Complete Comms Main Story The Frontline: Forward

[Asch]

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Official comms for: (S4 Finale P.2) The Frontline: Forward!

Spoiler: Face-to-face

[speech=link-to-avatar] Message starts here, not the next line!
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Spoiler: Glitchy UI-chat

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Chat away here
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[Ueno Mizuki]

You're asking for help, but you're being rather vague about what you really want. We can't afford to just let Szofrit keep doing her thing without fighting back, so what did you have in mind?

@Rael

 

[Rael]

I... I hadn't expected anyone to hear me, it seems my energy was consumed rather quickly.

(She smiles kindly.)

No, of course not... But tell me this: How many of those Magia we are killing, are players? Which of them are AI-generated by the game, do you know?

...Have you ever heard of something called 'Dissonance'?

@Ueno Mizuki

 

[Cleo Looker]

I really hope you aren't advocating for the idea that we all just stand around and allow the Magia to kill people. Whatever this thing that's doing this is, unless you know what we can possibly do about it, there's nothing that can be done.

@Rael

 

[Imoogi]

"Wait, you want us to just... not kill robots? That's stupid. You're stupid. That's what they're there for. If the players didn't want to do PvP they shouldn't have picked the enemy team.

Guys, I think she might be brainwashed too. Maybe we should do something about that!"

@Rael

 

[Rael]

Alright, then answer me this.

You kill all the Magia, you kill Szofrit.

Congratulations - you won!

What do you do about the weapon she deploys that only she knows the nature of, and how to operate it?

What do you do when it is no longer the Magia attacking you, but the sickness that has taken them hostage, and you no longer have anyone at the front to blame but your own friends attacking you?

Will you be alright taking countless' players lives?

This "sickness" is "corrupting" the game's data.

@Imoogi @Cleo Looker @Ueno Mizuki

 

[Ueno Mizuki]

(One of her ears twitched.) I've got good hearing. Besides, you were trying hard to get people to listen, were you not?

(She folded her arms as the elven female talked about the magia, her expression a frown until Dissonance was mentioned, at which point her ears perked up and her eyebrows rose for a moment before her eyes narrowed.)

I was part of the expedition that killed Titanius, so I know a little bit about Dissonance. And this doesn't answer my question.

(She nodded towards Cleo when her girlfriend chimed into the conversation.)

Whatever the reason for why Szofrit and the magia are acting out, Cleo's right that we can't just leave things as they are. Ideally we'd be able to resolve things without fighting, but unless we find an alternative you can't expect people to go along with doing nothing.

(Imoogi's words earned her a puzzled look from Mizuki.)

Let's not get too hasty. Besides, she's not a magia, how would she get brainwashed?

(Rael's claim that the game data itself was getting corrupted was much more interesting, although Mizuki still shook her head in response to the elf's words.)

Pointing out the problems we're facing doesn't change anything unless you have a plan. It seems you know quite a lot about what's going on, but stop beating around the bush and tell us what you want us to do. Doing nothing is not an option, since the problems won't just go away if we decide to sit on our hands. What would you do to solve these problems, and what do you know what makes you think it'll work?

@Rael @Cleo Looker @Imoogi

 

[Rael]

I am not asking you to stop fighting.

It takes a novice to raise a sword, but it takes an expert swordsman to know just where to strike to disable their enemy without killing them, yes?

(Rael, having expected the sour turn of the conversation from those who'd hear her message, barely seemed to react to the more violent suggestions of one of them, disregarding her sentiment as being motivated by her surroundings. After all, there was still a debt to pay to the snake girl who had helped her do exactly what Rael would ask them to do again.)

Why..? Well...

Because it already has.

(She would turn to look at Imoogi, kindness still on her face even at the outburst.)

You saw it, too. You were there, you helped me do it. I... Ah, sorry, I never caught your name.

(Her eyes would fall on Mizuki once more.)

We subdue her like we did my friend, a Magia. Something went wrong on the Dragonship, something that made them do all this. Eve... We almost got through to her, but we couldn't, we didn't have enough time.

So we subdue her, by force if necessary, but we do not kill her. She is the key to understanding what is happening and keeping us safe in the future, because all of the Magia are infected by this, too. We try to make her snap out of it, like we did our friends.

Like we did others, look at the Magia fighting with us, not all of them have succumbed!

The chances are lower than low, but they are not zero.

I, at least, think it's worth it if we are to avoid more player deaths.

@Cleo Looker @Ueno Mizuki @Imoogi

 

[Cleo Looker]

You're operating under the assumption that everybody is an expert swordsman, though. There'll be a lot of people out there that won't be able to simply subdue an opponent that is coming after them with lethal intent.

That said, an outcome with the least amount of fatalities would be preferable, even if your idea is very naive. And would put whoever is attempting this in a lot, and I mean a LOT, of danger.

(She places her hand on Mizuki's shoulder and squeezes.)

So your plan is to subdue who exactly? This Eve person you mentioned? And then just appeal to their good nature or something?

@Rael @Ueno Mizuki

 

[Ueno Mizuki]

(She drummed her fingers against her arm as Rael explained her position. She didn't know enough about the situation surrounding the magia to discredit the elf's words, although that didn't mean everything the lady said was definitely correct.)

...I do hope you understand the risks of your suggestion.

(She turned her head to look at Cleo as the lancer grabbed her shoulder, raising her own hand to rest it on Cleo's before turning her gaze back towards Rael.)

Cleo is correct on both accounts. Subduing without killing takes an expert precisely because it's difficult, and more than that, this plan not only has low odds of succeeding but puts everyone at significant risk.

To the best of my knowledge Szofrit managed to assume control of many magia at the same time over a large distance without having made any prior contact with them, while at the same time being in control of a military force that can stalemate Astorea's forces. Capturing her alive will be a nearly impossible task in itself, and even if we succeed we have to find a way to deal with the possibility that at any moment every magia can become hostile in an attempt to free her.

Given that you're trying to minimise bloodshed I doubt you're suggesting we wipe out every magia other than Szofrit. This is about more than just the odds of success, but also the costs of trying.

(She looked into the distance, towards the Dragonhead where she was quite sure Szofrit could be found.)

Given what happened with the Calculator I'm willing to believe that Szofrit is also a victim in all of this, but we would still need some way to heal her. Curing someone of Dissonance is difficult at the best of times.

@Rael @Cleo Looker

 

[Asher]

Asher steps up to Rael's side and allows his attention to bounce between Mizuki and Cleo.

So, we pair up. The strong take care of the weak. I...can't access the UI anymore, but I'm sure it's possible to get together with the other Starcalled and talk. Figure out who has the best chance of Subduing this, uh, Sisafiss and who would need the most protection. That'd...probably the newer players if they come to this...mess. Perhaps people who have died already as well.

He glances back at Rael and then back once more to the other two women.

It's worth a shot at the very least? Maybe even asking if the, uh, MIT guild can make something to help? They...assisted during the fever outbreak, maybe they can help here?

He shrugs his shoulder, hating how...wishy washy he sounds.

There are options. We just have to...find them.

[ @Rael @Cleo Looker @Ueno Mizuki ]

 

[Rael]

(Rael would rub her temples at the questions and hopelessness of the conversation, but Asher's voice would quickly return a semblance of tranquility to her features, thankful for the presence of a trusted ally.)

I understand your concerns and do not disregard them. It would be foolish of me to ask you to cast your concerns, your grudges, and your hearts aside.

Do understand I would not be asking this if I didn't believe this possible outcome far worthier than anything we could ever get by winning this war by force.

We subdue Szofrit. Magic, equipment, anything to keep her restrained so she can't act. We try to expel this sickness out from her, make her regain her senses, make her remember the function she was made for.

She does have a good nature. She has a function meant to serve us Starcalled. All of the Magia do, but that is why they fight. This disease has taken hold of those desires and warped them into something beyond recognition. It is just what they did to my friend.

(It is at this turn that The Seamstress would return to Rael's side, standing behind her, and besides Asher, with the same blank expression.)

There is a lot I have experienced on this subject. She has even tried to kill me in the past, and yet here I am, talking in her defense. A lot of people AND entities have said things about this to me, and I'm not the only one who has witnessed these messages, this "revelation"...

Would it be easier for you to witness my memories, see the warnings as they have been given to me and many others, the warnings of a dark future that would come if we kept pushing on?

(She holds out a hand for any, or all four of you, to take.)

@Ueno Mizuki @Cleo Looker @Imoogi @Asher

 

[Imoogi]

Imoogi glances between all the people deep in conversation. She's increasingly twitchy as it goes on...

Uuuuuuugh, you all talk way too much.

If there's something bigger, we kill it too. If people die, we just bring them back. That's how video games work. You're all taking this way too seriously.

@Rael @Ueno Mizuki @Cleo Looker @Asher

 

[Ueno Mizuki]

(Her attention briefly shifted to Asher when he joined the conversation, remembering him from the ice skating occasion.)

Keeping an eye on all the magia so they can't be used as pawns by Szofrit before we succeed in curing her would be an immense undertaking. We'd need to get support from all four the big factions. As for options... I won't deny that, but you have to weigh your chances of finding the right option against the costs of doing so.

(Rael's next words struck a nerve, the luna wolf narrowing her eyes further.)

While I would like to tear her a new one for what she did to my friend, my arguments are not based on personal grudges. If you can provide a workable plan I'm on board, but my concerns are practical ones.

(Taking a deep breath she sighed, relaxing a little.)

We don't have the luxury of time: we have to decide what to do fast, and if we go with your plan we have to persuade as many people to join us as possible.

As it stands the only thing we've got is that if Szofrit dies we might end up facing even bigger problems down the line, and our best shot of dealing with her without killing her is to beat her into a coma and try to cure her before she wakes up.

(She looked at the offered hand, considering the offer. Eventually she slowly lifted her free hand and placed it on Rael's.)

Maybe there's a clue in your memories. If nothing else, I'd like to know what kind of dark future you're talking about.

(Imoogi's comment earned her another look, this time a decidedly unimpressed one.)

Think about it like this then: if this elf is right we might unlock special content that would otherwise be lost.

@Rael @Asher @Imoogi

 

[Cleo Looker]

(Turning to Asher, she shook her head.)

I don't think splitting off into pairs will work. We need every strong person we can get our hands on, if the plan really is to subdue this rogue Magia woman or whatever. In such a scenario, I don't think we can afford to have a bunch of strong people standing around guarding everybody weaker than themselves.

(She turned to Rael and shrugged, before reaching out to grab the elf woman's hand alongside Mizuki.)

Just show us whatever it is that has you convinced this is a good idea. I really don't need to hear you self agrandize about how good and forgiving of a person you are. Everything here is just business anyway, as far as I'm concerned. My number one priority will always be maintaining the majority of lives.

@Rael @Asher @Ueno Mizuki @Imoogi

 

[Rael]

(It would seem the issue of relaying the information does not faze her, even as she turns to each of you in turn.)

(To Mizuki): You are fast, and know how to be impactful.

(To Imoogi): You are efficient and your creations are intricate, complex.

Asher is likable, he knows how to make people listen to him.

(To Cleo): You are precise, accurate.

And I can keep trying to relay my message to others. I know others who will listen, others who know of this. Few in number, greater still in possibility.

(As her offer is taken, she turns to The Seamstress and beckons her closer. Her paintbrush materializes in her hand, flipping through pages of her grimoire with countless passages written on it, myriad pictures drawn on its pages. She touches the paintbrush to a memory written, and The Seamstress changes to the image of a mercenary. Dirty, bloodied, her clothes ragged, and the expression on her face desperate.)

"...I keep telling him that the Dragonship people are here to help us. In fact, I heard everything from this big, onion-shaped Dragonship person when my team and I went into Vintergard to retrieve an item for our patron. All of the people in my party didn't believe the Magia and punched a hole through its chest, so I.."

"It may crazy to believe, but that was the first time I've ever met a Dragonship person that wasn't aggressive. That's proof enough that it's true. God…dammit…"

"...I have to get help to figure out what is wrong with the Dragonship. They are not supposed to butcher us."

"I have to stop anymore bloodshed between our side and the Dragonship, they have done nothing wrong, I think they are being misled. I can't be here. I need to get out and help. I fear for what is about to happen, with the conflict escalating. Help me. I need to get out. Please. Help. You have to. It's only right. It's just. I can't be imprisoned for my efforts to prevent more bloodshed."

(The Seamstress' image would go still once more as Rael searched for another memory, touching her paintbrush again to another picture. This time, she would change into a... Red-headed magia, the look in her eyes unnatural. Mechanical whirring filled the space between, and her smile... Oh, it made a chill go down your spine. The very image of her spelled out the word "wrong".)

"Sa-viors?"

(Another change, this time to a Magia you would all recognize as the one who sang the Hymn of Destruction, Hope's Requiem, upon Camp Hope, her corruption growing more apparent the longer she speaks besides Rael.)

"...communicate...communicate...connect...connect...cannot establish...mother...mothers? God... gods? Life.. lives? First birth...final birth... Abnormal... quantity of... directives...and origins detected...why am I engaged in...? I am... I am... where are my weapons... where is my... enemy...

...Are...you...god? ...I-I-I am-am-am EVE... ...incorrect...incorrect data... You...are incorrect...incorrect...gamma...delta...sigma....my ID is irregular.

All of my...mothers... BE QUIET...STOP interfering with my-my-my... I am for GOD... Operator...what has happened to bring this to be... I will... I will.... mother.-mother-mother... we work...work for saviors...saviors... yhgdueydhdeudiwejsj.....

I-I-I cannot, I must fulfill my directive or the people of this world will-will-will...You... why are you like me-me-me... you are... Starcalled-Starcalled-Starcalled?"

(The last figure to appear would be a heavily corrupted Trinity, the data that composed her being fracturing more and more by the second. Trinity, a figure known by the heavy majority of all others who had entered the game, especially because of her ability to take over real-life electronics... Looked a mixture of happy at the Starcalled's victory, and sad. Trinity's condition, too, would worsen with the passage of time.)

"Starcalled... favored players, by destroying that gate you have prevented that much more Dissonance from being brought into Arcia's surface through the code assembly for new Magia's. The Origin Matrix was the birthplace of those Magia. The children of Szofrit and the vessel's crew. It was also, um well... I don't think you need to have that much information so soon.

he key child you need is within the Golden Egg. That key is the path to your first true mega victory. Szofrit will not rest until you are all assimilated into her race... kay? I can see that there are storylines where maybe, with your great gamer skills, you'll be able to restore her previous functions. That would be super amazing to see in your game experience! Or, may have to end her story instead. It has become very dark, she is soon to be purposeless. How to explain this to you players... it's very bad, kay?

I... am very happy... even like this... to be able... to meet you... and talk... about... the most important questline of all... to win the game... the main story is... don't let... yourselves... fall...into bad questlines.... not every mistake... can be altered....with the system.,.

Szofrit... ano... mistak... It's... if you can....restore thin... to ...how ...be...an...wi...Then... you can....avoi... beco... just... character... in.... her... sto...."

(The images finished, and then there was silence as Rael wobbled backwards, almost collapsing.)

@Ueno Mizuki @Imoogi @Cleo Looker @Asher

 

[Ayna Nietzsche]

(Ayna, who had been eavesdropping since the beginning of this conversation, finally rose to her feet, leaving the unmoving machine remains on the ground.)

"I was under Szofrit's control before my...friends rescued me. She talked about a Red Keychild being born...something about completing a Red Key and trying to access the...Creator's Database. And two other ships. I never understood that last part, but whatever the Red Key and the Red Keychild are, keeping them from her could stop her plot. Unless she already has them."

(She watched the images intently, though she refrained from adding any unnecessary opinions to the already confusing revelation.)

"Not sure if the Golden Egg...child is the same as the Red Keychild, but if you're going after Szofrit, I want in. I know others who may be inclined to help. They helped bring me back, even though they could've killed me, and I have no doubt they'll try to do the same with...Szofrit."

@Rael @Ueno Mizuki @Imoogi @Cleo Looker

 

[Raid Boss]

(When Kiryuu heard @Rael's words in his head, he immediately stopped as the memories of their mighty snowball tower came to mind. Since he turned back late, he only caught the tail end of the vision Rael was showing the people there. He listened and watch all the way to the end, when he noticed Rael starting to sway and caught her.)

"I don't really get all the Red Egg, Gold Egg, or Keychild business, but if mercy is the way you want to go about it, I'm in!" Kiryuu boasted big words as he slammed his fist on his chest, giving Rael his heartful support.

"But first, we need to get a lot of people on board with this, since a lot of people's been justifiably hurt by Szofrit and there's no better person to blame than the one who started it all. Even more importantly, we need to stop her leylines from completing," he sighed as he turned his head toward the leylines and lifted the front of his hat a little.

"We've got a lot of work to do before we can even think about sparing the lady. I'm going to intercept if people try to deliver the killing blow," he nodded.

 

[Imoogi]

Imoogi stiffens as Ayna approaches. She even hisses a little, though she clamps down on that real quick.

"Pretty brave just walking up to us, robot.

There's undeniable venom in how she says robot. At the same time, she retreats behind the others, because she knows a strong player when she sees one.

"So some robots and a crazy person say that maybe we should not kill the crazy robot queen, and maybe that'll make something good happen."

"Sounds like a lot of maybes for something that'll kill us all if we don't kill it first."

Imoogi shakes her head. There's a distinct look of frustrated disgust on her face.

"You just sound like you're gonna waste a bunch of people's time because you wanna get some pacifist win out of it."

 

[Asher]

Asher turns a scathing look toward Imoogi.

If you aren't going to offer help toward what Rael wants to do, why are you here? The question comes out harsher than he intended, but he doesn't have the state of mind to gentle his tone. We get it; kill, loot, gain experience. No one is asking you to stay or help. He juts his head toward the downed, unconscious, and dead. Go. Loot their corpses. Better than you stay around here, being underfoot.

And then he turns his attention to Kiryuu with a nod.

I'll do the same. Interception is a route we can take. I still think if we just...tell or show the rest of the Starcalled what's going on, what Rael knows, they might be more ready to help. Or maybe they have information that we--that Rael--doesn't.

[ @Raid Boss @Imoogi @Rael ]