OshaliteX2's CYOA of stuff. <#kun version>

This update brought to you by wwwwwwaaaAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
You look around for a bomb to throw into the Rock Pastree's mouth as it inhales, but can't seem to find any. Then you remember that you ARE the bomb, and hurl yourself bodily into the mouth of the Pastree to destroy it with your own awesomeness!

Well no you actually don't do that but if you did it would probably look really heroic. On that note, how would "coolness damage" even be calculated?

Instead you yell at Marshall to throw you a Tater Flash, quickly! He doesn't hesitate and in a moment you're able to hold the volatile tuber in the palm of your hand. You concentrate and infuse some of your fiery magic in it, and it pulsates as if sentient. (it's not tho I checked)
"Uh, Ace," Marshall comments, "You rightly realize that that creature is already made of fire by at LEAST 75 per-cent, yeah?"
You nod, and he gives you a weird look. Apollo ignores all this and just attempts to zap the Pastree again. He's not going to waste his time debating about potato grenades.

He shoots Thunda!, just like you planned.

As Apollo fires the bolt you zip over to him on the ice with uncanny coordination. There, you hold your potato bomb directly in front of the bolt so it, too, is absorbed into the spud. Apollo lets out a surprised and mildly offended "Hey!" but you ignore him. You plant your feet as best you can and bravely whip your makeshift weapon directly towards the Rock Pastree!

Much to your dismay, it begins to fall almost instantly. All that energy inside must've weighed it down, perhaps? Either way, it doesn't seem like it will fly far enough. However, luck seems to be on your side--or not really, actually? Depends. Because at that very moment, the ground erupts, giving way to dozens of geysers of magma. Groups of Fire People are sent flying, and Marshall's tower begins to fall. One geyser catches your potato bomb, though, popping it up for a longer flight. Somehow, it stays intact long enough to directly enter the Rock Pastree's mouth.

The Rock Pastree closes its mouth, unaware of it, and nothing happens--but only for a split second.

Then you see beams of light filter out from cracks suddenly appearing in its stone body and lighting crackle on the surface its skin. You hear a loud voice shake in your skull, "Y-you! Y-y-you c-couldn't have!" It attempts to open its mouth and breath fire, but all that emerges is a flaming puff followed by a smoky mass. "Wh-why?"

Then you hear a loud KRACK-, and the Rock Pastree explodes,
KA-POOOOOOOOOOM!!!
It's an echoing, dissonant sound.

Large chunks of rock and orange crystal fly in every direction. As Marshall's tower finally hits the ground with another echoing BOOM none come anywhere close to you, thankfully. However, there still remains the problem with the Fire People, who clamor towards your group still. A few grab your limbs to restrain you, and you prepare for the worse. One looks you in the face and lets out an ashy screech, but before it can harm you physically the flame in its eyes suddenly dies and it collapses. One by one, all the other Fire People follow suit, until the area is covered in rocks, orange crystals, and Fire People corpses. The magma geysers seem to have dissipated as quickly as they had appeared, too.

Everyone still conscious in your party lets out a loud, simultaneous, half-nervous-half-relieved "Huh."

Then, the voice of the Rock Pastree rings in your head. You immediately go on-guard, much to the surprise of Apollo and Marshall, unsure where it could come from now that... y'know.
"You. I understand now," The voice is calm and quiet, and even seems to be rapidly drifting away. You strain yourself to hear the rest of what you can, "we are beings of... similar... ab... lity. It... se... ms... w... sh... re one... m-nd... -ne... or... i..."
... and that's all you are able hear.
"The nerve, drifting off like that. He could've at least talked faster..." Min zips out.
"So that Pastree-thing was... male?" Marshall asks.
"Yes. That's what I said."
"... neat."

Any crystals in your sight now fade to a pale gray color, and all is silent.

VICTORY!!!

A waking moment passes with you all just standing around, but then it hits you and you all begin screaming: what happened to Amanda and Isra?!?
And Pyralis too maybe but still GEEZ WHAT DO YOU DO?!??!?!??!?!??!?!?

Ace: 50/75
Marshall: 74/100
Apollo: 34/75
Amanda: 0/50, ???
Isra: 0/35, ???
--
Pyralis: ???

New Items: None
Persony Bits: *panic*
Recent: Prevailed over Rock Pastree, cryptic last words from Rock Pastree, Rock Pastree was apparently male, orange crystals are now all gray, WHERE ARE AMANDA AND ISRA AND PYRALIS?!?!??!?!??!!

This update brought to you by Notsha-Corp®, manufacturer of quality goods like the Notshaliteification Seating Accommodator® and Notshaliteification Ferrokinetic Communicationizer®! BUY TWO, GET A Notshaliteification Death Sceptre® FOR 1.4% OFF!!!!*
Your first thought is to dig straight down until you find one of your missing allies. In your panic, you fully commit to this idea, and you start to barrel through layers of sediment with lightning-swift hand motions.

After what seems like only a few seconds of digging, your vision is obscured by a bright flash. You try to keep digging, but realize you aren't hitting anything. Then you realize you can't FEEL anything either. You might start to panic and try to ask Min for a tip on what's going on, but you can't hear her voice. Then your head gets foggy, as if you just stood up after sitting down for a few hours, and in an instant you flop face-first onto ground. Still dizzy, you decide to lie there for a moment.
 "... wow. I... don't think that's what's supposed to happen," you hear a voice say above you.
Somewhat startled, it takes you a moment to clear your head, but once you do you clumsily roll over and look above your head to get a clearer view of your guest... or host, as it may be.
Firstly, they seem to be human, that much is clear. They appear masculine with darkish-colored skin and short, brown hair on their head. Their shirt is blood-red with a yellow portion running down the sides, and it flows far past their waist—even approaching their ankles on their right. They seem to have been holding a metallic, gun-like device in their hands, but have set that down and are slowly reaching for the handle of what looks like a sword kept in a scabbard nearby.

They study you with wavering suspicion. Unfazed, you decide to pick yourself up. As you do so they reach for their weapon much more quickly than before. You stand with your back towards them, but when you turn they already have their blade pointed directly at you. Upon standing you realize this person is much taller than you, though not much older than 18. You also notice their eyes are a red color comparable to their shirt, and that in itself is striking.
They move their blade a bit closer to you and ask slowly, "What... are you? And where did you come from?"
 "..."
Nonetheless you put your arms up to signal you're no threat to this gent. He lowers his blade slightly.
 "Not much of a talker, huh? Well, sorry for pulling you out of wherever. I was using a device belonging to a... um... partner? No, make that an acquaintance of mine and she didn't have the courtesy to show me how it worked beforehand, so... here you are."
A hoarse voice suddenly mumbles from behind him, but loudly, "I... *cough* I TOLD you not to try and use it—*cough*—didn't I??" the voice then starts coughing hard in rapid succession, and the person with the sword zones off momentarily with a semi-guilty expression.
 "Yes, Caramel, you did." he says almost deadpan to the voice in the back, as if he's had to say this sort of thing numerous times before.
 "I *cough* wish you'd just call me 'CV' more of the time *cough* because it sounds more *cough* formal..."
You see him roll his eyes, "You've said that before. Now stop trying to yell, it'll just make you feel worse."
The person in front of you now sheaths his sword and sets it aside, all in one quick motion. Then he digs through a box nearby and procures a cup filled with something that looks like medicine. While he does that you let your eyes wander around the room. You seem to be in a large heavy-duty tent, held up by metal bracers around its sides. In the back, where that "Caramel" voice came from, are two separate flaps that form a doorway. Your further curiosity gets the best of you and you have a quick glance outside to see a swirling veil of white snow obscuring what feels like a mountain range. It's also very cold, and very dark. You quickly retreat back into the tent. There, the person who had the sword watches you and snickers a bit at you suddenly bolting back inside.
 "Hehe, cold out there, right? Normally I'd have you leave without second thought, but normally I'm not stuck on a stupid mountain, especially not in weather like this... so here we are. And since it seems you might be staying a bit, I'll even tell you my name: Nywel."
Nywel then motions at you to follow him through the interior tent flaps, and you comply, not having anything seemingly better to do.

The room behind the flaps has two cots in it, one seemingly much older than the other. It's torn in places and is held up by wood, lying haphazardly up against the wall. The other one is more centered and is made out of pristine metal, resembling more the supports of the tent itself and the gun-looking device Nywel was setting down earlier. In the latter, covered by a blanket, is a green-haired girl who looks about the same age as Nywel. Just by looking at her you can tell she's not in her best condition, though; she's pale as a sheet and her breathing is audibly short and strained. Beside her cot is a stand containing bottles of water, some empty cups resembling the one Nywel's holding and a plate of half-eaten food. She looks up through squinted eyes, and you see her pupils are a green color similar to her hair. Nywel says nothing at first and just sets the cup down on the stand.
 "Your medicine's here." he says calmly.
 "Mmm... about time..." Caramel replies. She sits up and reaches over to the stand, grabs the cup, and drinks its contents in one gulp, sets it down, takes a swig of water, then flops back onto the cot. "Bring me the Portal-er, Nywel." she then mumbles.
 "Huh? Oh yeah." he gets up to leave, but then asks, "Wait, why?"
 "Have you already *cough* forgotten about our special guest? We can't just leave them here with us due to your mishap just now."
 "Agreed, but you said yourself that in your current state you 'couldn't be trusted to operate your machinery in your current state' or whatever."
 "Yeah, but I would probably do a better job at it than you *cough*, seeing what transpired."
 "I'm not so sure..."
 "Eh. Fine. I'm feeling kinda tired right now anyways..."
And in a split second Caramel seems to have fallen fast asleep.
Nywel looks at you with his eyebrows raised, shrugs to himself, then leaves her to rest.

You follow Nywel back into the other room of the tent, and there he sits both himself and you down on a pair of chairs facing each other. It seems he has a lot on his mind, judging by his contemplative stance as he sits.
Suddenly, he speaks, "So do you mind if I get some stuff off my chest real quick here?"
 "..."
 "Good enough." he clears his throat, inhales, and begins.
 "Me and Caramel have been traveling for a while now. I've actually lost track of the days, but I feel like it's been about a month. Actually, she calls herself 'Agent Caramel Verte', whatever that means, though usually I just call her 'CV' or 'Greenie'. She doesn't like the second one, so lately I've started calling her Caramel. She doesn't like that either, go figure, but 'CV' just sounds dumb, am I right?"
 "..."
 "Yeah, you get it. So anyway, before I met her I had a different acquaintance. Though I'd say they were... a lot more tolerable than Caramel. But then there was this guy, and we got... separated... and... I'd rather not even think about that right now. But the thing is, this guy, apparently, Caramel knew who he was. His name is 'X3', but... yeah. And me and Caramel were just on our way to go and take care of him--y'know, probably kill him. Personally I think he deserves it. Caramel just says it's her duty... and now that I think about it I think we were going to split up once we reached his location... sorry, I digress. But yeah, things were going well. But then recently, as in literally just a few days ago, some mage assassin popped up, zapped Caramel, and now LOOK at her! How am I supposed to find X3 without her help? And Caramel knows where X3 is—I don't know she might be lying but I don't care—so without her," he waves his hands semi-frustratedly, "you get it?"
 "..."
 "Exactly! I’d bet that X3 hired that assassin to try and slow us down. I mean, it just sounds like something he'd do. But also..." he leans in a bit closer, "don't tell Caramel, but her condition is magically-induced and isn't just some fever. It's sapping her life force as we speak, scary right? It worries me. That medicine I've been giving her is hand-crafted by me, but my knowledge of magic isn't very... positive. Not like I don't know a lot but more like... well... I'll just say I'm not a fan." Nywel then leans back, "and that's about it. Lemme tell ya that you're an AMAZING listener. I... like... can't help but feel that we've met before in some sort of a different life. Or maybe it was just me that was different, because you seem REALLY familiar. Sorry. Um... so..."
Nywel gets up and picks the gun-looking device up.
 "I really do think you should get back to wherever. I have a bad feeling about tonight. That assassin from before; I think they're still out there and nearby. The least I can do for you listening to me is make sure you don't get killed."
He cranks a small lever on the gun-looking device, pulls the trigger, and a swirling white portal suddenly springs into matter before you.
 "The settings are the same. I think it was just in reverse, somehow. I've seen Caramel use this thing... twice now. And both times she touched everything EXCEPT that lever, so you should be fine. Probably."
Suddenly a laser made of dark-blue light pierces through the side of the tent. "GAH I KNEW IT." you hear Nywel yell. "Go! Quickly!" he dashes for his sword as another laser shoots through. Without second thought you hop through the portal; you've had enough combat for a day, and whoever that guy was, it seems like his matters were none of yours.

When you can feel yourself again you realize that the moment you were whisked away to wherever Nywel was you were directly above a pit of lava. You fall in and are immediately incinerated.
This is why you should never dig straight down.

GLAM CLOVER

Hey Cloacky, do you think there's another version of us, as, like, humans? Maybe even with an entirely different canon and cast of characters...
 "Don't be preposterous, Nywel. Even if there was, I doubt anyone would even know about it. X2 is always so conservative with what he shows other people about his writing."
Yeah and--wait... who's Nywel?
 "I... don't know. Your name is Notshalite, as always, what was I saying?"
Wow guys I guess this is just a mystery.
LEAVE
~-~-~

>Revivify
Your first thought is to dig straight down until you find one of your missing allies. Yet you quickly dismiss such an act as fanciful thought.
Instead you try to see if you can go out the way you came in, perhaps Pyralis is there. She seemed pretty in tune with the mountain, perhaps she can help you find them?
The rocks that initially sealed you in the room in the first place are still there, however. However to that however, you easily punch through them with an explosive strike.
Back outside of the crystalline arena, you see Pyralis lying there, motionless. The once-bright veins of orange running through up and down her arms and body have since faded to a lifeless gray and are hardly visible anymore. Looking around, it appears Elliot has escaped, without lack of a better word.
At that moment you hear a sudden, loud, and ashy breath break up from Pyralis, shocking your focus back on her. Apollo runs over to Pyralis and attempts to stabilize her, resting her head on his knee as he sits down next to her, though you notice she's stopped breathing again.
How troubling…

What do you do?

Ace: 50/75
Marshall: 74/100
Apollo: 34/75
Amanda: 0/50, ???
Isra: 0/35, ???
Pyralis: -45/90

New Items: None
Persony Bits: Yes, Pyralis’s HP is in the negatives
Recent: dug straight down, [redacted], fell into lava (GAME OVER), left crystal dome area, saw Pyralis, Pyralis isn't breathing and is very unwell, watdo?

*while supplies last

This update brought to you by OOOOOOOOOOOOOHAAAAAAaaawwwwww???????
You tell Apollo to try CPR on Pyralis. At first he looks at you confusedly, but racks his mind for a moment and you see him stiffen up in a sudden recollection of what CPR is. He immediately decides to try it; he removes and curls up his scarf as a makeshift headrest for Pyralis and gently sets her down on it. He then postulates his memory a little bit more to make sure he does this right... he places his fist on the center of Pyralis's chest--wait no, he removes it, then puts it back, now with the heel of his wrist instead--wait no, wrong hand. He switches them. Wait no--apparently he liked it the way before and switches it back. Now he takes his hand off entirely and wipes it on his shirt for some reason. Then he puts it back--wait no, that was the other hand. He switches--wait no, the hand he wiped off was the wrong hand to begin with, he wipes off that one. Now he--wait no, now his hands are dusty again. He wipes both off and now--wait no, now the scarf pillow is crooked. He fixes it. Now he--wait no...

You begin to zone out. Apollo eventually just sits back and stops entirely, though, which gets your attention. Without talking, you walk up beside him and notice his face is a nervous flushed red.
He turns to you with a look of discomfort and speaks, "I just remembered that when doing... this, you have to... give... rescue breaths to the person. And for that, I'd have to breath into their mouth... closely..."
He looks back down and slumps awkwardly.
"For cheese's sake, kid," Marshall blurts out from behind him, "descibin' all this as 'painful' for me to watch would be a horrid understatement..."
Apollo curls into a ball, "S-sorry..."
"Hey, don't sweat it much. Now let me try..."
Marshall steps forward and casts a healing spell similar to what he used on Amanda a few days back. A magnificent show of healing water swirls around his palm as he places it on Pyralis's head, and on contact it shines with magical vitality. He then removes his hand and steps back, seeming proud.

Seconds pass.

Then some minutes.

"... she doesn't seem to be getting any better" notes Apollo about 3 minutes in.
Marshall responds with his hand placed worriedly at his mouth, "Yeah, I noticed that. Lemme try again..."
He does the spell again, but this time touches the middle of her chest. You all wait again, but nothing happens still. Marshall visibly begins to sweat nervously, and tries the spell on her stomach, then her head again. Nothing happens either of those times.
"This can't be good... that's all been some of my most potent heals this week..."
"Do you... do you think she's... gone?" Apollo stutters out.
"We likely can't rule it out..."
Then, as if on cue, Pyralis sucks in another giant, borderline-screeching ashy breath. Her eyes flutter open for a moment, and you DEFINITELY see her look at Apollo before falling out of consciousness again.
"... well that certainly does answer that. Whatcha reckon we do, Ace? Magic doesn’t seem to do any sorta thing, and I wouldn’t want to put myself or you through watchin’ Apollo try CPR again..."
Apollo glares just slightly at that last remark.

But Marshall proposes a good question...
What DO you do?

Ace: 50/75
Marshall: 74/100
Apollo: 34/75
Amanda: 0/50, ???
Isra: 0/35, ???
Pyralis: -40/90

New Items: None
Persony Bits: Pyralis isn’t dead, probably
Recent: Apollo tries CPR, fails, Marshall tries magic heals, fails, watdo?

This update brought to you by Nine Shrines Adventure and Dines.
You tell Marshall that, if you recall, Pyralis is kinda fiery. So maybe you should drop her in LAVA!
Marshall stares confusedly for a moment, "I..." he shakes his head, "True, I noticed that as well, but..." he trails off.
Apollo finishes for him, "But she was always saying how she WASN'T fire, though. I mean, if I had a Pwaant for every time she said 'not fire' I'd have a lot."
You look at him pointedly and snap, producing a flame on your fingertip. Maybe you could try some FIRE healing magic? You try to convince him to at least give it a try, but he remains steadfast.
You sigh and snuff out your flame. You've ceded to their point, and sit back down with your legs crossed.

For a few seconds you all sit, trying to think of something else. Then Marshall raises his hand and says "I think I got it!" with the look of someone who just made a breakthrough.
"If magic won't work, then what if we try... uh... basic recovery? Like somethin' a person would do to regain vitality without magic."
"Like food?" Apollo asks.
"Yeah! Yeah, exactly such."
"Well then let's try it!"
Marshall nods and digs through his own bag, pulls out a potato. But then he furrows his brow, suddenly realizing that you can't exactly feed potatoes to an unconscious person... or at least he's not sure.
He looks at you, "Hey, Ace, got anything a bit more... edible on ya?"
"I mean I think we could try to give her the potato..." Apollo reaches for it, but Marshall moves it away.
"Not unless it comes absolutely down to it, mister."

So.
What do you do?

Ace: 50/75
Marshall: 74/100
Apollo: 34/75
Amanda: 0/50, ???
Isra: 0/35, ???
Pyralis: -40/90

New Items: Please note that Marshall has an effective infinite supply of potatoes and other basic garden-variety vegetables that are only accessible outside of combat
Persony Bits: Pyralis still isn’t fire kinda
Recent: Ace tries healing via burning but is vetoed, Marshall thinks food might help revive Pyralis but doesn't have anything he thinks he could easily feed her, watdo?

Cooking Episode: On-the-spot cheffing with mash-ter of meals Marshall and Assistants Ace and Apollo.

Today's recipe: Vegetable potion stew, garnished with mineral-rich crystals.

I don't know what to do next where even are we.

Congratulate Pyralis on her recovery??? I guess

Then complain about how wE GOTTA FIND AMANDA ANDA ISRA

This update brought to you by DinoBean Inc, manufacturers of a New-Age Flora!
You get Pyralis's attention by spontaneously yelling "CONGRATULATIONS!!". It's loud and echoes immediately, startling the rest of your crew into jumping a bit. Pyralis turns her head quickly, her pale-orange hair flipping with the sudden motion. You see a hint of fear in her movement, but Pyralis soon realizes the source of the noise and relaxes her posture. Your words seem to register in her head directly after, as she raises a finger to her chin pensively.
She shifts her body towards you, remaining seated, and yells back "Congrats on WHAT??"
She does this despite being pretty close to the rest of your group. It echoes loud and, once more, Marshall and Apollo are startled and jump. She smiles to herself and chuckles at this.
"Congratulations on your... recovery, I'd think to say." Marshall manages to say.
His words seem to impact Pyralis. Her eyes widen, and she speaks slowly, "My... recovery?"
"Yeah," Apollo sits down, forming a sort of circle with the group, "Before you were out REALLY cold. Now you... um... look better?"
"Well I feel quite better, but..." She looks down and examines her arm, feels it. Seeming surprised, she begins to poke at her face and make various vowel sounds with her voice. Apollo and Marshall look at her confused, and at one point she notices and stops, shifting uncomfortably. "Oh, sorry about that. I just had to make sure..." she trails off and looks down.
Then, she looks up. Her teeth appear clenched in some sort of disbelief, but her expression quickly shifts into a wide smile.
"Did you... did you do this for me?"
Marshall shrugs, but Apollo nods. Marshall notices and also begins nodding. Everyone nods. In turn, Pyralis's smile intensifies to the point where it seems her face is about to fall off. She gets up on her knees and spreads her hands in preparation for what's probably a group hug, but as she does so the rocks from the surrounding area suddenly roll towards her and up her sides. In an instant, Pyralis's arms are coated in a layer of stone, enlarging them to an obtuse length with sharp-looking claws on the end. Marshall and Apollo are both now shaking their heads fervently.
Pyralis is naturally startled and drops her arms. The layer of stone on them falls off in tandem. She stares at her hands, now back to normal, and blinks.
"... that's new."

Your present party forgoes the group hug and instead opts to catch Pyralis up on what happened up through the fight. She keenly recalls that the soon after the rest of you went into the Rock Pastree's lair (of sorts), rocks suddenly sealed off the entrance. Then she heard a voice in her head talking to what she presumed was your group, and then the rest is hazy.
"I heard some voice say 'come', and then I got... a headache. Y'know, like 'not fire'. Um..." she shifts uncomfortably, "So... I assume you guys all know what I am… well, no, what I WAS?"
"Elliot said you were some kinda Fire Person, right?" Marshall says, "Lava-lookin'-revenant-lookalike, somethin' like that?"
"A bit on the nose there... but correct. Before, whenever I'd be all like 'not fire' and stuff, that was me resisting an urge in the back of my head to... y'know..."
"Uh-huh.” Marshall stops before she can finish, “Sorry. I honestly suspected such, but thought it'd be rude to ask..."
"Yeah. Kind of ironic, considering that Ace told you what I used to be like in my old scrapbook, and--" she chokes a bit. Apollo looks ready to say something but Pyralis just holds her hand up to him, "Th-thanks, I'm fine."
Sensing awkwardness, Marshall attempts to change subject, "So what about that Elliot anyway? Where'd he go?"
Pyralis straightens up, seemingly trying to focus her memory again, "It's hazy after the headache. He was unconscious when we got here, but I think he woke up naturally while I was trying to keep my mind and ran off. Then everything went dark soon after. Before I knew it I was conscious again, and the urge was unbearable. Although instead of telling me to hurt people, it wanted me to 'live'. And I was really hungry, too, so I guess fate just put two and two together for me and..."
She peers back at the empty pot of stew.
"Sorry about your soup, by the way."
"It-It's fine."
"Should we try to find Amanda and Isra now?”
"Yeah..."

You re-pack all of Marshall's stuff and re-enter the crystal dome arena (I'm SO calling it that now).
Upon entry Pyralis speaks out from behind you, “I think I can sense them!”
Marshall turns to face her, intrigued, “Really?”
“Yeah, I think so. Before I used to be able to sort of turn into dirt at will,” she looks at Apollo, “when you asked me to get you out of the lower caves, I did that, and moved myself through the cave walls with you being held behind me. It’s a thing I learned Fire People are able to do, and lets them move around the caves at will. Though I doubt I could pull it off properly now, I can still sort of see through the rocks…”
Pyralis now walks in front of you and points down, “I think Isra is here,” she then turns and points a little ways behind Apollo, “and Amanda should be over there.”
“Hold up,” Marshall says. He points a slightly accusing finger at Pyralis, “if you could move through the dirt in these caves at will, how come you didn’t try to escape like that- y’know, with US earlier?”
“Ah. W-well…" Pyralis scrunches up her face to think, "it’s kinda hard to explain. I actually tried to get out when I first figured out I could do the dirt-thing, but as I felt I was reaching surface, my energy suddenly drained, and I got an irresistible urge–like just now with the hunger and that soup–telling me to turn back. It felt… beyond awful. I’m sure if I tried to keep going I would’ve died in an instant. I think if I tried that with Apollo he’d more likely be left stuck and get trapped before reaching the surface, not too unlike your friends are now… I wouldn’t want to take that risk.”
“That’s… fair.”

“So…” Pyralis begins to finish, “I’ve guessed for you where they are… but what exactly WAS your plan for getting your friends back?”

How do you respond?

Ace: 75/75
Marshall: 100/100
Apollo: 75/75
Amanda: 0/50, over there
Isra: 0/35, here
Pyralis: 80/90

New Items: None
Persony Bits: None… sort of...
Recent: Congratulated Pyralis - Pyralis has rock arms? - Pyralis recalls headache and Elliot running off before blacking out - Voice in Pyralis's head wanted her to 'live' instead of inflict pain - Pyralis can sense Amanda and Isra - Pyralis explains Fire Person cave travel - Isra is buried here and and Amanda is over there, how will you get them out?

This update brought to you by all the king's horses and all the king's men.
You tell Pyralis you have a plan and ask her to point you again to where Amanda is. She nods knowingly and leads you over to Apollo, who steps aside. Marshall walks over, curious to your plan.
"Do you think she'll be okay?" Apollo asks.
Marshall crosses his arms, "As long as she's still alive, she should be fine" he says. Pyralis's purses her lips and stares at him at this statement. Marshall notices.
"Uh. I mean, as long as she's still in one... piece."
Apollo makes a frightened "meep" noise. Now Pyralis looks at Marshall with a look of disgust. Marshall just sighs.
"Look, forget I said anythin'."

At the spot where Pyralis indicated earlier, you crack your knuckles and begin punching the ground repeatedly with your right fist with a piston-like motion. Cracks immediately begin to form in the stone at your feet, and the ground gives way layer by layer, ferrying you downward. You continue dig straight down using this obtuse method, much to the shock of your party.

Eventually your fist hits something soft, of all things, and is momentarily stuck. You pull it out immediately and look back up--you've dug quite a ways down. You can still make out the faces of Marshall, Apollo, and Pyralis above you peering down. Apollo flashes you a thumbs up. You might flash one back. Looking back at the soft stuff, you shine Min on it to try and see what it is. It seems to be mostly made of dark, charred soil. Min scans it to spare you any speculation as to what it might actually be.
"Oh boy. Previous data leads me to believe that these are, or WERE, Fire People until recently. Now they're just dirt, as you can tell. Interesting, though... when they grbbed Amanda and dragged her down--as in before they achieved this state--it seems they weren't trying to spirit her off to anywhere, just hold her here until she died. Oh by the way Amanda's also in there."

With Min's revelation, you piston-punch the soft dirt a few more times until your knuckles touch a more solid substance. You then use both your hands to dig a ways until you see Amanda's tell-tale sleeve. Carefully, you grasp it in both hands and slowly pull her out, careful to not harm her. Once her shoulders are free it's a bit easier, and in a minute you have 100% of Amanda out of the dirt blob, unconscious, but breathing... somehow. Before you forget you reach in again and pull out her sword as well. Examining her now that she's out, her clothes and person have sustained serious burns. No wonder she's unconscious. You should get her to Marshall ASAP.

There's just one problem...

You hear Apollo shout from above, "Hey guys! I think he found her! He found Amanda!!"
"Great news, that is," Marshall's voice replies, "but now how does he plan to get her back UP?"

Well?

Ace: 75/75
Marshall: 100/100
Apollo: 75/75
Amanda: 0/50
Isra: 0/35, over there
Pyralis: 80/90

New Items: None
Persony Bits: Found Amanda
Recent: Dug straight down via piston-punching - found dirt blob - dirt blob is apparently made of former Fire People who were holding onto Amanda - Amanda is burnt and unconscious, but alive - how do you get back up?

This update brought to you by deja vu.
You ignore Marshall and Apollo, remembering that Isra is still buried somewhere around the area, and deciding to act on that before doing anything else. You suddenly drop Amanda on the ground, her skull making a sharp *CRACK* sound upon impact gently set Amanda down and plan dig sideways to unearth Isra.
The only problem with that plan, as you eventually realize, is that you have no idea where Isra is located from here. Not even Min's scan can get a read on anything--the sediment is too thick.

You go back over to Amanda. As you re-emerge to the spot where you dug down, the detour you made to try and find Isra suddenly collapses with a roll of stone. Good thing you didn't stay in there for any longer, otherwise you would've been turned into a rock-studded pancake.
You communicate your issue with finding Isra to your team by shouting very loudly.
"Thats's fine!" Marshall yells back, "Just tell us before you try an' dig through the caves like that! The rocks could've collapsed at any moment!"
You may or may not give a nervous chuckle at that statement.
"Tell you what, you just bring Amanda back up! Pyralis is up here and said just now she can dig down to Isra on her own! In fact she's... kinda doin' a cool thing right now, you should make your way up and watch it!"

You feel the walls of your hole rumble a little as he says that. Whatever Pyralis is doing, that was probably the cause. It'll probably cause your narrow little burrow to give way in less than a minute...

What do you do?

Ace: 75/75
Marshall: 100/100
Apollo: 75/75
Amanda: 0/50
Isra: 0/35, over there
Pyralis: 80/90

New Items: None
Persony Bits: None
Recent: Tried to dig sideways and find Isra - Failed - Almost got pancaked - Pyralis can get Isra, you just bring up Amanda - Pyralis is doing a thing that's making you pressed for time to scramble out of your little burrow - Watdo?

This update brought to you by the Concerned Swimmers Against Red Kickboards Society.
Your try to come up with ideas to get out of the hole. Unfortunately, none of your immediate ideas seem feasible. That and you have no immediate ideas. Maybe you have thinker's block?

Suddenly the ground under you shakes a bit and you're forced to jump as the area under you suddenly collapses like a jaw trying to bite off your right foot. You begin to panic. In your panic the only thing you can think of is to punch yourself SO HARD that you and Amanda fly up and out of the hole before being turned into panini au pierre. In that same panic, you actually try it.

Ergo you punch yourself in the face—and for the second time this week, no less. You do not fly out of the hole.

But, miraculously, the sudden face trauma seems to have uncorked your thinker's block also for the second time this week. You just need to calm down and slowly carry Amanda out of the hole, no tricks required for success.

You back up to the wall and place your feet carefully on the opposite side of it. It's narrow enough for you to hold yourself firmly this way, so it should be easy to get back up. You flop Amanda over your torso and begin to sidle your way out of the hole. As you slowly move upwards, the hole begins to shake more and pebbles fall off its side and pelt you in the face. Once you reach halfway (you think), the walls of the hole unexpectedly move apart, and you're forced to reassert your stance to stay put. Then, on a whim, you look down and notice the hole you dug is beginning to compress itself back into solid earth. The compressing is moving up and towards you rather quickly. Due to this your panic makes a powerful comeback. The latter phase of your escape goes a bit more quickly.

Once your reach the top of your hole the crushing stone is only feet away from you. Using the last bit of your panicked strength you heft Amanda over and out of the hole, then use your newly-freed arms to follow suit. You flop onto the ground beside your ally as the hole fills itself in with an audible CRUNCH. The spot where your hole was is now an intimidating-looking spire of sharp earth, and with any less time it would've been a human shish kabob. You might make a small "eugh..." sound at this realization.

~~~

You rest to calm down a moment, and in the meantime Apollo rushes over, having heard the crunch of stone made by the hole,
"OH MY GOSHNESS SORRY." he says apologetically (APOLLO-getically???) as he approaches, "I had no idea you almost got..." he looks at the spike, trying to think of the perfect word, "... stabbed. But you're okay, right?"
You make some indication of well-being. Apollo looks relieved.

Around that moment Pyralis moves over to you and Amanda. Her gaze is fixed on the rock spike as she gets into view, though. She then looks down you, and you notice she's on the verge of tears. She doesn't say anything, though.
"Hey, it's okay," Apollo says to her, noticing the same thing, "Ace and Amanda are fine, and Isra will also be fine once Marshall's done."
"It's not that..." Pyralis says in-between repressed sobs, "It's that... before, with everyone, my mom and dad," she holds out and looks at her hands, "What I can do now... is only a leftover of why--why they're all gone."
She then falls on Apollo, who catches her, and breaks down into crying.

You decide to leave them for a moment, though in a minute you might be able to talk to them should you so desire...

You get up and look over at Marshall for a second to see he's crouched over Isra with healing magic. Isra seems to have sustained similar injuries as Amanda, but is also still alive. You pick up Amanda and carry her over to him. He still seems focused and not yet finished with her healing, though.

What do you do?

Ace: 75/75
Marshall: 100/100
Apollo: 75/75
Amanda: 0/50
Isra: 0/35
Pyralis: 80/90

New Items: None
Persony Bits: Isra has been unearthed
Recent: Panicked, punched self in face - Climbed out of hole w/Amanda - Hole began to condense a lot, climbed faster - Escaped hole, almost got stabbed - Pyralis is sad - Marshall is focused- Watdo?

This update brought to you by a laser clam and an angry can.
You assist Marshall with Isra's recovery by doing whatever he says. Unfortunately whatever he said was so complicated that you completely forgot what it was immediately after doing it. He pats you on the shoulder as thanks and then gets to work on Amanda. He's not being very vocal... he must be really focused or in his element or something.

Unsure of what to do next, you hover over Isra and wait for her to regain consciousness.

As you wait, Apollo and Pyralis walk over. Pyralis seems to have collected herself well, though you notice she's now clutching Apollo's upper arm defensively. Neither say anything to you, since it appears both have said enough to each other already to last a while. You could probably ask later, though...

They sit down and join you in waiting for Isra. Marshall, having just finished healing Amanda, looks over at you three strangely,
"Y'all realize sittin' over her won't make her come to any quicker, right?"
"It certainly does not hurt," responds Isra.
"Whatever you say, pal."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"... waitaminnit."
Apollo snickers.

Isra sits up and shakes her head, then carefully examines herself as if checking for wounds.
"Wow," she eventually concludes, and looks at Marshall, who returns her glance shiftily, "Marshall, you were... very thorough. Good job."
Marshall seems confused, "What's THAT supposed to mean?"
"It means you are a very thorough healer."
"I assume that's praise?"
"Yes, and I am grateful for your aid."
"A simple 'thank you' would suffice, y'know?"
"I think not. The work you have done here," she gestures to herself, "is beyond compare, should you ask me. I feel like an entirely new person!"
"Okay Isra I'm pretty sure you're trying to flatter me and I have no idea why."
"Only partly. Do you have anything to eat?"
"I knew it." He casually tosses her a baked potato. Isra catches it deftly (was he carrying that this whole time?).
"But honestly," she says "you should feel proud of your ability and your skill at using it. Perhaps saying that you are beyond compare was a slight overstatement, but I can freely admit I do feel the best that I have felt in days."
"I'd bet." Marshall says with a hint of sarcasm.
Isra starts to look a little angry, "I am being serious! At least accept my compliment and thanks!"
"Okay, okay. You're... uh, welcome anytime for my heals and..." he pauses, "That... that is to say you're welcome."
She huffs, "And you thought it was strange the way I tried to thank you."
"You were tryin' to coax me for food!"
"That hardly makes a difference!"
"Yes it does!"

As they argue lightly you begin to tune them out.

What do you do now, or what WILL you do once Amanda wakes up? Judging by Isra's recovery it shouldn't take too long.

Ace: 75/75
Marshall: 100/100
Apollo: 75/75
Amanda: 50/50, unconscious
Isra: 35/35
Pyralis: 80/90

New Items: Marshall also has infinite supply of baked potatoes?
Persony Bits: I already made a Support Level joke with Marshall and Isra RIP
Recent: Helped Marshall - Forgot how helped Marshall - Pyralis is holding Apollo's arm defensively - Isra wakes - Isra flatters Marshall for food - Marshall rejects compliments, angering Isra slightly - watdo/wat-to-do?

This update brought to you by E3 pseudo-hype.
Author's note: This update marks an somewhat new beginning for the CYOA. If you haven't been following so well up until now, reading all of this should catch you up pretty well and get you back to posting. Also please read and post.
After a brief spot of waiting, Amanda's eyes slowly open, as predicted. She takes a moment to look around the group, and upon seeing that everyone is okay, cracks a smile.

Now your group is sitting/standing in a rough circle at the mountain's peak. You all feel a light, shining dust begin to fall on you from above, and look up to see where it's coming from.

The crystal dome encasing the area is eroding back and dissolving, transforming into the dust. Must be because you took care of that creature. Slowly you're able to catch sight of the clear, blue sky, and are soon blinded by the bright evening sun. You quickly realize that this was in part due to the light reflecting off a half-open pile of Pwaants lying diagonal from your view. When did those get there? +30000 Pwaants

As your vision clears and the remains of the dome fully dissipate, you're able to look over the vast expanse of Jorrahn Mountain from its peak.

Your breath catches immediately. The different climates and terrains isolated on the mountainside create a medley of gorgeous color that stretches as far as your eye can see. It's like a quilt made out of nature. You squint and look closer and are able to spot the Big Tree in the distance, behind the craggy area where you encountered Isra. Further beyond and smaller to your eye is Jorrahn Tundra, and beyond that the forest where Apollo and Amanda's village is located.

As you let your gaze page over the splotched pattern of different lands, some you may never even get to explore, you feel mesmerized. It's clear you've journeyed far, and that you've reached something truly spectacular.

Stats have increased for all party members (see log for details)

"So..." Min absently pings you, entranced just slightly by the view, "what now?"
The question registers hard in your mind, sweeping you back into focus. The rest of your group, previously in awe as you just were, also realizes this.

--

Your party stands in a round, ready to discuss their goals now that you've all gotten this far.

"Where to begin..." Marshall answers first, "I reckon I've still got to get back to Spiyer Town. That's part of why we've crawled up this mountain to begin with, isn't it? I know my home is still a ways north, even after we've come so far..."
He points off into the distance. Looking that way you see an ocean with no opposite shore in sight. Of course, that comes after an immediate cliff off the side of the peak, followed by a few discolored splotches. Then, right before the ocean... is that a city? If it is, you're sure it's not Spiyer, as you recall the latter being firmly land-locked.
Interesting.
"But Marshall, remember what you discovered from that... machine back then?" Isra follows up, "With the map?"
"Yeah, I do. Whatever goons hired you to pilfer us before now have their HQ stationed..." he sighs, "... right at Spiyer Town. While I rightly don't know what that may or may not imply, I do know it puts a bad taste in my mouth and makes my head spin... but I've made it my goal to get back home and I've already come this far. I ain't turnin' back now."

"You know..." Amanda says after Marshall finishes, "you could always come back with me and Apollo to Jijena. I'm sure chief Easton would be happy to make accommodations for you."
"That's... that's kind o' you to say, but I'll have to pass. Back home--at MY home, there were already so many people I knew, people I loved." Marshall's eyes lower beneath the brim of his hat, "Even if those good-for-nothin's from San-whatsit have set up there, I can't just leave them behind, y'know?"
"I understand. I was only trying to offer a solution."
"It's fine." Marshall breathes and looks back up, "So now I take it you and Apollo are going to head back to Jijena?"
"That we are. We've been accompanying you and Ruby on orders from our chief, you must realize."
"A-yup..."
"..."

"That makes me realize..." Apollo chimes in, "Remember in those journals that Ace found, how they said the peak began..." he searches for a word, "... the thing a year ago?"
"You mean how it allegedly reached up, slammed down, and began to move?" Fills in Marshall.
"Yeah. That. I'm pretty-very-sure that that's the 'disturbance at the peak' Easton was talking about back home. But, like, the thing happened a YEAR ago, you'd think he would have sent someone to check on this earlier?"
"True," Amanda agrees, "it's not like Easton to sit idly. I'm sure he had a good reason."
"You're probably right... but still..."
"I admit as this developed I gained some suspicion as well. We can talk to him once we deliver our report, okay?"
"Yeah."

"So now that just leaves Isra, Pyralis, and Ace." Marshall observes, "Any o' y'all wanna speak up first?"

"I will." announces Isra, "I have thought on this prior, and I have decided to accompany Marshall back to his hometown."
A silence passes. Marshall breaks it by inquiring, "Um... but why?"
"Is it not obvious? I seek revenge on those from before--those from 'Santrito'. If their base is wherever your home is, then I believe that is the best route to take to accomplish my goal. Beyond that, routing that filth may finally give me some redemption for what I have done in the past. Be those actions out of relative necessity, it does not matter, and I am ready to atone in any way possible."
"You do realize you're aimin' to 'atone' via self-proclaimed revenge, right?"
"Yes. Do you see that as an issue?" she stares daggers at him.
"W-well, uh... I think we can talk more about this later."

Your group's eyes float to Pyralis, who stands close to Apollo. She seems surprised to have everyone's eyes on her, but tries to look as sure as possible.
"I think... no, I know that I'm going to go back to Jijena village with Apollo." she grabs onto his arm.
"A-and Amanda." Apollo notes, a bit flustered.
"Yes, her too. I think it would help them to have someone who had firsthand experience to the event they were sent to investigate..."
She purses her lips, signaling that she's done talking. Is it just you, or does it seem like she and Apollo prepared these lines in advance? Isra raises her eyebrows at Amanda, noticing this, but doesn't get any response back. Amanda just nods as Pyralis finishes.

Now it's your turn. You might have thought about a decision like this before, but before you can speak your mind Min zips out and makes it up for you.
"Ruby will be accompanying Marshall, now with Isra, back to Spiyer town."
Your group is a bit taken aback by this. Min's voice rings in your head now, only for you to hear, "(Please, for me, I have so many unanswered questions.)"

Seemingly at an impasse, you tell your party that Min's words were correct. Isra nods and Marshall shrugs, but is clearly pleased nonetheless.
Apollo steps forward and extends his hand, suddenly looking confident, "Ruby Aynian... or should I call you Ace? Eh--doesn't matter. As an appointed messenger on behalf of Jijena village, I need to say that traveling and reaching this point without you would have been an impossibility, and that doing so at your side as an ally has been a privilege and an absolute pleasure."
You take his hand and shake it.
"May our paths cross again in the future." he releases the handshake, and you feel a slight charge shoot through it as his hand drifts away. Must be Jijena custom.

You set up camp one last time together at the peak. Come morning, Apollo, Amanda, and Pyralis are already nowhere to be seen.

The silence of voices matched by the quiet howl of the wind says more than any additional goodbyes ever could. Somehow, you feel that you'll see them again, for one reason or another.

Party has been split.
Party A (traveling north to Spiyer Town): Ace, Marshall, Isra.
Party B (heading back to Jijena Village): Apollo, Amanda, Pyralis.

You also realize Apollo took half of the Pwaants you found earlier. Now when did he do THAT?? (Money split between parties)

--

Despite your party's now-smaller size, the morning goes as normally as it always has. Once the sun rises fully and you all get more-or-less packed up, another glint catches the corner of your eye...

-~-~- (this symbol will mark a change of perspective between parties)

As the second party heads down the mountain, Apollo is the center of attention.
"Wow, Apollo." Amanda comments, "I had no idea you had that kind of assertiveness to you yesterday!"
"It's just a mis-mash of lines I've been taught to use as a messenger..." downplays Apollo, "I never actually use them because I can never quite get them right, but back then I felt they were a particularly good choice of words for the scenario."
"You shouldn't doubt yourself so much, you know."
"Tell me that again when I actually get good at my job..."
"I..." Amanda is taken aback for a moment, "No need to snap, young man."
Apollo hears her, but realizes his words hurt have Amanda slightly, "Sorry." he apologizes, "Thanks for the compliment."
"That's better..."

Amidst all this, Pyralis is quietly walking behind, experimenting with her newly discovered abilities and affinity for earth. She levitates pebbles above her head and spins a stone around her finger. She can't help but feel her past abilities resting dormant inside of her. What happened to her changed her, but not entirely, it seems... or at least that what she thinks. If anything it should be a given, as she still remembers what happened to her all that time ago. Throughout it all she's still her, and she supposes that's what's important.

Also...
PYRALIS JOINED PARTY B!!!
Finally it's official!
We'll get into her abilities as soon as her team gets into a fight. It'll happen. Trust me.

-~-~-

Out of sheer instinct, you investigate the cornery glint. At first you may think it to be another bag of money, but as you near it you realize that, while metallic, the object is more lithe, more swift, less negotiable than a pocketful of change. It's Isra's sword! Guess you never picked this up after it was lost during the fight... well, now you do, as Isra deserves to have her weapon back.

As you grab the hold of the blade, though, you feel an energy shake your grip loose. Startlingly, it jumps out of your hand and onto the ground with a clang, attracting the attention of its owner, who walks over.

"Oh, here that is." she mutters, almost ignoring you, and picks up and sheathes her blade in a smooth motion.

Well that's odd, but no use dwelling on that, you suppose...

What do you do now?
items have also been divided between both parties; see front page

Oh yeah--you may have also asked some questions to the other half of your party last night around the dinner table, before they left. If there was anything to ask them that you had been wondering about prior, that would have been the perfect time. Honestly, it was late, and any answers you may have gotten to your inquiries would only have registered in your mind just now.

Any questions, either?

Ace: 80/80
Marshall: 125/125
Isra: 35/35
~~~
Apollo: 75/75
Amanda: 70/70
Pyralis: 100/100

New Items: +15000 Pwaants to Party A/B
Persony Bits: Split Parties!
Party A: Ace/Marshall/Isra (headed north to Spiyer Town)
Party B: Apollo/Amanda/Pyralis (headed back to Jijena Village)
Pyralis joined Party B!!! Abilities: TBA
(new stats: [total #](increase), Atk - Def - MgAtk - MgDef - HP
Ace:
20(+5) - 15(+3) - 16(+2) - 17(+4) - 80(+5)
Marshall:
15(+3) - 10(+2) - 22(+4) - 8(+1) - 125(+25)
Isra:
13(+4) - 5(+2) - 30(+9) - 2(+0) - 35(+0)
Apollo:
6(+0) - 20(+5) - 21(+5) - 17(+5) - 75(+0)
Amanda:
25(+6) - 11(+0) - 8(+2) - 19(+3) - 70(+20)
Pyralis:
18(+?) - 15(+?) - 0(+?) - 22(+?) - 100(+10)
Recent: Dome around peak dissipated - found some money - nice view (stats up) - discussed goals of party members: Marshall wants to get home despite Santrito presence, Isra wants to follow Marshall for revenge-fueled redemption, Amanda and Apollo are headed back to Jijena to deliver their report, Pyralis is following Apollo as a firsthand witness, Min wants to follow with Marshall to get answers to her questions and kind of drags you along - so now the party has split up - Apollo is assertive? - Isra's sword is weird - what now? - any looming questions for the split party?