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Wol
Dec 15, 2012

See you in the
UNDERDARK
JUNE 25
=======

"Good morning, fearsome fighters! I bring news!"

Nadima looks especially buoyant this morning. She's almost bouncing up and down with excitement as she waits for you to finish sparring, training or whatever else it was you were doing and give her your full attention.

"Looks like you guys are settling in. Good! I know it's not the most extravagant gym, but who cares about that right now - I've got exciting news! Your first tournament! The seventh! Annual! CAAAAARNAGE IN CAIROOOOO!"
"The competitors have just been finalized. A week and a half from now, you guys'll be fighting your first real tournament fight as a team. I can't wait! We'll be flying out in just two days. As always, the start-of-season Crown tournaments kick off with a gala where all the fighters can mingle, flirt, get to know each other and start rivalries before meeting each other in the arena. Cairo's gala is held two nights from now in the absolutely stunning Canopic Palace. It's right along the Nile Delta in a beautiful, secluded spot. You get a great view of the sunset there, and it's seriously beyond words. Aaahhh, I'm so excited for you! You'll have to keep your head on your shoulders, of course - it's your first real opportunity to make an impression and start getting a reputation rolling - but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourself. And to that end, you should know who you'll be meeting! And facing in the tournament."

Nadima gestures to the massive screen on the wall beside her. It flickers to life, displaying a tournament bracket as well as the names of the teams and fighters you'll be competing against.

"The tournament includes 10 teams, and starts off with a group stage where the teams are divided into two groups. You'll face each other team in your group once. After that's done with, the team in each group with the worst record gets dropped from the tournament. From there, the tournament moves on to single elimintation. You'll be matched up by how well you did in the group stage. First place in Group A goes up against fourth place from Group B. Second place in Group B faces third place from Group A. Then, the winners of both those matches face each other. Flip "A" and "B" for the other side of the bracket."



Jenny Cyanide | Neil Arson | Ramona Rancid | Typhoid Mei | Raw Dog


Thrash | Glory | Siroko Tuuli | Kuende Magharibi | Jagged Jeska


Dr. Szsarek | Sgt. Hagen | Atomizer | Eviscerator | Vivisector


'Shodown' Sho Hazuki | Masakuro | The Monolith | Ark Three | Herr Howitzer


Zyne | Null | Exor | Shell-Z | K


Galaxi Gunmetal | Galaxi Glaive | Galaxi Grue | Galaxi Glitch | Galaxi Grapnel


Sgt. Hall | Monsoon | Grizzly Harrison | Greentail 363 | Doc Mayweather


Caesar | Eternity | Ambrosia | Adon | Psyche


Adrestia | Whisper | Briar-Tooth | Lord Meredith Tristram | Simón Tancredo


Merle Sawbuck | Johnnie Mae | Dirtbag Dominga | Billy the Skid | Roach


---------------------------------------

Who are all these people? Well, what you know about them is up to your skill checks (when rolling something, please tell me who or what you're rolling about) and what you decide to spend time finding out. You do know a few things just off the top of your head, though...

Jenny Cyanide, Grizzly Harrison, Adrestia and Merle Sawbuck are the long-time competitors of the bunch. They've all been around for years. None of them has ever won the Crown, but of the four, Merle's come the closest. Five years ago, he made it to the Crown Championship quarterfinals, only to be defeated by eventual champion Cristian 'The Templar' Tancredo.

Zyne was supposed to be last year's prodigy upstart, coming out of the amateur circuit with a near-flawless record and a massive amount of hype surrounding him. However, he fizzled out spectacularly mid-season and didn't even qualify for the Championship.

Siroko and Glory, you've had memorable matches with Monsoon on the amateur circuit. He may be a for real legitimate crazy person. He wasn't wearing the mask or flight suit at the time, but he fights with dual pistols, pressurized canisters to fling himself around the arena, and absolute reckless abandon. He's an unpredictable and skilled opponent, but may well lack any kind of sense of self-preservation.

Jeska and Siroko, you've had memorable matches with Briar-Tooth on the amateur circuit. She's surprisingly crafty, and you've learned to be careful if you start to see little plants start to sprout and bud through the floor while facing her. However, she's not very aggressive. She ultimately allowed you to catch your breath one time too many in your matches.

Kuende and Glory, you've had memorable matches with Galaxi Glitch on the amateur circuit, though she was just called Glitch at the time. Between her stepping in and out of reality and her wreaking absolute havoc on your brain, she's one of the most miserable matches you've ever had. She didn't even have the decency to finish you fast - her fighting style and abilities are more about wearing you down over time than putting you down quickly.

Kuende and Jeska, you've had memorable matches with Exor on the amateur circuit. He's fast, a drat good swordsman, and hit on you pretty much constantly throughout your matches. He's got moves and he's got charisma, but he's also got more than a bit of an ego - just like his mentor, Zyne.

Wol fucked around with this message at 06:26 on May 13, 2015

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Sep 30, 2009

You think you have the wherewithal to figure out my puzzle vagina?
Thrash

Thrash has at least a vague idea of each group, and pays special attention to the ones that seem to already have a group theme, especially the Galaxi Girls, but more than that, one group in particular stands out.

"The Fraction Five." Setting down his guitar-axe, Thrash gives a short bark of a laugh. "Those are the motherfuckers funded by PBS, right?"

History (Fraction Five): 1d20+10 29

Mu.
Sep 15, 2003

The thing about Forevereal Modding Mu is that he loves editing files and wants others to download his permanent mods. Fully editing, rich text, altering files and loving it. Download his mods and enjoy it.
Glory

Glory twitches slightly, far away inside his own head, halfway through a structured systemic review simulation. It's partly a training excersise, albeit a virtual one, and partly a diagnostic tool to ensure that systems are doing what they should be doing. So far, so good. It's been like that the last few days, actually: almost all systems have been very well behaved, and those few that haven't have been only minimally pre-sentient. Glory thinks once, and acts once. One body and one mind.

Hopefully it stays like that.

He wakes once Nadima arrives, and her excitement is instantly infectious. Glory would probably smile, if he had a face. He settles instead for glowing slightly.

He quickly scans the team rosters for anybody he might recognise, and Monsoon jumps out at him at once.

"Ah! Monsoon! A trickster, if ever there were one."

He turns to his team mates, "The man flings his body around the arena like a child might hurl a toy, and somehow holds a steady aim. I watched him jump a good twenty feet into the air at one point.

"But I stuck right to him with a longwarp, knocked him clean out of the sky!" He claps his hands together with a satisfying bang.

"Hah! I landed badly aftwards," he says plainly, "but there's a lesson in that, I do think."

"I can only guess at what his fellows might be like."

Roll insight to guess at what his fellows might be like.
Insight (Hall's Hounds): 1d20+10 13

Wol
Dec 15, 2012

See you in the
UNDERDARK
Thrash

Most of what you can recall about the history of the Fraction Five is the history of Zyne. Only natural, since he was the media's golden boy for the first half of last year. Everyone was watching the witty young hacker dodge, kick and slice his way effortlessly through the first few tournaments of the season. But then he started showing up to matches more and more drugged up. The first time it became obvious to everyone, he was facing off against the giant "oni" warrior Masakuro. Previously, when the two had squared off, Zyne had been able to zip around the large man's blows, methodically dissecting him without taking a single hit in return. That time, Zyne opened the match in usual fashion by sliding under Masakuro's swinging club - then dodged left when the big man went right - then stumbled, and took Masakuro's spiked club square in the side of the face. He went flying into a stalagmite, crumpled, and didn't get up. The "ONE SHOT" incident went viral immediately, and put the brakes on the Zyne hype train in a major way. Zyne continued his downward spiral from there, ultimately missing Championship qualification by a mile.

Just when everyone thought Zyne was done, though, he came out shortly after the new Killers' Crown team format was announced and revealed his plan to build a team for the new season. "Can't keep a good hero down", he said. "You haven't even started to see what I can do. And my crew? Just wait til' you see 'em in action. Most teams won't even have the brainpower between all five of 'em to match one of us. Every one of you who ever said the name 'Zyne' and sneered, you aren't even gonna know what hit you. Watch for the Fraction Five this year. And when you're picking pieces of your face up off the floor, you'll know: Zyne's back, baby."

The rest of the Fraction Five are Zyne's friends from the amateur circuit. Exor is the most prominent among them. A lightning-quick swordsman and notorious stealer of girlfriends and boyfriends, the rumour mill says that Exor actually had offers from Crown managers last year but stayed around the amateur circuit to hone his skills so he'd make a bigger splash when he did go pro.

At first, you can't recall much about Null, but then you remember he used to wear more traditional-looking samurai armour and went by The Daimyo. The Daimyo never made much of a splash, but he had solid fundamentals and an absolutely ruthless attitude.

Shell-Z was often called 'walking artillery' for the sheer magnitude of firepower she could bring to bear, but she tended not to do too well against fighters that could find a way around that barrage and get up close. You figure she'll probably shine more in a team format than she ever did in singles, since the rest of her team will be able to keep opponents off her back.

K doesn't speak much, and at first glance seems like a strange pick for Zyne's team. His fighting style is lackadaisical bordering on irresponsible. He seems to wander around aimlessly in the arena, fiddling with his computer and barely paying attention to the fight going on around him. The more you think about it, though, the more sense it makes. The rest of the Fraction Five are high-octane fighters with flashy moves and inexorable offense. K's whole thing is that the more time you give him, the more he'll take control of the arena. In that way, he works as an insurance policy for the team in case their opponents manage to weather their initial assault.

---------------------------------------

Glory

Hall's Hounds seem to be a military gimmick team, with Sgt. Hall as the commander, Monsoon as some sort of cowboy ace pilot, Grizzly Harrison as the gritty soldier, Greentail 363 as a spy or commando or something, and the name Doc Mayweather makes you think she must be a medic. For the most part you don't really know much about what they're like, other than that scuttlebutt surrounding Grizzly Harrison says he's one of the nicest, most honest guys in the business. You wonder if Monsoon might be a bit more subdued on this team than what you saw in the amateurs. A military-based team would probably try to rein in their more outrageous personalities at least a little bit, and the Grizz is apparently a great mentor. The names tell you that Sgt. Hall is the one leading the team, though, and you have no idea what she's like.

K Prime
Nov 4, 2009

Kuende

"You're looking at the wrong people," mutters Kuende. "Focus on our first fight first, shall we? Then we can get to the messy business of looking at who is left."

True to her word, she calls up everything she can get off the net about the Sickness. A bunch of posers, like Thrash, right? She scrolls idly through the articles, looking for anything particularly of interest.

Insight: 1d20+10 24

Comrade Gorbash
Jul 12, 2011

My paper soldiers form a wall, five paces thick and twice as tall.

Siroko Tuuli


Siroko sits on the edge of a table, a towel draped over her shoulders, fresh from working one of the punching bags over. "Great, Cairo. I hate Cairo. They've always got some over ambitious gimmick that never comes off right. And it's too drat dry." She sighs, and drains most of the water bottle in her hand.

"At least they throw a pretty good party before hand. Anyways, Kuende's right. We need to focus on the people we're going to beat first."

History to figure things out about the Sickness.

History: 1d20+5 20

Wahad
May 19, 2011

There is no escape.
Jeska

She'd been casually reading through an ebook when Nadima bounced into the room, full of energy and cheer. Although uninterested at first, Jeska quickly stops reading as the PR-lady shows a bracket of the teams. Immediately, her attention is fixed on the screen, her eyes pensive and grave rather than relaxed and kind. Most of everybody else's comments go by her head as she studies the teams.

The first one that draws her attention is not the immediate fight, however. Rather, her eyes are drawn to the horrorshow of Szsarek's Dungeon. Undead gimmicks weren't uncommon - not after her dad catapulted to popularity with it - but to find a whole team of it concerned her, especially with one of them leading a whole pack. They could be nothing, relying on their creepy factor to unnerve and unbalance... or they could be actual killing machines, which worried her. What did she know about this doctor...?

History for 1d20+10=25

Wol
Dec 15, 2012

See you in the
UNDERDARK
Over IRC, Gorbash mentioned making up setting details - please do!

---------------------------------------

Not going to separate what info about The Sickness came from Kuende and what came from Siroko - but in general, if you use History you're going to get more recorded-fact type stuff, and if you use Insight you're going to get more rumour mill and personality-based stuff.


SIROKO & KUENDE

Jenny Cyanide is the oldest member of The Sickness, the team owner and presumably the team leader. She started in the Killers' Crown eight years ago, choosing her name in homage to her younger sister's punk band Cyanide Suicide. Jenny didn't have the best of starts - coming in with a punk gimmick while barely knowing anything about the historical or modern punk scenes probably didn't help, but she learned. Once she started to find her footing a couple years into her career, she really took off. Whether she was crashing other fighters' matches with a megaphone to rant about their indulgences and hypocrisy, showing up to an interview naked and covered in blood as a protest against the host's latest sex scandal, or literally crucifying the self-righteous heel Sun King in the arena, Jenny developed a reputation as unpredictable and dangerous. Insofar as actual fighting skill, Jenny's prowess lies mainly in her skill at alchemical magic. She drinks and covers herself in concoctions that often see her breathing toxic fumes, slipping away from or just plain shrugging off powerful blows, and temporarily sprouting sharp claws and fangs. It's a moderately effective fighting style - it covers a lot of bases and does well against other well-rounded competitors, but can come up short against more specialized opponents. You've heard she's been going through intense physical conditioning this off-season, though, so who knows? She might have some more surprises in store by the time you face her and her team.

Ramona Rancid is Jenny Cyanide's aforementioned younger sister. She joined the Killers' Crown two years ago after the breakup of her band, in a very similar situation to where Thrash is now (but with less death and more nepotism). In the arena, she played up a rivalry with her sister, coming in as the younger, more attractive, more playful punk icon in contrast to her sister's extremist, often dour activism. Like her sister, she uses some alchemical magic, though hers comes in the form of "spray paint cans" that fire various magical blasts. She's honestly more of a personality than a combatant, but you've heard that she has a real hunger to improve.

Neil Arson, real name Darryn Kaminski, has been around the amateur circuits for the past few years, going through gimmicks like the Hulk goes through shirts. He just never seemed to be able to find something that worked for him. Despite considerable skill as a classically trained boxer and an adept command of shadow magic, things didn't quite come together for Neil. In-ring, he won more than he lost, but he wasn't quite outstanding enough to make up for a lack of acting ability. You've heard he's stubborn and hard to work with, too, which would definitely help explain why he's gone through so many managers. You're not sure why someone with his antisocial reputation would be the first pick for such an experienced organization. Apparently he and Ramona Rancid are fairly close, though, which may explain it in part.

Typhoid Mei was also re-branded to fit The Sickness. A brand-new fighter who hit the amateur scene just earlier this year, "Mei December" burst onto the scene with boundless energy, an endless supply of light-hearted jokes and jibes, and strength far exceeding what one would expect from her petite, 5'2" frame. When she debuted, fans were thrilled. The 'pint-sized powerhouse' gimmick has always been an easy fan favourite in the arena, and she delivered on it quite well, taking down goliath after goliath. Fans couldn't wait to see what she'd do next...until months past, and she didn't do anything else next. It was just the same thing match after match. Taunt her (inevitably larger) opponent a bit, get in close, and lay them out. Fine enough, but the fans were looking for a little extra something, a little more flair. It was looking like she didn't have anything more to offer, and she started losing popularity fast. By the time signing season started, the fans had pretty much forgotten about her. Then, all of a sudden, Jenny Cyanide snapped her up. The Sickness as a team have avoided pretty much all media attention in the weeks leading up to Crown season, so pretty much all you know about her now is her ring name and the fact that her press picture looks pretty much in-character for the always smiling Mei December. What's up with that?

The last member of The Sickness is the aggressive, violent testosterone monster Raw Dog. There was no need to re-brand him. He walked onto the pro scene a year ago with electricity arcing between his many, many piercings and among his bristling mohawk. Raw Dog has called himself "an eat-gently caress-kill machine", "pretty much just a bottle that holds all this fuckin' rage in place", and "the last real man in the biz - nah, pretty much on fuckin' earth, man". He believes he represents savage, unbridled masculinity and is willing to assert himself over anyone who challenges him. Even aging, over-the-hill fighters with different opinions about how "a gentleman should behave" (RIP, Sir Atticus Moresly). Even ambush reporters (get well soon, Gail Cooper). Even slapstick comedians (to be fair, Hunter Milne probably shouldn't have challenged a Killer's Crown competitor to a "getting hit in the balls contest"). His antics have apparently earned him a spot on a number of interviewers' blacklists, but it doesn't seem to be hurting his career any. After all, the fans tune in to see him. Whether they hate him or some secret part inside them guiltily cheers for him, the fans want to see him in his signature brutal, bloody, high-octane matches. Jenny Cyanide really made a great move picking up Raw Dog - as long as she can control him, that is.

---------------------------------------

JESKA

Szsarek's Dungeon is a completely new team. Well, sort of. Dr. Szsarek, an accomplished medical doctor and necromancer, has been in the managing gig for years. He's always worked with some undead abomination or another of his own creation. You think you might be able to recognize bits of his old fighter Varcolac in Atomizer's hideously twisted body, and the warhammer replacing Vivisector's right hand was wielded by a monster called Pulverizer last year. The monsters tended to do alright until they ran into a fighter smart enough to confuse them, at which point they'd fall apart (sometimes literally, as with the swordswoman Gossamer's famous dismemberment of Pulverizer last year at Louisville). It makes you wonder about Szsarek's decision to enter the arena personally this year. Will his presence be able to make up for his monsters' lack of brainpower? And what's with his undead soldier, Sgt. Hagen? None of Szsarek's creations in the past have had human names. Hagen is less modified than Szsarek's usual fare, too. Sure, his left arm is replaced with a gatling gun rig, but he appears to actually be made out of a single body and is, as far as you can tell, otherwise intact. He doesn't even have his innards replaced with an enormous, glowing ion battery like Atomizer (and Liquefier before that, and Disintegrator before that, and Moroi before that). Strange.

Wol fucked around with this message at 13:15 on Jan 22, 2015

Comrade Gorbash
Jul 12, 2011

My paper soldiers form a wall, five paces thick and twice as tall.
Siroko Tuuli


"Jenny's actually put together a pretty good team. None of them are in my league, obviously, but Arson and Mei are competent jobbers. Her sister's the weak link for capability. Raw Dog's probably the most dangerous of the bunch, but he's dumb as a bag of rocks."

Siroko casually tosses her empty water bottle into a bin across the room. It bounces off the edge, but falls in. "As long as we don't get in each other's way, we'll take them apart."

Comrade Gorbash fucked around with this message at 19:09 on Jan 23, 2015

girl dick energy
Sep 30, 2009

You think you have the wherewithal to figure out my puzzle vagina?
Thrash


"poo poo like that is gonna get you fuckin' killed." Thrash isn't really one to lecture, his father did enough of that for three or four generations, but he can't ignore a comment like calling their opponents 'competent jobbers'. "I ain't saying you aren't a good fighter, we all know how bad you fuckin' squashed the Hammer, but..." He trails off, and throws his hands up. "gently caress, I don't know. We gotta win before we can brag, that's all I'm sayin'."

Cyanide Suicide is a name that Thrash remembers, and if the rumors he's heard are true, then maybe The Sickness is more than the bunch of posers that Jenny Cyanide was once upon a time. It's a team of heels, to be sure, but then again, they've got "I think Glory just lost his goddamn mind" on their own roster. He has to wonder if this isn't some kind of upsell for whoever wins. Wouldn't be the first time. "Gotta be fuckin' smart about this. We're new meat to the big leagues, remember?"

Hell, what is their angle?

Rolling Religion, trying to piece together what kind of marketing spin might come out of this match. Specifically, are sponsors more likely to view the Tigers as jobbers, upstarts, or something else entirely?
Religion (What's the angle?): 1d20+10 18

Wol
Dec 15, 2012

See you in the
UNDERDARK
Thrash feels like angle-wise, The Sickness aren't really the ones to worry about. It's the Bengaluru Titans and the Witching Hour. Any team with a cohesive history or an interesting team-wide gimmick has a fair amount of leeway as far as sponsorship interest goes, but there's only so much room for "teams of unrelated superstars coming together". The idea of a bunch of egos clashing and being forced to learn how to work as a team in the middle of the arena is a compelling one, but there's only so much room for teams with that gimmick. If you're the best of those teams, or the second or maybe third best, people will tune in to watch you. If you're the fourth, fifth, sixth...nobody will care. It'll be change gimmicks or fade away.

Mu.
Sep 15, 2003

The thing about Forevereal Modding Mu is that he loves editing files and wants others to download his permanent mods. Fully editing, rich text, altering files and loving it. Download his mods and enjoy it.
Glory

"These are promising circumstances under which to enter the 'big leagues' though, eh?" Glory offers, happily. "What with a whole new team format to contend with. Everybody is going to be feeling a little uncertain."

"In terms of our team cohesion," he goes on, "I've been thinking some more about getting that new paint job..." he trails off suddenly, spotting Glitch in amongst the Galaxi Girls' roster. For a moment a sickening sense of vertigo comes over him, and his mind lurches towards some imminent realisation. And then it's gone, the memory suddenly lost. Instead, a recognition subsytem informs him that this gestalt is associated with a traumatic event.

"Yes, yes, yes," he says.

He has the memory scrubbed for affective data, and recalls the pertinent details in abstract.

He twitches slightly. "What was I saying? Yes, teamwork! Yes, perhaps one of the Group B teams would be up for a little friendly sparring ahead of the main event, eh?" He gives Thrash a nudge. "Give us the opportunity to work out any kinks, see how well we really function as a team, before all the cameras are on us."

And maybe one of our opponents can up and vanish before the event even begins, something thinks, but Glory doesn't hear it.

Wahad
May 19, 2011

There is no escape.

Jeska

Jessica idly wraps a lock of her hair around her finger, looking at it pensively. "I suppose we'll have to roll out the gimmicks for the gala too, huh? Shame. I was looking forward to getting to wear a nice dress for once." Then Glory makes his suggestion, through his interrupted, odd way of speaking, and her eyes focus on him. A hint of the quiet intensity she'd shown in her amateur fights might've been detected, but she smiles and it's gone. "The sparring sounds good, though! It'll be nice to have a warmup."

Comrade Gorbash
Jul 12, 2011

My paper soldiers form a wall, five paces thick and twice as tall.
Siroko Tuuli


"It's not bragging, it's the truth. The rest of us already are winners, Thrash. Like it or not, you're the one who hasn't proved anything in the arena. Yet." Siroko crosses her arms. "Fact is, none of the players on that team are as good as we are. Except maybe Raw Dog. Maybe. They've got a first timer same as us, and I'd bet on you over her. Even if working together makes them better - and good luck to a team employing loving Raw Dog on that front - as long as we don't actually make each other worse, we're going in with the advantage."

She walks over to the fridge and grabs another bottle of water, holding it up to ask if anyone else wants something. On her way back, she shakes her head at Glory and Jeska.


"I don't like tipping our hand before the tournament. Hell, would the league even allow it?" Siroko thinks, then snaps her fingers. "Maybe we can scare up some washouts who didn't make a team this year?"

K Prime
Nov 4, 2009

Kuende

"I'd rather not reveal our strategy, or lack thereof, until it is time," agrees Kuende. She's yet to move at all, a disturbing, stock stillness impossible for someone who still had completely flesh legs. "And Jeska? Not all of us can change clothes. I prefer the Gala the way it is."

Wol
Dec 15, 2012

See you in the
UNDERDARK
JUNE 27 - GALA AT THE CANOPIC PALACE
===================================

You take a couple days to strategize, research, and of course keep up your training. You don't know everything about your opponents, but at least for now, you figure you know enough. Around mid-afternoon on the day of the gala, Mr. Papageorgiou comes rushing into the gym, a coffee tucked precariously under his arm as he tries to light his cigarette while running.

"It's time. Come, your car is waiting."

-------------------------------------------------------

Mr. Papageorgiou's intern, Matt Lungu, drives you to the airport. The public airport. You're not complaining, but when you imagined life as a superstar, you always pictured flying private. The public are out in full force today, too. While some of you may be able to avoid notice if you wish, others - like Kuende and Glory - stick out like a sore thumb. Furtive glances and manic whispers follow you wherever you go. A couple fans are brave enough to ask for your autograph. More are content to snap pictures from afar. A little boy takes one look at Thrash and starts bawling.

The plane, at least, offers solace. Your seats are sectioned off from the rest, along with Nadima, Mr. Papageorgiou, and a woman Glory recognizes as the roboticist Dr. Artemis Terzi. It's not a long flight, but the seats are comfortable, the service is nice, and it's your last chance to recoup before the gala.

-------------------------------------------------------

Before long, you've landed in Cairo. The dry midsummer air hits you as soon as you walk out of the airport, but it's not nearly as bad as Siroko described. The sun's well past its zenith for the day. The air is still warm, but without the sun beating down directly on you, it feels nice and relaxing. You take a brief moment to breathe in the air and look out at the city. It glimmers beautifully in the evening sun, light reflecting off the city's glass towers and the serene Nile. Even the less grandiose parts of the city, mottled in colours from alabaster to sun-baked clay, almost seem to glow. The night lights haven't come on yet, so it all has an almost natural feel - like embers dancing playfully in a dying fire, inviting new life to come reclaim the ashes of the old.

Mr. Papageorgiou claps a hand on your shoulder, and the moment passes.

"We'll be heading straight for the hotel. Nadima and I will bring your things up to your rooms. I...think you'll like them. Mr. Jeddah was kind enough to put us up in the El Gezirah."
"I've never stayed there, but it looks absolutely gorgeous and I've heard wonderful things. And we all have rooms overlooking the Nile. I know I can't wait!"
"Indeed. Business first, though, of course. Tonight is going to be a great opportunity to learn about the other teams. Charm them, impress them, piss them off - whatever you do, don't forget that the better teams will be sizing everyone up, both for the fights and for storyline opportunities. Alliances, feuds, trysts and betrayals - it all starts here. If you want an edge, you should walk away from the gala knowing more about each team than you do now, and each of you with some idea of who could make a good rival and who could make a good friend."
"Definitely. But don't forget to have fun! Tonight may be work, but it's work with amazing food, drink, and dancing. Oh, and no live coverage. All media coverage will be after the fact - and after editing, which is where Stefan and I come in. We can help you come out of this looking good. That being said, the hacks'll be more likely to listen to us if you make them happy. Give them something to talk about."
"And don't embarrass yourself. Absolutely don't get so drunk you pass out. Like the Blue Bomber."
"Why, Mr. Papageorgiou, who's the Blue Bomber? I've never heard of him."
"Exactly."
"I'm sure you could've figured that one out on your own, though. You're a smart bunch. Anyway, we should get moving. If you leave now, you should get to the gala about...fifteen minutes late. That's pretty good. You'll get there before the 'fashionably late' crowd, but after the punctual crowd so you won't look too eager. Alright. See ya later! And if you need me, call me!"

-------------------------------------------------------

Your limo eases to a stop outside the Canopic Palace: A sprawling sandstone mansion overlooking the westernmost stream of the Nile Delta, nestled among striking lush greenery. It has a certain gravitas to it. The flat roofs and numerous columns invoke a sense of ancient history, and the largely flat sandstone colouration tells the story of a building that has stood the test of time - one that has stood long before you were born, and will remain standing long after you pass. It is an illusion, of course - there's no way anyone would turn a bunch of Crown fighters loose without supervision in an honest-to-god historical building - but you can appreciate it nonetheless. Enough admiring the scenery, though. You climb the shallow steps to the palace entrance. A burly, red-bearded man in a thick black leather jacket (Billy the Skid from the Skulls & Roses) leans against a column on the veranda, nonchalantly smoking a cigarette. He gestures in silent greeting to you as you pass. At the top of the steps, you find the doors wide open. Looks like there's no need to knock. Just dive right in.

Inside, you're greeted by an extensive hypostyle hall, gold accents gleaming among bleached sandstone. Servants in white linen dresses and kilts bustle back and forth, keeping the guests well supplied with drinks and hors d'oeuvres. A few of the teams have found their way here before you, as Nadima predicted. Hall's Hounds are present, of course - it wouldn't do for a military outfit to be even a quarter of a second late. Dr. Szsarek can be seen chatting with Greentail 363 in a darkened corner, though you're not sure where the rest of the Dungeon are. The Skulls and the Titans are here as well - you spot Roach and Johnnie Mae listening intently to some kind of story Herr Howitzer's telling, gesticulating wildly with a range of motion you wouldn't have thought possible in that suit of armour. The last team you spot is the Fraction Five. They seem to be keeping to themselves for the most part. Minus Exor, they're all hanging together off to the side, chatting. Once you've had a few seconds to take in the scene, a couple servants sidle up to you, offering food and drink. Yeah. This is pretty good. It's time to have some fun.

Wol fucked around with this message at 06:27 on May 13, 2015

Wahad
May 19, 2011

There is no escape.

Jeska

Jeska lets out a low whistle as she enters the building. "Impressive." The decor is pretty good, but her eyes quickly move across the crowd. It's a little different to see the contenders up close, as opposed to pictures on a screen. Then the servants come up, and she takes a bite of some fancy little nothing, and the party really gets started. "Oh man! This is really good." Taking a few of the odd but delicious little snacks in her hand, she wanders off into the main floor. Sometimes, being a primeval warrior with no concept of modern manners has its benefits.

girl dick energy
Sep 30, 2009

You think you have the wherewithal to figure out my puzzle vagina?
Thrash


Between the airport, the plane ride, and the limos, by the time Thrash makes his way into the Gala, he's more than ready to get his star power on (and be somewhere that he doesn't keep bumping his horns into things). Axe resting on his shoulder, he follows Jeska's lead on indulging in a snack or two. After a quick scan of the area, and a disappointing realization that the Galaxi Girls will be a part of the "fashionably late" crowd, Thrash heads back out to where he saw Billy the Skid.

"Hey, man," Thrash introduces himself casually to Billy, and fishes a pack of smokes out of his pocket. "Ya got a light?"

Bonding, through tobacco!

Diplomacy: 1d20+11 14
...or not. :v:

K Prime
Nov 4, 2009

Kuende

To say Kuende is uncomfortable in this sort of setting is an understatement writ large. The only thing keeping her from not showing up is that not showing means not making it to the actual event. Worse, it exposes the fact that she can't leave her frame, breaking the careful kayfabe of Party Girl Kuende, and giving valuable intelligence to the enemy.

She looks around the room aggressively, looking for some weakness- some corner where she can insert herself and pretend all of this is intentional.

Perception: 1d20+13 26

Mu.
Sep 15, 2003

The thing about Forevereal Modding Mu is that he loves editing files and wants others to download his permanent mods. Fully editing, rich text, altering files and loving it. Download his mods and enjoy it.

Glory


The venue is certainly beautiful. Glory can't remember much about his former life, and has spent most of his free time for the past year inside laboratories and workshops, strapped to operating tables and machine benches. It only makes the gala seem all the more splendid.

He almost turns up his hand as a serving girl offers him a drink, but something seizes motor control and he happily takes hold of a glass.

"Thank you for the fluid," he says.

Why? I don't even have a mouth.

Fans like crazy Glory.

I am not--!

He very deliberately doesn't finish the thought.

Make people nervous.

He tries to ignore that thought, and reboots whatever subsystem was responsible for it. Instead he strides out into the hall, and brings his radiance generator online. It unleashes one great burst of light that signals his arrival, and leaves behind a glittering halo at his back. He raises his glass, and quite loudly toasts Carnage in Cairo. May the best team win, and all that.


Roll insight to notice if anybody has any reaction to or interest in my presence.
Insight (Narcissism): 1d20+10 24

Comrade Gorbash
Jul 12, 2011

My paper soldiers form a wall, five paces thick and twice as tall.
Siroko Tuuli


Siroko immediately accepts a drink. As usual, the place makes her feel like she's been put out on a drying rack. Got to stay hydrated, right? Unlike some of her teammates, she isn't stuck with a particular costume (or worse), so she at least got to pick out a dress that isn't completely stifling. That it's shiny, daringly cut, and attention getting as well is pretty much a given. Drink in hand, she considers her options, then walks over to where the Fraction Five are hanging out.

"Well, if it isn't the up and comer from last year! I watched all your matches. Figured it was the best way to learn what not to do when it was my turn to show off what a real prodigy can do." She swirls her drink and takes a sup, smirking. "Shame you had to draw the same bracket as the Tigers, Zyne - the come back tour is going to be off the rails right from the start."

Intimidate: 1d20+17 36

Wol
Dec 15, 2012

See you in the
UNDERDARK
THRASH


"Heh. Last time the devil ran into a Georgia boy, it didn't go too well for him. But what the hell. I can spare a lick of flame for Ol' Scratch."

Billy tosses you his lighter.
"So what's your racket these days, big guy? 'Fraid I never set my hands on a fiddle in my life. Not a guitar, neither. 'Less you're suggestin' the Crown is how you reap yer due."

-------------------------------------------------------

SIROKO


"Oh, please. Who holds the record for fastest victory in a Crown regulation match? Who set the record for most limbs chopped off in a single swing last time he went up against one of Szsarek's freakshows? That's right. Me. And what have you done? You may have climbed to the top of the dumpster, but as far as I'm concerned, you still smell like trash."
"Siroko Tuuli's win percentage is 1.5% higher than yours was when you entered the Crown."
"Jeez! You're supposed to be on my side."
"I am. I want to win as much as you do. However, braggadocio is negatively correlated with win percentage. I merely wish to increase our chances."
"I - y'know what, I'm going to go track Exor down. We'll meet in the arena, Tuuli. Then we'll see which one of us can actually back up their words. You comin', K? Null?"
"Whatever."
"I...'m going to go...talk to...Ark Three. You know. Armoured guy to armoured guy. That's a thing."
.......

"You have an uncanny talent for making people disappear, Siroko Tuuli. Rather a hindrance at most parties - but this one is different. A faux pas delivered in an exciting soundbite becomes fuel for your notoriety. Well played."

Shell-Z finishes off her wine, then holds the empty glass out to the side as if to place it on a nonexistent table. By the time she lets it go, a servant is already there with a tray.
"I look forward to seeing what other feathers you manage to ruffle tonight. Perhaps, if you lack a partner, we may share a dance later."

-------------------------------------------------------

sleep now, posting everyone else's responses later

Comrade Gorbash
Jul 12, 2011

My paper soldiers form a wall, five paces thick and twice as tall.
Siroko Tuuli


"Fastest victory so far," Siroko calls after Zyne as he stalks off. She looks back to Shell-Z, and shrugs. "Can't let you lot sit play wallflower and snark at the rest of us all night. Where's the fun in that?"

While the servant is nearby, she snags another glass of her own. drat desert. "I'd be happy to dance - if you can keep up. Come find me later."

With that, Siroko starts in on her new drink and heads off, keeping an eye out for any new arrivals.

Wol
Dec 15, 2012

See you in the
UNDERDARK
GLORY


"To carnage!"
"To Cairo!"
"To my creations, you miserable maggots! Gyahaha!"
"To a hell of a season! To victory!"

The others turn back to their conversations after the toast, but you definitely succeeded in getting attention. Ark Three waves you over to join in his conversation with Null - it seems like they're bragging about the amount of punishment their armour can take, and they want to hear what you have to say on the subject. As for the others, Dr. Szsarek keeps glancing over at you with a look in his eyes you've seen before - it's that look scientists tend to get when they're talking about looking at your circuitry or speculating on how your frame works. You also get the feeling that Grizzly Harrison, despite not having participated in the toast, seems to appreciate that you raised it. Shell-Z is keeping an eye on you too, though you couldn't begin to guess what she may be thinking.

-------------------------------------------------------

JESKA


You poke around a few rooms, seeing what you can see. There's a dance floor, a sitting room (where Exor and Doc Mayweather are playing Go), an upstairs, a library (where Merle Sawbuck is relaxing), a veranda off the back that turns into a dock with a few ancient-style reed boats, and a few rooms that the servants shoo you away from. Szsarek's three abominations are wandering throughout. When you walk into the last room on this level - another sitting room - you see the undead Sgt. Hagen sprawled out on a chaise longue.

"Cave...wo...man."
"You...stri...striking...in person. ...Nice arms. Al...most as big...as...Vivisector. ...You would...make a good...pair."

Hagen's decayed face warps into a hideous grin at this comment. Is the zombie guy trying to mess with you?

-------------------------------------------------------

KUENDE

Your first instinct would be to gravitate toward Shell-Z, another largely cybernetic woman. You catch the tail end of her conversation with Siroko, though, and decide against it. She seems too at home here - and too able to zero in on people's weak points. Instead, you walk over to The Monolith. He's someone who can leave his battlesuit if he wants (you recall, having seen his fitness model photoshoots...which you were looking at for research, of course). You figure associating yourself with him will make people assume you can, too.

"Kuende Maghabiri. Or wait. No, it's Magharibi, isn't it? Sorry 'bout that."
"I almost regret wearing this big hunk'a metal tonight. Can't really drink in this thing. But then, I figure what the hell. If I'm gonna be standing next to someone like you, I gotta at least show the cameras my good side."

Monolith raises both his arms, as if flexing - but of course his battlesuit just looks like it always does.

Wol
Dec 15, 2012

See you in the
UNDERDARK
You continue your conversations for a few minutes (i.e. finish up your responses to the previous posts first) before you hear another car pull up in front of the Palace. A few soft, light footsteps later, the Lady of Vengeance, the Maligned Spirit Adrestia glides into the room. The ragged Whisper and the pristine Lord Meredith Tristram make quite the odd couple following behind her, with the sulking Briar-Tooth and the clearly-spoiling-for-a-fight Simón Tancredo drifting in afterward. They each go off in their own directions. Whisper starts flitting around the room, offering vaguely threatening comments here and there. Briar-Tooth goes to find a dark corner to hide and watch in. Tristram asks after the library and Grizzly Harrison points him toward it. Adrestia grabs two glasses of brandy from a servant and starts scanning the room, and Simón Tancredo - after a moment of hesitation - zeroes in on Sgt. Hall.

Mu.
Sep 15, 2003

The thing about Forevereal Modding Mu is that he loves editing files and wants others to download his permanent mods. Fully editing, rich text, altering files and loving it. Download his mods and enjoy it.

Glory


It was a good toast, Glory decides, and he starts to feel at ease. It fills him with a strange sense of pride to be among so many fellow warriors, each eager to experience the thrill and the glory of the arena.

He can't help himself when he hears what Ark Three and Null are discussing.

"My squire was particularly pleased with my armour," he tells them, "as of course I am too."

He looks down at his chest, glass still held primly in his hand. "I couldn't guess at what strange alloy it might be forged from, but I can attest to its durability. My hypometry engine further stabilises me against impact."

Perhaps this would be an amusing opportunity to show off.

"In fact," he goes on, "I shall illustrate. Strike me as hard as you can!"

He raises his still-full glass.

"And I shall not even spill a drop!"


Roll endurance to take a punch without even FLINCHING hell yeah c'mon do it do it do it do it
Endurance (Strong Guys): 1d20+12 27

Wol
Dec 15, 2012

See you in the
UNDERDARK
GLORY


Ark Three and Null exchange a glance.

"Don't even think about drawing that sword, Null. We don't want a casualty on our hands before the tourney even starts. Nah. This is my balliwick."

Ark Three drops into a stance, pulls his arm back...and BLAMMO! Socks you square in the chest. You do, in fact, spill a drop - and have to take a step back - but barely. You're not dented, you stay heroically facing forward, and most of your drink stays where it's supposed to be. Your little moment of glory earns you a "Hell yeah!" from Johnnie Mae, applause from Ark Three, Herr Howitzer and The Monolith, and a "There's a drop! One point for the Canuck!" from Null.

Mu.
Sep 15, 2003

The thing about Forevereal Modding Mu is that he loves editing files and wants others to download his permanent mods. Fully editing, rich text, altering files and loving it. Download his mods and enjoy it.

Glory


"You are a man of impressive strength," Glory offers, with a slight bow. "It shall be a great privilege to face in you in the arena, when our day comes."

Wahad
May 19, 2011

There is no escape.

Jeska

She finishes the last of her delicious snacks as she listens to Hagen. As it turns out, trying to get the undead to speak is like trying to get the engine of an antique car to start. Lots of wheezing and rattling and maybe you'll get something useful in the end. "Thanks!" she says enthusiastically, flexing a little, "you, on the other hand, look like you're about to fall apart with a stiff breeze. Doctor didn't get much out of you, did he? Granted, he doesn't get much out of any of his creations, but you just look particularly pitiful. You don't even have claws or one-a dem big sharp whirly things. Bet I could break you if I just shoved you around a bit too hard. So what do you bring to the team, huh? You must have something up that hollow ribcage of yours."

Intimidate at 1d20+11=...15. Not the best start.

Wol
Dec 15, 2012

See you in the
UNDERDARK
JESKA


Hagen lets out a dry rattling sound that you can only assume is laughter.

"Wasn't...born yester...day, Graves. ...You want...to see what...I can do? ...You'll find...out in...arena...same...as..."

Hagen's voice grows even raspier, which you would not have thought possible. He makes a drinking gesture, then taps his throat. He gets up to go find a drink, but it seems he can't resist a parting comment.

"Spoiler...for...you. ...'Cuz...like...you kid. ...Some...thing...with...this."

With another 'smile', he taps the gatling gun replacing his arm. Then, straightening himself up, he steps forward to come face to face with you. Clearly, he wants you to let him pass.

girl dick energy
Sep 30, 2009

You think you have the wherewithal to figure out my puzzle vagina?
Thrash


This guy ain't half bad. Thrash has to admit he was expecting Billy the Skid to be a different kind of person, but he can't complain about a pleasant surprise. After a quick pull, he hands the lighter back, and gives a jagged grin. "Ain't a problem, man. Golden instruments play like poo poo anyways." Leaning back against a pillar, Thrash takes another long drag before continuing. "Can't go too much into what I do instead these days. Industry secret, you understand. But let's just say 'righteousness' ain't worth what it used to be."

K Prime
Nov 4, 2009

Kuende

"Precisely," says Kuende, seizing on the opening. "I'd rather be having a good time but the bosses wanted me looking fierce tonight!"

She plasters a smile on her face. "I'm lucky to have nothing but good sides. I do my own lighting, after all..."

Wahad
May 19, 2011

There is no escape.

Jeska

A long moment passes where Jeska doesn't budge, an immoveable force looming over the rotting corpse. Her expression is calm, but her eyes burn with a dreadful fury. Laughing at her usually left people without some part of their body...but that was in the arena, not here. It would probably be bad form to tear open a contender at the opening gala. So with a chuckle, she steps aside. "Well, can't blame me for trying, right? We'll see how well you hold up out there, Hagen. Don't fall apart before I get a chance to make you." With a gesture of greeting, she walks off. His idea of getting a drink wasn't too bad. Maybe somebody more interesting would show up...or maybe she could overhear some folks talking without having to butt in. Sure, she wasn't too subtle, but that wouldn't prevent her from trying to eavesdrop.

Comrade Gorbash
Jul 12, 2011

My paper soldiers form a wall, five paces thick and twice as tall.
Siroko Tuuli


Siroko watches Witching Hour come in, considering for a moment. Then she tosses back her drink and makes her way over towards Adrestia.

"Oh, is one of those for me? Really, you shouldn't have. It's not like it make us go any easier on you, in the unlikely even you stay alive long enough for us to actually have a match."

Wol
Dec 15, 2012

See you in the
UNDERDARK
JESKA

You hardly take five steps before someone calls to you from the top of the stairs.

"Yo, Jeska. You look like a fun kinda chick. Maybe you and me, we should get something started, yeah? Can't let everyone just stand around and talk all night."
"So I was thinking, this is a hell of an occasion. I mean, this is like the first ever team shindig. And for people like you and me, this is pretty much the first day of our careers. Our first times should be special, yeah?"
"Oh please, Dominga. Like anyone's going to believe it's your first time."
"Hey! Eyes on the game, Sparkles. Wouldn't want the Doc to embarass you, now."
"That was never in doubt."
"Last time I checked, I was winning. Unless you wanna tell me bleeding stones is part of some next level strategy."
"All will be revealed in time. Speaking of which, it's your play. Tick tock."
"Yeah, so anyway. I was thinking it'd be fun to set off some fireworks. Now, they have some in the store room, but that's not what I mean. I - here, come closer, the eggheads don't need to hear."
"So if we got our hands on Monsoon's NOS tank, some of Gunmetal's flash ammo, and that pouch of weird black stuff Briar-Tooth carries around, we could make a really. big. boom. And if we got some of that juice outta Atomizer somehow, it'd be real pretty, too. That'd get people talking. So whaddaya think? Wanna stir things up and do a little...acquiring?"

Wol
Dec 15, 2012

See you in the
UNDERDARK
KUENDE

As Lord Tristram heads to the back of the room toward the library, he brushes lightly past you. He takes a few more steps, then stops, and seems to take a moment to consider before turning back to face you.

"Magharibi. Monolith. I suspect your coming liaison will be one of the night's most talked-about developments."
"Hey...not cool."
"I am not wrong. Regardless of what you actually do, the both of your reputations will be truth enough for the reporters. And besides...one does not need mystical sight to read your body language, my friend."
"Ah, but I shall leave the two of you alone. Unlike Ms. Magharibi, I do not have much of a stomach for parties. Best of luck in the competition...except when I'm facing you, of course."

Tristram gives a little smile and walks off.

"Hnh. Tristram and I became pretty good friends after we faced each other last season. I hope you don't take him too seriously. He's just try'na yank my chain. You wouldn't guess it from the 'Lord' and the suit and the way he carries himself, but he's one of the biggest ribbers I ever met. He loves messing with people."
"Oh! I mean, not that I wouldn't...I mean, of course I would, anyone would, you're gorgeous...though, uh, that's not to mean that I'm only talking to you because, uh, ulterior motives or anything...wait, that sounds like I do have ulterior motives - but I don't! Honest!...I just meant that, you know, I can appreciate...oyyy. I'll shut up now."

K Prime
Nov 4, 2009

Kuende

Kuende has somehow acquired a drink from a passing waiter. A bit of lubrication for a talk between two cyborgs- only appropriate.

"It is not as if I mind, Monolith. But don't expect it to earn you any mercy." There's an odd flash, a weird thought- would it feel better or worse to kill him after sleeping with him? Kuende can't decide, and decides that's a bit worrying, but nothing to do about it right now. Not as if she's sleeping with him, anyway- would give away the whole "can't take this off" thing and that would be a really, really bad idea to someone she's barely met. Even if he's cute.

Maybe after the competition. Assuming he doesn't get fried.

"That's not to say I'm not ok with some alone time, though. But not right now, for of course," Kuende strikes a dramatic pose, only half the emotion in her voice feigned- "I may kill you tomorrow!"

Wol
Dec 15, 2012

See you in the
UNDERDARK
KUENDE

"Heh heh. You can try, but they don't call me Monolith for nothin'. Nobody's been able to find their way through the cracks in this armour yet."

-------------------------------------------------------

THRASH

"Hey. Skid. Where's your boss? I got a bone to pick with him."
"If this is about yer pops, you might wanna forget it. That was between him and the ol' man. You, we got no quarrel with - yet. Keepin' it that way might be healthy."
"My father's blood is on Sawbuck's hands. Only blood can pay for blood. Threats from a street punk like you won't stop me."
"A street punk like me can do more than you think. Wanna find out just how much? Then keep pushin' yer luck, boy."

As Simón Tancredo and Billy the Skid stand glaring at each other, a stretch limo pulls up - followed immediately by an old rustbucket of a utility van. The Sickness piles out of the van as soon as it stops. Raw Dog turns toward you, howls and flexes, sending an arc of electricity jolting through his mohawk. Typhoid Mei bounds towards the limo as Adon of the Icons steps out of it, causing the latter to leap clear. Galaxi Gunmetal follows Adon out.

"The fashion models riding with the corporate dogs? Don't tell me you're so soft you're looking for protection already, Icons!"
"Of course the rich ride together. It's safety in numbers. They exploit the people because their corrupt system lets them get away with it. But deep down, they fear us. They know they're loving us, and they fear what we'd do to them in return if they left their ivory towers."
"See, Gunmetal? It's like I told you. The ugly only have two ways to justify themselves when they see beauty. They either try to be it, or they try to destroy it."
"Smarter people usually choose the former. But then, I shouldn't expect much from someone who calls herself 'the Antichrist' in this day and age. I hate to tell you, Cyanide, but you're a few hundred years behind the zeitgeist."

The rest of the Icons and the Galaxi Girls emerge one by one. The Icons and The Sickness continue to bicker, while the Galaxi Girls head inside. Psyche of the Icons, however, breaks away from the scrum and heads toward you.

"Hello, Thrash. Mmmmm. You're...impressive, aren't you? One of a kind. When most people get cosmetic surgery, they want to look more beautiful. But you chose to look, well, like you. From head to toe. Wow. Even your beard pretty much looks like barbed wire. And, um...hmm. Whoof. That smell sure completes the package. Please, please tell me that's just cologne or something. I can't imagine even you would scent yourself like that.

-------------------------------------------------------

SIROKO

"How the cur barks. If you wish to intimidate me, my dear, you'll have to do better than that. You think that beating amateurs makes you special, but everyone in this room has done the same. You may think that the media calling you special makes you so, but they say the same about some flashy young upstart every year. None of them has impressed me, and most have shriveled into irrelevance. Please do convince me you will be any different."
"The Tigers fight us first. You want to see Siroko get torn to shreds, you should watch. She keeps mouthin' off about how she's the next big thing or whatever? Well, anyone can talk big. But when Siroko gets down and dirty with Raw Dog, there's only three words you're gonna hear her say. 'I. Give. Up.'"

-------------------------------------------------------

GLORY

"Hey, Grapnel!"
"You Galaxies have been pretty secretive, but we heard you're the strong arm of the group."
"The massive cybernetic claw-fists do give it away."
"Yeah, well. This is the tough guy corner. So far we've figured out Ark Three's the strongest, and Glory's the toughest. I'd have 'em beat for cutting power-"
"-and I for firepower-"
"-but proving that would be kinda more destructive than our hosts would want."
"The first two categories are open to challengers, though."
"What my friend means is, 'how much do you lift?'"
"Glory's tougher than the 'impregnable' Ark Three? Woah. I wouldn't have guessed it. But don't think I don't see what you boys are doing! I am kinda tempted to join in your little competition, but, well, I'm sworn to secrecy. It's like we said in the press conference! We'll surprise you in the arena. Not much of a surprise if I show off what I can do before we get there. 'Sides, where boys are concerned, I always like to leave a bit to the imagination. Keeps you coming back for more."
"Hey Glory, you see her eyes light up when she said how tough you were? I think she likes you. Maybe you could convince the lady."

-------------------------------------------------------

KUENDE

"Kuende Magharibi? Ohmygod. My parents told me all about you. And your dad. They said they worked with him, but they were really mad that he 'went off too early' or something. They called you some really mean things, like 'prototype', 'pile of scrap metal', 'half-finished useless piece of crap'...but I always thought you were the coolest. I mean, you may be old, but you're like, really glamorous! You're all regal and you have all the lasers and lights and stuff and everyone was afraid of you. And after your dad was, um, 'dealt with', you totally went and made it all on your own! I mean, I'm totally grateful that Galaxi Electronics looks after me and all, but I always thought it was like, totally awesome of you to strike out by yourself. You're so independent and that's totally really cool!"
"Hey, take a breath, Grue. She's here all night. You don't gotta say everything at super speed."
"Oh right! I forgot to introduce myself! I'm Grue! I'd shake your hand, but, you know...claws. They kind of get in the way."

K Prime
Nov 4, 2009

Kuende

Kuende takes a moment to digest the motor-mouth's words. Oh. Oh no.

Co-conspirators. She'd always known that they existed, but for them to just get dropped in her lap like this...

Well. Brave face up for now. That's for later. Like, say, leaking that information, now carefully recorded, just prior to the match against the Galaxi...

"It is nice to meet you too, Grue. Those are wonderful claws."

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Comrade Gorbash
Jul 12, 2011

My paper soldiers form a wall, five paces thick and twice as tall.
Siroko Tuuli


Siroko lets Adrestia's comment pass for the moment, in favor of looking Raw Dog boldly up and down. "You know, Raw Dog, I had this idea that you were the biggest threat on your team. That to give us a chance I was going to have to work you over mentally a bit before the fight, get you riled up so you'd make a mistake. But now that I get a closer look, I can see I was wrong about that. You're right. I think I'm going to say those three words after we tangle." She scoops up a new drink, then continues.

"Just like everyone else who's tried to teach you something. Say, combat technique. Style. Manners. Grammar."" She takes a deep sniff, and smirks. "Basic hygiene."

She turns back to Adrestia and winks. "You want to be impressed? Keep an eye on our match."

Intimidate: 1d20+17 27

Comrade Gorbash fucked around with this message at 19:13 on Feb 10, 2015

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