She's just commanding in a training exercise, and I suspect she probably feels horrible about not being able to do anything useful in her current state. We should let her have this.
[X] Resolve matters at home first, they can wait. (Delays Action for a Turn)
[X] Do the surgery ASAP. Get him on his legs again. (-100 Resources, Spends Joshua Action)
[X] Forget about it. (Col. Burton will Appreciate this)
[X] Erina
[X] Go meet the Lords General ASAP, at Hightower. (Spend all Personal Actions for the Next Turn, Joshua will be Unavailable for the Next Turn)
[X] Put it off. This can wait. (Delays Action for a Turn)
[X] Forget about it. (Col. Burton will Appreciate this)
[X] Erina
I'd have liked to have healed Johnnie's legs first, in the hopes it'd make him less grumpy in general, but political stuff probably takes preference; least it's just Joshua vanishing elsewhere for a bit. Agreed on the fact having our attachment like us more being more worthwhile in the long run than recruiting them for efforts - although if individuals chip in anyway I certainly won't refuse the aid - and the fact Erina has led a squad puts her immediately above my second choice of Neptune by default.
Wait, no, think Nep led a squad too earlier. Hm... Erina has done so longer?
Of the four candidates available if Joshua is busy, Erina has the highest Martial (9), followed by Tekken (6), Nep (5), and Falcom (2! this young lady is not suited to command duty, methinks).
So yeah, Erina seems like the most obvious choice for leading a military exercise, unless someone can present a coherent argument for there being a higher priority than simply "who is most competent".
"No I don't," Iceblocks says with an amused lit. She looks back at Neptune, who is just regarding their interactions with amusement. They're definitely close. Very familiar with one another, too. Sisters? Friends? Either way they've been together a while. "So… Yeah, I'm Captain Frostbite--"
[X] Resolve matters at home first, they can wait. (Delays Action for a Turn)
[X] Do the surgery ASAP. Get him on his legs again. (-100 Resources, Spends Joshua Action)
[X] Forget about it. (Col. Burton will Appreciate this)
[X] Erina
Of the four candidates available if Joshua is busy, Erina has the highest Martial (9), followed by Tekken (6), Nep (5), and Falcom (2! this young lady is not suited to command duty, methinks).
So yeah, Erina seems like the most obvious choice for leading a military exercise, unless someone can present a coherent argument for there being a higher priority than simply "who is most competent".
I don't think I made it clear (my mistake here), but anyone who is put in command for a training exercise is probably going to learn a lot about command. It'll be a good learning experience for them. Or you could put in a good commander and make a statement about being Kickass and Badass. One or the other.
Huh. Now that I think about it, we should totally put Plutia in command of the Combined Force. There's 50-50 odds that she'll surprise everyone by somehow managing to pull off a flawless victory, and no one will be able to figure out how she did it.
Of the four candidates available if Joshua is busy, Erina has the highest Martial (9), followed by Tekken (6), Nep (5), and Falcom (2! this young lady is not suited to command duty, methinks).
So yeah, Erina seems like the most obvious choice for leading a military exercise, unless someone can present a coherent argument for there being a higher priority than simply "who is most competent".
There is the argument that Nep should be sent in order to further beat into their heads that she's a goddess, a successor to Luteus, not a super elite soldier.
Ah hmm. Want to send Nep now, she needs to learn more about Command...
[X] Resolve matters at home first, they can wait. (Delays Action for a Turn)
[X] Do the surgery ASAP. Get him on his legs again. (-100 Resources, Spends Joshua Action)
[X] Forget about it. (Col. Burton will Appreciate this)
[X] Neptune
Again, rather the best get better at what they do than have some hybridization going on, neptune will be nuking enemy VIPs instead of leading mooks into battle
Alright, votes locked. We're going with Strype's plan, which means Neptune's (and Joshua's) personal actions next turn are going to be locked in. Also we'll have a combat exercise event, and you'll be bearing the brunt of the upkeep.
While we're here, have a codex entry! Since you know very little about the Lords General right now, even though Joshua should know enough.
----
The Lords General are the leaders of the Eopran Army, with representatives from every branch of the military. They're roughly equivalent to the other leading branches of the Eopran Armed Forces, like the Lords Admiralty and the Sky Lords, from the Navy and Air Force respectively. High Command, composed of the leaders of each of these bodies, would be the overall commanders of the Eopran Armed Forces and report directly to Luteus Kyrain herself, who holds the position of Goddess-Commander.
Yeah, my mother had a love for knightly titles and vestments. It's why the leaders of the Lords General, Lords Admiralty and Sky Lords are all Lord Commanders - or Lady Commanders if they are women. There have been more than a few throughout history, even before the foundation of the Eopran Army. Some of them revel in the title, others don't care. Ultimately though, it's just a title.
Could I have been a Lord General? Maybe. Solar Heroes tend to stay away from positions of high authority and political visibility, but then I'm also son of the Goddess. It could have happened, if things turned out differently. As is I couldn't care less.
Anyways, though things are probably different now, these are the various posts that the Lords General held.
Armor Command, as you might guess, commands the armored formations of the Eopran Army - Tanks mostly, though it also has responsibility over the mixed Armored Fist Divisions composed of both Tank and Mechanised Battalions. Traditionally, the holders of this post are former tank commanders, but IFV and APC commanders have held the position as well.
Armored Fist Divisions are an odd-duck, since they report to both Armor and Infantry, but in the end Armor still has overall command. I'll… I'll elaborate later with another example. Anyways, the common title for the holder of this position is the 'Lord of Steel', though other nicknames exist, typically for individual generals.
The Lord General of Armor before the Fall, if memory serves, was Lady General Helena Pendragon. I'm not sure whether she had ancestry with the legendary Girl-King, or if one of her ancestors just really liked that legend. Never really bothered to ask.
Artillery Command, meanwhile, handles artillery and all forms of fire support. They also handle things like minelaying and first order fortifications, delaying structures like… mines.
Anyways, this position confers responsibility over the distribution of fire support throughout the Eopran Army, from shell lobbing howitzers to things like missiles, orbital weaponry and even grand magic meant for anti-army use. Though, wizards of this caliber were rare even before the Fall, so I doubt any are still around.
Titles for the position include 'Lord of Thunder', 'Archmage of Artillery', and 'Missile Magister', probably referencing just how goddamn many wizards ended up in this seat. Other less charitable names include 'Greedy Asshole' and… Let's move on.
Oh, right. The person who held this position before the Fall was Lady General Orianna Eastwood. She was a mage, too. An Archmage, specialising in wind spells. Very powerful. Surprisingly precise. She herself was pretty young, though. A very recent appointment, and gifted too. Only in her forties… Must have been talented.
Infantry Command deals with infantry formations and fortifications of the second order and higher - fixed fortifications like outposts, bases and fortresses like the Crow's Nest. Being concerned with infantry instead of more mobile armored formations, Infantry Command is rather more static and defensively-oriented, though they do still manage fully Mechanised Divisions as well.
The elite Shock Divisions composed of ACHILLES-clad shocktroopers also report to Infantry Command, though their armored support responds to Armored Command. On paper, at least - the tank elements seconded to Shock Divisions report to an Armored officer within the unit, which then reports to the overall commander of the Shock Division, an Infantry officer.
Holders of this position are typically regular officers, or those who have had tours while being seconded to a mixed Division. However, Lord and Lady Generals who were part of the Shock Divisions are also common, ever since the early days of the Strike units. These generals are to be noted, because they're also the ones with the least fucks. True story.
The last person to hold this position before the fall was Lord General Andrea Stormfront. She was… Well, I'll be honest. She was an asshole. But she was an asshole who got results. Casualties decreased dramatically with her in command, but mostly due to how she overhauled how training was conducted. The men hated her, enlisted and officer alike. But her methods worked. If I remember correctly, she also got an officer's commission. She started as enlisted, like so many of us. 'Iron Lady', indeed.
The typical title for the holder of this position would be 'Lord of Blood', a fairly fatalistic name considering the high casualty rates Infantry Divisions tend to suffer in heavy combat. It takes one hell of a stone cold bastard to wear that name with pride, which is why Lord Generals of Infantry tend to be… well, sometimes callous, sometimes ruthless, sometimes cautious. But all of them are butchers on some level. Well, no, that's mean. More like… Alright, I'll think of another term later. Moving on.
Also, slight trivia: while grandpa was in the army, he was with the Shock Divisions. I served as an Adept as well as a junior officer - a Lieutenant at the time. I was with the 1st Shock Division… for about two weeks. Then I got kicked into High Command, where I served as aide to a number of Lord Generals, the last of whom was Lord General Greymane. Who was, interestingly, holder of the next position I'll be talking about.
Logistics Command deals with logistics, of course. Things like supplies - the basic necessities soldiers will need, like food and water and tents and uniforms and NBC gear - and ordnance, guns and ammo essentially. They are also responsible for the transportation of these things, and hold overall command over the transport units. Trucks, basically. This seems boring, but Logistics Command is actually a very important post. Generally speaking, the only people who hold this position are older officers versed in bureaucracy and the movement of supplies. This post holds a lot of authority within the Lords General, which will be.. Problematic, depending on the person we meet. I'll have questions for whoever is in this chair, when we meet them.
Titles for this post tend towards 'Lord of Pen and Paper', if you're being formal, and 'Lord Better-Than-Swords', if you're being informal. Other nicknames include 'General Armchair', 'Commander Couch', and 'Loafer Lord'. More respectful or aware soldiers, fully aware of what kind of person it takes to hold this seat, reverentially call this general 'Master', or 'Lord of the Eopran Army'. Or 'God' if you prefer, but it's slightly sacrilegious. Not that Luteus cared but y'know.
Neptune, stop glaring daggers at me. I know pens aren't better than swords. Calm down.
Intelligence Command, lastly, has responsibility over intelligence assets and special forces. Things like forward surveillance, scouting, enemy movements, enemy plans and force compositions… I could go on, but basically the person holding this job is the eyes and ears of the army at large. They clear every report that gets sent throughout, and assess the various threats to the army and the nation at large. In addition, when problems require a more… subtle approach, they can also take action with their special force units.
Special Forces, you ask? Well, actually, this section of Intelligence Command tends to be a bit of a mixed bag, since Special Forces Command was its own arm of the Eopran Armed Forces. But this included things like the Skulls Unit, which largely handled counterterrorism, and the Hawks, which were our scouting units, going deep behind enemy lines to gather critical information on enemy facilities. There were also units like the Stormblades, Force 19, Black Storm… Hell, there was an elite unit of Ripple Adepts too. The Sunspears or something, they were very classified.
Hm? Contemporary examples? Well, I guess the Black Suns are the modern equivalent. Elite soldiers moving in small clandestine squads, accomplishing objectives precisely and in secret. Like scalpels, or a silenced pistol, compared to the army's sledgehammer, shotgun, rocket launcher… Any analogy you like.
In any case, the Lord General of Intelligence is a dangerous person, because they are always informed. They know everything, or they will seem like they know everything. They are players of the political game, and they have gotten very good at it. That said, anyone who chairs Intelligence must be a good person at heart. Ultimately, what they do is for the good of Eopra. It takes someone of great personal integrity to do so with clandestine methods. I can only hope this has remained true after the Fall, but let's not hold our breath.
The last person to hold this post was Lord General Michael Phosphene, originally of a special forces unit if I remember correctly, though I can't remember which one… Well, either way, he was a shrewd bastard. He was also a pretty good father though. I'd know. I married his daughter.
Titles for this post include 'Lord of Glass' and 'Lord of Shadows'. They also tended to work with the Unseen Eye, though that was the nation's civilian intelligence agency, dealing chiefly with domestic threats. Eopran Intelligence was always more about foreign threats. Oh, right, nicknames.
Little was known of Intelligence Chairs, by and large. They were ghosts. Spectres. Boogeymen from the darkness, unknowable and frightening. So that's what we called them. Ghosts.
...Sorry, too dramatic? Well, anyways.
On top of everyone was the Lord Commander, often chosen by committee from one of the Lords General and then approved by the Goddess, who would charge them to lead the Army in her stead. It was required by law for my mother to approve of the Lord Commander, for her to swear them into service before they would hold the chair.
Traditionally, the one to become Lord Commander was always already a Lord General, who chaired either Infantry, Logistics, or Intelligence. Exceptions always exist, and there have been Lord Commanders who were never Lords General prior. But they were always well-connected politically, and fantastic generals themselves. Legends in their own right.
One such legend was Lord Commander right before the Fall. Lord Commander Joseph Kinebach. A Ripple Master, expert marksman, and legendary soldier twice over. He was there during the City States War as an enlisted man, where he first made his name. He would survive through the war, and dedicate himself fully to the Eopran Army. He would join the Shock Divisions, don the ACHILLES, and rise through the ranks from enlisted to officer, until he lead the 3rd Shock Division himself. And then he became a General, and after his successor retired, he took on her post by unanimous vote. I met him once. He was a great man and a great soldier.
He's probably dead.
Without a Goddess, once the current Lord Commander died, there would be no successor. Not officially, not recognised by law. The Eopran Army can function without one, so I doubt we will meet a Lord Commander.
Anyways, the names I listed are probably all dead, so don't worry too hard about it. Terrifying as they could be, they are manageable. If nothing else, they want to help us. We just have to make sure that we don't wind up helping them more, at cost to ourselves.
Noire and Neptune have to get into an acrimonious argument over this at some point. Which will end up getting resolved with a literal pen vs sword fight, because Goddesses are bullshit.
Noire and Neptune have to get into an acrimonious argument over this at some point. Which will end up getting resolved with a literal pen vs sword fight, because Goddesses are bullshit.
On one hand, I am very happy that my army survived. On the other, I'm concerned that they survived, institution and all. Frankly I expected them to fragment into a dozen smaller factions.
Oh, right. Evil AI Overgoddess. That explains it.
Watch yourself, kid. The Lords General were some of my best. But they're also a pit of angry vipers. Tread carefully, or they'll use you for everything you're worth.
----
"So you're brushing me off to go talk to some dusty old farts."
"That's the gist of it yes."
Neptune was dreading having to talk to her uncle after she made the decision. After all, his legs were literally in spitting distance, and they were asking him to wait to talk to some other people. Important people, of course, but family is family. So, when her grandpa just blankly told him so to his face, she was expecting some sort of grumpy salt, and possibly death glares.
Instead, Uncle Johnny just laughs. "Alright then, go talk to the bigwigs. I'll sit here thinking of all the things I can do with my legs again." He looks at Neptune, clearly expecting her surprise. "Come on, I'm a grump, not unreasonable. My odds of walking again just went from 'impossible' to 'inevitable'. Why would I get mad?"
"Something something B-Sha?" Neptune postulates.
"Something something B-Sha is never a good reason for anything," her uncle responds. "She'll go back to normal eventually. In the meantime, I'll hold the fort."
"...Alright then!"
"Ah, Ms Neptune, there you are!" Iceblock - what kind of codename is that ugh - walks up to her, still wearing her gas mask, still being very unconventionally chipper. "So you're sure you don't want anything from the Colonel? It's a lot of upkeep."
"We can manage," Neptune replies with a smile. "It's worth it for the guns, right? And the APCs, and the firepower, and…" She gesticulates at the Black Sun standing before her. "Whatever it is… you and your people do."
Iceblock tilts her head. "Kill robots?" She shakes her head. "Well, nevermind. Anyways, about the training exercise. Have you picked a leader for your own forces?"
"My mo--Uh, Ms. Erina can handle it."
"She's literally coughing her lungs out," Johnny says flatly.
"She'd do it deliberately if she keeps staying inside," Joshua points out.
"...True, but still."
Neptune looks back at her uncle and shrugs, then looks at Iceblock's equally - although invisible - concerned face. "It's a command thing, right? She's not going to be in the frontline. She'll be fine. Besides, mom's pretty awesome. She can handle it."
"Alright then." She checks her PDA and then nods at Neptune and Joshua. "I should get going. Good luck with the Lords General! They're nasty."
"You've dealt with them?" Joshua asks, eyebrow raised.
"No… But we hear stories." She chuckles and scatches her neck. Iceblock then notices the surprised looks from everyone. "Hey, we're people too! We have stories! And we also bitch about high command!"
"Well… He's special." Iceblock shrugs and looks away. "I, uh… I should go."
"Alright."
"Awesome."
She throws her arms behind her head and walks off.
Neptune looks at her uncle, then her grandfather then at her uncle.
"Wow, that was awkward."
"She seems young," Joshua says.
"I'm leaving before the tension freezes my wheels," Johnny adds, and literally rolls off.
----
Picket Patrol Report
The current response to Truth activity in the region is to Shut Down All Operations and Avoid All Contact.
With the defeat of the Dawnbreaker Crusades, their units are currently scattered and in rout all across this side of the continent. While dispersed and devoid of higher coordination, there is still a risk they will pass through the area. The patrol continues to advise caution.
In other news, there appears to be veil disruption all over the sector. Chances are, some manner of phase animal pack is going to arrive. All units are on alert for an animal attack.
Strength: 500/500
Combat Aptitude: 1
Morale: Moderate
Equipment:
- Combat 2 - Standard Issue Pre-Fall Wargear
- Survival 1 - Standard Environmental Protection
Background: The defensive militia of the settlers at the Sun's Refuge. Poorly trained by post-Fall standards, they remain well-equipped, with ample access to automatic firearms and ballistic body armor.
Background: The survivors of Shelter 01 who have volunteered to take on security and combat duties after the deaths of the entire Security contingent. While poorly-equipped and battered emotionally, they are experienced in combat. Nobody survives Lanca without knowing how to fight.
Attached Hero Units: Tekken, B-Sha
Strength: 120/120
Combat Aptitude: 4
Morale: High
Equipment:
- Combat 1.5: Salvaged Wargear, some units equipped with Pre-Fall Standard Issue
- Survival 1: Standard Environmental Protection
Background: The combined elite of Shelters 01, 13, 36 and 47, made of the volunteers of 13, 36 and 47 who have come to aid them, and the surviving combat-capable of Shelter 01. Tried and tested countless times in the crucible of Lanca and composed of Magi, Adepts, Rangers and Shocktroopers, they more than compensate for their sub-par wargear.
Equipment:
- Tier 2 APC - C-54 Agapanthus Infantry Fighting Vehicle
- Combat 2 - Standard Issue Infantry Weaponry
- Support 2 - Standard Squad Support Weapons
- Survival 2 - Standard NBC Body Armor
Upkeep Cost: 210 Materials/Week
Background: Members of the 22nd Mechanised Division, seconded from the Crow's Nest Bastion by the order of Colonel Matthias Burton. Highly-trained, they are one of the few intact units from the battle. They are loyal, and eager to battle beside the Solar Hero and the Young Goddess.
Equipment:
- Combat 2 - Standard Issue Infantry Weaponry
- Support 2 - Standard Squad Support Weapons
- Survival 2 - Standard NBC Body Armor
Traits:
- ???
Upkeep Cost: 60 Materials/Week
Background: An enigmatic force, with much of its records and achievements being redacted by order of the Lords General. Their capability in combat is undeniable, however; their presence, as much as the Shocktroopers, was what helped Crow's Nest last until the arrival of Purple Heart. They obviously have an ulterior motive here, but for now they are allies, and they don't seem like bad people either.
Attached Hero Units: 'Iceblock', 'Ace'
Systems:
Weapons: None
Communications: Level 2/4 - Secondary Systems, General Frequencies
Power: Level 1/4 - Tertiary Systems, Emergency Power
Motive: Level 0/4 - Completely Inactive, Unable to Move under Own Power
Fabricators: Level 1/4 - Capable of producing Tier 2 Combat Equipment at 10% Discount
Traits:
Strategic Command Suite: +1 Strategic Action/Turn
Named for the Goddess: +1 Morale to Crew and Transported Units
Transport Capacity: 500 Men
Unavailable Hero Units:
- IF - Injured, Recovery ETA - 2 Weeks
- Erina - Injured
- MAGES. - In Coma
Strategic Actions (Choose 2)
[] Focus on expanding Supply production this week. Their arrival from Nacma has strained the Refuge's capacity somewhat. While there is plenty of give yet, it may be expedient to ensure that the settlement is fully capable of sustaining the population indefinitely. (-1k Materials, +1k Supply Production)
[] Expand Material production this week. The Refuge has had sub-par industry ever since it was settled, and although the settlers have not needed to prepare for war since their own exodus, that should be changed. Increasing their industrial capacity will be necessary if the Truth is to be defeated. (-1k Materials, +0.1k to +0.3k Materials Production)
[] Upgrade the Equipment of the Survivalists The equipment available to the expedition that escaped Nacma is pitiful compared to the equipment the Refuge's militia is equipped with, and which it is fully capable of producing. Extensive refits and upgrades are in order for the Survivalists Battalion. (-500 Materials, Survivalist CEQ increased to 2)
[] Upgrade the Equipment of the Combined Force The equipment available to the expedition that escaped Nacma is pitiful compared to the equipment the Refuge's militia is equipped with, and which it is fully capable of producing. Extensive refits and upgrades are in order for the Combined Force Company. (-100 Materials, Combined Force CEQ increased to 2)
[] Repair the Communication Systems The K for Kyrain's Comm Systems are still semi-intact, and its databanks have its schematics. With some work, and plenty of resources, perhaps they could be brought back to their former glory. (-3k Materials, Communication Systems to Level 3)
[] Repair the Power Systems The K for Kyrain is running on emergency power, and barely able to keep the lights on, let alone do what it was made to do. While constructing a full fusion reactor to replace the one it lost will take years at the least and resources the Refuge does not have, bolstering its tertiary systems with some power cells will at least keep the lights on. (-1k Materials, Power Systems to Level 2)
[] Repair the Fabricators The Arclights were meant to replace equipment lost in the field, or even produce new equipment for reinforcements or local militia. However, the remaining Auto-Jigs are unable to produce everything that an Arclight should be able to. Repairing the Auto-Jigs and replacing its specialised machine tools will allow the K for Kyrain to make more of its available inventory. (-1k Materials, Fabricators to Level 2)
[] Repair the Tracks The K for Kyrain can't even move on its own, and had to be dragged out of the lift platform by a bunch of trucks and tow cables. If this is supposed to help retake Lanca, it should at least move on its own power. The first step should be to give it new treads, so it can roll at the very least. (-1k Materials, Motive Systems to Level 2)
[] Deploy a Salvage Expedition to acquire additional resources from the nearby ruins. Existing salvage efforts are ideal, but concentrating administrative efforts on salvage operations this week will surely provide an additional bounty. (+1k to +2k Materials)
[] Explore the Refuge, and find what Luteus Kyrain left behind in her 'holiday house', curiously equipped for the end of the world… There was a Strategic Command Crawler in the Goddess' basement, one the stories said was broken up for scrap. If something like that was located here, what other secrets might she have hidden? Weapons? Stockpiles? Knowledge, even? Organise another expedition to go deeper, and find the secrets even she has forgotten about…
[] Domesticate the Stormgoats The Stormgoats are a curious breed of animal in post-Fall Eopra; tame, yet lethal. Fluffy, yet disruptive. Full domestication will be an effort that could last years, but taming this herd will likely yield impressive benefits beyond the short run. Further study of their strange properties and qualities will require that they stop instinctively shorting out nervous systems when anyone touches them. (25% of Success, +10% Chance after every Failed Attempt, +5% every Week up to 40%)
[X] Conduct a Training Exercise The Eopran Army units sent to fortify the Refuge are battle-hardened and capable units, as shown by how they carried themselves during the Battle of Crow's Nest. However, they are still largely unaware of how Lancan Survivors carry themselves, despite the small unit's excellent showing at the Battle. Agent Iceblock thereby proposes that an exercise take place to build unit rapport, practice some crucial wilderness skills, and judge the mettle of all forces involved. And whoever commands the Refuge's forces will benefit greatly from the experience, of course. Locked In
[] Focus on Personal Matters Administration is one thing, but pursuing a course of action will need Neptune to… well, pursue it. Taking the time to herself will instead give her time to… herself. Sometimes a girl just really wants her own time. That's not a crime. (+1 Personal Action, Once Only)
Personal Actions (Choose 2)
[x] Meet the Lords General. Now that contact with the Eopran Army has been established again, it is crucial to meet its leaders as soon as possible and to settle the plan to retake Lanca as soon as possible. Joshua will have to come with, as his presence as Solar Hero and Solar Demigod will be crucial in convincing them of… just about everything, frankly. Costs 2 Actions, Locked In
[] Spend time with someone. Training, therapy, or even just talking. Neptune can spend her time with them, and learn a few things, perhaps even learn new things about her friends and family.
IF - Available One of Neptune's earliest and best friends, and unrivalled in scoutcraft and sniper fire. A proven Hero of the defunct Shelter 01, IF is nonetheless emotionally prickly and prone to isolation out of misguided protective instinct. Sneaky enough to contend with the best of Shelter 36's Rangers. Character Sheet Unlocked
Compa - Available One of Neptune's earliest and best friends, and the single best non-Solar Hero healer they have right now. A medical prodigy, she is as ditzy as she is beautiful as she is brilliant in her one select field. Compa does not take to personal failure well, though, and strives to power on through her flaws. She just needs time. And sometimes, a pick-me-up. Loves hugs, desu. Character Sheet Unlocked
B-Sha and Johnny - Available Neptune's cousin and uncle, respectively, but they both spend most of their time together (out of necessity now, due to her uncle's increased dependency because of his newer injuries) so they share the same slot. Prickly, snarky, and greedy, B-Sha still does care for her cousin. Same with her uncle, but less greedy and even snarkier. After her father's death, Johnny is a lot softer on Neptune. Still prickly, though. Character Sheets Unlocked
MAGES. - Unavailable: She's in a Coma One of Neptune's newer friends and a mage from Shelter 13. Kind of a weirdo who loves to tinker and make new, crazy inventions. Sees nothing wrong with a toaster that melts metal. Concerned to the point of paranoia about 'The Organisation', whatever that is. Is a surprisingly powerful mage capable of temporal and explosive magicks, but runs the constant risk of environmental backlash. Loves Duck T. Popper, whatever that is. Character Sheet Unlocked
Falcom - Available One of Neptune's newer friends and a blademaster-to-be from Shelter 47. Prodigy of the blade, same as Neptune, and wholly laser focused on that. Neptune's sparring partner and frankly her superior with a sword at this point. Has an undemonstrated talent for monster hunting. Character Sheet Unlocked
MarvelousAQL - Available One of Neptune's newer friends and a Ranger from Shelter 36. A practitioner of Shadow Walk, another of the Lutean Arts, that lets her leap from shadow to shadow like a demented teleporting murdersassin. Is confused about how IF doesn't Shadow Walk but is just as good as her anyways. Likes swords and futomaki, but her usual weapons are grenades and silenced weapons. Has big boobs. May just be a ninja stereotype.
Tekken - Available One of Neptune's friends from Shelter 01 and one of the few Ripple Adepts still alive. A neurological disorder caused by early Ripple training has caused her to feel pleasure (and that's as specific as it gets!) instead of pain, making her a devastating but overeager combat adept and all but useless for healing. Still a meek and shy girl despite all that. Has laid Neptune the fuck out on the sparring mat more than once. Still a really fucking good Ripple Adept, if Neptune must admit. Character Sheet Unlocked
Nepgear - Available Neptune's little sister, and the most adorable thing in existence, across all time and space. Eminently huggable. Socially awkward and receptive of hugs. Budding tech genius who doesn't know terminology but knows technology. Still broken up over her father's death and her sister's ascension to goddesshood. Likes to colour inside the lines. Character Sheet Unlocked
Joshua - Available Neptune's great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather, and progenitor of the Joestar line, but she just calls him Grandpa. A Demigod born to Luteus Kyrain, and the last child of any Goddess ever until Neptune decides to have kids. A Solar Hero, though his training was never finished, which still leaves him as the second most dangerous person in the region. Has refused to pursue a relationship after his wife died over a hundred years ago on account of having seen almost everyone around him grow up from newborns to adults. Would rather retire fully from leadership and finish his branch collection, but his sense of responsibility refuses to let him let go. Due to his early life as Luteus Kyrain's youngest son, He Has Seen Some Shit. Character Sheet Unlocked
Erina - Available Neptune's mother, and one of the coolest people she knows. Described as an older Neptune who got hitched and has two kids, but is really an older Neptune with a temper problem and the burning need for retribution against anything or anyone who has killed her loved ones. Has put avenging her husband on the backburner to help care for her eldest daughter. Enjoys crossword puzzles and sundresses, but never gets to do crossword puzzles or wear sundresses. Character Sheet Unlocked
Plutia - Available Neptune's newest friend, and the adorable hugblob at the Sun's Refuge. A possible contender for Nepgear's Most Adorable Award, but too lazy to actually compete. Might actually be too lazy to breathe if she didn't need air to live. Is a natural with people just like Neptune, but spends her energy being endearing enough to not have to do a lot of work. Is a bit of an enigma… What does she hide behind her lazy sunny disposition?
- [] B-Sha and Marvy could both use a talking to about what happened at the Battlefield, just to air out some feelings.
[] Meditate and contact Luteus. Luteus Kyrain lives inside Neptune, and while she is quite literally soul cancer at the moment, the woman herself is actually mostly pleasant, and willing to discuss a number of topics.
- [] Ask her about the past.
- [] Ask her about the Refuge.
- [] Help her and Joshua reconcile.
- [] Ask her for help with Throwback.
- [] Ask her for tutoring.
[] Meditate upon the Sword. Swordsmanship is more than just swinging a sharp sheet of metal in increasingly-badass ways and cutting your opponents to ribbons. It is about a state of mind, to become more than a hooligan with a sharp bat. A Master is someone who is one with their weapon, and so much more than the sum of their parts. They have found serenity within the sword. Perhaps Neptune can find hers.
[] Train a stat on her own. Training may be a drag, but Neptune does need to build herself up. This can be anything from finding help to studying on her own to whatever. As long as Neptune learns something. She'll definitely have to find a tutor to teach her or help her train her skills, though. She can't improve them on her own, not in this timeframe.
- [] Martial (Easy)
- [] Stewardship (Easy)
- [-] Diplomacy (Impossible, Stat is >15)
- [] Intrigue (Moderate)
- [] Learning (Easy)
[] Explore and develop HDD. Training is one thing, but Neptune is a Goddess now. Goddesses have superpowers. Neptune could develop new ones or improve on existing ones.
- [] Develop additional powers. (Ideas?)
- [] Expand and improve on existing powers.
Reinforcement: In My Hands, Iron is Steel
Reinforcement upgrades a Goddess' weapons for her use while transformed. In the hands of a Goddess, even wooden swords can cut through stone. This skill is necessary, or most weapons would shatter with every swing. A Goddess also passively applies Reinforcement onto themselves, to let them withstand the damage they would otherwise take.
Share Burst: Grip the World, Split the Earth
Share Burst provides a Goddess with the explosive power they need to move and fight with the speed of Goddesses. Even without a weapon, a Goddess can shatter castle walls like sheets of thin glass. Comparable to strapping a jet engine to the back of a hammer.
Omniscence Overdrive: I Think, Therefore I Am
Omniscence Overdrive provides a Goddess with all the information they need, and the means to process it. While transformed, all of a Goddess' natural senses are bolstered, and they are given a complete awareness of everything going on around their immediate vicinity. They also gain the mental processing power to use the information, and have effectively infinite thinking time on demand. The Processor Unit helps manage sensation to reduce distractions in combat.
Half-Drive Overtime:What If God Was One Of Us
Half-Drive Overtime allows a Goddess to tap into one of their divine abilities while still in human form, at the cost of a premium on stamina as well as other unforeseen complications from using only one power from an overall set. This skill is considered a party trick by Goddess standards, as transforming is almost always an option… except when it is not.
Quick question @Swordomatic: Is there any way for us to spend an action to have the medics look at MAGES.' coma and see if there's anything they can do about that?
Quick question @Swordomatic: Is there any way for us to spend an action to have the medics look at MAGES.' coma and see if there's anything they can do about that?
- and the fact Erina has led a squad puts her immediately above my second choice of Neptune by default.
