[X] [Deal] Goodman Corporation helps Hooded Treats sort out the paperwork behind their new venture into bed and breakfast.
Gain +1 Profits with potential for more based on how well the new business venture of Hooded Treats does.
[X] [Mask] Let Nasira use the Marble Mask.
"Here it is," you say as you lead Nasira to secure room where you keep the Marble Mask safe under layers of automatic security, you in your power armour while she wears a normal suit, "I haven't touched it yet. I haven't had time to investigate it yet and I am not using it without having some idea of how it works. Are you sure you want to use it?"
"Yes," answers Nasira firmly as she stares at the Marble Mask with is odd design, "So I just put it on and make my wish?"
"That is what the instructions said," you confirm, "I haven't been able to confirm that for certain of course. Your stated desire will be fulfilled though you will not have any control over the process that it takes. What exactly do you have in mind?"
"Dragon powers," replies Nasira as she walks towards the Marble Mask, "We have firmly left the realm of the mundane and I don't want to fall behind. The superhuman is no longer a rarity anymore and I suspect it has been for a few years now."
"If that is what you want," you say carefully as Nasira picks up the Marble Mask from its resting place, "Be careful."
"Of course," says Nasira as she places the Marble Mask on her face, "I wish that I had dragon powers."
What is going on?
Learning Check, DC100: 47+32+20+5 = 104, Success.
It isn't quite a flash of light, but there sort of is as the flash of magic manifested itself as a sort of white-tinged rainbow light. Sort of. Magic is hard to describe or understand especially when powerful magic must be experienced to properly comprehend it. If it wasn't for the recent effort you put into understanding magic, you doubt you would have noticed the magic of the Marble Mask, even with Moira's magical knowledge. Fortunately for you, you did and now you get to see the Marble Mask do its magic.
Grasp the Details?
Learning Check, DC100/150: 94+32+20+5 = 151, Success.
And you are able to grasp how it works, at least in this instance. Nasira wished for dragon powers so the Marble Mask grabs some dragon magic, something you can identify as such thanks to your magical knowledge. It weaves the dragon magic into Nasira's form, integrating her being with the dragon magic even as the 'magic' is discarded. An effect of her asking for dragon powers rather than dragon magic perhaps? Regardless, all of the actual magic is removed from the dragon magic as it becomes one with Nasira, leaving just the dragon part in your best friend. Well, not entirely as a bit of magic remains, perhaps a side effect of dragons being inherent magical? Actually, are dragons inherently magical? You wouldn't be surprised if they were, but you don't actually know either way.
Despite whatever the answer might be to that question, the Marble Mask has done its job and Nasira is, well, she is still Nasira, but she has something more to her. She has more power to her form as she takes off the Marble Mask, including physical changes. While she was always decently muscled, Nasira's physique now matches Joan's and you wonder what that means for how strong she is now compared to Joan. Does similarly sized muscles indicate being similarly strong or is their strength unrelated to their muscle size and Nasira's increase is just representative of being stronger than she previously was.
More annoyingly, that isn't the only way in which Nasira's figure has become more like your wife's. While Nasira had some femininity to her figure, she was never exactly curvy. Now that has changed as while Joan is certainly sill the more voluptuous of the two, Nasira is currently closer to your wife than she is to her old figure. Something which is going to be a pain for you to deal with as you are going to change all of your old records and security footage. And that isn't even considering records outside of your reach and the memories of other people. You can't do anything about the former, but the latter can be dealt with to a degree by hiding Nasira away for a bit so change blindness can hopefully kick in. You will almost certainly be paying for her new wardrobe and other things that will need to be adjusted, but money is trivial concern for you-oh, her power armour.
You are going to need to adjust her power armour to fit her new measurements, especially since you think Nasira has also gained a couple of inches.
Of course, that is only the physical changes that you can physically and certainly not the full extent of Nasira's new powers as you are confident she has some actual superpowers now, just as she desired. But that needs to wait for now.
"Nasira, are you okay?" you say, taking a step closer, but keeping your distance in case she really isn't.
"Yeah, I am," replies Nasira with a confident grin, her canines now fangs, "Good Lords, I have never felt better."
"Great," you say, letting the relief enter your voice, "Do you need any help?"
"Nah," answers Nasira as she begins to float above the ground, "What I need to do is get to a training room! You got a private gym rated for superpowers right?"
"Had it built for Joan and it is basically hers," you confirm, "I doubt she will mind you using it and I can speak with her about it when I talk with her about all of this."
***
"How is Nasira settling in?" inquires Joan as the two of you settle down for watching a documentary together, cuddling up against each other.
Or more accurate, Joan is cuddling up against you and is either borderline hugging you or using you as some sort of pillow. One of the two, but you aren't versed enough in this sort of interaction to recognise which one it is and you don't care enough to figure it out. Of the two of you, Joan has always been the more affectionate one.
"Nasira is going to be somewhat unavailable for the next couple of months," you answer, "Personally, she is fine, but she needs time to lay low if she doesn't want people to catch onto her changes."
"What about her family?" asks Joan, "Surely they will notice that she is that different."
"Nasira is an orphan like me," you say, "She doesn't have family, at least none that she isn't estranged from. She has some distant relatives in the Middle East or Asia, but they disowned her. She has me, her other friends and her community, but I'm the only one she is close to."
"Oh, sounds quite sad," says Joan, "Is there anything I can do?"
"Be a friend in the know," you answer promptly, "Our line of work means that Nasira has few people who truly knows who she is and what she gets up to, friends who she doesn't have to hide major parts of herself from."
"I see," says Joan and you can hear the frown in her voice, "I will see what I can do. I can't say that I approve of anything she gets up or what you get up to for that matter, but it isn't like there is anything I can do about that."
"No, there is not," you agree before giving Joan a look when she gives you a light slap on the leg, "What was that for?"
"You know what it was for," mutters Joan, "Back to Nasira, what are her powers and do I get to take a swing at her?"
"I am sure she would be happy to spar with you even if she still isn't within your league," you tell her, "As for her powers, what we have identified so far is flight, superhuman toughness, the ability to breathe fire and alongside being able to turn her teeth into fangs and her nails into claws. Nasira also has enhanced strength though it isn't quite superhuman and her eyesight is also better than what it used to be, maybe her hearing and smelling too. She might have a better healing factor, but we haven't been able to test that yet and what we have seen could be explained away as better stamina due to her new level of toughness."
"Sounds like a tough customer," says Joan with a grin, "And given it is Nasira, I know she knows how to fight. You should watch you know. I bet you would love to see me all sweaty in sporting gear."
"Unlikely," you retort with a roll of your eyes, "Matters with Nasira aside, we ought to get on with watching this documentary if we are going to get around to that tonight. Both of us do have busy nights."
"True," agrees Joan, "But one last thing, you know how you let Nasira use the Marble Mask and it turned out fine? Well, I want to use it next."
"I will think about it," is your response.
***
"Diamond Knight is moving into your turf," says Joan, still wearing her Sentinel costume as she strides into your office at home, "This is the fifth time that I have fought this guys over the last couple of weeks."
"I've noticed," you reply without looking up from your work, "I suspect he has decided to move in to take advantage of the weaken state of organised crime in the country. Diamond has always desired to expand his 'Dominion' and honestly, I'm surprised it has taken him this long to take advantage of my actions."
"You got a plan then to deal with him?" inquires Joan, "Preferably one without villainous actions such as murdering the competition?"
"Diamond Knight is not the sort of guy who just have killed," you say, "That isn't to say that he is unkillable, but you have to put the effort in. Frankly, if I want to kick him out of my territory, there are easier ways to do so than murdering my way through him and his leadership."
"Well, if you got non-villainous ways of getting the job done, I will be happy to help out."
***
Use Plan Voting.
Your best friend/Nasira Yusuf/White Dragon
[] [Nasira] Let Nasira handle her own affairs.
[] [Nasira] Have Nasira focus on getting a handle on her new powers.
Easy, Mixture.
[] [Nasira] Have the White Dragon strike at Diamond Knight's advances into Hampshire.
Easy to Medium, Martial & Intrigue.
[] [Nasira] Have the White Dragon strike at Diamond Knight's operations in Dorset.
Easy to Hard, Martial & Intrigue.
[] [Nasira] Send Nasira to go looking for potential new recruits.
Easy, Diplomacy, Stewardship & Intrigue.
[] [Nasira] Put Nasira in charge of building up your fledgling criminal syndicate.
Easy to Medium, Intrigue.
[] [Nasira] Attempt to teach Nasira some of your tricks.
Easy to Hard, Mixture.
Your wife, Joan Goodman/The Sentinel
[] [Joan] Leave Joan up to her own devices.
[] [Joan] Have the Sentinel to start hitting Diamond Knight's advances into Hampshire.
Easy to Medium, Martial & Intrigue.
[] [Joan] Begin to teach Joan the basics behind magic.
Easy, Learning.
[] [Joan] Attempt to teach Joan how to run a business.
Medium to Hard, Mixture.
[] [Joan] Try to teach Joan some of your tricks.
Easy to Hard, Mixture.
[] [Joan] Have the Sentinel spy on the Diamond Knight's operations and advances.
Easy to Hard, Intrigue.
The Marble Mask
[] [MM] Use the Marble Mask yourself.
-[] [MM] Write-in your wish.
[] [MM] Let Nasira use the Marble Mask.
[] [MM] Let Joan use the Marble Mask.
[] [MM] Have no one use the Marble Mask.
You can choose up to Six Actions.
Diamond Knight is attempting to muscle in on the criminal underworld of Hampshire, which is currently firmly under your control.
[] Strengthen your criminal syndicate so they will be better able to deal with Diamond Knight's incursions.
Easy to Medium, Intrigue.
[] Counter Diamond Knight's advances into your turf.
Easy to Medium, Martial & Intrigue.
[] Strike back at Diamond Knight's operations in his own turf.
Easy to Hard, Martial & Intrigue.
[] Suborn the Hampshire Constabulary so you have them on your side.
Easy to Medium, Intrigue.
[] Attempt to eliminate the lesser leadership of the Diamond Dominion.
Easy to Hard, Martial & Intrigue.
[] Spy on Diamond Knight and his operations.
Easy to Hard, Intrigue.
Self-Improvement
[] Attempt to find a source of spells to learn.
Easy to Hard, Mixture.
[] Attempt to invent your own spells.
Hard, Learning.
[] Make some upgrades to your power armour.
Easy, Learning.
[] Find someone to give you some combat instruction.
Easy, Martial & Learning.
[] Expand your knowledge of how to run a business.
Medium, Stewardship & Learning.
The Warlord of Winchester
[] Hire some more trustworthy help.
Medium, Diplomacy & Intrigue.
[] Scout out the upcoming talent.
Easy to Hard, Intrigue.
[] Keep an eye on newcomer vigilantes.
Easy to Hard, Intrigue.
[] Bribe the local politicians.
Easy to Medium, Diplomacy & Intrigue.
[] Look for potential jobs to pull off.
Easy to Medium, Stewardship & Intrigue.
[] Spy on Moira Lyn and Lyn Corporation.
Easy to Medium, Intrigue.
[] Investigate ways to deal with the Fair Folk and magic in general.
Easy to Hard, Learning.
The CEO of Goodman Corporation
[] Expand your healthcare division.
Easy, Stewardship.
[] Found an IT division.
Easy, Stewardship.
[] Increase your influence and reputation.
Easy, Diplomacy.
[] Seek out new business partners.
Easy, Diplomacy.
[] Expand and refine your current practices.
Easy, Stewardship.
[] Hire new talent for your payrolls.
Easy, Stewardship.
Research Projects
[] Study the Marble Mask.
Easy, Learning.
[] Try to mass produce power armour.
Medium, Learning.
[] Begin development of laser weaponry,
Medium, Learning.
[] Do research into AI.
Medium, Learning.
[] Do research into Robotics.
Medium, Learning.
[] Do research into Genetics.
Medium, Learning.
[] Make better electric cars.
Easy, Learning.
[] Do further research into solar power.
Medium, Learning.
[] Begin to develop more effective hovercraft.
Medium, Learning.
[] Begin research into space travel.
Medium, Learning.
***
And here is the new format I am going to be using. Hopefully it will work better than the old one for me. In regards to the update itself, Nasira has wished up some superpowers for herself while you got Diamond Knight begin to move into your turf. The latter was always going to happen since you cleared out the old organised crime groups and frankly, I'm surprised it took this long to happen (I was doing background rolls for it). Otherwise not much beyond the new voting format.
Please point out any spelling or grammar mistakes that you spot. Please quote them in the thread and explain what you think is wrong so I know what you are referring to. Feel to ask questions for more details and information.
