[M&M] Pandora’s Door

[Rockerboy]

@Boss Nadar: Hope you don't mind, but I added some details overall for Vinny (expanded on boons/malus and complications etc), as well as a follow up writing sample (based on the prompt) and some (reliant on approval result) connections with Charlie and Rudy!

Also, since you mentioned real world people/events, where possible, does this include the Vietnam War? Conscription and the like?

@EMIW"

Originally Posted by EMIW

In the situation we both get picked: I imagine that Rudy is also in trouble with the Outfit. They wanted whatever he was being given at the time of the MURD incident, and he was the last person known with it. When he woke up after the explosion it was gone - taken, fallen into the harbour, he never knew. Maybe Vinny was sent to bother Rudy about the item, the higher-ups not believing that he doesn't have it, and to try to get Rudy back into the fold - they then realised they were in a similar situation in regard to the Mafia, and formed a kind of friendship.
Although, reading your application again, it looks like Vinny doesn't really actively work for the Outfit any more, he's basically out and just owes them money? I wonder if Rudy's wife's cousin Adamo was the one pushing him for the item, and mentioned incidentally that Vinny was laid up sick after the MURD blew. Rudy could make a connection between his own new 'situation' and Vinny being 'sick', and seek Vinny out to try to establish if they are 'suffering' (in Rudy's mind given he doesn't want his powers) from the same thing. Debateable whether Rudy would have even heard of Vinny before this, Rudy was hardly in the inner circle, he was just slipped money to more stuff around.
Interestingly, the organic steel/Colossus idea was what I first thought of doing before I remembered my old character idea!

Yeah, that sounds like a good connection starter. I could see Vinny's situation with the mob being a few days/weeks in the making, as they decide what to do with him (ultimately distancing him until he's repaid his debt), so in that time he could have been tasked with continuing to fix things - at least long enough to meet Rudy more directly, after MURD? In my mind, Vinny got a few basic jobs/call outs, then the leaders axed him until his debt was/is settled.

To tie into the sick angle, maybe Vinny had some outward display during meeting Rudy, which is how Rudy connects some potential dots (as well as realizing Vinny also survived the explosion - which very few did)?

Also very cool; I had considered a Flash/speedster before Colossus, but then figured it might be less common than the former!

@Lorelei: Would you be interested in a possible connection between Vinny and Bridget? Perhaps her time as a journalist has had the two cross paths, or maybe Vinny was sent at times to misdirect with some mafia directed news, or even some friction because he threatened her off a story or something?

Or maybe even something as simple as having crossed paths in clubs or hang outs or parties (they're around the same age)?

[Gateway502]

Character Application Character Name: Donal Donlevy (aka An Daghdha/The Dagda) Age: Unclear, but appears to be in his 60s. Gender: male Nationality: American and/or Irish Physical Description: a large, bearded man of advanced years. His hair is long, grey, and matted. His clothing is unclean and threadbare, with frayed areas and rips. He favours his left leg due to an injury sustained many years ago. Occupation: none, depends on charity Powerset: godhood! During An Daghdha phases increases in size becomes more charismatic his club/staff "kills with one end and brings to life with the other" Should he ever find the items concerned, he gains powers to feed people from a cauldron that never runs empty (depends on gaining the cauldron "Coire ansic") control men's emotions and change the seasons (depends on gaining the magic harp, "Uaithne") He is in better health now (his various ailments, like that hacking cough he used to suffer, have all mysteriously disappeared) than before the MURD, though it hasn't changed his outward appearance and his leg is still a problem. (Note: it seems to me like his health problems would return if he lost his powers, but that's a GM decision. I plan to use fewer than the initial 60 points for his non-powered state to reflect the fact that he's unwell.) Back Story: Specific details about Donal's childhood are unclear, even to him, but it is known that he entered the US around 1900 with his Irish Catholic parents, and that the family settled in New York. He gives his birthdate as September 24, 1896, but whether that is accurate or not is debatable. Donal was conscripted into the army in 1917 and fought in France with the 69th Infantry Regiment, the so-called "Fighting Irish" or "Fighting Sixty-Ninth". He was injured at the Battle of Château-Thierry in 1918 and returned to the US with both his physical injury (a smashed leg), and "shell-shock", from which it is fair to say that he never recovered. His life after his return took him up and down the northern part of the eastern seaboard, primarily, until he appears to have settled in Chicago in the mid 20s. There is record of him being arrested multiple times during this period, particularly in Chicago where he seems to have been a member or associate of various criminal gangs, most notably the Sheldon Gang. His criminal career seems to have tracked Danny Stanton, and he vanished from organised criminality around the time that Stanton was killed in 1943. Amongst the underworld his willingness to do anything he was told, without apparent fear, counterbalanced the feelings that most people have about his strange demeanour. After Stanton's death, Donal drifted into homelessness, and has been living rough from at least the mid-40s until now. He has long claimed - loudly, usually while drunk - to any and everyone who will listen, to be the earthly form of An Daghdha ("The Dagda", a god from Irish mythology), pointing to his "club", or "staff" (often a tattered black umbrella, or occasionally a chair or table leg that he has found) as evidence. These outbursts usually include pleas to help him find "Uaithne". As such he is a well known sight on the streets of Chicago, and well known to the police also who are always moving him on, arresting him for vagrancy, public drunkenness, and worse (particularly during his An Daghdha episodes). The An Daghdha periods have become more frequent since the MURD explosion. He still has some lucid periods, mainly depending on whether he is drunk or not, but his An Daghdha periods have definitely increased in frequency and intensity. Boons: alcohol (he's not fussy as to type) food during an An Daghdha phase, his wife and children (but see "Complications"...) the 57 cents in his left sock (all of his pockets have holes in, so it's the only place he can keep his money) Malus: the police; winter; people in general Contacts: (positive) Father Edward (full name, Edward/Teddy Dorgan), a Catholic Priest, is pretty much the only person who doesn't shun Donal, and indeed will find food and a bed for him when requested. Donal's behaviour disturbs him, but he doesn't let that stand in the way of charity. It's clear, however, that his attitude stems out of his faith rather than from liking Donal personally. (negative) Police officer Eric Carney is the bane of Donal's existence (one couldn't call it "life"). He has rousted Donal numerous times, and seems to take delight in doing so. It's clearly personal, because he doesn't tend to do the same thing to others in Donal's circumstances, or at least not with the same frequency. Perhaps being urinated on by Donal on their first meeting has coloured his opinion. Complications: Homeless and jobless, dependant on charity Addicted to alcohol Shunned by almost everyone because of his appearance and behaviour, and sometimes has the delusion that he's a god Uaithne - The Dagda's "harp", with which he can change the seasons/weather, was stolen by the enemy after "the battle" (he can never articulate which battle this was - whether it was the battle in France in which he was wounded, or one of the many smaller battles he has been in since), and he searches for it. Coire ansic - The Dagda's "cauldron" is also missing. Family - The Dagda is married to the Mórrígan, and is the father of Aengus, Cermait, Aed, Brigit and Bodb Derg. It would complicate everything if any of them should turn up (of if someone turns up claiming to be them). Note: Donal is not known to have ever married. Delusional? Whether Donal's godhood is real or delusion is absolutely open. Notes: I'm theorising that the powers of his club/staff are Donal's, but that he needs the physical prop for him to be able to use them. The same thing with the harp and cauldron - if he gains what he considers to be those items (that is, any kind of stringed instrument and any large saucepan will do, with the proviso that he has to believe that they are his harp and cauldron) then he will be able to use those powers too. Writing sample Donal woke with a start - a kick to the ribs will do that. "Wha'? Go 'way!" he shouted, clutching the empty whiskey bottle to his chest. There had been a little left when he'd found it, discarded in the alley. Just a little. But even now the aroma pleased him. Another kick. "WHAT DO YOU WANT? LEAVE ME ALONE!" he screamed, opening his eyes. He looked up through the mass of dirty, unkempt hair that had fallen across his face while he was asleep. "Mórr...ígan? That you?" he asked, not believing his eyes. The woman crouched down, and, tucking her long red hair behind her right ear, smiled. "My Queen! Beloved!" Donal reached towards her, suddenly much more awake. The woman looked shocked and disgusted, batted his hand away, and quickly stood up to take a step back, almost toppling backwards as she did so. "This can't be the one", she muttered to herself, and looked back towards the entrance to the alleyway a few yards away. She rolled her eyes, and with a look on her face that said "I can't believe I'm doing this", she went into her spiel. The powers. A job. A threat. "I don't make no secret of who I am! My Queen, please... I'll do anything for you. Anything!" He held his bottle out to the woman, perhaps forgetting that it was empty, as if to invite her to drink with him. "Will you lie with me this night? It has been so long. So very, very long..."

[BlackDragon0]

? Blackdragon0 So to clarify, you always go by your full name regardless of who is addressing you? Would it be offensive/improper to simply call you 'Oni', or 'Kage'? Just want to make sure NPCs are using the correct name when addressing you.

ONI means demon. On its own its more like calling him a disparaging word. Kage on its own means Death Shadow or plague. So calling him kage is like calling him leper. Only together do they fit. Sorry I normally use Dawie = David, or Kokuryuu= BlackDragon as a first name. But this time the mame just fit the ch type. Cause as a former soldier he's going to fight like a demon and to those he's after its going to feel a Demon's shadow of death (grim reaper) is apon them. Both when he was a SOF and as the hero/anti-hero he's going to be. It's simpler when he's a hero/super he just goes by Dragon. And will after a time add a dragon either red or green to his cape.



Food for thought. Oni Kage is a soldier at heart.. He could be convinced, possibly by the general to start a team backed by the General's political associates.

He's shown the ability to protect others and save people. ( Soldier and more specifically Jonny Mac.)

He's used to seeing bad things and being sent to stop them normally by killing the enemy.

He's here to start a W.K.A. like thing. While boxing is still the main fight sport he's well known enough to be asked to specifically join and help start it.

The Lt. Is also in the sport as the bad guy who will cheat to win. May not only want to rep the sport but may want to control it. Corrupt it. How better to fund and force fixed fights than the mob???

The unseen hook he was away at war when his parents died in a fire. Who started it? Was it meant to kill them was it a mob make a building unliveable scheme so they can buy and put something else there? Was it a group that didn't like race mixing? Oni Kage wouldn't know. But to have it exposed in game to him would be a cool plot twist.

And lastly murd thing killed people he really won't need any other reason than that to want to go after them. I mean he went to war to save lives... murd would just wind up being a new at home personal war.

On another note. If you want to know a bit of the kind of stuff I can write and bring to a game I recommend reading C.A.T.S, link below in signature. VVV

[ArcZero]

Okay I did a pretty thorough overhaul improving and imperiling Farrah's background. Refining what she will want to do when the story starts. Added quite a few contacts since the Olympus lead seems the most intriguing way to get her into the story.

Also I like the way things are done in the FATE system of "passing your character to the left for someone else to write themself into your story in some minor-ish way". So this is an open invitation if someone wants Farrah to be a connection for them. Here's a link if you don't want to scroll through to find her. She's good at finding books and articles for you at the library in South Chicago or being quiet company sitting in the corner of a few diners (A burger at Big Mack's, anyone?). The wallflower wants to get to know people outside of work but often gets flustered and resorts to reading a book as she slowly eats or nurses her water/coffee after work.

[EMIW]

Originally Posted by Rockerboy

@EMIW"

Yeah, that sounds like a good connection starter. I could see Vinny's situation with the mob being a few days/weeks in the making, as they decide what to do with him (ultimately distancing him until he's repaid his debt), so in that time he could have been tasked with continuing to fix things - at least long enough to meet Rudy more directly, after MURD? In my mind, Vinny got a few basic jobs/call outs, then the leaders axed him until his debt was/is settled.

To tie into the sick angle, maybe Vinny had some outward display during meeting Rudy, which is how Rudy connects some potential dots (as well as realizing Vinny also survived the explosion - which very few did)?

Also very cool; I had considered a Flash/speedster before Colossus, but then figured it might be less common than the former!

Sounds good to me! I remember seeing the GM say that immediately post-prologue would be PL 6 and that it wouldn't take long to get to PL 8, so they probably formed their acquaintance/friendship in PL 6-7 I'm guessing, so we might get to actually play out their meeting if we both get picked.

[Boss Nadar]

EMIW Good catch, maybe I shouldn't be reading apps after a long day at work.

Rockerboy Looking forward to reading all the changes! Tuesday's my day off, so I'm probably gonna use today to do a full read through everyone's app to make sure I give everyone their due attention. As for the war, I'm not a huge history buff, but I don't recall the U.S. getting directly involved in the Vietnam War until the 60's. Certainly there was indirect support and aid, but nothing that required conscription or the like. And with this new crisis, its likely the U.S. will be reallocating resources to take care of the battle at home, though the war in Vietnam is likely to continue without them.

Gateway502 The delusional homeless man is a classic trope, and could make for an interesting and dark character. However, the trope also has a tendency to be played for laughs as a humorous 'look at the fool' moment. While I don't see anything in your app to suggest that's the direction you're taking Donal, I want to preemptively call it out and say that type of character probably won't fit the tone of the game. If you're planning on playing it straight, with perhaps brief moments of brevity, then I think its a fine character (and incidentally, its spooky how close one of your character's plot points pertains to the main plot, but I won't say which one). Also, you didn't outright say it, but I assume Donal was living near the harbor when the MURD incident occurred? Or did he have some other, specific reason to be there?

BlackDragon0 That makes sense. Then I'll make sure to have NPC's call you by your full name, unless they're intentionally being disrespectful . Some of those food for thought suggestions might make good ideas, see if you can't add them directly to your application in some way-with how many things I'm keeping track of, I'm likely to forget details if they aren't kept in one place. Given the number of apps I am reading through already, I probably won't have be able to make time to go through your previous game anytime soon, but if I catch up with everything else and have some extra time, I'll take a gander at the C.A.T.S. stories.

ArcZero The pass to the left idea isn't a terrible one, though its a bit harder to implement in an online space than a real-life one. still, think we can still get the spirit if not the implementation by having these conversations now. That being said, you might have better luck if you take the initiative rather than leaving the door open yourself-find someone Farrah might have contact with, and suggest how you might have connected, and then work from there.

[PalladiaMors]

While it's hard to see a grease monkey like Maddie having any kind of connection with Farrah pre-MURD, she probably would show up at the library fairly often after the fact. Although Maddie's friend Amy is probably a frequent visitor, as she and Farrah aren't too dissimilar so there's a friend of a friend angle there.

Pretty much anyone who has a car has a reason to have at least a passing connection with Maddie. But a few more specific ideas:

• Dermont might be a semi-regular customer at Milano's Auto, since they sell auto parts and the like in addition to doing the work. He may have been there to buy or order parts for his truck. He and Maddie may have also had occasion to talk sports at a diner here and there. She doesn't like the Cards either but at least they're a Chicago team.
• Charity's fondness for driving may have led her there for service on her car, or she may have called in the event of her car breaking down. I imagine seeing a girl her own age working as a mechanic with the full blessing of her family (her father at least) would be memorable.
• Vinnie may have seen her in passing. Maddie doesn't live at the auto shop, and will show up at street racing events now and then and will hang out with some of the "greasers" that frequent them. Street racing is a pretty new thing in this era, but no doubt the Outfit would want their fingers in it and may have sent someone to check it out. Maddie would appear to be just another racer's doll until she pops the hood on one of the racer's cars and starts working underneath like she knows what she's doing. Given the era, that would be pretty memorable.

[Ghrimm]

Originally Posted by EMIW

Speaking for Ghrimm, if I may, Johnny isn't homosexual, his former fiancé's new fiancé, Bryce, is homosexual.

Yes, looking back I did sort of throw a lot in there in a real short span so it could have been clearer. Dani lets Bryce do his thing while looking like a 'proper' red-blooded American family man, and Bryce (perhaps after a suspiciously long honeymoon to mask the child's exact birth date) grants Dani's child legitimacy. I plan to tweak a couple of things a bit so I may look at adding to her section.

I see Johnny being able to appear, like he did to the red head, but only in a semi-transparent and somewhat amorphous state. He can look humanoid, just not like himself thus ensuring he can never go back to his old life - at least not without finding a cure.

As for staying mute I figure that is strictly down to a lack of fine control. After all sound is transmitted by vibrations in the air and he can already manipulate things with his air-body in a crude way so he should be able to generate those vibrations within himself. It may never sound exactly the same, possibly disembodied or like it was being carried across a long distance, but he should be able to communicate through whispering in someone's ear. It is even possible he has already been trying this and that it is no small part of why his presence has so upset his mother and sister.

[Rockerboy]

@PalladiaMors: I could see that being a connection, yeah. Vinny does like a fast car, he wants to own a 1950 Jaguar XK120 Roadster because it's a swell ride, so an interest personally/Outfit wise could make sense. Plus knowing a grease monkey is always good!

Happy to follow your lead for a racing circuit/gig, I could bring Vinny in (pending selection) as either his own person or as a mobster, or even both?

[Gateway502]

Originally Posted by Boss Nadar

The delusional homeless man is a classic trope, and could make for an interesting and dark character.

Ah, but is he delusional, that's the question!

However, the trope also has a tendency to be played for laughs as a humorous 'look at the fool' moment. While I don't see anything in your app to suggest that's the direction you're taking Donal, I want to preemptively call it out and say that type of character probably won't fit the tone of the game.

No, I definitely don't want to play it "for laughs". I think it's an utter disgrace that people have to live on the streets in some of the richest countries in the world (I don't know if you keep up with UK news at all, but the Home Secretary recently called it a "lifestyle choice" )

Also, you didn't outright say it, but I assume Donal was living near the harbor when the MURD incident occurred? Or did he have some other, specific reason to be there?

I completely forgot to mention it He was... in the area. Probably being wilfully ignored by people. He might have just been there knowing that there were a lot of people, thinking that perhaps there was a better chance of people giving him a few cents with which he could buy some food. The way I see it, he probably spends his entire day trying to get enough money to eat and maybe somehow getting his hands on some booze. He doesn't have the luxury of doing anything else.

[HexCursed]

@Boss Nadar: I added a section to my application called "goals and story". I had been thinking about what she was going to do and how that would intersect with the plotline. So, I put some thought into it and tried to spell out a little better what she would want to work on. I'm sure that I'll use the next 2 weeks to remine and add to things.

[EMIW]

Originally Posted by PalladiaMors

Pretty much anyone who has a car has a reason to have at least a passing connection with Maddie.

It's possible Rudy would also know Maddie a little then although, unlike someone like Dermot, Rudy didn't own his own van/truck - he would have one from the Olympus fleet, probably a different one each time. But he would have his own small car, a cheap runabout, that probably needed fixing fairly frequently - Rudy could do some of the simple stuff like change a tyre, but anything particularly tricky and he would need to take it to a garage. He's a handyman, not an engineer, and prayers to Saint Frances don't always cut it.

[HexCursed]

Originally Posted by PalladiaMors

• Charity's fondness for driving may have led her there for service on her car, or she may have called in the event of her car breaking down. I imagine seeing a girl her own age working as a mechanic with the full blessing of her family (her father at least) would be memorable.
  

If and when it comes time to draw connections between characters (like if we both get selected), then I'd want the connection to be more significant.

For example:

• Maddie and Charity are friends from high school (or just the neighborhood).
• We were at the MURD event together when the incident happened.
• Maddie once saved Charity a lot of grief when she got into a fender-bender in her father's car and Maddie fixed the damage before Charity's father found out. Charity owes Maddie a favor.
• We sometimes double-date together.

[Boss Nadar]

Ghrimm Yeah, I see it now. That was my bad, I saw your app when I got home from work, and read it a bit faster than I should have. Also, there's nothing wrong with leaving him mute permanently if you want to go that route, so long as he develops some way of communicating

Gateway502 Glad to hear my fears were unfounded, but I had to ensure you weren't taking a serious issue for laughs. Playing it straight gives plenty of drama and roleplay opportunity without needing to resort to punch-down humor.

Everyone Don't count on me to remember anything that you post in this thread, I have too many things to work on and too poor memory to keep track of it all. If you need to make additions/changes to your character after a conversation in the thread, make sure that change makes it to your actual app. When it comes time to make my selections, I'll be thoroughly rereading everyone's apps to make sure I give everyone a final proper analysis. That also goes for any inter-player relationships you work out, so if you work something out with another player, I strongly suggest creating a "player relationships" box in your app if you want those potential relationships to be considered when I'm making my decisions. Also, I made a nice little table with a link to everyone's app on my opening post. Please make sure your name is there, and the information I have there is correct. If you don't see you name there, then I missed your app, and I need you to let me know so I can get you added properly!

[AlphaZ]

I had a wild dream last night where I was Dr Holland and we were all invited to a dinner party. It ended up being a trap and with bullets flying we fought our way to freedom. But there was still a GM, so I had to explain to Boss Nadar what I was doing every time I used a psychic power. Good times.


I dropped a few potential connections (looking at you Rockerboy, Lorelei, and Ghrimm) at the bottom of my app.