The power company will be shutting off power to the neighborhood sometime today for some amount of time to do some maintenance work. No, really. The exact quotes are "we apologize we're unable to provide an exact time your power will be off" and "Length of outage: Up to 8 hours between 8am and 4pm".
This was originally scheduled for Wednesday last week(!) but a whole lot of calls, including mine, pointed out that the day before Thanksgiving was a bad day to randomly lose power for some undisclosed length of time.
I am shutting down the servers in the house in preparation before I head off to work.
On WINTER (okay technically late fall but still), that's kind of dangerous if you live somewhere that gets cold this time of year.
@Darya, haven't you already used your angelic bond today?
Well...last time I used Angelic Bond was Mar 28, 2023. Also, I'm not currently using it, at least not yet... I just used Menacing Presence (a mythic ability and I have 7 mythic points (one spent today)). I've used Power of Faith today, but I can use that up to 9 times in a day.
'Well there goes any chance at talking this out.' Darya thinks with a sidelong glance at Telerin.
Rolling her shoulders she turns back to face the succubus. "Yes we are, and we're also going to be the reason she never has to worry about you again."
Her halo flares to life, the golden glow pulsing as the fire in her eyes makes clear her deadly nature.
Path ability: Menacing Presence (Su)
In combat, you can attempt an Intimidate check to demoralize an opponent as a move action. Swift ACtion activate Halo
"Looks like your spell just broke whatever hold she was having on his mind." Darya says, approaching the man. "How long have you been here?" she asks calmly.
"Keep your eyes open, I'm sure she's still around here somewhere." Darya says, her sword held in a ready position as she strides into the room toward the chained man.
As they prepare to move on, Darya rests a hand on her chest, allowing Ragathiel's healing fire to flow through her, closing her wounds with nary a mark on her skin.
Darya nods. "Yes, the shadow demon Jestak warned us about. That checks out." she says, remembering the warning from the barbarian woman they'd allowed to leave.
Catching Alexa's gaze and responding with a quick grin of her own, Darya's face returns to it's previously deadly serious expression as she approaches the surrendering guards, kicking aside their weapons and commanding them each to extend their arms with wrists together as she proceeds to tie a series of handcuff knots with a 50ft length of rope, allowing them to be led along together while restrained.
Seeing the enemy retreating, Darya surges forward pressing the advantage as she moves within range, her halo flashing to life, bathing her in fiery golden light as she makes an imposing flourish, staring down the guards with Radiance in hand, an open challenge and promise of a swift death.
Advance to G,8. Menacing presence to Intimidate. Intimidate:1d20 + 17 ⇒ (16) + 17 = 33
Path ability: Menacing Presence (Su)
Something about you puts others on edge. You can attempt an Intimidate check to influence a creature’s attitude as full-round action instead of it taking 1 minute. In combat, you can attempt an Intimidate check to demoralize an opponent as a move action. If you expend one use of mythic power, you can attempt to use Intimidate to demoralize all enemies within 30 feet as a standard action, or as a move action if using the Dazzling Display feat
"If we let them go they'll be back from that direction with reinforcements. Better not to leave an enemy at our backs!" Darya says, encouraging them to chase after the fleeing guards.
"Sounds like a plan!" Darya replies, ready to step back in unison with Uriel, while activating her Righteous Medal of Agility as well.
Swift action to activate medal. Standard action to activate Power of Faith (+1 morale bonus to AC and on attack rolls, damage rolls, and saving throws against fear 30ft radius, 1 minute). Readied action to move and step back in tandem with Uriel, forcing them to pass in between us as they enter the hallway.
Darya slashes at the injured gargoyle in front of her.
You missed Darya's medal buff and Power of Faith on everyone
"Shin, the best retirement gift I can give you is a promise to stay out of touch as much as I possibly can. Try to remember what gizmo means if I do get in touch though. I tried that one a lot."
Connie smiles weakly as the decorations and food appear. [b]"Hmm, think my just-as-friends group date is gonna be hella pissed I stood them up?"
Watching the happy couples pair up doesn't really do a lot to improve her mood, but she sticks it out for as long as she can manage.
She hasn't smoked anything in 5 years and a relevant tattooing, but more than almost anything in the world she wants to breathe in Shin's shitty secondhand crap on a roof. She wants a closeness so tight it hurts someone, she wants the people she hurts worst to be the ones who deserve it, she wants to just take revenge instead of trying to find justice, she wants to actually want what's best and right instead of carefully plotting a course to it Every. Single. Time. She wants to feel safe; she wants to feel safe and be right. She doesn't want to watch her father walk away.
She wants staying here with them to be the right way to make any of that happen.
And shit, even if I got in the muck, not like I deserve him either...
But she doesn't want to just leave Percy alone. Or at least not abandon him.
When the music ebbs she pulls him aside. "Hey bud. I... I think I'm gonna go. For a while. I need to clear my head, and blaze a trail and do a walkabout, and I think I especially need to get the f!@~ away from Halcyon for a minute. And I think.... shit it's so weird knowing that you know I can't lie. I think it umm... I think it might hurt too much if I tell them."
Umboriax wrote:
The shadows in the tent whispered softly, forcing one to strain to hear the words.
"In a hero's home,
My trust was broken once more,
They killed the monster."
A long pause lingered in the air as the words seemed to echo slightly around the tent, into the still deepening void around the two.
"A boy's fantasy,
My trust was broken once more,
He made the monster."
The voice sounds more harsh in it's echoes, like the speaker strains just to speak, before another stagnant silence reigns over the tent.
"My own bleeding heart,
Cast away for rage and death,
He'll see the monster."
The voice in the dark chokes through the next verse which similar to the two before echoes until there is silence once more. Then the silence is broken by a familiar voice that sounds half drowned and panicking.
"I've always been a monster, I'll forever be the monster.
I've always been a monster, I'll forever be the monster.
I've always been a monster, I'll forever be the monster."
Sigh. Okay. There's never time to play.
[dice=Logical Support]2d6+3[/dice]
Connie's Brothers (in order):
Abram (Abe) ~20+ years older than her
William ~20+ years older than her
Seth
Jean-Paul ~5 years older than her
Quintus (Quincy) ~4-5 years older than her
[Connie]
Septimius (Tim) ~ the same age
Hero: The Brain
___________________
Hero Name: Conflux
Real Name Constance 'Connie' Westcott Mathers
Abilities: Intellect and talisman crafting. Usually has apotropaic wards prepared (Forcefields, usually in wands).
Look: Woman - Asian - Eclectic clothing - no costume
___________________
Team Moves
___________________
List your team moves
When you share a triumphant celebration with someone, ask them if they felt they could have done it without you. If they say yes, give Influence to them and mark a condition. If they say no, they give Influence to you
When you share a vulnerability or weakness with someone, hold 2. Spend the hold 1-for-1 to clear a condition or add 1 Team to the pool when you are with them.
___________________
Advancement
___________________
Write down any current advancements.
___________________
Backstory
How did you first reveal your genius to your friends or family? By demonstrating that I'd taught myself magic.
Why did you decide to use your intellect for the benefit of others? Because it's bullshit that all the good secrets are secret! Look, I know now that I shouldn't tell everyone **everything**, but it's still the best path.
What misfire taught you some sense of humility or responsibility? Making magical secrets Too Available.
Who helped you realize you need other people? I constantly need other people. I'm smart as hell but I only have two hands.
Why do you care about the team? They're so freaking interesting!
__________________
*Any Other Abilites Unique to your Playbook
Always Prepared: When you have a chance to restock your supplies, hold up to 2 gadgets. When you Unleash Your Powers by producing a brand new minor invention or gadget from your supply, spend 1-gadget and roll +Superior. When you reach 0 gadgets, mark a condition.
Tactical Genius: When you point out the obvious flaw in a plan, roll + Savior. On a hit, you're right and another teammate can take advantage, they get a +1 ongoing to act on your information. On a 7-9 pick one:
*You missed something important. The GM will tell you what
*You look like a showoff. Your chosen teammate takes Influence over you, and you lose Influence over them.
*You make your teammates feel like little more than pawns. Your chosen teammate marks a condition.
On a miss, you've played into your enemy's hands: watch the trap spring
Logical Angle: When you Comfort or Support Someone by rationally pointing out their mistakes so they can do better next time, roll + Superior instead of + Mundane. If they do not open up to you, mark a condition.
Sanctuary
You have a place where you can rest, recover, and reflect upon your powers. Choose and underline
three features of your sanctuary:
Locks and traps; a containment system; a power battery.
Choose and underline two downsides of your sanctuary:
Draws dangerous attention, easily damaged or tampered with.
When you call upon the resources of your sanctuary to solve a problem, say what you want to do.
The GM will give you one to four conditions you must fulfill to complete your solution:
❑ First, you must _______________________
❑ You’ll need help from ___________________
❑ You and your team will risk danger from ______
❑ The best you can do is a lesser version,
unreliable and limited
❑ You’ll need to mark one box on your doom track
❑ You’ll have to obtain ________________
Never give up, never surrender: When you
take a powerful blow from someone with far
greater power than you, use this move instead
of the basic move. Roll + Savior. On a hit, you
stand strong and choose one. On a 7-9, mark a
condition.
- you get an opportunity or opening against
your attacker
- you rally from the hit, and it inspires the
team; add 1 Team to the pool
- you keep your attacker’s attention
On a miss, you go down hard but leave your
opponent off balance and vulnerable.
"Yeah, you did the best you could - once you realized you'd broken Deedee's soul without a plan. She seems okay for now. Maybe it will work out for the Best."
"Really pulls your taffy"
"Really waves your particle"
"Really sets off your bath bomb"
"Really hoops your skirt"
"Really gummies your bear"
"Really mentos your coke"
ground up into powder and dumped in []'s bathwater
'mashing tongues together like a couple of horny sea slugs'
Tattoos:
孝 at the nape of her neck. (Everyone could have seen)
Blooming Roses in a subtle arch between her shoulder blades (Everyone could have seen)
A black X tattooed across the inside of her right wrist (Everyone could have seen)
A cherry blossom tree with perched birds on her left arm from wrist nearly to shoulder (Everyone could have seen)
Two concentric white circles around her belly button (Everyone could have seen, easy to miss)
Red and white Ribbon twining up and around her upper right thigh. (Femtite may have glimpsed)
Some sort of sigils/runes/text just beneath/on the underside of her left breast. (Shin has glimpsed, Femtite may have)
[Redacted] on [Redacted] (No one has seen)
Hero: The Brain
___________________
Hero Name: Conflux
Real Name Constance 'Connie' Westcott Mathers
Abilities: Intellect and talisman crafting. Usually has apotropaic wards prepared (Forcefields, usually in wands).
Look: Woman - Asian - Eclectic clothing - no costume
___________________
Team Moves
___________________
List your team moves
When you share a triumphant celebration with someone, ask them if they felt they could have done it without you. If they say yes, give Influence to them and mark a condition. If they say no, they give Influence to you
When you share a vulnerability or weakness with someone, hold 2. Spend the hold 1-for-1 to clear a condition or add 1 Team to the pool when you are with them.
___________________
Advancement
___________________
Write down any current advancements.
___________________
Backstory
How did you first reveal your genius to your friends or family? By demonstrating that I'd taught myself magic.
Why did you decide to use your intellect for the benefit of others? Because it's bullshit that all the good secrets are secret! Look, I know now that I shouldn't tell everyone **everything**, but it's still the best path.
What misfire taught you some sense of humility or responsibility? Making magical secrets Too Available.
Who helped you realize you need other people? I constantly need other people. I'm smart as hell but I only have two hands.
Why do you care about the team? They're so freaking interesting!
__________________
*Any Other Abilites Unique to your Playbook
Always Prepared: When you have a chance to restock your supplies, hold up to 2 gadgets. When you Unleash Your Powers by producing a brand new minor invention or gadget from your supply, spend 1-gadget and roll +Superior. When you reach 0 gadgets, mark a condition.
Tactical Genius: When you point out the obvious flaw in a plan, roll + Savior. On a hit, you're right and another teammate can take advantage, they get a +1 ongoing to act on your information. On a 7-9 pick one:
*You missed something important. The GM will tell you what
*You look like a showoff. Your chosen teammate takes Influence over you, and you lose Influence over them.
*You make your teammates feel like little more than pawns. Your chosen teammate marks a condition.
On a miss, you've played into your enemy's hands: watch the trap spring
Logical Angle: When you Comfort or Support Someone by rationally pointing out their mistakes so they can do better next time, roll + Superior instead of + Mundane. If they do not open up to you, mark a condition.
Sanctuary
You have a place where you can rest, recover, and reflect upon your powers. Choose and underline
three features of your sanctuary:
Locks and traps; a containment system; a power battery.
Choose and underline two downsides of your sanctuary:
Draws dangerous attention, easily damaged or tampered with.
When you call upon the resources of your sanctuary to solve a problem, say what you want to do.
The GM will give you one to four conditions you must fulfill to complete your solution:
❑ First, you must _______________________
❑ You’ll need help from ___________________
❑ You and your team will risk danger from ______
❑ The best you can do is a lesser version,
unreliable and limited
❑ You’ll need to mark one box on your doom track
❑ You’ll have to obtain ________________
Never give up, never surrender: When you
take a powerful blow from someone with far
greater power than you, use this move instead
of the basic move. Roll + Savior. On a hit, you
stand strong and choose one. On a 7-9, mark a
condition.
- you get an opportunity or opening against
your attacker
- you rally from the hit, and it inspires the
team; add 1 Team to the pool
- you keep your attacker’s attention
On a miss, you go down hard but leave your
opponent off balance and vulnerable.
Above the fray: When you enter battle as a Team
against a dangerous foe, if you have Influence
over the leader and provide tactical input, add 1
Team to the pool. When you contradict the leader
during the battle, you may return Influence over
the leader to add an additional 1 Team to the pool.
___________________
Advances: Sanctuary
Never Give Up, Never Surrender
Permanently Ditch Millie's Influence
Rearrange Labels
Unlock Moment of Truth
Persuade with Best Interests
"Yeah, you did the best you could - once you realized you'd broken Deedee's soul without a plan. She seems okay for now. Maybe it will work out for the Best."
"Really pulls your taffy"
"Really waves your particle"
"Really sets off your bath bomb"
"Really hoops your skirt"
"Really gummies your bear"
"Really mentos your coke"
ground up into powder and dumped in []'s bathwater
'mashing tongues together like a couple of horny sea slugs'
[dice=Savior]2d6+3[/dice]
"Okay. This isn't an issue of transfiguration, but transference. To put that in sportsball terms for the magically uneducated, that means we need a good pitch, and we need a good catcher. To bring that back out of sportsball terms, that means we need a useful way to release my, uh, essence from this body, and also have a body on the other side that's compatible able to be recognized as an appropriate vessel and acceptable at bare minimum, better than being Consort-Conny."
As much as she can Connie avoids looking at Femtite while still speaking directly into her forehead. "So, I put together a charm that was designed to snap me back to standard Connie specs, and it's still anchored. Unfortunately, since I'm not in a body made up of my real body, I can't just trigger it, also that would be bad for a lot of innocent people if I did it here. However, it's got a lot of potential energy, so we should be able to use its initial impulse as at least a first stage ignition for the transference. I do have a golem prepped back at the base if we really need it for a host, but probably the most sympathetic starting point would be," she sighs, "Punk Rock Barbie. I have a re-sizing and re-fitting charm that should work for any modifications you need to do for that, but it's for thrifting, so it won't work on flesh. Or to change plastic into flesh. Pretty far outside its intended use-case."
A thought strikes her. [b]"Oh. That device or most other things you'd be looking for aren't designed for a broad user-base. So, Deedee and Odie should stay hands off, Nermal's probably out too since the whole Mantle thing. Dr. Jones, you can probably do it, but be careful. They aren't designed for your wattage, and I don't have spares.
[b]"You know you're not a failure, right?"
"...What the f%~*?! I don't- You think I'd ever put myself in their hands again? Jesus f@*&ing Christ, Femtite. Strip this body for f@~%ing parts as far as I'm concerned. Make a macabre hat out of it. Do a goddamn disrespectful anti-monarchy puppet show with it if you're that worried about it 'going to waste.' "
Tattoos:
孝 at the nape of her neck. (Everyone could have seen)
Blooming Roses in a subtle arch between her shoulder blades (Everyone could have seen)
A black X tattooed across the inside of her right wrist (Everyone could have seen)
A cherry blossom tree with perched birds on her left arm from wrist nearly to shoulder (Everyone could have seen)
Two concentric white circles around her belly button (Everyone could have seen, easy to miss)
Red and white Ribbon twining up and around her upper right thigh. (Femtite may have glimpsed)
Some sort of sigils/runes/text just beneath/on the underside of her left breast. (Shin has glimpsed, Femtite may have)
[Redacted] on [Redacted] (No one has seen)
Wwwwow. Wow. I-. Oh f*~$ you too.
"Mm. Well. Do you want me to say it's a good thing you brought it up, since it's apparently irrelevant? 'Cause aside from trying to earn girlfriend plaudits by preening over your response to a profoundly false dichotomy, I don't see the point of most of that. She shrinks, has cold powers, can possess people, do you have a reason to suspect she can do that to multiple people at once? And she's a little bit stupid since she offered that deal and kept it when she could easily have had both like you're trying to do. Oh, I guess we've ruled out a vulnerability to scarves.
"Good news though, your mother will almost certainly use this as a cudgel or a prod against you, but the only way I think she'd actually let you go is if she likes Wafemtite better."
Tacocat:
The things I do to get a hot girl to push me up against a wall and rummage around... "Hey fine, no safe word, we can fly without a net; but that means you've gotta treat my No's as law, and I thought that that might offend your toppy pride. Especially after that waitress assumed we'd want separate checks instead of guessing you'd be taking care of me? I mean that had to sting, right? And now, having to take a 'No', oh my bad, having to be taught to take a 'No'? I'm surprised you aren't just giving me everything I want so you can get to giving me what I deserve."
Oh goddamn it. He's not gonna wolf out anymore but Angel boy might sodomize me over this and not in the way I've written friendfic about...
A bruise and arousal are really the same thing. Just blood rushing somewhere that badly needs attention
I do not require an apology from you for any of the rest of us, for you have lost our love and respect, and that renders apologies valueless.”
