Masks
So, I decided to stop lurking.
First Worm fanfiction, critique and suggestions...
So, I decided to stop lurking.
First Worm fanfiction, critique and suggestions...
Masks (a Worm AU Quest)
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1.0
Z488411
Scatterbrained
- Location
- Europa
Masks
So, I decided to stop lurking.
First Worm fanfiction, critique and suggestions appreciated, I hope it's interesting, maybe even decent.
Taylor gets somewhat different powers just a little earlier. A few other things are different too.
Something seems so very wrong looking up at the sun blazing down at you. The clear blue skies and the heat and light on your skin. You're outside, sitting on a small patch of grass and looking up. The white trails in the sky seem just as unreal as everything else. Wrong. Or maybe it was just that the world didn't care.
Your father has told you he is busy at least five times now, first on the phone, then on his new cellphone. Even if it killed mom. Dad didn't seem to care. A new job. Something to bring in more money. He said it was for you, for mom, but there was nothing left of mom now. Nothing you could see, but a flute and a few boxes somewhere in storage.
The house, your home, is gone. All collateral damage, nothing but a ruin and a fraction of a byline on the news. Well maybe more than a fraction, but all they focused on were the villains. Squealer's newest tank, the latest speculation, but it had been two days now and nothing had changed. You had spend the last two days with Emma, too numb to do anything at all. They'd called you away from summer camp, your father insisted. You almost thought he'd talk to you again, but then he'd come back late from work a day later and he was busy. Talking to Alan on the phone, to Kurt and Lacey, whose lawn you were sitting on just this moment.
Quitting his job.
It's summer, but it still definitely doesn't feel like it. If anything, you feel empty. The world has moved on. Emma isn't answering the phone, no one is picking up at all and there is nothing else you can do. Dad is busy, Kurt and Lacey are at work and the TV would just add another layer of unreality onto all of it. Your books, what's left of the ones you and mom had, are all packed up. Everything is if it's not just gone altogether. Even the clothes you're wearing have only been yours for a day. You bought them with Emma, but it's been two hours. They should have been home by now, but there still isn't anyone answering the phone.
It hurt when they went without you, but no one cared. No one cares. No one as much as noticed you, Emma is smiling and it's just so wrong, you almost screamed at her the last time you saw her and now she's gone too. Nothing. Nothing's even remotely right and you can't even put it into words. None of them come out right.
Something inside you breaks.
You wish you had…
[ ] Someone to hold you
[ ] Someone to protect you
[X] Some way to understand
[ ] Write in
You blink. Staring down at your hands, somewhat scratched and dirty as they are, they are no longer empty….
Points: 1
These can be acquired with omakes, posts in the thread I find amusing, art, helping me out, etc. and can be used to reveal details or get boons. One point per detail revealed, boon cost variable.
Research: Unlocked in the next post
Research upgrades to your power. May also unlock other things later on.
Exp: 0/0 Unlocked in the next post
Allows you to level your powers
Yes, this is your first power selection. Any suggestions for this quest are welcome, masks not chosen can be acquired later on and more mechanics and upgrades will be revealed as the quest proceeds.
Thanks to Assembler and The Nexus of Taylors on here and BreezyWheeze on SB for the idea, I hope they don't mind this somewhat different version. It doesn't quite work like either of their quests and will be starting slowly with less of a focus on combat and more exploration, slice of life and trying to figure things out. There will be OCs and some changes from canon as well.
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Current character profile, rules and information
Z488411
Scatterbrained
- Location
- Europa
under construction
Name: Taylor Hebert
Age: 14
Appearance:
A very tall, skinny girl, you're nearly blind without your large, round glasses and still hoping for your body to develop something resembling a figure not best described as a stick. You have a wide mouth, vivid green eyes, which are a little too large even without your glasses and long dark brown curls cascading down your back. You also have a slight tan from your stay at summer camp, aborted or not.
Abilities:
Finished middle school with very good grades, excellent grasp on the English language. Beginner martial arts student, beginner runner and practicing parkour.
Age: 14
Appearance:
A very tall, skinny girl, you're nearly blind without your large, round glasses and still hoping for your body to develop something resembling a figure not best described as a stick. You have a wide mouth, vivid green eyes, which are a little too large even without your glasses and long dark brown curls cascading down your back. You also have a slight tan from your stay at summer camp, aborted or not.
Abilities:
Finished middle school with very good grades, excellent grasp on the English language. Beginner martial arts student, beginner runner and practicing parkour.
Your house has been destroyed. Well, some walls are still standing and some items could be rescued, but no part of it is anywhere near habitable condition.
You're living in your new penthouse apartment, with a garden on the roof with your Dad.
Emma and Mr. Barnes have been attacked, Emma is aware of your powers, Mrs. Barnes and Emma's younger sister are out to visit a friend, you can't reach either of them.
Dad has a new job as the Protectorate Hero Admin and is undergoing some very intense training. Coil is trying to kill him.
You're living in your new penthouse apartment, with a garden on the roof with your Dad.
Emma and Mr. Barnes have been attacked, Emma is aware of your powers, Mrs. Barnes and Emma's younger sister are out to visit a friend, you can't reach either of them.
Dad has a new job as the Protectorate Hero Admin and is undergoing some very intense training. Coil is trying to kill him.
Your clothes, one very bullet resistant costume, Mom's old flute, the books you took along to summer camp, a photograph of mom, dad and yourself, a photo of Emma and yourself, a photo of you, the Barnes family and Mom. Notebooks, a laptop, one Lair (courtesy of Marquis), several maps of the city, a few hundred dollars in cash.
Aletheia
Understanding?
Level 3
100/350 exp
Abilities:
Telepathy (passive) level 3: Able to perceive the memories, core traits and experiences of a thinking being in a close radius around her, able to sense the thoughts of thinking beings in an approximate 150 foot radius, able to sense emotions at larger distances, with decreasing accuracy, able to sense the locations of live beings at long distances with decreasing accuracy.
Telepathy (active) level 3: able to transmit thoughts and experiences within a moderate radius, able to start disguising the source of these additional thoughts
Obfuscation level 3: able to turn herself and up to two objects of persons her approximate size or several smaller ones invisible to all forms of light at will
Levitation level 2: able to levitate at about the speed of an olympic runner and carry up to 20 pounds of weight.
Telekinesis (passive) level 2: able to sense the position of objects in a moderate radius (about 60 ft.), this sense becomes less precise as distance increases
Telekinesis (active) level 2: Able to move up to a five pounds of matter without touching it in a moderate radius around yourself. The number of objects is irrelevant. Force applied depends on concentration, velocity is limited to twice your maximum levitation speed. Manton limited.
Disruption level 2: precognitive abilities cannot accurately predict your actions or those of the people around you, small errors in the prediction will occur. Prolonged exposure to you will result in mounting errors, whereas people leaving your vicinity will have their predictions readjusted to become correct once more over time. General predictions about your actions can still be made.
Sense technology level 2: able to sense and make sense of technological devices in a moderate radius, up to 50ft, better at making sense of the technology you find.
Cognitive enhancement level 1: further increases multitasking ability, can be used to speed up thinking ability, resulting in a subjective slowing down of time to half of its usual speed. Physical abilities can still only be used at their usual speed but mental abilities feature no such restriction. Memory is now eidetic rather than merely very good.
Projection level 1 : able to cast one of your senses, including sensory abilities out from a point of your choosing, at a reduced ability level. Full concentration is required to maintain the connection. Knowing the point's location relative to yourself is necessary, distance is irrelevant.
Technopathy (active) level 1: Able to use electrical or very complicated mechanical devices in a small radius. This only extends to intended use and passwords will need to be figured out first
Understanding?
Level 3
100/350 exp
Abilities:
Telepathy (passive) level 3: Able to perceive the memories, core traits and experiences of a thinking being in a close radius around her, able to sense the thoughts of thinking beings in an approximate 150 foot radius, able to sense emotions at larger distances, with decreasing accuracy, able to sense the locations of live beings at long distances with decreasing accuracy.
Telepathy (active) level 3: able to transmit thoughts and experiences within a moderate radius, able to start disguising the source of these additional thoughts
Obfuscation level 3: able to turn herself and up to two objects of persons her approximate size or several smaller ones invisible to all forms of light at will
Levitation level 2: able to levitate at about the speed of an olympic runner and carry up to 20 pounds of weight.
Telekinesis (passive) level 2: able to sense the position of objects in a moderate radius (about 60 ft.), this sense becomes less precise as distance increases
Telekinesis (active) level 2: Able to move up to a five pounds of matter without touching it in a moderate radius around yourself. The number of objects is irrelevant. Force applied depends on concentration, velocity is limited to twice your maximum levitation speed. Manton limited.
Disruption level 2: precognitive abilities cannot accurately predict your actions or those of the people around you, small errors in the prediction will occur. Prolonged exposure to you will result in mounting errors, whereas people leaving your vicinity will have their predictions readjusted to become correct once more over time. General predictions about your actions can still be made.
Sense technology level 2: able to sense and make sense of technological devices in a moderate radius, up to 50ft, better at making sense of the technology you find.
Cognitive enhancement level 1: further increases multitasking ability, can be used to speed up thinking ability, resulting in a subjective slowing down of time to half of its usual speed. Physical abilities can still only be used at their usual speed but mental abilities feature no such restriction. Memory is now eidetic rather than merely very good.
Projection level 1 : able to cast one of your senses, including sensory abilities out from a point of your choosing, at a reduced ability level. Full concentration is required to maintain the connection. Knowing the point's location relative to yourself is necessary, distance is irrelevant.
Technopathy (active) level 1: Able to use electrical or very complicated mechanical devices in a small radius. This only extends to intended use and passwords will need to be figured out first
Terpsichore
?
Level 2
20/350 exp
Agility level 3: more than four times a normal human's movement speed, enhanced flexibility, inhuman balance and coordination, enhanced reflexes
Illusion level 3: Able to project visual illusions within about a 30 feet radius, these illusions are fully functioning light constructs and will be seen by cameras, but can be revealed as illusions upon very close inspection, now able to create more constructs simultaneously
Shapeshifting level 2: Able to shift into any creature of the approximately same shape and approximately to the same weight. No extra abilities are gained while transformed, all senses and physical abilities operate as before. More difficult to disrupt now.
Sonic manipulation level 2: able to produce sound waves of any frequency in a moderate radius with centimetre precision. Restricted to four sources of sound and about three times peak human capabilities in terms of amplitude.
Energy drain level 2: able to drain the stamina of a person on touch to put them to sleep. Draining speed depends on the opponent's power. Now with faster draining speed. 3 seconds noncontinuous to fully drain a normal
Song of Inspiration level 2: able to reinforce sound manipulation with the Mask's own power to empower one ability of any ally in hearing range or one ability of all allies in a 50 foot radius
Song of disruption level 1: able to reinforce sound manipulation with the Mask's own power to disrupt and reduce one ability of any enemy in hearing range. Only one song ability may be active at a time.
?
Level 2
20/350 exp
Agility level 3: more than four times a normal human's movement speed, enhanced flexibility, inhuman balance and coordination, enhanced reflexes
Illusion level 3: Able to project visual illusions within about a 30 feet radius, these illusions are fully functioning light constructs and will be seen by cameras, but can be revealed as illusions upon very close inspection, now able to create more constructs simultaneously
Shapeshifting level 2: Able to shift into any creature of the approximately same shape and approximately to the same weight. No extra abilities are gained while transformed, all senses and physical abilities operate as before. More difficult to disrupt now.
Sonic manipulation level 2: able to produce sound waves of any frequency in a moderate radius with centimetre precision. Restricted to four sources of sound and about three times peak human capabilities in terms of amplitude.
Energy drain level 2: able to drain the stamina of a person on touch to put them to sleep. Draining speed depends on the opponent's power. Now with faster draining speed. 3 seconds noncontinuous to fully drain a normal
Song of Inspiration level 2: able to reinforce sound manipulation with the Mask's own power to empower one ability of any ally in hearing range or one ability of all allies in a 50 foot radius
Song of disruption level 1: able to reinforce sound manipulation with the Mask's own power to disrupt and reduce one ability of any enemy in hearing range. Only one song ability may be active at a time.
Taylor's masked form gains a crown of nine tendrils sprouting from around her Mask, her hair lengthening and turning into deep midnight blue tentacles, a cape around her shoulders, consisting of nine tentacles connected by skin. The skin covering is floor length, the tentacles are longer. They have grown thicker and lengthened even further. Her skin becomes a violet hue, limbs lengthen and appear more fragile. She becomes slippery to the touch and four tentacles grow from her back.
Abilities:
Telepathy (passive) level 4: Able to perceive the memories, core traits and experiences of a thinking being in a close radius around her, able to sense the thoughts of thinking beings in an approximate city block radius around her, able to sense emotions at larger distances, with decreasing accuracy, able to sense the locations of live beings at long distances with decreasing accuracy. Now perceives animals as well.
Telepathy (active) level 4: able to transmit thoughts and experiences within a moderate radius, able to start disguising the source of these additional thoughts, able to start altering the thoughts of animals, concentration required. Able to start transferring some skills from other people to yourself at relatively low accuracy and low speed. Concentration required, works best while the target is asleep, as you will need to be less careful to keep them from noticing.
Obfuscation level 4: able to turn herself and up to five objects or persons her approximate mass or many more smaller ones up to the approximate same mass invisible to all forms of light at will.
Levitation level 3: able to levitate at about the speed of 80 km/h or 50mph and carry up her own body weight
Telekinesis (passive) level 3: able to sense the position of objects in a moderately large radius (about 130ft), this sense becomes less precise as distance increases
Telekinesis (active) level 3: Able to move up to twenty five pounds of matter without touching it in a moderately large radius around yourself. The number of objects is irrelevant. Force applied depends on concentration, velocity is limited to twice your maximum levitation speed. Manton limited.
Disruption level 3: precognitive abilities cannot predict your actions and cannot accurately those of the people around you, small errors in the prediction will occur. Prolonged exposure to you will result in mounting errors, whereas people leaving your vicinity will have their predictions readjusted to become correct once more over time. General predictions about your actions can be wildly off, though still apparently plausible up until tested and may even be misdirected intentionally. The results of thinkers focusing on you will be slightly inaccurate.
Sense technology level 3: able to sense and make sense of technological devices in a moderate radius, up to 100ft, better at making sense of the technology you find, you can now start to read programs.
Cognitive enhancement level 2: further increases multitasking ability, can be used to speed up thinking ability, resulting in a subjective slowing down of time to a quarter of its usual speed. Physical abilities can still only be used at their usual speed but mental abilities feature no such restriction. Memory is now eidetic rather than merely very good. Increased ability to focus can be used to increase an aspect of a mental ability slightly beyond normal limits, at the cost of the ability to concentrate on other things.
Projection level 2 : able to cast two of your senses, including sensory abilities out from a point of your choosing, at a reduced ability level. Full concentration is required to maintain the connection. Knowing the point's location relative to yourself is necessary, distance is irrelevant. The point can now be moved more easily
Technopathy (active) level 2: Able to use electrical or very complicated mechanical devices in a moderate radius. This only extends to intended use, passwords can start to be figured out, functions can be blocked, now includes basic programming
Abilities:
Telepathy (passive) level 4: Able to perceive the memories, core traits and experiences of a thinking being in a close radius around her, able to sense the thoughts of thinking beings in an approximate city block radius around her, able to sense emotions at larger distances, with decreasing accuracy, able to sense the locations of live beings at long distances with decreasing accuracy. Now perceives animals as well.
Telepathy (active) level 4: able to transmit thoughts and experiences within a moderate radius, able to start disguising the source of these additional thoughts, able to start altering the thoughts of animals, concentration required. Able to start transferring some skills from other people to yourself at relatively low accuracy and low speed. Concentration required, works best while the target is asleep, as you will need to be less careful to keep them from noticing.
Obfuscation level 4: able to turn herself and up to five objects or persons her approximate mass or many more smaller ones up to the approximate same mass invisible to all forms of light at will.
Levitation level 3: able to levitate at about the speed of 80 km/h or 50mph and carry up her own body weight
Telekinesis (passive) level 3: able to sense the position of objects in a moderately large radius (about 130ft), this sense becomes less precise as distance increases
Telekinesis (active) level 3: Able to move up to twenty five pounds of matter without touching it in a moderately large radius around yourself. The number of objects is irrelevant. Force applied depends on concentration, velocity is limited to twice your maximum levitation speed. Manton limited.
Disruption level 3: precognitive abilities cannot predict your actions and cannot accurately those of the people around you, small errors in the prediction will occur. Prolonged exposure to you will result in mounting errors, whereas people leaving your vicinity will have their predictions readjusted to become correct once more over time. General predictions about your actions can be wildly off, though still apparently plausible up until tested and may even be misdirected intentionally. The results of thinkers focusing on you will be slightly inaccurate.
Sense technology level 3: able to sense and make sense of technological devices in a moderate radius, up to 100ft, better at making sense of the technology you find, you can now start to read programs.
Cognitive enhancement level 2: further increases multitasking ability, can be used to speed up thinking ability, resulting in a subjective slowing down of time to a quarter of its usual speed. Physical abilities can still only be used at their usual speed but mental abilities feature no such restriction. Memory is now eidetic rather than merely very good. Increased ability to focus can be used to increase an aspect of a mental ability slightly beyond normal limits, at the cost of the ability to concentrate on other things.
Projection level 2 : able to cast two of your senses, including sensory abilities out from a point of your choosing, at a reduced ability level. Full concentration is required to maintain the connection. Knowing the point's location relative to yourself is necessary, distance is irrelevant. The point can now be moved more easily
Technopathy (active) level 2: Able to use electrical or very complicated mechanical devices in a moderate radius. This only extends to intended use, passwords can start to be figured out, functions can be blocked, now includes basic programming
Her hair turns to a darker, bright vibrant orange red, gaining volume. It has been compared to a Mane in this state. Her skin clears of imperfections her body becomes and idealised shape and she gains a tail with the same qualities as her hair.
Agility level 4: about eight times a normal human's movement speed, enhanced flexibility, inhuman balance and coordination, enhanced reflexes, double normal cognition speed while moving very quickly
Illusion level 4: Able to project visual illusions within about a 50 feet radius, these illusions are fully functioning light constructs and will be seen by cameras, but can be revealed as illusions upon very close inspection, now able to create more constructs simultaneously, maximum brightness increased.
Shapeshifting level 3: Able to shift into any creature of the very approximately same shape (mammals only) and within a factor of five in weight. No extra abilities are gained while transformed, all senses and physical abilities operate as before. Very difficult to disrupt.
Sonic manipulation level 3: able to produce sound waves of any frequency in a moderate to large radius with centimetre precision. Restricted to four sources of sound and about three times peak human capabilities in terms of amplitude. Can now silence up to existing sound sources as well, restricted to four sound sources as well
Energy drain level 3: able to drain the stamina of a person on touch to put them to sleep. Draining speed depends on the opponent's power. Now with faster draining speed. 2 seconds noncontinuous to fully drain a normal, increases her own energy and accelerates any healing by using the drained energy
Song of Inspiration level 3: able to reinforce sound manipulation with the Mask's own power to empower one ability of any two allies in hearing range or one ability of all allies in a 100 foot radius
Song of disruption level 2: able to reinforce sound manipulation with the Mask's own power to disrupt and reduce one ability of any enemy in hearing range or one ability of all enemies within a 50ft radius of her. Only one song ability may be active at a time.
Agility level 4: about eight times a normal human's movement speed, enhanced flexibility, inhuman balance and coordination, enhanced reflexes, double normal cognition speed while moving very quickly
Illusion level 4: Able to project visual illusions within about a 50 feet radius, these illusions are fully functioning light constructs and will be seen by cameras, but can be revealed as illusions upon very close inspection, now able to create more constructs simultaneously, maximum brightness increased.
Shapeshifting level 3: Able to shift into any creature of the very approximately same shape (mammals only) and within a factor of five in weight. No extra abilities are gained while transformed, all senses and physical abilities operate as before. Very difficult to disrupt.
Sonic manipulation level 3: able to produce sound waves of any frequency in a moderate to large radius with centimetre precision. Restricted to four sources of sound and about three times peak human capabilities in terms of amplitude. Can now silence up to existing sound sources as well, restricted to four sound sources as well
Energy drain level 3: able to drain the stamina of a person on touch to put them to sleep. Draining speed depends on the opponent's power. Now with faster draining speed. 2 seconds noncontinuous to fully drain a normal, increases her own energy and accelerates any healing by using the drained energy
Song of Inspiration level 3: able to reinforce sound manipulation with the Mask's own power to empower one ability of any two allies in hearing range or one ability of all allies in a 100 foot radius
Song of disruption level 2: able to reinforce sound manipulation with the Mask's own power to disrupt and reduce one ability of any enemy in hearing range or one ability of all enemies within a 50ft radius of her. Only one song ability may be active at a time.
Points are earned for useful or insightful discussion in the thread, omakes, artwork or things I find amusing.
Points can be spent to make your or Taylor's life easier in a variety of ways:
1 point can buy 25 points of experience for any one mask. A mask gains experience as it uses its abilities as well.
1 point can also be used to buy 5% of progress toward next mask. Mask progress increases automatically as well.
8 points can be used to buy a new ability for an existing mask from those not taken during level ups or to upgrade an existing one.
currently available additional abilities for:
Aletheia:
Technopathy (active) level 1: Able to use electrical or very complicated mechanical devices in a small radius. This only extends to intended use and passwords will need to be figured out first.
Terpsichore:
Pyrokinesis level 1: able to conjure fire out of thin air, control about four cubic feet of it and heat it to about 200 degrees celsius in a 30 foot radius around yourself.
Energy reflow level 1: Channel some of your drained Energy back into a victim of your choice to make them feel pain and lose nerve function around the affected area.
Points can be spent on boons - lucky happenstances which are unlikely but not outright impossible as well, the more unlikely the event, the more points it will cost. % points will buy a wards patrol, a single protectorate member or one piece of moderately powerful tinkertech found. Bearing in mind, tinkertech cannot be maintained without the corresponding tinker.
A Point can also be spent to gain information on quest mechanics and world details not yet revealed.
Points can be spent to make your or Taylor's life easier in a variety of ways:
1 point can buy 25 points of experience for any one mask. A mask gains experience as it uses its abilities as well.
1 point can also be used to buy 5% of progress toward next mask. Mask progress increases automatically as well.
8 points can be used to buy a new ability for an existing mask from those not taken during level ups or to upgrade an existing one.
currently available additional abilities for:
Aletheia:
Technopathy (active) level 1: Able to use electrical or very complicated mechanical devices in a small radius. This only extends to intended use and passwords will need to be figured out first.
Terpsichore:
Pyrokinesis level 1: able to conjure fire out of thin air, control about four cubic feet of it and heat it to about 200 degrees celsius in a 30 foot radius around yourself.
Energy reflow level 1: Channel some of your drained Energy back into a victim of your choice to make them feel pain and lose nerve function around the affected area.
Points can be spent on boons - lucky happenstances which are unlikely but not outright impossible as well, the more unlikely the event, the more points it will cost. % points will buy a wards patrol, a single protectorate member or one piece of moderately powerful tinkertech found. Bearing in mind, tinkertech cannot be maintained without the corresponding tinker.
A Point can also be spent to gain information on quest mechanics and world details not yet revealed.
Feel free to post, yes the point can be used to find out more about what is going on or one of the powers available to choose. A write in will select a completely different power appropriate to whatever is written.
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- Location
- Ural, Russia, Earth
[X] Someone to hold you
???
[ ] Someone to protect you
Master power, I presume.
[ ] Some way to understand
Thinker.
???
[ ] Someone to protect you
Master power, I presume.
[ ] Some way to understand
Thinker.
Canonically, she has an older sister. Is it canon divergence or mistake?
Z488411
Scatterbrained
- Location
- Europa
No to the first, sort of though not entirely to the second
It's canon divergence, thus AU. It doesn't diverge too much, in my opinion, but it's definitely there.
That said, none of the choices are worse, they just represent different directions to start off with.
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Assembler
Rocking the life
Okay, what the shit? That's two people who have borrowed an idea and cited me as inspiration when it wasn't even my idea in the first place.
[X] Some way to understand
There's going to be a lot of the second sentence in my quest once I finally get the damn update finished.
[X] Some way to understand
There's going to be a lot of the second sentence in my quest once I finally get the damn update finished.
Z488411
Scatterbrained
- Location
- Europa
Those were the ones I saw.
It's rather loose borrowing, but still, I thought I'd mention it.
[X] Some way to understand
I fear we'll do something stupid if we get a visible power right now. Better get a thinker power, that should prompt us to take a more brainy approach to things going forward.
Also I suspect the "hold you" option might be emotional manipulation.
I fear we'll do something stupid if we get a visible power right now. Better get a thinker power, that should prompt us to take a more brainy approach to things going forward.
Also I suspect the "hold you" option might be emotional manipulation.
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Silently Watches
Professional Stalker
- Location
- Right behind you
[X] Someone to hold you
ChildishChimera
A umbran summon
- Location
- New York
[X] Someone to hold you
Pathetic King
"I Speak To The Audient Void."
- Location
- Colorado
[X] Some way to understand
1.1 First Mask
Z488411
Scatterbrained
- Location
- Europa
You're holding something pale and smooth, just a little larger than your own face. Matte and rigid. Although you might be able to break it if you applied enough pressure, something stops you. There are three gemstones embedded inside of it, at least they look like gemstones to you. Translucent, shiny and wet, they mix purples and blues within them.
Frozen in place, you can't do much more than blink. Stare at what's in your hands, while thoughts start to filter in. The first one is 'Mask'. You're holding a mask, just the right size for you to put on, although there are no holes for any nose or mouth and the three gem like structures may look like eyes, but they're nowhere near the right position for you to see through. You don't think they're lenses either.
Somehow this feels far less real than before. In a completely different way. Your fingers are trembling slightly as you run them over the mask's surface. Somehow it feels… alive. The temperature isn't right, it doesn't entirely match your surroundings. You keep staring into its blue eyes, as if they could somehow blink back at you or make any sort of return gesture at all. They don't even have pupils or irises. Emma would call you stupid for sitting there, touching it and staring into gemstones as if they were the answer to the secrets of the universe.
Except, something did happen. As you kept running your fingers along its surface, the eyes gradually began to narrow. You feel… content. So much so, you barely notice the purple starting to seep out from its edges. The Mask's eyes had become just slits or curves in response. More contentment welling up inside you that isn't quite your own.
You're so focused on the eyes, you had to take another full second to notice the tentacles connected by small, thin, pink membranes now protruding from the Mask's edge and the tail coming from its back. The way they coil around in the air, curling as if it's insecure. Confused, but happy anyway. In fact you knew with absolute certainty that it was happy. Feeling the tendrils on your skin they're smooth and velvety, writhing and wrapping. Yet you also knew you could break their hold all too easily. Some were smaller than others and the tail or maybe its body coming from the back of the mask is the longest and thickest of all, but none of them were very long in general terms, and the way they thinned at the end made them look even shorter.
One of your hands was still on the mask, the creature's face, but you only have space for one thought right now.
'Cape.'
You're a cape. A cape with one of the strangest powers you've ever heard of and one you have no idea how to even begin to use, but you knew with absolute certainty that the creature is yours. Looking up, you could even still feel the location of its body like some sort of extension to yourself. And touching it, you could sense dad as well. Where he was standing inside the house, the fear, excitement and determination radiating from him. After a few moment you think you could make out something very faint about power testing, but the feeling was incredibly vague. Too faint to be certain. You couldn't make out anything more.
Not right now. Maybe if you were closer.
Wait. How did you know that? Until five minutes ago you were thinking Dad was burying himself in more guilt and wondering whether he noticed you at all. And there were walls between you and him. How could you possibly know exactly where he was? How could you know where there were more or fewer people all around you?
The movement of violet tendrils on your arm made you look down.
Oh. You could feel what it was thinking too, even if its thoughts were very simple, you could feel it. The way it was reacting to your need to know and relaying information to you through touch. Following unspoken orders as if it were the most natural thing. Calm. You felt calm and comfortable, affection for you and some curiosity. You felt what you knew the mask creature was feeling. Brushing your finger over the Mask again, you felt the tingle of being touched as well as the smooth, rigid surface of the Mask itself.
It was one of the strangest experiences you'd ever had.
Not uncomfortable, but still very weird. It was hard to look away from it. You remembered your need to understand, your desperation and now…. Now you could. Or it could and relay the thought to you at any rate.
And if anyone ever found out, you had no idea what they would do. This… mask creature – which was entirely too unwieldy to say – was too obvious. It was more than the size of your head, even if it was light and might barely fit into your backpack, if anyone found it would they let you keep it? It was a part of you, it had cute big eyes and it loved you, but it also looked a bit like some supervillain's pet.
You could hear the faint noises of a car. Your dad was still on the phone, where you had left him, but the car… if it came down this road…
You were desperately trying to pry the tendrils off your arms, willing the need to stay secret. The need not to be found into the creature. It had to understand. It understood you so well. So why? Why couldn't it just let go, go behind your back, withdraw its tendrils…
Oh. You blinked again. You could still feel it, it was still holding you, but something must be wrong with your eyes, because you definitely couldn't see it anymore. You could even feel the way it had shifted its state of mind into something a little more withdrawn.
… If you weren't already sitting, you would have sat down just about now. Apparently your Mask creature could become invisible. With your hands relaxing it even released its grip on you, moving around as if… you weren't even surprised to learn it could float too. Or levitate, as mom would call it, even if it apparently couldn't do so any faster than you could walk it was definitely floating. It wrapped its tail around your arm and left you to stare at the car going past and more importantly, it left you to think.
You were a cape. A CAPE!
With the power of a strange Mask creature that allowed you to perceive people's emotions if they were close enough. How were you ever going to become a hero with that? You had a new friend, someone who cared about you, who would never abandon you and who you still had to name, but you were still just Taylor. You couldn't fly. You couldn't even levitate. You had absolutely no idea how any part of being a Cape worked at all.
And Emma was still missing.
You looked over to your new friend or pet, you weren't sure, and it was difficult to come up with anything related to telepathy that didn't scream 'villain'. Not to mention its appearance, but it needed a name and you were thinking:
[ ] Write in (points will be given for this one)
[X] Aletheia
You also need to decide what to do now. Do you:
[ ] Try to find Emma, following the way she should have taken home
[ ] Try to find Emma in a different way?
Write in:
[X] Try to find Emma, following the way she should have taken home
-[X] While using the mask ability. If it sensed dad, it should be capable to warn you about anyone around?
[ ] Do research. Try to find out more about Capes and how powers work
[ ] Your dad. Why is he so excited? Did you really hear 'Power testing?'
Points: 7 (+ 5 Comment by Assembler, + 1 guess by Shaseyu)
These can be acquired with omakes, posts in the thread I find amusing, art, helping me out, etc. and can be used to reveal details or get boons. One point per detail revealed, boon cost variable. You may trade one point for 25 exp.
[ ] Spend points (How)
Research:
- How do powers work? (a steady research options and more topics will appear once you have a little more free time)
Training: (locked)
Masks:
?
Understanding?
Level 1
5/100 exp
short range telepathy, touch telepathy, invisibility, slow levitation
I'm hoping there will be one picture per post but can't make any promises yet. We'll see.
Frozen in place, you can't do much more than blink. Stare at what's in your hands, while thoughts start to filter in. The first one is 'Mask'. You're holding a mask, just the right size for you to put on, although there are no holes for any nose or mouth and the three gem like structures may look like eyes, but they're nowhere near the right position for you to see through. You don't think they're lenses either.
Somehow this feels far less real than before. In a completely different way. Your fingers are trembling slightly as you run them over the mask's surface. Somehow it feels… alive. The temperature isn't right, it doesn't entirely match your surroundings. You keep staring into its blue eyes, as if they could somehow blink back at you or make any sort of return gesture at all. They don't even have pupils or irises. Emma would call you stupid for sitting there, touching it and staring into gemstones as if they were the answer to the secrets of the universe.
Except, something did happen. As you kept running your fingers along its surface, the eyes gradually began to narrow. You feel… content. So much so, you barely notice the purple starting to seep out from its edges. The Mask's eyes had become just slits or curves in response. More contentment welling up inside you that isn't quite your own.
You're so focused on the eyes, you had to take another full second to notice the tentacles connected by small, thin, pink membranes now protruding from the Mask's edge and the tail coming from its back. The way they coil around in the air, curling as if it's insecure. Confused, but happy anyway. In fact you knew with absolute certainty that it was happy. Feeling the tendrils on your skin they're smooth and velvety, writhing and wrapping. Yet you also knew you could break their hold all too easily. Some were smaller than others and the tail or maybe its body coming from the back of the mask is the longest and thickest of all, but none of them were very long in general terms, and the way they thinned at the end made them look even shorter.
One of your hands was still on the mask, the creature's face, but you only have space for one thought right now.
'Cape.'
You're a cape. A cape with one of the strangest powers you've ever heard of and one you have no idea how to even begin to use, but you knew with absolute certainty that the creature is yours. Looking up, you could even still feel the location of its body like some sort of extension to yourself. And touching it, you could sense dad as well. Where he was standing inside the house, the fear, excitement and determination radiating from him. After a few moment you think you could make out something very faint about power testing, but the feeling was incredibly vague. Too faint to be certain. You couldn't make out anything more.
Not right now. Maybe if you were closer.
Wait. How did you know that? Until five minutes ago you were thinking Dad was burying himself in more guilt and wondering whether he noticed you at all. And there were walls between you and him. How could you possibly know exactly where he was? How could you know where there were more or fewer people all around you?
The movement of violet tendrils on your arm made you look down.
Oh. You could feel what it was thinking too, even if its thoughts were very simple, you could feel it. The way it was reacting to your need to know and relaying information to you through touch. Following unspoken orders as if it were the most natural thing. Calm. You felt calm and comfortable, affection for you and some curiosity. You felt what you knew the mask creature was feeling. Brushing your finger over the Mask again, you felt the tingle of being touched as well as the smooth, rigid surface of the Mask itself.
It was one of the strangest experiences you'd ever had.
Not uncomfortable, but still very weird. It was hard to look away from it. You remembered your need to understand, your desperation and now…. Now you could. Or it could and relay the thought to you at any rate.
And if anyone ever found out, you had no idea what they would do. This… mask creature – which was entirely too unwieldy to say – was too obvious. It was more than the size of your head, even if it was light and might barely fit into your backpack, if anyone found it would they let you keep it? It was a part of you, it had cute big eyes and it loved you, but it also looked a bit like some supervillain's pet.
You could hear the faint noises of a car. Your dad was still on the phone, where you had left him, but the car… if it came down this road…
You were desperately trying to pry the tendrils off your arms, willing the need to stay secret. The need not to be found into the creature. It had to understand. It understood you so well. So why? Why couldn't it just let go, go behind your back, withdraw its tendrils…
Oh. You blinked again. You could still feel it, it was still holding you, but something must be wrong with your eyes, because you definitely couldn't see it anymore. You could even feel the way it had shifted its state of mind into something a little more withdrawn.
… If you weren't already sitting, you would have sat down just about now. Apparently your Mask creature could become invisible. With your hands relaxing it even released its grip on you, moving around as if… you weren't even surprised to learn it could float too. Or levitate, as mom would call it, even if it apparently couldn't do so any faster than you could walk it was definitely floating. It wrapped its tail around your arm and left you to stare at the car going past and more importantly, it left you to think.
You were a cape. A CAPE!
With the power of a strange Mask creature that allowed you to perceive people's emotions if they were close enough. How were you ever going to become a hero with that? You had a new friend, someone who cared about you, who would never abandon you and who you still had to name, but you were still just Taylor. You couldn't fly. You couldn't even levitate. You had absolutely no idea how any part of being a Cape worked at all.
And Emma was still missing.
You looked over to your new friend or pet, you weren't sure, and it was difficult to come up with anything related to telepathy that didn't scream 'villain'. Not to mention its appearance, but it needed a name and you were thinking:
[ ] Write in (points will be given for this one)
[X] Aletheia
You also need to decide what to do now. Do you:
[ ] Try to find Emma, following the way she should have taken home
[ ] Try to find Emma in a different way?
Write in:
[X] Try to find Emma, following the way she should have taken home
-[X] While using the mask ability. If it sensed dad, it should be capable to warn you about anyone around?
[ ] Do research. Try to find out more about Capes and how powers work
[ ] Your dad. Why is he so excited? Did you really hear 'Power testing?'
Points: 7 (+ 5 Comment by Assembler, + 1 guess by Shaseyu)
These can be acquired with omakes, posts in the thread I find amusing, art, helping me out, etc. and can be used to reveal details or get boons. One point per detail revealed, boon cost variable. You may trade one point for 25 exp.
[ ] Spend points (How)
Research:
- How do powers work? (a steady research options and more topics will appear once you have a little more free time)
Training: (locked)
Masks:
?
Understanding?
5/100 exp
short range telepathy, touch telepathy, invisibility, slow levitation
I'm hoping there will be one picture per post but can't make any promises yet. We'll see.
Last edited:
[X] Aletheia
Greek spirit of truth and sincerity. I like it better than her Roman counterpart 'Veritas'.
Also, that's a nice picture! Although I totally thought she was supposed to put the mask on at first, and was a little disturbed when tentacles started growing out of it.
[X] Your dad. Why is he so excited? Did you really hear 'Power testing?'
Greek spirit of truth and sincerity. I like it better than her Roman counterpart 'Veritas'.
Also, that's a nice picture! Although I totally thought she was supposed to put the mask on at first, and was a little disturbed when tentacles started growing out of it
.[X] Your dad. Why is he so excited? Did you really hear 'Power testing?'
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