betelgeuse

The Paradigm Stone

Greatly enjoying everyone's intro posts! I'll probably be posting again tonight or tomorrow. Just to get things moving at the bank at the same pace.

Also, what's everyone go be to make discussing easier? People usually call me Betel

The Paradigm Stone

No problemo mi amigos, post whenever you want! As long as it doesn't take a month ;)

The Paradigm Stone

No need to if it's a hassle, i figure it might make it easier to start off with some connections already.

Edit: and we all need to decide on a city name! I'm not making the final decision ^_^

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Oskar thats completely fine. Maybe someone who's already connected to somebody else, even if just a little bit

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Hey-o all, got the IC up!

Let the games begin!

The Paradigm Stone

-The Story Begins-

It was a brilliantly bright day, without a cloud in the sky and a cool breeze that ran through the air, carrying the scent of summer into the city streets. It was early on a Friday, most people were so preoccupied with weekend plans that it was hard to ignore such magnificent weather. Students out of school flocked to the parks, taking advantage of the fact that there was a full weekend of city planned events ahead.

Sanderson Park was particularly busy, nestled between the Boardwalk and the golden Sanderson Hotel, an extremely well manicured green jewel in the center of a sea of glass and steel. A crowd was tightly packed around a stage set near the fountains at the entrance of the park, two loud speakers, scarlet curtain and a massive banner hanging across the center that read 'World Premier!'. A dozen reporters and cameramen craned against the stage for a better view at the podium and whatever stood behind the red curtain.

When Eudora Carver walked out on stage, the small crowd erupted in a roar of cheers and applause. She waved politely to the attendees, dressed to perfection in a nave dress and blazer, pearls and sunglasses. Not even the breeze seemed brave enough to put a hair out of place. The corporate tycoon approached the podium, inspiring the crowd to instantly fall silent.

"My fellow citizens- my friends; we stand together on a revolutionary day." A clear, crisp voice rang out through the park.

"This magnificent city has been a beacon for revolution in design, engineering and pure-and-simple hard work. We've built this old fishing harbor into the biggest social and technological leader in the world; something that isn't done by lying down on the job." She stopped for another sweeping agreement of applause. "Which made me pause and reflect one afternoon: with a population so deserving as this, why are they not able to gain some assistance in an otherwise busy lifestyle?"

Eudora stopped and looked in the faces of the crowd, speaking to them without a speech written in hand, as she always did.

"That is why I went to our top team with an idea. I'm proud to say that today, I can present you, and the world, with that idea." She said, turning and extending her arm as the curtain parted.

In the middle of the stage was a robot, standing at just over six feet in height, holding a small silver serving dish and a linen towel with an "EC" sewn elegantly into place. The robot bowed at the sight of Eudora, then to the rest of the crowd, who again, erupted into applause. Eudora turned back to the microphone and continued with her speech.

"This is The Sentry, a fully functioning personal assistant and the first life sized robot designated for home use." She smiled broadly as a wave of photographs flashed in her face. "It is equipped not only with a wide range of artificial intelligence interfaces, but it is also a centralized home security device as well. With all these new reports on prisoners walking through walls, we can never be too safe with our city's children."

The Sentry took a few surprisingly graceful steps forward and took the lid off of the small silver serving platter to reveal a chilled martini complete with two olives.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I'll let the top engineer for this program answer your questions- I believe this is for me." She said, jokingly as she took the drink and stepped off stage, the crowd chuckling at her usual humor.

As soon as she was out of sight, Eudora downed the actual martini before dropping it in the hands of the nearest assistant, who still managed to drop and break it on the floor. Her limousine was already pulled up to the entrance of the park, so she waved at the dozen or so joggers and dog walkers on her way out of the small patch of nature. Ducking into the elegant automobile, she reached into her side console and retrieved a cigarette, lighting it quickly before taking a slow drag. Turning her head to the side, Eudora's eyes had finally adjusted and focused on another Sentry sitting in the back of the moving car with her.

"Jesus Christ, another one." She said, the robot completely unaware of what she meant.

The pair rode in the car in complete silence for several minute through the main section of downtown. They approached the tallest building in the skyline and pulled into the entry of The Tower. Eudora waited for the door to be opened and helped out by the driver and poked her head back into the limousine one more time.

"Stay here, you overgrown iPad."

Moments later, Eudora had given her name to the front desk, ridden dozens of stories on the elevator and approached one of the highest floors of the building. Eudora Carver was never one to wait for someone to fetch her, so she was never satisfied waiting in the lobby before being escorted upstairs for a meeting. There was plenty of time before the board meeting was set, but the two had a brief discussion scheduled off the record. Her face sprouted a sweet grin as she approached the executive assistant's desk.

"Now, my little chickadee, I'm in quite the hurry." She began, her tone light and airy once again. "Mind to point me in the direction of the fine Captain of this vessel?"

--------

Across town and fairly different from a corporate board room, Finn Regel leaned against a dumpster in an alley just off of Franklin Boulevard. Eyes closed and banging his head lightly against the metal, it was somewhat soothing considering his state of mind. There would be only a few minutes before his brother would be back and then it would be time to start. Something that, until a week ago, he never thought he would do.

"It's easy." Finn said. "No big deal. Five minutes- tops."

Running hand through his hair, he finally stood and stretched, cracking his back in the process. He wore a black, short sleeve fishnet shirt, black pants and steel toed boots. His hood and mask were pulled down to avoid drawing any unwanted attention, but he still caught some stares as a probably alleyway drug addict. Walking toward the back of the alley away from the street, Finn went over their poorly constructed plan one more time in his head.

For the first time in years, the stress was pushing him to want a cigarette. The fact that he didn't want to be caught on convenience store cameras was the only reason he wasn't puffing away at an entire pack.

At the dead end of the alley, Finn turned and watched the target of the day. Wentworth Bank stood proudly near the center of the financial district; it was an old rough granite building that had been built to last as skyscraper three times its sized popped up around it. Customers walked in and out of the building, happily going along on their business before the start of the weekend. Some of the straggling workers were rushing in late, drawing his attention from focusing on where his brother was. Michael was just supposed to sneak into the alley next to the bank and cut the security alarm's wires. Simple as that.

"Just snipping a wire and coming straight back." He said. "No big deal."

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I'm sorry I didn't mean to come off as rude. I'm usually typing on my phone and was trying to get as much information across as possible. I don't mean to offend but you're more than welcome to revise.

As for everyone else: I'll have the IC up tomorrow! I got most of your PM's replied to, but if I haven't yet, then stick with me.

Maybe we can all get to know one another!

The Paradigm Stone

kagethekiller said

Sorry, but as of right now, there are some problems with your application.

-My very first rule in the original post is that this is an Advanced game with writing standards. I think you need to revise your grammar and there aren't any apostrophes at all.

-Everyone's abilities manifested within the past week, so I'm sorry, but there's no way he can be fifty and look seventeen.

-Even if he was immortal/ageless, you have no points set for it.

-The same applies for your minion. There are no points allotted for it. He would need to have two to three points for a creature from another dimension.

-Remember, if there are no points set in a skill or advantage, he's basically an average joe.

-A lot of our characters are chaotic neutral so far, so im more willing to accept people who are more or less good or evil.

-I would prefer a more in depth explanation on his powers. Are the shadows intangible? Are they ineffective in daylight? What kind of smoke transformation? It's not designated as teleportation, so does he form into a cloud that floats on the wind?

I dont really want ambiguous profiles, because it leaves room for godly characters

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At this point, currently there is only one stone that can change its shape into any object. It can't physically be split or made into more than one and will change according to who was the last to touch it.

I was PM'd asking if the supers got their powers because they were hit by the stone, but no: The Paradigm Stone is creating a crazy kind of radiation throughout the city that's creating super powers, allowing scientists to break some laws of physics with their experiments and making magic possible.

I made only one stone, that way there's not three or four crazy powerful characters running around and the other half without. Basically the Paradigm Stone can create a story arc with someone finding it or obtaining it before it gets lost or locked away again.

Edit: Despite the title of the game, I want the game to evolve into a push and pull between our characters and their lives in the city, not just 'who has the stone oh my gawd'.

The Paradigm Stone

-Basic Info-

Name: Eudora Carver
Gender: Female
Age: 65
Alias: The Godmother

-Stats-

Height: 5'9''
Weight: 145
Hair Color: Dirty Blonde
Eye Color: Light Brown
Skin Tone: Tan, although wrinkled.
Body Type: For being later in her years, she's surprisingly athletic as well as shapely.
Notable Features: None, just magazine and newspaper comments about her surprising beauty considering her age.

-Psychological Profile-

Personality: To the city itself, Eudora Carver is the most pleasant and charitable woman to grace its streets. Her donations are directly responsible for yearly parades, the creation of multiple hospitals and schools and even random bonuses to her thousands of employees. Beloved by most of the citizens, there are a few who whisper about corporate side projects and her weapons ending up in the hands of gang members. Outside of the public eye, Eudora is a witty, calculative and cunning woman that will smile and joke coyly as she slides the blade into your back.

Strengths: Extremely strong willed and sharp as a tack, which she used to her advantage to rise the corporate ladder as a woman in an age where it was unheard of. Capable of running for extended periods of time.

Weaknesses: Mental and physical fatigue, unwillingness to back down and doctors have recently diagnosed her with a weakening heart.

Fears: An increase in her waning beauty, which used to be the talk of the town. Like most of the super wealthy, fading out of the public eye, which she has spent decades cultivating. Death itself is her daily tormentor.

-Power Points-

Wealth: 3
-Billionaire and investor in multiple business across the city. The Carver fortune began with weapons creation, but quickly branched off into robotics during the first developing stages. She currently has millions tied up in research and development with genetics, advanced weapons, tech development, clean energy and of course remaining the forefront of robotics engineering.

Hideout: 3
-Carver Industries has a recent rival in the skyline with the newest construction of The Tower, which is the city's current tallest building. The top floor of the tower is one of the city's most secure locations; outfitted with artificial intelligence monitoring, compartmentalized hallways (that can be sealed individually), drone surveillance (both indoor and outdoor) as well as armed guards supplied with the most recent weaponry. The Conference Hall is the last place one would want to be, as it's basically Eudora's throne room packed with weaponry behind every wall panel.

Manipulation: 3
-Most of the city's major departments has her hand dipped in it. The police pension fund is directly matched by Carver Industries, landing almost every Chief and major detective in her pocket. Outside of her manipulation in the city municipalities, her business has thousands of employees living in the city. Within those employees, she has several hundred under-the-table individuals with a wide range of special skills. Assassins, spies, scientists, all paid well enough to buy their silence and allegiance.

Transportation: 2
-Her iconic bullet proof limousine, which the citizens of the city link together as clearly as the Pope Mobile and, well , The Pope.

Science: 2
-It's impossible to become a behemoth in the technology world without an understanding in the field. Eudora isn't as gifted as some under her payroll, but she knows more than enough to both comprehend and create magnificent pieces of technology.

Political/Social Fame: 2
-Loved by the city and known fondly as 'The Fairy Godmother' or simply, 'Godmother'.

Body Guard: This Could Be You!
-This isn't a stat, but Eudora is currently in the market for a body guard that can be paid extremely well.

-Public Identity-

Job: Investor, Business Tycoon and Black Market Leader

Home: The penthouse suite of a downtown tower owned by one of Carver's various real estate corporations.

Wealth/Lifestyle: Designer clothing, gold plated silverware and a team of personal attendants are the base necessities in life.

Clothing Style: Designer dresses and business outfits that range in the thousands of dollars for any gala or meeting. Eudora has a classic sense of style that demands an air of respect when she walks into a room.

Friends/Relationships: TBD
-Widow
-A luke-warm business relationship with Bakker and The Tower

Rivalries: TBD

Public/Professional Goals: The public goal of Carver Industries is to advance the world's knowledge in robotics and aid in the betterment of tomorrow. Because of that, countless public projects have come about- the outfitting of local schools with brand new computers, adding security guard robots to the local prison and making headway in solar and wind power for the city as a whole.

History: Born in the deep south during an age of technological beginnings, Eudora was a brilliant young girl from the start. Winning every science fair she entered, it was quickly apparent to her parents that she was gifted beyond her years, who were half wits and unable to help in any way.

Accepted by an elite boarding school in the city, Eudora spent her teens learning to become an entirely different young lady. Poised, refined and holding on to just a bit of her southern accent, she quickly caught the eye of a wealthy tycoon. After a short courtship, they married and almost immediately, he died of mysterious circumstances. Most have forgotten about it, but at the time there were whispers of foul play.

In the years since then, Eudora has multiplied her money more than she could have ever imagined. With charities and public funds, the public eye is diverted from her more nefarious ventures and mob-like control of the city's criminal world. Guns for respect were the initial bargain; it's developed into a deep connection with the Black Market as its lead contributor.

-Secret Identity-

Uniform: Absolutely no difference in appearance, other than a funeral shawl that covers her face and elbow length gloves.

Alignment: Neutral Evil

Combat Method: No real form of combat other than a slap across the face to real drive a point home. Her hench men and robot tend to do all the heavy work for her. She always has a team of a half dozen highly trained men trailing her just out of view at all times. Eudora enjoys the sense of security but prefers not needing to think about them.

Hideout: Equipped with

Mode of Transportation: Her bullet-proof limousine, including automated aiming machine guns retractable from the hood, reinforced framework to barrel through walls, flash-grenade quality headlight defenses. There are a few more tricks and the car is a few steps below a military vehicle, but it's more than enough to get her across the city.

Allies/Relationships: TBD

Nemesis: TBD

Motivations/Goals: To have the entire city in her debt. Already well on her way, the secret motive that almost every mad scientist in town knows is that she would do anything to be young again. There is a standing reward set out to the city that will make anyone obscenely wealthy if they're able to assist her.

Supplies/Inventory: With her kind of money, supplies are unlimited.

-Paradigm Stone-

Paradigm Stone Appearance: It becomes an elegant opalescent necklace. It crackles with energy and will explode with a psionic force if there is an attempt to be removed.



Personal Appearance Changes: Eudora regresses forty years in age and physical form, albeit far stronger than she ever was.

Power/Ability Progression: Stemming from no abilities at all, the stone grants her one wish- immortality.

Power-Drunk Goals: Astoundingly similar to her normal, every day goals. She has far greater clarity in her actions and almost precognitive in her ability to think ahead of others.

Weakness: Still not entirely infallible in a hand-to-hand confrontation against multiple supers or the like.

Withdraw Symptoms: Schizophrenic-like delusions with extremely manic behavior. She speaks to no one in particular and the universe as a whole at the same time. Basically, she goes batty.