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DoofQuest- a Disney Villains Victorious CK2-Style Quest

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Random thought: if Xanatos ever successfully gets immortality for him and his family, what do you think the chances are he'd be willing to share it with his allies? Namely, us and our own friends and family
 
Style&Grace said:
Random thought: if Xanatos ever successfully gets immortality for him and his family, what do you think the chances are he'd be willing to share it with his allies? Namely, us and our own friends and family
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It depends on how helpful and supportive Doof is, and how little reason we give him to worry about the possibility of our ever, in the fullness of eternity, becoming an enemy.
 
TheGleeman said:
Wasn´t it stated multiple times, that we got a veritable army of at least pencil-pushers working hard in the background to keep the Mikado-Jenga-Hybrid-tower that is the administrative level of DEI from collapsing into itself and dragging the entire Midwest´s economy with it?

That made me think that while Mirage is our most visible director-grade emplyoee, she isn´t even close to the only one.
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You do, but none of them want to be the one who tells the unpredictable mad scientist 'no'. As a result Mirage does it, mostly by keeping things as vague as possible and occasionally implying that Roger would definitely want to balance the budget within the next quarter if he were in charge.
 
Style&Grace said:
Well, clearly that means we need to work on immortality and get it first, so that we give it to Xanatos and indebt him to us! MwahahahahahahahHhahAHAHAHAHAHAAAA! I'M A GENIUS!
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I mean, that's actually not a bad idea. Xanatos probably would feel genuine gratitude to someone who freely gave him the means to become immortal.

Now, that gratitude would have sharp limits, I suspect, but the man does have enough nobility of character to appreciate a benefactor.

Then again, I'm pretty sure he's already turned down immortality options that would come with strings attached.
 
Simon_Jester said:
I mean, that's actually not a bad idea. Xanatos probably would feel genuine gratitude to someone who freely gave him the means to become immortal.

Now, that gratitude would have sharp limits, I suspect, but the man does have enough nobility of character to appreciate a benefactor.

Then again, I'm pretty sure he's already turned down immortality options that would come with strings attached.
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Those refusals always depended on the strings attached to the "immortality" in question, though - or would you allow yourself to be turned to stone just to "live" forever?
 
TheGleeman said:
Those refusals always depended on the strings attached to the "immortality" in question, though - or would you allow yourself to be turned to stone just to "live" forever?
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Well yes, but my impression is that Xanatos would reject an offer with strings far less extreme than that- he's confident enough in his own abilities that he expects to be able to find a way on his own.

If you waited 30-40 years for him to be an old man, and if he hadn't figured out how to accomplish it on his own already, he might feel differently... but that's not this scenario.
 
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Quest: The Best is Yet to Come- Dancing in the Dark
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    • 1931 HITS ARCHIVE: Dancing In The Dark - Bing Crosby

    All around the convention hall people are filing into their seats as waiters bring out platters of so-called 'handwiches' filled with ambrosia salad as appetizers. From the look of things, they seem to be surprisingly popular- Flintheart Glomgold shamelessly grabs six from a waiting tray in one go. You have no idea where he is putting them.

    You take a seat at your table, taking a moment to calm your nerves. The gala evening is actually an environment you feel comfortable in; on top of having a relaxing dinner you hope for the chance to talk to some prospective partners or business rivals. The Zaibatsu heads are chatting together as they make their way over from the bar, and you nod politely as you all take your seats.

    "Been a while since we sat down together. How are things on your side of the Tsushima Coast?"

    "Not too bad? You still playing nice with Funtelligence?"

    "As if Trevor is even leaving his house these days. It's… honestly a touch concerning."

    Judy is a sight for sore eyes and a much needed known quantity after the slowly rising… uncertainty of Hego, and Liv Amara smiles as brightly as her spotless PR would attest. "So nice to meet you Elizabeth- if I can call you that."

    "A pleasure then, Liv." You reply, taking the opportunity for a more immediate tone than you might have had. "I didn't know you were invested in the SRA."

    "Well, it's never really been my pet project." The CEO replies easily, "But you'd have to be blind to miss the Cape Fever that's been sweeping the coast. It's a good cause, and I wanted to support it.

    "Of course, there's no wonder why DEI is showing support." she continues. "Though I must admit I'm not familiar with you, Ms.-?"

    "Marshall, Francisca Marshall. I'm a consultant on Super Affairs. Here's my card-" Mezmerella leans over and offers a glitzy white business card that would be perfectly believable if you didn't know for a fact Mezmerella had printed it out five minutes before the flight.

    "I'm working with DEI on a Super outreach program. It's still in the early stages yet, but if all goes well," Mezmerella grins, gesturing idly at the scenery, "Well, it would be improper to say too much right now. Who knows what may happen."

    You smile wanly as Mezmerella stays just far enough away from actively committing you to a course of action. "Ms. Marshall is a relatively recent hire, but it seemed only appropriate to bring her to an event like this."

    "Ah, how are you liking DEI so far, then?"

    "I've found the work culture rather refreshing, honestly. So many characters! Take our bodyguards." Mezmerella says, grabbing onto the two remaining members of your entourage, who until now had been attempting to be inconspicuous, and dragging them over to the table. "Lizzy, dear, tell the woman about your ants."

    Lizzy blinks awkwardly. "Which ones?"

    Mezmerella turns away to order a drink. A strawberry mint martini.

    A moment passes.

    "No, seriously. Which ones. I have twenty-seven experimental broods in progress. Twelve of them are classified for various reasons."

    "Ooh, interesting." Liv perked up with a feisty smile. "What's your favorite?"

    Lizzy Intrigue Check: What should you be talking about here?
    DC 40/90
    25+31+3+18=77
    Partial success

    "I have been deeply fascinated by a recent colony of what superficially appear to be Lampyridae. However, I suspect these physiological similarities may be mere convergent evolution, or perhaps Batesian mimicry. They are able to produce a corona of harmful energy around their bodies via…"

    Lizzy trails off. "By a process I do not yet understand." She finishes in clipped tones.

    Liv chuckles. "Company secrets, huh? It's fine, I understand. But let me know if you think it could be worth a collaboration. I'm always looking for new things."

    You smile to see your employees acquitted themselves well on their own. This sort of… well, schmoozing, to put it bluntly, is exactly why you came here.

    That's what you keep telling yourself, anyway.

    You take a moment to look around the hall. The various other bodyguards are doing a better job of fading into the background than yours are, but you wouldn't trade any of them for yours in terms of actually doing their jobs. You doubt they've fought gargoyles before. You also eye the remaining seats at your own table. Shego hasn't shown up yet, but-

    "Well hello darhlings. So wonderful to see you all."

    Hmm. Out of all the people who could've shown up at your table, international fashion designer Edna Mode was not one you had expected. Edna Mode is a remarkably short woman, yet she seems to take up more space than her stature would suggest. She has a thick black bowl haircut and massive, round glasses that further emphasise her intense gaze. She hops into and immediately relaxes languorously in her chair, empty cigarette holder in one hand.

    "Ms. Mode." you greet her politely.

    Edna Intrigue Check: What do you know of this woman?
    DC 110/150 needed
    94+23+10=127
    Partial Success

    You see Edna's eyes narrow slightly. A moment too late, you remember her history as a fervent supporter of supers in the Glory Days, and as a regular designer to the heroes.

    "Mmmm, Ms. Peña." She replies, a hint of coldness about her tone. "A former employee of Kronos Corporation, yes? A firm with questionable motives, that one."

    "Yes, that's right." You admit, unsure how she gained that information. You choose your words very carefully "I left due to… philosophical issues, let's say. The things Kronos sponsored… never sat right with me."

    Edna Intrigue Check: DOES THE GIRL LIE?!?
    85+23+10= 118
    Mirage Opposed:
    4+31+3+29= 67
    Heavy Success

    You swallow reflexively, requiring a moment to compose yourself. You couldn't keep yourself away, but… perhaps coming here was a mistake. There are more people here likely to know something of your history than have gathered together in a long time. "So." You attempt to change the subject imperfectly. "You're here to contribute to the cause?"

    The woman huffs dismissively, but all the while her eyes never leave your face. "Of course darhling, it should be obvious. I'm here to witness an end to that abomination they call the SRA! The president didn't know what he was doing when he signed that thing into law. The whinging of one little ambulance chaser took down an entire civilization in one night!" She declares, leaping up with broad, jabbing motions. "I was there, you know. It was like the sinking of Atlantis."

    "Um, which president was that?" Marco questioned.

    "Irrelevant, darhling." She replies, waving him off. "But oh! What is with that getup, boy??"

    Edna actually, physically slaps your hired mercenary for the evening with the back of her soup spoon. "I do not care if you built an ensemble around it, a trenchcoat? In this weather? Feh! You look the fool. What simpled-minded stitch plucker coordinated that catastrophe?!?"

    "Uh… I did." Marco replied lamely.

    "I see." the woman replies, curling her lip and sounding, if anything, even more judgemental than before. "Regahdless. The past is in the past. What matters is what happens tonight. Martinez is going to try his bill regardless, he's staked too much of his reputation on it, but this evening is what will mark it in the eyes of the public. I still remember the Golden Age, but this event has been organized well. It is what people will see, will remember. It will put a cap on the whole grand undertaking…" she scowls, "so long as no one gets in the way…"

    You choose to remain quiet.

    Liv Intrigue Check: How much can you glean from this?
    DC 75/130
    66+34=100
    Partial Success

    Judy Intrigue Check: How much can you glean from this?
    DC 75/130
    81+21+15(Friends just know)=117
    Partial Success

    Out of the corner of your eye, you see Liv and Judy turn to each other at the rather attention-grabbing display that Mode is putting on. Exactly what they recognize seems unclear, but after a moment Judy does you the extremely appreciated service of changing the subject.

    "It's been a while, Elizabeth." she says gently. "I see you've already met Liv. How has life working for the Evilest company in the country been lately?"

    You chuckle awkwardly. "Well, it's certainly a handful. I-"

    "Excuse me." A faintly whingy voice interjects. "Is this my table?"

    You look up and see blue.

    Learning Check: Who is this?
    DC 90 needed
    53+11+30=94
    Bare Success

    You look over the unnaturally sapphire skin and scarred eye. For the longest time his face doesn't ring any bells, until, unbidden, the lyrics return to your mind.

    Got me a nasty scar
    and a funky-fresh flying car!
    Now Drew be Dr. Drakken,
    so quit that yakkin'!
    Think I'm out? Ha, I'm back in!

    'Dr. D's Brainwashing Shampoo and Cranium Rinse' was a terrible shampoo, all things considered. The ad campaign, on the other hand, was a lot more memorable. Frustratingly memorable.

    Mentally, you sigh. That jingle is going to take weeks to leave your head. "Dr. Drakken," you say, deliberately out of rhythm with the lyrics repeating in your head. "It's good to see you here tonight. With a company as invested in the cape scene as Drakktech, its CEO showing up at a function like this means a lot."

    Drakken glances around the room. "Ehh, where is Shego anyway? She knows I don't like meeting new people by myself!"

    Edna tsks. "Oh, that woman. So impunctual. I hate impuctuality, darhling. Shows lack of respect. She is lucky she pays well."

    "Tell me about it!" Dr. Drakken, the ostensible namesake of Drakktech, says. "All she ever does is complain nowadays. Oh, 'drug rings' this, 'mysterious robot' that, 'VR' the other thing. And every time I try to provide a sensible solution, like buying them out or kidnapping someone to reverse engineer it or trapping scores of college age nerds in a virtual duel to the death, she shuts me down before I can even finish explaining my scheme." The blue man sighs as you watch with mouth agape. "It's like we're not even trying to take over the world anymore. Ohhh, one of these days I'm going to give that woman a piece of my mind!"

    "Shego?" Mezmerella asks innocently.

    "What?!" Drakken starts. "Is she here!?!"

    "Relax, calm yourself blue one." Edna replies. "I was on the only flight leaving Middleton. Your master was nowhere to be seen."

    "Don't call her that!" Drakken scowls. "It'll go right to her head."

    "She'll need at least an hour to get the private jet fueled up," Edna drawls, "if she even remembered the event in the first place."

    ---

    Hundreds of miles away, in San Fransokyo, Shego fumed.

    "The party was supposed to start an hour ago." She growled. "Where is everybody?!"

    ---

    You take a moment to look over tonight's menu as Drakken prattles on about VR and 'that mysterious robot'. At first you were trying to figure out anything that might prove advantageous in dealing with Drakktech in the future; that priority quickly dropped in your mind when you realized just how little input Drakken actually had in the company bearing his name. It was hard to wrap your head around; he spoke, behaved, declared and rambled in a way that was… very familiar to you, yet this man's impotence was on full display. Doofenshmirtz, for all his faults, did things. Next to the Doctor, the man did not compare well.

    "-found it out in the Exclusion Zone of all things! Anyway, I'll have the brizzola." Drakken switches his attention to the waiter in an instant. "But I don't like the idea of an arugula salad, can you give it to me with watercress instead? And add some of that kiwi vinaigrette that they're using on the chicken Kiev. Don't you dare let them overcook it! And can you give me the Bordeaux? The Cabernet is too acidic for my tastes."

    After the waiter finishes taking your order, he coughs. "Excuse me. I'm sorry to interrupt, but we've had a slight… issue with our table placing, and I notice you happen to have an empty seat. Would you be willing to take one more person?"

    "It's been well over an hour. I see no reason why not." Liv Amara smiled, and the rest of the table gave a vague assent.

    Your first hint that something might be wrong was when the ambient temperature seemed to drop several degrees. Your second was the sickly sweet stench of formaldehyde that wafted over the table like a breeze through a morgue. A moment later, a swirl of black cloth took Shego's seat at the table.

    "Good evening, everyone." Judge Doom intoned.

    ---

    Who would you like to focus on speaking to over dinner?


    Choose two:
    [ ] Judy Silverman (Easy Diplomacy Check)
    Judy is someone you would consider a friend; you see no reason not to speak with her further and try to enjoy your evening.

    [ ] Liv Amara (Medium Diplomacy Check)
    You haven't had a chance to get a read on Ms. Amara, she's a complete mystery to you. A polite chat over dinner is a good chance to learn more.

    [ ] Dr. Drakken (Medium Diplomacy Check)
    Dr. Drakken is disturbingly similar to the Doctor in many ways and yet strikingly different in others. Despite his obviously subordinate position he might still know a few things worth knowing about the company Shego runs… or about the woman herself. Also, he fascinates you.

    [ ] Edna Mode (Hard Diplomacy check)
    Designer to the Demigods Edna Mode… suspects something. You don't know what, but you are very, very concerned.

    [ ] Judge Doom (???)
    The Specter of Cloverleaf is an unexpected addition to your table this evening. Despite the Doctor's… opinions, you have no personal grudge against the… admittedly very disturbing man. Perhaps he would be worth speaking with on less hostile terms?

    Optional:
    What to talk about? (May effect DC)
    [ ] Write-In
     
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    • [X] Edna Mode (Hard Diplomacy check)


    Judy is an easy convo partner with preestablished history with Mirage, plus if Glomgold is any indication this is prime networking opportunity, and Edna is just fun, plus if we manage to get her on board with doing something with DEI it could further expand the company and this is a very unexpected opportunity.

    Does anyone have any write in ideas for conversation topics?
    Edit:
    [X] Liv Amara (Medium Diplomacy Check)
    Judy doesn't seem to be winning so I'll shift my vote to this one.
     
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