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Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

Posted by The Howling DarkFor group 0
The Howling Dark
GM, 1505 posts
Sat 27 Apr 2019
at 15:30
  • msg #338

Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

"Discreetly.  Let the dominoes fall,"  Torvald tells him, "Let them wonder where he is.  Why he hasn't been found yet.  'Why doesn't anyone do anything for us', they'll cry.  'So many Exalts and Gods and nobody can find him!'.  Then there'll be talk that he's dead- and that'll mean that nobody acted quickly enough, you see.  I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't have, hrrkrkkk..."  He spits up a giant glob of fatty blood, "Oh dear, I was enjoying that... anyway, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't already have emails in place, people whispering the right words... it means this has been planned, just like we thought, for so very, very long.  But they missed two things.  They didn't kill me properly.  And they didn't expect Senator Mxotichtlatl to approach you, for you to even care."
Kendal
player, 183 posts
Mon 29 Apr 2019
at 19:14
  • msg #339

Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

"There is also one thing that comes to mind that might slow down their plans... Tell you what, i'm going to have a meeting with my constituents and afterwards there will be announcements, there is no real reason to keep what i'm about to publish a secret from you, but it would ruin a nice surprise." He replies with a smirk. "So maybe we should wait after that and for you to get back on your feet to make any counter moves, what do you think?"
The Howling Dark
GM, 1507 posts
Mon 29 Apr 2019
at 21:06
  • msg #340

Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

"I think, sir, that might be foolish."  Torvald isn't wearing his glasses, but if he was- and he wasn't horribly wounded and covered in enough tubes to create a primitive internet- he'd push the glasses up his nose.  "I think... that the Ilmorijo, the Senate, needs to crack down.  Hard.  Fast.  Before any other news gets out... not let it have any time whatsoever to ferment... break the conspiracy utterly..."
Kendal
player, 184 posts
Thu 2 May 2019
at 16:53
  • msg #341

Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

"Woaw there, Commissioner Gordon, rushing in against a well thought out plan might just let them squeeze their way past our fingers and disappear for good. What we should do in my mind is to lay a trap or lure them into a corner and then strike down with the Ilmorijo without generating any more public unrest." He puts his hands behind his back and starts slowly walking back and forth next to the bed. "I think you should get back to your feet before making hasty decisions, the drugs might effect your judgement, so maybe you should rest right now." He puts a bit emphasis on the 'rest' part.
The Howling Dark
GM, 1514 posts
Sat 4 May 2019
at 18:11
  • msg #342

Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

"I was... never a Batman fan.  Give me Martian Manhunter any day, if I had to choose from DC..."  Torvald makes no effort to stand up; he likely can't, given all the tubing and cabling he's under just to keep him going.  "Then I wish you luck laying a trap.  Unless I'm the bait.  I don't... quite wish to be the cheese for this mouse again."
Kendal
player, 185 posts
Mon 6 May 2019
at 21:53
  • msg #343

Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

"To be fair, the crackdown will probably happen sooner rather than later." When Torvald mentions him being a bait Kendal gives a reassuring smile "Don't worry, you are filled with holes quite enough to be a Swiss cheese already so I have no intention to attract any more attention on you. Anyway, anything else before I go? I will be sure to keep you posted."
The Howling Dark
GM, 1522 posts
Mon 6 May 2019
at 22:12
  • msg #344

Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

"Thank you, no more holes for me.  But yes,"  He says wearily, "Please speak to the Ilmorijo, they have the keys to my apartment.  I have pet piranha that must be fed, can you please arrange for someone to care for them?  I've got quite a bit of stored meat for them in my freezer.  I would be very grateful."
Kendal
player, 186 posts
Tue 7 May 2019
at 20:18
  • msg #345

Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

"I will take care of it." He says before preparing to take his leave as there was not a lot more to share right now, next time hopefully Torvald is standing on his own two feet.

If Torvald has anything to say he listens and thanks for his time, then it's probably time to make some preparations for the seminar, maybe actually think what he is about to say? who knows maybe even eat once a day.
The Howling Dark
GM, 1525 posts
Wed 8 May 2019
at 03:57
  • msg #346

Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

Torvald is finished and sinks back into sleep, punctuated by a quick press of the button that floods his system with sweet sweet mary morphine.

((Kendal actually has free time!  Feel free to contact whoever you want; if you would prefer to write a speech, make an extended Politics roll, three rolls, best result of 3.  I may give additional bonuses depending on how the rolls pan out.))
Kendal
player, 187 posts
Wed 8 May 2019
at 22:18
  • msg #347

Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

((Politics roll 1: 10, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 & 2.

17+10+10+5 = 42

Roll 2: 6, 5, 4, 3, 3, 2 & 1.

23+10+10+5 = 48

Roll 3: 10, 9, 8, 6, 5, 1 & 1.

21+10+10+5 = 46))

Before contacting anyone he will first at least attempt to write a speech. It is not helpful that so much is going on right now, but at least he can do his job, hopefully at peace for a moment.

He starts writing a couple different versions of the speech and doing so tries to find the best way to convey what he is trying to say in a meaningful way so the seminar wont just be 'Hey look i'm a Solar that's cool I guess' and more like 'I was always here for you and I will be so in the future as well, I will use my new found powers to make the Last Refuge a better place for all of us' kinda deal, attempting to squeeze in a message saying he wants unity with all passengers of the fleet and will use his full might to make it so.
The Howling Dark
GM, 1531 posts
Thu 9 May 2019
at 21:43
  • msg #348

Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

In the end his result is... hm.  Pedestrian.  He could certainly do better if he had more sleep and maybe a few people to bounce this off of, but as it stands he's sort of stuck in a rut.  It's not ever going to enter the annals of history or be particularly inspiring, but there are no obvious gaffes.

Well, the speech itself is one thing.  Actually delivering it might elevate it from boring to legendary, of course.
Kendal
player, 188 posts
Sat 11 May 2019
at 19:51
  • msg #349

Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

Being really unsatisfied with his own mediocre performance big time, as usual he will not be satisfied with nothing less than perfect, but instead of throwing them away he just puts them aside to improve on them later.

Clearly working while frustrated results in just more frustration he decides to actually take a brake and thinks about if he should contact someone to share the time with, but thinks he could use some quiet time and eat something first.

He has been running around for quite some time, so a breather is in order. He also checks the news and his personal feed to see if there is anything noteworthy.
The Howling Dark
GM, 1535 posts
Tue 14 May 2019
at 22:08
  • msg #350

Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

No news yet on the attack on the Senator's office.  Lots of whining about a water crisis- not enough people are settling on the water tankers and so water production is down.  Then again, one pundit argues that the water tankers aren't that necessary, that they only add to a stockpile and they're already far above subsistence level.

"The true worry is depopulation!  People are dying on those transports!"

"No, we'll die of water first if something hits the tanks!"

"You don't know what you're talking about, moron!"

"Pigfucker!


And so on.  One of the great joys of Last Refuge news media is that the pundits have finally gotten to take the kid gloves off.

His personal feed, on the other hand, is acting glitchy.  There's a lot on the feed he doesn't remember adding.  Why is he getting news on the state of Leaden-Blooded religion?  Why is he signed up for an Exalted Gossip Digest?

Ah.  A note on one of them...

"Signed you up for some listservs ~Juno"
Kendal
player, 189 posts
Tue 21 May 2019
at 20:11
  • msg #351

Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

Deciding to dwell in his frustration just a bit longer, he sends a message to several people for a sitrep to see if anything has changed or anything new had come up so he could focus on something else for a while. Texts for Xene, Mike and thinks about sending one to Sis to ask for help in tracking down the troublesome god and his goons, but decides not to send one yet.

He didn't necessarily want to spread his frustration or deal with more troublesome people in such a short span of time.
The Howling Dark
GM, 1548 posts
Sun 26 May 2019
at 02:45
  • msg #352

Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

Not much changes in his time working.  His office goes on, feverishly preparing the ground for him.  He does get a message, though, from Battles:

Holftan gone to ground.  Tracking him now.  U will have full sec team

With that... calming... text in mind, the groundwork is laid.  Every district in the Last Refuge has an amphitheater, all 8,888 in the 'Great Egg'.  It's expected for meetings such as these.  His district amphitheater, the Grace Penny Auditorium, is a small one; it can sit three thousand of his citizens.  (Space is cramped, after all!)  In his experience he's lucky to see more than 200 filling the seats for individual announcements, and they're usually the press.  People are just not THAT involved in local politics unless they have something to argue about or for; District Board meetings can sometimes hit 300 if there's a particularly hot button topic.  The most he's ever seen was a completely full house when there was a food shortage.  How the people were howling for blood then!

Today Xene has helpfully set up a video feed for him in the back room.  Despite the best efforts of his crew, he's only filled up about the 250 or so seats.  100 of them are press; 50 or so are known guildsmen and wannabe politicians, he knows them of old.  They'd never miss a single thing.  The remaining hundred are people he doesn't immediately recognize.  Some are just there for something to do, no doubt.  Others are there just because they're curious.  Maybe others are there because they've heard rumors...

Xene is also quick to note that his friend Mike is in the audience, along with a rather pretty middle-aged African woman he doesn't recognize.  A date?  She looks right at the camera, looking right at the center of the camera, like she's staring right into him.  Mike nudges her waist and makes a joke.  She laughs and covers her hand, glancing away from the camera.

He sees no Ilmorijo.  But then would he?

"You're on in five,"  Xene tells him professionally, "Last chance to make any adjustments.  It's not too late to choose an entrance song..."

Another one of his aides rushes up, a binder in his hand.  "Senator Raines, we have most of the local media networks here.  And we have Core TV.  You'll be broadcast on CoreSPAN Government Channel.  This is your chance at the big time!"
Kendal
player, 190 posts
Mon 27 May 2019
at 22:18
  • msg #353

Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

((Extended policis roll: 9, 9, 8, 6, 5, 4 & 2.

29 + 10 + 10 + 5 =54))

Before heading to the venue he did do some personal grooming and put on something official yet slightly celebratory. Backstage he thanks everyone for their trouble and replies to Xene with a smirk, "Reserve the music for later dramatic effect, in case I fuck up and everything goes to shit have some Benny Hill ready for me." While at the same time trying to ignore additional distractions like some hotness in the audience.

Speaking in front of a crowd was a big and his favorite part of his job so doing it again after some time was actually very welcome change to the draining office work.

His entrance and opening lines are to explain the two main points of what he is talking about today, he is here to make an announcement and to make a promise, to his constituents first and foremost, but also to the living fleet. He also nods to certain people in the audience and thanks for all of their interest and time.
He takes the utmost care of the way he says what he is about to say so it wont be interpreted the wrong way and make it as hard as possible to twist his words against him later, using the speech he wrote earlier as a skeleton and building meat on top of it as he goes.

Firstly he lays some context, as he will be on the news network there will be some (many) who don't know who he is or what he stands for, so shortly reminding everyone that his main focus is in well-being and equality of opportunity for everyone, be it human, demon, exalt or god they are all in this journey together and his job and calling is to make sure we get to our destination united as a fleet.

And in these trying times he makes the promise, that he will stand, and keep standing for everyone in this fleet to have the right and privilege to live as they see fit without any fear of persecution based on what you are. Also to do everything in his power to enforce fairness of justice and swift action against those who plot against the well-being of the fleet as long as he stays in office.

After that he leads his speech into the actual announcement by saying "Why did I tell you all this? it's because there has been a major change in my personal life that will majorly affect all these things what i just said and my ability to make them happen, so not to keep you all waiting..."
And so comes the time for the good old flashlight-from-forehead-trick and the opportune planned lighting in the room will make the sunlight stand out even more.
Then it's time for the more poetic part where he explains how he was blessed with a celestial exaltation into an Eclipse cast Solar not so long ago and he wanted his own supporters to be amongst the first ones to know and that his focus will not suddenly switch to follow some agenda from core or command, rather keeping his old job in focus and that he will need all their support to stay in office as long as possible. Not addressing the whole loophole shenanigans right there and there, just pointing out that he has at least this term to make as much good happen as he can.

Finishing words, "It seems that fate saw potential in me and gave me a chance to do great things, but alas i can't do it alone, I need all your support and encouragement to make my, no, OUR dreams a reality and ensure our future as we float through the cold uncaring void to our new home at the edge of space, to make so we make it there as a united living fleet. That is all I have to say for today and i thank you for your time, Raines out."
The Howling Dark
GM, 1553 posts
Wed 29 May 2019
at 21:23
  • msg #354

Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

By Last Refuge standards, his speech is good but nothing spectacular.  He knows as he's giving it that nothing he says will matter compared to the caste symbol and therefore the constitutional crisis.  He's probably at least gratified that Mike's jaw drops when it happens.

Of course, he can't just drop the mic without the press clamoring for an interview.  Or just questions.  Lots of questions.  One pierces the crowd, "WHY DID YOU EXALT", which is, of course, the million-dollar question; Exalts don't just Exalt for the hell of it, but for a reason, a crisis.

The presence of an Eclipse-caste means a political crisis and they know it.
Kendal
player, 191 posts
Thu 30 May 2019
at 15:06
  • msg #355

Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

He raises a hand in a vain attempt to halt the incoming questions, "I'm sure I exalted not to quell a crisis, but to prevent any from happening, as the ongoing political situation has the potential to give rise to unrest if left unchecked."

He is quite sure that anything more would just generate more specific questions that he doesn't want to give answers to.

"Any interviews are conducted through the normal channels and procedures. I'll take a few more question here, loudest voice wins... as usual."
The Howling Dark
GM, 1556 posts
Sat 1 Jun 2019
at 20:56
  • msg #356

Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

The shouting starts up loud and hard.  Of course, most of them are asking questions he sure as hell won't answer.  But one can be heard that he'd probably answer, just slightly louder than the others; the woman who'd come in with Mike.

"Senator, did the Unconquered Sun leave a message with you?"


Ah, yes.  In the old days the Unconquered Sun talked to the Exalts.  There had been rumors that some newer Exalts had actually gotten messages pre-programmed in, messages from beyond the Sun's grave.

Something stirs within him.  He'd certainly not had any message.  But he also feels, very deeply, that there IS one.
Kendal
player, 192 posts
Tue 4 Jun 2019
at 21:05
  • msg #357

Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

He gives a nod to the woman, replying to her question.

"A very good question, there have indeed been talks about him leaving messages pre-programmed into us and even though I can surely say there is one, it will require some soul searching on my part to decipher its contents so i can share them with you all."

Unless there are more question worth answering he is ready to leave the rest of it for later.
The Howling Dark
GM, 1561 posts
Thu 6 Jun 2019
at 16:47
  • msg #358

Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

"Senator,"  One more person chimes in, "What is your stance on the Born King movement?!"

This isn't quite asking him about the legality of his senateship but it's close.  He's heard rumblings of the Born King movement, of course:  instead of the Admiralty Board that Brahe has managed to put up to handle the military while the Senate handles the civilian population, the Born King movement straight-up says that the Exalts- who have kept them all alive- deserve to rule.  It's their birthright, the reason they exist, and nobody can really resist them anyway.  So why not just stop lying to everyone?  The Exalts run everything, let them do it openly!

It's a bit of an inflammatory question.  The Senate, of course, refuses to even discuss it (as discussing it means opening up a foothold for the debate).  By even asking the question the reporter is, in effect, holding up a crown to Kendal.  He is giving Kendal a chance to speak about it, openly, with the full knowledge that this could start a very big ball rolling.
Kendal
player, 193 posts
Thu 6 Jun 2019
at 20:54
  • msg #359

Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

Kendal pauses for a second as he comes up with a reasonable reply.

He leans a bit closer to the microphone "As the Born King movement includes many concepts and ideals i will answer the core of your question: should the Exalted rule by their birthright?" He pauses again, "No, I don't think anyone has the birthright to anything, including the Exalted. Like I said before, I believe in the equality of opportunity for everyone and that includes the Exalted as well, I should have the same right to govern as anyone else in this fleet and let the people decide if the Exalted are fit to lead or not." He stands straight again and lets out a small sigh.
The Howling Dark
GM, 1566 posts
Sat 8 Jun 2019
at 17:37
  • msg #360

Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

"So you're saying that the people hold the right to support the Born King movement?"  The same reporter shouts, "A government rules by consent of the governed!"

He's immediately shouted down by the other reporters, all obviously irked that the questioner had an obvious political axe to grind.  Now seems as good a time as any to duck the fuck out.  He can see Xene frantically gesturing at him off-stage.
Kendal
player, 194 posts
Sat 8 Jun 2019
at 18:06
  • msg #361

Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

"Again, thank you for your attention." He nods and walks away as havoc erupts in the crowd.

As he steps off-stage he lets out a slightly annoyed sigh, as his performance wasn't as good as he wanted it to be, but there was little he could do about it right at this time so he swallows his pride for now.

"Well, at least I got a reaction out of them... Maybe now is a good time for a drink."
The Howling Dark
GM, 1569 posts
Tue 11 Jun 2019
at 21:50
  • msg #362

Arc 1, Thread 1:  Red Ink (Kendal)

"Allow me to join you, sir?"  Xene asks him, looking a little dimmer and haggard, like she'd been the one suffering on stage.  One of his aides claps his back and hands him a water bottle,  "Not that kind of drink, Victor..."

((And here we'll call an end to the thread.  Take:
*7 Destiny (5 basic + 1 exodite + 1 disadvantage- both basically triggered)
*7 Entanglement (5 basic + 1 exodite + 1 condition)
*1 cultivation (exodite bonus)

New thread soon.))
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:50, Tue 11 June 2019.
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