March 2

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[2017-07-27 20:27:07] <Antioch|GM> Come Tuesday evening, there's a brief lull in the frenetic pace that the entire PRT office seems to be operating at.
[2017-07-27 20:27:07] <Antioch|GM> Malmanos, No-face, and Anansi barely represent the tip of the iceberg, so it seems, and the wins scored against the latter two don't account for anything meaningful in the public eye, according to his PR department. A face-stealing Stranger temporarily giving the PRT the slip and running amok in an apartment complex, the noise pollution complaints that prompted the police response to Anansi's block party violated twice over by
[2017-07-27 20:27:07] <Antioch|GM> Anthem's arrival on the scene...
[2017-07-27 20:27:07] <Antioch|GM> Well, nobody else's had the chance to learn the rules of the new game yet.
[2017-07-27 20:27:07] <Antioch|GM> There's a sheaf of papers on his desk, printouts of information-light dossiers on  itinerant capes or new faces spotted in town, blotted with ink, notes, the occasional dog-ear. Bat Outta Hell, Melchior, Boolean, Maslow's Hammer, Interstice. None of them with a particularly heroic bent, save the last one, who seems intent on picking fights within Crystal Kings territory.
[2017-07-27 20:27:07] <Antioch|GM> There's a slight knocking on his office door as he reviews the documents. Too much focus from prior bookkeeping practices on appearance, power, numerical classifications. Handwritten additions touch on disposition, where known, and expectations, both for the short-term and within the context of the new game. ||
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[2017-07-27 20:36:04] <Teller|March> March snorts and places the papers to one side, for now. He's not going to turn down any intel that he can get his hands on, but this stuff is either basic or so reductive as to be useless. Dispositions and power classifications were both contextual. He'd just have to see for himself how these capes acted when the pressure in the city was turned up.
[2017-07-27 20:36:04] <Teller|March> "Come in," he says. ||
[2017-07-27 20:48:15] <Antioch|GM> "Evening, Director," Sorensen says, stepping in.
[2017-07-27 20:48:15] <Antioch|GM> "I have a few things for you. The public image, trends, approval ratings for both the PRT and Quaff, and the intergroup dynamics report."
[2017-07-27 20:48:15] <Antioch|GM> He sets both on the desk. One is a clear-bound several sheets of infographics and charts, whereas the other is considerably thicker, with colored tabs presumably indicating any one specific group in the city.
[2017-07-27 20:48:15] <Antioch|GM> "There are some things I wouldn't mind discussing with you, in that context." ||
[2017-07-27 20:52:49] <Teller|March> "Have a seat, then," March says, nodding at the chair opposite him. He picks up the thicker set of sheets and begins leafing through them. "In the future, give me time to read the damn things before we discuss them." ||
[2017-07-27 21:05:57] <Antioch|GM> "Sure," he says.
[2017-07-27 21:05:57] <Antioch|GM> The intergroup document's front half is wholly devoted to the PRT's relationship with other groups in the city.  The first one that he leafs through, on SPEC, has some secondary information about how the corporate capes accrue a chunk of their funding from dealing with small-town problems one or two counties over, as well as a management scandal that left the corporate team inactive, essentially put on furlough, for the better
[2017-07-27 21:05:57] <Antioch|GM> portion of a year.
[2017-07-27 21:05:57] <Antioch|GM> "The PR and Informations teams did the bulk of the work; I'm as new to the city as you are, but I wanted to use the opportunity here to evaluate this from a different perspective. Where things stand as they are now, weighed against where you intend for them to stand, and how I might act based on those intentions."
[2017-07-27 21:05:57] <Antioch|GM> "Just for starters, SPEC is already known for exhibiting some of the traits you want the Protectorate to move towards. Less concern for property damage, less holding back in general. Our taking a similar tack muddies the water somewhat, when people draw comparisons and weigh it against SPEC's existing reputation and history." ||
[2017-07-27 21:05:58] * Faustus → FaustAndAbout
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[2017-07-27 21:27:14] <Teller|March> March pauses scanning the document long enough too look up and meet Sorenson's gaze. "I know your type. Your head's six, eight steps ahead of your mouth, isn't it? You looked at this thing from a dozen different perspectives already, and you've considered at least three potential solutions for it."
[2017-07-27 21:27:14] <Teller|March> He had to have the future in mind, if he was the sort of person who could handle the shitshow that was Cleveland, and walk out of it with job prospects in major departments, no less. These PR people could spin and market for themselves as much as they did for their capes.
[2017-07-27 21:27:14] <Teller|March> Even still, he strikes March as less weaselly than other PR people. Less style, more substance. It could be an affectation as much as anything else, of course, but the man did good work. That's what was important at the end of the day.
[2017-07-27 21:27:14] <Teller|March> "It's why I hired you. Optics, hearts and minds - not my main skillset," March finishes. "If this thing is going to work, someone like you is going to have to make the public buy it. So tell me what you're thinking, Sorenson. Differentiate ourselves from SPEC?" ||
[2017-07-27 21:48:20] <Antioch|GM> "That, or build them up. Their lineup is heavy hitters, they've made semi-consistent showings to Endbringer attacks. I'm still inclined towards the former, for multiple reasons, it's a question of where you want to stand with them in the coming months. If cooperation is a priority, if having a less effectual hero team to be compared against is a priority... I can handle the 'how', either way." ||
[2017-07-27 21:52:50] <Teller|March> It's the same deal as the dossiers sitting on his desk: the old measures are next to useless in the new paradigm. "Let's see how they fare once we turn up the heat. If they can take it, we build them up. If they're even less effective, we differentiate ourselves...and see about getting some of their members to defect." ||
[2017-07-27 21:55:59] * Faustus → Feastus
[2017-07-27 22:00:19] <Antioch|GM> He nods. "My next question. On the subject of Coat of Arms and the Babylon Block, how do 'cold' cape dynamics fit into your vision for the city?" ||
[2017-07-27 22:14:43] <Teller|March> "The stuff that's cold is cold for a reason. Not every power is good for big, flashy fights," March says. "If they can keep it quiet, we'll keep addressing it normally."
[2017-07-27 22:14:44] <Teller|March> "This is about squashing the middle ground. If you go cold, you better go arctic - cold enough to not be on the public radar. If you go hot, you better be fucking hot." ||
[2017-07-27 22:17:25] * Feastus → Faustus
[2017-07-27 22:20:02] <Antioch|GM> "And so the next few weeks are going to show if the lukewarm capes flourish or flounder. Gives me some direction."
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[2017-07-27 22:20:38] <Antioch|GM> He marks down notes in nigh-illegible handwriting.
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[2017-07-27 22:23:28] <Antioch|GM> "You can't keep the burners on full throttle indefinitely, though. I went through the meeting minutes, and there was some talk of handling emcee specifically, keeping healing available to add more fuel to the fire, so to speak?" ||
[2017-07-27 22:25:48] <Teller|March> ((How many days until the scheduled end of the world, at this point?))
[2017-07-27 22:26:22] <Antioch|GM> ((260-something?))
[2017-07-27 22:27:30] <Antioch|GM> ((A few more than that, actually, one second.))
[2017-07-27 22:28:06] <Antioch|GM> ((292.))
[2017-07-27 22:38:00] <Teller|March> Not indefinitely. Two hundred and ninety-two days until the end of the world.
[2017-07-27 22:38:00] <Teller|March> "Right. Broken bones and worse are going to be inevitable, and I want the public to see parahumans bouncing back fast. Heroes can go through legitimate channels to get healed, hospital or Protectorate healers. Villains can't."
[2017-07-27 22:38:00] <Teller|March> "So unless emcee begs us to put them down, we keep the Cad on the streets." ||
[2017-07-27 22:42:50] <Antioch|GM> "Resilience," Sorensen says, drumming his fingers on the desk. "Capes harder to take down and put out of the fight, as an idea to ingrain into minds. Some similar slack cut for the non-Protectorate contracted costumers?"
[2017-07-27 22:43:01] <Antioch|GM> For a moment, he pauses, stifling a yawn.
[2017-07-27 22:46:03] <Antioch|GM> "How much does the bloodsport emcee hosts run counter to our intended perception of capes? It's difficult to disentangle connotations, but I feel it's still in the old vein of 'capes as celebrities', granted, catering to a different sort of crowd. I think their presence hurts, in the long run, despite promoting what parahumans are capable of – in the end, it's still a form of entertainment." ||
[2017-07-27 23:03:26] <Teller|March> March nods his agreement. "You're right. They make this look like a game."
[2017-07-27 23:03:26] <Teller|March> He thinks about his notes. "The Cad migrated to emcee from the Successors not too long ago. How much loyalty is there? My gut tells me we can have one without the other."
[2017-07-27 23:03:26] <Teller|March> His gut is good, but his brain's better. He makes a quick note to get more intel on emcee.
[2017-07-27 23:03:26] <Teller|March> "It wouldn't hurt to have King of the Hill and Prominence around for Endbringers, though," he mulls. "They hit hard. On top of that, being backed by tough capes is probably the only thing keeping the Cad from being drafted by a gang less liberal about sharing his healing gel." ||
[2017-07-27 23:09:51] <Antioch|GM> "Consider this," Sorensen says – he blinks tiredly for a few moments, then his eyes grow sharper, more focused. "It's another game we can change the rules of. From what I'm told, the old Director didn't allow Protectorate capes to participate in the arena. Once you're confident in your men, we change that, send our best in, no holds barred. Deliver a message that the their sideshow performers have nothing on professionals.
[2017-07-27 23:09:51] <Antioch|GM> Walk in, walk out, dust off our hands, and let their stock fall, acquiring who we can in the process and diverting the rest to where their talents are less wasted." ||
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[2017-07-27 23:24:27] <Teller|March> There it is again, the damn singleton. Where the military operated with numbers so large the probabilities essentially amounted to predictions, the PRT had to roll a small handful of dice and hope they didn't seven out.
[2017-07-27 23:24:27] <Teller|March> He could stack the odds, with tactics, training, but it's still a crap shoot.
[2017-07-27 23:24:27] <Teller|March> "Most people gamble money on these fights, Sorenson," March grunts. "You're suggesting that we gamble this department's reputation." ||
[2017-07-27 23:30:42] <Antioch|GM> He smiles slightly, at that. "Everything's a gamble. There are other tacks I could take. It's a question of whether you want to gamble with the department's reputation, the department's manpower, the department's time..."
[2017-07-27 23:33:46] <Antioch|GM> "Bearing in mind all else we're gambling, I'm still inclined to ante in. All that said, you know the combat capabilities of the Protectorate far better than I do." ||
[2017-07-27 23:38:33] <Teller|March> "Reputation's the first thing you went for," March points out. Truth be told, his mind is already going over which of his capes he'd put in the ring. "I'll watch a few of the older emcee fight videos before I give you my decision." ||
[2017-07-27 23:41:38] <Antioch|GM> "Reputation's the asset I can generate or recoup most quickly," he replies.
[2017-07-27 23:44:37] <Antioch|GM> "The way forward with the Crystal Kings and New Money is clear, but the lukewarm capes in town... the Trinity, for example, Princess December as another. Their environment will change for the worse, but do you have any plans for acting on them more directly?" ||
[2017-07-27 23:45:50] <Antioch|GM> -||
[2017-07-27 23:46:08] <Antioch|GM> "It's sink or swim, but they'll need a push into the water, first." ||
[2017-07-27 23:52:22] * FossilLord → FosAsleep
[2017-07-27 23:59:02] <Teller|March> "Princess December should feel the pressure as the villains push back against the new paradigm, same as the rest of the heroes," March says. "The Trinity of Triumph is a different story. Villains might not apply the rules of the new games to those dumbasses, which means they'll keep running around making parahumans look stupid."
[2017-07-27 23:59:02] <Teller|March> Jesus help him, but he doesn't like those kids. "We do our best to get them off the street. The next 'prank' they pull on a Ward is going to be their last." ||
[2017-07-28 00:00:03] <Teller|March> ((*new game))
[2017-07-28 00:02:14] * Pink|GM → Pink
[2017-07-28 00:07:46] <Antioch|GM> "They can be brought in next time, though I don't know them well enough to say how receptive they might be to what we have to say. Foam and cuffs won't elicit too much of a backlash – certainly less backlash than Van Helsing staking Bath Boy to a wall."
[2017-07-28 00:08:28] <Antioch|GM> "In the same vein, the Successors aren't well-suited fo—"
[2017-07-28 00:09:38] <Antioch|GM> March's computer pings with an alert. It's much later than it feels. Wednesday already. ||
[2017-07-28 00:10:06] <Antioch|GM> ((Hmm, that was a bit unclear. Let me fix the prior post.))
[2017-07-28 00:12:37] <Antioch|GM> March's computer pings with an alert, turning off the screensaver and leaving a blinking notification for an urgent videoconference call. It's much later than it feels. The first digit of the system clock is zero again. ||
[2017-07-28 00:14:00] <Teller|March> March holds up a hand to Sorenson, then presses the button to accept the call. ||
[2017-07-28 00:18:12] <Antioch|GM> Dragon appears on the screen, as well as two other Directors. Only one he recognizes straightaway as Chicago's Director Hearthrow, who sticks in the mind as the guy who has to handle Weaver. The other takes a while to place - Director Akker, the Cincinnati branch Director.
[2017-07-28 00:21:16] <Antioch|GM> "Predictions were off, but early-warning sensors picked up the signal," Dragon begins without preamble, despite the blacked-out screens of those who haven't connected to the call yet. "Leviathan inbound to South America, eastern coast, predicted target Rio de Janeiro."
[2017-07-28 00:21:26] <Antioch|GM> ||
[2017-07-28 00:23:00] <Teller|March> "ETA?" March demands. ||
[2017-07-28 00:24:36] <Antioch|GM> "Thirty-five minutes before the first wave."
[2017-07-28 00:25:39] <Antioch|GM> Two timers flicker on the screen, giving the estimate a countdown, then a second beneath it, labeled transport arrival time.
[2017-07-28 00:27:28] <Antioch|GM> March's reads four minutes and counting down.
[2017-07-28 00:27:59] <Antioch|GM> ||
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[2017-07-28 00:48:42] <Teller|March> "Roger that." March takes a few seconds to pull up a second window on his screen and send a notification to his employees' phones. They already had one from the app, surely, but the additional alert couldn't hurt.
[2017-07-28 00:48:42] <Teller|March> He'd only been taught how to work the Endbringer alert system less than a week ago. March suddenly feels inexperienced; it's a strange sensation for a man of his age. How many times have these other Directors sent their capes off to fight these monsters?
[2017-07-28 00:48:42] <Teller|March> He trades a look with Sorenson, then grits his teeth. He's not the one going into battle, but his body is still responding to the news of the attack like he will be: adrenaline, nerves, and the unconscious desire to have his weapon safely in hand.
[2017-07-28 00:48:42] <Teller|March> He was the general this time, not a soldier, but he's not just going to sit here. He'll see his men off. He transfers the video conference call to his phone, then rises to his feet and heads for the door. ||
[2017-07-28 00:52:43] <Antioch|GM> Sorensen returns his look with a face set in a thin frown, eyes distant and focused elsewhere.
[2017-07-28 00:53:44] <Antioch|GM> There's not a great deal of staff in the building this late. What few there are, as he steps out of his office, have their phones chime shrilly in unison – his own is no exception.
[2017-07-28 00:54:06] <Antioch|GM> Capes that intend on participating should arrive at the headquarters shortly. ||
[2017-07-28 01:01:54] <Teller|March> March pulls up a different screen on his phone, scanning the list of capes signed up for the Endbringer fight. It's a swift reminder that it's not just Protectorate capes going to the fight.
[2017-07-28 01:01:54] <Teller|March> Would the villains be coming here for transport?
[2017-07-28 01:01:54] <Teller|March> What the hell is he supposed to say to them? ||
[2017-07-28 01:05:59] <Antioch|GM> The designated meeting point is the smoothed-over patch of land where the Protectorate and Wards ran roughshod over during their war games. For the villains, King of the Hill, Lionheart, then the possibility of B.F.T. – not much of a turnout, but all heavy hitters.
[2017-07-28 01:06:52] <Antioch|GM> Then there's the question of his own capes, and which of them will go. Which ones he has to face the prospect of potentially losing, three, no, four days into the job. ||
[2017-07-28 01:14:02] <Teller|March> March walks a little faster than his cardiologist would approve of. The godforsaken Leviathan. He hopes they manage to kill this fucker too. ||
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[2017-07-28 01:20:06] <Antioch|GM> Three SPEC capes are approaching, judging by the glowing swords hovering in the air. The transport is minutes away, and Protectorate capes are en route to the correct building. Axis and Warpath take the shortest path, flying over the river from the Protectorate tower. ||
[2017-07-28 01:22:11] <Teller|March> March comes to a stop once he's near the landing area, then waits and simply watches. ||
[2017-07-28 01:26:56] <Antioch|GM> The rest of the Protectorate emerges from the building, Ace of Space following along. More capes arrive. He recognizes most. Princess December, Lionheart, B.F.T., but then another, unfamiliar, in a thick bomber jacket and goggles.
[2017-07-28 01:27:04] <Antioch|GM> ((Scrutinize, Wits-based.))
[2017-07-28 01:28:17] <Teller|March> $roll 1d6+1 Wits
[2017-07-28 01:28:17] <[ATM]> Teller|March "Wits" [3] +1 = 4
[2017-07-28 01:29:07] <Antioch|GM> It takes him a while to place them, but the hair, the goggles, they're recognizable. It's Bath Boy, sans the absurd bath robe he tends to otherwise wear. ||
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[2017-07-28 01:34:28] <Teller|March> Bath Boy? March doesn't let the surprise show on his face, but he internally adjusts his measure of the boy upwards. It would be a damn shame if he died right when it was starting to look like he was worth something after all. ||
[2017-07-28 01:38:06] <Antioch|GM> There's a sharp gust of wind, with some closer to the center of it unconsciously stepping back as the Dragon-craft makes a vertical landing. March can see capes talking amongst themselves, inaudible beneath the sound of the rotors. ||
[2017-07-28 01:39:19] <Antioch|GM> ((I'm looking to do a sort of weird pause-segue thing here, sorry. It kind of hinges on if tubes ends up going, and he wanted to address that decision IC. If it's alright with you, this last post is yours.))
[2017-07-28 01:40:34] <Teller|March> ((Pausing here is fine. I don't have much to add until the capes are actually leaving.))
[2017-07-28 01:41:29] <Antioch|GM> ((Alright. Let's see if we can wrap this scene up within the next few days, although I'll need to check with tubes about scheduling. Thank you for playing! I hope you enjoyed it.))
[2017-07-28 01:41:34] <Antioch|GM> |||