[peregaming] Bert says, "Log on."

Jack arrives from the east.

GM shoots Jack! 'Oh no,' he exclaims, upon examining the corpse, 'it's the wrong Jack!'

The_Lady has connected.

(From GM) The_Tramp has connected.

Jack says (to GM), "Don't worry, I've got spares."

GM says, "haha"

GM takes out a double jack cable. 'Is this yours?'

[peregaming] GM asks, "So, ahem. Questions?"

[Numenera] Remba says, "plays a one-armed-bandit. "Jackpot!""

[Numenera] GM says, "Wrong channel, Remba"

[Numenera] Remba says, "Clearly I remember how all this works"

Jack says, "No, Cable belongs to Marvel."

Remba plays a one-armed-bandit. "Jackpot!"

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "My question is: what's happening?"

[Numenera] GM says, "Hah."

[Numenera] GM says, "ilac"

[peregaming] Jack says, "Mine is 'how much time has passed since the last story?'"

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "Oh, and did we get a milestone last time?"

[peregaming] Remba says, "I have no idea what's going on, but that probably meshes with Remba's experience"

[peregaming] GM says (to Jack), "Well, before we can address that, we need to handle that playing card business."

[peregaming] Jack exclaims, "OK!"

[peregaming] GM says, "And no, sorry, no milestone"

[peregaming] GM says, "(at least, not that I can see in the transcript)"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "(Also, now I'm wondering if I spent the right amount on stunts. I have 1 Refresh, 1 normal stunt, 6 superpower stunts. Isn't that one short?)"

[peregaming] Jack says, "That does mean that I don't have to worry about remembering whether or not I already applied it, at least :)"

Jack sets his current fate point total to 3.

[peregaming] GM says (to Quellynne), "You should have 2 refresh then"

Quellynne sets their current fate point total to 2.

GM sets his current fate point total to 3.

[peregaming] Jack asks, "Did Q get an anti-milestone?"

Remba sets her current fate point total to 3.

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Heh."

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "I think it may have to do with the fact that I wasn't superpowered in my prequel thingy."

[peregaming] GM says, "probably"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Anyway, apart from that I have spent 2 skill points, which seems reasonable."

GM says, "So, heroes! It is the aftermath of the Norwegian incident. Old Jack is in the custody of RONIN, while Hero Jack is in the employment of RONIN. And that latter Jack is in possession of four mysterious playing cards."

[peregaming] Jack asks, "Oh yeah, so this was the Jack who was in the basement in Norway, but *not* the old Jack who was on the plane or the Old Jack who was on the plane, IIRC?"

[peregaming] Jack asks, "Did both of him get away?"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Where did the cards come from? I forget that part."

[peregaming] Jack exclaims (at Quellynne), "When I opened up my diploma, they fell out!"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Got it."

[peregaming] Jack says, "They were the four jacks, and they all had weird mystic symbols on the back."

[peregaming] GM says, "As far as you know, the Jack in the basement is the same as *one* of the Old Jacks on the plane. The other old Jack had Mallory thrown at his head and then was teleported to an almost certain death out of the plane."

Jack is at his desk at RONIN. (His office door is open, in case any other PC's might happen to wander in.) The four cards on on his desk in front of him.

Jack dials Uncle Diggory on speakerphone.

[peregaming] GM says, "So: Original Jack, in custody. Duplicate #1, is the main character. Duplicate #2, presumed dead, looks like Original Jack"

GM says (to Jack), "The connection is pretty terrible, but you eventually get through to your uncle."

[peregaming] Remba asks (of gm), "Are we there?"

Diggory says, "...is this...Jack?"

[peregaming] Jack exclaims, "My office door is open!"

[peregaming] GM says (to Remba), "As you wish"

Jack exclaims (at Diggory), "It is! Hi, Uncle. It's been a long time since I've heard your voice!"

Remba wanders in. "Hey, Doc" while a voice in the distance yells, full of resignation : "For the last time, young lady! No milkshakes in the offices!"

Remba *slurp slurp*

Jack whispers (to Remba), "Heya. On the phone to my Uncle."

Remba says, "A speakerphone! Like in an old movie! HI JACK'S UNCLE""

Diggory says, "... who is Jack Sunkle?"

Jack says, "Ha. Uncle Diggory, this is my friend Remba. She just wandered in. Remba, this is my Uncle Diggory."

Diggory says, "Oh, ah. Quite."

Quellynne is sitting in a chair nearby. The blinds are slightly wavering, so maybe she just zipped in?

Remba says, "Oh, bad audio quality, like with my fortnite match yesterday." *pulls out a screwdriver* "I'll have this fixed in no time. Now where did I put my atomic irradiator?""

Jack exclaims, "I've got some good news! I finally finished my thesis! I'm a Doctor now!"

Diggory says, "Ah, indeed. Well, Jack... that is very good news. Quite."

Jack says, "Yeah! That's not the only reason I called, though. I was wondering if you could help me identify some weird symbols? They reminded me of the kinds of things I remember seeing in some of your old books."

Jack flips all the cards face down, takes a photo of the backs of them, and texts it to Diggory.

Diggory says, "Hmmm... Are you aware of the symbolism of playing cards, Jack?"

Jack asks, "Uh... not really. I mean, I know that Tarot cards are supposed to mean stuff, but...?"

Remba mutters, "I could boost the audio sub-frequencies. It might make every dog withing 10 miles rabid, but I guess that's a risk I'm willing to take ... or I could remodulate these loudspeakers ... Hmmm... that might cause all Wifi signals to cascade and fry the internet here ... better not, IT already hates me..."

Diggory says, "The four suits... they have often been associated with the four aspects of human nature... hearts with love... clubs, the search for knowledge... diamonds, material things... and spades, death, winter... but there is another theory..."

Diggory says, "...namely, that the whole deck of playing cards represents time."

Jack says, "...huh."

Jack says, "That must make things interesting when it's always getting shuffled."

Diggory says, "Think about it... 52 weeks in a year... 52 cards... the Joker represents a leap day, of course... 13 cards in a suit, 13 lunar months in a year... so forth... but what is more intriguing are those markings..."

Diggory says, "...dates spelled out in an ancient esoteric language, once said to be that of the angels... I will have to study this more closely..."

Jack asks, "Dates! Huh. Are all the symbols dates?"

Diggory says, "Times and places... relative to markers which have probably changed, of course... but clearly referring to precise events... I suspect some kind of prophetic intent"

Remba mutters, "Could reroute through my suit, easily give us 50-80% increase...but better check if there are pregnant people in the building...Hey, what's this dial on the side that says V+ and V- ? Worth a shot.

Remba adjust the audio.

[peregaming] GM says, "haha"

Jack grabs his pen. "Could you translate them for me?"

Jack says, "Someone slipped these cards to me, and I assume they must have been meant as a message..."

Diggory says, "I will see what I can do, Jack... quite honestly, these intrigue me too... but one thing... Jack... do be careful..."

Jack asks, "Alright -- uh. Do you know a particular reason I should be worried?"

Diggory says, "Well... if someone sent you this cryptic message... they might not be trying to help you. A hunch, nothing more."

Quellynne says, "A cryptic threatening message."

Jack asks, "Huh. Y'know, speaking of that... if this language is so rare, do you think that might help me track down who sent it?"

Remba says, "How random, lol"

Jack says, "I mean, it feels like there might not be that many people out there who can read and write it."

Quellynne says, "We have a frenemy who might know."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Which frenemy? There are so many at RONIN :D"

[Crows-Nest] Quellynne says, "Ha."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "You've got MAllory, Jackson, Lady of Smiles..."

Quellynne looks around, seeing blank looks. "The projection of the Lady into this dimension who was going to kill me but helped us against the watchmen?"

Jack says (to Q), "Huh. I was thinking of... regular people. But that's a pretty good point."

Quellynne says, "If it's the language of the angels, it might be the language she uses to write down her shopping lists."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "yay"

Jack says (to Diggory), "Thanks! I guess I've got a lot to think about. We're probably going to do some of our own research over here, too."

Jack asks (of Diggory), "But keep in touch! I'll talk to you later?"

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "Does she have a name she's going by here?"

[Crows-Nest] Remba asks, "we all know he's gonna die, right?"

[peregaming] Jack asks, "Other than Smiley?"

[Crows-Nest] Jack says, "Not necessarily! He might just turn evil or get possessed or something."

Diggory says, "Good luck, Jack! *end of call*"

Jack says, "Whew. Huh."

Jack says (to Q), "That's a good idea, about Smiley. I wonder if they can translate this for us."

[peregaming] Remba asks, "What happened to her?"

[peregaming] Jack asks, "Is Smiley around the RONIN base, as far as we know?"

[Crows-Nest] GM says (to Jack), "That's a good question! As a matter of fact, she just went on a mission with Jackson to investigate a mysterious pandimensional signal in Canada. But you can contact her through RONIN."

[peregaming] GM says, "Except here."

[peregaming] GM says, "(Why am I so slow today? I'm rusty )"

Jack says, "Let's head to the comms room and see if we can get an open line."

Remba exclaims, "Sure!"

Jack does so! (Taking the cards with him, of course.)

GM says, "You open a comms line and although there's a lot of wind in the background, Smiley's extradimensional timbre allows hir to be heard clearly."

Remba asks, "Hello! How's Canada?"

Smiley says, "Wonderful! Although Jackson hates it because we can't fly the chopper in these conditions."

Remba asks, "Well, he can't stand to walk a bit, lose some of that extra pilot ballast, he he he. Oh, Jack wanted to ask about some cards or whatever?"

Jack says, "Hey, if you have a minute, we were wondering about a weird language we found. Curious if you might recognize it."

Jack holds the back of the jack of clubs to the camera.

Smiley says, "I hadn't seen that in a while, that's a crude approximation to the way we Soulmonger communicate across unreality. That's... I remember seeing that moment in your memory, a glimpse..."

Jack asks, "Oh, really? Is it something that you can express in English?"

Quellynne . o O ( Oh, yeah. Got it in one. )

[Crows-Nest] Jack says, "Ha."

Smiley says, "One moment... this may fry the comms, but can you stare directly into the camera?"

Jack hesitates for a moment. But... yeah, OK. He does it.

Remba gets ready to intervene.

[peregaming] Jack says, "Because I am nothing if not Curious (But Skeptical)."

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "Hang on--did they look at all the symbols, or just the one?"

[peregaming] GM says, "Just the jack of clubs"

[peregaming] Jack says, "I've only held up the one card so far."

Quellynne asks, "Wait--before we fry the coms, can you look at the other symbols, too?"

Jack says, "Oh, right. Good idea."

Jack gets the other cards out of his pocket and fans them for the camera.

Smiley says, "One of these is in the future from where we are, I think. The others are things that already happened."

Jack asks, "Actually *did* happen, or should have happened?"

[Setting the zoned flag.]

Smiley says, "It's hard to tell. But two of these you've seen yourself. The four-sided one and the weird plant."

[peregaming] Jack tries to remember if he knows what those are...

GM says, "The comms crackle with eldritch powers, and a beam comes out and goes into Jack's eye"

Remba reaches out quickly to shut them off!

GM exclaims (at Remba), "Athletics, +5 Overcome!"

Remba rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: -1 +1 -1 -1 | Mediocre (0)

[peregaming] Remba says, "Sorry Jack"

GM says (to Jack), "You see two cards:"

[peregaming] Jack exclaims, "I was hoping you would fail! I want my plot hooks!"

[peregaming] Remba exclaims, "ha!"

GM says, "the Jack of hearts (except that the runes around it form branches, like a plant), fading into a flashback to the Yellow Doorway Bridge, and the Jack of Diamonds, fading into a flashback to a vision of Old Jack being hit in the face with MAllory."

GM says, "That's it."

[peregaming] GM says (to Jack), "Make a +5 Will Overcome, please"

Jack rolls Superb (5) + 4dF: -1 +1 +1 +1 | Epic (7)

[peregaming] Jack asks, "Was this for a mentally absorbing task (like figuring out a puzzle), or other Will stuff (like resisting having my mind blown)?"

[peregaming] GM says, "latter"

[peregaming] Jack nods.

GM says (to Jack), "You feel a mental force tugging at your mind, but you resist! It's rather like what you felt when you severed the connection between the Great One and Old Jack."

[peregaming] GM says, "(I feel like I got sidetracked by your need to know more)"

Jack asks (of Smiley), "Oof. Was that... was that pull from you?"

[peregaming] Jack says, "You mean about which kind of Will check it was? I was just checking if I got to add an extra +2 to succeed with style. (I did not.)"

Smiley says, "*fzzzt* No. That was close. Something so strong... *fzzzzzzzt* *connection fails*"

[peregaming] GM says (to Jack), "I meant, the fact that the 'prologue' has bloated out to an hour already :P"

Jack pulls a little notepad out of his pocket and scribbles down what he saw before he forgets.

[peregaming] Jack exclaims, "Oh, right! Sorry!"

[peregaming] GM says, "(It's partly my fault too)"

Remba asks (of jack), "Are you okay? Will you turn evil?"

Jack says, "I think I'm OK... for now."

Quint enters the room.

Jack's eyes linger on the unaddressed jack of spades -- the "death" card.

Remba nods, but eyes Jack warily.

Remba exclaims, "Uncle Quint!"

Remba jumps into his arms.

Quint says, "*Ooof* There you are"

Quint says, "But more seriously, I have just got off the phone with Parker Pryce-Vandermund."

[Crows-Nest] Remba asks, "Why are we suddenly in a Wodehouse novel?"

[Crows-Nest] Jack says, "And the conversation was going great until the entire building's communication's hub just caught fire."

Jack asks, "That creep?"

Quint says, "He... well, before the comms cut out, he was explaining how he didn't know who this Dr Knight person was. I'm not so sure that's really tenable, but he is very convincing."

Quint says, "I'm going to look into this more closely, especially given what Lizzie found out about the Pryce-Vandermund's links to certain dubious cults."

Jack asks, "They just happened to let a total stranger take control of one of their laboratory complexes?"

Quint shrugs. 'I know, I'm not convinced either.'

Quint says, "Wait. Why did I say he was convincing?"

[peregaming] Jack says, "(Knight is the Jack we have in custody, right?)"

Quellynne says, "Oh, it's one of those Reasonability Fields. I know people like that."

Quint rubs his temples. 'I'm having deja vu... somehow.'

[peregaming] Jack asks, "I can't remember; does he know about Lizzie's powers?"

Quellynne says, "Aren't there recordings of all communictions in and out of this place? Maybe we could replay it."

[peregaming] GM says, "I think he knows, yeah"

[peregaming] GM says, "(Lizzie had to admit it after her parents were taken hostage)"

Jack says, "Some people do have a certain talent like that -- I recall Lizzie being similarly persuasive at times."

[peregaming] GM says, "(and yes, you've got 'Knight')"

Jack says, "It sounds like this Parker fellow is going to be a tricky one to work with."

Jack says, "Especially if he can do that over the telephone."

Quint says, "Yes... I could swear his voice was familiar... no, not like yours, Jack, completely different... but yet..."

Quellynne asks, "Wait, what?"

Jack asks, "Like Smiley? Or like Lizzie?"

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "*Do* we have recordings?"

Quint says, "Feels more like a voice from a half-remembered dream..."

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "We'll address that in a moment!"

[Crows-Nest] Jack says, "It suddenly crosses my mind that I have no recollection of what we did with the Clockmicro."

[Crows-Nest] GM asks, "The Watchmini?"

[Crows-Nest] Jack says, "Right, that."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "You figured out how to keep it contained."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Using a container made of paradox"

An emergency siren goes off somewhere deeper in the reconverted oil rig;

[Crows-Nest] Jack asks, "And I guess it's just living in a paradox terrarium somewhere in our base, now?"

[Crows-Nest] Jack says, "Ah, there he is."

Jack says, "Uh oh."

Remba says, "That's probably not good"

Jack checks the nearest terminal for the source.

GM says (to Jack), "It's not in the Watchmini area, surprisingly, but lower down."

Jack flicks at the touchscreen to scroll down the map.

Quellynne takes off!

[peregaming] Jack says, "She'll probably get there on foot before I do on the map."

Remba turns into SATSAM!

GM asks (of Q), "You whizz down and come face to face with an amorphous mass pulsating amidst the wreckage of what appears to be robotic spider legs?"

[peregaming] Jack asks, "Mallory?"

[peregaming] GM says, "It looks like it"

Quellynne asks, "Mallory! Are you OK?"

[peregaming] Jack says, "(AFK a moment.)"

Mallory says, "*bopoblop* get out of my head *ploploprrrt*"

[peregaming] SATSAM says (to GM), "I'll run down, but I guess it'll take me a moment"

Quellynne shrugs, can't think of anything else to do, so zooms around Mallory super fast to create a whirlwind of interference.

[peregaming] GM asks, "Creat Advantage?"

Quellynne picks up any bits of metal/reflective surfaces that she can find and tosses them around, too.

[peregaming] Quellynne exclaims, "Sure!"

[peregaming] GM says, "That'll be Athletics +6"

Quellynne rolls Legendary+2 (+10) + 4dF: +1 +1 0 0 | Legendary+4 (12)

[peregaming] GM says, "So you now have a Whirlwind of Interference with a couple of free invokes"

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "Hmm, I can split that into something else. Any ideas on something else to do?"

[peregaming] Jack says, "Back."

[peregaming] GM says (to Q), "You could try, hmm..."

[peregaming] Jack asks, "Can the whirlwind also assemble some debris into a containing barrier?"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Enh, splitting it into a *separate* create advantage seems a little iffy ;-)"

Quellynne exclaims, "Mallory! Try breaking out of it again!"

Quellynne exclaims, "Concentrate!"

Quellynne is going so fast that each syllable of 'con cen trate' seems to come from a different spot around her.

[peregaming] Jack says, "Yeah, I guess that would be more of an advantage than an overcome."

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "Can I assist her roll, perhaps?"

[peregaming] GM says, "Hmm, okay"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Or wait!"

[peregaming] GM says, "You could fetch SATSAM"

[peregaming] GM says, "(How heavy can a kid in a liquid metal shell be)"

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "Sure! What's the TN for that?"

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "Unfortunately the shell is made of Heaveuffium"

[peregaming] GM says, "+4 because SATSAM is going with the flow"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "OK, so! Splitting my action into 3 actions gives me a +1 on each, for a total of 15. 9 for the Whirlwind of Interfernce, 5 for getting SATSAM, and 1 for assisting Mallory in breakig free of her mental interference."

[peregaming] GM says, "That works"

[peregaming] SATSAM exclaims, "I'd like to Create Sdvantage with Rapport, because Mallory and I have been friends (kind of), so I'll strengthen her resolve!"

Quellynne zooms around, taking a moment to fetch SATSAM, and shouting encouraging words to Mallory in the meantime.

[peregaming] GM says, "That'll be a Rapport +2 opposition because she's right now grasping at straws and feeling alone"

SATSAM rolls Good (3) + 4dF: -1 +1 +1 0 | Great (4)

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "You have an Aspect!"

[peregaming] GM says, "RP it and then we'll name it"

[peregaming] SATSAM exclaims, "Encouraged!"

SATSAM shouts, "Mallory! It's me, SATSAM! You've beaten this stuff before! Just concentrate! You can do this! I believe in you! You know I always believed in you! You were my BFF (kinda)!

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "For a grand total of +7 ;-)"

[peregaming] GM says, "+7? I'm confused"

SATSAM has disconnected.

SATSAM has connected.

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "+4 from the Whirlwind; +1 from the assist, +2 from Encouraged."

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Ahan okay!"

[peregaming] GM says, "Interestingly, that's also the bonus the villain has, so..."

[peregaming] GM says, "Villain first"

GM rolls Epic (7) + 4dF: +1 +1 0 0 | Legendary+1 (9)

GM rolls Epic (7) + 4dF: -1 0 -1 +1 | Fantastic (6)

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "Did Mallory have a 0 in Will, or whatever?"

[peregaming] GM says, "Oh, wait"

[peregaming] GM says, "Hold on"

[peregaming] Quellynne holds on.

[peregaming] GM says, "I need a few minutes break to think, because I may have goofed up something."

[peregaming] (from Jack) GM . o O ( Who the &#@* was 'Mallory' again? )

[peregaming] GM says, "(I'm on a different computer so I don't have my old notes to hand)"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Sure."

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "No problem"

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "People are used to the DM messing up from D&D"

[peregaming] GM says (to SATSAM), "aww"

[peregaming] Jack asks, "Is this when I'm supposed to jokingly agree, to try to convince Taleslinger that it's not really true?"

[peregaming] GM says, "Naughty Jack."

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "sniff"

[peregaming] GM says, "Okay, so discount that couple of rolls I just made. You guys keep all the advantages you just created."

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Woo, 23% off."

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Such a bargain."

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "ha ha ha"

Mallory splutters something to SATSAM and then morphs further! The huge eldritch mass divides into two shapes, one of which curls up in a corner. The other shape grows bigger and bigger, everything with which it enters into contact frizzles and phases out of existence!

Quellynne tries to keep it contained in the whirlwind!

This larger mass appears to be... a Soulmonger?

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "And now init!"

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "Roll Notice?"

[peregaming] GM says, "Yup"

Quellynne rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: -1 0 0 0 | Average (1)

GM rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: +1 +1 -1 -1 | Fair (2)

Quellynne clears the initiative.

Quellynne registers Quellynne at init 1.

GM registers Soulmonger at init 2.

Jack rolls Legendary+92 (+100) + 4dF: 0 -1 -1 -1 | Legendary+89 (97)

Jack registers Jack at init 97.

SATSAM says (to jack), "um"

SATSAM rolls Mediocre (0) + 4dF: 0 -1 -1 -1 | Terrible-1 (-3)

SATSAM registers SATSAM at init -3.

[peregaming] Jack (to SATSAM) | (use Notice to Defend against physical attacks and always go first in Conflicts)

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "Aha"

GM displays the initiative: Soulmonger(2) Quellynne(1) SATSAM(-3)

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Ha, you're not even on the list."

Jack registers Jack at init 10.

Jack displays the initiative: Jack(10) Soulmonger(2) Quellynne(1) SATSAM(-3)

[peregaming] Jack says, "Man, the system is rigged."

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "At first I thought it warped around and had put you at the -3."

[peregaming] Jack says, "And by 'the system' I mean 'the init system that I personally was the last person to work on'."

[peregaming] Jack says (to Q), "Ha."

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Hee"

[peregaming] Jack asks (of GM), "Since I wasn't present yet, can I use my movement to arrive on the scene?"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Sure!"

Jack blips into the room. "What the -- what's going on here?"

SATSAM removes SATSAM from the initiative list.

SATSAM registers satsam at init -3.

[peregaming] Jack asks, "So, we've got a Soulmonger and a Mallory, and a bunch of debris... can I use Will to try to figure out how this happened, in the hopes of reversing and/or fixing it?"

[peregaming] GM says, "sensible"

Quellynne says, while spinning around, "Mal lor y seems to have be come a Soul Mon Ger Though I think the mal lor y part of her is o ver there."

[peregaming] GM says, "Whee"

[peregaming] Jack exclaims (at Q), "Yay!"

[peregaming] Jack asks, "Or is that kind of figuring too much for the middle of a conflict?"

[peregaming] Jack asks, "Also, is the Mallory part still eldritch-shaped, or is it human-shaped?"

[peregaming] GM says (to Jack), "it's more humanoid, yeah"

[peregaming] Jack says, "Ooh."

[peregaming] Jack asks (of GM), "So, yes/no on the Will overcome?"

[peregaming] Jack says, "(Or Create Advantage, if you think that's more applicable.)"

[peregaming] GM says, "Create Advantage would be good. TN 5, since you're short on time."

Jack rolls Epic (7) + 4dF: +1 -1 0 +1 | Legendary (8)

[peregaming] Jack exclaims, "Success with style!"

[peregaming] Jack says, "(5 Will + Super Intelligence.)"

[peregaming] GM says, "Okay, you have an Assessment of the Situation"

Jack barks out a few cryptic phrases to Quellynne and SATSAM. They'll understand what they mean when they need to.

Jack advances the initiative: JACK(10) Soulmonger(2) Quellynne(1) satsam(-3)

[peregaming] Jack says, "That's an Aspect with two free invokes; anyone is free to grab them at will."

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "Oh, hey--can I have used my third action to Empower Mallory instead of assist her, since she didn't end up performing an actual action?"

[peregaming] Jack adds it to https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1h88N6VTO6dtQ2RVzk1tqx4NdA5PNyShAjpXcoVjhU8M/edit#gid=454481499 -- although it looks like there are soem outdated ones on there still.

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Also, since we now have a bunch: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1h88N6VTO6dtQ2RVzk1tqx4NdA5PNyShAjpXcoVjhU8M/edit#gid=454481499"

GM Sure, although you're not sure how she'll help in this situation

GM says, "ilac"

[peregaming] Quellynne says (to GM), "That's OK."

[peregaming] SATSAM asks, "So do we have a plan?"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "I just feel like she needs a bonus."

[peregaming] Quellynne exclaims, "The plan is to fight the soulmonger!"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "At least that's my plan ;-)"

[peregaming] GM says, "Before it wrecks RONIN HQ"

[peregaming] Quellynne exclaims, "We'll see what it does!"

[peregaming] Jack says (to SATSAM), "I'm assuming that we want to make sure the Soulmonger doesn't do anything evil."

[peregaming] Jack says, "I mean, it might be enough to offer it a milkshake to calm it down."

[peregaming] Jack says, "But I don't know if we can really ask Remba to make that kind of a sacrifice."

[peregaming] Quellynne asks (of Jack), "Init advance?"

[peregaming] Jack exclaims, "Oh!"

Jack advances the initiative: Jack(10) SOULMONGER(2) Quellynne(1) satsam(-3)

[peregaming] Jack exclaims, "Sorry!"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Just wanted to make sure you were done."

[peregaming] Jack says, "I advanced it before, but I guess it was still at the start of the round, so I advanced it *to* me rather than past me."

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "The init system is also rigged"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "OK, Soulmonger's turn!"

GM rolls Great (4) + 4dF: 0 0 0 +1 | Superb (5)

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Everyone defend with Physique!"

Quellynne rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: -1 0 +1 -1 | Average (1)

SATSAM rolls Average (1) + 4dF: +1 0 +1 +1 | Great (4)

Jack rolls Average (1) + 4dF: 0 -1 +1 -1 | Mediocre (0)

[peregaming] SATSAM asks, "Okay if I use one of the Assessment invokes?"

[peregaming] GM says, "Sure"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "If it's just physical damage, taking one point of stress seems a better use of resources."

[peregaming] Jack says, "Yeah, I have no hope of succeeding with them myself."

[peregaming] Jack says (to Q), "Good point."

[peregaming] Jack asks, "Is this an attack or an overcome or...?"

[peregaming] SATSAM asks (of gm), "Is it just physical damage?"

[peregaming] GM says, "It's an attack"

[peregaming] GM says, "a special one"

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "But does it do 5-x points of physical stress, or something else?"

[peregaming] Jack says, "I'll tag one Assessment invoke then, to reduce my stress to three so I can use a stress box."

[peregaming] Jack says, "If that's what's happening."

[peregaming] GM says, "Basically, here's what happening:"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Hey, time for rp ;-)"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "I'm typing it up!"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Yeah, sorry; I was noticing rather than suggesting."

The Soulmonger coils and unfolds in horrid shapes, and then reality flickers. You feel a sense of things fading away...

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "and now, for every point of stress taken, pick an invoke on an Aspect you just created, and if you're out of invokes then the Aspect itself ceases to be true!"

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "I'll take one invoke off Empowered"

[peregaming] GM asks, "Is that an aspect you created?"

[peregaming] Jack asks, "And if you have more stress than you have invokes/aspects?"

[peregaming] SATSAM says (to gm), "yes sir (and that makes it disappear)"

[peregaming] GM says, "Then situational aspects will disappear (aka scenery dressing)"

[peregaming] Jack says, "I guess I'm tagging Assessment twice, leaving me with one points of stress, and then losing the aspect for the last points of stress."

[peregaming] Jack says, "Er, last point."

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "So, since I'm down 4, can I invoke Whirlwind of Interference twice, to cancel the attack, and leave the aspect existing with no more invokes?"

[peregaming] GM says, "yep"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "OK."

Jack realizes that this is exactly the sort of thing that was about to happen, and mentally braces himself for it. He's able to resist, but then... he can no longer remember *how* it is he knew what to resist.

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "Does Mallory have to defend as well?"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Oh, right!"

GM rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: 0 +1 -1 -1 | Average (1)

[peregaming] GM says, "She's definitely going to be losing her Bodysnatching ability."

Quellynne's whirlwind seems to absorb most of the attack on reality, simply by virtue of being so *present* in the room. But it's terribly weakened by the attack.

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "I was thinking she could lose Encouraged and Empowered."

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "She already lost Empowered"

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "What?"

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "When?"

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "oh, right, just one invoke"

[Crows-Nest] Roger says, "empowerment is fleeting"

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "Nevermind"

[peregaming] GM says, "ow cat stop biting me"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "nom nom nom"

[peregaming] GM says, "(IRL)"

[peregaming] SATSAM says (to gm), "Ha ha"

[peregaming] Jack says, "It's like the spirit of CP is here with us."

GM says, "Mallory actually seems to be granted a return to a fully human shape as a result of the reality wave, but then she gets up and draws a gun. 'CIA!' she says. Apparently, she is no longer a *former* CIA operative."

[peregaming] Jack says, "Hey, cool."

[peregaming] Jack says, "Now we need to figure out if pre-monger Mallory was a good guy or a bad guy."

GM says, "Parts of the floor start phasing out also: everyone make an Athletics (+4) Overcome to not fall through the cracks."

GM rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: +1 -1 +1 +1 | Great (4)

Quellynne rolls Legendary+2 (+10) + 4dF: 0 +1 0 0 | Legendary+3 (11)

SATSAM exclaims (at gm), "I can fly!"

Jack rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: -1 +1 -1 -1 | Mediocre (0)

GM says (to SATSAM), "True"

GM asks, "... but can you avoid that falling beam?"

SATSAM rolls Great (4) + 4dF: 0 -1 -1 +1 | Good (3)

[peregaming] Jack asks (of Q), "Does your action-splitting apply to Defend actions too?"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Hey, I get a boost."

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Oh, hmm."

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "I'll take a shift of damage"

GM says (to SATSAM), "*bonk*"

SATSAM exclaims, "Fiddlesticks! That smarts!"

GM advances the initiative: Jack(10) Soulmonger(2) QUELLYNNE(1) satsam(-3)

[Crows-Nest] SATSAM says, "I can't seem today wether Remba talks like one of today's kids or a kid from one of those old adventure stories"

[peregaming] Jack asks, "Was falling through the cracks a matter of being moved to another zone, or taking stress, or...?"

[peregaming] Jack says, "Because if it was a physical attack I was defending against, then I can use Notice instead of Athletics :)"

Quellynne Is Mallory still empowered, or did that go away?

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Except ; instead of :"

[peregaming] GM says (to Jack), "Well, it's a question of whether you fall into the sea."

[peregaming] Jack exclaims, "I guess I do, then!"

Jack *splash*

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "I mean, you can teleport, right?"

[peregaming] Jack exclaims, "I can!"

[peregaming] Jack says, "And was planning to on my next turn."

[peregaming] Quellynne exclaims, "So I don't need to rescue you. OK!"

[peregaming] Jack exclaims, "Right!"

[peregaming] Quellynne asks (of GM), "Is Mallory still Empowered?"

[peregaming] GM says, "No"

[peregaming] Jack says, "I'm not sure if she's even still *empowered*, much less Empowered."

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Also, Q's turn!"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "I will do a Create Advantage to create 'Surrounded by Stuff', and split that into an attack and Empower myself, while I'm at it."

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "I dunno exactly how to split an Athletics roll into a Fight roll too? Can I do that?"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "If not, I'll just do multiple Create Advantages, since creating Aspects that the soulmonger deletes seems to be the mode we're in right now."

[peregaming] GM says, "hehe"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "(Also, can I Power Amplify myself? has this not come up?)"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "(if not, I'll PA SATSAM.)"

[peregaming] GM says, "I don't think you can PA yourself"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "OK, I'll Power Amplify SATSAM."

[peregaming] SATSAM says (to Quellynne), "I bet Power Amplify Yourself is an e-Book on Amazon"

[peregaming] SATSAM asks, "Cool! Also, what does that do?"

[peregaming] GM says, "It's a boost"

Quellynne zips around, tossing things around the soulmonger, trying to get somethign through its defenses!

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "TNs?"

[peregaming] SATSAM asks, "Would it be a good idea if I tried to stop Mallory, while you focus on the Soulmonger?"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "I was thinking she was OK on her own."

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "But maybe she's in danger? Or is a danger to us?"

[peregaming] Jack asks, "Whom is she pointing her gun at?"

[peregaming] GM says, "Right now she just trying to figure out who to point it at."

[peregaming] SATSAM exclaims, "Perfect! I'll try to convince her we're CIA, too!"

Quellynne rolls Legendary+2 (+10) + 4dF: 0 0 -1 +1 | Legendary+2 (10)

[peregaming] GM says, "Sure! (Also, there's a possibility you haven't explored yet, btw, but I'll let you figure it out)"

[Crows-Nest] Quellynne says, "(Running Numenera reminded me how many things are requested of the GM, and how easy it is to lose track of a question.)"

[Crows-Nest] GM says (to Quellynne), "Doubly so when your ankles are being chewed upon by a hug-seeking cat"

[Crows-Nest] Jack says (to Quellynne), "Also, I'm amused that you were deciding how you were going to apply your success with style even before finding out the base target you were going to roll against."

Quellynne..GM So! That's 13 points to distribute between empowering SATSAM, creating an advantage, and either creating another advantage or just straight-up attacking.

[Crows-Nest] Quellynne says (to GM), "So! That's 13 points to distribute between empowering SATSAM, creating an advantage, and either creating another advantage or just straight-up attacking."

[peregaming] Quellynne says (to Jack), "No, these are just my three actions; I dunno if I'm going to succeed with style on any of them."

[peregaming] Jack says, "But... you don't normally *get* three actions."

[peregaming] Jack exclaims, "Splitting your roll into three actions *is* your 'success with style' result!"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Hmm. That's not quite how it sounds, I guess."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "*eyes swivel in confusion*"

[peregaming] Quellynne | You can split your shifts among up to three different actions, adding +1 to each.

[peregaming] Jack says, "Right, that's the thing that succeeding with style lets you do."

[Crows-Nest] SATSAM says, "I've long ago given up on understanding how any of this works. I'm just along for the ride. :-)"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "But then some of those actions themselves succeed with style."

[peregaming] Jack | A special effect is an extra-special thing you can pull off when you succeed with style. Whenever you succeed with style on a roll that utilizes one of your powers, you can forgo the normal benefits of succeeding with style to add one of your special effects instead.

[peregaming] Quellynne exclaims, "Anyway! TNs!"

[peregaming] Jack says, "Also, I'm not complaining or anything. Just amused."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "I'm having trouble thinking straight with the family cat nipping my calves every five seconds"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "afk"

[Crows-Nest] Quellynne says, "Heh."

[Crows-Nest] SATSAM says, "Cut it out, Perecat"

[Crows-Nest] Jack says (to GM), "To help out: I think question #1 (when you have freed yourself) is 'What is the TN for Q to run around throwing things at the Soulmonger to create the "Surrounded By Stuff" advantage?'"

[Crows-Nest] SATSAM says, "I feel there is a better name than Perecat"

[Crows-Nest] Jack asks, "Feligrine?"

[Crows-Nest] GM says (to Jack), "Alright, locked Purregrine out of room."

[Crows-Nest] Jack says, "Yay."

[Crows-Nest] Jack says, "(For name.)"

[Crows-Nest] Quellynne asks, "And question #2 is 'assuming that TN is less than 7, can Q split her action into an attack? And if so, what is the TN for that attack? And if not, what is the TN to create the advantage 'Annoying zippy Quellynne'?"

[Crows-Nest] SATSAM says, "purregrine is pretty great"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Anyhow, let's see. For Surrounded by Stuff: Base TN 4 because it's all about the speed. Things are phasing out, stuff's diappearing, so that goes up to +5. The Soulmonger is interfering, so +6 overall TN."

[Crows-Nest] GM asks, "Does that sound fair?"

[Crows-Nest] Quellynne exclaims, "Sure!"

[peregaming] Jack exclaims, "Success with style!"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Whee!"

[peregaming] Jack says, "(And now we await the answer to question 2.)"

[Crows-Nest] Quellynne asks, "OK, so I definitely create that advantage (though possibly only as a boost) and also empower SATSAM. For my third action, can I attack, or do I need to create a different advantage instead?"

[peregaming] SATSAM exclaims, "That means you get to take 3 actions!"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "(whoops, switcing here)"

[peregaming] GM says (to Quellynne), "You can attack, with one caveat: you're likely to take damage upon contact."

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "(It occurs to me that I should swap out my '+2 to Fight' stunt for a 'You can fight when splitting your action')"

[peregaming] Quellynne asks (of GM), "TN?"

[peregaming] GM says, "+5"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "OK! 6 to the CA, for a tie/boost. 1 for the SATSAM empowerment. 6 for an attack."

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "RP at will!"

[Crows-Nest] Jack says, "Now Peregrine knows how I feel when Eben starts firing portals everywhere."

Quellynne zips around the room, bounding over missing floor bits, and creating new missing floor bits when she throws them at the soulmonger! In passing, she touches SATSAM's hovering ankle, giving her a boost of power. At the end, she slams a desk into the Soulmonger directly!

[Crows-Nest] Quellynne says, "Hee"

Quellynne advances the initiative: Jack(10) Soulmonger(2) Quellynne(1) SATSAM(-3)

[peregaming] Quellynne says (to SATSAM), "Definitely use your boost on your turn; I can empower you/Jack again next round."

SATSAM lands next to Mallory and turns into a black man in an FBI suit. "Agent Mallory! I'm Director...uh...Shaft. Help us stop this monster at once!"

[peregaming] SATSAM asks, "Deceive, I assume?"

[peregaming] GM says, "Yup"

[peregaming] SATSAM asks, "Boost is also +2, right?"

SATSAM rolls Fantastic (6) + 4dF: 0 +1 +1 -1 | Epic (7)

GM rolls Good (3) + 4dF: 0 0 -1 -1 | Average (1)

Mallory says, "Yes sir!"

SATSAM advances the initiative: END OF ROUND

[peregaming] Jack asks (of Q), "How did your attack work out, WRT defense rolls or stress or whatever?"

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "Maybe we want to add Mallory to the init? (Sorry for making it even more complicated for our poor GM)"

[peregaming] GM says, "She dealt one stress and gained one stress"

[peregaming] Jack nods.

[peregaming] GM says (to SATSAM), "Let's say she acts on your turn and assists you."

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "Neat."

[peregaming] GM says, "(so that she doesn't go full GMPC)"

[peregaming] Jack says, "Nice."

[peregaming] Jack says, "(New round?)"

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "Now I need to think of something for her to do"

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "Shoot the soulmonger?"

SATSAM advances the initiative: JACK(10) Soulmonger(2) Quellynne(1) satsam(-3)

[peregaming] Jack says (to SATSAM), "I think 'shoot the monster' is one option."

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Or just give you a +1 on your own action."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Purregrine is trying ineffectually to bash the door open."

Jack *blip* appears in the room! Dripping wet!

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "And being all sad about it"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Ah, Jack's turn!"

[Crows-Nest] SATSAM exclaims (at jack), "Quick, travel to the parallel universe where everyone's a towel!"

Jack immediately goes into full Kung Fu mode, trying out some moves he saw in a movie last night. Jack kicks! While Jack punches! And Jack grabs a metal rod and spins it around like a staff! Wa-pow!

[peregaming] Jack exclaims, "I am trying to Create Advantage using Fight!"

[peregaming] Jack says, "(Not trying to actually hit the thing, but just to keep it busy dodging me.)"

[peregaming] Jack says, "(I'm guessing that'll be an opposed roll?)"

[peregaming] GM says, "Yep"

Jack rolls Superb (5) + 4dF: +1 -1 0 -1 | Great (4)

GM rolls Great (4) + 4dF: 0 -1 -1 0 | Fair (2)

[peregaming] Jack exclaims, "Woo!"

[Crows-Nest] SATSAM exclaims, "Nice!"

[peregaming] Jack exclaims, "Aspect: Dazzled By Mad Kung Fu Kicks!"

Jack advances the initiative: Jack(10) SOULMONGER(2) Quellynne(1) satsam(-3)

[Crows-Nest] SATSAM says, "All the other Jacks with the pumped up kicks"

GM rolls Great (4) + 4dF: 0 -1 0 -1 | Fair (2)

[peregaming] GM says, "Defend with physique again! Assault on reality, part 2"

Quellynne rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: -1 -1 -1 0 | Poor (-1)

[peregaming] Jack asks, "Just to confirm: this doesn't count as a physical attack, does it?"

[peregaming] GM says, "Nope"

Jack rolls Average (1) + 4dF: -1 0 -1 0 | Poor (-1)

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "Does Master Flight work? |You can fly better than most people can walk. Gain +2 to Athletics rolls while airborne."

[peregaming] GM says, "It's a metabiology thing"

[peregaming] SATSAM asks, "So yes?"

[peregaming] Jack says, "I think unfortunately not, since it's not about dodging."

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "I am going to spend my Momentum boost on a re-roll."

Quellynne rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: +1 0 0 +1 | Great (4)

[peregaming] GM says, "What JAck said"

[peregaming] Jack says, "But rather about your body being able to resist the strain of reality ripping apart around it."

SATSAM rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: 0 +1 -1 +1 | Good (3)

[peregaming] GM says (to SATSAM), "get real"

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "And that was vs. a +2?"

[peregaming] GM says, "yep"

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "Woo"

Jack and Jack -- a constantly changing cast of which Jack is which -- are surrounding the Soulmonger, slightly distracting it from its world-altering effects, but that can't stop the Soulmonger from erasing this current round of time travel shenanigans from existence.

[peregaming] Jack says, "Tagging Kung Fu for a +2, then giving up the aspect to handle the last point of stress."

[peregaming] GM says, "OK"

GM advances the initiative: Jack(10) Soulmonger(2) QUELLYNNE(1) satsam(-3)

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Hrm. I'm not sure if there's a better thing to do than what I did last round."

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Which would at least be easy to adjudicate ;-)"

[peregaming] Quellynne asks (of GM), "If I invoke an aspect to do more damage, do I take *that* as stress myself, too?"

[peregaming] Jack says (to SATSAM), "Hey, here's a thought."

[peregaming] Jack says, "You've built reality-distortion containment fields before."

[peregaming] GM exclaims (at Q), "yup!"

[peregaming] Jack says, "(To keep Quint and Brenda intact.)"

[peregaming] GM says, "(to both)"

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "Do I think it would take falling damage if it fell into the ocean?"

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "Sure"

[peregaming] Jack asks (of SATSAM), "And we know there's debris in here. I wonder if there's enough stuff that we could use to Craft something to stop it from using its aspect-destroying attack?"

Quellynne does the same thing as last time!

Quellynne rolls Legendary+2 (+10) + 4dF: +1 +1 0 0 | Legendary+4 (12)

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "I'm 100% There is enough stuff"

[peregaming] GM exclaims (at Q), "And you get the same result! Uncanny... like deja vu!"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "So: SATSAM is boosted again, I tossed a bunch of useful-seeming materials SATSAM's way for a boost for her, and then spend the last 8 as an attack."

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "No, I got 2 better this time."

[peregaming] Jack says (to SATSAM), "Do you want to do it this round, or wait to see if I can create an aspect to help you on my turn? (I'd advise the former, since any aspect I create will probably get eaten before you can use it.)"

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "Which is 3 damage to both it and me?"

[peregaming] GM says, "yep"

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "Yeah, the former seems better"

[peregaming] GM says, "you're definitely hurting it, Q"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Actually, no, I'm going to make the Surrounded By Useful Stuff as a normal aspect, and only 2 damage to both it and me. And I'm taking a Consequence: Misphased Arm."

Quellynne advances the initiative: Jack(10) Soulmonger(2) Quellynne(1) SATSAM(-3)

[peregaming] Jack asks, "Ooh. You've been disarmed?"

Quellynne manages to slam her fist into the Soulmonger's side at the last second, but her arm seems to be misphased as a result!

[peregaming] GM says, "heee"

[peregaming] Quellynne says (to Jack), "Not *all* the time."

[peregaming] Jack says, "Just at the *wrong* times."

[Crows-Nest] SATSAM says, "That's what happens when you don't warm up before extensive time-travelling"

[peregaming] Quellynne exclaims, "Exactly!"

[peregaming] GM says, "SATSAM: engage"

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "Whoops, sorry, Q's turn are usually so extensive :D"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Ha."

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "When my questions come pre-answered, it's not as bad ;-)"

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "So I'd like to built a reality-distortion containment fields that cancels weakens her aspect stealing thing."

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "cancels *or* weakens"

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "(with Mallory's help)"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Feel free to use the Surrounded by Useful Stuff, too."

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "The following stutn is gonna be important: Always Making Useful Things (Crafts) You dont ever have to spend a fate point to declare that you have the proper tools for a particular job using Crafts, even in extreme situations (like being imprisoned and separated from all your stuff). This source of opposition is just off the table."

[peregaming] Jack exclaims, "Yay!"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Whee!"

SATSAM rolls Superb (5) + 4dF: -1 0 0 -1 | Good (3)

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "gah"

[peregaming] SATSAM asks, "What's the TN?"

[peregaming] GM says, "+4"

[peregaming] SATSAM exclaims, "Then I'll tage Hyperaware!"

[peregaming] Quellynne exclaims, "Or the free one!"

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "Oh right, that makes more sense"

[peregaming] Jack says, "Hee."

[peregaming] SATSAM exclaims, "So +5!"

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "(rping)"

SATSAM runs around, grabbing stuff off the ground and from the useful stuff Q provided, tossing stuff at Mallory and barking orders at her "connect that there! Plug that into that toaster! Bend those antennas 45°!" The resulting machine would give Rube Goldberg nightmares, but as SATSAM clicks the on-button on an electric toothbrush in all the chaos, it whirs and clicks and electricity cackles, and the Soulomnger is surrounded by a reality-distortion containment field.

GM displays the initiative: Jack(10) Soulmonger(2) Quellynne(1) SATSAM(-3)

GM advances the initiative: END OF ROUND

SATSAM advances the initiative: JACK(10) Soulmonger(2) Quellynne(1) satsam(-3)

[peregaming] Jack says, "Earlier, I used Will to study the Soulmonger and create an Assessment of the Situation. But then that aspect got eaten, so presumably all the conclusions that I had figured out were lost in the reality distortion wave."

[peregaming] Jack says, "So I'd like to try that analysis again. Same TN? (+5)"

[peregaming] GM says, "Indeed"

Jack rolls Epic (7) + 4dF: -1 0 +1 +1 | Legendary (8)

[peregaming] Jack exclaims, "Success with style!"

Jack exclaims, "Look! The wobbly bits around the edges of the thing! Those are weaknesses in its grip on our dimension! And that purple part! It's the nexus of its stabilization! It needs that to remain intact!"

[Crows-Nest] SATSAM exclaims, "Boom! Right in the Nexus!"

Jack goes on for a bit, blurting out anything helpful he notices the moment he sees it!

Jack advances the initiative: Jack(10) SOULMONGER(2) Quellynne(1) satsam(-3)

GM says (to Jack), "As part of your deductions, you also realize that it's being remote controlled by someone -or something? - far away. And you can see that it's trying to spread destructive tendrils into different parts of RONIN..."

Jack blurts that out too!

[peregaming] GM says, "It's using its Physique to spread out. Does anyone want to provide active opposition? (ie by tagging stuff etc)"

[peregaming] SATSAM asks, "Could I do that with shoot?"

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "Raining down surpressing fire with Rain of Plasmaß"

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "So it's not doing the thing the Reality Distortion Containment Field was designed to stop?"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "And I could keep running around it to keep it contained that way."

[peregaming] GM says, "It's stopped by the reality distortion field"

[peregaming] Jack exclaims, "Yay!"

[peregaming] GM says, "hence why it's trying to spread out"

[peregaming] GM says, "looking for a new tactic"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Oh! OK, then."

[peregaming] Jack says, "This is like in a videogame when you make progress on the boss so it suddenly stops doing the pattern you've gotten the hang of and starts doing something completely different that you're not prepared for."

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Then yes, if I can use athletics to actively oppose, I will do that."

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "OK!"

GM rolls Fantastic (6) + 4dF: +1 +1 +1 -1 | Legendary (8)

[peregaming] Jack says, "If you need my Assessment to assist, please feel free to tag."

Quellynne exclaims, "Oh, no you don't!"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "(Assuming speed is helpful here:)"

Quellynne rolls Legendary+2 (+10) + 4dF: -1 -1 0 -1 | Epic (7)

[peregaming] Quellynne tags the Surrounded by Stuff boost to re-roll.

Quellynne rolls Legendary+2 (+10) + 4dF: +1 -1 +1 0 | Legendary+3 (11)

GM WAIT

[peregaming] GM says, "That boost has already been used"

[peregaming] Quellynne waits!

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Nope, that was a different one."

[peregaming] GM says, "(by SATSAM)"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "That was the 'Surrounded by Useful Stuff'."

[peregaming] GM says, "Oh, Surrounded by Stuff vs Surrounded by *USeful* Stuff, haha"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "This is the soulmonger's Surrounded by Stuff from the previous (confusing) round."

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Then you succeed!"

[peregaming] Quellynne exclaims, "Yay!"

[peregaming] Quellynne exclaims, "And I succeed with style, giving me a boost!"

[peregaming] Jack says, "On Thanksgiving, Quellynne tried to help out and confusingly gave the turkey 'Surrounded by Stuffing'."

[peregaming] Quellynne adds 'Harried by Quellynne'

Quellynne zips around the Soulmonger, and every time they try to spread out, she slam it with one of the things she had surrounded it with before, making it super frustrated, and unable to expand.

[peregaming] (from SATSAM) Remba says, "I'm surrounded by turkeys!"

GM advances the initiative: Jack(10) Soulmonger(2) QUELLYNNE(1) satsam(-3)

Quellynne continues to circle the Soulmonger, going super fast so as to confuse it.

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "Create Advantage: confused? Is that a reasonable use of Athletics/speed in this context?"

[peregaming] GM says, "It is if you're superfast"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "w00t"

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "TN?"

[peregaming] GM says, "Well, it doesn't have enough of a mind to be confused, so TN 8"

Quellynne rolls Legendary+2 (+10) + 4dF: -1 0 +1 +1 | Legendary+3 (11)

[peregaming] Quellynne exclaims, "Just enough to succeed with style!"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "So I'll also do my attack, and a tie on an attack gives another boost, IIRC."

GM exclaims (at Quellynne), "An unexpected development, however: you see two researchers fall from the ceiling through a hole!"

GM asks, "Will you allow yourself to be Shadowed By Failure, or will you try to save them?"

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "Sure, I'll accept that! Changing my second action to grabbing them?"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Yep!"

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "TN for that?"

[peregaming] GM says, "4"

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "Overcome?"

[peregaming] GM says, "yeah"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "OK, spending the 5 on that, so no minor cost."

Quellynne gives a fate point to Quellynne (queued up for the next scene).

Quellynne is about to smash into the Soulmonger once again, but when she sees the falling researchers, she is hit by memories of the soulmonger in her own world consuming everything she ever loved. She leaps over its body snatching them in mid-air, and safely deposits them on the other side. "Stay here! We almost got this!" she yells.

Quellynne advances the initiative: Jack(10) Soulmonger(2) Quellynne(1) SATSAM(-3)

SATSAM says, "Mallory! Aim for that Nexus! Give it all we got!" Satsam and Mallory rain down bullets and Plasma on the Soulmonger."

[peregaming] Quellynne says (to SATSAM), "You're still boosted, don't forget."

[peregaming] SATSAM exclaims, "Woo!"

[peregaming] SATSAM says (to gm), "Attack with shoot"

[peregaming] GM says, "Go for it (you get +1 from Mallory)"

SATSAM rolls Great (4) + 4dF: -1 0 0 -1 | Fair (2)

GM rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: -1 +1 0 +1 | Good (3)

[peregaming] SATSAM exclaims, "+2 from the Boost!"

[peregaming] Jack exclaims, "Spend all the free invokes!"

[peregaming] SATSAM exclaims, "I spend all the free invokes !"

[peregaming] Jack says, "You get two of them from my Assessment of the Situation, giving you a +4."

GM says, "POW POW POW"

SATSAM exclaims (at gm), "10 all in all then!"

[peregaming] Jack asks, "And I think Q can let you use her Harried By Quellynne for another +2?"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "And another 3 from various Q boosts, for another +6."

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Wait, you already spent Empowered."

[peregaming] Jack asks, "And can you use the free invoke on the RDCF to aid, since it's harder for it to defend itself when it's being contained?"

[peregaming] Jack asks, "And did Mallory: Encouraged get used yet?"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Oh, hey, and is Mallory still Encouraged? Timing."

[peregaming] SATSAM asks, "soo... 20 all in all?"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "(that may have been deleted when we were attacked)"

[peregaming] Jack asks, "I think +14 or +16 in all?"

GM says, "The Soulmonger thrashes! It roils! It buckles and gyrates! And as it flickers apart it sinks into the sea, shaking the entire oil rig (which came close to being ripped away by reality quakes)"

SATSAM exclaims, "LEAVE MY FRIENDS ALONE! LEAVE MY UNIVERSE ALONE! GET THE HELL OF MY OIL RIG! AAAAH!"

SATSAM says, "*meekly* Sorry I cursed."

[peregaming] Jack asks, "Was it destroyed, or is it now just underwater?"

[peregaming] SATSAM asks, "Do we still see an HP bar at the top of the screen?"

[peregaming] GM says, "It's breaking apart in the water, like a dismembered extradimensional octopus"

[peregaming] GM says (to SATSAM), "haha"

GM exclaims, "Now, everyone attempt a +6 Notice Overcome!"

SATSAM rolls Mediocre (0) + 4dF: +1 +1 +1 0 | Good (3)

Quellynne rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: +1 +1 0 -1 | Good (3)

Jack rolls Great (4) + 4dF: +1 0 +1 -1 | Superb (5)

[peregaming] Jack exclaims, "Tagging Curious But Skeptical!"

[peregaming] Jack says, "Because I am going to be keeping an eye out for anything weird going on that might be interesting and/or dangerous."

Jack spends a fate point, leaving him with 2.

GM says (to Jack), "It occurs to you that the reality erasures might have been a cover for something covert, especially since based on your observations the Soulmonger seemed to be puppeteered."

Jack passes that observation on to the others.

Jack says, "I see two things we should do."

Jack says, "One, check the base for any signs of any stealth activity that was going on during the attack."

Jack says, "Two, try to see if we can track the source of the signal that was controlling it."

SATSAM says (to mallory), "These are Agents Jack and Quellynne, semi-competent underlings"

Jack says (to SATSAM), "Oh, right. I guess that's three."

Jack asks (of Mallory), "Are you alright?"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Hey, Q is more than just semi-competent"

[Crows-Nest] SATSAM says, "I'll upgrade her to demi"

Mallory says, "I'm okay. Didn't expect this assignment to be so... out of this world."

SATSAM gently toucher her arm. "Don't worry, you're doing great, considering the circumstances.

Jack radios upstairs. "We think we've contained the incident. But we think it might have been cover for some other kind of attack -- something covert. Can you get teams to scour the facility from top to bottom?"

Jack asks (of Mallory), "What's the last thing you remember before fighting that monster just now?"

Mallory says, "I remember... I'm not sure, actually. There's this fuzzy short term gap I can't account for, probably shock?"

[peregaming] SATSAM asks, "I'd like to built a signal tracker. Can anyone assist with Crafts?"

Jack asks, "Mmm. What day is it?"

[peregaming] Jack exclaims, "I can assist!"

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "Let's finish the conversation first, maybe, come to think of it."

Mallory says, "I remember clearly being assigned to tail Quint... then there was an attack on the Bridge, and I helped defeat that creature... then it's sort of fuzzy but I was the go-between for the CIA and RONIN?"

Quellynne says (to Mallory), "The monster we were fighting had a reality-chaning ability that I think might have changed you to who you were a while back. It was another creature like the one on the bridge."

Jack asks, "...so you *do* remember an organization called 'RONIN'?"

Mallory says, "Yes?"

Jack also radios Quint. "Hey, prof, it looks like Agent Mallory's situation has... changed. We're going to need a full medical exam of her new condition."

Jack keeps eyeing Mallory skeptically.

Quellynne says, "OK, I'm going to go check up on things."

Quellynne speeds off, with the intent of looking at everyone in the facility, looking for anyone who looks satisfied, like they just accomplished something sneaky, instead of shell-shocked or Trying to Cope.

Jack says, "I'm going to stay here and-- oh, she's gone."

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "I dunno what to roll for that. Notice?"

[peregaming] GM says, "Usually it's Empathy, but Notice would work as well"

SATSAM exclaims, "Let's build a signal tracker, like in that old movie Aliens! I mean, not old for me, because I am an adult. A boomer. Ha ha, kids these days!"

Quellynne rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: 0 +1 +1 0 | Great (4)

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Hey, not terrible."

GM rolls Great (4) + 4dF: 0 0 -1 +1 | Great (4)

[peregaming] GM says, "And spending an fp on 'Great One's Plan'"

GM spends a fate point, leaving him with 2.

[peregaming] GM says, "To make that a +6"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Oho hmm."

[peregaming] Jack says, "Trying to remember what Spatiotemporal Secrets are."

[peregaming] SATSAM says (to jack), "Sorry, can't tell you"

[peregaming] GM says, "Stuff you learnt about Soulmongers and Watchmakers"

[peregaming] Quellynne asks, "I am up for spending a fp myself, but you can outspend me. Do you have a strong preference that this be kept secret for now?"

[peregaming] GM says, "...yes"

[peregaming] Jack says, "Oh, 'research on soulmonger physics'."

[peregaming] Jack exclaims, "Dang, that could have helped in this fight!"

[peregaming] Quellynne exclaims, "Alrighty!"

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "snrk"

Quellynne thought that she saw someone with an odd glint in their eye, but it turned out to just be the light coming in from one of the newly-opened holes in the oil rig's walls.

[peregaming] Jack asks (of GM), "By the way, did anyone respond to either of my attempts to radio NPC's?"

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "Oh, yeah!"

Quint says, "Thank goodness it's over. Well, well. I suppose we should consider expanding our headquarters onto more solid ground."

[peregaming] Jack | Jack also radios Quint. "Hey, prof, it looks like Agent Mallory's situation has... changed. We're going to need a full medical exam of her new condition."

[peregaming] Jack says, "I want to scan her and find out if she still has any Soulmongeriness in her."

Quint says, "I'll get that into motion."

GM says, "TIME PASSES: 'No trace of mutation so far.'"

Jack says, "Huh."

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "Meanwhile, I built a signal tracker"

Jack says, "I mean, this is certainly the outcome I was originally hoping for, but I'm awfully suspicious of this just landing in our laps this way."

[peregaming] GM exclaims, "You build a signal tracker!"

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "Crafts with assist from JAck"

SATSAM rolls Superb (5) + 4dF: 0 +1 +1 +1 | Legendary (8)

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Nice"

Jack holds things steady while SATSAM is cutting them.

GM says (to SATSAM), "Your signal tracker is so good that it can even track (to some extent) prior movement of the signal's source."

SATSAM asks (of gm), "So where is it coming from?"

GM says, "Which is when you discover that the signal source suddenly leapt from being in a different part of the country to being in RONIN and then leapt straight back. And that the signal has stopped. And that the signal... was a stream of concerntrated brainwaves."

[Crows-Nest] Jack exclaims, "The signal's coming from *inside the Mallory*!"

SATSAM relays that info to the team.

Jack asks, "Do you think that's what I felt earlier, when we were talking to Smiley?"

SATSAM says, "I'd say it's possible"

[Crows-Nest] Quellynne says, "Brainwaves of concern"

GM says (to SATSAM), "The signal appeared to be coming from the US/Canada border, pretty much."

[peregaming] Jack asks, "What was Smiley out there fighting?"

Quellynne bounces on her toes, still hyped from the fight. "Arr; where do we go where I can hit someone. Come on."

Jack says (to Q), "Canada, I think."

SATSAM says, "Huh, didn't they go to Canada? Looks like we have a date with a lady ... and it isn't going to be all smiles.""

[peregaming] GM says, "That's an awesome line."

[peregaming] Jack says, "Does that mean we're ending the session on it? :)"

[peregaming] GM says, "If you're happy with that"

[Crows-Nest] Quellynne says, "Yeah, this'd be a fine place to stop."

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "I was hoping it might be the last line."

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Yay"

[peregaming] GM says, "(I didn't plan for a cliffhanger, but then again a lot of stuff was unplanned this session)"

[peregaming] GM says, "(mainly because of cat)"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Heh."

[peregaming] Jack says, "If I don't have to run something myself, I think I could do July 3 or 5. (Friday or Sun.)"

[peregaming] Jack says, "To finish up from the cliffhanger."

[peregaming] GM says, "July 3 would be good."

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Oh, hmm. Yeah, I could do Friday. Day off here, and all that."

[peregaming] Jack asks (of SATSAM), "How about you?"

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "Yeah, sounds good"

[peregaming] Jack exclaims, "Yay!"

[peregaming] GM says, "Whee"

[peregaming] SATSAM exclaims, "Nice!"

[peregaming] GM says, "Thank you guys for bearing with me, I was rustier than I thought"

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "It was fun to play with this group again after playing D&D IRL or via Discord for a while."

[peregaming] Jack says, "And depending on how things work out, maybe we'll end up doing a Department game after lps gets back from the trip. (Or maybe by then we can try finishing Crownsford, depending on how ggg feels.)"

[peregaming] SATSAM says (to gm), "No worries, we'll blame it all on the cat."

[peregaming] GM says, "aww"

[peregaming] GM says, "he's asleep now"

[peregaming] Jack says (to GM), "It was fun despite the hiccups. Plus, pausing let me finish folding my laundry :)"

[peregaming] GM says, "heh"

[peregaming] GM says, "I wanted to try new stuff."

[peregaming] Jack exclaims, "Thanks for running it!"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Taking breaks is always warranted."

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "I admit to finishing cleaning my bedroom during breals"

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "*breaks"

[peregaming] Jack asks, "What time should I put on the schedule for July 3?"

[peregaming] GM asks, "Same as today?"

[peregaming] SATSAM says, "Works for me"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "Our normal time one hour later would be slightly better for me."

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "(2 eastern)"

[peregaming] Jack says, "I'm good with any of those."

[peregaming] GM says (to Quellynne), "If it's important to you, we can do 2pm eastern"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "It's not *super* important? But it would be a bit nicer."

[peregaming] GM says, "2pm it is then :)"

[peregaming] Quellynne says, "But if it'd be a bit nicer for you EU types to do earlier, that's 100% OK."

[peregaming] GM says, "(well, it would increase the odds of earlier bedtime)"

[peregaming] Jack says, "I saved the page with 2:00 and will let the two of you decide which of you gets to edit it."