@Bitterman I've noticed that when you click on the Informational when clicking on the thread it doesn't show you the Character/Organisation sheet, despite it being still there and accessible when you click the back and forth buttons or the "full view" of the Informational.
It seems there's a typo there: it says Justice Unlimited does not have sufficient Rep to do the missions even though only Take a Shower requires Rep and that Rep is of 1 while Justice Unlimited has 2.
@Bitterman I've noticed that when you click on the Informational when clicking on the thread it doesn't show you the Character/Organisation sheet, despite it being still there and accessible when you click the back and forth buttons or the "full view" of the Informational.
It seems there's a typo there: it says Justice Unlimited does not have sufficient Rep to do the missions even though only Take a Shower requires Rep and that Rep is of 1 while Justice Unlimited has 2.
I think it should be -4: we got a +1 to Rep during Concordat.
Based on the fact that 2/3rds of their roster was said to be alive thanks to Wolong's ploy, I'd say they had 20+ members.
Also, I've been wondering. Are the random rewards from the Events (Lost Lenore, You're not My Dad) decided when the mission is first made by the QM, or right before they get written ?
@Bitterman I've noticed that when you click on the Informational when clicking on the thread it doesn't show you the Character/Organisation sheet, despite it being still there and accessible when you click the back and forth buttons or the "full view" of the Informational.
This sounds like an SV issue rather than an issue on the QM's end. I also noticed the same thing. It's pretty minimal thankfully since it's on the 1st page.
Also, I've been wondering. Are the random rewards from the Events (Lost Lenore, You're not My Dad) decided when the mission is first made by the QM, or right before they get written ?
It would be funny if we got DNA profiles from Scarlet Maturity and a new pet for Maddie from Chatelet's audit.
I keep wondering if we're ever going to get the solution to the Rebound. Maybe it's in Nora's Lab.
And about the Petit Prince… I feel like he's the only Wonderland inmate to have gotten his powers enhanced, which feels odd. But we haven't seen that many of the rest.
The large behemoth roared, its iron scales shining in the setting sun's rays as it charged forward, madness in its eyes.
A dodge to the left, its left side left open.
A jab from a blade, a sword, crafted from sharped bone and blackened leather, sinked deep into flesh, parting scales that should have blocked such an attack.
The creature is stunned, the pain, it's unused to it. So confident in its survival, its green eyes widen in shock as it attempts to scurry away, away from the pain as it obey's instinct over the budding mind within.
Let it get distance, give time for another weapon to be drawn out.
The beast jumps back, its legs a mockery of reptiles and a kangaroo, its acceleration once great now nothing more than a tumble.
Arm to one's back, gripping a handle.
It's moving erratically, it wasn't like this before.
It must really not be used to pain.
Handle pulled, a large weight dragged along with it.
A hammer, made with hardened stone sourced from a beast composed of it, a perfect substance to bring out destruction with only a motion.
It had no special traits, a disappointment compared to weapons of the past.
It's still useful, and as this beast, its front legs ended with sharpened claws where digits should be, struggled to remove the foreign object within its side, the fear and pain turning a predator to prey, it will be more than enough for the job.
Leg muscles tense as motion occurs, the large hammer readed, brought high as distance is traveled faster and faster-
The beast noticed.
Good, this was getting pathetic.
It's in slow motion now, the micro motions of the monster's expression, the tenseness of its body as it tries to will itself to move.
The hammer continues forward, charing forth within the grapes of its wielder.
No backing off, full comitance, force out the desire in this freak to survive, to live, to escape and kill and eat.
Let the abomination to the natural order experience life in a way it has never before. A genuine, most honest way.
It will make the weapon crafted from its flesh all the more enduring when the hunt is done.
As seconds tick by, a metric needed as speed becomes the only factor in this dance, hammer over head, wielder in range, the beast readying to dodge out of the way, its body almost there but the question induced in the air begging to be answered.
Will It Dodge?
Hammer aimed for the neck, blunt force to ignore the hard scales and instead shatter the spine. The scales will defuse some of the impact, so more strength than estimated is needed.
There is more strength to give, as hands grip around the handle and leverage is applied, a force multiplier as the hammer begins its arc from behind a hunter's head and down upon a beast's.
The beast is tense, its breathing ragged, fear causing shaking, heart beating faster, all explained not by experience but from its eyes meeting another's.
In eight three percent of a second it will move.
It will move and the hammer will miss the target, instead impacting the lower back or nothing. Higher chance of striking the lower back, would damage the spine but would not kill.
Would not be a satisfying display of skill.
The hammer will reach impact in one second and 12 percent of another. A twenty nine percent difference.
In this single moment, where speed is all that will determine the outcome of this battle, if it shall continue or the hunt shall end, only able to be expressed within seconds…
A hunter started to exhale, yet the range of time made the action meaningless.
Muscles within the monster's legs bunched to their limit.
Hands around the pole of the hammer tensed.
Tendons began to expand, beginning the process of releasing enough force to make the hunter's attack miss their target, extending this dance of life and death onwards past the time of the setting sun.
A hammer head is brought down.
It makes contact.
An impact is dispersed through skin and muscle and bone, enough to drive like a nail downward, deeper until it has crashed through the important skeletal cable that kept the monster's body functional.
Muscles sag, eyes widen in pain, a body drops.
The hunter looks their prey in the eye and smiles.
-----
It took you some time, because of course it did.
Your head fucking hurts like you drank a pack of beer and crashed into a hard concrete floor then got kicked several times right in your forehead before you were lightly slapped awake.
It was aggressively slapped awake a few minutes ago, so at least it's fading.
And your body?
Oh oh OH! After you dragged this motherfucker into the bed of your truck it was just begging to be murdered in a back alley with a gatling gun as it hanged itself like that would help it escape the pain.
Of course you don't allow such mutiny on this ship, so all of that was denied and instead you drugged it up with five pills of Ibuprofen, ate a granola bar, drank some water, jumped out because of course you fucking forgot to tie down the beasty in the back of your truck, tied it up, got back in the truck, and FINALLY LEFT.
Gosh how long did you fight this guy? Maybe an hour or two? You didn't keep track and by god was it really even a fight? Most of that time spent was wearing the damn thing down so you could actually hit it, and you're sure when you're home you're gonna need to change these bandages over the countless scratches the bastard left you with.
Not to mention the tracking- do you know how-
Your hands tilted the steering wheel, avoiding the large rock that you were heading straight for before you went back towards the general direction you're trying to go to… hopefully.
The dampness of the ground as you drove on undeveloped and unclaimed land, away from the elder god or whoever the fuck is sleeping at one edge of Horizon towards actual civilization kept your focus for a bit, as you tiredly but with trained focus gazed out into the landscape beyond, making sure nothing was about to attack you from afar.
Oh and none of that 'Goldnine' shit.
Last time you encountered the shit you almost lost a leg, last time you're going that deep into the Quarantine Zone until you have much more gear.
Once you made sure nothing was, at least to your best ability to tell… what were you-
RIGHT! THE FUCKING TRACKING!
How the fuck do you think this went, oh imaginary vent buddy that may be a sign my sanity is in fucking piece!?
Three hours, hauling my ass as this super sonic wannabe of a reject velociraptor for jurassic museum- a movie you haven't even fucking seen mind you!- just decided at random moments, because you know for a fact it never saw you- NEVEEEERR- to just… speed.
For the fun of it.
Just go zoom and leave your ass to chase it down and JUST-
You breathed out.
"Hast I really require to waste my time bickering with my heart over this matter? Nay, how wouldst Master think of me if I let such a harrowing hunt, one I have conquered and triumphed through, plague me so?"
Master, when will you come for me?
When will we reunite?
Must have we parted ways?
You breathe again, knowing the answers already, but yet your mind always asks those questions all the same.
As this old, dirty vehicle charged forth like a steed in the many a tales regarded to you by your master, back towards your workshop where you shall make this troublesome little bastard in the back of the truck into a fine armor, you recite the words your dearest Master spoke to you on the day of her departure.
"'We will meet once again, like we have met before, when you come of age when this tale repeats once again. Now off I go, to await the day you meet that fated beast once again.'"
-----
Name: The Fated Knight, Harvard Sol Keywords?: Unknown Tolerance?: Unknown Stats: HIT 10, ESPIONAGE 1, REPUTATION 1, OPERATIONS 6 Chaucer's notes: I don't have much about them, but they seem to be new in Horizon. We at least have some records of his activities in the city though. He seems to be focused on taking down behemoths within the quarantine zone, and from what we can gather, uses them to create weapons and armor. The means he does this is unknown however, nothing really telling if it's a power or if he;s simply skilled at it. It's surprising that he hasn't been taken in by a corp, but it could happen soon. Maybe picking this new Hero would be a good investment?
Abilities: A Hunter's Mark Keep your focus, keep your wits. A hunter must know that the line between predator and prey is only the width of paper. You must become part of the world, a force of nature, if you wish to survive.
At the beginning of a combat scene, an enemy combatant may be declared. This enemy will be Marked by Harvard, and will be the only enemy they will attack for the encounter, and will not stop until their Mark is deceased. They will also get advantage in any defensive checks from anything other than their Mark. If they deal the majority of the damage to the Marked Target, and it is possible, they will use the Target to create a new set of gear.
A Hunter's Armory To be a Hunter is to seek to always evolve. To evolve your body, your mind, your scales and claws. I will make sure of the first two, but it is up to you to forge the evolutions of your tools.
Harvard has various weapons and armors he employs, forged from enemies conquered. He may only wield two weapons and one armor at a time currently, and cannot change them during a scene.
-Worn Marrow Sword
A blade that Harvard created during the time he spent under his Master's guidance. Even after all this time, it has still proven to be a useful tool for the hunt, able to pierce through defenses one would think a bone blade like it could never puncture.
-Living Rock Hammer
A hammer made out of a behemoth composed of living rock and a tree bred to withstand the forces its head can produce, capable of shattering through walls and crippling opponents with a single swing.
-Iron Scale Armor
A recent addition to Harvard's armory, an armor made from a behemoth capable of moving at great speeds and bore a hide of iron like scales. It greatly increases Harvard's resistance to slashing and piercing damage and shines wonderfully in the sun.
-The Inherited Blade When the Fated Beast arrives, you shall know, and when that time comes you shall draw that sword. There is no escape, there is no different outcome. It shall be as it has always been.
Can only be drawn when the Fated Beast arrives.
Realm's Note:
This man has been brewing in my head for a while as a sort of "Build a hero" kind of deal. Someone who can be modified to meet the coming challenges but those options only unlock after beating certain foes. I think it would make for an interesting mechanic for this quest.
Also the personality of being someone to internally be a sailor while on the outside be a knight is just really funny to me.
Not sure if I should talk about my ideas for the character further though. I have ideas yeah but they might not click with this setting so I'll leave only the bits sprinkled in as is.
Oh I will say I do want him to have the mystery of the Master and if weapon crafting is a power or not, so I added in a bit of unknowns to his character sheet.
A young girl and boy paced along the Worker's Mitt street, chatting away while keeping eyes out for any trouble.
"Couldn't you say you're Menagerie Witch? The new Justice girl?"
"She wears green and she has armor and stuff. Can't help me."
The girl who spoke wore all black, plain clothing and a tattered, floppy witch's hat.
"It's not even that I can't buy a new costume," she complained. "It's that I know what they'll all be, I won't fit and they'll give me weird looks."
"At least you get to go to school," the boy replied wearily.
"Man, you know I'll never make it into high school, this is just 'cause Mom knows a principal here. I'll be working right by you next year."
"Fair enough," though bitterness still dwelt in his voice.
The two reached the school's gate, where a guard eyed them angrily. The girl hastily showed her ID card and waved goodbye to the boy. She walked inside, trying in vain to keep the hat's brim from drooping down, and went to her class.
"Oh, here's Ellen," the teacher chirped, "dressed as... a witch!" She had enough tact not to add 'for the fourth year running'.
The classmates turned to look at Ellen with predictable pity. She met their eyes and noted their costumes. As she had guessed, the lineup was clear:
8 Valiant Silvers, 3 Uiaras, 4 Black Swans, 6 Valiant Red White & Blues, 2 Scarlet Maturities, 2 Handymen, 1 Lightstep, 1 Arc, 1 Multiplex, 1 Gentleman James... and herself, 1 witch.
Hit 10 is really really high. For reference, that was what Black Swan had before the fight with Scarlet Maturity, and this caused Lady Leizi to call her one of the strongest metahumans in the world.
6 whole Stockpiles ? UNACCEPTABLE.
Also surprised to see so many Handymans. He has Rep 2, I'm pretty sure most of the public has never even heard of him.
Someone who can be modified to meet the coming challenges but those options only unlock after beating certain foes. I think it would make for an interesting mechanic for this quest.
Interesting . . . the mechanics might need tweaking, but it's definitely a solid idea. And I will be playing a DIGUSTING amount of the MH Wilds demo tonight. +1!
Hit 10 is really really high. For reference, that was what Black Swan had before the fight with Scarlet Maturity, and this caused Lady Leizi to call her one of the strongest metahumans in the world.
I know, and Bitter has full range if they use this character or is inspired by them to change it up. My idea though was less world building and more game design. To have a unit you can get that's really just a fighter. Yes they accel in combat and is that you should do with them, throw them at anything else and they will flop like a fish.
And yes... kinda. Those are more "You chose those powers and their locked in", where this heroes main concept is, like you would do in Monster Hunter, change your loadout for each hunt. Someone who may never reach the ability of other characters, but can fill in well enough. Also Monster Hunter did I explain Monster Hunter?
Interesting . . . the mechanics might need tweaking, but it's definitely a solid idea. And I will be playing a DIGUSTING amount of the MH Wilds demo tonight. +1!
For some reason I keep thinking, that's R-train sound like this. View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YJuNdaXjck
Something like a big old grandpa with all his grandkids. Even if they are not humen at all.
And yes... kinda. Those are more "You chose those powers and their locked in", where this heroes main concept is, like you would do in Monster Hunter, change your loadout for each hunt. Someone who may never reach the ability of other characters, but can fill in well enough. Also Monster Hunter did I explain Monster Hunter?
The discussions regarding Mona's immortality inspired me to do a thing. Enjoy.
Tw: mention of suicide
Ten Thousand Years Later
18 July, 12476
Somewhere near V762 Cas
She floated in the middle of the void, her lightform in the shape of wings. She wasn't human, but her wings were beautiful, feathery lights dancing around a black hole, unattached to any body.
Black Swan, hero of a million battles, explorer of a hundred galaxies, had reached the apex of her existence centuries ago.
It was funny. The Mona of long ago had loved heroes, looked up to them, and one day she woke up and Lady Leizi was gone, and there was no greater hero than her, nor would there ever be.
The members of Justice Unlimited, not the original ones, the ones from so long ago, forgotten by all but a few, but the ones that had been her team at the very beginning, the ones she had defeated the Philosophers with, had all died one by one.
Medical technology nowadays granted you virtual immortality, but it hadn't been the case back then. They had lasted for centuries (so many adventures together, so much fun) but one day, even Rhys was gone.
She was glad she and Ellie had managed to go and see her namesake together, her black hair turned white with age.
And she had led Justice Unlimited since then, through coups and civil wars and first contact and empires falling and humanity changing again and again.
And she had found new friendships, and found new loves, again and again and again.
All things decayed, except her.
…
God, she was getting overdramatic.
She wasn't the only immortal in the world. Project Prometheus had given eternal life to many: none from the first days, but Shatterpoint had only been given their powers two years after she joined.
And there was the R-Train, and other, more fleeting existences.
But still, sometimes it hurt. It felt like Mona had never been there, as if there had only ever been Black Swan, the mighty hero that had been alive ever since mankind had been confined to Earth.
And through her dreams, through the time-bending powers of the Stage, she could see her friends's ghosts, shades of them flitting through the afterlife. It made her long to see them again.
But she was Black Swan. Power nullification technology had been refined and perfected over millennia, but would she truly wish to die, ample measures would have to be taken, lest the black hole within her be set free.
And every time she thought about going, took preparations, it took too long, and she changed her mind.
But more often than not, she kept getting distracted. By the smell of a new food, the sound of a new song, the smile of a new friend.
By the ever-changing universe, far greater than she would ever be.
So not now.
There are still things to do, still things to see…
6 whole Stockpiles ? UNACCEPTABLE.
Also surprised to see so many Handymans. He has Rep 2, I'm pretty sure most of the public has never even heard of him.
Ptobably why there's two. Both kids tried to go for someone who is around, part of a big name team, but isn't well known nor embarassing like Earthen Owl in hopes they'd have a unique costume.
Ah, well I was again thinking about game design there- if he made his own weapons he would have to have good operations. I think to balance it either drop the 10 to an 8 and the Operations to a 5? It's a rough draft- I trust Bitter to balance it how they wish if they use it.
Also good Omake! A bit short but it explores the concept of a prolonged existence like Mona's very well.
Jump at us and squish us a la mario. Use his tongue as a whip, just jump on us and basically body tackle us. If SM kept his powers aa a toad he would still be a dangerous threat.
