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Time loop or precognition, does it realy matter? (An alternate Power Worm Quest) (Hiatus)

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[X] [Danny] Yes (What?)
-[X] Prove to him that you will be safe. Be more blatant that we do, indeed, know everything that will happen to us without intervention. Use it to watch TV and predict what talking heads will say on the news or something similar. It doesn't have to trip some danger sense.
[X] [Patrol] Boardwalk
[X] [Power] Yes
-[X] Erase container 2
 
Adhoc vote count started by Kaiedi on Apr 9, 2024 at 2:06 PM, finished with 1 posts and 1 votes.
  • [X] [Danny] Yes (What?)
    -[X] Prove to him that you will be safe. Be more blatant that we do, indeed, know everything that will happen to us without intervention. Use it to watch TV and predict what talking heads will say on the news or something similar. It doesn't have to trip some danger sense.
    [X] [Patrol] Boardwalk
    [X] [Power] Yes
    -[X] Erase container 2
Click to expand...
 
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21. And back again
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] [Danny] Yes (What?)
    -[X] Prove to him that you will be safe. Be more blatant that we do, indeed, know everything that will happen to us without intervention. Use it to watch TV and predict what talking heads will say on the news or something similar. It doesn't have to trip some danger sense.
    [X] [Patrol] Boardwalk
    [X] [Power] Yes
    -[X] Erase container 2


    You've decided to adapt your conversation with Danny if you have to repeat it to empty your third container. To show him that you are absolutely safe, you spend the rest of Friday evening gathering information. Mostly from the television, but you also spend half an hour noticing which cars drive past the kitchen window. These practical examples of your precognition impress Danny and confirm your claim that you can also foresee danger and are therefore perfectly safe.

    Before leaving with Dinah on Saturday to patrol the Boardwalk, you realise that an empty container is not enough to use your powers effectively. You decide to repeat an old experiment and try to empty a container without travelling back for the second time since you got your powers. But despite your best efforts, you fail again. The most careful interaction with the container activates it and you find yourself back in the corridor of the hospital, over a week in the past. As this is the first time you have travelled back to this point in time, the dizziness and headache are limited and you only let out a low groan of annoyance.
    You collect yourself and decide to make the best of the situation. Perhaps you can make some small changes to your actions to improve your situation on Saturday. If you try to reach the same point in the future.


    What will you do?
    [ ] Try to achieve the same result that you have just left. If you can't simply erase a container, it has to happen the long way round.
    [ ] Change small things. Try to end up in a similar situation. (What are you changing?)
    [ ] Take the opportunity. Nobody is demanding that you talk to Dinah again.
    [ ] Write-In


    Container 1: 04.01.2011 Hospital (2nd run, Panik Attack)
    Container 2: Empty
    Container 3: Empty
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Well darn, I was hoping we'd be able to simply erase a slot, but if we have to let's see if things change without us attempting to change anything.

    [X] Try to achieve the same result that you have just left. If you can't simply erase a container, it has to happen the long way round.
     
    Adhoc vote count started by Kaiedi on Apr 10, 2024 at 11:39 AM, finished with 1 posts and 1 votes.
    • [X] Try to achieve the same result that you have just left. If you can't simply erase a container, it has to happen the long way round.
    Click to expand...
     
    22. Everything as before
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Try to achieve the same result that you have just left. If you can't simply erase a container, it has to happen the long way round.


    You wait for the young man to pass you before you turn around and knock on the girl's door. A faint voice invites you in.
    Your conversation with Dinah is almost identical to the first time. You don't manage to have exactly the same reactions to the event as you did the first time, it's harder than you think to be surprised by something you know is going to happen. But the result remains the same, Dinah learns more about her powers and you part on good terms.
    The time between your release from the hospital and the start of the patrol with Dinah on Saturday passes slowly. You can remember everything that happened, repeat your actions so well that everything is repeated almost word for word, hour after hour. You already know what you need for your costume, where to get it and when. Your conversation with Danny is no more exciting than watching paint dry.
    When it's finally Saturday and you've persuaded Dinah to team up with you and go on patrol, you notice your left eyelid starting to twitch. If the patrol doesn't provide at least a little excitement, you're going to start screaming. The last time you were this tense was before your trigger event last year.

    You activate your hard-earned 2nd container before letting Danny know you're heading to the boardwalk. It's early evening when you get there, and you throw yourself into your costume in a side alley. Moments later, insects swarm down from above, glowing yellow eyes staring at you. The sounds of thousands of insects coordinate and you hear a rasping voice. "This is my first patrol, how do we start?" "It's best if you spread out as far as possible and let me know if you see anything suspicious. Meanwhile, I'll move down the alleys along the boardwalk." Dinah nods and begins to disperse, until the last thing to disappear are two disembodied eyes.

    A few uneventful hours pass before you hear the sound of breaking glass. You hurry in the direction of the sound as Dinah rejoins you. "A woman dressed in orange is breaking into a jewellery store. She's wearing a mask and carrying a large bag with a dollar symbol embroidered on it. Do you think it's a parahuman?" you can make out over the cacophony of insects. You think for a moment, then nod. "Sounds like Circus." You activate your third container.


    Your first fight. What are you doing?
    [ ] Stay in the background. Dinah can do it. Not again. You need action and excitement. Charge Circus and use your pepper spray.
    [ ] Monitor the situation and call the PRT ENE. Always wait, observe, report. Enough is enough. Throw yourself into the fight. Improvise.
    [ ] Write-In (Your shard urges you to conflict. All plans that do not involve a direct conflict are automatically vetoed.)


    Container 1: 04.01.2011 Hospital (2nd run, Panik Attack)
    Container 2: 15.01.2011 Home
    Container 3: 15.01.2011 One minute before conflict


    Note:
    Does anyone have a better suggestion for the name for the quest? I have the feeling that "I really am a parahuman" doesn't really fit.

    I also think it's great that thewhiteraven22 is voting so diligently, but I have the feeling that the two of us are playing a 2-person game. Is the quest really that bad for everyone else?
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Kaiedi said:
    Does anyone have a better suggestion for the name for the quest? I have the feeling that "I really am a parahuman" doesn't really fit.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    This might be one of the reasons there is less activity. I'll try and think of a different name. Maybe something about rewinding?

    Kaiedi said:
    I also think it's great that thewhiteraven22 is voting so diligently, but I have the feeling that the two of us are playing a 2-person game. Is the quest really that bad for everyone else?
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    I dunno, but I'm having fun. I wish there were more players, but I'm ok with this. I guess? Only thing I can suggest is maybe leave more time before closing the votes? Try at least 24 to 48 hours?

    As for my vote:

    [X] Plan. Approach this smart. First report the crime, either with a nearby payphone or have an employee call it in. Have Dinah grab nearby flying insects and use them to cut Circus off as you use the training you got last time to keep them busy.
     
    Last edited:
    thewhiteraven22 said:
    I dunno, but I'm having fun. I wish there were more players, but I'm ok with this. I guess? Only thing I can suggest is maybe leave more time before closing the votes? Try at least 24 to 48 hours?
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    That's something I can try. The time between threadmarks has been about 24 hours, I'll try to increase that to about 48 hours.

    thewhiteraven22 said:
    This might be one of the reasons there is less activity. I'll try and think of a different name. Maybe something about rewinding?
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    "Rewind time" would be very literal.
    I find "My life, the VHS cassette" amusing, but is it really better?
    "Time loop or precognition, does it realy matter?" is a possibility.
     
    Last edited:
    Adhoc vote count started by Kaiedi on Apr 12, 2024 at 10:36 AM, finished with 3 posts and 1 votes.
    • [X] Plan. Approach this smart. First report the crime, either with a nearby payphone or have an employee call it in. Have Dinah grab nearby flying insects and use them to cut Circus off as you use the training you got last time to keep them busy.
    Click to expand...
     
    23. First fight
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Plan. Approach this smart. First report the crime, either with a nearby payphone or have an employee call it in. Have Dinah grab nearby flying insects and use them to cut Circus off as you use the training you got last time to keep them busy. (Modified by conflict drive)


    The thought of wasting time looking for a phone and possibly letting Circus escape is deeply repugnant to you. Instead, you turn to Dinah: "Can you contact the PRT ENE? Come help me when you're done, I'll distract Circus until then." Dinah's body language is hard to read, but you get the feeling that she is unsure at first, but then bows to your experience as a hero. The swarm moves away from you as Dinah makes her way to the nearest phone.
    Moments later you arrive at the scene of the crime. The large window of the Sparkling Sea Jewellery Shop is lying on the ground in thousands of shards. Inside, Circus is busy smashing the display cases with an oversized hammer. As she moves on to the next one, the jewellery disappears into thin air.
    The crunching of the shards under your feet betrays you as you enter the shop, and Circus turns to face you. There are a few seconds of eye contact before Circus twirls her hammer in a circle and lets it rest on her shoulder. She gestures in your direction for you to move on, but you rush into the fight.
    The month's training with the Wards ensures that you are not a complete novice, but the physical training that normally comes with it is completely lacking. Circus dances around you, evading your blows and knocking the can of pepper spray out of your hand. You do your best, but Circus quickly loses patience after testing your limits. The hammer whizzes in from the left, hitting you in the side and slamming you into the counter. You writhe in pain and at least one of your ribs appears to be broken. Circus watches you for a moment and when you don't get up, she resumes her interrupted robbery. You begin to black out as you notice more and more insects gathering under the ceiling.
    You activate container three and the world stops, but this time something is different. Instead of running backwards faster and faster, time passes as if in slow motion. You can watch every blow and every dodge closely and have time to analyze the fight. This state lasts until you arrive back at the beginning of the fight and from then on it proceeds as you are used to. You end up back in the alley 2 houses to the left of the jeweler, your steps only falter slightly as you immediately fill the empty container again. Despite the headache, your head seems much clearer than before. Maybe a plan is a good idea after all.


    Your first fight, again. What are you doing?
    [ ] Tell Dinah what you have learned and coordinate your actions with her.
    [ ] Call the PRT ENE and monitor the situation remotely. Dinah can follow Circus, hopefully without attracting attention.
    [ ] Try the same approach, but use what you have learned. Maybe you'll have a better chance this time, now that you've been through this fight before.
    [ ] Write-In


    Container 1: 04.01.2011 Hospital (2nd run, Panik Attack)
    Container 2: 15.01.2011 Home
    Container 3: 15.01.2011 50 seconds before conflict
     
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Tell Dinah what you have learned and coordinate your actions with her.

    Communication is necessary for good teamwork. It might not be a good idea to just monitor remotely, as we saw before that leads to an unhappy shard. Also, throwing ourselves into a fight over and over again might have some negative mental effects.

    So, a teamwork battle plan is the best sort of option.
     
    I disagree, I think with Circus' athleticism our untrained body is unlikely to win, we should follow them and lead the PRT to them.

    [X] Call the PRT ENE and monitor the situation remotely. Dinah can follow Circus, hopefully without attracting attention.
     
    I don't expect us to win on this next try. I'm mostly trying to keep our shard happy, because it can influence vote outcomes if it isn't. It makes me a bit nervous that it will push us into doing something even worse than what just happened. I think the previous events implied that our shard is unhappy if we take an indirect, distanced approach. Maybe it is satisfied by the fighting so far, or maybe not. Only the QM knows that.

    I'm going for medium to long term benefits, at the cost of short term loss. I have no idea if that will actually turn out as I intend it to, but I'm going for it anyways.
     
    Hopefully without giving too much away, I'd like to remind you that Taylor spent over a month with the Wards without obviously upsetting her shard.
    Of course, it's possible you had a grace period or a time account that expires between conflicts. Perhaps being a member was the conflict.
    But maybe you did (or didn't do) something else that upset her Shard.

    Of course, this does not mean that the shard is against more conflict. It is still a shard.
     
    Adhoc vote count started by Kaiedi on Apr 14, 2024 at 12:05 PM, finished with 4 posts and 2 votes.
    • [X] Tell Dinah what you have learned and coordinate your actions with her.
      [X] Call the PRT ENE and monitor the situation remotely. Dinah can follow Circus, hopefully without attracting attention.
    Click to expand...
     
    24. First Fight, Take Two
  • Threadmarks
    • [x] Tell Dinah what you have learned and coordinate your actions with her.


    In the few seconds before you arrive at the shop, you tell Dinah what you have seen. How Circus fights, how fast and strong she is, and her attitude. Circus has no interest in being delayed for long, she wants to grab her loot and leave before any serious resistance can be expected.

    This time there are two of you right from the start. Dinah's insect silhouette appears in front of Circus, making a lot of noise, enough to drown out your footsteps on the glass. Circus takes a defensive stance, trying to assess her opponent. She raises her left hand and a burning torch appears in front of her mouth. A ball of fire fills the room, destroying most of the insects that make up Dinah. You don't have time to worry about Dinah's wellbeing, you've reached the Circus seemingly unnoticed and send a piece of wood you picked up from one of the smashed display cases on the way flying at her right leg with full force. With superhuman reflexes, Circus begins to dodge and you only graze her leg. But as she turns to face you, the hammer appearing in her right hand, you have already raised the pepper spray, releasing a cloud towards her face. Circus jumps back, a little slower than in your first fight, and before the fight can continue, insects swarm her from all directions. Mosquitoes, wasps, flies, gnats, bees and many other insects fly into her eyes, trying to sting and bite her. The swarm is furious.

    The hammer disappears and is replaced by 2 burning torches. Fire swirls around Circus and it almost seems as if she is wrapped in a fiery cloak. The insects retreat a little and a wall of flame erupts from Circus in a ring. Once again, many of the insects fall victim to the flames and you raise your arms to protect your face. The fire passes, you lower your arms and the last thing you see is a hammer on a collision course with your face as the world freezes.

    The hammer takes up your entire field of vision, you can feel it at the tip of your nose, but you haven't used your powers, you haven't even had time to make the decision. And yet the world stands still. Your containers pulsate slowly at first, then faster and faster. You activate container 3 and after a slow-motion view of the fight you end up back in the alley. You have to pause briefly to let the dizziness subside and hesitate as you are about to use your power again. The headache is already severe and you know from the power test that it is not a good idea to go through a situation four times. The migraine that awaits you would definitely ruin any fighting action on your part.


    Use your power anyway?
    [ ] [Power] Yes
    [ ] [Power] No
    [ ] [Power] Write-In

    Your first fight, for the third time. What are you doing?
    [ ] [Patrol] Tell Dinah what you have learned and coordinate your actions with her.
    [ ] [Patrol] Call the PRT ENE and monitor the situation remotely. Dinah can follow Circus, hopefully without attracting attention.
    [ ] [Patrol] You two aren't ready to take on a villain yet. Report the break-in and continue your patrol.
    [ ] [Patrol] The use of your power has taken its toll. Report the break-in and end the patrol.
    [ ] [Patrol] Write-In


    Container 1: 04.01.2011 Hospital (2nd run, Panik Attack)
    Container 2: 15.01.2011 Home
    Container 3: Empty
     
    Last edited:
  • Threadmarks
    • As I said, we can't beat Circus.

    [X][Power] No
    [X][Patrol] Call the PRT ENE and monitor the situation remotely. Dinah can follow Circus, hopefully without attracting attention.
     
    25. Surveillance
  • Threadmarks
    • [X][Power] No
    [X][Patrol] Call the PRT ENE and monitor the situation remotely. Dinah can follow Circus, hopefully without attracting attention.


    You turn in the direction where Dinah's swarm is densest. "We're not well positioned against Circus. She's faster and stronger than me, and her reflexes allow her to react even when I know what she would normally do. Her phyrokinesis is very weak compared to Lung's, but it's enough to make your insects burst into flames. We'd better leave her to the Protectorate and try to keep an eye on her until they get here to make sure she doesn't escape.
    "Watch, I should be able to do that." Dinah sounds relieved.
    You go in search of a phone to inform the heroes of the break-in. Meanwhile, Dinah spreads out around the jeweller's, keeping an eye on Circus. It only takes a few minutes to report the robbery, but when you cautiously approach the shop, Circus is nowhere to be seen. Outside the smashed window, however, you can make out insect arrows pointing first down the alley and then up towards the rooftops.
    You decide to wait to inform the arriving heroes, but too much time passes. When you finally hear the sound of a motorbike and can make out the figure of Triumph, especially by the golden lion helmet, the first arrow slowly begins to dissipate. Dinah's range has come to an end and she still seems to be chasing Circus.
    Triumph doesn't dismount and asks you in a low voice about Circus. You give him a brief summary of what has happened, without mentioning your or Dinah's powers, and send him off towards the alley and the rooftops, but after a brief attempt to follow your partner, he returns to the jeweller's.


    Are you waiting for Triumph? He'll have questions for you. What are you prepared to tell him?
    [ ] [Triumph] Yes (Write-In)
    [ ] [Triumph] No
    [ ] [Triumph] Write-In

    If you stay in the area, Dinah will find you again. How does the evening continue?
    [ ] [Evening] You're exhausted. Finish the patrol.
    [ ] [Evening] Question Dinah. What did she find out?
    [ ] [Evening] Continue the patrol. Crime never sleeps.
    [ ] [Evening] You're not staying in the neighbourhood (Write-In)
    [ ] [Evening] Write-In


    Container 1: 04.01.2011 Hospital (2nd run, Panik Attack)
    Container 2: 15.01.2011 Home
    Container 3: Empty
     
  • Threadmarks
    • [X][Evening] Question Dinah. What did she find out?
    [X][Triumph] Yes (The facts of what happened this time around from an outside perspective. Do not mention your powers, try to keep your partner's powers discrete. (Tracking Circus, limited time, too much time has expired, can't follow.) )
     
    Mistakes were made. :oops:

    This seems like a good plan to me.

    [X][Evening] Question Dinah. What did she find out?
    [X][Triumph] Yes (The facts of what happened this time around from an outside perspective. Do not mention your powers, try to keep your partner's powers discrete. (Tracking Circus, limited time, too much time has expired, can't follow.) )
     
    Adhoc vote count started by Kaiedi on Apr 18, 2024 at 10:08 AM, finished with 2 posts and 2 votes.
    • [X][Evening] Question Dinah. What did she find out?
      [X][Triumph] Yes (The facts of what happened this time around from an outside perspective. Do not mention your powers, try to keep your partner's powers discrete. (Tracking Circus, limited time, too much time has expired, can't follow.) )
    Click to expand...
     
    26. After action report
  • Threadmarks
    • [X][Evening] Question Dinah. What did she find out?
    [X][Triumph] Yes (The facts of what happened this time around from an outside perspective. Do not mention your powers, try to keep your partner's powers discrete. (Tracking Circus, limited time, too much time has expired, can't follow.) )


    After a short time, Triumph returns. Not only has too much time passed, but he is not equipped for a chase across the rooftops of the city. His bike stops a few metres from you, he gets off and approaches your position.
    "Good evening. I'm Triumph, did you inform us about the robbery?"
    You nod. "Hello, I'm Hōra. My partner and I noticed Circus during the break-in and decided to notify you."
    Triumph looks around briefly. "Okay, where's your partner?"
    "She's tracking Circus right now."
    "Alone? Even though Circus is one of the more benign villains we have in Brockton Bay, she's still dangerous. Let's hope she keeps a low profile and doesn't provoke Circus unnecessarily."
    The more Triumph talks, the more you recognise his voice despite the mask. You didn't meet him during your time with the Wards, but where else? You shake off the thought, it's not important at the moment.
    "I have full confidence in my partner, even if Circus discovers her, she'll have no trouble escaping."
    "Very well. Hōra, would you please tell me what happened here?"
    You do as you are told and report that you and your partner noticed the break-in through the sound of breaking glass. Your partner explored the situation and you recognised Circus' costume. Nothing much happened after that. You found a payphone, reported the crime and your partner continued to watch Circus. When you returned, they were both gone. Your partner had left a marker here for you to follow, but unfortunately it had already disappeared.
    Triumph makes a note of your words. "Ok, what name can I write down for your partner?"
    You haven't talked to Dinah about your hero names yet, and as you start to answer, you see insects gathering beside you out of the corner of your eye. Dinah's insect form appears, and as Triumph takes a few steps back, seemingly preparing to fight, Dinah's swarm voice rings out.
    "I'm new, but you can write Firefly down. If I think of anything better, I'll let you know."
    Triumph looks uncertain, whether because of the mass of insects or because he is now outnumbered is hard to say.
    "Wonderful. Hōra told me you were trying to track down Circus?"
    "That's right. I followed her until she disappeared into a bar. Since I didn't hear any fighting and she didn't reappear for a few minutes, I assumed that she had taken off her costume there. The unwritten rules forbade me to make any further observations".
    "Which bar, if you don't mind me asking?"
    "I'd rather keep that to myself for now."
    "Very well, since Circus has escaped, I'll hand the case over to the police. I can pass on your statements, so your continued presence is not absolutely necessary."
    You and Dinah look at each other briefly and you reply. "We'll confer briefly and let you know if we're waiting." You both take a step back from Triumph.
    "What do we do now?" asks Dinah.


    What are you doing?
    [ ] [Patrol] Wait for the police and make a statement. (End of the patrol)
    [ ] [Patrol] Continue your patrol.
    [ ] [Patrol] Go to the bar where Dinah was following Circus. Maybe you can find out something else.
    [ ] [Patrol] Write-In

    You must have heard Triumph's voice when he was travelling privately. Are you still trying to compare his voice with your memories?
    [ ] [Voice] Yes
    [ ] [Voice] No
    [ ] [Voice] Write-In


    Container 1: 04.01.2011 Hospital (2nd run, Panik Attack)
    Container 2: 15.01.2011 Home
    Container 3: Empty
     
  • Threadmarks
    • [X][Voice] Yes
    [X][Patrol] Continue your patrol.

    Don't know if I should use a write in to think of specific memories we should examine to recognize Triumph's voice
     
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