Heritage

Wow, I love both those ideas, Saku! The first one would work well for the outdoorsy Casey (aka Miracle Girl), and the staff of Silberman's Books are naturals for the auction, which is a perfect reason for Grim and/or Shrike to become involved. Now we just need a GM or two who might like to run these; any takers?

Hey gang! So I'd really like to get my characters into more threads; my posting rate's a bit slower now, but I'm in here almost every day and I love a good yarn. I am equally willing to work with both vets and newbies. Miracle Girl is a flying teenage powerhouse with an upbeat attitude and a strong desire to right wrongs and help others. Grimalkin is a Dark Fae from New Jersey who is great at stealth and infiltration, but also has a wide array of useful powers. Shrike is Grim's faithful yet snarky sidekick, armed with three mystical artifacts that make her a solid low-PL crimefighter. Anyone have any ideas?

Gretchen's study of the ceiling was finally interrupted by Naomi's hand on her shoulder; she didn't quite jump, but she did noticeably stiffen at the contact, and pull away a bit as she nervously ran her fingers through her hair and snorted. "What, no, I'm a...diehard shopaholic; if I'm not shopping, my life is a howling, shapeless void!" She formed a tiny fist and thrust it skyward, or really just raised it up a few inches. "Let's charge some stuff to our credit cards and not pay if off right away! Woo!" - Thanks a lot, boss; the Pointy-Eared One Who's Not You wants to go shopping. - - So go shopping; some girly stuff is actually fun. You don't have to go crazy and get mani pedis; y'know, maybe see if they have a sporting good store, you'd probably both enjoy that. - - But I hate sports, too; you're not helping. - - Fine, go to the electronics store or something, jeez! - - That...might not suck. Uh, thanks. - After going quiet for a few seconds, Gretchen turned back to her companion and managed an actual wry smile. "You know what, I actually hate shopping for clothes; how about we look at some electronics, or maybe even...camping stuff."

Gretchen shook her head and stopped as she peered up at the ceiling. "No, I don't- wait, do you have that thing?" She tried to shape her ideas with her hands. "You know, that thing when you just sense something's not right, like Ben Kenobi sensing a disturbance in the Force?" She went back to staring up, tilting her ridiculous hat back with her hand. "Boss Lady has that. Sometimes she just goes all stiff like a momma gazelle; her eyes get big and she steps up on her tiptoes and her head jerks around. Kind of adorable, really..." She really hoped something was wrong; Gretchen hated shopping.

Despite all her talk about being 'a real cowgirl' back on Otherworld, the simple fact was that Bill really ran all things horsey back on the ranch; sure, Lynn looked damned good in the saddle and could manage a few tricks, but it was her late husband the hands always turned to for dealing with a difficult thoroughbred. So while she was finally able to jerk the reins and steer the horse clear, it wasn't like the creature had suddenly warmed to her. Still, a horse careening away from innocent civilians was a good thing...unless you slammed into a tree. At that very moment, Gretchen's familiar mental voice burst through her intense concentration. - Boss, what's going on out there? Do you need any backup? - - Can't talk, on a runaway horse! - - On a what? Where the hell are you? - - Bye for now! - She was going about this all wrong; she wasn't a cowgirl, but she was a faerie princess, which still made her dad laugh his keister off. Leaning forward in the saddle, she began to call out to the horse, her voice taking on an eerie, sing-song quality. "Easy, my sweet one...rest now..." Now finally in control, she turned the horse around and began to ride towards yet another mysterious woman; seemed these tears were really bringing out the mystical ladies! She called out to the woman with black hair and shining eyes. "Greetings! The name's Grimalkin, Mistress of Mystery." She conjured a dark blue musketeer hat with a plume and bowed low in the saddle, then took in all the capes now in the area with a sweep of her arm and shrugged. "Maybe we should all pool our efforts and resources to figure out what the hell these tear things are?"

I'm gonna just do a whole new post tonight when I get home, not to weasel in an extra post (though it is nice), but because editing a post on that scale on my phone would be maddening.

http://orokos.com/roll/308567 Orokos continues to hate me this week

Lynn thought about it for a few seconds, then shrugged. "When I clean up the bathroom, I always start with the toilet first; I figure get the nastiest job out of the way right off the bat, then everything else will seem that much easier." She flicked out her hands, and a terrifying set of claws appeared on the ends of her fingers, each one formed out of pure, inky-black shadow. A wisp of vapor trailed from the tip of her nose as she sealed her nostrils against the stink, and then she crept over to the cellar door and gently wrapped her fingers around the doorknob. Looking over her shoulder, she grinned and gave the two teens a big thumbs up as she murmured, "Are you kids ready to have some fun?" And with that, she slowly pulled the door open.

Casey adjusted her glasses and whistled appreciatively as she came aboard. "Whoa she's a really beauty; your parents must love you lots and lots! Hi Vonnie, hi Ralf!" She tossed her own pack to the deck with an audible thud you felt in your feet; clearly she'd packed very well. When she caught sight of the suits Saku had thoughtfully provided, she got a big grin on her face. "For me? Back in two seconds!" There was a quick rush of wind as the blonde teen, her pack and her new outfit disappeared below decks, and then she was back, a vision in white. "This is amazing! Thanks, roomie!" She gave the young Asian girl a quick friendly hug, when then her sunny face darkened as the conversation turned to the missing sailors. "Wow; I never knew just how dangerous the sea was until I met you, Saku; kinda makes me feel guilty for not monitoring marine radio before." As she followed the group to the top deck, she reflexively turned her gaze out to the open sea, her lovely green eyes scanning the horizon like a pair of high-powered binoculars.

Notice for Casey: http://orokos.com/roll/308163 I guess she's super-excited about the boat, and therefore distracted.

I'm perfectly happy with just three if we can make it work.

Oops, missed these posts! Casey has suggested a direction, though, in her last newly-edited post.

Ah, was thinking it was under 10 on the roll to get the +10; cool beans!

Okay, redirecting this horse! 1d20+10=11 Wow, how amazingly crappy! I know it's early in the game, but I'm gonna blow an HP on a reroll. Grim's going back in time, so there should be a few chances for her to earn an HP or two from encountering some wrought iron. Rerolled Ride check: 1d20+10=20 Much better!

Lynn nodded as she picked at a bandage on her wrist, one of the many the EMTs had insisted on putting on the many minor cuts she'd sustained from flying glass and shrapnel. "Yeah, I've got a pretty good idea, but you're not going alone; I'm gonna help you." The changeling groaned as she rubbed her face. "Alright, to put this in context. There are basically three types of people who can do magic. Folks who are either non-human or naturally magical, like me, for example. Folks who track down old books and bit of knowledge and study and study for years." Then she met Foreshadow's gaze with sad, old eyes. "And then you get the worst ones: the lazy,'I-want-it-now' types who crave unlimited power but lack the patience for study. They want a short cut...so they make a deal." She shrugged. "What they took was basically like an incomplete shopping list or recipe book called 'the Scroll of Renark'." She grinned a sickly grin. "It's for people who really like short cuts." Suddenly there was a swirl of mist, and Lynn became Grimalkin; her bandages were neatly covered by her black-and-midnight-blue leather outfit and domino mask. Her eyes behind the mask were filled with barely-concealed rage. "Let's start hunting while the trail is still fresh."

Not entirely confident in her getting that DC20, so she'll go for the redirect instead.

45,000 feet above Japan The rear ramp of the USAF C-17 lowered as Casey Blankenship eagerly trotted over to it, wearing her Miracle Girl flight suit and easily totting a large waterproof pack stuffed full of vacation essentials. The very nervous-looking payload specialist could only shake his head at the young woman's mixture of fearlessness and excitement. He had to shout to be heard over the roar of the massive plane. "Are you absolutely sure you can fly, ma'am?! I would hate to lose Col. Blankenship's daughter on my watch!" Casey grinned and gave him a big thumbs up. "It's all good, airman! Five by five!" She leaned over to give him a quick peck on the cheek. "I'll put in a good word for you!" Then she turned to face the back of the plane and took a deep breath. "Japan, here I come!" Then with a whoop, she ran pell-mell and leaped out of the plane, leaving the specialist to stare after her incredulously as she banked and rolled out of sight. Reaching up to toggle his headset, he numbly said, "Package is away." - - - The ride down was thrilling, with a truly amazing view; the whole of Japan was spread out before her! She was careful to monitor air chatter; she had memorized a few key aviation terms in Japanese, and hoped to be fluent in good time. Before she could meet up with the others, she had instructions to check in a Yokota AB to keep everything legal. A short time later, Casey came strolling up the dock, now dressed in proper nautical attire: a navy blue stripped long-sleeved T-shirt, white Capri pants and deck shoes. She hefted her massive duffel over one shoulder as she called out, "Hello, the ship!"

Okay, let's tame the mighty beast, Grim! Ride roll: 1d20+10=16

Grim nodded sagely as the rope was swiftly yanked through the hooded woman's hands and the portal snapped shut; she stepped over to her, holding out the pole for her to grab. "Yeah, had a bad feeling that was gonna happen. You want some topical ointment for that? I could probably whip up some-" But then the horses appeared out of nowhere and everything was bad. "Holy crap!" Grim tossed the pole at Miras's feet as the half-djinn began her incantations. "Here ya go!" Wow, impressive! I'm thinking probably illusions - yep, that horse ain't buyin' it and he ain't slowing down! In a flash, the changeling resumed her pixie shape and zoomed over towards the panicked beast; as soon as she was directly over its saddle, she once again became full size, dropping down onto hard leather and having a bit of wind knocked out of her. "Oof!" Using the skills she picked up back on Otherworld, where she and her late husband raised horses for many years, she did her best to bring the frightened beast under control. "Alright, alright, easy now, easy!"

Gretchen frowned; evidently this Naomi was also some sort of super-person, and also super-friendly and outgoing like her boss. Was this a hero thing? Because if so, Lynn must be soooo disappointed with her. She shrugged. "Uh, sure." Looking down at herself, she shook her head and sighed. "I think this is supposed to be some sort of secret test of character or valuable life lesson, but screw it; if I die of embarrassment, I'm really not much use to her." Looking the pilot up and down, she assessed her with her usual dispassionate scrutiny. "Fashion doesn't really seem to be your strong suit, either, but maybe if we wander into the right outlet store, the staff will take pity on us." She waved towards one of the casino's attached malls. "Shall we? Top name brands at affordable prices await us."

Tagged!

At this point in time, Casey still only had a +3 Notice check; so glad I've sinced raised it up! Radio Notice check: 1d20+3=17 = meh!

Casey grinned and nodded. "Thank you, ma'am!" Then she took a cautious step into the men's room, hunched forward and back to the wall but not touching it as her father had taught her. She kept her eyes peeled and her ears open as she entered, but then a thought occurred to her. It's a robot, right? Perhaps it's broadcasting a signal of some kind. She tilted her head slightly as she scanned several frequencies; on a hunch, she also tried to hear if the mysterious Ms. D was saying anything behind their backs.

This Is pretty much my idea of hell. Gretchen was not really the outdoorsy type; she liked cool, dry dimly-lit rooms with lots of technology in them. Outside she mostly felt overwhelmed and vulnerable, especially in large crowds on bright sunny days. So why the hell was she out on the Boardwalk of all places? Because her boss was challenging her to test herself. You don't always choose where you fight your battles, Lynn had said; sometimes you have to fight in a sewer, or on top of a skyscraper or even the middle of a crowded shopping center. You don't have to like doing it, she said, but you need to be able to do it. So here was Gretchen decked out like some annoying tourist, wearing a huge floppy hat, oversized sunglasses, a One Direction T-shirt (seriously?), short shorts and lime-green flip-flops. She was showing way more pale skin than she was usually comfortable with, and slathered in a thick coating of sunscreen that made her smell like a walking Pina Colada. And don't even get her started on the crocheted purse... Concentrating on the silver ring on.her finger, Gretchen made mental contact with her soon-to-be-murdered employer. - Did I do something to make you hate me, boss? Did I perhaps accidentally kill one of your cats in my sleep? Because this is grossly unfair. Emphasis on gross. - - Yes, I'll admit I had you dress like an idiot today, my young padawan, but there's a method to my madness! Sometimes it's good to not be taken seriously. - - I can actually feel my IQ dropping every second I wear this stupid shirt. - - Just keep your eyes open and try to take it all in; eat a disgusting chilli cheese dog, drink a giant Icee, sit for a awful caricature by one of those lame cartoonists. Y'know, blend! - "'Blend', she says; yeah, I'll just blend..." Just then, she noticed a young woman sitting on a bench, wearing...what, some kind of space suit? Diving gear? Then she noticed the pointed ears. - Boss, do you have a long lost sister with a serious Amelia Earhart fetish? Because I think I just found her. - - Oh wow, I know her! But no, not my sister. Her name's Naomi...Baines, I think? I wonder what she's up to? She's a pilot and stuff; pretty cool, actually. Go say hi; tell her you work for me. - Rolling her eyes, Gretchen clomped on over towards the blonde pilot, her flip-flops slapping on the Boardwalk; as she got closer, she self-consciously wrapped her arms around herself as she awkwardly addressed the ageless air ace. "Uh, hi, excuse me, are you Naomi Baines? I think you met my boss, Lynn Epstein? I'm her...I'm her assistant. Personal assistant. Gretchen McDaniels." She smiled half-heartedly and thrust out her hand. "Nice to meet you."

Shrike "Mutable" Silberman's Books. Tuesday, June 16th, 2015. 3:05 pm "She's gone." Gretchen had felt the break of contact with Lynn like an electric shock that passed through her whole body in an instant; it took her several minutes just to muster up the will to say those two words. "She'll be back," said Kiki as she did her best to sound confident. "She always comes back." Lynn's assistant wandered aimlessly around the store, eventually finding herself behind the bar, where she'd hidden the birthday present she'd bought for her boss. She'd been debating with herself all morning whether she should wait until tomorrow or just break down and give it to her today. And now, who knew when she she would return? As she turned the small package over in her hands, the young musician began to sing, quietly at first, but then with increasing volume. Her strong alto voice trembled with a feeling she almost never expressed out loud. I never see you coming You always just appear Like a sudden flash of sunlight Or the roaring in my ears I no longer can tell up from down Or North or South from West It takes all my strength and courage To calm the storm inside my chest Because you're ancient and unknowable, I cannot look inside A heart that changes day to day and shimmers in the light Your eyes have gone from brown to blue and every shade between I am lost when I'm without you In a world that's never been So mutable But your armor isn't always up I caught a glimpse one time Of the frightened child hiding there You try so hard to hide I want to tell you it's alright That everyone's afraid I'll protect you 'til my dying breath And my debt to you is paid. Because you're ancient and unknowable, I cannot look inside A heart that changes day to day and shimmers in the light Your eyes have gone from brown to blue and every shade between I am lost when I'm without you In a world that's never been So mutable And nothing good can come of it Nothing good at all But I just can't help myself I know I'm gonna fall I've been inside this trap before I know these walls so well But there's nowhere else I'd rather be This lovely little hell Because you're ancient and unknowable, I cannot look inside A heart that changes day to day and shimmers in the light Your eyes have gone from brown to blue and every shade between I am lost when I'm without you In a world that's never been So mutable So mutable So beautiful Kiki and Lance never even looked up once. Gretchen tucked the package back under the bar and whispered, "Happy birthday, boss."