Iron Stars - yulimics-2022

@Nekofans Supporter (Anyone who is interested may participate in this) The kidnappings during this time of year have no end it seems and no sooner did you bid goodbye to T.urkey and his mystical feast with friends, you awaken in a massive lodge with a roaring fire burning in the common room. Each of you have fallen asleep in what looks like a festive sleeping bag here, awakening to a large breakfast of steaming breakfast food, and hot beverages. The windows are frosted with the cold outside, and though there is no tree or symbols of any specific religious denomination, , but the feeling of friendship and a shared well wish for the winter season that is coming. A spiced log has been added to the fire and pleasant aromas begins drifting through the room. Each of you smells your favorite thing, and your favorite memory of this time of year begins playing through your minds. There is the customary series of notes left on the table, and familiar with metaspace kidnappings as you are, it is known there is no urgency to get to them.

6

Ivan's acute senses when it comes to food already has him awake and at the table, pulling a little serving of everything on offer into an unholy mountain of calories on a single plate. He started quiet, but the excitement of another free kidnap-meal with everything cooked to perfection causes a few too many dishes to rattle, making his hungover-again sister wake up. Yulia gets up, does nothing to her bedhead hair, re-wraps herself in the provided blanket, and sits opposite of Ivan after taking a mug of hot cocoa. Ivan is elated; Yulia looks defeated. "I guess I should just get used to this," the older sister says mostly to herself, retreating into the wrapped blanket. "Maybe if we ignore the letters I can return home sooner." Ivan, looking like he took the time to make himself presentable excluding proper table manners, responds with food in his mouth. "Itsh the only time I can be myshelf and not forshed to have mannersh in Castle Artema, so I look forward to theshe now!" He swallows and throws a dinner roll at a random sleeping bag, still occupied with an unknown individual. "Wake up, I will eat all of this if you don't!"

Zorcash immediately pops up after being hit with a dinner roll. Reflexively they draw both of their weapons and point them at the unseen assailant. After their cleaner appendages take off the sleep from their eye stalks, they recognize what has happened. Again. "Hero G-G-General Ivan Wyke!? A-A-Again Zorcash g-g-get to s-s-see you?!" Zorcash gurgles and bubbles with joy and elation as they get up to join the two Wyke's at the table. Zorcash's extra mechanical appendages grab various things to put them on a plate while the blue Mosk turns to Ivan and Yulia, "Zorcash j-j-just got done s-s-sending note b-b-back to Ivan Wyke and M-M-Minerva then Zorcash w-w-went t-t-to sl-sl-sleep. W-W-Wake up and see Hero G-G-General Ivan Wyke and kid s-s-sister Yulia!" (edited)

"Kid sister? Hah! That old bag of bones will curse your first born if you talk to her like that!" Ivan puts down a turkey leg momentarily to pull out a chair for Zorcash to sit in, right next to him again. Ivan begins piling food onto Zorcash's plate while Yulia pulls her blanket over her head, cocooning herself. "I hate you both. Now wake someone normal up," she mutters through the fabric.

A muffled voice calls out from inside Parsnip's sleeping bag. "Can someone, anyone, please hand me a cup of coffee?"

Parsnips would begin to hear a soft sniff sniff sniffing sound and feel a light pressure beginning at his toes then making its way up to the opening of his sleeping bag, punctuated with a cold wet nose probing his sleeping eyes. "Mist, no! The nice man is sleeping!" a child's voice calls out. "Papa, Mist is gettin' into trouble again!" Anyone with their eyes open and uncovered would see a young, whip-thin girl with wild auburn curls leaning down trying to pull the Irish wolfhound's comparatively massive body away from the sleeping figure; her white-haired, wrinkled father chuckling at the table next to Zorcash with a steaming cup of coffee in his hands. "Shiv, Mist girl's fine - leave 'er be. Mr. Jackal is well-acquainted with 'er and 'er nose already. Come over an' meet my good friend, Harbormaster Crabman." he says, gesturing towards the mosk.

Parsnips sits bolt upright as Mist's nose prods into his sleeping bag and begins happily scritching behind the dog's ears. His grogginess is replaced with childlike joy. "Dawwww! Look who it is! That's right, it's my very best buddy!" Parsnips briefly looks up toward the voices. "Also, hello again to all of you, happy kidnapping!"

Mist licks Parsnips, but then immediately turns her attention to eating the thrown roll that is now on the ground. She is content.

Micaela's been awake for a little bit at this point listening to everyone talk back and forth, and bicker. She stands up quickly, practically kipping up but very obviously regrets it as soon as she does so letting out a slight groan and feeling dizzy as she grabs what she hopes is a cup of coffee and passing it to Parsnips "Morning everyone, good to see you all again" seeing Fearghal's daughter she gives her an elaborate bow that rolls into sitting back down cross legged on her still warm sleeping bag.

Parsnips graciously accepts the cup, laughing as he looks down to see that it's actually a small decorative bowl filled with gemstones. "Ok, yeah, I deserved that"

1

Waking up, confused and in a bag, Iracus thrashes around the bag as he tries to get out "Kringle! When I get out of this sack, why I'm gonna--" Iracus stops short as he looks around the room and sees everyone being cheerful rather than fearful, "Huh, this seems a bit too pleasant for Kringle, curious." Iracus says as he works himself out of the sleeping bag that managed to become all twisted and then walks over to the coffee table and fixes up a nice Irish coffee. "Well, hello again everyone, long time no kidnap."

Zorcash blows a bunch of bubbles in excitement as they get to meet Siobhan. Their eye stalks take in the young girl, "Captain Fearghal off-off-offspring! Zorcash is Zorcash! Pleasure to m-m-meet y-y-you!" Zorcash gets lowers so as to be on her height level, "D-D-Does Shiv-On l-l-like to do cr-cr-crafts? Zorcash has m-m-many crafts that m-m-might interest Shiv-On..."

A sleeping bag shifts around and Jasper sits up sniffing the air “What..?!?..is that.. evergreen…and roasting chestnuts…Kringle!?!” Jasper opens his eyes and looks around “oh…hey, good morning everyone. Yes, seems we’ve been swept away though Metaspace again, this definitely pleasant though… I just need coffee..” Jasper gets up and heads over to Iracus and follows in his footsteps by also making an Irish coffee

A morose, muffled voice comes from one of the sleeping bags. "Well, it was a good run." There's a pause, "I thought a burner bag would be...toastier though." Konya sits up abruptly, pulling the sleeping bag off her head, and takes in the scene around her. "Oh, just kidnapped again, huh?" She flumps back down on to the sleeping bag, letting everyone's shenanigans wash over her for a while.

There's a flapping noise, and one of the sleeping bags begins questing across the floor of the room, like a giant fluffy millipede. Finding no exit, Gurk pokes his head out. "Now what?" he asks.

Siobhan giggles at the blue crablike person, the likes of which she has never seen before. She nods in excitement, climbing into Zorcash’s lap.

“Oh, hey Konya! You’ll get used to the magic kidnappings. Nice reprieve from getting shot at by fascists all day.” Parsnips gets up and starts pouring cups of coffee, handing them out to anyone who grabs one

Jake is awakened by the rumblings and smells of a family breakfast… he stays cozy in his sleeping bag for a few minutes until he’s positive there’s the smell of coffee. There’s a warm blob that starts licking his ear as he opens the sleeping bag to let it out… the German Shepherd puppy he and Groshim found in the Rift wiggles up and out running over to sniff Mist’s butt, gets distracted by Parsnip’s butt on the way to Mist, changes direction and slide tackles Siobhan as he tries to turn, losing his footing and the two go down in tumble of hair, paws, giggling and happy yipping “Max! No sniffing! Heel! Stay! Sit! Oh never mind... Jake smiles as Max piles onto the chaos endemic in all the holidays he’s ever experienced… the good ones anyway and heads for the coffee

A person stirs, and takes her time sitting up and rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Before she opens them she groggily Emits the Words. "...Why are there people in my hou--" She blinks and looks around... Frowning deeply before taking a Calming breath. "--ugh... Did I mix the wrong things together? Am I alive?" She asks of the person nearest her that is up and about. The Woman is a Taros, Jet Black Hair and a clearly augmented facial set up of Some variety. She stands roughly 5'5"/1.65~m Tall. She doesn't look like she sleeps soundly.

Micaela turns towards her and nods "You're alive, just ended up slipping into some sort of shared metaspatial consciousness trap or something along those lines; same as the rest of us." She presents a hand to shake towards Radka. She looks to be in her early to mid 30s, light brown hair with one or two greys "It's weird, but mostly benign."

"We should be thankful to be here. So close to the Goddess and her Prophetess." Says Daira who sits in full lotus in front of the roaring fire. "We are all blessed to be here." Daira's dark hair has not been tied to a short ponytail, like it usually is. And she seems to be a nuance more pale than she was during her Rhyme battle with the cyclops. "But being contacted by the Prophetess, might not be the reason why we are here." She does not turn around but continues to face the fire.

Parsnips smiles and hands Dai a cup of coffee. “Goodtimes! I’m not going to pretend I understand how any of this works, but I’m glad you’re here, too. You make a fine kidnapping partner.”

“Goodtimes?”

Parsnips chuckles. “Long story. Starts with a water fight and ends with a rap battle against a cyclops. Coffee?”

“That’s a story I’d love to hear. Heck yeah coffee! My brown liquid of life levels are low after being transported who knows where again. Second time for me, do ya get used to it?”

Parsnips pours a cup and hands it over. “Fourth for me, I think? The initial disorientation is always a bit of a mindfuck, but I’ve started to think of these as magic, unexplainable vacations. As long as that Kringle guy isn’t back with his demonic laugh and festive killbot, it should be a good time”

Micaela abandons her sleeping bag and grabs one of the rolls from the table, smoothly producing a hidden blade and assembling a roll sandwich with single slice of ham. She looks over at Dai with genuine curiosity "You speak of a Goddess and Prophetess, that we are close to her. May I ask which Goddess it is that you have the honor of serving?"

"Papa, is that lady over there a queen?" Siobhan says, tugging Fearghal's coat and obviously gesturing towards Dai. Fearghal shrugs and circles a pointed finger towards the side of his head, which Siobhan understands as an indication that the "queen" is actually a crazy person.

"The Goddess I have the pleasure serving?" She smiles as she turns to Micaela, completely ignoring Parsnips for now. "Her name is Ognyena. She is the keeper of the celestial fire. A Taros goddess." Daira points at her ears. "I am not a Taros. Ognyena has not brought the holy flame to the humans, but the Taros. Yet her fire, her flame, can be ignited in anyone. For her guides us in the darkness. Her flame keeps us warm in the cold." "When she brought the fire to the Taros, it wasn't to the liking of her brothers and sister, and her cousins. The other gods of the Taros Paganism. As her flame gave the Taros the ability to chase their dreams. To pave their own destinies, to conquer the night. She gave them power to be their own masters and not to rely on the far superior gods. Yet over time that gift got forgotten. People saw her only as She who burns their houses down. But lately her following is on the rise again. Thanks to the Paragons of the Living Flame, and especially her Prophetess. The gift of Ognyena that walked among us, before she fell, defending us against a great evil. Hedwig Wilhelmova Sakharov will forever be remembered. And now she sits at the side of Ognyena, and helps us whenever she can." She turns back to the flame. "And as this place here, is not in our realm, but some Metaspace realm, that is why we might be closer to them than we usually would be."

“So, do you not want this coffee, then?”

"I could use some coffee." The Studious and tired looking Taros says.

Micaela nods along to what Daira is saying. "I remember hearing the news of Hedwig Wilhelmova Sakhraov's passing, I know now to refer to her as the Prophetess. You say this place may be closer to them than usual and I see you're not participating in the feast that's been laid out before us much like last time, is it because you believe it in part to be distraction from what could be an opportunity given to you to seek out the Prophetess and the Goddess on the fringes of this place by rejecting creature comforts and taking heart in your faith?" Micaela's impromptu sandwich is completely forgotten near her leaving it open to any manner of dog or child to swipe if they so desired. Her hand idly gestures towards Radka, encouraging Parsnips to take the coffee to the Taros whilst Daira and her talk.

"Somewhat. Yes. You see. I doubt that we need to eat or drink when we are here. As this place is, just different. Through meditation and prayer I can also reach the ability to not needing to eat or drink or sleep. So I am not focusing on these things much. It has no value to eat something fancy just for the sake of eating it. It wouldn't feel right as well. I don't know how Ognyena's realm will be, when I step in front of its doors after I died. But having led a frivolous life would surely not be a ticket for the doors to her realm to open. If you know what I mean. I also don't think bad of you if your focus lies on something else, and if you enjoy the pleasures that get presented to you. The Prophetess treated everyone alike. Friends, foes, the evil and the good. I try to act in her image, but I know that I sometimes fail to do so. Sometimes I can't keep my calm." She eyes Parsnips. "But this is also a journey that won't end as long as I am alive. The moment one stops working on themselves, is the moment one enters a bad path."

Seeing the withering look from Dai, Parsnips returns a smirk, but obliges. He brings the coffee over to Radka. “Hi there, I don’t think we’ve met before. First magic kidnapping?”

Hearing only the line: “It has no value to eat something fancy just for the sake of eating it.” Jake tunes out the rest of the priestess’s spiel and wanders to the piles of food and collects a respectable plateful. Not near the mountain that guy from the EP made, but enough to cause a nap to spontaneously pop into existence later on.

"Yes... This... isn't like Spike Travel is it?" She looks down at herself, seemingly worried, and appears to check if she has her equipment on her.

Zorcash listens to Daira after Shiv hops off to play with Max and Mist. They blow bubbles in disgust, "N-N-No gods l-l-left only f-f-false p-p-pretenders. G-G-Gathering f-f-fools for a c-c-cult. Zorcash n-n-never met a 'god' th-th-that couldn't be k-k-killed by solid sh-sh-shot..."

Micaela finds herself coming to her feet, and looking toward Zorcash her teeth grit tight and ready to retort before she takes a breath and steadies herself. "Well, best not introduce any gods I'm a fan of to you Harbormaster Zorcash; or at least make sure they're wearing a sturdy flak vest." Micaela lets out a chuckle trying to disarm the tense atmosphere caused by the very good idea of discussing religion or politics at a Christmas/winter gathering, but puts a hand on Dai's shoulder not in a controlling way but she hopes it's taken as a signal to not get riled up.

Teucer comes around in the corner of the room, mind still foggy from the strange energies he was exposed to in order to bring him here. "I hate metaspace travel. Is it Kringle again? What is his problem?" Teucer mutters, almost to himself as he pulls himself to his feet. Looking around he takes inventory. "Lots of the normal faces, some new ones too. I wonder what the logic of the selections is ... no discernible pattern so far." Swiping a mug off the table, he takes a drink of the hot chocolate inside. Just as good as last year Slowly he tunes into the current conversation. "Novice Daira, give the prosteletising a rest. Now is not the time nor the place, instead we should be working out how to get home. Has anyone opened one of these notes?"

"I typically don't mess with Anomalous objects prior to having Coffee, so I beg you to forgive me, I suppose. In anycase, I am Radka Beranek." Radka states, taking a sip of the coffee while watching everyone.

“Oi, Radka you say. Is that a Jurolian name? The east side of the planet I think?” Fearghal asks.

"I'm not completely sure, admittedly. I am from that part of Juroli though." She shivers, and continues to drink the coffee. "Are you from there as well?"

'Aye, from the western settlement. My mate Elowen and I are workin' on gettin' rid of the pesky metal and gettin' the farms back to workin' order so we dinnae all starve to death!" he chuckles.

"Have you figured out a way to get it off the people afflicted with it, Yet? Assuming you have any left?"

"I am not trying to win anyone for Ognyena, not here. With some hearts so cold." She looks at Teucer, then turns to Zorcash. "Or so dark, that my abilities are way too limited to ignite them. So if all you have to say, is to reprimand me, then suck it up and focus on the task. That is what a good soldier does, right? Do their tasks and don't question anything." She then gets up from the fire and walks over to Zorcash and invades his personal space by putting a hand onto his chest. "I doubt you have ever met a god. And if someone can or can't be killed, is no measurement for anything. Chase your dreams, Mr. Mosk. One day you might see, the true reality." She then gets away from Teucer and Zorcash, as far as that is possible in this space, to evade any further tension. (edited)

Noticing the conversations in the room are begging to die down Jasper taps his coffee cup with a spoon before he takes his last sip and addresses the group “So, everyone. It looks like we’ve been spirited away again, but we have never been spirited away for no reason. I have my suspicions, though this doesn’t seem like Kringles M.O, perhaps the answers we look for are in those notes on the table?”

Fearghal confidently reaches for one of the notes. He holds it up to his face and looks at it ponderingly. Siobhan notices that he’s holding the note upside down and takes it from him, reading aloud:

This year Kringle has decided to let you live. You have the action figures, and a way to reach him, and he promises there will be a reckoning at a future time when it is appropriate. For this Yule celebration instead he has arranged a series of team based trials to determine who is the jolliest and most Yulepilled, this group of Kringlefoes, or an elite group of Yuletide celebrators know as the Excellent Lively Festival Squad . Cookie Bake-Off and Decoration: Everyone likes cookies. Kringle is no exception, nor is his underling judging this competition. Teams have three hours in a full kitchen to produce and create the most interesting holiday cookie. It must remain edible, and there is a surprise ingredient each team will be forced to use somehow. Ice-Fort Construction- Shake off those calories and head outside to construct the most impressive ice fort, followed by a snowball fight against Kringle's minions. Light up the Night- In our final event, paper lanterns will be constructed by every individual on both teams to be released into the night sky, commemorating the points of happiness over this past year, and the hope for more in the coming years. There is a catch to this event that is not listed on the paper, aside from "Expect trouble"

Nekosmash pinned a message to this channel. 12/12/2022 8:54 AM

“Huh, well that’s exciting. Can’t say i remember the last time I made cookies but I’m pretty excited!”

Ivan looks excited, like a kid waking up on some kind of gift-giving holiday. "I haven't done any of that in years! Man those were some memories, out in the slums on Creusa. I nailed Yuli with a snowball out of a small fort I made in our alleyway, but... well I forgot what happened next, but I woke up the next morning with a headache and you kept giving me cookies. A strange doctor visited that day and kept shining a light in my eyes and talking to you privately and then you handing him credits or something. She had a lot of tattoos all over her, I can't remember what they were though. Too fuzzy. I don't recall what you didn't want me to tell Ma, but your cookies are great." Yulia shifts uncomfortably in her blanket cocoon, disguising the movement with an arm coming out to snag the open box of Kringle-Os. "I'll make you more if you still don't tell Mom what happened." "But what happened?" "Nothing. Just know your stupid little snow fort didn't stop me. I wouldn't rely on you doing well in that competition unless I knocked some sense..." Yulia stops her comment. "Wait - my snow fort didn't stop you from doing what, exactly?" "Nothing. It was a great fort. You'll be a great addition to the team."

Parsnips smiles mischievously. “Whole lotta CBSS planets are pretty snowy. That’s all I’ll say about that for now.”

"Ice forts sound interesting," Gurk says, "But after being kidnapped, isn't "expect trouble" a given? I suppose we should keep heavy firepower close at hand."

Jake looks a little embarrassed “I’m about as good with a kitchen knife as I am with an ax and a giant asparagus. I’ll help with the fort if there’s a spot.” He raises his mug toward Teucer *New faces…. I hope there isn’t an infection of MES cooties I caught. Second MES transport for me. Good seeing you.”

Micaela pipes up "Those all actually sound pretty fun. And don't worry Jake, we can show you how to be a good sous' chef."

"Ah, if only I could be so lucky... I would like to be on the kitchen staff, as I am a... Well, Most people would call me an Alchemist."

(Everyone is doing everything, which I know might be chaotic , but I'm for it)

5

4

12:07 PM

(We're facing off against Kringle's squad)

(that's what I figured it sounds super exciting chaotic fun!)

(I misunderstood!!! Heck yeah! Chaotic fun is best fun!)

1:08 PM

“Thanks Micaela, no sharp objects. Just spoons please!” Jake chuckles

“Papa, should you tell them how bad you are at decoration’ anything? Better to sit out the cookie contest… honestly, better to let Mist do it than you.” Shiobhan says, tugging her fathers sleeve. Fearghal chuckles and lifts her up to sit on his knee as they wait to see what’s up next.

There is a sound of sleighbells outside, and a cloud of frost begins rolling in. There is also the sound of what appears to be rhythmic snapping coming from this cloud, as a dozens shadowy figures begin to emerge from it in a V formation

“Uh, oh. Here comes trouble” Jasper says taking his staff in two hands “Get ready”

The E.L.F.S are small humanoids, and emerge from the fogs wearing avaiator sunglasses, jolly Holiday sweaters complete with blinking lights, electronically recorded renditions of festive songs and enough tinsel to refract light within a 2m radius around the party. Felt pants end in shoes with curled toes, each of them topped with a bell in the curve of the shoe for maximum jolly effect. Hats of green felt trimmed in white cotton and with a white cotton pommel rest on their heads , perfectly placed despite the dance moves on display. They continue snapping, striding forward like a cool breeze out of the forest beyond. 5m from the party they come to a halt, each of them striking a pose to point your attention to the Excellent Lively Festival Squad leader, know as Blinko . "Our competition!" he says referring you to his companions, to which they laugh. "The jollyness will be ours this year, and you've come to the wrong place for Yuletide fun"

7

Parsnips reaches into his bag and pulls out a blue and white sweater with a light up menorah in the center and the words “Let’s Get Lit” across the bottom. Pulling the sweater on, he stands upright, facing down the festival squad leader. “No, I’m pretty sure we’re in the right place. And I think we’re about to get all Holly and Jolly.” Parsnips crosses his arms but doesn’t take his gaze off their leader. “Hey, Goodtimes, you’re feeling Holly and Jolly today, right?”

1

Fearghal reaches for the bag next, and pulls out a sweater that says, in a poor example of kerning, "LE TITS NOW" with snowflakes in the background. He shrugs and dons the sweater.

3

Iracus downs his Irish coffee and walks over to the goons "Run along now Kringlegoons, take flight. Before we stuff your stocking with so much holly and jolly, you'll be shi---" Iracus looks at the small child and corrects himself, "pooping cheer all night!"

4

“As the losing team we will let you decide if you would like us to best you at confectionary creations or snowball savagery first “ Blinko says while the rest of his companions giggle and chuckle to themselves.

Zorcash steps forward, each claw holding a snowball, perfectly packed, formed and even having little designs carved into them, "M-M-More like th-th-this snowball g-g-going t-t-to r-r-ravage your m-m-mom!... Bl-Bl-Blinko g-g-going down!"

(I don’t wanna move on past people if they wanna shit talk a bit. Otherwise you’re all free to vote on cookies or snow forts first.

7

1

“Blinko?? Is that like the string of lights that can’t decide whether they’re on or off? We can help ya there, flip your switch to off and go back to where ya came from. It’ll save ya some time and embarrassment. We’ll be having the hot cocoa and marshmallows after this is all over!” Finding an abominable snowman image in his armor’s library. He switches it on and moves near Zorcash and starts stacking up snowballs for the Mosk’s ammo pile

Yulia, shifting her focus from being jealous of Iracus' Irish coffee to the spectacle of four festive-looking goblins trying to be Cool Guy Tough. "Hey, Ivan, look - frozen shrimp." Ivan looks up from the bounty before him, putting his attention to the situation. "What do you mean, there's no seafood here- wait, what's up with those weirdly-dressed children? Where are their parents? Does one of them have a switchblade comb?! Awesome." He gets up, approaching the elves while scraping the last bits of breakfast quiche off of his plate. "Hey champs, this is an odd place to be without your parents. Unless you're from Ibalaso Urt, then carry on, but you're still far from home and I will make you eat your vegetables."

3

(gonna leave this open for a bit longer, but looks like we're gonna do the snowballs first)

Micaela Is low on insults at the moment, at least on family friendly ones. But she does strike what she hopes is an intimidating pose leaning near the doorframe

"I wish you well and good luck, Blinko and Other Diminutive Festivity Goblins. I fear you may need it." Radka gives the slightest bow and then takes a strategic Position behind Zorcash.

Daira is only partially paying attention to the back and forth of Jollyness, as she is not feeling Princess Goodtimes right now. That is until Ivan drops the words 'from Ibalaso Urt'. That is when she grabs some snow forms a ball and a shadowy something seeps into the ball. "Rosa's minions? Huh. Have I told you that I was reigning snowball war champion, for five years in a row? Yes I know, the other kids weren't allowed to hit me and my siblings, as they were only commoners. But at least I beat my siblings in the fight for who hits more of these commoner kids. And you clowns, are no nobility."

3

“Snowballs first then. You have chosen the way of pain!” Blinko says. He turns to the others and begins a war chant. The motions Are choreographed with stomps, arm thrusts , roars and grunts. Candy canes are brandished like swords

Parsnips grabs a potato latke from the tray of treats and, holding it like a shield, mocking taps a butter knife against it in a sarcastic war beat

"We'll see you on the killing fields" Blinko says, as he and the gang move to the end of the 300m field to begin construction. A timer, prjected into the sky begins to count down from three hours, as the haka chants continue

3

Ivan watches the elves stroll off to their position. "Are we... supposed to throw snowballs that far? Can anyone throw anything that far? I feel like this might not be an actual snowball fight and they might be a bunch of short jerks."

"I believe we're supposed to build a base, then divide into two groups: Defense and Offense. Take their fort and we win, I presume. Could be wrong, either way I'll start working on bricks and Ammo."

"I love a good game of capture the flag. Does anyone see a flag anywhere? I think we need to bury it. Or maybe it's pure elimination? Either way, I am down. No better test of skill and reactions than a 1 hit KO match." Teucer looks around the group trying to see if there is a flag before moving on. "Shall we have some people stockpiling snowballs and everyone else can get to rolling snow into bales? I don't see any saws to make blocks"

Micaela sighs "We're the defense. We need to build a fort then fight off those nerds. They don't get a fort and we get some prep time. I reckon Teucer and Ivan know a thing or two about defensive positions. I'd like at least a frontal wall with a step to elevate us to be able to hurl snowballs from a central or a few secondary caches towards the advancing assault." (edited)

A haze begins to descend over their side of the field , and a candy cane with a simple blue flag begins rising out of the ground nearby. The flag is simple, trimmed in gold and says JOLLY on it.

"Looks like there's a flag with a tasty flagpole." Jake begins packing snow into a bale to start the walls of the fort

Using his suit’s augments, Parsnips starts digging a trench line along the farthest end of where their fort will eventually stand. “This will slow those little dweebs from advancing, and will let us unload on them while they’re stopped up”

Motioning to Siobhan and the others to get out of the way, Fearghal crouches down and digs his hands into the soil around the candy cane flag. His eyes glaze over for a moment as he focuses the MES energy flowing thru him into the ground, where suddenly small sprouts begin to emerge. Quickly they grow, forming into the shape of densely-packed evergreen trees, decked with multicolored flashing lights, tinsel, and red-and-green ornaments. Each tree is topped with a flaming menorah, except one is topped with a festively-painted crab shell in a misguided attempt at including everyone on his team’s personal traditions. For the immediate 10 meter radius surrounding the candy cane, the ELFS will find their movement speed to be halved and will be lashed by the needles of the trees. (Committing effort to use Metaflora)

1

The jolly haka in interrupted by shouts and grumbles. You cannot see what the Elfs are doing inside the haze of frost, but whatever they're buildings, they're going to have a harder time doing it.

(can Gurk attempt to build a lethal trap connected to the flag, or would that be against the rules?)

1

(The elves certainly aren't playing to make things lethal, and we have every reason to suspect the magic of wintertime celebration land might make the lethal trap non lethal- or worse, would prevent it from working at all if its aim is to kill)

(Maybe instead of lethal, it just dumps snow on them?)

Pulling out bits and pieces from his "bag of things" Gurk sets up a snare around the cane itself. If they somehow get through the flora, this last entanglement might slow them down. (using trapmaster to create a non lethal trap that will stun the first person to get the cane for 1 round)

For her Part, the Taros Alchemist begins trying to concoct Special Snowballs, infusing them with Alchemical Creations to disrupt the enemy, Her singular bottle of Soul-Sight to see any clandestine attacks coming our way, while attempting to Imbue 2 balls with Fear Gas

Zorcash spends some time drawing various shapes and designs into six snowballs. Anyone close would think that a child is engraving scribbles into snow for no apparent reason. Once the blue mosk is satisfied, although based on what criteria is anyone's guess, they pick up their special snowballs and stash them in various spots on their carapace. The magic of either the Festive Season or Metaspace seems to be holding them together. (3 Pushing Snowballs and 3 Earthshaker Snowballs) "N-N-Need to assign d-d-duties! S-S-Some protect f-f-flag and other t-t-take theirs!" Zorcash says. "Zorcash n-n-not m-m-move fast so Zorcash c-c-can defend!"

Micaela pipes up "Do they have a flag? Or do we just have a time limit?"

(some of it is going to be developing a plan on the fly. We can't see them, and they can't see you(

Parsnips waves his hand. “I’ll take offense”

"I'll work the defense for their first wave or push and then switch off from there to the offense or stay behind depending on how things go." Micaela pipes up, in the middle of crafting deadly snowball munitions; some of them with rocks and debris inside if the elves fight nasty themselves.

(do we have like a naughty and nice pile? or is everything all intermixed?)

(definitely a naughty and a nice pile, with a couple sticks poking up near the naughty pile so that some silly goober doesn't end up with broken teeth for slapping someone with a handful of snow.)

In preparation to leave with the offensive team, Parsnips empties out his bag and begins filling it with tightly packed snowballs, leaving just enough room to fill a side pocket with a handful of cookies pilfered from the pre-competition festivities. "Snacks will be important for the journey."

(let me know when we're happy with prep, and we'll see what the elves are up to, but there is no rush)

(Gurk will hang back and help with the fort)

“After helping with the walls, he waves at Parsnips and Gurk. What do you say we make some trenches about nasty elf height and fill them with snow in a nice spot to take them down with a bunch of snowballs?” Jake activates a breaching tool and begins to eyeball a ditch inside the range of out walls

"Teucer is more the wetwork type, I think he's been a good boy this year and gets to go on the offensive. Just beware of crayon drawings of battle plans, General!" Ivan winks before beginning to bury himself in the snow entirely. The fluffy wintery mix is clearly getting under his clothing but almost immediately melting without notice. "As for me, I'll roleplay a landmine. I'll grab one of those jerks by the ankles and pull them under, or something." Yulia finds a spot in the newly-established fort that's sheltered from the wind and sits down, huddled and shivering. "Gooooo team, wooo..." she cheers with intense sarcasm, holding onto a filled coffee mug from the breakfast table within the blanket cocoon as if her life depended on it.

"Y-Y-Yulia Wyke! Cannot p-p-play with snowballs if Y-Y-Yulia is hiding in b-b-blanket!" Zorcash says as they kick up snow in Yulia's direction as they work to complete the trench/walkway within their base

"I'm supervising." Yulia retorts as coldly as she feels. "We can trade places if the next event takes place in an uncomfortably warm sauna and hot tub, Mr. Crabman. I'll give you all of the credits in my pocket if you go bother блять "Vanya" - Ivan, diminutive instead. Don't concuss him like I did."

"C-C-Concuss Vanya!?! W-W-Why would Zorcash concuss Zorcash's h-h-hero?!" Zorcash blows bubbles at Yulia that immediately freeze. They begin to tumble onto the ground and roll away in the wind. Before Yulia is able to answer, Zorcash makes a sound of bewildered amusement and follows the bubbles as they go on their merry way.

Leaving his bag at the foot of the trail that seems most likely to lead to the elf base, Parsnips heads toward Jake to help continue work on the trench line

After making a large bank of snowballs, and Two 'Very special' snowballs, Radka will seek out the offense team, mostly through guessing. Which leads her to approach Teucer.

(Let me know when we're ready to begin!)

(I'm ready!

)

(Assuming the Fear balls are Go, I'm handing one off to the Offense team and keeping one for team Defense. Other than that, I'm ready.) (edited)

(ready)

(lets do it!)

(Yes!!)

(All good here)

(ready)

(Ready!)

The fog parts to reveal the newly christened "Fort Holiday Curbstomp" in the distance. Four elves look to be manning the forward walls, with a large number of snowballs at their command. You can see some kind of larger bucket like device in each of the towers loaded with snow. Blinko calls out that he's excited for you to lay down and bite the ice, and the rest of the elves are prepared in a scattered formation outside the front gate, ready to rush forward into the snow drifts the wind has created between here and your fort.

Parsnips grabs his backpack full of snow balls and snacks. "Offense team, what do you think of cutting a wide path out and around, approaching Fort Dweeb from the rear?"

The elves look to also be shuffling their lines around a bit, doing their best to anticipate your attack with a good all-around defense

Gurk begins monitoring the paths towards the home fort, looking for likely attack routes and preparing to warn the others when an approach is detected.

Micaela plants her feet squarely behind the nearest bit of evergreen cover and then drops her stance to kneeling down near her snowball ammo cache. And actually looks around at the people she's surrounded by and who she is defending her flag alongside, and then the environment and opposition before letting out an absolutely delighted laugh that turns into a snort before shouting out towards the elves "Hey Tinsel Junkies! You gonna sit behind your big thick walls and wait for these folks to come smash them down! Trust me, that's not the play that works here; let's just get this over with unless you're too scared! That would explain Fort Compensating For Something!" (edited)

Looking at the "battlefield", Yulia sighs and gets up from her hiding spot, going over to where her brother buried himself in the snow to grab a hapless jolly elf by the ankles and throw them into the nearest snow bank. She pushes her hand down into the snow to get his attention. "блять, I think you should get out of the snow and start heading over to their-" Yulia disappears into the drift in an instant, leaving behind only a puff of white powdery snow, a flung-off blanket falling in slow motion, and a coffee cup doing some sick flips and spilling its contents across the snowy ground before landing in a nearby trench. "I got one!!!" Ivan says, erupting from the snow. Exposed parts of his body steam off melted snow from his shell compensating to his sub-zero conditions after burying himself. He holds up his catch by the forearm - Yulia, looking like she had gone down a ski slope face-first. She yells from the agony of snow getting everywhere underneath her clothing and shocking every pre-warmed nerve on the way down. Ivan looks at his victim. "You're a bit heavier than I expected. A bit taller, too." "IVAAAN!" She yells through gritted teeth, channeling the fury of a thousand generations of Wyke family matriarchs. "PUT. ME. DOWN. GO TO THEIR FORT. If you bring back their flag and end this nightmare I MIGHT not murder you in your SLEEP!" Whether through terror or amusement, Ivan drops Yulia back into the deep snow. Ivan heads toward the snowbanks within No Man's Land, and Yulia screams again at her idiot sibling for dropping her into more agony.

4

(should we sign up for offense and defense teams? maybe

for offense and

for D?)

4

5

(Sure. ThT will make it easier )

Jake moves along the plowed furrow Ivan left in the snow pulling a saucer sled of snowballs big and small with a brace of icicles "Hey Ivan, 'Snips, hold up, I'm comin'!"

(thanks! )

9:57 AM

(We'll move spotlight between offense and defense, starting with offense)

9:58 AM

The offensive team moves out into the snowbanks and drifting snow clouds as the elves look to be doing the same. A quick glimpse is had of a flanking force of five ELFS moving left, trying to circle around this no man's land area toward your own fort. The defense will need to handle them.

Parsnips pulls the offense team in for a quick huddle, handing out sugar cookies to everyone as he does. “Ok, I know we’ve all been in more dangerous situations than this, but for real, we just can’t let these dweebs win. I mean, come on, matching aviator sunglasses? They need to go down. I still think cutting a wide patch around and attacking from the rear makes the most sense. I’m sure these little anklebiters will be ready for us regardless, but if we go wide enough we might still be able to catch them off guard. Any other thoughts?”

Jake munches on cookies and looks for milk "I'm good with whatever y'all decide. I've got a breaching tool we can try on a wall if we can get close enough." Seeing Ivan drinking something that looks like milk, he narrows his eyes, calculating his chances of successfully liberating the marvelous cookie dunking liquid...figures it's less than 1% and opts for asking "Hey Ivan, pass the milk would ya? I've got dry cookies here that need dunking!"

Ivan hands over Yulia's dropped coffee mug to Jake, filled with snow and disappointment. "I don't know, it's just snow, right? We could just walk right up and kick it over. Brush off the snowballs that hit us, claim they were filled with ice and they 'don't count'. If they come down to argue, we chuck them into a snow bank and get their flag. Easy."

"But, but, would that even work?" Daira wonders. "As less as I like it, maybe Parsnips idea is better."

Parsnips smirks, but resists the urge to make another snarky comment to Dai. "There might be some sort of Holly Jolly hokum that detects cheating an automatically disqualifies us. I don't want to risk it."

Jake is looking forlornly into the mug. Dips his cookie into the snow and it just gets cold…. He sighs and munches on the the cookie. He smiles at Yulia. Shakes out the snow and wipes his fingers around in it to clean it out some, then hands the mug back to her with an innocent look on his face “Looks like going in the rear is a plan, lets hope its not buttoned up too tightly. And no mistletoe is hanging over the back door…. That’d be weird. He looks thoughtful Unless they’d give up on at the thought of kissing us. That might be worth it.”

(Let’s get a sneak/dex for each member of the attack team)

Ivan Wyke | Yulia Wyke | Myuun

used /roll

Ivan Wyke | Yulia Wyke | Myuun Request: [2d6+0+2+1] Roll: [5, 4] Result: 12 Reason: sneak/dex Ivan

1

Parsnips Jackall | Ian Holt

used /roll

Parsnips Jackall | Ian Holt Request: [2d6+1] Roll: [6, 2] Result: 9

1

Jake Carson | Dathian [Radik]

used /r

Jake Carson | Dathian [Boggs] Request: [2d6 +1+1] Roll: [3, 3] Result: 8 Reason: sneak/dez

1

(I think we just gotta grab Dai when they've got the spoons to circle back, and we'll push from there )

deleted_user_ca92ecf351f7

used /r

Daira of Artema| P| Elisa| Aruke Request: [2d6-1+0] Roll: [4, 3] Result: 6 Reason: (sorry)

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [2d6-14] Roll: [2, 1] Result: -11

1

(should have been -1, but that's still a 2, so we're undetected sneaking up to the back of fort holiday curbstomp

Ivan looks squarely at one of the elves from their hidden position. "I think they're holding the toilet paper tube binoculars backwards."

“The two over there, they’re arguing over who get’s to eat the Kringle guy’s cookies this year… cocky little snots.”

"By Ognyena, what have I been thrown into?" She turns to Parsnips and whispers. "So you brought us into this position, what is the next move?"

"Right. The rest of the plan. Which, for the record, I totally, totally, had all along." Parsnips opens his mouth as if he is about to continue his thought but closes it three times before actually speaking again. "Ok, so, how about this? Let's use Jake's breaching tool to get through the wall, and then snake our way through the corridors to their flag. Then we make our way out the same way we came in, or crash straight through depending on how sturdy their construction is."

(the breaching tool will work)

Jake nods and his Tekshark nanomachines build the breaching tool, instead of the expected form, the MES effect of this place turns it into a snow shovel with a serrated reinforced edge “What the hell? He waves the shovel around a bit to get the hang of it and shrugs “Making a hole!” He goes to digging

(exert/str)

11:21 AM

(/it will work no matter what, we're just checking for speed of it being done)

(6)

You'll be able to make it through the icy wall in about twenty seconds of work, the serrated shovel head is efficient at cutting through the ice blocks and weeding into the back of the fortress. The elves on defense do not seem to have noticed the work as you tunnel in to a hallway built into the backof the fort. A tower in the right and left rear corners lead to the second floor. The hallway also wraps around on each side toward the front of the fortress on this floor.

Ivan breathes in through his nose with one long, drawn-out inhale. "Smells like a twerp infestation." He looks down the right hallway. "If we go up, we'll have a view of the interior. We can see if it's an open courtyard or they have another igloo or something in the middle, hiding their flag."

"I agree. We should head up." Parsnips opens his bag and starts handing out snowballs. "I'll keep this bag open for anyone who needs a reload."

Daira takes an ice cold snowball. She dislikes the cold, but she has to do what she has to do. "Agreed, from up there we get a better overwiew, and a better attack angle."

Back on the defense, as the sappers on offense begin working their way into the palace, there is a hiss of vapor and an icy cloud like a thick smoke screen rolls in to obscure the Fort Funtime of the Metapsionically Kidnaped for Holiday Funtimes, and visibility is no more than a few meters in any direction. The fog does not bring rain or cold, but rather seems to squat over the fort like a low cloud.

Gurk racks his spike thrower. "This is it, don't get scared now!" He triggers his panspectral optics and moves to locate the trail of the incoming elves.

Radka, for her part, will Sit as close to the flag as she can be, defensive Fear-gas ball at the ready. "Be ready to move." (edited)

Micaela hears Gurk rack his spike thrower and shouts out "You really want to kill some elves don't you?" Before scuttling through the fog to a nice ambush spot near her supply cache, she doesn't know what effect the snowballs will have in this realm; but she may as well buy into the whole theme.

THere is a giggling and something that sounds like the tinkling of bells outside. A sing-song voice saying "we're gonna get youuuuu" hangs on the wind like a second layer of fog. There is a loud bang at the front of the fort as the battering ram collides with the wall for the first time.

Micaela tries to keep her cool, knowing how badly things turn out when you panic or try to take pot shots at an enemy that knows where you are or will be. She waits for them to break through the wall and be open for a hail of snow through the bottleneck of the opening, keeping an ear out to see if any of the others invent new plans and put them into motion.

Zorcash, from the ramparts, keeps their eyes peeled for a secondary assault team using the bang at the front door as a cover for their movement. Their snowball looks more like a strange projectile that is designed for aerodynamic flight. A major improvement over the standard spherical design which the aid of the strange carvings visible in the snow.

(notice/wis for Zorcash)

(5!)

(okay! and an evasion save for the defense team!)

(Fail for Zorcash!)

(fail)

(Fail~)

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian |

used /roll

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian Request: [1d20] Roll: [13] Result: 13

(Success!)

Micaela is able to throw themselves aside from the hail of snowballs that comes from above. "DEATH FROM ABOVE! SKULLS FOR THE THRONE OF LORD KRINGLE!" The elves shout as their makeshift parachutes made from tinsel and wrapping paper carry them on drifting thermals of arctic wind above you. There are four elves above you, 20m in height and circling as they slowly descend. Their icy bombardment continues. (5 damage to everyone who failed the save) (edited)

(24/29 for zorcash. 2 if you want initiative now)

(3/8 HP for Radka. 8 on initiative.)

(23/28 HP Gurk, 4 init)

(3 on the initiative front.)

/roll d8

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [d8] Roll: [2] Result: 2

(Radka, Gurk, Micaela, Zorcash, Kringle air squad)

(what's the stats on our snowballs?)

(Going to treat them like grenades)

5:14 PM

(just without the radius, but the 2d6 damage and the range/scatter all are as normal with grenades)

Feeling a bit disgruntled at the Damage she has already suffered, Radka attempts to find Cover to set up hitting the Foe with The Special Fear-Gas snowball. (Gonna take cover and hold action to hit them when they land, Cause I don't want to throw it straight up). (edited)

Gurk waits for the leading elf to pass directly before him, then hurls a hardpacked iceball straight at its eyes. (21/8)

The elf yelps as the snowball strikes true and his wrapping paper chute gets twisted. He begins to fall faster than the others toward the ground

6:54 AM

(micaela)

Micaela hurls a snowball after one of the villainous elves, trying to smack them with one of her nice list munitions. (21/5)

(different one than the one that is tumbling to the ground faster?)

(yeah... He's having a rough time of it already.)

"You're on the naughty list! In perpetuity!" The elf yells as a snowball hits them. They're not tumbling like the other elf is, but they are falling faster than the other two who have not been hit. (edited)

"Tell me something I don't know!" Micaela yells out as she reaches for another snowball

(Zorcash is up)

Zorcash aims for one of the unhit elves with their torpedo like snow-missile, "Elves have terrible coordination!" (21/10)

One of the elves tumbles and their wrapping paper chute is broken. They tumble to the ground outside the fort, (Did you want to use your held turn yet Radka, or should I have the Elves go? )

(I suppose I'll throw the fearball at them then.) (12)

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [4 d20] Rolls: [14] Result: 14 [14] Result: 14 [3] Result: 3 [2] Result: 2

Two of the elves begin to scream as the fear gas air bursts. Visions of them being placed on the naughty list forever even though they faithfully served Kringle flash through their heads. The elven ram smashes into the fort again sending cracks up the walls nearby the point of impact. The descending elves that are not screaming throw their own snowballs as they hit the ground.

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [2 d20+3] Rolls: [13] Result: 16 [19] Result: 22

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [d8] Roll: [8] Result: 8

(22/8 Zorcash. The rest miss )

(Does that bring us back to Radka since they had a readied action?)

(Used it already to pelt one of them with the Fear-ball~)

(This is a new round so we are back to radka)

(Ah!) Seeing the fearball working puts the Alchemist slightly more at ease, and she turns to throw a normal Snowball at the remaining elves. (10/9)

The elf is pelted and shouts something about breaking you like a gingerbread cookie, but looks to be in the fight still for the moment.

11:59 AM

(gurk)

Gurk lobs a snowball into the fray. (8/11)

(scatters, so a miss in this case)

3:02 PM

(micaela)

Micaela hurls a snowball at the "wounded" elf and attempts to knock him over with the combined assault. (14/6)

He falls into the ground, close to calling for mercy. He is not out but the snowball has knocked him prone

7:31 AM

(zorcash)

(From the ramparts can I see what is going on at the outside of the gate? or would I need to get down to see?)

(we could see down, we;'d need a move action to get there but call outs are free, and you'd have your main)

Zorcash hops off the ramparts to see what slimly little elves are operating the ram, They throw a snowball that seems to have the properties of a bouncy ball. Hoping to take out two of the sneaky elves causing mischief. (Trick Shot, lets it bounce to two targets. crit/25 and 23/6 on the second

One of the elves is knocked out entirely cold. Their aviator sunglasses are broken and their light up sweater no longer shines Rudolph's red nose into the night. The other is harmed by the bouncing snowball, and threatens to dump hot cocoa directly into your eyes if you're brave enough to come down there and fight them man to man.

The air squad's remaining elf grabs the ram and smashes into the wall, further weakening it. (Radka up)

Wanting to clear the inside of the Fort before the Elves on the outside are dealt with, Radka walks up to the Elf that is Prone, and Point Blank attempts to slam a Snowball into him. [17 (+ or - Modifiers for prone/10)]

(normally you auto hit downed enemies but the snowballs can scatter so the 17 makes it hit and not scatter)

The elf is downed. Back on the offensive team, a plan comes together to breach the fort and get hands on a flag. The time is winding down, and scoring a point now will likely mean the game.

Deleted User

Daira takes an ice cold snowball. She dislikes the cold, but she has to do what she has to do. "Agreed, from up there we get a better overwiew, and a better attack angle."

(Reply is the last message from the offensive team for easy viewing!) "Alright, on three then, we storm the rampart, drop some weirdos into a snowbank, then check out our options for the interior on the fly?" Ivan says, ready to take point. "I'm a big guy, I can shield the lot of you, I think."

Parsnips shrugs, and grabs a snowball from his bag. “Works for me. Everyone got a ball?”

Jake pulls a couple balls from Parsnip's sack "Let's embarrass some elves! .... Are these snowballs yellow?" He turns to Ivan "Right behind ya!"

Daira looks at Ivan. "I appreciate you taking the incoming cold. Because I don't want to be hit be these icy snowballs." She then nods at Parsnips. "I am ready."

Ivan runs up the packed-snow stairs towards the top of the battlements with the rest following behind, shoulder-ramming the door.

THe door is broken open and a startled trio of elves begin to run from the assault team kicking down their snow castle. They begin moving up the stairs in front of you, 15m away

Parsnips lets loose a snowball at one of the fleeing elves

Parsnips Jackall | Ian Holt

used /roll

Parsnips Jackall | Ian Holt Request: [1d20+10] Roll: [2] Result: 12

(does not scatter, so we can get the 2d6 damage)

Parsnips Jackall | Ian Holt

used /roll

Parsnips Jackall | Ian Holt Request: [2d6] Roll: [6, 2] Result: 8 Reason: snowball!

One of the elves running up the stairs yelps as the ice ball hits it in the back and it falls to the ground stunned

Jake follows Parsnip's lead and throws a snowball at another elf "Gonna make you see sugar plums you creepy little urchin!" (20/9)

The elf staggers as it makes its way up to the top of the stairs with one of its fellows, to where they have a pile of snowballs stocked up.

Daira runs into position and aims at the third elf. The cold of the snowball in her hand is really distracting, that is what she will tell everyone after throwing her snowball sub optimally. (13 to hit)

(hits, we need over a 10 or it scatters, so this is bang on

(the shadowy snowball hits with 9 damage then)

The elves in this hallway have been concussed. They’re ineffective for now

9:44 AM

(We routed them quickly. Out of combat for the moment )

Parsnips can't help but chuckle as he watches the concussed elves squirm about. "Dweebs." "Alright, keep pressing on up the stairs? The flag can't be too far now."

Ivan picks up a pair of aviator sunglasses from one of the unconscious elves laying on the ground. "The other defenders had to have heard the yelling, so it's about to get spicy." He puts on the sunglasses. "Let's do this. Go big or go home."

Jake clips the power leads on their shiny blingy flashy sweaters shutting them down. He puts on one of the green felt elf hats and scoops up a pair of sunglasses, following Ivan's lead "Disguise! Good idea Ivan! They won't even know we're here." Grabbing another snowball, he's ready to go. (edited)

"You must be joking!" Is the only thing Daira has to add as she gets herself another snowball as well and follows them.

"Does this look like a joking matter to you?" Parsnips deadpans as he also puts on a green elf hat

There is an archway at the top of the stairs and upon climbing them, disguised, you hear the sound of two elves in the other room. There is also a shaft of sunlight coming in, illuminating the flag.

Parsnips smiles mischievously. "Folks, I have a phenomenally dumb plan. But if it works, they're gonna let us walk out with the flag, and thank us for doing it. Who's in?"

"Didn't you forget something? Like, explaining the actual plan before asking for who is in?"

“Right, yeah, I guess that would help. Now that we have these cool disguises, I’m thinking I just march in there in a little dweeb panic, tell them the fort has been breached and we need to move the flag. Then I lead them in preparing for a quixotic defense while you take the flag on home.”

Daira just stares at Parsnips. "I know I don't get your jokes, but do you really believe that this would work?"

Parsnips shrugs. "I've made dumber plans work. People tend to believe me."

“We are in an impenetrable disguise. What could go wrong! I’m in.”

Parsnips puts the bag of balls down and turns around. "Alright, quick. Someone stick a bunch of snowballs on my back to really sell it."

(Seen! Just didnt want to interrupt the plan!)

Satisfied that he looks as much like a frazzled elf as he can, Parsnips gives a nod to the rest of the group, and bursts into the room, in a full-on yuletide panic. "Oh, bother! Oh, DOUBLE-BOTHER! Those...Bahhumbugging....YULE-LOGS have breached our defenses! The whole place is falling! We're all that's left! You know what the boss will do to us if we lose! We only got one shot, we gotta move the flag! Gotta get it far away from here!" Parsnips gestures to the door. "I got it! my friends will take it and hide it, and we'll hold 'em off. We're sure to get snackered, but with the flag gone it won't matter. Those scrooges will be stuck! we have to be brave, we can do this!" (edited)

5

(talk /cha)

Parsnips Jackall | Ian Holt

used /r

Parsnips Jackall | Ian Holt Request: [4d6k2+5] Roll: [6, 3, 3, 2] Result: 14 Reason: lying to dweebs

3

One of the elves consults their book of rules for a moment and then puts their half moon glasses away. "Nothing in here says we're not allowed to move it. So , go ahead, get that thing out of here! "

Parsnips grabs the flag and hands it to Dai. "Fly! Fly my comrades-in-arms! Secret this away where the party poopers will never find it!"

Daira just stares at Parsnips for an awfully elongated moment. Her brain does not compute what was happening here. She just wants to take the flag and hit the elves with it, for their stupidity of not seeing through this disguise. But it would not help their cause. With the flag all she gets out of her mouth is an. "Aye." She then turns around and walks off with the flag. Unsure how to handle the fact that Snips was right this time, and in a fashion she never saw before, outside of stories of the about the Prophetess.

Ivan gives two finger guns to the guard elves, telling that he'll "smell you later" with a smile behind the aviators, ready to leave. His demeanor might betray Parsnips' effort, if his massive frame three times the size of the pipsqueak elves hadn't already.

Nekosmash

used /roll

Nekosmash Request: [2d6] Roll: [2, 2] Result: 4

The elves don't seem to realize anything is amiss and you can even hear the ones inside the room high fiving one another and breathing a sigh of relief that the flag is no longer their responsibility and that their side might win this after all.

Ivan scratches his head and removes the aviators when the two are down the hall. "Yeesh. To think people build whole armies around types like that. Great work, Parsnips! I'm bringing you along next time I go to the movies and want to sneak outside food in."

Jake flips the hat's cottonball top to one side "Silver tongued devil, that was priceless!"

Parsnips leans in and lowes his voice. "We should probably hurry and get that flag back to our base before they've had any time to think this through."

“Hide it and we can run still disguised like we’re ‘attacking’ the our fort?”

(I think if this is capture the flag, we win when we get the flag to our base)

(Yep, looking at the defense though they routed the elves sent there too so there's no one still in who could tag you, so we'll do some dramatic flag raising, and call it a win for the jolly crew)

Upon returning to home base, Parsnips laughs as he remembers something, and starts routing around in his bag for the pair of spare boxer shorts he packed right after last year's magical kidnapping. With the boxer shorts in one hand, he takes the other team's flag back from Dai. Giggling the whole way up the stairs, Parsnips afixes both to the flag pole, boxer shorts first, then opposing flag. Pausing to catch his breath from giggling every few pulls, he raises the symbols of their victory high over their fort, underwear and flag both waving majestically in the winter wind. He catches his breath just long enough to bring his hand up for a salute

Radka looks up from cataloguing the effects of the Fear Gas on the two Elves to look upon the New flag. Spending a couple of moments in confusion before seeing Parsnips salute it. After a second of pause she awkwardly salutes the flag as well, Unsure of what customs she's following or the proper stance.

There is the sound of sleighbells and the snowball fight comes to an end. The Kringle squad looks fairly beat up upon making their way across the field to you. "You won the round, but not the jolly fest" the elf in charge says as everyone comes together. "see you in the cookie mines in a bit. Go back inside for now, you'll be transported to the kitchen when everything is ready"

As soon as the command to head back inside is heard, Yulia stands up, shivering, and makes her way wordlessly to the front door to escape her frozen hell and the hole in the trenches she had been hiding in. Ivan's face lights up behind his newly acquired aviator sunglasses and starts heading toward the hall everyone woke up as well. "Cookie mines!" he exclaims. "If my squad was here, they'd be dead from diabetic shock. A true warrior's death. They're going to so fricken jealous. If any of you find a triple-chocolate chunk vein, you must tell me immediately."

Parsnips smirk widens to a grin. The visible discomfort on Dai’s face over how they won this round is even more satisfying than the win itself. He walks over to her and gives a friendly clasp on the back. “Come on, Goodtimes, let’s see what else I can teach you here”

Jake polishes the aviators, wiping off a few melted snowflakes and grins from ear to ear the elf hat sitting lopsided from the run back "That's the most fun I've had in a while! Ivan, I probably should load up any triple chocolate cookies we find and take them to be.... studied. Before you eat them... For the safety of... snowmen and ...reindeer."

Daira looks at Parsnips. Annoyance and and frustration are almost visible. But she suppresses the urge to just jump at him or take away Ognyena's blessing that she once gave him. She just knows that he wouldn't dare to say something like that if she was the Prophetess. After a moment she says. "Don't push too far. This was just a game, you got lucky that these elves were stupid little fuc..." She realizes that while she feels that way, it just comes over as excuses. "You did a good job there, were right with your plan, this time. But just, just let it be, okay? You don't know when you will be wrong next time, and you don't want me to teach you lessons, do you?"

Parsnips shifts his demeanor and takes a couple of steps back. "Hey, I was just kidding around here. I didn't mean to upset you. Like I said before, these mystical kidnappings are the closest thing we get to a vacation. You know I respect the hell out of you and the work you do, right? I'll dial it back a few notches here." He pauses for a moment before adding "I am gonna keep calling you Goodtimes though. That's just too funny to pass up."

"That is fine with me." She sighs. "Listen I do not want to ruin your fun, I am just not used to, well, having fun and all that. Let us just continue to be nice to each other, okay?"

"Not much time for fun back where I come from, well I suppose there is. If you ignore all the responsibilities you have." There is a note of cheerful sarcasm to Micaela's tone as she puts together a sloppy snowball and tosses it in Radka's direction.

"NONE of us are used to having fun! That's what makes fun so..." Parsnips trails off when realizes that if he ends the way he intended to, it runs the risk of going into the worst sentence hall of fame. "Hey, we really beat the crap out of those dweebs, didn't we?"

"Hell yeah we did! You should've seen some of the snowballs that Zorcash and Radka came up with. All these crazy designs and effects, it was very impressive. Gurk here kept trying to come up with ways to kill the poor goobers with like, sharpened candy canes and his spike thrower."

"I have to say, if violent encounters were as tame as this has been, I wouldn't mind them so much. I am still thoroughly displeased that I've been dragged through metaspace though... Makes my skin crawl." Radka shudders visibly. Then turns and looks at the offense team "How'd the assault go? I didn't see anyone chasing you on the way back... Did you use the Alchemical Ball I handed whichever one of you?"

Parsnips shoots a knowing smile at the rest of the crew. “Well, they put up a hell of a fight, but we squeaked it out in the end. Just barely.”

“It was touch and go there for a few minutes.“ Jake nods with sincerity

There is a ding that sounds ominously through the room as the fireplace begins to separate, revealing a large cargo elevator , it’s gate painted to look like woven candy canes.

Micaela looks towards the cargo elevator and says "I assume this is the way to the cookie mines. I wonder if they allow snacking on the job?" And heads towards the festively decorated elevator.

Radka shrugs and follows Micaela, Pausing to see if she can peel some of the paint off for Chemical Analysis later.

Micaela has the sudden idea to try to lick the candy cane painted gate, and after looking to make sure no one is outright staring at her; though there is no way to do such a thing completely incognito. She quickly attempts a taste while cleverly leaning against the gate off to the side to attempt to reduce the obviousness of the attempt.

The cage is made from actual candy cane and a piece of it breaks off easily for analysis later. A faint holiday jingle plays in the background as elevator music as the group clambers aboard and the gates close. The ride below ground is quick but smooth and you end in a scorching hot underground cavern where ovens have taken the place of furnaces and the walls are made of gingerbreads. Tunnels and caverns spiderweb in all directions while gumdrops and other candies stick out in random places like glittering gems. The elves are waiting there for you to explain the rules and to hand out the tools you’ll be using which look similar to the picks and shovels they’re working with for the gathering stage of the event

Parsnips files in, collects his tools, and lines up for the rules shpiel. He is still wearing the stolen elf hat from the previous event

Radka continues fussing with the elevator, taking pieces and muttering about how the candy cane is in such good condition, up until People begin exiting the elevator. At which point she jogs over and stares dejectedly at the tools.

Jake cracks off a piece of cage, sticks it in his mouth like a cigar. Aviators and hat stowed away for potential future shenanigans, he makes his way to the gathering spot “This place smells wonderful….” He plucks a gum drop from the wall, popping it in his mouth “Tastes real good too.”

"Welcome to the cookie mines! " the head elf says. Each of you has the same set of instructions displaying on your compad now, so you can be sure there are no shenanigans at play "The rules are simple and everything you will need to make your gingerbread village is here in this mine. The walls as you may have noticed are gingerbread, and are filled with the other adornments you will need for your village. There is an icing stream in the next cavern over that you'll find makes the glue you need to keep everything together. There are going to be two display boards here in the main cavern to assemble your village. " (I'm going to doodle a quick map so everyone knows the layout)

"First thing we'll need is supplies, right? I'll head to the mines and gather the gingerbread. Who wants to get us some icing?"

Gurk selects a useful looking tool for dealing with a river of liquid sugar and heads off.

Daira looks at Parsnips, then sighs. "I will help you with the Gingerbread." She points at her sword. "I can cut it out of the walls in a way that ends up being useful for the project."

"I'm going to work on a special project, I think. May I have a pair of stronger hands accompany me? Especially if they're good at Mechanical things..." (edited)

"Breaking mechanical things?" Ivan asks with a smile.

Parsnips smiles at Dai, but this time more warm and less smirky. “Alright, Goodtimes! Let’s go get us some gingerbread!” He grabs a bundle of the provided tools and starts off toward the mines

"...Trying to not break the elevator while removing all of the Candy Cane stuff on it. After all, we need it to return to that room."

"Ah well, I guess I'm hauling icing then. YULI! Coming? Anyone else?" Yulia, wishing the elevator would go back up and was visibly depressed at the idea that it might get disassembled for the game. "Yeah, I guess. Maybe some of this sugary crap fermented somewhere."

“I can help you Radka, what ya have in mind? Looks like icing and gingerbread are well taken care of.”

"I'm thinking our Houses are going to be Mint, especially cause we can use the peppermint chunks to add a nice kick and thicken the icing.*

2

Micaela claps her hands together. "Shouldn't be too hard to scrape off candy cane shaving and use it to decorate the roof or whatever you have planned. That's a really good idea Radka!" She leaves the two candy cane experts behind and tries to catch up to parsnips and Daira on the way to the gingerbread mine

Parsnips waves Micaela forward. "Come on, we can use all the gingerbread hands we can get"

Jake heads over to Radka and produces a few small chisels and hanmers from his toolkit. “Let’s get peppermint cracking!”

(lets get a work/con from everyone!)

(Ivan - 10)

(Gurk - 8)

(DaiRa - 11 "Work Work Work")

Parsnips Jackall | Ian Holt

used /roll

Parsnips Jackall | Ian Holt Request: [2d6-1] Roll: [6, 4] Result: 9

(6, dice channel roll formula I typed wrong!!!)

(Radka - 11)

Eisheru, et al.

used /roll

Eisheru, et al. Request: [2d6] Roll: [5, 4] Result: 9

(I'll move with this for right now) The group splits up based on how they previously decided to spread the labor and the first of the gingerbread and candies are harvested. Two large buckets of icing are also returned for the moment to be used as glue for the fiinshed pieces.

(so sorry about that. Missed the notification a while back. Do you want me to go ahead and make a roll or did everyone else already do what could be done?)

(you can roll too)

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian |

used /roll

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian Request: [2d6-2] Roll: [6, 5] Result: 9

5

Parsnips starts stacking the slates of gingerbread his team brought back. "Ok, so, now, we just...turn all this into a house. go team?"

Ivan stirs one of the two buckets of icing he brought back. His boots are sticking to the floor, suggesting he might have slipped into the icing river while filling the buckets. "I made a tent, once. Only fell down twice. I'm pretty good at blowing buildings up, not quite there on building them yet. The nerds in the combat engineering corps usually do that for me."

There is a small chime, as a drone in candy coated liverly enters the room where you are all working. There is a folded letter in its manipulator claws.

Jake follows Radka toting a sack of peppermint chips and sets it down next to Ivan “We all have our talents,” he chuckles. “What’s this?” He pulls the letter from the claws and opens it.

"Your cookie village may be subject to danger. The mines have a mind of their own"

1:37 PM

The walls at the far end of the assembly chamber begin to shift and tumble as though they are about to cave in, as two gingerbread golems pull themselves from the veins of candy and creation.

Daira looks at Ivan and Parsnips. "I have not cleanly cut these gingerbread slices for you to ruin the end result. Focus please!" That is when the two Golems appear. "By the Prophetess, what are these?" She tilts her head a bit. "One of these would look nicely as a center piece for the village. I just wonder if we get one to not move anymore."

Micaela readies her Terminus Est spear and faces the golems l, prepared to defend the rest of the group if they prove enemies instead of allies.

Parsnips brings his shear rifle up to ready. "Hey, Goodtimes, maybe these guys just want to rap battle too!"

"Yeah, you're right, they can come live at my house too!" "Vanya, if any more magical creatures come to live with Mom and Babushka, you're paying for the house expansion." Yulia interjects. "-Oh sorry, no vacancy then," Ivan tells the golems as they assemble. "But we'll uhh... build you one?" He looks at the others among their building materials. "Uh, right everyone? Your very own house... even though you live in the walls, I guess... gingerbread houses... gingerbread golems... let's not think too hard about the common uh... makeup of these two things."

(they look like they're gonna be enemies for the moment, since you're making houses from their flesh)

Rethinking the use of a weapon that messes with gravitational fields inside of a cave made of baked goods, Parsnips slings his rifle and pulls his hatchet. "On second thought, I don't think these guys are in the mood for rhyming."

One of them holds up what you can only suspect is gingerbread for a gang sign, but they continue to advance, slowly coming inexorably closer to the group. Roars and smashing in the other room tell you the Kringle gang is experiencing the same thing at the moment.

Jake wipes gingerbread crumbs from his mouth “Ivan, you think they regenerate cookie legs and arms? You could have an unlimited supply of fresh gingerbread if you did take one of these guys home with you. But yeah, they look uncooperative…. Maybe we just make ‘em bite sized for now?” A holographic overlay of a holiday baker’s outfit shimmers into existence complete with stains and smears of gingerbread pieces and parts. The chef’s hat topped with a chocolate drizzle. He pulls out his sword, moving up next to ‘Snips “Someone really should have brought milk….”

Micaela moves towards the golems and attempts to make a plea with them "I know it's a terrible thing we've done, in ignorance which makes it even worse. But we're not allowed to leave until we create a product out of what we've taken from these walls. We're not your enemies. The elves down the hall and Kringle knew what they were having us do to you and the cavern and gleefully watched knowing you would be sent against us! Your quarrel is with them. We will treat the flesh we've had to harvest with as much respect as is possible with this twisted game."

"I think you're right, Jake!" Ivan draws his sword with the nanite edge making its hushed scream as it reassembles itself millions of times over. "You better listen to Michaela! If we stop making this gingerbread house out of your gingerbread skin, you have to help us get out of Kringle's crazy-person game show! Otherwise, you're just walking building material!"

"...Do you think they breathe?" Radka sounds uncertain, and looks to Jake, whom is the closest person to her at the moment.

Parsnips grip tightens on his hatchet as he holds the line with his comrades. "No offense, but I think we might be giving a little too much deference to the monsters that just climbed out of the fucking wall"

"Bomb first ask questions later? How CBSS of you." Micaela talks out of the side of her mouth while eying the Golems.

"Fair point, what with our gun that blows up planets and all...wait. I'm thinking of someone else, aren't I?"

"Touché"

“Radka, they might… probably where the bubbles come from when they’re dunked in milk…still need to find some of that….” “‘Snips, you must be on your 3rd case of that heavenly vodka to be spreading such rumors! I’m in need of a good snort” He eyes Micaela and ‘Snips grinning “No politics or religion during Family Gatherings during the Holidays! We’ve got Kringlings and walking gingerbread to asskick!” (edited)

"Wait a second! I got an idea!" Parsnips runs back to the team's supplies and grabs one of the buckets of icing. "This stuff's supposed to be like a delicious epoxy, right?" He runs back over to the scrimmage line with the golems and flings the contents of the buckets toward their feet.

1

They look at the bucket with interest. One of them begins walking over, and dips their hand inside. It takes a long drink of the sugary nectar like fluid, and it seems that if this keeps coming, their hostility will cease

Parsnips watches the display for a moment. “Huh. Not exactly what I was going for, but, uhhh, sure.” Thinking for another moment, he grabs the bucket back, and starts backing away. “I’m going to try to lead them to the icing lake, keep them out of our hair for good. The rest of you, I don’t know, turn all this into a house”

Jake sheaths his sword and moves aside making a hole for Parsnips and new friends.

(anyone going with snips? )

(I'll accompany!)

(Gurk will go)

Moving to the river of sugary sweetness, the golems follow and it sounds like from the other room the Kringle squad has not yet figured this all out. There are sounds of fighting and roars from that room, along with cries for help.

Parsnips lets out a heavy sigh. "fuuuuuuuuck. Those dweebs aren't supposed to die over this." He dunks the bucket into the river, refilling it. "Come on then, let's go save some goobers."

Micaela nods, a bit caught off guard but pleasantly so "Definitely not in the Christmas spirit to let folks get crushed to death." And moves to help Parsnips with the full bucket of thick icing.

Gurk keeps ahead of the pair, keeping an eye out for any roots, ice patches, or other hazards that might cause the pail-hauling duo to slip and fall.

There is nothing on the ground in this room. The way has overall been kept clear and you emerge to a scene of carnage as the gingerbread golems are tearing through the Kringle squad and their creations. Their town lies in ruins, along with the small army of gingerbread soldiers they had built to defend it.

Parsnips slops the bucket around, letting some of the syrupy goodness fly around the room before holding the bucket aloft. "Hey! Leave the Goobers Alone And Come Have some Sugar! Your friends are all waiting for you by the lake!" (edited)

One of the three golems in this room turns with interest. The other two look to be intent on destroying the city the elves have construted from the same material as their flesh.

"Get him out of here Snips! Gurk and I will tango with the other two." She gives a look over to Gurk to make sure that he agrees with being voluntold to fight against gingerbread golems in a strange metadimensional tunnel in Christmas Land.

Gurk shrugs. "Why not?"

Parsnips nods his agreement and begins backing out of the room, spilling a trail of icing as he makes his way back to the river. "Come on, buddy. Come hang out in the pool with your friends"

Micaela will begin the groups assault by casting out her consciousness and presence through her Terminus Est spear and attempting an attack against each of the remaining two golems as soon as Parsnips has pulled the third out of sight.

The third groans and follows like an obedient child, shuffling out of the way and around the corner to the icing stream.

Gurk readies the spike thrower, preparing to blast whichever golem looks to be the easier target.

The one on the right is further away from the scattering of elves and the ruins of their gingerbread village, the easier target by far.

Gurk takes aim at the monstrosity and opens fire. (22/13)

3

It groans as one of its broken gingerbread arms is severed at the wrist. The clenching cookie hand falls to the ground and is broken into several cookie crumb fragments.

Micaela will try to slice the leg of the one that Gurk's just taken a shot at, trying to drive it off balance enough that it ends up on the ground and relatively useless.

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian |

used /roll

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian Request: [1d20+9] Roll: [2] Result: 11

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian |

used /roll

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian Request: [1d10+4] Roll: [2] Result: 6

(11/6. With a shock of 3/15)

(Shock goes through !)

(are they coming after us, or can Gurk try to down the injured target?)

(they're continuing to smash things and torment the elves for the moment but some more attacks are probably going to get them to turn on you)

Gurk does what he can to rescue the hapless elves, delivering more firepower to the wounded golem with his spike thrower. (19/17)

THe second of the golems turns into cookie crumbs ,l eaving only one remaining.

"Alright big guy, let's see if it's true that the taller they are the harder they crumble...Hey you elves if you've got any milk left for your cookies toss it on this guy!" Micaela shouts out as she tries to take a hack into the golem

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian |

used /roll

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian Request: [1d20+9] Roll: [16] Result: 25

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian |

used /roll

Micaela Finnegan | Adrian Request: [1d10+4] Roll: [3] Result: 7

(25/7 on the attack!)

5

The second of the golems falls, and with time coming to an end, and the elves having nothing to show for their work the event is ended, and with two out of three victories, the Anti-Kringle alliance sweeps the competition for the year. You are each whisked back to the lodge where you had first started this very long and very wintery day to find items waiting for you. Everyone has been given a snowglobe, and a stocking this year. The stockings all have your names on them, so there is no mistaking what belongs to who. The snowglobes are all of this lodge and the snow covered pine forest around it, the lodge has flickering lights on in the windows giving the appearance of a fire within. Snowglobe: This item can be used once and it will create a permanent shelter wherever it is thrown. The shelter will look identical to this cabin, and the 100m of pine forest around it. The fire inside never needs to be re stocked with wood, and a nutritious dinner will be automatically prepared by the lodge's expert system every night. It does not need to be maintained, but can still be directly damaged by normal means. Stocking: This item can be reached into three times before the threads tear and the stocking becomes a useless pile of rags. The person reaching into the stocking will roll a D100. On a 50 or less, the item is exactly the one the character needs within the scene (Per DM approval, the usual restrictions with face and not TL5 apply) , on a 51 to 100, the item is an interesting but relatively useless trinket.

7

5

(Would it be possible to check on the Elves of the Kringle Alliance and see if I can heal/help them with potions to overcome the injuries the golems caused them, or are they in good enough hands that that won't be necessary?)

(nah, we don't need to worry about them, mission is over and no one is going to die on a christmas mission)

(K~ ^_^)

Jake steps up on a chair so everyone can see him and taps his coffee mug to get their attention "We really stomped those Kringles. Silly elves thinking they could take of us down. Hah!" "Before we all dissipate to our regularly scheduled space-time, I'd like to make an announcement. Max Davenport commissioned an exploration ship. A ship to follow up on a set of coordinates that were revealed after bringing together a set of action figures at the last Galatea Games. We intended to take that trip together, but circumstances changed. Max's sacrifice to single handedly save a planet and destroy a galactic threat cut those plans short." He pauses a second, a range of emotions crosses his face "Max bequeathed his ship to me and I'll be making the journey to see what's there. His figurine was lost when Draco was eradicated. I have a feeling one may be needed in some way based on the assumption that only those who have them, and myself through Max, know the location. I'm asking that some of you, and hopefully one who still has an action figure, will make that journey with me." (edited)