- Pronouns
- He
[X] Community Minded
We need good pr
We need good pr
Bound to Earth: A CK2 Earthbound Quest in an 8-bit Dystopia
- Thread starter Crosswire
- Start date
- Crossover Sci-Fi
Omegahugger
Inattentive Idiot
-to fund our resistance against the alien invasion!
[X] Self-Supplying
Correct, PSI good.
[X] Psychic Gravity
- Location
- Gainful Employment
- Pronouns
- He/They
[] Critical Thinkers: Don't focus on always being right, just learn from when you're wrong. Should a research or engineering related Learning Action end in failure, a +10 bonus will be granted to the following re-attempt. This bonus is increased to +20 if it's a SMAAASH Failure.
[] Psychic Gravity: Your faction subconsciously attracts those with PSI abilities, much like a celestial body draws in meteors into its gravity. A small fraction of your faction's starting manpower are very weak non-Hero PSI users. This allows your faction to take certain PSI related actions immediately that would otherwise require time or research. However this might make you more prone to raising suspicion.
I like both of these a lot, but...
[X] Community Minded: You of all people know how someone is viewed effects everything, the others seem to be grasping onto that too. Whenever your faction receives positive Reputation they receive +2 additional rep. Whenever you damage another faction's reputation, or a faction is put into a poor light by your actions, any negative reputation they receive will be increased by +5.
There's really no contest. Having a boost on every single action in the war for hearts and minds right from the beginning is such a massive advantage, I can't pass on this.
[] Psychic Gravity: Your faction subconsciously attracts those with PSI abilities, much like a celestial body draws in meteors into its gravity. A small fraction of your faction's starting manpower are very weak non-Hero PSI users. This allows your faction to take certain PSI related actions immediately that would otherwise require time or research. However this might make you more prone to raising suspicion.
I like both of these a lot, but...
[X] Community Minded: You of all people know how someone is viewed effects everything, the others seem to be grasping onto that too. Whenever your faction receives positive Reputation they receive +2 additional rep. Whenever you damage another faction's reputation, or a faction is put into a poor light by your actions, any negative reputation they receive will be increased by +5.
There's really no contest. Having a boost on every single action in the war for hearts and minds right from the beginning is such a massive advantage, I can't pass on this.
[X] Psychic Gravity: Your faction subconsciously attracts those with PSI abilities, much like a celestial body draws in meteors into its gravity. A small fraction of your faction's starting manpower are very weak non-Hero PSI users. This allows your faction to take certain PSI related actions immediately that would otherwise require time or research. However this might make you more prone to raising suspicion.
I feel this one is the most suited to Cass
I feel this one is the most suited to Cass
Yeah... I don't know if it will show up later but community minded seems... well again unfitting givne Cass's current grudge with said community.
- Location
- Everywhere
Plus, we need all the mind juice we can get to fight Psychic Hyper Satan
Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
on the other hand, even mainlining all the Psychic Energy of the planet and with his inner demons defeated, Ness was still nowhere even remotely close to a match for Giygas. It required Literal Divine Intervention to defeat him in the form of the player reaching in and smacking him with numbers Bigger than the Game can Calculate numbers to kill him.
(It's actually a neat trick they pull. Giygas isn't actually taking damage after that first phase no matter what the Pray command is saying. Which is why the damage numbers outstrip the game's damage engine in the final bit. He just lives until you hit the Pray command enough that he gets /killed by the Player.)
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huh, funny that it's basically ALL community minded. I guess it makes sense since it lacks downsides. don't mind whether either that or gravity wins, hopefully will be fun to play? but since it's so clear set I might as well be contrary and vote for
[X] discrete
if I'm already bringing up weird ideas, I wonder what faction building would have been like for the other organisation types? especially with archaic and its bonus perk
anyhow, rather than fighting them, we'd probably either need to recreate the methods of their regular death (access to abilities like pray+being able to spam it by drawing a confrontation out), or enough power for the leeway to do something indirect like cadian pyloning them away
psychic gravity would be very helpful for that, but at the same time an organisational ethos is probably more likely to be physically relevant than something most people won't notice
[X] discrete
if I'm already bringing up weird ideas, I wonder what faction building would have been like for the other organisation types? especially with archaic and its bonus perk
the psychic might needed to fight Giygas more directly is going to be a bit unrealistic since they're both the definition of 75+ PSI stat and have silly narrative/contextual advantages, but that doesn't mean improving it isn't a priority to oppose their *lieutenants* who we will probably be fighting inevitably (and are presumably far harder to avoid). fighting Giygas specifically (as opposed to their army) is weird because they're sort of out of the way physically? hopefully they'll be unlikely to come to us because they're too busy being spooky/a final boss/not very sane/questionably physical or such.
anyhow, rather than fighting them, we'd probably either need to recreate the methods of their regular death (access to abilities like pray+being able to spam it by drawing a confrontation out), or enough power for the leeway to do something indirect like cadian pyloning them away
psychic gravity would be very helpful for that, but at the same time an organisational ethos is probably more likely to be physically relevant than something most people won't notice
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- Location
- Salem Oregon US
[X] Community Minded: You of all people know how someone is viewed effects everything, the others seem to be grasping onto that too. Whenever your faction receives positive Reputation they receive +2 additional rep. Whenever you damage another faction's reputation, or a faction is put into a poor light by your actions, any negative reputation they receive will be increased by +5.
- Location
- Oregon
- Pronouns
- Any/All/Allowed
Really need to get to reading this (same for playing the earthbound games =w=;
, but in the meantime I wanted to slam-dunk this here:
I wanted to propose it to Brightflame, and by extension the other 8-Bit Dystopia QMs, as it'll make it easier to find the quests (and any fics should they happen) on the forums.
, but in the meantime I wanted to slam-dunk this here:
8-bit Dystopia now has a tag on the forums
I wanted to propose it to Brightflame, and by extension the other 8-Bit Dystopia QMs, as it'll make it easier to find the quests (and any fics should they happen) on the forums.
Ah, thank you! I changed the tag (I think?) to include 8-Bit Dystopia!
Also, expect something fun soon!
- Location
- Oregon
- Pronouns
- Any/All/Allowed
[X] Other Influences Interest Check
-[X] BURGERTIME
-[X] VORTEX FARMS
-[X] Starfox
-[X] Animal Crossing
-[X] Kirby
-[X] Sonic
-[X] Mario
-[X] Yakuza/Like a Dragon
finally catching up a little, but wanted to contribute to the interest check
I love how she visually reminds me of Aubrey from Omori
Also huh, I didn't expect the group to choose Porky for the neighbor / party member.
I like the family choices, and I'm fascinated by Paula as a choice. Gonna end up a role model for her aren't we?
I like the others are undecided tho
god, rip to EMS existing
Yup, that's poverty, but still a bed to sleep in
GIRL CLEAN THE ROOM, but also smart frankly
FIRST EARTHBOUND STYLE ENEMY LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
YES REACH HEAVEN THROUGH VIOLENCE
OOO curious
pausing, because, STAG BEETLE FORM OF AN ALIEN I LOVE YOU
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W22YF48Me50
I was by chance putting this on because Cass reminded me of Aubrey Theme, so I went looking for other "World's End" type songs because I loved World's End Dancehall, and forgot that World's End Girlfriend is a band.
Put it on loop during this exposition
This was uh... perfectly horrifying to put on right as I went into "gigyas plot described in prose is terrifying"
I love Alien Benefactor tropes, Im so glad I got to see a retelling of earthbound with an alien but compassionate exposition speech, and to The People because the powers that be are too unwilling to trust or cooperate.
LOVE THESE SIBLING INTERACTIONS, Im enjoying the cast so much already. Also colored dialogue!! Its so well done I feel
I just. Am Love Buzz Buzz, am love this plot.
This is VERY inspo stuff to learn from. The dialogue is well written for the type of character and the plot mechanism.
Yeah I chose to read this high at the best time.
godddd, love this love this love this, rooting for CD so much
there's a mood I relate to with the burn out and being unable to sustain what might be necessary to survive due to minimal quality of life
YES YES YES YSES AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
LMFAO love this uqest
all the binary converters I tried kept saying "searching for target" 8c
goddddd. wild wild wild stuff
RIP how martial rolls go next turn.
love all these methods to resolve the sharks
godddddd
YES YES YES YES, love the options we could have taken, love how this turned out, good update
AAAAAAAAAA LETS GOOOOOOOOOOO
fuuuuuck.. but glad peopl went for the tablet. maybe we can change the fate of the game's plot
AMAZING.
poor guy
HUG THE BUG
WELL FUCK
lmao, is this wordplay in the games?? love it as a synonym to use.
STRONG SUCCESS ON OUR DUMP STAT LETS GOOOOOO
So he has principles
I wonder if there's a way we could get him to teach us some and then betray him
yeah if we take over the sharks we gotta do it after learning from him
godddddddd he's in on it, cahoots!!!
love this
I know its not a moon stone, but I like the idea of it.
YOOOOOOO
LMAO
LOVE the worldbuilding, extremely good passage to finish off the update.
I'm amazed this isn't tagged as an Art Quest, when it's got so many splash panels and illustrations going on.
It absolutely counts for me.
I'm nearly done with catching up, holy shit what a quest.
For now I can post the above
-[X] BURGERTIME
-[X] VORTEX FARMS
-[X] Starfox
-[X] Animal Crossing
-[X] Kirby
-[X] Sonic
-[X] Mario
-[X] Yakuza/Like a Dragon
finally catching up a little, but wanted to contribute to the interest check
Reactions Time
I love how she visually reminds me of Aubrey from Omori
Also huh, I didn't expect the group to choose Porky for the neighbor / party member.
I like the family choices, and I'm fascinated by Paula as a choice. Gonna end up a role model for her aren't we?
I like the others are undecided tho
That sure is McGigyas!!
god, rip to EMS existing
Yup, that's poverty, but still a bed to sleep in
GIRL CLEAN THE ROOM, but also smart frankly
FIRST EARTHBOUND STYLE ENEMY LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
YES REACH HEAVEN THROUGH VIOLENCE
OOO curious
pausing, because, STAG BEETLE FORM OF AN ALIEN I LOVE YOU
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W22YF48Me50
I was by chance putting this on because Cass reminded me of Aubrey Theme, so I went looking for other "World's End" type songs because I loved World's End Dancehall, and forgot that World's End Girlfriend is a band.
Put it on loop during this exposition
This was uh... perfectly horrifying to put on right as I went into "gigyas plot described in prose is terrifying"
I love Alien Benefactor tropes, Im so glad I got to see a retelling of earthbound with an alien but compassionate exposition speech, and to The People because the powers that be are too unwilling to trust or cooperate.
THIS POOR GIRL
LOVE THESE SIBLING INTERACTIONS, Im enjoying the cast so much already. Also colored dialogue!! Its so well done I feel
I just. Am Love Buzz Buzz, am love this plot.
This is VERY inspo stuff to learn from. The dialogue is well written for the type of character and the plot mechanism.
Yeah I chose to read this high at the best time.
godddd, love this love this love this, rooting for CD so much
there's a mood I relate to with the burn out and being unable to sustain what might be necessary to survive due to minimal quality of life
YES YES YES YSES AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
LMFAO love this uqest
YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, love this lockdown setup.When asked "Why", Captain Strong simply stared directly at the camera and said:
"You know why".
[Access to areas outside Onnet has been blocked by the O.P.F!]
all the binary converters I tried kept saying "searching for target" 8c
goddddd. wild wild wild stuff
RIP how martial rolls go next turn.
love all these methods to resolve the sharks
godddddd
YES YES YES YES, love the options we could have taken, love how this turned out, good update
AAAAAAAAAA LETS GOOOOOOOOOOO
fuuuuuck.. but glad peopl went for the tablet. maybe we can change the fate of the game's plot
AMAZING.
poor guy
HUG THE BUG
WELL FUCK
lmao, is this wordplay in the games?? love it as a synonym to use.
STRONG SUCCESS ON OUR DUMP STAT LETS GOOOOOO
So he has principles
I wonder if there's a way we could get him to teach us some and then betray him
yeah if we take over the sharks we gotta do it after learning from him
godddddddd he's in on it, cahoots!!!
love this
I know its not a moon stone, but I like the idea of it.
YOOOOOOO
LMAO
LOVE the worldbuilding, extremely good passage to finish off the update.
I'm amazed this isn't tagged as an Art Quest, when it's got so many splash panels and illustrations going on.
It absolutely counts for me.
I'm nearly done with catching up, holy shit what a quest.
For now I can post the above
- Location
- Italian City
- Pronouns
- He/They/Name
Everything alright on the other side?
Also, just to ask, are the Paper Mario Games (N64 and TTYD) going to be counted as separate from the 8-bit Dystopia Koopa Kingdom, ooor....?
(Read: I am asking if there are multiple Peaches, MArios and Bowsers running around.)
Also, just to ask, are the Paper Mario Games (N64 and TTYD) going to be counted as separate from the 8-bit Dystopia Koopa Kingdom, ooor....?
(Read: I am asking if there are multiple Peaches, MArios and Bowsers running around.)
Either there is a kingdom entirely made of paper somewhere out there in the depths of the pipeworks/outskirts. Or there is a magic book somewhere out there which houses the PM world. I'm not a lore expert but I think those are the two options.
(Incidentally the magic book is the way that the Mario and Luigi X Paper Mario crossover handled It.)
well, iirc in this setting bowser, the mushroom kingdom and the plumbers are all somewhere in the sewers? a more mundane/down to earth scenario with less magic and more mutation, so there probably would be less (parallel universe-style at least) clone weirdness and the like.
doesn't hurt that I'm pretty sure TTYD is too recent to count for this universe, and presumably many other games as well
It might be that characters could be composite versions, or any alternate dimension versions of Mario etc characters are out of the way for now?
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Faction Founding: END
New
THE FOUNDING
Your feet dangle over the edge of the crude porch that juts out the side of the treehouse.
Chin perched against a branch, you stare out at the town barely visible through the trees.
Cresting the distance, the sun begins to set.
Onnet, the entire world, is cast in soft oranges and slumbering purples.
It was a sight you had seen countless times before and hadn't cared less about.
But seeing it now, you can't help but wonder if you had ever really been able to see it until this moment.
…
Behind you the sound of impatient talking, fidgeting, and whispering becomes steadily louder.
A pit forms in your stomach.
"Are you sure you don't want me to simply show myself?"
Buzz Buzz speaks to you from a nearby tree branch, effortlessly clinging to it upside down in the way only bugs truly can.
"No way."
You shake your head, chin grinding into the branch as you continue to stare out at the town.
"People hate aliens. All aliens. Even the Cornians-Cornerians? The Uplifts from off world, get the stink eye something fierce when they showed up. Not that Uplifts in general don't get that."
You continue to stare out at the town and for a moment Buzz Buzz does the same, before speaking again.
"I hope you know that I'm sorry, CD."
A soft chittering is audible from Buzz Buzz as they speak.
"At the time I didn't consider how selfish I was being. I thought I was simply saving your life and giving you a choice. But, I hadn't truly considered the danger you would face, how soon you would face it, or that your family would have to face it as well."
Immediately you lift your head and look at him.
"Don't be an idiot."
There's a firmness in your voice, past the fatigue and the heavy weight of everything that's happened.
"My life was heading to the trash fire long before all of this happened. If you'd saved me from that lamp and just flew off, I'd probably have to deal with all of this anyway. With no friggin' context. So, I'm just glad I wasn't left in the dark."
You grit your teeth, unable to keep eye contact with Buzz Buzz.
"Besides, it's not like I was facing it alone. For once."
Silence stretches out between you and Buzz Buzz as the sun continues to slowly set in the distance.
"I'm used to it. Being alone."
A frustration builds inside of you.
A bruised vulnerability that you want to bandage and bury.
But you push through it.
Forcing yourself to speak.
Because if you don't say it now, maybe you'll never say it.
"I have Kart and Floppy, but I'm supposed to take care of them. They're also younger than me. There's a lot I can't talk about with them and a lot they just…don't remember happening from when they were little. The whole town hates me, and for a long time I hated them back. Part of me still hates this place, this world."
Off on the hazy horizon, past the borders of The Eagle Quarter, the rest of The City is visible.
Looming, impossibly tall structures. Black skyscrapers and sprawling urban buildings are visible even at the greatest of distances.
Like a black wall that desperately wants to creep closer.
You grip the branch in front of you, twisting the bark off it with ease.
"Being alone is easier. You don't have to babysit anyone's feelings, you don't have to worry about getting hurt, and you don't have to deal with any problems that aren't your own. After a while, the idea of anything else became intolerable. Especially since it felt like it would always be that way."
"Would you prefer to be alone?" Buzz Buzz asked.
"I never had a choice before. But even if I have one now, it's pointless. Because I can't do this alone. I never could. That's why I'm even up here to begin with."
The sounds of restless talking from the treehouse grew steadily louder as you spoke.
"I can't put this off anymore then I already have, can I?"
Temptation presses down on you.
The desire to sit and watch the sun fully disappear over the horizon briefly freezes you in place.
Just the thought of escaping the feeling, the responsibility, even for one day is intoxicating.
A doubt eats at you.
Slowly, quietly, but irrefutably.
Like thousands of ants picking apart a carcass.
Even if you went in there and did your best, would it result in anything good?
Could you really achieve what you set out to do? Was there any amount of preparation, any amount of 'good days', that could allow you succeed the way you needed to?
The way you wanted to?
If you failed, you would know the limits of what you were capable of.
And you'd have to live with that knowledge hanging over you.
But if you never tried, if you simply walked away and left things unfinished, you'd at least be able to hope for better things.
To believe you could do more, instead of being shown that you couldn't.
…
Buzz Buzz flew off the branch and briefly perched himself atop your shoulder.
"You can. Just like I could have put off 'betraying' Giygas. However, the things we want to avoid doing today are almost always the things that need to be done now."
Slowly you turn your gaze to the alien, trying and failing to hide your apprehension.
The insect's buzz briefly drowned out the voices from inside the treehouse.
"It's like your sports. Isn't it better to play and lose than to never play at all?"
You let out a heavy sigh as Buzz Buzz flies up towards the roof of the treehouse.
"Yeah, yeah it is."
Slowly you push yourself to your feet and turn towards the doorway.
"Well, time to step up to bat."
The inside of the tree house was a claustrophobe's hell.
A single room, that was cozy for five people, had a little over twenty people in it.
Not counting the treehouse boys themselves, Porky, and the tarp-draped object he 'fiercely guarded' in the corner.
Teens and kids had resorted to hanging out of the floor hatch and hanging from anywhere they could to secure some more leg room.
"What's taking so long?" One kid called out.
"Yeah, what did you want us here for anyway?"
More questions were pitched to the Treehouse Boys, with Mr. B in particular squirming on the spot in discomfort. Pulling down his Mr. Baseball cap to hide his eyes as none of them had any answers.
That was when you finally made your way inside.
The instant you did, the room fell quiet.
A small ocean of shocked, angry, half-frightened faces stared at you as you stood before everyone.
It was like a microcosm of what you were used to seeing in town.
"Listen up!"
You called out, taking center stage.
"You don't trust me or like me, but I have something you all need to know and you're going to listen to it."
The words came out in a threatening, growl-like bellow.
You refused to allow yourself any room to falter. Any room to show how tired, how miserable, you were after everything that had happened.
Under your narrowed gaze all movement stopped and the starts of whispers were threatened into silence.
"What I'm about to say is something you aren't going to believe. It's going to come off as lunatic bullshit, but every single word of it is true. And I have the evidence to prove it."
Porky, at that, pushed himself to his little feet. Dusting potato chip dust off himself he seemed reflexively tempted to let one rip. Yet despite everything the portly boy seemed to consciously make an effort not to do so as you spoke.
"The Eagle Quarter is being invaded by aliens, led by something named Giygas."
Straightening your back, you stared your captive audience down
"He blames humanity for stealing the secrets to psychic powers from his race. Years ago he tried invading Earth, and failed. Now he's trying to invade this world, and plans on enacting genocide on the human race. Starting with the Eagle Quarter, this very town included."
The small gathering's jaws began to drop. Some looked between another as if trying to understand the joke.
"But he's not crashing out of the sky with flying saucers and rayguns. He's being slow. Subtle. Methodical. Secretive. Animating objects, driving the local wildlife crazy, abducting people in secret, and influencing people in power to work for him."
For a few moments you can see something approaching snickers or laughs forming on some of the kids' faces.
But others weren't laughing.
The longer you spoke, the more uncomfortable they seemed.
Was it because they realized that you believed what you were saying? Or was it because they were starting to believe.
You stop for a moment to gauge the room, seeing the concerned shakes of teens heads when a voice abruptly speaks out of the brief silence.
"...My mom had to go to the hospital because the door of our oven slammed on her hand like, seven times."
Another girl turned, throwing up her hands.
"Yeah! I broke one of my sister's dolls yesterday and she thanked me for it! Told me it kept climbing up to the end of her bed and watching her while she slept."
Similar unusual experiences were voiced one by one before an older boy stood up.
"Yeah, weird stuff is going on lately, we get that. But that doesn't mean it's Aliens. Why would they come here of all places? And if she is telling us this, then it's going to be some kind of a trick or a grift."
The boy thrust out a finger and all eyes turned towards you.
A renewed sense of doubt and hostility bristled.
You scowled back and began to walk forward.
Everyone in the room tensed up, some ducked down expecting you to start swinging.
But you brushed past, walking over to Porky and the tarp.
"I'm not asking you to believe me just because I said so. What I'm saying is the truth, and I brought proof."
With a nod Porky stepped aside as you reached down and grabbed the tarp.
As it was ripped away the doubtful faces of the onlookers twisted as they recoiled backwards.
Propped up against the treehouse wall, was a warped husk.
It looked like a machine, or the wreck of one.
Yet the smell that came off it, something between burned plastic and charred meat, was undeniably organic.
Once sleek, unnaturally brilliant chrome was left tarnished and threadbare in places.
Its limbs, or where limbs should have been, were missing. In its place were hanging strands of material, like unwound fabric.
Something closer to nerves than wires dangled out of breaches in its smooth body. A dull, cracked black visor reflected the gazes of everyone staring at it.
For a few moments no one was able to look away.
There was something about the thing that contrasted everything around it. As if it possessed some unnatural aura, even in death, that made it seem aberrant to the very world it lay on.
"This is one of the aliens." You start watching as everyone, especially Porky, gives the husk a wide berth.
"It's called a Starman-."
You briefly struggled to remember the word used to describe it before grasping at the first one that came to mind.
"Junior."
You jerked a thumb towards the corpse.
"It tried to kill me, but I managed to kill it…if only barely. And this is apparently one of the weaker ones. You know that fuss everyone raised about that street being messed up? That was this thing's fault."
The kids in the room stared at the husk, looking unnerved or visibly sick. Some of the kids hanging out the floor hatch were suddenly happy to have tired arms and fresh air. Porky's look of near perpetual boredom had become one of confusion and growing dismay.
"That could just be a robot!" One girl pointed out, coughing as she coughed her mouth.
"Yeah, or some cyborg she murdered." Another spat, nearly causing you to flinch.
Quickly the kids began to nod along with what was being said, as if some defensive urge had kicked in.
They didn't simply step back physically from what they saw, but they did so mentally.
"There's no proof that's an alien!"
Just hearing the words causes your chest to tighten.
Creeping panic sets in as you look back to the husk.
Your mind begins to race.
What else could you do to prove the truth? This was all you had. It should have been enough. You should've planned more! They're all going to leave. This is all going to fall apart.
You-
The hairs on the back of your neck stood on end.
In an instant you know what you need to do.
Your fists tighten into balls as you wheel your head around to glare at the loudest doubters amidst the course of kids.
"Alright. You want proof I'm telling the truth?"
Reaching into your jacket, you pulled out a kitchen knife.
"I'll give you the truth."
The room went dead silent as you brandished the sharped slice of steel, light gleaming across the length of the blade.
Looking between all those present you tighten your grip on the knife and raise it.
Stabbing it through the palm of your left hand.
At the back of the room a young girl screamed.
Everyone practically threw themselves away from you, pressing into the opposing wall as blood pouring from your palm.
"CD, what are you doing!?" Porky screams, seeing the blade sticking clean through the other side of your hand as you twist the blade.
Your pupils shrink.
Adrenaline screamed through your body.
Every nerve in you demanded you make the pain stop.
But you pushed the knife in deeper.
"Giygas-" You hissed through grit teeth, nearly on the verge of screaming.
"That alien invader bastard is going to kill everyone because he thinks humans stole something from his people!"
Everyone in the room looked on in utter horror as you ripped the knife from your hand and jammed it into the wall behind you.
"He thinks we stole the secrets to PSI, to psychic powers. So if psychic powers don't exist, then I'm a liar. RIGHT?"
Blood streamed from the wound as you held it up for all to see, unable to move your fingers.
Then, through the near paralyzing pain, you concentrated.
Something began to course through you as your hand began to grow hotter and hotter.
Bright, horrified eyes grew wider as everyone present saw visible heat began to rise from your hand.
What was once a near constant stream of blood didn't just stop, but seemed to briefly reverse.
A blinding, agonizing pain was slowly drowned out by the feeling of warmth.
The wide red wound through your hand boiled and squirmed as the flesh slowly, but steadily shrank. Muscle and flesh knitting itself back together, accomplishing what would have taken weeks or months in mere moments.
Then it was gone.
Just like that the horrible wound that had scared the teens and kids before you into shock wasn't there anymore.
Sweat rolled down your face as you flexed your hand, still sore but functional.
An exhausted pressure pushed down on you, but you fought through it. Raising your head to meet the awe-struck gazes of your audiences, flashing a smile.
"Oh, would you look at that?" You laugh breathlessly, panting. "PSI. Guess I'm right, huh?"
No one spoke.
Anyone who could sit down, did so.
All of the angry-eyed skeptics stared at the floor as the revelation sank in. Occasionally they opened their mouths, as if scrambling for some objection. Their faces soon showed desperation, simply not wanting to believe what they were hearing.
The first voice to break the silence cracked with fear.
"We…we have to tell someone! If we're being invaded, if the aliens are back, if they're trying to kill all of us, then we have to tell the cops! Or the corps! Or anyone!"
"We can't tell the public about this, or anyone for that matter." You stomp your foot, the heavy thwomp shaking the kids from their daze.
"Not only would they not believe us, but if the Big 3 found out the truth things would just get worse."
You clenched your fists, glaring as countless horrible possibilities played out in your mind.
"Why do you think an army of psychic aliens would try to carry out all this in secret? Giygas can't win a war against the whole planet. As divided and fucked up as The City is, just about the only thing anyone has in common is that they hate aliens. And even if it wasn't some unified hug-fest, enough of the planet would be against them that they'd lose eventually."
A young boy shook his head.
"So why don't we tell someone? You're basically telling us the Big 3 could probably beat them!"
"Yeah, and kill all of us in the process."
Your words cut through the crowd.
"Think for a fucking second! If the Big 3 found out there were aliens invading and they were concentrated here, in this glorified speed bump in The City, do you think they'd hesitate in going all out?"
Realization sunk in. As if the countless horror stories, or real stories, they had heard about the corps and rulers of The City, all came rushing back in that moment.
"More people would be killed in the Big 3's response alone than Giygas could kill in a couple of years. We'd be lucky if the Eagle Quarter survived at all, nevermind anyone actually living here."
"So…what are we supposed to do!?" One of the treehouse boys spoke up, pale and struggling to breathe.
Everyone around you grew still. Their bodies tensing up as the grim reality painted rolled out before them. All sense of hope slipping through their fingers like sand.
Then you pulled your bat off your back.
"We join together and fight back!"
You screamed the words at the top of your lungs.
Mr.B, adjusting his baseball cap, looked around as if expecting someone else to show up.
"...Us?"
"Yes! Us! All of us! I know what I'm asking you sounds crazy, but what other options do we have?"
You grit your teeth as your temples pounded.
"The world is fucked up! If we weren't in Onnet, or even the Eagle Quarter, we'd be living in concrete mazes worrying if Robuttnik or Wily was going to come along and turn us into paste with one of their robots."
"Maybe in the grand scheme of things we're privileged because we're not drinking sewer slime, or worrying about being monitored every second of every day. But are any of you actually happy? Can any of you honestly look around and tell me that the world is fine as it is?"
"And are any of you fine with having your lives, the lives of the people you care about, your futures, destroyed by some space bound freak with a petty grudge?"
"The only ones who can do something about this are us. So that's why I'm asking you to join me."
"Everyone wants to be in the spotlight. Everyone wants to be the star player, the one who wins, the one who gets thanked for doing a good job and rewarded. No one wants to get stuck in the outfield, catching balls that are probably going over their heads anyway."
"But right now the world needs outfielders. It needs fuckups like us to put their foot down and play what looks like a losing game. If we don't fight this secret war, then no one will."
"...You need a team to play baseball. And I've learned that I need a team to fight this war. I can't do this on my own."
You look to everyone present, feeling defenseless as you prop your bat against your shoulder and hold out your hand.
"So…who wants to play ball?"
One by one those before you look to one another, then look down at their hands.
Then, in total unison, nearly everyone rises up and shout.
All their hesitation, all their fear bleeds away.
Replaced with a reckless anger, an outrage, a desire to strike back even if it means striking out.
Throwing their fists into the air the treehouse is filled with the chanting of a single word.
"OUTFIELDERS!
"OUT-FIELD-ERS!
"OUTFIELDERS!"
And for a moment, you swear you almost feel happy.
Amidst the chanting however, one individual remained completely silent. Staring in awe-struck bewilderment.
Porky looked between you, then looked at the corpse of the Starman, then looked at the crowd.
Realization hit him like his parents did.
"Wait...This is real? WHAT THE FU-"
-Your Faction, The Outfielders, has been founded!-
Holy shit it's finally back nice to see you again. Cross wire.
- Location
- Deep in a bog
Happy to see this isn't dead!
Now to read the update.
Now to read the update.
Turn 6
New
TURN 6
Strange Shipment
One of the delivery boys for Mach Pizza claims to have seen a truck pass through the roadblock leading into town. Since the Lockdown started no one has been allowed in or out. Yet the delivery boy claims that when the truck arrived, the police simply let it pass on through.It was dark and nearly midnight so details are limited, it's unclear if this is even the truth. Despite this the boy claims adamantly that the truck did arrive and didn't look like any typically seen in the Eagle Quarter. It looked like it had traveled a significant distance and was quite large. Outside of that the only thing that he could say for certain was that it headed straight to the police station.
Since then the police are out in force on the streets more intently. Something about their attitude seems a lot bolder then before, they seem eager to pick fights.
[The OPF has acquired something...]
Shark Fins Circling
The Sharks have been seen all over town lately. Riding about even in areas where they normally don't tread, areas where the OPF are concentrated. While they're still doing their usual antics, they seem fixated on something that's not entirely clear. It could be that they're simply spinning their wheels and poking the bear for fun, but every night the arcade bristles with cheering and rowdy shouts.They're riling themselves up, and it's only getting more intense.
[The Sharks...?]
Deafening Silence
It's quiet, too quiet...There's been seemingly no activity in the forest since the last time you checked. The amount of bugs doesn't seem to have changed. Whenever you go into the woods even remotely close to the shack however you feel something is...off.
And sometimes when you walk around town, even for just a few moments out of the day, Onnet starts to feel equally as off.
[The Aliens in Onnet...?]
Disappearance Scare
Over the course of a week this month a number of people were reported as not returning home after work. This number increased to as many as twenty people and many feared the absolute worst.However before the OPF or any locals could form a search party, they all abruptly returned home late at night.
Though staggering and smelling foul, none of the missing individuals appeared harmed. In fact, though they slurred their words, they insisted they weren't missing at all. The missing explained they were simply having a 'party' to blow off steam.
Given the stress of the lockdown many expressed disbelief that excessive drinking and partying hasn't been more prevalent.
Chief Strong later published an announcement in the local paper, discouraging citizens from recklessly drinking even in groups.
FACTION FOUNDED
Now that CD has founded a faction, faction actions will no longer be under the context that she is doing everything herself. CD has also gained the time needed to take proper Personal Actions.Going forward, barring drastic changes or faction collapse, this Quest will now shift to the more typical format seen in similar quests like Rocket Quest, etc.
Each turn there will be five faction actions that can be taken and CD will be able to take 4 Personal Actions.
The 'Character Sheet & Hero Units' Threadmark has been updated to include the Outfielder's current faction information, as well as their Reputation and Suspicion level.
The rules have also been updated to include relevant info on Reputation and Suspicion.
State of Faction
THE OUTFIELDERS
Type: Criminal
Size: Miniscule
Reputation:
- -40 General Reputation
- + 15 with Nook Real Estate
- Neutral or partially positive starting rep with some criminal factions
- Community Minded: Whenever your faction receives positive Reputation they receive +2 additional rep. Whenever you damage another faction's reputation, or a faction is put into a poor light by your actions, any negative reputation they receive will be increased by +5.
- Treehouse ✰ [HQ]: A simple one room treehouse located in the woods behind the local library. It provides a relatively hidden place to meet, discuss in private, and lay low. Outside of that however it lacks any real amenities, but plenty of room for improvement. [1 Slot for facilities]
- Childhood Home ✰ [Personal]: Your two floor plus basement childhood home on the outskirts of Onnet's suburbs. It was where you were born and where you've lived till now. With your mother leaving, it belongs to you now. You don't think you could bear to sell it. [0 Slots for Personal Facilities]
- None
- (+1) Baseball Bat Factory Investment dividends ]
- Current Total Funds: 5
- None
Personnel Profile: Kids, teens, and young adults. No real adults are in your organization.
Training: None. Flying by the seat of their pants.
Equipment: Sticks, branches, the clothes on their back and whatever they brought from home.
Disposition: Enthusiastic if somewhat lost on the full scope of what this may entail.
Loyalty: Placid, neither hesitant nor particularly loyal. They're more engaged with the cause then they are with you.
Suspicion Level:
▣ □□□□□□□□□
10/100
10/100
FACTION ACTIONS
Current Funds: ☆6☆Effects of Note:
- [CD] is Depressed: CD is incapable of taking certain actions while depressed. This status can only be mitigated or buried using certain Personal Actions.
- [Porky] Is well rested due to last turn's personal actions and will grant a +10 bonus to whatever action he is assigned to this turn.
- Tattered Plushie: A plushie you've had since you were a baby. It has more patches in it at this point then original fabric. Despite growing older, you couldn't conceive of throwing it away or giving it to someone else, even your siblings. You carry it with you everywhere, albeit out of sight. That being said you have no idea what it's supposed to be. It's purple and cute. Some sort of...eggplant...wizard? It's weird.
[????] - Repaired Baseball Bat:A bat you've had for a long time. The resin you bought has restored it to it's prior state, it's much sturdier. Still, maybe there are even more ways to improve it? [+2 to Martial]
- Sound Stone: A shard of an ocarina that was used (somehow) to 'defeat' GIygas during the first invasion. It is a PSI artifact capable of detecting places burgeoning with PSI, namely sanctuaries. It can also record special 'sounds' though this function doesn't seem to have a use to you. [Greatly reduces the DC for finding sanctuaries and largely eliminates the dangers of trying to claim a Sanctuary as your own. Provided it remains in your possession]
- 'Meteorite' Shard: A strange, currently unidentified stone. You have no idea what it could be, but you have no doubt someone would likely want to buy it for a high price...
- Prefilled Mayoral Paperwork: A paperwork form for a 'mayoral decree' with blank spots that can be filled out to be just about anything. It was pre-signed and pre-stamped for the mayor's convenience. It can only be used once, but this could potentially be used to give out a fake order to those working for the mayor...
- Lab Equipment: A myriad of stolen equipment from the Onnet Hospital's medical lab. A lot of it is out of date, but it's still professional equipment. Useless on its own, especially without the right knowhow or setup. However it would make setting up a semi-proper lab room significantly easier and remove more or less all material cost.
- Beeject & NELCON: An as of yet unidentified drug with an injector. The instructions state to press the injector to the side of the neck and pull the trigger. No needle experience is needed. Anyone could use it, but it could be dangerous, or even outright lethal.
Martial
[] Tagging Territory [Onnet]: If the Sharks have been throwing their name up around town then it's only fair your group does the same. You need to keep the fact you're fighting aliens a secret, not the fact that you exist at all a secret. Little gangs like your get money, influence, and power from controlling territory. A certain amount of vested influence or presence in an area is needed before it can even be attempted to be taken over. No one rolls over for strangers and the force needed to make people do so is a bit beyond your reach right now. Of course, the Sharks will be pissed off that you're a new crew in town and the cops won't be pleased, but nothing you do short of bending over backwards for them is going to make them happy.DC: 15/30 (Reward: Additional Martial Actions in Onnet)
[] Expand Treehouse: The treehouse isn't even close to what you need it to be. Thankfully, everyone's pretty keen on the idea of building off the existing treehouse. The materials will be pretty simple and the tree is large enough to support quite a lot, some members even seem willing to bring in materials to help. They're hardly going to be professional quality, but who hasn't wanted to build their own treehouse?
DC: 30 (Reward: +2 Facility Slots)
[] Build a Facility: The treehouse is the only base the Outfielders have to call their own at this time. And right now it consists of a single empty room. Maybe it's time to change that.
-[] Build a Lab: Maybe calling whatever you can fit inside a treehouse a 'laboratory' is a stretch, but with the stolen Lab Equipment you have would make it pretty well equipped. With the issue of the equipment out of the way the hardest part is already done. Well, the hardest part will be getting someone who knows how to properly USE any of it…
DC: 35 (-Lab Equipment, -1 Facility Slot, Reward: Labratory)
-[] Build a Crude Workshop: It'd be an enclosed room with a bunch of 'borrowed' power tools, benches, and vices to hold things. However even with that you'd probably be able to get up to some pretty heinous stuff. What you could make would be simple, but being able to make anything at all would be a boon by itself.
DC 35: (-1 Funds, -1 Facility Slot, Reward: Crude Workshop)
-[] Build a War Room: MEETING. ROOM. The Treehouse boys keep talking about something called 'Dr. Strangelove' and they're calling this a 'war room'. Holding meetings sounds about as appealing as tying nooses for yourself and everyone you know. However making a dedicated place to gather would make it easier to address everyone and maybe give more impact to addresses or, god forbid, speeches.
DC: 35 (-1 Funds, -1 Facility Slot, Reward: War Room)
-[] Build a Radio Room: With the treehouse already as high as it is, it's actually a lot easier to set up a small radio tower of sorts then you'd expect. You can even disguise it to look like just another part of the tree. It'll be expensive getting real radio equipment, but with a dedicated set up you could broadcast and receive. You might even be able to spy on the cops chatter if you tune things right…
DC: 40 (-2 Funds, -1 Facility Slot, Reward: Radio Room)
[] Teach Members How to Brawl: Almost none of the Outfielders have been in a proper brawl in their life and they're carrying around sticks and filed down butter knives for weapons. Taking them aside and showing them the ropes might give them a fighting chance to, well, actually fight.
DC 40/80 (Reward: First step into whipping the current Outfielders into a proper gang)
[] Claim Territory by Force: Actually taking control of places requires either a lack of interest/control in an area, or a certain amount of vested influence or presence in an area. Even if a gang or criminal group doesn't own an area on paper, it doesn't mean it isn't theirs. Having kids squatting with baseball bats and rocks on street corners is the next best thing. Given the Outfielders literally just started existing, you have jack and shit for influence or presence. However there are places in town no one currently gives a shit about.
- [] The Hill: That god forsaken, bird invested fucking hill. It's not far from your house and it's got a good view of the town. Piss all is actually there, save for pain, misery, and you guess Liar's house which has been abandoned since he somehow skipped town. He did find something weird under his house and the tunnels are still down there. If you had the Outfielders 'house sit' they could do some digging themselves. Technically the town owns the hill, but you'd be genuinely shocked if anyone gave a rat's ass if you all put a flag down and started loitering there.
DC: 40 (Reward: Bring 'The Hill' under your control and gain access to the tunnels under Liar's House)
[] Challenge the Sharks: Walk right up to the Arcade and call the Sharks out. Fight them outright at their base of operations. They outnumber you, and outgun you, but with the backup you have maybe it can work out. As long as you can smash your way to Frankie then you can force them to bend the knee, maybe even give up or get absorbed. If it goes tits up though, the Sharks will be out for blood and there will be plenty of yours in the water.
DC: 90 (Reward: Initiates Battle with the Sharks, giving a chance to destroy or absorb the group)
[] RIOT!: Fuck the police! Causing a ruckus to draw the police into a fight. Straight up beating the cops asses for the whole town to see will make it clear you're not to be taken lightly and will weaken the police a substantial amount. Of course, that's easier said than done and the cops are pretty well equipped to deal with a bunch of untrained, rowdy punks led by one or two people who actually know how to fight.
DC: 100 (Reward: Initiates Battle with the O.P.F, giving a chance to end the Lockdown and permanently damage their control over Onnet)
[] Raid City Hall: The mayor hasn't left city hall since all this started. Its high security walls make it look like a fortress. Trying to bust down the front gates with the cops still walking around would be borderline suicide. If you want a piece of the mayor you'll have to build up and deal with some of the other plays in town first.
[Action cannot be taken at this time]
[] Assault Giant's Foot: The Entertainer's Shack is still sitting there. It's oddly quiet. The shack is locked up tight and there's no easy way to get to the cave behind it. Maybe you could try rushing in there, try to break in with your group but…some part of you can't help but feel that's a bad idea. It's too soon.
[Action cannot be taken at this time]
Diplomacy
[] Recruiting (Onnet): You need people if you want this organization to work. With the OPF and the Sharks around, to say nothing of being limited to JUST Onnet, it won't be easy to pull in people to the cause. Recruiting will allow you to gather more members to your organization and will give you the chance to recruit a Hero unit. You'll probably just get more kids and teens, but that's hardly a bad thing with how useless other people are around here. If you look hard enough you might be able to find some special, heroic people to bring into the fold. You know for a fact Kyoko is around so you're guaranteed to get her, but maybe there are other people?DC: 20/60/90 (Reward: Increase the Outfielder's manpower and recruit a hero from the local populace).
[] Pick Up Trash: Oh. Oh god. You think you just threw up in your mouth a little. It's going to be a hard sell to go from "Aliens are coming to kill our loved ones, join me and do crimes" to "Let's go pick up trash and help out the community". Your new members are going to look at you like you're a goddamn lunatic and you might very well have to swing the bat around to get them to cooperate. However, doing this would help improve your reputation in town. The Sharks will probably laugh their asses off and lose what respect you gained from them after you tagged the cop's signs. But, it's a start, and who knows? Maybe you can deposit cans you find for money.
DC: 35 (Reward: +??? Reputation and +??? Funds)
[] Make Connections at School: Have your new faction members talk to other kids, maybe even the teachers, and trying to foster some sort of beneficial relationship could lead to places. The school might be a glorified underfunded prison, but it does have facilities that would be pretty useful to freely, or even occasionally access. Plus the school would be a good source of manpower to recruit. You…can't go there yourself though. Not with how you feel.
DC: 40/90 (Additional options regarding the local school)
[] Protest!: Like rioting, but you're not supposed to punch the cops in the balls when they attempt to mace you. Gathering up the Outfielders and protesting out front of the mayor's office and making a racket over the lockdown could cause some problems for the cops. And if they swing at you for it, that might not look super good for them. Of course, your reputation could end up having people in town dismiss everything you say. But it could shake the town into voicing their dissatisfaction.
DC: 60/80/100 (Reward: -??? Decrease to OPF's reputation)
[] Talk to the Sharks: You have the vague respect of the Sharks and you haven't done anything to directly fuck with them. They likely won't take kindly to the fact you have your own posse now, but it shouldn't be impossible to arrange a meeting with their leader. By talking with Frankie you might be able to work things out with words instead of your fists. It won't be easy, even if you do meet him there's no guarantee he'll be reasonable. But if there's any chance of allying with the Sharks, or somehow pulling them into the fold, it's this.
DC: 65 [Additional checks or options may follow on success] (Reward: Possibility to join or absorb the Shark or strike a deal)
[] Baseball Factory Deal: The Outfielders are…well you're a gang. But that doesn't mean you can't have some kind of front, or put on airs. No one's going to look at you and think you're out to fight genocidal aliens. With the lockdown, the Baseball Bat factory has been hurting. You could talk them into some sort of deal with your group. It won't be easy given how small the group is, but if you succeed a beneficial arrangement could be made.
DC: 75 [Additional checks or options may follow on success]
[] Confront the Police: Shit stinks to high heaven. The police are up to something. You have no clear idea of what, but they're the mayor's lapdogs and the mayor sure as hell doesn't have people's best interests at heart. It'd take a goddamn miracle to arrange a meeting with the OPF that doesn't have you looking out from the bars of a cell but…it's still an option.
DC: 90 (Reward: Learn the OPF's intentions directly)
Stewardship
[] Pay the "Hint Man" for Information: Porky has brought to your attention the fact that there's a bizarre information broker of sorts named the 'Hint Man'. They're here in Onnet, but then again it's claimed that they're all over the Eagle Quarter. If you have the money, they have the information. Claiming they can give you 'hints' to just about anything that you so desire to know. Of course, the cost is quite steep.[Autopass: -5 Funds] (Reward: Learn information regarding a subject of player's choice)
[] Buy Baseball Bats in Bulk: Getting a shit-ton of baseball bats from the factory will make the factory a lot keener to you. It'll also ensure every member you have, and every member for quite a while, has a proper swinger to wreck people with. And these will be weapons one could easily argue as being sports equipment. This will improve the Outfielders combat abilities in so far as they'll have actual weapons. Just don't expect it to be cheap.
[Autopass: -3 Funds] (Reward: Proper weapons for the Outfielders, increasing the effectiveness in mass or gang combat)
[] Start a 'Public Fund' Using Paperwork: Surely the generous and publicly minded mayor wouldn't hesitate to give back to the needy public. Using the Mayoral Paperwork you stole, some of the members of the Outfielders think you could use it to get some money. Present it to the right people while dressed up in suits and a bit of money from the city's coffers will go into a 'public fund', rather than the mayor's pockets. One that only you and the Outfielders will know about. The mayor isn't likely to notice a little bit of money disappearing every month. Even if it doesn't last forever or someone loyal to the mayor eventually finds it, it could help fund the Outfielders for a bit.
DC: 15 [-1 Mayoral Paperwork] (Reward: +1 Funds for ??? turns)
[] Run a Lemonade Stand(s): Look, you're trying here. It's still the warmer months and you don't have to be the one selling it. It could help make some extra money and it's better than the drip feed you currently have to work with. If the Sharks see you doing this though, they'll probably mock you for it or worse try to rob you.
DC: 25/40/80 (Reward: Additional Funds based on level of success)
[] Pawn Crap from the Woods: Having your crew searching the woods for something to sell is a bit desperate, but it could make some scratch. Plus there's no telling what could be found with a bunch of bored teens combing the forest. Well, besides trouble that is.
DC: 45/80 (Reward: Chance to find Funds or Items)
[] Invest More Into the Factory: They took your money once, they'll probably take it a second time. You're not actually sure if it'll increase the amount of money you get from the factory, but it'll certainly make them more reliant on you. If you play your cards right you might be able to make them indebted to you, but that's probably a long shot.
DC: 50/80/100 [-5 Funds] (Rewards: Increase standing with factory, chance to increase passive income)
[] Psychic Healing for Money: Same verse, same as the first! Only now with additional help! You're the only one who can do the actual healing, but the others can point people in your direction. It'll probably draw in a lot more attention, for better and for worse. You have a chance to make some proper money, but the spiritual healing bit will get people suspicious when they realize it's not bullshit. (This action will use the PSI Stat).
DC: 40/60/80, +??? Suspicion (Reward: Immediate Funds based on level of success)
Intrigue
[] Listen for Rumors: There's a lot of weird stuff going on in town, but that doesn't mean you learn about all of it. With everyone getting stir crazy from the lockdown, it should be easy to pump people for information. There's no telling what you could learn about, but separating hearsay from actual leads may be difficult.DC: 30/40/50/90 (Rewards: Additional information on what's happening in Onnet)
[] Monitor the Entertainers Shack: You still don't know where those Antoids went and you doubt whatever is in that cave behind the shack is just twiddling its thumbs. Setting up a rotating watch for the Entertainer's Shack using your new group will make keeping an eye out for what's going on there easier. Of course, you know what those slugs can do, so the watch will need to be distanced a good distance away. Even then, it's not free of danger.
DC: 50 (Rewards: Gain insight into the alien's actions next turn)
[] Sneak Into the Arcade: The Sharks are packed into the arcade lately and they're pretty busy. It won't be easy to slip in, but it's not impossible. They likely won't appreciate you inviting yourself in, but if you can get to Franky you might be able to force a chat. Alternatively you could find out just what the Sharks are getting up to in there.
DC: 65 [Additional checks or options may follow on success] (Reward: Possibility to join or absorb the Shark or strike a deal)
[] Steal a Police Cruiser: There are more cops on the streets lately. That said, there are also a lot of police cruisers just lying around. Unattended ones even. If you could find the right people to jack a cruiser, there's almost certainly places you could hide it. A stolen car could be refurbished, or simply broken down into parts for other uses or selling. Of course, if the police catch you trying to steal a car or pursue a stolen car, it could lead to a big incident.
DC: 70 (Reward: Stolen Police Cruiser)
[] Look into the O.P.F's Plans: The police are up to something. You've had that feeling for a while and you really doubt they're just going to stop at signs and billboards. If you want to find out just what they're up to, you'll need to find a way to sneak into the police station, or at least hear and see what's going on inside for a bit. Knowing their plans will make it easier to thwart them, or at least survive them…
DC: 80 (Reward: Learn the OPFs plans and an estimate of their faction strength)
Learning
[] Read Up on Aliens: As far as you are aware, Aliens don't exist in The City. Or at least they're not supposed to. The only Aliens you've heard about growing up were the Invaders. But according to Buzz Buzz lots of aliens exist, though he doesn't have much in the way of specifics if they aren't related to Giygas's Army. Reading whatever you can, asking who you can, and maybe a healthy dose of speculation could help better prepare the Outfielders. Of course, it could just result in a whole lot of nothing, but it's guaranteed to give everyone some ideas at least.DC: 25/40 (Reward: Possible Alien enemy info and a chance for additional research topics)
[] Research: You don't exactly have people in lab coats pouring over computers and playing with test tubes, but never underestimate what a bunch of disgruntled teens with out of date textbooks can do. If school had kids learning how to blow things for homework then everyone would be getting straight A's. Your options are limited until you have a proper place to do research, the right people to do research, and a certain understanding of other research topics.
- [] Research Simple Weapons: The Outfielders are armed with sticks and whatever they brought from home. You know from experience that baseball bats are a pretty ideal melee weapon, but there has to be other ways you can arm your members. Hopefully on the cheap. DC: 40/80
- [] Research Simple Explosives: Less 'Dynamite' and more 'Firecrackers', but even amateur chemistry can do wonders. If they fuck up though they'll probably blow off a few fingers. You can…hopefully reattach those if that happens. DC: 40/80
- [] Research Simple Pharmaceuticals: If anyone sees this, they're going to be dead certain you're trying to make drugs. And they're not technically wrong. You won't be making any Power Pellets anytime soon, but there has to be something your group can make. DC: 50/100
- [] Starman Jr. Autopsy: [This option is locked until more advanced facilities are acquired.]
- [] Meteor Identification: [This option is locked until more advanced facilities are acquired.]
- [] Study PSI Basics: [This option is locked until more advanced facilities are acquired.]
- [] Inventing: [This option is locked until certain Hero requirements are met.]
- [] NELCON Examination: [This option requires additional research before it can be done.]
[] Check Local Disturbances: You've almost been murdered by two different kinds of lamps and most of the wildlife in the area wants to start shit. However you've never really thought too hard if other people have had to deal with this. Researching the matter, or at least investigating it, could shed light on the situation and the extent of Giygas's influence.
DC: 40/80 (Reward: Learn more about the state of Onnet and Giygas's influence)
[] Categorize Crazed Wildlife [Onnet]: Going out of your way to actually note what wildlife has been riled up by the aliens, and what hasn't (if there even is any that hasn't), could be useful. You can't really remember anyone ever putting the local wildlife in the Eagle Quarter to paper anyway, the names and what they do is all a matter of word of mouth and personal experience really. Being the first ones to do that could prove beneficial. Of course with the Lockdown you'll be limited to what you can find in and around town.
DC: 60 (Reward: 'Bestiary' Volume 1 Item, Additional Research Topics)
[] Read Up on Different Areas: The Eagle Quarter sits at a unique crossroads in the City. The Outlands are to it's west, various paths to other territories line it's borders, and there are even rumors of extensive entrances to the Pipework below. Despite this the Eagle Quarter is relatively isolationist and has thrived primarily by not getting involved with other areas. With the Lockdown you can't leave Onnet, and unless the OPF stops existing entirely trying to exit the borders through conventional means will be tough. But that doesn't mean you can't look into better ways you could travel to other areas in The City. There's no shortage of stories of underground highways or tunnels. If you have some kids put their noses to the grindstone, you could find some direct or discrete routes to other places in The City. Just because Giygas is focused here doesn't mean he'll stay here forever...
DC: 40/60/70/80/100 (Reward: Discover routes and gain access to areas Outside Onnet after Lockdown, one route per degree of success)
Personal Actions
C.D
It's…fucking weird having free time again. Given everything you almost don't want it. All the more reason to find things to do. Even if you don't feel like it.[ ] Give one of your projects some of your personal attention (Costs 3 personal actions)
-[ ] Write-In
[ ] Try to Foster Loyalty: The current members of the Outfielders are onboard with the idea of stopping the death of everyone they love at the hands of space aliens. However, that doesn't mean they want to give you a hug. Just because they listen to what you have to say, doesn't mean they like it. Trying to ingratiate yourself to the members, or at the very least ensure their opinion of you doesn't endanger the group, will take time.
[ ] Hang Out with a Hero: You're a mess, but you're in charge now. And bosses are supposed to check up on the people who work for them. Right? Pick one hero unit to spend time with. That unit will gain a +10 opinion of you for the next three turns and you may learn more about that hero.
-[] Buzz Buzz
-[] Porky
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
[ ] Go Shopping: Onnet's shopping is limited, especially with the lockdown. But that might simply make any oddities stand out even more. You have the cash, might as well burn it right?
[ ] Spend time with Kart and Floppy: Just spend some time with your siblings. See how they're doing at school, make them dinner, hang out with them and be present in their lives.
[ ] Pick a Fight in Town: You're in a mood. Going into town and finding someone to throw down with could be a good way to blow off some steam.
[ ] Find a Way To Cope: After what happened with your mother, having to take care of your siblings, the unaddressed issues that you have, it's left you a wreck. You're depressed. You either feel numb or feel purely negative emotions. While you can keep going, there's only so much you can do in this state. You need to find a way to deal with your feelings. Choose one of the following:
-[] Go To Therapy: No. You're not willing to talk about your feelings with some stranger who's just out to collect a paycheck. Besides, healthcare in the Eagle Quarter is horrendously expensive and outdated. You don't want to imagine what the mental health practices are like. Not that the rest of The City gives a shit about mental health. (Unavailable at this time due to lockdown)
-[] Just Sleep In: There are brief periods of time after waking up that you feel…good. Maybe the solution to all this is that you need to sleep more. Time you could spend doing something else will be spent curling up with your Eggplant plush and sleeping late into the day. If things go well, you'll have larger windows where you feel well enough to be productive. Who knows, maybe you'll even have a nice dream?
-[] Embrace a Vice: Drugs, alcohol, gambling, there's a lot of options. None of them are good for you in the long run, but it will be easy to start and likely provide immediate relief. All that matters is feeling better again. All that matters is making what you feel now stop.
-[] Self-Medicate: There's a difference between abusing drugs and simply using medicine to manage a condition. Even if you can't really go to a doctor or any sort of professional that doesn't mean you can't potentially find what would be prescribed to you anyway. Or an equivalent. It will likely cost you, and there's no telling of the side effects, but what matters is dealing with this.
-[] Compartmentalize: Just try to forget what happened. Just cordon off those feelings, those thoughts inside you. You have PSI powers, right? Mind over matter should also even out to mind over mind. If you spend enough time, and enough energy, you should be able to just force yourself to keep better. Bury what you feel so you never, ever have to deal with it again.
-[] Just Sleep In: There are brief periods of time after waking up that you feel…good. Maybe the solution to all this is that you need to sleep more. Time you could spend doing something else will be spent curling up with your Eggplant plush and sleeping late into the day. If things go well, you'll have larger windows where you feel well enough to be productive. Who knows, maybe you'll even have a nice dream?
-[] Embrace a Vice: Drugs, alcohol, gambling, there's a lot of options. None of them are good for you in the long run, but it will be easy to start and likely provide immediate relief. All that matters is feeling better again. All that matters is making what you feel now stop.
-[] Self-Medicate: There's a difference between abusing drugs and simply using medicine to manage a condition. Even if you can't really go to a doctor or any sort of professional that doesn't mean you can't potentially find what would be prescribed to you anyway. Or an equivalent. It will likely cost you, and there's no telling of the side effects, but what matters is dealing with this.
-[] Compartmentalize: Just try to forget what happened. Just cordon off those feelings, those thoughts inside you. You have PSI powers, right? Mind over matter should also even out to mind over mind. If you spend enough time, and enough energy, you should be able to just force yourself to keep better. Bury what you feel so you never, ever have to deal with it again.
Buzz Buzz
[ ] Invent Cover Story: Now that the Outfielders have been founded the C.D has some people to help her, directly helping her yourself might be difficult. It's one thing to have to hide from the public, it's another to have to hide yourself from the people CD herself leads. Simply revealing yourself as an alien seems deeply unwise at this time. Inventing some kind of convincing cover story for your powers and your ability to speak would eliminate the need to hide. But you'll need to take time to think of a good one.[ ] Fly on The Wall: You're not a fly. However it's a turn of phrase that could be appropriate. By using your own time to do some personal spying, you might be able to learn some things that C.D and the Outfielders wouldn't be able to learn otherwise. Especially with how negatively people seem to react to them. The risk of discovery could lead to someone trying to swat you however.
[ ] Practice your own PSI: Outside of PSI Shield Σ, your capacity to use PSI abilities is very limited. However you still harness your PSI energy in order to fight, so practicing your abilities never hurts.
[ ] Find Small Objects: Being able to get into tight places has benefits when it comes to scrounging around. While the idea of delving into storm drains and floor vents is far from appealing, ensuring C.D has some amount of the local currency would likely assist with their efforts. Plus, who knows, maybe you'll find something interesting. Beyond moth balls and trash that is.
[ ] Think Back on the War: You don't like thinking about when you served in Giygas's Army, under the being that he used to be. However there's a chance you may have forgotten something. Anything you could remember might help CD in her efforts to battle Giygas, or at least help you become more comfortable with your past.
[ ] Lick Tree Sap: What? You enjoy sugar. And you don't see any of the humans crawling up and enjoying the sap that the surrounding trees occasionally secrete. Helping others means helping yourself, sometimes to a treat.
Porky
[ ] Cope With What You've Gotten Yourself Into: ALIENS? GENOCIDE? PSYCHIC POWERS!?!? AHHHHHHHHHHHHH-![ ] Loaf Around Some More: CD has more people working for her now, which means you have more opportunities to n o t think about what you just learned about. Stuffing your fact and lounging around might not be 'productive', but it'll ensure you'll be better prepared for whatever fresh hell comes next.
[ ] Get some GOOD Snacks: Nope. Not going to think about it. While you're not particularly caught up in the quality of what you eat, you do enjoy some fancier snacks now and then. Always in bulk of course. During your snooping around you think you might know a guy who can hook you up with some good fricking stuff. And it shouldn't cost you anything in the long run.
[ ] Try to get a...mole?: Now that you're apart of t h i s, you suppose you should have informants and spies and stuff? You have no idea what you're doing, but the time you spend figuring this out is time you're not thinking about the world shattering revelations you've learned.
[ ] Just a LITTLE Scheming...: C.D isn't crazy, at least not in the sense that she's wrong. And since she's not wrong, she's right. And thus needs all the help she can get. However C.D doesn't exactly have the right mindset for this sort of thing. Especially with how miserable they look lately. You probably shouldn't bother them right now. Taking some action on your own to help them would probably make them feel better. Right? (This Personal Action will allow a second Intrigue Action to be taken with all the usual bonuses. However it will be chosen at random from the Intrigue Actions available this turn that weren't chosen prior and it's exact outcome will not be made apparent to the players until later. C.D and the others will not be aware of this action being taken under normal circumstances)
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I'm sorry for disappearing for so long! A lot of stuff happened in relatively short order that really hindered my ability and motivation to continue this quest.
However I've returned and I'm determined to get back into things. Please forgive any errors in my returning posts, I'm still getting my sea legs again.
Given it's almost the holidays, I'd like to give everyone a full week or to discuss and read before voting happens. I'll begin voting on the 26th. I imagine plenty of people will be busy with Crimbo and the like and I wouldn't want to rob them from participating due to that.
Thank you all for your patience, I look forward to hearing your thoughts <3
However I've returned and I'm determined to get back into things. Please forgive any errors in my returning posts, I'm still getting my sea legs again.
Given it's almost the holidays, I'd like to give everyone a full week or to discuss and read before voting happens. I'll begin voting on the 26th. I imagine plenty of people will be busy with Crimbo and the like and I wouldn't want to rob them from participating due to that.
Thank you all for your patience, I look forward to hearing your thoughts <3
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Edit: never mind just saw the post above but it is good to see you back. Really miss this quest.
Soon the outfielders will be seen as heroes and also the place where outcast kids go to when they have no other place to go