In a large upscale skyscraper, a hidden figure sits with twenty different monitors sat in front of them.
"Operation A-112 was a success, distraction from the jewelry store distracted the cops long enough for Operation A-111 to succeed, the raid on a nearby warehouse that could not be done silently and retrieve three tons of depleted uranium for counters against Armor Master. Operation A-110 put into motion in a few weeks, must let the heat drop down."
Their eyes gaze at the screen for a few moments before pulling up the report done by Commander Beckett.
Frowning at that, they tap on a holographic keyboard and pulls up some reports.
"Broken jaw, bruised ribs, estimated recovery time a week, likely sooner based on the medical facilities the heroes have."
Closing the file on Slasher, they pull up three files marked by an "HfH" logo in the upper corner.
"Codename Monk, a local, no power, known to be quite fast and strong, good at fighting, and rapidly improving, no skill for leading, known to be a glutton."
Frowning the figure interlocks their fingers for a few seconds staring at them.
"No… not a fit for a leader, they seem more of a follower, has never taken initiative and lacks flexible thinking."
Dismissing his report, the figure pulls up the next file.
"Codename Sparky, from Vernom, basic electrokinesis power, similar to an electric eel, can fry electronics and apply it to metal weapons, a former kickboxer, kicked out as accused of taking drugs, false accusation."
Scrolling through the report they soon dismiss it.
"Not leader material, temper would make them easy to take out, doesn't deal well with surprises, and panics surprisingly easy."
Pulling up the last report they begin reading.
"Codename Goth, one of the few remaining in the deadly inheritance race, seems to want nothing to do with it, from the continent of Xenola, never unlocked their magic, was a part of the student council at their school, was the vice president and seemed to actually be more of a leader then the actual president, was trained to fight, is quite persuasive and is the one who distracted Slasher by immediately taking a hostage, a bluff? Or willing to do evil to complete the mission? Didn't do any meaningful damage to Slasher, but they joined not that long ago so to be expected, Slasher is a trained Hero as well."
Frowning they unscrew a thermos and pour a brown liquid out of it and slowly sip on it and sigh.
"Always nice to have a bit of hot chocolate… now where was I? Right."
Looking back at Goth's profile, they read over the rest of the report, and compare it to the report from Commander.
"While it was luck that they got the drop on Slasher, they reacted fast and turned the tables to buy their fellow henchmen time to react, could have potentially made Slasher surrender if Monk and Sparky didn't get the drop on him."
Looking at the profile picture of Goth, instead of dismissing the file, they move it into one labeled "Potential Promotion".
"Need more fieldwork, but has shown to be smart and a quick thinker, no powers but that doesn't mean much here, the only promising recruit this batch."
Picking up a small rag they wipe the blood away from their eyes, as their bright eyes dim.
"I pushed my ability too much today, at least I got a lot done."
They turn themselves around grabbing their thermos and lid mid-spin as their chair automatically moves towards the large open window near the back.
"I shall get my revenge, I will show them why you don't mess with the Calculator and make it a name that will forever go down in history."
The sun starts to set off over the horizon as they gaze at the orange sky.
"While I can't risk using Calculation any further today, I can still rely on my own brainpower… my company is doing well and no one suspects a thing, research into Armor Buster is proceeding as planned, henchman are of above-average quality lately, perhaps a small anonymous donation for Henchman For Hire?"
Taking a small sip of their drink they let out a small hum of thought.
"1.5 million should be small enough."
A small hologram projects from a watch on their wrist as they easily transfer the money to one of HFH's legal fronts.
They silently stare out the window as light vanishes and darkness overtakes the capital of Georoma.
"One day, this continent will be in the palm of my hand one way or another, no matter how long it takes me to calculate the answer."
[X] Plan Socialise and Adapt
-[X][Greg & Vinny]
--[X] Say you are interested but postpone it two weeks, you want to buy some things.
-[X][Safehouse 27]
--[X] Head to the gym, practice what? Unarmed +
--[X] Interact with your fellow co-workers, wouldn't be bad to make friends. +
--[X] Who the other villains in the city are, that could always be useful.
--[X] Lookup information online? About what? See what there is online about magic practices +
--[X] Work a bit on your awareness, maybe try some blindfolds and working on figuring out more with a sense handicapped?
--[X] Go check out the Weapon supplier.
[X] Plan let's go shopping!
-[X][Greg & Vinny]
-[X] None of your business, if Greg gets caught that is his own fault.
--[X] Up to put in input, like there probably better ways to get DNA. How does the door lock know what DNA are cops?
-[X][Safehouse 27]
--[X] Interact with your fellow co-workers, wouldn't be bad to make friends. +
--[X] Go check out the Weapon supplier.
--[X] Head out onto the city and explore. +
--[X] Head out into the city, buy something, what? No guarantee you will find it.
---[X] More clothes. Our plain shirt and jeans can't last forever. Sunglasses too until heat is forgotten.
---[X] Hand held / personal electronics.
--[X] Hang out with Gwen?
---[X] Any good local places to eat?( if we can ask them. Seems natural?) Try not to be as awkward and blurt out traits, skills, or we have 8 in Charisma.
"So how exactly does the door lock know what DNA are cops?"
Vinny speaks up here.
"Linked to a closed-circuit system in the capital, something we can't get access to even if we tried, it is super secure, it is updated once every 24 hours and only for a split second, no human could react fast enough to bypass it."
"And why does a cop have to die?"
Greg takes over the conversation.
"We need him alive to unlock the door to the Chief's office, he also needs to be conscious as it reads brain wave activity, they know we were doing something in his office, and likely scrap everything including his terminal meaning that the job would have been useless, a dead cop means we can stage it as a break-in into the armory or evidence locker, or maybe a personal grudge, Vinny here can easily manipulate the video feed once we give him access. Would just go in through the window but it can't be opened from the outside, and I don't want to break open the window as again they will trash the place and throw everything out."
Huh… a lot more thought was put into this than I thought, is there another way?
[][Greg's Plan]
-[] Advice? Write-in.
-[] "Sorry, I got nothing." Walking around the base, I soon end up in the mechanic's garage with a dozen people working all across the wide shop area, semes there is a hidden passage meant for cars to exit and enter which makes sense.
Moving onto the main floor, I am knocked over, only for a massive hand to grab me mid-fall.
Pulled back upright, I see a man in his 50's, wearing a simple dark blue jacket with oil stains all over it, with blonde hair turning grey, and very impressive facial hair. He is a giant of a man, nearing 6 feet and 5 inches despite his age, and he is built like a mountain, arms and legs as thick as trees, and wearing an old baseball cap on his head that says "Don't care for your opinion" on it, he speaks with a slight southern accent.
"Easy there boy, people are always in movement down here so a good awareness is needed."
"Er… sorry about that, I am still sort of new here and I was curious about the garage."
"Well shoot, can't blame you there, I am the sort of head mechanic down here but also not at the same time."
"Sort of?"
"Real leader is Freddy over there."
He motions at a man looking at a blueprint for some sort of car. Mechanics Roll DC 150: Roll 1d100 got 82+8. Failure.
I have no idea what is going on over there, so not even going to bother thinking of what they are trying to add to that car.
"I am the most experienced and the best mechanic, down here, most people even Freddy come looking for me when they need help, I am not much of a leader though, so Freddy was promoted, not like I care though."
"Well, nice to meet you I am Fred Addams."
He gives my hand a firm shake.
"Most people call me Pops, nice to meet you, Fred, now you just looking to learn? Or you just poking around?"
"More of the second, I don't know the first thing about mechanics."
He chuckles at that.
"The first rule is that anything is a tool if you are creative enough, I've used a shoelace to deal with a small wire before because someone ruined our wire cutters, by dropping them in acid, let me show you around, might catch your interest."
He shows me around the garage, the vehicle blueprint room, the garage where members keep their personal cards both legal and illegal, the workshop that can hold eight different cars at once, and more.
Huh… a lot more to this than I realized, all of the cars are fitted with a revolving license plate to lose the cops easier, the hard part was registering the duplicates, but Calculator dealt with that issue some years ago apparently and has some method of registering the same car under multiple different plates.
Don't know how, but that explains the van that Driver used, likely fitted here or another Safehouse with a garage.
After talking with Pops for a bit, I leave the garage, I have other things I need to do, and he needed to get back to work, and casually picked up an entire barrel of metal.
He is… strong, implants? Or a power? Slipping through a few dark allies, I eventually arrive at a metal door marked with a white lightning bolt laying over a red devil, the sign for the "Demon Strikers", which despite their name, are a big group of suppliers in the city.
Knocking on the door, a small hatch opens.
"Password."
Lowering my voice I speak it quietly.
"Valhalla."
The hatch closes as the door opens and I walk inside, a man covered in all sorts of implants being the bouncer, ignoring him I walk down a step of stairs into a large room with weapons everywhere, and at the far end is a man with dark skin and military fatigues sitting on multiple crates like some sort of throne, blood-red eyes staring at me with a grin.
"So a newcomer huh? People call me Mister V, as in Victory, you come here looking for weapons? I got weapons, not any of that good shit sadly, but good enough for people like you starting out, as long as you got the cash I won't ask any questions."
Standing up off his throne, he walks over and begins showing me his goods.
Powder Firearms [Pistols] $75
Powder Firearms [Rifles] $250
Powder Firearms [Shotgun] $250
Powder Firearms [Snipers] $550
RPG $2750
Laser Pistol: $1500. Deals Fire Damage. Runs on electricity.
Cryo Pistol: $2700. Deals Cryo damage, potential to freeze someone. Runs on electricity.
Tesla Pistol: $2000. Deals electricity damage, potential to stun someone. Runs on electricity.
Acid Pistol: $3000. Deals acidic damage, can eat through armor and weapons if not protected. Runs on Acid batteries.
Laser Rifle: $3500
Cryo Rifle: $5000
Tesla Rifle: $4000
Acid Rifle: $6500
Glue Rifle: $2000. Requires Glue ammo.
Powder Firearms ammo: $50 per box of 50.
RPG Ammo: $750 per rocket.
Acid battery: $500 per clip of 30 shots.
Glue Ammo: $200 per clip of 30 shots.
Mundane weapons: $50 each.
Rocket-Powered Sledgehammer: $1750. Requires fuel to power the rockets.
Taser Sword: $950. Requires electricity.
Acid Spear: $1150. Requires Acid batteries to function.
Invisi Knife: $2100. People can not see the blade, making it harder to fight against as they can't tell how long it is. Requires electricity.
Sound canceling knife: $2400. People can not hear it cutting through the air. Requires electricity.
Gauntlets w/ deployable hard-light shield built-in: $3500. Requires electricity, holdout weapon, and not easily discovered.
Blade that releases a weak blade of wind when swung: $3200. Requires electricity.
Sword Whip Water Sword: Requires water to function. $2500.
Sword that heats up the blade drastically: $2500, requires electricity. Have to replace the blade often.
Hydrokinetic manipulating spear: Requires electricity. Can manipulate 10 gallons of water at once if a source is available within 50 meters. $5500
Frag Grenade: $300 per grenade.
Incendiary Grenade: $600 per grenade.
Cryo Grenade: $2500 per grenade.
C4: $1000 per stick of it.
Smoke grenades: $90 per grenade.
EMP Grenade: $1,500 per grenade. Note this will not work on even the most basic of hero or villain.
[][Weapons]
-[] Write-in what you want from the lists above, this is all he has. Roll 1d100 got 63+6. Hit.
Walking around the city, I take in the sights and do my best to not stand out, thankfully that is much easier than it seems, no one really gives me more than a passing glance which fits me just fine.
Hearing a commotion, I go to check it out, only to see a man wearing a hard hat next to a closed manhole, as he lets out a stream of curses.
Walking over, I can't help but speak up.
"Hello there, is something the matter?"
The man looks up at me annoyed, not at me but in general.
"Asshole I was meant to be working with today ran off! Said how he didn't want to get in some dirty sewer to make sure the pipes are all working correctly."
I wonder…
"Want a hand then? I'll do it for $50 bucks."
He blinks at me before grabbing my hand and slaps something around my wrist which beeps.
"Glad to have you aboard! Hate going down there alone in case an accident happens, have an extra hard hat here."
Tossing it to me, I put it on as he slaps a flashlight in my hands.
"That bracelet will grant you access to the sewer system, it was put in place because criminals constantly fled down them, makes our job safer at least, come on now I will take the lead, I just need you to hand me tools if I need them, don't need to do anything else."
Following him down, it is a very stinky two hours of work.
Slapping the $50 in my hands, he grins at me.
"Thanks for the help, and don't worry about the bracelet, not like I am the one going to be charged if it needs to be replaced, and who knows might save your life one day."
Huh, well this could be interesting, not sure if Calculator has access to the sewers, which… well they probably do, but now I can access it myself and make a getaway if I need one.
Gained $50. Gained "Sewer Worker Bracelet"That unlocks any public manhole in the city. First things first, I pay for a pair of sunglasses before slipping them on, I don't want another scene with the cops after all, and now that is done, clothes shopping.
I want something casual, but also helpful, so darker colors, thankfully black is a favorite of mine, grabbing about seven sets worth of brand new clothing costs me $300, but it is worth it.
After that… electronics, question is, what do I want exactly?
[][Electronics]
-[] Phones? How many. $70 per phone.
-[] Digital Assistant. A program that helps manage your life and affairs. $500
-[] Arm Terminal. Like a laptop and phone, but attached to your arm. Can install hacking programs onto it. $750.
-[] Write-in? QM will veto if need be. Walking over to Gwen, she looks up from her small portable workbench.
"Fred, what can I do you for?"
"Seeing what's up, you busy or something?"
"Always have orders for explosives, while not as good as a grenade, my pipe bombs work in a pinch, and I can mass produce them at a decent rate."
"Really? What is your limit?"
"Assuming you pay upfront? About 40 a day. 30 for smoke."
"Huh… well know any good places to eat? I am new to this city."
"Depends, if you want cheap food, any chain fast food restaurant will do, if you want something good, Johnathan's down the block is good, more expensive than fast food, but the man knows how to cook."
Well, she seems busy, not like I can invite her, she does this to get paid and is likely on a schedule.
"Does he do take out? I can get you something?"
"Nah, I'm good, I ate already, thanks for asking though."
Well, there goes that, what else… this might be good.
"So tell me, anything interesting to do around here?"
"Not really no, this is a job after all, but off work… well I mostly just watch demolition derbies on the net."
"Huh, didn't know they did that here."
She grins up at me.
"Oh yeah, you should see the stuff people put in, flying cars, tanks, and more, it all depends on the day, but the sheer variety means you are never going to get bored watching it."
I just continue talking to her, and she is a girl who very much likes destruction in all forms, explosives, car crashes, knocking down buildings, anything, it is why she got into demolition in the first place.
Eventually, I bid her farewell when it strikes 9 PM, and head towards the bunk area, I need to get some rest for the future. You have six actions, anything with a + can be taken multiple times.
[][Safehouse 27]
-[] Head to the gym, practice what? Unarmed or Melee. +
-[] Head to the mechanics' workshop and practice that? +
-[] Interact with your fellow co-workers, wouldn't be bad to make friends. +
-[] Head to the command center, maybe you can learn something useful. Can pick two from the choices below. +
--[] Let's learn about other safehouses in the city.
--[] Some Hero Profiles? Could be useful. Gives you an additional bonus for recognizing a hero including what their powers and potential weaknesses might be.
--[] Fences, where I can sell stolen goods might be useful.
--[] One of the local black markets, could be useful.
--[] Some local places where I can buy goods that would normally require a background check, extra funds to buy them, but no paper trail leading it back to me.
--[] Who the other villains in the city are, that could always be useful.
--[] Suppliers of goods? Not drugs mind you, but of materials, weapons, medicine… all of that can be useful and people can be bought for a price.
--[] Get a map of the sewer system of the city.
--[] Write-in? Clear with QM first.
-[] Head out onto the city and explore. +
-[] Head out into the city, buy something, what? No guarantee you will find it.
-[] Lookup information online? About what? +
-[] Head to the local library? Study what? +
-[] Hang out with Greg and Vinny?
-[] Hang out with Gwen?
-[] Hang out with Pops?
-[] Go head to the Weapon supplier.
-[] Go check out the Medicine supplier.
-[] Go check out the Car supplier.
-[] Go check out the Material Supplier.
-[] Go check out the Armor Supplier.
-[] Go check out the Implant [Low Tier] Supplier.
-[] Pay Gwen to build you some explosives? [$80 for a pipe bomb, $120 for a Smoke Grenade] Free action, how many do you want?
-[] Write-in? Get QM approval first.
[X]Budgeting usefulness for the next job and the one after.
-[X] Advice and shopping parts
--[X] Advice? If there's two things even I know about electronic security is that, having a unbreakable password lock is meaningless if it is written on a post it note on the monitor, and that no one reads the license agreement if they are busy with life.
—-[X]So going over low tech solutions of bypass? Can't jam paper into door lock or otherwise tamper the door open? Can we make a new hole from somewhere or come in through air vents? Is there a possible to trick a cop option, a janitor cleaning ,a "inspector", need to change lightbulbs at odd time (who checks what goes into the office beside lock)? Can't (Trojan Horse) it in there or bribe a cop?
—-[X] I would say it would be good if getting past the door is just messing with a light switch then asking to be let in with nothing but a disguise and clipboard with generic work order lettering to check lights and computers. But it may just come to death if secrets need to be kept as plan B. (Don't need to know details like how backdoor gets installed, just get past the door and onto the computer.)
—[X][Weapons]
—-[X]Cryo Pistol: $2700.
—-[X]Gauntlets w/ deployable hard-light shield built-in: $3500.
—-[X]Mundane weapons: $50 each. Crowbar, Good for putting fear in inter-dimensional head crabs.(or any recommendations fora blunt lock breaker?)
—-[X]Mundane weapons: $50 each. Hefty Rescue Axe, example?(insulation in case cutting wires?)
—-[X] Mundane weapons: $50 Hidden Boot knife compartment. allows knives to be carried as if an accessories slot. Spen action to draw but hidden.
—-[X]C4: $1000 per stick of it. x1
—-[X]Smoke grenades: $90x3, 270$
—-[X]Frag Grenade: $300 per grenade. x1
—[X][Electronics] Look but don't buy? Ask Vincent, "Vinny" for advice to not get scammed.
—-[X] Phones? How many. $70 per phone. X2, 1personal, 1work
—-[X] Digital Assistant. A program that helps manage your life and affairs. $500 (if there's a user friendly starter?)
—-[X]No to Arm Terminal, laptop may be better. Arm slot got the Gauntlets.
—-[X] Write-in? Music player?, Flash light, Gaming?. got 640$ at end of plan.
-[X] the new week plans( same as Beastly's)
--[X][Safehouse 27]
---[X] Head to the gym, practice what? Unarmed +
---[X] Interact with your fellow co-workers, wouldn't be bad to make friends. +
---[X] Head to the command center, maybe you can learn something useful. Can pick two from the choices below. +
----[X] Who the other villains in the city are, that could always be useful.
----[X] Get a map of the sewer system of the city.
---[X] Lookup information online? About what? See what there is online about magic practices +
—-[X] Work a bit on your awareness, maybe try some blindfolds and working on figuring out more with a sense handicapped?
[X] Preperation for Power -[X][Greg's Plan]
--[X] Advice? If there's two things even I know about electronic security is that, having a unbreakable password lock is meaningless if it is written on a post it note on the monitor, and that no one reads the license agreement if they are busy with life.
—-[X]So going over low tech solutions of bypass? Can't jam paper into door lock or otherwise tamper the door open? Can we make a new hole from somewhere or come in through air vents? Is there a possible to trick a cop option, a janitor cleaning ,a "inspector", need to change lightbulbs at odd time (who checks what goes into the office beside lock)? Can't (Trojan Horse) it in there or bribe a cop?
—-[X] I would say it would be good if getting past the door is just messing with a light switch then asking to be let in with nothing but a disguise and clipboard with generic work order lettering to check lights and computers. But it may just come to death if secrets need to be kept as plan B. (Don't need to know details like how backdoor gets installed, just get past the door and onto the computer.) -[X][Weapons]
--[X] Powder Firearms [Pistols] $150 (2)
--[X] Powder Firearms [Snipers] $550 (1)
--[X] Mundane weapons: $50 each. (Glaive, 1)
--[X] Gauntlets w/ deployable hard-light shield built-in: $3500. Requires electricity, holdout weapon, and not easily discovered. (1)
--[X] Smoke grenades: $270 per grenade. (3) -[X][Electronics]
--[X] Phones? How many. $140 per phone. (2)
--[X] Electric Gas Mask (1)
--[X] Drone with Camera (1)
--[X] Portable Laptop (1)
--[X] Defribrilator Capacitor, Voltage Limiter, Electrical wires
-[X][Safehouse 27]
--[X] Head to the gym, practice what? Melee. + (with new weapons)
--[X] Head to the command center, maybe you can learn something useful. Can pick two from the choices below. +
---[X] Some local places where I can buy goods that would normally require a background check, extra funds to buy them, but no paper trail leading it back to me.
---[X] Any plans for local operations, like a heist or espoinage, that someone would accept help for, in exchange for money, materials, or secrets.
--[X] Look for a master of polearms, offer money to help train.
--[X] Head to the local library? Study magic, and bring your laptop with you for online help.
--[X] Head out into the city, buy something: Nightvision goggles, portable flashlight, bleach, handkercheifs (x3), lighters, first-aid kits (x2), compass, portable GPS, whistle, rope, climbing gear, swiss-army knive, pocket-knives (x5), rubbing alcholol (x2), gloves, compass, fire-starters, slip-resistant heavy-duty boots, 3-days worth of non-perishable food, 3-days worth of water, a set of workers tools, a duffel bag, utility jacket, game of chess, a trench coat, pepper spray, bag of marbles
Powder Pistol: Deals 6d10 damage, range of 250 meters. Holds 10 bullets. Loud. Holdout. 0/10 bullets. Durability of 75/75.
Powder Sniper: Deals 10d20 [Minimum of 100] damage, range of 1200 meters. Holds 6 bullets. Loud. Obvious. 0/6 bullets. Durability of 95/95
Glaive: Deals 3d12 slashing damage [minimum 12]. When fighting melee vs someone else, they can not hit you and have to beat your Melee skill to get into close range to hit you, unless they have a similar weapon. If they get close enough to hit you, take a -20 to hit them. Obvious. Durability of 200/200
Gauntlets w/ hard-light shield: When worn, unarmed is raised from 1d4 to 2d8. Battery of 2,000/2,000. When attacked, gain a +10 to not take damage, subtracting the damage from the hard-light shield if it is needed, if the damage is over 80 damage, the shield fails to protect you, and the remaining damage hits you. Holdout. Durability of 800/800.
Electric Gas Mask: Life span of 5 hours before needing to be charged again, negates any Gas check of 70 or lower.
Smoke Grenades: Radius of 20 meters, when used all people inside take a -95 to hit unless gear/traits negate this. Obvious.
Failed to get Defibrillator Capacitor, received everything else.
Spent $6,660 total. $3,500 remaining.
"Some advice? If there are two things that even I know about electronic security it is that, having an unbreakable password lock is meaningless if it is written on a post-it note on the monitor, and that no one reads the license agreement if they are busy with life. So to go over low-tech solutions of bypass. Can't you jam paper into the door lock or otherwise tamper the door open?"
Greg shakes his head at that.
"It is locked magnetically, wouldn't work."
"Can we make a new hole from somewhere or come in through air vents?"
"Wouldn't be possible without the hole being obvious, the air vents have a security system of their own preventing any drones from slipping in."
"Is it possible to trick a cop, or a janitor cleaning, maybe an 'inspector', needs to change lightbulbs at an odd time?"
"Most cops have cybernetics that connects them to the criminal database allowing them to scan your face to see if you are a criminal, wouldn't work if we run into one of them as I am a known criminal, it is why I want to just be in and out."
"Can you bribe a cop then?"
Greg frowns and looks at Vinny who is running something on a laptop.
After a few minutes, Vinny just scratches his chin.
"Well… that could work, would cost us about $2,000 a month, if you are willing to pay half, I'll cover the other half, Greg."
He frowns before sighing and nodding his head.
"Alright, fine, if this doesn't work though I am designating breaking in as a Plan B."
As Greg borrows Vinny's laptop to see who they can possibly pay off, it seems they have some sort of information network, something I lack, but that is something I can always get later.
Regardless while Greg seems annoyed, Vinny just mouths "Thank you" at me. Relationship with Greg and Vinny slightly rises. Roll 1d100 got 82. (0.2 * 8) = 1.6
Walking into the gym, I take out my new glaive and adjust my stance a few times, before swinging, the glaive cutting through the hologram target with ease, before showing the damage I caused with my swing and the amount of force I used.
Hmm… maybe more wind up before I swing? The attack wasn't that deep.
Adjusting my hands on the glaive, I pull my attack back a bit farther before swinging, I know I am not the bulkiest person, but I at least dealt good damage that time, something to cause bleeding at least.
Moving my feet again and lowering my center of mass, I swing once more, all in an attempt to get used to how it feels compared to other weapons, heavier than a sword, but lighter than a hammer, if I had super speed, this would be a lot more deadly in my hands, calvary used to be famous for using weapons like this after all, or was that the halberd?
Well, they are similar in shape, and I never claimed to be a historian.
Taking a small breath, I continue to swing and try to get used to this weapon. Gained 1.6/25 until ??? Trait. Sitting at one of the terminal's I begin looking up information, and I find nothing relating to any local operations, seems if I want to gain extra cash or experience, I am going to have to do a heist on my own with some others.
It is a shame, but it also makes sense, you wouldn't want to broadcast any future plans you want to do, as someone might steal it right from under you.
In regards for local places I can buy goods, I did discover the local black market, and from what I am seeing it is well out of my price range, they have better stuff, but it is very expensive, the lowest-priced thing I can see costs $20,000.
Stuff is likely priced rather expensive there, but in return, I can get stuff I normally wouldn't be able to get otherwise such as military-grade gear, or potentially hero gear. Polearm teacher DC ???: Roll 1d100 got 13+6+2. Failure.
Honestly, I can't find a single polearm teacher in this city, like I know it isn't exactly a popular weapon compared to a sword, but you would think there would be at least one teacher, but none that I have found.
This was a bit of a waste of time, but I got some shopping done at least, took me $1,500 for all of it, meaning I am down to $2,000 now, might need to hold off on spending, or I need to go rob another jewelry store or something.
I… honestly don't know why I bought a majority of this stuff, sure I can think up some uses, but a majority of this stuff is rather situational. Research Roll: Roll 1d100 got 92+20[Magical Mind]+8. (12 * 0.2) = 2.4.
Sitting down in the library, I focus on delving into something I neglected back home, magic.
While it is way beyond me to mix technology and magic, I should at least learn how to do a little bit of everything, and as such that includes magic, it will take me a while to learn how to unlock it, and requires about $1500 worth of ingredients.
Once I am prepared, I can try to unlock it with the ritual meant to kick start the magical system in a human's body, but for now, that is out of my grasp, it shouldn't take me too long though.
Anything further than that is not exactly pasted on the internet, and I would either need to experiment or somehow buy access to whatever branch I have the highest affinity for.
Magical Understanding needed to try and unlock your Magic at a minimum, 10. You have six actions, anything with a + can be taken multiple times.
[][Safehouse 27]
-[] Head to the gym, practice what? Unarmed or Melee. +
-[] Head to the mechanics' workshop and practice that? +
-[] Interact with your fellow co-workers, wouldn't be bad to make friends. +
-[] Head to the command center, maybe you can learn something useful. Can pick two from the choices below. +
--[] Let's learn about other safehouses in the city.
--[] Some Hero Profiles? Could be useful. Gives you an additional bonus for recognizing a hero including what their powers and potential weaknesses might be.
--[] Fences, where I can sell stolen goods might be useful.
--[] One of the local black markets, could be useful.
--[] Who the other villains in the city are, that could always be useful.
--[] Suppliers of goods? Not drugs mind you, but of materials, weapons, medicine… all of that can be useful and people can be bought for a price.
--[] Get a map of the sewer system of the city.
--[] Write-in? Clear with QM first.
-[] Head out onto the city and explore. +
-[] Head out into the city, buy something, what? No guarantee you will find it.
-[] Lookup information online? About what? +
-[] Head to the local library? Study what? +
-[] Hang out with Greg and Vinny?
-[] Hang out with Gwen?
-[] Hang out with Pops?
-[] Go head to the Weapon supplier.
-[] Go check out the Medicine supplier.
-[] Go check out the Car supplier.
-[] Go check out the Material Supplier.
-[] Go check out the Armor Supplier.
-[] Go check out the Implant [Low Tier] Supplier. -[] Check out the Black Market? Requires at least $20,000.
-[] Pay Gwen to build you some explosives? [$80 for a pipe bomb, $120 for a Smoke Grenade] Free action, how many do you want?
-[] Write-in? Get QM approval first.
[X] Plan Socialise and Adapt
-[X][Safehouse 27]
--[X] Head to the gym, practice what? Melee. + (with new weapons)
--[X] Interact with your fellow co-workers, wouldn't be bad to make friends. +
--[X] Who the other villains in the city are, that could always be useful.
--[X] Get a map of the sewer system of the city.
--[X] Look for a master of polearms, offer money to help train.
--[X] Lookup information online? About what? See what there is online about magic practices +
--[X] Work a bit on your awareness, maybe try some blindfolds and working on figuring out more with a sense handicapped?
[X] Plan Brain and Brawl
--[x][Safehouse 27]
----[x] Head to the gym, practice what? Unarmed or Melee. +(Unarmed AND Melee)
----[x] Head to the command center, maybe you can learn something useful. Can pick two from the choices below. +
------[x] Fences, where I can sell stolen goods might be useful.
--[x] Head out onto the city and explore. +
--[x] Lookup information online? About what? +
----[x] Local news and gossip. Special attention on prospected law enforcement part.
--[x] Head to the local library? Study what? +
----[X] Stealth combat, Special Operations, History. Anything along this vein
Hearing my phone chime, I open it and see that it is from my bank and that $6,500 has been added to my bank account, so this is this month's payment, Calculator has to be rather rich in order to pay us so much, and I know there are a couple of dozen people here alone.
And considering this is just "Safehouse 27" that means there could be potentially 26 others, likely more.
Meaning they have the funds, or they are some sort of tech genius and able to falsify currency into existence. Roll 1d100 got 72. (7 * 0.2) = 1.4
Walking into the Gym, I begin using my Glaive again, as I begin swinging it around against the hologram target, taking the time to slowly grow accustomed to it some more, the hard part is going to be doing it on an actual live target, holograms are much softer than a flesh and blood human, and while there is some resistance, it isn't a whole lot.
Better than a wooden target at least, and this shows me the damage done, and reports it back to me so that I can view it, and try to adjust from there.
By the end of the week, I feel… confident in my skills, and how this is just one of the many steps in using weapons to fight my foes.
Separate vote.
[][Preferred Weapon]
-[] State one Melee weapon, and you become proficient in it. 3/25 till ??? trait. When I try to find some other people to talk to, it doesn't exactly go as planned, I don't think I am well connected enough or respected enough to get to know other people here, people are getting shuttled in and out all the time, after all, Calculator does not forgive easily after all.
Maybe once I get promoted from a "Grunt" to a higher rank?
Something for the future really. Can not meet new people until you rank up. Entering some information into the terminal I begin reading up on the villains in the area, out the gate, I decide to limit to just the city.
There is Gungo, a man who is heavily obsessed with firearms, and famous for slaughtering dozens of people, yet is somehow always able to escape when caught.
Tidemaster, a villain who relies on using water, he tends to hang out in the sewers, and the heroes are not able to track him down as his base seems to be mobile, he doesn't have any henchman.
Gremlin is a villain who specializes in shrinking technology, and is an expert tinker, he tends to use his tech to slip into places he is not allowed to and get away with a fortune, again no henchman.
Second, to last would be Razor, gender is unknown, and they use some sort of technology that makes anything with a sharp edge super deadly, a small razor, able to cut through a car with a single swing as an example, hence their name, a few henchmen but not many.
Lastly, you have Flipper, she was a former actress, who discovered doppelganger technology and with her intellect, managed to replicate it and improve upon it, she can be anyone, anywhere, and is currently in jail, she doesn't have any henchman, but is an expert infiltrator and manipulator.
Dismissing that page, I bring up the map of the sewer system of the city and begin to memorize it, I got this bracelet, so might as well put it to use.
The system is rather straightforward for the most part, it is lit at least so that is a plus, and as it is heavily restricted, I might manage to avoid a Hero if they are too slow to catch up to me.
You now know how to navigate the sewer system. Polearm teacher DC ???: Roll 1d100 got 23+6+2. Failure.
Looking up information on polearm instructors in the city this time, I don't find anything at all, meaning if there is even one in this city, I am either not using the correct keywords, or they don't advertise themselves online.
Ok… maybe I should try searching on foot again, as I might have more success there.
Who thought it would be so hard to find a single instructor for a polearm? I know it isn't as common as a sword, but you would think there would be some. Roll 1d100 got 79+8+20. 107. (10 * .2) = 2
Researching magical practices online and there are many forms really, elements, casting, summoning, alchemy, enchanting, and more.
None of these go overly in-depth, but the sheer amount of applications for magic is fairly interesting.
Regarding the elements, there are the main four, Water, Fire, Earth, Wind.
Other than that, there are the sub-elements Metal, Wood, Light, Darkness, and Lightning.
Most people are attuned to at least one of the main elements, and two of the sub-elements, they are random at birth, and there is no clear pattern to them, if both parents can use Fire, their child could have Earth or even Water.
Everything else is sort of straightforward, casting is using the elements, summoning is about elementals, alchemy is potions, so on and so forth. Roll 1d100 got 83+6. 89. (8 * .4) = 3.2
Walking around with a blindfold on, and I can sort of feel myself rapidly improving, how this is working so well I am unsure, but I am not bumping into things nearly as often anymore, I am sort of gaining a… passive awareness of the world around me by using my other senses.
My ears informing me of footsteps, my nose picking upon the multitude of scents, and working off of my mental map, I can at least navigate the bunk area safely.
Hearing my phone go off, I remove my blindfold and read the message, it is from Calculator, or at least I assume so.
Apparently, I have a job towards the end of next week, it is not said what I will be doing, just a specific location I have to be at with a time included.
Tying the blindfold back around my eyes, I take a breath before resuming my training, I will begin a plan once I am done practicing. You have six actions, anything with a + can be taken multiple times.
[][Safehouse 27]
-[] Head to the gym, practice what? Unarmed or Melee. +
-[] Head to the mechanics' workshop and practice that? +
-[] Interact with your fellow co-workers, wouldn't be bad to make friends. +
-[] Head to the command center, maybe you can learn something useful. Can pick two from the choices below. +
--[] Let's learn about other safehouses in the city.
--[] Some Hero Profiles? Could be useful. Gives you an additional bonus for recognizing a hero including what their powers and potential weaknesses might be.
--[] Fences, where I can sell stolen goods might be useful.
--[] One of the local black markets, could be useful.
--[] Suppliers of goods? Not drugs mind you, but of materials, weapons, medicine… all of that can be useful and people can be bought for a price.
--[] Write-in? Clear with QM first.
-[] Head out onto the city and explore. +
-[] Head out into the city, buy something, what? No guarantee you will find it.
-[] Lookup information online? About what? +
-[] Head to the local library? Study what? +
-[] Hang out with Greg and Vinny?
-[] Hang out with Gwen?
-[] Hang out with Pops?
-[] Go head to the Weapon supplier.
-[] Go check out the Medicine supplier.
-[] Go check out the Car supplier.
-[] Go check out the Material Supplier.
-[] Go check out the Armor Supplier.
-[] Go check out the Implant [Low Tier] Supplier. -[] Check out the Black Market? Requires at least $20,000.
-[] Pay Gwen to build you some explosives? [$80 for a pipe bomb, $120 for a Smoke Grenade] Free action, how many do you want?
-[] Write-in? Get QM approval first.
[X] Plan Prepareing for the next Job
-[X][Safehouse 2
--[X] Head to the gym, practice what? Melee. + (with new weapons)
--[X] Interact with your fellow co-workers, wouldn't be bad to make friends. +
--[X] Let's learn about other safehouses in the city.
--[X] Some Hero Profiles? Could be useful. Gives you an additional bonus for recognizing a hero including what their powers and potential weaknesses might be.
--[X] Head to the local library? Study what? magic practices+
--[X] Go head to the Weapon supplier.
--[X] Look for a instructor of polearms, offer money to help train.
[X] Plan Planned Plan
-[X] [Safehouse 27]
--[X] Head to the command center, maybe you can learn something useful. Can pick two from the choices below. +
---[X] Some Hero Profiles? Could be useful. Gives you an additional bonus for recognizing a hero including what their powers and potential weaknesses might be.
---[X] Write-in: Information about magic, how it works, applications that may be used.
--[X] Go head to the Weapon supplier.
--[X] Look for a instructor of polearms, offer money to help train.
--[X] Head to the local library? Study what? magic+ (take laptop along for useful information)
--[X] Write-in: Once prepared, find a shooting range to practice your marksmanship. x2
