[Twi]Chronicles of the Impaler: Crisis of Infinite Draculas OOC

[Cracklord]

You know what? Good call. This game could use the Wild Hunt.

Kidding. He's actually fairly safe, what with the Grail War running interference, only those who are very close will have even a chance to sense it. So all you have to worry about is the Page Sisters, and…

[doliest]

I'm honestly torn.

On the one hand, this entire game was just a ruse on Panty's part to get undergarments on the table so she could shove guns in their faces and move on.

On the other hand, its been more than eight hours, which is too f***ing long.

.
..
Also, Cracklord...and everyone else? Please, never agree to characters who are basically one trait forever. Panty and Stocking are fun to watch, but god do they get repetitive to play.

Edit:Wait, duh, pleasure, then grab the underwear off the table. Not like he's going to put them back on for an 'interrogation.' Thank you Panty, it is scarily easy to get into your one track mind.

[Cracklord]

Seems to me that I've gotta find some way to force her to think outside her very, very small box. With Stocking, I figure we can work some redemption in, she decides that her sister means more to her then self-indulgence, or something like that. With Panty… we'll think of something.
As for the game, well the thing is, Jack's basically the anthropomorphic personification of the storybook trickster. Yes, he never profits, but he can still screw people over surprisingly well.

[doliest]

The thing is, indulgence isn't really the issue. Panty is just as, if not more, indulgent and not a fallen. The issue is, at least as we've been running, that Stocking isn't content to follow a greater plan anymore. From her perspective, Panty isn't either, she just doesn't realize it.

Alternatively, have you ever seen the 'Prophecy' series of films?

[Cracklord]

As a matter of fact, I have not. Rundown?

Oh, and let's cut off Panty at this. Give Beast and Smedry a chance to react.

[doliest]

Series of horror films, supernatural/religious theme and thrillers.

Least, that's true of the first three.

Idea is that there's a second war in Heaven, between Gabriel and Michael. Gabriel is tired of humanity being so d*** special and wants the gates closed and no more humans let in. Michael wants to keep following orders and preserve the status quo. The first film features around Gabriel trying to steal one human soul away to let him actually win, since angels just aren't very innovative and no one makes any headway given that they can't die in Heaven.

It ends poorly for him, mostly because Lucifer intervenes, aiding the heroes. His reasoning is 'If Gabriel wins, his Heaven is just one more Hell. That is one too many for my taste.' From there, the second film sees Lucifer letting Gabriel out of Hell because he was too much trouble; the film's actual plot centers around the birth of a Nephilim, but that part is honestly pretty boring.

Third film is about Gabriel's redemption after being brought down to human. And other things, but Gabriel is honestly what makes these films worth watching.

Anyway, sort of a major part of his character arc(and yes, he is the ONLY character to appear in all three films) is a really weird relationship with what 'fallen' means. He knows he's acting against a divine plan, and he talks about God in the way you would talk about an Ex-Girlfriend you're still not over; so, a lot of his actions take on this air that he thinks he can just force his will into reality and make it work. He doesn't like humans, so he'll force his ideas onto the fabric of the plan, and boom, everything is like it was before humans.

I think of Stocking the same, though not specifically about humans. She knows she's fallen, but she isn't 'wow, indulgence is fun!' Well, she is, but that isn't the root of her fall. Rather, she's grown as a person, become a person, so being a true angel just can't work anymore. She asks questions, natural for humans but anathema to angels. In turn, she sees the same weakness in the 'plan' that our example Gabriel did, and ultimately wants to change it. In the far distant 'plan' she vaguely has, she wants to force free will on all angels. Change what they are.

That was really long and ranty. Short story is, Stocking likes free will. The first Prophecy movie is really awesome, it has Christopher Walken as Gabriel and Viggo Mortisen as Lucifer.

Edit:Also, yes on letting Colesign and Draxx actually get to be involved. Sorry 'bout that.

Also, to steal a quote from my tabletop group, 'FADE TO BLACK, BOOTS ON! FADE TO BLACK, BOOTS ON!'

[Cracklord]

You know, Panty aside that's plenty to work with as a character. But Panty…
Well, does she want to change? Is she unable to change her behavior? Or does she just not realize what she wants? Maybe she isn't like her sister, she doesn't want to go against the plan, but by the same token she wants to be free to make her own decisions. Hence she's caught in a vicious cycle that she doesn't have the emotional maturity to resolve on her own.

[doliest]

That's largely extrapolated from Stocking being the 'complex' one in the show. And apparently a demon. Literally all of this is to justify the Last. Thirty. Friggin'. Seconds. Of the show.

Panty is only half-fallen, and she'll probably never fall- that would require thinking about her actions. She likes sex. That is exactly as deep as she gets. She doesn't think about the implications of anything-indeed, the only development she gets is when Stocking ascends and she doesn't because Stocking 'gets' moderation and she doesn't. That hasn't even happened yet.

So, short word? Panty hasn't even figured out why they're here. She likes sex, she cares about Stocking, and she's a ditz. Exactly as shallow as she appears, basically.

Edit:Yeah, she's a victim of her own nature. The difference is she can't realize that. So, she's half-fallen, where as Stocking recognized what was happening and fell, but hid it for both their sakes.

[Cracklord]

Well, that's enough characterization to work with, if you ask me. It just happens to manifest itself in a fairly simple way.

Ironically, in the wider continuity of this game, the exact opposite has happened to Michael since he started running things without the Presence. He's had to be the epitome and final authority on all that is good, which he isn't entirely designed for. See, he's a warrior. That's it. He's designed to be able to ride out to battle, and kick everyone's ass righteously. And he can do that. But that does not make him qualified to run the enormity of the concept of good and characterize what is and what isn't in an absolute way. So he's had to adapt to complexity when his strength is keeping things simple, and wants to return the basics.

[Draxx]

Look at that. Things are finally moving again.

[AnimeKid]

Hey guys I'm finally back. I'm going to post right now actually. Oh yeah, I was just wondering. Who is doing the next game and what was the premise going to be?I just want to know so that I can start considering characters early and don't fall into the same trap Doliest did.

[Draxx]

Depending on whether Industrious is coming back or not, it's a post apocalyptic world.

[AnimeKid]

Huh... That one may be a bit tricky for someone with my tastes. What is the power scale going to be? Cause at this point the only person I can think of that would fit from the sources I have is KOS-MOS. I might have to manually peruse through some of the things I've seen/played to find others.

[Cracklord]

That's Industrious's call. But I'm playing AM, so presumably it's a matter theme more then anything.

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[Colesign]

Sorry about being absent.

...Wow. I did not appreciate the cataclysmic potential of Strip Poker until this moment.

[Cracklord]

Strip Poker. Like many things the librarians do, it seems almost like it could be a joke of some sort. Like all the things they do, it is in fact deadly serious…

[Colesign]

You're finally starting to get it, Cracklord...

...actually, you're getting it more than I ever did, really.

As for the development of the characters Panty and Stocking...well, I think a quote from 'Supernatural' sums things up nicely.

"Angel's weren't meant to feel. When they do....it destroys them, bit by bit."

Stocking, being the thoughtful sisters, goes a Lucifer route and realizes how screwed up things are, and falls in her attempt to make things better.

Panty, I think, being a more emotion driven entity, will fall (i.e. have character development) when she develops empathy and can connect with the feelings of people besides herself and her sister. And not in a romantic relationship sense...in seeing people for the complex, depth filled people they are.

[Cracklord]

Just keep an eye on me, and give me a warning if I start to go too far out of control.

Panty, I think, being a more emotion driven entity, will fall (i.e. have character development) when she develops empathy and can connect with the feelings of people besides herself and her sister. And not in a romantic relationship sense...in seeing people for the complex, depth filled people they are.

You are crediting Panty with far more intelligence, empathy and concern then she could ever, possibly possess.

[Draxx]

I meant to get a 'Midnight Sons' Haloween Special out tonight, but real life got in the way. So that'll have to wait.
In the meantime, I'm going to have to put the project on hold for a bit while I wait for everyone else to catch up.

[darkblade]

Speaking of which I should start having recruiting chapters coming out soon.

My finalized Roster is as follows.

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Gentaro Kisaragi - Kamen Rider Fourze, the man who will befriend every single Superhero!
Raiden - God of Thunder, Defender of Earth Realm
Shin Hayata - Ultraman, giant alien space Jesus
Major Motoko Kusanagi, Cyborg femme fatale
Usagi Tsukino - Sailor Moon, Princess of the Moon Kingdom
Takeru Shiba - Shinken Red, Adopted heir to Shiba clan of Samurai
"Tobio" - Astro Boy, advanced combat android
Godzilla, King of Monsters

I pruned a lot of my original picks and combined the best fits from post the Justice League and Avengers based teams and threw them together.

[Draxx]

So here we have the core-lineup of Excalibur. They were going to be a direct analogue, but that was giving me trouble. I fiddled around with the Justice Society roster for a while, realized I couldn't get direct links and figured I'd settle for well known and identifiable characters. Then realizing I only had pulp characters rather then the brightly colored supermen the story is actually about, so I discarded that as well, and this is what I (eventually) came up with.

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Bond. James Bond: Public liaison and agency handler. Controls funding, ensures secrecy, and otherwise keeps them under control. Takes his orders from a rotating member of the Round-Table conference, designated as 'M'.
Alucard (Dracula): The horrifically powerful King of Vampires and reserve member. Rarely sees action, much to his disgust.
Brian Braddock (Captain Brittain): Team Leader and primary agent, given the utility of his powers.
Betsy Braddock (Psyloche): The team psychic and martial artist, whose role is mostly that of an infiltrator and observer, and, occasionally, dealing with a target using mind-bullets.
Meggan Puceanu-Braddock (Gloriana): Braddock's wife, an empath and shapechanger, as well as conduit for natural magics unmatched by any other known specimen (except, perhaps, for Swampthing).
Miracleman: Reserve member, heavy-hitter who backs up Brian when necessary when brawn is called for.
Promethea (Sophie Bangs): Promethea is a somewhat messianic figure who attempts to battle commercialism, materialism and fetishism of science in western culture.
Steel Claw (Louis Crandell): The detective and 'everyman' of the group, partially insane. Whenever he gets a high voltage shock he turns temporarily invisible, with the exception of his metal hand.
Taranis: Former skyfather now left over god of thunder and lightning.
Tom Strong: Pulp based science hero, team strategist.
Valeyard (10th Doctor (John Smith)): Having lost his ability to traverse time and space at will, he now remains with the group for adventure and problems to challenge his vast intellect. Though the name may be cause for concern…

So there you have it. Here's how it all got heard from.

[Cracklord]

Heroes for Hire (#1/2, 1 of a 3 part crossover with Detective Comics (i.e Batman))

I suggest you listen to 'Big Balls' by AC/DC while reading this, to put you in the right frame of mind.

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The party had dragged on for hours, and only two-thirds of the guests had even arrived, as was always the case with these sort of society endeavors. Despite the fact that all the guests were amongst the richest and most powerful people in the world, with the influence to govern western development and culture, put them all together and they were all extremely boring, reduced to snubbing each other pettily and attempting to assert status. The mansion, at least, was nice.
The designs were hardly adapted from when the Wayne brothers Solomon and Zebediah had first purchased the manor. The building itself had been rarely updated as time had passed, beyond the isntalation of the latest security systems that had been added to protect the old manor and its contents. It was a castle-like state unto itself, and was surrounded by vast and beautiful gardens in the rolling estate. If one went far enough, there was a cliff, but people never went there, unless they wished to write up their will and final words. Thanks to it's position, the manor overlooked one of the largest cities in the United States, that even gave New York City a run for its money.
Gotham was large and growing. It was a corporate center, an arts capital, a publishing center, a fashion mecca, home to a dozen embassies. It was the hub of a hundred subcultures and self-contained microcosms. Over three vast islands and three smaller islands were apartments, business enterprises, a mono-rail system, a couple of parks, port systems, a game stadium, and of course a police department that never turned off its lights. An airport was on the outskirts on the main land, and pilots would savor what they could before their next flight. Despite the grand description of Gotham, it was nothing like it's sister city Metropolis, because its grandeur was fading. The slums were getting worse. The old gargoyles were breaking away at points, making them look even more deformed. And criminals walked around the Narrows and many other places in broad daylight.
It wasn't Hell; only fools and drama queens throw that word around about a place like Gotham. It was worse, in a way, because it was man-made. There wasn't any timeless malevolence behind it all, it was just – what human beings can descend to when they let themselves forget they can be heroes. The truth is, the problems were getting worse; the guns, the poverty, the drugs, the envy, the despair, the gangs, the desperation, the greed, the violence, the decay, the corruption, the festering hopelessness…
Gotham had once been a large part of the industrial revolution. But now, so many years after the depression, people were still homeless, jobs had not come back and the underworld was as powerful as ever.
The party was a regular fixture of the Gotham social calender. Once a year, Wayne Manor hosted a fundraising gala to benefit the Foundation. Anyone who could go would, for the simple reason that it was unthinkable not to go and important to be seen. But because Fate is the only cosmic force with a tragic sense of humor, some costumed villain made an appearance and Bruce was forced to vanish from hosting his own party so that Batman could foil the crime.
Tonight's event would prove to be no exception.
* * * * *
A taxi cab pulls up along the entrance, looking very out of place among all the horrifically expensive vehicles. It's old, a little beaten and needs a wash. It sits there a moment, as funds are redistributed, then the back doors open and two ladies step out.
The first is an intimidatingly tall, classically beautiful African American woman in a red leather motor-cycle jacket and pants, with a big afro, a red purse, and more then enough attitude for three beautiful, independent women.
Her companion is a woman of Japanese and Irish decent, wearing a sparkling silver sheathe and matching jacket. Diamonds sparkle around her neck and on her fingers and ears, although as they were borrowed from her partner they feel out of place. She smells of amber incense and Chanel Number 5.
The two ladies stand in place, looking up at the mansion and all the power, money and influence it represented and trying not to feel out of place and intimidated as their companion gets out. This is Misty Knight and Colleen Wing. Their companion is Daniel Rand. The billionaire.
He's youthful for his thirty-three years of age, with short blond hair, sleekly and sparely built with a cheerful, boyish face and piercing, equally youthful blue eyes. He doesn't look like a billionaire, and seems to be making a conscious effort to project that. He's criminally under-dressed for a function, dressed in slacks and a loose shirt, with dark soft sneakers.
"You goin' to be good?" Asks a tall and muscular black man from the back-seat. Luke was huge, he had arms like a normal mans legs, and a bull-neck that you couldn't wrap your fingers around. He was dressed casually as well, arms folded over his chest.
"We're going to be good. Sure I can't make you come in?" Danny replied, turning to his best friend with an easy grin that lit up his boyish good looks.
Cage snorted. "Not for every cent you got." He replied earnestly. "You old money types make me feel all agitated."
"Suit yourself." Danny replied, ignoring the jab.
"Sugar? Remind me again why the hell we're here? You hate all these people." Misty says. "And you look like your trying to insult them."
"Eh, just the ones that don't matter. It's a status thing, that I'm refusing to go along with." Danny replied. "So I decided to show up looking young and irresponsible, and refuse to play their game." Danny replied, straightening his shirt in a parody of self-consciousness.
"But I don't hate them. The two of you have worked with Ollie Queen enough to know he's alright if you stay on his good side and agree with him about politics, and Stark's not all bad either if you can keep him away from impressionable young women. Bruce is so bad with money pretty much anyone can get him to give them as much as they want with a few well-chosen words, and as for the rest…"
Danny fished around in his pocket for his invitation (gilt-edged, engraved and slightly crumpled), then headed up the steps. "Well, this sort of function is the cost of doing business with them, and keeping big contracts that nearly ten thousand people rely on for jobs. So just one of the sacrifices you have to make in the life of a billionaire. I figure I'll just ignore the jostling for status thing and try and get them to participate and donate money into our outreach programs, while the competition all dismiss me as young and irresponsible."
"Well that explains you. And we're here because?" Colleen asked, with a quirked eyebrow.
"Misery loves company. Why do you think?" He replied easily. "Besides, if I don't show up esquiring two beautiful women, people will think I'm slipping, and I figured you two could use the exposure to the wealthy socialite demographic."
"I work with two billionaires who fight crime, and know at least three more. That's quite enough," Misty says with a roll of her eyes, though she did link her arm in his. "Lets get this over with."
Colleen pouts a bit, self-consciously. "We still look stupid."
"All a part of the act. And you look hot. You'll be getting propositions all night, and only some of them will be professional."
It was Colleen's turn to quirk an eyebrow. "You say that like it's a good thing."
"It might be. You never know."
* * * *

There was a punch bowl in almost every room, but the contents were all the same. Lemon-Lime soda flavored with cherry syrup, making Shirley Temples. Around each table were cookies, little brownies, fudge, chocolate covered strawberries, sweet (and steaming) rolls, shrimp, and tiny plates for the guests so they could help themselves.
Waiters came through the crowd, serving tiny savory hors d'œuvres and caviar. Their host was languid, but his confidant and friend, his trusted servant ALfred Pennyworth was as close to frantic as the unflappable British gentleman could get and was trying to keep the party running smoothly. It was expected, after all.
Out on the patio was dancing. The sun had set a couple hours ago and the bright moon and stars (away from the bustling city, where the smog meant it was always dark. Dark as it gets) shone down and provided what light the torches did not. There was a sparkle to the water that could been seen far out by the cliff.
Danny Rand walked into the party, a man at one with his world, a giant who breathed the rarified air of Gotham's high life as ordinary men breathe oxygen, even if he was offensively under-dressed, and faintly contemptuous. There was an air of danger about him, a difficult to define sort of power that faintly contrasted with his manner.
Danny had managed to grag Misty to these functions before, much as she held them in absolute contempt, and the two of them had established a silent language of subtle facial twitches invisible to the untrained eye that evolved into running commentary on their surroundings, dinner companions, and the inanities of social chitchat. It could even include discussion and usually heated debates on some topic of no importance. And it was important now. Because even to Daniel Rand the CEO, with twenty duty appearances a month for corporate and Foundation events, this was one hell of a dull party.

•*•*•*•*•

Luke Cage sat on the king-size bed in the Royal Suite at the Gotham Imperial Hotel, enjoying the minibar, the enormous television, and all the trimmings. He closed his eyes as the lonely tones of Schubert's Impromptu #90 wafted through the air from the costly ultra-sleek stereo, and pressed the remote desperately until the channel changed back to the blues guitar he had been enjoying.
The Royal Suite of the Gotham Imperial Hotel was a bit much for just four people, even on a billionaire's treat it was decadent. 6,000 square feet, five bedrooms, five and half baths, and two livingrooms, it was bigger then anyone needed, to be honest, and at eight thousand a day it was more then anyone should. The suite comprised the whole of the 33rd Floor of the grand hotel with all of its palatial furnishings, frescoes, a Roman style bath/jacuzzi, and its 2,000-bottle wine cellar. The entire skyline of the cityscape beyond the bulletproof glass windows was truly spectacular, the room service was prompt, and the comforts were overwhelming.
Luke wasn't working, despite having come along to Gotham with Danny. He didn't have anything much planned for the evening either. He and his wife were going to talk about their respective days over the phone, then he was going to read a bed-time story to Danielle because she was in her formative years and it did her good to hear her fathers voice every night. Then he was going to relax in unaccustomed luxury and decadence, taking advantage of the room-service being on his best friends tab until Danny and the girls got back, and then he'd listen to them gripe and complain about it because he was an understanding friend. At least, that was the plan.
Except, while Luke was best at, in his own words, beating fools down who should know better then to tangle with him, he had also become a pretty good detective, at least enough to always keep his eyes and ears open, and observe things a bit better then most perhaps would.
And when he'd come up, he'd seen a man who either was, or was a dead ringer for Icicle Jr hiding out (if you could call that hiding) in the stairwell, and he'd known something was up. That meant something bad was about to go down.
Except he wasn't working. And… well. For pitysake. It's Icicle Jr. A killer, but also a bottomfeeder. Nobody Luke Cage knew would associate with the likes of Icicle Jr! Nobody Luke Cage beat up would associate with the likes of Icicle Jr! He probably wouldn't bother giving his guy the finger on the expressway! This was beyond pathetic. And he certainly didn't want to waste a perfectly good night he already had lined up dealing with him.
No, he wasn't going to get involved.
…Though he could check. Just to be safe.
Luke got to his feet, and went looking for the boy. Just to make sure.

[Colesign]

(Visa-Vis Jack Frost's Button)

Challenge accepted, Cracklord.

[Colesign]

A few things I've noticed about Jack Frost emotion-wise.

He believes very much in legacy. It could be the legacy of a son and family, but it seems more like he's keen on the legacy of his mantle. The idea that this mantle wouldn't continue for one reason or another wouldn't be to his liking.

Alcatraz is prophecied to destroy the order. Jack Frost is either smiling a false smile, or thinks that Alcatraz is out of the picture, and thus unable to destroy Jack of All Trades. Either way, Jack Frost cares about the issue.

Because Jack's a very loyal member of Jack of All Trades. He's also loyal to his allies. But some Jacks are more equal than other Jacks. He does not like Jack Horner pulling reckless antics and going behind his back with self-serving motives. As a converse, this guy clearly admires Jack the Ripper for his 'professionalism' and badassery. There's a bond between these two Jacks.

...I think I have an idea on where to go next. Can I ask whether I'm off base, or is just trying it and seeing what happens part of the fun?

Screw it. I'm gonna try it.

[Draxx]

I think there's also a lot of resentment there. Jack Horner is clearly in charge, whenever he's in the picture he does all the talking, it's only when he goes off that Frost starts to shine. And yet he holds Horner in contempt. So obviously he is required, by the agency he loves and holds as important, to work for someone he can't stand. Think we can work with that.

[Cracklord]

You got it. Jack Frost's entire identity revolves around the Jack's, and feels he, and those who bear his title (if not his blood) is an institution. So he takes the job, and threats to it, very seriously. He also resents Horner, despite being more or less in charge (first among Jack's), for his incompetence and childishness (like leaving a dangerous opperative in the hands of his underlings while he sneaks off to have sex), as well as cowardice and stupidity (sometimes clever but never smart), and hates having to follow his orders, when he feels he could do a much better job on his own.

For the game at large, I have it. I know how the Book of Pure evil subplot, the angel subplot, the Idris Subplot, the grail war subplot and the grim reaper subplot all fit together in an internally consistent way. Now if I can figure out the superhero subplot, this will all fit together in an awesome, psychedelic, radioactive jig-saw.

Also Colesign? That's just foreshadowing for the next epic, in which you mentioned you wanted to rescue Alcatraz given he was your favorite character. Fine by me, so I figured I'd sow the seeds now, like I have for a few other favorite characters. So don't be trying to go into said library 'til you have time to round up a sufficiently epic level posse and do the investigations such a task demands. You'll have to wait a bit, but there you go.

[AnimeKid]

Well that is very interesting. I mean, I know everyone has their favorite characters, but what I'm wondering is what your going to do with them. Doliest's Syler is going to be interesting to see. I have no idea what you could do for Fayt. I'm actually not quite sure what everyone else's favorites are. I have hunches but noting pinpoint.

[Colesign]

Sounds cool. And the Library of Babel sounds like a wonderfully surreal location to 'infiltrate'. Looking forward to that future plot element.

I only hope that the Library of Babel isn't stored inside Gilgamesh's secret stash.

[Cracklord]

Yeah. It's the library, the one he ended up trapped in after the first epic. Frost knows, because another Jack (Jack Sparrow) witnessed it, and what one Jack knows another can find out.

[darkblade]

So is Eddie Riggs a Jack (Black)?