Wolfram

Jack shook his head. "Wouldn't bother trying," he said. "She's not real. Or she's not really here."

He backed away toward the door. "Either way, it might not be a good idea to stick around, eh?" He turned, and began to run back toward the exit.

Jack sighed as Grayson put in his call to the police. He was going to have to get as much done as possible before they arrived and started getting in his way. Not to mention asking questions about who he was and what he was doing here.

He stepped forward, and cleared his throat. "I don't think she really cares what you think of her," he said to Yarg. "If you'll allow me?"

He reached out with his mind toward the woman, attempting to overpower her will with his own.

Jack was prepared to try fast-talking some answers out of the people who'd beaten him here, but the subtle change in the air as the girl at the piano fell made him hesitate. He put a hand on the grip of one of his guns, and nodded to the man who smelled like a distillery, hoping he was sober enough to get the hint.

Jack could hear voices ahead of him as he made his way along the underground corridor. The facility upstairs had been deserted, its "staff" having already fled, but this was promising.

He spotted the man and the... large... thing standing by the door, and stopped in his tracks. Whose side were these two on? At least, judging by what was being said, they were here for the same reason as Jack was, to find answers. That might make them allies.

He holstered his guns, made himself visible again, and walked forward casually, making no attempt to be quiet.

I've had to do a bit of interpretation on the Paragon Police Department, due to roleplaying one of its officers.

The main liberty I've taken is the CCA Relations Division. This is a division within the PPD whose job is to maintain communication between the PPD and the city's heroes. They keep track of which heroes work well with the police and which don't, and accept and file official reports as and when heroes choose to submit them. If a PPD detective decides he wants hero assistance on a case, it's CCA Relations that finds it for him. If a hero supergroup assigns someone as its official liaison to the PPD, that person reports to CCA Relations. The division doesn't have anything to do with auditing or regulating heroes (which I believe is the FBSA's job, though I could be wrong).

The CCA Relations Division's staff includes Lieutenant Barry West, Sergeant Douglas Wong, and Detective Jennifer Sula (MIA).

There are two problems. First, the CCA Relations Division is not mentioned anywhere and is entirely a player invention. Second, I just can't get the name right. I've tried a variety of titles, none of which really sound right. "CCA (Citizen Crimefighting Act) Relations" seems official-sounding enough, but I'm still not happy with it.

Why did I create such a thing? It just seems like something that would have to exist. Paragon is full of heroes, running around doing their own thing. Someone in the PPD has to be trying to make sure the heroes and the police are complementing each other, not getting in each other's way. Not to mention that heroes are going to generate a lot of paperwork for the PPD, and someone has to take care of it.

Anyway, interested to know what people's thoughts are.

Would it be reasonable for Jack to find his way into the underground area, since he's headed that way and the door was left open?

He does have enhanced senses, for reference. Vision (specifically night vision), hearing and smell. I'll leave it up to CB whether his psychic abilities allow him any connection with these vampires.

They're difficult to define, and harder still to directly reconcile with the in game missions. Each encompasses a range of possible characterisations.

Disclaimer: Opinions subject to change


Hero
The path of sacrifice
"Man is not a thing - not something to be used merely as a means: he must always be regarded as an end in himself."
- Immanuel Kant

Defining characteristics: Compassionate, Protecting

The Hero believes in doing the right thing. Better to die knowing you did the best you could, then to live with the knowledge that you sacrificed your principles. At best, the Hero is a paragon of true justice, helping those who cannot help themselves, fighting monsters without becoming one, acting as a beacon of hope and an example for all to follow. At worst, the Hero is naive and short-sighted, too concerned with stopping individual crimes to try and tackle their cause.


Vigilante
The path of necessity
"Exitus acta probat."
- Ovid

Defining characteristics: Callous, Avenging

For the Vigilante, results are what matter. What's the point in saving a few innocent victims if the perpetrator is free to strike again in the future? At best, the Vigilante is a pragmatist, doing what others lack the resolve to do, accepting the inevitable, preferring to stand as a warning to would-be criminals than as a role model to others. At worst, the Vigilante is a jaded and delusional fanatic, justifying atrocities a Villain would be proud of in the name of the "big picture."


Rogue
The path of greed
"The proper method of judging when or whether one should help another person is by reference to one's own rational self-interest."
- Ayn Rand

Defining characteristics: Mercenary, Independent

The Rogue lives for the moment. His or her loyalty is to the highest bidder. Some Rogues have principles, but these are more likely to be business ethics than any kind of regard for other human beings. At best, the Rogue is a free agent, staying neutral, doing whatever's necessary to live from day to day, only harming those who bring it on themselves by getting in the Rogue's way. At worst, the Rogue is a weak-willed coward, lacking the integrity to be a Hero or the ambition to be a Villain.


Villain
The path of power
"EEEE HAHAHA HA HA HA CRUSH SUPERMAN."
- Lex Luthor

Defining characteristics: Megalomaniacal, Sadistic

The Villain goes beyond just being an amoral criminal. He or she has a purpose - an ambition that comes before any short-term gain. Some Villains aspire to rule the world, others to destroy it; some aim to achieve immortality, whether literal or figurative. At best, the Villain is a strong-minded and driven individual who believes that his or her actions will create a better world. At worst, the Villain is completely insane and takes pleasure in spreading death and misery wherever he or she goes.

Jack watched the thugs flee back to their van. He considered shadowing them again, but without knowing where they were going he'd likely be walking into a trap. Besides, he had to make the most of the night hours while they lasted. Better to focus his efforts closer by.

"Bloody amateurs, eh," he muttered under his breath, before turning his attention to the unconscious vampire. "Requiescat in pace and all that, son," he said. "Easiest way for all concerned."

He quickly dispatched the vampire, disposing of the body in the adjacent storm drain, then return to the road and began to walk toward the building the van had been waved away from earlier. Maybe he'd find some answers there. He cloaked himself in darkness again as he walked, not wanting to be shot on arrival.

I think Fans and Shadowe have it right. If we're talking about a story in which a canonical organisation acts out of character, that's not good. A few renegade members is fine - in Longbow's case we have canonical evidence of such, especially from the new tip missions - but derailing the group as such is, in my opinion, going too far. If that was just the opinion of one character (or even several), then there's no problem. Characters believe all kinds of things. It doesn't necessarily reflect the player's opinions, and it doesn't change "reality".

For continuity purposes, will these vampires leave a body or turn to dust/ash/something else when staked?

All that being the case, Jack will remain where he is until the van reaches its destination.

Sorry about the slow updates, I've been having some major computer difficulties.

Sorry, more questions:

How many thugs total got into the van Jack is riding on? Was it two in the front and one in the back?

Does the van have a partition between the front and back sections?

Finally, are either of the windows open?

Thanks.

Right, I'm in. Hope that was all ok.

The Graveyard

Jack could smell the scents in the air as he approached the gravesite. Freshly-turned earth, where no bodies had been buried for days. Exhaust fumes, where no vehicles were supposed to be. Preservatives and funereal perfumes, where the corpses should be well underground.

Jack's methods had steered him right, though he'd been sure this was a dead end. He moved forward, silent and almost invisible, examining the midnight goon squad and their vehicles. Judging by the tracks in the dirt, a fourth van had been and gone. All very neat and professional; much like how any right-thinking vampire with decent resources would retrieve their newest spawn.

Would, if they were prepared to break with vampire traditions about turning children. And most vampires were traditionalists to a fault. Perhaps the Countess was getting a little too big for her boots? Jack certainly hoped so. It would make things a lot easier.

He moved into a position with a good vantage point, and waited for the next vehicle to be loaded.