Complete Side Story Vintergard (S4) Hope in Danger After

[Raid Boss]

Hope in Danger After
Post Battle - Evening

Guidelines

• This megathread is taking place immediately after the end of Hope in Danger!
• This is no posting order
• This is no word count limit
• If an interaction requires a lot of back and forth, split off to a side thread
• If you would like to interact with a specific NPC, please ping @Raid Boss and @Ashifili*
• This thread will close in a few days.
• Comms thread.

After the battle, the majority of the fighting force began to vacate the battlefield, taking the wounded into the camp for medical attention. Within the camp is where you will find your allies and NPCs to interact with.

Both Astor and Levi have been taken to the Resting Quarters where they are being tended to. Norn Jormund is currently eating over at the food area.

Everyone who had died may post here, provided that they travel back to camp after respawning at a temple some 5-miles away.

Below are the sub-locations in the camp and their description. Pick one of the locations below to start your scene.

Whether or not your character is in camp, comms operators and public announcements should let them know that there will be a big meeting happening in a couple of days where important information about magia and the ongoing story will be shared publically. This is essentially an in-character way to catch everyone up on the story so far. You don't have to participate in this thread to join this meeting.

Locations of Interest

Food

Food is currently being served at the blue tent with a pillar of smoke billowing from its chimney. In front of said tent are wooden benches and tables for people to eat and socialize. Food is currently being distributed for free to celebrate Camp Hope's victory over the Camp Crusher, which wouldn't have been possible with out the Travelers who have returned to the game.

This area is open to everyone.

General Supplies

General supplies can be found in an open area in front of a large square tent where a long queue of people was waiting to exchange their camp vouchers for one of the few items offered.

This area is currently closed.

Knowledge Exchange

A series of tents where you can exchange knowledge with one another. This area costs a voucher to enter and involves a bit of a wait as you search for the right person or workshop with the relevant topics to engage in.

This area is currently closed.

Personal Training

An open dirt-stamped field with the sound of combat in the background. You will find yourself motivated to train and hone your skill here as everyone is deeply engaged in their morning self-improvement regimen.

Medical tents are temporarily set up here to help patch the wounded.

Relaxation

A series of secluded tents at the edge of the camp with sound barriers surrounding it full of tents set up for relaxing. Some tents also offer free massages. Meanwhile, the camp personnel have opened various makeshift hot springs to a selected few.

This area is open to everyone.

Resting Quarters

This is where camp personnel and visitors go to rest. The infirmary tents are also found here. There are security personnel who are routinely patrolling this area to make sure people keep their volume down so others can rest.

This area is open to everyone.

Spoiler: Posting Template

[hp=00]00[/hp]

Post here

▣ [b]Location:[/b] Location

 

[Ash Vargold]

Location: Food Tents

Ash was exhausted. Staying awake for over a day was a rough enough feat - doing so when worrying about conspiracies and fighting off a horde or robots? It was a wonder he was still on his feet. If he'd been in his right mind, he would have checked in with the others, to make sure they were okay. He would have logged out, gotten some actual sleep.

Unfortunately, there wasn't much room in his head for that kind of reasonable thinking. Not when it felt like he was thinking through a brain stuffed with cotton wool.

Hunger had taken the forefront of his thoughts - he'd been running on empty for hours now. The distant scent of food had drawn him to the food tents, and he'd done little more than point blearily at the things that smelled best before absconding to an unoccupied table.

It was a wonder he bothered with the utensils, but they didn't stop him from inhaling the food at an almost dangerous speed.

 

[Lady N]

160 / 160

Resting Quarters

"...Sigh."

The quiet magitecher crashed onto the bed and closed her eyes. Chelsea was unsure what to make of this experience. After the Kurungaar Mother she had simply been tired and annoyed. The Slimodile had left her uncertain if she should continue and more aware of her stubbornly denied loneliness.

Now, she was curious but also actually starting to fear.
Fear just how far this nightmare could go.
Just what was going on here?

That @Moonsong woman. Something about her during that battle reminded the Nexon of another person. That man @Quinn, fused like that, his humanity gone while his mind faded. The virtual connection was not so virtual was it?

The effects on the mind of the player. This was natural and it was bothering Chelsea more than maybe it should have. Somewhere deep down. She wondered if her father might be indirectly responsible for this.

Never.

This game was crueler than a nuclear weapon. Cybernetic warfare? This is more like... mixed with bio warfare as well? She wondered what happened to that player in the real world now.

Pulling out a small piece of a magia she had collected from the scrap heap of destroyed magias. Chelsea's dark eyes stared at it. It had wires like any other machine. Using her UI she continued to summon bits and pieces around the bed. Most of it was useless. She would end up spending hours looking through these but it was something she had to do herself. This was not something she wanted a paid player to do.

Not this time.
This was her wheelhouse.

Her arm hurt but there was no indication of a wound. Just her bracelet.

That song earlier, the suit reacted to it.
I wonder what that means.

 

[Erick Stryker]

What did you see?​

What did you feel?

What did you think?​

What did you...

hear?
​

A thousand, thousand suns had gone out.

The frigid, austere grip of a machine menace closed around an non-terminating number of his compatriots. Their faces overlapped the oiled and polished metal. Where once they drew breath, now combustion cycles operated engines deep within a familiar, yet unfamiliar chassis. They wore masks of humanity, but they were anything but. In the heat of battle, Erick could not afford a deeper glance into the infinite realities. The sudden, brilliant flash of light and a moment of heat unlike any he had ever felt bought him an eternity to peer at fate denied.

His friends, left for dead on a killing field, clambered to their feet; only the feet were perfect, by design. Without flaw, without a the shakiness that came after a powerful blow. Blood that spewed from her open mouth ran black as he took a step closer to see her unsmiling face, and @Crimson Ruby looked back at him with unfeeling eyes. There was nothing inside anymore.

What is a soul?

What does it mean to be alive?​

At least she's not suffering-
​

No.

In the fragmented timeline that split into a billion shards the instant he rejected it, Erick did not see Ruby. He saw her face, like looking at a portrait, but nothing of the life that made her his friend. It was like the work of an artist who prided themselves in perfection, but not in every labored stroke of the brush. Everything that should have been transferred to the canvas had been eschewed. Facsimile.

What did you see?

He understood now, in the wake of the first calamity. A calamity that had happened, perhaps, once- but would never again. Not in any way that truly mattered.

Right?

The voices that questioned him were familiar, because they were his own. A thousand, thousand Erick Strykers who now looked at him, filled with hope, filled with sadness, filled with elation, filled with dread. There was a version of him that succumbed to the assimilation, and another, broken, battered, dead and yet alive.

"I saw..." his voice cracked; but was it his voice? It came from all of them at once, in his mind. "What did I see...?"

You saw death.
​

"...it was the only choice," he whispered quietly.

You could have left them to their fate.
​

"I saw their fate," he responded, more firmly. "That was not a kindness."

You did not have to be kind.

"That is what separates us," he realized at last. "You are all me, and yet, none of you are me."

Yet you are the only one who remains.​

The one that matters.​

And you are dead.

Jimmy recalled the day, at Prom, where two of his friends had drunk themselves into a stupor. With the chance to save them, he had elected to do nothing. He had allowed them their foolishness, and they had gone on to collide with a massive truck. Seeing the fates of all these people, Players or otherwise, who could be saved at the cost of a single life?

A life he could yet live again?

No.

Erick had seen countless horrible, terrible futures. He had seen them, summarily rejected them, and distilled the impossible hope far flung from all of them into a moment of possibility. He could die twice more after this single death. Some of them did not have that luxury.

Erick had seen death. Erick witnessed Hope's End. Now...

"I have lived," he told them all, "I have died," slowly, the blue-haired youth closed his eyes. "Now, I know."

When he opened his eyes, the inviting warmth and light of a Temple welcomed him back, some five miles from Camp Hope. He began to make his way back, slowly, acclimating to his body once more...

@Raid Boss @Ashifili*

 

[Ayna Nietzsche]

⋇⊶⊰✦⊱⊷⋇

160 / 160

Back from the dead.

Was this how it felt for @Kamala Graham when she died? Eh, at least now we're 1-1. Hehehe.

Warning

Ayna Nietzsche, you are dead. If you are not revived within the time limit, your body will reconstruct at the nearest sanctified location.

It felt like a distant memory, her first death. One moment, everything faded to black, and the next? She was groggily being woken up from a bed at some temple five miles away from Camp Hope. Ayna had thought there would be more to it, her death, more crying, more drama, an entire funeral like the one Kamala had at the Fields. Maybe that would have all still happened...if she hadn't been too excited to come back and reunite with her friends. Eh, death is boring.

In retrospect, she could have avoided it. She could have run back and joined @Chrys at the wall, firing those ballista together while Kamala looked over them and healed them like the guardian angel that she was. She wouldn't have gone for it, though. Kamala had one death in her life's journal, the most of their group, and she couldn't let that slide by her. Ayna was the reckless one. She should have died first. She should have had the only death in their group. Yet there was no malice felt against her friend, only a jealousy that was now satiated. Maybe now there would be no further deaths in the family.

Arriving back at camp much later in the evening, with those five miles unable to keep the dynamic aerolancer from her friends, she squinted around the place, looking for her buddies while at the same time curious at the change of atmosphere in the area. Well, for the most part only the aesthetics, the accouterments, of the camp. Ayna wasn't that perceptive to actually sniff out the actual change in atmosphere when it came to the people still hanging out here. Huh. Guess we won.

Unable to immediately find her friends, she started to type a message to them through her UI. Should've done this in the first place. Yet she didn't. Because she was too excited to see them that she didn't think of anything else. Typical Ayna. Letting her excitement win over her brains. Huifang wouldn't have been the same. She heaved a delighted sigh at that thought.

Mail

Hey there! Where you guys at? You at the infirmary or something? I'm outside. Guards won't let me in just because I screamed your names. Almost had to fight them, but this tiny dude remembered me, I think? Still not allowed in any tent, though. Let's party!

@Chrys @Kamala Graham

Then some sort of brief headache, a ringing in her ears, but she just shook her head and chased it off. Whatever it was, it would probably come back. Much more intense. A scar. A gift from hell's gates, from the afterlife. But Ayna thought nothing of those things, intentionally ignored them even. She was here for her friends. The rest was noise.

---

▣ Location: Resting Quarters

 

[Aloe]

01 / 100

<Emotionally Protected>
<Drunk>
<Microcelebrity>

"AND THAT'S WHEN I WAS LIKE---- 'NO WAY PUNK! THIS IS *OUR* TERRAWORLD' ---- AND SWATTED THAT PESKY MISSILE RIGHT OFF THE WALL! I WAS LIKE ~SHOOP WHOOP~ VIKYUN~ ALOE BEAAAAM~! THE TANK DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HIT IT~! AND WHY?! BECAUSE~! I'M THE FRIGGEN GODDESS OF VICTORY~ OHOHOHOHOHOHOHO~!"

Aloe was currently standing one top of one in the tables in the Food area of the camp, looking like hell had just hit her, because it had. And yet, her spirits could not have been higher after mistakenly believing she had singlehandedly saved the day. Her detective work was impeccable, who could blame her? Rising from the ashes of a boomclear bomb, Aloe dusted the wallbestos from her clothes and person only to find one wrecked tank. Clearly this was her doing. She was The Goddess of Victory after all. There was a crowd around her raising their glasses, far too drunk to understand anything she was saying. And now, they were joining her in a cheer as Aloe raised her own mug with a *hic* and extended her other hand's two fingers in a peace sign.

"V~V~VICTORY~! V~V~VICTORY~! YEAAAAAAH"

Aloe was having the time of her life, and would be, until the next morning.

"YOU KNOW WHAT~!? I FRIGGEN LOVE YOU GUYS, I'M MAKING EVERYONE SOME ALOE VICTORY DAY PANCAKES! WOOOOOOO~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"



▣ Location: Cafeteria (on top of a table)

 

[Hanno Futaba]

At the end of the day, it seemed like every big combat, every fight in this world would come with the death of players, or Starcalled. No matter how much Hanno tried to raise the protections, no matter how much he tried to heal, he had already figured out that since he stepped into the game. He can't save everyone. Especially those that are also willing to sacrifice themselves, like @Erick Stryker or @Moonsong.

He could, however, at least hope they would come back, that they still had a chance and that next time they wouldn't need to take this choice anymore.

Taking a deep breath, he snatched a drink from the cafeteria, side-glancing at @Aloe and chuckling faintly. "Yeah, Goddess of Victory! We did it, and pancakes would taste just as sweet as our victory!" He played along, going through this way too many times to know that he shouldn't cry over spilled milk.

He waved as he stepped away to take a path toward the food tents outside. He would come back later for the pancakes for sure, but he couldn't slip the opportunity.

His eyes darted around, wishing to find some familiar face, like @Lady N, who was around the battle. Was she still fine? He didn't really see her after all that. Or @Bradwynne, another friend that fought bravely until the end, someone he knew he could trust for sure. He didn't find them right away, but he did find @Ash Vargold, eating with as much 'passion' as the faerin usually did.

"Try to not choke, buddy." Hanno tapped his shoulder, taking a sip of his drink as he took a seat aside.

"Good to know you are still here though. That thing was more dangerous than I expected."

▣ Location: Food Tents

 

[Lune]

.


.

Alarms blared, ringing in the small cockpit. Yet Moonsong stayed, she hadn't the intention and the power to get out. Bringing the head of the person she loved so much closer, she embraced it. "Sorry," The brunette apologized to the lifeless Quinn, caressing his pale face. "I wasn't there last time. But now, I'll stay here with you." The roaring alarm of self-destruction was getting louder, almost deafening. "... I'll be here. Go to sleep."

A pillar of light shone in front of her, in the middle of the cockpit. It was like an open window into the many realms of possibilities; the ones where they lost, destroyed, assimilated—the doomed timelines.

Who is it?

What are you trying to do?

A certain blue-haired man was visible in every reflection of the cracked glass; @Erick Stryker, the converger of the timelines, working to put the best possible outcome. Even she wouldn't call this a victory, especially after killing her own beloved with her own hands.

"At least I protected them all. Well, most of them." With the cost of her own heart. The songstress found a new appreciation for Corvella, the fallen protector. She chuckled. "Heh, now I understand you a little bit more."

A massive explosion ensued, lighting the entire battlefield with yellow and orange. There was nothing left after the smoke finally subsided, except a crater.

---

She didn't know how much time has passed. Five minutes? An hour? She awakened in temple distances from Vintergard. So this is what dying in-game feels like, huh? Two more strikes, and she'll be permanently out. The thought of it was scary, but somehow the woman didn't feel anything. The lingering pain in her chest numbed all the other things.

The temple itself was actually quite far from Camp Hope IV. Makes sense, because that place is a recipe for disaster from the start. Moonsong believed that this invasion has just started, and what they prevented was nothing more than just a test run. Making her way to the camp, she breezed past everyone else and went to the comms operator. "Moonsong, Adventurers Guild, Platinum rank," She showed the operator her platinum tag. "Please relay this message to King Astor Balthas." The adventurer passed him a piece of paper sealed inside an envelope, noting to the man that the information is confidential and for the King's eyes only.

---

Moonsong here, the one who climbed the DEAD.Naught and got inside the cockpit. Details are not important, but there was something you should be aware of; the invasion might not be over yet. There was a transmission from an individual identifying themselves as Handler-1, requesting the machine, identified as Processor-3 to upload the battle footage before commanding it to self-destruct.

The handler did not close the connection yet. They broadcasted to All Processors that the data have been analyzed and will be distributed.

If I was hearing things correctly, then the level of the catastrophe they unleashed just now was only to gather data. And there are more of that thing ready, already learning and improving as we rest now. The invasion was just starting, and they are more coordinated than we are.

Be wise with this information.

---

This piece of intel shouldn't be public yet, as it might cause unnecessary chaos. Let the heroes celebrate for now, and for the King to think about what's best for his subjects.

Those things. Those machinery. Whatever they are.

They all will die.

@Raid Boss @Ashifili*

 

[MAI]

37 / 160

Taunting‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Protected‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Aura Protect‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Vulnerable
Empowered‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Inspired‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Hasted‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Other

Celebrations of a victory. It was only natural that many would partake in the jubilant feelings of conquering a powerful enemy that almost denied them the glory. However, MAI didn't join them. She didn't have anyone to celebrate with, after all. @Kyra Vashtana seemed to have vanished somewhere as the Magia failed to find her anywhere after the battle was over. The same went for Meriam, the faerin girl... the one that wrenched herself from the protective embrace and headed straight into the blinding blast.

MAI could only push away the thought that the fae was dead. She didn't want to think about it. She didn't want to think about death. It wasn't real, it didn't happen, it was simply impossible. Not to mention, she had work to do. As people started clearing up, she scoured the blast site... the golden tank might have initiated self-destruction, but that didn't mean nothing remained after it. And sure enough, after a while, she managed to find a piece of the machine that was still intact enough that it could be connected to.

At this point, it was hard to tell what part of the tank it even was. However, it was quite likely to be part of the cockpit, given the hardware that was still intact inside. There was a single idea behind this. The explosion that consumed MAI, was caused by a pylon that started transferring information to the boss. It was actively learning. If she could extract that ability... perhaps she could elevate herself as well? The two cords extending from her lower back connected to the hardware as it was modified by MAI's own magitech to ensure at least basic compatibility.

Notice

WARNING

[LEARNING] software designed for a different model detected, proceeding to download might result in unintended interactions in the unit's behavior and memory modules. Proceed?

"Proceed."

Trait downloaded
《 Function Over Form (Learning) 》​

▣ Location: Small distance behind Relaxation tents

 

[Ashifili*]

"Norn, check with the scouts. I want a count of every Starcalled that was UI-locked during the fight. Send messages out for the Pride to keep an eye out on the Temples as well."

Indistinct responses could be heard, but Levi, the red-headed devil, was already striding out of the command tent. What remained of his cape billowed still in the wind that blew in from the shattered gates. The DEAD.naught's final explosion had toppled the walls, but the walls themselves had done their work: nothing in the camp had been destroyed. Hope was safe, and now, Hope could rebuild.

That didn't mean he could rest, however. There were supplies to be rechecked, infirmaries to be checked on, patrols to set up, materials to be gathered. A new wall had to be built, and preparations for the next step, now that they had a proper foothold in Vintergard, had to be arranged. He furrowed his brow, but repressed the sigh. It was no time to be losing himself in melancholy and exhaustion, not when everyone else was either partying or recuperating.

And he was no figurehead king either. Couldn't just sit back and let things happen around him.

A cry from the Food Tents caught his ear, and the Lord-Commander turned, eyes widening slightly at the sight of @Aloe totally inebriated and standing on a table. The pink-haired girl had made an impression upon her arrival on the walls, but judging by her physical state, she wasn't just all bark either. There were some guts to her, and Levi grinned, striding over.

"Keep some of the side for me as well, miss," he said. "You stayed on the walls till the end, right? I'm looking for a Faerin who should've been helping out there as well. Meriam. Happen to know where she went?"

Location: Food Tents

 

[Nai]

Ashes clung to her hair, and one of her horns had broken off. Her suit was so tattered that she had removed it, and soot turned the white blouse underneath a dark gray. That attack by the DEAD.naught had taken her by surprise, and it was only due to the good fortune of the Overseer's plating that Nai had not perished in that instant.

Through the merriment of Camp Hope, through the steadfast repair and the binding of wounds, the Beastkin trudged along, limping quietly amidst the noise. Nothing but muted sensations made their way into her mind, half her vision sealed shut by the blood and pus that had crusted over the eyelid. It was a terrific fight, and a horrific one. But she made it out in one piece. And as for the one that she chose to invest in this time…

Amber eye fell upon a distant magia. Hair blue like a gas spill. Eyes red like an engine. Fingers broken down into digits, with no skin to cover them up. @Ronja Bubblyfoot, alive, perfectly fine, no matter the tempest of machinery that had descended upon them both, like lightning tossed from an intoxicated god.

Nai confirmed the continued existence of the one she protected and nodded once to herself.

Self-affirmation.

And without much effort, the hustle and bustle of the camp swallowed her whole, leaving not a trace of the taciturn beastwoman.

 

[Erick Stryker]

He hobbled his way into the Food Tent, still lightheaded from the experience of rebirth. The lengthy walk back to Camp Hope had given him ample time to consider the implications of his death and the circumstances that surrounded it. In a single moment without hesitation, he had assured that a multitude of Travelers did not die in the blast that followed the DEAD.naught's demise.

Certainly, there were people who would not be happy with that outcome. Ruby came to mind chief among them, the poor Beastwoman already beside herself from the loss of comrades to the final death. For Erick, however, there was no other option. To cut his losses and bug out in that critical moment? To leave all those nearby to their fates?

Another version of him, certainly, but that was not who he was.

For the very first time in his life, the player had an answer to the question that plagued him throughout his youth. Who am I?

Whereas before the operation, Camp Hope had been very selective about their food and resources, in the wake of the battle they seemed to be more lenient about who could get into the mess. Erick managed to obtain entry and found his way toward food and drinks, relieved to see ale no matter how much like piss it tasted. He needed a drink now more than ever.

"Don't mind if I do," he muttered more to himself than anyone else as he poured one out from the tap and guzzled down a hearty amount from his flagon.

@Ashifili* @Raid Boss

 

[Aloe]

“Oh haaay~ Super cool sword guy~! Hm ~? Oh! You mean my little sister right?! Hehe~ I was wondering where she was~ but I figured she was just resting~ I mean~ I shielded her from the blast right~? But she was still chanting something behind me… so maybe she was feeling a little tired... What was it she said again...?”

""N-no, I'll protect you this time.""

Aloe spoke the words aloud as she remembered them.

"Isn't she just the sweetest? Hehe~ and little @MAI too~ but that was no place for them to be standing so I'm glad they left it all to me, because I'm the big sister~! Yay~!"

Aloe nodded, her hands on her hips and chest puffed out.

"When you find her hurry up and bring her back here so I can feed her some yummy pancakes! You too! Kay~? GRIDDLE'S ON GANNNNG!"

Rolling up her sleeves, Aloe returned to the crowd as she prepared to start cooking; for she was the goddess of victory, and tonight was a victory worth celebrating. The cheers of victory sounded with all the mighty weight of the great dragons Terrasphere was not known for. This was the raw energy of life itself. Welcoming sun and tomorrow.

@Ashifili*

 

[Tetsunosuke]

As Tetsunosuke watched over the death throes of the DEAD.naught from a safe distance, he felt that he had witnessed the end of an era. That dreadful machine, which had once crushed every hope of the former camps, had now been laid here, in pieces, on its fourth attempt. But Tetsunosuke felt that it was actually the start of a large-scale war between man and machine. As he then peered at the poor defenses of the camp, he knew that a large revolution against the current paradigm should be needed. If they were to fight against those chunks of metal that could also do magic, they would need to modernize their approach. And he was willing to help them do that.

He then scoured the battlefield for the remains of the robots that were used in the assault of Camp Hope. Although it was regrettable that the one responsible for the eerie voice had disappeared as fast as it had appeared, whatever remained here should be still relevant for further studies. He knew that he could not do everything related to its analysis alone, and so, after documenting every part here that could be retrieved, he planned on sending them to the MIT for further study. He would need the data from the Institute to further proceed with his hypotheses and future inventions, especially when it comes to the realm of microelectronics where he knew close to nothing about. Whatever he could not stuff within his inventory, he then stored inside his mech, and whatever he could not store within his mech he then stashed within the makeshift trolley that he had made. That being done, he then hauled them inside the camp, with he himself moved towards the food tents.

He knew that he should not need much food or drink to keep himself running, but he could not help himself to eat or drink as frequently as a typical human would. Fortunately he had equipped himself with a sense of taste so that his meals won't become dull, but maybe these taste buds were a little bit overtuned.

He was also carrying a large cooler with all sorts of drinks in glass bottles, alcoholic or not, on the way to the food tents, for each and every person here to have more variety in their drinks. As he then laid the cooler near the table, he then took out some bottles of soda and distributed it all around the camp, then got a good amount of meat skewers as he then sat himself down at a table. With either a skewer of meat or a bottle of blueberry soda at one hand, and a pen at the other hand, he then wrote all of his suggestions for the future encounter on a sheet of paper, detailing on what should be done as the current war progressed between man and machine.

It was good to celebrate a victory, but the war was not over yet, as long as that ship still remained in Vintergard.

@Raid Boss @Ashifili* (for the sake of distributing drinks)

 

[Ashifili*]

"Little sister?" A bemused smile crested Levi's features, imagining Meriam as anyone's little sister.

He kept that smile, maintained that smile, as Aloe continued to speak, describing with an excited jubilance Meriam's last moments. 'I'll protect you this time', was it? So she too, made the choice to value this world over the 'real' world. For Sven? For strangers? For herself?

They had talked, sometimes. Talked in cold nights, when the shadows grew dark and the stars sparkled bright, embers glowing a magenta as they shared a pot of tea. Stories about families, about friends. What it was like to be trapped in a game. What it was like to now play the game. The life he left behind, the life she struggled to find. Friends lost, friends found.

His fingers twitched, for cigarettes that Terrasphere didn't have.

No need to bring down the mood. For strangers connected to Terrasphere by internet alone, there would be no difference, except for the weight of a soul.

"Yeah," the red-headed devil nodded. "I'll bring her back. Keep a plate warm for the both of us, @Aloe."

Briskly, too briskly, Levi turned and strode off, each step faster than the last, until he was of the mind to just break off into a dash. MIT had done their research before, had collected data from the testimonies of those locked forever into this game. After the third death, one no longer respawned in temples. Upon the third death, one spawned in a random area, but within a specific distance of their death. They had brought up maps of Vintergard specifically for this.

They had always been prepared for this.

And if someone else had just arrived from a Temple five miles away?

"@Erick Stryker, was it?" One who had supported him. One who had died. But it wasn't the third death, so what did it matter? "Thanks for your magic back at the start of the fight. Couldn't have ended the Overseer without your dogged pursuit too." A breath in. "Don't suppose you saw a white-haired Faerin with a doll-like face on your way back from the Temple, would you?"

 

[Chrys]

《⋯《 ⋯ ❖ ⋯ 》⋯》

270 / 270

Goddamn lines without senior citizen priority lanes smh.

Once the damned machine was down, obliterated, Chrys immediately rushed to the defense of @Kamala Graham. He was less interested in what else was going down around them, seemingly every adventurer or soldier had gone berserk and continued smashing their metallic invader beyond the point of repair, and more invested in making sure another one of them did not go down. @Ayna Nietzsche had sacrificed herself for the cause, and her soul would haunt him if he didn't ensure Kamala's survival. He held her tight, shielding herself from everything else, as he led her further inside the walls of Camp Hope. Chrys caught glimpses of the wounded being taken to the Resting Quarters, including Levi, and decided to follow them.

On their way, he asked the medics if he was going to be all right, though he assumed he would be. Someone had to shout shit at everyone during the publicly announced meeting, more of a debriefing if anything. Chrys had his fair share of encounters with the magia, but he never expected anything this strange to involve them. Well, what do I know? I'm just a side character, thank god. As soon as he could, he took his own rest, allowing Kamala to do whatever the hell she wanted to. She was a grown girl and the battle was done: His watch was over. For now, anyway.

He was on his way back from the General Supplies area when he received the letter from his newly resurrected friend. Chrys was disappointed by the long-ass queues he didn't really have time to waste on, so without even trying, he dragged himself back. He was about to reply to the letter when he noticed Ayna standing not too far from where he was headed, though something seemed to be bothering her. Curious and a little confused, Chrys just walked toward her.

"Ayna? You all right? Kamala's inside, trying to help others as best as she can. Come, let me take you to her."

As soon as he tried to lead her inside, the two guards standing watch scowled, but Chrys reassured them with a patient smile that he has it under control. Ayna was a firecracker, yes, but she learns and adapts. With him and Kamala around, she wouldn't make the same mistake again. Besides, she was probably just too excited, having come back from the dead and all. He wasn't as curious as her when it came to that feature. His Player's doing a No-Death Nuzlocke Challenge this time around.

---

▣ Location: Resting Quarters

 

[Erick Stryker]

He straightened a bit when the leader of the defense effort addressed him by name. Erick had never been much for the limelight, or being remembered by the people who were considered "worth noting." He never played sports or took a leading role. Praise like the kind Levi gave him was slightly unnerving.

Nonetheless, he managed to smile despite his fidgeting fingers.

"Thanks for saying so," he gave a slight bow. In reality, he didnt feel his overall contribution was worth mentioning. Then again, the man immediately asked another question. Now it makes sense, Erick realized. Even if Levi had noticed it, the praise was a formality. Intended largely to improve morale, but also to lead into the actual conversation.

His interest wasn't in Erick, but what Erick had seen. He felt a wave of relief wash over him as he considered the long walk back. "No," he shook his head as he confirmed what the man doubtless already expected.

"Didn't see anyone who matched that description, I'm afraid." For being the bearer of bad news, he bowed his head slightly. "Sorry."

@Ashifili*

 

[Ash Vargold]

Ash, to his credit, managed to not choke when Hanno surprised him. He did, however, stare a little too long at him before he seemed to comprehend who he was looking at. "Oh, Hanno. Hi."

He looked down at his plate as if seeing it for the first time, then shook his head. "Just barely. I haven't slept since I got here. We've been running around chasing spies and conspiracies since yesterday morning. Never seen a group of people more eager to split the party-"

Right, the party. He hadn't checked in with the others since after the DEAD.naught had exploded. It was probably good to check in.

Ash opened the party list. There had been five people in the list when they started.

Now it was down to three.

"...I think Kyra and Meriam went down in that fight," he said, expression dark. He hadn't done much with the party interface before now, but he doubted either of them would have left without saying something. "They aren't in the party anymore."

He closed the menu and covered his face with a groan. "Fuck. I don't think Kyra's taken any deaths, but if Meriam was playing as recklessly as Svan was.. I really hope they're okay. I don't think I've got the energy to hunt them down..."

---

▣ Location: Resting Quarters

@Hanno Futaba @Raid Boss @Ashifili*

 

[Kamala Graham]

‧͙⁺˚･❀･˚⁺͙‧

145 / 145

Tired but not defeated!

As soon as Kamala was able, she tried her best to help others. @Chrys had tried to shelter her from the worst the DEAD.naught could offer, and even though @Ayna Nietzsche perished, Kamala couldn't help but think she sacrificed herself for the good of all, especially her. She would not take that sacrifice for granted. Her closest friend had died for everyone, and as best as she could, Kamala intended to ensure no one else died after her. It was a near-impossible task, as she wasn't a goddess who could ensure everyone's safety and she could only do so much, but Kamala tried, and tried was all she could do.

Moving from an infirmary tent to the next within the Resting Quarters, Kamala continued the good work, helping the healers by supporting them and even using her magic to do their job on others in their presence, so that they wouldn't be spread thin. She was just about to finish healing another soldier when she heard a familiar voice screaming her name but it was followed by a sudden, abrupt silence. As if whoever had screamed was immediately shut down. Kamala heaved a sigh, though a knowing smile followed soon after. She could only hope Chrys would return for their quick reunion. Fortunately for her, her hope came true, and Chrys walked inside the same tent where she was cleaning up, Ayna not too far behind.

"AYNA!"

Kamala whisper-squealed before rushing to her resurrected friend with a tight hug. Once she got all that out of the way, she grabbed her by the arm and started walking her out of the tent, knowing Chrys would follow suit. It would have been too much for the resting soldier to contend with her excitement, not to mention Ayna's, so she felt it best to bring all three of them elsewhere, far from the quiet and peace the brave warriors of this world required while they rested. There was only one other place they could go to and it was the blue tent with all the food. All the noise they wanted to make would be welcomed there.

"I'm so glad you're back and okay! Have you eaten? We should put some food in you! Chrys, follow!"

---

▣ Location: Resting Quarters > Food

 

[Ashifili*]

"No need to apologize," Levi replied, his gaze turning in the direction of the sundered gate, of the gray horizon muddled with craters and embers. South, West, and East were both safe. But North...

Even though the Magia had been thwarted, their numbers had hardly decreased as a result of this. Against a host of 30 Starcalled, they had simply leveraged a siege engine and a handful of troops. No Regulator firing lines, nor swarms of Sentries, and the Overseer that came to sweep the battlefield hadn't even detonated at the very end. Vintergard then, was still plagued.

Vintergard then, was still a grave.

"Rest well then, @Erick Stryker. It won't be long before the campaign continues, and I do hope to see you amongst the lineup once more." He paused. This was uncharacteristic of him. A death, after all, was still a death. The red-headed devil tapped his fist against the younger man's chest. "But strive to safeguard your own life first. A life lost to save another is a net loss."

Levi nodded once more, and then marched on northwards, against the echoes of the storm and the stench of the burnt. There will be time for revelry, one day.

But until that distant day came, the Lord-Commander could naught but advance onwards, lest in repose he found his demise.