Chiyako

It sure got quiet here.

It all looks to line up properly to me!

Kinda sad to see that this is the last step, because I love this process, but it does mean we actually get to delve into the characters soon, so that's good! First off, I will shift an arrow from Aldert Helsink over to Adelaide Montgomery with the following descriptor: "Seeking to improve familial business ties". He may primarily focus his attention in the states to hunt down his family's great prey, but other things would surely catch his eye, including potential business ventures within the new world. The step for labeling arrows does confuse me. Is there something else I am supposed to label them with that I haven't already? I don't intend to switch out any relationships or resources. I think they fit well as they are for Alicia. As for her Identity, Alicia I think fits best under The Specialist. She is a woman of science and has dedicated her entire being to the pursuit of scientific advancement and knowledge. Science is her specialty and there are few as capable as she when it comes down to it. I will be stepping up Alchemical Elixirs & Tonics (from d6 to d8). The Elixir of Savitar will be the second chosen SFX. The Distinction that will be stepped up shall be Mad Scientist (from d10 to d12), as it is her specialty and seems to really fit this sort of capstone pathway choice. Finally, I will step up Alicia's Resource of Gwenael Auclair (from d6 to d8). I'll change her descriptor to: "A rare true friend in this world, and a proper scientific rival!" Whether Alicia would be out and about might depend primarily on the weather, and on whether or not she needs to be out for some purpose. A day with enough cloud cover would be perfect, although she would still choose to dress up more or less fully covered in her fine European noblewoman's dress, complete with matching parasol. If we were running low on some necessary ingredients then she might be out to make that purchase herself, especially if it is for something very specific and perhaps a little more complicated an errand than she could trust Jack Beckett with. I am very interested in exploring how each of our characters generally interacts with one another, and perhaps also how much of an iron grip the seedier members of society might have on their little corner of the world. Also how superstitious the people might be, which may play into the sort of reactions Alicia can expect out of people. Given the rumors of other weird oddities (like Red Jenny) I imagine people might be fairly superstitious.

First, I shall draw an arrow from The Blue Hour Lady to Millicient Gerenhart with the following caption: "She lets on like she knows something she shouldn't know." For Alicia's Motiviation, I shall go with The World. While Alicia's experiments are definitely for herself, her scientific pursuits are for the world at large! For science! Her hunger for knowledge leads to scientific progress, and that is not something she does simply for her own gains. This isn't to say that her reasons are entirely altruistic, more than science itself should be pushed forward. I shall step up Power (from d10 to d12). Finally, I shall step up Gwenael Auclair (from d4 to d6) since they know each other better than what a d4 is worth.

You make a good point. I'll redirect him instead then in an arrow to Edmund Blackwood. It will have the following descriptor: "A potential rival in poker or otherwise". Gwenael is a scientist but also of some level of nobility. He enjoys the finer things in life too, including games and potentially gambling. A local nobleman of sorts would be a proper rival for him, whether it be for those games or whether it may be potentially towards attention that may be levied in the direction of other interests he might have.

For Alicia's Modus Operandi, I've decided to go with The Tinker's Way. She is a scientist through and through, to the point that she utilizes her own body for her experiments. Science is her one truth and it is her greatest weapon. Nothing else truly makes sense for her. As Truth is already maxed out Passion will be stepped up (from d4 to d6). I will step up the Mad Scientist Distinction (from d8 to d10). I will step up Alicia's relationship with Missy (from d4 to d6). She is at least interested enough that she wants to find out what the woman actually is. The statement remains unchanged. I'll connect an arrow from Gwenael Auclair to Alicia with the following statement: "A friend, a rival, and a curious specimen." Finally I'll connect an arrow from Alicia to Gearheart Repairs as a new Location for her with the following statement: "If there is something I can't make, she probably can." as well as the following blurb under her own resources: (Engineering, Inventions) - Sometimes the devices, structures, or tools required for science are not objects that Alicia can make herself, at least not up to the quality that she requires. For these things a master in other fields is required.

I'll give Jack Bennett an arrow instead to Missy. It shall read: "A great friend and perhaps more."

First I shall be adding a new Extra. (2d4) Gwenael Auclair (Nobility, Science) - A friendly scientific rival! An effiminate nobleman with long blonde hair, a thin frame, and eyes afflicted with a similar condition to Alicia's, Gwenael is a scientist she met briefly during her travels through France. The two were initially rivals in a school that Alicia attended at the time, both set to unveil similar scientific discoveries regarding the Human form, only to find their notes stolen during their bickering and scheming against one another and used by a charlatan who claimed the discovery for his own glory. The two made up and combined their efforts to destroy the charlatan's reputation. Through this period of shared scientific pursuits the two hit it off well, even further collaborating on a few minor side projects. Like any proper scientist Gwenael was interested in the oddities of Alicia's body, and while initially this curiosity was only scientific in nature their relationship did end up growing a little warmer by the time she was chased out of France. Only when he finished his schooling did Gwenael decide to join in the pursuit of Alicia, albeit on much friendlier terms. Next, I will be drawing a line from 'Judge' Holland Buck to Joshua Thane with the following descriptor: "I would shoot him if it were still legal." Both were in the war and, from what I read about the two, probably on opposing sides. And now they seem to be somewhat on the opposing side when it comes to the law, in a sort of way. I think they would not like one another. As for the Pathway choice, I believe what fits Alicia best following her scientific discovery (that being the vastly bolstered regenerative properties of her weird body) would be Work. While not precisely the breakthrough she was seeking (it is, after all, not a cure to her condition) it is definitely along the same lines and is still an impressive scientific discovery none the less! If anything this would encourage her to push herself harder in her endeavors, as it is clear evidence that she is on the right path and evidence that the Human body still contains mysteries to unearth. Since Truth is maxed out I will step up Power (from d8 to d10). I'll change the descriptor to: Knowledge is power and power often decides truth. Ill add a new Distinction, as I think she has earned it by this point: Genius (d4) You’re an intellectual giant. Either you’ve already established yourself in the scientific or academic community, or you demonstrate a great deal of promise. Roll the Distinction’s die when your analytical and logical skills would be of use in achieving a positive outcome, or when squaring off against somebody in a battle of the brains. Compare this Distinction to Clever, which is more about cunning and swift thinking, or Streetwise, which covers common sense. d4: Spend a Plot Point to Reveal that you’ve studied a subject and know its basics. d8: Earn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you assume others can’t follow your complicated thinking. d12: Spend a Plot Point to Reroll any academic or intellectual roll. Finally, I shall step up The Laboratory (from d10 to d12). Also I have picked out some pictures which match pretty close to what I was going for when it comes to Alicia's other created relationships. Aldert Helsink Jack Beckett

Sounds good! I'll go ahead and find them when I am no longer ill.

Oooh. I like that idea. Just have to figure out where to place it. Somewhere with quick access but not somewhere that just sticks out completely. Maybe the back of her neck? Quick access to spine, hidden with hair unless it is done up. But then how did she manage to do that to herself? The arm would be a good spot but it would mean she always wears long sleeves in public. But then she might do that regardless due to her illness. I imagine she might carry syringe vials with her in that case, designed to puncture a person's flesh and quickly draw blood. Maybe it is fitted with a needle which also fits the "port", so she can then quick inject herself with it. Would that be a gear thing to add in a later step?

Speaking of this, I was trying to figure out what the limits should be for the Regeneration ability I took, and how to better fit it in within the limits we had set. It could maybe be explained away by her strange experimented upon weird science body, but the limit that I noticed which best fit was 'Vampirism'. Now she isn't really a true supernatural Vampire, although I am trying to set her up to very much mimic one. If other people have good ideas for the limit I'd be all for it. My thought was primarily that she sort of refreshes the red blood cells within her own body (perhaps having had some of her own count reduced as they are overworked and used up for the regenerative process, somehow) by ingesting the blood of other creatures. Alternatively it could be a thing where she actually needs a proper blood infusion, instead of her just straight up drinking it. But of course other limits I am open to as well.

Alright, so I will be adjusting the Alchemical Elixars & Tonics ability in the following two ways: Agent of Asclepius will be swapped out with the following: Agent of Aisyt: Step Up any die in a contest where the flush of health and glow of charm could help by radiating vitality and allure. The effect lasts until the end of the scene. Essence of Eirene will be swapped out with the following: Philtre of Heimdall: Briefly perceive the invisible - see ghosts, residual energy, or aetheric fields for one exchange. The SFX unlocked for Alchemical Elixars & Tonics shall be changed to Nostrum of Nike. For the big invention ability I shall be taking the following: Regeneration: Years of medical experimentations and studies have resulted in the pinnacle of medical breakthroughs! You can heal physical or mental trauma you’ve been subjected to. You can roll in your Ability’s die when your regenerative talents would let you successfully struggle through painful or harmful situations. Effect: Defense Descriptors: mental, physical Limit: Vampirism Special Effects: Spend a Plot Point to: Recover Exhausted or Injured Stress. Recover Afraid or Insecure Stress. Grow back a severed limb or other body part. Cure yourself from any ailment or disease. Return from the dead. You must step this Ability back by a step as a consequence. I'll be choosing the first SFX as being unlocked. I'll be immediately stepping up Regeneration (from d4 to d6). Such a breakthrough would deserve a little more focus. Finally I'll be stepping up Rumored Vampire (from d4 to d6). All these weird things happening with Alicia's body, and a potential need to resupply herself with blood for the regenerative properties of her weird body, aren't helping the rumors any. With that I should be up to date!

Truth be told, after examining those five that you stated may fit best, Regeneration seems like it would fit best both thematically with her fake-Vampire aesthetic, and also with her original purpose for pursuing her studies (that being to cure the illness she was born with), as well as being something noteworthy enough for her consider to be a major new break in the scientific field. That said two of the effects of it are already included in her Alchemical Elixars & Tonics ability as SFXs.

First I shall be drawing an arrow from Alicia to Kirsa Autenrieth (once they are added to the web). It shall be: "I must unravel her familial ties". Being someone from the old world, Alicia must be wary of whether or not they have ties linking back to the Helsink clan. I assume drawing an arrow back to a lead square means drawing an arrow from any place back to any player's square. If that is the case then I intend to draw an arrow from Joshua Thane to Alicia. It shall be: "Is superstitiously suspicious of the rumors". I shall be choosing The Invention. I will be stepping up Power twice (from d4 to d8), as Truth is already maxed out. The phrase still fits so I shall keep it as such. I will be stepping up Honor (once from d4 to d6), as Alicia does have her word to keep, when the few times arrive that she actually pledges to it. As for the ability I wish to add, I am having some issues figuring out which to take. A lot of them seem pretty supernatural or superpowered related. Of the ones listed I feel like maybe would fit slightly with weird alchemical body transformation (and sort of fit the mad scientist/fake vampire theme) would be: Claws (Maybe alchemical changes give claws, sometimes Vampires have claws so maybe thematic.) Comprehension (Super mad scientist big brain.) Duplication (Weird alchemical body being weird, an offshoot of the healing tonics?) Invisibility (Like the Invisible Man who was turned invisible through chemicals, same thing here.) Invulnerability (Chemical weirdness makes body tougher.) Poison (Chemical body creates poisons.) Regeneration (Chemical body being weird but this already somewhat exists as one of her tonics.) Shapeshifting (Alchemical body being weird.) Super-Senses (Alchemical body being weird and fits fake Vampire theme.) Super-Speed (Exists as a tonic.) Super-Strength (Exists as a tonic.) But then the pathway choice itself hypes it up as a big invention, so I'd rather try to make an ability to reflect that. I suppose some of those could reflect a big change for her and not so much the world. Thematically it would be interesting to make something revolving around The Philospher's Stone, or something to do with the weird new fuel source (like some sort of revolutionary energy thing). I'll wait on stepping up abilities or distinctions until I figure that out. I'll step up the Laboratory twice, since that is where she spends much of her time.

Originally it wasn't Alicia's so perhaps she is still in the process of trying to fully acquire it, and Edmund for some reason holds some stakes within the land that she hasn't yet managed to wrestle away from him. I think that could work!

That sounds good to me! Alicia probably would publish works she was confident enough in, or at least things which wouldn't catch her too much heat. Possibly under different aliases.

I am excited to see how crazy the map gets by the time we finish all the paths. And also how crazy things get once we start.

I think my location already has the specialties (Experimentation, Research).

I've marked the SFX for the Alchemical Elixars & Tonics that I have chosen to start with (it is the only one bolded and in blue).

Well I fixed mine so Alicia should be all good.

Oh right. Stepping up once is adding d2, not d1. I suppose @StarlitSiren would have had it correct then and I have been doing it wrong.

@StarlitSiren I think you might have stepped up Power/Truth one too many times. We should have three sets of step ups within our Values, I believe. Unless one of the pathway options gave an extra.

Alright! So! First, I am going to move an arrow from Jack Beckett to Ramona Hart. Their businesses are probably somewhat adjacent. I am going to say: "He has something of a crush on her.". I mean that is very probable thing which may occur. I think The Backroads fits Alicia the best. Keeping out of the grasp of those persuing her, which often means keeping out of the hands of the law, has forced her into delving more within the darker, seedier dregs of society. Also, given her tendency to perform human experiments, it is pretty easy to associate her with being very much an outlaw. And besides, sometimes the law just holds back scientific pursuits, and she can't be abiding by any of that! She will step up Truth. It is her main drive in life, and one reason why she sticks to the shadows. I'll step up her Bloodless Physiology Heritage. It has definitely played a part in assisting her in these endeavors, and part of the weird, oftentimes illegal experiments that she runs. I'll step up her relationship with Jack Beckett. Not only does she know him better due to her dealings with him and his fascination with her and her experiments, but the two participate together within this shadowy road, and I think stepping up their relationship makes sense here. The description still fits well so I'll keep it as such. Finally, I shall step up The Laboratory. It is vital in her day to day life, and especially so for her illicit experiments.

So many oddities for Alicia to study! Huzzah!

That's okay! Does that mean I unlock another elixar then if it is stepped up to d6?