[IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Deadline

For all of your Play-By-Post games.
User avatar
Sakuro
Posts: 5746
Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2019 7:43 am

Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by Sakuro »

There is a disconnect as Diego processes two things at different speeds. His communication with Costa happens faster than his interaction with Sander and the rest of the world. When Diego is in contact with Silvia the rest of the world feel slow and muddled. He feels slower, as though moving through mud. The trip to his room feels like it takes five times as long. The experience isn't like speaking over a phone. It is as though a significant part of himself steps away from the world and into some space within himself. The transition isn't a simple thing, like picking up the earlier mentioned phone. It is engrossing. He becomes more present in that communication with his fellow Ascendant than he is with the rest of the world while reaching out to her. It isn't something that just pauses, or is stepped away from either. It feels like he is held there once the 'door' is open to her, and he has to pull to withdraw from it.

When Diego responded with his explanation and admission of making a miscalculation, he doesn't receive any sympathy from his storm wielding counterpart.

"The android's recklessness reflects poorly on you Ascendant Gonzalez. You are the one in charge. You are supposed to train it. You are supposed to keep it in check."

On Diego's mentioning of pulling an artifact from the ground Costa interjects.

"Where in Ward 3 did you find the black heart?"

The woman interjects again when Diego talks about having experienced hallucinations.

"Describe your hallucination to me."
Evelyn Gracen, in AEGIS Squad
Storyteller for In the Shadow of Imperator
Storyteller for Geneforge: the Created
mrdent12
Posts: 4214
Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2016 8:10 pm

Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by mrdent12 »

Diego Gonzalez
HP: 1
CND: Haunted
Form: Solid


In the link that all Ascendants shared, Diego wasn't going to bother discussing Iona further. He knew his missteps and that they would need to be corrected. Chen would surely see to that. It was the heart he cared about now and information on it. Any little bit he could get would be worth more than all the gold at fort knox to him. I found the heart buried deep under an underground facility manufacturing building materials. The facility was being used as a drug lab by the Jaguars. They are no longer there. Before I could secure the heart a mutated Jaguar got away with it., begins Diego adding in the location of the facility.

I experienced a hallucination I was in a Zulu village with an infection quickly spreading and being in a body with unimaginable power wearing white uniform. There was troops there cleansing the village, but in my hallucinated body I was able to see there was no hope of containment. The patient zero was in a hut being guarded that I was drawn to. Inside of her I could tell was what was drawing me as if it was filling a hole I never knew I had. The black inky infection formed up and fought me for the heart, but I prevailed in grabbing it. To secure the area, I somehow managed to burn the area and everything around it with a fire hot enough I deemed to destroy the infection. When I came out of the hallucination, there was a hole in the ground and the black heart I knew I needed beating in my hands., finishes Diego.
User avatar
Supernaturalist
Posts: 2275
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2018 2:48 am

Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by Supernaturalist »

Iona
HP: 1
VP: 1
Cnd: -5 to Damage Checks; Exhausted
PP:0
EP:3
Dominion Point: 1

With little time to examine her damaged frame within the privacy of her own lab, Iona prepares herself for the impending visit with her master. Somewhat at a loss to explain the strange events of the last couple of days, the young cyborg hopes that Dr. Sokolov might shed some light on the nature of the "oily black heart" that Diego once possessed before the Jaguar-Man snatched it away.

Following up on her staff and other errands occupy her time until the word comes that the escorts have arrived. Covering herself as to hide all of her bare robotic frame, she informs Diego that she will be leaving soon and will return as soon as possible.
User avatar
Supernaturalist
Posts: 2275
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2018 2:48 am

Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by Supernaturalist »

John Steiner
HP:4
Cnd: Mentally Impaired
PP:0

After completing his report, John makes sure to attend The Dark Ascendant's debrief. In particular, her wants to hear about the shadory lieutenant's plans for occupying and refurbishing the former Jaguar base. He might even be able to catch a glimpse of Sander if she shows up.

John could not seem to shake the images and visions conjured up just outside the Jaguar lab. The whole event is just another reminder that this new struggle is something above and beyond the military gadgetry with which he is familiar. It prompts him to reflect on who is ahead in the new "arms race" of alien technology: Null, Sokolov, Stronghold, or the Jaguars.
User avatar
Sakuro
Posts: 5746
Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2019 7:43 am

Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by Sakuro »

OOC wrote:I don't know if Diego is purposefully obscuring the details of who he was in his hallucination, but he was wearing black armor with gold trim. Not a white uniform.
While there is a feeling, and the sound, of rushing winds there are no words as Diego talks. Costa seems to ruminate in a thoughtful silence before starting gain, slowly at first.

"During my Ascension, while I was unconscious and unable to wake, I experienced something like a memory. But it wasn't my memory. I was someone else. Someone with terrible power ... like you describe in your hallucination. But I was wearing black armor with gold trim. Not a white uniform. Then when I woke, and the eye was in place, I felt like a piece of me that was missing had been returned to me. It may well be that Imperator intended the black heart you discovered for one of the Ascendants, if not you specifically. The location you found it at is odd, however. I don't know any reason why something like that would be there."

"Your hallucination has parallels to the present day Macro-Virus epidemic. Imperator's forces have had a long covert history of trying to contain it while the Midnight Society was active."

"I am going to look into the matter further. I suggest you locate the thief, or failing that gather information on them. The heart, if anything like the eye, could be the equivalent of a weapon of mass destruction. Something we cannot allow the Jaguar's to possess."

With that last statement the door symbolizing Diego's link to Silvia Costa closed. Slamming shut. The winds ceased. Rapidly the dual passage of time settled back into one steam. The darkness quiet around the Ascendant in his small personal quarters.


Two hours pass. John rises from his nap. Iona finishes her inspection of the infirmary, and checking up on an unconscious Aiden. You gather in the conference room, Corporal Sander having arrived ahead of you. The dark skinned woman sits at the table poking at a tablet, it's screen casting faint illumination on her rounded features. As the door opens and she takes note of others joining her she looks up, then quickly finishes what she was doing and sets the tablet down.
Evelyn Gracen, in AEGIS Squad
Storyteller for In the Shadow of Imperator
Storyteller for Geneforge: the Created
mrdent12
Posts: 4214
Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2016 8:10 pm

Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by mrdent12 »

Diego Gonzalez
HP: 1
CND: Haunted
Form: Solid


Costas didn't need to tell him to get the heart from the Jaguars. He was already slowly scheming on ways to infiltrate the group, get information, and generally get what he knew was his. While at one point, he thought the Jaguars a potential alliance to cultivate, they were now a blocker on his path that would need to be removed. In his previous diversion, he had spared them. Clearly, it was a mistake on multiple levels that he will not repeat again. With Stronghold ceding control of a whole ward to the Jaguars, they had undoubtedly some leverage beyond force. A super science robot would have caused ripples. Now leveraging the Jaguars was out of the picture, Diegos mind was more clear and determined.

Out of another misguided notion he couldn't shake in his new form, Diego shifted back into his formerly human visage of a half Spanish half Arabic man in a black leather jacket, jeans, and a white teeshirt before entering the room. Even his vocal tone was more modulated to be sounding human. He took a seat and waited for the others to arrive. His mind was already processing information he had acquired on the Midnight society and if they still might be active. If he could get the heart, they might not be as much of an issue however. If he could be whole again.

Upon everyones arrival, Diego looks over the group checking off an attendance list in his head. "Our latest mission was cleaner, but the effects of what hallucinogenic effect was a complication. Despite the slaughter of twenty or so Jaguars, we saved a possible connection to armaments. I have intelligence there is a cache of weapons that went missing which might be the source of his weapons. For saving his life, he may give us some. For additional arms, we will need a source of revenue.", begins Diego addressing the whole point of the mission first.

"For the mass hallucinations, they may be linked to how the Jaguars were able to capture Iona and I so easy. The Jagaur headed man didn't shew signs of being effected. Stronghold was already looking to develop this area, but now with an additional event defying human knowledge they may increase their presence further. I will have my eyes keep additional vigil.", adds Diego.

Moving on to the next bullet point in his head, Diego addresses the main topics of why he wanted the debrief. "Is there any additional information our forces have on the event or if any were effected?", inquires Diego of Sanders. He purposely left the heart out of his mention int he debrief. The less Iona knew of it going forward, the better until her assistance was needed. He felt her relations with Dr. Sokolov were not as strong as his allegiance to Praetor Null, but she was still Dr. Sokolovs puppet.
User avatar
Supernaturalist
Posts: 2275
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2018 2:48 am

Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by Supernaturalist »

Iona
HP: 1
VP: 1
Cnd: -5 to Damage Checks; Exhausted
PP:0
EP:3
Dominion Point: 1

Iona's mind is partially on her impending visit with Dr. Sokolov. But her exposed, robotic frame perks up when Diego mentions a source of revenue to procure new weapons. After allowing him to finish his debrief, she folds her arms in front of her. "I've wondered too how we might bring in a source of income to finance our efforts. Since you mentioned it, what did you have in mind?"

There are a number of things which have crossed her mind: Selling low-cost, processed food made from the Viridi Mater algae, Providing underground medical procedures not easily or cheaply obtained from legitimate hospitals, and even kidnapping and ransoming the families of Stronghold members. But she wants to hear what the Dark Ascendant has to suggest first.
User avatar
Supernaturalist
Posts: 2275
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2018 2:48 am

Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by Supernaturalist »

John Steiner
HP:4
Cnd: Mentally Impaired
PP:0

John is interested mainly because he hopes to learn information of the team's encounter *inside* the facility. Still somewhat embarrassed at his own mental breakdown outside the Jaguar base, he takes consolation only in the fact that a great many people succumbed to the hallucinations. The first thing the veteran soldier looks for is the presence of Ascendant Chen.
OOC: If he 's present, then he acknowledges his superiors attendance and promises to deliver his report at the end of the meeting. Otherwise John will simply listen to Diego's debrief.
When the Dark Ascendant finishes, John too is interested about any Diego's hint of developing a revenue stream, but her remains silent. John is more interested in what can be done militarily with an appropriate amount of financing rather than the details of the financing itself. He gives others present (Tilly in particular) a chance to speak before adding his "two-cents".
OOC: Oh, I almost forgot to ask. Is John still Mentally Impaired?
User avatar
Sakuro
Posts: 5746
Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2019 7:43 am

Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by Sakuro »

Tilly sits up straight in her chair, her hands folded in front of her as she listens to Diego. Though the woman looks at Iona often, unable to keep from sparing glances at inhuman figure in their midst.

"You were hallucinating. What is it that you saw? I'm wondering it it was the same thing. Are you sure you were captured? Were you restrained in anyway? When was it that you started experiencing an altered state? Before or after you killed all of the Jaguars? I do not mean to grill either of you. Focusing on the details you know and the order of events might help you work through the confusion of the hallucinations."

After a brief pause she looks at the damage done to Iona.

"Its possible you could have attacked each other without realizing it."

When Diego asks for an update the corporal picks up her tablet and takes a moment to review some things. THen she lowers it and begins offering her report.

"According to our information the phenomena covered the southern half of the Ward. The reports suggests that whatever happened was expanding over time, rather than hitting everyone all at once. We have confirmation that a squad of Stronghold soldiers visited the location you gave me. They didn't stick around long. Nothing on your were-jaguar. A handful of our people were caught up in the effect. Some minor injuries. Nothing serious. Physically anyway. Whatever they saw has them pretty shaken."
OOC wrote:Chen is not present. Nor will he be for this meeting. John knows that he will be arriving in 2-3 days.

John is still Mentally Impaired.

As a reminder, Iona has a strong suspicion that Romper experienced hallucinations as well, given the way he talked about having "quite an experience".

Another reminder, for Diego, what he experienced didn't feel like a hallucination. It was more like reliving a memory ... very vividly.

Concerning Iona's ideas:
1.) Mechanically, the Viridi Mater produces one "unit" of food stuffs (abstracted numerical value of trade item/resource). That is going to be needed for the people you are recruiting for you army. Trading it away would mean you need another food source. Or expand your Viridi Mater production. Either of these would require time and resources, as well as more space in the latter case.
2.) Your staff is busy with tending to your own people. If you divert them away from their standing duties your looking at neglecting your people. This would have an effect on your operations. Iona doesn't have a lot of free time. Providing underground medical services isn't presently viable given your resources and manpower.
3.) Kidnapping and ransoming people is viable. You'll end up going on a mission for this. It'll also only be a one-shot payment per kidnapping. Not a steady income.
Evelyn Gracen, in AEGIS Squad
Storyteller for In the Shadow of Imperator
Storyteller for Geneforge: the Created
mrdent12
Posts: 4214
Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2016 8:10 pm

Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by mrdent12 »

Diego Gonzalez
HP: 1
CND: Haunted
Form: Solid


"We can get to financing an army. I agree with Corporal Sander that getting to the bottom of the mass hallucination would be ideal first. Our umbers are already too few, so if our understanding can help the unit that was caught up in this, it will help our cause.", begins Diego.

For my part, before the hallucination, slicing through nearly twenty Jaguars who stood in our way followed by crushing the limbs of the sole chosen survivor so they could not run. Upon investigation of the hallway, the world changes for me. I was in Africa and imagined myself as someone else investigating a contagion spreading. There was other soldiers present as well helping to cleanse the area. Containment didn't seem like an option, but the world of the hallucination burned. My mind must have conjured that as the only way for my hallucination to end. So it made it so I imagine.", remarks Diego. He conveniently left out the bits about the heart and his inferred location.

He pauses before continuing. "After awaking, I was in a vat used for I guess construction mixing of some sort with the black heart in my hand. The only way Iona and I could have gotten to that vat is because we were brought there or somehow were both compelled.", adds Diego. He spoke with voice lacking much emotion, but still humanish sounding for the sake of Sanders. His eyes turned to Iona and John to share next.
User avatar
Supernaturalist
Posts: 2275
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2018 2:48 am

Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by Supernaturalist »

Iona
HP: 1
VP: 1
Cnd: -5 to Damage Checks; Exhausted
PP:0
EP:3
Dominion Point: 1

After Diego finishes, the “unskinned” robot speaks in her characteristic soft voice. “I recall opening a door only to find that the phenomenon before my senses changing drastically. Instead of being in an underground room, I was in a dense jungle. Within just a few seconds, I was pounced upon by a Jaguar. The beast took me to the ground, and I found myself combatting it with a spear which I happened to possess. I defeated it and the illusion seemed to dissipate…or so I thought."

"I was back in a hallway leading to another room where I heard -what I thought to be – a familiar voice. As I opened the door…” Iona pauses seeming to struggle with the next stage of her description, “…as I opened the door I saw Imperator struggling someone or something. At first it seemed a female, then I remember it appearing as a black, beating heart with dark tentacles whipping about and attacking Imperator.

The cyborg seems uncertain of what she is describing, and her tone belies her lack of confidence. “At least, that is what I believe I saw. There was a great fiery explosion that knocked me to the ground. And after that I was beside the Ascendant at the bottom of a large vat looking up as some humanoid with Jaguar-like features. That person now possessed the black heart which I previously mentioned. He referred to himself as ‘Romper’. He dropped some sort of flashbang device and was gone. That’s when II noticed the black smoke and hear Aiden’s voice crying from down a hallway. Those are the events, as best I can recollect, up to the point of rescuing the arms-dealer.
OOC: Here is the Memory Check to accurately recall the events at the drug lab: Memory Check to Recall Events: 1d20+8 26. A 26, so she eventually recalls correctly.
"Wait a moment..." Iona pauses, her exposed robotic eyes shifting side to side as she struggles to recall. Then looking over to Diego, she nods. "...the Ascendant had it first, then a bright flash. After the flash, the Jaguar-Man possessed it. Yes...it was then taken by the Jaguar-Man calling himself Romper."
Last edited by Supernaturalist on Sat Nov 13, 2021 3:00 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Supernaturalist
Posts: 2275
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2018 2:48 am

Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by Supernaturalist »

John Steiner
HP:4
Cnd: Mentally Impaired
PP:0

John listen's as his two super-powered superiors describe their strange encounter with the fantastical-sounding "Jaguar-Man". Given his own struggle with illusions (Were they illusions?), he did not doubt the veracity of their stories.

When the two had finished, leaned forward in his chair. "There is not much I can add to the accounts of my teammates as I was effectively incapacitated outside of the lab. I can, however, attest to the reality of the psychic assault, as it affected me and..." John pauses, clearly still affected by the memories of that first haunted him in the southern part of the ward, "...others in the area. Whatever can do such things must not be allowed into Stronghold's hands. It's bad enough that the Jaguar's have it, but I'll take them any day compared to those corporate imperialists."
User avatar
Sakuro
Posts: 5746
Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2019 7:43 am

Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by Sakuro »

The dark skinned woman listened intently, watching each of the speakers as they shared their story. Her large eyes remain open, as though alert for some detail. After they'd all spoken the Corporal shared her observations as a third party. Her tone thoughtful.

"I'm not sure what investigation can be done concerning the hallucinations. But the three of you sharing your experiences might tell us more than just the one. From your descriptions, both Iona and the Ascendant did some walking around while under the influence. That might be how you arrived at your new location, given you weren't restrained or guarded when you came to your senses. Towards the end both of you experienced a conflagration before coming to your senses, and your hallucinations involved conflict or struggle. Were any of you more injured after the hallucinations than before?"

Tilly paused a moment, then cleared her through and looked to Diego, watching to see how the man responded to what she said next.

"As a proxy to the Ascendant, I used his clearance to get some information about the Jaguar's hideout, after being ordered to look into the matter. According to our records it was being used to create Hadron-tech construction materials for new urbanization projects Imperator was putting into place. I know that Praetor Null ... and probably Dr. Sokolov as well ... are likely to be interested in the recovery and restoration of such a site. If you don't have a use for the site, giving it to one of them may help you get on their good side. Do you know what the Jaguars were using it for?"
Evelyn Gracen, in AEGIS Squad
Storyteller for In the Shadow of Imperator
Storyteller for Geneforge: the Created
mrdent12
Posts: 4214
Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2016 8:10 pm

Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by mrdent12 »

Diego Gonzalez
HP: 1
CND: Haunted
Form: Solid
PP: 1 unspent


When John hints at the heart being the source of the illusion, Diego keeps a stoic face thanks to his powers, but he can't help feel a little irked. Iona was a teammate. Praetor Null had made it clear cooperation was expected. It didn't mean she should know all the details or information that would empower the proper inheritor of Imperators crown. When it came to the heart, Iona should only know enough to help Diego acquire it. Anything more risked her master fighting for it. Diego didn't doubt Sokolov was already desiring it for himself.

As Tilly spoke next, Diego changed to a more approving expression except when it came to the mention of Dr. Sokolov. It was a subtle movement, but his mouth made a brief small frown and disapproving look. Using his clearance, Diego didn't mind so much. Tilly got a pass for that so long as it served the ends. Even bring up the possibility of giving the old Jaguar base to Dr. Sokolov was an insult in Diegos mind. Sokolov was a tool to help retake the city. Nothing more. Tilly should have known this was Diegos view and would need to be reminded of this to avoid future suggestion of giving Sokolov anything more than what was needed to retake the city.

"I was mildly injured after the hallucinations, but my new form is full of mysteries. A manifestation of my mind to my body is not out of the question.", remarks Diego.

Pivoting form the transformative vision quickly, Diego moved on to matters that wouldn't pry too much into the heart and visions. The site was used as a drug lab previously. Once cleaned, decontaminated, and secured it may prove a source of income if we setup the distribution network. After our raid on the base, the Jaguars will likely be on the look out and they know where the location is plus know its layout better than us. It was also possible they were making super humans there with some serum that had side effects on the surrounding area. Several residents had rashes of some sort.", says Diego.

"Until we are properly armed, cleaning the site and securing it from attack will prove difficult. Praetor Null would have the resources and his vision for the restoration of the city to its former glory would both benefit the site. Offering up the facility to him though would remove our use of it as an income source for much needed weapons. We may yet find another source of income and offering it as a tribute to Praetor Null would allow our resources to focus on recruiting plus training soldiers even if not properly armed yet.", offers up Diego. He wasn't sure himself what to do with it, except he didn't even want to give the impression of entertaining the idea of offering it to Dr. Sokolov.
User avatar
Supernaturalist
Posts: 2275
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2018 2:48 am

Re: [IC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator: Jaguar Hunt

Post by Supernaturalist »

Iona
HP: 1
VP: 1
Cnd: -5 to Damage Checks; Exhausted
PP:0
EP:3
Dominion Point: 1

Iona listens to Till and Diego speak first about the hallucinations and then secondly the drug lab. Looking to Tilly, the damaged-cyborg nods. "As I mentioned there was a great fiery explosion when I saw what I thought to be Imperator struggling with a woman to remove the black heart from her. I barely managed to dive onto the ground in order to mitigate the harm. I was damaged, but it could have been much worse. How significant that is, well, I am not sure."

There is an abnormally long pause as Iona changes the subject to the lab. "I realize that Praetor Null could indeed take possession of the drug facility, but might I at least speak for Doctor Sokolov since he is not here to lobby for himself?" Though the young cyborg has lost all of her physical beauty, her harmonic voice still remains. While speaking, she is constantly looking from Tilly to Diego and back (only occasionally acknowledging John). "I do not know if Doctor Sokolov is interested in utilizing the drug facility. It may be that he has no concern for it at all. But his scientific knowledge would be invaluable in creating a rich and potent drug which would undoubtedly sell for a high price. I doubt that his expertise in this area could be matched. If my creator were willing to grant Praetor Null the bulk of the profits from such drug sales, would the Praetor grant the remainder of the facilities space and resources to The Doctor?"

Then she goes quiet. Her marred metallic frame sitting perfectly still, giving everyone time to think about the possibility.
Post Reply