DiscoDude: ---BEGIN SESSION---
DiscoDude: Session logging commenced
GM: It's the second phase now, between challenges! (Let me know if you need reminders on the zones in play. Remember, it's up to you what your character does. Spy on one of the judges! Confront a Rival! Gamble (more)! Advance your personal arc! In <@!Dovelia>'s case; it's up to you if you want to fulfill the rendezvous set to happen out on the balconies, or to blow it off.)
Dovelia: remembers she has an appointment and chooses to keep it.
Reality Glitch: ((What appointment?))
GM: (She got left a note between some of the chips she received while she was gambling.)
Reality Glitch: ((Right.))
GM: The Intimately Spaced Balconies offer a stunning view of the lit up streets and skyline despite being blanketed in a cloud cover of fog (or perhaps because of it). It doesn't take long for a certain kobold to come out of the balcony to your left wearing his own gas mask. He nonchalantly leans back on the railing closest to you.
"Yo."
(<@!Dovelia>, I'm thinking of having your roommate be the "interference" in this scene. Want to decide who they are, or should I?)
GM: (<@Reality Glitch>, <@!Ratatoskr>, what do you want your characters to be accomplishing this scene?)
Dovelia: (go right ahead and choose)
Dovelia: (also who is this guy again)
GM: (It's Gwystan. He's the kobold.)
GM: (... Man, he's turning out to have a lot of focus this episode.)
Dovelia: "I should've known. So what business do you have with me?" She holds up the little note.
Reality Glitch: Though Dovelia split from the group, Rachelle still tries to convince Norstar and Mz. Cozo to buy into having a “girl’s night”.
GM: (To the casino? XD)
Ratatoskr: (Uh, I might need the reminder)
Reality Glitch: ((Possibly; depends on how the others interpret the idea.))
GM: The Suites
No Sense of Privacy Among Servants | Personalized Mini-Kitchen | Balconies Are Intimately Spaced
The Lobby & Halls
Cameras Everywhere | Absurd Foot Traffic | Hush Policy
The Casino
Sanctioned In-Game Stakes | Loud | Cameras Everywhere
GM: (Ladies nights wouldn't be considered to be a "cooped up in your room" affair. Casino seems likely, unless you have an alternate suggestion. XD)
GM: D: "Should've known? I drew a self portrait on there..."
Reality Glitch: ((Got nothing myself.))
Ratatoskr: Hm, Ratatoskr will actually cook something to lift their spirits after the whole spice ingridients fiasco and to eat something vaguely familiar to their homelands...
Dovelia: "My younger sister, rest her soul, could draw better than that when she was eight." She smirks. "Again: I beat you at the table, you beat me at the quick-fire; are you proposing we break the tie before going into our final bout for this round? Or was there something else you had in mind for this liaison?"
GM: D: "Oof, fair... Trust me, I was improvising there." He shakes his head. "Definitely wasn't trying to win."
"Hallo?" Carmine enters your suite. "I saw somevun go in... Has my roommate shown herself, or vill we hass to get testy?"
Dovelia: (wait, is Carmine my roommate, or...?)
GM: (Yep.)
Dovelia: (to be clear: is there some rule that says we can't chat 😛 )
GM: (No, but Carmine has little patience for "reality show nonzence." She might be worried about lesser chefs using numbers to triumph over talent, too. That adds up to her potentially being at least a nuisance here.)
GM: R: "Hahaha! This is already turning out to be a splendiforific idea!" Norstar glances from table to table. "Craps could be good... AH! THEY HAVE ROULETTE!"
Mz. Cozo chitters to herself. "May the spirits favor us tonight... oh yes..." You see two tables that seem open; Blackjack has just Alexx playing at the moment, while Buzel and Mimi seem to be passing chips back and forth at the roulette table.
Dovelia: "Do shut up," Dovelia snaps at Carmine. "As for you, Gwystan, if you have anything to say, I should inform you I do have a rather annoying roommate present."
GM: T: "Oh, hello there," says Greto Sleewa, as you enter your room. "It would seem that we are roommates. Again." He sighs. "Do you wish to use this kitchen? I'm trying to test out some new flavor combinations right now."
Reality Glitch: “What do you think Norstar?”
GM: D: "I- Excuse moi?!" Noticing the cracked open balcony door, she dons her own gas mask and storms out to join you. "I sink I 'ave a right to here zis!"
"I was going to suggest an alliance."
"Vhat." She looks back and forth between you two in a manner one could describe as 'panicked.' "Zat vould be colluzione!"
Dovelia: squints. "Back up, back up. I feel I may have missed a link or two in this chain of logic because last time I checked, we were on opposing teams."
GM: R: "Hm... Scouting for marks, ehhhhh?" She looks around. "Mr. Crons seems to be all on his own... but while the bee and the bat have more numbers, I don't think they have much, ah, sympathy for each other..." She frowns. "I could be 110% totally wrong about that, though. What say you?"
Reality Glitch: “Hmm....” Rachelle takes a moment to think. “Let’s check in with Mimi, then; I want to see the look old bumblebutt’s face when they see me again.”
GM: D: "I mean, yeah, not much point if you're already on the same team. I mean for the whole competition. I scratch your back, you scratch mine, we keep it all hushy until boom, we've ridden off each other's backs right up to the finale with no one the wiser." He glances at Carmine. "We should probably deal her in too if we're gonna make this work."
"Absolut non! I vill not hass any interference in zis competizione of skill." She turns her back. "Ze ossers vill hear of zis."
GM: (Want to try and turn her around on this, <@!Dovelia>, or are you done with this too? XD)
Dovelia: cocks her head. "Sincerely, what ever made you think I would agree to such a thing," she sighs. "You yourself admitted your victory was a fluke. What do you have to offer from this alliance that I can't claim on my own?"
GM: R: "Kahahahaa!" Mz. Cozo leads the way. "Bumblebutt... Ha! I like dis one."
Mimi is the first to notice your group. "A-ah, um..."
"Not now, Mimi. Now, you were saying..."
Ratatoskr: "...Yes, I would like to cook with this kitchen" said the left head while the right one looked...distraught. "But alas, I suppose I can wait." Thus Ratatoskr takes a few steps away, waiting and watching Greto cook so that he might cook his dish when the alien is over with cooking.
GM: D: "Honestly, I just figured that my reality TV contest experience wouldn't be complete until I got in on the alliance game. As for what I can offer... I mean, I'm good at keeping a low profile." He winces. "Usually. I like to fly under the radar, if you couldn't tell. This is actually the most I've talked in weeks." He shrugs. "As for why you want someone like me on your side... You really think other people aren't already forming alliances?" This causes Carmine to slow.
GM: (<@!Ratatoskr>: Gonna try and wait him out? He's gonna be here a while. >:3)
Ratatoskr: (Shhh, Ratatoskr will get tired....)
Ratatoskr: (...and then the fun will begin!)
GM: T: He's certainly going at it. Once he completes a dish and tastes it ("Needs more Sweet"), he gets out the ingredients for another. This repeats a few times.
Dovelia: "What do you mean."
Dovelia: She notices Carmine's reaction, and is well aware they're both coming to the same realization.
GM: D: "I mean, I can't guarantee it, but usually by this point, alliances have formed officially. And I do have some grounds for speculation; Blobert and Zicks were pretty close last episode considering they weren't roommates, for instance. Then there's pairs like Norstar and Cozo, and Greto and Buzel. Speaking of, Buzel seems awfully interested in Mimi, who in turn seems to seek shelter with Rachelle more often these days. That's not even taking us into account," he points at you, then in the vague direction of where Carmine is through the wall, "you two already seem to show some favoritism with Rachelle and myself, respectively. That enough for you?"
"... I vill not take part in zis." Carmine turns to try and walk out in earnest.
(Now do you want to intervene?)
Ratatoskr: "...Hey, let me cook now." Said the left head, he looked rather annoyed as Ratatoskr walked and stranded behind Greto, towering the alien. "I think I had enough waiting."
GM: T: "You'll get your turn. Just another hour or so." It's already getting late, and it's hard to tell if he's stalling on purpose. (Gonna finally confront him mechanically?)
Dovelia: "I do appreciate Rachelle's circumstances and consider it perfectly within the bounds of the game to afford her certain considerations. But I wouldn't consider what we have an alliance, as you describe it." She rubs her chin. "More like a stray child I've adopted."
GM: D: "But you don't deny the rest, do you?"
GM: (For the record, if Carmine walks out the door, so too do your chances of gaining a secret alliance.)
Ratatoskr: ..."Yeah, no." Said the Right head, and would just lift Greto and put him aside so that he could cook. "I have been waiting to cook for quite a while now, Hmph" (yes, and definitely using aggressive to get my turn at cooking)
GM: T: "Rude. You realize I'm not your enemy, right? Why, earlier this evening, I heard..."
GM: (Compelling a face-off.)
GM: !f 3 (Greto's Sneaky)
DiscoDude: <@GM> rolled 4dF+3 for 4 [4dF = [+][+][-][ ]]
GM: (Wait, the stunt activates with a Clever success. Imagine the result is a 3 then.)
Dovelia: (i don't even remember who Carmine is. I don't even remember the French accent.)
Dovelia: (i remember the name but i know literally nothing about them)
Ratatoskr: !f 2
DiscoDude: <@Ratatoskr> rolled 4dF+2 for 0 [4dF = [-][-][-][+]]
Dovelia: (the pronoun caught me by surprise, too)
GM: (The purple no-nonsense shorty.)
Ratatoskr: (a h, this was a mistake)
Dovelia: (yeah, rings no bells)
Ratatoskr: (that was aggresive btw)
Dovelia: smirks. "Really, considering you'd stoop to pushing my buttons regarding my relationship with Rachelle, that just means I'm all the more interested in seeing you go down in flames. Much like your next dish." She laughs, turns on her heel, and catches up with Carmine: "What say you and I spend the time before the next round at the bar, or perhaps the card tables?"
GM: (Not boosting, <@!Ratatoskr>?)
Ratatoskr: (Uh...no point in doing it, i suppose)
GM: D: "Okay, if that's how you think it is." He turns to leave. "This is why I usually keep my mouth shut..."
"I don't drink, and I don't gamble." The moment you two are out in the hallway, Carmine turns right back around and heads back in, slamming the door in your face. "Stop following me!" You hear the beep of an electronic lock.
Dovelia: looks surprised for a second, then smirks: "Oh well. I have more fun on my own, anyway."
GM: T: "I heard Dovelia and Rachelle have formed an alliance. Like, an official one. I'm talking laser-guided collusion. One of them doesn't like someone, the other will help them take them down. Standard stuff really."
GM: (<@Reality Glitch>, any response?)
Reality Glitch: ((Ratatoskr and Greto aren’t in the casino, though.))
GM: (R: "Kahahahaa!" Mz. Cozo leads the way. "Bumblebutt... Ha! I like dis one."
Mimi is the first to notice your group. "A-ah, um..."
"Not now, Mimi. Now, you were saying..." < Posting again.)
Reality Glitch: ((Is it Cozo that said that last line? Because it doesn’t sound like they’re talking to Rachelle given the context of “they finished speaking”.))
GM: (It's Buzel ignoring Mimi trying to get him to notice you three.)
GM: (<@!Dovelia>, considering that you've made it abundantly clear how fine you were with that scene falling apart, do you mind getting slapped with a negative aspect? Maybe if I compelled I Play the Ruthless Killing Cooking Machine against you as a representation? Because I can feel that petard beginning to hoist.)
Dovelia: (eh, why not)
Dovelia: (to be clear, even Dovelia's not sure what lengths she'd go to in order to protect Rachelle)
Reality Glitch: ((It wasn’y obvious that Buzel was talking.))
GM: (Well now you know, RG.)
Dovelia: (it's true she doesn't think of it as an alliance in a "you scratch my back, I scratch yours" sense, but she does think of Rachelle as someone who needs her help and guidance)
Ratatoskr: "And? I don't see much point in that right now, I want to taste something spicy..." yeah, seems like Ratatoskr is craving something spicy, maybe that's why they are so out of it.
Reality Glitch: Rachelle sits down at the table. “Heyyyy Mimi! Mind if we join you for a game?”
GM: T: "I'm just saying, someone should stand up to them." He holds out his hand. "Alliance? I can even help with getting at that craving; I have a few ideas involving Spicy."
Dovelia: (to be clear, who is that trying to tempt Ratatoskr to the Dark Side)
GM: (Greto.)
Dovelia: (ah, gotcha)
Dovelia: (and remind me where everybody's at)
Dovelia: (like Dovelia is headed down to the casino herself so who's she liable to encounter)
GM: (You planning on moving around? I was about to end your scene after presenting some forshadowing with said negative aspect.)
Dovelia: (i'll let you finish my scene first, sure)
GM: R: "Ah- Um, sure?"
"Mimi," says Buzel, "there's three of them."
"W-what, you think we can't take them...? This is, um... a game of luck, I thought?"
"Fair."
GM: D: "Oh hey, kitty." Alexx nearly collides with you when the elevator doors open. "Where you off to, the casino?"
Ratatoskr: "...Nah, I just want to cook it myself, after that cookoff, I'm don't want anyone doing my specialty." and the hulking squirrel-like returns to cooking some sort of soup, or at least picking the ingredients up..
GM: T: "Okay, no cooking aide, but the alliance offer still stands." He extends his hand farther out. (Keep in mind that he won the roll. Up to you if he just gets A) normal face-off victory, or B) an alliance aspect in his favor.)
Dovelia: bristles at "kitty." "Actually, yes. If you're interested in having your pockets cleaned out, I was heading for the card tables."
GM: D: "Gonna catch up with your girl squad then? Think they're being led by whats-her-name... Rachelle? Totally hot."
GM: (<@Reality Glitch>, want to jump straight into the rolling?)
Reality Glitch: ((Yeah.))
GM: (Considering roulette is basically all luck, you cool with rolling base 4df?)
Ratatoskr: (can you remind me the normal victory result?)
GM: (Winner gets a popularity aspect, loser gets stress. 3 shifts, in this case.)
Dovelia: raises an eyebrow. "Sounds like an excellent plan," she says, half-distractedly, as she leaves Alexx behind and heads for the casino floor.
Reality Glitch: ((Sure.))
GM: (Okay, <@!Dovelia>, nothing was gained from you bowing out of the meeting with Gwystan, but you also managed to dodge a bullet by failing to get defensive about Rachelle. (That would have confirmed a certain rumor Alexx heard from a certain rumormonger.) Still, I feel like with Carmine back in your room, Gwystan could rekindle negotiations for, if not an alliance, then at least a defensive pact. Not having any free invokes on it enough to not be considered a compel?)
Dovelia: (i.e. by saying no to Gwystan but not saying no to Carmine, I may have allowed them to collude behind my back?)
GM: (Well, I'm mostly trying to figure out a suitably mild punishment for noping out of the scene, and wondering if there should be a punishment, for that matter.)
GM: !f (Norstar)
DiscoDude: <@GM> rolled 4dF for 1 [4dF = [+][ ][+][-]]
GM: !f (Cozo)
DiscoDude: <@GM> rolled 4dF for 0 [4dF = [+][ ][ ][-]]
GM: !f (Buzel)
DiscoDude: <@GM> rolled 4dF for -1 [4dF = [ ][ ][-][ ]]
Dovelia: (so yeah just having the aspect here to allude to the possibility Dovelia has yet to consider might work)
GM: !f (Mimi)
DiscoDude: <@GM> rolled 4dF for 1 [4dF = [+][ ][ ][ ]]
Dovelia: (but you're the GM)
Ratatoskr: Ratatoskr sighs "Hey, can you scram off? I didn't like having my ingredient wasted and having to use some...some weird glorified freezer, and I just want to cook something I like." Damn, that's some [Undeserved Aggression].
(hmm, I'll admit I'm not at the top of my game today)
GM: (The appearance of an aspect that benefits people who aren't you, but without any free invokes... Yeah, that seems suitable enough for those who choose not to engage.)
GM: (Technically, you're just taking stress, Ratatoskr. Meanwhile, Greto is rumormongering it up.)
GM: (<@Reality Glitch>, roll.)
Ratatoskr: ((Ah, sorry about that.))
GM: (How do you allocate 3 stress? From how you're writing, I'm thinking DRAINED might be one of them.)
Reality Glitch: !r 4df
DiscoDude: <@Reality Glitch> rolled 4df for -2 [4df = [-][+][-][-]]
GM: (Oof. There is something you can invoke if you want to boost out of a hard loss...)
Reality Glitch: ((Yeah. Give me a minute, though.))
GM: (Huh... seems you don't have your alliance aspect written down.)
Reality Glitch: ((For transparency’s sake: what are the exact effects of each possible die-roll result?))
GM: (Lowest drops out and gets a penalty in the upcoming cook-off. Highest cashes out and gets a boon.)
GM: (If you're tied for either, you reroll against the other tied person.)
Ratatoskr: (Hm, not sure if i got it right, I just got dealt three stress damage, right? So i suppose one fleeting and one sticky to soak it up?)
GM: (Yep.)
Reality Glitch: ((That’s not what I meant (or at least not all of it). How much is earned or gained with a certain value on the dice? (In case Rachelle wants to go table-hopping.)))
GM: (Uh... there's no "currency" value. I intended this stuff to be decided by one exchange.)
GM: (If you drop out or cash out, you're done. Otherwise, you can stay in if you want and go again.)
Reality Glitch: ((Then I’d like to see the other contestants’ rolls before invoking, as per usual Fate Fair (+2).))
Ratatoskr: (Done)
GM: 1: Norstar, Mimi
0: Cozo
-1: Buzel
-2: Rachelle
GM: (For the record, invoking your alliance would also mean compelling it against Mimi, reducing her own roll to bail you out.)
Reality Glitch: ((What other aspects could I invoke on this?))
GM: (Hm... Technically, you have dirt on Norstar, but you need to spend a FATE if you want to twist the arm on that connection aspect.)
GM: (Since you have no free invoke on it.)
Reality Glitch: ((So only the ones that involve others spotting Rachelle the chips would work?))
GM: (Unless you have another idea. Otherwise, not sure how you can game a test of luck.)
Reality Glitch: ((I imagine invoking the alliance aspect would drop Mimi down by 1.))
GM: (It's a boost's worth, so she'd drop by 2, I think.)
Reality Glitch: ((It doesn’t have to be symmetrical.))
Reality Glitch: ((G.M. fiat what the exact effect of a compel is.))
Reality Glitch: ((Very possible that Mimi wins enough to not blow out after spotting Rachelle.))
GM: (Alright, I suppose you're right.)
GM: 1: Norstar
0: Cozo, Mimi, Rachelle
-1: Buzel
Reality Glitch: ((Looks Good (+3) to me.))
GM: Buzel: "Damn it all! (Could have sworn at least Rachelle would have run out by now...)"
Norstar: "YES! THE FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE ALWAYS WINS IN THE END!"
Reality Glitch: “That was close! Let’s try another game, see if we can do that again. Mimi, you want to come?”
GM: "A-ah... I'm good. Don't wanna uh... risk getting a s-second penalty for the team..." She does a few shooing winks at you. Norstar is already bounding off.
Reality Glitch: “Alright, then. 😃 See back at the suites.” Rachelle follows Norstar, looking for games that require at least some skill.
GM: (Wanna end the scene there? It's getting pretty late.)
Reality Glitch: ((I was thinking one more gamble (with approach bonuses), then call it.))
GM: (I'll let you decide where you end up and with who.)
Reality Glitch: ((Uuuuhhhh.... What’s something that Quick or Flashy would be Good (+3) for?))
GM: (Flashy's good for big bluffing and misdirection for an accomplice. Not sure how Quick helps with gambling...)
GM: (In other news, Greto gets the Finally Igniting the Rumor Engine [!!] popularity aspect - second invoke from his Gossip Maestro stunt.)
GM: (<@Reality Glitch>?)
Reality Glitch: ((Sorry; I’ve been distracted by another server. I’ll quit while Rachelle’s ahead.))
GM: (Alright, then can I get some last lines? :3)
Dovelia: (from me as well?)
Reality Glitch: ((I think I’m Good (+3) on that front.))
GM: (Yep. You too, <@!Ratatoskr>.)
Ratatoskr: (Ehh nothing here)
Dovelia: saunters over to the nearest card table and grins. "Deal me in."
GM: (Keep in mind we're launching into the Final Cook-Off next session. I take it nothing comes of this?)
Ratatoskr: (Its fine.)
GM: (Or... Hm... Maybe after each resort scene, players may vote on whether to go "One More!" on it, maybe press their luck?)
Dovelia: (i'm fine with Dovelia's gambling being just for flavor)
GM: (Ah, okay. Then let us...)
GM: !end
