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OOC/Library (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=175532.0)
HERO SAGA
AFTERMATH: FIRST DISTRICT
(Active In-Character Thread)
Prologue: Genesis
Chapter 1: (Current) (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=175552.msg8105951#msg8105951)
ATLAS, a mega city of the global desert. Home of the massive archology super structures each home to city sized populations of their own. The law is upheld by the ARBITORS with a license to kill. Crime isn't the only threat, behemoth monsters are kept at bay by the city wall and it's many large sentry turrets, though smaller ones find ways inside. Sponsored vigilantes known as GUILDSMEN deal with non-human threats, and are sometimes granted permission by the justice department (rarely) to assist with human issues. Some of these individuals hide their identities to protect their private lives, but few companies are willing to sponsor "unvarified" individuals. Most in this group are known as MAVERICKS, who lead ordinary lives that conceal their heroic activities. Without the legal authority to kill, detained CRIMINALS and monsters (rarely) apprehended by civilian heroes are sent to the ABYSS, a prison in the center of the city built down a bottomless pit. In times of surplus crime or monster attacks (often) these individuals may be called upon to help in exchange for their freedom. They call them THE WATCH.
Heroes uphold the safety of the city. These are their stories...
AFTERMATH
Due to a malfunctioning turret a giant monster breached Atlas's walls. The Guild, The Arbitors, and The Watch responded, and most were killed. Their efforts however were not in vain. The giant yellow crab and its' spawn were slain, and the wall's defenses restored. Now their is a void in the ranks of the city's defenders.
First District
New heroes are needed in the city center. Crime and monster attacks must be put in check here first, or instability will ripple out across Atlas. Guild HQ, The Abyss, and many of the largest corporations and archologies are here. The people rejoice in their salvation, but already this is in the early stages of giving way to fear. When new threats arise who will protect them?
How did THE BREACH happen?
GENESIS offers power lottery
The corporation opens new program to give mentally stable individuals random powers in exchange for ownership of their bodies at the time of death. Subjects remain anonymous, though must get a 'Property of Genesis' tattoo under their left eyelid and on all their major organs. Experiment may result in mental illness.
THE ACADEMY is fast-tracking new arbitors
Must terminate all sponsors. Low pay, but basic gear and training provided. Must disclose identity. Must be mentally stable. Must follow orders when issued.
EMERALD CHAMPAGNE looking to sponsor newcomer vigilantes
The corporation will sponsor charismatic individuals who have performed public acts of heroism. Grants guild membership. Low pay. Must disclose identity. Must wear logo on uniform. A uniform will be provided if you have no bigger sponsors.
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apply to GENESIS for powers
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A teenager in a school uniform is seen walking into GENESIS. She has olive skin and dark brown hair. Elizabeth Hunt requests to participate in the experiment. The scientist in the lobby looks skeptical. "Are you sure kid? What would your parents think?"
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“whatever I’m going to school for, it is not going to help lower the crime rate. I think gaining powers will assist in investigation and criminal capture”
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The scientist looks down at the floor, maybe a little sad. "Right this way miss."
"Ok, you have passed the mental exams. Do you have any questions about our biomass reclamation policy, risks, or anything? As you are participating publicly, you may sign this contract to avoid the reclamation identification procedure."
He hands the young woman the papers and a pen.
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“How would you find my body if who/whatever kidnapped me before killing me?”
Sign
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Go to school and train my skills to gain knowledge!
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#1.
ELIZABETH HUNT
"As you will be doing this publicly, obtaining your body will be easy through normal legal channels. If you were secretly murdered and your remains showed up elsewhere it should still be able to be identified. If someone stole your body, then some tatoos won't stop that anyway." the GENESIS scientist explains. "Please remove your personal effects and clothing and lie down on this table..."
Elizabeth is rolled into the next room and quickly surrounded by more scientists. They begin yelling instructions at each other as one puts the anesthesia mask on her and she passes out. When she comes to she finds herself submersed in a tank of green fluid. There are tubes and wires connected all over her body. The scientists are staring and taking notes when one looks down and gasps. Then Elizabeth sees it, her lower body is melting! Bubbles ripple from her oxygen mask. A surge of electricity ruptures into a fire and the tank explodes!
As the scientists put out the flames, a metal puddle condenses into Elizebeth. She gets up, walks a few steps, and stumbles into their arms.
She makes her way back to CARBON DEVELOPMENTS, the economy archology that is home. She is playing with a complimentary lighter she took from the GENESIS lobby. She holds the open flame under a her soft-liquid metal hand with a look of wonder on her face, but when she enters her hall she abruptly stops walking and phases her hand to normal. Her parents are standing in the doorway. Her mother cries, and her father demands "Lizzy, what have you done!?"
AUBRIELLA DOWNS
A child with tan skin and curly red hair is dropped off from a limo at her private elementary school. She carries a case for a flute into class. She is an attentive student, and works hard. Her teacher notices and offers extra work in any field that interests her.
There were no other public actions.
To be continued...
LISA-MARIE purse retailer looking to sponsor newcomer vigilantes
The corporation will sponsor a women who has performed public acts of heroism. Grants guild membership. Decent pay. Must disclose identity. Must carry the newest Lisa-Marie purse. If you defeat a criminal or monster in public you must say the company motto to a tv drone, "Grace is never out of place!". One spot available.
GUILD HQ to unveil memorial statues, Mayor Wright to speak
Hiring vigilantes for the event to suppress monster activity. Low Pay. [Mission Rating 500]
• GENESIS offers power lottery
• THE ACADEMY is fast-tracking new arbitors
• EMERALD CHAMPAGNE looking to sponsor newcomer vigilantes
Ambient Crime Volume: 1
Ambient Monster Volume: 1
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"I participated in GENESIS's power lottery so I could have a power to help with detaining criminals. I will still atend school as normal and will not purposely place myself in situations I know I can't handle"
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Elizibeth's mother flees inside. Her father makes a stern face, "You are breaking your mother's heart. You think this is the life we wanted for you? Get out of here, not under our roof. Go!"
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"I thought you would have liked that I intend to help people" Leave and investigate looking for criminal activity
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She's interested in improving her flute playing abilities.
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"Of course. There is a solo in the band recital, I'll give it to you."
Aubriella practices her part and gets much better at her flute. At the performance, while she is still an amateur her playing connects with the souls of the audience. However, no one remembers how it ended, it seems the entire crowd passed out momentarily.
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Try and see if I train flute playing to where I can do with more than put people to sleep with my playing, gonna see if I can expand on this power.
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#2.
AUBRIELLA DOWNS
Could she put larger crowds to sleep? She tried in public places. And she tried different songs, obviously lullabies worked best. Playing louder, yes more coverage but too harsh and it didn't work at all. The deaf and hard of hearing were unaffected, or those listening to headphones. Playing through phones, speakers, or hearing aids, it didn't transfer. She better understood her limitations, but she couldn't seem to push her gift to perform more. It wasn't a skill to master, just a power to be understood.
Different wind instruments didn't work. But what about a special flute? She snapped her finger jovially with her idea. But she would probably have to tell her parents about everything if she was going to get something like this made.
ELIZABETH HUNT
She pushed off the cardboard and plastic she had used as a blanket and sat up on the bench. After rubbing her eyes she realized she heard something. Bingo!
There were no other public actions.
OWL avian pet company looking to sponsor newcomer vigilantes
The corporation will sponsor bird lovers who have performed public acts of heroism. Grants guild membership. Low pay. Must wear logo on uniform, must provide your own uniform. Must bring a pet bird when you engage a criminal or monster in public, it must be a different species than others sponsored. If you don't have one, a trained owl of random species will be provided. Can remain anonymous. Avian veterinary services and supplies provided.
Metal girl spotted fighting crime!
A teenager identified as Elizabeth Hunt has been performing acts of heroism using uncanny liquid metal power to sneak up on predators of the homeless. Parents unavailable for comment.
• LISA-MARIE purse retailer looking to sponsor newcomer vigilantes
• GENESIS offers power lottery
• THE ACADEMY is fast-tracking new arbitors
• EMERALD CHAMPAGNE looking to sponsor newcomer vigilantes
Ambient Crime Volume: 1 (-1 +1)
Ambient Monster Volume: 2 (+1)
Monster Attack at Guild HQ!
This just in! The Scarlet Horror, a notorious monster is attacking the crowd at Guild HQ right now!
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Go to the OWL pet company and ask aabout joining, ask if I can bring a trained owl due to my lack of a bird
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Lets not tell the parents for now and continue to work on getting a better understanding of my powers.
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"Welcome Elizabeth! We are fans of your work! We'd be happy to have you on the team. Do you have a uniform to advertise our logo? We unfortunately cannot provide one."
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How will Aubriella test her powers further?
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How will Aubriella test her powers further?
By seeing if different flutes have any affect and if recordings of my playing have any affect.
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"I don't have one right now, but I could probably write your logo on my shirt in permanent marker, that's probably not enough to be considered a uniform, maybe I can learn sewing and stitch a logo together? If those don't work, I'm sorry"
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AUBRIELLA DOWNS
She does not have access to money on her own. How will she obtain different flutes to go and practice?
ELIZABETH HUNT
"As long as it looks good on TV, something professional. It doesn't matter where you get it. Other sponsors may be able to provide a suit adapted for your powers and skills."
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See if I can convince my parents to give me an allowance, and if that fails ask it they'll buy me different kinds of flutes.
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Go to EMERALD CHAMPAGNE and ask about sponsorship
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"I'm sorry. While it is quite impressive someone so young is active, your not being of legal drinking age would be a problem for our brand. We must decline."
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"OK"
Head to school
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Search for a psychic to meet with(under my alias). As in, the 'mental powers' kind, not the 'crystal ball and tarot cards kind'
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#3.
AUBRIELLA DOWNS
"Oh dear, what do you need an allowance for? We'll buy you what ever you need, just ask. You want to try different flutes for school, then we'll be glad to get you a collection!" Aubriella and her nanny go to the store. Aubriella picks out ten very different flutes from the shop and brings them home. After some more experiments in crowds, she finds that metal works best, and a small gold one the best of those.
HUXLEY RIVERS
A man with tan skin and curly brown hair sits in front of a screen. His piercing brown eyes study the footage. Videos of a small girl going to parks and public places and playing music that puts people to sleep. While many seem to think it is cute and a natural response for tired people who listen to lullabies, he might suspect this is something else.
Aubriella Downs. Her parents are wealthy, and would probably be interested in some fine art.
ELIZABETH HUNT
She scrubbed herself down with soapy paper towels in the bathroom stall. It was the closest thing to a shower she could manage for the past few weeks. When she got to class, she headed to her desk but her teacher stopped her. "Elizabeth, the principle wants to see you."
"Miss Hunt. We can't have you attending a public school. You are too dangerous. You should be able to further your education as part of The Guild. I strongly encourage you do. That will be all, please do not come back."
Scarlet Horror kill several at hero memorial service
The monster attacked during Mayor's speech. Fortunately the Mayor's bodyguards were able to drive the beast away.
• OWL avian pet company looking to sponsor newcomer vigilantes
• LISA-MARIE purse retailer looking to sponsor newcomer vigilantes
• GENESIS offers power lottery
• THE ACADEMY is fast-tracking new arbitors
• EMERALD CHAMPAGNE looking to sponsor newcomer vigilantes
Ambient Crime Volume: 2 (+1)
-Ambient Panic Volume: 1 (+1)
Ambient Monster Volume: 2
Mayor calls for hunt of the Scarlet Horror
Decent pay. [Mission Rating 500]
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Head to the Guild. On the way there, go to an empty alley and practice changing form. Try to shape myself into a chair, figure out if I can still see in this state, if not, turn back into a human, if I can still see, figure out if I can still move while in chair form. If I cannot move or if I cannot control my shape at all, turn back into a human and continue to the guild
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Find a tape recorder and record myself playing the flute, then play it back to someone at my house and see if they fall asleep.
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See about meeting with Aubriella/her parents some time in the near future.
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"Downs estate. Secretary speaking." "...and what is the nature of this meeting?"
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(oh jeeze, I was uh, not expecting to be starting this interaction from here.)
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(Would you like to hang up on the secretary and do it a different way? You're going to have to have some kind of reason for them to see you.)
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(Honestly, I think I might want to consider a completely different action.)
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(Go ahead. PM me or post in OOC if you have questions.)
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Head to the Guild. On the way there, go to an empty alley and practice changing form. Try to shape myself into a chair, figure out if I can still see in this state, if not, turn back into a human, if I can still see, figure out if I can still move while in chair form. If I cannot move or if I cannot control my shape at all, turn back into a human and continue to the guild
Find a tape recorder and record myself playing the flute, then play it back to someone at my house and see if they fall asleep.
#4. Week 4, August
ELIZABETH HUNT
The liquid metal girl is spotted heading into an alley. She melts to the ground out of her clothes and tries to take different forms. But the best she does is the shape of a person pretending to be a chair.
Elizabeth rides to Guild HQ by sky train. It's a massive gold pyramid with marble columns part way up suspending the top. Even in the presence of much larger archologies, it's a sight to behold. Before she can enter she is stopped by a security guard, "Guild membership is required here."
AUBRIELLA DOWNS
"Aubrie, I have something to tell you. Your father has asked we stop going to the park for awhile. Crime and monsters are starting to become a problem, it is simply not safe. If you want to play the flute in public, it will have to be strictly for school recitals from now on."
Aubriella asks her nanny to listen to a recording of her lullabies. She is a bit reluctant, as she always gets so sleepy listening to her practice when she is supposed to be watching her, but she eventually relents and listens. "You are getting better. I finally listened to a full song without dozing off this time".
There were no other public actions.
SLEEP LAND inflatable mattress company looking to sponsor newcomer vigilantes
Will sponsor an individual who has slain a monster in public. Grants guild membership. Decent pay. Must disclose identity. Must wear logo on uniform. A uniform will be provided. If you defeat a monster in public you must say the company motto to a tv drone, "Sleep better tonight Atlas." One spot available.
Hidden stash of monster baiting chemical found
Arbitor raid discovers stash found in floorboards of abandoned apartment believed to belong to terrorist. (+1C -1M)
• Mayor calls for hunt of the Scarlet Horror [Mission Rating 500]
• GENESIS offers power lottery
• THE ACADEMY is fast-tracking new arbitors
• OWL avian pet company looking to sponsor newcomer vigilantes
• LISA-MARIE purse retailer looking to sponsor newcomer vigilantes
Ambient Crime Volume: 3 (+1)
Ambient Monster Volume: 1 (-1)
Damaged Crane Threatens Repair Crew
Lives are on the line as a damaged crane has cut off escape for the crew.
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”I am interested in joining the guild”
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Lets see if I can play the flute to people and have them not fall asleep, lets practice this at home so I don't get murdered by monsters.
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ELIZABETH HUNT
The guard laughs. "Oh you are serious? Membership is given to crime fighters and monster slayers, usually by a sponsor. You know. To heroes, like them." The guard points to large marble statues of heroic figures lining the stairs. "Not to dirty homeless children." she mutters under her breath.
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Go deal with the crane
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Live:
Damaged Crane Threatens Repair Crew
Crowds watch in horror as large flames rise off the base of the contorted mega crane. They jump back as debris smashes down. Firefighters shout at them to back off and begin fencing off the area. Elizabeth Hunt arrives at the scene. She overhears the firefighters arguing about how to get to the crew. They estimate about 20 crew members stuck in the crane command booth, the base of the crane is contorted and engulfed in flames. The flailing crane arm passes closer and closer to nearby buildings endangering hundreds who are slowly poring out in the evacuation. It sounds like they don't see a rescue as possible.
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turn into liquid metal and head towards the crane, in liquid form, try to get inside the parts that make the arm spin and try stopping it from the inside
((My thinking is that metal is very hard to burn, and liquid can get into lots of things and can clog up systems. If the plan is successful and the arm stops, I will try making my way into the control station, but that is pending on whether this works))
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Live:
Damaged Crane Threatens Repair Crew
Part 2
turn into liquid metal and head towards the crane, in liquid form, try to get inside the parts that make the arm spin and try stopping it from the inside
((My thinking is that metal is very hard to burn, and liquid can get into lots of things and can clog up systems. If the plan is successful and the arm stops, I will try making my way into the control station, but that is pending on whether this works))
Elizabeth approaches the barricade. A Firefighter grabs her arm and shout at her. She melts and moves past him, into the fire. She easily scales the tower and goes to the base of the command cabin. She waves at the people inside, and gives a "1 minute" hand gesture, before melting down and going into the spinning components beneath the cabin. She tries to fill spaces to slow something down, but it is too vast for a liquid teenager to offer much resistance. She reconstitutes herself. It wont work. The crane arms scrapes a building spraying glass at the ground.
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Head back to the control center and try leading the crew safely through the fire
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Live:
Damaged Crane Threatens Repair Crew
Part 3
Head back to the control center and try leading the crew safely through the fire
(4+1) The blue eyed brunette melts into the cabin through a cracked window. "Follow me! I'm going to show you a way down!" The crew members in their orange suits and helmets gather. Looking down, the climbing frame is too twisted to see a path. "We could make a bridge between that brake", one of them suggests, "can you go over there and take off that panel? It is non essential." "Ok!" Elizabeth melts through the fires and gets to the panel. She melts her arm behind it and reforms a fist to pop it out. She gets it unstuck and chucks it over to the brake. The crew gathering at the spot lay it out and climb down.
The crowd cheers as the crew start to emerge from the base. A project lead who was already at the ground tells a firefighter that that is all of the staff. The firefighter then shouts "Detonate the charges NOW!" "Wait" the retreating crew gesture, "She's still-".
With a geyser of fire the rampant mega crane is brought down, and a wave of dust pores into the streets.
The crew stand and look back on the smoke. A human figure appears. They begin cheering as the girl emerges and run in to grab her, two of them lift her up, and together the crew bring out, holding her up.
Reporters and drones flock around them. "Who is the girl?" "Hey that's the crimefighter Elizabeth Hunt!" "What is your super name?"
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”I don’t have a super name yet, maybe Vanadia”
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ELIZABETH HUNT
After her interviews with the press Elizabeth watches the tall pyre being dowsed by the firefighters, when she is tapped on the shoulder. One of the crew members, a young woman with short black hair in a ponytail. "I've seen videos of you fighting crime. I don't mean to pry but, it seems you are homeless. If you'd like you can stay at my place at the Iron Barrel archology, till you get on your feet." She offers her hand. "Name's Eva Ray." She is a similar tan to Elizabeth, and has similar blue eyes.
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“Thank you, Eva.” Shake her hand and follow her to the Iron Barrel Archology
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(You may choose a weekly activity.)
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Hunt monsters
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Lets see if I can play the flute to people and have them not fall asleep, lets practice this at home so I don't get murdered by monsters.
Hunt monsters
#5. Week 1, September
AUBRIELLA DOWNS
The tiny red haired siren plays music at home and finds she can play without putting people to sleep(in this case, the servants) if she doesn't want to as long as she avoids lullabies, even with her new gold flute.
ELIZABETH HUNT
The new archology is maybe a little nicer than Carbon Developments where her family lives, especially the higher up you go. She lives near the bottom. Elizabeth and Eva are often mistaken for sisters, even though her roommate is a bit older. Eva is an architect, or becoming one.
Elizabeth begins hunting down monsters. It is difficult without weapons but she does make a few flee temporarily. (-1P)
There were no other public actions.
'VANADIA' saves crane crew with metal powers (-1P -1C)
REACTOR energy drink company looking to sponsor newcomer vigilantes
will sponsor fighters who have performed public acts of heroism. Grants guild membership. Low pay. Must disclose identity. Must wear logo on uniform. A uniform will be provided if you have no bigger sponsors.
Missions:
• Mayor calls for hunt of the Scarlet Horror [Rating 500] (+1P)
Sponsors:
• OWL avian pet company looking to sponsor newcomer vigilantes
• LISA-MARIE purse retailer looking to sponsor newcomer vigilantes
Other:
• GENESIS offers power lottery
• THE ACADEMY is fast-tracking new arbitors
Panic: 1 (-2 +1)
Crime: 2 (-1)
Nesting: 1
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Its time for more SCIENCE, play some marching music to see if I can get people to follow me and see if I can control people with the music like get them to do specific tasks, do this all in my house for safety and so so outside influences can see.
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(week actions are locked in, you may still participate in this event.)
Live:
Scarlet Horror breaches Iron Barrel
A well dressed man with curly brown hair and tan skin rushes down into the central lobby of the Iron Barrel archology. He waves to a delivery courier at the main gate and eagerly accepts a painting. He takes a moment to admire its' quality and rarity. It is a painting of a myth. Huxley Rivers signs the receipt, then his brown eyes flash up and he jumps back just in time as he and his painting are sprayed in the courier's blood. Grotesque claws pull back through the gore. A red light floods the space and loud sirens wail. Metal shielding comes down but it's too late. It's already inside.
An older woman wakes in a startle. She gets up and begins frantically looking around. "Aubrey where are you?" "Has anyone seen Aubrey!?" "Is she at the park alone again!?" "Here I am!" a small red headed child, now fully red in the emergency light, tries to shout over the sirens. She comes part-way down the staircase just in time to see the woman rushing out the door. "Nanny?"
Metal curtains on shops close as hundreds of people flee in panic from the ground level market square. Some begin to gather around a young woman. "Don't worry. Look! Vanadia is a monster hunter!" "You'll help us, wont you?"
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turn into liquid metal and engulf one the Scarlet Horror’s hands, hopefully preventing it from using it. If it tries to attack with its other hand, bring myself around it too
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Huxley had a moments hesitation over the issue of the paintings worth compared to his life. He soon realized it was a foolish thought in the first place.
Throw the painting at the monsters face to distract it and run
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See what the person that was looking for me wants to do about the situation.
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Live:
Scarlet Horror breaches Iron Barrel
Part 2
Sirens continue to wail as Huxley's grieving face is bathed in the red light. He angrily flings the bloodsplattered painting at the monster. (4v4) It ricochets off its' head, and the towering white fleshed humanoid seems to pause in surprise as the art curator runs towards the staircase. Vanadia runs towards the monster and jumps off the balcony at its' back. She becomes liquid metal on contact and uses the momentum to ooze down its' left arm, then reforms to wrestle it's hand. (4v2) The creature is pulled onto one knee.
"Nanny? What's happening?" As Aubriella meets the open door, she sees her caretaker taking an express elevator to the lobby. Before the child can decide what to do, some family guards arrive. They see her and rush over to usher her back inside. "Stay inside little one, we'll keep you safe". The door closes.
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continue wrestling one arm and hindering use of the other
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Stay with the guards and see if they'll go find out where the Nanny went.
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Huxley looks for something, anything at all that he could reasonably use against that thing. Preferably something he could afford to replace.
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AUBRIELLA DOWNS
"The Downs girl is secure. She says the Nanny has left. Probably looking for her, can we spare anyone to bring the woman back?"
"That is a negative, all guards are to remain at their posts."
"Copy, we'll keep Aubrie safe at the mansion."
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Tell them that the Nanny might have gone to the park to find me, if they still refuse to go look for her start throwing a fit until they do.
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AUBRIELLA DOWNS
"The girl is throwing a fit about her nanny."
"Deal with it. We arn't sending anyone down to the danger zone."
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Well that isn't working time for plan B, grab my flute and wait for the guards to stop paying attention to me then try to find a way out of the house.
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Live:
Scarlet Horror breaches Iron Barrel
Part 3
"Aubriella! Aubriella!" An older woman is a lone figure in the elevator hall on the first floor. Her calls trying to compete with the deafening emergency sirens. Her heels race down the glowing red corridors, pulsing with the sound. Grief and regret as clear on her face as the red hue. How could she be so careless? How could she live with herself? She couldn't. She must find the girl. She was angry, angry at the child. Angry at herself. She told her she couldn't play at the park. But why could she not stay awake and do her job these days? "Aubriella! Aubriella!"
(3+1) Aubriella walks past the sleeping guards and enters the elevator. She indulges her curiosity a moment by glancing back. Amazing they can sleep through all this sound. She reaches up and presses '1'.
(6-1v3+1) The clawed monster scratches at the teenager on its' hand, but the girl's body is only momentarily ruptured by the raking blades before melting back together.
(6) Huxley spots something from the balcony, and heads back down. He sneaks around the preoccupied monster and goes back to the entrance. A radio crackles on the severed lower half of a guard near the doorway. he reaches down and takes the gun.
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Use my lighter to set the monster’s arm on fire while climbing to its other hand so I don’t get burned
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Find a vantage point before firing. Aim to minimize the chance that the girl gets caught in the shot.
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Quickly and stealthily as possible go to the park and look for the nanny, and keep my flute at the ready to play any hostile to sleep.
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Live:
Scarlet Horror breaches Iron Barrel
Part 4
Use my lighter to set the monster’s arm on fire while climbing to its other hand so I don’t get burned
(3-2v3)
Find a vantage point before firing. Aim to minimize the chance that the girl gets caught in the shot.
(4v5)
Quickly and stealthily as possible go to the park and look for the nanny, and keep my flute at the ready to play any hostile to sleep.
It seams like it had gone on forever. You almost didn't hear the alarm. The world may have always been red. The pulsing light may as well have been an automatic bodily function. It all just was. And then it stops. The morbid figure looks towards the source of the bang. Then looks at its' bleeding shoulder.
*Stomp* *Stomp* *Stomp*
Vanadia stands up, having been thrown off in the monsters tantrum. The horrific shape crouches near the locked down entrance, panicking?
"Aubriella! Aubriella! Where in heavens are you!" A lady wales as she shuffles through the park.
The horror stands up tall, and unravels two large moth like antennae. They begin to flick and dart, and vibrate rapidly.
"Here I am Nanny!"
The Scarlet Horror crumples back as if in disgust. And then, the morbid face rips open a mouth and in a soothing female voice, says "Wait. I surrender."
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Go up to the nanny and tell her I came to rescue her then get her to go back to the house, but keep my flute ready in case some hostile creature comes near us.
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”You surrender ok. Follow me to the Abyss. Don’t try anything or I will burn you” Lead the Scarlet Horror to the Abyss, have my lighter ready in case she tries anything
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The metal door finally slides up and two figures of different height step out into the sunlight. Now more pink than the decrepit white it seemed in the darkness, the Scarlet Horror has terrible talons outstretched in the air as Vanadia leads the prisoner forward. The maverick sees some not so fondly remembered individuals in the garb of The Watch, here to take the creature away. She tells these 2 men and 2 women she helped lock up that she will be joining them. These are killers and thieves after all. A special box car on the sky train arrives and they get in. If there was any desire for revenge, it was silenced in suppressed terror at the beast. When they arrive some guards take the uniforms and stun collars from the criminals. "You lucked out today, if that party took a moment longer you'd have to fight that thing, if it ended a moment sooner you'd still be down below." The four walk freely.
[+1 Crime]
The guard asks Vanadia to assist with the containment, and she follows.
The Abyss mouth dwarfs even the arcologies, like erect toys around a bucket. "We keep monsters below the human prisoners. Be sure you do not go below that...". The mining lights from each layer pass rhythmically through the window as the elevator heads down. The Scarlet Horror holds its' cuffed hands forward, they don't go backward enough to cuff from behind, apparently. It is quiet, submissive even. The darkness becomes more and more absolute. But the last remnants of natural sunlight whisper across the bumpy surface of a massive dead crustacean suspended in the pit. It is now the prisoner block. It is apparent there is only a skeleton crew of janetors and technicians, there is no one held here, not anymore. The elevator keeps going and it begins to get quite cold. Vanadia becomes aware of her breath and the goosebumps on the back of her neck. "Follow me", the guard stares into a retinal scan and the doors to the monster prison are opened.
Why keep it so dark in here? As if preempting the question, the guard says that The Abyss effects many electronics unusually the lower you go, and these low illumination lights are unaffected at this level. They arrive at the cell, and the monster steps in. The door slides closed.
[-2 Nesting]
Hey let me show you the crab. Interested?
-
”yes” follow the guard
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"Ok. The Kaiju is a large yellow crab with pincers on all of its' legs. Every leg is a pincer. It also has seven bright blue eyes with the ability to confuse creatures it looks at. It swims by rotating its legs like oars, propelling itself through the water. It’s mouth is like a leech’s, a large circle with many sharp orange teeth within. It can sing a calming song to lure prey to it, similar to this (https://youtu.be/RHS6QX6DW3g)" the guard seems to play some Mozart on her phone.
"I tried to draw a picture yesterday to show my boyfriend, if you are interested." She hands over a paper. "I am not good at drawing, the sizes and distances of teeth, eyes, pincers, and legs are supposed to be symmetrical. Cameras don't work down here."
(https://i.imgur.com/rBo21yU.png)
The women arrive at an access bridge to the faint silhouette off in the distance. The clank of their shoes echoes as they proceed.
"They say somewhere out there beyond the wall is a lake that's it's home. The monster sightings include human sized scorpions, scorpion sized apes, and ape sized zebras." She waits a moment with a coy grin. "Just a myth of course, it swims in the sand. No one has found water out there, not a drop.
They've been walking for awhile, and it doesn't seem like they've gotten much closer. "Of course, you won't be able to see it well. You know it wasn't just how big it was. It was the spawn. The little...babies. It was like an army. We're lucky the survivors of the babies still were able to finish off Mama."
There is a gleam of light as a large round eye stares back at them.
"Even if it did kill them to do it. Damn, we're so screwed without heroes."
Alice the guard and Vanadia return to the surface. "You know, if you're going to be doing this you're going to need weapons. You should join the Arbitors to get some firepower. If that isn't your style, I could ask around about getting you a monster rated stun gun. Would that be of interest to you?"
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Yes, to the monster rated stun gun
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[4] After a quick call at the booth Alice returns. "I kind of lied and said even though you're not a member of The Guild, you were working on it. I might get in trouble for that later. Generally The Guild gets monster grade weapons, and the Arbitors get ones for humans. Here."
[+Monster Grade Stun Gun]
"Do not use this thing on people, their hearts will explode. I actually don't know that but, just act like it's true. It's pretty weak, at first. But if you just keep firing it at your target the strength will magnify. Neat. Take care hero."
[I will lock the thread for voting, details sent by PM]
[End of Chapter]
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[Aubriella Downs', Vanadia's, and Huxley Rivers' weekly action was interrupted by the Crisis Event. You may redo it, do a different one, or skip your turn.]
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[Aubriella Downs', Vanadia's, and Huxley Rivers' weekly action was interrupted by the Crisis Event. You may redo it, do a different one, or skip your turn.]
which crisis event, the Scarlet Horror?
Yes, to the monster rated stun gun
After getting the stun gun, hunt for monsters
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(Yup)
Vanadia soon realizes monster activity is null.
[You may choose another action.]
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practice controlling fire, find a small piece of wood and form one hand into a metal receptacle for it, and use a lighter to light the wood on fire, then put down the lighter and form my other hand into a tube to attempt to take in the flame, then shoot the flame in the air. Before doing all this, have a container of water ready in case anything goes wrong
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Vanadia sits in the park, morphing her hand around a small block of wood. *knock* ... *knock* ... *knock* Each time her hand turns into a metallic blob, the block oozes through and falls to the floor.
[You may choose another action.]
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(I'll keep the action I posted before the event.)
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AUBRIELLA DOWNS
The girl who plays the flute that people fall asleep to was rumored to have been telling her butlers and maids to do things. They did, but probably because it was their job.
[You may choose another action.]
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This time try to use the flute playing to try and make people do what I want, without talking during the process.
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Aubrie finally stopped giving orders, looks like things are returning to normal in the manor.
[You may choose another action.]
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Set the wood in some dirt that doesn’t have grass in it, then set the wood on fire and attempt to control the flame’s direction with the metal
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[I surrender. Guys, your powers just do what they describe. Not mind control, not flame pipes.]
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[I surrender. Guys, your powers just do what they describe. Not mind control, not flame pipes.]
yes, but what I’m testing here is if the metal can block the flame from going somewhere, thus forcing it to go somewhere else. If all it ends up doing is heating up the metal, that’s fine
-
[You can't make solid shapes, just become ooze/liquid. You are very fire resistant if that helps. Please move on.]
[Director's Cut bonus scene below]
VANADIA
A teenager with thick, dark brown hair quietly sits against a wall. Where the olive color of her arm starts, it becomes more grey closer to the hand which right now, hardly resembles a hand at all. She has been seen in this library all morning, practicing her liquid metal powers. "Excuse me!" Her blue eyes fall on the little boy beside her. He hands her a paper. "This is for you!" The librarian shushes the boy. "Bye!"
(https://i.imgur.com/86RPiaP.png)
-
[You can't make solid shapes, just become ooze/liquid. You are very fire resistant if that helps. Please move on.]
sorry
Investigate crime. Don’t use the monster taser on humans
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[I surrender. Guys, your powers just do what they describe. Not mind control, not flame pipes.]
(Aw man there went my being the evil pied piper.)
I guess I'll go to school and see what kind of extracurricular actives they have,
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[All actions are canceled due to a gameplay change (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=175532.msg8105943#msg8105943). You can just post 'same' after the next update to repeat it.]
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First District: Chapter 1
#6. Week 2, September
OUTSIDE GUILD HQ
Today a golden-brown man with kinky black hair and piercing green eyes waves beyond his podium at the fervent crowds below. "May I have your attention please. Thank you. We are at war. The sky trains are raided by pirates. Arcos are fought over in gang turf wars. Crime is the worst it has been in over two hundred years! Mayor Wright doesn't see a problem." There are boos. "She has served us well for 40 years, but she is from a different time. A golden age of heroes. She can't see that isn't the world we face today." The man pauses to straighten his collar. "There are no Arbitors. There is no Guildsmen. Heroes, are extinct. It is time to adapt or die." Cheers. "However, sometimes the way forward does reside in our past. A police force stationed at every arcology serving to protect everyone, not just the wealthy and elite." The crowd roars in approval. "How quickly would last week's monster attack on Iron Barrel have been resolved? And instead The Watch were finally called in, releasing more criminals!" Boos. "I see a safer tomorrow, and it doesn't depend on waiting around to be rescued, it's time we protected ourselves." Passionate cheers. "My name is Jon Shelby, and I am running for Mayor."
CRIME wave sweeps district [+2 Crime] [+2 Panic]
Pirates and gangs have organized, proliferation of counterfeit firearms even among rival gangs.
JON SHELBY announces run for mayor, initial polling already at 20%
The famous prosecution lawyer has begun a run for mayor. Platform to create a police force. If he can get 75% approval for 2 consecutive weeks he will take over. [-1 Panic]
Guild HQ closed indefinitely
Corporate board in talks with Shelby to renovate building into police HQ if he is elected.
GENESIS offers power lottery
The corporation continues program to give mentally stable individuals random powers in exchange for ownership of their bodies at the time of death. Anonymous applicants must get a 'Property of Genesis' tattoo under their left eyelid and on all their major organs. Experiment may result in mental illness. Promises improved safety over initial trials.
THE ACADEMY is fast-tracking new arbitors
Must terminate all sponsors. Low pay, but basic gear and training provided. Must disclose identity. Must be mentally stable. Must follow orders when issued.
Panic: 2
Crime: 5
Nesting: 0
-
I guess I'll go to school and see what kind of extracurricular actives they have,
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Take the robotics lessons.
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(oops wrong thread)
-
(did it again...)
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#7. Week 3, September
CITY HALL
"Dark blue curtains frame an empty podium before a buzzing press room. Left of stage produces a short, stout woman in red suit with a tall green beehive hairdo. The crowd responds with polite clapping as she takes her place. Her withered eyes squint through round glasses, appraising the press assembly before she raises an open hand and clears her throat. The human reporters slowly grow as silent as their floating machine counterparts. "Last week prosecution lawyer John Shelly had announced he's elected to run against me for mayor. Good luck, and may your campaign serve as a platform for further discussion on the core issues in the minds and hearts of our district's people. As bad as things are, ours is by nature a peaceful society. As bad as we get, it's never been more than a few law abiding vigilantes could handle. These counterfeit weapons that have very suddenly emerged to empower a handful of fickle men and their lackeys is exactly why I cannot support the mass production of weapons needed to arm such a force as Shelby suggests. And I believe when the source is discovered these problems will solve themselves." A rumbling ripples through reporters. "Is that your plan, just wait for things to solve themselves!?", one exclaims. The Mayor smiles, "In times of need new heroes will emerge. Heroes like Vanadia, who has reduced monster incursions to the point where we have the luxury to be talking about problems with our fellow man. Infact I have asked her here today to give us a demonstration..."
CITY HALL
7-1 VANADIA
Mayor Wright exits stage left as the blue curtains rise. The assembly claps as it is revealed Vanadia herself is standing there in a striking new uniform, comprised of black shoes, black pants, and a short sleeved black shirt with a large grey 'V' in front. Then out from the audience two gang members with guns storm the stage!
-
Form into liquid and get around their arms, hopefully causing them to drop the guns
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7-2 VANADIA
The teenager's body is impacted by bullets causing small chromatic craters. She moves forward uninhibited. They stop firing to tackle her, and as they both wrestle her, what was once her torso is now the ends of her elongated arms as she is somehow behind them. She tosses their guns to a security guard. The audience cheers at this result. The mayor returns to the podium, the 'gangsters' bow and take off.
The mayor is silent as she runs her hand over the bullet chewed podium, then directs the audience's gaze to the teenager with her own. The holes in Vanadia's suit close up and her 'wounds' underneath them melt away. "While these were actors, their weapons were real. This uniform is fire resistant and mimics her powers. No more emerging from fires in tattered rags!" The mayor smiles to Vanadia coily and there is polite chuckling from the crowd."This is my plan. I am not asking for faith. Just a little more patience. Watch the news and decide for yourself. That is all anyone can do. Thank you."
"Vanadia! Can you really handle real armed gangs and pirates?" The reporters clamor for a statement, the guard stands ready to escort her out instead if she wishes.
-
“Yes. I will keep the city safe.”
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SILVERLEAF PRIMARY SCHOOL
7-1 AUBRIELLA DOWNS
Aubriella participates in robotics club.
JON SHELBY polling at 40%
Mayor's 'wait-and-see' policy unpopular. "She's nuts!" said one skytrain passenger. "I get robbed here, I get robbed at home. Things are insane, and so is the mayor! Vanadia? She ain't no hero, it's just some kid!"
CRIME still at record high [+1 Panic]
MONSTER activity is on the rise [+1 Nesting]
Panic: 3
Crime: 5
Nesting: 1
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Hunt monsters
-
Having reached the end of what he could achieve in private, Huxley decided that he would need to continue his studies in a more public setting.
Train my robotics skills further.
-
Continue to participate in the robotics classes.
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CRISIS REPORT
Week 3, September
A. Gang Shootout at Carbon Developments! [Estimated Rating: 800]
B. Skytrain Pirates Plant Bomb! [Estimated Rating: 400]
C. Clown Monster Raids Fairground! [Estimated Rating: 200]
Vanadia can join C immediately. Huxley and Aubriella can join A, B, or C late.
-
Vanadia heads to the fairground to fight the clown
-
Aubriella decided that she needed some excitement so she snuck out and headed towards the Carbon Developments to where the gangs were fighting, she would keep to the shadows when she got there and was sure to bring her flute.
-
To do this, Aubriella will need to steal some money from her parents to Fast Travel. She will also neglect working on her robotics studies.
-
Huxley scoweled, he couldn't bring himself to ignore what was happening, but he didn't have any way to help yet...
Go to the clown attack
-
To do this, Aubriella will need to steal some money from her parents to Fast Travel. She will also neglect working on her robotics studies.
(I'm good with that I'm hoping I'm sneaky enough to pull it off, because I'm hoping to get an item out of this,)
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7-3 VANADIA
She easily takes down the clown monster. It has not shown the ability to speak. She could kill it or escort it to the Abyss, though The Watch currently has no lesser threat monsters or criminals to help escort it. She must decide what to do with it.
7-1 HUXLEY RIVERS
He is en route the fairground, but things are already wrapping up. He could continue to fairground(perhaps assist with escort, or help Vanadia pay to fast travel to another crisis), he could reroute to a different mission, or go back home. He must decide now if he wants to change course.
7-2 AUBRIELLA DOWNS
She takes some of her parents money and is en route to Carbon Developments...
-
Escort the clown to the Abyss
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7-1 VANADIA × HUXLEY RIVERS
At the train station Huxley sees the clown monster being corralled by none other than Vanadia herself.
-
Keep on riding the train or bus to the carbon developments.
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7-2 AUBRIELLA DOWNS
Aubriella arrives at Carbon Developments. There are two people with guns and pink bandanas hiding their faces guarding the entrance nearest the train station.
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Start playing the flute until they fall asleep, then once their asleep cautiously go over and grab their guns, then look around and see if there are any more of the gang members around.
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Continue the escorting, turn my hands into liquid metal and envelop the clown’s hands to help restraint in case he tries to escape
-
7-3 AUBRIELLA DOWNS
One of the gangsters approaches the small child as the train leaves the station. Aubriella takes her gold flute and touches it to her lips. Moments later, she takes the guns from the sleeping guards. Inside the arco the streets are empty and sporadic shots can be heard from higher floors. There are a few bodies on the ground.
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7-2 VANADIA × HUXLEY RIVERS
Vanadia is able to get a hold on the monster. While it can easy rip through her liquid grasp, it can't hurt her, and there is always the stun gun. Wait for Huxley?
-
Wait for Huxley, if clown breaks the metal, use the stun gun on it
-
If Huxley pays for both, you can fast travel to the Abyss and potentially do so again to go to another crisis.
-
First quickly look over the assault rifles I just got are they small enough to be easily hidden in my room, then search the bodies for money to replace the money I took from my parents, then start heading towards the sound of gunfire.
-
7-4 AUBRIELLA DOWNS
Your bedroom at the mansion is spacious. From your massive pile of stuffed animals to your walk-in closet, private bathroom, and many other amenities space isn't an issue. However it could be found during a routine cleaning. It would be quite impossible to "hide" them on your person for the time being. The assault rifles are more than half your height.
Aubriella arrives at the second floor and steps out of the elevator. This floor is cleared out aswell, the sound of gunshots are louder above. Very loud. If she goes up in the elevator again, she'll be in the thick of it. Perhaps there are other ways up that could be found, though they'd take longer.
-
Using the elevator during this didn't seem like that good of an idea so she tried to find a different route up, also she'd unload one of the assault riles and throw the empty one into the trash on the way, she would also be on the look out for a smaller gun.
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Pay for both of Vanadia's trips
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7-3 VANADIA × HUXLEY RIVERS
An armored skytrain arrives and they step in with the monster. It has a sad face and makes squishy sounds as it waddles into the corner. It occasionally giggles.
They arrive at The Gate and the guard greets Vanadia with familiarity before asking if they could help escort it down to the monster dungeon. It's a time consuming process however, and perhaps would only need one of them.
-
Vanadia will help with the escorting
"Thank you for helping me, Huxley""
-
"You're welcome, I hope to be able to offer more help next time."
Give her money for another trip and see about the possibility of continuing with what I was doing
-
The guard and Vanadia submerge with the monster prisoner. Vanadia is unable to join any more events.
Huxley missed a robotics lecture and probably couldn't make it back. Even if he could the monster is unsettling, and it would be hard for somebody to study after that disturbing experience.
-
7-5 AUBRIELLA DOWNS
There is a staircase that would be a little less conspicuous, though still fairly close to the action. There could be a safer way instead if you keep looking.
-
Go up the stairs and peak out if the cost is clear go on up, but if it isn't try to find a different way.
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7-6 AUBRIELLA DOWNS
She heads up the flight of stairs to find the gunfire has reduced to infrequent bursts. She steps over a body and gets to the level 3 entrance. She quickly pulls back as two armed gang members walk past. There are many gangsters strategically positioned. They seem to have taken the arcology power center. They all seem to have the same assault weapon. There are many dead guards and civilians.
-
Search for an empty cell
-
Lets start playing the flute, to get as many of these guys out of the way as possible.
-
Return home, somewhat frustrated
-
7-2 HUXLEY RIVERS
The skytrain is coming upon Iron Barrel. Huxley could still reroute to another mission, though it may be too late by the time he gets there.
7-4 VANADIA
The clown monster tries to make the ladies laugh with silly faces and sounds. "Quiet clown!" The guard raises a remote to the stun collar menacingly. The clown makes an angry toothy frown, then giggles. "We have plenty of space, sorry this can't go any faster...it's a long way down!"
The speck that is the elevator slowly descends in the hole that makes city sized buildings seem like toy blocks.
-
It frustrates Huxley to think, but he just doesn't have the resources to make much difference as things are. He wanted to spend as much time as he could preparing, but it was clear that his time was up. He'd have to act.
Just go home
-
Ask the clown “why did you attack people?”
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7-7 AUBRIELLA DOWNS
Like a heavy weight a lullaby falls upon the pink bandana clad gang and they collapse to the floor, eyelids closed. Two more rush out of the power center and shout at the rest, but they do not wake. One of them runs back in, the other spots the girl with a gun. The armed gang member raises their rifle!
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7-5 VANADIA
The clown points down.
-
“You wanted to come here?”
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7-6 VANADIA
The clown very slowly moves its' head from side to side.
-
Move one eye downward, while keeping the other eye watching the clown
((Is thst how two eyes work? I only have one working eye IRL so tell me if this isn’t possible))
-
7-7 VANADIA
You can't seem to look in different directions normally, but you can and do melt one eye down though you lose vision when doing it. The clown claps. All that is down is there bare floor of the descending elevator.
-
Bring eye back up, are we still going down the elevator?
-
Oh dang, run for cover.
-
7-8 AUBRIELLA DOWNS
"It's some kid!" they shout. Suddenly there are 6 of them systematically searching the area where she was last spotted, weapons drawn and ready for any movement.
-
Hunker down and start playing the flute, and hope they fall asleep before they find me.
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7-9 AUBRIELLA DOWNS
When they hear you make a sound there is a ruckus of footsteps...followed by the sounds of six impacts. The doorway to the power center is open.
-
Sneak my way towards the power center while trying to stay in cover as much as possible.
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7-10 AUBRIELLA DOWNS
Security cameras catch it all. As the girl enters, she is grabbed by someone. "So, you did all that. I'll be taking this."
Aubriella has been abducted.
-
(Damn knew I should have left after I grabbed the rifle, also what did they take the rifle or the flute?)
-
(Both.)