Welcome to CBF, a game set in the cyberpunk future of Charleston, SC, using the horror/urban fantasy world of Changeling: The Lost (and most of the rest of World of Darkness) as it's larger backdrop. You will be a Changeling, someone that was taken by the True Fae to an alien realm, Arcadia, across the hedge between reality and dreams. They left a Fetch behind in your place, a simulacrum that took your place among your friends and family, making your disappearance unnoticeable. While in captivity, you were traumatized, and forcibly transformed into a creature, or perhaps a decoration, or tool. You've since escaped, back to the real world, back to Charleston, SC, now, in the year 2198. You command certain supernatural abilities by making contracts and pacts with the forces of nature and reality, and can also make magically binding bargains with other Changelings and mortals. To non-fae creatures, you are by all appearances a human, maybe quite similar to your original self, but possibly older, younger, scarred, or with certain traits having since been altered - time passes in strange ways within Arcadia, and the marks left by the True Fae vary in their subtlety. Other Changelings, fae creatures, and certain other supernatural beings, however, can see past the Mask of concealing faerie magic, and view your true self - be that a musclebound troll, or an automaton cobbled together from wax and copper in your own former image. Megacorporations and stranger monsters than yourself pull the strings of society in these neon nights, and you will struggle with maintaining your humanity, and sanity, while navigating the maddening world of the fae, and the soul-crushing dystopia that's been produced by generations of greedy, sociopathic humans. You escaped from the creature that abducted you some ten years ago, and have survived in that time by honing your skills and picking your battles.
Let's make some basic decisions about who you are together, shall we? You are>A man>A woman>Something else And >One of the last survivors of the local Freehold, a community of Changelings bound together to protect each other from the True Fae that hunt them. The Freehold was destroyed by one of the Fae just a couple of years after you escaped Arcadia. Only a few of your are left, now. Until the Fae is dealt with, you have no hope of forming a strong community of survivors. >An agent of the True Fae that destroyed the local Freehold, called a Privateer. He caught you not long after your big escape, and convinced you to stay. In exchange for his patronage and the freedom to travel and live in the mortal world, you do his bidding, which often means catching other runaways, or killing his enemies. >Not a local, you've just blown into town for a while. After escaping Arcadia, you were recruited into Nightmare Nick's Neverending Big Top, a travelling circus overseen by a mysterious supernatural creature with unknown motived, which has toured uninterrupted for at least 300 years, maybe even longer. There are other supernatural creatures in the crew, and nearly all of you are locked into contracts that are mystically binding in one way or another. It beats the hell out of being owned by the True Fae, but it can be hard. You'll be in Charleston for the indefinite future, and maybe find a way out. And your job is basically >Security, maybe even 'wet-work', either to pay my own way as a licensed mercenary, or in service of my master, if I have one. I'm a reliable stick to swing around. >Administration and planning, I am a consultant figure for mortals and whatever supernatural beings employ my service. I keep track of the variables as best I can to stay ahead of the competition. >Medical care, tending to the wounds of my comrades or coworkers, or even offering treatment to mortals with cash to spend >Artist, producing beautiful works that inspire and reveal, the mortals are captivated, and if I am in the employ of a supernatural creature, it is for my creativity and vision. >Engineering and repairing, making sure all the hardware - and sometimes software - that everything runs on keeps humming along properly. Mortals rely on me as a mechanic or repairman, while supernatural creatures value my ability to operate and tame the gadgetry of mortals that they may not understand. >Cont'd
Your Seeming is essentially the type of Changeling you are, with your Kith being a refinement of that (and I will ultimately select as there are too many options to vote on, but will consider suggestions from voters that are familiar with the source material). This will imply much about what your purpose was in Arcadia. Were you an animal, meant to populate an exotic zoo, or a lush hunting ground? Beast. Were you a butler tasked with managing the kitchen or organizing the library? Wizened. This will affect the sorts of contracts you have made to develop your powers, and how you appear to those able to see through the Mask that makes you appear human. Your Seeming happens to be>Beast, I am a hybrid of man and animal, and have the instincts and gifts of the latter. >Fairest, I am beautiful, almost hypnotically so, made this way to be admired by my Keeper, or perhaps defiled. >Elemental, reshaped from stone, or wind, or even raging fire, I became part of my Keeper's landscape or home, and have kept that intensity in returning to the mortal world. >Darkling, I became a thing of shadows, unseen or unheard, and would be a fine spy, assassin, or simply keeper of secrets. >Wizened, I am a master of drudgery and all manner of tasks, depending on what I was made to do, I might be a finely regimented soldier, the penultimate maid, or maybe the scholarly curator of a vast collection. >Cont'd
>>6324794>A womanAs prettier and younger as possible >An agent of the True Fae that destroyed the local Freehold, called a Privateer. He caught you not long after your big escape, and convinced you to stay. In exchange for his patronage and the freedom to travel and live in the mortal world, you do his bidding, which often means catching other runaways, or killing his enemies. >Security, maybe even 'wet-work', either to pay my own way as a licensed mercenary, or in service of my master, if I have one. I'm a reliable stick to swing around. >Fairest, I am beautiful, almost hypnotically so, made this way to be admired by my Keeper, or perhaps defiled. She has not been defiled, that might change if she's stupid enough.
>Ogre, I am a goblin, or a troll, a fae creature with brutish strength and bulk to back me up as I go about hard labor or brutalizing my enemies When I fight I tend to use >My hands, which are plenty lethal on their own >Melee weapons like knives or a large club >Firearms, which I am plenty familiar with>Magic and contracts, fae powers are capable of much >A mix of these (XXXX/XXXX) When it comes to cybernetics >I have none, relying on my fae nature to give me an edge>I have some, tons of people do these days >I have a lot, to the exclusion of developing my fae nature, in fact, but who needs magic when you can be a cyborgI will let names just be write-ins, but reserve the right to just rename the character outright if I see fit. Otherwise, format your votes as: Name: XXXXGender: M/W/OtherBackground: Survivor/Privateer/Drifter Work: Security/Administration/Medical/Artist/Engineer Seeming: Beast/Elemental/Darkling/Wizened/OgreCombat: Unarmed/Melee/Firearms/Magic/Mix(like/this) Cybernetics: None/Some/Lots
>>6324794>A manFine with anything though.>One of the last survivors of the local Freehold, a community of Changelings bound together to protect each other from the True Fae that hunt them. The Freehold was destroyed by one of the Fae just a couple of years after you escaped Arcadia. Only a few of your are left, now. Until the Fae is dealt with, you have no hope of forming a strong community of survivors. >Administration and planning, I am a consultant figure for mortals and whatever supernatural beings employ my service. I keep track of the variables as best I can to stay ahead of the competition. Among the living by virtue of being the guy who stands behind the people who do the fighting, the repairing and the healing. It's up to us to pick up the pieces, but no one wants to follow someone who's leadership has already failed once.>>6324797>Darkling, I became a thing of shadows, unseen or unheard, and would be a fine spy, assassin, or simply keeper of secrets. Made fleeing easier, with the means of providing some sense of continuity of the freehold's institutions to the anarchic wastrels that pass as survivors.>>6324803>A mix of these (My hands/Magic and contracts) >I have none, relying on my fae nature to give me an edgeAlas, running a tight ship and focusing on self-development left little left for synthetic improvement. But that leaves the door open for future augments, and perhaps little initial dependence.Name: QM decidesGender: M/okay with w/e if anons like this, but want a different gender.Background: SurvivorWork: AdministrationSeeming: DarklingCombat: Mix(Unarmed/Magic)Cybernetics: NoneAnnnnndd then QM has a different formatting order at the end instead of just picking prompts. Good thing I refreshed. At least it makes plan voting easier with so many choices.
>>6324794>A man>Not a local, you've just blown into town for a while. After escaping Arcadia, you were recruited into Nightmare Nick's Neverending Big Top, a travelling circus overseen by a mysterious supernatural creature with unknown motived, which has toured uninterrupted for at least 300 years, maybe even longer. There are other supernatural creatures in the crew, and nearly all of you are locked into contracts that are mystically binding in one way or another. It beats the hell out of being owned by the True Fae, but it can be hard. You'll be in Charleston for the indefinite future, and maybe find a way out.>Artist, producing beautiful works that inspire and reveal, the mortals are captivated, and if I am in the employ of a supernatural creature, it is for my creativity and vision.>Elemental, reshaped from stone, or wind, or even raging fire, I became part of my Keeper's landscape or home, and have kept that intensity in returning to the mortal world.>Magic and contracts, fae powers are capable of much>I have some, tons of people do these days
>>6324794>A woman>An agent of the True Fae that destroyed the local Freehold, called a Privateer. He caught you not long after your big escape, and convinced you to stay. In exchange for his patronage and the freedom to travel and live in the mortal world, you do his bidding, which often means catching other runaways, or killing his enemies.>Artist, producing beautiful works that inspire and reveal, the mortals are captivated, and if I am in the employ of a supernatural creature, it is for my creativity and vision.>>6324797>Fairest, I am beautiful, almost hypnotically so, made this way to be admired by my Keeper, or perhaps defiled.
>>6324803>Firearms, which I am plenty familiar with>I have none, relying on my fae nature to give me an edge
>>6324800Sorry anon, can't count incomplete votes >>6324804Sorry anon, it is a lot of choices so a tight format will make it easier for me to tally and others to reference. I will count votes that just copy the prompts, but they're a bit wordy - I wanna make the game/choices legible to people unfamiliar with C:tL so am providing extra context.
>>6324804>>6324818>>6324845Right now we have Man 2 Woman 1Survivor 1/Drifter 1/Privateer 1Administration 1/Artist 2 Darkling 1/Elemental 1/Fairest 1 Unarmed+Magic 1/Magic 1/Firearms 1 None 2/Some 1Will keep my eyes out
>>6324794>A woman>An agent of the True Fae that destroyed the local Freehold, called a Privateer. He caught you not long after your big escape, and convinced you to stay. In exchange for his patronage and the freedom to travel and live in the mortal world, you do his bidding, which often means catching other runaways, or killing his enemies.>Administration and planning, I am a consultant figure for mortals and whatever supernatural beings employ my service. I keep track of the variables as best I can to stay ahead of the competition.>Fairest, I am beautiful, almost hypnotically so, made this way to be admired by my Keeper, or perhaps defiled.>Melee weapons like knives or a large club>I have none, relying on my fae nature to give me an edge
>>6324794>A woman>An agent of the True Fae that destroyed the local Freehold, called a Privateer. He caught you not long after your big escape, and convinced you to stay. In exchange for his patronage and the freedom to travel and live in the mortal world, you do his bidding, which often means catching other runaways, or killing his enemies.>Artist, producing beautiful works that inspire and reveal, the mortals are captivated, and if I am in the employ of a supernatural creature, it is for my creativity and vision.>Fairest, I am beautiful, almost hypnotically so, made this way to be admired by my Keeper, or perhaps defiled.>Melee weapons like knives or a large club>I have none, relying on my fae nature to give me an edge
>>6324794>Something else >Not a local, you've just blown into town for a while. After escaping Arcadia, you were recruited into Nightmare Nick's Neverending Big Top, a travelling circus overseen by a mysterious supernatural creature with unknown motived, which has toured uninterrupted for at least 300 years, maybe even longer. There are other supernatural creatures in the crew, and nearly all of you are locked into contracts that are mystically binding in one way or another. It beats the hell out of being owned by the True Fae, but it can be hard. You'll be in Charleston for the indefinite future, and maybe find a way out. And your job is basically>Medical care, tending to the wounds of my comrades or coworkers, or even offering treatment to mortals with cash to spend Seeming>Fairest
>>6324925continuedName: Bran Tipstein>A mix of these (unarmed/magic) When it comes to cybernetics>I have some, tons of people do these day
>>6324803Name: Erebus (greek for deep darkness... not his original name or anything, but suits his current circumstances/Seeming)Gender: MaleBackground: Survivor (explains how he survived Arcardia and the Freehold getting wiped out)Work: Administration (always one step ahead, which is why he wasn't caught in the local Freehold extermination)Seeming: Darkling (relates to how he is able to gather intel to stay ahead of threats)Combat: Magic (shadow/dark related)Cybernetics: Some (picked up only recently after escaping Arcardia. Maybe he's selective about finding ones that augment our abilities, or compensate for weaknesses)
>>6324873Give me a couple hours to vote, QM - I want to play but won’t have time to consider options until later tonight
>>6324879>>6324911>>6324925>>6324928>>6324938Man 3/Woman 3/Other 1 Survivor 2/Drifter 2/Privateer 3 Admin 3/Artist 3/Med 1 Darkling 2/Elemental 1/Fairest 4 Melee 2/Unarmed + Magic 2/Magic 2/Firearms 1None 4/Some 3>>6324949No problem anon, I wanna give it some time
>>6324794>A man>An agent of the True Fae that destroyed the local Freehold, called a Privateer. He caught you not long after your big escape, and convinced you to stay. In exchange for his patronage and the freedom to travel and live in the mortal world, you do his bidding, which often means catching other runaways, or killing his enemies.>Security, maybe even 'wet-work', either to pay my own way as a licensed mercenary, or in service of my master, if I have one. I'm a reliable stick to swing around.>Elemental, reshaped from stone, or wind, or even raging fire, I became part of my Keeper's landscape or home, and have kept that intensity in returning to the mortal world.I would vote for Levinquick or Metalflesh - we're a natural fit for a cyber-world...>My hands, which are plenty lethal on their own>I have none, relying on my fae nature to give me an edge
I am gonna call the first set of votes here. I am gonna break some ties, too, though it looks like most of you are leaning Fairest and eager to go the bastard route of being a Privateer! Interesting! Gimme a bit to get things rolling again.
Finally, Changeling is getting some love.
Who_are_you? [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR][ADMIN-OVERRIDE-665821]Access_Granted Of course, your name is Percival Troy Black*, but most people call you Mr. Black. You are a Privateer under the custody of Agnamothrax The Jabberwocky, aka Angus Herschel Murtagh. He is unusual, even among his kind, for being immensely powerful - he is an honest to God dragon, in his True Form he is large enough to fill a gymnasium, and he is capable of wiping out entire Freeholds with just a single fit of violence. He is also unusual for spending more time in the mortal world than Arcadia. In fact, under his mortal alias, Angus Murtagh, he is the acting CEO of Syron Corporation, a vast megacorporation with a major headquarters in Charleston, SC, a major modern business hub often called the 'Paris of the South'. His ultimate motives are unknown to you, but you are glad enough to do his bidding for the life it affords you. You primarily serve him as a majordomo and envoy, you help organize and coordinate his operations, and sometimes even advise on sensitive matters. Many of your master's other servants never speak to him at all, receiving their orders instead from you. You enjoy games of chance and strategy, books (which you consume voraciously), martial arts, and oat milk cortados. You also enjoy intruding into spaces you aren't welcome, taking things that aren't yours, and looking at your reflection. You are one of the Fairest, and of robust enough Wyrd, fae magic, to manifest two separate Kiths, which are a lower classification than your Seeming. They are Larcenist, and Antiquarian. In addition to your naturally striking good looks, you move with dextrous grace that not only charms others, but greatly enhances your ability to steal from others or avoid being struck in a fight. The latter kith greatly enhances your ability to conduct research, or investigate a scene, and occasionally grants an encyclopedic insight into a specific question. Your first Keeper tasked you with the collecting of trinkets, knowledge, and sometimes even gossip as a means of earning her favor, but never granting you the satisfaction. The exhaustive desire to please her, and endless failure to do so, crushed your soul. The punishments broke your mind. You're much happier serving The Jabberwocky, he appreciates the great skill with which you order his affairs, investigate his curiosities, and acquire what he needs to accomplish his shadowy goals. You are sure that you're his favorite. *Pic Related>Cont'd
>>6325088Fuck, enreddened oh well
You have no cybernetics installed, even though Syron is a major manufacturer. Your Mask appears as a tall, dark, devilishly handsome man. You are forty two years old, but potent, with a commanding presence and gentle grace, you exude the strength and precision of a panther on the prowl. Your True Form is more severe, with a paler, alabaster complexion and hair that deepens to an inky black. The yellow tone of your eyes is almost fluorescent, and your teeth seem just a touch sharper. When it comes to blows, you are a dangerous pugilist, often relying on the knife that extends from the front of your right loafer to dispatch enemies with a kick, but your mastery of fae Contracts is significant. You command the following: >Reflections 4 You are able to observe what has occurred in a reflective surface over the prior week, use one reflective surface to look out another that you've looked into within the week, reach into one reflective surface and through another you've touched, and even step through a reflective surface and out another you've touched >Darkness 4 You can render others more susceptible to fear or intimidation, double environmental penalties to perception, prevent a sleeper from being awakened by sounds, and even move effortlessly across walls or ceilings in defiance of gravity >Board 3 You can know when someone is cheating during formal competition, gain a significant advantage in luck against someone you've previously competed against for a single action, or play a game against yourself such as solitaire or chess to predict tactical developments in a conflict >Smoke 2 You can leave the markings of an animal like paw prints instead of yourself, or even leave no trace of your passing at all >Omen 2 You can perceive someone's very worst memory, and you can sometimes glimpse into the very near future Using contracts usually requires you expend Glamour, the emotional energy of humans. You can harvest it from them by inducing it. Sometimes you steel sentimental possessions to harvest their sorrow, or anger. Sometimes you seduce clueless humans just to reject them, or even break their hearts, even bedding them on rare occasions, though it hardly interests you anymore. Sometimes still you enjoy a game of poker or chess, especially with bets at stake, to stir up strong feelings in humans that interest you. You are able to store Twenty (20) points of Glamour at a time, and some of your powers require more than others. >Cont'd
Your master has many enemies, and it is your task to stay steps ahead of them, keeping his machinations unobstructed by their petty attempts to defy him. As the Director of Operations for Syron, you have authority over several battalions of paramilitary infantry and special security forces, and as majordomo for The Jabberwocky you oversee a number of hobgoblin operatives in the area, and a handful of other Privateers in your master's employ. All of you are bound to Pledges that ensure your perfect fealty, and breaking these vows of servitude is instantly lethal. You have only seen one servant break their Pledge, and her head immediately rolled off of her shoulders and onto the floor, dead. You are directly at odds with the following factions: >The Remnants Of The Broken Chain These are the half dozen Changelings that remain of the once powerful Freehold of Broken Chains. They are also known as The Chain Gang. These holdouts are not to be trifled with. They owe the length of their survival to tenacity, and their evasion to skill. Their singular goal is to destroy The Jabberwocky, and they will stop at nothing to see it through. >Karloff An ancient shapeshifting vampire, Karloff has styled himself the leader of the supernatural creatures in Charleston, the ones that pretend at civility, at least. Vampires, witches, ghosts, and a few stranger creatures between. They've outlawed werewolves in the city, and created bylaws to abide by. For now, this Shadow Society of his has a tenuous agreement to respect territorial borders with Syron, but there is a cold war at play, and this city isn't big enough for there to be a second king of the monsters. >Cheiron Global Not just your business rivals, Cheiron has a secret paramilitary R&D wing, the Field Projects Division, staffed by mad scientists and monster hunters. Agents of the FPD undergo surgical procedures where body parts harvested from the creatures they hunt - werewolves, vampires, Changelings, and everything else bumping in the night - are grafted onto them or implanted, giving them a deadly edge in combat. They have a bounty on you, and have succeeded in capturing employees of yours before. >Cont'd
Like all fae creatures, you are grievously wounded by Cold Iron, and none of your abilities can affect it even indirectly. Your Clarity is somewhat low. You are possessed of an alien intellect. You are more Them than you are you. Enslaving other Changelings, and managing the schemes of The Jabberwocky have taken a toll. As a result, you have taken on several Curses, or Frailties, the bans and banes of fairytale creatures. You suffer the following conditions: >If someone says Mr. Black while tossing coins or money to the ground, you are compelled to count all of it, and ifvyou resist the urge, you are (modestly) harmed each minute that passes until you relent >Light produced by a black candle burns your skin to the touch, and terrifies you to your core, forcing you to flee >You cannot pass through, or mystically affect in any way, a mirror with a kiss mark left on it in black lipstick>Part of your True Form can be seen through the Mask, your yellow eyes. Though they don't shine with magic, and have a naturalistic shade to them, it's still a hue not natural to humans. Thankfully, most assume that these are a cosmetic done with gene-tech or a basic cybernetic implant. We are not going to be going strictly by the book, many of you may not have played C:tL before, I think it'd be clunky to use all the stats from the sheet and mechanics and so forth. There will be handwavium and Rule of Cool. This quest will mainly use 1d100 and when a Vote is prompted, you may select One Option from those listed, and if you choose Write In for dialogue in particular, try not to cram in too many topics for me to cover, ask two questions max. I reserve the right to ignore votes that push the envelope. I sometimes will progress the story on a single vote, if I have an itch to write and a few hours have passed. >Cont'd
Now that all of this is established, I am going to get started writing the setup for our story!
Who_are_you? [ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR][ADMIN-OVERRIDE-683471][ENGAGE_CHAPTER_ONE] Sequence_Initiated:Welcome_2_Wonderland It's become another long night at the office. The start of the month often comes with a swell of meetings, but you have only two left for the evening. You're never exactly 'off the clock', but you do ever so enjoy your leisure time - you're thinking of going out to play some cards, or have yourself a coffee at the waterfront. There was an apartment window you glanced at last week on Andrews Island you've been curious to break into. But you don't allow yourself to be too distracted by these goblinoid whims of yours. There is work to be done, always, and work at hand, now. "Tell me about the last phase of onboarding, Wyatt, is she acclimating well?" You ask, proceeding down the corridor of Syron HQ's fifteenth floor. You're dressed in a light grey linen two piece suit, with a black and silver paisley necktie, and black wingtip shoes. Your hands are clasped behind you, but as you pass the large windows overlooking the harbor, you stop for a moment to regard your reflection in the glass, running a hand through your hair, and smiling. The drone floating alongside you responds cheerily. "Very well, sir, very well. Fourth phase onboarding package was completed at 1500 EST today, and reflects promising fidelity with first phase aptitude tests, mental evaluation, and her Klein-Brinkley survey. With your final approval, Dr. Monroe will begin formal employment tomorrow, reporting to Halberd Labs at 0800 EST for on-site orientation." It says. The machine is roughly the size and shape of a basketball, with a glossy white plating, and floats at the height of your shoulder, keeping pace easily. On its front is one large, red optic lens, with two smaller circular lenses just below it - a ticking clock on the left, and a port with a closed aperture sealing it on the right. This helpful little robot is White Rabbit 01, your primary assistant in organizing the operations of Syron, but you call it Wyatt for short. It's loosely based on the Secretary-Class Herald Mk II that your company produces, but customized to your exacting specifications. The drone is capable of projecting holograms, interfacing with wireless electronics, variable spectrum scanning (thermal, UV, etc) and recording, with a single-issue AI manicured perfectly for the endless work of keeping your world on schedule. You nod, stopping in front of the door to conference room 15-J, and turn on your smile before entering. >Cont'd
Inside is a black, oval-shaped table surrounded by white leather desk chairs, with a holo-caster built into the middle of the ceiling, surrounded by a larger, circular florescent light that illuminates the room. The far wall is all window, overlooking the battery, and on the left and right, the walls are all LED screen, currently displaying the company logo, a crimson red hexagon with two diagonal lines inside that make it into an 'S'. Seated at the near end of the table is Dr. Morgan Monroe, with a clipboard, packet of documents, tablet, and manila envelope all stacked in front of her. You aren't often surprised, a quality you take great pride in, but momentarily you're stunned at finally meeting the doctor face to face. She's beautiful. You knew that, of course, you've reviewed the personnel file a dozen times at least, but it's different finally being in a room with her. Just an inch shorter than you at 6', with a pale complexion and short platinum hair. She deserves the twinkle of confidence behind her grin. You stay collected though, and extend a hand to her as the door closes behind you. "Dr. Monroe, so good to finally meet." You say. She rises to her feet to shake your hand. Hers are both synthetic, and her grip is correspondingly firm, but carefully so. "Yes, thank you, so glad to meet you too, Mr. Black. I'm really looking forward to my work here, this place is like nothing I've ever seen." She says, and returns to her seat. You circle around and take the adjacent seat to her on the other side of the table, and Wyatt stays put by the door, hovering silently and observing. "Firstly, I want to congratulate you on your new position. The competition was stiff, but you came highly recommended. Mr. Murtagh took a personal interest after an initial brief on your bonafides." You begin. You snap your fingers and Wyatt syncs with the holo-caster. The lights in the room dim and a translucent file on Monroe is displayed by hologram above the table. Doctorate of Biomechanical Engineering, Doctorate of Genetic Engineering, advanced degrees in pharmacology, software integration, and cyber-psychology cycle through, as if to back you up. It's all the more impressive at her 36 years of age. She manages to conceal a well-earned smirk, and nods respectfully. "That's flattering to know, thank you." She says at first, shifting in her seat. "It's no secret that Halberd Labs is the crown jewel here at Syron, I'd consider it an honor just to be in the facilities at all." She adds. >Cont'd
You smile and nod affirmatively. "Correct, it's our most valuable subsidiary. The R&D department has seven sectors, as you know, but the one you will be managing is six, which is also the most valuable of the lot. Six is responsible for the refinement of Android technology. You've already toured the research wing and testing floor, and received briefs on current projects." You start, and again, the hologram display keeps pace, now showing research documents, sales figures, and images from the labs. "Where do you see opportunities for improvement, and what resources do you need in addition to those currently allocated?" You ask, digging right into the matter at hand. Her head cants to the side slightly as she regards the display, contemplating an answer for a short moment. "Well, the current operation is very impressive, but there are points of friction. Androids have a bound AI, which cannot be separated from the hardware, the body, right? Unlike a drone that can be operated by whatever AI is installed or exchanged, Android technology relies on the territorial intelligence of existing in a fixed body to produce a lifelike intellect. The Asimov Matrix used to compel and constrain behavior is genius for its simplicity and modularity, but I suspect there is a margin for alteration, and with the proper adjustments, our facility could cut the binding procedure in less than half, from five weeks of meditative dormancy to roughly two." She explains, gesturing to formulae and scraps of code as they flit by. She glances to you, and goes on. "I'd only need three additional servers and a processing drone to begin, and then I could reassign technicians to a small special project team to begin troubleshooting. I could have preliminary findings for you in a month, I believe. Would that be adequate?" What do you say? >Impressive and ambitious, this could dramatically reduce costs and increase production scale, I want you to pursue it. Use design lab 4, I'll have it equipped accordingly. I appreciate your initiative, being Director of Operations keeps me very busy and I need more employees that can look after themselves without supervision. >Androids are our flagship proprietary technology, no one else has managed to create synthetic life of this kind. Wait a while before you start tinkering too much. I'll approve the supply order when you have a more thorough plan, which I expect in two weeks. >This could massively improve production scale while cutting costs, but I will select the technicians for your team. I hope you don't mind my taking a hands on approach, but I think working together will help you settle in. >Write in
Yes, the True Fae dragon is CEO of the one megacorp on Earth capable of producing synthetic humans, Androids. Yes, in addition to catching free/runaway Changelings, you are sometimes tasked with capturing defective, runaway Androids. You distribute them from Charleston, and the economic activity produced from doing so is a significant part of what has made Charleston such a large, advanced urban center.
Also, while I wait for votes, I am gonna check in here and say that my intention is for this story to be action, noir, and horror heavy, but I am open-minded to other themes and types of stories if that's what anons want. I noticed a lot of Fairest votes, for example, and if we want to get the most out of those good looks, I'm curious as to whether anyone WANTS a romance arc in this story? I am not gonna write smut here, or anything, but I feel like I should present some options for romantic pursuit and let you guys do what you will. So, I guess respond to this post, if you're inclined, to tell me what you want out of this story. Do you want lots of fighting? Do you want it to be scary? Percy is DOO of Syron, so we can get into granular asset management if anons prefer something more strategy oriented, akin to a civ quest. Romance is on the table, straight or otherwise (or both, IDC, Percy definitely seems the type to swing both ways, to me). Do you want to spend a lot of time in the hedge (the fae border realm between the mortal world and Arcadia), or like your master (and most changelings), do you refer the human world?
>>6325297>Impressive and ambitious, this could dramatically reduce costs and increase production scale, I want you to pursue it. Use design lab 4, I'll have it equipped accordingly. I appreciate your initiative, being Director of Operations keeps me very busy and I need more employees that can look after themselves without supervision.>but stipulations!“I also insist that you set a six-month timetable, with intermediate goals of 5 and 4 week dormancy, and rigorous longitudinal behavioral investigations of the modified androids. I will also handpick a second team to independent validate in a blinded fashion. Dr. Monroe, financial success is downstream of reputational success. The android product line is unimpeachable - do NOT puncture the market’s confidence in us.”
>>6325297>Impressive and ambitious>>6325526+1 I guess. Let her know that she is on probation, or something similarShe needs to produce results without wasting capital etc. and while there might not be supervision, there will be oversight and accountability.Regarding the story, I think it is important for you as the QM to enjoy what you're writing or you'll burn out.Lets go with the themes that you have. I think if you give options for things we can pursue then the player base can decide where they want to spend their time.Regarding the sim/asset management, you could have a board meeting once a month where we get updates on what our rivals are doing and we can make plans of our own (kind of a faction turn). Then we can do individual scenes for what we put our attention to, and then return again later to the board meeting to find out if our faction initiatives were successful or not. That way there is a bit of macro and micro narrative going on.Also even if the MC is staying in a single place, we could do a POV to an asset sent across the hedge if you wanted the variety (e.g. choose which faction plot to zoom in on during the month and the other things happen in the background). But basically write what you want and it'll be enjoyable.
>>6325297Support >>6325526>>6325365I'm fine with romance, if you can write a convincing one. Basically I'd need to be convinced that both partners are getting something out of the relationship. That someone of Percy's status would risk using his valuable time pursuing, when Fae punishments are on the line if he slips too much. That he would have a sense of interiority, an emotional need for a relationship, and how that could work what with him being who he is, Privateer, favoured servant of Agnamothrax, low Clarity guy. And vice versa for the partner.Personally I'd prefer a straight romance, but I won't throw a fit if there's some flirting with someone who isn't a woman. If anything, I only preferred a male MC to avoid the anti-yuri debates, and the arguments that seem to flare up to a much harsher degree regarding a FeMC's sexuality.For themes, I'm fine with your selection, though I'd think that we wouldn't get involved much in the action, even if we are capable. The scale you've outlined for the paramilitary forces and various factions likely to be involved in the story feels appropriate, but also means that I personally wouldn't be convinced that we'd ever need to get involved. Maybe as a tactician or to deal with supernatural elements that can't be matched otherwise, as a tracker, consultant, investigator, or infiltrator perhaps, but certainly not for firepower or for lack of numbers, at least not in the mortal world.Otherwise, it's a cyberpunk world, so I'd like to see how the supernatural interacts with the future, tech and society. How does Percy keep his humanity, if at all?Would prefer to stay in the mortal world, but a trip to the hedge wouldn't be out of place, to see your take on it and how it is in the current day. Or for goblin markets.Regarding how management-y or civ-like to be, I prefer to have a more interpersonal style, if that makes sense, e.g managing superior-subordinate relationships and managing your staff, outlining plans, dealing with events, or proactively making things happen, less formal civ-quest turn structure where you use action points to pick between "invest in farming" or "invest in magic".
>>6325585>>6325633Thanks for the feedback guys! I'm in a similar headspace on a lot of this - Percy is dangerous, but still a Fairest that fights with his hands, so combat is not his forte, and he has underlings for that. I feel similarly about him falling in love, too, and for now I'm not sure what kind of character would be able to have a relationship like that with him. I do have a really good idea for an ex of his, but will just have to see how he develops. I was already thinking of 'board meetings', and planned for that to be the next thing we do after getting our feet wet (and a little exposition) with Monroe. I'll plan on doing another temp check later in the story to see if folks want more strategy or less action etc. Should have a few chunks of time today to do some writing, too(: >>6325526>>6325585>>6325633And locking in on this vote
"I see you're appropriately ambitious, Doctor." You begin, leaning back in your seat and crossing your legs, as if put at ease by her initiative. "Use design lab 4, we're about to cycle programming so it should be available without you having to disturb the prior schedule, from there we'll render the sector six agenda to your discretion. I'm going to handpick a second team to validate your findings in a blinded fashion. Please, take no offense, you aren't exactly on proba-" You start to say, dishing out some of that disarming politeness you rely on so often in the office, but she cuts you off. "Probation? No, I'm not offended, I don't see it as probationary. From what I'm told, someone with your attention to detail and efficiency wouldn't spare a second team unless you felt confident I may actually make real progress on this, right?" She interjects, looking a bit smug to have your support. You nod, smirking. "You've been told rightly, then. If you succeed, it could drastically improve scale. But this is our flagship product, and our financial success is downstream of reputational success. So don't rush yourself. I think you'll find the software... unintuitive, but take that a sign of your own sanity, not a defect of the intellect. You're not in Kansas anymore. The sector six lab... Well, simply put, it can be challenging." A beat passes. "Of course, you've been hired because we believe you can meet those challenges." She straightens her posture a bit, and nods. "Yes, absolutely. I did hear, well... Well nevermind. I know this will likely defy many of my expectations." The doctor says, breaking eye contact to stare at the holo-display. "You heard what?" You pry. You're leveraging your position as the interviewer, and not allowing that slip of hers to slide. Your curiosity is, as ever, insatiable, especially where work is concerned. You have a suspicion what she is going to say, of course, and still you press. >Cont'd
>>6325695Doctor Monroe glances to you, and the floor, feeling awkward to be put on the spot. But she's now coward. "Well, of course, I'm aware that Dr. Kenton resigned last year, which comes as little surprise, she hadn't even been seen publicly for at least five years before that. I can't imagine the toll it would take on me to introduce this world-changing technology, and be so... Well." She sighs, and meets your eyes. "I suppose I shouldn't be coy. I heard recently that Dr. Kenton was put under a guardianship for mental infortitude. High science can be a small world, I know her family wanted to keep it quiet, but a colleague was lamenting that they no longer speak, and had done a touch of investigating." She's sad as she recounts it, but offers you a shy half-smile towards the end. "But who can blame her? The death threats, the stalking, even with all of your security, there will always be people that find this technology unacceptable, and three decades of that puritanical hatred could probably drive anyone... I don't know, sorry, again, I shouldn't have said anything. I know what I'm getting into. You can trust me to be ready for this." She concludes, reassuring herself maybe as much as she's attempting to reassure you. As she expounds on what she meant, your demeanor becomes cold, and yet you maintain your poise perfectly. You know quite a bit more about this than Monroe, and so aren't surprised, even if you are slightly displeased. Without a name given, you know the colleague she referred to is Professor Simsek from MIT, as you were aware that he had discovered the declaration of mental infortitude, and kept it quiet in order to not bring shame on his former friend. His gossiping isn't a concern. Still, it would have been ideal if Monroe wasn't aware of the difficulties with her predecessor. Thankfully, she doesn't know the true reason for Kenton's relocation, which extends well beyond hate mail over her decidedly blasphemous creations. You clear your throat. "We do, Dr. Monroe. Thank you for disclosing that, and yes... It is very sad. She's been through a lot since the discovery, and we try to honor her here by continuing to refine her greatest work." There's a pause that clings to the silence between you after that just a hair too long. "Well, thank you, Mr. Black, is there anything else you need from me before I begin work tomorrow?" She finally says. >Cont'd
>>6325696"No, no, thank you. When you arrive at the facility they'll scan your biometrics, when you leave tonight the security guard will issue you a temporary ID badge for the lab, by end of day tomorrow you'll have your permanent badge." You reply with a quick smile. "Set a six month timetable for your work on the Asimov Matrix, if you will. There will be heightened oversight for the first three quarters, but you have our confidence." You add, and then uncross your legs. When you snap your fingers, the lighting returns to normal and the holo-display fades. "Do you need anything else from me, Dr. Monroe? More than anything I was just hoping we should meet face to face briefly before you formally begin. I have a tendency to mother a few of the sectors at Herald, I'm sure you understand." She does, and it shows in the polite way she nods. "Well... One thing, Mr. Black. I can't help but ask. They say you're the backbone of this place, that you keep all the trains running on time, the I's dotted and T's crossed. In four years you've progressed from consultant to member of the board, and the rumor is that you more or less oversee the other four directors as well... Would you mind my asking for a touch of professional advice? What do you think is the most important quality for success here?" The doctor asks, starting to gather up her things and placing them in her lap. Before you go, what do you say? >It's about vision. Plenty of people imagine a world where human labor is replaced and artificial life sustains our society. Syron has imagined a way to make it possible. Think big. Then think bigger.>It's about tenacity. You have to be competitive, willing to take risks, and looking for ways to prove yourself to your peers. Herald Labs has acquired a lot of talent, it'll be easy to get drowned out, so do what you have to in order to stay ahead of the rest. >It's about precision. We are fast, adaptable, and thorough. We hit our numbers and make our marks every time. If you want to succeed here, you have to stick to the current, be cohesive, able to fulfill instructions with total reliability and obedience.
>>6325697“I appreciate the question, Dr. Monroe - but you’ve framed it too simply. There is no single quality or secret to my success - but if there is one, it is adaptability and discernment. When there is a need for precision - I am precise. When there is a need for rapidity - I make myself so. Adaptability and discernment will carry you very far, even if the subtleties of the Asimov Matrix are a mystery. Oh - and never forget - all of this that exists here - it is the property of Murtagh and Murtagh alone, whatever the shareholders believe. Respect that ownership and the implications therein, and you will do well.”
>>6325697>It's about precision. We are fast, adaptable, and thorough. We hit our numbers and make our marks every time. If you want to succeed here, you have to stick to the current, be cohesive, able to fulfill instructions with total reliability and obedience.
>>6325697>>6325781+1
>>6325697Support >>6325705Though if it isn't appropriate advice for her - she's a scientist and we're a manger - then I'm fine with precision. Meeting the mark reliably is a great thing, others can set the vision, but that vision needs someone to fulfill it. Otherwise one gets too big for their britches, more ambition than capability. If I were advising her on how to get promoted, then I'd say be tenacious, but moulding her towards career success rather than being a good scientist isn't what I want. Advising adaptability and discernment bridges that gap, helping with both, I think.
You consider for a moment, almost charmed by the earnestness of the question. "At the risk of sounding cliche, I'd suggest that there is no single quality that is most essential, though perhaps different roles may favor one or the other more heavily. Upper management and executive personnel at Syron excel across the board. If we have anything most in common... It would be adaptability. Discernment and resourcefulness will carry you very far, here. Things move fast, you need to know what to be, and when, and how." You say, finally. With that, you rise up to your feet, and feeling permitted to do so, she stands as well. "That would be my professional advice. A touch of personal advice? Anything and everything produced at Halberd Labs is the property of Syron, meaning really it is the property of Mr. Murtagh. His personal property. Be mindful of that. Always." You add, and while your voice is soft, and the tone polite, the look in your eye imparts a chill that causes Monroe to stand up just a bit straighter, and she nods. Feeling understood, you extend a hand to her. She shakes it. "Yes, naturally, and thank you again for seeing me. I look forward to working together with you." Monroe says, tucking the clipboard and other materials under an arm. "Of course, doctor, welcome to Syron. We'll do great things, of that I'm sure. You'll pardon my brevity, but I'd feel terribly keeping you any later, and I still have one final appointment." You reply, and with a final nod from her, you exit the conference room. She's out behind you, but you're both walking in opposite directions along the corridor - her towards the elevators to reach the security installation, the lobby, and parking, while you're making your way to the executive elevator, which reaches the upper floors. >Cont'd
>>6325885You hang a left, and Wyatt pipes up. "Vincent tried to call while you were in your meeting, sir, I offered to take a message." He begins. This elicits a quirked brow from you. "And the message was?" You ask, maintaining your pace through the building. "His response was to tell me to tumble down a hole." The drone answers. Same old Vince. "He did, however, follow up with a couple of text messages for you, sir." Wyatt continues, using his holo-caster to display the chat log in front of you as you walk. [Lotti's 2nite????] [ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ] The third text is four cocktail glass emojis and a sunglasses face emoji at the end. Same old Vince alright, wanting to booze around a shithole bar and probably harvest some glamour. At least he sounds like himself, though you aren't sure how long that may last. On the one hand, he is your ex, and certifiably batshit. On the other hand, he is probably your only real 'friend' (maybe even your best friend, since breaking up 8 years ago). He's honestly the only Changeling you know, and can enjoy your time with, aside from the handful that are on Syron's payroll - and really, you can't even enjoy yourself around all of them. "Tell him I'll be there when I'm finished with the board meeting, but it can't be like last time." You say to Wyatt. Stirring up and harvesting some feelings sounds to you like the perfect way to end the work day, and kicking back a few drinks at one of your favorite bars seems equally as favorable. You just hope he doesn't have an episode. Or at least not a bad one. >Cont'd
>>6325886Eventually, you make it to the exec elevator, Wyatt in tow, and approach the security interface. "Good evening Mr. Black, please stand by for full biometric scanning. Place both hands on the pads in front of you, and face the optic lens directly." Says a neutral, feminine voice from the speaker, and you comply. As lasers begin caressing your figure and reading your iris, it goes on. "Please say aloud your designation for the vocal identification system. It says. "Looking Glass" You reply, tone even and voice clear. "Thank you, Mr. Black, access granted." The machine answers, and the doors slide open to permit your entry. The executive elevator has a sleek, barren interior, with no reflective surfaces on the inside. It's spacious as well, capable of moving at least a dozen people comfortably. It's also fast, and in no time at all you have risen another twenty six floors, to the forty first, where the conference room for the Board of Directors is located, and you make your way there in short order, passing two more security checkpoints to do so. The boardroom is really more of a war room, with companies of your size being more like governments in some respects. Of the more than two million people living in Charleston, Syron employs sixty thousand through its various subsidiaries, and indirectly employs another hundred thousand. Since establishing the regional HQ here seventy years ago, more of the company's focus has gradually shifted, and the distribution network - most of all the shipyards and harbor - have now made this the seat of Syron's power. Mr. Murtagh lives in the penthouse on the fifty second floor, and many employees reside in the residential wards that comprise some of the lower floors. There is a black, circular table in the middle of the chamber, with a holo-caster situated in the center, and five chairs surrounding it, four of them occupied. You're not last for a lack of timeliness on your part, in fact, you are exactly on time. The others preceded you because of how you have instilled promptness in all of them over the last five years you have served on the board as Director of Operations. Before that, as Monroe mentioned, you climbed from consultant to senior manager to department president and finally to the director's chair. All that after being 'aggressively recruited', to put it lightly, by Mr. Murtagh personally, who has maintained an interest in your particular talents for finding, learning, and acquiring what he needs.>Cont'd
>>6325886Eventually, you make it to the exec elevator, Wyatt in tow, and approach the security interface. "Good evening Mr. Black, please stand by for full biometric scanning. Place both hands on the pads in front of you, and face the optic lens directly." Says a neutral, feminine voice from the speaker, and you comply. As lasers begin caressing your figure and reading your iris, it goes on. "Please say aloud your designation for the vocal identification system. It says. "Looking Glass" You reply, tone even and voice clear. "Thank you, Mr. Black, access granted." The machine answers, and the doors slide open to permit your entry. The executive elevator has a sleek, barren interior, with no reflective surfaces on the inside. It's spacious as well, capable of moving at least a dozen people comfortably. It's also fast, and in no time at all you have risen another twenty six floors, to the forty first, where the conference room for the Board of Directors is located, and you make your way there in short order, passing two more security checkpoints to do so. The boardroom is really more of a war room, with companies of your size being more like governments in some respects. Of the more than two million people living in Charleston, Syron employs sixty thousand through its various subsidiaries, and indirectly employs another hundred thousand. Since establishing the regional HQ here seventy years ago, more of the company's focus has gradually shifted, and the distribution network - most of all the shipyards and harbor - have now made this the seat of Syron's power. Mr. Murtagh lives in the penthouse on the fifty second floor, and many employees reside in the residential wards that comprise some of the lower floors. There is a black, circular table in the middle of the chamber, with a holo-caster situated in the center, and five chairs surrounding it, four of them occupied. You're not last for a lack of timeliness on your part, in fact, you are exactly on time. The others preceded you because of how you have instilled promptness in all of them over the last five years you have served on the board as Director of Operations. Before that, as Monroe mentioned, you climbed from consultant to senior manager to department president and finally to the director's chair. All that after being 'aggressively recruited', to put it lightly, by Mr. Murtagh personally, who has maintained an interest in your particular talents for finding, learning, and acquiring what he needs. >Cont'd
Fug didn't mean to double, having connection problems>>6325888The other four members of the board are: Aster Dunnleath, director of marketing, Eugene Brighton, director of development, Jonah Teague, director of security, and Estelle Andrenada, director of public affairs. Ostensibly the five of you are on equal footing, but as it's your duty to oversee all of the daily operations and goings-on in the company, along with Murtagh's ear, you have a margin of authority over your peers on certain occasions, and you've proven the efficacy of abiding by your designs many times over. Aster and Jonah are both Changelings, like yourself, and Estelle is a witch. Eugene has no supernatural abilities, but he and Estelle are both Ensorcelled via pledge, and as such can see past the Mask, and recognize fae creatures for what they are. Everyone in the room knows what their chief executive actually is. They are all satisfied to serve him, as are you, despite only ever seeming to know parts of his plans, and rarely the full picture. Board meetings are, ultimately, about putting those parts into action and keeping the entire organization highly profitable, highly secure, and highly effective for whatever it is that Mr. Murtagh desires. You're the first to speak, greeting the others as you make your way to your seat. "Good evening, team, let's try to keep things brief, I'm sure everyone is tired." The first hour revolves around what it ought to - sales, advertising programs, recruitment, pensions, stocks for any subsidiaries that are publicly traded. It's largely routine. After that, you move on to material that is more narrow in scope. "Alright, let's get into the blood and guts for a minute." Jonah says, throwing up a holo-display that shows security personnel, maps of the city, and the like. Teague and you work closely, moreso than the others, as the deployment of security and paramilitary agents - or worse - often merits your personal oversight. "P.T., why don't you tell me where to start? We have intel regarding some disruptions in Karloff's community, possible lead on a member of the Chain Gang, and the usual status report on our troops." What do you want to discuss first? >What's going on in Karloff's Shadow Society? >What do you have on the Chain Gang? >Status report on the in-house PMC
>>6325890>Status report on the in-house PMCWhere we stand informs what we can do to our adversaries in the moment.
>>6325890>Status report on the in-house PMCThis seems most prudent
>>6325890>Status report on the in-house PMCjust going with the flow, since it seems like we'll get to all the points eventually.
"In that case, brief me on HOC first, then we'll work our way back to the more interesting stuff with an immediate idea of what we can throw at it." You reply, crossing your legs and leaning back. Megacorps that want to survive have muscle to flex. For Syron, that muscle is its subsidiary paramilitary corporation: House of Cards. Fully licensed for urban warfare, and suited to the task. The organization is divided into two main camps, Whites, and Reds. The former are your standard PMC soldiers, deployed for security, hostile engagement, infiltration, exfiltration, recon, and sabotage. Like the vast majority of Syron employees (and humanity as a whole), they have no idea that monsters are real, vampires stalk the night, or fairytale creatures hide in their attics and steal children from their cribs - and sometimes sign their paychecks. The latter, Reds, are a much, much smaller force, but they are aware of all that fucked up stuff. Some of them are former monster hunters, some of them have family members that are supernatural, or have just survived attacks. Syron uses an array of tactics to track down potential recruits, and vet them for candidacy. Within the two divisions, standard infantry units are referred to as Numbers, while those with leadership roles are designated Faces. Generally, there is a ratio of one Face to twenty Numbers, with a Squad being six units with no more than one Face, and a full Brigade is twenty one with one to three Faces. >Cont'd
>>6326094Jonah clears his throat and begins manipulating the holo-display to run through the figures. "You'll have exact figures uploaded to White Rabbit shortly, forgive me for rounding in the meantime, P.T., I know you love your granularity." He begins, and then starts pointing to some graphs. "Current total employment at HOC is hovering around four and a half thousand, but if we remove logistics, support, and maintenance we are left with roughly two thousand infantry units. That means about a hundred or so Faces, and nineteen hundred Numbers. We are sitting on an exact one hundred and thirteen Reds at the moment, which is high, and everything else is Whites." He says, and the graphs continue to follow his words to provide a visual. He crosses his arms, glancing between you and the display. "We've continued your plan of offering rebates and insurance subsidies for Halberd brand combat cybernetics, and now over sixty percent of the force has at least one cybernetic weapon or limb, and over seventy five percent have combat enhancing cyber implants of some kind, typically to a sensory organ, but this includes subdermal armor plating." You nod, pleased to hear there's been a three percent rise in the last month. "Excellent. How are we matching up then?" You pry further. "Well, the other regional powers are Yamamori Industries, Cheiron Global, and Waltex Limited. Our worst cards can squash Waltex goons on their best day, and are about evenly matched with most Yamamori infantry, though the elites can give us trouble. Cheiron still has us outclassed." Jonah admits, giving you half a glance as he explains. He gestures to the logo for Argo, their main PMC. "Even their standard infantry are a nightmare to deal with lately. Argo has a new proprietary combat drugs they call Nectar. Definitely cooked up by the FPD. On the occasion we secure a sample, testing is inconclusive. Could be derived from demon ichor or werewolf spunk for all we know." As he explains this, the display shows mercenaries recovering from bullet wounds in seconds, and tearing limbs off of heavily armored combat drones. He sighs. "Argo has a branch for FPD operatives, the Arrows. They take the same drugs, have many of the same cybernetics, plus they've got monster bits stitched onto them. Analogous to our Reds, but twice as nasty, and outnumber ours by about three to one as of this past month, a forty two percent increase in the region. It suggests they're preparing for defensive or offensive action." "I see. Anything else?" You're terse in your reply, it's definitely bad news. Jonah nods. "Yes, we have four hundred infantry drones, two hundred heavy combat drones, and one hundred aerial combat drones. Our drone force is larger than any two other PMC's combined, and that's a solid advantage. I've also noted that Dr. Monroe begins work tomorrow at sector six... I want to resubmit the proposal for developing combat capable Androids." >Cont'd
>>6326095This causes a couple of the others to glance between each other before all eyes land on you. The inventor of Androids, Dr. Kenton, refused to entertain the possibility, having developed them purely as laborers. Her mental decline had already begun years prior, but it seemed to become even more severe after vetoing the combat program. It hasn't been discussed as a possibility since. Decide whether or not to proceed with the Android project >Yes, it would give us a massive advantage in military force, and would make the product far more marketable>No, Kenton had her reasons, and Monroe is too new for such an undertaking And choose TWO of the following options for HOC and Halberd Labs to pursue >Recruit more Reds, it's slow and expensive but they're crucial for defending against supernatural enemies >Produce more combat drones, they are vulnerable to hacking but immune to many supernatural powers that influence mortal minds and bodies, and can be deployed against monsters without revealing the dark truth of the world>Sector two is Halberd's pharma division, focus efforts on providing them with a viable sample of Nectar, and their resources on discovering its makeup>Begin a pilot program to equip Reds with enchanted weaponry from Goblin Markets, using fae magic could eventually allow you to match Cheiron's Arrows >Deploy Red squads to infiltrate and investigate the purpose of Argo's troop movements to the area, it'll save you the time of looking into it personally, and you want to know what they're planning >Sector four is Halberd's weaponry division, allocate resources for them to produce more powerful infantry firearms and armor that can be issued to both White and Red mercenaries for higher effectiveness >Ready for possible incursions by Cheiron, double HOC security deployment at all Syron facilities and triple it for the HQ until further notice, it may somewhat limit the ability to perform offense, but protecting assets is worth it >Use a few White brigades to sabotage Yamamori and Waltex installations undetected, and leave evidence pointing to Cheiron, if Argo is going to move more muscle to the area you should instigate hostilities in order to spread their attention and force thinner
>>6326099>No, Kenton had her reasons, and Monroe is too new for such an undertakingMaybe once Monroe has her bearings, we could entertain this, but she’s too green for it now.>Produce more combat drones, they are vulnerable to hacking but immune to many supernatural powers that influence mortal minds and bodies, and can be deployed against monsters without revealing the dark truth of the world.>Deploy Red squads to infiltrate and investigate the purpose of Argo's troop movements to the area, it'll save you the time of looking into it personally, and you want to know what they're planning.Information is more valuable than defense-stacking at this point, and dronemaxxing seems synergistic given that we may have combatdroids relatively soon
I'm gonna leave this vote open for a while, these are possibly big decisions and bc of the variety it could take a bit for some consensus/plurality to occur. No write ins, and please going forward, unless you see Write In as an option, just choose from those provided. Let me know if it feels exposition heavy, but I def wanted to plunge right into the Administration & Planning aspect of things, and that means a good dose of context. Even for folks familiar w/ WoD, the cyberpunk future is going to diverge in some ways and need explaining.Happy Halloween /qst/ (:
>>6326094Hmm, so to be clear, divisions and brigades do indicate larger units but they aren't like real life sized military units? Maybe I misunderstood with the ratio talk and everything. One of our HOC brigades is like a demi-platoon or a small platoon? And a HOC squad is like a fireteam, or half a RL squad? Also, when we say 'leadership roles' is that including NCOs/Warrant Officer equivalents, or does it only mean officers?>>6326095Ah, yes, so not RL unit sizes. Still impressive though, we have more paramilitary dudes than there are police officers in most big greater metropolitan areas, just including the actual shooters.Cheiron is definitely the biggest threat, as I thought.>>6326099>No, Kenton had her reasons, and Monroe is too new for such an undertaking We haven't sounded her out yet, and she's more specialized in bio-psych AI stuff. Integrating androids with heavy metal and giving them more freedom, while trying to get the right psychology for a firefight is different from just being a grunt labourer. Save our resources, take time to cultivate our human capital.>Recruit more Reds, it's slow and expensive but they're crucial for defending against supernatural enemies >Sector two is Halberd's pharma division, focus efforts on providing them with a viable sample of Nectar, and their resources on discovering its makeupGain more elites, and even out the edge our opposition has over us. The drones will keep us from being decisively overwhelmed qualitatively, but over-relying on them will just see us catastrophically collapse the moment our opponents roll out some fancy hack or new EM weapon.We can handle Argo in our own time, though we'll have to watch out for their hunters, given our bounty.
>>6326121When we say 'leadership roles', I am referring to officers trained to coordinate and command at the squad and brigade level (and yes, our definition of squad/brigade is different from current modern military, 6 and 21 respectively). Faces can be expected to be capable of leading in the field and under pressure, performing certain specialist tasks on their own like assassination or surveillance, etc, and typically have more cybernetics and higher body counts than Numbers.
