Choose your Own Adventure: Planar Edition II

[Eldan]

Quick introduction, then we can get to the action. What is this?
The idea of using the fora to play CYOA games was Xefas', who still runs the excellent Urban Fantasy edition of CYOA. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?383020-Choose-Your-Own-Adventure-Urban-Fantasy-Edition)
Depending on how you look at it, it's either an RPG where the entire playground together runs the main character, or a story written by one guy (me), where the playground can control some of what happens.
I'm trying to learn from the last one I tried ,and why it might have faltered. I'm trying to write a slightly tigther story and get character creation over more quickly. To do that, I'll start with a slightly clichéd story tellling device, I hope you'll forgive me.
We'll use a simplified and modified version of FATE for this, as Xefas has demonstrated that this works quite well. You don't need to know the system, I'll mostly run this behind the scenes.
The game will be set, at least initially, in Sigil, City of Doors, center of the Planescape setting. Like with FATE, you don't need to know the setting, we'll explore it as we go along.
Every so often, in a post, you'll get a decision in bold, followed by several answers, each starting with ">". You can then vote on each of those choices, by stating your choice, also starting with ">". Many will be open for suggestions, too, so throw one in if you want. If it gets the most votes and isn't too disruptive to the story, I'll run with it.
I think that's it.

***

Why today, of all days. You sigh, inwardly. A Harmonium checkpoint, on the streets, a hastily errected wooden barricade, striped red and white, and four hulking bashers in red armour, clearly chosen for brawn over looks, not-so-subtly leaning on truncheons and pikes. They don't normally do that. Must be some hardhead holiday. Or a new official in the city, trying to impress locals with bureaucratic bravado.
There's already a small line forming behind you. Best just to get this done as quickly as you can and be on your way. There's a halfling at the front, looking up at you, all eagerness and scrubbed face.
"Morning, citizen!"
Not a local, then. No one says "Morning" in a city that has no sun. You roll your eyes and glance up. The sky's still light grey behind slightly darker grey clouds. There's more buildings behind the clouds, visibile as vague shapes and lights, hanging down at you from the other side of the Ring.
"We're checking traffic for your safety! Please state your species, occupation, strength of magical talent and whether you have any weapons to declare."

Species
>Human
>Mostly Human-ish...
>Humanoid
>Something quite different (Suggestions welcome. Monsters allowed. Or leave it up to me and we'll go weird.)

Occupation
>Craftsman
>Magus for hire
>Bounty hunter
>Treasure hunter
>Temple initiate
>Clerk
>Shop owner
>Scholar
>I'm independently wealthy.
>Unemployed
>Other (suggestions welcome)
>Stuff it, copper, none of your business

Magical Talent
>A small hex here or there, a few sparks, nothing to write home about.
>Oh, some. I get by. Sometimes, I get creative with it.
>I have a specialized talent. Not your usual spell-slinging.
>I'm vastly powerful in ways your kind can not even comprehend.
>None whatsoever.
>Guess what, hardhead? I'm not telling you.

Weapons
>Just the sword.
>What, the giant axe on my back isn't obvious enough?
>This is my skull-crackin' mace. It cracks skulls.
>Crossbow. Means I don't need to get close to a basher to perforate his anatomy.
>Knife. All I need.
>Do explosives count? What about vials of acid?
>What, all of them? We'll be here all day! Okay. Bootblade, armblades, dagger, dagger, throwing knife, dagger, garotte, dagger, caltrops, hand crossbow, blowpipe, dagger and, oh, another dagger.
>Oh, I don't need any.
>And this one, too, you can stuff up your armoured rear. If the stick isn't flling all the available space.

[GorinichSerpant]

Species
>I think I'm a human, or was I a gnome, maybe and elf? I'm not sure...
No wait, now I remember definitely a gnome! Or was it a tibbit?

Occupation
>I'm, er, a Clerk? yes definitely a clerk.

Magical Talent
>Oh, some. I get by. Sometimes, I get creative with it.

Weapons
>What, all of them? We'll be here all day! Okay. Bootblade, armblades, armpitblades, dagger, dagger, throwing knife, dagger, garotte, dagger, caltrops, hand crossbow, blowpipe, dagger and, oh, another dagger. And also some explosives.

[Ramsus]

Species
>Thri-Kreen of an incredibly unusual heritage with monochromatic black and white coloring.

Occupation
>Non-criminal magic related lawyer (so kinda like a clerk)

Magical Talent
>I have a specialized talent. Not your usual spell-slinging. (An absurdly wide range of meta-magic spells as well as few simple defensive and offensive spells that double as various utility effects.)

Weapons
>Pen of Might (like a Rod of Might.... but a pen) and a briefcase full of legal documents.

[Trevortni]

Species
>I forgot to look in the mirror today. It's so hard to keep track of these details from one day to the next.

Occupation
>Definitely not a thief. Treasure hunter. Yeah, heh heh, that'll work.

Magical Talent
>I have a specialized talent. Not your usual spell-slinging. They totally don't help out the career in thievery that I totally don't engage in.

Weapons
>What, all of them? We'll be here all day! Okay. Bootblade, armblades, Vera the dagger, Kelsey the dagger, Ana the throwing knife, Cherise the dagger, garotte, Portia the dagger, caltrops, hand crossbow, blowpipe, Mia the dagger and, oh, Clementine the dagger. Now where did I put Teresa and Vanessa?

[Xefas]

Species
>Hey, Listen! I'm a Lantern Archon

Occupation
>Hey, Listen! I was a Clerk... until recently. Now I'm a field operative for Heaven's Bureau of Fate Management; 'Grievously Unrealized Heroic Potential' Division.

Magical Talent
>Hey, Listen! A small hex here or there, a few sparks, nothing to write home about.

Weapons
>Hey, Listen! I don't need any.

[GorinichSerpant]

Weapons
>What, all of them? We'll be here all day! Okay. Bootblade, armblades, Vera the dagger, Kelsey the dagger, Ana the throwing knife, Cherise the dagger, garotte, Portia the dagger, caltrops, hand crossbow, blowpipe, Mia the dagger and, oh, Clementine the dagger. Now where did I put Teresa and Vanessa?

I change my character idea to include these names for the daggers.

[blacklight101]

> Human, mostly anyway.

> Jack of all trades, little of this little of that

> enough to get by, nothing flashy but its damned effective

> crossbow, short sword, mace, few daggers, and a few phials of acid. You know, nothing big.

[A_Man]

>Mostly Humanish

>Mercenary

>A small hex or two...

>What, all of them?..

Sorry, can't copy+paste on phone, ha ha.

[Eldan]

HUman is actually winning, as the only thing with two votes. Still, I'll leave this for tomorrow morning.

[axl]

Species
>Mostly Human-ish...

Occupation
>Treasure hunter

Magical Talent
>Oh, some. I get by. Sometimes, I get creative with it.

Weapons
>Oh, I don't need any.

[Ramsus]

C'mon guys, we can't let human win. We all play humans irl already! :smalltongue:

[Xefas]

Alright, as much as I want to play a plucky Lantern Archon tasked with training misfit heroes, in the name of solidarity, I'd like to change my vote to this:


Species
>Thri-Kreen of an incredibly unusual heritage with monochromatic black and white coloring.

Occupation
>Non-criminal magic related lawyer (so kinda like a clerk)

Magical Talent
>I have a specialized talent. Not your usual spell-slinging. (An absurdly wide range of meta-magic spells as well as few simple defensive and offensive spells that double as various utility effects.)

Weapons
>Pen of Might (like a Rod of Might.... but a pen) and a briefcase full of legal documents.

I will be content reading the adventures of Chirp Mandible, Attorney At Law.

[Ramsus]

Pffffft, that name. :thog:

[Eldan]

Oh, fine. And I like the name. :smalltongue: Thri-Kreen it is.

Note: I'll put magic down as "unusual talent", but leave it unopen for now. In certain dicey situations, I'll leave open an option "luckily, my magic is perfect for this". If that gets chosen, the magic is locked in.

***

You rub the combs of your middle tibiae together, producing a shrill sound, your species' equivalent of a laugh. Of course, the little morsel in front of you can't possibly understand proper language, so you have to communicate telepathically.
"Chirp Mandible, Atorney at law."
The little humanoid flinches a bit. That's good.
"Some magic. Strong, but specialized. As for weapons..."
You produce another laugh, coincidentally showing off your natural spikes and claws and open your atorney's robe.
"Hand crossbow. Second hand crossbow. Seven daggers of differing lengths and materials. Four spring-loaded blades connected to various parts of my attire. Blowpipe. Twenty-seven darts in stoppered vials, all poisoned. Acid. Alchemical fire. Small mace. What one needs in the typical legal battle."
The halfling blanches just a little bit as he realizes that your nice black robe is lined with enough sharp metal to outfit a small batallion. Still, he needs to write all of this down.
There's a shout behind you, now: "Oi! 'ard'eads! What's the holdup, then?" At least one Sigilite is already picking up a few nice cobblestones for throwing.

>"Well, then. Can I go?" You're in a hurry.
>"Now tell me, officer. Do you have a warrant, signed by a judge and passed by the hall of speakers?" You hate being accosted like this. Take the twerp apart. With words.


Sheet


Name:Chirp Mandile
Aspects: Atorney at Law, Walking Armoury, Magical Specialist
Skills: ?
Belief: 5

[blacklight101]

Use your words now, but quickly as the gathering mob looks a bit unfriendly.

[GorinichSerpant]

>"Now tell me, officer. Do you have a warrant, signed by a judge and passed by the hall of speakers?" You hate being accosted like this. Take the twerp apart. With words.

[spwack]

> Run away! In style, of course. But still it's looking nasty, so it's time to get the hell out of there, with minimal bloodshed if possible.

[Trevortni]

>"Now tell me, officer. Do you have a warrant, signed by a judge and passed by the hall of speakers?" You hate being accosted like this. Take the twerp apart. With words.

As loudly and clearly (and with words as polite, but tone as condescending) as possible. I smell the potential for blood in the water, and the officer's actions have created a crowd which could probably bear to be educated on the proper way to deal with officials who could very well be (come on, let's be honest, they most likely are, if experience has taught me anything) overstepping their legally defined boundaries.

[A_Man]

>let's take him down with words. (Well, mental words, I suppose)

[Ramsus]

>"Now tell me, officer. Do you have a warrant, signed by a judge and passed by the hall of speakers?" You hate being accosted like this. Take the twerp apart. With words.

As loudly and clearly (and with words as polite, but tone as condescending) as possible. I smell the potential for blood in the water, and the officer's actions have created a crowd which could probably bear to be educated on the proper way to deal with officials who could very well be (come on, let's be honest, they most likely are, if experience has taught me anything) overstepping their legally defined boundaries.

I second this.

[Lex-Kat]

>"Now tell me, officer. Do you have a warrant, signed by a judge and passed by the hall of speakers?" You hate being accosted like this. Take the twerp apart. With words.

As loudly and clearly (and with words as polite, but tone as condescending) as possible. I smell the potential for blood in the water, and the officer's actions have created a crowd which could probably bear to be educated on the proper way to deal with officials who could very well be (come on, let's be honest, they most likely are, if experience has taught me anything) overstepping their legally defined boundaries.


I second this.

I third this. :smallsmile:

[Trevortni]

>"Now tell me, officer. Do you have a warrant, signed by a judge and passed by the hall of speakers?" You hate being accosted like this. Take the twerp apart. With words.

As loudly and clearly (and with words as polite, but tone as condescending) as possible. I smell the potential for blood in the water, and the officer's actions have created a crowd which could probably bear to be educated on the proper way to deal with officials who could very well be (come on, let's be honest, they most likely are, if experience has taught me anything) overstepping their legally defined boundaries.

I just want to add that, if it turns out they do have all the pieces the way they should, it will still need to be examined in excruciating detail, and I can't be held legally responsible for any people who sneak around me while I stand so uncomfortably close to the officer, and command so much of his and his men's attention, that they can't see around me. After all, how was I supposed to know other upright citizens would seize the opportunity, and him and his men would be so lax in their responsibilities to keep an eye on every little thing around them while I search for an undotted "i" as obnoxiously as possible?

[GorinichSerpant]

I just want to add that, if it turns out they do have all the pieces the way they should, it will still need to be examined in excruciating detail, and I can't be held legally responsible for any people who sneak around me while I stand so uncomfortably close to the officer, and command so much of his and his men's attention, that they can't see around me. After all, how was I supposed to know other upright citizens would seize the opportunity, and him and his men would be so lax in their responsibilities to keep an eye on every little thing around them while I search for an undotted "i" as obnoxiously as possible?

All aboard the bandwagon.

[Eldan]

"Tell me officer."
You think it quickly at him and the crowd. The Harmonium may take the duties of a city watch in Sigil, but they are still a philosophical group, too, and their highest virtue is comformity. They don't choose their middle-rankers for quick thinking, so the key is information overload.
"Do you have a warrant? Who signed it?"
He begins to produce some kind of sealed parchment. No matter. You become excited, beginning to polish your mandibles with your palpae, the small pseudoarms for holding food that grow out of the side of your mouthparts.
"Is it approved by the faction council? The Hall of Speakers? Has the wording been compared to the precedent in the years Hashkar 12, H. 84, Kendrall 66 and Lieropleites 4?"
There it is. The confused blink of his tiny mammal eyes. You got him. With a swivel of your head, you go on.
"Are you even aware of the previous cases pertinent to this? Malvieri v. Drover's union? Cat Lord v. Harmonium? Shashshgvert v. Shashshgvert? Masked Crusader v. City of Sigil? Architects' Union v. Abstract Concept of Entropy? Didn't think you were. I suggest, officer, that you move this barricade immediately and let these good citizens get on with their day, or we'll see each other in court."
They don't like it, but they move. The blockade is moved and there's a few half-hearted cheers from behind you. Someone gets bored and throws a cobblestone that misses one of the burly guards by several steps. You quickly move on to avoid any riots that might ensue, as the three guards tackle the thrower to the floor with their armoured bulk.

The Court is only two more blocks away. It's a sprawling building of classical lines and marble columns, small rectangular windows and a single, squat, blocky tower rising another three stories above the rest. The marble must have been white, or at least white-ish, once, but now it's a mess of soot and rust dripping down from the roof, where the iron blades that form Sigil's one consistent element of architecture.
The wide, shallow stairs at the front are as crowded as ever. Harmonium patrols leading defendants in, Mercykillers leading the condemned out. The Fraternity of Order, in their faction colours, bustling about and the few lawyers who aren't aligned with the fraternity, running to hearings, milling about in corners, chatting or reading books against the walls.
Time to get to work.

What is that work, anyway?
>Public Defender
>Very expensive attorney for hire
>Prosecutor
>Small-time court clerk
>A legal scientist with the Department of Experimental Jurisdiction

Are you a Fraternity member?
The Fraternity of Order, often just "Guvners" for short, is one of Sigil's 15 philosophical factions. They believe in a universe of laws, both multiversal laws that underlie all of nature, and the laws that mortals impose upon themselves. They categorize and catalogue these laws, research them, understand them and, most interestingly, find the loopholes in nature. They run the court and most of the city's lawyers and judges belong to them, but just as many researchers, clerks, librarians and other such scholarly professions.
>Of course I'm a member. Being a lawyer is terrible otherwise. I'm all about laws.
>Psh, no. One can study the law without becoming like these dusty old pedants. The law isn't everything.

Well, I think I just abandoned most of my original plan. We're doing COURT DRAMA! now.

Also, mantids are fabulous.
http://www.oddee.com/_media/imgs/articles/a421_Diabolica.jpg

[blacklight101]

Department of Experimental Jurisdiction

Not one of the fraternity, plenty of learning law without pedantry up in here.


Heh, court drama. I like it.

[Trevortni]

What is that work, anyway?
>A legal scientist with the Department of Experimental Jurisdiction

This just sounds awesome.

Are you a Fraternity member?
>Of course I'm a member. The best way to accomplish our goal of bringing down the (OOC: I have no idea what kind of government this place has, but it's probably corrupt) is from the inside. Freedom!

[Ramsus]

What is that work, anyway?
>A legal scientist with the Department of Experimental Jurisdiction

Are you a Fraternity member?
Yes, but I'm also a member of 4 other Fraternities, 3 secret societies, 4-12 small discretionary/indiscretionary councils varying from week to week, and 2 part-time adventurer agencies. And yet I still have time to spend on my interplanar flora hybridization garden.

[GorinichSerpant]

What is that work, anyway?
>A legal scientist with the Department of Experimental Jurisdiction

Are you a Fraternity member?
Yes, but I'm also a member of 4 other Fraternities, 3 secret societies, 4-12 small discretionary/indiscretionary councils varying from week to week, and 2 part-time adventurer agencies. And yet I still have time to spend on my interplanar flora hybridization garden.

Bandwagon Ho!

[A_Man]

What is that work, anyway?
>A legal scientist with the Department of Experimental Jurisdiction

Are you a Fraternity member?
Yes, but I'm also a member of 4 other Fraternities, 3 secret societies, 4-12 small discretionary/indiscretionary councils varying from week to week, and 2 part-time adventurer agencies. And yet I still have time to spend on my interplanar flora hybridization garden.

One of these secret organizations better be the illuminati. :smallbiggrin:

[Xefas]

What is that work, anyway?
>Very expensive attorney for hire

Are you a Fraternity member?
>Of course I'm a member. Being a lawyer is terrible otherwise. I'm all about laws.

[Lex-Kat]

What is that work, anyway?
>Very expensive attorney for hire

Are you a Fraternity member?
>Of course I'm a member. Being a lawyer is terrible otherwise. I'm all about laws.

I like these, myself. :smallsmile:

[Eldan]

You stroll past the court rooms, the temporary holding cells full of screaming and sobbing and pleading, past the faction offices, nodding, or at least bobbing your head, at some colleagues, as you pass. Your faction badge, which for some reason no one is quite sure about anymore, depicts a dagger on a field of what are either flames or more blades, opens you most doors without comment.
Given that research is actually a large part of the faction, the department of Experimental Jurisdication is surprisingly small and well-hidden. Most of the research going on in the Fraternity is done in libraries, not in the field, and therefore, the department is a handful of people locked up in a few small, windowless cellar rooms, connected only by a spiral staircase to the rest. The rooms are cool, dank and musty, though not more so than any other part of Sigil.
Stepping into the front office, you're greeted by the department's secretary, Filing System 44. She is a modron, one of the very few who like to be called female. She's making an effort, too: there are boots with heels, large hoop earrings and lipstick. The effect is slightly spoiled by the fact that 44, as the department usually calls her, is a four-armed metal cube three feet to a side, with a fleshy face stretched over the front side. The earrings, you suspect, must be either glued on or magnetic.
"Morning, 44. Did anything come up tonight?"
She positively mincing towards you, her heels clacking on the floor.
"Snorri is off to some prime world", she says. "There was a revolution and he's sure he can convince them to accept his new experimental constitution. I was telling him, abolishing gravity, it will never catch on, but you know him. He always tries the gravity thing."
Glancing down at a notepad, she continues.
"Apart from that, the usual odd jobs no one wants to do. Today, we have... sixty-seven new legal texts from the Prime to sort. I'll do that one. Cretch wants to start an expedition to Arborea, he wants to investigate the theory that there's Words of Creation inscribed on the walls of the ruins there. Kell says she's investigating a tip from the Clerk's Ward, apparently, there's been a Dabus acting strangely. There's a solipsistic evangelist in a stand-off with the Mercykillers in the Lower Ward. Got hostages and claims that if his demands aren't met, he'll disprove their existence. They're asking for someone to argue objective reality and no one else in the building wants to do it. Want do do any of those?"

Choices:
>I'll sort the books! Sorting books is exciting!
>Arborea... a plane of chaos. Less unpleasant than most, sure, but Cretch can use some help. And it's some good, old-fashioned adventure-archaeology.
>Dabus? Usually, these servants of the Lady of Pain, the city's enigmatic ruler-of-sorts, are quiet, hard-working and perfectly rational. Carrying messages from Her Serenity, repairing streets and buildings, guiding newcomers, that kind of thing. You're not sure what "strange" means for them, but it can't be good.
>Hostage negotation. Someone has to do it, and I hate solipsists.

Character sheet:

Portrait:
http://s27.postimg.org/fwb50sb4h/Unbenannt.png

Name: Chirp Mandile (seriously, I love that name.)
Aspects: Research Attorney, Walking Armoury, Fraternity of Law
Skills: Fast talking +3
Magic: Unknown Specialized Talent
Belief: 5

[A_Man]

Conflicted between Dabus and the hostage situation. Both sound fantastic...

>Dabus

[blacklight101]

Hostage situation. Let's prove he doesn't exist instead!

Does that mean he just goes *poof*?

If so, neat.

[Trevortni]

Conflicted between Dabus and the hostage situation. Both sound fantastic...

>Dabus

A quarter vote for Dabus, 3/4 for the hostage situation.

[GorinichSerpant]

I vote is on hostage situation.

[Ramsus]

>Arborea... a plane of chaos. Less unpleasant than most, sure, but Cretch can use some help. And it's some good, old-fashioned adventure-archaeology. Also there might be some new and interesting plants for my garden.

Btw, that picture made me laugh so hard.

[Trevortni]

If we do go for the hostage situation, I propose that we drag the solipsist down his own rabbit hole: begin by accepting his claim that the hostages don't exist, then use it to prove that he therefore isn't actually making any attacks against anybody, he isn't even a solipsist, this is in fact a training exercise and he is actually our best friend and partner for twenty years, and has been with the Department from its inception. We can then go back later and prove the hostages back into existence, if anyone feels that to be necessary.

Edit: I'm torn between this guy being our sidekick for the remainder of the adventure (whether reality was previously this way or not), or putting him in a room with all the other "partners" we've recruited to the department with the exact same argument. 44 saying "oh, not another one" would be pretty funny.

[GorinichSerpant]

If we do go for the hostage situation, I propose that we drag the solipsist down his own rabbit hole: begin by accepting his claim that the hostages don't exist, then use it to prove that he therefore isn't actually making any attacks against anybody, he isn't even a solipsist, this is in fact a training exercise and he is actually our best friend and partner for twenty years, and has been with the Department from its inception. We can then go back later and prove the hostages back into existence, if anyone feels that to be necessary.

*clap,clap,clap*

[Xefas]

I vote Hostage Situation. A good opportunity to put points in those social skills.

[blacklight101]

If we do go for the hostage situation, I propose that we drag the solipsist down his own rabbit hole: begin by accepting his claim that the hostages don't exist, then use it to prove that he therefore isn't actually making any attacks against anybody, he isn't even a solipsist, this is in fact a training exercise and he is actually our best friend and partner for twenty years, and has been with the Department from its inception. We can then go back later and prove the hostages back into existence, if anyone feels that to be necessary.

Yes, this. Very much this.

[axl]

Choices:
>Hostage negotation. Someone has to do it, and I hate solipsists.

[Eldan]

"Hostage negotation. Why not. Should be done before lunch."
Sticking the necessary papers under one arm, you open the door and wave 44 goodbye with the other three.

The Lower Ward is Sigil's centre of industry. Even dirtier than any other of the five wards, even the slums of the Hive, the air here is continually clogged with soot and smoke and industrial effluvia run thick and oily in the streets. The name comes from the Ward's many portals to the lower planes, those various unpleasant dimensions on the evil side of the Great Wheel. Here, more than anywhere else, a substantial part of the population is either properly fiendish, or at least mortals touched by the lower planes,Tieflings.

The Solipsist has holed up in a blacksmith's workshop, a small building wedged into what must once have been a side street between two towering factories. Your file says he has two hostages, the blacksmith and his daughter. The workshop is open in the front, and you see a lit furnace, a vat of water, an anvil and various other tools of the trade. There's a narrow staircase leads up to a second story, where you assume the hostage taker is holed up.As you approach, you see your colleages, such as they are, for this mission: a team of Mercykillers.
The Mercykillers are one of the least loved factions in the city, just after those taking in the taxes. Though lawful, and thus allied with the fraternity, their interpretation of law is harsher than most, with a philosophy focusing on punishment, often of the capital variety. While technically, they are Sigil's jailers and executioners, no one has managed to stop them from also playing police occasionally.

The team here numbers six, four in bulky armour, black and adorned with an excess of spikes and blades, as well as tusked and snarling mask-helmets, carrying heavy looking halberds. The other two, a woman you assume must have some elven blood from her pointy ears and some kind of lizardman creature, must be officers, as they are wearing only floor-long black coats with the faction symbol, a winged snake, ready to strike, on one lapel.

The woman turns around on her heels as you approach. Her face is lean, with high cheekbones, the severe expression only heightened by a buzz cut that shows off her pointy ears. She's glaring, too.

"There you are! Too late, for my tastes. Hostage taker refuses to name any demands, says we should know them already since he made us, or something. He gives us only ten more minutes. I say we go in right now. You can give us the necessary paperwork to sign later, we have criminal scum to kill."

Choice 1:
>No need to be hasty. You came here for a negotation, and you'll have a negotation. Talk her down. [Gain Rapport skill.]
>Good plan, but you can do this alone. Those factory buildings touch the blacksmith on all sides, it should be trivial to get in over the roof, he'll never see you coming. [Gain Stealth skill]
>You know this one. Llaestryn Nalada. Something of a rising star in her faction. You had a drink with her, once or twice and she's actually not all that bad, behind her posturing. If you talk to her right, she'll let you do your thing. [Gain Contacts skill.]
>Present your credentials. The Fraternity and the Mercykillers are more or less allied, and you're still a member. If this isn't done by the book, the Fraternity will hear of it, and then there will be more than just some paperwork. [-1 will, use the Fraternity of Law aspect, gain Intimidate skill.]
>You know what? She's right. Let's just kill him and let's get this over with. [Choose either Fight or Shoot, gain skill in that.]

If we gain a skill, please also mention if that skill should be Great (+4), Good (+3) or Fair (+2). Please note we'll only get one Great and two Good skills.



Choice 2: Stunts
Upon thinking about it, I think the "Walking Armory" aspect is probably better served as a stunt, and there are several that fit. Stunts are something like the feats of D&D, specialized talents or applications of skills that you can use in certain situations.
Choose one or both:

>Crafts: Always Making Useful Things. Even in extreme situations, Chirp always has the right tools with him, or he can quickly improvise them. He does not have to spend a Fate point to have brought just the right tool. This includes situations like being imprisoned, searched and then separated from all gear. I'll give the character a decent craft skill (+2, maybe higher later, depending on how the game goes), too.

>Fight: Backup Weapon. Being disarmed usually gives a situational aspect, i.e. a boost the enemy can use for an entire scene. Instead, with this stunt, Chirp can just draw a new weapon whenever necessary, making the boost temporary.

>Both. This would make us quite specialized, since you normally only get three stunts.

Character sheet:

Portrait:
http://s27.postimg.org/fwb50sb4h/Unbenannt.png

Name: Chirp Mandile (seriously, I love that name.)
Aspects: Research Attorney, Walking Armoury, Fraternity of Law, Mantis Man
Skills:
Athletics
Burglary
Contacts
Crafts
Deceive: +3
Empathy
Fight
Investigate
Lore (Planar & Magical)
Lore (Sigil & Factions)
Notice
Physique
Provoke
Rapport
Resources
Shoot
Stealth
Will

Magic: Unknown Specialized Talent
Belief: 5

[Trevortni]

Choice 1:
>No need to be hasty. You came here for a negotation, and you'll have a negotation. Talk her down. [Gain Rapport skill.]
We're going to do this by the book. And by "by the book," I mean we'll have the book somewhere in our immediate vicinity while we do things our way.
Also, this will come in handy when we confront the clerks who made our new ID card about how they left out the "b" in "Mandible". Again.
I'm thinking either Good or Fair.

Choice 2: Stunts
>Oooh I like them both. But I think we'll get more flexibility out of Crafts: Always Making Useful Things.

[blacklight101]

Choice 1:
>No need to be hasty. You came here for a negotation, and you'll have a negotation. Talk her down. [Gain Rapport skill.]
We're going to do this by the book. And by "by the book," I mean we'll have the book somewhere in our immediate vicinity while we do things our way.
Also, this will come in handy when we confront the clerks who made our new ID card about how they left out the "b" in "Mandible". Again.
I'm thinking either Good or Fair.

Choice 2: Stunts
>Oooh I like them both. But I think we'll get more flexibility out of Crafts: Always Making Useful Things.

This is what I would have said. Especially on the crafting aspect.

[A_Man]

>Contacts skill (umm, good?)

>crafts

I feel we should have a good contacts skill as a Law Research guy. Rapports also useful though.

[GorinichSerpant]

>either contacts or rapport

>both stunts

[Ramsus]

>Contacts (Good)

>Crafts

Looked at the skills we have. Neat, but where's our Gardening skill? (Until proven otherwise, I'm going to continue to assume Chirp's hobby is his interplanar flora hybridization garden.) :smallbiggrin:

[Eldan]

That's the standard Fate skill list. If there's popular support, we can of course add more skills. Or we just use Craft for gardening.

[A_Man]

Bwhahahhahaha I just saw our character's portrait. Amaizing. :smallbiggrin:

[Eldan]

Oh, great. Two for rapport, two for contacts, and one for either of those. Let's flip a coin.

1: contacts, 2: rapport
1d2

[Eldan]

You sigh. Mentally, of course. You've long ago learned that humanoids just need certain sounds other than words for conversation to make sense and since you'll never get their body language right, you need to do at least this much.
"Nalada, is this necessary? You know as well as I do that this is techncially a Harmonium job, yes? You're executioners, crime scenes aren't your jurisdiction"
"All criminals are my..."
You stop her before her interruption can get to more than a few words.
"No, they aren't. Not in Sigil. Not if you want to keep the Triad of Law intact."
Leaning a bit closer, you continue in a more conciliatory fashion.
"Look, Nalada. We'd all like to run Sigil. But that's not how it works, not right now. Just give me ten minutes. If this works out, we'll arrest the guy, he'll be tried properly and you'll have him on the gallows anyhow. All according to the law, everyone is happy, jurisdication in tact, same outcome. Right?"
She frowns, but you see that you have her. Nodding, you move on.
"Now. Do you know anything, anything at all about this solipsist?"
She shrugs.
"Barmy, far as we can tell. Rashaat Arcaterion. Apprentice of this same blacksmith. He's a solipsist, seems to think the universe should do whatever he wants anyway, but then he needs to take hostages to enforce some silly demand. Clearly, the consistency of his philosphy isn't all that."
"Right. Something must have made him crack. Probably trouble with his master, or something, or he wouldn't take him hostage. Okay, I'll go in and talk."

You step up through the vaguely defined line of Mercykillers that keep the gawkers away from the forge. Your claws clack over blackened cobbles. As you step into the firelight, you see a pale, nervous face peeking out of a half-closed trapdoor to the upper floor.
Now. How to approach this.

Choice 1
>High pressure tactic. He has nothing to really threaten you with. Except some hostages, but you dont' really care about those.
>Be friendly. It can't hurt, listening to what he wants, and he's probably armed, if he can keep the hostages under control.
>Good cop, bad cop. You're the only thing standing between that poor sod and a bunch of pissed off legalized killers.
>Grovel. If he has that much of a superiority complex that he needs to make up some kind of megalomaniacal solipsist fantasy, he'll fall for it.
>Eff it. Blowpipe dart through the trapdoor, he should be out before he can do anything.


Character sheet:

Portrait:
http://s27.postimg.org/fwb50sb4h/Unbenannt.png

Name: Chirp Mandile
Aspects: Research Attorney, Fraternity of Law, Mantis Man
Skills:
Athletics
Burglary
Contacts +3
Crafts +2
Deceive: +3
Empathy
Fight
Investigate
Lore (Planar & Magical)
Lore (Sigil & Factions)
Notice
Physique
Provoke
Rapport
Resources
Shoot
Stealth
Will

Stunts: Always the right weapon
Magic: Unknown Specialized Talent
Belief: 5

[Ramsus]

>Eff it. Blowpipe dart through the trapdoor, he should be out before he can do anything.

Not because this is the "best" or "proper" approach, but because it made me laugh. And I guess there should be some reason we have all those weapons.

[blacklight101]

>Eff it. Blowpipe dart through the trapdoor, he should be out before he can do anything.

Not because this is the "best" or "proper" approach, but because it made me laugh. And I guess there should be some reason we have all those weapons.

This. Good reasoning behind it too. May as well make the weapons more than a flavor choice, after all.:smallbiggrin:

[Trevortni]

Psychological warfare: I brought my lunch with me. It's a bit early, and I'm not hungry yet, but 10 of the local unit of currency says he'll be begging for me to notice his presence before I'm halfway through. And then he'll have gotten into practice of making concessions to me, and I'll have learned a little more about him, to choose what my next tactic will be.

Edit: He probably won't even notice the concealed weapon I've been taking the time to make sure is pointed directly at his left eye (humanoids tend to have much bone between their eyes for my taste), just in case.

[GorinichSerpant]

Psychological warfare: I brought my lunch with me. It's a bit early, and I'm not hungry yet, but 10 of the local unit of currency says he'll be begging for me to notice his presence before I'm halfway through. And then he'll have gotten into practice of making concessions to me, and I'll have learned a little more about him, to choose what my next tactic will be.

Edit: He probably won't even notice the concealed weapon I've been taking the time to make sure is pointed directly at his left eye (humanoids tend to have much bone between their eyes for my taste), just in case.

Because capturing criminals by eating your lunch is amusing.

While directly shooting him with a blowdart sounds fun, I think talking to him would hold more amusing possibilities.

[Eldan]

Rule of Funny. I'll take this one. Bit early for lunch, though.

***

You stroll forward a bit. Of course, the little mammal upstairs can't tell where exactly you're looking. The answer would be "everywhere", as your eyes are properly all-round, instead of pitifully directed.
Nonchalantly, you lean against the forge and enjoy the heat for a moment, then plant three of your legs on the floor, put down the satchel with your books and take out a brown paper bag. Holding it with two hands, you use the third to take a small bottle out of the pocket of your robe. "El Viajero's Inadvisably Hot Sauce". Three drops into the bag, stopper back on the bottle, put it back into the robe.
Then, you simply open the bag wide and stick your head straight in. You hold your lunch with your palpae to stop it from struggling too much, while you start chewing, making a few over-exaggerated munching sounds. Your mandibles, of course, shear straight through the meal and it stops squirming, though some of the fur gets stuck in a corner.
You wipe your face with a few quick rubbing motions and lick each palp in turn, before sighing contentedly and taking out a second back.

The little guy upstairs can't take it, being ignored. They never can, damn solipsists.
"Hey! You! Why aren't you talking to me! I'm up here!"
Sounds young. Oh well. There's a little cream pastry in the second bag. Nice and puffy. Sugar crust on everything. Chocolate sprinkles over the cream, too. Yum.
"Oi! I'm talking!"

Choice
>Ignore him some more. Let him stew, he'll do something stupid. Also, chocolate.
>Be nonchalant. Maybe offer him the second pastry.
>Ask him what he wants. Straightforward, now.

[Ramsus]

>Be nonchalant. Maybe offer him the second pastry.

Edit: The idea in the post below is better. I vote for that.

[Trevortni]

Hold the pastry up briefly in his direction, then set it down next to us. Still without explicitly acknowledging his existence.

[blacklight101]

Hold the pastry up briefly in his direction, then set it down next to us. Still without explicitly acknowledging his existence.

I kind of like this.

But part of me just wants to eat it. It's chocolate and it's from that little bakery we like down the main drag.

[Trevortni]

I kind of like this.

But part of me just wants to eat it. It's chocolate and it's from that little bakery we like down the main drag.

Well, if he's not out here by the time we get to it, then he obviously missed his chance.

[GorinichSerpant]

Hold the pastry up briefly in his direction, then set it down next to us. Still without explicitly acknowledging his existence.

I bandwagon this choice.

[A_Man]

>let him stew

[Eldan]

You look at the pastry for a while. Thoughtful, holding it up so it's very visible through the trap door. Well, it was early for lunch. You put it down on the anvil instead and, humming just a bit monotonously with your hind legs, begin to instead clean the hooks on your arms with a small piece of cloth.
While you do so, there's some more annoyed yelling from upstairs. It doesn't seem to important, let the little squirt stew a bit more. Man, the blood so easily gets trapped in the little crevaces, there.
You barely see the movement, even looking in all directions at once. There is a shout, something along the lines of "YOU WILL LOOK AT ME!" and your little cream pastry vanishes in a little flash of light. Along with an about fist-sized chunk of anvil.
Damn. Little squirt actually has power.

What now?
>Fun is over, it seems. Talk to him professionally. [Social skills]
>Grovel. It doesn't pay to be rude to the powerful. [More social skills]
>That was a very nice pastry. He will know terror like few have ever known as you bring darkness and blood over him. Storm the place. [Combat skills.]
>Funnily enough, you have exactly the right magic for this. [Gain a very unusual and strangely appropriate magical talent.]
>Jump into cover.

[A_Man]

>That was a very nice pastry. He will know terror like few have ever known as you bring darkness and blood over him. Storm the place. [Combat skills]

Mwhahahahahaha

[Ramsus]

>Fun is over, it seems. Talk to him professionally. [Social skills]

[Trevortni]

What now?

"Well, that's a pity. I was hoping the chocolate would turn out to be real."

>Fun is over, it seems. Talk to him professionally. [Social skills]

[GorinichSerpant]

>Fun is over, it seems. Talk to him professionally. [Social skills]

[blacklight101]

The fun is over, it seems. May as well do this professionally. (Social ftw)

[Rogthnor]

The fun is over. Social

[Eldan]

You sigh, mentally, and look up. Or rather, make a point of turning your head upwards.
"Kid, you don't want to play hardball. You'll lose. And I'm rather sure this pastry was real. Chocolate has to be real, otherwise, what's the point?"
He begins to say something, but you hold up a claw and interrupt him.
"Now. Enough foreplay, yes? Can you just tell me what you want? And none of this "we should already know" stuff, either. Clearly, if you made the universe, you made one where people don't know what you think. Really, if you're our creator, you have issues."
He raises is voice again. Angrily. But before he can make more than a sputtering sound of fury, you interrupt him again.
"I said no. Stop that. If you don't take a deep breath and calm down, I'll go and buy a new pastry while half a dozen angry men with big, sharp implemens storm this place. Can we please just talk? Tell me your problem, Rashaat.
Finally, he seems to be listening. There is an actual, deep breath. In fact, it's almost a sob.
"Everything is wrong."
Oh. Glorious. One of those conversations.
"Yes, tell me details?"
"Master Arbault says I'm a terrible blacksmith. Well, not in those words, but he means it. And my girlfriend broke up with me. She says I'm too selfish."
"I see."

Choice:
>Empathy. Be nice to the kid, he's had a rough day. Things like this happen.
>Rebuff him. He's a indeed a selfish little snot. If people are nice to him now, his behaviour will never improve.

Character sheet:
This scene gives Mandible Rapport, Empathy and Provoke.

Portrait:
http://s27.postimg.org/fwb50sb4h/Unbenannt.png

Name: Chirp Mandible
Aspects: Research Attorney, Fraternity of Law, Mantis Man
Skills:
Athletics
Burglary
Contacts +3
Crafts +2
Deceive: +3
Empathy +2
Fight
Investigate
Lore (Planar & Magical)
Lore (Sigil & Factions)
Notice
Physique
Provoke +2
Rapport +2
Resources
Shoot
Stealth
Will

Stunts: Always the right weapon
Magic: Unknown Specialized Talent
Belief: 5

[Trevortni]

Choice:
>Ask him to provide evidence, both for and against, each of the propositions. If he doesn't provide any evidence in favor of the propositions, then that in itself is evidence in favor. If he's got any brains, he should see that there are more perspectives than his own; or maybe he does actually have a case, in which case we can work with that.

Also, confirm that the breakup was within the last 12 hours, and point out that these things happen, and he's foolish to act on feelings so fresh.

[Ramsus]

Choice:
>Ask him to provide evidence, both for and against, each of the propositions. If he doesn't provide any evidence in favor of the propositions, then that in itself is evidence in favor. If he's got any brains, he should see that there are more perspectives than his own; or maybe he does actually have a case, in which case we can work with that.

Also, confirm that the breakup was within the last 12 hours, and point out that these things happen, and he's foolish to act on feelings so fresh.

I'll second this.

[blacklight101]

Choice:
>Ask him to provide evidence, both for and against, each of the propositions. If he doesn't provide any evidence in favor of the propositions, then that in itself is evidence in favor. If he's got any brains, he should see that there are more perspectives than his own; or maybe he does actually have a case, in which case we can work with that.

Also, confirm that the breakup was within the last 12 hours, and point out that these things happen, and he's foolish to act on feelings so fresh.

I could be fine with this. Its just crazy enough to work!

[GorinichSerpant]

Choice:
>Ask him to provide evidence, both for and against, each of the propositions. If he doesn't provide any evidence in favor of the propositions, then that in itself is evidence in favor. If he's got any brains, he should see that there are more perspectives than his own; or maybe he does actually have a case, in which case we can work with that.

Also, confirm that the breakup was within the last 12 hours, and point out that these things happen, and he's foolish to act on feelings so fresh.

This looks like the reasonable course of action

[blacklight101]

Chirp Mandible, Attorney at Law. And I cant stop putting that to the Harvey Birdman theme. When do we get to meet one of the crazy judges? It is Mentok the Mindtaker?

[Eldan]

I really should update this one.

The only Judge in Sigil that I know of is Judge Gabberslug, and he's a Nalfeshnee. Who has his own court, which is a small fortress of bone floating on the negative energy plane, attached to Sigil via portal. No one wants to go there.

- - - Updated - - -

You produce the Thri-Kreen equivalent of a sigh. It's wonderful, since no one in this city actually understands mantis body language.
So. Problem. A human imago, with corresponding problems, and he has the power to disintegrate steel. Humans are, hormonal at that age, if you remember correctly. "Adolescent". That's what they called it. Prooooobably won't listen to logic, but it's your job so you give it a try.
"Well, then. How about you calm down and we talk about this?"
There's no reply, so you continue.
"Assuming you created the universe, then we are all, in some way aspects of your personality, right?"
This time, the pale face nods.
"Think of me as your reasoning ability, then. Ignore that I'm a giant insect with deadly claws the size of your leg. First problem first. Your master. He tells you that you are not suited to be being a blacksmith, right?"
Another nod, more emphatic, and a somewhat pained expression.
"So. He's an aspect of your personality. Telling you not to be a blacksmith. So, clearly, that's your subconscious telling you that. Deep down, you don't want to be a blacksmith. Probably because you think that, as creator of all this, you can do so much better."
It's a good thing that telepathy does not convey sarcasm well. He might actually buy this.
"Are you with me so far?"
A slow smile is actually spreading on his face. On to the girlfriend, then.

Choice 1
>Prey on teenage insecurities. "Have you considered that she's telling you that you're a terrible boyfriend, because you're not good with being with women? Deep down, you might be into men, instead!"
>You're almost there, already. No need to go any further. Just tell him that he can create a better woman in his own head, or something.
>Be honest with him here. He's actually terrible.

[blacklight101]

I think we made a decent crack in the ice, enough to get a wedge in and bash with a heavy sledgehammer. Even teenagers are susceptible to good logic like this now and then.

I dont think we need to push too hard, just lead him towards the conclusion he thinks he wants.

[Ramsus]

> Use circuitous logic to convince him that he's trying to convince himself he doesn't want to know he created everything and must destroy this current idea of himself and replace it with one that thinks it's just a part of everything rather than the creator as that's the only way he can be truly appreciate anything.

...mostly because I want to see if his head will explode.

[Trevortni]

> Use circuitous logic to convince him that he's trying to convince himself he doesn't want to know he created everything and must destroy this current idea of himself and replace it with one that thinks it's just a part of everything rather than the creator as that's the only way he can be truly appreciate anything.

...mostly because I want to see if his head will explode asplode.

FTFY.

And yes, asplode is good.

[GorinichSerpant]

> Use circuitous logic to convince him that he's trying to convince himself he doesn't want to know he created everything and must destroy this current idea of himself and replace it with one that thinks it's just a part of everything rather than the creator as that's the only way he can be truly appreciate anything.

...mostly because I want to see if his head will explode.

Let's go with that.

I think the reasonable response to that would be "Wait, your supposed to be my reasoning ability, right?" but then again this is a boy in the middle of being a teenager and he thinks he created the universe so the finer subtleties of reason aren't with him right now.

[A_Man]

> Use circuitous logic to convince him that he's trying to convince himself he doesn't want to know he created everything and must destroy this current idea of himself and replace it with one that thinks it's just a part of everything rather than the creator as that's the only way he can be truly appreciate anything.

...mostly because I want to see if his head will explode.

Yeah, me too. Going with this.

[blacklight101]

I can has solipsist rolfstomp?