GULGALLANA

[soulping]

[ You find yourself in a section of the maze walled off by hedges sporting glowing orange flowers. Several tree stumps with rich velvet cushions on them surround a much larger stump, upon which lie a number of cards... ]

Comments

ROUND FIVE

[soulping]

[ The cards from before finally vanish, replaced by five new ones: the Star, the Moon, the Sun, Judgment, and the World. Wilder the Trickster speaks once more. ]

I'm feeling generous. You can all have one more chance to reverse the transformations. Up to two of you may pick a card this time, but beware! These effects will last a few hours, and there's no stopping them before that once you've picked.

DISCUSSION

[soulping]

 

Re: DISCUSSION

[debate_avenger]

[...Our organs are floating around. This is too weird even for me.]

Not even that was good enough?!

Re: DISCUSSION

[clocksandroses]

If the set-up changed, maybe this is the last one?!

Re: DISCUSSION

[debate_avenger]

Hopefully, yes. We need to decide who's going to take something, though. And if so, what.

[Either way, I don't like this situation.]

Re: DISCUSSION

[clocksandroses]

. . . I can. The World, maybe.

Re: DISCUSSION

[pronounced]

Maybe...it was. We have different cards now at least.

[ awkward ]

Re: DISCUSSION

[debate_avenger]

That's true, yeah. Still, that means we can't fail this time either, but...

Re: DISCUSSION

[pronounced]

Which card do we choose, right?

I don't think the Judgement will end well.

Re: DISCUSSION

[catastrophies]

[EVERYTHING IS TERRIBLE AND PANIC-INDUCING]

Re: DISCUSSION

[clocksandroses]

[GENTLE HAND ON YOUR SHOULDER]

Re: DISCUSSION

[catastrophies]

[I HATE THIS ECHO]

Re: DISCUSSION

[clocksandroses]

[ME TOO MAN]

[Squeezes a bit, still gently.]

It can't be too much longer. We're almost there.

Re: DISCUSSION

[debate_avenger]

[I'll just... do my best to continue rubbing your back as best I can. This is probably really awkward at this point, though.]

Sorry for not being able to help you much...

Re: DISCUSSION

[catastrophies]

S'not your fault.

Re: DISCUSSION

[pronounced]

[ suddenly really awkward.... ]

... Sorry.

Re: DISCUSSION

[catastrophies]

S'okay...

Re: DISCUSSION

[pronounced]

It.

[ ... ]

Let's end this quickly.

Re: DISCUSSION

[pronounced]

[ surrounded by torn pillows and stuffing... but at least she's calmed down now ]

Re: DISCUSSION

[clocksandroses]

Parallel-san, are you feeling better now?

Re: DISCUSSION

[pronounced]

I think so. Or, well, as better as you can feel while still turning into a cup.

Re: DISCUSSION

[clocksandroses]

M-Mm . . . I'm glad, even if "better" is only relative.

CHOICE

[soulping]

[ Who picks, and which card? ]

Re: CHOICE

[debate_avenger]

Now... everyone's decided on their cards? Just we'll grab them all on three.

One... Two... Three!

[And... Parallel grabs the Star, Diz grabs the Moon, Tiger grabs the Sun, and Aoko grabs The World.

We are rebels.]

Re: CHOICE

[soulping]

[ Rebels who are all going to get a headful of fuck.

Parallel experiences the following:

For the next three to four hours, every time you or someone near you feels the slightest hint of hope for anything, you feel compelled to rip it to pieces with cold, despairing logic--even if your takedown isn't actually very logical.

Dissolve experiences the following:

For the next three to four hours, you become convinced that your teammates are actually impostors wearing the faces of the team you know and care for. No amount of logic or reason can convince you otherwise.

Tiger experiences the following:

For the next three to four hours, delusions of grandeur plague you relentlessly. You should be in charge here; you are in charge here; why isn't anyone listening to you? You are mighty, a sun among mere stars!

Aoko experiences the following:

For the next three to four hours, you know everything. Absolutely everything--or so you think. Information pours through your brain without stopping. Some of it is right, and some of it is completely wrong, and you have no way of telling what's what.

But hey, at least your transformations are reversed for good. ]