@Mirandae Yes, I do plan to, and I am also curious about the other nations' flags and symbols :)

Before we get into flags and stuff, I made this very scuffed 'tactical' map so that we have some sense of where everyone is, roughly. It doesn't have to be super precise, but like "in the realm of"-this position where a character is.

Let me know if this placement seems fine as it is or if I have to move someone. Some characters haven't been placed, as they're not there yet or on their way.

Oops, looks like I'm the last one! Should be done today!

Lovely :) that's everyone, then. Intro posts all done. I've got my next one coming up soon.

The GM-post will just be art and the 'tactical map', so there's no story progression yet. I'll introduce the 'inciting incident' of the story in the GM post after this one. It's not an instant happening, so it won't interrupt things right away.

I was half expecting Beth to break out with Spanish because of the Día de los Muertos vibes!

She is one girl you don't want to get on the bad side of.

@Silly Oh, you'd best believe Midjourney spat out some Día de Muertos-coded stuff during Mirandae's and my collaborations on a faceclaim, so I very well could've. I went with the Black Metal corpsepaint queen vibe, though, which cries out for shameless Blasphemous and Faith: The Unholy Trinity references. 😌

Also. with what is written in a couple of posts, it seems we need some so called Bahamut terrorists at some point.

@Silly My personal theory: once it's revealed there's a comet/meteor on a collision course to earth, and that it contains a Regalia who wants to kill us, the Dominant of outer space and "the void" is going to be the primary suspect!

And yes, once its true identity/allegiance is revealed, this revelation might nonetheless inspire certain doomsday sickos to start worshiping it.

@TokyoPewPew
Such a lovely post, such orchestral language! Mind giving us a dummy-summary for dummies such as myself? :P Does she change form there at the end or was it some kind of vision, or what happens?

@TokyoPewPew
Such a lovely post, such orchestral language! Mind giving us a dummy-summary for dummies such as myself? :P Does she change form there at the end or was it some kind of vision, or what happens?

I read it as she slowed down time to circumvent the guards and the crowds, slipping past them.
The sword she carries is Odin's, who appeared take ahold of it, presuming when summoned, he uses it against her enemies when using that ability. She denied him the sword and she paid respects to him and he faced away as she returned to real time as it were.

Thank you, Mirandae!! As for authorial intent, @Silly is spot-on. With only one caveat: that being that I've chosen to present Beth's "Dominant Form" not as a transformation, but more akin to a Stand from JJBA. She does not herself don her Dominant's likeness in order to perform the Last Rites move but instead summons Him as something of an obedient familiar. Mostly this is for flavor, but because Odin is written as a wise god, and one content not to be worshiped with any largess or regularity (or, in truth, sincerity), I've interpreted these eccentricities to mean he prefers more intimate relationships with his Regaliae, appearing personally by their side when they conjure His strength and invoke His dominions. They walk among Him (perhaps even converse with and confide in Him!) but in exchange, their relationships with their Dominant, and their entitlement to His power, are even more fragile. After all, the transgressing Odinite has not merely abused His abilities but outright forced His complicity in those abuses. An even deadlier sin than simply using His magics to exploit, brutalize, and bully people...

Thank you, Mirandae!! As for authorial intent, @Silly is spot-on. With only one caveat: that being that I've chosen to present Beth's "Dominant Form" not as a transformation, but more akin to a Stand from JJBA. She does not herself don her Dominant's likeness in order to perform the Last Rites move but instead summons Him as something of an obedient familiar. Mostly this is for flavor, but because Odin is written as a wise god, and one content not to be worshiped with any largess or regularity (or, in truth, sincerity), I've interpreted these eccentricities to mean he prefers more intimate relationships with his Regaliae, appearing personally by their side when they conjure His strength and invoke His dominions. They walk among Him (perhaps even converse with and confide in Him!) but in exchange, their relationships with their Dominant, and their entitlement to His power, are even more fragile. After all, the transgressing Odinite has not merely abused His abilities but outright forced His complicity in those abuses. An even deadlier sin than simply using His magics to exploit, brutalize, and bully people...

I see, I see. I'm all for creative liberties, but one of the reasons for a full transformation is 'narrative balance', should we call it? The size and the high profile that comes with it. However, I did chat with @Tlaloc the other day about sort of 'half-way' powers. Although, then everyone should be able to have one. I have another solution, though. With the combat stuff that I'll show along with the third GM-post, there can/will be sort of 'character perks' or 'exceptions' that you'll be able to create yourself. Such a perk could be this 'stand' variation as opposed to the traditional transformation.

Also, I suppose those guards that Beth tricked will react to her simply vanishing? Or what happens there? Just curious :)

Maybe the whole stand and avatar is more a mental concept rather than a reality. So Beth sees it as Odin being there when using the powers (but he isnt there). Kind of how Naruto/Ichogo(Bleach) ask for strength through the mental landscape.

Maybe Beth when using it in the dominant form, mentally sees it as Odin taking over.

Just spit balling ideas on how to make it work!

@Mirandae I'll look forward to that, then.

Also, I suppose those guards that Beth tricked will react to her simply vanishing? Or what happens there? Just curious :)

Whatever is more interesting to you. If a chase scene sounds boring and/or you need to just move things along to this inciting incident, we could easily say that residue defeats gas mask/CBRN filtration apparatuses, and so the guards don't even remember they had been having that conversation.

@Mirandae I'll look forward to that, then.

<Snipped quote>
Whatever is more interesting to you. If a chase scene sounds boring and/or you need to just move things along to this inciting incident, we could easily say that residue defeats gas mask/CBRN filtration apparatuses, and so the guards don't even remember they had been having that conversation.

Let's say they circle the festival, looking for Beth, and then they can resurface at some point or just as the inciting incident is happening. It could make for a funny scene :) they're arguing about a fine while more serious things are happening lol.

@Mirandae I like that. Lets there be consequences for Beth's actions, while not inflating the situation with a false sense of stakes or suspense. (There's no use pretending two Guys with Guns^tm stand much of a chance against someone who can Za Warudo their asses back to grade school.)

Is it my understanding, then, that from now on we must assume Dominant Form before wielding our chief Abilities? Should I edit the post?

Hey gang, will work on getting a post up in the next couple of days, but I'm moving home next week -- so if I'm radio silent for three or four days, you know why! (Shouldn't break @Mirandae's post schedule though!)

@Mirandae I like that. Lets there be consequences for Beth's actions, while not inflating the situation with a false sense of stakes or suspense. (There's no use pretending two Guys with Guns^tm stand much of a chance against someone who can Za Warudo their asses back to grade school.)

Is it my understanding, then, that from now on we must assume Dominant Form before wielding our chief Abilities? Should I edit the post?

That's true! Beth is pretty intimidating. Although, some of these soldiers with powerful Crystals can overpower Regalia if they're trained well enough and work as a team. Laura would chicken out right away, probably, she's a wuss :P

No no, you don't have to edit anything. But, yes, the rule in this universe is that Regalia must fully transform in order to use the "ability" and some of the magic that comes with being in the Dominant Form. We will go through all this with the combat details. We'll also add a Combat section to the character sheet, where you can explain everything about your character's training, magic, and everything.

Hey gang, will work on getting a post up in the next couple of days, but I'm moving home next week -- so if I'm radio silent for three or four days, you know why! (Shouldn't break @Mirandae's post schedule though!)

Oooh, lovely! :) Tell us how you like the new place later.

I'm hankering for some interactions to get a better feel for Aethalos' headspace, anyone interested?

I should have mentioned being open to this! Oops.

@rabidbacon

I second this. Also open to interactions! :) Sorry, I completed missed this post.