Chiyako

@Warning We can say that Kiyo assisted and put a hand in when it mattered, and helped save a life! She enjoys being useful and totally wasn't just doing it for praise and/or treats! @WritesNaughtyStories Should I be asking another one of my questions now that it seems everyone has gone through and had a turn? Although I suppose Warning still needs to answer the setup question regarding what Cassia was doing during Jazz's gig and if they saw where Yuka went. Some of us have already answered our own questions regarding that Warning, if you need examples as well!

@WritesNaughtyStories Warning does have a move that they could take called Sixth Sense: Sixth Sense: when you open your brain to the world’s psychic maelstrom, roll+sharp instead of +weird. Would that let them use Sharp instead of Weird for Healing Touch? I believe that was one of Warning's earlier questions.

@Warning So Highlighted Stats play into improvement and experience gathering. Whenever you roll a highlighted stat, and whenever you reset your Hx with someone, you mark an experience circle. When you mark the 5th, you improve your character (effectively level them up and choose an Improvement from your sheet's list) and then erase experience. There are other things like certain moves that can affect this too I believe (like seducing someone, for instance). It says at the end of your sheet what happens as far as highlighting goes at the start. So for Angel at the end of the Hx section: At the end, choose one of the characters with the highest Hx on your sheet. Ask that player which of your stats is most interesting, and highlight it. The MC will have you highlight a second stat too. This will happen after we get through the asking each other questions section.

@Warning The question about Jazz and Yuka refers mostly to this post. It's just setup I believe for the beginning of the game. Sixth Sense feels like it would also fit with something like Healing Touch since it does mention in the description about opening your brain and someone else's to the maelstrom, but I think @WritesNaughtyStories would have to confirm that. I think that is more just a way to describe using the weird powers of the world. That would work for armor, I think. Its pretty flexible what people's armor is, as long as it makes sense and fits the amount it might grant. Oddments worth 2 barter is just general random stuff worth two points of barter. Barter seems to be used to establish how well your character is doing at the beginning of a new session (what sort of lifestyle they are living), which can add some in RP affects (such as maybe being in debt to another player, or maybe you take harm because you aren't eating or drinking enough). They can also be used on Barter Moves. I'll list them in the spoiler below.

I think it works well looking at it that way too, yeah. For Kiyo as an example I went with: Cool +1 (Because she can keep chill under pressure but also maybe sometimes she loses her cool, especially if she gets a little explosion happy.) Hard +3 (When she does focus on her shooting she locks in, and when she locks in she is actually dangerous.) Hot -2 (Too dumb and too shy and timid to seduce, especially when it comes to strangers or people she just doesn't trust.) Sharp +2 (She is good at scavenging and scouting, and has a good eye for her surroundings, developed from her youth and her long range gunslinging.) Weird -1 (Too dumb to really make much of the weird maelstrom stuff.)

I think it fits really well personally. A medic. One of our weird crew of mutants. Background setting fits. Mostly a matter of if it fits the character you wanna make. Definitely feels more leaning away from the weird stat type of medic, which I feel is what you were trying to go for.

It was unfortunate that Alicia had been forced to take to the stage. She would rather have sat within the stands, observing what played out now from a comfortable distance, not because she was scared of the deputy or what might become of her now, but instead because as she was now, she was incapable of fully taking in all that was happening. A woman of science and curiosity, she would have rather been keeping an eye on the fascinating people gathered around her, even the three wicked men playing the part of lawmen. Alas, now she was nearly center stage, and much of her attention was stolen away by the deputies. It offered a closer look at this grotesque scene, perhaps, but that alone was not worth what she paid for it. Speaking of having a good seat from which to observe, her view of her accusers was somewhat suddenly interrupted by a view of Missy Fisher's back. She had placed herself between them, and this had given Alicia pause. Part of it was to avoid saying something that could land the woman in trouble, for she had done nothing to deserve it. Much of it had to do with discomfort, or rather, her lack of experience with this sort of thing. Rare was the occasion that somebody stuck up for her, let alone risked themselves to protect her. Soft pink lips drew a neutral line while Edmund's handkerchief absentmindedly patted at the same crimson smudged spot upon her cheek. Perplexing. How very perplexing. Why? What motive might she have? There surely must be something. It was possible that she didn't desire anything at all from Alicia. Deep down she knew this. Still, it was foreign enough an idea to her that it seemed unlikely. It wasn't just a lack of an answer that made her uncomfortable. She was used to that, used to working on things she didn't understand, used to unraveling mysteries and researching new things. No, what troubled her most was a growing feeling of guilt. The guilt of having possibly drawn some innocent woman into the path of monsters masquerading as men. Why would she do that? But then Missy Fisher was not some simple innocent woman. Alicia had been curious about her, and now she had a chance to further discover up close what sort of person she was. Switching to the mindset of a researcher allowed her to push deeper the gnawing feelings of guilt. It allowed her to ignore, at least for the moment, the grasping thoughts that she might owe this woman something for her help, to put away any feelings that she might have endangered yet another reasonable person in her life. Perhaps she knows what she is doing. This might be the sort of thing she is good at handling. Dealing with people is not my area of expertise, but it may be hers'. She seems confident. Crimson gaze flicked briefly in the direction of Billy. She felt his gaze. Met it with her own. Lips curled up at the corners, offering a slightly open smile that revealed teeth, the sort that might be born by a predatorial monster basking in the fear of its prey. She watched him and the one named Carter only for a few moments as they departed. Her attention was drawn away, back towards Boone when he moved around Missy. Face to face with the man, Alicia took immediate notice of his height. She was fairly petite, and most people seemed to tower over her. Not so with Boone. He was still taller than she was, but not by too much. She imagined that on better terms conversation with the man might have been a little more comfortable. In the moment however she could not afford pleasantries. The same predatory smile she had flashed Billy remained set upon her lips. She kept quiet and did what she could to project confidence, to reinforce the idea that she might just be something not to be messed with. Her chin tilted up slightly, allowing her gaze to drop just a bit, as though she were looking down upon the man even if she was, in fact, looking up. Alicia's free hand, covered in a bloodied glove, settled at her side, fingers tapping softly against her hip. Alicia locked her eyes upon Boone's and refused to look away, refused to even blink. This was the sort of reaction she was used to, and this was often what she utilized as her initial shield. Edmund addressed the lawman. She felt a faint pang of guilt, a light jab in her gut as he too spoke up in her defense. Given his status, and the fact that he was not a well-endowed pretty woman, Alicia didn't feel as though he was putting nearly as much on the line to protect her. All the same, he was still going out of his way to do so. Worse still, he was proving some of her earlier assumptions about him thus far incorrect. There were also the feelings that she might owe him something for his efforts, and those were especially worrying given the rumors about him. But then she knew first hand the folly of trusting rumor alone. Ah. He is leaving? Her eyes finally averted from Boone, turning instead towards Edmund Blackwood as he ascended the stairs towards the exit. Alicia's smile softened. Lost its predatory edge. He wielded the women under his employ as useful tools. A weapon. Given his business it was not any sort of surprise. She was hardly upset by it. They probably weren't his slaves. Perhaps their place in life had been taken advantage of, but that was common enough for most people. They simply paid for it in another way. Traded nights with men for their survival. No, what she was most concerned with was his leaving, the unsettling feeling that she might owe him in the future, and the realization that he held his thumb, or rather his women, over potentially the majority of the lawmen in this city. Concerning. Why does he wish to be informed of this investigation? A matter for another time. I may have to extend my thanks. Alicia's gaze lowered for a moment to the handkerchief in her left hand. Had he given this to her on purpose? Was it an excuse to speak with her again? A reason to call upon her to visit him, or perhaps a self made invitation to her own home? A kind gesture, certainly, and an action which fit into the guise of a gentleman. But if it held ulterior motives? Clever, if so. I'll return it to its former glory regardless. An offer was extended, an invitation to Edmund's establishment. Perhaps I am overthinking this. Such an offer might have been utilized by Missy to take her departure. It might have granted her safety from the lawmen. They would have held little excuse to keep her here. Alicia might have accepted the offer herself, were it useful to allow her leave from this place. Instead Missy declined, at least for the moment. The faint heat of pink fluster returned again to her cheeks and the tips of her ears. Missy's hand had settled against her back. Alicia felt the warmth of it, felt it move, felt it rubbing in a gesture of comfort against her body. Eyes widened briefly. Shoulders tensed. The fingers at her side squeezed against her hip. When the initial shock of it finally passed she allowed herself to relax. The genuine smile she held before returned to her lips, faintly intermixed with the excitement and nervousness of experiencing something she was not used to. Her gaze lowered towards the floor. Is it because I am short? I am no child. Surely she understands this? But then Humans generally share a propensity towards caring for smaller creatures. It must be something. I must figure this out. It certainly wasn't the most uncomfortable mystery she'd sought to explore. Part of her figured that this was one of the tools that Missy wielded. She seemed to be good with people. Perhaps this was just part of how she had chosen to deal with Alicia. Comfort the little monster so that it did not bite her. Not only was it possible, it was probable. But then Alicia was a proper scientist. She would not fully decide upon a reason until she could be certain of it. Even Edmund, with the nature of the rumors which surrounded him, was given the benefit of the doubt. "Tank you, Miss Fisher" the short blood soaked woman finally spoke, her voice soft, almost timid, and still recovering from the unexpected show of comfort. For that brief moment her accent had slipped, reverting to her native speech. "That would be well appreciated" she continued, speaking slowly so as not to allow herself another chance to slip up, turning her gaze for a moment towards Carlo, only to then remember the deputy's presence. "I assume this at least might be allowed, Mister Boone?" Alicia asked, finally addressing Boone directly. She ceded the conflict between them for now, no longer attempting to assert herself. She was in no position for it. Not legally, nor mentally.

Kiyo was there! Kiyo was in the dark rafters within the top of the venue, watching everything down below, not because it gave her the feeling of being bigger than everyone else but totally only to get a good view. She was volunteering to be both lookout and secret faraway security from above! It definitely wasn't to keep away from the crowds because she definitely isn't scared of crowds, and she will grumble at anyone who tries to say otherwise! The person running the venue was some big, burly, sort of handsome in a rough way man. A mutant sort of resembling a big lizard, with a scar over one eye and a sharp-toothed smile that definitely wasn't at all frightening! She thinks his name was Vrax. He seemed like the sort who is reasonable, if not kind of stubborn and kind of intimidating, but also the sort who maybe lets his gaze linger a bit too much on the ladies. Kiyo definitely saw him make out with one or two through the night, and they were definitely getting it on with someone but Kiyo definitely looked away and didn't watch at all because, after all, Kiyo is very good at her job and would never get distracted by things! Also she was promised treats if she did a good job and she definitely kept an eye on everything and missed nothing, not even when Vrax was making deals with some other shady group of people who she may or may not have spied on a little. Kiyo sees all and definitely saw Yuka. Vrax was looking too but didn't do anything, he probably knew better. She did see Yuka talking to one of the shady group people for a bit but she also had more important things to look at so she didn't watch for too long. ~~~ Also I am guessing Jasmine's Hx choice gets made after we all go through questions, right? We're going to wait for Warning to officially join I assume before moving on to the next set, so it's easier for them to meld in with the group. Also also I like Jasmine's and Leon's idea of a backstory so I think I'll add that to Kiyo's as well. And some things I forgot to add like her sex move.

Added Kiyo to the characters section. Split her personality information up a bit to make it easier to read (and to flesh it out a little more). If we want to go into a little bit of background information I can do that too if need be (I see Leon did that, so I figured I'd ask). I suppose I technically haven't answered anyone else's questions then since Dreams swapped characters, so I might try to take the next one (depending on what it is, of course). I believe we are waiting on Dreams' new character and Warning's character before we continue questions, right?

Sometime today I'll get in a post as well to continue things.

Kiyo is The Gunlugger. She wears scrounged mismatched armor, using whatever might have the highest utility value to her, and certainly not because she enjoys hoarding things. Because she is fairly small and compact she has to adjust the size of said items often. Her mutation most closely resembles that of a squirrel. Atop her head are a pair of long ears, which are quite useful for listening to her environment. She has a very large fluffy tail, which is at least useful for hanging off things or dusting away tracks behind her in environments where that becomes neccessary. Light brown fur covers both her ears and tail, which at least makes it easy enough to conceal them in most environments. Her skin is fair, bordering on pale, which makes sense given her tendency to operate mostly at night or, at the very least, covered from head to toe in whatever she can find. Her eyes are red and usually carry a gleam of optimism, something a little easier to hold on to when one tends to avoid direct confrontations. Her hair, which is an almost white pale blonde, is quite long and typically kept bundled into a thick ponytail. She tends to wear it down the back of her clothes, as when her hair is allowed freedom it tends to fluff up and become fairly wild. Beneath her clothes one would discover a petite figure with some curves along her rump and hips, some fullness to her thighs, and an otherwise skinny frame, as food is hard to come by despite her best efforts. There are a few minors scars thanks to a few missteps in the past, but her preferred way of handling conflicts has kept her more or less unscathed. Kiyo is a strange creature. Some may classify her as chaotic. Others who don't quite know her might ascribe multiple personalities to her. She tends to exude a fairly chipper and optimistic presence, although part of that is just her way of coping with how bad the world really is, is partly based off what she needed to do to survive in the past, and this optimistic mask may crack with enough applied pressure. She can be a bit too forgiving sometimes. and may come off at times as someone who is genuinely compassionate, someone who likes to help others. She is shy around new people, and avoids public speaking when she can. However once people get to know her they learn of another side of this strange creature. Kiyo is cautious of new places and new people, and initially this combined with her shyness might have someone believing that she is a completely introverted person. When she actually decides that a person is trust-worthy she tends to swing in the complete opposite direction, giving people perhaps a bit too much trust at times. This has definitely landed her into trouble before, but sometimes the optimism that she uses as a shield ends up bleeding into everything else that she does, and ends up getting her hurt. She can be quite energetic when she is in a relaxed state or around people she trusts, perhaps to the point of being overbearing. Kiyo can be stubborn, especially when it comes to learning what not to do or how not to get into trouble, but is overall well-meaning. It is easy for this energy and this stubborness to cross the line into something resembling bratty behavior, especially when her (possibly fabricated) optimism leads to her overestimating herself and, at times, gloating about her achievements until she is properly corrected, or until it might bring about conflict (if she even manages to notice this in time). When she gets into a bad mood it can often last for a long time, although good food or shiny loot (for her totally-not-a-hoarder-collection) is an easy way to cheer her up. On the job she tends to lock in and become a little more serious, having learned the hard way from past failures what happens when she messes around too much. She will try to avoid taking a straight fight, preferring ambushes or, if she must, overwhelming shock and awe strikes. Other people might call her a coward for this, but she would call it being smart and safe. This also allows her to avoid direct social interactions with people she doesn't know, which is certainly a factor into why she has chosen this style of combat. If she really needs to step up and use other methods she will lock in and do as she must, although she might not like it and might initially grumble about it. When it comes to heavy physical work she will try to avoid it, leaving that to other bigger, stronger people. Although she isn't necessarily cruel, and doesn't typically enjoy hurting people, if a fight goes on for a bit too long or becomes a bit too heated (or explosive) she sometimes loses herself into a frenzied, giddy, battle lusting berserker state (explosions and gunfire can be fun and the smell of gunpowder is intoxicating). Kiyo likes to collect things and is definitely not a hoarder (something she doesn't like to be called). Despite her at times timid behavior Kiyo is a very curious creature: she loves exploration and adventuring, especially when she is either alone (and therefore doesn't have to worry about other people) or is with someone she trusts (in which case she tends to go overboard anyways). While she doesn't like being around people she doesn't trust Kiyo can get lonely pretty quickly, and if this goes on for too long she will become overly clingy for some time once she finally does return to someone she trusts. She does have a slight complex when it comes to her height, and doesn't enjoy her shortness being pointed out, or the underestimation that it often brings, but inwardly will admit that both can be useful. While she shows excellent competence in certain things (like gunslinging and gunsmithing and scouting) she can often prove to be a little dimwitted when it comes to much of the world (ignorance is bliss and is perhaps part of what fuels her optimism), a trait born out of her lacking any formal education (or whatever might pass for that in this world). STATS || Cool +1 || * Hard +3 * || * Hot -2 * || Sharp +2 || Weird -1 || MOVES Battle-hardened: When you Act Under Fire, or when you Stand Overwatch, roll+Hard instead of roll+Cool. Insano like Drano: You get +1 Hard (Hard to+3). NOT TO BE FUCKED WITH: In battle, you count as a small gang, with harm and armor according to your gear. Gunlugger Special: If you and another character have sex, you take +1 forward. At your option, they take +1 forward too. GEAR Silenced Sniper Rifle (3-harm far hi-tech ap.) Grenade Tube (4-harm close area reload messy ap.) AP Ammo (ap)(Add ap to all your guns.) 9mm (2-harm close loud ap.) Armor (Worth 2-armor.)(Mismatched, scrounged up for utility and fitted for her small body, primarily heavy woven garments with inserted plates.) Oddments (Worth 2-barter.) Hx Jasmine The Show (Hx-1)(I don't really know her very well. She does travel with the weird, kind of pretty guy.) Leon The Brainer (Hx+3)(I think he might be the smartest, and maybe one of the prettiest! Or I guess people would say he is handsome. He is weird and kinda puts me off a bit, but he also knows lots of things, and some things he shouldn't!) Seraphina The Angel (Hx+2)(We fought shoulder to shoulder once! Or at least, I was really outnumbered and fought really hard and got really hurt, and they saved me. But that still counts!) Violetta The Battlebabe (Hx-2)(Once left me bleeding, and did nothing for me! I was dying and I had just lost my family! They were working a gig and I wasn't a part of it, but it was still kind of mean!) Backstory

That sounds good to me! Should that start from now? Or should we consider those days having passed and continue posting now?

Should we be adding our own characters to the character thread so we can edit them as need be?

I mean it probably isn't too late to change your character if you really want to.

In the original Apocalypse World list the ones not taken so far are: The Angel (Healer/Medic)("Angels are medics. If you want everybody to love you, or at least rely on you, play an angel. Warning: if things are going well, maybe nobody will rely on you. Make interesting relationships so you’ll stay relevant. Or sabotage things, I guess.") The Chopper (Gang Leader)("Choppers lead biker gangs. They’re powerful but lots of their power is external, in their gang. If you want weight to throw around, play a chopper—but if you want to be really in charge, play a hardholder instead. Warning: externalizing your power means drama. Expect drama.") The Driver (Drive/Own Cars)("Drivers have cars, meaning mobility, freedom, and places to go. If you can’t see the post-apocalypse without cars, you gotta be a driver. Warning: your loose ties can accidentally keep you out of the action. Commit to the other characters to stay in play.") The Hardholder (Warlord of a stronghold.)("Hardholders are landlords, warlords, governors of their own little strongholds. If anybody plays a hardholder, the game’s going to have a serious and immobile home base. If you want to be the one who owns it, it better be you. Warning: don’t be a hardholder unless you want the burdens.") The Hocus (Cult Leader)("Hocuses have cult followers the way choppers have gangs. They’re strange, social, public and compelling. If you want to sway mobs, play a hocus. Warning: things are going to come looking for you. Being a cult leader means having to deal with your fucking cult.") The Savvyhead (Techy/Gear Head)("Savvyheads are techies. They have really cool abilities in the form of their workspace, and a couple of fun reality-bending moves. Play a savvyhead if you want to be powerful and useful as an ally, but maybe not the leader yourself. Warning: your workspace depends on resources, and lots of them, so make friends with everyone you can.") The Maestro D' (Social Establishment Owner)("The maestro d’ runs a social establishment, like a bar, a drug den or a bordello. If you want to be sexier than a hardholder, with fewer obligations and less shit to deal with, play a maestro d’. Warning: fewer obligations and less shit, not none and none.") In the extended Apocalypse World list the ones available are: Quarantine (Person Out of Time)(Someone in stasis when things went bad and only recently work up.) The Faceless (Masked Hulk/Berserker.) The Waterbearer (Diplomat?) The Child-Thing (Feral Weirdo)(Feral weird Maelstrom thing.) The Show (Leashed Bard)(Post-apocalypse weird bard with traveling music set but someone holds your leash.) The News (Radio Journalist)(Post-apocalypse journalist/radio DJ.) Hope this helps!

I don't believe there is a second question posed yet. However Violetta did pose a question to each other character.

Amusing that so far Leon is the only male in our group. I wonder if he is going to try to turn this group into his new pride. @Warning Were you still thinking of joining in too? I am excited to see what sort of character you'll end up making if so!

@IsabellaRose I think that Violetta could trust Kiyo (even if maybe Kiyo doesn't fully trust Violetta due to the leaving her bleeding incident). Kiyo is pretty straight forward and not really great at social things (probably including lying, even if she might think that she is). So, whatever she puts forth is generally going to probably be truthful (or a lie very easy to discern). At the worst Kiyo might be a little bit of a thief (a collector in her own eyes), but elaborate plots to stab people in the back isn't her sort of thing (although ambushes might be, especially given her preferred style of handling combat). Since Kiyo doesn't necessarily dislike Violetta there wouldn't be any reason for that. If anything, she can be trusted because she is bad at being manipulative.

So I believe either Leon or Violetta can ask the next question, right? Since both Kiyo and Jasmine's first question has been answered.

Kiyo will remember that.

Isabella had a good idea so I also updated mine with gear, moves, and stats.

So far I believe everyone is. I don't think it'd be necessary, since it'd be counted as mutations I think, but on the other hand an entirely mutated party could be neat (especially if there are unmutated regions and becomes something of an issue that could cause some neat trouble or such).

I am pretty excited to see what all characters end up joining our weird little crew.

Sounds good! I'll hold off on rolling anything then.

I wonder if we need more people ready to answer some of the questions. Right now if it was just us three at the answering questions stage then it is just going to go around in roughly the same order, I think.