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Cast-Offs of Divinity - A Merchants of Divinity Quest

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Honestly it would've been great if all four of them simultaneously shouted "You!" There is however probably a difference in relationship. While the opposing expedition leader appears to be Sinter's enemy, Angela is our rival. While someone can be both there is a difference there. I seriously doubt Levi and Angela would try to kill eachother for example. Unlike the leaders Angela and Levi actively like that their counterpart exists. Actually that brings up a good point: we should come up with a paralytic neurotoxin or some sort of sleep/disabling drug. Then we get a dart gun. That would help with obtaining larger specimens for study, and safely disabling pesky rivals, presuming it works for their biology.
 
[X] Take the across door and try to climb the vertical shaft.

I don't really have an argument, I just chose this because I feel like it.
 
Hey would it be easier to climb the shaft, or up to the balcony?


I was looking at the character sheet and it's missing the Kutkh command "fetch" BTW. On that note it would be very funny if we pointed at Angela Bright's hair and said "fetch!"
 
Sirrocco said:
Okay. So let's look at things.

- This place is going to get flooded by desperate mad scientists trying to figure things out. We wont' be able to grab everything. We'll have to pick one or two things to focus on.

- Angela will be chasing Leviathan directly, and likely the others will leave the two of us to our personal squabble as long as we don't get greedy. So, first, this means that we'll want to focus in on one of the less initially impressive-seeming things so that it's just the two of us. We'll also want it to be something that's more in our area of specialty than hers. Currently, what we know about her is that she has a variety of small devices for personal augmentation, and is more hardtech, while Leviathan is more bio. She's presumably developed further since last we saw her, but if we're rolling opposed athletics checks, we've already failed.

- This is a *great* time to rack up bonus points with Dr Infinium by unveiling and testing new devices in field conditions in direct opposition to an Established Rival. That... mostly means Kutkh, I suppose? Did we ever actually do anything with that adrenaline booster knowledge? If so, then booking it back to the investigative area in an unplanned footrace with our rival seems like a really straightforward way to solidly check all of the boxes on that one. Do we have any other new bits of tech to deploy? I admit, I've lost track a bit.

So... specifics....

- The hallway fo ocked archways seems like a serious loss. Figuring out the reasons for the archways seems like it woudl give her the advantage, and forcing open that door doesn't actually gain us anything, since we already know how to make it to that room by a faster route.

- Upstairs is just rolling the bones. We don't actually know what we might find up there, or where specifically to go to find it. Better to leverage what little info we have.

- I'm really regretting missing that "first analysis" roll here. "Suspended on dangling tendrils" certainly sounds pretty Bio to me. It's also something that I expect will be high-payoff. At the same time, it's just too obviously high-payoff. It's an enormous room, with an obvious, major central fixture. There's no way we get to call dibs on that thing just between the two of us girls.

- The room of cluttered spheres... I don't like it. We don't know for a fact that Angela has augs that would make her better at pushing that stuff around than we are, but it at least seems very plausible. Let's not give her that advantage.

So... I'm thinking that the room with the spheres on the table is the obvious pick here. It's going to be a lot of poking and thinking and not a huge amount of physical activity of types that we're bad at. As such...
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Nice analysis. I'll admit I totally forgot about inspiration, but this absolutely counts as stressful circumstances. Any invention you use is an opportunity to gain inspiration.
By my recollection your inventions which count are the Auditory training aid, the Tactical Retreat Injector, and the Neuroplasticity enhancer.
Technically the Tactical Retreat Injector and the Neuroplasticity enhancer only sort of count (since you didn't invent them), but these things are still fresh enough that it passes.

Pittauro said:
I'm leaning AI having control over this UFO, and that's a counter to it turning hostile.

Because nothing biological was meant to be in here.

It's made for and/or by an AI.
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🐁
Pittauro said:
...we come from Mad Science city.

Literally ANY scientist with enough free time and funds to be able to afford joining the expedition would do it.

Of them, a fair number will likely focus on a single expedition that gets their attention for any possible reason.

Truly, this was a foolish conclusion.
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You may notice, Professor Sinter has something of a habit of avoiding difficult questions.
To be fair it's not quite as bad a conclusion as shown here. There was a line I considered, but ultimately edited out about how none of the scientists she talked to had the same objective. (It just happened to be the one she was very much not on speaking terms with.)

Pittauro said:
:rofl:

Ok, I did NOT expect Angela there.

and it seems our rival joined our leader's Rival!
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Of course Angela is here! What kind of rival doesn't show up to the big dramatic milestone events and showdowns? Why it's practically a Law!

Dreaming Circuit said:
Hey would it be easier to climb the shaft, or up to the balcony?
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At baseline with your climbing kit the shaft would be easier. (2 walls to brace against instead of 1)
On the other hand, if perhaps someone comes up with a clever idea to make the climb easier...

I'm willing to handwave Leviathan having a common minor item on her person (Like say, a paper clip) if people need it for an idea. So feel free to be creative!

Dreaming Circuit said:
I was looking at the character sheet and it's missing the Kutkh command "fetch" BTW. On that note it would be very funny if we pointed at Angela Bright's hair and said "fetch!"
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Added.
 
[x] Take the right door which leads to the hallway of locked archways.

Not much to go off of since we failed our info rolls. I'm onboard with Sirrocco's idea of investigating the room with the spheres.

JayTar said:
What happens next is predictable. The other expedition leader pulls a classically styled ray gun. The air screams, but in the same instant, Professor Sinter's bus interposes itself into the line of fire.
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Note to self, do not mess with the bus.

JayTar said:
You may notice, Professor Sinter has something of a habit of avoiding difficult questions.
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She really does lol

JayTar said:
Of course Angela is here! What kind of rival doesn't show up to the big dramatic milestone events and showdowns? Why it's practically a Law!
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This is obvious in hindsight, yet I wasn't really expecting it until now.
 
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[X] Take the across door and try to climb the vertical shaft.
[x] Take the right door which leads to the hallway of locked archways.
I don't know anything, but this seems most likely to lead to bio. And S seems to have put the most thought into things.
 
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Vote closed
  • Voting
    • Scheduled vote count started by JayTar on Aug 30, 2024 at 7:13 PM, finished with 16 posts and 6 votes.
    • [x] Take the right door which leads to the hallway of locked archways.
      [X] Take the across door and try to climb the vertical shaft.
      [X] Take the left door which leads to the hanging sphere room
      [X] Take the left door which leads to the hanging sphere room
      -[X] Foam the door closed if you manage to sprint in there first.
    Click to expand...


    Right. Next update should be on the shorter side so hopefully I will get it out quickly. We will see.
     
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  • Voting
    • JayTar said:
    Scheduled vote count started by JayTar on Aug 30, 2024 at 7:13 PM, finished with 16 posts and 6 votes.
    • [x] Take the right door which leads to the hallway of locked archways.
      [X] Take the across door and try to climb the vertical shaft.
      [X] Take the left door which leads to the hanging sphere room
      [X] Take the left door which leads to the hanging sphere room
      -[X] Foam the door closed if you manage to sprint in there first.
    Click to expand...


    Right. Next update should be on the shorter side so hopefully I will get it out quickly. We will see.
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    So... are we going to be doing things like kicking in the accelerator juice, or is that something we would have had to write in?
     
    Sirrocco said:
    So... are we going to be doing things like kicking in the accelerator juice, or is that something we would have had to write in?
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    You would have should it have mattered (say if foaming the door won, which would have required rolls to do so in time), but the default options don't require it.

    Replenishable or reusable items like the Tactical Retreat Injector will generally be automatically used anytime there is a relevant roll. Feel free to ask if there is any confusion on if they will apply.
    Single use ones like the foam will need to be specifically mentioned in the vote.

    Edit: ??? roll
    JayTar threw 1 6-faced dice. Reason: ??? Total: 5
    5 5
     
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    Chapter 1 Turn 4.5, The Expedition – T=0 (Week 18):
  • Threadmarks


    • Chapter 1 Turn 4.5, The Expedition – T=0 (Week 18):​

    [x] Take the right door which leads to the hallway of locked archways.

    There is a certain art to a scientist's stride. How they walk their path, literal and metaphorical. The intermixture of presentation and philosophy appeals to you in a hard to articulate way. It is one of the many things you taught yourself to pay attention to.

    For instance, every step your rival takes is a spring. She bounces from one motion to the next and and never quite stops. It gives her scramble an odd reciprocating grace which makes you think of a sewing machine in slow motion.

    When you turn and walk for the rightmost door you are calm and collected, but deceptively fast. In truth it is a run, but one carefully controlled to appear merely a purposeful stride. The air rushing past makes your lab coat, or in this instance the protective cloak draped loosely over your shoulders, snap and billow.
    +1 ???, +1 ???, +1 ???, +1 ???, +1 ???
    ???: 6/100    ​
    The door springs open for you, and then very nearly closes on your rival's face before she pushes it back open.

    You glance back and glimpse the other scientist's destinations. Carl and Nathan go towards the big hanging sphere room, while Angela's teammates (as much as said teams could be said to exist currently) enter the vertical shaft. You only caught a brief glimpse of them in the chaos. Both wore fully concealing equipment, one with reflective armor and the other a cloak and long mask.

    "Leviathan! What are you doing here?" What a profoundly unfair question. Now if you ask her the same thing back she will have the verbal initiative.
    Where is the dream?​
    "Science obviously" You blandly reply. You pretend to examine the wall, but watch her in your peripheral vision. Wait, is that a face on the wall? You tilt your head and the illusion disappears. Ugh, Pareidolia.
    Tired​
    Posturing aside, you need to put action to your words. There is science to be done! Unfortunately while you would love abscond with the entire ship to research at your leisure, your carrying capacity is limited. Instead, your goals are simple. Sift out the shiniest gleaming gems of scientific interest to smuggle out or do your research in place. And do it quickly. Destructively, if necessary.
    Something is wrong​
    Even here in this small slice of the ship, you have threads to chase. Threads which will no doubt lead to further points of interest.

    However, you cannot discount the presence of your rival. Every minute you spend investigating is a minute for her too. You may have a head start, but she will be looking for threads of her own to chase.
    Need to get the suits ready​
    "So how do you want to do this?" Angela says, sliding up to you. "While I'm confident I would win, the more time we spend fighting, the more we will fall behind the others." It is almost an apology.

    "True". That doesn't mean you don't have options.
    Are the suits ready?​
    Information can be made a medicine or a poison, as befits the dose. By highlighting or obscuring a detail you can direct your rival's investigation one way or another. But every breadcrumb you lay out for her is one she doesn't have to find herself.

    Alternatively you are no stranger to a little misdirection. A false trail could trick her into wasting time, though there is no telling how she will react on discovering the trick.

    If nothing else you can distract her with banter.
    +5 ???
    ???: 11/100    ​
    Science:
    [] Attempt to force the door to the room of cluttered spheres. Requires Athletics roll.
    -[] Attempt to convince Angela to help you.

    [] Attempt to pry open one of the locked archways. Requires Athletics roll.
    -[] Attempt to convince Angela to help you.

    [] Examine the spheres lined up on a table.

    [] Examine the walls.

    [] Something else (Write in)

    Social:
    [] Discuss: Truthfully share your current discoveries. Generates goodwill but may speed up Angela's investigation.
    -[] Blocked door: The door at the end of the room is blocked by fallen spheres, but can be forced open.
    -[] Spheres on table room: The adjacent room contains a table with a line of spheres on it. A prime target for investigation.
    -[] Ship layout: Share your overall knowledge of the ship layout.
    -[] Something else (Write in)

    [] Deceive: Lie about your current discoveries to manipulate Angela. Can be used to slow or misdirect Angela's investigation, but harms goodwill if discovered.
    -[] Blocked door: The blocked door is impassable.
    -[] The ships layout: (Write in modified layout)
    -[] Something else (Write in)

    [] Distract: Talk about something unrelated. May slightly slow Angela's investigation.
    -[] Teammates. Distract her with some harmless enough facts about you teammates, and satisfy your curiosity about hers.
    -[] The price of fish. Why are the chicken packaged meals one credit cheaper? How are the prices set when everything is just grown in a vat? What other food related conundrums do you face in your daily life?
    -[] Something else (Write in)

    Select one option from science and one from social. Please vote by plan. For example:
    [] Plan Example:
    -[] Examine the walls.
    -[] Distract: Talk about something unrelated. May slightly slow Angela's investigation.
    --[] The price of fish. Why are the chicken packaged meals one credit cheaper? How are the prices set when everything is just grown in a vat? What other food related conundrums do you face in your daily life?
    AN: A big thank you to everyone who has been following, especially everyone who has been voting! The next sequence is vote-heavy, so please tell me if there is any confusion over the options or intentions.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Examine the spheres lined up on a table.
    I just don't trust our ability to make any rolls.

    [X] Discuss: Truthfully share your current discoveries. Generates goodwill but may speed up Angela's investigation.
    -[X] Blocked door: The door at the end of the room is blocked by fallen spheres, but can be forced open.
     
    fictionfan said:
    [X] Examine the spheres lined up on a table.
    I just don't trust our ability to make any rolls.

    [X] Discuss: Truthfully share your current discoveries. Generates goodwill but may speed up Angela's investigation.
    -[X] Blocked door: The door at the end of the room is blocked by fallen spheres, but can be forced open.
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    Ah, I would suggest voting by plan. Some of the combinations may modify the results. Especially if any write ins are introduced, it helps me understand the overall intent of the vote.
     
    JayTar said:
    Ah, I would suggest voting by plan. Some of the combinations may modify the results. Especially if any write ins are introduced, it helps me understand the overall intent of the vote.
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    Have to we have little enough information to go on here that I am mostly voting randomly.

    [X]plan random vote
    -[x]Examine the spheres lined up on a table.
    I just don't trust our ability to make any rolls.
    -[X] Discuss: Truthfully share your current discoveries. Generates goodwill but may speed up Angela's investigation.
    --[X] Blocked door: The door at the end of the room is blocked by fallen spheres, but can be forced open.
     
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    [X] Plan Spheres of Misdirection
    -[X] Examine the spheres lined up on a table.
    -[X] Distract: Talk about something unrelated. May slightly slow Angela's investigation.
    --[X] Teammates. Distract her with some harmless enough facts about you teammates, and satisfy your curiosity about hers.

    [X] Plan Spheres of Madness
    -[X] Examine the spheres lined up on a table.
    -[X] Discuss: Truthfully share your current discoveries. Generates goodwill but may speed up Angela's investigation.
    --[X] Spheres on table room: The adjacent room contains a table with a line of spheres on it. A prime target for investigation.

    Offering up two potential plans, one to distract and the other to be honest

    edit: filled in X's
     
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    [X] Plan Spheres of Madness
    [X] Plan Spheres of Misdirection

    Still lacking in information, so lets gather more.

    JayTar said:
    When you turn and walk for the rightmost door you are calm and collected, but deceptively fast. In truth it is a run, but one carefully controlled to appear merely a purposeful stride. The air rushing past makes your lab coat, or in this instance the protective cloak draped loosely over your shoulders, snap and billow.
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    I can imagine Leviathan practicing this in a mirror when she was younger :D

    JayTar said:
    Posturing aside, you need to put action to your words. There is science to be done! Unfortunately while you would love abscond with the entire ship to research at your leisure, your carrying capacity is limited. Instead, your goals are simple. Sift out the shiniest gleaming gems of scientific interest to smuggle out or do your research in place. And do it quickly. Destructively, if necessary.
    Click to expand...
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    The tragedy of not being able to carry all the loot with you.

    JayTar said:
    "So how do you want to do this?" Angela says, sliding up to you. "While I'm confident I would win, the more time we spend fighting, the more we will fall behind the others." It is almost an apology.
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    True that, it's too early for our dramatic confrontation :)
     
    Currently aiming to close the vote around , and the hopefully get out the next update not more then a week from that.

    Sigil said:
    I can imagine Leviathan practicing this in a mirror when she was younger :D
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    Haha 100%. You get it. There was even a line I couldn't fit in to that effect. (Specifically using the big reflective skyscraper windows as mirrors)
     
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    [x] Plan Spheres of Madness
    -[x] Examine the spheres lined up on a table.
    -[x] Discuss: Truthfully share your current discoveries. Generates goodwill but may speed up Angela's investigation.
    --[x] Spheres on table room: The adjacent room contains a table with a line of spheres on it. A prime target for investigation.
     
    Vote closed
  • Voting
    • Scheduled vote count started by JayTar on Sep 17, 2024 at 8:52 PM, finished with 9 posts and 3 votes.
    • [X] Plan Spheres of Madness
      -[x]Examine the spheres lined up on a table.
      -[X] Discuss: Truthfully share your current discoveries. Generates goodwill but may speed up Angela's investigation.
      --[X] Spheres on table room: The adjacent room contains a table with a line of spheres on it. A prime target for investigation.
      [X] Plan Spheres of Misdirection
      -[x]Examine the spheres lined up on a table.
      -[X] Distract: Talk about something unrelated. May slightly slow Angela's investigation.
      --[X] Teammates. Distract her with some harmless enough facts about you teammates, and satisfy your curiosity about hers.
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    Vote closed! Writing started.
    Trying to commit to getting the next chapter done in a week or less. See if having a goal helps.
     
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  • Voting
    • So... operation Seduce Our Rival? I'm game.

    I mean, "hey, check out this cool thing I found" is about as friendly a response as we could have come up with on this one.
     
    Sirrocco said:
    So... operation Seduce Our Rival? I'm game.

    I mean, "hey, check out this cool thing I found" is about as friendly a response as we could have come up with on this one.
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    Friendly... for a mad scientist. I'm reading more then a hint of challenge in there.
    "It wouldn't be as fun to beat you with an unfair advantage, so I'm going explain exactly what I'm doing to improve the challenge."

    Directing your rival's attention to what you are doing (instead of say, away from what you are doing) speaks to a certain daring arrogance.
    ... which is in fact largely seen as a positive trait because well, mad scientists.
     
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