Bioshock: Golden Age M&M2e IC Thread

[Julian84]

April 23rd, 1930
Hudson Valley, New York

Rain pelted down on his head, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVwqumtd6vU) waking him from his stupor… He struggled to rise, pushing bits of charred wood off of his bruised form, the bitter tang of blood rising to choke his mouth and nostrils, his balance wavering, the rain turning into a thick haze as his vision blurred. He stumbled over a cinder block, crashing down heavily into the soot-covered concrete, his vision going white…

“No… No…” He whispered, his voice hoarse and strained. “Have to… Have to get up…”

Tears stung his eyes… Whether from the pain, the smoke, or the shock he could not tell… Nor did he particularly care to even discern the difference.

“Who's the broad?” A cruel, familiar voice rasped, his guttural tones carried over the wind, barely heard through the shower of rain and the rolling thunder. “She connected to the hood?”

His eyes widened in fear. ‘No. No. Not her.” He struggled to rise, barely dragging himself to the lip of the chasm, the entire building, their hideout, blown to bits… And there she was… Writhing on the ground, in obvious pain, whimpering to herself. The mobsters didn’t care.

“Yeah, boss.” A weaselly stooge grinned. “Seems like she was helping the schmuck.”

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLddDBWpiS4&list=PL3QZUm48uWnsdFakp3A2fI-NzmfH1jyQe)

‘Please… Please...’ He reached out a hand, willing the power within him to save her… But none came. His hands roamed his body, searching for the only thing that could save her now… But he had already run out of the power-giving hypos back in New York. He glanced back… The man had pulled out a pistol, staring down at her.

‘NO!’ He rose to his feet… But fell over again, gasping in pain, his body broken.

“Sorry, sweetheart… I’m sure you never thought it might end like this…” The boss said. “But examples must be set.”

He took aim.

“Play me a sweet song in heaven, will ya, angel?”

Thunder rumbled through the valley (http://youtu.be/rMB2s8yuyPk?t=2s)… The valley of his youth.

And his tears were lost in the rain.




Bioshock: The Golden Age

“We have it within ourselves the potential to reach out and touch the stars! …What evil would it be if we denied ourselves this great gift?”

“I agree completely, mankind must seize its destiny… One way or another.”

Fabian Firemark and Nicholas Tennyson in an interview with the Empire Times, circa 1935




September 3rd, 1938

South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK04D2Shj_I)

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Xu4ebwcBFY&list=PL841583978A17DAB4)

The steam horn sounds the end of a long shift (http://youtu.be/s2wJbNt9vi0?t=3s), a ragged chorus of chatter rising in the air from the long-working construction workers, burly men in stained overalls and wife beaters, their skin tanned by long hours under the sun. They work to complete renovations on the Marine Terminal, to better handle the influx of trade and commerce from abroad. They trade raunchy jokes, slapping each other on the shoulders as they file out, punching their time cards as a jaunty tune plays over the radio in the management office.

Frank Finnegan wipes the sweat from his brow, tying off a complicated knot and handing his task to one of the night shift workers, a brutal character with a gnarled face… The man looks like he’s been working the job so long he’s got a permanent glare growing on him. He gives a gruff nod of greeting and starts on his work, giving Frank the opportunity to leave the site and head home… Or engage in other activities. Some of the other workers, tough folk, guffawed amongst themselves about visiting the Lucky 8 club in uptown Manhattan instead of returning home to their nagging wives and snotty brats.

“Naw, you boys go on ahead…” One, a large specimen called Routledge, grunted. “I’ve got some other business around here…” He rubs the side of his nose with one finger, grinning. “Call it a business venture, if you will. Gotta get out of this cesspit som’mow, eh? Eh?” He nudged one of his friends with his elbow, his barrel chest shaking with laughter. “Next time we go to the Luciano joint, the drinks will be on me.” He parts ways, turning right out of the entrance to the docks and heading south.

Before Frank can leave, a snippy voice cuts through his tired tedium – Mr. Beebe, the superintendent of the site. “Mistah Finnegahn… Theh’s a coupla gentlamen in heah who’d like to speahk with yah.” He jerked his thumb into the office, glaring down his long nose.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 76/153 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $600

New York City Metropolitan Library

The ticking of the clock matched the rhythm of her heart (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoH8E9MlB7s), a steady and reserved tempo delineating, defining, and demanding her attention – Each beat, each tick, the passing of time, the inevitability of existence… And currently the only thing tying her to the obscure and tucked away help desk of the city library, quietly staring out across the shelves and wishing to be anywhere else.

After an interminable length of ticks and tocks and beats her boss, Mrs. Tweedy, walked over on clunky heeled shoes, smiling congenially. “Oh, you’re still here, dearie? That’s no good, you’re young!” The elderly woman tsked and tutted, waving Andrea Macshane out of her chair. “Go on, go on, no need for you to stay, we’ll be locking up soon. Go home dearie, go home.”

The girl nodded mutely, rising and collecting her things. As she passed out of the library, she spied two young men dressed to the 9s in the fashion of the day hiding down one of the long rows, talking quietly between themselves before being startled into retreat by her passing. Her eyes narrow… But she continues, exiting the wide and tall front doors into the busy streets of Manhattan, where flashing neon lights and swerving rocket cars create a cacophony of light and sound, completely different from the serenity within the library… A hawker on the street waves posters for touring Firemark Factories up the river, touting a chance to meet the Incredible Inventor himself!

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 68/136 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $600

Undisclosed Location in Manhattan

The Phantasm sank low into the seat of Midnight, the dark steed to his metaphorical white knight. The police scanner buzzed softly in the gloom, the vigilante quietly prowling the city for the perpetrators of villainy and crime. It had been a quiet night so far… But perhaps it was only a matter of time…

He unfurled a newspaper, passing the time idly and reading up on the current events of the city. Some had large full page splash ads for Pluck’s Apothecary, the odd emporium of curios and medical wonders. There were also reports of curious thefts from Firemark Industries’ technical supply chain, key components and mass goods disappearing and not even showing up again, sold on the black market or somesuch. Obviously, there was a deeper game afoot. The report said the last theft had been in Queens, by Forest Hills…

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjIWunRsdVM&list=PLE5DEFB24AB2E00B0&index=4)

His thoughts are interrupted by a burst of static and the jabbering voices of a police dispatch – “Calling all cars, calling all cars,” A woman rattles out quickly, “There has been an armed robbery of the Technical Sciences Department of Columbia University. The culprits are escaping via motorized vehicle with cars 23, 16, and 44 in pursuit. Culprits currently fleeing down Columbus Ave.”

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 33/65 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $2,000

Vinny’s Bar, Lower Brooklyn

The heavy click of pool balls bouncing off of each other gave the atmosphere of Vinny’s an offbeat staccato rhythm, the low murmur of voices unbothered by any of the usual auditory fare. This was life in the seedy underbelly of New York, and they all knew it, regardless of Nicky Ten-Pennies or his wide-eyed, pie-in-the-sky vision for what New York, and the rest of the world, would become. Much like those who had come before him, he trod all over the working man, assured that his way was the best way, his way was the only way, his way-

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV8Ez1zou3c&list=FL_eOlHRPkVaDS7atZsjaAMg)

Any more philosophical musings were immediately put short by a man flying through the window, sliding across the bar, and crashing to the ground, scooting himself across the floor in terror as a dark figure crackling with lightning kicked down the door, stalking over to the poor, unfortunate soul.

“I- I- I swear to you, I swear, on my mother’s grave, I have no clue where the Red Bandits are!” The man, Lito the Pigeon, jabbered, pleading and begging. The shadowy figure grabbed him and lifted him from his feet, noting with some displeasure that Lito had soiled himself. “Please!” He screamed, legs thrashing. “Please, I dunno where they are, don’t kill meeeee….”

The heavy k-chak of a shotgun distracted Death Penalty from his interrogation… The bartender glowering from across the wooden surface between them, two other men pulling revolvers and a four retrieving a knife from his boot. “Now listen here… I run a respectable business… I don’t want no trouble…” The Bartender muttered. “So put the boy down and git out.”

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 62/123 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $1,000

NYPD Central Station, Manhattan

The secretary pounded away at her typewriter furiously (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFWXgB0wpsU), the incessant noise drowning out all thought in the head of Azrael Kishon, the man sitting tiredly on a bench in the NYPD central department, waiting to meet with an old friend and contact within the force, Eric O’Hare. The Irishman was a fiery sort of person, but after many initial conflicts between the two personalities the two men had developed respect and friendship. Eric now often provided Azrael with leads to follow and cases to crack when the NYPD was too busy.

Officers ran past, yelling something about an armed pursuit down Columbus Ave, O’Hare following along shaking his head. “Some idiots broke into a lab at Columbia University… Some poor sap by the name of Calvin Simmons just got the scare of his life, apparently.” He shakes his head. “You can run by there later, but it’s our case for the meantime.”

Eric shakes the hand of his old comrade, handing him a short stack of folders. “That’s all we got for you, you old flatfoot. One should help you run down some of the Red Bandits… It’s a Luna Hop speakeasy in the Bronx. The others are different. We’ve had reports of shady business going down on the Brooklyn Docks, we think that’s where the Sola and Nucleos are being brought in now, instead of out in Jersey City like three months ago. Beyond that, we’ve gotten a rash of missing cases coming from Central Park… People go in, people don’t come out. Can’t figure that one out. Figured it be right up your alley, chief.”

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 136/272 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $1,200

Liberty Beacon Island

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKDCGVkpEvc&list=PL_W803VfWHiw5IqeWghbovQzPKcjO99yT)

“Please arrange yourselves into one of the six processing lines!” A uniformed man shouted through a megaphone over the roar of the throng, hundreds of travelers and immigrants having to pass through checking and processing to have access to the greater bounties of New York City. Everyone had to be processed to enter the city, and Liberty Beacon Island stood as the gate barring nautical access. The city of wonders glistened in the evening skies, dirigibles and rocket cars swooping over the skyline as taxi-ships raced over the choppy waves from shore to shore, stopping periodically to disembark some guests onto a hopper boat, where the rich and wealthy threw expensive balls and galas.

Takeshi Mizako walked slowly with the crowd towards the processing booths, where uniformed city officials checked your paperwork and records to determine whether or not you were the kind of person New York really needed… As Takeshi passed beneath the marble archway of the massive entrance, he paused only briefly to stare up at the lighthouse towering above him…

Inside, he was greeted by a large statue of Fabian Firemark and Nicholas Tennyson waving to the crowds, faces alight in jubilant idealism. In Tennyson’s hands was an unfurled scroll, gold lettering proclaiming his old slogan for the city:


“New York – The City Where Dreams Come True.”

Takeshi was pushed and bumped along, finding himself before a rather sour looking old man. “Papers, please.” He grunted, holding a hand out. He inspected the man’s paperwork for a few seconds before stamping it. “Welcome to New York City, sir. Follow the concourse to your right to the taxi-boats and they’ll get you to wherever you need to go.”

Vitality - Healthy!
Luna: ???/???
Sola: 000
Money: $230

[Reverend1124]

Azrael

Azrael glanced at the folders that Eric handed him and looked back at his friend. "Thanks Eric." he said, heading towards the station door as the officers and Eric left the building. He walked out to his old Chevy Master (http://www.futureclassicsnj.com/Cars/masterdsf.jpg) and got inside, splaying the files across the passenger seat. The disappearances are definitely abnormal, but more likely than not they aren't the work of the mob, he thought as he opened up the second folder, I'm not too interested in taking down the Bandits yet, but I could always use more Luna. Finally he opened the last folder, "Now here we go." he said quietly to himself. Sola and Nucleos being shipped into the city was almost definitely mob material. He quickly read the second and third folders, his memory cube implant storing the content, and then started his car.

Azrael put the folders into his glove box and started driving towards the Bronx. If he was going to be fighting some mob goons later on tonight then he should stock up on some Luna beforehand. It was only a fifteen minute or so drive from the station to the Bronx, so as long as he finished up there quick he could get down to the docks around nightfall.

[Lost Demiurge]

The sky wept, mourning for the city for all to see. Thunder rumbled, shaking the streets, a blind raging god impotent save for light and fury.

The newspaper folded, and he studied himself in the mirror. Grey eyes glittering under a slouch hat, and underneath a greatcoat buttoned up high on his face, concealing his mouth. His beak of a nose protruded, no disguising it, but context was a forgiving lady.

And if the bad guys had time to study his face, then he was probably doing something wrong.

His reverie is interrupted by the police dispatch. Escaping criminals? This won't do!

"Well now," he mutters. "How do their cars match up against mine? Let's find out! Hhmhmhmhmh.... HAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHAH!!!!!"

The key turned in the ignition, and the black rolls-royce purred to life. Midnight growled into the darkness, as the Phantasm's eyes glittered in the passing street lights, hunting a fleeing prey...

THE PLAN
Hm. Didn't plan to do this much driving this early, but that's okay. Basic idea is to find the fleeing bad guys, and cut them off. Get ahead of them, drop caltrops to pop their tires, and use the smokescreen to force them off the road. (We'll avoid the smokescreen if it'd endanger cops or too many civilians.)

If we can force them off the road, we'll park safely out of the way, then stealth in to mop them up with a firefight.

Notice check to locate the fleeing vehicles...
[roll0]

Drive check to force baddies off the road...
[roll1]

Hero point reroll on the drive check if it's less then 15...
[roll2]

And a stealth to sneak up on'em!
[roll3]


Again, this is a changeable plan, so if you'd prefer to take things step by step that's okay too.

[Space Lawyer]

Frank

Frank cracks the knuckles of his large hands and stretches his back,powerful shoulders spread wide. "Alright. Gimme a moment to get respectable. Can't have no gentleman seeing me all sweated up." He heads into the bathroom, where he quickly wipes the worst of the grime from his face and arms, and puts on a fresh shirt, just a simple flannel. Now looking like a proper foreman, instead of another laborer, he heads toward the office. Frank wouldn't have particularly minded being mistaken, having risen through the ranks like he did, but management always liked to feel like they were talking to someone with authority. With Beebe talking like that, it was sure whoever was waiting were some sort of management folks.

Frank was proud of the work his crew had done on the Marine Terminal. Before, it had been a dark, grimy brick building. They had kept the bricks, and some of the nicer ironwork, but the building had been expanded drastically. Large windows now let in light and gave an excellent view of the city. The brand-new tiles were sure to shine once the lights were fully rigged up. The pride of the project was the rotunda, connecting the old section to the new offices. The mosaic of the city seal on the floor below was accompanied by a ring of busts in the cupola, depicting Washington, Tennyson, Jefferson, Firemark, and other luminaries.

Frank opens the heavy door to the office. He notes with pride that it swings easily.

[babel_matrix]

The evening was in full swing, marked by the collapsed door and the lazily swinging hinges off of which it had been torn. The leatherbound fingers that held the front of Lito's shirt uncoiled, letting the sobbing man collapse back on the ground, still soiled, now muttering his praise for the bartender. The Death Penalty stood at his full height, and in the dim glow of the street lamps that passed through the shattered window, Vinny got a good look at the man who busted up his property.

His hands and arms had been sheathed in brown leather lined with copper wiring that framed his entire, alien outfit. It had been woven through a black-dyed dress shirt and pants that must've belonged to a nice suit before the stranger ruined it with his metalwork. Small coronas of light burned themselves into the eyes of any who stared too long at those wires as they popped and surged with tails of visible electricity. The only thing that didn't seem laced with wiring was the black hood that wrapped tightly against his head, his eyes two tiny glints in a thinned, visor-like portion of the mask. The entire thing was held down by a thick, short length of hemp rope, reinforced with more of that copper wiring and securing it, with pointed barbs, to his shirt.

For a Super, his sense of fashion balanced between terrible and frighteningly terrible, but Vinny was less concerned with that, and more with the items on the mystery man's belt: a holstered Beretta M1934, a series of clips tucked into the belt loop, handcuffs that looked stolen off of who-knows from the police, and... a broken radio speaker? As if in response, the radio behind the bar suddenly cut Fred Astaire off in a loud pop of static... only to be replaced by another voice. It sounded old, rasping through a worn-out microphone, metallic and almost inhuman. It was a voice that matched the tight motions of the Death Penalty's mouth as it moved under the thick cloth of his disguise. It was deep, lacked accent... and humanity. "Yes. A neutral territory for the crime Families. I'm aware. But I'm not here for the Families, business man. I'm here," he slowly announced, pointing a finger at Lito as the sparks intensified, "for him. For the Red Bandits." Fred Astaire's voice returned, almost finished singing "Cheek to Cheek" as the Death Penalty was sheathed in an aura of coiling lightning.

Actions:
Free Action: Alternate Power: Communication
Free Action: Alternate Power: Force Field
Standard Action: Ready an Area use of Dazzle, to activate after all visible combatants have swung and/or fired.

[Jade_Tarem]

Forget the USA; God bless Mrs. Tweedy. Andrea was out the door faster than was probably proper, but with two cowed men as the only witness, she wasn't too worried. She couldn't wait to get home, to change, to get back out on her 'beat,' as she'd started thinking of it, but the hawker stops her cold. It had to be hyperbole, but on the off chance that it wasn't... the librarian reversed course and found her way to the source of the commotion. A quick scan of the posters plastered around the young man - not much more than a boy, really - was long on artful representations of the Firemark logo and short on information. Still, she supposed he would cycle through his spiel again eventually, and stuck around to hear it from the beginning.

[Julian84]

September 3rd, 1938

Scholl’s Galleria, the Bronx

The Chevy Master putters to a halt, Azrael rising out of his seat and surveying the area… Scholl’s Galleria was an all-purpose venue for dances, small parties, community get-togethers, located in West Bronx in a sleepy block of apartments. A giggling young couple stumbled out of an alley, turning down the street and leaning against each other… A phosphorescent blue mist following their every move. Blue Dew, the first and most common sign of a mild Luna overdose. The couple were crashing now… Any more might cause Luna Shock, where a partaker of the recreational stimulant seems to just… Melt.

He slammed the door, stalking down the alley and finding a hidden side door… The muted sound of laughter, chatter, the clinking of glass, and music slipping through. Sound-proofed, but a sloppy job. He stoically knocks on the door, the hidden peephole sliding to the side. “What’s the password?” A gruff voice asks.

Eric’s information had seemed correct thus far… The intoxicated couple, the blue dew, the obvious signs of a speakeasy… Scholl’s was definitely a Luna Hop. And if that much was true, then the password provided must be accurate as well.

‘Rosemarie’.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 136/272 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $1,200

Columbus Ave.

The well-tuned engine of Midnight roared as the Phantasm raced down Columbus Ave, screeching past crowds of pedestrians and around slower vehicles. Flashing blue and red lights were a clear sign he was on the right track, the Rolls-Royce slipping those around, gaining on the fleeing thieves – Escaping in a pick-up truck, two of the men standing in the bed of the truck and shooting at any pursuers with tommy guns as two more focused on driving safely through the evening Manhattan traffic.

One of the thieves quickly spots Midnight, leveling his tommy to shoot off a volley that the Phantasm skillfully evades, streaking around the truck to deploy his caltrops and smoke screen, a heavy popping noise heralding the explosion of tires. The truck careened out of the smoke and smashed into a brick wall, the two men in the back falling out along the way, slowly picking themselves up.

The Phantasm sneaks up on them unnoticed, able to make a surprise attack.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 33/65 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $2,000

South Brooklyn Marine Terminal

Frank strides into the low-ceilinged office, quickly taking in the scene – amongst the stacks of paperwork, blueprints, heavy metal desks, and filing cabinets were three men in black suits with fedoras topping their heads, tanned olive skin sweating slightly in the September heat. Curiously, they each also had a red necktie, though the one in the middle had a single silver pin in the center of his: a four-fingered hand, each nail tipped with a small piece of what looked like polished ebony. The middle nodded in greeting, but did not off his hand in greeting. “You must be Finnegan, the foreman.” He said without much prompting. “I am Black Viper… I’m sure I don’t need to tell you who I work for.” His eyes narrow dangerously as he pulls a small blueprint from his jacket, handing it to Frank.

“These are the schematics for an additional tunnel system beneath the currently established structure., which you and your subordinates will complete in two weeks time… The names of everyone who works on this project must be reported to Mr. Beebe here… And if they ever speak of this matter after the project is finished, they will answer to me.” He cracks his knuckles. “Which I assure you, they do not want to answer to me.”

“Are we clear, Finnegan?”

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 76/153 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $600

Vinny’s Bar, Lower Brooklyn

The bartender coolly eyes Death Penalty down… Years of barfights, turf wars, shake-downs, and other events had given him nerves of steel… Though the mysterious powers of the hero did prompt a tremor in his grip, a sheen of sweat on his brow. If he fired… He would most likely not live to tell the tale, as stories of those who used the Nucleos told.

“…” He carefully lowers the barrel of his shotgun, blowing out a deep breath. “You’re paying for the damages.” He says, smoothly as he can muster, as the other three men similarly lower their weapons.

Lito blurts a choked reply out, “No!” He squeaks in protest as the tension slowly releases. “He’s mad! Mad I tell ya! He’s gonna kill me for sure!”

The crowd, however, is unmoved, slowly backing away from Death Penalty and his prey. Lito quivers in fear, trying to desperately scoot away from Death Penalty on his rear.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 59/123 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $1,000

New York City Metropolitan Library

Andrea draws closer to the young street hawker, who holds up a poster with brightly lit hues of orange, yellow, and blue, the gaudy Firemark Industries symbol of a lightning bolt across the silhouette of the Empire State Building sitting boldly in the center.

“Come one, come all! Cheap tours of the Firemark Factory up the river! Limited time offer of potentially meeting the Incredible Inventor himself! Mistah Firemark is on a limited time inspection of his properties and holdings, so he is currently entertaining guests, but this is a limited time offffferrrr!”

He spies Andrea listening in on his shill, offering a winning grin. “Hello there, miss! How would you like to take a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit Firemark Factories and meet the Incredible Inventor himself?” He produces a small white form from his satchel, waving it under her nose. “Just fill this out and take it to the Firemark Pier on the west side and pay for the ferry! And, uh, under the referral box just put Tommy MacDonald, so I get a bonus, eh?” He gives another cheeky grin.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 68/136 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $600

[Reverend1124]

Azrael

Azrael walked into Scholl's after the door was opened for him. The room was dimly lit, with well dressed people sitting all around drinking and shooting Luna. This shouldn't be too difficult. He walked into the center of the room and shouted:

"Alright everyone, listen up!" Everyone in the speakeasy stopped what they were doing and looked towards the source of the command. "I am an undercover officer for the NYPD and everyone here will be under arrest, or worse, if you do not do the following," he pulled a sackcloth bag out of his jacket, "You will all put every bit of your Luna and cash into this bag, and after that I am gonna leave. I suggest you do the same before my backup gets here. Do we have an understanding?"

Azrael knew full well this probably wouldn't work, but he was never opposed to smoking some mob thugs.

Intimidate Check: [d20+2](6)
Prepared action: activate Shadow Form

[Lost Demiurge]

As the thugs pick themselves up, a sibilant voice hisses from the billowing clouds of smoke ebbing around the wrecked car.

"Tommyguns on a crowded street..."

"Who said that?"

"Firing upon New York's finest..."

"Who's there?!"

They're confused, jittery, still scrambled from the crash, and there is NO ONE in sight!

"Sinners, one and all! You have one chance, surrender or meet your maker as I send you to him!"
And through the smoke he materializes, the wisps of vapor clinging to his form like a funeral shroud, twisting oddly in all directions. His arms whip up, and green flashes against gunmetal black in the streetlights, as two jade-handled .45s ready to unload hot leaden justice upon the hapless thugs!

SCARE AND ATTACK!
Intimidate!
[roll]1d20+10[/whoops]

And unless they immediately surrender, attack!
[roll0]

It's a damn shame there's no two-weapon fighting in this game. Ah well. It's a style thing, really.

Oh, and the odd motion of the smoke is due to the Phantasm's force field being active. Because he's hungry for JUSTICE tonight, and not in a mood to settle for eating lead.

[Jade_Tarem]

Andrea flashes the crier a smile in return and takes the form from him. "I certainly will - good evening, sir." With that, she begins to follow the directions. While she had no doubt he'd put a little embellishment into what the offer really entailed, this would either provide her a glance into the future - specifically, what she might be seeing on the streets in a little while... or what she might be able to get a hold of.

A devilish, disturbing thought crosses her mind. With these tourists entering the facilities, that would be a perfect time for the shady elements of New York to get up to no good. It wouldn't do to be put in that situation with no backup and no gear, and she quickly elected to come up with a plausible reason to carry her Spitfire duds and equipment in there, but came up dry. She could, however, hide it close by - and in fact, that would be the better option anyway, since she'd be able to take them out on the town faster after the tour... if nothing went wrong. That sort of thinking might have struck some as paranoid, but life with Dr. Beckett had taught her that it really paid off on the one in ten times that one was right.

[Space Lawyer]

Frank
South Brooklyn Marine Terminal

Frank had never cared for bullies. Anyone who thought they could just swagger, bluster, and punch their way to the top of the dungheap was bound to hurt a lot of people on the way up. They just made life worse for everyone. Plus, Frank was always the one having to deal with the bullies. He had always been a big guy, and good in a scuffle, so whenever it came down to fighting, he'd always been the one who had to stand up.

It was even worse when the bullies got their hands on some sort of power. For some it was guns; for others, it was bribing the right people. For this group, it was Nucleos. Frank had heard of this Black Viper fellow and his gang. They had some kind of unstable Nucleo called Snakebite juicing them up. Best not to mix it up with them if possible, but Frank wasn't going to let this bunch of bullying thugs run roughshod over him and the crew. Frank crosses his arms and puffs up a bit.

"Mmm, can't say we are, Mr. Snake. Ye've gotta excuse me; I'm not the smartest guy 'round. The way I hear, you'll be wanting me and my boys to do something for you, with nothing much in it for us. You come in here all swaggering and making demands and threats; I'm not so fond of that. Now, I've thrashed bigger than you, but I'm not spoiling for a fight. So, how's 'bout you ask again politely, with better terms, and we all get what we want?"

Intimidate: 22
Tactics, to figure out the best way to beat these thugs if things get ugly: 24
Sense Motive, to get a read on Black Viper: 20

[Julian84]

September 3rd, 1938

Scholl’s Galleria, the Bronx

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viO_5aaF0zc&list=PL3QZUm48uWnsdFakp3A2fI-NzmfH1jyQe)

Azrael stands solemnly before a stunned audience of mobsters, socialites, and servers, the room so silent one could hear a pin drop. Some men glanced at each other quietly, weighing their options…

And slowly, one by one, each step meekly forward to deposit their belongings in his bag.

+3 Small Luna Hypos
+1 Large Luna Hypo
+$1,500

As Azrael glances around the room, he spots a memory cube on the counter, swiping it quickly.



Edna Olsen (http://cdn2.retrowaste.com/wp-content/gallery/1930s-fashion-women/1930s-hairstyles-02.jpg)

"Scholl was always a nice man... Knew how to treat a lady right. It's a shame he put up such a fight over using his place as a speakeasy for Luna... But that's just the way things go. Now we have a place to catch the stupidly rich from the Bronx area and any mobsters dumb enough to get hooked on our stuff... And it's located pretty conveniently close by to the Port Morris stash... Yeah... This will work well for all of us.

Well. Except Scholl."

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 136/272 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $2,700

Columbus Ave, Manhattan

The two thieves snarl in response, whirling with their tommy guns… But the Phantasm strikes first, firing his pistols into the chest of one of the men, who falls backwards with a cry of pain… But after writhing on the ground, hops back to his feet… An odd, bulky garment now visible beneath his trenchcoat, the same being apparent on the other man as well. These two were prepared for a fight.

They each unload their tommy guns into him, laughing wildly… But the bullets ping off of his forcefield with no effect. A highly anticlimactic exchange.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 22/65 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $2,000

North Cove Harbor, Manhattan

After collecting her suit, Andrea heads to North Cove Harbor, where the Firemark Ferry awaits. A ticket man takes her pass and ten dollars for a ride on the ferry north on the Hudson River to Buchanan, New York, where Fabian Firemark built his first and biggest factory. She is ushered onto a double-decker ferry boat, where crowds of tourists already await, clamoring eagerly to begin their journey to the Mecca of Mechanics.

A waiter comes by, bearing trays of iced tea and refreshing soda pop for the patrons of the vessel, dubbed the S.S. Pollyanna. So far, Andrea cannot perceive anything being amiss.

After a few more minutes, the voyage begins, the horn of the boat sounding mightily across the Hudson.

Now Entering Instance: Firemark Factories

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V66m52YFZBg&list=WLB369BDB303CD154D)

Andrea disembarks from the boat, staring up in wonder at the massive scale of Firemark Factories, huge smokestacks and arched production buildings rising high over the docks. Crowds of tourists push past her, cameras out and flashing as an Atomiton comes screeching down a track of powered rail. It moved forward on a single free-bearing sphere embedded in the powered rail, the model some facsimile of a cosmonaut. “Hello, fellow Futurists and Rocketeers!” It said in a glib, tinny voice. “I’m Bolt Voltage, Spaceman Spectacular, and I’ll be your guide on this tour of the fantastic, fabulous factories of Fabian Firemark, the Incredible Inventorrrr!” He twirled on the powered rail, pointing up at a gigantic flashing neon sign of Firemark winking and giving a thumbs up to the crowd.

Bolt Voltage begins to move down the powered rail, sparks snapping from the track as he loudly explains the history behind Firemark and his factory. The tourists follow at a fairly safe distance as they enter into the first production line, where rocket cars are manufactured with mechanical precision by less flashy atomitons. “Mr. Firemark was born on the windy plains of Oklahoma, but even in such humble origins, he had a dream…” Bolt explained. “He would look up at the wide American sky and think to himself how he wished to reach up and touch the stars… And so he decided he would do exactly that! The space program has been a recently launched product line of Firemark Industries, and we expect to see full commercial rollout in 1950!” He laughs. “Of course, along the way, Mr. Firemark discovered his great love for helping people, and thus he pursued other inventions to make mankind’s lot easier – Rocket Cars, Stable Nuclear PowerPlants, Atomiton workers, and the list goes on! His Fireworks Security Solutions has led to a 57% decrease in home burglaries this year, amongst many other accomplishments.”

The party arrives at a large mural of Nicholas Tennyson and Fabian Firemark shaking hands. “Naturally, none of this would be possible without the venture capital provided by our Mayor Tennyson and the generous funding of the Tennyson Foundation in 1930.” He begins moving slowly along, taking a right turn and heading deeper into the facility. “Next, the Atomiton production line!”

As they pass through the narrow corridor from one section to another, Andrea spies a small side room, ducking in momentarily to see what she can find...



+1 Pluck's Nectar
+1 Small Luna Hypo
+1 Memory Cube





Fabian Firemark (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Roy_Acuff_1950.JPG)

"Tennyson was right... And now we've got New York on a string, the rhythm of the city moving to our whims. The Five Families rake in what profit they can, and hey, why not let the Italians get a little something for themselves? It won't be long until we set things right in this city.

... Now the Red Bandits, that's troublesome news. Tennyson has his theories on who they could be... But my gut tells me that these dark horses have come from a very different pasture then the likes of us.

It's no matter. We've prevailed once. We shall do so again.

And the dreams of this city will reach the stars."



Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 68/136 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $590

South Brooklyn Marine Terminal

Mr. Beebe squeaks, backing away slowly as the two men face off, Black Viper’s eyes narrowing. If it comes to a fight, Frank knows he’ll have to put some distance between himself and these Snakebite goons, to avoid being hit with spitting venom or a deadly bite. Black Viper puffs himself up… And brushes past Frank. “We’ll be back, Finnegan. And you’ll regret crossing us.” For now, he has been convinced that he may not truly have the upper hand. His gaze snaps at Beebe. “And the gratuity will now be half, Beebe.”

The superintendant squeaks as the three men leave, the door slamming behind them, before rounding on . “What do yeah think yore doin'?! Have yah gahn whacky??” He shouts. “Ah woulda split tha money with yah after, what’s tha hahrm in puttin' tha foul-mouthed twits ta a little mah work when tha Snakes ah willing to pay us! Now Viper will come back and kill yah for sure!”

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 76/153 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $600

[Reverend1124]

Azrael

Azrael closed up the bag as the bewildered people sat down. He looked around the room now as people began to nervously resume their previous activity. "You folks have a good night now." he said as he tipped his hat and coolly walked out of the establishment towards his car. Once he was inside he took one of the small Luna hypos and shot up.

Standard action: shoot Luna

That memory cube was interesting to say the least. If nothing, it was just more information on the Red Bandits for him to use once the mob was taken care of. Now it was off to the docks. The drive was about 40 minutes, so Azrael popped on some tunes for the ride. "Oh I love this song! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2S1I_ien6A)" The Chevy roared to life and took off down the road. The roads were pretty empty at this point in the evening. The sky was a brilliant amalgam of purples and oranges as the sun set over the city. Azrael always preferred taking to the streets at night, even before obtaining his nucleos. He hoped that there would be some mob goons down at the docks so that he could get a lead on one of the family heads. Even though Luciano was his main target, taking down the other four was essential, otherwise one of them would surely take over.

Besides, the only good mobster was a dead one.

[Space Lawyer]

Frank
South Brooklyn Marine Terminal

"You weren't really listening that well, were you Beebe? He didn't offer anything; he just said "get to work". Now, if he comes back with a reasonable offer like he should've in the first place, I'm willing to give him fair hearing. I just don't appreciate telling me 'n the boys to do something we're not supposed to and expecting us to just fold easy."

Franks trundles past Beebe. The man could whine all he wanted to, but Frank knew he had done the right thing. He couldn't afford to lose this job, and signing off on some illicit side project was about the surest way to do that. Frank shrugs his coat over his shoulders, a great big thing made of canvas and fur. Mary had rubbed some new Firemark product on it that was supposed to keep it waterproof; even better for the docks. He clomps out into the street, steel-toed boots making quite a racket on the metal causeways until Frank hits the concrete. He takes a look around to make sure that the snake goons aren't laying in ambush for him, then heads over to the truck.

Notice: 16

[Lost Demiurge]

Hmph. Well, they're still getting the equivalent of a gut punch with every shot, thinks the Phantasm.

"HAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAH!!!!"

He darts to the side, losing himself in the smoke, and firing out of it at the same target again...

CUNNING PLAN

Well, not so cunning. This is gonna be a slogfest, and I have no other way of taking them down then the pistols, to be honest. And I forgot to buy power attack, so this is probably gonna take a while.

STEALTH
[roll0]

SHOOTING
[roll1]


And we're keeping the forcefield going, because bullets are bad for my health.
[/spoiler]

[Jade_Tarem]

Yes!

While the Luna was, technically, not hers, Andrea had little left in the way of compunctions about using it. Stuffed into a warehouse, destined for god-knows-who on the streets... who better to intercept a senseless waste of good Luna than Spitfire? She tosses the discarded needle into a corner of the room, and stuffs the memory cube and the Pluck's Nectar into her vest pocket - a cheap trick, to be sure, but her bag would be the first thing someone would search, and most men would hesitate before reaching into her vest. With that accomplished, she pushed out the door and hurried to catch up with the tour. She responds to the questioning eyebrow of the last people in the group, if necessary, with a fidgety, "Please let me know if you see the lavatory."

Using the Luna in the storage room, assuming no one is around, then leaving the discarded hypo there.

[Julian84]

September 3rd, 1938

South Brooklyn Marine Terminal

Frank’s wariness is not without reason… But is unnecessary at this juncture. The Snakecoil gang has vamoosed in search of greater numbers. He hops into his truck, but instead of turning left and heading north, he turns right… Following after Routledge.

He follows after at a safe distance, noticing with grim gravity that they’re entering the older Dockyards, where all manner of riff-raff gather to deal in business most unsavory. The sun dips low under the horizon… And night falls, streetlamps flickering to life.

Routledge’s ancient jalopy turns into a cluttered district of warehouses, a massive freighter looming over the area. Frank parks the truck, climbing up shipping crates and following quietly above.

Dockside

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwgDVfTUcrM)

“So… What do we got?” A man wearing a fedora and a fine suit called out as Routledge walked closer, flanked by two dockworkers and one other suited gentlemen. The dockworkers looked… Off. Their arms were oversized and lopsided, barnacle-like growths sticking out of their skin. Nucleos… Most likely Salty Seadog, a water-based modification.

Routledge chuckled nervously as he got closer. “Oh, you know… More refugees, Mr. Mangano, sir.” He leads the group further onward to a shipping crate, slamming a fist on it a few times. “Listen you rats, if any one of you makes a move I’ll shoot you myself, so step back and play dead, a’ight?!” He bellowed, unlocking the crate and swinging it open…

Frank had to dip low, but inside was perhaps a dozen or so women, malnourished and covered in their own waste. “More jews from out of Germany… Women in this crate and the next for Mr. Pluck, men in the others for Mr. Firemark. I just want my finder’s fee.” He chuckles nervously again.

Mangano lights up a cigar. “Relax, Rooty, you’ve done good work. Whaddaya say, five hundred a crate?” He hands a cigar to Routledge. “That should be more than enough, if you ask me.”
Routledge nods emphatically. “Oh yes, that’d be great, Mr. Mangano.”

The other man in a suit pulls out a boxy radio receiver from his suit, murmuring into it. “Boss…” He mutters only loud enough for Frank to hear. “We’ve got a positive identification on an incoming vehicular machine. We think it’s the Reaper.”

“So?” Mangano asks, taking another puff. “Put him on ice.”

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 76/153 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $600



Azrael races down the road past the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, heading for the industrial dockside, intent on discovering what exactly the mob has been up to in the area… When a intense jet of water smashes into the side of the Chevy Master, sending it careening off the road and into a stack of wooden crates, the PI slamming against his wheel.

Roll toughness.

As he slowly rights himself, he sees four men with barnacle encrusted arms slowly approaching the car in his rearview mirror, with a fifth man in a suit straying behind, injecting a hypo of Luna into his arm.

Vitality – Possibly not Healthy!
Luna: 161/272 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $2,700

Columbus Ave, Manhattan

The Phantasm fails to hit his targets, who dodge out of the way at the last second, spitting out an odd-sounding swear, “SHEISSE!” whipping around to shoot at the Phantasm wildly, one missing completely whilst the other managing to wing the hero’s forcefield through the mist, but having no effect on the masked man himself!

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 20/65 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $2,000

Firemark Factories

As the crowd gathers in the Atomiton production line, two security guards dressed in grey uniforms with the Fireworks Security emblem on their chest walk by, odd pistol-like devices strapped to their hips as they talk lowly between themselves. “Our Atomitons are bestest, hardest workers in the nation!” Bolt Voltage proclaims. “The first prototype was developed by our founder for his dear sweet mother to help with the chores when his pa passed away at too young of an age.” He wipes an invisible tear from his eternally grinning metallic face. “Ol’ Frank Firemark will be missed.”

As Andrea surveys the scene, she sees a rather different conveyor belt on the far side of the huge room, which seems to be building disk-shaped machines… Aerodrones, another product of Fireworks Security Solutions, often sold to businesses and the NYPD. Across the conveyor belt, she also spies a door marked “EMPLOYEES ONLY.”

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 93/136 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $590

[babel_matrix]

Broken glass and wood cracked under foot as the Death Penalty shifted his weight. He gave the bartender a short nod, letting the field of electricity simmer down as the speaker on his belt, bereft of any actual radio, hissed with life. His open hand brushed against his gun, earning flinches from the witnesses until it passed it, reaching instead to a small leather purse. There, rolled into hundreds, were sticks of twenty-dollar bills. Four such rolls, no thicker than cheap cigars, bounced onto the bar. That same, metallic voice filled the room anew. "This is acceptable." It was not a question. The black hood turned its attention away from the bartender, to look at Lito anew. His steps seemed to shake the floor on which Lito continued to soil himself. "Lito. You have been aiding the Insulator, a minion of the Red Bandits. Admit it, and betray him to me, and you are innocent... you will go free. Hide him, and his crime becomes yours. The penalty for that crime..." The speaker cut out briefly as the Super arced a bright bolt of lightning between his hands. "... is death. You have only this moment before I carry out your sentence."

[Reverend1124]

Azrael

Toughness: 25

Looks like we're starting already, eh? Azrael thought as he shook off the damage of the crash. He undid his seat belt and focused his energy. The darkness inside his car enveloped him as he assumed the form of his alter ego.

PRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAQNpeW-6tc)

The Reaper slid out of the cracks underneath his door and faced his assailants, his hair flailing wildly about his head and his eyes gleaming crimson. "Hello boys..." he said in a deep, inhuman voice. He whipped his right hand up towards them as he screamed "Say hello to the devil for me!" A blast of black and red energy shot from his hand towards the closest man. He then teleported a short distance away into a dark area under the docks, completely concealing himself from sight.

Free Action: Shadow Form
Standard Action: Ball of Shadows - 25 to hit for 8 damage
Movement: Shadow Walk

[Lost Demiurge]

German? This night is getting more and more interesting...

All the same, this one's getting to be a bit of a drain.

He sends another bullet downwind, as he pauses to look around for something he can use to gain an advantage.... A loose streetlight that can be shot down to hinder them, a barrel that coud be shoved to roll into them, something to take out or slow them down besides lead.

Attack and search...


Bullet!
[roll0]

Notice!
[roll1]

And yeah, keep that force field going. Can't wait to meet up with some friendly heavy hitters, so I can be batman to their rest-of-the-justice-league... +4 damage is evidently not cutting it.

Mental note: Power attack sooner then later.

[Space Lawyer]

Frank
South Brooklyn Marine Terminal - Docks

Streetwise: 17
Current Events: 22

Of course Routledge was wrapped up with some shady business like this. The man was smart enough to see where he could make an easy buck, and too stupid to see when he should pass it up. Frank cared about the men on his crew, and too often had to protect them from their own mistakes. Getting mixed up with a gangster like Mangano could only end badly.

With a sigh, Frank activates his powers. The world takes on a new overlay, as Frank can see the waves and fields zipping and dancing through the air. All the steel on the gangsters made them look like the Christmas tree at Tennyson Center. Frank feels out the radio waves and damps them down. The world keeps its overlay, but it is suddenly dull and flat. Frank hated doing this. It was so much nicer to see the world for what it really was. Still, it was better than these guys radioing in some reinforcements, and whoever this Reaper fellow they had been discussing could probably benefit from a breakdown in communications too.

Frank puts his hands in his pockets, sliding on the steel knuckles. No need to draw a gun yet, but it didn't hurt to be ready to take a swing. He stands up and calls out "Oi, Routledge! What've I told you about running something this shady close to the worksite? Bad for safety, and bad for business." He nods his head to Mangano. "Mr. Mangano. How're you doing this fine night? Mind telling me what you've got my man wrapped up in? No disrespect sir, but it happens to be my job to know what is going on so close to my site."

[Jade_Tarem]

Curiosity wars with sanity as Andrea notices the door. It would be an unparalleled opportunity to see the hidden side of Firemark Factories, but the door was not only right out in the open, but the area beyond was a big question mark. For all she knew, the other side could be a cafeteria full of uniformed employees just as easily as it could be a dark hallway leading into a storage room. She didn't give up, but she needed a better plan. She wasn't *that* charming of a liar that she could deflect any suspicion if caught... but a uniform would help her avoid suspicion altogether. She stays on the lookout for one as she follows the tour.

[roll0]

[Julian84]

September 3rd 1938

Columbus Ave, Manhattan

The Phantasm’s shot hits one of the men, who stumbles back, clutching his chest… The bullet pierced his armor, but he is not out of the fight yet. Both men attack again! However, their shots go wide, missing completely.

The Phantasm notices a fire hydrant off to the side. If he were able to penetrate the seal, the pressure might do the rest… But he’ll need a strong shot.

Using extra effort to gain blast as a temporary alternate power feat to pierce the fire hydrant might be wise. Alternatively you could use your move action to get there and just use your strike.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 18/65 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $2,000

Vinny’s Bar, Lower Brooklyn

“M-minion?” Lito stares at Death Penalty in confusion. “Man, I don’t what you’re talking about, the Insulator doesn’t work for the Red Bandits, he hates those guys! Hates the mob too! He thinks he can make his own way in the world.” He tries to scoot back further, but encounters a fallen table, cringing and holding a hand up. “Please! I swear! Don’t kill me!”

The bartender, presumably the eponymous Vinny, nods sagely. “Yeah. Don’t know where you go this idea he works for the Bandits.”

Lito grovels helplessly. “He’s hiding out in Manhattan! You can find him at the Regency Hotel!”

Before Death Penalty can respond, the sound of clomping feet, running, and broken glass makes him spin swiftly to the door, where a panting young man rests with his hands on his knees. “Y-y-you all gotta get out!” He straightens, fear in his eyes. “I was just talking with my cousin Giuseppe when his radio cut out – The Reaper is in Brooklyn!”

In the chaos the would ensue, Death Penalty would swear for years afterwards he never saw a room full of armed grown men begin to empty with such sheer terror.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 56/123 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $1,000

Dockside – The Reaper

The Reaper materialized suddenly around the three thugs, their limbs and faces uncrusted with shall-like protrusions and other crustaceous looking sealife, viscous tentacles of water protruding from gaping holes in their arms. One balks in terror as the Menace of the Mob sends a blast of dark matter forth, crashing into his chest and sending him flying backwards into a concrete wall, falling limply to the ground.

As quickly as he appeared, the Reaper vanishes, slipping into the darkness beneath the docks as the two nucleo-d thugs whirl about in confusion. “Where did he go?!” One barks hoarsely.

The gangster calmly lights a cigarette. “… He’s here. We only have to wait.”

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 144/272 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $2,700

Dockside – Thundering Fist

Blue light arcs through Finnegan’s body as his powers alight, small ferrous growths sprouting from his hands and forearms as electrical discharges dance across his skin. He is Thundering Fist, the hero of the people… And the enemy of people like Mangano.

This is not the Mangano, but one of his sons, probably Enrico when one judges by the tenor of his voice and his age. One of the lieutenants of the family protecting him, making sure nothing goes south here.

Routledge spins at hearing the voice of his boss, blanching with fright. “Finnegan! Wha- What the…” He steps back, terrified by the sight of Frank Finnegan wreathed in lightning. Mangano frowns, putting his hands in his pockets. “Thundering Fist.” He says with apt precision, sneering. “Listen, tough guy, don’t get in over your head. You may have thought that you getting your hands on a nucleo or something might level the playing field…” He tilts his head towards one of his own goons. “But sorry, Jack, the odds are simply not with you today.”

The two dock workers step forward, growling in rage as the other suited man takes a defensive position in front of Mangano. “My business is my business… And I’m not much carrying to explain it to you. Get him, boys!”

The two dockworkers charge forward, geysers of water erupting from their arms, but the Thundering Fist is faster indeed!

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 59/153 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $600

Firemark Factories

The tour continues through another narrow corridor, this time entering a room filled with men, women, and atomitons all working load freighter trucks with smaller goods and appliances to be sent across the city – And possibly the state, if marked with special dispensation to do so. They all wear orange Firemark uniforms that denote their menial status as cogs in the grand machine.

Andrea’s sharp eyes rove the room, spotting different hallways leading away from the shipping floor with monikers such as “Dressing Rooms”, “Uniform Cleaning”, and “Employee Break Room”. But as she spies opportunity… She also spies danger, as aerodrones flit through the long window-lined walls, sometimes scanning the ID badge of a worker deemed to be moving too slowly.

“Here at Firemark Factories, we strive to be the best in all the world, utilizing revolutionary business practices and technology to create a seamless, speedy delivery process.” Bolt Voltage sighs proudly. “There is no place like Buchanan, New York, to get a sense of family, community, and cooperation.”

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 93/136 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $590

[babel_matrix]

The Death Penalty paid no heed to fleeing mobsters... and a swift kick kept Lito planted when he tried to rise to leave with them. "You're going to tell me his room, who is there, what he is armed with... and then you're going to vanish. Alive."

[Space Lawyer]

THUNDERING FIST!
The Docks

"Nobody's ever accused you of being too smart for your own good, have they?" The world regains a spiky, wavy overlay as Frank releases his hold on the energy. "Look around you; nothing but metal and water." He smiles as electric arcs leap from his arms to the metal container, just harmless static but visually impressive. "This is my place, and you chumps don't have the moxie to take me on!" The electrical aura brightens intensely. Frank crouches down, placing his palms flat on the container. The container shudders, then takes flight, zooming towards the geyser goons! "You folks in there, brace for impact!"

Switch powers: free
Crouch: free
Attack.

[Lost Demiurge]

This'll be a bit of a risk, but I need to end this, and bullets aren't enough...

The Phantasm leaps out of the mist, dives toward a nearby fire hydrant, and brings his arm around!

There's a flickering, an after-image, a whisper not unlike ripping silk, and the strike connects with terrible force, shattering the cap of the hydrant and spraying the thugs with gallons upon gallons of pressurized water!


Not sure if you want any rolls. Have a D20 and apply it wherever you feel best fits.

[roll0]

Force field's down since I had to shift to strike, so hopefully this works...

[Julian84]

Vinny’s Bar, Lower Brooklyn

Lito cries out in pain, doubling over from being kicked. “The Meadowlark Penthouse! 36th floor!” He groans, feeling his ribs. “He’s with his gang, they’ve been living it up and partying since they got the drop on some Red Bandits and stole their loot…”

There’s a sudden hush in the crowd, grabbing Death Penalty’s attention once more… Now, a young masked woman in a red, white, and blue uniform flows on a cushion of air in the doorframe, arms crossed. The virtuous and beautiful Lady Liberty!

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzfebtDEjpg&list=PLF52B20F9E4D2C1C6)

“Death Penalty.” She said in frustration. “I should have known it’d be you to cause so much commotion. What do you think you’re doing?”

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 53/123 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $1,000

Dockside – Thundering Fist

The crate flies forward through the air, the two thugs jumping to the side to avoid being crushed… One is smacked in the shoulder, tumbling to the ground with a snarled curse, while the other is hit square in the ribs, a resounding crackling noise heralding the crushing of ribs as he falls to the ground, moaning in agony.

The first thug, however, rolls into a crouch, spinning around to hit the Thundering Fist from behind with a high-intensity jet of water!

Roll toughness!

Vitality – Possibly not Healthy!
Luna: 56/153 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $600

Columbus Ave, Manhattan

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVIZ5Tobq5E&list=PLF52B20F9E4D2C1C6)

The jet of water gushes out of the hydrant, slapping the two men to the ground with a thud, one crying out in pain and dropping his tommy gun. With a rising siren, two police aerodrones zoom around a corner, stun guns primed to engage any potential targets.

“HALT!” A mechanized voice blasts through the air. “YOU ARE ALL UNDER ARREST FOR DISTURBING THE PEACE! HALT! YOU ARE ALL UNDER ARREST FOR DISTURBING THE PEACE! HALT! YOU ARE ALL UNDER ARREST FOR DISTURBING THE PEACE!”

Under Tennyson, the police had not been known for being too friendly to most capes on the streets. He had a choice… Run now and gain more distance between him and the oncoming machines, or quickly search the truck for clues and then make a run for it, risking being chased.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 16/65 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $2,000

[Space Lawyer]

Thundering Fist
The Docks

Toughness = 16

The jet of water punches Frank hard in the kidneys, but a quick side-step saves him from the worst of it. "Yah dirty bastard, shooting a man in the back. Lemme show you how real men fight!" The arcs stop leaping outwards, instead zipping across Frank's skin, concentrating in his hands. The steel knuckles at the end of Frank's oversized hands start to spark, and he runs towards the perfidious henchman. "This'll hurt you a hell of a lot more than it'll hurt me!" he yells out, swinging those sparking fists.

Change power to Thunder Punch: free
Move towards henchman
Defensive Attack: 23
DC 15 Confuse, Dazzle, Stun, and Paralyze activate on contact
Grapple begins on contact, one-handed: 26
If grapple is successful, begin chokehold

[Lost Demiurge]

"You're welcome," says the Phantasm. With a gesture of his hand, he pulls the Tommygun to him, covering the remaining armed thug, as he quickly searches the truck.


Telekinesis to grab the tommy gun as I search...

[roll0]

Also gonna declare a hero point if the roll comes up less then 15.

[roll1] Minimum 16


And then we slip away into the darkness....

Hide in plain sight plus stealth...

[roll2]

To get back to Midnight and drive away!

[roll3]

[Reverend1124]

The Reaper

The Reaper stood, concealed by the darkness around him. The goon he had hit was surely dead.

"...He's here. We only have to wait." Not for long.

As quickly as he had disappeared, the Reaper reappeared behind the three mobsters. "Hey kids, wanna see a dead body!?" The Reaper screamed as his arms turned into long blades of darkness. He thrust his blades into the man standing in the center, and then vanished as he teleported on top of the crates near the body of the dead mobster, becoming concealed once again.

Move action: Shadow Walk
Standard action: Blades if Darkness - 16 to hit for 8 penetrating damage.

[Julian84]

September 3rd, 1938

Dockside – Thundering Fist

Frank brings his fist down across the jaw of the thug, spittle and blood splattering across the ground from the blow! Before the man can even begin to reorient himself, Frank grabs him by the throat, smashing him into the ground and choking the life out of the gurgling goon.

Two fists come down atop the Thundering Fist’s head, sending lights flashing behind his eyes! He reels, a large, snarling man-creature standing over him, two horns sprouting from its brow and the ripped shreds of a suit hanging off his huge barrel chest, now a mass of corded muscles and bulging veins. The Mangano henchmen is a Bullrush Nucleo user, turned into a hulking beast.

Roll toughness!

Vitality – Bruised
Luna: 53/153 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $600

Columbus Ave, Manhattan

The Phantasm snaps the tommy gun out of the air, darting towards the truck and swinging the door open frantically, crawling over the two groaning men and snatching anything he can. In the bed of the truck he notices a large piece of technological equipment, almost the size of a human coffin.

+1 Small Luna Hypo
+1 Pluck’s Nectar
+1 Memory Cube

As he darts away from the scene of the fight, one of the aerodrones corrects its course to chase him, stunners firing small bolts of light after him as he jumps into Midnight to speed away, the Aerodrone chasing him down the street, stunners pinging off of the road as he weaves through traffic!

While he drives, the memory cube automatically begins to play…

Col. Heinrich von Himmelreich
(http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/be/71/70/be7170568e4df25b187683f4909b88fb.jpg)
“Zhose fools in Queens vere almost caught by zat insufferable American pigsow ‘Lady Liberty’, and zey lost all of sie shtolen technology! … Do not make sie same mistake zey did… Or you vill surely pay sie same price. Ven you have finished your mission at sie unifersity, find vhat vas lost, before sie Americans do and discover our hideout!”

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 14/65 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $2,000

Dockside – Reaper

The Reaper materializes in the air, stabbing one of the men through the chest, two black blades protruding from his chest. He looks down, mumbling in denial, before a shrill scream erupts, the blades retracting back and the mob-killer disappearing into the darkness.

"Hey, buddy, I ain't getting paid for dealing with this sort of ****." One of the thugs mutters. "What the hell is this guy?"

The mob henchmen puffs on his cigarette, standing below the streetlamp. "... Some say he's a demon." He chuckles. "But like any of the capes in this town... He's just a man, running out of time..."

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 141/272 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $2,700

[Reverend1124]

The Reaper

As he stood looking at the three men standing he couldn't help but notice that the apparent leader of the bunch hadn't left his spot underneath the streetlamp. The other two must have pretty low moral at this point, seeing as he had offed two of them. Now it was time to have some fun. He warped directly in front of the two mobsters remaining.

"How does it feel, knowing that you're about to die?" He asked, his voice a low hiss. He raised his arms up to be perpendicular to his body, his open palms held towards the sky and his long fingers splayed open, surging his red lines of power. The darkness behind the two men began to stir as the shadows began to rise behind them. Two hulking forms, the Shadow Seraphim, appeared behind then, humanoid in appearance but much larger, with black feathered wings and wearing heavy plate armor. Each was holding a large metal battleaxe.

"Sic 'em boys!" The Reaper said as he melted away once again, his crimson eyes being the last thing to fade as he warped farther back from the men. He liked to watch his pets from a distance.

Both Seraphim silently swung their axes at the two men, each aiming at a separate target.

Move action: Shadow Walk
Standard action: Minions of the Night

Seraphim 1
Armed attack: 20 to hit for 9 damage

Seraphim 2
Armed attack: 23 to hit for 9 damage

[Lost Demiurge]

"Thefts in Queens, of Firemark technology... Now this German Goosestepper's copping to the theft... Mm. A hideout? Useful. Pieces of the puzzle."

"But I need more pieces. Might as well ask someone who was there to begin with... Looks like I've got a date with Lady Liberty tonight!"

Zot!

A bolt glances off the rear windshield. The Phantasm frowns. "Ah, nearly forgot. Alright then..."


With his experience of the city, finding a tunnel to drive through is easy. Once inside he triggers the smokescreen, pulls a bootlegger reverse, and drives out the way he came.

These drones are dim. Hopefully it'll keep going forward...

BOOTLEGGER REEEEE-VERSE!
Yeah, gonna declare a hero point if this roll fails, because this is a risky, DAREDEVIL manuver in an enclosed tunnel so hopefully I'll make it back.

[roll0]

Hero point if reroll is necessary...
[roll1], minimum 17.


It occurs to him that he could also investigate the University while the cops are busy incarcerating the perps he just handed them. That coffin, that thing he didn't have time to examine properly... What was it, what did it do? Perhaps the University had records...

Once clear of the drone he queries his informants as to the whereabouts of Lady Liberty, and uses his connections to try and send her word he'd like to meet on a mutual crimefighting matter as soon as possible.

Then he swings past the University to quickly canvass some more clues.

STUFF!


Gather information to find out where Lady Liberty might be... One minute spent, thanks to contacts.
[roll2] plus whatever my contacts get me.

Diplomacy to pass word to her, should be a pretty simple favor. I assume I know some good neutral ground near where I think she might be.
[roll3]

And unless the University's crawling with cops, a quick stop by to see what was stolen.

Stealthy approach...
[roll4]

...And a search for Clews!
[roll5]

Oh, and at some point I'll jab myself with that small hypo. My piddly li'l reserves are down quite a ways.

Once searched, or if it's too crowded for investigation, I'll go to track down or meet Liberty.

[babel_matrix]

"Lady Liberty." The voice was a knife dragged across chalkboard, but he gave it as neutral a tone as he could manage. Both under and without the hood, he had seen her, had been asked once in either garb to stick around for questioning... something he couldn't afford then, now, or ever. The Death Penalty kept Lito in his peripheral as he spoke. "I'm getting results... and I'm about to bust the Insulator's gang wide open." He crossed his arms, but his feet gave no indication that he was ready to relax. His confidence had faltered... Red Bandit gear? A whole gang, wielding God knows what or, worse, hopped up on Nucleos? I'm not sure I've got enough juice to take a whole gang... especially alone. "But they're not with the Red Bandits... so perhaps I'll let them keep their lives. Perhaps you'll join me, and guarantee they live to test your idea of justice."

[Julian84]

September 3rd, 1938

Vinny’s Bar, Lower Brooklyn

Before she can respond, an overly nervous and terminally stupid mobster attacks her with a beer bottle, screaming at her. “Move, you dumb broad!” She glances at him, dodging the bottle easily, grabbing him, swinging him around, and then throwing him into a miniature tornado she conjured outside, watching him fly away into the night with a tight grin

The young woman turns back and glowers at the hooded figure, adjusting her costume somewhat to smooth out the creases. “You’re a scoundrel and little more than a thug, Death Penalty, but maybe you’re redeemable yet.” She says primly, checking her nails. “Fine. Where can we find the Insulator and his rubberback gang?”

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 50/123 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $1,000

Dockside – The Reaper

The two goons snarl at the approach of the ebon creatures, arm-entrenched hydro cannons raised to blast them into bits, but as the jets of water shoot out, the Seraphim flicker out of sight, dodging the attacks with unnatural speed.

One of the Seraphim reappears in front of its prey, swinging its axe and slicing the head straight from the shoulders of one of the encrusted goons. The other Seraphim delivers a blow to the shoulder of the other thug, embedding the axe deep in the man’s chest, slicing through his collarbone. The man gives off a gurgling scream, his arm hanging off his chest by a thick slab of bone, muscle, and sinew, screaming in agony as his blood trickles onto the concrete.

The henchman tosses his cigarette away… His stature increasing, muscles bulging, two curled horns emerging from behind his ears, eyes turning yellow, small, and bloodshot as his features grow more and more brutish, his clothes tearing from his body.

“Hurr.” He chuckles, his voice having dropped several octaves. “Take me on for size, eh?”

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 138/272 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $2,700


Columbia University, Manhattan

With a daredevil maneuver, the Phantasm spins about in the tunnel, successfully avoiding the Aerodrone. He pulls out his radio and begins contacting old friends and allies in the city, looking for where Lady Liberty might be found… But currently, her location is unknown. His contacts assure him that they should have the information soon, and once they locate her will pas along the Phantasm’s request. Midnight heads back north and quietly pulls into an alley between two academic buildings at Columbia University, slinking past police tape and unsuspecting officers to explore the raided scientific research laboratory.

The laboratory is a large, open room with two floors – The first has much of the actual mechanical parts and worktables for the necessary application of scientific expertise, whilst the second floor consists of a catwalk going around the perimeter of the room, with a few computer terminals and sensors set up to take readings. He slips through a window, landing lightly on the catwalk to find the room lit dimly by a few lamps below on the first floor, where an older, exhausted-looking man in a lab coat and a few younger students anxiously putter about, picking up notes strewn across the floor, reassembling broken items, and trying to make order out of chaos.

The Phantasm is naught but a shadow in the room, picking up curios and bits of information whilst listening in on the topics of conversation between such esteemed intellectuals… But they are mostly silent, the exhausted professor muttering to himself distractedly.

+1 Medium Luna Hypo
+1 Memory Cube
+1 Barrel of Ammo for Tommy Gun
Location of Dr. Simmons’ Office and Home revealed


The Phantasm slips the memory cube into a special audiojack for headphones, quietly listening as he watches the movement below.

Dr. Calvin Simmons (https://illinois.edu/blog/dialogFileSec/3585.jpg)

“This is the seventh attempted robbery in the last three months, and they’ve succeeded… AGAIN! Fabian will be furious if there are any more delays on the machine seed project… Not to mention… Yeah… But I don’t know why Firemark just doesn’t finish it himself… How many people does he have working on this project?

… I know I shouldn’t ask questions. It’s for the greater good, for her dreams. All for my Betsy… My dear, dear Betsy…”


Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 14/65 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $2,000
You have expended two hero points.

[Space Lawyer]

Thundering Fist
The Docks

Toughness = 5, using hero point to reroll, 21

Frank's teeth rattle in his head, but he just grits them down harder and fights through the pain. "Another cheap shot, huh! How about you try taking a real punch! Frank spins around, his left arm coming around in a wild hook. . .but it's a feint! Frank gets his feet settled and drives his right fist upwards with a massive uppercut, lightning trailing behind.

Power Attack 3
Attack: 15
DC 15 Thundering Fist
Not attempting to grapple the behemoth

[babel_matrix]

He nodded, ignoring the insults and the wailing of the flung gangster. Anyone roughing up a member of any Family, and not being answered, was bad for business. As a gentleman, he was inclined to answer... but the Death Penalty was no gentleman, and no friend of the Family, no matter the man behind the disguise. Thus far, this duality had not been tested too roughly... he hoped it never would be.

"By what this wretch reports," he muttered, pointing a thumb at the near-paralyzed Lito, "his gang is in the Regency Hotel. We're better off landing on the roof, given they're holed up in the 36th floor..." He let his eyes scan the bright costume of the heroine. Floating through the air like a beacon of the nation was fine for reputation, but the Insulator's men would scramble the moment they saw her flying at them. And if the lights of the building dim if I went there my usual route... "... Of course, it'd probably be best if you fly us both, approaching from the side opposite of their penthouse..." A dagger of electricity shot out of the Death Penalty's hand, coming just short of Lito's wide-eyed, illuminated face. "Which faces what direction, Lito?"

[Jade_Tarem]

I can tell, Andrea thought, with the tiniest trace of sarcasm, you can see the community on their faces.

She elects to go for it, but which door held the answers she needed? Clearly, she would need to grab a uniform with a working badge, as she hadn't mastered - or even really interacted with - Firemark's automatons. It was a fairly esoteric skill, after all. The Break Room was right out - it would have employees in it, and they'd be in a chatty mood. That left dressing rooms and laundry. Of the two, she was more likely to snag an unattended uniform unnoticed - and come up with a decent excuse - in laundry, plus she was sure it wouldn't be as heavily guarded.

Roll to sneak into and around in the Laundry Room:

[roll0]

[Lost Demiurge]

Machine seed... The Phantasm muses.

More questions. Not enough answers. Not here, at any rate.

The professor's house might have some notes... Enough to suss out the german's hideout, or the purpose of the tech when combined with the other pieces of the puzzle?

Maybe.

He gets back to his car, checks the radio. No response from Liberty yet, so there's time.

Before he drives away, he injects himself with the small Luna hypo. A hiss, as the drug takes hold... He doesn't like it. Seen too many men back in the war succumb to addiction after. Heroin, painkillers... He hates having to depend on anything like that. There are times when he thinks that it might be affecting his brain...

On the other hand, he's not too fond of getting shot, either.

Midnight creeps through the darkness, engine purring, one black car among many in the night...

CHECKING THE HOUSE

Right, gonna sneak around there,

[roll0] for stealth

Look around for ambushes and other dangers
[roll1] notice

Try to get in quietly. If not, then duct tape the window and break it, and a quick toss of the joint.

[roll2]

And either take 10 on search for a 16, or if I'm tossing the joint, go ahead and roll it...

[roll3] searchee!

If my contacts pass me word Liberty's heard, then I'll go to the meet. Hopefully with clues in hand... Got two good logs so far, let's make it a three-fer...

[Julian84]

September 3rd, 1938

Dockside – Thundering Fist

The henchman staggers back under the force of Finnegan’s punch, standing upright under the lamplight… He sways briefly before bellow in sheer rage, swinging heavily at Thundering Fist, the veteran fighter ducking under the blow at the last second. With almost supernatural skill, he weaves right, narrowly avoiding a blast of water from the goon he failed to defeat.

Vitality – Bruised
Luna: 50/153 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $600

Vinny’s Bar, Lower Brooklyn

Lito looks at him uncomprehendingly. “How the hell should I know?! It takes up like half the floor, flip a coin and find out for yourself!” He claps a hand over his mouth, turning pale.

Lady Liberty walks over and roughly grabs him by the collar, dragging him outside and motioning with a finger for Death Penalty to follow behind her. Once out on the street, she produces a pair of handcuffs from a utility belt at the small of her back, slapping them on Lito and propelling him up on a jet of air to hang from a streetlamp. “That should hold him until the authorities arrive.” Liberty declares proudly, eyeing her handiwork. “Now come on-”

She leaps into the air on a gust of wind, a similar one sweeping Daniel up behind her. “-We’ve got injustice to correct!”

The Regency Hotel, Manhattan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RFzkyxg3Yo)

As they approach the hotel, Lady Liberty adjusts their altitude to account for Death Penalty’s worries of being spotted, increasing their angle and landing on the rooftop in a narrow arc. “So.” She says as he settles onto the rooftop. “What’s the plan?”

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 50/123 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $1,000

Firemark Factories (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRQu8OzFO1o)

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVYjja-uyRM&list=WL_eOlHRPkVaDS7atZsjaAMg)

Andrea smoothly hops the fence, landing a few yards below on the factory floor and tucking quickly to hide behind some cover. Once she is certain that no one seems to have spotted her, she moves forward, glancing around warily as she glides into the laundry room, finding it empty at the moment.

Baskets and carts full of orange uniforms line the walls as the loud and clunky washing machines rattle on the cold concrete floor. She moves through the baskets, trying to find something her size, footsteps behind her grab her attention, whirling around to find a grey-uniformed security guard leering at her. “Well hey there, sweetheart. Don’t think you belong here, huh?”

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 93/136 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $590


Washington Heights, Manhattan

The Phantasm expertly infiltrates the home of Calvin Simmons, a rather drab, cluttered little flat in Washington Heights. Sifting through what he can, he finds a few curious things…

+1 Sola Injector
+1 Small Luna Hypo
+1 Memory Cube

He pops the memory cube into his audiojack, noticing a picture of Calvin and some young woman on his office desk.

Calvin Simmons (https://illinois.edu/blog/dialogFileSec/3585.jpg)

“Betsy’s… Funeral was today. I… I don’t… I can’t imagine my life without her. Without her brilliance. Without her light.

[Shuddering Breath]

“I don’t know how I’m going to live now… Her brother came by… Had some ratty little fellow with him… They were talking to me about something important… Left their number… I should… should call them back.”

A creaking noise breaks the Phantasm’s attention, coming from inside the flat.

He’s not alone.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 39/65 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $2,000

[Reverend1124]

The Reaper

The Reaper smirked as he saw the mobster transform. Bullrush. The Seraphim hovered in the air, both turning to face the mutant gangster. "Ohhh, now somebody thinks they're all tough now, don't they?" The Reaper looked around for something that could give him an advantage, spotting an electrical box a ways away. He warped over to it and, using his Shadow Blades, sliced the box open and cut all of the wires. The row went dark. He warped directly in front of the last mobster standing, the angels melting back into the shadows on either side of him, and the dull glow of his crimson eyes being the only source of light.

"Now hit me with your best shot!!" he screamed.

[Space Lawyer]

Thundering Fist
The Docks

I can't keep this up for long. Two versus one just isn't going to work out well for me. Gotta take out the weaker one first. Frank backsteps quickly to put Hydrogoon and Henchman in front of him, then darts toward Hydrogoon with a left jab. "Stay down!"

Attacking Hydrogoon
Defensive Attack: 16
DC15 Thunder Punch
+2 to Defense for the round
If Hydrogoon is taken out or disabled
Takedown activates
Regular Attack: 14
DC15 Thunder Punch

[Lost Demiurge]

The Phantasm freezes for a second, listens to the creaking.

Has he been detected? Possible.

Well. Let's try some misdirection.

He grabs a bit of clutter, and tosses it into the next room to make noise, keeping an eye on the doorway.

Then he drops his hand to his holster, and puts another hand on the light switch... The response to the noise he just made is going to dictate his action...

SNEAKY STUFF

Stealthy, still...
[roll0]

And keeping an eye out for trouble...
[roll1]

[Julian84]

September 3rd, 1938

Dockside – The Reaper

“Wha-” Plunged into darkness, the henchman suddenly falters. “What… What the-”

There’s a sudden crackling noise, and the concrete beneath the henchman explodes outward in a shower as he charges off at high speed, intent on being anywhere else at that moment.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 135/272 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $2,700

Dockside- Thundering Fist

Thunder rumbles through the dockyard as the goon falls backward, twitching as spasms of electricity course through his body. He is down and out for the count. Frank turns to face his next opponent, finding a fist swinging towards his face.

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urV8MIcLDFk)

“That’s enough of that.” A voice warbles, a barnacle-encrusted five-clawed hand closing around the henchman’s arm, slicing his hand off with a wet shunk noise. The henchman stares at his bloody stump, shocked by the sudden attack. Between him and Thundering fist stands a seven-foot monstrosity of mottled brown shell, barnacles, seaweed, and grasping claws, a face embedded with antennae staring back at him with alien emotion.

Before the henchman can utter another word, the beast’s other claw snatches him around the waist, throwing him headlong into a metal crate, denting it. The armored creature turns to Thundering Fist, the segmented sections of its head separating and retracting to reveal a bearded man fiercely glaring at him. “Nearly got cold-clocked there, lad.” He mutters, grimacing in pain as the heavy armored pauldrons on his shoulders shrink and retract somewhat. “Might want to think about getting some better fighting lessons.”

Frank recognizes this man, a legend in his own right.

Poseidon, hero of the sea and scourge of the New York dockyards, feared for his low tolerance of crime.

He frowns. “They’re getting away, lad.”

Routledge and Mangano are currently fleeing on foot, rounding around the gate back towards the marine terminal.

He rolls his shoulders. “Might want to do something about that.”

Vitality – Bruised
Luna: 47/153 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $600

Washington Heights, Manhattan

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/embed/18_epz3QDYU?rel=0&start=0&end=68&autoplay=1)

There’s a small crashing noise as the object hits the ground, then silence…

The Phantasm hears slight, slow footsteps through the flat… Drawing closer and closer… Until he sees a dark, masculine silhouette in the lamplight filtering through the window, the figure dressed in all black clothing with a mask pulled over his face. There seems to be a clunky utility belt around his waist, and he slowly stoops to pick up the fallen object and holds it up in front of him.

“When I heard Simmon’s lab had been raided, I figured it was only a matter of time before whoever was after our technology would come for his house as well… To see what they could find.” The man says, his voice low and gravelly. “I see I was too late. Hnn.”

He turns around, inspecting the shadows. “I’ll give you once chance… Give back whatever you’ve taken and I might let you live through this little encounter.” He holds up a fist, which seems to be clutching some sort of item. “I assure you, this isn’t a fight you can win… And if you’re perhaps the charitable sort, some kind of do-gooder…” He chuckles. “This is a nasty little treat we’ve cooked up in the labs. If I activate it, every man, woman, and child in this building will die.”

He turns around slowly. “So… What do you say?”

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 39/65 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $2,000

[Lost Demiurge]

The Phantasm closes his eyes, as he remembers.

1917. France. That stupid record had been playing on the phonograph Johnny had found. It rattled and skipped as the cart hit bumps in the road, but the tinny music played...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbggEGUaE28

The woods were crisp with snow, and they'd been carrying supplies to reinforce the column. No one had expected trouble.

So when the German ambush struck from the trees, he'd been out behind the column, taking a leak.

A rifle, a hunting knife, and practice hunting raccoons for stew as a child were all he had to fall back on. The woods were full of the enemy, thick around him as leaves. One shot at the wrong time, and he'd be finished.

He'd caught up to the remnants of the column three days later.

He hadn't fired a single round from his magazine, but his knife was stained with blood that never did come out. And even after he'd gotten his first meal in three days, his eyes stared through the other survivors like they weren't even there. He was never the same afterward. All the fear was burned out of him. From that point on he fought like a demon, racked up medal after medal, saved his squad many times over... But a part of him still lived in that forest. Slipping like a wolf between the trees in darkness, hiding underneath bodies during the day, like a spider, never seen, feared all up and down the German line... Some unknown stalker and killer, they whispered when they thought he couldn't hear. Some sort of phantasm...

It's that feeling that comes over him now. Alone in the woods, no support, with the enemy right THERE.

And his gut is telling him that the guy's not lying. The Phantasm CAN'T win this fight. Not without far more knowledge then he's got right now. No obvious weapons means a booster of some sort, and if he's a Firemark troubleshooter, then he could have anything. More to the point, there's a lot more than just the Phantasm's life on the line.

On the other hand, he has nothing of significance to return. Diplomacy wouldn't work. Not after the guy pulled out a murder machine of some sort. A man who wouldn't scruple to murder innocents couldn't be trusted with common cause.

Fortunately, he can remove the reason for the fight in the first place, with a little sleight of hand... And a bit of power of his own.

He waits until the man turns away from the window, and activates his telekinetic grip! A coatrack flies at the glass, shattering it, as a flapping overcoat is grabbed by his power and hurled out the window! Timed JUST right, it should look like an intruder departing at top speed... Hopefully.

His distraction well under way, the Phantasm attempts to slip out by his original means of entry.

FLEE!

Telekinesis to shatter the window and fake an escape. If there's a roll necessary, then I guess Disguise to make that flapping coat look like someone booking it out.

FLAPPY!
[roll0]

Meanwhile, I'll stealth out the way I came.

NOTHINGTOSEEHEREMOVINGALONG
[roll1]

Switch that to a fast acrobatic dive if mungo here catches me sneaking off.

OHNO!
[roll2]

[Jade_Tarem]

Think fast!

Like magic, or at the very least like a Firemark lumination device, a light bulb goes off over Andrea's head. She fidgets. "No sir, of course not, but I was trying to fix my makeup discreetly and I spilled the contents of my bag under the conveyor belt, and I swear a few things rolled down here. I was hoping to gather them up and get back to the tour quickly. Could you maybe let me search for them? Some of them were, uhm, private? I'll get back to the public area right away after I'm done." Please, please let him be a gentleman.

[Lost Demiurge]

On his way out, the Phantasm muses over the identity of the threatening stranger. He'll need all the information he can get to take him down later. Fortunately, he's...


WELL-INFORMED

Gather information sez...
[roll0]

[Reverend1124]

The Reaper

"Come on! You were talking all that good **** a second ago!!" shouted the Reaper as the terrified mobster fled from him. Too bad for him that it was a futile venture. The Reaper jumped into the air, vanishing and then reappearing several feet in front of the goon. He raised his hands and fired a blast of energy before warping to the side and out of the way of the rushing bull-man.

Ball of Shadows: 17 to hit for 8 damage.

[Space Lawyer]

Thundering Fist
The Docks

Poseidon! The man was almost a legend. Frank had made sure include a briefing on the sea-hero to the crews that were assigned to the terminal expansion. It was astounding that Routledge would have gone through with this collaboration, knowing that Poseidon was in the area. Of course, he might have been thinking the same thing as Frank; the salty beard was supposed to be somewhere up north freeing a ship that had gotten trapped in the arctic ice. Must have not taken that long.

"Heh, my lessons were just fine. How 'bout I give a practical demo on Magnano's worthless hide?" Thundering Fist chases after the pair. "Hold it, Routledge! I'm not gonna fire or fry you!" At the same time, Thundering Fist dampens the radio waves, ensuring Magnano can't call for reinforcements.

[babel_matrix]

Daniel resisted the urge to check his gun, a nervous habit he developed when he was in costume with his powers... off. There was no energy coursing along his suit, and his amputated speaker was as silent as it should have always been. At this moment, he was just a hard-working man playing dress-up... he cursed his stars for not nabbing some Luna before he left his home.

He spoke with an obviously deepened voice, speaking through the already muffling hood in a manner that would at least be difficult to connect with his face. "We go in presuming the worst: they saw us coming. We hit the 36th floor, swooping in from a window." Let's face it: the front door is probably a death trap, with guns pointed at it or worse... someone's bound to be looking out the window too, but the chances are probably better this way. "If we can get a bus boy, or if there are any guards posted we can use to squeeze for details, we can avoid smashing into the wrong penthouse first."

[Julian84]

September 3rd, 1938

Washington Heights, Manhattan

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkyDaOp5VRw&list=PL3QZUm48uWnsdFakp3A2fI-NzmfH1jyQe)

Cleverly, the Phantasm animates the coat hanger to fly forward, smashing through the window as the dark man looks on passively. Not waiting to find out if it worked or not, the masked adventurer turns and runs, fleeing back down the hallways as silently as he can… As he rounds the corner to escape through the window he entered through, he senses a presence far too close for his liking.

“Did you really think such childish games would work against me?” The dark man asks with black humor. There’s something… Curiously familiar about this voice, his movement, but the hero can’t quite place his finger on it.

With a frightened gasp, the Phantasm leaps to reach safety, smashing through the narrow window and falling to the streets below!

Roll a reflex save!

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 30/65 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $2,000

Firemark Factories

The man stares at her for a few seconds, eyes narrowing. “… Sure, miss.” He steps forward, looking around. “What sort of items did you lose?” He asks, turning about the room.

As he turns, he glances at her periodically. “Causing me no small trouble with this, miss… By rights I should just haul you back to the catwalk, or worse the security office.” He glances at her over his shoulder. “Corporate espionage is high these days, you know.”

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 93/136 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $590

Dockside – Reaper

Reaper materializes in front of the fleeing gangster, blasting him in the head with dark energy… But the brute shrugs this off, barreling straight through his incorporeal form and charging onwards.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 130/272 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $2,700

Dockside – Thundering Fist

Frank charges after the two men, running down the road as they flee north along the perimeter of one of the warehouses. Up ahead, Frank notices that the lights to the street have been cut, risking that he loses the two men in the darkness if he doesn’t act fast.

A large lumbering creature comes around the corner, running in their direction… Another gangster boosted on Bullrush, blood trickling down his horned forehead. Mangano laughs in relief, pointing back at Thundering Fist.

“KILL HIM!”

The Bull nods, but Frank can see abject fear in his eyes even as he lowers his head and charges forward to meet the Thundering Fist in combat!

Vitality – Bruised
Luna: 44/153 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $600

Regency Hotel, Manhattan

Lady Liberty nods, distracted by a crackling coming from her utility pouch. She pulls a hand-held radio, squawking with the voice of some boy.

“Come in Lady Liberty, do you read me, Lady Liberty.”

She turns a knob, holding the receiver up to her mouth. “This is Liberty, over. What’s the situation, short-stop?” Her manner is all business as she paces across the rooftop.

“The Phantasm is looking for you. Says he has questions about a bust you made recently, over.” Short-stop replies.

She nods. “Tell him I’m at the Regency Hotel in Manhattan.” She gives Death Penalty a wink. “Meadowlark Penthouse Suit, over.”

“Copy that.” The radio goes silent.

Lady Liberty walks back over to Death Penalty. “We could always knock.”

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 50/123 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $1,000

[babel_matrix]

Daniel let his eyes roam as he strained to hear her conversation. They took in the sweeping, urban beauty of Manhattan, the city that raised him. He could see the pink-red, crumbling mall in Brooklyn, a building founded on the chain of cafes, restaurants and jewelry shops that were part of his family's territory. He had met Sancia down there, so many years ago, standing up to him when he started to bad-mouth her brother... The memory had frozen his lungs by the time Lady Liberty had made her suggestion. He sighed away the held breath, thankful for the hood that covered whatever expression the moment had left him with. "Door means getting shot at. If you think you can take it, then you can be the one who knocks."

[Space Lawyer]

Thundering Fist
The Docks

Lightining crackles round Thundering Fist, electric claws grabbing at the surroundings. He adopts a firm stance, legs spread and fists clenched at his side. "Stand down and I won't beat the pulp out of you! Otherwise. . ." The lighting flashes and crackles.

Switching to Defensive Stance for the round.
Intimidate: 4 + 2 (previous intimidating actions) + 18 = 24

[Jade_Tarem]

"Oh, I wish I was a corporate spy," Andrea says, not having to feign relief, "Corporate spies are paid better... or so I hear! Um... I could live without most of it, but I'd really like to find a little round locket, there's a heart with a lightning bolt over it engraved on one side. I'm afraid it might have rolled under something." Unfortunately, she'd about lied her way into a corner, unless she wanted to try to convince him that this locket was worth breaking the law for, but not worth spending more than a few minutes' time tracking down. Time for him to go to sleep.

Actions
Going to wait until he's crawling around somewhere, then attempt to suffocate him to unconsciousness. Is it an action to activate the Nucleo, or can she just be all, "Surprise!" ?

[Julian84]

September 3rd, 1938

Regency Hotel, Manhattan

Lady Liberty grins, cracking her neck and heading to the service stairs on the rooftop. “Better power up then. Does that doohickey around your neck receive radio?” She waves her own device through the air, opening the door. “I can just tell you which room is marked ‘Meadowlark Terrace’ or if I see any security.”

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 50/123 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $1,000

Dockside – Thundering Fist

If the lumbering beast registers Frank’s words, it is uncertain. He stampedes forward, one grotesquely muscled arm raised to crush the Thundering Fist into a pulp. The bull bursts forward with a sudden increase in speed, launching himself through the air to meet the hero head-on!

Frank has no time to dodge… But he may be able to get in one lucky hit, if he is quick!

Vitality – Bruised
Luna: 41/153 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $600

Firemark Factories

He snorts, shaking his head.

Women.

He glances around, tipping his cap up and scratching his brow. “A’ight, a’ight.” And gets on his hands and knees to look underneath a washing machine.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 93/136 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $590

[babel_matrix]

The Death Penalty nodded, tuning the radio to whichever frequency Lady Liberty was expecting to broadcast on. "Fine, but don't start the fun without me." The hooded man kneeled next to the door... and a covered electrical socket planted next to the door, likely connected as the rest of the building was to the city mains. "Let me know which direction the penthouse faces, and give me the signal to come in. When I hear it, I'll show up already inside." Of course, this was depending on Lito was telling the truth about these penthouses being half a floor wide... No amount of flak from Lady Liberty'll save his hide if he lied back there... There was also the issue of trusting Lady Liberty... but whether it was because she was a genuine article or because she had no reason to protect the Insulator, Daniel just couldn't muster suspicion.

[Reverend1124]

The Reaper

The Reaper watched at the brutish man rounded a corner into a lit area, followed by the shout to kill by another man. He warped around the corner and saw two men, one being one of the Magnano boys, the other being unrecognizable to him. There was also a large man on whom the bull had begun to focus on, his skin crackling with lightning. Another cape, eh? The hero could handle himself. Mangano was the main target here.

"Mangano!" the Reaper called out, stepping forward so that they could see his outline. "Make peace with God, you slimy dog, and pray that he is more merciful than I!!" With those words a dark tendril shot out from the castles looking to ensnare Mangano's legs.

Bonds Of Darkness: 27 to hit

[Space Lawyer]

Thundering Fist
The Docks

Gonna have to end this fast if I want to get Magnano! Frank shifts his left leg back and throws his hands up. The right fist flashes out in a crackling jab at the flying bull!

Power Attack +5
Attack: 14

[Julian84]

September 3rd, 1938


Regency Hotel, Manhattan

“… It’s on the west side.” A crackling voice reports… “No guards that I can see, but I can hear them. Sounds like they’re having a real party.”

“Just gonna leave this on…”

He hears slow footsteps and the distant noise of laughter and shouting, bottles breaking as an apparently rowdy group of men live it up.

“Well… Here we go. 3…”

Death Penalty zeroes in on the room, taking a deep breath.

“2…”

His body crackles with electricity, blue light coursing through his veins, power running through his very fingertips.

“1.”

A rapidfire knock cuts through the merriment, muffled voices talking amongst each other as footsteps grow closer. The door hinges squeak loudly.

“Wha-” A gruff man mutters.

“Hello sir, care to join the sky-high club?” Lady Liberty asks innocently.

“Wait, what- OOOOF!”

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOL56UA2Hik&list=PLF52B20F9E4D2C1C6)

Bolts of light erupt in the room, glass shattering and flying through the air as a surge of power runs through the chandelier, a powerful bolt of electricity surging to the ground as Death Penalty emerges in the midst of the chaos, a man flying past with a surging ball of wind smashing into his chest. Crackling webs of lightning sneak across his body as electrical discharges appear throughout the room, five surprised men and twelve extremely surprised hookers falling backwards in shock at the dramatic entrance of the two heros.

Quickly surveying the room, he quickly spots the Insulator – A short but broadly-muscled man squeezed into what looked like one of those full-body suits used by men with loose morals and a taste for strong women at one of the risqué clubs owned by the Five Families, his mask drawn back, a dusty and thick-woven trenchcoat bunched up around his waist as he paws some dame’s rack. All around them are sacks of cash, crates of stolen goods, and cases of expensive alcohol and cigars.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 32/123 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $1,000

Dockside, Brooklyn

The two huge men leap forward with might cries of wrath, hitting each other with a fearsome cross-counter!

A massive cloud of dust is kicked up as a terrifying peal of thunder smashes through the tightly enclosed area… And all is silent. The Thundering Fist sways where he stands, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, his mind a fog… The dust begins to slowly clear...

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8zoJCWtx3A&list=FL_eOlHRPkVaDS7atZsjaAMg&index=25)

The juiced up goon slowly but surely falls out of the dent his body made in the metal shipping crate he was sent flying into, muttering incoherently, his face a mess. Metal creaks angrily as the muscled mass curls over and clops across the concrete, rear stuck up in the air.

A clawed hand shakes the Thundering Fist’s shoulder, bringing him back to focus. “I take it back, lad, you’re not half bad… Not half bad at all…” The hero mutters, stroking his beard. “But, ah…”

He points past Frank’s shoulder, out to where Mangano struggles helplessly in a writhing mass of darkness, screaming like a babe as a dark form with bloody red eyes arises from the shadows, cackling and taunting the mobster as Routledge curls into a ball on the periphery of the nightmarish display.

"Might want to do something about that."

Vitality – Bruised 2
Luna: 39/153 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $600

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 125/272 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $2,700

Instance Temporarily Cleared

Reputation Established

From now on, the Thundering Fist and the Reaper will be attacked on sight by local villains if they enter the Dockside Instance

[Reverend1124]

The Reaper

The Reaper stepped out of the shadows and into the dim light cast by the nearby streetlamps going strait up to Mangano. His long, slender fingers reached out and touched the face of the mobster, a devilish smile creeping across his dark face. He finally had a lead. He had all but forgotten about any other conflict going on around him.

"Alright, dog." he said, his voice low and sinister, "We're gonna have a little chat, you and I, understand?" he brought his other hand up and clasped the shaking man's head, turning it to look right into the Reaper's eyes. He brought his face within inches on Mangano's before he spoke so softly that only he, the mobster, and the shaking man on the ground could hear. "You're gonna tell me where to find your sleazeball of a father, and if you do then I promise that your death will be quick and painless."

Intimidate: 16
Sustained action: Bonds of Darkness

[Jade_Tarem]

That worked better than I'd hoped. It physically hurt to act like that much of a ditz, but I'll take what I can get.

Andrea also hunted around for her 'missing locket,' before finding an excuse to get within a few dozen feet of the guard. With his attention under the laundry, and with the noise in the room, she fired up her nucleo the moment she was out of sight of other observers... A bit stifling in here, isn't it?

Activating Nucleo, activating Suffocation ability, the guard will need to make a DC 15 Fortitude save or else begin suffocating quickly - if I'm reading the rules right, a failed con check after a failed fort save will knock him out.

[Space Lawyer]

Frank
The Docks

The lighting around Frank dies down as he deactivates his powers. He spits a fat gob of saliva and blood into the drainpipe, and walks a bit stiffly over to Routledge. "Boy, you really screwed up on this one, huh? Now, I don't know that creepy guy over there, but it seems he doesn't like Mangano one bit. If you were to start telling me everything about whats going on here, I might be able to persuade that guy not to turn his attention to you. If you clam up, well, I don't see much choice." Frank stands over Routledge, just a bit to the side in order to give the cowering man a full view of the Reaper's display.

[Julian84]

September 3rd, 1938

Firemark Factories

Her Nucleo activated, Andrea’s arms begin to smoke and crackle, the skin searing black with orange veins of molten flesh pulsing through her limbs. Ash trickles off of her limbs as the temperature in the room rises dramatically, the security guard beginning to choke and cough before collapsing, unconscious.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 80/136 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $590

Dockside – Reaper and Thundering Fist

There exists in this universe a form of terror that causes people to lose their ability to calmly make judgments. It is so gripping in its arrest of the human heart, it births only one reaction: Complete and total stupidity.

The young scion of the Mangano family forced a cocky smile. “Y-y-you won’t get anything out of me, jack. Family d-doesn’t betray family!”

Routledge, seeing this, is emboldened in his own defiance, holding a hand over his mouth and shaking his head rapidly as Poseidon walks over.

“You know, is it just me, or does every generation seem dumber than the last?” He shakes his head. “Might want to get better teachers or somethin’.”

Vitality – Bruised 2
Luna: 39/153 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $600

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 120/272 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $2,700

[Reverend1124]

The Reaper

The Reaper was amused by the words that shakily came out of the mouth of the Mangano boy. He looked over at the man lying on the ground, now surrounded by the lightning man and Poseidon of all people. "I wonder...just how many limbs does one need to function in every day life?" he said as the shadows gripping the thug released and his arm morphed back into a blade. He struck quickly, aiming to sever Mangano's left leg, never once looking away from Routledge.

Blade of Shadows: 25 to hit for 8 penetrating damage.
Routledge's gaze met his, the color of his eyes flaring up a bit as they made eye contact. "Unless you want to begin losing body parts as well, you may want to answer these men as to why the hell you're working with this scum."

[Lost Demiurge]

"Heh. Worth a shot..." The Phantasm barks in his gravelly voice, as he plunges to the ground. He's fearless after all. This is a logical withdrawal. "Not your enemy anyway."

Down he falls, grasping at a nearby fire escape...

...Of course, if he fails, he has other alternatives to fall back on.

He aligns the drug within his mind, reaching toward one of the uses that he's discovered...

ESCAPEOLOGY!

Right. Reflex save!
[roll0]

If it fails, I'll kick in flight and either way, I'll do my best to escape through the alleyways, returning to Midnight.

[roll1] to keep it stealthy.

[babel_matrix]

Don't give his boys time. This is a gang. You deal with them same as you would any gang with no respect for the Business. Stratified fields of visible light shivered around his hand.

His hand waved at one of the less airborne henchmen and compressed into a fist, sending the energy out in a spear of lightning. You teach 'em. Bone by bone.

Roll to attack: [roll0]
If hit: Toughness Save, DC 23, non-lethal

[Julian84]

September 3rd, 1938

Dockside – Reaper and Thundering Fist

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlICjvs0KIs)

“GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!” The young Mangano’s leg fell to the ground, followed by a stream of blood, the mobster writhing with renewed fury as his features contorted in agony, whimpering pitifully at the loss of his leg.

“Muh-muh-muh-muh…” Routledge mumbles, trying to flee but unable to move. He turns, bolting up onto his feet, only to be shoved back down, a memory cube clattering from his pocket across the ground, resting in front of Frank’s feet. “Muh-Mangano! They were willing to be the middle-men, transportation for the product!” He looks around in terror. “Nobody wanted those filth, there’s nowhere for them to go here! We take the men up-river to Buchanan for Firemark and the women go to Pluck’s apothecary – I don’t know what they do to them, I never asked!” He throws his hands up. “They’re not actually refugees… They’re exports. From Germany.”

Vitality – Bruised 2
Luna: 39/153 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $600

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 120/272 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $2,700

Washington Heights, Manhattan

The Phantasm barely misses snatching a rung on the fire escape, opting instead to fly out into the night as the mysterious figure watches him from the window, a dark threat that he has surely not seen the last of.

He returns to Midnight to find the radio squawking loudly. “Phantasm, this is short-stop, over!” Short-stop, Lady Liberty’s right-hand-man and one of the Phantasm’s connections in the city. “Lady Liberty can meet you in the Meadowlark Penthouse of the Regency Hotel, repeat, the Meadowlark Penthouse of the Regency Hotel, over.”

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 30/65 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $2,000

Regency Hotel, Manhattan

Death Penalty’s bolt of electricity strikes true, blasting one of the men back into the wall, falling limp as he slumps to the floor.

“WASTE THESE CAPES!” The Insulator roars, pulling on his mask and snatching out a pistol from his jacket, aiming for Death Penalty. Gunfire roars, bullets pinging against his shield or hitting the furniture around him!

Roll toughness!

Lady Liberty somersaults into the room, two of the men aiming to take her down. She releases another gust of wind, but misses and accidentally sends three hookers flying into the window, cracking the reinforced glass.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 32/123 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $1,000

[Lost Demiurge]

The Phantasm nods, as he climbs into the driver's seat of Midnight. We'll meet again, but on my terms, stranger. None of this risking-a-building-full-of-innocents stuff.

He takes a second to inject himself with the Sola injector. Hard-fought gains, more or less...

"Phantasm copies, on my way," he whispers to Short Stop. A good agent, that man.

He drives to the Regency Hotel, parking blocks away, and heading up toward the Penthouse by whatever way seems most efficient. If needs to fly to get up there he will, but there's no huge rush discernible at the minute.

IF STEALTH IS REQUIRED

The usual [roll0]

And just in case I might need perception...
[roll1]

[Reverend1124]

The Reaper

The Reaper dropped the boy and picked up the severed leg, pulling off the pant leg to tie a tourniquet around Mangano before he bled out. After Routledge finished speaking he looked over at the dock worker.

Knowledge - Current Events: 27
"From Germany..." he said, his voice becoming almost human for a moment. He left the shocked mobster lying on the ground and walked over to Routledge, getting within two feet of the man. His crimson eyes started into those of the frightened man. "Are these people jewish?" he asked as calmly as he could, with an evident wavering in his tone. Before even getting an answer his hands lit up with the faint glow of crackling red and black energy. "ARE THEY JEWISH!?" he screamed, his voice now a deep roar. He looked back at Mangano and then to Routledge. "For both your sakes you better hope not."

Prepared Action: Ball of Shadows

[Space Lawyer]

Frank
The Docks

Frank leans down and picks up the cube. It could be useful. "See, that wasn't so hard, was it?" He leaves his erstwhile employee whimpering on the ground. What happened to the man was no longer Frank's concern. He goes over to the crate of people and speaks in French, hoping one of them understands. "Get out of here. Don't tell anyone what you saw; it'll just attract the wrong kind of attention. In a few weeks, if you're still in need of a job, head to Johnson, Cools, and Unger Engineering. Tell them Frank sent you, and that we met down at the docks. I'll try to get you set up with something."

Frank next heads over to the frightening cape. "Hate to tell you, but they're definitely Jewish. I heard these two talking about it earlier."

[Reverend1124]

The Reaper

"Oh," the Reaper said, sounding equally excited and infuriated, "that's too bad, huh?" His gaze never left that of Routledge as he raised his hand up and launched a blast of energy aimed at his head.

All-out attack: -5 defense, +5 attack
Power Attack: -5 attack, +5 damage
Ball of Shadows: 18 to hit for 13 damage
He turned from Routledge, ignoring both of the other capes as he walked calmly back towards the injured Mangano. He grabbed him by the front of his coat and lifted him up. "Where is your father? Tell me now, or the other leg goes!"

[babel_matrix]

The Death Penalty couldn't utilize his speaker while his force field was up... which did just fine for the persona he had crafted. A silent executioner, watching through a faceless hood as bullets raced at him, only to be blasted into dust upon impact with countering shots of energy. The shots calmed for only a moment as the henchmen watched, stunned; it was that brief pause that saw the force field condense into two new bolts, fired straight at the centers of the two remaining henchmen.

To represent initiative, taking two standard actions per GM's instructions.
Two Blasts at two different henchmen, still leaving Insulator for last.

[roll0] Goon#1
[roll1] Goon#2
If either hit: Toughness Save DC 23

[Julian84]

September 3rd, 1938

Dockside – Reaper and Thundering Fist

Routledge’s head explodes into a spray of flesh, blood, and bone, the body slumping over carelessly. Mangano groans in horror, his skin grey and clammy. “M-muh father is at the family mansion, in Long Island!” He whimpers. “Please don’t kill me, oh god please don’t kill meeee…”

A group of malnourished women poke their heads out, shrinking back in fright at the display of the Reaper as he clutches Mangano by the coat. Frank is directed to open three more containers… And a group of over a hundred jews stands before them, sheepishly covered in their own filth and rags.

Poseidon shakes his head. “Slavers, mayhaps. Or worse.” He sniffs. “Might want to look into it.”

The memory cube begins to play, displaying a sinister figure…

Colonel Heinrich von Himmelreich (http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/be/71/70/be7170568e4df25b187683f4909b88fb.jpg)

“Routledge, you have done good vork leading sie American Nazi movement here in New York City… Ve vere right to trust you vith zis task. Vonce you haf made sie sale to ze Mangano’s, ve vill send vord to sie Italian government to ensure sie family is properly revarded back in zheir home country. Contact Oberleutnant Fritz at sie Metropolitan Plaza Center in Manhattan and you vill receive your revard. All zhis is sie vork of sie Third Reich! SEIG HEIL!”

Poseidon wrinkles his nose. “Nazis… Feh…” He walks over to the body of fallen henchman, the armored claws around his hand retracting to reveal his original flesh and blood… Which he plunges into the chest of the gangster, whose body wriggles violently as red energy surges into Poseidon’s body. “Ah… Good Sola… Might want to think about finding some for yourself, eh?”

Search checks!

Vitality – Bruised 2
Luna: 39/153 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $600

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 115/272 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $2,700

Regency Hotel – Death Penalty

Bullets ping harmlessly off of Death Penalty’s shield as he whirls to blast two more goons, sending them flying back across the floor, huge burns scorched into their chests. Lady Liberty blasts another, sending him flying into a column in the side of the room, cracking the plaster.

The Insulator snarls. “This won’t be over so easily!” He fires at Death Penalty, but the murderous cape dodges his attacks easily.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 29/123 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $1,000

Regency Hotel - Phantasm

Midnight pulls up in an alley beside the Regency Hotel… And the Phantasm can see high on the upper floors intermittent blasts of light emerging from one of the penthouse suites! There’s a battle going on up there!

He exits his vehicle, dashing toward the hotel and up the fire escape as far as he can go before entering the building itself, climbing a few more flights of stairs before entering the 36th floor and finding the Meadowlark suite… Where Lady Liberty and another cape face off against a slightly infamous villain, the Insulator!

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 30/65 Units
Sola: 025
Money: $2,000

[Lost Demiurge]

Regency Hotel
Enter the Phantasm!


The Phantasm grins underneath his collar, and moves unseen in the chaos, up the stairs to the balcony overlooking the fight.

He scrutinizes Lady Liberty, the Insulator, and the unknown allied cape...

WELL-Informed!

Give me Liberty! [roll0]

Insulator? Seriously? This guy's a doof. [roll1]

And some weird cape... [roll2]



He pulls out his trademark pistols, lines the insulator's head up in the sights... And pauses.

I don't know his crimes.

The guns are raised, momentarily.

He looks around for inspiration, something nonlethal but painful. Columns, rich decoration, of course there's an ostentatious chandelier hanging over the scene.

Ah. Perfect.

Except no, wait, the nameless cape is there.

Ah dammit, no one ever died from a kneecapping shot.

BLAM!

(REWRITTEN! Ignore the second shot, damage from sneak attack brings this to 6 instead of 2)

SHot the first!
[roll3] Damage 2 if it matters.

Shot the second!
[roll4] Damage 4 if it matters.


Only then does he let loose with his laugh!

"HHMMHMHMHHHMHMM.... HAHAHAHAHHHAHAHAAA!!!!"

"You picked a bad night to be a bad guy!"

As he intimidates the man, then fades back away from the balcony, out of his line of fire...

BOO!

Intimidation sez.... [roll5]

Und der stealth... [roll6]

[Jade_Tarem]

Andrea tries - perhaps a tad ridiculously - to look innocuous as she sliiides the guard's unconscious body underneath the nearest pile of stuff, after rifling through his pockets and possessions for supplies - and more importantly, anything that might grant access to anywhere else.

Deactivate Nucleo.

Search:
[roll0]

[Reverend1124]

The Reaper

Nazis. The word sat uncomfortably in the air. The Reaper stood extremely still as he digested what he had heard and what he was seeing: hundreds of Jews, in crates, covered in filth. He wasn't sure what to think, but he did know that his hatred for the mob had just increased a hundred fold, and that his first target was Vincent Mangano. He looked down at the dying mobster, the young Mangano, the dog. He didn't speak. He didn't smile, or make any witty remark. He just walked over and untied the tourniquet on the boy's leg. "You're not even worth the effort, dog."

Deciding to heed the advice of Poseidon, he scanned the area for anything useful.

Search: 21

[Space Lawyer]

Frank
The Docks

Ah, crap. Nazis. Frank had known that group was bad news when they first showed up. They might be organized, well-dressed thugs, but they were thugs nonetheless. Still, it was hard to blame the Germans for getting drawn into that ideology. Frank had seen the devastation after the War; with chaos that complete, anything that offered order and stability would be attractive.

Frank scrounges around the dock, hoping for some Sola. He knew that last fight had taken a lot out of him, and it seemed unlikely that this night would be improving.

Search: 21

[Julian84]

September 3rd, 1938

Regency Hotel, Manhattan

The Phantasm’s shot is true, shattering the Insulator’s kneecap, bringing the villain to the ground sobbing in pain, clutching his leg. His gang is defeated, writhing and moaning where they have each been flung in defeat.

Lady Liberty dusts her hands off. “See? No killing necessary.” She glances at Phantasm, eyes narrowing. “The guns are a tad much.” A noted upholder of the law, Lady Liberty is one of the few capes that operate in the open with little obstruction from the Tennyson administration or the police. She notably abhors guns and refuses to kill. The man standing beside her, Death Penalty, is the complete opposite, a cape infamous for his extreme methods and vendetta against the Red Bandits.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 30/65 Units
Sola: 025
Money: $2,000

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 26/123 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $1,000

Firemark Factory

Andrea searches the unconscious form of the security guard, pulling out an ID badge and official handbook of passcodes to get through the factory with little effort. He also carries a light pistol and she snags $30 from his wallet.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 80/136 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $620

Dockside – Reaper and Thundering Fist

Poseidon takes the time to try and shepherd the freed Jews out to the street, assuring them quietly and warmly that they would be safe. Mangano moans softly as he grows more and more pale before finally falling still.

As Frank wanders the docks, he notices that the henchman first guarding Mangano has disappeared, a blood trail from his missing arm leading off into the shadows. Perhaps he’d be worth hunting down… Or perhaps not. The Reaper also looks around the docks, noticing the other Jews giving him a rather wide berth due to his rather unsettling appearance.



+ $250
+1 Medium Luna Hypos
+2 Pluck’s Nectar




+1 Medium Luna Hypo
+1 Pluck’s Nectar
+ $250

Vitality – Bruised 2
Luna: 39/153 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $850

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 110/272 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $2,950

[Reverend1124]

The Reaper

The Reaper watched for a moment as the recently freed Jews wandered onto the streets before looking over towards the other capes. "Well, it's been fun boys." he said as he melted away into the night. He popped toward the scene of his original combat and decided to look around this area as well, taking time to search the dead bodies.

Search: 24

Once he was done searching he warped into his car where he finally transformed back into his more natural state. Azrael turned the key, causing the battered Master to roar back into life. He pulled out of the docks and headed toward Long Island. Mangano was about to get a visit from death itself.

[Lost Demiurge]

"He'll live."

The Phantasm's voice is a gravelly drawl, his glittering grey eyes peering over a beak of a nose, with a wide-brimmed slouch hat concealing his hair. The high collar of a greatcoat covers his face, hanging around his form, concealing the lines of it. With care, he replaces the jade-handled .45s back into their holsters.

"He'll even walk again with time, money spent on a prosthetic, or enough of Pluck's products."

His gaze turns to consider Death Penalty. "Keeping odd company these days, Lady. Your call, though. And actually, well suited to the task ahead."

Gloved hands grip the railing of the balcony as he surveys the other two vigilantes.


"After you're done here, I could use your help. My investigations have turned up something big, and I don't have the full picture. I need answers and possibly backup, and I hope you'll see things my way after listening to what I've got so far."

He looks down at the sobbing villain, and the groaning thugs. "But not in front of this scum."

He hops down from the balcony with an easy leap, half-cape flaring as he lands, semi-crouched.


"I can offer you a free ride in luxury while you listen, and a drive to wherever you choose to go afterward. Though I certainly hope it's with me along. There are troublesome things afoot, and I'd be grateful for the backup."

"What do you say?"

He straightens up, leans back against the wall and folds his arms as he waits for their reply.

[Space Lawyer]

Frank
The Docks

Frank leans against one of the crates, and wraps his belt tightly around his right arm. In a few seconds, the veins pop out. Frank takes out the Luna hypo and one of the Pluck's Nectars, and jabs them into the bulging blood vessels. He can immediately feel the energy flowing through him, and the pain in his back and arms fading.

Putting his belt back in its proper place, he walks slowly, following the blood trail. The other two seemed to have the crate situation under control, but it wouldn't do well to let the wounded bodyguard escape. There was no telling who he could find and bring back. Frank sensibly calls back to the other two "I've got a blood trail over here from one of Mangano's guys. I'm going to go find him."

Search: 14
Notice: 14

[babel_matrix]

The Death Penalty didn't seem to acknowledge the Phantasm's arrival, or even his offer... indeed, the wounded target crumpled on the ground was all that now held the merciless Super's attention. He stomped towards the Insulator, crouching to yank the pistol from the sobbing fool's hand while keeping his forcefield active. He ignored the other two Supers as he ignored the room about them, with nearly every surface covered in loot, bad guy or hooker. All that mattered was the man who got to his enemy, who touched those wretches, and lived. "You successfully robbed the Red Bandits," the speaker at his side crackled, his voice booming deep. "Therefore you know where, and how to find them. You will save yourself from me... by telling me how you accomplished this, and how I may do the same."

If any of this needs a skill check of any sort, it'll be whatever the appropriate stats are plus this d20: [roll0]

[Jade_Tarem]

Well then... in for a penny, in for a pound. Not that we ever had either.

The old adage - identified once by Dr. Beckett as "Sunk Cost Fallacy" - ran through Spitfire's mind as she found the least soiled guard uniform she could find and equipped herself as best she could with Mr. Helpful's stuff. She then held her head up, secured the ID badge, and made her way deeper into the factory...

[Julian84]

September 3rd, 1938

Dockside – Reaper

Reaper paws through the bodies of the corrupted dockworkers, stepping through pools of blood and taking anything that seemed useful to him, one of the men still moaning softly as he slowly bled to death.

+ $75
+ 2 Small Luna Hypos

He steps over to the ebon Master, pausing briefly to wipe his boots on the coat of one of the goons before clambering into his car and driving off, heading for Long Island.

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbXq3_Mz7sc&list=PL3QZUm48uWnsdFakp3A2fI-NzmfH1jyQe)

The radio crackles and squawks as he drives, one hand resting lightly on the steering wheel as street lights pass by.

“Hey now Billy, what’s gotcha down?” A warm gentlemen asked in a commercial.

“Gosh sir, I’ve got a toothache that just won’t go away!” Billy sighed, jawing his voice in such a way once could imagine the expensive bag of ice tied to his jawline.

“Well Billy, what you need is a shot of Pluck’s Nectar, that’ll cure what ails ya!”

“You really think so sir?”

He lets out a cordial laugh. “I know so, Billy.”

“Buy your vial of Pluck’s Nectar today from Pluck’s Apothecary in Hudson Heights and receive a free ticket to his once in a lifetime free giveaway opportunity!”

Mangano Mansion, Long Island Sound

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNhB-K2IoCc&index=16&list=PLsJs8eSUgOjFIgwvMK0djgL55RHhNlRzu)

The Master pulls up to the closed gates of the Mangano mansion, two men dressed in suits waving their hands for him to stop, each reaching into their coats.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 100/272 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $3,025

Dockside – Thundering Fist

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO24b9d8A4I&list=PL3QZUm48uWnsdFakp3A2fI-NzmfH1jyQe)

As Frank wanders through the dark back alleys, he hears a car screech, bolting forward to catch the fleeing crook… But all he finds are burnt rubber marks on the concrete and no trace of the man…

But he does find another memory cube on the ground, picking it up carefully as it begins to play at his touch.

Charles “Lucky” Luciano
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/LuckyLucianoSmaller.jpeg/220px-LuckyLucianoSmaller.jpeg)
“I can’t claim much understanding over why a fella like Firemark would willingly take Jews… But hey, business is business, and he pays for very good business… And what that white knight Tennyson doesn’t know about his partner won’t hurt him, right? …For the right price, naturally.

Everything is in its natural place… And soon enough they’ll all find that the little charade they built for themselves will crumble apart… And they’ll all answer to me…

This city is mine… One way or another… Firemark has plans… Tennyson has plans… Red Claw has his damnable plans… And they think so lowly of a crook like me…

Just wait until they see who has the last laugh, eh?”



+1 Small Luna Hypo



Vitality – Healthy
Luna: 89/153 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $850

Regency Hotel, Manhattan

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38ms-WVWI9w&list=PL3QZUm48uWnsdFakp3A2fI-NzmfH1jyQe)

Lady Liberty crosses her arms, watching the Phantasm closely as he speaks. Her expression is one of curiosity, distrust, and apprehension. “I keep whatever company I choose to.” She replies softly, glancing at Death Penalty. “I’m making sure he stays within the bounds of the law… Murder is still murder, no matter what he calls himself, and I don’t think he’s been given the due delegated authority to hand out death warrants.”

Insulator lets out a sobbing gasp as Death Penalty hauls him upright. “I g-got a l-lead, ok?! I-I-I heard that there was a Red Bandits processing center in the Bronx, in Port Morris! If you go there you could probably find more of them! They work for Harlot!”

Lady Liberty snatches something from the ground, handing it to Death Penalty – A luna hypo – When he tries to reach for it, she retracts her hand, glaring. “I need to make sure this guy doesn’t go crazy in the Bronx. Why can’t you ask me your questions here and now?”

Diplomacy check from the Phantasm to get her to come along.
Diplomacy/Bluff check from Death Penalty to get her to assist further.

Search checks from both.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 30/65 Units
Sola: 025
Money: $2,000

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 26/123 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $1,000

Firemark Factories

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XamgGODc1ZY&list=PL3QZUm48uWnsdFakp3A2fI-NzmfH1jyQe)

Spitfire wanders across the shipping floor back into the 2nd production line, gaining access to the employees only door and entering inside… She wanders down a few nondescript hallways before taking a steep stairwell down into a large tunnel (http://th01.deviantart.net/fs43/PRE/f/2009/083/8/a/Science_fiction_scene_5_by_paooo.jpg), a convoluted map she can barely decipher on the far wall. As best as she can understand it, she must go right to reach the Holding Cells, Medical Bay, Records, and Advanced Engineering Design labs. If she goes left she’ll find the Security Barracks, Armory, Production Facilities 3 and 4, and the main office suite. From what she can make out from the map, the facility is massive, stretching far underneath the ground.

She can hear footsteps and voices echoing through the tunnel, unable to discern their origin. This is obviously a method of transit from one part of the facility to another.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 80/136 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $620

[Lost Demiurge]

REGENCY HOTEL - MANHATTEN

The Phantasm looks taken aback to be doubted. He frowns at Lady Liberty over his high collar, then sighs. Crossing the room, moving past a few sobbing hookers, he pulls up a fine chair, turns it around backward, and sits on it, legs straddled. Judging by his limbs at least, he's a tall, thin fellow.

"Mm. Fair questions I suppose."

"I can't ask you questions here because you chose to meet me in a room full of innocents and crooks." He sweeps his gaze from the hookers to the groaning gangers. "Like I said, I've found something BIG. There are at least two sides involved. The first side wouldn't hesitate to torture every man and woman in this room to find out what they knew, and kill them afterward to keep things secret."

"The second side is nazis."

He lets that sink in a minute. "I suppose I COULD play the memory cubes I found right now, if you prefer. But given your stated views on needless death, I doubt you want that option."

"That versus a ride to the Bronx that'll save your Luna and legs for more important matters. A ride where you listen to four short memory cubes, then have no further obligation beyond whatever you choose. Hell, I might even help you with matters in the Bronx, if you need backup."

"All in all I think I'm being rather reasonable..."


DIPLOMANCY!!!!

[roll0] to try and get her to see things my way. I'm not asking much, so hopefully the DC ain't high...

[Space Lawyer]

Frank
The Docks

"Yeah, run away you yellow-bellied rat bastard!" Frank calls after the fleeing vehicle. He jabs the luna hypo into his other arm and walks back to where he had left Poseidon and the Reaper. On arrival, he looks around, a bit confused. Assuming Poseidon is still around, Frank goes up and says, "The other guy take off then? He seemed pretty riled up. I found another memory cube he might be interested in. Looks like Tennyson doesn't know anything about this; it's all Mr. Firemark. I think our favorite industrialist needs answer a few questions."

[Jade_Tarem]

Spitfire walked toward the far end of the hall, as slowly as she could while still appearing to have the authority to be there and some kind of purpose. As she did so, she studied the map. A few years ago - while traveling through Mandate Transjordan - she had become friends with a girl named Yasmeen, who had told her of a way to store memories in 'the memory place.' It had taken some trial and error, not to mention some checking with a translator, but damned if Yasmeen hadn't been right. It was a lot easier to remember complex and detailed things when you associated them spatially, and Yasmeen had taught Andrea using maps.

So it was that Spitfire went back to basics, reading the lines and labels and putting them in their respective places, redrawing the map and trying to sear it into her long term memory. It wasn't perfect, but it was close, and it would be a big advantage to know where she was going without having to give herself away as a stranger each time she needed to get oriented. Something bothered her about the map... a suspicious correlation she couldn't quite place.

Then it hit her. There were holding cells. Next to the medical bay. If the medical bay did Animal Testing, it would have said that. That's one quandary.

But all of it looked appealing, except Security - there was no point to going there, where she'd have the maximum chance of being outed as an imposter, until everything had gone to hell and the she could go there to try to sabotage the efforts of the people hunting her. Things weren't quite that dire yet. The production lines would probably be supervised, and would have more questions than answers. The Armory, AED Labs, Records, and Office Suite all had an approximately equal chance of holding delicious evidence. There's the other one.

Spitfire waffled for a moment, but the approaching footsteps forced her decision. The Holding Cells would likely *also* be guarded, probably more thoroughly than a room full of records. On the other hand, she lacked the silver tongue she'd need to talk her way inside, though she'd managed to work up a good lie - she thought - in the event that she was caught again. A little imagination goes a long way. Out of time, she made her decision, and headed for... the Medical Bay. Use the tools you have, Andy, and don't approach directly. Be *invited* in.

To speed things up: Upon reaching the medial bay, she takes a good look around. If she's mostly unobserved, she'll try to see how big it is and what they do here. If accosted, she'll say she's been looking for a doctor, as she found a man passed out in the Laundry Room, probably from the heat, and that he was being let off early that day but she needed to get a note from them to go fetch his medical records.

Edit: It just occurred to me that the codebook might have a code that just lets her into the records room. If that's the case, she'll go there directly after all and not call attention to the unconscious guard.

[babel_matrix]

The Death Penalty had a location, and a time: Port Harris. Today. Keeping himself restrained was easy enough against the Insulator's bunch: they're low-class hoodlums, nothing like his targets. But this was a genuine Red Bandit haven... if the information was worth the air wasted on it. The chandelier flickered, likely damaged from his entrance; its glittering jewels danced in the swirling cerulean of the luna in Lady Liberty's reserved hand. "I do not execute the innocent," he carefully offered. His hooded gaze turned briefly to the Insulator. "Or the foolish." He held his gloved hand out, hoping to have a hypo land in its palm... but his body remained ready to leap back into the chandelier's wiring the moment things seemed sour. "I execute only the guilty... and the Red Bandits have sentences long overdue, sentences the city will never carry out. I will spare the fools that serve them... but if there is anything good left in this world, the Harlot will die."

It was the faintest of lies: there was nothing good left in this world. He had buried the last of it with his sleep and grief.

[roll0] for Diplomacy... though I can't imagine it will be well-received at this moment.

[Reverend1124]

Azrael

Azrael didn't have much time before these men would be firing at him, so be shot up his large Luna Hypo and turned off the car. He opened the door and stepped outside, facing the two guards.

"Evening gents, is there a problem?" He said as he papers to transform, just in case the two lugs decided to fire.

Standard Action: Use large Luna hypo
Prepared Free Action: Shadow Form

[Julian84]

September 3rd, 1938

Regency Hotel, Manhattan

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vGm0MQ5w1Y&list=PL3QZUm48uWnsdFakp3A2fI-NzmfH1jyQe)

Lady Liberty stares blankly at Phantasm for a few moments, mouth hanging open slightly. “Reasonable?” She says with a strained voice.

She twirls the hypo in her fingers, stabbing it into her thigh and shooting up, her eyes glowing blue for a brief moment as she snarls. “Reasonable?!”

A sudden gust of wind picks up inside of the penthouse, dollar bills and lad mags getting thrown into the air as she takes a slow step towards Phantasm. “Who in the hell do you think you are?!” She adopts a mocking, mannish voice. “Oh hey, I’ve got a biiig secret and I need your help hurr hurr, even though I need your help and information I’m going to treat it like I’m doing you a favor hyuk hyuk.” Her eyebrows begin to twitch as small cyclones grow in her palms. “But hey baby before we get into all of that let me just PISS ALL OVER ALL OF YOUR IDEALS, MAYBE OFFER YOU A RIDE IN MY GODDAMN CAR!” She roars, a shockwave rolling out and smashing through the room, sending hookers and gangsters flying.

“WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!” She shouts. “I’VE FOUGHT ALONGSIDE CAPTAIN COMET! I’VE GONE TOE TO TOE WITH ASTRAPHOBIA! YOU WANT MY HELP?! SHOW SOME HUMILITY YOU CREEP!”

Reflex check from Phantasm and Death Penalty

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 30/65 Units
Sola: 025
Money: $2,000

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 23/123 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $1,000

Dockside – Thundering Fist

Poseidon glances around the docks as the last of the Jews filter out onto the streets. “Aye, he’s probably gone after that Fritz fellow or the Mangano’s…” He shifts uncomfortably, wincing as his armor settles heavily across his body. “Might want to think about giving him some back up.” He starts treading heavily to the waterfront. “And hey, if you could do me a favor, there’s an old sea captain by the name of Jeremiah Lutz in the Marine Terminal who needs some part-time help on his boat. I don’t have the time to do such things, so if you or any cape you come across could help him out, I’d appreciate it. There’ll be an award too.” He waves over his shoulder. “Might want to consider giving Lutz a visit.”

Vitality – Healthy
Luna: 114/153 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $850

Mangano Mansion, Long Island Sound

One of the guards sneers, hand still in his coat. “Did I tell you to get out of the car? Huh? Did I? No, I did not.” He shakes his head. “Get back in the car. Get back in the goddamn car, the Manganos aren’t taking any visitors tonight, so consider yourself unwelcome.” Two more guards exit the gatehouse, scrutinizing the situation with guarded eyes.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 200/272 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $3,025

Firemark Factory

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06e5682n-iY&list=PL3QZUm48uWnsdFakp3A2fI-NzmfH1jyQe)

Spitfire wanders down the long tunnel, passing by scientists in white lab coats, security guards, and maintenance workers in orange jumpsuits. The tunnel often takes gentle sloping turns, sometimes with open vents leading straight up to the surface, but protected by a sealed airlock. Every so often, she can hear odd clanking noises, moaning in the depths, the warbling shriek of electrical discharges… And human screams.

She reaches the medical bay, letting herself in with one of the listed codes… Finding that she lacks codes for Records facility and the Advanced Engineering Design Labs. She’ll have to find alternate access to those.

The medical bay is a sterile, white environment… But very dimly lit, the main room decorated with art and fake plant life. She wanders further in, not finding anyone in the first hallway… Each has a connected ward room, filled mostly with empty beds and medical equipment. She does, however, snatch a stray memory cube, continuing on.

Gilbert Alexander (http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/square_small/1/11986/1284584-gil_alexander.png)

“Firemark has had me do a great many experiments on the subjects he has given me… And I believe, with the research we have gained, that we’ll get some promising results soon! Truly, this anomalous energy that the man has provided has curious effects on the human body… I must wonder whether this could be the source of the Sola and other detritus flooding the streets. Could Firemark be hiding something from his esteemed partner?

It’s not my place to care, I won’t be here much longer. The job is almost finished… And there are greater minds who would be most interested in our research… Most interested indeed.”

She passes through a surgery observation room… Staring down at an eviscerated human body, mechanical equipment, electrodes, and circuitry grafted onto organs and skin, a faintly glimmering spark of light floating in a vacuum-sealed container by the body catching her attention, like a star hanging mere yards away.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 80/136 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $620

[Lost Demiurge]

REGENCY HOTEL - MANHATTAN
The Phantasm...

Simply ceases to be there.

ROLL WITH IT!

Well. Evasion x2 will mean half damage from this if I fail, and none if I succeed.

[roll0]

Followed by a hide in plain sight-fueled stealthy roll
[roll1]


Well, he tries...

[babel_matrix]

The room vibrated with her disdain for the Phantasm, and Death Penalty was only barely spared, launched into a chair as it flipped mid-air, landing with a cushioned impact with his back against the wall. He wasn't prepared for so violent a response from his ally... his former ally. His mind thought back to the gangster at the bar, flung away for words and idly threatening violence. I suppose the clues were all there... she's got a temper as thin as her costume; I can't use this Cape anymore. Probably a mistake to bring her here, given that the gang didn't seem steal anything... Relevant? He looked about the room, hoping to avoid more of her fussing it up before he could find something, anything that might prove useful before going out on his own... and facing the very real risk of an angry Lady Liberty following him to the Bronx. His eyes first brush onto a power outlet... his escape, if Lady Liberty decided to turn her violence onto him instead.

Search Roll: [roll0]
But given how he's searching, and the suddenly violent scenario, IF Notice would be more appropriate, then add +5.

Ready Action: Teleport, with a trigger of Lady Liberty threatening or attacking him. Destination: somewhere near his safe house, as he never goes directly there for fear of power grid fluctuations flushing him out.

[Space Lawyer]

Frank
The Docks

Frank cracks a grin. "Gotta say, the word 'reward' is always a nice-sounding one, though not to say I'm not one to help out of the kindness of my heart. I'll see what I can to help out soon as I can. First thing though, I think I'm going to head over to help that bloody-minded guy from earlier. He was one scary sunofabitch, but I don't think even he has it him to take down a whole crime family by himself. I'll see you around, Poseidon. Oh, by the way, street name's Thundering Fist."

Frank heads to his trusty truck, and heads toward the first place somebody like that fellow would go: Mangano's mansion.

[Julian84]

September 3rd, 1938

Regency Hotel, Manhattan

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8vEUhDPfNk&list=WL_eOlHRPkVaDS7atZsjaAMg)

The shockwave smashes into Phantasm, sending him flying back and smashing against the wall, the wind knocked from his lungs as the drywall cracks and flakes off from the impact. The force of the attack stuns him, leaving him gasping on the ground. It would be at this point his mind wanders to the fact that the Red Bandit, Astrophobia, is notoriously powerful, and that this young woman would also have to be powerful to fight him.

Backpedaling might be in order.

“I don’t need your hand-outs.” She hisses, stalking forward. “I don’t need your help.”

A cyclone grows in her palm, the Maid of Might snarling in fury. “And if you ever casually threaten the lives of other people to manipulate me, and I do not care whether you consider yourself the source of the threat or not, I will put you in a hospital.”

“So, before I send you flying over New York City, perhaps there’s something else you might like to say?” Her eyes glint, daring him to make another cocky remark.

Death Penalty, for his part, lands safely and begins his fevered hunt for anything useful, finding a few items left in the scattered detritus.

+1 Medium Luna Hypo
+ $250
+ 1 Memory Cube
+ 1 Cipher Piece


Ross Silverstein (http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5094/5558832454_755dfd9cc5_o.jpg)

“We’ve been making great headway, my dear, but Red Claw grows impatient. I don’t know what he knows, but the man grows more and more nervous as each day goes by… I think there’s something he isn’t telling us, something very bad.

[Audible sigh]

All I can hope is that we make it through unhurt, my love. Once the Bronx is fully under our control, Red Claw wants you to go and talk business with Wolf later… We’ve gotten word he’s been doing business with one of the Five Families, and he knows who they work for… So he’s out. Do what you have to do. Be safe, darling.”

Vitality – Bruised
Luna: 30/65 Units
Sola: 025
Money: $2,000

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 23/123 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $1,250

Mangano Mansion – Thundering Fist and the Reaper

Azrael stands before four men, ready to draw iron and fill him with lead, when a rumbling noise signals the approach of another vehicle behind him, the guards growling amongst themselves about the newcomer.

Frank surveys the situation carefully… Four men, all seemingly armed, and an unknown person standing in front of them, who did not seem to be invited.

Yup, this was probably the right place

Vitality – Healthy
Luna: 114/153 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $850

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 200/272 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $3,025

[Jade_Tarem]

Andrea sorted through her 'memory place' - she always envisioned it as a speedy dash through the Library, actually - and, after rifling through historical allusions, modern forensic science, and every 'weird light sighting' she could think of, came up with nothing. The sealed star was completely new to her. Nuts. It was just as clearly important, though, so she made her way into the room, despite her reservations, hand unconsciously drifting to the stolen pistol as she checked the doors behind her. She'd seen ingenues get distracted by the shiny plot-hook only for the bad guy to sneak up on them in enough stories that she might literally die of embarrassment if it happened here.

Her reservations didn't come from that so much as the human screams. After the first, she'd told herself that she'd imagined it. After the second, that it was a piece of machinery, a recording of a wartime hospital, something other than what it had to be. Now, though, there was no more burying the truth. There was something really... dark... going on here at Firemark Factories, something much worse than Firemark's existing known crimes of dealing a little magic to some thugs or building that creepy, ever-smiling tour-bot of the damned. That left her a bit of a moral quandary. On the one hand, there had to be people working here who didn't know what was going on. On the other hand, *someone* had to be guarding all of Firemark's secrets, and they probably did know.

***

English Channel, Four Years Ago

Boat rides were seen as a bother, by some, but for Andrea and Dr. Beckett, they were a haven for sanity, a breather between tight schedules, or more hectic happenings, and a time to catch up and talk. "...that's a brave suggestion, but I wonder if you've thought it through."

"What do you mean? It's an organization, and they're doing terrible things, or will." Andrea and Beckett had started this conversation all the way back in his office, a week ago. The topic had come up when one of the other doctors at the university had published a paper on the increasingly harsh methods being used by the Nazi party, in Germany to gather and maintain power. The paper went on to state that the expanded usage of 'concentration camps' was particularly alarming, and Andrea had made a poorly thought out blanket statement concerning what she felt those maintaining said camps deserved. It was only now that they'd gotten back into it, though - the conversation had been interrupted until recently.

"As an organization, yes. But the individual foot soldiers are operating under a chain of command. It's the carrot-and-stick approach, not to mention the fact that obedience is the first thing every guard and soldier learns. Their livelihoods - and sometimes their lives - depend on it."

Andrea watched a few birds wing their way by. "Yes, but individuals still have individual duties, both to themselves and others. If their superiors are doing something wrong, then they should report it up the chain of command. If the whole chain of command is rotten, then they no longer owe allegiance to it."

"And it would be so simple for you to sacrifice everything you've built for yourself, declare yourself and your family and friends an enemy of the state, and take up arms against your own country? There is nothing easier than hypothetical virtue."

"That's a moot point. My country isn't perfect, but it wouldn't do that."

Beckett peered at her over his glasses, giving her The Look - the one he used when she'd disappointed him. "I wonder if the Cherokee would agree. Did you see any on board, that we might ask them?"

"!..." Andrea closed her mouth. She worked her jaw around for a moment. "So what's the answer, then?"

"Oh, if I had that, *I'd* be the Prime Minister... and the world's leading philosopher and theologian, but I suspect the answer we're going to get is war, as Dr. Aubrey said in his paper."

"I thought we'd just had the War to End All Wars."

"A name dreamed up by overly optimistic fools. But you never answered my question. You've been hired as a guard and you realize your employer is up to no good. Do you sear your ties to everything that supports you in order to do the right thing? Are you willing to set the infrastructure you live on ablaze, burn your bridges, and possibly catch fire yourself? And can you blame - and kill with a clean conscience - those who didn't?"

"...I don't know. God grant it may not come to that."

She had no idea what faith Dr. Beckett was, if any, but he still whispered, "Amen."

Now

And now the time had come. Spitfire lacked the medical expertise to tell if the man on the table was alive or dead, and in many ways she was glad she didn't know. What she did know was that it might well be time to burn a bridge or two. She was sure that Firemark would have a reason - they always had a reason - for how this was advancing humanity into some new golden age, but she decided the future could wait. I wonder how you say that in Cherokee.

She snagged the container with the star in it, careful not to jostle it. She decided the next scientist she met was going to give her some insights...

[Lost Demiurge]

REGENCY HOTEL, MANHATTAN

The Phantasm coughs. He doesn't move from his spot on the ground, though one hand scrabbles for his blown-off slouch hat.

The hair revealed is grey, solid grey. With his upper head revealed it's clear he's old enough to be someone's grandfather. Nonetheless, he pulls himself up with some semblance of dignity.

He croaks, coughs, and replies.


"I actually meant it as a sign of respect. Offering to chaffeur you. I suppose it could be taken a different way... I apologize for offending you. You've made it clear you don't need me at all. Whereas I very much do need answers, and your help would go a long way for that."


A LOST CAUSE

Oh diplomacy. You so tricky...
[roll0]

[Julian84]

September 3rd, 1938

Regency Hotel, Manhattan

Lady Liberty glowers down at the fallen Phantasm, her rage not ebbing away nor being replaced by a hint of pity or mercy. “Right. You respect me so goddamn much, huh. All it took was being thrown into a wall, like all the rest.” She walks away. “Ask your questions, but don’t expect any help.” She walks across the room to Death Penalty. “Kill Harlot if you must, but don’t even think of killing anyone else. I will stop you, and you will lose. Just like he did.” She jerks her thumb over her shoulder. “Just like they all do.”

Vitality – Bruised
Luna: 30/65 Units
Sola: 025
Money: $2,000

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 23/123 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $1,250

Firemark Factories

Spitfire snatched the container, the glowing mote of light bobbing about within its confines before stabilizing. As she prepares to leave, the doors shut and lock automatically.

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viO_5aaF0zc)

“It’s a curious thing.” A voice says over a hidden intercom. “A man walks into a laundry room and not ten minutes later leaves with a remarkably different set of sexual characteristics.” A screen up in the corner of the room crackles to life, portraying Fabian Firemark. The famed businessman gives a cordial chuckle, leaning on his fist. “I’m called the incredible inventor, the man who makes miracles, but even I’m impressed by such a feat.”

She hears an odd shuffling noise beyond the window of the observation room, a dark figure moving about inside. Firemark leans forward, sighing softly. “Now, I’m probably right in assuming you aren’t Mr. Fitzroy with a lovely new set of cans, but an intruder who is here to steal my secrets or, even worse, destroy my carefully laid plans. I don’t know who sent you, Luciano, Tennyson, or Red Claw, and it doesn’t really matter.” He smiles casually. “You won’t leave my factory alive. Besides, what can you do? The Catalyst is gone, already in New York City, and the Machine Seed is almost complete. If your game was to stop what is already in motion, my dear, you are far, far too late.”

He pauses, fingers fiddling together. “Beautiful, isn’t it? That little bit of starstuff you’ve got in your hands. Painstakingly, and very expensively, reverse-engineered from that gunk running wild in the streets that all the capes and hoods like shooting themselves up with, not knowing what it really is.” He shakes his head. “Not nearly as much as I would like. I covet that little light very dearly, miss. I’d like you to put it back.”

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 80/136 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $620

[Lost Demiurge]

The Phantasm rises. He conceals his annoyance.

This Lady has a chip on her shoulder a mile wide. Best to get this over with and move on.

He moves to a nearby cube player.

"I stopped a group of tech robbers over on Grand Avenue. The robbers were swearing in German, and one of them had THIS cube on him."

He plays it.


Col. Heinrich von Himmelreich
(http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/be/71/70/be7170568e4df25b187683f4909b88fb.jpg)
“Zhose fools in Queens vere almost caught by zat insufferable American pigsow ‘Lady Liberty’, and zey lost all of sie shtolen technology! … Do not make sie same mistake zey did… Or you vill surely pay sie same price. Ven you have finished your mission at sie unifersity, find vhat vas lost, before sie Americans do and discover our hideout!”

"I need to know how the business in Queens went down. Details, clues, anything that would indicate something I can follow up on. If Adolf's boys have a hideout in the city, it needs to be shut down fast."

He sighs.

"It also ties into something to do with something Firemark's been working on. Something vital enough to them that they'd be willing to kill every man, woman, and child in a three-story apartment house to cover up. Something called "Machine Seed."

"But by my reckoning, nazis take priority. After that, then I can poke into Firemark's business."

[Jade_Tarem]

“It’s a curious thing.” A voice says over a hidden intercom. “A man walks into a laundry room and not ten minutes later leaves with a remarkably different set of sexual characteristics.” A screen up in the corner of the room crackles to life, portraying Fabian Firemark. The famed businessman gives a cordial chuckle, leaning on his fist. “I’m called the incredible inventor, the man who makes miracles, but even I’m impressed by such a feat.”

"Alright, I admit it," Spitfire sighs, "I've been a woman since you hired me. It was the only way to get a job in this crummy economy." She didn't expect him to buy it, and he didn't...


She hears an odd shuffling noise beyond the window of the observation room, a dark figure moving about inside. Firemark leans forward, sighing softly. “Now, I’m probably right in assuming you aren’t Mr. Fitzroy with a lovely new set of cans, but an intruder who is here to steal my secrets or, even worse, destroy my carefully laid plans. I don’t know who sent you, Luciano, Tennyson, or Red Claw, and it doesn’t really matter.” He smiles casually. “You won’t leave my factory alive. Besides, what can you do? The Catalyst is gone, already in New York City, and the Machine Seed is almost complete. If your game was to stop what is already in motion, my dear, you are far, far too late.”

He pauses, fingers fiddling together. “Beautiful, isn’t it? That little bit of starstuff you’ve got in your hands. Painstakingly, and very expensively, reverse-engineered from that gunk running wild in the streets that all the capes and hoods like shooting themselves up with, not knowing what it really is.” He shakes his head. “Not nearly as much as I would like. I covet that little light very dearly, miss. I’d like you to put it back.”

"My game? I just wanted the scenic tour, I mean one of your boys was hawking a chance to meet Fabian Firemark and instead we got," She spins and jerks mechanically, making her voice tinny, "Bolt Voltage, Spaceman Spectaculaaaaaar!" She drops out of her robot pose to face the observation window, for lack of a better icon of agency. She scratched at her head a second. The surprising suspicion of Tennyson, along with the more obvious animosity toward the Red Claw and Luciano were all filed along a shelf in her Memory Library. Another shelf now stored the names Machine Seed and Catalyst, and the fact that both were important enough to Firemark that he was willing to kill people over them. As he finishes talking about the starstuff, she pulls out her weapon and points it directly at the center of the vacuum tube, trying to think of a way out. Nothing obvious came to mind, other than to blast at the wall and hope for the best. To stall while she thought, she kept talking, "So, you say I'm going to die, but I'm holding something you really want. Something apparently delicate enough that your security didn't just charge in, guns blazing." Spitfire started to sweat in a way that had nothing to do with heat. "So this is really just a non-traditional hostage situation, isn't it? Wow, this sucks. I don't know why criminals keep doing it." She scanned the room, looking for a good escape point. "I won't bother asking you more about the star, but what's with all the human screams? Isn't that what the Nazis are into these days?"

[babel_matrix]

The Death Penalty exhaled slowly behind the hood, and let his speaker fall silent. His answer was a slow nod, ill-representing the less savory responses, mostly questions, that he had for her. Quickly fingering through the messed room, he found a piece of a cipher, though its purpose he could only guess at, and pocketed it, eager to find the others if it meant another clue from the Red Bandits. A medium luna hypo had somehow found its way in a bin of rolled up cash, tossed up and over by the Lady's anger. Death Penalty quickly injected the beautiful blue into his veins, his eyes registering its arrival, with a flash of azure, only barely through the hood's material. Empty hypo discarded, he thought his search completed... until he spotted it, tucked just under the Insulator's body. A memory cube... just as Phantasm began to play his own. Death Penalty stomped over to the man's body, ignoring his pained whimperings, and yanked the cube out from under him. He eyed it, wondering if he should dare to play it among witnesses.

"But by my reckoning, nazis take priority. After that, then I can poke into Firemark's business."

Death Penalty thumbed the memory cube, eager to hear its contents... and eager to leave. "I cannot let the Red Bandits slip away. The Feds will take care of German incursions; they'll do nothing to stop the Bandits. Just as the city does nothing to stop the Bandits. With or without either of you, I will address this injustice." He scanned the room once more, finding nothing more of value save potential allies. His gaze ended on Lady Liberty, trying to meet her eyes through the matte black of his mask. He thought to try and rein her in again, to invite her to make sure he didn't end the lives of the scum who served his nemesis... but the state of the room advised an alternative. "I will keep my word, regardless if you decide Germans are a greater threat than the Bandits." It was as much of a "thank you" as a Made Man's pride would allow.

Standard Action: Inject medium hypo
Free Action: Yap
Readied Action (from last post): Teleport, as earlier

[Julian84]

September 3rd, 1938

Regency Hotel, Manhattan

Lady Liberty listens to the recording quietly, brow furrowed. “I remember the bust. The guys didn’t exactly do much talking and I left them in the NYPD 106th Precinct building. Investigation isn’t exactly my style.” She glances at the ceiling, trying to recall information. “According to a cube playback I heard while at the station, there’s a guy named Fritz at the Metropolitan Plaza who acts as a sort of middleman for them.” She shrugs, collecting a few hypos of Luna. “The police are working a stakeout, but you may be able to find him first.”

She walks over to Death Penalty. “Let’s go. Port Morris isn’t far away.”

Vitality – Bruised
Luna: 30/65 Units
Sola: 025
Money: $2,000

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 73/123 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $1,250

Firemark Factories


Spitfire bobs helplessly upwards in the air, the gravity-defying powers of the Moon Man launching her up and away from the surface of the Earth… Right into the sights of Firemark’s killer machine.

“Targeting systems online.” The robot rumbles, bringing one gatling cannon to bear. “Orders acknowledged. Acquiring target.”

The barrel begin to glow red hot as the cannons center on Spitfire. “Target acquired.”

“Firing.”

Thousands of red bolts surge out, peppering her with laser fire!

Roll toughness!

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 90/136 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $620

[Lost Demiurge]

The Phantasm nods as he takes a brief look over the area.

I got my ribs cracked a good one, might as well see if I can scrounge something from this.

SEARCHING...





"Fritz... Hm. Yes, better I find him first. Adolph's boys are loaded for bear. Less dead cops if I crack this before they can."

"Thank you for your help." He heads toward the window, pauses next to Death Penalty.

"She doesn't need my help, but you might at some point. Or if you run across any information on the nazis or this machine thing seed, drop me a line and I'll owe you a favor. Callahan's bar in the Bronx, go in tell them you want a tall glass of spirits and pass the bartender a paper with the message on it. It'll find its way to me."

He heads out the window, starts down the fire escape.

Next stop, Metropolitan Plaza...

IF HE GETS THERE WITHOUT TROUBLE

Well-informed to see if I know where I can scare up Fritz
[roll1]

If that doesn't work out, Diplomacy to hit up my contacts to help track him down.
[roll2]

And if that fails, I can search for him...
[roll3]

...Keep an eye out for people who look like nazis...
[roll4]

Or get really frustrated, dangle hoodlums off of buildings, and yell "WHERE'S FRITZ! At them" until I get answers.

Intimidating presence DC 15, followed by an intimidate roll of [roll]1d20+10
Also I'm going to shoot up that other small syringe of Luna because it's gonna be one of those nights, I can tell.

[Space Lawyer]

Frank
Mangano Mansion

Frank steps out of the truck, a confused look on face. He calls over to the Reaper. "Oi, Ronny! Ya sure youse got the right place? The work order said the Mangano place, but this don't look we've got the right place with them fellas looking so unfriendly." He casually ambles over, staring up and about as if lost until he has closed the distance to the guards. He slips his hands into his pockets, gripping the steel knuckles.

Bluff: 18
Readied Action: Activate Powers, Melee Attack w/thunder punch 24 on nearest guard if the guards start shooting.

[babel_matrix]

He looked at the Phantasm for a moment, letting the silence cover for his thoughts...

Man, a chain of messengers to act like a dead drop... I really should've set something up like that... I suppose I never prepared for working with other Supers, or others helping me, but... Getting caught being an amateur was unacceptably humbling to Daniel. Yet he had no remedy, save to give a curt nod to the Phantasm, and a proper, Family understanding of what it meant to be owed a favor. "Without delay." The Death Penalty marched out to the balcony with the Lady, hot on the Phantasm's heels as that mystery man made his own exit. Daniel wondered about him... was he a man of his word? Did he have honor, did he understand respect? Would he hold his word to Daniel as Daniel automatically held his? Standing with masked vigilantes gave a sudden distrust that crept up from his civilian life: people who wouldn't look you in the eye when they spoke, or spoke through intermediaries under anonymous pretense. They were unacceptable, or at least rude when used between Families; it was a prejudice he couldn't justify, standing there in a black hood. Weighing how much he could trust these masked Supers became an especially harrowing experience when, while powered down, Lady Liberty took him up on a rogue wind and set out to fly towards Port Morris.

Free Action: Power Down

[Reverend1124]

Azrael

Azrael looked over as the cape from the docks approached him. "Naw, this is definitely the place." he called back before fixing his gaze on the men in front of him. "We're here about a shipment that came in tonight at the docks. Things went a little south down there and we were told by Tony to come inform Mr. Mangano personally." he said, leaning on his heals with his hands in his pockets. He was getting restless at this point. The way he saw it, he had two options.

First, he could transform right here and level these guys, but that would draw the attention of the entire mansion. If he didn't do that he could get back in his car and drive away, park it somewhere nearby, and infiltrate the mansion after transforming. The only problem here was the cape from the dock. He wasn't sure if this guy knew who he was or not, and either way he didn't really appear to be the type to sneak anywhere. He decided to see what these guys thought of his bluff though first. As long as they didn't start firing then he would be golden.

Bluff: 21

[Julian84]

September 3rd, 1938

Regency Hotel, Manhattan

The Phantasm scrounges around the penthouse, but finds nothing else in the wreckage for himself. Consigning himself to dealing with the bruises, he returns to Midnight and heads south.

Metropolitan Center Plaza, Manhattan

High atop a gargoyle, the Phantasm has an easy and open view of the plaza, an open square with four entrances and an ornate fountain in the center. With the evening waning, not many people still occupy the plaza, just a few couples lost in romance, custodians… And one fellow feeding pigeons.

Klaus Fritz, an agent for the Nazis, was here every day from 7 PM to 10 PM, feeding the pigeons… And giving information and missions to the lesser agents of the German insurgency. For him, today was a day just like any other.

Vitality – Bruised
Luna: 55/65 Units
Sola: 025
Money: $2,000

Port Morris, the Bronx

Lady Liberty sets herself and Death Penalty down atop a warehouse within the Port Morris district, glancing around warily. “Over there.” She mutters, pointing at a lit warehouse with conspicuous holes in the metal walls… Gunfire. Men in overcoats and fedoras move in and out of the building, surveying the damage.

“Either they’re with the mob or they’re Red Bandits.” She mutters. “Hard to tell at this distance.”

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 73/123 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $1,250

Mangano Mansion, Long Island

The four guards glance at each other, tension hanging thick through the air. If any of them smelled a rat, the game was up and it’d be one hell of a fight…

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XamgGODc1ZY&list=PL3QZUm48uWnsdFakp3A2fI-NzmfH1jyQe)

“Alright.” Says one, hand settling out of his coat. “Come on then, be quick about it.”

“Open the gate!” Another shouts, the wrought-iron portal opening to allow the two capes entrance into the Mangano mansion. Two flank the capes, nodding for them to go through.

Vitality – Healthy
Luna: 114/153 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $850

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 200/272 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $3,025

Firemark Factories

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv56ncTdTmU&list=PL3QZUm48uWnsdFakp3A2fI-NzmfH1jyQe)

The world turned red, then white, then black… And Spitfire found herself on the ground, body wracked with excruciating pain, her skin charred, her bones broken, her body barely able to move… It was a miracle she was even alive. Twelve Moon Men stared at her placidly as the Death Robot stomped forward slowly, raising its other cannon to silence her forever.

“It would seem, Miss Spitfire, that my inventions best your so-called superpowers.” Firemark remarks wryly. “You all should have seen it from the beginning… You are an anomaly in a symphony of perfect planning, a dead end that needs to be eliminated.”

With a final clanking step, the machine halts, its cannon pointed down at Spitfire.

“Your death is doing everyone a great favor.”

Vitality – Disabled, Injured 2, Staggered, Stunned
Luna: 89/136 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $620

[Reverend1124]

Azrael

Azrael started walking forward with the two guards, decided to hold off on his transformation for the time being. If he played his cards right then these goons would take him all the way to Mangano, as long as the other cape didn't do anything stupid. He wasn't a praying man, but he was praying to God in this moment that this guy would just stay cool.

[Lost Demiurge]

METROPOLITAN PLAZA

The Phantasm sits atop his perch, and digs out a memory cube. He sets it to record.

The brush with Lady Liberty had been discouraging... And a reminder of the fact that he was a small, sneaky fish in a big pond. Best to have a record if things go bad. Some other cape can pick up the pieces, perhaps.

PHANTASM'S JOURNAL, ENTRY 48

"Talked with Liberty. Upset her inadvertantly, and she decided to throw me into a wall. Typical booster aggression. Not immune myself, but I recognize it for what it is, at least. Lesser dosage? Perhaps. We're jamming unknown liquids into our systems, getting permanently changed by them, and hoping for the best. Crazy, when you look at it objectively... At any rate, Liberty might have a chip on her shoulder, but she provided the necessary information. Klaus Fritz is the next step in my path, the next link in the chain. He should know where the nazis hide out. And maybe, if I'm lucky, what the hell they're doing with that machine seed thing they're trying to steal from Firemark..."

Then he settles back on his haunches to examine the plaza, and Fritz.

Liberty mentioned a stakeout. Odds are good the cops are in position already. And if Klaus is smart, he'll have one or two guards along, in plainclothes...

The Phantasm scans the area for other watchers. Nazis will move like soldiers. Cops, well, they're cops. Shouldn't be too hard to tell who's who...

He also looks for a good perch 100-200 feet away from Fritz, the closer the better. Preferrably something secluded from view, and near a spiky fence or something painful-looking to drop people on.

SHIFTY SPYING...
Perception to spot other watchers, and figure out where they are! [roll0]

Not sure if you want another one to find a good perch with cover, or to use the original for that too, but here ya go. [roll1]

And a sense motive to figure out who's who. [roll2]

[Space Lawyer]

Frank
Mangano Mansion

Frank walks casually behind, doing his best to look like a guy who couldn't figure out how to tie his shoes and breathe simultaneously. He gives a whistle, looking at the ornate decorations of the mansion. "Woah boy, Ronny! Look at all this! Mr. Mangano must be doin' real swell for himself. I told you there was something more to it than just sending them crates on. You don't get yourself a place like this just from doin' the work for other people. Yessir, Mr.Mangano really knows what he's doing."

[Julian84]

September 3rd, 1938

Metropolitan Center Plaza, Manhattan

The Phantasm leaps down form his perch, somersaulting and diving further and further down the rooftops until he comes into closer range of Fritz, hiding behind a statue of a weeping angel. However, he cannot determine who else is friend... Or possible foe. Fritz tears off another hunk of bread, crumbling it into pieces and throwing it idly to the pigeons.

Vitality – Bruised
Luna: 55/65 Units
Sola: 025
Money: $2,000

Mangano Mansion, Long Island Sound

The two undercover capes are led through the courtyard of the mansion and into the foyer, a rather subdued and grim affair, dimly lit and decorated with baroque art pieces. Frank notes with slight trepidation the presence of small dolls still lying on the floor in a room off to the side, the sign that there are still children here.

“Come on, we don’t have all night.” A guard mutters, pushing the two forwars up the stairs… Eventually finding their way through twisting hallways and pushed into the inner sanctum, Mangano’s den.

The Mangano Boss sits behind a large mahogany desk, puffing on a cigar lightly as his consigliere whispers to him in low tones. Besides them, there are now four guards in the room. Vincent looks up, fixing the two newcomers with a cold stare, and douses the cigar in an ashtray. “… I’ve been told you have word of my business in Brooklyn?” He says evenly, eyes never leaving the two.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 200/272 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $3,025

Vitality – Healthy
Luna: 114/153 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $850

Port Morris, Brooklyn

Lady Liberty shakes her head. “At this distance there’s no way of figuring out who those guys are. We have to get closer.” She floats herself into the air, taking Death Penalty along with her, hovering over to a closer spot.

And… They see it. As they float to a better angle, they are able to see within the large open double doors of the warehouse… Where a man shooting fire from his hands tortures an individual strapped to a chair, the man’s compatriots all wearing the same garb – a red bandana over their faces. Death Penalty can count seven of them, including the one with the hand on fire.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 73/123 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $1,250

[Lost Demiurge]

The Phantasm sighs.

Old eyes. Old bones. Old aches. Old everything. This is a young man's game...

He scowls under his collar. But Phantom Justice was young, and look where it got him.

Well.

Angst later, nazi-fighting now.

He leans out slowly from behind the statue, and raises a hand.

It took him months of practice to learn how to ride the drug the proper way. There's an art to it, a method of envisioning things.

It reminds him of his early practice, tossing training dummies full of sand around. After all, if you're going to push YOURSELF into the air, it behooves you to make sure you can do it to others.

And well, Nazis ARE dummies, no one argues with that...

GRAB UND PULL!
So we're gonna use TK to grab Fritz and pull him to us, dangling him upside down over that nasty pointy fence we found and interrogating him. If the roll goes great, then I'll go ahead and put in dialog... But if there's circumstances I'm not aware of let me know and I'll edit it out. No harm no foul.

Ranged grapple sez... (-2 for range...) [roll0]


The Phantasm grins in satisfaction as Fritz is ripped up by invisible hands, dragged behind the statue of the angel in a heartbeat, and suspended in midair!

"Look down, Klaus Fritz!" His gravelly voice snarls. "Look down and see what waits if my patience or my concentration breaks!"

Fritz's eyes find the spikes of the ornate fence below. Glinting in the streetlights, they look quite pointy...

"Speak now! TELL ME! WHERE IS VON HIMMELREICH'S HIDEOUT! SPEAK OR I DROP YOU!"

SCARY MAN!
Firing up fearsome presence, or whatever it's called. So that'll be a free DC 15 will save versus his intimidate.

If that fails, I'll throw a trained intimidate to get answers... I'll do the roll in the OOC.

And I can keep doing fearsome presence over and over again if need be.

Should get a circumstance bonus from this, too. That's a pointy fence down there...

[Reverend1124]

Azrael

There he was. One of the mob heads, Vincent Mangano, sitting so vulnerable right in front of him. He wasn't even sure what to do right away. He stared into Mangano's eyes, and in that moment, it was just the two of them there. No guards. No other capes. Just him and this man, a man who has spread a cancer throughout this city and who is a leader in the organization that killed his sweet Samantha and beautiful Adina. He eyes narrowed as he spoke to the filth in front of him.

"Yes, Mr. Mangano, I do have news. My name is Azrael Kishon. Your son, Tony, is dead by my hand. Your goons are are also dead. Your 'cargo' has been set free, and now I am going to kill you in your own office." Azrael said, his tone becoming louder as he spoke, becoming almost a scream as he reached the word "kill". He didn't pay any attention to the guards of the cape next to him as he transformed into The Reaper and plunged the mansion into total darkness.

Free Action: Living Shadow
Standard Action: Black Out (Total visual concealment for up to 10,000 feet)

[Space Lawyer]

Thundering Fist
Mangano Mansion

Oh ****! Wasn't expecting that. was Frank's first thought as the other cape blackened the mansion. Although given the man's apparent bloodlust, maybe the sudden violence should't have been unanticipated. There would be words later though; getting a bit of information out of Mangano might have been better than just offing him.

Time for a fight, I guess. Frank activates his powers, lighting arcing along his arms to turn him into the Thundering Fist. The darkness is now punctuated by the electromagnetic overlay, showing the currents running along the wall, the AM radio on upstairs, and most importantly, the magnetic fields of the metal objects on the various criminals surrounding the pair of capes. Got just one chance here before it gets real ugly.

Thundering Fist dashes toward the crime boss, the lighting gathered in his fist glowing eerily, and lashes out at the man!

Free: Activate Powers
Move toward Mangano
Thundering Fist: 14
Grapple: 21

[babel_matrix]

Daniel's eyes scanned the fedoras, the shoes, looking for any of the small signs of a popular Family gang: a rosebud tucked in a suit pocket, gilded shoe tips, a single dove feather tucked into the fedora's belt. The analysis ceased as the red bandanas came into view... and the silent screams of the man being burned alive filled his head. "I can identify them quite clearly..." His gloved fingers audibly squeezed into fists, sparks of lightning flaring up his wrists, forearms and into the hood's thinned fabric, where Death Penalty's eyes flashed incandescent blue. "They are the guilty." Death Penalty almost leaped onto the nearest electrical wiring or exposed socket before he remembered his promise... and the super-powered witness that brought him here. "As before, Lady?"

Free Action: "RISE FROM YOUR GRAVE."
Ready Action: Teleport into room (if electric path is available)

[Julian84]

September 3rd, 1938

Metropolitan Plaza Center, Manhattan

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U46QB2lli3k&list=PLD48D350291373F18)

With an invisible hand, the Phantasm snatches Klaus Fritz from where he stands, pulling him into the air and flying over to the wrought-iron fence, the spiked bars glinting dully beneath his head. The startled German screams in fright, and Phantasm can already see men of various roles running towards them.

Thankfully, Klaus is well convinced of Phantasm’s threat, his loose lips jabbering wildly.

“Staten Island! They’re at the old Morehead Ferry building at Staten Island!” He screams. “PLEASE! DON’T DROP ME!”

Vitality – Bruised
Luna: 46/65 Units
Sola: 025
Money: $2,000

Mangano Mansion, Long Island Sound

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkyDaOp5VRw&list=PL3QZUm48uWnsdFakp3A2fI-NzmfH1jyQe)

Mangano snarls with incredulous hate at Azrael’s words before the cape plunges them all into darkness… And for a moment, all that can be heard is the shouting of men…

Thundering Fist lights up the darkness, a crackling effervescent blue streak hurtling towards Boss Mangano! He lands a solid hit across the mobster’s jaw, a crackling boom of thunder piercing through the room, shattering the windows beyond Mangano’s desk. The man reels backwards, a muffled cry flying from his mouth, when Thundering Fist snatches him by the front of his shirt and hauls him over the desktop.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 183/272 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $3,025

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 97/153 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $850

Port Morris, the Bronx

Lady Liberty grins, cracking her knuckles and leaping into the air on a cushion of air, bidding Death Penalty to make the jump!

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiWTPu8ksAg&list=PL3QZUm48uWnsdFakp3A2fI-NzmfH1jyQe)

He disappears from the rooftops into the electrical system… And appears within the warehouse, the Firefighter-fueled bandit yelling in alarm as the murderous cape appears in a cloud of electric sparks. Death Penalty counts three inside and four outside, Lady Liberty already engaging with them.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 58/123 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $1,250

[Lost Demiurge]

Metropolitan Plaza Center, Manhattan

The Phantasm glares at Fritz, his eyes stern and wild.

"Drop you? No, your words have bought you your life this night Fritz... But you won't escape justice in the end!"

His hand whips out, something metallic in it... Something that sizzles as it meets Klaus's cheek! Klaus howls in pain, as the Phantasm retracts the electric branding iron, the nazi collaborator's face now marred with a stylized skull.

"My mark is upon you, Fritz! Run far and run fast, for if I see you committing evil again I will not hesitate to kill you!"

The Phantasm lowers him rather ungently him to the ground... Well away from the fence. He'll be bruised, but he'll live.

Then he takes wing, fluttering into the darkness like a ghost...

No time to ask about machine seed. Well, in a little while I'll have the chance to ask the head nazi himself...

INTO THE DARKNESS

Right. Spending to fly away into the darkness. Stealth check if it matters.

[roll0]

And then back to the car, to drive to the docks. I'll see if there's a boat to commandeer, to head out to Staten Island...

Searching... [roll1]

[Reverend1124]

The Reaper

The terrified shouting of the mobsters was music to the Reaper's ears, but the sight of the lightning sheathed cape attacking Mangano made his blood boil. Mangano was his. But before he could properly get vengeance on the mob boss, there were six other men in the room that needed to die first. He doubted that the other cape would kill Mangano...it just didn't seem like something he would do. That was perfectly fine for him though, all that it meant was that he could kill the others without any hassle. He decided that the Seraphims would do nicely here.

The two hulking figures rose up from the darkness as the blackness that filled the room began to disperse. The Reaper warped into the shadows against the walls, remaining hidden as the dark angels went to work. They each flew at the nearest goons at full speed, swinging their axes at their victims with the intent to kill.

Seraphim 1: Charge. 19 to hit for 9 damage.
Seraphim 2: Charge. 27 to hit for 9 damage.

[babel_matrix]

The Death Penalty dashed for the socket, reaching his hand out as his body began its conversion.

You know, as I ran, its and pieces of the bad tar job on the roof coming off the soles of my boots... I wasn't thinking about the masked Bandits, or what I was going to do to them. Wasn't thinking about what the poor bastard getting fried might tell me, or if the power system inside might be cut off from the grid, a dead end for me, leaving that Lady to fend for herself as I watched helplessly... None of that. I was too busy thinking of you, Sofia. Time seemed to freeze then and there, with my body halfway into a state of... whatever it is that happens to me when I do this. The electricity arcs, the blood turns to energy, and this crazy broad who's helping me has got the same sort of grin Toothache Tony gives before he drives an ice pick through someone's tongue. But here, when I'm about to pump a thousand volts into the chests of the know-nothing goons that serve my enemies... I can only think back to you.

To flowers on your grave. They covered the plot, same as it was for all the wives who lost their lives in the hit... my roses were a token among many. Indistinguishable... unoriginal. Unacceptable. I didn't cry when they told me about the hit... I didn't cry at the funeral, or even when I was the last one standing at the foot of your grave. I know they whispered... why would anyone trust a husband who doesn't cry at his own wife's funeral? But I can't grieve yet, Sofie. I can't grieve because I forgot so much. When I saw what they did to you, broken and gone... they did it to me, too. There's a hole, and everything's falling through, everything I worked for, everything I made my bones to get, it's all falling in the six-foot hole they buried you in... and I just want to lay there, broken, right next to you. I've got nothing left to work for up here, baby...

... except paying them back. Blood must answer blood, bones must answer bones, and I'll fill a hole so deep that even I can call it justice. I'll restore our honor, baby... before I finally lay down and rest by your side, I'll see them all pay.

The floor inside greeted his steps, with far less surprise than the circle of fools that surrounded them. He stood, already triumphant, prepared to begin the day he long awaited: the first blow against the Red Bandits. As his breath quickened and adrenaline filled his veins... he remembered Sofia's scent. It tickled his nose, like on their first night together: jasmine pedals tucked in her bra from her own garden. His blood ran hot, and the force field that began to form about him coalesced into a rocketing bullet of electric rage.


Standard Action: Electric Control (Blast)
Free Action: Alternate Power (Force Field)

[Space Lawyer]

Frank
Mangano Mansion

Frank places one arm over Mangano's throat, and drags the mobster back from the desk towards the windows. The other hand crackles, and goes up to Mangano's head. Static bolts leap form the outstretched fingers to the Mangano's scalp, the hair standing on end.

"Listen Mangano, I've honestly got no real quarrel with you. Fact is, I didn't plan for this to be violent 'til that guy lost his cool. Can't tell you why he did; known him for all of 20 minutes. All I wanna know is why you're shipping Jews to Firemark. Let me know the big picture, and you'll never hear from me again. Otherwise..." The sparks increase intensity, enough to produce a sting on Mangano's head, "I might just have to kill you. Nothing personal; I just know you're not so much a forgiving kind of guy, and I've got nothing to be grateful to you for."

Intimidate: 21

[Julian84]

September 3rd, 1938

Morehead Ferry, Staten Island

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1dsm-jvEmQ&list=PLE5DEFB24AB2E00B0)

The Phantasm heads to the docks on the west side of Manhattan, commandeering a speedboat and roaring down the Hudson and out into the lower bay, bouncing over choppy waves as he goes further out into the open waters, keeping a close eye on the streetlights of FDR boardwalk on Staten Island to the west, heading further south to the tip of Staten Island… Where he can see the rusted old remains of Morehead Ferry, two enormous rusting carcasses of tugboats sitting in their covered berths, the entire structure a good four stories high and sprawling outwards. The ferry existed for hauling cargo through the bay, but eventually ran out of money due to mismanagement… The site was condemned, but the municipal government of Staten Island had never gotten around to demolishing the site.

Within the bowels of the building, the Phantasm can see faintly glowing lights… Shifting silhouettes flickering within the concrete confines. Fritz wasn’t lying… Someone is here. Surrounding the structure is dense overgrown woodlands, but stretching outward is a concrete yard fenced off with chainlink and barbwire… And from what he can see, it’s freshly strung.

Vitality – Bruised
Luna: 44/65 Units
Sola: 025
Money: $2,000

Mangano Mansion, Long Island Sound

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9svpbdcV6Dg&list=PLBBE3E99E59D153AF)

The Seraphim dart forward, swinging their blades and slashing the chests of one thugs who fall backwards with a cry of pain… But not dead. The other, however, is sliced in two, his upper half flung across the room and landing heavily on a couch. His still living partner writhes on the ground, moaning in pain and struggling to orient himself. The other two guards cry out in terror, pointing their pistols at the hulking wraiths and letting loose with gunfire! The shadowy brutes shrug off the gunfire, though.

Mangano gasps for air as Thundering Fist pulls him into a neckhold, pulling desperately at the corded muscles of his forearm but finding no traction. “I- I- I don’t know what Firemark does with them! Family members in Italy told me to pave the way for the shipping of Jews out of Germany and Italy because the fascists wanted them gone! Luciano didn’t want them moving into the Bronx and Brooklyn and destabilizing things, we needed some place to put them, and Firemark and that Pluck guy each had a solution!” He squirms, unable to escape. “Pluck took the women, some of ‘em at least, and Firemark took all the others to his factory! I swear, I don’t know why, they were just willing to pay money to take them off of our hands!” He chokes. “It was better than just dipping them in concrete and tossing them into the Hudson, right?!”

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 94/153 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $850

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 178/272 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $3,025

Port Morris, the Bronx

Death Penalty materializes onto the cold concrete of the warehouse, faintly registering the cry of surprise from outside as Lady Liberty began her assault, launching volleys of pressurized air at her quarry. Out there, the fight had begun in earnest.

The room was still, though, the crackling of flames rising off of the Red Bandit the only noise as the men turned to see what the commotion was outside then registered Death Penalty’s presence… They stare at him, shocked by the display they have seen, a man appearing out of thin air in an electric haze…

One bandit snarls, raising his hand. “Who’re-”

Death Penalty unleashes a bolt of lightning, silencing him forever.

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q0GNENgV04&list=PLE5DEFB24AB2E00B0)

The other bandit stares wide-eyed as his companion drops to the ground, smoking and sizzling, but the fire-bandit snarls in rage, pivoting quickly and unleashing a fireball at the cape, who dives out of the way in the nick of time!

Initiative:

Fire-Bandit
Death Penalty
Other Bandit

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 55/123 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $1,250

[Reverend1124]

The Reaper

So they're just moving them for Firemark, eh? And that Pluck guy too. The Reaper stood against the wall, totally concealed in the darkness. He watched as the Seraphim went to finish off the last two guards. At this point all he had to do was kill Mangano. He warped as close to the desk as he could, emerging from the darkness to confront the mobster.

"Hey, dock worker. I appreciate your assistance, but your presence is no longer wanted. Leave the scum here to face judgement and die just like his worthless son." he said, his voice cold. His unblinking, crimson eyes were locked with Mangano's.

Seraphim 1: 21 to hit for 9 damage
Seraphim 2: 26 to hit for 9 damage

[Lost Demiurge]

Morehead Ferry, Staten Island

Without cutting the throttle, the Phantasm keeps going, past the ferry.

It would be suspicious for the noise to cut out right here. He goes on past the island, turns back toward it, and kills the motor. Soon it'll drift up to the woods on the island away from the ferry.

While he goes he unlimbers the Tommy gun, rigs up a sling to carry it. Checking the ammunition he nods, and prepares for the fight ahead.

And the second the boat is close enough to wade in, he moves into the woods... An old ghost on a new mission...

PHANTASM TIME!



Right.

Stealthy time to sneak through the woods...
[roll0]

Perception to look for trouble, and see what I can see.
[roll1]

Search to find the defenses and traps
[roll2]

And should it become relevant, disable device to get through the fence or disable alarms.
[roll3]

[babel_matrix]

The room became a furnace with the ignited air that just missed the Death Penalty. Instinct demanded he slay the plasmid wielder then and there... but he needed the man alive, awake, and ready to be interrogated. The gun-toting lackey, stumbling to arm himself, couldn't be awake for that. He eyed the room, looking for a different access point for his teleportation... one that would be his next entrance.

As he did to the twitching, unconscious form of the first, Death Penalty fired another non-lethal blast into the second Red Bandit goon, seemingly ignoring the Nucleos-wielding maniac in the room. Without so much as breaking his pose, his body jolted back into his origin in a flash of electricity... and back onto the roof from which they originally spied on the torturer.

Standard Action: Blast vs. Second Goon - Attack Roll: [roll0]
Move Action: Teleport (to roof)

The plan, simply: attack the goon, teleport before the fire-wielder can respond, teleport back in on my initiative next round and hope that teleporting from a different place in the same room might ruin a ready action, if he prepares one. If not, then at least I get to enjoy the Batman-esque "knock out and vanish" routine. >:D

[Space Lawyer]

Thundering Fist
Mangano Mansion

Frank briefly considers protesting the fairness of the other cape's obviously intended murder. However, the way the other guy shredded those goons seemed to make that a dangerously bad choice, and nobody had that kind of hatred in their voice without good reason. "Fine, you've got it, on one condition: Tell me why I should just let this man die. Yeah, he's a criminal dirtbag, but so are about a hundred thousand other guys in this city. I'd say a better idea is for Mr. Mangano here to tell his boys to lay off us until we figure out what's going down with Firemark, Tennyson, and Pluck. You ask me, they're the ones we need to be really concerned about, and it'd be a lot easier if the Mangano boys agreed to stay away until we're done. What do you say, Mr. Mangano?" Frank lifts his forearm enough to give Mangano a breath to speak with, but it still remains like an iron bar pinning the mobster to Frank's chest. The sparking hand doesn't move either.

[Julian84]

September 3rd, 1938

Mangano Mansion, Long Island Sound

“Yes! Please! I don’t want to die!” Mangano shrieks, struggling to get free. “I’ll back off! I swear! I swear I will!”

In the meantime, the Seraphim continue their slaughter, attacking the next two guards with vicious precision, battleaxes swinging through the air. One is struck in the chest, falling backwards with a gurgling cry, his ribs crushed under the force of the blow. The other is also cut down, but only receives a slash from shoulder to hip, going pale and trying to staunch the bleeding.

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 91/153 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $850

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 173/272 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $3,025

Morehead Ferry, Staten Island

The Phantasm quietly slips through the forest, sneaking around tripwires and other traps intended to snare passersby or spies. He sees no other threats… But perhaps his old eyes are failing him. He moves closer to the fence line, casting a wary eye out for any Nazis intending on filling him with holes. With a trusty pair of wire clippers, he cuts through the fence… And makes it into the concrete yard.

Now Entering Instance: Lair of the Third Reich

Ahead he can see shattered windows on the walls of the old building, and there’s a rusted cargo entry to the west, about forty yards away.

Vitality – Bruised
Luna: 44/65 Units
Sola: 025
Money: $2,000

Port Morris, the Bronx

Death Penalty takes one last wild shot, attempting to blast the other bandit with lightning before teleporting back to the rooftop. However, an instant before he vanishes, he sees his shot go wild and harmlessly disperse on the concrete floor.

He is on the rooftop again, watching Lady Liberty below handle three foes at once, rising on the wind like a vengeful eagle, sending whirlwinds spinning through the air at her opponents as they dodged… But something doesn’t seem quite right here, Death Penalty perceives, a faint chill running up his spine.

As if on a mysterious cue, the remaining four bandits each activate a nucleo.

GRMM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYiScwfz4Aw&list=PL3QZUm48uWnsdFakp3A2fI-NzmfH1jyQe)

The one Death Penalty had just attempted to kill suddenly sprouts icicles, his skin turning a frosty blue and hair becoming matted down and pale white. He runs outside and reaches out his hand, sending a blast of snow and ice that Lady Liberty barely manages to dodge.

One she was fighting outside begins to spark with electricity, trails of light running through translucent skin as he too hurls lightning bolts at the female cape, who again twirls through the air, now on the defensive against these fiends.

The third’s arms stretch out into hideous, mutated snake-like limbs, hissing, spitting, and writhing in the air. Perhaps he lacks control over them, for they are unable to effectively land a hit on the Maid of Might!

The fourth, however, displays a different mutation… His nose and ears elongate into points, his back stretching and doubling over, his fingers growing in length as hair begins to sprout from unsightly places, his eyes glittering in the darkness and pointy teeth grinning maliciously. He draws an odd, pistol shaped-device…

A beam of green light emits from the device, blasting Lady Liberty out of the sky! She falls to the ground, a scorched, smoking burn crackling upon her chest as the goblinoid sniggers in victory at his fine shot.

“… There’s still another out there.” The fire-wielder remarks, smoking a cigarette and walking out to see the fallen heroine. “Kill her, find him, and finish the job.”

Vitality – Healthy!
Luna: 52/123 Units
Sola: 000
Money: $1,250

[Reverend1124]

The Reaper

To the Reaper there was no option in this matter. Mangano had to die. "Listen," he began, "There is nothing anyone can say to me that will lessen the hatred I have for this man and his business." As he spoke the Seraphim faded away. "It may not have been his direct order, but his organization is the reason I became what you see now. I lost my family to these **** stains." He began to walk forward. "I don't think I will have any problems with Mangano's men after tonight. A snake has a hard time operating without its head." With these words his right arm formed into a long, serrated blade that was only half as menacing as the tone in his voice. "I will kill this man tonight. I will kill him, and anyone with the mind to get in my way to Luciano!" He stopped for a moment, looking the other cape in the eyes before continuing. "I want to purge this city of evil, starting with the mob, and then working on the rest. You're a good man, dock worker, and it would be a true shame if I had to kill you to get to him." He thrust his blade in Mangano's direction. "Don't think for a moment that I will hesitate if it comes down to that. This man is worthless and deserves to rot in the lowest depths of hell. The only choice he gets in the matter is whether or not he wants to die slowly or quickly, and that hinges on just how much he is willing to tell me about the other mob family heads. Especially Luciano."

The Reaper walked over towards Mangano, getting within striking distance. "So what will it be, filth?"

Prepared Action: Black Out

[Lost Demiurge]

Lair of the Third Reich

To be caught here is to die, the Phantasm knows.

Well. It would be a poor ending to this story, so he waits, watches, and as soon as he can divine a good path, he darts like a shadow, across to the cargo entrance...


LIKE A SHADOW...

Great, I'm trying to solo an instance. Well, let's see what we're up against, I can always come back with backup if it's too much...

Perception says... [roll0]

Stealth says... [roll1]

And keeping an eye out for useful weapons or devices... [roll2]

[babel_matrix]

Surprise did not suffice.

The extra cape didn't help his laborious task.

Daniel thought he could take a few goons away from this, shake them for intel, setup a trap or ambush... but they had failed to ambush even the goons, powered and armed with at least one weapon he'd never even imagined, much less seen... a weapon that laid Lady Liberty low beneath a street lamp.

I have to get out of here. Lady Liberty or not, she was obviously not his ticket to breaking the Bandits. I'm not here for her. I'm here for myself, for Sofia, for the Family... anything but the cape that's my enemy, even if she and I do want the same thing... Her form stirred... but did not rise, likely to perish here and now, in front of the warehouse he insisted they assault.

Pride was why Daniel had learned to shoot in the first place. It was now the reason his body pulsed through the short length of wiring, capacitors and industrial sockets that caused a street lamp to explode, showering Lady Liberty in sparks and tiny flecks of glass. The Death Penalty, wrapped in black and copper wiring, kneeled at her side, his hands raised, his power focusing onto his facing palms... until the two bolts of electricity arced to meet at his zenith, smashing into a blinding light amid the would-be murderers. The flash of his power lit the walls for a full city block before shimmering and shrinking, reduced to a force field of electricity that encircled him... and the prone body of Lady Liberty.


Move Action: Teleport
Standard Action: Dazzle, (Reflex Save DC 18 for all within 40 feet. Failure means they're blinded. Every round after the round in which a victim is blinded, said victim get a Fortitude Save DC 18 to recover from blindness, gaining a cumulative +1 for every round after the first. Once recovered, they suffer -1 to use their vision for one round before recovering completely.)
Free Action: Force Field, Area: Death Penalty and Lady Liberty

[Space Lawyer]

Thundering Fist
Mangano Mansion

Frani waits to hear Mangano's answer. A bit of information could be useful.