MarisaStory: A Certain Magical Internet

[Third Eye Lem]

>Glance up for that wind. If that's what spooked Koa...

> You don't notice anything out of the ordinary right now, but you can't take anything for granted.

>Check the recent feed of the cameras from where we are right now to see if they caught anything.

> So far, the beasts haven't changed their positions. In fact, they each seem to be settling down for a nap.
> On that note...They seem to have ignored the food, which is surprising.

>Would Koakuma be able to handle any one of the books on her own? Or should she tag along or invoke Patchcon?

> You may be better off having her invoke Patchcon, just in case. Koa's not the most ideal person to use it, but having a few security dolls is better than no dolls.

>If there's no immediate emergencies, ask Bro to handle waking up his partner and asking whether he can handle fighting an octopus while we and/or Koa get the walkies. We DO keep recordings right

> "Oh, very well," Mon says. He preps his magical airhorn and uses it to wake up Zakuro. You plug your ears as the noise travels through the library, much to the beasts' annoyance (thankfully they stay put).
> "Oy, whaddya want? I was having an amazing dream..." Zak complains, finger in one ear.
> "My sister requires your assistance," Mon explains. You tell him the details.
> "A monster hunt, eh? Good thing we didn't arrive later!" Zak says, chuckling. "Just point me to the beasties and I'll handle the rest."

> _

[capt. h]

> Where are pokeballs when you need them?
> Point Zak at monsters.
> "Have fun."

(Zak wouldn't happen to look anything like this, would he?)

[E-Nazrin]

>... what would typically cause the books to nap? Are they just lethargic or does that usually happen after they eat? Was that a new ghost we missed...?
>Or maybe someone's manipulating them. Would their current positions be useful for some sort of larger magic circle or whatever?
>Would it be worth watching and waiting until they pass out to ambush or would it not make much difference/risk something else going wrong?
>Once Koakuma (presumably) returns with the walkie-talkies, hand them out and ask her to get some dolls up as support.
>More specifically, direct Zak at disarming the octopus. It won't be much of a danger as it is and he has the specialty to handle it.
>Which other beast is the octopus closest to? We should try to be in a position to save Zak's ass if something goes wrong. And/or vice-versa.
>If Koakuma can handle enough dolls, have some keep tabs on each of the monsters, with a few extra supporting Zak and perhaps fewer helping us. If she can only handle a small group or they're difficult to split up, favor helping Zak and/or us; Bro can keep at least a delayed watch on the other ones.
>We do have a way to activate the library traps if he warns us it would be wise, correct? Or he'd be able to do so himself through the magicomputer?
>If all preparations are in order, head off to the non-octopus option to begin subduing the books.

[Third Eye Lem]

> Remember kids, Notepad is your friend.

(Zak wouldn't happen to look anything like this, would he?)

> Nah, he looks more like Asch with spikier hair ala this guy.

> Where are pokeballs when you need them?

> Not here, apparently, otherwise this INCIDENT would be resolved too quickly!

>... what would typically cause the books to nap? Are they just lethargic or does that usually happen after they eat? Was that a new ghost we missed...?

> They usually take a nap after eating. It looks like they tore apart the package the food was in before bolting.
> The chances of ghosts being around are unlikely, you made sure they wouldn't slip into the library unless it was the entrance. Even then, they need permission to enter.

>Or maybe someone's manipulating them. Would their current positions be useful for some sort of larger magic circle or whatever?

> Not really, their locations are ill-suited for any sort of magcial shape.

>Would it be worth watching and waiting until they pass out to ambush or would it not make much difference/risk something else going wrong?

> A Monster Book of Legendary Monsters will fold back up into book form when it goes into a deep sleep, so they're easier to collect...Well, "easier" if you take in the fact that if you accidentally wake them up, they'll probably be none too happy with you handling them, so you must be super-careful.

>Once Koakuma (presumably) returns with the walkie-talkies, hand them out and ask her to get some dolls up as support.

> Good timing, Koa just came back with the walkie-talkies. You thank her and give Koa her new orders.
> "Um, you sure about this? The PatchCon hasn't been used in a while..." Koa says, with a twinge of concern. You assure her that the device still works, and that makes her feel a bit better. Koa heads off to set up the dolls.
> The four of you each get ONE (1) KAPPA-BRAND WALKIE-TALKIE.

> Point Zak at monsters.
> "Have fun."

>More specifically, direct Zak at disarming the octopus. It won't be much of a danger as it is and he has the specialty to handle it.

> "Haha, thanks...I'll try." He heads off to the Forest Wing, katana in hand.

>Which other beast is the octopus closest to? We should try to be in a position to save Zak's ass if something goes wrong. And/or vice-versa.

> The Aviary Almanac is closest to the calamari, so that's your best bet for supporting Zakuro.

>If Koakuma can handle enough dolls, have some keep tabs on each of the monsters, with a few extra supporting Zak and perhaps fewer helping us. If she can only handle a small group or they're difficult to split up, favor helping Zak and/or us; Bro can keep at least a delayed watch on the other ones.

> Koa can handle about 40 dolls before her mana pool gets strained. Speaking of which, Koa just returned with the PatchCon: it's a massive solid magic circle about the size of an average trampoline. Koa sets it down gently, and begins chanting. The circle glows, indicating it's ready to accept orders.
> You can make a doll based on any of the SDM members, the two Mikos, or the Eientei Crew at the moment. You need to-re-acquire the magical "code" for anyone else, as the PatchCon has limited memory. One of these days you need to update this thing and integrate it with your MagiComputer...
> Right now all you need to do is specify how many of each doll you want, and where they should go (to Patchy, to Zak, to Sentinel Duty, or someplace else). Oh, and you can issue commands to Zak, Koa or Monarda now, the fairies are too frightened/stupid to accept commands at the moment.

>We do have a way to activate the library traps if he warns us it would be wise, correct? Or he'd be able to do so himself through the magicomputer?

> Oh yes, all you need to do is make a GLYPH GESTURE to activate something. Mon can also activate the traps using the comp's security controls.

>If all preparations are in order, head off to the non-octopus option to begin subduing the books.

> Koa tells you it'll take some time for the dolls to synthesize, before heading out. She and Mon bid you good luck as you head for the Mountain Wing.

> One thing you're proud of doing in the library, is adding a subtle aesthetic theme to each wing. The Forest Wing is adorned with green rugs, lamps, and the occasional plant. The Mountain Wing on the other hand, has picturesque landscapes on both its wall hangings and rugs, and various rock sculptures are sprinkled about (mostly from failed experiments or from the sisters' artistic work). It's a nice way to break up an otherwise monotonus library.
> Silence blankets your ears once again, as you traverse the halls. Only your footsteps can be heard, and if you listen carefully, your heart. You try to keep calm as you scour the halls for the Almanac's whereabouts...But a little magical "Bwoom" sound startles you. It's another magical sticky note in your pocket.

Code: [Select]

Big Bird should be on the shelf to your right.
~Mon
> You look up at said shelf. Fittingly enough, it's filled with tomes on spelunking and mountain climbing, with the occasional atlas thrown in for good measure. The shelf towers above you; you estimate it's at least three stories tall. There's no open spaces on the upper shelves, your target must be sleeping on the very top of this structure.
> _

[E-Nazrin]

Curating Conjurer:
>If safe and easy to do so, thank Mon for the support.
>Do we have any quiet but effective spells that we could lob up there and have land on the bird for a stealthy one-shot sealing? Or at least, slow it down significantly? Like, gravity-affected ones? Or a way to have it curve in a similar manner once it gets to that height without alerting it to our presence?
>What aiming/targeting restrictions would be in place for our most effective lightning spells against the birdybook? Move to be close to a position optimal for taking advantage of it without alerting it.

Satanite Samurai:
>Locate octopi. Engage violence.
>And/or emulate Luka for Patchouli's enjoyment

Miniature Impette:
>We ARE familiar with the dolls' abilities and weaknesses, right?
>Is friendly fire a concern with the ranged or bomber dolls? Presumably not.
>Sakuya dolls can slow down their target and are good against fliers, or even for general use; send... let's say ten to support Patchouli. Let's just ignore that Reisen's ranged confusion is comically overpowered for the time being
>If friendly fire is not a concern, send some long-range artillery to support Zak. Remilias would probably be easiest... but Eirin may help keep him healthy. Ten and five, perhaps? But if those might mess him up, instead send some throwaway melees to help distract his victim(s); since Mokou and Chinas may explode, a mix of Tewi and Flandre would work better... five and ten, though, since that luck aura won't help much here.
>Kinda a shame we don't have Cirno's code for the ice-weakness ones... and how do we still have the mikos' codes, anyway?
>Dolls will ultimately be most useful for hunting down the snake if it tries to hide, but let's wait on actually going on the offensive until some of the others are handled and we can have a bigger squad on the job; in the meantime, send some Mokou dolls to be intimidating and punish it for trying to eat them. Five should be plenty.
>The Chimera is the hard part to handle... some more Sakuyas to distract it may be the safest option. We COULD go for ten, but five staying at a distance and keeping some mana reserves in case something unexpected comes up may be safer. Let's start with that.
>If our dolls don't make it to help Patchouli or Zak before they finish with the one they're handling, send the remainder to help handle the chimera. The snake can wait for last, unless Patch insists we redirect the dolls exclusively to take it down. How big a squad would be safe for that? 25+ would probably be enough to keep it interesting.
>For now, avoid actively picking a fight with any of the books until one of the real hunters has begun the match.
>If the dolls need to be fabricated one at a time, start with a single Mokou to annoy the snake, then get half of Zak's backup prepared before helping Patchouli and getting some watchers for the Chimera.

Solar Shaman:
>Tighten the forcefield/etc nets around the octopi and aviary almanac as the hunters close in to limit escape options.
>If easy/safe to do so before Patchouli enters combat, ask her if she wants to activate Slowing Smog in her area to help with the bird, or if it would interfere with her too much.
>Make note of the others' positions and easy ways to guide the hunters to them, or ways to ambush them when the time comes.

[Third Eye Lem]

> The parser apologizes for the absurd delay, but regrets nothing. 

Curating Conjurer:

>If safe and easy to do so, thank Mon for the support.

> You send him a quick thank-you note while you ponder your next move.

>Do we have any quiet but effective spells that we could lob up there and have land on the bird for a stealthy one-shot sealing? Or at least, slow it down significantly? Like, gravity-affected ones? Or a way to have it curve in a similar manner once it gets to that height without alerting it to our presence?

> You have been experimenting with a Lock-On Lightning spell, which can lock onto targets if you have a line of sight to them. Otherwise, it just homes in on the nearest "living" thing.

>What aiming/targeting restrictions would be in place for our most effective lightning spells against the birdybook? Move to be close to a position optimal for taking advantage of it without alerting it.

> If by "effective" you mean "most powerful," it'd require you to be outdoors with heavy cloud cover to summon a Mighty Thunder spell. Otherwise, as stated, your Lock-On Lightning should work out just fine; hitting an elemental monster with an element they don't like stuns and weakens them for a few seconds. Of course, there's defenses to take into account, but you're more than poweful enough to cripple foes with even the weakest spells.
> You float up silently, and hover over the bookshelf across from your prey. In the distance you can see a large book, its pages fluttering as it snores. This is the Almanac you've been looking for!

Satanite Samurai:

>Locate octopi. Engage violence.
>And/or emulate Luka for Patchouli's enjoyment

> Who is this Luka you speak of?!
> Anyways, you wander the halls of books, and hear a faint crumpling and scraping of paper. It's close...Very close...In fact...IT'S RIGHT ABOVE YOU TO YOUR LEFT! It looks like the critter's on the hunt still, and it's gunning for you...Or, it would be, if your reflexes weren't lightning-quick. You leap up and slash at the beast's tentacles as it lunges at you, but you only succeed in lopping off a couple of them. Now the Octopedia is flailing around on the ground as you cling to the bookshelf, but it manages to right itself and spew a cloud of ink as it "swims" through the air, out of sight. Ugh...Who knew ink had such a smokey smell to it?

Miniature Impette:

>We ARE familiar with the dolls' abilities and weaknesses, right?

> Surely you jest, player!

>Is friendly fire a concern with the ranged or bomber dolls? Presumably not.

> Not really, their shots just bounce off of each other harmlessly.

>Sakuya dolls can slow down their target and are good against fliers, or even for general use; send... let's say ten to support Patchouli. Let's just ignore that Reisen's ranged confusion is comically overpowered for the time being

> You actually had to nerf Reisen's bullets to just having an explosive effect; all the crossfire was confusing the other dolls and causing problems.
> You queue up TEN (10) SAKUYA DOLLS with intent to SUPPORT/PROTECT PATCHY.

>If friendly fire is not a concern, send some long-range artillery to support Zak. Remilias would probably be easiest... but Eirin may help keep him healthy. Ten and five, perhaps? But if those might mess him up, instead send some throwaway melees to help distract his victim(s); since Mokou and Chinas may explode, a mix of Tewi and Flandre would work better... five and ten, though, since that luck aura won't help much here.

> You designed the dolls specifically to damage Marisa's aura, so they won't hurt him. You queue up TEN (10) REMILIA DOLLS and FIVE (5) EIRIN DOLLS with intent to SUPPORT ZAKURO.

>Kinda a shame we don't have Cirno's code for the ice-weakness ones... and how do we still have the mikos' codes, anyway?

> You were intending to get Cirno's code, but with the cold weather and Halloween on the horizon, you felt it was more trouble than it was worth. You'll have to get it from her sometime.
> The reason why you have the miko codes is because of their sealing/dispelling abilities, they do a good job of weakening threats so the other dolls and subdue them. And seeing as these two are the resident youkai exterminators, why not have them? You're still trying to get used to Sanae's MO, so her AI is a bit...glitchy at the moment, she's prone to just sit around staring at things, and examine them like a curious child instead of actually fighting.

>Dolls will ultimately be most useful for hunting down the snake if it tries to hide, but let's wait on actually going on the offensive until some of the others are handled and we can have a bigger squad on the job; in the meantime, send some Mokou dolls to be intimidating and punish it for trying to eat them. Five should be plenty.

> You queue up FIVE (5) MOKOU DOLLS with intent to SEEK AND OUST.

>The Chimera is the hard part to handle... some more Sakuyas to distract it may be the safest option. We COULD go for ten, but five staying at a distance and keeping some mana reserves in case something unexpected comes up may be safer. Let's start with that.

> You queue up FIVE (5) SAKUYA DOLLS with intent to...Well, you don't know just yet, so you put them under OTHER TASKS for now.

>If our dolls don't make it to help Patchouli or Zak before they finish with the one they're handling, send the remainder to help handle the chimera. The snake can wait for last, unless Patch insists we redirect the dolls exclusively to take it down. How big a squad would be safe for that? 25+ would probably be enough to keep it interesting.

> Potentially, yes, but at the moment you're at 35 of your 40 doll limit...Actually no, make it 50, the MANA AUTO-ASSESSER of the PatchCon updated your UPPER DOLL LIMIT. Patchy can easily crank out hundreds of these dolls if she poured all her energy into it, but 50 should be enough for all your tasks at the moment.

>For now, avoid actively picking a fight with any of the books until one of the real hunters has begun the match.

> You ask for a status report on Patchy and Zak's progress. "Zak's got a lock on the ock, sis is about to engage the eagle...At least, I think it's an eagle? I'm not sure."

>If the dolls need to be fabricated one at a time, start with a single Mokou to annoy the snake, then get half of Zak's backup prepared before helping Patchouli and getting some watchers for the Chimera.

> You get to work on the dolls, producing the Mokous first, then five Remis and two Eirins. Thankfully, the PatchCon puts seperate dolls in their own queues, so multiples can be made at once, though each doll takes slightly more time to make as you add more queues. Sadly, the three dolls you requested are also one of the most time-consuming ones to make (higher base cost = longer spawn time), so it takes them close to 20-30 seconds each. The Eirins roll of the line first, followed by the Remis, then the Mokous.
> Now you just have to figure out what to do with the remainder of your alotted mana...

Solar Shaman:

>Tighten the forcefield/etc nets around the octopi and aviary almanac as the hunters close in to limit escape options.

> You do so for the latter, blocking off its forward escape. You also form a "bubble" of sorts around the former since you don't know where it'll fly once Patchy attacks.

>If easy/safe to do so before Patchouli enters combat, ask her if she wants to activate Slowing Smog in her area to help with the bird, or if it would interfere with her too much.

> "I can protect myself from it, so go ahead if you want to, bro."

>Make note of the others' positions and easy ways to guide the hunters to them, or ways to ambush them when the time comes.

> The snake is hiding under a reclining chair, the chimera is asleep in the middle of of the Flame Wing. You suggest to Koa that the lone Mokou attack the snake from behind, so it doesn't bite back; the chimera should be attacked from the high ground so the dolls can get away quickly.

> As you scan the chimera's resting place, you see a bit of a distortion in the background...You're not sure if it's a glitch in the camera or something else, but it fades away just as quickly as you spotted it.
> _

[E-Nazrin]

Spellbinder Bibliothecary:
>If it can be constrained to this area and/or the dolls would also be immune to it, have Monarda fire up the slowing smog, since presumably it wouldn't awaken the book. Warn Zak if necessary. Otherwise, nevermind for now; Koa should remain relevant if needed.
>Though that odd thing we saw... well, no. One problem at a time.
>Zot.

Private Pagan:
>Clever girl. Bleh, how annoying.
>Try to track it. Stay on the alert, if it's still looking for a fight.
>Do we have a good way to handle that annoying ink? Maybe some kind of wind spell? Wave/slash away what we can safely if all else fails.

Pint-sized Succubus:
>Get the Mokou into position ASAP but avoid engaging unless it starts the fight; send each over individually as they finish.
>Send what we've got of the Zak squad over to help him out.
>If it would take longer in total to get 3-5 Sakuyas out before finishing Zakuro's support squad, finish with his team first and send the rest. If it would be more efficient to get them started now, start on producing the maid squad to help Patch and send the first set of five off to join her once they're done.
>Again, Chimera can wait... and the remainder of our mana reserves can be kept waiting until the necessary groups are ready, to more quickly respond to anything else that comes up. Patchouli could probably handle most of this on her own if she had to, right?

Solaris Sorcerer:
>Follow Patchouli's advice on the Slowing Smog.
>Aid our demon bro with finding his quarry, if he's having trouble after that inkjet.
>Humor thoughts of yaoite rewards if he does well
>If nothing's going wrong, keep tabs on the chimera's screen, or an eye out for that weird distortion. If it keeps happening, ask about it, preferably during a relative lull.

[Third Eye Lem]

Spellbinder Bibliothecary:

>If it can be constrained to this area and/or the dolls would also be immune to it, have Monarda fire up the slowing smog, since presumably it wouldn't awaken the book. Warn Zak if necessary. Otherwise, nevermind for now; Koa should remain relevant if needed.

> Your shield spell should protect you from the smog, and the dolls are non-living entities, so they should be ok. You ask Mon to fire up the smog; a lavender-hued fume shoots up through some hidden vents in the floor and surrounds the area. It smells a bit odd, but you should be fine.

>Though that odd thing we saw... well, no. One problem at a time.
>Zot.

> You give the Almanac a nasty wakeup call with a bolt of lightning. It screeches in pain and anger, and unfurls into its fully-feathered form. Its well-drawn eyes lock onto you, and then the bird lets out a fowl shriek that sends you flying into another shelf. Ow. The bird takes off with some difficulty, it shouldn't be that hard to track thanks to the smog.

Private Pagan:

>Clever girl. Bleh, how annoying.
>Try to track it. Stay on the alert, if it's still looking for a fight.
>Do we have a good way to handle that annoying ink? Maybe some kind of wind spell? Wave/slash away what we can safely if all else fails.

> You're not Youmu, but you're almost as good at cutting things that shouldn't be cut...Like inexplicably floating clouds of ink. You slice through the smokescreen with ease, but are jumped by the octopus as it leaps through the cloud...It was using it as a makeshift cover to attack you! You soon fight yourself up to your shoulders in tentacle-y bits...If the girls see this you'll never be able to live this down. Think, orange! Think!
> ARE YOU HAPPY NOW, PLAYER

Pint-sized Succubus:

>Get the Mokou into position ASAP but avoid engaging unless it starts the fight; send each over individually as they finish.
>Send what we've got of the Zak squad over to help him out.

> You send the lone Mokou off to pursue the snake, and set a waypoint for the rest to follow.
> You managed to get three Remis and a couple Eirins off the line, so you send them to find Zak. Good thing, too, it sounds like he could use the help.

>If it would take longer in total to get 3-5 Sakuyas out before finishing Zakuro's support squad, finish with his team first and send the rest. If it would be more efficient to get them started now, start on producing the maid squad to help Patch and send the first set of five off to join her once they're done.

> Sakuyas don't take as long, but Zak is kind of in a bind (literally), so you put his group higher up on the queue and start cranking out a few Sakuya dolls.

>Again, Chimera can wait... and the remainder of our mana reserves can be kept waiting until the necessary groups are ready, to more quickly respond to anything else that comes up. Patchouli could probably handle most of this on her own if she had to, right?

> So far, she's engaged the bird, and assuming nothing bad happens, she should be fine. You're more worried about the snake. You're hoping the dolls can incapacitate it while Patchy's fighting the eagle. Is it an eagle? It looks like one...Ugh, all this thinking while multitasking is a pain.

Solaris Sorcerer:

>Follow Patchouli's advice on the Slowing Smog.

> You access the Security Controls and spray smog into Patchy's sector. She's protected, but that bird sure as heck won't be.

>Aid our demon bro with finding his quarry, if he's having trouble after that inkjet.
>Humor thoughts of yaoite rewards if he does well

> He's having less trouble with the ink and more with the octopus itself...Yeesh. You try to stifle a chuckle as you figure out how to get that beast off of him...Oh, that reminds you, you know those lamps scattered throughout the mansion? They're actually well-disguised magic turrets. With a press of a button, you command the nearest one to shoot a low-powered magic missile to get the octopus off. This spooks it, and it slithers off.
> Geeze you need to lay off browsing your sister's stash, and Koa's for that matter

>If nothing's going wrong, keep tabs on the chimera's screen, or an eye out for that weird distortion. If it keeps happening, ask about it, preferably during a relative lull.

> You take another look at the chimera's resting space. It's still sitting there, sleeping. Nothing unusual there. It's surprisingly quiet.
> ...That is, until you hear something fall over. It spooks you for a moment, but you turn and see it's just some loose papers on the table falling over. Your sister really needs to get her "system" back in order!

> _

[E-Nazrin]

Curator Enchantress:
>Sonar attacks? That's a bit unexpected. What else should we expect from this nuisance?
>Pursue and continue lightningspamming it into submission, if feasible.

Fiendish Fencer:
>NEVER.
>Okay, maybe we should be less aggressive! Damnit.
>Focus on weakening it for now by removing a tentacle at a time, and fall back if it does the ink again. Stay in sight of the lamps if we saw where the support shot came from.

Goblinic Clerk
>Continue with the current doll generation and distribution plan. Focus on getting Zak's crew prepared...
>Try to herd the octopus toward Zak and/or the support lamps, with the squad(s) that arrive there. Move as a group to make the dakka more intimidating and keep Eirin's healing up if it tries to rush - which would leave its back open to Zak, of course...
>Once we have five Sakuyas, send them off to help Patchouli; their goal is to ambush the Almanac and land the slowdown effect from a knife volley so the boss can finish the job. Try to be sneaky if we can.
>The Mokou group should mill about to contain the snake's mobility if it wakes up. Make a loose circle around it once at least three mokous get there, but try not to wake it up until we can spare more dolls to swarm it with. We'll split off some of the other squads once at least one of the others is contained.

Shining Wizard:[/u]
>Hmm. Try to keep half an eye on that set of papers, or just for things nearby; if that distortion meant anything, the source might be near here for now.
>Give the occasional shot of supporting fire for the two ongoing fights to keep the books off-guard, if only until Koakuma's dolls arrive to help.
>Wait they have a stash?!

[Third Eye Lem]

Curator Enchantress:

>Sonar attacks? That's a bit unexpected. What else should we expect from this nuisance?
>Pursue and continue lightningspamming it into submission, if feasible.

> As you recover, your question is answered when the bird flaps its wings, creating gusts of wind that whip you around like...Whips. Yeah, they hurt. Hose else do you think wind spells work in Fire Emblem? Anyways, you counterattack with another lightning spell, shocking the bird for a moment and stunning it (and yes, it is frozen in midair).

Fiendish Fencer:

>NEVER.
>Okay, maybe we should be less aggressive! Damnit.
>Focus on weakening it for now by removing a tentacle at a time, and fall back if it does the ink again. Stay in sight of the lamps if we saw where the support shot came from.

> You think you're so clever, say good bye to your save files forever!
> You give chase. The octopus tries to distract you with another ink cloud, but you're ready this time with another long-range slash. You lop off two more tentacles and dispel the cloud, leaving the mollusk quite exposed...Or as much as it can be, as it tries to stuff itself under a table to avoid further attack.

Goblinic Clerk

>Continue with the current doll generation and distribution plan. Focus on getting Zak's crew prepared...
>Try to herd the octopus toward Zak and/or the support lamps, with the squad(s) that arrive there. Move as a group to make the dakka more intimidating and keep Eirin's healing up if it tries to rush - which would leave its back open to Zak, of course...

> Just as the octopus thinks its found a good hiding spot, its flushed out again by a tiny platoon of spear-wielding vampire dolls. The creature tries to beat it by climbing up one of the nearby shelves.
> Zak's injuries are minimal at best, but the Eirin dolls on the scene patch him up anyways.

>Once we have five Sakuyas, send them off to help Patchouli; their goal is to ambush the Almanac and land the slowdown effect from a knife volley so the boss can finish the job. Try to be sneaky if we can.

> The Sakuyas are up and off like a herd of turtles!...Very fast, teleporting turtles. :V Either way, they arrive just in time to assist in disabling the Almanac, a flurry of tiny knives plink into the bird's skin and knock it out of the air, further stunning it. Good timing, now all that's left is for Patchy to seal the bird.

>The Mokou group should mill about to contain the snake's mobility if it wakes up. Make a loose circle around it once at least three mokous get there, but try not to wake it up until we can spare more dolls to swarm it with. We'll split off some of the other squads once at least one of the others is contained.

> Unfortunately, the snake's hearing is more keen than you expected: it attacked the Mokou doll that tried to sneak up on it. The doll was able to dodge the bite and cling to the beast, but now the snake is thrashing about, trying to unload its unruly hitchhiker. A couple more Mokou dolls show up and engage the beast, though its flailing about makes it hard for the dolls to get in any good hits on it.

Shining Wizard:

>Hmm. Try to keep half an eye on that set of papers, or just for things nearby; if that distortion meant anything, the source might be near here for now.

> Now your attention is on full alert. Someone or something is around...Is someone watching you? Ugh, this stress isn't good for you, so you decide to pour yourself some more tea...

>Give the occasional shot of supporting fire for the two ongoing fights to keep the books off-guard, if only until Koakuma's dolls arrive to help.

> ...While you set some of the Magiturrets to "auto" so they can continue assisting. Patchy's prey is subdued, Zakuro has the mollusk up against the wall, and the snake...Is busy making a mess of things. That one will be hard to track, but you have no time to work on that now; a steady hand is always accurate, but a panicked mind will press the wrong button and accidentally open or close the wrong program.

>Wait they have a stash?!

> Ugh, this brings you to the time where you accidentally discovered the girls' pr0n stashes...Never before have you seen so much Morrigan and Freiza pictures in one place, and none of them are safe for work. Or humanity, for that matter.
> Hopefully some more tea will calm your nerves...As you take a sip, you make a startling revelation...
> There was some tea in this cup. BUT IT'S GONE NOW.
> This is the WORST. POSSIBLE. THING.
> WHO TOUCHED MY TEA?!
> ...Ok it wasn't specifcally my tea but goddammit I wanted to drink that.

> _

[E-Nazrin]

Bibliophiliac Thaumaturge:
>Ugh! How irritating. Will we be okay in a battle of attrition against this thing?!... Oh, there's the dolls, good. Thank you, Koa.
>Seal the damn birdbook.
>Update Bro on the situation, thank our familiar, and see if Zak needs backup.
>Right, next. Would the octopus be on the way to the snake? How far away are the other books from where we are now?

Warrior Incubus:
>THERE'S the cavalry! Are... those ones healing up that molestation damage? Nifty.
>Though like hell we're letting octodad that stupid book get away! Time for more violence. We can afford to be aggressive again; trim it down and trap it!
>Contemplate pocketing discarded tentacles for later

Magical Dark Souls Reference:
>Ergh... okay, we're stressing out a little much over this. Chill, Mon, chill. Take a deep breath.
>We DEFINITELY had tea in there, right? Who the hell steals tea? And how'd they do it that fast?
>Update Patchouli when she asks.
>Ask Koa if she could provide a few dolls to watch our back for peace of mind. All this is getting us nervous!

Petite Pagan:
>Don't worry too much about the Mokous having trouble subduing snakebutt offhand. Just keep it busy, and have the dolls stay close; the on-death selfdestruct should punish it plenty for picking a fight. Try and keep three on it at all times. If it's easy to spare the effort, micromanage spare injured ones away for a moment to heal so we don't have to replace them as often.
>And if it woke up that easily, let's try not approaching the chimera until we're ready for it. Redirect the Sakuyas we had planned to watch over that to help out with the snake, now that subtlety has failed.
>If Mon's concerned, guess we should give him a variety of defensive support... queue up one each of Tewi, Reimu, Sanae, Eirin, and... Flandre to discourage things from messing with him.
>How surprising are the Meiling dolls' self-destruct? If it's unlikely to stress out Monarda, send him a set of five to tank. Keep him surrounded by friendlies.

[Third Eye Lem]

Bibliophiliac Thaumaturge:

>Ugh! How irritating. Will we be okay in a battle of attrition against this thing?!... Oh, there's the dolls, good. Thank you, Koa.
>Seal the damn birdbook.

> Time to put this bird back in its place. And what better way to do that than with a BINDING BOOKMARK? Reimu gave these to you as a sort of "olive branch" gift after Flan was brought under control; they're meant to contain spirits within books or the books themselves. With a well-placed toss, you slap the bookmark onto the Aviary Almanac, causing it to cry out before it shifts back into its hardbound package. Now it's mostly harmless...Save for a beak-shaped corner that most likely represents its mouth. At least it can still eat!

>Update Bro on the situation, thank our familiar, and see if Zak needs backup.
>Right, next. Would the octopus be on the way to the snake? How far away are the other books from where we are now?

> You wave at the nearest camera, letting the two of them know you're still in one piece. Before your ponder your next move, another sticky note is sent to you.

Code: [Select]

"Mon's a bit busy right now...I think, he's not at the computer right now." Zak's dealing with the octopus, but the
snake is kinda on the loose at the moment."
> Going by the layout of the library, you estimate the locations of each beast are as follows:

Code: [Select]

Lunar (Mo) | Flame (Tu) | Frost (We) | Forest (Th) | Iron (Fr) | Mountain (Sa) | Solar (Su)
Snake        Chimera                   Mollusk                   Bird
                                                                 (CAPTURED)
> ...That being said, if you don't do something about the snake fast it could cause problems for Koa and Monarda, or sneak into the Chimera's territory. And that would be bad.

Warrior Incubus:

>THERE'S the cavalry! Are... those ones healing up that molestation damage? Nifty.

> The wonders of magical science always amazing. Damned if you're actually going to learn it, though.

>Though like hell we're letting octodad that stupid book get away! Time for more violence. We can afford to be aggressive again; trim it down and trap it!
>Contemplate pocketing discarded tentacles for later

> You consider pocketing the loose legs for a tasty snack later...Except these are made out of paper and probably wouldn't taste very good.
> You will, however, demonstrate one of your talents--while you're opposed to magic, you are capable of unleashing elemental attacks from your sword. In this case, a bolt of lightning from your sword to shock the squidling out of hiding. You then disarm your foe with a series of quick slashes, and the Remi dolls pin it with their spears. Mission accomplished, I'd say!

Magical Dark Souls Reference:

>Ergh... okay, we're stressing out a little much over this. Chill, Mon, chill. Take a deep breath.
>We DEFINITELY had tea in there, right? Who the hell steals tea? And how'd they do it that fast?

> You inhale and exhale a few times. Now's not the time to freak out over a spot of tea...That being said, when you go to check your cup again as well as the teapot, you notice something...A clear plastic drinking straw sticking out from the spout. Someone sipped the tea right out, and probably did the same to your cup when you weren't looking...That's just a wee bit unsavory, you think!

>Update Patchouli when she asks.

> Just when you're about to check back on Patchy, you hear it...A faint giggle. You look around wildly for the source, but it eludes you.

>Ask Koa if she could provide a few dolls to watch our back for peace of mind. All this is getting us nervous!

> You're about to ask Koa that, when you look at her location and realize...She's gone from her post. Did she wander off? This is unlike her.
> You call out for Koa's name when you hear another giggle, this time much louder...
> "You're so cute when you look flustered."
> That voice...!
> Your realization is cut short when you feel a sharp hit to the back of your head. Then, nothing but black.

> *LOUD STATIC NOISES*
> *SILENCE, FOLLOWED BY LOUD MODEM BEEPS*
> *B-WHIP*
> ...
> Memory Resyncification Complete. You remember this part.
> Continue following the memory to achieve Perfect Resyncification. Put your thinking cap on!

Petite Pagan:
> *MORE STATIC*
> When you regain control, your perspective is still focused on Koakuma, but this time from a third person persective. You are still able to give commands to her and the others (minus Monarda at the moment) in your memory.

>Don't worry too much about the Mokous having trouble subduing snakebutt offhand. Just keep it busy, and have the dolls stay close; the on-death selfdestruct should punish it plenty for picking a fight. Try and keep three on it at all times. If it's easy to spare the effort, micromanage spare injured ones away for a moment to heal so we don't have to replace them as often.

> The snake isn't really capable of hurting anyone unless it bites, and since the dolls are mostly inorganic...
> Wait...Why is it rearing back like that with its mouth open?
> *FFFFSSSSSSSSSHHHHHH TINGLE TINGLE TINGLE*
> Oh. That's why...Apparently the snake has ice breath. Two of the three Mokou dolls are frozen, and the snake flicks its tail to get them off its body. They smack against a shelf and fall to the ground in a daze, unable to move or attack fast enough.

>And if it woke up that easily, let's try not approaching the chimera until we're ready for it. Redirect the Sakuyas we had planned to watch over that to help out with the snake, now that subtlety has failed.

> Yeah, about that...The snake is now fleeing out of the Lunar Wing and towards the Flame Wing; you better act fast before--oh wait, the Sakuyas arrived. Yay!
> They stall the snake from leaving the area, but if you have any hope of stopping it, you might need some bigger firepower.

>If Mon's concerned, guess we should give him a variety of defensive support... queue up one each of Tewi, Reimu, Sanae, Eirin, and... Flandre to discourage things from messing with him.
>How surprising are the Meiling dolls' self-destruct? If it's unlikely to stress out Monarda, send him a set of five to tank. Keep him surrounded by friendlies.

> He's aware of the Meilings' exploding ability, though why they have it is a mystery to him (and you). You queue up the appropriate dolls. It's funny, you're giving orders to a lesser demon who's giving orders to a bunch of dolls. I don't think I need to mention the joke here.

> The pieces are falling into place...You remember now...You snuck into the library for your usual book stealing run, and a little extra...But what, you don't quite remember. And despite being in plain sight, they haven't spotted you. It's also a bit odd to be looking through all these events out of order; you have to figure out a way to get them to link up properly. You should probably start with getting Koa away from her post, but who am I to tell you how to do things? ;-P
> _

[E-Nazrin]

Bookie Spellblaster:
>Pocket the bird, if it's safe.
>Bro's busy? Was playing support still too stressful? Bah.
>Exactly how bad would the Chimera and Snake being in the same place be?
>Would stopping by with Zak be significantly out of the way to reaching the other books?
>How difficult/out of the way would it be to get around the Chimera to help with the Snake, or will we have to go through it either way?
>If Zak would be more or less on the way to the others, stop by to check in, get the book, and discuss strategy. If it would take time away, head to the snake if we can avoid the chimera, or beetail it to the chimera to start getting that out of the way. Inform the others of the plan.
>If the chimera would be our next destination, direct the dolls that came to support us to sneak/rush past to handle the snake instead.

Demonic Blademaster:
>Snack? That's not where it'd go, bra
>Pack up the punk. What would it be able to do now, anyway?
>Do we have a way to seal it properly, or will this do?
>Get ahold of Boss and his sister to determine where to go next. What's the last we heard on the snake/chimera situation?

Impette in Lexconna Minor:
>Ah shit. Are any Mokous near its neck? Wrapping around the back of that could work a little... but this is not a good sign.
>Will those frozen Mokous thaw out quickly (hopefully moreso due to fire nature), or should we consider whether it'd be possible to order one to self-destruct to defrost the other, if that would work?
>Block off its exit however we can!
>What IS Monarda up to? Would we be able to get him to block off the route the snake's trying to use?

>Magus Monnie: Wake up tied to Marisa's bed

[Third Eye Lem]

> It's been a week since the last update? Unacceptable! ACTIVATE BRAVELY SECOND!!

>Magus Monnie: Wake up tied to Marisa's bed

> You succeed in getting yourself trapped in a shipfic, which gets rave reviews on Fanfiction.net. BAD END

Bookie Spellblaster:

>Pocket the bird, if it's safe.

> Aside from the possibility of if nipping at you, you're fine. You stuff the SEALED AVIARY ALMANAC into your ABSURDLY LARGE POCKETS.

>Bro's busy? Was playing support still too stressful? Bah.

> You lament your brother's heart condition, but quickly stop. It's not his fault he was born that way...He probably just got distracted.

>Exactly how bad would the Chimera and Snake being in the same place be?

> Annoying enough to be dangerous. You focus on the Chimera, you risk getting bitten by the Snake. You focus on the Snake, the Chimera rips your head off. It's probably in your best interest to keep the two seperated.

>Would stopping by with Zak be significantly out of the way to reaching the other books?

> Nah, if anything it'd be on the way to the other two.

>How difficult/out of the way would it be to get around the Chimera to help with the Snake, or will we have to go through it either way?

> The snake'll probably be within the Chimera's territory by the time you reach it, so your best bet would be to draw the Chimera away somehow.

>If Zak would be more or less on the way to the others, stop by to check in, get the book, and discuss strategy. If it would take time away, head to the snake if we can avoid the chimera, or beetail it to the chimera to start getting that out of the way. Inform the others of the plan.
>If the chimera would be our next destination, direct the dolls that came to support us to sneak/rush past to handle the snake instead.

> You start to make your way towards Zak's location as quickly as you can, and ask the dolls to support containing the snake.

Demonic Blademaster:

>Snack? That's not where it'd go, bra

> Sorry, #Fetish-Meido closed down some time ago. :V

>Pack up the punk. What would it be able to do now, anyway?

> Spew ink up at your face? Nah, you got a solution to this...

>Do we have a way to seal it properly, or will this do?

> ...A solution involving you sitting on it. The Remi dolls look at you with a perplexed expression, but the Eirin dolls find it amusing.

>Get ahold of Boss and his sister to determine where to go next. What's the last we heard on the snake/chimera situation?

> You scribble a note out to the two of them, and find out what Patchy already did: The Chimera and snake are dangerously close to one another. Patchy suggests the two of you try and lure the Chimera away, but is open to ideas.

Impette in Lexconna Minor:

>Ah shit. Are any Mokous near its neck? Wrapping around the back of that could work a little... but this is not a good sign.

> One bravely manages to leap to the Snake's throat and clasp down on it. This does not, however, keep it from flailing around like a maniac.

>Will those frozen Mokous thaw out quickly (hopefully moreso due to fire nature), or should we consider whether it'd be possible to order one to self-destruct to defrost the other, if that would work?

> You have a slightly less violent idea--have the Mokous use their flame-charged hands to melt the ice. After a few seconds, they're back in the action, if a bit wet from the melted ice.

>Block off its exit however we can!
>What IS Monarda up to? Would we be able to get him to block off the route the snake's trying to use?

> You ask Mon to try and trap the snake, but you don't hear a response. In fact, it seems he's completely missing from the computer terminal! Ugh, of all the times to go and take a potty break...!
> You go to ask the Terrified Fairies what happened to him, but in all their excitement, they seem to have fallen asleep... Useless little--!

> "What's the matter?"
> Koa perks up at the voice...That annoying, conniving voice that's haunted her for--
> "If you're that upset, you can join them in dreamland, ze!"
> WHAM. A hard hit to the head makes Koa fade to black.
> "Heh, this is almost too easy...Hmmm, I've got some time to kill before they take care of that last monster..." you mumble as your eyes turn to the cluttered ROTUND TABLEAU.

> _

[E-Nazrin]

>Miniaturized Succubus: Wake up after tying Moarda to the bed.

Magical . Bibliophile:
>Is Zak's butt enough to contain/seal the octobook? We heard about that, right? If not, ask him to stay put until we can properly seal and secure it. If he'd be more helpful going ahead of us to divert the other loose books, send him off and we'll grab it on our way.
>Is there a good way to flank the chimera and/or snake if they end up in the same place? Would they be hostile to one another?
>What would be a good lure/deterrent for one and not the other, if using that to separate them would be the better plan?
>The snake uses ice breath and bites, what about the chimera?

Satanite Samurai:
>Well, we could try to split them up after we get there... there ARE two of us, after all. And there's the dolls. If we don't need the ones here, send them off to uh... do whatever Patch advises. She knows what's going on here.
>Do the same with her advice on where we should be, unless we know we have a way to pack up this dumb octopus for later and go on ahead to start handling the last two.

[capt. h]

> Do we have some kind of magical map of the library we can use for coordinating this kind of thing? Something that would let us command all our dolls, familiars, friends, and associates from the comfort of our favorite chair?

[Third Eye Lem]

>Miniaturized Succubus: Wake up after tying Monarda to the bed.

> So we're making this a threesome, eh? Good, this fic gets twice as many (re)views and even gets made into a published book that sells millions. You happily retire to Englandand live out the rest of your days from your earnings. GOOD END?

Magical . Bibliophile:

>Is Zak's butt enough to contain/seal the octobook? We heard about that, right? If not, ask him to stay put until we can properly seal and secure it. If he'd be more helpful going ahead of us to divert the other loose books, send him off and we'll grab it on our way.

> You figure it'd be more prudent to get the octopus out of the way first, so you head off to assist Zak. You've heard stories about him being able to stop a sword with his butt, then grab it with his buttocks and snap it like a twig, but you'd rather not see that for yourself.

>Is there a good way to flank the chimera and/or snake if they end up in the same place? Would they be hostile to one another?

> The snake might try to bite the Chimera, but it's not gonna stand a chance if it pisses it off. If anything, the Snake will try and stay out of the way and attack anything that comes near it. The Chimera behaves very much like the big cat that's dominating its M.O., so once it gets your attention, expect a dangerous hunt/chase. At least the shelves and such will keep the Chimera corralled somewhat, but heaven forbid if it reaches the front door...

>What would be a good lure/deterrent for one and not the other, if using that to separate them would be the better plan?
>The snake uses ice breath and bites, what about the chimera?

> The Snake is too small to eat humans, so maybe a bit of that human meat may be a good deterrant...There was a still a chunk left over from the package, perhaps it's not too late to go grab it.
> The Chimera is armed with fire breath and a poisonous snake tail, as well as hypnosis and paralysis inducing gazes. The snake tail thankfully can't use it, but you wouldn't want to attack it from that angle anyways.

Satanite Samurai:

>Well, we could try to split them up after we get there... there ARE two of us, after all. And there's the dolls. If we don't need the ones here, send them off to uh... do whatever Patch advises. She knows what's going on here.
>Do the same with her advice on where we should be, unless we know we have a way to pack up this dumb octopus for later and go on ahead to start handling the last two.

> You ask them to go seek out Patchy, and they do so. It doesn't take long, though, as Patchy soon reaches you.
> "...Funny time for you to be sitting down on the job," Patchy playfully jokes. You tell her to shut up and seal this thing, it's still moving. "Fine, get up."
> You jump off and stand back as Patchy applies another BINDING BOOKMARK, reducing the already disarmed octopus to a quivering mass of paper. The corners flail about ever so futilly as Patchy pockets the mollusk.

> So, now what do you want to--

Code: [Select]

ERROR: ZAKURO CAN NO LONGER RECEIVE COMMANDS.
ERROR: NEITHER CAN MONARDA, KOA OR THE SLEEPING FAIRIES.
ERROR: SUCKS TO BE YOU, DON'T IT?
> do...?
> You can hear giggling in the distance...And then growling.

> Do we have some kind of magical map of the library we can use for coordinating this kind of thing? Something that would let us command all our dolls, familiars, friends, and associates from the comfort of our favorite chair?

> Sadly, this is not Harry Potter, you don't have an interactive and sarcastic map available to you. You'll have to get on that sometime...But it's not a huge deal, you know the library well enough to estimate where everyone is at any given time. You're gonna need that info very soon, you imagine...
> Disregard, the parser totally forgot about the cache map. It doesn't show everyone in the library, but if you could figure out a way to enchant it, that would be a great tool to steal I mean use to hunt down the Chimera.

> _

[E-Nazrin]

>That's Marisa's voice, isn't it.

[Third Eye Lem]

>That's Marisa's voice, isn't it.

> Considering this is your memory and all, you're 100% sure it is Marisa's voice. Er, your voice. Mrgrgr, writing in multiple perspectives is hard, ze! Let's go shopping!

> _

[E-Nazrin]

>Why now, of all times...!
>Succumb to lust and throw ourselves into her arms, the temptress
>Blast her. Was that growl one of the books threatening her? Might as well blow that up too. COMMENCE OPERATION FUCK EVERYTHING

[Third Eye Lem]

>Why now, of all times...!
>Succumb to lust and throw ourselves into her arms, the temptress
>Blast her. Was that growl one of the books threatening her? Might as well blow that up too. COMMENCE OPERATION FUCK EVERYTHING

> You have a way of screwing over Patchy's day at just the right time. Why, it'd be just great if she had something helpful to assist you on your main quest! That being said...What the hell was with that ghostly hat on Patchy's bed, you definitely don't recall that, and even if you did, why would she have it...?
> You throw yourself onto Marisa's pile of magical weapons like a kid in a ball pit. It hurts, but it hurts sooooo gooooood.
> Ok, back on task. You first have to locate the little witch bitch before you can blast her, and with Monarda MIA that would be tricky.

> _

[capt. h]

> Attempt a tracking enchantment for Marisa on our magical map via an item from our secret stash of Marisa's personal effects.

> Wait, does Patchouli have a secret stash of Marisa personal effects? Because that would be really, really creepy. We'd need to have a word with her after this is all done.

[Third Eye Lem]

> Attempt a tracking enchantment for Marisa on our magical map via an item from our secret stash of Marisa's personal effects.

> Wait, does Patchouli have a secret stash of Marisa personal effects? Because that would be really, really creepy. We'd need to have a word with her after this is all done.

> Why on earth would you steal from Marisa? That'd make you no better than she is...If you had to, you'd start with all the books she took from you, and perhaps take her Mini-Hekkero so she's a lot less dangerous...Actually, that's not a bad idea...You make a mental note to do so while you try to track Marisa. You take out the map and scribble some choice words onto the map, and it starts pinging much like a radar screen...So far, it has detected the Chimera (it's slowly heading through the library towards you), but no Marisa.

> _

[E-Nazrin]

>That doesn't make sense... would she have been able to hack into it, genius that she is?!
>Well, at least we have a good idea of where the Chimera is. What'd the best spell be for distracting that thing so we can separate these problems?
>... unless she's riding the Chimera? How closely did we examine that?
>Evasive maneuvers, most likely!

[Third Eye Lem]

>That doesn't make sense... would she have been able to hack into it, genius that she is?!

> If you mean Marisa, then it's unlikely, you installed an anti-tampering system to prevent that very thing from happening.

>Well, at least we have a good idea of where the Chimera is. What'd the best spell be for distracting that thing so we can separate these problems?
>... unless she's riding the Chimera? How closely did we examine that?
>Evasive maneuvers, most likely!

> You could probably distract it with a loud noise or push it away with a rain cloud spell or something? Or a snowstorm! Or a thunderbolt! Oh, the possibilities are endless! You're so glad you specialized in all the magic. All of it. Though the Ablinks with your friends are helping out just as well...
> Wait where were we going with this? Oh right, you're supposed to save Norende or something...Norende being the library. Of course.
> ...
> THE PARSER CAN STOP AT ANY TIME THEY WANT, THIS IS NOT AN ADDICTION

> _

[E-Nazrin]

Librarian of Wonders:
>Is the snake anywhere nearby on that? We should turn them into Marisa's problem until we can get ahold of the situation.
>Fall back and stay alert! Set up good close-range, all-around shields if Marisa's experimenting with some new cloaking tech or something.

Purloining Starblaster:
>Mwa ha ha ha! If we're this difficult to catch, let's molest Patch swipe that stuff she's got on her!

[Third Eye Lem]

Librarian of Wonders:

>Is the snake anywhere nearby on that? We should turn them into Marisa's problem until we can get ahold of the situation.
>Fall back and stay alert! Set up good close-range, all-around shields if Marisa's experimenting with some new cloaking tech or something.

> The Snake is holding its position, and even if you were to turn it on Marisa, it wouldn't last that long...In fact she could probably fry it right then and there, and you'd be out one rare book. :< And that's terrible. The most you can do is stand back-to-back with Zak and activate whatever nearby defenses you can.
> You can hear the beast approach you, but for whatever reason it doesn't attack you. Instead, it climbs a bookshelf, and leaps across your position...What the hell is it chasing after?!

Purloining Starblaster:

>Mwa ha ha ha! If we're this difficult to catch, let's molest Patch swipe that stuff she's got on her!

> Now where's the fun in that? You love playing mind games with Patchy, she's so easy to fluster. Besides, you're starting to remember where this is going anyways...Yesssss.
> You're hovering above her position. All you have to do now is swoop in, disable the shields, and--
> Wait, what's that growling noise? You look to your left, and...
> Awww, shit. That wasn't supposed to happEN!! GAH! DOWN BOY!
> Turns out, you disturbed the Chimera from its sleep with a well-placed broom prod (complete with a weak shock for good measure), and thought it was chasing after Patchy when it was really chasing after you. Dumb cat must've caught your scent...No matter, you can work your magic once Patchy comes to subdue the creature.

> _

[capt. h]

> Things are kind of chaotic right now. Summarize current happenings in head.

> Also, save Marisa or something.

> Does Marisa(/Do we) remember this day from her(/our) perspective?

[E-Nazrin]

Unmoving Lunarhat:
>Tha... okay, it's chasing after something we can't see. Marisa is here and we can't see her. Is it chasing her somehow?
>... but it'd be bad to have it get blasted. Would Marisa listen if we asked her not to blast it, or would that be a bad idea? Damnit, she's here somewhere!
>Get the icy blasters prepared. Anything we can take advantage of there?
>... we don't have a way to sound an emergency alarm for the rest of the mansion, do we?

Star-crossed Robberette:
>Okay, WE need the evasive maneuvers!!
>What would be able to shake it off?
>Or would it just be easier to kite past Patchouli so it at least looks like it's going after her?

[Third Eye Lem]

Unmoving Lunarhat:

>Tha... okay, it's chasing after something we can't see. Marisa is here and we can't see her. Is it chasing her somehow?

> As long as she's giving off some kind of scent, then yes.

>... but it'd be bad to have it get blasted. Would Marisa listen if we asked her not to blast it, or would that be a bad idea? Damnit, she's here somewhere!

> What a conundrum! Letting her know not to blast it would save the book, but it'd not only alert her to it being a book, it'd also alert her to your suspicions!

>Get the icy blasters prepared. Anything we can take advantage of there?

> ...That being said, you have the perfect chance to disable the book and perhaps seal it, but it's risky--you pretty much have to rely on an extremely rare MAGICAL CRITICAL for the freezing effect to take hold.

>... we don't have a way to sound an emergency alarm for the rest of the mansion, do we?

> You do, but that's only in case the INCIDENT spills from the library and into the manor itself. You really hope you don't have to do that, because you'd risk losing the beasts, and as much as you'd love to see Marisa suffer, you'd lose her as well...
> Then again, if she died, that means you'd get all your books back. So there's that to consider.
> However, this is all pretty moot, because...

Star-crossed Robberette:

>Okay, WE need the evasive maneuvers!!
>What would be able to shake it off?
>Or would it just be easier to kite past Patchouli so it at least looks like it's going after her?

> ...You know exactly how this encounter plays out.
> First, you did an ACROBATIC FUCKIN' LOOP DE LOOP to avoid the Chimera's leaping, and giggle to yourself as it struggles to cling to the bookshelf it landed on. Unfortunately, you failed take into account its fire breath, and you're forced to beat a hasty retreat a plume of flame is sent towards you. The library may be fireproof, but you sure as hell aren't!

> [Water Sign "Quick Freeze"]
> You also learned that day how quickly you could cool (or heat) something by applying an extreme amount of opposing magical energy. The Chimera's fire breath is snuffed out, and somehow the cold air goes all the way back into the Chimera's innards, freezing it from within. MAGI-CRIT SUCCESSFUL!
> PETA DISCLAIMER: Don't worry folks, it'll be fine. It's not an actual animal.
> Patchy quickly flies up and applies the third BINDING BOOKMARK to the beast's head, returning it to its original form...Which is basically a frost-covered book covered in fur and teeth. Only one more to go!
> ...That is, once you deal with this pest...Zakuro instinctively jumps up to another bookshelf to try and catch Marisa.

> Too bad he caught you a little too late. You land next to Zakuro and focus your energy into your broom, then rear back and take the best home run swing you can muster. The force of the strike sends Zakuro careening into Patchy (just as she pockets the third book), knocking them both off the shelf and to the ground, knocking them out.
> This also has the added benefit of disabling the PatchCon dolls: without a conscious commander to cater to them, they enter a stasis mode and become more or less harmless. You take the time to fly over to the PatchCon and disable it for now...You wish you could steal it, but this isn't what you're after.
> You produce from your pocket what appears to be two things: a cloaking device loaned to you by Nitori, and a length of rope that looks like it was weaved from the starry sky itself. You gather up the unconscious library denizens and tie them up in the middle of the lounge.

> ...Which is where you, as Patchy, find yourself now. Sitting on the floor uncomfortably restrained by a series of ropes. Try as you might, you can't muster up a spell to cut yourself free; it feels as if your power is blocked. You can see Koa to your right and Monarda to your left, with the fairies behind you.
> "Good afternoon to ya, ze!" You perk up and see the now-visible Marisa sitting on the ROTUND TABLEAU in front of you, looking as smug and confident as ever. "Now what would an upright stiff such as yerself be doin' with this handsome son of a gun?" she asks, nodding her head towards Monarda.
> You are seriously glad that Monarda isn't awake now, he's rather shy around women. Especially the flirty kind...

> _