>>38699882
>Disregard that starting early, was from a version of the first post before I got a bit busy here.

>Last time on Magus Hunter Quest: You chased a wild magus, got the boy, got enraged about a murder. met the arch magus and got promotion. You’re now talking to your new Arbitrator Lilliana Hecate, and are about to choose a team.

You read through the list Lilliana gave you:

>You’ll get to pick ONE person per category. I’m just giving you the raw stats of each but when asked I’ll provide a short bio for a person.

> Faces:
Katherine Downey
Body: 2
Mind: 3
Soul: 3
Ranged: 1
Melee: 2
magic: 0
Psychic: 1, minor telepathy: can manipulate and sense people’s moods and standing towards people or things. Can send psychic messages and read surface thoughts.
age: 43

John Johnson:
Body: 2
Mind: 3
Soul: 4
Ranged: 1
Melee: 2
Magic: 0
Psychic: 0
age: 26


> Snipers:
Liam O'connell:
Body: 2
Mind: 3
Soul: 2
Ranged: 3
Melee: 1
Magic: 0
Psychic: 1 Minor telepathy: future sight (several seconds)
age 29

Samuel Bacon:
Body: 2
Mind: 3
Soul: 2
Ranged: 4
Melee: 1
Magic: 0
Psychic: 0
Age 44

> Bruisers:
Jeffrey Saunders:
Body: 3
Mind: 2
Soul: 2
Ranged: 1
Melee: 3
Magic: 1, School: Blessing: Has protective spells and minor healing.
Psychic: 0
age 36

Ellen Phillips:
Body: 3
Mind: 2
Soul: 2
Ranged: 1
Melee: 3
Magic: 1: School: Blessing: Natural enhancement (Passive Magic): Enhanced speed and reflexes
Psychic: 0
Age: 23

Blake Bryson:
Body: 3
Mind: 2
Soul: 2
Ranged: 1
Melee: 3
Magic: -1 strong magic resistance aura
Psychic: -1 strong psionic resistance aura
age: 28

> Soldiers:
Alexandra Astra:
Body: 3
Mind: 2
Soul: 2
Ranged: 2
Melee: 2
Magic: 1, School: Enchantment (illusion specialisation)
Psychic: 0
Age: unknown
Race: unknown

Nathan Brown:
Body: 3
Mind: 2
Soul: 2
Ranged: 3
Melee: 2
Magic: 0
Psychic: 0
Age: 31

Kirsten Farley:
Body: 3
Mind: 2
Soul: 2
Ranged: 2
Melee: 2
Magic: 1, School: Elemental (basic offensive spells)
Psychic: 0
Age: 29


> Casters:
Raphael:
Body: 2
Mind: 3
Soul: 2
Ranged: 1
Melee: 1
Magic: 3, School: Classification: Divine. See Race
Psychic: 0
Age: 33
Race: Angel.

Jennifer York:
Body: 2
Mind: 3
Soul: 2
Ranged: 1
Melee: 1
Magic: 3 School: Elemental: focussed on offensive and combat utility spells.
Psychic: 0
Age 19

Francis Drake:
Body: 2
Mind: 3
Soul: 2
Ranged: 1
Melee: 1
Magic: 0
Psychic: 3, Type: major pyrokinesis, minor telekinesis
age 25
>You were in class with this guy. Pretty chill. Not a friend per se but someone who wasn’t an annoying prick.

"Take your time," the arbitrator says. "I've still got things of my own to sort out, so no need to rush this."

>As I said on twitter, apologised for the chaotic start, some last minute IRL stuff threw me off a bit.

>>38699949
/r/ info on ms Downey, mr. O'Connell, mr Saunders and mr. Bryson

>>38700022
Coming up.

>>38700022
>>38699968
And from the other list miss Astra and all casters

Or just dump all the dossiers maybe

>>38699968
>John Johnson
>Liam O'Connell
>Ellen Phillips
>Nathan Brown
>Raphael

>>38699990
>>38700044
>>38700074
>>38700143
I should have just written them all out to begin with I guess. I have a bunch of notes on them, but I'll write them all up now. I suppose I'll do them per role and then you can already vote between those.

>>38700186
>>38700143 (Me)
I don't really need the stats, this was my vote on who to pick. I imagine they're all more or less balanced anyway, so I just picked the ones that appealed to me most.

> Katherine Downey
Katherine used to be a wild psion. With an awakening so mild she didn’t even realise, none of the equipment or spells of the Order picked her up. She was nearing the end of her thirties when she showed up on the Order’s radar and finally recruited. She is a mother of two from her failed marriage, both her sons have left the house.
She has been deemed an effective Social specialist, and thanks to her experience with children has had great success in type A missions, while proving to be more diplomatic than originally estimated in situations other than with children.

>John Johnson
John has preferred to remain anonymous throughout his career, so it is assumed that the listed name is a pseudonym. It is also assumed that the listed age is incorrect.
Not much is known about John before he joined the Order, other than that he had ties to several criminal organisations, which eventually made him collide with the House Inara vampires. This made him approach the Order for sanctuary in return for his skills.
He has proven to be extremely charismatic, and has a very good track record. It is suggested not to involve him in too much vampire-business though.


>Face/off!

>Katherine
>John

>>38700273
>John

>>38700273
>John

>>38700273
>Katherine

The dude offers plot hook which might be fun as well as annoyance, but I think I'll vote for the empath lady.

>>38700273
>Katherine

John is not to be trusted.

>>38700273
>Katherine

>>38700326
>>38700328
>>38700355
>>38700394
>>38700466
Katherine it is.

> Liam O'connell
Liam is of Irish descent, and has lived with his parents until Order recruitment at the age of 15. Thanks to his psionic power confusing him and scaring his parents, there was no problem in acquiring him. In training, Liam proved to be an excellent tactical thinker, and excelled in long range combat. Once he learned to properly harness his gift, it aided him greatly in any type of combat situation.

>Samuel Bacon
Samuel was a sniper in the British army before running into a manticore and managing to kill it before Vindex squad arrived. After performing such an incredible feat, he was quickly recruited, albeit under slight pressure. As a result, he is uncomfortable with the Order, but ultimately wants to protect the populace and agrees that this is one of the best ways.

>Liam
>Samuel

>>38699949
>Katherine Downey
>Liam O'connell
>
>Alexandra Astra
>>38700273
>Katherine

>>38700494
>Liam

>>38700494
>Liam

>>38700494
>Liam

Precognition best cognition.

>>38700494
Fuck, they're both so good. Going to go with Liam due to the lack if a flaw, even though we can work with Sam fairly easily (aka, he hates anyone of stupid alignment).

>>38700521
>>38700523
>>38700531
>>38700536
Pretty clear win, Liam it is

>Jeffrey Saunders
Jeffrey was a devout priest until his abnormally late awakening at 23. He was shown the supernatural existed and gladly accepted to join the Order to keep the people safe from the abominations God did not mean for this world. Due to his earlier Jiu Jitsu training, he was easily accepted as a melee specialist.

>Ellen Philips
Ellen is the daughter of 2 Cerebrum members, and inherited her mother’s magical skill. It manifested differently than usual, and it has interwoven with her own life force and body, permanently enhancing them. Rebelling against her parent’s wishes for her to join them in the Cerebrum, she used her boosted physical prowess to train for close quarter combat and was accepted into the Vindex as a melee specialist.

>Blake Bryson
Blake is a survivor of an attempted abyssal possession. At the age of 22 he was targeted by one of the magic eating beings and through sheer luck was spotted by a member of the Order and taken into close observation and treatment of the Cerebrum. After over a year, they managed to remove the abyssal’s curse, even drawing it into our dimension and utterly destroying it. The Cerebrum wished to keep him for study, as an abyssal survivor is unheard of, but at Blake’s own request he was appointed to the Vindex.

> Jeffrey
> Ellen
>Blake

>>38700650
>Blake
that anti psion and magic is just pure gold.

>>38700650
>>Blake

>>38700650
Is Jeffery's healing only for himself? If so, Blake, otherwise, Jeffery.

>>38700650
>>Blake

>>38700650
Ellen

>>38700650
>Blake

The others are neat too, but a guy with magic resistance is bound to come in handy.
The monk might give good buddy dynamics with the angel though.

>>38700725
Not exclusively for himself. He needs to physically touch the one that needs the healing though.

>>38700784
Better then nothing. On-the-spot healing is highly useful. For my previous post
>>38700725
>Jeffery

>>38700650
Does Blake's magic resistance effect positive effects as well as negative ones? Not saying he's not a great choice, but if he needs healing, we'll need to have special stuff around just for him.

I just want MC to be able to pull a "Nanomachines, son." moment on someone when they underestimate us.

>>38700680
>>38700694
>>38700749
>>38700772
Blake it is.

>Alexandra Astra
Alexandra is not human, though is she tries she can easily pass as a woman in her late teens or early twenties. Her skin is an unnatural ebony black tone, though she normally maintains a minor illusion to hide this. She does not know what she is either, and was found as what is presumably her species’ teenage years wandering through the Scottish Highlands 40 years ago. She remembers very little of her past life or if she even had one, but has proven to agree with Order ideologies.

>Nathan Brown
Nathan was a professional soldier in the British army. His daughter awakened with powerful magical abilities, almost killing her. When the Order contacted them, he requested to join to help other parents going through those experiences, and thanks to his earlier job was accepted into the Vindex

>Kirsten Farley
Kirsten was recruited into the order at a young age. While initially promising with her magical abilities and trained to become a scholar of the Cerebrum, she eventually grew frustrated at the demands placed upon her and joined the Vindex instead. Thanks to her earlier training she has much better control over her limited magical skill than most of her power level.

>Alexandra
>Nathan
>Kirsten

>>38700888
>Nathan
he seems like a reasonable fellow.

>>38700888
>Nathan

>>38700888
>Alexandra

Highlander? Elf? Something else? I'm curious, and illusions are bound to be useful in any case.

>>38700888
>Nathan
should be a good pick if we're trying to avoid sillily aligned people

>>38700888
>Alexandra
A character who can smuggle their weapons into an area is worth their weight in platinum.

>>38700888
>>Kirsten

>>38700888
Nathan.

>>38700888
>Nathan

This dude has guts, I like it.

OP have you ever played Mage the Ascension, because this has technocracy written all over it?

>>38700876
Blake's anti-mystical aura works on everything. Magic and psionics can still be used on him, but it will have to be rather powerful to actually affect him.

>>38700973
You mean not-shit Tecnocracy. They have reasonable reasons to believe they're doing good.

>>38700888
>Kirsten

Gotta get them casters.

>>38700888
>Nathan

File: encounter.jpg (1.93 MB, 1920x1080)

1.93 MB JPG

>>38700973
Nope, I haven't. Never even seen or read more about it than just the title. I got the idea from a /tg/ thread about 2 years ago I think and I had the setting for a magical MIB-esque organisation half written in a dusty file somewhere.

When I was thinking of starting a new quest I kinda came across that file and decided to expand on it.

>>38701008
>Implying that the Technocratic Union aren't the good guys of mage
Sure some of them have their own power seeking goals, but the foundation of it is good.

>>38700912
>>38700918
>>38700941
>>38700959
>>38700967
>>38701022
Nathan it is.

>Raphael
Raphael is one of the “divine-born”, commonly called Angels. His Seraphim heritage can be traced back many hundred years ago, and all of his angelic ancestors served or helped the Order in some way. His family line consistently only had a single son, and his Seraphim sire still looks after him, occasionally checking up on him.
Raphael himself dedicated himself to the arts of healing and protection, and chose to take a proactive role and joined the Vindex in order to better help the people.

>Jennifer York:
Jennifer is a magical prodigy, awakening at the age of 8 and immediately being taken in due to the danger she posed to her surroundings. She had firm control over her powers by the age of 11, and by the time she was 15 outclassed most of the magical personnel of the Order. Her magic was not without its price, as she barely had a social life and was shunned by her classmates throughout training.
>Mentor’s note: She may act asocially and superior but she’s insecure and feels the need to prove herself. If given the chance I suspect she’ll bloom into a lovely young lady.

>Francis Drake
Francis grew up in the order, with his father being a Vindex member. He was already being trained when his father died on mission against a vampire cult when Francis was 16. Initially thinking of entering the Cerebrum, this spurred him into joining the Vindex.
>You remember Francis. He studied a lot too, and you occasionally hung out together. He was pretty chill, but never really shared anything personal.

> Raphael
> Jennifer
> Francis

>>38701052
Too controlling and too stagnant. The Order in this is grey-enough to be interesting.

>>38701081
>Raphael

>>38701081
> Jennifer

>>38701081
> Raphael
gotta have a healer.

>>38701081
>Raphael

>>38701081
Jennifer

>>38701081
>Francis

Elemental utility would be really nice, but I don't want a loose cannon in the squad.

>>38701081
>>Jennifer

>>38701081
> Jennifer
Utility mage could be useful, although Raphael is tempting.

>>38701081
>Raphael
Can't go wrong with a literal angel on the payroll.

Healing and protection is also very nice.

>>38701081
>> Raphael
>>38701048
Fair enough, this whole organization just reminded me of N.W.O

>>38701081

>Raphael
Frankly I'm a bit surprised we even get to pick a unique asset like this as a rookie commander.
In fact maybe that might be a reason to pick Jennifer or Francis instead. But hey, who wouldn't want to have an actual angel on team?

>>38701172
She just needs training and experience. Enough free-reign to prove herself, while enough repetition to not drop her spaghetti.

Raphael it is. Writing the next post.

>Face: Katherine Downey
>Sniper: Liam O'connell
>Bruiser: Blake Bryson
>Soldier: Nathan Brown
>Caster: Raphael
>Will be updating pastebin momentarily.

You carefully read through each of the files given to you. Some of the choices come naturally to you, but some others are a bit harder to decide about. All in all, it takes about half an hour before you hand the list back to Arbitrator Hecate. One question pops into your mind though.

“Ma’am, can I ask one thing?” You ask her. She nods absentmindedly, still busy with her own paperwork it seems. “Some of the candidates seemed, er… fairly unique. It seems weird to me that such assets would be given to a newbie Vindicator Primus such as myself.”

Lilliana looks up from her work and accepts the tablet you hand her. As she checks who you picked, she starts talking. “The answer to that is simple. The Cerebrum might care about special snowflakes and perfect objects of study, but these people want to be in the field, one way or another. Some of them may have worked under a different Primus already, for others you’d be the first to command them. You can learn from both of those cases, and their specific abilities do not give them preferred treatment. They are agents like the rest of us- I mean you. Is that enough of an answer for you?”

>1. Yes, thank you.
>2. The rest of us?
>3. Actually, I’d like to know more about …(specify)
>4. Write in.

>>38701525
>2. The rest of us?

>>38701525
>2. The rest of us?
>3. Actually, I’d like to know more about any prejudices they might have, our been shown to have, to make sure everyone can think straight during a mission.

>>38701525

>1. Very well.
>3. Will I be getting missions often, or am I expected to mostly do my own scouting?
>3. You mentioned gear and vehicles. Just what kind of hardware do I have access to and how hard should I avoid exposing it to public?

>>38701721
>>38701674
These seem pretty good questions

>>38701525
>1. Yes, thank you.

>>38700937
Dragon I bet

>>38701912
She's obviously the equivalent of an angler fish that lacks it's bait dangler whatchamacallit.

Forgot to mention, but I'm writing already.

>>38701930
Maybe we'll be able to get a second-dip or get a second squad if we're lucky.

>>38702016
We might have a bonus seraphim with our angel, I doubt we'll get anyone else.

File: 1387918559874.jpg (47 KB, 336x352)

47 KB JPG

>tfw we have no cute girls on our team

>>38702055
From what you can tell from the info, the Seraphim generally doesn't interfere unless their great-great-great-...-great-grandson is in mortal danger. If they visited at other times, even in combat, they'd sit back as long as they're not attacked themselves.

>>38702096
Maybe we'll enlist some down the line. For now let's just settle in in our new workplace.

>>38702096
We have Christmas-cake, and the possibility of hanging out with others not in our squad, thus being more professional.

>>38702096
No waifu material indeed.
but plenty of potential husbandos

>>38702096
I deliberately voted for all men to try and ward off waifuing for a while. Victory is sweet.

>>38702168

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InBXu-iY7cw

>>38702168
Sup
Pls no

>>38702199
I hope you realize this makes you just as bad as the waifufaggots in putting your dickery ahead of the story.

>>38702168
sup you i hope you realize you are playinh with fire.

>>38702245
I liked the guys I voted for, I just voted for the guy when I was stuck between a male and female choice. We'll be waifuing someone by fourth thread anyway.

>>38702199
I'm kinda sad now that no one else liked John Johnson for legitimate reasons.

“The rest of us?” You ask her.

“Oh, was… Well, old habits die hard. I didn’t want to be an Arbitrator, but I got to the point of my track record where I couldn’t say no anymore. Main reason I’m not higher up is because the higher ups are a bunch of morons that don’t know how field-work g-“ Suddenly her eyes widen as she remembers whose son she’s talking to.

You smirk. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell my mother.”

“Hah. Well I think I’ve said too much on the topic already anyway.” she replies

“Actually, I’d like to know more about any prejudices the team members might have, or been shown to have, to make sure everyone can think straight during a mission.” You ask.

“Well, with the crew you picked, I don’t think there’d be much trouble, though from what I’ve heard and read from the reports the angel might feel uncomfortable around Mr Bryson thanks to his unique ability. For the rest, I heard Liam is fairly cold. Does what he’s told to, but doesn’t like to socialise. Katherine likes to act as a team mom, and tends to be pretty good at it. Nathan I know personally. He’s a professional. He’ll do whatever you ask him to, but if he disagrees he’ll tell you in private afterwards. All in all, it’s a pretty good team you picked. I’m glad you didn’t put the priest and the angel together though. That might have shaken up the poor man’s faith a bit.”

“Very well. Will I be getting missions often, or am I expected to mostly do my own scouting?”

“Well, that brings us to the next part of briefing,” Lilliana says, and she brings up some files on the wall-wide screen in front of you. “This is the house you and the team will be staying in. It’s about half a mile from most other population, so no one will bother to ask any questions, but it’s placed in the middle of a few zones that need our touch. We already have the standard equipment being moved in there, so you’ll have coms, an armoury, etc.”

The screen changes to a map of the area around the mansion, and indeed, there’s several larger towns within an hour of driving from the mansion you’re given. “To move on to your question specifically, it’l be a mix of both. Obviously you don’t have the big guns like we have here when it comes to detection, but a member of the Oculus will join you there to provide the first line of information. Their primary job will be monitoring the area and warning you if anything pops up. If something on our end shows up that you’re not already acting on or if we have more information on whatever it is, I’ll be the one contacting you. Shortly put: If you see a fire, put it out. If you don’t or if its too far away for you to see, we’ll point you towards it.”

>>38702292
Wasn't here for that vote, I actually preferred him to Katherine anyway when I read them.

“I see,” you say, “And another thing, you mentioned gear and vehicles. Just what kind of hardware do I have access to and how hard should I avoid exposing it to public?”

“Good question. I’m starting to see why they spoke so highly of you. You’re thorough.” Your Arbitrator smiles at you. “Anyway, for now you’ll just have access to the standard stuff. Basic weaponry, nothing fancy, same with vehicles. If you prove to be reliable enough and the threats you face warrant it, you’ll be given access to some of the more advanced things. Stuff like say, modular ammo handguns, enchanted bullets, Illusion-cars. For now you don’t have to worry about it too much. The Order’s already done quite a bit of an investment in the house, so I doubt you’ll be getting much extra budget in the first few months. As for the exposure, your cover story is the generic government agent one. If any of the lawmen trouble you you give them my phone number and I’ll sort it out. Try to limit the prancing around with weapons to the times it’s needed though. Same for magic. The age of nano-tech might be dawning, but we can’t explain away everything without sending in the mind-sweep squads. Now, was that everything?”

>1. Yes, thank you. (continue to team introductions)
>2. Could you tell me more about…
>3. Write in.

>>38702323
>1. Yes, thank you. (continue to team introductions)

>>38702323
>1. Yes, thank you. (continue to team introductions)

>>38702323
>1

File: image.jpg (96 KB, 720x404)

96 KB JPG

>>38702323
>>3. Write in.

Is my car at the house already?

>>38702258
>>38702199
I purposely put men and women in for almost all classes. Not my fault the only woman that won a vote was the one nearly twice your age.

File: 7409c235-bbf9-4a6d-9bb2-6(...).png (256 KB, 630x355)

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>>38702323
>The age of nano-tech might be dawning

Need it. Now.

>>38702323
>>1. Yes, thank you. (continue to team introductions)

>>38702323

I wonder if the mansion is connected to some sort of underground passages to allow unnoticed entrance/exit (and potential security hazard I guess), but I guess we'll learn that when we arrive at our new base.

>1. Yes, thank you. (continue to team introductions)

Writing.

>>38702377
I'd prefer a mini-van. They handle very well, and won't be suspicious.

>>38702658
Holy shit, super top secret "destroy before reading" that tools around in a mini-van, that's fucking hilarious.

You spend the next hour talking to Lilliana about some of the minor details, including the fact that she doesn’t mind you using her given name, paperwork and other things that matter little while the team you picked is being notified and asked to come to HQ to report in. Slightly before you’re expected to meet your team, someone is at the door and Lilliana lets them in.

That person turned out to be the Oculus agent that would be provided to you. She looks about your age, fairly slim build, and pretty good looking. There’s something off about her though, but you can’t put your finger on it.

“Agent Milly Hackland, reporting in.” She salutes Lilliana before the at ease order is given. “I was under the impression you’d only catch up to Primus Keaton at the location.” Lilliana says. “Why the change?”

“My previous assignment ended earlier than expected. Nothing to worry about. Oculus business.”

“Very well. I suppose you can join us then.” Lilliana leads both of you down to a briefing room, where a group of five people is already assembled.

Your team.

You can’t help but feel proud of it. All the hard work paid off. The years of studying under Eddington weren’t a waste, as you sometimes despaired during them.

“Listen up people! You’ve been given a new assignment.” Lilliana takes the word. “From here on in, you’re under command of Vindicator Primus Keaton.” She turns to you, and continues more quietly to you, “I’ll let you do the talking.”

>1. Be inspirational. You’ll lead them to great things.
>2. Be professional. They pretty much know what their job will be, so you don’t have to waste many words.
>3. Be friendly. Establish yourself as one of them, not a leader to be followed without questioning.
>4. Write in.

>>38702697
They're also better then an suv at everything. They can even go fast-ish reasonably.

>>38702731
>2. Be professional. They pretty much know what their job will be, so you don’t have to waste many words.
>3. Be friendly. Establish yourself as one of them, not a leader to be followed without questioning.

>>38702731
Wait, we're Michael Keaton? I'm confus.

>>38702731
>Keaton.
Weston damn it. I keep mixing them up.

>>38702731
>4. Be professional, but show you don't have a stick up your arse, out if you do it's non-regulation. If they have something to say to you, they should do so immediately, but shouldn't break decorum if everyone is watching.
Basically 2+3

>>38702803
HAHAHAHA
>2. Be professional. They pretty much know what their job will be, so you don’t have to waste many words.
>3. Be friendly. Establish yourself as one of them, not a leader to be followed without questioning.
Give a small low key intro with a light attitude and laidback bearing. Don't be oversocial, or insists they call you by your first name and all that lame shit. just professional and jovial.

>>38702731
>2. Be professional. They pretty much know what their job will be, so you don’t have to waste many words.

Seconding minivan.

>>38702852
>>38702731
oh shit didn't link

>>38702658
Its both subtle and incredible hilarious, not to mention providing good utility without obviously being a blacked out SUV/Van

File: urban_assault_minivan.jpg (256 KB, 600x400)

256 KB JPG

THE BLACK MINIVANS ARE COMING

>>38702902
"Has everyone gone to the bathroom before we go kill those monsters? I am NOT turning around like last time."

Meanwhile, everyone bickers over which station to listen to.

>>38702915
>>38702902
They're even cheaper to buy. I think mini-van is confirmed at this point.

>>38702873
I don't care about linking or not if it's not final destination. I'll read it all anyway.

Also, writing.

>>38702915
Naw man it needs to be seafoam green, or just a normal unoffensive color. Otherwise you lose the extra shaming/fuck you factor when you show up to slay demons in it. Extra points for suburban vehicular homicide.

File: free candy.jpg (35 KB, 611x479)

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>>38702977
Or it could be a white one like pic related

>>38702731
>>3. Be friendly. Establish yourself as one of them, not a leader to be followed without questioning.

File: 2013-Chrysler-Town-and-Co(...).jpg (282 KB, 1902x999)

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>>38702977
>>38703014
Black minivans are fukken sexy though.

>>38703014
That's a van, supervisor. And it's not seafoam green, either.

>>38703014
Mini van man, a normal van could be construed as professional. That or this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKEZn9hLMiI

You guys just want to put a bomb in a mini van don't you

>>38703040
And when we go to a fancy-dress parry, we'll drive one.

>>38703056
I'm afraid technology isn't that far ahead yet. Perhaps with some magic it might work, but it won't be low-key.

>>38703075
Why load a minivan with a bomb when you can load it with badass (aka: us)

>>38703091
Ok but minivan and not full size van plz. Also needs a my child is an honor student stickers.

>>38703145
My other car is a humvee?

>>38703145
Mrs Weston pls go and stay go

>>38703182
How about 'my other car is a (insert old-bond car here)'?
>>38703075
I was bringing it up for the legitimate uses, but you make a good argument, anon.

>>38703253
Our license plate could literally say "INCGNTO" or some shit.

>>38702731
>2. Be professional. They pretty much know what their job will be, so you don’t have to waste many words

>>38703323
plus could you imagine if enemies knew us by the van we showed up in. BBEG: "Oh shit everyone one, its a minivan!"

“Right, as Arbitrator Hecate said, I’m Michael Weston. I’ll be in charge of you, and I’ll be responsible for you, for the foreseeable future. But you all know your jobs better than I do and since we’ll be living together for a while, I don’t want there to be a barrier between us. In the field I expect my orders to be followed, but I do want some downtime from being your boss too, you know.”

You pause a moment to take in the general mood of everyone. Katherine is smiling warmly at you. You can’t read much from Liam, Blake is sitting relaxedly in one of the chairs leaning back and seems to be comfortable. Nathan’s face doesn’t betray much, but you think you think it’s more of a smile than a scowl. Raphael has just been sitting there, nodding and looking happier than most Vindicators you’ve seen, though you do notice he’s sitting as far from Blake as possible.

“So,” you continue, “Why don’t you all quickly introduce yourself? Let’s start with you, Katherine.”

Katherine Downey quickly goes over her life and experience in the Order, nothing you didn’t know before. Next up, Liam O’connell doesn’t say much other than his age and that he’s a sniper. Blake Bryson is pretty smooth in his talking. He doesn’t say much about the Abyssal thing, but he does apologise for any discomfort he causes. Nathan lists off a few key points about himself like a true military professional, and Raphael declares that he’s looking forward to finally working in the field. As he sees some of the confused looks in the room, he clarifies that angels tend to age a bit slower, so compared to regular humans he’s about 20 years old, despite actually looking like he’s in his thirties.

So, that brings us to you.” You say to Agent Hackland. She looks in confusion for a moment before saying anything.

“Oh. You want me to introduce myself? Ok.” She turns to the rest of the team. “I’m Agent Milly Hackland of the Oculus.”

She seems to consider that enough of an introduction, and her behaviour seems to support your earlier feelings that there was something weird about her.

>1. Urge her to tell you some more in a friendly manner.
>2. Tell her that won’t do for an introduction.
>3. Leave it be. Continue to your mini-vans and head to your new home.
>4. Write in.

>>38703516
>2. Tell her that won’t do for an introduction

>>38703516
>1. Urge her to tell you some more in a friendly manner.
Come on, you can tell use a bit more. We'll be working together for a while.

>>38703516
>3. Leave it be. Continue to your mini-vans and head to your new home.
They'll come around

>>38703516
>3. Leave it be. Continue to your mini-vans and head to your new home.
We're all adults here, no need for prodding, and we'll find more out later anyway. A small shrug would be the option of choice.

>>38703516
>2. Tell her that won’t do for an introduction.

Come on, Liam already played the really direct card, you can't use it too.

>>38703516
>Mini-Vans

But Muh 1973 Dodge Charger

>>38703516
>3. Leave it be.
No need to hurry, we'll get there eventually.

>>38703516
>3. Leave it be. Continue to your mini-vans and head to your new home.
We let Liam get away with it

>>38703516
>3. Leave it be. Continue to your mini-vans and head to your new home.

>>38703579
We'll get one when we need it, Anon.
>>38703516
>1. Urge her to tell you some more in a friendly manner.

>>38703608
>>38703576
Sorry, I realise I wasn't entirely clear. Liam did give some more than just that, even if it was barebones. It just boiled down to "irish, sniper, psychic".

Very well, writing.

You’ll let it go for now. You’ll be living together with her and the rest of the team anyway, so she’s bound to open up a little. You finish up in the briefing room and head down to the garage, where Lilliana says her goodbye.

“I’ll be in touch, but I hope I won’t have to be all too often.”

The two vehicles provided are a nondescript minivan and a regular passenger car like so many others on the street. not too much black, just regular colours. They’ll blend in nicely.

You split up into two groups, Liam and Blake in the car, you along with Katherine, Nathan, Raphael and Milly in the minivan. It’s more spacious than it looks from the outside, but as far as you can tell it’s not magical. The wonders of engineering still exist, eh?

On the ride, Katherine quickly gets the conversation going. While it’s mostly her and Raphael chitchatting about their daily lives, nothing really important crops up. You do learn that Katherine calls her sons once every few days and that she’s a bit of a neat freak. Raphael meanwhile prefers not to talk to Inariel, his Seraphim great-something parent, as he considers them to be fairly rude with very limited knowledge of human social structures. He was not amused when they barged in when he was alone with his first girlfriend. He did offer to cook, as it seems to be one of his hobbies. Nathan is driving and is fairly quiet, though you can tell he is definitely paying attention to the conversation. Milly meanwhile seems oblivious to the people around her and is fiddling with her tablet.

>Do you want to steer the talking in a specific direction, or do you just listen and add in your own comment every now and then?
>1. Steer the discussion towards … (specify).
>2. Just go with the flow.
>3. Write in.

>>38704069
Next post will be the last one btw. I have to get up early tomorrow.

>>38704069
2. No need to harsh everyone's vibes

>>38704069
>2. Just go with the flow.

>>38704069
>2. Just go with the flow

>>38704069
>2. Just go with the flow.

>>38704069
>1. Steer the discussion towards … So did you guys hear what happened to the last team assigned here? Oh boy you sign up for this life expecting trouble but that was some seriously fucked up shit. Thank God the main office took care of it and its gone for good, probably.
Just kidding my real vote is
>2. Just go with the flow.

>>38704069
>2. Just go with the flow.

Ok, writing.
>Captcha: tskip
no, not a timeskip just yet, unless you count the ride there.

we missed out on the chance for driving songs.

>>38704370
Her name is Noel, I have a dream about her

>>38704498
The wheels on the minivan go round and round, round and round...

You just go with the flow. You haven’t really been friendly with many members of the teams you’ve been in aside from just general chit-chat, but this will be different. You’ll be with these people for a long time, so you make some effort to get to know them better. You tell them about your parents pushing you, and Edward Eddington pushing you even harder. Raphael tells you that he had heard about Eddington and that he was very glad not to get him. Though you guess it turned out alright.

In the middle of a talk about hobbies, Raphael turns to Milly. “So, tell us a bit more about yourself. I mean, even Nathan here pitched in.”

Milly just stares at him dumbstruck, as if Raphael had just told her to juggle elephants. There’s a long awkward silence, luckily interrupted by a news message on the radio that Katherine apparently wants to pay attention to. After the news, she continues chatting as if nothing had happened. Doesn’t seem like the Oculus Agent is planning on being part of the team or anything.

Some time later, you arrive at the house. Your house, you remind yourself. It is as advertised. In the middle of nowhere next to a forest, but everything within reach. Large enough to probably fit in twice your number comfortably, though you suppose some of the rooms have been set up as armoury, briefing room and the rest. You wonder if it has a cellar. The mansion also has a large garden, about five times the building’s surface. You wonder if you’re supposed to keep the grass short.

About a minute behind you, the car with Blake and Liam arrives, and as they do you hear the distinct sound of… Is that Liam? And Blake? Singing?

“…ighway to hell!” The engine is cut, and they exit their car. Liam looks a bit more friendly than he did at the briefing. Blake is smiling widely.

“So boss, we going to explore the haunted mansion?” he jokes.

Time to mine all but a convoluted path of the front garden!

>1. Were you and Liam singing? (incredulous, you wouldn’t have thought Liam sang)
>2. We sure are. Dibs on the biggest bedroom.
>3. I’ll check out the building and assign each of you a room.
>4. Write in.

>And that's it for tonight, since I have to get up pretty early tomorrow. Results of this vote will be counted and used for the next thread.
>Next thread is possibly Wednesday but it's possible I'll have to have some RL things to do then. If it's not Wednesday it'll be next Saturday. I'll keep you informed over twitter.

>Also, feel free to give some feedback and ask me some (meta) questions.

File: woodchester-mansion-01.jpg (32 KB, 400x300)

32 KB JPG

>>38704691
>Forgot my image. I keep doing that. Why do I never remember to add the image?

>>38704770
2 again

>>38704770
>4. We sure are. Dibs on the first pick of bedroom.
Biggest may not be best.

>>38704770
>2. We sure are. Dibs on the biggest bedroom.
>4. Write in.
Lovely singing voice - be a little cheeky to the team

>>38704770

>Ask Milly if she is familiar with the facility
If not
>Very well, exploring it is. Let's see what the organisation has fitted us with. Dibs on the tower office. And library. I do hope we have a library.

>>38704838

yeah this is optimal