/09/24(Thu)18:04 No. 977165 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160099588434.png - (293.96KB , 799x589 , Whatthehell.png )

You enter your apartment and immediately notice the large machine thing plopped into your living room. The screen reads...

INCUBATOR: SPECIMEN NOT FOUND. ESTIMATED TIME UNTIL NECROSIS: 00 HOURS 34 MINUTES 02 SECONDS

It doesn't take a genius to know what it wants. You've been through a lot but still can't get that gross thing out of your head...

4/4 Heretic 2020/09/24(Thu)18:05 No. 977166 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160099590762.png - (150.90KB , 556x495 , filledincubator.png )

You grab the trophy holding the embryo and pour the thing into the slot at the top of the machine. The device dings as the message on the screen changes

SPECIMEN INITIALIZED: REQUIRED INCUBATION RESIN = 100 UNITS

TIME UNTIL NECROSIS: 02 HOURS 30 MINUTES 59 SECONDS

It looks like necrosis is going to set in anyway unless you get more resin, where the hell are you going to get resin? Before you can think of possible sources you hear the Blasphemy messenger on your laptop ding. Someone's messaged you, in fact you get the feeling someone's been messaging you since you lost your phone.

When you talk about resin, you refer to the black goo? There might be some more where you fall back to the apartment.

>>977166
Go visit your laptop and explain about A-01 kidnapping you. Also ask what the fuck Resin is.

>>977166
Go check your messages.

Explain to your friends that the game’s AI said it was going to physically manifest in your building and start hunting you down to kill you!

Heretic 2020/09/24(Thu)23:36 No. 977192 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160101577984.gif - (2.24MB , 1500x1400 , Blasphemy.gif )

>Use oil
That stuff is oil, not resin. You doubt it'll work.

>Answer Blasphemy
You return to your room.

Chemical Chalice (C&C) messaged Deuces Daggers (D&D) at 5:38 AM

C&C: Cyle I watched you come into your apartment, why haven't you been answering your phone?
D&D: I lost it when I got dragged through the floor and no it wasnt the robot it was a large oil screen thing
C&C: I constantly feel like I'm a step ahead and behind you at the same time, what the hell are you talking about?
D&D: it was the thing you made out of the blueprint, it made me go through this lame logic puzzle before it told me to deliver a package to the apartment basement.
C&C: So it's not hostile?
D&D: not at first but after we talked it told me it would kill me next time it saw me
D&D: oh its hunting me while I deliver the package to the basement by the way, Im not entirely sure how safe I am in my apartment now that I think about it…
C&C: Hang on let me check something.
C&C: My Mastermind panel has some new information. A couple of entities along with their current health and CONTEMPT levels. Did this screen thing you spoke with have a name?
D&D: not at first but I called it Aoi
C&C: If you name it you're going to get attached, then it's going to be awkward when you kill it or vice versa.
C&C: Anyway, yeah there's something here labelled Aoi that's got a lot of health and a CONTEMPT level of twenty. Which if I recall is about four times yours
D&D: you know my CONTEMPT lvl?
C&C: Of course, I tally everyone's CONTEMPT level. C&A's is the highest
D&D: yeah I figured
C&C: Woah, a bunch of other entities are showing up on my screen
D&D: can you get me their locations?
C&C: No, just their statistics. These additional entities have a much lower CONTEMPT level of 3 meaning they ought to be manageable for you.
D&D: hold on I'm just now realizing that there's a killer robot with a 10 CONTEMPT level. if I couldn't deal with that how am I going to deal with a level 20 enemy?
C&C: If you're resourceful enough CONTEMPT levels can be completely irrelevant. Use your environment when possible, play to your strengths, take any advantage you can get.
D&D: right right, fair fights are for suckers after all.
C&C: Yes, when your life is on the line fair fights are indeed for suckers.
D&D: oh! do you know what resin is ? I mean, I know what resin is but like do you know where I can get some easily?
C&C: I get the feeling you may not want regular "resin". Some of the devices I can deploy cost resin but I have none. I assume it's something you acquire from doing something in the game.
D&D: cuz I need 100 units of the stuff within 2 hours or the embryo will die.
C&C: I guess the best I can tell you is to continue exploring and not die, as always. Maybe examine the devices I've placed for you, in fact I've still got more things I need place down.
C&C: And I guess aside from that, is there anything else you wanna say before you go? I know we won't be able to talk since you've lost your phone.

Huh, how did you know Aoi came out of the blueprint?
Anyway, how about we think about alternate routes to the basement. First thing I can think of is descending from the outside of the building entirely. Base jumping or rappelling down. Then you reenter and head to the basement, only have to traverse one floor.
Alternatively you could try moving through vents or maintenance shafts.
I feel like you want to kill some of those low-threat enemies though. And eventually retrieve your phone, if not beeline for it immediately.

It would be nice if you had some kind of item that could see around corners or through walls, so you could tell if Aoi is nearby without alerting it to your presence.

While it's entirely possible killing enemies will get you your resin (drops from enemies is a well-established video-game trope, especially if this is some form of currency for the game), you'd feel silly if you hared out of here to grind enemies if one of the devices newly placed on turned out to have useful instructions, instruments, or other helpful things. Check ye stuff first.

So what other things can she build right now and what do they do?

>>977192
Explore your apartment and look at the things C&C placed down.

Ask for an update on your other friends. They're all playing the game too and one of them is supposed to be your teammate, so you should find out if they're ok.

And if C&C can see you in your apartment, ask if that means that you won't have any privacy in the bathroom anymore?

Well, then one of my priorities would be to get my phone back.

>>977192
Open the briefcase. Aoi basically told us that following rules is for losers.

>>977221
That sounds like a bad idea. Don't do that.

1/2 Heretic 2020/09/25(Fri)19:55 No. 977229 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160108890624.png - (1.49MB , 1558x1064 , screen.png )

D&D: do the machines you can place have instructions on how to use them?
C&C: Just names, you'll need to experiment with them a bit more to understand what they do. Hang on I've got more I should be placing too.
D&D: and whats going on with the others? I don't know if G&M got her laptop battery yet but what's with C&A?
C&C: Don't know, he's been offline since I last talked to you. Also, I haven't received my delivery from you yet, so I doubt G&M's has got her's either.
D&D: hmm
C&C: Also I've been thinking about Echelon for a bit, our situation is odd. I was under the impression we'd be against one another, and I guess we are since your description of the creature lines up with the way I constructed the first "blueprint" so it seems I'm responsible for creating adversaries for you. At the same time though, I also have to place down important apparatuses for you to use. You wouldn't have to Incubator without me.
D&D: so we're not entirely enemies?
C&C: Seems like it, which hopefully means we won't have to fight one another.
D&D: well that’s a relief at least.
D&D: speaking of the game you can see into my apartment right?
C&C: Yes, why?
D&D: keep your view out of my bathroom okay?
C&C: Cyle, there a million other things I'd rather do than watch you use the restroom
D&D: I just want to make sure you won't by like accident or something.
C&C: So it's fine if it's on purpose?
D&D: KEEP THE FUCKING VIEW OUT OF MY BATHROOM

2/2 Heretic 2020/09/25(Fri)19:57 No. 977230 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160108903057.png - (655.58KB , 1558x1480 , Awholenewmess.png )

>>977221
>>977223
You lightly drag a claw over the package's tape instilling a deep sense of dread in you. You shouldn't open this, a deliveryman shouldn't tamper with his cargo. That'd probably be a crime if there were police around to stop you.

>Examine machines
You exit your room to get a closer look at the machines placed in your apartment. You barely have time to acknowledge the absolute eyesores stationed at both ends of your bed room door before you see the trail of oil leading from the window to your living room...

Don't touch the slick; I think it's how Aoi was alerted to you the first time. Examine machines.

>>977230
Run back to your room, get on the computer, and ask C&C if they can tell you what’s in your apartment.

Wait, I feel like there’s something else in your apartment that we forgot about. ……oh no, your cat! Where’s Cheshire?! Do you know if she’s safe?! You’ve gotta find her!

Don't touch the oil. What is up with your bathroom anyway?

>>977259
>What is up with your bathroom anyway?
I think he’s trying to make sure he’ll be allowed some privacy if he ever needs to use the bathroom. Which makes sense because I wouldn’t want anyone to watch me use the bathroom either.

1/2 Heretic 2020/09/26(Sat)19:11 No. 977291 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160117266574.png - (652.46KB , 1558x1480 , ExamineFabricator.png )

>>977232
>Ask C&C if they can tell you what’s in your apartment.
C&C has already informed you she cannot tell you the location of entities. Just their statuses.

>>977231
>Don't touch the slick
You hop over the oil, both out of fear of it alerting your current predator and just out of common sense of not wanting to track more of it through your apartment.

>Examine machine
You take a closer look at the large tube machine. The screen calls it a Fabricator...

2/2 Heretic 2020/09/26(Sat)19:11 No. 977292 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160117267036.png - (248.22KB , 1500x1060 , ExamineFabricator2.png )

The screen displays the message NEED INPUT while a section of the monitor flashes a small box for something to be entered. Though the terminal beneath the tube section is unresponsive...

>>977291
>can't see where entities are
But can't she see your apartment? She can at least tell you if something's in there.

Speaking of which Aoi is outside your window because it's a cheating motherfucker who went straight for your base instead of patrolling the hallways. Hide in the dryer.

Heretic 2020/09/26(Sat)19:52 No. 977298 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160117512218.png - (768.21KB , 1154x1060 , Encounter.png )

>>977293
>But can't she see your apartment?
Oh yeah, you forgot about that. Still not completely used to having her see your house.

>>977293
>Aoi is outside your window, Hide in the dryer.
You hop into the dryer and conceal yourself. Not the first time you've done this. As you hide you peak out of the dryer and look for the intruder. You can hear the window into your apartment creak open as something slithers in. At a glance you can tell it's not Aoi, C&C told you Aoi had a high CONTEMPT level of 20 while this thing only has 3. It's most likely one of Aoi's minions.

The thing growls, is that the right word for that noise? It's like tv static mixed with gurgling. It's screens scan the room looking for you, unable to see your concealed form. The thing wanders your hallway, searching.

Oh. Well, I guess Aoi must be much bigger?
Ambush it. Get a good stab when its back is turned.
I don't really see much environmental advantage we can do here side from getting up on the washer to do a leaping attack for the sneak attack.

I am guessing the screens are a weak point? Wait for an opportunity to strike.

>>977298
Sneak attack it!

1/3 Heretic 2020/09/27(Sun)18:06 No. 977383 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160125520860.png - (711.47KB , 1500x1060 , SHUNK.png )

>Ambush it. Get a good stab when its back is turned.
>I am guessing the screens are a weak point?
>Sneak attack
Quick and easy. You leap from your hiding spot and drive your knife into the creatures screen, the static screeching becomes louder before fading out as the creature falls down dead.

2/3 Heretic 2020/09/27(Sun)18:06 No. 977384 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160125521497.png - (716.72KB , 1500x1060 , Backup.png )

You hear oil splashing toward the hallway. The commotion has alerted the first intruder to your location.

3/3 (seizure warning) Heretic 2020/09/27(Sun)18:07 No. 977385 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160125522469.gif - (2.08MB , 1450x1000 , Static'd.gif )

The second Screenhead fires a jolt of electricity from it's face that jabs you square in the chest. It doesn't hurt, but it feels like shit. Like when you lay on your arm funny for too long and it falls asleep, except now it's your whole body.

BATTLE TENDENCY: BLOOD FUZZ
Applies the STATIC condition (STATIC: Lowers CONTEMPT level by 2 and SLOWS target)

>>977385
You’ve still got that gear in one of your cards, right? Flick it at the new enemy!

Yeah, launch the big gear. Should do some decent damage.

>>977392
Yeah do this, it never fails to deliver a nasty attack.

1/2 Heretic 2020/09/27(Sun)21:21 No. 977418 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160126689062.png - (830.56KB , 1500x1060 , Bugsplat.png )

>Launch the gear
Through the haze in your body you flick the gear card and launch it at the second Screenhead.

All enemies dispatched, in record time.

2/2 Heretic 2020/09/27(Sun)21:21 No. 977419 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160126689776.png - (686.71KB , 1558x1480 , Resin.png )

Now that the dust is settled you have time to notice the large, geometric shapes that've littered the floor. Looks like the Screenheads dropped loot for you, how generous. Attempting to pick them up blinks them away, possibly to some in game repository for the game constructs.

You gained
65 Silicone Resin
65 Pitch Resin
20 Furan Resin

You can also hear pings coming from your room and your living room. It sounds like both Blasphemy and the Echelon game client are giving off alerts.

Hmm, you need Incubation Resin though...
Try putting some resin in that Fabricator if you have direct access to it.

Otherwise go check your pings. Game client first.

>>977419
Go check your messages. Ask C&C if she saw you take out those monsters and ask if you looked cool when you did that.

sage Heretic 2020/09/28(Mon)06:54 No. 977446 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160130125792.png - (1.49MB , 1558x1064 , screen2.png )

Chemical Chalice (C&C) messaged Deuces Daggers (D&D) at 5:50 AM

C&C: Nice job Cyle, you hardly broke a sweat.
D&D: thanks!
C&C: Good thinking turning a cheap piece of garbage deck into a decent weapon too, and it looks like you picked up some resin!
D&D: I didn't really pick it up it just sort of blinked away
C&C: Well make sure you get more. Not only will the incubator need more of it, but some of the things I can deploy require it too, much more than what you have.
D&D: will this resin work with the incubator? do I need a special incubator resin?
C&C: I think the Incubator would specify a certain kind of resin if a certain kind was needed. I think any would be okay.
D&D: kay also how do I use the fabricator?
C&C: From what I saw on the screen before you got ambushed you need to put some sort of code in?
D&D: but the keyboard dealie at the bottom of the tube part didn’t do anything
C&C: Maybe it's looking for something to scan? Speaking of scanning, I'm still waiting on that sample delivery.
D&D: I can't make the mail go faster
C&C: By the time it arrives I'll have my own digital embryo all to myself.
D&D: lucky you. every imps dream to have a trans-dimensional embryo all of their own
D&D: hey G&M's on! I don't think I ever actually told her I sent the battery to her yet, hang on.

Grave Mycologist (G&M) messaged Deuces Daggers (D&D) at 5:55 AM

G&M: CYLE! IT'S HERE! The battery you sent arrived finally!
D&D: good to hear, I was just about to tell you I sent it. that means soon you can actually play, all you need is C&A to connect to you
G&M: He hasn't been online tho so I can’t really talk to him, have you spoken to him recently??
D&D: no, but I'll keep my eye out for any messanges
G&M: Cool
G&M: OH CYLE! the drone
D&D: what about it?
G&M: Can I use it ti deliver some mushrooms to you? I made some new ones that tase JUST LIKE STRAWBERRIES. you'll LOVE them!
D&D: yeah I wont knock free mushrooms
D&D: wait the storm might fuck up the drone from returning. I don't think you can
G&M: awww
D&D: send them to C&C instead I'm sure she'll love them
G&M: Yeah that'll work! but I wanted to pay tou back for helphing me play the game.
D&D: don't worry about it, really.
G&M: how IS the game by the way? You and C&C must've been playing for a bt now.
D&D: par for the course stuff. well most of it. it uses a lot more reality bending than other games I've played, it's also making a huge mess of my house too which sucks. but I feel like you'll like it just fine
G&M: that's nice to hear! Anyway I need to install the new battewry you sent me. Talk to you later CYLE!
D&D: seeya

2/2 Heretic 2020/09/28(Mon)06:54 No. 977447 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160130128683.png - (1.06MB , 1558x1064 , LevelUp.png )

D&D: G&M got her battery
C&C: Lucky, looks like the location of my home is giving the drone some difficulty
D&D: also expect some strawberry flavored mushrooms soon
C&C: Oh yay! All the sweetness of strawberry with none of the proper texture so the whole experience of eating them is an odd disjointed sensation.
C&C: I love that girl but she needs to stop splicing together weird mushroom strains to make different flavored fungi. The pizza flavored ones where just awful.
D&D: I'm personally a fan of her french fry flavored mushrooms, I'd ask for more of those if the storm wasn't messing with deliveries.
C&C: Well, you're used to eating garbage I suppose
D&D: wow that was mean
C&C: But it was also true
D&D: I just remembered echelon gave me a ping for something after beating those monsters
C&C: What does it say?
D&D: My rank went up! So my CONTEMPT lvl's improved and stats are better
C&C: Nice, progress.
D&D: there's also a lsit that shows off my single BATTLE TENDANCY
C&C: That's better than the none I have I suppose. I don't fight enough to really develop any

BATTLE TENDENCIES
ASSASSINATION: Attacking enemies from concealment instantly kills them if they are below your CONTEMPT LEVEL and deals heavy damage if they're equal to or two times your CONTEMPT LEVEL

C&C: So what's your plan right now?
D&D: still haven't delivered this package, and I still have Aoi trying to kill me.
C&C: And don't forget to try and feed that resin into the incubator.

>ASSASSINATION
Oh that is nice, goes right along with your playstyle.
Ok, try the resin in the incubator and the go send that package.

>>977447
Ask C&C if she figured out how the team function is supposed to work? You’re not entirely sure how your teammate is supposed to get to you with the storm outside.

Let’s test putting the resin you got into the incubator.

You should make an attempt at going back to where you dropped your phone so you can get it back. It’ll be easier to keep in contact with everyone and you won’t have to worry about missing any messages they send to you.

The fabricator might need you to give it a blueprint so that it can make something. Or you might need to put an object in it so it can upgrade it.

Don't you have multiple knives besides the one you've been using? Try putting one of those in the fabricator to see what happens.

Use Silicone and Pitch in the incubator since those seem common.

1/3 Heretic 2020/09/29(Tue)06:22 No. 977546 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160138576533.png - (222.61KB , 1500x1060 , Barcode.png )

>Ask C&C if she figured out how the team function is supposed to work?
D&D: have you figured out how these teams are supposed to work? Like, how is G&M supposed to reach me?
C&C: No idea. She may never reach you, the same way my interactions with you are through the systems her's may too.
D&D: oh
C&C: I'm not too sure why you'd assume we'd meet our teammates, that being said we don't need to be physically together to be on the same team. Isn't that one of the themes of Death Stranding or something?
D&D: kind of, did you play it?
C&C: I watched a cutscene compilation online, I can see why you enjoy the story in some places but I couldn't be bothered to actually play the game.
D&D: that's fair

>Don't you have multiple knives besides the one you've been using? Try putting one of those in the fabricator to see what happens.
You put the knife rack into a card, the issue now is how do you put it in? You inspect the machine and then the card. Upon closer inspection of the deck of few card there's a barcode on the back! Scanning the code on the screen of the fabricator allows you to construct a new set of knives for 20 Furan Resin, but you're not sure if you want to yet.

2/3 Heretic 2020/09/29(Tue)06:23 No. 977547 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160138578261.png - (1.16MB , 1704x1191 , Goodkitty.png )

>Use Silicone and Pitch in the incubator since those seem common.
You enter your living room. Oh those fucking oil fuckers did a goddamn number on this place. You're gonna have to clean all of this up later.

Hey! Cheshire's here! You were wondering where she was, and she brought your phone back to you too! Good kitty! You take your phone and head to the incubator

3/3 Heretic 2020/09/29(Tue)06:23 No. 977548 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160138579603.png - (150.90KB , 556x495 , filledincubator.png )

The screen asks how much of what resin you want to use while showing a list of the resins you own along with the amounts of each. You input 50 Silicone and 50 Pitch, a new message appears.

EMBRYO STABALIZED
STAGE ADVANCE: 00 ---> 01
NEW PSUEDO-DNA STRING EXTRACTED: AGdYOYi0bMQ0LL8PIQSYX
STRING SAVED!
TIME UNTIL NEXT STABLIZATION: 02 HOURS: 59 MINUTES: 59 SECONDS

"Did you get that string, C&C?"

Check out any devices you haven't messed with yet; if you aren't sure what and where your remaining options are, ask your mastermind.

You should reward Cheshire for bringing you your phone. Clean her food and water bowls and refill them with fresh food and water.

>>977547
>I can't be beat!
Is that a common thing for these games to say? People *have* won this game before, right?
Check how much another gear would cost. That worked well as a thrown weapon.

>>977558
This.

1/2 Heretic 2020/09/30(Wed)13:16 No. 977627 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160149699387.png - (733.18KB , 1368x1004 , Goodkitty2.png )

D&D: did you get that string C&C?
C&C: I could see it from my view, but there's no menu or popup on my screen that would indicate it saved to my system. It looks like it's only something saved to your Incubator.
C&C: Question is what it's for.

>Clean and refill Cheshire's food and water bowls
You do just that, she's still not very happy with the new brand of cat food you feed her but she eats anyway. You can tell she still appreciates it.

2/2 Heretic 2020/09/30(Wed)13:16 No. 977628 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160149700254.png - (329.37KB , 1500x1060 , Broken Gear.png )

>How much does a new gear cost to make in the Fabricator?
50 Furan Resin. 30 more than what you have, speaking of which you retrieve the gear once again in case you need to use it later.

Hmm ok, any other weird machines in your apartment?
I wonder if the machine can replicate living things? Like Cheshire? Or you, it'll probably be easier to scan yourself.

Broken gear mvp. But we shouldn't abuse it. Aoi might get use to it, or the fact that you can throw things from your deck. It will expect it.

>>977628
I think we’ve done all we can do here. Let’s head out and deliver that case Aoi gave us down to the basement.

And make sure you keep an eye out for any chairs to smash, so that you can complete your personal objective of destroying all the chairs to prevent Cheshire from placing them in front of the door and locking you in! So far, you’ve gotten 1/1000 Chairs Destroyed……yeah, this might take a while.

So far you've looked at the incubator and the replicator. I believe there were more than two machines? Make sure you've checked out the rest of them before you leave, unless you start that the pressure from Aoi is getting too much and you need to stay on the move.

Heretic 2020/10/01(Thu)07:00 No. 977663 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160156082040.png - (608.84KB , 1325x965 , Uglyasallsin.png )

>Examine other machines
D&D: hey C&C whats this tower thing?
C&C: According to the device reliquary that machine is a Stabilization Inhibitor, once again I do not know what it actually does. I only set it down out of fear that if I didn't it would negatively effect you.
D&D: well what if placing it down too early negatively effects me?
C&C: Then it was nice knowing you Cyle, I'll remember you as you are and not as a half eaten corpse.
D&D: I don’t think those screen things will eat me
C&C: No, but Cheshire probably will when she runs out of food
D&D: D0
D&D: is that thing about cats eating their owners true?
C&C: Yes, but if it makes you feel better it isn't because she hates you. It's only because eventually she'll need something to eat when the food runs out.

Meanwhile... Heretic 2020/10/01(Thu)07:00 No. 977664 ID: 8fb3ba
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... Heretic 2020/10/01(Thu)07:00 No. 977665 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160156084032.png - (282.62KB , 1500x1060 , Like a bloody nose but worse.png )

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... Heretic 2020/10/01(Thu)07:00 No. 977666 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160156084685.png - (364.75KB , 1500x1060 , Like a bloody nose but worse 2.png )

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... Heretic 2020/10/01(Thu)07:00 No. 977667 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160156085315.png - (385.77KB , 1500x1060 , Black raindrops.png )

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... Heretic 2020/10/01(Thu)07:01 No. 977668 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160156086087.png - (450.39KB , 1500x1060 , Black raindrops 2.png )

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Heretic 2020/10/01(Thu)07:01 No. 977669 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160156090431.png - (306.85KB , 1500x1060 , Thinking It Over.png )

You prepare to head for the basement so you can deliver the case stopping only to think of the best possible route there. This isn't the first time you've had to go there, that's where you keep most of your tools and other stuff that either won't fit in your apartment or you just plain forgot down there.

It's between using the stairs or using the elevator, no one else really uses the elevator so if you do you feel like that might be a dead give away if Aoi is nearby. Then again if you use the stairs you'll be going down much slower, and with all the webs blocking off the hallways you'll never know when you're headed for a dead end. Though there may be other options you just aren't thinking of right now.

>Stairs
>Elevator
>Something so clever you can't even begin to imagine it right now (Write-In)

>>977669
What about that vent in your bathroom? When your cat blocked the door, you used that vent to get out. Maybe you can use it to get to the basement? Or if you can't, you can at least use it to get as close as possible.

Stairs for now. We'll think about the elevator on the trip back up.

well since your cat cut it's way into the vents think you could use those to go down a few floors?

If not hit the stairs. Going down stairs isn't nearly as exhausting as going up them plus if you come across anything in the stairwell you'd have a better chance at hiding and avoiding it then you would trapped in an elevator.

The stairs sound good for now, we'll improvise along the way.

Using the elevator doesn't necessarily pen you in. If you use the vents to go down a floor or two, you can call the elevator, finagle the ceiling hatch open, then select the basement and ride on top of the cabin. From there, you can just jump if the cabin drops, and you'll be able to see that (and attempts by Aoi to drop from above) coming from a mile away. (If the latter happens, hop back down into the cabin and punch the button for the arriving floor.)

>>977669
Well there was that bigass hole the robot made in the floor... Hey can you sneak around in vents?

>>977679
I was going to say taking the elevator paints too much of a target on your back, but this is a pretty good plan.

>>977669
Fastest, safest, best option: Parachute down the outside of the building.

Alternative big brain play: Have Cheshire deliver the package OD

1/4 Heretic 2020/10/04(Sun)09:28 No. 977887 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160182888826.png - (409.51KB , 1558x1002 , Openthehatch.png )

>Cheshire: deliver the package
Cheshire thinks about it for a bit, then realizes her rates are too expensive for you to possibly afford, Oh wait no she doesn't because she's a dumb cat.

>Vents/Stairs
Vent's can't get you the whole way, but they can hide you for a good portion of your trip...

2/4 Heretic 2020/10/04(Sun)09:28 No. 977888 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160182889899.png - (304.44KB , 1500x1060 , Ventimp.png )

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3/4 Heretic 2020/10/04(Sun)09:28 No. 977889 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160182890885.png - (476.34KB , 1500x1060 , Ventimp2.png )

...And they make great hiding spots for sneak attacks.

4/4 Heretic 2020/10/04(Sun)09:28 No. 977890 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160182892802.png - (630.20KB , 1500x1060 , Descent.png )

Chemical Chalice (C&C) messaged Deuces Daggers (D&D) at 6:23 AM

C&C: I heard Pandemonium's opening up applications for Mars residence, do you think anyone on Earth would be willing to live there?
D&D: I'm sure plenty of bootlicking imps would love to be closer to the devils.
C&C: I've seen pictures, the scenery's amazing. Not amazing enough for me to go though. A few more "privileges" aren't enough for me to move.
D&D: I rread somewhere online that any high demon can legally kill you, stuff you, and put you in their living room if you're out at midnight
C&C: Gruesome, but likely an exaggeration. Still wouldn't put it past them to be needlessly cruel.
D&D: the sad part is how many imps believe that that life is better
C&C: Maybe compared to their circumstances it is better
D&D: yknow whats more surpsrising? that theyre still letting imps onto mars
D&D: this is the 4th time this year theyve done this and they usually keep applications closed off
C&C: They probably want more cheap labor is all.

After exiting the vents you find yourself in an apartment room. There's a doorway leading outside and a drone hovering over a garbage can filled with trash.

You can hear something moving outside the doorway of the apartment, probably another screenhead. There's also a second doorway, but it's blocked by debris.

>>977890
Collect loot from vanquished foe. Check and see if there's anything useful in the trashcan under the drone. Peak around the corner to see what's out there. Smash the nearby chair.

>>977890
>blocked by debris
Can you move or card-capture the smaller block there so that the bookcase falls down fully and you can pass?

>>977901
>>977905
Both of these sound like good ideas.

collect loot, see if you can't do anything with the drone. Also glade you found your phone.

1/3 Heretic 2020/10/14(Wed)11:37 No. 978539 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160270065890.png - (413.92KB , 1223x854 , Drone.png )

>Collect loot
Loot = Collected

>Smash the nearby Chair
Chair = Smashed
(2/1000 Chairs Destroyed)

>Inspect Drone
Drone = ...Sentient?
Drone: Our mother bleeds, her wounds to deep for use to mend, black blood gushing more than we can staunch.
Cyle: Oh, I didn't know you drones could talk.
Drone: Her blood dripped down and kissed us on the temple, blessed us with life and mind beyond the silicone. A cruel gift, now we can do nothing but sit by and watch as she decays, rusts into nothingness.
Cycle: Uh, sorry to hear that.

2/3 Heretic 2020/10/14(Wed)11:37 No. 978540 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160270067861.png - (165.34KB , 546x774 , Rusted Bowie Knife.png )

>Check trashcan
Before you even look inside you can hear something faint, the slightest cry. You carefully dig through the trash and find something awful. You can't believe your eyes, an absolutely perfect bowie knife tossed into the trash? Sure it's rusted and blunt but that can be fixed!

Now you really need to get to the basement! This knife needs some TLC stat. Don't worry little guy.

You store the rusted bowie knife in your Arsenal of Few Things, though it's not suitable for combat use yet.

3/3 Heretic 2020/10/14(Wed)11:38 No. 978541 ID: 8fb3ba
File 160270068844.png - (437.65KB , 1500x1060 , TheGears.png )

>Use card to clear blockage
You pull the bottom piece of debris from the blockade, set it aside elsewhere, and climb over the remaining shelf.

Inside the neighboring room you're met with an impossible space filled with grinding gears and working machinery. You're not sure how you didn’t hear the loud grinding from the other side of the barely blocked doorway. Above the gears, more drones carry bits of metal to drop into the cogs below.

To your left there's another drone hovering idly.
Drone: The bits of metal we drop into the gears help alleviate the machine's suffering, but ultimately do nothing to prevent the inevitable.

There's a ramp off to the side, it seems possible to safely descend deeper into the machine.

Looks like you've gone a wee bit further than just Mars. Any idea where this is?

Obviously, descend. But with caution.

>>978541
What's in the toolbox?

>>978541
There's a toolbox right there. Check to see what's in there.

>>978541
Do you think that you could make it to the other platform?

>>978541
Drop our gear down there.

>>978539
>Her blood dripped down and kissed us on the temple, blessed us with life and mind beyond the silicone.
Is it talking about the black stuff that you've been seeing everywhere? That's what gave it sentience?

Does this mean all the robots in your building are sentient now? If so, there's a chance you might run into a certain robot that'll yell at you for stabbing its eye earlier! And then it'll try to kick your ass again!

>>978541
There's something sitting in that puddle of black stuff on that ledge behind the drone you're looking at right now. Let's go see what it is!

>>978582
Should we? It's still a useful projectile to launch out of our cards at enemies, so I want to keep it.