Aphelli

Hm... In Kugearen, she knew the event was occurring. Why she didn’t simply arrange for someone else (not the person whose mother she slew before their own eyes – or, if she doesn’t know us, as indicated by the dialog, not complete strangers who meddle out of nowhere) to get the orb from the maid? Why bother to reset time for us (making us aware earlier than necessary of her power)?

Hi! I'm not uploading with the usual schedule, I had other things to do (mostly the mental load of procrastinating getting in touch with people, but a bit of thesis too). I'm not 100 percent sure about this chapter either, but it fits a purpose (several, actually). Whether it is the best way to fulfill it, is what I don't know. Anyway, I think I'm the only one reading all the doubt-filled posts before chapters, so I'll stop straining your patience. (Random question: I've started putting chapter texts in spoilers, because I felt it let the progression be easier to spot -- do you like it this way or was the earlier method better?) Chapter 30: Presents Day Character ratings:

I feel stupid for forgetting about Narcissa and the specifics of Isha’s own story. But I can’t remember where it’s hinted (or even said) that he did something to Valarie or Adam. I always assumed that was Freya. (Another possible outcome is Crescent utterly pwning everyone on that scene and making them remember a version where she faked her death – see below for why it’s not absurd. Not that I believe that, but I don’t think it’s inconsistent). Note that hugely altering memories isn’t too unusual a feat by Rejuv standards, see Karen at the Starly help request or Crescent with Nim (well, either that or she convinced Nim so thoroughly that she trusted Crescent more than us, and changed her name and purpose with that). That’s also why I’m pretty sure that Freya may be more able to modify memories than “just a little”

I don’t recall which scene this is? Can you recall me? Again, I don’t think Freya needs Isha. She didn’t need anyone to

So, that was quite the read. I suppose it all boils down to this: is Saki being, well, Saki, more likely than her being an evil mastermind? There is another piece of evidence against Saki being just over the top – that kind of stuff was rather removed from the game (Melia’s early “handling” of a Xen grunt). Some of it sounds dubious – I am not sure why Saki would jump to utter ridiculousness to try and attack us at the Chrysola Hotel. I mean, she must know such mundane means wouldn’t kill anyone – least of all us, and instead would give away her game. But a lot of the rest makes disturbingly much sense. Although it could as well be that the Saki we saw is a Xen-controlled robot masquerading as the actual Saki, and failing by being “too anime”. (or perhaps she saw the game’s full plot and lore the real relationship between the Blakeories and Team Xen and Went Mad From The Revelation). Trouble is, you’d expect Braixen to comment on something that amiss... Also, is there any canonical evidence for Isha to successfully and reliably alter memories? He experimented on Braixen but as far as we know its memory wasn’t modified...

That was an impressively productive week-end, and pretty good episodes too. You kept your favorite Seviper nickname! I'm interested to see how you'll write what comes next...

@TheHellHamster: Thank you very much! Thank you to all of you who read and enjoy the story (for those who read and don't enjoy, please tell me what you think I'm doing wrong ). As you may have seen it on Discord or the status bar, I'm not very fond of this chapter. I keep feeling something is wrong with it, but I can't find out what exactly. So after a last revision, here it is... This is the chapter of the Aster and Eclipse battle underneath the Staircase, if you didn't follow. It went more smoothly than I had hoped for, mostly because of the work of another Pokemon which isn't in Gabriel's team yet (obviously, there's not a full correlation between the story and the playthrough), and I don't want to spoil the surprise. You won't have to wait long for it, though. Chapter 29: A Mob Job Gone Wrong Character ratings: Death count (reminder):

I've checked the game and a version of Essentials, and I can't find anything resembling a script. I suppose I need RPG Maker to get the dat/rxdata files to make sense?

I've checked the game and a version of Essentials, and I can't find anything resembling a script. I suppose I need RPG Maker to get the dat/rxdata files to make sense?

"do you really want to see me complain about math more?" Yes? (imo it's not really math, just code someone hadn't cared to optimize) Am I the only one who's interested to see what the code looked like before your fixes (in the section "are you sure you're in range")? What do you call a "deep bush"? Aren't there some on Route 1? Anyway, that looks like an amazing job, cass. (also, please don't deprive yourself of sleep for us).

"do you really want to see me complain about math more?" Yes? (imo it's not really math, just code someone hadn't cared to optimize) Am I the only one who's interested to see what the code looked like before your fixes (in the section "are you sure you're in range")? What do you call a "deep bush"? Aren't there some on Route 1? Anyway, that looks like an amazing job, cass. (also, please don't deprive yourself of sleep for us).

I like that update. I had forgotten how over the top the entire Magnolia Library incident was. And the other sidequests... Karen's first appearance in the story... Great episode, in a nutshell. I'm excited to read what's next! (Now I really want a Rejuv story where all the MC does is sue the Blakeorys for all their money, collecting stories and evidence for a massive lawsuit. I'm pretty sure it would be interesting to explore the consequences to Melia, Venam and Ren, who don't actually meet us. They end up happy and still friendly and we become rich and powerful and adored by every person of lesser social status than the Blakeorys. Happiest ending ever.)

Now, I really should get back at writing, because my buffer is diminishing... But never mind, as usual in the week-ends, I can give you the next chapter. Chapter 28: The Enemy's Gate Character ratings:

Is there a truck to look underneath, maybe?

Yay, another post about code and optimization! Great (or terrifying?) findings as always! When I saw your announcement on Discord, I thought it rather unbelievable that Essentials could be so broken. But now that I'm reading this post, I found more surprising the fact that creating a new version crashed your computer. What really is in the game? What eldritch horror have you unleashed on your players?

Nice idea, but it gets easy after a while, no? I'm setting up a, um, randomized version, where the character counts of the latest tweets determine each keystroke (like, "odd" is enter, "even odd" is "right", "even even odd" is "up", and so on...)

I'm pretty sure there was an actual in-game scene where Erin asks Melia that kind of question, but I can't find it. Never mind; it can't get any wronger than the "AU" I came up with: Erin: Melia, can I ask you a question? Melia: Sure, what's on your mind? Erin: I wondered... if you trusted MC. Melia: That's a strange question. Do you have a particular reason to ask it? Erin: Just answer it naturally. Melia: Of course I trust them! We've been through so much and they've been great and reliable companions... Erin: Okay then. Melia: Except for the time they shoved me down the stairs. Erin: What? Melia: But they didn't know it was me and I kind of deserved it anyway. Erin: What? Melia: And I guess there's also the time they bound and gagged me atop Valor Mountain. Erin: ... Melia: But they were right. I was clearly completely nuts at that time. Who knows what would have happened if they had let me do as I wanted? Erin: Didn't you tell me that it resulted in them, two Gym Leaders and your father falling into lava, your rescue mission irrevocably compromised, and MC so scared of heights and heat that they asked Rhodea for an underground fridge instead of a room? Melia: Sure, but it clearly would have been worse without MC. And the time we found Venam badly beaten up claiming MC had stolen her Charizard. With MC offering no explanation whatsoever. Erin: Wasn't it the Pokemon she herself had stolen? Melia: Yes, but how did you know? Erin: Venam's a teenage Poison Gym Leader, a fairly recent one, and she hasn't made her own teenage rebellion subtle. No way she's got a Charizard. Melia: But, well, most of the time, MC's great. Why were you asking again? Erin: They've tricked a dozen Bladestar grunts into walking into a bottomless pit. I still don't know how, they claimed it was a magic trick. Melia: Er, what? Erin: And then they went all Bladestar-happy and worked at their secret underground lab for 48 hours straight, pretending to be away for training. Melia: WHAT? They told me they were making a custom birthday present! Erin: Afterwards, they asked me to help them tamper with the vents and install poisonous gas tanks. Melia: ... I think you really shouldn't mention that. Erin: Also, they told me that they gave me the Time Amulet specifically to upset Spacea and Tiempa. Melia: Told you they were great.

Lickitung hi, I'm half-bored, half-procrastinating

I think it's not a fact. IIRC, the Interceptor can die for real (with dire consequences) if they "fail" (i.e. die a mundane death) too many times.

Must... stop... responding... It's... becoming... so... irrelevant. Ugh. The impulse is too strong. Maybe next time I'll manage to restrain. I always thought that the underwater mechanic was a compromise between "realism" (whatever it might mean) and gameplay. Realistically, no non-aquatic Pokemon (or some that were specifically comfortable in water, like dolphins) should remain conscious after even, like, three turns underwater. Another hint about that is the behavior of moves like Fly and Dive (because the other Pokemon will naturally adjust their levels in the water precisely to get hit). Then again, trying to find some remotely consistent biology principles in Pokemon is probably a hopeless quest. But Sirius does fight disloyally -- iirc, you only escape his Chandelure (when Eclipse... doesn't) because Aya is watching out. He has his Seviper bite Florinia in the "defeat Solaris" route when Team Meteor attacks Fiore Mansion. And he has the Abra teleport you to wherever when you attack their base in Tanzan Mountain. He doesn't at Mosswater (where he states he wanted to send a message but got bored by the group's slow progress), in Yureyu (he doesn't really care because he already has what he wanted from the children), in the Belrose home because he's seething with rage (and grief? how knows), the second time in Tanzan Mountain (because Lin is coming and we have to pretend to be a Meteor, which doesn't fool her), and in Agate, where iirc the order seems to delay us (and it looks like Lin would rather toy with us than have us killed). As you said, it's beside the point anyway. In two sentences, my point is that, although the loss of life is sad in each case, I feel that the situations of Titania and Saphira are deeply dissimilar, and that the latter is justified in employing lethal force. I believe that when you don't have the time to think of a perfect solution, you shouldn't be expected to put the life of your (terrorist) assailants before the well-being of your loved ones.