akje

The Blood Compact

<Snipped quote by akje>

I'd assume the Purge has some serious financial backers.

Maybe amongst them is Faust XXIII's company which deals in several industries from pharmacology to bioengineering.

@The Grey Dust

Faust XXIII? Who?

Monsters Hotel

<Snipped quote by MonsieurShade>

Of course I understand that, I like the powers these characters are coming out with. I want Avalai's powers to keep with a static "mood", you know? I expected either a sadistic queen who keeps a group of happy, willful minions through legitimately good benefits, or a sadistic queen who keeps her minions loyal through fear, threats, and literal brainwashing. I'm just not sure which side @ReaptheMusic wants to stick with. Is she a good boss, or does she order her minions to fight to the death on a whim? Does she give them a chance to unwind and party, or do they stay close to her, eyes dulled and muscles tensed?

@Earnest Evans

But the combination of both is the darkest answer of all!
I'd vote for the literal brainwashing + lying to herself about it.
They play and have fun but it's all just because she makes them do those things, so she doesn't have to admit to herself she is forcing these people using her blood. Like a mental self defense mechanism. Deep down she knows full well she's a tyrant, but she'll make them praise her over and over again until she herself believes she's a fair and just monarch.

Though I must admit I'd like that path best because it's dark as hell and provides a starker contrast to the comedy.
I enjoy dark comedy a little too much sometimes.
Which is why I'm having Like poke at the sore spot. It allows Avalai to explore this story arc further, while it fits well for Like because he is a trickster archetype.

More than Human

I'm making a GM call that creatures and objects created by the hallucinations are Constructs, they are generated and given shape by James and his mind. As such, when James' attention shifts, they simply cease to exist. They exist in the physical world only for as long as they exist within his mind.

This also means that knocking out James, or killing him, would instantly destroy anything created by his delusions. Much in the way that water only maintains the shape of it's container, the container being formed from James' mind.

This can, of course, be debated if anyone has different opinions on this matter.

@thewizardguy

That sounds like a good idea. You can have clear limitations and stuff then.
But I assume the constructs have their own will? Based on his own psyche. Would they know things he can't know?
If I shuffled a deck, drew a card and showed it to a construct but not to James. Would that figment of James's imagination know what card I drew?

If James imagines the T1000 and the T1000 encounters a locked door, which he opens by sticking his liquid hand in the lock and duplicate the key. Is it a problem that Jame's doesn't know what the key is supposed to be shaped like and thus cannot imagine the T1000 in the exact shape needed to open the door?

If James imagines a torch and sets things on fire, then forgets about the torch, does the fire disapear? Are burns healed? Are wounds caused by his constructs permanent at all?

There are many pointless questions that keep me up at night. Fun right?

The Blood Compact

@thewizardguy
Is the purge attacking SOLDIER HQ, Kilo Point?
Or is he attacking the airport?
Cuz the airport has only a handful of SOLDIERs, only a single gate is shut off.
Most of the airport is actually still operational.

Also, out of curiosity, how is Purge funded? By the Vatican? A neo religious group with serious fincancial backers?
They seem to rival SOLDIER in tech and suplies. And SOLDIER is supposed to be an international version of the RL US army right?

The Blood Compact

Everything at the airport is either at tense standstill, or violent slaughter.
Outside on the landing strip only one little cart is moving.
It's one of those baggage transport carts. Powered like a golf cart, handles like a shopping trolley.
In it sit two stressed out soldiers, equipped with hazmat suits and assault rifles they force the little cart to it's limit.
Let's call the two Frank and Mikey. Frank and Mikey are good soldiers. They don't have a clue why the baggage is so important.
But the Captain seemed pretty adamant about it, and based on his timing and tone, Frank and Mikey assumed their mission was important.
Either way, they would perform it to their best ability.

Frank drove the cart up to the baggage hatch of the plane. They looked at the plane with horrified looks, the windows were smeared with disgusting goop, from the exit a trail of rancid bioweapon formed to the lobby. For a moment they celebrated their mission involved not being in the lobby with the others and.. whatever this vampire was.

Mikey opened the hatch. With a cloud of beige and green the bags came rolling out and into the cart. He imagined what the smell would be like and counted his blessings the Captain had insisted on these suits. With all the bags in the cart he got back in and Frank drove off again at maximum speed.

Frank drove to the only direct route off the terrain, suddenly a man in black on a bike blocked his way. They stopped with shrieking tires right in front of him. Frank wanted to hit the horn, but hesitated when he saw the man. Pale, red eyes. He said a hail Marie and wanted to hit the gass but Mikey stopped him. "I think that's one of ours!"
"Are you sure? He doesn't wear the uniform."
"He's one of those elites I think, I've seen him at the base not long ago."
"Right, then maybe he's our backup?"
"I hope so."
Mikey got out of the car and carefully approached Mithias.
"Are.. Are you our backup?.. Sir! uhm.. Are you our backup Sir?"

More than Human

So James can make his own halucinations become real?
Is that permanent? Does this create new humans, demons and monsters or does he summon the closest thing that resembles him?
What happens if he reads a book or watches a movie? Does Alice in wonderland cause him to start unleashing the mad hatter, the red queen and the goddamn jabberwocky?

Monsters Hotel

@ReaptheMusic@Earnest Evans

So if the mechanics are like in World of Darkness, they would tell her whatever she wants to hear.
"Do you like working for me out of your own free will?"
"Yes I am free and happy! Just gimme one drop pleeeeaaase."

Monsters Hotel

Thanks for the corrections:
I noted everyone's current location:

In a hallway on the... 4th floor I think.:
Avelai & her servants
Like

Bar:
Djedkare
Alcaeus
Snazzy
Cain
Marie
John Doe

The Lord's Study:
Lord De Gravee

In their room:
Jack

The Blood Compact

Sun has gone down at this point.
Bedevere can wake up and go trough his morning routine.
Would he send those instructions himself or does he have servants that do that?

Monsters Hotel

Like felt ignored. That didn't set well with him. It tended to awake a crueler side of him.
"You know my dearest queen..." He said with a pestering tone as he followed Avalai up the stairs.
"You know the old coot is right. You know it's the blood that makes them say these things.
Their words are not their own, that is a testament to their slavery, not their freedom."
Like laughed. He stalked Avalai, playing tag with her shadow.
"You must also know they don't love you, just the blood. Give me a glass of your blood and they'll follow me like puppies till I run out."

Like's words stung like a song stuck in your head for days.

"In fact, the only thing you don't know for sure. Did the curse fail? Or does it take time to take effect?"