Oh, maybe also make, like, a canteen with Usquebaugh for the coven.
Hmm. Can I have some more information on how Cardoon works, please? How controllable is it?
Also, yes, wander a market or something and look at magical stuff.
Also also there's actually no section in the OP on how runes work...
Try to keep to one bolded post, please. Editing actions is completely fine.
You could write "Cardoon" very large, have any nearby plants grow a fair bit more. Or you could write it all over one particular plant, have it grow to maybe ten times the size. You can't control how the plants grow though, that's up to them.
You fill a 4-litre milk bottle with water, and write the rune on it. Easy health potions.
Right, sights. Wandering around looking for magical stuff, you notice a building swarming with ant people, a man lurking in a cellar with a corkscrew hand, a gigantic scorpion clinging to the side of a skyscraper, and a hooded figure who cuts a manhole out of the ground with a pair of scissors, jumps in, and slides a cover over it.
New Runes:
Urbaturgy: slight bonus to performing magic involving the fabric of the city. Very situational.
Scorpion: melee attacks more likely to inflict various ailments (e.g. stun, tetanus, possession by evil spirits.)
Anything you want to do, or should I send you into a mission?
I still have the corpse hidden in a bush, right?
1) Take the dead guy's stuff then start to butcher it with my special knife.
2) Amputate the forearm. Remove all the meaty stuff in the forearm until the wrist, keeping the hand intact. Make that a wand with the forearm bones as the handle and lenght of the wand, and the hand in the end from where I fire the spells.
3) Once done making the hand wand, inform the rest of the team about the group of leather guys, the trash golems, the undead abomination in the truck and the man of yellow rags.
4) Organize and prepare the team to attack from stealth at the same time. Once we are ready, carefully aim my invisible flesh-removing beam and fire multiple times to kill the man in yellow rags. Continued in next post.
"There is a group of trash creatures, an undead abomination and a group of humans. I'll try to kill the one in yellow rags. Let's focus on the humans first."
((I have a 2 in Aim. If you have any spare guns, I would like to have something more reliable than my wand. It can only harm organics and we are probably going to fight these trash monsters.))
"Sounds like a good plan. But we should be careful. They might have protection against bullets or physical damage. I hope not having to breathe improves my aim, since I haven't used a gun before."
Gladly accept the rifle. A proper weapon,
unlike the bone launcher.
4) Instead of using my wand, swith to the rifle and keep aim on the head of the yellow dude. Stay in position until Ben is ready or if someone in the Coven is spotted. Headshot the yellow dude then keep shooting him in the chest until he is dead using my sweet +2 Aim and stealth bonus.
Onnnnnnne bolded post. Edit if necessary.
Drop the extra gear off so as to not burden me, (backpack, diving gear, etc), and give the underwater rifle to Ben, if he wants it. Keep the knife, pistol, and wand if Ben takes the gun. Keep the assault rifle if Ben doesn't. Sneak up following Zamenis, using the tarp and my illusions as improvised camo gear, draping it over myself. If I get far enough, examine the flatbed truck and try to see if it's secured or attached to anything in this location, including magical connections.
..alternatively, stay back and use my illusions to provide a fake camo tarp for Ben, in case he wants to sneak up and set a machine gun ambush.
"Fuuuuuuuuuuck this."
Go alight on a tall building's roof with an overview of the people dragging the fallen star out of the lake. When the others engage dive down as fast as possible and kill all five squishy humans with the Slaughter machete in one attack run, then fay away at top speed. Keep the gunwand in my offhand and parry any magical projectiles.
Ben takes the rifle from Nanami and looks over it appreciatively. He checks the magazine, which I assume is fine despite it being a living gun.
"Wow, this what I think it is...? Yeah, can't forget those bullets, this is one of those Spetsnaz underwater rifles! I've only seen one of these before, Russian mob, ah, hired me to kill a guy down in Venice, 'cause he stole it from them. Damn crazy liked to wear a frog costume, thought he was amphibian batman or something... you know some dangerous people, Nanami."
He then looks up at the guy preparing to attack, while simultaneously asking for a better weapon than a magical stick, and lets out a long sigh.
"Look, kid, stop for a moment and think. We don't want to attack yet, they're not done pulling the plutonium out of the river. If we open fire, it's just going to slide right back down to the bottom, and you'll have to go skinny dipping in all the sewage that fills city canals, to pull it back out. That sound fun? No? Then we wait until they're done, and we mow them down after the rock's on dry land. Tell ya what, if you wait, I'll show you how to use this--" he holds up the ADS rifle "--and you can have it for the ambush. Sound good?"
Assuming RGU agrees to that plan, give him a quick rundown of how to operate the amphibious rifle, and then let him have it (unless Dev dissents). Then find a spot with both a good view of the riverside and solid cover (prone on a rooftop, possibly?), and set up the Minimi. Ben will only open fire if a Coven member is detected, or if someone else attacks, focusing his fire on the trash-armored people's legs. Edit: Or if the haulers pull the rock far enough out of the water that there's no risk of it sliding back in. The risk of it going back into the river is our only real reason to wait.
If RGU doesn't agree to wait, move to flank from another angle, and open fire with the ADS after RGU's attack has resolved; shoot at Mr. Yellow if he's still alive, or at the trashmen's legs if Yellow's dead.
Meta question that just occured to me: Since the ADS uses two different types of ammo depending on whether it's above or below water, and living guns create their bulleteggs in advance, which is it loaded with right now? Can it change which it uses? Does it have magical multi-purpose bullets? Should I just ignore this for narrative purposes? 
((In theory underwater rounds should work acceptably above ground, they'd just be way less accurate and a bit less lethal.))
The ammunition is alive, and thus knows whether or not it is being fired from underwater or not. The alternatives are simply implausible.
Hold for Ben's command, then summon giraffes on any survivors after opening volley. If an exceptionally dangerous enemy reveals themselves, sic the warrior on them. Position myself by Ben. He seems good at this.
Nanami hands the rifle to Zamenis. Ben and Don walk down to the intersection, and enter the short block of flats on corner of the crossroads furthest from the canal, closest to where the Coven started. Walking up to the roof and quietly forcing the door, they get an almost head-on line of fire down the street to the waterside. Ben sets up the Minimi: a clear shot over the foot-high brick barrier at the edge of the roof.
Zamenis rapidly creates the bone-and-hand wand, two spells, he doesn't know what they do yet. Three and two puissance. He loots the body then steps past it, poking his head around the corner and taking a bead on the yellow guy's head, illusory trashbags concealing him. Nanami begins to crawl towards the truck, under the illusion of a deep pile of leaves. The vehicle and its load don't seem to be attached to anything in the area. It's facing away from the canal, and the ramp on the back is lowered, presumably so something can be dragged up it. Directly into the tangled thicket of skeletons and machinery. She stops, noticing another leather-clad figure sitting at the wheel.
For a minute, things are still. Then screeching a battle-cry, Bella swoops from the clouds, directly towards the figures hauling at the power source.
Agility: 3 (bonus considered)
Flying downwards at incredible speed, her machete raised, Bella goes for the hooded figures. A fraction of a second before her dive levels out into a vicious swing, the air around her begins behaving rather oddly. A faint mist that lingers around the hooded figures flows towards her, intensifying into plumes and clouds of snowy white. As Bella flies in and collides with the mist, she is slowed considerably, the stuff behaving like a physical barrier. Deflected from her original route, she crashes into one of the leather-hooded figures, the two of them tangling and rolling into the gutter. With her right arm numb and useless, Bella draws the machete with her left.
5+1 vs 3+1
She manages to force her blade through her adversary's ribs as the leather-wearer throws out ineffectual punches. As she tries to yank it back out, the man yanks a clear vial from his pocket and empties it into his face, swallowing through blood.
At the same moment, Zamenis fires at the figure in yellow. His aim is perfect, but the bullet is halted in a plume of white mist metres from its target. Some sort of magical anti-projectile system. Further shots do nothing.
Ben focuses machine-gun fire on the knees of the trash golems, bullets eating into plastic and metal.
6+3
+2 vs 4-1, 6-1, 6-1
Using half a magazine, he completely obliterates their legs, tight bursts of fire toppling them over as they ponderously run for cover. The figure in the driver's compartment of the truck pokes their head out, then hastily ducks back in. They fire up the engine, and begin to reverse towards the shining object at the end of the street.
The figure in yellow strides towards Bella, the sides of his leather greatcoat flapping as white vapour streams from the insides. The other three haulers curse and strain, but are content to watch as he rummages in his breast pocket before pulling out a black rod, the end immediately screaming white and orange sparks. He hurls it at Bella impossibly fast, hand twisting with messed-up alchemical velocities.
6+2 vs 5+2
Bella however is faster still, and manages to roll out the way of the ensuing explosion just in time, albeit towards the glowing object. She feels a rush of magical energy just as her clothes and broom catch fire. Black smoke billows from the flaming impact sight of the incendiary, pushing away the white mist as a patch of ground is consumed by green flames.
Rit: 3+2, 6+2 vs 2+2
Don Joe concentrates, and calls upon his demonic servants, stretching his arcane reach along the street. The presence of two massively powerful objects makes summoning hard, but the giraffe heads appear around the alchemist just the same, this time wearing fedoras. They fail to distract the haulers, rendered insubstantial by the incandescence, so instead cluster about the one in yellow, chanting dreadful poems about death and depravity in a language that can only be written in kidney infections. Distracted for a moment, the yellow figure lashes out at the giraffes as Don activates his talisman, the armoured warrior taking its target unawares. Somehow, the figure in yellow remains standing as the miraculous construct chains diagonal slashes across its body, vials shattering and leaking noxious fumes. Apparently this opponent is powerful enough to take this kind of punishment, at least for now.
Name: Nanami Adachi. (Nanami)
Unnatural beauty granted by demonic contract and the adoration of mortals. Slight charisma/popularity boost.
Power from mortal media.
Can create illusions.
Conscripted into twenty-nineth legion of Amdukias.
Puissance: 2 +1 not from Amdukias
Ritual: 0
Runic Sight: 0
Banal Combat: 0
Aim: 1
Melee: 0
Agility: 1
Praticality: 2
Inventory: £25
Backpack, expensive camera + memory cards
Quality sketching paper, art pens+pencils, charcoal, etc.
Sketches of self as main character, Amdukias, the non-mortal world, etc.
[Glass Rod Crystal Wand] - Enhanced slightly through media
Mediocre Pistol (4/6)
Large, fist-sized mind-controlling spacerock fragments.
Painting supplies, a glass cutter, battery powdered soldering iron, eighty feet of red cloth, white rag and thread
Diving gear: masks, suits and some scuba tanks. (dumped)
Knife
Puissance: 10/13
Puissant Clots: 2
Goethe T. Helle
Puissant fettle - 1
Ritual potency - 2
Runic sight - 1
Banal combat - 0
Aim - 1
Melee - 0
Agility - 2
Practicality - 1
Inventory: £20, clockface minus one hand, highlighter pens, two kitchen knives, half-empty cologne bottle
From the beast: one bone,
Italian Dinner suit, stored at Vince's place.
[Dog Collar Pendant][Molasses Clockhand Wand]
[Icecream Beast Blood Fur Chalice][Beast Remains Wand]
Runes:
Isolation: you never had many friends or allies, so are used to poor odds. +1 to rolls when outnumbered and alone.
Stoicism: a rune that calms those dealing with shock, tragedy or injury.
Perseverance: despite all the odds, you managed to kill a huge beast using nothing but hot syrup. Bonus to attack and extra damage to powerful or resistant enemies after several turns of combat or aggression.
Dwarven Weapon Storage: learned from a dwarf carrying a small armoury on his back. Increases load of weapons and tools that can be borne without being hampered or slowed down, or collapsing outright.
Ruination: when written, it makes a bad situation worse, and an irretrievable one more so. Learned after the second mission.
Puissant clots: 1
Puissance: 6/6
Name: Sir Worthington the Fourth
Has a demonic leg. Old leg is in possession of monarchs of hell.
Enslaved young man under demonic contract, wields katana, wears combat pants + green sweatshirt.
Stats: Ritual Potency: 3
Practicality 3
Inventory: £22, Pint of royal blood (stored at Vince's), blood covered knife, Cursed String
Stored at Vince's place: mortal's tendons, skull and leg bones.
[Glass Eye Pendant] [Paintbrush Wand]
[Toad Demon Battery Acid Tupperware Chalice]
Competent's Pyromancy Flame - Heal Burn (1P), Create Flame (1P), Flame Claw (3P), Mesmerising Flame (2P)
One shot, recharging: Chaos Insect Swarm
Wears tinfoil hat.
Puissant Clots: 0
Puissance: 5/5
Ben Breeze
Stats:
Puissant fettle - 0
Ritual potency - 0
Runic sight - 0
Banal combat - 5
Aim - 1
Melee - 1
Agility - 2
Practicality - 0
Inventory: knife, 2xtaser, handcuffs, police baton, stab vest, torch, incapacitant spray, and a first aid kit. All in sports bag.
Also a bag of athames, 2.5 legs War Bacon (Vince's Fridge), a worn face-concealing hooded coat, bin bags.
Concealed: knife in one boot, knife on a leg, and one on his torso.
Two generous Roast Beef and Horseradish Sandwiches
Two bin bags of assorted pills from pharmacy.
£20
Set of keys and passcard
Gunfarmer P90 (2/50) (in bag)
FN Minimi light machine gun, 1.5 magazines
Puissant clots: 4
Puissance:5/5
Steve
Banal combat - 3
Agility - 3
Inventory: £50
Rusty, shard curved sword
Puissance: 5/5,
Clots:3
Name: Bella, the Speed Witch
Runic sight: 2
Banal Combat: 2
Melee 1
Agility 2
Inventory: £0,
Delicate Rune-engraved Machete: heavy bonus when facing multiple weaker victims. Likely to break on misshits/heavy armour.
Benflesh Bullet, Concrete bullet x3, Cloud bullet x2, organic armour x1
Large gardening axe
[Tier Four Racing Broom]
Runes:
Speed lover: +1 to doing anything while moving faster than you need to. Does not prevent (but can negate) maluses from trying to do things while moving faster than is sensible.
Slaughter: enhances speed and efficiency of murder when facing many opponents/victims. Passive boost, but can be written on things.
Broom Dodging: makes you better at dodging things while on a broom.
[Sub Nosed Glock Wand] 9/9
1 Organic Armour Bullet
Nascent Pyromancy Flame: Create Flame 1P
Puissance: 5/5
Clots:0
Name: Zamenis Paean
Puissant fettle: 2
Agility: 2
Aim: 2
LICH: feeds on the bleeding hearts of his enemies.
Undead. Necromancy bonus.
Inventory: £25, Certificate from Belial (valid for one sample of occult substance)
Duct tape, Large Knife, knife.
Surgical tools: scalpel, a first aid kit, a saw, and tweezers.
Dead Guy's pockets: a set of car keys, a length of shimmering, crystalline rope,
{Unknown Potion}
Tier 1 Broom, Dragon Tooth Phylactery on End
[Human Leg Wand]
[Ulna and Hand Wand]
Armour-piercing Amphibious Assault Rifle (28/30 Rounds)
Puissant Clots: 1
Puissance: 9/9
Name: Don Joe
Ritual Strength - 2
Runic Sight - 1
Aim - 1
Agility - 1
Practicality - 1
Inventory: £130
Murdered guy's wallet
Keys to Maserati
Card of Mortal-mind cleanup guy
[Chain Coin Pendant] - Used
[Giraffe Wine Chalice]
Runes
Market Savvy: You know what things are worth, and who will pay for or try to get them. From your time spent as a banker, a passive rune.
Acid: a rune that eats into whatever it touches.
Puissance: 2/5
Puissant Clots: 0
((Rewaitlisting with a different character.))
[spoiler]
Name: Ennis Therebus
Runic sight - 3
Practicality - 3
Inventory: £45
Suspicious Tome
Camping Equipment: tent, canned food and snack bars
4 Litre plastic water bottle, Usquebaugh written on.
Runes:
Phlegmatic: you have no memory of the last decade, and are dealing with it remarkably well. Increased resistance to mental assault; a passive rune coiled around the inside of your skull.
Arcane Researcher: you're less likely to accidentally kill yourself, summon a great one, or set the room on fire when reading arcane texts. Applies especially to Suspicious Tome.
Amnesia: when written, causes mentally weak beings (non-magicals, for example) to forget their recent experiences. A rune inked over the innermost folds of your cereberum.
Usquebaugh: a rune that gives water healing properties and magical strength. In great doses, such draughts may damage one's soundness of mind.
Potential: a rune that draws out the power latent in objects, often damaging them in the process. Tattooing it on oneself would lead to a shorter life but greater charisma and power.
Cardoon: a rune that enhances the growth of plants, especially weeds.
Urbaturgy: slight bonus to performing magic involving the fabric of the city. Very situational.
Scorpion: melee attacks more likely to inflict various ailments (e.g. stun, tetanus, possession by evil spirits.)
Author
Topic: COVEN: Gulled Goldsmiths and Lost Locomotives (Read 153927 times)