Death Comes Slowly

*rolls dice*

(5, 5, 1 4, 6)

It would take just over 3 perfectly placed shots of my weapon to fully down your mech. That would unfortunately include several reloads between shots.

I would just have to hope my comrades were more skilled than your "babies".

And I'm sure my leaders Lycan would be far faster than you.

[[ Stoke the fires of laughter ]]

[[ Begin Proselytizing ]]

Here we have a greatest scene

A creature out of touch with now

It has even lost its green

One must certain wonder how

[[ End Proselytizing ]]

[[ Serves you right fish fry ]]

I got plans and I got schemes i cannot divulge right now cuz the haters, Union, and the GM will sabotage me-

<I am disappointed.>

<< FISH >>

[ LOADING DEFENSE NETWORK: ‘Lunar_Fortress’ ]

[ Instantly, a multilayered wall of electronic/paracausal defenses springs into existence. Peering out through the fortifications are two sets of eyes—one of each is colorless, blink-blind, like the pulsating motion of phosphenes washing across the inside of one’s eyelids. It’s difficult to maintain eye contact. ]

< We’re ready this time. >

[ PRIORITY ACCESS OVERRIDE ACCEPTED. AUTHORIZATION: L4MI ]

[ ADMINISTERING COUNTERMEME ]

[ SUBJECTIVITIES STABILIZED: L2GR, L3HK ]

[[ Crackling with mirth ]]

[[ Begin Proselytizing ]]

If upon one Basilisk I sic

Their groaning laugh I will hear lastly

For there is but one that does the trick

Mighty power of Rick Astley

[[ End proselytizing ]]

[[ Sometimes the oldest weapons ]]

I DONT CARE ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE

Can you not beef with someone who has access to paracausal bullshit

FOR FIVE MINUETS!

[[ Burn away impurities ]]

[[ Begin proselytizing ]]

Starting fights with Ra's prophets

Will likely only add more fears

But unless this one forgets

I may have ways to change your ears

Do for me, some favors three

In pursuit of grand design

And cat bits I remove from thee

For they fit you most malign

[[ End proselytizing ]]

[[ Taking a picture for posterity ]]

While I am not fond of dealing with Ungratefuls, I do find your selection of music quite entertaining, especially while hunting.

Could you provide a piece for pursuing a flying predator? If so I can at least tell my fellows there are some good things still coming from Ludra's World.

~~ Ezariah Dahar Huin III, of the House of Glass ~~

This is such a politely worded request for the sheer fucking audacity it contains, Ezeriah Dahar Huin III.

You would name my home as it has not been called for 400 years but by those who would wipe us off of it, lead with your distaste for our movement, and still request our music so you can "at least tell my fellows there are some good things still coming from Ludra's World."

Do you hear yourself, Ezeriah? Did you think I would be honored by this? It is a series of insults with a request for the ignobles to play music for your entertainment laid on top, like you think it is an olive branch and not the demand it is.

I'm sure you "meant well." Here is your song, maybe it will inspire you to think some things over.

Imagine taking the great efforts and innovations the House of Stone brought Ludra's World ( At great cost, I might add ) and despoiling them with war and revolution, due to your own impatience. The impropriety!

My distaste for your movement does not extend to the people of Ludra's World, only their misguided notions. You are still Karrakin at heart, I am sure. I pray by the Passions that one day you might realize this and return to the arms that raised your world to what it once was.

Not all of us have given up on you. Even if you have given up yourselves.

~Salutations~

I have been informed I should properly introduce myself and my companions to the omninet. I shall attempt to do such.

I am Lord Ezariah Dahar Huin III, of the House of Glass. I once aspired to be an Albatross, but due to some misadventures in my youth that path was barred to me. I now spend my time and family's money hunting beasts, pirates, and rebels for fun and profit. Mostly fun. I drive my blisteringly fast Lycan "Death Comes Slowly" in pursuit of all manner of quarry. Next, is--

I can introduce myself, thank you.

I am Jexaliah Brue, pilot of the Pegasus "Hello There". I am the proud owner of one of, if not the, most powerful cannons mounted to a mech. I also act as Lord Huin's secretary, monitor, and wrangler when he gets too involved in a chase.

I resent those remarks!

You resemble them, more like.

Dante, it is your turn... Please be normal.

[[ Engaging paracode ]]

Hello all, I am Dante

To think, like poetry my words fold

Oe'r fires of Ra do I hold sway

From my Cambion Malbolge

[[ Disengage paracode ]]

Thank you Dante.

Why did i have to introduce myself? That is what you are for, Jex?

I didn't really hunt beasts (unless stowaway vermin count), but GALCOMM security contracts put us up against our share of pirates and insurgents... though as corporate employees we were more interested in profit than fun.

Any reason why you went with the Lycan as your frame of choice instead of the Nelson or Atlas? The Nelson is synonymous with the Albatross and its license is much more mobility focused than the Lycan, and Atlas is the fast hunting frame. Originally a dueling mech exclusive to the Baronies, it proved so good at hunting megafauna that SSC had to open the license just to meet Sparri demand.

Also, kindly inform your assistant that "I've got the biggest gun ever mounted to a Frame!" is a claim I've been hearing for literally decades. Specs or it didn't happen.

Ah, yes. The Nelson. I actually piloted a Nelson for some time. I had been licensing parts for another mech, I believe it may have been an Atlas or something similar ( time steals from ones memories, you know ) and when I printed it, to my surprise I found what appeared to be a turtle! It was, in fact, a Lycan frame that had incorporated many of my licensed parts. Where it came from, I know not but I have used it since quite effectively!

As for Jexaliah, she is quite fond of her cannon but it does require some setup time. Her maximum output is quite impressive, though. It shatters the spines of ships and kaiju alike quite effectively. The fact that she drives a Pegasus makes her weapon a bit more reliable between her bouts of annihilation.

I thank you for the welcome, I know Dante has already been preaching to whomever will listen here. Maybe one day we shall meet on a hunt!

I have a question, if I may be so bold: Do you prefer the arts whose twists are foreshadowed, or ones that burst forth from nowhere with unrestrained energy? My Lord Huin prefers the former, while I much prefer the latter. Now we cannot watch the same entertainment as he gets mightily upset when I call the plot of his omnishow in the first five minutes.

~~ Jexaliah Brue ~~

Good meet you, Lord Brue, please pass my regards on to Lord Huin.

I think that there is often a careful line with regards to plot twists in fiction. Good twists I find are clearly rooted in the fiction. Primor Kalina betrays her alliance with House Valin, and it feels good because we know that she is far more ambitious than wise, and House Valin has fallen out of favor with the Patronage, and they had been feuding with House Lenore, whose holdings we know she envies. However, they are not the expected paths. She has always been quite hostile to House Lenore, and the disfavor House Valin faces is based on slander, and Primor Kalina has been the most genuinely happy we have seen her in her relationship with the heir to House Valin. It makes more sense to expect her to side with them and attempt to take House Lenore's holdings in the process, but she does not and the twist feels earned.

I think that many twists fail either to be unexpected, and so they are boring and telegraphed, or fail to be grounded. Both of these are frankly equally boring to me, but I prefer a twist that is grounded and telegraphed to one that is unexpected and entirely based on nothing we knew prior.

Perhaps this is dodging the question. So be it. But I think the binary you have presented me conceals that both of the extremes here tend to be undesirable. We want the surprise, yes, but we also want the twists to be built into the plot.

Maybe with these words I can persuade my Lord to seek better programs for the both of us, and sulk less on movie nights. I fear too many more evenings have ended most spitefully due to our disagreement.

It's designed to function as an orbital bombardment platform. The version I carry is the original after it's been stripped down to the bare bones, gutted, retrofitted, and miniaturised and it still registers as ship grade weaponry on most sensors.

Leave the theatrics to the Pankrati. A weapon like yours should be saved for smiting the enemies of the Baronies.

Even if it is underpowered.

[[ Forging a weapon ]]

[[ Begin proselytizing ]]

I am no fish, seeking war

No grand Corsair on void-black seas

But, if weapons need, for oaths you swore

Then I would recommend that you take these

[ Minotaur-frame.license.omf ]

[[ End proselytizing ]]

[[ Accepting death is the first step to avoiding it ]]

[[ Burn away fears ]]

[[ Begin proselytizing ]]

A labyrinth, of mind and mech

One can find within is cloaked

But rest assured, it is just tech

And none of it will leave you soaked

[[ End proselytizing ]]

[[ I mean you no harm ]]

[[ Lighting a new fuse ]]

[[ Begin proselytizing ]]

If Ra's gifts are not you thing

I hope this sparks interest

From many hands does new hope ring

In the mighty Everest

[ Everest-frame.license.omf ]

[[ End proselytizing ]]

[[ I am saddened you fear the gift ]]

[[ Alight with confusion ]]

[[ Begin proselytizing ]]

I cannot grasp your grave concern

For what drives your mighty steed

But should find your faith in turn

Come to me in time of need

[[ End proselytizing ]]

[[ I dont have anything lower tech ]]

[[ Forging a weapon ]]

[[ Begin proselytizing ]]

I am no fish, seeking war

No grand Corsair on void-black seas

But, if weapons need, for oaths you swore

Then I would recommend that you take these

[ Minotaur-frame.license.omf ]

[[ End proselytizing ]]

[[ Accepting death is the first step to avoiding it ]]

[[ Burn away fears ]]

[[ Begin proselytizing ]]

A labyrinth, of mind and mech

One can find within is cloaked

But rest assured, it is just tech

And none of it will leave you soaked

[[ End proselytizing ]]

[[ I mean you no harm ]]

[[ Lighting a new fuse ]]

[[ Begin proselytizing ]]

If Ra's gifts are not you thing

I hope this sparks interest

From many hands does new hope ring

In the mighty Everest

[ Everest-frame.license.omf ]

[[ End proselytizing ]]

[[ I am saddened you fear the gift ]]

[[ Forging a weapon ]]

[[ Begin proselytizing ]]

I am no fish, seeking war

No grand Corsair on void-black seas

But, if weapons need, for oaths you swore

Then I would recommend that you take these

[ Minotaur-frame.license.omf ]

[[ End proselytizing ]]

[[ Accepting death is the first step to avoiding it ]]

[[ Burn away fears ]]

[[ Begin proselytizing ]]

A labyrinth, of mind and mech

One can find within is cloaked

But rest assured, it is just tech

And none of it will leave you soaked

[[ End proselytizing ]]

[[ I mean you no harm ]]

[[ Forging a weapon ]]

[[ Begin proselytizing ]]

I am no fish, seeking war

No grand Corsair on void-black seas

But, if weapons need, for oaths you swore

Then I would recommend that you take these

[ Minotaur-frame.license.omf ]

[[ End proselytizing ]]

[[ Accepting death is the first step to avoiding it ]]