Mystery Box

knock wallace out with a quick strike to the back of the head, to shield his innocent brain from the horrible violence about to occur

Attack Wallace? But why would you do that to your Adventuring Companion? Even if it's to spare his innocence, you're pretty sure knocking him out would not only damage His Noggin, but also damage Whatever Fledgeling Scraps of Trust he has in you. Which is something you already decided you'd avoid doing.

Sweet, naive pushover that he is, you can't imagine a situation where his innocent and ineffectual ways would be a reason You Actually Need to Hurt Walter.

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Suggestions: Consider whether or not to bribe the creatures with food.

We have C-rations, these are fellow Cats. Give 3x C-rations to Cats.

Also don’t give our C-rations to the cats, we don’t know if they are friendly or hostile and also it may be hard to gain more.

At first you thought they may be Fellow Felines, though on further inspection of their tails and ears, you wonder if maybe they're Some Manner of Mice? Identifying them is complicated by the fact that they also seem to be large blobs of Acrid-Smelling Green Jelly.

Whatever these Mousy Jelly Creatures are, you briefly consider Feeding Them some of your C-Rations. Maybe they're just out looking for food, and you could settle this Without a Fight? It's possible, but... well, you're also partial to your food. Even if this is the Price of Peace, you're too Internally Conflicted to part with them just yet.

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/walter/box.png border=16]Okay, this looks bad, but they haven't seen us... and that means we have surprise on our side.

I can take the Slimerat on the left. If you can handle the right one, then we'll have the numbers advantage. Sound good?[/box][/2x1]

As you hesitate, however, the Aforementioned Pushover seems to be taking his own initiative. Surprising! He whispers conspiratorially to you as he equips his Cold-Iron Crowbar, so as not to spoil a Potential Ambush.

Of course, you don't have any intention of doing that either.

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Suggestions: Stop, don't fight them! Surely you can talk this out?

Why would our companion, once-believed to be a quite level-headed Guy, prep his bodily form for a battle?

Immediately, and very loudly, lecture him.

Y'all are mean!! We can still talk to the lil blobbies. Having murderous intent doesn't mean they'll go through with it >:0

seconding myeth, there is absolutely no reason for violence here. we can't just go around ascribing violent intent to any animals we see in the city and even if they are that's a job for animal control not whatever, vigilante justice?

>Diplomance them into submission.

At first glance, these creatures might seem to steadily emanate Near-Palpable Waves of Blind Malice... but is it really fair to just assume they'd resort to violence? Let alone preempt that with Violence of Your Own? You think not. In fact, you're sure that Nobody Needs to Get Hurt here, and you're not afraid to say it.

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/flannery/box.png border=16]Actually no. I'm not going to fight them.[/box][/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/walter/box.png border=16]W-what? You're seriously not gonna help me fight these things?[/box][/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/flannery/box.png border=16]Of course not. Frankly, we both shouldn't be fighting them.[/box][/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/walter/box.png border=16]I mean, we could just hide and wait for them to leave, but Slimerats are pretty weak Creeps. We could handle them if we work together.[/box][/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/flannery/box.png border=16]Actually, I think we should handle this diplomatically. We can talk this out, without anyone getting hurt.[/box][/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/walter/box.png border=16]Ha ha, very funny. Reasoning with Creeps. Right.[/box][/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/flannery/box.png border=16]Come on, Walton. They're probably just as scared of us as we are of them.[/box][/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/walter/box.png border=16]You're actually serious right now...[/box][/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/flannery/box.png border=16]I've always been serious.[/box][/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/walter/box.png border=16]Look, I don't really know you, but I get the sense that the only thing "always serious" about you is the trouble you make.

If you really don't want to fight them, why don't we do the sensible thing and just run away, and...[/box][/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/flannery/box.png border=16]Nope. I already said we're gonna use diplomacy here, and come to an agreement.[/box][/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/walter/box.png border=16]An agreement? I've barely talked with you, and you're already one of the most difficult people I've ever met. I don't know if you're even capable of agreeing with someone. And yet, you're apparently the diplomatic genius who's gonna make peace with the Creeps?[/box][/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/flannery/box.png border=16]Yeah! I like the sound of your plan. I'm sure we can work things out with these Slimerats or whatever.[/box][/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/walter/box.png border=16]Did you forget that monsters like these have been making huge parts of the city unsafe? That all you can do is either fight them off, or run away and hope someone else takes care of them? Or else?

I mean, I wish it wasn't like this too, but that's just what we have to do to get by. So...[/box][/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/flannery/box.png border=16]Sheesh. I hope you don't do that to every person you meet on the street, Wilbert.[/box][/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/walter/box.png border=16]But these aren't people! What part of them being Creeps do you not get?[/box][/2x1]

Wow, that's some Ugly Language right there. You obviously aren't making any headway in convincing this guy, so perhaps it'd be better to shift your energies elsewhere. Maybe it's time to start focusing on Making Peace With the Slimerats?

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You try to figure out how best to engage them in diplomacy......but before you can say anything more, the nearest Slimerat hops toward you, slashing out with a Protoplasmic Claw!

Since you Weren't Defending Yourself At All, the creature's savage attack hits you squarely for 3 Points of Harm, staggering you backwards!

The Slimerat Trio must have heard you two Arguing About Agreeing, and decided to take the initiative and surprise attack you instead!

As you regain your footing, acidic ooze sizzles against your cloak, hood, and Steel Scalemail. Thankfully, your body itself was only Grazed Non-Seriously by the attack... but standing around and taking another hit like that would certainly deal you a Life-Threatening Wound.

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/mysterybox/text/walter/box.png border=16]Woah, a-are you okay?[/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: 3/4
• Wounds: 0/6
• Disoriented (Dizzy -1): Bouts of lightheadedness come and go, affecting your focus and coordination.
• Experience: Lost your cool, and failed to swindle money out of Cam the Dumpster Merchant.
• Experience: Failed to magically copy a door to make a barricade, instead opening a hole where there wasn't one.

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.
• 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.

In Replica Courier Bag:
• C-Rations (x8) (Edible?): A large tin of "Pretty Kitty Salmon and Rice Medley." Has... restorative properties?
• 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.
• Extraneous Egress (<UNDEFINED>): A normal door.[/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]

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Author's Notes:

Also out of curiosity what do you think would happen if you tried using Doppelmancy on the Orb of Faulty Replication itself?

An Orb of Real Rotten Replication would happen. That, or an Orb of Completely Craptastic Replication.

Or, if it were a really major flaw it could end up as the exact opposite of itself and become a Cube Of Okay Replication. At least, I think so.

It was probably pretty confusing, since we sorta dove right into things, but the original Orb of Faulty Replication was consumed by the Pawn-making process. Basically, it's Flannery now.

Even so, I'd be curious to see what might happen if one were copied. There's lots of fun ways that could go wrong! :3