Taraz Rorenson's page

Class skill bonus is only 3 not 4. :-)

So with my clarification of the HP for the default roll taking you to 31 max, the addition of the cloak to explain the saves, and the class bonus correction for your Acrobatics down to +11, everything should check out.

The last thing to clarify was just what deity you were selecting. HL keeps bringing that up as the last error, and I didn't find a deity which had both travel and war domains. I'm assuming you're "philosophying" it?

Treppa: I am having a little trouble replicating your numbers.

I have to assume you are starting with 20-point buy as follows:

I'll do it! Maybe not tonight though...thinking of trying to hit the last showing of Star Wars.

It's Taraz...duh

Taraz chuckles. "If I don't get inappropriate in a formal setting, people will start to wonder if it's really me."

Taking a large gulp of his wine, Taraz looks at Mimi seriusly, "And I also desire not have you dissected or otherwise injured. Part of the reason for my questions. And this is all part of our act, my dear."

Taraz winks and holds out his hand to the beautiful woman. "If you come over here, I will kiss your mouth. Your own memory, not shared with anyone else."

Taraz reaches out to stop the glass from spilling but moving at normal un-enhanced speed, he isn't quite fast enough and only manages to catch the glass after most of its contents have poured onto the edge of the table and the floor.

"Ah, at least it was only the water and not the wine," Taraz says loudly for their onlookers' benefit and smiles at Mimi with the look of someone confident things are going his way. Surely this was the Taraz everyone expected, ready to pounce on his pretty socialite companion since clearly the wine was affecting her.

More quietly, he responds to her statements about the state of her mind. "An unmodifiable memory? That is useful to know. I am not sure if I asked my question correctly however."

Looking thoughtful, Taraz watches a couple of serv-bots who have rushed over to dry the water. "My line of inquiry was more about if you know if your internal construction has any deviations from standard human anatomy."

Eyeing her up and down in the crimson cocktail dress Mimi is wearing, he can't help but notice her external anatomy is pretty much perfect. From what Taraz could tell, every inch of Mimi was exactly copied from Cassie's own frame. But how could she be that accurate? By her own admission, Mimi had been created well in advance of all the others, before the party...how could she have been exactly as Cassie was at the party? It was a conundrum only von Ryuko could have created. Or my uncle...! The thought made Taraz's stomach churn, and the mitochondria began to respond to his concern and anger.

Taraz realized his smile may be slipping, so reached for his own water glass and drained it before taking another healthy sip of his wine. As he once again looked (and admired) Mimi's proportions he couldn't shake the feeling he was missing something.

"Mimi...There's something about your form that troubles me. Being a replicant, your shape should be static, but you mirror Cassie almost completely...I can't put my finger on it yet though."

Taraz sighs. "That is part of the reason we need to speak with Ulrikke."

He pours the remainder of their newest bottle into each of their goblets until it is empty. Gesturing for Mimi to approach, Taraz indicates she should sit in his lap. Smiling he says loudly, "Why are you so far away pretty lady? Come here."

"My sister Ulrikke is a brilliant scientist. Her knowledge of engineering is nearly unparalleled. Clockwork and robots are her passion. She also understands some principles of biochemistry and mechanics. Genetic manipulation was more our late uncle's pursuit than hers, but she could definitely hold a discussion about it that would still be above simple passing knowledge. Naturally, you will be of some interest to her." Taraz watches Mimi over the top of his wine goblet.

"There will be many serv-bots and other robotic devices in her laboratory. But make no mistake, while I know I will be able to impose my will on many of them, they will resist, and we cannot count on any serv-bot in her presence to be an ally. Thus there is some danger to you. I may not be able to guarantee I will be able to stop her if she were to decide she wanted to acquire you.

"But...we may be able to play to her desire for knowledge. And ironically, it is her lack in regards to you that may provide that avenue.

Taraz drains the glass of wine. Dammit, Mimi was a pretty thing. The mitos sensed the attraction and were trying to become agitated. The alcohol was helping, but Taraz needed more. It certainly didn't help that Mimi made him recall the first time he had met Cassie... Gods, that was going to be an interesting discussion to have with Rashida. Both Cassie and he had been successfully discreet regarding their prior acquaintance at von Ryuko's party. It had seemed safer that way. After all, they had both arrived on the island in order to protect the others.

Taraz refills his glass and offers Mimi more as well.

Softly, barely more than a whisper, he says to the replicant, "Tell me, Mimi...what about your anatomy is different than what anyone would expect? Anything you know of yourself or your origins will be more useful now than ever. Don't be shy."

Taraz gives her the killer smile the onlookers and spies have been expecting to see from him now that dancing and dinner have been consumed. Oh, he definitely needed more wine. The hardest part for his control of the mitos would be coming up. He would need to kiss Mimi for the act to be complete. He felt terribly guilty...but strangely anxious to let it happen. Damn the mitochondria. Sometimes it was like living with a second person in his head. He empathized with Rashida's situation greatly at this moment.

Elsewhere...

It's the evening before the night of his dream.

Taraz sits across from Mimi vonSollier, a replicant of Cassie DuSollier. Just as beautiful as the original but with golden tresses and a slight shimmer to her skin. Taraz believes this to be a side effect of being artificially made, but still, there was no denying her attractiveness and flirty attitude. Especially with her clear enjoyment of the wine Taraz had ordered.

Mimi slowly twirled the red liquid in her glass and watched Taraz with come hither eyes. She bit her lip slightly, and Taraz reminded himself of the sweet taste of Rashida's skin to anchor the mitochondria's rising interest. He tossed back a healthy swallow of his own wine and gestured for the waiter to bring them another bottle. Taraz saw a servbot being sent to the cellar to get the vintage required. Glancing back to his date, Taraz could see the desire in her eyes. Yes, more wine to keep the mitos pacified was definitely going to be needed.

Clearing his throat slightly, Taraz addresses the blond woman clearly making good on her promise to make sure anyone watching saw them as exactly how they were trying to appear.

"Mimi, my dear, I am not going to lie to you. You will be in some slight danger if you choose to accompany me to see my sister."

He watches her expression cautiously. The waiter approaches, displays the bottle, Taraz nods his assent, and the man opens the wine. After inspecting the cork and tasting the newly liberated wine, Taraz gives his approval, and the waiter pours another glass for Mimi and then Taraz. Her eyes give away nothing but the continuing lustful glance. Damn. She certainly has that much of Cassie, Taraz thinks referring to the French woman's ability to keep her emotions solidly in check when she wished.

Taraz begins again once they are as alone as they can be at their table, "Seriously. While I will do my best to predict the path the situation may take, Ulrikke is a Rorenson. And brilliant. Did I mention she invented the servbots? That's right. Which is why someone of your...background will interest her greatly. We need to be careful and take some precautions...if you're willing."

Taraz sips his new pour and waits for Mimi's response.

Fast forward 24 hours...

Taraz's heartbeat calmed, and the mitochondria began to recede from their instinctive increase in activity from his dream-caused agitation. Listening to the steady breathing of the golden-haired replicant lying pressed against him, he felt his eyes begin to close...Rashida was there again...and this time he controlled his dreaming and let the dream he had of his love the night before replay once again in his mind...

Taraz eyes fly open. Something is grabbing him. Someone is grabbing him! Taraz's whole body tenses as the power of his biology floods awake in an instant. As his perception accelerates, he realizes within a few milliseconds, the someone is Mimi, the replica of Cassie DuSollier. He forces the clamoring mitos down, down. It's like being dunked in a pool of cold water, and he shudders.

Mimi is startled by the sudden motion of his body, and she seems uncertain almost guilty by the look on her face.

"Sorry, Mimi," Taraz whispers. "I didn't mean to wake you." He gently turns her to face away from him, then places an arm as chastely as possible over the sheet covering her stomach. He hopes she didn't notice his expression or the feeling of hopelessness that seemed to ooze from him.

A single tear slowly slid down Taraz's cheek into Mimi's golden hair.

Taraz feels his nerves trying to unsettle as the mitos "feel" the Rashida's presence draw closer. He allows them to begin increasing his perception and reactions.

Eyes narrowing, Taraz carefully holds out his hand. "Let us find out what you can see."

As he looks at the golden brown skin and wondrous beauty that Rashida has, he remembers how adamantly Cassie had stated she would pursue correcting the wrong done to the Baron von Zombi. He had a growing fear that he was about to make a decision based on those same feelings.

In a flash, Taraz calmed and began to clamp down the mitos impulses trying to make him react. That's right! Rashida's power took almost an hour to "see" the truth of a person's soul. That test isn't going to work.

Taraz takes a deep breath. "Forgive me. I responded hastily. This is a delicate situation. I suppose I should explain a little." Little by little Taraz forces his tense muscles to relax and regain control of his breathing and heart rate.

He raises a hand and points to the ceiling. "We are currently deep beneath the island castle of Baron Eichorn von Ryuko. The island's name is Ritiro del Gigante. It is located west of the Italian peninsula. The fortress' name is Enigma Perfetto." Taraz shakes his head almost imperceptibly. "Which describes this situation exactly." The last comes out so quiet the Rashida can only just hear him.

"The good Baron has seen fit to throw a party filled with deceptively useless nobles and notably unlucky assassins. The whole time, he had planned to switch the nobles out with replicants...like you possibly. I have already encountered one such, and upon realizing his purpose, he promptly exploded." Taraz falls silent while the Rashida stares at him mouth agape. As the brief silence stretches, Taraz raises an eyebrow and then nods contemplatively.

"As you didn't explode, I can only assume you may be what you say or are not programmed the same. However, I hope you can see the position I find myself. Having met a woman claiming to be Rashida Massri already..." An unreadable expression passes across Taraz's face as his voice trails off slightly. "And now I meet you...As I said uno enigma perfetto."

"Money?" The word comes out sharp, blurted without any thought. Taraz finds it impossible to think. The mitochondria seems to be responding to this crea...this woman as if she is Rashida. And Taraz was no longer certain that she isn't. But that would mean, the feelings he had were for...

Taraz shivered despite the nervous sweat that now seemed to be forming on his brow. The memories of the "replicants" he had just casually murdered began to surge forward. He swayed at the implications of what he may have done.

"I...I am not here for your money...R-Rashida," Taraz stutters. His mind was racing. His memory brought forth an image of him tearing the arm off the Dame Devries. The replicants had not been all flesh....but had any of the ones he destroyed been only flesh? He had been trying not to pay attention. Was it possible...? If she was the real Rashida, maybe someone else...?

Taraz shook his head and tried to get a grip on himself. The mitos were screaming loudly. Surely the Rashida, replicant or real, could hear them. He steeled himself, his jaw clenching.

"Listen to me and answer carefully. What do you see? What do you see when you look at my soul?"

The perfect copy of Rashida Massri speaks.

"Wha..? Where am I?" Her eyes shift erratically and quickly settle on Taraz's face. They widen, not in recognition...but in fear.

"Who...who are you?" A bronzed hand lifts and partially shields her mouth. A golden serpent glistens on her bare upper arm, and its head shifts briefly to eye Taraz. Its twin doesn't appear to move.

Before Taraz can respond, the Rashida replicant notices the cables tied loosely to her arm with surprise. She then looks herself over with a stricken expression discovering the various other wires and cables attached by string and pins. She gasps in alarm.

"What is this? What are you doing to me?"

About to introduce himself, Taraz paused for a second. This is not going at all like I expected.

"I am Taraz Rorenson, replicant, Lord of Serv-Bots," he says with a flourishing bow. "Apparently, I have triggered your awakening by accident...or someone's clever design. I regret...however...our time will be brief." Taraz's voice falter slightly at this.

The woman before him once again shields her face and looks at him in horror. "I don't understand! I came here with Gahiji, my brother. We arrived, had dinner, and...and...then I am waking up here! What have you done? Where is Gahiji?" Her voice is filled with fear. Both of the golden serpents turn their heads and hiss angrily in Taraz's direction.

Taraz's heart skips a beat. What? A brother? Arrived...and had dinner? Taraz looks at the replicant intently trying to ascertain her truthfulness. She was emitting the smell of fear. He could hear her breathing speed up, and heart start racing. Her pupils were dilating. She was very much afraid. No play acting was evident at all.

Uncertainty and doubt began to fill him. Is it possible...? Taraz's many conversations with Eichorn von Ryuko filled his mind. It is possible, Taraz, you fool. Von Ryuko would absolutely do exactly what you are thinking might be the case here. All of a sudden Taraz did not know what to do.

Rashida was cowering from him in fear.

The darkness whispered and laughed. It sounded like panicked villagers. It sounded like a werewolf's howl. It sounded like Death.

The darkness began to recede. More and more light filtered through and soon he could see the dream clearly.

Taraz was standing behind Andrezi holding a hypodermic syringe. The noble's eyes had just rolled back into his head as the chemical went to work garbling the man's last few hours of memory. Taraz laid him gently on the floor and looked around at the replicants in their alcoves. This was new. There was no memory of this anywhere. That shouldn't have surprised him of course. They were already beyond the date the last cycle was triggered. This was untouched future, and Taraz had been loving the feel of it...until he had seen that vat. The notes on the workstation had been written in his uncle's handwriting dated recently...that should not have been possible...since he was dead.

Taraz growled. Even as he knew it was impossible, he also knew his family. They had been making the impossible happen for the same damned generation. But the vat...the notes...it implied something the helmetcats would never have allowed...or shouldn't have allowed. His jaw clenched in frustration.

Standing he looks around the laboratory until he spots it. A ventilation grate. As if on cue, a Serv-Bot opens the grate. It holds a cloak turned sack which it has improved by binding it closed with a strong twine from somewhere.

"Perfect. The Gertrahr snake's venom is exactly what I need. The venom disrupts robotic electronic signal almost effectively as an EM pulse," Taraz says to the Serv-Bot absently. The Serv-Bot hops down and runs over to Taraz offering him the cloak. Taking it, Taraz hears the animal hiss. He turns and surveys the figures in the recesses, and his eyes narrow.

"Now. Time to make sure this part of the castle is destroyed. Utterly."

Taraz began assessing the different chemicals on the table. As expected many were very unstable and creating a crude but effective mixture for explosive and incendiary purposes would not be difficult. He separated them from the others and moved them and Andrezi to a safe place. Removing his clothing, Taraz goes to stand in the middle of the room in his small clothes. Then he allowed his mitochondria to awaken.

The Serv-Bot has already hopped back into the vent and moves into the darkness. Behind it are the sounds of its master. Sounds that no one except Serv-Bots have heard in many, many years...

Time slowed as his senses and awareness became precise and perfect. The mitochondria emit strange sounds as they compete to produce the results needed for Taraz's shift to a hyperhuman state. He walked casually to the first alcove. He snaps the twine easily and reaches into the cloak. Removing the Gertrahr snake which seems to be responding to Taraz much too slowly, Taraz grasped its body while it is in mid strike pose and held it up to the inert replica of Andrezi. The fangs take forever to connect to the replicant's flesh but they do eventually. The snake begins to rear back, and Taraz moves to the next alcove. Skipping one, he does this with all the remaining replicants at which point, the snake's venom is quite drained. He casually snaps his hand holding the snake's tail, and it goes limp as its vertebra snap.

Tossing the carcass aside, Taraz begins to destroy the vat. Any organic matter he can find inside is piled with the notes and research records. Messy, disgusting fluid spills on the floor, and pieces of glass and fly everywhere. Taraz checks to make sure Andrezi is tucked in the corner with the unstable chemicals. All is well on that front. Now for the hard part.

Methodically, Taraz uses his enhanced strength to tear the replicants to pieces. He is soon covered in gore. He allows his mind to drift, not wanting to allow the sight of his fellow party-goers dismembered to find a secure place to lodge in his memories. Even so, the task is horrendous. He falters and almost stops when he must twist the head off the replicant of Duchess Kittington. It is then he realizes that tears are streaming down his face and have been for some time. When he is done, he begins to pile the research equipment atop the bloody viscera and metal of the replicants' bodies. But there is still one more alcove...

Taraz finds a laboratory safety shower in the corner. He hoses down, washing the remains and detritus of the terrible deed necessity drove him to accomplish. Once finished, he redresses and smooths down his hair. After a moment he moves to face her. Serene in inaction, beautiful as the basis of her design, the replica of Rashida remains untouched in her alcove. The thought of having to damage her sends waves of pain through the mitos. Despite the knowledge of his brain, the mitos simply sense Rashida, so well has von Ryuko captured her. As Taraz delays, he gazes at her. He can't decide the best way to handle this...necessary thing. However as time stretches, something unusual becomes apparent.

The cabling that was attached to all the replicants had been plugged into nigh imperceptible ports, but had clearly still been attached to the main frames. Taraz could see that the cables here were not attached at all. In fact they were simply tied to her limbs or pinned to her clothing. None seemed to be connected at all. Taraz felt alarm increasing in him. But if she's not connected...! He moved closer to examine the cords and cables.

Once he was no more than a foot away, a loud beep echoed through the room. The light on the panel by the Rashida replicant turned to green, and suddenly there was a noise Taraz had not expected to hear. The replicant took a deep ragged breath. And her eyes opened.

In the dark of the hotel, Taraz lay on the cool sheets of the soft bed. Sleep eluded him as he watched several Serv-Bots doing their nocturnal duties almost soundlessly. So incredibly useful, they were. If they had been actually been made to be the servants they appeared to be, Taraz would have been willing to acknowledge the brilliance of his sister. But he knew for what they had really been designed. How many times did his memories show the Serv-Bots had been invented? 210? 213? Or was it more? Taraz sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose as his mind automatically began to sort the memories by cycle and year. He stopped it and changed his thoughts so the mitochondria would stay passive. His thoughts drifted to the nights he had spent with his personal goddess Rashida Massri, and he smiled. The mitos liked this and began to stir slightly. He whispered, "No." They reluctantly calmed.

Mimi murmured in her sleep. She lay next to him on the bed, one dancer-curved leg sticking out of the sheets like a pale lightning bolt of sex and temptation. It lay atop his own pajama-ed limb as he was outside the sheet which covered her slender frame. One of her hands was draped on his chest. She always seemed to end up this way. Quite the cuddler she was once the Sandman had visited her. Their cover necessitated they only have one bed, and since Mimi always seemed to end up laying pressed up against him regardless of where he chose to sleep, the bed was much more comfortable than the divan or the floor.

He was Taraz Rorenson, and that was cover in and of itself. The gorgeous young "bed" companion was expected and no one even questioned it. At the first town registration office they had come to, Taraz had simply walked in and loudly declared Mimi von Sollier had lost her papers when her handbag fell out of the ornithopter they were flying. When all the Serv-Bots in their office had instantly rushed to his feet, no further verification was done. No confirmation messenger requested. Taraz couldn't be bothered and simply dictated the information. The clerk had been only too happy to comply, and Mimi had left the town of Campanos del Montaña a legitimate citizen of Les Alliance Chaleureux des États Suisse.

Mimi's cute drunken snore interrupted the memory of the office clerks scrambling to get the right seals and inks. Taraz chuckled as he remembered introducing her to the Spanish wine at dinner. Sure, Mimi had Cassie's memories of drinking and dancing, but she herself hadn't actually done them. Once they had arrived at Barcelona, Taraz had taken her out, bought her more clothes, dancing, and a fine restaurant for dinner. She had consumed quite a bit of wine and become very forward. He could tell she would have been surprised if he accepted, but it seemed the "Cassie" in her compelled the action. For the sake of appearances, he had kissed her deeply in the restaurant, and at various stages on the way to the room, so everyone would see what they were expecting. He had no doubt that Rorenson spies, von Ryuko's cronies, and all the other factions' agents were watching him after his sudden reappearance. Better von Ryuko believe Taraz had already forgotten about the young Massri.

Mimi had certainly taken advantage and made sure the kisses were as authentic as she could manage. Arms wrapped around him and hands in his hair, she had definitely given the watchers a show of a woman drunk with wine and lust reeling in her catch. Once in the room, she had proceeded to continue the smooches while easily disrobing herself from the beautiful red cocktail dress Taraz had selected to match her new golden tresses. Clever trick that. Cassie was definitely a nimble girl. Mimi was just as much if not more so with her enhanced replicant musculature. Taraz had planned for this and drank an exorbitant amount, but even so the mitochondria had begun clamoring for a more base approach to Mimi's affectionate embrace. With a willpower born of memories of another woman, Taraz had managed to gently disentangle himself from the striking replicant and catch his breath. Mimi had given him many pouting looks as he held the lingeried woman at arm's length. Then she had smiled mysteriously and given him one last kiss on the tip of his nose.

She hadn't bothered to dress and simply snuggled right up to him once he lied down on the bed. Then she had promptly passed out leaving him with his thoughts. And his memories. So many memories...

Once again sighing, Taraz changed his thoughts. He hadn't chosen Mimi at random for this trip. He had realized that he had to leave the band of desperate nobles for a time in order to get answers he could never get if he visibly associated with them. Ulrikke Rorenson was reclusive enough that she would never deal with Taraz, her own brother, if accompanied by such a wild group. Cassie alone would give her fits. "Cassie" would give her fits. Ulrikke had never approved of Cassie...

Memories, memories. The weight of years finally took their toll and pressed Taraz's eyelids closed. Sleep came with troubled dreams. Disturbing portents that were half memories and half fears of the future. But Taraz did not allow himself to wake. For Rashida was in all of them...

In one such dream, she stood at the prow of The Ament, the sun shining on her golden brown skin...She turned and smiled at him...Hope was there in her smile, hope for their future together...Then the smile turned black, the sun to blood, and a terrible darkness came for him...

Down, down, down...the darkness had been waiting...

You guys aren't describing this steampunk and magitech enough!!!

Lol, anyway I will fix that. And yes, I am "Meanwhile..." :P