Theo Anders and the Black Exaltation[Worm/Exalted][Hiatus]

[Skitzyfrenic]

@Skitzy could you add a list of approved splats to the Quest Rules tab? Finding the first list you posted is going to become increasingly difficult as the quest continues

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I'm going to write the next snip before I get couch locked, I shouldn't forget to do so, but remind me in your vote, please?

Ah, alright. I knew we weren't using Errata, but I thought that when it came to home brew it was approved/denied on a case by case basis.

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I'm going to expand the list of available charms, eventually. As in pretty soon. To anything that I can find listed in Anathema's charm cascades and in a book. I'm a little leery of homebrew at the moment, but when I open the charms up to Anathema, I'll start taking homebrew on a case by case.

======

A lot of really cognizant points were brought up about training times. And I don't know about you, but I want to get to the good stuff sooner. I also don't want to micromanage the fuck out of keeping track of what's-training times. Narrative is King and we like the Rule of Cool. This is first and foremost for fun, and secondly an exercise (for me) in storytelling.

The solutions I've come up with are to halve the training times, or to reduce them by an order of magnitude. Months become weeks, weeks become days, days are halved to no shorter than a single day. With the big exception of non native charms, the become weeks into days and then doubled to no greater than half what it would normally be.

What counts as a training day is ~five hours.

This is what let's TDP and any possible future circle members (Do you guys even want more abyssals running around? I'm only thinking about adding one soonish, and maybe another laterish) gain power quickly.

=====

Off to write

 

[Skitzyfrenic]

Obviously what counts as Shaping here in the Wormverse is a GM call (darn parahuman powers and their lack of Keywords), but the Abyssal version of IPP is always nice for not being Badtouched to death.

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Clockblocker and Panacea have been mentioned already as counting as shaping. There are a couple others, one of which is definitely hush hush (Its Chubster jklol). But Shapers are kicking around.

 

[SwiftRosenthal]

Are there any surprise negators easily available to us?

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The primary surprise negator for Abyssals is Ominous Portent Method. It requires Whispers 2 and Awareness 5. The Solar version, Surprise Anticipation Method, doesn't require a Whispers rating but the other stats are the same and it takes a lot longer to learn. (Unless we get UHF to flip OPM into SAM, but that costs a point of Resonance every time.)

I don't know if there's a specific rule for learning Yozi charms through the Eclipse/Moonshadow power, but Anathema says that learning Wind-Born Stride, Joy In Violence Approach, and Threat-Monitoring Excitement - Adorjan's suprise negator - costs 60 XP. All three are only rated Essence 1, and Infernals train non-caste/favored charms at (Essence * 2) days each. If I'm reading the splats correctly, it feels like it would instead cost 48 XP and 6 weeks (and require a tutor, which is much more difficult).

 

[Tsotate]

I'm going to write the next snip before I get couch locked, I shouldn't forget to do so, but remind me in your vote, please?

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I love that term. Both pithy and accurate.

Clockblocker and Panacea have been mentioned already as counting as shaping. There are a couple others, one of which is definitely hush hush (Its Chubster jklol). But Shapers are kicking around.

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Noooo! Not Chubster! (For someone whose total onscreen appearance was his name being announced as he died, the man gets remembered by more fanfic authors than Browbeat.)

 

[EternitynChaos]

Who?

 

[Skitzyfrenic]

Max will call for you. It might not be tonight, it might not be tomorrow, but the two of you will talk about what's going to happen.

Now, you need to find out what you can do beyond figuring out what people want to do. And looking 'amazing.'

But before you leave the bathroom, you pull off your shirt and lay it over you arm, grab the baby wipes (for the very rare times Aster is over) and begin cleaning up the blood that hasn't flaked off. There isn't a whole lot, especially when you consider the state you were in, but the equipment down in the locked gym is very nice.

You duck into your room, tossing the used wipes into your trashcan. The following is five minutes of quiet expletives as you try to find excersize clothes that fit. Eventually you end up in a pair of basketball shorts with the ties abused in order to pull it snug against your much narrower hips, and a wife-beater tank top you managed to find stuffed into the back of one of your drawers that had previously been way too tight to wear. One of your cousins from the far side of the Herren Clan sent it to you. With a rather mocking note.

It fits you like a glove. You can count your abs. That asshole can suck the shit out of a turtle's cloaca.

How in Oblivion are you going to explain this?

Slouching. You were always slouching before. Bad posture, lack of confidence. You decided you were a man now, so no more slouching. That'll do. Maybe.

You open your door to find Nessa with her hand raised in preperation to knock.

"Yes?"

"Theo? Holy crap! You clean up good!" she gives you a good once over, and looks back at you with a smirk and a glint in her eye, "You almost die and get the sweetest power ever. I didn't believe Ophelia when she told me!"

You nod in acknowledgement of her statements. You did die, sorta, and you don't know if it is the sweetest power ever yet.

"I'm headed down to the gym to see if I got anything out of it, besides being suddenly fit and a minor thinker power."

Nessa cocks an eyebrow.

"Do you know the code to get in?"

"Yes, my mother's birthday."

Nessa nods and gives a sad smile.

"Good, don't get too much into it, you'll want a spotter for some of the equipment, and we're almost done cleaning up. We'll be down in a few, okay?"

With that handled you head down a flight of stairs and avoid the bulk of the entertainment room, heading to the hidden door behind the popcorn machine. A quick jiggle of the right foam pyramid reveals a keypad, and a moment later you're walking into a large gym designed for parahuman usage.

Jessica and Nessa got the most use out of it, due to their scaling-with-size brute powers. Followed by your father, when he was feeling particularly creative. Barring them, mostly this gym was used by visits Empire or Gesellschaft parahumans. It was reinforced; had up to brute 5 rated weight systems; a free running treadmill for traditional movers; an automated, if short, obstacle course, for non-traditional non-teleporting movers and combat thinkers; a large boxing ring for sparring; and an area with some dummies standing. There was also the Anders Family collection of blades, that you drift over to so you can putz around a little with before the girls appear.

Grandfather had been fond of collecting European style blades, but those were kept on display in various parts of the Anders holdings. No, these were a collection of swords and spears that were meant to be used. Training swords and spears included. A couple of shields lay close by for Nessa and Jessica.

Ever since you were little, you wanted to use a sword. Though instead of a longsword, you decided to see how strong you really are, and pick up a Zweihaender.

A few practice swings and you're pretty sure that you could do acrobatics with it.

So you do.

Your forehead cracks open and a smidgen of blood begins to dribble out as you duel with a false opponent. You dodge, deflect, and feint imaginary blows, even flipping over one. To land a brutal decapitation strike and defeat your opponent, you twist, roll over their counter strike, step up and plant a foot on the near-by weapons rack, and flip-twist over their shoulders. The blade whistles through the air, an upside top of whirling steel death, and you could play imaginary soccer with their imaginary head.

Your breaths come in short, quick gasps and you're drenched in sweat. You might be stronger and faster, but you're not really any more fit. You look over to the water-bottle fridge in the back corner, and wipe your sweat and blood covered brow. You catch them out of the corner of your eye and whirl on them, right before the clapping begins. Your cousins all have awestruck faces.

"Tell me you got all of that!"

And Ophelia has her smart phone out and is finishing, presumably, saving the video that she took of you.

"I missed a few practice swings, but I got that awesome bit at the end!"

The sword clangs to the ground as you dash forward, you have to see it.

"Can I see?"

Jessica and Nessa flinch, but Ophelia shrieks in surprise, her phone going up into the air. You manage to snag it and begin watching the video. In your mind's eye you can still see your opponent, but its looks like-

"I look like I'm in a kung-fu flick. One of the badly dubbed wire ones."

"It looks cool, but do you think you could do it with a live opponent? Or you scared to try?" comes to your ear playfully from Jessica's mouth scant inches from your ear. You were a little too focused on your awesome video to pay attention to the three women clustered around you, without touching.

That has to stop. Note to yourself: Achtung! Pass auf!

What if they had been enemies after the end of a fight. You know you can pay attention.

"Sure, if Ophelia will heal you when you get hurt?"

Jessica rolls her eyes and snorts in amusement at your barb.

The one-eyed nurse smiles and nods, then she drags Nessa over to a better spot. She's going to film this too. When you turn back to Jessica, she's picked up a longsword and shield. Her positioning is such that you'd have to walk across her front, and risk getting struck, or taking the long way around to get to your blade.

You reach a hand out as you walk to a spot about ten paces in front of her, and the sword flies to your hand. You smirk outwardly at the surprise on her face, but inside you are just as surprised. The blood begins to flow down your face at this point, your mark fully open.

You hear the door to the gym open this time.

"I think," comes your father's voice as he walks into the room, followed by curious-looking Aaron, "I would like to watch this."

Before you... almost died? started being undead? -were Exalted- you would have broken into a nervous sweat and probably mucked this all up. You're fairly sure you could best your more experienced cousin, but would that be the best choice?

[] Impress your Father and not only win, but win by a fair margin.

[] Win or lose, this is about learning what kind of skills you might have. Fight hard, just not hard enough to permanently hurt Jess. You'll probably win anyways.

[] Throw the fight, lose. You might get dick punched if Jess ever finds out though. And given what she just saw... Maybe you should start wearing a cup, or make it the best damn acting anyone has ever seen (it won't be, its gotta be convincing though)

[] Write in

Edit: XP gain 3xp

 

[evildice]

[X] Impress your Father and not only win, but win by a fair margin.
-[X] You are done with losing. Losing is now something that happens to other people.
-[X] Say a few words to her before the match starts, though. Make sure she knows you are going to fight hard, but that you value her greatly.

 

[SwiftRosenthal]

[X] Impress your Father and not only win, but win by a fair margin.
-[X] You are done with losing. Losing is now something that happens to other people.
-[X] Say a few words to her before the match starts, though. Make sure she knows you are going to fight hard, but that you value her greatly.

Every Solaroid ever: "What do you mean, pride is a sin? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."

 

[Jack of Olives]

[X] Win or lose, this is about learning what kind of skills you might have. Fight hard, just not hard enough to permanently hurt Jess. You'll probably win anyways.

 

[EternitynChaos]

[X] Win or lose, this is about learning what kind of skills you might have. Fight hard, just not hard enough to permanently hurt Jess. You'll probably win anyways.

 

[Lon]

[X] Win or lose, this is about learning what kind of skills you might have. Fight hard, just not hard enough to permanently hurt Jess. You'll probably win anyways.

 

[Skitzyfrenic]

Dauntless is Brockton Bay's hometown hero, and as such is frequently listed in most Brocktonite's top three capes.

The Wards (In general) in Brockton Bay are something of a PR anomaly. They are incredibly popular. Though he'd never voice it out loud, Glenn Chambers, head of PRT/Protectorate PR suspects this is because the Wards in BB actually act like a junior Protectorate. Brockton Bay's situation is one where needs dictate.

Armsmaster is a nationally recognized and nationally ranked, the only Tinker short of Dragon or Hero to reach such a level, hero, though his local popularity usually has him somewhere in a Brocktonite's top five, he is infrequently the number one favourite.

Like most civllains, a Brocktonite's number one cape is frequently a member of the Triumverate.

Miss Militia and Assault&Battery (Many people think of them as a single unit despite knowing that they're two seperate capes.) rank higher than Armsmaster locally in popularity. Velocity is fairly popular, but most people don't consider him particualrly noteworthy.

But its Dauntless and Armsmaster that fight for 'makes us feel safest and makes us look up to the heroes' in the slowly rotting city of Brockton Bay.

But back to Dauntless and the Wards.

If you were to ask any of the BB homegrown independents (Not New Wave, they're kinda high on their own smug and will list other members of New Wave with occasionally a Protecorate cape thrown in. Strangely its only Crystal/Laserdream who lists Panacea in her top five capes (#1) Victoria lists herself and makes no mention of her adopted sister.) who'd they like to work along, its almost always Dauntless or the Wards. Ask the homegrown villains and they'd like to be arrested by (if they HAD to get arrested) by Dauntless or the Wards if only to bring a Brocktonite some hype.

Hookwolf has a fuckton of respect for little Vista, and will punish any mook who badmouths her, and will defend her to his peers. She was only twelve and some change and she had the great big brass ones to fight Hookwolf to save a PRT agent. Not only did Hookwolf have to rely on his years of experience to get close to her, little squirt managed to survive with a minor belly wound. He waits for the day she can cut loose a bit. Little Vista is pegged to be a Valkyja, Hooky is sure.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, almost every villain in BB dislikes or outright hate Shadow Stalker. Some have been or had their direct underlings get shot by her crossbows, other hear the rumors. The rumors that float around about her... Well, if she got caught, it'd make BB look bad, and that's bad. Brockton Bay already sucks enough as it is, don't need that kind of bullshit to add to it.

Not a lot of people actually like Triumph. He comes across as one of those rich douches, 'he's alright' they'll say, 'but I'd rather talk about -'

Clockblocker is a huge hit amongst his age group, male and female. His joking attitude gives him 'the funny guy' favourability.

Aegis and Gallant are both well liked, but neither really sticks out. They're remembered, but in the PR events, they're the most bland and comic book heroic types.

Kid Win is ranked number 3, behind Vista and Clockblocker in terms of popularity. He's a tinker, and tinkers always mean big things, especially when the Ward has a chance to learn under one of the best tinekrs in the world, it should mean one day a Brocktonite Tinker will be one of the best Tinkers in the World. That he flies around on a skateboard and occasionally shoots his laser pistols at PR events (Very heavily frowned on, except Armsmaster has charts and shuts up any nay sayers) is a big reason. It -is- really fucking cool.

 

[SwiftRosenthal]

Clockblocker is a huge hit amongst his age group, male and female. His joking attitude gives him 'the funny guy' favourability.

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We'll kill him last.


BTW, fuck tinkers. (Craft 5 is so far away that these aren't even worth it. The Malfean version and all its prerequisites are actually cheaper, provided we find a tutor.)

SYSTEMATIC DEMOLITION EXERCISE
Cost: 5m; Mins: Craft 5, Essence 2; Type: Simple (Dramatic Action)
Keywords: Combo-OK, Mirror (Shattering Grasp; Exalted, p. 212)
Duration: One scene
Prerequisite Charms: Any Craft Excellency
Deathknights find it easy to tear apart the labor of days in a matter of minutes.

ALL-CONSUMING ENTROPY ATTACK
Cost: 5m, 1wp; Mins: Craft 5, Essence 3; Type: Simple (Speed 4, DV -1)
Keywords: Combo-OK, Obvious, Shaping, Touch
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Systematic Demolition Exercise
It is the ordained function of all Abyssal Exalted to kill the world one piece at a time. The character need only touch a non-magical, inanimate object and this Charm marks it for destruction. Items on an individual's person benefit from their bearer's defenses to avoid this attack. It can affect objects as large as a suit of armor or a sledge.

Upon contact, cracks rapidly spread across the target, through which the unholy glow of entropic Essence spills out in bright beams. In seconds, nothing remains but a fine residue of acrid dust and a few wisps of foul smoke.

ANNIHILATING GAZE
Cost: —; Mins: Craft 5, Essence 4; Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: All-Consuming Entropy Attack
The Abyssal's eyes flash with incandescent malice, unmaking whatever offends his sight. This Charm enhances its prerequisite, allowing the Abyssal to "touch" any valid target within (Essence x 100) yards with a (Perception + Craft) roll for the attack. The Abyssal must use the Craft Ability that best corresponds to the creation or composition of the object. Items on an individual's person benefit from their bearer's defenses to avoid this attack.

In addition, the Abyssal can change the duration of his All-Consuming Entropy Attack to Indefinite by committing the Essence he spends on the attack. He delays the Charm's effects until he withdraws the commitment. Upon reflexively ending the Charm, the deathknight may either destroy the object or spare it.

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[Fredo]

[X] Win or lose, this is about learning what kind of skills you might have. Fight hard, just not hard enough to permanently hurt Jess. You'll probably win anyways.

 

[Skitzyfrenic]

We'll kill him last.


BTW, fuck tinkers. (Craft 5 is so far away that these aren't even worth it. The Malfean version and all its prerequisites are actually cheaper, provided we find a tutor.)

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Speaking of Craft 5 being for fucking ever away, I was wondering about training times. I posted this:

A lot of really cognizant points were brought up about training times. And I don't know about you, but I want to get to the good stuff sooner. I also don't want to micromanage the fuck out of keeping track of what's-training times. Narrative is King and we like the Rule of Cool. This is, first and foremost, for fun, and secondly an exercise (for me) in storytelling.

The solutions I've come up with are to halve the training times, or to reduce them by an order of magnitude. Months become weeks, weeks become days, days are halved to no shorter than a single day. With the big exception of non native charms, the become weeks into days and then doubled to no greater than half what it would normally be.

What counts as a training day is ~five hours.

This is what let's TDP and any possible future circle members (Do you guys even want more abyssals running around? I'm only thinking about adding one soonish, and maybe another laterish) gain power quickly.

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And would like to hear some thoughts about those solution to training times. (And more circle members.)

 

[dasstan]

Just out of curiosity, is TDP going to "go away to camp" or something? Or are we just going to rely on social fu and dat glorious aura to handwave away the sudden change in musculature?

[X] Impress your Father and not only win, but win by a fair margin.
-[X] You are done with losing. Losing is now something that happens to other people.
-[X] Say a few words to her before the match starts, though. Make sure she knows you are going to fight hard, but that you value her greatly.

 

[Biigoh]

[X] Win or lose, this is about learning what kind of skills you might have. Fight hard, just not hard enough to permanently hurt Jess. You'll probably win anyways.

 

[SwiftRosenthal]

Speaking of Craft 5 being for fucking ever away, I was wondering about training times. I posted this:

And would like to hear some thoughts about those solution to training times. (And more circle members.)

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IMO the numbers work out better if you keep the Creation training week intact. If we start timeskipping, that's 6 training days and 1 rest day per Earth week. Keeping track of that is much easier than what I could figure out from the OP.

If:

5 hr = 1 training day
6 days = 1 week
5 weeks = 1 month
3 months = 1 season
5 seasons = 1 creation year

Then:

1 training week = 30 hours
1 training month = 30 days = 150 hours

Also note that the training calculations for "Rating" are actually the character's current rating, not their target rating. Increasing a Favored Ability from 2->3 only costs 3 XP, not 5, and taking a non-favored Ability from 0 -> 5 costs 23 XP and 13 weeks (390 training hours).

(Other voters, the charsheet says we have 9 XP. That means we could purchase Lore 3 immediately and spend the next five hours training for DSD, during which we'll pick up at least 2 more XP needed to learn the charm.)



I don't know about other Abyssals, but some other Exalted types would be useful as hostiles or tutors, depending on how our interactions go. Maybe a Lunar (mate) or an Infernal.

 

[EternitynChaos]

ick to the inclusion of other Exalts

 

[SwiftRosenthal]

ick to the inclusion of other Exalts

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The Moonshadow anima power that lets us learn other splats' charms doesn't actually work without tutors. We can access Ghosts (and their charms) fairly easily once we get access to the Underworld, but good fucking luck learning other Exalts' charms without encountering Half-Castes (not an entirely popular design element, to say the least) or, y'know, actual Exalts.

The Moonshadow text in MOEP Abyssals doesn't actually specify the need for tutors, but the Eclipse text in Core does, the Fiend text in MOEP Infernals implies it, and the Errata for Eclipse applies equally to the other two. It's not unreasonable to assume that we'll need tutors as well.

 

[Least Devotee]

[X] Win or lose, this is about learning what kind of skills you might have. Fight hard, just not hard enough to permanently hurt Jess. You'll probably win anyways.

 

[Tsotate]

Also note that the training calculations for "Rating" are actually the character's current rating, not their target rating.

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It's amazing how many times White Wolf staff tried to convince people on the forums that they'd always meant X*New for the pricing in all their systems. Amazing in that it was exactly the same number of times they got told to fuck off, and that no one was going to do it that way.

(Other voters, the charsheet says we have 9 XP. That means we could purchase Lore 3 immediately and spend the next five hours training for DSD, during which we'll pick up at least 2 more XP needed to learn the charm.)

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I'd really rather train USD, which we already have the Integrity for. Reflexive, and lasts for the whole day. Sure, we'll need DSD when we eventually kill our father, but I think USD is more important in the near-term.

 

[```]

Victoria lists herself and makes no mention of her adopted sister.)

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this doesnt feel quite right too me, since i had the impression that vicky dotes on her sister and is very protective/possessive of her.

 

[TheAlec]

Is Theo aware of what charms he has? Can he control which ones he activates?

I was just thinking that this little spar could have a quick and unpleasant ending if he accidently activates Heart-Stopping Mien.

 

[Tsotate]

Is Theo aware of what charms he has? Can he control which ones he activates?

I was just thinking that this little spar could have a quick and unpleasant ending if he accidently activates Heart-Stopping Mien.

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I'd imagine Willpower is difficult to spend by accident. It's like it needs an act of will, or something.

 

[Skitzyfrenic]

this doesnt feel quite right too me, since i had the impression that vicky dotes on her sister and is very protective/possessive of her.

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Shiney shit gets noticed syndrome. But otherwise Victoria is prorective and dotes a little. Off the cuff Victoria doesn't think her sis is as heroic as glory girl, brandish, lady photon, flashbang, or Alexandria.

There's also the mindset that stopping The bad guys is heroic so is rescuing ppl from disasters. Healing is awesome but not as heroic. Helping people isn't heroic fighting bad guys is.

Otherwise New Wave would have cleaned up the ship graveyard. Shields lasers and super strength would make quick work of it.

So its not that Victoria doesn't care about.Amy its just Victoria doesn't think saving lives when she thinks heroism. Its stopping the bad guys.

College has had some effect of Crystal. All those feel good vibes. And intellectual debates.

 

[Selias]

[X] Win or lose, this is about learning what kind of skills you might have. Fight hard, just not hard enough to permanently hurt Jess. You'll probably win anyways.

 

[TheAlec]

I'd imagine Willpower is difficult to spend by accident. It's like it needs an act of will, or something.

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Well in that case I am voting for a more measured fighting style. If he tries to show off then that may count as putting in extra willpower.

[] Win or lose, this is about learning what kind of skills you might have. Fight hard, just not hard enough to permanently hurt Jess. You'll probably win anyways.


Now we have confirmation there will be no unfortunate accidents I am ok with cutting loose with what we have.

[X] Impress your Father and not only win, but win by a fair margin.
-[X] You are done with losing. Losing is now something that happens to other people.
-[X] Say a few words to her before the match starts, though. Make sure she knows you are going to fight hard, but that you value her greatly

 

[1986ctcel]

[X] Impress your Father and not only win, but win by a fair margin.
-[X] You are done with losing. Losing is now something that happens to other people.
-[X] Say a few words to her before the match starts, though. Make sure she knows you are going to fight hard, but that you value her greatly

 

[Biofan09]

[] Win or lose, this is about learning what kind of skills you might have. Fight hard, just not hard enough to permanently hurt Jess. You'll probably win anyways.
This isn't like last time were we could have shown how we were now able to stand up for ourselves, this is first and foremost figuring out what we can do. Let Dad think that's the best we can do, it might even be good enough that he gives us a position of power. Either way "No permanent damage" Is probably a thing that is good to specify.