Star Trek RPG - Setup thread

[choie]

Yes, I've been guessing at least one missing knife. Some instinct in me wants there to be one absent knife on the loose, although it doesn't quite make sense--honestly I'm at a loss as to why they were taken at all, it just feels like an error on someone's part. But if not, I'd like there to be a knife in someone's possession that makes him/her dangerous. Just ups the tension. (But unless it's on the Chariot it's impossible, given the unique qualities of the knives; we scanned for them and couldn't find them anywhere on the planet.)

As to what else... A key or something that leads us somewhere else? The mysterious dispensers of epinephrine? A batch of naked photos of Mrs. Hsu? A mask matching Mr. Wilson's face, indicating the Wilson we saw all day was a false Wilson? A strange black statue of a falcon? A rope? A bottle of champagne with black sand/uranium in it?

[general_urko]

CIAS in main thread #2918 you have a typo, you typed "He greets Booker and Kylah at the door with a nod" when what you intended was probably "He greets Kylah at the door with a nod and Booker with a glance and slight shake of the head that conveys both contempt and pity, although surely too subtly for the stupid ape to detect."

[anyrose]

So, Kylah is a lush?

[choie]

Only a half-glass of wine! Just someone who can't handle her liquor. Maybe she's too used to Klingon blood wine.

[anyrose]

Serve her a Warrior's drink

[choie]

Ha! Considering her half-human physiology that might have unpleasant consequences that didn't seem to affect Worf.

[Elendil's Heir]

...A bottle of champagne with black sand/uranium in it?

Kudos for the reference to Hitchcock's Notorious, one of my favorite movies.

[CatInASuit]

Ok...who moved the knives?

[choie]

...A bottle of champagne with black sand/uranium in it?

Kudos for the reference to Hitchcock's Notorious, one of my favorite movies.

You know I'm a sucker for Claude Rains, even as a Nazi! And beautiful Cary Grant and elegant Ingrid Bergman. Or is it elegant Cary Grant and beautiful Ingrid Bergman?

Ok...who moved the knives?

Those bloody knives! Too many of them and where the hell are they???

Thanks for giving Kylah a bit of success, EH! Now did you do it because she was so low and you felt sorry for her, or was the password always the same and you were testing me/her?

And I will give you a million quatloos if it turns out Q equals... Q! I could totally see Fastolfe as a Q. Hey, Quark isn't hundreds of years old, is he, by any chance? Because I remember he had something to do with the Orion Syndicate over on DS9 and was going to testify against them.

Speaking of which, I finally went and did some research on the O.S. over at Memory Alpha, and I had no idea that in the TOS era, they were only briefly mentioned in the first pilot and later in Journey to Babel, but otherwise nothin' (unless the wiki is wrong?). The way everyone in the game except Kylah and Collins has a history with them, I thought they were rife throughout the 23rd century episodes! Is it just because they're teased so lightly and never elaborated on in-universe that they've caught people's imaginations? If anything they're more DS9-era enemies. I didn't even remember that they were the guys behind O'Brien's 'Donnie Brasco' episode.

[Elendil's Heir]

You know I'm a sucker for Claude Rains, even as a Nazi! And beautiful Cary Grant and elegant Ingrid Bergman. Or is it elegant Cary Grant and beautiful Ingrid Bergman?....

Yes.

Kylah got her win because she'd earned it. Not everything has to be difficult for her... or for anyone.

"Q" wouldn't be Quark or any other Ferengi; first contact won't come until the first year of ST:TNG.

There are also Orion pirates in an episode of ST:TAS. They've always interested me.

[anyrose]

Could "Q" be Q?




I know "we" (the audience) didn't become aware of Q until Encounter At Farpoint, but the Q (collective noun) may have been watching the Federation for centuries.

And yes, they have no use for money, but it may have amused them to collect it as a novelty.

[choie]

Hmph, if someone wants in on the ruminations, maybe that someone should get her butt back in the game. In any event I beat you to that theory (or at least a hope) a few posts up! Interestingly EH doesn't deny it, although he does refute my opining about Quark. Still I find it hard to believe someone like a Q would really waste time with extortion... unless he/she were trapped somewhere kicked out of the continuum without any powers, like in that TNG episode. Plus, adding Q seems like such a game-changer this late in the mission.

Anyway, EH, whether it was pity or just good timing for Kylah, thanks for the moment of success!

[general_urko]

Could "Q" be Q?




I know "we" (the audience) didn't become aware of Q until Encounter At Farpoint, but the Q (collective noun) may have been watching the Federation for centuries.

And yes, they have no use for money, but it may have amused them to collect it as a novelty.

The Q we all know and love would have staged this whole thing just for the entertainment value of the intra-crew drama...

[Elendil's Heir]

Hmm. If you want a definitive answer about Q the ST:TNG character in this mission, I'll give it.

[choie]

The phrasing of that remark interests me strangely. Clearly it's not TNG's Q.

In fact the answer is obvious. Who has the technology, the canniness, and the money to pull something like this off?






Also: bloody Delaney and his nosy questions! He did the same thing on the Sakath mission, too One of these nights he's gonna be shanked by an Elasian knife.

[choie]

Heh, that was a typo, that was supposed to be Mr Young.

Our GM enjoys tweaking us for our omissions--NPCs never seem to understand them! Remember this donnybrook when Collins/anyrose left out the word "crew" or "team"?

"Yes, thank you. I think we each learned something," Collins says un-ironically. "Are our quarters ready? Some of my want to freshen up before we debrief each other."

"Some of your what?" Palver asks.

All right, that's it, goddammit, Graham thinks, hearing Palver's response. Do these spores make everyone on this planet ball busters, or just science division types? For all his inclination to ask Collins one-on-one what the hell she's doing, and despite any temptation to watch her twist in the wind, she's still his mission commander. He strides forward until he's face to face with Palver, backing off from an aggressive posture at the last moment since he accepts the fact that their rank differential makes going drill sergeant on a superior officer a losing proposition.

"Her egg-bearing Hortas...." he mutters while on approach, then then drastically moderates his tone to all business. He stands at attention and then shifts to parade rest and clasps his hands behind his back. "Sir, I believe the lieutenant meant her team, sir."

On a different subject, because it's been a while since I used my mad artistic skillz to assist with evidence, I happened to be rereading the game thread and when I came across the description of Wilson's body, I decided it seemed odd to me, so I created a layout of it. Pardon the incredibly bad line drawing--I don't have a tablet and it's hard to draw with a mouse. (Otherwise clearly Wilson was doomed to die anyway from Rubberized Appendage Syndrome.)



What struck me as odd is: If Wilson was standing when stabbed, why is his arm in that weird position? Even if it had been raised over his head by the attacker (hence the bruise), if he'd fallen backward the arm wouldn't just conveniently stay in that upright position--it'd probably just drop onto his chest or face, or just down by his side again.

Also, why is that right hip raised? Was something underneath it? Why are his eyes closed--that's rare in a violent death if the victim is awake, I would imagine--and his mouth only slightly parted? If someone's attacking me and I'm aware of it, I doubt my mouth is only slightly open.

I guess I'm asking if there's any possibility that he was unconscious and lying down when stabbed. Although how? T'Var would've found signs of a concussion or some kind of drug.

Short version: probably useless drawing but since I drew it, now you get to share in its glory because I'm damned if I'm wasting all that effort!

Speaking of, I also decided to upload Kylah v.2 that I created a few weeks back but never uploaded. This one I'm proud of, because in addition to a better model face, I found an appropriately proportioned costumed body to attach it to (well, I had to widen the hips a bit, the original cosplay pic was super-busty but really narrow), and an empty photo of the Enterprise bridge to use as a backdrop.







(Yes, I will do anything to avoid working on my manuscripts.)

[general_urko]

@choie

1. Wilson having been unconscious or asleep is interesting especially given our perpetrators mad transporter skills and dropping things into people's bed rooms...

2. " the original cosplay pic was super-busty but really narrow"

I'm shocked, shocked I say!

[Elendil's Heir]

Nice work on both graphics. Only one suggestion: Kylah, as an ensign, would have no braid on her cuffs.

[choie]

Yeah I'd better get rid of that. I doubt Kylah will ever be anything more than an Ensign!

Can I rewrite your last post? Here it is:

Kylah looks at Halsey's record: He is a red herring.

Dr. T'var says, "Most interesting. Halsey is a red herring."

Delaney adds, "Yeah, Halsey is a red herring."

Topgallant yadda yadda by the way, Halsey is a red herring.

Very helpful. Can you do one for the Hsus now?

[CatInASuit]

Can we get a timecheck in the game please? I think I've lost track somewhere?

Also, wasn't Dr T'Var supposed to be in Hiram Young's office with Rangin? Did I miss something?

[choie]

Clearly she was too busy being a typical doctor and sticking up for her fellow member of the "Do No Harm" society!

Here is the appropriately demoted Kylah.

[Elendil's Heir]

Nicely done... for now. I'm sure she'll rise higher in her Starfleet career!

It should be about noon by now, isn't it? Any objection?

Perhaps I lost track of Dr. T'Var; I thought she was with all the others.

[CatInASuit]

Noon-ish should be fine.

I thought Dr T'Var had gone with Rangin to Mr Young's office.

[Elendil's Heir]

OK, thanks. Now that others have referred to her being away from Rangin, let's just roll with it.

[general_urko]

OK, thanks. Now that others have referred to her being away from Rangin, let's just roll with it.

"Dammit!" Graham shouts, getting in T'Var's face and obviously enraged. "Didn't I order you to go with Rangin! I'm in charge here!"

[CatInASuit]

"...don't you know the trouble a hippy could cause if let loose in this resort. The next thing you know it will be all campfire songs and free love and....and...belay that order will you."

[general_urko]

Hey welcome back Collins!

[Elendil's Heir]

Yes, indeed!

[choie]

Yay, welcome back! Well, almost. Here's to a quick recovery period.


Hey I have a question, EH. All of the evidence and reports that the team have gathered/given verbally. Can we assume that... somehow... all of this data is accessible via our tricorders? For example if Kylah is trying to remember what Dr. Halsey said about Fastolfe's visit this morning (BTW I cannot believe that it's only been less than 48 hours since the murder... I really thought there was another day in there!), can she "pull it up" on her tricorder, assuming that Rangin has made notes and uploaded them as we all agreed to do back in the beginning when the interviews started, or does she have to get in touch with Rangin and hope that he can recall just by memory?

In short, can we assume that everyone has diligently followed the directions at the start of the interviews when we decided we'd keep everyone abreast of stuff? Does everyone know or have access to just about everything that we've already discussed/recorded?

[Elendil's Heir]

Yes, you should assume that just about everything has been recorded as the Yorktown landing party has done its work; that seems proper investigative technique in the ST:TOS era. As to obscure factoids, if I remember something off the top of my head, I'll tell you - otherwise, you'll need to look back through the game thread yourself (and then please provide a link, or a cite).

[choie]

Thanks, EH! That's good news. As far as obscure factoids... as I've mentioned to my cohorts, I've spent the past week rereading the entire thread and taking notes (I just caught up today, yay!). Very interesting, and also maddening. All the things that are consistent and those that are not... Thanks to all the data stuffed into my head and on my massive Word doc. now, I seem to have become John Nash, and am seeing secret codes and patterns everywhere.

[choie]

He's also both gratified and alarmed. She remained silent until I gave her...leave to speak, they might say in archaic language, and then she kisses my ass... (snip)

Hee! To paraphrase Olympia Dukakis in Moonstruck: Boy, what Graham don't know about women is a lot.

[general_urko]

He's also both gratified and alarmed. She remained silent until I gave her...leave to speak, they might say in archaic language, and then she kisses my ass... (snip)

Hee! To paraphrase Olympia Dukakis in Moonstruck: Boy, what Graham don't know about women is a lot.

Role-playing success!

Or maybe I'm just writing from experience...

[Elendil's Heir]

Thanks, EH!... Thanks to all the data stuffed into ...my massive Word doc. now, I seem to have become John Nash, and am seeing secret codes and patterns everywhere.

Glad to. Ooo, I'd love to see the Word doc. PM me for my email address, if you don't already have it.

[Elendil's Heir]

dp

[choie]

Wow you must really want that document! I'll send you the 42-page thing--it's entirely your posts (hopefully getting all of them that included something useful, but you never know) with I think just some extra dialogue or comments to add context.

I have a strategic and crackpot theory document but that stays out of your gimlet-eyed gaze, because just as we shouldn't know a GM's next move, a GM ought not be aware of players' tactics before they blunder forward with 'em.

Oh wait, sorry, in-game question:

You ended the most recent post with "Kylah's impression of his general truthfulness continues to hold as to these answers."

But the previous post said: "Kylah's sense of his untruthfulness is less strong now, but still perceptible."

There's a bit of litotes going on here. Do you mean that Kylah still feels that "his untruthfulness is less strong now, but still perceptible," or did you mean that he now seems truthful?

(I do miss the days when you'd actually let her notice when one of the specific answers strikes her as untrue, as with #2160, instead of for a whole three thousand-word post of Q&As. But I guess that's my fault for cramming them all in together!)

[anyrose]

*I'd* like to see the crackpot theories list

[Elendil's Heir]

...Do you mean that Kylah still feels that "his untruthfulness is less strong now, but still perceptible," or did you mean that he now seems truthful?....

The former. And as to post 2160, the Vice Admiral seems to have a better grip on his "emotional broadcasting" than some others whom she's observed.

[choie]

Damn, EH! If an NPC conveniently providing all the evidence via magic wand is seriously the answer to the murder mystery, I am going to file a protest with the both the FCC and the RPG Commission for Crimes Against Player Agency!

[CatInASuit]

...did I just miss something important?!

[choie]

Yeah, the info that apparently we could've just hung out in the spa getting massages while waiting for the NPCs to finish the game for us. So, shall we go over to the WR&R's finest steak restaurant and get something to eat?

[Elendil's Heir]

Now, now. You had to do the legwork to get to this point.

[general_urko]

I'm just glad Graham gets to start kicking some ass! America F#ck Yeah!!!!

[choie]

Yeah okay. We get to a point where we're about to check on Hardin's alibi, we would've probably discussed what Hardin's motive could be, and so on. Hell, now that Hardin confirmed that WR&R is the only corporate entity allowed access to the spores, Kylah was going to ask the gang why on earth Starfleet would engage in unethical behavior such as handing over an exclusive contract to create a monopoly where WR&R is sole distributor of a unique plant that heals people--but is now only available to the extremely rich since WR&R has no competition and thus no reason to lower its prices.

There were ways we could've solved this on our own, we were very close to doing so, but instead we get... everything dumped out of the bag all at once, nice and neat. And a murderer who's apparently also a Q, of all things, since he managed to magically make us black out and disappeared into a puff of smoke like Merlin. ARRRGH!

But I guess if the others enjoyed it, that's cool. Thanks for letting us do the character interactions, anyway. Those were rewarding.

[general_urko]

Oh it totally didn't register to me that Graham just ordered Rangin out into the rain.

Icing on the cake I suppose

[anyrose]

I want to know why it's raining on a Paradise planet? It would never rain on Rysa.

[choie]

I want to know why it's raining on a Paradise planet? It would never rain on Rysa.

A wizard did it.

[general_urko]

I missed choirs edit in the main thread, sorry!

Also auto correct will nor allow me to type her alias as anything other than choir

[Elendil's Heir]

You guys are killing me.

[anyrose]

You're allowed to dismiss autocorrect, y'know.