Perhaps For Love, Or Maybe Justice (A Tokusatsu/Magical Girl Quest)

Carry the one… shoot, looks like she's going here, he's going there…

Oh! It seems you're back. Hmph. Hit your head on that metal tube you were riding on? You shouldn't be sleeping so much, Rei.

How do I know your name?

…Please don't ask. It's a long story. And as for what I'm doing? Oh, that's convenient. It's related to you. Just a bit of peeking in on your world.

You can watch. Well, actually—can you answer a few more of my questions? We both know you're going to forget the second you go outside, anyways.

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Your Past:
Hey, you've had… a tough time in life, right? What made you the person you are today? I know it must have hurt, but it didn't kill you. Did it make you stronger?

[ ] Former Umbra Soldier
You joined because of the promises of a world where everybody could be free. You left after seeing what had to be left in chains.
[Increase all stats by 10 EXCEPT for Mental. You gain inside knowledge on Umbra, the organization pulling the strings of the world. Umbra gets inside knowledge on you.]

[ ] Ex-Assassin
It's only been about 5 years since you escaped that life your parents sold you into. When you look in the mirror, you're unsure where the time that was supposed to be your childhood went. There was an organization that trapped you during those long years, called the Guild. The International Assassin's Guild. May you never see their faces ever again.
[Increase all stats by 10 EXCEPT for Physical. Gain easy access to (Guns) and start with a silenced pistol, though you'll have to upgrade fast.]
[A certain faction will now also be interested in you.]

[ ] Genetic Experiments
You're a monster. When you look in the mirror, check your mouth, or feel magnets stick to your skin, you can tell. Is a killing machine like you even worthy of being called a "human" anymore?
[Increase all stats by 10 EXCEPT for Social.]
[Makes your Flaw [Those Who Cannot Change] worse.]

[ ] (Write in?)
Must be suitably tragic for a Kamen Rider.

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Origin:
Let's see… I shouldn't look too far into the future, but where will your powers come from? We know Umbra had something to do with them, but Rider powers don't grow on trees. How will you become a Rider?

[ ] Genetically Engineered Solutions (Weapons)
The trinkets of power that you picked up were supposed to be for an Umbran Soldier. Of course, they dropped dead the second they tried to run away from the organization, so now they're yours.

[ ] Cyborg Augments
You should not have taken that offer to participate in "medical trials". But hey, at least you managed to escape the hypnosis stage. Now you're on the run, with a belt in your backpack and a body stronger than anything you could have imagined.

(If Genetic Experiments was chosen, this MUST be picked.)

[ ] Chosen By The Glyphs
Because of Umbra's experiments, certain Glyphs occasionally go out of control and create monsters. You pushed your friend out of the way of one of these Glyph beams, but you managed to resist the power and channel it into yourself. Now, you're a Kamen Rider.

[ ] (Write-in?)
Something else? Subject to QM veto.

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Theme:
And of course, we can't forget what your powers will look like in the future. The Riders of ages past have always had a "theme" that guided the aesthetic of their powers.

Most iconically, insects. A grasshopper, to be exact. No offense, but I wonder what shape your hatred will take?

(Every theme will grant you a free trait, no points needed.)

[ ] Elemental Magic
DRIVER ON.
GLYPH GO.
HEAT, PLEASE AND THANK YOU.

Your powers manifest as Miniature Glyphs, magical discs which you extract from people who were "corrupted by Glyph energy" (read: Umbra/the Void). You can use the four elements, and might get access to more as time goes on.

Gain Trait: [Glyph Absorption]
When you go into areas with Glyphs via [Explore] actions, you can absorb those Glyphs to reduce Umbra and their minions's power there. Also, you may absorb someone's Mana by touching them, which reduces any DCs against them and temporarily increases Magical.

[ ] Emotional Magic
FOUND! Despair.
Dreamer ready. Lock on?

Your powers manifest as Emotion Glyphs, a currently undiscovered type of Glyph. Those Glyphs seem to be contained best when they're grafted onto a lock.

Gain Trait: [Friendship Powered Magic]
Spending time around and fighting with friends will extend Form Change buffs, and increase Martial and Physical. Making spells of your own will also be much easier.

[ ] Steampunk Tech
GEAR SET!
L'aereo del sognatore.
~CLANKCLANKCLANK~

Your powers manifest as Dream Gears, which are gears that contain holographic blueprints for some of humanity's greatest inventions. (Think engines, lights, and boats.)

Gain Trait: [Tech Absorb]
When working against Tech using opponents, you may absorb their tech when close enough, which allows you to temporarily use a new special move and gain a temp Technical bonus. If you gain the special item [Empty Gear], this may even lead to you gaining a new form.

[ ] Android Tech
Humanity Confirmed. DNARise!
Ready? Go!

Your powers manifest as various DNArise Keys, which contain copies of one of 8 blueprints made by a mysterious inventor. The Blueprints each show one of 8 body parts, and how they could be enhanced with cyber implant tech. These Keys, when inlaid into your transformation belt will temporarily transform you into a cyborg and boost a certain part of your body.

Gain Trait: [Android Auguments]
x1.2 EXP gain. (CANCELED OUT BY OTHER PERK) When Form Change ends, you'll still be able to carry some of your stats into your human form for a while.

[ ] Magitech Combination
GEAR, GO!
GLYPH, SET!
TRUE MATCH!

Your powers manifest as a combination of the Miniature Glyphs and Dream Gears mentioned above. You can combine these two powers in order to achieve your forms via your Fusion Driver transformation belt .

Gain Trait: [Magitech Absorb]
If you've purchased or "borrowed" any Magitech from your enemies, you may absorb it to create new weapons mid combat. A Magitech vacuum becomes a tornado, a Magitech lighter becomes a flamethrower, and so on. These weapons have limited durability, but stay around after combat.

-[ ] Duel Manifestation
CARD SET!

Your powers manifest as the actualization of the spirits contained in a certain deck of cards.

Gain Trait: Card Summon
Later on, you may temporarily summon spirits from a certain world as allied Riders/Magical Girls.
Gets better if [Sentient Powers] is taken.

[ ] Write in Theme?
Of course, the five courses of action written up there are just some of the ways you could develop. Realistically, almost anything or anyone can be a Kamen Rider or Kaijin Rider, as long as they adhere to a few certain rules.

A not even remotely comprehensive list includes:

• Space (Voids)
• Mythical Figures (Hercules, Gilgamesh)
• Dinosaurs
• Dragons
• Insects
• Monsters (Medusa, Dracula, etc.)
• Birds
• Alchemy
• Video Games (yes, this has actually happened.)
• …And almost anything else you can think of! Except for Magical Girls. Don't do that.

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You can gain more points to take more Perks (good) by taking Flaws (bad). You may only take three Perks and Flaws each.

Perks:
Every Rider has their strengths. Here, why don't you take a look at yours? I've got some notes. Again, don't ask why I have notes.

[ ] (1) Specialty In… (Social/Physical/Technical/Magical/Mental)
Now, we've already established how smart and strong you are. But ok, you also have even more talents, such as…
(Cannot be combined with the flaw that debuffs the same stat.)
[+10 to chosen stat. More EXP gain when training that stat.]

[ ] (2) Sentient Powers
The gears, the keys, the Glyphs… whatever they are, your transformation trinkets? They're alive, and they want to help you in any way they can.
[Your powers are sentient, and will attempt to give advice at the end of each update on how they see the situation. At higher levels, they may even be able to fight as Kamen Riders of their own…]

[ ] (2) Insider To The Societies
I won't and can't tell you who. But one of your friends, even if you don't know yet, is already a highly respected Kamen Rider and respected by the premier organization of Kamen Riders in Japan. And the second that they realize you're a Rider, they'll offer you an invite of honor.
[Almost instant access to the Rider Secret Society (not the real name) once the prologue arc is over, no questline needed. This comes with a lot of benefits, such as money, and a free assist if any other Rider is in the area.]

[ ] (1) Extraordinary Synchronicity
Magical Girls, Kamen Riders… they're all equal heroes, in your eyes. That's definitely a nice way of thinking, Rei. And you'll get to know somebody that thinks the same.
[Guaranteed (Positive) relationship with your Counterpart. Aside from that, you'll be able to more easily create special Combination Moves with any other Rider or Magical Girl you're fighting with.]
[Special Note: Since you're a Pseudo-Rider, you'll be getting the Combination Move part later.]

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Traits:
Ah! I didn't notice that part of you the last time I saw you. Let me just give you a check up.

(Traits are neither good nor bad, just little extras you can pick up. They cost 0 points, you can only take 1, and they are also optional.)

[ ] Walking Tech Bane
When it comes to your personal gadgets, you've always been fine. But whenever you hold or deal with any other tech, it always seems to break on you.

Becoming a Rider has not helped with this problem.
[Every ally OR enemy that uses tech will have their equipment debuffed. This does not include you.]

[ ] Voidwoman
Apparently, some people just can't channel glyphs. Their presence absorbs mana just by being close to them. You are one of those people.
[Every ally OR enemy that uses magic will have their stats debuffed. This does not include you.]

[ ] Known Reputation
Now, you aren't a Rider just yet. But in your time spent living in Tokyo you met some… interesting… people.

How do you know this many Riders and magical girls?!
[Increased Reputation with and decently easier to get into the Rider Secret Society. Flaw [They're After You] will get worse, and Umbra will already have a decent lock on you.]

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Flaws:
And you've also got… oh, those are some nasty weaknesses. Yikes. Sorry about that. Maybe consider putting those on a to-do list to fix?

[ ] (-1) Deficiency In (Social/Physical/Technical/Magical/Mental)
You like to think you're strong and multi-talented. But, well…
[-15 to chosen stat. Less EXP gain when training that stat.]

[ ] (-1) A Personal Debt
Back when you were just a high school student, you got in some trouble. You managed to get a favor from the Yakuza and some others to get out of jail, but that favor still needs to be repaid.
[Certain criminal factions, that may or may not be connected to Umbra, will be forcing you to do certain… unpleasant things in order to stay alive.]

[ ] (-1) Weak Armor
Whoever made your suit clearly missed a few details. Or maybe the gods themselves are just out to get you.
[Instead of detransforming when hitting 0, reaching 10 Health (Health scales to physical+Magic or Tech/2) will knock you out of your transformed state. This can be fixed, but will take some time.]

[ ] (-1) Phlebotinum Incontinence
The powers that be seem to have made it so that for you, these incredibly strong powers seem to come with a learning curve.
[Increased Crit Failure threshold. Gaining new forms will take longer.]

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Author's Note:
I wrote this entire snippet while blasting all the Heisei Kamen Rider theme songs. I stand by my opinion that Switch On is still a banger theme song.

Getting back to business, this is the second to last part of character creation. Next, you'll see the creation of your Counterpart, a Dark Magical Girl, and Rei's relationship with them. I hope you like Rei, because she'll be around for a while.