Gentle reminder that Ability dots are the lowest on the totem poll now that we have access to vats. If you want to be better at the speechy thing, buy a 1st or 2nd Charisma Aug instead. It gets you more dice per xp.
Alternately, don't waste XP buying up things that aren't core competencies. Bureaucracy is Weaver's thing, so it makes sense to get better at that. Performance...we have the moebot. Learn to delegate and use the Assembly.
Backgrounds also give very good bang for you buck, particularly the narrative insurance you get with Ally dot purchases.
Gentle reminder that Ability dots are the lowest on the totem poll now that we have access to vats. If you want to be better at the speechy thing, buy a 1st or 2nd Charisma Aug instead. It gets you more dice per xp.
We don't have access to vats. Not yet.
We would need Iris' attention to stretch the minivats of our familiars, and he's all booked up.
Furthermore, our slots are FULL. We don't have the space for a 1st or 2nd Aug to carry around.
Alternately, don't waste XP buying up things that aren't core competencies. Bureaucracy is Weaver's thing, so it makes sense to get better at that. Performance...we have the moebot. Learn to delegate and use the Assembly.
We don't have access to vats. Not yet.
We would need Iris' attention to stretch the minivats of our familiars, and he's all booked up.
Furthermore, our slots are FULL. We don't have the space for a 1st or 2nd Aug to carry around.
Preeeeety sure Iris, as an Alchemical Familiar, functions as a vat.
Yeah, all our slots are full. It's almost like we're some sort of Exalt whose splat is based around the idea that they can swap out charms based on need.
2 dots is sufficient, particularly because we can cheat by using SPU. Given that competitors are Ally dots for CONTESSA, the waste of buying non-core Abilities becomes even more apparent.
Preeeeety sure Iris, as an Alchemical Familiar, functions as a vat.
Yeah, all our slots are full. It's almost like we're some sort of Exalt whose splat is based around the idea that they can swap out charms based on need.
yes Iris can act as a Vat for Taylor, but the thing is we need him working on the Manse, and while Iris is doing that they can't be used as a Vat.
and we want the Manse so we can make an actual Vat Complex, because currently only Taylor has any sort of real Vat access, Fpop doesn't have any, and both Saki and Aisha have mini-vats which don't allow for new charms only access to panoply charms stored in their familiars.
personally I doubt that we'll have true Vat assess before the Assembly is completed.
Yeah, all our slots are full. It's almost like we're some sort of Exalt whose splat is based around the idea that they can swap out charms based on need.
*Demesne. He's making a Demesne, which it would then be possible to maybe build a Manse on top of. Which is a whole task in and of itself, since to support a Vat it needs to be like a...4 dot Manse? Which is a fuckload of work to build without Raising the Puissant Sanctum, though Iris may have that spell. Still, it's another step.
The other issue is that Iris is not capable of storing charms for Exalts, regardless of his use as a vat. If/When Taylor gets in him to get synced with her Essence level, any changes to her charms are done by Iris taking charms out of Taylor, and breaking them apart to be used as power. He then flash forges new charms. Until we get a proper Vat, Taylor is unable to keep a set of charms in a panopoly like Grasp does for Warden.
The All-Mother Needs Her Nightcap: (Choose ONE, ONE Stunt Allowed)
[ ] Taylor Takes A Break Now
-[ ] The general disbelief over Weaver joining the Wards on their globe-trotting vacation was dispelled when a picture of a bikini-clad Taylor reclining on a Hawaiian beach was uploaded to PHO, the caption reading: "The Weaver of Disapproval Looks in Your Direction"; there was no mistaking that glare.
[ ] Taylor Takes A Break In A Few Days
-[ ] This isn't half bad, Taylor thought as she reclined in the hot tub, thumbing through the pages of a smutty romance novel. More variety in Saki's library would be nice, but Lord Grasp's bombastic stories and lessons made pleasant distractions. It wasn't like she had anything better to do until Saki decided to let her out of her pocket dimension.
[ ] Taylor Does Not Take A Break
-[ ]
Faustian Bargains Don't Honor Refunds: (Choose ONE, ONE Stunt Allowed)
[ ] Taylor Honors Her Deal With Bastard Son
-[ ] "Here's everything we have on the Elite's local presence. By 12:01 AM on the first, I want to already be taking steps to remove them. Can you make a plan that Piggot will sign off on?" The irritation at New Camden Director's name is as clear as the soulgem in his forehead, but nonetheless Accord soon nods in agreement.
[ ] Taylor Does Not Honor Her Deal With Bastard Son
-[ ]
Let's Get This Party Started: (Choose ONE, ONE Stunt Allowed)
[ ] Aisha Heads For Philadelphia
-[ ]
[ ] Aisha Heads For Missy
-[ ] Missy shrieks and falls backwards from her seat on the porch as, out of nowhere, an enormous silver panther slams down right in front of her, scattering the chickens she'd been feeding. "Get on, loser!" shouts the equally silver girl with a manic grin from atop the beast, "We're going shopping!"
[ ] Aisha Heads For Trouble
-[ ] "Why?" Valefor moans piteously as the pummeling continues. "I don't even know you!" "What a coincidence!" Aisha crowed, never ceasing in her beat-down of the Fallen cape. "I don't know who you are either!"
Pretty much this. You get a native language for free, which is always Old Realm for Alchemicals. Any more need linguistics dots. You also need lore 1 to be literate, but luckily that wasn't overlooked. So yes, we do need that dot.
Well, i agree with you, but:
1) Taylor needs break starting yesterday already. Or weeks ago, really.
2)She gave her word to take a break as soon as Aisha shows up.
3)The more we wait the more chances for something to pop up and postpone break for another few days... and then another
Still, your logic is really solid, and with this deal we need to be ready for its end (as in "get every Elite in city arrested as soon as our promise expires" ready). But.
[ ] Sirkalla's Focus For The Next Few Days: Keep Camden/New Camden Clean
[ ] Sirkalla's Focus For The Next Few Days: Take Down Ash Beast With Ned [ ] Sirkalla's Focus For The Next Few Days: Keep Taylor Sane
[ ] Sirkalla's Focus For The Next Few Days: Fix Relationship With Kali
Then we need this choice.
First, as i said, Taylor should already be on the break, so at least let's get her some immidiate help. Second, sure, Sirkalla would be of greater help out of Clarity, but with Aisha out we need to choose next Exaltation candidate as soon as we can.
I would agree with you, but just want more Missy. So would agree only with a stunt for her getting help from Saki to go to Missy as soon as she can.
With XP expenditures i would try to avoid getting in debt (especially if we would need to build next Exalted soon), so maybe no Medicine for Aisha. If she really needs it, we will have an option to take it later.
Missy is relaxing comfortably on her new family's ranch just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. There are ponies and horses, cows, pigs, chickens, and lots of cats (there is even a new batch of kittens). A PRT-paid therapist visits every other day. She is, officially, not supposed to have any contact with 'cape life' until her personal vacation ends on Friday.
That is...good. Actually soundly approve of it, and I suspect we'd have gotten a lot less efforts to try to drag her onscreen if we knew that previously!
She's also probably bored out of her wits(between pony rides she's never going to let Dennis know about)
*thinks about XP*
Hm. My initial spending plan is:
Taylor
1 dot in Ally (Armsmaster)
Sirkalla
2 dots in Mentor (Contessa) to start
Saki
2 dots in Ally (Glaistig Uaine), could reduce to 1 dot if needed
Aisha
Linguistics (English) dot
Temperance dot
That leaves 10-13 Assembly XP for other uses while covering overlooked aspects of Aisha's chargen and giving narrative protection and/or plot hooks to notable side characters.
Still, your logic is really solid, and with this deal we need to be ready for its end (as in "get every Elite in city arrested as soon as our promise expires" ready). But.
We have commitments. We can't just abandon them without notice.
That's asking for problems.
We need to get permissions to take Riley and Colin with us, decide where to go, hand over our time-sensitive projects, all that stuff.
We don't.
Taylor is a Willpower 10 Soulsteel; a day or three rounding up and handing things over to other people won't cripple her.
Almost as importantly, we NEED Sirkalla in working order as much as Taylor. She's our primary beatstick, and our contact with Defiant.
Which means dealing with her girlfriend situation as a priority.
Taylor explicitly notes that Sirkalla is using Clarity to avoid emotional issues, which is not ideal.
Hmm. You hope Prayer's not still using Clarity to avoid dealing with her emotions, rather than letting it ebb and flow naturally as problems arise. Another something to talk with Saki about when you see the rest of the Wards later today.
Melissa Rae Biron is due back by Friday in-story.
No point attempting to manipulate its urgency; the GM will reintroduce her when he thinks it appropriate.
She's one of our two Jade candidates, after all.
When a parent takes their kids on vacay, are they resting or not? When Brian took Aisha with him to New York, was he on vacation or not?
When Saki took Ciara with her on her roadtrip, was she not on vacation?
When a parent takes their kids on vacay, are they resting or not? When Brian took Aisha with him to New York, was he on vacation or not?
When Saki took Ciara with her on her roadtrip, was she not on vacation?
Interesting that you are implying Armsmaster is a kid. More seriously though, what is your case that we should bring them on an ostensible break from all the stress we're dealing with (which they are part of)?
Interesting that you are implying Armsmaster is a kid. More seriously though, what is your case that we should bring them on an ostensible break from all the stress we're dealing with (which they are part of)?
What is your case that we shouldn't?
Saki doesn't want to take care of Riley, and no one else has the time or the capabilities to do so.
Armsmaster himself has probably not gone on vacation since he joined the Protectorate. I know Riley has almost certainly never been on one.
And I note you assert they are part of the stress we're dealing with, which is in dispute.
Oh, BTW we are spending 3 xp to boost Aisha's Temperance to 2. I don't even want to contemplate what kind of bullshit she'll get up to if she has no internal breaks.
-In light of Taylor's musings about crafting, wonder what she'll say to figure out that Arms and Armor Triumphant or Arat is a crafter, primarily of weapons. And a Patropolis, Claslat's largest city.
And a Soulsteel Caste.
She's armored because there is no actual office and the Fallen are around causing mayhem. Her "patrols" are mostly just riding shotgun in PRT trucks to scout out future-construction areas, no actual combat seen. She's scuffed up because everything around Camden is filthy and rushed.
-Iris Grasp is speaking English now. I wonder what accent he's speaking in that would offend Native Americans?
Last I checked he had a Spanish-Japanese accent.
"Well hello, my dear," Lord Grasp muses warmly, but in a way that you instinctively understand means he's a hair's breadth away from blasting a hole in the fairy's head. Or… trying to, at least.
Then he extends a hand-sized, golden-sheathed claw to her and speaks in a smooth, oddly-accented (...a mixture of Spanish and Japanese?) English. "Lord Crushing Grasp."
In a way that both surprises you and is completely unsurprising, Glaistig Uaine offers what appears to be a genuine smile of humor in return, taking his proffered claw in a dainty hand and curtsying politely in return.
"Glaistig Uaine, Queen of the Fae," her echoing voice bubbles out, though she tilts her head in thought as she straightens back up. "What manner of wondrous creature would be so refined?"
Oh Maker you're glad he can't understand English because with an opening like that you'd never get him to shut up.
Good call, I was thinking that his accent had changed... but have decided against that, now. I've changed up that part of the scene a bit, so let me know if the new section makes more sense/is better.
-Lol at Taylor getting socialed by Saki and Lord Grasp(and SoTI). And Saki's panic when Taylor began to offload duties on her.
Going to note that Finish The Assembly was said to Saki, not to Taylor. Taylor's last direct communication from Autobot was after BB, and it said
LEARN.
IMPROVE.
ARISE, ENDURING ORDER ADMINISTRATOR, AND RENDER THIS FAILURE INTO THE CRUCIBLE OF OUR VICTORY.
The "Finish The Assembly" bit that Lord Grasp is referencing is from Iris yelling at everyone about what the new plan is before teleporting to the Cradle. Lord Grasp (probably rightly) considers a mandate from Autochthon's Fetich to be the #1 thing to prioritize over mortal-coddling.
It's a sign of their fully-active Familiar bond, which hadn't really manifested until he rebuilt her after the VoV debacle. Also, they don't talk all that often (he's busy!) so it hasn't come up before anyway.
Nope. Kitty is grumpy. He'll have a way to take Essence from Essence-rich sources, though, but we might want to invest in back-up methods to transfer essence.
Nope. Only Iris can manage that feat, due to shenanigans with Familiar bond serving as a quasi-backdoor into Taylor's Alchemical charms (which is also how Vision of Vengeance did what he did with SoPA).
Your investment in an Ally background determines just how useful that person is to you, and you to them.
For example, Dragon arranged to recruit the Undersiders, put the Wyld Hunt, with Brian and Amy, in Camden, introduced us to Accord, arranged the logistics for Prayer's Exaltation when noone else would, and ferried us back from the Cradle after the fight with Ziz. We have given her access to optimized software she can't make herself, and collaborated on her in building Colin's new flight module, and a bunch of other things.
Dragon... probably rates as an Ally 4 at this point, but her current 3-dot rating is why I've been light on her appearances as of late - we got a lot of bang for our buck, but she does have other stuff to do now and can't focus on Taylor as much these days.
Saki is going to be VERY reluctant to go to Missy at Aisha's prompting, since Missy herself asked to be left alone with her new family for the duration of the vacation. The only way we're getting Missy time is if Aisha figures Missy should get the first look at her awesome new bod to make sure Missy's sold on being our Jade.
Melissa Rae Biron is due back by Friday in-story.
No point attempting to manipulate its urgency; the GM will reintroduce her when he thinks it appropriate.
She's one of our two Jade candidates, after all.
That is...good. Actually soundly approve of it, and I suspect we'd have gotten a lot less efforts to try to drag her onscreen if we knew that previously!
I decided against it, once I realized that Taylor valued her relationship with Piggot more than any boost the sample would have given (especially since Taylor would have to devote a lot of time to the Sample, time she currently doesn't have now that Aisha's back). Accord and Prayer vaporized the sample and all electronics tainted by it, as ordered by Piggot. Also, we've got enough voting stuff to sort through as-is.
ALLIES
Allies are your character's close friends and trusted compan-
ions. Unlike followers, allies are never extras. Most are either
Exalted (of any type), small gods, Fair Folk or other magical
beings that are typically at least as powerful as one of the Ter-
restrial Exalted. Alternatively, they might be exotic beings such
as intelligent animals, or exceptionally skilled and powerful
mortals such as masterful thaumaturges, wealthy nobles, crime
lords or Guild factors. Characters don't have to buy the Allies
Background to represent the rest of their circle—allies are always
Storyteller characters. Also, allies are independent people with
their own lives and goals. If your character asks for aid but does
not provide any in return, her allies will soon desert her. Allies
do what they can to help your character, but they won't risk their
lives for any but the most important causes—possibly, not even
then. Allies asking for help can make for fun roleplaying.
Trait Effects: Each dot in this Background typically repre-
sents one ally approximately equal in power to a starting character.
More powerful allies require higher ratings. Depending upon
both her score in this Background and the power of the allies,
your character can have between one and fi ve allies.
MENTOR
Although most Chosen meet their new life without a guide,
your character found one. This mentor is a patron, a teacher,
a defender and a friend. Yet although she always acts in what
she sees as your character's best interests, your mentor expects
your character to obey her (or at least to listen to her). Your
character is your mentor's student, ward or apprentice, not her
equal. However, this relationship need not be without confl ict,
and it can be the subject of much in-depth roleplaying.
A mentor can be one of the Exalted, an important prince or
Guild Factor or even a god or one of the Fair Folk. In addition
to providing advice and assistance, your mentor may also teach
Abilities, Charms and possibly even sorcery. Occasionally, she
might also save your character from some dire fate. Characters
who require such aid too often annoy their mentors and will
be disciplined for overly reckless behavior.
Trait Effects:
• Your character's mentor is just a bit more worldly
and wise than your character.
•• Your character's mentor is a fi gure of some note or
an exceedingly important individual who has little
time for your character.
••• Your character's mentor is wise, infl uential and
considerably more powerful than your character.
•••• Your character's mentor is an exceedingly important
individual whose words and deeds can shape the
course of nations.
••••• Your character's mentor is exceedingly powerful, and
he takes a great interest in your character's welfare.
However, he expects both obeisance and greatness
from your character, and he likely has powerful
enemies who might attack you to get to him.
And now, the versions being used in this Quest:
BACKGROUND: ALLIES
Allies are your character's close friends and trusted companions. Unlike followers, allies are never extras. Most are either Exalted (of any type), small gods, Fair Folk or other magical beings that are typically at least as powerful as one of the Terrestrial Exalted. Alternatively, they might be exotic beings such as intelligent animals, or exceptionally skilled and powerful mortals such as the masterful thaumaturges, wealthy nobles, crime lords, or Guild factors. Characters don't have to buy the Allies Background to represent the rest of their circle - allies are always Storyteller characters. Also, allies are independent people with their own lives and goals. If your character asks for aid but does not provide any in return, her allies will soon desert her. Allies do what they can to help your character, but they won't risk their lives for any but the most important causes - possibly, not even then. Allies asking for help can make for fun roleplaying.
Trait Effects:
Each dot in this background typically represents one ally approximately equal in power to a starting character. More powerful allies require higher ratings. Depending upon both her score in this Background and the power of the allies, your character can have between one and five allies.
Changes For This Quest:
There is no limit to the number of points of Allies purchasable, so multiple Allies with levels of three or higher can be possessed. Additionally, the rating of an Ally is not necessarily their true power rating, but rather how much power they are willing to lend to your cause - earning more favor with an Ally can result in being able to increase their rating as they grow more willing to put their weight behind you, as well as how influential they are the to overall narrative.
BACKGROUND: MENTOR
Although most Chosen meet their new life without a guide, your character found one. This mentor is a patron, a teacher, a defender, and a friend. Yet although she always acts in what she sees as your character's best interests, your mentor expects your character to obey her (or at least to listen to her). Your character is your mentor's student, ward, or apprentice, not her equal. However, this relationship need not be without conflict, and it can be the subject of much in-depth roleplaying.
A mentor can be one of the Exalted, an important prince or Guild Factor, or even a god or one of the Fair Folk. In addition to providing advice and assistance, your mentor may also teach Abilities, Charms, and possible even sorcery. Occasionally, she might also save your character from some dire fate. Characters who require such aid too often annoy their mentors and will be discipline for overly-reckless behavior.
Trait Effects:
○○○○○ - Your character does not possess a mentor.
●○○○○ - Your character's mentor is just a bit more worldly and wise than your character.
●●○○○ - Your character's mentor is a figure of some note or an exceedingly important individual who has little time for your character.
●●●○○ - Your character's mentor is wise, influential, and is considerably more powerful than your character.
●●●●○ - Your character's mentor is an exceedingly important individual whose words and deeds can shape the course of nations.
●●●●● - Your character's mentor is exceedingly powerful, and he takes a great interest in your character's welfare. However, he expects both obeisance and greatness from your character, and he likely has powerful enemies who might attack you to get to him.
Changes For This Quest:
Autochthon, the Primordial Great Maker, has chosen you to be the first of his new Champions in this strange new universe. He is extremely limited in how he can aid you directly due to Plot-related issues, but the attention and aid of a Primordial is certain to aid you in reshaping this universe to rescue him from mortality. He may also have enemies of his own...
Nope. Kitty is grumpy. He'll have a way to take Essence from Essence-rich sources, though, but we might want to invest in back-up methods to transfer essence.
So we need to buy the Sanctum Background for him?
How many dots do we need to invest in? 2 dots? 3 dots?
If I have to dig out my drawing pad over the weekend, might as well have some idea what I'm aiming for.
*thinks about XP*
Hm. My initial spending plan is:
Taylor
1 dot in Ally (Armsmaster)
Sirkalla
2 dots in Mentor (Contessa) to start
Saki
2 dots in Ally (Glaistig Uaine), could reduce to 1 dot if needed
Aisha
Linguistics (English) dot
Temperance dot
That leaves 10-13 Assembly XP for other uses while covering overlooked aspects of Aisha's chargen and giving narrative protection and/or plot hooks to notable side characters.
