With that, Operations have concluded. Now we start [b]Downtime[/b]. 

As mentioned before, downtime is a non-combat phase that happens at the end of every Operation. They tend to run for about a month and allow for the following:

-Collaborative/flashback posts can be written.
-You may make changes to your Genre's notes. (Be sure to tell a GM you're editing your sheet)
-Posting is not required, but still encouraged!
-A greater emphasis on character building and setups to lead us into the next set of operations. 

Also during this time, your GMs will be discussing how to move things forward and make changes to the DoCS. 

In the past, downtime has largely been put up as a sort of playground for the players to interact in ways that operations don't allow for. Unfortunately, they haven't been all that active and most of the collabs that got written tended to be between players and at least one GM. My theory is that while most of us enjoy collaborating, it tends to not be very organic and not everyone wants to brainstorm why their characters should meet up. So! We're bring in downtime scenes. It's nothing special, it's just some scenes that you can populate with your espers. Depending on your faction, drop your character into GEMINI HQ or the Great Escape and enjoy a few weeks of posts where nothing's trying to kill your esper. Talk to other players, talk to NPCS, all I ask is that you don't try to do a collab that takes place in the middle of a downtime scene. Collabs in crowded places get messy fast. Do note that you may still write and post collabs that take place during the week. Just treat it as a flash back. 

Oh! And I was asked about players using NPC characters in their posts a little while back. There's going to be plenty of NPCs running around during downtime, and we have a lot of new players that could use the extra interaction. That said, you're free to use your own NPCs in collaborations. That said[sup]X2[/sup] I would appreciate it if you didn't get too crazy. You can make espers, monsters, normal people who live around Pax, but nothing with super crazy high power levels. And emphasis on that "people who live around Pax" bit. I don't have an issue with a character's long distance relative calling them, but I'd prefer if you didn't write posts that took place inside the elemental chaos or were largely about the elemental chaos. I'd also rather not feature powerful entities that are on par with the main antagonists. If you're unsure, ask. 

Anyway, about Backup Glamors... 

I'm going to assume you read the DoCS and skip their introduction. But as far as getting them, you just need to get friendly enough with someone that they're willing to share some of their power with you. Espers will often create totem objects in their spare time and hand them off to comrades and friends. 

In short, all you need to receive a backup is to have a nice interaction with another character, or at least leave an impression where they want to help you survive. Backups can be acquired from befriending NPCs or Players. [b]The Backup does not need to be handed off during downtime.[/b] We, the readers, just need to understand why you're carrying around someone's backup. 

Rules for Backup creation are in the DoCS, but I want to remind everyone that the recipient has the most control over what the Backup actually does. The Giver, however, has their element considered with its creation and decides how it looks. Though ideally the two of you will have a conversation and decide on something that makes sense. The exception to this rule is if you get your Backup from certain NPCs. Backups such as this have fantastical effects that can't be compared to a melody. We'll cover how to rank up Backups later.

And lastly, I'm going to explain the newest, yet-to-be-added feature to the DoCS: [b]Swan Songs[/b]

A Swan Song is a part of every esper's kit. They can unleash a powerful, decisive spell that can turn the tide of battle. The only issue is that an esper can only sing a swan song once... Because it kills them. The esper's true self is slain, and the mana created from their memories is used to fuel the esper just long enough to invoke their most powerful spell. 

The exact effects of a Swan Song are too varied to mention. They can be powerful attacks, restorative spells that perform far beyond what melodies can do, and more. The effects are dramatic, but it will be the last thing your esper does should they choose to invoke it. 

Swan Songs are not added to your Character Sheets. However, they do have grades, which determine how strong the effects are. The grade can be determined by the "age" of your character.

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Bronze: New character. Powerful enough to harm an elite enemy or do significant damage to a mob. Can return an unconscious or severely wounded esper to fighting form, if only momentarily. 

Silver: Esper survived at least two operations. Powerful enough to kill or incapacitate an elite enemy/mob and can bypass protection. Can return an unconscious or severely wounded esper to fighting form, or grant an esper a brief moment of invulnerability.

Gold: Esper survived at least an arc, or four operations. Powerful enough to kill or incapacitate multiple elite enemies/mobs, or harm a boss, regardless of protections. Can resurrect an ally, heal several espers, or grant their allies a brief moment of invulnerability.

Diamond: Esper survived at least two arcs. Effects unknown, but are sure to make all but the most challenging operations much easier for the survivors, as well as trigger a few GMs into breaking their keyboards.  
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There are only two restrictions on Swan Songs: It needs to be a heroic sacrifice, so if you use it, it needs to help another esper. And two, an esper needs to be conscious for a full turn after using their swan song for it to activate. 

Oh yea, and [@Majoraa]? Here's your new Backup. Like any backup, you can only have one on at a time. So you need to pick between this or Eddy. 

[color=tomato][b]BACKUP:[/b][/color] Black Swallowtail

[indent] An immaculate clock. Why does every tick strike a chord of nostalgia and melancholy? 

GRADE: ?????
BACKUP MELODY: [Unique]
SPECIAL: Upon activation of Finn's Swan Song, he becomes the Iron Duke. Permanently. 
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