Finagle007
[Verified Great Old One]
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
Not so much precog failure as the nature of the precog failure, methinks. Just wait till she activates Infernal Monster Form in a Simurgh fight.
Letting Go (Worm/Exalted)
- Thread starter DeviantD
- Start date
- Crossover
-
- Tags
- exalted (white wolf) worm
Not so much precog failure as the nature of the precog failure, methinks. Just wait till she activates Infernal Monster Form in a Simurgh fight.
DeviantD
A topologically complex tube
- Location
- OZ
That was my take on the effect of the music, even if an infernal does it.
Well she did use it to club a merc unconscious with their own gun.
11- Taylor
DeviantD
A topologically complex tube
- Location
- OZ
-11-
Non-Disclosure Agreement Form 412D
DATENon-Disclosure Agreement Form 412D
April 22 2011
PARTIES
- Taylor Hebert of 37 Kings Street, Milestone, Brockton Bay, New Hampshire A.K.A Dervish (the "Recipient"); and
- Parahuman Response Team: East-North-East, a Government sponsored organization in Brockton Bay, New Hampshire (Registration Number 5463HJ546) having its registered office at 101 Main Road, The Boardwalk, Brockton Bay, New Hampshire (the "Discloser").
1 - Definitions
1.1 Except to the extent expressly provided otherwise, in this Agreement:
1.1 Except to the extent expressly provided otherwise, in this Agreement:
- "Agreement" means this agreement, and any amendments to this agreement from time to time;
- "Business Day" means any weekday other than a bank or public holiday in New Hampshire;
- "Discloser Confidential Information" means:
(a) any information disclosed by [or on behalf of] the Discloser to the Recipient [during the Term] OR [at any time before the termination of this Agreement] (whether disclosed in writing, orally or otherwise) that at the time of disclosure was marked [or described] as "confidential" or should have been understood by the Recipient (acting reasonably) to be confidential; and
(b) any orders received (whether in writing, orally or otherwise) regarding the distribution of "confidential" information are to be blah blah blah blah blah-
It was about that point that I completely lost interest in filling out paperwork. Sadly, that was just the first page of countless. I would have preferred to spend more time getting to know my supposed future team-mates, but after that little running-into-a-wall incident, the wanted to make sure all the forms were filled in. All because Shadow Stalker was such a drama queen. I had overheard something about power testing too, but that must have been too much fun to take priority over the drab, wretched existence that is being part of a bureaucracy.(b) any orders received (whether in writing, orally or otherwise) regarding the distribution of "confidential" information are to be blah blah blah blah blah-
"Can I get these forms in English?" I asked the legal clerk sitting at a desk across the room. The name-plate stated her name as Janet Darby. "Otherwise I'm going to get a headache before I'm done."
The woman with the chestnut pixie-cut and a neat blazer-and-skirt combo, sighed even as she wore an amused smirk. She must be used to dealing with this sort of thing.
"How far through are you dear?"
"The first page." At her disbelieving stare, I just had to elaborate. "Look, how does any of this make sense? Who'd you get to write this, James Joyce?!"
The woman, who could probably be described as pretty if not for the haggard cast to her face, let out another sigh and stood up. I was probably the major contributor to her current stress come to think of it. She made her way over to the table I was sitting at and looked at the forms.
"This section boils down to an agreement not to disclose any information gained without the express permission of your superiors. Namely private identities, company policies and practices, planning and outcomes of operations, etcetera, etcetera."
"I figured that by the 'Non Disclosure Agreement' in the title." I tried not to snap at the lady, but I was quickly losing any remaining patience. "I'm just dubious about signing a document that is so full of confusing fine print that I can't determine the exact clauses with any sense of certainty."
"Don't worry, it's more of a sign of intent to withhold private information than any sort of pen-and-paper version of a ball-and-chain."
"Fine." I said as I took up the pen. "It's not like I'm actually old enough to legally sign documents anyway."
"That's the spirit dear." She stated in a resigned tone.
I scanned through another page and signed yet another clause. "Really though, just a few verses in Iambic Pentameter would be more straight forward than this."
"Iamb-awhatnow?" She asked with her head tilted ever so slightly.
"Poetry style. Alternating a non-stressed syllable with a stressed one. Five sets of those per line. Like, well this is more of a Trochaic Tetrameter, the opposite with four sets, but." I took in a breath.
"Sign along the dotted line, here.
Loose lips will invoke a fine, dear."
She just stared at me for an awkwardly long time, before she shook her head. "That would, strangely enough, make my life easier. Save on printing too."
"That pile looks like it wiped out a forest." I commented, drawing out a brief snort from Janet.
I finished signing that form and was immediately handed another. This time entitled - Wards Membership Application Form 51C. I had to wonder if 51A and 51B were also for membership, or for something completely different. It was amazing that they managed to get anything done with all these forms, and I was only on my second.
I bet villains never have to fill out paperwork.
All of the Green Sun Princes I have met or heard of had a cadre of First Circle Demons to do any such wasteful activities.
Really? That sounds wonderful.
Well... There was one peculiar chosen of She Who Lives in Her Name, who seemed to enjoy filling out forms. But everyone ignores him.
As I scanned through the document, something odd caught my eye.
"Wait a minute. Does this clause say what I think it says?"
She looked down at where I was pointing before picking it up to read the cluster of legalese.
"The PRT has final creative control over image and merchandising."
"So I don't actually get a say in what I wear?"
She shrugged and handed back the form. "From what I've seen, they only exercise that clause when a Ward wants a costume or name that would be inappropriate. I can only think of two cases in the last five years where it came up. Apart from Clockblocker, that is."
"Oh?" My eyebrow quirked up
"Someone who will go nameless, tried to call themselves 'The Dark Princess', which was just tragic and also villainous sounding." I nodded as I had to concede that point. "The other was a Brute rated cape who wanted to run around in nothing but a loin cloth. Apparently he was a Conan fan. PR had to shut that one down because of public decency laws in the region."
Well, there went any faith I had remaining in the sensibility of Capes. Sure you had people like the Merchants, but I figured their brains were mush from all the drugs, so you could hardly expect them to come up with decent names and costumes. I had always assumed that Chubster, Flower Power and a few other unfortunates had just been lumped with bad names by the press. Perhaps I had been too generous. Especially when Clockblocker, made for an excellent example of Wards deviating from recommendations. I really should ask him how much grief his little stunt caused him. PHO had speculated on his punishments, but no one had anything concrete.
While it may be prudent to follow their lead, given their superior experience in this field, do not think that you must. If you disagree, demand the terms as you wish and your Essence shall reinforce your words.
Wouldn't that make a spectacle as my, what was the word... Anima flares up?
As a Scourge, you have been gifted with the ability to suppress it with some minor effort.
This would have been useful to know earlier.
I am sorry, but I saw no such need previously and as such did not mention it.
I let out a sigh of exasperation. Whether it was more from the forms or her statement, I couldn't decide.
Fine, but we need to discuss just what I can do, and soon.
Of course Mistress. My apologies, Taylor
.
"Well, as long as they don't make me wear one of the funny hats or something pink, we're probably good."
"If what Forester was saying about the lightshow is true, I doubt even the most colour-blind PR agent would try to put you in pink."
"Well, I guess I'll just have to forcefully negotiate against any bad ideas that crop up." I scribbled my signature on the last line and passed over the wad of sheets.
"If you don't mind me saying, you don't seem all that enthusiastic about joining the Wards." She frowned as she handed me another form about collateral damage insurance. "Most of the kids that have come through my department are usually more excited."
"I'm a little indifferent." I shrugged. "I would have gone independent if not for the fact that I can't afford to keep my house now that I'm an orphan. Oh, and I guess because someone is trying to off me."
She blinked at me for a few seconds before sifting through the stack of forms. She finally paused on one. "Damn it. I'm going to kill Linda in filing for not letting me know."
"Do you need some help?"
"No." She chuckled. "But that does explain some things. I should have picked up on it earlier when you had to fill out fifty-one C, instead of fifty-one A." A small groan escaped her lips as she rubbed her brow. "Sorry if I've been insensitive, I haven't been sleeping well and I didn't realise that you've only just become a ward of the state as well as a Ward."
Well that explained the haggard look. "It's fine. Better than you walking on eggshells around me. That gets old quick."
"Then I shall do my best not to be overly sensitive." She smiled at me, dropping much of the premature age that her earlier expression had carried. "But we'll still need you to sign these other seven forms."
"Damn." I sighed. This had better be worth the hassle.
Can we please get into a life threatening adventure? I fear that I shall lose what little is left of myself to boredom if this continues much longer.
I am very tempted.
----
Just a short one today, as this was what my muse delivered.
Last edited:
- Location
- Somewhere!
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I feel like asking this out loud usually makes it happen but in a way you don't like, but I suppose ironically having nothing happen for a while could work too!
I'm not really sure who else could interrupt right now though. Tattletale showing up?
- Location
- South of North
@DeviantD - might be seeing things, but I think the date at the top is a bit off. If it's supposed to take place at the start of Worm, shouldn't it be 2011 instead of 2001?
Also, bizarrely enough, April 23 is my birthday, so that was cool.
Awesome fic by the way. A good Exalted/Worm story is always welcome.
Also, bizarrely enough, April 23 is my birthday, so that was cool.
Awesome fic by the way. A good Exalted/Worm story is always welcome.
Last edited:
- Pronouns
- Yes
Very nice and amusing, I liked Taylor's interactions with the clerk although I am wondering why they had Taylor alone there to sign everything, as opposed to Taylor with some a caseworker or someone else who(supposedly) would have her best interests in mind and be able to explain what is going on.
Anyone can sign documents. Even contracts can be legally signed by minors.
Problem is, when contracts (like this non-disclosure agreement) are signed by a minor (like Taylor or any of the Wards), the contract can be voided at any time by that minor for as long as he or she remains a minor.
Really, if an NDA was all that protected the secret identities of the Wards then most of the Protectorate wouldn't have secret identities anymore and there would be a few very rich ex-Wards. The NDA is worthless.
The real teeth are the criminal penalties for disclosing the identities of Wards and other Protectorate members.
One odd thing was the lack of mention between Peripheral and Personal essence. Sure, the personal is smaller (especially if Taylor is E2 still), but I would still expect it to have been mentioned.
Use a Malfeas excellency and start hitting your head on the contract until the knowledge submits and just flows into your brain Taylor! I am sure it will work. I mean what could go wrong?
(and yes, someone did write a Malfeas homebrew charm like this somewhere. As great as the one about Malfeas being on a boat).
Use a Malfeas excellency and start hitting your head on the contract until the knowledge submits and just flows into your brain Taylor! I am sure it will work. I mean what could go wrong?
(and yes, someone did write a Malfeas homebrew charm like this somewhere. As great as the one about Malfeas being on a boat).
Tisaku
Head Chief Thinkomancer
Thief of Words
Trans lesbian librarian
- Location
- Best book girl
- Pronouns
- She/Her
And here we see a key difference between your Infernal Taylor and mine.
Ivan the Not-so-Terrible
AH MEW CHEEKI BREEKI I V DAMKE
- Location
- Mikonyan’s USSR
Does it involve burning the sails with radioactive green hatefire to go faster?
- Location
- Germany
Nope. He just claims that he is on a boat, therefore the boat functions as such as long as he sails it.
Even if the sails are burned and the rump shattered, as long as the slayer is on board it sails on.
DeviantD
A topologically complex tube
- Location
- OZ
Ah thank you.
I was giggling to myself a little as I wrote that, thinking about your SWLiHN Taylor.And here we see a key difference between your Infernal Taylor and mine.
I had thought I had typed 2011, but apparently, my fingers do not always type what I am thinking.
The next chapter should address this, and possibly make people cringe or laugh.
True.
If only Taylor's relationship with her Dad was such that she might have picked up things like this.
Taylor: *things about asking how his day was. Thinks it might expand to her day. Decides not to.* Can you pass the salt please?
Danny: *things about asking how her day was. Thinks it might expand to his day. Decides not to.* Sure, Kiddo.
Instead, she is a 15 year old with flawed knowledge.
So many powers and utilisations of them, so little time.
Janet on Phone: "Armsmaster sir? Our newest ward just destroyed my desk with her head. No. No, she said something about 'Make sense damn you', before head-butting Form 72A."
Taylor: "Ah, so that's what that clause means. Oh, do we have another desk? This next form is a doozie."
- Location
- Canada
So a question, Shards and Exaltations are both sources of "superpowers", and in the fics I have read Exaltations are mostly shown to be vastly superior. Are they? Do Shards have properties superior to Exaltations? I never finished worm and attempting to research exalted has proven difficult, my google fu needs training it seems.
Thief of Words
Trans lesbian librarian
- Location
- Best book girl
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Likely not. Exalted is a commercially sold game line, so google-fu is of limited assistance, given the copyright holders wanting to protect their right to profit off of their IP.
As to Exaltations being superior to shard powers...in the long term, yes. In every respect but super-strength, they are. A starting Exalt vs. a parahuman? That's more likely to be a case-by-case kinda thing.
Walker of the Yellow Path
Ho There!
- Location
- The Land of Memes
Basically, the reason Exalted are seen as superior to Parahumans is growth. An Exalted could potentially solve any problem they wanted given time to grow, due to the fact that their user can develop more powers for himself depending on his interests and the situation. On the other hand, Parahumans can't grow. Their Superpower is fixed, save for when they experience periods of incredible stress that reminds them of a similar period that gave them superpowers, which can give them a new power or expand their power in some way. This is generally a one time thing, so most Parahumans are generally not going to change much over time in terms of power set.
So in general, strong Parahumans start off being better than Exalted, but as time goes on Exalted grow much more stronger and become much more suited to solving problems than Parahumans.
Thief of Words
Trans lesbian librarian
- Location
- Best book girl
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Well, not just this. Exaltations were designed to be capable of killing greater-than-Entity-scale beings. Parahuman powers were nerfed by design, so they weren't too disruptive to the cycle.
- Location
- Illinois
- Pronouns
- Ze/Zer/Zem
The other thing to keep in mind is that Exaltations are powered by essense, of which an Exalted has a limited pool they can draw from to do their really bullshit stuff. If an Exalt has motes, they are a force of nature. Grass grows, birds fly, sun shines, and Exalts hurt people. If an Exalt runs out of essense...not so much. They can refill their pool of essence through various means (which I am not intimately familiar with), but in combat, that generally isn't a thing that happens. Parahumans don't run out of juice. If a parahuman can survive long enough for an Exalt to run out of essence, they have an advantage. Surviving that long, well, that's an entirely different problem.
Thief of Words
Trans lesbian librarian
- Location
- Best book girl
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Honestly? In a head to head, a good enough Exalt can tank or dodge anything a parahuman can put out. The main difference? Exalts' ability to no-sell things tends to be limited by their essence pools. Depending on the type of Exalt, there are ways to go all mote-reactor or to lay on the overdrive charms to be able to bring the pain swiftly, but many parahuman powers don't have a cost to use. So Exalts lose if they can't dominate early enough.
Honestly, one of the types of parahumans that Exalts would have the most difficulty with would probably be your Alexandria packages. Exalted's super strength scales up to a mammoth, aka a moderate or small sized car. Meanwhile Glory Girl can bench a loaded cement truck, which is halfway to being an order of magnitude heavier than the cap for any non-ancient Exalt.
- Pronouns
- Yes
Nitpick: Cement mixer, not cement truck. While she could have meant a cement truck, given that it also says she can lift about a ton I doubt it. She probably was refering to something like
http://www.gorge.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/What-Do-Petrol-Cement-Mixers-Do.jpg
Which could weigh around a ton when full, not a 20+ ton cement truck.
Doesn't really affect your point, but still thought I'd mention it.
Naah.
[Exalted] Normal Charms
Some of the others are hilarious too:
Stoic-but-Sensitive Bookish-Type-Infatuating Stance
Cost: 4m; Mins: Essence 2; Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: By Pain Reforged, Insignificant Embers Intuition, Beauty Without Malice
On the outside, Malfeas is a mass of calloused layers, eternally bleeding bitterness and seething anger. On the inside, however, he is a beautiful dancer full of hope, shame, and dutiful responsibility.
Brainy chicks eat that stuff up.
This charm supplements any action to help another character who would have a higher dice pool than you on a roll to do Math (with a minimum of at least 5 dice), not counting external things like bonuses from items, stunts, and non-permanent charms. This action could be as simple as picking up something they've dropped, or as dynamic as charging in front of a raging Behemoth to use Defend Other on them.
After performing this action, they have the option to immediately gain a positive intimacy towards you with a connotation of their choice (or upgrade a currently existing intimacy with the following effects). This intimacy forges a magical bond between the two individuals. Firstly, any action to aid you automatically qualifies for a use of a Compassion Channel for them.
Secondly, any influence that would force or convince them to harm or betray you in some way becomes Obvious to their senses, and they may spend one Compassion channel to make doing such things an Unacceptable Order for the rest of the scene.
Finally, when the infatuated character successfully performs a 2 or 3-die stunt on an action to help you with something, framed in the context of using their infatuation to aid them, they may choose to regain one spent Compassion Channel in lieu of any normal stunt rewards.
Explicitly telling an effected character that you return their feelings instantly breaks the effects of this charm over them. Being stoic and unapproachable is what makes you so unspeakably hot.
Subtle Like Nuclear Holocaust
Cost: 3m; Mins: Essence 3; Type: Simple
Keywords: Combo-OK, Obvious
Duration: One Scene
Prerequisite Charms: Crowned With Fury
Malfeas does not hide. Rather, others turn from his magnificence, lest they be consumed. It is in their justified terror that he moves, ostensibly unnoticed.
As part of activating this charm, the Infernal must shout "Ignore Me!". As he does so, his skin ignites with a brilliant green bonfire, shining radiance outward for all to see. Every few seconds, the Infernal must continue to shout "Ignore Me!" as loud as possible. Failing to do so for too long will end the charm prematurely, as the foolish lemmings of the world will become lost without the undeniable decree of their king.
While this charm is active, the Infernal ignores all penalties to attempts at acting stealthy, including ones inflicted by bright light, loud noises, or people looking directly at you. His stealth attempts do not automatically fail for stupid reasons like "Being on an empty stage in front of ten thousand people with a spot light on you.", and any such stealthiness is automatically a viable target for the First Malfeas Excellency.
Cost: 4m; Mins: Essence 2; Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: By Pain Reforged, Insignificant Embers Intuition, Beauty Without Malice
On the outside, Malfeas is a mass of calloused layers, eternally bleeding bitterness and seething anger. On the inside, however, he is a beautiful dancer full of hope, shame, and dutiful responsibility.
Brainy chicks eat that stuff up.
This charm supplements any action to help another character who would have a higher dice pool than you on a roll to do Math (with a minimum of at least 5 dice), not counting external things like bonuses from items, stunts, and non-permanent charms. This action could be as simple as picking up something they've dropped, or as dynamic as charging in front of a raging Behemoth to use Defend Other on them.
After performing this action, they have the option to immediately gain a positive intimacy towards you with a connotation of their choice (or upgrade a currently existing intimacy with the following effects). This intimacy forges a magical bond between the two individuals. Firstly, any action to aid you automatically qualifies for a use of a Compassion Channel for them.
Secondly, any influence that would force or convince them to harm or betray you in some way becomes Obvious to their senses, and they may spend one Compassion channel to make doing such things an Unacceptable Order for the rest of the scene.
Finally, when the infatuated character successfully performs a 2 or 3-die stunt on an action to help you with something, framed in the context of using their infatuation to aid them, they may choose to regain one spent Compassion Channel in lieu of any normal stunt rewards.
Explicitly telling an effected character that you return their feelings instantly breaks the effects of this charm over them. Being stoic and unapproachable is what makes you so unspeakably hot.
Subtle Like Nuclear Holocaust
Cost: 3m; Mins: Essence 3; Type: Simple
Keywords: Combo-OK, Obvious
Duration: One Scene
Prerequisite Charms: Crowned With Fury
Malfeas does not hide. Rather, others turn from his magnificence, lest they be consumed. It is in their justified terror that he moves, ostensibly unnoticed.
As part of activating this charm, the Infernal must shout "Ignore Me!". As he does so, his skin ignites with a brilliant green bonfire, shining radiance outward for all to see. Every few seconds, the Infernal must continue to shout "Ignore Me!" as loud as possible. Failing to do so for too long will end the charm prematurely, as the foolish lemmings of the world will become lost without the undeniable decree of their king.
While this charm is active, the Infernal ignores all penalties to attempts at acting stealthy, including ones inflicted by bright light, loud noises, or people looking directly at you. His stealth attempts do not automatically fail for stupid reasons like "Being on an empty stage in front of ten thousand people with a spot light on you.", and any such stealthiness is automatically a viable target for the First Malfeas Excellency.
Last edited:
12 - Taylor
DeviantD
A topologically complex tube
- Location
- OZ
-12-
"Sorry I'm late, Janet." A new voice broke me from the mind numbing tedium of reading through a form that seemed to be saying something about availability for transfers between branches.
A blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman had walked into Janet's pseudo-office. She was dressed much like the clerk, only wearing navy slacks instead of a skirt. Her heart-shaped face was well made up, but I could still pick out the mostly concealed bags that suggested she was no less stressed. I could have sworn that I had seen her somewhere before, but I was sure I'd never had anything to do with the PRT prior to the other night.
"It's about time, Sarah." Janet huffed impatiently and gestured towards me. "I take it that she's one of yours then?"
"Yeah, I only just found out. Linda decided e-mailing urgent information was easier than actually calling me."
"So who does this Linda have dirt on to still have a job?" I asked, wondering just who this newcomer was, why she was familiar, and why 'Linda from Filing' hadn't been fired yet if she was such a screw-up. I caught the newcomer twitching at my words.
"More like who she's been- Never mind." She shook her head, obviously self-censoring for the 'child' in the room. She'd said enough for me to fill in the rest though. I shook her hand when she offered it with a weary smile. "Hi Taylor, I'm Sarah Jones. I've been assigned as your case worker. I would have been by to visit you earlier, but it seems we're playing catch up with what happened last night."
"So, what exactly do you do?" I tiled my head, as I asked. I had heard the term before, but could remember the context. "As a case worker that is."
"Well, it's my job to make sure you get settled into your new life and arrange for things like education, accommodation and so on. Oh, and I'll be filling in the other half of those forms." She sighed as her face twisted into a concerned frown. "Basically, I'll be acting as your guardian. "
"Oh. Okay then." I nodded until my head stopped halfway through. A thought had suddenly struck me, and I realised that Brockton Bay was like a big country town. There weren't nearly enough degrees of separation. "Wait, aren't you already Sophia's guardian?"
She blinked in surprise. "Umm, yes?"
"I thought you looked familiar." I smiled, happy that I wasn't imagining things. She still seemed lost. "We met at a meeting at Winslow once."
Her baffled look started to dissolve into something that I guessed was horrified surprise, judging by the wide eyes and half open mouth.
"Mind filling me in?" Janet asked as she glanced between me and her workmate.
"Oh, it was back before I gave up trying to get the school to stop the bullying."
Sarah let out a strangled groan.
"Well looks like that NDA was important after all." Janet mumbled as she buried her face in her hand. I looked at her, confused for a moment before everything clicked.
"Oh." I muttered. "Oh, Wow."
I slouched back in my chair, closing my eyes as the implications hit me. That was so beyond fucked up. The NDA applied to Sophia. Sophia had to be a Ward, and thus obviously Shadow Stalker. Suddenly everything made sense. The lack of help from Winslow, the familiar tone and confrontational behaviour from Shadow Stalker. Had Winslow been covering things up to keep a cape on site? Did the PRT not care how their Wards acted? How could I work for people like this? Were all heroes like this? I started rubbing my temples. Everything was just too much.
Just let it go, Mistress.
As I tried to calm down, I felt a dry breeze along my brow. In a sudden moment of clarity, I realised I'd been getting much to worked up about such a minor issue. When I opened my eyes, the two women were staring at my forehead with some worrying expressions. My Caste Mark must have been showing again. I really needed to get a handle on controlling that. I rubbed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose as I thought.
Focus on not attracting attention and your powers will not.
Well that's pretty straightforward sounding. So what do the other Green Sun Princes do? Are they just shit out of luck for being subtle?
Others... Oh, Oh! I am sorry Mistress.
Taylor. I interrupted. I wasn't having much luck in dissuading her use of that title.
Taylor. I had forgotten something important. I can only blame it on my inexperience with such a thing. Unlike myself before our fusing, you have two sources of Essence to call on... An internal reservoir of Essence and an external one.
External?
I am not sure how else to describe it. If you do not draw from that larger, external source, your Anima should remain subdued. However, my earlier advice would apply to your use of the external source.
So many bizarre quirks to my powers. I bet most Capes don't have to deal with this. I let out a sigh. I'll have to practice and see if I can tell the difference between the two.
"Are you with us Taylor?" Janet asked, from much closer than I remember her being.
"Oh yes, was just thinking on things." I stretched as I sat up in my seat. "So, lets finish this paperwork so I can be a hero."
"You're not mad?" Asked Sarah, with an odd quaver to her voice.
"It's all it the past." I waved her off with my left hand, even as I took up the pen with my right. "Just put in as much work for me as you did her, and everything will be fine."
Janet and Sarah shared a look, before Janet walked back to her computer and my new guardian started signing her way through the pile of paper that I'd already gone through. The sound of clacking keys and scratching pens filled the otherwise silent room.
A though occurred to me as I sifted through yet another form of near gibberish. If the PRT were that willing to cover up the indiscretions of their capes, that could come in handy. It would make for a refreshing change to have corruption work for me.
----
To: Director Emily Piggot
Sent: Janet Darby
CC: Sarah Jones, Armsmaster
Subject: <Urgent> Dervish
Director,
I have some concerns about the mental state of our new Ward due to an incident that just occurred in the presence of myself and Sarah Jones.
I had initially thought that she was a fairly normal girl, despite her physical changes. Other than an unsurprising impatience regarding paperwork, she was quite cheerful. Then I discovered that she was a recent orphan, something I should have been informed of ahead of time as procedure would dictate.
Her earlier demeanour could have been passed off as her just being a well adjusted individual, if not for the rather offhanded manner in which she mentioned it. As if it was in no way important.
The incident that has caused the most concern however, is that she seems to use some kind of power to calm herself. After discovering some distressing news, her surprise gave way to obvious emotional turmoil. This then disappeared after a glowing red ring appeared on her forehead. Afterwards, she was completely unconcerned with said news.
While I am in no way a trained psychologist, I would recommend fast-tracking any psych evaluations that may be pending.
Of perhaps more importance, it has been brought to light that Dervish has a troublesome history with Shadow Stalker in civilian guise.
Regards,
Janet
----
In her office on the top floor, Emily Piggot found herself dearly wishing for the ability to drink without killing herself.
----
Author Notes:
I apologies to anyone named Linda who happens to work in filing. Unless you are actually this much of a screw up, in which case, you deserve it.
And yes, while in canon, said meeting didn't happen till after Bakuda blew things up, I can easily imagine an even less productive meeting occurring under different circumstances.
Naah.
[Exalted] Normal Charms
Some of the others are hilarious too:
Stoic-but-Sensitive Bookish-Type-Infatuating Stance
Cost: 4m; Mins: Essence 2; Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: By Pain Reforged, Insignificant Embers Intuition, Beauty Without Malice
On the outside, Malfeas is a mass of calloused layers, eternally bleeding bitterness and seething anger. On the inside, however, he is a beautiful dancer full of hope, shame, and dutiful responsibility.
Brainy chicks eat that stuff up.
This charm supplements any action to help another character who would have a higher dice pool than you on a roll to do Math (with a minimum of at least 5 dice), not counting external things like bonuses from items, stunts, and non-permanent charms. This action could be as simple as picking up something they've dropped, or as dynamic as charging in front of a raging Behemoth to use Defend Other on them.
After performing this action, they have the option to immediately gain a positive intimacy towards you with a connotation of their choice (or upgrade a currently existing intimacy with the following effects). This intimacy forges a magical bond between the two individuals. Firstly, any action to aid you automatically qualifies for a use of a Compassion Channel for them.
Secondly, any influence that would force or convince them to harm or betray you in some way becomes Obvious to their senses, and they may spend one Compassion channel to make doing such things an Unacceptable Order for the rest of the scene.
Finally, when the infatuated character successfully performs a 2 or 3-die stunt on an action to help you with something, framed in the context of using their infatuation to aid them, they may choose to regain one spent Compassion Channel in lieu of any normal stunt rewards.
Explicitly telling an effected character that you return their feelings instantly breaks the effects of this charm over them. Being stoic and unapproachable is what makes you so unspeakably hot.
Subtle Like Nuclear Holocaust
Cost: 3m; Mins: Essence 3; Type: Simple
Keywords: Combo-OK, Obvious
Duration: One Scene
Prerequisite Charms: Crowned With Fury
Malfeas does not hide. Rather, others turn from his magnificence, lest they be consumed. It is in their justified terror that he moves, ostensibly unnoticed.
As part of activating this charm, the Infernal must shout "Ignore Me!". As he does so, his skin ignites with a brilliant green bonfire, shining radiance outward for all to see. Every few seconds, the Infernal must continue to shout "Ignore Me!" as loud as possible. Failing to do so for too long will end the charm prematurely, as the foolish lemmings of the world will become lost without the undeniable decree of their king.
While this charm is active, the Infernal ignores all penalties to attempts at acting stealthy, including ones inflicted by bright light, loud noises, or people looking directly at you. His stealth attempts do not automatically fail for stupid reasons like "Being on an empty stage in front of ten thousand people with a spot light on you.", and any such stealthiness is automatically a viable target for the First Malfeas Excellency.
Amusing, but not sure how much of that will get used. I mean there's quirky, and then there's plain crack-fic.
Last edited:
I can't help it. I'm reading "Caste Mark" as "Cutie Mark" every time %).
Nightmare Moon Taylor?
