[Endgame: rise or DROWN]

[warpweft]

[How long have you been exploring Nessa's palace now? You've met her family, viewed her memories, learned how to fight as a witch and tried to find the source of her power and the Treasure of her palace: the Voidheart. And along the way, you've tired your best, with mixed success, to avoid the incarnation of her eldest cousin and the representation of her trauma and fear, the Nightmare of Esmau.]

[Wherever you are in the Palace right now, you feel the ground briefly shake under your feet. Little shakes here and there haven't been out of the ordinary - Esmau is trying to blow the place down to the studs, after all. But that felt different. That felt....worse.]

[Your phone beeps as you receive a message.]

Comments

THE TIDE RISES....

[voidhearts]

[Agnis and Nell eventually make their way down to the Workshop, albeit slowly. Agnis is stable, but, not in great shape. It...doesn't take much to figure out what happened down here and nobody seems to know what to do. Esmau looked invincible before she had the Voidheart, plus Agnis and Caesar are both out of commission now...]

[Before anybody can do much but wonder what to do next, a voice rings out through the Workshop, Hearthside and, you have a feeling, the entire palace.]



Children of Typhon. Hear my words.

I am Lilith, the true master of the Voidheart.

Esmau, my disciple, has returned my Heart to me.

Until now, you have tried to stand against the tide. You had tried to stand with Nessa. But you have failed. You now stand before a great Void that threatens to swallow with no more time to run from it and no options to shield yourself from it.

This is the one and only mercy I will offer. Cease your struggle and leave this place before the tide crashes against it, and you will be spared.

Rise from the Void or drown in it.

The choice is yours.

[The voice stops.

After a few seconds of silence, Caesar, from his position on his back on the ground, throws two middle fingers up at the ceiling.]

Re: THE TIDE RISES....

[warpweft]

Never thought I'd find myself agreeing with dear old grandmama, but, there's a first time for everything I suppose.

[Shadow Nessa walks down the stairs next. She's as sarcastic ever, but she looks....pretty devastated. She knows what just happened here.]

You're all going to want to get out of here. Now.

[cosplayed_out]

[narrows her eyes]

Surrender is a responsibility taken by the leadership of the chain of command. Individual units decentralized from this hierarchy are free to pursue the mission, despite surrender.

This mission will not be failed.

[warpweft]

Tsumugi, my dying wish is that you drop the bit.

Re: THE TIDE RISES....

[velluminous]

[ practically vibrating with rage ]

No. Everyone else leave. I am seeing this through.

Re: THE TIDE RISES....

[warpweft]

You're leaving too.

There's nothing else to see through. This place is about to fall apart completely. You won't survive.

[survivaltricks]

No.

[. . . that's it. just a simple. . . no]

[warpweft]

Akira.

[She looks like she wants to smile, but she can't manage it.]

I'm sorry. I know you tried your hardest. It's over. Nessa wouldn't want you to die for nothing.

["Nessa wouldn't." Not, "I don't".]

[messianic]

[ a tiny, rueful shrug. ]

... Sorry, Nessa-san. We've come this far. We're not going to leave you behind.

There's still hope.

[warpweft]

[You lousy protagonists.]

...

...

You don't know that.

[Her voice sounds....scared?]

You can't. You don't know what those two are like. What they can take from you.

[voidhearts]

[The ground around you shakes. It's....happening. That tide Lilith was talking about is coming. It feels like the Workshop is about to shake itself apart and if you look outside, the sky has grown dark. Purple cracks have began to run across the ground and the sky. The forest outside Hearthside is turning black as all of the leaves fall off and turn into dust. The streets and the houses of the village where Nessa grew up are cracking and shaking themselves apart before your eyes.

As determined as you are to fight, you don't know where Esmau and Lilith are, even if you did, you don't know how to get there and even if you could, you don't know how you could fight them.

This is it. This is the end.

A large purple gash runs through the workhouse and the hill it's built into. Right under your feet. Just when it looks like it's about to open up and swallow you whole....

[Sprezzatura's pockets start moving back and forth, like something inside it has a mind of its own. Threatening to rip whatever article of clothing its attached to off of her, something LEAPS out of Sprezzatura's inventory. It's.....Clouds!

White and violet clouds start flooding out of Sprezzatura's pockets and flying in every direction. The clouds seal up the cracks and gashes on the ground and the sky and everything......pauses. The destruction of the palace, which seemed like it was seconds from happening, has been temporarily averted.

Somebody steps out of the clouds. A dark-skinned young man with white hair. He glances at Sprezzatura and gives her a little wave. Then he looks at Shadow Nessa, who looks, uh, absolutely stunned to see him. He averts his eyes, looking a little embarrassed.]



So uh.

You guys are gonna try and stop this, right?

'Cause it'll be pretty embarassing that I just did that if you're not.

[cosplayed_out]

Fighting a battle to save face is approved procedure.

[voidhearts]

If you really wanna save my face, figure out some way to beat Esmau and Lilith.

[survivaltricks]

[c-clouds??]

. . . who are you?

[RUDE AT LEAST SAY THANK YOU]

[voidhearts]

I'm Dimitri.

Nessa's cousin. Lilith's hitman.

Except I guess I just quit that second thing.

NELL

[voidhearts]

I...I'm gonna help! I can still fight! And, Shadow Nessa gave me THIS!

[Nessa pulls something out of her pocket and holds it out. It's...a NESSA DIAMOND CARD X credit card! A diamond-colored credit card with Nessa's face on it. It boasts "UNLIMITED NESSA POINTS!" "ONLY ONE IN EXISTENCE!" "IF YOU SIGN UP FOR IT NOW, I PROMISE YOU'RE MY FAVORITE COUSIN AND/OR SIBLING!"
"owner consents to doing 95% of apartment chores for the next 1,000 years]

I - I'll unlock everything in the shop for you guys right now! Whatever spells or facets you need, just talk to me and I'll get it for you!

[You now have unlimited funds to purchase what you need from the NessaShop.
Nessa's Spells in the shop are unlocked!
Nell's Spells in the shop are unlocked!
Agnis' Spells in the shop are unlocked!
Caesar's Spells in the shop are unlocked!
??? (Dimitri's Spells) in the shop are unlocked!
Void, Vulcan and Harmony facets in the shop are unlocked!]

[Your spark has been EMPOWERED. You feel great potential within you. You can now shift your Spark between the three elements of Void, Vulcan and Harmony. See combat rules for a summary of each element and their powers.

You have also recieved a free Harmony Shard!

Minato:

Name: Plume of Dusk
Description: A luminescent feather that was once part of something incredibly powerful, recreated as a potent Harmony spark. The feather exists in a state between mind and matter, mass and information, in a fashion very similar to the energy derived from the Harmony Network and can recreate its ability to work as an energy source.
Spark: Harmony
Facet Slots: 2
Effect:
Once per round when you heal a member of your party, they also gain a free basic spell cast on their next turn.

Sprezzatura:

Name: Manifest Mind
Description: A simple wizard’s spellbook, imbued with sentience and transformed into a focus for spellcasting. The purest representation of a scribe’s dedication to see all magical knowledge recorded and preserved. Expand the limits of your arcane arsenal and turn that dedication upon your opponents.
Spark: Harmony
Facet Slots: 2
Effect:
Gain two additional spell slots.
Once per round, you can select a spells in one of Manifest Mind’s slots. Change that spell’s Spark to that of another spell you have equipped for one round.

Akira:

Name: Third Eye
Description: A thief’s sense, allowing one to tap into their sixth sense and see what is hidden in the dark. Focus yourself to heighten your senses and learn valuable information about your opponent.
Spark: Harmony
Facet Slots: 3
Effect:
Spend two of your Basic Spell casts for the turn to gain 1d2 Heightened
When Heightened, you can spend 1 Basic Spell cast to gain valuable information about the battle.


Tsumugi:

Name: The 53rd
Description: Two hairpins, one depicting a white bear, another depicting a black bear with a huge grin on its face. Create a new Killing Game, right here and now. Inflict Despair on enemies and allies alike. It doesn’t matter who gets hurt in the end as long as it’s exciting. After all, you’re just giving the world what it wants.
Spark: Harmony
Facet Slots: 2
Effect:
You can change your name to Junko Enoshima or Tsumugi Shirogane as a free action during your turn.
Once per round, when an ally of yours takes damage from an attack, inflict 1 Psyshock to the attacking opponent for every 10 damage taken.
You can increase the damage to your ally by 10 to add 1d3+1 Psyshock to the opponent.]

W...we're not done yet! This place is still worth fighting for! And we can still fight! All of us together!

[messianic]

[ Minato is going to have to examine this one much closer later when he has the chance, but right now--! ]

Thank you, Nell-san! We've got this...!

[cosplayed_out]

That's... surprisingly touching.

CAESAR

[gravitonn]

[Caesar runs his hand down his face. He's still slumped against a wall.]

Shit. I'm pretty busted here, even after that heal. I think I'd just drag you guys down in a fight. Sorry.

...

I can maybe do one thing for you. C'mere, and I'll give you something that might help.

[Caesar rubs his hand together when you come close. He blows on his hands. They glow orange for a second...then turn purple. He holds his hand out to you. There's a purple shard of glass in it. When you take it, you can see something else in its shape...

Minato:

Name: Fool’s Bond
Description: A red armband with the letters “S.E.E.S.” on it, a representation of an unbreakable bond and a promise to meet one more time. Your links spurred you on to face impossible odds once before, let them do it again.
Spark: Void
Facet Slots:
Effect:
At the start of battle, you can create a Temporary Resonance between a spell of yours and one of your allies.
You and/or your ally can choose spells that already have Resonance with another spell, stacking their bonuses with each other.

Sprezzatura:

Name: No Limits
Description: Nothing should fetter the infinite possibility inherent in all existence. Your relentless pursuit of the unknown imbues you with a special possibility to shape the primordial energy of the Void. In your hands, potential becomes reality.
Spark: Void
Facet Slots: 2
Effect:
Volatile Sparks generated by you deal additional damage when detonated.
Every third Void spell you cast generates 1 Volatile Spark on a Void spell of your choice.

Akira:

Name: Stylish Phantom
Description: The boast that sucks the air from the room. Strike like a phantom, move with flair, let your enemies know your might before you strike them down. Others call you a show-off. You prefer to think of it as vital psychological warfare.
Spark: Void
Facet Slots: 2
Effect:
Hit an opponent for damage with three Void basic spells in a row to gain Invisibility.
While Invisible, you can use a Void basic spell for free, once per round.

Tsumugi:

Name: Plain Jane
Description: You’re so plain, you’re more plain than a plain bagel with plain cream cheese. Being so unremarkable has its advantages, though. When you just blend into the background
Spark: Void
Facet Slots: 2
Effect:
You are less likely to be attacked.
When you’re invisible, you can’t be selected as an attack target.]

Give fuckin' Esmau one in the nose for me, yeah?

[messianic]

[ this is........ Minato holds this shard like a treasure, staring at it for a long moment--before he smiles a little, dipping his head. ]

... Thank you. You can count on us. We won't let you down.

[cosplayed_out]

...

[a firm, but understated nod.]

[velluminous]

You came—!

[voidhearts]

Yeah.

Well.

[He nervously shifts in place.]

What was it you said.

"Don't give up"?

AGNIS

[voidhearts]

[Agnis watches all of this unfolding. Everyone preparing to fight. She feels like this is all her fault. She had the Voidheart sitting under her house this entire time and she didn't tell any of them. Because she didn't trust them. Because she wanted to make them prove themselves first. And now, everything is so close to falling apart, but....they're still here. They're still ready to fight.]

All of you...

[She can't help it. Tears starts to fall.]

Please...

[She's just Nessa's memories of Agnis, not the real thing. But, Nessa knows Agnis as well as she knows herself. So she knows exactly what the real Agnis would say right now.]

Please bring my sister back to me!

SHADOW NESSA

[warpweft]

[Shadow Nessa looks absolutely stunned that Dimitri showed up and that everything ISN'T falling apart. Between that and everybody's refusal to leave.]

You...

[She brings a hand up to her face.]

You idiots...!

Oh god, Agnis, don't start crying, that's gonna make me start too...

[Too late. The waterworks have started for her, too. But...she manages to smile anyway.]

All of you...you'd better survive this, god dammit.

You know Nessa wouldn't be able to forgive herself if you didn't.