Mystery Box

>Sorry to bother. Did not realize that was for the dumpster.

Startled by the voice coming from inside the Locked Dumpster, you hesitate for a moment. Once your brain finally catches up, you decide it'd probably be a good idea to apologize to the Dumpster-Denizen.

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/flannery/box.png border=16]Sorry about that. Didn't realize that was your No Soliciting sign. It kinda fell off your... house?[/box][/2x1]

The stranger starts muttering something under their breath. Listening closely with the aid of your Cat's Ear Hood, you make out something about folks vandalizing his shop, and how he can't get a moments peace these days.

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/flannery/box.png border=16]...do you want me to put the sign back up?[/box][/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/grey/box.png border=16]No thanks, I'll handle it myself. Can't afford your help.

Speaking of which, just 'cause my sign wasn't up, that doesn't mean solicitors are welcome at this address! Why don't you skeddadle, and peddle your sign-fixing services somewhere else?[/box][/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/flannery/box.png border=16]Oh, I wasn't offering to do it for money.[/box][/2x1]

The unseen stranger pauses for a moment, as if he doesn't know what to say about that. Then, a loud laugh rings out from inside the Locked Dumpster.

[2x1] [|][box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/grey/box.png border=16]Pfhaww! Whaddya mean you weren't doing it for money? Why would you go and do a stupid thing like that?[/box][/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/flannery/box.png border=16]Because it's... easy? Why not?[/box][/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/grey/box.png border=16]Well, for starters, if you did every easy thing what could be done for everybody, and you did it for free, you'd be broke and out of business in no time.

...say, you aren't from around here, huh? Who are you?[/box][/2x1]

You hear scuttling sounds from within the Dumpster, followed by a rattling click, as the lid peeks open ever so slightly. You can't see inside, but you can feel Suspicious Eyes peering out at you.

> "No one to see here; I'm just a box."

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/flannery/box.png border=16]Oh, I'm... uh... I'm just a box, actually. I'm nobody.[/box][/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/grey/box.png border=16]Well Justabox Actually, take it from me. Unless you want to keep being nobody, stop doing things for free. If you don't, there's no way you'll work your way up to owning your own Back-Alley Dumpster, like old Cam "Your-Ad-Here" Poscia.

That's me, by the way. Sold my middle name for ad space, so I could start a small business. One of the best decisions I ever made.[/box][/2x1]

>Investigate dumpster-denizen, ask about lock.

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/flannery/box.png border=16]Why are you running a small business out of a Locked Dumpster, Cam?[/box][/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/grey/box.png border=16]What, and you wouldn't lock up shop when you're not open for business? No wonder you're still nobody, Justabox.

Anyway, I'll have you know this Dumpster is prime real-estate for a Thrift Store. Easy access to new merchandise, and real affordable. Once I get this thing paid off, then I can even start looking to upgrade. And I definitely won't get there by doing things for free.

...so unless you want to start paying a Business Consultation Fee- and my rates are real reasonable- why don't you come back later when I'm open, and buy something?[/box][/2x1]

With that, the Green Dumpster's lid snaps shut, and you hear the lock rattling back into place. It seems Cam the Dumpster Merchant is done talking with you for now. Maybe you should come back when his Thrift Store is open, and see what he has to sell.

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Suggestion: Use Doppelmancy tricks to see what's in the Dumpster

>copy the mysterious talking thing INSIDE the dumpster, just besides them inside the dumpster. that'll scare 'em to open up.

>"okay, sorry, I will go"
>"I didn't mean to annoy you so"
>"I thought your home was like a chest"
>"Stay in your Dumpster, all the best"

>doppel the dumpster so you can look inside the copy
>Flaws if needed (obvious flaw: the outside is annoyingly pink) (obvious flaw 2: the dumpster is half the size)

>Then, get the friendly copy to open up so you can peek into those sweet contents

You suppose you could try to create a Cam Clone inside the Dumpster Shop, to scare the merchant into opening up... even if it's only so you could do a little Windowless Window Shopping. But you aren't confident that you can use Doppelmancy on something you can't see, let alone somewhere that's closed off from you.

However, there's nothing keeping you from trying to copy the Dumpster itself. Rubbing your hands together inside your Cardboard Camo, you start thinking of an appropriate Rhyming Incantation for the situation. Good rhymes make better magic, after all.

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/flannery/box.png border=16]Hey, Cam?[/box][/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/grey/box.png border=16]I already told ya, unless you've got a Red Cent for my thoughts, come back when the shops open.[/box][/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/flannery/magic.gif border=16]Okay, sorry. I will go.
I didn't mean to annoy you so.
I thought your home was like a chest?
Stay in your Dumpster. All the best![/box][/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/grey/box.png border=16]Well... sure. I guess my house is kinda like a chest, isn't it. Yeah... I could work with...[/box][/2x1]

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Flannery uses Doppelmancy on the Dumpster...

5+8 (Fate) +3 (Insight) = 16 (Success)

[box=#808080 width=full border=2]Successful Doppelmancy:

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• It's a pretty good copy, but has 1 Major Flaw, or 2 Minor Flaws.[/box]

Channeling your powers as an Orb of Faulty Replication reshaped into a person, you weave Doppelmantic Energies around the Green Dumpster. An image of it forms in your mind's eye, shifting and turbulent, as your imagination struggles to contain everything that it is. Summoning your Willpower from deep within you, you bind this struggling mental image to the stream of ambient Mana flowing around you...

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Anchored by your imagination, the Mana solidifies, and bursts forth into a new shape...

Well, huh. It's not exactly what you were hoping for, but... you guess the Doppeldumpster is at least a little cuter than the original?

[box=#808080 width=full border=2]New Condition:

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• Distracted (Everything -1): Your attention is split while you sustain your Magic[/box]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/grey/box.png border=16]What in the... Justabox, did you have something to do with that Annoyingly Pink Dumpster that's suddenly appeared in my Alleyway?

...if you're planning on stealing my business, you've got another thing coming.[/box][/2x1]

What do you do?
>

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Character Info: Flannery

[box=#808080 width=full border=2]Name: Ms. Flannery "Over-Easy" Bootz III

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Pawn Status:
• Grazes: 0/4
• Wounds: 0/6
• Distracted (Everything -1): Your attention is split while you sustain your Magic.

Class: Copycatburglar
• Skill: Lucky Break
• Grace +2
• Presence +1
• Insight +1

Relic: Orb of Faulty Replication
• Skill: Doppelmancy
• Insight +2
• Presence +1
• Logic +1[/box]

[box=#808080 width=full border=2]Inventory:

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Equipped:
• Blue-Collar Cloak (Evade +2): The stout denim shroud of the Working Class.
• Boots of Stomping (Jump +1, Stomp +1): These boots lend a boost, whether you're going up or coming down.
• Cardboard Camo (Container, Restrictive, Disguise +2, Clumsy -2): A cardboard box with eye-shaped peepholes. Ideal for impersonating a container, though it makes some activities quite difficult.
• Cat's Ear Hood (Listen +1, Charm +1): With this on your head, you hear more acutely, and look cute too.
• Replica Courier Bag (Container, Disguise +2): From your "Day Job" as a "Mail Courier". Opening a real Courier Bag is illegal, so law-abiding folk shouldn't snoop inside.
• Steel Scalemail (Armor +2): Flexible body armor made out of little metal plates.
• Steel Clawntlet (Hand-to-Hand, Climb +1, Lethal +1): A glove ending in retractable knife-sized claws.
[/box]

[box=#808080 width=full border=2]Lucky Break (Grace):

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When you find yourself in a bind or out of options, you can always look to sheer dumb luck to see you through.

• Triumph (20 or more): You not only get out of the situation, but take something good with you, or leave behind something bad.
• Success (16-19): However improbable, something solves your problem for you, with no strings attached.
• Compromise (11-15): Fate gets you out of trouble, but you leave something good behind, or take something bad with you.
• Failure (10 or less): Luck just isn't with you right now, and your troubles take a turn for the worse.[/box]

[box=#808080 width=full border=2]Doppelmancy (Insight):

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You have the power to copy virtually anything. Trouble is, they're bad copies. Pick a nearby object or being, and say a rhyming Incantation to copy it. The copy generally looks and acts like the real thing. The copy lasts until it's damaged, for as long as you concentrate on it. Take -1 to all actions, for each existing copy.

• Triumph (20 or more): The copy is either indistinguishable from the original, or permanent and real despite 1 Minor Flaw.
• Success (16-19): It's a pretty good copy, but has 1 Major Flaw, or 2 Minor Flaws.
• Compromise (11-15): Your copy has some issues; namely 2 Major Flaws, or 3 Minor Flaws.
• Failure (10 or less): Something has gone wrong with your copy. Very, very wrong.

For each Flaw, the copy you create...
• ...isn't quite normal. It may be the wrong size, color, smell, weight, or have wildly different physical properties.
• ...isn't quite real. It may be insubstantial when touched, shimmer like a mirage, or vanish at inopportune times.
• ...isn't quite the same. Something about the way it works and behaves is worse, opposite, or just plain wrong.[/box]