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Infernal Conundrum: [Exalted/Worm] - Part 2: Hell is Other Exalts

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Armsy was good here, He came across as remorseful, a bit disgusted with himself and very, very tired -whether physically; like he's been up since the accident, or he is just feeling the years of crapsack all of a sudden.
Very nice writing I must say.
One note? perhaps break up the huge paragraph? splitting it a bit might make it easier to digest without losing the feel of a sudden outpour of words.

Also? Armsmaster sounds like Mordin Solus. This is so very a good thing.

Taylor starting to touch the edges of awesome was nice too, the hints of having the presence to cow, or stall veteran capes, and able to loom over them... sweet. Cool chapter!
 
After having read the Elloge charmset, I am fully of the opinion that this would be amazing and very IC for Taylor at the moment. ELLOGE MYTHOS EXULTANT says, "Whenever the Infernal receives a stunt reward, a number of characters equal to her stunt rating suffer an Illusion effect binding them to the intended narrative of that action. She can engender any belief appropriate to the context, sudden conclusions leaping unbidden into the brains of onlookers; a desperate dodge might convince them that her attacker is a furious drunk, or that she ducked purely by chance," meaning Taylor could have used it to get the Winslow staff to actually do something about the bullies. I think she would have given an arm, a leg, and her firstborn for this alone. Taylor has some serious, and rather well-deserved trust issues, so I think that being able to figure out what kind of person you are talking to using POETRY IN MOTION and LIFE-DEFINING DIWANI DIVINATION would have a certain appeal for her. Plus, those powers together are basically Tattletale's power, and as Tattletale mentioned during the Leviathan fight, Taylor would use super-deduction better than she could. Taylor also has never been big on the spotlight; she just wants her life to get better. Remaining in the background while using subtle Master/Shaker/Stranger affects to quietly solve problems or remove enemies strikes me as a very Taylor thing. Remember, "If you can see her, she can grievously maim or kill you. If you can't see her, she can grievously maim or kill you, while calmly drinking tea." If she found out Lung and his gang were going to kill kids, she could use UNFIRED SURROGATE SHOT to have one of the thugs have a You Just Shot Marvin in the Face moment. The between the communication and bureaucracy charms here and in SWLiHN, we could make whatever organization we join (or start) supremely effective and cleaning up The Bay, and we could find out basically any piece of information we ever wanted to know.

With Elloge, Taylor would not retreat into fantasy to salve her would; she would rewrite reality so she would never get hurt again.
 


1.9 Votes (PIck 1 per Category)

The Fate of Armsmaster

[ ] A Farewell to Arms(master)
--He didn't mean for it to happen, but he got Dad hurt. Good intentions don't make him less of an asshole. Tell him to find himself another city.

[ ] Forewarned is Fore Armed(mastered?)
--He fucked up, yes. But you know as fact that he didn't mean to. He truly will do anything in his capacity to atone for what he's done. You get the feeling you need all the help you could get.

[ ]Forget it
--This...this hurts. He was one of your personal heroes. And you hate him. So much. You wish you could forget everything he'd just told you.

[ ] Sleep on it
--You feel overwhelmed. You aren't in a good place, mentally. Maybe some time to think will help you make a better decision.

Decisions about the Dallons: Part I

[ ] Keep your card.
--Turn down Mrs. Dallon's offer of legal assistance. She knows who Mr. Barnes is.

[ ] I will take that under advisement
--Hang on to Brandish's business card, but don't commit to hiring her yet.

Decisions about the Dallons: Part II

[ ] The Less(bian) Said, the better.
--Right now, Glory Girl thinks you're gay. And into her. Maybe you should wait before trying to talk to her again.

[ ] Hugs for the Healbot
--Ask to properly thank Panacea. She saved Dad's life. You...Hell. You'd be an orphan if it wasn't for her.

Stunts are, as always, encouraged. Write-in suggestions are available as well.
 
Schielman said:
After having read the Elloge charmset, I am fully of the opinion that this would be amazing and very IC for Taylor at the moment. ELLOGE MYTHOS EXULTANT says, "Whenever the Infernal receives a stunt reward, a number of characters equal to her stunt rating suffer an Illusion effect binding them to the intended narrative of that action. She can engender any belief appropriate to the context, sudden conclusions leaping unbidden into the brains of onlookers; a desperate dodge might convince them that her attacker is a furious drunk, or that she ducked purely by chance," meaning Taylor could have used it to get the Winslow staff to actually do something about the bullies. I think she would have given an arm, a leg, and her firstborn for this alone. Taylor has some serious, and rather well-deserved trust issues, so I think that being able to figure out what kind of person you are talking to using POETRY IN MOTION and LIFE-DEFINING DIWANI DIVINATION would have a certain appeal for her. Plus, those powers together are basically Tattletale's power, and as Tattletale mentioned during the Leviathan fight, Taylor would use super-deduction better than she could. Taylor also has never been big on the spotlight; she just wants her life to get better. Remaining in the background while using subtle Master/Shaker/Stranger affects to quietly solve problems or remove enemies strikes me as a very Taylor thing. Remember, "If you can see her, she can grievously maim or kill you. If you can't see her, she can grievously maim or kill you, while calmly drinking tea." If she found out Lung and his gang were going to kill kids, she could use UNFIRED SURROGATE SHOT to have one of the thugs have a You Just Shot Marvin in the Face moment. The between the communication and bureaucracy charms here and in SWLiHN, we could make whatever organization we join (or start) supremely effective and cleaning up The Bay, and we could find out basically any piece of information we ever wanted to know.

With Elloge, Taylor would not retreat into fantasy to salve her would; she would rewrite reality so she would never get hurt again.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

While these are great ideas, Elloge remains on the nope list for Favored selection.

But not for charm selection.
 
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[X] Forewarned is Fore Armed(mastered?)
--He fucked up, yes. But you know as fact that he didn't mean to. He truly will do anything in his capacity to atone for what he's done. You get the feeling you need all the help you could get.
[X] Keep your card.
--Turn down Mrs. Dallon's offer of legal assistance. She knows who Mr. Barnes is.
[X] Hugs for the Healbot
--Ask to properly thank Panacea. She saved Dad's life. You...Hell. You'd be an orphan if it wasn't for her.
 

[X] Forewarned is Fore Armed(mastered?)
--He fucked up, yes. But you know as fact that he didn't mean to. He truly will do anything in his capacity to atone for what he's done. You get the feeling you need all the help you could get.

[X] I will take that under advisement
--Hang on to Brandish's business card, but don't commit to hiring her yet.

[X] Hugs for the Healbot
--Ask to properly thank Panacea. She saved Dad's life. You...Hell. You'd be an orphan if it wasn't for her.


I lack the ability to stunt properly, but these are my preferred choices.
 
[X] Forewarned is Fore Armed(mastered?)
--He fucked up, yes. But you know as fact that he didn't mean to. He truly will do anything in his capacity to atone for what he's done. You get the feeling you need all the help you could get.
-[x] Stunt: Taylor stared into Armsmaster's visor. "You know, you used to be one of my favorite Capes when I was a little girl?" Taylor was amazed at how calm and clinical she was when she stated this. "You want to leave, to run away from what you did? No! You don't have that luxury. You are going to stay here, and 'fix your mess!'" The last coming out as almost a cross between a hiss and a snarl. "You want to make amends? Help me find out what's going on, what happened to me! Be the hero I believed you to be as a little girl, that I prayed would come and rescue me when those three pushed me into the locker. Or don't." Taylor said as she turned to leave the room. "It's not like I haven't been betrayed and let down before." With that, Taylor walked away.

A repentant Armsmaster so early on is almost unheard of. Let's not miss this chance.

[X] I will take that under advisement
--Hang on to Brandish's business card, but don't commit to hiring her yet.

Carol Dallon is a bitch, but there's no way she knows what Emma's been up to. Hell, even Alan doesn't know what his daughters' been up to.

[X] Hugs for the Healbot
--Ask to properly thank Panacea. She saved Dad's life. You...Hell. You'd be an orphan if it wasn't for her.
-[x] Stunt: Taylor walked into the cafeteria, where Panacea was sitting, nursing a cup of coffee. She was a bundle of nerves by the time she reached the table. Her conversation with Armsmaster and the encounter with Brandish (wait, isn't that her mother? Dang it!) still played in her head, and definitely didn't help. "Hello." She said with a smile, as Panacea looked up at her in weary curiosity. The teen healer looked like she was more than tired. Scarily enough, it reminded Taylor of the look she sometimes saw in the mirror after the bullying started. "I'm Taylor Hebert, Daniel Hebert's daughter. I wanted to thank you for saving his life." Taylor frowned. "I'm sorry, but, are you... okay?"

Amy deserves ALL THE HUGS.

EDIT: Stunts added. First Rule of Exalted: STUNT EVERYTHING.
 
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[X] Forewarned is Fore Armed(mastered?)
--He fucked up, yes. But you know as fact that he didn't mean to. He truly will do anything in his capacity to atone for what he's done. You get the feeling you need all the help you could get.

[X] I will take that under advisement
--Hang on to Brandish's business card, but don't commit to hiring her yet.

[X] Hugs for the Healbot
--Ask to properly thank Panacea. She saved Dad's life. You...Hell. You'd be an orphan if it wasn't for her.
 
[X] Forewarned is Fore Armed(mastered?)
--He fucked up, yes. But you know as fact that he didn't mean to. He truly will do anything in his capacity to atone for what he's done. You get the feeling you need all the help you could get.
--[x] Stunt: You have a moment to consider your response. A long moment during which everyone in the room stares at you expectantly. You pay them no mind, however. This was Armsmaster you were talking to, so you wanted to make it count, after all. Even if he was an asshole. Who nearly killed your father. Right. "Yes, you made a mistake. You fucked up." He winces at the flat, blunt delivery. "Unfortunately, people make mistakes. That's a fact of life." It shouldn't be. "More importantly, no one in this room is in a position to wallow in their sorrows and failures. There is work to be done. Brockton Bay needs every Hero it can get, and it certainly doesn't have time for its leader to run away because of almost killing one man, no matter how dear that man is to me. How many innocent people die in these streets each day?" .... "...I still don't like it, but that's besides the point. We must put the greater things above our own personal needs - is that not what being a Hero is supposed to mean?"

((This is all Taylor dialogue by the way.))

[X] I will take that under advisement
--Hang on to Brandish's business card, but don't commit to hiring her yet.
Nothing wrong with hanging on to options.

[X] Hugs for the Healbot
--Ask to properly thank Panacea. She saved Dad's life. You...Hell. You'd be an orphan if it wasn't for her.
--[x] Stunt: "I mean, i-if she has the time! I know she's very busy, and I-i wouldn't want to detract from her work or frighten any patients... b-but she really does so much for this city and..." Your quick, stuttering words belie how little you had appreciated Panacea before now. Maybe little wasn't the right word, but... you think you underestimated just how much she did ... how many lives had she saved? How many wounds healed?
 
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[X] Forewarned is Fore Armed(mastered?)
--He fucked up, yes. But you know as fact that he didn't mean to. He truly will do anything in his capacity to atone for what he's done. You get the feeling you need all the help you could get.

[X] I will take that under advisement
--Hang on to Brandish's business card, but don't commit to hiring her yet.

[X] Hugs for the Healbot
--Ask to properly thank Panacea. She saved Dad's life. You...Hell. You'd be an orphan if it wasn't for her.
 
The Fate of Armsmaster

[X] Forewarned is Fore Armed(mastered?)
--He fucked up, yes. But you know as fact that he didn't mean to. He truly will do anything in his capacity to atone for what he's done. You get the feeling you need all the help you could get.

Decisions about the Dallons: Part I

[X] I will take that under advisement
--Hang on to Brandish's business card, but don't commit to hiring her yet.

Decisions about the Dallons: Part II

[X] Hugs for the Healbot
--Ask to properly thank Panacea. She saved Dad's life. You...Hell. You'd be an orphan if it wasn't for her.
 
[X] Forewarned is Fore Armed(mastered?)
--He fucked up, yes. But you know as fact that he didn't mean to. He truly will do anything in his capacity to atone for what he's done. You get the feeling you need all the help you could get.

[X] I will take that under advisement
--Hang on to Brandish's business card, but don't commit to hiring her yet.

[X] Hugs for the Healbot
--Ask to properly thank Panacea. She saved Dad's life. You...Hell. You'd be an orphan if it wasn't for her.
 
[X] Forewarned is Fore Armed(mastered?)
--He fucked up, yes. But you know as fact that he didn't mean to. He truly will do anything in his capacity to atone for what he's done. You get the feeling you need all the help you could get.
-[x] Stunt: Taylor stared into Armsmaster's visor. "You know, you used to be one of my favorite Capes when I was a little girl?" Taylor was amazed at how calm and clinical she was when she stated this. "You want to leave, to run away from what you did? No! You don't have that luxury. You are going to stay here, and 'fix your mess!'" The last coming out as almost a cross between a hiss and a snarl. "You want to make amends? Help me find out what's going on, what happened to me! Be the hero I believed you to be as a little girl, that I prayed would come and rescue me when those three pushed me into the locker. Or don't." Taylor said as she turned to leave the room. "It's not like I haven't been betrayed and let down before." With that, Taylor walked away.

[x] I will take that under advisement
--Hang on to Brandish's business card, but don't commit to hiring her yet.

[X] Hugs for the Healbot
--Ask to properly thank Panacea. She saved Dad's life. You...Hell. You'd be an orphan if it wasn't for her.
-[x] Stunt: Taylor walked into the cafeteria, where Panacea was sitting, nursing a cup of coffee. She was a bundle of nerves by the time she reached the table. Her conversation with Armsmaster and the encounter with Brandish (wait, isn't that her mother? Dang it!) still played in her head, and definitely didn't help. "Hello." She said with a smile, as Panacea looked up at her in weary curiosity. The teen healer looked like she was more than tired. Scarily enough, it reminded Taylor of the look she sometimes saw in the mirror after the bullying started. "I'm Taylor Hebert, Daniel Hebert's daughter. I wanted to thank you for saving his life." Taylor frowned. "I'm sorry, but, are you... okay?"
 
Added stunts for the Armsmaster vote and the Dallon (II) vote. Not so sure about that second one, tell me if I'm blatantly fucking anything up. :V
 
Thief of Words said:
Your mood darkened and your face twisted into a scowl, remembering times boys from your classes took you on false dates as a way to endear themselves to the Trio. <It is if they're making fun of her.>

There was an awkward silence as Uncertainty lived up to the second half of his soubriquet. <Er...you said she is a hero, yes? And she clearly helped you before, yes?>

<Yes,> you acceded warily, <your point is...?>

<That she does not seem the type to use underhanded means to make herself feel better. She very much seems the type to preen and bask in the implicit compliment, but only where she feels it warranted.>`
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Thank goodness our headdemon is so socially suave, hopefully he can keep Taylor from totally embarrassing herself.

Thief of Words said:
"I was so worried about the PR disaster the whole thing was shaping up to be, that I didn't even see him stagger his way into the street. I'd turned to get back inside and out of camera range. I didn't even realize anything was wrong until I heard the car hit him. And...," he trailed off, sounding lost. "by that point there wasn't...wasn't a damned thing I could do. I called the hospital, but. Wasn't going to be enough. Had to try anyway. Couldn't stand being so fucking useless. But," he gave a lame shrug. "I was. Utterly. You should thank Mrs. Dallon's daughter. She's the only reason your father's alive. I couldn't do a God-damned thing. And," he shook his head. "I needed you to know that. My ego should have killed a man."
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Click to shrink...
Holy shit you're putting Armsmaster on the path to Defiant during his very first appearance in quest.

Thief of Words said:
"I can understand if you don't want to. If you...hate me. If I'd stop you, then tell me, and I'll transfer. Have you transferred from Winslow, too. Won't lie. Director won't like you for that, if I go. Still, I owe you at least that much. Owe your father as much. Or I can stay. Teach you. Help you. It's...it's your decision."
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Again, holy shit.

Thief of Words said:
[ ] Forewarned is Fore Armed(mastered?)
--He fucked up, yes. But you know as fact that he didn't mean to. He truly will do anything in his capacity to atone for what he's done. You get the feeling you need all the help you could get.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Y'know, I wasn't originally going to go for the forgive route but after that glorious character development I just can't bring myself to pick any other option.

Thief of Words said:
[ ] I will take that under advisement
--Hang on to Brandish's business card, but don't commit to hiring her yet.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
No point in burning bridges, gives us more openings than it closes.

Thief of Words said:
[ ] Hugs for the Healbot
--Ask to properly thank Panacea. She saved Dad's life. You...Hell. You'd be an orphan if it wasn't for her.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Don't see any real point in picking the other.
 
the DragonBard said:
No, though if you can, it's better to involve the scenery or stuff from around you, as it ups the number of die the stunt grants.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Aye. Mostly worried that as much as Worm's setting worms (kek) itself into my head, I can't really write its characters very well...

Fancied up the first stunt, though I'm not sure about how wordy it's getting. I might switch to your stunt for the second one, even if I think it should be second person :V
 
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[X] Forewarned is Fore Armed(mastered?)
--He fucked up, yes. But you know as fact that he didn't mean to. He truly will do anything in his capacity to atone for what he's done. You get the feeling you need all the help you could get.
--[x] Stunt: You had a moment to consider your response. This was Armsmaster you were talking to, so you wanted to make it count, after all. "Yes, you made a mistake. You fucked up." He winces. "Unfortunately, people make mistakes. That's a fact of life." It shouldn't be. "More importantly, no one in this room is in a position to wallow in their sorrows and failures. There is work to be done. Brockton Bay needs every Hero it can get, and it certainly doesn't have time for its leader to run away because of almost killing one man, no matter how dear that man is to me. How many innocent people die in these streets each day?" .... "...I still don't like it, but that's besides the point. We must put the greater things above our own personal needs - is that not what being a Hero is supposed to mean?"

[X] I will take that under advisement
--Hang on to Brandish's business card, but don't commit to hiring her yet.
Nothing wrong with hanging on to options.

[X] Hugs for the Healbot
--Ask to properly thank Panacea. She saved Dad's life. You...Hell. You'd be an orphan if it wasn't for her.
-[x] Stunt: Taylor walked into the cafeteria, where Panacea was sitting, nursing a cup of coffee. She was a bundle of nerves by the time she reached the table. Her conversation with Armsmaster and the encounter with Brandish (wait, isn't that her mother? Dang it!) still played in her head, and definitely didn't help. "Hello." She said with a smile, as Panacea looked up at her in weary curiosity. The teen healer looked like she was more than tired. Scarily enough, it reminded Taylor of the look she sometimes saw in the mirror after the bullying started. "I'm Taylor Hebert, Daniel Hebert's daughter. I wanted to thank you for saving his life." Taylor frowned. "I'm sorry, but, are you... okay?"

Also, what clothes are we wearing? I want to write a stunt for the second option, but what we are wearing is mildly important to that.

 
[X] Forewarned is Fore Armed(mastered?)
--He fucked up, yes. But you know as fact that he didn't mean to. He truly will do anything in his capacity to atone for what he's done. You get the feeling you need all the help you could get.
-[x] Stunt: Taylor stared into Armsmaster's visor. "You know, you used to be one of my favorite Capes when I was a little girl?" Taylor was amazed at how calm and clinical she was when she stated this. "You want to leave, to run away from what you did? No! You don't have that luxury. You are going to stay here, and 'fix your mess!'" The last coming out as almost a cross between a hiss and a snarl. "You want to make amends? Help me find out what's going on, what happened to me! Be the hero I believed you to be as a little girl, that I prayed would come and rescue me when those three pushed me into the locker. Or don't." Taylor said as she turned to leave the room. "It's not like I haven't been betrayed and let down before." With that, Taylor walked away.

A repentant Armsmaster so early on is almost unheard of. Let's not miss this chance.

[X] I will take that under advisement
--Hang on to Brandish's business card, but don't commit to hiring her yet.

Carol Dallon is a bitch, but there's no way she knows what Emma's been up to. Hell, even Alan doesn't know what his daughters' been up to.

[X] Hugs for the Healbot
--Ask to properly thank Panacea. She saved Dad's life. You...Hell. You'd be an orphan if it wasn't for her.
-[x] Stunt: Taylor walked into the cafeteria, where Panacea was sitting, nursing a cup of coffee. She was a bundle of nerves by the time she reached the table. Her conversation with Armsmaster and the encounter with Brandish (wait, isn't that her mother? Dang it!) still played in her head, and definitely didn't help. "Hello." She said with a smile, as Panacea looked up at her in weary curiosity. The teen healer looked like she was more than tired. Scarily enough, it reminded Taylor of the look she sometimes saw in the mirror after the bullying started. "I'm Taylor Hebert, Daniel Hebert's daughter. I wanted to thank you for saving his life." Taylor frowned. "I'm sorry, but, are you... okay?"
 
[X] Forewarned is Fore Armed(mastered?)
--He fucked up, yes. But you know asfact that he didn't mean to. He truly will do anything in his capacity to atone for what he's done. You get the feeling you need all the help you could get.
--[x] Stunt: You had a moment to consider your response. This wasArmsmaster you were talking to, so you wanted to make it count, after all. "Yes, you made a mistake. You fucked up." He winces. "Unfortunately, people make mistakes. That's a fact of life." It shouldn't be. "More importantly, no one in this room is in a position to wallow in their sorrows and failures. There is work to be done. Brockton Bay needs every Hero it can get, and it certainly doesn't have time for its leader to run away because of almost killing one man, no matter how dear that man is to me. How many innocent people die in these streets each day?" .... "...I still don't like it, but that's besides the point. We must put the greater things above our own personal needs - is that not what being a Hero is supposed to mean?"

[X] I will take that under advisement
--Hang on to Brandish's business card, but don't commit to hiring her yet.
Nothing wrong with hanging on to options.

[X] Hugs for the Healbot
--Ask to properly thank Panacea. She saved Dad's life. You...Hell. You'd be an orphan if it wasn't for her.
-[x] Stunt: Taylor walked into the cafeteria, where Panacea was sitting, nursing a cup of coffee. She was a bundle of nerves by the time she reached the table. Her conversation with Armsmaster and the encounter with Brandish (wait, isn't that her mother? Dang it!) still played in her head, and definitely didn't help. "Hello." She said with a smile, as Panacea looked up at her in weary curiosity. The teen healer looked like she was more than tired. Scarily enough, it reminded Taylor of the look she sometimes saw in the mirror after the bullying started. "I'm Taylor Hebert, Daniel Hebert's daughter. I wanted to thank you for saving his life." Taylor frowned. "I'm sorry, but, are you... okay?"
 
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