It's in the works, but IIRC the thread in general has some reservations about getting tied too closely to Cauldron, so it's hard to pass. 2-3 seems fine though.
Alchemical Solutions [Worm/Exalted] Thread 23: We Wonder Where Who Wanders When Watchers Wane
- Thread starter Gromweld
- Start date
Eh, maybe at low levels (3 or so max). Not sure we want to really tie ourself to the point where we BECOME Cauldron.
Theres a post somewhere. Lets see if I can find it.
In a sense backing for Cauldron kinda functions differently to other jobs. You don't really get in deep with Cauldron unless you go 4 or 5, and I recall another post where Gromweld stated we would not get access to Doormaker (or any of the really good stuff) until the 4-5 level.
I think theres also a post somewhere about how at backing 1 we have to contact them, while at backing 3 is more likely to have them occasionally inform us "We will reward you with money/vials if you go and do this and that". Or something like that. Whether thats worth it would probably depend on what they would be rewarding us with and how troublesome/risky/immoral their requests were.
Regular vials to feed for Iris for example could be worth a lot (or maybe not, dunno really how usefull vial research would be?). Ofcourse it might also get Cauldron to subtly influence things in the background for us perhaps, but also means discovery would be far more catastrophic (Saki could probably spin away handing over S9 somewhat. Far harder to do so for a long-term association where we have handed them lots and lots of parahumans).
One thing worth noting about backing is that we will also be getting more alchemicals eventually. So for example, in the long term, stealth focused Alchemical!Who could be someone who mostly deals with Cauldron affairs, while Alchemical!Vista deals with something else while Saki deals with PR and Prayer deals with PRT/Protectorate and Taylor manages the overall picture, supplies tinker equipment to everyone and focuses on transforming the planet with Iris. For example.
Ofcourse, Taylor can also multitask at an absurd level (and it just got even more absurd with SoPA relay drones and access to all animals and the extended range), so she can generally do a lot more than other alchemicals. The "sleep less" drug is something that will also help there (Actually, other than the limit imposed by stamina of the target, I don't see a reason not to use it as often as we can? On everyone. Taylor can't use it every day of the week without addiction, but almost).
- Location
- U.S.
I fully agree.
Thank you.
This is a good point. Maybe not tying more into Cauldron now, but later when we have more resources.
My thing with Cauldron backing is that it grants us access to a lot of things that maybe hard to get otherwise, and can smooth other things behind the scenes for a price. It's not the most comfortable arrangement in the world, but if we can convince them to help at critical points it could mean a lot, especially since Cauldron is rarely incapable of helping. They would be an option we should not rely on, but have as a backup or safety net in an emergency, especially since many sorts of emergencies for us are emergencies for them as well.
FunkyEntropy
Occasionally insightful, possibly grumpy
- Location
- Los Angeles
This is basically a ST preference thing at heart. Like, in my games if an Ecliplse merchant were stunting the bazar and included a thing about her, I dunno, getting a free apple (or something actually valuable but not mission-critical, for that matter) from the fruit-selling extra she just stunted in...I'd allow it. Capes are the guys that matter here so using thug extras to make the exalt look cool doesn't really bother me. Bullying extras via sheer reputation doesn't have a big impact on the larger Taylor vs Capes dynamic but it does a great job of setting the tone for those confrontations.
FunkyEntropy
Occasionally insightful, possibly grumpy
- Location
- Los Angeles
Eh, might as well vote, or at least vote on the stuff I have an opinion on.
[X] Bonus Point: Backing(PRT) 5
[X] Saki maintains her old Secret/Civilian Identity
[X] Saki's 'Everyday' Look: Post-Surgery Saki ("Professionally Pretty," App 4)
[X] Push SoPA Regularly: Philadelphia Crime MEDIUM, Reconstruction MEDIUM, SoPA Full Recovery ETA 6 Weeks
[X] EOA - Free Action: "Current status, Sergeant Powell?" "Weaver. Glad you're here. Cape's on the top floor of the complex with hostages. Possible Master. Too many sight lines to catch them unaware." She nodded grimly, turning to the troopers with her and touching them each with her fingertip. "Don't worry, Sergeant. We'll handle this," she said before they all vanished from sight.
[X] FPoP - 6 XP - Ally (Willow) ●●○○○
[X] EOA - 4 XP - Occult ●●●●●
So yeah. Noticed we didn't have any dots in Ally (Willow) so I rectified this obvious, glaring mistake.
[X] Bonus Point: Backing(PRT) 5
[X] Saki maintains her old Secret/Civilian Identity
[X] Saki's 'Everyday' Look: Post-Surgery Saki ("Professionally Pretty," App 4)
[X] Push SoPA Regularly: Philadelphia Crime MEDIUM, Reconstruction MEDIUM, SoPA Full Recovery ETA 6 Weeks
[X] EOA - Free Action: "Current status, Sergeant Powell?" "Weaver. Glad you're here. Cape's on the top floor of the complex with hostages. Possible Master. Too many sight lines to catch them unaware." She nodded grimly, turning to the troopers with her and touching them each with her fingertip. "Don't worry, Sergeant. We'll handle this," she said before they all vanished from sight.
[X] FPoP - 6 XP - Ally (Willow) ●●○○○
[X] EOA - 4 XP - Occult ●●●●●
So yeah. Noticed we didn't have any dots in Ally (Willow) so I rectified this obvious, glaring mistake.
Twei
I have a face!
- Location
- the land where they write things
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Not going to lie. For a single, glorious moment, I read that as Bonus Point: Bickering.
Then I realized I was reading it wrong.
Speaking of voting on stuff I have an opinion on...
What's Old Is New: (Choose ONE, No Stunts)
[X] Saki maintains her old Secret/Civilian Identity
Only Skin Deep: (Choose ONE, No Stunts)
[X] Saki's 'Everyday' Look: Post-Surgery Saki ("Professionally Pretty," App 4)
Spiritual Recovery Efforts: (Choose ONE, No Stunts)
[X] Push SoPA Sometimes: Philadelphia Crime HIGH, Reconstruction LOW, SoPA Full Recovery ETA 4 Weeks
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Finally caught up. Gromweld, thanks for such an awesome story.
The voting looks mostly good - some of the choices (Backing (PRT) 5 in particular) have their ups and downs, and I'm still not sure about those.
There is one choice, however, that is not getting the attention that it deserves, and that is SoPA.
Pushing SoPA regularly, combined with a drone stunt, means that we've effectively cleaned up the S9's entire mess in Just. One. Week. That's not fast, that's ridiculous. We won't just be known as an S-class power, we'll be known as an S-class administrator. We'll be the hero that saved Philadelphia twice - and cleaned up Camden while we were at it. Saki will need a new Motivation, because by the time she gets back from New York, we'll have already finished it.
And if word gets out that we did it all while doing the parahuman equivalent of sprinting on two broken legs? Even better. You couldn't say "heroic spirit" harder if you tried.
Wherever Weaver goes, crime stops.
Weaver is such a good manager, Accord is her sidekick.
Powers on the fritz? Weaver gives no fucks.
Such a massive reputation boost is definitely worth the extra two weeks of semi-downtime - especially because two of those weeks will be spent in Iris anyway.
Therefore:
[X] Push SoPA Regularly: Philadelphia Crime MEDIUM, Reconstruction MEDIUM, SoPA Full Recovery ETA 6 Weeks
-[X]Stunt: "So what's up with Weaver, anyway?" "You didn't get this from me, but I heard that a guy in Intel said that whatever Jack Slash did broke her power. So she can control animals now, but if she controls enough stuff it hurts her." "But doesn't that… not make sense? If her powers hurt her, and she's using them all the time, that would be-" "Irrelevant." Your swarm-clone interrupts the whispering PRT troopers. "Now come on. We still have a city to save."
80 words.
Other than that,
[X] Saki maintains her old Secret/Civilian Identity
[X] Saki's 'Everyday' Look: Post-Surgery Saki ("Professionally Pretty," App 4)
Cape reveals can come later. Besides, her revealing her identity (explicitly or via looks) could also reveal the identities of the other wards.
[X] Let Lord Grasp rest and recharge in TwinSpace regularly, allow him to come and go when he pleases.
Should be fun.
I'll add XP, BP and Free Actions later.
The voting looks mostly good - some of the choices (Backing (PRT) 5 in particular) have their ups and downs, and I'm still not sure about those.
There is one choice, however, that is not getting the attention that it deserves, and that is SoPA.
Pushing SoPA regularly, combined with a drone stunt, means that we've effectively cleaned up the S9's entire mess in Just. One. Week. That's not fast, that's ridiculous. We won't just be known as an S-class power, we'll be known as an S-class administrator. We'll be the hero that saved Philadelphia twice - and cleaned up Camden while we were at it. Saki will need a new Motivation, because by the time she gets back from New York, we'll have already finished it.
And if word gets out that we did it all while doing the parahuman equivalent of sprinting on two broken legs? Even better. You couldn't say "heroic spirit" harder if you tried.
Wherever Weaver goes, crime stops.
Weaver is such a good manager, Accord is her sidekick.
Powers on the fritz? Weaver gives no fucks.
Such a massive reputation boost is definitely worth the extra two weeks of semi-downtime - especially because two of those weeks will be spent in Iris anyway.
Therefore:
[X] Push SoPA Regularly: Philadelphia Crime MEDIUM, Reconstruction MEDIUM, SoPA Full Recovery ETA 6 Weeks
80 words.
Other than that,
[X] Saki maintains her old Secret/Civilian Identity
[X] Saki's 'Everyday' Look: Post-Surgery Saki ("Professionally Pretty," App 4)
Cape reveals can come later. Besides, her revealing her identity (explicitly or via looks) could also reveal the identities of the other wards.
[X] Let Lord Grasp rest and recharge in TwinSpace regularly, allow him to come and go when he pleases.
Should be fun.
I'll add XP, BP and Free Actions later.
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Twei
I have a face!
- Location
- the land where they write things
- Pronouns
- They/Them
The SoPA vote says 'no stunts' like, right there.
Presumably, the stunt would go somewhere else. Aside from that, you have a pretty nice point. Weaver OP, need nerf.
That is an assumption. We don't know that we'll be able to do that during this time period.
But seeing as how the vote is going that way, even though I heavily disagree with it, we'll just have to make the best of deliberately leaving ourselves crippled in terms of range for an absurd period of time.
FunkyEntropy
Occasionally insightful, possibly grumpy
- Location
- Los Angeles
Considering that other people voting for the same thing didn't trip you up, I find it interesting that it's my post that made you read it that way.
I'm not saying you're wrong, just that it's interesting
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- Location
- U.S.
[X] Saki maintains her old Secret/Civilian Identity
[X] Saki's 'Everyday' Look: Post-Surgery Saki ("Professionally Pretty," App 4)
[X] Push SoPA Sometimes: Philadelphia Crime HIGH, Reconstruction LOW, SoPA Full Recovery ETA 4 Weeks
[X] Let Lord Grasp rest and recharge in TwinSpace regularly, allow him to come and go when he pleases.
-[X] Stunt: New York has seen many strange things on its streets to date. But a car sized scorpion amiably trundling through it's streets, bedecked in brilliant logos and stopping every so often to examine points of interest with a bemused Clockblocker waving atop was not something you see on the typical Tuesday evening.
[X] FPoP - Free Action: "Wyld was hesitant with Bulldozer's… condition, but... s-said maybe-," Willow started. A large cerulean hand gently enveloped her fragile shoulder, stopping its shaking. "The tree bends but does not break, young Willow. Nor does it stand alone." Vajra turned to the wall of teleconferencing Case-53s. Each needful. Each hoping. "I believe the PRT will heed me better now."
[X] WoRI - Free Action: "Oww. Thanks, Saki," Missy said as the other Ward lowered her onto the sofa. "They got the worst out, but I'm still sore in places. I just wish the Common Room had better furniture." Saki felt a pressure on her prison charm, and a smile crept up her face. "Um. I know someone who can help with that, Missy."
[X] Saki's 'Everyday' Look: Post-Surgery Saki ("Professionally Pretty," App 4)
[X] Push SoPA Sometimes: Philadelphia Crime HIGH, Reconstruction LOW, SoPA Full Recovery ETA 4 Weeks
[X] Let Lord Grasp rest and recharge in TwinSpace regularly, allow him to come and go when he pleases.
-[X] Stunt: New York has seen many strange things on its streets to date. But a car sized scorpion amiably trundling through it's streets, bedecked in brilliant logos and stopping every so often to examine points of interest with a bemused Clockblocker waving atop was not something you see on the typical Tuesday evening.
[X] FPoP - Free Action: "Wyld was hesitant with Bulldozer's… condition, but... s-said maybe-," Willow started. A large cerulean hand gently enveloped her fragile shoulder, stopping its shaking. "The tree bends but does not break, young Willow. Nor does it stand alone." Vajra turned to the wall of teleconferencing Case-53s. Each needful. Each hoping. "I believe the PRT will heed me better now."
[X] WoRI - Free Action: "Oww. Thanks, Saki," Missy said as the other Ward lowered her onto the sofa. "They got the worst out, but I'm still sore in places. I just wish the Common Room had better furniture." Saki felt a pressure on her prison charm, and a smile crept up her face. "Um. I know someone who can help with that, Missy."
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*checks again*The SoPA vote says 'no stunts' like, right there.
How the hell did I miss that? Will fix when I'm back at my computer.
In that case, the drone Free Action is better than some impressed troops.
On another note, I had an idea for an omake, but I need some Exalted-fu:
-How long/tough is it for a Heroic Mortal to train up an attribute?
-What would a 3-die Dex stunt for a Dex 2 HM look like?
-What if they were Dex 3?
FunkyEntropy
Occasionally insightful, possibly grumpy
- Location
- Los Angeles
Eh, all we're really doing picking our poison.
Push SOPA? Shit goes down somewhere and our lives become much more difficult trying to put out the fire with a poorly-functioning charm.
Let SOPA recover? Camden somehow becomes even more of a hellhole than it was already. No, nobody thought that was possible, but they managed it. Plan Endbringer Trap stalled for the foreseeable future.
Shit's fucked either way so you might as well pick the one that gives you the story you want
sainen
Elder Lich
it's only a mistake if you want to keep the flammable Teleporter.
FunkyEntropy
Occasionally insightful, possibly grumpy
- Location
- Los Angeles
GET OUT
Well, first I should say that when it comes to an Omake, you can basically ignore everything below.
That being said, for quest purposes, I seem to recall that most Earth!Bet humans can't really perform stunts at all and don't really qualify as heroic mortals due to lacking souls and essence (so they cant stunt, use willpower, channel virtues and stuff like that). So you can't say have Armsmaster or a heroic PRT trooper or whatever performing a stunt in the quest proper, because they lack the the very basic essence (literally and figuratively) thats required to do so.
I think there was a mention that a benediction with all attributes (or was it just all attributes from 1 group?) might give the ability to stunt somewhat even to soulless humans, and ofcourse giving souls would work (but has some major installation problems).
As for your questions, not sure. Theres a "scroll of heroes" about heroic mortals, but its training table does not list the attribute as far as I can tell. So maybe the same rate solars in core do? As for stunts, they ultimately add dice.
So basically dex 2 HM doing something that was checking for dex only would get 2 dice from his dex, and 3 extra dice from a stunt. Then roll 5 dice to see if he matched the difficulty of whatever he was trying to do. You could probably stunt some pretty neat tricks believably, but not absurdly and clearly superhuman ones, IMHO. Technically you could roll a 10 with each of the 5 dice, for 10 successes total, but thats absurdly unlikely. Ultimately I would not worry too much about dice and such when writing omakes though.
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- Location
- Underground
[X] Bonus Point: Connections (PRT) ●●●○○
[X] Saki maintains her old Secret/Civilian Identity
[X] Saki's 'Everyday' Look: Wyld-Touched Saki ("World-Class Beauty," App 5)
[X] Push SoPA Rarely: Philadelphia Crime DANGEROUS, Reconstruction STARTING, SoPA Full Recovery ETA 2 Weeks
Too Fancy For This World: (Choose ONE, ONE Stunt Allowed)
[X] Let Lord Grasp rest and recharge in TwinSpace regularly, allow him to come and go when he pleases.
-[X] Stunt: New York has seen many strange things on its streets to date. But a car sized scorpion amiably trundling through it's streets, bedecked in brilliant logos and stopping every so often to examine points of interest with a bemused Clockblocker waving atop was not something you see on the typical Tuesday evening.
[X] EOA - Free Action: Weaver approaches the PRT troopers holding at an intersection one block from the apartment building, eying their haggard faces. "Current status, Sergeant Powell?" "Cape's on the top floor of the complex with hostages, possible Master. Too many sight lines to catch them unaware." She nods grimly and begins to devise a plan to get them close enough for using confoam.
This Free action is a work in progress, but I think it has potential.
[X] FPoP - Free Action: "Wyld said it would b-be risky, but... s-she could try-," Willow started. A large cerulean hand gently enveloped her fragile shoulder, stopping its shaking. "The tree bends but does not break, young Willow. Nor do we endure merely to suffer more." Vajra turned to the wall of teleconferencing Case-53s, "I will make sure of that."
[X] WoRI - Free Action: "Oww. Thanks, Saki," Missy said as the other Ward lowered her onto the sofa. "They got the worst out, but I'm still sore in places. I just wish the Common Room had better furniture." Saki felt a pressure on her prison charm, and a smile crept up her face. "Um. I know someone who can help with that, Missy."
[X] EOA - Free Action: "Current status, Sergeant Powell?" "Weaver. Glad you're here. Cape's on the top floor of the complex with hostages. Possible Master. Too many sight lines to catch them unaware." She nodded grimly, turning to the troopers with her and touching them each with her fingertip. "Don't worry, Sergeant. We'll handle this," she said before they all vanished from sight.
[X] FPoP - 6 XP - Ally (Willow) ●●○○○
[X] EOA - 4 XP - Occult ●●●●●
[X] Saki maintains her old Secret/Civilian Identity
[X] Saki's 'Everyday' Look: Wyld-Touched Saki ("World-Class Beauty," App 5)
[X] Push SoPA Rarely: Philadelphia Crime DANGEROUS, Reconstruction STARTING, SoPA Full Recovery ETA 2 Weeks
Too Fancy For This World: (Choose ONE, ONE Stunt Allowed)
[X] Let Lord Grasp rest and recharge in TwinSpace regularly, allow him to come and go when he pleases.
-[X] Stunt: New York has seen many strange things on its streets to date. But a car sized scorpion amiably trundling through it's streets, bedecked in brilliant logos and stopping every so often to examine points of interest with a bemused Clockblocker waving atop was not something you see on the typical Tuesday evening.
[X] EOA - Free Action: Weaver approaches the PRT troopers holding at an intersection one block from the apartment building, eying their haggard faces. "Current status, Sergeant Powell?" "Cape's on the top floor of the complex with hostages, possible Master. Too many sight lines to catch them unaware." She nods grimly and begins to devise a plan to get them close enough for using confoam.
This Free action is a work in progress, but I think it has potential.
[X] FPoP - Free Action: "Wyld said it would b-be risky, but... s-she could try-," Willow started. A large cerulean hand gently enveloped her fragile shoulder, stopping its shaking. "The tree bends but does not break, young Willow. Nor do we endure merely to suffer more." Vajra turned to the wall of teleconferencing Case-53s, "I will make sure of that."
[X] WoRI - Free Action: "Oww. Thanks, Saki," Missy said as the other Ward lowered her onto the sofa. "They got the worst out, but I'm still sore in places. I just wish the Common Room had better furniture." Saki felt a pressure on her prison charm, and a smile crept up her face. "Um. I know someone who can help with that, Missy."
[X] EOA - Free Action: "Current status, Sergeant Powell?" "Weaver. Glad you're here. Cape's on the top floor of the complex with hostages. Possible Master. Too many sight lines to catch them unaware." She nodded grimly, turning to the troopers with her and touching them each with her fingertip. "Don't worry, Sergeant. We'll handle this," she said before they all vanished from sight.
[X] FPoP - 6 XP - Ally (Willow) ●●○○○
[X] EOA - 4 XP - Occult ●●●●●
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- Location
- Columbia, SC
Another stunt idea combining drones running SoPA interference and using Cauldron to keep Marrow available to us:
The Blaster fell to the ground, unconscious. The PRT squad closed in from the rubble and saw a stun bolt at the base of his neck and an uncloaking spherical drone collecting one of Weaver's quantum beacons. Some miles away, Taylor spoke into her HUD. "Sorry, minor distraction. I want something else for Shatterbird. Namely, I have suggestions for Vajra's new duties."
Exactly 60 words. Could probably use work.
The Blaster fell to the ground, unconscious. The PRT squad closed in from the rubble and saw a stun bolt at the base of his neck and an uncloaking spherical drone collecting one of Weaver's quantum beacons. Some miles away, Taylor spoke into her HUD. "Sorry, minor distraction. I want something else for Shatterbird. Namely, I have suggestions for Vajra's new duties."
Exactly 60 words. Could probably use work.
FunkyEntropy
Occasionally insightful, possibly grumpy
- Location
- Los Angeles
Remember how I said it was cool to just beat up extras and no one would care? Capes matter, even cape extras. So I'd suggest either the cape forcing Weaver to keep her head down and go, "I'll call you back" or demote the blaster to random thug X.
*gives careful glance at buying a second dot in 'Simurgh Plots'*
Thank you for your insight, it is most helpful.
This is true. However, we have a collection of blank souls in Iris, and we will eventually be able to craft our own soulgems. So ask yourself: what will the world in general, and Thinkers in particular, think about people who are completely normal - except when they aren't?
---
OMAKE: Stuntwoman
---
The first indication that anything was wrong was the loud sound of flatulence from the common room.
"Alec, what did I tell you about whoopee cushions in the base?" Brian, at least, was unamused.
"Hey, It's not my fault… this time. Maybe… uh… Sabah! Maybe Sabah did it?"
A pause.
"Okay, yeah, probably not. But seriously, I didn't-"
Alec's voice was interrupted by another, more distant fart from the direction of the greenhouse.
Alec spoke up again. "Maybe she actually-"
"AMY!" Sabah's outraged yell was followed by noises of confusion from deeper inside.
"…or maybe not."
Two rooms over, Lisa Wilbourn sighed.
Amy and Alec are both innocent. Sabah is also innocent.
Another fart, again from the common room.
"Okay, what the heck? That definitely wasn't me." Alec's voice was accompanied by the sound of a person shifting over on the couch.
Another fart.
Brian is innocent. Rachel is innocent. I'm definitely innocent.
Lisa sat up straight. That could only mean -
Intruder.
Lisa's frantic dash to the door was interrupted by yet another whoopee cushion.
—
"So what you're saying is that we have a mystery intruder…"
"Yes."
"That managed to sneak into our base…"
"Yes."
"Despite the fact that our security is handled by Dragon…"
"Yes."
"And is doing nothing but putting whoopee cushions everywhere."
"Yes."
"Which both you and Amy have verified are entirely normal and completely harmless."
"Yes." That part had been a relief to the rest of the team, but it had just made Lisa more frustrated. Invisible assassins were simply dangerous, but this was annoying.
"And you haven't considered that maybe Alec is lying?" The rest of the team - including two of Rachel's dogs - gave Lisa odd looks.
She responded by burying her head in her palm. "Brian, I'm telling you, no one here did it. And yes, I agree it makes no sense, but it's happening anyway."
Brian crossed his arms over his chest. "And I'm asking you, who else would want to do this?"
Before Lisa could respond, she was interrupted by a maniacal cackle from the direction of the ceiling. The rest of their team looked up at the same time she did, and a combination of gasps and one chuckle joined Lisa's horrified stare.
Aisha was sitting on one of the I-beams that ran under the arched ceiling of their underground base's "living room." She was wearing what looked like an unmarked, less-armored version of her Wards outfit, sans helmet. She had a small pouch clipped to her belt, with the business end of a whoopee cushion poking out past the flap.
She also had an enormous gemstone embedded in her forehead.
Brian was the first to speak. "Aisha?"
"Yes?"
"Did you… Weaver…"
"Did Weaver and I what? Am I gonna have to tell Tatsu to update her shipping chart again?"
"Tatsu has a… never mind." Brian glared at the wall, sighed, and then looked back up. "Did Weaver turn you into an... Alchemical?"
Aisha shrugged. "Nope. I asked, but she turned me down. Said she was worried I might not make it. Pretty sure I've got what it takes, but whatever."
Aisha believes she is telling the truth.
At this, Lisa's mind finally engaged again. She could feel the beginning of a headache, but it was much fainter than Weaver whenever she didn't do… whatever it was that made her power return completely wrong information. "'What it takes?'"
Aisha responded with another shrug. "Something about motivation, I dunno."
Aisha believes she is telling the truth.
It was Alec who spoke next. "So what's the gem about then? Looks expensive, if you ask me."
"Are… are you trying to imitate Taylor or something?" Sabah's question mirrored Lisa's thoughts, but-
Aisha is not trying to imitate Weaver. Aisha has been augmented by Weaver.
Lisa tried to keep her shock from her face. The headache made sense, now. She'd long since figured out that Autochthon, whatever it was, operated on entirely different physics than… anything, as did its creations. If Weaver had found a way to spread it…
Aisha has not been augmented.
Wait, what?
Aisha's body has not been altered, aside from the implantation of the gem. Aisha's skills have not been altered. Aisha's personality has not been altered. Aisha's memories have not been altered. Aisha's capabilities have not been altered.
"Nope, it's my new soulgem!"
Aisha has been augmented.
"Hurt like hell, but it was sooo worth it."
Aisha believes she is telling the truth. Aisha has not been augmented.
Lisa's unspoken (but plainly visible) cursing of the deceptive robot was interrupted by a surprisingly quiet Amy. "How was it worth it, Aisha?"
Amy believes Aisha has been augmented. Aisha has not been augmented.
"Because I can do this!" Aisha quickly put action to words by… leaning backwards and falling off the support beam.
Aisha will land headfirst on the recliner behind Alec. The impact will break her neck and damage the recliner. Aisha's likelihood of survival is-
Before anyone could do more than take a step forward, Aisha executed a picture-perfect midair backflip and landed butt-first on the recliner, grinning like a loon. The overstuffed chair groaned, but held, with a distinct lack of farting noises.
Aisha is uninjured. Aisha is incapable of surviving a fall from that height uninjured without assistance. Aisha had no assistance. Aisha has not been augmented.
This time, Lisa was the first to break the silence. "How… how did you just do that?"
Aisha's grin got wider. "I told you, it's my soulgem. Weavs stuck it in me and now I'm running on… whatever she is."
Implantation of 'soulgem' has converted Aisha to Autochthonian laws of physics. Aisha's capabilities are unchanged from before implantation. Aisha has not been augmented.
"And that means I get to warp reality with my pure awesomeness."
Oh come on. There was no way Aisha could seriously believe-
Aisha believes she is telling the truth. Aisha has not been augmented.
"You know, if you keep making that face, it might get stuck like that." Aisha's statement resulted in a round of snickers from the rest of the team. "Now, where did I put that camera…"
"No."
"But your face is-"
"No." Lisa was unsure whether it would be better to faint, run or curl up into a ball and wait for the bullshit to go away, and settled on doing exactly none of the above. "I refuse to believe that… that. It makes absolutely no sense. 'Pure awesomeness' isn't even a thing, and-"
"Look, you want a better explanation? Go ask Weavs. Or I can call her, if you want her to nerd at you over the phone instead." Aisha held up a phone. "Or you could go with my explanation, which is so much better than her whole thing with 'essence' and 'design weavers' and whatever. I never paid much attention."
Aisha's offer is genuine. Aisha's attitude towards Autochthonian physics is also genuine.
"Just… just give me the phone."
Rather than replying, Aisha tapped her phone's screen a few times, then held it to her ear. "Hey Weavs, what's up? …. Nah, I went for Plan Whoopee Cushion instead. …. Look, Inquisition wants to know about… you know. Reality-bending awesomeness stuff. Yeah, right here." She handed over the phone.
Lisa immediately jammed the phone to her ear. "Weaver. What. Did. You. Do."
"Um… now, recently, or ever? It's been a busy month, if you haven't been paying attention." Weaver's voice was thankfully free from the diesel-and-silver tones of her true form, although Lisa suspected that she wouldn't be able to notice the extra Thinker headache over the steady throbbing of what the fuck already running through her head.
"Listen, Who just showed up in our base and jumped off the rafters without getting hurt, despite my power saying that it's physically impossible for her to do that, and that you didn't jam super-acrobat skills into her brain. And then she said she could… could… I can't say it, it's just too much bullshit."
"Oh, that." Weaver's tone was casual, as if Lisa had just asked her to describe the weather, rather than… that. "Well, I don't have time to go over all the details - or any of the details, really - but my implantation of a soulgem basically converted Who to Essence, meaning that she now operates using motonic physics. Now, what you have to understand is that in motonic physics, to a very limited extent, reality has volition. One of the consequences is that beings with sufficient - I guess you could call it 'metaphysical weight' - can alter the probabilities of events by doing things in ways that inspire that volition by being, well, beyond normal."
Weaver believes she is telling the truth. Weaver is telling the truth.
"At the limit of this phenomenon, it's possible to make events that would be impossible under Earth-Bet physics… well, possible."
Weaver is telling the truth.
"Or to condense that even further… basically, with motonic physics it's possible to warp reality via… coolness, I guess? Technically none of that sentence is true, but it's a close enough approximation for…"
Weaver is telling the truth.
Lisa set the phone down on a nearby table, idly taking in the conversation across the room about Aisha's new outfit (a low-noise design from Weaver,) how she snuck in (Dragon let her) and got into the rafters (ran up a wall.) Ignoring the continuous stream of jargon still spilling from the phone, she calmly searched for a chair without a pink nozzle hidden under the cushion, sat down, and tried to remember the time when death-metal pod people were the weirdest thing in her life.
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You know, given what Gromweld said about how Ally (Legend) could help us counteract the negatives of Backing 5 (leaving only the sweet sweet positives ), and given that there have been a few omakes and such giving us more XP, I figured it might not hurt to push Legends Ally status to 2 dots at the very least (heck, we are more closely allied with Crawler than we are with Legend! ), so I added it to my vote.
Its probably too late at this point to change things, but if anyone does think it would be a worthwhile considering what Gromweld said:
Well, here:
[] EOA - 3 XP - Ally (Legend) ●●○○○
), and given that there have been a few omakes and such giving us more XP, I figured it might not hurt to push Legends Ally status to 2 dots at the very least (heck, we are more closely allied with Crawler than we are with Legend! ), so I added it to my vote.Its probably too late at this point to change things, but if anyone does think it would be a worthwhile considering what Gromweld said:
Well, here:
[] EOA - 3 XP - Ally (Legend) ●●○○○
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- Location
- Columbia, SC
Thanks for the pointer. Let's see...
The man leading the mob suddenly collapsed. The PRT squad quickly surrounded the rest. That's when they saw a stun bolt at the base of his neck and an uncloaking spherical drone collecting one of Weaver's quantum beacons. Some miles away, Taylor spoke into her HUD. "Sorry, minor distraction. I want something else for Shatterbird. Namely, my suggestions for Vajra's new duties."