ELC1837

"Well . . . " Danny mumbles to himself apparently as he looks around at the rather barren desert around him. "Don't know what to make of this." He strides over to the bike, takes the paper and examines it.

A stern and solemn expression showed across Danny's features as he listens to Sean's reading and contemplates what significance it would have in his every day life. Death of the life he had before was pretty spot on, though given how varied his experiences were any number of cards could have had some tie-in with his past. Same with the Moon; without much of a past and little guidance in the present, his future was indeed shrouded in mystery and uncertainty. At least whatever power or lack thereof was behind the cards wasn't trying to railroad him into some destiny that might not be one meant for him. But the middle card--the Hermit--stuck out as a sore reminder that he now only had one person in his life--the same person he had neglected in hopes of making others in his life proud of him. "Maybe a hermit needs a home in which to be a hermit?" he remarks with a slight, sad smile. "Seems pretty spot on, but also very open-ended." He stifles a rather long and loud yawn with the back of his forearm. "Thanks for the reading, Sean. Would y'all mind if I crashed nearby for the night?"

Danny takes the deck, noting the bloodshot eye decorating the back of the cards, and cuts it into four smaller portions of varying sizes. He then stacks them back on top of each other so that what was once the middle was on either the top or the bottom, what was on top was near the bottom, and what was on bottom was near the top. "I know it's a weird cut," he acknowledges as he slides the deck back to Sean. "Been around plenty of crooked poker dealers, so I've gotten used to making them work a bit harder to pull a fast one on me. Not that you would; just saying it's a habit."  

[Placeholder - WIP] STR: 13 DEX: 7 CON: 13 INT: 17 WIS: 11 CHA: 7 LCK: 11

"I go by Danny," the newcomer introduces himself to yet another bald man with yet another glorious beard. "Your grandpa Mark says you're quite the soothsayer, eh?"

First, a modification for Dungeons and Dragons 5e based on the Touhou series; random whim based on poetic meter of both titles. Currently a work in progress as I'm using a library computer and will need to log back in again soon; that said the key mechanical feature here will be a sort of gestalt caster implementation due to the nature of Spellcard Battles in the series. Mansions and Maidens Playable Races (Core for Now): Jin (Human) - Despite having little to no innate power of their own, the humans of Gensokyo have managed to thrive by both worshipping various deities and practicing arcane magic unknown to the outside world. Ability Score Increase: + Sacred Studies In Canon Examples: Hakurei Remiu, Sanae Kochiya Occult Studies In Canon Examples: Marisa Kirasame, Patchoulli Knowledge, Sakuya Izayoi* Inaba (Rabbitfolk) - Ability Score Increase: +2 Dexterity. Whether they are from the moon or the earth, Inaba rely on being agile. Lunarian Ability Score Increase: +2 Wisdom. Lunar Inaba are heavily tied to the military, and thus develop a sense of discipline. In Canon Examples: Reisen Undongein Inaba, Seiran, Ringo Terrestrial Ability Score Increase: +2 Charisma In Canon Example: Tewi Tengu ('Pack' folk) - Ability Score Increase Wolf Tengu - Canon Example: Momiji Crow Tengu - Canon Examples: Aya Shameiru, Hatate Ryuchi ('Dragon' folk) - Ability Score Increase: +2 Strength. Even those distantly related to dragons are by no means weak. Heaven Ability Score Increase: +2 Dexterity Canon Example: Hong Meiling Hell Ability Score Increase: +2 Constitution. Whether it is Makai, Hell, or Former Hell, the underworld in Gensokyo requires toughness to live in Canon Examples: Yuugi Hoshiguma, Suika, Kasen Ibaraki Yosei (Fairyfolk) - Ability Score Increase: +2 Charisma. Fairies command the very forces of nature and mind with an equally potent force of personality. Primeval Ability Score Increase: +2 Dexterity. Canon Examples: Cirno, Lilly White Sensational Ability Score Increase: +2 Wisdom Canon Examples: Clownpiece, Sunny Milk, Luna Child, Star Sapphire Seishin (Incorporeal) - Ghost Ability Score Increase: +2 W Canon Example: Yuyuko Phantasm Canon Example: Prismriver Sisters (Lunasa, Lyrica, and Merlin) Eienko (Eternal Youth) - Blood-Cursed Canon Examples: Remilia Scarlet, Flandre Scarlet Elixir-Cursed Canon Examples: Eirin Yagokoro, Kaguya Houraisan, Fujiwara no Mokou Hanyokai (Half-Human) Canon Example: Youmuu Konpaku

Despite his illiteracy, the sight of the books itself causes something to stir within Lowe's mind. His eyes dart over to the various knives and darts scattered throughout the room, and suddenly he imagines how he could best wield such things to fend off any who would try to harm the Master or his research. Then his curiosity prompts him to ponder his own magical aptitude--after all, he felt more at ease with tangible forces that made sense even to his instincts--and, as though reconciling the mundane and arcane in a way even he would understand, he inadvertently conjures a replica of one of the knives, except it consists entirely of arcane energy. ======= High Concept: Small but Fierce Bodyguard Trouble: Oblivious to All but the Task Natural Aspect: Relentless Hunter Awakened Aspect: Intrepid Battlemage (Permission Aspect - Ancestral Heritage: Rapport) Temporary Aspect: A Stick By Any Other Name Skills (Awakened) +4 Fight +3 Athletics +3 Physique +2 Will +2 Rapport +2 Provoke +1 Investigate +1 Empathy +1 Shoot +1 Crafts Magic Disciplines Energy - Control arcane energy and animate objects Magic Stunts A Stick By Any Other Shape - Gain +2 to Create an Advantage with Crafts when using Magic to augment his "stick" with arcane energy to create new weapons Mundane Stunts Tough as Nails - Once per session, at the cost of a fate point, you can reduce the severity of a moderate consequence that’s physical in nature to a mild consequence (if your mild consequence slot is free), or erase a mild consequence altogether. Provoke Violence - When you create an advantage on an opponent using Provoke, you can use your free invocation to become the target of that character’s next relevant action, drawing their attention away from another target.

Danny couldn't help but chuckle nervously in response to Mark's dramatic laugh. He glanced over to Ben, hoping that the man's expression might give him a clue whether he should be worried or not, but the blonde brother just seemed to be annoyed. "I, uh . . . I'll do that," he tells Mark as he mentions two names--a Jenny Po and PJ. Wait . . . I already got that messed up didn't I? Massaging the side of his scruffy chin with his palm, Danny let Mark take his bowl before standing up and approaching the tent Shawn was in. This seems way too large for homeless wanderers. And is that . . . music? Curiosity got the best of him as he entered.

The new arrival stifles a belch with his hand and gives his stomach a few good pats to help any more gas out before answering. "Not sure to be honest; my mom told me I have an Uncle B there, but I never met him and I don't know if I have any other relatives out there either."

Danny nods as Mark explains what he knows about 'soothsaying' and how it relates to tarot cards. "Just half a bowl more, if you don't mind," he requested more of the delicious stew as he held his bowl ready for more. As he sat back down with the last of his gifted dinner in hand, he looked back towards the road and considered himself lucky that he met this family. "Yeah, I do. Do you got the tent space or at least an extra blanket I could lay on?"

Danny finished enjoying the rest of the stew before he wiped his modestly bearded mug with the sleeve of his gray shirt, all while nodding attentively to Mark's insights. His initial wariness had managed to wear off to a more general caution--even if Mark and Ben had proven to him that they were decent folk who knew how to cook a hearty meal, he didn't know much else about them or the area and didn't want to step on any toes. So when Mark mentioned his grandson working on tarot, the east-coast nomad nodded and leaned forward, mostly out of courtesy, though somewhat out of curiosity.   "I think I heard about that," he admits. "That's kinda like the crystal ball thing, but with cards, right?"

Danny mentally shrugged off the idea of eating squirrel as he accepts the bowl; anything cooked half-way decently would certainly be more palatable than the day-old cheese pizza he found while dumpster diving one time. "Heading out west to make a new life for myself," he answered Mark's question before sampling the stew. "Got some family out that way, and not much at all back the way I came from." As he stirred the stew a bit and took another bite, he made a note of how well-dressed both Mark and his brother Ben were despite the 'middle of nowhere' vibe the roadside camp had. The revolver and knife the red-bearded man had on his person suggested these two (and whoever else they may have been traveling with) were seasoned wanderers, yet their shirts and the metallic adornments on such suggested they had yet to get their hands dirty. "How about yourself? Are you from around here?"

He warily eyed the man as he accepted his offer to sit down. Mark--or so he called himself--looked like he had been through the roughest years of his life and had came out stronger and wiser than most his age, let alone those younger. Not that him being built like a recently retired linebacker was unsettling to the new arrival; no, instead it was what Mark wore that rose his suspicions. Although his pants may have been muddied (presumably from wading in the ditches to get down here), his fancy vest and shirt suggested that he had some wealth still--unlike himself or other roaming vagabonds he came to associate with fires like this one. "The name's Danny," he introduces himself. "And I wouldn't mind a bite; what are you cooking?"

Uncle B's words still resonated in Danny's head as he pressed forward along the rocky road. Although he was lucky enough for a generous stranger to give him bus fare to get this far, he still had quite a few miles to hike before reaching Silver City, and he neither had the shelter nor the food to ensure that he arrived healthy enough to work. And, as much of a tough guy as he imagined himself to be, he knew for sure he wouldn't be able to fend off a pack of coyotes, let alone actual wolves. So, when he spotted the campfire and smelled the enticing fragrance of cooked food, the vagabond stopped and considered his options. He could continue on along the road, hoping that his tenacity and cunning alone would help him reach Silver City in decent physical condition. Or he could actually take note of his limits as an actual human being for once and do what he can to ensure he gets there in that same condition. Having lost everything by always doing the former and never the latter, Daniel stepped off the side of the road and cautiously headed towards the fire below.

[WIP] "It never is just one problem that makes life difficult, is it?" - Daniel McHargue Daniel marched onward along the dusty desert road, a backpack full of canned beans and held together by a ragged jacket slung across his shoulders. An arid wind whipped past him, prompting him to reach into the canvas bag fastened across his chest via an old charging wire and the backpack straps and pull out one of four bottles of water. After taking a hefty swig and stowing the bottle back, he wiped his damp, unkempt beard on the sleeve of his shirt: the sun out here was already too strong as it was without beads of water making it worse on his pasty skin. After a few more minutes of hiking, he sat down just off the side of the road, freed himself from the weight he was hauling around, and fishes through the cans for the oldest one and his plastic spoon to use for it. As he eats the luke-warm beans, he stares past the makeshift cowl framing his face at the horizon, reminiscing on just how he got in this situation. A little over ten years ago, Daniel would have never believed that he would need to trek cross-country from east to west just to meet with some estranged uncle; back then, he was just a college dropout with a work ethic and intelligence that would suggest otherwise. Although he wound up hopping from job to job in the first few years, he figured he had found his calling when he started a warehouse job with one of the bigger name companies. It wasn't exactly fulfilling tossing boxes into trailers for six to ten hours a night, but the pay was great and the constant exertion was an excellent way to relieve the stress of such grueling work. But no one stays young forever, and as the years went by, the toll of the warehouse started to take his toll on him. A disc in his lower back sprained, knees popping whenever he crouched down to pick up a package, two kidneys barely keeping all the energy drinks and sports drinks in him for more than an hour at a time: he was falling apart, and, even worse, he refused to believe it. Eventually his physical health caught up with his mental state, and, after storming out during a shift with a new manager in charge of his wing, he was permanently terminated for job abandonment. His life started to spiral out of control after that. Out of bitterness for losing his job after pushing himself so much, he lashed out at friends and family, forcing them to cut any and all ties with him. A few incidents with rather raucous neighbors (as well as overdue rent) gave his landlord all the reason to evict him. Then the criminal record of disorderly conducts and trespassing made getting another job near-impossible--living in the city with public transit made owning a car a luxury, not a necessity. Once he had survived a month without being able to stay at the shelters in his area (due to being banned from them), Daniel finally decided he had to do something drastic just to survive: he had to go and talk with his Uncle B, someone he had never even met in his entire life.