You're an F-list supervillain, following a cryptic invitation to an abandoned warehouse. You don't know who your potential "employer" is, just that he's promising big payment for a Job. You have no idea what the hell you're about to get into.
In Defense of Spite
- Thread starter Inkbones
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The Meet-Up
Inkbones
No Glory Save Honor
- Location
- Where you can still smell the sky
The inside of the factory was dim, and musty. Dust motes floated in the sunbeams that managed to filter through the cracked and grimy windows far above us.
The guy who'd brought us here was sitting amid a circle of medal folding chairs. He was rich, judging by how stupid his outfit was. A dark grey vest, and a purple tie over a dress shirt. Like a gangster from an old, old movie. Gloved hands were curled around the umbrella that sat in his lap. No one should look that calm at a meeting of supervillains.
Even ones like you.
You're F-listers, the bottom of the barrel, the poor bastards with just enough magic to be hunted by supers, but not enough to ever matter. Doesn't mean you're not dangerous. But then again, maybe he is to.
One by one, you and your "peers" emerge from the shadows, footsteps echoing on bare concrete. You recognize some of them, others are either new or so obscure even you haven't heard of them. You wonder if they recognize you?
Who are you?
[ ] Glitz, almost unbroken
[ ] Madame Guillotine, marked neck
[ ] Shieldwall, runaway brother
[ ] Hot Hail, disaster zone
[ ] Cog-nito, less than useless
[ ] Sally, match girl
[ ] Write-in| This is your villainous codename, and your epithet. Your codename is an allusion to your power, a statement of intent, and somewhat who you are. Your epithet is the nickname you've been given, by the underworld, the press, the heroes, or just the world. It's the problem you have to deal with. What you write here is a just a suggestion, we'll work out the details later.
The guy who'd brought us here was sitting amid a circle of medal folding chairs. He was rich, judging by how stupid his outfit was. A dark grey vest, and a purple tie over a dress shirt. Like a gangster from an old, old movie. Gloved hands were curled around the umbrella that sat in his lap. No one should look that calm at a meeting of supervillains.
Even ones like you.
You're F-listers, the bottom of the barrel, the poor bastards with just enough magic to be hunted by supers, but not enough to ever matter. Doesn't mean you're not dangerous. But then again, maybe he is to.
One by one, you and your "peers" emerge from the shadows, footsteps echoing on bare concrete. You recognize some of them, others are either new or so obscure even you haven't heard of them. You wonder if they recognize you?
Who are you?
[ ] Glitz, almost unbroken
[ ] Madame Guillotine, marked neck
[ ] Shieldwall, runaway brother
[ ] Hot Hail, disaster zone
[ ] Cog-nito, less than useless
[ ] Sally, match girl
[ ] Write-in| This is your villainous codename, and your epithet. Your codename is an allusion to your power, a statement of intent, and somewhat who you are. Your epithet is the nickname you've been given, by the underworld, the press, the heroes, or just the world. It's the problem you have to deal with. What you write here is a just a suggestion, we'll work out the details later.
The Crew
Inkbones
No Glory Save Honor
- Location
- Where you can still smell the sky
-
Name: Abigail Axton
Codename: Madame Guillotine, marked neck.
Stress: vvv~vvv~vvv
Trauma: \/ \/ \/ \/
Harm: 1st||2nd||3rd|
Role: Gumshoe
Power: Phylactery Blade(Relic)
VVVVVVVV
Tags: Soul-storing sword
Weakness: Necessarily headless
Actions:
Insight
OOOO Hunt
OOOO Survey
OOOO Study
OOOO Tinker
Prowess
OOOO Skirmish
OOOO Prowl
OOOO Finesse
OOOO Wreck
Resolve
OOOO Attune
OOOO Sway
OOOO Command
OOOO Consort
Contact: Cyrene, a devilishly subtle artificer
Rival: Morlan, a secretly defiant bureaucrat -
Name: Philo Fawkes
Stress: vvv~vvv~vvv
Trauma: \/ \/ \/ \/
Harm: 1st||2nd||3rd|
Role: Spider
Power: Implants
VVVVVVVV
Tags: Invictus
Weakness: Invictus
Actions:
Insight
OOOO Hunt
OOOO Survey
OOOO Study
OOOO Tinker
Prowess
OOOO Skirmish
OOOO Prowl
OOOO Finesse
OOOO Wreck
Resolve
OOOO Attune
OOOO Sway
OOOO Command
OOOO Consort -
Name: Glitz
Stress: vvv~vvv~vvv
Trauma: \/ \/ \/ \/
Harm: 1st|2nd|3rd
Role: Hitter
Power: Diamond Body
VVVVVVVV
Tags: Hard as diamond
Weakness: cracks don't heal
Actions:
Insight
OOOO Hunt
OOOO Survey
OOOO Study
OOOO Tinker
Prowess
OOOO Skirmish
OOOO Prowl
OOOO Finesse
OOOO Wreck
Resolve
OOOO Attune
OOOO Sway
OOOO Command
OOOO Consort -
Name: Shieldwall
Stress: vvv~vvv~vvv
Trauma: \/ \/ \/ \/
Harm: 1st|2nd|3rd
Role: Hitter
Power: Summon Shields
VVVVVVVV
Tags: block stuff
Weakness: mostly harmless
Actions:
Insight
OOOO Hunt
OOOO Survey
OOOO Study
OOOO Tinker
Prowess
OOOO Skirmish
OOOO Prowl
OOOO Finesse
OOOO Wreck
Resolve
OOOO Attune
OOOO Sway
OOOO Command
OOOO Consort -
Name: Cog-nito
Stress: vvv~vvv~vvv
Trauma: \/ \/ \/ \/
Harm: 1st|2nd|3rd
Role: Thief
Power: Invisibility suit
VVVVVVVV
Tags: vanish completely
Weakness: only while still
Actions:
Insight
OOOO Hunt
OOOO Survey
OOOO Study
OOOO Tinker
Prowess
OOOO Skirmish
OOOO Prowl
OOOO Finesse
OOOO Wreck
Resolve
OOOO Attune
OOOO Sway
OOOO Command
OOOO Consort -
Name: Hot Hail
Stress: vvv~vvv~vvv
Trauma: \/ \/ \/ \/
Harm: 1st|2nd|3rd
Role: Driver
Power: Summon meteors
VVVVVVVV
Tags: rain of fire
Weakness: collateral damage
Actions:
Insight
OOOO Hunt
OOOO Survey
OOOO Study
OOOO Tinker
Prowess
OOOO Skirmish
OOOO Prowl
OOOO Finesse
OOOO Wreck
Resolve
OOOO Attune
OOOO Sway
OOOO Command
OOOO Consort -
Name: Sally
Stress: vvv~vvv~vvv
Trauma: \/ \/ \/ \/
Harm: 1st|2nd|3rd
Role: Saboteur
Power: Salamander's curse
VVVVVVVV
Tags: Phlogiston touch
Weakness: no off switch
Actions:
Insight
OOOO Hunt
OOOO Survey
OOOO Study
OOOO Tinker
Prowess
OOOO Skirmish
OOOO Prowl
OOOO Finesse
OOOO Wreck
Resolve
OOOO Attune
OOOO Sway
OOOO Command
OOOO Consort
Last edited:
Meet the Crew
Inkbones
No Glory Save Honor
- Location
- Where you can still smell the sky
"Thank you for coming." Says the man with the umbrella. as if any of you had a choice. You wouldn't be an F-lister if you weren't desperate enough to take any chance you could get.
Even if it was a trap. You'd gotten a letter, of all things, with a cursive invitation to come here. How the hell had he found you?
"My name is Philo Fawkes, and I've brought you here to offer you a job."
"Fawkes." Says a woman in a grey hoodie as she sits down opposite him. The chair groans a little under her weight. You can't see her face, but something about it seems…off. "As in, Nero Fawkes? The trillionaire? The rocket guy?"
"My father, yes." Fawkes says, adjusting his tie.
"Heard you'd been kidnapped." Says a demonic-looking woman leaning against a concrete column rather than sitting down with the rest of us. "Big uproar about it a while back. You couldn't turn on the news without hearing about the poor rich kid. Figured somebody was holding you for ransom."
"It was less of a kidnapping, and more of an escape." Says Fawkes. "Which brings me to the purpose of this meeting. I have a vested interest in destroying my father, and everything he has created, and I am willing to pay an exorbitant amount of money to anyone who will help me accomplish this."
"How much is 'exorbitant.'" Says a guy in a leather jacket, doing his best to talk through the bright-red bandana around his face. Seriously, how old is he? He can't be out of high school yet.
"Ten. Each."
There was a moment of silence, as each of us contemplated how much that was, and what we would to with it. In underworld slang, ten Coin was the difference between living on the street and having a roof over your head. It was more money than some people saw their entire lives.
"What's the catch?"
"Danger, of course. Nero Fawkes is a powerful man, opposing him will be difficult. More heat than any of you have ever had to deal with. And, you'll have to work together."
You and other assorted scoundrels exchanged looks.
"Seriously?" said a dumpy looking dude who wasn't sitting so much as collapsed onto his chair.
"Oh yes." Said Fawkes. "Teamwork will be absolutely essential. I am very specific in who I choose to hire. I selected each of you because of your great potential for cohesion."
And because we're desperate, you thought to yourself.
"Um." A voice emerged from the weird leather and brass outfit that seemed to be doing its best to vanish under our combined gaze. "I think you might be. Uninformed. About me."
The suit stood up, and actually did vanish. For about three seconds, before an ear-splitting mechanical racket started up. You think you saw birds flying away in terror a block away.
The suit shimmered back into visibility. "The suit lets me turn invisible. But only so long as I stay still. It's pretty much useless otherwise. I don't think I can be very useful to you, Mr. Fawkes."
"I didn't ask you to come here because-" Fawkes starts.
"Uh, while we're on the subject." Dumpy guy says. Swear to gods, he's wearing a domino mask that looks like it's been cut out of a paper napkin. "Unless the job involves leveling something for you, I'm out. I can't control the hail well enough-"
"Hold up." Grey hoodie says. You really need to learn these people's names. "You're Hot Hail? The bastard who started that fire in Greenbrook?"
"Yes." Hot Hail says. "I mean, no. I didn't even know I had magic at the time. I was angry at someone- Look, the fire was an accident." He buries his head in his hands. "I never would have done something like that on purpose."
Demon lady steps forward and pats him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, kid. You're not the only firebug here." She says, reaching into the pocket of her weird black bodysuit and pulls out a cigarette and lighter. "I'm Sally. Everything I touch explodes."
Before you have time to process that, she bursts into flames. Hot Hail screams and flings himself away from her, tweed coat already on fire. Grey hoodie and high-schooler look ready to fight, and Fawkes is just sitting there, looking mildly annoyed.
As suddenly as they started, the flames go out. Sally sits down in Hail's chair, crossing her legs and wearing a shit-eating grin.
"I feel that was less than necessary." Fawkes says, sounding like a teacher who isn't angry, just disappointed.
"Well, we were doing show-and-tell, weren't we?" Sally says, shrugging. "Now everybody knows not to fucking touch me."
"You're crazy." Hot Hail says, lying on the floor and clutching his chest. "All of you are crazy. Fucking hells."
"Are you in need of assistance?" Fawkes says, having somehow knelt beside Hail without you noticing him move.
"No. Just. Keep me away from her." Hail says, glaring hot death at Sally, who grins back.
"If you are sure." Fawkes returns to his seat. There is definitely something uncanny about the way he moves.
"As long as we're doing show and tell." Grey hoodie stands up and pulls back her hood…
She's made of diamond. Like someone chiseled a person out of a coffin-sized gemstone. Looks like the person who did it was a bit drunk, too. You can seek scratches and pockmarks across her face, and painful-looking crack inside her neck.
"Name's Glitz. I'm hard to kill." She says, before sitting down again. Now that you're paying attention…there's something dried on that hoodie. Something reddish-brown. Not a big stain, but lots of little ones. Probably from multiple sources.
"Me next." Says the kid. He stands as well, even putting his hands on his hips. "My name isss…Shieldwall. Yeah, that works, call me Shieldwall."
Did he make up his code name just now? Seriously?
He realizes we're all looking at him expectantly. A bead of sweat slowly glides down his neck as the silence marches on.
"Powers, old timer. Whatcha got, and how do you use it?" Says Sally, tugging on a somehow-intact cigarette.
"Oh." The kid says. "Right. Powers." He sorta of punches at the air, and a neon blue vaguely-shield-shaped thing shimmers into existence for half a second. "I can make shields. I man, obviously. But like, they can block bullets and stuff."
He keeps standing for several long, torturous seconds, before realizing he can sit down now.
All eyes turn toward you. You suppose it's time to introduce yourself.
For all of the below, please vote in Plan Format.
Role| How do you like to solve your problems?
[ ] Violence or the threat of it. In a world haunted by magic and royalty, everything eventually comes down to this. [You're the Hitter. +2 Skirmish, +1 Command]
[ ] Secrets. Learning them, keeping them, using them against your enemies. Everyone has a secret that will lay them low, one way or another. [You're the Gumshoe. +2 Hunt, +1 Survey]
[ ] Access. Gaining it, stealing it, and denying it to others. There's always a way around a problem other than straight through. [You're the Hacker. +2 Tinker, +1 Study]
[ ] Stealth. Lurking in the dark, avoiding detection, and striking where they least suspect it. [You're the Thief. +2 Prowl, +1 Finesse.]
[ ] Manipulation. Lies, confusion and misdirection. It's the bedrock the world is built on. [You're the Grifter. +2 Sway, +1 Consort]
[ ] Planning. Anticipating problems, helping the team work together, outthinking your enemies, and improvising when everything goes to hell. [You're the Spider. +2 Consort, +1 Study]
Powers| What can you do, and how is it ruining your life? Pick 1 question to answer with 2-3 words. Then, pick one Weakness question and answer that.
[ ] Bastion(protection and durability)| What quality or ability granted by your magic most often protects you?
-[ ] A: How do your offensive powers affect your appearance?
-[ ] B: What are the unwanted implications of your defense?
-[ ] C: To what attacks is your defense susceptible?
-[ ] D: What personality trait derived from your defense gets you in trouble?
[ ] Divination(learning and perceiving)| What allows you to uncannily know things you wouldn't normally know?
-[ ] A: What happens when your Divination overwhelms you?
-[ ] B: What can hinder or block your Divination?
-[ ] C: What is beyond the reach of your Divination?
-[ ] D: What must you have in order to use your Divination?
[ ] Expression(destruction and change)| What is the most common way you use your magic to affect the world?
-[ ] A: What situations or conditions weaken or suppress your magic's expression?
-[ ] B: What targets are immune or resistant to your magic's expression?
-[ ] C: What happens when you lose control over your magic's expression?
-[ ] D: What are the repercussions of bringing your magic into the world?
[ ] Mobility(movement and travel)| What is your magic's most useful form of movement?
-[ ] A: What impedes you or slows you down?
-[ ] B: What happens when you go too fast, too far?
-[ ] C: What happens when you're caught?
-[ ] D: What residual evidence does your movement leave on you, on others, in the environment?
[ ] Relic(enchanted artifact or mad science)| What is the main useful feature or part of your relic?
-[ ] A: What is the most troublesome shortcoming of your Relic?
-[ ] B: What can interfere with the powers of your Relic?
-[ ] C: What can damage or destroy your Relic?
-[ ] D: What has changed in you for the worse because of your Relic?
[ ] Subversion(stealth and manipulation)| What is the principal ability you use to mask or hide your actions?
-[ ] A: What could expose you?
-[ ] B: What is revealed when you are exposed?
-[ ] C: Who or what are you hiding from?
-[ ] D: What psychological tendencies have you developed in the shadows or behind your mask?
[ ] Adaptation(broad and mercurial)| What magic power allows you to respond differently to every situation?
-[ ] A: What are your powers of adaptivity dependent on?
-[ ] B: What results are harder for your magic to achieve?
-[ ] C: What hinders your magic or limits its possibilities?
-[ ] D: What bad habits have you picked up because of your adaptative powers?
Note: answers to power questions that are too broad, or weakness questions that are too specialized, may need to be revised.
Background| Who you were, before you became who you are. Write-in the specific detail if you want.
[ ] Academic: A scholar, a professor or student, a philosopher or journalist, etc.
[ ] Labor: A servant, a factory worker, a cab driver, a docker, a sailor, a Rail Jack, etc. A stevedore for the North Hook Company.
[ ] Trade: A shopkeeper, a merchant, a skilled craftsperson, a shipping agent, etc. A liaison to the Ministry of Preservation.
[ ] Military: A soldier for the Citadels or some other country, a mercenary, an intelligence operative, a strategist, a training instructor, etc.
[ ] Wealth: A trust-fund kid, overseas royalty, scion of a fallen house, etc.
[ ] Underworld: A street urchin, gang member, young thug, or other outcast who grew up on the streets.
[ ] Inhuman: automaton, vat-grown horror, elemental spirit, or an immigrant from Somewhere Else.
Actions| Your stats. Your role gives you three points already placed. You get four more(so you'll have seven total). At the start, no action rating may be higher than two.
[ ] Hunt: a target; gather information about its location and movements; attack with precision shooting from a distance
[ ] Study: a person, document, or item with close scrutiny to gather information and apply knowledge; gain a deeper understanding; do research.
[ ] Survey: a location or situation to understand what's going on; sense trouble before it happens; gather information about opportunities or exploits.
[ ] Tinker: with mechanisms to create, modify, disable, or repair; disable a trap, pick a lock, or crack a safe. Use the ubiquitous magitech devices around the city to your advantage.
[ ] Finesse: an item from someone's pocket; employ subtle misdirection or sleight-of-hand; handle a vehicle or a mount.
[ ] Prowl: about unseen and traverse obstacles; climb, swim, run, jump, and tumble. Ambush with close violence—a backstab, throat cutting, black-jack, etc.
[ ] Skirmish: with an opponent in close combat; assault or hold a position; brawl and wrestle.
[ ] Wreck: a place, item, or obstacle with savage force or carefully applied sabotage; breach defenses with force; create distractions and chaos.
[ ] Attune: to spirits and the world-soul; channel magical energies; interface directly with cybernetics, perceive and communicate with forces beyond; understand magical theory
[ ] Command: obedience with your force of personality; intimidate or threaten; lead an action with one of the crew's gangs.
[ ] Consort: with connections from your heritage, background, friends, or rivals to gain access to resources, information, people, or places.
[ ] Sway: someone with charm, logic, deception, disguise, or bluff; change attitudes or behavior with manipulation or seduction.
Acquaintances: choose one from the list to be your contact(a friend, a family member, comrade, etc.), and one to be your rival or enemy.
[ ] Cyrene, devilishly subtle artificer
[ ] Casslyn, a somewhat dishonest lawyer
[ ] Andrel, obsessive guard at the Hellhole
[ ] Morlan, a secretly defiant bureaucrat
[ ] Polonia, calm tax collector for the mayor's office
[ ] Hammer, moody treasurer at Axgaurd asylum.
Vice| What you do to retreat from the world, for a time. Write in the specifics if you like.
[ ] Faith: You're dedicated to an unseen power, forgotten god, ancestor, etc.
[ ] Gambling: You crave games of chance, betting on sporting events, etc.
[ ] Luxury: Expensive and/or ostentatious displays of opulence.
[ ] Obligation: You're devoted to a family, a cause, a charity, etc.
[ ] Pleasure: Gratification from lovers, food, drink, drugs, art, theater, etc.
[ ] Stupor: You seek oblivion in the abuse of drugs, drink to excess, getting beaten to a pulp in the fighting pits, etc.
[ ] Weird: You experiment with strange essences, consort with rogue spirits, observe bizarre rituals or taboos, etc.
Look| What do others see when they look at you? All the below are entirely optional.
[ ] Write-in| Pronouns
[ ] Write-in| Civilian name
[ ] Write-in| Your unmasked face(picture or text description)
[ ] Write-in| Villainous costume(picture or text description) (keep in mind you don't have much of a budget)
[ ] Write-in| Theme music(humor me)
Even if it was a trap. You'd gotten a letter, of all things, with a cursive invitation to come here. How the hell had he found you?
"My name is Philo Fawkes, and I've brought you here to offer you a job."
"Fawkes." Says a woman in a grey hoodie as she sits down opposite him. The chair groans a little under her weight. You can't see her face, but something about it seems…off. "As in, Nero Fawkes? The trillionaire? The rocket guy?"
"My father, yes." Fawkes says, adjusting his tie.
"Heard you'd been kidnapped." Says a demonic-looking woman leaning against a concrete column rather than sitting down with the rest of us. "Big uproar about it a while back. You couldn't turn on the news without hearing about the poor rich kid. Figured somebody was holding you for ransom."
"It was less of a kidnapping, and more of an escape." Says Fawkes. "Which brings me to the purpose of this meeting. I have a vested interest in destroying my father, and everything he has created, and I am willing to pay an exorbitant amount of money to anyone who will help me accomplish this."
"How much is 'exorbitant.'" Says a guy in a leather jacket, doing his best to talk through the bright-red bandana around his face. Seriously, how old is he? He can't be out of high school yet.
"Ten. Each."
There was a moment of silence, as each of us contemplated how much that was, and what we would to with it. In underworld slang, ten Coin was the difference between living on the street and having a roof over your head. It was more money than some people saw their entire lives.
"What's the catch?"
"Danger, of course. Nero Fawkes is a powerful man, opposing him will be difficult. More heat than any of you have ever had to deal with. And, you'll have to work together."
You and other assorted scoundrels exchanged looks.
"Seriously?" said a dumpy looking dude who wasn't sitting so much as collapsed onto his chair.
"Oh yes." Said Fawkes. "Teamwork will be absolutely essential. I am very specific in who I choose to hire. I selected each of you because of your great potential for cohesion."
And because we're desperate, you thought to yourself.
"Um." A voice emerged from the weird leather and brass outfit that seemed to be doing its best to vanish under our combined gaze. "I think you might be. Uninformed. About me."
The suit stood up, and actually did vanish. For about three seconds, before an ear-splitting mechanical racket started up. You think you saw birds flying away in terror a block away.
The suit shimmered back into visibility. "The suit lets me turn invisible. But only so long as I stay still. It's pretty much useless otherwise. I don't think I can be very useful to you, Mr. Fawkes."
"I didn't ask you to come here because-" Fawkes starts.
"Uh, while we're on the subject." Dumpy guy says. Swear to gods, he's wearing a domino mask that looks like it's been cut out of a paper napkin. "Unless the job involves leveling something for you, I'm out. I can't control the hail well enough-"
"Hold up." Grey hoodie says. You really need to learn these people's names. "You're Hot Hail? The bastard who started that fire in Greenbrook?"
"Yes." Hot Hail says. "I mean, no. I didn't even know I had magic at the time. I was angry at someone- Look, the fire was an accident." He buries his head in his hands. "I never would have done something like that on purpose."
Demon lady steps forward and pats him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, kid. You're not the only firebug here." She says, reaching into the pocket of her weird black bodysuit and pulls out a cigarette and lighter. "I'm Sally. Everything I touch explodes."
Before you have time to process that, she bursts into flames. Hot Hail screams and flings himself away from her, tweed coat already on fire. Grey hoodie and high-schooler look ready to fight, and Fawkes is just sitting there, looking mildly annoyed.
As suddenly as they started, the flames go out. Sally sits down in Hail's chair, crossing her legs and wearing a shit-eating grin.
"I feel that was less than necessary." Fawkes says, sounding like a teacher who isn't angry, just disappointed.
"Well, we were doing show-and-tell, weren't we?" Sally says, shrugging. "Now everybody knows not to fucking touch me."
"You're crazy." Hot Hail says, lying on the floor and clutching his chest. "All of you are crazy. Fucking hells."
"Are you in need of assistance?" Fawkes says, having somehow knelt beside Hail without you noticing him move.
"No. Just. Keep me away from her." Hail says, glaring hot death at Sally, who grins back.
"If you are sure." Fawkes returns to his seat. There is definitely something uncanny about the way he moves.
"As long as we're doing show and tell." Grey hoodie stands up and pulls back her hood…
She's made of diamond. Like someone chiseled a person out of a coffin-sized gemstone. Looks like the person who did it was a bit drunk, too. You can seek scratches and pockmarks across her face, and painful-looking crack inside her neck.
"Name's Glitz. I'm hard to kill." She says, before sitting down again. Now that you're paying attention…there's something dried on that hoodie. Something reddish-brown. Not a big stain, but lots of little ones. Probably from multiple sources.
"Me next." Says the kid. He stands as well, even putting his hands on his hips. "My name isss…Shieldwall. Yeah, that works, call me Shieldwall."
Did he make up his code name just now? Seriously?
He realizes we're all looking at him expectantly. A bead of sweat slowly glides down his neck as the silence marches on.
"Powers, old timer. Whatcha got, and how do you use it?" Says Sally, tugging on a somehow-intact cigarette.
"Oh." The kid says. "Right. Powers." He sorta of punches at the air, and a neon blue vaguely-shield-shaped thing shimmers into existence for half a second. "I can make shields. I man, obviously. But like, they can block bullets and stuff."
He keeps standing for several long, torturous seconds, before realizing he can sit down now.
All eyes turn toward you. You suppose it's time to introduce yourself.
***
For all of the below, please vote in Plan Format.
Role| How do you like to solve your problems?
[ ] Violence or the threat of it. In a world haunted by magic and royalty, everything eventually comes down to this. [You're the Hitter. +2 Skirmish, +1 Command]
[ ] Secrets. Learning them, keeping them, using them against your enemies. Everyone has a secret that will lay them low, one way or another. [You're the Gumshoe. +2 Hunt, +1 Survey]
[ ] Access. Gaining it, stealing it, and denying it to others. There's always a way around a problem other than straight through. [You're the Hacker. +2 Tinker, +1 Study]
[ ] Stealth. Lurking in the dark, avoiding detection, and striking where they least suspect it. [You're the Thief. +2 Prowl, +1 Finesse.]
[ ] Manipulation. Lies, confusion and misdirection. It's the bedrock the world is built on. [You're the Grifter. +2 Sway, +1 Consort]
[ ] Planning. Anticipating problems, helping the team work together, outthinking your enemies, and improvising when everything goes to hell. [You're the Spider. +2 Consort, +1 Study]
Powers| What can you do, and how is it ruining your life? Pick 1 question to answer with 2-3 words. Then, pick one Weakness question and answer that.
[X] Relic- Absorbs kinetic energy
-[X] A: Overheats quickly
-[X] A: Overheats quickly
[ ] Bastion(protection and durability)| What quality or ability granted by your magic most often protects you?
-[ ] A: How do your offensive powers affect your appearance?
-[ ] B: What are the unwanted implications of your defense?
-[ ] C: To what attacks is your defense susceptible?
-[ ] D: What personality trait derived from your defense gets you in trouble?
[ ] Divination(learning and perceiving)| What allows you to uncannily know things you wouldn't normally know?
-[ ] A: What happens when your Divination overwhelms you?
-[ ] B: What can hinder or block your Divination?
-[ ] C: What is beyond the reach of your Divination?
-[ ] D: What must you have in order to use your Divination?
[ ] Expression(destruction and change)| What is the most common way you use your magic to affect the world?
-[ ] A: What situations or conditions weaken or suppress your magic's expression?
-[ ] B: What targets are immune or resistant to your magic's expression?
-[ ] C: What happens when you lose control over your magic's expression?
-[ ] D: What are the repercussions of bringing your magic into the world?
[ ] Mobility(movement and travel)| What is your magic's most useful form of movement?
-[ ] A: What impedes you or slows you down?
-[ ] B: What happens when you go too fast, too far?
-[ ] C: What happens when you're caught?
-[ ] D: What residual evidence does your movement leave on you, on others, in the environment?
[ ] Relic(enchanted artifact or mad science)| What is the main useful feature or part of your relic?
-[ ] A: What is the most troublesome shortcoming of your Relic?
-[ ] B: What can interfere with the powers of your Relic?
-[ ] C: What can damage or destroy your Relic?
-[ ] D: What has changed in you for the worse because of your Relic?
[ ] Subversion(stealth and manipulation)| What is the principal ability you use to mask or hide your actions?
-[ ] A: What could expose you?
-[ ] B: What is revealed when you are exposed?
-[ ] C: Who or what are you hiding from?
-[ ] D: What psychological tendencies have you developed in the shadows or behind your mask?
[ ] Adaptation(broad and mercurial)| What magic power allows you to respond differently to every situation?
-[ ] A: What are your powers of adaptivity dependent on?
-[ ] B: What results are harder for your magic to achieve?
-[ ] C: What hinders your magic or limits its possibilities?
-[ ] D: What bad habits have you picked up because of your adaptative powers?
Note: answers to power questions that are too broad, or weakness questions that are too specialized, may need to be revised.
Background| Who you were, before you became who you are. Write-in the specific detail if you want.
[ ] Academic: A scholar, a professor or student, a philosopher or journalist, etc.
[ ] Labor: A servant, a factory worker, a cab driver, a docker, a sailor, a Rail Jack, etc. A stevedore for the North Hook Company.
[ ] Trade: A shopkeeper, a merchant, a skilled craftsperson, a shipping agent, etc. A liaison to the Ministry of Preservation.
[ ] Military: A soldier for the Citadels or some other country, a mercenary, an intelligence operative, a strategist, a training instructor, etc.
[ ] Wealth: A trust-fund kid, overseas royalty, scion of a fallen house, etc.
[ ] Underworld: A street urchin, gang member, young thug, or other outcast who grew up on the streets.
[ ] Inhuman: automaton, vat-grown horror, elemental spirit, or an immigrant from Somewhere Else.
Actions| Your stats. Your role gives you three points already placed. You get four more(so you'll have seven total). At the start, no action rating may be higher than two.
- Put 1 point in any Action that you believe reflects your Background
- Put 1 point in any Action that you believe reflects your Power
- Assign 2 dots anywhere you please.
[X] Hunt: 1
[X] Attune: 1
[X] Skirmish: 2
[X] Attune: 1
[X] Skirmish: 2
[ ] Hunt: a target; gather information about its location and movements; attack with precision shooting from a distance
[ ] Study: a person, document, or item with close scrutiny to gather information and apply knowledge; gain a deeper understanding; do research.
[ ] Survey: a location or situation to understand what's going on; sense trouble before it happens; gather information about opportunities or exploits.
[ ] Tinker: with mechanisms to create, modify, disable, or repair; disable a trap, pick a lock, or crack a safe. Use the ubiquitous magitech devices around the city to your advantage.
[ ] Finesse: an item from someone's pocket; employ subtle misdirection or sleight-of-hand; handle a vehicle or a mount.
[ ] Prowl: about unseen and traverse obstacles; climb, swim, run, jump, and tumble. Ambush with close violence—a backstab, throat cutting, black-jack, etc.
[ ] Skirmish: with an opponent in close combat; assault or hold a position; brawl and wrestle.
[ ] Wreck: a place, item, or obstacle with savage force or carefully applied sabotage; breach defenses with force; create distractions and chaos.
[ ] Attune: to spirits and the world-soul; channel magical energies; interface directly with cybernetics, perceive and communicate with forces beyond; understand magical theory
[ ] Command: obedience with your force of personality; intimidate or threaten; lead an action with one of the crew's gangs.
[ ] Consort: with connections from your heritage, background, friends, or rivals to gain access to resources, information, people, or places.
[ ] Sway: someone with charm, logic, deception, disguise, or bluff; change attitudes or behavior with manipulation or seduction.
Acquaintances: choose one from the list to be your contact(a friend, a family member, comrade, etc.), and one to be your rival or enemy.
[X} Mallory, Contact
[X} Marjory, Rival
[X} Marjory, Rival
[ ] Cyrene, devilishly subtle artificer
[ ] Casslyn, a somewhat dishonest lawyer
[ ] Andrel, obsessive guard at the Hellhole
[ ] Morlan, a secretly defiant bureaucrat
[ ] Polonia, calm tax collector for the mayor's office
[ ] Hammer, moody treasurer at Axgaurd asylum.
Vice| What you do to retreat from the world, for a time. Write in the specifics if you like.
[ ] Faith: You're dedicated to an unseen power, forgotten god, ancestor, etc.
[ ] Gambling: You crave games of chance, betting on sporting events, etc.
[ ] Luxury: Expensive and/or ostentatious displays of opulence.
[ ] Obligation: You're devoted to a family, a cause, a charity, etc.
[ ] Pleasure: Gratification from lovers, food, drink, drugs, art, theater, etc.
[ ] Stupor: You seek oblivion in the abuse of drugs, drink to excess, getting beaten to a pulp in the fighting pits, etc.
[ ] Weird: You experiment with strange essences, consort with rogue spirits, observe bizarre rituals or taboos, etc.
Look| What do others see when they look at you? All the below are entirely optional.
[ ] Write-in| Pronouns
[ ] Write-in| Civilian name
[ ] Write-in| Your unmasked face(picture or text description)
[ ] Write-in| Villainous costume(picture or text description) (keep in mind you don't have much of a budget)
[ ] Write-in| Theme music(humor me)
Please use Plan Format. I have no idea how I'll count all the votes otherwise.
The First Plan
Inkbones
No Glory Save Honor
- Location
- Where you can still smell the sky
"I" You say, whipping your scarf around for effect(and to cover your severed neck) "am Madame Guillotine, undying queen." You grip the executioner's blade at your hip, ready for the coming onslaught of questions on your powers, your dark and mysterious origins, why your head appears to be formed from swirling shadows, and how such an obviously aristocratic personage was forced to-
"'aight" Says Sally, turning to Fawkes. "So, we're all introduced. What's the job?"
"A bank, of course. Please follow."
You begrudgingly follow the herd as Fawkes unfolds a blueprint so large it almost spills over the edges of the table.
"Harmony central?" says Glitz, rubbing her forehead. "You don't start small, do you? You realize that villains have been trying to rob this place for years? After each attempt they've buffed up security. The First Citizen's house probably has less defenses."
"Orur target is not the vault. Anyone dumb enough to rob a bank," you give him a look that would probably translate better if you had eyes. "present company excluded, always goes for the physical money and safe deposit boxes. We're hitting the digital accounts. The discreet digital accounts."
Ah. You've been in this blasted city for only a couple of months, but even you know that Harmony Central Bank handles mob money. They practically advertise it.
You shove Cog-nito(gods, that name) out of the way so you can get a better view of the bank floorplan. You have no idea what these little lines mean(not that you'll let on to these peasants).
"I don't see how that's much better." You say, tracing a gloved finger across the blue paper. "I can't imagine their computers are any less protected then their vault."
You lean your sword against the table, trying not to sigh with relief. You can barely carry the damn thing, it's a miracle you were able to decapitate yourself with it.
"In cyberspace?" Fawkes says. "Their network is crawling with bound deamons and protective sigils. Their actual server room? Not so much. We just need to get access to it. Which is why I need your help."
He places an armful of heavy-looking plastic bags on the table.
"What's this?" Glitz says, peering into one of them. "Guns? Equipment?"
"Snacks. And sticky notes. We've got a lot of work ahead of us. I suggest you get comfortable, because now comes the boring part. We're about to plan a heist."
You just about stop yourself from cradling your head in your hands. You were a princess, royalty, you were destined to rule your own country. And now you're reduced to this, conspiring in abandoned factories with thieves and vagabonds. It's almost enough to wonder if it was worth it.
You massage your throat, gently tracing your finger along the perfect cut where your neck was severed. Across the city, under a silk sheet in the darkness of your apartment, your skin still aches across the same cut.
Almost.
Planning Phase| You and the rest of the merry band of scoundrels you've been saddled with, spend hours looking at scrawled maps, whispering plots and schemes, bickering about the best approach, lamenting the dangers ahead, and lusting after the stacks of cash you just might get your hands on if you pull this off. What do you eventually come up with? Pick a plan, and then write-in the specific detail.
[ ] Assault| Do violence to a target.
-[ ]Detail: the point of attack
Examples: blow up the front door, break through the wall, drop in through the ceiling.
[ ] Deception| Lure, trick, or manipulate.
-[ ] Detail: the method of deception.
Examples: nobody notices the cleaning crew, new guy at IT, safety inspectors, bomb threat, bank manager's cousin.
[ ] Stealth| Trespass unseen.
-[ ] Detail: The point of infiltration.
Examples: sneak in through the sewers, turn of the power, crawl in through the vents.
[ ] Occult| Engage a supernatural power.
-[ ] Detail: the arcane method.
Examples: make a deal with a demon, have Hot Hail blow stuff up, hire a geomancer, ask Cyrene to build you something.
[ ] Social| Negotiate, bargain, or persuade.
-[ ] Detail: the social connection.
Examples: bribe a security guard, blackmail a clerk, owe the mob a favor.
[ ] Transport| Carry cargo or people through danger.
-[ ] Detail: the route and means.
Examples: plant a virus-carrying phone in an employee's pocket, bulldoze through the bank in an armored car, steal the gods-damned server room.
"'aight" Says Sally, turning to Fawkes. "So, we're all introduced. What's the job?"
"A bank, of course. Please follow."
You begrudgingly follow the herd as Fawkes unfolds a blueprint so large it almost spills over the edges of the table.
"Harmony central?" says Glitz, rubbing her forehead. "You don't start small, do you? You realize that villains have been trying to rob this place for years? After each attempt they've buffed up security. The First Citizen's house probably has less defenses."
"Orur target is not the vault. Anyone dumb enough to rob a bank," you give him a look that would probably translate better if you had eyes. "present company excluded, always goes for the physical money and safe deposit boxes. We're hitting the digital accounts. The discreet digital accounts."
Ah. You've been in this blasted city for only a couple of months, but even you know that Harmony Central Bank handles mob money. They practically advertise it.
You shove Cog-nito(gods, that name) out of the way so you can get a better view of the bank floorplan. You have no idea what these little lines mean(not that you'll let on to these peasants).
"I don't see how that's much better." You say, tracing a gloved finger across the blue paper. "I can't imagine their computers are any less protected then their vault."
You lean your sword against the table, trying not to sigh with relief. You can barely carry the damn thing, it's a miracle you were able to decapitate yourself with it.
"In cyberspace?" Fawkes says. "Their network is crawling with bound deamons and protective sigils. Their actual server room? Not so much. We just need to get access to it. Which is why I need your help."
He places an armful of heavy-looking plastic bags on the table.
"What's this?" Glitz says, peering into one of them. "Guns? Equipment?"
"Snacks. And sticky notes. We've got a lot of work ahead of us. I suggest you get comfortable, because now comes the boring part. We're about to plan a heist."
You just about stop yourself from cradling your head in your hands. You were a princess, royalty, you were destined to rule your own country. And now you're reduced to this, conspiring in abandoned factories with thieves and vagabonds. It's almost enough to wonder if it was worth it.
You massage your throat, gently tracing your finger along the perfect cut where your neck was severed. Across the city, under a silk sheet in the darkness of your apartment, your skin still aches across the same cut.
Almost.
Planning Phase| You and the rest of the merry band of scoundrels you've been saddled with, spend hours looking at scrawled maps, whispering plots and schemes, bickering about the best approach, lamenting the dangers ahead, and lusting after the stacks of cash you just might get your hands on if you pull this off. What do you eventually come up with? Pick a plan, and then write-in the specific detail.
[ ] Assault| Do violence to a target.
-[ ]Detail: the point of attack
Examples: blow up the front door, break through the wall, drop in through the ceiling.
[ ] Deception| Lure, trick, or manipulate.
-[ ] Detail: the method of deception.
Examples: nobody notices the cleaning crew, new guy at IT, safety inspectors, bomb threat, bank manager's cousin.
[ ] Stealth| Trespass unseen.
-[ ] Detail: The point of infiltration.
Examples: sneak in through the sewers, turn of the power, crawl in through the vents.
[ ] Occult| Engage a supernatural power.
-[ ] Detail: the arcane method.
Examples: make a deal with a demon, have Hot Hail blow stuff up, hire a geomancer, ask Cyrene to build you something.
[ ] Social| Negotiate, bargain, or persuade.
-[ ] Detail: the social connection.
Examples: bribe a security guard, blackmail a clerk, owe the mob a favor.
[ ] Transport| Carry cargo or people through danger.
-[ ] Detail: the route and means.
Examples: plant a virus-carrying phone in an employee's pocket, bulldoze through the bank in an armored car, steal the gods-damned server room.
Philo's notes, part 1
Inkbones
No Glory Save Honor
- Location
- Where you can still smell the sky
7/15/11/10
11: 45
15 minutes until meeting time. I've never been much of a gambler, yet here we are. We'll see if I'm right about certain universal truths about humanity.
1: 31
That went shockingly well. Only one assault, which was actually a somewhat ingenious prevention tactic. It appears my assumptions on Ms. Sally's personality are at least partially correct. I'll talk to her after the mission(assuming A: we aren't all killed/arrested, and B: aforementioned gamble pays off).
2: 43
Various plans have been proposed. Much bickering on all sides, especially between Ms. Glitz and M. Guillotine.
Note: create better encryption for notes. M. Guillotine was looking over my shoulder at one point. Substitution cypher not nearly adequate.
Anyway, I've compiled a very rough list of which of the general plans being workshopped best fit the skillsets of each member of the team.
Assault: Ms. Glizt, Mr. Hot Hail, and Ms. Sally areour the most dangerous recruits, although both Ms. Sally and Mr. Hail have problems with collateral damage, and Ms. Glitz has her own issues she thinks I haven't noticed.
Deception: Madame Guillotine is good at attracting attention to herself(she claims the physical signs of her ritual shouldn't be a problem for social encounters, but I remain unconvinced). My training should help as well, although my strengths lie in social engineering rather than outright manipulation. Half of all the world's security systems crumble to dust before one man holding a clipboard and looking annoyed. Judging by their negotiating skills, Ms. Sally and Glitz also have some minor talent in those areas, although Ms. Glitz prefers to rely on the intimidation factor of her appearance and reputation.
Stealth: Mx. Cog-nito is an excellent stealth operative, even with the malfunctions of their equipment. Frankly, their biggest hang-up is their lack of certainty in their own abilities. This also warrants further discussion. I suspect also has talents in this area, judging by how well she's managed to melt into the background while Ms. Glitz and M. Guillotine verbally lambast each other. I believe I might have to-
3: 28
Note: I had to defuse a potential altercation. Operational hazard of working with supervillains.
Occult: this plan wasn't much supported by anyone at the table, for obvious reasons. These people know more than anyone how unpredictable magic can be. Mr.s Hot Hail and Shieldwall have the strongest arcane potential of the group, but the least actual practice using it. Apparently both of them were Imbued by an outside force. In any case, none of us have any connections to arcane powers, and gaining one would entail it's own mission. M. Guillotine apparently knows an artificer who might be willing to build some sort of device for us(and a fee), which could be useful in the future. But, as has been already pointed out, a magitech device of unknown function from a fabricator of unknown quality is too risky to build an entire heist around.
Social: As mentioned previously, several members of the team including myself have a bare minimum ofwhat is the word competence at social encounters, but we're lacking the proverbial "inside man." Gaining a social connection will require it's own sub-mission, which is doable but adds unnecessary complication.
Transport:...While it is hypothetically possible to hijack the bank's own armored car, crash through every wall between the loading dock and the server room, load the physical servers into it and drive away, something deep within me dies at the thought of trying something so absolutely lunatic. The worst part is, it could hypothetically work on paper(the bank's cars are plated with adamant. Their interior walls are very much not). Please see about about unnecessary complications.
In all seriousness,our the best driver(Mx. Cog-nito) has apparently never driven an "oil-burner" before. Our The runners-up are Mr. Hail, who's medical condition is not suited for high-stakes getaways, and Ms. Sally, who has made it very clear how bad an idea it is for her to be in an enclosed space for any amount of time.
My next words will either be written atop a metaphorical pile of money, or from the bars of a prison cell. Or a coffin. Depends on how homicidal the heroes are feeling on the day. Wish us luck.
Max Vrvex Lmhil Pbma Fx
11: 45
15 minutes until meeting time. I've never been much of a gambler, yet here we are. We'll see if I'm right about certain universal truths about humanity.
1: 31
That went shockingly well. Only one assault, which was actually a somewhat ingenious prevention tactic. It appears my assumptions on Ms. Sally's personality are at least partially correct. I'll talk to her after the mission(assuming A: we aren't all killed/arrested, and B: aforementioned gamble pays off).
2: 43
Various plans have been proposed. Much bickering on all sides, especially between Ms. Glitz and M. Guillotine.
Note: create better encryption for notes. M. Guillotine was looking over my shoulder at one point. Substitution cypher not nearly adequate.
Anyway, I've compiled a very rough list of which of the general plans being workshopped best fit the skillsets of each member of the team.
Assault: Ms. Glizt, Mr. Hot Hail, and Ms. Sally are
Deception: Madame Guillotine is good at attracting attention to herself(she claims the physical signs of her ritual shouldn't be a problem for social encounters, but I remain unconvinced). My training should help as well, although my strengths lie in social engineering rather than outright manipulation. Half of all the world's security systems crumble to dust before one man holding a clipboard and looking annoyed. Judging by their negotiating skills, Ms. Sally and Glitz also have some minor talent in those areas, although Ms. Glitz prefers to rely on the intimidation factor of her appearance and reputation.
Stealth: Mx. Cog-nito is an excellent stealth operative, even with the malfunctions of their equipment. Frankly, their biggest hang-up is their lack of certainty in their own abilities. This also warrants further discussion. I suspect also has talents in this area, judging by how well she's managed to melt into the background while Ms. Glitz and M. Guillotine verbally lambast each other. I believe I might have to-
3: 28
Note: I had to defuse a potential altercation. Operational hazard of working with supervillains.
Occult: this plan wasn't much supported by anyone at the table, for obvious reasons. These people know more than anyone how unpredictable magic can be. Mr.s Hot Hail and Shieldwall have the strongest arcane potential of the group, but the least actual practice using it. Apparently both of them were Imbued by an outside force. In any case, none of us have any connections to arcane powers, and gaining one would entail it's own mission. M. Guillotine apparently knows an artificer who might be willing to build some sort of device for us(and a fee), which could be useful in the future. But, as has been already pointed out, a magitech device of unknown function from a fabricator of unknown quality is too risky to build an entire heist around.
Social: As mentioned previously, several members of the team including myself have a bare minimum of
Transport:...While it is hypothetically possible to hijack the bank's own armored car, crash through every wall between the loading dock and the server room, load the physical servers into it and drive away, something deep within me dies at the thought of trying something so absolutely lunatic. The worst part is, it could hypothetically work on paper(the bank's cars are plated with adamant. Their interior walls are very much not). Please see about about unnecessary complications.
In all seriousness,
My next words will either be written atop a metaphorical pile of money, or from the bars of a prison cell. Or a coffin. Depends on how homicidal the heroes are feeling on the day. Wish us luck.
Max Vrvex Lmhil Pbma Fx
The Bank Job
Inkbones
No Glory Save Honor
- Location
- Where you can still smell the sky
Quite a lot of your childhood was spent underneath silk tablecloths, hiding away from yet another fancy party in yet another mansion. Royal children are exclusively brats(except for you, of course. You were an angel), and your parents kept forcing you to interact with them in the hopes of an eventual marriage alliance.
This a long-winded way of saying that Harmony Central Bank was the most ridiculously extravagant palace you've ever seen. Giant marble columns rose from the bronze-tiled floor, merging into the lower torsos of this nation's barbaric Pantheon, who were themselves holding up the domed glass ceiling. It was architecture that can only exist with the aid of magic, and only then at ridiculous expense.
All this gilding for a glorified coin chest. You'd almost think the gods themselves brought their money here. You're glad your robbing these idiots, they deserve to be put down a peg.
Now, where were you? Ah yes, your favorite pastime.
"HOW DARE you talk to me like tHAT!" You scream at the top of your lungs.
Putting peasants in their place.
The young girl behind the gilt bars of the teller's station looked like she was about to cry.
"I'm sorry m'am, but you don't have an account with us. If you'd like I could open one for you-"
"Don't give me that." You stab a bright red fingernail against the solid marble countertop. "I'll have you know you are talking to royalty. In any civilized country, such as the one I will one day rule, such insubordination would never be tolerated."
You imagined your face was twisted in a terrifying snarl, but you're having to make do with aggressive body language, a dark and mysterious veil, and a voice you've been told could blunt silverware.
One of your "ladies in waiting" clears her throat. You resist the urge to snarl at her. Isn't it enough that Glitz and Sally are wearing your back-up dresses and veils, without critiquing your acting prowess? You're half convinced Fawkes stuck them with you to act as some sort of protection detail, as if you weren't perfectly capable of taking care of yourself.
"You might want to check your phone, your 'highness'." Says Sally. Under your veil you can't help but imagine an infuriating smirk.
Indeed, once you fish your sadly out-of-date Uphone out of your handbag(princesses do not use pockets), you see that Cog-nito has indeed messaged the group.
You (metaphorically)wrinkle your nose. This Cog-nito boy(you think? You've never seen him outside of that strange clockwork suit) better not screw this up. You aren't about to spend your immortality languishing in a concrete box.
"Um, m'am?" says the teller.
You whirl around to face her.
"I-I mean your highness." She says, stumbling over her words. "That is, your majesty. Would you like to talk to the bank manager? He might be able to clear up any problems with-" she leans forward, voice a conspiratorial whisper. "'Missing' accounts. Things you might not want to discuss in open company."
Your eyeless gaze wanders up to the giant glass windows set high up in wall, where you can just make out the silhouette of man.
Hmm.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What do you do? Choose one.
[ ] Meet the bank manager. This bank moves money for gangs and villains, yes? Perhaps you could set up an account. Or sell your allies down the river…[Sway roll. 1d6. No modifiers]
[ ] Time to go. You've done your part, Cog-nito is in position. It's on him(her?) to finish the rest. Now all you need to do is pretend to be offended and storm off in a huff. [Sway roll. 1d6. No modifiers.]
[ ] The better part of valor: this could go very wrong very fast. Keep an eye on the exits and be ready to leave in a hurry. [Survey roll. 1d6. +1 Effect(Gumshoe).]
[ ] Write in. What do you do, and what Action do you use?
[ ] Create a commotion. If they want to get rid of you, they'll have to throw you out. And you suppose that means less security-men patrolling the bank. [Aid: Cog-Nito(+1 Effect to Prowl roll)][Consort roll. 1d6. -1 Position (Power flaw: necessarily headless). -1 Position(Armed guards)]
[ ] Start a fight. Enough of this subterfuge nonsense, you're didn't cut off your mortality to play dress-up. Let's see how good this bank's "defenses" are. [Aid: Cog-Nito(+2 Effect to Prowl roll)][Skirmish roll. 0d6. -1 Effect(High-Quality Defenses). -1 Position(Armed gaurds).]
Use an Item: you didn't come here empty-handed. You'll have to declare your Load first.
[ ] Use an item: write-in what you're carrying, how much Load it takes up, and how you use it. (Large objects, such as heavy weapons or heavy pieces of equipment, cost 2 Load, while some very small items, such as a small vial or a single bullet, cost 0 Load.)
Examples: a first aid kit[1 Load], drilling equipment[2 Load], your Phylactery sword[2 Load], a tracking bug(0 Load).
Stress| would you like to give of yourself?
[ ] Push Yourself| Spend 2 Stress to buff one of your rolls. Choose one of the below.
-[ ] +1d
-[ ] +Effect
-[ ] +Position
Flashback| Thank goodness you planned for this, right?
Your unlikely crew of villains and vagabonds spent hours, if not days, hashing out this plan. Along the way, you did something in the past to prepare for this. What was it? The more convenient the flashback is, the more it costs. Particularly difficult or unlikely flashbacks might require a roll.
[ ] How did your prepare for this and what Action did you use to do it?
Spotlight| Your Crew is an ensemble of characters. You can choose to keep seeing and acting through the POV of Madame Guillotine, or you can move to another character. Each other member of your Crew has their own goals and drives, and will automatically perform Actions if you don't have the Spotlight on them. The more time a character spends in the spotlight, the more XP they earn, which eventually leads to them leveling up and getting powerful magic and/or better stats. Choose 1 of the below.
[ ] Keep the spotlight on Madame Guillotine
Or, move it to someone else next turn:
[ ] Cog-Nito| Currently Prowling through the bank to the server room. [Prowl roll. 2d6. +Effect(invisibility suit), +Effect(Thief), -Position(only while still), -Position(Bank defenses)]
[ ] Glitz| Currently intimidating the bank teller with her Commanding presence. [Command roll. 2d6. +Effect(Hitter)]
[ ] Sally| Currently Surveying the room, ready for when things inevitably go to hell. [Survey roll. 1d6. No bonuses]
[ ] Hot Hail| Not in the scene. Write-in where he is(in the bank? The getaway vehicle? The roof?) and what Action he's gonna do next.
[ ] Shieldwall| Not in the scene. Write in where he is and what Action he's gonna do next.
[ ] Fawkes| Not in the scene. Write in where he is and what Action he's gonna do next.
Oh, and use plan format please.
This a long-winded way of saying that Harmony Central Bank was the most ridiculously extravagant palace you've ever seen. Giant marble columns rose from the bronze-tiled floor, merging into the lower torsos of this nation's barbaric Pantheon, who were themselves holding up the domed glass ceiling. It was architecture that can only exist with the aid of magic, and only then at ridiculous expense.
All this gilding for a glorified coin chest. You'd almost think the gods themselves brought their money here. You're glad your robbing these idiots, they deserve to be put down a peg.
Now, where were you? Ah yes, your favorite pastime.
"HOW DARE you talk to me like tHAT!" You scream at the top of your lungs.
Putting peasants in their place.
The young girl behind the gilt bars of the teller's station looked like she was about to cry.
"I'm sorry m'am, but you don't have an account with us. If you'd like I could open one for you-"
"Don't give me that." You stab a bright red fingernail against the solid marble countertop. "I'll have you know you are talking to royalty. In any civilized country, such as the one I will one day rule, such insubordination would never be tolerated."
You imagined your face was twisted in a terrifying snarl, but you're having to make do with aggressive body language, a dark and mysterious veil, and a voice you've been told could blunt silverware.
One of your "ladies in waiting" clears her throat. You resist the urge to snarl at her. Isn't it enough that Glitz and Sally are wearing your back-up dresses and veils, without critiquing your acting prowess? You're half convinced Fawkes stuck them with you to act as some sort of protection detail, as if you weren't perfectly capable of taking care of yourself.
"You might want to check your phone, your 'highness'." Says Sally. Under your veil you can't help but imagine an infuriating smirk.
Indeed, once you fish your sadly out-of-date Uphone out of your handbag(princesses do not use pockets), you see that Cog-nito has indeed messaged the group.
C-N: I'm in. I've stashed the uniform, what now?
P-F: You know where you need to go, and what to do when you get there. There is not currently a time limit, so you can prioritize stealth over speed. Trust in the plan we've developed.
You (metaphorically)wrinkle your nose. This Cog-nito boy(you think? You've never seen him outside of that strange clockwork suit) better not screw this up. You aren't about to spend your immortality languishing in a concrete box.
"Um, m'am?" says the teller.
You whirl around to face her.
"I-I mean your highness." She says, stumbling over her words. "That is, your majesty. Would you like to talk to the bank manager? He might be able to clear up any problems with-" she leans forward, voice a conspiratorial whisper. "'Missing' accounts. Things you might not want to discuss in open company."
Your eyeless gaze wanders up to the giant glass windows set high up in wall, where you can just make out the silhouette of man.
PF: MG, are you in position? CG needs your assistance.
Hmm.
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Here's how the dice rolls work.
You roll a number of six-sided die equal to the dots you have in the relevant action. The highest roll determines the result of what happens next.
1-3: failure. Something prevents you from achieving your goal.
4-5: mixed result. You succeed, but at a cost.
6: you succeed at your goal.
Multiple sixes: critical success. You succeed so well you get a bonus.
Rolls also have situation-based modifiers that govern how much you succeed or fail.
Effect determines the extent of a success. The more effect a roll has, the better the outcome of a success.
Position determines the extent of a failure. The more position you have, the lower the severity of a consequence.
You can never have more than a +3 bonus or -3 debuff to effect or position.
This world hates you and will do it's darndest to doom and/or destroy you. It won't pull it's punches, so you shouldn't either. If you want to beat it, you'll have to use magic, Stress, and cleverness to stack the deck in your favor. Good luck.
You roll a number of six-sided die equal to the dots you have in the relevant action. The highest roll determines the result of what happens next.
1-3: failure. Something prevents you from achieving your goal.
4-5: mixed result. You succeed, but at a cost.
6: you succeed at your goal.
Multiple sixes: critical success. You succeed so well you get a bonus.
Rolls also have situation-based modifiers that govern how much you succeed or fail.
Effect determines the extent of a success. The more effect a roll has, the better the outcome of a success.
Position determines the extent of a failure. The more position you have, the lower the severity of a consequence.
You can never have more than a +3 bonus or -3 debuff to effect or position.
This world hates you and will do it's darndest to doom and/or destroy you. It won't pull it's punches, so you shouldn't either. If you want to beat it, you'll have to use magic, Stress, and cleverness to stack the deck in your favor. Good luck.
What do you do? Choose one.
[ ] Meet the bank manager. This bank moves money for gangs and villains, yes? Perhaps you could set up an account. Or sell your allies down the river…[Sway roll. 1d6. No modifiers]
[ ] Time to go. You've done your part, Cog-nito is in position. It's on him(her?) to finish the rest. Now all you need to do is pretend to be offended and storm off in a huff. [Sway roll. 1d6. No modifiers.]
[ ] The better part of valor: this could go very wrong very fast. Keep an eye on the exits and be ready to leave in a hurry. [Survey roll. 1d6. +1 Effect(Gumshoe).]
[ ] Write in. What do you do, and what Action do you use?
[ ] Create a commotion. If they want to get rid of you, they'll have to throw you out. And you suppose that means less security-men patrolling the bank. [Aid: Cog-Nito(+1 Effect to Prowl roll)][Consort roll. 1d6. -1 Position (Power flaw: necessarily headless). -1 Position(Armed guards)]
[ ] Start a fight. Enough of this subterfuge nonsense, you're didn't cut off your mortality to play dress-up. Let's see how good this bank's "defenses" are. [Aid: Cog-Nito(+2 Effect to Prowl roll)][Skirmish roll. 0d6. -1 Effect(High-Quality Defenses). -1 Position(Armed gaurds).]
Use an Item: you didn't come here empty-handed. You'll have to declare your Load first.
Load is an abstract measurement of how much you're carrying. During the operation, you may say that your character has an item on hand by checking the box for the item you want to use—up to a number of items equal to your chosen load. Your load also determines your movement speed and conspicuousness, so choose carefully:
[ ] 1-3 Load| Light: You're faster, less conspicuous and you blend in with citizens.
[ ] 4/5 Load| Normal: You're obviously a supervillain, ready for trouble.
[ ] 6 Load| Heavy: You're slower. You look like an operative on a mission.
[ ] Use an item: write-in what you're carrying, how much Load it takes up, and how you use it. (Large objects, such as heavy weapons or heavy pieces of equipment, cost 2 Load, while some very small items, such as a small vial or a single bullet, cost 0 Load.)
Examples: a first aid kit[1 Load], drilling equipment[2 Load], your Phylactery sword[2 Load], a tracking bug(0 Load).
Stress| would you like to give of yourself?
Madame Guillotine has very low stats and very weak powers. She can choose to increase her odds by spending Stress, a special resource that represents a combination of luck and composure. Stress is easy for a character to gain, but hard to get rid of. Gain too much, and that character receives a Trauma, a permanent mental hang-up. Once a character gains 4 Trauma, they can no longer continue the life of a villain and must retire.
[ ] Push Yourself| Spend 2 Stress to buff one of your rolls. Choose one of the below.
-[ ] +1d
-[ ] +Effect
-[ ] +Position
Flashback| Thank goodness you planned for this, right?
Your unlikely crew of villains and vagabonds spent hours, if not days, hashing out this plan. Along the way, you did something in the past to prepare for this. What was it? The more convenient the flashback is, the more it costs. Particularly difficult or unlikely flashbacks might require a roll.
[ ] How did your prepare for this and what Action did you use to do it?
Spotlight| Your Crew is an ensemble of characters. You can choose to keep seeing and acting through the POV of Madame Guillotine, or you can move to another character. Each other member of your Crew has their own goals and drives, and will automatically perform Actions if you don't have the Spotlight on them. The more time a character spends in the spotlight, the more XP they earn, which eventually leads to them leveling up and getting powerful magic and/or better stats. Choose 1 of the below.
[ ] Keep the spotlight on Madame Guillotine
Or, move it to someone else next turn:
[ ] Cog-Nito| Currently Prowling through the bank to the server room. [Prowl roll. 2d6. +Effect(invisibility suit), +Effect(Thief), -Position(only while still), -Position(Bank defenses)]
[ ] Glitz| Currently intimidating the bank teller with her Commanding presence. [Command roll. 2d6. +Effect(Hitter)]
[ ] Sally| Currently Surveying the room, ready for when things inevitably go to hell. [Survey roll. 1d6. No bonuses]
[ ] Hot Hail| Not in the scene. Write-in where he is(in the bank? The getaway vehicle? The roof?) and what Action he's gonna do next.
[ ] Shieldwall| Not in the scene. Write in where he is and what Action he's gonna do next.
[ ] Fawkes| Not in the scene. Write in where he is and what Action he's gonna do next.
Oh, and use plan format please.
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