Tergonaut

Pariah Online: Prologue [ closed ]

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Watts // Landon
_{LOCALE // Outskirts of the Dungeon
TIME // Afternoon (current)}

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The next few moments were a blur for Landon as he saw Graves throw a thundering punch at Mirage, saw her feet shift in preparation to dodge and her eyes recoil from the sheer hurt thrown at her by the tank's foul words - and saw Hawkwood, that gallant fool, step forward to intercede. The party hadn't even made it to the dungeon, and disaster was going to tear it apart.

Fortunately, Landon was a fool too. Plus Mirage was pretty hot.

His hand flicked to the quiver on his belt as he slid forward across the smooth grass with a broad motion that startled Hawkwood back enough to keep the knight from getting in the way. His other hand hooked briefly around Mirage's waist and pulled her to him, hip-to-hip, as he sidestepped her out of the way of the punch. He jabbed himself with the cylindrical tip of the bolt a split-second before-

POW!

Torn from his tentative grasp of Mirage, the punch took him straight in the face (to the surprise of Graves, who hadn't actually expected to hit anything with the punch). His legs seemed to shoot out from under him as he fell, more like he had run into Graves's fist than the other way around. He hit the ground with a thud. The odd part was that he could feel the sensation of being struck, of hitting the ground, but somehow...it didn't actually *hurt.* Which was lucky, because that's exactly what he counted on happening. If it hadn't worked...well. He was just glad it had worked, and that he hadn't been wearing his goggles on his face at the time.

Before anyone could react in the stunned silence that followed, Landon sprang up to his feet and tossed away his smushed cigarette - the primary casualty of the punch - with an annoyed flick of his fingers. "Cool yer jets, you two," he half-growled as he turned a scolding glare at Graves - and a wink at Mirage - before he lit up another cig and stuck it into his lips. "Save it for the monsters. You guys can beat each other up all you like after we beat this dungeon!"

There was a large bruise on Landon's face, but as the group watched - and as Elian darted toward him, Graves and Mirage - the bruise faded away until his face was unmarred. Landon measured their reactions and couldn't hide the smirk that came to his face-

SMACK!

"Hey! What was that for?" Landon rubbed the back of his head where Elian had just whacked him with an open palm. He hardly felt it thanks to the jolt of magic from the bolt, but the indignity of it was enough for him to react.

"For showing off, that's what!"

"Spoilsport," grumbled Landon. Elian moved toward Graves and Mirage with a huff.

"So, why aren't you dead, again?" asked Vulcan, who had woken up a little at the violence and yelling, but was already slipping back into his dozing even as he stood there.

Landon pulled another crossbow bolt out of his quiver and held it up for the group to see. The bolt was tipped with a cylinder, capped with metal on both ends, and the middle had three distinct layers of glowing light - red, blue, and green. "Custom buff infusion," he explained. "Red for strength, blue for tougher skin, and green for regeneration. The metal caps conduct magic energy, so when it hits you, the magic gets pumped into you, no needles, no fuss. It works through armor, too, and gives you about a minute before the enhancement wears off."

The gadgeteer slipped the bolt back into its case. The pleasure of getting to demonstrate his genius was dulled by the intensity of the fierce words that had led up to it; and though he had drawn attention away from it, he could tell by the way Elian moved that the incident wasn't over yet.

Pariah Online: Prologue [ closed ]

Okay, sounds good!

Pariah Online: Prologue [ closed ]

@Stern Algorithm, I was thinking - Landon and Tessa are in the same pathos, and maybe early on, Landon tried to sweet-talk Tessa. I imagine she would have repulsed him immediately, and probably still views him with a certain contempt that makes it awkward between them whenever they have to work together. Landon would definitely regret what happened and try his best to smooth things over, but given his propensity for flirting with the ladies in general, he probably would look awful in her eyes, a representation of the hypocrisy of relationships.

I'm basing what I think might be her reactions off of what you posted before about her personality, and I think it might be neat to have this as one of the few before-the-RP-started relationships that Landon might have.

Whatchu think of that? I want to run it by you before solidifying that as part of the story.

Pariah Online: Prologue [ closed ]

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Watts // Landon
_{LOCALE // The City of Thorinn
TIME // Morning (current)}

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Landon shook Hawkwood's hand heartily - like most of life, Landon figured that if you were going to do a handshake, you should do it with feeling. "Landon," he introduced himself in his gruff and straightforward fashion. "I've been with her on a few raids before myself, but she and I have an agreement - I keep my hands off her, and she doesn't kill me dead. S'worked out so far."

He had listened to Hawkwood's rather nerdy introduction with only part of his attention, not because he wanted to be rude, since he did enjoy learning about the world of Pariah. It was more because, about that time, Hawkwood was distracted by the fire snake that flew through the air at the armored warrior who had just joined them, and Landon was distracted by the combination of not one, or even two, but three ladies he was not acquainted with who were joining the party. As each one came into his focus, he eyed them critically, drinking in what he saw like a hearty swig. His was not the dropped jaw drooling like some hormone-driven fool - he was an artiste, a connoisseur, more like a fine wine taster when it came to women than a ridiculous drunkard throwing his money at the first drink that came across his path. His only failing in this respect was possibly that he didn't really consider how young these women were in comparison to himself - something that might be easy to overlook when he knew for a near certainty that none of these women were even close to his age in the real world.

He introduced himself quickly and quietly to the first, the fencer with the metal mask. Ebon, her name was. Landon privately thought it was a shame that her clothing was so utterly...practical. She seemed rather cute, and friendly enough, though just a bit distant and reserved. Landon guessed she might open up a bit more once she got more familiar with him and the rest of the group, but for now, she was maintaining a professional distance Landon hoped wouldn't last too long.

The fire mage that came storming after her flaming pet, though...whew! It was less to do with the way she looked, though she was pretty enough. and more with her fiery personality. "Hot stuff, comin' through," he muttered to himself with a smirk as he took a puff on his cigarette. Yes, she was a firebrand, all right, the kind of girl who made the boys hot and bothered because she was like fire, dangerous to handle but pretty enough that it was hard not to reach out and try to touch her anyway. He was of half a mind to introduce himself right away and try to catch her off-balance, but she was already charging full-steam for Elian. He shrugged; there would be time later to explore that possible avenue.

And, just when he had decided he would have his hands full following up with each of these lovely ladies after the raid was through, that was when the woman who was introduced as a hick arrived, and my! Now here was a heartbreaker! Landon was of the city through and through, so a red-blooded country woman was as exotic as a belly dancer from a foreign country. Confidence was definitely behind her every move, even from the cute pout of her lips to the distracting sashay of her hips. To her introduction, he answered her last line with, "So I see!" with a suggestive raise of his eyebrows and a rakish grin.

His attention returned to the group at large, and he figured this seemed like a better crew for the raid than it had even just moments before. He didn't imagine it would be much longer before they left for the dungeon, and the way he saw it, the sooner, the better - though he hoped he could pass the travel time to and from getting to know these beautiful ladies a little better.

"So, Elly, when are we getting this show on the road, huh?"

Pariah Online: Prologue [ closed ]

I just made a post!

Also, I got an idea for the Queon pathos city, which I kind of wanted Landon's workshop to be on the outskirts of; not a name, but just an idea of a city made of a series of interconnected wizard's towers, a tower city. Landon himself wouldn't be interested in getting himself an apartment in the towers - too cloistered for his tastes - but I like the idea of this kind of mega tower city, with the towers representing the heights of learning and knowledge that the Queon residents are trying to attain daily. What do you guys think? Especially other players whose characters belong to Queon.

Pariah Online: Prologue [ closed ]

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Watts // Landon
_{LOCALE // Landon's Workshop/City of Thorinn
TIME // Previous Morning/Previous Afternoon/Next Day (current)}

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The sun was already fairly high in the sky before its bright rays punched their way through the angle of Landon's high bedroom window and found his sleeping and unshaven face. His limbs were askew under the scattered covers, perfectly relaxed, though life crept back into them as the light finally woke him from his late morning slumber. He cracked open his eyelids and rolled over, and he reached out a hand toward the bed's other occupant to stroke her hair. "G'mornin', beautiful," he croaked.

The other occupant, startled by his touch to sudden wakefulness, started gnawing on his hand before she realized it was just her human. Then she gave him an apologetic lick before she wriggled out from under his hand and hopped down to the floor. Sylvester the cat meowed at her human as she slipped through the crack of the open bedroom door, her tail teasing with a "come hither" gesture before it followed her out.

Landon sat up, letting the covers fall off his bare chest as he stretched and yawned loudly. He scratched himself in the nonchalant way of someone who lives on their own does, and he flipped a switch mounted on the wall as he grabbed a housecoat from a nearby chair. A series of clicking sounds followed along the wall as he went down the spiral staircase from the upper floor of his workshop down to the kitchen and living room area. All around was the clutter of spare parts, tools left out, and scattered half-finished gadgets, all arrayed in what was actually an organized format on nearly every open flat surface available...including the multitude of shelves and the floor. And the couch. And the kitchen counters. The top of the fridge too.

The ratcheting clank of gears accompanied him to the kitchen as he stuck a cigarette into his mouth and lit it with a lighter of his own making. Sylvester hopped up onto the counter nearby and sat next to her food dish, her eyes focused on the mouth of the machine stationed behind the dish. Landon, meanwhile, patiently reached into a drawer and pulled out a razor blade - the old-fashioned flip-out kind - and used a flat mirror, some shaving soap and a boar's hair brush to shave in the kitchen sink.

Sylvester meowed plaintively, and Landon muttered, "Easy, kitty, just a few more seconds." The black and white cat, who Landon had adopted and didn't realize was female until she had a litter of kittens inside of his prototype steam engine (which caused enough of a delay on the project that he never finished it), did not deign to take his word for it, and pawed at the slot.

Then the clanking reached the kitchen wall behind the coffee machine and the cat food dish, and suddenly, coffee dripped into the pewter tankard and cat food pellets rained down into the dish. Sylvester bent down to crunch away at the food, and Landon rinsed his face (still somewhat unshaven around his jawline and chin, but it looked neater than it had) and grabbed the tankard once it was full. "To yer health," he said with a smirk as he petted Sylvester and took his unreasonably-large coffee cup out to his front porch.

Landon stood on his bare feet as he looked out at the countryside that surrounded his home and workshop, and drank heavily from the tankard once it was cool enough to do so. There were only a few homes close by in this semi-wooded area, and Landon liked the privacy for both his experiments and the simple peaceful quiet that pervaded. He stood there for a while, half-empty tankard in hand, enjoying the fact that he was alive, awake, on his feet, and lots and lots of this world's equivalent of caffeine pumped in his veins. Life wasn't so bad.

"Mr. Longcrooosss!" shouted a young man who ran up to the porch, which startled Landon out of his reverie and caused him to lose his grip on the tankard. He managed to grab it out of the air before it lost so much as a drop, but his cigarette now hung sullenly from one corner of his mouth as he considered the young man.

"No need to shout, Brent," grumbled Landon, then he finished off the coffee in several long swigs before he shook the tankard at the young man. "Now, why are you seeing me this early in the morning?"

"But Mr. Longcross, it's almost noon!"

Landon gave the lad a look that caused Brent to clear his throat self-consciously before he gave his report. "It's a new dungeon! It appeared outside of Thorinn just the other day! It's really close!"

Landon calmly removed the cigarette from his mouth and blew the smoke out to one side. "That close, huh..."

"You told me to tell you if anything like that happened."

"Yup, I did."

There were a few moments of silence before Brent coughed pointedly, and Landon grumbled as he dug around in his housecoat for a few gold pieces left loosely in there and handed them to the young man. "Here, one for the info, and the rest is to take care of the place and my cat while I'm gone, like we agreed. If you get anybody to help you, I'll make sure they get paid after I get back."

Brent grinned as he saluted. "Yes sir, Mr. Longcross! Good luck on your trip!" And without another word, he ran back the way he had come down the dusty road.

Landon put the cigarette back in his mouth and reached up to scratch the back of his neck. "Great, Thorinn...if I hurry, I can probably get to the Gate and join a party in time for..." He continued to mutter his travel calculations to himself as he went back inside and shut the door behind him.

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The gadgeteer stepped out his front door again a few hours later, equipped with his adventuring gear, when he stopped short of the feyling that floated in the air in front of him. He adjusted his cigarette (the third for the day so far) and nodded silently to the small creature, who repeated the message for him before it flitted off into the sky.

"Well, well! Looks like Elly is on the ball!" He smirked around the cig. "And if I know Elly, then this is gonna be more fun than I thought!"

He started off, carrying all the gear he would need, his long coat flapping in the breeze.

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The next day, he was at Lefig Lawn with a horde of other people, players and residents both. Caught in the press, he grunted a few obscenities before he managed to break through the crowd. Squinting in the sunlight, he raised a fingerless-gloved hand up to shade his eyes as he tried to spot Elian. He brought his hands to his mouth as he drew in breath to shout, and-

"Hey, Elian!"

Landon looked up, startled that the words he had just been about to say had come out of someone else's mouth, and he saw her - just as vivacious as ever, he'd say - standing under one of the group banners. Two others approached her, a knight in full armor and at least four weapons strapped to his frame, and a leather-clad woman with a metallic helmet and sabre.

With classic Landon grace, he strolled up in time to interrupt the newcomers by placing himself between them and Elian. "I knew you couldn't keep me away for long, Elly," he said with a shrug of his hands and a waggle of his eyebrows, exaggerated by the goggles on his forehead. Then he jabbed a thumb over his shoulder at the two adventurers behind him. "You've got more coming than just these two, right? Might be a short raid if we don't get more folks." And then he stepped to one side so he could look at Elian and the others too, take a puff on his cigarette, and continued, "Hey, want to save the introductions for when everybody gets here, or should we just start jabberin' while we wait for the slowpokes?"

Pariah Online: Prologue [ closed ]

Watts Broker // Landon

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W A T T S /// L A N D O N

"Hey, chum - gimme a light, wouldja? Stop whining, I smoke in my workshop all the time, and there's only been one explosion!"

O V E R V I E W

_{N A M E}

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Watts Broker

_{A V A T A R}

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Landon Longcross

_{A G E}

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88 (visage appears much younger!)

_{G E N D E R}

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Male

_{V I S A G E}

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Though Watts is nearly ninety years old, he has always been more comfortable with younger people, for he is young at heart. This is why his avatar in Pariah is a representation of himself back during what he considered to be his prime, back when he was in the middle of establishing his fame and career.

His avatar, Landon Longcross, looks like a blonde-haired blue-eyed man in great shape. Though otherwise well-groomed, he leaves his hair a little spiky, and he has a thin omnipresent layer of rugged stubble around his jawline (he cannot seem to grow a mustache, which is a source of minor frustration). He stands about five foot ten, though he slouches a bit and this makes him look shorter than he is. He is rarely seen without something sticking out of his mouth - usually a cigarette, but sometimes a pen or tool. There is just a hint of tightness around his eyes that makes him appear severe at times.

He is usually dressed in a long brown coat of leather, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, over a simple white shirt with suspenders and a few buttons by the collar, sturdy multi-pocketed pants, a toolbelt with a few of his favorite tools, heavy steel-toed boots, fingerless brown leather gloves, and a pair of dark goggles worn around his neck or on his forehead. He often carries a light frame backpack for carrying extra gadgets and tools, or for carrying back supplies or treasure, and whenever combat is expected, he always has a quiver full of crossbow bolts of various types.

_{P E R S O N A L I T Y}

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Watts grew up with tinker toys and an interest in how things work, which has carried over from his youth into the rest of his life. Even before Pariah, he was always working on a project in his garage, whether it was a car or other vehicle, a new turbine for gathering wind power, or a lightbulb that absorbs sunlight and slowly releases it over time. He maintains a sense of wonder about the world that belies his age, and loves to share it with younger people around him. He tempers this with a streak of practicality, as he is interested in solutions and not dreams. Nevertheless, he is more than willing to combine the scientific knowledge of the real world with the unique magical resources of Pariah, and thus achieve results neither could accomplish alone. He glories in learning all he can about Pariah. Though immediately gruff and standoffish with strangers, he usually warms up once he gets to know someone, and those who know him quickly know that the prickly attitude is more bark than bite.

Though trained as a soldier, Watts doesn't strictly enjoy fighting - it always feels like an interruption to more productive, important things. And, truth be told, he is a bit of a coward. Nevertheless, he recognizes the need for combat even - and perhaps especially - in the world of Pariah, so he has built his own wrist-mounted crossbow to give him the tool he needs to end a fight quickly. He much prefers to fight in a party, where he can support the team from a distance with direct attacks, crowd control and debuffs for the enemy, or healing and strengthening his team with infusions in his crossbow bolts.

Watts came to Pariah to stave off his approaching death by stretching out the time he has left. But as he has stayed in the game, he is wondering if, just maybe, there might be a way to make a discovery in age reversal that could translate into a solution he could use outside of Pariah. He revels in the freedom and vitality he feels in Pariah, and is constantly motivated in his quest for immortality every time he is forced to return to his arthritis-ridden body after a gaming session. He has even considered the idea of attempting to upload himself into Pariah permanently, but as desperate as he is in his quest to defy death, he is cautious of any action that might have consequences worse than his present circumstances.

Watts regrets some things he missed out on during his busy life. One of these is that he never found the time to have a relationship with a member of the opposite sex. It wasn't because of a lack of interest, but because of a lack of time. Now that he has essentially gotten a "second life," Watts as Landon has become flirtatious. He tries to remain classy about it, but an eagerness to make up for lost time sometimes comes out in a pickup line or two. He has also picked up a smoking habit that he never would have started outside of Pariah, using it more for the extra edge to his image he presents than any other reason.

Oh, and he's a decent cook, too.

_{B A C K G R O U N D}

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Watts Broker is dying.

He had been a creative young man who had served in his country's military as a combat engineer, where he had to put his talents for on-the-spot solutions to the test as he disarmed mines and bombs. He then turned his talents to more productive ends with some inventions that harnessed the powers of alternative energy sources, eventually leading into a company that produced many of the world's most energy efficient technologies and left him wealthy. He was free to spend time with the young people of his community during his golden years, where he enjoyed their youthful exuberance...

...until Watts fell sick and became homebound. All the money in the world could not find a doctor or specialist who could help him. After all, even in the twenty-second century, humans had not achieved the technology to reverse the aging process.

Watts grew desperate. The truth is that, despite a long and fulfilled life, he was afraid to die. He felt there was too much he still could offer to the world - and he had regrets, things he meant to do left untried. He invested much of his remaining wealth into every possible solution to extend his lifespan and restore his vitality. Nothing worked. He could probably keep living for a few more years, but his health had deteriorated to the point he was bedridden. He was trapped in his own body.

This led to a dabbling in technologies to at least let him interact with the world electronically, and he heard about Pariah. His interest was piqued by Pariah's claim to allow players to experience time subjectively - he could literally extend his dwindling life and act for himself once again! He did not hesitate to spend the money on the system and its installation in his room for his convenience. The game exceeded his expectations, and has rekindled his hope.

Watts Broker is dying. But through Pariah, he may have the time he needs to discover the secret of immortality...and save himself.

A T T R I B U T E S

_{R O L E}

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Support

_{A F F I L A T I O N}

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Queon

_{P R O F E S S I O N}

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Gadgeteer

_{W E A P O N O F C H O I C E}

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Wrist-mounted Crossbow

_{B E N C H M A R K S}

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Physical

Ambidextrous - Outside of Pariah, Landon's player spent time practicing using both hands to do essential tasks, and he has continued this practice in Pariah. This nervous habit has made it so he doesn't have an "off-hand" - he can use either hand for any task.

Snap Shooter – Landon isn't what you would call a sniper, but his diligent practice with his crossbow of his own invention has allowed him to aim quickly, fire a shot, and reload in short order so he can fire again. Since he doesn't like to fight in-close, he has learned to compensate by firing fast enough he doesn't need to worry about the enemy getting too close. He can also make trick shots, though this is usually more to luck than to outright skill.

Nimble Fingers, Steady Hands – Time in the bomb squad in reality, as well as constant work on gadgets in Pariah, has made Landon dexterous and quick with his fingers, yet also calm enough to do his work without letting distractions get in the way. This serves him well in his gadgeteering and cooking - and, should the ladies stop turning his advances aside, they'd find he was good with his hands in other ways as well!

Overloader – "Always be prepared!" is Landon's motto. This means carrying whatever he could reasonably need wherever he goes, and with all the various tools, ammo, and gadgets he hoists about with him, that adds up to a lot of weight quickly. Combined with a little weight-bearing technology in his gear, he has gained the endurance to carry more weight than the average without it slowing him down, even in combat.

Quick-Draw Parry – Even the best-prepared adventurers get ambushed sometimes, and when that happens, you have to use whatever is closest at hand. For Landon, that likely means a heavy wrench or screwdriver in his tool belt. While unconventional, the weight of the tool lets him block blows that might cleave through a thinner piece of metal, allowing him time to scramble away for a better shot with his crossbow. His ambidexterity combined with this trait let him use a weapon in his free hand, though it does make it more awkward to reload (and, therefore, takes more time to reload if he is "dual-wielding" like this). This trait also helps him reach into his pockets to quickly pull out a necessary gadget.

Mental

Jury Rigger – Landon's quick mind and steady hands let him piece together temporary repairs or devices in a pinch when he doesn't have access to all the supplies he needs to do a full fix. He can also do the reverse to break something quickly and in such a way to require the most repairs for the least destructive effort, like removing a screw from an inner piece of machinery, or taking out a vital support in a bridge at the right time to drop it out from under an enemy.

Ingenious Inventor – With time, tools and materials, Landon is able to come up with all kinds of useful inventions - from the special crossbow bolts he uses, to small clockwork machines that can be used for toys or distractions, to ways to gather energy from the creatures and minerals of the magical world of Pariah and make use of them as an alternative energy source. And if he doesn't have the tools to make what he wants, he usually can make the tool first, then proceed.

Cure Finder – Extensive research into healing magic and restorative elixirs in the search for workable immortality has given him a knack for identifying and creating potions of various sorts. And spinoff applications gleaned from failed experiments have given him access to oils, ointments and poisons that range from helping prevent rust to causing paralysis or other status ailments. He also knows what ingredients he needs for these potions, and how and where to get them.

Young at Heart – Despite his age, Landon is able to "stay hip" with the times through a combination of open-minded inquisitiveness and interaction with a younger crowd. He is free with favors and gifts to younger players of the game, which has inadvertently given him access to a grapevine network of rumors and information he can tap into if he needs to, as well as a source of extra parts for his inventions as youngsters turn in pieces of junk they find as part of their adventuring that they cannot use.

Infusion Artificer – While not strictly a mage or wizard like some casters, Landon is not so caught up in making inventions that he has neglected study of Pariah's unique magical resources. He has learned to draw the essence of magic - whether the raw elements themselves, or the more refined properties of specific spells or potions - into his inventions and more particularly into his crossbow bolts. From ice bolts that freeze enemies in their tracks or create slick floors for them to slip on, to bolts that detonate in midair to drop a healing mist over allies, to "flashbang" bolts, Landon's only limitations to the variety of bolts he can have are his imagination and the room in his quiver.

_{R O U G H V I R T U A L H I S T O R Y}

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Landon Longcross is an accomplished member of the Queon pathos, having readily contributed several time-saving inventions that utilize magical power sources. Many of these inventions are now standard magic laboratory equipment. He is most known for these and for his eccentric habit of spending time with younger people from all the pathos groups - this is tolerated since he is usually sharing his inventions and insight with them, but there is a sizable contingent among the echelons of Queon that disdain entertaining children when the time could be better used for more science. Landon disregards these stuffy labcoat types entirely, except for the cuter women among them, who he makes passes at. In fact, he is regarded with a fond exasperation among women in general, and he has gotten used to getting turned down, just as nearly every female around has gotten used to his flirtatious advances.

And his talent for magical infusion and potion making has not gone unnoticed, either. There is a constant need for magical arrows or other projectiles for adventurers, not to mention the healing and curing potions so essential to a life of danger. Despite his contributions, however, he has managed to fade into the background of life in his pathos, which suits him fine since it lets him continue his studies in relative peace. And he earns enough from providing a steady supply of potions, magical ammo and the odd clockwork gadget that he lives comfortably enough, when he isn't acquiring loot more directly in field expeditions.

It is only those who know him best that can see past his kind and helpful persona to connect the dots of his desperate research into all things restorative. In every moment of time away from others, he is going through the collected libraries of his fellow pathos members, particularly the herbalists and magicians who specialize wholly in the discipline of healing and resurrection. He has even gone so far as to try to obtain ingredients and potions from the black market of Pariah, though he draws the line at knowingly purchasing or using anything derived from harming other human beings. Though how long he will continue to hold that standard depends on how long it takes for him to find what he is looking for...

Pariah Online: Prologue [ closed ]

Thank you, Shy! I appreciate you taking a first look at the character, and while I have realized after a night's sleep that I could have done the benchmarks a little differently, I am glad Landon is earning your approval.

As for his age, I was actually leaning toward an even 40 - that way he's still old enough to call everyone else in the group "kid" (although he could still do that anyway if he reveals his RL age), but young enough that he can reasonably be in good shape and still able to keep up with the rest of the group. Also young enough that he can hit on ladies in the 20-30 range without it being toooo weird. Youngest he would probably be is somewhere in his upper thirties, to keep him among the oldest of the group.

The answer to your question, would be yes! I think it is very likely that Landon and Elian have bumped into each other before in the game - maybe they were both in a party going out gathering supplies, they did a little trading of flirty quips while adventuring was happening, and kept in touch after that. Though he feels more at home among the younger generation, he can still have meaningful relationships with people closer to his age, and her free-spirited nature would make that a little more likely in his case. We can always work out the details later.

Pariah Online: Prologue [ closed ]

Howdy, folks! Terg here, and here's my completed character sheet for your perusal and review!

Watts Broker // Landon

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W A T T S /// L A N D O N

"Hey, chum - gimme a light, wouldja? Stop whining, I smoke in my workshop all the time, and there's only been one explosion!"

O V E R V I E W

_{N A M E}

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Watts Broker

_{A V A T A R}

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Landon Longcross

_{A G E}

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88 (visage appears much younger!)

_{G E N D E R}

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Male

_{V I S A G E}

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Though Watts is nearly ninety years old, he has always been more comfortable with younger people, for he is young at heart. This is why his avatar in Pariah is a representation of himself back during what he considered to be his prime, back when he was in the middle of establishing his fame and career.

His avatar, Landon Longcross, looks like a blonde-haired blue-eyed man in great shape. Though otherwise well-groomed, he leaves his hair a little spiky, and he has a thin omnipresent layer of rugged stubble around his jawline (he cannot seem to grow a mustache, which is a source of minor frustration). He stands about five foot ten, though he slouches a bit and this makes him look shorter than he is. He is rarely seen without something sticking out of his mouth - usually a cigarette, but sometimes a pen or tool. There is just a hint of tightness around his eyes that makes him appear severe at times.

He is usually dressed in a long brown coat of leather, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, over a simple white shirt with suspenders and a few buttons by the collar, sturdy multi-pocketed pants, a toolbelt with a few of his favorite tools, heavy steel-toed boots, fingerless brown leather gloves, and a pair of dark goggles worn around his neck or on his forehead. He often carries a light frame backpack for carrying extra gadgets and tools, or for carrying back supplies or treasure, and whenever combat is expected, he always has a quiver full of crossbow bolts of various types.

_{P E R S O N A L I T Y}

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Watts grew up with tinker toys and an interest in how things work, which has carried over from his youth into the rest of his life. Even before Pariah, he was always working on a project in his garage, whether it was a car or other vehicle, a new turbine for gathering wind power, or a lightbulb that absorbs sunlight and slowly releases it over time. He maintains a sense of wonder about the world that belies his age, and loves to share it with younger people around him. He tempers this with a streak of practicality, as he is interested in solutions and not dreams. Nevertheless, he is more than willing to combine the scientific knowledge of the real world with the unique magical resources of Pariah, and thus achieve results neither could accomplish alone. He glories in learning all he can about Pariah. Though immediately gruff and standoffish with strangers, he usually warms up once he gets to know someone, and those who know him quickly know that the prickly attitude is more bark than bite.

Though trained as a soldier, Watts doesn't strictly enjoy fighting - it always feels like an interruption to more productive, important things. And, truth be told, he is a bit of a coward. Nevertheless, he recognizes the need for combat even - and perhaps especially - in the world of Pariah, so he has built his own wrist-mounted crossbow to give him the tool he needs to end a fight quickly. He much prefers to fight in a party, where he can support the team from a distance with direct attacks, crowd control and debuffs for the enemy, or healing and strengthening his team with infusions in his crossbow bolts.

Watts came to Pariah to stave off his approaching death by stretching out the time he has left. But as he has stayed in the game, he is wondering if, just maybe, there might be a way to make a discovery in age reversal that could translate into a solution he could use outside of Pariah. He revels in the freedom and vitality he feels in Pariah, and is constantly motivated in his quest for immortality every time he is forced to return to his arthritis-ridden body after a gaming session. He has even considered the idea of attempting to upload himself into Pariah permanently, but as desperate as he is in his quest to defy death, he is cautious of any action that might have consequences worse than his present circumstances.

Watts regrets some things he missed out on during his busy life. One of these is that he never found the time to have a relationship with a member of the opposite sex. It wasn't because of a lack of interest, but because of a lack of time. Now that he has essentially gotten a "second life," Watts as Landon has become flirtatious. He tries to remain classy about it, but an eagerness to make up for lost time sometimes comes out in a pickup line or two. He has also picked up a smoking habit that he never would have started outside of Pariah, using it more for the extra edge to his image he presents than any other reason.

_{B A C K G R O U N D}

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Watts Broker is dying.

He had been a creative young man who had served in his country's military as a combat engineer, where he had to put his talents for on-the-spot solutions to the test as he disarmed mines and bombs. He then turned his talents to more productive ends with some inventions that harnessed the powers of alternative energy sources, eventually leading into a company that produced many of the world's most energy efficient technologies and left him wealthy. He was free to spend time with the young people of his community during his golden years, where he enjoyed their youthful exuberance...

...until Watts fell sick and became homebound. All the money in the world could not find a doctor or specialist who could help him. After all, even in the twenty-second century, humans had not achieved the technology to reverse the aging process.

Watts grew desperate. The truth is that, despite a long and fulfilled life, he was afraid to die. He felt there was too much he still could offer to the world - and he had regrets, things he meant to do left untried. He invested much of his remaining wealth into every possible solution to extend his lifespan and restore his vitality. Nothing worked. He could probably keep living for a few more years, but his health had deteriorated to the point he was bedridden. He was trapped in his own body.

This led to a dabbling in technologies to at least let him interact with the world electronically, and he heard about Pariah. His interest was piqued by Pariah's claim to allow players to experience time subjectively - he could literally extend his dwindling life and act for himself once again! He did not hesitate to spend the money on the system and its installation in his room for his convenience. The game exceeded his expectations, and has rekindled his hope.

Watts Broker is dying. But through Pariah, he may have the time he needs to discover the secret of immortality...and save himself.

A T T R I B U T E S

_{R O L E}

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Support

_{A F F I L A T I O N}

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Queon

_{P R O F E S S I O N}

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Gadgeteer

_{W E A P O N O F C H O I C E}

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Wrist-mounted Crossbow

_{B E N C H M A R K S}

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Physical

Ambidextrous - Outside of Pariah, Landon's player spent time practicing using both hands to do essential tasks, and he has continued this practice in Pariah. This nervous habit has made it so he doesn't have an "off-hand" - he can use either hand for any task.

Snap Shooter – Landon isn't what you would call a sniper, but his diligent practice with his crossbow of his own invention has allowed him to aim quickly, fire a shot, and reload in short order so he can fire again. Since he doesn't like to fight in-close, he has learned to compensate by firing fast enough he doesn't need to worry about the enemy getting too close. He can also make trick shots, though this is usually more to luck than to outright skill.

Nimble Fingers, Steady Hands – Time in the bomb squad in reality, as well as constant work on gadgets in Pariah, has made Landon dexterous and quick with his fingers, yet also calm enough to do his work without letting distractions get in the way. This serves him well in his gadgeteering and cooking - and, should the ladies stop turning his advances aside, they'd find he was good with his hands in other ways as well!

Overloader – "Always be prepared!" is Landon's motto. This means carrying whatever he could reasonably need wherever he goes, and with all the various tools, ammo, and gadgets he hoists about with him, that adds up to a lot of weight quickly. Combined with a little weight-bearing technology in his gear, he has gained the endurance to carry more weight than the average without it slowing him down, even in combat.

Quick-Draw Parry – Even the best-prepared adventurers get ambushed sometimes, and when that happens, you have to use whatever is closest at hand. For Landon, that likely means a heavy wrench or screwdriver in his tool belt. While unconventional, the weight of the tool lets him block blows that might cleave through a thinner piece of metal, allowing him time to scramble away for a better shot with his crossbow. His ambidexterity combined with this trait let him use a weapon in his free hand, though it does make it more awkward to reload (and, therefore, takes more time to reload if he is "dual-wielding" like this). This trait also helps him reach into his pockets to quickly pull out a necessary gadget.

Mental

Jury Rigger – Landon's quick mind and steady hands let him piece together temporary repairs or devices in a pinch when he doesn't have access to all the supplies he needs to do a full fix. He can also do the reverse to break something quickly and in such a way to require the most repairs for the least destructive effort, like removing a screw from an inner piece of machinery, or taking out a vital support in a bridge at the right time to drop it out from under an enemy.

Ingenious Inventor – With time, tools and materials, Landon is able to come up with all kinds of useful inventions - from the special crossbow bolts he uses, to small clockwork machines that can be used for toys or distractions, to ways to gather energy from the creatures and minerals of the magical world of Pariah and make use of them as an alternative energy source. And if he doesn't have the tools to make what he wants, he usually can make the tool first, then proceed.

Cure Finder – Extensive research into healing magic and restorative elixirs in the search for workable immortality has given him a knack for identifying and creating potions of various sorts. And spinoff applications gleaned from failed experiments have given him access to oils, ointments and poisons that range from helping prevent rust to causing paralysis or other status ailments. He also knows what ingredients he needs for these potions, and how and where to get them.

Young at Heart – Despite his age, Landon is able to "stay hip" with the times through a combination of open-minded inquisitiveness and interaction with a younger crowd. He is free with favors and gifts to younger players of the game, which has inadvertently given him access to a grapevine network of rumors and information he can tap into if he needs to, as well as a source of extra parts for his inventions as youngsters turn in pieces of junk they find as part of their adventuring that they cannot use.

Infusion Artificer – While not strictly a mage or wizard like some casters, Landon is not so caught up in making inventions that he has neglected study of Pariah's unique magical resources. He has learned to draw the essence of magic - whether the raw elements themselves, or the more refined properties of specific spells or potions - into his inventions and more particularly into his crossbow bolts. From ice bolts that freeze enemies in their tracks or create slick floors for them to slip on, to bolts that detonate in midair to drop a healing mist over allies, to "flashbang" bolts, Landon's only limitations to the variety of bolts he can have are his imagination and the room in his quiver.

_{R O U G H V I R T U A L H I S T O R Y}

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Landon Longcross is an accomplished member of the Queon pathos, having readily contributed several time-saving inventions that utilize magical power sources. Many of these inventions are now standard magic laboratory equipment. He is most known for these and for his eccentric habit of spending time with younger people from all the pathos groups - this is tolerated since he is usually sharing his inventions and insight with them, but there is a sizable contingent among the echelons of Queon that disdain entertaining children when the time could be better used for more science. Landon disregards these stuffy labcoat types entirely, except for the cuter women among them, who he makes passes at. In fact, he is regarded with a fond exasperation among women in general, and he has gotten used to getting turned down, just as nearly every female around has gotten used to his flirtatious advances.

And his talent for magical infusion and potion making has not gone unnoticed, either. There is a constant need for magical arrows or other projectiles for adventurers, not to mention the healing and curing potions so essential to a life of danger. Despite his contributions, however, he has managed to fade into the background of life in his pathos, which suits him fine since it lets him continue his studies in relative peace. And he earns enough from providing a steady supply of potions, magical ammo and the odd clockwork gadget that he lives comfortably enough, when he isn't acquiring loot more directly in field expeditions.

It is only those who know him best that can see past his kind and helpful persona to connect the dots of his desperate research into all things restorative. In every moment of time away from others, he is going through the collected libraries of his fellow pathos members, particularly the herbalists and magicians who specialize wholly in the discipline of healing and resurrection. He has even gone so far as to try to obtain ingredients and potions from the black market of Pariah, though he draws the line at knowingly purchasing or using anything derived from harming other human beings. Though how long he will continue to hold that standard depends on how long it takes for him to find what he is looking for...