-{ M e l o c a n i a }-

[SHIVERS]

INTUITION: Politely request a few...
INTUITION: bits
INTUITION: ...of information.
YAWN: HAH.
YAWN: Terrible. That isn't even funny.
YAWN: . . .
YAWN: ...alright, maybe that helped. A smidge.
YAWN: Fine. Let's do that first.
YAWN: Did you have ideas?



YAWN: "Let's talk first. I have questions."
BIT: "Alright."
YAWN: "What can ou-"
YAWN: "What can my class do? These abilities-"
 BIT: "Skills."
YAWN: "...skills. What do these skills do?"
BIT: "Sure, I'll give you the descriptions as I have them."

BIT: "Let's see..."

A tiny, floating book fizzles into existence in front of Bit.










:: BECKON ::
Call forth a random extranatural entity. 
If you form a bond with this entity, you may call it specifically in the future. 
Calling a random entity will be more demanding on the body. 
When beckoning a specific entity, roll appropriate extranatural stat.
Cannot call entities related to MEMENTO.


BIT: "...I don't believe this is worth using. Ever."
BIT: "An extranatural entity could more than likely solve any problem you'd throw it at."
BIT: "And the positive stats means they shouldn't harm You."
BIT: "But everything beyond that is a risk. Anything could happen."
YAWN: "Even summoning a fairy."
BIT: "..."
YAWN: "..."
BIT: "[SIGH]"
BIT: "...Yes. If somehow fairies turn out to be real, you might summon one."







:: BLUE ::
Perform a random extranatural skill by rolling the appropriate stat. 
MUST specify which stat is being rolled - 
Blue Angel for SERAPHIC, Blue Fairy for REALMIC, and Blue Deep for DEPTH. 
Cannot roll MEMENTO skills.


YAWN: "Ugh. Does it all have to be random chance?"
BIT: "Often, yes. Get used to that."
BIT: "And this one is technically three skills."
BIT: "Blue Angel, Blue Fairy, and Blue Deep."
BIT: "So, you'll need to specify which you want to use."
BIT: "Still risky, but you have a better chance of using something helpful that may not cause other issues."







:: CARBON ::
Take on the appearance of a random sort of extranatural entity for an indefinite amount of time. 
Stats and available skills may change.
Cannot appear as entities related to MEMENTO.

BIT: "Well."
BIT: "If you're in dire straits, I suppose... turning into something else could... help."
BIT: "My guess is that you'd have greatly-improved stats and access to powerful skills. But that's only a guess."
BIT: "And... 'indefinite'. Could be an hour, could be a day - it doesn't specify."
BIT: "And I've never seen this skill used before."
BIT: "You should be careful."
YAWN: "I know what I'm doing. I'll be fine."



BIT: "Overall, my advice is to try and stick it out until you find other skills."
BIT: "If you have to use a skill sooner..."
BIT: "...Stick with Blue. Use Carbon in a pinch, and Beckon as a last resort."

BIT: "And keep in mind:  using most skills will take a physical toll on you."
BIT: "It's typically as simple as feeling more fatigued depending on the strength and utility of said skill."
BIT: "But... these are all extranatural skills. There's no telling what might happen to you."



BIT: "Those are my thoughts, but it's ultimately your call."
BIT: "Just don't get yourself killed."
YAWN: "Sure, yes. Moving on."


Bit's book fizzles away.










YAWN: "Is there a chance of you landing on your side, rather than your front or back?"
BIT: "Incredibly slim, but technically, yes, I suppose it could happen."
YAWN: "Oooh, what's it do? What happens?"
BIT: ". . ."
BIT: "...I don't know."
BIT: "It never came up in training, and hasn't happened to me so far."
BIT: "I'm sure it won't be an issue, either way."





INTUITION: Ask bit about that spooky eye.
YAWN: ...No.
INTUITION: If it makes you feel any better, Yawn, that eye thing was freaky for us too.
INTUITION: But if you'd rather not discuss it, that's fine.
YAWN: Yes, let's not.
INTUITION: I won't talk much about what just happened for your sake Yawn but...
INTUITION: ...I'm glad you're alright. You really worried me for a second there.
YAWN: . . .
YAWN: ...thank you...





YAWN: ...Think that's plenty of questions. 
YAWN: Let's go.
















YAWN: "So!"

Yawn claps xer vines together.

YAWN: "Slots!"






Xe step over to the slot machines, giving each a glance.

INTUITION: At least your choice earlier got a little bit of the fairies in there.
YAWN: Not the time-
INTUITION: Now you have fairies entwined with you within and without. How delightful!
YAWN: ...You. I recognize that tone now.
YAWN: You're the one who was screaming before.
INTUITION: Yawn, please set those slots a-spinning!
INTUITION: I'm personally feeling very lucky, don't touch those yel--
YAWN: I'm not listening to a thing you say until you apologize.





Yawn takes a breath, not realizing xe'd been scowling.

Bit gives xem a confused glance.

YAWN: "It's nothing! I... am..."
YAWN: "...having some trouble focusing."







INTUITION: Anyway, as for the slots-
INTUITION: I think it might be worth pressing the yellow button for the green slot. 
INTUITION: Just to avoid the chance of getting something associated with your COM stat.
INTUITION: I also think going with chance on all but the green is a good idea.
INTUITION: I don't trust leaving that one up to chance.



INTUITION: ...But throwing caution to the wind has been the trend, so--
YAWN: No.
YAWN: Not this time.
YAWN: ...Yellow button for the green one is fine. Easy.















 

Yawn pulls the lever on the orange machine first.



The four options cycle through each other,
soon landing on...



ABSENCE

BIT: "Rolling . . . "



A sharp 'CLINK' noise rings out from Bit as if they'd been flicked into the air.









Momentarily, they 'land' with a dull 'THUNK',


then flip up onto their side so the result is visible . . .










1 + 0 (no modifier) = 
[1]
CRITICAL FAILURE

BIT: "Ah."

Bit flips back around.

BIT: "Unfortunate."
YAWN: "THAT'S what you look like on your other side?!"
BIT: "Yes."

The machine sputters,
something clanking down into the slot at the bottom.

BIT: "Well, let's see what it is at the very least."





Yawn grumbles, reaching a vine into the slot and pulling out what's inside.
















 

:: WEAPON: SQUEAKY HAMMER ::
A noisy toy hammer with hard metal discs attached to both ends.
Rolls with ABSENCE to attack.
Lower rolls are louder, but inflict more damage,
while higher rolls are quieter, but weaker.

Yawn squints at it,
experimentally pushing it against the slot machine.



It squeaks.



YAWN: "...I want a redo."
BIT: "It could be worse."
BIT: "With the way your rolls work, that isn't a terrible weapon."
BIT: "It still looks painful to be struck by it."
BIT: "And if you fail a roll... at least it won't notify anything nearby."
YAWN: "If you fail a roll, you mean."
BIT: "..."
BIT: "I don't have any more control over that than you do."
BIT: "Asserting that I would do this intentionally is uncalled for, to say the least."
BIT: " . . . "
BIT: "...I don't want this to be a point of contention between us."
YAWN: "..."
YAWN: "...sorry."
BIT: "Alright. Let's move on from that, then."





Xe look over the hammer.

YAWN: "Do I have to carry this around?"
YAWN: "I don't exactly want to advertise This as the thing I'm using to defend myself."
BIT: "Try to put it in your pocket."
YAWN: "It clearly wouldn't fit."
BIT: "Humor me."



The plant begrudgingly attempts to slide the Squeaky Hammer into one of xer pockets,
only for it to flash with red and disappear. 


BIT: "There, it's in your inventory now."
BIT: "You can do this with lots of useful things you find, just be mindful of your slots."
YAWN: "Why does that work?"
BIT: "I don't know the finer details of Melocania's mechanical systems."
BIT: "Best to assume it's some kind of magic."


Yawn experimentally reaches for xer pocket.
A vague red shape materializes in xer hand, forming into the full Squeaky Hammer within milliseconds.

Xe brandish a grin.

YAWN: "Oh this'll be VERY useful."
BIT: ". . ."













 

Yawn taps the yellow button on the green machine, watching it indent.
With that, xe pull the lever.

Again, the options flip through,
settling on...



SENSE

BIT: "Rolling . . . "































20 + 1 (- 5) = 
[16]

Something clatters down into the slot.


YAWN: "Now THAT'S more like it!"
BIT: "Congratulations."
BIT: "Let's see what you ended up with."





Yawn reaches into the slot and retrieves the item.














 

:: ACCESSORY: TESTIMONY MASK ::
When worn, will reveal fingerprints, footprints, and other information to the wearer,
along with an enhanced sense of sight, sound and smell for a brief period of time.
Overuse could result in side effects.

Yawn dangles the mask by its string.

YAWN: "...I can't imagine wanting to cover up my face."
YAWN: "More useful than the hammer, at least."












The plant eyes the purple machine up and down,
noting once more the giant stone circle connected to it.

YAWN: "...What's this one rolling for, Bit?"
BIT: "Starting location. So, your roll determines where you end up first."
BIT: "Considering it's using the Extranaturality stat group, I'd advise caution when going in, regardless of what you get."
YAWN: "No need for that!"
YAWN: "I'm... sure I can handle it!"


 

Xe pull the handle.



The stats cycle as the mechanism spins,
ending with...



MEMENTO

BIT: "Rolling . . . "































20 - 2 = 
[18]

YAWN: "YES. Perfect!"
YAWN: "Another good roll!"
YAWN: "...That IS good for this, right?"
BIT: "I assume so."
BIT: "We'll find out soon enough."










 

The machine turns over, whirring like a motor.

The stone circle hums to life.






Its parts rearrange themselves,
elongating while shrinking in height as the stones' grey color burns off into black.




Once reshaped into a black rectangle,
some fluid-like substance drips from its edges,
pooling into the center and gradually forming into a visible liquid 'screen.'





An image is visible on the screen, 
though it's blurry and glitchy.

YAWN: "It's a... TV? "
BIT: "The shape of one, yes."
BIT: "Melocania warps tend to resemble the destination they lead you to."

Yawn turns xer head, watching the screen.

YAWN: "...What is that? A forest?"
BIT: "Hard to say. I'd guess a field at night."
] BIT: "I don't think it matters; this is the only exit."
YAWN: "I go THROUGH that?!"
BIT: "Yes."
YAWN: "..."
YAWN: "Fine. Easy."


Yawn extends a vine.


YAWN: "...I'll-"

Upon making contact with the screen,
deep black and white static crackles across xer body,
xer form soon disappearing into the portal.







































 

Dark.



It's dark in here.




Cramped.





Very cramped.




Yawn groans, shaking off what feels like sleep.

YAWN: "...where...?"

Xe can't see much, difficult to even turn xer head.
There's pale white metal above xem.

The plant is stuck inside of something.



Yawn curses under xer breath, wriggling against xer confines.

YAWN: "God's... sake, get me... OUT of this-"



Xe gasp as xe go tumbling off the metal shelf.



The clay planter pot shatters against the concrete floor, 
loosing the luko from its clutches.





Yawn shakes off the fall and collects xemself,
dazed but unharmed.

Though, xe soon realize what xe'd been contained in.


BIT: "!"



BIT: " . . .  "



BIT: "  .  .  .  "
YAWN: "Not a WORD."
BIT: "...I said nothing."











Yawn gets xer bearings.





The area you're in looks to be the garden section of a department store.


There's a wall not far behind you,
that's technically a big window, you think.
You can't tell, because thick metal shutters are blocking you from viewing anything outside.
You can't see sunlight through the tiny holes, so you assume it must be night.


To your right,
there's a few long shelves, but most look empty from what you can see.
Still, could be worth checking for anything useful.


To your left,
you find an exit past a handful of registers,
but it looks entirely blocked off.
Two refrigerators are on their sides, stacked atop one another against the exit.
They likely stored sodas beforehand, as you see red, translucent liquid seeping out from underneath them.
You don't think you'd have any chance of moving them, 
and it doesn't look like there's room to squeeze around them, either.


Finally, in front of you,
you can see a pair of automatic sliding doors that lead through to the rest of the store.
It's more than a little dark, though.
Over half of the lights are off, as best you can tell.
You'd be able to see your way around, but someone - or something - could easily hide and ambush you.





You see a few signs through the glass:
'SPORTING GOODS' (not far through the doors, pointing to the right)
'HEALTH & COSMETICS' (a bit further, pointing to the left)
'2ND FLOOR' (further still, pointing to the right)
'CLOTHING' (as far as you can see, pointing even farther ahead)







You squint as you stare out into the shadows of the store.

You definitely saw something moving out there.

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