Helix Missionary, Are you working up an android mechanic still?
We have 3 androids on this crew and only one human, which certainly is going to make the characters' motivations interesting.
I've got a fairly 'Aliens' perspective on androids and I liked Jade Essex's background story with a bloody android revolution. Why would androids want to protect the timeline? Or would they? Can the past, present, and future be entrusted to androids?
I can see TAROT preferring them as agents for some reasons--their willingness to go back in time and change something that was in the history texts you learned, because you were ordered to and because your timeline isn't the 'original timeline.' Are they corruptible?
I've got a fairly 'Aliens' perspective on androids and I liked Jade Essex's background story with a bloody android revolution. Why would androids want to protect the timeline? Or would they? Can the past, present, and future be entrusted to androids?
Oh thanks! Operating under the premise that what I wrote is "canon", Androids have only recently gotten their own rights, and even then, there's still a lot of discrimination. I think Androids would want to protect the timeline because even slight variations could result in them still being enslaved, or even not being created in the first place. Especially with going as far back as we are, there's not necessarily anything we could do that would make the war go more positively for us. And even if we could - would we want to?
As far as trust, they're certainly more logical than humans, whether that's enough is another question. But given that none of us would have had family on Earth, we're not exactly likely to do "Back to the Future" things and meet our ancestors.
That said, I think it's very likely that a lot of people wouldn't trust Androids. Of course, I'd also like to think that the people who built a time machine are a little less biased against machines. If there is only the one human going, maybe it's in a position of authority, and how does that sit with the androids?
The idea of corruptible or severed timelines is definitely interesting. I suppose it becomes a question of what would happen. If we ruin something in 1968 that, say, makes it so we don't go to the Moon in 1969, what happens we go back to the year we're from? It would certainly have been affected, yeah? So are we now in an altered timeline? Does it show up as 1968 is corrupted? If we go back are we forced to deal with the possibility of working against our previous selves? The fact that the timeline is already being altered means that we aren't the only ones with a time machine, so with potential changes happening at different points, how do you know what the original timeline even is?
My brain is just buzzing with ideas now. I think there are so very many interesting directions we can explore here, whatever the unforeseen consequences are that are likely to arise from us (accidentally or otherwise) altering the timeline.
"Position of authority" ROFLMAO
I'm just a lowly mercenary with a Malcolm/Inara type relationship among other issues. I doubt they'd give me any authority.
As for my view on Androids, depends, can you handle yourself the chips are down?
Respect my authority.
I'm still playing round with what M'ilo's personality is going to be like. I'm probably going to model him a little after Nate from Legends of Tomorrow in that sense (along with the history buffness).
That being said, some suspicions of androids might come from him. To him, androids may just be walking computers that are forced to report directly to the govt overlords (normally on something he's done).
That being said, teamwork makes the dream work.
I am indeed still working up my android mechanic--it's taking a bit cause I'm still pretty rusty on the system, looking at options, and struggled a touch to figure out my full concept. I've settled on an android scientist who specializes in physics and mathematics, particularly with an interest in chaos theory that delves into the philosophical side of things.
This makes him a touch unusual for his kind, perhaps, at least compared to the public perception of androids as automatons with less emotion than a biological being; what use are the grand questions of existence, after all, for a construct who knows how they came to be? But the mere notion of true artificial intelligence raises all sorts of pertinent questions about the nature of reality, sentience, and how simple algorithms can chain together to create a truly thinking, living creature. He's a great candidate for sending on a mission through time because he's invested in the academic side of things, but is also very much a modern android and therefore doesn't have any "personal ties" to the past, however tenuous they might seem in others.
That said, the ideas mentioned above are certainly worth considering! And if we are rolling with a canon android uprising of sorts, I'll have to bake that into his background and character as well. Definitely something to think about!
We're going to be about as functional as the Legends aren't we :-).
Says the hippy alien chick who talks to the animals :-).
We're going to be about as functional as the Legends aren't we :-).
Says the hippy alien chick who talks to the animals :-).
If the team is full of interesting characters with interesting character flaws, I hope your characters will all react to one another and allow for that friction to be talked about.
I'm excited to get this going.
Same I’m very excited to start this, I just have to switch the backstory on the alias a little to incorporate the new ideas, and change the fighting style I don’t think trying to go powered armor would work well with blending in.
Does anyone want to work in a coordinated backstory? Maybe you know M'ilo from a previous job or even before that? I can see M'ilo having worked alongside/against most of the folks here due to his shapeshifteryness.
@ Malefactor: Yeah sure, what role do you want? Target of the mission or collaborator?
hmm...either would work. What do you think about Carson having been part of the team that caught M'ilo, and then worked with him as a collaborator for a few jobs?
Same I’m very excited to start this, I just have to switch the backstory on the alias a little to incorporate the new ideas, and change the fighting style I don’t think trying to go powered armor would work well with blending in.
Anything like power armor would probably stay on the ship until need unless we end up in medieval times, which we well might.
That reminds me: Don't build your characters around any specific time period. The first trip will be to 1968, but, unless you decide to vacation there, you won't be there for long. There will be a good bit of time-hopping, I expect.
I was previously interested and withdraw because of an earlier mechanic entry... Still interested though!
That reminds me: Don't build your characters around any specific time period. The first trip will be to 1968, but, unless you decide to vacation there, you won't be there for long. There will be a good bit of time-hopping, I expect.
The more animals the better :-) :-)
Will we, in character, have any idea on how "malleable" time is? Ie, will we know how big a change has to be to actually impact history in a meaningful way?
Like all TV shows Legends is a bit unclear and inconsistent with changes having "effects driven by plot as opposed to logic" ALL the time :-).
But visiting interesting places and meeting interesting people is 1/2 the fun of any time travel games (or shows).
Looking over at Joker, Carson asked, "What are the odds we can find this thing before lunch?"
"Why, you got a hot date with Tali?"
"Shut up," Troubleshooter responded. Double checking that he had non-lethal rounds in his pistol, he then said, "Well, we're not gonna find it standing here, lets get to tracking."
The pair set off to find their quarry.
Near the center of the Woodbury Falls Fashion Center, Senator Cleal was giving a passionate speech.
Or at least, it would have been, if the actual Senator had been there.
He hadn't actually been scheduled. In fact, all that had been there was a pianist playing some relaxing music into a microphone.
No one expected the Senator to show up, shout profanities, moon the crowd, and run off.
He deserves it, M'ilo thought as he walked through the crowd, jeers and interesting hand gestures being tossed at him, many that he returned. Stupid policies like the ones he's proposing will be the death of us all. Lord, save us from taxes and politicians.
Grinning to himself, M'ilo began to make his way to an exit. Getting out would be difficult, but constituents seeing their senator leave after such a display of affection would certainly make them think this was real and not a hoax.
Signaling Joker to move towards the nearest exit, Carson tried to follow the "Senator" through the crowd. Unfortunately, the incited sheep got in the way and he lost sight of the target.
"Joker, you got eyes on the Senator?"
"Affirmative, tailing now through utility corridors."
"Stay with him, I'll be right there."
It took longer to get through the crowd than anticipated, but Troubleshooter had made it through the crowd and into the corridors. Fortunately, Joker had dropped makers indicating where he was going. He followed them at a hastened pace.
Will we, in character, have any idea on how "malleable" time is? Ie, will we know how big a change has to be to actually impact history in a meaningful way?
Gabriel, TAROT's director who is an AI stored in an extratemporal pocket dimension, will tell you that time is not nearly as malleable as people think and most minor changes in the timestream only really matter until a much bigger change comes along. When a plague or a war or an economic depression pushes people around on a macro-scale, the micro-scale stuff doesn't matter.
But, if Gabriel really believed all of that, he would have himself stored in an extratemporal pocket dimension.
Helix here with a very barebones profile for my android mechanic. He's developed a lot of personality and background that I didn't expect when I started statting him up, so lots will come out in his background and the answers to your questions, which I'll hopefully have up soon. To give the most basic cliffnotes version of why he's on the mission, it's because he's a very capable scientist and engineer who's deeply invested in theoretical science related to traveling through time and interacting with the past--as well as preserving the continuum, as much as it can be preserved. He may not be the warmest individual in the world, but that's not what TAROT is looking for, is it? And we all have something to run from.
Helix here with a very barebones profile for my android mechanic. He's developed a lot of personality and background that I didn't expect when I started statting him up, so lots will come out in his background and the answers to your questions, which I'll hopefully have up soon. To give the most basic cliffnotes version of why he's on the mission, it's because he's a very capable scientist and engineer who's deeply invested in theoretical science related to traveling through time and interacting with the past--as well as preserving the continuum, as much as it can be preserved. He may not be the warmest individual in the world, but that's not what TAROT is looking for, is it? And we all have something to run from.
He's looking pretty good.
While people finish up their characters, I think I'll open the gameplay thread and allow a bit of the roleplaying stuff that gets the characters from whatever they were doing and into TAROT headquarters. We won't actually start anything that will need finished characters stats right away anyhow
I've already used this as the name of a PbP thread: Agents of TAROT (Temporal Anomaly Recognition & Observation Team)
What kind of name would fit your team? Suggestions?
Legends of TAROT? Lol
Honestly, no clue.
What are we, some kind of Suicide Squad?
But seriously: We could do like, Seer or Reader if you wanted to keep with the TAROT thing. Or maybe something like, Handler or Operator or Advocate?
CARDS (Causality Analysis & Redistributors of Displaced Spacetime)
HANDs (Handlers of Acualities & Nontime Displacements)
How 'bout these?
Legends of TAROT? Lol
Honestly, no clue.
I actually like this one.
Are you still open for character submissions or group full?
CROSS: Chrono Repair Or Safeguarding Squad
KARMA: Knights Against Random or Malevolent Anomalies
Or, another thought, maybe our squad is named after a Tarot card?
Are you still open for character submissions or group full?
I think we've got a full deck, but thank you.
'Bunch of Cards?'
'Forensic Adjustments for Timeline Enhancement'
Keep 'em coming
'Final Authority over Temporal Entanglements'
Are you still open for character submissions or group full?I think we've got a full deck, but thank you.
Shucks. If you get an opening later, feel free to send me a PM. I have a cool idea for an envoy.
Temporal Integrity Maintenance Expediters of Total Relativity Actualizing Versions of Exact Life and Embedded Realities
@ Mask: TIME TRAVELER, clever but way too long. Still good though. Oh, your turn on the narrative by the way.
@ Tarren: I only suggested the card names for squad names as I'm certain that we're not the only team TAROT has sent into the past. Or maybe the card names are used for the time machines?
Yeah, that was more just for a fun exercise.
I think if the team was assigned a card name, that would be appropriate, and could serve as a good call sign should we run into another time travelling team.
"You're a hard one to catch," M'ilo heard someone say, accompanied by the click of a weapon. Turning, M'ilo smiled. Looked like a Fed, and they always had backup with them.
"Comes with the territory," M'ilo replied, shifting his features to match the man staring at him. he thought.
Coming around the corner into an alleyway, Carson came across the one sight he dreaded. There were two of Joker standing there, one with a pistol pointed at the other. Terrific, He thought. "Alright, which is which," he asked with a resound sigh.
"I am," the unarmed one said, "He jumped me and took my weapon."
The other one calmly turned to Troubleshooter and simply said, "Sahara."
That was all Carson needed, there's no way the shapeshifter could have known about their old mission in Africa. Moving in with a pair of restraints, he said "Look, we don't want to hurt you, but ARC is paying good money for your capture and they want you alive, so don't force it. Okay?"
@ Mask: TIME TRAVELER, clever but way too long. Still good though. Oh, your turn on the narrative by the way.
@ Tarren: I only suggested the card names for squad names as I'm certain that we're not the only team TAROT has sent into the past. Or maybe the card names are used for the time machines?
I like that idea. Which card best represents this team?
@ Tarren: I only suggested the card names for squad names as I'm certain that we're not the only team TAROT has sent into the past. Or maybe the card names are used for the time machines?
I like that idea. Which card best represents this team?
I like this idea a lot, and I think quite a few of them would work.
The Hanged Man, well gendered, suggests one possible plot point--several of these characters could have been rescued by TAROT moments before their deaths.
Tower Team links with a plot possibility.
Others?
Chariot is cool for an adventuring group
Hanged Man sounds cool.
Tower and Chariot roll off the tongue a little better, IMO.
Never looks at the bigger picture. Carson thought. Intrigued at the possibilities, he asked the shifter, "And what exactly do you mean by "Go better for both" of us?"
Joker protested, "You can't possibly be serious!"
Troubleshooter pointed his weapon at Joker's head, "Just weighing the possibilities good buddy." Turning to the shifter, "Go on."
I like chariot it fits nicely.
I went with 'Agents of TAROT' Chariot crew.
I created a gameplay thread that offers you a chance to introduce your characters as they might be found at the moment TAROT demands their immediate attention.
I guess we'll have to hurry up and finish this Mask.
I created a gameplay thread that offers you a chance to introduce your characters as they might be found at the moment TAROT demands their immediate attention.
I'm moving house in the morning so I probably won't be able to get an intro post up until Thursday but I am very excited!
"Come on, you guys need someone like me. Someone who can get in and out without making a fuss, because, no offense guys, you're both a little rough around the edges, aren't you?" M'ilo sweats a little as he talks. "Plus, bounty hunting doesn't really have much of a retirement package other than a bullet or two, does it?"
"With me," M'ilo adds, "You've got a good way to get in and out of any job. Just tell those labcoats you missed me, you can give me a trial run for a few months, and if it doesn't suit you, we can start this merry chase all over again."
"I mean, really, you gotta play the long game, am I right?" M'ilo asks as he holds out a hand.
Two shots rang out and a stunned Joker fell to the ground. Pulling a special device that took a month to make, he applied it to his partner's forehead, "Sorry pal, you'll have to forget this one." After punching some buttons, there was a rapid beeping, then a spark, then smoke.
Removing the device and tossing it in a nearby dumpster, Carson turned to the shapeshifter. Handing over Joker's comm unit, he said, "Take this and run. I'll contact you later."
After M'ilo left, he awoke Joker and explained to him and ARC that the target got away.
A month later, Troubleshooter and Mask started working together.
I created a gameplay thread that offers you a chance to introduce your characters as they might be found at the moment TAROT demands their immediate attention.I'm moving house in the morning so I probably won't be able to get an intro post up until Thursday but I am very excited!
Good luck with the move.
I'm hoping we don't get flooded, but if it goes from 2 months of freezing to 10 days of melting like it's supposed to, I may disappear for a couple days when I get relocated.
It's happened before.
Good luck with the move, and best of wishes on the flooding hopefully it isn’t to sudden a thaw.
Alright, questionnaire answered with some backstory woven in. Let me know what you think, if I should add anything else. I picked up some of the android themes from the other submissions, with revolutions and questions of freedom and all, but I'm not super sure on the timeline of events there, so what exactly Personae Ex Machina was fighting for is sort of up in the air based on that.
Alright, questionnaire answered with some backstory woven in. Let me know what you think, if I should add anything else. I picked up some of the android themes from the other submissions, with revolutions and questions of freedom and all, but I'm not super sure on the timeline of events there, so what exactly Personae Ex Machina was fighting for is sort of up in the air based on that.
As the timeline you are in isn't the timeline you're trying to rescue, I'm not too worried if there are some spots that get filled in as we need them to be. Some of the events are going to exist only in your memories soon.