[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/wdOTi7v.png[/img] [b]"Out with the new, in with the old."[/b] [color=888888]— Bonnie[/color][/center] [@FamishedPants] Samantha’s wandering eventually took her into downtown Penrose. There wasn't much happening at this hour, but she still stayed out of people’s way. Ever the shadow, Samantha did not chance being spotted by enemy magical girls before she spotted them. She stuck to the back streets where the narrow walkways where fewer eyes could see her. It would be a shame to get jumped by a Mint agent right after waking up. As good as she was at hiding, Penrose was the sort of place where nothing stays hidden forever. A giant tombstone shaped rock fell from the sky. Samantha might have poised herself from an enemy attack, but there was no threat here. The stone's decent slowed untill it was hovering a few feet off the ground. A portal opened on its surface, and a hand reached out to toss a tube into Samantha’s waiting hand. [b]"You’re my last stop in this city."[/b] If Bonny noticed that Samantha looked out of it, she didn’t show it. [b]"My condolences for what happened to Cradle. Here’s hoping things look up in the future."[/b] The portal closed, the stone flew into the sky. It was like Bonny was never there. The only sign she had even been here was the canister that contained a hunt for Samantha. [hr] [center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1089216474998128771/1171952897760690257/GarnetGemini.png?ex=655e8d30&is=654c1830&hm=c0a1079debb0204cc4141bdfff519cb4a831d4b33602ccdd25eb8fefeada1c77&[/img][/center] It was a gray day New York. The sky was overcast without a single speck of blue. The steel and concrete buildings were covered in windows, but they reflected no colors. In this chromatic wasteland was a [url=https://i.imgur.com/2PTe25X.png]girl in a red cloak.[/url] She was walking down mainstreet, which was filled with girls in black. Black outfits, black weapons, but skin as pale as the sky. They parted as the scarlet stranger drew near. She made her way to the other end of the crowd before ascending a podium. They waited for her to speak. [color=#bd71e8]”We've taken the city.”[/color] Three simple words, but it caused the entire to erupt in cheers. Some were so elated that they fired their weapons into the sky. But when the cloaked girl snapped her fingers, all was quiet again. It was as if the city itself ceased moving at her command. [color=#bd71e8]”Garnet Gemini, we have accomplished so much in so little time. But it would not be fair to ignore the accomplishments of Crimson Cradle; a precursor to all we have achieved.”[/color] Despite how stoic the girl was, her arms were animated. Not unlike a certain famous German politician. [color=#bd71e8]”The red coin was first conceptualized by a magical girl named Binky. It was her dream, but it wasn’t until she joined Crimson Cradle that she could realize that dream. Without them, her idea would just be a fantasy. But the Cradle gave birth to her desires.”[/color] She waved her arm at the masses. [color=#bd71e8]”You used to be nothing more than familiars! Doomed to serve those above your station. You control your own destiny now. Equality is here, and you’re afforded the respect you deserve. The Cradle has been kind to you as well. It’s soaked with the magic of artifacts contained within.”[/color] And the magic of magical girls, but that part was unspoken. [color=#bd71e8]”Using the red coin has allowed you to tap into that magic. It took your weakness and replaced it with strength. The energies that surround each and every one of you comes from the Cradle itself!”[/color] When she cast her arms into the heavens, the crowd cheered again, but it was less intense this time. [color=#bd71e8]”Others covet your gifts. The greedy and ever displeased were seduced by the red coin. They used it in hopes of forwarding their selfish desires. In doing so, they have forever embedded their soul with traces of the Cradle’s magic. Should they try to stop us, they will only end up joining our ranks. They seek to take what is not rightfully theirs and are taken instead. The Cradle’s power is [i]our[/i] power!”[/color] Behind the girl were two other girls. One with an uno aesthetic, and another was a maid with a sniper rifle. The uno girl looked at the maid. [color=75c159]”What’s she doing this for? Aren’t they all-”[/color] But then she stopped. [color=75c159]”Eh, never mind.”[/color] The red cloaked girl continued. [color=#bd71e8]”Crimson Cradle became a shadow of its former self, but they did hold the line. The last great thing they did was destroy the Lotus Eater, just hours ago. No one knows what happened to Crimson Cradle's members. Dead or missing, their sacrifice was not in vain. With that artifact out of the way, the time to return to Penrose has come.”[/color] She slammed her fist into her open palm. It created a thunder clap that could be felt at the back of the crowd. [color=#bd71e8]”Wonderland wants to make a move for the Nexus, but our smaller force will beat them to it. With the number of red coin users as high as they are, we merely need to arrive and pluck it from the city’s heart. Once it is in our hands, even the gods wouldn't dare try to stop us. The only thing left to answer is this: Who among you is ready to march right now?”[/color] The crowd of magical girls roared like some prehistoric animal. They discharged their weapons, but the scarlet stranger would not stop them this time. She only grinned before turning to face Penrose. [color=#bd71e8]”Onwards! Run amuck! Eliminate our foes with extreme prejudice! Fixing this broken world is but a march away!”[/color] [hr] [quote] To the North: Conquest of the Scarlet Stranger Slay or drive off the Scarlet Stranger and save Penrose from a hostile takeover! We’ve had enough plots involving mind control and giant armies... Challenge Rating: SSS+ Notes: This hunt can only be undertaken by a party that contains Finn and/or Samantha. Taking someone who has used a red coin is ill-advised as they will fall directly under Garnet Gemini’s control. [/quote]