Add automatic successes when attacking Tokyo.
Green Flame Rising (Exalted vs Dresden Files)
- Thread starter DragonParadox
- Start date
- Crossover Fantasy
So, I think we should discuss what we are doing next month about now. We have:
1) School. And am I the only one who wants to see an interlude from the perspective of Molly's teacher / principal? Because from a mundane outsider perspective, Molly's transformation from a bad seed into ... whatever the hell she presents as now - genius, millionaire, playgirl, philanthropist should be, at best, head scratching. Especially if we do get admitted to Harvard.
2) Rosie. This is the month she's due, correct? If so, we have to look for housing for her. A lot here depends on whether we go to Harvard. A lot of calculations have changed since Odin made the offer, but I think we might still want to take him up on that. If the place is really ripe for the taking, we should grab it, and establish our domain over it. Harvard is not a bad place to serve as a staging ground for Courts expansion. Anyway, we need to handle Rosie's living conditions, and we need to handle the safety of her child. And probably check whether it has a destiny of some kind, or a wizard's gift.
3) Vegas. We agreed to do this, and it is rather important.
That's three actions that are damn near mandatory. We are left with three more plus two action extensions via malcoffee. I propose the following:
4) Give Porter his armored train body. This serves a triple purpose: defensive, as it strongly buffs the defenses of Last Station, political, as it improves our relationship with Porter, and strategic, as it's likely a part of the process by which we convert Last Station into a proper manse (and oh, that's more than worth the effort). It's a large scale project, which is why I think we should use action and two extensions for it, but that's definitely arguable.
5) Brother Devsimar. We have been neglecting him for some months, and we should probably take him to our kingdom too.
6) Either Harvard action (we are actually overdue if this was a normal admission, but I hope we are still capable), if we are going, or investigating and securing NeverNever around Last Station (if we are doing it, we should take it as an action + extension, I feel).
I definitely feel that we should spend effort on securing our homefront, as we kicked over enough anthills to expect retribution.
1) School. And am I the only one who wants to see an interlude from the perspective of Molly's teacher / principal? Because from a mundane outsider perspective, Molly's transformation from a bad seed into ... whatever the hell she presents as now - genius, millionaire,
2) Rosie. This is the month she's due, correct? If so, we have to look for housing for her. A lot here depends on whether we go to Harvard. A lot of calculations have changed since Odin made the offer, but I think we might still want to take him up on that. If the place is really ripe for the taking, we should grab it, and establish our domain over it. Harvard is not a bad place to serve as a staging ground for Courts expansion. Anyway, we need to handle Rosie's living conditions, and we need to handle the safety of her child. And probably check whether it has a destiny of some kind, or a wizard's gift.
3) Vegas. We agreed to do this, and it is rather important.
That's three actions that are damn near mandatory. We are left with three more plus two action extensions via malcoffee. I propose the following:
4) Give Porter his armored train body. This serves a triple purpose: defensive, as it strongly buffs the defenses of Last Station, political, as it improves our relationship with Porter, and strategic, as it's likely a part of the process by which we convert Last Station into a proper manse (and oh, that's more than worth the effort). It's a large scale project, which is why I think we should use action and two extensions for it, but that's definitely arguable.
5) Brother Devsimar. We have been neglecting him for some months, and we should probably take him to our kingdom too.
6) Either Harvard action (we are actually overdue if this was a normal admission, but I hope we are still capable), if we are going, or investigating and securing NeverNever around Last Station (if we are doing it, we should take it as an action + extension, I feel).
I definitely feel that we should spend effort on securing our homefront, as we kicked over enough anthills to expect retribution.
fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
Nether were the dragon kings and they were a species.
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If we ever get into a position that requires international diplomacy with mortal nations we need to make one of them is our ambassador to Japan.
They were designed as some initial higher power experiments by autochthon though. They're not exalts but they're definitely more like fleshy spirits than mortal creatures.
That does sound funny, Molly has been making waves lately.
I hope we go for taking over a lower density area sounds like a good opportunity. Maybe we could even branch out to seizing territory using university connections as our cover to set up a little supernatural kingdom of our own.
We should probably stock up with an absurd number of healing potions, and possibly a supernatural pain killer or two.
The first because having kids does nasty shit to your body and on the spot supernatural healing seems like it'd counteract it better than natural healing.
The second because Rosie has issues with drugs that will probably extend to painkillers. If we can make something that involves less traditional needle and pill looking stuff we might be able to talk her around to using it.
- Location
- Canada
On the subject of Harvard, Johann was apparently targeting the wizard with the most supporters in the non-Western nations, including Asia and South America. Most concerningly, we know OOC that a possible replacement is Gregori Cristos, an asshole with influence matched only by his stupidity (He wanted peace with the Red Court and threatened succession from the White Council whilst in the midst of an existential war)
We don't even know if he's of the Black Council or not, given we only asked who was a part of Gorfel's group, not a general description of all the traitors in the White Council. Thankfully he hasn't gained power yet what with LaFortier still being alive, not to mention in canon he gained said power because of all the LaFortier supporters who got surprise ganked by Peabody's mistfiend combined with his success fighting the Rakshasa in India, two things we could very well affect. The first by revealing Peabody in a better setting, the second by lending a hand with whatever war happened in India (and it is a war, in White Night there were a bare handful of Wardens left in North America because everybody was in India fighting said big bad and "his forces of old bad guys", which implies less an incident and more an actual war to go with the Red Court-White Council cage match)
All of this we probably won't find out just from going to Harvard, but even if our presence shifts the enemy's timeline we still have a few years before the Rakshasa at least starts acting out enough to draw the Wardens. Peabody though, we should be more proactive and taken down fast before he tries to balance the scales back in favor of the Red Court after we just got done shifting things in favor of the White Council.
The simplest solution here is to point McCoy at him. He won't immediately go after him, but he will investigate and prepare for either us or Peabody screwing over the council instead of just assuming we're playing stupid games.
We can pass the information to other parties as we establish a firmer understanding with the council, but we might as well get someone working the problem now.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
@DragonParadox theoretically, would 'moving outwards from Chicago, work to identify low-level magical talents, secure them against danger (either financially or violently) and build a proper picture of the key players' be a valid mission? I want Molly to have a shallow understanding of the... situation in the region at large.
fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
That seems like the sort of thing that we can do after our people establish a more proper foothold.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
I think we need at the very least a sitrep of the geographic area first. We don't know what we don't know. There might be resources we can draw on; communities of ghouls, talents running scared and alone, or just organised crime. All of these can be drawn into our power base.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
I still like the idea of leaving Chicago for Harvard. I hope we end up choosing this route. It'll give DP far more room for world building and us a new place to spread our wings rather than the very familiar Chicago.
fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
I guess that we can. It isn't as if we Chicago is full of resources to mine that we are missing especially since we have already joined the Ordo. Also we can delegate our current responsibilities to our kingdom people.
But we still need some sort of bait actually drawing us to Harvard.
Modus_Tollens
SCREAMING AT THE APOCALYPSE
- Location
- ALSO SCREAMING.
Personally I'm not entirely sold on heading to Cambridge myself. It would be a valuable foundation if we are going the whole Wolfram and Hart route, both the university and the location being the hub for movers and shakers. Cambridge is right on the cusp of a pharmaceutical and genetics boom, adjacency to both Harvard and MIT being the initial spark but then fledgling industries just kind of feeding on each other. And enough powerful people go through it that, while not to the memetic level of fucking Yale, its going to have some illuminati ties. Literal or figurative illuminati is anyone's guess.
But Chicago is ripe for our expansion regardless just because its seen better days. It has an underbelly and so much of what we care about is that underbelly. Where people's natures lead them down unhappy paths, where civilization won't or sometimes can't either give someone a fair shake or else hold them accountable, where people who were always disposable just might become something better. We might need a more professional cover to grant us legitimacy but we've barely begun empire building here.
I wonder what Lash would say here if we raised these points. Both sides have major self-serving components and she's probably the best person for villain-adjacent advice. Or will be once she gets her head together.
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- Location
- Brazil
I'll have to disagree with you in this, Chicago does not have clear points for expansion, where other people and factions can enter easily, as there are representatives of several supernatural superpowers in the city, such as Dresden being one of the Warden Commanders of the WC, being the residence of both the Queen Branca (strengthened by our help in cleaning up some deserters) and a Knights of the Cross, apart from the influences of the two Fae courts. We can only develop more or less smoothly here because we are natives and have contacts and agreements with the powers in the area and even then I fear we have to be careful not to step too much on other people's feet.
At Harvard we are explicitly informed that the ancient dark wizard that Odin killed had cleared all other mystical powers to avoid problems and after his death there was a clean slate, with only a few small organizations that could never control the City. Leaving aside its advantages on the mundane side that you already mentioned, its true value for us is that we can totally dominate the city without fear, be the boss of the supernatural side and be able to make decisions or shape the supernatural culture of the city without being afraid or careful of others grand powers.
That's why Harvard will have my vote.
Yes, but also there aren't that many of them so they would not make it far and there would be a significant risk of exposure
fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
Things is a big part of our current 'be boss of the supernatural side' stick is our social advantages against lesser Creature of Darkness. So a place that doesn't have a bunch of ghouls, whamps, etc isn't actually a great place for us to expand influence.
Modus_Tollens
SCREAMING AT THE APOCALYPSE
- Location
- ALSO SCREAMING.
And those are the main individuals we want influence with. They are the demographic simultaneously most fucked over and most likely to fuck other people over, the place our influence is the greatest help. Our touch takes away the hunger of that which preys upon humanity, softens compulsions, and our being there for them means they are free to live their lives as people. We're a bolstering force to both the White and Winter Courts while also a counterweight against their darker impulses, a persistent reason to be better than their worst. A lot of that goes away if we make ourself distant to their interests.
We're not aiming for power for power's sake. We're aiming to make a positive effect upon those who need it most in a way that nobody else can give.
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Hire Tiffany as a midwife? And maybe someone from the Courts? There's bound to be magic to deal with this.
The question is - what state do we leave Chicago in? And do we leave, or do we expand? With our kingdom being a thing, we can try expanding, rather than leaving. I.e. maintaining presence in both, even if we ourselves primarily shift to Harvard. Chicago's supernatural scene is going to be disrupted anyway due to Tiffany being a thing now, unless she moves out too. Especially because Tiffany's primary power source is cult building.
If we are moving out, we need to:
1) Arrange Rosie's secure housing
2) Arrange Cauldron security
3) Ensure Last Station security
4) Finalize whatever the arrangement we come up with regards to Olivia
If we are moving out, I think a reasonable strategy would be to work to consolidate some sort of Chicago's "ruling council", or, more likely, and seriously, a Chicago alliance, and capstone the whole thing with a god of Chicago as guardian / protector. And/or the manse, as it was said we that we could use it to enact protections over the whole city.
Vote closed
Arc 10 Interlude 4: Christmas Crush
Christmas Crush
24th of December 2006 A.D.
Matthew rolled his shoulders uncomfortably not just the the fact his sweater was starting to get a little tight around them or at the sudden heat of the church nave coming in out of the chill snowy Chicago winter that left his face looking like a moist tomato right where Jackie could see him. How lame was he, sneaking looks at a pretty girl in Church? Cool kids met girls at the mall or the creepy magic bookshop or the dojo. OK so maybe his standards were not entirely reasonable, the boy admitted, but it is not like Mrs Evens let her daughter out that much outside of school church service and various church related activities. This year she would co caroling though and he had managed to work up the courage to sign up. Please don't let Mrs Evens supervise, please don't let Mrs Evens supervise, he prayed, as heartfelt as any fourteen year old could.
The old priest's voice drew him out of his reverie: "With the New Year only a week away, some of you may already be making your list of New Year's resolutions. But for Christians the time for new resolutions is not New Year's Day but the festival of the Nativity. Today is a day of new beginnings, of possibilities that far exceed the trivial matters that till up the lists of New Year's resolutions."
Right, God probably wanted him to pay attention. Mathew wondered sometimes why God would reveal Himself in such a roundabout way. After being all knowing He had to know exactly the right confluence of circumstances that would make someone understand whatver truths they had to and then they could get on with making the world a better place, with making the lives of others brighter.
"Christmas is not, however, about resolutions, and Christian life is not a matter of willing to do something. It is about being given something, about receiving new life. Leo says Christ is the source of life for the Christian people. The biggest hindrance to growth in Christian life is to go it alone and to depend only on ourselves. It is as members of God's people, not as solitary individuals, that we grow in faith and love. For the fellowship of the Church is a vehicle of God's grace. The Christian people, no less than Christ, are a gift. We learn by example, from the lives of those who have gone before, the saints of old and the good and holy men and women who are in our midst today. Without the witness of others, with the example of parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, neighbors and friends, we would be far less prepared to embark on the new beginning Christmas offers."
Oh... Did God get upset at questions like that? Mathew wondered looking at his shoes. He apologized just be be on the safe side as the sermon concluded.
"Let the world then bid good-bye to its Christmas tomorrow morning. Let the silly carols cease, let the artificial trees be put back in their boxes, let the tinsel and garlands be thrown into the trash, and let tomorrow, the day after Christmas, be just like any other day. For the Church celebrates another festival, a Christmas that is old yet always new, a celebration that recalls a day long ago but delights in the presence of Christ who is alive still. He shall be there among us in his holy body and blood, and he will go from this place with us to whatever beginnings we face tomorrow and in the weeks and months to come. Christmas is a day of hope, the promise that only life can give. Tomorrow Christ is born, tomorrow we are born anew, the Church is filled with new life. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Glory to God in the Highest."
"So what were you thinking about?" Leech elbowed him on the way out. "Or should I say who?"
"I was thinking about God," Mathew answered stung, though the fact that they were still in church compelled him to add in a whisper even lower than the rest. "Mostly."
"Umhm," the sylable rose to near musical heights of doubt. "Well for those things you aren't paying too much attention to remember Molly's eighteen now which means she can chaparone the kids around if you ask her before she goes into town."
"Barely," Mathew tried not to get his hopes up, or at least sound like he wasn't.
"She also has super-powered fast talk, Wraith told me so," his sister replied.
Mathew Carpenter thus steeled himself and went to ask his sister if she would supervise carroling about the neighborhood, just not too closely.
What do you say to Mathew's request?
[] Agree, it is Christmas and all
[] Decline, you do not want to deal with Mrs Evens and your brother is better off avoiding her as well
[] Write in
OOC: On the plus side at least Mathew has a crush on a nice mortal girl... too bad it's the one whose mother Molly publically humiliated. No rolls for this one.
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And then she manifests a wizard's gift, or turns out to be a summer court fae changeling, or whatever.
[X] Agree, it is Christmas and all
- Location
- Virginia
[X] Agree, it is Christmas and all