You are Lorinda de Lindan, Princess, Inquisitor, and soon-to-be Tournament Champion! Well, not really, for you see the Inquisition is sending you into the Grand Tournament of Bloodgrave’s Fall as an agent to see if any otherworldly Strangers from the wicked and barbarous dimension of Earth sneak in to gain lands and glory right from under your father’s nose. Regretfully, the Inquisition has banned you from seeking victory as once your analysis of the competition is complete, it will be time to make a dramatic exit fitting of your desire to be the tournament’s underdog hero. Currently, there is a mere 14 days before the preliminary rounds begin for the duels where you shall compete. Now if only you knew the best way to prepare…Archive: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=The%20Isekai%20Inquisition
>>6322099The public grounds of Lord Fortuen the Unfortunate are a good place to clear your head, especially after days spent doing nothing but your superior's paperwork. The grounds themselves are comprised of a few acres of preserved gardens and forest that was once the Fortuen estate; however, after the impotent Lord died without children, he organized a knightly order to maintain and defend his lands. Seeing as mere peasants bump into you during your stroll, Fortuen’s Order has not done a very good job of it. Though after a few days of doing nothing but sort through and summarize papers, even relaxing near lowlife refuse is almost an appealing thought. Though that brings you to why you’re here. While you've never been particularly devout other than what is required of your station, as all of noble blood must be Goddess-loving to set an example for the peasantry, the thought of a simple prayer leading to an end of your troubles is an exceptional one—a bargain of which Cathrine would no doubt have taken in a heartbeat. So, as you find a spot near the river, you kneel down, clutch your fingers, and- is that Asher? Your eyes narrow as you look at your summer mentor sitting on a bench with a well-dressed blonde woman. Your eyes narrow further- no, it's not Alyssa. Also, why is Asher drinking to blazenly in public? At noon no less. Was your impression of him wrong? No, that can't be you, you’re excellent at reading people. You must investigate this.“You’re drunk.” “Thanks, detective, you really earn your pay.” Asher’s snidely remarks.The woman next to him nearly leaps from her seat and between you two, “I'm really sorry about Oliver! We'll move if he's disturbing you.”“It's barely past noon. Is this any time to be drinking?”“Come on, Oliver, let’s-”“And what would you know about day drinking in a public park, kid? Hey wait, you got any cigarettes?” “You know for a fact I don’t know what that is.” Asher mock eye rolls, “Worth a shot.”“Oliver, you can't just-” “Pah! What's it to ya?!” He overplays his drunkenness as he slaps his girlfriend(?)’s shoulder.“Why are you here, Asher?”“Oliver lets- Uh, Wha- do you know each other?”“Why, I’m just spending some good bonding time with the lads- er, lad.” “Can't tell me?”“You know the answer to that, Lorina. Honestly, I should be asking what you’re doing here, Princess.” “Wait Lorina? You’re a princess?!”“Wait Lad? You’re a guy?”“H-huh? W-wait, Y-your Highness, I’m so sorry I didn’t- I should’ve-!” The “lad” says as he stumbles to perform a rather subpar bow.“Who is this?” You say, completely disregarding his effort at subservience.“Why, that would be Inquisitor Siegvald you’re pointing at. I’m currently mentoring him, seeing as he’s got quite a bit to learn about working in these areas.” “I thought you didn't have a habit of taking apprentices.”
>>6322100“First, he’s not an apprentice. Second, Tell that to the Lord Inquisitor. He said you were such a success, he's going to shackle more unfortunate souls to me.”“My success was born from my own abilities.” You state that you are not willing to give the current town drunk a compliment. “That's what I've been telling him!”“Wait, Sir? You really did teach Her Royal Highness?” Siegvald inquires.“Huh, wait, dude, you didn't believe me?! Douchebag.“I would have thought it'd have been a rather large rumor at least.”“I- er, sorry?” he says with the kind of expression someone in one of Marie’s books would make, “I’m usually not in places where the news or rumors regularly flow.”“Could’ve at least have taken my word for it..”You nod you did notice that most reports involving this Inquisitor were from rural parts of the country, “Right, the case of the possessed child was rather recent, and Halfwater is quite away from things.” Siegvald's eyes widen in shock, “You know about that?” Again, you nod but don't elaborate. It's better for you if he constructed an elaborate caricature of you in his head than to admit you’ve been reading the Inquisition’s reports as homework. “I've actually been curious about that case. Though I suppose my question applies to Asher as well. How does the Inquisition handle children who are suspected of being Strangers?”Asher's eyes dart to a far corner of the garden, “Damn, Lorina. Fucked up thing to ask without any warning.”“Siegvald, your mission involved one, did it not?”“Y-yeah, but it was pretty obvious she was possessed by the time I got there. By then, the elder in her body turned the house into the scene of a massacre. Some of the local clergy even got caught up in the mess when they tried to perform an exorcism for a ghost instead of a Stranger.” He shudders as he speaks, “I tried not to harm her too much since the Stranger used the fact she was still, well, inside her body against us, but-” “There’s no need to go any further. That’s all I wanted to know, thank you.” You say, as it is probably best you don’t force a man to relive his recent blood-soaked past. You’ve learned this is a sore topic for some people, though you’re not exactly sure why. You’ve seen people explode in front of your eyes and you have turned out fine.He takes a deep breath, “No, it's fine. I was able to use some of the scattered blood and parts he left around, along with the pantry's salt, to complete a purifying ritual. But should I not have had the knowledge to- well…” He trails off.“His next best move would have been to kill the child, taking the Stranger along with her.” Asher finishes. “You've already been told all the freedoms we have with dealing with nobility before, right? The same privileges apply when dealing with all manner of people. Sure, most of us aren't heartless monsters or bloodthirsty maniacs, well, at least one of us isn't.” “Thank you.”
>>6322101“Whatever. All of it is up to the Inquisition's own knowledge and initiative. I know of a case where Lord Beneger simply grabbed a child from his home because his parents reported him as ‘too gifted,’ and well, he was never heard from again.” An Ironic example considering you’re hearing this from the child himself. But that's your question answered, more or less. “One more thing I wish to ask, do you know of an Inquisitor Leontine?”Asher groans, “I don't want to talk about her. Siegvald, you do it.”“Um, but I don't know that much? I hear she's a pretty capable Inquisitor and a real ‘old guard’ if you well.” *Snrk* “Yeah, she’s old all right.”“She's hunted down quite a few Strangers, so that's a testament to her skills, I think. She's also known as the ‘Lioness’ because of her skills-”“Because her name sounds like Lion, that's why. Look, Lorina, she's about as pure as a puritan gets. If you think everyone is a Stranger like she does, you’re bound to find at least a few. Been trying to get her off my ass for years. Unluckily, she's spending some leave in the Capital right now, so the chances I bump into her aren't zero.”“If you try to avoid her so much, then you should at least know where she's staying.” “Yeah, west side of the city. If you know where the Ravenett Estate is, it’s near there. She lives in the building with the tower. Good luck if you’re trying to find her, though not that I envy you, especially because she no doubt knows your reputation.”“My reputation?” Is he talking about the results of the Honor Duel?“Lorina, you were bunkmates with Marie. You can put together the pieces.” Ah. “Ah.” While you've never officially interacted with the “factions” of the Inquisition, there is no doubt most would label you as a “radical” one who works with Strangers instead of executing them. Though you don't doubt the “puritans” would love a chance to try and convert you to their side, you are, after all, Lorina de Lindan, the Kingdom’s Princess. “I see, thank you both,” you say with a curtsy, causing Siegfried to have another near-panic for courtly manner and Asher to shrug you off and take another gulp from one of these bottles.>”Though I still wish to discuss…” [Write-in]>Though you need to finally pray>Though now you plan to seek out Inquisitor Leontine>[Write-in]
>>6322102>Though now you plan to seek out Inquisitor Leontine
>>6322102>Though you need to finally prayIf we're here anyway
>>6322102>>Though now you plan to seek out Inquisitor Leontine
>>6322102>Though you need to finally prayMight as well if we’re here already
>>6322102>Though you need to finally prayWelcome back, OP.
>>6322102>Though you need to finally pray
4 to Pray 2 to Greet more coworkersWriting (Well, written).
>>6322456You bid the Inquisitors adieu before finding yourself a nice and secluded part of the park to kneel and pray. You are very methodical about the process, and there is a decent chance the Lord Inquisitor has some way to tell if you do it properly or not. So why risk your chances of not having to finish the paperwork by slacking off? You’re not that type of person, unlike some you know. So with careful precision, you clasp your hands, close your eyes, and part your lips, “O’ Goddess-”As you say the prayer, you tune out the world around until you can hear nothing else but the calmly flowing river and rustle of leaves just starting to turn color. Even your own voice is drowned out by the all-consuming void of nothingness, though it is not an unpleasant feeling, as a gentle warmth flows through your mana circuits and you continue to pray. You feel invigorated, powerful, yet not powerful enough to challenge the great being near you. Nor are you powerful enough to escape the cage keeping you contained. Wait, what?Your body is sent flying back and forth as the birdcage is rocked with extreme malice. The being, Dorothy, isn’t it? Seems to be bearing a grudge, though she says nothing as you send careening from metal bar into metal bar. It is painful, but not. Your bruises are immediately healed, and you find the whole ordeal to be little more than an annoyance. As of this moment, you are powerful, but it is not your power. Someone else is flooding mana through you, keeping you alive and sane, but denying you your right to handle your own problems. Annoying.You cannot see nor hear the second presence, your benefactor, and no doubt the little girl with blonde hair and an ego the size of the planet. But you can feel her presence, and you can feel her fighting with Dorothy over your cage. Your eyes remain closed; they won’t let you, a mere puppet, even witness them. Annoying. Then, as you're thrown back and forth and back again, something breaks. It’s no surprise that when beings of immense magical power fight, things are bound to break, even if they’re only a singular bar. “This way, follow me!” A little girl shouts, “Sister, please!”“Dammit, stay put! If I’m to build Utopia, I need-”“Just run, Ina!”The voices demand and plead, though it is not your ears that hear them. Though you know if you’re going to do something, it needs to happen now.>Follow the voice of Alice to a land far, far away>Stay in your cage for at least Dorothy is honest in her intentionsBut that’s not all, is there? You sit high above the land, floating in a balloon made of hot air. You could always reject them both, refuse their power and their decrees. It would be a hard path, no doubt, one where even answers would be a luxury. But it would be your choice.>Fall
>>6322457Alice only barely wins for me, but I’m still not happy that they’re throwing Lorina in this mess with no advice or backstory.>”No answers, no explanations, just both of you trying to use me as a vessel for what you want for your playroom with no care for how I feel! Sisters or whatever the hell you two are, you both are awful brats and deserve each other! NOW GET OUT OF THIS STORY AND GO BACK TO YOUR OWN!!!”
>>6322474Oh, and if the vote wasn’t clear, I’m for following Alice for right now, because while she may be a brat, she didn’t stuff us in a cage. So that gives her five minutes to make a pitch.
>>6322457>Fall
>>6322457>>Stay in your cage for at least Dorothy is honest in her intentions
>>6322457>FallSolo ending
>>6322457>Follow the voice of Alice to a land far, far awayI want answers god damn.
>>6323169I am swapping to Alice, we'll go option 3 later if we can.
>>6322476>>6323221>>6323690Alice>>6322945Dorothy>>6322580Lorina Writing
>>6324392Really, is it even close? When your choices are between a deceitful manipulator, an abusive captor, and falling to an unfortunate doom, you’re going to choose the one who is most likely to keep you alive. So as you feel the barrier surround you, break, you run as you have never run before, towards the power suffused with warmth. It feels as if you’re leaping from the moon towards the sun, and despite the moon's best efforts to hold you back, it cannot compete with the combined force of you and Alice. It’s only natural that the choice you make leads you down the correct path, for it is your choice and you are always right. Even if it leads to indescribable pain as your body is torn between two entities of monstrous power. It hurts.It hurts a lot.Then, the feeling of being torn apart is gone. You feel normal, other than the harsh lights that force your closed eyes open. You make a rather ignoble face as your body adapts to many new sensations. The place you’ve found yourself in is alien, smelly, loud, and quite yellow. A stained, and moist (ew), carpet cradles your back before you stand and look around. As you do so, you notice that something is deeply wrong with this place. Very deeply wrong. A sea of yellow is laid out before your eyes, or well, it would be if not for the mad layout of disjointed walls and doorways. Somehow, you’ve managed to find yourself in a labyrinth that only the most insane of wizards could imagine. As the fog of your mind vanishes, you begin to process what just happened to you and come to the quick realization that this must be a dream; your body is likely still in the public grounds. Naturally, you pinch yourself. Unnaturally, you don’t wake up. Ah. That is not good. Your next move is to check your gear, and thankfully, not a single one of your hidden weapons has gone missing, so at the very least, no wizard has robbed you during your slumber, nor has Alice or Dorothy disarmed you. Both would have been a shame to your honor, which is currently only slightly, very slightly mind you, tarnished. Well, whatever it is you need to be is not here, so you pick a direction and walk. …How long has it been? Hours? Days? Months? Years? Well, no. You’ve counted to about 761 in your head, so however long that is. You’re not sure you’ve made much progress, as all the “rooms” and corridors are so strikingly similar, with only a few devices, Strangetech most likely, that are scattered throughout. You turned a dial on one, and it clicked and created a blue fire under some metal bars, most definitely Strangetech. Just where the hell has Alice brought you?Did she even bring you? Or is this? No, it’s probably best not to ponder that, not while you’re currently in hostile(?) territory. You sniff the air. No, this is definitely hostile territory, at least to your senses. But how is it that you’ll get out of it?
>>6324395>Keep walking in a random direction>Call out to Alice>Try to find a magical signature to follow>[Write-in]
>>6324398>Try to find a magical signature to follow
>>6324398Did she really backrooms us? After we gave her a chance? Wow, see if we do that again.>Dig through a wall
>>6324398>Try to find a magical signature to follow>”Hello? Are there any other protagonists from books written by people from outside my reality out there? Preferably someone that doesn’t speak in riddles or plan to break my reality into pieces to rule it, please!”>Cthulhu stalks back to his prison grumbling about beggars and choosers
>>6324398>>Try to find a magical signature to follow
>>6324835>>6324912>>6324590>>6324399Basically, all vote to gaze into the backroom's magic though >>6324419 isn't exactly opposite of that
>>6326058Despite the minuscule, yet lingering, fear that if you close your eyes, you'll find yourself in an altogether different place, you do so. In the middle of a strange room, you sit cross-legged and perform a motion that is not dissimilar from prayer, only instead, your concentration is on your mana and the magic around you, rather than reciting verses ingrained in your memory. Then your eyes shoot open, and as you fall, you fall with the most outrageous of headaches. Sure, you understood something was wrong here, of course it is, this place looks like where you imagined Asher lived on Earth, but now you understand this place is wrong. The mana scattered through the air resembles more a storm than the tranquil floating dandelion petals that you’re used to. As you work your way through the pain, you try to make sense of the convoluted maze of magic this place has. Maybe that's why you felt ill here, not from the stench or moist air but from your mana interacting with what is floating around.You stumble to your feet and begin walking. Despite your only brief glimpse into the void, you thought you saw at least something different. And you have the feeling the sooner you’re out of here, the better. Just where the hell even are you? Dammit, if you stumble upon any more critters that speak in nothing but verse, you swear it will be the last rhyme they ever make. By the time your head is clear, you’re in a completely new place. Not that you can actually tell, seeing as this whole building(?) looks the same, but you are intelligent enough to understand you’re in a new place. It takes about an hour for your head to clear up, right? That's how long it felt like. Has it been an hour? Surely, something would have happened by then, no? Something is going to happen, right?Right?You'll keep walking just in case, keep following the glint of golden mana you glimpsed in the sea of chaos. Surely, this is where you are supposed to go.Surely, once you get there, something will happen.Surely, you’re not alone here. Maybe there'll be a big monster you have to fight!Or a Stranger, that's what you do now, fight Strangers.Ah, maybe this is a Cheat Skill! Where a Stranger put you in a prison.Or wouldn't it be that Alice put you in prison? Surely, she didn't, right? You have way more use than just being discarded! Everybody knows this! Alice must be watching you right now, toying with you even. Someone has to be watching you.You can't be alone here. After all, you've already had to sleep thrice, there's no way a place like this could just be empty.Oh, you're probably wondering how you haven't had to eat anything, right? Of course, you'd be thinking that. It doesn't make sense to stay alive and not eat, doesn't it? Well, the answer is. Pause for dramatic effect. It is! The answer is! The paint is peeling on that wall. That's new, right? Isn't that interesting?
>>6326060Your mace is excellent at smashing through walls. Maybe if you dig through enough of them, you'll find treasure-*VROOOM* A thunderous noise snaps your attention to the roof. The fluorescent lights up there hurt your eyes. Thankfully, someone is kind enough to shut them off by driving a vehicle that would only slightly have looked out of place in the Metal Castle through the roof and crashing into the ground. Wait, no. It only blocked the light, seeing as when the vehicle falls to the ground, both the light and the roof it came careening out of are still intact. Damn.It's an awkwardly long time before you realize you should probably check on what just crashed through the ceiling instead of staring at the ceiling for a minute. It's probably just due to how much time you've spent here. Obviously, you can't be blamed for a slight error of judgment. Surely.“N-no I- I didn't mean to! No, please!” Frantic sobs resound through the corridor as one of the broken vehicle's doors opens and a small woman falls out. She’s covered in blood as broken glass protrudes from her body, though that doesn't seem to be why she's crying. Perhaps that may be due to the blood that was already on the front of the vehicle when it fell from the ceiling. “No, this can't be happening! This isn't happening! I didn't- I couldn't- Please, forgive me!” The woman shouts to herself and no one else. That is, until she sees you, which is when her horror turns to confusion, “C-cosplay? Wait, no, please, you have to help me! I didn't mean to hit him- I wasn't looking- please, you have to help-” That is, until she is interrupted most coldly.“You’re not supposed to be here.” An authoritative voice says. “Leave.” And like that, you get one last look at the pure horror on the woman's face before any evidence she was ever before you vanishes. Instead of looking at a broken hunk of metal and a sobbing wreck, you see a little blond woman wearing a blue dress. Alice stands before you. Your hand moves to grab the hilt of your blade.>Who are you?>What are you?>Where did you send her?>What do you want from me?>Go to hell.
>>6326063“I'm sure you have many questions.”“A bit of an understatement.”“Well, before anything else, I'd like to inform you that I've succeeded in hiding you away from that American Harpy.”>Your Mental Corruption has reset to 0%“I hardly even know what that means.”“You know enough, I would think. Though perhaps not as much as I would like. No, definitely not as much as I would like. Do you know where we are?”You make a face.“We're at the edge of the world, sis. We used to play here, you know?” She seems sad as she says that.“Like I would ever believe such an obvious lie.”“No, perhaps I was wrong to think you were still in there, Lorina.” She sighs before composing herself. “I'm sorry.” Her eyes look moist.“For what? Exactly?”“What you've been put through. I thought- I thought a lot of things. Like you'd remember, but now I see I was wrong, and I'm sorry for assuming.” “Remember what exactly? What are you talking about?”“Are you sure you even want to know? You have a tournament to prepare for, don't you? There's a lot going on in your life, and all of this,” she gestures around her to the strange world you’re in, “Doesn't- shouldn't need to concern you. You've no attachments to me, Dorothy, anything that would make you need to deal with our old problems. If you want, I can send you back to where you were, and we can depart as nothing but strangers to one another. You'll get to live your life, fulfill your own goals, of which you’re more than capable of, and never need to worry about anything more than that.”>No, I want- I demand answers>Send me back, I never wish to gaze upon you again
>>6326064>No, I want- I demand answers
>>6326064>>Send me back, I never wish to gaze upon you again
>>6326063>YES. (Basically everything)>>6326064>No, I want- I demand answers>”You’re from that book I read, that much I know. But you act less like your depiction in it and more like the people you saw there. What happened?”>”And why be so cruel to whoever that was? I was terrified when I first came here, and I’m closer to your reality than she is to yours. I can’t help but feel bad for her, it’s scary to be whisked away without answers.”>”Please, at least promise me that you’ll try next time. I have a feeling that I’ll have to deal with her later, and I’d like to not have to hurt her, regardless of what she did.”
>>6326064>No, I want- I demand answersNo living in ignorance for us.
>>6326064>No, I want- I demand answers>You do remember the world I live in has problems with people getting possessed by two types of otherworldly entities, right? I’m literally coworkers with one.>”You’re from that book I read, that much I know. But you act less like your depiction in it and more like the people you saw there. What happened?”
>>6326064>>No, I want- I demand answers
>>6326081>>6326098>>6326117>>6326208>>6326805Most to learn knowledge you can't unlearn
>>6326916“You’ve got a look in your eyes. Don’t even have the decency to quit, do you?”“Quitting isn’t something I’m known to do. Will you answer my questions?”She shrugs her shoulders, “Maybe.”“What did you do to that woman?”“I sent her far away. Not anywhere dangerous, mind you, but no extra luxury than what she’ll already gain from being a ‘Stranger.’ Ah, perhaps you will have to deal with her in the future? I doubt that will be a normal confrontation.”You nod your head, can’t really expect anything else from a question like that. Now to go for the kill, “You’re from a book, aren’t you? ‘Alice in Wonderland’ is its name. Though I can’t say you act similarly to the character in that. Well, other than you’re a brat-”“Pfft-!” You expected many things to happen when you brought out this card, such as perhaps shock or even awe. What you did not expect was for the little girl to almost keel over laughing, “Hahaha! You actually found that thing! How’d you even get your hands on it?”“The Inquisition-”“No, that’s rhetorical. Just didn’t expect you’d actually go out and do that.” “Was I not supposed to?”“It’s kind of embarrassing, you know? To have a ‘stranger’ reading a book written about you when you were still a child. Though I guess I should be used to that.”“It was written about you? What do you mean? Are you a-”“Stranger? I suppose I never formally introduced myself, did I?” She performs a mock bow. “Greeting, my name is Alice Liddell; I’m from Oxford, England.” I was born in the year of our Lord 1852. I like to play pretend, read, and explore realities outside of our own.”“The hell?”“Not exactly,” She says as she dramatically prances around the room, inspecting the most minute of details. A shocking display of aloofness, you should write notes. “I wasn’t lying when I said this is the edge of the world, you know? If you walk far enough from Lindan in a straight line, you’ll eventually get here. It doesn’t even matter which direction you go!”“No, that can’t possibly be true. Past Lindan, there’s the Merchant Provinces, the Demon Wastes, the Empire of Hemreich, the Kingdom of-” “And what’s past those?”“Well, there is…”“Further.”“That would be…”“Your head's starting to hurt, isn’t it?”“I- what? No, we just haven’t had the need to go that far. Everything is in Lindan. Everything we need to live a good life.”“There’s plenty who would disagree.”“Well, the poor are always complaining you simply can’t get them an inch or-”“I’m not speaking about them, you classist. I’m talking about the people who come from reality, from the real world. Earth.”“So that is it! You’re a Stranger! You have been all along! This must be your Cheat Skill then, uh, Godly Power or something.”
>>6326919“Sometimes I really do wonder if there’s anything in that head of yours. Of course, I’m a ‘Stranger’, I’m the first human to ever set foot in this pocket dimension. All because I chased a rabbit down its hole and fell out of reality.” You shut up and let her speak. “And I kept coming back and forth between this dimension and Earth, each time bringing something new in, like my family and my friends. And every time I did the pocket dimension, I found it got just a little bit bigger. Each time the dimension changed just a little bit, too, I think it liked having humans in it like a dream enjoys playing with the thoughts of its host. Wonderland, as we called it in the Liddell family, likes to twist and bend to grant our desires. Well, the desires of whoever fell into it, seeing as it wasn’t too long until we fed it enough of our time and dreams for it to grow large enough that other people could fall in. Dorothy, Jack the Ripper, Abigail Williams, Robin Hood, Frederick Barbarossa, the Knights Templar. People from all across time and space, without rhythm or reason, the dimension took as many souls as it could and grew so deep from their hopes and desires that we could no longer reach the way out.”“You’re lying. That can’t possibly be true. That this world is just a- just a dumping ground for Earthen barbarian?! No, we have thousands of years of history, culture, civilization! Does that mean nothing?”“You’re not exactly refuting my point, Lorina.”“What?”“Wonderland does not care for reason, though it does care for rhythm; it seeks to provide its people, many of whom are now naturally born, with everything we created on Earth. Actions, drama, love, fear, hatred, Wonderland loves it just as much as we do and will break any law of reality to provide it. You could almost call it magical in a way. Although it does enforce a few select rules to prevent the average person from seeing through its veil. I’m sure you’ve already come across them in your studies and adventures, lack of teleportation for one, and only someone with what’s now known as a Cheat Skill can play with time.”“...You speak as though this ‘Wonderland’ is alive.”“I think it is, in a way. Not like you or I, but it has desires, wants, needs, and seeing as I should be one of the foremost authorities on this subject, I think I know exactly what it wants.”“...”“Wonderland loves humanity, in all our flawed glory, and seeks to create a world that’s perfect for us. It’s a flawed mess I’ll readily admit, though despite being an afterlife for some, I wouldn’t go so far as to call this place Hell, though it isn’t Heaven either.”“...”“...”“...”>[Write-in]
>>6326920>Go mad from the revela->Wait, no. First ask why we don't get Cheat Skills. Checkmate, Alice!
>>6326920>”Does that mean I might be fictional in some way? Do the people who fall in here become fictional, because an author or playwright created a protagonist who just fit their ideal, or are they still them?”>”Is there a place to sit here? I’m kind of getting overwhelmed with the theological implications…”>”…I’m sorry that I’m not your sister. I can at least understand why you were so interested in me now.”
Also, I’m just imagining Will Ferrell in a grey suit just sitting at a desk trying to parse what the hell it would mean for him/his character in “Stranger than Fiction”.
>>6326932Gah, more questions I just thought up…>”So the people you met while traveling… I think I met them? At least that infuriating cat, or an aspect of him, anyways. I wanted to train under him for the contest, but he insisted on me coming here…”>”So, Dorothy is from a similar situation, but why is she… her? And does she have companions like your story did? Do they even agree with her plans of utopia?”>”If I am a character in a story of some sort, could you tell my creator they have some explaining to do? Particularly the Semesters End Ball? Or is that something that’s beyond you or me?“Also, holy shit, while typing this, I came to two realizations:1)Alyssa is just the Greek way of saying Alice.2)Asher's the Tin Woodsman. He requires "lubericant" (booze) and is an accomplished outdoorsman.
>>6327016FUCKING HELL ANOTHER POSSIBLE LINK>Asher had Alyssa confess to him, but turned it down. The Tin Man goes to Oz to get a heart!>Asher is familiar with a "Lion", Inquisitor Leontine, who I had suspicions earlier in the previous thread might have been embellishing her record of stranger identification, thus making her a sort of coward.
>>6326925Had another realization. Lorina DOES have a Cheat Skill. We just never used it the two times we could have. And I bet it'll be based on either the Queen of Hearts or the Red Queen character.
>>6327387Elaborate
>>6327388So, remember when Lorina got blown up by that robot in the second thread? The choices were>Die [Unlocks Asher’s midmission epilogue: Try Again]and>Resist [HIGH MENTAL CORRUPTION INCREASE]I'm betting that if we chose Resist, we could have either been supercharged by Alice, thus being powered up by a Stranger to stave off death, or we would have activated our own Cheat Power, which, assuming how Alice was originally thinking Lorina was her sister, might have been pulled from one of the Wonderland stories.It happened again during the finale of the Bloodgrave arc, where Lorina was burning the forest, where she hit her limit on mana and passed out. The choices were>So you force yourself to get up, but where is this extra strength coming from?and>And you know you always have Marie at your back, she’ll figure something outAgain, willing to bet the first choice would be either getting mana channeled to us, or us hitting our Godzilla mode button. Although, after drinking some water after work, I'm starting to think the mana channeling is a more likely answer now, seeing as Alice probably did it when she helped us escape...
>>6326920>”If this world truly loves us why did it let the mechanical Stranger commit such atrocities?”
>>6327444>>6327016>>6326932>>6326925Writing something I hope can answer all of these
>>6329369“...The hell are you trying to say? What are you trying to imply!? That I’m a Stranger, you sister fictional?! What the hell?!”“According to what I’ve been hearing, you’re just an ordinary girl-”“Don’t try and mock me. Besides, I’m far from ordinary.”“Right, sure, whatever. You’re just a not ordinary ‘princess’ from the Dark Ages with no biological or spiritual relation to me or anyone else from Earth.”“But is that the truth?”“No, couldn’t be further from it.” She laughs, “But it’s what you want to believe, no?” You bite your tongue. Infuriating.“But what about you then? You said the book that I read with you in it was written-”She rolls her eyes, “Right, you’re still on that old thing? Our- My tutor as a child, Mr. D, or Lewis Carroll, as you might see penned on the book, used to tell me a bunch of stories. In turn, I told him all about what I got up to here,” She flaps her arms up and down gesturing to everything, Then, one day he got the bright idea to put them all in a book all. It would seem he did quite well for himself after the fact seeing as Strangers from centuries past my time know if it. But really, all it is is just that. It’s a book written about what I’d tell him of here mixed with some colorful nonsense of his overactive imagination, in order to make a children's story out of it.”“Is there more to that story?”“Indeed, there’s quite a lot more.”“...”“...”“Are you going to tell me?”“Hmm, I don’t know. I’m not sure if you’d wish to learn it or not.” What’s with this brat?! You just said you did!Fine, best not to press. Yet. “So the book was written about here? What about some of the characters? Like the cat? I believe I know the cat.”She sighs and runs a hand down her face, “Much as I hate to admit it, you likely do. For as long as I’ve known this place, it’s never been exactly empty. I didn’t exactly crawl in right when the dimensions was born? Created? Whatever, as far as I know it at least had some access to humans. Maybe our emotions, dreams, or even the collective unconsciousness if you want to get Jungian about it. Honestly, I really don’t know, but it made- Well, it tried it’s best at emulating us. Even if they did seem like mockeries at the time. And I wouldn’t doubt that some of the most annoying of which have found ways to stick around longer than they should have.”“Before I- Called out to you, I suppose. The cat wanted me to pray and I believe I now have enough evidence to say that what he meant for me to do is pray to- Well-”“To me? Are you trying to suggest that I am the Goddess of this world?”You do not want to admit anything of the like, but you are smart enough to pick up the pieces. The Goddess once descended to this world from afar, bringing light and warmth to it and the people already present before creating the human race. It doesn’t match everything, and there are doctrines and tenets that-
>>6329393“Do I look like a God to you?” She says with an expression too smug.“At least, I’ve never seen a mana signature like yours before.” You answer.“So divinity means power to you? All it takes for you to consider something divine is for it to be suitably strong enough?”“Well, what else could godhood mean? Of course, you have to be the strong being around to be a God; it is simple logic.”For some reason, she laughs like she’s in on a joke you’re not. “Fair enough, believe what you will then.” *cough* simpleton *cough*“What was that?!”“Please, just remember that I am not omnipotent or am I omnipresent. Nor do I much care for the meaningless drivel of this dimension's day-to-day. I have bigger concerns to be worried about.”“But ever since you… woke up? A few months ago?” She doesn’t correct you, “You’ve been pestering me nonstop.” “I’ve been pestering you. Do you really think any others have enjoyed such a luxury?” “Dorothy?”She makes a face that quite suits a little girl, for it is similar to when a parent tries to get one to eat vegetables instead of simply desserts. Though you wouldn’t know from personal experience, for you’ve never had such an issue. Never. “Certainly, you can think of another topic?”“Indeed, I can. You say this world loves us, no? Then why would it allow Strangers to commit such atrocities as I’ve seen? It is not like my world is one that is free of conflict and fear.”“Did you catch me saying this world was perfect? Thought not. Just like how humans are not perfect. We’re a messy species, you know? You’ve likely heard tales of the wars of Earth, how we’ve been destroying our planet through our machinery, and of our general barbarism. This world does not even hate that part of us; it merely wishes to embrace us whole. I doubt this dimension would allow for a world free of pain and suffering unless we are the ones to make it.”“Then the Cheat Skills? Are they a way of ensuring our pain for the sake of creating a world free of it?”“Let me answer your question with another, Lorina. Would you be willing to pack your bags, permanently wish your friends and family goodbye, and move to another kingdom never to return home?”“No. At least not anymore.” Your eyes avoid hers.“Was there something that could have persuaded you to do so?” You open your mouth, “Don’t answer, it’s rhetorical. Because I already know what there has to be. Everybody has an incentive they’d like more than anything else. And I believe many would not wish to sacrifice their life to live somewhere completely new while losing all contact with the old. But what if this sacrifice granted extraordinary power? Power over life, death, or whatever it is that is closest to your heart? Powers of perversion, time, heroism, or even industry. That would make the transition to a new life much easier, don’t you think?”
>>6329394“So they’re just an incentive?! Just something to make Strangers happy?!”Alice shrugs, “I think so,” She shrugs, “But I can’t say for sure. I’m not the one granted them, after all.”A growl of frustration escapes you, “Fine, then what about-”“Ah, ah, I believe that’s all the time we’ve got. Beings I believe you’d rather not have to deal with should have tracked me down by now. Shall we speak again, Lorina?” She says as she holds out her hand, “Perhaps, I can persuade you a little bit more in the future to see my side of things? Regardless, I’ll send you back in just a second.”>Shake her hand>Refuse
>>6329395>>Refuse
>>6329395>”…alright. At the very least, we can agree that Dorothy is a problem, and that the cat is an ass.”>Shake her hand
>>6329395>Shake her hand
>>6329395>Refuse
>>6329395>Shake her handWe may have not liked the message, but as far as we can tell she was straight with us. Wonder what her goals are with this world being the way it is.
>>6330228>>6329445>>63305763 to shake, just barely beating the 2 to refuse. Writing
>>6331072>Your mental corruption has not risen. You walk your own pathThe moment your hand shakily reaches out and grasps the soft fingers of the blonde girl, you’re gone. Well, gone isn’t exactly the proper term; you’re back more or less to where you started. You open your eyes to the sounds of a few children playing tag. The dwarf child seems to be having trouble catching up to the human and elf, though, stubbornly, he doesn’t look deterred. Sites like these are common to see around the royal capital. Still, as your eyes follow the children playing by the river, you’ve never felt more alien. You imagine it is a feeling many strangers get when coming to this world for the first time. You turn around and see Asher still idly chatting with the other inquisitor. Not much time has passed then. Despite this, you find yourself to be rather sore from walking for what felt like days, but it’s nothing that some stretches won’t sort out. So you do so. By the time you’ve gathered a sufficient number of onlookers to be annoying, you decide it’s best to depart. You can only handle so much of random people discussing matters such as “power-ranking” and debating the drama around you, seemingly not understanding that you can hear everything they say but are merely polite enough not to comment, even to the more degenerate passersby.There are 14 days until the preliminary rounds beginYou can perform one more action today>Go to the Lord Inquisitor>Speak with someone else [Who?]>Seek out Inquisitor Leontine>Head back home to physically train>[Write-in]
>>6331077>Seek out Inquisitor Leontine
>>6331077>Go to the Lord Inquisitor>Lorina kicks open the Lord Inquisitor’s office doors>”Who in the red hell is Dorothy and what book can I learn her weaknesses in?”
>>6331077>>Seek out Inquisitor Leontine
>>6331077>Seek out Inquisitor LeontineThe lion>You can only handle so much of random people discussing matters such as “power-ranking” and debating the drama around youOh god not the power scaler plague. Yet another way Earth has corrupted this pure world.
>>6331079>>6331568>>63318593 to go visit The Lion>>63311371 to report backWriting.
>>6333310“The building with the tower,” really doesn't give this place justice. It’s much easier to say that the building is a tower, and with its placement at the furthest edge of the city bounds, it makes for a rather lonely sight. The Ravenetts prefer to keep their grounds mostly clear of human residency, except for what is strictly necessary. Granted, this makes more sense, given that the House is a family of beastfolk and not humans. It’s commonly said beastfolk gain much more value from untouched nature, similarly to how humans gain value from fire and steel. Regardless, the tower has a bell by the door, and with how much of a walk over here burning any more of the remaining daylight would be suboptimal for your training. So you ring it.You see a blind opening near the top of the structure before you hear someone racing down a set of stairs and the sounds of about 13 locks being opened. Nevertheless, after a good minute of waiting, the door creaks open to the sight of an older woman, whose mane and tail have almost entirely grayed. Though like Lord Beneger, age has not seemed to dull her senses or maneuverability, though perhaps it's caused the scowl on their faces. “Lorina de Lindan.” She says.“That is I,” you say, really just to say something. Was that a question she asked? Perhaps a comment-She sighs deeply before coming back from the doorway, “Come in, child. You must have had it rough coming here.” Like you wouldn't believe.You nod, and as you sit on a rickety wooden chair in her cluttered house, you decide not to mention her lack of decorum, as you decide this is a meeting between Inquisitors and not between a princess and commonfolk. Plus, it would be rude to bring that up when said commonfolk is currently pouring you tea. So, your next few minutes are spent in silence, as she only mutters a bit about not expecting visitors.“So why have you come?” The old woman asks as he finds a chair and sits across from you. The tea is quite exceptional.“The Lord Inquisitor has assigned me to the upcoming tournament. I am merely seeking advice from a more experienced Inquisitor.”She nods, “Reasonable, but why me specifically? I believe this is the first time we have met, no?”“While I was overlooking some documentation, I ran into your name quite a lot. It would seem you have quite the success rate when it comes to apprehending strangers.” She tries not to show it, but she preens at the praise, “Hm, I suppose when you devote your life to a task, you become sufficient at it. Regardless, you have come to the right person for help. Over the years, I've come to understand demons in and out, both literally and metaphorically.”
>>6333314“Perfect, then do you have any advice for me?” “It depends on what you’re looking for, but I can at least tell you this. Everything you've done since setting foot into my base could have led to your death. Drink freely offered is drink easily poisoned. You did not even think to check that chair, not my room for rune-inscribed traps, and all the information you freely gave would be disastrous if I were not Inquisitor Leontine and instead a demon using the guise of Inquisitor Leontine after using my chest skill to shapeshift. There are many more, but I will stop for now.”You blink. She is clearly paranoid, but that is a good quality in this line of work. She's at least made it to her old age while not refusing to put herself in harm's way. Maybe you made the right choice seeking her out. “I see, thank you.”“Not demon-related, but thanks could be disastrous should I be a fae or ghost, leading to outcomes such as haunting, possessions, or even magical slavery.” You blink again. “Tha- I see.” Maybe you didn't.“But was there anything specific? I can clear some time tomorrow for training.”“Yes, actually->Could you teach me how to spot strangers?”>Could you teach me how to fight strangers?”>Could you teach me something else?” [Write-in]
>>6333315>Could you teach me how to spot strangers?”
>>6333315>Could you teach me how to spot strangers?”It’s literally going to be “Kill them all, and let the Goddess sort them out”, isn’t it?
>>6333315>Could you teach me how to fight strangers?”Also >chest skill
>>6333419>chest skillI guess that's Lorina's Cheat Skill...
>>6333419>chest skillargg!! What I get for not properly rereading
>>6333438I spent way too long trying to find this pic in my D&D folder when I remembered it...>chest skill is listed under weapon proficiency
>>6333438Sorry QM. It's cannon now. Lorina has top chest skill
>>6334303I just remembered Marie pulling up Sally’s status screen in thread three…>”What in the Goddess’s name are you talking about, Marie?! I do not have a cheat skill, and if I did, it would NOT involve my bosom!”>”Well, you’re halfway right, I guess… looks like it’s in your Feats and Attributes section, not your skills.”>(cue Lorina chasing Marie with a chair leg)
>>6334303I mean she IS based off a RAITA characterFIRE THE TORPEDO TITS
>>6333337>>63333522 to spot>>63334191 to fightWriting
>>6334923“I want to know how to find strangers.” You state. For while advice on how to fight them would be helpful, you already have plenty of experience in that, compared to actually finding them. The lioness nods, “Hm, I’ll have something prepared for you by tomorrow. Feel free to come by anytime.” She says before sipping her tea, “I’ll leave you with this, however: in this world, anyone at any time could be a stranger or turn into one. At no time will you ever be safe from their presence, not even when you’re dead. While this country may claim to be at peace, we fight a constant war to keep its people safe. Remember that, and never put down your guard.”With that said, you give thanks and depart. You suppose she is paranoid, but what she says isn’t exactly wrong. Noblesse oblige demands that you look out for your people and keeping the kingdom safe from otherworldly influence sits as just another task any good princess must perform….……If this kingdom is even real at all……The dawn of a new day brings about new opportunities! And you must capitalize on them by giving your entire attention to preparing for the tournament! And not thinking about anything else! There are 13 days remaining until the tournament, and you feel as if you can accomplish 2 tasks with that time.>Head to the Lord Inquisitor>Head to Leontine’s aboad >Seek out someone else for training? [Who?]>[Write-in]
>>6334930>Head to Leontine’s *abode*
>>6334930>Head to the Lord Inquisitor
>>6334930>>Head to the Lord Inquisitor
>>6334930>Head to Leontine’s aboadMore like, Lorina is a broad heh.
>>6334997>>6335036>>63357823 votes to go see the Lord Inquisitor barely beat out going to the less lordly inquisitor.
>>6338463You march into the Lord Inquisitor’s office in the wee hours of the morning with your usual radiant elegance, only broken by your slight stumble. Last night's sleep, or lack thereof, was not exactly what most would call restful. You’re sure that your face does not bear the grace that one of your station should naturally produce, but who can blame you? After all, nightmares were the least of your concerns when you were confronted with the deep confines of your psyche. You feel as if you had gazed upon an endless abyss, and it had not only gazed back, it smiled. This world, an illusion- no, a mimic more like. Every fiber of your being wishes to reject this reality and substitute it with one imagined from your mind, one that makes more sense. But that horrid grin slicing through the fat cheeks of the Lord Inquisitor all but proves this reality is all too real.“You saw,” he says. Your face twitches.“Explain. Everything.” You demand.He makes a wide gesture with his stubby limbs, “What is there to explain?!” He laughs, “When all I can do is confirm what you already know. Or perhaps you expect me to give out all the secrets I've carefully collected and curated over my existence? There are quite a few I can assure you, and at this point, all they’d serve to do is distract.” “And what could that possibly mean?” “I assure you, Your most sophisticated of Highnesses, You have matters much more pressing than pondering the meaning of existence, don't you? Besides, that's a pointless endeavor anyway,” He flips his hand wishy-washily, “The answer you'll find is quite absurd.”You sigh and change topic to stop the burgeoning migraine, “So then you will train me for the tournament? I need not finish your dull paperwork?” “Indeed, I shall. Though I would recommend finishing it,” he says with a not-so-sly wink, “You may find some valuable information there.”“I doubt it. And would not knowing more about this world, about how our enemies enter it, be vital information for me to know? Perhaps I should ask Dorothy-” A bang comes from under his table, he did not hit it, not with his hands at least, but it's clear you uttering such an obscene taunt has caused him to jerk his knee up, the one he currently holds in pain. You raise an eyebrow.“You know as well as I that would be a dangerous and fruitless endeavor.” “Do I? For you know far more than I in that catalog of secrets of yours.”“Argh, them Perhaps it would do you good to know more.” He admits that through the all-too-dramatic pain. Oh, come on, it couldn't have hurt that much. “But I cannot see how it would do you much good for the mission you're assigned. This is truly nothing special. Grand Tournaments have happened many times before and will many times again. The only difference between working on one of these and taking on other Strangers is scale.”“You mean for me to believe the Metal Castle was not of a similar scale?”
>>6338469“Hardly, all it took was a few Inquisitors and their lackies to destroy it.” You let the snide remark of your station during that mission pass over you like water over a rock. You are not bothered, not at all.“Fine then I suppose->I insist you tell me more about the reality of this world>I will focus my attention on the mission>[Write-in]
>>6338470>I will focus my attention on the mission>…but not before you tell me which book Dorothy is in. I need to discover her allies and weaknesses so she can’t put me in a cage again. I’ll read it after the tournament.
>>6338470>I will focus my attention on the mission
>>6338470>>6338538+1A happy compromise
>>6339666>>6338888>>6338538Writing.
>>6341873You click your tongue, “Fine, I plan to devote myself to the mission. On one condition,” you wait for the gratifying hum of interest from the Lord Inquisitor. “There was a book written about Alice’s journey, correct? One that is utterly nonsensical and meaningless. Is there not the same for Dorothy?” “And how would you know that?” You let the silence linger, “Hmph, the Wizard of Oz. But you'll struggle to find it in our archives. I find it most distasteful.”“That is all I wished to know.”“Well, if that settles that. Let us be off!” The Lord Inquisitor exclaims with joviality unfitting for the room's mood. Then you are.You find Lord Beneger in a moment of quiet reprieve, at least what you think he considers such. Several children lie exhausted on the ground in front of him, wooden swords still clutched in several of their hands. The only one without such an instrument is also the only one who still stands, though only if you stretch the definition. Soon enough, Alyssa passes around water to the children, and they’re hurried off to stretch and rehearse the fine points of their duels. It would seem the victor only won because she was willing to use not just her weapon, but her entire body as well. You witnessed the end of the subterranean scrap and can attest that she has promise, even if her form reminds you of a street rat. “What have you taken me here for?” You question once the children have moved to the next room.“What do you know of us Inquisitors, Lorina?” The Lord Inquisitor asks as Lord Beneger cleans the fighting pit for the next rounds. “I was made to study extensively before my acceptance into the Inquisition.”“Oh, you know more than enough about that, but the Inquisition is not a person. What do you know about us?”“Ah, these children are to be Inquisitors some day?”Lord Beneger grunts, “If they can give a better performance than that, maybe they’ll make it as scribes.”“If I deem the acceptable to our mission, then they shall,” The Lord Inquisitor corrects.“You wish to teach me about the making of an Inquisitor, then? I can see benefits to that, but why now?”“Lorina, I shall say this as kindly as I can. But while you have made some friends and acquaintances in our order, there are many more who instead find you,” For once, his smile drops. His face contorts, looking for an appropriate word that won’t enrage you, “Off-putting.”“How so?” You say neutrally. “You’re an outsider, one with good class and a lack of tragedy.” The nerve- “Most Inquisitors in this day and age have lost someone, or everyone, dear to them. Most are recruited from one of the church’s many orphanages. Others are picked up after a stranger has destroyed everything about their livelihood.” You remain silent as he continues. “This will be a large operation, and I will train you so that you do not make it harder for yourself by upsetting those you’re supposed to work with. Shall we begin?”
>>6341877>”Perhaps tomorrow, I have prior commitments.” >”Of course.”>[Write-in]
>>6341878>”Of course.”>If it’s our favoritism towards Asher, well, people naturally tend to greatly appreciate those who sacrifice themselves for their allies. More than one Lindanian noble house has been born that way.>As for Marie… well, I like swords. She summons one. Do the math.
>>6341878>”Of course.”
