arc v: alem | cr & plotting meme

[groundrules]

ALEM

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Sound the drums, head on to war — seized citadel Alem has already been there for the lion's share of a year.

Under the Scavengers' guidance, the four sand worms the party captured gently graze underground corridors allowing the group to reach halfway up Mount Attevar. From there, they quickly infiltrate Alem through a bustling trade route.

Young King Deimar strikes a simple bargain: serve Alem in its bitter last days until inevitable downfall, and the citadel will grant access to its Beacon before the final evacuation is completed.

Sounds simple enough. Now, survive it.

Characters arrive today, with our first proper taste of event chaos due on 27-28 January. Get your character settled in, check out the setting and their assignment, and strike some CR:

■ Arc setting & locations

■ Character assignments

■ New NPC inbox — more this round, because most won't make it so every level has a patron. As usual, reach out to NPCs at will and please share findings with the class!

■ Questions

CR & PLOTTING MEME


<b><small>PLAYER</small>:</b> <b><small>PREFERRED CONTACT</small>:</b> Are you open to plurk / discord friending? <b><small>CHARACTER & CANON</small>:</b> <b><small>THEIR ONE-LINE ELEVATOR PITCH</small>:</b> <b><small>THEIR ASSIGNED LEVEL & ROLE IN ALEM</small></b> <b><small>WHY THEY'RE GOING TO MESS EVERYTHING UP, REALLY</small>:</b> <b><small>THEY'VE SECRETLY GOT A THING FOR RATHAKKU, DON'T THEY?</small></b> Just look at that handsome face. <b><small>PLOTS AND PLANS</small>:</b> <b><small>WHAT THEY CAN OFFER</small>:</b> <b><small>CR YOU WANT</small>:</b> Specificity is key!

Comments

[thedreamer]

No, no definitely not. Definitely lying. He's got everything handled! Another lie. Everything will be fine! What's the opposite of fine.

Help him, Wangji...

[thedreamer]

I am living for this awkward team up, let's do things! Cassian, be assured that the Doctor is totally Chill and Subtle and completely Mature at all times so this should be easy!!

[clavesregni]

Caitlyn will probably be making an effort to sneak up to the watch towers at some point to stare at Vi with barely concealed lust make sure everyone up there is doing okay, and she'll be happy to dole out hugs. And she definitely recognizes and respects a fellow nerd. She might wanna bounce theories off of Hermione's big brain once she gets into the mystery of it all.

[clavesregni]

Yesssss I would love to have these two starring in their own buddy cop show

marcos diaz (eclipse)

[soloritur]

CHARACTER & CANON: Marcos Diaz (aka Eclipse) | The Gifted

THEIR ONE-LINE ELEVATOR PITCH: Mutant punching bag full of sunshine.

THEIR ASSIGNED LEVEL & ROLE IN ALEM The Crossing with secondary access to the Wards for guarding McCoy (he's actually excellent at defense, you lucky guy) / casually blend in with merchants for intel and gather supplies all things in his wheelhouse

WHY THEY'RE GOING TO MESS EVERYTHING UP, REALLY: There may or may not come a time when he gets carried away interrogating someone that reminds him a little too much of his days in a cartel, try to keep him from line crossing he'll appreciate you.

THEY'VE SECRETLY GOT A THING FOR RAKKATHU, DON'T THEY? If only he weren't taken...

PLOTS AND PLANS: Marcos has been on the back burner (ha! because he burns things) for too long, so I'm very interested in letting him into some of the darker tones of this arc. He's a generally good guy who likes to stick to his morals, but it's about time something pushed him to his limits. He also finds it very easy to build relationships with the scum of the earth, so I can see him doing well with the merchants. AND all that aside, he's here for support. Still a guy with his heart on his sleeve, he's going to step up wherever he sees a need.

WHAT THEY CAN OFFER: Marcos is a mutant with powers that involve heat/light, so you can expect the things that usually entails. (Laser hands, flash bombs, heat generation/light manipulation yadda yadda.) He can be charming and lie pretty convincingly for intel. Also has that wounded puppy-eye look down pat.

CR YOU WANT: All CR welcome! He tends to generate more positive, but that's because he's usually out there doing his best to help and be a team player. He's here to listen to your woes, fight beside you, or punch walls next to you as needs must. Also he's a sad father with an infant that he left back home, so anyone with children/parent separation is going to hit a soft spot with him. Also let him know if you're from Modern Times what a concept. Literally anything I am up for.

Re: Jinx

[clavesregni]

HELLO THERE. Idk if you have any thoughts on how you want these two to encounter each other, but once Cait realizes Jinx is here, she's gonna be on high alert anxiety mode 24/7 waiting for bombs to start going off and warning everyone she knows to watch out

[westviews]

points to eyes points to you

Exploring is a good bonding experience!

[traumatology]

pietro writes his name on it and then gets punched

[clavesregni]

Caitlyn will wrap a blanket around his shoulders and put a pillow under his head when he falls asleep at his desk while she's pulling an all-nighter with her wall of clues

[westviews]

Wanda can keep you from giving into the urge to slaughter bro even if she highkey agrees but we're not here to be Messy

[westviews]

She'll keep you safe baby boy but JUST STAY STILL JFC she turned away for ONE MINUTE

(please more of them)

jesse (vanessa & vi)

[matermali]

PLAYER: Jesse
PREFERRED CONTACT: PM | Pactoris#0587 | cherto (feel free to add)

[stephanivien]

Excellent! Given that Stephanivien will happily accept any mechanical bobs and bits since he'll need rebuild his collections from scratch, that would do just swell.

And Stephanivien always tips well even when he's broke. Do you accept payment in guns?.

[westviews]

people to side-eye his general penchant for screwing around with unknown forces he does not understand and can’t control

Let Wanda tell you why it's really bad to fuck around and find out :(

[stephanivien]

Look he has to power his floating autoturrets and magic machine drills somehow and apparently Stephanivien decided that "aspecting one's inherent magic reserves to lightning/electricity" was clearly the direct way to do it.


New best Friend! You will have a very happy forge-squatter as Stephanivien needs space to build new giant siege weapons. Given that that's what he's normally doing. They can chat magic theory and mechanical theory and how to shove them together and it will be swell.

vanessa ives

[matermali]

CHARACTER & CANON: Vanessa Ives | Penny Dreadful

THEIR ONE-LINE ELEVATOR PITCH: Reincarnated primordial goddess seeks good times before ushering in the end of days.

THEIR ASSIGNED LEVEL & ROLE IN ALEM Around Gut's Bind trying to earn the trust of the paladins and sorcerers by doing busywork, and sensing when fuckery is about with the dead. If she's sent on errands it might be easy(?) to run into her elsewhere, too.
WHY THEY'RE GOING TO MESS EVERYTHING UP, REALLY: (a) The voices will drive her to betrayal and/or (b) she'll get possessed and/or (c) an enemy necromancer will awaken the evil goddess in her. Maybe blend them all together.

THEY'VE SECRETLY GOT A THING FOR RAKKATHU, DON'T THEY? She does like the bad boys. Maybe he's got a better offer than Lucifer or Dracula.

PLOTS AND PLANS:

✘ Hanging near the Room of Seals and helping the paladins and sorcerers while trying to learn from them about how to 'protect' herself from evil forces. Help her, Galatea.
✘ Finding trouble while trying to do good deeds. Learning. Exploring!
✘ Will go into battle situations if the need arises. Might need help, might be able to help someone else.
✘ There are too many triggers here for her. With the voices, it's inevitable that Vanessa will snap after a slow descent. Imminent betrayal, anyone?
✘ If a paladin happens into a 'workplace accident' a little further into the Siege, you should ask Vanessa what her alibi was.
✘ She may try to invite the evil right on in if she can eventually get into the Room of Seals, especially if some spots conveniently open up among the necromancers. (Vi and Jack are 100% responsible for that image).

WHAT THEY CAN OFFER:

✘ Moral support with opaque commentary that probably won't help.
✘ Clairvoyance. Powers as a medium. This can backfire since it makes her receptive to powerful spirits or demons.
✘ Creepy offensive spellcasting/hexing in battle (depending on the situation). She doesn't need to be in the same room as an enemy to attack them. Has the potential to compel demons or undead by looking at them. More info on her bullshit here.
✘ She has a knife that lets her spy through any reflection for up to 10 seconds once a day. (with player permission)
✘ Betrayal. Sabotage. Disaster.

CR YOU WANT: People for sharing moral support when she's having a rough time. Someone for her to give a hug to. Someone to suffer hauntings with. Someone to suffer insomnia with. Someone to escape danger with. Someone to catch her reacting to the voices. Someone for her to attack/sabotage/betray—fail or succeed. Someone to try to stop her from going too far off the deep end. Positive, negative, neutral, bring it all.

[techmaturgy]

Thanks caitlyn you are a true friend

He might actually find the conspiracy wall interesting, pls explain

[chosenbylight]

It is! He has played it safe for far too long, now it is time to give Anduin palpitations

[stephanivien]

So long as you convince Stephanivien that whoever you're airtag-ing is either a- definitely the bad guy or b- totally is on board with being airtagged he'd be happy to help.

warning that it will be extremely rudimentary. we're talking sonar at best

vi(olet)

[faceblocker]

CHARACTER & CANON: Vi | Arcane

THEIR ONE-LINE ELEVATOR PITCH: Trauma-filled rage machine ready to wreck absolutely everything in her path, right after she takes her ulcer medication.

THEIR ASSIGNED LEVEL & ROLE IN ALEM Defending the EASTERN TOWER using the Atlas Gauntlets and whatever is within arm's reach. Good thing she can jump and climb well. Jinx Powder's babysitter.

WHY THEY'RE GOING TO MESS EVERYTHING UP, REALLY: Too distracted by Jinx Powder and/or Caitlyn to give the whole mission 100%. She'll slip up somewhere because she's too busy looking the wrong way.

THEY'VE SECRETLY GOT A THING FOR RAKKATHU, DON'T THEY? A thing for punching his face until it's inside out.

PLOTS AND PLANS:

✘ Beating up harpies.
✘ Beating up anything else she can get her hands on.
✘ Climbing to places she probably shouldn't.
✘ Trying to keep one eye on Jinx Powder (prepare for regular network check-ins, sis).
✘ Figuring out who she can trust to keep an eye on Caitlyn while she yearns from afar.
✘ Probably being a dumbass martyr. Let her nearly die protecting you; it's okay she thinks she deserves it.
✘ Getting into all manner of trouble.

WHAT THEY CAN OFFER:

✘ Lifting/carrying/throwing things.
✘ Hitting things. Hard.
✘ Getting up high or breaking into places.
✘ A temporary shield that Viktor expanded in size so she can protect others if they're near her.

CR YOU WANT: Someone to protect, or to be a battle buddy. Someone to help scrape her off the floor when she goes too hard and becomes a bloody pulp. Someone to catch her having a quiet meltdown over Jinx Powder, Caitlyn, and the future she can't tell them about. Someone to get creeped out by a haunting with her.

[clavesregni]

She will happily explain at great length and in excruciating detail

[blackscales]

How easy is it to move between areas/levels? It's a siege so I imagine a certain degree of chaos, but beyond the Room of Seals (tm) is there anywhere that people who aren't assigned there would struggle to enter?

Also, for Keep Folk, where are the sleeping arrangements like? Is everyone just in the barracks, in like one big (or several big) rooms with roughly constructed beds? Or do the entourages have their own separate areas?

Edit: Also... how big is 'gargantuan' Irenia. Wrathion has flung himself at dragons bigger than him before so I cannot rule this out, much to everyone's dismay.

[thedreamer]

his mature response.

i will tag u back soon i promise

[stephanivien]

BUT WE SHOULD... continue this. Tess having weird emotions about giant 6'8" dude with very pointy ears who just Does Nice Things because People Should Do Good Things, but also clearly knows how to Deal With Shit because The World Sucks, while Stephanivien is like "a yes, another friendly acquaintance who is generally deeply cynical about things" seems like... a hilarious CR to develop n e g l.

[techmaturgy]

Ok but consider

He knows what he’s doing, maybe