Peapodd 2015/10/18(Sun)17:29 No. 677628 ID: f02a77
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People! Right, that's what I was talking about! People are a lot like planets, don't ya think? None of them look the same and all of them have something that makes them special. Plus, they're all a slave to nature. Can't control which direction they spin or where they'll end up, always moving and not once stopping. Progressing, I guess would be the word.

Wait, I was talking about the world, not people. OUR world. You can't just let me go off like that, everyone says I'll never stop!

Peapodd 2015/10/18(Sun)17:32 No. 677630 ID: f02a77
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The world is really a big mess. Parts of land stuck into endless water that we call 'oceans' and 'seas'. Not one piece of the world is like the other, even if it's two rocks side-by-side. Seasons change, the sun comes up and down, all life on it continues on despite hardships or surprises. It trudges forth and doesn't stop, because nature won't stop and if they do, it'l snatch them up.

..Just like people! And planets! Hey, we went right back around to the start! Is that why it's called the 'Circle of Life'?

Peapodd 2015/10/18(Sun)17:37 No. 677632 ID: f02a77
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Well, since we're here again, I might as well continue on with the People on the world, here. It isn't just that everyone looks different and acts different, there's not one person who thinks like another. Sure, you can share opinions and feelings towards others, but no one mind can ever follow the same wave-length as a different mind.

Well, unless you were made to be like that. But then comes the problem of what would happen if somebody was made to think like those people who were made to think and act exactly the same, but that one person was made different, instead.

So, who's the lucky hero/heroine that will now be plagued by the fleas of an entire alien planet (read:us)?

Peapodd 2015/10/18(Sun)17:39 No. 677636 ID: f02a77
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That's hard to think about, isn't it? By the very nature of human...nature...nobody's similar. So if somebody was meant to be the same, but ended up different, then wouldn't he be the same as every other human, despite being different to the group of humans made to be the same?

See, you can never talk about the world, or the planets, or dogs without getting to this existential crisis. A bit of philosophy never hurt anyone, except for the people who wrote those philosophies and were killed because of them. Even back in the past, people were getting hurt because of how they thought.

>>677634
just wait for the intro to finish, sheesh

Peapodd 2015/10/18(Sun)17:43 No. 677639 ID: f02a77
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At least I have you guys to talk to this stuff with! If anyone else from the Squadron was with me, they probably would've tried to kill me by now! Not like they could, really. I'm too special, they say. Can't kill what you're told to not kill, right?

I mean I guess they could toss me around like a ball again but that's less painful as it is vomit-inducing.

So, hey! Looks like I'm out of thoughts to say! Anything you guys wanna talk about?

I think... that you said a lot of things and words and sounds with your mouth and that I was listening to a lot of them, but some of those words that you created from your flapping orifice contradicted the other ones so I'm just wondering, what the true thing is!??!?

nice hat

... What are we doing again?

>Can't kill what you're told to not kill, right?
Being unable to kill something is an entirely different matter from being told not to kill something; the latter is not a matter of being unable but of being unwilling to kill something. So why are they unable or unwilling to kill you despite hating you?
A thing you can do to keep people from interrupting cutscenes is to have (1/x), (2/x), etc in the post subject until the last post of the cutscene is (x/x)

so who are you?

Peapodd 2015/10/18(Sun)18:40 No. 677673 ID: f02a77
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>>677640
Ohh, you know how it is. You get stuck alone for a few days in a scouting mission, one night you puke up a weird squishy egg-y thing that soon hardens into a hard orb-y thing, then you start talking to it and you lose track of what you're talking about! Happens all the time.

>>677641
Thanks! It's really just part of the official BCA™ uniform, but I specialized it with these ear-flaps. Good ol' tape-and-cardboard, that is.

>>677645
Scouting! Or, maybe I'm just a look-out. Possible assassin? I dunno what the technical term is, but I need to catch a guy that Boss needs caught.

>>677646
It's not that everyone hates me! Just that when you're the odd one out in a supposedly cloned army, it's a hassle for everyone involved.

>>677650
First Lieutenant Peapodd, leader of the BCA™ Sniper division! The fact that I'm the only sniper makes my job a whole lot easier, y'know!

>>677673
so who are you looking for?

Who's the BCA then?

>>677673
Yeah, we've seen that kind of orb dozens of times. Supposedly, it's a fragment of your decision-making matrix, but we're not so sure.

So, your faction realizes that you mutated from the standard and want you to stay as far away from both them and the enemy as humanly possible. How long have you been out here?

Also, can we see your primary weapon / secondary weapon / equipment / supplies / list of skills?

>>677679
i don't see a mirror, how do you know what kind of orb it is?

Peapodd 2015/10/18(Sun)19:34 No. 677697 ID: f02a77
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>>677675
I'm looking for some sort of...guy with a cloak? That's really all I have for him because that's all anyone's told me about him. But I'm pretty sure it's a super long cloak, so I just need to find someone with a long cloak coming through here, and that's him!

(1/3)

Peapodd 2015/10/18(Sun)19:39 No. 677702 ID: f02a77
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And to answer the questions about the BCA;

The BCA (Brand Clone Army) is a militarized group of cloned individuals that reaches the entire span of the globe! Despite the unfriendly name and appearance, the BCA is a force for peace, and ensures that all civilization within its jurisdiction shall remain unharmed against any and all threats!
Notice: Any accusations of ulterior motivation or alternate goals shall be seen as slander, and proper punishment shall befall the person(s) who pass the slander along through any media.

And while yeah, I'm not like anyone else in the army, it isn't that I'm useless. This was one of the two possible hideouts that the target could frequent, and as this is the smaller of the two areas, I was sent here by myself to keep an eye out for him! The Boos loves me, for whatever reason, so he tries to have me support to the best of my abilities!

(2/3)

Peapodd 2015/10/18(Sun)19:45 No. 677704 ID: f02a77
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Aaand HERE is my stuff! This is a solo lookout mission, so I wasn't able to bring much except for basic provisions. Food isn't a problem, since fruit is plentiful in this part of the jungles.

My weapon is the BCA™-brand Assault/Sniper Rifle. The barrel is capable of extending into a longer version that would befit a regular sniper rifle, but doesn't limit the user's ability in close-range combat by collapsing into a short-burst assault rifle too! How versatile! I also have a simple sleeping bag, a pouch of extra ammo, a handful of Sugar Beans, and a long-range walkie-talkie to signal back to base with.

And this orb...well, it hasn't helped me make any decisions yet, but all I've done is talk to it since it popped out last night, so I won't argue it with you! Speaking of you, I would bet that this orb is what brought you guys here. Up until now it hasn't done anything, but when I woke up I got this weird urge to just start talking. And once I did, I felt you guys here with me...somehow.

I'm not one to look a gifted wolf in the fangs, though. I'm thrilled to have company!

Can we see the Sugar Beans?

Your mission intel is too vague. Radio back to base and get information about the guy that you're supposed to arrest. Please don't talk about us, you don't want to be arrested.

we should wait until we so a cloaked guy and then call in for confirmation. rather then right now.

Peapodd 2015/10/18(Sun)20:27 No. 677720 ID: f02a77
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Sugar Beans; a helpful supply for any long stakeout! Each bean is filled with sweet, sugary juice (s'why it's called the Sugar Bean, of course), and a single bean can keep a person awake for up to five hours! Though I've used up most of mine already.
I haven't slept in days!

While I'm at it, I probably should get a recap from base. Wouldn't hurt, right?

-kssht!-
"Lieutenant Peapodd to base, Peapodd to base!
>"Heeey, Shortstack! How's the Solo?"
That'd be the Boss' second in command, B2.
"Well uh, kinda slow and boring. Also I haven't had any actual sleep since I got here so I kind of forgot WHY I'm here."
>"Again? Really, Peads?"
"I'll start sleeping once these beans stop being so tasty. Who am I looking out for again?"
>"Gahh, alright alright. So far there's been no concrete intel on him. The only description we have is that he has a purple cloak or hood or somethin' on at all times. He's never stuck around anywhere long for someone to get a good look at him. The guys up at The Dunes haven't seen him yet, either, so make sure you've got eyes on your place."
"Yessir! Hey, uhm...Why're we looking for this guy again?
...Hello? Peapodd to base?"

Huh. Must've hung up.

Peapodd 2015/10/18(Sun)21:26 No. 677737 ID: f02a77
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Of course, B2's right. I should be scoping things out instead of sitting around here any further. I don't have a map handy, but since I've been here for a while, I've made a mental one. Dunno how this works, but I'll think it up for you guys!

I'm currently in a tall outpost, cleverly disguised as one of the surrounding trees so as not to stand out. To the East is a great tree, one of the oldest and largest this side of the sea. It's hollowed out, probably due to some old rituals that used to take place, but it could be rotting on the inside.

To the South is an abandoned jail house. The Army used to use it for petty thieves that stuck to the back roads through the forest, but it's been forgotten once the neighboring villages left. It's a big space and safe from the weather, but only official Army personnel can get into it. Some sort of security.

Lastly, not too far from my outpost is an old entrance to the Underground - a series of shuttles that are open to the general public for fast transportation between BCA™ territories. That section is blocked up, but that's because of a collapse in the cave system below. If the target's found a way down there, it would be dark and dangerous.

Definitely one of these places has to be where he holes himself up whenever he's around here, but I haven't seen him come or go since I got here (about two days ago). So...I guess this is where that decision part of the weird orb-y thing comes into play!

Where should I look for him first? Of course, there's a chance I'll miss him if I leave the outpost for too long, but I have to find some clue of where his camp is, right?

try the other tree first. search the ground for footprints or the like.

Check the entrance of the tree first and then the underground. If you find signs he is in one of the places see if you can get backup since chasing people into buildings is more for infantry than snipers.

Peapodd 2015/10/19(Mon)16:37 No. 678039 ID: f02a77
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Okay, I guess the tree is the best place to start. It's towards the edge of the clearing, so I can work my way back to the outpost afterwards and search the other places in the meantime.

Shouldn't leave all of my stuff behind, though. I managed to tie my jacket into some sort of sack so that I can carry everything. I'll keep the orb - or you guys, not sure which pronoun you'd prefer! - into my sleeping bag so you/it doesn't break.

I'll also bring my walkie-talkie, even though it would take too long for any backup to arrive within a few hours. It'd take at least half the day for anybody to get up here.

Peapodd 2015/10/19(Mon)16:40 No. 678041 ID: f02a77
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Okay, a short walk later and I've made it to the Western side of the tree. Let's see...

There's a large part of the tree without bark, as if someone had peeled it off themselves. There's a hole that looks into the tree, but it's too dark to make anything out. Some writing is on the side of the tree as well, and some kind of fruit-bearing bush towards the other end. Nothing's really popping out that says 'vague-cloak-person-lives-here-sometimes' but a member of the Army never gives up easy!

So, what should I do first?

Apply EYES to WRITING.
Maybe toss us in the hollow in the tree? Do we glow? We glow sometimes.

Peapodd 2015/10/19(Mon)18:29 No. 678063 ID: f02a77
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Good idea, buuut you guys don't glow much. Ever since I hocked you up last night, the most you've glowed a dim blue-ish light. Barely half a foot around, if I had to guess. And I wouldn't be able to see into the hole if my arm's stuck through it! But hey, points for trying!

The writing seems to be carved into the tree itself, all blocky and lop-sided. It says:

For those who seek the end of the endless
Aim your heart to the heavens
And sling your hopes true

...I have no clue what that means, but it sure is a neat poem!

>>678063
It's a resistance poem. Probably a code for something; look up for something to shoot with your rifle.

look up for a switch.

Peapodd 2015/10/19(Mon)19:01 No. 678067 ID: f02a77
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Aha! There's some sort of hole waaay up there! It's too far to see if there's anything in it, but I fired anyways.

There's the sound of something falling over, and a distant ringing fills the air. I don't think that's a good sign.

>>678067
Hide.

>>678067
The ringing might be something to tell them to open the door?

Peapodd 2015/10/19(Mon)19:49 No. 678083 ID: f02a77
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Either way, hiding in the bushes seems to be the best course of action. My hat sticks out like a sore toe...Hey! This is a Tooth Fruit bush! I'll pocket a couple for later. Their seeds can make for great ammo if I ever run out.

Peapodd 2015/10/19(Mon)19:50 No. 678084 ID: f02a77
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The bark-less part of the tree seems to slide away, like it was a door, and out steps...

The guy in the cloak! Or uh, person. It might be something that's not a guy, it's hard to tell from this angle. They're holding out some sort of sword - rapier, I think? - but they aren't exactly holding it out so much as it's just floating out beside them. Freaky.

>>678084
That's the wrong color cloak though? Your boss said purple.

Well, step out and tell them to freeze anyway. Time to interrogate, find out where the real target is.

You're a soldier. Aim for the legs while they're standing still.

Alright, this probably isn't the way to do this, but I'm being dumb and don't really know how else TO do this. Figured I shouldn't just leave it to rot, anyways.

I know this just started and it barely got anywhere, but I feel that I should end it before it actually does go anywhere. I'm not nearly at the level of skill I want to be to portray this the right way - and I know it's stupid to assume that the art quality is that important - but with this idea of mine, I just can't see it being done the way I want it to be done with what little experience I have.

So uh, thanks to the 3 or 4 others who were vaguely interested in this. At least I got a taste of Questing and was able to figure out how most of it works. I won't give up with /quest/ altogether, of course. Just, shelving this for a later date. Hopefully.

Unless this isn't cool at all and I can punished because of it or something. I can never tell what's the right thing to do in forums like this one.

>>678408
Look, just come back to it later. Maybe next year, maybe in a decade, but just try not to leave it in the graveyard. If you have to end it abruptly, so be it. But we'd like to know when you think that it's done for good.

>>678409
If I ever do end up returning to this, I would probably start it differently than it started now. But I'm not sure. This isn't really the place to talk about it, I don't want to clutter /quest/ up with this kinda chatter.