DiscoDude: ---BEGIN SESSION---
DiscoDude: Session logging commenced
Ryusui|GM: The <@&627978553669058562> are in the green room, awaiting the Final Cook-Off! What's everyone up to?
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Tako-San and Mel are mostly just chillin'.
Vera: Vera's applying that burn cream. While she's doing this, she's sitting squarely in the middle of the only couch big enough for someone to lie down on - Dovelia still looks pretty DRAINED (even if she's shaken off the worst of it), and this'd be a nice... subtler way of foiling her by making it harder to remedy that. She isn't brave enough to try anything overt again after... what happened. (Of course, the studio feels no need to correct her on that assumption.)
Margen: Margen is seasoning/polishing his cast-titanium frying pan
Ryusui|GM: "Who taught you to do that?" Dovelia says, watching Margen with interest. "I'm curious."
Margen: He looks up, still moving the greased abrasive around the pan
"I picked it up at the Glurrid Culinary Science and Engineering Academy, actually. I'm mostly working by ear, listening to how the metal rings as I polish it."
Margen: He holds up the bowl, it makes a humming noise as he scrapes the inside
Vera: Vera perks up, but doesn't turn around to look at the pair. Seems Dovelia's also on the hunt for something involving that guy. Maybe. Hard to be sure about these reality show mind-games.
Ryusui|GM: Dovelia raises an eyebrow at the sight. "I've honestly never seen anyone polish their utensils by ear before." She pauses: "Culinary engineering?"
Margen: "yep" (he grins, with just a hint of mad-science gleam in his eye)
Vera: "So... 'Mel,' is it?" Vera starts her own conversation, but keeps an ear out behind her. "Gotta be... what, younger than me? What possessed you to follow Octodad out to Uranium Chef? Didn't you know how dangerous it gets?"
Ryusui|GM: "So," she says, something between bafflement and realization creeping into her voice, "not everyone goes there to become a chef, am I correct?"
Ryusui|GM: (and here's me making my move)
Ryusui|GM: !f 2 (Clever)
DiscoDude: <@Ryusui|GM> rolled 4dF+2 for 2 [4dF = [+][ ][-][ ]]
Ryusui|GM: (roll to defend!)
Ryusui|GM: (<@!Margen>?)
Margen: (whup)
Margen: (KEYB OARD TROUBLE)
Margen: (dang caps)
Margen: "Nope, some people go to learn about food science, agriculture, all kinds of things! I double-majored in dangerous preparations and kitchen management for undergrad."
!f 3 (careful)
Margen: !f 3 (careful)
Margen: (hmm)
Vera: (... Fck.)
Vera: (<@!Ryusui|GM>, it's time to punch Dude awake.)
Ryusui|GM: (here you go, whoop)
Ryusui|GM: (dunno why it exploded)
Vera: (Gonna do it retrieval style again this time?)
Ryusui|GM: (yeah)
Vera: (Now roll it, <@!Margen>.)
Margen: !f 3 (careful)
DiscoDude: <@Margen> rolled 4dF+3 for 6 [4dF = [+][ ][+][+]]
Vera: (BOOM.)
Vera: (I think that'd be SWS (two victories), assuming Dovelia doesn't boost.)
Ryusui|GM: (yeah, her investigation is flummoxed)
Ryusui|GM: Dovelia laughs, too intrigued by the school itself to pursue her suspicions. "Dangerous preparations? It sounds like you came to this show overqualified. Though I suppose it does prompt the question why you seem to play things rather...safe. I was almost as impressed by your dessert preparation as Ms. Mangosteen, and I'm not even a geologist, but I don't recall you doing anything quite that out-of-the-box before."
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "Oh! Didn't think I'd be of interest. Well," she looks to Tako-San for reassurance and receives a warm look in return, "I don't know if aliens understand this, but I came to Tako-San for work to pay for my gender transition. I was so happy to find out that he was paying for it as part of supplies for the position. That was a couple years ago, though; as for being hear, Tako-San assured that it wouldn't be me in danger, since I'm not cooking. Worried about him, though."
Vera: While Mel responds, Vera decides to quietly Qoogle "Glurrid Culinary Science and Engineering Academy," and keeps on the lookout for those specific majors - Dovelia seems fooled, but Vera isn't sure.
(That'd be a second roll from Margen to have not given quite enough information for her to discover something, right?)
Vera: !f 3 (CLEVER)
DiscoDude: <@Vera> rolled 4dF+3 for 4 [4dF = [+][ ][ ][ ]]
Vera: (Like, maybe he held back the specific Academy name or something.)
Margen: Margen shrugs with two arms, still polishing away. "It took a while to become comfortable with the direct-competitive aspect, but I do believe it is becoming easier for me to maneuver."
(Margen did tell the complete truth about his undergrad, but he did not specify his master's)
!f 3 (Careful)
Margen: (d'oh)
Margen: !f 3 (careful)
DiscoDude: <@Margen> rolled 4dF+3 for 3 [4dF = [+][ ][ ][-]]
Vera: (I get my second victory, unless you invoke something.)
Margen: (not sure what to invoke)
Vera: (If there's no objections, I'll take that as my victory this exchange.)
Margen: (Sure)
Vera: Several results pop up on the search - she clicks the link for the exact name and gets a college site. She looks up the majors, but gets no new information... Then she clicks on the "Career Path" tab. There are multiple not-chef positions that require Dangerous Prep majors, but one in particular stuck out... But nah, it couldn't be... and yet...
"Hm?" She looks up at Mel, who's been going on and on for the past minute. "Oh, uh, cool? But yeah, uh... as long as you know the risks..." She decided to bow out of that exchange with Mel now that there was no more need for smoke-screen.
Vera: (She officially knows of the possibility of him being... what he is, but she'll need proof; I'm 2-0 against Margen now.)
Vera: (And between Mel being in less danger, plus being more prepared than she thought, Vera's not even going to follow through on her attempted scare tactics.)
Ryusui|GM: (so, <@&627978553669058562> ready to see what the next challenge is gonna be? :3)
Vera: (Assuming Dovelia doesn't try to get some ZZZs and clear her (admittedly invokeless) DRAINED Condition (which I'll try to interfere with), yeah, let's go.)
Ryusui|GM: ( <@!;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾>, <@!Margen>?)
Margen: (yep)
Ryusui|GM: ( <@!;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾>? )
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "Oh! O.K." Mel responds.
"They're hiding something." Tako-San tells Mel.
"Oh?"
"They didn't listen to a word you said. I have a feeling the small talk was just cover for something else."
"Ohh...." Mel's tone sours as she stares into the distance.
((I'm Good (+3) now; sorry.))
Ryusui|GM: Camera cut from the green room to Kitchen Arena! The four <@&627978553669058562> are standing in the central area, the Chairwoman facing them all down with an enigmatic smile on her face!
Ryusui|GM: "Chefs. I think you're all going to be surprised by what I have in store for you today. But first of all, a small clue." She chuckles. "Very small. Allow me to introduce you to your opponent for this round...the Beryllium Chef!"
Ryusui|GM: A knee-high figure ducks out from behind the Chairwoman's legs. "Hallohallo," he says, waving enthusiastically.
Vera: "Yo," says a nonplussed Vera.
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Tako-San Waves in return.
Ryusui|GM: His squarish blue face is ringed by a fur(?)-trimmed parka; his mouth stretches almost completely across it, and the corners seem to be turned up in a permanent vacant smile. His ping pong ball-like eyes seem to be perpetually staring off into space, or perhaps at something somewhere behind you.
Margen: "Bonjour" Margen states politely
Ryusui|GM: "I am Xylph Mallikian of Epshak-3, otherwise known as the Beryllium Chef, ya," he says, his accent making even the simple words almost incomprehensible. "I am famous as an exploration-type man."
Vera: (In comment booth: "I come from what was voted the spookiest planet in the galaxy, and that thousand-yard stare gives me the heebie-jeebies.")
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Is it wrong that I'm getting Ice Climber vibes from them. They do sound proportioned.))
Vera: "Explorer."
Ryusui|GM: "Ya, that."
Ryusui|GM: "That's right!" Holly cuts in. "Xylph Mallikian is known far and wide as a skilled harsh environment explorer, specializing in extreme cold! He's survived months in places that would kill most people in seconds!"
Ryusui|GM: "I am good at make the food out of ice, ya," the Beryllium Chef says, nodding in agreement.
Ryusui|GM: "So now you know who you're up against, and what his skills are. Any of you have any idea as to what kind of challenge is in store for you today?" the Chairwoman says. "Anyone?"
Vera: Vera snaps her fingers a few times. "Oh yeah... He was- Oh, that guy. The one that broke the record for deepest spelunk over on our planet, Kuchegeist; everyone else thought the previous record was as deep as those ice-caves went. I saw the documentary about your origin story, man - the one about surviving after you fell into that chasm."
Ryusui|GM: "Was fun place, that Kukkageist," the Beryllium Chef says, nodding; you could almost swear his eyes bounce up and down as he mispronounces your planet's name. "Had to eat leg to survive, but it grew back, so I okay."
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "Frozen foods?" Tako-San says, with notable disgust in his voice.
Vera: "... Wait," Vera says, catching up to what he said right before her. "Did you say 'made the food out of ice?'"
Ryusui|GM: "He's done fascinating things with frostbitten rations. Even things one might not consider rations," the Chairwoman chuckles. "But perhaps it might be wise to take him at his word in this particular context."
Ryusui|GM: ( <@!Margen>, do you have something to say before the big reveal?)
Vera: (Based on that "but," did you intend for that last sentence to have a negative modifier?)
Ryusui|GM: (as in, "you may, in fact, be working with actual ice here")
Ryusui|GM: ( <@!Margen>? )
Vera: "... Well that... huh."
Vera: (Come to think of it, I did provide exactly that as an ingredient that one time... XD)
Margen: Margen whispers granita under his breath
Ryusui|GM: All of you suddenly feel a faint gust of cold wind.
Ryusui|GM: It's coming from somewhere above.
Vera: Vera looks up.
Ryusui|GM: There's a sound of servos whirring and straining as the entire roof of Kitchen Arena dilates open.
Ryusui|GM: And beyond...
Ryusui|GM: "Oh boy! Looks like avalanche!" the Beryllium Chef yelps happily.
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Mel starts shivering. "You didn't say I'd need my winter uniform."
Ryusui|GM: ...beyond is what can only be a comet.
Ryusui|GM: A massive, descending chunk of ice.
Ryusui|GM: Aimed straight at the center of Kitchen Arena.
Ryusui|GM: Falling straight on top of you.
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "Ou nou....!"
Ryusui|GM: (everybody, for kicks, gimme a roll to get the hell out of the landing zone XD)
Ryusui|GM: Dovelia blinks, and then bolts.
Ryusui|GM: !f 0 (Quick)
DiscoDude: <@Ryusui|GM> rolled 4dF+0 for 3 [4dF = [ ][+][+][+]]
Vera: (Can I compel Space Ghoul Line-Cook (her species being the source of her Mediocre (+0) QUICK) to just take a ding of stress? (Or is the comet more than just a ding?))
Ryusui|GM: (it'll just be a single stress ding if you don't dodge)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: !f 1 (Quickly Defend against the giant, forget-you comet)
DiscoDude: <@;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾> rolled 4dF+1 for 1 [4dF = [-][+][-][+]]
Vera: "... Aw shi-"
Ryusui|GM: (actually scratch that, anyone who doesn't dodge will be [Stuck in the Snow])
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Wait; that means Tako-San is fine, thanks to their stunt.))
Ryusui|GM: (oh XD)
Margen: !f 2 (quick)
DiscoDude: <@Margen> rolled 4dF+2 for 1 [4dF = [-][-][+][ ]]
Margen: Margen stumbles a bit
Vera: (For the record, I did indeed compel my High Concept for a space ghoul's slow reaction time, handing me the auto-fail. (No crit-fail, though!))
Ryusui|GM: (oh, so i'll mark you up for an extra FP then~)
Vera: (I just did in the notepad.)
Ryusui|GM: (right, but i'm also keeping track)
Ryusui|GM: (tako, margen, it's +2 to dodge, so if you wanna invoke anything...?)
Ryusui|GM: (for the record, it'll be +0 to break free)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Tako-San has a relevant immunity stunt.))
Ryusui|GM: (also i realize, again, tako shouldn't be bothered by this XD)
Vera: (I forget if we redid that stunt... If we did, it was just to make it not also apply to mental/social entrapment.)
Ryusui|GM: (yeah, it's physical only)
Ryusui|GM: (so it applies)
Ryusui|GM: ( <@!Margen>, again, you invoking anything, or just letting it roll?)
Margen: (going to let it roll, I think)
Ryusui|GM: The comet impacts the center of the arena.
Ryusui|GM: The shockwave covers the kitchen stations with snow and ice.
Ryusui|GM: And when the mini-blizzard settles...
Ryusui|GM: ...there is a mountain of snow and glittering ice standing in the center of the arena.
Ryusui|GM: Sheer slopes at its base, jagged spikes midway up, piles upon piles of deep slush near the top, and - you can all see from here - a glittering spire of crystal at the very top.
Ryusui|GM: Also.
Ryusui|GM: <@!Vera> and <@!Margen> are [Stuck in the Snow].
Ryusui|GM: Dovelia pants for breath, her catlike reflexes having guided her true.
Vera: Vera's legs are sticking straight up out of a particularly deep pile, stiff as a board. Luckily, her apron and dress are both starched enough and planted deep enough that she's still modest.
Ryusui|GM: The Beryllium Chef is, at first, nowhere to be seen; then he pops up out of the snow with little effort. "Ohh, that was fun!" he laughs, apparently no worse for wear.
Ryusui|GM: (do flavor how you got out of this sticky situation, <@!;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾> XD)
Margen: Only Margen's head is visible above the heap of white
Vera: (Maybe Tako should wax tragic about Margen's "lethal fate." XD)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Mel, having duck behind a station, realizes she abandoned her duties as tank girl in the panic and scrambles to dig the tank out of the snow, (figereatively) freezing in place when she finds it empty. "Tako-San!?"
"Ai'm over here!"
Mel flips 180 to find Tako-San perched atop the same station she hid behind, jolly as ever. "Ta-"
"Ai'm fine! You had no-thing to worry about!"
Mel gives a deep, heavy sigh of relief.
Vera: (How do people react to seeing a "beheaded" Margen? Vera's a bit preoccupied. XD)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: (("They're the Snow Guardian, guardian of the snow!"))
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: (("Vulcan quivers before them!"))
Ryusui|GM: "Chefs!" the Chairwoman's voice rings out. Unsurprisingly, she's standing at the top of the ice mountain, at the foot of the glittering ice spire. "Your challenge today is to reach the top, collect the secret ingredient, and use it in a dish. You will have 12 exchanges to complete this task." She gestures at the spire. "As you might expect, easily half the challenge in this competition will be to simply obtain the Comet's Tail Ice. Today, you are not merely battling each other; you are battling this very mountain." She chuckles. "Any further questions?"
Vera: *unintelligibly muffled sounds of murderous intent
Ryusui|GM: "Is gonna be good!" the Beryllium Chef says, waving excitedly. "I can't wait to get started!"
Ryusui|GM: Dovelia merely stares. "Is the little guy really a chef," she mutters. "I have it on good authority that he is," the Chairwoman says, nonchalantly, as if the answer is irrelevant to the challenge at hand.
Ryusui|GM: ( any other <@&627978553669058562>? XD)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((I think we're all Good (+3); though, <@!Margen> does need to leave in 10-20 minutes, so calling it here should give them ample time to prepare.))
Ryusui|GM: (yeah that's the idea)
Margen: Margen utters a chattering sound in approval of the anticipation
Margen: (All he can manage through the shivers)
Ryusui|GM: "In that case, I see no further reason to delay..."
Ryusui|GM: Time itself seems to pause as Holly interjects:
Ryusui|GM: "The epic battle between chef and mountain is about to begin, folks...right after these words from our sponsor!"
Ryusui|GM: (any last lines, <@&627978553669058562>, or is everyone already good? :3)
Vera: (I'm assuming I can't Compel a Confessional out of tragedy that was already brought about via Compel? XD)
Ryusui|GM: (yeah, no double-dipping like that XD)
Margen: Margen says something that might have been witty, but all that's audible is hjhhhjhhhghggggjjghhh
Ryusui|GM: (XD XD XD)
Vera: (Pfft. But yeah, I'm all out of stuff to say, then. XD)
Ryusui|GM: Dovelia's gaze turns upwards from the Beryllium Chef, practically bouncing from one foot to the other in his excitement, to the ice spire high above. "This is madness," she murmurs.
Ryusui|GM: ( <@!;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾>?)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "Do you think you can make it without the tank?" Mel asks.
Tako-San just gives her a "Your kidding, right?" look.
"Right; I can carry you."
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "And if Ai risk drying out, just stick me in the snow."
"Got it."
Ryusui|GM: "Don't go away - we'll be right back!"
Ryusui|GM: !end
