Lurker > Cartridge88

B

"Myself."

"Okay!" the twins say.

"But where to start?" Roselind asks.

"We should obviously ask about the Titans," Rebecca says.

"Yes, of course!" Roselind says. "Is Beast Boy as cute in person as he is on TV?"

"Is Starfire as pretty in person?" Rebecca asks.

"Are Robin and Cyborg as cool as they look?" Roselind asks.

"Slow down, slow down," Raven says with a little laugh. "First off, these are questions more about my friends than me. But since you asked, Starfire might actually be prettier, and both Robin and Cyborg are as about as cool as most people think. I think. I just don't know how to answer about Beast Boy."

"Is he not cute?" Roselind asks.

"Is it because you're with Rory?" Rebecca asks.

"It's not exactly that," Raven says. "Though, Rorek really is really handsome."

"Yeah, we've heard that a lot," Rebecca says.

"From so many," Roselind adds.

"If anything, that's why I can't say Beast Boy is cute," Raven says. "He's too much like a brother to me."

"Oh..." the twins both say.

"That makes sense," Roselind says.

"In that case, when did you first know you had feelings for our brother?" Rebecca asks.

"Probably about the time he had feelings for me," Raven says. "It just seemed like a magnetic attraction."

"Aww...!" the sisters say.

"And so it's already been a whole month that you're together?" Roselind asks.

"Almost a whole month," Raven says. "We met a month ago, but it still took that first week."

"So they grew pretty quickly," Rebecca says. "Your feelings for him."

"Well, I mean," Raven says. "I've fallen quicker. Though, that time didn't work out. It was actually quite awful."

"Oh?" Rebecca says. "Who was the guy?"

"Becca," Roselind scolds.

"Sorry," Rebecca says. "Just curious."

A) Share the story
B) Move on from it
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/MkMWNqr

A

"Okay, sure," Raven shrugs.

"Yes!" the twins say with a high-five between each other.

They then grab both of Raven's hands and pull her along out of the room.

"Be careful with her, girls!" Mrs. Null calls after.

"Don't worry, we will!" Roselind and Rebecca respond.

They bring Raven to the stairs and go up. They bring her around a corner and into a room. Raven looks around, and sees two matching beds, on opposite sides of a central window. Both sides have posters and shelves with stuffed animals, and it's all very girly, making Raven's eyes start to hurt.

"So... You girls sure like nature," she says as she glances at the posters.

"Of course!" Roselind says as she sits on the bed on the left.

"Nature's everywhere, so why wouldn't we like it?" Rebecca asks as she sits on the bed on the right.

"That's a good point," Raven says.

And after looking at the posters closer, there are differences in what they feature. On the left side of the room, Roselind's side, the posters are of flowers and forests, and her collection of stuffed animals are bunnies, bears and one dog. On the right side of the room, Rebecca's side, the posters are of the ocean and lakes while her stuffed animals are dolphins, whales and one hammerhead shark.

"I see," Raven says. "Roselind likes the land, and Rebecca likes the sea."

"Yep!" they both say.

"We both thought about that if we were to be animals, what kind we'd like to be," Roselind says.

"I'd want to live in the water while Rose would want to be in the woods," Rebecca says.

"That's pretty interesting," Raven says. "You're twins, but you're still different."

"Of course we're different," Roselind laughs.

"We're twins, not clones," Rebecca says.

"It'd be too weird if we liked exactly the same thing," Roselind says.

"That's also a good point," Raven chuckles.

Raven tries to decide where to sit, but she's stuck between the two beds.

"Oh, sorry," Roselind says. "How rude of us."

"Hold on," Rebecca says.

The twins go to a closet on Rebecca's side and pull out chairs. They set the chairs in a triangle so that the twins sit by their own beds. Raven faces the window, but it's not too bright with the curtains closed.

"So..." Raven says, starting to feel nervous. "What're we supposed to talk about?"

"Well," both twins say.

"We've been wanting to ask all sorts of questions," Roselind says.

"But we didn't want to ask with other people around," Rebecca adds. "Because some questions were about Rory."

"And other questions were about you," Roselind says.

"Oh," Raven says. "Well, I guess we can start with questions about..."

A) Rorek
B) Raven
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/LbKe8tC

this update probably would've been longer but I had to get a lot of work done

C

"No, it's perfect," Raven says. "It's definitely my style."

"Oh?" Mrs. Null says as she walks over. "All of it?"

She is clearly indicating the low chest with her stare.

"Well, not that part," Raven says quickly. "But, I don't really mind if it's just this once."

"I agree," Mrs. Null says. "Besides, isn't the American saying, 'If you've got it, flaunt it'?"

The twins giggle and Raven lets out a small chuckle.

"Make sure to come back in about 30 minutes to start dressing," Mrs. Null says. "We'll finish things up so you can be ready for the pre-dinner festivities."

"Okay," Raven says. "Do you think Rorek is done with the fitting for his tuxedo?"

"Probably," Roselind says. "Mr. Wilmarth does great work."

"But you should spend time with us girls," Rebecca says. "Or at least just the two of us."

"Umm..."

A) Sure
B) No, go find Rorek
C) Spend time with all three
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/l66JNhy

"Yes!" Roselind says. "As if Cinderella fused with Morticia Addams!"

"More like Elvira," Rebecca laughs.

"How do you know who that is?" Mrs. Null asks.

"Uhh..."

Rebecca doesn't answer, she just sets to work with Roselind. They mold a wire frame to fit Raven's measurements and begin with the custom underwear. They stitch things so fast side by side, and create the 75F Cup, aka 34E in US standards, and then matching bottoms.

"Wow, they work really fast," Raven says.

"Yes, they're very skilled seamstresses," Mrs. Null notes. "They're likely going to open their own line of fashion one day."

The twins move on to black nylons and the garters that clip to the top. Then they really pick up speed when they create the actual dress itself. Raven can't even keep up with them, but she's pretty sure she catches a glimpse of one of those skirt cages for the huge skirt.

"Tada~!" the twins say as they present the finished product.

From top to bottom, the dress has a feathered collar with high shoulders and low cut chest. The shoulders and long sleeves remind Raven of Jinx's usual outfit with the bat-wing kind of flair. The body is almost like a corset in itself with the laces, and then there's a layer of fabric on top of the skirt that also has its own bat-wing flair.

"Wait," Raven says as she walks over. "This skirt is really skinny. Where did that huge skirt cage go?"

"Oh, this is the compact mode," Roselind says. "For when you're socializing and dining."

"But when it's time to dance," Rebecca says, "all you need to do is snap your fingers and..."

*snap* *FOOF* The skirt immediately expands!

"Whoa!" Raven says. "That's incredible!"

"Thank you," the twins say.

"Is there anything you would change?" Roselind asks.

"Or maybe something you'd add?" Rebecca asks.

A) Remove the shoulder feathers
B) Add fabric to the chest
C) It's perfect as is
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/YoIXroy

COIN TOSS

A

"Black," she says. "It just goes with everything, I guess."

Mrs. Null makes more notes.

"Well then, let's get started," she says as she puts the notepad down. "Off with the shoes, belt, and if we're doing bra, you might as well just take the dress off entirely."

"O-Oh. Okay."

Raven slips out of her heels, sets her belt on a table, then shyly pulls the dress over her head. Mrs. Null sets that on a hanger while Raven steps up to the little stage.

"Well, well," Mrs. Null says as she looks Raven up and down. "As a mother, I never try to think too much of the kinds of women my son is attracted to, but I must say, Raven. Wow!"

"Thank you?" Raven says, wanting to cover up.

"Though, I do hope my son hasn't seen too much of this," Mrs. Null says, suddenly very stern.

"N-No," Raven says, even though all the times she and Rorek were even remotely intimate start pouring into her mind; especially from the other night, in the waterfall's alcove...

"Hmm..." Mrs. Null says as she peers into Raven's eyes. "Well, I suppose I can't do anything about it now, that was in the past. Though I do hope you haven't gone too far."

"Umm..." Raven says nervously. "No, I made sure we've been taking it slow."

"Well, that's good," Mrs. Null smiles. "Now, to work. Arms up, please."

Raven puts her arms straight out like she's the letter T, and Mrs. Null brings the measuring tape up. Mrs. Null goes from shoulder to wrist and then shoulder to shoulder. Then she goes around behind Raven and measures from the base of Raven's neck and to the bottom of her feet.

"Yes, all good, standard height and lengths," Mrs. Null says. "Now, for the important numbers."

Mrs. Null looks Raven up and down, namely from her hips to her bust.

"Please stop staring," Raven says sheepishly.

"Oh, sorry," Mrs. Null says. "Now, stand up straight, arms up."

Raven puts her arms back up and Mrs. Null wraps the tape around Raven's bust.

"Oh my," she says as she sees the number. "95 centimeters..."

"Whoa~!" the twins both say.

Mrs. Null moves down to the waist.

"62 centimeters," she says.

And lastly, she moves to the hips.

"89 centimeters. Now for the full bra size. 95 centimeter bust with..."

She put the tape around under Raven's bust for the band measurement.

"75," she says. "My, my. That's a 20 centimeter difference."

"Wow, an F cup!" Rebecca says.

"Truly impressive," Roselind says.

"Puts all the women of the Null Family to shame," Rebecca says.

Mrs. Null frowns at her daughters.

"Just get the fabrics," she says as she playfully swats at them.

The twins go to the many bolts and rolls of cloth on the wall and start pulling out lengths of black, blue, and even purple.

"Are you sure we shouldn't do something brighter?" Roselind asks.

"Like what?" Rebecca asks. "Yellow? Like Belle from Beauty and the Beast?"

"Oh, no, that wouldn't work for Raven," Roselind says. "Yellow is not her colour."

"Precisely," Rebecca says. "I mean, a yellow leotard on Raven? Could you imagine?"

"So if Belle is out," Roselind says, "should it be Sleeping Beauty? Maybe Cinderella?"

"This is Raven we're talking about," Rebecca says. "We need to bring in ideas from spookier things, too."
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/KOKlS8A

"That's fine, dear," Mrs. Null says. "Then before we get started, do you want the corset or brassiere?

"Bra, please," Raven says. "It's what I'm used to."

"Alright," Mrs. Null says as she takes notes. "What color, then?"

A) Black
B) White
C) Blue
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/NFB3IIe

B

"Maybe you should wait a bit," you say. "Let the others have their time with my sisters."

"Good call," Raven says.

"Meanwhile, I'll be getting fitted for my tuxedo," you say. "I'll see you a little later."

You give Raven a quick peck on the cheek, and Raven blushes while the other suitors are jealous. She gives a quick wave while you head in the other direction.

[stay with Raven]

Raven sees the others looking at her with those envious looks, but she just smiles smugly back.

"Stop! Stop!" Renee shouts audibly though the wall and closed door. "Arrte a!"

"But we're not done yet!" Rebecca says, also audible through the wall. "We haven't finished accentuating."

"Aczentuating?!" Renee says. "You are not aczentuating, you are constricting!"

"They're basically the same," Roselind says.

"Zis is fine as it iz," Renee insists. "Just mark the measurements and let me be!"

"Alright, fine," the twins say with a sulk clear in their voices.

Moments later, Renee and Roxanne storm out of the room while Rona calmly follows after.

"Next!" the twins call.

Raven stays back and lets the others go. But from Ruby to Rhiannon, Regan to Rayna, Rhea to Riva, Regina to Rolanda, Rumiko to both Robertas, and then the new arrivals of Raquel, Remelia, Rhonda, Ria, Riley, Rosario and Rowena, it sounded all same.

"Just hold still!" Rebecca says.

"But that's too tight!"

"Watch those haAA~nds!"

"What does my butt have to do with a ball gown!?"

"It's the hips, obviously," Roselind says.

"Then stick to the hips!"

"Mrs. Null, control your daughters!"

"Girls, behave yourselves," Mrs. Null would say.

"But how're we supposed to get accurate measurements?" Rebecca counters.

Each girl went in worried and came out some level of upset.

"Oh there you are," Rebecca says as she spots Raven all alone.

"Were you here the entire time?" Roselind asks.

"Yes," Raven says.

"Then why didn't you go sooner?" Roselind asks.

"Fear."

"Oh stop," Rebecca says with a chuckle. "C'mon, let's get you fitted."

Raven whimpers as the twins lead her in by the hands.

The dressing room is quite big, like a couple bedrooms put together. There are also several full length mirrors and a few small circular stages. Mrs. Null stands by a rack of dresses, looking between the flowing gowns and a notepad. She must have measurements on the paper and she's looking for the best match with what's made.

"Finally," she says when she spots Raven. "I was wondering when we'd be working on you."

"Y-Yeah..." Raven says sheepishly.

Raven stands there nervously while Mrs. Null and the twins stare at her.

"What're you waiting for?" Rebecca says.

"Get undressed," Roselind says.

"O-Oh. D-Do I have to?"

"Girls, stop saying it so abruptly," Mrs. Null says. "But seeing as how you'll need custom garters to go with the dress, you should at least hike up your skirt so we can get those."

"Why can't I give you my measurements on my own?"

"Because these are custom fit," Mrs. Null says. "They're going to fit you and only you, for much better comfort."

"Though custom garters will mean matching stockings, corset or bra."

"Okay," Raven says. "But could Mrs. Null do my measurements? I could literally hear how handsy you two were."

Raven squints suspiciously at the twins, who act innocent.
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/ZsSrtF5 https://imgur.com/5ZjF4TN

A

"Sure," you say as you open the ink pad. "Let's go with this one."

You grab a stamp and, after seeing the glue has set, you rub the rubber in the pad to get it evenly coated.

"Hold out your hand," you say to her.

She puts her right hand forward, and you press the stamp onto her palm.

"Give it a little mana to activate it," you say.

She nods, and you can tell from the Rune starting to glow that she's put mana into it.

"Arcana Primus, Accudo!" you suddenly say.

"Hey!" she says as you shoot the low level energy at her.

It hits, but it doesn't do much.

"Oh," she says. "That didn't hurt."

"Arcane Resistance," you say, pointing out the Rune.

"Wow," she says. "That's pretty neat."

"And proof that the stamp works."

"Can we do the others?"

"I don't think it'd be safe to test a Fire or even Wind Element stamp indoors," you say. "And we don't have anywhere you could acclamate. Let's just find you a carrying case for all of this and start preparing for the party."

"Okay..." she sighs as you go to another drawer.

You find plenty of carrying cases with their polished wood and golden hinges. You pull out the black case and open it up. The ink pad fits snuggly inside, and you adjust the soft foam to fit her five stamps.

"We can even engrave it," you say.

You bring out some font stencils, and using a small chisel, you put two R's, for "Raven Roth."

"Oh~!" she says as you fill the engraving with gold paint.

The paint dries and you present it to her.

"Lovely," she says. "But where would I keep it?"

"Well, if you were the kind of girl to have even a small purse, that would be one place," you say. "We can worry about how that'll work in your traditional cloak and leotard later."

"I suppose putting a Magi-Pocket in might throw off my cloak's balance," she says.

"Only if we put in one," you say. "We could put in two and make sure they act as counter-weights for each other. But for now, we should prepare for tonight."

"Okay," she says. "That means getting a dress, right?"

"Yes," you say. "My mother will likely be expecting you."

"Why? Does she need to approve my choice?"

"No, she needs to help you with a dress for the dance," you say. "The dresses we bought you have been for the dinners, but the dance and the party itself are a different story."

"I was worried this would happen," she sighs.

"It'll be fine," you say. "So long as my sisters aren't involved."

The two of you exit the study into the library, then from the library into the hall. You lead Raven to the dressing room, which already has a line forming with the other suitors.

"Hello, Rory!" all the others say in turn.

"Good afternoon, everyone," you say. "Let's see... Ah, it seems Renee and Roxanne are already inside."

"Yes," Rhiannon says. "They 'insisted' they and Renee's cousin, Rona, go first."

"Of course they did," Raven mutters.

"Well I'm sure my mother can handle Renee and Roxanne well enough," you say.

"Well your sisters are in there, too, so they're surely helping," Regan says.

"My sisters are in there?" you say.

Raven looks at you with worry, given what you've already told her about your sisters and playing dress-up.

A) Have her go in now
B) Have her wait it out
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/fgv9ICp

A

"Acclamation. I don't know how high you can fly, but if there ever comes a moment where you need to fly up hundreds of stories, this could help you breathe in the thinner air."

"That does sound good," she says. "I can't always fly after some villains the way Starfire or even Beast Boy can. I'll do it."

You rummage through drawers and find the molding plastic. You pull out a couple sheets and then look up the Runes you need in the text. Using Barrier Magic on a small level, you trace the Runes in the book and bring them over to the molding plastic. You press them into the plastic to create the molds for the stamps themselves.



You then pull out a slab of rubber and super heat it. This takes some time, and both you and Raven plug your noses so as not to breathe any of the fumes in. You use more Barrier magic to act as a funnel to then carefully pour the liquified rubber into the molds. The cooling process also takes some time, even with the help of magic. Once the rubber has solidified, you carefully peel it away from the mold.

"Perfect," you say. "No air bubbles or tears."

You place the wood blocks on the back of the rubber, just behind each of the Runes. They line up just right, and you cut the Runes out in squares. You glue those squares to the blocks and let those set.

"Should we test them out?" she asks.

A) Sure
B) Maybe later
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/E3l1p0x

A

"Alright, I'll prepare stamps for you," you concede.

She smiles and leads you back to the stairs. You two go up to the study and to the middle of the room. You look in a drawer and pull out ink pads. There's blue, red and black, so you keep the blue. You label that "Raven", then put it aside.

You open another drawer and pull out several wooden cubes which will act as the traditional rubber stamp handles. For now, you just bring out five, so Raven only has to choose five Runes.

"Alright, what Runes do you think you'll need?" you ask. "And don't just use the other suitors as your examples, these stamps will be more for dueling. You can use them in your superhero life, especially once we return to Jump City."

"Umm... Well, is there something for Arcana? Both resistance and increasing?"

"Yes, we can do those," you say. "What else?"

"Maybe elements?" she asks. "Definitely something to help with wind, since there're way too many spirits to befriend."

"Yes, a Wind Element strengthening Rune can work," you say. "Two more."

"In that case, Fire Element resistance," she says. "To protect me in case I'm trapped or something like that."

"Certainly," you say. "May I make a suggestion for your fifth?"

"Sure," she says. "What did you have in mind?"

A) Acclamation
B) Night Vision
C) Jumping
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/GPMLM9i

A

"Spontaneous Runes."

"Spontaneous?"

"Well that was the name for it. It doesn't really mean 'spontaneous', it's really more like 'instant'."

"Like instant noodles?"

"That's a good way to put it. The old way, as I'm sure the book will say, is to put the Rune on something disposable so that you can touch it to something and transfer the Rune's power. For example, you would put it on a rock and then touch the rock to yourself. You activate the Rune and the Rune affects both stone and person. These are good for Runes you wouldn't always use, but you could see yourself stuck in a bad situation if you didn't."

"Like a specific magical resistance," Raven says.

"Precisely. You may not always worry about someone who has great skill in Illusion like Rayna and her family, but it wouldn't hurt to have something to boost your ability to see through Illusions. Now, with the help of modern technology, you don't have to carry around rocks with paint on them, because you can get actual rubber stamps to quickly apply magic paint or ink onto something."

"Oh cool. So I could have myself a little stamp set, with the ink pad and all that?"

"Certainly. We can make sure to get you one before we go."

"I wanna get one now," Raven says with excitement. "Does the study have spare ink pads and rubber stamps?"

"Ink pads, yes. Rubber stamps, no. We'd need to craft new ones, to fit what you want in your set."

"That's okay, we've still got time before your dad's party," Raven says, almost like a pleading child.

"Well..." you say.

Raven keeps looking at you with an almost pouting face.

A) Prepare a set of stamps for her
B) Have Carter prepare the stamps for her
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/UiI3DPO

COIN TOSS

A

"This will help make your belt stronger to keep it and the Enchantments on it from being destroyed."

"Okay," Raven says as she circles her six. "But then why did you bring two different colors of paint?"

"Well for one, I thought you'd like some variety rather than just blue," you say. "And I chose something you'd be able to clearly see on the back of your belt. I specifically went with white paint because even these Rune paints have some qualities to themselves. White promotes healing and recovery."

"I almost thought you were going to say it represents 'purity' and stuff like that," she says.

"No, there's no Rune paint that does that."

"What is blue?"

"I believe blue is for calm and stability, much like blue gemstones."

"Well that's good," she says. "Okay, so, do I just start painting onto the back of my belt?"

"If you want to," you say. "Magic paint washes off easy while wet, so if you realise it doesn't look right, you can always try again."

Raven pours out some paint onto a palette made out of Barrier magic and prepares a brush. She studies her chosen Runes closely, then dabs the brush in blue. She goes to the first link on her belt, where the Precise Ruby lies. You watch her carefully bring the brush to the yellow surface, making sure to use just the very tip to paint. It seems the only one she has difficulty with is the last one, for Stamina. She has to wipe part of it away before finishing.



"Very good," you say. "Very good."

"Thank you," she says with a proud smile. "How do I activate them?"

"With these, you don't need to," you say. "They're all passive Runes, so they are active the moment you put the belt on."

"Oh. What about the active Runes?"

"Those would be near the back of the book. They work best if you paint or tattoo them to your body for faster activation."

"Tattoos, huh? Well, I might pass on that, then."

"Well I suppose I could've guessed that you aren't for tattoos given how clean your skin is."

You smile at Raven and Raven blushes a bit.

"But if tattoos and body paint is too much, there's always..."

A) Spontaneous Runes
B) Enchantment Oils
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/Lqz3ZAv

B

You bring all those down to the library and find Raven turning between pages.

"Are you trying to decide between Runes?" you ask.

"Basically," she says. "Six links on my belt, so up to six runes, but that means narrowing it down to the six best for me."

"And how many have you chosen?" you ask as you set the things down on the table.

Raven holds up a paper she wrote on with pencil.



"A nice selection," you say. "You have Durability, Strength, Light, Mana, Armor, Stamina, Evasion, Resistance and Agility."

"Yeah, and I need to figure out which three I don't need," she says. "But those all sound pretty good considering my abilities and specialties."

"There are definitely the essentials here," you say. "I like Strength, Stamina, Durability, Resistance and Agility for the stat increases."

"But do I really need them? I haven't really gotten into any fist fights with even an actual villain or anything."

"Alright, then keep Durability, Stamina and Agility," you say. "Those will help no matter what. And in which case, let's put Mana and Resistance in the six for your magical abilities. The last one should then be..."

A) Armor
B) Light
C) Evasion
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/FhXjvlR

A

"Don't worry about getting your cloak or leotard this time," you say. "We'll work on Enchanting your belt."

"We can do that?" she asks.

"Yes," you say as you open the doors to the library. "I imagine your belt is some sort of metal or similar material."

"Yeah, basically."

"Then we can use the same Enchanting techniques used for traditional metal armor, Runes."

"Runes?" she says as she walks through. "Like ancient writings?"

"Essentially," you say. "I'll fetch the texts."

You go back to the Enchanting section and pull out the books on Metal Enchanting and Runes.

"Here we are," you say as you open the books. "Enscribing Runes on metal and other hard surfaces. Specifically, these will be Glyphs, because they're Runes on objects rather than people or creaturse. That is a different subject entirely."

Raven walks over and reads the section you point to.

Glyphs are runes inscribed on an object. As with Marks, a Glyph can not be inscribed on an object in the possession of an unwilling creature. Glyphs activate immediately upon completion. Again, some inscriptions are able to extend the life of a Glyph or even to make one permanent.

"Interesting," she says.

She takes the book and flips through the pages.

"A Rune can be made using special Rune paints and a special Rune brush," she reads, "or a special Rune chisel. That seems rather simple."

"As you'll read, using the chisel is a more permanent kind of Rune scribing," you say. "For your belt, I think it'll be better to use paints, mostly to practice writing the Runes."

"And I suppose that study upstairs has plenty of paint?"

"Of course," you say. "I'll bring some down while you study the different Rune patterns."

You go back to the secret stairs that lead up to the study. You find fresh brushes in a drawer, and choose the thinner ones. Then you check the bottles of Rune paint with a quick shake. The paint is still fresh, so you bring down blue, but also

A) Black
B) White
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/OYV1QNY

B

You start to worry. Not only that Radelle is right, but if Raven will start thinking she's right. You look to Raven and take her hand. She looks up at you, still unsure. Maybe she senses the uncertainty in you, as well.

"It's fine," she says. "The prophecy isn't that we can't ever have children. It's about reconciling the family's branches. We can't let things fall apart just because the order of succession changes."

"Yes," you say. "That's what we should focus on more than anything."

Raven rests her head on your shoulder, and you rest your head on her head.

"Well not that you've thoroughly brought down the mood, Sister," Grandfather says. "Perhaps we'll set you up in your old room."

"Thank you, Brother," Radelle smiles.

"How are Alessandro and the family?" he asks while Radelle's servants follow Carter.

"Oh they're fine," Radelle says as she and Grandfather follow them. "Al is finally letting himself relax and trusting that our boys handle the business. Now he uses all that spare energy to spend more time with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren."

"Great-grandchildren?" Raven says. "Already?"

"Well, I am the older sister," Radelle says. "And Al and I had our son, Aniol, right after marrying, and Aniol fell in love quickly with his lovely wife, Jacintha, and they had Jonas, Phineas and Nella, and it was actually shy Phineas who married first, and then he and his wife, Oleisia, had our first grandchild, Basil."

"Wow, not a single 'R' name," Raven says, a smirk creeping on her face.

"Yes, we were breaking the mold," Radelle says with a smirk of her own. "Though, it's rather interesting that your initials are both R."

"Well that might be coincidental," Raven says.

"Not if you were in my prophecy, dear," Radelle says as everyone reaches the stairs. "But I admire that you were more level-headed than my own family about this. I'm confident you'll be a great matriarch."

"O-Oh. Thank you."

"You two can go ahead and return to the library," Grandfather says. "I can keep my sister company from here."

"If you say so, Grandfather," you say.

You and Raven go upstairs to the library, planning to

A) Continue with Enchanting
B) Switch back to Jewelcrafting
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/PbcAWVO

B

You sigh, because you can tell Raven won't give up on it.

"Tell her," you say to Great Aunt Radelle.

"I'm rather surprised," Radelle says. "But, alright then. Oh, how rude of me, I didn't even get your name, dear."

"Raven Roth."

"Raven," Radelle repeats with some stunned surprise. "For the bird."

"Yes," Raven says, looking concerned. "Why is that surprising?"

"Well, um... You did say there is symbolism in prophecy, so... I suppose I saw you in the prophecy."

"What?" Raven says.

"You saw Raven?" you ask. "What do you mean?"

"Well I saw ravens," Radelle explains. "I didn't realize that's what they were, I just thought they were crows."

"Oh come off it," Grandfather says. "You can't just change your prophecy because you have a convenient way out."

"No, she's not making that up," Raven says, her face showing more worry. "It's the truth."

"Your Empathy?" you say.

Raven only nods.

"I saw a white tree, which I clearly took to be our Null Family," Radelle says. "There were many branches, but there was a strong center branch in line with the trunk. That is clearly the main branch of our family.

"A flock of black birds, which I thought were crows but were apparently ravens, landed on that branch. They would eat the fruits of the tree, right down to the seeds. That main branch would not sow seeds for the future, even though the other branches were plentiful. Eventually, that main branch withered, and then the trunk with it, bringing down the entire tree with it."

"So, your prophecy makes it as if the birds are at fault," Raven says. "I'm going to be the reason Rorek will be the last Rorek, and because of that, the family will fall apart."

"It's nothing personal, dear," Radelle says. "I don't pass judgment, I just describe what I've foreseen."

Raven looks conflicted. You know from what she's told you that her life was plagued by a prophecy, and you fear she'll let this one scare her just as that one did.

But at the same time, if Raven's Empathy can tell Radelle means what she says out of genuine belief and not a spiteful ruse, will there really never be an eighth Rorek? You think about that, and are actually a bit relieved so that the competition to have his hand in marriage will finally end as you hoped for. Though the instability isn't exactly a good trade-off.

A) Refuse to believe
B) Start to worry
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/v2e7nFV

B

"Let me tell her," you say to your Great Aunt before she opens her mouth again.

You turn to Raven and hold her hands. The two of you look into each other's eyes, and you can see your own serious expression reflected in those pools of violet.

"According to my Great Aunt Radelle," you say. "There will come a time in my life where I will be the last Rorek. She predicted something would happen that would cause the end of not so much the Null Family, but of the Roreks."

"That won't happen," Raven says. "An eighth Rorek would be born to your cousins or sisters, right?"

"Our family tree shows it doesn't work that way," you say. "A Rorek is always born to a Rorek. It's more obvious with the beginning, Rorek the First had a son, whose son was then Rorek II. Then Rorek II's grandson was Rorek III, through his son Ragan. It's harder to see going from Rorek III to Rorek IV, but Rorek IV's father, Radnor, was son of Radley, son of Radorm, son of Randolph."

"So they're only born to the men of the family," Raven realizes.

"Exactly. Radelle didn't have a Rorek, and her children haven't had a Rorek. No girl born to the Null Family has had a Rorek."

"Hard to call that coincidence," Raven says.

"Yes, but it's also my Grandfather's reason for thinking Great Aunt Radelle is just spiteful."

"I will admit I've been such in my life," Radelle says. "But that has nothing to do with this prophecy."

"Sure it doesn't," Grandfather says sarcastically. "You only promised the entire family that neither of my grandsons at the time, nor any future grandchild nor great grandchild would have Rorek VIII. You may have been right that Roger wouldn't have a Rorek and that Ronald would, but that doesn't give you the right to just say that was it."

"I'm sorry if I said it at the wrong time," Radelle says, "but it needed to be said!"

"Wrong time?!" Grandfather says. "You said it at Rory's sixth birthday!"

"What does it matter, though?" Raven says.

Everyone looks at her as she steps between Grandfather Sixth and Great Aunt Radelle.

"So what if there's no more Roreks?" she says. "This circle of families can't possibly be built purely on the attraction of marrying a Rorek."

"It's not about the Null family moving on, it's that there won't be a main branch," Radelle says. "Clearly my brother thinks that's me saying it out of spite as being passed over the same way many siblings and relatives of a Rorek have over the years. But I am saying it out of the concern for this family, the Null Family.

"I know the rush to have a child Roger and Rita went through because they wanted to have the next Rorek. It was the same as our cousin, Ranell, thinking succession would change to his family even though my brother existed."

"Then, whatever, it'd just go to normal line of succession," Raven says.

"Don't you understand what that means?" Radelle asks her, stepping closer. "The mad dash to sow seeds would skyrocket! It'd be like the actual royals, with branches of the family competing with each other. My relationship with my brother has never been the best, but I would never have tried to cut his line short, just as no one else in this family would ever do that. Because we had an anchor in the Roreks themselves."

"What was your prophecy?" Raven asks. "What specifically did you see?"

"What would that matter?" Grandfather asks.

"A Seer prophesizes with visions," Raven says. "And most visions have visual symbolism rather than direct explanations. I want to know what she saw."

A) Dismiss it, it doesn't matter
B) Let Radelle share her vision
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/YoIXroy

"Ah, there you are, Brother," Radella greets with a half-smile. "I was hoping you recognized my Mark V from the sound alone. Clearly your hearing is still sharp."

"And your memory must be dulling," Grandfather counters. "You're a bit early for Rory's 18th Birthday."

"Then your memory must be just as bad," Radella counters. "I told you I'd visit before then because waiting until then might be too late."

"Wait, what?" Raven says, a bit concerned. "What is this prophecy that has to do with Rorek turning 18?"

A) Suggest change of venue
B) Tell Raven yourself
---

And Holo https://imgur.com/Y7LVkw8

didn't realize I forgot to put "drink" in the previous update. Raquel's family does soft drinks, not just "soft" lol

B

"Well, Renee is as she's always been," you say. "She even challenged Raven to a duel."

"I should have guessed," Rona says. "Renee haz been so spoiled since, well, forever."

Rona lightly laughs, which relieves Raven.

"When Renee mentioned you, I had a feeling you were a rather sensible person," Raven says. "I'm glad to see I was right."

"It's not hard to be sensible compared to my cousin," Rona says. "She is my cousin and I love her dearly, but I do wish she would start growing up already."

"I know, she acts like what you do for the family is a waste of time," Raven says. "But you're working hard and doing something with your life."

"Thank you," Rona says. "You know, while I don't necessarily get a vote in all zis, but I would definitely zupport you, Ms. Roth."

"Why thank you," Raven smiles. "And please, just call me Raven. Though, I suppose that means you're not as interested in Rorek...?"

"No, no," Rona says with a giggle. "Nothing against Rory, but I'm not into younger men. He's all yours."

Raven and Rona giggle then shake hands and the line moves along.

"Rosario Rodriguez is also from Spain," you continue, "but her family is into natural juices rather than soft drinks.

"Rowena Dylan is Rolanda's cousin, and helps in the focus group testing of new toys and stuffed animals in the Dylan family company. Rolanda often gets her to share some of the top of the line items so she can have the best quality golems."

"And that's everyone," Raven says.

Just as she says that, one more car pulls up. But as it does, you already know who it belongs to.

"To think she'd show up," you sigh.

"Who?" Raven asks. "Another surprise suitor like Rumiko?"

"No, this might actually be worse. Do you remember what I told you about the Null Family line of succession, that the line with the Rorek is the primary?"

"Yeah. Your dad got to be head of the family because he had you."

"Correct. And that goes for how age doesn't matter. Even if a Rorek isn't the first born, their line will be given the role of leadership over all others. That's how it is for me even though my cousin Ross is older. But there is an example of this happening for siblings."

The stark white 1940 Bentley parks, and the two men up front exit. The driver goes to open the door to the back while the passenger takes luggage out of the boot/trunk. The driver helps the old woman step out of the vehicle and head up the stairs, the footman following behind with a big luggage trunk in each hand.

"Grandfather Sixth wasn't the first born, but because he was born a Rorek, he took seniority away from the first born," you continue to explain as the woman and her servants pass through the door. "This is my Great Aunt, Radella Null-Xenos."

"Great Aunt? You didn't tell me anything about her."

"That's because the family cut ties with me," Radella says as she walks up to you. "One little prophecy about what little Rory here had in store for his life, and everyone gets upset."

"You're a Seer?" Raven says.

"Yes," Radella says. "Though my record isn't very long or worthwhile, I have never been wrong."

"And yet you've never been all that tactful, either," Grandfather says as he walks in.
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/LaMHlwX

C

"Thunder Dragon Scales. This will help you against Lightning, like what Rumiko can use."

"Oh wow, you have those?"

"Just enough for this," you say as you pour out a small pile of the sparkling yellow powder.

Raven rolls her needle in the powder, then brings some thread through it. The thread glistens with the powder as she threads it through her needle's eye. She then goes back to her cloak, and starts threading somewhere along the middle. There's a bit of spark as she finishes, but you assure her with a hand that it's meant to do that.

Raven holds up her cloak as she beams with pride. The Thunder Dragon Scale thread is also hidden from the outside, so it should come as a great surprise to whoever tries to challenge Raven next.

"Young Master," Penelope says as she peeks inside. "The guests are already on their way."

"Thank you, Penelope," you say. "We'll be right down."

She nods and heads back out.

"I'll go ahead and put my things away," Raven says. "We can worry about Enchanting my leotard later."

"I'll meet you at the main stairs then," you say as you gather up the Enchanting items.

You go back up to the study while Raven leaves the library. You put everything back as it was, then head back down. You exit the library and walk to the main stairway, where Raven is waiting. The two of you smile at each other as you link arms and walk down.

"Good afternoon, everyone," you say as you walk up to the door.

Lined up like the other suitors at the start of the week are all the non-magic suitors: Raquel, Remelia, Rhonda, Ria, Riley, Rona, Rosario and Rowena.

"Hello, Rory!" Raquel greeted first. "And... who is this?"

"I'm Raven," she introduces herself. "Raven Roth. American, and Rory's girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?!" they all shout, also like the other suitors.

"Since when?!" Ria shouts.

"For just under a month now," Raven shrugs. "But it's pretty serious."

"Serious?!" they all blurt.

"How serious is that?!" Rhonda asks.

"Are you already engaged?!" Remelia asks.

"Engaged?!" Raven says.

"Everyone relax," you say. "Raven and I aren't engaged, but yes, we're in a very serious relationship."

The suitors are upset and anxious, but go through with proper introductions.

"This is Raquel Garcia," you introduce. "Her family is one of Spain's largest soft manufacturers.

"Remilia Dvorak is Rayna's cousin, and her immediate family help in the marketing of the movies The Dvoraks make.

"Rhonda Evans of Wales is daughter to a member of parliament, but the Evans Family also works in home furnishings.

"Ria Koskinen and her family in Finland work in electronic manufacturing exports. They're best known for kitchen appliances, such as toasters, microwaves and blenders.

"Riley Grant of Liverpool is very into music, but her family is more heavily into health products like ointments and creams. For now she settles on writing jingles or composing original music for their commercials, but she's hoping to go into her own career.

"Rona is Renee's cousin, as Renee made sure we knew."

"I hope my cousin wasn't too much trouble," Rona says.

A) Fib
B) Gently tell the truth
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/XfOaMgU https://imgur.com/KnQdKaF https://imgur.com/HvgoMiz

A

"Perhaps the hood," you say. "You can put it on the inside, so that it doesn't show. But be sure to arrange it in a way you'll be sure it'll be comfortable."

"In that case," she says as she turns the hood inside out. "I'll go for the end of the hood, right over my forehead."

Raven sits with the cloak on a chair, and lines up the very middle of her hood. She goes from the end that hangs over her face and heads for the top. The line goes right down the center for the first bit, but you can tell it starts to drift.

"Oh, is a crooked sewing going to ruin the effect?" she asks.

"No, no, as long as it's in there, you'll be given the effects. If you were going for the Light as a Feather or Phoenix Aura, then that would be a problem."

Raven is relieved, and then holds her cloak up.

"Can't even tell from the outside," she says.

"Yes, you did a very good job with that," you say.

"Now how about the dragon scale?" she asks.

"Oh. Um, alright."

"Why're you hesitant about that?" she asks.

"Well, I just wasn't sure if you'd want to deal with dragons, because of Malchior."

"Why? He was one dragon. That'd be racist, or something like that, if I cut off dragons completely for what he did."

"I suppose so. But dragon scales are just as hard to come by these days. Let's focus on giving you..."

A) Fire Dragno Scales
B) Ice Dragon Scales
C) Thunder Dragon Scales
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/FVx8xsg

B

You open the bag and carefully pull out some of the long strands that glisten with rainbow colors.

"Let's work on threading these as the book instructs," you say. "Three strands of hair braided together, then braided with the thread."

"Okay," Raven says as she carefully picks out strands of hair. "How do you braid hair?"

"Well, uh... I think it goes like this."

You use magic to pull out some strands. You set them down and have the middle and right strand together off to the side. The furthest right stand crosses over to the left, then the furthest left crosses over to the right. What was the middle strand crosses over to the left, and the strand now on the far left goes back to being on the right. The strand that was on the left returns their, only for the middle strand returns to the right, thus completing a full rotation.

You continue this rotation of right to the left, left to the right, middle to the left, and so on, until you've completely the three stands from end to end. The strands are now essentially a rope of unicorn hair.

"Wow," Raven says. "Where did you learn to braid hair like that?"

"No way in particular," you say quickly.

"Did you have to braid your sisters' hair for them?" Raven smirks.

"No, Penelope took care of that," you say. "But I did see how she did it."

"Aww..." she continues to smirk.

Raven works on her three strands to do as you did. She moves the right to the left, the left to the right, the middle to the left, and so on.

"Looks good," you say. "To make sure it all stays together, let's fuse the ends with a bit of fire."

You spark a tiny flame and use that to more or less melt the hairs together, so that your rope and Raven's become one. She then takes that and some string from a spool and wraps them together in the easier double helix. She then takes both, cuts a length, and with the utmost focus, threads it through the eye of the Griffon Bone needle.

"Lovely," you say. "Alright, now to try your hand at sewing."

"Okay," she says. "Do you have a thimble?"

"You can create one with mana."

"Oh, I guess that's true."

Raven creates shielding on her fingers, and brings the needle to her cloak. But she's clearly hesitant, likely trying to decide where to start stitching.

A) Suggest the hood
B) Suggest somewhere on the body
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/LQnMdXs

C

"Griffin Bone. Speed and stealth are good stats for you, and it just fits your bird motif."

"Makes sense," she shrugs.

You go up to the study through the hidden stairs and to the drawers of the desk in the very beck. You pull out the sandy colored needle, a few spools of thread, and then a couple baggies of other various ingredients.

Raven has her cloak floating with magic as you return. You set the things down beside the books.

"Here is a Griffin Bone needle," you say as you hold it up to her.

"Oh wow," she says as she looks at it. "It looks really nice."

She takes it in her hand and holds it.

"I can feel the smoothness, and it does seem sturdy," she says. "What's the rest of this for?"

"Because along with the needles, combinging these with the needle and thread can add further boosts and protections."

"Oh..." she says as she looks them over. "And obviously the book will have info on that."

She goes back to the text and starts reading again.

Various materials can be used to grant additional properties, to be activated through the use of Enchanting Needles and small amounts of mana.

Spider Silk can be interwoven with thread to grant the Enchantment of Increased Binding, which allows the wearer to be better in both the usage and resistance of Binding Magic. The webbing of any subspecies of spider may be used, but there are properties unique to the more dangerous poisonous species. Needless to say, please use precaution in trying to procure such silk.

Unicorn Hair can be interwoven with the thread to grant the Enchantment of Increased Healing, which of course allows the wearer to have stronger Healing. The hair must be braided, three strands to make a thin thread, then that Unicorn thread may be wrapped around the normal thread.

Griffin Fur from the lion half of the creature can be interwoven with the thread to grant the Enchantment of Light as a Feather, which will decrease the weight of the wearer. When the wearer falls, they will float softly, as if they were a feather. The fur must be braided, two strands to make a thin thread, then that Griffin thread may be wrapped around the normal thread. However, Light as a Feather will only be granted when the thread follows a complete seam or hem. The thread will not grant Light as a Feather for just one or two stitches placed randomly.

Powdered Dragon Scale naturally works best with Dragon Tooth Needles for doubling the increase in durability, strength, resilience and Arcana, but Dragon Scale on Unicorn Horn or Griffin Bone can still help with durability. Using Dragon Scale on threading allows for Elemental Resistance, relating to what kind of Dragon the scale belonged to. Therefore, a Fire Dragon Scale protects against heat and fire, while an Ice Dragon Scale protects water, ice and the cold.

A Needle can be dusted with Phoenix Ashes to grant a large increase in Fire Resistance, and an increase in Healing magic. It does not take much, only enough to coat the needle from end to end. Phoenix Ash may also be used on the thread to grant a Phoenix Aura, granted that the thread follows a complete seam or hem. The thread will not grant a Phoenix Aura for just one or two stitches placed randomly.

"Do you have Phoenix Ash in there?" she asks with wonder in her voice.

"Sadly, no," you say. "For a creature that continually dies in a burst of flames, the ash is hard to come by. To start you off, let's just try the first three, where you can interweave it with the thread."

You go to the assortment of baggies and pick out

A) Spider Silk
B) Unicorn Hair
C) Griffin Fur
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/wODpcqw

B

"Enchanting. It's another of the schools I know you could use some shoring up, and I think you'll like some of the ways we can enhance your traditional wardrobe."

"Hmm... Well alright," she shrugs. "I'll grab my things and meet you there."

You and Raven excuse yourselves and head out of the dining hall. You hurry on to the library, and go to the Enchanting section. You bring out texts on cloth specific enchantments for the use on Raven's cloak. You're not sure where her leotard goes, though, as spandex wasn't invented at the time of Enchantment's creation. You want to assume leather will work, so you grab those just in case.

You set the books down on the table and sit at the chair while you wait. Just minutes later, Raven walks in, wearing her wedge heels and carrying her cloak and leotard.

"I was right to choose these," she says. "Much better balance on the wedge."

She walks over and sets her things down on the open chair.

"That's not the same leotard as earlier, is it?" you ask.

"No, of course not," she says. "That'd be gross. That one's being washed, this is a fresh one."

"Oh, good."

Raven looks over the selection of books you stacked.

"Hmm... Which one would work for my leotard?" she asks as she looks at both Cloth Enchanting and Leather Enchanting.

"That's what I was unsure of," you say. "We can experiment in a moment, but we'll worry about your cloak first."

Raven brings it over and you open the book for her.

With the right incantations and materials, an enchanter can add bonuses to their armor or weapons, making them stronger, faster, or more resilient, just to name a few of the possibilities.

"Armor?" she says.

"Well, just because it's cloth doesn't mean it isn't your armament," you say. "It was just the general term for what you'd wear into battle."

To properly enchant cloth attire, an Enchanter must have a genuine Enchanter's Needle, as made from either dragon's tooth, unicorn horn, or griffin bone.

"Wow," she says. "So I guess griffins were just as real as dragons and unicorns, huh?"

"Yes, and as you'll read on, you'll see they have different qualities."

Dragon Tooth Needles are very sturdy, allowing easy penetration for even the thickest of fabrics. For Enchanting, Dragon Tooth best benefits durability, strength, resilience and Arcana.

Unicorn Horn Needles are the smoothest, allowing for the swiftest sewing on most materials. For Enchanting, Unicorn Horn best benefits healing, stamina, spirit and Nature.

Griffin Bone Needles are balanced, being stronger than Unicorn Horn but smoother than Dragon Tooth. For Enchanting, Griffin Bone best benefits speed, agility, stealth and Summoning.

"I think we should give you..."

A) Dragon Tooth
B) Unicorn Horn
C) Griffin Bone
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/Lqz3ZAv

A

"I think only the shoes need changing," you say. "I'm not sure which pair you want to put on, but I'll leave that to you."

"Hmm..." she thinks while cutting a piece off her toast. "Maybe I'll go with my wedge heels. They're not too fancy for meeting people, right?"

"Yes, those should work with your dress," you say as you look to her legs.

"Stop~..." she says with a small blush as she playfully pushes your shoulder.

You smile as you go back to your meal. You can see the suitors staring with jealousy, which makes you feel a little bad, but you get past it.

"When are they expected to arrive, by the way?" you ask your parents. "The remaining guests."

"We heard from a few last night that they're hoping to be here about noon local time," mother says. "We can prepare a nice lunch for everyone on the veranda."

"That sounds nice," you say. "Anything is fine by me."

"Yeah, I don't mind whatever you make," Raven says to Carter and Penelope.

"Then we'll be sure to pleasantly surprise you," Carter says with a bow.

Everyone eats up breakfast, and you get up before Raven to help with her seat.

"Thank you," she says. "Since we have time before the guests arrive, how about we study in the library more?"

"Certainly," you say. "You go ahead and choose shoes, I'll go up and gather books for..."

A) Jewelcrafting
B) Enchanting
C) Druid Spirituality
---

And Holo https://imgur.com/JmYCm3R

A

"Faraera, help be match that," you say.

"Yes, Seventh Rorek," he says.

With your Fire affinity amplified by Faraera, you create a massive cyclone of flame! Raven throws the giant wave at you, but you swing the flames right down the middle! The water and fire collide in a big explosion of steam!

Rolanda, Regan and the Robertas yelp but Rumiko uses her Wind element to shield them from the hot steam. You start to feel the humidity and your clothing clinging to your body. You use your own wind element to clear out the steam, as does Raven. She definitely looks uncomfortable, so all the steam must be making that spandex really cling to her.

"I feel like I need another shower," Raven says.

Your eyes lock onto her hands as they pull at the hips of her leotard.

"Rory!" the other ladies shout at you.

"Sorry!" you say.

"My, where did all this come from?" Penelope asks as she comes out. "Perhaps it's good timing, as breakfast is ready."

"We'll be right there," you say.

"Uidre, I thank you for your help," Raven says. "You are dismissed."

"Call on me any time, Lady Raven," Uidre says.

"Faraera, I thank you for your help," you say. "You are dismissed."

"Any time, Seventh Rorek," he says.

The Spirit Armors disappear as the Spirits themselves leave. Everyone goes inside, and as Raven said, everyone return to the bathrooms for another rinse. Then dressed in proper attire, you meet everyone downstairs in the dining hall, and that means everyone.

"Good morning, all," you say as you help Raven with her seat.

"Morning, Rory," Rebecca says.

"How was your morning training?" Roselind asks.

"Well, it's not innuendo to say it was very hot and steamy," you say.

Raven slowly looks over to you with a smirk while many of the others at the table have spit-takes, minus the spit.

"Did you really have to say that?" she asks.

You simply shrug with a smirk of your own.

Everyone calms down and eats the breakfast of French toast and hot coffee. Roberta Rhodes and Rumiko really chug coffee down to wake themselves up.

"Is what I'm wearing okay for meeting the rest of the guests?" Raven asks.

You noticed earlier that she's wearing one of her t-shirt dresses with her now Rainbow Row belt, but you look at Raven again to take note of her casual slip-on shoes.

A) Just change shoes
B) Change shoes and dress
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/vvBjPbB

COIN TOSS

C

You jump to the side, then thrust an arm at Raven. The literal fire arm of the Faraera armor reaches out for her, and she quickly defends with her water cloak.

"Eyes on me, Raven," you say.

"You sure love attention," she smirks.

She then jumps and kicks at you, with Uidre's water streaming at you. You create a fire wall and the water collides with it to create steam. Both you and Raven bring steam to your side because of your Water affinities. You add more fire and water to increase the amount, but you can see Raven cooling hers off. The steam becomes snow, and Uidre helps her increase the quantity she has.

You spread the steam cloud out as Raven blasts her snow flurry. Faraera melts the snow that comes near you, but there's quite a bit. There's a puddle around you as you walk, but the steam lowers visibility for both of you. Raven must be floating, because she isn't making crushing sounds in the snow.

You see something approaching, and Raven suddenly flies out in ice armor! You manage to dodge, but her cloak is also ice, and it smacks you across the face as she flies by!

"Sorry!" she says as she lands. "I didn't mean to hit you like that."

"Don't worry about that," you say as you quickly use Healing magic. "That's actually a good shot, you should actually use it. And you did great in shifting Uidre's armor from water to ice."

"Thanks," she smiles.

"Yes, real special," Uidre says rather flatly.

"Oh, that's right," Rivers says. "Uidre kinda changes when she's ice instead of water."

"I kinda like her this way," Raven says.

"It makes sense," you say. "She reminds me of Raven when we first met."

"Have I really changed that much?" Raven asks.

"Yes," you say. "You've really thawed since that day."

Raven smirks, then flies back at you. You create another fire wall, so Raven changes course. You swing a heel kick and your fire lashes out at her. She blocks with an ice wall, and part of it melts into steam. She shoots icicles at you, but you use fire to melt those. But Raven only did that to distract you while she moved. She flies in with an icy fist! You turn up the heat again, and her armor starts to melt.

Raven flies back, and lets Uidre return to her water form. She brings in the steam and the snow as her source for water, and creates a massive swell!

A) Match it with fire
B) Counter with lightning
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/8LxPZo0

B

"In Spirit Armor."

"In what?" she asks.

"Spirit armor. It's when the Spirit takes physical form to protect you. You and Western Stones used it in sparring, remember?"

"Oh that's right," she says. "Okay then. Uidre, would you honor me by becoming my Spirit Armor?"

"Certainly!" Uidre says.

"Faraera, please honor me by becoming my armor!" you say.

"Gladly!" Faraera says.

At the same time as Faraera becomes swirling fire around your arms and legs, Uidre becomes floating, bubbly water that flows onto her cloak and swirls around her limbs.

"Wow...!" the others say.

"Even I've never seen Spirit Armor look like that," Roberta Rivers says.

"When did you get here?!" Roberta Rhodes blurts in surprise.

"Just a few minutes ago," Rivers says. "But as I was saying, those are very unique designs for Uidre and Faraera Armor. We all learned Raven is on a different level, but this just adds to it."

"Wow, really?" Raven says, a proud smile starting to form.

A) Attack from the front
B) Attack from above
C) Attack from the side
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/IE3B5BS

RANDOMIZE

A

"Faraera, Druid Spirit of Fire and Heat," you say. "I ask for your assistance."

You present his circle, and Faraera answers your call in a burst of flames.

"I am here, Seventh Rorek," he says.

"Thank you, Faraera," you say. "Don't worry, it isn't anything too serious this time. We're simply helping Raven practice some of her Jewelcrafting."

"It is not my place to judge the situation," he says. "I am merely here to serve."

"Then help me boost my Fire elemental magic."

"Yes, Seventh Rorek."

You focus mana into your hands and Faraera boosts the flames. Raven starts floating, and you toss the fireball at her. She floats out of the way, but you toss a magical charge armed with Wind into it.

"Kaze!" you shout.

*BWOOFSH* The charge explodes and the added air turns the fireball into a massive flashfire! Raven protects herself with her own magic, but you can tell she's aiming at you with her gems.

Because of her Murky Amethyst, you can't get the wolf Summons to listen to you, so they just mill about, sniffing the ground and wagging their tails.

"Very good," you say to her. "I can even feel the effects of the Emerald and Citrine."

You use Chi to cancel out the dulling of your movements, then gather more flames. Her Effulgent Obsidian is at work to try and tire you out, but you don't plan on taking too long with this.

"Let's turn up the heat, Faraera," you say.

"Yes, Seventh Rorek."

You gather more fire, and combine it with wind for Scorch element, to blow a hot gust of wind at her. She takes shelter behind her cloak, but in that time you've gotten control of your Summon constructs back. You send the wolves around her, two on either side.

"You need to maintain your debuff," you say to her. "I may be going after you with blasting winds, but you need to find a way to defend while still affecting me."

But then Raven surprises you with a blast of snow! Faraera melts it before it touches you.

"Well, that was out of nowhere," you say. "How did you gather that much moisture so quickly?"

"You called on Faraera," she says, "so I called on Uidre."

"Hello," Uidre says as Raven reveals her from under the cloak.

"I just had to focus on gathering wind," Raven adds.

"I see. In that case, let's see how you measure up

A) Element to Element
B) In Spirit Armor
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/3HkwijX

C

"How about you two spar against each other?" you say. "I'll just be off to the side."

Raven scowls at you as she floats over to join Regan. You, Rhiannon and Roberta Rhodes join Rolanda and Rumiko on the sidelines.

"Whenever you're ready," you tell them.

Regan suddenly claps her hands and *POP* her Sound magic amplifies it. You can tell Raven is saying "Ow" because her lips move, but there's no sound coming out. Raven reacts to that, but then stops herself, because she realizes just as you do, Regan immediately activated a Mute Spell after that loud pop. Regan runs at Raven but there's no sound of rustling in the grass.

Raven uses her cloak like a matador's cape to evade Regan as she tries close range Arcana. Raven taps gems on her belt and with a glow of orange and gree, she slows Regan down. Regan also suffers from the dulled precision, as her Arcana flies off-target. Raven uses both her Opal and Onyx to increase the gap, and then with Regan easy pickings, Raven slings shackles at her. Regan is tied up, and Raven wins the sparring match.

"Now get over here!" Raven says to you.

"I guess sound's back," Roberta mutters.

"Alright," you say with some hesitance. "Let's test how you've done with just this morning to use those gems."

You create some wolf Summon Constructs, and then call upon the Druid Spirit of

A) Fire
B) Water
C) Lightning
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/W0aGUTM

B

You gather as much moisture as you can, and spark the fire in your other hand. You combine the two and create a massive steam cloud. The steam hides you, but you can see Rumiko's lightning whip glowing through the cloud. You move to the side while swirling the steam around her. She lashes wildly, but she obviously misses.

You condense the steam around Rumiko, and you can tell the heat is tiring her out. But then *BWOOSH* she blows all the steam away with a gust of wind! You stand your ground, but see that the steam has causd her clothes to cling to her. She's red, but you can't be sure if she's blushing or overheating.

Rumiko swings her whip but rather feebly. You combine Fire and Water again, but now in a way to heat the water up. You send the water up overhead and turn it into a downpour.

"Kyaa~!" Rumiko says.

The rain causes her lightning whip to fizzle out, and she's drenched even more than before. She stands there, covering up, and her face is definitely red from blushing now.

*BOP* A Melleo hits you, but it's not from Rumiko.

"Sorry," Raven says flatly.

"I'm sorry..." you say back.

"How about we spar now?" Raven says. "Maybe let Rumiko dry off."

"Wait, I haven't had my turn yet!" Regan says.

A) Spar with Regan first
B) Spar with Raven instead
C) Have them spar with each other
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/ZzaJMqK

A

You focus on your own Lightning and Wind natures and bring in the needed air to create your own Typhoon. Both of you build up as much as you can, then release at the same time! The whipping winds collide and blow out to the sides. Regan and Rolanda have Herbert, giant again, as their anchor.

"Whoa~!" Raven says as she stands her ground. "Rorek!"

"Sorry!" you say as the wind dies down.

Rumiko runs at you, then jumps for a flying kick. You take note of the sparks on her foot just in time, and lean out of the way of her electric kick.

You prepare your own sparks, but Rumiko cartwheels upon landing so you have a hard time aiming at her. She stops, but before you can shoot, she pushes you with wind. You stagger back, and she runs at you again. You see the sparks on her knee, so you put your electricity in your hand and use that to block. The electricity cancels out, and you push her knee back. She lands on her feet, and you jump back before she tries a counter attack.

"Nice moves, Rory-kun," she smiles.

"Thank you," you say. "You've improved, too."

"Sank you," she says back.

Rumiko creates more electricity, and she forms a lightning whip! She swings it, then whips it at you. You handspring back, but she keeps whipping at you. To counter this time, you combine

A) Wind and Fire
B) Fire and Water
C) Water and Lightning
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/1qVYsnc

A

You use your mana to etch the Summoning circles on the ground. From those circles, you summon squirrel after squirrel after squirrel. The shiny swarm of white squirrels rush Rolanda and her golems. Rolanda squeals and screams as she runs away, while the golems are pinned down from the weight of hundreds of furry woodland creatures.

"Stop it!" Rolanda says as the squirrels climb up her socks. "Stop it!"

Rolanda kicks her legs to shake the squirrels off, but she only falls over because of it. The squirrels scurry all over her, and she lets out one last yell. You call your squirrels back, and she presents a white flag in the form of a handkerchief. You're not sure where she got it from, but she waves it in forfeit all the same.

"Well, I suppose just two golems wasn't really your full power," you say as you walk over to her. "But that was good."

You help her up and she brushes herself off. Herbert and the rabbit return to normal size, and walk with Rolanda back to where Regan and Rumiko stand.

"I'm next!" Rumiko says as she hurries forward.

"Alright then," you say. "I'm ready when you are."

"Hai!" she nods.

You two stare down while you circle each other. You get a glimpse of Raven that way, and she's sparring with Rhiannon pretty evenly. Rhiannon swings chains of light while Raven alternates between her various gems to slow Rhiannon down and bring herself up.

Rumiko pushes you with wind, but you use Chi to stand your ground. You bring in some of her wind to power your own, then some moisture from the air, and you make ice. You blast it at Rumiko like a flurry, but she jumps and rolls out of the way. She creates sparks in her hands, she might be going for Typhoon Magic.

A) Counter
B) Defend
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/D0hBI0x

A

"Arcana Quartus, Melleo!"

You fire blunt energy at the rabbit, and it hits him right in the face. His plush head and body squish from the sudden stoppage, then springs back, causing the entire thing to flip and spin while going backwards.

Herbert gets back up and starts running at you as best he can with lumbering steps. You hit him in the stomach with Melleo, and he falls back with its momentum. Rolanda fires Arcana Accudo at you, but her aim is terrible. You simply stay back and her shots fall short and/or completely miss to either side.

"You really need to work on that," Regan says.

"Shut up!" Rolanda shouts back.

Herbert and the rabbit recover, and Rolanda has them shrink again. She reels them both, then pulls something out from her pocket.

"I didn't think I'd need this, but it's a good thing I brought it," she says as she sprinkles it on her stuffed animals.

Rolanda sets her stuffed animals down and has them grow again. They move faster, and now you realize she used some zephyr crystal.

The rabbit jumps while Herbert trots behind him. You shoot more Melleo, but now the giant stuffed animals manage to evade. They flank you, the rabbit on the right and Herbert on the left. You jump out of the way as the two stuffed animals rush in. They collide with loud squeaks, then stagger about.

Rolanda pouts as she jogs her way up. She joins Herbert and the rabbit and helps them stand up. Obviously her golems aren't going to tire out, so you need to defeat her directly.

A) Use Summoning
B) Use Illusion
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/GtfrOtV

C

Rolanda smiles as she, Herbert the bear and now a bunny rabbit, step forward.

"Ready, Rory?" she asks.

"Of course," you say.

"Crescere!" Rolanda says.

Both Herbert the bear and the bunny grow to giant size, which is really just over 6 feet tall. Rolanda sends them out, the rabbit leading the charge as it's much faster.

You put up a barrier, but of course the rabbit jumps over. That's what you wanted it to do, as you kick a magic charge up at it.

*BWOOM* It explodes with sound and air pressure to push the rabbit up and away. You hit the ground but jump back up as Herbert comes waddling around the barrier. He slowly turns to face you, and as the rabbit hits the ground with a squeak, you dropkick Herbert off his stubby feet.

The rabbit gets up, and you toss another magical charge his way. *BWOOM* Another explosion of sound and air, and the rabbit goes flying again.

Herbert slowly gets up, and you get back on guard. But then you remember that with Autonomy, the real concern is the caster. You look over at Rolanda and she's prepared something very big.

"Arcana Quartus!" she shouts. "Magnum Pila!"

She throws the literal big ball of energy at you, and it flies nice and far. You take aim and focus mana.

"Arcana Quartus, Acus!"

You shoot a needle, it hits the ball, and the ball pops! The energy sprinkles all over the place, but you have to focus back on Herbert. Herbert lumbers his way towards you, so you sweep his legs. He falls sideways with a squeak, but now the rabbit is hopping his way towards you. You use a barrier as a platform and lift yourself up and let the rabbit lunge forward underneath you.

Rolanda throws out a Binding Spell, but not at you. She uses the Light Shackles to snag Herbert by a leg.

"Emarcesco!" she shouts.

Herbert shrinks, and Rolanda reels him in like a fish.

"Clever," you say as you sit on your platform. "It's a much faster way to bring your golems back to you, at least."

Rolanda picks Herbert up, dusts him off, and unhooks her shackle. She then swings Herbert around, and throws him up at you!

"Crescere!" she shouts again.

Herbert grows gigantic, so you drop your platform to drop to the ground. You land on your feet, but the rabbit is back up on his. He hops towards you, while you counter with

A) Arcana
B) Melee
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/QmIC4xb

A

"Really?" Rhiannon says. "Me?"

"Yes, why not?" you say.

Rhiannon giggles giddily as she hurries over to join you, Raven and Roberta Rhodes.

"Rhiannon will be a great sparring partner for this," you say. "Her family, the Reynolds of Belfast, Northern Ireland, are the Binding masters among our circle. Using Jewelcrafting to counter Binding Magic can go a long way to improve your ability in both schools."

Rhiannon, a green hair clip keeping her wavy hair out of her face, looks nervously at Raven in her full superhero raiment.

"Let's see what you've got here," Rhodes says as she inspects the gems Raven is equipped with. "Wow, did Rory do this Obsidian himself?"

"Yep," Raven says proudly. "It's what he was working on while we played Uno."

"Who won that, by the way?" you ask.

"Ruby," she and Rhodes both say.

"Though Rumiko came really close," Rhodes says. "No one else even won points."

Rumiko smiles proudly with her arms on her hips.

"Impressive," you say. "But now, for training. Rhiannon, you let Raven know how to properly activate her gems, then be her coach as she spars with Rhiannon."

"Got it," Rhodes says.

"Meanwhile," you say, "I suppose I could spend a moment to spar with everyone else."

Rumiko, Regan and Rolanda all get giddy in their own ways as the group splits to give each half plenty of room.

"All right," Rhodes says to Raven. "Ta properly access the powers of yer gems, ya must of course focus yer mana into them. However, it isn't's simple as simply doin' that an' then thinkin', 'I'm going to say this spell or do this hand gesture.' Ya must a connection with yer gems, as if they're extensions of yer own body. With tha gems on yer hands, you must think of them as an extra finger, and tha gems around yer waist must be like extra arms to you. You are flexing these extra muscles to use their abilities."

"Okay," Raven nods. "Extra muscles... Flex your muscles..."

Raven closes her eyes to focus her mind and feel her mana flowing.

As for you and the others, you start your own sparring session with

A) Rumiko
B) Regan
C) Rolanda
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/k4Dusgm

C

"French toast," Raven says.

"French toast it is," Penelope says. "Now, let's hurry to bed."

Raven and the others follow Penelope out of the den and to the stairs. The twins go on ahead while Penelope stays with Raven and the suitors. Raven goes to her room and changes to her sleeping clothes. She sets her alarm, turns off the light and goes to sleep.

*beepbeepbeep! beepbeepbeep!* Raven's alarm goes off, and she wakes up with some grogginess. She drags herself out of bed and out to the hall. Of the suitors, Roberta Rhodes, Rumiko, Rhiannon, Regan and Rolanda managed to wake up early. They and Raven share the bath and shower in the six stalls, as prepared by Penelope.

"Hah, Rivers couldn't get up this morning," Rhodes says with a proud smile but bags under her eyes.

"Well, hopefully the showers help us wake up," Raven says.

The girls toss off their clothes, which Penelope and Bernadina collect, and step into the stalls. Raven turns on the cold and that definitely wakes her up. She then warms it up and begins lathering the soap.

[cut to Rorek]

You finish showering and wrap yourself in your robe. You return to your room and finish drying off before dressing in black tank top and shorts, with your black and white sneakers and while futbol socks with the two black stripes at the top.

You grab the Obsidian and other gems and head downstairs. You make your way outside, careful not to drop anything. The ladies aren't out yet, so you do stretches while you wait. After about 15 minutes, Penelope leads Raven, Roberta Rhodes, Rumiko, Rhiannon, Regan and Rolanda out of the mansion.

"Good morning, Young Master," Penelope says.

"Good morning, Penelope. Good morning, Rumiko, Rhiannon, Regan, Roland and Roberta Rhodes. Good morning, Raven."

"Morning," Raven smiles as she trots over, wearing her standard outfit of leotard, cloak and belt.

"You're firmly in Cerulean territory, aren't you?" you say as you look her up and down.

"It's a good thing my yellow belt still goes with it," she says as she models it for you.

"Well here," you say. "Let me have the belt."

Raven unhooks her belt and hands it over. You hold it up with magic, and carefully place the Precise Ruby, Lucent Citrine, Pale Heliodor, Radiant Emerald, Clear Sapphire and Murky Amethyst.

"There you are," you say. "Your Rainbow Row belt."

Raven clips her belt back on, showing the Emerald, Sapphire and Amethyst up front with the other three behind her back.

"Now your hands," you say.

Raven puts her hands out, and place the Opal in her left hand and Onyx in her right. She smiles as she watches them sparkle in the morning sun.

"Lastly," you say. "The Obsidian for your cloak clasp."

Raven doesn't unhook her cloak, but simply steps closer. She does her best to push out her neck, but that brings her chest with it. You take the Obsidian and place it in the clasp. Raven smiles even prouder as she now models her entire Jewelcrafter ensemble.

"Beautiful," you say.

Raven smiles while the other girls are all varying levels of jealous.

"Well, with Roberta Rhodes here, it'd be a shame to not include her in your Jewelcraft training," you say to Raven. "Let's also include

A) Rhiannon
B) Regan
C) Rolanda
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/LqM0bdQ

Rivers plays a blue 6, but Rumiko plays a blue Reverse. Rivers draws, and plays a blue 4. Ruby draws and keeps, Rhodes draws and plays a blue 1. Raven draws and gets the green 0. Rebecca draws and has no blues or 1. Roselind plays a blue 1, Rumiko plays a blue 3, Rivers plays a yellow 3.

"Uno!" Ruby says as she plays her yellow 6.

Rhodes draws and plays a green 6, the last card in the deck. Raven plays her green 0 before shuffling the deck.

Rebecca plays a green 5, but Roselind has to draw. She can't play, and Rumiko does the same. Rivers plays a Draw Two, and Ruby draws and plays a green Reverse. Rivers draws but can't play. Rumiko draws, and plays a Draw Four!

"Blue!" she says while Roselind draws.

Roselind plays a blue Skip, Raven draws and plays her red Skip.

"Uno!" Ruby says as she plays the red 0.

Rivers plays a red 1, Rumiko draws but can't play. Roselind plays a blue 1, Rebecca draws and plays a green 1.

"Uno!" Raven says again as she plays a green 8.

"Uno!" Rhodes says as she plays a green 9.

Ruby draws and has to keep, as does Rivers. Rumiko draws and plays a green 6, Roselind plays her green 7. Rebecca plays a red 7, Raven draws and plays her new Draw Four!

"Uno! And red!" Raven says.

Rhodes plays a Wild card of her own.

"Yellow!" she says.

"Uno!" Ruby says as she plays a yellow Reverse.

Rhodes plays a red Reverse, but then Ruby plays her last card, a red 1!!

"I win no matter what!" Ruby says. "I'm an Uno Master!"

"Well at least we can go to bed now," Raven sighs.

The cards are collected and then returned back to their original playing deck form.

"What would everyone like for breakfast in the morning?" Penelope asks.

"At this rate, lots of coffee," Raven says as she gets up and stretches.

"All right, but what would you like to eat with the coffee?" Penelope giggles.

A) Donuts
B) English muffins
C) French toast
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/TMsgedd

Alakazamtrainer posted...

Cart did you simulate these hands or did you deal them out and play them?

I used a playing card shuffler online and then translated it per how I had Raven explain it. I wish I had an Uno deck.

A

Rebecca plays a yellow 5, and Roselind a yellow 0. Rumiko plays a yellow Draw Two, and Rivers plays her new yellow Reverse. Rumiko plays a yellow 6, Roselind plays a green 6, and Rebecca plays a red 6. Raven plays her red 7, Rhodes plays her red 0, Ruby plays a red Draw Two.

Rivers draws, the plays a red Skip. Roselind shrugs and smiles as she plays a red Draw Two on Rebecca. Rebecca draws, then plays a red Skip on Raven. Rhodes plays a red 3, Ruby plays a red 2, Rivers plays a red 9. Rumiko draws, and can't play it, so she has no reds. Roselind plays a Wild card.

"Blue," she says.

Rebecca plays a blue 5, Raven plays a blue 2. Rhodes plays a Draw Two, but so does Ruby. Rivers plays a blue 5, Rumiko plays a blue 4, Roselind plays a blue Skip. Raven plays a blue 8, Rhodes draws but keeps. Ruby plays a blue Reverse, Rhodes draws but can't play anything. Raven plays her Wild Card.

"Yellow," she says.

Rebecca draws but cannot play a card, Roselind draws and plays a Draw Four.

"Green," she says while Rumiko draws.

Rumiko plays a green 2, Rivers plays a green 1. Ruby plays a yellow 1, as does Rhodes.

"Uno!" Raven says as she plays her yellow 8.

Rebecca plays a red 8, but Roselind has to draw. She still doesn't have a red, so she sits while Rumiko plays a yellow 8. Rivers plays a green 8, Ruby plays a green Reverse. Rivers plays a green 3, Rumiko plays a green 2. Roselind plays a green 7, Rebecca plays a green Reverse. Roselind draws but can't play it. Rumiko plays a yellow Reverse, Roselind plays a yellow Draw Two. Rebecca draws nothing she can use, but now Raven realizes she can't play her Draw Four as her final card, because she still has the option to draw. Raven does draw, and gets a green 4.

"Uno!" she says as she plays her Draw Four. "Green!"

Rhodes plays a green Skip, then Rivers plays a yellow Skip. Roseind and Rebecca both draw, and are stuck with what they have. Unfortunately, Raven must also draw. She gets a green 8, so at least she only needs the color to change back.

Rhodes plays a blue Skip, while Rivers plays a Wild.

"Yellow," she says.

Rumiko plays a yellow 2, while Roselind again plays and keeps. Rebecca plays a red 2, and now Raven has to draw again. It's a blue 9, so that messes up her theme. Rhodes plays a red Reverse, so Raven has to draw again. She gets a green Skip, but then Rebecca plays her own red Reverse!
Raven draws again, and gets a red 6! She plays that, Rhodes plays a red 8, then Ruby plays a red 7. Rivers plays a yellow 7, Rumiko plays a blue 7.

Roselind plays a blue 0, Rebecca has to draw and keep. Raven plays her blue 9, Rhodes plays a red 9. Ruby draws but keeps, as does Rivers. Rumiko draws and keeps, Roselind draws and keeps, but Rebecca plays a green 9. Raven plays a green Skip, and Ruby plays a green Draw Two. Rivers plays a green 7, Rumiko a green 5, Roselind a green 4 and Rebecca a green 3.

"Uno!" Raven says again as she plays her green 4.

Rhodes plays a green 1, Ruby draws, then plays a Draw Four!

"Yellow!" she says while Rivers draws.

Rivers plays a yellow 4, while Rumiko has to draw and keep. Roselind draws, then plays a Wild Card!

"Blue!"

Rebecca draws and keeps, and Raven groans as she has to draw, and gets a red 4. Rhodes plays a blue 9, Ruby slaps down a blue 2.

"Uno!" she says.
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/hhC0BFg

C

"Yellow," Raven says.

Rebecca plays a yellow 1, Roselind draws and plays a yellow 2. Rumiko draws and plays a yellow Reverse.

"Uno!" Roselind says as she plays a green Reverse.

"Uno!" Rumiko says as she plays her green 5.

Rivers plays another green Reverse, and Rumiko has to draw another card.

"Uno!" she says as she plays a green Skip.

Roselind sits while Rebecca plays a green 0. Raven plays a green 9, Rhodes plays a yellow 9. Ruby has to draw, but then she pays a red 9.

"Uno!" she says.

Rivers draws, then plays a red 1. Rumiko draws, then plays her new Wild card.

"Uno!" Rumiko says. "Blue!"

Roselind draws, but can't play. Rebecca plays a Draw Two, and Raven gets a red 6 and Draw Two, so she plays her Draw Two. Rhodes draws, then plays a red Skip. Ruby sits while Rivers draws, and she doesn't have reds. Rumiko also has to draw.

"Uno!" she says as she plays her own red Skip.

Roselind sits while Rebecca plays a blue Skip. Rhodes then plays a yellow Skip, so Ruby sits again while Rivers plays a yellow 5. Rumiko draws again, so that has to be a blue card in her hand.

"Uno!" Rumiko says yet again as she plays a yellow Draw Two.

Roselind plays a yellow 9, Rebecca plays blue 9. Raven has to draw, and gets a green 4. Rhodes plays a blue 4, Ruby draws.

"Uno!" as she plays her blue 7.

Rivers plays a blue 7, and again Rumiko must draw. She can't play it, so she got something that isn't green. Roselind draws, and plays a yellow Reverse.

"Uno!" Rumiko says as she plays a yellow 8.

Rivers plays a green 8, and Ruby plays her green Draw Two!

"Aha!" Ruby gloats while Rhodes still draws.

Just on numbers, Ruby makes 105 points! Then, Rivers has a Draw Two while Roselind has a Draw Four! That's 70, for 175, and then in total, 321! She's taken the lead over Rumiko!

"Okay, well," Raven says. "If anybody else but Rumiko wins this next round, Ruby will win by default."

Rumiko sneers at Ruby while the cards are gathered. Raven shuffles and decides to use Ruby's way of dealing this time. She ends up with a red 7, a yellow 8 and 9, a blue 2 and 8, ad then a regular Wild Card and a Draw Four.

"Another Skip," Raven says as she puts the top card out for the Discard. "Rebecca has to skip her turn."

Rebecca grumbles while Raven plays her

A) Yellow 9
B) Yellow 8
C) Wild Card
---

And Holo? https://imgur.com/qr2pYjy

A

Raven plays her green 3, and Rebecca plays a green 7.

"Uno!" Roselind says as she plays her green 3.

Rumiko grumbles as she draws a card, and has to keep it. Rivers plays a red 3, and Ruby draws a card. She plays her new red 0.

"Uno again," Ruby says.

Rhodes plays a red 7, and Raven has to draw, but she draws a Wild card!

"Blue," Raven says.

Rebecca plays a blue 5, while Roselind has to draw again.

"Uno!" she says as she plays a blue 6.

Rumiko draws and keeps, so she has no blues. Neither does Rivers as she draws and keeps. Ruby doesn't either, and draws.

"Uno!" she says as she plays a blue 7.

Rhodes plays a green 7, and Raven plays her green Reverse!

"Uno!" she shouts, but then she grumbles when Rhodes plays a yellow Reverse.

"Uno!" Raven says as she plays a yellow Draw Two.

Rebecca adds cards to her hand, but can't play any of them, so she has no yellows. Roselind also has to draw, and has to keep. Rumiko plays her yellow Reverse, but Roselind plays a green Reverse back.

"Uno!" Roselind says.

"Uno desu!" Rumiko says as she plays a green 0.

Rivers draws, but can't play, so she has no greens.

"Ah win!!" Ruby shouts as she slaps down her green 9.

Everyone but Rivers groans.

"Tally 'em up, ladies!" Ruby says.

Ruby scores 86 points just on number cards, but there are still there Skips so that's another 60, for 146 total.

"At least it wasn't Rumiko this time," the twins say.

Rumiko sticks her tongue out while the cards are gathered again.

"Ruby deals since she won," Raven says.

Ruby shuffles and then deals all seven to herself, to Rhodes, and so on. Raven ends up with a green 1, a yellow 4, 7 and Skip, and a red 2, 5 and 7. The first card up is a blue 0, and Ruby starts with a blue 5. Rhodes plays a blue 1, and Raven plays her green 1. Rebecca plays a green 3, Roselind plays a yellow 3. Rumiko plays a yellow 6, Rivers plays a yellow 7.

Ruby plays a yellow 4, Rhodes plays a Draw Two. Raven draws a red 1 and 8, but plays her yellow Skip. Rebecca waits while Roselind plays a yellow 2. Rumiko plays a blue 2, Rivers plays a blue Reverse. Rumiko plays a blue 8, Roselind plays a green 8. Rebecca plays a blue 8, Raven plays a red 8.

Rhodes has to draw, and keeps, so she has no reds. Ruby plays a red Reverse, and Rhodes has to draw again. She still doesn't have a red, so Raven plays a red 1. Rebecca plays her red Reverse, so Raven plays her red 2. Rhodes plays a blue 2, Ruby plays a blue 6. Rivers plays a Wild card.

"Green," Rivers says, giving away that's what she has.

Rumiko plays a green 4, Roselind plays a green 3. Rebecca plays a green Skip, so Raven sits while Rhodes plays green 9.

"Red," Ruby says as she plays a Wild card.

Rumiko plays a red 9, Roselind a red 2, and Rebecca has to draw. She has no reds, but Raven plays her red 5. Rhodes draws, and plays a blue 5. Ruby draws, but then plays a Draw Four!

"Red!" she says.

Even after all four new cards, Rivers still has to draw, and she still can't play anything, so she has no reds or even Wilds.

"Uno!" Rumiko declares yet again as she plays a red 7.

"Uno!" Roselind says as she plays a red 5.

Rebecca has to draw, but Raven plays a red 7. Rhodes has to draw another card, and still can't play a red or 7.

"Uno!" Ruby declares as she plays her red 8.

Rivers plays a yellow 8, and Rumiko has to draw. Roselind also has to draw, and keep. They don't have yellows, but neither does Rebecca as she draws. But then she plays a Draw Four!

"Blue!" Rebecca says while Raven draws.

Of her new red 3, blue Draw Two, green 7 and Draw Four, Raven plays the Draw Two. Rhodes plays a blue Reverse, and Raven has to draw. She gets a green 9, but now she plays her Draw Four!

A) Say Red
B) Say Green
C) Say Yellow
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/nSFCXSs

"Uno!" Raven says as she plays a blue 1. Rebecca draws and keeps, as does Roselind. Rumiko grumbles as she draws, and even more as she has to keep. Rivers draws and plays a blue 8, and Ruby draws, to keep the new card but play a Draw Four!

"Green!" she shouts.

Rhodes draws, then plays a green Reverse. Ruby plays a red Reverse, so Rhodes plays a red Draw Two! They're a green 3 and green Reverse so Raven has to sit. Rebecca plays a green Draw Two, but there's only one card left!

"Okay, okay, hold on," Raven says as she gathers up the discard pile.

Rebecca gets the last card, then everyone waits while Raven shuffles the new deck. She puts it down, and Rebecca finishes drawing. Rebecca plays a green 6, Roselind plays a green 2.

"Uno!!" Rumiko shouts as she plays a green 5.

Rivers draws and plays a green 1, Ruby plays a green Draw Two, and after Rhodes gets new cards, she plays a green 4.

A) Play green 3
B) Play green Reverse
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/nOxRWXN

B

Raven plays her green 1, and Rebecca plays a green 1. Roselind plays a green Skip, so Rumiko sits while Rivers draws because she has no greens. Her new card isn't green, either, but she plays her own Draw Four!

"Yellow," Rivers says while Ruby draws.

Ruby plays a yellow 0, and Rhodes plays a yellow 5. Raven has a yellow 1 but also a blue 5. She may not have another chance, so she gets rid of the yellow card. Rebecca has to draw, and cannot play her new card. She has no yellows, but apparently neither does Roselind, as she draws and keeps. Rumiko takes advantage and plays her yellow Reverse. Roselind has to again draw, and keep. Rebecca draws, but she plays her new Wild card.

"Blue!" she says.

"Aha!" Raven says as she plays her Draw Two.

Rhodes draws cards, but then plays her own Wild card.

"Red," Rhodes says.

Ruby plays a red 7 while Raven grumbles. Rivers plays a red 2, and Rumiko plays a red 1. Roselind plays a red 0, and Rebecca plays a red 3. Raven has her red Skip and Draw Two, but she has so many blues to get through, and she can start with her blue 3. At the same time, she has her Wild card, so she doesn't have to rush using up blues.

Raven uses her Draw Two, so Rhodes has to draw. She plays a red 9, Ruby plays a red 5. Rivers plays a blue 5, but Rumiko has a blue 2. Roselind plays a blue 9, and Rebecca plays a blue Skip. Raven sits while Rhodes draws. She plays a Draw Four! Ruby ends up with so many cards.

"Red!" Rhodes says.

Ruby plays her regular Wild card.

"I prefer blue," Ruby says.

Rivers has to draw, so she has no blues. Rumiko also has to draw, and she plays her new blue 6. Roselind plays a blue 3, Rebecca plays a blue 7. Raven plays her blue 0, and Rhodes has to draw. She plays her blue 1, and Ruby plays a blue Draw Two. Rivers draws, and plays her new blue Skip. Rumiko sits while Roselind draws and plays a blue 6. Rebecca plays a green 6, so Raven plays her green 0.

Rhodes plays a green 4, and Ruby plays a green 8. Rivers plays a yellow 8, but Rumiko grins again.

"Uno~!" she declares as she puts down her yellow 9.

"How is she doing this?" Roselind protests as she draws another card.

Roselind can't play, so it's not yellow or a 9. Rebecca also has to draw, but it's also not yellow or 9.

"Blue," Raven says as she plays her Wild card.

Rhodes draws and plays a blue 7. Ruby plays a blue Reverse, and Rhodes has to draw again. It's not blue, so it's Raven's turn again. She plays her blue 5, and Rebecca has to draw. Roselind plays a green 5, and Rumiko grumbles as she has to draw. She has no blues and no greens, so it's yellows and reds the group needs to avoid.

"Oh darn," Rivers says as she is forced to play a red 5.

Ruby plays a yellow 5, and Rhodes plays a yellow Draw Two. Raven ends up with a blue 9 and yellow 3, so she has to play the yellow 3. Rebecca plays a yellow Draw Two, Roselind draws and plays a yellow 7.

"Uno~!" Rumiko says as she plays another yellow 7.

Rivers plays a yellow 4 and Ruby plays a blue 4. Rhodes plays a red 4, but Raven brings it back to a blue 4. Rebecca again has to draw, but Roselind plays a blue Reverse to keep things away from Rumiko.

Rebecca has to again draw, she has no blues at all. Raven plays her blue 3. Rhodes draws, but still has no blues. Ruby plays a blue 8, Rivers has to draw. Rumiko grumbles as she again has to draw.

"Uno~~!" Rumiko says longer as she plays her yellow 8.

Roselind plays a red 8, and Rebecca plays a red 6.

"Uno!" Raven says as she plays a red Skip.

Ruby plays a red 2, and Rivers plays a red Reverse. Ruby plays a red 6, Rhodes plays a red 1, and Raven has to draw.
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/I5vc11T

C

Raven plays her red Reverse and Rhodes has to go again. She plays a red 3, and Ruby has to draw. She then plays a red Skip, Rivers sits put while Rumiko plays a Wild Card.

"Midori!" she says. "Er... Green."

Rose has to draw, she has no greens. She draws, but keeps. Rebecca plays a green 1, but Raven has to draw. She gets a red 2, so has to sit put. But Rhodes plays her own Wild card.

"Blue," Rhodes says.

Ruby plays a blue 0, but Rivers plays a blue Reverse. Ruby plays a blue 1, Rhodes plays a blue 9. Raven again has to draw a card, but it's a yellow 7. Rebecca plays a red 7, but Roselind has to draw. She ends up playing the red 8 she gets. Rumiko grins as she plays a Draw Four!

"Kiiro!" Rumiko says Rivers draws her four new cards. "Er, yellow!"

"Wait," Rebecca says.

"You didn't say Uno first!" Roselind says.

"Eh?" Rumiko says. "I-I wazu going to!"

"But you have to say it when you play your second-to-last card," Raven says. "You played the card and declared a color first."

"Eeeeh?" Rumiko pouts.

Rumiko frowns while she suffers the penalty of drawing two more cards. Rivers then plays a yellow 5, and Ruby a yellow 9. Rhodes has to draw, so she has no yellows. But then she plays a yellow 2, the card she just got. Raven needs to get rid of her one yellow, so she plays the yellow 7 over her red 2.

Rebecca plays a yellow 1, Roselind plays a yello Reverse. Rebecca plays a yellow Skip, which is fine by Raven because she doesn't have yellows. Rhodes draws, and doesn't play, so she still has no yellows.

"Uno!" Ruby says as she plays a yellow 4.

Rivers plays a yellow 5, but Rumiko grins again.

"Uno ga!" Rumiko shouts as she slaps another Draw Four down! "Aka! Er, reddo!"

Obviously that means Rumiko's last card is red. Roselind has to draw, but can't play. Rebecca plays a red 9, and Raven plays a red 4. Rhodes pays a red 1, Ruby draws but can't play. Rivers has to draw, too, and also has no reds.

"Kanpekina shri!" Rumiko shouts as she plays a red 0.

"Again?" the twins pout.

"Tally up the points," Raven says as she shows her remaining hand.

Rumiko gets 79 points just off the number cards, but there's a Skip, two Reverses and two Draw Twos. That's 179 points this round, so Rumiko now has 318 points!

Rumiko laughs as the cards are collected and shuffled as a new deck.

"Rumiko might win by 500 points even before we hit the five round limit," Ruby says.

"In that case, let's have Rumiko deal," Raven says. "And if she somehow wins again, we might as well just call it, best three out of five."

Rumiko smugly smirks as she takes the cards and deals them out. Raven ends up with a yellow 1, red Draw Two, green 0 and a blue 0, 4, Draw Two and Wild Card. Rumiko turns over the next card for the Discard pile, and it's a yellow Skip!

"Oh, there are special rules here," Raven says. "If the first card ends up a Skip, it affects the player after the dealer."

"That means Roberta Rivers has to skip her turn already," Ruby says. "So after Rumiko, I just go anyway?"

"Yep," Raven confirms.

"Not if I play this!" Rumiko says as she plays a green Skip!

Ruby grumbles, but Rivers doesn't seem bothered. Rhodes goes now, and she plays the other yellow Skip. Raven has to sit while Rebecca plays a yellow 3. Roselind plays a yellow 4. Rumiko plays a yellow Reverse, so Roselind plays her yellow 6.

Rebecca draws, so she has no yellows. But then she plays a Draw Four!

"Green!" she says while Raven draws a blue 3, blue 5, red Skip and green 1.

Raven only has a green 0 and a green 1. She also has a Wild card and a lot of blues.

A) Play green 0
B) Play green 1
C) Play the Wild card
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/FjbrJqB

B

"Green," Raven says.

Rebecca plays a green 5, Roselind plays a green 6, and Rumiko plays a green 7. Rivers draws a card, meaning she has no greens. But then she plays the new card, a green Skip. Ruby sits put while Rhodes plays a green 0. Raven plays her green 4, and Rebecca plays a green 3. Roselind plays a green 8, so Rumiko plays a yellow 8.

Rumiko's already down to two cards, and Raven starts to worry she'll win again at this rate. Rivers plays a yellow Skip now, so Ruby again sits while Rhodes plays a yellow 7. Raven plays her yellow 4, and Rebecca plays a yellow Draw Two. Roselind adds to her hand, then plays her red Draw Two. Rumiko draws two more cards, then plays a red 4. However, Rumiko doesn't seem worried that she's got three cards now. She must have some Wilds or even Draw Fours...

Rivers plays a red 3, and Ruby finally takes her turn again to play a red 7. Rhodes plays a red 1, which leaves Raven with her choice of any of her cards.

A) Play Red 4
B) Play Red 8
C) Play Red Reverse
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/GwUrCYx

B

Raven plays her green 1, and Rebecca has to draw. She must not have any greens at this point. Her new card isn't green, either, or she'd play it. Roselind plays a green 7, and Rumiko plays a green Skip. Rivers waits while Ruby goes next, playing a green 6. Rhodes plays a green 7, so now Raven has no choice but to play her green Reverse.

"Uno!" Raven says as she holds only one card.

Rhodes goes again, but she plays a blue Reverse! Raven grumbles as she has to draw. But then she gets a red Reverse and plays it!

"Uno again!" she says.

Rhodes grumbles as she has to draw, meaning she has no reds. But she doesn't seem too bothered, because now she plays a Draw Four!

"Blue!" she says.

Ruby draws four cards, then plays a blue 4. Rivers has to draw, meaning she has no blues. Rumiko plays a blue 6, and Roselind plays a red 6! Raven gets excited, but then Rebecca plays a red Skip. Raven sits there while Rhodes has to draw. She still has no reds as she doesn't play what she got.

Ruby plays a red 5, but Rivers plays a red Reverse. Ruby plays a Wild card.

"Green!" Ruby says.

It gives away that she has mostly, if not only, green cards. Rhodes plays a green 8, and Raven must draw. She gets a yellow Reverse, so she has to end her turn. Rebecca plays a red 8, but Roselind has to draw. Roselind has no reds so she has to wait. Rumiko and Rivers also have to draw. Ruby also has to draw, but then she plays a Draw Four!

"Green!" Ruby says again.

Rhodes draws, then plays a green 0. Raven draws and gets a red 8. Rebecca draws, and also has no green. Roselind plays a green 5, Rumiko plays a green 3. Rivers plays a green 4, and so does Ruby. Rhodes has to draw, she has anything but green it seems. Raven also has to draw, but she gets the other green Reverse. Rhodes has to draw again, still no green.

Ruby plays a green 2, Rivers a green 1, and then Rumiko a green 3.

"Uno!" Rumiko shouts.

Roselind plays a green 6, but Rebecca has to draw. Raven finally plays her red 6, and Rhodes plays a yellow 6. Ruby plays a yellow 4, Rivers plays a yellow 7.

"Yata!" Rumiko shouts as she plays her last card, a yellow 1.

"Aw...!" the others say.

"Okay, time to tally up those points," Raven says.

Everyone shows their remaining cards, which is quite a bit for some. Just on number cards, she gets 99 points. Then there's Raven's Reverse card and Rhodes' Skip card, for another 40 points, making for 139 in total.

"Okay, that's a pretty good start," Raven says. "On to round two."

The cards are all gathered up and shuffled. Raven deals again, and ends up with a Draw Four, a red Reverse, blue Skip, green 2, and three 4's. The only 4 she doesn't have is blue.

The top discard is revealed to be a green 8.

"Rumiko, since you won the first round," Raven says, "you go first this time."

"Hai~!" Rumiko says. "Skippu!"

Rivers waits while Ruby plays a green 4. Rhodes plays a green 9, Raven plans her green 2. Rebecca plays a blue 2, but Roselind plays a yellow 2. Rumiko plays a yellow 3, Rivers plays a green 3. Ruby draws, meaning she has no greens. Ruby doesn't play the card she got, so it's not green, either. But then she plays her Draw Four!

"Blue!" she says while Rhodes draws.

Rhodes checks what she has, and plays a blue 8. Raven plans her blue Skip, Roselind plays a blue 3. Rumiko plays a blue Draw Two, Rivers draws to then play her own blue Skip. Rhodes plays a blue 7, and while Raven has a Draw Four, she must first draw. She gets a red 8, so now she's free to play the Draw Four! Rebecca draws four more cards while Raven chooses the new color.

A) Red
B) Green
C) Yellow
---

And Holo https://imgur.com/GfsNdwz

A

Raven goes with the blue 8. This might be her last chance to play a blue card so she might as well get rid of this one.

Rebecca plays a blue 5, and Roselind plays a blue 3. Rumiko finally gets a turn, and plays a blue 9. Roberta Rivers plays a blue Reverse, so now Rumiko has to play again. She puts a blue 2 out, and now Roselind must go again. Roselind draws, so she doesn't have anymore blues to play. She can't play this card, either, so it's not blue.

Rebecca also has to draw, so she has no blue cards. And since Raven doesn't have any blue cards, she has to draw a card, too. She draws a red 6 so that can't be played. Now it's Rhodes' turn, and she plays another blue 2. Ruby plays a blue 6, but Rivers has to draw. She can't play that card, either, so she has no blues.

Rumiko draws, so she also has no blues. But then she plays the card she drew, a blue 9. Roselind plays a red 9, and then Rebecca plays a red Draw Two. Rebecca smirks while Raven takes the next two cards from the deck. Raven gets a red 5 and a blue 0. Raven has her own Draw Two in yellow, but she's got two red cards to use. She goes with the Draw Two, to give Rhodes more.

Rhodes plays a yellow 9, which forces Ruby to draw. That means Ruby has no yellows. Rivers plays a yellow 8, and Rumiko has to draw. She also has no yellows. Roselind plays a yellow 1 and Rebecca plays a yellow 9. Raven takes advantage and plays her yellow Skip, and Rhodes grumbles.

Ruby has nothing so she draws and keeps. Rivers draws, so she has no yellows, but then she plays a yellow Reverse card. Ruby has to draw again, and plays a yellow 4. Rhodes can go this time, and she plays a yellow 2. Raven plays the yellow 5. Roselind draws a card, so she must not have yellows. She draws, and immediately plays a yellow 2. Roselind plays a yellow 3, and Rumiko plays a red 3. Rivers plays a red 7, Rumiko plays a red 2, and Rhodes plays the other red 7.

It seems to be time for more reds as Raven plays her red 5. Rebecca plays her red 0, then Rose her red Skip. Rumiko grumbles while Rivers plays her red 1. Ruby plays a red 4, and Rhodes plays her regular Wild card.

"I change it to blue!" she says.

"Ha!" Raven says as she puts down her blue 0. "Thanks for that."

Rhodes grumbles, but Rebecca has to draw. Rebecca looks really guilty now.

"Sorry, Rose," she says as she plays her Draw Four card!

"Oh no...!" Roselind says as her hand grows again. "Oh."

She then plays a regular Wild card.

"Green!" she says.

Rumiko plays a green Draw Two, and Rivers does that. She then plays her own green Draw Two, so Ruby also draws. She plays a green Skip, so it's Raven's turn again.

A) Play the green Reverse
B) Play the green 1
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/pzbAhXb

B

"Let's just see who has the most points after five rounds."

Raven finishes shuffling the deck and deals out seven cards for seven players, so that's 49 cards. The remaining 59 cards are the deck, but the top card starts the Discard pile. The starting card is a blue Skip.

Raven looks at her own hand, and she has two blue 8's, a green Reverse and 1, then a yellow Skip, Draw Two and 5. Obviously her only choices are to play her yellow Skip or a blue 8. She will be nice and go with the blue 8. Rebecca plays a blue 3, but then Roselind plays a blue Skip. Rumiko pouts as she has to wait, while Rivers plays a blue 7.

Ruby smirks as she plays a blue Draw Two onto Roberta Rhodes. Rhodes grumbles as she draws two cards before taking her turn. She plays her blue 1, so it's back to Raven. Raven has that blue 8 but she does have that green 1.

A) Play the blue 8
B) Play the green 1
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/fv0enR2

She pulls out the cards and organizes them how she plans to transforms them.

"Obviously we can take the suits and make them the colors for Uno," she says as she focuses on Transmutation magic. "Hearts will stay red, Diamonds will become blue, Spades will become yellow and clubs will become green. We'll use the number cards as number cards, so that Two through Ten become One through Nine. The Jokers, as there's only four of them, will be the four Zero cards.

"Jacks will become the Skip cards, Queens will become Reverse Cards, and Kings will become Draw Two. The Aces can be divided between the Wild Cards and the Draw Four Wild Cards."

Raven uses her magic, transforming the cards as stated. The Aces are divided so that Hearts and Diamonds become Wild Cards while the Spades and Clubs become the powerful Draw Four Wild Cards.

"The way Uno is played is that everyone will be dealt seven cards," Raven continues as she shuffles. "The remaining cards are the stock, with the top card starting off as the Discard pile. When it is your turn, you have three options. You must play a card that matches the top card in the Discard pile by either color or type, or draw a new card. Of course, the exception to the rule are the regular Wild and Draw Four Wild cards. I'll go ahead and take the first turn after dealing to show you how that looks.

"The abilities are rather straightforward by their names. A Skip makes the next player skip their turn. A Reverse redirects order of play. We'll start clockwise, so that means the first Reverse sends order of play counter-clockwise. A Draw Two makes the next player draw two cards and end their turn. The Wild Card can be played to change the color. For example, if the top card is red, you can play your Wild Card to make it green.

"A Draw Four Wild is the strongest type of card. Not only do you change the color, but you make the next person draw four cards, making it that much harder for them to win. Because of this, they're limited to only when you have no other possibilities. For example, if you have a Wild and a Draw Four Wild, you must first play the Wild Card. When a Draw Four is played, the affected player can challenge it. The two involved privately check the user's hand, and if it turns out the Draw Four was used illegally, the user must draw the four cards instead. If the affected player is wrong, they must now draw a total six cards as penalty.

"If you have absolutely nothing to play, you obviously must draw from the deck. And when you do, you must either play that card and only that card, or keep the card and pass. And should we run out of cards in the deck, we keep the top card in the Discard pile, and shuffle the rest.

"Now, this rule is key to winning. Once you are down to one card, you must shout 'Uno!' as a sort of warning to everyone else. Should you forget, another player can call you out on it, and you have to draw two cards. And obviously if you lie and say 'Uno' before being down to one card, draw two cards."

"Well that's all very complex," Ruby says, "but how do you win Uno?"

"When a player plays all their cards, the round ends," Raven says, "and the points awarded are determined by what cards are left in everyone else's hands. Number cards are obviously their value, but action cards like Skip, Reverse and Draw Two are worth 20, and then the Wild and Draw Four cards are worth 50! The first player to rack up 500 points is the true winner."

"500?!" the others blurt.

"I know, we might want to go with a quicker way," Raven says.

A) First to 300 points
B) Best after 5 rounds
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/5Y7AznY

C

"Not Old Maid," you say. "They conspire together to make sure neither of them gets left the Old Maid. They've done it to literally everyone in the family."

Raven laughs while your sisters play coy.

"In that case," Raven says, "how about we play a game where it ends once there's a winner?"

"Like what?" your sisters ask.

"How about Uno?" Raven asks.

"Uno?" they both reply. "What's that?"

"You haven't heard of it?"

"I believe Uno is an American original," you say. "The main goal is to be the first person with just one card in their hand."

"Yes, exactly," Raven says. "The deck has like over 100 cards, divided into four colors: red, blue, yellow and green. They're numbered, with there being 1 through 9 twice, but only four zeroes. Then there's Skip cards, Reverse cards, and Draw Two cards, as well as Wild cards, and Draw Four Wild cards. I think they got it to come out to 108, but I'd have to double check how it's all sorted out."

"That sounds fun!" Rebecca says.

"We should definitely play that!" Roselind says.

"It also allows up to seven players, but I've only ever played with a group of five, because of the other Titans," Raven says. "I bet it'll go really fast if it's just the three of us."

"Well, we could join in if you wanted," Roberta Rhodes offers, motioning to herself and Roberta Rivers.

"Sure," Raven says. "That's five, so maybe if Ruby or Rumiko wants to join in we could have a full game?"

"Yeah, why not?" Ruby says.

"Hai!" Rumiko says.

"Is there even an Uno deck around here?" you ask.

"We can always make one," Raven shrugs. "We could even convert some normal playing cards into Uno cards."

"Then I'll fetch two full decks, complete with joker cards," Carter says. "Gerik, you take Fredrick and Bernadina to clean up the den so the ladies can play."

"Wait, what happened to no games?" Renee pouts while the younger Wilmarths head out.

"And why isn't Rory joining you?" Roxanne asks.

"I have some work to finish up regarding my training with Raven in the morning," you say.

"Besides, a game with all of us would take much longer than just a game with seven," Raven says. "You all can play something on your own."

Renee and Roxanne grumble but reluctantly accept. Everyone finishes their desserts and head their separate ways, the adults going to the veranda while those not playing Uno with Raven get to use the parlor this time. You of course return to the library and then the private study above.

[cut to Raven]

Penelope leads the way down the hall and around a corner. Carter leads Renee, Roxanne and the others one way while Penelope leads Raven and the other Uno players the other. Penelope opens a door, and the seven walk into what is obviously the den.

There are lavish couches with embroidered floral patterns and finely carved wood legs that go with the coffee table. There's also an ornate fireplace with a wonderfully made candelabrum at the center, and a dazzling chandelier overhead that sparkles with the various clear crystals that make up the brances.

"Wow," Raven says. "This definitely puts the Tower's living room to shame."

Everyone sits down at the couches and chairs around the coffee table, and Penelope presents the decks to Raven.

"Thank you," Raven says.
---

Go Catgirls! https://imgur.com/05uEzBA