* You take a few steps forward, but suddenly freeze in your tracks. You can feel a pair of eyes locked onto your position, a searing glare sent into the grass. You hold in your breath, hoping and praying that whoever this "Karkat" is, he doesn't see you. After a few moments, the sensation of being watched disappears...

Karkat

* A green door stands before you, with no walls to connect to.
* You crack it open just a smidge, enough to take a peek through.
* To your surprise, you find not the empty space that lays behind it, but a green room full of clocks and other furniture.
* Standing in the middle of the room is a man with a white orb for a head.
...
* He turns to look at you.

And by He, I of course am referring to myself.

Scratch's Theme

* You find a little stall set up in a corner of the area. As you approach, you take note of the shopkeep's... interesting choice of clothing.

TC: WhAt ThE mOtHeRfUcK iS uP mY bRoThEr!
TC: WhAt CaN i Do Ya FoR tOdAy? :o)

* This guy talks like a tool.

Clown Shop

* As you trudge through the oil, narrowly evading another attack on your life, you find a troll, sitting all by his lonesome. You attempt to sneak past, but he notices your movements behind him.
* He turns and points an extremely fancy rifle at you.

CA: movve another millimeter and youll be turned into swwiss cheese

Prince Of Hope

TA: hey, before you go
TA: wanna play a game? iit'2 called p2iiocar2
TA: you move 2ome car2 along a track wiith your p2ychiic power2
TA: though... ii gue22 you don't have them. hm...

* You make one of the cars move a little by controlling the air flow from a fan.

TA: oh 2hiit, baller.

p2iiocar2

* Karkat attempts to suplex a boulder, but isn't strong enough, so he just kinda stands there leaning against it hoping nobody else saw him.

> END OF ACT 3

Sickle of Blood

* The gears turn on in the distance, marching along to their own rhythm.
* You bet if Dave were here, he'd start FREEstyling over it.

LOHAC

* These aren't your garden-variety underlings!

STRONG strife

AA: 0h excellent
AA: y0u have arrived
AA: 0n acc0unt 0f my m0n0t0ne v0ice i am telling y0u n0w that was sarcasm
AA: well i supp0se as l0ng as y0u are here and equius is n0t ar0und
AA: w0uld y0u mind d0ing me a fav0r and aid me in this puzzle

Chillax

* You enter a part of the land filled with cobwebs. Nearby, you can hear what sounds to be laughter.

??: Are you aware of what people have said a8out you?
??: A human wearing nothing more than some 8oring old tee with a green ghost design on it.
??: I heard them call you weak.
??: I heard them say that they thought you were pathetic.
??: I heard them say they'd like to rip you to shreds!!!!!!!!
??: Do you want to know what IIIIIIII think?

* A troll with long hair and wearing glasses steps out from the darkness. She has a set of dice in her hand.

AG: I think that you just need a 8it of a push in the right direction!
AG: Come on, John. Let's have some fun! Yeah?
AG: Just be careful........
AG: I have ALLLLLLLL the luck!

Roll The Dice!!!!!!!!

MeGaLoVania

MEENAH

Lord English

* The other humans' Aspects fill you with their power.
* Lord English's defense drops to 0!

==> John: Fight for your FREEDOM.

happy 10/25 y'all! hope you all have a good one this year. i'll be spending it by reading the end of act 5 with some good friends of mine!
- Foxx

Cascading

* All of your friends have been chained up. The transportalizer activates once more, and foreboding footsteps approach from behind you.

CALIBORN: YOu PATHETIC HuMANS AND TROLLS!

https://pastebin.com/MNsAFXXy

Rise Up

* The swirls on Caliborn's cheeks turn fully green. A coat materializes itself onto the Cherub. They look down at their hands, clenching them into fists.

finally. i had been asleep for so long.

* She looks up at you, giving you a friendly smile.

CALLIOPE: hello! yoUr name is john, right?
CALLIOPE: thank yoU for calling my name. yoU awoke me from a deep slUmber.
CALLIOPE: i gUess yoU coUld say i was sleeping like the dead!
CALLIOPE: and now... i have another chance.
CALLIOPE: and all of this power my brother stole... with this i coUld...
CALLIOPE: i coUld rewrite the narrative. retcon everything he's done to it, set it all to zero.
CALLIOPE: ... yoU seem to not like that idea thoUgh. i'm sorry john, bUt for yoUr sake, yoU mUst let me do this.
CALLIOPE: i know that my class is UsUally the most passive of them, bUt please...

* In a bright flash, Calliope's clothes change. They look similar to Jades, with the symbol of space appearing on her shirt.

CALLIOPE: jUst sit back and let the me do this for everyone.

* The penumbra wanes.
> John: ACT > Check.
* Calliope - Muse of Space ∞ATK ∞DEF
* Phantasm awoken by your call.

Alpha And Beta

* Calliope's cheek swirls and eyes flicker between green and red. It seems like Caliborn is fighting back for control. His attacks sting. They hurt badly.
* Your grit is reduced to 0.
* You can't SAVE your friends. You can't SAVE Calliope. You can't SAVE your game.

* But as your body starts to glow, your life force returning to you, you feel at one with your aspect.
* Breath. The aspect of Wind. The aspect of Change. The aspect of FREEDOM.
* Maybe with this power...

* You can FREE them all instead.

Burn In The Green Sun!

* You take the lead, grabbing the knob to the door and flinging it open.
* You and your friends are whisked away to the new universe. After a short while of searching, you eventually find an Earth-like planet to inhabit. Everyone sets foot onto the surface.

KANAYA: Oh My
MEENAH: man it sure is weird to be on the surface of a planet where the sun dont fry you alive
EQUIUS: D --> Although I must admit that I am rather disappointed with the fact that my technology was not the cause of our freedom, I do feel
EQUIUS: D --> Relieved
EQUIUS: D --> Relieved that we are no longer trapped, and relieved that we have found a beautiful new home
KARKAT: YOU SAID THIS PLANET WAS THE MOST LIKE YOUR HOME, JOHN?
KARKAT: ... I COULD GET USED TO A PLACE LIKE THIS.
KARKAT: OH MAN I CAN'T WAIT TO REDESIGN MY HIVE. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT I WISH I PUT INTO ITS ORIGINAL BUILD WHEN I WAS A WIGGLER.
JADE: hey, dave?
JADE: do you think this planet has any native animals?
DAVE: if there arent we can always just use the ecto labs to populate the world with stuff from earth and alternia
JADE: really?! oh, i can't wait!!!
JADE: come on, let's start looking now!!!
MEENAH: hold up for a sec puppygurl
MEENAH: i wanna revel in this moment
KANAYA: I Agree
KANAYA: Lets Just Stay Here For A Moment Longer Watching The Sunrise
MEENAH: or is that a sunset
MEENAH: hell if i know
MEENAH: all i know is that this is the start of a new beginning for trollkind
MEENAH: humans too i guess but mostly trolls
MEENAH: yo john
MEENAH: got a favor to ask of ya
MEENAH: how do you feel about bein my right fin man when it comes to teachin me and other trolls about the way your kind floats their boats
* You accept Meenah's offer to help.
JADE: yeah! john will do great at his job!
JADE: better than i think myself, dave, or rose could, since... well...
JADE: we all were living with trolls for a while. i think we forgot what it's like to be human!
JADE: in the meantime, i'm getting a head start on animal searching! come on, dave!!
* Jade runs off, gleefully.
DAVE: well
DAVE: someones gotta keep her from getting hurt
DAVE: see you guys later
* Dave follows in pursuit.
KARKAT: DAVE ALONE WON'T BE ENOUGH TO WRANGLE HER. JADE, WAIT UP!
* Karkat then charges after them.
EQUIUS: D --> I must go find and mark the perfect location for my new roboti% laboratory
* Equius heads off as well.
MEENAH: hm
MEENAH: horseboy has a fair point
MEENAH: gotta go find a spot for my new castle
KANAYA: Alright
MEENAH: sea ya
* Meenah exits, twirling her trident around.
KANAYA: It Would Seem That Everyone Is Quite Eager At Getting Started With The Development Plans
KANAYA: John
KANAYA: You Came From A World Like This
KANAYA: With My Understanding Of Human Relationships Typically An Adult Human Takes Care Of An Adolescent Until They Are Fully Grown
KANAYA: But Since There Are No Adult Humans What Will You Do Now
* You tell Kanaya that you would like to stay with her and her lusus-sprite.
KANAYA: I See You Caught On To What I Was Getting At
KANAYA: John
KANAYA: I Am Sure That My Lusus Would Love To Care For You As Well
KANAYA: Though Looking Back If You Had Told Her This Back At The Brooding Caverns I Am Certain That None Of This Would Have Occurred
KANAYA: I Suppose It Is A Good Thing That You Waited So Long
* You and Kanaya share a laugh together.
CALLIOPE: what aboUt me, if i may ask?
CALLIOPE: might i stay with the three of yoU as well? i know that my kind aren't really a social species, bUt i woUld like to give it a try, at the very least.
KANAYA: Well I Suppose
KANAYA: If You And John Truly Want To Stay With Us
KANAYA: We Will Do Our Best To Take Care Of You For As Long As You Need
KANAYA: Her As A Human Mother And I As A Human Sister
KANAYA: Alright Now Lets Go
KANAYA: Everyone Is Waiting For Us
* You, Calliope, and Kanaya walk off together towards the sun.

Skaia

* Just as you're about to head to the town's square, the door to the local bar kicks open. You turn and face the poor, brave fool.
* Something about this barkeep... She gives off an eerie energy as she approaches.

ROSE: As you might have noticed, the town is empty. When Terezi got her information, she then passed it on to myself, and I to the rest of the town, eventually...
ROSE: . . . It took me a while to get past what I had heard.
ROSE: Kanaya... That was her name. And to think, I never even got a chance to meet her in person... Now, I never will.
ROSE: She was my friend.

ROSE: I know I should've evacuated with the others, but someone has to stop you now before anyone else gets killed.
ROSE: Maybe it's my self-destructive tendencies... Maybe it's the will of the outer gods... Maybe I just don't care anymore...
ROSE: Whatever the case...
* Rose draws her wands.
ROSE: Let's dance.

Every Rose Has its Thorns

* You trudge through the snow, more blood fresh on your hands. Eventually, as you're about to head through one of the many gates and proceed to the Land of Wind and Shade, you get the feeling of being watched.
* A flash of green happens to your side and in an instant, Jade appears.

JADE: alright. that's enough. i can only keep playing along for so long!!
JADE: dave said that if we just stayed patient and waited, you would just go away. that you would disappear and we would be fine. but there are so many others that have been hurt and will be hurt if someone doesn't stop you!
JADE: we are gods. we should be able to handle one human!
JADE: i mean, you aren't even god tier!
JADE: me, on the other hand? i have that and the power of the green sun!
JADE: grrr... just quit while you're ahead or die now, i don't care!

* Green flames surround the two of you. Jade is giving you an ultimatum.

Grimbark

* You progress along one of the many bridges crossing the oil in the Land of Wind and Shade. Much more blood has been shed.
* As you approach the other side, a voice can be heard from behind you. A familiar one. An ANNOYING one.

NEPETA: :33 < *ac spots the human that she had been following from the shadows, much like the huntress she is*

* The feline Troll girl approaches you.

NEPETA: :33 < hey!
NEPETA: :33 < fur some reason karcat had told me to stay away from you?
NEPETA: :33 < he said that you, well, hurt a lot of people
NEPETA: :33 < but uh
NEPETA: :33 < that isnt true, right?

* You turn your face from her.

NEPETA: :33 < hey, why arent you answering me?
NEPETA: :33 < and whats with that look on your face?

* You turn and approach her, causing her to step back cautiously.

NEPETA: :33 < oh
NEPETA: :33 < oh i

* You can tell that her heart is pounding. Her eyes are darting around frantically. She finally musters up the courage to speak.

NEPETA: :33 < hey
NEPETA: :33 < y-youd b-better st-stay right where you a-are
NEPETA: :33 < beclaws if you want t-to hurt anyone else, youll

* She takes a combative stance, her claws extending from her gloves.

NEPETA: :33 < you'll have to go through me first
NEPETA: :33 < and-

* You don't even give her the time to react. She's in your way, and she's a free ticket up the echeladder. You ready your hammer for a powerful strike...
* ... only to hit Karkat in the skull. He reels from the damage taken.

NEPETA: :33 < karkat! youre hurt!
KARKAT: TCH... THIS IS NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT I'M ABOUT TO DO TO HIM.
KARKAT: I TOLD YOU TO STAY AWAY FROM THIS FREAK. YOU'D BETTER FUCKING LISTEN NEXT TIME, ALRIGHT?
NEPETA: :33 < okay :((
KARKAT: I'LL TAKE CARE OF THIS.
KARKAT: YOU, HEAD OFF TO LOHAC. GO TELL EQUIUS TO INITIATE AN IMMEDIATE EVAC TO THE VEIL.
NEPETA: :33 < i...
KARKAT: GO!

* Nepeta takes one last tearful glance at Karkat before dashing away. Karkat, his face covered in his own blood, turns to you with a grimace.

KARKAT: HEH... I'LL ADMIT, I HAD A FACADE ON THERE. I DOUBT I'LL MAKE IT OUT OF THIS ONE...
KARKAT: BUT THAT DOESN'T MATTER... BECAUSE NEITHER WILL YOU.

* His eyes are drawn to the pit below, spotting something. He lets out a coy smirk as he draws his weapon... what is he plotting?

KARKAT: KANAYA. TEREZI. JADE.
KARKAT: DEEP WITHIN ME, I CAN FEEL A BURNING SENSATION THAT I CAN'T DESCRIBE.
KARKAT: A FEELING THAT ONLY FUELS TO ENHANCE MY UNDYING RAGE.
KARKAT: YOUR RAMPAGE WAS NEVER ABOUT SATISFYING A KILLING URGE OR TWO, WAS IT?
KARKAT: IF YOU GET PAST US, YOU'LL DESTROY THE WHOLE UNIVERSE, WON'T YOU?
KARKAT: TROLLS. HUMANS. EVERYONE.
KARKAT: EVERYONE'S BONDS BROKEN. EVERYONE'S BLOOD SPILT. ALL AT YOUR HAND.
KARKAT: I'M NOT ABOUT TO LET YOU DO THAT.
KARKAT: RIGHT NOW, IT'S AS IF I CAN FEEL THE HEARTBEATS OF EVERYONE, ALL AT ONCE.
KARKAT: AND THEY ALL HAVE ONE WISH. FOR YOU TO DIE!
KARKAT: HUMAN ISN'T A FITTING DESCRIPTOR FOR YOU ANYMORE. YOU'RE MORE OF A MONSTER THAN US TROLLS.
KARKAT: FOR THE SAKE OF ALL EXISTENCE.
KARKAT: I, KARKAT VANTAS, WILL TEAR YOU TO SHREDS!

* Karkat turns and spreads his arms wide before he falls backwards off the bridge, plummeting down into... something brown and cocoon shaped?
* As soon as you hear his body hit the bottom, it starts to glow bright before shattering. Moments later, the bridge almost entirely decimated, you see him start to rise up in Knightly garb.

KARKAT: I MAY HAVE TO GET OFF OF SPIDERTROLL'S ASS FOR ALL OF HER LUCK SHIT, BECAUSE THAT WAS MY LUCKIEST BREAK EVER.

* He floats back onto to the bridge, standing right before you.

KARKAT: SORRY, BUT THAT LAST HIT IS THE CLOSEST YOU'RE EVER GONNA GET.

But He Began To Ascend

* KNIGHT OF BLOOD 99ATK 99DEF
* The final form of Karkat's resolve.

Knight of Blood

* You've quickly made your way through LOHAC and are nearing the end of your travels on LOPAN. You've raked in so much EXP that you've nearly reached the top of your Echeladder.
* You just need to take one final transportalizer before you reach your goal... Billious Slick.
* As you continue down the path, you spot her... that robot troll that's been trying to take you down since LOHAC. She's standing inside another cocoon-like structure. You preemptively draw your hammer as you enter.

ARADIABOT: s0 y0u have finally arrived
ARADIABOT: i w0nt waste y0ur time with s0me lengthy preamble
ARADIABOT: just kill me already

* You can tell she's bluffing. You know that if you kill her here, she'll just ascend to the God Tiers just like Karkat did.
* You call her bluff. You use your hammer in one massively powerful swing to crack the entire cocoon.

ARADIABOT: well then
ARADIABOT: there g0es that idea
ARADIABOT: luckily i have a plan b
ARADIABOT: in the time that it t00k f0r y0u t0 get here equius made s0me m0dificati0ns t0 my r0b0tic shell
ARADIABOT: m0dificati0ns which w0uld n0t 0nly serve t0 amplify my psychic p0wers tenf0ld
ARADIABOT: but als0 revive me thanks t0 the essence 0f an ancient ring
ARADIABOT: it may be a risk but it is 0ne that i am willing t0 take
ARADIABOT: are y0u ready? because here i c0me

* Aradiabot's core flashes brightly as her shell shifts and folds. With a blinding flash, instead of the robot that was before you, there now rests a pile of scrap metal and a beacon of sorts, which you deduce is the amplifier she was talking about.
* Floating higher than that is the troll herself, newly resurrected.
* Let's reacquaint her with death's cold embrace, shall we?

d0uble death

* As you progress through the Felt Manor, you get a feeling in your gut, telling you to stop moving. It's a good thing you did, as a troll crashes through a wall.
* He stops hovering and lands on the ground before you.

TA: hey.
TA: remember me? becau2e ii 2ure remember you.
TA: you triied two kiill me once. ii got away.
TA: ii wa2 keen on ju2t hiidiing away, lettiing you keep on goiing untiil youve had your fiill.
TA: but you never 2topped.
TA: you ju2t kept on kiilliing and kiilliing.
TA: ii 2aw what happened to them.
TA: kanaya. tz. ff. kk. aa.
TA: ii couldnt ju2t 2iit back and watch you de2troy everythiing any longer.
TA: 2omethiing in my freakii2h mutant braiin wouldnt let me, and nor would the voiice2 of the one2 you kiilled.
TA: ii cant afford not two care anymore.
TA: 2o here we are.

* Red and Blue psionic energies crackle along Sollux's body.

TA: you ready, heiir?

==> Heir: Tell the Mage to "Bring it."

dualiity

* You proceed through the Felt Manor, hammer in hand. After having dealt with the psychic troll, you feel nigh unstoppable.
* You make your way to a long hallway, the only illumination coming from the windows. At the end of the hall, you spot a caped figure.

TG: yo
TG: lets just get to the point
TG: youve done some terrible shit
TG: you must not care
TG: or dont feel anything at all whatsoever
TG: only seeing people as stuffing for graves
TG: ...
TG: ive had enough
TG: jade was a hero
TG: so was karkat
TG: im not but someones gotta fill the role of knight around here now that hes gone
TG: i hope youre ready for a beatdown
TG: cause if you take another step forward?
TG: youre really not gonna like what i might have to do to you

* You step forward, calling his bluff.

TG: ... well
TG: i tried to warn you
TG: gave you this last moment to think about it all
TG: what youve done
TG: to change
TG: ... sorry troll lady
TG: forget all about my promise

TG: hope youre ready
TG: cause were doing this strider style
TG: i know my death would be heroic
TG: but yours should damn well be justified
TG: so theres no turning back

TG: Your shit is wrecked.

==> Foxx: Editor's note.
we finally made it. the track that started it all, sunslammed. i've been holding onto this file for a while, the song was finished mid 2023. it ain't about the destination though, but the journey.
a journey that started all the way back with the first version nearly seven years ago. what a ride, huh?
i can't thank you guys enough for listening in. this project has helped me develop my musical skills so much
OST ain't complete yet, there's still a few more tracks to upload. until then, here's a link to the "solar smashing" playlist i made back when i first started. you guys can see the evolution of the track for yourselves ( https://soundcloud.com/foxx-973295713/sets/solar-smashing )

Sunslammed

* You make your way through the halls of the Felt Manor. You locate Meenah and slay her before she can even reach for her trident. You run into Caliborn and crack his skull open with your hammer too. Now nobody is able to get between you and your Freedom.
* You notice that Meenah had a key on her person. You take the key, which you gather would let you open a door someplace. Curiosity strikes as you wander the manor looking for a room that matches its spade design.
* You eventually find it, after what feels like an eternity... You unlock the door and enter. Inside is a small room with a ladder going down.
* You climb down the ladder, hearing a grumbling noise coming from the room at the bottom. You enter to find a tall, carapaced figure grumpily smacking around a console with a black screen.

???: C'mon, come on! I need to see my new protégé continue our work! What happened to the frog?!

* You clear your throat. The man turns and looks at you.

???: Hm?- Oh, it's you. My student, my protégé, my... employee? No, underling fits better.

* You ask him who he is.

???: Oh, you meant my name. You can call me the Sovereign Slayer, Jack Noir.

* You ask why Meenah had a key to his room.

JACK: Long story short, she managed to somehow beat me in a fight. She locked me up down here. I could break out of here, normally, but something's keeping these damn dog god powers at bay. None of that matters now, you've FREED me, kid. And now? We have work to do.

* You ask what he means by work... you also ask what he means by we.

JACK: We're going to keep filling graves until there aren't any more to fill.

* That doesn't explain why you should work with him.

JACK: Oh, now you're trying to quit on me? I'm the guy that made you who you are now. Powerful. Godlike, even. With this console I could influence you with the power of suggestion. Took a damn long while for me to figure it out, and even longer for you to actually notice, but you did. You put those schmucks where they rightfully belong: their graves.

* . . .

JACK: So come and shake my hand, we're getting out of here.

* He reaches his sole arm out to you. You look up at his canine face with distain.
* You smack his hand away.

JACK: ... So that's how it's gonna be, eh? Fine.
JACK: They always said it was lonely at the top.

* He draws the sword he had embedded in his chest.
* You draw your hammer. Time to show him the true power of the monster he made you become.

Slick

* Jack Noir 99ATK 99DEF
* The self-proclaimed Invincible Demon. Let's call his bluff.

Noir Stabs Back

the final track of the au.

a lot has happened in my life over the years. i've picked up and put down this project so many times, either out of doubt for my own skills or simply getting caught up in other stuff
i know i always wanted to complete this, but as it got closer and closer to the end, i never wanted to stop

eventually, you just need to put that last nail in the coffin.

thank you all so much for listening to my tracks, ideas, and evolution as an artist. i can't confirm if i'll do another au page like this but i'd sure like to explore other avenues to tell stories

i'm currently developing an RPG based off of my friend's series, team sapphire. if you'd like to check out his stuff, here's a link: https://gamejolt.com/@PUN-adian
on top of that, i'm currently doing voice work for a couple projects, one of which includes fnf yellow!
https://gamebanana.com/mods/539563
please take a gander at it if you'd like. many fantastic individuals have come together to work on it, and i've enjoyed my time so far as a part of the team

i've never been the best with goodbyes, so i'll end things off on this note...

i'll see you guys around some other day

-foxx

Thanks for Playing

* A cherub starts to jeer you... you feel as if this long day will get even longer.

YOuR BEST BRO

* You step through the gate that Kanaya was guarding, and end up in a snowy forest of sorts.
* You walk deep into the forest, and hear someone walking up behind you.
* You pull out your hammer, ready to strife.
TG: woah there bro take it easy
* You lower your hammer. Another human?
TG: hell yeah im a human
TG: do i look like ive got candycorn horns?
* You wonder why he is here.
TG: same question ive got for you
TG: lemme introduce myself
TG: strider
TG: dave strider

dave

TG: ah shit hide
* Dave pushes you aside into a bush and leans against a tree.
* A girl in a black dress-like outfit with fake dog ears and a fake dog tail arrives to the scene.
TG: yo
TG: whats up harley?
GG: you know what is up dave!
GG: you were supposed to help me with my frog breeding :(
TG: ah shit sorry jade
TG: i was busy
GG: with what??
TG: leaning against a tree like it's a street lightpost or something
TG: its like i'm some 90s movie coolguy or something
GG: well, you are a cool guy, so you don't need to act like one!
GG: wait... is this some kind of irony thing?
TG: yes
GG: ah, i see :)
GG: well hurry up okay? i can't do this alone!
TG: mkay
TG: ill get there in
TG: ...
GG: ...
TG: time
GG: grrr i hate those long awkward pause jokes!
TG: i know
TG: alright lets get cracking
TG: ill be there in a sec
GG: woof!!

FM!Understuck

Popular tracks