Noxious

Uhm... Hi?

Everyone comes back eventually.

Like beaten hookers.

And you're all different facets of the pimp I truly need.

Battletech: Forlorn Hope

Cadet Aveline Lott

^{Twenty-two || Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces || Female}

Physical Description

She had pale gray eyes, usually lined in charcoal and focused. There was a scar on her left cheek bone brushing back into her hairline from a spring release metal, a less focused time, usually covered with strands of her short ebony hair. She was average height with a toned build that supported slight curves beaten down with a strict training regime. Her skin was heavily tattooed; the dual moon cycles of Blackjack played down her spine starting at the respective Club and Spade that were tattooed on her upper neck, devilish serpents that were equal parts Blackjack species and Christian nightmare fuel raced from her palm to curl behind her shoulder and other symbols, reminders, that meant nothing in her new home. She wears short breathable orange fabric shorts and an equipment strap on her right thigh, a black sports bra and a lightweight ballistic fiber slip that covered her like a turtleneck that had been cut at the elbows.

Character History

As the second Succession war came to a close, Blackjack’s industry and ore mining had all but crumbled. The mercenaries originally hired to protect the planet from raiders and Combine were suddenly out of work and those who had bled the resources dry had long since moved on. The mercenaries seized the opportunity and utilized the pits from surface mining and catacombs; converting them into scrap heaps, containing a rare Mech part or two, and plenty of other things, all abandoned, scavenged, or pillaged. They took claim of the planet with loose leadership.

It gained some notoriety for its mechanical industry, which was said to have once boasted quite the illicit modification trade. It was Aveline’s Grandfather who gained official recognition from the Lyran Commonwealth. The Blackjack School of Conflict, with its less than common training techniques, would be accepted if Blackjack excluded some of the more pirate inclined traders, but they also gained the trade and support of the Lyran Commonwealth. It was a prosperous move.

The planet did not maintain full stability, excluding even the ordeals of War. The piracy and underground trade had mostly been removed, or at least brushed further into hiding. Being so close to the periphery still seemed to bring in a fair share of unsavory individuals; but if Blackjack respected anything, it was privacy and a hard day’s work in the scrap fields. She had relished this about her home; the ability to be anonymous that she gave up entirely when coming here. On her home system of Blackjack she was nobility that could hide among the populous, but at Nagelring her nobility was enough for notice, but not enough for respect.

Aveline Lott and her siblings had begun training young with BattleMechs, but they had also learned much in the catacombs. It was a unique underbelly that she explored searching for the legendary MechTech the elderly bragged about storing away. They mainly picked up mechanical and life lessons instead. It was no surprise that all of the children were equipped enough to make it into the Blackjack School of Conflict. She thrived there. The school’s respect system was heavily based on skill, with much less focus on birth and status. Unfortunately her family was not in possession of multiple BattleMechs. A deal was made with a longtime family friend that a Mech would be supplied as long as Aveline was accepted and graduated from Nagelring.

The acceptance into the school was difficult, but the acceptance within school was baffling. She was raised in a family extremely conducive to becoming a Mech pilot, in such a sense that she had never considered anything else. Both of her parents were praised pilots. Her mother continued by teaching at the BJSC. While her father’s inclinations have long since moved towards leadership over battle, his skill was undisputed. So in this she was naturally inclined. What she lacked was the grooming and etiquette and title that she simply couldn’t excel in. While her parents passed on a grasp of politics, they were more geared to periphery space issues. This left her physically and mentally prepared for battle, but not for the social atmosphere of Nagelring. So, most of the friends she has made came to her out of curiosity, not camaraderie, and there were a sad handful that respected her skill enough for passing pleasantries.

Psychological Profile

She is not socially inclined in the sense that the Nagelring expects, though on her home planet she would never have been referred to as an introvert. Since coming to the Nagelring she is withdrawn, though when in the company of others she often over compensates for a lack of social refinement with a fierce attitude which only overexaggerates the previous. She still nourishes the belief she can prove herself through the same means as she did at home, through skill, and it drives her to put all her energy into aspects of training.

Even in her senior year this has gained her few, if any, friends. She has a suspicion of friendships, motivated by wavering confidence. Her most driving goal would likely be acknowledgment, though she has convinced herself the majority of people surrounding her are not vetted enough to provide a worthwhile compliment anyways.

What she lacks in social skills she makes up battle skill, bred and nourished. Much of her interaction is forceful, her tone and attitude blunt. In slow moving or tedious situations she has a tendency to grow frustrated or anxious. She loves a challenge and has sought them out, improving her skill along the way. With the bred and nourished battle attitude also came an acceptance of loss. She is not the “get everyone out alive” type, but leans more towards an understanding of expected and accepted losses.

Skills

• More competent in dodge and flank-attack techniques. Scouting.
• Good acclimation rate to various BattleMech and scenarios, quick learner, reads terrain.
• Shows very little outward fear, doesn't have the luxury to fall behind in competitive scenarios.
• Training in Outer Space Survival/Salvager (repair, salvage, lay low, steal to survive, basic med training).

Equipment

• Cooling Vest
• Neurohelmet
• Mauser & Grey Automatic Handgun
• metal wire
• knife
• rope
• mech tools (repair, scavenging, basic parts: stored in Mech)
• survival kit (stored in Mech)

Battlemech

• PXH-1b "Special"
  Referred to as the Phoenix Hawk "Special," the 1b was introduced in 2760 for the Star League's Royal units. It utilized an XL Engine as well as Endo Steel for its chassis, which allowed the designers to upgrade its weaponry. The pistol-like laser was upgraded to an ER PPC, while a swivel-mounted ER Large Laser found its way onto the right torso. Replacing the ten standard heat sinks with Double heat sinks kept these high-heat weapons from overwhelming the 'Mech. A Guardian ECM Suite in the center torso improved the 1b's defense, while moving the machine gun ammunition to the left torso and adding CASE virtually ensured that the MechWarrior would survive an ammunition explosion.

Battletech: Forlorn Hope

And here she is:

Aveline

Cadet Aveline Lott

^{Twenty-two || Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces || Female}

Physical Description

She had pale gray eyes, usually lined in charcoal and focused. There was a scar on her left cheek bone brushing back into her hairline from a spring release metal, a less focused time, usually covered with strands of her short ebony hair. She was average height with a toned build that supported slight curves beaten down with a strict training regime. Her skin was heavily tattooed; the dual moon cycles of Blackjack played down her spine starting at the respective Club and Spade that were tattooed behind on her upper neck, devilish serpents that were equal parts Blackjack species and Christian nightmare fuel raced from her palm to curl behind her shoulder and other symbols, reminders, that meant nothing in her new home. She wears short breathable orange fabric shorts and an equipment strap on her right thigh, a black sports bra and a lightweight ballistic fiber slip that covered her like a turtleneck that had been cut at the elbows.

Character History

As the second Succession war came to a close, Blackjack’s industry and ore mining had all but crumbled. The mercenaries originally hired to protect the planet from raiders and Combine were suddenly out of work and those who had bled the resources dry had long since moved on. The mercenaries seized the opportunity and utilized the pits from surface mining and catacombs; converting them into scrap heaps, containing a rare Mech part or two, and plenty of other things, all abandoned, scavenged, or pillaged. They took claim of the planet with loose leadership.

It gained some notoriety for its mechanical industry, which was said to have once boasted quite the illicit modification trade. It was Aveline’s Grandfather who gained official recognition from the Lyran Commonwealth. The Blackjack School of Conflict, with its less than common training techniques, would be accepted if Blackjack excluded some of the more pirate inclined traders, but they also gained the trade and support of the Lyran Commonwealth. It was a prosperous move.

The planet did not maintain full stability, excluding even the ordeals of War. The piracy and underground trade had mostly been removed, or at least brushed further into hiding. Being so close to the periphery still seemed to bring in a fair share of unsavory individuals; but if Blackjack respected anything, it was privacy and a hard day’s work in the scrap fields. She had relished this about her home; the ability to be anonymous that she gave up entirely when coming here. On her home system of Blackjack she was nobility that could hide among the populous, but at Nagelring her nobility was enough for notice, but not enough for respect.

Aveline Lott and her siblings had begun training young with BattleMechs, but they had also learned much in the catacombs. It was a unique underbelly that she explored searching for the legendary MechTech the elderly bragged about storing away. They mainly picked up mechanical and life lessons instead. It was no surprise that all of the children were equipped enough to make it into the Blackjack School of Conflict. She thrived there. The school’s respect system was heavily based on skill, with much less focus on birth and status. Unfortunately her family was not in possession of multiple BattleMechs. A deal was made with a longtime family friend that a Mech would be supplied as long as Aveline was accepted and graduated from Nagelring.

The acceptance into the school was difficult, but the acceptance within school was baffling. She was raised in a family extremely conducive to becoming a Mech pilot, in such a sense that she had never considered anything else. Both of her parents were praised pilots. Her mother continued by teaching at the BJSC. While her father’s inclinations have long since moved towards leadership over battle, his skill was undisputed. So in this she was naturally inclined. What she lacked was the grooming and etiquette and title that she simply couldn’t excel in. While her parents passed on a grasp of politics, they were more geared to periphery space issues. This left her physically and mentally prepared for battle, but not for the social atmosphere of Nagelring. So, most of the friends she has made came to her out of curiosity, not camaraderie, and there were a sad handful that respected her skill enough for passing pleasantries.

Psychological Profile

She is not socially inclined in the sense that the Nagelring expects, though on her home planet she would never have been referred to as an introvert. Since coming to the Nagelring she is withdrawn, though when in the company of others she often over compensates for a lack of social refinement with a fierce attitude which only overexaggerates the previous. She still nourishes the belief she can prove herself through the same means as she did at home, through skill, and it drives her to put all her energy into aspects of training.

Even in her senior year this has gained her few, if any, friends. She has a suspicion of friendships, motivated by wavering confidence. Her most driving goal would likely be acknowledgment, though she has convinced herself the majority of people surrounding her are not vetted enough to provide a worthwhile compliment anyways.

What she lacks in social skills she makes up battle skill, bred and nourished. Much of her interaction is forceful, her tone and attitude blunt. In slow moving or tedious situations she has a tendency to grow frustrated or anxious. She loves a challenge and has sought them out, improving her skill along the way. With the bred and nourished battle attitude also came an acceptance of loss. She is not the “get everyone out alive” type, but leans more towards an understanding of expected and accepted losses.

Skills

• More competent in dodge, flank and attack techniques. Scouting.
• Good acclimation rate to various BattleMech and scenarios, quick learner, reads terrain.
• Shows very little outward fear, doesn't have the luxury to fall behind in competitive scenarios. Remains steadily at the head of the class.
• Training in Outer Space Survival/Salvager (repair, salvage, lay low, steal to survive, basic med training).

Equipment

• Cooling Vest
• Neurohelmet
• Mauser & Grey Automatic Handgun
• metal wire
• knife
• rope
• mech tools (repair, scavenging, basic parts: stored in Mech)
• survival kit (stored in Mech)

Battlemech

• PXH-1b "Special"
  Referred to as the Phoenix Hawk "Special," the 1b was introduced in 2760 for the Star League's Royal units. It utilized an XL Engine as well as Endo Steel for its chassis, which allowed the designers to upgrade its weaponry. The pistol-like laser was upgraded to an ER PPC, while a swivel-mounted ER Large Laser found its way onto the right torso. Replacing the ten standard heat sinks with Double heat sinks kept these high-heat weapons from overwhelming the 'Mech. A Guardian ECM Suite in the center torso improved the 1b's defense, while moving the machine gun ammunition to the left torso and adding CASE virtually ensured that the MechWarrior would survive an ammunition explosion.

Battletech: Forlorn Hope

Still working on a char for Gunther, but I just want to edit description of Aveline so I can get her posted for you. I can sneak that in real quick. Sorry about the delay Gunther :(, Seuss needs us.

Broken Circle: Radio Outcast [urban fantasy][Mystery]

Hello all, so I've been working on the skeleton of my character - I'm trying to create something along the lines of the more Medieval Witchcraft as it was viewed in Britain, centring around blood magic . I'm going to try and tie the roots of my character's school of magic around Celtic/Pre-Roman Britain which was subsequently lost in the Druidic purges.

So this somewhat straddles me between ritual and contract magic - Witches were seen to make pacts with Demons/Spirits but there is a strong ritual connection to their magic as well. So I was wondering if you have any guidelines when mixing the classes of magic together?

@Fizzy

In my opinion, I would keep your basis as ritual magic. Contracts are something you could get into but maybe hold off for real need. Your character would understand that contracts are pretty serious and if you can manage without them all the better. I also think that catering to a deity with a ritual is a gray area of contracts, mostly limited contracts and closer related to ritual (in a giving something to take something sort of way) than signing over your soul.

Hellis probably has something to add.

Broken Circle: Radio Outcast

Hi there, Co-GM here. Just wanted to say that we're still taking characters. If you've got an idea swing by the OOC and chat!

Broken Circle: Radio Outcast [urban fantasy][Mystery]

Well anthropology was really just a suggestion, the point being that he a studious. The idea of being tricked intrigues me, maybe trying to reach Legba but got Samdei or something of the like

@Archangel89

Studious is good, we need a more grounded character.

Below is possible a TL;DR of some stuff I think might help you:

mounted basic wikipedia

"In a ritual the Loa are summoned by the Houngan (Priest), Mambo (Priestess), or Bokor (Sorcerers) to take part in the service, receive offerings, and grant requests. The loa arrive in the peristyle (ritual space) by mounting (possessing) a horse (ritualist) - who is said to be "ridden". This can be quite a violent occurrence as the participant can flail about or convulse before falling to the ground,[4] but some loa, such as Ayizan, will mount their "horses" very quietly.

Certain loa display very distinctive behaviour by which they can be recognized, specific phrases, and specific actions. As soon as a loa is recognized, the symbols appropriate to them will be given to them. For example, Erzulie Freda will be given a mirror and a comb, fine cloth or jewelry; Legba will be given his cane, straw hat, and pipe; Baron Samedi will be given his top hat, sunglasses, and a cigar.

Once the loa have arrived, fed, been served, and possibly given help or advice, they leave the peristyle. Certain loa can become obstinate, for example the Ghede are notorious for wanting just one more smoke, or one more drink, but it is the job of the Houngan or Mambo to keep the spirits in line while ensuring they are adequately provided for."

documentary WAY long

You can skim it, I was more trying to provide imagery.
Mounted by the Gods

There are a ton of loa and each one will have their own calling card. Your character may all of sudden LOVE rum and spicy peppers. Stuff like that. When someone is mounted it is assumed that the person they were is gone and unable to control the body, the body belongs to the Loa.

Voodoo* ceremonies are usually outside. There are drums and dancing and everyone participates. Animal sacrifice is exceedingly common to give the Loa energy to attend. This is when people are often mounted.

You could make your character a Houngan or Mambo, but this would require your character to be extremely involved in the religion and catering to a community as a religious leader. You could just be someone who was integrated into the community, possibly for research?, and got tricked into becoming a mount. There are a lot of ways you could do this. Maybe your character accidentally/purposefully steal from the offerings of a specific loa and draw unwanted attention to themselves. Maybe you pissed off the Hougan or Mambo?

It is likely your character would have acquired the mount in Haiti or New Orleans. If you want any info for character creation in New Orleans I'm your girl! Haiti I'm a little less familiar with but zombies are more prevalent in Haitian culture, and who doesn't like zombies?

* to clarify voodoo is New Orleans; Vodou is Haiti. I'm going to use voodoo as a catch all, cause it is easier.

Broken Circle: Radio Outcast [urban fantasy][Mystery]

A professor of anthology would probably do better at ritual magic. It goes with a studious nature to have collected knowledge and be able to use it, possibly uncovering an old grimoire.

Loa possession is a real thing in vodou, voodoo, vodun beliefs. There's some interesting reading on it. It's called being mounted. You could go for someone studious, but they would also be a pretty sincere follower of whoever their mount is, unless maybe they were "tricked" during another ceremony.

Blood Debt (Medieval/Fantasy, Rangers)

I walk my dogs and like hanging out by the pool?

Broken Circle: Radio Outcast [urban fantasy][Mystery]

@Hellis

So what if I went with like boons, like materializing lock picks that can break any mortal locks or a cap of invisibility?

So answering the questions:

How did the character come across the magic?: He was caught between a rock and a hard place. The police were on his tail and the gate in front of him was too high to climb and the lock to complex to pick. He never really prayed before, and he was sure as hell wasn't going to start know. Quickly pulling out his picks, the young man began the arduous process of picking the lock on the chain link door. Beside him, a pile of stones began to glow imperceptibly.

"Look what we have here." A voice whispered into his ear. The young man flinched and spun around, searching for the disembodied voice before hurriedly returning to his task. The sound of police sirens was getting closer, and he could feel his hands sweating and shaking.

A crack, shit, a broken pick. The pressures mounting as he pulls out another pick, which breaks almost immediately. Now he's on his last pick when the voice returns.

"Poor thief, on your last one," the voice seems to purr, "Would you like some assistance?"

Suddenly, a pair of ephemeral arms surrounded his own and began to pick the lock faster than the young man thought possible. With a click, the door slowly swung open and he ran through it, locking it behind him.

In the back of his mind, he could hear the voice again, "If you ever need help little thief, just call..."

It wasn't until he was safe and alone that he noticed the pair of glowing caduceus on the back of his hands.

What usefulness does it bring? The tattoos act as a conduit to Hermes, his sponsor. The tattoos on his hands summon a set of unbreakable lock picks that can open any mortal lock instantly. The two tattoos on his throat and neck distort his voice and masks his face from cameras or vision. The pair on his ankles summon a pair of winged sandals that give the ability to levitate.

Can I possibly trace to actual, real world beliefs (Aka Nordic mythology, Summerian Myths, African Shaminism an the the like). If not, how can I can I make fit in with everything else? Greek Myths

@Bourgeoisie

Something that might help with ideas that this reminds me of is Hand of Glory. I think someone did a rendition where it helped them pick locks but they also took on some of the attributes of whomever owned the hand. It would be something of a contract.