In Progress [LP CYOA] Tower

[Nevill]

“I had thought it would look grander,” sniffs Alexei. “No matter. If you are correct, then your introduction to the Tsar is secured, strannik.”

Worth noting that this is before Rasputin's rise to power, and the total decline of the Romanovs. He isn't yet known at court. Presumably, this is what gets him the position.

and now another kid comes out of the room and says LET THEM GO, TAKE ME INSTEAD

No one is saying that. The choice states the girls would have to figure the way out on their own while we get everyone's attention.

Andrew's Astra is a known entity, he didn't get it from the ruins.

And yes, an Astra could be a valid reason to detain us, as would be any messing with the ruins. Depending on how that goes, our connection to Rain might come up (since we are literally known as "that kid who lugs that other kid around everywhere"), and we don't know where that plotline leads except that it is important.

There is a possibility of her or us both taken away from the village.

 

[Baltika9]

A > E, though I'm torn 50/50 between them. Seems to me if we want to make an intervention and escape then darkness is the only thing that gives us a chance.

Yes, but the benefits afforded to us by the darkness won't last for long. Remember, the hallways in these ruins are illuminated and our bum leg won't allow us to outrun trained soldiers, especially not with Rasputin's third eye. I think we should either let Nathaniel (the only adult on our side) handle this, or take one for the team.

I have zero idea why you think this is how it'll play out. Imagine you're on an important secret mission to open the gates, and you've completed the job, and then turns out a couple of kids snuck in for the lulz, and now another kid comes out of the room and says LET THEM GO, TAKE ME INSTEAD. Your response is "wtf dude why do you even think I care". Astra? Andrew has an astra and he just used it. The disfigured child? OOooooh he has a scar, the dude is not gonna give a shit.

Because the point of D is to get the girls out of here by distracting Rasputin and the soldiers, thus getting them out of danger. Nathaniel can probably negotiate for Andrew and Scotty, but we'll be left as the sacrificial lamb.
Why do I think Rasputin will take an interest in us? Because, as a literary character, we ooze mystery and the historical Rasputin had a lot of sympathy for lepers, outcasts and the downtrodden. Like I said earlier, my intuition is leading me to him as it did to Master Zhang, another character with a menacing, creepy aura.

It is clear that Baltika is in it for the memes first and foremost.

What you call memes, I call an interesting story. This is what everyone was telling me when I wanted to approach Zhang Jue back in Luoying, and again when I wanted to join him when he holding Master Yao hostage. I've said this on the previous page, I'm in this for an interesting story first and foremost, and fuck me if Rasputin wasn't an interesting character without magic powers. I really do want to become his apprentice. It's clear that the man knows stuff about Astra, at least.

 

[ItsChon]

What you call memes, I call an interesting story. This is what everyone was telling me when I wanted to approach Zhang Jue back in Luoying, and again when I wanted to join him when he holding Master Yao hostage. I've said this on the previous page, I'm in this for an interesting story first and foremost, and fuck me if Rasputin wasn't an interesting character without magic powers, and I really do want to become his apprentice. It's clear that the man knows stuff about Astra, at least.

Fair enough, if it wasn't for Rain I would be all for it, but we already have one story that we need to deal with, that being Rain. Plus, we know exactly where they're headed, the thirtieth floor. Who's to say we can't escape out of here undetected and set our sights for whatever is on said floor? Maybe we can meet these folks again.

 

[Baltika9]

if it wasn't for Rain I would be all for it,

I know, this is the only thing that makes me not 100% on D. But I think that we can trust Father McClellan and Sophie to raise her, and to do it well. Better than us, in fact, but I do want to be her big brother.

Who's to say we can't escape out of here undetected and set our sights for whatever is on said floor? Maybe we can meet these folks again.

We'll be doing so regardless (maybe), but I don't see how that is related to what I said. For one, we know jack diddly squat about these 'gates' they're talking about, and I'm sure that no knightly order will want to share information with us as an outsider. Not for free, anyway.

 

[Nahel]

D. It might be the only chance to save everyone. We are just a kid, we are no match for Rasputin and his soldiers. Yet.

 

[Absinthe]

A.

I don't trust E when the monk just exposed our friends hiding outside the door. We'll just get caught with E. A is a target that should be within our abilities and should be able to produce enough chaos to make a run for it. We have a stealth skill anyway so slipping out when the room is in darkness should be the most feasible escape we've got.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

It's cool if you prefer Kaiserin, bro.

Abandon ship, all hands to the lifeboats.

 

[Grimgravy]

E>A

 

[Azira]

E

 

[Esquilax]

“I had thought it would look grander,” sniffs Alexei. “No matter. If you are correct, then your introduction to the Tsar is secured, strannik.”
...
“It is done,” says the monk when the rumbling subsides. “The way is open. Another of the gates will have opened. We can now come one step closer to the Throne of God… All is for the sake of our Tsar.”

I don't know which Order that Nathaniel was working for, but I think he sold confidential information to the Russians about this set of ruins that are a piece of the puzzle in unlocking the elusive 30th Floor. He did it in exchange for a position of good standing with The Order of the White Eagle. Judging by his son, sniveling cowardice runs in the family.

I don't trust E when the monk just exposed our friends hiding outside the door. We'll just get caught with E. A is a target that should be within our abilities and should be able to produce enough chaos to make a run for it. We have a stealth skill anyway so slipping out when the room is in darkness should be the most feasible escape we've got.

Definitely. We gotta fucking bolt NOW. I think that B will work great in allowing us to slip away, but will cause chaos and bloodshed. Andrew might be a Theseus, but he doesn't deserve to die to potentially die... well, not yet at any rate. It will be a cruel irony that in causing a Theseus to die, we become a Theseus ourselves. We mustn't let it happen.

I am in agreement about E. Right now, attention is focused on Andrew and tensions are high. These guys will come looking for us, but I don't think that there will be a better time than the present. What are you hoping will happen if we wait five minutes? Rasputin could sense Andrew in another room despite trying to undertake a ritual. What do you think will happen if he's on full alert and three other kids are in the same room? Nothing good, I can tell you that. He'll sniff us out, for sure.

A, let's get the fuck out of Dodge.

 

[Absinthe]

I think that B will work great in allowing us to slip away, but will cause chaos and bloodshed. Andrew might be a Theseus, but he doesn't deserve to die to potentially die... well, not yet at any rate. It will be a cruel irony that in causing a Theseus to die, we become a Theseus ourselves. We mustn't let it happen.

I think the guard captain can handle a slingshot. The only thing B would accomplish is initiate hostilities and make them go after us. If something like B could work and induce chaos so easily, these guys wouldn't be pros. All it does is get us proper fucked, I think. C is in the same class. Rasputin here probably has 10 constitution so it wouldn't even phase him, assuming he wouldn't just dodge that shit with his ridiculous senses.

A is the only escape plan that seems feasible. D could work for the girls, but then we'd be abandoning Rain, so... not an option.

 

[hello friend]

A has a good chance of going horribly wrong, the way I see it. Nathaniel is currently trying to diffuse the situation with Scotty, but who knows what will happen if the room suddenly goes dark and people are scurrying about. If Scotty gets killed in the kerfuffle, we will get the blame, everyone will hate us, and worst case we get thrown out of the village. Every option seems bad, D and E look the same at first glance, as Rasputin seems have some kind of sixth sense. He sensed Andrew and Scotty, and he's probably sensed Sophie and Elizabeth as well. If we step forward it will demonstrate moral character to the knights (uncertain whether they'd care) and win us points with the girls. However, there's always the chance that Rasputin won't mention that we're hiding behind the block. Who knows? They're probably the safest options.

A is risky, but might go very right. It won't, but it might. The big problem being that usually we'd be able to rely on the fact that the soldiers don't know which exit we take, which way we go in any forks etc. But Rasputin will still be around to guide them. Again, we'd be relying on him not leading them to us, or some unforeseen x factor carrying us through. I think it's a bad idea. Therefore, my vote is:

A

 

[Absinthe]

However, there's always the chance that Rasputin won't mention that we're hiding behind the block. Who knows? They're probably the safest options.

Nah man. If Rasputin here were going to avoid mentioning the kids hiding, he wouldn't have revealed our friends hiding outside the door. It's just our turn next to get exposed. E will definitely get us all caught.

 

[Baltika9]

A is the only escape plan that seems feasible.

I'm not so sure about that: we definitely can get out of this room in total darkness, but then we'd exit into a well-illuminated hallway, with a regiment of trained and physically fit soldiers in pursuit. With an alert Rasputin. Considering that we have a bum leg, I think that the only person who can't outrun us is Scotty, and Andrew might even carry his fat ass out of here since he knows that his friend is out of shape. We, on the other hand, will be easy to chase down.

The air grows colder as you venture deeper into the ruins. The corridor branches off at places, but you decide to follow the main trunk for now, hoping that this would have the greatest chance of leading you to the exit.

We only know of one way out of here, so unless we can hide from Rasputin's third eye in some dark corner of this ruin, we'll get caught anyway. I'm not saying that A is impossible, just that it is unlikely to succeed. But you raise a fantastic point that Rasputin probably suspects our presence already in E.

I think that our fate was sealed the moment we chose to follow the girls.

 

[Absinthe]

I'm not so sure about that: we definitely can get out of this room in total darkness, but then we'd exit into a well-illuminated hallway, with a regiment of trained and physically fit soldiers in pursuit. With an alert Rasputin. Considering that we have a bum leg, I think that the only person who can't outrun us is Scotty, and Andrew might even carry his fat ass out of here since he knows that his friend is out of shape. We, on the other hand, will be easy to chase down.

They have their own mission priorities over chasing kids though, and rushing down unknown branching paths in ruins is probably not something they're all that eager to do. We'd also have a head start on them thanks to the chaos. So A is by far the best chance we have of escaping them.

We only know of one way out of here, so unless we can hide from Rasputin's third eye in some dark corner of this ruin, we'll get caught anyway. I'm not saying that A is impossible, just that it is unlikely to succeed. But you raise a fantastic point that Rasputin probably suspects our presence already in E. I think that our fate was sealed the moment we chose to follow the girls.

I'm pretty sure that the right decision here actually makes a difference. And since we don't want to lose Rain, we need to escape. That leaves A afaict.

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

Because the point of D is to get the girls out of here by distracting Rasputin and the soldiers, thus getting them out of danger. Nathaniel can probably negotiate for Andrew and Scotty, but we'll be left as the sacrificial lamb.
Why do I think Rasputin will take an interest in us? Because, as a literary character, we ooze mystery and the historical Rasputin had a lot of sympathy for lepers, outcasts and the downtrodden. Like I said earlier, my intuition is leading me to him as it did to Master Zhang, another character with a menacing, creepy aura.

In principle I agree with you, however I hadn’t thought about joining the Russian military at this point. It’s a bit sudden to be pressed into service (and probably called upon to do some sort of war crime like massacre elves, which we will inevitably do with glee rebel against and will have the Russians chasing after us for the rest of the game).

I am going with E>A>D.

Allow me to explain:

E I think E is our best chance to make it out peacefully and unconscripted.

A offers everyone in our group the best chance of escape. Yes, including Andrew unfortunately. Actually, it offers him a better chance of escape than it does us as we have our leg to worry about.

D is the “brave” option, but we will likely be pressed into military service and lose Rain for a time. I am not ok with this. We sacrificed our leg and our FACE for her! We need to safeguard our investment. The only reason I include it is because idiotic options like shooting Rasputin or the knights are on the table. Also, it’s unlikely the girls will escape even if we chose D as they obviously aren’t very stealthy.

Again, though I think E is our best chance to make it out peacefully and unconscripted. I am fairly certain Rasputin’s gaze is mostly our imagination.

edit: I got A confused with B. Updated.

 

[Baltika9]

I'm pretty sure that the right decision here actually makes a difference. And since we don't want to lose Rain, we need to escape. That leaves A afaict.

I don't know, man, I just can't see us outrunning them with a bad leg. You gotta admit that having your men attacked and your light source taken out by a ranged attack in a dark dungeon is extremely suspicious, especially for military personnel. I'm pretty sure that A will provide the captain with the incentive to track down the people attacking his men. The only way that I can see A working out is if we can give them the run-around in these ruins.

and our FACE for her!

Huh?

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

A will give us a head start on running away, but the hallways of these ruins are already illuminated. I'll put money on trained adults being able to outrun a child with a bum leg. Bad choice.

B is a bad idea: one of their soldiers just got wounded by a kid with a magic sword, so everyone is already on high alert. If we sneak attack their leader for +1d6 damage, then all hell might break loose and people might die. And those people probably won't be the armed and trained soldiers. Terrible choice.

Ditto for C, plus what I said above.

D will work as written, I'm sure of it. We sacrifice ourselves for the gang, but we're very likely to get conscripted. Plus, Scotty will probably try to dump the whole thing on us in front of his dad.

E is a wild card. On the one hand, if our group keeps quiet, then we'll likely be able to stay hidden. On the other hand, I'm not sure Elizabeth and/or Sophie will be able to refrain from doing something stupid to save their friends.

This is how I see it playing out too.

I think the girls will probably stay quiet. And if not, at least we won’t have cucked ourselves with A by letting everyone in the group escape but us.

 

[Absinthe]

Again, though I think E is our best chance to make it out peacefully and unconscripted. I am fairly certain Rasputin’s gaze is mostly our imagination.

Dude, this guy just detected and exposed our friends hiding outside behind a closed door. I'm certain he's gonna find and expose us if we go with E.

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

Again, though I think E is our best chance to make it out peacefully and unconscripted. I am fairly certain Rasputin’s gaze is mostly our imagination.

Dude, this guy just detected and exposed our friends hiding outside behind a closed door. I'm certain he's gonna find and expose us if we go with E.

And yet he didn't detect us upon entering the room.

Scotty and Andrew aren't exactly masters of stealth. He could have simply heard their footsteps.

 

[Absinthe]

And yet he didn't detect us upon entering the room.

He was preoccupied when he entered the room. Right now he is exposing the kids in hiding.

And treave explicitly ended this update on the note that "you have the feeling that he is looking right at the metal block you are hiding behind."

Scotty and Andrew aren't exactly masters of stealth. He could have simply heard their footsteps.

If that were the case it should've been the guard captain to notice them, not the priest.

 

[ItsChon]

Again, though I think E is our best chance to make it out peacefully and unconscripted. I am fairly certain Rasputin’s gaze is mostly our imagination.

Dude, this guy just detected and exposed our friends hiding outside behind a closed door. I'm certain he's gonna find and expose us if we go with E.

And yet he didn't detect us upon entering the room.

Scotty and Andrew aren't exactly masters of stealth. He could have simply heard their footsteps.

What Lambchop said. There is nothing to suggest he can detect us. We've been in the room the whole time, if he had magic powers of detection it would have been over for us already. He probably heard the footsteps of the two kids along with some unconscious premonition ability he has to sus out them being behind the door. Giving away our position and trying to squeeze by a bunch of Knights and a creepy Monk in the dark, while they're literally standing close to the exit, is stupid, and all the other slingshot options are dumb too. Giving ourselves up is undesirable because of Rain.

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

He was preoccupied when he entered the room. Right now he is exposing the kids in hiding. And treave literally ended this update on the note that "you have the feeling that he is looking right at the metal block you are hiding behind."

Because the feeling of a 10-year-old is so reliable.

That's likely just our imagination.

If that were the case it should've been the guard captain to notice them, not the priest.

Look, you can't have your cake and eat it too. Either the priest can see through walls (and per the update, his own closed eyes) or he can't and it's simply a very good sense of hearing.

He didn't detect us upon entering the room, so if we stay quiet, things should be ok.

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

Huh?

I was speaking of the burn scars on our face ffs.

edit:

Your brown hair is long and unkempt, hanging over most of your burnt face on one end.

 

[Absinthe]

Because the feeling of a 10-year-old is so reliable.

It's been reliable so far, yes.

Look, you can't have your cake and eat it too. Either the priest can see through walls (and per the update, his own closed eyes) or he can't and it's simply a very good sense of hearing.

Or maybe the priest was focused on his holy mission when he walked in and started paying attention to his surroundings later. He's got some kind of weird senses to detect people nearby. Stop assuming it has to be permanent X-Ray Vision or nothing.