Terrigen: Day One

[Duvet de Mot]

William B. Travis University in Atascocita, Texas

You sit in a grimy side-room in Rimer Hall, the university's underused philosophy building. And you can't blame anyone for avoiding the building: its' stark white walls on the inside are just as unsettling as the dirty and cracking pink-spackled outside. Crowded around you is a group of students, all crammed into the same space as you and none too happy about the location for this first meeting of the Demi-Human Awareness Association. The worn metal chairs arranged in a circle are forced so closely together by the A/V equipment and seating stored in this room that everyone feels crowded together. Though there haven't been any formal introductions quite yet, you notice several interesting faces around the room:

• A young man with tuft of fur covering his arms where hair would normally grow sits by himself, looking around rather nervously. His body is muscular and there are claws on his hands, but he seems almost effeminate as he runs his fingers through what can only be described as a mane.
  
  
• A woman of an indeterminate age who can't be described as anything but perfect. According to all modern concepts of beauty, she appears to be perfect; however, that's the only thing you notice about her: her brilliant green eyes, blonde hair, and "perfect" proportions are too flawless. Her appearance is so perfect that you can't help but find something off about her.
  
  
• A group of three men and two women wearing the symbol of The Image, an organization of radicals who believe that Demi-Humans are an abomination and pervert humanity, which they believe to be the perfect image of God. While they may not be exactly welcomed here, they cannot be turned away as this a student organization.
  

You all sit in uncomfortable silence as those Image jerks across from you whisper amongst themselves, eyeing each of you with a smirk on their faces. They're clearly up to no good, but there's nothing you can do to make them leave. Just then, a tall man walks in from behind you, bumping into your chairs as he walks around the tight circle. He apologizes profusely as he struggles to keep a hand on the bundle of papers and thermos of coffee he clutching onto. Finally around the circle, he drops down into a seat next to the shy Leonid a smiles widely from behind his thick beard. He runs and hand across his bald head and scratches the back of his neck before adjusting his glasses and standing once again, his papers and coffee firmly on the ground.

"Sorry for my tardiness, everyone. Had a bit of a delay to contend with, but all that matters is we're here, right?"

You notice a bit of eggshell on the shoulder of his brown, wool blazer, and you could have sworn you smelled stain remover as he brushed past you. He glances over to the group of Image students and gives a slight sigh.

"For those of you who don't know, this is the Demi-Human Awareness Association, so if that's not what you're here for, the door is just over there..."

The man doesn't seem surprised when none of the students in the room move to stand, eliciting yet another sigh.

"All right, then. My name is Dr. Alan Funderburk, but please just call me Alan during our time her. I'm the faculty sponsor for this organization, so if you need anything, please let me know. Our aim here is to provide support for Demi-Humans on campus and allow for constructive dialogue to be had. For our Demi students, this organization is a requirement that is intended to ease the stresses of college and curb any Surging incidents." Dr. Funderburk turns and casts a fake smile at the Image kids. "For those who are not Demi-Humans, we encourage you to stay as long as you can assist us in these goals. This is an inclusive organization, but you can and will be barred if you violate any University anti-defamation guidelines, promote violence, act violently, or cause intentional emotional stress on any of the other students. Sound good?"

Dr. Funderburk looks around the room and watches carefully as everyone gives their half-hearted nods. "We'll start today with introductions and then move on to a brief discussion about the basics of Demi-Humanity. I'll start and then we'll move to my left. As I already said, my name is Dr. Alan Funderburk and I am a Demi-Human. I graduated from OU with a my Doctorate in Social Work two years ago. Unfortunately, my graduation date was pushed back due to my Demi-Human status, but the important thing is that diploma, right? Let's see... I have the ability to produce mood-affecting pheromones and I can read another person's emotional state by the pheromones they produce. Next?"

Dr. Funderburk looks to his left expectantly, waiting on you to respond.

_________________________________________________________

This is where you will post any mechanical issues or questions which don't need to be asked to write your above post. If you have a question about what your character does and does not see, etc., feel free to ask in the Xat.

Before you write a post that will require a roll, make sure that it requires a roll according to the Marvel requirements for a roll:

• Roll if you're not sure if your character will succeed or fail.
  
• Roll if you want to try something that's bold, challenging, or dangerous.
  
• Roll if you want to oppose, challenge, or thwart another character.
  
• Roll if you want to show off you hero's super-powers or cool abilities
  
• DON'T roll if the outcome isn't an interesting part of the story.
  
• DON'T roll if there's no risk, challenge, or threat involved.
  
• DON'T roll if the only outcome of either success or failure is that nothing happens.
  
• DON'T roll if there's nothing or nobody to stop your character from doing something.
  
• DON'T roll if the situation is outside your character's ability to change.
  

If your reason to roll passes one or more of these, ask me and I'll choose whether or not to approve it (most likely will).

Rolling Dice:

When you're ready to roll dice, let me know and I'll get on Roll20 with you. Afterwards, post the results like this.

Affiliations:
Distinctions:
Other Distinctions (if applicable):
Power Set:
Power Set (if applicable):
Specialties:

Total:
Effect Die:

Explanation of results (complications, stress, etc):

And that's it!

[greymon]

I didn’t think it would bother me as much as it did. Rimer Hall has become more home to me than home ever was. The state of neglect is relaxing, familiar. Its foundation gives a long sigh as it creeps down the rare Texan hillside year by year. She’s showing her best face to this crowd of students who don’t appreciate her like I do. It’s a shame.

A shame I haven’t met this smoking blonde before. She’s got eyes that a man would drown in, willingly. A girl like that has bad news printed on her with invisible ink. “Smart, sexy, or sane. Pick two. You’ll never find all three in the same woman.” The wise words of Kris Hansen, the most prolific indecent exposure offender Atascocita has ever seen. Did I tell you I work at a mental institution? Nevertheless, Kris has a point. A girl as beautiful as that, showing up to a freak show like this? The whole state of Texas couldn’t brew Shiner strong enough to compete with that level of pure crazy.

That’s when I remember I work with crazy all the time. I’m attracted to it, judging from my ex’s.

*Burrrrrrrr* The metal desk squeals as I take a seat in-between the paragon of femininity and teen wolf boy. Those in the gathering cringe from the noise, my ears are all too accustomed to it. I saunter in my seat, knees sticking out comically from the woefully small desks. They’re a lot more comfortable than they look, I swear.

“You’re not one of those Image goons now are you?” I lean over and do my best not to talk straight to her abundant cleavage. I’m too old to make a rookie mistake like that.

---

The doctor’s role call gets to me. Everyone seems to be giving their major like this was some freshman mixer. “Sylvester. I’m a philosophy major.” I eagerly lean back to my preferred posture.

---

(Do I know what Dr. Funderburk teaches? If the conversation with the blonde is relevant, I’d like to roleplay that some)

[Duvet de Mot]

The blonde seems to wait for a beat before turning to you with a brilliant smile, overshadowed only by her brilliant emerald eyes. She gives a slight giggle and twirls her hair mechanically with her finger as she speaks, "As if! I wouldn't even be here if it weren't a required thing, ya know? I mean, it's a Thursday night!"

Within moments, the blonde's demeanor completely fades into mechanical apathy, her eyes losing their brilliance and the smile sliding straight off of her face. It's almost as if she's mocking Sly, but her voice has changed completely, becoming monotonic and cold. "Don't waste your time." And with that she turns her head back toward the center of the circle, eyes detached from the world around her.

Her head turns and eyes burst into life once the professor enters the room and fumbles to his seat. As the closest to Dr. Funderburk, she speaks first with her cheery demeanor, greeting everyone as if she expected them to be her best friends. "Hiiii! I'm Amber! Um, I'm a Marketing/Communication double major and I'm a Demi-Human... Should I say what I can do...?" Dr. Funderburk nods and urges Amber to continue.

"Okay. Well, I can selectively alter my appearance over time. So, yeah!" Amber leaves it at that, knowing that everyone will understand that she considers it a near-irrelevant piece of information given its inability to be justified for a permit. After she finishes speaking, Amber gives everyone a big smile and then turns to Sly and gives him a cold stare again.

________________________________________________________

Dr. Funderburk clears his throat and looks at Sylvester expectantly, "and Sylvester... Are you a Demi-Human? And if so, what can you do?" Before Sylvester can respond, Alan turns to address everyone else at the circle, "I expect you to answer all of these questions. For the majority of you, this organization is a required stipulation of your attendance at this university. We need to be open about these issues if we are to face and address them."

Dr. Funderburk turns back to Sylvester expectantly, his hands clasped together on his desk and warm smile across his face.

________________________________________________________

- The only courses which you know that Dr. Funderburk teaches are the courses he's best known for at the university: Disability Ethics and Demi-Humanities.

[TragicAce]

The humid Texan evening was plagued with the sound of cicadas buzzing, but worse by far were the gnats that found themselves so fascinated with Claudia’s face. Was it the scent she was wearing? Or was it her new conditioner? Likely the latter—there was enough vanilla fragrance in that bottle to mask a good bourbon. At least a Wild Turkey in any case. “The only export of Kentucky’s that’s worth anything.” Strange a nineteen year old would know her liquor, but you couldn’t call yourself a Japanese if you didn’t think business and beer came hand-in-hand. And business was Claudia Yoshida’s specialty.

After entering the actively decaying building known as Rimer Hall, she shortly realized that she’d need that drink sooner rather than later. Claudia had arrived early as a sign of respect, but as the minutes past by and the room crowded with the poor/tired/ugly huddled masses the heat also came with them. Among them, people more annoying than insects could ever be. The gnats were fondly thought of in comparison to these Image radicals: men and women who wore their fear of the unknown on their sleeves. “The new kind of Christian.”

"Sorry for my tardiness, everyone. Had a bit of a delay to contend with, but all that matters is we're here, right?"

Being late while you’re the head presenter of any meeting is nothing short of shameful. Were they in any realm outside academia, there would at least be the illusion of humility. The eggshells were crass, but none could say that ill-fitting wool blazer deserved any better. The supposed doctor Alan Funderburk proceeded to do away with his ridiculous surname in exchange for the informal ‘Alan’. Claudia could never get comfortable addressing strangers (particularly those of some supposed authority) by their first names. It might be out of style but there’s nothing wrong with retaining some scrap of professionalism from the previous generation.

---

“You’re not one of those Image goons now are you?”

A man sitting at the desk beside her who-by his age-is either a PhD or an idiot (safe to assume the latter) addressed none other than Amber Hall. Claudia already knew her name. It might have been because they shared classes together, or because they resided in the same dorm facility, or perhaps even because Claudia had searched through her internet profile at some length. Her beauty was not something you just forget: humans aren’t meant to reach that level of perfection. Which meant that at least by one standard, this Miss America was more perfect than Claudia would ever be. The resentment rested quietly and never came to surface of course, though she never could understand it fully in the first place.

Unfortunately from the way she replied, she was as dumb as a doorknob and held the same demeanor of her whorish sorority sisters…were it any other girl in this forsaken college she wouldn’t bat an eye, so why did Amber invoke so much anger within her? Her looks were only the product of her powers, it turned out. Claudia should just be able to write her off then and there, but she couldn't.

Was she jealous of her good looks, the way every guy on campus couldn’t help but stare as she passed by? No, that was for women weaker than Claudia. As far as her effect on other girls, the results were quite polarizing. You were either a leeching groupie or a spiteful jealous schoolgirl. The only other thought that surfaced about Amber from time to time was quickly put to rest as soon as it arrived. “To think that I would be…attracted to…argh! That’s ridiculous!”

“Ah, and next in the desk beside Sylvester? You are?”

Were she not more embarrassed at what she was in the midst of thinking, she’d have gotten upset at being interrupted. Her cheeks reddened as she tried to compose herself for an answer. Without thinking she stood up from her seat, her mind defaulting to the more formal days of her youth. Dr. Funderburk looked at her with a curious smile: Claudia unintentionally providing for a master class cute Asian girl performance. Just thinking about it made her stomach twist, but she didn’t have time to be embarrassed.

“I am Claudia Yoshida, a second year business major. I’ve recently transferred from the University of Tokyo, and I am a Demi-Human. I am here because it’s a requirement. Thank you.”

Sitting back down to a wave of murmurs was unsettling, but at least it was over with. What did she care what this filth thought one way or another. Most of them couldn’t muster comprehensions beyond the Cowboy’s chances at a playoff bid anyway. Part of Claudia knew this anger was just an attempt to mask her embarrassment, but that didn't stop it from working.

[Duvet de Mot]

Dr. Funderburk keeps his eyes trained on Claudia as she sits again, the whites of his eyes peaking from underneath his glasses. "And what is it you can do, Claudia? Remember, this is a full disclosure arrangement."

He wasn't quite sure what it was, but these students seemed determined not to fulfill the requirements of this group... Then again, given that they were being singled out against their will, Alan could see the pressure against them - especially given the presence of The Image. Alan shoots a glance over to the group of smug neanderthals, his piercing eyes connecting with who he assumed to be the leader: a young, overly privileged young woman with a high bun of brunette hair holding onto her necklace.

_________________________________________________________

Following Claudia, two more students introduce themselves from the safety of their seats:

The shy, yet wild-looking leonid turns toward the front of the room even as his eyes are cast downward. He mutters for a few moments before Dr. Funderburk asks him to speak up. "Um... My name's Peter... I don't know what I want to do... Um... I'm a Demi-Human and I-I don't really think I need to explain..." He turns back to stare at his desk, claws running through the fur on his arms tentatively.

_________________________________________________________

The moment Peter finishes speaking, a short, petite girl next to him pipes up, her speech nearly inaudible from the speed with which she speaks, "Imabbyimafreshmansoidonknowhatiwannadoyetimademihumanandicanflyandrunreallyfast."

The girl in the sleek track suit finishes speaking to the stares of Dr. Funderburk and the other students around the circle. She looks around for a moment, apparently confused by the reaction, before Dr. Funderburk responds to what he can only assume was an introduction. "I'm sorry... I don't think we quite understood that. Could you speak a little slower?"

Realizing her mistake, the girl lets out an abbreviated "Oh" and blushes vividly before speaking again, "I'm so sorry! It's just that I speak without thinking sometimes! I'm Abby, I'm a freshman, and I don't know what I wanna do yet. I'm a Demi-Human and I can fly and move really fast." Abby gives a wide smile to everyone around the room before turning to the woman to her left.

[greymon]

The girl was cold. If her reaction was any less calculated I’d label it bipolar. This is what I get when I attempt to be nice. Sheesh. I wish I had a smoke.

"Okay. Well, I can selectively alter my appearance over time. So, yeah!"

If an ability like that doesn’t give you dissociative identity disorder, nothing would.

---

Now it was my turn to introduce myself. Doctor Funk was pressing the issue like a passive aggressive stepdad. I don’t like talking about my power. Power implies responsibility, something I’m not a fan of.

“Uh, let’s see. I can beat any of you in poker. I’ve never lost a game of Horse on a basketball court.”
My thoughts wander to my talks with my ex, when I last made an effort to put my abilities into words.
“Never stubbed my toe on a piece of furniture. Oh and I can plug in a USB on my first try, everytime. That’s what I can do.”

Hey, nothing but the truth from me.

[TragicAce]

“…Oh and I can plug in a USB on my first try, everytime. That's what I can do.”

Claudia was far too ladylike to snort with laughter, but that didn't keep her insides from pounding at the hilarity of it all. This Sylvester character has the power of luck? Perhaps he should trade the black trench coat and cowboy hat for green! But what really had her laughing was not his choice of attire, but his current state of being. Mists or no, Claudia has always had the ability to spot low-value people from a mile away. A blessing or a curse, either way this fellow had ‘Loser’ written all over him. “Why in the world is he in Atascocita when he should be in Las Vegas? No one can be that stupid, can they?”

---

"And what is it you can do, Claudia? Remember, this is a full disclosure arrangement."

Claudia caught and returned the stare Dr. Funderburk was sending her way. As if he hadn't already read and re-read the extensive documentation the US Government had on each and every Demi-Human on campus. Her stating her name and power was a pointless formality. Every instructor at this school knew, after all. Her suspicions were confirmed when her Multi-variable Calculus professor replied to her raised hand with “Yes, Miss Yoshida?” on the first day of classes in a room of 150. And if you combine that with the looks she got from the faculty when they thought she wasn't looking...nobody's looked that way at a Japanese since the 40s. She really shouldn't be surprised: some saw Demi-Humans as hazards waiting to happen—and there was certainly enough airtime on the television catering to those fears.

After a long moment passed she realized he would not budge on this pointless procedure. With an audible sigh, Claudia ripped her head around glamour-girl style as her hair followed with flowing grace. Only a careful eye would notice that the locks moved in an unnatural pattern. “I have extraordinary hair.” Her words were terse; her tone denoted that the discussion had ended.

[Eva]

Maggie's eyes darted across the room whenever someone spoke, a chair scratched the ground, or someone coughed. With her backpack placed on her lap and her body hunched over, she was trying to make herself the least noticeable person in the room. Sure, she could turn herself invisible and just leave, but this meeting was important- at least, that's what the school administrators said. All Maggie had, and wanted, to do was introduce herself and 'meet' everyone else.

It seemed everyone but the people from Image had introduced themselves, and Maggie was certain they had nothing kind to say about or to anyone here. She slid her backpack onto the floor and stood up, making sure her foot was still touching it in case someone tried to snatch it. When you steal things, you become a bit paranoid about others doing the same to you, right?

"Is it my turn?" she asked, her voice quiet. "I'm Maggie Graham. I'm from Dallas originally...I grew up there. Right now I go to school, like all of you...um...I work part-time at a store? And I guess..." Maggie looked around, feeling the urge to disappear right there. Unlike most shy people, she actually could, though this had to be done whether she liked it or not. And she certainly didn't.

"I can turn invisible...and I can phase through solid matter. It's pretty fun, I guess...and it helps if I lose my keys?"

[Duvet de Mot]

Within moments of finishing her sentence, several members of The Image begin muttering among themselves as their leader slowly raises her manicured hand, her eyes piercing straight through Maggie.

Dr. Funderburk smiles at Maggie and nods his head, "I'm sure that would be useful! Great to meet you, Maggie," but then notices the conservatively dressed woman off to his right with her hand in the air. Breathing a sigh, Alan turned to the tall brunette and gave a smirk at her holier-than-thou pursed lips. "Can your comment wait until we get to you, Miss...?"

Slowly lowering her hand, the woman straightens out her navy jumper and turns her piercing gaze toward Dr. Funderburk, "Jessica Barns. And no, Alan. It can't." Jessica's lips drip with venom as she utters his name, her eyes narrowing as she turns to indicate Maggie. "Using her powers is against the law... This is the danger of having Mutants out in our society!" Even as the other Image members nod their heads in agreement, the room is emptied of all its air. Alan stands up from his seat, the desk creaking and squealing as he shoves it behind him. "Using our abilities in public is illegal, Ms. Burns; however, in private we are allowed to do as we wish. In the same way, you are allowed to be racist and bigoted in private, but the moment you use that language in public, then you are subject to the rules of this campus. Now, get out."

More squealing broke the air as Jessica and her group jump to their feet in protest. "You have no right to make us leave! We have a right to freedom of speech and a right to be in this meeting!" The conservatively dressed group of religious extremists stand opposed to the rest of the group, even the girl on the end who has not yet introduced herself.

________________________________________________________
Doom Pool
2d6

Scene Distinctions

• Tight Space
  
• Small, Squeaky Desks
  
• Harsh Lighting
  

Enemies
Members of The Image: 2d6

You may choose to get involved in this conflict. If you do not, then it will play out negatively for the entire group, but with no stress or trauma inflicted.