Cape Name used by public and PRT: Jerry-built (public name was a mockingly chosen do the quality of materials used in the early days and do to his (unwilling) afflication with the E88
"official" Cape name: Soldat
Real name: unknown
Gender: male
Affiliation: E88 (conscripted/exploited due to psychological issues)
Power: Master, minion creator type. Jerry-built uses whatever materials are available to create swarms of pseudo intelligent combat/labor constructs typically composed of a central ball as a body with spindly arms and legs. Destorying the core body of the constructs will reliably remove the threat they offer.
Prepared materials are more effective to the point where professionally made parts designed for his use can exceed human physical capabilities. However this is rarely seen as do his mental state he rarely puts in the effort. Rumors persist that Kasier has been building a stockpile of preassembled steel construct bodies and weapons for Soldat to empower into an army of Iron soldiers.
Background and Trigger event: Jerry-built was an aspiring engineering student attending a local collage with a fascination with robotics. However constant set backs in his studies, high levels of gang activity near his famly's home and social isolation subjected him to high degrees of stress until he triggered in a car crash during a shoot out between the merchants and one of the smaller drug gangs they were absorbing. His trigger pinged off of mush and combined with the malicious nature of trigger events gave him a power that activly mocked his dreams by letting him create fake robots that didn't even count as tinker tech do to the nature of his power. He was forced to give up the scholarship program paying for his schooling do to a clause in the NEPEA-5 bill that meant he would have to be tested for being a parahuman.
Shortly after as he was battling with depression a family memeber with e88 tied sold him out to to the nazis leading to his conscription into their ranks,
Me Likey! I can actually use this one soon! Or well, make relevant soon. Thank you for it! Since it is the first sheet I got, I am gonna give this one a +3 Token.
On other news, I am slowly more and more convinced that Kiana is memetic and influenced reality to make Taylor a Shounen Protag. or Shoujou. Or I am losing my mind. Unsure.
On other news, I am slowly more and more convinced that Kiana is memetic and influenced reality to make Taylor a Shounen Protag. or Shoujou. Or I am losing my mind. Unsure.
Is she getting random power up or pulling weird saves out of her ass? If yes, then she might just be doing some shounen.
Is she surrounded by beautiful people, slowly getting to know them as she somehow gets into weird situations with them while somehow building a harem? If yes, then she might just be doing some shoujou.
Is Kiana rubbing her hands together and crackling like a Grade A Villain with lightning flashing in sync somewhere? -checks the weather- I don't know. My sky is pretty clear here. Yours?
Is she getting random power up or pulling weird saves out of her ass? If yes, then she might just be doing some shounen.
Is she surrounded by beautiful people, slowly getting to know them as she somehow gets into weird situations with them while somehow building a harem? If yes, then she might just be doing some shoujou.
Is Kiana rubbing her hands together and crackling like a Grade A Villain with lightning flashing in sync somewhere? -checks the weather- I don't know. My sky is pretty clear here. Yours?
Ah... it's settled then. Kiana probably somehow gained Harem Protagonist EX and is somehow gifting it to Taylor. Why Kiana? Because Sirin definitely won't and Taylor isn't in an environment where she can earn that.
But yeah, even elder gods would be scared of a person with both shounen and shoujou tag. They'll either be dominated or get integrated into the harem. You can't friend zone that shit... probably.
So ... For example, the probability of throwing 4 critical D 20 in a row is 1/160000 ...
Should Taylor take responsibility after she did it to Rune? Her worldview is probably at death's door now.
But yeah, even elder gods would be scared of a person with both shounen and shoujou tag. They'll either be dominated or get integrated into the harem. You can't friend zone that shit... probably.
I think a protagonists with both tags practically beats their enemies into submission, while having heartfelt conversations and sharing their pasts together... this explains all the Naruto, Kingdom Hearts, ecc yaois. It's just one step further.
Yup that's the Kiana we know al bunch of fails(low rolls) followed with a bunch of Nat 20s. Also as everyone said the dice is a means to an end if you have a specific plot event you want us to go through do it. not because we need more Honkai fics
think a protagonists with both tags practically beats their enemies into submission, while having heartfelt conversations and sharing their pasts together... this explains all the Naruto, Kingdom Hearts, ecc yaois. It's just one step further.
To be honest, I have an idea where Taylor as I think her to be at the moment would take things, but I do fear taking too much Liberty with it. The current draft is 2k+ Long and can be expected to be around 3k, but also serves as a moment that strongly establishes Taylor´s personality beyond Kiana and Sirin. However, she is also making several decision that I would normally put up to vote by nature of the level of consequences they could have.
I was bored and needed a break from writing a proper chapter.
Have a continuation of that "Filling the Void" omake.
Took me about... half an hour so it's really short. Sorry 'bout that. I guess it's becoming a series after all.
---
Sitting in the stands, Sirin watched over her two adopted siblings' attempts at skating. Granted, Kiana seemed to have a knack for it. Taylor on the other hand seemed to have next to no talent whatsoever. She managed to trip and fall twice at this point and now held onto Kiana's hand, following her lead. It was honestly endearing to watch. Ever since her connection to G̶̨̼̺̝̍ȏ̶̪̫͕̯̞̒̇̃d̷͈̻̅̈̉̓ was stripped away, feeling simple pleasures became easier. She could feel satisfaction from something besides killing and destruction.
The desire to go on a rampage was still there but it was muted. And it wouldn't be wrong to say that she had Cecilia and her daughters to thank for that. Siegfried could go bend himself around a tree. She hasn't forgotten the damage that man and the blade had done to her. She still had nightmares.
'Nyet. Ne dumai ob etom.'*
That was her most common solution to the problem of depression. Push it away. Ignore it. The fact that she was constantly surrounded by people that cared about her helped too.
"Come on! I know you can do it!"
Forcing herself to pay more attention, Sirin got the chance of seeing Taylor somewhat clumsily skate across the ring. And judging by the expression on her face, Taylor had already forgotten about her previous failings. Thankfully, the place was currently closed and the girl's pride wasn't damaged all that much.
Quickly checking her surroundings for the presence of some unwanted individuals, Sirin vanished from the stands and reappeared beside Kiana making the girl jump, trip and successfully land on her butt.
"Scheiße! At least give me a warning!"
"Language. Don't make me tell Cecilia."
Seeing the girl suddenly turn as white as her hair, Sirin felt a feeling of smug satisfaction. Even if the matriarch of the Kaslana family was one of the kindest people on the planet, whenever she went into the scolding mode everyone did their best to hide.
Helping her adoptive sibling get back on her feet, Sirin turned towards Taylor who managed to turn around and now headed towards her sisters. Sirin especially. At a somewhat alarming speed. Quickly calculating every possible option, the purple-haired girl snapped her fingers and opened the portal in front of Taylor. The second portal appeared in front of Kiana not a moment later.
Crash!
"Ich hasse euch beide…" was the only response Sirin got from Kiana who was now buried underneath Taylor.
"Lies. You and Taylor are thick as thieves. Hell, I help you sneak into each other's bedrooms every other night."
"Wuh? What did she say?"
As suspected, Taylor wasn't able to understand Kiana whenever she switched to German. She didn't have the cheat code of being a Herrscher after all.
'And I hope she never will.'
"She said that she loves you. Don't worry."
Taylor didn't seem convinced but she nonetheless managed to get off of her sister. As they got up, Sirin herself suddenly had an idea. They were unsupervised after all. Not abusing it would've been blasphemous.
"Hey, girls! Do you wanna go and ride a dragon?"
Wide smiles were all the responses she needed.
—
Appearing in the middle of the Siberian forest, Sirin called out to her… friend? Subordinate? Both?
Deciding to think about that particular dilemma later, she focused on the presence of the dragon that rushed to her side. Breaking her out of the ice a few weeks ago wasn't difficult. The fact that she wasn't hostile towards humans ever since Sirin allied with them was just another bonus.
"Hello, Bella. I'm here with my sisters so do be careful with those wings of yours. I'd rather not have them blown away."
She could feel the dragon's emotions quiet down somewhat. Was she sad? Well, Sirin knew what would make her feel better. With a snap of the finers, an entirely new dimension was created. While she wasn't able to recreate Siberia with 100% accuracy, the somewhat geometric surroundings should've been sufficient enough.
"Now, how about you give us a ride?"
Feeling a tug at the sleeve of her coat, Sirin turned around and looked down to see the girls looking at her as if they saw god. Which, technically…
'That's right! Be awed! Praise me!'
"Do you have a dragon?!"
"Yes. Her name is Bella. Be polite to her and she'll let you ride her. Isn't that right, Bella?"
As if sensing her queen's intentions Bella quickly lowered herself to the ground, allowing the children to climb on top of her. Joining her sisters and surrounding them with an imaginary barrier, Sirin opened a wormhole to the newly created space.
"Alright, make sure to hold on to me! We'll fly for about an hour and then go home!"
Feeling their small hands grab her arms, Sirin allowed a small smile to form on her lips.
She wasn't alone.
And she would make sure that her sisters would get the best childhood they possibly could, the one that she was cheated out of.
With a mighty flap of the wings, Benares took flight.
---
Nyet. Ne dumai ob etom - No. Don't think about it.
Ich hasse euch beide… - I hate you both
To be honest, I have an idea where Taylor as I think her to be at the moment would take things, but I do fear taking too much Liberty with it. The current draft is 2k+ Long and can be expected to be around 3k, but also serves as a moment that strongly establishes Taylor´s personality beyond Kiana and Sirin. However, she is also making several decision that I would normally put up to vote by nature of the level of consequences they could have.
I don't know if this will help you, but from what I have seen, there are some quests that release relatively short chapters, with frequent questions, and those with longer chapters, and so with less input from the readers, but the questions tend to have more long-term consequences(at least in word weight). I don't think one format is inherently better than the other, but the second might suit you more? And nothing says that you can't use them both.
Regarding how much input we can give to Taylor's character, I think it's hard. For example, if the thread suddenly becomes murderhobo, it could make a bit of whiplash, but I hope it doesn't come to that. On the other hand, the game of dice itself can take your writing in, ehm, interesting directions. But I don't know if raw numbers alone always make sense without context? I mean, they are important, but I don't expect full Herrscher Cecilia to get gutted by a random street thug even if she rolls three natural 1s, and neither she can convince Jack Slash that World Peace is the better option with five natural 20s.
In hindsight, what I wrote is a bit obvious, but I hope it helps.
In my experience quests with longer chapters with only inputs in major decisions tend to last longer than the ones with shorter yet frequent dunno why but that my experience, but i think it's because it moves too slow and the OP may have gotten bored or something
In my experience quests with longer chapters with only inputs in major decisions tend to last longer than the ones with shorter yet frequent dunno why but that my experience, but i think it's because it moves too slow and the OP may have gotten bored or something
Also shorter, faster updates can run the risk of burn out. Xander quest and heir of the Bruce on SB are basilcy freaks of nature in terms of how long they have lasted.
Flipping her hair back with a smirk, her eyes glowing slightly in the shadow thrown by the buildings in the late noon´s sun.
She couldn´t help but sound a bit smug, Taylor riding the high of being in her first fight and pulling off moves she never thought possible for herself left and right.
Narrowing her eyes at Rune, she nodded to Vista. "Undoubtedly, go handle the minions." Vista frowned but made to follow. (Roll d20 for Sirin… 15, impressive success)
It was weird to speak something you hadn´t even thought about, but in this case, Taylor was happy for it. Following the young Ward with her eyes, she added with a genuine smile. "I trust you won´t have any difficulties."
Most often, such statements were phrased as questions of concern, but this one was more an implication of trust.
{My, my. Purple Rat, who knew you could be nice to others?} Kiana noted with a smug and teasing tone.
{Shut up. I am just manipulating. Young girl thrust into a role that should get her much respect, but likely doesn´t feel respected enough. Making her think we see her as mature and important is our way into her heart. She is perhaps the most promising candidate for a minion we have seen so far. Besides, her spatial abilities are interesting.} Sirin snapped back.
{Chatting later, guys, and Sirin, please don´t hijack my voice again.}
It seemed to have worked however, as the blonde Ward paused for a second, before continuing with a smile on her lips.
Rune watched both Vista and Kid-Win leave, mumbling something into her sleeve.
Taylor shot the blonde villainess a challenging smirk before both combatants narrowed their eyes. It had something of a wild west duel atmosphere. (Rune, Taylor roll d20… 18,14 ; Rune goes first)
With a snap of movement, the two plates flew towards Taylor, rotating at considerable speeds. Taylor released a startled noise, before trying to blink away. (Taylor roll d20… 2, fail)
While she managed to blink, she misjudged the distance and speed of the projectiles. Instead of appearing directly behind them, she appeared before them. Her eyes widen in surprise, and she braced for impact. (Rune roll d20… 18, Impressive Success, 2d4 turned into 2d6)
(Damage roll 2d6… 3,4 = 7)
Taylor felt pain for the first time in recent days. She did not miss it. As she was hit by the first plate, she was slammed into the second. Luckily, it wasn´t enough to disorient her, and Kiana was able to quickly guide her to turn the tumble into a show of acrobatics that caused Rune to visibly paused.
Wincing slightly, Taylor spoke up with a wry smile, although it was almost predatory in nature. "My, playing rough, are we? That could have killed me if I wasn´t… well me." She stood up, dusting herself off in a carefree manner, hiding that Taylor was terrified of what just happened. She didn´t lie. If she hadn´t an enhanced physiology, she could easily have been killed by that.
Rune growled almost before putting a hand on her hips. "Had hoped to shut you the fuck up already. You know that the quip slinging Hero is kinda overdone? It is kinda a cliché, don´t you think?"
Taylor paused, before shrugging "I mean, this is coming from a literal Nazi, sooo … You don´t really have room to talk shit about cliché. Besides, clichés exists because people love em!" She sounded proud of herself for the argument, although she really was not.
Rune paused before visibly cocking her head to the side. "So people love Nazis?" (Kiana roll d20… 20, Critical Success! Stunned, -2 to Rune´s Attacks)
Taylor made for what she thought was a smart remark, but Kiana interrupted, taking over for a moment. Shooting a wink towards the villainness, she remarked with a voice that sounded as suave as Taylor had ever heard herself sound. "Well, you are certainly lovely to look at, no?~"
{Kiana, what the fuck?! I am not even gay!}
{As much as I loath to agree with either of you two, she has a point, fool.}
{First off, Hah, you like to think so. Secondly, you people never heard of a distraction? Capitalize on it!}
{We will have words, Kiana!}
Taylor focused on the present, only to see that Rune seemingly had stopped working for a moment, even the plates having paused mid air. Thrown off her game, the villainness, who Taylor was semi sure she saw blushing, opened her mouth, closed it then opened it again.
Even though she was tempted to use it to attack-
{Not that kind of capitalizing! Ask her -}
The message was cut off by the sound of something hitting flesh.
Taylor, for the first time alone, was unsure how to proceed, before sighing "Well, this is awkward."
Rune snapped back with a hiss "No shit, Sherlock, you fucking think?" She lifted her hand to her head. "Fuck! Can´t do that without showing my face, fuck!"
Taylor blinked, before asking "Couldn´t you just turn around?" with a shrugging motion.
"And let you out of my view so you can pull some other bullshit like the filthy, cheating Grabbag you are?" Came the rather irate answer.
"Look, I could literally just shoot you in the leg if I wanted to. Or Teleport behind you, or pull your hood off with telekinesis." Shot Taylor back. "However, I don´t want to -"
"Nice hair, Tay Tay" before it was violently pulled.
"I hate the idea of giving an honest" And at least she could say that, it was, in fact, honest, even if only spoken by Kiana´s hand, not her own. "compliment and then follow it up with an attack. I don´t want to be that kind of person." Taylor shrugged before turning around herself.
Rune, she guessed, starred at her for a moment before doing whatever she needed to do.
"Done."
With a smile, Taylor turned around once more. "Can I ask what you wanted to do?"
Rune shrugged, seemingly unchanged. "Just checked for head injuries. You did cause me to faceplant into concrete after all. So… The whole mojo for the fight is kinda gone."
Taylor had to agree. Here she was, chatting with her fellow teenager she just flirted with (AHHHHHH!) to cover the awkwardness inherent to their age and the fact that she may have a minor crisis of orientation, because she could not deny it that Rune had a level of attractiveness to her.
Just as frustrated with the lull in combat and conversation as Rune, Taylor asked with a voice half sarcastically. "It is not like we can go and eat an ice together, right?"
However, apparently, she conveyed the wrong idea, as Rune questioned with a note of awe but also confusion in her voice "Are you seriously asking me out right now? Because if you haven´t noticed, I really can not do that."
There was something in her voice that caused Taylor to perk up. Hesitation.
Naturally curious, Taylor decided to ask the question. "Can not or do not want to?"
Rune was paused, before replying with a hiss."Can not. I am in the Empire. Even if I wanted to, which I did not say, I couldn´t without repercussions." (Taylor roll d20… 20, what the fuck, since when is Taylor lucky?)
Peer pressure. Taylor was more than familiar with the concept. She had suffered plenty because of it. She wasn´t blind. Most of her tormentor joined in or at least pretended to not care because the larger whole decided that they should.
She freaking hated it. Sure, it had some positive aspect for society at a whole, but this was bullshit. Taking a moment to breath, she focused her thoughts.
In this moment, she recalled something she overheard dad say once about negotiations and the gangs.
"As much as I loath to say so, the Empire knows what it is doing. What most people want is comfort, plain and simple. And that is what the Empire is offering. An absolute answer to the issue of self worth, companions and a safety net. Their ideology comes naturally then, because once you gain the benefits and support of one group, you will naturally to favour them, want to please them in fear of losing that comfort. It is all about knowing what they want and more importantly, how to sell it to them."
And he was right. The first major step in convincing someone is knowing what they want. For that, she would need to know who she was talking to.
{Taylor. Stop. Think about what you are doing for a moment.}
{What do you mean?}
{First, what do you want to accomplish?}
{I want her to open up to me. I need to know if she is only in a bad situation that I can help her out of, or not.}
{Do you need to, or do you want to?}
This gave Taylor pause. Her instinct screamed at her to say that she needed to do this because she was a hero. But that also gave her pause. Was a Hero someone who needed to help, or someone who wanted to help?
Deep down, she knew her answer. She had, after all, two heroes, her heroes at least, in her head.
{I want to. I know the feeling of being trapped in a situation you can not find an escape from. I don´t doubt that she has some issues, issues that need a lot of work on her part, and a past that can not be erased. But I do feel that it takes one hand reaching out in a genuine effort to get her started. If I can be that hand, why should I not? Because someone will judge me for it? Let them. I am done bending over for the world.}
She took a breath, calming her mounting temper, and the feeling of having reached an understanding.
{It takes change to make change. The usual approach does not work, does not fix the issues.}
{Heh, I am proud of you!}
{… I will aid this one time. In honour of her and her ideals. You can not simply straight up offer her aid. Beyond the trust issues, it harbours too much risk to her. If she showed even a shimmer of willingness to step away, and the Empire learns of it, she would be a target. You need to provide her with an excuse to speak to you that her companions couldn´t fault her for. The Empire, from your memories at least, portrays itself as an honourable brotherhood, Kaiser himself being most consistent offender for this. Use that. Challenge her to a bet about the outcome of the fight. If you win, you can ask one thing of her, if she does, she can ask one of you. This provides her with the deniability to justify listening to you. If it works out, that is on you.}
{Sirin…}
{Shut it, Fool. Just because I am showing compassion for a person does not mean my opinion on Humanity has changed. It is still a species that has proven itself to be almost composed entirely of greed filled, deceitful little waste of space and energy. But, I am secure enough to admit that exceptions do exist. Just as I am secure enough to know that they won´t change humanity for the better.}
Shaking her head, Taylor focused on Rune, before speaking up. "May I propose a challenge then? To get the Mojo back into the fight?" Seeing the accepting nod, she continued "A bet. The winner can ask one thing, within reasonable limits of the other. No hard feelings."
The robed form was still for a moment, before throwing her hands up "Fuck it. Why not. I am game. Just to be clear, no sex, no life debt bullshit, yes?" Following the nod, both of them went into position, Rune seemingly exhausted and frustrated, Taylor filled with determination. (Rune, Taylor roll d20… 13, 20 | What the absolute fucking hell ? Taylor, stop being lucky, please!| Double action for Taylor)
(Taylor roll 2d20… 20 | ...Escalation...|, 8 ; Fuck it, she wins)
It was as if the air itself was filled with energy, the mojo of competition back into play. Rune moved first, or attempted to anyhow. She flung the two plates towards Taylor who took a step forward, and then with surprising force, jumped upwards in a flip over both plates.
She wanted to help. She would help.
In her hand, something took shape. Instincts guided her.
Landing in a crouch , she launched herself forward, slamming her shoulder into Rune, causing the girl to fall on her back.
Something gained mass.
The villain made for a motion to send the plates against her back, but Taylor turned around, feeling the energy inside her pulsing with the purpose she installed in it and whipped her hands around like she held something.
The plates fell apart.
Taylor took a heavy breath, before blinking as she realized what she held.
"And now you can make swords out of thin air." Rune seemed far more animated than before, although certainly not less sarcastic. "Well, you won, what do you want? I don´t do kisses."
Letting her new weapon vanish, Taylor turned around with a smile, and simply said.
"Tell me about yourself. Preferably while eating a burger."
It was surprisingly easy to acquire food from Fugly´s, even while in costume. She even got a look at the time, telling her that she had a good two hours till Dad arrived back home.
Sitting on the rim of a roof, they indulged into the sinful meal almost silently. A silence that was broken by the villainness.
"So, what do you want to know? Real names are off limits, as are any details that would lead you to them."
Taylor paused, before deciding to be blunt about it.
"Why are you a … you know, Nazi?"
Rune paused mid bite, only to choke on the bit she had in her mouth. It was a chocked laugh.
Taylor couldn´t help but pout. It wasn´t a stupid question.
Seeing her pout, Rune shrugged. "Sorry, but it has been some time since I was last asked why, instead of being cursed at, insulted, or something else. Perhaps people think it melodramatic to ask the villain why…" She paused. "You know. Maybe it is because I had fucking fun using my power with you for the first time in weeks, maybe because you were fairly decent to me… but I… fuck it, not much you can do with it anyhow."
Rune took a moment, before she continued. "You would need some context to get the whole picture, but the short of it is that I fucked up, and now I can not get out."
There was a lull in conversation as Taylor stared at Rune.
"Fuck me, you want the whole story? Fine. So, story time I fucking guess. Little Rune, me, about two years ago, was a little shit of a rebel. My parents were kinda shit to me. Our extended family are friends with the Empire, though my folks didn´t exactly agree with the hate. I know, I know. Woe is me, my parents weren´t fucking racist enough. But that wasn´t it. It didn´t mattered to me. What mattered to me that they were so insisted on even preventing me from engaging with it on some level that it was suffocating. Worse was that they kept several of their" her voice became bitter for a moment "other more classical beliefs." She rubbed her arm.
"So, given that I haboured a dislike for them, I decided to flip them off the best way I could. I got into contact with our family, and there is this Uncle. He is a true Believer, well travelled guy, pretty fucking smart and actually fairly cool and caring as a person. It is how he got me, although I do not think he had intended it this way. He allowed me to indulge, to live. No hate crimes, only freedom to do whatever the fuck I wanted. I felt powerful."
Taylor was captivated by the tale, and she understood it well enough. She could see herself in it. If someone had come to her before the locker, had offered her not only power, but freedom to do as she wished… well, she saw it with Sirin. She had indulged. She didn´t regret it, she held and holds it as justified, but it was the same principle in the end.
Rune continued her story. "Eventually, well… I landed in prison. I won´t lie to you. I don´t want to sell you some pity ass story. I had adopted rather pointed views from my uncle because I wanted to please him. Make him like me, approve of me. Imitation is the greatest form of flattery after all. That naturally got me in some hot water given the people I shared prison with. It didn´t help my views either." She made a face.
It almost seemed to Taylor that she forgot where she was, or who she was with, which was just fine with her. It was clear that Rune was rather frustrated.
"Ever heard some ni-someone call you a white bitch and threaten to rape you? Yeah, it was a coed one. One with less than stellar separation, especially for a ´Nazi Bitch´. Before you say something, yes, I fucking know that a few cases, these cases being in fucking Juvie, are not the best sample size. It didn´t matter back then. I had, in my mind, a clear case. A group of people on my side, having shown me compassion, companionship, fucking decency, and so on. On the other hand, you had that kind of people, who were fucking dicks to me. Me being the blind dumbass you see today, didn´t exactly grasp the idea of adjusting my views. Fuck that Peer pressure shit. But you see, people like to talk big game, but the pressure? It can get to anyone. So,… I triggered. Suddenly, I had power. More power than any of the fucks that threatened me. I was their superior. Went a way to reaffirm my views."
Rune sighed, energy leaving her visibly. They were getting to the core problem, it seemed.
"Now, to be clear, I wasn´t even in fucking Brockton at the time. My folks had some serious financial problems. I mean fucking loan sharks after them. My uncle, he made the connection with Kaiser, Kaiser offered to help my parents out in exchange for my support. Personally, I would have done it because my uncle asked me to. So, we moved. And suddenly, magically "her voice gained a note of hysteria" my parents love the Empire, love the old ways, love all that shit that I thought separated me from them. Was the first time I asked myself what the fuck. Yeah, having the people you despise and build your identity around defying suddenly share your world view? That is a wake up call. But then I thought, like actually thought about it for a moment."
She paused, taking a deep breath, calming herself.
"I can not escape. I can not leave. My Parents? They adore Kaiser, they wanted to set me up with his fucking son. They would disown me, maybe even out me. They would have been the only ones that would have helped me, but I ruined their shot at getting away. My uncle? He would outright be disgusted with me. My entire support structure is based around the Empire, the same fucking Empire that I witnessed exploit the suffering of whites. So, you could say that being part of it is literally the only viable way I have."
Rune gave a sardonic chuckle. "Although. Don´t think I bitch about it to earn pity or some shit. It is still my fault. I was 15 when it started. I still had the capacity to know better. You asked though."
Taylor swallowed, unsure how to respond to this.
She understood, on a logical level, that Rune was still a Nazi. Not a particular violent one to be fair, she was not known to have participated in murder and some of the heavier stuff, but she still was someone who did awful things for awful reasons. The type of person a Hero was supposed to fight against.
Yet, she was also someone who didn´t deny that it was awful, that she did evil. She may even regret it. But she wanted to move on, do better, grow. But she couldn´t find the way. Wasn´t it the Hero´s way to guide such people?
The two voices in her head were oddly silent, but not out of disrespect, she knew, but because this was a decision she had to make. Would she aim to punish evil or nurture good?
[]Punish Evil
[]Nurture Good
[]Try for both
Well, that is the longest post for this yet. It is out now, and while I feel it is good, I am still anxious as fuck. I do like to think that it serves as establishing moment for Taylor and Rune both. I tried to keep as close to canon Rune´s backstory as possible while expanding on it. There is def going on something in the background as well.
I highly welcome critic on this, if people are agreeable to this level of indepence, etc.
[X]Try for both
i'm not going to lie most of this feels out of place and out of character for taylor. plus it just doesn't seem to fit the tone of ... all the previous chapters. so I can't say that I did like the chapter, but well that's just my opinion tell the story you want man as long as you enjoy writing it.
i'm not going to lie most of this feels out of place and out of character for taylor. plus it just doesn't seem to fit the tone of ... all the previous episodes. so I can't say that I did like the chapter, but well that's just my opinion tell the story you want man as long as you enjoy writing it.
So I know your roll for this but Taylor is apparently making friends with an empire cape with whom she was only fighting, Taylor who has been noticed that he does not like the empire. speaks to her also that she genuinely hurt one of the Wards present in the previous chapter and she tried to hurt her before because they are in a combat situscion.
Also it is also not like she had something before that pushed her to believe that rune could be good or has something prompting her to have that character development (kiana and sirin don't really count for this they have had human enemies who had no Nazi ideologies and were still very evil and again they are in a fighting situacion) and it will only cause problems for taylor later on since for everyone else present (PTR) is going to see her fraternizing with the empire and they might have reason to think that she is being recruited.
Also heee I think the dice has to lean to the narrative so I think it would be better if rune and taylor fought and talked and while they did that rune slides that she never had a choice and probably causing her to flee later (due to the nat20). Which gives Taylor the next time he meets her the motivation to dig deeper into Rune's motives and his reasons for being with the empire.
I think this way this development would be more organic and it gives taylor time to reflect on his positions towards the enemy Capes(Because if Rune didn't have a choice, who else couldn't have had it?) to talk with Kiana and Sirin and have that character development.
I have more thoughts on this but I am on the phone and it was already difficult to write this I can put the rest of my thoughts on the subject tomorrow if you want.
[X]Nurture Good
We really did the PRT's help for that because they might be the only one that can help and protect her from Kaiser's retaliation that is assuming that her parents weren't forced to go back in order to protect her, if that so then things just got even more complicated.
Worse comes to worse we will juts get Sirin off her leash for a bit
So I know your roll for this but Taylor is apparently making friends with an empire cape with whom she was only fighting, Taylor who has been noticed that he does not like the empire. speaks to her also that she genuinely hurt one of the Wards present in the previous chapter and she tried to hurt her before because they are in a combat situscion.
Also it is also not like she had something before that pushed her to believe that rune could be good or has something prompting her to have that character development (kiana and sirin don't really count for this they have had human enemies who had no Nazi ideologies and were still very evil and again they are in a fighting situacion) and it will only cause problems for taylor later on since for everyone else present (PTR) is going to see her fraternizing with the empire and they might have reason to think that she is being recruited.
Also heee I think the dice has to lean to the narrative so I think it would be better if rune and taylor fought and talked and while they did that rune slides that she never had a choice and probably causing her to flee later (due to the nat20). Which gives Taylor the next time he meets her the motivation to dig deeper into Rune's motives and his reasons for being with the empire.
I think this way this development would be more organic and it gives taylor time to reflect on his positions towards the enemy Capes(Because if Rune didn't have a choice, who else couldn't have had it?) to talk with Kiana and Sirin and have that character development.
I have more thoughts on this but I am on the phone and it was already difficult to write this I can put the rest of my thoughts on the subject tomorrow if you want.
On this note maybe make turning rune into more of an arc. basicly the charm rolls from this update get our foot in the door but we have to keep pushing over time to get her to open up or have outbursts that Taylor uses to piece together things. mean while we keep planting doubts in rune till the empire does something extreme to keep control which gives Taylor the real opening to turn her.
