>>17805147
It is now just after 12 noon. You and Johnny traveled back to his house (Where you returned his cane and hat, since they were both his) and you headed back to your dorm, with Johnny promising to call as soon as the Power Armor was delivered to his parents home.

You get back to the dorms, and find your roommate Dave and his girlfriend (Now wearing pants) playing videogames on the couch. You give them a casual greeting, head into your room, and close the door. You check your computer to find the torrent of Dr. Moreau's scientific papers has finished. And you do have a coffee date with Roxane later today.

>Wat do?

>>17805163
Well, let's read the papers that seem most relevant to us: The power module one, and the Cyrean Genetics one.
And try and find one about Benign/Malign Hyper Intelligence Whatever it was, so we have something more directly related to Roxane. Draw some comparisons, and we're halfway to a science-boning.

(Also, did you snag that mutation from Soon I Will Be Invincible?)

Let's speed read the papers. Make sure we write down anything we want to ask Roxane about down, and then get presentable and dashing.

>>17805163
Read papers on gene splicing and cyrean genetics.
Dr Moreua was probably thinking about it before testing it on us, so these ones might have the most.

is wealth meant to be at 0 now?

>>17805207
I think it was Benign and Malign Science-Related Memetic Disorder. I might have a few of the words wrong, though. Anyway, I'm all for trying (probably failing) to read some of the relevant papers. I also want to try cutting some paper and cans and stuff to see how wicked-sharp that knife is. Let's read the wikipedia articles on SRMD and Cyrean Power Modules. I think that's more our scientific speed.

>>17805270
>>17805232
>>17805207
(2x10 to understand the Cyrean papers)

You open up the two latest papers, in pdf form, and start to skim them. The language is a little technical for you, especially since whichever iteration of her wrote these papers has been insane for a couple decades, but your now natural understanding of Cyrean technology and science means you can extrapolate most of it.

Basically, the modules work by creating a translation/reception module using some gene-tinkering and nanotech, which alters the augment's central nervous system to read the data stored in the modules. What is in the modules is basically instructions for further neurological alterations, with a one-shot does of nanomachines to make the alterations. The doctor has experimental data to back up all this, and also notes that without a reader, the modules are inert and safe to handle by anyone but will automatically update if the subject doesn't already have the latest version of that module. Also cracking open a module and forcing the nanomachines into a person who doesn't have a reader apparently has some nasty side effects.

The Genetic Memory paper is much harder to understand, since you don't have a strong background in biology, but you're pretty sure they just use genetic engineering to alter the way the brain produces and repairs cells tied to memory, and basically pre-writes some memories into your brain, and exercises some neural pathways to make sure your body knows how to use the knowledge, at the cost of a bit of your brain's metaphorical 'hard disk space'.

(Note: Due to the mechanics of Wild Talents, the penalty for untrained for Mind skills is -3, and you have Mind 4, so it is mechanically impossible for you to understand Moreau's other papers normally. You either have to take your time, or spend willpower on it.

>>17805294
Fixed now. Was a late night last night.

>>17805458
Then let's read the wikipedia article on SRMD and then check what time it is, see how much more time we have to burn until our date with Roxane. Let's also see if SRMD is the sort of high-functioning disorder that makes people less prone to pick up on social hints. We need to know whether our flirting should be subtle or whether we should come right out and say, "I find you attractive. I think we should date."

>>17805458
Well we DO have plenty of willpower...and I bet it would impress the fuck out of her...I say we spend some willpower understanding all of her papers. Maybe some additional willpower to do it quickly, or to really, truly understand it?

>>17805536
From a metagamey side, let's spend willpower AND envoke the relationship with Roxane. After all, this totally relates to us trying to impress the sexy science chick.

>>17805536

Seconded. But we should do that after the coffee date. That way we have enough time.

>>17805628
Fair point. Let's wikipedia it up.

>>17805536
You have 11 Willpower right now. Each point spent adds a die, and you can't roll more than 10 dice.

>>17805527

To Wikipedia! After browsing a couple articles, you understand more clearly that SRMD is caused by a slight, but fundamental difference in brain structure. Basically, their minds literally operate (slightly) differently than normal humans, with expanded and enhanced capacity for problem-solving, learning, and intuition. This actually makes them more perceptive in social situations under normal circumstances. However, especially if they have the malign variation, the person can develop other mental disorders which may impair their functionality. Talking with Roxane, she seemed pretty in control, except for a couple slight manic outbursts, which weren't more extreme than someone who is excitable or hyperactive already.

(Mechanically, Dan is capped at 5 dice in a stat, though he can upgrade those to Hard or Wiggle dice later. Roxane, and all those with SRMD have an ability called 'Inhuman Stats', which lets them take up to 10 normal dice in a stat. Roxane is at 7d in Mind right now, and already on par with a Hawking or an Einstein, and will only get more intelligent as she learns, which she does fast.)

>>17805702
Okay, so she probably picked up on the subtle and not-so-subtle cues already. That means she knows we're interested and we don't need to push harder, just maintain the shows of interest. Can people with SRMD get more than 5 dice in all stats, or only the non-physical ones? What time is it now?

>>17805733
Just Mind, not the other 5.

Also, it is about 12:30. And you didn't actually set a time to meet with Roxane.

>>17805766

Lets message/call her if she wants to drink some coffee at about 13.30.

we could maybe check out what we precisely can do with a knife.

>>17805766
Let's give her a call/text, see when she has free time this afternoon.

>>17805807

* in our spare time*

>>17805813
>>17805807

You text Roxane's phone, asking if she wants to go for coffee in about an hour or so. She responds yes, and says she's eager to discuss the papers you wanted with you. Maybe she can explain the technical stuff you didn't get in more detail. You shoot back that you'll meet her at the coffeeshop opposite the campus' main entrance at around 1:30.

Then you remember your knife and armor. You pull the armor out from under your shirt and set it down on your bed, and fish out the knife, which you use on the can of [Soft Drink] from earlier this morning. It bisects the can like it was made of tissue paper. The cut is clean and probably pretty sharp.

>>17805885
Can we print out the relevant papers, or do we want to try to remember them enough that she can explain them?
She's read them before, so that might be enough.

>>17805885
That actually sounds really helpful. Let's print out key pages of some of the appropriate papers and spend the better part of the next hour highlighting things we could really use help interpreting.

>>17805885
We should probably bring the knife to show it off to her. But not the cane or pimp hat.

>>17805956
>>17805945

You don't quite have an eidetic memory (yet), so you print out relevant pages involving lots of words about genes, neurons and some other words you're pretty sure you couldn't spell if you were looking at it. You bust out your good ole' highlighter. This process takes up a number of minutes (Wow can you read fast now).

>>17805989
The latter would be pretty hard, since Johnny is the actual owner of both of those, and we left them with him.

>>17806029
BTW, you wouldn't necessarily know this IC, but Roxane does actually have an eidetic memory.

>>17806040
We should be sure to accidentally find this out when we're flirting with her.
We should probably ask her more about herself. Do we even know what she's majoring in, or where she grew up?

>>17806040
I actually have an eidetic memory. Shit is so cash.

>>17806066

You talked with her for like 15 minutes this morning. Mostly about you, and Dr. Moreau. (To be fair, she's been metahuman since birth, where as you had been for about 12 hours).

So, did you want to spend some willpower in an attempt to read those papers, or we doing something else?

>>17806202
Let's just have her explain them to us.
We could probably test out the armour by poking it gently with the knife, or a held psibolt.

>>17806245

You decide against a psibolt, since those can be pretty loud when they suddenly displace the air, but decide to compare the knife to the armor by dragging it across, gently, the crystaline weave of the light chest plate. The knife etches a thin, shallow line in the glossy, indigo surface of the armor, but you can tell, via a combination of Genetic Memory and just plain intuition, you couldn't actually penetrate the armor with just the knife unless you got a really sturdy blow in.

Let's go and get us that explanation of them papers.

>>17806450

You've still got like 45 minutes before the agreed meeting time. Are you just going to just wait until you have to leave and head out?

>>17806532
Well we're in college do we have homework/shit to study that we can fit into the waiting time.

... Cut all the things?

>>17806532

Lets show dave and his girlfriend some awesome knife tricks, practice them for a few minutes before though.

>>17806542

Nope. Last week was finals week. You could check to see if grades are all posted yet, I suppose.

>>17806550
Might want to stow that. If you accidentally chip the blade one something, that's going to be a bitch for you to repair it on your own, without the right materials. (Also monomolecular shards of crystal do a number on the vacuum)

Check our grades, see how we're doing. I wonder if we're diligent with our schoolwork.

>>17806595
(2x4 and 2x9 on test for Previous Semester)

You quickly check your grades online, and discover you actually managed to do pretty well. B,B,A,C. You will be keeping your scholarship money for next semester. Of course, if you get rich salvaging alien technology from the Middle of Nowhere, Vermont, you might not NEED scholarship money.

(Slow day today, huh?)

>>17806674
You decide, after some mental congratulations, to get ready to go. You tuck your armor back under your shirt, and make sure your gloves and glasses are on, but decide to forgo the knife. You don't have a CCW and open-carrying a alien weapon might be a bit much for the middle of the day in a coffee shop. You aren't allowed to take it into most of the campus building anyway.

You compare grades with Dave and his ladyfriend (Who is in the Engineering school, specializing in metamaterials and nanofabrication. You have no idea how she and Dave get along) both of who managed to pass all their classes, then go to the coffee shop, papers in tow.

You arrive exactly at the agreed upon time, having to actually wait a few minutes for maximum promptness. You find Roxane already there (apparently she likes to be early) sitting at a table with her laptop and a pile of notes drinking a large cup of coffee. She notices you the instant you come in, and waves you over. You sit down, and pull out the print-outs from before, while exchanging pleasantries.

>First topic of discussion, /tg/?

>>17806838

Tell her about our day starting at what happened at the police office, to us buying some merchandise and tell her that we got a new power, while taking your glasses of so you can show her what happened to your eyes. after that, discuss the contents of the papers you took with you.

also ask her what she was doing while we were gone.

>>17806838
Let's start by talking about the gene memory because we don't really know anything abut it. Can there be any side-effects.

Would we more or less susceptible to Cyrean mind-control? (If they have that)

>>17806674
>Choose two
I'm only getting one. The fuck am I doing wrong?

>>17806923

Would Roxane not get abit bugged if we started by unloading on her, that's not what we are here for.
(no offense dear anon.)

BTW what is the name of Daves ladyfriend?

And what is the name of the system your are using OP? it seems really cool.

>>17806990

naw is cool. was just coming with suggestions because i didn't know exactly what we should discuss with her.

>>17806990

Modified Wild Talents One Roll Engine, it seems.

>>17806923

Wait did anything visible happen to our eyes with that last upgrade? I don't remember that.

And we don't need to tell her everything from earlier, just stick to the relevant stuff for now.

>>17807057
Yes, our eyes now have some "handy new Cyrean runes in [our] irises"

>>17806923

You tell her about your morning, including about your new registry card, which you show her, since she doesn't actually have one (Due to the fact that unlike you, she's not any more inherently dangerous than any scientist, just quicker. The note on her student ID is to prevent staff from sticking their foot in their mouth and causing her to sabotage their particle accelerators, like that incident in UCF).

>also ask her what she was doing while we were gone.

"Science, of course!" she says this with such conviction that everyone in the coffee shop shoots her a glance. Or maybe because she's still wearing the lab coat.

>>17806941

"Hm. Cyreans do mix drugs and psionics to indoctrination of conscripts, but your Genetic memories should actually make you more resistant to that kind of thing, its something their foot soldiers are trained for." She rifles through some papers, before continuing "As for side effects... Other than you slipping some Cyrean mannerisms or societal norms into your daily life if you go screwing around with it too much. But other than that, no problems besides taking up space in your noggin." She pokes your forehead with her index finger. Looking back on your limited interaction with her, you suspect Roxane has no sense of personal space. Some how you'll cope. She then proceeds to use lots of big words to try and explain the actual mechanics of the genetic memory. It does little besides reinforce what you already knew about the process.

>>17806990
Dave's girlfriend is named Cheryl. And I am using elements of a One Roll Engine game called Wild Talents. If you're interest, you should look into it. Has a great system for building your own superpowers. Even if it takes a bit of learning to understand it all.

>>17807128
Could we roll Anthro to remember some of those societal norms?

>>17807192
seconding this.

>>17807192
You my good sir are cunning like a Kobold

Second

(Am I the only one that keeps getting some wyrd eleven looking Capcha?)

>>17807192
(Technically, that's probably a skill which would be called Knowledge (Astrosociology) or something, but I'll let it fly as Anthro given that you're a lot more familiar with Cyreans than you were last week. +1 Die for genetic memories)
(2x10 and 2x5 on the test to remember)

Cyreans, due to their own genetic tinkering and tendency to have their young grown in exowombs, were a rigid caste structure. You are the caste of your parents, and if you're mixed cast, you must pick which caste you want to belong to before maturation.

They use the genetic memory to implant most of the required skills into Cyrean youth while their young, though most of them need some practical training even with it (Difference between knowing how to take apart a car, and actually having done it before). You're supposed to be polite to those on lower ranked castes, and respectful to those higher up the rung. Slave races, criminals and exiles are casteless, and not worthy of either. Also, as a male, Cyrean etiquette is for you to be respectful to females regardless of caste, because they'd be bigger than you and likely to snap you like a twig if your impolite.

At least, that's how it was. Since the transition to the Galactic Confederacy after the war, supposedly the Caste system is less rigid, and there's a lot more mobility, though they still define themselves that way as a culture.

You also speak enough Cyrean and know enough about them to know and use properly some polite forms of address and use proper greetings and polite phrases.

>>17807315
...Can we order a beer in their language?
If not, we need to learn more, if so, we should be solid.

>>17807315
Since we told Roxane about our little shopping trip, we should probably ask if she is intrested in joining the expedition to recover delicious ALIEN GADGETS for SCIENCE.

>>17807364

Yes! It'd be good to give her something to do and keep her occupied with her.. condition.

>>17807364
Totally.

Maybe ask her if there is any particular Cyrean tech that she is intrested in.

And we need to head over to the cops later, we got us a new power module and we need to register any new power right away.

>>17807435

Oh do we really need to go through that again? It's not like we got a really obvious or dangerous one, we can hold off until after the Vermont trip I think .

>>17807344
It's a Mind+Language (Cyrean) check, so you're pretty good at it. I'd call for a test for the first couple times, but after a while you can probably do it from memory.

>>17807364
>>17807406
>>17807435

(Your relationship with Roxane has increased by 1!)

You invite Roxane on your probably expedition to Vermont to recover ALIEN TECHNOLOGIES for SCIENCE. "For science?" she asks, like a kid in a candy store with a free pass. "For science." You respond, like a candy store owner who has a sideline as a dentist. That is to say you have a vested interest in the candy (read: alien tech) after she eats (read: recovers/analyzes) it. Childlike glee flashes across her face for a few seconds before she gets a hold of herself. You wonder how she'll react if you mention the Mark I Power Armor. She then goes on for a couple minutes about how she's mostly interested in robotics and signals technology, but has been thinking of branching in Parapsychology since she talked to you this morning, but could also be convinced to examine cybernetics or materials science, which could be related to the signals and robotics issue. You don't say anything for about 30 seconds when she takes a break to breathe and drink her coffee as you catch up with her conversation.

>>17807516

Technically, the card is because you can shoot alien lasers from your hand, which is something law enforcement may need to know about you. While you need to concentrate to do with Psi Sense or Aura-Reading, its not exactly invasive (Unlike some powers you could mention) so its another case where the state probably wouldn't press charges. Especially since its really hard to prove what people can and cannot sense.

>>17807541

So let's meet up with Johnny and start making plans for our first expedition!

>>17807677

You make idle conversation with Roxane while you two finish Coffee. You find out that she's 25, so two years older from you, her family is from Jersey, and she's already finished one Masters program, in Robotics, and is working on two more, one in Metabiology (Hence the Genetics Lab on a Saturday) and Signals Intelligence, which you didn't even know has a masters level.

After about 20 more minutes, you get a text from Johnny indicating the armor has been delivered. You offer to take Roxane down to Johnny's house so she can inspect the merchandise, and she jumps for joy (but only a little).

As you both stand up and get ready to leave, and Roxane is expounding on possible upgrades and modifications to the Power Armor frame, you get a bit of a tingle on the edge of your senses. You wonder what's up.

(3x7 beats 2x7 on opposed Perception v Stealth)

You see what looks like a tall woman in a hoodie standing out on the sidewalk, as she presses a bandaged hand into the front glass window. You have a second to register that her eyes are A) yellow, and B) glowing a little bit. Then a red light fires up in her hand, and there is a terrible unsound and the entire glass fronted window explodes inwards.

>>17807856

Well shit, we can't just sit by and let this happen!

...Contact the police first and see if we can't give our abilities a test drive.

>>17807856

Get in front of Roxane to block any glass shards coming our way.

Try to ask what this hooded woman thinks she is doing.

>>17807922
This. If we can 'hold' one without firing it off, maybe generate a psibolt as if to say "one more step and shit will go downhill for you".

>>17807922
>>17807914
FUCK QUESTIONS
THERE'S FUCKING GLASS FLYING
JUMP IN FRONT PF ROXANNE, TAKE OFF GLOVE, GIVE THAT BITCH A FRICTIONATE WARNING IN THE FACE, GUIDE THE GIRL BEHIND A SAFE CORNER, THEN ASK QUESTIONS!

GOD I HOPE WE DIDN'T FORGET OUT ARMOR

>>17807950
>>17807914
>>17807922
>>17807982

(Some music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHxd_hY0yos )

The wave of glass stops a few inches short of your feet. Neither of you is hurt, but a lot of other people in here are covered in glass. You shout "The fuck are you doing?" Her only response is to crack her knuckles. You summon a psibolt and say "Don't come any closer!" She snarls and charges you, that unnatural red glow surrounding her bandaged hands and arms again.

>>17808101
Keep covering Roxanne, take her to nearest cover

>>17808101

Try to make her fall by shooting psybolts at her legs. If that succeeds, warn her that when she tries to stand up we keep shooting psybolts. when she tries do.

>>17808101
Don't give her the chance to come closer. Can we make a called shot to the face?

Okay, so, her powers seem to function via touch. So far, we've only seen it shatter glass, but it might just specifically shatter, ANYTHING, so I recommend that we keep our distance.

Loose the psibolt at her chest to slow her down while we backpedal a bit and try to move Roxane away - hopefully in the general direction of a back exit or something.

>>17808148
Fuck that. No more warnings. We aren't sexists - if she's trying to kill us or hurt our friends, WE WILL END THE THREAT. Or die using our body as a shield. Preferably the first one, but the second if it's not an option.

>>17808152
>>17808148

Legs? Face? BOTH!

(No joy on the called shot to the head, but 3x1 for the left leg which disables it, which ruins her sets)

You try and lob two carefully aimed bolts simultaneously, but find it harder than you'd thought. Your shot at her face sails over her head and blows up a parking meter on the street, sending change scattering everywhere. The leg shot connects cleanly though, and her charge comes to a sudden stop as the drops to a knee. You've burned clean through her pantsleg and left a scorch mark on her leg.

"I see..." She pants. "I see why she thought you were a better example than I. But I'll prove I'm a better example than some fresh punk like you." Strong words from a woman who can't be more than a couple years older than you and who you dropped to her knees.

>>17808194

This. Get her restrained and neutralize her touch abilities.

>>17808256

Oh shit oh shit OH SHIT she's another person that Eve ascended!

I'm tempted to make a big heroic speech about how resorting to evil doesn't make her better than us, but that can wait until after we neutralize her.

>>17808256

fuck this, there is no reasoning with her. don't give her time to stand up blast her with psybolts.

>>17808282

Shoot to stun, not to kill. We're just keeping her down until the authorities get here.

>>17808256
I'd just like to suggest a psi-bolt bitch slap.

>>17808277
Fuck reasoning. We're not a goddamn super hero. We're just a good kid with a solid head on his shoulders who cares too damn much about his friends and family to see them in danger. We don't have any lofty ideals or think that friendship and compassion solves all problems because we're a fucking history major. We are going to end this fight as quickly, efficiently, and concisely as possible.

Blow off her fucking face.

>>17808282
She's on one knee. We can ready a psibolt now and blast away if she tries anything.

We should tell her she's not proving anything. Moreau said she wanted to know how people would react when they got landed with superhuman power, not whether one of her experiments could beat up the other.

>>17808282
>>17808277

You look to see where Roxane is, only to see while you were distracted she grabbed her stuff, hopped the counter and is now ushering the staff out the service entrance. Damn, she's fast.

You look back to find the woman staring back at you with her yellow eyes. You can see now she has black hair, with dyed streaks of blood red. Tattoos which look like a cross between obscure math symbols and occult imagery are on both cheeks, and you really don't want to know what they're inked in. Then you're looking at her eyes again, as she shouts "Look into the face of the Void!" Ohfuck.

(2x7 on enemy Daze check. No matches on the opposed Stability check. Javelin looses two dice from all actions next round)

JESUS CHRIST. Staring into her eyes, you mind is suddenly blasted with images of alien landscapes and creatures who do not obey the local laws of geometry. Or physics. By the time you recover, she's unsteadily risen to her feet, and you're breathing hard.

>>17808386
At least blast her in the shoulder(s). If we're going to leave her alive, disable her at the least. Roxane is at risk, not to mention all of these other poor people. We're not dealing with a child who's misbehaved, we're dealing with an attempted murderer/metaterrorist. This is an extremely serious situation and everyone here is at risk.

>>17808409

Blast the everliving SHIT out of her.

>>17808437
>>17808420

Agreed, we're fucking PISSED now.

Yeah, this >>17808420

We should probably try one good shot right now since we're all dazed and shit. No point in hitting random bystanders with psibolt spam.

As we are doing this prep a bolt for bolt slapping?

>>17808452
>>17808437

You've failed your SAN check now, and you're PISSED. She pivots on her good leg, at which point she is wearing only bandages on her feet too, and she gets ready to drive the wounded one down at the ground, just as you hop back and throw a psibolt.

(2x1 on her Transdimensional Radiation check, 2x4 on your Psibolt)

Your wave skims her arm boiling away the sleeve of the hoodie just above the elbow, as she drives her heel into the floor. A wave of red radiance arcs over the floor, with a sound that is a combination of nails on chalkboard, static discharge, and the sound of reality being eaten away at the edges (Don't ask what that sounds like). You find yourself ankle deep in tile and other flooring material, as the crazy lady has apparently deconstructed the floor down to the cement foundation.

(You'll need to make a Agility check at -1 to move out of the area or dodge attacks)

>>17808546

Can we psybolt clear a space around us so we can move easier?

>>17808546

we better move out of the area i guess. Are there civilians in the kitchen? we might need grab a knife from there if our bolts keep missing.

>>17808577

You can clear a small space of it with a psibolt, yes, but you're still surrounded by unstable terrain for a couple of feet in all directions.

Fuck trying to escape. It's rage time. All out offense. END HER.

I suppose we should probably try to get outselves out of the floorsoup. As we're getting ourselves free of it, underarm a psibolt at her to keep her from jumping at us.

If we've got time we might want to pick up a bit of broken glass or something. Any real weaponry is going to be a short way away.

>>17808583
(2x3 on Agility)

You shoulder roll out of the damage area, toward the kitchen. The girl from Planet X, or whatever doesn't try and stop you. Instead, she presses her fists full of lightning against her hoodie and sweatpants which causes them to disintegrate at critical points, leaving her standing there in gym shorts and a midriff bearing tank-top. The bandages also slide off, revealing a spiraling script on her arms and legs, up to shoulder and mid-calf area. Again, the tattoos are a combination of a calculus problem and arcane symbols from cultures across the globe. Around her bellybutton is a circular arrangement of said symbols, and she has a piercing with a sizable blood-red gemstone. She shifts her weight into a some martial arts stance you're not familiar with, favoring her bad leg, and faces you.

>>17808754
Shoot her in the belly button.
Also, we should try out our psychic senses. If we don't think that looking at her stuff will push our brain out of the back of our skull.

>>17808754

>mfw I accidentally made an expy of Scar from FMA.

>>17808780

seconded, also keep backing up to the kitchen. we are gonna need some knifes.

>>17808815

We have a knife that we just bought, didn't we?

>>17808836

we left it at home...

>>17808754
Called shot to the blood stone. No hesitation.

>>17808846

FUCK. Well we're not making that mistake again.

>>17808850
>>17808780

Seconding these.

Yeah, blam her in the bloodstone. Usually I'd be up for some fisticuffs, but the odds seem stacked against us in that particular arena.

>>17808780
>>17808815
(3x8 on Senses check)
(2x7 and 2x4 on the Trauma check for what you see)

You back toward the kitchen, hoping to find a weapon or an exit, and decide, what the hell, let's test some senses, and you decided to sense psychic energy/aura-read, and tip down your sunglasses so they aren't in the way. This was a really bad idea. To your psychic vision, her tattoos are glowing red markings, and you can tell they are written in blood; hers and something... else's. Her aura is pretty fucked up. You're not sure HOW you know that, but you do. You also get a sense of something, lingering in her (metaphorical) shadow. A beast of blood and bone and steel. You wouldn't want to meet it in a dark alley. Or ever.

>>17808836
>>17808815
(Yes, let us engage the martial artist who's most dangerous power is limited to touch with a melee weapon)

>>17808949

If course of action is still "shoot her in ye blood stone" nobody say anything else for like two minutes. I'll go with that.

>>17808949
Psi bolt. Doesn't matter where, no called shots, lets just psi bolt her as much as possible.
One shot at a time, we want these to hit.
Add some willpower too, and maybe a bonus from our Loyalty to Roxanne?

>>17808971

Yes! fuck. why didnt we think about using willpower?

>>17808971
>>17808975
Bloodstone shot, using as much willpower as possible.

>>17809032
Bloodstone shot using half as much willpower as possible. It should hit with 5 willpower.
Then 5 more on a shot to her face.

>>17808971
>>17808975
>>17809032
>>17809049
(Relationship invoked, +2!)
(Spend 3 Willpower)
(3x10 for HEADSHOT, 2x9 on Gut shot)
(Walls of Unreality check cancels the torso hit and drops the head shot to 2x10, which takes her out of combat)

You think about Roxane, and pour power form your hands in another double-hand shoot. You should think of something cool to shout as you do this. As you make your attack, she mutters something barely audible, which sounds like she's trying to do an algebra problem. In Arabic. Backwards. Luminous red symbols spring to life in the air in front of her, weaving into a protective wall. The bolt aimed at her stomach bounces off with a sound like a fire-cracker, but the one aimed at her head connects clean in a flash of blue-white light, and she cries out and falls backward to the floor.

(Congratulations, you've defeated your first metahuman! You regain Willpower equal to a metahuman you defeated's Base Will, which is 6)

>>17809188

Tie her up with something to keep her restrained until the authorities get here. Then go and check on Roxane to see if she's ok.

>>17809188

Punch her in the face and nick her diamond.

Also: call cops.

>>17809188
We hit her in the head and she's not dead?
We need to restrain her immediately. Then punch her. Then steal the diamond and anything else that looks glowy or power sourcy. Then call the cops, and then find Roxanne.
In that order.

>>17809229

Dude I don't think handling that jewel is going to be conducive to our continued health or sanity. There's some sort of evil presence fucking with her, and I have a feeling the bloodstone is the cause of it.

Check on Roxane; she should be fine. Give her a brief but emotional hug, then make sure that the cops are coming. Get your card out in the open, hold it in plain sight, keep your hands in plain sight. We were in the right, but we don't want them to shoot us accidentally anyway.

>>17809267
we can sell it for cash or store credit.

>>17809273
Store credit might be nice. Get some upgrades for the armour, or some magical stuff.

>>17809273
Or let the cops take it. This is a crime scene - not a chance to loot evidence off of the criminal.

>>17809282

Yeah, money is nice, but this thing is dangerous.

>>17809254
If the 3x10 had gone through in full, she wouldn't have much of a head left. And I'd be rolling another Trauma check.

>>17809254
>>17809229
(PUNCH EVERYTHING)

You start to approach her, seeking to grab the remains of her earlier concealing clothes to make into restrains, but before you get to close, you feel a presence intruding, forcibly into your mind. Your vision gets blurry, and to feel a little off-balance. A familiar female voice speaks within your thoughts. "Not yet, little one. This experiment isn't over, yet." You realize you dropped to your knees and were clutching your head with one hand. As you recover, you see red mist pour out of the woman's nose and mouth, then envelop her completely, before the cloud almost casually floats away. On its way out the shattered store-front, it passes right through the middle of an unoccupied table, eating lean through the artsy wrought iron it comes in contact with.

You shiver. Why do you get the feeling you brushed up against one of those 'things man was not meant to know'? You hear sirens in the distance.

>from ssamaket
How appropriate, captcha.

>>17809355
So apparently we're in a metahuman deathmatch with all the other people the good doctor has fucked up?

>>17809370
Trying to avoid giving too much away, but simplest answer, no. Dr. M just doesn't want you putting her other experiment subjects in jail before the appropriate amount of observation has passed.

>>17809355
>>17809370

Fuuuuuuuck we may need to run some more tests on ourselves to make sure Eve hasn't made any other adjustments that she didn't tell us about.

>>17809370
Make that the evil doctor.

Here is what we were offered.
>Supersoldier Drugs
>Magic -Red Hoodie (dissolves reality)
>Metatech/Superscience
>Psionics
>Cybernetics
>Hiveling Biotech
>Cyrean Psitech - Us. Two other known modules
>Gene Splicing - Us
>Nanoware

I wonder how many others she's worked on we are going to meet.

Well I suppose this is going to be hard to explain to the police when they get here.

But we should check on Roxane now, make sure she's OK.

>>17809422
mwahahaha

So, anybody want to roll some checks to see if Dan has any idea what's up with the crazy symbols?

>>17809516
Now that you mention it, yes! Is he knowledgeable in the area?

>>17809516

It's definitely going to be some sort of magic. Wonder if our history knowledge (either through our studies or Cyrean memories) would have anything helpful on it. Guess it can't help to check.

>>17809516
Yeah, let's roll it. The people here should be able to vouch on our behalf, though. We should be fine as long as we cooperate with the police as much as possible.

>>17809541

Let's find out!

(2x1 and 2x4 on Anthro)

Okay, neither math nor mysticism is your strong suit, but you know some history and you know some Anthropology. The symbols are a combination, mostly western though, with some other ones correlating to obscure concepts in mathematics. If you had to guess, she had taken a jump off the deep end of Arcanomathematics, an obscure field begun in the 1920s by a handful of bored mathematicians in New England. They were eaten by terrors from beyond time and space, but their notebooks were all recovered. The ideas resurfaces in the 30s and 40s with the Thule society and later Nazi germany's obsession with occult things.

The basic idea is you apply the rigid principles of math to the freaky and oft contradictory principles of magic. If you're bad at it, you'll tear holes in reality and probably get eaten by the clock roaches. If you're good at it, you can systematically fuck up physics in your local area. Or tear holes in reality and get eaten by the clock roaches. Arcanomathematics takes years of study though. That woman must have already been learning and practicing for while, before the doctor came along and probably lent her some materials needed. You'd guess from your aura-reading experience she made a long-distance phonecall a few dimensions over.

ULC has a couple courses in Arcanomath at the extreme end of the post-grad level, under the Esoteric Sciences department. You went to the Esoteric Science building once, to cross reference something for a History paper on Mysticism in Europe. You never want to go back into their library again.

>>17809659

Well know at least we have some info on her if she shows up for round two.

So, what exactly do we need to do before the police show up? I mean, in keeping with our safe, sane, respect for authority approach thus far, we want to be a responsible Citizen. So, do what we can to help the injured maybe?

How's Roxane and the civilians? Is anyone badly-injured enough that we need to move them out front for the ambulances? Let's give Roxane a not-just-friendly victory hug.

>>17809750

Yeah, check and see if there's anybody hurt in the fight that we can help out.

And find where Roxane went to!

>>17809659
Wait whoa.
Did you just say Clock Roaches?
Did someone read Continuum?

>>17809750

>I mean, in keeping with our being LG

>>17809773
>>17809770

You start looking around, at the other 7-8 people in the coffee shop who were not adequately positioned to escape past your little fight. Luckily, it seems like with the rest of whatever the fuck Red does to things, the glass just kind of destabilized and fell inward in a sheet, zero concussive force. Everyone has shards of plate glass in their coffee, but they seem alright.

They're also all staring at you. Two of them have cellphone cameras on you, and a third is digging through their pockets for their phone. "Ta-da?" you say, helpfully. You look around for Roxane, only to see her hop the counter again (her papers and computer now placed back in a carrying case slung over her shoulder. You prepare to get make a move for a victory hug, only for her to not stop and clamp on to you. Right, no sense of personal space.

The hug ends almost as suddenly as it began, as she moves her arms to your shoulders and starts talking like an excited 7-year old. OMGOMG, YOUWERESOCOOL, SHEWASLIKE'ZAP' ANDYOUWERELIKE'POW', THENSHEWASALLWOOSH!" Each cluster of syllables is accompanied by expressive gestures.

A couple of squad cars pull up onto the curb in front of the store and disgorge policemen.

>>17809934

Oh my god Roxane is so adorably hyperactive.

Can we keep her?

>>17809934

Appear nonthreatening to the police officers, be ready to explain what happened, and able to produce our registration card.

>>17809966
I think thats the general plan.
>>17809934
Suave it up. Alle the way to eleven.
"How can I help you, officers?"
>Flash Card

Write down everything. Ask people to separate into witnesses and non-witnesses. Especially the ones who saw Red.

>>17809934
Fuck it. Give Roxane a smooch, then walk out to talk to the police, card in hand.

>>17810020
Also, after the glomp, be sure to strike a hero pose. Maybe say something to Roxanne super sappy "Protecting you was all I could think about".

Also ask her about the red mist.

>>17810020

That's the police's job. We're a nice guy, but I don't think we need to go THAT out of our way.

>>17810076
Exactly. Let the police take control of the scene. They'll handle everything. We should call that FBI guy. I'm sure he'll want to know about this.

>>17810100
Good call. After liplocking Roxane and talking to the cops, though.

>>17810100

Calling People and asking Roxanne questions need to happen after the police ask us things.
lets get this over with quickly and then leave promptly, without being suspicious.>>17810055

>>17810076
We should make sure that our story is straight with everyone. Especially with our potential vandalism of the parking meter. If no one saw that, I don't see a reason why we need to include it when we present our story.

>>17810100

Oh yeah that's right, they did want updates about Dr. Moreau.

>>17810121
Go with this.

>>17810120
That's witness tampering. Just tell the police what happened, make sure everyone's okay, kiss Roxane, call the FBI, that sort of stuff.

>>17810120

We're protected under that Good Samaritan thing. Everyone here can vouch for the fact that we saw something bad happening and stopped it. That's really all that needs to be said.

>>17810055
>>17810040
(Relationship with Roxane has increased!)

Fuck it. You're a big goddamn hero. You silence Roxane mid-sentence with a victory smooch. Two SRMD ladies in as many days. Johnny will be pissed.

You hear clicks of cameras, and are pretty sure this is going to be on the front of the Sunday Liberty City Libertarian. Then there is the crunch of shoes on glass "Right, what's all this then?" says an incredibly cockney police officer. "Dammit Bob, I told you to stop doing that accent!" says another cop, who sounds more local.

You break the kiss and the two of you stare at your feet and scuff them along the floor for a couple seconds, then turn to face the police officers who are surveying the destruction while fishing out your registry card.

>Time to give a statement. 100% Cooperation?

>>17810195
I'll repeat myself.
>>17809986
Let's suave it up as much as possible and tell them everything, preferably while flashing our card quickly at them. Big smile. Lets make use of our Charm 4.

>>17810195
90% cooperation, 10% push to call the FBI agent.

>>17810195
Cooperate, but use Charm and Command to make this go as quick as possible while still leaving them with the impression that you were doing them the favor. Call the FBI when we get the chance. If we can wrap this up quickly, we can still take Roxane over to Johnny's place to take a look at the Mk I.

>>17810302

Seconding this!

Contacting the FBI about this isn't really THAT high a priority, we can worry about it when we get some time later

>>17810302
>>17810248
>>17810233
(2x3 on Leadership check)

"Problem, officers?" you say, brandishing your new registry card like its 007's license to kill. Which reminds you, you need to watch some Sean Connery era bond films. Suave can only be learned at the feet of a master.

The other cop, not the one pretending to be a british bobby, makes a frowny face while the other one, Bob, looks around. "Hey, I know this place! They do good pastries here." The other one looks at his partner "Dammit Bob, we don't have TIME for pastries. We gotta call Metacrime down here." Bob nods. "We can stop by Dunkin' Donuts on the way back to the station." He continues.

Your statement is first, followed shortly by Roxane, and everyone else in the coffee shop. Once yours is down, you walk off on to the curb, and pull out your phone and the plain white card and dial Special Agent Johnson.

The phone answers before the first ring finishes, and you hear the agent's voice over the line. "Don't move. We're on our way. If metacrime tries to take you down to the station, say the FBI told you not to leave." Then he hangs up. What a dick.

>>17810376
But GreenEyes is awfully creepy, and he said if we saw anything...

The happier we can make him(via his partner), the less we should have to see of him.

>>17810444
Whelp. Looks like we're not leaving.
offer to buy Bob a pastrie for the road.

>>17810453

Point taken. Guess we're waiting for them anyways now.

Before the FBI arrives, let's talk to Roxane. We need to tell her that the FBI may take us aside for a bit for questioning. If they do, we'll check out the Mk I this evening. If they don't, we'll go straight over after we talk to them.

>>17810444
Well...damn. Time to be totally honest. Special Agent JohnsonMcMindrape is on his way.

Seconding the offer to buy the cop a pastry/donut. But only if it's on site.

>>17810507
>>17810479

You sigh, and sit down at one of the tables outside, while Officer Bob and his partner, named Jim, run some caution tape over the broken window and areas of the coffee shop. You give Roxane five dollars and tell her to get the two of you and the officers some donuts while you wait.

As you eat your donut, almost simultaneously, two unmarked cars come tearing down the street. One is a blacked out government issue SUV, the other is an unmarked Crown Vic. Both have the little portable sirens sitting on their dash. The two vehicles screech to a halt in opposite spaces, both clearly marked "no parking".

Out of the SUV piles (Special) Agent(s) Johnson, looking like typical G-Man, black suits and black sunglasses, with a black hat on shortbus Johnson's head, and non-snowflake Johnson in his typical creepy shaven baldness. Out of the crown vic step a couple of neo-noir detectives, one male, one female. They have LCPD vests on under trenchcoats, with big revolvers in shoulder holsters. As they exit, they simultaneously light cigarettes and put on fedoras.

The two parties approach your table like characters in a western showing off, only when they get to about five feet from you, what they draw are badges instead of their sidearms. The FBI goes first. "I'm Special Agent Johnson, and this is Agent Johnson, no relation. FBI Department of Metahuman Affairs." The detectives show their own badges, which were dangling around their necks. "I'm Detective Howard, this is Detective Philips," says the man. "Liberty City PD, Metahuman Crimes Division." They commence a staring contest.

>>17810735
Introduce yourself.
"We've met."
If you have any extra, offer them donuts.

>>17810735
They staring at us, or at each other?

>>17810751

Are these the same guys we met back there?

Explain that Dr. Moreau has more test subjects running around, one of which we just rumbled with here, and she teleported her away after we beat her.

>>17810771

Each other. You sitting in the middle, wondering if any of them have laser eyes.

>>17810783
Johnsons are same, detective are not.

>>17810735

>>17810795
Donut Count?

"Officers, Agents, if we could put our dicks back in our pants and get to business? I have a date to get back to."

>>17810806
ENOUGH.

>>17810751

"Donuts, anybody?" You interrupt their silent dick-waving contest by proffering the box Roxane charmed away from a barrista with her winning smile and five dollars. You get four different responses. "Not now, we're on a case." Say Detectives Philips and Howard simultaneously. "If you don't mind." says Agent Johnson, as he sits down at the table and begins to eat a donut fastidiously. He's so non-threatening it wraps around back to creepy. Officer Bob reaches out through the non-window and under the police tape with an, "Ooh, I'll take one!". Special Agent Johnson both remains standing, and declines saying "No thanks, I'm trying to watch my figure." He then seems to notice the person sitting with you for the first time. "Ms. Murdock." he observes, matter-of-factly. "Special Agent Johnson." Roxane responds, in a tone that would be neutral for most people, but for Roxane is about as cold as an antarctic mountaintop.

>>17810934
Second.

>>17810935
Keep suavin, then.
"So what do you wanna know?"

>>17810935
Oh shit. Get the Agents attention back onto us. Protect the girl from Agent JohnsonMcMindRape. Ask him what he wants to know.

If we want to turn thumb screws, we can ask who we should talk to.

>>17810972

We called them. If anything, we should be offering the info up first. Tell them that there's more of Dr. Moreau's experiments running around and we just fought one.

>>17811006
Err talk to first*

They said to call if we have more shit happen, not to INFORM THEM of shit happening. We handle this meeting on our terms, like a Commanding motherfuckers. "So, what can you tell me about what happened here today? I don't have anything to say beyond the statement I've already given, so I can only assume you're here to give ME information, Agents. Detectives."

>>17811097
Lets be less aggressive with Agent MindRape. He seems to have a history with Roxanne, and we don't want anyone to do anything rash.

>>17811111
Seconding this.

Can we make a Command and/or Charm check to get this meeting moving, and away from our insanely hot semi-girlfriend?

>>17811180
You mean our 'hotly semi-insane girlfriend.'

>>17811006
>>17810972

"So, what do you guys want to know?" You address nobody in particular. Detective Philips bites first. She says, "What happened here?" You jerk a thumb inside. "I believe officer Jim-"
"Officer JAMES, goddammit! Wait, that's still my first name!"
"-is collecting statements."
The two detectives exchange looks, and extinguish their cigs in the ashtray on your table before walking inside to commence forensic-ing the crime scene. You turn to Special Agent Johnson, who just raises an eyebrow at you, indicating for you to continue.

"One of Dr. M's other experiments tried to cap me while I was on a date." You explain, succinctly. "Damn." Says Johnson, Special Agent, simple. He produces a pipe from inside his suit jacket somewhere, and starts smoking it.

"We knew she'd contacted you again, psychically. Johnson here inserted a little Psychic program into your Psyche last time you talked. Nothing harmful mind, just threw up some trip wires in case anybody else decided to poke around in your grey matter. We had all the appropriate warrant." You are mildly miffed about this, but at least you're certain you were long-ranged telapathed, not, like the doctor imprinted her mind into your brain or something like that.

(cont.)

>>17811256

"We should have assumed she would have more than one subject. It's not a proper experiment with just one observational subject, especially for one so complex." Says Agent Johnson, after wiping his mouth with a handkerchief. "For one of them to attack you though..." He seems puzzled.

"Can you describe them, son?" Asks shortbus. You proceed to relate Red's appearance and powers to them, as you understand them. "Well, shit." Says Johnson, through his pipe. He extinguishes the pipe, then turns to Agent Johnson. "Octus, go in there and have a sniff. See if you can get a trail on the Doctor, or the Arcanomath. I need to call upstairs." Agent Octus Johnson (Really) excuses himself from the table, and heads into the coffeeshop, with a hand pressed to his temple. Special Agent Johnson whips out his cellphone and makes a call, walking back toward his SUV.

>>17811268
"If we're done, Agents, Detectives, we'll be on our way. You have my number."

>>17811268
Before we leave with Roxanne, lets check if there's anything else they know about this.

>>17811313

This. Time to take Roxane home and relax over some Mark 1 power armor schematics.

>>17811332
Mmm. Such a smooth sweet-talker.

>>17811111
>>17811006
>>17810507

Point of clarification. Regular Agent Johnson does the mind probes. He's the bald, younger one with the glowing green eyes who talks in this creepy soft monotone. Special Agent Johnson looks and sounds like a typical G-Man from the 50s or 60s, and is just a tool.

>>17811328
Ask them what's up with their expression.

>>17811395
>Hnnng.

>>17811431
(Not close enough for your liking?)

Should we tell them that there would be 8-10 other people that were experimented upon with these powers:
>Supersoldier Drugs
>Magic -Red Hoodie (dissolves reality)
>Metatech/Superscience
>Psionics
>Cybernetics
>Hiveling Biotech
>Cyrean Psitech - Us. Two other known modules
>Gene Splicing - Us
>Nanoware

or is that OOC knowledge?

>>17811464
That'd be OOC yes. You could suggest that there are probably more around, but they seem to know that already. Something to do with the scientific method.

>>17811459
The hnnng was an erotic one. That's how I'm picturing her, but it's pretty great.

>>17811464
*that there might be
not would

>>17811507
Mention that she probably is trying to experiment with the effects of every given type of metahuman power. Genetic engineering, magic, etc.

Proper study method would require a sample size to be at least 1,000-large for a credible study, assuming reasonable control of variables. 100 might be indicative, but even then, the less variable control you have, the more you need for it to be indicative. I'm assuming she doesn't have sample groups 1,000-large and that she's SRMDing viable data where more ethical and mundane scientists would see nothing.

>>17811508
Ah, I had thought you were gagging, leaving me to think WTF.

What's our gameplan for the moment?

Finish the questioning, mod up the PA, and then what?

At some time, I would want to ask Roxanne what is up with her and Agent "Mindrape" Johnson

>>17811699
Try to find a power module cache in Vermont after Johnny heals. Aside from that, I dunno, get some beers and a cooler and some lawn chairs? Sit out on Johnny's lawn chilling and shooting the breeze, offering an extra set of hands to Roxane as needed? You know, live a normal life with abnormal things in it. No reason everything has to be training, fighting, and so on all day every day.

>>17811755
We should get a Frisbee!

>>17811328
>>17811313

You stand. "Need anything else, Agent?" you ask. He's still talking on the phone and just waves you off. You prepare to leave. "HOLD IT!" Someone booms. Or was it two someones. You turn to face the open interior of the coffeeshop, as Detectives Howard and Philips hop out the shattered windows, only just clearing the police tape. "We have some additional questions, if you don't mind." Says Howard. "And if you do mind, you can ride to the station in the Crown Vic." Continues Philips.

Philips then produces a sketchpad from under her trenchcoat somewhere, and pulls a pencil out from behind her ear. While she does, Howard produces two cigarettes, and they both resume smoking. Howard turns back to you having lit his partner's cig. "Describe the woman again, to us." You do so, all the while Philips is feverishly sketching. After you finish, she flips over the sketch pad and shows it to you. "This close?" She asks. It is an uncannily accurate sketch of the woman, right up to miniaturized versions of the symbols tattooed up and down her arms and legs. Did you talk about those? You nod that its accurate, and she puts the pad away while Howard says "Cool." He looks you dead in the eyes. "You say you aura-read her? Know anything about doing that? Something that could be helpful for a profile?" You respond in the negative. You do remember the... entity that seemed to "shadow" her.

The detectives exchange glances, and mutter "Herald of the Red Star." You're about to ask them what the fuck they're talking about, but Philips cuts you off. "Sorry, Police business. You'll have to use a library, like a normal person." Howard cuts in. "Take our advice. Don't." They extend cards to you. "Call us if you see or hear anything that will help."

We need to go back to the station sometime within the next week to have them update our file to include aura-sight.

>>17811395
>Saving this image for later threads.

>>17811553
Well, she does have ~40 years experience as a Mad Scientist (Though she was in training to be a Medical Doctor before she snapped), so corner cutting is okay. Also yes, she can SRMD the data a little for the purposes of extrapolation. Just exactly what parameters she's set up are a mystery.

Well, I think it's time to bring Roxane (I wonder if she would object to Roxy) to see the Mk I.

>>17811806
These two are obviously imposters. No one acts that film-noir-y

>>17811892
Forgot to mention that while you were talking, she said her friends call her "Roxy". Considering you two made out in he ruins from your first metahuman fight, you can probably employ it.

>>17811895
Metacrime ain't for posers nor chumps.

>>17811806
Let's get out of here now. Get the girl, and go. On the way, ask her about her relationship with Agent MindRape, and whatever this Red Star business is.

>>17811932
Then yeah, I think it's time to introduce Roxy to the Mk I. What are we going to call the Mk I, the Discus? The Shot Put? I'm only being a little sarcastic, it needs a cool name. We should run this by Johnny - he's the journalist, he should have a better idea than us.

Took the liberty of archiving this.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/17805147/

>>17811975

Well if we're keeping with the track and field naming scheme, why not just the Hammer?

>>17811895

>>17811956

You begin walking off into the afternoon sun, holding hands with Roxy.

>Agent MindRape

"Oh, when I was 16 I reverse engineered some computer viruses to trying and build a distributed computing 'brain' so I could make a robot duplicate who would know all the stuff I knew. That way I'd have somebody intelligent to talk to." She pauses, and her cheery drops a couple notches, and she gets a bit sheepish. "It accidentally kind of illegally accessed some government computer networks while I wasn't looking. Then some nice men in black suits came to have a talk with me, Special Agent Johnson among them. Not his friend, the regular agent one. Then they took away my server set up in the basement. Special Agent Johnson checks on me every couple of years, now, making sure I obey the court order which prevents me from personally linking more than two computational devices together." She pauses to thing. "Funny thing, he looked exactly the same then as he did now."

>Red Star business

"Iunno." She says, utilizing her full mastery of the English language. "Sounds...esoteric." She shivers. "I went into that building once. I volunteered to be hooked up to a dream-eating machine. Dreamed about nothing for a week." You give her a look. "What? It's creepier than it sounds."

You then decide to proceed along with your day, hoping that whatever remains of it will be as pleasant as the start of it. But not as interesting. You're fed up with interesting.

PART 3 END

>>17812129

This quest is getting awesome. Thanks for running it, OP.

Unofficial Roxy theme song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nFooCj2XWI

>>17812005
So, funny story. the name "Javelin" was actually suggested (In thread, still) by one of my players, because of a WT Character I made for a campaign set in this universe, who turned out kind of similar to Dan. His alias is "Longsword".

>>17812158

Rather, you guys made Dan similar to [Longsword].

>>17812154

Thanks for reading/participating. It's cool to be appreciated.

>>17812129
Very intriguing.

Bit of a question: How much do you plan for these? This is my first Quest thread, and I am enjoy it very much.

>>17812129
No kidding. Fuck interesting. A cool beverage, some shade, brotastic conversation, and, I assume, seeing Roxy stick her butt up in the air when she dives head-first into the Mk I's chassis.

>>17812005
I like it. The Hammer. It fits the theme AND seems an appropriate name for a piece of industrial equipment.

>>17812158
>that feel when you know what song it is before you click the link

Is there a specific time I can find this thread tomorrow?

>>17812206
Oh, shit, that's what we should do. Have a cookout while fixing up the Hammer. Dinosaur BBQ, anyone?

>>17812181

Depends. Some of the stuff, I've got running longer term plans. Mostly I end up a couple hours plotted ahead, when I get a feel for where the posters are steering the thread for that day. Some stuff I make up as I go along. NPCs are mostly like that, unless they were preexisting world NPCs. For example, I knew that two detectives from Metacrime would show up after the coffee house business, but they didn't become Detectives Howard and Philips and have their personalities until I actually started writing that post. Roxane was planned over the night between threads 1 and 2 when I was thinking about the option to head to the Genetics lab. I wrote our new rival's character sheet in about 10 minutes as I resolved what I wanted her to do.

>>17812216

~4 PM, EST. Probably be a shorter thread tomorrow, if I can manage. I have homework to do. Then I'll be busy with school M-T-F, so after that it'll probably be like, Thursday.

As usual, feel free to ask general setting or OOC questions in this thread until the new one launches in 14 hours.

Here, have delicious Rival character sheet.

>>17812510
does this mean she is dead?

>>17812510
Shit, I'm glad we didn't do something retarded like try to talk her down or fight fair. She would have slaughtered us.

>>17812510

To clarify for those who don't know Wild Talents, A is for Attacks (Which is for attacking), D is for Defend (Which is for defending attacks) and U is for Useful (Which is for everything else).

The U on "Eyes of the Void" is for seeing extra dimensions. I don't want to tell you what the U on Wall of Unreality does yet.

>>17812566

Please. You never found the body. What kind of story-teller do you take me for?

(Also this sheet will be totally out of date by the time to meet her again)

What is the technology level of this world at? It's quite a ways out from our world, but just how much?

Reading through the archived threads(newfag).

>>17812602
>(Also this sheet will be totally out of date by the time to meet her again)

Well fuck, she is going to level up isn't she.

If we're going to be running into more crazies like her we need to get working on our own improvement too.

>>17812670

I've never actually said this before, but the date is still 2012 (though later in the year). The everyday tech level isn't to much farther ahead, but probably a little more saturated. Even more people have stuff like bluetooth, smartphones, tablet PCs etc.

Non-middle class american levels of tech are pretty out there, though. Science is working on practical models for the Nanofabrication issue, and we have now have what is best described as "anti-gravity". Likewise, most modern military forces can field heavy infantry in Power Armor which uses miniature fusion plants or high-capacity batteries, and directed energy weapons are practical, if expensive.

Basically, tech is pretty Fallout, only without the 50s Raygun Gothic look to everything. Fringe-technology or Anachronistic stuff is even more out there.

>>17812739
Dude, you speak my language. You keep talking like that, and I'm going to have to start fapping.

(Mechatronics Engineering Major here)

To give you all a better idea about what all shit is going on in this world, let's talk about the University of Liberty City campus, which is huge because when it was build in 1996, along with the entire rest of the city, they stuck a school in for everything they already had, and left plenty of room for anything new.

It has:
-Normal college buildings and departments
-On site housing
-Its own Monorail station
-A Medical School, with an attached teaching hospital
-A Law School
-A technical institute, which is set up with a number of interesting buildings
-The "Spooky" building, which houses both the Parapsychology department, and the Esoteric Sciences department
-The Biotechnology building, which has the Genetics Lab, the Biology Lab, the Cyrogenics Lab and a maximum containment biohazard autopsy theater and the worlds best decontamination chambers
-Robotics Lab
-Physics building, including a Particle Physics lab, and an on-site fusion reactor for practical experience.
-Astro/Exo building, with Exobiology, Astrogeology and Stellar Cartography labs, along with a small observatory.
-New nanotech wing on the existing engineering building
-A fully functioning Nuclear/Orbital Strike bunker

And probably some other stuff I can't think of right now. Basically, there was a building for any conceivable Super-Power set or Major.

If you want, tomorrow I can tell you all about some historical metahumans. Like the League of Justice (what? It was the 40s. It was totally cool back then)

>>17813343
Sounds good.

>>17813343
Are metahuman vigilantes seen today more as super heroes, gun nuts who are a bit overzealous about putting down criminals, celebrities, or the every day person who pulls out a gun to stop a robbery/rape going on? Or other? I know that science chic is in style, and that's super-cool.

When it comes to esoteric sciences, how many different fields are there, and how many require actual personal talent on the practical side? Can people without a spark do complex rituals, but not spontaneous power-tossing? Can a normal person summon and bind a spirit to give them access to the spirit's powers? Has the spooky building ever needed serious renovations after someone got into some scary shit and they had to reevaluate their wards and other security measures?

>>17816631
>Are metahuman vigilantes seen today more as super heroes, gun nuts who are a bit overzealous about putting down criminals, celebrities, or the every day person who pulls out a gun to stop a robbery/rape going on?

Little from column A, little from column B. Metahumans who actively go out and stop crime are actually more rare recently, and the ones who KEEP doing it are rarer (Oh sure, you might revenge on the mobster who killed your wife, but unlike comic books, most people who aren't completely insane actually stop it at that). Large cities seem to have a handful of metahumans who will usually stop any major crime they see in their areas, and are usually though of as a kind of superhuman neighborhood watch, or a folk hero. Though in a strange reversal from what is probably the norm, older people like metahuman crimestoppers much more than younger people do, because they remember when the League was around and had positive and global presence. There are only a couple of non-sponsored heroes who operate at the national level in states.

>When it comes to esoteric sciences, how many different fields are there,

Well, it's treated as a discipline of science, so there are lots of fields that get sub-divided into sub-disciplines and things. Some are purely magical, others are treated as Magic+Mundane science (Eg, Arcanomathematics is Magic+Math, Alchemy is Magic+Chemisty).

>>17818350
>and how many require actual personal talent on the practical side?

Quite a few. A proper "Magister" is born, not made. But lots of people can practice limited or weaker magical arts with lots of book learning or using focii. (Technically, Dan could decided to go take some summer classes in like Summoning 101, but I doubt that's where we'll go with it)

>Can people without a spark do complex rituals, but not spontaneous power-tossing?

Yes.

>Can a normal person summon and bind a spirit to give them access to the spirit's powers?

Yes, but spirit summoning is frowned upon because you never know when that spirit is one of the many shades of demon, and will eat your face off if your circle of power isn't right. Actually, summoning and binding of demons is illegal (In the states at least) because demons are never good or nice and summoners keep screwing stuff up and ending up possessed or accidentally letting the wrong artifact out into the world or fulfilling the wrong prophecy which could bring about the end of the world as we know it.

>Has the spooky building ever needed serious renovations after someone got into some scary shit and they had to reevaluate their wards and other security measures?

Yes. Though their summoning room is in a bunker in the sub-basement, with magnetically sealing doors and an "airlock" which they had a priest consecrate as holy ground just outside the actual chamber. But a couple times something has gone wrong and damaged the place. Usually involving stray evocations, or the wrong name pronounced aloud.

Liberty City isn't the most famous school for Esoterica, though. You want a REAL education in that, you'll have to go to Miskatonic up in MA.

Are we having part 4 today?

New Thread:
>>17819927