[X] Cardinal, reporting in. [X] Kennedy
Sounds like fun, even if it's yet more punishment on a body that's clearly significantly strained. [X] Veronica
Possibly a dynamic that needs the least amount of 'forged in fire' work to actually solidify into something nice for both sides to experience.
What does he mean by calling her a charity case? Work in the Family can hardly be called one.
But yes, this promises a certain dynamic which already shines through with us closing the locker after her because she can't be bothered to... and because we can't leave that be, of course.
What does he mean by calling her a charity case? Work in the Family can hardly be called one.
But yes, this promises a certain dynamic which already shines through with us closing the locker after her because she can't be bothered to... and because we can't leave that be, of course.
If you're going to be a costumed crime-fighter, then working in the Family is a pretty sweet gig. It's prestigious, never lacks for funds, and is subject to minimal red tape. And when you're in, you're in for life. The Family takes care of its own. While it is stressful and high-intensity, even for its line of work, it's also much more hands off. It selects for type-A personalities, self-motivated types, and so the culture is very much one that allows you to set your own schedule.
If was ever a moment where you doubted that this was the life for you, it vanishes as your bike tears through the New York City streets.
The world races by around you, light and steel and concrete all coalescing into a single, continuous line. Your mind clears, conscious thought replaced by sheer instinct, endless hours of practice. He aches and pains slide away – there is only the wind, the roaring engine beneath you, the throttle in your hand.
Traffic is heavy, considering the hour, but you're still able to maintain pace with little difficulty. Augur feeds a live map of the city to your heads up display, allowing you to avoid high-density areas, and your bike does the rest, handling pinpoint turns and rapid shifts in speed without complaint. It's a miracle of modern engineering, but even it wouldn't have been enough if the Family hadn't spent tens of years and millions of dollars revamping the city's public transportation. New York's subway system is more advanced than even Honolulu's, which keeps surface traffic to a bare minimum.
"Augur, I'm coming up on the jail where Dissent is being held," you say, whipping your bike around a sanitation truck and gunning it through a yellow light. "Could really use some context here."
"She was apprehended at 12:15 this morning after foiling a robbery at a jewelry store," Augur says. "The owner accused her of pocketing several of the pieces originally taken by the thieves."
"Is there any truth to that?" You ask. "Never mind, dumb question. Is there any proof?"
"Be kind," Augur reminds you, but the sentiment is somewhat undercut by her next words. "The pieces in question were found on her. She grew agitated and attempted to leave, which is when the officers apprehended her."
"At least she didn't fight any of them," you mutter. "This is what we get for lowering our standards."
"Cardinal. It is absolutely vital that civilian authorities see the Family as a united front."
"You know I know that." You pull up at the NYPD station and hit the brakes hard, tires screeching against the asphalt as you stop. The officer on guard at the door nods respectfully to you, but he's clearly been on the force too long to get particularly excited at just seeing you. He shifts his grip on the heavy assault rifle slung over one shoulder and pushes the door open for you.
"There's a difference between knowing and acting," Augur says as you make your way through the front lobby and into the holding cells. "Dissent knows the rules just as well as you do." The "and look where she is" is only implied, but it's a strong implication.
You'd like to argue the actual extent of Dissent's knowledge of the rules, but decide to save that for later. You have an audience.
Dissent occupies the nearest holding cell, leaning on the door with her arms through the bar. Her costume is torn, and much of it caked with blood, but a quick once-over shows you she's not seriously hurt. She rolls her eyes when she sees you, but she has enough sense not to make a snide remark.
"Cardinal." You're approached by an NYPD sergeant with a gut and graying hair. "Good to see you. We were wondering when somebody would show up."
"Evening officer." Sometimes, despite the costume, you don't really feel like Cardinal until you're interacting with a civilian. It's effortless to slip into the persona – hands folded behind your back, shoulders squared, voice deeper, your tone clipped and businesslike. "I'm sorry for the hassle."
"Well, certainly not something I've ever had to do before," the sergeant says. He throws a questioning look Dissent's way – she merely sneers at him through the bars. "She's really with you? The thieving..."
[] Pull rank
"She's one of us. It's Family business, officer."
Gain the move Symbol of Authority
When you give an NPC an order based on authority they recognize, roll +Superior. On a hit, they choose one: (i) do what you say; (ii) get out of your way; (iii) attack you at a disadvantage; (iv) freeze. On a 10+, you also take +1 forward against them. On a miss, they do as they please and you take -1 forward against them.
[] Lie
"She's no thief, officer, this is all a misunderstanding. Family wanted a chance to analyze the jewelry."
Gain the move Are You Watching Closely?
When you mislead, distract, or trick someone, roll +Superior. On a hit, they are fooled, at least for a moment. On a 10+, choose three. On a 7-9, choose two: (i) you get an opportunity; (ii) you expose a weakness or flaw; (iii) you confuse them for some time; (iv) you avoid further entanglement. On a miss, you're hopelessly embroiled in it and under pressure; mark a condition.
Rolling
Masks uses the PBTA system – it is simple and narrative focused. Contested actions are resolved by rolling 2d6, with bonuses and penalties applied by labels and conditions (below). Total modifiers are capped at +4 and -3 On a 10+, you succeed and get an additional benefit. On a 7-9, you succeed but suffer a cost, and on a 1-6 I get free reign to decide what happens.
Labels
Your labels are your stats, but unlike other systems labels are actually fairly fluid. This is because they represent not an objective evaluation of your skill, but your self perception. Your current labels can be found in your character sheet.
Danger: Seeing yourself as threatening, strong, and risky. Affects direct confrontation.
Savior: Seeing yourself as defending, guarding, and protecting. Affects protecting others.
Superior: Seeing yourself as smart, crafty, and capable. Affects quick thinking.
Mundane: Seeing yourself as normal, human, and empathetic. Affects understanding others.
Freak: Seeing yourself as strange, unusual, and unique. Affects use of "powers" not covered by another label.
Conditions
The 5 Conditions are essentially hitpoints – when you take damage you mark one, and if you need to mark a sixth you are instead removed from the scene. Marked conditions are a guide to your character's emotional state and can be found in your character sheet. When a condition is marked, you take penalties to certain moves. A marked condition can be cleared through specific moves, or through a general type of action that relieves that specific emotional state.
Angry: -2 to Comfort or support or pierce the mask. Clear by hurting someone or breaking something important.
Afraid: -2 to directly engage. Clear by running from something difficult.
Guilty: -2 to provoke someone or assess the situation. Clear by making a sacrifice to absolve your guilt.
Hopeless: -2 to unleash your powers. Clear by flinging yourself into easy release.
Insecure: -2 to defend someone or reject others' Influence. Clear by taking foolhardy action without talking to your team.
Influence
When Wyatt cares what somebody thinks about him, that person is said to have "Influence" over him and vice versa. All adults have Influence by player characters by default. Influence cannot be accumulated (you either have it over someone or you don't) and grants a +1 to all moves towards the person whose influence is held. It can also be spent or lost.
Moves
Contested rolls. Moves are broad groupings of similar actions that determine what is rolled and what the possible outcomes for success/failure are. The names are fairly self explanatory, but I can provide further information when necessary.
Team
When you enter battle against a dangerous foe as a team, add two to the Team pool.
If the leader has Influence over every teammate, add another Team.
If everyone has the same purpose in the fight, add another Team.
If any team member mistrusts the leader or the team, remove a Team.
If your team is ill-prepared or off balance, remove a Team.
The leader of the team can mark a condition to avoid removing a Team from the pool.
Anyone working with the team can spend Team one for one to help a teammate; give them +1 to their roll.
Team members can also spend Team to act selfishly. When you act selfishly, say how your actions ignore or insult your teammates, remove one Team from the pool, and shift one Label up and one Label down, your choice. You can use this option after rolling to alter the Label you're rolling with.
Potential
Whenever you fail a roll, mark Potential. Every 5 Potential is a new level.
Both options aren't ideal, but, in my opinion, the first option fits Wyatt better. Lying may tarnish the reputation more than withholding information. It's Family business — that's all NYPD needs to know.
