Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

ALPHABOUND

A troll stands in a respiteblock. His horns begin at a diagonal from above his ears, but sharply turn to be horizontal after a few inches. His black hair is messy and of a medium length, falling around his horns and ending just behind the large fins on the sides of his head, just behind his jaw. His thin black shirt has his sign, like all trolls, emblazoned on the chest. This troll's sign, in particular, is a horizontal line above an arch curving under it, with a vertical line reaching up from the middle of the arch. The sign is set in the deep, royal fuchsia akin to those in his caste. His pants share the colour and material of the shirt, though they were a little less tight on him. His shoes, on the other hand, were heavier, but still light enough to be able to flex in the water. A pair of light blue headphones sit comfortably around his neck.

His respiteblock is much less plain-looking than he is. The multi-paned window looks out over an ocean, the hive itself seeming to be mostly submerged in the water. The walls are a plain dark grey, and a single poster is on the wall, showing off an album cover.

In addition to the sparse wall decoration, a simple, slime-filled, blue recuperacoon sits in a corner, a few shades darker than the headphones around his neck. In the opposite corner is a desk with a husktop on it, the device matching the colours of his recuperacoon. The desk is also littered with pieces of paper and other junk, as well as various bits of recording technology and speakers. On the opposite wall, leaning against the doorframe leading out of his respiteblock, is a simple, golden trident. The prongs are spaced oddly, in a shape reminiscent of the trolls' sign.

A young troll stands in his respiteblock. Although it has been just over six sweeps since the troll escaped the caverns, it is only today he will be given a name.

What will the name of this young troll be?

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Nice try, smartass.

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 That's more like it.

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As you could surely tell by the previous confirmation, your name is SILVAN QWERTY. You are at the VERY TOP OF THE HEMOSPECTRUM, but while most trolls would do just about anything to be in your position, you absolutely despise it. You are STRONGLY AGAINST the CASTE SYSTEM, and HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE TREAT YOU LIKE ROYALTY. As much as you hate this, though, you are ROYALTY, and are very much a CANDIDATE FOR THE THRONE, and have been TRAINING HARD all your life to have a CHANCE at ending the BATTLE WITH THE QUEEN alive. In addition, you've had to STAY IN HIDING for the most part, as if WORD OF YOUR EXISTENCE got out to the QUEEN, no doubt she'd fly here immediately to KILL YOU.

Your biggest FEAR is being alone, something your LONG LIFESPAN makes a distinct possibility in the future. As such, it takes SOME EFFORT on your part to COME OUT OF YOUR SHELL and make friends, but one YOU'RE GLAD YOU DO. You work to garner a great deal of RESPECTABILITY in your group, always willing to STICK YOUR NECK OUT and help no matter what. Your hobbies include MAKING MUSIC on your computer and READING. While you're not one to BRAG, you're starting to MAKE A NAME FOR YOURSELF IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, and one of your ALBUMS even made it relatively big! Your trollian handle is defectiveHighblood, and you've always tr13d your b3st to sp3ak v3ry cl3arly, w1thout much fla1r.

You recently managed to get TWELVE COPIES of a certain GAME that would start to become QUITE THE CRAZE on Alternia soon. You plan on playing it with a group of friends today.

What will you do now?

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As the thought occurs to him, he raises his arms and looks betwen them in confusion.

No need to try and find arms in the desk, you've got your own. Would they even be able to fit in there anyway? It'd be a tight fit, and certainly not one you'd be able to get the arms out of without arms of your own. Thankfully, you do indeed have arms. Two of them, in fact! Look at all these arms, it's amazing that thoughts like finding another set even still occur to you, but you're very sure it'll come in handy later. Maybe.

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Ah, a fine piece of work. It's the poster version of the album cover from Oceans in the Alternian Sky, an album from Alternia's latest up-and-coming musician, Defective Highblood. Whoever this musician is, you're sure he's really cool and not a loser who has nothing better to do than make music all day.

Of course, you don't have the poster up out of any kind of vanity. No, in your opinion, the album was passable at best. It's the album cover you liked. It was a gift, after all, from a good friend of yours. You have a smaller version in your desk that's signed, but you're careful not to damage that one so you keep it tucked away safely.

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Silvan holds the trident in his hand, blinking at the viewer.

The trident then disappears, and his strife deck appears in the top corner, showing the Tridentkind card already in the deck and the gold trident equipped.

That's right. If you're going to be going out, you should probably equip this, just in case. After all, you'll have to get past your lusus, not to mention the dangers of Alternia that are, as always, extremely present. 

You've been training with this trident ever since you could hold it, so returning it to your strife specibus feels like second nature to you now. 

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Silvan looks outside his window, seeing the water ripple in the distance. His husktop gains a chat bubble telling us he's being trolled by someone with a blue sign:

He's too far away right now. Besides, you'd rather not deal with that encounter until it's time to go ashore.

Oh, it looks like someone's messaging you anyways. No use ignoring him, he's one of the ones you like.

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-- beguiledCozen [BC] began trolling defectiveHighblood [DH] --

BC: HeY SilV

BC: YoU TherE?

BC: DoN'T WanT TO KeeP YoU IF YoU'RE BusY IT'S JusT

BC: TodaY'S ThE DaY!

BC: I StilL DoN'T KnoW WhaT ThE DaY MeanS BuT YoU MentioneD WE'D BE PlayinG A ReallY ImportanT GamE

BC: MaybE IT'S A LittlE EarlY BuT I CaN SeE ThE DeliveravageR CominG UP

BC: IT'S GoT A FeW HiveS TO GeT ThrougH BeforE MinE, ThougH

BC: HavE YoU GoT YouR PackagE YeT?

DH: oh h3y!

DH: y3ah today 1s th3 day!

DH: [:)

DH: not y3t, 1 can't r1sk us1ng th3 d3l1v3ravag3r so 1'm just wa1t1ng on a cour13r

DH: 1'm sur3 my lusus w1ll l3t m3 know wh3n th3y arr1v3

BC: I GeT YoU, HehE

BC: I'LL StarT CleaninG UP, I GuesS

BC: GeT PresentablE

BC: I'M SO ExciteD TO PlaY WitH EveryonE!

DH: m3 too, h3h3

DH: 3v3n 1f 1 don't l1k3 ALL of th3m

BC: ThaT'S JusT HoW FriendS ArE, DummY S:P

DH: h3h3h3

DH: you'r3 not wrong

DH: alr1ght! s33 you 1n a b1t

BC: SeE YoU!

-- defectiveHighblood [DH] gave up trolling beguiledCozen [BC] --

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Silvan looks off into the distance through his window. The rippling in the water is approaching slowly, but otherwise nothing has changed.

It's only been a couple minutes, unless there's something important your custodian won't be home for quite some time. You're counting on that, actually-- as soon as your courier starts to get close, no doubt the protective guardian would rush home to inform you.

Of course, getting by him to actually get to the courier will be difficult, as always. Hence why you needed your trident.

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Silvan looks at the blue recuperacoon and climbs on top of it, standing at the edge of the hole he uses to get in.

You shouldn't... you don't want to fall asleep and risk missing your courier. It would be not just embarrassing, but totally devastating if you were the only one who didn't get your copy of the game- considering you're the one that went through ridiculous amounts of effort to get all the copies in the first place.

I mean, it's not like this game is easy to come by. Some trolls aren't even aware it exists, unless they made their own copy or something. You only managed to find out this pre-pre-release was even a thing because of a friend who likes sticking their nose where it technically doesn't belong. Getting all twelve copies required a lot more caegars than you'd like to admit and quite a few Quasi-Legal activities, but realistically, it won't really matter in the end.

After all, your dreams have never been wrong before.

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Silvan stands at his husktop. He raises a hand dramatically, as if about to perform an impressive display of pressing keys in a practiced way to make a masterpiece of sound.

Instead, he simply presses a button on the keyboard and music starts playing.

The music is clearly one he's already finished and sees no use recreating, since that isn't as elegant as playing standard instruments.

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Silvan stares at his desk with a look of horror, shaking his head slowly.

N... no.

You start to wonder if these thoughts really have your best interests at heart.

Glubbing like a fish is one thing, even if you haven't done it in a good while, but why the hell would you... no! You have all your important stuff on there, and besides, even if you cleared it off that's just a very unhygienic and frankly disgusting idea.

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While Silvan continues to display his distaste in the previous idea, another chatbubble appears, this time showing a totally different sign:

Honestly, you're starting to wonder if you should oh hey who's this?

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-- impairedOverseer [IO] began trolling defectiveHighblood [DH] --

IO: Hey!

IO: It just arri\/ed!

IO: To/d you Id be first (:c

DH: so you d1d, h3h3

IO: So I fi9ure yours shou/d be arri\/in9 any time now

DH: 1f you'r3 r1ght, y3ah! and you do t3nd to b3 r1ght

DH: 1t's a l1ttl3 fr3aky how oft3n you'r3 r1ght, 1f 1'm b31ng hon3st.

IO: I\/e ne\/er had any reason to doubt my intuition!

DH: m3 n31th3r, that's my po1nt, h3h

IO: Hehehe

IO: Anyway, you remember what to do when CP 9ets her copy, ri9ht?

DH: r3lax, of cours3 1 do

DH: sh3 downloads th3 s3rv3r and 1 download th3 cl13nt, and onc3 1'm 1n 1 download my s3rv3r and so on.

DH: 1 was th3r3 wh3n w3 mad3 th3 plan, r3m3mb3r?

IO: Yeah, my bad. I just don't want to screw it up, this is /ike

IO: REA//Y bi9!

DH: y3ah, 1 know! r3m3mb3r, you'r3 not th3 only on3 who knows th1ngs.

IO: Yeah, but at /east I pay attention when I can /earn thin9s

DH: 1 pay att3nt1on som3t1m3s! 3nough to know th1s.

IO: Suuuuure q;c

DH: ah what3v3r, 1 gu3ss 1'll g3t go1ng th3n.

DH: b3st not k33p th3 cour13r wa1t1ng.

-- defectiveHighblood [DH] gave up trolling impairedOverseer [IO] --

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The outside of Silvan's hive under the water seems to be a large tower, most of the structure seeming to exist just to raise Silvan's respiteblock up above sealevel.

Silvan swims out through a door about halfway down, holding his trident and making his way towards the shore. Suddenly, a white tentacle wraps around his waist.

Talking to him can be a chore sometimes. Not that you have anything against him, you just don't seem to get along too well.

Not that you have a choice really, you need him for what's coming.

You'd better hurry, maybe you can make it around your lusus oh damnnit.

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Silvan struggles in the tentacle for a moment, then it cuts to black.

The screen seems to boot up, with a white flash resolving into a very different, yet oddly familiar, scene.

A young troll stands in his respiteblock. His purple recupracoon sits behind him, and he stands at a desk with a bulky-looking husktop on it.

The troll wears grey pants, black shoes and a black shirt with the following sign on it; 

What is most odd, however, are the fins we'd seen on Silvan are also present on this new troll. His black hair is short and neat, and his horns curve in toward each other in a C shape.

You are now another young troll standing in his respiteblock.

What will this young fellow's name be?

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Hey!

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The troll stands in a respiteblock. His purple recoupracoon is off to the side, and a simple throw pillow sits on the ground nearby. The floor is littered with various odds and ends, including several rubber balls and a couple books.

Your name is DERMET FULTUR, and you are only 4 SWEEPS OLD, but you try to ACT OLDER SO NO ONE TEASES OR TAKES ADVANTAGE OF YOU. Still, you can be very PLAYFUL and SILLY a lot of the time. Your LUSUS AND MOIRAIL have really HELPED YOU GROWING UP, and, while you’ll NEVER ADMIT IT TO THEM, you RELY ON THEM A LOT. You were born with a mutation usually only found at the VERY TOP of the hemospectrum; you are a SEADWELLER. This mutation is looked upon WARILY, but so long as you KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN no one bothers you too much. You enjoy TALKING WITH YOUR FRIENDS and PLAYING WITH YOUR LUSUS, and you also like FIDUSPAWN, but unfortunately you have a HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING THE RULES sometimes. You've also developed an interest in MAGIC after your MOIRAIL shared a NOW-CHERISHED book with you on the subject.

Things tend to WORK OUT FOR YOU a lot of the time, which may be WHY YOU'RE STILL ALIVE now. You TRY NOT to take it for GRANTED, but sometimes you just KNOW WHAT TO SAY AND DO in serious situations. You've been told this means YOU'LL GROW UP to be a RESPECTED TROLL with KEEN STRATEGIC SKILL, but you just DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING. Your trollian handle is impairedOverseer and you're a/ways tryin9 your best to sound \/ery out9oing whene\/er you speak.

And most importantly of all, today is the day everyone dies.

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Dermet holds up a plain black wand, staring at it in confusion.

Magic isn't real. You mean, it totally is, but you certainly can't access it, right? Sure.

You only have these wands as a novelty, and for strifing.

As for cawing like a crow, you don't even know what those are, remember? Honestly, we're never going to get anywhere if everyone has to act like some made up animal and do something silly.

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Dermet goes over to his husktop. His sylladex appears in the top corner, Dermet watching it closely as a card with a grub-looking thing on it flashes on it periodically, then grabs the grub from the card.

He then sits in front of the husktop and starts fiddling with some wires and the retrieved grub.

You suppose it wouldn't hurt to get a jump on things. Save a bit of hassle later.

Now, watch... aaaand... NOW!

You retrieved Sgrub from your Cycle Modus!

This darn modus can be really annoying to use, but you've gotten pretty good at figuring out when it's time to pop out.

You then set to work installing the wriggling thing into your husktop.

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As Dermet works, two notifications pop up on his husktop. Both are more trolls trying to message him, with the following signs;

There we go! All wired in, now all you have to do is install it when you're ready... oh hey, you seem popular today!

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-- beguiledCozen [BC] began trolling impairedOverseer [IO] --

BC: HeY DerM!

BC: LookS LikE YoU WerE WronG AbouT SomethinG S;P

BC: JusT TalkeD TO SilV

BC: IT SeemS I'M GettinG MY CopY BeforE HiM!

IO: Oh rea//y?

IO: We//

IO: If you say so.

IO: I'm ne\/er wron9, thou9h (:c

BC: DoN'T BE SillY

BC: EveryonE'S WronG SometimeS

BC: MaybE I'M JusT AN EnigmA FoR YoU!

BC: ...

BC: YoU BusY? YoU'RE UsuallY ReallY ON ToP OF RespondinG RighT AwaY

IO: Sorry just

BC: JusT?

IO: Thinkin9.

BC: OkaY, IF YoU'RE SurE... IM A BiT WorrieD, YourE UsuallY ThE MosT ActivE!

BC: NervouS AbouT ThE GamE?

IO: You cou/d say that

BC: WelL WhateveR IT IS YoU'VE GoT QuitE ThE SupporT GrouP, EH?

IO: q:c

BC: OH DonT GivE ME ThaT FacE! EveryonE CareS AbouT YoU, DummY!

IO: I 9uess.

BC: HeY, I KnoW WhaT'LL CheeR YoU UP.

BC: WannA TalK AbouT WizardS?

IO: ...

IO: ..........

IO: Maybe.

BC: HaH! KneW IT.

BC: ThE DeliveravageR IS AlmosT HerE, I'VE GoT SomE TimE TO KilL.

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IO: Okay so what did you ha\/e in mind?

BC: TelL ME AbouT ThiS MysteriouS BooK!

BC: I KnoW NothinG AbouT IT BesideS ThE FacT IT HaS WizardS IN IT, IS IT OnE OF ThosE FamouS OneS ThaT ArE GettinG MoviE AdaptationS?

IO: No no, I dont think theyd dare make this into a mo\/ie

IO: It's based on history

BC: OoH, NoW I'M ReallY InteresteD!

BC: ComE OnnnN

BC: GivE ME SomethinG TO OccupY MyselF WitH UntiL ThE GamE ArriveS!

IO: ...

IO: I\/e ne\/er rea//y ta/ked about my stuff with you, huh?

IO: We//...

IO: Okay, fine. Speak up if you want me to stop at any point.

BC: S:D

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A tall figure in shadow stands at the head of a table. He wears a hooded outfit of olive, and two figures- indistinct silhouettes, actually- stand next to him.

IO: So theres an orac/e.

IO: His predictions are so 9reat, many tro//s say he'// one day become an ad\/isor to the queen. But he has a secret.

IO: He is secret/y a 9reat ma9ician, and that's where he 9ets his incredib/e prediction abi/ities.

IO: But then he made a prediction no one /iked.

BC: S:?

IO: He predicted that there wou/d be another uprisin9 that wou/d resu/t in the on/y sur\/i\/in9 tro//s on A/ternia be chi/dren. And he refused to te// more about how to stop it.

IO: So he had to 9o on the run.

IO: He e\/entua//y joined an under9round 9roup tryin9 to stay hidden from the empire. Whi/e there, he met a beautifu/ Out/ander, and the two quick/y rose throu9h the 9roup's ranks, constant/y outmatchin9 each other, and their ri\/a/ry quick/y b/ossoms into a buddin9 kismesistude.

IO: But that's not the main p/ot, it's just important to know for the rest of the story!

BC: OH, GO ON TheN!

IO: We//, he has to /earn more than just prediction ma9ic, so once he and the out/ander reach a hi9h enou9h rankin9, they 9o out on expeditions to 9ather more books and too/s for him, and it becomes a \/ery compe//in9 book about skirtin9 the empire whi/e tryin9 to find a way to sett/e his past so he can c/ear his name... I don't want to spoi/ the endin9, in case I 9ot you hooked!

BC: AwE! WelL NoW I HavE TO KnoW S:/

IO: I cou/d /oan you the book when this is a// o\/er!

BC: I LooK ForwarD TO IT!

BC: OH, GreaT TiminG! I ThinK ThE GamE JusT ArriveD. TalK TO YoU SooN, DerM!

IO: You too!

-- beguiledCozen [BC] gave up trolling impairedOverseer [IO] --

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Dermet stares at his screen for a moment, then slowly moves to respond to the other troll.

\:c

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-- executiveException [EE] began trolling impairedOverseer [IO] --

EE: d=rm=+

EE: i+s +im=

EE: don+ ignor= m=

EE: +h=r=s no on= on you n==d +o +alk +o you know +his

IO: Hey!

IO: Sorry if I upset you, I 9uess? I was ta/kin9 with BC

EE: im no+ ups=+

EE: and why ar= you +alking +o him

IO: Because he's my friend? And he's about to 9et his copy.

EE: for sur=?

EE: +ha+ is a good r=ason +o sp=ak wi+h him i gu=ss

IO: It means I mi9ht be wron9! Or maybe Si/\/an a/ready has his copy by now.

EE: w=ll s==

IO: You said it was time, what do you mean?

IO: Neither of us starts the 9ame for a 9ood whi/e yet!

EE:

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CEE RIGHT NOW opened memo on board SGRUB =XP=R+S.

CURRENT impairedOverseer [CIO] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CIO: This is such a dumb name for a memo
CEE: i+ do=sn+ n==d +o b= a good nam= i+ s=rv=s i+s purpos=
CIO: Fine fine
CIO: But why make a memo at a//?
FUTURE executiveException [FEE] 10:25 HOURS FROM NOW responded to memo.
FEE: b=caus= +his way
FEE: w= can confirm +hings
CIO: o:c

Chapter Text

CEE: b=for= w= confirm any+hing =ls= +hough
CEE: d=rm=+
CEE: fu+ur= m= will no+ answ=r all of your qu=s+ions
FEE: ac+ually
FEE: y=s i will
CEE: wha+
CIO: What
FEE: having liv=d +hrough +his conv=rsa+ion b=for=
FEE: i can confirm
FEE: y=s
FEE: no issu=s will aris= b=caus= of wha+ i answ=r
FEE: or if any do
FEE: i+ is +oo la+= +o fix +h=m
CIO: Okay
CIO: This is... odd!
FEE: +ha+s on= way of pu++ing i+
FEE: y=s
FEE: i hav=n+ much +im= +hough
FEE: so if you could ask your qu=s+ions
FEE: +ha+ would b= gr=a+
CIO: How wi// I know what to ask?
CEE: don+ worry abou+ i+
FEE: jus+ ask wha+=v=r occurs +o you firs+

Chapter Text

A female troll sits in front of a brown husktop. The floor of her block is strewn with wires leading from the computer, and plenty of broken keyboards are thrown haphazardly around.

The troll herself has horns that go up and then curve down in hook shapes, and hair reaching her shoulders. She wears a black shirt and grey pants, and wears a pair of large rectangular glasses. The sign on her shirt is;

You are now a particular blue-blooded troll. What is this girl's name, again?

Chapter Text

You can't be serious.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

The troll seems to return to her husktop, typing away at keys while her disaster of a hive is again shown off.

Your name is NERAKA COVTUS. You are rarely without SOME ELECTRONIC DEVICE, as they can be your ONLY REAL PASSION sometimes. As such, you're often the one PEOPLE BOTHER whenever they NEED SOME KIND OF TECH HELP. You don't usually mind, but it CAN BE VERY IRRITATING SOMETIMES. Most of your friends find you ASOCIAL, but you NEVER REALLY CARED what they thought-- possibly because they're MOSTLY RIGHT. The trolls you DO SOCIALIZE WITH will agree you KEEP TO YOURSELF for the most part, usually LETTING THEM drive the CONVERSATION and only chiming in when you HAVE SOMETHING TO CONTRIBUTE.

If it hasn't been assumed yet, you are indeed a MASTER AT ALL THINGS CODE, long since becoming quite a STUDIOUS HACKER and CODESMITH. One of your BIGGEST ongoing projects is GHOSTING THE EMPIRE'S less important, and SOME OF ITS MORE IMPORTANT, goings-on. One might say you LIKE TO STICK YOUR NOSE WHERE IT DOESN'T TECHNICALLY BELONG, you suppose. You're not stupid enough to do ANY MORE THAN JUST OBSERVE, however, so MOSTLY ALL OF YOUR VIRUSES go unused. Your trollian handle is enigmaticSalvation and you s0met1mes f0rget n0t every0ne y0u speak t0 1sn't a c0mputer.

What will you do now?

Chapter Text

Before Neraka can be someone else, she receives a notification with the following sign.

Normally, you'd much rather not be him of all trolls, but you are pretty busy and being someone else would take a load off...

But before you do, someone seems to be messaging you! Surely whatever this is won't start you on some drawn out segment, right?

Chapter Text

-- mechanizingVictimizer [MV] began trolling enigmaticSalvation [ES] --

MV: Neraka I 4a+e +o be a bo+4er bu+ I could really use some 4elp

ES: d0n't w0rry ab0ut 1t, 1'm happy t0 help y0u (:3

MV: Is +4a+ an emo+e?

MV: Wow look a+ you cu++ing loose like +4a+

ES: and 0ffer 0f help resc1nded.

MV: Nonono 4old on

MV: Im jus+ +easing I +4oug4+ youd know 4ow +o +ake a joke by now

ES: d0 y0u want my help 0r n0t?

MV: I do! Im jus+ +rying +o be playful is all

ES: well...

ES: thank y0u, 1 supp0se

MV: Jus+ doing my job

ES: s0 what d0 y0u need?

MV: Well were supposed +o be playing +4a+ game +oday rig4+

MV: Im no+ en+irely sure my 4usk+op is up +o +4e +ask

ES: why 1s that? y0u never ment10ned any 1ssues w1th y0ur huskt0p.

MV: I+s a recen+ developmen+

ES: c0me 0n, sp1t 1t 0ut. what's wr0ng?

MV: I+s jus+ go+ +4e +iny li++le issue of being

MV: Jus+ a li++le bi+ on fire

ES: ...

ES: pard0n?

MV: I+s burs+ in+o flames Neraka.

MV: I+s like a slam poe+s sick fires only ins+ead of a poe+ i+s like a robo+ living in my 4usk+op and ins+ead of any kind of sickness i+s more ou+ of con+rol

MV: Like +4a+ slam poe+ 4ad so many sick fires i+ go+ ill

MV: And sneezed or some+4ing

MV: And now +4ose previously sick fires are mel+ing my 4usk+op

ES: c0nfus1ng metaph0r as1de

ES: my f1rst p1ece 0f adv1ce, as a c0mputer expert

ES: w0uld be t0 put the f1re 0ut

MV: Yea4 Im working on +4a+ i+s under con+rol

ES: 0kay g00d

ES: sec0nd, h0w are y0u talk1ng t0 me r1ght n0w?

MV: Well like any sensible person I make sure +o carry a+ leas+ five compu+ing devices on my person a+ all +imes

ES: 0f c0urse

MV: 4owever my 4usk+op was +4e only one wi+4 +4e power needed +o run a game

ES: that 1s a pr0blem, 1'll g1ve y0u that

MV: Yea4 +4a+s w4y Im messaging you

ES: h0w d1d th1s happen

ES: d1d 1t sp0ntane0usly c0mbust? d1d y0u actually put a slam p0et r0b0t 1n y0ur huskt0p because that w0uld certa1nly d0 the tr1ck

MV: Well

MV: No +o bo+4 of +4ose

MV: Did you by any c4ance give a cer+ain quadran+ma+e of mine a virus recen+ly

ES: are y0u fuck1ng ser10us r1ght n0w

MV: ^*~*^

ES: s11111111gh

ES: alr1ght g1ve me a few m1nutes

ES: get y0ur f1re under c0ntr0l 1'll see what 1 can d0

ES: and y0u're p0s1t1ve y0u d0n't have any way t0 just make a new 0ne 0r f1x that 0ne? y0u're always b0ast1ng ab0ut h0w g00d y0u are at bu1ld1ng th1ngs.

MV: You know darn well +4a+ all my boas+ing is backed up by +ru+4

MV: I+s jus+ really las+ minu+e and I don+ 4ave +4e par+s rig4+ now

MV: I+ +akes +ime +o ge+ w4a+ I need

ES: 1ts a l0ng sh0t but 1 may have a s0lut10n

ES: just

ES: try n0t t0 set anyth1ng else 0n f1re

MV: Will do ^*u*^

-- enigmaticSalvation [ES] gave up trolling mechanizingVictimizer [MV] --

Chapter Text

Neraka makes her way from her husktop to the door to her block, kicking a few broken keyboards out of the way.

You're glad you wear thick-soled shoes, because you seem to have an odd habit of breaking your keyboards. Sometimes from overuse, sometimes from viruses, and sometimes for fun. You have broken so many keyboards, it has developed into a habit bordering on fetishistic.

Not that you're too worried about tripping over any, though. They hardly have the weight to trip you, they're just annoying at times.

Chapter Text

Neraka leaves her respiteblock, making her way leisurely up a flight of stairs. She pauses in front of a hall, then dashes across as a large form crosses the hallway.

You really don't have time to deal with your lusus right now, executing what some trolls might call a terrific lass scamper across the hall leading to her. You are not one of those trolls, and would simply refer to it as a 's1ck d0dge' or something of the like.

Chapter Text

Neraka continues up the stairs. As she goes, she looks up, at the light streaming in from an open window at the top of the stairs.

You ascend the stairs, though you feel that's an awful way of describing what is truthfully a rather boring action. There's not even a sick soundtrack playing as you do, which you imagine would be what would constitute an ominous command like that.

In all honesty, you're starting to feel these references are getting a little bit forced, but they have to run out eventually, right?

Chapter Text

Neraka stands in the doorway at the top of the stairs, and as she steps through...

 

The view suddenly goes dark, as if a signal was lost.

 

After a few moments, the view slowly fades back in, only now we're back with Silvan instead of Neraka. We see him struggling in the grasp of a large, white tentacle, his arms pinned to his sides by the appendage. He wiggles free and holds his trident tight, ready for strife!

Chapter Text

Silvan floats in front of his lusus; a giant, white squid, staring at him with a massive eye, as this strife music plays. He and his guardian go back and forth for a few moments, Silvan making a few threatening jabs in the water whenever the tentacles came too close, then a button appears on screen.

Abscond.

Being the only option, pressing the button suddenly has Silvan swim away as fast as he can.

Chapter Text

Silvan rockets towards the rapidly approaching shore, looking back to make sure his massive squid guardian wasn't about to grab him again. The lusus was fading from sight now, apparently not invested in stopping him enough to give chase.

Maybe absconding wasn't very sporting of you, but you didn't have the time to properly do battle with your lusus. Besides, he doesn't seem too worried about you now, so maybe it's okay!

You can't lie to yourself like that, he's gonna be VERY upset when you get back.

Chapter Text

Silvan steps out of the water, returning his trident to his specibus and giving the troll on the shore a smile and wave. The troll seems ready to return the gesture, but then notices Silvan's sign and proceeds to freak out, dropping the package and hurrying away.

Good, right on time...

You probably could have worn something to hide your blood colour, like a jacket or a large scarf or something. In fact, most of the time, you did this.

However, you didn't really feel there was a need this time.

Chapter Text

Silvan steps forward and picks up the package.

No doubt the poor courier is hurrying to inform someone- likely the subjugglators or possibly even the queen herself.

If your existence got to any of them, you'd be hunted down and killed immediately, so you could never even attempt to take the throne. Not that it really matters. It would take the queen an extremely long time to make it back, even at light speed. She'd traveled too far away, and she'd likely prefer to deal with you herself.

The subjugglators, on the other hand, are unpredictable enough that you do worry they may kill you BEFORE informing the queen, or possibly imprison you to wait for her.

But by the time they get to you, you'll be long gone, and they'll be facing planetwide extinction.

Chapter Text

The package disappears from his hands, appearing in a card in a speaker-shaped deck

You quickly captchalogue the parcel in your Rhythm Modus. The card pulses in a simple rhythm, repeating infinitely. All you have to do to retrieve it is repeat that rhythm somehow, even just tapping your leg will do. The more complicated the item, the more complicated the rhythm will be.

Your modus can be pretty tough to master; even though it is very easy to take cards out, you'll often have to either memorize the rhythm or watch it for a few seconds, making it a slow fetch modus.

You sometimes use the beats produced in music, making it more of a source of inspiration than anything else.

Chapter Text

Silvan approaches his hive, stopping and looking around warily. He spots the tip of several tentacles slip into a large hole near the base of his hive, then sighs in relief.

He pauses a moment, looking up through the water at the shimmering of the pink moon of alternia through the water.

Looks like he got bored of waiting and went inside. It's almost feeding time, so you make a mental note to feed him before you start playing, and to apologize for your behavior.

You look up at the night sky through the waves around you, giving yourself a moment to relax. You get the feeling it's going to be a long night.

Chapter Text

Silvan swims in the door, making his way up a flight of stairs. The entryway was a large open space with an archway leading to a hall, and a large trapdoor in the floor.

Chapter Text

Silvan is now once again standing in his respiteblock. He taps out a short beat, and the package materializes in front of him. He opens it, picking up two gooey-looking software grubs and grinning eagerly.

Chapter Text

-- defectiveHighblood [DH] began trolling congenialParamour [CP] --

DH: you th3r3? 1t says you'r3 on but 1 know you 1dl3 som3t1m3s wh1l3 you'r3 work1ng

DH: don't wanna rush you or anyth1ng but 1 am k1nd of on a sch3dul3 r1ght now

CP: =Sil<an~!=

CP: =How ar3 you, sw33ti3?=

DH: 1'm f1n3, but 1 st1ll don't r3ally go for 1t wh3n you call m3 sw33t13

CP: =Hush, you. You know you lo<3 it.=

DH: that 1s

DH: th3 OPPOS1T3 of what 1 just sa1d

DH: but what3v3r

DH: any 1d3a wh3n you'll g3t th3 gam3? 1 just got my copy and D3rm3t appar3ntly alr3ady has h1s

DH: BC m1ght alr3ady hav3 h1s too

DH: but 1 can't start unt1l you hav3 yours

CP: =Not to worry, glubby buddy~. It should b3 arri<ing any tim3 now.=

CP: =I'm just finishing up a littl3 hi<3cl3aning. Can't ha<3 all th3s3 lo<3ly trolls looking at my hi<3 if it's all a m3ss.=

DH: 1'll 1gnor3 th3 cuts3y n1cknam3s for now

DH: but you do real1z3 how th3 gam3 works, r1ght? your s3rv3r play3r w1ll b3 the only on3 to s33 your h1v3, 1 th1nk

CP: =Oh... Who was that again?=

DH: DW

CP: =Oh.=

CP: =W3ll, n3<3r mind all th3 hi<3k33ping, th3y'r3 much too disorganiz3d to r3ally car3.=

DH: y3ah

DH: anyway can 1 hav3 a t1m3fram3? 1 st1ll gotta f33d my lusus and 1m not sur3 how long w3 hav3 b3for3 1ts too lat3 to start play1ng.

CP: =Ooh, so myst3rious~ And cryptic, you know just how to play with my f33lings, cuddl3fish~=

DH: okay that's wh3r3 1 draw th3 l1n3

CP: =H3h3h3h3h3=

DH: 1'm go1ng to f33d my lusus. l3t m3 know wh3n you g3t th3 gam3, my copy 1s 1nstall1ng now, so you should b3 abl3 to conn3ct to m3.

CP: =I can't wait to m3ss with you in p3rson <3=

CP: =That was a h3art by th3 way, not a ve.=

DH: thanks for cl3ar1ng that up

-- defectiveHighblood [DH] gave up trolling congenialParamour [CP] --

Chapter Text

Silvan swims down through the trap door on the main floor, pulling a large bag behind him.

Hardly any need for more strifing, your guardian should be over that by now. Especially since you come bearing food now.

Chapter Text

Silvan dumps the bag in front of his giant squid lusus, dead fish slowly sinking down in front of the lusus, who grabs them with its tentacles and pulled it all in to feed.

You don't know what you'd do if something happened to him. While you've never seen eye to eye... and not just because of how big his eyes were, of course... he has put himself through a lot to try and protect you over the sweeps.

Chapter Text

The view shifts to Silvan's room again, where the husktop gives off a notification telling us that someone with the following sign is messaging him: 

-- congenialParamour [CP] began trolling defectiveHighblood [DH] --

CP: =Alright, Sil<an! Just got my copy, downloading it now~=

CP: =I'll try g3tting a f33l for th3 controls whil3 you'r3 busy. L3t m3 know wh3n you g3t this, don't l3a<3 a girl waiting~=

Chapter Text

A large blue house-shaped cursor, divided into thirteen squares, you know the kind, appears on screen, and starts moving around. It goes back and forth between moving Silvan's recoupracoon and his desk slightly, accomplishing nothing.

Chapter Text

Silvan stands in the doorway to his respiteblock, looking exasperated as his desk is delicately placed in front of him.

CP: =Oh, th3r3 you ar3, cuti3!=

CP: =No n33d to troubl3 yours3lf, allow m3 to 3x3rt my n3wfound abiliti3s and d3li<3r your d3sk to you~=

CP: =Th3r3 you go.=

DH: h3y

CP: =Y3s~?=

DH: you know, som3t1m3s 1 wond3r what rol3 you play 1n our quadrant

CP: =I just try to k33p 3<3ryon3 on th3ir to3s=

DH: oh what3v3r

DH: hav3 you f1gur3d out th3 controls or d1d you want to throw my load gap3r 1n h3r3 too?

CP: =I think I'<3 got it=

CP: =I think I just n33d to d3ploy a f3w things for you.=

CP: =That's what D3rm3t said, anyway.=

DH: D3rm3t? how do3s h3 know what h3's do1ng alr3ady?

CP: =I'm not sur3, but I ha<3 th3 f33ling h3 and 33 ar3 in cahoots~=

DH: cahoots

CP: =Y3s, cahoots!=

DH: do3sn't surpr1s3 m3 r3ally, 33's always b33n pr3tty myst3r1ous about how h3 knows what h3 do3s

DH: at l3ast w3 can g3t th1ngs mov1ng along qu1ckly. 1 m3an, 1f 1t wasn't for th1s lucky br3ak, w3 could hav3 b33n runn1ng around b31ng fools for a stup1d long t1m3

CP: =Agr33d, it's much b3tt3r to just jump ah3ad to th3 mor3 int3r3sting stuff, rath3r than just ha<3 to sp3nd hours l3arning to play th3 gam3!=

CP: =So, wh3r3 would you lik3 it? I can probably fit most of it in your r3spit3block, but it might b3 a bit tight if w3 try to squ33z3 3<3rything into it=

CP: =On th3 oth3r hand, I don't know if it will all work und3rwat3r! You should ha<3 a d3ck or som3thing, lik3 m3.=

CP: =Ooh, hold on~=.

DH: what3v3r you'r3 do1ng 1t b3tt3r not b3 mak1ng that crash1ng no1s3.

Chapter Text

The cursor builds a large platform extending out from Silvan's respiteblock, at the surface of the water but just high enough that it doesn't flow over. It then copies a door from his block and adds it to the wall separating the block from the new platform.

Chapter Text

Silvan stands in the doorway to the deck as his server starts off by deploying the cruxtruder, the large white machine taking up about of a quarter of the available space on the improvised deck.

DH: why 1s th3r3 a door

CP: =Go out and s33, Sil<i3~=

DH: ...

DH: damnn1t

CP: =H3h3h3!=

DH: f1n3 what3v3r just mak3 sur3 1t's b1g 3nough for what3v3r you n33d 1t for

CP: =It should b3! Just gi<3 m3 on3 s3cond to d3ploy 3<3rything, th3n you can g3t start3d!=

DH: and not a m1nut3 too soon...

CP: =What do you m3an by that?=

Chapter Text

Silvan stares up at the night sky, his face tinted slightly pink from the glow of one of alternia's moons.

DH: l3ts just say a countdown has off1c1ally b3gun.

Chapter Text

In the dark night sky, red dots appear among the stars, slowly getting bigger until it's clear what they are.

Meteors.

Chapter Text

A young male troll stands in his respiteblock. His hair is neat, and his left horn curves down, while the right curves upwards. He wears grey pants and a black shirt with his sign on it, as pictured below. Over the shirt, he wears a jacket a few shades darker than his pants.

On the floor next to him is a simple blue husktop, and at the back of the room, leaning against his blue recupracoon, is a large sledgehammer. On the wall is a poster of Troll Will Smith's 'The Thresh Prince of Bel Air'.

You are now BC. What's with all this skirting around names, anyway? Let's meet him already!

Chapter Text

Excuse me?

Chapter Text

That's better.

Chapter Text

Your name is JEJUNE MISDEL. You are, as you like to think of yourself, a PERFECTLY AVERAGE troll. However, if one were to view you from some OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE, they would likely see that is ANYTHING BUT THE CASE. You find those LOWER ON THE HEMOSPECTRUM to be FASCINATING, and are often APPALLED BY THE TREATMENT OF THEM by others in your blood caste or those around it. Of course, you are indeed QUITE HIGH ON THE SPECTRUM, and some RESPECT is definitely due for you, and therefore MORE RESPECT IS DUE to those above you, but VERY RARELY DO YOU PULL RANK among your friends.

You dream of one day joining the RUFFIANNIHILATORS, but unfortunately, you lack the INCREDIBLE STRENGTH many of your caste are known for. You are still QUITE STRONG, but most of your strength comes from HARD WORK AND TRAINING. You also have a secret passion for ROMANCE STORIES, and while there of course is NOTHING SHAMEFUL about this, you find it necessary to HIDE THIS FACT, lest it get back to your NEIGHBOR. Your trollian handle is beguiledCozen and you like to MakE SurE AlL YouR WordS StarT AnD EnD VerY PowerfullY.

You just saw the deliveravager going between lawnrings towards your hive, and are excited to tell your FRIENDS about it!

Chapter Text

Jejune lifts the sledgehammer over his head, gritting his teeth. After a moment, however, he puts it back down and stares out the window boredly.

Outside, still very small in the distance, a red shape moves closer.

Yes! Bettering oneself waits for no troll!

...

But maybe this troll can wait to better himself. You can see the deliveravager now! You can't waste all your time training, maybe you should see about letting your leader know that it is almost time.

Chapter Text

Jejune settles in front of his husktop.

 -- beguiledCozen [BC] began trolling defectiveHighblood [DH] --

BC: HeY SilV

BC: YoU TherE?

BC: DoN'T WanT TO KeeP YoU IF YoU'RE BusY IT'S JusT

BC: TodaY'S ThE DaY!

They proceed to have this previous conversation.

Chapter Text

Jejune hurries around his block, showing off its full scope. It has a few small piles of clothes as well as what looks like rubble and stuffing, as well as several troll-shaped dummies standing around. They were likely training dummies, if the chunks taken out of them were anything to go by.

Jejune runs around, kicking things around and tossing piles of clothing into corners, before hurrying back to his coon and picking up his hammer. The hammerkind strife deck is displayed in the corner with the large sledgehammer allocated to it, as the blueblood performs an expert Youth Roll to one of the dummies before hitting it with his weapon.

The dummy takes the blows for a few moments before Jejune rushes back to his coon, dropping the hammer and repeating this process.

You proceed to do your best to clean up your block. In the process, you notice one of your training dummies looking at you funnily! You decide to teach it a lesson, grabbing your weapon and strifing with the judgmental dummy for a bit before remembering that you have a job to do!

Yes, this is very stupid.

Chapter Text

Jejune stands in the middle of his still-extremely-messy block.

You proceed to finish cleaning, having accomplished absolutely nothing.

Chapter Text

-- beguiledCozen [BC] began trolling impairedOverseer [IO] --

BC: HeY DerM!

BC: LookS LikE YoU WerE WronG AbouT SomethinG S;P

BC: JusT TalkeD TO SilV

BC: IT SeemS IM GettinG MY CopY BeforE HiM!

They proceed to have this previous conversation.

Chapter Text

Jejune hurries down a large staircase, smiling excitedly.

Of course! It just has one or two more hives to go, then you get to play with everyone! It's going to be so much fun!

Chapter Text

Jejune stands in the open doorway to large hive that is built so it extends in all directions like a disoriented tree. Next door is a castle-like hive a bit smaller in scale than his.

You'll greet them at the door! Best to avoid any possible confrontations with your neighbor. The deliveravager should be right... wait a moment...

Chapter Text

A large troll wearing a bright red robe with the three prongs designating them as a servant of Her Highness being represented as a sash that splits into three sections at the small of their back stands in the doorway to a large hive themed like a human medieval castle, which seems to be directly across from Jejune's. The Deliveravager carries a sack attached to their sash, and a blue package is peeking out of the sack.

It seems you may have jumped the proverbial gun slightly. The deliveravager is currently delivering a package to that neighbor you hate so much. Sometimes you wish a meteor would fall on his hive so he would leave you in peace, but what are the odds of that happening?

Chapter Text

As Jejune stares across the lawnrings at the deliveravager, a glint in the doorway they are standing in front of is seen. Before anything further happens, we cut back to Silvan, and this track starts playing.

Silvan stands on his newly made balcony, staring up at the sky as meteors streak across it. The remaining sgrub machines are set up around him, with the totem lathe directly beside him, the cruxtruder right behind him in the left corner, and the alchemiter in the right one. As the meteors approach, Silvan's trident appears in his hand and he jams the prongs under the lid of the cruxtruder. With a heave, the trident is used as a crowbar and pries the lid off, sending it flying off to land in the ocean somewhere. Emerging from the cruxtruder comes a kernelsprite-- the flashing, changing, fuchsia orb hovering next to Silvan as he stares at it in confusion, bathed in its light. A timer appears on the cruxtruder, starting at 1:39 and counting down.

This moment is interrupted as the entire hive seems to shake, making Silvan flail wildly to keep his balance.

 

It flashes to Neraka, who is standing on the roof of a massive treehouse hive. She peers through a telescope, and we can see the meteors streaking down in the scope's reflection. Neraka steps back and a keyboard appears in front of her. Her fingers blur over the keys, and a thick-looking captchalogue card with a husktop contained within falls to the ground in front of her. The keyboard disappears, and a long chain appears in the troll's hands.

 

It then flashes to Dermet, staring at his husktop for a long moment before typing away at it quickly. The grubs on the ground hooked up to his husktop start to pulse and writhe as he starts the game.

 

Now, Silvan is rushing down through the water, which is stained pink around him. He stops, staring in horror at the sight before him-- 

His Squid Lusus is pressed against the wall of the hive. Cracks spiderweb out from around him, but the real horror is the bloody hole where his eye used to be. A large meteorite, stained with the lusus' blood, lays on the seabed below. The kernelsprite follows behind Silvan, darting around him without a care in the world.

 

Neraka grits her teeth, staring through her telescope and swinging the chain in a circle. The other end is tied around the card with the husktop, and as she releases it, the chain and card go sailing upwards, arcing until it is struck from the sky by a falling meteor!

 

There is a sudden white flash, and we see the deliveravager near Jejune again. There is a sword blade stained with olive green blood next to them, and slowly, the top half of the deliveravager's torso falls away, olive blood spraying everywhere and revealing a pair of eyes glaring out from the darkness of the doorway, and an arm with an indigo sleeve catches the deliveravager's pack deftly, the package within being again shown for a brief moment.

 

Silvan explodes from the water's surface, an angry snarl on his face as he looks at the machines in front of him. Several notifications displaying CP's sign go off from his husktop, but he ignores them and spins the crank on the cruxtruder, the force of the turn making it spin quickly and shoot out plenty of fuchsia-coloured cruxite dowels. He catches one and puts it into the totem lathe, tapping it angrily in a simple pattern as a pre-punched card appears and slides neatly into the empty slot in the lathe. Fuchsia tears drip onto the floor as he takes the now carved totem.

 

Dermet stares out his window as the meteors fall, his mouth screwed up in a sad grimace as the rocks streak by.

 

Jejune snarls and grabs his hammer, leaping towards the murderous troll that just stole his package. The hammer's swing, while true and strong, was blocked by a door as it was suddenly slammed closed in front of it, making Jejune fall back onto his rear.

 

Silvan stands in front of a small, bright fuchsia, brick tower, which has appeared on his Alchemiter's large platform. Fuchsia streaks stain his face as he glares at it, a look of resolve in his gaze.

 

Neraka sighs in relief, watching the meteor go before turning to head back inside.

 

The clock on Silvan's cruxtruder reads a mere 0:09 now.

 

Jejune is slamming his hammer into the door, but seems to be making no headway no matter how desperately he attacks.

 

Silvan grips his trident tightly, staring up as a large meteor speeds towards him.

 

Dermet looks back at his husktop as it seems to be giving him notifications from someone.

 

The trident stabs through the tower with ease, bricks flying every-which-way as the red light of the meteor bears down on the troll, before it all cuts to an empty blackness.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

The curtains fade to black. A green loading bar soon appears, slowly moving up from 0 to 100%.

The loading bar fades away, and we see a view of a night sky. Alternia's two moons shine brightly through the clouds, as the view slowly pans down to a mountain. The view continues to pan, moving into a cave in the side of the mountain and moving inside. We see a husktop sitting on the cave floor, its screen on and shining brightly.

Chapter Text

In the cave, we see a shadowy figure approach the husktop. What appears to be its hair is windblown and messy, but not too long. There are small, round shapes on its head.

Chapter Text

The figure moves into the light, revealing itself. It is a troll wearing plain white shoes, grey pants, and a black shirt with the following symbol on it: 

His outline matches that seen in the previous page, with his hair messy while his horns curl in on top of his head. Most disturbing of all of this is the blank white eyes he has, possessing no pupils.

Chapter Text

Alright, that's enough of that!

Chapter Text

You're about to try again, when there is a flash of light and suddenly, the name box shatters!

That bit has run its course. We're on Act 2 now, don't you think it's time we move away from references that serve no purpose other than to delay an actual introduction for two pages?

Chapter Text

Your name is ACODER BYTEND. You USED TO BE VERY OPTIMISTIC, but BEING DEAD made you a PRETTY BIG PESSIMIST, not to mention quite STOIC at times. You've found it DIFFICULT to enjoy the things you USED TO ENJOY, instead pushing yourself to do WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE to SAVE YOUR FRIENDS, but before you DIED you enjoyed FLARPING and WRITING STORIES most. You also DABBLED in FIDUSPAWN on occasion.

You are often found to be rather CRYPTIC, and have a HARD TIME EMPATHIZING with others. You tend to give off a bit of an EMOTIONLESS air, but this is mostly because you DON'T ALLOW YOURSELF to let EMOTION get in the way of your GOALS. You have also LEARNED PATIENCE, as you have been WAITING TO ACCOMPLISH these goals ever since you DIED, which was LONGER AGO THAN YOU CAN REMEMBER. You don't have many FRIENDS ANYMORE, but you STILL HAVE ENOUGH CONNECTIONS to accomplish your MISSION. Your trollian handle is executiveException, and you of+=n hav= difficul+y sp=aking cl=arly +o o+h=rs.

What will you do?

Chapter Text

The entirety of the cave is now in view, and we can see that it is simply a one-room cave. The husktop sits on the ground, and the walls are a dark grey-blue colour.

Acoder stands in the middle of the cavern, in front of his husktop.

You've been hiding out in this cave for some time, as it is in the prime location for your goals. You instructed Silvan to have your package delivered to the hive nearby, and you would take care of the rest- to which he apparently complied, but since you are, of course, up a mountain, it will take some time before the packages actually arrive.

Chapter Text

You could certainly do that again, but you've already gotten everything settled. You're currently ghosting- if you'll pardon the wordplay-  the memo while Future you answers Dermets remaining questions.

You will look it over later, to make sure you know what to say and expect when you join this memo in the future, but for now you have to get to work, to make sure the remaining holdout won't be a problem when it comes to entering the game.

Chapter Text

-- executiveException [EE] began trolling rapaciousConniver [RC] --

EE: h=y

RC: What do you want?

EE: your packag= will b= arriving soon

RC: 1 told S1lvan not to s3nd th3 damn th1ng to m3, 1 don't know why you s33m to car3 so much.

RC: 1'm not go1ng to play your dumb gam3, 1 hav3 much mor3 1mportant th1ngs to do.

EE: ah y=s. +h= conqu=s+ of +rollkind won+ s+ar+ wi+hou+ you and all +ha+

EE: =v=n +hough playing +his gam= will allow you +o asc=nd +o godhood

RC: Y3ah, 1'm call1ng bullsh1t on that. A gam3 can't do that.

EE: and your= +oo s+ubborn +o lis+=n +o a lowblood +ha+ shouldn+ =v=n b= aliv=, youv= said all +his b=for=

RC: You'r3 m1squot1ng m3, 1 don't l1k3 that.

RC: 1'm far mor3 conc3rn3d w1th you not only b31ng a l1m3blood, but a troll that 1s OP3NLY a l1m3blood, 3v3n though you w3r3 3rad1cat3d a long t1m3 ago.

EE: im fully awar=.

EE: bu+ you ar=n+ jus+ a random s=l=c+ion

EE: you ar= r=quir=d +o play wi+h us

RC: 1'm not R3QU1R3D to do ANYTH1NG, Acod3r. 1 may not b3 1n charg3 y3t, but 1 sur3 as H3LL outrank YOU.

EE: silvan has also ask=d +ha+ you play

RC: S1lvan 1s a good ally, and 1 r3pay th1s by not r3v3al1ng h1s s3cr3t. Play1ng som3 dumb gam3 1s hardly part of that arrang3m3nt.

EE: h=s your b=s+ fri=nd. in fac+, h= may b= your only fri=nd, so p=rhaps you should b= a li++l= mor= coop=ra+iv=

EE: i don+ lik= you on principl=, bu+ i also don+ lik= you on a p=rsonal l=v=l. how=v=r, i know +ha+ +his conv=rsa+ion will n==d +o go on un+il on= of us backs down, and i am =x+r=m=ly pa+i=n+

RC: You may hav3 a po1nt, but 1 hav3 a count3rpo1nt.

-- rapaciousConniver [RC] blocked executiveException [EE] --

Chapter Text

Hm. That's not a horrible idea. As you mentioned, Silvan had already asked him to play and been denied, so who could work some kind of magic and get him to cooperate...

You're only pretending to wonder, of course. You know exactly who can influence this troll into playing.

Chapter Text

-- executiveException [EE] began trolling mechanizingVictimizer [MV] --

EE: i n==d your h=lp

MV: W4a+? No 4ello? S+raig4+ +o +4e poin+ as usual 4u4

Chapter Text

Acoder sits in front of his husktop, the light from the screen illuminating his face and his blank, white eyes.

EE: of cours=

EE: +im= is of +h= =ss=nc=

MV: Rig4+ Ive 4eard. If youre making sure Im able +o play +4e answer is s+ill yes. My package s4ould be arriving any +ime now so jus+ relax

EE: whil= +ha+s good +o h=ar +ha+ isn+ wha+ im m=ssaging you abou+

MV: O4?

EE: w= hav= a holdou+ s+ill

EE: and your= +h= only on= +ha+ can chang= his mind

MV: W4o are you +alking abou+

MV: Wai+

MV: O4 you 4ave GO+ +o be kidding me

EE: im no+ known for kidding

MV: You +4ink IM +4e one +o ask abou+ +4is

EE: y=s

MV: You realize Im 4is kismesis rig4+

EE: y=s

MV: And 4es likely +o refuse w4a+ I +ell 4im +o do jus+ +o spi+e me

EE: y=s

MV: S+op saying yes

EE: ...

MV: And were sure we absolu+ely need 4im for +4is

EE: y=s

EE: sorry

EE: corr=c+

MV: +4a+ fel+ passive aggressive bu+ Ill le+ i+ slide

EE: p=rhaps

MV: Ug4444 youre worse +4an Neraka

MV: Fine

MV: Ill see w4a+ I can do

EE: much appr=cia+=d

EE: +h= soon=r +h= b=++=r

EE: +h= copi=s ar= on +h=ir way

EE: good luck

-- executiveException [EE] gave up trolling mechanizingVictimizer [MV] --

Chapter Text

A female troll stands in a respiteblock. Her horns curve down from the sides of her head, forming a giant curve between them. Her hair is in a ponytail down her back, and she wears a black shirt and a pair of grey overalls over them. On the overalls is the following sign, with the two curves on the sides wrapping around the buttons of the overalls;

Her respiteblock is strewn with wires and bits of metal, half of a robot leaning up against a wall, and her brown recuperacoon sits near it. She stands in front of a table with a brown husktop on it, connected to many of the wires covering the floor.

And who is this, now?

Chapter Text

There is a slight pause as you wait for the name box to appear, likely with some humourous, if incorrect, name that you couldn't read anyway. It dawns on you that that won't be happening again, and you finally get to the introduction the page after you see this troll! Huzzah!

Your name is LESMET AUTONO. You are very PLAYFUL TROLL, and always seem to BOUNCE BACK from anything that happens, taking it in STRIDE and WORKING HARD to move PAST IT. You've recently gotten into FIDUSPAWN, and have been trying to GET SOME OF YOUR FRIENDS INTO IT, with LITTLE SUCCESS SO FAR. You also love CAUSING MISCHIEF, especially when you're causing it with a HIGHBLOOD. Especially ONE HIGHBLOOD IN PARTICULAR.

When you're ANXIOUS OR UPSET, you like to CALM YOURSELF DOWN by TINKERING WITH MACHINES, which you have started doing as a HOBBY as well, even MAKING A FEW ROBOTS out of SCRAP PARTS YOU'VE FOUND. This hobby, along with your LUSUS, has coined you the nickname GREASEMONKEY, which you find yourself getting a LOT OF ENJOYMENT OUT OF. As you've PROBABLY MADE OBVIOUS, you are a TOP- NOTCH MECHANIC. You're also one of the BIGGEST COMPUTER GEEKS YOU KNOW, second only to ONE OTHER.

You've also recently been getting into SPECIALIZED COMBAT, and have PICKED UP a few different FIGHTING STYLES, specializing in the use of your LEGS, which helps you KEEP UP WITH the more ENERGETIC trolls you HANG OUT WITH. Your trollian handle is mechanizingVictimizer and you 4ave a bi+ of a 4eavy +one w4en you speak

Chapter Text

-- mechanizingVictimizer [MV] began trolling rapaciousConniver [RC] --

MV: 4ey ass4ole

RC: Ah, what a lov3ly th1ng to b3 gr33t3d w1th.

RC: 1f you'r3 hop1ng to 3ngag3 1n som3 mor3 bant3r, 1'm afra1d 1 hav3 much mor3 1mportant th1ngs to do than amus3 you.

MV: O4 Im sorry am I in+errup+ing your diary wri+ing

MV: Wai+ no +4a+s rig4+

MV: I+s no+ a diary i+s a no+ebook for all your sc4emes and plans

MV: Or 4as i+ c4anged again

RC: 1t has not.

RC: 1 suppos3 congratulat1ons 1s an ord3r, you corr3ct3d your 1nsult wh1l3 st1ll try1ng to b3l1ttl3 m3.

MV: Bi+e me

RC: At l3ast you mak3 an 3ffort to uphold our quadrant, d3sp1t3 my cl3ar sup3r1or1ty. k33p th1s up and p3rhaps 1'll grant you a pos1t1on of pow3r 1n my n3w world ord3r.

RC: Noth1ng w1th any r3al author1ty, of cours3, but 1'm sur3 1 can f1nd som3 us3 for you.

RC: P3rhaps a court j3st3r? Or a j3st3cut1on3r, so you can amus3 m3 wh1l3 st1ll b3n3f1tt1ng my rul3.

MV: Ill pass +4anks

RC: Probably for th3 b3st. 1 was ly1ng anyway.

MV: Yea4 I figured

MV: Anyway I didn+ message you +o ban+er as you sugges+ed

RC: W3r3 you, p3rhaps, r3cru1t3d to do th1s, th3n?

RC: By a c3rta1n troll w1th an 3xt1nct blood colour, all3dg3dly?

MV: I know w4ere youre going wi+4 +4is and +4e answer is bo+4 yes and no

MV: Yes 4e +old me you weren+ playing

MV: No Im no+ going +o +ell you +o play +4e game

MV: 4ones+ly i+ jus+ seems like youd be a big 4indrance +o us

MV: Or a+ leas+ +o me

RC: 1 b3g your pardon?

MV: W4en was +4e las+ +ime you played a coopera+ive game

MV: You 4ave no in+erpersonal skills and youre jus+ going +o ruin all of our 4ard work

MV: +4a+s w4y youll always fail in your sc4emes

MV: You can+ pu+ up wi+4 anyone else 4aving a common goal wi+4 you

RC: Don't b3 r1d1culous, 1 hav3 1nt3rp3rsonal sk1lls!

MV: Name one real friend you 4ave besides Silvan

MV: I don+ coun+ Im your kismesis

RC: Okay so mayb3 1 don't hav3 a lot of fr13nds.

MV: +4ere we go

MV: So basically

MV: Jus+ don+ worry abou+ w4a+ Acoder says

MV: We don+ need you

Chapter Text

RC: Oh.

RC: So that's how 1t 1s.

RC: F1rst of all, fuck you.

RC: S3cond, 1'm go1ng to prov3 you wrong, r1ght now.

RC: 1n fact, 1 hav3 just th3 th1ng.

RC: You'r3 go1ng to b3 prostrat1ng yours3lf at my f33t, apolog121ng and b3gg1ng for forg1v3n3ss wh3n you s33 th1s.

MV: I doub+ i+

RC: F1n3, l3t m3 just s3nd 1t!

-- rapaciousConniver [RC] sent a file: "h3r3syourproof.ath " --

MV: Okay bu+ I don+ +4ink w4a+evers in +4is file wi

-- mechanizingVictimizer's [MV'S] computer exploded --

Chapter Text

Lesmet stands in front of the flaming wreckage of her husktop, an angry glare etched onto her face as she empties a glass of water onto the flame to put it out.

That was too far, even for him. You have a sneaking suspicion you know just who to go to for this, and she's most likely the one he went to for the file that just reduced your husktop to a useless pile of garbage.

Chapter Text

Lesmet suddenly has a pair of large, grey goggles on, the lenses blacked out aside from an image of Neraka's sign on each.

-- mechanizingVictimizer [MV] began trolling enigmaticSalvation [ES] --

MV: Neraka I 4a+e +o be a bo+4er bu+ I could really use some 4elp

ES: d0n't w0rry ab0ut 1t, 1'm happy t0 help y0u (:3

They proceed to have this previous conversation.

Chapter Text

-- mechanizingVictimizer [MV] began trolling executiveException [EE] --

MV: Alrig4+, I did w4a+ you wan+ed

EE: and?

MV: 4e blew up my 4usk+op! ^-\n/-^

EE: +ha+ wasn+ suppos=d +o happ=n

EE: wha+ did you do

MV: O4 so i+s MY faul+?

EE: mos+ lik=ly y=s

MV: I was +rying +o prod 4im in+o playing and 4e go+ pissy a+ me

EE: you push=d +oo far

MV: W4y do I even bo+4er wi+4 you

MV: Youre more emo+ionless +4an my robo+s

EE: +h=n your= making robo+s +oo good

EE: you wan+ +h=m as diff=r=n+ from +rolls as possibl= id +hink

MV: +4a+ wasn+ mean+ +o be +aken li+erally

EE: in fu+ur= pl=as= l=ad wi+h +ha+ informa+ion

MV: Well anyway, now I can+ play ei+4er unless Neraka manages +o ge+ me a fres4 4usk+op

EE: sh=s v=ry r=sourc=ful

EE: +ha+ isn+ a conc=rn

MV: For you maybe

EE: +h= r=al conc=rn is +ha+ silvan is s+ill offlin=

EE: and his s=rv=r isn+ answ=ring m= =i+h=r

MV: Youre +4e exper+ 4ere

MV: Im sure you can figure ou+ w4o else can do your dir+y work

EE: your =ncourag=m=n+ is no+=d bu+ unn=c=ssary

EE: wi+hou+ silvan or yours=lf no on= has a clos= =nough conn=c+ion wi+h him +o convinc= him of any+hing in +im=

EE: and +h= packag= is making i+s way up +o him as w= sp=ak

MV: 4es in no mood +o +alk +o me

MV: And +4e feeling is mu+ual

MV: Any ideas?

MV: 4ey Acoder!

EE: i apologiz=

EE: im jus+ asking mys=lf for advic= b=for= i go

MV: Go?

EE: b=s+ of luck wi+h your husk+op

-- executiveException [EE] gave up trolling mechanizingVictimizer [MV] --

MV: ...

MV: W4a+ +4e fuck???

Chapter Text

Acoder sits in front of his husktop, one hand resting on his face.

 

You feel as close to exasperated as you've felt in a long time. Why can't anything be easy?

You're well on your way through asking yourself for help, but it seems that you have no input to add. You'll just have to hope that things work out in the end.

Hope has never been your strong suit.

Chapter Text

This issue is out of your hands for now. Putting thoughts of your holdout out of your head, you decide to check in with some of the others.

Who did Dermet say was getting it before you?

Chapter Text

-- executiveException [EE] began trolling deficitWanhope [DW] --

EE: has +h= packag= arriv=d y=+

DW: We}}, #e}}o to you too!

DW: Just got it now. T#is is gonna be so fun!

EE: good

EE: glad som= +hings ar= running smoo+hly

DW: You seem more down t#an usua}, buddy >):[

EE: oh no

EE: jus+ having som= difficul+i=s wi+h som= play=rs

DW: Don't worry about it, I know it'}} a}} work out!

EE: wha+ mak=s you say +ha+?

DW: I #ave #ope!

DW: T#at's a}} we need! >):]

EE: i hav= +o mak= sur= i can g=+ my copy

EE: can you k==p +abs on cc for m= whil= im gon=

DW: Sure! S#e's gonna be #appy you t#oug#t of #er!

EE: sh= do=s lov= +h= a++=n+ion

Chapter Text

Acoder floats out of the entrance of the cave, making his way up and around the mountain we'd seen back at the start of Act 2. As the view moves around, a large, ornate-looking hive comes into view. The windows are coloured a deep purple, and it seems to be built into the side of the mountain. The view zooms in on the mansion, and we see two large packages stacked at the door.

With a flash, Acoder swipes one just as the door starts to open, revealing a young troll with a buttoned-up grey jacket. His black hair is swept back from his face, and his horns stick up from the sides of his head, with a slight curve backwards and ending in a sharp point. He wears grey pants to match the jacket, and emblazoned across the front of the jacket is the following sign:

 

Chapter Text

The troll stands in the doorway, looking around, suspicious.

Your name is CHROMA TUSSIK, and you live in a MOUNTAIN LAIR. You enjoy SITTING AROUND AND READING, and talking to your LUSUS, who ISN'T MUCH OF A CONVERSATIONALIST. You spend a lot of time THINKING ABOUT EVERYTHING, and you like to KNOW SOMETHING IS CERTAIN rather than TAKE ANY CHANCES WITH IT. As such, you think this GAME everyone is pushing for you to play is POINTLESS AT BEST, and STUPID AT WORST.

You have a LONGING FOR POWER- more than your BLOOD CASTE already GIVES YOU- and you have VARIOUS SCHEMES PLANNED OUT, though you have yet to ACTUALLY GO THROUGH WITH any of them. You will SOMEDAY, though, you tell yourself. You just need to find THE RIGHT ONE, and all of TROLLKIND will bow before you. You'll EXECUTE THE QUEEN yourself gladly if you have to! Your trollian handle is rapaciousConniver, and you th1nk oth3ers f1nd you cra2y som3t1me3s, but you r3ally just approach conv3rsat1ons you car3 about with gr3at 23al.

You just found a package left on your front step. You could have sworn there were two, but there is very clearly only one. Silvan shouldn't have wasted so many caegars getting this to you, but you appreciate the thought, you suppose.

Chapter Text

Chroma walks into his respiteblock. The entire visible wall is covered in a mess of papers with illegible scribbles and indistinct pictures on them. The corner of his yellow recoupracoon is visible opposite the door, and a desk with a yellow husktop and a thick book sits centred against the paper-strewn wall.

Chroma tosses the package lazily onto the desk and sits down at it, grabbing the book and flipping it open boredly.

You figure you may as well bring it inside, even if you're not going to use it.

Your self-entitled "Scheme Journal" catches your eye. Maybe if you could come up with a worthwhile scheme, you could use that as an excuse to get everyone off your back! You look back on some of your earlier work, taking stock of the resources you have available.

Chapter Text

The screen slowly fades to black as Chroma stares at his journal intently.

Oh, right... Your first big step towards world domination; The day you recruited an honest-to-goodness fuchsiablood to your cause.

Chapter Text

A much younger-looking Chroma sits on the floor with his husktop, looking like he can't be older than three or four sweeps at most. His jacket is replaced with a standard black shirt, and a smear of white face paint is across his face, not forming any particular pattern or shape beyond just coating it messily. The scheme journal sits open next to him.

-- defectiveHighblood [DH] began trolling rapaciousConniver [RC] --

DH: h3y you

RC: Hm?

DH: stop look1ng 1nto fuchs1abloods

DH: 1t's gonna g3t you cull3d

RC: Ar3 you thr3at3n1ng m3?

DH: 1'm warn1ng you, dumbass

RC: 1f you'r3 warn1ng m3, th3n you must know a fuchs1ablood. You don't n33d to worry about m3, 1 assur3 you.

DH: or mayb3 1 just know that look1ng 1nto fuchs1abloods 1s g3n3rally a bad 1d3a

DH: th3 qu33n tak3s pot3nt1al thr3ats to h3r thron3 v3ry s3r1ously

DH: 3v3n 1f you don't g3t cull3d, 1f you 3nd up 3xpos1ng on3, th31r blood 1s gonna b3 on your hands

DH: and cons1d3r1ng what you'v3 b33n look1ng 1nto, 1 don't th1nk that's what you'r3 go1ng for

RC: V3ry astut3 of you. T3ll your fr13nd 1n h1d1ng that sh3 has no n33d to f3ar. 1 w1sh to h3lp h3r ov3rthrow th3 qu33n!

DH: you'r3 31th3r r3ally bad at try1ng to b3 a doubl3 ag3nt, or you'r3 just r3ally stup1d

DH: aft3r what you just sa1d, 1 th1nk w3'r3 both go1ng to b3 track3d down and cull3d 1f th1s conv3rsat1on g3ts out, so 1'll just g3t 1t out th3r3:

DH: 1'm th3 fuchs1ablood you'r3 look1ng for

DH: so stop look1ng 1nto m3

RC: 1f you th1nk 1'm th3 stup1d on3, th3n you hav3 to know that w1ll n3v3r work.

DH: 3xcus3 m3?

RC: You'r3 try1ng to tak3 th3 fall so 1 stop look1ng. You can't b3 th3 fuchs1ablood.

DH: ...

DH: why th3 fuck not???

RC: Your chumhandl3.

RC: 31th3r you'r3 an ov3r23alous fan of a brand-n3w mus1c1an whos mus1c 1s b3g1nn3r-l3v3l at b3st, or you ar3 th3 mus1c1an 1n qu3st1on. And on th3 album h3 r3l3as3d, h3 d1d r3f3r to h1ms3lf as a boy troll.

RC: Th3r3 hasn't b33n a boy fuchs1ablood 1n ov3r a hundr3d sw33ps.

DH: 1’m go1ng to 1gnor3 th3 jab at my mus1c.

DH: but w3 ar3 poss1bl3

DH: and th3r3 hasn't b33n a boy fuchs1ablood that th3 publ1c KN3W ABOUT 1n ov3r a hundr3d sw33ps

DH: th3 qu33n culls us qu13tly as soon as sh3 l3arns of our 3x1stanc3 to try and mak3 th3 Prosp3ct1v3 s33m l1k3 mor3 of a mutant.

RC: 1 suppos3 at th1s po1nt, you'd hav3 to b3 cra2y to k33p 1ns1st1ng...

DH: 1'll t3ll you what

DH: t3ll m3 your plan

RC: Hm?

DH: to ov3rthrow th3 qu33n

RC: Oh

RC: 1 don't hav3 th3 whol3 plan y3t, r3ally

RC: 1 want3d to mak3 sur3 1 had a fuchs1ablood f1rst

RC: Gath3r my r3sourc3s b3for3 1 th1nk of som3th1ng, you know?

DH: so you'v3 b33n d1gg1ng for noth1ng

RC: How d1d you 3v3n f1nd out about m3? 1 was go1ng to hav3 th3 plan b3for3 1 contact3d you onc3 1 found you!

DH: 1 hav3 a fr13nd k33p1ng an 3y3 out for p3opl3 snoop1ng 1nto my 3x1stanc3

RC: 1 pr3f3r th3 t3rm 's3arch1ng'

DH: snoop1ng

DH: okay

DH: 1f you com3 up w1th a plan that 1 l1k3

DH: 1'll back you on 1t

DH: but 1n r3turn

DH: you hav3 to stop look1ng 1nto f1nd1ng fuchs1abloods

DH: 1t's go1ng to g3t m3 cull3d

RC: D3al!

Chapter Text

The view changes to a more recent Chroma, looking the same as normal and sitting at his desk.

-- defectiveHighblood [DH] began trolling rapaciousConniver [RC] --

DH: h3y Chroma!

DH: N3raka just told m3 about a gam3

RC: Oh boy, a v1d3o gam3? L3t m3 stop 3v3ryth1ng 1'm do1ng to l3t you r3gal3 m3 w1th stor13s about th1s wond3rous th1ng that 1'll d3f1n1t3ly car3 about.

DH: hah hah

DH: r3ally though, 1 want to play 1t w1th you!

DH: 1t s33ms r3ally fun?

RC: S1lvan, 1 don't s33 th3 po1nt 1n play1ng th1s gam3 w1th you. Don't you hav3 anoth3r fr13nd you can play w1th?

DH: oh, 1t's a group gam3

RC: Pardon?

DH: w3'r3 all play1ng!

RC: Ah.

RC: W3ll that mak3s my answ3r 3v3n 3as13r.

RC: No.

DH: aft3r 3v3ryth1ng 1'v3 don3 for you?

RC: 3v3ryth1ng you'v3 don3?

RC: S1lvan, you hav3n't don3 anyth1ng. 1'v3 k3pt your 3x1stanc3 a s3cr3t for almost two sw33ps now.

RC: 1f anyth1ng, you should b3 ow1ng m3.

DH: you st1ll hav3n't sugg3st3d any plans that hav3 any shot at work1ng, 1'm hold1ng up my 3nd of th3 barga1n

DH: 1'm sorry for try1ng to sp3nd t1m3 w1th my fr13nd! 1'v3 b33n so busy lat3ly and th1s 1s 1mportant

RC: What could b3 so 1mportant about a dumb gam3 you only just h3ard about?

DH: 1

DH: 1 don't know how to 3xpla1n 1t

RC: You don't know?

RC: Or you won't?

RC: 1 know wh3n p3opl3 ar3 w1thhold1ng 1nformat1on from m3, S1lvan. 1'v3 b33n d1gg1ng 1nto s3cr3ts s1nc3 1 could typ3.

DH: 1 don't know! [>:(

RC: That was too far, 1'm sorry.

DH: m3 too

RC: 1 hav3 a d1stract1on 1n m1nd, how3v3r.

DH: f1n3

RC: A sch3m3.

DH: 1 do 3njoy h3ar1ng your sch3m3s

RC: You s33m to 3njoy shoot1ng down my sch3m3s.

DH: what 1 3njoy 1s not b31ng cull3d for do1ng so1m3th1ng r3ally dumb that has no r3al chanc3 of work1ng

RC: You m1ss all th3 shots you'r3 too much of a cluckb3ast to tak3.

DH: you also m1ss all th3 shots that ar3 f1r3d out of an 3mpty th1nkpan

DH: shot r1ght through your gand3rbulb hol3s, sur3, but no a1m1ng at all

RC: Alr1ght, 1 g3t 1t. My plan d1dn't hav3 a frond to balanc3 on.

DH: wh3r3 would w3 hav3 3v3n gott3n a scuttl3buggy, anyway?

RC: You'r3 l1k3, ub3r-r1ch, ar3n't you?

DH: sur3, but 1 can't just go dropp1ng that k1nd of ca3garcas3 on a scuttl3buggy that n31th3r of us knows how to dr1v3

Chapter Text

Chroma is jolted out of his reminiscence by a notification from his husktop. Neraka's symbol flashes on screen:

Huh? What's this about?

Chapter Text

-- enigmaticSalvation [ES] began trolling rapaciousConniver [RC] --

ES: get 0ver y0urself.

RC: 3xcus3 m3?

RC: You 1nt3rrupt3d valuabl3 plann1ng t1m3 to 1nsult m3?

ES: why else w0uld 1 1nterrupt anyth1ng y0u d0?

RC: What 3xactly do you m3an?

ES: 1 sent y0u that f1le because y0u 1ns1sted y0u wanted t0 use 1t 0n 0ne 0f y0ur stup1d plans

ES: and y0u blew up my m01ra1l's huskt0p

ES: 1 get that y0u d0n't want t0 play th1s game because y0u'd rather d1e, but d0n't drag her d0wn w1th y0u.

RC: What's that suppos3d to m3an?

ES: y0u destr0yed her huskt0p. she can't play w1th0ut 1t. 1 had t0 send her a new 0ne and 1 really h0pe 1t g0t there, 0r 1'll k1ll y0u myself

RC: No 1 got that.

RC: What about m3 rath3r1ng dy1ng ov3r play1ng a dumb gam3?

ES: 1'm n0t beat1ng ar0und the bush l1ke the damn "0racles"

ES: l00k 0ut y0ur w1nd0w

ES: see all that new destruct10n 0n t0p 0f all the 0ld stuff?

ES: that's the game. and 1f y0u d0n't play, y0ur h1ve w1ll just be an0ther 1mpact s1te.

ES: take my adv1ce 0r d0n't. 1'll see y0u 1n there

ES: 0r n0t

ES: we'll see

-- enigmaticSalvation [ES] gave up trolling rapaciousConniver [RC] --

Chapter Text

-- rapaciousConniver [RC] began trolling defectiveHighblood [DH] --

RC: H3y S1lvan

RC: 3v3ryon3 k33ps bugg1ng m3 about th1s dumb gam3 you s3nt m3.

RC: 1 don't car3 1f 3v3ryon3 3ls3 l1k3s 1t, gam3s just r3ally ar3n't my styl3.

RC: 1s 1t that good that you can't 3v3n com3 onl1n3 now?

RC: 1 would hav3 thought you'd b3 on t3ll1ng 3v3ryon3 how gr3at 1t 1s and how r1ght you w3r3 to buy 1t for 3v3ryon3.

RC: H3r3's a qu3st1on, though.

RC: R3m3mb3r wh3n you f1rst tr13d to g3t m3 to play?

RC: And w3 almost got 1nto that f1ght, but 1 3xp3rtly avo1d3d 1t by r3m1nd1ng you of my last grand sch3m3?

RC: ...

RC: You sa1d you w3r3n't w1ll1ng to drop that k1nd of ca3garcas3 on a scuttl3buggy.

RC: And that mak3s s3ns3, 1n th3ory. You'r3 k33p1ng a low prof1l3 and you don't hav3 3nough of a follow1ng to just pass 1t off as a r1ch mus1c1an do1ng som3th1ng.

RC: Th1s gam3 costs almost as much.

RC: And you bought 3v3ryon3 a copy.

RC: ...

RC: Just com3 onl1n3 alr3ady! You can't b3 f33d1ng your lusus for th1s long, and you wouldn't b3 mak1ng mus1c r1ght now b3caus3 of that gam3!

RC: What3v3r.

RC: Anyway, 3v3ryon3's both3r1ng th3 h3ll out of m3 to play 1t.

RC: 1 can only block or blow up so many husktops, so...

RC: 1f 1t'll shut 3v3ryon3 up, f1n3. 1'll play 1t.

RC: But 1f 1t's not as good as you sa1d, 1'm qu1tt1ng.

RC: 1 gu3ss 1'll talk to you lat3r.

-- rapaciousConniver [RC] gave up trolling defectiveHighblood [DH] --

Chapter Text

Chroma seems to sigh as he stares at his husktop. He takes a pair of wriggling grubs out of the package he'd tossed onto the desk and set about plugging them into his husktop.

That's right, you should have started by now.

Who was it Silvan had said was your... Server? The red one, wasn't it?

Chapter Text

-- rapaciousConniver [RC] began trolling cowpokeCavalier [CC] --

RC: S1lvan t3lls m3 you'r3 suppos3d to s3rv3 m3?

RC: Wh1l3 h3 1s corr3ct 1n a broad s3ns3, 1 g3t th3 f33l1ng that, from what 1 know about you, you won't s3rv3 anyon3.

CC:: Darn right.

CC:: The Only thin I serve is sweet justice and the rules Of the ranch.

RC: 3xcus3 m3?

CC:: I'm just messin with yOu a little

CC:: I'm nOt SERVIN yOu, I'm yOur SERVER PLAYER.

CC:: Dermet tells me that means I'm mannin the wOrld Or sOmethin fOr yOu, sO yOu better watch Out, highblOOd varmint.

RC: Th1s 1s th3 long3st conv3rsat1on w3'v3 3v3r had, and from 1t, 1 can und3rstand why that 1s.

RC: 1 would l1k3 to trad3 s3rv3rs.

CC:: TOO late tO gO back nOw, pal.

RC: And why 1s that?

CC:: Cause I said sO c):)

CC:: Naw really thOugh, cause tOO many peOple are already gettin set up.

RC: Oh joy. 1 gu3ss that's what 1 g3t for wa1t1ng so long to g1v3 1n.

CC:: That's the spirit!

RC: 1t 1s?

CC:: Hell yeah!

Chapter Text

Chroma has his head down on his keyboard, bonking himself very slowly.

RC: What am 1 suppos3d to do, anyway?

CC: Well

CC: I can't actualy dO anythin until my cOpy arrives. c):(

RC: 1 l1v3 up a fuck1ng MOUNTA1N and 1 got m1n3 b3for3 you?

CC: What can I say? Purple Privilege.

RC: Fuck.

RC: So what do 1 do wh1l3 1 wa1t?

CC: Since neither yOur server Or client has their cOpy set up yet, uh...

CC: I have nO idea!

RC: L3t m3 g3t th1s stra1ght.

RC: 1'm constantly both3r3d and pr3ssur3d 1nto play1ng th1s stup1d gam3.

RC: 1 f1nally g1v3 1n and d3c1d3 to play 1t.

RC: And 1t turns out 1'm too lat3 to chang3 partn3rs...

RC: But too 3arly to ACTUALLY play th3 gam3?

CC: SOunds abOut right

RC: 1'm go1ng to m3ssag3 som3on3 that v3x3s m3 marg1nally l3ss than you hav3 so far.

CC: That checks Out c))

RC: What's that suppos3d to b3?

CC: I'm tippin my hat tO yOu.

RC: Goodby3.

-- rapaciousConniver [RC] gave up trolling cowpokeCavalier [CC] --

Chapter Text

-- rapaciousConniver [RC] began trolling deficitWanhope [DW] --

RC: H3y.

DW: We}} we}}, if it isn't my server! #ow's it going?

RC: Wa1t, 1'M your s3rv3r?

DW: Yes?

DW: You didn't know?

RC: S1lvan probably told m3 but 1 wasn't go1ng to play unt1l l1t3rally a f3w m1nut3s ago.

DW: Wait, w#at exact}y did you t#ink was going to #appen?

RC: 1 just thought som3on3 would f1ll m3 1n 1 gu3ss.

DW: We}}, I guess I'}} fi}} you in!

RC: Joy.

DW: CC is your server. T#at means s#e #as contro} of your game environment and messes wit# it to #e}p you p}ay.

DW: I am your c}ient. T#at means you've gotta contro} my game environment and #e}p ME p}ay.

DW: It's gonna be fun!

RC: Gam3 3nv1ronm3nt?

DW: Yea# I'}} be #onest I'm just te}}ing you w#at I've figured out from w#at }itt}e I know

DW: I'm not in t#e inner circ}e so I t#ink t#ey just }eft me out of t#e }oop a }itt}e.

DW: W#ic# is fine! I'm #ere to #ave a good time, not be a stick}er for ru}es!

RC: Okay, but you r3al123 how fuck3d up 1t 1s that w3'r3 talk3d 1nto th1s w1th 1mportant 1nformat1on b31ng w1thh3ld, r1ght?

DW: W#at does t#at mean?

RC: Th3 "1nn3r c1rcl3" 1s b31ng r3ally vagu3 and d1sm1ss1v3, and w3'r3 just suppos3d to go along w1th 1t.

DW: Acoder's a}ways }ike t#at, t#oug#.

RC: 1 3xp3ct3d 1t from h1m, f1n3. But th3 oth3r two should hav3 at l3ast told us som3th1ng!

RC: What's th3 3nd goal of th1s? B3s1d3s just w1nn1ng?

DW: U#

RC: Why do3s 1t n33d TW3LV3 play3rs?

DW: Does it?

RC: To b3 mor3 sp3c1f1c, why 1s 1t so 1mportant that W3 play 1t?

DW: Because we're t#eir friends!

RC: Your opt1m1sm 1s boundl3ss, but cross1ng 1nto na1v3t3.

RC: Okay, h3r3's an 3asy on3:

RC: Why was 1 push3d 1nto play1ng th1s th3 mom3nt 1 g3t 1t 1f w3'r3 st1ll wa1t1ng on 3v3ryon3 to g3t th31r copy?

DW: Um

RC: What's th3 gam3 3v3n call3d?

DW: I actua}}y DO know t#is one!

DW: Sgrub

RC: L1k3 scrub?

DW: }ike Sgrub!

RC: Fantast1c. Th3 nam3 fa1ls to f1ll m3 w1th any conf1d3nc3.

RC: My po1nt st1ll stands. Th3r3's a pow3r 1mbalanc3 h3r3.

RC: W3'r3 b31ng 3xclud3d from bas1c 1nformat1on b3caus3 S1lvan and h1s "1nn3r c1rcl3" d3c1d3d that w3 ar3n't 1mportant 3nough to t3ll 1t to.

RC: And th3y just 3xp3ct us to go along w1th 1t.

DW: But... you are going a}ong wit# it, aren't you?

RC: ...

DW: I t#ink we just need to re}ax and enjoy it!

DW: Giving t#em t#e benefit of t#e doubt won't be t#e end of t#e wor}d!

Chapter Text

Chroma starts fiddling with two grubs, trying to shove a bunch of wires connecting to his husktop into them.

RC: What 1f 1t 1s?

DW: T#en we can beat ourse}ves up about it }ater

RC: That's on3 way of look1ng at 1t 1 gu3ss

DW: Anyway, I just got it insta}}ed.

DW: }ast c#ance to c}uckbeast out, #e#e#e!

RC: ...

DW: P}ease don't, t#oug#

DW: I do wanna p}ay

RC: Fuck 1t, f1n3.

DW: #OORAY!

RC: 1 g3t th3 f33l1ng 1'm go1ng to r3gr3t th1s.

DW: Okay, if you're gonna start you gotta insta}} t#e grubs.

DW: I'm doing mine rig#t now

RC: Hold on, g1v3 m3 a s3cond.

RC: 1 don't usually hav3 t1m3 to play gam3s so 1'm not as prof1c13nt w1th th3s3 w1r3s.

RC: 1t'd b3 so much 3as13r 1f you could just st1ck th3 grub onto your husktop and 1t do3s all th3 work for you.

RC: 1'll hav3 to look 1nto that wh3n 1'm 1n charg3.

DW: }ook at you! Going from anti-gaming spokestro}} to t#e tro}} t#at's gonna revo}utionize gaming! I'm so proud.

RC: Alr1ght, h3r3 w3 go.

DW: Fee} free to start w#enever you're ready, I'm just getting CP started

Chapter Text

A female troll sits at a desk in her respiteblock. Her horns have a distinctive wave shape going back from the top of her head, over her long, flowing black hair. She wears what appears to be a wetsuit for diving, with deep violet lines curling around her waist like vines or the grasping tentacles of an octopus. Emblazoned on the front of her outfit is the following sign:

She is sitting at her desk, working intently on her husktop as various notifications pop up from trolls with the following signs:

Looking out the window, we see many fish swimming around in the ocean. Inside, the block itself was brightly decorated. Posters of various shows, movies, and games with the usual excessively lengthy alternian text telling the title of whatever the poster was showing. Strewn about the floor are scattered bits of fabric, as well as a small pile of it as if someone had begun to clean it up.

As she looks around, the blue cursor appears on screen and unceremoniously deposits a cruxtruder on the ground nearby.

Chapter Text

Your name is LORLEI INONDE. You're a very AFFECTIONATE troll, but you FIND IT HARD to form any LASTING CONNECTIONS. As such, you can sometimes find it difficult to HOLD ONTO ANY FRIENDS YOU MAKE, often coming off as OVERBEARING, CLINGY, or even RUDE.

As a SEADWELLER, you spend most of your time UNDERWATER, either WITH YOUR LUSUS or just EXPLORING AROUND YOUR HIVE. You also have a very EMBARRASSING HOBBY, one you'd sooner DIE than tell your friends; An old FLING of yours got you into FIDUSPAWN, and you have a CLOSET full of MERCHANDISE, CARDS, and even a few COSTUMES. As a much more PUBLIC HOBBY, you also thoroughly enjoy COSPLAY and have often SURPRISED OTHERS with your DESIGNING SKILL on some of your costumes. Your trollian handle is congenialParamour and =you lik3 to sp3ak <3ry sw33tly to 3<3ryon3 around you.=

And right now, you hardly have the time to even notice what your server player is doing behind you.

Chapter Text

The cursor picks up the pile of fabric and starts hitting Lorlei with it, to which the troll waves it away without turning. The cursor then simply dumps the pile on top of her, finally making her pause.

She turns to yell something, then blinks in surprise as her respiteblock has all the devices needed to begin the game scattered around it, the edge of a recoupracoon sticking out from behind the Alchemiter. Her husktop again pings with the yellow sign from before.

Chapter Text

-- deficitWanhope [DW] began trolling congenialParamour [CP] --

DW: #ey!

DW: #e}}o?

DW: }or}ei, #ey!

DW: A}rig#t, #i!

DW: Just wanted to }et you know you're a}} set up to start!

-- congenialParamour [CP] blocked deficitWanhope [DW] --

DW: Um?

DW: I guess you don't want to ta}k rig#t now, t#en...

Chapter Text

Lorlei stares at her husktop, a look of intense worry over her face as she continues to ignore her server player messing with items in her respiteblock.

CP: =Oh no...=

CP: =Sil<an, I am so sorry!=

CP: =I don't know what to do from h3r3, mayb3 try op3ning that tub3 thing?=

CP: =Oh, looks lik3 you'<3 got it!=

CP: =Hold on, you'r3 doing this stuff fast3r than I can doubl3 ch3ck what D3rm3t told m3!=

CP: =A wall?=

CP: =Sil<an why is 3<3rything turning r3d=

CP: =SIL<AN ANSW3R M3!=

CP: =Sil<an?=

Chapter Text

DH: h3's gon3

DH: h3 stopp3d a m3t3or from h1tt1ng my h1v3 and now h3's d3ad

DH: and 1f that wasn't 3nough

DH: wh3r3 th3 fuck am 1

CP: =I don't know. D3rm3t's not3s kind of just 3nd wh3n that wall show3d up.=

CP: =Sil<an I am=

CP: =SO sorry.=

DH: 1t's not your fault

DH: 1 just d1dn't th1nk th1s would happ3n

CP: =Sil<an I know how hard this must b3, but=

CP: =I think th3r3's som3thing in your hi<3?=

DH: what?

CP: =It do3s NOT look fri3ndly. It's in th3 block b3low you.=

DH: WHAT TH3 FUCK 1S THAT

CP: =How should I know??=

CP: =HOLY SHIT KILL IT=

DH: what th3 fuck d1d 1t just 3xplod3 1nto???

CP: =That's th3 stuff I was using to build your d3ck and stuff! G3t it, cuttl3fish!=

DH: can w3 not w1th th3 nam3s r1ght now

CP: =Aww, com3 on, it's ch33ring you up a littl3!=

DH: Lorl31 1'm s3r1ous. stop 1t.

CP: =Okay=

CP: =...=

CP: =I'm sorry=

DH: 1'm gonna

DH: 1 don't know

DH: mayb3 1'll k33p k1ll1ng th3s3 th1ngs. 1 just want to b3 l3ft alon3 for now.

CP: =About that=

CP: =Sil<an look b3hind you.=

Chapter Text

Silvan stands in a dark hallway, looking behind him as a fuchsia light illuminates him. His eyes widen, dropping the trident in shock.

Silvan: no way...

Chapter Text

We see a new troll sitting at his desk in his respite block, typing away at his purple husktop. His black hair is short and curly, allowing for full attention to be given to his two sets of horns. The top pair curved downwards, while the bottom pair curved upwards, crossing behind the upper horns. His eyes are hidden by a pair of black shades, but a faint blue and gold glow can be seen from behind the glasses as he continues to type. A gold-coloured scarf sits wrapped loosely around his neck, over a black, long-sleeved shirt with his sign on it.

Behind the troll, the block is filled with loose odds and ends strewn across the floor. Wires, books and clothes are piled haphazardly about, almost concealing the recuperacoon behind him. After a few seconds of typing, he is startled by the cruxtruder being dropped loudly on the ground behind him.

Good point. If Lorlei is too busy to talk right now, maybe you should get a move-on as well! Hopefully, Chroma has managed to install the server and HOLY SHIT WHAT'S THAT?

Chapter Text

RC: Okay, th3 s3rv3r 1s load1ng.

RC: Goodn3ss, your h1v3 1s a d1sast3r!

RC: Hav3 you 3V3R both3r3d cl3an1ng?

DW: It's just gonna get dirty again

RC: 1f th3r3 was l1t3rally any fr33 spac3 w1thout a m3ss, 1 would us3 th1s gam3 to cl3an your h1v3 for you, r3gardl3ss of th3 all3g3d po1nl3ssn3ss.

DW: If it bot#ers you so muc#

DW: Just as }ong as you }et me know w#ere you put everyt#ing! #:D

DW: O# wow

RC: What?

DW: }or}ei is busy doing somet#ing! S#e b}ocked me and everyt#ing

RC: Oh. Fantast1c onc3 aga1n.

RC: How 1s 1t that so many of our group w3r3 d3mand1ng 1 stop r3fus1ng to 3ngag3 w1th som3th1ng 1 don't want to do, and y3t 1 app3ar to b3 on3 of th3 f1rst who ar3 actually pr3par3d to play?

DW: Bad }uck it sounds }ike

RC: Ask3d and answ3r3d, 1 suppos3.

RC: What 1s th1s?

DW: W#at is w#at?

DW: #O}Y S#IT

RC: 1 d1d not r3al123 dropp1ng 1t l1k3 that was th3 d3fault. 1n what way do3s th1s mak3 s3ns3?

RC: Wa1t.

RC: 1s th1s gam3 ACTUALLY abl3 to 1nflu3nc3 your h1v3? 1t's not just V1rtual R3al1ty or som3th1ng on your 3nd?

DW: I guess so!

RC: That's...

DW: So coo}, yea#!

RC: 1 would call 1t conc3rn1ng but, sur3, cool 1s a word for 1t.

RC: Ram1f1cat1ons of b31ng abl3 to 1nflu3nc3 th3 r3al world through my husktop as1d3, th3r3 s33m to b3 oth3r th1ngs l1k3 th3 th1ng 1 dropp3d, 1 should probably put th3m down, too.

RC: 1f 1 mov3 som3 of your sh1t, 1t s33ms that th3 d3v1c3s do not s1mply fall to th3 floor.

RC: So 1 r3ally am do1ng m3n1al labour for you, 1 suppos3.

DW: I'}} c}ean your #ive sometime if t#at makes it even

RC: Pl3as3 don't thr3at3n m3 l1k3 that.

Chapter Text

The gold-blooded troll turns back towards his respiteblock as many of the piles of items are pushed aside, the newly-cleared floorspace immediately taken up by two more strange white devices and a sylladex card with holes punched into it.

Right, of course. There is a lot going on now. Who are you, again?

Your name is GAWAYN BULARK, and you are just HAPPY TO BE HERE. Despite your positive disposition, you have only a small group of friends, and for all of them- and then some!- to be PLAYING THIS GAME together is very exciting! You have often been described as SICKENINGLY POSITIVE, but you prefer to think of it as LIVING IN THE PRESENT. Your interests are varied and fleeting, as are, as your SERVER PLAYER has made clear, your HIVEKEEPING SKILLS. Of course, he is also ruining your tenuous organization system, so let's just hope you won't need a specific shirt or something anytime soon.

You lack much of the TECHNOLOGICAL EXPERTISE common to many of your caste, preferring instead the more HISTORICAL AND ANTIQUE machines and traditions of your ancient ancestors. You are fortunate that you do possess the PSYCHIC POWERS found in your caste, though, because these machines are often PAINFULLY INEFFICIENT without them. Best not to think about how these abilities may, then, have been used to POWER THE ALTERNIAN EMPIRE since their inception, you think. Despite the occasion of everyone being able to play a game together, though, it's starting to look like most of your friends are TOO PREOCCUPIED TO ENGAGE WITH YOU. But your server player is here, so maybe it's time he became more than just an AQUAINTANCE! Only once you figure out what's going on with this game, of course. Your trolltag is deficitWanhope, and you usua}}y tend to keep a }ig#t tone w#en you ta}k

If Lorlei is too busy to even talk right now, it looks like it's up to you to figure things out now! So... what are you supposed to do?

Chapter Text

Gawayn pulls and heaves at the wheel on the front of the cruxtruder, the lid shaking slightly with each pull but not opening.

That seems like a logical first step, for sure. But as you heave, it seems that the lid is stuck somehow. Bully for you, of course.

Chapter Text

The sgrub cursor, picking up the cruxtruder by the top, moves it back and forth, as if trying to shake something loose.

DW: Cou}d you give me a #and?

DW: T#is }id won't come off

RC: That f33ls l1k3 a pr3tty s3r1ous d3s1gn ov3rs1ght.

DW: Yea#

RC: Unfortunat3ly, 1t s33ms that th3 gam3 do3s not cons1d3r th3 l1d and th3 r3st of th3 d3v1c3 to b3 s3parat3, at l3ast as far as my ab1l1ty to p1ck th1ngs up go3s.

DW: #:(

DW: Someone s#ou}d }ook into t#at

RC: 1 doubt th3 cop13s w3'r3 g3tt1ng w1ll b3 r3c13v1ng updat3s any t1m3 soon.

RC: Ar3 you not a ps1on1c? That may h3lp you h3r3, mayb3 1t 1s just a gl1tch.

RC: ... A gl1tch 1n what w3 hav3 pr3v1ously stat3d and hav3 agr33d 1s, 1n no m3taphor1cal or hyp3rbol1cal s3ns3, th3 sam3 r3al1ty that w3 l1v3 1n.

DW: I've #eard t#at some g}itc#es can be rea}}y bad before fina} re}ease

Chapter Text

The lid of the cruxtruder is surrounded by a blue and gold flashing aura, and Gawayn stares at it intently, his shades also illuminated by the same colours.

RC: 1 th1nk 1t m1ght b3 com1ng loos3...

RC: Wa1t, mayb3 not.

RC: 1t's v3ry hard to t3ll from th1s p3rsp3ct1v3.

DW: I can twist it but it's not coming off! #>:(

RC: 1t's a scr3w cap? Why would th3y mak3 1t a scr3w cap 1f th3r3 ar3 no handl3s or anyth1ng?

RC: Th1s 3nt1r3 gam3 has don3 noth1ng but confus3 and frustrat3 m3.

Chapter Text

The glow fades for a second, then returns for another few seconds before the lid pops off and hovers above the cruxtruder, with a flashing golden orb floating out of the unblocked hole.

DW: ...

DW: I got it.

RC: You ar3 jok1ng. D1d you not 3v3n TRY to pull 1t off b3for3?

DW: I fe}t pretty confident wit# t#e twist cap! I mean, turning t#e w#ee} didn't force it off, so I figured t#ere was somet#ing more to it!

RC: F1n3, f1n3. At th1s po1nt 1n th3 n1ght, 1'm not 3v3n too both3r3d by th1s sort of th1ng,

RC: And 1t hasn't 3v3n b33n an hour s1nc3 th1s whol3 annoy1ng proc3ss b3gan.

DW: It can on}y get better from #ere!

RC: You and 1 both know that 1s NOT tru3. 1t can most C3RTA1NLY g3t wors3 from h3r3.

DW: Don't be so negative! We've got...

DW: Um. W#at are t#ese?

Chapter Text

Gawayn looks at the cruxtruder curiously. Now, a number is displayed, currently listed at 59 minutes and 45 seconds and counting down.

RC: Crystal cyl1nd3rs and a flash1ng orb of 3n3rgy.

RC: Ah y3s, 1 s33 now. how could 1 hav3 b33n so bl1nd to th3 sh33r g3n1us of d3s1gn that th1s gam3 has, th3 soph1st1cat1on, th3 3as3 of acc3ss and stra1ghtforward tutor1al.

DW: We've got crysta} cy}inders and a f}as#ing orb of energy!

Chapter Text

Gawayn places the cruxite dowel into the totem lathe, glancing over at his husktop as he uses his psionics to type, then picks up the pre-punched card from the ground nearby and adds it to the slot in the lathe.

DW: Come on, C#roma, t#e game wou}dn't be fun if we never #ad to t#ink of anyt#ing! {ook, see? T#e cy}inder fits perfect}y into t#is t#ingy!

RC: 1t looks l1k3 som3 k1nd of lath3. Ar3 w3 m3ant to cut th3 crystal som3how?

DW: {ook, t#is card t#ing fits in t#e }at#e t#ing perfect}y! And t#ere's anot#er w#ee}! Come on, I fee} }ike I'm rea}}y doing a}} t#e #eavy }ifting w#en it comes to optimism #ere!

RC: 1'm glad you f33l that way. 1t 1s a cl3ar s1gn that you ar3 not 3nt1r3ly d3tatch3d from r3al1ty w1th a th1nkpan so 3mpty that h1tt1ng your h3ad would produc3 an 3cho.

DW: C#roma, I'm serious! I know you didn't rea}}y want to p}ay, but even you #ave to admit t#is is incredib}e! You can inf}uence my #ive #owever you want from t#e safety of your own #usktop, and a}} it took was a coup}e of grubs! #ow are you NOT interested?

RC: Wh3n you put 1t that way...

RC: 1 SUPPOS3 1t 1s rath3r 1nt3r3st1ng, y3s.

DW: #:D

RC: 1mag1n3 1f 1 could us3 th1s t3chnology on ANY structur3? 1 could qu1t3 l1t3rally toppl3 th3 curr3nt r3g1m3 w1th 3as3.

DW: #:I

Chapter Text

As Gawayn returns to his husktop, he glances up at the kernel flitting about his respiteblock behind him.

DW: T#at's not w#at I meant... but if it means you're gonna try to #ave at }east a }itt}e more fun, I'}} take it!

RC: Y3s, v3ry w3ll, mor3 3xp3r1m3ntat1on 1s du3.

RC: To b3g1n w1th, 1 r3fus3 to l3t you call 3v3ryth1ng "th1ng13s".

RC: Accord1ng to th3 Ph3rn3l1a R3g1stry, th3 d3v1c3 you op3n3d 1s call3d th3 Cruxtrud3r, th3 on3 w1th th3 platform 1s th3 Alch3m1t3r, th3 Lath3 1s call3d th3 Tot3m Lath3- wh1ch 1 assum3 m3ans that th3 cyl1nd3rs ar3 Tot3ms- and th3 card 1s, appropr1at3ly, th3 Pr3-Punch3d Card.

DW: And w#at about t#e f}as#ing orb t#ingy?

RC: 1 cannot s33m to 1nt3ract w1th 1t at all, so 1 am r3ally not sur3.

DW: T#ingy it is!

RC: 1 cont1nu3 to hat3 today.