A Hive for The Galaxy (Sci-Fi CK2-style Quest)
- Thread starter The Laurent
- Start date
- Original
-
- Tags
- science fiction ck2 quest
Damned awesome stuff. Next turn beeline up a bunch of high difficulty Learning actions while we have the +10.
Also I wonder what kind of form of prehistoric park we can make for our planet...
avatar11792
Et Sic Incipit
- Location
- Planet Earth, North America
That was an awesome series of turns, and I love how it was orchestrated. I've never seen an equivalent set of mini-turns done in a Dynasty-ish quest before.
Also, you brought Jurassic Park into this! *e-hug*
Also, you brought Jurassic Park into this! *e-hug*
- Pronouns
- They/Them
*...does first roll.*
Oh god, oh god. Well...that could have gone better, though I suppose it could have gone worse.
*does the rest of the rolls.*
Your HIGHEST base roll was a 53.
Oh god, oh god. Well...that could have gone better, though I suppose it could have gone worse.
*does the rest of the rolls.*
Your HIGHEST base roll was a 53.
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Turn 2--Casino Royale, Infilitration Turn: Start
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Casino Royale, Part 1
Most missions of this sort failed months before they were started, in Vorzhan's experience. Information left out, defense structures changed, contacts swept up by the police. An operation could be entirely exposed and torn apart in a matter of minutes if something went wrong, and then cleverly glued back together just enough that the operatives are sent expecting an easy job. And then they wind up arrested, or worse.
Vorzhan thought the plan was better crafted than that, but it was a calculated risk. However, after all of the years they'd acted, all of the impossible situations they'd gotten involved in, they knew how to crunch the numbers. Knew what was a sure thing and what was going to blow up, and on a passenger ship they stowed away. Yizitari emerged, their wings held in, their clothing carefully selected, talking in a lower, more 'feminine' register, with none of the high whistling quality that those that identified as 'male' affected, a thousand little subtle things that combined to create an identity, a personhood. Taking on another face, another role, it was all a subtle deception, though DNA tests beyond the obvious- for the DNA profile that Yizitari had been given was remarkably similar to Vorzhan's. All that was left was to see if everything went according to plan…
*****
Infiltration roll: 1d100+31 (Intrigue)+5 (Prepared disguise)+20 (Crit-success on prep work)+5 (Strong identity established)-10 (Security)-5 (I'm waiting for you…)=1d100+46=61. Oh, well.
On the one hand, Vorzhan decided after the second hour of interrogation, they didn't suspect her of being a spy, but they suspected her of smuggling banned materials in, pro-democracy data-sheets and the like. They stabbed her repeatedly, yelling and hitting, screaming, and she cowered. Of course she did. Vorzhan might have insulted their amateurish means of interrogation, since torture only worked if- as Zaeswin used it- you wished merely to enjoy yourself. It was horrible for information, everyone knew it. Perhaps they did too. It was a little boring, seeing them attempt to shock them, to lock them in a dark room and play strange noises, and a dozen other methods of torture.
It hurt, of course, and they played the scared roll well, but inside they were annoyed at the incompetence and just waiting, as patiently as they could, to see what happened. They could die here, to a bunch of nobodies, though at least in theory this would be a major diplomatic incident with 'her' 'hive.' It was a thin reed, or at least it could be, though the background had been carefully chosen to have the highest chance possible for survival if caught but treated as part of 'her' identity. Deportation at worst.
The Iashec in front of Vorzhan when they finally got the news from the scans of their luggage was pretty handsome by the species' standards. Tall, with mottled green and grey scales, they had six long fingers, double-jointed, and a long, snout-like nose, and lidless, bright green eyes. Their teeth were carefully filed down to points which were, Vorzhan remembered from a data-file long ago, a new trend that was regarded as particularly disgusting and radical by older Iashec. They had powerful muscles, and moved around with bare feet, ending in wicked pointed nails. Now they paced around, looking at a data-sheet, the room strange, a little too angular, a bit too odd. One would think that they'd have more curves, reminiscent of their eggs, one thing they shared- sort of- with the Xvorzit, but no.
"Well, bug, it looks like the results are in from your luggage. It's been taken apart and we've found much…"
[What did they find? 1d100+31 (Intrigue) +15 (Prep work) +20 (Crit) -30 (Suspicion raised)=1d100+36=86]
Vorzhan allows themselves to look somewhere between nervous and sure of innocence, and he laughs, easing up slightly.
"Buzz, buzz. You strange little monsters." He spat on the ground, "So nervous and fidgety. Bah. Other than some interesting porn- dear seven principles, you people are creepy- we've found nothing wrong Yee-zahr-turri. Thus you are free to go. Enjoy your stay here," he said, his tone high and faux chivalrous, "But we will be watching you."
What remained was to collect their stuff. Which had been carefully concealed. Parts that could be made into weapons, but to the point where anything at all could. Except with some different circuits, a thousand small things that meant making weapons out of them would be possible when it came time. And so, hours and horus later, they'd emerge into a dark world, the streets red and gleaming, the lights adjusted for Iashec eyes, but plenty of non-Iashec were out. Tourists, tourists everywhere, and pleasure-seekers, and those who- despite the greater restrictions on non-Iashec- lived on this planet, and Yizitari moves through it, around the people, around the Barsa, around and through it all, shaking a little, limbs aching.
The body cannot be denied. This is not a place to do it, and all of their mental strength doesn't matter against the fact that their insides hurt. Burn, in fact from chemicals. Their limb has been broken twice over, though not as badly as when Zaeswin got hold of them. They walk on it, tearing it further, but they can't let it show. Eyes scan the world, the dark angularity and the flashes of color. Iashec like bright colors, another thing they'd learned. It hurt their eyes, even if they couldn't see the full spectrum that those reptillian people could.
Their own house was a modest slice of a large building, in the style that was a peculiar blend of Iashec and Xvorzit. Large hab-blocks, ala Xvorzit, but angular and with fewer entrances. They slipped through the door, checking to see if they were followed.
[Make it to home-base: 1d100+31+25 (Good prep and Crit)-10 (Some suspicion remains)=1d100+56=92, pretty good.]
They flipped on the light, crawling over to the huge rest-mat and collapsing on it, twitching feebly. They blink in and out of sleep for a moment, looking around at the lavishness of the place. It's nice, really nice, even if they're used to better. The last three-quarters of the year has changed their standards a little, but the grub-pit- a human would call it a meat-locker, and indeed there were more than bugs there, but such is language- was top-notch, and the art on the walls, the scents and pheromones carefully placed, in every way this was a proper dwelling for a well-off merchant.
It had to be bugged, even with the careful steps Vorzhan's agents had gone through to get it ready.
Bugs? 1d100+31=41, none that you can tell, but your high Intrigue means…
They searched for two hours and found nothing. If they'd found a few, Vorzhan admitted to themselves, they might have given up and gone to sleep. She was sure that when she woke up it'd be better. Well, except for the chemicals, which would need to be washed out. It was a disgusting feeling, hopeless and helpless and miserable, but not finding anything only made them determined to spite their watchers.
Bugs?!: 1d100+31+15 (It's not Paranoid if you're a Master spy…)+5 (Uncertain suspicion)=104. Barely a total success.
And so they did. Within the next hour, before they collapsed in the bath-pool to clean themselves thoroughly and then began to tend to their wounds, calling on the official services to treat them for it tomorrow. It was what was expected, that the merchant would get herself fixed up the official way, with an official paper trail. And now all of the bugs would show what they wanted them to show.
After a long nap they woke, drowsy, body aching, and ready to begin work. Move past the pain, become the pain, let the pain sing through you, the hate and humiliation, and be grounded by it. Not a hollow chitin-whistle, not the canyons through which the wind sings, but the rock that stops it.
They had a war criminal to kill, after all.
What does Vorzhan do?
[] Focus on maintaining and setting up their relationship and identity, make sure that they aren't as tracked. Or at least wait for the focus to decrease. But it means that more time will pass, and there's at least some chance that they might be discovered. Quick in and out might be convenient...but it was complicated by the problems they'd run into. Still, it might very well push the mission over the predicted time-limit. Or it might not.
[] Send out cybernetic spy agents, hack into computers, and try to learn more about Zaeswin from a distance, preparing for a more targeted move into the casino when it's ready. But if you're spotted doing this, it will be impossible to explain as anything but spying, and that would end poorly. But it's the quickest way to get ready.
[] Go yourself, posing as someone trying to relax from their 'interrogation' with some gambling. Win some, lose some, making sure to go to a bunch of different casinos and other places of pleasure and leisure. Less chance of finding vital information, and it will take up some time, but might pay off.
A/N: Well, that was unexpected. The first option wouldn't have been available if you'd rolled better, but you did badly enough, through no fault of your own, that Vorzhan would at least be considering the cautious route at this time. But yeah, the dice decide to fuck you over, and I get to (not) describe horrific torture including some that is distinctly...rapey? Horrific? And yet, I'll note, only a fraction of what Zaeswin inflicted on Vorzhan before they were stopped from turning it into…let us say that Zaeswin is a monster and that Vorzhan's probably too well trained at repression.
Apologies for going dark on this, and for taking so long to post. It's also short, but it's what came together. I wanted to give more details on the city and the planet, but it didn't feel right when Vorzhan was so...well, out of it.
Most missions of this sort failed months before they were started, in Vorzhan's experience. Information left out, defense structures changed, contacts swept up by the police. An operation could be entirely exposed and torn apart in a matter of minutes if something went wrong, and then cleverly glued back together just enough that the operatives are sent expecting an easy job. And then they wind up arrested, or worse.
Vorzhan thought the plan was better crafted than that, but it was a calculated risk. However, after all of the years they'd acted, all of the impossible situations they'd gotten involved in, they knew how to crunch the numbers. Knew what was a sure thing and what was going to blow up, and on a passenger ship they stowed away. Yizitari emerged, their wings held in, their clothing carefully selected, talking in a lower, more 'feminine' register, with none of the high whistling quality that those that identified as 'male' affected, a thousand little subtle things that combined to create an identity, a personhood. Taking on another face, another role, it was all a subtle deception, though DNA tests beyond the obvious- for the DNA profile that Yizitari had been given was remarkably similar to Vorzhan's. All that was left was to see if everything went according to plan…
*****
Infiltration roll: 1d100+31 (Intrigue)+5 (Prepared disguise)+20 (Crit-success on prep work)+5 (Strong identity established)-10 (Security)-5 (I'm waiting for you…)=1d100+46=61. Oh, well.
On the one hand, Vorzhan decided after the second hour of interrogation, they didn't suspect her of being a spy, but they suspected her of smuggling banned materials in, pro-democracy data-sheets and the like. They stabbed her repeatedly, yelling and hitting, screaming, and she cowered. Of course she did. Vorzhan might have insulted their amateurish means of interrogation, since torture only worked if- as Zaeswin used it- you wished merely to enjoy yourself. It was horrible for information, everyone knew it. Perhaps they did too. It was a little boring, seeing them attempt to shock them, to lock them in a dark room and play strange noises, and a dozen other methods of torture.
It hurt, of course, and they played the scared roll well, but inside they were annoyed at the incompetence and just waiting, as patiently as they could, to see what happened. They could die here, to a bunch of nobodies, though at least in theory this would be a major diplomatic incident with 'her' 'hive.' It was a thin reed, or at least it could be, though the background had been carefully chosen to have the highest chance possible for survival if caught but treated as part of 'her' identity. Deportation at worst.
The Iashec in front of Vorzhan when they finally got the news from the scans of their luggage was pretty handsome by the species' standards. Tall, with mottled green and grey scales, they had six long fingers, double-jointed, and a long, snout-like nose, and lidless, bright green eyes. Their teeth were carefully filed down to points which were, Vorzhan remembered from a data-file long ago, a new trend that was regarded as particularly disgusting and radical by older Iashec. They had powerful muscles, and moved around with bare feet, ending in wicked pointed nails. Now they paced around, looking at a data-sheet, the room strange, a little too angular, a bit too odd. One would think that they'd have more curves, reminiscent of their eggs, one thing they shared- sort of- with the Xvorzit, but no.
"Well, bug, it looks like the results are in from your luggage. It's been taken apart and we've found much…"
[What did they find? 1d100+31 (Intrigue) +15 (Prep work) +20 (Crit) -30 (Suspicion raised)=1d100+36=86]
Vorzhan allows themselves to look somewhere between nervous and sure of innocence, and he laughs, easing up slightly.
"Buzz, buzz. You strange little monsters." He spat on the ground, "So nervous and fidgety. Bah. Other than some interesting porn- dear seven principles, you people are creepy- we've found nothing wrong Yee-zahr-turri. Thus you are free to go. Enjoy your stay here," he said, his tone high and faux chivalrous, "But we will be watching you."
What remained was to collect their stuff. Which had been carefully concealed. Parts that could be made into weapons, but to the point where anything at all could. Except with some different circuits, a thousand small things that meant making weapons out of them would be possible when it came time. And so, hours and horus later, they'd emerge into a dark world, the streets red and gleaming, the lights adjusted for Iashec eyes, but plenty of non-Iashec were out. Tourists, tourists everywhere, and pleasure-seekers, and those who- despite the greater restrictions on non-Iashec- lived on this planet, and Yizitari moves through it, around the people, around the Barsa, around and through it all, shaking a little, limbs aching.
The body cannot be denied. This is not a place to do it, and all of their mental strength doesn't matter against the fact that their insides hurt. Burn, in fact from chemicals. Their limb has been broken twice over, though not as badly as when Zaeswin got hold of them. They walk on it, tearing it further, but they can't let it show. Eyes scan the world, the dark angularity and the flashes of color. Iashec like bright colors, another thing they'd learned. It hurt their eyes, even if they couldn't see the full spectrum that those reptillian people could.
Their own house was a modest slice of a large building, in the style that was a peculiar blend of Iashec and Xvorzit. Large hab-blocks, ala Xvorzit, but angular and with fewer entrances. They slipped through the door, checking to see if they were followed.
[Make it to home-base: 1d100+31+25 (Good prep and Crit)-10 (Some suspicion remains)=1d100+56=92, pretty good.]
They flipped on the light, crawling over to the huge rest-mat and collapsing on it, twitching feebly. They blink in and out of sleep for a moment, looking around at the lavishness of the place. It's nice, really nice, even if they're used to better. The last three-quarters of the year has changed their standards a little, but the grub-pit- a human would call it a meat-locker, and indeed there were more than bugs there, but such is language- was top-notch, and the art on the walls, the scents and pheromones carefully placed, in every way this was a proper dwelling for a well-off merchant.
It had to be bugged, even with the careful steps Vorzhan's agents had gone through to get it ready.
Bugs? 1d100+31=41, none that you can tell, but your high Intrigue means…
They searched for two hours and found nothing. If they'd found a few, Vorzhan admitted to themselves, they might have given up and gone to sleep. She was sure that when she woke up it'd be better. Well, except for the chemicals, which would need to be washed out. It was a disgusting feeling, hopeless and helpless and miserable, but not finding anything only made them determined to spite their watchers.
Bugs?!: 1d100+31+15 (It's not Paranoid if you're a Master spy…)+5 (Uncertain suspicion)=104. Barely a total success.
And so they did. Within the next hour, before they collapsed in the bath-pool to clean themselves thoroughly and then began to tend to their wounds, calling on the official services to treat them for it tomorrow. It was what was expected, that the merchant would get herself fixed up the official way, with an official paper trail. And now all of the bugs would show what they wanted them to show.
After a long nap they woke, drowsy, body aching, and ready to begin work. Move past the pain, become the pain, let the pain sing through you, the hate and humiliation, and be grounded by it. Not a hollow chitin-whistle, not the canyons through which the wind sings, but the rock that stops it.
They had a war criminal to kill, after all.
What does Vorzhan do?
[] Focus on maintaining and setting up their relationship and identity, make sure that they aren't as tracked. Or at least wait for the focus to decrease. But it means that more time will pass, and there's at least some chance that they might be discovered. Quick in and out might be convenient...but it was complicated by the problems they'd run into. Still, it might very well push the mission over the predicted time-limit. Or it might not.
[] Send out cybernetic spy agents, hack into computers, and try to learn more about Zaeswin from a distance, preparing for a more targeted move into the casino when it's ready. But if you're spotted doing this, it will be impossible to explain as anything but spying, and that would end poorly. But it's the quickest way to get ready.
[] Go yourself, posing as someone trying to relax from their 'interrogation' with some gambling. Win some, lose some, making sure to go to a bunch of different casinos and other places of pleasure and leisure. Less chance of finding vital information, and it will take up some time, but might pay off.
A/N: Well, that was unexpected. The first option wouldn't have been available if you'd rolled better, but you did badly enough, through no fault of your own, that Vorzhan would at least be considering the cautious route at this time. But yeah, the dice decide to fuck you over, and I get to (not) describe horrific torture including some that is distinctly...rapey? Horrific? And yet, I'll note, only a fraction of what Zaeswin inflicted on Vorzhan before they were stopped from turning it into…let us say that Zaeswin is a monster and that Vorzhan's probably too well trained at repression.
Apologies for going dark on this, and for taking so long to post. It's also short, but it's what came together. I wanted to give more details on the city and the planet, but it didn't feel right when Vorzhan was so...well, out of it.
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[X] Send out cybernetic spy agents, hack into computers, and try to learn more about Zaeswin from a distance, preparing for a more targeted move into the casino when it's ready. But if you're spotted doing this, it will be impossible to explain as anything but spying, and that would end poorly. But it's the quickest way to get ready.
We came with the cybergear. Let's use it.
We came with the cybergear. Let's use it.
Night_stalker
Slava Ukraini!
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Send out cybernetic spy agents, hack into computers, and try to learn more about Zaeswin from a distance, preparing for a more targeted move into the casino when it's ready. But if you're spotted doing this, it will be impossible to explain as anything but spying, and that would end poorly. But it's the quickest way to get ready.
Arkatekt
Harbinger of Shitluck
[X] Focus on maintaining and setting up their relationship and identity, make sure that they aren't as tracked. Or at least wait for the focus to decrease. But it means that more time will pass, and there's at least some chance that they might be discovered. Quick in and out might be convenient...but it was complicated by the problems they'd run into. Still, it might very well push the mission over the predicted time-limit. Or it might not.
[X] Go yourself, posing as someone trying to relax from their 'interrogation' with some gambling. Win some, lose some, making sure to go to a bunch of different casinos and other places of pleasure and leisure. Less chance of finding vital information, and it will take up some time, but might pay off.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Alright, um, votes?
Dark Ness
Rises Where Silence Dies
- Location
- The Primordial Soup
[X] Go yourself, posing as someone trying to relax from their 'interrogation' with some gambling. Win some, lose some, making sure to go to a bunch of different casinos and other places of pleasure and leisure. Less chance of finding vital information, and it will take up some time, but might pay off.
- Pronouns
- They/He
[X] Go yourself, posing as someone trying to relax from their 'interrogation' with some gambling. Win some, lose some, making sure to go to a bunch of different casinos and other places of pleasure and leisure. Less chance of finding vital information, and it will take up some time, but might pay off.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Alright, uhm, vote closing in an hour or two! Tallies/last-votes welcome! Though the result is pretty clear, if close.
Arkatekt
Harbinger of Shitluck
Vote tally:
##### 3.21
[X] Send out cybernetic spy agents, hack into computers, and try to learn more about Zaeswin from a distance, preparing for a more targeted move into the casino when it's ready. But if you're spotted doing this, it will be impossible to explain as anything but spying, and that would end poorly. But it's the quickest way to get ready.
No. of votes: 2
veekie, Night_stalker
[X] Focus on maintaining and setting up their relationship and identity, make sure that they aren't as tracked. Or at least wait for the focus to decrease. But it means that more time will pass, and there's at least some chance that they might be discovered. Quick in and out might be convenient...but it was complicated by the problems they'd run into. Still, it might very well push the mission over the predicted time-limit. Or it might not.
No. of votes: 1
Arkatekt
[X] Go yourself, posing as someone trying to relax from their 'interrogation' with some gambling. Win some, lose some, making sure to go to a bunch of different casinos and other places of pleasure and leisure. Less chance of finding vital information, and it will take up some time, but might pay off.
No. of votes: 3
wingstrike96, Dark Ness, Deathstorm50
##### 3.21
[X] Send out cybernetic spy agents, hack into computers, and try to learn more about Zaeswin from a distance, preparing for a more targeted move into the casino when it's ready. But if you're spotted doing this, it will be impossible to explain as anything but spying, and that would end poorly. But it's the quickest way to get ready.
No. of votes: 2
veekie, Night_stalker
[X] Focus on maintaining and setting up their relationship and identity, make sure that they aren't as tracked. Or at least wait for the focus to decrease. But it means that more time will pass, and there's at least some chance that they might be discovered. Quick in and out might be convenient...but it was complicated by the problems they'd run into. Still, it might very well push the mission over the predicted time-limit. Or it might not.
No. of votes: 1
Arkatekt
[X] Go yourself, posing as someone trying to relax from their 'interrogation' with some gambling. Win some, lose some, making sure to go to a bunch of different casinos and other places of pleasure and leisure. Less chance of finding vital information, and it will take up some time, but might pay off.
No. of votes: 3
wingstrike96, Dark Ness, Deathstorm50
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Interesting rolls, ultimately I think I should have it done tonight or tomorrow morning.
Casino Royale, Part II
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Casino Royale, Part II
[X] Go yourself, posing as someone trying to relax from their 'interrogation' with some gambling. Win some, lose some, making sure to go to a bunch of different casinos and other places of pleasure and leisure. Less chance of finding vital information, and it will take up some time, but might pay off.
[ Night Life--1d100+19=22, not much seen, and you are followed for a time.]
The Iashec had lived their first primitive days at night, in the darkness. For when the sun's heat was as intense and lethal as it was on their homeworld, it was the night that mattered. Even now, Iashec kept strange hours, some living by the sun and some by the moon, and so at all hours sentients, muddled and following whatever everyone else around them was doing, would be going out. At the casinos, run down and new, with lavish gene-engineered sex slaves on call, with vast animals that performed strange tricks, Vorzhan moved, moved in an identity not their own. Perfectly, but people shied away. Could see what everyone could see: that she was being followed, being tracked by agents of the authority on Asurin.
They couldn't quite shake them off, so they ignored the giant monsters, including the knock-offs of this one park that was supposed to be popular in Sol, and focused on allaying suspicion from their tails. They skittered this way and that, and gambled as much as was reasonable while always being on the lookout for traps, for being taken away again. It would be an inconvenience.
[Always Bet On Bug--1d100=98]
Their patience paid off as they won again, and again, and then lost in long, reasonable streaks. It was easy to choose how to win and lose when you mixed up games of luck and games of skill. Yizitari was skilled in all forms of card-games and strategy-luck games, and 3-D gambling competition royales. But they made sure not to win so much that they'd wind up face down, groaning, in the cold, bright street of the night. They drank a lot they shouldn't have, they said a lot that--had they been Yizitari--they might have regretted were they who they said they were.
And they allowed themselves to be seduced by a dark-eyed, blue-green chitin'd Xvorzit, whose wings were a lovely red-black. She spoke too fast by Xvorzit standards, which was already considered insane babbling that had to be slowed down in the translators, and she was not particularly a great lover. It was truly disappointing, but Vorzhan thought that I'isanai, as the woman was called, was a good person. And when they met next in public, they said something important.
"Oh, hey Yizitari!" she chittered, "You going to play another round of Null-3? You should do it over at the Royal Casino, they have a new deck, you know? And I could give you a recommendation for it."
"I suppose?" Vorzhan said, "You sure the place is any good? Really, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to check it out."
"Yeah, you can go with me, I'll show you around the place. It's my skittering-ground, half the time," I'isanai said, "And I'm only on planet for another few weeks, so might as well make the most of it! You were lovely last night, the thing you did with your hand was amazing, I want you to--"
And thus they began talking. It got quite explicit, but then again, why wouldn't it? What was odd was how the humans nearby reacted until they turned the translators off. Vorzhan supposed it had something to do with biology? For the Xvorzit pleasure-seeking and biological child-making duties were entirely separate, so why surround it in mystique, and they did learn that it wasn't so much that I'isanai was a horrible lover as she was given to overthinking things. It was a fixable problem, and so they talked through it.
*****
The Royal Casino was a huge monstrosity. Most buildings were plain, the inside lavish, the outside functional, but this literally looked like a palace. It had a huge gate, and hundreds of statues in a garden outside of it, a roller-coaster winding around the idea, and the sheer size seemed to dwarf everything seen before. Here was a building that broke all of the rules on the books for 'ostentation' since in theory buildings had codes they had to follow. Like a Gazinith monarch, they ignored all of the rules and did what they wanted, and the splendor here was greater than anything Vorzhan had ever seen.
It was amazing. It was disgusting, and they walked among the excess, men and women chained to the walls to dance for the amusement of the patrons, their brains made so that, when they were cloned, they would be unlikely to consider rebellion or escape. Mostly humans, identical humans. And there were lines for the swimming pool and anti-grav court, where slaves handed out towels and equipment personally. Excess in wastefulness, when a robotic system could easily do all of that and more.
[Casino Royale 1: 1d100+31+5 (Always Bet)=64, minor success.]
Being with I'isanai made it harder, and they were starting to wonder about her. If she tolerated all of this, even if she wasn't partaking? Well, they explored the grounds, and noticed something odd. It was a huge area, but it looked like less than half of the space was open to the public. Way less than half. And so the next day, they determined to go back, this time with hacking equipment carefully assembled, try to talk to some of the servants, learn more about this mysterious and dangerous casino.
[Casino Royale 2: 1d100+31+5=90, large success]
And this time they managed to place a very few bugs. One on the side of a garbage device, one on them to record the talk, and they hacked into the system. Well, they hacked into the first layer, the public layer, of the system while nobody was looking, but they left themselves a way in, and then waited. The next day they didn't go, instead staying home and watching holo-vids and listening to music. Apparently it was in the news now, that Professor Kikkizit had been spotted on Sol, and there were dark mutterings that he perhaps had something big planned.
Well, damn right he did. And Vorzhan had things planned as well. They'd talked to the staff, and apparently this place also had apartments for a number of high-ranking governmental members and the like, and so the back was a secure compound with great access to all of the decadence a Ruler could want. They had allies, they had contacts, and they were creating a cover story. Supplies. They could slip some under-the-table Xvorzit drugs that were in very short supply now that Gazinitah was no longer a supplier. It was a disgusting business, but drugs were needed, and Vorzhan had made sure that Yizitari had a reputation as being morally...flexible for just such an occasion.
And then...tomorrow had come. Tomorrow, that day that never dies. Tomorrow that changed everything in a single stroke.
*****
[Casino Royale 3: 1d100+31+5+10 (Casino Royale 2)=130, Massive success.]
"Comp?" Vorzhan asked.
"Yes ma'am," the figure said. He was tall and muscled, in armor and a style of dress that definitely--based on what the other employees had said--meant that he was a mid-level guard, the sort of person in-between the elites that each of the great and not-so-good had and the common guards that threw out drunks. And he'd just come from the bathroom, his pants slightly loose, a bit of water still on his hands, dripping from his claws...and according to their hacking program, which was currently working, they had not secured their password and information on the comptool hanging on their belt from when they'd switched it into leisure mode, perhaps for something to do while, well, waiting. And so the entire center of their defenses was being singlehandedly undermined because the same comptool was now interfacing with the overall system, which is how they'd gotten the order to offer it to this new Xvorzith who seemed to be a good game-player, and who might make a decent second for a hand of Matith Prime, or perhaps one of the human games that sometimes spread this far.
"It's only temporary, maybe a week of it, but it's really quite nice, I'm sure you'd fit right in. There are plenty of Xvorzith there, if that's what you're worried about," they growled, the translator correctly guessing that it was in fact a very friendly, familiar tone, "I know that Xvorzith sometimes have problems when others of their kind aren't around."
"Well, thank you," Vorzhan says, "I'll follow you there if you wish?"
"Oh, well, sure, we can go across the sky-bridge into the middle-section," he said, casually, gesturing to a far wall, an elevator there, ready to hover upwards to a set of gold-colored stairs that led to a pair of double-doors. Pure frippery, and space-inefficient, but they'd head in that direction as they began to capitalize on their success.
[Capitalize/Overrun success: 1d100+31+5+10+15=1d100+61=95]
Could they have found more? Perhaps, but it was an amazing bounty, enough that Vorzhan quickly found a reason to excuse themselves, after playing a few rounds of a few minor games, because what they had found, it was big, very big.
As recently as last week, a 'Zaeswin' was in Room 301, one of the most secure that was there, surrounded by unknown defenses. Right there, waiting, surrounded by security. Well protected...or so the war criminal would have thought.
Vorzhan meant to prove him wrong, and she began to plan for just that as soon as they got home, letting out a breath and checking for more bugs. Was this a trap? No...at least, there were no new bugs, and they knew the procedures, knew where they would be if there were ones. So, how to proceed?
Options? You may also vote to do multiple in an order, or wait until you get results on one and then vote for the other.
[] Just a Spin of the Wheel...: Vorzhan is Comp'd, and so they could go and play a few rounds, see how they do dressing up in costumes and playing strange holo-card games and other such things, getting closer and looking for opportunities to figure out the defenses and undermine the right people to get even farther in, though it will take some time, and there is danger there, of course, and risk of them getting away.
[] What about the money, patron? Launder it: Yizitari could begin offering drugs to them, moving into their good books over a few weeks. They have sources, and if it's dirty business, it's necessary to get at the target. It'd put them in more danger and it'd take time, but the rewards could be great.
[] They say that Xvorzith are subtle and quick to anger, or was that wizards? Either way, fuck subtlety: Go for an assault. Vorzhan has the weapons, they know at least some of the defenses, they won't be entirely unsubtle, but they'll slip in through the cracks in the defense, get close, and then open up. They'll have a getaway planned as fast as possible, but it'll be hot, and they won't have as much time to hack things and take stuff, but every minute, every minute means that they might GET AWAY. As patient as Vorzhan is, the idea of ending this tomorrow is...tempting.
*****
[??? 1d100=21??]
Somewhere else, a computer clicked on and words filled a page. Numbers, code. Until the program closed, one-hundred minutes, thirty-seven-point-five-two seconds later.
*****
A/N: And thus the plot thickens! Enjoy! Also, it took time to find the right Bond references. It was annoying! Couldn't think of one for the last option, feel free to suggest one.
[X] Go yourself, posing as someone trying to relax from their 'interrogation' with some gambling. Win some, lose some, making sure to go to a bunch of different casinos and other places of pleasure and leisure. Less chance of finding vital information, and it will take up some time, but might pay off.
[ Night Life--1d100+19=22, not much seen, and you are followed for a time.]
The Iashec had lived their first primitive days at night, in the darkness. For when the sun's heat was as intense and lethal as it was on their homeworld, it was the night that mattered. Even now, Iashec kept strange hours, some living by the sun and some by the moon, and so at all hours sentients, muddled and following whatever everyone else around them was doing, would be going out. At the casinos, run down and new, with lavish gene-engineered sex slaves on call, with vast animals that performed strange tricks, Vorzhan moved, moved in an identity not their own. Perfectly, but people shied away. Could see what everyone could see: that she was being followed, being tracked by agents of the authority on Asurin.
They couldn't quite shake them off, so they ignored the giant monsters, including the knock-offs of this one park that was supposed to be popular in Sol, and focused on allaying suspicion from their tails. They skittered this way and that, and gambled as much as was reasonable while always being on the lookout for traps, for being taken away again. It would be an inconvenience.
[Always Bet On Bug--1d100=98]
Their patience paid off as they won again, and again, and then lost in long, reasonable streaks. It was easy to choose how to win and lose when you mixed up games of luck and games of skill. Yizitari was skilled in all forms of card-games and strategy-luck games, and 3-D gambling competition royales. But they made sure not to win so much that they'd wind up face down, groaning, in the cold, bright street of the night. They drank a lot they shouldn't have, they said a lot that--had they been Yizitari--they might have regretted were they who they said they were.
And they allowed themselves to be seduced by a dark-eyed, blue-green chitin'd Xvorzit, whose wings were a lovely red-black. She spoke too fast by Xvorzit standards, which was already considered insane babbling that had to be slowed down in the translators, and she was not particularly a great lover. It was truly disappointing, but Vorzhan thought that I'isanai, as the woman was called, was a good person. And when they met next in public, they said something important.
"Oh, hey Yizitari!" she chittered, "You going to play another round of Null-3? You should do it over at the Royal Casino, they have a new deck, you know? And I could give you a recommendation for it."
"I suppose?" Vorzhan said, "You sure the place is any good? Really, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to check it out."
"Yeah, you can go with me, I'll show you around the place. It's my skittering-ground, half the time," I'isanai said, "And I'm only on planet for another few weeks, so might as well make the most of it! You were lovely last night, the thing you did with your hand was amazing, I want you to--"
And thus they began talking. It got quite explicit, but then again, why wouldn't it? What was odd was how the humans nearby reacted until they turned the translators off. Vorzhan supposed it had something to do with biology? For the Xvorzit pleasure-seeking and biological child-making duties were entirely separate, so why surround it in mystique, and they did learn that it wasn't so much that I'isanai was a horrible lover as she was given to overthinking things. It was a fixable problem, and so they talked through it.
*****
The Royal Casino was a huge monstrosity. Most buildings were plain, the inside lavish, the outside functional, but this literally looked like a palace. It had a huge gate, and hundreds of statues in a garden outside of it, a roller-coaster winding around the idea, and the sheer size seemed to dwarf everything seen before. Here was a building that broke all of the rules on the books for 'ostentation' since in theory buildings had codes they had to follow. Like a Gazinith monarch, they ignored all of the rules and did what they wanted, and the splendor here was greater than anything Vorzhan had ever seen.
It was amazing. It was disgusting, and they walked among the excess, men and women chained to the walls to dance for the amusement of the patrons, their brains made so that, when they were cloned, they would be unlikely to consider rebellion or escape. Mostly humans, identical humans. And there were lines for the swimming pool and anti-grav court, where slaves handed out towels and equipment personally. Excess in wastefulness, when a robotic system could easily do all of that and more.
[Casino Royale 1: 1d100+31+5 (Always Bet)=64, minor success.]
Being with I'isanai made it harder, and they were starting to wonder about her. If she tolerated all of this, even if she wasn't partaking? Well, they explored the grounds, and noticed something odd. It was a huge area, but it looked like less than half of the space was open to the public. Way less than half. And so the next day, they determined to go back, this time with hacking equipment carefully assembled, try to talk to some of the servants, learn more about this mysterious and dangerous casino.
[Casino Royale 2: 1d100+31+5=90, large success]
And this time they managed to place a very few bugs. One on the side of a garbage device, one on them to record the talk, and they hacked into the system. Well, they hacked into the first layer, the public layer, of the system while nobody was looking, but they left themselves a way in, and then waited. The next day they didn't go, instead staying home and watching holo-vids and listening to music. Apparently it was in the news now, that Professor Kikkizit had been spotted on Sol, and there were dark mutterings that he perhaps had something big planned.
Well, damn right he did. And Vorzhan had things planned as well. They'd talked to the staff, and apparently this place also had apartments for a number of high-ranking governmental members and the like, and so the back was a secure compound with great access to all of the decadence a Ruler could want. They had allies, they had contacts, and they were creating a cover story. Supplies. They could slip some under-the-table Xvorzit drugs that were in very short supply now that Gazinitah was no longer a supplier. It was a disgusting business, but drugs were needed, and Vorzhan had made sure that Yizitari had a reputation as being morally...flexible for just such an occasion.
And then...tomorrow had come. Tomorrow, that day that never dies. Tomorrow that changed everything in a single stroke.
*****
[Casino Royale 3: 1d100+31+5+10 (Casino Royale 2)=130, Massive success.]
"Comp?" Vorzhan asked.
"Yes ma'am," the figure said. He was tall and muscled, in armor and a style of dress that definitely--based on what the other employees had said--meant that he was a mid-level guard, the sort of person in-between the elites that each of the great and not-so-good had and the common guards that threw out drunks. And he'd just come from the bathroom, his pants slightly loose, a bit of water still on his hands, dripping from his claws...and according to their hacking program, which was currently working, they had not secured their password and information on the comptool hanging on their belt from when they'd switched it into leisure mode, perhaps for something to do while, well, waiting. And so the entire center of their defenses was being singlehandedly undermined because the same comptool was now interfacing with the overall system, which is how they'd gotten the order to offer it to this new Xvorzith who seemed to be a good game-player, and who might make a decent second for a hand of Matith Prime, or perhaps one of the human games that sometimes spread this far.
"It's only temporary, maybe a week of it, but it's really quite nice, I'm sure you'd fit right in. There are plenty of Xvorzith there, if that's what you're worried about," they growled, the translator correctly guessing that it was in fact a very friendly, familiar tone, "I know that Xvorzith sometimes have problems when others of their kind aren't around."
"Well, thank you," Vorzhan says, "I'll follow you there if you wish?"
"Oh, well, sure, we can go across the sky-bridge into the middle-section," he said, casually, gesturing to a far wall, an elevator there, ready to hover upwards to a set of gold-colored stairs that led to a pair of double-doors. Pure frippery, and space-inefficient, but they'd head in that direction as they began to capitalize on their success.
[Capitalize/Overrun success: 1d100+31+5+10+15=1d100+61=95]
Could they have found more? Perhaps, but it was an amazing bounty, enough that Vorzhan quickly found a reason to excuse themselves, after playing a few rounds of a few minor games, because what they had found, it was big, very big.
As recently as last week, a 'Zaeswin' was in Room 301, one of the most secure that was there, surrounded by unknown defenses. Right there, waiting, surrounded by security. Well protected...or so the war criminal would have thought.
Vorzhan meant to prove him wrong, and she began to plan for just that as soon as they got home, letting out a breath and checking for more bugs. Was this a trap? No...at least, there were no new bugs, and they knew the procedures, knew where they would be if there were ones. So, how to proceed?
Options? You may also vote to do multiple in an order, or wait until you get results on one and then vote for the other.
[] Just a Spin of the Wheel...: Vorzhan is Comp'd, and so they could go and play a few rounds, see how they do dressing up in costumes and playing strange holo-card games and other such things, getting closer and looking for opportunities to figure out the defenses and undermine the right people to get even farther in, though it will take some time, and there is danger there, of course, and risk of them getting away.
[] What about the money, patron? Launder it: Yizitari could begin offering drugs to them, moving into their good books over a few weeks. They have sources, and if it's dirty business, it's necessary to get at the target. It'd put them in more danger and it'd take time, but the rewards could be great.
[] They say that Xvorzith are subtle and quick to anger, or was that wizards? Either way, fuck subtlety: Go for an assault. Vorzhan has the weapons, they know at least some of the defenses, they won't be entirely unsubtle, but they'll slip in through the cracks in the defense, get close, and then open up. They'll have a getaway planned as fast as possible, but it'll be hot, and they won't have as much time to hack things and take stuff, but every minute, every minute means that they might GET AWAY. As patient as Vorzhan is, the idea of ending this tomorrow is...tempting.
*****
[??? 1d100=21??]
Somewhere else, a computer clicked on and words filled a page. Numbers, code. Until the program closed, one-hundred minutes, thirty-seven-point-five-two seconds later.
*****
A/N: And thus the plot thickens! Enjoy! Also, it took time to find the right Bond references. It was annoying! Couldn't think of one for the last option, feel free to suggest one.
[X] They say that Xvorzith are subtle and quick to anger, or was that wizards? Either way, fuck subtlety: Go for an assault. Vorzhan has the weapons, they know at least some of the defenses, they won't be entirely unsubtle, but they'll slip in through the cracks in the defense, get close, and then open up. They'll have a getaway planned as fast as possible, but it'll be hot, and they won't have as much time to hack things and take stuff, but every minute, every minute means that they might GET AWAY. As patient as Vorzhan is, the idea of ending this tomorrow is...tempting.
Tick tock goes the clock. Press it before something we don't want happens.
Tick tock goes the clock. Press it before something we don't want happens.
We've infiltrated and found Big Clues to a greater conspiracy that our target is embroiled in.
So as impartial as I can make it:
[] Just a Spin of the Wheel...: Vorzhan is Comp'd, and so they could go and play a few rounds, see how they do dressing up in costumes and playing strange holo-card games and other such things, getting closer and looking for opportunities to figure out the defenses and undermine the right people to get even farther in, though it will take some time, and there is danger there, of course, and risk of them getting away.
Infiltrate deeper into their organization and learn about the conspiracy that's been screwing us from the start, but if Zaeswin catches on, he's liable to bugger off to unknown parts.
The main issue is that this is slow, and we're a head of state who can't spend that long on this without neglecting our duties. And the risk of our target getting away.
Overall, low personal risk, but higher chance of mission fail by having our primary target just leave(and then we need to track him down again).
[] What about the money, patron? Launder it: Yizitari could begin offering drugs to them, moving into their good books over a few weeks. They have sources, and if it's dirty business, it's necessary to get at the target. It'd put them in more danger and it'd take time, but the rewards could be great.
High risk, high reward by penetrating their organization at high speed. Much greater personal danger, especially with the renegade superspy on their side, but we're going to get a big scoop or die trying.
Well, we're bug Bond, so it's more like almost die trying and then escape while the villain gloats.
[] They say that Xvorzith are subtle and quick to anger, or was that wizards? Either way, fuck subtlety: Go for an assault. Vorzhan has the weapons, they know at least some of the defenses, they won't be entirely unsubtle, but they'll slip in through the cracks in the defense, get close, and then open up. They'll have a getaway planned as fast as possible, but it'll be hot, and they won't have as much time to hack things and take stuff, but every minute, every minute means that they might GET AWAY. As patient as Vorzhan is, the idea of ending this tomorrow is...tempting.
Push up the schedule on capturing Zaeswin. We'd be taking some risks with our assault team and it WOULD be noticed, but we're most likely going to capture Zaeswin, while the rest get away.
Had second thoughts
[X] What about the money, patron? Launder it: Yizitari could begin offering drugs to them, moving into their good books over a few weeks. They have sources, and if it's dirty business, it's necessary to get at the target. It'd put them in more danger and it'd take time, but the rewards could be great.
Because I just thought "What would Bug Bond do?"
So as impartial as I can make it:
[] Just a Spin of the Wheel...: Vorzhan is Comp'd, and so they could go and play a few rounds, see how they do dressing up in costumes and playing strange holo-card games and other such things, getting closer and looking for opportunities to figure out the defenses and undermine the right people to get even farther in, though it will take some time, and there is danger there, of course, and risk of them getting away.
Infiltrate deeper into their organization and learn about the conspiracy that's been screwing us from the start, but if Zaeswin catches on, he's liable to bugger off to unknown parts.
The main issue is that this is slow, and we're a head of state who can't spend that long on this without neglecting our duties. And the risk of our target getting away.
Overall, low personal risk, but higher chance of mission fail by having our primary target just leave(and then we need to track him down again).
[] What about the money, patron? Launder it: Yizitari could begin offering drugs to them, moving into their good books over a few weeks. They have sources, and if it's dirty business, it's necessary to get at the target. It'd put them in more danger and it'd take time, but the rewards could be great.
High risk, high reward by penetrating their organization at high speed. Much greater personal danger, especially with the renegade superspy on their side, but we're going to get a big scoop or die trying.
Well, we're bug Bond, so it's more like almost die trying and then escape while the villain gloats.
[] They say that Xvorzith are subtle and quick to anger, or was that wizards? Either way, fuck subtlety: Go for an assault. Vorzhan has the weapons, they know at least some of the defenses, they won't be entirely unsubtle, but they'll slip in through the cracks in the defense, get close, and then open up. They'll have a getaway planned as fast as possible, but it'll be hot, and they won't have as much time to hack things and take stuff, but every minute, every minute means that they might GET AWAY. As patient as Vorzhan is, the idea of ending this tomorrow is...tempting.
Push up the schedule on capturing Zaeswin. We'd be taking some risks with our assault team and it WOULD be noticed, but we're most likely going to capture Zaeswin, while the rest get away.
Had second thoughts
[X] What about the money, patron? Launder it: Yizitari could begin offering drugs to them, moving into their good books over a few weeks. They have sources, and if it's dirty business, it's necessary to get at the target. It'd put them in more danger and it'd take time, but the rewards could be great.
Because I just thought "What would Bug Bond do?"
- Pronouns
- They/Them
[X] What about the money, patron? Launder it: Yizitari could begin offering drugs to them, moving into their good books over a few weeks. They have sources, and if it's dirty business, it's necessary to get at the target. It'd put them in more danger and it'd take time, but the rewards could be great.
Thanks mate!
Thanks mate!
- Pronouns
- They/He
[X] What about the money, patron? Launder it: Yizitari could begin offering drugs to them, moving into their good books over a few weeks. They have sources, and if it's dirty business, it's necessary to get at the target. It'd put them in more danger and it'd take time, but the rewards could be great.
Night_stalker
Slava Ukraini!
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] What about the money, patron? Launder it: Yizitari could begin offering drugs to them, moving into their good books over a few weeks. They have sources, and if it's dirty business, it's necessary to get at the target. It'd put them in more danger and it'd take time, but the rewards could be great.
Dark Ness
Rises Where Silence Dies
- Location
- The Primordial Soup
[X] What about the money, patron? Launder it: Yizitari could begin offering drugs to them, moving into their good books over a few weeks. They have sources, and if it's dirty business, it's necessary to get at the target. It'd put them in more danger and it'd take time, but the rewards could be great.
[x] Just a Spin of the Wheel...: Vorzhan is Comp'd, and so they could go and play a few rounds, see how they do dressing up in costumes and playing strange holo-card games and other such things, getting closer and looking for opportunities to figure out the defenses and undermine the right people to get even farther in, though it will take some time, and there is danger there, of course, and risk of them getting away.