Toxoglossa 2015/07/07(Tue)19:59 No. 653845 ID: 557bac
File 143632437838.png - (169.87KB , 596x600 , 4-76.png )

You dash forward,grabbing Nate's hand you try to pull him out of the pile. There's a tearing noise and it comes off at the wrist. You stare at it for a moment: inside is a Papier-mâché like substance, something in there wriggles around and you drop it with a small yelp.

Toxoglossa 2015/07/07(Tue)19:59 No. 653846 ID: 557bac
File 143632438848.png - (218.75KB , 600x600 , 4-77.png )

Holding your palms out, you try pacifying the bees with some of the honey still dripping from them. Some of their antennae perk up at the scent, but Nate is still trapped at the bottom of the bee-pile. With them calmed down, you try shifting some of them off of him. The insects are lighter than you thought they'd be, but latch onto the ground with a surprising amount of strength, resisting your attempts to move them.

Just as you are struggling with them, a massive shadow engulfs you. A blur bowls you aside and scatters the bees with a powerful swipe.

>>653846
Holy shit, it's your Custodian! I wonder if it will have the same attitude as Nate.

Thank it for the assist, then see if you can help Nate. Hose him down with a conjured water hose maybe? Seltzer bottle? Then offer him his hand back with "Looked like you needed a hand there".

OOH YEAAAAH! Pound it, beetle-bro.

Wait, where'd Nate go?!

>>653847
Is that your custodian? Nate said it was a beetle, but that's... quite a bit more than just a beetle.

>>653860
It's not just a beetle. It's a Hercules Beetle!

>>653846
ITS YOUR STAAAAANDDDD

>>653846
Fuck off bees it's dancing time!
Better hope he can tell you're not one of them.

>>653846
lucha beetle slamdown!

Toxoglossa 2015/07/12(Sun)11:47 No. 655395 ID: 557bac
File 143672684818.png - (95.50KB , 600x301 , 4-78.png )

The massive hulk stops in front of you as the dazed bees pick themselves up like a pack of clumsy puppies. You stare up at the huge, armored face; this must be your beetle, just like Nate said.

Finally free from the bee pile, Nate groans and rolls over on the ground covered in sweat. He reaches for you weakly with the papery stump of his missing hand.
>"D-Diego?"

Toxoglossa 2015/07/12(Sun)11:47 No. 655396 ID: 557bac
File 143672685299.png - (176.52KB , 600x469 , 4-79.png )

You put on a friendly smile and lean over him.
"Its me, Nate. Are you okay?"

As soon as he sees you, Nate's lips peel back in a horrified scream.

>>655396
You might wanna doff your disguise now that you have beetle protection.

Also hand him his hand back. Ask what's with that, is he some kind of living hive?

>>655396
"Why are you screaming?"
Back away just to be safe?

>>655404
Nonononono, get closer.

Nothing can go wrong.

You're a crocodile, you git! What did you expect? Exchange your bee guise for a beetle-themed one.

>>655396
give him back his hand

Don't bee afraid, Nate! I may be buzzling to understand, but I'm here too now.

What the-? Oh, crap, did something sneak up behind you?! Spin around and check. If it's clear back there then something else has terrified Nate. Ask him what it is while you quickly retrieve his hand and give it back to him. Then ask him what happened after he entered Zeke's mind and let him know it's been almost an hour outside since he did. Did he see Zeke at all in here?

You better get on the move. You don't know if or how soon the bees will react to this. Nate looks to be in no state to move on his own, so would be okay being carried by your beetle? Heck, he might be light enough for you to carry, leaving your free to fight if things get hairy.

Toxoglossa 2015/07/15(Wed)17:33 No. 656157 ID: 557bac
File 143700683562.png - (93.36KB , 318x600 , 4-80.png )

Nate shudders, his face twisted up in disgust like a gargoyle.
>"Diego, what the hell happened?"

Your eyes are drawn down your hands and the honey still clinging the palms.
"I tasted their honey, and then I ended up here, I think... What happened to you? Are you alright?"

Nate shakes his head as if something were rattling loose inside.
>"I wanted to check out that rope: the wasps mentioned that we need a tether and I thought it might work. As soon as I touched down, though, they dogpiled me."
He looks at his arm.
>"Where's my hand?"

You give it back to him, getting honey on it in the process.
"Sorry about that..."

Nate turns it this way and that, unsure of what to do with it. He sighs.
>"Its okay. Not the first time."

Toxoglossa 2015/07/15(Wed)17:34 No. 656158 ID: 557bac
File 143700684407.png - (205.55KB , 600x494 , 4-81.png )

If I may interject...

The beetle's voice is the whisper of something incredible massive trying to be polite, like a professional wrestler in a library.

We are still surrounded.

The bees, having shaken off the attack, move in to surround you. They eye your group suspiciously, and the beetle postures threateningly.

Pass Nate a glob of honey. If it worked for you it should work for him.

>>656159
He wasn't so comfortable with bugs usually, but it may be the best choice.

looks like it's time for us to buzz off.

>>656158
Well they kindof need that rope, don't they? It's holding the tree in place. I don't think we should take it. What about the streamers between the rocks? Those are similar, so they might work, and they're not needed here for the honey collection operation.

Then again, considering the honey is a drug, maybe it would be better if the bees stopped producing it. Might not be healthy for Zeke. Choices, choices... We need more information.

Ask where Zeke is.
...waaaaait a minute. Was that first bee Zeke? If eating the honey makes you more bee-like... if Zeke's parallel ate a lot of it then he might have fully turned into one. Do these bees look different from that first bee?

Questions can be asked while you are flying away with your papier mache pal and burly beetle bodyguard. To the skies!

>>656158
Beetleman, why would Nate's protectors just hugpile him to death? Would you hugpile me or perform a beetle equivalent action under a circumstance, Beetle?

We must FLY beetle. Nate, what's Zeke's bugtype? We need to find it as quick as possible.

>>656172
Those were Zeke's protectors. Bees, not wasps. They were trying to kill/drive out Nate by overheating him.

Nate made the mistake of trying to look at a possible tether before asking Zeke if it was ok to do so.

Need to find Zeke before riling up his guardians.

>>656174
Yeah, but Nate didn't make the distinction at first because he called them his wasps, and I don't think Diego knows, so I'm trying to make Nate go "Oh FUCK me I forgot, I'm such an idiot" by asking a reasonable question for Diego to ask.

I just want it to be clear to the both of them that Nate needs to summon his actual wasps now, since I think he thought his own were attacking him so he didn't really fight and was mostly confused.

>>656178
He didn't call the bees his wasps though?

I thought he did. He wasps aren't nearby, so I thought he thought his wasps were attacking him and confused the bees for wasps. Weird reading comprehension on my part I guess.

Still, Diego should probably ask the question to Nate because I don't think Diego would have fully differentiated the wasp and bees since he doesn't know Zeke's bug. Maybe he figured it out, I don't know. So many types of bees, how can a man tell the difference without a guide at hand?

>>656179
" the wasps mentioned that we need a tether and I thought it might work. As soon as I touched down, though, they dogpiled me." Grammatically, the use of they is questionable. We have no indication at the moment that the wasps are even present.

>>656177
Custodians can be VERY protective of their hives. Remember how the beetle reacted at first to Nate even touching Diego?

At the moment we should probably focus on getting away from this perilous location. I doubt Nate eating the honey would be a good idea until we figure more things out. As for running away... ask if we can carry him. It's an honest question if we even can with his fragile body, but we've already seen that just holding onto him is a bad idea so cradling him might be the only option.

lucha beetle > rude wasps

do we fight the bees? where the fuck is zeke? are the bees zeke's? what's with the honey? why did it take you guys so long?

Toxoglossa 2015/07/18(Sat)14:21 No. 656749 ID: 557bac
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You hold your oozing palms out for him,
"Quick, Nate, try the honey!"

He waivers.
>"Are you sure?"

"They think you're an intruder, I think the honey will make you one of them."

You can tell the thought nauseates him, but Nate takes a blob of the strange honey in his trembling fingers and tastes it. He shudders and rubs his eyes, swaying slightly.

Toxoglossa 2015/07/18(Sat)14:22 No. 656750 ID: 557bac
File 143725454323.png - (108.67KB , 600x498 , 4-83.png )

Your attention is drawn back to the bees which stop their advance and antennae waving, start to lose interest. Your massive guardian puts its fists down and rests on its knuckles.

Nate's eyes glitter like jewels.
>"Diego? Oh, man.. this is weird..."

"You get used to it. But yeah, its pretty weird. So about this tether? It looks like it might be kind of important... It seems to be holding up the tree. Are you sure you want to take it?"


>"I don't know yet. That's why I wanted to check out what's in that hive...."

>>656750
Well we should be able to do that now. Let's go see if we can just walk in.

I'd bee careful about heading towards the queen bee when you're both under the influence (of honey). One of you should stay back, preferably Diego since he has no idea what he would be looking for and has a big beefy beetle to back him up.

try to stick that hand back on.

>>656750
Well, we gotta find Zeke.

Toxoglossa 2015/07/20(Mon)18:33 No. 657226 ID: 557bac
File 143744238515.png - (142.20KB , 700x344 , 4-84.png )

Your group cautiously approaches the entrance to the hive. You can feel yourself being eyed by wary guards, but no one moves to stop you.
The inside of the hive is a vast and strange landscape of organic and geometric shapes. You follow the crimson tethers between the honeycombs until you find yourself in the center of the structure.

Ready fists to punch a bee.

Must have been one helluva party last night, huh Zeke?

>>657226
Alright, cutting down those rope-things should free Zeke, although we need to actually catch him, both of which Diego's custodian can do, but then we'd be swarmed by giant wasps.

Diego, fly up to the ropes and try to chew through them, while Nate holds on to Zeke, hopefully the wasps wont care.

>>657262
Those are bees, not wasps. Wasps are Nate's custodian.

>Zeke is tied up at the center
Ummm if this is supposed to represent a person's state of mind, then perhaps holding his mind together is taxing him?

>>657268
Or he's tethered to something he can't let go of, and it keeps him trapped. Like Diego was anchored to his past and what he left behind.

Might be something Zeke regrets, or addiction (he could be fighting an addiction to something worse than weed, and seeing the Doc about it).

Hmm. Taking the symbolism further... he's here in the middle of the beehive, tied to a rock which a tree is using for support. The tree is the source of the drug-honey...

I dunno, this feels backwards. If the tree represents his drug habit, that he uses to cope with something, shouldn't it be supporting him, rather than the other way around? Why is he tied to the anchor for the tether?
Or am I looking at this wrong? Do the tethers not support the tree's weight, and they just symbolize a link? The link being his drug habit? Or is the link the REASON for the drug habit?

Whatever the case, I'm sure the right thing to do is to free Zeke and get permission to take the tether, but we have to remember that getting close to him will provoke the bee guardians. We should talk to him about what this all means before doubling down and interfering. Diego would want to summon his beetle when the fighting is about to stat, too.

Attempt communication before attempting rescue.

>>657269
Why would it need to be something worse than weed?

Don't need to approach, just shout from a distance to ask whether he's willing to donate his drug habit to save the world. Then, assuming a yes, Nate grabs the tether somewhere in the middle and 'ports to his space-dream.

>>657484
As humorous as this might be in action, I think Nate might have a weight and/or volume limit to how much he can port over. Largest object so far has been the huge memory brick from Diego's mind, but that was in free fall when it happened.

>>657273
>>657379
Yeah. Talk it out without getting too close and find out what is really going on. If the tree really is symbolism for an addictive substance, than cutting him away from it cold turkey would be a bad idea. Theoretically you would need to replace it with something... but I'm a little afraid of the implications of with what?

>>657513
What do you mean? What could Nate or Diego possibly use to replace Zeke's addiction?

our dick

>>657513
He would need to deal with withdrawal, yeah, but aren't there places he can go for that? We'd just be removing the mental compulsion.

>>657513
Hmm. Maybe it's, like - the tree needs supporting. Assuming the rope is drugs I'm not saying it's drugs...but it's drugs (or even if it's something else he's using to cope), maybe it's working for the purpose of supporting the tree (coping with something, maybe), but also keeping him bound.

Also, while the honey seems kinda drug-like, it may not actually bee. Zeke's mind-bugs are bees, which both make and require honey. The honey may very well be an inherently integral part of the functioning of his mind.

In any case, I'd like to add my weight to the party advocating that we collect enough information before tampering with someone's mind (though it could be argued that such an amount of information is unreachable).

So I guess...
EXAMINE ROPE
EXAMINE ZEKE
TALK TO ZEKE

>>657537
That is an interesting look at things. If we assume that the honey is an essential part of Zeke's mind, then maybe the tree is something essential too... like love/joy/happiness. The drugs might then be one of the things holding him together, even if it's in an superficial potentially self destructive way.

>>657518
...more or less. Getting involved in an increasingly larger love dodecahedron is something we should probably avoid, and the first step to doing that is avoiding love triangles no matter how harmless (or appealing) it might appear to be. It's part of what Doctor Cooper warned Nate concerning responsibility.

Toxoglossa 2015/07/22(Wed)17:15 No. 657578 ID: 557bac
File 143761052075.png - (181.65KB , 600x600 , 4-85.png )

Zeke lies with his back strapped to the stone. The rope snakes its way around his body, pinning his arms to his sides and coiling between his legs and there's even a loop that runs through his mouth. Suddenly his body shudders and his back arches violently. His limbs spasm wildly against their bonds and veins stand out in his neck as his jaw clamps down on the rope.

Toxoglossa 2015/07/22(Wed)17:15 No. 657579 ID: 557bac
File 143761053172.png - (167.83KB , 457x600 , 4-86.png )

A bee scurries up to Zeke's heaving body and gently takes his head between its pincers. It carefully lifts his head and dribbles a dollop of honey between his straining teeth. After a moment the episode subsides, leaving him coughing and groaning.

...was that a seizure? It looks like the tether is keeping him from hurting himself. Yeah we're not going to fuck with this situation. It could be very dangerous for him if he was not tended to by the bees.

Ask him if he can talk.

Ok I am guessing that he started self medicating because of depression or something and now his bees are doing there best to help him stay drugged up.

Every time his unconscious mind starts thinking about his problems it hurts him so the bees drug him because they think its the best way to stop the pain. Of course its only dealing with the symptoms and not the root of the issue.

I would very slowly try and climb up there and get his mouth loose. Worst case you might have to fight off his bees and kidnap him so you can get to the root of his issues.

Seizure or self medication... yeah. Hard to judge here.

As a voice of reason, though, I will say that whatever you do should not involve wrecking the place. That is what the enemy has been doing; we can be better than that.

With that said... we need more information and I don't think we'll get it from Zeke in his current condition. Nate mentioned talking to his wasps before... maybe you should talk to your beetle about what's going on?

Whoa, being bound up during body spasms is harmful. The involuntary movements pull the muscles harder than voluntary movements would against restraints, potentially dislocating, if not breaking the limbs.

Probably better to leave him somewhere with more space, like one of the honeycomb chambers they use for larva. Locate a series of empty, gooey, or webby combs and it should be safe to place him within an empty one there, as that's a Brood segment.

>>657630
Well, at the very least, he's been like that a while, so it's probably not doing significantly more damage. Still best not to mess with anything just yet. See if you can talk to Zeke, the bees, the beetle, or the wasps (if they're around). Might be hard to talk to Zeke with that cord in his mouth - see if he's conscious first.

>>652691
>>656750
>>657578
Are those... prayer flags hanging from the ropes?

The way Zeke's being bound to that stone reminds me of Shinto marking of a sacred space or object with rope. That the bees here have a defense like the Apis cerana japonica seems to correlate to this theory

Oh the term is Shimenawa for the ropes and Yorishiro for objects such as the tree and stone. Disturbing them without proper rites is thought to cause grave misfortune. I think we should tread very carefully here.

In any case, we need to understand the context of why Zeke's mentalscape takes this form. Ask Nate if he has any ideas during his interaction with Zeke.

(also anybody think having Dr. Cooper along these trips would actually help? Or at least this one specifically? )

>>657752
I think having an actual psychologist along on psychic mindscape adventures would probably help, yes.

It seems our ferret friend is the victim of an addictive mentality.

Toxoglossa 2015/07/24(Fri)19:51 No. 657895 ID: 557bac
File 143779269997.png - (114.04KB , 538x600 , 4-87.png )

Nate
>"What do we do? Is he okay?"

Diego
"I don't know, was that a seizure? I'm worried that taking him down will dislodge the tree: with no tree, there's no honey, and it looks like the honey stops the attacks. Does he have epilepsy or something?"

Nate shrugs.
>"If he does, he's never mentioned anything about it."

You hiss at Zeke in a stage whisper, and he stirs.
"Psst! Zeke! You okay?"

Zeke grumbles and raises his head vaguely in your direction. The bees thrum a warning at you with their wings but stay put. Your mouth twists up in a frustrated scowl.
"I think we'll just end up doing more harm than good if we yank him out of there. I think we should probably hold off until we get more info."

Nate sighs and nods.
>"So what now? Should we keep looking around in here? Or should we back out?"

Keep looking around a bit. You might find something that will give you a hint.

Consider do either one of you two play music or sing? Music might be a better way to communicate. That and you're surrounded by bees.

And hey music has been reported to help ease some conditions.

>>657895
The bees don't want you interacting with Zeke in any way. Obey the warning. Just explore for now.

It's a metaphor, just like with your dreams. In your dreams, the heavy block represented memories, or past experiences that you couldn't let go of - by physically altering that dream, Nate helped you past that, somehow. This must be the same thing - The bindings could represent how Zeke's 'trapped' in a cycle of addiction, and the honey could represent the drugs themselves - but this is all just speculation on my part, of course.

The 'attacks' he's having probably is reminiscent of withdrawl, from a lack of the honey, as well.

sometimes people need drastic measures. internal intervention. he needs to learn he is in charge of the bees, not the other way around.

>>657900
>>657925
>>657926

Yet if he is under the grip of an addiction, perhaps it would be better to try and redirect his addiction?

Or wait... doesn't Zeke seem to be taking on the role of the queen bee in the hive? He's being taken care of and reliant entirely on his bee guardians.

>>657932
Well that's similar but it's not like he's breeding more bees.

...maybe we can find the queen? I expect it would be more talkative than all the drones we've met so far.

>>657933
Seconded. Finding the queen would be the smartest thing... just don't get too close.

Toxoglossa 2015/07/27(Mon)19:26 No. 658681 ID: 557bac
File 143805039957.png - (206.62KB , 600x494 , 4-88.png )

You decide to keep searching the hive, keeping your distance from the wary insects. You wander for what seems like hours through the maze of combs. You're unsure of what you are looking for but after a while you notice something unusual amid the waxy labyrinth. There's an open cell mostly filled with a thick white substance. A bee pushes past the pair of you and drools into the ooze.

Do your part for the hive! Spit into the mixture yourselves.

>>658686
Seconded, contribute.

Is it me, or are you becoming less bee-like?

Oh my god don't spit in it. That's royal jelly! All larvae are fed by it, but if it's not meant to be a queen they stop feeding the larvae after three days.

...I wonder what would happen if you ate some? Or if you fed some to Zeke? Trying to do the latter would likely aggro the bees. I guess Diego can experiment by eating a little.

>>658705
yeah, bee traits are wearing off. Could be interesting soon.

>>658706
If eating honey makes them into bees, will royal jelly make them into queens?

>>658726
Will it make them into drag queens?

>>658729
>>658726
So Zeke is the drone that's only tolerated until the beginning of winter?

Yeah, don't spit in it.
Mmmmaybe consider dipping a finger in for a small taste. Possibly a bad idea.
Other options: try to figure out where it comes from, and/or where it goes.

>>658768
This. Tracing it back to it's source would be the most sane option for figuring out what it really is. Certainly saner than trying to taste it. If it is Royal Jelly, feeding it to Zeke might be a solution to restoring order.

Oh, and yes. You do appear to be a lot less bee at the moment, Diego.

Looks like a Brood cell. Larva are placed in those for about three days to consume the royal jelly, which allows them to grow into a full fledged bee--Princess larva are kept in longer, as it takes more than three days to get the bee's ovaries working. ...Of course, this being a dream representation, I doubt it goes by the same rules, but it'd still be a good place to put Zeke if you did release him. Allow him to go from "Pacified into his role" to "Matured into his role." I'm sure that would help a lot more.

>>658873
This does sound logical.

Toxoglossa 2015/07/30(Thu)18:31 No. 659443 ID: 557bac
File 143830630305.png - (101.50KB , 600x470 , 4-89.png )

Diego
"Maybe we should put Zeke in this we can stop the seizures. I'm not sure what this goo will do to him, though. What do you think?"

>"Er, I don't want to worry you."
Nate says, looking pretty anxious himself.
>"But you're not a bee anymore..."

You realize that you're feeling much more lucid, and exposed. You also realize that a number of bees have taken note of your presence and don't look happy.

Sip some of the royal jelly. You know you want to.

>>659443
Got any honey left? Second dose would work.

>>659445
Agree, become the queens.

Guzzle down that white stuff.

Start a food fight!

If you have any honey left on your hands, snacking on some would be a good idea. Eating the royal jelly WOULD NOT be a good idea. I would suggest a cautious retreat over eating one of the most precious substances in the hive... particularly if we need it for Zeke.

Dear god, please, if you have more honey eat some.

Toxoglossa 2015/08/01(Sat)19:26 No. 659752 ID: 557bac
File 143848238644.png - (128.86KB , 600x491 , 4-90.png )

With the bees closing in, you grab a handful of royal jelly, close your eyes and cram it in your mouth. As you swallow, you feel it flowing through you and filling your body with bizarre tingles.

Nate looks frozen with shock.
>"Diego, are youuuuu allllriiighhht????"

Toxoglossa 2015/08/01(Sat)19:26 No. 659753 ID: 557bac
File 143848239355.png - (190.50KB , 374x600 , 4-91.png )

You feel as if the curtains have been pulled back from the world; laying bare the glittering celestial machinery underneath. You stare at Nate's moving mouth as he clearly is tries to communicate, but mere sound is lost in the strange sea of information you find yourself lost in.

As an engineer you think you can see the logic behind it all, but the language is ancient and indecipherable. The sky beyond is full of vast objects of immense importance, vital to the basic functions of the universe. Yet, each one is a fragile constellation of lights that could be scattered with a stray thought.

Toxoglossa 2015/08/01(Sat)19:26 No. 659754 ID: 557bac
File 143848240821.png - (110.48KB , 449x600 , 4-92.png )

And beyond that are things that are even stranger.

END OF CHAPTER 4

i wonder how much SAN loss Diego just took

>>659753
hey look, I think I see the blue prints for the anti star mover