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HRHR: Prepare for Trouble.
TO PROTECT THE WORLD FROM DEVASTATION;
TO UNITE ALL PEOPLES WITHIN OUR NATION
READ THE JHASHCH INFOPAGE.
THE MISSIVE.
Precise as always, Grothia delivers a text address to all COST recruits, detailing a series of missions. With the upcoming holiday, she and Young know as well as the Regency that it's a perfect time for sabotage. After so much gross indulgence, the Araneans calm. It's a reprieve; one could almost think to call the Araneans docile, if docile meant you run the risk of being sleepily devoured by a satisfied spider. It's the freest recruits will be from their scrutiny, though there is still no shortage of prying eyes.
But there's no rest for the wicked.
COST is in a race with the Regency, to see who can outwit who first. Both sides are here to protect their interests and ensure the victory of who they would see sit the throne.
HOW IT WORKS.
Once again, this is going to be a little different from our previous HRHRs.
As seen in previous HRHRs, you guys get to choose from the objectives listed below; how your characters complete them is totally up to you. However, rather than asking you to turn in full plans, we're going to request skill levels for your characters as they pertain to that specific mission. You have until June 14th to sign up; we'll pair you up and tell you the difficulty of your HRHR the following day. If it's amenable to you, we'll roll for success. Please note that more than one pair of characters can tackle a HRHR; you'll just work on different objectives.
Skill levels are out of 30, with 1 as the worst possible score (bordering on nonfunctional), 15 as average for a non-powered human with training, and 30 as superhuman godlike abilities. For reference, a 20 would be peak performance from a non-powered human in an area where they're extremely knowledgeable and experienced, while powered humans will likely peak around 25, unless their powers or skills are seriously broken.
Threads are due
Please pick at least two HRHR options and note if you prefer one over the other. Ideally, we'll have at least two characters signed up for each mission, but it's not the end of the world if we have fewer; HRHRs are optional and no one will get in trouble for not participating. That said, failing a mission can result in the death or injury of one or both parties.
Characters can still interact with the rest of the cell while working on HRHRs. Also, the general parameters of these missions and who is doing what is IC knowledge (barring the last HRHR; you'll see why), so y'all have a general idea of each other's activities.
And please feel free to use any previously obtained plot coupons or elements in your plans.
THE MISSIONS.
HRHRs take place during the current log. You do not need to complete or even work on every mission objective; you only need to focus on one. The others are there in case we have more than 14 characters interested in the HRHRs, to give you guys a complete picture of what kind of missions you might be assigned. This way no one experiences any unfortunate surprises.
All HRHRs run concurrently, unless noted otherwise. Characters are given full agency over the completion of their missions, whether this means fighting tooth and nail, sneaking around, or doing whatever else. Hell, you could blow something up if that's your jam.
Do what you gotta do.
» THE ASSASSINATION.
Oh hell, they're trying to kill the queen.
High Queen Thsh is not one to be coddled and she makes that clear by killing the first of her would-be assassins on her own terms. She has decimated rebellions much larger than this and believes this one will be no different, stirred by her daughter or not. But COST would rather assassins not even get close to her, particularly with the Regency involved.
OBJECTIVES:
- Intercept any assassins, preferably well before they can engage the queen.
- Provide proof of the Regency's assassination attempts, fabricated or not.
- Dispose of high ranking Regency officials and their allies. If an opportunity presents itself, assassinate Princess Chch.
» THE LABS.
While the labs are largely archaic, certain sections remain functional and in production, namely in the manufacture and distribution of uthcki and hhcho. They also hold the genetic material of more than a few Araneans. House Jankeh presides over the production of uthcki and hhcho (among other experiments), while House Shaiy has taken over House Chchai's management of the Aranean genetic database.
The first objective runs prior to the mines' objectives.
OBJECTIVES:
- Gain access to the labs and steal samples from the Aranean database, at least one male and one female. Additional samples would not go amiss.
- Investigate any advanced biotechnology in manufacture by House Jankeh. The decision to sabotage or leave it is up to you.
- Create a duplicate of database records, particularly anything that seems suspicious.
» THE MEDIA.
As chaos unfolds, the media plays an important role in its control; propaganda goes a long way, no matter the location. WebFeed in particular is abuzz. Queen Thsh's stranglehold on the throne has been aided in no small part by its influence and the Regency attempts to grapple with that now. COST is here to provide countermeasures and prevent the Regency from swaying influence towards House Oujh, in an attempt to instate them as a new Great House.
The broadcasting stations are highly advanced, so there will be a steep learning curve, but a character with some technological experience will fare better than someone with none at all.
There's also the matter of House Shaiy. While they've failed to monopolize the media, they hold sway over a not-insignificant part; Queen Thsh has simply always superseded their influence. But now she's distracted.
OBJECTIVES:
- Obtain access to a broadcasting station, through whatever means necessary, and doctor the broadcasts so they're in COST's favor.
- Tarnish House Oujh's reputation and make them look weak, whether by destroying pro-Regency broadcasting stations, dragging them in interviews, or anything else.
- Threaten House Shaiy into line, whether physically or through other means. Remember, rumors don't have to be true; you just have to convince people to believe them.
» THE MINES.
Unrefined Ymir is still incredibly dangerous for non-Araneans, but the advent of the suits means COST recruits have some means of protection if they venture into the mines. However, the suits aren't foolproof, so there's a chance that recruits who participate in this HRHR may end up doing so...as Araneans. If Young can don a human guise, there's nothing to stop anyone else from downloading Aranean bios, provided they have the right data.
Characters donning Aranean disguises must fall on the artificial or natural segments of the hierarchy, since an Aranean giving off magical traits is a huge red flag, but magical recruits can still sign up. They just have to remain in human form.
The bulk of Aranean labor in the mines is overseen by two houses: House Oujh and House Khnk. House Oujh is irrefutably in favor of the Regency.
OBJECTIVES:
- Steal as much Ymir as possible, in the event all else goes pear-shaped.
- Create unrest and a lack of faith in House Oujh, whether by sabotaging the mines or through other means, and try to tip control into House Khnk's hands.
- There is supposedly a vault buried deep within the mines, where the most potent of Ymir is kept. Locate and rob it.
» THE REGENCY.
While inclined towards order, the Regency is fully prepared to take advantage of the turmoil. It isn't exactly to plan, but when do plans ever unfold without a hitch? They still aim to counter COST's agenda with their own; ultimately, it comes down to who gets where first.
The Regency is likely to interfere—or attempt to interfere—with all of the HRHRs. All recruits, participants of the HRHRs or otherwise, are expected to be ready to engage them, but Grothia wants a dedicated team on duty.
OBJECTIVES:
- Run interference for all the other groups, through whatever means necessary; sabotage, hit and runs, whatever possible. Just keep the heat off the other recruits.
- Wipe out the Regency's base of operations. The most obvious is their quarters, but they may have other targets spread throughout Jhashch (cough, House Shaiy, cough).
- Locate and extract a COST ally from among the Regency's ranks. She bears the staff sigil of Ptah and uses the code name "Serket".
» THE VIRTUAL.
If you thought you were done with video games, think again. Ythaway: Become Arachnid (or, as it's more commonly known, Y:BA) is a hyper-realistic virtual reality simulator, pride and joy of Aranean gaming. Users enter stasis after choosing a username and logging into a server. They're given the option to select a class, which affects their stats...but not their knowledge, so choose appropriately. COST recruits can interface with the game through their visors.
Players are loaded into a maze, which is open-world style.
OBJECTIVES:
- Make contact with an Aranean under the username "xXRipperXx" and forge an alliance.
- Make contact with an Aranean under the username "SP1NNER" and forge an alliance.
- Recover important data. You're gonna have to dungeon crawl for it, bros.
» THE GLITCH.
This HRHR doesn't have objectives and is entirely in your hands, because it isn't an assigned HRHR. You see, it's an accident; the Regency intends to make good on its promise to House Khah, giving them a chance to fight the Twin Princess Generals without interference, but their attempt to remove variables from the equation only added more.
If you're unlucky enough to experience the glitch, you'll find yourself teleported into a forest of wild greens and blues when the Twin Generals disappear from Jhashch. In the distance, rough red spires rise into the sky; it's the sight of them that might clue you in on your location. Because Cre is beautiful in all the ways Jhashch is not, even impaled by spikes that were once Ymir's ribs. They've been mined to the marrow and the average human can barely even feel the tingle of magic, but prolonged exposure is still less than advised.
More importantly, you're caught in a battle between the Generals and House Khah.
ETCETERA.
For those of you who want to request more information as it relates to your HRHR, we have a top level here for your perusal. Just fill out the form and you're good to go. This header also doubles as the place to request additional RNGs, whether because you're a masochist who wants to see your character die because they bungled a coin toss or you want to RNG a thread with someone besides your assigned HRHR partner.
Feel free to use this post to plot with each other. Or wherever else floats your boat!
READ THE JHASHCH INFOPAGE.
no subject
Here is some additional information to aid you in the completion of your HRHR.
- Queen Thsh primarily resides within the First Ring and you'll be given access in order to properly protect her. However, she expects an escort when she leaves, so if you want to do something outside of the First Ring, go for it.
- That said, the First Ring is as lavish and extravagant as you'd expect from the ballroom, with huge murals depicting Aranean conquests. It's also extremely obvious it was the core of a lab at one point, with gold filigree wreathing occupied test tubes and mirrors plating the walls. It's gorgeous and macabre in equal parts.
- You guys have free rein over who your targets are, Regency and not, and where you intercept them. Likewise, you can choose their methods of assassination, from straightforward weaponry to poisons.
- If you guys have other ideas in mind, go for it. Run it by us first if you have doubts about how outrageous it is, but if you can think of a way to integrate it with the success or failure of your HRHR and it has both of your approval, you'll likely get a green light.
If you have any other questions, please let us know!