Pathfinder, Earth

Game Master Jaster Kite

"well we didnt do anything weird by OUR standards" Geralt adds as he takes a seat.

Tomoya looks to the two, blinking, and says, I believe you,

Silver gives them pretty much the same look and says, I'm not sure if I do. Then says, You've missed a fascinating conversation about the crazy things that toursists do, GPS watches, manholes, and Pokemon GO.

Tomoya nodded, It was indeed... Something.

"Mhh." Devic goes into her phone and starts typing. Nazuri gets a text saying:

"Think I no where go. Need glue. Glue and tape. Where we find here?"

Nazuri sees the text and enacts a brilliant plan.

She starts digging around in her bag, placing bizarre things on the table. The cucumber from earlier, a Pokemon GO plus, a LEGO Darth Vader flashlight Confiscated that from a kid who was shining it in people's eyes on the bus once. His mom told me to keep it... I think as a punishment., some glue, some tape, a pair of scissors For collaging, and 9 or ten other small and somewhat bizarre items, explaining a few of them as she goes. Finally she pulls out a bag of homemade snickerdoodles.

Ah! Here they are. She pulls them out, and stands up, "accidentally" knocking half the stuff onto the floor in Devic's direction. Oh sorry. I'll get that in a minute. Or can someone grab that stuff and put it back in my bag for me? She takes the cookies around to Tomoya.

Try these. You have never had anything remotely as good as my cookies, I promise you. She hands him one, standing in such a way that she "accidentally" obscures his vision to a small extent, again in the direction of Devic.

This call for sleight of hand?

Dumb question.

Yoink G+T: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Devic gets off her stool and collects the glue, tape and the Pokemon GO, sliding the tape roll and glue bottle under her armor vest.

Devic acquires the glue and the tape, but gets the strange feeling that she had been seen doing such.

Do you collage often? Silver asked, obvious to the team that she was trying prolong the conversation as long as she could, for the group’s sake.

Tommy’s takes a cookie, taking a bite and nodding, Exquisite, He said, What’s your secret?

My secret is extra nutmeg. I use way more than anyone in their right mind, but it works. And, of course, you have to cook them just enough so that they stay chewy, but they are still cooked all the way through. That's always a challenge... if they are a little bit off, they still taste good, but they lack that perfection, you know?

As for collaging, I've been doing it since college. I would cut words out and tape them to the wall, along with some pictures and stuff. It made those generic apartments back then feel more like home, you know? I moved on to doing mobile collages because it was so hard to take everything down off the wall over and over again and some of it would get ruined. I also like pottery, though just hand-building. I am awful at throwing things on a wheel. How about you guys? Do you engage in any form of art?

Nazuri walks back and leans down to pick the rest of the stuff up off the floor while she is talking, thanking Devic for helping her. Then she sits back down at the table with an expectant look, waiting for an answer to her last conversational parry.

Devic returns the GO plus, and gives an answer of her own.

"Like to think science kind art. Art with rules. More challenge to make beautiful something. Way around... limitations."

Thanks says Nazuri, taking the GO plus, slipping it on her hand, and syncing it with the game on her phone.

I agree that science can be an art I suppose... the search for truth, the quest to find out how things work. I think that all forms of art have rules though. You just might not see them as well. Even free-form poetry that doesn't have to rhyme or fit a certain poetic form has rules, or it wouldn't be poetry. Some of the rules in writing are different, or more subtle. Your audience is a big constraint for instance. Writing, and really all forms of communication are trying to get an idea from your head into someone else's head, and that takes a lot of work to choose your words carefully, and there are varying degrees of success.

With collaging, there are also things that you do to make it pleasing to the eye. It isn't just random. You can cut things out in certain shapes and place them on the page in different ways, and those things and others, like use of white space for instance, dictate whether it is beautiful or just a mess. There is art in science, but there is also science in art.

She smiles, hoping that she is being distracting enough.

my people see science as unnecessary, a corruption and pollutant. We forego all electricity too. Brief comment having been mostly quiet, trying not to mess things up

"I'm surprised you can stand me at all then, Ammon." Ramiel chuckles.

I do a lot of painting on the rooftop of Lunaris. Sometimes the rooftops of other skyscrapers, if they let me, Silver said, making a few quick, subtle glances to Tomoya, who doesn’t seem to notice.

I work with clay, mostly, said Tomya, There’s a... closeness to the earth, that it brings me.

I'd love to see some of your work, Tomoya-san. Do you have any here?

"Where clay keep here? Is office, da?"

Eagerly looking for a second and probably final chance to see what's behind door #2, Devic goes along with Nazuri's encouragement.

I have, in this building alone, a few in my office, a small gallery in my personal quarters, and a selection in the lobby. You’d like to see some of them, perhaps? He asked, smiling, looking flattered.

Absolutely. I would love to see them all if you are willing. Would you like to give us the tour?

Nazuri stands up, encouraging Tomoya to show them his pottery.

Sorry for the exceedingly long wait. I’ve gotten myself quite distracted during the site’s ‘downtime’, but I’ll see if I can get things back on track, now.

Tomoya apparently has the decency in him to look a little embarrassed at Nazuri’s request, scratching at the back of his head and muttering a bit, quietly and unintelligibly, saying, Oh, um... if you —ah, insist. He said, standing up. My gallery is just a short trip, if everyone is willing to part with their meals for a bit.[/b]

Tomoya leads them down the halls, halls which Devic and Geralt would find familiar, through a door and into a dark room. Flipping on the light, there are various clay sculptures, hand-made but expertly made. A few vases, some more abstract shapes, and at least three dragons.

Nazuri examines the dragons.

Devic is gonna keep her eyes peeled for a chance to make herself scarce.

Perceive an opportunity?: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

"They ehh, I like thing with the grooving."

Wow, even I have no g$*!@!n idea what that was supposed to mean.

Ammon follows, as soon as squeals with delight Dragons!!

Hmm, did we lose Geralt and Ramiel?

Devic perceives an opportunity to mouse herself away.

Silver nods along. ”Very impressive... yes... excellent grooving. Very groovy.

... Devic does a mean impression of herself at any large gathering, and becomes almost invisible against the wall.

See ya nerd: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30 Once outside and a couple yards down the hallway, she uses one extract of Alchemical Allocation before drinking a potion of heroism and while no-ones looking, spitting it back in the bottle because the alchemist has a high number of abilities that are just plain gross dude. Afterwards, she hunts down the "employee's only" door, darting from potted plant to plant to service cart if need be. Then using the glue and tape she lifts a fingerprint from a nearby handle while no-ones watching.

That thing Antman did to get through a biometric scanner that one time: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 24 Assuming nothing happens to Dev between these checks. I'll roll again if need be.

Nazuri continues to babble enthusiastically about everything she sees and to tell whatever story each item triggers in her mind, keeping up her constant distraction, while still being engaging and polite, of course.

Nazuri, make a diplomacy/deception roll to keep them distracted :)

Devic goes completely unnoticed as she so masterfully sneaks away from the art exhibition and back to the employee’s only door, opening and finding a small hallway, to the left, a board with various slips of paper pinned to it, and to the left, a glass window that looks into a lab, currently in use by two white-coated humans. On the window-side, at the end of the hall, is another door same as the one that Devic came in through.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23

Devic looks over the papers on the board for anything relevant to the investigation. After that, she tries the same copied fingerprint for this scanner as last time.

Craft tech if needed: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27

They’re distracted :)

Devic notices that the majority of the notes are mundane R&D items, irrelevant towards the mission. At least one of the notes is on the progress of a 12th generation T-Phone, and the planned specs on it.

Sprinkled over the board, on several of the mundane objects, are mentions of ‘ether’, and how it can function as an energy source. One has a list of possible side-effects of ether; slowness, memory-loss, deja-vu, and extreme temporal stasis among them.

The fingerprint scanner accepts Devic’s copy. The door opens.

At least one of the notes is on the progress of a 12th generation T-Phone, and the planned specs on it.

heh. Not bad. At least they remembered a headphone jack this time.

Sprinkled over the board, on several of the mundane objects, are mentions of ‘ether’, and how it can function as an energy source. One has a list of possible side-effects of ether; slowness, memory-loss, deja-vu, and extreme temporal stasis among them.

Memory loss... and stasis. Like Brazil.

The fingerprint scanner accepts Devic’s copy. The door opens.

Stasis. Like Brazil. Amnesia's new though. Why wouldn't Tomoya tell us about this?

Devic muses on the possibilities as she creeps into the room, hopefully undetected.

Perceive an important looking computer: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Devic sees that a computer in the corner of the room has just opened up, adjacent to another researcher. Another is open at the table in the center of the room.

meanwhile...

Tomoya is just about finished conversing with Nazuri about her thoughts on the art. Close to noticing that someone’s missing if someone else doesn’t take on the conversation.

As the art conversation winds down, Nazuri mentions as an aside that she learned this interesting incantation that allows one to breathe water. She asks Tomoya if he has a swimming pool.

If so, wouldn't it be interesting to see if it works?

Ammon points to something excitedly ooh whats this? Trying to distract as best he can.

Tomoya blinks. None of us are dressed for swimming now, exactly. And besides, we still have more important matters to discuss. We’re still waiting on one more, aren’t we?” He asked, and Silver’s eyes widened slightly. She took a quick glance to where Devic had been standing a few minutes ago. Frida, yes? He finished, and Silver calmed down.

Yes. She should be here anytime, now. She lied.

Tomoya looked to her, to where she was standing, then squinted a little, as if he was just knowing something, then interrupted by Ammon’s question. That’s my rendition of Apsu, the god of metallic dragons. A very modest depiction, in my mind, but I am quite proud of that one.

"Favorite option. Get into Tomoya building, those with ehh обширный word skill occupy him with Ms. Silver present. He want us find her. Clear target of interest of his. While he distract, we make way to server room with top-level access.

"I take data on time virus, scrub all back-ups. We keep information, but give copy to Shinzen. Copy would be altered enough as to uselessness. Like gall bladder, or Japanese censorship laws."

"Could also replace last step with something. Like ehh, backdoor program and worm extracting investors bank information, throw it out on internet. Do real damage to her. Then we get creative."

What roll/rolls to try this plan?

Do you have any others? dragons are the coolest thing ever! Ammon continues his questions like an overeager child

stealth to get there and then craft (tech), to do the deed, and a second craft (tech) for the convincingness of Shinzen’s copy.

Devic enacts operation Chaotic Good.

Sneak up to compooter: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32 I forgot to add Heroism to the last couple rolls.

This part is probably illegal too.: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (4) + 18 = 22 Using the clover to add an extra +2 to this roll.

This one also but she's evil so whatever: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23

Ooohhh. I love dragons. So lovely. And refined.

Devic gets to the compooter unseen, fiddles with it, extracts her information, and does what she does to it (for Shinzen’s sake) in record time.

One more stealth check to skidaddle outta there.

Tomoya looks flattered at everyone’s interest.

Metal Gear: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30 Oh man, what a fortunate string of rolls.

Devic slips back out and makes it really unclear whether or not she actually left as she slides into the rear of the group.

Texting: Info get To the group.

Indeed. I have to say, from the realism of this amazing work, you seem quite familiar with them. Seen a lot of them in person? How did you manage it?

Oh, it’s an involved process. You really never want to get too close to a dragon, you know. Even the good ones are... tempestuous at best. While some are agreeable, none are what you would call ‘tame.’ Tomoya said. He clapped his hands. Well, I think that that should conclude the tour. Any last questions before me and Silver head on to some business? He turns to Devic. How about you, Zaitsev-San? You’ve been awfully quiet.

its not unusual, Devic's usually very busy or quiet.

I have more questions about dragons, but they can wait for another time. Thank you so much for the tour and the hospitality Tomoya-san.

She bows.

"Da. Am not always one much for talking. Do have other question. You research infestation from brazilian. Ehh, you have progress to share? I do also this subject. Could stand to help one another." Devic keeps her eyes focused on the artwork in the room, asking her leading question about "ether" more apprehensively than she usually speaks.

After a beat, Tomoya takes a quick glance to Silver —who just thinned her lips, eyes not looking directly to Tomoya— then back to Devic, ”You’re well informed. Indeed, I have my research division working diligently on it —to the detriment of a few other projects, unfortunately. The research, insofar, has been fairly uneventful. Nothing of true note to report, insofar. He cleared his throat. What brings up this question?

"In my nature to discover. Push boundaries. You name corruption 'ether.' Other research look much useful actually. Ehh, amnesia, déjà vu, and favorite observation, potential as fuel source. Holy s&+~ that sound “eventful” you asking me. Would like to know what kind of sample size you get ahold of to learn this. Am almost jealous, I only get couple ounces." Devic holds out a USB drive.

Tomoya thins his eyes and watches Devic carefully. He crossed his arms behind his back. He smiled, amused-looking, but certainly not joyful. Silver slowly moved from his side towards the group. Tomoya let her without any protest. Ether sounded... right. It’s a miraculous thing, truly. Artificially made, but not from any known source. Self-propagating. I only needed a small sample from Brazil before my scientists were able to coax it in order to... birth, more of it. I predict, if left unchecked, the ether could potentially grow to expand across the entire island in less than two years.

I knew it, Silver said. There was no way that I have given you so much ether. It had to have been growing. Were you ever planning on sharing that information? Just how much were you hiding?

I was withholding information until the situation was more... concrete. Tomoya said. It is an artificially-made substance, but we do not know for what purpose it was made, or by whom. Too much information between too many hands could be dangerous. I kept reins on my scientist, and you let yours shoot up one nation to the next. He cleared his throat, then looked to Devic. No offense, of course. Now, what do you plan to do with that drive? I’m sure you’ve made copies and contingencies. What do you want from me? He looked to the rest of the group. He didn’t look too threatened.

Anyone else wanna jump in? It's about that time to negotiate.

Honestly not clear what we are negotiating here. Which is okay, since Nazuri is new. She thought Tomoya was evil and laid a trap for them. Now she isn't sure, but it seems like she was wrong.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Toss up with that roll, but if Nazuri thinks that Tomoya is on the up and up at this point, she will move to stand beside him. They have a prior (work) relationship, and she feels a little guilty that she was distracting him now that she sees he doesn't have any evil intent (if that is what she thinks based on the roll). Then she would say this:

Come on guys, Tomoya is a good guy. He's just doing research. No need for threats.