Match of the Millennium

-== RECORDING #14, POOLSIDE, ISLA ZACA RESORT, 11:00 AM ==- Tom and Lou are sitting at a table, looking moderately to incredibly hung over. A laptop between them is playing footage from the party the night before. On the screen, Zack sits back in his chair and kicks off the booth, spinning around into a lounging pose as he smiles broadly at the party-goers. << So, do I have any volunteers...? >> LOU: "I still can't believe he didn't have any volunteers." TOM: "To be fair, he didn't exactly sell it. I mean, he could have at least waited until after everyone was drunk to start taking names." LOU: "Weirdly, the drinking only started in earnest after his speech. Oh well, I guess it's up to us to do the assignments, as usual. Let's rewind this a bit." They skip the recording back to a shot of Zack holding up a single finger and hit play. << So, problemo numero uno: Junko, the funky phoenix. Y'all gotta go kick her fiery booty. The problem is, there's a lotta jungle between here and Zack Mountain, and Zack Jungle's got a little problem with a monster infestation. So while you sexy couples are fighting the next round of the tournament, somebody's gonna have to make sure the road to Zack Mountain is safe. >> TOM: "This is indeed a concern, especially after those izard-lay onster-mays ambushed Hollywood Heat." LOU: "So, let's send Toxique for this one. Coco likes to brag about how she spent several months roughing it in the jungle back in Thailand, and why not send a monster to deal with the monsters?" TOM: "But that only justifies half of the - oh, you meant Roxana was the monster." LOU: "Actually, I was still talking about Coco. But, well, Rox does kind of have that lab-grown bio-weapon vibe going on." << Next problem: The Secret Lab. Zack considers his tenants in breach of contract after they sent giga-Zack to wreck his radio. Unfortunately, Zack ain't exactly sure where this secret lab is. So Zack has arranged a clandestine meeting with his lady friend to get the deets so we can drop in for a surprise inspection. >> TOM: "So, Zack is going to have a friendly diplomatic encounter with his 'friend' from the mysterious biotech company. Who should we send to escort him?" LOU: "You mean which one has the most familiarity with 'enhanced interrogation techniques?'" TOM: "I'm not... /not/ saying that." LOU: "Well, obviously, we have one ninja whose expertise is in chains and electricity, so Shock and Roll makes a good fit. And then we have Arisa." TOM: "What makes you think Arisa would have applicable skills?" LOU: "She's from Texas." TOM: "Fair enough. Maybe she can force Zack's friend to eat spicy chilli until she gives up the location." << And problemo numero tres: keeping Isla Zaca Resort safe and supplied. Not only because it's worth millions of dollars in potential revenue, but because we've got a giant radio tower here, which means it's our best way of contacting the outside world. Also, it's where Zack's house is. >> TOM: "So, as you and I have discussed, this will involve a few different tasks." LOU: "Hit me with 'em, Tom." TOM: "Firstly, we'll need someone to take the night shift on guard duty. We found that strange sticky residue around the poolside area of the resort this morning, so something must have gotten in." LOU: "I still think someone just had too many Bellinis-in-a-can and doesn't want to own up, but I guess putting somebody on guard duty can't hurt." TOM: "I recommend we have John Doe and Homura take guard duty, since they're clearly night owls to begin with." LOU: "Good thinking, Tom." TOM: "Secondly, there was apparently some kind of aerial vehicular crash in the jungle. We should have somebody go and check for survivors, or, worst case scenario, see if they have any supplies that we can use to repair the radio mast." LOU: "Maybe we should send that team out today instead of tomorrow." TOM: "Good idea. Who can we send that isn't currently hung over?" LOU: "Uhhh..." Lou picks up a pair of binoculars. LOU: "I dunno. Maybe Braun and Ayala?" TOM: "Well, they certainly seem to have the skills for the job. I'll pencil them in. And finally, we need more supplies. According to a manifest we found, there should be more food in the resort, but we haven't found it. Therefore, we suspect it's already been delivered to the Gemstone Suites Hotel deeper in the jungle." LOU: "Yep. I say we send the Rhythm Renegades to investigate." TOM: "Any particular reason?" LOU: "They're the only ones left." TOM: "Ah. Fair enough. So, do you want to do it or shall I?" LOU: "Go ahead. I know you and your Schadenfreude." TOM: "Thanks, Lou." Tom stands up and picks up a megaphone from behind the laptop on the table before turning toward the resort. TOM: << MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE? >> -== RECORDING TERMINATED ==-

While the return of Zack may have shed some light on the history of Isla Zaca, its future remains murky at best. What is this mysterious 'biotech research firm' that has based itself somewhere in the island's depths, and what are their intentions? Are they in collusion with the dark phoenix? What other creatures await the fighters in the jungle? And most importantly, who will be the King/Queen and Queen/King of Zack Island? Semi-Final Matches: Might & Magic (Iris and Albert) versus Atlantis (Chevy and Tanwen) Stage: Zack of All Trades Atlantis and Might and Magic both come off of strong showings in the quarter-final to meet in Zack Island's famous collectible shop. Will the standard fairytale heroes (good witch and knight) be able to overcome the stock fairytale villains (ice queen and dragon) in this tropical trope-down? Hollywood Heat (Hawksley and Henry) versus Wild Things (Buck and Max) Stage: Radio Station Zack's finally managed to clean his house up after having it trashed by Zack (?) and hosting an Emergency Dance Party. Will it survive a match between fire-breathers, beast-people and sword-slingers? What does Zack's insurance company have to say about all this? Encounters: Blazing a Trail - Toxique (Coco and Roxana) versus Ouroboros Stage: Brilliant Jungle Coco and Roxana are chosen to delve into the jungle to make sure that the path to the volcano is clear for the upcoming confrontation with Junko. Unfortunately, it appears that something in the jungle takes exception to Constance Coalbridge claiming the title of 'Queen Cobra...' SPECIAL NOTES: This survival encounter will feature AI that must be activated via '<minion> ai on'. The battle will automatically end in 7 to 10 rounds, in which case the fighters will be considered successful as long as one of them is still standing. Rendezvous - Shock and Roll (Ishida and Kenzo) and Arisa versus ??? featuring Zack Stage: Tranquil Beach Arisa, Ishida and Kenzo serve as Zack's escort to his meeting with the mysterious laboratory liaison, but will this be a four-on-one encounter solved through simple strongarm diplomacy or appeal to reason? Somehow, one does not suspect so. Checking In - Rhythm Renegades (Rodrigo and Sarah) versus ??? Stage: Gemstone Suite The Gemstone would normally be a luxury hotel, but power outages, poor lighting and non-existent staff service currently put it at a two out of five at best on TripAdvisor. Not to mention familiar fiends that stalk its halls - at least, they might be familiar if anyone could be certain of what they looked like... SPECIAL NOTES: Contact Junko to play the opposing creatures in this encounter! Night Shift - Dead By Moonlight (Homura and John Doe) versus ??? Stage: Casino The Casino is a twenty-four-hour-a-day beacon of light and sound in the loneliness of Isla Zaca... until it isn't. When the power goes off, Homura and J.D. investigate - and encounter a new threat lurking in the shadows... SPECIAL NOTES: Contact Lyraelle to play the opposing creatures in this encounter! Get To The Choppa - Big Game Hunters Beta (Ayala and Braun) versus ??? Stage: Zack Island (stage) Deep in the jungle, Ayala and Braun locate the wreckage of the security chopper that seems to have been sent by Professional Fighting Worldwide, along with its crew - or what remains of it. Soon, the Big Game Hunters find themselves pulled into a Darwinian competition of predators and prey... but which will they be? SPECIAL NOTES: Contact Veronica to play the opposing creatures in this encounter! *** NOTE FOR ALL ENCOUNTERS *** These scenes involve danger and foes that fight with lethal intent. While character death isn't on the cards, being knocked out in these scenes can result in persistent injuries that will require medical supplies (which are currently limited) to remove before the end of the current plot. However, each will also have a special reward for succeeding in the scene's objective (generally knocking out the opponents, unless otherwise specified). Medical supplies are a potential 'loot' reward for these scenes. All Encounter scenes will also award 2 Zack Coins per fighter for success.

Greetings, doodz! It's time for the action to begin again with Round 3! All scenes need to be completed by END OF DAY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH. Please get in touch with the other participants in your scene ASAP. If you haven't started or scheduled your scene by Sunday August 18th then contact me on either Discord or by @mail in game. Three primary objectives have been set out by Zack, Tom and Lou, representing three story 'paths' - confronting Junko, finding the Secret Lab, and defending the Resort. If you have a particular interest in having your character focus on one of these paths in future rounds, please indicate as much in your 'plotnote' by the end of this round. Note that being in the tournament automatically places characters in the first story path, but characters who have been eliminated and want to pursue Junko may opt to do so. If you're open to all three, you can either indicate as much in your plotnote or leave it blank to have Pringer assign you to a path. All three paths will have an impact on the ending of the TP. It's recommended that you discuss your plans with your tag partner before setting a plotnote! Just a reminder that for NFG players who haven't already submitted a cutscene, you can earn 0.5 AP + 0.5 bonus AP per character by completing one before the conclusion of the Zack Island plot! - Pringer X