Taki

Demon-hunting ancient spirit in the body of a modern fortune teller

Taki

 
Kara: What was that noise? What was that?! That sounded like that Ivy person's whip! You said that couldn't really exist! What was that?
Taki: {in Japanese} Not now, Granddaughter. Busy!
— Early days before the Knights Vigilant chose a team name, when Kara still worried that the protective invader was entirely too amused by a certain arcade game

Physical Description

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Kara Sesseran

 

In spring of 2001, Kara Sesseran -- a mostly homeless, mostly illiterate "Blind Fortune Teller" known for using a superhero-themed tarot deck with Braille markings -- so impressed a customer with one of her readings that the customer paid for Kara to attend a four day convention of psychics in the superpowered age. Kara was delighted to get a bath and clean, less worn clothes even if it meant she would have to put up with a bunch of strangers either trying to prove that she is not blind, or else assuming that she is dull-witted along with her disability.

 

It went pretty well, actually.

 

Oh, absolutely, some attendees treated the malnourished, nervous woman like a thing or a potential project. Most, however, were too busy asserting their own veracity to really notice the quiet girl who always managed to be near the snack buffet.

 

One of the seminars particularly hit Kara hard: the speaker taught a practical method of meditation, of using one's psychic ability to examine that same ability's origins and how it best functions for the particular individual. Kara had never listened more intently to anything in her life. She even considered approaching the speaker afterward ... which would have required that she use her eyesight.

 

(Kara has always been able to see. She does not know that she has visual processing disorder, because when she was very young no one in her life had ever heard of any kind of sensory processing disorder. As an adult, she "knows" that she is falsifying blindness by wearing a gauze bandage over her face whenever there is a chance that someone might look in her direction. Also, of course, she refuses to be examined by a doctor even if someone else offers to cover the costs. She is terrified of anyone with the power to inhibit her freedom of movement.)

 

When the convention ended, Kara exchanged what little contact information she could with a few of the other attendees. She then made her way to one of her least favorite hideouts: an empty office in the Kingsbridge Armory. It was cold, drafty, and spooky, but she could expect to be left alone for a few days. Kara made herself as secure and comfortable as she was able, then tried out the meditation described in the seminar.

 

When she awoke, Kara was not alone.

 
 

Taki

 

The woman who now goes by "Taki" had a very different name in a period of time which she would probably call "the Kamakura Period". She has pleasantly agreed with suggestions that she may have lived in the early thirteenth century. On the other hand, she has also pleasantly gone along with people saying that she must be describing "the Sengoku Period" which would place her in the latter half of the 16th centery.

 

Taki does not much care whether other people know who she was, or when she lived. She is not going to help anyone figure out what her "real name" could have been, even though she will cheerfully admit that "Taki" is, in fact, typically a boy's name ... and that she gleefully confiscated it from the video game series called "Soulcalibur" when her descendant wandered through a video arcade.

 

Was she truly a monster hunter? Probably she was some kind of specialist in dealing with metahuman threats.

 

Was she truly something like a samurai or an onna bugeisha? The evidence is in favor: she knows how to use a few appropriate weapons, she prefers a rigorous daily exercise regimen and argues with Kara about whether indeed all fingers must remain sensitive to delicate texture changes (for reading Braille) when she would like to get hold of a proper bow. She is fairly good at accounting. She knows how to cook things Kara had never eaten. She is frustrated that Kara does not know how to read English, nor draw or paint, nor weave nets.

 

Taki would quite like to know what the hell happened to Kara's family, who had a duty to educate her. Kara will not allow the topic to be even lightly discussed.

 

If one of their "clansmen" (meaning the members of the Knights Vigilant supergroup) were to ask, Taki would say that she is here because Kara is her last living descendant. If Kara passes from this world, Taki's connection to it will dissolve, and her legacy ends.

 

(No one has ever asked.)

 

Does that mean Taki had children? It must, but she does not think about such things.

 

Does something bad happen, to the world or to the souls of Kara and her ancestors, if no descendant lives?
Well ... no one has thought to ask Taki that, either.

Accomplishments & Achievements

(( Character sheet updated on 08/05/2020 to add HP award from Laboratory of the Ivory Talons! ))

Personality Characteristics

Motivation

Upholding the Good
Character Location
New York City
View Character Profile
Professions
Children
Current Residence
New York City
Gender
female
Eyes
brown
Hair
black
Height
5 ft 7 in
Known Languages
Kara can read Braille. Taki speaks and reads Japanese, though her vocabulary is sometimes very off.

It is certainly possible that Taki does not, in fact, exist: that she is a figment of Kara's subconscious imagination, containing all the personality traits which Kara wishes she dared have for herself.

But that would not explain how it is that, when the dominant and passenger personalities get into an intense conversation or even an argument, the rest of the Knights Vigilant can hear the "passenger" woman's voice on their comms network.

Souls and Swords
Thursday, October 1, 2009

I am now known as "Taki". I am one of the Knights Vigilant.
 
I haunt my only remaining descendant.
 
I first lived in the Kamakura Period. For much of my adult life, I was a demon hunter: I sought out aggressive, predatory beings with great personal power that were active threats to the people of my liege's domain.
 
In my first life, sorcerers bound sounds of power into a physical compact form to store them, and then freed the energy again to get a result at the chosen time. I think Dr. Overmind has been devices from Science Judge to absorb energy -- from sound, from motions -- to store into a battery. If I am right, there will be many collection devices built into his suit: in his shoes, in his elbow and knee armor. And that would be feeding these gauntlets, which my descendant is using to fuel the souls dependent on it.
 
What I have not yet said is that I think a strong absorber will be inside a melee weapon, too.
 
I do not want people to quote that arcade game at me.
 
 
WHAT did she do to my space? It's all out of alignment!
 
Taki took charge while the blue glowing rings were transporting Dr. Overmind and her to a spot inside a van. I think this is the STAR Labs van that showed up on the train tracks?
So while she, and Statesman and Tesla Coil who were already in the van, carry Dr. Overmind off to the north platform to see what is going on with that big containment vault thing ... I will try to figure out who really made this thing.
 
Taki saves Statesman from an "evil spirit" who tries to invade him. He glowed red for a second! Whatever this evil spirit is, it has mental powers. He (I think?) asked in mental or spiritual speech if Statesman is a god -- that's usually a way to imply "because I am!" but not outright say it. He's trying to convince Statesman to believe it! But he is also trying to steal Statesman's body, which is not going to be allowed to happen.
Taki also thinks that we have seen all these colors of flower crystal ink ooze stuff but there should also be white. She thinks it will help to seal away the malevolent powers. She is not explaining this very well!
Moon Knight goes to get Horus, and sends Loki toward us with the Silver Ninja and the White Lady and the Red Tempest. Taki thinks that false memories have been put on at least the White Lady to convince her that she was a different person. Taki talks the White Lady through remembering a favorite food here in NYC that the "Sharon" person would not remember eating. And that leads to being able to project the false memories (and some energy beams) at Dr. Overmind!

Queen of Masks
Thursday, October 1, 2009

There are moments when I think I identify with the Queen of Masks card more than any other. I'm not busty and purple haired and standing halfway in a waterfall, sure. I have more sense than that.
None of the traditional meanings apply to me, that's for sure! I'm neither "sensually powerful" nor "devoted and loyal".
Anyway I never really get a feeling of devotion or sensuality from this card. For me, this card evokes a protective outer presentation to cover a compressed, subdued inner reality.
I get that. I do. I have never been something enough for the people who had power to influence me. Not sighted enough. Not blind enough. Not obviously one particular ethnicity enough.
--
Taki says that's, well, she says something really scornful sounding in what's got to be Japanese. I figure it translates as "crap" based on how she moves her hands when she says it.
But this is one of those circumstances where I say she lacks experience. Taki has always been at least middle class, as far as I have picked up, which means she has always been a part of the more dominant subgroups in her area.
--
So while Taki is trying to punch Dr. Overmind (and missing several times!), I am more focused on what does not fit here. How I do not fit; how other bits of this whole mess do not really fit.
I have a very tentative idea about that.
I think Overmind was down here to steal something from the previous lair inhabitants.
I think everything that has happened since that tatooing-powder-theft from Golden Lotus a couple of weeks ago, has all been about getting into this place and stealing one thing.
I want to go have a good look back at the northern platforms, and particularly in the security station in the center of that platform.
--
But of course, it would help me out if Taki would take this persistent Guard Drone down and then bust the STAR Labs truck on the subway tracks!
This is taking too long.
I have to take action.
Majutsu-shi! My line is going to END in ONE MINUTE if you do not STOP FOOLING AROUND with theatrics!
— Taki to Loki, on comms
My name is no longer important. "Taki" it is not, of course. Whether you pronounce that like the arcade game character with the silly body shape, or like the name sometimes given to boy children in real history, no. I was Tani no Aki at one point ... but that was many ages ago. No one remembers even my grandchildren's grandchildren, not really.
It does not matter. "Taki" is fine. Even amusing. It leads people to make simple presumptions.
What does matter is that this unparented young woman, this fortune teller, she is the last of my descendants. She is my last tie to this world. She needs a guardian. If she does not have protection, other forces will cut her life short -- and then neither of us can be in this world ever again.
It frustrates me so much that she takes risks like this!
Anything could latch onto her as a parasite!
Not that it will be necessary! Look at how she is burning her reserves out, trying to sustain two other lives that have been hobbled by Overmind.
 
I do approve of saving the innocent. I do. It is a good instinct. It is honorable.
 
It is a task for strong, trained souls -- more than one! More than two! At least four, working together and supporting one another!
 
We do not have four. At best, we have the Sorcerer Prince. Can he keep my last descendant alive?

Nine of Blades
Thursday, October 1, 2009

What was I dictating a second ago?
 
Oh, right!  
Overmind has a very punchable face.
— Kara The Fortune Teller
 
I need to keep fairly quiet while Taki sees to this, but I am watching for any flickers in the immediate future. If we're going to survive this, Taki needs every advantage we can put together.
 
I have the Nine of Blades. Traditionally this is a card about sleeplessness and regret growing out of past choices, but that's not where I am focusing at this moment. Instead I see violent intent smashing down from the shadows onto a starkly lit target. Who is in which position? Taki is accustomed to being subtle, to constantly changing the approach of her attack to keep her enemy moving off-balance. On the other hand, she is badly outnumbered by Overmind's thugbots just now. Judging by her stance, she has decided that they can't be allowed an easy time of getting past her, either.
 
This is going to get ugly.
 
Sahara starts off by slamming an area-of-effect attack into the batch of six drones plus one Overmind. He knocks several of them away, wrecking their formation. They cannot all share defenses or attacks for the next few seconds. Taki immediately follows her teammate's attack by getting into the middle of the remaining group. She smashes an energy attack at half strength into the floor, creating a pressure wave rippling upward to knock off their supports any of the enemies that managed to withstand Sahara's first assault.
 
Only the Attack Droid manages to clamp magnets on the metal floor and stay upright!
 
Since she's at range of nearly zero, the Attack Drone makes a charging attack but misses Taki by just enough. It goes on to bounce off the wall.
 
Meanwhile Overmind rolls to get his feet and one hand under him. He fires some sort of numbing-field attack out of his gauntlet that passes over Taki as she launches a spinning side kick in his direction. Instead it hits one of his own drones!
 
I glance away for maybe four seconds to check on our teammates on the surface. When I return my attention to the corridor, Taki and Overmind are grappling one another. In particular, one of Overmind's gauntlets sputters ionic energy as if it took damage or malfunctioned; Taki has one hand wrapped around the forearm just below that gauntlet, her other hand locked on Overmind's elbow to keep him from pulling the arm away. She is using leverage to keep the sputtering damage near Dr. Overmind's own head, so he can't misuse the energy attacks on anyone but himself. Overmind has rocket boots activated so they are hurtling down the hallway. Sahara is trying to both catch them, and deliver a few extra subduing blows on Overmind.

Ten of Discs
Thursday, October 1, 2009

What was I ... Ohhhh right! Taki sent this one guy "Horus" upward because he said he used to be a tag team duo with Khonshu.   Now she's searching the rest of the Evil Lair. She tells another winged man that she is searching for "made servants" which might be minions of either the Science Judge or of Dr. Overmind. Is she up to something else? Yes, I think so! She made a point of telling this maybe-terrorist that if he brought any technology, it is being copied for unauthorized duplication. Now he is going off to the northwest to check "the tech lab".   Taki is sincere about the importance of finding out who made this place initially.   We hear a whump! noise with an electronic whine to it. I do not think it is a problem because I got the Ten of Discs. It's Atlas Park: it's a big community space full of fountains and bushes and groomed spaces. Metahumans standing around or flying around, no urgency. This card is about prosperity, wealth used artfully. I think the bang is just another little incident of the different supervillains flipping "ownership" of the lair between them like it's an Uno game.   When I tell Taki so, however, she goes running to the nearest window that looks down onto the train platform. She thinks there's someone using stealth scout tactics to break up their silhouette and is trying to blow up our SGmates! She recommends that Statesman find a way to scatter small light sources around while Taki goes to find the original built-in lights for the original train platform.   She wants to look in that room from which the metal amoeba group first came to bother us!   If this is not the "Tech Lab", I really want to see what's in the "Tech Lab"!   Taki finds the power trunk and, nearby, the original breaker box. She throws the switch labeled "lighting" and this whole place presumably gets brighter -- presumably because within less than a second, Sahara reports in comms that he sees Dr. Overmind approaching.   Overmind has a very punchable face.   Taki grabs several cans of spray lubricant and goes out to find him, only to discover that they're already in MELEE RANGE! Oh no! We need the entire team, but everyone's already occupied!

The Villain's Lair
Thursday, October 1, 2009

While Taki is busy with this current fight against a Science Court Bailiff, I'm going to try doing a more complicated super-reading than I normally use. Mostly this is the version that takes too much of my time and concentration. But we did not expect to find the wrong villain group down here!   [lair_tarot]   Let's see if I have anything worthwhile here ... not necessarily sticking to the so-called "traditional" meanings!   I am a touch surprised to see that the Science Court, or possibly A.I.M., is NOT the heart of the matter -- they're a challenge to the true core issue, which is of someone wanting to have a good life. Or, possibly, having lost a family connection? This makes me think again about Dr. Overmind using all those sickly sweet pet names for the black Scarab. Even if she's not dating him, he at least is PICTURING that he is romantic with or to her.   How is the Science Court a challenge to that?   I should advise Taki to investigate whether the Science Court is invading this place instead of belonging here!   My theory holds stronger as we look down at this smug, superior expression of the dramatically presented "high priestess". She's pictured as she oversees a presentation in an international building or something like that. Maybe the U.N. but the card does not always mean that. Anyway, she's a multi-national travel type, fine, but more importantly she likes to know things other people don't.   You'd think she'd dress less flagrantly, but oh well. It's New York.   Anyway, this is a good fit for Black Scarab, sure. I am not surprised to have her in the "unknown influence" position. If she is not manipulating Overmind into doing something to her benefit instead of his, I'll eat my ancestor's idea of "healthy vegetables"!   Featuring in the past, I see another tie to the foreign issue. I don't think this is supposed to represent a person, really, so much as the hard work to achieve high skill in a detailed work. It's hard to get laboratory conditions if one has been denied important resources, isn't it? But a smart endeavor works with what they can access, and makes the most of it. The creative endeavor must have been successful, because I hear pleased and proud voices even if I do not make out words.   But time passes. Whatever the consequence was supposed to be, it has not happened. Or maybe the problem is just that it did not happen on the expected schedule? No acclaim, no money, no buyout from one of those ridiculous rich men on the Celebrity Watch channel.   You know, so far, none of this helps me unless it turns out that either the Science Judge and Overmind are the ones dating, or else that they're robbing each other. Can't I get anything better?   Since I'm looking into a supervillain, it's really not a surprise to have their view of themselves be "The World". Bah foo. The difference between a villain and a cranky yet resourceful citizen is that the villain thinks they're both The Smartest or Strongest or Whatever-est, and also they think everyone else is basically like them. But not so "-est".   The last two cards are about the external view of the reading's subject. Well, last three, but I'm not ready to do the future card. Anyway, these cards tell me that the heart of this villain lair is centered on a man (I knew that already!) who presents himself as a noble leader, but he is drawing short-lived fame and fawning to himself rather than the true success he first intended. And none of the attention focusing on him is sincere! But he doesn't realize it. He thinks he has what he deserves.  
  Of course, after I have pushed the cards away in frustration is when it gets weird!   Remember how I had time passing without any consequences popping up? Yeah, the science on that card suddenly glows brightly, showing me more detail than I can normally make out. The spirally science thing floating in the left hand of the painting, it pops out of the picture and melts down like Sahara in a tropical depression! It starts oozing its way down a hallway.   The hallway that Taki, Sahara, and Statesman were in a few minutes ago!   I hate to do this to her, especially because I don't want to lose any fingers, but Taki has got to go back up to that weird super science fire extinguisher stuff and spill it on the floor to stop the ooze!   But of course she thinks it's possibly a demon, and she tries to challenge it. Instead of treating it as a mass of tiny robots like what she has previously fought today. I need Moon Knight to talk her around to a responsible hero attitude, especially since it's mimicking her, only Khonshu won't let Moon Knight out yet because of something having to do with orange balloons and purple flames.  
Be still, Kara. Be soundless. Be the void. I see an opportunity here.
— Taki

Balloons over Central Park
Thursday, October 1, 2009

We have agreed to go back to our Superbase to look at the information we've acquired, including the crossword answers that Loki and I have been discussing. Since that will require us to cross Central Park, on the way Bronze Tempest could bounce on the drones from above!   Since Dr. Overmind went to so much trouble as to taunt us, and since Taki managed to move the diorama outside without letting it get wrecked, Statesman says he thinks there are Teamster tunnels close to that particular spot but not currently at some -- but there COULD be a "lost terminal" in that area under a theater! He passes this information to Sahara to use his Librarian Powers.   We need to get to a statue in the Park, and it's surrounded by what looks like 30 orange balloons holding up drones!   Those are all going to be handled by Moon Knight, Bronze Tempest, Loki, and Tesla Coil. Meanwhile, Taki and Statesman follow Sahara into an underground base that is VERY NEW ... and full of robotic Science Police Bailiffs!

Keepaway
Thursday, October 1, 2009

The code phrase was "Racquetball!" for when I warn everyone (via comms) to duck!   But not everyone listened.   Taki has the diorama and is using it to start a game of "keep away" that will hopefully distract any Mesmerized City Workers who are not already asleep. She plans to carry it out past Moon Knight so that if necessary, he can take custody of the diorama for a short stretch.   The droid thingies won't fire their energy beams at the diorama. That's useful. But the mesmerized workers will fire sonic beams toward it.   Dr. O sends a hologram and tells his minions to destroy the diorama. He has a female partner dressed in yellow and white pseudo-Egyptian clothing and a cat mask. I try to determine if the diorama will explode or something, but all I get is confetti -- with words on it -- suffocating everyone.   I have to wait until Tesla Coil arrives and shuts off the remote cameras before I can tell the team: Loki went over the crossword puzzle clues and answers for me.  
Crossword Puzzle with Answers!
Generic article | Mar 19, 2021
  Eight down says
A painting through a peephole
for the clue, but the answer is "diorama".   That does not make sense!

Pier 99
Thursday, October 1, 2009

Grip of the Mind Thieves, Chapter 9: Hot on the Trail!
Plot | Feb 28, 2021

The Knights Vigilant survive Triple Trouble from Omni-Drones, the Golden Lotus, and the Disco Boys ... but the DiscoB Boys might be the key information source the team has been looking for!

 
We need to finish officially arresting these miscreants and we need to go to Pier 99 once they are in police custody.
 
The Disco Boy in the sparkly white clothes is "Zigzag" and is explaining some things to Moon Knight.
 
Knights Vigilant group page:
Facebook feed
  • Disco Boy being a sparkly knockoff of John Travolta accuses Statesman of being a copy of Captain America!
Don't be silly! Compare the chins! Captain America shows his!
#disco boys
#talking recycling
#not as good as 'talking trash'
 
Sailor Bronze Tempest likes working with Moon Knight and Sahara, but still does not seem comfortable with my contribution to the team. Taki thinks that has something to do with not having met me in person before. But she does not plan on letting us meet in person any time soon! We are going to have to have a heavy conversation about that later.
 
Taki used typical stealth-operative techniques to get into the facility, pretending that she was delivering Halloween decor for the renovations reopening. I don't know if that fooled anybody but at least no one tried to stop her! Inside are some city workers who have been mesmerized, working on a diorama of the city.
Which is what I saw happening earlier.
I warn Statesman that there's an Omni-Drone lurking near the door where he is lurking. I have to do it quick. My best fast version is to tell him to do an area attack!
But he does not throw a bunch of balls. He moves away!
 
Sailor Bronze Tempest, still wearing her tiara and matching choker, goes to save the diorama. The mesmerized workers who haven't fallen asleep and one of the forklift Constructicons try to attack her!
 
Then the yellow Constructicon starts using six arms to throw bouncy balls like Statesman!
The code word for "duck" is now "Racquetball"!

Magic Eight Ball says Try Again Later
Thursday, October 1, 2009

Taki was doing so very well! She had the slice of white bellbottom, she tucked that away, all good.
But then she overshot her disarm attempt. Disco Boy jerked back, knocking over a "ka jar" in the process.
Now she and the idiot are covered in grey powder, the air is full of grey powdery fog around them so they can't see out, and it's SPARKLING too!
 
Since she's cut off from the world anyway:
 
It's as if I am leafing through a set of memories.
I see a warehouse.
I see Overmind's drones.
I see some of the NYC workers, assembling and re-assembling a diorama.
I see them being watched covertly by some Disco Boys. I hear the name "Brickhouse".
i see the Disco Boys watch the drones everywhere they go, including when they steal boxes of powder from this hidden place under Central Park. I see the Disco Boys follow the drones to the museum.
I have a clear image of the warehouse itself. It's an older building. It's decorated with bright pink neon lights around the outside of the warehouse itself. I see a sign for "Pier 99".
 
Meanwhile:
Taki discovers that she is smoke!
So is a different one of the Disco Boys. And he is using that to pocket things off the altar!
Taki gets out her little water bottle saved for after combat. She whangs it at his head, knowing it will take more damage than his head will. When the bottle hits, it busts open and dumps water all over the Disco Boy, washing away the grey particles that made him smoke! Now he is within range of a thumping by Sailor Bronze Tempest!
 
Taki catches "ka jars" thrown at her by the terrified white-garbed Disco Boy. She sets each one down as soon as she catches it.
I can see that each jar's powder was originally petals of the flowers downstairs, ground fine under the supervision of Ghost Widow. These are ingredients for the Golden Lotus ink tattoos!
 
Over in the hallway that leads down to the nursery
Statesman warns that a Golden Lotus soldier who was downstairs is now coming up to the main room, and has some kind of Origin In Progress. All I can advise is that Statesman should recruit him! This is the time to create a new Hero instead of a supervillain!
Which he does in amazing theatrical performance! Statesman gives the most inspirational quick pep talk about Destiny and Heroism and Choices! He tells the man that he knows Danny Chang, and that this is not who Danny wanted to be when he was a child!
Danny is persuaded to set foot on a better path!
 
In the main room
Taki grapples the Disco Boy in white, winds up with his jacket and all the pocket contents thereof.
He has panicked and is running for the Secret Door. Which he had knocked shut with a vase lid earlier!

Underground
Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Taki snuck up the stairs to meet the approaching Golden Lotus before they could get very far down the stairs.
  (( https://www.worldanvil.com/w/tales-of-justice-kummer-wolfe/map/44845ab9-0003-453b-ac6a-499346b32d7c ))  
Taki will try to slow down their progress, and make them make a LOT of noise as they gain each few steps!
 
The first one through the door uses his Golden Lotus tattoo to summon up a green kusarigama -- a weighted chain with a sickle at one end. He did not have the sickle side ready for combat yet because of the tight space in the stairwell. He can't make Taki move out of his way, but he keeps her occupied enough that one of his companions manages to somersalt over both heads to go to the lower landing!
 
I warn the team on comms that one got past Taki, but I keep my attention focused in the upper stairwell for now.
 
Fortunately, that's all the warning the Knights Vigilant need! They plant the advance guy on his face immediately, and start to act on the crowd still at the top of the stairwell. Third Man brings out a Chinese traditional shield to defend against Statesman's bouncy balls. Taki decides that if the Golden Lotus will mix different cultures, she can accommodate that -- she adapts a move she likes in a Michelle Yeoh movie, uses the wakizashi scabbard to pin the kusari to the stone step while she kicks the wielding arm of its owner away.
 
The chain explodes in powder! Some of it goes back to the angry Golden Lotus soldier. Half of it wraps around the scabbard and leaves a green chain pattern on it as if painted there.
 
Soon the whole team is involved in the fight, including strange vines that spring up on the stairs to entangle many of the Golden Lotus soldiers. And Bronze Lotus can fly like Sailor Moon!
 
Moon Knight challenges the Golden Lotus mission leader, who calls herself Ghost Widow or something like that. Taki goes up there to provide support only to find out that
We are in SO MUCH trouble!
Two more Golden Lotus soldiers are not the problem, but I see 3 Disco Boys and 2 Omni-Drones and a SECRET DOOR.
 
While the rest of the team tries to not get bashed, nor soul-drained, I urge Taki to go get me a piece of a Disco Boy's clothing. I will try to find out what they were doing before she returned to this chamber!
She has a slice of a Disco Boy's white bellbottom pants. And she fought off his attack with his silly "gold nun chucks" which is. Not even an actual THING.

Follow up on clues!
Thursday, October 1st, 2009

While I am glad that Apothecary Fu is well, it sure did take a lot of note comparison for the Knights Vigilant to feel sure about leaving there for the summons by Detective Kozu!
At this rate, they are going to scare away for sure.
 
Detective Kozu has a folder full of clues for us, and a neckwrap gadget that the villain has used on people that Moon Knight and Tesla Coil will investigate! He's a good man.
NYPD "Central Park Ooze" Case Folder
Generic article | Nov 14, 2020
The diorama pieces from the MoNH were from the northwest parts of Manhattan Island. They are tough to see because it's all white. But Bronze Tempest has a strong theory that the little fireworks carvings might relate to the Stark Expo?
 
goes off to investigate the neckband device.
Trickshot goes to the Stark Expo, which he will "stake out". Without me! Where it's clean! He will use his connection with Captain America to advise Tony Stark that his Supergroup -- who are not in a Coalition with us -- needs to get into action protecting his Expo from evil. And theft. And whatever.
The other three members of the Knights Vigilant in the field -- Bronze Tempest, Sahara , and Taki -- are going to check the tunnels marked in the different dioramas. Which will probably include sewers. It's dark and dirty and smells and ugh Most of them will hopefully be Prohibition tunnels which might at least not have sewage in them? I hope?
 
 
We're heading into maybe authentic Egyptian Temple under part of Central Park and it turns out that there's a GOD named "Hathor" that used to have a eggplant emoji with Khonshu! And she is a cat-woman thing! Possibly the Silk Sphynx?
 
Moon Knight, on comms: Khonshu was one of her consorts
Kara, on comms: Wellllllllllll shit
Taki, on comms: LANGUAGE
Taki heard it, but also heard Kara being crass
Kara, on comms: Language hell. Moon Knight! Did Khonshu bang the bad guy lady???
Moon Knight, on comms: Apparently.
Kara, on comms: And were you there?
Moon Knight, on comms: nooooooo
Moon Knight, on comms: long before my time
Kara, on comms: Is this about to be some Days of Our Lives stuff?
Kara, on comms: Do you need to find Khonshu's post-nup? Or go buy chocolates and a chlamydia test?
— Chapter 6: Breaking the Case
 
While I was doing some incredibly important fact-gathering, the Trouble Trio went into the temple thing. Fire lit in troughs along the walls to the sides. Sahara found a bunch of stuff on a workbench including stuff about a magic mind-enhancing flower, and Taki found three crystal petals: orange, red, and blue.
I sure hope Moon Knight gets here soon!
 
Taki, on comms: No more Ess Vee You on the television!
— Taki has not blushed like this since ... ever. No descendant has scandalized her the way Kara is this afternoon!
 
Oh! and Bronze Tempest found a hidden door! It goes further down. These steps are old, carved into the original limestone, and lead down to a warmer and earthier-smelling area. Around a corner up ahead after they flatten out, we hear electricity!
 
Kara, on comms, to Bronze Tempest: This is from before your time. Spider Lilly (civilian name Dr. Susan McIverson) was a villain that the Knights Vigilant fought a couple of times in the early days. Then she went to war against Dr. Augustus Nero Cavendish at one of the first few Stark Expos here in NYC? And we joined her? And she hates that guy so much that she went more good guy than bad. Even testified in court against him. And we helped protect her!
Kara, on comms, to Bronze Tempest: And so now I guess she's dating Basement Man? Who Statesman is pretending to be, based on what we hear over his comms unit?
Bronze Tempest: talk about Days of our Lives
Kara, on comms: I know, right? Spider Lilly is supposedly a dish. Good on Weasel for charming her!
Bronze Tempest: Weasel? another team member?
Kara, on comms: Basement Man calls himself "Weasel". But Taki calls him "Basement Man" and that's easier to remember. He's not a team member, he works for Statesman.
Kara, on comms: On a contract basis. And sometimes for other people too.
— Kara dishes on the life of the NYC After Dark crowd
 
Sahara wanted to wait for Moon Knight, and that means we also hung around until Statesman caught up with us. So we get through that door thanks to Sahara, who disables the basic electric trap; everyone slowly heads through, except that Taki stops to investigate the door itself.
She hears voices behind us!
Taki's idea of warning the others to be silent is not entirely practical. But she goes scurrying up the stairs anyway.
 
Some woman up there says Dr. Overmind keeps raiding her laboratories and she is tired of it. She wants her minions to quickly end whatever mesmerized minions Overmind sent. The minions answer "Yes, Ghost Widow" and draw weapons, starting down the stairs where they are going to run into Taki a lot sooner than anticipated!

The Sphynx Trap
Thursday, October 1st, 2009

My card symbols so far

 

I have finally gotten in touch with Loki Orinson, who lets me know that Tesla Coil has been captured while he and Loki were investigating the "antique book theft" case. I did a basic reading for where Tesla Coil is going to be, and it turns up Mouse Force in a death trap with Tesla Coil while a woman dressed as an Egyptian catbird laughs and occasionally makes it worse! I expect two things:

 
  1. This is the person who made the crossword puzzle, "S. Sphinx" or something.
  2. This is who just had Moon Knight captured at the museum!
 

Loki will go find Mouse Force right away, thinking they are in the midst of being captured for the death trap.

 

Now I am trying to persuade Taki to stop messing with the styrofoam duplicate in the recycling truck. Let's go save our team!

 

She is focused on her current investigation. She is not listening. Aaargh!

 

The top third of the styrofoam has been smooshed. It seems to all be foam still. Several pieces look to be things besides buildings: ground, streets, low level stuff. Not really the skyscrapers. Taki took as many photographs as she could, including of some hand-written notecards and of the sub-street levels.

 

But when Taki tried to activate the internal press again to crush the recyclables down into a compact layer, the driver noticed her!

 

Moon Knight and Taki trade vehicles: Taki dismounts from the recycling truck and goes running after the dark sedan containing Tesla Coil, figuring Moon Knight will take care of the recycling truck as soon as he is free of the strange net. Bronze Tempest is coming to stop the water tanker truck that is skidding in the intersection. The Black Scarab enemy will be defeated!

 

When I called Apothecary Fu for his wisdom on containing the spilled orange ooze, some woman interrupted! and then threatened to go to his shop!

Museum of the City Rebooting
Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Taki said I should "call the Sorcerer" and that is exactly what I am doing!

 

Meanwhile she attacks one of the two Metal Men who had shot Moon Knight. Taki thinks there might be a civilian inside the torso so she is going for peripheral damage right now.

 

I think I am going to ignore this combat in favor of trying to figure out why Loki won't answer his phone. He might be someplace noisy? I don't know!

 

Also I do not like listening to Taki complain about how this robot has developed "tentacles" and "squishes" and whatever.

 
…
 

This fight is taking forever! Maybe we do need some new tactics for fighting enemies with the ability to do some of the Sahara Combat Maneuvers!

 
…
 

Now that the fight is over, everyone is splitting up to figure out what Dr. Overmind really stole. This means that Khonshu is stomping down into the lowest level to hunt for the black scarab controlling person. Bronze Tempest is looking for the security office to see if the feed is any different. Sahara went down the hollow tube below the missing diorama here in Gallery 3. Statesman is getting away before the police arrive, but I think he's checking for missing art and exhibits as he goes.

 

Oh boy, Bronze Tempest is asking for an explanation about the difference between "Moon Knight" and "Khonshu" aaaaand Taki is giving her an accurate one!

 

I'm going to try redialing again. I want none of this.

 

I'm going to try doing a concentrated reading on Loki, because he really should have answered me before his voice mail box got full.

 

AUGH OH NO this is a very bad reading!
I drew the Three of Discs (either "pride in one's work" or else "robbery recently happened at a pawn shop") in the past, then The Sun in present, then The Magician in the future!
Right as Khonshu gets told by two Museum Guards that "the god of the sun" is in another castle!

 

But there's a SpectorCorp Recycling truck coming up the alley, Taki is certain that it's part of the villain plot, so she won't abandon position to go rescue Loki and Tesla and Mouse Corps!

Coffee Date
Thursday, October 1st, 2009

This is a rare afternoon for us, because Taki is supposed to meet Bronze Tempest for coffee so that a corrected headset can be given over. Normally I would do it! But Bronze Tempest is not yet all the way on board with joining the team, so Taki is trying to be as "appropriate" as we can manage.

 

Taki does not normally go around outdoors with no costume and mask.

 

A not-huge lady who is also not bronze colored has just walked up to the side table where Taki is settled. This lady says her name is Beth and she thinks she recognizes Taki. So maybe this is Bronze Tempest's secret identity?

 

Their conversation bored me so I started watching the passing traffic outside. There's a SpectreCorp utility van with a terrible aura shrouding it!

 
 

New note: Taki has no hesitation about jumping on top of a van that's about to resume motion on 5th Avenue!

 

So far, this is all a big distraction while a false SpectreCorp crew tries to disable the alarm at the American Museum of New York City, but we also have a strong possibility that it's a double cover for something to happen here at Mt. Sinai Hospital.

 

Taki meets up with Moon Knight en route, which gives her a chance to deposit the Evidence Canister and also to trade notes with Moon Knight before they arrive at the Museum. Of course, Moon Knight will go in the front (because Justice Does Not Hide) while Taki sneaks in by the back fire escape.

 

Why are they trying to get the museum staff on board?

 

Actually, that makes sense for Moon Knight. He's a gentleman like that. But why is Taki?

 

Oh, I bet it is because of that police detective the other day!

 

(And now she's not telling me what she's thinking. I must have gotten into uncomfortable personal territory.)

 

The museum executive has been gone checking up on what Taki said for too long, I am feeling antsy. I think maybe I should do a quick tarot reading?

 
  • I've got Etheria in the relevant past, she's the dark-purple-haired lady with the bronze bustier and the chair who is pulling aside the curtain of the night sky. She's at the United Nations building. That might not literally be the UN Center, that might just mean someplace with many nations. She is about hidden wisdom and secrets.
  • Whalesong in the present, but reversed? That's ... uh ... useless.
    Taki, on comms, impatiently: What are you talking about.
    Kara, on comms: Whalesong is someone who is artistic, passionate, and sad about it. When she is reversed, that means NOT passionate or NOT artistic. But we are at a museum!
    Taki, on comms: .... Knights Vigilant, does this museum show things besides artwork?
  • Taki, on comms: And what is your prediction of the near future?
    Kara, on comms: Oh! Uhm. That's one of the electric-power metas. It's usually about having a powerful effect on surroundings. Only this is reversed again, so it is about NOT ... no, I hate this. I think I did not get a good reading. I should do this again!
    Taki, on comms: Wait.
 

After some discussion of possibilities, Moon Knight deploys his scarabs to help him look for a shielded workroom that might have some of the fossils in it or some other non-art History of New York City artifacts in it. Taki opens whatever windows she can to let the dark gray fog dissipate and more oxygen into the museum. She finds a device counting down in the utility closet on the top floor -- it has many numbers flashing in different patterns that Sahara and Bronze Tempest (watching the feed from Taki's smartphone) think are the changing GPS coordinates of something quickly moving around.

If it is tracking something that moves, I cannot stop the moving thing. But I can stop the tracking!
— Taki demands that Kara find water containers so Taki can waterlog the villainous electronic device
 

Since Taki is not really telling me much at this point, I'm trying to give updated info to Bronze Tempest and Sahara. This is complicated by the fact that Khonshu has displaced Moon Knight. He thinks something called a "Khefi" might be here, something about the morning sun and black scarabs. Then we heard a LOT of energy blasts! He probably needs backup!

 
Taki, on comms: Bronze Tempest?
Taki: When was this puzzle shown to everyone?
Bronze Tempest: I do not know that it was shown to everyone, but Sahara used his librarian skills to pull up today's puzzle from the New York Times.
Bronze Tempest: Apparently they are taking submission from the general public and a S. Sphinx sent in the one today
Bronze Tempest: All of the various 'clues' we have found thus far have been on that puzzle
Taki, on comms: Oho! Ancient ninja technique: Granddaughter, call the sorcerer.
Kara, on comms: YAY! :smartphone dialing beeps:
Bronze Tempest: Who is the sorcerer?
Kara, on comms: Loki Orinson.
— Kara is going to ask Loki to go steal a copy of the answer from tomorrow's printing of the paper
 

And then: Battle Drones have backshot Khonshu!

Canister Clues So Far:
Monday, September 28th, 2009

  1. Message 1 on some cannisters: "A skill at doing a specified thing, typically one acquired through practice"
  2. Message 2 on some cannisters: "In ancient times, Pliny the Elder considered this to cover anything around him, including living things."
  3. Message 3 on some cannisters: "How to best move the king when in danger or just for defense?"
 
  Answers proposed by Knights Vigilant (not me!) so far:  
1
  • art
  • proficiency
  • expertise
 
2
  • ????
  • ether
 
3
  • castle

Sleuth and Rescue
Monday, September 28th, 2009

It has been a few days since the confrontation in Central Park where we rescued the city workers who had been Mutated.
We are using our subtle skills to investigate the events of last Wednesday when the orange-glowing-eye thing was instigated. The city workers mentioned that their last memory had been on the west side near the harbor!
Taki cannot do much investigation on her own during the day. So she wants me to go chat with some of the street buskers. I think this is much more likely to work out for us, because I am not trying to take business away from them at all but I am a sympathetic character with my whole "my Gramma does not speak much English and what she does speak, she learned from television, and she's freaking out" thing.
Here is a street busker who is cleaning his flute and getting ready to pack it in for the day. He says he was here last Wednesday. I explain how Gramma was apparently around here and saw ~~ something ~~ start to happen? And now she is convinced it's going to follow her home and happen at our apartment building or on the street out front? And I cannot persuade her that we will see trouble coming, because :handwave: blind, you know. Is there anything you can describe to me that I can tell her is different enough that we will be safe?
He says the Disco Boyz went toward the hot dog vendor about when the city workers came out of the manhole to the right here. He says it looks like the DBs were going to harass the city workers. And suddenly this orange cloud spewed out from nowhere like someone had popped a pinata or a balloon. Suddenly their eyes glowed orange and they got wild and people around started screaming. He says the gas did not come out of the manhole, it was like a can fell out of the air and or someone dropped it or something.
What he does not tell me, but Taki and I both see: one of the police officers overseeing the CSI evidence gathering is dual natured. He's an Asian-American detective, but he's also a properly dressed and properly equipped samurai with the hollyhock kamon properly embroidered on his blue kimono.
After Taki interjects a short phrase from Kamakura-era Japanese into my thanks to the flute busker, I head for Harbor Footlong, a nearby restaurant that does free sandwiches for the homeless -- I can afford to buy, now, but I remember being fed by them. Also, if the police officer follows me, there will be people around who sympathize with me more than with him.
 
Suddenly a balloon at a balloon vendor pops, city workers with glowing eyes come out of a manhole and grab t-shirt cannons which have glowing loads inside!
 
Moon Knight has a riddle on a ruptured canister -- he says the riddle is about the best defense for a king and the answer is "castle" or "a castle" or something like that. He says he will call in the Anonymous Tip Line with the answer!
 
We are fighting many affected people who have launched FIVE of the orange canisters into the air here at the harbor. I hit one of the minions as he was on his way to attack the police officer. His body moves as if it were made of rubber or pasta. Eww! I need to continue to edge out of the combat area so that I can vanish.
 
 
It is easier to write these notes with the program SpectreCorp gave me when I am not dodging combat.
 
The enemy keeps launching canisters into the area to keep us busy so that the minions can try to grab the CSI evidence bag. But we cannot stop them from taking the evidence when lives are in danger! Even though we know it is a trap, a distraction, we still have to deal with the canisters first.
 
This is so strange:
When Taki threw a concussive blast into the minion trying to steal the evidence bag -- even though it was not Exorcism! -- the minion's eyes stopped glowing, he spat out the ooze, he stopped being a minion.
(Too bad another minion came running by to grab away the evidence case! But his path takes him past Moon Knight who might have to give chase.)
 
Taki, remember to get that wakizashi you threw earlier!
Yes, I know it's not great strategy to get near that police officer right now. But it won't be easy to replace, either! I can't exactly go buy one.
 
Even though these canisters released only orange confetti, we still need to collect images of the riddles written on them to find out what is REALLY happening with Dr. Overmind. Taki can get a smartphone photograph for the other members of Knights Vigilant to decode.

Keepaway

Reminder: the code phrase is "Racquetball"!

Grip of NOT DEMONS Mind Thieves
September 23rd, 2009

My name is Kara. I read fortunes.

 

Taki wants me to practice my "scribing". I think that means using this program that Moon Knight found for me. One of the Spectre Corp companies makes it, and they needed a test subject. They want to sell it to people who are vision impaired.

 

I am not sure how many people out there would want to use a program like that while being in a place like where I am!

 

But I am going to choose not to think about that for now.

 

It has been more than two weeks since Mouse Force got bigger.

 

Sometimes ordinary people's eyes glow and they act like minor supervillains. We think it has to do with the same ooze that affected Mouse Force.

 

Today is Wednesday, not our normal day for drills in Central Park, but we have been doing extra patrols. It's late afternoon and the Knights Vigilant run to rescue the Disco Boyz from some demon-infested mutagen-dosed Parks and Recreation workers. It's especially difficult work for the team because everyone needs to be extra careful to not harm people who are involuntarily trying to harm us.

 

Not helpful for my cause, which is the cause of reasonable attitudes:

 
  • Moon Knight discovers that one of the municipal employees can understand offers of water
  • Moon Knight gives all the water he has on immediate hand
  • I start looking around for a taco truck or a slushie stand close enough to help
  • Moon Knight starts calling for Taki to advise on the precise signs of demonic possession in process
  • the municipal employee falls down, catches fire, gets up, starts to fly
  • Taki decides this is Mass Demonic Control and encourages Moon Knight to start shoving invasive souls out of bodies with a power blast
 

Now, wait, I have a thought--

 

Bronze Tempest arrives on the scene!

 

Holy cats, is that Rebecca Romijn?

 

:hearteyes:

 

OH OH maybe it's Gwendoline Christie!

 

And she wants a canister that one of the newly arrived Disco Boys is carrying.

 

Meanwhile the one glowing eyed municipal employee fighting Statesman is moving in flashes of white light, at speeds faster than a person can follow.

 

Kara, on comms: Ride him like a piggyback race!

Taki, into comms: Granddaughter SHUT UP

— The Knights Vigilant's ancestor-descendant duo on comms being less than helpful to Statesman, "Grip of the Mind Thieves"
 

Taki is busy working on this one person who tried to pick up half a boulder. I can't see how Sahara is doing. I think he was okay a few second ago, but he had chosen to take on two opponents simultaneously. Meanwhile Moon Knight has managed to put the burning man to sleep but now he has a lot more Disco Boyz to deal with, and also Big Daddy who is now NINE FEET TALL and SHIRTLESS and from what others are telling me, tomato red?

 
I see the energy-form of the enemy spirit moving around on the superspeedster! That has to be a minor demon! Statesman pulled the host's vest over his eyes before running to support Statesman in the group melee. I need to Exorcise him as well!
- Taki
 

I don't think it's demons! I think it is something else. I really do!

 

Kara, on comms, being ignored by Taki: wait, wait, wait, what if these people are being dosed by that powder used for the Golden Lotus tattoos?? Wasn't some stolen during the adventure a few weeks ago, when we went to check on Apothecary Fu?

Taki, in Japanese: GO TO YOUR ROOM and BE SILENT THERE

Kara: awwwwwww, maaaaaaaaaaaaaan

Moon Knight, in Japanese on comms: Let the girl speak she may be onto something

— Knights Vigilant, "Grip of the Mind Thieves"
 

When we were both busy, one of the other affected enemies developed energy whip tentacles coming out of his arms. This is such a mess. We need a way to quickly subdue several! Or, I don't know-- wait I do know! Taki! Find the sprinklers and turn them on!

 
... well I suppose that will help make the evil spirits more visually defined? ...
- Taki
 

(It is not my fault that it does not help much. Maybe it will take a few seconds!

 
Upon hearing that name, you remember that you heard of a SUPERVILLAIN TEA-- I mean, a Hero Team, called the "Knights Vigilant"
— GM to Bronze Tempest
 

One of the Disco Boyz has glowing orange eyes and is using his stupid necklace as a makwari chain. He attacks Taki with it repeatedly. It turns out to be ... like ... part of him? and stretchy? and ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
but when Taki catches the attack end of it and then dumps an Exorcism ball into it, his eyes turn white and he falls down!

 
If I have to Exorcise everyone affected by this, we're going to need to talk to someone about food for high stamina.
- Taki
 

Bronze Tempest thinks that the Knights Vigilant are "weird" and is greatly protesting that she does not want to be a member. But Taki has determined that she absolutely qualifies for membership. Bronze Tempest has Moon Knight's card for being able to contact us later, plus she can always go to the NYPL where Sahara will help her research us!

The People's Glorious Twenty-Fifth of May

It took me a couple of 404s to Enter the Session, but now here I am!   I noticed when I first read Night Watch by Terry Pratchett that the negotiations to write the new government actually cite the twenty-fourth of May. And yet! Everyone still gets emotionally wrought on the 25th. Which, yes, many things happen on that particular day. Such as the bit with the egg. But I am a little surprised not to see much fan activity on the 24th other than reminding one another to go look for lilac.   Anyway. I think that's about as much as I can say without a gigantic spoiler, which (after all) is not the point of this test. The point is, can I edit this journal while the session is still in progress?   Yes, I can! Time to congratulate Dimitris and close that bug.

Entry for WorldEmber 2018

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Tales of Justice is a work of pure, unabashed fiction. In fact, it considers itself rather heroic and quite proud of itself. Names of characters, places, events, organizations, and locations are creations of the author's imagination for this fictitious setting. Some have been inspired by other sources, which will be credited at the top right of the article.   Permission is not granted to use this material to feed a so-called Artificial Intelligence chatbot.   Any resemblance to persons living, dead, or reanimated is coincidental. The opinions expressed are those of the characters and should not be confused with either of the authors, since the characters and authors tend to disagree a lot.   Unless otherwise stated, all artwork and content are © CB Ash and Jarissa Venters, 1993-2024, All Rights Reserved.
Original CSS "Comic" theme comes from Oneriwien but has been adapted/modified and expanded by Kummer Wolfe

Taki_original

DEX
10

 
STR
2

 
BODY
4

 
INT
6

 
WILL
5

 
MIND
8

 
INFL
5

 
AURA
5

 
SPIRIT
5

 
INITIATIVE
25
HERO POINTS
402

 

 

POWERS (* linked)


 
  • Precognition: 10
    (FC 3; Dice Action; can read up to an hour ahead without being Pushed)
  • Postcognition: 10
    (FC 2; Dice Action; can read up to an hour ago without being Pushed)
  • Energy Blast: 10
    (FC 1; Dice Action; Fatiguing vs Body
  • Exorcism: 10
    (FC 1; Dice Action; Fatiguing vs Spirit

 

 

 

BONUSES AND LIMITATIONS


 
Energy Blast and Exorcism are both Fatiguing - Taki tries to use them at less than full strength.

 

 

SKILLS (* linked)


 
  • Acrobatics: 05
    FC 7; Dice Action; all subskills
  • Detective: 04
    FC 3; Dice Action; Clue Analysis only
  • Martial Artist: 06
    FC 6; Dice Action
  • Thief: 05
    FC 06; Dice Action; Escape Artist, Locks and Safes, Pickpocket, and Stealth subskills
  • Weaponry: 07
    FC 3; Dice Action; Melee Weapons only

 

 

ADVANTAGES


 
  • Area Knowledge | neighborhood
  • Connection, Low | Detective Sara Owens, NYPD
  • Connection, Low | Detective Hirokoma Kozu, NYPD
  • Connection, Low | FDNYC Ladder 23
  • Connection, Low | Solar Champions
  • Connection, Low | Bruno, Blood Hellion (who didn't get mutated)
  • Connection, Low | NYC Magic Community
    (varies based on Kara's current reputation)
  • Iron Nerves | +2 CS to my OV/RV vs Aura of Fear, Phobia, or any Intimidation attempt
  • Leadership | FOR GREAT JUSTICE!
  • Lightning Reflexes | +2 to Initiative (already added)
  • Japanese Scholar | -2 CS to OV/RV of an Intelligence check for Japanese, spoken and kanji, slightly antiquated
  • Braille Scholar | -2 CS to OV/RV of an Intelligence check for reading Braille
  • Fortune Teller Scholar | -2 CS to OV/RV of an Intelligence check for fortune-telling traditions and patter, particularly with tarot cards

 

 

DRAWBACKS


 
  • Serious Irrational Attraction | "demon" hunting
    must roll greater than/equal to 11 to overcome Taki's vocation and interact normally, otherwise abandon all other pursuits in favor of chasing down and defeating the "demon". Whatever it actually is.
  • Serious Psychological Instability | absorbed in "self"-arguments (arguments between currently dominant personality and currently submerged personality)
    on roll of less than/equal to 4; to regain composure, must roll greater than/equal to 11
  • Mistrust
    NPCs, especially strangers who are Heroes or law enforcement, and the general public are automatically Hostile
  • Secret Identity | Each personality goes to some lengths to keep strangers from finding out that it's the same body. Only the teammates are trusted with this critical information, as a gesture of solidarity!

 

 

 

OCCUPATION


 
fortune teller

 

 

WEALTH


 
0 ( Appox Annual Income : $1250) ( Appox Annual Income : $12,000,000,000)

 

 

EQUIPMENT


 
  • Sword (katana)
    {Body: 6, EV: 4}
    •  
  • Knife (wakizashi)
    {Body: 5, EV: 3}
    •  
  • Ice Blade (wakizashi)
    {Body: 4, EV: 4, Ice Production: 2}

 

 

SUBPLOTS


 
Taki and Kara often dream of a man they can't quite see. Sometimes he's old-school Nipponese soldier, or yoko-metsuke, or bushi. Sometimes he's a very modern Japanese-American cop of some sort (usually either NYPD or US Marshal, as far as they can tell), or high-ranking member of a private security force, or a Customs Agent. Sometimes his clothes and hair and the setting around him are such a mix that the women can't be sure which he is.
(Taki says it's the same soul, reincarnated; Kara says that makes no biological sense, because it's the same body.)
Taki feels that her past is entwined with this man's past to the point of tugging at each others' destinies, and that on the day when they look into each others' eyes again, they will have to decide whether to be eternally sworn enemies or recurrent allies.
Kara thinks that Taki takes that video game entirely too seriously, and cops should be left to their own devices as a general rule.
Speaking of fundamental differences in worldview: Taki believes she's an old soul haunting the last child of her line, trying to preserve her in hope of a reasonably-happy-ever-after. Kara believes that "Taki" is an outside spirit, somewhat bonkers, who has been possessing Kara for several years; Taki is useful for trying to stay alive, at least most of the time, but Kara expects the spirit to eventually become so absorbed by her fictitious identity and history that she rejects reality in a dangerous-for-Kara way. It's not that Kara doesn't like Taki, and appreciate having her around, it's just that all good things have a tendency to go really, really bad at some point.
A third explanation would be that homeless, malnourished, psychic, and somewhat unstable Kara is batshit -- that her mind fractured under the strain of something she foresaw at the Psychic Convention, back in 2001, and invented a separate protector personality in order to cope with the scary thing a-coming. (This last explanation has to stretch awfully far, granted, to explain how illiterate Kara could read Japanese kanji, and speak an archaic version of the language moderately fluently, when she thinks she's Taki.)
Kara lives in a slum. Kara pretends to be blind. Kara's health still isn't fantastic. Kara probably qualifies for some sort of welfare, but is too suspicious of the system to go to the Welfare Office, even though she's fanatical about keeping her busker's permit in good standing. Kara's current quality of life could be wiped away in any given second, by any negative influence to trip merrily along. Kara doesn't file taxes....
Not all of Kara's tarot readings are psychically sourced; plenty are generic enough to blow off as guessing. But some of them are full-blown uses of her ability to read the past and the future, which should eventually come to the attention of the kind of New Yorker who would like to have a true fortune teller at his beck and call. Lately there've been certain readings where Taki has interrupted to firmly demand that Kara screw up, get things wrong on purpose, and generally make herself out to be an ordinary hustler. Doing so makes Kara incredibly uncomfortable, but Taki has better instincts for spotting dangerous people ... right?
Kara has a BIG ol’ crush on Loki. Taki is not sure if she approves but she’s also not going to interfere unless a real danger pops up.

 
 

 

ATTRIBUTE BREAKDOWN


 
Attribute
Benchmark <span class="attr_bench">(based on current attributes above)</span>

 
DEX (Dexterity)
This person possesses the best agility that is humanly possible.

 
STR (Strength)
A normal human that can lift 200lbs over their head.

 
BODY (Body)
The individual is conditioned to withstand moderate damage without great pain. They may withstand blunt attacks as a prizefighter or a martial artist.

 
INT (Intelligence)
The individual has the ability to process information on the level of an industrious college student.

 
WILL (Willpower)
This individual has exceptional self-discipline and can remain calm and rational during a crisis.

 
MIND (Mind)
This person has the mental fortitude to continue normal activities even in persistently painful or stressful situations, such as those experienced by hardened soldiers.

 
INFL (Influence)
This individual can hold and draw the attention of a large audience.

 
AURA (Aura)
This person has a presence strong enough to change the emotional state of an auditorium-sized crowd from a dead calm to electrified frenzy.

 
SPIRIT (Spirit)
This person is so secure in his or her beliefs that he or she is willing to die for them.

 
Article template
Character
World
Tales of Justice
Author
Jarissa
Publication Date
4 Apr, 2020
Creation Date
15 Dec, 2018
Last Update Date
4 Sep, 2020
Visibility
Public
Views
928
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Comments
0
Tags
PC Knights-VIgilant

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