Winning Vote
Green Flame Rising (Exalted vs Dresden Files)
- Thread starter DragonParadox
- Start date
- Crossover Fantasy
Arc 4 Post 13: Business Arrangements
Business Arrangements
8th of August 2006 A.D.
Briefly you consider asking Thomas to be a spy, it would not even be that much of a change from what he is doing already, all he would have to do is report to you... but what if he got caught though? The same lack of knowledge you would be seeking to redress means you cannot asses risk and looking on the desperate hope in those blue-grey eyes you can't be sure he's going to do it properly either. The last thing you want to do is get people hurt out of ignorance. What if instead of that...
"Can you handle money and stuff?"
"Yes," he seems surprised by the curt of the question. "I own a salon, more of a combination of boutique and salon really, we make good coffee as well. It's called the Coiffure Cup."
"Sounds fancy," you note trying to be neutral. Privately you think it is the kind of place you would not be caught dead in you can do your own hair and not pay forty dollars for the privilege. Well I could now... those fifteen thousand dollars linger uneasily in the mind. "I'm going to need a financial agent, someone who can talk to lawyers and accountants while not getting spooked by me making diamonds, fixing up wreaks from the junkyard or er... looting the bad guys."
A small smile twitches at the corners of his too-perfect mouth. "The bad guys?"
"I'll know them when I see them. For now I wold like options for the diamond clearing business, both artificial and seemingly natural. I do not mind paying tax, I do mind explaining how I do it since the explanation starts with 'conjure otherworldly tools'."
As you start getting into the details Thomas leans back a little, seeming on firmer ground. He asks about the color of the stones, if you can cut them and if so in what style. If he is surprised by any of the answers he does not show it. Maybe he has just run out of his capacity to feel shock for the day. Regardless once he gets the details he reaches out his hand. "That sounds like a good deal. Too good almost but..." He closes his eyes as if to blind himself to his own doubts. "Harry trusts you and whatever else I do know who your father is."
"It almost feels like I should be insulted at the lack of trust for my own sake but... yeah I have a feeling I'm gonna have to get used to this."
As you shake on it you can feel the pale spark that is Thomas' hunger again, though unfortunately it shines far too faint to give you any lasting sense of his presence. You would not be able to track him if he gets kidnapped by it or anything.
To judge from the spring in his step as he bounces off his seat the threat of kidnapping is very much not on Thomas' mind. "Thank you Molly."
"No, thank you for your services," you reply firmly. "You are going to get paid for this once I have all my ducks in a row, medical and dental too if I can help it, nothing about the metaphysical perks precludes mundane ones."
Thomas Raith becomes your Financial Agent
New Finance options Unlocked for next turn
"This is a bit surreal you realize?" he laughs.
"Only a bit?" you counter in like manner. The thought of having subordinates still made you nervous, but at least he's not that much older than you are.
"The pari are not consumed by the ravages of old age as swiftly as mortal men are my lady," Usum notes at the back of your mind, efficient as always.
Might as well ask. "This is going to sound weird, but how old are you?"
"Thirty eight."
Two years younger than mom. OK Molly if you can handle drawing a helfire sword out of your heart and grinding yourself in armor of broken idols that proclaim your glory you can handle a thirty eight year old employee. "So I realize this may make me the least qualified boss in the history of bosses but what else can you tell me about yourself, your family, do you need certain days off for your business or...?"
And that is how you find out that the vampire you hired to handle your so far non-existent finances is the son of the head of House Raith, the White King himself. Way to not draw attention to myself there. But you cannot regret helping, not when you recall how desperate he had looked moments ago. Given that he has not drawn too much attention helping out Harry and even dad he can's be that noticeable. Apparently Thomas has been doing his best to keep a low profile and get people to underestimate him so he can stay out of the viper's nest that is the politics of the White Court.
When he talks about his sisters you get the feeling that he only really likes the youngest, Innari who is in fact only a few years older than you, but she's gone out west to get some distance from their father. Another familiar name pops up in conversion though 'Lara', his eldest sister, unless you are very much mistaken the woman on the other end of the conversation at the police auction, the one who had known who Black Rider used to belong to. Even though Thomas does not like to talk about much and you don't press him you get the sense that while Thomas might not like her he respects her... and fears her as well. In fact it almost sounds like he fears her more than he does his father makes no sense when compared to his account of how much power the White King has. No matter how 'cautious' said vampiric overlord might he you would think Thomas would be worried about him suddenly choosing to act on some long term scheme.
You Gain 1 Essence -> Now at 12/12
"Oh.. one more thing," you say as he gets up up from the table. "Do you have a phone?"
"Yes, of course, let me send you my number..."
"Yes that, but also I can offer something a bit more elaborate, if you want to of course." You explain Clippy and the rest of her kin, their powers and limitations, from the ability to search the internet at inhuman speeds to being able to act on their own initiative to ask for help in a pinch and quietly record conversations while being to all outward appearances off. You make no attempt to hide that they are loyal to you above all else, though you promise not to misuse their help to snoop into anything private.
He considers if for a long while. "Would you be willing to put one of these helper demons in the phone of a friend of mine as well?" he asks at length.
"If they agree to it sure," you answer simply. That is the 'someone he needs to protect', you realize at once.
You agree to meet with Justine, as you find her name is, tomorrow and explain all this stuff, the demons, the oath, the quieting of the hunger.
Unfortunately it turns out that Thomas does not know much about the subject you had come here to talk about, the vampires of Undertown. Even though all of them are rumored to be relatively young, 'you do not see your first century by throwing away all the things life is worth living for' it is said among the vampires of the White Court. Most of them are not Raiths or Raith clients even. According to Thomas those who feed on lust have a comparatively easier time coming to terms with their Hunger than the Malvora, or especially the Skavis.
Needing to literally feast on despair to live, Yeah you can see what. Just giving them control of how much they feed does not seem like enough, though pie in the sky purification plans aside you cannot think of how to do more.
For tomorrow you have to descent into the sewers to talk to vampires... and maybe ghouls. Something tells you you will need all the help you can get persuading them to follow you.
How does Molly descend into Undertown offering salvation to the accursed?
[] Write in stunt
OOC: Since this is your first time playing dark savior I figured a stunt vote we in order. Good luck.
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Rolls
Something odd is going on with the White Court
Tomorrow's nightmare roll (Reason I did this was if you had botched it would have rather derailed the next day)
Something odd is going on with the White Court
Tomorrow's nightmare roll (Reason I did this was if you had botched it would have rather derailed the next day)
I would agree, the inability of a fey to tell an untruth and not a derangement, the difference with a White Court's lack of control is that control does get better with age, it is something which can be improved upon. By contrast fey do not become more capable of lying as they age no matter what they do.
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- Location
- Earth
If she is Nemesis infected already we either get a Nemesis infected cyberdemon or we severely crimp the infiltrator's style
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Hopefully we're early enough in the timeline that she hasn't been infected yet.
But she was infected through Kravos, wasn't she?
So, it is very probable that she is under Nemesis' control currently.
- Location
- Germany
For the current vote, I think I would prefer to just start working and see if any ghouls or gribblies get curious and show up.
- Location
- UK
I wonder how much they actually need to eat to survive. It's a grim thought, but working in a hospital or such might see a fairly reliable amount of despair, and so long as it's enough to survive they won't suffer thanks to the charm, as I understand it? With Clippy it shouldn't take too much more help to get them some basic job around there, janitor or something, then can lend them enough to learn to be a nurse.
Also not been keeping up with discussion, what effect would it have on ghouls? Would it allow them to subsist on animals?
MMP takes care of feeding issues. Exalted provided food can server for any emotion or food.
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Funeral services would also offer a lot of despair to feed on regularly, specialise in open caskets and viewings and that should cover a lot of light feeding opportunities.
Haunted houses and extreme adventure experiences would do fear, parachuting and bungee jumping would net a lot of fear, especially beginner courses.
It would be useful if Molly could make some kind of storage vessel for the needed emotions, maybe some kind of array in a building that traps the desired emotion and life force in a carafe or something as a liquid to drink.
- Location
- Russia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
"of the stones"?
A despair collector could probably work as a judge, or a prosecutor, or anything, really, related to criminal justice system. Hell, a private detective would be a good job.
fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
Part of the trick is we need to get them to do a service for us of some kind before we explain, because their is little chance that they believe us unless they feel it for themselves. Or when shear weight of word of mouth makes our ability common knowledge.
Also they aren't going to know who our father is or any other recommendations so when offering a deal this unbelievable we might actually get better results if we play to dark overlord themes. They can be pleasantly surprised when the substance is much lighter then the flavor.
But the first problem is finding them in the first place. Undertown is a fairly big place.
Also they aren't going to know who our father is or any other recommendations so when offering a deal this unbelievable we might actually get better results if we play to dark overlord themes. They can be pleasantly surprised when the substance is much lighter then the flavor.
But the first problem is finding them in the first place. Undertown is a fairly big place.
- Location
- Brazil
Easy to solve, the combo MMP + MiS will make them very loyal and feed energies both for their normal function and to have an ethical source of power and which we have no problem for them to do their supernatural acrobatics and make them more useful.
I personally think that it's not so much what they need to live, because if that were the case they would have died a long time ago, but something to calm their hunger (and avoid associated accidents), that is, psychological stabilization, and maintain the ability to do supernatural deeds, i.e. source of supernatural energy.
Without it they die very quickly, either by suicide, being killed for being too unstable and thus a danger to others or for not having the power to defend themselves from supernatural or mortal threats.
This.
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fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
So anyone have better ideas for stunts then just going full intimated and saying "You work for me now!"
I wonder how that would actually work. Nemesis is bullshit, but it'd still be directly wrestling with an exaltation if it wanted to make them betray us. Something even fallen angels would hesitate to do, and in some contexts (like the crown) seem to make the white god hesitate.
I'm curious if it would actually try it anyway, or attempt to rules lawyer something useful that doesn't technically count as betrayal but still provides an advantage.
They might also make for interesting therapists for certain kinds of issues, as long as their hunger is numbed. The ability to detect despair and how best to cause it in any given individual could be turned to picking out how to reduce it after all.
Being successful would slowly make their patients less useful food sources, but if they work as a specialist they could simply refer those people to long term care providers and start over again with new cases.
Since the sort of Skavis we're likely to recruit is likely to be emphatic enough to be horrified by what they need to do to live it seems reasonable they'd deeply appreciate being able to turn it to something constructive.
Molly: "The catch is that all indications are that I will be a bigger trouble magnet than Harry"
Thomas: ...
Thomas: "I hope you can find someone else to help you on your ventures, but I don't think this job is the right fit."
Thomas:*Immediately books a trip to Europe for him and Justine where they can bum on Innari's couch*
Feeding intensifies the emotion fed upon. "All my sexual partners are filled with lust" is a lot easier to deal with emotionally than "None of my patients will take their meds, because they all think they will die anyway and don't want to deal with the side effects"
- Location
- Georgia
nice update!
On the diamond bit tho. On one hand it's risky. Diamonds aren't expensive because they are that rare, they are expensive because they are very monopolized. It's basically a legal mafia. Volume is also a problem. Now, restoring old shit is better. Could also try producing exotic materials that are needed in science/magic, but are too complicated/expensive to make in needed quantities.
Another way would be to trade in yomi-wan when/if that will be available (yes they do trade in things beyond souls). Their demands may be weird, but gold is very cheep down below (by WoD canon).
On the diamond bit tho. On one hand it's risky. Diamonds aren't expensive because they are that rare, they are expensive because they are very monopolized. It's basically a legal mafia. Volume is also a problem. Now, restoring old shit is better. Could also try producing exotic materials that are needed in science/magic, but are too complicated/expensive to make in needed quantities.
Another way would be to trade in yomi-wan when/if that will be available (yes they do trade in things beyond souls). Their demands may be weird, but gold is very cheep down below (by WoD canon).
Fear right? RPG has one of those that feeds by bulling bikers
Leadership covers commanding attention right? Add a dash of blasphemy and ancient power and we'll be cooking with gas.
[] Plan Luke 19:10 "For the son of man came to seek and save the lost"
-[] Use leadership, empathy, and intimidation excellencies as appropriate.
-[] Dump a water bottle filled with olive oil over Molly's head before descending to activate BSM
--[] As she descended into undertown Molly made no attempt to hide her presence, striding with confidence into a darkness that welcomed her home.
--[] Like a stone dropped in a still pool, her presence rippled out ahead of her; shining like an unseen beacon and singing praises through the countless tongues of the winter wind. Yet somehow, what should have driven back instead drew forward; the weight of something more than a threat coloring its intent.
—[] Coming to a flooded intersection Molly continues her pace unabated, crossing the chamber without leaving so much as a ripple on the surface of stagnant water.
—[] As she reaches the halfway point, dozens of eyes emerge from the dark, reflecting a green flame that isn't physically there.
—[] As she finally stops, Molly regards her audience and begins to speak.
Alternately,
[] Plan Revelations 3:20 " Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."
-[] Use leadership, empathy, and intimidation excellencies as appropriate.
-[] Dump a water bottle filled with olive oil over Molly's head before descending to activate BSM
-[] Sneaking down to the undertown, Molly carried with her two duffel bags and a backpack packed with spam. Wandering for a while, she allows eyes to gather around her in the dark before stopping in an abandoned railway station. There she turns, drops her burdens, and flares her anima in one breath.
-[] "You have wandered lost for a long time. Come eat with me; speak of what dreams you once had, and I will speak of what might yet be found"
-[] As small a meal, more of a snack really, proceeds Molly turns to each once and asks for a name and story; attempting to learn what their hungers have taken from them. Then she makes them an offer. Support her in making things better, and she will support them in turn.
—[] assign those who agree to keeping people away from the last station and reaching out to others who might take her deal.
These might be a little much, and the dialog for the second could use some work, but I like the imagery.
The first is pretty striking in a dark empress kind of way, and the idea of ghouls eating a token meal from our hand before casting off their hunger through service to her is compelling in a "dark baptism" kind of way.
[] Plan Luke 19:10 "For the son of man came to seek and save the lost"
-[] Use leadership, empathy, and intimidation excellencies as appropriate.
-[] Dump a water bottle filled with olive oil over Molly's head before descending to activate BSM
--[] As she descended into undertown Molly made no attempt to hide her presence, striding with confidence into a darkness that welcomed her home.
--[] Like a stone dropped in a still pool, her presence rippled out ahead of her; shining like an unseen beacon and singing praises through the countless tongues of the winter wind. Yet somehow, what should have driven back instead drew forward; the weight of something more than a threat coloring its intent.
—[] Coming to a flooded intersection Molly continues her pace unabated, crossing the chamber without leaving so much as a ripple on the surface of stagnant water.
—[] As she reaches the halfway point, dozens of eyes emerge from the dark, reflecting a green flame that isn't physically there.
—[] As she finally stops, Molly regards her audience and begins to speak.
Alternately,
[] Plan Revelations 3:20 " Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."
-[] Use leadership, empathy, and intimidation excellencies as appropriate.
-[] Dump a water bottle filled with olive oil over Molly's head before descending to activate BSM
-[] Sneaking down to the undertown, Molly carried with her two duffel bags and a backpack packed with spam. Wandering for a while, she allows eyes to gather around her in the dark before stopping in an abandoned railway station. There she turns, drops her burdens, and flares her anima in one breath.
-[] "You have wandered lost for a long time. Come eat with me; speak of what dreams you once had, and I will speak of what might yet be found"
-[] As small a meal, more of a snack really, proceeds Molly turns to each once and asks for a name and story; attempting to learn what their hungers have taken from them. Then she makes them an offer. Support her in making things better, and she will support them in turn.
—[] assign those who agree to keeping people away from the last station and reaching out to others who might take her deal.
These might be a little much, and the dialog for the second could use some work, but I like the imagery.
The first is pretty striking in a dark empress kind of way, and the idea of ghouls eating a token meal from our hand before casting off their hunger through service to her is compelling in a "dark baptism" kind of way.
fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
Maybe Molly should walk through undertown with her anima banner held high? Anyone who doesn't flee from her should take her offers seriously. When it comes down to it we only really need to get one minion to start out with who can help us pass word around.
[X]Molly walks through undertown with her body wet and anima banner held high. She calls out "Do not be afraid for I bring good news!"
Do not be afraid—I am with you! I am your God—let nothing terrify you! I will make you strong and help you; I will protect you and save you. "Those who are angry with you will know the shame of defeat. Those who fight against you will die and will disappear from the earth. I am the LORD your God; I strengthen you and tell you, 'Do not be afraid; I will help you.'"
[X]Molly walks through undertown with her body wet and anima banner held high. She calls out "Do not be afraid for I bring good news!"
Do not be afraid—I am with you! I am your God—let nothing terrify you! I will make you strong and help you; I will protect you and save you. "Those who are angry with you will know the shame of defeat. Those who fight against you will die and will disappear from the earth. I am the LORD your God; I strengthen you and tell you, 'Do not be afraid; I will help you.'"
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- Location
- Germany
[X] You can't think of any single action that would draw the dwellers here to you without scaring most of them away, so you simply start fixing up the old station for Porter. In time those with some curiosity in them would come of their own free will, making for a more receptive audience.
fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
[X] You can't think of any single action that would draw the dwellers here to you without scaring most of them away, so you simply start fixing up the old station for Porter. In time those with some curiosity in them would come of their own free will, making for a more receptive audience.
-[x]Bring some extra food and cash. If any onlookers come offer it for help on the project.
Actually this is likely the best way to go about things.
-[x]Bring some extra food and cash. If any onlookers come offer it for help on the project.
Actually this is likely the best way to go about things.
When people come to us in curiosity we should start giving them minor tasks like "hold this nail" or "hand me that tool" and let our power demonstrate itself.