How to Get Ahead in Business (Without Really Dying)

[The Widowed]

So while I was out dawdling about, I apparently missed a wee spat between Kryogentic and First Victim. Lo and behold, El Vicko had an appeal waiting for me upon my return. A mere demotion to Hardcase would have hardly raised my eyebrows, but a demotion to Goon? For anything short of betraying us and handing our collective hineys to Statesman in a silver-plated cargo crate, that seemed a touch excessive for what amounted to "I'm not in the mood to gab, Kryo. Perhaps later."

So I took Vicky's case pro bono and reviewed the facts. Kryobutt will forgive me soon enough (after calling me a bunch of belittling names), I'm sure. :D

In his somewhat brief but memorable career, the mute guy who telepathically speaks through his pet flytrap has done a bunch of stuff:

1) Dumped a steaming buttload of salvage on us when he came over.
2) Brought along all the leadership and expertise which had earned him the topmost rank among his former cohorts, the Corruptors of Paragon. Sorry, folks; Your loss is our gain. >:]
3) Helped Yours Truly obtain a smattering of badges, temporary powers and other assorted goodies which I couldn't have gotten on my own.
4) Saved my butt on multiple occasions.
5) Got saved by my butt on multiple occasions. Hence, the bond of fellowship was forged.
6) Joined forces with Kryobooboo, Owain Venompuker and myself to help me whore myself out to Arbiter Daos and crush Ghost Widow--my own spiritual advisor--so that I could lay claim to her power, though the incident has left me with a twinge of bitterness. One day, Daos, your fate will be sealed by my hand....
7) Offered valuable counsel on a number of improvements for Wonderland, both cosmetic and functional.
8) Starred in my own video production, a short film on the robbery of the Founders Falls bank (presently in post-production).

So, a wager: If Vickmeister could complete my battery of numerically answered trivia questions and mathematics querries without flubbing even one of them, his previous rank of Ringleader would be restored. Do you think fifteen questions was enough? I thought so. :)

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He kept going, and going, and going....

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Eventually he finished the questions and selected his previous rank from among all of our fabulous prizes. Pity. That was a really nice Porsche too.

It was then that he declared a challenge to lay claim to a seat among the Council of Malice. Weighing his time in service and his contributions to our pack of ne'er-do-wells, I accepted his challenge with the usual condition that he would be demoted to Hardcase if he failed even one of the three trials I set before him. He agreed to my terms, and the challenge commenced.

The first trial: Trial by mass skirmish!

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A renegade with his degree of power certainly would have Night Widows at his beck and call, and I anticipated that he would call them down on my head. Night Widows are far too deadly for direct combat; A team which could weaken the Night Widows while healing and protecting its own fighters would fare far better. Enter my Sorcerers, a Sky Raider Engineer and a Shivan Destroyer. The Cobras are surprisingly powerful for the pittance you pay for them and their venom spit can cripple enemies as well. The Mook was only there because I had 100 points left over and didn't want them to go to waste. :p

Unfortunately, I grossly underestimated the resilience and effectiveness of the Hellfrost which Firsty brought to the arena. He also brought a Sorcerer to handle the healing needs of Night Widow, Hellfrost and Invisible Longbow Annoyance alike. The Mook outlasted the Sorcerers and the Engineer--oddly enough--before succumbing to the Psychic Screams of the Night Widows, and my proud army was eventually reduced to one half-dead Cobra springing across cargo crates in a mad charge for self-preservation, a goal which was not to be his.

One trial down, two to go.

The second trial: Trial by Rock Paper Scissors!

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Round One: Bloodywedd chose Paper. First Victim chose Scissors.
Round Two: Bloodywedd chose Paper. First Victim chose Rock.
Round Three: Bloodywedd chose Scissors. First Victim chose Rock.

So there's that. Not exactly political science, is it?

The third trial: Trial by Combat!

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I admit, the third trial was added at the last minute (after I had already promoted Vickergruber to Council). But, you know, these things always work better in threes. Besides, if I won, I could always demote him later.

It turns out I didn't have to worry about that. He's pretty handy in a duel.

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It was a well-fought duel. He bound me to the earth with all the holding vines he could throw at me, while I kept him quailing in fear between violent levitations. After the mental confusion I inflicted resulted in the defeat of his beloved Fortunata, Victim got serious and somehow went into Domination twice before my fifth fall was dealt and the Victim was declared the victor.

Pity there wasn't a victory party afterwards. I love victory parties.

So anyway, that's how you challenge a leader for promotion. The next one in line can expect some real brainbusters to solve, of course. >:]

Now Kryo gets to hang out with Vic-Vic all the time! Talk about happy endings....

So...any questions?

[Kurai Inago]

Well Damn, Guess it's time to get back to work.....

((Yeah, I am coming back... and I guess now that I know it's actually POSSIBLE to get into the Council, I have a task ahead of me. Heh.))

[Cryogentic]

Now now tell the truth how he really got there was manipulating you and sucking up to you, played you like a fiddle. All he had to do after I demoted him back to goon for disrespecting me insulting me and ignoring me was tell you how bad I am and you bought right into it. For shame. So for the rest of you all you have to do is kiss up to Bloodywedd and you can make council in no time.

After I beat him in the arena he will be a goon agains so it won't last.

[Knightward]

Awww, looks like someone's upset because someone beat them at their own game. What's the matter? All your good looks and charms do nothing for anyone not into women? Well I'm sure you can get an operation to look like pretty boy there and use that to your advantage.

As for me? I'll just keep doing what I do best: Keep things in perspective and tear apart the vain and people who get in my way.

- Abissmiliard

[Cryogentic]

No wasn't beaten at my own game, I am top of the food chain I have no need to suck up to a puppet. I'm quite disturbed at how weak Bloodywedd is, sadly I had to ive my toy away and go shopping for a better one, one that won't break down and put a smile on my face.

[The Widowed]

Oooh, the little imp is flicking her spaded little tail in my face. How tragic it would be if I convinced her own shadows to lop the tail off at her butt, hmmm?

[Cryogentic]

My old toy has grown weak and dull, it has become lost in its own sight and become blind, its softness is no longer there but sharp jagged parts piercing through its skin are left. I do not like my old toy anymore it is no fun. Someone has added strings to my toy, my toy isn't supposed to have these strings. I won't remove the string for the toy is no longer wanted, the end of my toy.

[Knightward]

Yep, someone got beat at their own game. Yeah things changed in a way you didn't want? Welcome to reality, sucker! Now go mope in the corner about how tragic it is that someone with your looks got the shaft while I go kill Bambi's mom.

[The Widowed]

You're too late. Hunters already got Bambi's mother. In fact, Bambi was so despondent about the ordeal that he sought counsel through a rabbit and a skunk....

So now that the imp has settled her delusions about me being a toy, let's blatantly shun her and leave her behind while we go out for frozen custard! All in favor?

[Cryogentic]

You're too late. Hunters already got Bambi's mother. In fact, Bambi was so despondent about the ordeal that he sought counsel through a rabbit and a skunk....

So now that the imp has settled her delusions about me being a toy, let's blatantly shun her and leave her behind while we go out for frozen custard! All in favor?

You are right you are no longer a toy. You are a puppet and it was my mistake to ever think of you as a toy. As for being beaten at my own game, I haven't been yet, the act is not quite over and in the end I get final cut

[The Widowed]

Puppet? That's odd. I don't remember making any decision that wasn't of my own free will once I had reviewed the pertinent details of the decision.

That or I did it on a spontaneous whim. And spontaneous whims without causes are difficult for others to manipulate. Ha ha ha!

[Cryogentic]

Just because the puppet can't see their strings being pulled doesn't mean they are not being pulled. Nothing is ever spontanous you might think it is but your a puppet so of course you think it is. Your decsion was based on his manipulation of you, he even told me you let him do what ever he wants. Sounds like he had you in his pocket for a while no wonder he felt he could insult me and such. The act is comming to an end though and I'll find a new toy without strings attached to it. :D

[The Widowed]

Did he manipulate me? Or did I simply give him the benefit of a doubt? Did he beguile me, or do I simply like him?

Impy, you're far too swift to judge. Even in my most paranoid moments I'm eclipsed by your wild conspiracy theories. :P

[Cryogentic]

Not judging just based off what you said when we talked :)
you know very little, but that doesn't matter things will change, time will tell, and the strings will be pulled :D

[Knightward]

A new toy with no strings other than your own of course. After all, a toy is something of possession and ownership and control... so very similar to a puppet. But anyway, your spoiled pouting bores me.

*stretches and begins to yawn, but yawn comes out of the belly which turns into a giant mouth, and then a "normal" belly again*

.... That's not a good sign...

[Cryogentic]

looks like poor Vic chicked out and broke his deal to fight me tsk tsk tsk great choice for a council memmber Bloody a coward who can't be trusted with anything

[The Widowed]

He can be trusted with flattening Founders Falls. I know that much for a fact. :P

[Knightward]

From what I saw of arena records while skulking around the Giza, it seems that at the time you were supposed to have your duel, someone had entered from *hacks up phlegm* Paragon City, while First was the only one from the Rogue Isles. And since it's impossible for us "villains" to get to the arenas in Paragon, clearly you didn't show up at all for your own match. Whose the one chickening out? So it looks like he can be trusted with more than you can. Boo hoo.

[Cryogentic]

From what I saw of arena records while skulking around the Giza, it seems that at the time you were supposed to have your duel, someone had entered from *hacks up phlegm* Paragon City, while First was the only one from the Rogue Isles. And since it's impossible for us "villains" to get to the arenas in Paragon, clearly you didn't show up at all for your own match. Whose the one chickening out? So it looks like he can be trusted with more than you can. Boo hoo.

(( She did RP wise Cryo and Kryo are the same person and Kryo frequently takes over Cryo's body, secodnly mayham mission we are in paragon which means villians can go there. Kryo has been around as long as Cryo, she was just content with controlling Cryo from time to time for the most part. I did the same thing with darkness he didn't like being conned either but he held up his side of the deal, which is why I think I like darkness. It doesn't matter anyways.))

You are wrong, you are not good enough to get to paragon without being caught, I take frequent trips there.

[Knightward]

((Well yes, you do go to Paragon in mayhem missions, but you aren't exactly making use of the facilities there. You wreck and run, cause staying too long would get you caught. As for being conned, I always figure if you're conning people they can just turn around and con you back. Either way yeah, it isn't a big deal. I'm just not use to extended in-character discussions.))

[Cryogentic]

(( Yep they can con back, but Kryo wasn't conned back, we had a discussion OOC. IC there is no way any character would know anything changed. I see it like this if you make a character and want them to be a shapeshifter so you make like a fire and an ice blaster and say they are the same person RP and the character shapeshifts between them and you challenge the character to a duel in the character can choose either form since RP wise they are the same. ))

[Knightward]

((Methinks at this point the discussion should be continued via PM. And that it will be continued on a day where I actually got sleep the night before, unlike how this day is turning out.))

[RedSwitchblade]

Did I chicken out? Perceivably so. But at least I stood behind my own abilities. If I were to make a deal, I'd be honorable enough to mention that I was making the bet from the weak half of a dream-land personality fissure. Evil or not, I tend not to consort with the lying and misdirected, it's not worth humbling myself over them. Not that I couldn't sense your betrayal - I was perceiving it mentally, but couldn't figure out what it was. I had to wait for it so you could show me what it was.

Now I know. You're two people, and one's a hero. What a fine upstanding Council member you are.

((RP: Telepath knows the change in thought patterns justifying his bailout. Also, RP wise First Victim never really respected you so he's goign out of his way to **** you off. It's not a reflection of myself, actually. I'm not good at spontaenous RP so my personas blend into me and they say things they're not supposed to. Bear with me))

[Cryogentic]

Did I chicken out? Perceivably so. But at least I stood behind my own abilities. If I were to make a deal, I'd be honorable enough to mention that I was making the bet from the weak half of a dream-land personality fissure. Evil or not, I tend not to consort with the lying and misdirected, it's not worth humbling myself over them. Not that I couldn't sense your betrayal - I was perceiving it mentally, but couldn't figure out what it was. I had to wait for it so you could show me what it was.

Now I know. You're two people, and one's a hero. What a fine upstanding Council member you are.

((RP: Telepath knows the change in thought patterns justifying his bailout. Also, RP wise First Victim never really respected you so he's goign out of his way to **** you off. It's not a reflection of myself, actually. I'm not good at spontaenous RP so my personas blend into me and they say things they're not supposed to. Bear with me))

(( There wouldn't be any change in thought pattern at all, it was still Kryo, mind and all, only thing that would of changed is some of her internal structure on a moleculare level. ))

I stood behind my own abilities as well little one, I am a god my abilities do not have an end or a limit. Ypu don't know what I can do or anything about me that matters, you are doomed to fail either way. You made so many mistakes already I give you a F on talant and ability

Well obviously you don't know anything, I am not two people no just one, I don't consider puppets people. If you do I'm still only one person what better way to walk around Paragon then under the guise of a hero?

[RedSwitchblade]

((No offense, but RPing against a "God" with limitless powers and abilities makes for bland and ultimately unsatisifying RP. You've basically just written "my character can do whatever she wants because she's cosmically without boundaries in strength and talent. Therefore no matter what your character says or does he's ultimately in a corner and I have all the cards."

Why, then, should I even bother trying? I've had to butt heads with this RP idea all my life. My character is fun to RP because he has exploitable avenues and limitations. If everything I do is countered with some new thing you can just write in, I might as well give up now and leave the group, since you can't actually demote me.

And please correct me if I'm wrong, because I mean no hostility with the post. I'm just confused and unmotivated.

Also, as far as First Victim's powers are concerned, he could sense the difference. He's not some two-bit chump moron who can be suckered that easily. He has psychic sonar and is deeply connected to the powers of the earth. He could sense the change in powers.))

[Cryogentic]

((No offense, but RPing against a "God" with limitless powers and abilities makes for bland and ultimately unsatisifying RP. You've basically just written "my character can do whatever she wants because she's cosmically without boundaries in strength and talent. Therefore no matter what your character says or does he's ultimately in a corner and I have all the cards."

Why, then, should I even bother trying? I've had to butt heads with this RP idea all my life. My character is fun to RP because he has exploitable avenues and limitations. If everything I do is countered with some new thing you can just write in, I might as well give up now and leave the group, since you can't actually demote me.

And please correct me if I'm wrong, because I mean no hostility with the post. I'm just confused and unmotivated.

Also, as far as First Victim's powers are concerned, he could sense the difference. He's not some two-bit chump moron who can be suckered that easily. He has psychic sonar and is deeply connected to the powers of the earth. He could sense the change in powers.))

(( She isn't a god and her powers are very limited :P You need to stop believing everything Kryo says. My character is perfectly aloud to believe she is a god with limitless power, doesn't mean it is true. I keep clicking edit instead of quote! I haven't written in anything my character has been like this since day one. RP wise I don't see how you could not fight in the arena, did Vic get conned yep, deal try to con Kryo if you want but I don't see why he would back away even if he felt she was a little different somehow. Kryo has like 4 abilities of her own, she is really weak on powers she just bluffs well))

[Cryogentic]

(( Kryo's powers are as follows, SHe is able to releases portions of her mind into the world, hence the ninjas and all those other powers. SHe is able to teleport a person who touches her of their own free will to another dimension (If that demension is her mind then her delusions of godhood are much more real) Other then that she borrows flight from Cryo and the ability to heal. Kryo is keeper of the mind so her mind is a fortress almost impossible to get into, which is why psychics don't work on her! her body is very fragil. SInce Kryo is keeper of the mind she can surpress Cryo for a brief amounts of time to gain Cryo's abilities but looses her own under the strain of holding Cryo down. Every SG Cryo has been in Kryo has been in and interacted with its memmbers, this switch thing is nothing new. She doesn't tell anyone her powers because if they knew her powers they could defend against them better.

I know my characters backwards and forewards, I know how they will react to any situation and that is how I play them, I could even tell you how to kill Kryo/Cryo and if it happened she would die and I wouldn't play her anymore. She can't come back to life either because of how she dies. I haven't added anything new to Kryo since CoV came out to explain why Kryo had the powers she had in the game.))

[RedSwitchblade]

You, a god? Hardly. Though my captive did sing to me about your counterpart and I have to admit she, even if it was still you, it was not whom I picked my fight with. Even though attempting to mount your mental stronghold proved too daunting a task to attempt, you still leak pretty heavy emotional waves for a god. I could feel your malice and misdirection growing long before you hit me with the old switcharoo, and that's why I deserted our fight. After consulting the one who has fought you in the past, I've concluded that we will have our fight now that I am prepared.

If you win, you may have your shot at demoting me.

[The Widowed]

<<<telepathic message to First Victim:>>>

You know, there's no harm in letting her believe herself to be a goddess. When you use your manifest psyche to turn her own henchmen against her, why, I can't imagine a nastier bubble-burster than that, should the chance arise....

<<<>>>

[Cryogentic]

You, a god? Hardly. Though my captive did sing to me about your counterpart and I have to admit she, even if it was still you, it was not whom I picked my fight with. Even though attempting to mount your mental stronghold proved too daunting a task to attempt, you still leak pretty heavy emotional waves for a god. I could feel your malice and misdirection growing long before you hit me with the old switcharoo, and that's why I deserted our fight. After consulting the one who has fought you in the past, I've concluded that we will have our fight now that I am prepared.

If you win, you may have your shot at demoting me.
(( yep she is overflowing with emotions :P but they are not all hers lol, I think she is still has lke 4 people trapped in her head ))

The thing about being a god is you are all knowing and have complete control over space and time, you have any idea how boring it is to always be like that? It's like knowing the ending to every book and movie, why watch thme you alread yknow what happens? So I limit myself so that I can escape boredom, because boredom is the true enemy.

There is no switcheroo I am me and always will be me.

You might want to ignore your sources because I'll let you in on a hint I've never lost one on one in the arena. nope not ever.

If you do the fight it isn't a if I win I have a shot at demoting you oh no no if you lose you ARE demoted untill I say you deserve to be promoted up a rank then again when I say so and so forth.

[The Widowed]

<<<First Victim:

The little bug's awfully sure of her level of power, isn't she? :p >>>

[Knightward]

*Whipsers to Bloodywedd*

Vanity covers too much ground. "I'm beautiful, I can do anything and no one can stop me!" *coughs up some blood* I say we bum rush her when she's on her way to the bathroom.

*end whisper*

May the least deserving ego be crushed!

[The Widowed]

<<Ratman: The bathroom? No, let's go the Norman Bates route: Ambush her in the shower. Then we hogtie her hand and foot, run her outside and roll her around in the mud for an hour or two. Gets them everytime! :D >>>

[Joe Schmoe]

I'm voting for Nader! Politics suck. Hey, what is this place? Where am I!

*feels the walls* No pads, thank god! I'm voting for Nader! Wait, is this for office? I want to fight someone! Put em up, put em up! Kick it to the curb, then BAM, right in the kisser! Aaahaha, hey, anyone want to go listen to some albums? Smoke a bowl? Eat kittens? Well I'm on a diet.. So no kittens for me.. But just thought I'd bring that offer to the table. *picks his nose* Woo! Nader!

[Knightward]

((I'm posting in here as Abissmiliard, not Owain. :P Owain wouldn't get involved in this mess in the first place.))

I'll bring my toolkit.

[Cryogentic]

Abissmiliard we'll have to talk about beauty some time your so mixed up, I'll help steer you away from the mine field.

[The Widowed]

((Slip of the brain, sorry.))

[Knightward]

Sure, you can talk all you want about how wonderful and perfect you are. Just hold on for me to reshape my ears into formless lumps.