Part 190: BCP 19 - Porccubus

X-394 is a big facility, full of mysterious creatures known as Abnormalities. Many of these Abnormalities can do very bad things if they're handled improperly, and it's vitally important that our agents know just what may happen if they're careless. What's a manager to do?



Episode 19: Porccubus

Music: trailer


Hi! I'm Paul! Just your everyday plucky employee of Lobotomy Cobotomy, here today to talk about Porccubus!



Porccubus is a HE-level Abnormality which takes the form of a flowering serpent. It's most commonly known for its euphoria-inducing toxin, which renders anyone exposed to it to a form of overwhelming joy.

Oh boy, Miss Hod! Does that mean I'm in for a good time?

It sure does, Paul! Go ahead and give it a work!



Hallucinogenic harmonies, Miss Hod! I think I can feel it! It's like… it's like… when I first got hired for working for this company times fifty!

That's amazing, Paul! Just be sure not to overindulge. Porccubus has an effect which affects agents with low Temperance when their work result is Good.

That's silly, Miss Hod! There's no way anything that feels this good could ever go catastrophically wrong!



You were saying?

Yowie wowie! It went catastrophically wrong!

Agents who do too well with Porccubus while possessing a Temperance of 3 or lower lose control of themselves and overdose-this causes their heads to explode in a dramatic fashion.

Remember, everyone: You need your head to survive! Blowing it up is a bad thing!

In addition to this, Porccubus is also able to breach. Making it do so is difficult, but since this is an instructional video we've done that for you.

We had to use Violet Dawn because its counter kept going back up every time we got a Good!

...Yes, Paul. Thank you.



While breaching, Porccubus sits in a random hallway and doesn't move. It will remain there until such time as it is suppressed.

And anyone who walks by gets poked, right?

That's right, Paul! It deals White damage to anyone who walks within its range, dealing significant damage to agents with Temperance 3 or lower, and lowered damage for those with higher Temperance levels.

Well I'll be a fish in a barrel, that sounds easy to deal with! Since it doesn't move, why not just sit outside its range and hit it with a gun?

You'd think that would be plenty-but there's a problem.



Medea's hitting it, but it's not doing damage! What's the deal?

That's Porccubus's special ability. It ignores any damage from outside of its attack range.

But that means our agents can't suppress it without getting up close and personal!

Exactly the problem. Luckily, we have a backup plan.



Holy returning captains, Miss Hod! It's Sweet Pea, back early from her cameo in the season 1 finale! But I thought Welfare wasn't even open yet!

Part of what distinguishes a captain from a normal agent is the willingness to pitch in, even when it's not really your job!

I see! I'll have to give 110% every day from now on, like any agent who wants to get anywhere!



It's also worth noting that while Porccubus can negate the damage of Medea's shots, the added effect of amplifying Red damage will still activate properly. This means that Sweet Pea's damage will frequently be boosted by an additional 50%.

They're like a tag-team of unbridled power!



While Porccubus is not a threat to any adequately trained agent, all Managers are advised to suppress it in the unlikely event of a breach, since it can cause considerable casualties among our clerks. This can lead to issues with certain other Abnormalities.

So remember: stop and bludgeon the flowers, but only up close!

Well, that's all the time we have today. Thanks for joining us! And remember…

Knowledge is just pain plus observation! Have a great day!


Music: Aspire


Good evening, future Managers. This evening's Abnormality, Porccubus, reminds me in many ways of a cactus which has been sitting on my desk for some time. Angela tells me it's from an employee, though which one I couldn't say. At any rate, I've had it far longer than this version of myself can remember. Angela, graphics.





Honestly, the worst thing I can say about this one is that its suit is weak to Red damage. It's very simple to work with, and provided our agents train with something like Laetitia first for their Temperance it makes an excellent way to train Prudence and Fortitude. Its breach is quite tame, and there are few downsides to having it within the facility.

That is not to say it is good, of course. There are far more profitable options than this when selecting an Abnormality. However, its overall ease of use and lack of true downsides make it a quite ideal Abnormality for getting a facility on its feet. Once your agents have reached Temperance level 4, of course.

Anyways… every cycle, Angela asks me if the cactus will bloom. Every cycle, I say yes.

I have no reason to believe it, of course. It's never bloomed in my time here. There's no light, and the poor succulent is kept only barely alive. Still… I feel as though saying it won't bloom would be giving in at this point, I suppose.

Perhaps not in my time here, but someday… someday it must… ah. Forgive me, I lost myself in my thoughts for a moment. For now, this old man shall cease his ramblings.

Next time's featured Abnormality…


New Guidelines

Porccubus

New Gear


Requirements: Temperance 3
*Not affected by Attack Speed


Requirements: None

New Story

Porccubus (Part 1)
Porccubus (Part 2)