DiscoDude: ---BEGIN SESSION---
DiscoDude: Session logging commenced
Ryusui|GM: The episode opens on the Uranium Chef logo in front of a vista of a huge ship of truly alien design hanging in the air above Kitchen Arena!
Ryusui|GM: "It's time for another spine-tingling culinary showdown at Kitchen Arena!" Holly cuts in. "But what's this? Who are these visitors who've shown up, and what do they have to do with today's challenge? We'll find out in a bit! But first, let's once again introduce this season's competitors!"
Ryusui|GM: The camera cuts to a shot of the four competitors side-by-side - borrowed from the first episode, and with Dovelia cleverly edited into the shot in place of Greto. It then cuts to new footage of our competitors, one by one, as they deliver their Opening Remarks!
Ryusui|GM: <@!Vera>!
Vera: "Anyone else notice the ominous shadow outside? Just me?"
Vera: (CLEVER?)
Ryusui|GM: (sure XD)
Vera: !f 3 (CLEVER)
DiscoDude: <@Vera> rolled 4dF+3 for 3 [4dF = [+][ ][ ][-]]
Ryusui|GM: (name it XD)
Vera: (SWS! That gets a single free invoke, right? Or did we decide against it?)
Ryusui|GM: (yeah i'll let you have a free invoke for a SWS)
Ryusui|GM: Tako! (<@!;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾>)
Vera: The audience loves her Canny Impulse [!].
Ryusui|GM: ( <@!;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾>? Well, if you aren't here then...)
Ryusui|GM: <@!Margen>!
Vera: (Probably constructing his statement off-chat. XD)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Sorry; I was trying to find my sheet for Tako-San.))
Margen: "Last time got a little messy for me with the action around the Flerovium Chef's fingers, but I'm excited to see what we're doing today!
Margen: "
Ryusui|GM: (man what would that be. Flashy, making an impression? XD)
Margen: (Maybe Careful)
Ryusui|GM: (roll it then)
Margen: !f 3(Careful)
DiscoDude: <@Margen> rolled 4dF+3 for 6 [4dF = [+][+][+][ ]]
Vera: (HWOOOOOH!)
Margen: (Wowzers)
Vera: (Name your Popularity Aspect, with one free invoke!)
Margen: Safety First! [!]
Ryusui|GM: "I don't care what's in that ship. I'm going to win this one."
Ryusui|GM: !f 3 (Dovelia's Aggressive)
DiscoDude: <@Ryusui|GM> rolled 4dF+3 for 2 [4dF = [-][+][ ][-]]
Vera: (Regular success. 😛 )
Ryusui|GM: (yep XD)
Ryusui|GM: (gonna call it [Preemptive Victory])
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "I hope those aboard are customers-in-waiting," builds up before whipping out a sombrero and marracas from....somewhere, "because I'm ready to pa~té~~!"
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: !f 3 (Flashily Create an Advantage)
DiscoDude: <@;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾> rolled 4dF+3 for 4 [4dF = [+][ ][ ][ ]]
Vera: (SWS.)
Ryusui|GM: (ha ha ha XD)
Ryusui|GM: (yeppers)
Vera: (And the aspect is...?)
Ryusui|GM: (name it, tako)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Ready to Party))
((I wanted to right that in katakana, but I can't find the "pa" syllable, which I thought was in Japanese.))
Ryusui|GM: (it is :P)
Ryusui|GM: (パ)
Ryusui|GM: (anyways, folks ready to move on?)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Interesting; it's a variant of "ha".))
Vera: (I am.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Ready to パアテ!))
Ryusui|GM: (that's still wrong XD)
Ryusui|GM: (i'm sure DC will put it down correctly though~)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((It's right for the romanji I used.))
Ryusui|GM: (romaji)
Ryusui|GM: (no "n")
Ryusui|GM: (anyways, <@!Margen>, <@!;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾>, scene?)
Ryusui|GM: (look i'm not gonna ragequit but i am gonna be upset if peeps ignore me)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Ready to パ—テ!))
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((I'm ready.))
Ryusui|GM: ( <@!Margen> )
Margen: (?)
Ryusui|GM: (scene?)
Ryusui|GM: (are you okay with me moving on :P)
Ryusui|GM: (yes or no, please answer)
Margen: (oh yeah sure (I lost context for a second there, thanks) 👍 )
Ryusui|GM: The scene cuts to the suites. Things have definitely been a bit odd in the Kitchen Arena environs today - anyone stepping outside the suites has either seen or heard someone talking about the strange visitors the Arena's gotten. There are plenty of rumors around, but one thing is agreed on: though Kitchen Arena is no stranger to all sorts of alien species, these are particularly alien!
Ryusui|GM: Dovelia cares nothing for this; mostly she's standing in the kitchen, hands on her hips. "Vera. Vera," she calls out.
Vera: *slams open
Vera lifts an eye-mask from her face.
*snort "I'm awake. What moron order did we... get... Right, Uranium Chef."
Ryusui|GM: "Vera!!!"
Margen: Margen is hanging from the ceiling in the hallway by his tentacles doing exercises and almost falls
Margen: (startled by the noise)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Tako-San is out and actively engaging with the newcomers. Being no stranger to getting odd looks himself, being relatively alien to the dominate land species of his homeworld. Carting Tako-San around this time is Lue-Ann, the more traditionally beautiful of the tanks girls by human standards.
Vera: "I'm coming, lady; don't get your panties in a twist..."
*slams open, this time to the kitchen instead of the hall
"What!"
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Why'd you change from British to American slang?))
Ryusui|GM: Tako, the aliens come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but all follow a similar pattern of a long, tubular body, no obvious legs, four spindly arms, and a head shaped something like a fattened flute at the end of a long, thin neck. They get around with the aid of spidery mechanical contraptions and it doesn't seem like any of them speak any language that's being picked up by the automatic translators. But you might be able to find someone you can talk to, or an interpreter, with some effort.
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Is that requiring a roll?))
Ryusui|GM: (yes)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Lue-Ann is clearly unnerved by the visitors, struggling to keep her own composure.
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Difficulties for each approach?))
Ryusui|GM: <@!Vera>, Dovelia gives you a stern maternal look, at least as stern as she can muster given you literally pushed her over with a finger and she knows it. "Kitchen Arena has visitors, as you no doubt have seen. I'd like to ask you to let a professional take the spotlight today - the Arena will be representing our entire galaxy and we want to present our best image."
Ryusui|GM: It's hard to tell whether she's trying to intimidate or challenge you, Vera.
Vera: "... Are you trying to intimidate me or challenge me?"
Ryusui|GM: "I'm saying, if you can't be a professional, then stand aside."
Ryusui|GM: (compellin' a Face-Off here, obvs :3)
Vera: "I'm more of a professional than your home-cooking ass, lady."
Vera: !f 2(AGGRESSIVE)
DiscoDude: <@Vera> rolled 4dF+2 for 1 [4dF = [-][+][-][ ]]
Ryusui|GM: !f 3 (Aggressive)
DiscoDude: <@Ryusui|GM> rolled 4dF+3 for 3 [4dF = [-][-][+][+]]
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Ryu; I need a difficulty to roll against.))
Vera: (Hm... Can I invoke my high concept to beat her over the head with my profession?)
Ryusui|GM: (sure, but you'll only manage a tie)
Vera: (Actually... Nah. Not worth it.)
Ryusui|GM: (Tako, the aliens are pretty alien; you'll need to beat +3, but I'll give you an advantage in the quick-fire if you succeed)
Vera: (Although Dovelia will need an answer for Vera's accusation. XD)
Ryusui|GM: Dovelia shifts her posture, and somehow feels like she's towering over you, Vera. "I have prepared feasts for entire galas. What has your experience been like, hmm? Making shit-on-a-shingle for drunken truckers at 2AM?"
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Tako-San, gregarious as he is, isn't going to to be stopped by a simple language barrier when the newcomers are clearly* here to interact with the locals. He starts with the smart thing and talks to the production staff about getting or finding a person to translate.
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: !f 2 (Cleverly Overcome)
DiscoDude: <@;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾> rolled 4dF+2 for -1 [4dF = [ ][-][-][-]]
Vera: (Is <@!Margen> in the room?)
Ryusui|GM: (sounds like he's in the hall)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Invoking “I’ll Expand My Chain to the Stars!” for a reroll.))
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: !f 2
DiscoDude: <@;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾> rolled 4dF+2 for 3 [4dF = [ ][ ][+][ ]]
Ryusui|GM: (that's good enough for a tie, and a boost)
Vera: (I assume I can't convince him OOC to come in before my response?)
Ryusui|GM: (you good with that, RG?)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Boost on a tie with Overcome?))
Ryusui|GM: (yeah Margen situated himself in the hall, so it looks like you're on your own here)
Ryusui|GM: (it's a Create Advantage roll, i told you XD)
Ryusui|GM: (well. i was a little circumspect with that but the point still stands)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((You weren't clear. I thought you meant a more general definition of "give you an advantage" since that's not phrasing the book uses.))
Vera: "Four-star establishment. But you aren't wrong about those bozos, and dealing with them on a daily basis can be pretty rough, so thanks for reminding me of that. I came here to vacay, not get bullied by some ponce. Peace, bch." Vera spits on the cutting board. "If you're professional, you'll clean that up." Then she walks out.
'... Shit, that wasn't very professional on my part, was it?' It's clear that she's a bit STRAINED [!] from that interaction.
Ryusui|GM: (and Dovelia gets [Culinary Posturing]!)
Ryusui|GM: (but on the upside you get a FATE Point)
Vera: (Did <@!Margen> hear that from the hallway, at least?)
Ryusui|GM: <@!Margen>, reminder there's a commotion in the kitchen to investigate!
Ryusui|GM: (1 sec, Tako~)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((**Translator Trainee as the boost.))
Ryusui|GM: (actually that's not the nature of the advantage, dude, gimme a sec)
Margen: he's getting down off the ceiling
Margen: He definitely heard it
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((That's what Tako-San was attempting.))
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((I thought I was less ambiguous about that.))
Ryusui|GM: (yeah but that's not what i was offering to give you here)
Ryusui|GM: (i had something specific in mind)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Then you should have told me ahead of time.))
Vera: (Tie usually cedes control of the boost created to the GM.)
Margen: Margen comes down the hallway
"What's up"?
Vera: "Huh? Wait, are you reacting to stuff now? Wonder what finally did it..."
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((The player generally gets to decide the nature of their aspect. They do have to keep the degree of success or failure in mind, but it's the player's decision.))
Ryusui|GM: Tako, you manage to find a gofer with what looks like a weird wriggling tentacle in his ear, carrying a cup of coffee in one hand and something turquoise and steaming with a cloud of froth literally hanging in midair over it in the other. "Look, I can't stay with you long, but if there was a question you wanted to ask one of these guys..." He points at the thing in his ear. "...I guess I got enough time to help you ask one." As it happens, one of the aliens is walking by at that exact moment, looking excited (but then, their expressions are hard to determine).
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((That definitely sounds more like an Overcome result, but O.K.))
Vera: (Yeah, come to think of it, was this a Create Advantage or Overcome?)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((^))
Ryusui|GM: (the idea is i'm going to give him an advantage related to information about the aliens)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Even boosts are longer lasting than that.))
Ryusui|GM: (the "translator trainee" boost won't help him)
Vera: (Boosts clear at the end of the scene.)
Ryusui|GM: (well whatevs, i'm ruling this one gets to stay with him into the quick-fire)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Then why did you say it's a Create an Advantage roll?))
Ryusui|GM: (because that's what you're getting out of it, jeez!)
Margen: "normalization of unusual edge-case tactics, actually. Good job with the plant fingers in the liquor, that's a remarkable case skirting of safe handling procedures in a responsible manner."
Ryusui|GM: (anyways i was tempted to just railroad the outcome but i figured a little bit of RP made more sense especially since Vera and Margen are still up to something)
Ryusui|GM: (so yeah, Tako, you get to ask one of the aliens a question)
Vera: "Safe... handling... excuse me?" The way Vera's looking at Margen takes on a subtle hard edge.
(Can I roll to become suspicious towards <@!Margen>'s secret? CLEVER to Overcome, right?)
Ryusui|GM: (look honestly i was mentioning the aliens for flavor and i didn't expect anyone to actually go hunting for them and i'm giving you an opportunity to get something because you did something i didn't expect)
Ryusui|GM: (sure, roll, but Margen can roll to defend/deflect)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Tako-San, getting into a professional, more businessman-like demeanor, inquries, "I understand that the translators on our side of things in a little pre-occupied. Is there one of your own we who has more free time for an in-depth discussion?"
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((I assume that would be Overcoming with Clever.))
Vera: (A'ight, I await Margen's initial response, then we roll.)
Margen: "The only thing I like more than good food is good food prepared responsibly, and that was genius."
Vera: (So defending with earnestness? Is that FLASHY, or something else?)
Margen: (Careful)?
Vera: (Careful in this context means watching your words.)
Vera: (I heard your response, but how are you defending?)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((<@!Ryusui|GM>?))
Ryusui|GM: (i saw you typing and i was waiting for you to finish)
Margen: "Hazardous foods can be tasty, but they require extra care. Some people just aren't exacting enough to do the hard jobs, but it you did it easily, with conscious effort."
Margen: (Whups)
Margen: (thanks autocorrect)
Ryusui|GM: The gofer shakes his head. A conversation ensues; you can hear him repeat your question verbatim, but there is a noise like cacophonous shrieks and squeals coming from his ear-tentacle, and the alien responds in kind. "They're just a tourist," he says. "There's nobody who'd be able to talk to you without an interpreter." He cleans his glasses. "They didn't say it, but there is the ambassador, but they're preoccupied, obviously. Oh, also, they said something about being really excited for the...the..." The tentacle makes a series of cacophonous squeals, and the alien claps excitedly. "The that. Whatever it is. They say they're looking forward to see how the chefs handle that."
Vera: (I... guess that could count as CAREFUL? The flavor matches, at least. Not sure about the intent.)
Margen: (Margen's dinnerplate-sized eyes are wide and he's really excited)
Vera: (That's textbook FLASHY.)
Ryusui|GM: (your boost, Tako, is -An Alien Flavor-!)
Vera: ("Outgoing friendliness.")
Vera: (Or at least, the book used an example like that.)
Margen: (yeah he isn't exactly calm)
Vera: (Shall we roll, then?)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((So you did decide to just railroad?))
Vera: !f 3 (CLEVER)
DiscoDude: <@Vera> rolled 4dF+3 for 3 [4dF = [+][+][-][-]]
Margen: (but it isn't in panic, he's just hyped about good food safety xD)
(Sure)
Ryusui|GM: (i mean i had the idea for what you'd get pre-planned but i didn't want to go like "this happened, and this happened" without your input)
Margen: !f 1 (FLASHY)
DiscoDude: <@Margen> rolled 4dF+1 for 2 [4dF = [ ][-][+][+]]
Ryusui|GM: (er. "pre-planned" in that "i had an idea what you'd get for hunting down the aliens" but still)
Vera: (Wanna invoke anything, Margen?)
Margen: (Safety First)
Vera: (There's a free invoke available, you know. Also, you can't invoke Popularity before the end; only compel.)
Margen: (Whup nm)
Margen: (Wait which has the invoke?)
Vera: (STRAINED [!].)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Player's in Fate get to design some of the lore and story details, that's actually a big part of the Create an Advantage action. But just shutting down my R.P. plan without so much as a high-difficulty roll and taking all control of what aspect Tako-San placed just feels bad.))
Margen: (ah true, but I can't remember what the conditions actually do)
Vera: (They're like consequences.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((^))
Vera: ("Stress boxes that turn into invokable aspects when they're filled, and gain a free invoke upon filling.")
Margen: (oh right)
(Margen takes a condition 👍)
Vera: (No, I have a Condition.)
Vera: (One that has a free invoke against me on it.)
Margen: (Oh)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: <@!Ryusui|GM>
((My plan was to have Tako-San get a translator, then continue making dice rolls (or R.P.) to interact with the aliens for the rest of the scene, but you instead decided that I don't get to do any of that. I only get a pre-planned boost not directly related to that actual action the roll represented.))
Margen: (What would Margen do with that?)
Vera: (You only get one "free" action, RG.)
Ryusui|GM: (well how long did you expect this scene was going to go?)
Ryusui|GM: (this isn't going to be the focus of this session, and i'm not going to let you make it that)
Ryusui|GM: (if you're going to get upset that i gave you a brief side trip and a reward for it, fine)
Vera: (Margen doesn't do anything in this case; you (the player) say that since Vera is STRAINED [?], she's more likely to write off suspicious stuff as just stress getting to her or something.)
Ryusui|GM: (but no way in fuck am i going to let you drag this out because you decided you wanted to spend the entire session interrogating the aliens)
Ryusui|GM: (and blocking out the others from moving on to the actual cooking)
Margen: (ah gotcha)
(Vera's more likely to be freaking out over Margen's comments because she's STRAINED [?], and is generally tuned up, not just at Margen. Maybe she realizes this and takes a breather from the ||(in this case justified)|| paranoia?)
Vera: (Yeah... assuming I don't invoke something back at you. Do you use the free invoke on STRAINED [?], BTW?)
Margen: (yep)
Vera: (Alright... I'm actually going to use that new fate point I got to counter it with my high concept, Space-Ghoul Line-Cook. If anyone's going to become suspicious of your secret, it's someone who's been working in the trenches during "inspection day" like Vera. XD)
Margen: (I had a feeling that might get me XD)
Vera: (Anything else to counter with?)
Vera: (Keep in mind you can choose to save your fate points for later.)
Margen: (Not really, he's not exactly going to go to huge lengths to keep it quiet. He'd rather be judged on the cooking rather than the obsession with area prep)
Vera: (Alright.)
Margen: (he tries to be a chef who helps other chefs figure out what they need to work on rather than an inscrutable Clipboard Overlord)
Vera: She could have chalked it up to stress. She could just be imagining it. The little verbal tics she noticed would fly right over most people's heads. But she remembers - "hazardous," "skirting," "procedures" - and she suspects. Does Margen Is Health Inspector?
(Note that this isn't a Created Advantage - just a proposed aspect to represent how Vera's suspicions have begun against Margen, with no free invokes. Is that okay, <@!Ryusui|GM>?)
Margen: (personally I love it)
Vera: (The question was mostly mechanical, but thanks. :3)
Ryusui|GM: (sure, let's put that down XD)
Ryusui|GM: ( are <@&627978553669058562> ready to move on, or...?)
Margen: (👍)
Vera: (What was the actual boost with Tako, again?)
Ryusui|GM: (-An Alien Flavor-)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Sure; just, next time, tell me from the get-go that the Create an Advantage action is meant to uncover a hidden aspect, rather than letting me believe I can use it to establish my own details.))
Ryusui|GM: (np)
Ryusui|GM: (anyways, is everyone ready?)
Ryusui|GM: ( Vera, RG?)
Vera: (Yee.)
Ryusui|GM: (RG?)
Ryusui|GM: (<@!;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾> )
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((I said "Sure;".))
Ryusui|GM: The camera cuts now to Kitchen Arena, where the usual crowd has a sizable complement of unusual visitors, all cheering and whooping along with the rest. The sound adds quite the din to the usual noise of the arena!
Ryusui|GM: The four competitors all stand before the dais at the center, upon which stands Chairwoman Maalu, ready to introduce today's challenge.
Ryusui|GM: "Chefs. Normally, I would launch immediately into explaining today's challenge, but first, there are two orders of business I would like to settle. First of all." She gestures, and the kitchen stations each light up with a digit - 1 through 6. "I request you all choose your station at this time. You may only use that station in both the Quick-Fire and the Main Cook-Off for this episode."
Vera: "2. Done."
Ryusui|GM: "Station three," Dovelia says, pointing.
Ryusui|GM: ( <@!Margen>? <@!;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾>?)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "I
Margen: "four!"
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "Number one, like I aspire to be."
Ryusui|GM: "Good. Now, for the second matter. I'd like to introduce you all to...Zimf Zulark, culinary ambassador of the Hydrangea Galaxy!"
Ryusui|GM: Exotic music starts playing, including instruments that certainly aren't within the normal hearing range. Zimf, unsurprisingly, is one of the aliens you've seen around Kitchen Arena: tube-like body, tiny nubby "feet," four long spindly arms, head like an elongated football with three black eyes and a tiny sphincter mouth atop a neck that's almost as long as he is. A contraption like a large metal belt is attached around his "waist," providing locomotion via three spindly metal limbs, and his skin keeps changing color as you watch, from green to blue to even purple. If anyone has the ability to see UV wavelengths, he's positively blinding.
Vera: "O-kay..."
Ryusui|GM: "G'evening, g'evening, denizens of the Milky Way!" Zimf says; clearly, Tako, your tourist friend was talking about this ambassador. "As my friend the Chairwoman just said, I'm Zimf Zulark, culinary ambassador of the Hydrangea Galaxy" - a holodisplay lights up behind him, showing a surreal cluster of purple stars - "and to put it short, we've come to an agreement with Kitchen Arena to see how your chefs handle culinary delights...from a whole 'nother galaxy!"
Margen: (Margen has to squint)
Ryusui|GM: The holodisplays begin showing off a variety of bizarre dishes and preparations, clearly designed for unusual biology. "In particular, we'd like to see how you handle that time-honored classic..."
Ryusui|GM: A pedestal rises up behind and between the Chairwoman and Zimf.
Ryusui|GM: ..."Glorshhk!"
Vera: "... I have questions." Vera raises her hand.
Vera: (It's fine if she's ignored. I think I know what's happening here. XD)
Ryusui|GM: You all can get a good look at the thing on the pedestal. It seems to consist of a pale grey membranous "bowl" filled with magenta and turquoise cubes, which are either steaming or cold enough to chill the vapor in the air above them, and on top - a few inches above, in fact - is a gently circling swirl of froth.
Vera: "... I have more questions."
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Vera's hand raises even higher.))
Vera: (Nah. She's never really "enthusiastic" about anything.)
Margen: (As does Margen's tentacle)
Margen: he puts on some kitchen shades
Ryusui|GM: "Of course, most of what you see here is just how they prepare it in my hometown," Zimf chuckles. "Indeed, there are as many different ways to prepare Glorshhk as there are stars in the Hydrangea Galaxy. Take a look!" Another holodisplay montage ensues: various aliens, some like Zimf, others of different, even more exotic species, all enjoying(?) various different preparations. Some have bowls that look like rock, or wood, or fruit, or meat; some have contents which look like bloody chunks, or vegetables, or even plain ice cubes. The only constant is the froth swirling in the air above it.
Ryusui|GM: There's a diagram pointing to the three elements of Glorshhk: the "holbo," which appears to be an edible bowl of some description ("edible" meaning wildly different things depending on the species enjoying it), the "zarbo," which is some kind of chopped filling, and finally the "wimbo," which is the omnipresent swirling froth.
Ryusui|GM: "I'm certain you all have questions, chefs," Chairwoman Maalu says, smiling as if she has even more surprises in store. "And I'm certain I will have answers for you. But if there's anything specific you'd like to ask...?"
Vera: "Okay, most of mine have been answered, actually, but how do they normally get that stuff to float?"
Ryusui|GM: "As it happens, I was just about to answer that." The pedestal retracts, and a much bigger aperture opens up in the floor. What emerges is a large metal pole, surrounded by vast swirls of the same froth.
Ryusui|GM: "This is your secret ingredient for this challenge. A vast quantity of raw wimbo for you to use in your Glorshhk preparations. This is only made in the Hydrangea Galaxy, so be careful both in how you procure it and how you use it!"
Ryusui|GM: "Oh, and one more thing," Zimf pipes up. "Over in the Hydrangea Galaxy, we have flavors you...well, none of you can taste over here. One of our favorites is a little something we call..."
Vera: ("Wait... raw?")
Ryusui|GM: He makes a series of untranslated cacophanous squeals. Tako, this is exactly the sound you recall the gofer making, trying to describe what had the tourist so excited.
Ryusui|GM: Those watching from home with subtitles see it rendered as "@#$%"
Ryusui|GM: "So yeah, that @#$% flavor is reeeeeal important. It's the natural taste of wimbo, y'know. I guess that'll make it a little hard for you to work with, huh?"
Ryusui|GM: Raw Wimbo Aspects: Floaty Foodstuff Natural Flavor: @#$% Difficulty: Fair (+2)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Is this seventh culinary approach at Mediocre (±0) or Poor (-1) for the P.C.'s?))
Ryusui|GM: (it's +0)
Ryusui|GM: On closer examination, you can tell the wimbo is somewhat thicker - creamier - than the froth on top of the sample Glorshhk bowl. It will require some form of preparation before it can be used as topping.
Margen: Margen's sensory hind brain kicks into high gear, his tentacles itching with unprecedented something. He almost keels over, but he recovers. This will be fun
Ryusui|GM: "Any other questions?" Chairwoman Maalu says.
Margen: "Is it safe to eat raw?"
Ryusui|GM: "More or less," Zimf admits. "I'm not a biochemist. The Chairwoman assures me there are doctors on hand in case there are any unexpected allergic reactions. I'm not sure you'll be able to taste it, though - I have it on good word that @#$% is hard to detect by local palates. You're free to try adding your own flavors to it, though, if you're not comfortable working with something you can't taste."
Ryusui|GM: (as a reminder: the dish must, as always, contain the secret ingredient, but it's possible to mask the flavor while still using the secret ingredient - you just won't be able to invoke it!)
Vera: (I'll consider it. So is it time for the mechanical cook-off briefing, or is that something we're only adding in post?)
Ryusui|GM: "Right, then. Here are the terms of today's Quick-Fire Cook-Off, in precise terms..."
Ryusui|GM: 6 Exchanges 1 Dish Must be recognizable as Glorshhk (1 edible bowl, 1 filling, 1 plating aspect incorporating the secret ingredient)
Ryusui|GM: (am i missing any details?)
Vera: (Not missing anything. I'll give it the quote-unquote "proper" formatting in post.)
Ryusui|GM: "Now...Commencez a creer!"
Ryusui|GM: QUICK-FIRE COOK-OFF START
Ryusui|GM: EXCHANGE 1/6
Ryusui|GM: Dovelia starts off trying to carefully shepherd a handful of the raw wimbo as it swirls around the metal pole.
Ryusui|GM: !f 2 (Careful)
DiscoDude: <@Ryusui|GM> rolled 4dF+2 for 1 [4dF = [ ][ ][-][ ]]
Ryusui|GM: (I'm going to invoke her Cybernetic Left Arm :3)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((No house chef?))
Vera: (This is quick-fire.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Right.))
Ryusui|GM: (that normally isn't introduced till the main cook-off, and furthermore i'm skipping that this episode)
Ryusui|GM: (the book says i can do that XD)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Oh!))
Ryusui|GM: Manipulator servos straining, Dovelia manages to finagle a handful of [Raw Wimbo][!] ready for preparation!
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Shame; I was hoping for a Trilithium Chef or and Unobtainium Chef, or other Hydrangean-native chef with a fictional element name.))
Margen: Margen grabs an oven bag before heading over, he has a plan to catch some clouds.
Vera: Vera shambles up to the pole.
"Okay, why the pole? That's gotta mean something..." She prods it in various ways, like holding up metal objects to see if it's magnetic or staticky - whatever it ends up being, she'll have a plan for it.
(Trying to use CLEVER to get the ingredient.)
Ryusui|GM: (roll it!)
Vera: !f 3 (CLEVER)
DiscoDude: <@Vera> rolled 4dF+3 for 2 [4dF = [+][ ][-][-]]
Vera: (Enough for a tie...)
Ryusui|GM: The pole isn't magnetic, but raising a small metal object does provoke an interesting reaction in the wimbo: a small tuft, just enough for a serving, breaks free from the swirls and gathers around it. You now have -A Small Tuft of Raw Wimbo-!
Ryusui|GM: (<@!Margen>? <@!;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾>?)
Margen: Can I use a prep aspect to try to get more Wimbo from the pole?)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((I forget, what changed about the stealing rules, aside from the aspect itself requiring the first stolen invoke?))
Margen: (or should I just bring a spoon?)
Vera: (You can use a prep aspect, but only if you create it.)
Ryusui|GM: (you only need enough wimbo for a bowl-sized serving, but yeah, if it's really important to you to get a ton of wimbo for some reason, you can spend your exchange prepping)
Margen: (ok he'll just bring a spoon to grab some and an oven bag to keep it in.)
Moving to the center pole, Margen prepares to CAREFULly retrieve some Wimbo.
Margen: !f 3 (CAREFUL)
DiscoDude: <@Margen> rolled 4dF+3 for 3 [4dF = [ ][ ][-][+]]
Margen: Margen coaxes some Wimbo away and eases it into the bag for safekeeping.
Ryusui|GM: (you got [Raw Wimbo][!])
Margen: (yay)
Vera: (Don't forget the (@#$%).)
Ryusui|GM: (AH YES, MB)
Ryusui|GM: ( <@!;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾>? )
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "Darling, do set up the place while I go on an adventure, would you." Tako-San asks of Lue-Ann.
"Of course." Lue-Ann responds in the toned-down sultry presentable in family media.
With that, Tako-San is off, clawing across the ground towards station 3, there small statue perfect slipping under the "radar" of the show's cameras.
((Sneakily Create and Advantage to become Unnoticed.))
Vera: (Using an action instead of a fate point? I believe doing this during a cook-off increases the difficulty to +2 or +3 (when it would be +1 outside a cook-off), according to the book.)
Vera: (<@!Ryusui|GM>, what would be the opposition, in this case?)
Ryusui|GM: (+1, according to the book)
Ryusui|GM: (and bear in mind this is your action for the exchange)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Giving up an action is pretty costly in a limited time format like this.))
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: !f 2
DiscoDude: <@;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾> rolled 4dF+2 for 2 [4dF = [-][+][ ][ ]]
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: And with that Tako-San goes Unnoticed[!], even by the cameras as they inch through station 2's zone.
Ryusui|GM: EXCHANGE 2/6
Ryusui|GM: Dovelia vaults over to the Lardertron and begins keying in a request for a very specific mushroom. The sight of the Glorshhk sample has given her ideas.
Ryusui|GM: !f 2 (Careful)
DiscoDude: <@Ryusui|GM> rolled 4dF+2 for 4 [4dF = [ ][+][+][ ]]
Ryusui|GM: (that's an SWS, right?)
Vera: (Yeah.)
Ryusui|GM: Out pops a [Stardust Shiitake (SAVORY)][!!], in pristine condition. Dovelia's grin turns positively savage.
Vera: Before heading to Station 2, Vera takes a detour to that screen with all the examples and gives it a good hard stare. She also takes her notepad out, of course; she's trying to really figure this "Glorshhk" thing out, after all.
(CLEVERLY attempting to create a prep aspect to draw up a battle plan with all the less obvious consistencies between different executions of the dish.)
Vera: !f 3 (CLEVER)
DiscoDude: <@Vera> rolled 4dF+3 for 4 [4dF = [ ][ ][+][ ]]
Vera: (SWS?)
Ryusui|GM: (SWS :3)
Vera: Something seems to click, and before long, she has a pretty comprehensive Glorshhk Battleplan [!!!] written up.
(Is it fair to say I can use "Order Up!" here to place that extra free invoke?)
Ryusui|GM: (sure XD)
Ryusui|GM: ( <@!Margen>, <@!;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾>? )
Margen: (Lagstorm)
Margen: (Margen will attempt to examine the Glorshhk a little bit further, if not able he'll start his prep) "May I taste the filling?"
Vera: (Who says the tasting can't be the prep?)
Ryusui|GM: (i won't object 😉 )
Ryusui|GM: (i mean. in all honesty i coulda sworn Margen had something on his sheet relating to alien tastebuds or something)
Vera: (He decided to represent it as a stunt instead.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Tako-San, getting to station 2 right around when Vera does, pops into the air like a grasshopper, almost plowing threw the undead chef's cloud while grabbing for a chunk himself. This comes with a complementary "Why, tankyu!" to Vera.
((Flashily Create an Advantage to snag A Small Tuff of Raw Wimbo))
Ryusui|GM: (roll, and defend)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: !f 3
DiscoDude: <@;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾> rolled 4dF+3 for 4 [4dF = [ ][-][+][+]]
Vera: !f 3 (CLEVER)
DiscoDude: <@Vera> rolled 4dF+3 for 4 [4dF = [-][ ][+][+]]
Margen: Margen takes a disposable taster and scoops a nibble ofthe filling.
(What should I roll, Careful?)
Ryusui|GM: (i'll allow it)
Vera: (You gonna invoke anything?)
Margen: (Glurrid Sauceror, maybe. I don't think I have any freebies that apply right now)
Ryusui|GM: (DC was addressing RG)
Vera: (That was directed at RG, sorry.)
Margen: (whups :P)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((High concept.))
Vera: (Don't you have a free invoke on Unnoticed [!]?)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Right; that instead.))
Vera: (I assume since you're announcing yourself when you do this, you'll lose the aspect itself after this exchange. XD)
Ryusui|GM: (yes)
Ryusui|GM: (they most certainly will)
Vera: (BTW, does he get a boost like I lost? Or does he get a full aspect with no free invokes on it?)
Ryusui|GM: (he gets a boost, because you had almost nothing to begin with)
Ryusui|GM: (honestly i don't like this because this amounts to a +4 swing overall in RG's favor)
Ryusui|GM: (but i don't know how to compromise here in a way that makes narrative sense)
Vera: (Make it a normal aspect, then.)
Vera: (No +2 unless he forks up the fate point himself.)
Ryusui|GM: (...sure, he can only even invoke the wimbo for the plating aspect)
Ryusui|GM: (let's do that, you get an aspect RG, but I'll admit something still feels fudgy here)
Ryusui|GM: ( <@!Margen> ROLL)
Margen: !f 3 (careful)
DiscoDude: <@Margen> rolled 4dF+3 for 2 [4dF = [+][-][ ][-]]
Margen: (still lagging out)
Ryusui|GM: (that's a success)
Vera: "Say what?" Vera doesn't quite catch sight of Tako until he's already retreating, but she recognized his slimy voice. While she doesn't emote much, those who know her would be able to tell from the extra terse tone that she's not amused.
Margen: (ok, what do I taste experience?)
Ryusui|GM: To any of the others, <@!Margen>, the wimbo would probably taste of...nothing, really. Something like blended styrofoam, perhaps. Your own chemoreceptors, however, are able to detect something. You're not sure if this is the vaunted @#$% flavor per se, but you do get a hint of something a bit...red, and purple, and vivid yellow. With maybe a hint of green. It's quite a symphony, and though you're not sure you're hearing it right, you might have some apprehension of how to prepare a satisfying wimbo now.
Ryusui|GM: (how about [Tasting Colorful Noises][!}? XD)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Did you you just say that this tastes like the color of magic?))
Ryusui|GM: (XD)
Vera: (That's a yellowish purple-green.)
Ryusui|GM: (on some distant star, an "octarine" is a kind of fruit~)
Ryusui|GM: (i'll admit i wasn't intentionally going there trying to describe Margen's wimbo-induced synaesthesia but thank you for catching that)
Ryusui|GM: (anyways just waiting for <@!Margen> to respond~)
Margen: (that works wonderfully)
Ryusui|GM: (so, <@&627978553669058562> good to call it for the night?)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Please.
Vera: (Yeah.)
Margen: (Yup)
Ryusui|GM: "Things are only just getting started, but an exciting competition is sure to be ahead of us! Don't change that channel - there's more to come, right after these messages!"
Ryusui|GM: !end
