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You make a point to surface as early as it's safe to do, worried about running into any monster army members. Rayle (who spends too much time on social media) has informed you they've apparently been busy doing small attacks all over the city, fed facilities, military installations, even an airship terminal. You can't make out their goal from the news alone.
You and Rayle make it home by dawn. There's a new tarp right past the entrance that covers an indent in the floor. You raise the tarp and find out the 50 cm deep hole is now filled with what you assume is glue. Not much, but maybe it could stop someone careless.
After answering several times to Snail guy that no, you haven't been followed, you plan to go absorb some spoiled food and take a nap. A polite knock on the wall stops you and the rest of the party in your tracks.
– "I'D KNOCK ON THE DOOR, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE ONE, MY APOLOGIES."
IO's giant mug rounds the corner, smiling disarmingly.
– "HI THERE MOLDY. NICE TO SEE YOU MADE IT OUT OF THE GLUE FACTORY. AND BACK TO PROPER MONSTER ACTIVITIES. MET ANYONE TASTY TONIGHT?"
His tone is casual. Glancing to the side, you see Rayle and Snail guy sweating, staring at the MONSTER in front of them. You force yourself to be calm.
– "Yeah, big night. Got the humans good."
How is he inside of your base? No, WHY is he inside of your base? Would someone like him care for "desertion"? Your questions must be written on your face, because IO quickly answers them.
– "WELL YOU SEE, MOLDY, I ACTUALLY HAVE AN OFFER FOR YOU." He glances across your party members. "AND FOR YOUR TEAM.. RAYLE WAS IT?" She nods stiffly. "AND YOU.. SORRY, NO IDEA, BUT WE CAN GET INTRODUCED LATER." IO smiles apologetically, and it appears Snail guy doesn't mind.
– "LONG STORY SHORT, THE BIG PUSH IS NEARING. LUHUD'S GONNA GUN IT FOR THE KING'S PRISON, THAT OLD NOODLE" IO chuckles good-naturedly as you struggle to process the information.
– "BUT, IT SO HAPPENS I DON'T LIKE HIS PLAN VERY MUCH.. SO I'M GETTING THERE AHEAD OF HIM. FROM YOU, IT'LL TAKE NOT MUCH AT ALL, I'M JUST GONNA NEED A LITTLE LIFT." He taps his spike on the wall of the bastion. Wait, does he mean..
– "I KNOW HOW TO MAKE YOUR LITTLE BASE FLY AGAIN, CLOAK AGAIN, TELEPORT AGAIN, THE WORKS.. WHEN THE JOB IS DONE YOU CAN KEEP IT, WHY NOT. FOR A MONSTER WHO'S CLEARLY OUT FOR HIMSELF FIRST.." The thick, wrinkly flesh of his eyeless face winks at you. "..THAT COULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. AFTER ALL, WHEN I'M DONE.. WELL, THE WORLD IS GOING TO BECOME A MUCH MORE FUN PLACE."
IO HAS COME! TO GET YOU BACK INTO THE PLOT! WHAT IS YOUR ANSWER?
>Agree to help IO reach MONSTER KING ahead of Luhud.
>Decline. You have better things to do. Or you have better ideas of how to get to the MONSTER KING before Luhud.
>Ask questions, then take some time to decide together with the team. He didn't tell you much about his plan. (Write-in questions.)
