Paying the Price of Victory

[01:07:20] <castfromhp> Let's see if we can get this going then. It's been a minute or two since Rini has run out the door, after throwing the business card at you. It's for a Charis Fung at Estisse International.
[01:07:25] <castfromhp> Arae's stuff is in a pile in the back of the store.
[01:07:28] <castfromhp> What do?
[01:08:00] <Botherer> Well, first thing is to check if Arae's even still there. Much as he hates her guts, Rini totally did tell Caleb to watch her.
[01:08:22] <castfromhp> If you're gonna sleep soon, then just give me a brief summary. If you AREN'T going to sleep soon we can segue into full Caleb mini if you want.
[01:08:33] <Botherer> Nah, not goin'a sleep any time soon.
[01:08:39] <castfromhp> nick up then
[01:09:49] <castfromhp> Arae doesn't seem to be there. Pile of stuff at the back is still there though.
[01:10:00] <castfromhp> Cowering shopkeep freaked out by the HUEG as fuck sword you've got is still there too.
[01:10:30] <Caleb> WELL, THEN. Also, how huge is huge? 'cause I magined, like, Mani Katti slender katana sword. Not RIDICULOUS OVERSIZED BASTARD SWORD.
[01:10:56] <castfromhp> Wait, I thought the sol katti was like, really fucking long. Lemme look this up. :V I meant hueg as in long.
[01:11:20] <Caleb> Well, I mean more "is it a long, slender sword or giant greatsword"
[01:11:35] <castfromhp> The former. If I described it as otherwise before then WHOOPS disregard.
[01:11:45] <Caleb> No, i thought it was the former.
[01:12:00] <Caleb> I'm just getting lost in semantics now, though.
[01:13:01] <Caleb> Well, he tried. If Arae wants her stuff, she can come back and pick it up later. He kinda just takes the sword and the business card and walks out the store with the both of 'em.
[01:13:52] <Caleb> This doesn't look strange at all to passersby, nope. Not at all.
[01:13:58] <castfromhp> You're not quite to the door yet when you realize how bad of an idea this must be. Your realization takes the form of seeing a paramilitary trooper walk past the store.
[01:14:21] <Caleb> Oh boy, does this mean I have to roll a Stealth Check?
[01:14:25] <castfromhp> You're bloody and carrying a sword. Seems like you can just wait for him to pass, but do you want to?
[01:15:13] <Caleb> Well, yeah... Not getting shot is always a fun option.
[01:15:52] <castfromhp> The guy walks past the store. Looking out the window, there definitely are enough people out that they'd notice you, attempting at sneaking or no. Maybe you could duck into an alley real quick or something.
[01:17:00] <Caleb> Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Oh yeah, he totally took the Warp Staff, too. 'cause, really, things that just magically pop up in your hands when magic is going on? SOMETHING's gotta be up with that. Arae's stuff? Not so much.
[01:19:40] <Caleb> I totally didn't, by the way.
[01:19:59] <castfromhp> I was just making sure you had the warp staff and not Arae.
[01:20:09] <Caleb> Okay.
[01:20:19] <Caleb> I just felt like taunting them. :3
[01:21:52] <Caleb> Ducking into alley, though.
[01:22:00] <castfromhp> #CalebAdventure
[01:22:10] <@castfromhp> Roll stealth
[01:22:32] <Caleb> 4d3-7 I believe it is. Might be 6 I gotta pull my sheet back up.
[01:22:33] <DiceMaid-9001> Caleb, I believe it is. Might be 6 I gotta pull my sheet back up.: 1 [4d3=1,1,3,3]
[01:22:48] <Caleb> ... Just 1.
[01:23:05] <@castfromhp> You're drawing some eyes. There are definite gasps from the crowd as you emerge from the book store holding a sword and being all bloodied.
[01:24:44] <@castfromhp> As you duck into the alley, there are definitely a few people following your path with their gaze.
[01:25:04] <Caleb> Well, uhh... Fuck. Caleb's used to having people staring at him and giving him dirty looks, but when they start gasping... He takes a doublecheck over his person. Yyyyyyyeah, this isn't good. His instinct's to pick up the pace on that one.
[01:25:44] <@castfromhp> As you dash down the alley you hear an authoritative voice yell at you in a language you don't understand.
[01:28:04] <Caleb> "... Oh come ON! Was already bad enough havin' a deal with gettin' cut up an' slashed!" He cries out to himself as he attempts to flee. This can't go bad, can it?
[01:28:13] <Caleb> Oh who am I kidding, of COURSE it's gonna go amazingly bad!
[01:28:56] <@castfromhp> Athletics if you're running
[01:29:15] <Caleb> 4d3-7 Why did I choose to have so many +1s?
[01:29:16] <DiceMaid-9001> Caleb, Why did I choose to have so many +1s?: -1 [4d3=1,1,1,3]
[01:29:54] <@castfromhp> 4d3-8+3
[01:29:57] <DiceMaid-9001> castfromhp, 4d3-8+3: 3 [4d3=2,3,2,1]
[01:30:40] <@castfromhp> You hear footsteps gaining on you from behind, and you see a flash of movement as someone reaches out to try to grab you.
[01:30:51] <@castfromhp> 4d3-8+3 resist as if it were a physical attack
[01:30:52] <DiceMaid-9001> castfromhp, resist as if it were a physical attack: 3 [4d3=3,3,1,1]
[01:31:16] <Caleb> 4d3-7 Not Grabby Handsing it, so Athletics... Sigh.
[01:31:17] <DiceMaid-9001> Caleb, Not Grabby Handsing it, so Athletics... Sigh.: 0 [4d3=1,1,3,2]
[01:33:00] <@castfromhp> You're pulled to the ground. Turning your face, you see...oh at least it's just a beat cop, not one of the paramilitary dudes. He yells at you in Cantonese some more before seeing your face, then stops. In broken English. "You're bleeding and you have a sword! What are you doing?"
[01:36:44] <Caleb> Ohhhh shit. Well, paramilitary or no, he totally hits the ground with a bang, which hurts like hell on top of probably not being all that good for the freshly cut open wounds. "Aaargh, that fuckin' hurts!" He squirms underneath the police officer a bit. "Well, for starters, bein' in a lotta pain. Think y'could let go a' me?"
[01:37:57] <@castfromhp> (no stress damage, by the way, that was the equivalent of a manuveur to apply "pinned to the ground" to you)
[01:39:10] <Caleb> (I figured as much.)
[01:39:56] <@castfromhp> The officer slowly lets up, though he keeps one hand lightly pressed on you. His other hand slowly goes behind his back as he grabs for something.
[01:40:43] <Caleb> (Oh God it's a taser... It's totally a fuckin' taser.)
[01:41:58] <@castfromhp> If you don't do anything he slowly brings out a pair of handcuffs. "I will take you to hospital, but you have to explain why you have a sword and what happened!"
[01:43:50] <Caleb> Being able to stand up is a lot less discomforting than being thrown to the ground. He gladly takes the opportunity to stand up. "... Don't bother with the hospital. Not like I'd be able t' afford it anyways. Jus' been gettin' caught up in this stupid magical bullshit is all."
[01:44:10] <@castfromhp> He's cuffing your hands now. Resisting or no?
[01:46:00] <Caleb> ... And here's where terrible reactions come into play as he feels the cold steel come in contact with his hands. "... Hey, the hell're ya doin' a me?" He panics and tries to jerk away.
[01:47:26] <@castfromhp> The officer is caught off guard as this happens. You manage to jerk free, but as that happens, he pulls out a taser. You feel a tug from something on your sword. The choices flash through your head again. "The Guilt of Power" "The Price of Victory"
[01:47:51] <@castfromhp> Compel: He's Just As Scared As You Are - slice him up, grabby hands wielding the sword
[01:47:52] <Caleb> (.... Yyyyup. Knew it.)
[01:48:34] <Caleb> 4d3-4 This...CANNOT end well.
[01:48:35] <DiceMaid-9001> Caleb, This...CANNOT end well.: 5 [4d3=3,2,2,2]
[01:48:51] <@castfromhp> (Nope, no roll necessary if you don't resist the compel. This is a CINEMATIC moment!)
[01:49:03] <Caleb> . . . OH.
[01:49:05] <@castfromhp> (do you select a choice mentally?)
[01:50:13] <Caleb> If it's a flash freeze moment, then yes. Power of Victory would indeed be chosen. If not, watch in horror as his Grabby Hands attempt to cut a man down.
[01:50:33] <Caleb> just watching in horror**
[01:50:35] <@castfromhp> It is indeed. Another flash through your head as the scene is frozen. "What victory do you wish?"
[01:51:15] <Caleb> "I... Idunno, the one that's actually a victory!" Fate RESIGNED.
[01:51:31] <@castfromhp> "..." You can feel the ominous pause in the air.
[01:52:03] <@castfromhp> "What price shall you pay? Body, mind, or soul?"
[01:53:43] <Caleb> (OH boy. I... I... God DAMNIT!)
[01:55:15] <Caleb> "..." Caleb looks around. Someone's gotta be messin' with him right now, right? "The hell'sat even s'pposed t' mean?"
[01:55:52] <@castfromhp> Nope, scene is frozen, you can't even move right now. Just the thoughts flicking through your head as your eyes are locked on the vision of the policeman in front of you, taser at the ready.
[01:56:06] <@castfromhp> "What price shall you pay?" the thought flicks through your head again.
[01:58:34] <Caleb> "Idunno, just... Just go for the mind or somethin'!"
[01:58:46] <Caleb> ( Ready to embrace TERRIBLE DECISION. )
[02:00:13] <@castfromhp> Everything unfreezes. And for a moment, you see the sword whip out of its steathe, now held by a large, monstrous hand protruding from your chest. It hacks across the officer's arm, taking his hand clean off. The last thing you hear is his scream of agony as everything goes black.
[02:01:04] <@castfromhp> ...You wake up, groggy, lying on cold solid concrete.
[02:02:01] <@castfromhp> It takes a few seconds for your eyes to adjust, but you can clearly see the tops of Hong Kong buildings all about. You're on a roof somewhere.
[02:02:17] <@castfromhp> A quite tall building, judging from what you can see.
[02:05:44] <Caleb> Confus is probably the most likely starting place. This isn't that back alley, and... How much of that does he even remember anyways? If he has any control over his body still, he'll try and get off the concrete to try and figure out just where in fuck he ended up.
[02:06:16] <@castfromhp> Your memory creeps back to you, but it stops at the point where you blacked out after seeing the police officer have his hand cut off.
[02:08:19] <@castfromhp> The trapdoor to the roof opens, and you see a full out soldier climb out and raise his assault rifle at you. A few shots whisk past you and you swear you can feel the wind from the bullets that nearly connect.
[02:10:15] <Caleb> Also, just doublechecking before I actually SAY anything... His personality isn't, like, bludgeoned to pieces as a result of the sword, is it?
[02:10:33] <@castfromhp> You feel fine, just a bit groggy. Oh and maybe a bit freaked out at bullets.
[02:10:43] <@castfromhp> Everything you have is still on your person.
[02:12:33] <Caleb> Oh God Oh God he's totally getting shot at! Caleb takes a step back. "Oh come on, the hell're ya even... shootin' at me..." His reaction, while still fearful, slows down a great deal as what he does remember starts to come back to him.
[02:14:01] <@castfromhp> And flash! The soldier is suddenly an old man in what looks to be a maintenance man's outfit. "What? No, I no shoot at you! No gun, no gun!" His English is a bit broken. His eyes are filled with fear and trained on your sword.
[02:14:38] <@castfromhp> You have paid the Price of Victory. Upgrade Caleb to as if you were Submerged. All additional refresh you gain from this MUST be spent on something, power or stunt, doesn't matter, but you can't keep any.
[02:15:19] <Caleb> (>Submerged)
[02:15:21] <@castfromhp> Take an Extreme consequence in your mental slot, replacing the He's Just As Scared As You Are aspect with The Price of Victory (Mental).
[02:15:29] <Caleb> (UNHOLY MOTHER OF FUCK)
[02:15:31] <@castfromhp> And take an additional fate point for this compel.
[02:16:17] <Caleb> (...Are the others gonna go up this high too?)
[02:16:23] <@castfromhp> (nope)
[02:16:46] <@castfromhp> Upgrade your Lawbreaker as if you had killed three things, by the way.
[02:18:23] <Caleb> "... Well, could ya keep the gun pointed far, FAR away from me then?!? Aimin' at me or not, REALLY don't feel like gettin' shot at any more here."
[02:18:54] <@castfromhp> The guy doesn't have a gun. You simply hallucinated him as a soldier before it became clear that he was just a maintenance man.
[02:19:24] <Caleb> ... Oh. And the grabby hand with the sword... It's still there?
[02:19:39] <@castfromhp> The sword is, the grabby hand isn't, but you can feel it within you.
[02:20:53] <@castfromhp> Oh right and every time you must take a mental consequence, you must spend a fate point or else black out.
[02:22:08] <Caleb> "..." Caleb has to stop and take a breath as he realizes he must've just been imagining... Well, that. "Err... Sorry 'bout that..."
[02:22:28] <@castfromhp> "I...I just go back and do job, okay? I forget everything." The maintenance man slowly backs away and climbs down the ladder back into the building. You hear the footsteps of someone running.
[02:23:08] <Caleb> He does take a moment to put his hand towards... Is it, like, a centralized location where he could feel it, like in his chest or something, or just like a 'general coarsing throughout his body' thing?
[02:24:39] <@castfromhp> The latter, though you feel the pulsing sensation strongest where it had emerged from your chest earlier.
[02:26:40] <Caleb> He definitely needs to stop and feel his chest. "Whoa, did that... That really happen 'a me?" ( I'd say 'focus on Shuku while I mess around with this shit a bit', but >Shuku speed )
[02:28:14] <@castfromhp> No response but the soft whistle of the wind from this high up on a roof.
[02:29:32] <Caleb> He has to doublecheck. Caleb goes to the sword... And takes a big, nervous gulp before unsheathing it.
[02:30:06] <@castfromhp> You see the same sword as before, heavily bloodstained.
[02:31:31] <Caleb> "... Shit. That... That really did..." He's really quick to go and re-sheathe that bloody sword.
[02:34:56] * Caleb puts the sword down and goes over to the edge of the roof to see just where the hell he even ended up.
[02:40:37] <@castfromhp> (sorry was wordsing in other channel)
[02:40:53] <Caleb> (Oh no, don't mind at all. Was taking advantage of that to flip.)
[02:41:00] <Caleb> ('cause I got a LOT of restatting to do now.)
[02:41:03] <@castfromhp> As you look over the edge, you can tell you're on the island somewhere, that's for sure! Lots of tall buildings around. That's about all you can tell though.
[02:44:45] <Caleb> "... Shit, I... I think I gotta find... Well, SOMEONE!" Caleb walks back and, while he second guesses it, does take the sword with him. He stuffs it down the side of his pants and covers the tip of it with his shirt in hopes that, even if his clothes are raggedy old pieces of crap, they can hide the thing well enough. Any way out of this place 'sides the stairs?
[02:45:19] <@castfromhp> Jumping off, but no, it's the trap door or nothing.
[02:45:34] <Caleb> ... Okay yeah, trap door it is.
[02:53:11] <@castfromhp> You climb down the ladder and find yourself in a white hallway. There are little drops of your blood making a trail up to the ladder. Down the hall you see a few doors. One is open and leads into what you think is some sort of chemistry lab, judging from all the beakers you can see from here.
[02:53:33] <@castfromhp> Down the other end of the hallway are more doors, including what looks like it must be a closet. It's ajar and you can see a broom inside.
[02:53:51] <@castfromhp> The trail of blood leads down toward that closet and to a set of stairs at the end.
[02:54:27] <Caleb> Is it, like, drips of blood, or more a... Okay, that's probably a dumb question and Caleb'd probably be dead by now if it were more than just drips.
[02:54:44] <@castfromhp> (oh also, just realized something. Don't pay refresh to upgrade your Lawbreaker. It's free)
[02:54:56] <Caleb> (Alright~)
[02:55:11] <Caleb> (... Could I spend more than the four Refresh I got before?)
[02:55:25] <Caleb> (I got from rank-up-ing**)
[02:55:43] <@castfromhp> (you can spend any leftover refresh you have. The only limitation you have is that you MUST spend all of the refresh you gained from moving to Submerged)
[02:55:58] <Caleb> (Okay.)
[02:57:16] <@castfromhp> Either way down the hallway you can see half the doors lead into similar empty labs. Others lead into offices, also empty.
[02:57:32] <Caleb> Well, they always say it's best to take the load less travelled, right? ... It probably doesn't apply all that much if you don't remember the journeys you've taken, but following a trail of your own blood just sounds creepy as all hell. And considering how much of it there is... Does he, like, have streaks of blood all over his body or something? And is he STILL bleeding? Either way,
[02:57:32] <Caleb> he checks in the lab room first.
[02:59:14] <@castfromhp> The bleeding seems to have stopped now, though with a closer examination at the trail of blood you see some of it is in streaks. Much more likely you were dragging a bloody sword along the ground and some of the blood dripped off, some of it was scraped onto the ground.
[03:01:31] <@castfromhp> The lab is what you'd expect from a typical university chemistry lab.
[03:01:58] <@castfromhp> There's a phone right by the entrance. Lab coats and goggles next to that. Tables all around with beakers set up.
[03:02:21] <@castfromhp> In the back corner is one of those eye rinsing apparatuses for when you fuck up.
[03:04:54] <Caleb> His eyes go wide as he stares at the streaks of blood. That he could've even done... Well, THAT... He just needs to NOT look at that right now, so in he goes. Tries to wash out his wounds a bit with the eyerinsing thing, and... Hmmm, did he ever get Rini's phone number?
[03:11:14] <@castfromhp> Yup.
[03:11:21] <@castfromhp> You get cleaned up. Wash up the sword too?
[03:11:25] <@castfromhp> You have Rini's number either way.
[03:13:42] <Caleb> Yeah, washing up the sword. 'cause he does NOT want to look at that blood.
[03:15:08] <Caleb> And after which, if he has the time... Gonna make that phone call.
[03:44:59] <@castfromhp> So back in here Caleb. Making that call?
[03:45:09] <Caleb> Well, that was helpful. ... Guess he doesn't got much other direction, so...Yeah.
[03:45:46] <@castfromhp> It's picked up almost immediately. A greeting in Cantonese. It's a woman's voice. Sounds pretty young, but definitely an adult's voice.
[03:49:00] <Caleb> "Uh... Hey there, I'm... Lookin' for a..." He stops to read the name on the card. "... Charisse Fung?" Butchering was most likely a possibility in that reading if it doesn't sound the same.
[03:49:22] <@castfromhp> "Who is this? How did you get this number?"
[03:50:02] <Caleb> "Name's Caleb... Was given a card and told t' call by a friend..."
[03:51:11] <@castfromhp> "What's the name of this friend?"
[03:51:53] <Caleb> "Her name's Rini. Seemed real set on sendin' me t' give ya a call..."
[03:52:41] <@castfromhp> A pause. "Are you the boy empowered by the Invisible Hand?"
[03:53:25] <Caleb> "..." Caleb stops to pause. "Don't think it's... Quite so invisible no more..."
[03:54:20] <@castfromhp> "...That...we should meet. I have a similar power to yours, and I believe I might have answers for you. Would you like to share some coffee?"
[03:55:59] <Caleb> "Last thing I need t' think about right this minute's puttin' anythin' in my stomach... But yeah. Think I'm gonna need a LOT of 'em..."
[03:56:21] <@castfromhp> "Where are you now?"
[03:56:37] <@castfromhp> "Actually, hold on."
[03:56:59] <@castfromhp> You hear footsteps and then the clickity clack of computer keys.
[03:57:07] <@castfromhp> "You're calling from the University, huh?"
[03:57:40] <Caleb> "Told Rini already, an' I'll tell you. I got NO FUCKIN' CLUE. Woke up on a rooftop high up an--Idunno, maybe... Buncha lab shit sittin' round the place. Y'know where that is?"
[03:57:58] <Caleb> ... He should totally look behind him, shouldn't he?
[03:59:38] <@castfromhp> "No, I got you. Caller ID."
[04:01:14] <@castfromhp> (hold on, autism in process)
[04:01:25] <Caleb> ( Go ahead )
[04:02:39] <Caleb> "... Well, yeah. Guess knowin' where I am's a place t' start... Not that it helps much considerin' I hardly know shit about this place."
[04:03:02] <Caleb> He totally does take a look behind him now. Or towards the sound of the noise. Possibly both.
[04:03:50] <Caleb> ... Waaait... That was on the phone he heard that wasn't it?
[04:04:27] <@castfromhp> (yeah that was the phone)
[04:05:17] <Caleb> Oh, disregard that looking around bit then. I suck dicks.
[04:05:45] <@castfromhp> "Head down and find the main library. Don't worry, the signs are in English. Across from it is another building. Go around the side and try the side doors until you find one that opens up into a luxurious entrance hall that doesn't look like it belongs in the building at all."
[04:06:26] <@castfromhp> "I'll wait five minutes before opening up. Starting five minutes from now, you'll have a window of...oh, about 15 minutes to find the entrance. Even that is a bit risky though..."
[04:07:26] <Caleb> "... Think y'could push that back a bit?"
[04:07:34] <@castfromhp> "Starting ten from now?"
[04:07:56] <Caleb> "... Yeah, rather be safe here..."
[04:09:35] <@castfromhp> "Alright, see you soon."
[04:10:57] <Caleb> "Hopefully..."
[04:11:09] <@castfromhp> "Good luck." Click.
[04:11:14] <Caleb> When the phone clicks off, does http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwPldIg-KsM start playing?
[04:11:23] <Caleb> ... Well, the better version of it anyways?
[04:11:31] <Caleb> :3
[04:11:47] <@castfromhp> Sure. :>
[04:12:33] <Caleb> Well, guess that means it's time to book it.
[04:12:58] <Caleb> Much as he'd rather not, seems like following the trail of his own blood is at least the most surefire way out of the building.
[04:14:23] <Caleb> Err, the blood he made spill**
[04:14:32] <@castfromhp> The trail seems to lead straight down the staircases, not stopping on the intermediate floors to go anywhere. You manage to follow down a few floors when a commotion stops you. They'd been empty up to this point, but as you're about to descend another flight of stairs you hear heavy footsteps on the floor below you and the crackle of a radio as people speak to each other in Cantonese.
[04:17:22] <Caleb> "... Fuck!" He mutters to himself. He doesn't wanna get shot at anymore. Especially not when I still haven't figured out ANYTHING in regards to spending this new power.
[04:17:59] <Caleb> Retreating back up to last door.
[04:18:55] <@castfromhp> This floor seems to be filled with classrooms for the most part, though there's an office or two. Elevator is there. Also a few other flights of stairs leading down. The floor is much bigger than the one directly below the roof access.
[04:20:36] <Caleb> ... Okay, so they're coming up the stairs...
[04:20:48] <Caleb> 4d3-6 C'mon, brain! Which way'd be the safest?
[04:20:48] <DiceMaid-9001> Caleb, C'mon, brain! Which way'd be the safest?: 1 [4d3=2,1,2,2]
[04:21:08] <@castfromhp> All you can muster up is the idea that you probably shouldn't take the stairs that have the obvious trail of blood on them.
[04:21:32] <Caleb> To the elevator, then! Least he can catch his breath in there a moment.
[04:22:18] <@castfromhp> It's taking time for the elevator to arrive. You see though that now you're only on the third floor, so it isn't that far now.
[04:23:36] <Caleb> Wait five seconds... "Stupid fuckin' elevators..." Okay, scratch that. He needs to get down there FAST. To the next nearest staircase!
[04:24:38] <@castfromhp> As you dash down those stairs, you hear the heavy stomping of feet coming from where the elevator was.
[04:25:25] <@castfromhp> Down on the second floor you end up in one of those dead end corners with a classroom or two at the end. Peeking around the corner, you see a few heavily armed paramilitary guys patrolling.
[04:25:37] <Caleb> That's the universal sign to GET YOUR ASS MOVI--... Crap.
[04:27:33] <Caleb> Where do these guys SEEM to be going? Like, just spreading out and covering the floor, or... ?
[04:29:24] <@castfromhp> Pretty much. They're motioning to each other and fanning out.
[04:30:58] <Caleb> Damnit, there's no time for this! Gonna see if going back up the stairs is an option. If not, hiding out in a classroom.
[04:32:31] <@castfromhp> There are more footsteps swarming around upstairs.
[04:32:35] <@castfromhp> Classroom is totally an option though.
[04:32:40] <Caleb> Taken!
[04:32:58] <@castfromhp> It's filled with all those stupid tiny desks that you can't really put anything on at all. They make the GM angry. >:V
[04:33:26] <@castfromhp> Big windows give a view of the campus, just two stories down. Looks rather pleasant. It's a well-maintained school.
[04:33:43] <Caleb> Oh yeah, THOSE desks. They make Caleb's player enraged, either. ... And "just" two stories down, huh?
[04:33:45] <@castfromhp> There's a big chalkboard at the front, and a teacher's desk. There's also a projector system and a little screen with which to operate it.
[04:35:43] <Caleb> "... Damnit... The hell am I supposed to not get caught?" ... Any paramilitary down there?
[04:35:57] <@castfromhp> Nope, not on this side of the building at least.
[04:37:14] <Caleb> . . . He's no Rini, but damnit he's gonna have to try.
[04:37:31] <Caleb> This is so gonna go amazingly bad.
[04:38:08] <@castfromhp> Try what?
[04:38:12] <@castfromhp> Jumping out the window?
[04:38:32] <Caleb> ... Perhaps--... Wait, what the FUCK am I saying? This sounds like a TERRIBLE idea.
[04:38:44] <@castfromhp> From two stories up? Not that terrible actually.
[04:39:02] <Caleb> ... Well, then...
[04:39:24] <Caleb> Let's jump!
[04:39:46] <@castfromhp> Athletics!
[04:40:17] <Caleb> 4d3-7 Man I should probably have worked on my skills and stuff while Shuku was slowmo-ing.
[04:40:18] <DiceMaid-9001> Caleb, Man I should probably have worked on my skills and stuff while Shuku was slowmo-ing.: 0 [4d3=1,1,2,3]
[04:41:38] <@castfromhp> Hrm.
[04:41:39] <@castfromhp> 1d4
[04:41:39] <DiceMaid-9001> castfromhp, 1d4: 1 [1d4=1]
[04:42:12] <@castfromhp> Despite his ineptitude, Caleb manages to scrape with only taking a mild consequence on his physical track.
[04:43:47] <Caleb> "... Damnit that seemed a lot easier when Rini did it..."
[04:44:15] <@castfromhp> investigation check as you look around campus
[04:45:00] <Caleb> 4d3-6
[04:45:00] <DiceMaid-9001> Caleb, 4d3-6: 2 [4d3=3,2,2,1]
[04:45:39] <@castfromhp> Stealth as well while you're at it!
[04:45:43] <Caleb> 4d3-7
[04:45:44] <DiceMaid-9001> Caleb, 4d3-7: -1 [4d3=1,1,1,3]
[04:48:02] <@castfromhp> You're noticed relatively quickly, and a few students gawk at you in your tattered appearance. Luckily, you also find the aforementioned building relatively quickly.
[04:48:18] <@castfromhp> There are figures off in the distance moving toward you now though...Athletics again.
[04:48:23] <@castfromhp> As you rush around and try the doors.
[04:48:32] <Caleb> 4d3-7 I am so gonna get shot.
[04:48:34] <DiceMaid-9001> Caleb, I am so gonna get shot.: 1 [4d3=2,2,1,3]
[04:49:45] <@castfromhp> Yes he is, just before he manages to get the right door!
[04:49:54] <@castfromhp> 4d3-8+4 resist with athletics
[04:49:55] <DiceMaid-9001> castfromhp, resist with athletics: 4 [4d3=3,3,1,1]
[04:50:08] <Caleb> 4d3-7 Whyyy?
[04:50:09] <DiceMaid-9001> Caleb, Whyyy?: 3 [4d3=3,2,3,2]
[04:50:29] <@castfromhp> nice roll. Four physical stress as the bullet slams into you!
[04:50:57] <Caleb> ... Four? Are these guys like superbuff too even though I'm still not?
[04:51:08] <@castfromhp> You stumble through the door right after. And...wow, big beautiful entrance hall. Globe with a hand clutching it, columns, fountains, do I need to repeat the description from when Rini was here or do you remember?
[04:51:19] <@castfromhp> (assault rifles add +3 stress to attacks~)
[04:52:48] <Caleb> The man (and probably half the people inside this building, too) hear a massive cry of pain as the bullet tears through Caleb's left arm. Once he makes it inside, a stream of obscenities as his bullet-filled arm spills blood on the nice... Marble tiling, was it?
[04:53:40] <@castfromhp> Yep. You see the businesswoman from before walk down to meet you. "Slam the door shut!"
[04:53:58] <Caleb> He kicks it shut with his foot.
[04:54:22] <Caleb> 'cause it's the only thing he has.
[04:55:31] <@castfromhp> "Here, let me help." She rushes over and helps Caleb hobble over to the fountains. She splashes some water from it onto your wound. (did you take a consequence for getting shot?)
[04:55:51] <Caleb> (Nope. Just for falling. That filled my stress track full.)
[04:56:37] <@castfromhp> The water BURNS as it settles into the wound, but you feel it closing up. A bullet falls out and clinks onto the floor. Empty your stress track and the mild consequence.
[04:56:58] <@castfromhp> Well, that happens anyway at the end of a scene, but it happens because of the water this time shut up :V
[04:58:38] <Caleb> Caleb grimaces as the wound is healed in HOLY WATER WHY IS THIS NOT KILLING HIM HE'S LIKE EVIL VAMPIRE LEVEL SHIT NOW.
[04:58:50] <@castfromhp> (And let me know if you have to get to sleep ever because we can just continue later)
[04:59:26] <Caleb> (I can go if you don't have any intent of sleeping. That and I'd rather just kill it all in one shot because otherwise I'm not gonna finish ever thanks to AESOPMINIS.)
[04:59:41] <@castfromhp> "Now, show me. What did you mean by not so invisible anymore?" The woman closes her eyes a moment, and the pale outline of large magical hands appears around her.
[05:00:52] <@castfromhp> BGM: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcQaaG7BIuk
[05:01:35] <Caleb> "... How d'you expect me to show ya?" Hssss. "... Can't just go 'round CHOOSIN' when shit goes off. Just does."
[05:02:10] <@castfromhp> (oh if it wasn't clear with how you could feel the presence of the hand now, it is something you can control much more easily now)
[05:02:15] <Caleb> Stiiill hurts.
[05:03:01] <Caleb> (Well, he doesn't know that yet.)
[05:05:12] <@castfromhp> "Just try to call them up. They should respond to your desires."
[05:06:12] <Caleb> "... Just... Gimme a sec here." He tries this whole "calling it out" thing.
[05:08:35] <@castfromhp> A black monstrous hand reaches out of Caleb's chest. Charis winces at the sight of it.
[05:10:11] <@castfromhp> "It's the dark underbelly of capitalism, the result of taking whatever is needed to make a profit without thought to the well-being of others."
[05:10:43] <@castfromhp> "It's not your fault though. If you were someone who didn't understand this power, it's easy to accidentally stumble into this. It's not the end of the world." she tries to give a reassuring smile.
[05:12:03] <Caleb> "... Capitalism?" He gives her a 'REALLY?!?' look. No, really. Look at the kid. He's been running around the city for God only knows how long in what basically amount to rags. "... You're shittin' me, right?"
[05:13:44] <@castfromhp> "Look, I know it's unlikely, but think about it. You've heard of Smith's metaphor of the Invisible Hand, right? That's what you have. You must have some connection to the corporation I work with for this to have happened."
[05:14:07] <@castfromhp> And indeed if you thought about it at all, you do recognize Estisse International as the firm your parents worked for as I said earlier.
[05:15:52] <Caleb> "... Well, last i heard a' my... Parents... They were still workin' for one a' the branches back home in Europe..."
[05:16:24] <@castfromhp> "The fact the fountains here have a healing effect on your wounds proves you have...well, basically an employee contract with us. It seems mostly a formality in your case though." she has a curious look on her face.
[05:16:52] <@castfromhp> "Let's have some coffee upstairs, Caleb." Charis starts heading up the stairs, leading you into a lounge.
[05:18:42] <Caleb> Caleb silently follows. Probably retracting his Grabby Hand in the process.
[05:19:09] <@castfromhp> It's a nice lounge. Pool table, armchairs, couches, coffee machines!
[05:20:24] <@castfromhp> Charis immediately heads over to brew two cups of coffee. "You have questions. As one of the few in the city who also carries the power of the Invisible Hand, I feel obligated to answer them."
[05:20:35] <Caleb> Caleb just staaares, jaw dropped and purely amazed, looking as if he just struck gold.
[05:23:19] <Caleb> "... Yeah, there's... Well, a lot." That's all Caleb's really able to get out of his mouth at the moment.
[05:25:11] <@castfromhp> "Where do you want to start?"
[05:26:52] <Caleb> "Guess the first thing I'd wanna ask is... Why the fuck would I have this... THING inside a' me?"
[05:27:52] <@castfromhp> "You've probably noticed it grabbing things that you instinctively want, right? It acts, in economic terms, to acquire for you what would maximize your utility function."
[05:27:54] <Caleb> "An' the hell is it, even?!?"
[05:28:04] <@castfromhp> "As for why you have it, what do you know about champions and vessels?"
[05:31:57] <Caleb> "What I know's... Well, the nutshell I could give ya's at 'pparently Rini an' a couple others were born with 'em almost fifteen years ago... When Hong Kong got its freedom an' shit... And they gave 'em away to whoever they felt like / needed to."
[05:32:35] <Caleb> felt like or needed to." **
[05:32:50] <Caleb> ... Why the hell did I even use a SLASHMARK in-character?
[05:33:16] <@castfromhp> "Good enough an answer. That's the one thing different though with what happened with the Invisible Hand. Some didn't choose to give them out, but instead 'sold' them in a subconscious way to similarly unknowing buyers."
[05:38:09] <Caleb> "... So 'pparently I chose to buy this power before I could choose to piss in somethin' other than my own diapers, you're sayin'?"
[05:39:29] <@castfromhp> "If you were particularly young at the time, so would have been the Champion. It was probably something very simple. A mate at playschool or a child of a family friend. That explains the connection your parents have with the organization. Everyone born to give away the power of the Invisible Hand comes from us, somewhere down the line."
[05:43:17] <Caleb> "... That... Doesn't answer much at all."
[05:43:31] <Caleb> "... Probably best not to bother with'at."
[05:44:06] <@castfromhp> "What part doesn't it answer?"
[05:46:44] <Caleb> (... Okay, I really just am lost as SHIT right now. To doublecheck what she's saying...)
[05:47:00] <Caleb> (... Hold on.)
[05:49:27] <Caleb> "... Well, not that it doesn't answer it, but... You're sayin' that I just took it from someone else who had it 'cause I wanted it?"
[05:50:37] <@castfromhp> "Subconscious desires, as a toddler or infant. Do you feel, if you had to pin a cost on this power, you have any idea what it'd be?"
[05:55:08] <Caleb> "When I was that little? Idunno... Probably somethin' stupid like a toy or a bottle a' milk... At this moment? I'd throw it right out the fuckin' window for a good meal! Ain't been much more than trouble since I first got it."
[05:56:19] <@castfromhp> "It probably was something trivial like that then. I have to apologize, you aren't the first to share this fate."
[06:00:01] <Caleb> "Come t' think of it, mighta been possible that they... Err, my parents..." It comes off really bitter and pointed. "Mighta known somethin' 'bout this themselves, though... Always complained 'bout wantin' a "normal" child..."
[06:01:44] <@castfromhp> "...What did you say your last name was?"
[06:03:50] <Caleb> Because Botherer totally never actually came up with a last name for him, Caleb just spits it out. "Ain't bothered to share it with no one since I left, though..."
[06:07:12] <@castfromhp> Charis bites her lip. "I see."
[06:08:17] <Caleb> "... Y'know somethin', lady?"
[06:08:34] <@castfromhp> "Hold on, I'm trying to figure out the best way to say it without freaking you out."
[06:10:19] <@castfromhp> "Can we move on to another subject while I think on that? I promise we'll get back to it."
[06:12:38] <Caleb> "If this is 'bout that decorum shit the nun Siyao was talkin' bout... You can spare it if y'wanna. Didn't come to have things covered in butterflies and rainbows."
[06:13:09] <Caleb> He shakes his head. "Not like I ever had any a' that myself... case y'can't tell."
[06:13:34] <@castfromhp> "No, it's to prevent misunderstandings and misdirected anger at me or who I represent. Maybe I should start there. You've realized by now there are several factions fighting over magical power in Hong Kong, each with their own goals, right?"
[06:15:26] <Caleb> "Yeah. There's the Triad, the guys pretendin'a be wearin' the Hong Kong Flowers, the government..." Don't think he ever did one those, so an obligatory stop to finally ssssip the coffee she probably thrust into his hands go here. "Anythin' else I'm missin'?"
[06:16:03] <@castfromhp> "Us. By which I mean Estisse and all the multinational corporations of Hong Kong that we represent."
[06:16:19] <@castfromhp> "And I believe our goals may be of interest to you."
[06:18:28] <@castfromhp> Siiiip.
[06:19:01] <Caleb> "... Go on..." He wears a skeptical look on his face as he raises his cup once more. Sssi-pah. There was probably a slurp in there too because it's Caleb. How the hell would she know what Caleb'd want anyways?
[06:19:17] <@castfromhp> "You seem to have a disdain for your powers. Would you give them away or sell them if you could?"
[06:21:04] <Caleb> "Like hell I would! With everything havin' gone head over heels ass backwards since I got 'em, the last thing I want is to keep 'em much longer..."
[06:21:30] <@castfromhp> "But you can't. Not right now anyway. They're stuck with you."
[06:21:49] <Caleb> Caleb sighs. "Figured as much."
[06:21:50] <@castfromhp> "We don't believe in that. We don't believe magic should be something gained by virtue of being born on a certain date, granted as if by divine mandate."
[06:22:11] <@castfromhp> "Or given by someone else, permanently, who had been subject to such a mandate." Siiip.
[06:22:36] <@castfromhp> "Despite what people may say about those born into money, in the long run, capitalism is a meritocratic endeavor."
[06:24:40] <Caleb> "Y'mean like that American Dream shit they got in the movies sometimes?"
[06:25:21] <@castfromhp> "Shit as it may sound to some, I'm sure you'd find it a lot better what the lot you drew now." Siiip.
[06:25:54] <@castfromhp> "What if magical powers could be traded in an open marketplace? Freely given away like any commodity, like any technology or technological device?"
[06:26:42] <@castfromhp> "For a price of the seller's choosing, of course."
[06:26:53] <Caleb> "'course it sounds better! You tried sleepin' on a rock in the middle a' winter before? Shit ain't fun."
[06:27:22] <@castfromhp> "Well, that's exactly what we're aiming for. We'll take the power of the chakras of Hong Kong, and we'll change the very nature of magic itself." Siiip. "How's that sound, huh?"
[06:29:25] <Caleb> ( o)c.( *) Caleb's leaningawayfromCharis. "... Two things." Sllllurp. "One: You can do that kinda thing? An' two: Sounds like a way t' make shit go t' hell real quick."
[06:29:46] <@castfromhp> "The market always sorts itself out, guided by the Invisible Hand."
[06:30:35] <@castfromhp> "And yes, we can. There is immense power stored in the city of Hong Kong. It's everything that represents the paradigmatical changes of the world."
[06:31:29] <Caleb> "That ain't what I meant. Seriously, I CAN'T figure this shit out t' save my life, and I'm throwin' the only person I've ever been able t' call a friend of any sorts through walls. You're gonna end up with bigger idiots 'an me runnin' round with 'em..."
[06:31:34] <@castfromhp> "The cyberpunk aesthetic and technological advancement, the most open markets in all of Asia, a city aside from the Vatican that has a chance at surpassing traditional state-centric geopolitics, a widespread image in global culture...everything."
[06:32:36] <@castfromhp> "The actual mechanics of wielding the magic are strange to you, you mean?"
[06:33:42] <@castfromhp> "Think of it as taking a list of the big capital B Beliefs that people have about the world. Things taken as fact that are rarely stated. For instance, that the tradition of state politics as envisioned in philosophy such as the Leviathan must be the way the world is organized."
[06:33:47] <Caleb> "Well... Yeah. 's like tryin'a work a brain from the outside."
[06:34:17] <@castfromhp> "9/11 changed that some in people's eyes. Non-state actors became prominent in the global sphere, just as important as states."
[06:34:59] <@castfromhp> "These fractures, when old truths give way to new, that's where you find magic coalescing. When Britain gave back Hong Kong to the Chinese? That set off something, the seed of a kind of fracture. And now it's growing into a great tree."
[06:36:48] <Caleb> (Oh God, you just dropped the P word.)
[06:37:14] <@castfromhp> (the P word?)
[06:37:20] <Caleb> (Politics.)
[06:37:34] <@castfromhp> (oh, is that...is that a big thing? idgi)
[06:38:14] <Caleb> (Idgi is exactly it. That's like the easiest way to lose me EVER.)
[06:38:36] <@castfromhp> (oh dear, well, I hope at least this bit makes sense)
[06:38:57] <Caleb> "... So basically... Magic just pops up an' gets thrown 'round all random whenever somethin' big happens in the world?"
[06:39:29] <@castfromhp> "Hong Kong is a city that is highly influential in the world not for any political power - it has none. Politically, it is a playtoy of the PRC. But its markets and its corporations...are you seeing it? It's another place where state power falls to something else."
[06:39:49] <@castfromhp> "Something big is a way of putting. Something that changes a fundamental assumed truth of the modern world."
[06:40:17] <@castfromhp> *of putting it
[06:42:08] <@castfromhp> "It almost happened in Wall Street as well, when the financial markets were crumbling and the subprime mortgage crisis just about sent the whole world into a recession. That just didn't have enough dimensions to it though. Too quickly, it got tied into something the United States as an entity had to take blame for, with all the talk of bailouts."
[06:44:32] <@castfromhp> "Follow me so far?"
[06:44:40] <Caleb> "So somethin' big enough t' completely fuck up the way the world works... Think I got it."
[06:44:57] <@castfromhp> "Close enough. I don't expect you to get all the details."
[06:45:29] <@castfromhp> "So you take this fracture, and the magic that follows it is pretty analogous. You take it, and you create a fracture somewhere else, change some truth that is ironclad now and not amenable to change."
[06:45:46] <@castfromhp> "In our case, we're changing the notion that magic is something you are born with or irrevocably gifted."
[06:47:18] <@castfromhp> "And the details, from that point on, aren't very important to your understanding." Siiiip.
[06:50:45] <Caleb> Slurrrp-ah. "Well, definitely see what you're gettin' at..."
[06:51:59] <@castfromhp> "Now, back to your parents. They used to be rather high up in the corporation, movers and shakers. They came to resent the idea of widespread magic throughout the world though."
[06:52:51] <@castfromhp> "They wanted to see all magic disappear. So they were downsized, kept close enough to monitor, but far from anything that mattered. That's probably why we never knew about you, or else you would have been given proper instruction in how your magic works."
[06:53:14] <@castfromhp> "I'm sorry, it was a simple misfortune of circumstances that caused your suffering."
[06:57:53] <Caleb> "..." Caleb's... Well, he's soakin' it in... "Can't say I blame 'em... Mean... Shit shit's DANGEROUS..." He looks down into the now probably near empty cup, almost staring into it though. "You'd think that wouldn't... Stop 'em from..."
[06:58:32] <@castfromhp> "No doubt they resented the fact we moved them into a low position just to monitor them and keep them from acting against us."
[06:58:53] <@castfromhp> "They likely saw you as an outlet for their frustrations."
[07:04:54] <Caleb> "... Fuckin' idiots is what they really are..." Question: what kind of coffee cups are these? (sorryforslowhadnoideahowtorespondtoTHAT)
[07:05:16] <@castfromhp> Just standard size coffee mugs.
[07:05:33] <@castfromhp> "Well, now's a chance to make it all right again then." Siiiip.
[07:06:05] <Caleb> Expecting shattering as Caleb's grip tightens on the mug in 3... 2... 1...
[07:07:22] <@castfromhp> Charis winces as shards of ceramic fly everywhere, though she's able to raise a hand and keep most of the damage to her arms and not her face. Your hand is cut own and bloody. "Shit, Caleb. You have every right to be angry, but..."
[07:08:48] <@castfromhp> *cut open
[07:10:28] <@castfromhp> "How about lending us a hand then? This sudden lock-down of the city has left us with insufficient manpower."
[07:11:26] <@castfromhp> "A lot of us who do wield the Invisible Hand are currently overseas, blocked from entering the city. So our presence is smaller than it could be. Worse, some of us have been captured and no doubt are being interrogated or brainwashed."
[07:11:56] <Caleb> "But what?!? Last I checked parents were s'pposed to love an' care for ya no matter what happens! How could they just... Over a stupid... Fuckin...?!?"
[07:12:43] <Caleb> Aaand he lost it.
[07:12:44] <@castfromhp> "They are, in an ideal world."
[07:13:52] <@castfromhp> Annnnnd, compel: The Price of Victory. Black out and wake up elsewhere, not quite sure what you've done in your fit of emotion. Accept/Refuse?
[07:14:10] <Caleb> Accept!
[07:14:33] <Caleb> ... This oughta be good.
[07:15:35] <Caleb> inb4 I end up with all my Aspects fucked up as a result of this via Lawbreaker by the end of the campaign.
[07:16:24] <@castfromhp> The next sight your eyes have is of the sword you have, wielded by your monstrous dark hand. It plunges into the neck of a neck of a guy in military garb. He drops his assault rifle and collapses.
[07:16:45] <@castfromhp> Looking around, you appear to be in a cell of some kind. The door is broken down, crumpled as if crushed by some great force.
[07:16:54] <@castfromhp> An alarm is going off.
[07:17:12] <Caleb> ... A cell? Like, a prison cell?!?
[07:17:48] <@castfromhp> You're overwhelmed by the combination of the alarm piercing your ears, the bloody mess of a man in front of you, and the disorientation from blacking out. Just audible within the sound of alarms is a rush of footseps in your direction.
[07:18:00] <@castfromhp> And quite similar to a prison, yes.
[07:18:03] <@castfromhp> /mini