Comic 1173 - Finish asking questions
Posted on 6th Feb 2019, 11:38 PM
in Like a Bullet from Behind
Average Rating: 5 (1 votes) /
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Author Notes:
He takes a breath. "So uh... s'it safe to trap Nil in tha red?"
There's ... a slightly longer pause than usual from the tradesmen. It almost feels like hesitance, or they may be discussing the answer.
They do finally reply, though. "That question, as it is being asked, cannot be answered. Beings that Nil has taken a hold of can be placed in the red--this may be dangerous to the red, depending on his level of influence. Taking Arvin Carpenter in his current state, for example, is not recommended. Nil, as an entity in his entirety, cannot be contained by physical means. The nature of his existence precludes it. ...This is why we cannot properly answer your question."
In explaining why they can't answer the question, they... sort of answered your real question. Also, dangerous to the red? You're curious, but you suspect Caius may be getting tired. You give him one last question.
"There any way we can get that messagin' ritual?"
The tradesmen answer much more promptly this time. "We can answer this question in exchange for your favorite T-shirt."
"...But I can just buy another one," Caius states, trying hard not to phrase it as a question.
"That is correct," respond the tradesmen.
"Alright," Caius says. "Yeah, deal."
The tradesmen give you an address. The answer is simple, to the point... and immediately, back in the lab, Caius's body buckles. The candle lights go out, and he leans into the nearby counter to keep himself standing.
"Caius!," Dr. Finch gasps. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," Caius huffs, though he does sound short of breath. "Jus'... kinda hit me all at once, is all."
You tell everyone how the ritual went, and what information you gained.
"We should really acquire more of those phones," Liz suggests. "It's a little ridiculous how far they can reach."
"Agreed," Fuse replies. "We gotta buy more regular phones for that, though."
"I'm now... quite curious about our leech-like friend," Dr. Finch states. He eyes one of the lab's cabinets, leading you to believe that's where its container was stashed for the time being. "I'm still hesitant to to just... unleash it, though."
"We can at least finish trading up the watches," Fuse points out. "Maybe that won't give us anything... uh... organic."
"Right," Dr. Finch concurs. He steps over to Caius, helping to prop him up and guide him toward the barracks area. "We can proceed with that and perhaps experiment with our anti-psychic creature in a moment."
You update Michelle and Pierce, as well.
"Huh," Michelle begins. "Wonder what's at the address? Anyway, if the tradesmen say it's cool and Caius is out for a while, I guess I can try out the disc ritual."
Pierce gives a small nod. "The instructions are fairly concise--I believe I could produce the symbols required. ...I may need a pen, or some such."
Yay for the contact ritual being a gimmie - we’ll have to give it a go at some point.
Let’s send Liz and Michelle shopping (for phones, more music, etc), I think it might be good to get a bit of pro-Mine propaganda sent her way via Michelle, and we can test the embiggening ritual with one or both of them once they’re back. I think it might be enlightening for Liz to be in a big super-tuned nonThale-ified healthy body for a little bit - and if we test it on our ostensibly weakest (Liz) and strongest (Michelle) members, we’ll get a sense of where the ritual’s limits are.
I agree with Michelle, Liz, and Pierce assessing the ritual and trying it. They should start in an open temperate location, but should also test in convenient extremes (snow, heat, limited spaces)
Fuse and Caius have a shopping trip. Phones enough for two possibly three more ear phones, and an attempt at replacing a shirt. (I suspect Finch may have more luck on the shirt though)
Finch may or may not join, however I think Finch and Mine may want to mess with the leach.
I’ve been thinking (ya, bad idea, I know), but I think that after testing the ritual for efficacy and safety, we should try convincing our home guard folks to get the inscriptions, so if the bunker gets attacked while the heavy hitters are out, they won’t be helpless back at home (and could possibly do serious damage against an unprepared foe). I think also that in that vein, we should discuss with Big Red his options as far as home defense goes - we already know that his “speaking in the red” caused Fuse some discomfort when they met - is “shouting in the red” something he could do to incapacitate an assault team?
also what IS that behind Caius? just to his left (our right), on the edge of the table near MomRed, beside the dead spider, on the side near the door are those eyes? WHAT IS THAT
From above: "I'm now... quite curious about our leech-like friend," Dr. Finch states. He eyes one of the lab's cabinets, leading you to believe that's where its container was stashed for the time being.
Meanwhile, after we've updated them on the latest information and plans, Fuse, Finch and Liz can quickly trade up the watches, and if they're feeling bold, try and figure out how the leech works.
Finally, once Michelle is ready, let's gather everyone up for a demonstration. I'm O.K. with either Illworth or the mountain top as the test site, but my vote officially is for the mountain top. Hopefully it's a mild day.
I am concerned, and want to squint at it and an instruction manual...
We traded up phones and got a better phone. We traded up disks without anything particular results in mind and got something more potent in the same thematic vein.
If us 'wanting' a better tin foil hat gave us one, I'd vote for it attaching to the user and blocking out interference.
Maybe pierce could look at the ritual and provide insight.
Since incident f is an overcharged experiment Odin, perhaps there is a lower power version (like 10-100% of a normal Odin run) that would work.
Oh, also, since Faraday is no longer in cloud form, do we think that their bunker is now safe for electronic devices, such as Fuse's leg?