Voidus

As I've mentioned numerous times I very rarely subtract points for Epic weaknesses unless it is extremely common and/or particularly debilitating. The fact that Epics have a weakness and that that weakness may be learned is part of their inherent score. For the same reasons that we don't subtract points for Allomancers because they need to consume metal in order to use their abilities, it's intrinsic to the system. Being shackled generally means that one is already in dire straits so it's not going to be a particularly relevant character weakness, and I cannot off of the top of my head think of a single time that a whip has been used in the RP. I also tend not to increase points as much for multiple weaknesses because it tends to lead to people coming up with a laundry list of relatively minor weaknesses to get higher than average scores without actually adding much of anything to the character. The specificity of these weaknesses is going to contribute a lot to their scores, things like a fear of pain or being cornered are going to be more highly evaluated than something like whips or shackles specifically. I'm not going to quibble over a few points here or there, particularly as the character is currently 85 points over the limit which is well beyond what any amount of not absolutely crippling weaknesses can accomplish. If you want to ask a different moderator to review this then feel free and we can discuss it as a mod team but arguing back like this is really not going to get you anywhere.

So long as no discussions around the actual plot occur then it's okay.

Permanent Foresight: 80 Wind manipulation: Really need more details, may not seem like much with the limitations but 'concentrate the momentum' is potential a borderline city-ending ability. 30+ Unarmed (Expert): 50 Melee weapons (Expert): 75 Scholarship (Skilled): 30 Weaknesses: -20 Total: 110(+?) (M) + 155(S) -30 (W) = 235 Well over the point cap, going to need to remove some abilities here, and I'll also need some more details on what exactly you mean by concentrating the wind because if you can concentrate even a small breeze that is blowing over an entire city into an area of 1 cubic meter then you can hurl cars and punch holes in buildings. The amount of force needed to create weather patterns is truly staggering.

Can you please add full character sheets for the two with changed backstories? We need to add them to the new list with a complete sheet when possible. As for the other two, the Tattered One should be okay. 100 points for the cognitive shadow abilities, 50 points for skilled with melee weapons. -10 for rushing into things, other weaknesses are a little too circumstantial to be able to take points off. Total of 140 so should be okay to be approved. Dusk is going to be over the limit though even without any combat abilities. Expert scholarship: 40 (Also doesn't really extend to being an expert on every subject under the sun, scholars tend to have a focus area of some kind so may need additional points here) Mastermind Intelligence: 65 Handiwork (Assuming proficiency with inventions, magical tech, etc.): 40 Skills alone put him at 145 Bloodsealing: 50 Limited telepathic abilities: 40 Creating enemies: -10 Total: 145 (S) + 90 (M) -10 (W) = 225 Quite a bit over the points limits.

"I'll be fine." Laurelai said with an exasperated sigh. "You don't have to keep worrying over me like I'm a kid." "I know, I know." Her father replied with a sad little smile. "You can take care of yourself, I was just reminding you to be careful. A young woman walking down the streets by herself gets attention." Laurelai rolled her eyes and straightened up his mask. He hadn't wanted to wear one at all but had finally relented when Laurelai insisted that she wouldn't meet with someone at the festival if they couldn't at least commit to the theme. He'd managed to find a mask of The Scholar, barely looking any different than he usually did with his labcoat still on in the place of the cloaks that many others wore. "I've been walking through streets on my own for a decade now." She reminded him. "How many times have you been a young woman walking down the streets by yourself?" "Okay" He said, giving a wry chuckle. "Point taken." He put his arms around her and squeezed her tightly before finally letting go. "What about you?" Laurelai asked, happy that she'd managed to get one up over him. "Are you heading home? Back to work?" There was an undertone of disapproval in her voice at that, she firmly believed that her father worked too much and that a little time out at the festival might be good for him. He might even manage to meet someone interesting. She didn't want to think about that too much, but surely he deserved to be happy and he hadn't so much as gone on a date since her mother had passed away. "No I'll be heading to the clinc." He said with a knowing look. "An hour on the streets has been as much as I can handle, but it is still a holiday so the other crazy recluse's and I can all share a nice time together while the rest of the city tears the streets up or whatever you do these days." Laurelai mock rolled her eyes again but gave him a smile so he'd know she didn't really mean it. Then she gave him another hug before turning and making her way back into the crowd, slipping the mask of the Assassin back down and grinning broadly. It had been nice to catch up with family for a little while, but her father never wanted to do anything fun during the festival. He might humor her and tag along but she could feel his discomfort. Now she was alone and free, free to wander and watch, to explore the bustling streets and watch the Storytellers on the corners. She took a quick look at herself in the reflection of a shop window. The elaborate black mask concealed her upper face, but the patterned lace framed her cheekbones and led the eye to her elaborately styled tresses, Forged black for the occasion. She'd spent hours braiding the sides and then pinning them back to keep the rest of her hair pulled out of her face and quite enjoyed the effect. It worked well with the deep crimson dress she'd managed to get from her favorite Arelish seamstress. Giving herself a satisfied nod, Laurelai began to weave her way through the crowds that filled the streets. Her keen eyes focused on one event after another, watching the small dramas, romances and comedies that unfolded across the giant stage of the city.

Allomancy: 35 Melee weapons (35), dancing (20) Weaknesses: -10 Total: 35 (M) + 55(S) - 10(W) = 80 Easily within limits, but reasonable for someone her age. I'll add it to the list.

I'm not sure if I even want to put a point total to the alleytravel and alleymatic sensing, to a certain degree I assume this as standard for DA members and it would be kind of annoying to specify it for all of them. It's also such a limited ability and really only useful against people in the same guild anyways. Tentative +10 for all the perception and alley-related abilities outside of the Epic power rating. Powers: Otherworldly perception (10), mass shifting (80) Skills: H2H combat (50), Assasination (20) Weaknesses: -20 Total: 90 (M) + 70 (S) - 20 (W) = 140 Approved

Kobold hasn't been too active but he's still online every now and then. And as you noted Quiver hasn't been on for a long while.

Laurelai stared into her own cup as Lita picked her coin back up, squeezing it in a closed fist. She had some idea of what Lita was doing, and it felt like it would be rude to stare at her while she did so, like intruding on a private conversation. Then again, Lita of all people would have to know that it was rare that any conversation was truly private. Was that why she'd asked Laurelai to both speak their secrets that night in the tavern? If you knew that all secrets got out eventually then maybe the only thing you could do was control who learned it and how. Always thinking like a Forger aren't you? A quiet voice spoke up. Even in this moment as you pretend to be polite and avert your eyes you're still trying to peel back all the layers and find what lies beneath. Laurelai pulled out her own coin and stared into the grey surface. Was that what she wanted? To understand everything around her like she had under the waters? Her eyes had begun to flutter close when something finally stopper her. No, it's not that. You don't want to know everything else, you love to discover not to know. Once you know something it becomes mundane, the unknown is filled with infinite possibilities and mystery, you could never give that up. So if that's not what you want then what is? Are you like Lita? Is it power that you seek, to be the hand that moves instead of the pieces that take orders? Her gaze flitted up for a brief moment, taking in Lita's form before giving the slightest shake of her head. No, you don't care for that. Knowledge brings you power but it's not the power you craved. You've never chafed at having others guide you, never desired to break free and wield power for yourself. So it is knowledge that you seek, just not knowledge of others. Laurelai took a deep breath and then mimicked Lita, closing her eyes and forcing her thoughts into the coin. You know I'm a Forger, I've Forged myself countless times and that's needed me to know a lot about myself, more than most people ever learn. But every time I change some things stay the same, some things I can't change because I don't understand them. Why did I join the DA? Why did I visit the Nightwatcher? What happened before I was found on the streets? I thought I had an answer, but it's just a guess, a hunch. So all I really want is the answer to a question, perhaps the biggest question. She looked up to see Lita's green eyes staring back at her. "We should get to work, I think," Lita said. "Something tells me we're about to get moved across the board." "Yes." Laurelai said, one hand still clutching the coin. "I think we are at that." Who am I?

Staring back at the Stranger, the Sudiov kept an outwardly calm expression but couldn't entirely prevent a small flinch as the Stranger finished speaking, draining all light from the room and drawing the void towards them. "You had the potential." Sudiov replied after a moments pause. "I wondered why he never chose you, never told you about it." With a sigh he leaned back in the chair, perfect posture slumping as defeat weighed his shoulders down and distaste warped his expression. There were few people who could evoke much of any emotion from Sudiov but the Stranger had now consistently proven that he was one such. "But it seems that for all your talk of sacrifices there are some lines that the two of you won't cross. Perhaps he was simply unwilling to do to you what was once done to him, though I'm not sure that even he remembers that anymore. To my knowledge, outside of Voidus himself there are only two people who could possibly give you the answers that you seek. And Voidus' child was probably too young to realise much of what was happening." Sudiov watched the Strangers expression carefully as he spoke, looking for any tell as to what information he might already know. But beyond the outbursts of rage, loss and disgust that the Stranger so violently showed, Sudiov could glean little else. "Very well, your offer holds little drawback for me. You would need someone to look after his connection to the Void while Voidus lives out your little story, and there are very few who would be able to do so, none others who are completely ready yet. So, we separate ourselves from this facade you drape over the world and desperately hope that the two of us can hold the world together? The spike will be crucial to that, and if you want to bring the spike into your web then you'll need to understand where Voidus took it from." Sudiov spread a slow smile of his own, draining the light from around them much as the Stranger had done, sealing their space from any awareness that may seek to eavesdrop on them. The air seemed to creak as the pressure they both emitted came to a head, breaking and rebuilding the world around them. "I don't have his memories, only that of his power. But fortunately for you, the power existed even at the beginning. So let me tell you a tale that not even Voidus can truly recall. Let me tell you the full story of what he's sacrificed, and what you will need to sacrifice if you ever want this goal of yours to truly succeed. The story of a professor, and the monster known as Voidus."

My only new character for next era @Sorana would you be able to score?

I think you can get away with it by just not calling them a Savant, you can be really experienced with a metal without Savantism. Even putting aside the issues of obtaining enough metal I don't think aluminium savantism is possible because you'd be cleansing yourself of the harmful effects from overburning as fast as you can accumulate them.

e5 Characters

So just upped the knife proficiency to Expert? Can't see an other changes that would affect points. Approved. Approved

Voidmaking: 100 Epic power: 20 Weaknesses: -30 Total: 120 (M) + 90 (S) - 30 (W) = 180 Fair bit over the point cap, but if the 'try not to kill them with Voidmaking' part of the Fighting style implies pacifism then that's another -30 of weaknesses which would bring her in line.

FB Character + Zinc character + Zinc artwork = all of the rustings of cool. I have yet to see a Lita or Stranger drawing that I didn't love and having them both is particularly awesome.

A wry smile passed Laurelai's lips as she leaned back into her chair and raised her own cup. She winced at the heat as soon as it hit her mouth, seeing Lita sip without issue she'd assumed it was already at a cool enough temperature but either her Pewter or Brass had probably helped make it more tolerable. "I think." She said, blowing gently on the tea before setting it back down to cool a little further. "That we've had a bad habit of getting stuck with an unfortunate amount of attention from those in vastly higher positions. And eventually that would catch us between a rock and a hard place as I believe the saying goes." She didn't recall where it came from, Roshar perhaps? But it was apt. On the one hand there was no way they could refuse the Stranger, Laurelai was already worried enough that he'd change his mind at some point and end them both to cover up loose ends. If they'd tried to question too much, or refused his offer what would he have done? You saw him. He may only have one eye but it was still just as easy to see into it, that's the expression of someone who will do what they decide to do, obstacles and consequences be damned. But on the other hand, the Stranger was asking them to keep this a secret from everyone, from all of the other department heads and from Voidus himself. What could possibly prompt him to do that? And what could Laurelai and Lita possibly do or say if they were ever confronted by one of the other higher ups? Certainly the two of them were skilled at deception and could make the truth dance a merry jig when required, but would they be able to get around that kind of a discussion without slipping up in the slightest? And if they couldn't then what would happen? "The DA has never been the safest place in the world." Laurelai said, reaching for one of the biscuits. "Certain departments might do what they can to impose safety restrictions on things but when you're handling the manipulation of souls or the creation of monsters there's only so much you can do even if people did listen to all of those restrictions. But even by those standards I think we've wandered into one of the most dangerous games I've seen. And once you're on the board, all a pawn can do is hope that the one moving them comes out on top." @ZincAboutIt

Sudiov stared unblinkingly at a featureless white-painted wall in front of him, the passing members of TUBA took a small detour around him as they passed, many of them casting him curious glances. He really should have tried to fit in better with them, they were the only allies he could gain, or at least the only ones he was relatively sure wouldn't stab him in the back as soon as was convenient. But some things took precedence over making friends or establishing bonds with his new comrades. His ceaseless vigil over the doings of the DA for one, ever since the discovery of the Atium he'd been keeping an eye on them where he could, had noticed several presences that had arrived and seemed to have taken over control of the Atium. Sudiov still didn't agree with that decision, powerful the DA might already be but who new what they would be able to do with that much Atium? How much more research could they perform with a near-unlimited supply of the metal most useful for Hemalurgy? A concerning enough day by itself, but that's not even the worst of it yet. Two of the presences that had gone into the caverns had vanished, Sudiov hadn't been paying them particular mind. They weren't either of them among the most powerful that he'd felt. But even so he would have noticed if they'd Alleytravelled out, they shouldn't even have been able to do that in the tunnels, not easily. But in between one moment and the next he'd completely lost sight of them, right as he felt some other strange energy where they'd just been standing. Voidus? Why go to the effort of hiding two of his members and not the others? They weren't even near the Atium when they vanished, is there something else down there? Something worse? Sudiov was tempted to rematerialize there himself, but caution held him back. If Voidus had been there then he might well have left some kind of trap, perhaps he'd simply been biding his time the last months and now was trying to lure Sudiov out with some bait. No, investigating it personally was definitely not a good idea. Perhaps TUBA could send some others first to see what was there? During his musings he suddenly shifted, moving for the first time in minutes. It wasn't a big shift, just a slight twitch of one shoulder, an uncomfortable itch. What is that, that twisting? That itch. From the city, not the caverns. Sudiov paused for a moment, isolating the feeling and examining it. With a start he realized the source. The Stranger? Damned nuisance, he shifted out of the Alleys without me noticing at all and then sent a call? It was a subtle thing, easily missed with all of the energy that regularly flowed through the city. But it was unmistakably a call, and one meant for Sudiov himself if he wasn't mistaken. But then what was he to make of this? Another trap most likely but why be so subtle about the first and then so brazen about this one? Voidus didn't seem to be there, or if he was he was taking extreme measures to conceal himself. Mac wasn't there either, which was encouraging. The Stranger was one of the most dangerous denizens in the DA, more dangerous than Voidus in his way. But if he was by himself then it was manageable. Barely. "What?" Sudiov said, vanishing from TUBA and reappearing behind one of the chairs. "What could you possibly want to talk to me-" He cut off mid way, tilting his head to one side. The Strangers presence here was faint, almost unnoticeable even while Sudiov was standing right in front of him. As though he was concealing himself, and indeed this entire meeting it seemed. Come to that, why had he called Sudiov here in this manner? Sudiov had little doubt that the Stranger would not find it difficult to simply appear in the middle of the TUBA headquarters and ask to speak with him, or do as Voidus once had and hold a meeting from a distance. "What are you hiding from?" Sudiov asked, suspicion shifting to curiosity. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Moments from shifting through the Alleys, Laurelai felt the familiar twinge of her pen. As expected the message from Lita quickly arrived, leading Laurelai to smile down, grateful that they were still on the same page, that their relationship hadn't been destroyed by what had happened in the caverns. That does sound like it would be best. She replied. The message had barely sent before she felt a twisting nearby, the momentary shift in reality that preceded Alleytravelling. By the time Laurelai had pulled out a plate with some biscuits and Forged the kettle to a boil Lita had arrived. Wearing a coat and with her hair hidden away, she would blend into the crowds of the city perfectly. Seen but without attracting any attention, able to see and hear all that happened around her with her tin. A brief shiver travelled down Laurelai's spine before she could suppress it, a moment of admiration at how accomplished her friend was, tinged with a touch of terror at how effective she was. Laurelai might spend a day or two perfecting a forgery and blending in with a group to overhear the right thing at the right time, while Lita could inconspicuously walk past them at a distance and overhear the same thing within minutes. It was not difficult to see why the Stranger had become interested in Lita, even while new to the DA she'd been brutally efficient at whatever she'd been tasked with. Spying, intimidation or hunting down rogue survivors from PlasmaCore, and with an insight and wit that kept pace with Laurelai's own. "Well I can't deny it's been an interesting day." Laurelai said, smiling at Lita in greeting. "But how about next time you want to get me out of the paperwork we just get some coffee or a drink?" She set the platter of biscuits on the table and began pouring tea for them both, as she was pouring one for Lita she slipped a side-long look at her friend. Lita saw a lot, more than she usually let on in Laurelai's experience. How quickly had she managed to get a read on Laurelai when they'd first met? How easily had she adapted to speaking with the leaders of the DA? What else had she seen, or realised? And was there perhaps one thing that she'd noticed that could confirm some of Laurelai's own suspicions? @Fatebreaker @ZincAboutIt

Ok, finally getting around to all the Epics on the backlog. If I've missed anyone let me know. Epic power is a little vague, hard for me to assign points on this one. Could use some more details or practical examples of what you mean here, is it basically just foresight of if an idea is pursued what would happen? Or just a vague 'this is a good idea, this is a bad idea'? Backstory wise I'm fine with her being in the DA but do note that Voidus himself isn't in the DA next era so training with him wouldn't make as much sense. Possibly Xanas if available? @18th Shard Kumike breakdown: Foxfire: 50 Physical enhancement: 50 (Assuming healing capabilities aren't at the level where mortal wounds can be healed.) Barriers: 30 Basic shapeshifting: 5 (Very minimal) Power synergies: 20 Drawbacks (Needing Investiture): -20 Epic weakness: -20 (Severely limits characters ability to use offensive abilities) Skills: 50 Weaknesses: -15 Total: 155 (M) + 50 (S) -55 (W) = 150 Approved, even with the barriers added. Thanks as always for giving such detailed power descriptions, they're both enjoyable and informative to help with precise scoring. KanMien: Easily passes, 120 (M) + 60 (S) = 180, definitely 30 points worth of weaknesses between the flawed blessings, limited experience and personality limitations. Sorgin: Epic powers: 120 Skills: acrobat (25), ranged weapons (45) Epic Weakness: 0 (Really hard to trigger without prior knowledge) Other weaknesses: -30 (Healing limitations, personality flaws) Total: 120 (M) + 60 (S) -30 (W) = 150 Approved

You seek to capture the essence of the all powerful Metronome in a simple mask!?! Have you no shame? No awareness of the extents of your own hubris!? For historical accuracy he had a pretty plain, rounded face, not much distinctive about him. But a mask with some clock hands on it would probably be appropriate to capture the feel of it.

Sorry, work has been a little hectic lately but hopefully today I get some time to go through the Epics in the backlog.

Denizens? That's an absurd idea. Who would call members of the DA Denizens?

We're actually currently tending towards the DA being a secret organisation, one that isn't publicly known. Still figuring out the details but that's probably the way we'll go.

Laurelai took the coin, running her thumb over the cold metallic surface, feeling the image that had been carved into its surface. When had the Stranger created these? Had he been planning to give them out even before they'd found the well? Or had he just created them right now? Fabricated them from the ether like a Soulcaster creating food for the masses. But an artifact of this level was orders of magnitude beyond transmuting one essence into another, she couldn't even immediately tell how it functioned. Was it a Fabrial? Some Ettmetal technology? Aonic? Not much use worrying over how gods do what they do. A sensible part of her mind reminded her before she became lost in her musings. He probably could have created it in any of a hundred ways for a thousand reasons, and you wouldn't be able to tell which just by looking at it. Giving herself another shake, Laurelai pulled her hair back to leave her face clear as she faced the Stranger once more, her eyes still burned with curiosity, with a thousand unanswered questions, but the rest of her expression was set in determined approval. "And in that vein I need to know another piece of data. I want both of you to tell me your greatest desire, even if it's impossible. Not here, you may use the coins when you are ready, but soon." The Stranger said. The words reverberated in Laurelai's mind, bouncing back and forth, tantalising her with unspoken promises. The room faded around her as she was once again pulled somewhere else, surrounded momentarily by darkness and left with nothing but her thoughts when she arrived back in her house, in the library that was empty but for her. "My greatest desire?" She murmured aloud, fingers still tracing the outline of the coin. What was her greatest desire? Her thoughts were immediately pulled towards the recent past, to a dark cave and a silent, entrancing cascade of liquid that fell into a pool. Was that what she wanted? To return to those waters and bask in omniscience once more? To lose herself in the flood of knowledge and power, to feel once more like a god? Looking down at her uncovered hand, she flicked the coin up before catching it and peering at the image of a hammer that reflected some of the faint light from the room back into her eyes. Did it mean anything? She'd heard some of what the Strangers other coin could do, the one he'd given to Lita, but he hadn't mentioned anything like that from this one. Just that it was to be used as communication. Shaking her head at her own folly, Laurelai tucked the coin into one of the hidden pockets on her dress. She wouldn't leave her fate to the flip of a coin regardless of who gave it to her. The Stranger had implied that they had some time to think about their requests, but not a lot of it. For now, she had work to be about. Moving from her library to her closet, she removed the last of the dust and cave-grime that clung to her body with a quick Forgery before changing into a fresh set of clothes. A blue, high-necked dress of Vorin styling, Alethi glyphs forming a scrolling pattern along its hem, and long draping sleeves. It would do for a walk through the city, specific enough that people would assume her to be Rosharan, likely new to the city given that she was still concealing her safehand. Just another tourist that they could dismiss. Stepping over to the mirror, she gave her appearance a once over, briefly adjusting her hair before nodding in approval and striding towards her front door. She quickly slipped into the practised, measured gait of a noble. Firm, upright posture and slow, graceful steps. She loosened her tensions as best she could, but even as practised as Laurelai was there was nothing she could do that would remove the burning curiosity that her gaze still carried.