Recursion of Fate[TEXT] (HIATUSl)

[Malrone]

To the lore page!
>Chester: Inspect all the things. All of them.

[mysticCharlatan]

>Chester: Inspect all the things.

Sure, you just need to open up the menu. Where'd you put your controller again?

Right, the Deck. So just open the menu and-









































Oh Styx.

You have suffered a -1 loss to Cleverness.

[trulyElse]

> Chester: Initiate clevertech 5: unspoken plan guarantee.
> Open the menu and retrieve controller, then open the menu.

[Malrone]

Alright, alright, gotta stay calm. Is there some other way to retrieve objects? You store them with but a thought... is it possible to do the opposite?

Or what if we drew the symbol on a surface?

[simon.clarkstone]

> Imagine the controller is there and press the button.
> Get to top of hill and see if you can get a clue where Liz is.
> Use Liz's controller.

[mysticCharlatan]

>Chester: Imagine the controller is there and press the button.

Okay, come on. You're smart enough to figure this out. Maybe if you just concentrate? You picture the controller in your hands, attempting to recall its exact dimensions and weight. You can pratically feel it there, feel the start button under your finger. Come on, underutilized imagination...

Nothing.

Oh for Olympus' sake, this is stupid! You can put cards into your Deck with a thought, why can't you take them out! It's like this game was just waiting for you to do this. You can hear the screams die down, replaced by a general giggle.

Great, now you're being mocked by fruit.

>Chester: Get to the top of the hill, see if you can find Liz.

No point in getting all worked up. Let's see if Liz is at the top of the hill. She should have a controller, maybe you can use hers.

You move onward and upward, wary of any further attacks. Your ascent is uneventful, however, and you reach the end of the treeline with little difficulty. After a small flat area with some low lying plant life, you can see a rough stone surface reaching up to the heavens.

Okay, that's a bit of a hyperbole, its maybe the height of a three, maybe four story building. There is a cave a little off to your left, its inner depths hidden in shadow. You recall the lore you read up on, saying you should head for high ground. The slope of the stone surface doesn't look unreasonably steep, and there seem to be a fair number of places that could serve as hand- and footholds. On the other hand, you recall the last time you got talked into rockclimbing by Lindsay.

It was not your proudest moment.

You look at the cave again. Something about it seems foreboding, but that could simply be your imagination. In either case, if this follows a standard game formula, you should meet more monsters in that cave, and perhaps even come across treasure.

Which you probably couldn't use since you can't access your menu.

[Malrone]

Climb the stone, take your time, use your CoatTech to reach certain handholds if you have to.

[trulyElse]

Climb the stone, take your time, use your CoatTech to reach certain handholds if you have to.

Second.

[mysticCharlatan]

>Chester: Climb.

You walk up to the stone incline and look up. Okay, you can do this. It's just like that rock climbing place Lindsay took you to.

Minus the harness.

And the man made-strategically placed handholds.

And the padded floor to fall onto.

And the trained proffessionals ensuring you don't injure yourself.

Yep, exactly like that.

You take a deep breath to steady your nerves, and grasp onto the first outcropping of rock that presents itself to you. It is rough under you hand, and you expect that you will not be pleased with how your palms look after this. You pull slightly, in order to climb up to the next handhold, and the rock in your hand comes out of the wall almost instantly. You land somewhat unceremoniously on your backside. Grumbling to yourself, you find another location that does not crumble under your weight, and then begin your ascent. Slowly, carefully, always tugging slightly on the handholds to make sure that they will hold.

After about five minutes, you are a decent distance up. Which is to say, your head is about three times as high off the ground than it would usually be.

Slow and steady. Slow and steady.

And whatever you do, don't look down.

Don't look down, don't look down, don't think about falling and breaking your neck, don't look down.

You cling to the wall for what little comfort it provides.

Yep, exactly like rockclimbing with Lindsay.

You wonder if Liz is having as much fun as you are.

[Askia]

keep going you cant stay here

[Malrone]

>Liz: be having exactly as much fun as Chester

[trulyElse]

> Liz: Be yourself.

[mysticCharlatan]

>Liz: Be having exactly as much fun as Chester.

You really can't say, since you still don't know where Chester is or what he's up to, but you really hope you're not having as much fun as him, because you're starting to get bored! This dark, solitary place was soothing to start with, but it grows repetitive quickly.

You've turned a corner, and you really can't keep track of where you came from, but since you already have no clue as to where you are, you can't really say you've lost your way. Before you are a set of smaller stone structures, the tallest only slightly above your head and the smallest coming up to your waist. They seem haphazardly placed, and come in various shapes, from a simple stone slab to an ornate carving of that winged person (might be a woman, you can't really tell from the clothing).

You turn around, and are unsurprised to find the menu to have been following you like a loyal puppy. Sighing, you type out a quick (for you) message to Chester, to which you recieve no reply.

You're about to turn around again and continue exploring, when another line of text appears on your screen.

Chatlog:

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comicallyUnhelpful began chatting with unknownShadow

CU: GreEtings and saluTatiOns
CU: yoU seem To be somewhat lost
US: it would seem so
US: who are you?
CU: iM Afraid we have not been introduced Yet
CU: im sorry But cErtaIn...
CU: siTuationS
CU: preveNt me frOm Telling you who, exacTly, i am
CU: sO yuO can caLl me by my screennAme
CU: or, if That's to impErsonal
CU: if yOu must call me sometHing
CU: Well...
US: you really like to draw things out
US: don't you?
CU: sHooooooOoooooosh!
CU: thAt Might be called rude by some
CU: Interupting me liKe that
US: sorry
US: please continue
CU: I Don't know...
CU: i Don't thInk i waNt to say now
US: :(
CU: well, if your Going to cry...
US: oh hey that was right
CU: you can call me lemat
US: thats an interesting name
CU: Its noT my name, but it will do
US: ok lemat
US: do you know where i am?
CU: your a Smart girl
CU: where do you Think yOu are?
US: well there are these stones everywhere
CU: gOod
US: and there's a lot of angels and sad faces
US: is this some sort of graveyard?
CU: just Like a reAl deTectivE
CU: WELCOME TO THE VILLAGE OF GRAVESTONES AND WHISPERS.
US: thank you
US: i guess

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More in a bit, when I'm a bit more creatively inclined...

[Malrone]

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CU: "Get out. Maybe it's not too late. oh- Who am I kidding? It's too late. Welcome to the Village of Gravestones and Whispers!"

>Liz: Be understandably nervous, considering the recent development. Perhaps now is a good time to turn your attention to the menu, seeing how there is nothing new around you.

>Chester: [S] Ascend

[trulyElse]

>Liz: Have you assigned a weapon, yet?

E:

[spoiler]>Chester: [S] Ascend

Hot damn, second!

[mysticCharlatan]

==>

Chatlog:

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US: so how did i get here?
US: did the game do this?
US: am i in the game?
CU: Great, wOndeFul questIoNs!
US: are you going to answer them?
CU: i Dont think so
US: that isnt very helpful
CU: reAd my screeNnamE
US: it wasnt very funny either
CU: oh My
CU: *gasP!*
CU: Those words
CU: theY wound me
US: is there a point to this?
CU: does tHeir have tO be?
CU: pointLessnEss iS fun!
US: i have to find my friend
CU: Ah yes Very truE
CU: yoUr dear cheS
US: you know him?
CU: alwAys Listening, aLways aSking
CU: he cOuld learn soMething from you
US: do you know where he is?
CU: hEs having The time of hIs life, My dEar
CU: fAcing death
CU: Never enDing pEril
CU: the usual stuFF
US: oh no
US: please tell me how to get to him!
CU: keep gOing
CU: you'll find eachotheR evenTually

comedicallyUnhelpful has ceased chatting with unknownShadow

Great, now you're worried.

>Liz: Turn your attention to the menu.

You decide to explore the menu. Maybe there is something you can use to find Chester in here.

Slowly you attempt to decipher the meanings of the options: Chat is obvious as you were just using it, Lore seems to be a collection of information, and you're still unsure what Deck is.

You've gotten to your Hand, which seems to be a collection of information about you.

Personal Info:

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Name: Elizabeth Dougan, aka unknownShadow
Gender: Female
Status: Fine
Destined Path: Unknown Adventurer
Perks: Empathy
Pips: 0

BRAWNINESS: 1
ADROITNESS: 2

Body:

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Cute Outfit(0; Torso, Legs, Feet), Umbrella(0; Right forearm), Gamesphere Controller(IV; Right hand)

Mind:

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Shipcraft(VI), Weapon Training(0; Unspecified), one empty slot

[trulyElse]

> Liz: Stumble upon weapon assignment screen.
> Liz: Try to assign umbrellakind.

[Askia]

hmm what weird weapon would fit Liz...

[Malrone]

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CU: Go find an empty hole. Save us. Also, 'me time' and effort.

>Liz: Be mildly flattered that the game thinks your outfit is cute.
>Liz: Explore (every possible interpretation. all of them.)

[Xindaris]

Malrone: Actually, it's

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CU: Go find an empty hole. Save us all some time and effort.

You probably missed an L.

>Liz: Notice that the inventory screen actually considers your outfit to be objectively 'cute'. Be delighted. Then remember you have more important things to be doing.

[mysticCharlatan]

>Liz: Notice the game thinks your outfit is cute.

What, these old rags? Oh this is just what you threw on this morning and no couldn't say that with a straight face. You smile, and blush slightly. You may not be as up to date on your fashion as Kaylyn, but you do try to look your best. You're kind of flattered the game agrees with you.

Anyway, being flustered over a non-anthropomorphic construct's compliments isn't going to get us anywhere, so you should probably move on.

Oh, you can't help it. You attempt to grab the card to get a better look, and are a little surprised when it fills the screen.

"Clothing that exemplifies cuteness and innocence. Whoever picked this out has an eye for what looks good. Outfit bonus: +1 to Charm attacks."

>Liz: Stumble upon the weapon assignment screen.

After a couple minutes, you figure out how to get back to the Hand screen. If what Lemat said was true, then things might get dangerous soon. It might be a good idea to arm yourself.

You eventually make your way haphazardly through a series of tutorial screens to the weapon tree. You have chosen to weaponize your UMBRELLA, as there doesn't seem to be much else on you that might work. Now you just need to decide on your weapon specialization.

UMBRELLAKIND seems to be the simplest, but there are other options below that: PIERCINGKIND covers all sorts of pointy things that can be used as weapons, though taking that would limit you to simply stabbing with an umbrella (not that this really occurs to you, just a random piece of information that might be interesting to an outside observer). There is also WEATHERKIND, which, despite its name, is not a weaponization of weather, but rather weather related instruments, such as umbrellas, thermometers, barometers, and weathervanes (how would you even use that as a weapon?).

[Askia]

nah umbrellakind is awesome you can even use it as a shield

[Malrone]

I agree with Askia.

Also-
>Liz: Activate Shipcraft. Use the power of your imagination to conjure sappy fan fiction between you and the shy if charming now-anthropomorphic menu screen.

[mysticCharlatan]

>Liz: Umbrellakind!

And it is done. You feel as though this should have taken longer, and suspect that if Chester has done something similar that he did it in considerably less time.

>Liz: Activate Shipcaft.

"She turns to hide the red that is beginning to tinge her cheeks. 'You don't have to be nice,' she says.

'N-no, it's true,' the menu answers. A smile invades her face. He doesn't talk very often, prefering to use text to convey his messages. But her back to him leaves little choice.

The ball was in her court, control was hers.

'Oh stop.'

'No, really,' he continued with a shaky voice, 'it's actually set in stone. "Exemplifies cuteness and innocence". I couldn't make this up if I wanted to.

'Oh really,' she said, turning around, 'and would you want to make that up?'

Letters begin to appear on screen, but she holds her hand up.

'Please speak. You have a lovely voice.'

After a moment of silence, he answers with 'O-okay...'

He really was adorable. How she wished he was a person, someone that she could laugh with, high five, hug, hold, embrace..."

(several chapters of meaningless drivel)

"The menu stood shakily on his new legs. Slowly, he contorted his face, trying hard to imitate the smiles he had seen her make so many times. It looked ridiculous, she couldn't help but laugh.

'Are you making f-fun of me?' he asked. Even if he looked different, the voic was the same. It was him.

'No,' she replied, helping him stay upright with an arm, 'I just can't get over how adorable you are.'

'Come on now-'

'No really,' she said, a mischevious smile on her face, 'it's actually set in stone. "Gangly and awkward, and somehow adorable". I couldn't make this up if I wanted to.'

And with that she drew him into her arms. Their faces were inches apart, and there they waited, waited for someone to make the first move.

He leaned in-"

You giggle to yourself over the silliness of it. Such a cute couple you would make! Oh, why don't you have your shipping poster with you so you can update it?

You have gained the Abstractions Admiration ability!

[Xindaris]

>See if there is any tutorial information in the menu about how to use CHARM for ATTACKS, since you apparently have a bonus to that.