DiscoDude: ---BEGIN SESSION---
DiscoDude: Session logging commenced
GM: You've had quite the journey, Hajin. You started as nothing more than a mutant whelp that had to hide from the surface on the threat of lethal persecution. Brought up in an environment that encouraged tribalism, and where one had to get their next meal any way they can, you adopted a rather morbid appetite, which did not differentiate between animals... and people. This ended up being bad news for a particular agent of Cross-Hare, who, after an intense struggle, met his end at your maw.
This did not escape Cross-Hare's notice. They sent more agents - better-prepared agents - and had you brought in.
However, they were only somewhat disappointed by the loss of a valued scout. In fact, one of their more draconian executives argued in your favor, saying that it would actually be a net gain if you were brought into the fold.
GM: "After all," he argued, "to lose Agent Hermit to this specimen is a clear indication that he was the inferior assassin. If said specimen takes well to formal training, then his sacrifice should be considered all the more worthwhile."
Of course, you would only find out later as, at the time during which you lacked a translation device, it was all gibberish to you.
It's been months since then, and you've completed this "formal training." More or less. Now you're finally leaving the section of the facility trainees are restricted to for your final test and first mission.
You only saw the lobby - the public face of the organization - once, all those months ago, and its sharp design and central water feature haven't changed a bit. Before you can reach the elevator that will take you to your first briefing, however, you spot someone vaguely familiar. Familiar in the sense that you have yet to eat them.
And why would you? It's the same Cross-Hare admin that argued in your favor months ago - "Southpaw," you think his 'name' was. A towering, draconic figure - even more imposing than you, in fact. Though his build is monstrous, it's all packaged in a sharply tailored business suit.
"Training did some good for you, little hunter?"
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Hajin stands up from drinking out of the water feature. "Found whatcha called me; ****ing egghead."
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Hajin's wearing freshly made duplicates of the original clothes they were abducted in: simple blue jeans and plain, white tank-top made four their four arms and of loose enough fit that their tentacles to becurled behind without being visible through from underneath.
GM: "Feisty, as always. I knew I made the right choice advocating for you." He licks his upper teeth. "The way you dispatched the previous Agent Hermit already proved that you had the skill, even before training. Now they just need you to prove that you can display tact in the same stroke, should those like you and I truly try at it."
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: The glare doesn't leave Hajin's face as they cross both pairs arms. "Fine food; trash on circles; boxes everywhere. Y'point?"
GM: (For the record, Hajin has yet to hear what the target and location of their final test is.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Thought the "Y'point?" comment would lead into that.))
GM: (Okay, then I officially have no idea what you're trying to say with that dialogue.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((The first sentence is vaguely answering the question Southpaw opened with.))
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: (("Fine food" = the others Hajin trained against; "trash on circles" = the more "traditional" foodstuffs they tried to feed Hajin instead (Hajin's never seen dinnerplates before meeting C.H.A.); "boxes everywhere" = from a story I've heard of American Indians describing whitemen's life style.))
GM: (This is their first live mission.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((So Hajin hasn't seen another living soul during training?))
GM: (Though maybe I'll accept that there were some rehearsals that went wrong. (Someone pay that stunt-double a bonus!) XD)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: (("Double-Stunt"?))
GM: (Okay, so it seems like you posted a response to his initial question, but not what he said in response to you.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Well, the "Y'point?" was supposed to be that, but if we see Hajin got the egghead comment in before you they asked that initial question, then it would feel more natural to move the response to it to before the "Feisty, as always." comment. That'll make Hajin going next make more sense.))
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Hajin quirks an eyebrow. "Prove, how?"
GM: "You'll see. I trust that you've memorized how to reach the briefing room?" He nods towards the elevator.
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "41736403#" Hajin replies bluntly.
GM: "-Not out in the public lobby. You're lucky there was no one here to overhear that. Now go, and perhaps you should exercise some added caution while you're at it."
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Hajin relaxes their arms as they turn on the spot and walk to the lift with pragmatic focus.
GM: You quickly punch in the elevator button code you had drilled into your memory. Once you do, the shell of the cabin goes up past the visible ceiling while the actual platform you're standing on descends below the floor. The doors at your destination open to reveal a conference room with a long table with only two chairs. At the far end sits a humanoid robot resembling a rabbit of some kind. Their LED face-screen lights up.
"Good morning, pending Agent Hermit. I am the T.S.U. Kino unit, Usagi model, designation S.E.L.E.N.E. - your handler. I choose to use female pronouns if you wanted my input on that. Won't you come in and take a seat?"
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Hajin had put their lower hands into the front pockets of their pants, but the upper pair clenched at Hajin's side at the word "handler". Upon S.E.L.E.N.E.'s request, Hajin approaches within 2 meters of the gynoid and sits on the table in front of her, Hajin's nearest foot joining their rump so as to us their knee as a rest for their upper pair of arms. "S'up?"
GM: "... That is not what I meant, exactly. Observation: It will be more difficult for you to view the presentation where you are, but not impossible. I suppose this can be allowed."
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Hajin nods in agreement, not breaking eye-contact.
GM: "Proceeding. As you know, your training will conclude with a live test. A low-risk mission selected to test your capabilities in the field. Let us commence the briefing on that mission."
A screen lowers behind her. She taps a feed switch on the side of her head, changing her face into a rapid-fire stream of data as the screen behind her lights up.
GM: "Your first live target is one Jeanshaq Russo, an Otterotta operating out of Viva Lavidad." The screen toggles between several files and photos depicting a tall, yet thin otter-esque man wearing a chef's uniform and a polite expression marred only by a mean scar. "He is the head chef and owner of a restaurant there called Man'Geles Riche, an establishment exclusive to invited VIPs."
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Hajin flinches slightlly. They've seen technical displays during their training, but never encountered one replacing someone's face
GM: Images of the restaurant's exterior appear, showing it alone on an isolated cliff-face over the cloud rainforest below; the only obvious means of reaching it appears to be a dock designed to receive a cable-car from a higher shelf of the colony. There is also footage of him plating his signature dishes being played. "He's rather proud of it; it has received two Maalu Stars over the two cycles it's been open, due to the rare and exclusive wildlife he uses in his dishes." The slides switch to images of a bipedal fauna. "However, several environmental groups argue that this local species is endangered, and should thus be protected."
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Hajin rolls their eyes at the eco-politics mumbo-jumbo.
GM: Then the footage cuts to what seems to be a livestream of a small group hiking through the cloud forest. "However, when one group of protest bloggers went hunting for proof that the 'vivians' weren't overpopulated like Jeanshaq claimed, our client learned that the reality was even worse than they had imagined." The group comes across a moth-like 'vivian'... that was wearing crude clothing and holding a bow. The group only has a moment to process this before shots start ringing out, and members of the group start dropping.
GM: The presentation cuts back to a still, zoomed-in image of the clothed vivian. "This species wasn't just endangered; they were sentient*. Jeanshaq was able to cash in a few favors with some unknown parties to discredit this footage as a hoax publicity stunt against him, which was exasperated by the fact that none of the live-streamers' bodies were recovered. This is where you come in."
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Hajin quirks an eyebrow.
GM: The footage cuts to blueprints of the establishment, shots of guests arriving via cable-car, a projected map of a theoretical hiking path leading up to the restaurant, and shots of the dining hall and kitchen taken during a TV special. "Your mission is to eliminate Jeanshaq Russo. Use whatever methods you please, but as this is your final exam, it must be stressed that Cross-Hare as an agency prides itself with its discretion. As the client can't confirm whether the restaurant staff and VIPs present are in on the operation, you are discouraged heavily from killing anyone besides your target. Do you understand?"
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "One course meal."
GM: (Is this a good place to end the briefing scene?)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Sure.))
GM: (Do you want to proceed to an infiltration scene now, or do you wanna stop it here for now?)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Proceed.))
GM: - SCENE 1: Into the Otter's Den -
GM: It's a sunny evening in the colony of Viva Lavidad, and the view from the cliff where Man'Geles Riche sits, with the sunset hitting the clouds below, is stunning. Exclusive guests from the colony proper arrive via cable-car - seemingly the only way to reach this forested plateau.
GM: Where is Hajin during all this? How do they intend to infiltrate the restaurant?
GM: (Disguise themselves as a guest? Hang onto the outside of the cable-car? Free-climb? Try to find a secret path? Hang-glide?)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((I was worried that second option wouldn't be viable; let's go with that.))
GM: Hajin, you're near the upper cable station in the colony proper. You see that a cable-car has just arrived to pick up more guests - being such an exclusive destination, the cabin is actually quite small and private. What does Hajin try to do at this point?
GM: (Sit. aspects: Luxury Cable Cabin | It's a Long Way Down... | Invite-Only)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Hajin tries for relatively high ground, a perch from which to drop onto the cabin as it departs.
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Is there anything nearby automatically, or to I need to roll for Hajin?))
GM: (Alright, I'm wondering if I should call for a Challenge here to cover the whole process from start to finish.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((I would think it'd only need to be two or three rolls, but that later may as well constitute a Challenge scene.))
GM: ("Three Create Advantage and/or Overcome rolls" is generally what constitutes a Challenge, yes. XD)
GM: (Alright, so I'm gonna call for a challenge here. You yourself described "Find a perch to drop down from" as the first task. Obviously, "Jump onto the cabin" would be its own task. Finally, I assume "Slip away at the destination" works as the final task?)
GM: (So a Create Advantage, followed by two Overcomes?)
GM: (That sound good, <@!;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾>?)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Yeah.))
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Rolling Hajin's Great (+4) Survival to happen upon a tree or outcropping.))
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: !f 4
DiscoDude: <@;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾> rolled 4dF+4 for 4 [4dF = [+][-][ ][ ]]
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Oops! Against Fair (+2) difficulty?))
GM: (Yeah, let's go with that. XD)
GM: (Describe it!)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Hajin spots a tree in their peripheral vision that sticks out to within a meter of the cabin's carry-cable. Without conscious thought, they decide to climb it to get a perch from which to drop on top. The bark of the tree is stiff, but soft, much easier than the steel and concrete their used to climbing.
Having Gone Out on a Limb, they wait patiently for their free ride.
GM: (Noted.)
After the car lets a gaudily dressed android on, it begins to depart; now's your chance!
(Keep in mind that you can't use the same Skill twice in a Challenge unless a stunt subs out another Skill for the one you're using. You might want to save STEALTH for when it's time to disembark, and this task, meanwhile, might be more about landing on the car in the first place than it is about being sneaky.)
GM: (Fair (+2) difficulty again. Should be doable with ATHLETICS in tandem with that advantage you created.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((This seems more like a job for Athletics any way, but I'll go with Burglary for the non-detection side of this "entry".))
GM: (Well, describe what you do in-character that justifies BURGLARY over ATHLETICS or STEALTH.)
GM: (For the record, not doing this sneakily will only matter if you succeed at a cost or something.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Box-People not prey. Hajin thinks, No toying; don't scare.
As the cable-car cabin passes by, Hajin gently steps down from the branch onto its roof, like a thief through a window.
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((What difficulty is Hajin Overcoming?))
GM: (... Yeah, I'll allow it. The action you're describing (bending the branch and using balance to gently touch down without any bystanders noticing) is something of a small feat, so Opposition is Good (+3), but that's still better odds than ATHLETICS vs. Fair (+2). XD)
GM: (Roll it!)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: !f 3
DiscoDude: <@;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾> rolled 4dF+3 for 5 [4dF = [+][ ][ ][+]]
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((I'd argue this doesn't remove the Gone Out on a Limb aspect as it's still figuratively true.))
GM: (Normal success! Note that as the aspect you created isn't true anymore, it's going away after this roll is resolved.)
GM: (Also note that it has a free invoke on it.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Did you see my argument to the contrary?))
GM: (Ah, slow typing... Well, you aren't "on a 'limb'" anymore, but it should be a moot point if you use the free invoke to get a boost from a SWS.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((I worded that aspect specifically so it would also be figuratively true (which I argue it still is), even if I didn't think about it disappearing at the time.))
GM: (I deal in the spirit of an aspect, not the technical wording.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((I gave it that technical wording to better convey my intended spirit.))
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((That's how I try to write aspects in general.))
GM: (Well you didn't succeed, apparently. You can't just chameleon an aspect's meaning to change between literal and figurative.)
GM: (I don't like dealing with the figurative in aspects in general, as that leads to some pretty nebulous definitions.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((It wasn't to change it was to be both at once. It wasn't meant to be chameleonic, it was meant to be an obvious allusion.))
GM: (Again, there shouldn't even be any great loss either way; spending the free invoke will get you a SWS boost.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((I wasn't thinking about that kind of figurative "definition" (which would be better described as an application). My thoughts were about a literal application of the figurative definition: to "go out on a limb" is to take a chance, high risk, high reward, which seems apt given the literally and figuratively precarious position they put themself in, as opposed to something more innocuous. And giving up the normal aspect does lose out on fate point invokes.))
GM: (Ah, I thought you were describing literally going out on a tree limb.)
GM: (Because it can't be both.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((I was, and figuratively "going out on a limb" with the decision to do so literally.))
GM: (That's two distinct things.)
GM: (An aspect can't represent two different things.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Aspects can, the trade-off being you can't invoke it for both separately on the same roll/exchanging stack-ability for versatility.))
GM: (*head-desk Alright, fine. Not like it even mechanically matters that much in this case.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((It's poetic writing, which seems to fit in line with what aspect want to be, especially with the encouragement to make the "evocative".))
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((So, third roll.))
GM: (Describe the result of the second roll first.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Hajin managed to take the landing in stride, by literally taking a stride to prevent loss of balance from the improvised platform moving under them and taking their first foot with it. Fortunately, the second step wasn't too much less gentle than the first, allowing the disturbance to be within the range the occupants of the cable-car cabin would expect to be normal.
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Fixed a typo in the trade-off argument.))
GM: (That argument's getting cut in the log anyway.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Just wanted to make sure the original typo didn't affect things.))
GM: The cable-car slowly descends across the clouds. Soon, the restaurant comes into view; it's time to disembark, hopefully without being seen.
GM: (Difficulty is Fair (+2), of course.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((I just realized: is there a check point at the entrance everyone else is using?))
GM: (Yes. Or at the very least, some people out front to greet the VIPs. Hence the roll that's required to disembark and enter the establishment.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Hajin waits patiently as the passengers leave the zip-line trolley. When the last one departs, Hajin slinks down from the roof and quietly falls in line behind the invited guests. However, they use their mutant ability to displace their visual presence to the opposite side of the guest in front of them from the greeter, hoping to use the slimness of their athletic physique to full obscure their physical presence.
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Difficulty?))
GM: (Okay, thought you were going to slink off to a side-entrance or the roof there. A move this brazen will be against Good (+3) opposition.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: !f 3 (Overcome with Stealth)
DiscoDude: <@;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾> rolled 4dF+3 for 1 [4dF = [-][-][-][+]]
GM: (... Also, I was imagining a "one guest per cable-car trip" limit there.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Your description of small didn't imply "There can only be one." heavily enough for me to realize that.))
GM: (*sigh Alright, I'll admit that one was on me.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Invoking Capable of VIsual Displacement for a tie; the minor cost being that they catch a glimpse of Hajin after the guest goes in, but doesn't question it (for now), inferring the guest brought a +1.))
GM: (When you tie an Overcome, one of several things can happen.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((This change is news to me.))
GM: (It's not a change; it's in the source-book.)
GM: (You can get a success at a minor cost, failure at a minor boon, and I forget what the other options are.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Huh? Maybe I need to reread the Rethinking Stealth article again. I definitely don't remember the Core/Condensed rulebook going that in depth about it.))
GM: (I was only thinking in the context of what a tie when Overcoming means.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((That's not the same as "it's in the source-book."))
GM: (Yeah, it is; "'how ties for overcome rolls are handled' is detailed in the source book.")
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((That's different from your own thoughts and musing on said source-book.))
GM: (Does it sound like I'm just using my own thoughts and musing?)
GM: (???)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: > I was only thinking in the context
((Yes.))
GM: (Where's the distinction?)
GM: ("I was thinking of what I read in the book." I said "of," not "about.")
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((That newer wording doesn't imply you've added or altered what you were thinking about.))
GM: (Actually, what are you even trying to argue here?)
GM: (Are you saying I'm wrong about what's in the book?)
GM: (Actually, you know what?)
GM: !end
