Here we are. For your perusal and approval, Anarion.
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Staff (• to •••••)
Prerequisite: Resources (varies)
Your character has official command over a staff of
employees. These people are mundane mortals, but
they’re also professionally trained and capable of taking
on a host of roles. An aristocratic household, for example,
might employ a number of maids, valets and
cooks, while a social predator might have publicists, investigators
and lawyers on the payroll.
The number of dots in this Merit reflects the relative
size and complexity of the force at your character’s disposal.
You can assign a category to each dot, reflecting
the separate tasks that can be delegated at any given
time. For example, if your ghoul has Staff •••, you could
assign the dots to chauffeurs, gardeners and security
guards. Your character could then assign tasks involving
driving guests, landscaping and guard detail to her own
employees without requiring special effort beyond a
simple dispensation of orders.
The number of dots your character can have in this
Merit is limited by the number of people your household
can afford to employ. You may not have more dots
in Staff than you have in Resources. It’s also possible
to have the ghoul’s regnant be the one whose Resources
dots support the service staff. In such a situation, the
Kindred is the true master of the house, but the ghoul
character is his butler or housekeeper in an Edwardian
manor-house-style division of labor. And while the
ghoul might be the one giving the orders and maintaining
the staff’s affairs, the master’s wishes are the
rule of the night.
And from the World of Darkness core supplement, Dogs of War (of all places)
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Physical Merit: Athletics Dodge (•)
Prerequisites: Dexterity •• and Athletics •
Effect: Whenever your character performs a dodge (see
“Dodge”, the World of Darkness Rulebook, page 156) you
can add his Athletics Skill dots to his Defense instead of
doubling his Defense. He essentially draws on his knowledge
of how his body moves to parry and evade attacks rather
than rely on his raw ability alone.
Athletics Dodge applies against incoming Brawl- and
Weaponry-based attacks, against thrown-weapon attacks,
and against fi rearms attacks made within close-combat
range. Your character can move up to his Speed and perform
an Athletics Dodge maneuver in a turn.
A character can possess this Merit and also the Brawling
Dodge and Weaponry Dodge Merits, but only one can
be used per turn.
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Mental Merit: Trained Observer
(• or •••)
Prerequisites: Wits ••• or Composure •••
Effect: A Trained Observer can spot the smallest anomaly.
No detail escapes his notice. With the one-dot version, the TO
ignores penalties of up to -3 on Perception rolls. The three dot
version gives Perception rolls the Rote Action quality (see “Rote
Actions”, the World of Darkness Rulebook, p. 134).
Trained observer seems to be a either or; three dots is more useful in normal circumstances, single dot is more useful under stressful situations, although honestly once the dice pool hits around 7-8 it becomes a different deal - Rolling three dice due to penalty mitigation, versus rolling 4 dice twice.
Athletics Dodge is going to be because dancing and fighting are bothgoing to draw from the same roots; some capoeira training, stacatto movements during rave/ecstaticdub step style dancing mixed with acrobatics. I suspect that when defending himself, Flouresce will resemble a morea aware, dancing version of Vash the Stampede (-8 to hit me is nothing to sneeze at!)
It can't be a mundane reason either. If Vulcan is left to her own devices she'll follow, essentially, a pro-Seer agenda. There has to be a mechanism in place to make her swallow her own priorities and do Pentacle stuff, otherwise there isn't a stable grouping.
I'm just gonna let you guys talk this one out. Let me know if you want NPC forces to be involved in getting Vulcan into the party in any way.
Quote:
Originally Posted by the_druid_droid
CHARACTER SHEET
Samantha Chu
AKA Mara
Female Adamantine Arrow Mastigos "A leash can pull both ways." Theme: Seven Devils
DERIVED TRAITS Willpower 5/5 Defense 3 Health 7/7 Speed 9
ROTES Drawing Aside the Inmost Veil (Read the Depths) Manipulation+Empathy+Mind 12 Remote Viewing (Scrying) Intelligence+Investigation+Space 10 Psyche's Dart (Psychic Assault) Resolve+Intimidation+Mind-Resolve(Target) 9 Illuminating the Inner Temple (Augment the Mind) Resolve+Academics+Mind 9
ARROW ROTE SPECIALITIES
+1 Athletics, Intimidation, Medicine
XP: 35
UNSPENT XP: 0
ARCANE XP:
UNSPENT ARCANE:
DESCRIPTION
Spoiler
Mara is a very pretty, slender girl, with distinctly Chinese-American features. She typically wears her hair in a pixie cut, and in a good mood can seem fae-touched, though she isn't an Acanthus. Her wardrobe is that of an older teenage girl, and she hasn't quite blossomed to the level of "young professional" yet.
In general, although the intensity of her mood swings has been significantly lowered, she can still turn sullen and quiet if something triggers her, and her mental states can wax and wane long-term as well. When she's happy, or intensely focused, her personality is bright and may even cross into teasing or flirting.
Mara has a pronounced tendency to view her own mind as a research/fix-it project and has difficulty understanding others' desires for mental privacy after half a lifetime of institutional prodding of her psyche. She does however have a blanket ban on directly reading the thoughts of those close to her, largely because of bad experiences in the past, where she discovered that sometimes it's easier not to know what people really want to say to you.
MAGICAL TOOLS
Cup (Creative Power): Telling Stories Sword (Directed Power): Chain (Currently her bracelet) Staff (Authority/General Power): Circle Mirror (Reflections/Echoes): Chinese Hexagrams Coin (Cycles of Power): Numbers 1-3
PERCEPTIONS:
MindEmpathic Bond
Mara experiences a person's mood herself, although less strongly than the subject, and she may begin thinking thoughts which mirror the current mental state of the person under scrutiny.
SpaceBond and Chain
Sympathetic connections are bonds - silver, gold, or iron chains perhaps, the material mirroring some aspect of the spatial resonance, but always connected to the idea of restraint and being tied together.
FateCasting the Runes
Mara sees the fates and destinies of people through traditional Chinese divinatory and luck symbolism. The hexagrams from the I Ching are very often present.
PrimeSpirits of Magic
Since she can only perceive this Arcanum through the glasses she's been gifted, she sees it through the lens of Satori, who enchanted them originally. Spells and other magical effects take on a life of their own and she sees them as swirling, swimming creatures from Chinese folklore, almost as if spells could have Spirits.
NIMBUS Demon Gate. When Mara casts magic, the air around her shimmers, as if through heat haze or some sort of optical distortion that bends the light around her. When she uses Vulgar magic, the haze blossoms into swirling, multi-colored flame and she is crowned with a halo bearing the pattern of a summoning circle.
HISTORY
Spoiler
Samantha Chu (Shadow name Mara), Awakened as a Mastigos. She's Chinese-American via her father's side, still fairly young but Awakened for a few years now. Her life before Awakening was something of a mix between rough and idyllic - her family was solidly upper middle class and rising, but her father was away more often than not on business, and her mother was bad with kids, despite good intentions. In short, being home wasn't so much being part of a family for her as it was sharing a house with two other people who happened to be 20-some years older. It didn't help that she was an only child.
On the other hand, there were two people that made her life tolerable. One was her grandmother on her father's side (who had immigrated to join her son in the US) who used to love giving her little gifts and telling her stories from China. The other was her best friend at school, Sara. The girls had bonded early, and both got pushed toward the outside of the social circle during the turmoil of the middle grades which only deepened their connection to each other.
During their teenage rebellion phase, Sam and Sara would sneak out and go clubbing in the next town over, at first with fake IDs, and then later as full-grown adults (in the State's eyes, at least). In the process, Sam learned some interesting things about lying, sneaking into places she wasn't wanted, and selling entirely made-up stories to bouncers without blinking an eye. The skills came back to pay dividends when she joined up with the Arrow.
The thing that complicated her youth however was her diagnosis at 14 with bipolar disorder. The diagnosis took a while because her first few rounds of mood swings were dismissed as the growing pains all young girls go through, but it was eventually a school nurse who realized that things might be more serious and referred her to treatment. Her family was initially reluctant, but as her shift between high and low started to interfere more and more with life they finally recognized the need for outside help.
Therapy and medication helped, but Sam continued to struggle with her condition throughout high school (which didn't exactly help her social situation) and even delayed heading to college for a while as she worked to sort her life out, with notably mixed feeling on her parents' part.
However, when Sara left for college herself, things got tougher. Sam had more episodes, sometimes didn't take her medicine. A particularly bad week of fights and recriminations seems to have triggered a nasty manic episode/mixed state that caused her parents to hospitalize Samantha for her own safety. It was there, in the psych ward, that Sam was forced to confront the Hell inside her own mind and the only choices became to see through the Lie or be crushed by it. She chose the latter and Awakened, and finally found something that could help her in a way no Sleeper was able to.
That said, Sam didn't instantly "cure" herself with magic. Instead, she's been analyzing herself, and her own mind magically, using her abilities to help keep things from spiraling out of control like they used to. Eventually, she was picked up by the Arrow and got some proper magical training, and even set her sights on going back to school. Until things got a little out of hand in Hong Kong.
You see, after her Awakening, Sam drastically reduced contact with her parents. They were there, but she finally enrolled in college and was spending a lot of time with her mentor, Satori, under the guise of having a new therapist.
At the same time, her connection to her grandmother remained pretty strong, calling and writing letters at least once a week, in addition to sort of keeping an eye on her with Scrying. Now, a little while ago, her father had occasion to travel to Hong Kong on business and he took his mother along, as a chance to let her see her home country again after so many years away.
Unfortunately, the Free Council attack happened to be on the train her father and grandmother were riding that day. When the news hit the international airwaves, she first thought that the coincidence was too great, but the feeling kept nagging her and she finally scryed. That was how she found out that both of them were killed in the attack. The official word came a few days later.
Now, Sam's pulled strings to be the Arrow's representative in Hong Kong. They had a connection to the city through Satori and a few others from Sam's neighborhood, and nominally she's there to help the other Arrows defend the new ley line patterns. Privately, she's there for blood. She wants to know who's responsible and make them pay for taking away one of the two people she truly cared for. Currently she's so set on vengeance that she's willing to work with anyone who's opposing the Free Council, including the Seers. Sort of an "enemy of my enemy" situation.
Looks solid to me. This
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MindEmpathic Bond
Mara experiences a person's mood herself, although less strongly than the subject, and she may begin thinking thoughts which mirror the current mental state of the person under scrutiny.
might be some trouble for you if you keep mind sight up all the time, as walking through Hong Kong is going to be really depressing.
Kinda like this scene, actually.
Quote:
Originally Posted by the_druid_droid
Actually, question Anarion: did I make this up, or is it true in the core that a dot in Order status automatically confers High Speech along with it. I would swear I read that, but now I'm doubting myself. I'll go have a look as well, actually...
I don't think it even requires the order status dot. According to the character creation rules on pg 66 you get the high speech merit as long as you're part of an order, i.e. not an apostate. So even if you have zero status and are totally new, if you're associated with the order, I think you get the merit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thanqol
She doesn't actually value vague intangibles like (fingerquotes) "freedom" at all.
Mammon has a list of numbers for that. "Freedom" is quite expensive, since they define it by the number of security cameras that they have to overwrite footage from so that you can do what you want and not get caught.
Edit: Well huh, okay, I do kind of think that Staff is not necessary. At least, not for nightclub employees. If these guys serve as your personal security that will do whatever you tell them, then you'll need Staff, but if you own a club and are paying the regular bartender and whoever out of your resources, I don't see the need for a separate Staff merit. Staff seems like it's for personal services, people that do what you want when you want it,
__________________
Lawyer Pony Avatar by Dirtytabs, exalted as an Eclipse by Elemental, now with a fancy robe.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Giant
Anarion's right on the money here.
Quotes
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiki Snakes
Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Anarion Mori?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiki Snakes
You just highlandered an entire city block into a glass-filled storm by road-runnering down it in your underwear.
Mammon has a list of numbers for that. "Freedom" is quite expensive, since they define it by the number of security cameras that they have to overwrite footage from so that you can do what you want and not get caught.
Paying someone to cover for your criminal actions is a service with a cost. It's not "freedom".
Similarly, pay enough money and the law can be changed. That's not "freedom" is either.
Vulcan is accordingly not clear on the value or purpose of "freedom". Any appeal to such a wishy-washy intangible gets a roll of the eyes.
__________________
"Take precaution, heed what's said
Learn the lessons of the dead"
This might be some trouble for you if you keep mind sight up all the time, as walking through Hong Kong is going to be really depressing.
Kinda like this scene, actually.
I think dealing with that will be a combination of the fact that she may not have Mage sight up all the time, and my assumption that she can sort of screen out emotional background noise to focus on a specific target, like a microphone with a spatially narrow range.
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I don't think it even requires the order status dot. According to the character creation rules on pg 66 you get the high speech merit as long as you're part of an order, i.e. not an apostate. So even if you have zero status and are totally new, if you're associated with the order, I think you get the merit.
Huh.
__________________ I never saw an ugly thing in my life - John Constable
Paying someone to cover for your criminal actions is a service with a cost. It's not "freedom".
Similarly, pay enough money and the law can be changed. That's not "freedom" is either.
Vulcan is accordingly not clear on the value or purpose of "freedom". Any appeal to such a wishy-washy intangible gets a roll of the eyes.
Temperature doesn't exist as she knows it either. Hot and cold are irrelevant, but she woul still use the term. Red is just the human approximation of light in the, what, 630-750 nanometer spectrum? It's not actually a thin that exists. Dogs see it as green.
"Freedom" is a thing with a definition. How you define it is irrelevant. Freedom is being in a situation where you are not constrained. If you are constrained, you are not free. If you are not constrained but that freedom was purchased b
Via upkeep an overhead costs, it's still freedom. Freedom isn't free, they say.
Paying someone to cover for your criminal actions is a service with a cost. It's not "freedom".
Similarly, pay enough money and the law can be changed. That's not "freedom" is either.
Vulcan is accordingly not clear on the value or purpose of "freedom". Any appeal to such a wishy-washy intangible gets a roll of the eyes.
I won't go too deep here in case you end up bringing this up IC. But I think a more experienced Seer would point out that whenever people ask for more "freedom" they usually just want money and privacy. And that's what Mammon charges them for.
Quote:
Originally Posted by the_druid_droid
I think dealing with that will be a combination of the fact that she may not have Mage sight up all the time, and my assumption that she can sort of screen out emotional background noise to focus on a specific target, like a microphone with a spatially narrow range.
Yep that will certainly work.
__________________
Lawyer Pony Avatar by Dirtytabs, exalted as an Eclipse by Elemental, now with a fancy robe.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Giant
Anarion's right on the money here.
Quotes
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiki Snakes
Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Anarion Mori?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiki Snakes
You just highlandered an entire city block into a glass-filled storm by road-runnering down it in your underwear.
Temperature doesn't exist as she knows it either. Hot and cold are irrelevant, but she woul still use the term. Red is just the human approximation of light in the, what, 630-750 nanometer spectrum? It's not actually a thin that exists. Dogs see it as green.
"Freedom" is a thing with a definition. How you define it is irrelevant. Freedom is being in a situation where you are not constrained. If you are constrained, you are not free. If you are not constrained but that freedom was purchased b
Via upkeep an overhead costs, it's still freedom. Freedom isn't free, they say.
Then we get into metaphysics - like, I can't raise the dead from their screaming graves, where's my so-called freedom now? Isn't that the Pentacle's entire thing? I can't visit the Supernal so therefore I am not free; I am instead trapped in the Lie?
From Vulcan's perspective, freedom is meaningless, emphemeral and arbitrary, ranging from 'I wish I could browse porn at work' to 'I want to be able to end the cosmos' - whatever it is, it boils down to an "I want to be able to do X". Therefore, she sees the idea of "freedom" as meaningless and a far more honest approach would be to just straight-up say what you want.
Anyway, all beside the point. Someone get something up on Vulcan already.
__________________
"Take precaution, heed what's said
Learn the lessons of the dead"
T
Anyway, all beside the point. Someone get something up on Vulcan already.
Um, how about the PCs were part of a raid of her lorehouse and got the girl instead of the books? Vulcan's response is to shrug and say "I'll help you out if you make my life less uncomfortable than the lives of most prisoners."
__________________
Lawyer Pony Avatar by Dirtytabs, exalted as an Eclipse by Elemental, now with a fancy robe.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Giant
Anarion's right on the money here.
Quotes
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiki Snakes
Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Anarion Mori?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiki Snakes
You just highlandered an entire city block into a glass-filled storm by road-runnering down it in your underwear.
Um, how about the PCs were part of a raid of her lorehouse and got the girl instead of the books? Vulcan's response is to shrug and say "I'll help you out if you make my life less uncomfortable than the lives of most prisoners."
Could work. I'm actually sort of seeing a thing where she is technically a prisoner but keeps getting called along on missions because she's too useful to leave sitting around in a cell. White Collar style parole. I like it.
__________________
"Take precaution, heed what's said
Learn the lessons of the dead"
Could work. I'm actually sort of seeing a thing where she is technically a prisoner but keeps getting called along on missions because she's too useful to leave sitting around in a cell. White Collar style parole. I like it.
I'm liking this idea.
Better than anything I had rolling around in my head.
__________________ I never saw an ugly thing in my life - John Constable
1. She's technically a captive of the Adamantine Arrow as a whole, so the Arrow knows her secret.
2. The Arrow keeps this secret from the other Orders because useful asset.
3. Mara is the 'handler', with instructions to keep Vulcan under close watch.
4. Anklet is a Fate oath. It's possible for a Fate mage to break an Oath, but then Mara will know it's been broken - so it is possible for Vulcan to go rogue but you'll have warning it's happening, and Vulcan will have to talk to a Fate mage willing to do her a service.
5. The game should start with Vulcan being taken out on her first mission. This whole dynamic is cool and tense enough that it shouldn't be routine on game start; it should definitely be a case of Mara constantly wondering how far she can trust the Seer and Vulcan gradually building up credibility.
__________________
"Take precaution, heed what's said
Learn the lessons of the dead"
1. She's technically a captive of the Adamantine Arrow as a whole, so the Arrow knows her secret.
2. The Arrow keeps this secret from the other Orders because useful asset.
3. Mara is the 'handler', with instructions to keep Vulcan under close watch.
4. Anklet is a Fate oath. It's possible for a Fate mage to break an Oath, but then Mara will know it's been broken - so it is possible for Vulcan to go rogue but you'll have warning it's happening, and Vulcan will have to talk to a Fate mage willing to do her a service.
5. The game should start with Vulcan being taken out on her first mission. This whole dynamic is cool and tense enough that it shouldn't be routine on game start; it should definitely be a case of Mara constantly wondering how far she can trust the Seer and Vulcan gradually building up credibility.
I think we may have struck gold, dynamic-wise. Good thinking, Anarion!
One tweak that this suggests however is for Mara to take Fate sight as a rote, so she can keep an eye on the "anklet" without either constantly maintaining Fate or hemorrhaging Mana. To that end, would it be acceptable to spend 2 XP worth of Merit XP to buy the Fate rote? I don't have anything else free at the moment, and the first dot of the flat cost is the same as a single-dot Merit.
If not, it's cool and I'll just pick that one up after the first round of XP.
__________________ I never saw an ugly thing in my life - John Constable
Then we get into metaphysics - like, I can't raise the dead from their screaming graves, where's my so-called freedom now? Isn't that the Pentacle's entire thing? I can't visit the Supernal so therefore I am not free; I am instead trapped in the Lie?
From Vulcan's perspective, freedom is meaningless, emphemeral and arbitrary, ranging from 'I wish I could browse porn at work' to 'I want to be able to end the cosmos' - whatever it is, it boils down to an "I want to be able to do X". Therefore, she sees the idea of "freedom" as meaningless and a far more honest approach would be to just straight-up say what you want.
I can't disagree, but we come to slightly different conclusions from the same data. A feature, I believe. You have to admit though "I don't want to fear being oppressed by angry superior officers" and "I wish to be a god" cannot equate whatsoever. There's a difference of scale so large it's not even relevant. That this is still a point for Vulcan is nice. We will probably argue about it. I already plan to deride you for it.
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Anyway, all beside the point. Someone get something up on Vulcan already.
Soul stone! I want a demense.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thanqol
Could work. I'm actually sort of seeing a thing where she is technically a prisoner but keeps getting called along on missions because she's too useful to leave sitting around in a cell. White Collar style parole. I like it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thanqol
Let's finish the White Collar metaphor;
1. She's technically a captive of the Adamantine Arrow as a whole, so the Arrow knows her secret.
2. The Arrow keeps this secret from the other Orders because useful asset.
3. Mara is the 'handler', with instructions to keep Vulcan under close watch.
4. Anklet is a Fate oath. It's possible for a Fate mage to break an Oath, but then Mara will know it's been broken - so it is possible for Vulcan to go rogue but you'll have warning it's happening, and Vulcan will have to talk to a Fate mage willing to do her a service.
5. The game should start with Vulcan being taken out on her first mission. This whole dynamic is cool and tense enough that it shouldn't be routine on game start; it should definitely be a case of Mara constantly wondering how far she can trust the Seer and Vulcan gradually building up credibility.
damn. I'm sold, but I'd still like a soul stone if I could.
I think we may have struck gold, dynamic-wise. Good thinking, Anarion!
One tweak that this suggests however is for Mara to take Fate sight as a rote, so she can keep an eye on the "anklet" without either constantly maintaining Fate or hemorrhaging Mana. To that end, would it be acceptable to spend 2 XP worth of Merit XP to buy the Fate rote? I don't have anything else free at the moment, and the first dot of the flat cost is the same as a single-dot Merit.
If not, it's cool and I'll just pick that one up after the first round of XP.
If you've made an Oath, then if she breaks it you get automatically informed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SiuiS
I can't disagree, but we come to slightly different conclusions from the same data. A feature, I believe. You have to admit though "I don't want to fear being oppressed by angry superior officers" and "I wish to be a god" cannot equate whatsoever. There's a difference of scale so large it's not even relevant. That this is still a point for Vulcan is nice. We will probably argue about it. I already plan to deride you for it.
Of course they can't equate, that's why freedom is a stupid word.
Quote:
Soul stone! I want a demense.
damn. I'm sold, but I'd still like a soul stone if I could.
Get your own!
__________________
"Take precaution, heed what's said
Learn the lessons of the dead"
I think we may have struck gold, dynamic-wise. Good thinking, Anarion!
*tips hat*
Quote:
Originally Posted by the_druid_droid
One tweak that this suggests however is for Mara to take Fate sight as a rote, so she can keep an eye on the "anklet" without either constantly maintaining Fate or hemorrhaging Mana. To that end, would it be acceptable to spend 2 XP worth of Merit XP to buy the Fate rote? I don't have anything else free at the moment, and the first dot of the flat cost is the same as a single-dot Merit.
If not, it's cool and I'll just pick that one up after the first round of XP.
I'm going to say yes, but you have to buy some merit when you get XP next. Sort of an XP loan, if you will.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SiuiS
Anarion, thoughts on merits?
Edit: Okay, well, like I said, I don't think you need the Staff merit for what you want. Don't buy Staff unless you want people who are your personal servants/retainers/chauffeurs etc. If they're working the nightclub, you can pay them with resources.
Your dodge merit and perception merit seem fine to me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SiuiS
Soul stone! I want a demense.
damn. I'm sold, but I'd still like a soul stone if I could.
Well, you could extract a soul stone out of Vulcan if you wanted, assuming you negotiated the proper price. Or you could just make your own, if you wanted. Demenses are pretty cool, and somehow despite my discouragement you've still ended up with a pretty sweet sanctum+hallow+library combo.
__________________
Lawyer Pony Avatar by Dirtytabs, exalted as an Eclipse by Elemental, now with a fancy robe.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Giant
Anarion's right on the money here.
Quotes
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiki Snakes
Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Anarion Mori?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiki Snakes
You just highlandered an entire city block into a glass-filled storm by road-runnering down it in your underwear.
If you've made an Oath, then if she breaks it you get automatically informed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anarion
I'm going to say yes, but you have to buy some merit when you get XP next. Sort of an XP loan, if you will.
Hmm, well if we do this per Thanqol's suggestion, I suppose it isn't necessary. Might buy it anyway, since having the out-of-Path sights not cost Mana can be handy. Plus it's only 2 XP.
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Well, you could extract a soul stone out of Vulcan if you wanted, assuming you negotiated the proper price. Or you could just make your own, if you wanted. Demenses are pretty cool, and somehow despite my discouragement you've still ended up with a pretty sweet sanctum+hallow+library combo.
Is this still going to be in a nightclub? Because I was pretty excited for that. Even when active, it's like, the perfect place for Mara to hang out. Helps that Mind is like, a super-covert Arcanum...
__________________ I never saw an ugly thing in my life - John Constable
EDIT: Puissant Skill (Covert) Choose single Physical Skill. For each success on the spellcasting roll, that skill is considered a rote Ability allowing reroll of any failures resulting in non-magical use of the skill. Can grant by touch with Life 3. TM 195
Is this really life 2? I found my first rote >_>
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thanqol
Of course they can't equate, that's why freedom is a stupid word.
You are frustratingly in character. Me gusta.
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Get your own!
I'm trying!
We own you, right?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anarion
I'll edit them into the post in just a moment. I'm going to glance over all the character sheets again and link them in the OP.
Cool. Hold off on Flouresce for a bit though, I'd like to have a post of nothing but the character sheet.
It uh, will have Changeling info at the bottom from copy/paste stuff though.
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Well, you could extract a soul stone out of Vulcan if you wanted, assuming you negotiated the proper price. Or you could just make your own, if you wanted. Demenses are pretty cool, and somehow despite my discouragement you've still ended up with a pretty sweet sanctum+hallow+library combo.
I may just. Although if I can pump it, a verge will actually suffice.
Quote:
Originally Posted by the_druid_droid
Is this still going to be in a nightclub? Because I was pretty excited for that. Even when active, it's like, the perfect place for Mara to hang out. Helps that Mind is like, a super-covert Arcanum...
pffff like that was ever not an option.
I'm seeing the base being a large square concrete structure lit by a deep neon blue in the corners, Tron style. Dance floor, stage to the back, bar off to the side, one of the back corners by the roof a bunch of prefab block rooms met by stairs of clinkety metal covered with reams of colored fabric wherein the managers operate. "Hallow" and "Library" and such would be in a separate room since we have the resources for it. Plus you're a matter mage; your dot of hallow could be having formed some concrete, sealed rooms closer to the Ley-source, allowing us to tap more firmly into the Supernal waters.
And damn. Was considering rotes in prime, but now I gotta redouble my efforts. Oh, and! A thing.
Siuis, edits on the merits above. Short answer is you're fine, but I don't think you need Staff.
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Originally Posted by the_druid_droid
Is this still going to be in a nightclub? Because I was pretty excited for that. Even when active, it's like, the perfect place for Mara to hang out. Helps that Mind is like, a super-covert Arcanum...
If you do the nightclub, do you guys want to be on the mainland, or on Macau? Both work. Macaus is more like Los Vegas, mainland is more like downtown New York.
In both cases, expect most of the club guests to be pretty desperate. Default resonance is a combo of fear, desperation, and escape. If you want to actually encourage joy, inspiration, and creativity, you'll have to go out of your way to do it.
Edit:
Quote:
Originally Posted by SiuiS
Cool. Hold off on Flouresce for a bit though, I'd like to have a post of nothing but the character sheet.
Already linked, I'll change it when you put up a new post.
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Lawyer Pony Avatar by Dirtytabs, exalted as an Eclipse by Elemental, now with a fancy robe.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Giant
Anarion's right on the money here.
Quotes
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiki Snakes
Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Anarion Mori?
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Originally Posted by Tiki Snakes
You just highlandered an entire city block into a glass-filled storm by road-runnering down it in your underwear.
Chung-Hee is a tall, thin and well-fleshed young man indiscriminately somewhere in his twenties. He favors outer wear that hides his form and comes in neutral tones, greens and browns and greys, with a stray red or blue. He usually sports cargo pants, comfortable an well-worn sneakers (of which he has several pairs), and has various clothing knick-knacks available, such as beanie, sunglasses, gloves, and handkerchiefs. Under his baggy, urban-camouflage exterior, he wears his pants cinched just below the natural waist, and a skin tight underarmor shirt, often sleeveless. There is a twist of leather thonged around both his arms between deltoid and bicep, the left one spangled with depending fangs, claws and some stones.
Chung-Hee's face is smooth and almost blandly handsome, with high cheekbones and a pointed jaw, both of which look much less flattering in 3/4 profile. His hair alternates between buzzed short, and gelled into a field of spikes. His expressions are subtly, never fully taking his face, and as such he has a dearth of wrinkles and creases one would expect from a fifteen year old.
In almost every guise or outfit, he carries a music player attached to a set of high-quality headphones slung around his neck, and a small satchel in which he keeps his notebook and other items.
HISTORY
Spoiler
"Let's start with the Awakening. The rest doesn't really matter."
*fidgets slightly, there is some sound as if someone else is speaking* "Really? Fine.
"There was a child. A relatively normal child. The beginning was kindergarten. Did you know kindergarten in my home was all social engineering? Confucian values. The value of being Korean. Methods taken from Europe, America, Japan. Sets stage for making good little Koreans."
*sipping sound, rustling sleeve* "I was not a good Korean. Not really."
"I followed the rules, because there was no reason not to. But later there was reason not to. I still value myself. Still patriotic. But not a robot about it. Around twelve, started getting interested in music, dance, culture. Not old culture, new culture. Caused some tension, father wasn't happy. 'no, future, replaced by dance! No education, replaced by dance! No soul, replaced by dance!' Good man, misguided. History without breath is photograph. Beautiful, but dead. Not that I was better."
*laughter*
"yes, swear. Mordin's speech exactly. Friend showed me later on YouTube, still haven't connoted him about it.
"Anyway. Father rankled. Mother wrung hands. Boy kept up. Minimum engagement in school, clubs, focused on extracurriculars in free time. Dance, clubs, nightlife. Some, gang activity. Harmless stuff. Enabled harmful behavior of others, nothing you could pin on the boy directly. Unwise, not immoral. Mostly practiced. Shuffle, robot, dub step, flow, even salsa, ballroom. Tried music, some skill, still not dance. The movement called to him.
"Following the lead of older boys, mock up of their behaviors, began competitions. Dance offs. Not too good, but practicing all the time. Would meet I shady alleys to settle grudges, end disputes. Got a reputation, grew over confident. Became cowboy. One day, met a man in back alley. Met man's friends, too. Friends like beefy thug, lead pipe, cleaver, cricket bat. Rude friends, not best introduction. Have made amends since, but at the time, danced like life depended on it. Danced because life depended on it. Never felt so alive!"
*rustling, distant laughter* "yes. Very exciting. Came back later, claimed the alley with a few tags. Took up more serious interest in taikwondo, basal dance, tricking. Tried free running, broke some ribs. Don't ask."
"Not very good at free running. Still, like exploration, city became alive. A thing to explore, person to meet, creature to learn and get to know. Found new alleys, climbed walls, buildings, fire escapes. Some breaking and entering, tried to keep to a minimum. Still, began operating in underground dance scene. mostly above board, being "underground" made it rebellious. Some access to warehouses, bars, still owe debt of honor to seventy year old electronics worker. Caught me red handed, beat me with cane, confiscated sound system. Gave more expensive, compact sound system. Won't accept money. Send postcard every now and then.
"And one day, found my way into an alley that didn't exist. Crawled through ducts of cement barbed with iron. Fled from junkyard dogs over rooftops, swung on power lines. Almost died, several times. Strange sensations, though. Ordeal was, long, harrowing, terrifying. Felt only visceral thrill. It became, not... Not matter of survival. Survival was earned, not expected. Became a challenge. Ran because I could. Fought because I could. Survived because I could. Dare to challenge me. Try to stop me!
"Many did. Objects. Creatures. Things. A I ran, alleys, rooftops, cracks, crevasses, buildings, earned my way closer to... Something. The thing, the goal. Intangible. Deeper I went, stranger it got. Spirits showed up, helped, hindered, watched. Like a game, a new pet. A novelty. But the farther I got, the more respect there was. Spirits involved as part of the trial, caught in the trap. Unable to turn away. And in the final push I was chased by what I'm told are chimera, Ya Gui, the monster. Beast of glass and murder, ridden by faceless creature chained to its back. But the tower was in sight."
*long pause, interspersed with sipping. Eventually, someone speaks unintelligibly, then another pause*
"Werewolves. Werewolves were involved. I caused havoc across shadow. They were pissed. Imagine guardians, all masters of life. Claws, healing, endurance. Fun. Chased both me and chimera, later say I just disappeared. Because I went up. Final trial was climbing platforms, strung on wire floating in air. Like Mario level, jump, jump, dodge. Some were rapped, some would fall, some were electrified, some moved. Broke same damn ribs on way up. Was bad. Was painful, crippling. Was huge rush.
"Got to the top, to the Watchtower. Inside were sensations, raw. Spirits, I think. Essence of fighting, sorrow, lust, pride, hope, everything. Hard to get through. Finally, made it to the end, and uh..." *unintelligible; grunting* "... And I uh, signed my name into the stone book."
"No, that's private."
*some muttering*
"What is 'Mastigos'?"
*quiet speaking, muted laughter. Sudden crash, sound of wood shifting, glass breaking, noise like movie punching, loud swearing in Korean. Tape cuts out*
*clicking, tape is turned back on*
"He deserved it.
"From there, simple. Had magic, used magic. Experimented. Slowly. Found the alley, my first fight, first tag. First spirit. Had a discussion – private discussion – and left together. Was convinced to renew education, but I was bad at it. Learned history, reviewed cultural engineering, took up broader dance. Blew album deal, contract came while under oath to experiment with traditional music. Not bad stuff, but hard to dance to in club. Learned more martial arts, judo, boxing, kickboxing. [Capoeira], Brazilian dance fighting, learned the fun way. British military combativeness, learned the hard way. Stopped when he broke my ribs again, bought him a drink. Was scheduled for rematch, he died on tour. Something stupid, [Fracticide] they called it.
"Took managerial courses, learned social skills, deal with spirits. Good with spirits, most awakened expect more life, less spirit. Prodigy they say. Probably was, but taking it slow. No rush, right? Interested in ephemeral sociology. Fascinating. Spirit, court, species, type, choir, descant. Multicourt interaction, ley lines, effects of lines on courts, vice versa. Effects of both on sleepers. Fascinating, really. Meddling though, causing trouble. More you interact, more you change things. Inexperienced, cause trouble. Best to leave, follow leads. Lines of inquiry lead to Australia, Russia, Hong Kong. Chose Hong Kong. know the language.
"And here I am."
MUNDANE GEAR
Spoiler
gerry-rigged surveying equipment - plumb lines, levels, a sextant-like device, a sighting scope, an some
Notes on measurements, all carried in an Altoids can. Flouresce uses these for marking down data on spots he can see but not really reach. Height, distance, etc. it also helps to figure out which spots are climb able and which are certain death.
Sound System - power cord, adapter, wireless speakers. Because dance-offs happen.
climbing gear - harness, ropes, carabiners, and a grapple hook, all reinforced. Partially for climbing, partially because clever use of pullies can accomplish a lot.
"Survival" kit - another Altoids tin, with some bills, bandages, aspirin, LED keychain lights, and a utility tool;
Spoiler
Tagging kit - cans of spray paint, rubber gloves, gas mask.
usually brought to an appropriate site after the fact, due to gas masks being kinda weird to carry in public. Occasionally brought on excursions for the rare moment when leaving a sign is vitally important right now.
Jewelry - Spirits love jewelry. So do a lot of people, actually. Ranging from gold and silver rings, to tacky new age crystal conglomerations. Some bought intentionally, others pilfered from the club lost and found, the amount and quality cycles over time.
Headphones/music player (Mirror) - magic is life, and music is primal, the heartbeat of the soul. Intensely personal, intensely intimate, it's a shared connection among all the world.
Spray can (Cup) - magic is bringing something from nothing. Creation is charged with this truth.
Bunny hug (coin) - magic is tradition, and tradition is the cycle of history. What was once vogue will be again, and staying at the forefront is being tied to the ebb and flow of the world. And hoodies are in again, this last couple years.
Poi (sword) -*magic is the dynamic flow. The cord joins heaven and earth as the sphere orbits the dancer. The poi joins a dancer's internal form with external form, each move being reintegrated into the internal, re-expressed.
Dancing (staff) - magic is impressing yourself upon the world. There is a rhythm and flow to reality, and to be one with the Dragon's movement is to be the dragon.
Nimbus: Potency. The world seen through Flouresce's nimbus is high-octane, on an adrenaline kick. Colors are brighter, shadows starker, and you'd swear each building, animal and thing had some personality to it.
When reflecting Prudence, it is the pulse of of the world, the sanguine quiescence of a patient predator. You'll walk under the panther's tree, eventually. Until then...
The beat of the heart is a rhythm you'll dance to later. The sunlight's perfect for a task, and you'll keep at it while you're in the groove.
When reflecting Sloth, it is dispassionate. The spirit courts have seen the rise and fall of men. The tides of changing regimes. The mountain was here before the village, the buildings before this generation, or the last. We will be here when you are gone. You are trivial, and we will get to you in good time.
Vulcan has to be at fault for whatever made the Arrow come after her, and her sentence has to be an act of justice. I say this because if she's minding her own business and the Arrow kicks down her door, steals all her stuff and forces her into magical slavery then they're the bad guys.
So instead (to follow the White Collar metaphor) she stole something very valuable from them, some artifact(s), and handed them on to Mammon. Mara was the Arrow who successfully tracked her down, and the Arrow very deliberately put her on trial rather than killing her out of hand and offered her the choice of mage prison or community service.
__________________
"Take precaution, heed what's said
Learn the lessons of the dead"
Vulcan has to be at fault for whatever made the Arrow come after her, and her sentence has to be an act of justice. I say this because if she's minding her own business and the Arrow kicks down her door, steals all her stuff and forces her into magical slavery then they're the bad guys.
So instead (to follow the White Collar metaphor) she stole something very valuable from them, some artifact(s), and handed them on to Mammon. Mara was the Arrow who successfully tracked her down, and the Arrow very deliberately put her on trial rather than killing her out of hand and offered her the choice of mage prison or community service.
Mmm, maybe not stole. Destroyed. Possibly through innaction or sheer ignorance, but an asset lost is a debt deeper, beacuse Vulcan could otherwise replace the object adnd ignore costs for damages.
Vulcan Destroyed several resources. A spirit court, a small hallow, possibly a banisher contact, and some finances athat were a bitch for the arrw to get into place. Flouresce would gladly have killed her upon capture... Except Vulcan did so in relation to investigating the train bombing, and Mara is the officer in charge. She stauys Flouresce's hand, and brokers a deal...
Mmm, maybe not stole. Destroyed. Possibly through innaction or sheer ignorance, but an asset lost is a debt deeper, beacuse Vulcan could otherwise replace the object adnd ignore costs for damages.
Vulcan Destroyed several resources. A spirit court, a small hallow, possibly a banisher contact, and some finances athat were a bitch for the arrw to get into place. Flouresce would gladly have killed her upon capture... Except Vulcan did so in relation to investigating the train bombing, and Mara is the officer in charge. She stauys Flouresce's hand, and brokers a deal...
No, stole. Because if it's in the hands of Mammon she can't get it back, and if it's an artifact with significance to the Arrow then she can't replace it. She doesn't have enough money to possibly replace it.
Also stole because this way there's the possibility that she kept the thing for herself, which could prove eventful way down the road.
Nothing interesting can be done with a pile of ash.
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"Take precaution, heed what's said
Learn the lessons of the dead"
No, stole. Because if it's in the hands of Mammon she can't get it back, and if it's an artifact with significance to the Arrow then she can't replace it. She doesn't have enough money to possibly replace it.
Also stole because this way there's the possibility that she kept the thing for herself, which could prove eventful way down the road.
Nothing interesting can be done with a pile of ash.
Vulcan has bough empathy to know that other people value stuff which is not stuff. Enmity bough through destruction tends to supercede enmity bought through theft. From the ashes arise many things, and that Vulcan doesn't understand that could very well be the point.
Vulcan has bough empathy to know that other people value stuff which is not stuff. Enmity bough through destruction tends to supercede enmity bought through theft. From the ashes arise many things, and that Vulcan doesn't understand that could very well be the point.
I'm not sold though, so let's keep debating.
What? Vulcan is a materialist. She wouldn't destroy something permanently for the sole purpose of making a powerful order of wizards angry at her. What does she gain out of that? She's a supergenius and socially competent, she understands what she's doing perfectly.
What's your point?
__________________
"Take precaution, heed what's said
Learn the lessons of the dead"
What? Vulcan is a materialist. She wouldn't destroy something permanently for the sole purpose of making a powerful order of wizards angry at her. What does she gain out of that? She's a supergenius and socially competent, she understands what she's doing perfectly.
What's your point?
That the events I suggested could be collateral damage far enough outside her scope of caring for her to have caused them, and then get caught by people she cannot outgun, but doesn't necessarily agree with on the severity of the punishment, thus making her imprisonment a viable solution for all parties.
This engages the party. Stealing from the arrow really only engages Mara, Which has been a consistent design choice I am altering because Mara+Vulcan, and also the guy without striking looks may be fun, but Anarion didn't sign up to run two games.
Unless DD is okay ordering around a lazy, rebellious and resentful underling. I would be okay with that but I am finding consistently that my usual level I interparty strife makes others uncomfortable, so I am avoiding it this time.
I think we are talking apples and oranges. You're basing this on Vulcan needing to feel justly punished, yes?
That the events I suggested could be collateral damage far enough outside her scope of caring for her to have caused them, and then get caught by people she cannot outgun, but doesn't necessarily agree with on the severity of the punishment, thus making her imprisonment a viable solution for all parties.
This engages the party. Stealing from the arrow really only engages Mara, Which has been a consistent design choice I am altering because Mara+Vulcan, and also the guy without striking looks may be fun, but Anarion didn't sign up to run two games.
Unless DD is okay ordering around a lazy, rebellious and resentful underling. I would be okay with that but I am finding consistently that my usual level I interparty strife makes others uncomfortable, so I am avoiding it this time.
I think we are talking apples and oranges. You're basing this on Vulcan needing to feel justly punished, yes?
Just because my dynamic with Mara does not directly include you does not mean it's a bad dynamic and needs to be replaced. My link with your character can be entirely unrelated, and it is in fact preferable if it's not a two-verses-one situation.
If you're considering playing a lazy, rebellious and resentful underling then that's a problem. I'm not considering playing that or anything remotely like that. I'm considering playing a tame supervillain.
Urgh, look, I've been feeling extremely catty recently and I cannot understand what you're complaining about or proposing. Please say it in clear words without metaphor, abstraction or assumed knowledge.
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"Take precaution, heed what's said
Learn the lessons of the dead"
Urgh, look, I've been feeling extremely catty recently and I cannot understand what you're complaining about or proposing. Please say it in clear words without metaphor, abstraction or assumed knowledge.
uh, dang.
Quote:
Just because my dynamic with Mara does not directly include you does not mean it's a bad dynamic and needs to be replaced. My link with your character can be entirely unrelated, and it is in fact preferable if it's not a two-verses-one situation.
If you're considering playing a lazy, rebellious and resentful underling then that's a problem. I'm not considering playing that or anything remotely like that. I'm considering playing a tame supervillain.
I am not saying your dynamic needs to be replaced. However, the logic that you are a materialist and will react in certain fashions goes both ways - Flouresce is not a materialist. He will act in certain (differing) ways. If the cause is not a thing he cares about he will be ambivalent. Ambivalent Flouresce will do his own thing. This results in either Anarion running two separate, but overlapping games, or in Mara giving orders (or another top arrow, either/or). Flouresce's reaction to this (ambivalence) is just as noteworthy as Vulcan's projected ambivalnce towards the destruction of ephemerals. It is no less worthy a motive, which is where any cattiness on my part is seeping through. I come across as terse when both supporting a point and having to justify it.
If the thing stolen was a material item that was taken, then on the surface it would either be useful to him, and he would hold that against Vulcan, possibly dropping her in unfriendly shadow out of Darwinian trial by fire, or it's something he got that he didn't care about. The only compromise is that the event is important to Flouresce while the item is sufficiently important to Vulcan. You would have to have undone his work, which means somewhere between the free council and the Adamantine arrow, Flouresce put in footwork and elbow grease. This provides internal focus.
We also cannot have a two-in-one situation wherein the only non-mind Mage is trying to keep a secret from the other two. This just now occurred to me as a Bad Idea on my part
I thought of this a while ago, but I have a pathological dislike of edits. I do not enjoy posting something while another develops a counter argument that my post would have fixed. So I was waiting for more input before saying anything. I have no problem with playing a subtly put-out underling. I have no problem spelunking during most of my screen time. I can see how others would have a problem with it however, and am explaining the situation so no one gets blindsided by what seemed an obvious motivation in hindsight.
The note that both Mara and Vulcan have striking looks was a joke, by the way. You only do that for female characters, so Flouresce is safe
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Re: The Heart of the Dragon (OOC)
Bleeeeh! Alfalfa Monster!
