Latest questions answered (Patreon)

Taking a break from next demo (approaching 100 000 words) to catch up with all the questions! Writing has been going well, getting to dig into some juicy bits.

Really fascinated by how most of FHR's telepath characters are associated with some shade of red or orange when telepathic abilities or characters in most other medias are usually represented by cool-toned colors like purple, green, and blue. But FHR has Locus's warm/"salmon" pink, Heartbreak's deep red, Hollow Ground's deep rust suit & red "threads", the bright red-orange of Sidestep's tattoos... Is that color range a deliberate choice/distinction on your end? I'm curious as to what it is about those colors that you associate with your version of telepathy!

This is an awesome question, but iirc wasn't Locus's color described as magenta/bright purple? It's still on the warm side of purple so it doesn't really change your point though

Locus was indeed magenta, though the line between that and salmon pink is very thin. And it doesn't change the question at all. Huh. I will first say that it wasn't intentional. But, if I am looking back and analyzing things, I think that a lot of the cool colors in media is because telepathy is seen as a 'controlled' and 'rational' and 'almost gentle' power. This connects with the cooler blue/green spectrum, and is also why a lot of the users are either women, or non-hypermasculine coded. Sure, professor X is a man, but he is also older, and in a wheelchair.

I on the other hand see telepathy as inherently volatile, violent, and invasive. A hotbed of fears and emotions. Traditionally, these things are carried on the warm/red/fiery side of the spectrum. So, you have Hollow Ground with their rust-colored clothes and piercings, Sidestep's poison-frog orange patterns, or even Locus purple/pink, traditionally a color for mystery and/or villains.

Was wondering if we will be able to either recruit or turn Jake Manalo against Hollow Ground in Revelations as either a Mob Boss or a thief if we cut the red thread and read Hollow Ground's mind. Kinda also wanted to know if we could romance him as the puppet.

I have tentative plans to let you recruit or turn him, but no plans for romance. Sorry, he might be interested, but is hart is take (possibly broken), at least during the time of the game.

We’ve seen Sidestep break through dampeners a few times already, but they seem to balk at the idea of a telepath bypassing Numbers. Is getting through Numbers significantly more difficult?

Yes it is. Dampeners have a static/distortion field that disrupts telepathy by making it impossible to connect to another mind. If you are strong enough, or have help (the Rat King) it is possible to navigate it regardless, even though it won't be easy. Numbers puts a cage around a person's brain, the drug disrupts the point of connection inside someone, so it's hard to even imagine how to bypass something like that. In a way, dampeners are like a combination of a smoke bomb/darkness/static making it hard to find the door to a house. Mental shields locks that door. Numbers removes the door entirely.

When Sidestep bypasses dampeners, does the amount of force needed to do so end up traumatizing the other person’s brain more than normal?

No, only Sidestep's brain.

Not sure if you’ve answered a question like this, but I think it’s a fun hypothetical. DC created the Absolute Universe, which is a universe in which a core part/parts of a character’s backstory is removed, e.i Wonder Woman not being raised of Themyscira, Superman being raised on Krypton and coming to Earth later, Batman being born working class and only losing one of his parents. What do you think would be aspects that would be removed from Sidestep or the Rangers in a universe like that?

Hmmmm. Sidestep- remove the Re-Gene part. Ortega- Dad is alive, and an active presence in their life. Argent- she is the government experiment this time. Herald- his brother is alive, a villain, and Herald's nemesis. Steel- Not military but inventor, built his own armor and probably connected to Dr. Mortum.

squinting at the various burger-related questions you've gotten over time is the Catfiend still human enough that you'd consider it cannibalism to eat it if someone did? Also, would the people of Los Diablos consider it cannibalism?

Oh it would be cannibalism alright.

Would the handlers at the Farm, generally, encourage abuse/bullying between the cuckoos? If yes, would they facilitate it, or just ignore it when it happened?

Some handlers certainly did, and might even think it's useful to foster competition instead of cooperation. But I don't think it was an official stance.

What would a romanced, sus!Chen think about Sidestep making him (and only him) suspicious of them on purpose?

That Sidestep was forcing him to make a choice. Take a stand.

You mentioned that there will be options in the next book for Sidestep to join forces with the Rangers and even reclaim their former vigilante identity. Will we get to see Step actually be a hero again either as their old self or while still wearing their new vilain identity, rather than stick to their mission from the other side?

I am still unsure of that, but I am enamored of the option to reclaim the old suit. Most of these things will be happening towards the end, so everything is still loose plans. I need to see what can work in the story, and what will be too great a divergence.

Will Sidestep for example be able to lend a hand to the Rangers to deal with a villain who has nothing to do with their own plans or will they largely remain a person on a mission? I'm asking because while Step has always had options in the books to do good as a villain, I've been wondering whether being a hero is about more than just doing good. Can someone really be a hero if nobody sees them as one? Is just putting the suit and name back on enough to become one again?

A hero, as in being seen as a superhero by the public, is not only about doing good. It's about projecting a particular aura, and part of that is being public and outspoken. The vigilantes might be doing just as much good, but they tend to be subtle and shifty about it. And, some would argue that someone called a villain can do just as much good, but they are a villain because they are opposed by the authorities. I think I will give the players options if they want to go this route. The mission will be there, but maybe it doesn't have to be everything they are about. We'll see.

Is difficult start your own business in LD?

It is much easier than in the real world. The actual paperwork needed depends on where you are, many communes doesn't have much of it. If you have an idea to make money, do it. It is very common.

What are the jobs civilian can have easy?

There is all the normal work like shop staff, service staff, restaurant workers and manual labor. For people wanting more control, the lowest barrier to entry are to either get a practical education and become a plumber, welder, electrician or other forms of educated labor. Apprenticeships are common, and often runs in the family. Another way is by getting a car or a small bus and start transporting passengers. There's no city-wide bus line, but a patchwork of local operators with various routes, so there is always room for more (unless you step on someone's shoes, then things can get dangerous).

Is expensive to live there without health insurance? Is difficult being disable? What about the chronic pain or mentally disabled?

It is complicated. Since there is no monopoly (and little legislation) on drugs, many old and life-saving compounds that are every expensive today are cheap to get. Things like insulin, for example. The quality of the cheap ones might vary, but usually manufacturers wants to keep their reputation so they won't lose customers to competitors. And, since there is no real restriction on strong painkillers, dealing with chronic pain might be easier, but then you run the risk of addiction and overdose if you don't have good medical advice.

Since there is no central legislation saying that buildings needs to be accessible, have elevators, and the like, being disabled can be hard. However, for people with money, the medical science have been able to mitigate that. Not just cybernetic implants, or exo-skeletons, but for the very rich you can get vat-grown replacement parts from your own cells, or elaborate operations to restore neural function. However, all that takes money. And unless you start out with it, it's not a thing you can earn easily. Especially while disabled. Some sign up for experimental procedures instead, essentially becoming guinea pigs.

However, some communes and communities in Los Diablos do take accessibility seriously. They have local building codes, and makes sure that their less able-bodied citizens can be part of communal life just like everyone else. It depends on where you live.

As for the mental health scene, that is sadly underfunded. There is a view that a true Los Diablos citizen is allowed (almost required) to be a bit weird, and that you should tough it out and move on instead of bothering with therapy. Medication is the most common way to treat everything from depression to anxiety, and people are far more likely to take a few pills and then move on with their day. This also means that there is less stigma attached to taking medication for things like schizophrenia, that's just another pill. Not even that expensive.

Let's be fair here. There is no way I could make a dystopia that is worse than the current US health system. I won't say that this is better, just different. And with a lot less monopolies and regulations.

Near the end of the Therapy scene, if you keep Sidestep's scar value close to zero it says that they hear somebody whispering on their ear and screaming into the wind that it stops because they say so and that they need to rebuild their walls. I was wondering if that is Sidestep's subconscious speaking to them or possibly a remnant of Heartbreak lingering in their mind.

Hehe you will learn more about that in Revelations.

Hi Malin! hope this doesn’t come off as reductive or comparative but have you heard of the webcomic Strong Female Protagonist by Brennan Lee Mulligan and Lee Knox Ostertag? One of the main characters, Menace, is really similar to Sidestep in terms of the whole ‘traumatized telepath that works against the law to reveal a government conspiracy that fucked up their life while having all their personal relationships pushed far away due to the nature of what they are’ thing. (I might have a type for characters that I emotionally resonate with the most haha)

I don't think so, the name is familiar, but I didn't remember anything of it when I looked it up. I need to read it though, it looks awesome, and I do love Brennan Lee Mulligan! Had no idea he's written comics. Funny really, I started writing the Fallen Hero book (working title a supervillain writing experiment) around maybe 2008 and stopped around maybe 2010 something, which is a fairly similar timeline to when SFP must have started being conceived. I wonder if it was something in the water at the time? I am racking my brain, but I can't be coming up with anything specific. It started as a fanfiction of my partner's unpublished comic, and I had to retool a lot of Sidestep's origins when it became it's own story since the premise that inspired me was not something I could use for my book.

My additional question then is have you had any new inspirations for writing the series lately? I also thought the antagonist in Spiderman Brand New Day was giving Sidestep…in fact that was the only thing I could think about while watching it lol

I am so not up to date with any of the new movies, I pretty much stopped watching them after GoG3. Just feels... I dunno. Not my thing anymore. Currently I am watching the old 80-s anime Armored Trooper Votoms, which is giving me LOTS of Sidestep and Chen inspiration. Nothing like artificial humans, perfect soldiers, ptsd, war, conspiracies and mental trauma to get me started. Also, the sexiest animated explosions I have seen yet.

Not much a question than I'd love to read a random comment about Dr Mortum ~.

The one thing Dr. Mortum really misses in their lab is greenery. Sometimes they just wish science was more compatible with lush plantlife, but alas, that is not the case.

Because of the electricity running through his body, would Ortega be more or less likely to be struck by lightning than the average person? If he was struck by lightning what would happen? 🤔

I would say more likely. But Ortega would live, they essentially have a faraday cage in their skin that would safely lead the electricity away from internal organs. There might be some superficial burns though.

I saw how in the Revelations demo you emphasize the villain's base is not in the sewers LOL, and I wanted to ask... When and how did you realize a large part of the fanbase was picturing the tunnels base as the sewers? What tipped you off to that fact and what did you think in that moment when you realized there was a misunderstanding there

People talking about it online and on the discord, making fun of the sewer-rat that is Sidestep. I thought it was funny and decided that is what the other people in the series must also think.

Referencing a previous ask about poly Rangers’ relationship being revealed and the media reaction to it- would there be a similar uproar if it was the Guardians instead? How would the Guardians have reacted if they were in the RO’s shoes?

The guardians are a lot newer, they don't have the entrenched status of the Rangers, so there would be less of a fuss. Nobody have any illusions to be broken yet.

Would you say the 9th gate is the door to "Omega" classification or can Omega level be reached before the 9th gate? (Idk if that was clear I was basically just asking if 9 gates need to be open or Sidestep could be Omega classification even with less than 9 gates depending on stats)

Hmmm. I would say that Sidestep can reach what would amount to omega level without opening all the gates.

Will Sidestep be able to help the puppet imposter get revenge against Shroud and potentially befriend or at least make them an ally in their mission against the Special Directive?

That is certainly a thing you can try!

At the end of the therapy session in Retribution, Sidestep reads the shrink's thoughts and she's wondering whether therapy can help them/whether Sidestep is a danger to society even though the conversation they had didn't seem to hint at anything dangerous. But then Sidestep narrates "It might be your own telepathic powers playing havoc with her mind. It wouldn't be the first time. It's never good for you to get upset." So I wanted to know if those were the shrink's genuine doubts or if Sidestep's own self-doubt and distress was influencing her thoughts

Oh that was absolutely Sidestep projecting a little too hard when thinking about things that the therapy brought up. A little bit like nightmare bleedover, enough for someone as sensitive and in tune with people as Finch are to pick up that something might be seriously wrong.

Have you heard of Hatoful Boyfriend? The parody dating sim that is also pretty serious and earnest about its themes of tragedy/grief/love with a new game+ murder mystery?

I have seen lots of memes about it, that is the pigeon one, right? I haven't played it or read too much about it, I play very little video games, and dating sims are not among them.

Ignoring how a Japanese parody VN would get imported to US. What would Vera and Argent think of it? Like it for the birds? the insane but compelling plot? I think Herald would be touch by the earnest parts of it, but you know best.

Like I said, sadly I don't know enough to say! But I can imagine Argent playing something like that, and then start wearing meme shirts without explanation.

Silly question: Does civet coffee (where the coffee cherries are harvested from civet poop) exist in FHR? Since HG is The Art of Coffee(tm), what does/would the Polycruel (and whoever else you feel like answering for) think of it?

Yes of course it does. Rich people always need to be special. I think HG has tried it, and has some for show, but lies other things better. But sometimes you just want to show someone up. Jake refused to drink it. Nocturne thought it was nice.

Which team has a better rep/higher popularity in universe, the Rangers or the Guardians?

Rangers. The Guardians are new.

Would you say Argent is more tech savvy or streetwise? Or both?

Tech savvy.

I might be too late but who is out here thinking sidesteps tattoos are a satisfying texture? An awful texture? Who is constantly rubbing the tattoos with their fingers?

I do now. Thank you for that.

Any reason why Argent refuses to kill Shroud when Sidestep tells her to at the casino? Is it just that Argent doesn't know enough about Shroud to consider her worthy of her wrath and would she change her mind if she learned more about Shroud?

Argent was overconfident, and didn't want to kill anyone she didn't know anything about. Both for information, and that she might not deserve it. She wouldn't hesitate if she got a second chance.

I doubt a happy ending exists for Chargestep where they are married and have kids together, mainly because they are both sterile and a marriage to a re-gene wouldn't be legally recognized. I'm pretty Sidestep would be able to forge a human identity for himself and he and Julia could just adopt if they wanted to, or just be dog parents. I just want them to see them be happy and live normal peaceful lives together. But could Julia be able to carry a pregnancy to term if she had her generator removed, and are there any workarounds to Re-Gene's being unable to reproduce?

Look. Many things are fixable. It might be possible if the generator is removed, I wouldn't rule that out. Though it might be safer with a surrogate, or even an external womb like they use for re-genes. She's got eggs. And it might be possible for a workaround for re-genes, I would say that it is impossible. Just that it is out of the scope of this game.

What languages do Temerain, Bumblebee, and Porthole speak?

English and Spanish, and whatever else I need them to speak for the book!

What’s Umbral’s sexuality?

He feels rather straight, but way too bothered about it.

Did Danny know about Marek’s connection to Ortega before contacting him? If not, what about now? Did he ever ask about how Ortega feels about him now?

Yes, Daniel did. And contacted him anyway.

Are the people/individual who tried to shoot Ortega before the crash the same people/individual that shot Chen?

Yes.

And to follow up on this, are the same people or individual behind sending a sniper after Ortega the same people or individual that blew up Ortega's apartment?

No.

You answered before for Blaze and Zephyr: what do the rest of the Guardians’ find attractive in a prospective partner?

I genuinely have no idea! I don't know them that well yet. Have yet to write them in any scenes, so they are just words on paper so far. Not people.

How did Blaze get into a fight with the Slasher? Was he ordered to try and do some damage against Lord Ember’s empire? How did he get away from that same fight?

He was working against Lord Ember, yes. I think essentially that what saved him was his ability to generate heat, if there are no civilians around, that can be used quite aggressively. And it's good to set fires with when trying to get away.

Why is Blqze so insecure/sensitive about himself? You’d think a man like him (often a leader, good powers and status, good connections) might have more self confidence?

High aspirations. It's the same with a lot of famous people, they are insecure beneath the surface. Indeed, that insecurity might be why they have crafted such a powerful facade.

What was Blaze’s childhood like?

Pretty bleak, more or less abandoned at an early age. Grew up around the at that time really rough parts around Long Beach, that's where he met Zephyr, and where the eventually got boosted.

In a previous Q&A you said you weren't sure yet if Sidestep would grow comfortable enough to hug Arde... So I got curious, how long did it take for Sidestep to grow used/comfortable with Ortega hugging them? Since they seem to expect/predict Ortega's hugs in Rebirth/Retribution like they're used to it.

Ortega never asked for permission, they are annoyingly tactile. So Sidestep had a bit of forced exposure therapy there.

If the SD hadn't had gotten Sidestep (for whatever reason), and had gotten a random Heartbreak survivor, would that rando have fared better or worse than Sidestep? Or would they have just been Heartbreak 2.0? And speaking of Heartbreak, if Anathema hadn't had died, would Argent and Herald have still become Rangers?

Way worse. And yes, Anathema being dead or alive had nothing to do with Argent's or Herald's career.

For pastflirting Chargestep… how would Ortega have felt about Step being in love with them, but gave up on a relationship because they thought Ortega will never be serious about them? That playboy (gn) persona doesn’t inspire much confidence.

Gutted. They had not really thought about it that way.

Not sure how much further a puppet stuck sidestep who wasn't in the crash and is romancing Ortega will be to go with them, but I do wonder if there is a potential plot point with a female puppet who is dating a male ortega potentially becoming pregnant, even though they are mods and boosts respectively which are generally sterile.

Not doing any pregnancy and children plots, it is not something I am comfortable with for personal reasons.

Is Mortum the kind of person that would wear silly science pun/themed t-shirts? Would they accept them as gifts from Sidestep/the Puppet?

They would wear them if they were gifts from someone they cared about. Or because it was the only thing clean and they didn't have to leave the lab.

Is this book the one where there is gonna be the most emphasis on the Guardians, or is most of the Guardians content planned for Book 4?

Guardians is second half of this book. Book four is still open.

Are we gonna get to know any other superhero team closely like the Rangers and the Guardians or are those two the main ones we will get acquainted with and the others are more secondary/less important?

These are the two teams. But I will try to add more cameos, now that I am getting help with fleshing out more of the city in the Sourcebook.

What's your favorite game that you've played in 2026 so far?

Legacy of Kain: Defiance, the remaster. Ah sweet nostalgia.

Can technopaths in FH universe get information from machines about, if not feelings, at least impressions/evaluations of a situation or a person? For example, if Argent were to ask a communal workplace computer if it has a favorite user, would the computer distinguish between the IT guy who always comes to fix up all of its problems vs someone who might use percussive maintenance when it's being slow? Or would it be unable to assign a value judgement such as "favorite" in that way?

Hmmm. I don't think there is value judgement as such.

If yes, do different machines have different preferences (ex. some computers don't care about coffee spilled on their keyboard while others really dislike it) or are all of them more or less the same?

I don't think they have emotions or thoughts in that way. Argent adds a lot of context according to her own understanding, just like we see faces in trees or clouds.

If Vera got modded as a pigeon, would the mods (such as eyesight or strength enhancement) affect her human form as well? If not, would the mods remain on the pigeon permanently or would they only last for the specific transformation and disappear when she turned human and then pigeon again?

They would not cross over. But they would affect her pigeon form permanently.

Will we learn more about Sunstream in the subsequent books, or is she not part of the story in that way? Will we find out where she is currently/what happened to her?

She's not really a part of the story. I might find some use for her in book four, I have tentative ideas, but they are very loose right now.

Was Lady Argent always something of a battle maniac (with her powers just enabling her to express it more extremely) or is that a trait she only developed/discovered about herself after she got her powers?

She was always feisty, but kind of small. So this is a bit of wish fulfillment for her.

What does Argent's family think of her hero persona? If they knew who she was, how would they have reacted upon finding out she publicly kissed villain!Step? Conversely, how would they feel about her dating Sidestep-the-former-hero/vigilante?

That is spoilers, we might learn in game and I don't want you to have previous knowledge.

Iirc, you once said that Argent and Herald probably would've become close if they hadn't been forced together for PR purposes. In that vein, would their relationship have likely turned romantic if it had been allowed to form naturally, or would it have been solely platonic closeness?

I think it would likely have been platonic, but I wouldn't rule out romance. They are not incompatible, but Argent is worried about getting too close.

If Sidestep convinces Argent to work with Dr. Mortum on the regenerator, but also took some of her hair in Rebirth, will she find out at some point and make fun of Sidestep for it? I know it's niche but I just love it when Argent gives my Step a well-deserved hard time

If I remember, that would be funny.

How does joining the US military work as a boost?

Boosts are very valuable recruits depending on their powers. There is a bit more when it comes to testing and evaluation as a recruit, but new career paths might open up.

Is there discrimination against being a boost in the military, either by people inside or by people outside the military?

There is a lot of controversy since Cavalier went rogue. Boosts will most likely serve abroad, or on the west coast, and be kept away from the more conservative east. They are unlikely to climb very high in the ranks (no boosted generals currently) and tend to be focused in more combat-facing roles. So there is a bit of discrimination, though most blame that on security concerns.

Do people hide being a boost while in the military?

They might get away with it if they are very minor, but I wouldn't say its common. At the common service member level you can get a lot of advantages if you have the right kind of boost.

Are boosts concentrated into specific roles, or are their boosts just treated as force multipliers in regular combat, i.e. being a telepath boost, would that telepath be treated as just another service member, or would they be put into a role for interrogation, scouting, and/or undetectable communication?

Boosts tends to be put in specific roles, if their powers are helpful for that. A telepath would not remain a regular soldier for long, but would be switched to a more useful career path.

Are arrested boosts given the chance to join the military in lieu of prison time?

It has been known to happen. Most boosts have very shady backgrounds, and the military often operates on the principle that it is the behavior while i the service that counts, not what you did before. However, they will be securly watched.

Is that weighted against the notoriety of the crimes committed versus how strong that person's boost is (i.e. an Alpha level durability and super-strength boost who terrorized an entire town for a week and made it on national news versus a gamma boost who has 'perfect balance', who did a string of non-violent thefts and robberies that didn't even get any press; Which would be more likely to get that offer if it exists)?

There is always many things to consider. One of them is not just what the person did, but how mentally stable they are. If they can take orders. If they can execute them. If they can be a good soldier. So the boost who terrorized the town in the example above might be a perfect candidate if they did it as a henchman for someone, following orders, or doing a calculated action to extort the town into paying them. They would be a worse candidate if they got drunk and did it because they lost control and went on a bender, or lost their temper because someone idled when the red light had turned green. Control is the key, not just power or reputation.

Finally, what does retirement/discharge look like for those boosts: Are they discriminated less on the east coast for being veterans? Do they get pressured/asked into joining the Ranger program?

Some gets pressured/asked to join more civilian forces like the Rangers, law enforcement or becoming government agents or bodyguards. Many companies are quick to snatch up useful talent as well. Few go back to the east coast, while being a veteran might give them some more credit, they can't escape the laws. Most end up living on the west coast, or possibly down in Texas/the south, where the sentiments against boosts are milder, and the laws more often overlooked.

Is Sidestep's mindscape gonna change depending on choices or is it the same for all Sidesteps?

Still unsure. I kinda want to give you choices, but we'll see.

Given their conflict over keeping secrets from Jake, wouldn’t HG have just threaded either/both them or Nocturne into having the courage to confess the truth?

No. This is a matter of the heart, they need to work it out.

What’re Blaze’s and Zephyr’s stance on kids?

No idea.

How would Bumblebee react to a certain villain stealing her hat? What if they made a regular game of it?

THEY NEED TO BE TAKEN DOWN IMMEDIATELY. That is personal. She would take that as bullying, not flirting.

Would Bumblebee agree to surrendering every and all hats she wears/will ever wear to Sidestep for the rest of her life, as their only condition to letting the Guardians arrest them?

As Bumblebee would say: There is no way you can keep me to that promise, and there is no guarantee you'd not immediately escape.

How would captain Blaze react to learning about Steel and Sidestep being in a relationship?

Spoilers. Not good.

Will both Argent and Sidestep be able to use the Regenerator in Revelations regardless of who you picked to keep the Regenerator? Or does Sidestep not get to use it yet in Book 3 if you let Argent keep it and give it to you once she's done

That plotline will be resolved in book three.

this one's a silly question, but if Sidestep were to carry around a taser for self defense back in their hero days, and they called the taser "Charge Jr." how would Ortega react to that if they found out? i imagine the jokes and teasing would be endless

Oh that would be so funny. And there is no way Ortega wouldn't take that as open flirting in some scenarios.

Will Sidestep meet the Guardians newest recruit in Revelations? Also any details worth revealing

Yes they will! Probably at Ortega's birthday party.

Since some Sidesteps can be really loaded, how would Ortega feel about getting a really expensive birthday gift? Say, a sports car/motorcycle, for example? Is it something they'd like, or would that make them feel uncomfortable?

Turnaround is fair play, it's not like Ortega didn't give away expensive things before. Ortega wouldn't be bothered. If it was obviously stolen, there might be more issues...

Similarly, and for no reason at all, how would they feel about being gifted some... dubiously acquired artwork/tech?

Now that is... more complicated.

This might be a silly question, but reading all the stuff about the Big One and the hero Ashfall makes me curious. Did you ever read the Ashfall Trilogy? (Ashfall, Ashen Winter, and Sunrise)

Nope, never heard of it!

It’s a series of books going over a volcanic winter after the Yellowstone super volcano decides to get a bit quirky. It was of my favorite series in high school and there are a lot of similarities between it and the aftermath of The Big One.

Cool! I have never read them, but I have been a volcano addict since I was a child, and have read a LOT of things. Might need to check them out.

Honestly my headcanon might just be that the two take place in the same universe, although it makes no sense whatsoever lmao!

That's what headcanons are for!

Considering the limitations of their telekinesis, how long did it take Mortum to find a practical application for it like how they worked on the nanos?

Pretty quickly. They do a lot of fiddly work where it comes in very handy.

Previously it was asked how Ben reacted if he was asked to rescue the puppet from hospital; and it made me wonder how did the request to rescue Sidestep go? Did Mortum give an explanation of who/what Step is or why they wanted to rescue them?

We'll get into that.

And what was Ben’s reaction to this request?

We'll get into that.

You’ve said in the past characters notice if Step’s scar value goes down as them getting better; but some of the end states for Retribution could be quite triggering for certain scar Step’s, like friendless being arrested by Ortega or revenge being betrayed by Mortum. Could a Step that had previously reduced their scar level and started healing, but started getting worse again be something the other characters notice? Or would this be outside the scope of coding

Since there is no save yet on Retribution, I have the option to go back and retroactively add code, so we will see. I can code that, no issue.

The powers of some boosts like the Void seem very explicitly connected to other dimensions while others have abilities much less flagrantly dimensional in nature such as Sidestep's telepathy (specifically with the void between bodies). Are the Void and Sidestep's dimensions connected in the setting's metaphysics? If they knew how, could the Void theoretically find Sidestep in the void between bodies?

There is a connection between several powers in the book, and I have my own little mental picture of how things fit together.

I guess I'm ultimately interested in whether you envisioned a common foundation underlying the dimensional aspects or whether you approached them more like the Marvel universe where heroes have very disparate power mechanics that simply coexist within the same setting.

I would say that for some powers I have a common foundation. But not for all powers, I didn't sit down and draw up everything, I still wanted creative freedom.

Certain boosts also have different levels of access to these other dimensions with varying degrees of awareness about such so this leads me to ask: Is that what the boost drug truly does, let the body access dimensions? Is that where the abilities of boosts come from?

I will say that is very close to the truth for many of them. But I likely will never specify everything, because the moment you put down a cohesive theory, people will start poking holes in it and pull the theory apart. It will always remain loose.

Slightly related to the previous question, do all of Sidestep's powers come from the void between bodies or another dimension? It seems to be the case for puppetry but does simply reading or influencing minds require that dimensional access?

No. It would be better to say that Sidestep has two separate but related powers that can synergize. Or maybe that one is needed for the other to be utilize.

I haven't read all of your Patreon lore pieces yet but it looks to me as if the Nanosurge forced Sidestep to learn how to influence minds while the potential for dimensional shenanigans came from the Tesseract assault. And I think Heartbreak bridged the gap by making Step experience possession themselves. Could their abilities have developed without these events?

Theoretically yes, but practically no. It is very unlikely that Sidestep would have pushed themselves, or gone down those particular routes without outside stimuli.

I played good Sidesteps on my first playthroughs but I gotta admit there's something intoxicating to letting the Rangers and Los Diablos know that you're now (almost) all-powerful. That the tables have turned and the dishes are already on the floor. Is there anything you can tell us as to how powerful Step will become in Revelations and then Revolutions? Will we see new abilities emerge, will the existing ones continue to develop or has Sidestep reached the limits of what their powers can do? If so, you can't have it all I imagine (or can you?), so will that power come at a cost?

Sidestep can grow more powerful, but moreso I hope to give Sidestep more chances to really utilize their powers. I want telepathic shenanigans! I had a bit of fun with it in the 4.2 demo, but I want more.

What determines what powers emerge in boosts? Is it simply the individual difference in how the body/mind reacts to whatever lies beyond? I'm guessing you won't spoil us here but have you yourself written about this subject or have you preferred leaving it up to mystery?

I have mentioned bits in previous QnA's, but in the end the thing is that nobody really knows. It is a combination of nature and nurture, what the surrounding events are, who the person is, and what their mental state might be. It will always be a mystery at heart, but there are some knowledge that can be drawn from it. Circumstances seems to matter, sometimes the boost is what is needed to get out of a bad spot. Fire and destructive powers often seems tied to a bad mental state and a search for vengeance. Armor and protective powers can rise from bodily injuries, and fear of pain. It doesn't seem closely related to genetics, but there seems to be some influence, at least the Farm seems to think so with their harvesting of usable genes.

Does the body actually matter or is it just a lock for the key that's the boost drug?

It matters a little.

Does it matter less for those like Sidestep that can leave it?

Yes.

Could Step eventually become able to use telepathy while in someone else's body? Or in no one's body at all?

We'll get into that. It is theoretically possible.

I'm again guessing you might keep the exact content to yourself but have you figured out or written material on what would happen should Sidestep's body die while their consciousness was away?

Yes. I have so many options, but I am worried about cascading changes. I am tempted though. I know things cascaded more than I planned in Retribution, and I am trying to keep that down.

What are the vibes in the lab like if certain unrevealed!rescued!sidesteps are giving Mortum love looks/goo goo eyes whenever their back is turned? asking for normal reasons

Very tense.

If you had to add one sound effect to a scene in each book (magically it plays as the scene is read, and you don't have to actually code it or nothing), what would it be and where would you put it? It can be any sound effect, realistic/suspenseful/comedic/whatever, doesn't have to fit the scene at all, and up to you whether the sound is inexplicably diegetic or not.

Little rat squeaks every time the Rat King talks. The other alternative is a single "oh no," as picked from episode one of the latest Fist of the North Star anime whenever Argent is set to mess you up badly (sewers in rebirth, the bridge, certain auction spottings).

I'm sorry if this has been asked before, but how would Five Pennies react to Sidestep stealing his name for their villain persona?

Murderous rage.

You mentioned that Sidestep cloned the Puppet's phone onto their phone (which they presumably brought to Parkfield, given that it's given back to them in the Innocent demo). Does that mean that Ortega still has guilty!Step's phone, and therefore, access to the Puppet's phone? If so, would that make the Puppet compromised & revealed?

Hehehe.

Has Ortega (or anyone else besides Owl) ever been jumpscared by Sidestep?

So many people! Sidestep was infamous for that back in the day.

If Sidestep was vegan/vegetarian, did the Farm forcefeed them meat (as punishment, experimentation, etc.)?

There were no vegetarians at the farm, you ate what you got. This is a choice that Sidestep made later, and one which the Farm would not respect.

How strong-willed is each member of the guardians?

Now look, I can see how interesting a question that would be to answer. But alas, since that will factor in when you have to fight them, that will be revealed in game. Wouldn't want to give you any premature information!

How difficult is it for sidestep to control multiple strong-willed people?

Depends on the extent of control. Sidestep could quite easily manage things, like remaining unseen (don't look here), or freeze people in place for short amounts of time (harder). But the problem is that each mind is its own thing when you start getting into the details. For weaker-willed people it's not hard, because Sidestep can essentially override their will entirely and impose their own order (like in the fight at Hollow Ground's mansion). But with stronger wills, Sidestep needs to tailor their approach to each brain, and do that at the same time, in different ways, with several brains is hard. Impossible? No. But it is a bit like writing with both hands at the same time, or tapping a different rhythm with each hand. A thing like that needs a good balance of both force and subterfuge, and the values needs to be high.

Could sidestep insert a premade set of instructions or movements into someone's mind kinda like the sword of Damocles but more specific? Like performing a part in a musical performance for example.

Yes, Sidestep is at that level now. Especially with high subterfuge. But again, the complexity depends on how malleable the mind is, and how averse they would be to perform the action. Using your example, a musical or karaoke fan would be much easier to program to perform a song on command than forcing someone who hates being on stage, and is convinced they can't sing.

If sidestep had a memory of someone performing a part in a play could they insert it into someone's mind and make them follow it like a script?

Again, yes. But the longer and more complicated it is, the harder it would be, and the more receptive the mind would have to be. If it is a thing the victim is already aware of it would be a lot easier. So someone who knows Romeo and Juliet, have seen the movies, read the play, or maybe even been on stage, would be a lot easier to program. In contrast, a new thing that nobody has ever heard of will need a lot of long-term programming, you need to teach the brain the words and pacing, not just forcing it to do something it already knows. Implanting memories is possible, but again, not something Sidestep is used to so this is all experimental. It would be easier to puppet in real time, that way you just need control. Not affecting memories.

Would memories or self-made telepathic constructs be better for making people carry out a pre-determined set of instructions?

I would say that depends. What is the difference between a real memory and a constructed one anyway? Often, it is the amount of detail and supplementary information. However, if an instruction is inserted deeply enough, the host mind often creates memories and assumptions around it to make it feel natural. Just like our memories might have shades of movies or stories, and we'd have a hard time picking apart what the real reality was at the time.

With enough preparation could sidestep make the guardians perform a dance performance against their will?

Ahahahaha oooh now I see what you're getting at. Damn. I... I am charmed by this idea. Damn. Okay. You have put the idea into my head. I can't say no now. So... yeah. Possibly. Porthole might be the biggest issue.

It's been noted before that Sidestep experiences seizures in a variety of situations. How do these affect them or complicate their convalescence as they're recovering from the broken legs situation?

It will be fine as long as Sidestep doesn't expend themselves telepathically and gives themselves time to heal. They often happen in high stress environment and with telepathic exertion. Surely that won't be the case here.

Would you put clues next to very emotional scenes as to hide them in plain sight?

Hahahaha. Of course. The best place to hide them is either in routine things people glaze over, or in scenes where they will focus very strongly on something else.

Was Hg's sibling a poor loser?

I think that goes for everyone in that family...

If HG could go back, would they have threaded their sibling to keep them safe even if it meant keeping them more 'locked down'

Yes. Without question.

Is it still common for people to hike the Pacific Crest Trail or is it like surfing & became an extreme sport?

One could argue that the Pacific Crest Trail is an extreme sport already... but I digress. Yes, people still hike it, but stretches are quite changed. Still beautiful though.

How are basic and higher education in Los Diablos culturally, pedagogically, or otherwise different now from what, say, Chen or Ortega experienced outside the FWT a few decades ago, or what Danny experienced back east more recently?

Very different. We'll touch on it a bit more in the sourcebook, but essentially the US free-for-all school system with homeschooling, etc is in full force. Essentially, for elementary school, the various communes and communities that makes up Los Diablos has their own neighborhood schools. As such the quality can vary widely, and some are quite specialized. Some are funded by the commune/community, others by fees. Some children are homeschooled, or by groups of parents pooling their resources when they don't like the local alternative. When it comes to further education, you might have to move or commute. There are many high schools and colleges in Los Diablos, still run by communes and communities, but open to everyone who can pay (or get a stipend). Since there are no common agreement on grades, most of them have tests you need to pass to start there.

In general, most schools high and low are focused on utilitarian knowledge. Thus things like languages, math, science, economics and various crafts and trades are common. Things to get you a job, and be employable by the various companies in LD. There is very little higher education in things like social sciences (like sociology), history, or art. Think "can this help me run my own business or work for a corporation?" If the answer is yes, then there's probably a school for it. People into art, acting, and the like are often self-taught, though there are small community colleges or organizations that might teach people the trades because they are passionate about it. Mentors, artists groups, comedy clubs, music halls, and things like that are very common. Los Diablos have a vibrant art scene, but you don't go to college to learn it.

Have you tried Warframe?

No, I very rarely have time to play video games these days.

How would sentinel react if sidestep possessed him for a task or something like they did with argent and then afterwards left a note saying: 'f u, were even' ?

Oh I'd love to see you try!

Is quantum computing something that’s being heavily researched in the FHR world?

No, but Dr. Mortum is very into it.

Would Voidspace have the potential to be a huge breakthrough for it if scientists were aware of it?

Oh yes.

Do people in Fallen Hero know about the theory of relativity, time dilation, or space radiation?

Yes to all three. But I suspect the natural laws in this world are slightly different than our own.

We know Mortum's studied radiation, but is Mortum interested in the first two (relativity and time dilation)?

I would say not directly? But they are aware of them, they tie into other things.

Which last name does Ortega's mother usually go by when not around rangers and associates?

She did not change her surname when she married (and neither did Enrique), she still has her original last names. I don't think I've ever mentioned both of them? So she would be Elena Ortega Rivera. (Ortega from her father's side, Rivera from her mother's). Or Elena Ortega for short and when she doesn't want to confuse US registration systems.

What did the cult of the new flesh think of the heartbreak incident and the heartbreak experimentee?

They don't know the truth. All they know was what the government said officially.

What are some examples of boosts having chaotic/destructive/weird deaths? (guessing this is spoilers) but what kind of death would a telepath have? Does it depend on their classification?

I think for telepaths it would be overload. Going into a coma from either being bombarded with other thoughts until the brain shut down, or losing themselves in the minds of others until there was nothing left but a body that might echo those around it. In a way, Heartbreak is an example of what can happen there, losing it and imploding, taking so many people with them.

For other boosts, just think of taking the boost to its ultimate and dangerous extreme. For example, gravity floating up into space, or being crushed to a pulp. Super senses leading to self-destruction or mutilation to stop the noise/pain. Armor growing heavy and strong enough that breathing becomes impossible, healing leading to runaway cancer or auto-immune diseases. Strength strong enough muscles and movement will break bones, a heartbeat strong enough to shatter the ribcage. Same with speed and moving too fast for your body to handle. Use your imagination, everything can be a disaster!

Would the cult of the new flesh consider a omega level boost a messiah, saviour, 'the chosen one' or something like that?

Void was very into trying to create a chosen one like that...

So was the businessman we can possess anyone important if he was going to meet HG in person?

Probably.

Was it one of their cover identities as a high ranking hench (of Nocturne's), or another one?

Hehehe.

Resident Evil has got me wondering, are bio weapons something that’s heavily researched/used or has it taken a back seat to mods & power armor?

I would say that is research that is ongoing, and quite married to the use of the boost drug/transplants of boosted body parts. However, it is more volatile and unpredictable, so is less common.

What’s Sacramento like? Is it still California’s capital?

There are no capitals or states anymore, other than as general concepts. However, Sacramento is thriving as the main agricultural hub for the central valley. While it suffered from floods and severe shaking during the Big One, it was hit less than most. It is one of the places on the west coast that has the highest percent original population, and was central to the survival of the people who remained behind. It (and the valley) was severely affected by ashfall, but managed to cling on all the same. These days it is a sprawling, widespread city of maybe 100 000 people with low buildings and agricultural industries. Surrounding it is a network of thriving smaller communities, all connected by roads and the river. The majority of people work in the agricultural industry, the usual tech-focused companies are mostly absent. The Sacramento River is the base of communications with San Francisco, and the majority of produce is transported there. The main rival in the valley is Bakersfield, which supplies Los Diablos.

Sacramento has no Ranger's team of its own. However, it is under protection of one of the San Francisco chapters of the Rangers, which is one of the reasons why the SF Rangers are by far the largest team. It is considered a quiet place to live these days, but in the past it was the site of many battles since many gangs and ravagers wanted to control the food supplies. Their people have a reputation of being well-armed and ready to defend their land.

You previously mentioned that foreign media is a lot harder to interact with in the FHverse, since Argent is wealthy & a nerd does she have any?

I would amend that comment a bit. I was talking about global media, in the way we have it today, where dozens of streaming services and the internet can bring us anything we like at the click of the button. However, some foreign media has been so adopted in Los Diablos that it is almost seen as part of its culture and not as foreign anymore. We are getting into more of the "crush culture" in the coming sourcebook. For example, mexican movies, food, music and culture is part of everyday LD life. Spanish is even more widely spoken than today, so there is little barrier to entry for most people. Since Hollywood collapsed and is no more, the huge network of TV and movie production that fueled the homogeneous US media empires has splintered. In Los Diablos, media, movies and music is a fusion of many different sources. What Argent does as a wealthy nerd is to get original stuff. Good copies. Quality. Uncut. Original releases even.

Would Ortega start a podcast if they could & those existed?

No. That sounds boring.

Have any completely new sports (Think rollerball & combat biking instead of super football) been created due to the existence of boosts, mods, & power armor?

Oh yes, but I can't name any on the top of my head.

Why did Ljungstrand decide to take the boost drug (If he had a choice) in the 1st place? Was there any power he specifically hoped to get?

Spoilers. We will get into that.

What would happen if shroud 'ate' another telepath or a psi-sensitive?

Depends who was the strongest. Most likely a tasty nom.

Are all telepaths aware that epilepsy negates any telepathic influence? Or do they just assume that sometimes random people they encounter are just randomly immune or taking an anti-telepathic supplement?

I will say it is somewhat common knowledge. And sometimes random people are immune, since epilepsy is not the only cause. It is however the most common one.

Where did Ljungstrand study at?

No idea. I think somewhere in the northeast.

When and where was he born?

Still undecided.

How does the Zombie General's Invulnerability work?

I have no idea, but it is very different for how it worked for Anathema. It is not as all-encompassing. Might be something like being able to put his body back together again or something.

Are there any boosts whose sole power is immunity to a very specific thing like say snake venom that work in the pharmaceutical industry?

I think that might happen, yeah. The super specific boosts can be handy.

Did Shroud ever see The Core?

Spoilers.

Was she ever a candidate for whatever experiments were done on HB & Step? And if so is she aware of that?

Spoilers.

Could a 9-gate sidestep scare the catfiend? Like make it flee out of fear?

Yes.

Space travel and the space race aren't as big a thing. But if it were possible to kit him up sufficiently, would Herald have a fun time in space?

Absolutely!! Herald might love that. I can see him becoming a space fanboy.

In a team fight with all of the guardians present, if one member were to get possessed and suddenly switch sides. Which one would be the worst?

Ahahaha not giving you tactical advice!

If there was a boost with powers similar to Vera’s but cow-based instead of pigeon would that be the key to unlocking the Infinite Hamburger?

No. Not at all.

In Rebirth Mortum mentions that the strength upgrade is an exoskeleton meant for sports. Is that the norm for sports in the verse or are they just rule variants like arena football? And if they are; are they usually more, less, or equally popular to the original?

I imagine there are sports that requires/uses exo-armors. Probably some sort of combat sports (been on an Armored Trooper Votoms binge lately, if you can find the old anime, watch it! It goes harder and harder the longer it runs, very FH vibes from a more Chen perspective). I don't have a name for them or anything, but I imagine they are popular.

Would Jake's ego survive being informed that he was beaten up by a handful of rodents?

Ahahahaha. Oh hell I want to write that scene.

Was the Void always a big factor in Sidestep's backstory, or was this a retroactive change due to fan interest in them?

Void was always there, because their power ties into a lot of the architecture of how I see the weirdness of telepathy and some other boost powers. The way how things fit together, connections between disparate characters and so on. But less of a person I suppose? More what their powers represent. In contrast, the Catastrofiend is a blast to write as a villain! Void is not, but a blast to my imagination of weird shit, most of the things you will never see. I wasn't aware there was a lot of fan interest in them? At least not beyond being a bit of a mystery, and people like mysteries. But perhaps I am not hanging out in those circles. If you are talking about the 'dream' sequence that's in many of the demos, that's essentially a placeholder for now because the main thing I don't want to reveal and use yet. Why? Because you'll be playing through it a dozen times more, and I don't want it to become dull. I had already written parts of that scene for my Void series on Patreon, so it took very little effort to retool it.

In the opening chapter CC, the bit right before picking your eye colour says "Right now, your eyes are…". Is this about past Void eyes (ergo the description of green eyes being toxic/poisonous?) or was that even a part of the lore when you were first writing Rebirth? Or a third thing?

It is part of the whole Sidestep is mutable thing. Like when you pick race, I don't tell 'you are' I say 'you are perceived as' or something to that effect. I think I added that for the eyes as a thing with the void-green eyes. That wasn't part originally when I wrote Rebirth, but something that I thought might be a cool option.

Has Mortum ever considered writing their notes/research in code or using a cipher as another layer of insurance if they get stolen (again)?

I bet part of it is very throughly encrypted.

Could sidestep be considered a prototype?

Hmmm. Not in the traditional sense.

What were the first Re-Genes like?

Very prone to self-destruction. Bodies were workable, the mind implants was hard.

Did the Farm have the colloidal silver idea from the getgo or did they all have a human skintone for a while?

They were not always blue. That (and the tattooing) was a measure introduced when the problems of staff bonding with re-genes and sympathising with them became an issue.

Are all terrorbeasts MBOs, and vice versa?

Only MBO (Main battle operative) is a real term, terror beasts are a slang term for the scarier re-genes. Most of those are MBO's, but not all. And not all MBO's are terror beasts.

How are bread, breadwinner, and breadtaker signed and tapped?

Please bear in mind that I do not know sign language, and is making this up on my own. So I do not intend to offend someone if I accidentally say something weird. Since the bread the Re-Genes would be most familiar with are bread rolls, the sign for bread is left hand a loose fist, two fingers of the right hand making a cutting motion right over the thumb. (cutting open a breadroll). Breadwinner is left hand loose fist, tap twice with an open right hand on it (vaguely in the direction of the intended person). Breadtaker is similar, but instead of a double tap, it is tap and grab. Not sure about the taps. I think the tap for bread is closed fist, bang softly twice. Not knuckles but the soft part of the hand.

Is there a sign in Re-Gene language for being wiped/rebooted? If so, what is it?

It is the same as the sign for 'new', which is left hand open, move quickly across face.

What about for being recycled?

It is the same as the sign for 'dead' or 'gone', which a small shake of your head, eyes closed.

How is no signed and tapped?

It is the same as the sign for 'don't like', which is a small shake of your head, eyes open. There is no tap for it I think.

How is allowed signed and tapped?

A minute nod as eyes are open, then close during the nod. There is no tap for it I think.

How is cat signed?

Left fist closed, little finger out.

How does the worst ending the series could have look like?

The ones I know are spoilers!

If doubts about ones own abilities can affect telepathy negatively, would high arrogant or daring steps be better at telepathy if they don't even consider failure as an option?

As long as they don't run into anyone better, then the fall can be more dangerous.

Is Sidestep basically an AI of telepathic origins?

Depends on how you define AI. That is certainly how Re-Genes are presented.

telenovellas and soaps (completely silly facetious question). Does greys anatomy still exist in seattle and 2) is it still ongoing

No.

If sidestep meets ljungstrand could they make a 'meet your maker' joke or something along the lines of that?

It it would fit, yeah.

How would chen react if step killed all the members of the guardians but spared vince for his sake?

Still very bad. Almost worse in fact.

Update on the Mongolian Landcrawler?

Still vibin'.

How big a gap is the standard Re-Gene medical training vs Sidestep's own first aid/self-surgery skills?

Quite big. Sidestep is much more skilled.

Did Ljungstrand have a hand in training telepathic and psychic Re-Genes and/or did he have involvement/take interest in telepathic Re-Genes over others?

Spoilers.

Are the memory sequences used for chipping given voluntarily, or have some been forcibly taken from the donors?

I would say that most are voluntary, but I doubt that all the donors understood exactly what the cause was.

Does CB stand for Cracker Barrel?

Nope.

Could the catfiend call the mc sidestep while they're in their villain suit?

Possibly.

Like can it recognize step while they're in there?

Possibly.

Does it still understand the concept of a secret identity?

Vaguely.

Could it figure out that step wants nobody knowing its them under mask and call them by their old name live on camera?

Most likely not.

if there was a longer period of time post-shaken w. sidestep avoiding steel and the rangers, would steel say anything/admit to ortega about why?

He would keep putting it off, but eventually yes.

Were sidestep's mental defenses always akin to shattered mirrors/broken glass, or did that change come about due to heartbreak?

They changed, first after Void, then after Heartbreak, then after the last escape from the Farm.

If five pennies found out that step blew up the museum, how pissed would he be and how surprised would he be that it was step?

Extremely annoyed, and rather surprised. Sidestep wasn't known for blowing things up.

When Step was in training at the farm, were they mostly practicing their telepathy (and other cuckoo -necessary skills) with handlers, other cuckoos, or blue Regenes, or a mix? If a mix, what influenced the staff's choice of who they interacted with, and were there common patterns to it?

With handlers and other cuckoos.

This got asked around my house on board game night. If there was a date in the future and you had to explain how you perceived that, how would you describe it? And does the future come to you or do you go to it?

Ah, the way various cultures perceives times are fascinating! For me... hmmmm. I see it as distance. Like a long line, like a tape measure, where various future dates are a certain distance away. I am moving towards it.

Did Sentinel feel any way about Hood's height/did he ever tease Hood about it?

Nah.

Actually, can you detail a little more about their relationship? (aside from Sentinel being the hotheaded and ruthless/pragmatic vs Hood being mellower).

I did write a bit about them in the patreon in the Bones of the Land stories.I think they both shared having seen the absolute worst parts of humanity, and also seen some of the best parts. A shared almost wistfullness that the world was sharper then, more into focus. Dangerous. You felt more alive. Trust was a lot of it, they had shared a lot, and knew they didn't need to explain what they felt to anyone else. Almost sibling-like at the end in a way.

What convinced Hood to leave his old biker gang? Was it a difficult choice/did they make it hard, or was the leave mostly peaceful?

It had been building for a while before he took the boost drugs, but he had been running with them to stay alive, and at the time (he was a kid when he fell in with them) the world was so terrible they almost felt safe. But then he started to disagree with what they did, but had no powers to stop it. And then he had powers, and things went to shit and he was on his own. People died, but it was mostly an accident. Mostly.

How are the working and living conditions for the farm staff?

Quite good, if isolated.

More specifically how cut off is the farm from the world?

Very.

-Do the staff live onsite?

Yes, most of them.

-Are they allowed to visit nearby towns?

Yes, they do.

-Is there onsite recreation?

Yes, otherwise people would go nuts in the middle of nowhere.

-How strict is information control? (access to News, letters, internet, media in general, etc)

Quite. But mostly for things going out, less for things going in.

Would you say that very finely grinded glass shards would look like snow?

No. Not at all.

How much of hollow ground's sibling's moody behavior was affected/caused by their older brother dying? Was it before or after that they started really acting up?

It's hard to say in retrospect, but that probably had a bit to do with it. They had always been troublesome.

Where did Mortum's love of birds come from (in-universe)?

Their mother.

Do they have any thoughts on villains or vigilantes/heroes being bird themed, given how many there are in the cast?

Birds are very good at showing off, so that makes sense.

Did Mortum consider any other villain names or suit designs (that weren't science related) when they planned their debut?

Oh, a lot. But they were very self-conscious about them.

What did Owl's vigilante suit look like?

I imagine a very dark, patterned brown skinsuit, with a loose hood and goggles. Probably had those little horned owl "ears" on the hood. Quite camouflaged.

Are any of the default names (first and last) for Sidestep and the Puppet ones that Sidestep used as cover aliases as a cuckoo?

I have no idea, feel free to say so!

Is there a specific reason why 'Entropy' is one of the available villain names?

Everything falls apart in the end.

since yes/no NSFW questions are doable--Did Mortum have any T4T sexual experience before (potentially) Sidestep?

Probably. I can imagine so.

more nsfw yes/no-- Would Chen be into 1) the leather community or 2) pup play? And 3), does he use or know hanky code?

No, no, and yes he knows, does not use.

would hgs older brother, had he lived and stayed in charge, ever go full villain, costume etc since he already had the name hollow ground or would his sibling roast him too much for that

Oh he probably would. And be roasted.

Is ortega's apt single or two floors?

Single.

If ortega had concrete evidence that step is the villain what would they do?

Ahaha oh that would depend on the villain, and I am not going to say that.

Are the henches/mob crew aware of Sidestep's Ranger rivalries, if applicable?

Probably.

Does the hero/villain community have a lot of “bro science” (A type of pseudoscience common in sports, think cupping therapy or very flashy/weird training regimens) going around & if so how common is it & does it have its own unique variation like “Red costumes give you an advantage in a fight because something, something Doppler effect”?

Oh absolutely!! The amounts of diets, 'magnet bands', weird mineral drinks, injectionables and all sorts of stuff that exist is just overwhelming for the skeptical mind. And that is before we go into all the boost rumors, and ways to maximize your power output and everything else...

And how big of a conniption does it give Mortum & are there any bro scientists within the cast?

Oh Dr. Mortum abhors it. They are like me in front of the supplement isle... I am not sure if any of the cast are into that, I need to think about it!

Maybe not the easiest question to answer, but how has the existence of telepathy effected people's perception of self? I think it's fair to say a common motif in Cyberpunk is this inseparability between mind and body that we once believed existed through the soul, and I was curious how much reckoning there has been with the fact that an immaterial, potentially immortal? Self exists beyond the body.

I think most people don't think about it much, but some religions and philosophies have adjusted as a fact, others have denied that such things even exist, and new ones have been created. It's not a question for the common man, I doubt most people have ever considered the possibilities.

Did the Rangers (or Chen specifically) ever have contingency plans for if another teammate got possessed/mind-controlled, given it's happened in the past with Sentinel via Dreamweaver?

Spoilers.

What's the most powerful that step can become?

Pretty bloody scary. Still unsure how far I am willing to go.

Is there a reason why the voids's powers and other phenomena in the fhr world are green?

I am in love with that strange green/blue nuance that happens both during tornado weather, and when light filters deep into the water. For me it gives a very unearthly feeling, so that's pretty much on me.

If so is the reason the fact that mirrors reflect green the most?

Nope! I did not even know that!

Do you like writing about hands? Just noted that your description of Mortum's, Ortega's and Chen's hands when they pop up are quite lovingly detailed (which I love).

I love hands. It's one of the most expressive parts of the human body. And I do not look at faces if I can help it, even less into someone's eyes. Thus things like hands, backs, legs are things that I love, adore, find attractive and can watch. And also the feeling why I don't really describe faces much. It feels invasive.

Does Vernon read Mia's notes? If he does, did he note Sidestep's name in there after the gala?

Mia gives Vernon notes now and then, but whether he reads them is a different question.

given the decentralization of everything and stray/feral animals in and around LD how much is disease a concern like rabies etc.

Yes, rabies is a big concern. People who interact with animals often vaccinates themselves. It is a fair assumption with animal bites, that and a tetanus shot. People do die of rabies, but it is not always diagnosed as such. Some people have jokingly suggested that the Catastrofiend has contracted rabies, but do to its healing powers has managed to keep up even as they deteriorate.

is there an organized main effort to combat this or is it more patchwork

Patchwork as hell. Many communes and communities try to test rabies, and keep some control of animals. But there is no central authority to do so.

If sidestep-days ortega and chen met present-day sidestep, what would they be most curious to know/ask?

"What the hel.l happened?" Because current era Sidestep looks rough (especially around rebirth)

After the villain reveal, how does ortega feel about asking step to help with finding out who possessed argent?

Like a fool.

If Regina had to pick between repairing the core to full functionality or recapturing Sidestep, which would she choose?

Core. But it would be tough.

Would you say that making a Re-gene mind is similar to making a collage?

Yes, a collage that gets more and more painted over with new images on top until it is a seamless whole. Very mixed media.

What was the void actually preaching about?

Basic gene supremacy bullshit, coupled with some mysticism to sound cooler.

What are our two elderly rangers more afraid of, a second hearbreak or a second nanosurge?

Chen: Heartbreak. Ortega: Being called elderly.

Do Regenes have their own particular social mores around age, considering their own skews younger? Is age = experience still a consideration, and do they defer to their elders because of that, or is being younger seen as better? Or is it all pretty standard analogous to human age and Sidestep's just really weird about people being older than them?

Hmmm. I think experience is the key, and often (but not always) older is more experienced. And Sidestep is a little freak (affectionate) who has picked up some bad habits because they learned that they annoyed people.

how did Chen come across spoon theory if not The Real-World Analogous Internet? Is it something a lot of support groups or therapists of various kinds have picked up in their practices, or?

I think it came up in support groups, people still talk. Probably from the same communities as they did here, and then spread to the veteran community who also had similar issues.

Does Mia have any interest in interviewing henchmen & the people that aren’t technically villains but do vital support work like Mortum? And if so has she tried getting an interview with Mortum &/or Sidestep’s crew/henchmen?

Oh yes! Mia interviews everyone! She has tried for Dr. Mortum, but they are not fond of publicity.

What did Ace actually do with all their winnings they got from gambling? Did they buy anything with it or just repurpose most of it for more gambling because it was the high of winning they were chasing rather than the money itself?

Gambling is a self-feeding addiction. You win, live high for a while, lose most, then back to the frind.

Are Numbers significantly harder to break through than dampeners? Would bypassing Numbers cause more trauma to the ‘recipient’ brain than usual?

I would say that. And it could cause trauma.

If ortega did know for certain that step that was alive after the hb incident how would have that played out? Would everyone have died like chen feared or could all of this have been avoided?

I will never say what would have happened, that is open ended and not fair to the characters of the story.

Which of the speed and armor suit mods on their own would have more potential for overall power/damage they could do?

Depends against what. A person? Speed. A car? Armor.

Does the strength exoskeleton work more like density/tensile strength augmentation, or something else?

Basically tensile strength, I haven't analyzed it too deeply.

Could the combination of speed/armor be equivalent to the strength mod in select instances?

Yes for general/impact damage. Just don't try to lift or crush things.

When it comes to boosts whose powers aren't directly tied to their bodies and can manipulate the general area around them like telekinetics could sidestep use them as a proxy?

It is hard. Depends on the person.

how would ortega react if sidestep abducts them and shaves their head. would they rock with the buzzcut or would they prefer to just get normal torture

Ortega would think that's strange, hair grows back, it's not like either of them has very long hair these days. Feels like some mistimed college prank.

does mortum recognize or suspect armadillo as a regene and just Plays Ignorant Bc They're Not About to Unpack That Can of Deadly Government Worms or are they none the wiser?

Spoilers.

do you have a romance you're most excited to dig more into in the upcoming games?

and, how about a favorite dynamic between 2+ characters in general, not in a romance sense? (maybe besides Chargestep lol)

As always, it's the one I am currently writing!

Did any of the side characters grow on you more than you expected them to? Will anyone have a bigger role in the series than they were initially intended to (ignoring the romance routes)?

SO MANY. The original was very sparse. That goes for the main characters too. Everything changes as I write.

Do you know what a supertask is?

No? (goes to look it up) Yes! I did know about that, but not under that name. Specifically the origin one from Zeno, about how motion is impossible. Always fascinating.

Could step give someone depression? Like if they can put thoughts and feelings into someone's mind and they have like industrial quantities of despair, could they just give someone like a handful of it? Or would it fade away?

Sidestep could give them that, but with a good support system it would fade fast. If it's someone who's in a shit situation already, it will longer longer.

Did dr siepen celebrate in anyway, small/large personal/or with the other scientists when they found out they scooped up sidestep after HB

Nope.

Are there any Regenes that have become handlers? (Inspired by Rebirth Sidestep's "did they ever steer you in this direction?" while commanding the Wolfpack)

Not handlers, but team leaders.

How would Hg react if their sibling got boosted while still alive. Either finding out after the fact or getting hints of their plan to Be cool

Probably like they reacted with Nocturne. An initially panicked 'are you mad' and then figure out how to help them through it once they realized they wouldn't back down.

We know Mortum is aware if the Puppet's dating Ortega, but what about the other way around? If the hench/mob crew and by extension a few people in the LD villain scene suspect Mortum and the Puppet dating, does Ortega also know or at least suspect, given they've been investigating the Puppet and have some contacts on the other side of the law?

Are streetwise Puppets more or less sus to Ortega than techsavvy ones? (pros of knowing the right people to associate with and keep their mouth shut vs the techsavvy intro say with Rosie, cons of being Too streetsavvy w/in LD's villain community)

Don't think so, I've got no plans to make a difference there.

Likewise, we know mechanically streetwise Steps have an sd_clue drop at the start of Retri, but how is that achieved narratively? Does this come from being better at staying out of sight by using the right contacts or knowing the places/people to avoid?

Yep, that's it. Knows what people to trust.

Is Ortega breaking into the Puppet's apartment in the Puppetstuck arrested routes? At the very least, we know they do in the 4.x paths since you can do some damage control w/in the apartment to lower your suspicion/frame the puppet/remove connections between the Puppet and Sidestep etc.

I think it is safe to assume that.

Does Ortega clock Mortum's Southern accent as fake?

No, but they can't place it.

Does Ortega overhear anything incriminating with Mortum and the Puppet if they check on the Puppet's room in the hospital? Or do the jammers handle that?

Spoilers.

How much French does Mortum think the Puppet knows?

At least enough to get around.

Did Armadillo sorta derive their name via their Farm designation's initials being RD ? ie. RD --> Ar-De -> Armadillo?

Hah! Someone spotted it! Yep.

How far away is Mortum's bedroom from their main workspace and kitchenette?

I have no map!

Is benjamin psi-sensitive enough to be able to see the ghostly manifestation of rat king? Would they need to focus effort to him to be visible? Can spoon see the little halo of rats as well?

Spoon can certainly feel them! It will be interesting with Ben....

during the auction capture, does HG have footage of sidesteps suit "coming to life" and knocking out jake? or was the room not under surveillance.

The room wasn't, the corridor might have been eventually. Cameras are always a risk, that's how you produce evidence.

Did you have more ideas for the nametag variable in Rebirth (only used for "Illusionist", related to using telepathy in the debut chapter) that didn't make it into the book?

Nope.

was cavalier attacking the pentagon this universes 9/11? if so is the new generation making memes about it?

Yeah, kinda. At least in so far that it was a big thing that shook a lot of people and changed policy. Far less casualties. But there are memes...

How would Cavalier feel about people making memes about his Pentagon attack?

I am genuinely not sure. Depends on if they are good memes.

How would Regina react if sidestep called her mom? Even though she doesn't care about sidesteps emotions outside of using them for own gain, would she be somewhat flattered if her object of obsession called her something that implies that they belong to her in some way, shape or form?

It would be very useful.

With high ortega_clue, does Ortega sometimes hear/see Sidestep instead of the Puppet when hanging out with them? 👀

Yeah, it's weird.

self-indulgent Southeast Asian question - will we ever hear more about what the large Boost population in MaPhilIndo are like?

Maybe if you get Jake talking!

How did Sidestep manage to keep the Puppet alive all alone in the first few weeks when they brought them back from the hospital? Did they "recruit"(/telepathically manipulate/possess) some hapless medical staff to help?

Oh yes, they 'hired' a private nurse at the start until things stabilized.

Does the original apartment block where Sidestep and the Puppet have an elevator? If not, how did Sidestep get the Ace/the Puppet up to their apartment room after the hospital heist?

I don't think it does, but I haven't clarified. I haven't really pondered those things, it happened, and that's good enough for me.

There's an outcome during the Shroud-Argent fight at the auction where Argent detaches her hand from Shroud's chest but leaves her fingers still stuck in there (though this doesn't have a variable to track this like shroudhand), how in the goddamn does Shroud survive direct contact with the nanovores like that???

Drain vs nom.

Actually, how does she manage to only lose her hand and survive the nanovores being on her? Did she cut her arm off/find a flamethrower or something to kill them off before they got any further?

The nanovores are close enough to life for her to drain. But she has lost bits.

You were asked this back in 2023, but with about 500k from just the opening paths now (and some more left to go), do you think Revelations might end up as long as Retribution?

Yeah, sadly.

Since they've done perfume commericals, does Ortega have a perfume/cologne designed after them? And if so, does it have ozone notes, and are they vain enough to wear it?

Oh probably. There was probably a company that did a 'hero' line at one point. I don't think it's still in production, but at the time Ortega did wear it and rather like it. I don't think there was ozone notes though...

Did the rumors in the media and the public about Ortega and Sidestep's relationship intensify post-Heartbreak incident era?

No. It doesn't sell as much when one of the people involved is dead.

Has Ortega ever met the actors that have portrayed them?

In the more proper movies, not in the porn variants....

What about the other Rangers?

Argent hasn't. She's shy like that. Chen doesn't care. Daniel has probably said hi and shook hands.

Does the boost drug have any related side effects along with infertility? Amenorrhea, sexual dysfunction of any kind, higher incidence of reproductive disorders?

Not specifically, no. But the resulting changes to the body might have. And, I am walking back my previous comments about having kids being impossible when you are a boost, in retrospect that would depend on the boost I think. Still not easy, and there are a lot of issues with viability, but it's not straight impossible. So please, everyone, don't bombard me with pregnancy questions about the cast, that was the reason I said no in the first place.

For Life motive Steps: is there an in-game option where it is possible for them to remove the tattoos with the Regenerator (not just able to in theory)? I imagine the consequences are just as horrific, even if different, from those who choose to keep the tattoos.

It will be possible to remove them. I think it is mostly a question about identity, not any physical issues.

Does Argent tease Ortega about Sidestep now that Step is no longer post-mortem?

Oh yes.

Will there be jokes about being post-mortum if we break up with the good doctor?

I snorted. I'm going to have to try to remember that joke.

How was Sidestep able to remember when they punched someone before they were presumably reconditioned? Was this through help of their telepathy, and/or the wipe not being fully complete?

Well, this is the thing. Sidestep is very hard to recondition. Things linger.

In the 1.2.1 route where Sidestep's at the lab, is Mortum getting nightmare bleedover from them? Since they can't use dampeners and presumably the effects of numbers would either wear off during the night?

Yes, that is likely.

Do you foresee writing any further scenes for the 1.2.1 route in the lab from where it currently ends? Or will there be a timeskip after that to after Sidestep gets back to their base?

There should be some more there. But as always, we'll see if my plans stand up to reality.

When Rosie/Bo say they take vacations down South, is this San Diego or across the border in Mexico?

Mexico!

Did Mortum ever avoid sex or certain kinds of sex while they were pre-op for dysphoria reasons? Do they still do so in the present day?

Avoid and avoid. It was more that it had issues. A lot of feelings that they tried to suppress, some dysphoria, some awkwardness, some confusion. Sex was never easy, or simple, it always came with a lot of baggage. That is one of the reasons that they went all in on recreating a body they felt at ease in. That they could feel was their own. And it worked pretty well, these days Dr. Mortum has no issues there, except for the bad days. But we all have those.

2) Did Mortum try out different names before settling on Mirlene/Merle? If so, was Jay one of them?

Yeah, there was a lot of names involved, lists, pondering, trying out various ones as fake names. Jay was one of them (literally J. because for a time Dr. Mortum signed their papers being gender neutral. Yes, J was the first letter of their deadname. Which is why Jay didn't stick around, but still gets brought out as a reflex.)

What does Mortum make of Handyman and Owl's (other) inventions/tech, and vice versa?

Very much a scientist vs a mechanic. Respect, but we're not the same.

Are both the old shitty apartment and the old comfortable apartment options in the same neighbourhood?

I imagine so.

Since you seem to now be using the ip tags for the impostersteps in the preview, and ip1 and ip2 seem to be Ace-like from the puppet imposters, will they be used for impostersteps, or exclusive to the puppet imposters?

The ip numbers are different depending on if you are in the puppet, or are in Sidestep. The number is the same, but the content is different.

How long has it been since Bennet been incommunicado with Marek/him and Perry going to the Heartbreak site, and the events of the Ghosts story in October?

Not sure, I hesitate to mention a timeline since that might mess things up. A while, I'd say. Maybe a year?

We know Sidestep is an unreliable narrator, but would any of the ROs or noteworthy cast members like HG be any better? Who would tell the story of Fallen Hero closest to the letter?

Herald. But it would be a very different story.

Is Locus' civilian identity known to the public, or is it a well-kept secret?

Secret.

Do Locus' family worry about her work and/or are they worried about her disappearance?

They weren't close, but there is a bit of a worry, yes.

Was she in contact with them much before her disappearance?

No. They had a hard break early on, which is partly why Locus took the boost drugs. And the telepathy didn't help after that, hard to keep pretending. The Long Beach Heroes kind of became Locus found family of older siblings.

Does she have a last name yet? And if so, what is it?

Still not picked one.

Did she start at Alpha level telepathy, or did she have a TBR to work her way up?

She started out quite strong, but something might have happened on the way. Haven't decided.

What was her boosting experience like?

Fairly organized, she was a child volunteer in an experiment that tried a new formula and boosting process, it was traumatic and she nearly died, but thanks to medical intervention she lived. The scientists recognized that either telepathic or sensory overload was the issue and brought in dampeners and sensory deprivation, and slowly tamped down those measures over time so she had time to get used to it and build shields. That small lab has now been bought up by a larger company.

Does Vera have any idea where her body goes when she transforms?

No.

How old would the HB-experimentee say they were at the time of the incident? (by incident i mean the chaos they caused after the experiment)

Teens?

Does being dosed multiple times with Void blood increase the chances of getting permanent Void eyes?

No.

Any significant changes to how the US Armed Forces operates compared to our world? We already know some things about the Army, but I'd be interested to hear about other branches (especially the Navy), knowing what the Pacific is like after the Big One.

I need to think about that. It has a lot to do with geopolitical concerns. I would say that the navy is not as spread out as it used to be, there's no presence in European waters for example.

What went into choosing Vera and Ben for new ROs? Was anyone else up for consideration?

I like writing them, and I think they'll have nice dynamics with the cast. There were no others up for consideration.

Is that 'big hungry demon god' and the 'yawning maw of the void' the same thing?

What would those cults worshipping that thing do if it actually shows up? (Hypothetically of course. Right, malin?)

I am sure that is all superstition and only things that exist in the minds of superstitious people.

Is Blaze an Alpha or Beta level boost?

Alpha.

Is the painting genre of abstract expressionism still used as an intelligence/espionage/propaganda tool in this universe?

It doesn't sound unlikely. Herald would be heartbroken to learn.

How fast could sidestep learn a skillset if they were willing to steal or pirate it from someone else? In a previous qna you said that step could take someones memories of a skill and then integrate into themselves like relearning something that you forgot how to do. So long how long would it take for them to become proficient in a skill they stole? Would there be a big time difference between skills that utilize muscle memory (e.g playing an instrument, singing, a craft etc) and ones that don't? (languages, knowledge in general)

Depend on so many things. A simple skill is faster than a complicated one. A purely mental skill (like a language) is easier than one that involves physical components (like welding). A specific surface knowledge for one task is simpler than broad knowledge forever. And, most importantly, the quickest way is to still have the brain around to hijack from in real time. For example, understanding a conversation in a foreign language at a bar, is something Sidestep can do in real time as long as there is someone there who speaks that language and one that Sidestep understands. But Sidestep won't retain much of that knowledge unless they keep learning and using it.

Another important variable is how structured the brain is that Sidestep is trying to learn from. If it is someone who is thinking methodically, and goes through each step, and keeps track on why things are done, it is easier to digest. This means that ironically enough it is easier to steal knowledge from new users who knows the basics. They still remember all the details. Experts have internalized so many things their knowledge might as well be code. So personalized, with shortcuts everywhere. So, for a tech_savvy step out to learn science, the target would be college students and new engineers, not Dr. Mortum. And, the last important thing, once the base knowledge is ingested, it will need to be fixed in Sidestep's memory by constant use and practice. So, while it is very useful for learning things (like most of Sidestep's medical knowledge for example), the barrier is what skills Sidestep will keep using to make sure they don't fade. In this, skills with physical components are easier. Once you mave managed to learn it, the body's reflexes will remain for quite some time. The whole 'like riding a bike' thing.

With the wildly divergent openings for Revelations, do you know yet how you're going to handle achievements in these early parts of the story when you ultimately wrap up B3? ie. Will you avoid single path-specific achievements?

No, there will be single path-specific achievements too. That's useful for me to see which paths people have been laying.

is there any finite length of time in which the catastrofiend would’ve died in/due to mortums gun? If so, would that have been in years, decades, centuries, or even more?

Yes, I would say decades.

For a Mortum that was warned in advance that the puppet was going to plant the bombs in the museum, did that affect what they chose to wear to the gala? Like more sensible shoes in case they had to book it?

Absolutely.

Was Ortega punching Sentinel in the Herald transcript story over Hood or Sidestep?

Hood I think, I can't quite remember right now.

Do the Rangers staff have interns? And if so do they get stuck with the undesirable tasks such as “Catalog all natural blonde villains with force field-based powers that were active from 2017-2019 & were never caught” or do the Rangers handle that themselves?

Hmmm. I don't think they have interns since this is a high security position. However, that's the kind of thing the newest employees gets stuck with. Data analyst can be a rough gig.

does HG preceding a command with language like “please” or “if you would” give more of a out for the red-threaded person to resist or break through? Or does it not make a difference?

Please would make no difference, 'if you would' on the other hand would give more of a way out.

can HG make what is essentially a sleeper agent — a command to do xyz when you hear a particular phrase? Does that trigger still work if they immediately tell the person to forget they were commanded?

Oh yes, that is one of HG's more common tactics. And it would work if told to forget, if you use the right wording.

how well known is the fact that sidestep (as in their hero identity) was a telepath?

Not in the common populace. The hero community had more of an idea after the nanosurge, but mostly the people who were involved. Sidestep is still listed as a martial artist.

Have you read, or at least heard of the Hench series by Natalie Zina Walschots?

Nope, but I will look it up!

Is there at all a culture amongst villains/henches (or even civilians) where they can commiserate getting injured/disabled by a particularly reckless or vicious hero/vigilante (ie. novelty awards/certificates in the vein of "Congratulations, you have been Five Pennies'd")?

OH yes, you'll see a bit of that in the upcoming sourcebook.

Since wild dolphins have a concept of intoxication(they use blowfish neurotoxin to get high), do the laser dolphins use their enhanced intelligence to ask for and try out new narcotics?

Oh yeah. They've got a good supplier.

How upset is Daniel if a Lupin thief steals Sunset No. 4 and some of Norma's other works?

Quite a bit. He imagines they'll now be stuffed in some rich assholes' vault. It should be seen.

How public is the theft? Are their disappearances attributed to Thiefstep?

Would depend on the arrogance level I think. Some might be very open, others like the shadows.

Will choosing the rivalry with Mortum be conditional on certain factors ie. puppet individuality, the reveal situation, and villain-Mortum relationship status, and endings?

Not sure yet. Sidestep can make grudges from almost nothing, so I am hesitant to cut that option off.

i noticed while going through the code that it's mentioned julia sometimes wears lipstick, so i was curious what sort of makeup styles does she usually go for? and what occasions does she wear it? is it more mostly left for just official events, or does she wear it during more casual day to day outfits? and has there been a change to her makeup wearing habits after the heartbreak incident where she stopped going along/caring about the pr team's whims as much as she once had?

I know nothing about makeup sadly, as I don't wear it. But I think her styles are very varied depending on the occasion and mood. I will leave that to the reader to imagine, as I can both imagine her being extremely stylish in her Charge look, much like those female athletes wearing jewelry and long nails on the race tracks, and to be more down to earth with minimal practical makeup. I don't want to remove anybody's image of who Julia is, so I leave that to the readers. It won't matter in the story.

How much information can step store? If step can just scoop information out of someones mind and then store in a mental box like they did with carter. Is there a limit as to how much information they can store and if yes, how much?

There is always a limit. I don't think Sidestep has reached it yet, but they have felt the strain. Doing things like that is taxing on the mind, and won't last forever. And, the more is kept, the harder it is to sort out what it is later. Things gets lost.

On that note could they do it in reverse, like shoving an entire dictionary into someones mind?

Possibly, but they haven't tried.

Could they telepathically zip bomb someone?

They have done that mostly with sensory information, that's a lot more immediate than knowledge.

does the regenerator regenerate entire appendages? like, will it work on argent's missing fingers/ the missing parts of her legs? or her tongue? would it regenerate a whole missing limb if Chen used it, for example?

Not sure yet.

whats been more expensive to the US Gov, Ortega's mods and maintenance or Sidestep(both the inherent costs of a regene and their escapes and potential villain antics as of second book)

Ortega so far.

Is Elena 100% straight or...?

Nobody is in my book.

will the nanos eat dead organic matter? like, could they be used to (medical tw) debride a necrotic wound or would they not touch it?

They would be delighted to.

Assuming they haven't been threaded again more recently, does Dr Mortum have an opinion on Hollow Ground?

Dangerous. Needs to stay on their good side.

Since Fate motivated Sidesteps have already been able to have some 4th wall interactions will they ever be able to have fate itself (us) as their rival?

Ahahaha I kinda like that, but I don't know.

Did Sidestep get any changes to their Ljungstrand Classification from being dosed with Void blood? In an old QnA from 2022, you said pre-Nanosurge vigilante era Step was T1236, and post-Nanosurge/pre-HB was T123567, so has that answer changed at all since?

Yes, the Void experiences was the catalyst for that change, though the nanosurge also helped up the power.

Is nordic mythology relevant to the lore?

No, but it's in my brain, so it will sneak out anyway.

Also you mentioned the 'Uthark' in an old qna, were you refering to the 'Uthark theory'?

Yes, if you are talking about the theory that an alternative theory of the Futhark for magical reasons involves moving the F rune to the end of the rune list (starts with the untamed Ur (auroch), ends with the tamed Fä (cow)), thus naming that the Uthark instead. One of the projects I was working on before I started FH involved viking weirdness, I have a lot of background in weird magic bullshittery there (stepped back because a lot of the people involved went full right wing nazi). An interesting book to read is by Thomas Karlsson: Uthark, Nightside of the Runes.

Could Sidestep have accessed the void between bodies and travelled through it before Heartbreak? The chronology seems to suggest Step only discovered possession after, but did the Void blood already give them access to the void between bodies, with Heartbreak essentially teaching them that they could use that access to possess someone after experiencing it themselves? In other words, were Void blood and Heartbreak two separate pieces of the puzzle like I've read somewhere, one giving Step access to the void, the other revealing what could be done with it?

I think that is a good way to describe it. You get the key, and then the door is revealed later.

Since ortega found hgs sibling info do they know the siblings birthday from booking and are asking sidestep for confirmation.

Close enough.

Or is it vague due to post big one record keeping for births etc/ asking what sidestep considers their bday to be

That is also part of it. Records are a mess, and not all places register births at all.

Would top surgery change the placements of the tattoos?

Yes, but the patterns would slowly have bled together to make sure they weren't interrupted. They wouldn't be the same as before, but there would be no jagged breaks. It would look like it had been done post-op.

Could step weaponize people's trauma against them? In that path where step assaults hg's home, step seemed to be able to find out the guard's darkest secrets in a couple moments. So could step use people's worst experiences to fuck with them?

Absolutely! One of the easiest and most powerful weapons.

Both being good friends of Dr Mortum, do Dr Halabi and Sky-Raider know each other?

Yesh, they do.

if the catfiend got eaten by a godzilla like monster would it survive?

Absolutely.

What's Mortum's opinion of transhumanism more broadly (not just the Green Sky stuff)? Did it change post-Vitruvian encounter?

Dr. Mortum has always hated that, it veers too close to a lot of ugly things (like eugenics) for them. Dr. Mortum likes the idea of being able to remake the body into what you want it to be, but a lot of the talk around it seems to be more focused on building a master race of genetically superior beings.

Out of the love interests and the Guardians, which heroes/villains use a mask/helmet that covers or obscures their face and which don't cover their face up at all?

No helmet at least part of the time: Charge, Herald, Argent, Blaze

Partial face covering: Dove, Temerain, Bumblebee, Zephyr

Always helmet: Steel, Sky-Raider

Special: Porthole

how would shroud react if someone licked her hand while she had them in the mind drain telepath head grip ™ ?

Like stepping on a snail.

Revelations starts around September/October 2021, so is Mortum still holding their Halloween party that year if Sidestep and/or the Puppet's recuperating with them at the beginning of the book?

Oooh good point. I need to think about that.

did Tia Elena ever visit Ortega in the hospital after the catastrofiend? or after heartbreak?

Always!

Since humans can often be superstitious, do Re-Genes have any superstitions amongst themselves?

Probably. It is part of the human mind to draw conclusions from unrelated events, so there are probably a lot if weird ones connected to Farm life. Like their version of don't walk under ladders, and the like.

Do the Re-Genes have any concept of an afterlife in their culture?

No. But there are some concepts about living on in transplanted bodyparts, and also about getting mindwiped and reset.

Are the marks mentioned in Chapter 15 on Sidestep's chest of them trying to get rid of the barcode scars?

Could be, but I am leaving that vague.