>Master
You gain a talent for sculpting simple figures out of soft materials such as clay, mud, wax, etc. Though not especially detailed they generally come out as you want, and it takes less than a minute to make a single figure. It is no smaller than 6 inches tall, and no taller/longer than 3 feet. Once created, you may touch it to imbue the figure with a basic intelligence and mobility, though they will have no personality. It can speak quietly, but has a limited vocabulary. It will follow any orders you give it to the best of its ability, but complicated commands may be more than it can understand. Their physical abilities are also limited—the largest golems can lift roughly 40 pounds, but can work together effectively and can communicate wordlessly with each other. These automatons feel no pain, but gain very little additional durability, and even a particularly hard kick from an average human will be enough to break them. Losing a limb or even their head will not de-animate them, but sufficient damage to the “torso” will. You can sustain 12 of these figures at a time. You may remove the lifeforce from a golem at any time. To re-animate it, you must touch it again.
Note: This power comes with average piano-playing ability, a decent backstroke, and a single mom. Also, you're bad at lying.

>Blaster/Striker
You now possess the ability to convert heat to light, in a variety of forms, primarily centered around your hands. A stable temperature above 40F or so is enough for you to generate the equivalent of a bright flashlight, or a couple of laser pointers, with the light usually coming from your hands. As ambient temperature increases, your light sources can get stronger. Localized heat, like that from a fire or heating element, can also be utilized. At sufficiently high temperatures, you can create lights bright enough to stun or blind. You can emit light in the visible spectrum, as well as ultraviolet. You can also do the opposite, turning light into heat, though this only affects the space within a foot or so of your skin. Noontime sun is enough to make you painfully hot, and more than a few seconds in your personal space would result in 2nd degree burns.
Note: This power comes with novice self-defense knowledge, a can of mace, and parents who tend to be hands-off. Also, you're easily startled.

>Write-in?
Feel free to suggest a power, though understand that it must fit within the Worm lore and it's up to my discretion to accept.

Because this is the first post, and an important decision, I'll give it an hour or so before calling the decision. I'll be monitoring the thread to answer any questions you guys have about the powers.

>>2158906
>Blaster/Striker

>>2158906
>Master

>>2158906
>Master

>>2158906
>Write-in?
Brute/Changer
You gain the ability to absorb matter, both organic or inorganic, and use it to regenerate yourself, shift your body, or bolster your physical aptitude in various ways depending on what has been absorbed (eating steel still will make your body harden, and eating enough will enable you to grow steel claws). This absorption is the fastest when the matter in question is covered completely by your body, taking only a few seconds--whether that be through oral consumption or by holding it closed in your hands. Otherwise the absorption can take hours of concentration, and will cause strain. Your diet of sometimes hazardous materials doesn't make you ill, nor does it make you fat. Absorbing too much material at once will make your body more dense making things like swimming more difficult. This power comes with a skill with child care, an insatiable appetite, and a disgruntled older brother. You are very distrustful of authority.

>>2159113
Very cool write-in, even if it didn't win
>>2158986
>>2159048
It looks like Master's going to take it.
Writing now.

>>2159161
That first Master vote was was from me too so technically we have a 3 way tie.

Rolled 2 (1d3)

>>2159186
Huh, surprised I missed the ID.
In that case, I'll roll 1d3. 1 is Striker/Blaster, 2 is Master, 3 is the write-in.

File: Ava2.png (393 KB, 542x458)

393 KB PNG

>>2159211
Welp, at least I got my second choice.

You are Leah Redd, and you should be studying.
It is a Sunday night, after all, and you have a big exam on Tuesday that you've barely even reviewed for. Calculus has never been your best subject...but that's beside the point. The only reason you're even thinking about this is because you're trying to stall, even though you promised yourself tonight would be the night.

Ever since you found out about your abilities, you've been dreaming of this night, when you first step out onto the streets as a cape! That dream's been hampered just a little by the fact that Ashford is a tiny, sleepy town in northern Maine. The most news-worthy thing that's happened in the last 20 years is the paper mill shutting down, and that's not the kind of thing that capes tend to deal with, anyway.

But now things are different. You don't know what it is, but the things have been different lately.
Just this morning on the local news segment, you heard about a couple of lobster boats with mysterious damage to their haul and their boats. It cut to an ad pretty quickly once the man they were interviewing got a little too excited, but you're pretty sure you heard him mention "monsters" in the bay.

And there was that explosion the other night at the Protectorate base. The "Parahuman Liason" was on the radio the next morning explaining it away as a Ward having an accident, which makes enough sense. Still, it rattled windows on the other side of town; even if it is just business as usual, you want to know what kind of power can do that by accident.

Then, at dinner, your Dad was complaining about delays at the construction site by the National Park. He works as a supervisor there, and apparently there's been all kinds of weird damage to the equipment, but no clear signs of sabotage or anything like that. They've gotten all kinds of threats from conservation groups though, so he was saying the police should have investigated the whole thing by now.

You've already got on your "costume" though it's not much more than your boots, a pair of dark jeans and a black hoodie. You've got a bandana too, to protect your identity. Add in some knee and elbow pads you found in your closet, and you feel like you can deal with whatever troubles could crop up in a town like Ashford. You've got a satchel as well with a few necessities—a couple packages of modeling clay, a flashlight, a knife, some zip ties, and a couple of gauze pads just in case.

You sit there, chewing your lip, wondering where you should go for your first night as a hero

>The construction site by the National Park. You believe your Dad, after all, it definitely sounds fishy.
>The Protectorate compound. You want to see what kind of crazy powerful Ward made that explosion.
>The dry dock where the lobster boats are. Looking at the damage on the boats might help you figure out if it really was some kind of monster.
>Write-in

>>2159256
>>The construction site by the National Park. You believe your Dad, after all, it definitely sounds fishy.

>>2159310
Looks like it's just the two of us for now. Writing.

Well fuck, didn't make it in time to vote for the brute choice.
Fuck, at least tell me we're a guy

>>2159422
>Leah Redd
>Leah
I'm sorry to tell you buddy...

Right, the construction site. Whoever or whatever's been damaging the equipment might even be there now...though that might not actually be a good thing. You take a second and shake off your nervousness—if you're going to be a cape, it's your job to rush into danger without a second thought.

Slipping your satchel over your shoulder, you pop your bedroom window and climb outside, dropping the few feet onto the lawn. You intentionally left your bike leaning against the garage, and grab it, coasting down the driveway and onto the street. Fortunately, your house, a single story beige affair at the top of a small hill, isn't far from the National Park. A few minutes of pedalling along back roads later, and you're at the entrance to the construction site.

The site is dark, the whole area marked off with caution tape and traffic cones. Bulldozers, cranes and a large machine for laying asphalt sit in the middle of a large clearing, stumps and boulders piled nearby. You're hiding your bike just off the road when you hear it—a faint clank, metal hitting metal. It echoes for a brief second, then fades into nothing. You hesitate, wondering what to do next.

>Move along the edge of the site, trying to stay quiet
>Walk straight in. It's probably just the equipment, and even if it's not, your approach might scare off anybody there anyway.
>Hang back, waiting to see if you hear anything else
>Write-in?

>>2159422
Sorry anon, no luck there. Fun fact though, if Brute had won you would have been a guy. Striker/Blaster was a guy too, actually.

>>2159454
>>Move along the edge of the site, trying to stay quiet

>>2159461
fucking fuck

>>2159454
>Move along the edge of the site, trying to stay quiet

>>2159461
Huh, I would have thought Blaster/Striker would have been Female too.

>>2159454
>Hang back, waiting to see if you hear anything else

>>2159470
>I would have thought Blaster/Striker would have been Female too
'fraid not. It has to do with the trigger events.
>>2159469
Sneaking takes it.
Roll 1d20

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>2159503

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>2159503
We be MASTER sneak.

>>2159503
Oh, and i'm guessing it's best outta 3, highest roll gets it, the higher the better?

>>2159518
You're correct. Best out of the first three rolls, and higher number means higher degree of success. There may be modifiers depending on previous actions.
>>2159510
Writing.

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>2159503
Here's hoping we're the scary kind of Master

>>2159524
Eh I don't think so.
Old girl can only control like 12 of these things at once, so unless there is some form of power evolution then I doubt we'll ever be too OP.

The best course of action is to try to see what's going on inside the site without potentially revealing yourself. You pull the bandana up over your mouth and, tightening the knot one last time, slip into the trees.

It's a dark night, and using a flashlight is out of the question, so you have to move slowly to stay quiet. You tense up every time you step on a leaf or snap a twig, but the noise doesn't travel far in the dense undergrowth. The fall night is cold, but thankfully most of the foliage is still on the trees and bushes, giving you ample cover as you circle the site.

At first, you don't see anything out of the ordinary, just more earthmovers, piles of rubble and building materials, exactly what you'd expect to see in such a place. Then, there's another clang, closer this time, and a muffled curse. You freeze, and a brief flash of movement catches your eye. It's on the far side of the construction site, next to the trailer that your Dad uses as his office. Your line of sight is blocked by a backhoe parked just next to the trailer. To get a better view, you'd have to go all the way around the site. At your current rate, it would take ages! You could try sending one of your constructs over. A smaller one would be fairly fast and quiet, but it might have a hard time communicating important details once it came back.

You lean back against a tree, deciding on your next move
>Keep sneaking slowly around the site, best to be careful when you don't know what you're dealing with
>Use the modelling wax in your bag to send a small golem to investigate, then return to you and explain what it saw
>Call the cops! You're pretty sure something bad is happening, and if the police catch them red-handed they'll take care of it all. They might take a while to get here though...

>>2159558
>>Keep sneaking slowly around the site, best to be careful when you don't know what you're dealing with

>>2159558
>>Use the modelling wax in your bag to send a small golem to investigate, then return to you and explain what it saw

>>2159558
>Use the modelling wax in your bag to send a small golem to investigate, then return to you and explain what it saw

Make it rat-shaped and they won't be able to tell in this light.

>>2159573
>>2159564
Sending a golem in takes it
Roll 2d20

Rolled 20, 6, 17, 19, 9, 7, 2, 13, 2, 12, 12, 20 = 139 (12d20)

>>2159625

Rolled 16, 10 = 26 (2d20)

>>2159625
Lets try that again

Rolled 15, 15 + 12 = 42 (2d20 + 12)

>>2159625

>>2159629
>>2159637
Ignoring the inconsistencies, it's 20, 15
Not bad. Writing.

>>2159641
Oh, so you wanted 1d20 form two different people.
Noted.

>>2159646
No, I wanted each person to roll 2d20.
One person rolled 12d20, and you rolled 2d20+12
I took the highest roll for each dice rolled. 20 for the first, and the second 15 you rolled.

You nod decisively. This is a perfect chance to use your powers! Reaching into your bag, you tear off a chunk of the modelling clay and go to work shaping it. It warms in your hands and quickly takes shape, becoming a crude rat. In daylight, it wouldn't take more than a second to tell that it's not a real rat, but at this time of night, and at a distance? You're pretty sure nobody will think twice.

Placing it on the ground, you breathe in slowly, reaching for your power, and touch the rat. It animates at once, shivering for a second as though getting used to the body. It runs in a small circle, then stops and looks up at you expectantly.

"Go over there, by the trailer." You command, pointing in the right general direction. "Tell me what and who you see." It nods, and turning, scampers off. You can hear it rustling through the undergrowth for a few seconds before it emerges and runs across the site, barely visible as it weaves between earthmovers and dirt piles. It disappears around the backhoe blocking your view, and you wait with bated breath for what feels like eternity.

Then, just when you feel certain it must have been caught, you see it dart back the way it came, returning. Once it's back next to you, it begins to speak. Its voice is smooth, even, totally without inflection or emotion, and not at all highpitched, as you might expect.

"There were three people there. One was standing over a box with tools in it, and was touching them. They were talking quietly, all looking at the box." Having followed your orders to completion it stands motionless, waiting for another command.

Three of them? Well, it's probably good you stayed out of sight then. Could they be villains? Or just normal criminals? You sigh—the golem did its best, but you do wish they were a bit smarter sometimes. Still, now you know they're almost definitely sabotaging the gear, if they were messing around with the powertools kept locked up near the trailer...

Your first instinct is to try to scare them off. It sounds like they haven't faced much resistance so far, so they might run off at the first sign of trouble. Then again, if you could get closer and get a better look at them, you might be able to identify them to the police, or even follow them when they leave! Then again, just knowing that your Dad is right, that they are sabotaging the construction project, might be enough gained for the night...

>Create more golems from the clay, and mud nearby, and try to scare them off (specify number and size)
>Try to get closer. Now that you know where they are, and that they're facing away from you, you can afford to move faster and should be able to reach them fairly quickly
>Leave right now. They're probably not messing around, and you've already learned enough for the night.

>>2159742
>Create 2 more golems from the clay, and mud nearby, to carry your phone and take a picture or something.

>>2159742
Call the cops
Standby in case the cops need help against parahumans.
Try and make a bird golem, see if it can fly so it can follow them to their homes or hideouts if they run.

>>2159798
>>2159753
I'll give it 10 more minutes to break the tie, if there's no change I'll roll 1d2 to decide.

>>2159798
Support

>>2159798
>>2159857
Takes it
Writing.

This has gone far enough. You know that whoever they are, the people over by the trailer are the ones who've been sabotaging the construction project. Up until now there hasn't been any real evidence of interference by an outside group, but if the police get here quickly enough, they'll be able to catch them red handed!

You reach into your satchel and dig out your phone, dialing the police anonymous tip line. You'd honestly expected an answering machine or something, but a live voice answers. Must be a slow night.

"Ashford Police Departmen--" Before the person on the other end can finish speaking, you cut in, trying your best to mask your voice.

"There are three suspicious individuals sabotaging equipment at the construction site by the park! Hurry, and you might be able to catch them!" Heart pounding, you hang up. Hopefully that'll be enough to get them to send a car at least.

You sit there in the bushes, rat-golem at your feet waiting patiently for orders. Minute after minute passes. Another metallic *clang* echoes through the construction site. On a hunch, you try sculpting a bird, animating it and even giving it a light toss into the air...to no effect. It flaps as best it can, but it's simply too heavy to fly.

Waiting, with your eyes on the road, you almost miss it as three figures cross the site, heading deeper into the park, away from the trailer. It's hard to tell from this distance, but one of them looks different than the others, bigger, its outline less well-defined somehow. They're not moving particularly fast, but soon they'll be out of your view, and you don't hear anything coming up the road.

You bite a fingernail, almost too nervous to think straight. You could try following them, or have the rat go after them. It wouldn't be able to tell you anything at first, but your golems can always find their way back to you, so it might be able to come back and show you the way if it followed them. Then again, if they got in a car or anything it wouldn't be able to follow them at all. The police might be on their way, but they're just taking too long...

>Follow them yourself
>Have the rat-golem follow them
>Let them go, try to figure out what they did to the tools
>Write-in

>>2159898
>>Let them go, try to figure out what they did to the tools
I think we did our job a good citizen.
If the problem isn't solved by the morning, we know exactly what is going on and we have the means to stop it.

>>2159898
>Have the rat-golem follow them

>>2159898
>>Let them go, try to figure out what they did to the tools
>>Write-in
Place golems on watch to make sure we aren't caught in a trap.

>>2159898
>Let them go, try to figure out what they did to the tools

>>2159909
>>2159913
>>2159904
Writing.

You start to go after them, but then stop, shaking your head. It doesn't make sense to try to go after them. For all you know, they could be parahumans with dangerous powers, or something just as dangerous! Your best bet is to stay here, and figure out what they were doing to the power-tools.

Still, you feel a little nervous. Best to set up some kind of lookout, just in case they circle back or something. You take a minute or two and empower two more golems, using up the last of your clay and a bit of mud from the ground.
[3 OUT OF 12 IN USE]

"Now, spread out and run back to me as fast as you can if you see anyone approaching, okay?" The golems nod and scatter, each taking a segment of the site. They may not be all that smart, but they certainly cooperate well and there's nothing wrong with their eyesight. You should get a warning before anybody can sneak up on you.

Making sure the three figures are out of sight, you slip out of the woods and jog across the construction site towards the trailer. They didn't bother to re-lock the box of tools, and you crack it open. Jackhammers, augers, chainsaws...all the typical tools, and none of them look broken. Then again, you think you remember Dad mentioning that—all the tools looked fine at first, but none of them would work right.

Just as you're taking a closer look, digging in your bag for your flashlight, red and blue lights flash over near the entrance. Seconds later, two powerful flashlight beams strafe across the site, and one of the golems scampers up.

"There is a police car. There were two men in it, they have begun walking this way."

You hesitate for a second, lights coming closer. Up until now you've been hidden by the same backhoe that blocked your view earlier, but it looks like they're making a pretty thorough circuit, so they're bound to see you if you stay where you are. Is that bad? You realize you're probably in something of an incriminating position, standing where you are at this time of night.

You could definitely try to convince the police of what you saw, but what are the odds they'd take you seriously? Despite your "costume", you're pretty clearly just a teenager. They might even try to take you in, or realize who you are. Considering how small the town is, odds are pretty good they'd at least know you by sight.
So, you could run. The woods aren't far, you could definitely make it there before they'd catch you, maybe even before they'd see you.
Or...you could use your powers. Another golem or two would come together quickly, and even with just the ones you've already made, you're sure you could make enough noise to distract them while you slip away.

>Stay where you are, and try to convince the cops your story is true
>Run, try to hide once you get into the woods
>Use your powers to distract them while you run (specify if you create another golem, or use existing)
>write-in

>>2159970
>>Stay where you are, and try to convince the cops your story is true
This is the best idea
This plan can't possibly fail

>>2159970
>>write-in
Have a golem head over towards the direction that the criminals went, make noise, and then disassemble into loose parts.

>>2159994
this

>>2159994
>>2160000
Misdirection towards the criminals takes it.
Writing.

>>2159994
>>2159970
Sorry, I mean fully disassemble, as in, loose earth and sludge, so that there is no indication that it was ever a golem.

Dammit! If only there was a way to tell the cops about the figures you saw and keep out of sight at the same time...that's it!

Gesturing to the golem at your feet, you whisper instructions to him.

"Go, run in that direction, and make some noise. Once the men come close to you, break apart, okay?" The golem nods and skitters off into the darkness. You crouch down against the backhoe and wait. The beams of the flashlights get closer, closer...and then, in the distance, you hear muffled speaking. It's hard to tell, but it sounds monotone enough to be the golem. Either way, the cops hear it at the same time you do.

Without a second's pause, they hustle off towards it, one speaking into his radio. They run right past you, the shadow of the earthmover concealing you. A few seconds later, you feel a part of your power return to you.
[2 OUT OF 12 IN USE]

It sounds like the police are still headed in that direction—your golem did its job well, or they might have seen a trail that the people you saw left behind. Either way, they probably won't be back for a few minutes. Now, what's the best thing to do...

>Use your light to search the area around the tool-chest for clues
>Get out of there—no sense taking chances when the police are involved
>Follow the police at a distance. Their lights should make it easy to follow them and see if they can find anything.
>Write-in

>>2160039
>>Follow the police at a distance. Their lights should make it easy to follow them and see if they can find anything.

>>2160039
>Get out of there—no sense taking chances when the police are involved
We did our duty. Let the cops handle the rest.

>>2160039
Make it muted and narrow the beam by covering it with cloth.

>>2160039
>Get out of there—no sense taking chances when the police are involved

>>2160047
>>2160062
Getting out of there takes it
Writing.

Peeking around the edge of the trailer, you make sure the policemen are far enough off that they won't see you, and make a dash back to your bike, calling to your two remaining golems as you go. You de-animate them and tuck them into your satchel for the time being. Hopping back onto your bike, you make sure to take the back roads on your way home. No sense running into the cops after you thought you were home free.

You roll up to your house, exhausted, and lean your bike back up against the garage. It takes you a couple of tries to get back into your window, but you manage it without too much noise. You shed your costume and lie back in bed, panting.

What do you know? There's some kind of sabotage going on by at least three people, possibly more, at the construction site. It could be one of those eco-groups that's been sending threats, but it's hard to guess if property damage will be the worst they'll commit. You hope the police found evidence of some kind, at least then they could start an investigation. Not that the Ashford Police Department, with all 7 of its uniformed officers, would have much in the way of resources to devote to the case.

You glance at the clock and groan softly, realizing exactly how few hours of sleep you can get before school tomorrow. Isn't it supposed to be a field trip as well...?

Lying there in bed, thoughts of conspiracies and secret identities swirling in your head, you fall asleep.
----------------------

That's it for tonight, but I'll be picking things up again tomorrow, and responding throughout the day. Any criticism or feedback is welcome. Hope you guys had a good time, and see you again soon.

>>2160112
There is a Worm RPG (Weaverdice) which is well designed for online play. Have a look at it if you want to implement it, is good shit and thematically appropiate. It has rules to manage a territory, use your rep...etc.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Weaverdice/comments/4dy6ws/welcome_to_weaverdice/

>>2160317
Actually I was already aware of Weaverdice, and used some of the google drive sheets for coming up with trigger events/powers/etc. I elected not to use it in the end, but thanks for sharing the info!

>>2160112
Damn, I was actually planning on running a Worm quest here in a week or so. I don't want to step on your toes, but I've been looking forward to it for a while.

>>2162384
Please still do, while this quest is great as long as they're not thematically similar you'll probably both draw very different audiences.

Plus /qst/ always needs more quests.

>>2162384
We have like 4 different dbz quests at all times, 2 worm quests shouldn't be an issue.

>>2162384
Do it, i wish worm quests were as popular as naruto quests on this site.
Plus who knows, you might be the first QM here to finish a worm quest if you do it.

>>2162384
Go for it man, the more the merrier.
Btw, starting in 30min and running until 6-7amEST or so

Your alarm blares to life, pumping the latest country-pop fusion to top the charts. You flail wildly for a minute before finally hitting the snooze button and returning your room to blessed silence. You swing your legs over, sitting up, and take a few seconds to collect yourself.

You're usually already awake by the time the alarm sounds, years of routine having conditioned your sleeping patterns, but it seems last night's excursion was enough to throw you off. You rub the grit out of your eyes and slide onto the cold faux-wood floors, padding to the bathroom. Some cold water on your face makes you feel considerably more human, and infinitely more ready for the usual morning chaos.

You walk over to the kitchen, down the hall and past your brothers' room, and pull three brown paper bags out of the fridge, their tops held closed with red, blue, and green tape, respectively. The twins always complain that their sandwiches taste funny when you make lunches the night before, but you'll be damned if you'll wake up earlier just to satisfy their need for the perfect ham-and-cheese on pumpernickel. You grab the green bag and head back to your room, thudding a fist against the twins' bedroom door as you pass it. That won't be enough of course, but every little bit helps.

You head back into your room and hear the clock radio in your mothers' room, past the kitchen, flick on. You sigh—so it begins.

***

An hour later and you're at school, waiting to get on the buses for your field trip to Greg Spelt State Park and Conservation Area. The parking lot is packed with a chatting mob of students, milling slowly about. You find yourself naturally drifting to the outside, exchanging a few nods and smiles, but not really in the mood to talk.

Your homeroom teacher, Mr. Oliviera, gives a short blast on a whistle and waves for the class' attention. It almost works, too.

"Okay, buses leave in 5 minutes, so lets all climb aboard. Spelt Park isn't going to hike itself!"
Unsurprisingly, his pep is somewhat lost on the group of half-awake teens, but they dutifully begin to board the bus. The crowd is loose and moving somewhat slowly, so you have some control over where in the bus you're likely to sit

>the back. Sure, you don't really know anyone there and it might get a bit rowdy, but it's better than sitting up front and having to deal with Mr. Oliviera's over-excited speeches
>the middle. Not as crowded as the back, your usual spot.
>the front. Mr. Oliviera might be a pain, but he'll probably leave you alone and you can just stare out the window and zone out for the ride.

>>2163982
>the back

>>2163982
>>the middle. Not as crowded as the back, your usual spot.


fuck, my vote didn't go through hours ago

>>2163982
>the middle. Not as crowded as the back, your usual spot.

Damn /qst/ is slow today

>>2163982
>The middle

>>2163982
Also OP you should get a twitter to announce when you're running/remind people

>>2164628
>>2165023
>>2165035
Writing. I'm a bit in and out today due to visitors so updates will be sporadic, but all day long.
>>2165040
That would be a good idea.

After a moment's consideration, you manuever into the middle of the pack, ending up in roughly the middle of the bus. You've managed to get a window seat, and plan on ignoring the rest of the world for the entirety of the bus trip...until you hear a familiar voice.

"Leah?" he asks, sliding into the seat next to you and flashing a grin. "I missed you at swim practice the other day, everybody was wondering where you were."
You do your best to smile back, though it feels more like a grimace.

"I'm not on swim team anymore."
He quirks his head a bit to the side, as though waiting for an explanation, but you just stare. After a second of silence he coughs, clears his throat, and shrugs. You feel a little bad—Dex isn't a bad guy after all. You two were almost friends, after all. Same neighborhood, same clubs growing up, it was a natural thing. Still...he didn't so much as send you a text that week. Nobody did. That knowledge sits heavy in your stomach, like you swallowed a fishing weight.

The trip is short, with Dex making small-talk, answered with clipped monosyllables. Soon you arrive at Spelt Park, the bus doors swinging open to disgorge their contents. Three park rangers are waiting at the visitor's station, each of them wearing a name-tag. Cindy, Sarah and Peter, all in the same olive-green ranger's uniform and broad-brimmed hat.

"Howdy folks!" Peter calls, stepping forward. "Welcome to the Gregory Spelt National Park and Conservation Area! We're on a bit of a tight schedule, so we'll be dividing you all into three groups, each one heading to a different area. They're all beautiful, trust me, so don't worry about missing out!

"Now, before we break you up into the groups, you'll need to grab a buddy. I know, I know, y'all are young adults and it seems silly, but it's park policy for trips like this. So go ahead, partner up."
You glance around, trying to decide what to do, and notice Dex, just a few feet away, doing the same thing, though he's not looking at you yet.
>Don't pick a partner. They'd just slow you down and it's not like anyone here actually likes you anyway.
>Pick Dex. It'll probably be a pain if somebody finds out you didn't buddy up like they said, and he's alright.
>Ask Mr. Oliveira or one of the rangers if you can buddy up with them. Sure it's a little embarrassing, but it's not like you'll have to actually talk to them, since they'll be busy with everybody else.

A few seconds later, the two other rangers step forward as well.

"Hello guys and gals, I'm Cindy, and I'm going to be taking my group along the dry riverbed! It's a real fascinating spot, with some incredible cave systems nearby, used by bootleggers for decades!"

"I'm Sarah, and if you come with me, we'll be walking along Kenduskeag trail. No caves, but there are some killer views."
cont.

>>2165306
"And I'll be taking some of you to the foothills of Mt. Spelt, the peak that Greg Spelt summited in 1921 that gives the park its name, and the nearby emergency shelters!" finishes Peter, wide smile never wavering for a second. "And in case you were wondering, this is going to be one of the last times to see some of the areas around Kenduskeag trail, since construction on a major public works project is scheduled to take place soon!"

>Go with Cindy. Those caves sound interesting...
>Go with Sarah. You'd definitely like to see how much is going to be cleared, and maybe learn more about what it is they're building. Your Dad has been kind of tight-lipped about specifics...
>Go with Peter to Mt. Spelt. You've never heard of any emergency shelters, but it sounds intriguing.

>>2165308
>Don't pick a partner. They'd just slow you down and it's not like anyone here actually likes you anyway.

>Go with Cindy. Those caves sound interesting...

>>2165308
>Pick Dex
Time to woman up and get over it

>Go with Cindy. Those caves sound interesting.

>>2165308
>>Pick Dex. It'll probably be a pain if somebody finds out you didn't buddy up like they said, and he's alright.

>>Go with Sarah. You'd definitely like to see how much is going to be cleared, and maybe learn more about what it is they're building. Your Dad has been kind of tight-lipped about specifics...

>>2165320
>>2165323
>>2165315
Partnering with Dex and going with Cindy's group it is.
I'll need 1d20

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>2165374

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>2165374

>>2165397
>>2165394
Good roll. Writing.

You turn and glance at Dex, raising one eyebrow and shrugging, the question obvious. He looks up and gives that grin of his again, pushing through the crowd to stand next to you. You try to tell yourself that this is easiest. You should try and get over it already—it's not like any of them meant any harm by it. Even thinking about it makes your stomach turn...

You snap out of these...less positive thoughts, realizing everyone else is already splitting up, forming clumps in front of the ranger they'll be following. Fortunately, Dex is already headed towards Cindy, who was your first pick anyway. Once everyone is divided up, the three rangers pass a few words between them, lost in the din of the visitor center, and head for the exit. A blast of chill air washes over you as the doors open to the autumn morning.

The three groups stick close to one another for a few minutes, but split apart at the trailhead. Sarah and Peter head deeper into the thick woods, crooked pines and maples only just barely holding onto their red and orange leaves. Cindy, on the other side, takes a trail that traces the edge of the forest. The group, you and Dex included, follows behind, as it crosses over gnarled roots pushing through the sandy soil, bare bedrock visible in some places. Cindy's chattering away, something about how a major fire a few decades back tore through this area, killing trees and allowing most of the soil to wash away. You duck back once or twice, making sure Dex is behind you. He doesn't seem to be having any trouble keeping up, though you're breathing hard towards the end.

About an hour later, after a few stops at notable rock formations or nesting sites, the trail opens up even further. The scrubby undergrowth fades away into a rocky cliff thirty or forty feet tall, with the trail winding down next to it along a slightly less steep portion of the slope. Below is the dry riverbed, covered in smooth, rounded stones. As Cindy leads the way down the tricky portion of trail, you get a better view of the cliff face. Dotting the stony exterior are roughly circular holes, some three or four feet wide, others barely wide enough to fit your fist. This must be one entrance to the cave system Cindy mentioned!

(1/2)

Wanting a better view, you let yourself drop to the back of the group, closest to the cliff face and the cave entrances. Almost by chance, you notice something...glinting on the ground near one of the larger openings. Picking it up, you can't help but be confused—it's a metal shaving, from drilling or shaving through steel or aluminum. Taking a closer look, you notice there are more shavings at the mouth of one of the holes, just a few. They're practically invisible unless you're looking for them, their grey, oxidized surface blending with the rock.

Cindy starts leading the group away, but you're having a hard time tearing your eyes away from the hole in the cliff, turning the question over and over in your mind. Something about it is pricking at the back of your mind, some connection...

>Stay by the opening, try to be nonchalant like you just didn't notice the group was moving on. You might be seen, but even if you are, it won't be a big deal.
>Stay by the opening, actively try to hide. Less likely to be noticed, but of course if somebody realizes what you're doing, or misses you later, you'd probably be in trouble.
>Just go with the group for now, you'll try to swing by later on the trip. Maybe at lunch?
(2/2)

>>2165507
>Stay by the opening, try to be nonchalant like you just didn't notice the group was moving on. You might be seen, but even if you are, it won't be a big deal.
Plausible deniability.

>>2165507
>Just go with the group for now, you'll try to swing by later, maybe at lunch.

>>2165507

>Stay by the opening, try to be nonchalant like you just didn't notice the group was moving on. You might be seen, but even if you are, it won't be a big deal.

>>2165586
>>2165544
Writing.

You casually turn towards the opening, trying to act as though you've just noticed a particularly interesting shape in the rocks, or maybe a bat in the cave. Your heart is pounding, but you glance over your shoulder and see that the group is already headed downstream and around a corner, blocking their view of you. For a moment you think your plan is going to go off without a hitch...and then you see Dex, turning back to look at you quizzically. He looks towards Cindy, back towards you, and carefully drops to the back of the group, doing almost the same thing you did.

"What gives?" he asks, apparently confused. "I know the caves are cool and all, but you should have told me if you were going to hang back. What're you even looking at, anyway?"

"It's, um, nothing. I was just-" you start, but Dex cuts you off with a gesture, shaking his head.

"None of that. Look, I get something happened to you, but at least be honest with me now. What are you doing?"

>Lie ("I thought I saw a bat or something in the cave, was all. Come on, let's catch up with the group.")
>Partial Truth ("I just saw something shiny and got curious, I'm sure it's just litter.")
>Full Truth ("I saw these metal shavings and I got a gut feeling it could be connected to something else happening in town, but I'm not sure what.")

>>2165753
>Saw something shiny and got curious, but it looks like it's just litter.

>>2165753
>>Partial Truth ("I just saw something shiny and got curious, I'm sure it's just litter.")

>>2158902
>oh jesus the worm fags are migrating to 4chan from SB and SV

>pls no

>>2165753
>Full Truth ("I saw these metal shavings and I got a gut feeling it could be connected to something else happening in town, but I'm not sure what.")

>>2166198
We've had worm quests before
like rains in something something city.

>>2166822
We've had a few and none of them went anywhere.
Lets hope this one is different.

>>2165765
>>2165781
Partial truth wins. Writing.
>>2166835
>let's hope this one is different
I actually do have a fair amount of stuff planned for your current route, though you might switch later

"Really, it's nothing. I just saw something shiny over here." you kick absently at the metal shavings, shrugging, doing your best to convey an attitude of absolutely nonchalance. "I think it's just litter. Seriously, let's go."
Dex gives you a long look, and finally shakes his head. You're not sure if he believes you, but he doesn't say anything more about it.

The two of you catch up to the main group without anyone noticing, Cindy giving some exposition on the origins of the park and its future. Most of it you've heard before, stuff about the everlasting beauty Gregory Spelt wanted to capture and the craze for natural preservation blah blah blah. When she starts talking about the future of the park, however, you notice a somber note creep into her voice. Having been almost obnoxiously cheerful before, the change is very noticeable.
"Despite attempts to lobby the state legislature's decision, the Northeast Power company is beginning to move forward with construction. Apparently progress is slow, but they remain confident they'll be able to finish the dam on time and under their stated budget."
She pauses for a moment and, regaining her trademark smile, moving on to explain the history of environmental conservation in the area.

A few minutes later, Cindy announces that you've reached the end of the current trail, and will be looping back to the visitor's center for lunch. You end up taking a more direct route back, though Cindy still manages to find a particularly interesting species of late-season wildflower to talk about for a few minutes. The group makes good time, and make it to the visitor's center in about half the time it took to reach the cliff originally.

Rejoining the other groups, you spread out amongst the picnic tables, somew with large insulated cylinders full of cocoa and coffee for those that want them. Peter gives a little speech about hoping we all had a good time, and explains that the second half of the trip will be a viewing of a movie. Something about how parahumans influence our relationship with ecology, the sort of thing you'd expect from a field trip like this. You head back into the center for a moment to grab your lunch from your backpack, and hesitate. What exactly are you going to do once you head back outside?

>Eat lunch with Dex. He seemed kind of annoyed with you earlier...maybe you could patch things up a bit. It'd be nice to have a friend, after all.
>Eat lunch alone. You'll get a chance to think a bit more about those metal shavings, maybe figure out what it was that was bugging you about them.
>Sneak back onto the trail and try to get another look at the caves. If you were quick, you're pretty sure you could make it back before the end of the movie.

>>2167579
>Eat lunch alone. You'll get a chance to think about those metal shavings, maybe figure out what was bugging you about them.

>>2166198
Actually I've been here since before Worm was written. I'm pretty sure no migration is happening, people from SB and SV have as much disdain for 4chan as you do for them.

>>2167600
>>2166198
What's SB and SV and why are they bad?

https://youtu.be/834Jr96-KPs

>>2167579
>>Eat lunch alone. You'll get a chance to think a bit more about those metal shavings, maybe figure out what it was that was bugging you about them.
>>2167709
Lots of drama, some silly things going on with left wing politics, over active mods, a generally poor quality userbase (in my opinion of course) and the quests tend to be mostly anime or worm fanfic. Lots of crossovers and AU's. And of course the main issue I have with forums being the lack of anonymity and having known characters/reputations.

Honestly they're no worse than akun or 4chan themselves, they just have a different set of pros and cons. Personal taste really.

>>2167709
Just online forums. Spacebattles and sufficient velocity are the names. Parts of them are dedicated to fanfiction and it can get pretty cringey.

>>2167579
>>Eat lunch with Dex. He seemed kind of annoyed with you earlier...maybe you could patch things up a bit. It'd be nice to have a friend, after all.

>>2167579
>Eat lunch with Dex. He seemed kind of annoyed with you earlier...maybe you could patch things up a bit. It'd be nice to have a friend, after all.

>>2167579
>Eat lunch with Dex. He seemed kind of annoyed with you earlier...maybe you could patch things up a bit. It'd be nice to have a friend, after all.
I hope this worm quest doesn't die

>>2168889
>>2168518
>>2168093
You chew your lip for a moment, thinking. You're tempted to just pick a seat out of the wind and give yourself a chance to puzzle over the events of the last 48 hours, but...you really do feel bad about lying to Dex. He's at least trying to be nice to you—you suppose you owe him the same courtesy.

You leave the visitor's center and scan the crowd, eventually spotting Dex sitting...alone? It's not like you'd kept a tally or anything, but he'd always seemed like a fairly popular guy. Surely he had at least one other friend on the trip? Maybe he just assumed you two would eat together, so he didn't bother finding any of his friends. That'd make sense.

"Hey, want some company?" you ask, sliding onto the bench across from him. He nods emphatically, swallows, and smiles.

"Sure thing. I figured we'd sit together, glad you had the same idea."

"Mm." You open your paper bag, unwrapping your sandwich. Peanut butter and honey, an old favourite, as embarrassing as it is nostalgic. "Looking forward to that movie they talked about?"
He scoffs.

"It's not like they're going to be showing clips of Scion fighting Leviathan or anything. It'll be like every other documentary that has parahumans in it—about five minutes of something interesting, then dusty old professors theorizing for the other hour and a half."

"You're probably right."
"Course I am. You ever hear of that one guy, everything around him turned into woods? Now that's a kickass power. I saw a picture on PHO. You ever go on?"

"Sometimes. Not really my thing."

"Yeah, yeah. Man, I wish I had powers. How kickass would that be? I'd want to be a mover, so fast nobody could keep up. You ever think about that?"

>Noncommital ("Now and then. I don't know, doesn't seem realistic")
>Positive ("Totally! I think it would be pretty cool to be a cape.")
>Negative("No, I don't. The whole thing is more trouble than it's worth. Capes raise hell in their wake.")

>>2169564
>Noncommital ("Now and then. I don't know, doesn't seem realistic")
Besides those powers usually have huge downsides to them, don't they?

>>2169564
>>Noncommital ("Now and then. I don't know, doesn't seem realistic")

>>2169564
>Positive ("Totally! I think it would be pretty cool to be a cape.")

>>2169564
>Noncommital ("Now and then. I don't know, doesn't seem realistic")

>>2169590
Not usually downsides for the person, just limitations. Monstrous capes got shafted but aside from the crazy ones the main downside is you need a trigger event to get one.

>>2158902
Fuck yeah, someone else has taken the Worm baton.

>>2169590
Some do, but the vast majority prefer having powers to not having them.

>>2169564
Forgot to vote
>Positive

>>2169564
Fuck it, changing my vote >>2170647 to
>Positive ("Totally! I think it would be pretty cool to be a cape.")
Too early to abandon any optimism yet.

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164 KB PNG

>>2170868
That's not your fucking vote

>>2170868
>>2170887
Ah shit you just miscliked >>2169590
I was so amazed you tried that with ids I didn't stop to check

>>2170887
>>2170894
Well I fucking misclicked. That's my bad. My vote is >>2169590 but I saw the (You) so I got distracted

>>2170897
>>2170868
I've pre-emptively abandoned all hope so good on you for keeping the flame alive.

What I want to know is why we didn't go to the Wards.

>>2170904
I have no idea how this quest relates to Worm canon, but I do NOT want to have the character become a pseudo-Taylor. At least, not this early on if at all.
I think we shouldn't even go to Wards or anything yet, still too early for that and anything can happen between then and now. Better to progress at our own pace doing our own thing until things happen, as they tend to inevitably do in Worm. But the thing is is that this is a Worm QUEST, not Worm itself. We can subvert "doing the wrong things for the right reasons" to hell and back if we wanted to.

>>2170920
I wasn't even really talking about Taylor, wormverse is a pretty harsh place to live even for capes. Sometimes especially for capes.

Shame we aren't a villain though, because the only tricks I can think of right now is grenade carrying golems and using them to scope out hiests/steal small items/open doors etc.

Our surveillance powers should be pretty good if slow. Direct combat we're pretty fucked and the golems will be no use.

>>2170932
>Direct combat we're pretty fucked and the golems will be no use.
Yet. It depends more on the properties golems can have, mostly. Like how good is their vision compared to that of a human's? How good is their hearing and other senses compared to that of a human's? What if they can see capes that have an obfuscation power or something, so they can see them when we cannot, or other cases?

>>2170985
I wouldn't call that direct combat but yeah we're very much in a support role. Being a weedy teenage girl with no real offensive capability. None of their sensory powers will stop a bat to the head or deliver one.

I'm counting two noncommittal and three positives.
Writing.
Also, follow me on https://twitter.com/RuralWormQuest
I'll post updates and answer any questions you may have.

>>2171481
Oh shit you're on, great.

You can't help yourself, nodding enthusiastically. It might be a little silly, but Dex managed to find just the right thing to say to drag you out of your shell.

"Totally! I think it would be pretty cool to be a cape. Amazing powers, incredible fights and special treatment? Sign me up."
Dex laughs, just as excited as you are.

"I'm glad you agree! You always seem like you're in another world—I bet you'd be a thinker! I know that's not how it works, but it's so fun to think about..."
You hesitate for a second, thinking. Last night. At first, you'd be tempted to call it terrifying. Almost caught by saboteurs and then the police, having to sneak around since your powers aren't any good for combat; none of it reads like the news reports they put out about heroes in the big city. Then again, just thinking about it sets your heart pounding, a familiar tickle of adrenaline in your stomach. It was exhilarating, knowing that the smallest wrong move could have dire consequences. You liked it. You realize Dex is waiting for an answer, and say the first thing that comes to mind, dangerously close to the truth.

"You're right! Thinking about it is a lot of fun."
Dex grins, and you two spend a few minutes chatting about the local news, wondering if Ardent will ever go north of Portland and speculation on the location of Eisen's secret tinker base. Before too long, though, the rangers have set up the projector and screen inside, and usher all of you back into the vistor's center.

The movie is pretty much what Dex described. They open with a few shots of the villain that Dex mentioned before, Barrow—or more accurately, shots of the dense, overgrown woods surrounding him. There are a few interviews with capes who can control plants, or appear to be able to talk to animals. Then there are a lot of interviews with professors of parahuman studies, or educators talking about how parahumans affected their jobs and lives. Towards the end, there is an interesting tidbit about a small cell of parahuman ecoterrorists that've been attacking development projects in New York for a few years, but that's about it.

Peter steps to the front of the room, raising his hands for silence. After a few moments, the chatter dies down to a quiet murmur and he plows ahead.

"I hope you all liked the education film, and were able to relate some of the concepts to what you learned on the trails today! Now, before we send all of y'all back to school, any questions?"
>Raise your hand, ask a question. (Specify what you ask, or just name a general topic.)
>Don't raise your hand, but pay attention to any other questions asked.
>Talk to Dex some more while you wait.

>>2170650
>someone else has taken the Worm baton
It's slimy and squirming, but by god somebody's got to.
>>2170904
>What I want to know is why we didn't go to the Wards.
It's only been a month or so since your trigger event, and to be honest you've heard rumours about bad stuff happening to kids who join the wards. They're all unfounded, but you don't know that. This said, it's definitely an option, and would have interesting results.
>>2170932
>Shame we aren't a villain though
You've only been out once, and didn't do a whole lot. This could still go either way.

>>2171633
>Don't raise your hand, but pay attention to any other questions asked.
Surely we can't be the only person who might be a cape in this town.

>>2171661
The villain thing was more of a joke, but interesting to know we're that open.
I would prefer to avoid the Wards personally, oversight is so boring.

>>2171633
>Don't raise your hand, but pay attention to any other questions asked.

It'll probably be worthless but might alert us to any other capes in the class.
Let the shadowruns being

>>2171692
*begin
>>2171674
The hive mind is paranoid tonight.

>>2171692
We have no idea if this is will follow main canon or diverge completely. If it follows main canon we're probably dead sometime down the line anyhow thanks to Scion rampage.

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>tfw not a guy cape
>tfw no hope in any fucking universe or potential timeline where we can fuck pic related and survive

>>2171674
"The humans outnumbered parahumans by eight-thousand to one, give or take, in urban areas. Outside of the more densely populated areas, it dropped to a more manageable one to twenty-six-thousand ratio."--Interlude 13, Worm

>>2171701
Hero or villain, whatever route we go we'll probably end up gracing the local urban areas with our presence. Probably not permanently given the name of the quest though.

>>2171711
That can always change though.

>>2171633
>>Talk to Dex some more while you wait.


We could be one of those middle ground capes, forgot what they were called though.

Also, completely unrelated but why is vista such a huge popular deal?

>>2172181
She's a young and still kind/innocent hero.
She's also stupidly powerful and controls any battlefield she's in, and was/is only getting better at it.
I think that answers both sides of the question?

>>2171674
>>2171692
You stifle the urge to turn to Dex and continue your discussion from earlier, keeping your eyes on the crowd instead. It's not likely that any members from the Wards are in your school—after all, the Protectorate said only really dangerous types get shipped up here.

"Why aren't there any parahumans working in the private sector? If I could control plants, I wouldn't go running around in tights beating up muggers." You recognize the girl, Hannah Sykes. Her father owns a U-Pick berry and vegetable farm not far from the park, and you've heard rumours they're struggling to make ends meet.
Peter seems to be in a little over his head, but one of the chaperones from the high school, speaks up.

"I talk about this a little in the sociology elective, but it's probably a number of factors, Hannah. It seems like people with unstable life situations are more likely to gain powers. Some people also suggest that the process of gaining powers makes parahumans more likely to engage in risky behaviors, though this is an emerging field of study."
Hannah nods and leans back in her seat.

"Have those ecoterrorists the movie mentioned really changed anything?" This time it's a boy whose name you don't know, though you recognize his face. "I mean, there have always been extremists, right?"
Sarah steps forward to talk this time.
(1/2)

>>2173179
>>2173179

"The main difference is the countermeasures. If somebody is really determined to break your machinery, there's not much you can do to stop them. Mostly, the idea is to make it difficult enough that it's not worth their time. The problem is that what's difficult for norma—I mean, most people, isn't always hard for parahumans. So responses have to vary depending on what kind of abilities they have, which makes everything more difficult and more expensive. Generally, they succeed in making it unprofitable more often these days."
There's a bit of murmuring around the room, and you have to admit the matter-of-fact tone she used was striking. Did she used to work as private security for logging companies or something? Is she a parahuman?

A few more questions crop up, mostly just details about this professor's interpretation of an ecological model with regards to disturbance regimes or uncertainties on how tinker energy sources might lead the future towards renewables. Before too long, it's time to go, and everyone is filing down the aisles and towards the main lobby to get back on the buses.

You can't help looking back towards Sarah. She was just talking to the other Rangers a minute ago, but it looks like she's moving with the crowd of students back into the lobby. If you hurry over, you might be able to get a word in before you have to leave.
>Stick with Dex so you don't end up in different seats on the bus. You've made a friend and you'll be damned if you'll let him go.
>Go talk to Sarah. Something about what she said caught your curiosity.
>Try to find Cindy and ask her about the cave system. If you're going back to try to figure out the deal with those metal shavings, you want all the information you can get.
(2/2)

>>2173191
>>Stick with Dex so you don't end up in different seats on the bus. You've made a friend and you'll be damned if you'll let him go.


Seriously no reason to talk to sarah though the metal shavings might be worth the trouble

>>2173191
>Talk to Cindy about them caves.
Sarah is wrong anyway, there are some parahumans that work legally for profit. They're just really rare.

>>2173191
>>Stick with Dex so you don't end up in different seats on the bus. You've made a friend and you'll be damned if you'll let him go.

>>2173191
>Stick with Dex so you don't end up in different seats on the bus. You've made a friend and you'll be damned if you'll let him go.

>>2173191
>Stick with Dex so you don't end up in different seats on the bus. You've made a friend and you'll be damned if you'll let him go.

>>2166822
Capes of Rain City I believe.

>>2173191
>Talk to Sarah.
About the possibility of terrorists trying to sabotage the dam and them metal shavings we found.

Is OP kill?

>>2178516
Nope, just a lazy fucker. Writing.
Y'all really like Dex for some reason.

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>>2178866
We can't go full "kill your friends, nuke the Endbringers, shard war now" like something out of Shin Megami Tensei. At least, not yet.

>>2178891
Not with that attitude you can't!

>>2173230
>>2173365
>>2175292
>>2173894
Though you're tempted to talk to Sarah after that she said, you're not willing to risk losing your seat next to Dex. You're pretty sure you're tolerating the guy by now—no sense throwing all that away. The two of you stick close together as the group of students files slowly out into the parking lot, and boards the bus.

Once you've both settled into your seats and the buses have rumbled to life, pulling out of the lot and starting down the winding road back to the school, Dex starts to say something. Just as he takes a breath however, his phone buzzes, and he doesn't hesitate to fish it out of his pocket at once. The look on his face as he reads through it tells you it's something good, and you don't even have to ask.

"The sheriff's department just released a statement! They officially recognized there's some kind of sabotage campaign against Northeast Power and the dam!"
Your jaw drops—you figured that after last night they'd mount an investigation, but to make an announcement so quickly...

"Wait, why did you get a notification about that?"

"That's just it! They made the official statement because they think there are parahumans involved! They're asking for assistance from the PRT since they don't have the resources! I got the notification through PHO!" Dex looks like he's practically hyperventilating, frantically scanning through the forums. Given the passion he showed for this stuff earlier, it's not all that surprising.

This is...a lot to process. You're having a hard time even figuring out how you feel about the news...

>Scared. You barely even qualify as a cape, and suddenly there're ecoterrorists and the PRT swooping in to fight them? You're in way over your head.
>Neutral. This is just a request from a small-town sheriff's department, it doesn't sound like they'll necessarily respond. And even if they do, it'll take a while.
>Excited. The PRT, coming to your town? Everybody on PHO laser-focused on Ashford now that something's finally happening here? This is what you've been dreaming of!

>>2178898
>>Scared. You barely even qualify as a cape, and suddenly there're ecoterrorists and the PRT swooping in to fight them? You're in way over your head.

>>2178898
>Excited. The PRT, coming to your town? Everybody on PHO laser-focused on Ashford now that something's finally happening here? This is what you've been dreaming of!
Time to shitpost on 4chan - I mean PHO.

>>2178906
Sincerely tempted to steal /ca/-Capes as mentioned in Capes of Rain City.

>>2178913
Fucking do it. /ca/ the Capeshit board, but also have an /x/ equivalent about Endbringers and other shit. I can imagine /k/ and /sci/ equivalents too. Maybe a combination of /sci/ and /g/ for Tinkers? I don't fucking know but you have a lot of potential here with the idea of 4chan/PHO alone.
Imagine entire threads devoted to talking about >>2171698

>>2178898
>>Excited. The PRT, coming to your town? Everybody on PHO laser-focused on Ashford now that something's finally happening here? This is what you've been dreaming of!

>>2178898
>Excited. The PRT, coming to your town? Everybody on PHO laser-focused on Ashford now that something's finally happening here? This is what you've been dreaming of!

Hope those losers are prepared for the long arm of the law. They're sending the Triumverate right?

>>2178898
>worried
Sheeeit, they are probably looking for a little golem user, you are so fucked.

>>2179189
How would they even know anything about us? We're fiiiiine

>>2179205
They know there was a para on the site, we are a para and were on the site.

OP stop being so lazy, this is getting good.

>>2179453
Working on that one
>>2178906
>>2179059
>>2179172
Excited wins, writing.

This is it. This is it! This is what you've been dreaming of all this time! It's almost impossible to restrain your excitement as you whip out your own phone and pull up the PHO forums. There's a lot of talk and not a lot of solid facts, but there seem to be a few things that everyone can agree on.

1. There are villains in Ashford, at least a few with powers.
2. They're probably not local to the area.
3. They've been subtly sabotaging the machinery to slow the construction team, possibly using a tinker.

It seems that neither the Protectorate, nor the PRT as a whole, have offered any kind of official statement so far. That's really only to be expected—it's been less than an hour since the Sheriff's Department announcement, they're probably scrambling to figure out exactly what's going on. It looks like there's even a debate as to whether these are hardcore environmental activists, or muscle hired by other companies who got passed over for the building contract.

A couple of news-sites have short pieces on it, mostly marked with "developing situation" tags. None of them have any more information than PHO. You glance over to Dex, who's staring at you with a massive grin. You can't help but return the smile, amazed that something is finally happening, something you can be a part of!
The two of you review everything you can, and you're careful not to let anything slip, even if you don't know a whole lot more than anybody else. Before you know it, the bus returns to the school and the two of you are headed your separate ways. Normally you'd be taking the same bus home as well, but apparently he has a doctor's appointment or something. You still text for the whole ride home, throwing wild theories about the Protectorate's response back and forth.

When you get home there's still some time in the day, and neither your parents or siblings are home yet. What to do...?

>Go online and try to figure out some more info, maybe even drop some of what you already know...
>Work on your costume and kit. There's no way you're staying in tonight, and a better outfit/equipment is priority one if you want anyone to take you seriously.
>Head back to the park while there's still daylight. It'll be safer to be walking around, and easier to look for clues as to what's going on.

>>2179557
>Work on your costume and kit. There's no way you're staying in tonight, and a better outfit/equipment is priority one if you want anyone to take you seriously.
Time to go /fa/

>>2179557
>Work on your costume and kit. There's no way you're staying in tonight, and a better outfit/equipment is priority one if you want anyone to take you seriously.

>>2179557
>Work on your costume and kit. There's no way you're staying in tonight, and a better outfit/equipment is priority one if you want anyone to take you seriously.

>>2179557
>>Work on your costume and kit. There's no way you're staying in tonight, and a better outfit/equipment is priority one if you want anyone to take you seriously.
The big league is comin to town, looking good is a must.

>>2179557
>Head back to the park while there's still daylight. It'll be safer to be walking around, and easier to look for clues as to what's going on.

>>2179557
> Do research online

OP please don't be this flaky or lazy

>>2179880
Stop whining, anon.

>>2179900
fine, your two sets of dubs are convincing enough
I'm just really fucking thirsty for a good Worm quest that's all

>>2179791
>>2179620
>>2179572
>>2179565
You cast a critical eye over your "costume" where it sits, crumpled, in the corner. You really do need something better if you're going to be out and about with the big leagues visiting town. With the house empty, it's the perfect time to go through the attic space over the garage where all the old clothes end up.

The rickety pull-down ladder creaks alarmingly, and the atttic itself is darker and dustier than you remember. You cast about for a minute before finding the single bare bulb light. Old cardboard boxes, cedar chests, and plastic trash bags all litter the room, promising possibility. Keeping an eye on your phone's clock, you start your meticulous search, going through container after container.

In the end, you find three solid candidates for an improvement to your costume. It'd be better to get a professional to make something bespoke, but this'll have to do until you've got the money for that

>An old army uniform
Slightly faded, stained camo pants and a jacket. There's also a patrol cap, all of it buried underneath a few years worth of . Of course it's a bit big, but even with the hems rolled up and a belt keeping the pants tight around your waist, it's comfortable and doesn't look too bad as a costume when you wrap a bandana around your face. It'll definitely help keep you hidden as well, especially in the woods. Doesn't offer much protection though.

>Motorcycle gear
This must have been your mother's from back in the day, because it fits fairly well. A heavily padded leather jacket, gloves with hard plastic molded around the wrists and knuckles, even a full-face helmet. You can't help but strike a pose, a little impressed by how it looks. The pads and stiffened fabric will definitely help protect you from minor attacks. The helmet makes it a little harder to see though.

>Hockey pads
From your brief stint as a benchwarmer a few years back, before your mother decided swimming was more important and pulled you off the team. They're a little tight, but definitely serviceable. You know from experience just how much protection they offer—even a heavy tackle doesn't hurt as bad with all of these. Of course, they're made for skating, not running, so they'll definitely slow you down, and make it harder to move quietly.

>>2179964
Army uniform camo pants plus the nice hat, but with the motorcycle gear gloves and padded jacket, and only a little bit of the hockey pads on the most vulnerable parts

>>2179964
>>An old army uniform
Stuff mom or we used to wear seem easy to identify by mom or our old team mates, especially in a small town like this.
Lots of people in the army and surplus army stores where we could have gotten the uniform

>>2179964
>army outfit
Wear the hockey pads underneath if possible

>>2179964
>motorcycle gear
At least some protection would be good.

>>2179964
>An old army uniform

>>2179964
>>An old army uniform
As a master cape, stealth is everything. If possible, mixing some of the hockey protective gear underneath would be good.

>>2179995
>>2180047
>>2180082
>>2180146
Army uniform with pads underneath.

>>2180312
what about the gloves?

You think for a bit, eventually settling on the army uniform. As you move about, though, something starts to bother you—there is really no protection at all. You want to keep out of sight, sure, but if you do get caught you'll be in deep trouble. Grabbing some of the hockey pads and tucking them underneath the uniform, you feel a little more secure. With your elbows, knees, and sternum protected you think you could weather a couple light blows, so long as you weren't trying to go toe-to-toe with a brute or anything.

You fold your new costume up, tucking it under your arm as you climb back down into the garage and retreat to your room. If you're changing up your costume, it only makes sense to make some improvements to your equipment as well. You spread out your satchel's contents onto the floor, looking over each item.

>Two packages of modeling clay
>Flashlight
>Fixed blade knife
>5 quarter-inch thick zip ties
>2 quik-clot gauze pads, and medical tape

You think briefly about what you can scavenge from around the house that might be useful. You can probably fit two more items without discarding anything, though that's also an option.

>Slingshot
It wouldn't be useful for much more than a distraction, or maybe an annoyance to somebody without any special durability. Maybe you could even use it to launch a golem...?
>Disposable Cameras
Would be easier for your golems to use than your phone, so any pictures they'd take would be clearer, and they're also more durable than your phone.
>20ft paracord
Could be useful for tying somebody up, getting down a slope or setting up rudimentary traps...not that you know much about that.
>More medical supplies
As it is, you could probably address a cut or scrape and not much else. Includes a splint, more gauze, a shot of epinephrine, betadine, a pre-threaded needle for sutures, and a handy booklet explaining how to use all of it.
>Box of matches
Starts fires. Could be good for signals, traps, or any number of things.

>>2180355
>Box of Matches
>Disposable Cameras

>>2180355
>>2180370
Supporting. I have this image of an adorable pyromaniac golem. I need this. I pray to all things holy that our golems are intelligent enough to set things on fire according to our orders.

>>2180355
Slingshot and cameras

>>2180355
>Box of matches
>20ft Paracord

>>2180355
>Box of Matches
>Disposable Cameras

I also liked the idea of sending a golem anywhere with the slingshot

>>2180355
>Disposable Cameras
>More medical supplies
Always good to be prepared

We should get a gopro or something with wifi capability so we can get real-time updates when we get enough cash.

5 votes for cameras
4 for box of matches
Writing.

Well, you definitely want the cameras. Considering that your golems will mostly be for reconnaisance, it makes sense to have a way to collect evidence, and supplement their lackluster descriptions. As you gather three from the garage, checking to make sure they have plenty of film left, your mind wanders. If you could sculpt them a little faster, and gave them some kind of weapon, they'd be pretty useful against one or two people. They're not all that durable, but if you could replace them continuously and have them surround your target, that wouldn't matter much.

Mind wandering to the more destructive uses of your power, you can't help but grab a box of matches on your way out of the garage as well. It'll take up the rest of the space in your satchel, but fire is a multi-purpose tool, right? You're pretty sure a well-made golem has more than enough dexterity to strike a match, and being made of earth or clay they're naturally fireproof. Hmm, that might have some applications.

You're barely finished packing up your kit when you hear a key in the lock and the door swings open, your mother walking in with the twins behind. From there, it's a hustle to get dinner ready, dodge questions about re-joining a few clubs, and keep the twins from getting up to anything too dangerous. Halfway through dinner, you get a text from Dex, the buzzing of your phone blessedly quiet. Apparently the Protectorate responded after the CEO of Northeast Power personally asked for assistance. They'll be sending people up to the base ASAP, and having them take a look first thing in the morning!

After dinner, sitting in your room and waiting for the nighttime sounds of the house to die down, you chew on a thumbnail and try to decide how to spend your night.

>Go to the Protectorate base, of course! If the new capes are coming up tonight you could probably get a good look, and maybe even some pictures. You might even recognize them. Knowing who's around town ahead of time could really help out.
>Go to the caves in Spelt Park. Those metal shavings were definitely hinting at something, but what? You need to take a closer look, and figure out what's going on.
>Actually, it might be best to stay home tonight. Besides getting some much-needed sleep, you can share theories and info with Dex and look around online for more of both.

>>2181431
Tough choice. I think things are going to be moving pretty quickly once everybody gets into place.
>Go to the caves in Spelt Park. Those metal shavings were definitely hinting at something, but what? You need to take a closer look, and figure out what's going on.

>>2181431

>Go to the caves in Spelt Park. Those metal shavings were definitely hinting at something, but what? You need to take a closer look, and figure out what's going on.

I'm sure the capes in town will be announced on the news or PHO.

Also we should make golems out of C4. Or fill a golem with nitroglycerin. Or shove a stick of dynamite in them.

>>2181431
>Actually, it might be best to stay home tonight. Besides getting some much-needed sleep, you can share theories and info with Dex and look around online for more of both.

>>2181431
>Go to the caves in Spelt Park. Those metal shavings were definitely hinting at something, but what? You need to take a closer look, and figure out what's going on.
C4 golems sound scary.

>>2181705
Just like pepper spray coated bugs flying into your eyes? Also if we can make golems out of any "soft material", could that mean walking containment foam golems?

>>2181431
>>Go to the caves in Spelt Park. Those metal shavings were definitely hinting at something, but what? You need to take a closer look, and figure out what's going on.
I'm sure a lack of proper sleep won't cause problems down the road. There's a mystery to solve!

>>2181735
>>2181705
>>2181553
>>2181505
Spelt Park it is.
Roll 2d20, I'll take best of three, crits take precedence.

Rolled 14, 10 = 24 (2d20)

>>2181861
Rollan
>inb4 double critfail luck

Rolled 15, 3 = 18 (2d20)

>>2181861

Rolled 17, 13 = 30 (2d20)

>>2181861

Rolled 7, 11 = 18 (2d20)

>>2181861

>>2181913
17, 13. Good roll.
Writing.

Really, it's not a hard decision. You just know something is going on there. The only question is what, and to answer that question you need to get a closer look at those caves. As soon as you've made sure everyone else is asleep, you suit up in your new costume and head out the window. You're glad for the thick cloth of the uniform—a chill autumn breeze is whistling through town, heralding the coming winter.

Rather than heading to the park entrance and following the trails back to the caves, you've mapped out a path through the woods, following a few hiking trails here and there, cutting through the brush from time to time. You're a little nervous about losing your way, but you've studied the maps and you already have some familiarity with the area.

The night is dark, clouds soaking up the moon's light as you trace your way from path to path, forcing your way through brambles and bracken. It's got your breathing hard, but you manage to keep your sense of direction, and before long you pass the signs and the poorly-maintained fence marking the edge of Spelt Park. You're nearing the caves, coming from the opposite direction as last time, when you hear something. Not voices, but...rocks?

Your heart pounding, you realize in an instant that it's the sound of gravel and small rocks bouncing off the cliff-face as somebody descends towards the dry riverbed. You freeze at once, but a long branch twists under your foot, rustling loudly though the underbrush. The sound of rocks continues for a half-second, then stops. You can't hear anything, and then, from the other side of the ridge, out of sight, comes a guttural voice.

"You there, the one hiding! Come out, now, and I might not hurt you." It's a little hard to understand, but whoever's talking sounds serious, and more than a little scary.

>Try to toss a rock or stick far off, make some noise somewhere that isn't near you.
>Come out with your hands up and acting as nonthreatening as possible. Best to play it safe.
>Freeze, don't move a muscle, and wait to see what happens next.

>>2182581
>Freeze, don't move a muscle, and wait to see what happens next.

They can't have heard it too well over the sound of their own movement. We're safe unless they are exceptionally paranoid.

>>2182581
I'm thinking there is no mud nearby to make a rat shape golem in.
And we don't have a rape whistle, why don't we have a rape whistle?
>Freeze, don't move a muscle, and wait to see what happens next.
Sure, lets do that. Although I think they heard us well enough.

>>2182581
>Freeze, don't move a muscle, and wait to see what happens next.
inb4 superhuman senses or night vision or some bullshit

>>2182581
>Try to toss a rock or stick far off, make some noise somewhere that isn't near you

>>2182581
>>Try to toss a rock or stick far off, make some noise somewhere that isn't near you.
I'm gonna hope this guy is bluffing and also doesn't have any parahuman sensory abilities.

>>2182581
>Toss a rock far off

Ded?

>>2186544
I hope not

Not dead, just been busy with family stuff. Will be posting tonight and adopting a more regular schedule for the second thread.
Twitter is twitter.com/RuralWormQuest

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>2183270
>>2183210
>>2182830
1
>>2182829
>>2182756
>>2182603
2

Your heart thuds in your chest, as you desperately try to think of something to do. No time to make a golem...just do something! Distract them!

Reaching down you grab a jagged bit of rock and toss it in a high arc, faint voices floating towards you as it falls back towards the earth.

"See Jake? Told you, it's just your imagination."

"Yeah, ye--" The second voice cuts off as the rock hits the ground, another loud rustling thump clearly audible. "There it is again! I'm taking a look!"

"Fine, see if I care." Annoyed, curt this time. The beam of a flashlight passes over where you sit, crouched, frozen in fear. You hardly dare to breathe, but make out the same outline from last night, that shaggy, blurred silhouette. You hear heaving breathing, like a dog's panting, and the voice calls out again, heart-stoppingly close.

"Willow! I told you, there's someone here!"

"Calm down Jake. It's just from those high school kids who came through here today. You said they were stinking up the place—one of them probably just snuck off into the bushes to take a leak." The figure closest to you, the one with the flashlight, huffs and mutters something to himself, but doesn't argue. He turns and walks back towards the second voice, the one he called Willow, the light cutting off abruptly.

There are a few more seconds of muted conversation, too low and too far off for you to hear it. Then that too fades away, and there's nothing. You wait a few minutes, hands shaking as the adrenaline wears off, then stand up and peek over the top of the hill, looking down at the dry riverbed and cliff face. Nobody there, no obvious signs anyone had been there, though it's too dark to be certain.

You walk down, and though you don't turn on your light, you catch that tell-tale glitter of metal shavings by one of the cave entrances. Strange...it looks like there are fewer of them, as though somebody made a concerted effort to pick them up. Peering into the cave entrance, you swear you hear something. Not voices, but a low rumbling hum, like a cat's purr magnified a thousand times.

You lean against the cliff, pondering your next move.

>Send a golem to investigate the tunnel. (Specify with or without camera.)
You sure as hell don't want to risk getting lost in a possibly maze-like cave system, no matter what kind of strangeness is going on in there. So far as you know, the golems have near-perfect night vision, and excellent senses of direction. They might be able to find the best way to the source of that nearly inaudible sound. If they took a camera they'd be slower, but might bring back good evidence.
>Investigate yourself
The golems are nice and all, but they have their limitations. It'd be better for you to see what's going on for yourself. So long as you go slowly and stay careful, you shouldn't risk getting lost...right? And besides, it's not like these people have done anything violent, just messed with some old machinery.
>Call the anonymous tipline again
There's no sense getting too deep. You're still just a kid, even if you have powers. It sounds like the police are doing something about this, and strange people wandering around the park at night, possibly parahuman, would definitely get their attention. The Protectorate might even send someone!

>>2188242
>send a golem without a camera
I doubt our shitty old cameras would deal well with the low light anyway.
As boring as standing around outside waiting for the golem's tiny legs to get it anywhere useful it does seem to be the smart choice.

>>2188242
>>send a golem with a camera
Either way the golem would be able to tell us what's in there, and the off-chance of having evidence is good. The only thing that'd mess this up is if someone is guarding it and the camera ends up slowing the golem down as it tries to get back to us.

>>2188242
>send a golem without a camera

>>2188242
>send a golem without a camera
Shitty light means shitty tapes. Better to have the golem go in and see things itself for us

You shake your head, already reaching for the two large lumps of clay in your bag, molding them together into a single larger golem. You are absolutely not going into those tunnels—you've heard too many stories about cave-ins and spelunkers dying alone in the dark to risk that. After a moment's consideration, you sculpt a medium sized ferret. They're supposed to be made for exploring rabbit tunnels, right? This is basically like that. You pass on a part of your power to it, and send it to find the source of the noise, note any people it sees, and try to remain undetected. It should return after it finishes. Now the only thing to do is wait.
[1 out of 12 golems in use]

You sit down behind a particularly large boulder, a fairly camoflaged spot in case somebody else comes along, and let your mind wander. Running your hand over the gravel of the stream, you wonder about imbedding solid objects in softer materials for your golems? Would it improve durability, or just weight them down? What about having four or five stack on top of each other to look more imposing? It might even make them stronger, but the ones on the bottom could get squished...though you've had your power for a few weeks now, it's only recently that you've begun to experiment, finding the limits and exceptions to your power. You definitely have a ways to go...

Your golem comes back fairly quickly, all things considered, slinking across the riverbed until it finds you.

"The noise is a generator, underground. I saw two people in a large tunnel with lights, under a hut. I was not seen." It gives its report and sits, perfectly motionless, waiting for further instructions. You sit, considering the information.

It seems likely that the two people it saw are the ones you noticed going into the caves earlier. If they have a generator, they've probably been there for a while, for whatever reason. Could that be the source of the metal shavings? But no, that doesn't make any sense—what would they do to a generator that would produce shavings, and why would they be near the entrance of the cave and nowhere else? Anyway, it sounds like they're using the tunnels to get to the hut it mentioned, to avoid detection you assume. Either way, you need more information...

>Ask your golem to show you where the hut is aboveground, without going into the tunnels
>Tell your golem to go back into the tunnel for more information (specify what you want to know)
>Try to use your golem as a distraction to lure the figures out of the tunnel so you can get a better look at them
>Write-in

This will probably be the last post in this thread, since we've reached bump limit and are on page nine.
I'm pretty surprised by how many people are interested, considering, but I'll keep this thing going for a good while anyway.
Again, twitter is https://twitter.com/RuralWormQuest
Follow, and I'll be posting when the next thread is up, as well as when I'll be running more regular updates.
Thanks, and I hope all of you have a great new year!

>>2190581
>>Ask your golem to show you where the hut is aboveground, without going into the tunnels

>>2190581
>>Ask your golem to show you where the hut is aboveground, without going into the tunnels
The most important part of a stealth mission is going as undetected as possible. The other two options seem risky, though they probably have a higher chance of gaining important information beyond what can be gleamed through basic observation.

>>2190581
Fine, what the previous two said I guess. The tunnel would probably be a little safer to explore during the day when those two aren't there.
Also we should think up some tactics to help us escape if we fail at stealth a again.

>>2190686
That stealth fail was hilarious. We were gonna pass it anyway but we panicked and voted to throw a rock as a distraction. One day I'll read about a guard investigating a noise and then checking the entire area instead of just where the noise came from.

New Thread
>>2192620
>>2192620
>>2192620