Book Six, Chapter 32: Homibridal Part II

The Homibride is Daphne Sinclair AKA Rachel Hutchins

The Homibride has a Plot Armor score of 40, Mettle of 4, Moxie of 15, Hustle of 7, Savvy of 7, and Grit of 7.

The Mysterious Stranger. This enemy can take over an Omen for a mundane murder mystery or slasher by offering an unsolicited gift to a party member. By triggering the Omen, they invite her in.

Undetectable. This villain warps the minds of its victims so that they will not notice it does not belong.

Shackles of Civility. A social enemy, they cannot be attacked until their nature is revealed. In the presence of characters who know their monstrous secret, this enemy’s Moxie will gradually be added to its Mettle and/or Grit.

You Know Too Much. This enemy will target characters who learn information relevant to discovering their secrets or whose death might help hide those secrets.

Trapdoor Teleportation. Every room and location where a Chase Scene or Fight Scene is occurring will have hidden doors or pathways through which the enemy can escape, move unseen, or surprise players.

Bask in the Aftermath. This villain’s true nature can only be revealed in the Finale as the bodies pile up and the collected clues are reexamined. Players can become suspicious of her, but will not be given confirmation through the system until the Finale. The villain’s major assault will not take place until the Finale unless players fail to move the story forward.

Cage Match. Fight and Chase Scenes involving this enemy are private and cannot be stumbled upon, interfered with, or otherwise perceived by others unless the narrative demands their involvement.

A Certain Level of Decorum. Depowers weapons that don’t fit the story’s setting and makes them very difficult to find.

Cue the Symptoms. This enemy will poison, hex, or otherwise infect an enemy, but their symptoms and red wallpaper indicator will not show until the enemy triggers them manually.

A Life Relived. This enemy is fully meta and has run this storyline before, but will not remember the plot or their original memories of the events the story is based on until the relevant events have passed. They are a player in their own game.

Slip Right Into Character (Wallflower-Recast). Allows her access to the script, giving her almost any information her character might know about other characters as the information becomes relevant, knowledge of other scenes that are occurring, and those that are upcoming.

Undone on Spec (Film Buff-Critic). Lets her insert set pieces, subplots, and plot devices from a nearby omen into a triggered storyline.

Un-Pheremones (Eye Candy-Beauty). All characters scripted into romantic roles will feel the emotions of their characters and gain relevant insights.

A Plan Enaction (Scholar-Strategist). Guarantees she will have time Off-Screen to get the requisite elements of their plan into place if it is in character for them to be prepared and fits the narrative.

No Body, No Crime (Outsider-Criminal). Sends her Off-Screen after secretly killing an enemy and gives her insight into the best place to hide the body.

Convenient Backstory (Eye Candy-Socialite). Allows her to modify her backstory in ways that fit the task at hand, giving her skills and relevant stat buffs.

A Wink to the Audience (Comedian-Cynic). She can see a description of how the audience is reacting to a scene and break the fourth wall without being penalized. Gains narrative momentum as the audience enjoys her meta antics.

Riley Lawrence is The Film Buff

His aspect is Filmmaker.

Filmmaker: The Filmmaker has a comprehensive understanding of the filmmaking process. They can manipulate the game environment effectively, altering the game’s dynamics in subtle but impactful ways. Their abilities are a mixture of meta-Insight and meta-Rule tropes. They have higher Hustle, reflecting their ability to stay out of the way, stay alive, and remain unseen as they manipulate meta-movie elements.

Riley has a Plot Armor score of 41, Mettle of 4, Moxie of 11, Hustle of 7, Savvy of 12, and Grit of 7.

Free Background Trope: “My Grandmother Had the Gift…” A background trope that gives Riley’s character some ambiguous connection to “The Gift” through his heritage.

Current Trope Limit: 10

“Trope Master” grants him the ability to perceive enemy tropes, but at the cost of sacrificing half of his Plot Armor.

As an “Oblivious Bystander,” Riley remains untargeted by enemies as he convincingly acts oblivious to their presence.

“Escape Artist” buffs his Hustle to help enact plausible escape plans.

“The Insert Shot” makes allies aware of an object the player chooses. The object will be shown to the audience and its use will be buffed in the Finale.

“The Dailies” allows him to see a selection of raw footage from the day’s shoot.

“He Has A Tell” makes it so that characters in the film will have a physical tell when they are stressed during interrogations.

“Just Out of Shot” allows him to see ‘cameras’ when sneaking near an enemy to avoid being seen.

“Quiet on Set” allows the user to listen to the audio of the current On-Screen scene while Off-Screen, depending on Savvy and the information’s value.

“Call Sheet” gives him a timer for when he will be On-Screen next.

“Method to the Madness” Allows him to speak with enemies Off-Screen in-character (and out of character, depending on whether they are meta) to obtain useful information.

Kimberly Madison is The Eye Candy

Her aspect is Celebrity

Celebrity: The Celebrity aspect treats the player like an actor and the storylines like films they sign on to. Using meta tropes to create hype, fan favoritism, and larger-than-life roles, the Celebrity is the most versatile of the Eye Candy aspects. Using past roles to help their “career”, the Celebrity can specialize in virtually anything if they have long enough to build a career.

Kimberly has a Plot Armor score of 38, Mettle of 6, Moxie of 15, Hustle of 9, Savvy of 1, and Grit of 7.

Free Background Trope: “Obsessed Survivor” gives her character some traumatic past even that keeps her on alert and prepares her for the fights ahead.

Current Trope Limit: 10

“Convenient Backstory” allows her to believably change her backstory to assist with the current task, buffing the relevant stat.

“Social Awareness” allows her to see the Moxie stat of all enemies and NPCs and intuit relationship dynamics.

“Does anyone have a scrunchie?” allows her to shift Moxie’s points into another stat by putting her hair up.

“The Penthouse” The character will get the nicest, safest accommodations in a multiday storyline.

“The Hall of Fame” The user gains Center of Attention and will have a heightened role in the story regardless of casting. Meta story elements are more central.

“Contract Negotiations” buffs the user’s ability to improvise after “discussing” an their plan with Carousel.

“Compulsive Vetting” makes her aware of exits, onlookers, and potential weapons nearby. It also buffs her when asking characters about suspicious individuals.

“Did You Forget About Me?” allows her to make a flashy and powerful attack after she has been Off-Screen for an alotted time.

“When in Rome” buffs her Grit until Rebirth if her performance matches the tone of the movie.

“A Lip Cease” allows her to take the story Off-Screen by halting the conversation while exploring and then picking it back up in a different setting.

Antoine Stone is the Athlete.

His aspect is Health Nut.

Health Nut: The Health Nut is devoted to maintaining peak physical, mental, and spiritual health, highlighting their wisdom and their intelligent approach to fitness and wellbeing. Health Nuts use their high Savvy to make strategic decisions, enhancing their overall endurance and adaptability in challenging situations. Their healthy lifestyle is reflected in their elevated Grit, showcasing their resilience and ability to bounce back from setbacks.

Antoine has a Plot Armor score of 38, Mettle of 11, Moxie of 4, Hustle of 8, Savvy of 7, and Grit of 8.

Free Background Trope: —

Current Trope Limit: 10

“Gym Rat” buffs Mettle and Hustle by revealing an athletic backstory.

Brandishing a weapon is “Like a Security Blanket,” buffing his Grit and soothing his and his allies’ fear.

“Everyone Loves a Winner” the user’s character will have some previous success that endears them to NPCs. Failure reverses this.

“Time Out!” allows him to send a fight scene Off-Screen for a set time.

“In Bed By Nine” allows the player to incorporate a restorative sleeping break into the shoot.

“Arm Candy” buffs the user based on the overall desirability of their romantic partner.

“Fight or Flight” buffs Mettle if escape is not possible or Hustle if victory is not possible. Buffs Mettle if neither is possible.

“The Mountain as a Metaphor” boosts allies’ uses of Grit and Savvy and allows the user to conquer maladies through metaphor by tackling physical challenges.

“Calm in the Chaos” allows the user to channel Savvy into their next physical feat through a slowed-down shot of them planning things out On-Screen. Time will appear to slow down while planning.

“Blood to the Brain” provides a passive Savvy buff from regular exercise. In a storyline, the player’s Savvy will be highly buffed during strenuous, meaningful activity.

Logan Maize is The Comedian

His aspect is Cynic.

Cynic: The Cynic wields sharp wit and high Savvy to navigate chaos, using insight and meta-irony to uncover truths and manipulate the narrative. Their imperviousness to meta challenges makes them masters of reframing chaos, adapting quickly, and turning even the direst situations to their advantage. With sharp analysis and biting humor, the Cynic thrives as a critical thinker and unshakable ally.

Logan has a Plot Armor score of 35, Mettle of 8, Moxie of 5, Hustle of 5, Savvy of 10, and Grit of 7.

Free Background Trope: “Misspent Youth” is a background trope that gives Logan’s character some secret criminal or quasi-criminal history.

Current Trope Limit: 9

“Awfully Considerate Symptoms” suppresses the effects of terminal illnesses, poisonings, and injuries until they are plot-relevant.

“Unmoving Facade” prevents the user from feeling pain if they willfully act like they are not in pain.

“Gallows Humor” allows him to ease mental pain with dark humor after a tragedy.

“Comedic Timing” prevents the enemy from attacking while the user is quipping and causes them to take allies Off-Screen to follow their comedic antics during Fight and Chase Scenes.

“Window Shopping” allows the user to identify and know the rough monetary value of any object they look at, including rare, technological, or magical objects, especially if it fits their backstory.

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“The Voice of Dissent” bolsters the players’ current plan when the user confronts the team’s planner and forces them to clarify, justify, or modify it.

“Last Laugh” retroactively buffs an attack when a humorous quip or similar is added to the end. If done well, this will end a Fight Scene.

“Hate to Say It…” gives them additional insight when attempting to disprove an ally’s trope-attained information.

“Dead Giveaway” makes it so that killers will keep a memento of victims close to the user as a sign that they are guilty.

Dr. Andrew Hughes is The Doctor

No aspect has been chosen.

Andrew has a Plot Armor score of 35, Mettle of 3, Moxie of 5, Hustle of 8, Savvy of 12, and Grit of 7.

Free Background Trope: —

Current Trope Limit: 10

“Step Into My Office” Sanctuary is granted while treating allies in a private scene, safeguarding all until treatment is complete based on the user’s Savvy. Grants Health Monitor.

“The Oath” By referencing their personal healer’s oath, the user’s Grit is buffed while treating a wounded ally.

“Observational Analysis” Observing characters before critical scenes lets the user discern their fixed personality traits, making it easier to predict their reactions if provoked.

“Let it Out” During mental trauma treatment, the patient reveals deep-seated feelings, aiding in their mental recovery but risking emotional breakdowns.

“Professional Courtesy” Characters in related professions recognize the user’s professional status, offering them helpful insights and special access.

“Absolute Focus” The user’s Hustle is enhanced when performing tasks requiring dexterity and precision, thanks to their meticulous focus.

“Critical Anatomy” Studying a creature reveals weak spots, increasing the user’s Mettle when targeting these vulnerabilities.

“The Slab” Performing a post-mortem on a corpse yields increasing information over time, with a countdown until the scene’s end.

“Study Session” If the user has the highest Savvy, they designate a “Stacks” research location where allies are safe during certain scenes and can access valuable knowledge.

“Do Everything I Say” allows him to walk someone through a medical procedure verbally. Outcomes will be even better than normal if he is calm and assured.

Bobby Gill is The Wallflower.

His Aspect is Recast.

Recast: The Recast slips into minor NPC roles and quietly transforms them into story-critical characters. Armed with targeted background knowledge and uncanny narrative timing, they pull strings from the sidelines, guiding subplots, influencing outcomes, and stepping into the spotlight when least expected. Masters of adaptability, Recasts turn overlooked moments into defining scenes.

Bobby has a Plot Armor score of 35, Mettle of 4, Moxie of 10, Hustle of 8, Savvy of 8, and Grit of 5.

Free Background Trope: “Actually, I’m a Veterinarian” changes his character’s background to being an animal doctor.

Current Trope Limit: 10

“Background Noise” allows him to get background information from NPCs when Off-Screen.

“Last-Minute Casting” recasts him as an NPC that is moderately involved in the plot. The selection is seemingly random. He will get some limited background information for the character and some access to the NPC script.

“If you Can’t see it, it Won’t Bleed” allows him to temporarily mend wounds by covering them from the audience’s view.

“The ‘Wisdom’ of Crowds” allows him to collect ideas and clues from a crowd of NPCs. Sorting the good tips from the bad is going to take some thinking.

“Pure” protects the user from enemy targeting if they avoid the storyline’s principal “sin,” until they interfere with the enemy’s agenda.

“Act Like You Belong” lets the user blend into any scene by quickly adopting small, fitting elements like props or attire. However, all these elements must work together to maintain their cover.

“The Bickering Duo” assigns Bobby an NPC named Jules, who will assist him while creating a comedic tone.

“Character Notes” reveals general needs from allies until Second Blood, though specifics aren’t provided.

“Read the Room” allows the user to see unchangeable elements in NPC interactions, especially those involving character arcs.

“The Understudy” allows the Recast to elevate their character to the main cast to replace the narrative void left by a downed player. They may use one of that player’s tropes for the duration of the storyline and gain that player’s buffs.

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We stepped in out of the rain, laughing and holding hands like the wind was trying to blow us away. We were Off-Screen, so we didn’t have to put on a show, and we weren’t. That was just us.

Above us was a banner that read: Lawrence Hutchins Wedding.

We both read it at once.

“You’re cheating on me,” Daphne said, slapping me on the chest playfully. “Who is this Hutchins woman?”

I was confused at first, but then I looked at the wedding invitation in my left hand and said, “I think it’s you.”

The document I had once listed Daphne Sinclair as my bride-to-be, but it had been replaced by Rachel Hutchins.

A look of realization dawned on Daphne’s face.

“Right,” she said. “I forgot to tell you that my name was actually Rachel Hutchins. I put it off for so long, it just became awkward.”