Low Estate/Characters/Lazer Dennis

Man Out of Time

Lazer Dennis is a man out of time. He's prepared for the cyber-world of the 24th century, but has had the misfortune to be born now, when this is happening, and much less technology than he's suited for. Still, adapting to the circumstances he's born into, he is...

Aspects

Primary

   A - Man Out of Time (boon/penalty aspect)
   B - Improvised Tech Inventor

Being a "man out of time" means that sometimes he's way ahead of the situation, and able to improvise means outside the box, to people who are thinking in terms of lines instead of boxes. Other times, it is a big problem, because he doesn't understand the limitations of the world around him, the available tools, and what his compatriots can make sense of. See weirdo, below.

Secondary

   a - Weirdo
   b - Nobody Gets Me
   c - I'm Sad (partial penalty aspect)

Techniques unlocked:

• 'Always has a gadget handy' (unlocked Turn 2 with the periscope deal)
• 'Crazy inspiration!' (unlocked Turn 10/11 with the "I need a new doublet!" deal [previously noted as 'Sudden spurt of inspiration' as a technique to be unlocked])

Techniques to be unlocked:

• 'Instant improvised Gadget/Weapon invention'
• 'Far-thinking tactics'
• 'Bizarro leaps outside the box'
• 'Social eccentricity'
• 'Last desperate gasp impulse'

Inside Lazer Dennis (example)

Lazer thinks to himself: "Okay, so the wand tracks ley lines and areas of magical power, and ley lines shift rather than being stable, so even though the orphanage is stable ground, that doesn't prove anything. Because the city has other lines of power, and there's a line of Fortune along the harbor -- and Aernoud and Antheunis explored the harbor, and found out there's a shipping connection to... what is the shipping connection? I can't remember. Nevermind, nevermind. Not important now, figure out later."

Lazer shifts around, furrowing his permanently-furrowed features, and continues (to obsess): "Deep area of the harbor, associated with Water, which our Naiad should explore, but I don't know him very well, so I can't ask him about that, he thinks I'm weird, I can't ask him about that. Nevermind. But what else? What else? Oh yeah, forest glen. Skip that. What else? University catacombs built on a place of Death? What? That has to be important. Something has to be significant about the University. Ley lines? Death? Ok, dunno about that, but I need to ask about that. Ask someone about that. Ask who about that, everybody thinks I'm weird, thinks I'm strange, is weirded out when I follow along. Nobody wants me along here tonight. What am I doing here, I want to be looking into the university. No, I can't go there, nobody knows me there, they'd ask me 'What are you doing here?' and throw me out. But built on Death? What is Death with a capital D? What did he mean when he told me that?"

Lazer suddenly blurts out, in a kind of sotto-voce that isn't quite enough sotto, "Love is a mysterious box!" and Willem shushes him. So he shushes. Willem thinks I'm weird. They all do. I am. I'm weird. I wish I weren't weird. What else? Then he thinks: "Lord Laurent? The masquerade ball?" He fidgets in his pockets, which make a loud clinking and clanking sound. "I hate wearing costumes. Costumes make me embarrassed and depressed. What could I wear as a costume." Depressed, he settles into a quiet funk, wishing someone would ask him what he's thinking about.

Skill Details

(Revisions 06-19-13)

GREAT

• +3 Science: “Applied academics” that are mostly hands-on: alchemy, biology, chemistry, medicine, creating and analyzing poisons. Building large machines and small gadgets.

• +3 Fingersmithery: Physical activities involving manual dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and general cleverness: sleight of hand, lock-picking, knot-tying, juggling.

GOOD

• +2 Resolve: Will, persistence, endurance: hanging onto a hot object, resisting a sleeping drug, leading troops on a steady charge into gunfire, staying watchful on a long guard shift. Generally not a suitable skill for actions taking less than a few minutes.

• +2 Reflexes: Anything that involves quick reaction and/or spotting: dodging thrown objects, reacting when ambushed, finding a hiding spot while being chased. Generally not a suitable skill for actions taking longer than a few seconds.

FAIR

• +1 Academics: Scholarship, library research, academic subjects that are mostly theoretical or observational (philosophy, mathematics, history, astronomy, cartography, ancient languages, etc)

• +1 Weapons: Knives Probably a little pen-knife, or a switchblade, that also has a screwdriver and a couple other implements.

AVERAGE

• +0 Athletics: Physical activities involving the whole body that require both dexterity and strength: climbing, jumping, swimming, rolling.

• +0 Stealth: Concealing people, actions, or things; or detecting concealed things: sneaking past a guard, making a surprise attack, setting up an ambush, finding a secret door.

Story Hooks

• Bastard son of 'Lord Gabriel Ballegheer'.
• Might he discover the secret of his parentage?