REVOLUTION - Story - Chapter 2: Talking About Talking About Vetrek

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Date: 5:34:06 PM, April 16th; 5:38:06 PM, April 17th, 2017.
Editor's Note: Geez, this log just keeps on going forever. For the impatient, just know this log is dealing in learning about a conspiracy to take over the planet that'll actually be properly handled NEXT log. For fans of endless talking, however, feel free to read on.
Metal Man (GM): Recap.
Metal Man (GM): The New Questers were coalescing at the Erastian Palace, where Xavier was announced to have arrived via a boombox that played weird midi trumpet tones. The group met and the briefing room with its Apple ][e revealed that there was a Time Cop sponsored group of Onta'vis outsiders trying to take over Onta'vis and conquer it in the name of the Time Cops. However, to avoid violating the non-aggression pact, they were in fact Onta'vis people sponsored by the Time Cops.
Metal Man (GM): Ergo like with the Celians, it was another double blind/false faction incident. Vetrek, leader of these people, has a fleet in orbit, flying towards Onta'vis. The New Questers have been tasked with preventing them from succeeding in conquering Onta'vis. We continue on as the group is en route to the area, with the New Questers aboard the Wing Fortress.
Metal Man (GM): As per the usual, it is... An old looking, 1950's like ship, with boilerplate floors and rickety, occasionally swerving and rocking back and forth surfaces. 1980's like control panels with a 1970's polished metal sheen on it are being used to control it. Exposed, sitting there in the middle of the floor is what looks like a gigantic V8 engine that's glowing green.
Metal Man (GM): It has the words, 'TIME ENGINE' blatantly engraved on it. The ship is flying through space. Funny, because you'd think something this rickety wouldn't be air-tight. Xavier is flying it, and the other New Questers (that being all of you in this session) are in the bridge with Xavier as he flies towards (but not directly onto or at) Onta'vis, through space. Continuation.
Xavier Ridgecrest: "--Sorry for being quiet, I had to get us out of Erastia quickly so we evade detection of the Time Cop scans that now semi-regularly go through the space. Haven't decided yet whether we directly engage or something else. As Nonna said, this could be a false flag operation."
Nonna: "...So I'd recommend we do some reconnaissance first with a small team. We could be wandering in to a trap."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Reconnaissance is definitely possible, depends I guess who here would be best at sneaking. I sure as heck know I'm not. You'll need me to operate the ship anyways."
Nonna: "I know of at least one other incident in which a ship arrived to help in a bad situation, guns blazing all the while."
Kumiko: "Reconnaissance...?"
Metal Man (GM): Also present, if I read everybody's things right: Kumiko, possibly KitRedgrave, and I have plans for introducing another character in a little bit.
Nonna: "Unbeknownst to them, the battle footage was being recorded and doctored. This doctored footage was then hacked into the ship's very own recorder data."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Yes. It's likely they think we're dumb. Especially due to the reputation of the Erastians. And the Questers."
Nonna: "The opposing faction then presented this 'evidence' of aggression against innocent civilians, which of course the initial attacking group was responsible for..."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "So... what do you think. Could we perhaps pull that tactic against them instead? That is, get footage of them being evil and using it to turn opinion against them. Onta'vis and their corporate overlords are a fickle bunch... I believe if Vetrek was seen to be bad for business enough they might risk their own fortunes fighting him instead of hoping they could survive under his dictatorial regime."
Nonna: "It is a possibility. However, we shouldn't try operating with little to no information. Even if that's what we're going to end up doing, this is a fine opportunity to find out who may be backing Autumnus and his puppet."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "True. I guess the question is, who around here would be good for stealth?"
Kumiko: "I have no confidence in my ability to stealth."
Nonna: "I am accustomed to it, but after the Sloan incident my name and face are rather well known, unless they have short memories."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "I have a mask that lets me transform into other people."
Nonna: "We'll need to make do with what we have. This is an opportunity we can't afford to let slip us by, after all."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "So ironically I might be able to make use of it here. I'm just not certain who I would best be impostering..."
KitRedgrave: "...surprisingly enough, I don't figure I have much skill in sneaking around anymore."
Nonna: "I take it that device of yours won't work on multiple people at once and have its effects last, huh, Xavier?"
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Generally, no. The device is just a mask. You wear it on your face. It... changes who you are down to the fiber of your being. That's why I tend to hesitate to use it. Sometimes I feel like I can still hear Deloth's screams in my head."
Nonna: "Let us do the next best thing."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "NOT THE GEMS, NOT THE GEMS, STOP PLAYING WITH THE GEMS, AHHHHHHHHHHHH you get the idea."
KitRedgrave: "That seems like a thing with very interesting implications..."
Kumiko: "Sounds like an interesting but also dangerous device..."
Nonna: "Nova! Examine the surface of Onta'vis. Show us images of the common people going about their day, and create for us some replica clothing along those lines."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Yes. The other thing people used it for was to turn into animals, like an actual fox. Presumably for stealth. It reminds me of a series of novels that were banned on my homeworld for giving people insane ideas, like that teenagers could defeat evil fascist space aliens."
Nova: "Onta'vis. Corporate planet. Clothing: trendy and upscale, futuro-modern."
Metal Man (GM): It shows pictures of people wearing fairly nondescript hoodies and T-shirts and jeans and pants and polo-like clothes, just mildly alien looking. The colors are more dim-hued than what you might find on Earth. The brand names are also written in the weird Onta'vis fonts.
Nova: "Replication is easy because nothing unusual is there with regards to these clothes. I will request from Ivan Robotnik some clothes."
Ivan: *R* "My name is not Robotnik anymore, but... yes. These clothes are some of the most prevalent in the entire galaxy, due to how prolific their creators are. I will warp in a full set."
Metal Man (GM): A bunch of racks of fairly normal looking Onta'vis clothes just appear out of thin air in the bridge. One of them is slightly misaligned and comedically falls over.
Xavier Ridgecrest: "This is probably the first time I've had a rack of clothes spill all over the bridge. ...It is preferable to the other things that have spilled on the bridge."
Nonna: *R* "Thank you, Ivan. And thank you, Nova."
Ivan: "Normally I would charge but... ...these are just... normal clothes. There's nothing unusual about it, except that the latest On-This brand Communicate Device can be plugged into the pocket for maximum telephony. But those are extra. You'll have to buy your own. I can't even counterfeit them. They're too trendy and copy-protected. They even have their own enforcement police who arrest people who do that... across the universe."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Given we don't want to start a war with them, we'll probably refrain from violating their copyright. For now. ...Smash dexes are still better."
Nonna: "As for what to do when we're down there... I'm assuming a repeat of our last Onta'vis plan isn't going to work."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "We don't have the ability to just lure Vetrek to his doom. He's ostensibly there to 'liberate' them. Ostensibly he may even talk to us without firing at us."
Nonna: "The average citizen isn't likely to know much about the pretender or other politics. So we should seek out resistance groups."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Yes. There's the Big Five Corporations, including, unfortunately, those Inno-tek wannabes that got screwed over by what we did a long time ago..."
Nonna: "Or if their security is terrible, we can just go in and hack things, and listen to conversations coming in and out of Onta'vis."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "The rumors I hear is their security is often money based. If you get the right person in the right place with the right money, you can probably get whatever you want. And if you don't, then you don't."
Nonna: *Looks to everyone* "What do you think, everyone? Any other ideas?"
Metal Man (GM): In this case, that mostly being Kumiko and KitRedgrave.
Kumiko: "Hm... I have none at the moment..."
KitRedgrave: "Hmm. If we had any shady back channel connections that'd work great, but I don't suppose we do."
Nonna: "Of course, there's also the option of pretending to be sympathetic toward the pretender and get into their ranks and find their HQ, maybe intercept their communications."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Shady back channel... sadly, Ivan is relatively new to the trading scene, but we could be negotiating on his behalf."
KitRedgrave: "I don't suppose they're foolish enough to have predicated their entire everything on magic either."
Nova: "Technological profile vastly outweighs magic, but magic has a presence on Onta'vis. It is what they use to keep their mega-cities operating. Physics alone cannot create megacities. The heat dissipation alone would be too high with pure tech."
KitRedgrave: "We might have an inroads there depending on how interwoven it is with everything."
Nova: "It's used to help keep many of the buildings from falling over."
KitRedgrave: "...I see."
Nonna: "I suppose we'll have to go down and find out, regardless."
Kumiko: "Interesting..."
Nova: "Or melting from the heat they produce."
KitRedgrave: "If we had a need to totally destroy entire buildings, that'd be great to know."
Nova: "Granted, it's a domino effect. Anyone who activates it is liable to become a very wanted person... in a bad way. On the flip side, it might offer other means to tap into what's already there."
Nonna: "If we find easier and more efficient avenues we weren't expecting, then all the better." *He picks out a set of clothes and goes to change into them.*
KitRedgrave: "I might be able to get us somewhere with that then... worth a try anyway."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "So then, the mission plans: put on some of those clothes and then go and investigate... we have a warp portal that will send you to the generally accepted place for people with warp tech to warp in. It makes us somewhat higher class than others. Not everyone has such a thing. I'd normally advise against it but... few people there really know who we are. Well, except for the Sloan incident, but that was overshadowed by us driving Omnus away. They... ...tried to hide most of it out of fear the civillians might want us to overthrow the Corporate Overlords. So we have a blank slate to play with again, luckily enough. Oh! And there's a bounty for us to collect... ...later, that would bring up the wrong kind of memories probably."
Nonna: "That will work in our favour."
Metal Man (GM): Xavier would gesture to the clothes so that everyone can get disguised. Xavier stays at the bridge since barring anything new, all he can really add is being clunky or possessed by the spirits of the mask. :V
KitRedgrave would disguise up then... and look faintly ridiculous with this different look.
Nonna: "We should stick together. If things get bad, we can at least fight our way out."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "...It never ceases to amaze me that we went from blowing up military bases to disguising into techno-future societies... ...well, whatever works. When the time comes for the former, the data from the latter will help us."
Nonna waits by the transporter.
Kumiko goes ahead and disguises herself.
Metal Man (GM): Also as for the other character, will probably introduce you on the surface of Onta'vis. I have ideas, yes indeed... With everyone disguised, the portal to Onta'vis opens.
Nonna: "First thing's first, we get a good idea of what the mood and atmosphere of Onta'vis is, and decide our next course of action from there."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "I... guess we should all keep in contact. Uh... here." *Hands out radio earpieces* "I know they aren't super secret but they should come in handy. Smash Dexes are a bit obvious. And clunky. I've had no less than 50 different comments from people seeing them that the fact we use them boggles their mind. ...I silenced those people by smacking them with a VHS tape."
Nonna: "Good idea, Xavier. We'll let you know details as they emerge."
KitRedgrave: "Not really helping the 'bizarre' argument there, but it works."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "I'll watch from outer space. Vetrek's fleet is currently in a holding pattern outside of the planet. Sort of like how we are, now. With any luck you might be able to figure out how to do this without a whole planet erupting into a bloody war."
Nonna: "We can only hope..."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "But in case it does, just radio and we'll warp you back up."
Kumiko: "Very well..."
Nonna: "Given that Autumnus is involved, we can never be too sure."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "There's every chance others than us may just cause something even if we avert it... so be on the lookout."
Nonna steps into the warp.
Metal Man (GM): Xavier salutes, and you can enter the portal.
KitRedgrave: "Let's hope this goes well." *She salutes back and warps through the portal.*
Metal Man (GM): The group walks through the portal. There on Onta'vis, Kumiko, Nonna, and Kit Redgrave find themselves not too terribly out of place--it's a rather wide open walkway that's floating off of the ground, amongst giant super-skyscrapers.
Metal Man (GM): Onta'vis, Shopping Zone 412
Metal Man (GM): There's tons of people of different shapes and sizes and species everywhere. It's so confusing it'd be easy to get lost in this crowd.
Nonna looks around for signs of hardship, low morale, murmurs of revolution, or even general unease in the general population.
Metal Man (GM): Most of the people seem to be wandering around from place to place, buying electronics and strange looking food products from various stalls. This area seems to be fairly rich, given people wearing a variety of strange shiny gadgets. What could be seen though are some signs around that translate to 'REPORT ANY LOW-LIFERS DETECTED HERE' The image showing a person panhandling with a hat.
KitRedgrave: "Faaaancy."
Metal Man (GM): Other signs even go so far as to say 'KEEP LOW-LIFERS TO THE GROUND--REPORT THEM FOR GROUND PORTATION.' They're really fancy signs at that. Holographic and even have multiple languages, at least 10 different ones... somehow the signs determined you needed English signs, but for Nonna they even change to the Rendarian dialect automatically, and for Kit's it has an apology that 'Alsan translations are still in progress' Weirder still is that you only see what you need to see, nobody else notices them changing. Kit could even see there's magic in them thar signs.
Nonna: "This is strangely familiar..."
KitRedgrave: "...I see how many Alsans ever exist here then."
Metal Man (GM): Kit says that and an advertisement automatically advertises 'THE ALSAN BAZAAR--JUST DOWN THE STREET FIVE STEPS TO THE LEFT, SIX STEPS TO THE RIGHT'
Nonna: "No immediate signs of problems in the population and activities on first glance. Things probably haven't gotten started yet."
KitRedgrave: "And here we go."
Metal Man (GM): Upon hearing Nonna out loud, another nearby advertisement casually begins playing back the news. People are so used to the signs changing they don't seem to notice. Or is it that only you can see this? News Screen: "Today in politics, Chancellor-Candidate Vetrek explains the pressing need for his family to rule the planet, citing tradition, peace, and honor. His opposition, Primus Vitrus, is suffering low approval ratings due to the recent incidents involving extraplanetary dignitaries and the disappearance of Omnus' Peace Squads from the planet. If elected, Vetrek promises to restore the Peace Squads and exile the Low-Lifers to 'a moderately comfortable site only they will go to.'"
KitRedgrave would have a look at the magic attached to the advertising signs... but not get too close. Feels very paranoid about this.
Nonna: "Hmm." *Views the news and notes that there are more than just people listening in, so she'd better be more discreet in the future.*
Metal Man (GM): The magic is definitely alien, but its weaves are the same as any other--it's watching... everybody. It's attached to the building, there's a very powerful thread of energy at the bottom of it.
Nonna writes down the news on a notepad, just to be sure.
Metal Man (GM): Writing things down, thankfully, seems to be one thing these machines or magic or whatevers are not monitoring.
Nonna: *Casually and sneakily shows it to the other two.*
Metal Man (GM): The ways ahead are many, but you can go where you please--indeed, there are information kiosks at every couple of feet at regular distances. This place is just so crowded, there's enough for one out of ten people here. Although the kiosks advertise to get "THE LATEST IN TELEPHONY COMMUNICATIONS" to "AVOID INCONVENIENCE OF WAITING IN LINE."
KitRedgrave has a look but tries not to show that she looked at it.
Metal Man (GM): Kit succeeds in secretly looking at it. Seemingly, the observing things are not able to pick that up. At least, as far as you know... but then again, Kit is able to actually see the weaves of magic, so... Kit would see that nothing changed when she did that, as far as what the signs were doing. Whereas they did a characteristic pulse whenever they were 'observing' something. At the bottom of the spying-signs is something that notes "ANOTHER FIVE CORPORATIONS SAFETY NOTIFICATION DEVICE." With the 'FC" acronym being literally everywhere." The one thing that becomes obvious is how little the people are even paying attention to anything around them other than whatever they're fixated on. You've been standing here and interacting with things and no person or people have altered their movement. A tall man nearly bumps into Nonna and just keeps on walking without even noticing.
Nonna: "Ooof."
Metal Man (GM): The man's walked away before you could even identify him, too. Nothing is missing--he wasn't a thief... just strangely oblivious.
Kumiko: "Hm..."
Metal Man (GM): The crowd ebbs and flows. It starts to thin out as a clock sounds in the distance--17 times, to be exact.
KitRedgrave: "Let's keep walking."
Metal Man (GM): The strangely blue sun gives this whole place a sort of blue tint to it.
Kumiko: "Likely a good idea."
Metal Man (GM): You can go North, towards the Business District of the Shopping Zone, or South, towards the Military District of the Shopping Zone.
Nonna: *Low key* "Indeed."
Metal Man (GM): There is also an 'Emeregency ELEVORTER' which is not well denoted. It's really dirty and seemingly only being used by people in really drab outfits outfitted with mops and brooms. The sign actually lowers down closer to you when you look at it so you can see it, and yes, even touch it. It is not only possible to reach the threads, but for some reason these signs also seem to half expect you to touch them like a touchscreen.
KitRedgrave: "Hmm... let's have a look at these apparently great deals or somesuch." *Like she's a perfectly normal, non-malicious consumer.*
Metal Man (GM): Indeed. There are plenty of deals on there. Its crude mechanisms have detected you might be a carnivore, so it's suggesting tasty zepperoni and meef meat sandwiches, and giant slabs of "Kreblif Hide Chew-ems." You can access the threads too. Since most people here aren't magical, it seems like they don't expect people to be able to see those.
KitRedgrave would pretend to look at deals (and some of that stuff does look delicious), but really be studying the threads and experimentally poking them.
Metal Man (GM): The magic threads are just there hiding behind the technology, seemingly recording in a way that can't be picked up by a purely technological. Poking them, you can feel something very powerful at the base of the tower. There it appears is some sort of spiderweb hub that controls the magic surveillance. It's easy for you to see since they haven't cloaked it.
Nonna: *Quietly* "Hmm. What should we do first? House warming party for the new boss, look up the disorderly crew, or sign up for the new band?"
Metal Man (GM): What's funny though, is as you poke it, you can idly hear some voices from the magic... and the voices from the magic threads sound like somebody meditating or something.
KitRedgrave quietly tries to induce a pulse, similar to the "new data point detected" one.
Metal Man (GM): Easily done. Security on these things is fairly nonexistent. Only question is, what you want to send, if anything. Meanwhile, Nonna would be able to see Kit busy deep in thought with the sign. The question is, what would Kumiko think?
Nonna: "All sorts of good deals and gigs, huh?"
Kumiko: "These voices... are bizarre..."
KitRedgrave would invent some fake consumerist histories for everyone, if possible. X3
Metal Man (GM): Kumiko: At least for you, you wouldn't hear the voices Kit is listening in on. But, on the note of voices, you would from your perspective notice some uniformed people wandering around, checking for any sort of strange activity. They look right at you and the other Questers, then... carry on walking. KitRedgrave: It's easy enough, you can put in what you want. Nobody seems to be looking... anything in particular you put in for the fake data?
Kumiko: *Quietly makes a note of the uniformed people, and says nothing.*
Metal Man (GM): Kit: It already knows that as an Alsan, you're from a planet with few people, and thus, might be skittish in crowds. It also detected Nonna was Rendarian. You'd notice her settings say that Rendarians are rather 'elitist' for whatever reason. However, there's no information on Kumiko. With your work though, you set up that you're a bunch of travelers on business and therefore don't have much time to do what normal people do. The interesting part is in all of this you notice a secret in-magic signature explaining the sign is a part of the 'Visian Magic Guild' Which has a note with direction that proceed below the elevator and down some streets there as the route to where these signs get repaired if they malfunction. More uniformed people walk by, looking around, meanwhile. It seems to be getting a little bit less 'normal' here, with that being the second wave of people in uniforms walking through here.
KitRedgrave would disengage from the sign, and have kind of a grin on her face. "Great deals, great deals indeed."
Metal Man (GM): Something seems less... invasive about the signs after Kit messed with them. Though on that note, that leaves you with the decision--where to go. North to the Business district, South to the Military one, or down the elevator to who knows-where.
KitRedgrave: "Even found something very interesting things off the beaten path, if you're game."
Nonna: "Sounds good to me. Something to keep in mind, too." *He takes a glance at the places to go in.*
Metal Man (GM): The Business district primarily has a bunch of shops. Of course, it also has the corporate headquarters for one of the Five Corporations: Zinyo. The Military district is full of people in uniforms like the ones who seem to be taking a renewed interest in the area you all are in. There's also stores for military armaments. And the Onta'vis Defense Authority Headquarters for this Zone is there. Then the elevator. It seems to be used mostly by people in drab outfits with mops, and they don't seem too happy when they go down it. They don't generally go back up it often. The elevator down isn't, for whatever reason, well guarded, but perhaps because it's so dirty. Most of the people here avoid it, almost instinctually. The telescreens in the background continue to chatter about some inane things, like the stock market values going mildly up, or mildly down. Occasionally an ad comes on.
Advertisement: "Ever feeling sorry for yourself? Hate how the world has become? Take an "Energy-Vetrek" pill today! Let visions of Vetrek's beneficence help you get through your day. One pill lasts 48 Zeni-Hours! Every hour, Vetrek will appear in your mind, giving you advice on how to be successful like him."
Metal Man (GM): We can potentially pause, after you guys just pick a direction so I can know which one to prepare for. XP
Nonna: "Think we have time to make it to the house warming party?"
Metal Man (GM): Another ad plays in the background. It's of a bedraggled Sloan person, who is slumped over a desk.
Nonna: "Or will we miss the recruitment drive?"
Advertisement: "This is Lord Rall, last Sloan Commander speaking. If you served in Sloan's regiment and were injured, a class action lawsuit has been settled. I am authorized to pay out of the remnants of Sloan's fortune to anyone who was personally injured in the Unspeakable Incident From A Year Ago. Disclaimer: Proof of your Injury required. Not all events were captured on security footage. Emotional Suffering from observing Sloan's clothes is not counted as an injury."
KitRedgrave: "I think we should go for it. Fun times all around."
Kumiko: "Mmm..."
Nonna: "If things get too heated, we can always duck out and see if we can't do any of the other gigs."
Metal Man (GM): It's easy enough to go there, if you just go on South to that area. This world seemingly isn't under military attack often--it'd be too easy to just get there. Then again... That also means they can get here whenever they need to defend this area. There's even weird horizontal conveyor-belt like things if you don't like walking. And street signs that show how far away you are from various destinations, including the main government defense building, should you go there. Of course I should reiterate that the Zinyo building is where the Corporate governance occurs, while the military is the one where the main security/defense stuff happens.
Nonna: "I hope the new boss doesn't recognize us right away. We want it to be a surprise, after all."
Metal Man (GM): Communications definitely go on in the military one, though. Corporate one is just where the bigwigs meet, seemingly... and everything is wired together with those weird magical strings as well as... more obvious physical wires.
Nonna: "I've always wanted to see the Corporate district again." *He looks to the others and looks for approval.*
KitRedgrave: "Yeah, let's go for it."
Metal Man (GM): Corporate path leads up some neat escalators, with fancy neon LED railings.
Kumiko: "I'm all for it..."
Metal Man (GM): And even more signs with advertisements, including ironic ones that are a service to block the ads, but that cost money. You'd be able to get there rather quickly... and we'll pause, as you reach that area, and see to the side a Solarian Bazaar as you go... and the Alsan Bazaar, too.
Nonna: *Rides the escalators* "They're going to be so surprised that we showed up. It's one heck of an occasion after all!"
Metal Man (GM): Hm, although... one more thing actually, go a little further. As you get up the elevator, you would see the Solarian Bazaar. The strangely robed Solarian casually walks out of his shop on seeing you.
Solarian: "Ah... it is you. No, do not worry, I am not the enemy. Your boss, he has bought from me before. A very valuable thing he bought. I have a gift for you, see. ...It is a very powerful gift that should not be seen in public, though. When you are in... a less public place, I can deliver it to you. I can understand you may be surprised, or even struck speechless by my... giving-ness of it all. Here is the key that summons it." *He casually sticks a weird glowing key into the air that you can take or leave, then he goes to walk to his shop.* "I must return to my shop, and thus, having less time for talking than it would seem. My apogees."
Nonna: "Does that look... familiar to you?" *Looks to both Kit and Kumiko.*
KitRedgrave looks over the key... seeing if there are any weirdo curses on it.
Metal Man (GM): The key is glowing with Magitek energy. It would have a string that appears to lead somewhere (though only Kit could see that) It appears to be a link to some other pocket dimension... but seemingly no curses. Written in overly elaborate Solarian writing is "Solar Destructor Model 300D." And a little icon next to it that resembles a small levitating person. It has a single button, and the button merely says 'summon' What it reminds you of, is all the other devices that summon things: Pokeballs, the statues that summon things that Alsa had, and more mundane things like garage door openers.
KitRedgrave: "Well... I figure let's see what happens if we keep it then. No curses anyway."
Metal Man (GM): Gained: Solarian Summoner, Contents: Solar Destructor Model 300D. Now with that, I think we shall pause. Everything's nicely set up for the next session. ~PAUSE~ Next session: The Zinyo Corporate Governance Building, and thus, figuring out what really is going on here. Additionally: Discovering the mystery of the Solar Destructor Model 300D.
Nonna: "I wonder who that stranger was. Let's hope his gift does not end up being more trouble than it's worth..."
Metal Man (GM): Recap: A small subgroup of Questers had been sent out to check out what was going on on Onta'Vis (that's a three On combo!) and thus they found a fairly corporate area, complete with the presence of omni-present always-watching magical signs. They obtained a strange gift from a Solarian shopkeeper that promised to summon some sort of Solarian "Destructor" or some sort, apparently some sort of ally...
Metal Man (GM): And the reconnaissance group was now on their way to the corporate center of one of the Five Corporations: Zinyo. The way in would be simple enough: a really large, lavish plaza with statues and fountains, and classical music playing, and a refined open-door first floor foyer... complete with guards, security checks, 'BADGES REQUIRED PAST THIS POINT' signs, and all. The uniformed people from earlier are the same sort who block entrance to the inner parts of this building.
Metal Man (GM): Seemingly they are just doing their job though--they aren't specifically suspicious of anyone so much as looking around at all times for anyone who doesn't belong inside. Sneaking past them is possible, but... Requires an Agility check against their vigilance.
Nonna: "Hmm. Remind me, what sort of... business are we here on, again? Was this the Corporation that would be willing to see us?" *Still trying her best to not outright ask things like 'So can we convince them to let us in by pretending to be here for important business?'*
KitRedgrave would, as always, take a look at the situation. Maybe some interesting things they've left out here, unknowingly?
Metal Man (GM): So far as you can see, there are various businessmen and businesswomen wandering around, as well as the occasional mercenary who seems to have business with the people inside. Every so often they take out weird looking laminated badges and wave them at the signs that demand them. The guards are mostly just looking at people rather than specifically checking their badges.
KitRedgrave: "Depends. Do you think we could pitch them on this?"
Metal Man (GM): The building has an information desk, off to the side, which doesn't require any security clearance to go to.
Nonna: *Examining the people going in and out. Were there any people going in who didn't even need to flash their badge?*
Metal Man (GM): Yes. One person in particular walks straight in. He wears an unobtrusive suit and has a briefcase, and slicked black hair. The guards actually avert their gaze from him.
Nonna: "Let's hope the systems have been... updated to reflect our VIP status. Otherwise, we're in for a heck of a day..."
KitRedgrave: "Yeah. We might have to try something else."
Nonna: *Casually approaches the information desk, using body language to indicate the others should follow.* "Let's hope the guy seeing us today has enough pull."
KitRedgrave would follow along, pretending to not be apprehensive about this working.
Metal Man (GM): An AI hologram with the Zinyo brand on their forehead shows up.
Ninza: "Greetings, I am Ninza, the Information Granting Holograph. What is the nature of your data interaction today?"
KitRedgrave would scan the holograph for similar magic please-pwn-me cords.
Nonna: "A list of executives please."
Metal Man (GM): The holograph... reacts to Kit scanning him, but in a bizarre way, as he responds back in a coded message only a magic user like Kit could see.
Nonna: "Or rather, a list of all employees sorted by position."
Ninza: *To Kit, magic-only* "Are you a guild user or have you come here to try to join?"
KitRedgrave would signal back "to attempt to join."
Ninza: "I'm sorry, the hierarchy chart of our organization is proprietary information. However, CEO and Chairman Duke Larozza is open to any and all requests, if there is a true business case to be had." *To Kit, magic-only* "Please wait in area C-7 of the waiting room. A chaperone will be sent. If now is not the right time, come back any time, 24-7."
KitRedgrave: "Well, I've got an in at least... though y'all may want to join me for it."
Nonna: "Oh?"
KitRedgrave: "Mysterious things~"
Nonna: "Might as well, if we're all invited."
Ninza: "Anyone may come with a potential job applicant."
KitRedgrave: "Well, you've both got the skills for it too, I think."
Nonna: "Where do we have to go?"
Metal Man (GM): C-7 is interesting, it's a bit off to the side of the other seats, in a fairly classier corny of the room.
KitRedgrave: "Over here!" *She would go to said shiny classy corner of the room. If this is going to be a horrible trap, it's classier than the other horrible traps she's been in.*
Nonna shrugs and follows along. Even if things were bad, she'd find a way to get everyone else out. He does keep in mind using something like Disjunction though, if anything were to happen.
Metal Man (GM): Some time would pass. The area was pretty safe seeming. Eventually, some person would show up in a Zinyo-branded suit. He would casually tap his glasses.
Suitman: "Ah... ...not one but three mages. Peculiar. Well, I guess you all must be looking for the job?"
KitRedgrave: "Indeed."
Nonna: *Nods.*
Suitman: "Right. Guild members around here basically... well..." *He taps a button and the area becomes invisible and unhearable to those outside of C-7* "They help the upkeep of the defenses that keep the Norms in line, if you know what I mean. Watches them, sells things to them... Norms are stupid and don't notice. It's very lucrative but... there is something else a bit unusual here. Obviously you aren't full time type of people--your history says otherwise. Is there any other business you might have with the Zinyo corporation? I mean. I am trying to get my commission upped this year, and you seem like you'd have a lot more of interest to us than just ensuring the signs don't break."
Nonna: "We believe in being renaissance types. What better way to be useful for those who take a stand against the rabble?"
Suitman: "Right... the rabble... we do have to keep them entertained, mind. They do all the menial labor for us. I couldn't wear this nice suit if I wasn't able to make a thousand of their kind go down there and run the generators for us. Problem is, this Vetrek guy... he wants to come in and fool them. Replace us with him. Now I might be wrong but my glasses detected you had enough destructive power to kill someone like Vetrek."
Nonna: "So naturally we're looking for just the right employers to go to in order to make the best use of our talents."
Suitman: "Yes, that is what I'm thinking... the issue is that Vetrek has many moles in our organizations listening in. But... you're nobody we officially employ at this moment, are you?"
Nonna: "Right, Vetrek... that guy's going to be a problem, isn't he? I mean, it's one thing to keep the norms in their place. But he wants to turn over the system to people who aren't capable of running it."
Suitman: "Right, and he doesn't even want to give it to the Norms. My guess is five months tops he'll cause a second revolution that overthrows him. So we don't want any of those."
Nonna: "This prosperity is... something we'd like to be part of. But with a moron like him around, we'd be better off taking our talents elsewhere, aren't we?"
Suitman: "So this is really a sight unseen sort of thing. We'll accidentally give you the information as to when he's going to come here to meet with our chairman to try to forcibly buy us out, and you'll show up and our chairman will accidentally get lost in traffic. Sound like something you can deal with?"
Nonna: "It sounds decent... in theory."
Suitman: "Well... if you have better ideas about it, I'm all ears. I'm really... not used to managing these things. It's just that the higher ups have already been... bought."
Nonna: "Sounds dangerous though, too. After all, for all we know you could be pro-Vetrek and setting us up to fail. Are there any guarantees or assurances you can give us? Such as turning off any cameras or other tracking hardware in the area right as he arrives?"
Suitman: "I'm not sure what I can do... oh." *He waffles a hand.* "I can not only do that, but do so in a way that makes it seem like they're on, even though they aren't. You can inspect yourself." *He takes out one of the signs from his suit and turns it on and hands it over for Kit to inspect. It's got a weird glow to it, and the threads on it have been rerouted so it's not connected to anything, but it's still glowing as if it's on. At least, that's what Kit would see. To Nonna and Kumiko, it's just glowing oddly.*
Nonna: "After all. You yourself just admitted that many of you have been bought out already. If someone's watching what's happening, they could warn him ahead of time."
Kumiko: "Hrm..."
Suitman: "It's all true. However, most people presume Vetrek to be the most powerful man... and I'm not talking about money. He's been rumored to have guards who exist outside of time itself. I was thinking you would know something about how to deal with that. But your concern indicates you're taking this seriously, which is good to know."
Nonna: "As you know, we're quite powerful. But outside of time... is that not a trait unique to the Time Cops?"
KitRedgrave: "He's telling the truth, that thing's not connected to anything."
Nonna: *Looks puzzled* "I thought that bandit group dealt with those already."
Suitman: "Yes. The Guild has... unfortunately, decided they can't possibly stop Time Cops. However, if you have what it takes... then you are the last hope for our attempt to stop this coup from happening."
Kumiko: "A coup...?"
Suitman: "Vetrek taking over from the Five Corporations."
Kumiko: "Ah, now I understand."
Suitman: "Flanked by presumably Time Cops or somesuch, going around suspiciously buying off people and using military force on those he can't buy... it'll be a matter of weeks before he has the whole planet under his thumb."
Nonna: "We'll do your wetwork. If we're all alive by the end of this, give us our dues, then you never saw us. Deal? 'Cause I won't want to be around as a known assassin for long. Even if it was against a man like him. Bad image means bad business, ya know?"
Suitman: "Deal. Of course, the Guild will also let you join it, if you choose, if you succeed. As a full member. Honorary and all. We can say you saved an orphanage somewhere."
Nonna: "Better for the Corporation and Guild too. Hmm, very well."
Suitman: "You'll have to go with my verbal contract on this. Anything I write down is likely to be picked up by Vetrek. As far as any of us are to act, we were just discussing you maintaining the signs here. Here is even the spell for it."
Metal Man (GM): He hands a printed out piece of paper that indicates how to maintain the signs and some passcodes.
Nonna: "Also, I'd like to ask for the highest possible security clearance for the information desk here that you can afford to give us without suspicion."
Suitman: "...Note that the passcodes change every couple of days, so don't think you can just forever mess with all the signs, heh. Ah. That would be the esteemed 'research' level access. All you're really doing is trying to look at our history to help perhaps create a presentation or make an offer, after all. Nothing suspicious at all."
Metal Man (GM): He presses something on his sleeve and 'prints' out three badges and hands them to each of you.
Nonna: "Thank you."
KitRedgrave: "Yes, thank you..."
Nonna: "I figure you'll find out pretty quickly if we were successful or not."
Suitman: "Thank you, really... Vetrek probably would have had me fired or worse as it is... I'd say why but that'd be potential blackmail material. If you fail, to be honest, I'm going to flee. And, ironically, offer to pay you to help ensure I don't get killed by him. I trust you more than those guys behind the desks. If only because Vetrek probably hasn't bought you off. He... ...has a thing for not even allowing his people to pretend to be against him to catch potential enemy agents. ...It's an ego thing."
Nonna: "For the glory of the Guild."
Suitman: "Indeed... anything else? Otherwise, I need to... accidentally miss a meeting, if you get my drift."
Nonna looks to the others. "Just tell us the exact date."
Suitman: "Three days from now, in the afternoon, Zeni-Time 14:85."
Nonna: "Understood. *Inspects her badge* "*We'll get to working on maintaining those signs, then.*
KitRedgrave: "Oh, and where might we need to be to ensure that he, eheh, gets lost in traffic?"
Suitman: "Oh? Well I'll handle that part. It's Vetrek you want to meet. His coordinates are 45 Elwood Drive, Canto Province."
Nonna: "Any nice hotels nearby?"
Suitman: "Yes. The Elias Standard, which is just across the street from there."
Nonna: "Very well. Pleasure doing business with you."
Suitman: "Same."
Metal Man (GM): He goes to shake Nonna and Kit and Kumiko's hands, then turns off the field and goes on his way.
Nonna: "Well, those signs won't maintain themselves. Let's go and make a living!" *Rising* "But first thing's first, let's book a room."
Kumiko: "Any ideas?"
Nonna: "We'll have to look around, I guess. Preferably something with some privacy so we can conduct Guild business without anyone getting at our secrets. Corporate espionage is quite a big deal these days. I'm sure there are some hotels that pride themselves on protective measures."
Metal Man (GM): There's plenty of terminals around with which to book a room, the information terminals all support such a thing.
Nonna flashes her new badge at the terminal, to see if that helps narrow things down.
Metal Man (GM): You're noted as an 'Zinyo-approved' customer, giving you a small rebate on any room you might choose, and added priority as far as what rooms you want to take. It just so happens the Elias Standard is a hotel that seems to be frequented by their employees.
Nonna: "Looks like the Elias Standard is a good one. How about we head over there and see if it meets our standards?"
Metal Man (GM): Nonna would get a radio signal from the earpiece.
Xavier Ridgecrest: *R* "I can send the others down if you go by the portal. I presume you have some idea of what's going on now?"
Nonna: *R* "Yeah. We've got something. Looks like the rest of the band might be here. Shall we go say hello?"
Xavier Ridgecrest: *R* "I figured the others would make us a bit too noticeable down there. I'll send them in now that the need for the highest levels of stealth is... less. I also heard that the shopkeeper I bought my upgraded club from gave you something... ...feel free to activate it once you're outside of public view, I believe it is... some sort of ally we can use in whatever upcoming battles or things we're going to do. Just probably a bit flashy to summon in public."
Nonna: *R* "We were wondering about that. Before we do that, is there someone we have who could inspect it and see if it's not dangerous to us?"
Xavier Ridgecrest: *R* "I guess we could. Maybe if you go to the warp area I can warp it up here. If it's dangerous, then it can deal with me, Borne, Illian, Valron, uh... you get the idea."
KitRedgrave: *R* "Our end of it isn't too dangerous, but who knows what's on the other side?"
Nonna heads to the warp area.
Metal Man (GM): You get there, and can see an area already set up there that is connected to 'QUEST FOUNDATION' aka the secretive name of Xavier and the Wing Fortress so it isn't obvious.
Nonna: "Let's send it up to him, see if we can't determine what exactly it is."
Metal Man (GM): The reconnaissance segment completed so I'm gonna be able to join up the rest with the group here. The warp thing is open, you can just place the summoning device on it.
Nonna places it on the warp.
Metal Man (GM): It warps up. Up in the Wing Fortress, where Gelato, Valron, Demon etc would be (can jump in whenever), Xavier would receive the device and stare at it.
Xavier Ridgecrest: "This is... an awfully strange device... ...even by my standards."
Metal Man (GM): He points his Smash Dex at it.
Smash Dex: "Solarian summoning device. Summons a mechanism of some sort. Appears to be registered to work for you or the Questers."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Any thoughts, Nova?"
Nova: "Probably yet another artificial intelligence of some sort."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "...Okay, let's just summon a force field and open it in there. If a giant cursed Trevor hologram attacks us, it won't get very far."
Metal Man (GM): Xavier sticks it in a force field. Nova uses his virtual fingers to push the virtual button.
Gelato: *He watches with interest, munching on an apple.*
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Either this is gonna be something I regret or something else entirely... but I've learned not to assume anything these days."
Louisoix: *A figure seemed to emerge. It... seemed human, it being a good enough word since it was hard to tell what the form was trying to look like, gender-wise, almost like someone had made a form without making much of a decision. It would yawn and stretch, almost ironically, considering. "Ah, w... well what the hell is this?" *Obviously, whatever was in the force field didn't exactly expect being locked in some cage when it woke.*
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Well, we're up in the sky, so we're not in hell. I was banned from there for stealing the chairs and breaking them." *He chuckled at his horrible, terrible joke.* "This is the Wing Fortress and apparently some Solarian merchant just handed me the thing that summoned you..."
Gelato: 'This is weird.' *Munch.*
Xavier Ridgecrest: "The force field is mostly just in case you're like, some sort of rogue intelligence plotting our doom or something. It's not something we usually have. Even though it would be convenient to have a force field protecting each and every one of us at all times."
Louisoix: "...huh, so that's what happened." *Apparently this was some long winded backstory of how he got trapped in the first place.* "Ah well, at least I'm out of there."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "I am Xavier Ridgecrest... you have any clue why you'd be stuck inside a garage door opener? I mean, I got stuck inside an air conditioner once, so I'm not going to judge."
Louisoix: "A prank. A very funny prank. Maybe."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Nothing too unusual to me. So... what is it you specialize in? You here to help us, or did that Solarian dude just send us some random person in the intent of distracting me while he does something nefarious? You never know, sometimes."
Louisoix: "I mean, what exactly do you do? If its boring I'm not interested. I don't have much else to do, considering." *With that, he'd motion to the obvious force field.* "Its... not filing taxes or something like that, is it?"
Xavier Ridgecrest: "We'd be in trouble if it was. I think I embezzled a couple thousand million coins in my past."
King Demon: *Wanders in, a plate full of smoked meats in one hand and a large soda in the other* "Oh... hey... did I miss something?"
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Neeeeever paid Mewtwo a single penny of tax. Why yes, I have summoned a wisecracking robot from a mysterious remote control a shop vendor gave to Nonna. He was asking what we do here, Demon."
King Demon: "Oh... it's not another one of Eggman's mistakes is it?"
Xavier Ridgecrest: "No. This one is... uh... ...probably Solarian in nature. ...Apologies, I didn't want to suggest you were a mistake, uh... what's your name, robot person?"
King Demon: "Oh, good."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "It's almost too bad Locos isn't here, he'd throw a fit. Then I remember, he'd throw a fit even if it was an empty room. Needed some chill pills, that guy did."
Louisoix: *He would look to both of them back and forth. Just how exactly did he get captured like that anyway? Certainly disconcerting... maybe this body has its own disadvantages?* "Oh. Its Louisoix."
Nonna: *R* "I presume it's taking a while. I'll go ahead and arrange our hotel rooms."
Xavier Ridgecrest: *R* "Yes. It's... I don't think it's anything bad, you can arrange the rooms while we talk with... it? Him? She? I don't exactly know. Louis... schwa?"
Louisoix: "If you need to know what I can do... mostly a bookworm of sorts. Tinker in a lot of things. Probably the simplest way to put it. Close enough, yes."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "I'll call you Lou or something like that... I'm not good at language."
King Demon: *M* "Understatement there, Mets."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Okay. So what we do is... try to defeat evil time traveling people who want to conquer time. I should say, control it, forever. That sound like something you can do? Only other rules are we don't go around killing civilians or declaring we are the new de facto government of places. And, er, we don't punch eachother for failing... or have golden rules..."
Louisoix: "Oh? Sounds interesting. And sure, killing's not my forte anyway."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Or scream STOP THE KILLING and then kill people..."
King Demon coughs a bit.
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Also no time traveling back in time and doing currency manipulation."
King Demon: "Uh... Metal?"
Xavier Ridgecrest: "That's about all you need to know to work with us. We're the New Questers. Yes, Demon?"
King Demon: "Weren't you appointed king of this world?"
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Erastia? Yeah... I didn't appoint myself though."
Louisoix: "Ah, so there's a loophole?"
Nova: "Garrick? Where is he? I need to tell him he's late for his dental appointment! ...Oh."
King Demon: "True, I suppose." *Looks to the robot-thing* "Hungry?"
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Yes, the loophole is if you are legitimately made ruler of a place, that's not really illegal. And by legitimate I mean against your will, with people cheering you as your new emperor as you go 'I just wanted to blow up the guys who were attacking you!' ...When this war is over I am going to totally abdicate... ...indeed, I make sure not to stay there too long and--er, anyway... let's get rid of the force field."
Metal Man (GM): Xavier turns off the force field around Lou, who is now free to move.
Louisoix: "Hm... yeah, I suppose I am hungry. Though it can wait."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Wait, so you're a machine that can eat?"
Lousoix: "Well, 'eat', with a bunch of air quotes, yes."
King Demon: "Hey, maybe he's like Arnold Schwarzenegger!"
Metal Man (GM): Borne walks in and stares at Louisoix.
Commander Borne: "What is this about yet another machine..."
Nonna presumably arranges the hotel room(s) for everyone while this is happening.
Metal Man (GM): Borne is, for the record, a guy in a military fatigue of some sort, with brownish black hair, a chiseled face, and a vague air of not being human about him. Yes. Nonna would have no problem arranging the hotel room. The question for Nonna is... Will she go with the top suite with all the fancy trimmings, or perhaps the lower suite that's more cramped but also more subtle.
Louisoix: "Hm, guess this sort of thing is more popular than I thought."
Metal Man (GM): Or the mystery option that has an in-room swimming pool.
King Demon: "Long as he doesn't go Skynet on us." *Smirks a bit and eats what appears to be some pork loin.*
Nonna: *The mystery option it is!*
Metal Man (GM): The janitor's closet is available, if she thinks she can cram all the Questers into there. :V
Commander Borne: "Well, unlike... whatever this is, I'm made to blend in."
Louisoix: *He would look him over.* "Right..."
Metal Man (GM): Nonna manages to get the mystery suite, which is... festively themed based upon some sort of water-based holiday on the planet. We'll get in depth on it shortly. Borne casually holds up his hand. It reveals that it's made out of nanites. Metallic dust and all. Yes, Kit obtained a lot of money... you'll have to ask her how and why though. :p
Commander Borne: "I can see what you're made out of... Louisoix. Some sort of magitek... very unorthodox. I would suspect you for being a creation of Illian's... except Illian did no such thing."
Louisoix: "So, since I'm a part of this ragtag group for the moment, what's the first order of business?"
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Well, you're going to go on an all expenses vacation to a planet full of corporations! ...And then save it from the Time Cops."
Louisoix: "Oh? Yes, that's right. Well, I am an unorthodox guy."
Commander Borne: "Right... take it from one unorthodox guy to another--don't let too many people figure out who or what you are. Everyone loves to try to manipulate the robot person to do their bidding. They only stopped with me once I... crashed several ships full of very deadly people into the ocean and exploded them."
Louisoix: "Well, I WAS stuck in some contraption, so I guess lesson was already learned on that one."
Commander Borne: "...Don't worry too much about the Questers, mind. I mean the bad guys. They're... ...they don't really respect 'us.' This is why I'm currently building yet another superweapon to destroy them... ...we can discuss it after this mission, you should focus. And so should I." *Randomly salutes and wanders off.*
Xavier Ridgecrest: "I have the warp ready. You guys ready for your all expenses paid hotel room? And then... Nonna will brief you on the rest. Because I don't know all of it. I just know there's a plan to take out or sideline Vetrek. I'd go down there but then there'd be nobody up here in the skies."
Louisoix: *He would salute back, though obviously confused.* "Ah, was going to ask about backup. Guess that answers my question..."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Backup? Ah... we are the backup. Well, as are they, down on the surface."
Louisoix: "Well, in the sense of 'did you wake me up to fight a bunch of Time Cops solo', but yeah, good point."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Don't worry, we have armies. Like, those Erastians who declared me their King, and... Ivan... and... Rendarians..."
Louisoix: "Good, I'd probably get vaporized if it was just me."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "It's just this specific operation requires more stealth. That's what we do. Of course, the most sensitive part is over, so Demon doesn't have to worry about blowing cover."
Louisoix: "Ah, the... well, I suppose this will be interesting, won't it?"
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Though, do take some clothes while you go, so you can look like the others on that planet."
Metal Man (GM): He gestures to a rack full of various generic Onta'vis hoodies, jackets, shirts, etc
Xavier Ridgecrest: "That's the other reason I'm not coming. I am... a cyborg, and a very primitive one at that."
Louisoix: "Huh, what about-" *He would look down, and obviously would just be an android shell.* "Oh. Yeah, probably a good idea."
Metal Man (GM): Xavier's left hand casually comes unscrewed and he takes out a screwdriver and reattaches it.
Xavier Ridgecrest: "I'm not nice and... smooth like robot-people are. I'm just a chunk of person juxtaposed with a chunk of sheet metal. When I walk it sounds like a scrap barge colliding with a dock. I can wield an entire couch as a weapon, or a dryer, though."
Louisoix: "Sounds about as effective as screaming as you try to sneak around."
King Demon: "All expenses paid vacation? Geez, I haven't had one of those since... ya know what, you don't want to know."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "So basically, when things go all to hell, you have me around to crash into things."
Louisoix: "But good to know. Sec." *He would go ahead and throw something on.*
Xavier Ridgecrest: "But at least for this mission it would appear we're going for a more normal situation."
Louisoix: "So its usually more chaotic, eh?"
Xavier Ridgecrest: "...But yes, Demon, your talents will be used. ...Just put on a hoodie or something so people don't go 'Oh no, a Demon!'"
Louisoix: "A demon in a hoodie does sound more pleasing."
King Demon: "Awww, ruin all the fun!" *Sighs and goes to get one.*
Xavier Ridgecrest: "...Actually, ironically, no. You're rather cute and unthreatening. There are various pets and other beings like you there... it's... people and things that scare people that I suggest the hiding for. Unfortunately it's pretty hard to hide me, the only places they'd expect me is to go to the military hardware store. Yeah, that's the idea."
King Demon: *Returns with his hood up* "Well, that and maybe an auto parts store..."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "I could probably use a couple of filters for my hydraulic punching motors."
Metal Man (GM): The warp down opens up, so everyone can go to the hotel.
King Demon: "Well, here goes something fun."
Louisoix: "Alright, lets see what's going on, then." *He would walk through the portal.*
King Demon grabs his plate of food and soda and heads through.
Gelato: *He excitedly hops up, running between Demon's feet to the warp!*
King Demon: "Careful, I don't want to accidentally step on you. It'd ruin my new shoes!"
Metal Man (GM): Everyone meets up in the hotel. Nonna and co. are already in the room, which has a long meeting table and a similarly long swimming pool. It's about half-way up the hotel, the 6th floor, overlooking the street below.
Nonna: "Welcome, everyone."
King Demon: *Looks at the swimming pool* "Oh, hey, you got us a room with a sauna?"
Nonna: "I think it's just the pool."
KitRedgrave: "I wouldn't recommend it, we'd probably lose our deposit if you did what I think you'd want to do."
Louisoix: "I mean, you could make it a sauna, but... what they said."
KitRedgrave: "...what's with that, anyway. Even having a pool is a luxury, but *In the room*?"
Louisoix: "Ah, sorry, let me introduce myself. I'm Louisoix. I was in that... thing you brought up."
KitRedgrave: "I can't even fathom. ...Oh, so you're the big evil Solarian Destroy-o-tron 9000! Great to meet you!"
Gelato: 'Wah?' '-'
Nonna: "It's some kind of festival thing... and yes, nice to have you onboard. Do you have a name?"
King Demon: "Well, it'll be a sauna if I get into it..."
Louisoix: "Well, Louisoix, like I said. Your leader seems to prefer Lou, though. I don't mind either way."
Nonna: "Very well, Louisoix. Now then, shall we get to business right away?"
King Demon: "Anyways..." *Eats some more food* "So what's going on? All I got were bits and pieces."
Louisoix: "Go for it, I'm in the dark, so knowing what is going on would help."
Nonna: "And yes, we do have some time. So we can play in the pool during downtime. Anyway, here's the situation. Autumnus is supporting a pretender to the Onta'vis government. This puppet is known as Vetrek. He's already quite close to completing his takeover of the planet."
King Demon: "So... we get to take out another wannabe ruler?"
Nonna: "Our current lead is that he will be making an appearance at a specific location across the street in 3 days' time to complete a buyout of one of the last bastions of the old rulers. The local magic guild has essentially hired us to ambush him there and kill him. We even got some information access and a cover job in the meantime. The man has even granted us the privilege of having the cameras and other tracking options turned off for the area, so we may deal with him as we wish, without hiding anything. However, this is too simple and good to be true. it is Autumnus we're dealing with, after all. So I want us all to spend the time leading up to the ambush to find out if anything else is going on in the meantime."
Louisoix: "None of those names really ring a bell, but it doesn't sound like they're up to anything good anyway..."
King Demon: "Given it's the Time Cops, odds are they're going to know something's coming."
Nonna: "If possible I'd like to capture him for interrogation rather than just killing him. On that note Demon, it's said Vetrek's guards are likely Time Cop plants." *Looks to Lou* "It goes like this. The Time Cops are people who wish to dominate everything in the name of their so-called righteous cause. We've recently liberated this portion of the galaxy from the rule of a particular nasty group of them. This planet, Onta'vis, isn't exactly perfect, but was freed from Time Cop domination as a result of our actions too. Another group of Time Cops, whom we have a non-aggression treaty with, is sponsoring this Vetrek fellow. He wishes to gain control of the planet and essentially turn control of it over to that group of Time Cops. The leader of this group of Time Cops is Autumnus."
Louisoix: "Hm. I wonder why they don't use another means. Very political for such a group."
Nonna: "He wishes to provoke a war between us. It's convenient if he can create a situation where he can point to us as the villains."
Louisoix: "Makes sense."
Nonna: "Since we know little about what Autumnus is planning, keeping Vetrek alive so he can talk is the preferred option over killing him."
Louisoix: "The money issue is another matter. Even if we deal with this threat, probably something else to look into. Someone else from this group could potentially just pick up where the last left off. Its not like it was this Vetrek fellow is sponsoring all of this with his own money, right?"
Nonna: "That's what we aim to find out by grilling him."
Louisoix: "Yeah, killing him would be rather pointless."
King Demon: "It would?"
Louisoix: "He'd just get replaced after a while."
Gelato: 'Killing is bad.' *He clicks his tongue.*
Louisoix: "It's not his money, more than likely."
Nonna: "Vetrek is a puppet. Autumnus has dozens if not hundreds of people willing to sign up to be the next Vetrek if he dies."
Louisoix: "What big bad nation goes 'well, they killed my in-guy, guess the whole deal is off'? Or group. Guess nation is not the best word for it..."
King Demon: "True... but how do we get TO Autumnus?"
Louisoix: "Well, that's where Vetrek comes in, yes?"
Nonna: "We should also not discount the possibility that if he dies and we can be placed at the scene, we'll be seen as 'aggressors' against the treaty and Autumnus can justify an invasion, and this region will see war again."
Louisoix: "So also not rule out the possibility that the Time Cops kill him before we can get him. Since the cameras are off, wouldn't be hard to shift blame."
Nonna: "If things go well, Vetrek can tell us what Autumnus is up to."
Louisoix: "Well... good I'm able to keep up after just waking up, guess I wasn't out for too long. So, go about and see if we can find anything going on in the interim, right?"
Nonna: "Getting to Autumnus himself however... is not until much later, I'm afraid. He's much like the CEO of a shady company who stays up in his penthouse while low-level thugs and mercs deal with us. We know where he is, but we also don't have any definitive proof of it, plus we don't have an appointment. Pretty much. That's the sort of man he is."
King Demon: "And he gets to claim deniability and make us look like the villains... that doesn't sound familiar at ALL..."
Louisoix: "Good ol' politics, right?" *He would shrug.* "Just have to make sure we do things without putting the New Questers in a bad position."
Nonna: "We're like detectives, but we're lacking a warrant. So getting to Vetrek may be our ticket to getting one, so to speak."
King Demon: "And getting to him without the Time Cops getting in the way."
Nonna: *Nods* "This is why I asked all of you to come here today. We have three days to gather as much information we can use to prevent any Time Cop interference."
Louisoix: "Hm... certainly difficult. Since I haven't been out there yet, what sort of technology is out there?"
Nonna: "The Time Cops are known for using time-distorting technology and spells. They're pretty easy to spot. Don't worry, Gelato! There'll be plenty of opportunity."
Louisoix: "And the planet itself?"
Nonna: "Nothing nearly on that level. But there are ads everywhere and they try to listen to what you're saying in order to deliver ads to you. So do be careful about what you say outdoors."
Louisoix: "Oh... good to know. Strange place... Capitalism gone wrong, or something?"
KitRedgrave: "It's all about that money, not a damn thing funny..."
Nonna: "There's some sort of... Aquatic festival soon. Since Vetrek is masquerading as a legitimate popular politician, there's a chance he may make an appearance there. I figure that's a good chance to get a good look at him and his entourage. I think Gelato would go relatively unnoticed by them should we want to follow where he goes after leaving the festival. Think you can handle that, Gelato? When the time comes, we'll decide what to do at the festival. Let's just hope it's within these three days..."
Louisoix: "...yeah, would be good to know when that festival is."
Nonna: "I'll go and find that out. For now, meeting dismissed! The kitchen and pool are free to use, just keep things clean and comfortable. And hm, that's a good idea too, Gelato."
Louisoix: "Ehh. I dunno about that, it might up security if its too obvious. Has to be very delicate, that..."
Nonna: "Guaranteeing where he'll be is very helpful, and we could even potentially decide where it is, outside of the other place in case it's trapped."
Metal Man (GM): There is an info terminal in the room, if you need to get more information. Amazingly there aren't a bunch of tracking advertisement signs in the room, presumably because the sort of people who would get such a large room would expect some degree of privacy.
Nonna: "The Time Cops will be most on guard at that scheduled meeting, after all." *He goes to check out the terminal.*
Louisoix would look over Nonna's shoulder to see what it does.
Nonna looks up the Festival information and all that stuff.
Metal Man (GM): The terminal is more or less just a computer you can type or speak questions to. It brings up the "Immaterial World of Water" festival, which happens to be a festival celebrating the rainy season on this world. The Five Corporations come together to create a huge celebration in a plaza down the street from here, where they have a sort of miniature Olympics of surfing, swimming and... skiing. All of this, with the usual overly technological fixings as well.
Louisoix: "And the date?"
King Demon: "Eh, a fatal accident wouldn't be a bad thing, though getting him to be the only casualty could be difficult."
Nonna looks at the date, and past news articles concerning whether or not politicians and political candidates attended in any capacity.
Metal Man (GM): The celebration is ongoing, it has already begun, but the main event is tomorrow.
Louisoix: "Well, the idea is to not fatally injure. Not even sure about injuries in general right now, but that's my opinion..." *He would turn to Demon to say this.* "Something more... subtle, like perhaps a bridge needs to be repaired, or perhaps false flags that actually restrict his movement, I think would be better."
Metal Man (GM): The welcome ceremony was earlier today, around that time it was really crowded.
Louisoix: *He would look back* "Well, that's convenient. We'll have a chance tomorrow."
Kumiko: "Interesting..."
Nonna: "Now to see if our friend will be there. Maybe politicians get to have handshakes or something with athletes that do extraordinarily well..." *Double checks just to be sure.*
Metal Man (GM): There seem to be representatives from the Five Corporations. And Vetrek himself is there--a guest of honor, it seems.
Nonna: *Grins* "Things should go swimmingly."
Louisoix: "Hm, all that's left is to figure out a good strategy. Mind if I play around with this for a moment?"
Nonna: "Go ahead."
Louisoix would look up the place where it was being held and a map of the streets, and any bridges or landmarks that might cause a shift in plans before the event occurred.
Metal Man (GM): The streets seem to be these fairly narrow affairs suspended in the air between super-high skyscrapers. It would be possible to break any one of the main bridge-streets to cause a major commotion. The event is happening on top of a super-wide building which has an artificial greenscape and a bunch of trees atop it. Though the presence of ads for 'hover-cars' and 'hover-copters' suggests the roads are not the only way to get around.
Louisoix: "Hmm..." *He would look at any other major attractions in the area.* "Perhaps if it was possible to reroute them to a better spot, but... it might not be possible without it being obvious, if they can use hover vehicles."
Metal Man (GM): Not a lot. The area is at the center of a park area, though there are shops to the South and some inter-planetary airport to the North.
Louisoix: "Hm, I think I'll check this greenscape out, then. I don't think its possible to make them detour to another spot. Instead, might be better to just find a way to deal with things there."
Metal Man (GM): I'm beginning to fade out a bit, so at this point it seems you guys will be splitting up a bit before the main event. As such, I'll probably have sub sessions with smaller groups o' people so we don't all get lost in the fog, so to speak, heh. Funny as it is that my new thing to deal with is so many people it's hard to have them all in focus at once. :V
Metal Man (GM): I'll have Xavier work with Gelato and Demon and co. to help clear out any would-be security that get in the way of what the others are doing. We can probably end on that note then, you can have her do that to help close it out XP
Nonna: *Utilizing an old spell, she immediately had her clothes replaced by a swimming suit, and jumped into the pool.*
Metal Man (GM): I'll hand out EXP later, as I need to get my EXP tracker a-goin'. Good work everyone. Sorry to those who like the more fighty stuff that we haven't gotten there yet but, as usual, I am winding up to that. Let's just say as the time approaches the main event the number of fights is probably gonna skyrocket... ...of course, the Questers will be able to choose how many of those fights they directly participate in and stealth level, but still. The battle for the future of Onta'vis is about to begin... ...in a rather covert, cloak-and-dagger style. As Nonna and others relax in their hotel suite, because Kit's rich and Nonna managed to get in good with the Zinyo corporation. To be determined--what does Vetrek plan? Is Zinyo everything it appears to be? What will Louisoix find when they check out the greenscape? This and more... next session. Session Complete.

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