Heroes of Millaine IC 2 - Coming Soon to a Theater Near You! [Archive]

Quellian-dyrae

2016-03-09, 06:01 PM

The Heroes quickly plotted their move, and went to work. Arriving via the base's teleporter, the team's first move was to get the civilians out of harm's way. Drawing on Ami's powers, Copycat teleported the group the short distance to the park, Waterworks' tendrils snaking out to lay upon the civilians. The other four released contact from Copycat, and he quick-reversed his step through space, pulling Waterworks and the civilians back with him to Mentallo Industries.

To an observer, it would almost look like the civilians had simply vanished, replaced by Wilson, Declan, Maestro, and Sean.

The enemies reacted fast to their arrival, though. The Diamond Colossus leaped at Sean with rending claws, while the elephant bellowed and charged Declan, swinging its trunk in a powerful blow. The stop-motion summon suddenly appeared beside Wilson...in several places at once, attacking him with shockingly fast strikes before all but one of them vanishing. The luminous summon flew at Maestro, reaching out with a glowing hand.

And all four of their attacks were just kinda...off, slipping past by inches.

Of course, none of them could see the thin cloud of golden nanites that Wilson had dispersed into the air to shield the team.

The Dreamers weren't idle either, the woman leaping at Declan and slamming a fist into his face, the blow causing a short but powerful explosion that even the Unbreakable couldn't-

...No? No, he was actually just as immune to that as he was to everything else? Okay then. Well, she tried anyway.

The bearded man gestured at Sean, and for a moment he seemed to slow down, but he quickly shrugged through whatever power he was using.

As Copycat and Waterworks reappeared on the field and DAMOCLES revved up, it was starting to look like just another day in the lives of the Heroes of Millaine. Wilson trapped the colossus in a nanite barrier - it wouldn't hold the thing for long, but would keep it occupied with breaking free and, more importantly, stop it from interfering with his team's attacks. Maestro, modulating the power for fine control in the crowded battlefield, slammed the enemy force with a bomb-like detonation of telekinetic force. Declan rained antimatter upon the elephant, disintegrating chunks of its physical structure, while Waterworks' tentacles crashed down on the woman with the exploding fists, injuring her and binding her. Sean leaped across the field, tearing into the bearded man and setting him up for Copycat to hammer him with a crushing finishing blow courtesy of Beth Cobbler, the tag-team strike knocking the Dreamer out at one go!

Bets were already being placed at Mentallo Industries. No one seemed willing to go higher than thirty seconds.

Everything was going great...until the portal opened.

Three more Haptaran Dreamers stepped onto the field. A dark-skinned man with eyes that glowed a molten red. A prim, white haired lady, thin as a whip and with impeccable posture, who was holding one hand towards the portal. And a pale, raven-haired woman whose tanktop and shorts allowed a clear view of the numerous scars riddling her arms and legs (and face, for that matter).

And with them came a menagerie of summoned champions.

A hulking elemental that seemed to be composed of molten lava. What looked like a panther with glowing purple eyes. A hooded, leather-clad woman with a barbed scourge. An Angel of Light. A Time Elemental. And an Ice Wraith.

"You should surrender," the old woman informed them. "Come with us quietly, and no one else need come to harm."

If anyone answered verbally, it was lost under the roar of DAMOCLES.

The Haptarans and their summons unleashed enough power to lay low a city. Blows that detonated like bombs, every impact generating an explosion - including a truly devastating blast when the stinking elephant leaped hundreds of feet into the air and came crashing down like a trumpeting comet. Rivers of magma flowed and volcanoes were summoned into being to expel pyroclastic meteors and clouds of choking ash, conflicting with the snowstorms and blasts of cold called upon by the insubstantial wraith. Time was warped and twisted, stopped and started around them, while space was severed and divided by tactical portals, while the panther leaped back and forth through portals of its own to strike from impossible angles. The scarred woman and scourge-wielder brought agony with touch or gesture, sent waves of pain rolling through the field. And through it all, the Diamond Colossus stood seemingly impervious to harm, while the Life Elemental turned the healing powers of Eskiro Asama to evil ends, wiping away injuries inflicted.

The memorial park was engulfed in a battle that was best described as apocalyptic, and the Heroes of Millaine were right in the center of it.

And flame-blast if they didn't fight back with their all.

Waterworks unleashed the Maelstrom, crushing and binding their foes, sending them flying with tsunamis, pouring potent healing into her allies. Never before had the Maelstrom displayed such fury as it tried to wash away its foes. Water swirled from fire hydrants, from covered manholes, from the clouds above, pouring into the APEX-empowered hydrokinetic to heal her injures almost as fast as her foes could inflict them. It was she that finally destroyed the Life Elemental, after first blasting it across the city only for it to be recovered via portal. She bound it helplessly in her tentacles and held it up too far above the fray for it to cure its allies, before tearing the creature apart.

There was not a single role in the battle that Copycat did not fulfill. One moment, he was slowing time to buy his friends an opportunity to avoid attacks, or raising potent shields to defend them. The next, he befuddled their foes with illusions. Seconds later, he extolled his allies, encouraging them to fight on despite their wounds. He fought fire with ice and ice with fire, destroying for the second time the Wraith that wore the form of his love. Where he could spare seconds, he peered into the future, warning his team of what was to come...including the disconcerting prediction that these Dreamers came not with orders to kill, but to take them back to their Emperor.

Maestro's default tactics, wearing away individual foes with repeated telekinetic blows, would accomplish little in this battle - so he didn't go with default tactics. The limits of his powers were Play-Do in his hands as he unleashed hyperkinetic blasts that sent multiple foes away from the field, sending them all in different directions so their teleporters could not so easily return them. He struck telekinetically and telepathically in synchrony, blasting his foes' bodies even as he tore at their minds. He focused the full force of his will into a hyperkinetic blade of force that cut through even the skin of the Diamond Colossus, before tearing its mind apart with a tremendous exertion of will.

Declan seemed everywhere, leaping in the way of attack after attack that managed to get through the various shields and protections the Heroes laid down, DAMOCLES spraying bullets everywhere. The panther. That blasted panther kept jumping into portals to avoid attacks, but Declan persevered by the virtue of putting enough bullets into the air that it couldn't avoid them all. But it was his defense that kept the Heroes going, that ensured that the enemy couldn't quite manage to land a finishing blow on one or another while they were injured, giving Waterworks or Wilson or Copycat a chance to heal them.

Up until now, the team had kinda only had a taste of what Wilson's new capabilities were, with most of it coming up against them during Gaertner's takeover. But here, Wilson's nanites bolstered and boosted them beyond anything even the august Heroes had accomplished before. Azure nanites augmented their blows, golden nanites shielded them from harm, yellow nanites healed their wounds...and green nanites augmented their powers to astonishing levels. DAMOCLES wreaked tremendous harm as its bullets were invested with antimatter "tendrils" that wormed their way throughout the targets' skin and armor, crippling its structure. The Maelstrom's healing powers were hastened, allowing her to cure her allies even as she struck their foes. Combining his augmentations with Maestro's modulations afforded the young genius a level of flexibility even he had never considered possible. And while Copycat changed powers too quickly for Wilson to be able to choose just one to augment, his boosts allowed the mimic to fight as his best without having to concern himself with using a power to provide a personal defense. And the former SIDE agent got his licks in too, dissolving the explosive elephant outright.

And then there was Sean. New to the Heroes of Millaine, he had proved his mettle before and now fought as hard and as fiercely as any of them. He cowed their foes with glares as he engaged, tearing into their enemies and leaving them open to his allies, leaping back and forth across the field to strike at foes or protect his friends. His pack tactics led to both the Angel of Light and the Time Elemental being destroyed as he left them helpless to defend themselves against the other Heroes.

But while it was a tremendous display of power, teamwork, and sheer, uncompromising grit...there was always another Champion, always a military-trained Haptaran Dreamer there to pick up the slack. For all the shields and healing, for all of Declan and Sean's best efforts, attack after barrage of repeated attacks could not help but take their toll. Debilitating powers - crippling pain, temporal pauses, concussively explosive impacts, and on and on - wore them down and could not be so easily healed.

But even in a final stand, the Heroes of Millaine would not concede a full victory to their foes.

It was Copycat who knew what had to be done. The cloud of possibilities he predicted, he saw the one that might yet deny victory to their foes. He was the one who gave the warning.

Wilson placed the augment on the Maelstrom, who caught the target in her coils, binding her tight with augmented force.

It was to be Sean, in the plan they concocted, that knocked the target out.

But Declan knew, he knew in his gut, that that wouldn't be enough, wouldn't buy enough time.

Declan Reynolds, the soldier, knew what had to be done to keep his people safe.

Before Sean could leap in, before she could use her portals to escape, he raised DAMOCLES and fired upon the old woman in Waterworks' coils, the last enemy on the field with the power to teleport...and the only one that was not a transient summon.

He didn't hold back. He didn't engage tactical shielding.

He filled her full of antimatter, and the portal controller was gone in a flash of light.

As the remaining forces fell upon them, Maestro focused his will.

And sent Sean flying across the city.

By the time the young Dreamer made his way back, the Heroes and their attackers were gone, nothing left behind but the desolated crater that had, if only for a short time, been the Millaine Memorial Park.

...Well, the desolation, and a lingering scent trail.

For Sean Hyers? That was enough.

* * * * *

It was three hours after his sister had tearfully told him about the abduction of his friends and former comrades that Magnus Mindrider walked into a certain room in the Mentallo Industries building. This meeting was being held here, rather than at the Hero Corps base, so that a particular participant would be able to attend.

He walked under a heavy burden. He knew, in his heart he knew, that his powers had to be used with caution. No matter how great one's powers of precognition, no Dreamer could ever know what would happen, only what might happen. Flashes of potential, visions of likely events, clouds of probabilities, unnervingly reliable hunches. The power to read the future, and to read the minds of others, ever had to be used with care. Even the most accurate vision was of necessity incomplete, lacking the context of history leading up to it. There was not a person alive who had not entertained evil thoughts, nor one that had zero potential to cause future harm. You had to pick your battles, had to use such powers to better fight your existing enemies, not to seek new enemies to fight. That way lay madness.

He believed it all, he lived his life by this strict personal code, used his powers only to achieve specific ends.

But the Dream knew that it was hard, when you got blindsided by something like this.

With a sigh, he pushed open the door, walking into the room. What was needed now was not Magnus Mindrider, not the former Hero laboring under the guilt of forsaken duties and unanticipated hazards. What was needed was Vigilguard, the brilliant tactician, the man who always had a plan, the Commander of a Thousand Eyes.

"OUT-SIDE is moving on the target site in thirty minutes. As far as our intelligence can tell, the targets have not left since we lost contact with Sean, and will be remaining there at least until tomorrow morning. We do not believe they are aware that their location has been determined. They will move in from-"

"Their movements don't matter," interrupted the quietly furious voice of Benjamin Eaton. "OUT-SIDE will be making a lot of noise, fighting their way through summons, and hopefully not killing our people in the crossfire. Well and good for them."

Prometheus looked over the others assembled in the room, before turning his gaze back upon Magnus. "What's our plan?"

Everybody take a :smallcool: Hero Point for foregoing the battle, and a :smallcool: second one for the Complication of being captured.

As we've discussed, you can each choose an NPC for this adventure. Any NPC listed here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=20196799&postcount=3) is available for use. However, if the NPC is "tied" to another PC specifically in some way, you must get that player's permission to use them. Whichever NPCs you choose are here in the room at Mentallo Industries. Sean is also available for this purpose.

The short version of what happened after the Heroes were abducted is, Sean returned and tracked them. He tracked them to a fortified warehouse in the Millaine industrial district, which appeared heavily defended by automated defenses and robots, above and beyond the remaining Haptaran Dreamers and Summons. Recognizing it as obviously more than he'd be able to tackle alone, he sent out word of what had happened He alerted Wilhelm of what had happened and the location he had tracked them too, and then bravely charged in to try to rescue his comrades and got promptly captured himself because holy overpowered encounters Batman! OUT-SIDE has whelmed forces to stage a rescue, with Magnus flying in from Indelar to assist after Valerie had contacted him and told him what had happened.

Now, it is of course quite reasonable to assume that OUT-SIDE can probably handle things. But still...the people who know the Heroes of Millaine know what they're capable, and know better than to underestimate any force capable of taking them in combat. So too, a full siege from OUT-SIDE could, if it looked like it was going poorly, result in the hostiles killing the Heroes, rather than losing them.

So, certain friends, allies, and/or relatives of the Heroes have come together to try to assist - by slipping in under the cover of the siege so as to reach and rescue their Heroes while the enemy is battling OUT-SIDE.

Your chosen NPC is considered your PC for this mission, and may use your PC's Hero Points. Every two Relationship Building successes your PC has acquired with regards to the NPC in question will also grant them one additional Hero Point for the purposes of this mission (this uses your total number of successes, not only unspent ones, and does not itself spend successes). NPCs with a PL below 10 will be receiving certain special benefits to close the gap. NPCs with a PL above 10 may be selected, but will not be able to use your PC's Hero Points - they'll begin with 0, and will have to earn them during the mission to use them.

Now, it's not unreasonable for any given NPC to feel that this is a matter best left to OUT-SIDE. However, if you want, you can have other NPCs that have a connection to your PC get involved. You may play such NPCs during this initial "war room" scene. During the rescue itself, they will be unable to progress with the main party due to some contrivance ("We have to split up!", "Go! We'll hold them off!", etc). There's a tactical benefit and an opportunity for drama here - you may sacrifice one of these NPCs (resulting in them being killed during the fighting) to get an immediate Hero Point. Again, you may only do this with NPCs tied to your character specifically.

If everyone is willing to risk them (and no one selects them as primaries), the following NPCs can also be put at risk in this way. In these cases, any player may sacrifice them for a Hero Point: Valerie, Colt, Eskiro, and/or Lieutenant Wilhelm.

I will be playing Magnus and Promethus during the War Room scene unless someone else takes one or both of them as a "PC", in which case I'll cede control. Magnus will be part of the rescue attempt (but will be contrivanced out). He's special; if the entire party decides to do so, they can sacrifice Magnus to grant everyone a Hero Point.

If you have any questions, let me know. Otherwise, pick your primary (and any other connected NPCs you'd like to play in the War Room) and post away!

Capt. Infinity

2016-03-09, 11:37 PM

"Our plan, Benjamin, is that I'm going out there to get my son back." Mercy Mentallo was not one to show powerful emotion, years of IN-SIDE training had taught her rigorous self control. This training, however, did nothing to abate the raw, concentrated fury and determination that was all but bleeding from her emerald green eyes as she spoke, her open palm slamming into the table of the war room in such a manner that an almost perfectly straight seam splits outward between her fingers from the strike. "I'll lead an adjacent squad to enter the compound under the cover of the siege. Whilst support is filled in by the others, I can stealth into the further reaches of the compound on my own and-" "Now wait just a darn second!" Maddox Mentallo politely nudges his way up to the table in order to make eye contact with his wife. "Mercy, you can't be serious. You can't just go back out there! These three months have been the longest period where you haven't been at high risk of dying since our honeymoon. I'm not letting you go out into that soon-to-be warzone all by yourself." Moddox was not a fighting man, he didn't have the tongue or the soul for it, but he spoke with an active concern that felt almost universal in its grandeur, and yet somehow felt particularly poignant as he spoke to his wife of 20 years.

Maddox, you can't honestly be suggesting that you come along with the taskforce, are you?" The Dreamer agent asks, incredulously. "Well why not? I've been to active warzones before, dear. I know how to keep my head down." "There is a large difference between straying close to the front lines and stepping into the nest of the Emporer's finest." There was an aggression in Mercy's voice. The pure, refined aggression that is brought on by a need to protect those one holds dear to them. "And I'm not about to see you do it either! He's my son too, Mercy! Let me help!" "This is my job, Maddox. Let me do what I've trained to do!" "And let me do what I've spent my whole life doing!" "Damnit Maddox, I'm already risking losing a child today. I am NOT risking the life of my partner too!"

"Enough!"

The Mentallos are forced out of their argument by the piercing ultimatum of Luisa Nym, who'd up till now been calmly seated further away from the table, content to provide advice as needed. Evidently, what was needed was far more powerful than advice.

"Both of you possess high Threat Level Dreamer Powers. You should both step up to the mission, since you both possess abilities with very useful and optimally efficient tactical capabilities." Luisa paused for a moment, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, as if working through something in her head, before continuing. "But as for the advance force. I will be leading the charge." Despite the finality with which Luisa spoke, Mercy, through both tactical training and motherly instinct, was forced to stand her ground. "Luisa, dear, with all due respect, where is this coming from? I have years of experience in this. And while I don't doubt your skills, this is what I'm best at. Why would you want to step up to bat?" "Yes, isn't something like that rather... Illogical?" Maestro's parents were still working through the whole "our son has a robot girlfriend" thing, and were evidently still testing the waters for where Luisa's emotions and logic clash. Still, their voices were coloured with genuine concern as they asked the gynoid for her reasoning. Luisa seemed to take another pause before speaking further. "It's... Hard to accurately describe what I'm feeling right now. To describe it as a 'logic' would be disingenuous, calling it a 'reasoning' just as so. I believe the closest modern colloquialism for the feeling is it being 'a matter of principle'?" The Ninja and the Healer were at a loss for words. The former kill-droid repeatedly stumped them with her existence, but this statement of non-logic, of running on feeling alone, was perhaps the most... humanizing moment they'd ever seen her have.

"Maestro is the man who gave me a second chance. He is my saviour, employer, and my boyf-" She cuts off and blushes at her own words, the only reason she could determine why is that somehow the sheer volume of people in the room created something akin to selective mutism. Strange. "Someone very important and dear to me. I owe him everything. And now, I owe him to give everything I have in saving him." Luisa's hands unconsciously clenched into fists as she spoke, and her eyes as she spoke to the Mentallos were filled with a fire that the two of them knew all too well. "This is not me asking for permission. This is not me asking for your blessing. This is a stand being taken. And I trust that you will be so kind as to step out of my way and let me save Maestro." The androids eyes began to moisten as she forced out the last word of her sentence. "Please."

Looking to one another, Maddox and Mercy had a conversation through looks, the type of conversation one can only have with another person after giving their heart and soul to one another for the whole of the two decades previous. Finally, the Dreamer couple turned to the robotic assault droid-turned secretary and confidant, and nodded. "We're still getting involved in this battle. We couldn't live with ourselves if we didn't do something." "But spearheading the assault is yours to do. If this is what you want, we can't in good conscience deny you." Mercy Mentallo broke from her husband's side to stand before Luisa, bearing a ferocity in her motion that only a concerned mother can truly have. She placed a hand firmly on Luisa's shoulder, and looked directly into her eyes. "Bring my son back to me." Luisa met the IN-SIDE agents gaze as she nodded resolutely. "I promise. After all..." A slight smile creeps across the android's face, as she echoes some of the most formative words in her short but highly eventful new chance at life.

"I am a woman of my word."

Zelphas

2016-03-09, 11:53 PM

Lucas Fairbourne was well-known for being utterly impossible to bother. His relationship with Waterworks had proven again and again that, be it crazy former lighting techs, massive angels of light and fury, or even the raw power of the APEX itself, he would face it with a calm smile and quick, reasoned thinking.

Sitting at the table in Mentallo Industries, one could be forgiven for thinking that Lucas is still somehow completely unruffled by the chaotic events of his life. Until they look closer. There is, in fact, one artificial consciousness at the table, a robot who technically had neither the need for breath nor the myriad minor imperfections and quirks of the human body that require near-constant slight motion to ensure comfort and stability. Lucas Fairbourne, at the meeting at Mentallo Industries, is sitting with such utter stillness, such all-encompassing quiet that Luisa Nym at her most robotic would look positively lively.

"I'll be joining you, Miss Nym," Lucas states evenly, as soon as the conversation dies down. "To provide quick communication between all parties on the mission, and whatever tactical, intellectual, and combative support I can."

Llyarden

2016-03-10, 03:47 PM

Unlike Lucas (and, come to think of it, the Mentallos and Luisa), Emily was not still, or outwardly calm. Her face was still red from crying, and her eyes still glimmered with tears - particularly when Mercy and Maddox began discussing the possibility that the Heroes might actually never come back from this. But when she spoke, it was without the slightest trace of hestitation, and fiercely enough that it was made eminently clear that she had no intention of backing down.

"I'm coming too."

Across the room, Sean's parents were busy making themselves obvious in amongst the discussion as to how they would coordinate with OUT-SIDE. After all, the OUT-SIDE assault was obviously the more dangerous of the two situations and therefore the logical place for heroes (or rather, Heroes), of their calibre. (And yes, Sean's parents were using the fact that their son had just been kidnapped to continue their showboating. Would they have stepped up to rescue him if there hadn't been a mass of other people willing to try? Who knows.)

After her third attempt to suggest that they join the infiltration force was snidely turned away as if it had never been suggested, Mary (who had left Sarah keeping Moro company) turned her back on them in disgust and made her way back towards Emily.

manwithaplan

2016-03-10, 07:38 PM

"And don't forget about me!"

Suzanne stood alone in her own area at the back of the room, emanating a viscous chill strong enough to turn away anybody that would have been nearby. After whatever Tom did with the Recruiter, and how he changed after that, she'd never thought they could be close enough that she would be here, preparing to save him. And after that, with how strong he became, she'd never expected that the situation would occur this way at all, and not the other way around. She'd been quite anxiously waiting for her damsel in distress moment for months now, and she was both pleased and confused by this rather unusual subversion of the trope. It had been, on all accounts, a very unusual day. But she'd gotten quite used to that now.

"I'm going to save Copycat."

Hyperbolic sine

2016-03-11, 03:45 AM

"Me too!" Beth spoke up. "And I want to be useful this time..."

Despite the situation, Martin Reynolds was looking at Mercy and Maddox Mentallo with a mix of reverence and bemusement: they were already quite famous when still he was IN-SIDE, and seeing Luisa not only step up to them, but actually winning the argument, was quite something. "Don't worry, you'll do great." he replied to Beth, giving her a pat on the shoulder in a way that reminded her of Declan (well, Martin was his father, after all), before speaking up himself. "I'm a bit rusty on fieldwork, but I still have a trick or two. I'll help in any way I can."

My "PC" will be Beth, though there's no reason Martin wouldn't go too. Guess he'll be using his tricks to "hold 'em off". :smallbiggrin:

Quellian-dyrae

2016-03-11, 02:22 PM

"Alright then. That should easily be enough raw fighting power to punch through whatever defenses they don't have committed to fighting OUT-SIDE. We'll want to-"

"Prometheus. A word, please?" Magnus requested.

"Hm?" the inventor asked, Magnus leading him over to a different corner of the room where they conversed quietly.

Valerie, Colt, and Eskiro looked to Beth and Emily. Valerie showed as much evidence of crying as Emily did, and Colt and Eskiro both looked absolutely miserable - particularly as people stepped up to help and they remained conspicuously silent. This entire plan seemed insane to them, this was OUT-SIDE's job, there was every bit as much chance that a team of mostly-inexperienced fighters would just cause problems and get in the way as there was that they would be able to meaningfully help.

And none of that logic made them feel any less like cowards, or like terrible friends, for not stepping forward when their Heroes needed them.

"Are you two sure about this?" Valerie asked them quietly. "I know that you, that Declan and Sean are...I mean, their friends to all of us but, this isn't..." the normally-eloquent Dreamweaver couldn't seem to get her point out coherently.

"We just don't want you to be hurt," Eskiro said quietly.

Luis and Lois set soothing hands on their sister's back and shoulder. "We should accompany you, yes?" Lois asked.

"Our combat protocols are every bit as advanced as your own, and optimized for working with allies," Louis pointed out.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I'M STAYING HERE!?" Prometheus shouted, putting a decisive end to the privacy of his conversation with Magnus.

Magnus glanced about the room with a sigh. "You are, last I heard, still confined to the building. The situation does not change-"

"Wrong!" Prometheus retorted, with a level of venom that elevated the single word to a Deionic curse. "And I'll list out the reasons you're wrong, in ascending order of relevance. First, this is the Recruiter we're talking about. He manipulated me, humiliated me, messed with my memories, and I have been dreaming about setting him, his plans, and his summons on fire ever since! Second, the only reason I'm not in jail is because of Maestro. I owe him. Third, Maestro's been my best friend for years, and there's no gods-forsaken way I'm going to just sit around while he's in trouble. And finally, not to put too fine a point on it, but I'm the smartest person and probably the most powerful Dreamer in this room! You need me, Magnus!"

"Prometheus...Maestro has been doing better than he was last time I was back home. He is in trouble, yes, and I am going to do everything in my power to get him and the other Heroes back. But I am not going to tell Maestro that he was rescued at the cost of his best friend. Everybody here is taking a risk going on this mission. You are the only one who would be making a guaranteed sacrifice. And that's not something I will ever ask any soldier under my command. You're staying here."

"Not a chance! I'm not one of your troopers, Magnus. This is my call!"

Capt. Infinity

2016-03-11, 03:47 PM

"Actually, technically, the call is mine." Luisa Nym steps forward, giving Prometheus a cold stare. "Under the stipulations given by the living will of Maestro Mentallo, in the event of capture, detainment, or otherwise circumstances that would leave Maestro incapable of actively running the company, all projects, business transactions, and accountabilities bequeathed to him shall have their responsibility deferred to his second-in-command, me. And that includes the parole management responsibilities for you, Mr. Eaton." She crosses her arms, the android taking on a distinctive air of command. "I hereby bar you from any attempts to aid the OUT-SIDE assault, infiltration mission, or otherwise aid the endeavour in a way that would require you exiting or affecting the premises outside of Mentallo Tower and the immediate surrounding property."

Luisa cuts off Prometheus's immediate retort with a single finger. Evidently she was not done talking. "The primary reason for this order is not based on the legality of doing otherwise. Rather, it is in both assuring my duty of protecting Maestro's company, and in protecting his friends." The robot's eyes harden, but her tone grows more kindly. "Ben, Maestro's will has a hierarchy of individuals slated to take control of the company should he be unable to. After me, you would be second in line to become acting CEO of the company, should anything happen to me. The fact I would like you to consider is that there is no third option. Maestro honestly, truly believes that, after he and I are gone, you would be the last person on Aranth capable of maintaining his vision for the company, and for the future. He trusts you, Mr. Eaton. He trusts you above everyone else on the planet to keep his dreams alive after he's gone, and I can't in good conscience risk the death of Maestro's legacy on top of everything else." She sighs deeply, before turning to look at Louis and Lois. "And it is for similar, if more personal reasonings that I must ask the two of you to remain here at the Tower, where it will be safe." Luisa's look grows sad, but remains ever determined. "Maestro sees the three of us as one of his most crowning achievements. He sees the act of giving us life as one of the few things that let him hold on to his own humanity and mental faculties during one of the most difficult times in his life. I already know for a fact that Maestro would have never advised me going on this mission in the first place, but I can be afforded some liberties due to my level of intimacy towards him." Luisa found herself unconditionally blushing at what seemed to be the mere stating of facts, her bodily responses continuing to confuse her. "But you two? Maestro would never allow you to attempt such an obviously dangerous situation in order to save him. He would see it as you blatantly risking the lives he worked so hard to give you for his own, something he would see as nowhere near worth it. Maestro wouldn't be able to live with himself if anything happened to you." A thin stream of tears begins to roll down the android's face. "I wouldn't be able to live with myself if anything happened to you." Whilst Luisa frequently questioned her own emotional responses, and found herself always working to figure out these irrational feelings that she often felt, she needed no rationalization for when she ran over to her siblings, enrapturing them in a deep and loving hug. A hug she quickly determined to be the kind you give when it might be your last. "Please. Please promise me that you'll stay safe. For both our sakes..."

The amount of rampant emotion Luisa had begun to display in the aftermath of Maestro's capture left her wondering if something had actually broken within her.

It was a staggering surprise to her most of all when she found she couldn't bring herself to care.

Llyarden

2016-03-12, 11:47 AM

Emily edged just a little away from Prometheus as the pryomaniac kinetic started shouting, even though he was on the other side of the room. Fire manipulators came with bad memories, and the fact that most of what she knew of Prometheus was from Sean, whose own perceptions had been coloured by the Reclaimers, did not help matters.

Partly in an attempt to distract herself from the argument, she looked back to the other members of the ACC with a smile. "Hey, it's okay," she said to Colt and Eskiro gently. She didn't feel angry or disappointed that they weren't stepping up. They'd joined the ACC to avoid fights. She knew enough about their powers to know that they would have been just as useful as she would be, but she had no intention of trying to force them to come along when they obviously didn't want to. "We'll be fine," she assured them, belatedly realising, with a slightly embarrassed look to Beth, that she was rather speaking on the powerhouse's behalf.

Hyperbolic sine

2016-03-13, 06:45 AM

"Yeah, don't worry. They won't even know what hit them." Beth replied to Valiere and Eskiro with a smile. "Can't let motnhs of training go to waste, right?" she added, jokingly. Of course, she was just putting a front for her friend's sake, but the reason she asked Declan to teach her how to fight was exactly to protect those he cared about: how could she do nothing in a situation like this?

Meanwhile, Martin was eyeing Magnus and Prometheus. "You know, I could keep an eye on h-" he started saying when the problem seemed to be only Prometheus' confinement, but quickly chocked the rest of the phrase in a fake cough when Magnus and especially Luisa made it exeedingly clear that wasn't the case. "...nevermind..."

Quellian-dyrae

2016-03-13, 11:07 PM

"But I can- He isn't- The optimal solution-" Prometheus started up a few times, trying to come up with some answer that would sway the android.

"Arrrrgggghhh!" he went with instead, as he failed to do so, before turning and striding off out of the room. He wasn't three steps down the hall with sounds of tinkering and flashes of fire could be discerned through the doorway.

Magnus nodded to Luisa, before looking over the others that had volunteered. Mercy's reputation was well-earned, and he had met Maddox a time or two in Indelar. The man's curative powers were strong enough that even given his lack of personal combat experience, he'd be a fool to gainsay him and he knew it. Luisa was designed for combat. Martin Reynolds...was TOP-SIDE, and retired at that. Magnus had nothing but respect for TOP-SIDE agents, but field agents they weren't, so he could admit to some skepticism there. Still, TOP-SIDE agents were extremely devoted to their procedures. If Reynolds was willing to put himself at risk, Magnus knew he had calculated the risk to be worth it.

But the others...

Magnus could admit it, he wasn't all that fond of putting an actress, two members of the ACC, and a director into a battle of this scale. Lucas in particular, if he was honest; the man's Dreamer power was not, as he understood it, optimal for combat. Still, they wanted to help, and Magnus knew he could use as much help as he could get.

He...was not looking forward to the tongue-lashing he was going to receive from the Heroes for allowing their loved ones to go into danger on their behalf.

Luisa's siblings hugged her back tightly. "You will come back safe," Louis told her, as they each kissed one of her cheeks. It was not a request. It was not a prediction. It was an order.

"Just don't get hurt," Valerie said softly, almost pleadingly, as the three hugged their fellow Crewmembers. But more steel and fire came to her voice as she added, "And get our Heroes back."

"I don't expect it to matter," Magnus said, speaking to the group at large, but yes, his eyes did linger on Lucas longer than any of the others. "But I would be remiss if I didn't say, none of you are obligated to do this. You are not fighters. You are not Heroes. I know that all of you have faced peril beside the Heroes on at least one occasion. More, for some of you," he said with a nod to Suzanne. "But I want to make sure you are absolutely clear on the risk. We are going after an entrenched enemy group that was strong enough to overpower and capture the Heroes of Millaine."

"Darla will not be there to hold our enemies back from you. Tom will not be there with the perfect power for the situation. We won't have one of Maestro's tricks to give us the advantage. James will not be there to shield and support us. And we will not have Declan there to leap in the way of danger on our behalf." One day, Sean. One day. Live the dream.

"I will not exclude any of you. I will do my utmost to protect you. But you need to be absolutely certain you are willing to risk your lives for this. Do not ask yourself whether a risk to your own life is worth it to save the Heroes. Ask yourself whether you feel that your contribution to this rescue is worth the possibility of death. And if that thought does not concern you, consider the possibility that we might save the Heroes, only for them to learn that you died to do it."

"There is no shame in staying behind."

"But if you aren't going to, we leave in fifteen minutes."

Capt. Infinity

2016-03-14, 05:38 PM

Luisa simply solemnly nodded at her sibling's request of her. "Yes." She affirmed, before disengaging the hug and facing Magnus as he made his speech. "I know what it feels like to have no say in a matter. To be forced into action without an opinion or choice. So rest assured when I tell you that this course of action is my absolute personal choice. This is what I want to do. What I have to do." She stood resolutely, as she looked amongst the crowd that had stepped forward. "And we all fully intend to see it through."

Zelphas

2016-03-14, 11:41 PM

Ah, there it is. Lucas had been waiting for someone to question his inclusion on this mission. From an objective standpoint, it makes sense; he is by far the least combat-capable of those currently in the room. He may have faced down Koloman, the Recruiter, and a Haptaran kill squad, but that was pretty much all he had done--faced them. He has very few illusions about his ability in a combat situation.

And none of that changes the fact that he would never be able to face Darla again if he doesn't do everything to help her now.

"Understood. I'm ready," he replies calmly. Panning shot to capture everyone's response, then back to Magnus for any final words. Swell the music; cut to establishing shot of the warehouses. Lucas shakes his head. Fairbourne, you can table storyboarding the sequel until after Darla is safe, he admonishes himself.

Llyarden

2016-03-15, 06:33 AM

"No-one is gonna die," Emily said simply, after Lucas and Luisa had spoken. And she said it in that same fierce tone, sounding nearly confident enough that the assembled observers might not have noticed the slight quaver in her voice.

Nearly.

Hyperbolic sine

2016-03-15, 02:13 PM

Martin glanced at Magnus with a raised eyebrow. "Don't look at me like that, I'm only 58! And I'll have you know that I was IN-SIDE once!" he said, with obviously faked resentment, in the same fatherly and slightly joking tone he had kept since the beginning. "I won't sit idly when my son is held by Archdamn Haptarans." he added, coldly, his smile briefly vanishing from his face before being back already by the time he got up from the chair he was sitting on.

"We will." Beth replied to Valerie, returning her friends' hugs. Then, she turned to Magnus and took a deep breath, readying herself for whatever would come once the mission started. "Ready."

manwithaplan

2016-03-16, 01:42 AM

"Yep, let's go."

They didn't have a code for this level of danger yet, but with what seemed like every combat-capable person she'd ever met in the room and ready to fight, she didn't feel very endangered.

Quellian-dyrae

2016-03-16, 11:39 PM

"Wait wait wait!" Prometheus shouted as he came running back into the room dragging a cart full of...toys. Not like, what kids mean when they say toys. What veteran soldiers mean when they say toys.

"I might have to wait around here, but Fate smite me if I'm going to be waiting around here uselessly. Now, I only had a few minutes to work on these things mind, so they're not going to be game-changers, but they should be able to help at least. Here." He shoved what appeared to be some sort of fancy visor and a belt with some sort of active crystal buckle into Lucas' hands. "This is a VR visor Maestro and I use when we're gaming sometimes. It uses predictive algorithms to assist in making high-speed reactions, while also filtering out distractions. I tinkered with it so its movement impulses are sent to a kinetic assist belt. Your power isn't on the same level as mine of Maestro's, but your cognitive enhancement should be sufficient that you can use it effectively on its lowest setting."

To Suzanne, he handed a pair of silver bracelets. "Basic personal deflectors. They'll generate kinetic force barriers to turn attacks aside. You basically just have to put your arms in the way, so they're good for someone who doesn't have much real combat training since they operate fine off of your average person's panic instinct."

He handed Emily a vial of golden liquid that appeared to be gently glowing. "Little recipe Maestro cooked up for his dad when he was like twelve or something. It reactively activates the curative powers of Dreamers that possess them when they're injured, to speed recovery. From what I hear you're probably going to get yourself hurt a lot, so this should help with that."

To Beth he...well, he didn't hand her anything, but he gestured for her to take a big ol' black-and-red metal breastplate, with four mechanical arms sprouting from it. Although the Haptaran flag emblem had been removed, it was unmistakably from one of the suits of powered armor that had attacked the gala. "Most of the servos and weapons and stuff are, uh, being used in other projects. But I put a neural link and a power cell in the thing, so the arms should work well enough, and it's an extra layer of defense. Not going to outdo that forcefield belt, but if something gets through that, at least you won't be the squishiest powerhouse on the planet."

Finally, he handed Luisa a simple commlink-like device. "Old prototype for Maestro's telepathic earpiece. I recalibrated it, it should pick up the telepathy that Magnus and Lucas use just fine, and let you contribute to mental conversations. Also added a small power chip that will interface with your existing programming. I've already hard-coded it to run your active defense algorithms in the background when combat functions have been detected. And no, I'm not going to unlock it. The defense programming is non-negotiable for reasons that I'm sure are obvious."

He handed Mercy, Maddox, and Martin each some device and brief explanation of its effects as well. Magnus just watched with an expectant smile on his face until Prometheus had emptied his cart and looked his way. The OUT-SIDE commander's smile began to droop.

"Look, I only had a few minutes here."

*Sigh*

"I mean...you want the wagon? You can have the-"

"I shall not require the wagon, thank you."

"I'm just saying, it's among our assets. You can totally take the wagon..."

You all receive the following devices from Prometheus' Inventor Advantage and Fires of Invention power:

Lucas - Tactical Visor and Kinetic Assist Belt: Enhanced Dodge and Parry 3, Enhanced Will 2.

Suzanne - Combat Deflector: Enhanced Dodge and Parry 5.

Emily - Regenerative Serum: Regeneration 5.

Beth - Haptaran Breastplate: Extra Limbs 4, Immunity 2 (Critical Hits; Unreliable).

Luisa - Technopathic Earpiece: Feature 1 (Can Receive Mental Communication), Deflect 10 (Reduced Range [Close], Limited [Self Only], Linked to Unarmed Strikes).

* * * * *

Half an hour later, a couple blocks away from the complex, the group awaited their "signal". The plan, as Magnus had described it, was for the group to move as soon as they heard the gunfire that would indicate OUT-SIDE had engaged. Magnus' psychic powers had discerned the existence of an escape tunnel that wasn't on the building's blueprints. With OUT-SIDE attacking from the front, that would be the group's way in.

"Defenses should be light from this route, but not entirely nonexistent. I foresee some combat robots holding in the escape tunnel to cover a retreat or fend off an attack from people who manage to learn about it."

"Eleven of them," Mercy reported. "Well, twelve, but one of them had been positioned outside of clear sightlines to the others. Silly. They're pretty big, but that's the norm for Haptarus. Too many in proximity to neutralize the whole group undetected, but shouldn't be anything we can't handle in force."

At what point, exactly, Mercy had separated from the group was probably a question best saved for another day.

The group made their way fast to the smaller building where the escape tunnel came out of. There was, in theory, a door in their way. It was, in theory, locked.

...

Inside, twelve eleven hulking, Haptaran-model combat robots (they could be best described as resembling crude metallic gorillas with artillery guns mounted on their backs) stood ready to engage.

Honestly my default assumption is that Beth kicks the door down, but you guys are free to figure out another means of entry. If it's sneaky enough, you might even get a surprise round for it! Or even bypass this encounter altogether (I mean, if you don't want a "training fight" with your (N)PCs :smallamused:). But barring that:

Initiative:
Beth: [roll0].
Emily: [roll1].
Lucas: [roll2].
Luisa: [roll3].
Suzanne: [roll4].

Robots: [roll5].

Map (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1utHkKkZVHAvwEDZ3Dsebt8uBGR2xHphwMCbMGchD35M/edit#gid=0)

I've only got six of the eleven robots on the map. For simplicity, I'm going to just assume Magnus, Mercy, Maddox, and Martin (WOW that's a lot of M's) can handle the other five "in the background". Even though these robots are actually kinda immune to Magnus, but whatever, he's crafty.

Barring something that earns you a surprise round, Luisa is on turn.

Capt. Infinity

2016-03-17, 07:38 PM

Luisa enters the building and immediately enters a combat stance. For all her reforming, and her work as a civilized member of society, the truth of the matter was that old habits die hard, and like it or not, Luisa Nym was built to fight. "I will engage the one on the right. Feel free to aid as you deem appropriate." The android acknowledges, before rushing at the Haptaran robot, assaulting it with a flurry of blows, and trusting the defensive algorithms of her earpiece to provide her aid.

Move: Move to J4
Assault Robot 6 with Hasted Strikes, Power Attacking for 3. On a hit, DC 28 Toughness save against Damage. Either way, Deflect 10 is now up as well: [roll0]

Quellian-dyrae

2016-03-17, 09:44 PM

Round 1

The combat robots were fast to react to Beth smashing the door open...but Luisa was faster. She moved in and landed a hard punch with her full strength behind it right in the face of her targeted robot.

CLANG!

As was the norm for Haptaran military technology, what it lacked in grace and speed, it made up for with sheer durability. The robot wasn't even dented.

It struck back, lashing out with a heavy blow aiming to knock Luisa to the ground, while jet thrusters sent another one launching her way, slashing at her with rending claws engaged. Two of the robots aimed and fired, sending artillery shells flying at Suzanne and Emily, while the last two rushed to engage Beth, trying to grab and crush her.

Magnus sent a flurry of telepathic orders, while Mary and Martin both rushed into the fray, while Maddox held back, ready to provide healing to whoever needed it.

Robot 1:
Move: Into I3.
Standard: Attack Luisa with Servo Strength at [roll0], Deflected at [roll1]. On a hit, Toughness DC 25 vs. Damage, Strength+Power Lifting or Mobility DC [roll2] vs. Trip. That actually hits anyway thanks to natural 20, but due to Deflect, it is NOT a crit.

Robot 2:
Move: Nah.
Standard: Attack Emily with Blaster at [roll3]. On a hit, Toughness DC 25 vs. Damage. Hit

Robot 3:
Move: Into M7.
Standard: Attack Beth with Servo Strength at [roll4]. On a hit, Toughness DC 25 vs. Damage, Strength or Dodge DC 20 vs. Grab. Crit, UNLESS the Unreliable check succeeds for her Haptaran Breastplate.

Robot 4:
Move: Nah.
Standard: Attack Suzanne with Blaster at [roll5]. On a hit, Toughness DC 25 vs. Damage. Miss, yay for deflector bracelets

Robot 5:
Move: Into M8.
Standard: Attack Beth with Servo Strength at [roll6]. On a hit, Toughness DC 25 vs. Damage, Strength or Dodge DC 20 vs. Grab. Hit

Robot 6:
Move: Nah.
Standard: Attack Luisa with Rend at [roll7], Deflect at [roll8]. On a hit, Toughness DC 25 vs. Secondary Effect Damage. Haha no

Current Status (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?472225-Heroes-of-Millaine-OOC-4-Increase-Your-Power-Level-By-1!&p=20196810#post20196810)

Map (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1utHkKkZVHAvwEDZ3Dsebt8uBGR2xHphwMCbMGchD35M/edit#gid=0)

All PCs are on turn.

manwithaplan

2016-03-17, 11:27 PM

In the flurry of attacks, Suzanne didn't even stop to defend herself; she reloaded her icicles and spun around to restart her combo, shaking one of her wrists until the deflector came free. It was just a hunch, but sure enough she turned to find one of the bots firing its weapon at her. With a yell she flung her deflector at it, twisting away and continuing to throw icicles in every direction. She heard an unusual explosion behind her as the confused deflector created a spherical shield around itself which the sonic attack bounced off of, forming a shockwave that sent the bracelet flying back to her. By the time it reached the actor, though, she had already twisted around again to keep throwing at the enemies on that side of the room, and carelessly stuck out a hand to catch the flying device and slide it back onto her arm.

"Yes! Did everyone see that?"

Having one power is weird.

Move Action: No thanks!
Standard Action: Icicle Barrage, using Multiattack to target all six of them.
HR 1 Attack 1d20+4 for DC 25 Damage.
HR 2 Attack 1d20+4 for DC 25 Damage.
HR 3 Attack 1d20+4 for DC 25 Damage.
HR 4 Attack 1d20+4 for DC 25 Damage.
HR 5 Attack 1d20+4 for DC 25 Damage.
HR 6 Attack 1d20+4 for DC 25 Damage.

Status: Fatigued.

Llyarden

2016-03-18, 12:18 PM

"Ow!" Emily yelped as the artillery shell slammed into her shoulder, splintering off some of her bark armour. It didn't do any significant damage - Prometheus' potion was already beginning to take effect, the bark knitting itself back together, but it still hurt. "Hey!"

She glared at the robot, which probably didn't care, and squeezed past the two that had occupied the door, following Suzanne in, at the last moment changing direction as she realised that taking cover was probably prudent. She thrust both hands out, a vine uncoiling from amidst the many that were wrapped around her body, spiralling down her arms and lashing out at the robot that had shot her, snapping off from Emily and immediately beginning to root itself into the ground, constricting with (she hoped) crushing force.

Move: Move around the door robots and into J8.
Standard: Vine Snare on Robot 2, accurate attacking for 1: [roll0]. On a hit, DC15 Prowess vs Dazed & Vulnerable / Stunned & Defenceless, and if that fails, DC20 Toughness vs damage.

Status: 1 Bruise (regenerates next round).

Capt. Infinity

2016-03-18, 01:23 PM

Haptaran efficiency may make its fair share of destructive robots, but no amount of practicality can match the sheer effectiveness of some good, old-fashioned custom machinery. The Haptaran robot discovered this firsthand when its mighty swing downwards at Luisa Nym was stopped dead by a one-armed block from the former kill-bot. She gives the robot a cold glare. "Your design seems to prioritize power over grace. How unfortunate for you that I was built with an ample surplus of both." Said skills were put on full display when, in response to the forward surge from the other Haptaran robot, Luisa used her free hand to grab hold of the first droid's stopped fist, and used it as a point of leverage to front-flip over its arm, and out of the way of its ally's rending blades.

The android positions herself such that one of the robots is between her and the other. "Then again, perhaps there are apropriate times and places for a more... direct approach." The reformed robot smirks, as she spins on her heel, aiming a full roundhouse kick into one of the attack bots, hoping to send it flying into the other behind it.

Move Action: Move to I5
Standard Action: Perform a push action on HR6, attempting to shove it into HR1. I believe on a successful strike, the first one takes DC 25 Toughness against damage, and I may or may not require a second roll to hit the other. Please let me know: [roll0]

Hyperbolic sine

2016-03-19, 12:29 PM

The forcefield belt sparkled and sizzled as its generator was overloaded by the two almost simultaneous strikes: unfortunately, even state-of-the-art technology needs to undergo a breaking in period before functioning at its best, and the belt didn't - Declan's training had focused mostly on how to actually dodge blows, and in any case there was no killing power behind his strikes.

In any case, that was something hardly under her control. Punching aside the robotic fists before they gtìrabbed her was, though, and she managed that easily. A fierce glare in her eyes, she then proceeded to launch a flurry of attacks at the two machines in front of her, taking advantage of her extra arms to try and pin them down both.

Move: Startle HR3&5 (@-5 for identical non-minions) at [roll0] (Ok, they're probably immune, but meh.)
Standard: Flurry of Blows Multiattack, on hit Toughness DC 23 vs Damage and Strength DC 22 vs Grab (Escape @ -5)
HR3: [roll1]
HR5: [roll2]

I think I can only benefit from 4 ranks of Deflect, so Deflected at 1d10+14.

Zelphas

2016-03-20, 12:01 AM

Lucas accepts the visor and belt with a nod and a smile of thanks, smiling at the back and forth between Magnus and Prometheus. What I wouldn't give for a holocaust cloak...

---

As the fight against the robots starts, Lucas holds back a wince. everyone was still in good health at the moment, but they weren't making much headway against the enemies. Lucas scans the room from the doorway, weighing the options and deciding where he could be most useful in the fight.

Move Action: Stay out of the fight. Move to O7 if necessary to see into the room.

Standard Action: Analyze the battlefield. +1 Hero Point!

Quellian-dyrae

2016-03-20, 12:16 PM

Round 2

Let it never be said that Haptaran battle-bots weren't physically formidable; they withstood Luisa's attacks and broke Emily's vines. Beth's superpowered blows put some dents in them, but even with the assist from the four-armed breastplate she couldn't secure a solid hold, nor were either of her targets anywhere near ready to quite. Suzanne's icicle flurry, though, spread a good bit of damage around, and left two of the robots sparking and smoking as some sort of important mechanism was shattered by the high-powered icicles, proving there was no substitute for experience.

But none of the robots were down, and they pressed their attack, the two most heavily-damaged ones continuing to fire at Suzanne and Emily, this time with concussive blasts of sound rather than bullets, while the others maintained melee assaults on Beth and Luisa, Luisa's foes attempting to get a grip on her and tear her apart, while Beth's laid in with rending claws.

Robot 1:
Move: Nah.
Standard: Attack Luisa with Servo Strength at [roll0], Deflected at [roll1]. On a hit, Toughness DC 25 vs. Damage, Strength or Dodge DC 20 vs. Fast Grab. Miss

Robot 2:
Move: Staggered.
Standard: Attack Emily with Sonic Suppressor at [roll2]. On a hit, Will DC 20 vs. Dazed/Stunned/Incapacitated. Miss

Robot 3:
Move: None.
Standard: Attack Beth with Rend at [roll3]. On a hit, Toughness DC 25 vs. Secondary Effect Damage. Hit

Robot 4:
Move: Staggered.
Standard: Attack Suzanne with Sonic Suppressor at [roll4]. On a hit, Will DC 20 vs. Dazed/Stunned/Incapacitated. Miss

Robot 5:
Move: Dazed.
Standard: Attack Beth with Rend at [roll5]. On a hit, Toughness DC 25 vs. Secondary Effect Damage. Miss

Robot 6:
Move: Nope.
Standard: Attack Luisa with Servo Strength at [roll6], Deflected at [roll7]. On a hit, Toughness DC 25 vs. Damage, Strength or Dodge DC 20 vs. Fast Grab. Miss

Map (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1utHkKkZVHAvwEDZ3Dsebt8uBGR2xHphwMCbMGchD35M/edit#gid=0)

Current Status (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?472225-Heroes-of-Millaine-OOC-4-Increase-Your-Power-Level-By-1!)

All PCs are on turn.

Capt. Infinity

2016-03-20, 02:16 PM

Both the robots would find themselves grabbing nothing but empty air, as Luisa Nym deftly jumps up and out of the way of their strikes, landing elegantly on top of one of the robots' heads. "Perhaps you misheard me." The android glares coldly at her robotic lessers. "I am built with a surplus of both Grace-" She pulls one leg far backwards, lining it up with the robotic cranium beneath her other foot. "AND POWER!" She whips her foot back down, straight into the skull of the one robot beneath her, hoping to kick it's head off in one clean move as she uses her inertia to backlflip back onto the ground.

Move Action: Attempt to Feint the robot at -5: [roll0]
Standard Action: Attack HR6 with Hasted Strikes, Power Attacking for 5, All-Out Attacking for 5. On a hit, DC 30 + Multiattack Toughness save against Damage. -5 to Deflect next round (Deflect +5): [roll1]

Llyarden

2016-03-20, 04:02 PM

Emily was better prepared for the robot's retaliation on the second time of asking and ducked as it fired at her. Not that the blast of sonic energy actually came within twenty feet of her, but, you know, progress.

Turning to see Beth assailed by the two robots she'd wriggled past, she spun and lashed out with another vine at the worse-injured one, binding it up and restricting its movements, before taking cover from the robot firing on her.

Move: Into J11.
Standard: Aid Beth's next attack on HR5, accurate all-out attacking for 2: [roll0] +5 to Beth's next attack on HR5.
End of Turn: Regenerates a Bruise.

Status: -2 to active defences.

Hyperbolic sine

2016-03-20, 06:27 PM

The added defensive benefits of her flurry of blows proved invaluable, as Beth punched out of the way what would have otherwise been quite the crippling attack. Then, grinning at seeing Emily's vines restraining one of the robots, she took a moment to gather her strength and, with a battle cry, swinged at it with the force of a head-on collision with a train, threatening to send the Haptaran automaton flying and crashing towards its comrade on the other side of the room.

Standard: Power attack (4) with Awesome Blow on HR5 (+5 from Aid) at [roll0], Toughness DC 31 vs Damage and Strength DC 26 vs being launched towards HR4 (to hit: [roll1] Crit!, Toughness DC 36 vs Damage).
Move: Nah.

Zelphas

2016-03-20, 09:16 PM

Lucas gazes over the battlefield, smiling as his teammates begin to turn the tide. His eyes bounce across the readouts in the visor, his enhanced intellect allowing him to read the information therein at dizzying speed. "Suzanne! Scene 24!" he calls out, referring to the scripted battle between the Heroes and the Recruiter after he and Copycat came face to face. The regular battle had been a blur of pain and controlled terror for Lucas, but the screenplay contained a rather cinematic moment where Waterworks bound the Angel in tentacles, then used the rebound to smash at the Recruiter. Suzanne had proven rather good at bouncing her ice shots off of targets in preparation for the scene, and what they have at the moment is a target-rich environment.

Move Action: None.

Standard Action + Hero Point: Direct Action. Suzanne gets a second Standard Action, without gaining fatigue.

manwithaplan

2016-03-21, 12:57 AM

"Oh, that's what I'm doing, Lucas!"

Now on the ground and unharmed, Suzanne smacked another attack aside with her bracelets. Fighting was easy when you had shields; how did Copycat get hit so much when he had those, super speed, three kinds of armour and the ability to slow time?! If she had all the powers, she'd be way cooler than him.

She continued to twirl about, flinging her blasts at everything that hadn't already hit the ground or exploded.

Seven minutes left on my break, I don't have time to format. Let's just say I'm doing what I did last turn, shooting at them in numerical order, then starting again from the top.

Attack [roll0] for DC 25 Damage.
Attack [roll1] for DC 25 Damage
Attack [roll2] for DC 25 Damage
Attack [roll3] for DC 25 Damage
Attack [roll4] for DC 25 Damage

Attack [roll5] for DC 25 Damage.
Attack [roll6] for DC 25 Damage
Attack [roll7] for DC 25 Damage
Attack [roll8] for DC 25 Damage
Attack [roll9] for DC 25 Damage

Quellian-dyrae

2016-03-21, 01:27 AM

Round 3

Following the deft avoidance of every attack against them, Luisa hammered her target with a crushing series of blows, leaving its frontal armor shattered and smoke and sparks pouring from damaged electronics. Emily's vines held Beth's target down, allowing her to hit it full force, putting another deep dent in its structure, though it managed to resist being sent flying into the other robot. With some guidance from Lucas, Suzanne bounced a barrage of icicles about the room, causing heavy damage. Only one of the robots wasn't spewing smoke and sparks freely now.

But Haptaran killbots were not programmed to either retreat or surrender. They pressed their assault, standing almost still as they lined up their attacks.

Robot 1:
Move: Dazed.
Standard: Attack Luisa with Servo Strength, All Out Attacking for 5, at [roll0], Deflected at [roll1]. On a hit, Toughness DC 25 vs. Damage, Strength or Dodge DC 20 vs. Grab. Miss

Robot 2:
Move: Staggered.
Standard: Attack Emily with Sonic Suppressor, All Out Attacking for 5, -2 for Cover, at [roll2]. On a hit, Will DC 20 vs. Dazed/Stunned/Incapacitated. Hit

Robot 3:
Move: Staggered.
Standard: Attack Beth with Rend, All Out Attacking for 5, at [roll3]. On a hit, Toughness DC 25 vs. Secondary Effect Damage. Hit

Robot 4:
Move: Staggered.
Standard: Attack Suzanne with Sonic Suppressor, All Out Attacking for 5, at [roll4]. On a hit, Will DC 20 vs. Dazed/Stunned/Incapacitated. Miss

Robot 5:
Move: Staggered.
Standard: Attack Beth with Rend, All Out Attacking for 5, at [roll5]. On a hit, Toughness DC 25 vs. Secondary Effect Damage. Hit

Robot 6:
Move: Staggered.
Standard: Attack Luisa with Servo Strength, All Out Attacking for 5, at [roll6], Deflected at [roll7]. On a hit, Toughness DC 25 vs. Damage, Strength or Dodge DC 20 vs. Grab. Miss

Map (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1utHkKkZVHAvwEDZ3Dsebt8uBGR2xHphwMCbMGchD35M/edit#gid=0)

Current Status (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?472225-Heroes-of-Millaine-OOC-4-Increase-Your-Power-Level-By-1!&p=20196810#post20196810)

All PCs are on turn.

Llyarden

2016-03-22, 04:14 PM

Emily clapped her hands over her ears as the sonic blast hit, though this didn't particularly help. Staggering slightly, she tried to focus, the vines and plant matter that coated her body beginning to blossom with grass and flowers.

Was kinda waiting to see what happened to Beth, but with that crazy number of hero points I figure she'll probably be fine.

Move: Dazed.
Standard: Gather Energy for a hero point.

Will (DC20): [roll0] Dice hate Emily just as much as Wilson.

Status: Dazed (W20), +1HP.

Hyperbolic sine

2016-03-22, 04:44 PM

Perhaps the belt's generator had finally started to function at its best, or perhaps it was just luck, but this time the forcefield withstood both attacks. Beth, vexed by her little contribution to the battle compared to what Suzanne was doing, rained a frenzied flurry of blows on the two robots in front of her - fully intending to demolish them, even at expense of her own safety.

Move: Guess I should give her something she can do with her move other than startling or, well, moving.
Standard: All-out (4) Power attack with Flurry of Blows HR3 ([roll0]) and HR5 ([roll1] Crit!), Toughness DC 28/33 vs Damage.

EDIT: I forgot the Multiattack penalty, the rolls should be 2 less.

Defended at 1d10+10 (I think. More, if I'm wrong).

Capt. Infinity

2016-03-23, 10:08 PM

Luisa smirked with satisfaction as the robot in front of her began sparking violently. "It is good to see you finally facing facts. Now, allow me to hammer the point home." The android reiterates, before assaulting the Haptaran Warmachine with another flurry of blows.

Move Action: Nah.
Standard Action: Hastened Strikes on HR6, Power Attacking for 5, All-Out Attacking for 5. On a successful hit, DC 30 Toughness save against damage. -5 Defence at the end of the round: [roll0]

Zelphas

2016-03-24, 11:00 PM

Lucas' eyes whir across the readouts from the visor, and he has to still his fingers from tapping out on an imaginary keyboard. Their armor is built to withstand direct hits, he comments calmly over the mental link, quietly kicking himself for forgetting about it in the first few moments of battle. Hit them at about a thirty degree angle on either side of the central weld, or a forty-five degree angle at the 'shoulder' weld, and their armor should be weaker.

Move Action: He's fine.

Standard Action + Hero Point: Direct Tactics. Intellect: [roll0] +2 Bonus. This bonus is going to everyone's Attack checks next round.

Quellian-dyrae

2016-03-25, 01:21 PM

Round 4

Though heavily damaged, the robots simply would not fall. Ilessian engineers oft disdained their Haptaran counterparts' emphasize on sheer mass and power, deeming such designs inelegant and inefficient. There may have been some truth to that, but there was no denying that the Haptaran designs had their benefits too, as the robots cracked and dented, but kept fighting on.

The ones engaged with Luisa kept hammering away, trying tocatch the far faster robot in their grasp. The ones fighting Beth changed tactics, waves of sound crashing down on the Cleaner as the robots fired their sonic suppressors. The other two focused their fire on Suzanne and her deadly flurries of icicles, both firing their main blasters at the ice controller.

Robot 1:
Move: Nah.
Standard: Attack Luisa with Servo Strength, All Out Attacking for 5, at [roll0], Deflected at [roll1]. On a hit, Toughness DC 25 vs. Damage, Strength or Dodge DC 20 vs. Grab. Deflected

Robot 2:
Move: Staggered.
Standard: Attack Suzanne with Blaster, All Out Attacking for 5, at [roll2]. On a hit, Toughness DC 25 vs. Damage. Hit

Robot 3:
Move: Staggered.
Standard: Attack Beth with Sonic Suppressor, All Out Attacking for 5, at [roll3], Deflected at [roll4]. On a hit, Will DC 20 vs. Dazed/Stunned/Incapacitated. Deflected
End of Turn: Beth has to roll Toughness DC 25 vs. the Secondary Effect.

Robot 4:
Move: Staggered.
Standard: Attack Suzanne with Blaster, All Out Attacking for 5, at [roll5]. On a hit, Toughness DC 25 vs. Damage. Hit

Robot 5:
Move: Staggered.
Standard: Attack Beth with Sonic Suppressor, All Out Attacking for 5, at [roll6], Deflected at [roll7]. On a hit, Will DC 20 vs. Dazed/Stunned/Incapacitated. Deflected
End of Turn: Beth has to roll Toughness DC 25 vs. the Secondary Effect.

Robot 6:
Move: Staggered.
Standard: Attack Luisa with Servo Strength, All Out Attacking for 5, at [roll8], Deflected at [roll9]. On a hit, Toughness DC 25 vs. Damage, Strength or Dodge DC 20 vs. Grab. Deflected

Map (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1utHkKkZVHAvwEDZ3Dsebt8uBGR2xHphwMCbMGchD35M/edit#gid=0)

Current Status (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?472225-Heroes-of-Millaine-OOC-4-Increase-Your-Power-Level-By-1!&p=20196810#post20196810)

All PCs are on turn.

Capt. Infinity

2016-03-25, 02:55 PM

Luisa dodged and deflected blow after blow from the hulking automatons, growing more and more impatient with their resilience. ~Imperfection verified. Attack pattern re-optimized for maximum damage. Thank you, Lucas.~ The android ends her sentence in a starkly more human tone, compared to the positively robotic analysis of the current situation. Evidently, certain old habits die hard, and this was more than true for Luisa's combat programming. Still though, it was most definitely progress.

"Perhaps a more cordial approach is required. Please cease this persistent denial?" The much nimbler robot faux implores of her enemy. It wasn't exactly wit, but hey, at least she's trying, right?

Move Action: Nah.
Standard Action: Attack HR6 with Hastened Strikes, Power Attacking for 5. On a hit, DC 30 + Multiattack Toughness save against damage. Defended this round: [roll0]

Llyarden

2016-03-25, 04:20 PM

"Hey!" Emily complained, as she was ignored entirely by the robots. "I am here, you know!" The vines that covered her body began to stretch out, uncoiling like snakes, and sprouting vicious-looking barbed thorns. "Well, fine. See how you like this!"

The vines lashed down at the more heavily-damaged robot facing Beth, striking at the weak spots Lucas had pointed out and attempting to bind the robot in place.

Extra Effort: Stunt from Plant Control. (Yes, I know I can stunt from the other random stuff as well but I can't think of anything useful to do with it.)
Thorn Lash - Damage 6, Secondary Effect, Feature (grab attempt on hit), Extra Limbs 5, Elongation 6, Quirk (Extra Limbs only), Enhanced Advantage (Improved Critical 1 (Thorn Lash), Improved Hold)
Move: Dazed.
Standard: Attack HR5 with Thorn Lash, power attacking for 5 with the temporary hero point: [roll0]. On a hit, DC26 Toughness vs damage and DC...er, 26?...whatever one resists grabs with vs grab. You can tell I don't use the grapple rules very much, can't you?

Recovery (DC20): [roll1]

Status: Dazed (W20), Fatigued next round.

Hyperbolic sine

2016-03-26, 12:06 PM

"Why. Won't. You. Friggin'. DIE?????" Beth shouted, angered and frustrated, keeping up her ferocious assult on the robots even as her belt sparkled some more. No matter how hard she hit, it was never enough. Was she really that powerless?

The fact that she, somehow, just punched away sound blasts, went completely over her head.

Move: Dazed.
Standard: Power Multiattack (2) with Flurry of Blows HR3 at [roll0] and HR5 at [roll1], Toughness DC 28 vs Damage.
If the Aid applies only to one attack, then no Power Attack on HR3.

Deflected at 1d10+14.

Zelphas

2016-03-26, 09:41 PM

Lucas allows himself a thin smile as the tide begins to turn in their favor. He remains silent, simply glancing over the scene and weighing the options.

Move Action: Nope nope.

Standard Action: Survey the battlefield. +1 temporary Hero Point.

manwithaplan

2016-03-26, 10:57 PM

Suzanne deftly raised the deflector she had previously thrown, putting the corresponding hand between her and one of her attackers. A few sparks escaped from it, followed by a puff of smoke, and no shield appeared to protect. Apparently it wasn't as capable for in-combat stunts as she had hoped.

She wouldn't admit it later, but the sound Suzanne made in response to the incoming blast was a drawn out squeal as she gathered up her ice armor, covering her whole body in a shell that was rocked on impact. She fell to the ground, getting back up just in time to take a second shot in the back. Forced back onto one knee, the next sound she made was more akin to a growl.

With four icicles in hand, she looked around the room and spotted four targets. The actor wordlessly flung her hand outwards, sending the projectiles all at once for the droids' weak spots, revealed just earlier by Lucas.

Move Action: I'm good.
Standard Action: Once more! All-Out Power Attack 2.
HR1 Attack [roll0] for DC 27 Damage.
HR2 Attack [roll1] for DC 27 Damage.
HR3 Attack [roll2] for DC 27 Damage.
HR4 Attack [roll3] for DC 27 Damage.

Status: 2 Bruises, Fatigued.

Quellian-dyrae

2016-03-27, 11:04 PM

Round 5

...But even Haptaran engineering could only take so much.

Luisa's heavy blows hit the weak spots Lucas had pointed out perfectly, breaking off the heavy armored plate of the robot she had been pounding on, exposing its vulnerable internal mechanisms. Emily's vines pried the robot's armor open well enough that Beth's next powerful punch smashed right through, even as she continued to batter the other robot. One of Suzanne's targets managed to take her icicle's to its armor, but she caught the other one just right, piercing its backup power generator. Three of the six machines collapsed into broken heaps.

The other three each picked one opponent who had dropped one of their fellows, and lashed out at them with rending sweeps of their vicious claws.

Robot 1:
Move: Nah.
Standard: Attack Luisa with Rending Claws, All Out Attacking for 5, at [roll0], Deflected at [roll1]. On a hit, Toughness DC 25 vs. Secondary Effect Damage. Really,

Robot 2:
Move: Staggered.
Standard: Charge Suzanne and attack with Rending Claws, All Out Attacking for 5, at [roll2]. On a hit, Toughness DC 25 vs. Secondary Effect Damage. robots?

Robot 3:
Move: Staggered.
Standard: Attack Beth with Rending Claws, All Out Attacking for 5, at [roll3], Deflected at [roll4]. On a hit, Toughness DC 25 vs. Secondary Effect Damage. REALLY?

Map (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1utHkKkZVHAvwEDZ3Dsebt8uBGR2xHphwMCbMGchD35M/edit#gid=0)

Current Status (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?472225-Heroes-of-Millaine-OOC-4-Increase-Your-Power-Level-By-1!&p=20196810#post20196810)

All PCs are on turn.

Capt. Infinity

2016-03-27, 11:18 PM

And in that moment -that crystalline, shining moment- Luisa Nym learned a valuable lesson about the raw power of politeness. Dodging and weaving away from the remaining robot's strikes, the android looked in utter befuddlement at the scene before her. "I... Huh. I can't believe that actually worked. This merits further study. Excuse me. Would you kindly cease functioning, just as your friend did previously?" She asks completely honestly this time, raining another series of heavy blows on the Haptaran robot before her.

Move Action: Nope.
Standard Action: Hastened Strikes on HR1. All-Out Attacking for 5, Power Attacking for 5. Defended next round at -5 defence. On a hit, DC 30 + Multiattack Toughness save against Damage: [roll0] CRIT! Make that DC 40 Toughness against damage, since the Multiattack bonus is a foregone conclusion

Llyarden

2016-03-28, 09:53 AM

Emily was so distracted by the rather odd turn of events that she entirely forgot about being angry at being ignored by the robots. "I don't...I don't know what to say to that. Erm..."

She looked to the other robot that Beth was fighting. "Would you mind awfully falling apart now?" she asked, lashing out with another group of vines.

Move: Dazed.
Standard: Attack HR3 with Thorn Lash, all-out and power attacking for 2: [roll0]. On a hit, DC23 Toughness vs damage and DC23 whatever-it-is vs grab. Politeness only goes so far.

Recovery (DC20): [roll1]

Status: Dazed (W20), Fatigued, -2 to active defences.

Hyperbolic sine

2016-03-29, 03:16 PM

As one of the robots finally fell under her punches, Beth felt both relief and excitement, as the proof that in the end all the efforts she put into training didn't go to waste made even more adrenaline surge in her blood.

"Please follow your buddy!" she said cheerfully at the auutomaton in front of her, forgoing defense to attack it with all the strength she could muster.

Move: nah.
Standard: All-out (4) Power Attack (4) on HR3 with Awesome Blow at [roll0], Toughness DC 31 vs Damage and (if it survives) Strength DC 26 vs Fast Grab.

manwithaplan

2016-03-29, 08:39 PM

Suzanne finally stopped to catch her breath as the bots began to fall around her. She still had one more round of icicles preparing, ready to throw, and now she unloaded all of it on the one Haptaran bot that had charged her, deftly stepping out of its reach as she did.

"Take this!"

She hadn't had time to prepare quips this morning.

Move Action: Get back from H2.
Standard Action: Yep, I shoot it with All-Out Power! Attack [roll0] for DC 27+Multiattack Damage.

Status: 2 Bruises, Fatigued, -2 Defence.

Quellian-dyrae

2016-03-29, 09:12 PM

Down went the remaining robots under a flurry of mighty attacks and/or polite requests! The battle was over, but the science was just beginning!

Maddox moved among the group as everyone caught their breaths, quickly healing any injuries received, his potent restorative powers even sufficient to recharge Beth's forcefield belt.

"OUT-SIDE has just about overpowered the frontal defenders. They should be breaching in under thirty seconds," Magnus reported. "Everyone ready to move?"

Battle over. Everybody take a :smallcool: Hero Point.

I figured I'd leave in a pause rather than ushering you along to allow for RP.

Zelphas

2016-03-29, 09:23 PM

Lucas wears a slight grin at the end of the battle. Perfect, a comedic moment; we needed that to offset the drama of the last scene, he thinks quietly to himself, before shaking his head wearily. I'm not going to be able to keep from storyboarding this, am I?

In response to Maddox, Lucas simply nods; he is ready to go, but he hadn't actually done any of the fighting. Besides, the director's position is behind the scenes; he doesn't need to insert himself overtly into the action.

Capt. Infinity

2016-03-30, 10:17 PM

Luisa looks over the battle, mulling over the tactics used and possibly legitimately considering developing a martial arts style entirely predicated on complementing your enemy. But that was a question for later. Now was the time for action.

The free-minded android looks over to Madox and nods. "I am sufficiently recuperated. Let's get our friends back. Oh, and good job everyone, nice work out there." She added at the end. Evidently, adding a Public Relations subroutine into Luisa's morality coding wasn't as big a frivolity as the robot initially thought. Evidently, kindness could be weaponized.

Quellian-dyrae

2016-03-31, 10:02 PM

Magnus led the way forward, heading to the stairs and...stopping cold before he was two steps down, holding up a clenched fist. He stayed very still for several seconds, before letting out a low curse and turning to the group. "More hostiles approaching the main building. Affiliated with neither OUT-SIDE or Haptarus, I don't think, but when they arrive OUT-SIDE's going to be fighting on two fronts." His eyes were dancing about weirdly, as if he were trying to watch a dozen different things at once.

"Arch smite it! Okay, Maddox, you and I are going to be needed up there to provide unit support. Mercy, Martin, I want the two of you to get to an ambush position. Once they're fully engaged with OUT-SIDE, you hit them, sow chaos. The rest of you, stick to the original plan and get the Heroes out of here. Let's move!"

Maddox didn't seem...particularly happy with this change in plan, but both Mercy and Martin nodded and followed after Magnus, Mercy vanishing within three strides. Maddox cast a longing look down the stairs, before saying, "Be safe, and get them home!" and following after them.

There were no further guards in the escape tunnel, and it ended at another poor, helpless door. Beyond that minor obstructions was a large room that seemed set up almost like an infirmary. With several beds (and one bathtub) each beside a medical station, and occupied by an unconscious Hero. IV tubes (filled with some sort of clear liquid that was probably involved in keeping them unconscious) and some wires were connected to each of them, their heart rates, blood pressure, and the like displayed on the screens.

Unfortunately, the room was occupied by more than unconscious Heroes. Two women were standing guard over them. One was a pale, raven-haired woman whose tanktop and shorts allowed a clear view of the numerous scars riddling her arms and legs (and face, for that matter). The other, a hooded, leather-clad woman with a barbed scourge.

Map (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bVm5_opcQgf8Yv4ih4MZEaoBj7PPMbLTc8ACEJFgQXY/edit#gid=0)

Initiative:
Lucas: [roll0].
Suzanne: [roll1].
Luisa: [roll2].
Beth: [roll3].
Emily: [roll4].

Enemies: [roll5].

Llyarden

2016-04-01, 02:38 PM

Emily pushed herself up from the crates that she had slumped against at the end of the fight - in part because trying to channel as much energy as she had was draining, but mostly because the sonic gun had left her feeling a rather uncomfortable sense of vertigo. "I guess they knew we were coming after all?" she hazarded, taking a few hesitant steps that became less hesitant as she realised that her sense of balance was back to normal.

Quellian-dyrae

2016-04-02, 12:35 PM

Round 1

The scarred woman looked over the team with bleak disdain. "Don't tell me your OUT-SIDE brings civilians into their assaults," she said with a laugh that contained precisely zero mirth. "Begone from here, little Dreamers, lest you wind up getting hurt!"

She made a sharp gesture with that last word, and there was...pain.

Waves of wracking, nauseating pain, rolling through all of your bodies - for those who couldn't fend off the power, worse by far than any agony that your previously relatively-safe-and-peaceful lives could have ever prepared your for, like every last nerve ending in your body had been sliced in three and all three pieces were still trying to send signals to your brains. There was no flavor to this pain. It wasn't a feeling of burning, of freezing, of cutting, of impact, of crushing force. It was just a brute fact of the universe, agony on an almost elemental level.

The other woman, the one with the scourge, was silent. She just eyed the group a moment, and then lashed out with her scourge, the barbed cords elongating to try to grasp and crush all five of you with superhuman strength. That would have been bad enough, but for any who was constricted and pierced by the terrible barbs, their agony would be focused upon the points of injury with white-star intensity.

Normal people...should not have to endure this.

Joslyn:
Move: None.
Standard: Wrack. Perception range area attack. Everyone give me DC 21 Will or lose Fortitude equal to the points you failed by.

Torturer:
Move: None.
Standard: Attack with Barbed Flurry, Multiattacking for 5. On a hit, Toughness DC 27 vs. Damage, and Strength or Dodge DC 22 vs. Fast Grab. If you are grabbed, also roll Fortitude (including any Weaken from Joslyn) DC 22 vs. a Cumulative Impaired/Disabled/Incapacitated Affliction.
Lucas: [roll0]. Miss
Suzanne: [roll1]. Miss
Luisa: [roll2]. Miss
Beth: [roll3]. Hit
Emily: [roll4]. Hit

These attacks are horrifically painful, especially to untrained combatants. It is your decision whether your characters can persevere in the face of this sort of pain. If anyone fails a resistance check against either or both of the Weaken or the Affliction, but are not Incapacitated, they may choose to flee or surrender to escape the pain. If they do, all other characters will receive a Hero Point.

Current Status (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?472225-Heroes-of-Millaine-OOC-4-Increase-Your-Power-Level-By-1!&p=20196810#post20196810)

Map (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bVm5_opcQgf8Yv4ih4MZEaoBj7PPMbLTc8ACEJFgQXY/edit#gid=0)

All PCs are on turn.

Capt. Infinity

2016-04-02, 07:10 PM

Unfortunately for the enemy Dreamers, Luisa Nym was anything but normal.

The pain that coursed through her was immediately brought down to a low twinge as the android forcibly lowers her pain receptors to negligible levels, providing her the respite necessary to dodge out of the way of the incoming scourge. "I may be a civilian now. But make no mistake, Pain Controller, I was once the stuff of your nightmares. And those instincts remain deep inside me. And right now, they are telling me several things. Like how the woman with the Scourge is a Summon with a masochistic reactionary attack and should be ignored in favour of you, that even failing that your area effects make you the primary initial target, AND they tell me that you favour your right side." She states, before rushing headlong into melee range of the raven-haired woman and unloading swift spinkick under her ribs, attempting to weaken the Pain Controller's physical fortitude alongside the strike. Even if she couldn't feel pain, that doesn't mean she can't bleed internally.

Move Action: Move into M4
Standard Action: Attack with Structural Integrity Compromise. On a hit DC 25 Fortitude save against Damage, and DC 20 Fortitude save against Weaken Toughness. Defending this round: [roll0]

Zelphas

2016-04-02, 10:11 PM

Lucas follows behind the rest of the group as they move through the complex. So far, it will be a simple matter to edit me out of the final production, he considers quietly to himself. I'm just the coordinator, after all; I should be able to--

Then they enter the final room, and Lucas sees the Heroes of Millaine. And it stops being a script.

Lucas knew the seriousness of the situation, of course. He had joined the mission in order to make sure Darla was safe, to see her safe with his own eyes. He knew that they, a ragtag group of mostly minor talents (with his the most minor of all), were going into a fight with people far more powerful than they, and only the distraction of SIDE pounding on the front door gave them a chance to sneak in and free the Heroes without being captured or killed themselves. It was just... the entire setup, and the fight from earlier, had been so cinematic, that his director's mind had begun to fall back into storyboarding, making jokes, putting obstacles between his thoughts and the horrors they might come upon.

Looking at the Heroes of Millaine now, the illusion is shattered. They are in far better shape than they could have been, but still, they were brought low by the very same people who now stood before their sad little group. For the first time, Lucas wonders what he's doing here. He's a director, for crying out loud; he doesn't do... this. In both the last fights he participated in, his focus had been on getting away, removing himself as an obstacle so that Darla and more competent people could focus on fighting the bad guys. Why did he think it was a good idea to run into the fight now?

The woman before them speaks, she gestures and--pain. The agony courses through Lucas' bones, nearly driving him back out of the room with its sheer existence within him. He feels it chip away at his defenses, leaving him weakened, shaking...

...with rage. This is NOT how this script will be written, with him succumbing to the first blow of some trumped-up invader who DARED to strike at the Heroes of Millaine.

In a flash, every other member of the team sees the battlefield overlaid with a series of multicolored arrows and lines, each color marked with the name of one of the team, showing them exactly how to strike at the scarred woman in front of them. Luisa receives even more information--a scrolling list of momentum, force, acceleration... everything the robot woman needs to turn her current strike into an even more devastating blow.

Move Action: Not running.

Free Action: Expertise (Medicine) on the tubes and wires on the Heroes (trying to see how to wake them): [roll0] If another Expertise roll applies, the result is the same.

Standard Action: Use a Hero Point for Direct Tactics: [roll1] Giving the bonus on Attack rolls vs. the Pain Lady. +5 on Attack Rolls. Power Attack to your heart's content!

Extra Effort: Use a Hero Point on Direct Action: Luisa gets another Standard Action this round.

Status: -1 Fortitude (Heals 1), Fatigued next turn.

Capt. Infinity

2016-04-03, 12:22 AM

Luisa's foot gets planted firmly in the Pain Controller's chest, but she only flinches slightly in response. Luisa's eyes narrow. "Evidently, I must've missed anything vital. I do so apologize. Please, allow me a do-over. And would you kindly go down this time?" The android asks politely, before whirring around on her heel to strike the woman under her ribcage on her other side, this time hoping to make something well and truly break.

Move Action: She's good.
Standard Action: Structural Integrity Compromise, Power Attacking for 5. On a hit, DC 30 Fortitude against Damage, and DC 20 Fortitude against Weaken Toughness. Defended this round: [roll0]

Hyperbolic sine

2016-04-03, 05:52 AM

Beth bited on her lip to suffocate a scream. The pain was unlike anything she ever felt, every single cell of her body was telling her to flee and free herself from that agony.

And yet, she endured. They were that close to saving the Heroes of Millaine, to save Declan, and she would not be the one to abandon everything for cowardice.

Yanking away the scourge before it could coil around her the powerhouse leaped in front of the pain controller, following Lucas' phantom arrows to strike where she was most vulnerable with a mightly blow and then using all four of her mechanical arms to try and restrain her.

Move: S6->M5
Standard: attack Joslyn with Staggering Strike (+5 from Aid) at [roll0] (on a miss, :smallcool: HP reroll [roll1] [roll2]), Toughness DC 27 vs Damage and Fortitude DC 22 vs Vulnerable/Stunned/Incapacitated, then Strength or Dodge DC 26 (+4 from Extra Limbs) vs Fast Grab (Escape @-5).

manwithaplan

2016-04-04, 03:31 AM

She screamed as the pain, and for a single moment Suzanne's entire psyche crumbled and she was ready to lose consciousness. But then she saw where they were.

He was right there.

Copycat, and everybody else on the team, were right there in reach. She'd been held down by the understanding that maybe they had bitten off more than they could chew. And yet, there they were. All they had to do and take down these two, and they actually would have saved the Heroes of Millaine.

It wasn't impossible. That was good enough.

Suzanne immediately began to move in, following Luisa and Beth to strike Joselyn. She couldn't really fight as well as them, she realised, but who was she not to try? Coming into range of the torturer, she stuck out two freezing cold hands, trying to grab her from behind on each shoulder and numb her into an ice cube.

Move: Fly to K4.
Standard: Frozen Grasp on Joselyn, Power Attack 2. Attack [roll0] for DC 27 Fortitude against Damage, as well as DC 22 Fortitude against Vulnerable/Defenseless/Paralyzed and Weaken Fighting.
Extra Effort Standard: Moar! Frozen Grasp on Joselyn, Power Attack 2. Attack [roll1] for DC 27 Fortitude against Damage, as well as DC 22 Fortitude against Vulnerable/Defenseless/Paralyzed and Weaken Fighting.

Status: Fatigued, Exhausted next turn.

Llyarden

2016-04-04, 04:00 AM

Emily gritted her teeth as the barbed scourge tore gouges down her bark armour, binding her in place. But she didn't cry out, and she didn't fall. "Not now..." she whispered, ever so quietly, to herself more than anyone else. "We're so close..."

And she had enough leeway to stretch out a hand.

She wondered why she'd never thought of it before. For a long time she'd been able to absorb herself into plants and travel through them at lightning speed; it was one of the first powers she'd developed. Creating plants out of thin air had come a close second.

It was only logical that she combined the two.

The vines coating Emily's body began to uncoil again, spiralling out between the wires of the scourge. This time, though, they didn't leave her body behind.

A few seconds later, Emily reappeared by the bed that was holding Sean, staggering slightly and grabbing hold of the bed to support herself as she readjusted to having a body again, looking down at the assorted leads and IVs that were around him. She had no idea what most of them were doing, and some logical part of her opined that ripping them all out haphazardly might do more harm than anything else.

She ignored it and sent a thorned vine to slash through the cables.

Extra Effort: Power Stunt from Dryad's Step: Teleport 3, Change Direction, Change Velocity, Increased Mass 3, Precise, Turnabout, Quirk (functions as normal movement)*

*This would normally be a Limit, but in the current situation I figured it only counts as a quirk, and that only because the enemies might have a Create power of their own.

Move: Teleport out of the grab and into R8.
Standard: Remove the assorted medical cables from Sean.

Status: 1 Bruise (regenerates next round), Fatigued next round (and probably about to draw all the aggro.)

Quellian-dyrae

2016-04-04, 12:08 PM

Round 2

Under Lucas' direction, the team crashed down upon the military-trained Dreamer as if they had been fighting side-by-side all their lives. Blow after rapid blow from Luisa broke through her trained guard, and while she was busy trying to find her footing there, Suzanne hit her with two bitter blasts of cold. Beth came in with a crushing blow, but the summon suddenly appeared in her way, taking the hit for her.

But despite Suzanne and Luisa's attacks, the Haptaran dream soldier did not fall. She was clearly injured, but she didn't seem to be much slowed by it.

If anything, it only made her angry.

"Oh, he won't wake up in time to save you, foolish girl!" she remarked coldly to Emily, before pointing a finger at Luisa, focusing her powers fully upon her.

The summon, meanwhile, gave Suzanne a sudden, sickly-delighted smile and swung her scourge, a cruel lash designed more to agonize through raking barbs than injure through blunt impact.

Joslyn:
Move: Dazed.
Standard: Agonize on Luisa. Perception-range attack. Fortitude DC 21 vs. Cumulative Impaired/Disabled/Incapacitated Affliction.
End of Turn: "Regenerates" one Bruise.

Torturer:
Move: Startle Suzanne at -5 at [roll0]. Insight, Intimidation, or Will or be Vulnerable against her next attack.
Standard: Attack Suzanne with Cruel Lash at [roll1]. On a hit, Toughness DC 27 vs. Damage, Fortitude DC 22 vs. Cumulative Impaired/Disabled/Incapacitated Affliction, and Strength or Dodge DC 27 vs. Fast Grab. Hits either way

Current Status (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?472225-Heroes-of-Millaine-OOC-4-Increase-Your-Power-Level-By-1!&p=20196810#post20196810)

Map (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bVm5_opcQgf8Yv4ih4MZEaoBj7PPMbLTc8ACEJFgQXY/edit#gid=0)

All PCs are on turn.

Llyarden

2016-04-04, 02:01 PM

Emily's heart sank when Sean didn't stir, and at the woman's sheer confidence and certainty that he wouldn't. But it was that same arrogance that made her draw herself up and glare straight back at the woman and her summon (though she was glad of being able to support herself by leaning on the bed). "You know the thing about the Heroes of Millaine?" she asked, the last of the damage the scourge had done to her bark armour sealing up "Sure, maybe you can beat them down."

She reached down to lay a hand on Sean's forehead, a green glow issuing from her entire body as the scent of cherry blossom filled the air.

"But they always win."

Move: Switch to and activate Healing Nectar.
Standard: Counter the drug on Sean: [roll0]. On a failure, HP reroll at [roll1]. Dice you are ruining my dramatic moment. Stop it. +10 for Imp. Roll on the second roll for 23.
End of Turn: Regenerates a bruise.

Status: Fatigued.

Zelphas

2016-04-04, 08:05 PM

Lucas' lips curl up into a wolfish smile as Emily makes her pronouncement... and Sean begins to stir. Who am I kidding? I don't write the scripts... they do.

Good to have you back, Sean, he sends to the waking Hero, linking him to the mental connection immediately. All right, everyone, keep up the attack, but new priority: keep Emily safe. Emily, you know what to do; wake up the rest of the Heroes, and then we can all stand back and watch. As he speaks, information floods the brains of everyone in the mental link, painting the room in shades of red and blue: danger zones of attack based on the strikes seen thus far from the summon, and safe zones to move to in the event of such attack.

Move Action: Nowhere to go.

Standard Action: Spend a Hero Point for Direct Tactics. [roll0] Bonus goes to defense against the Summon's next attack. Well okay then, RNG... +5 to everyone's defense against Leatherganger.

Capt. Infinity

2016-04-04, 08:56 PM

Luisa Nym was having a rather strange day. Her boyfriend was kidnapped, she'd somehow uncovered that the secret to combat optimization was through raw politeness, and now she was having trouble identifying literally anything to do with the concept of Intravenous Medication. Finding herself without many personal options, she simply smiled at Emily's success in awakening Sean, and moved forward with the advice admitted by Lucas.

The android smiled at the pain controller, her body already muting all the agonizing pangs she sent her way. "Perhaps you didn't get the memo. I am Luisa Nym. Former Dreamcatcher automaton formerly in the employ of Dr. Adair Gaertner. So long as I am present, nobody will require saving. Nobody needs to be saved from that which is my prey. Now be a good quarry and die... Please." The robotic woman growls, before unleashing an onslaught of blows upon the Torturous Dreamer.

Move Action: Feint Joselyn at -5: [roll0]
Standard Action: Structural Integrity Compromise, Power Attacking for 5, All-Out Attacking for 5. On a hit, DC 30 Fortitude save against Damage, and DC 25 Fortitude save against Weaken Toughness. Defence at -5 this round. Defended this round: [roll1]

Hyperbolic sine

2016-04-05, 11:25 AM

Beth was quite sure she would have, if not hurt, at least managed to restrain the pain controller, but the summon got in the way and didn't even flinch from the impact. It...wasn't fair.

But real battles aren't fair. If something didn't work, you just had to switch tactics, and now that Emily was waking up the Heroes she just had to buy her time.

She couldn't let herself be disheartened. Facing the enemy in front of her with a fearsome countenance, she swinged her fist...and hit the ground, compressing air into a shockwave and causing a portion of the floor to tremble as if because of an earthquake.

Move: Startle on Joselyn at [roll0]
Standard: Earthquake Blow as a 60' cone on Joselyn*, Dodge DC 18 for half, Toughness DC 23/19 vs Damage, Prowess DC 18/14 vs Dazed+Vulnerable/Stunned+Defenseless (Overcome by Fort) and Trip DC 18/14.

Also I'll probably Extra Effort something, depending on the results.

*but if I can get the Torturer (and perhaps some achinery?) too without hitting any allies all the better.

manwithaplan

2016-04-05, 08:35 PM

Suzanne grinned back at the summon, and as its lash swung in she hardened her ice armour right in the spot it was trying to strike. It dug right in and tried to rake her, but only managed to remove several chunks of ice from her exterior plating. Then she fought back, reaching forward with both hands and blasting both the summon and its master with dual waves of freezing snow. It was something she had learned from Tom; a second hand had always seemed silly when her powers weren't linked to her limbs and were outputting the same amount of energy no matter what, and yet the second hand's output always seemed to be so effective!

Hero Point to go back to Fatigue, then using Extra Effort to Surge again.

Standard Action: Snowstorm, just on the two squares Joselyn and Torturer are in. DC 20 Dodge and DC 25/20 Toughness, Cloud Area repeats next round.
Standard Action: Moar! DC 20 Dodge and DC 25/20 Toughness, Cloud Area repeats next round.

Status: Bruised, Fatigued, Exhausted next round.

Quellian-dyrae

2016-04-06, 12:25 AM

Round 3

His nose made sense of the scene faster than his eyes. Five scents, very familiar, his fellow Heroes. Some injuries, but mostly bruised and scabbed over; they'd be sore, but not physically impeded. The substance in their blood, though, was all too clear to his perceptions. A powerful sedative.

Four more scents, three of them less familiar, but one at least as much so. He could smell their pain, their fear, their hope, their exhilaration. None seemed badly hurt, though some of them were tired. They had pushed themselves to get this far.

Two more scents, vaguely familiar. Smelling of blood and pain, of fury and sick joy. The human one was badly hurt. She would not show it visibly, but he knew. The other one, something off about its scent, fake. He could smell that it was damaged. He could smell that it enjoyed that fact.

One final scent, the most familiar, standing over him. Almost unrecognizable for all its familiarity, masked in the smell of flowers. That smell was strong, so strong to his nose. It was almost overpowering, but it didn't make him gag or retch. It cleared his head.

His eyes opened. More became clear. Beth's blows struck the ground with superhuman force, cracking the floor, buckling the far walls, shattering the other door. The pain bringers staggered, but did not fall. Luisa struck hard, crippling blows. Suzanne called winter down upon them. Lucas in the back, looking over the battlefield with a critical eye. They were fighting. Against a Haptaran military Dreamer and a Summoned Champion, they were fighting like Heroes.

But their enemies did not fall.

"No! Stop her!" he heard the Haptaran scream. He smelled the intent before he saw the action. Rocket fuel and brimstone. A sudden shift in the position of leather and blood.

They crashed down upon her.

Joslyn:
Move: Dazed.
Standard: Charge Emily and attack with Traumatize, All Out Attacking for 5, -2 for Charge, at [roll0]. On a hit, Toughness DC 26 vs. Secondary Effect Damage, Fortitude DC 21 vs. Cumulative Impaired/Disabled/Incapacitated Affliction. Hit

Torturer:
Move: Teleport into R5.
Standard: Attack Emily with Barbed Flurry, All Out Attacking for 5, Power Attacking for 3, at [roll1]. On a hit, Toughness DC 30+Multiattack vs. Damage, Strength or Dodge DC 30 vs. Fast Grab. If Grabbed, Fortitude DC 22 vs. Cumulative Impaired/Disabled/Incapacitated Affliction. Just barely after Lucas' boost, but hit. No Multiattack thanks to Lucas though.

Current Status (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?472225-Heroes-of-Millaine-OOC-4-Increase-Your-Power-Level-By-1!&p=20196810#post20196810)

Map (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bVm5_opcQgf8Yv4ih4MZEaoBj7PPMbLTc8ACEJFgQXY/edit#gid=0)

All PCs are on turn, and Sean is in play.

Zelphas

2016-04-07, 10:22 PM

Lucas watches the enemies drop on Emily and Sean with a wince, but keeps up his stream of information, trusting them to weather the attacks. Sean? This is Lucas. Do you think you can take these two jokers out? he sends. He can feel a massive headache coming on, but he pushes through it for now.

Move Action: None.

Standard Action: Hero point for Direct Tactics. [roll0] Same as before, everybody gets the save in Defense against the Leatherganger. +5.

Extra Effort: Hero Point for Direct Action. Sean gets two Standard Actions this round.

Status: Fatigued (Exhausted next turn).

Llyarden

2016-04-08, 03:14 AM

Hey, I can pro- Emily started to complain, riding on the confidence of having Sean back, when the two painbringers came charging towards her. Sean, almost before he'd opened his eyes, reached back and pushed her, taking full advantage of his superhuman strength to shove her out of the reach of the Haptaran and her summon, snarling angrily as the chain wrapped around him.

Well, let's find out, he replied to Lucas, lashing out at the woman with his claws.

Sean:
Move: Startle Joslyn (-2 for move action): [roll0].
Standard: Attack Joslyn with Brutal Throw, power attacking for 5 and all-out attacking for 2: [roll1]. On a hit, DC32 Toughness vs damage. The Linked Move Object will be used as an Escape attempt: [roll2].
Standard #2: Attack Joslyn again: [roll3]. The Linked Move Object will be used as a grab this time, so DC32 Toughness vs damage and DC27 Strength or Dodge vs grab.

Given that one of my NPCs in another game rolled 2 19s and a 20 in four rolls, I'm not expecting much here. :smalltongue: Well okay the Escape attempt wasn't great, but otherwise that was pretty good.

Emily:
Waiting to see the results of Sean's turn, but probably teleporting to besides Declan and generating a hero point.

Status:
Sean: Restrained, 1 Bruise (regenerates next round), -2 to active defences, +5 defence vs summon's next attack.
Emily: +5 defence vs summon's next attack.

Hyperbolic sine

2016-04-08, 11:41 AM

"Emily!" Beth shouted in warning, throwing herself in the way of the pain controller's attack to protect her. She herself was a bit surprised when she emerged unscathed: perhaps the previous attacks had numbed her receptors, because she was expecting more pain.

Regardless of that, though, she successfuly protected someone, and the thought fired her up even more: grinning, she charged her fist and swinged at the Torturer with extreme prejudice - and then followed with a second blow, going for the master if the first was enough for the Summon.

Standard: All-out (1) Power attack the Torturer with Staggering Strike at [roll0], auto-crit for Toughness DC 37 vs Damage and Fortitude DC 32 vs Vulnerable/Stunned/Incapacitated.
(Fortitude DC 22 vs Reaction [roll1] (:smallcool: HP reroll [roll2]) if doesn't resist)
Extra Effort: Attack with Staggering Strike at [roll3]+variable.
All out (1*) Power Attack for +0* to hit, auto-crit for Toughness DC 37 vs Damage and Fortitude DC 32 vs Vulnerable/Stunned/Incapacitated.
*if Impaired, All-out for 2 or 3 (depending on whether or not I can have -1 to hit after Impaired is applied).
(Fortitude DC 22 vs Reaction [roll4] (:smallcool: HP reroll [roll5]) if Impaired)
(Before attacking) Move: Startle at [roll6]
All-out attack for +9 to hit, Toughness DC 27 vs Damage and Fortitude DC 22 vs Vulnerable/Stunned/Incapacitated.
If Startled, also Power Attack for 5, or for 3 if Impaired (+4 to hit, DCs 32/30 and 27/25).

Capt. Infinity

2016-04-08, 03:15 PM

Luisa stares as the as the Painbringers charge the Phytokinetic, and gives a flustered huff. Excuse me! We were in the middle of melee! Don't-" The Android breaks into a sprint as she makes a beeline for the Haptaran Dreamer. "Be-" The former kill-bot enters a cartwheel, before pushing off her hands soaring and flipping high into the air. "RUDE!!!" The Dreamer-hunting robot shouts, colliding foot-first with the Pain Controller's skull, dropkicking her with precision, prejudice, and an utter abundance of poise.

Move Action: Get into melee range of Joslyn.
Standard Action: Structural Integrity Compromise on Joslin, Power Attacking for 5, All-Out Attacking for 5. On a hit, DC 30 Fortitude against Damage, and DC 25 Fortitude against Weaken Toughness. Defending this round at -5: [roll0]
If she's still up, Extra Effort to do it again!: [roll1]

Quellian-dyrae

2016-04-08, 05:09 PM

Sean caught the Torturer in a crushing grab, holding her all but immobile as she struggled vainly to break free. The perfect target for Beth - the powerhouse cut loose, putting her fist straight through the summon's head...and covering Sean in a mass of slickly slimy ectoplasm. Fortunately, it started fading away quickly.

Beth's second blow caught the Haptaran in the shoulder, but she rolled with it, defiantly drawing herself up to meet Luisa's dropkick. The android caught her full in the chest, sending her staggering back, and then with a deft twist brought her other foot around to deliver a resounding blow to the temple that finally dropped the pain controller unconscious.

They had won.

With OUT-SIDE still occupying the rest of the Haptaran forces and all guards between them and the exits dispatched, all that was needed was some purging healing from Emily and-

BANG!

???:
Surprise Action: Attack Copycat with Nanoforge Bullets at [roll0]. On a hit, Highest Active Defense DC 30+Multiattack vs. Damage. If this attack hits the currently unconscious Copycat, it is treated as a Finishing Attack (+5 DC) with intent to kill. If it is Interposed, it operates normally. Hit. +5 from Multiattack.

Suzanne, you may Interpose this attack despite not having the Interpose advantage. However, if you do, it deals lethal damage (Incapacitated becomes Dying, five degree failure is lethal).

The party gets a floating Hero Point for my GM Fiating the surprise round (anyone can use it; if no one's used it by end of battle it'll go to whoever has the fewest Hero Points). I'll post describing the attacker once this attack has been resolved, and I'll post initiative rolls only once you guys have joined combat, because you don't necessarily have to fight this individual.

That being said, if you do wind up fighting this guy, it will be the climactic battle of the adventure. Hero Points will be resetting afterwards.

Quellian-dyrae

2016-04-08, 06:04 PM

In the other doorway, now open, stood the attacker. It was immediately familiar to Suzanne, and perhaps Luisa as well if she had examined its predecessors. It was one of the sleek, nanotech robots that had attacked Copycat and Suzanne at the carnival, three weeks backs. Although it wasn't dressed in the same trenchcoat and hat, instead wearing a dark coa- no, let's be honest, a dark cloak complete with cowl. And the parts of its body that were visible were not made of gleaming, silvered steel, but what almost looked like...glass?

No, no glass. Active crystal. This was an entire robot made out of nanotech active crystal!

This was Dreamtech at the absolute cutting edge. It...it was honestly a crying shame that Maestro was not awake to see this.

The robot swept the group with its...well, it didn't really have eyes. But it turned its head so that its face was able to regard everyone.

Lucas: [roll0] opposed by [roll1]. Knows stats
Suzanne: [roll2] opposed by [roll3]. Knows PL and shifts
Luisa: [roll4] opposed by [roll5]. Knows nothing
Beth: [roll6] opposed by [roll7]. Knows stats
Emily: [roll8] opposed by [roll9]. Knows stats
Sean: [roll10] opposed by [roll11]. Knows stats

"Mm. Courageous. I am not here for the other Heroes. Give me the mimic, and you may take the rest of them and leave unharmed. Refuse, and I have no reason not to annihilate all of you. You have five seconds to comply."

You don't detect that this robot possesses any personal Dreamer powers. However, you do detect an active Dreamer power upon it:

Technopathic Possession: Affliction 14 (Entranced/Compelled/Controlled; Will; Perception Range, Cumulative, Concentration, Affects Objects, Limited [Technological objects and creatures only], Instant Recovery).

I figure I'll leave describing Suzanne's heroic Interpose to Manwithaplan's discretion. For the record, the attack was basically a machine gun whose bullets would explode into disassembling nanite swarms on impact.

manwithaplan

2016-04-08, 06:47 PM

"TOMMM!"

She wasn't sure how she'd known, and was even less sure of how exactly she moved so fast. Really, none of it truly occurred to her as it was happening; Suzanne later had nothing but very vague memories of standing at the foot of Copycat's bed, the wispy snow of her half-dissipated ice platform in her peripheral vision. The entire front half of her body was coated in icy armour, actively repairing itself to counteract the swarms of nanites trying to burrow inside.

She fell to one knee; she'd used all her energy in that last fight, and she hadn't expected another opponent. That was, of course, the drawback of the double snowstorm. The pain was still ringing through her as well, and through it all she was quite ready to collapse. Only, the same words kept echoing through her head, and they were just enough.

I'm going to save Copycat.

She pathetically crawled over to his bedside, where the wires and drips were leading into his body, reaching for them as she called out.

"Emily, help him!"

Capt. Infinity

2016-04-08, 09:55 PM

Luisa Nym stared down the magnificent piece of assault technology in front of her, and gave it a stern look of disdain. She spoke decisively. "This is an unwelcome arrival. Not only are you interrupting what should be a joyous victory, but here you stand not even bothering to show up in person." The way she spoke, it was evidently obvious that she was more so speaking through the robot than she was speaking at it. "You, good sir or madam, are an uninvited guest. And I am not asking you, but TELLING you to leave." Luisa's right hand... shifts. It's almost as if it transforms into it's hand cannon form, but only half way, her fists shifting and twisting as seams open up, a bright bluish light pouring forth from it as a metallic whirr fills the air. "Good. DAY!" The android proclaims, stepping forward and striking forward at the intruder with her half-formed fist, a shockwave of electromagnetic energy rippling throughout it's body as she forces a blast across it's form, hoping to dissociate it from it's controller.

Power Stunt this with a :smallcool: Hero Point.
POWER FIST: Strength Discounted Damage 14 (Inaccurate 2, Improved Critical 4, Reach 2, Variable Descriptor 2 [All Forms of Energy])
Move Action, get within 10 Feet of the Robot.
Standard Action: Attempt to Counter the Technopathic Possession: [roll0]
It's got the [Electricity] descriptor, if that matters here.

Quellian-dyrae

2016-04-08, 10:15 PM

Round 1

Luisa moved in, discharging a potent burst of electrical energy over the robot, frying the technopathic taint from the active crystal nanites. The robot's form rippled weirdly as the surge of electrical energy passed through it, before resolidifying.

...Unfortunately, removing the technopath's presence from the machine did little to keep it from working towards its assigned goal based on its own programming.

The robot's voice was more monotonous as it looked over Luisa dismissively and said, "Such inelegant design. You are decades less advanced than me," before launching into a hasted flurry of lightning-fast strikes at every weak point and important target its combat algorithms could discern.

AC Nanomorph:
Move: Close with Luisa.
Standard: Attack Luisa with Algorithmic Assault at [roll0]. On a hit, Toughness DC 30 vs. Damage, Fortitude DC 25 vs. Weaken All Defenses. Hit

Current Status (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?472225-Heroes-of-Millaine-OOC-4-Increase-Your-Power-Level-By-1!&p=20196810#post20196810)

Map (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bVm5_opcQgf8Yv4ih4MZEaoBj7PPMbLTc8ACEJFgQXY/edit#gid=0)

All PCs are on turn.

Capt. Infinity

2016-04-08, 10:29 PM

Luisa takes damage at the barage of strikes against her, but her structural integrity holds fast against the onslaught against her weak points. "I see you get your manners from your creator. Nevertheless, you ARE quite an impressive machine, Maestro would most certainly love to reverse engineer you." With the threatening compliment sent, the former kill-bot attacks in a similar fashion to her opponent. Aiming for any and all weakpoints in its form.

Move Action: Dazed.
Standard Action: Structural Integrity Compromise, Power Attack for 5, All-Out Attack for 5. On a hit, DC 30 Fortitude against damage, and DC 25 Fortitude against Weaken Toughness. Defended at -5 this round: [roll0]

manwithaplan

2016-04-08, 10:34 PM

Still on the floor, an icicle formed from Suzanne's hand, and she reached out for the cables keeping Tom subdued.

"Please!" She yelled to the healer, slashing through them with a single stroke.

Move: Dazed.
Standard: Remove Tom's cables.

Status: 2 Bruises, Exhausted.

manwithaplan

2016-04-08, 10:53 PM

Through the pain, Suzanne looked over to her team mate. Emily was tending to Declan. Why didn't they understand?! He was in danger!

She was nearing collapse, and she couldn't heal like Tom or Emily, but if Luisa couldn't hold that thing off for long...this type of robot was probably the one thing she'd ever seen Tom truly lose to. Now he couldn't even defend himself.

She looked, one last time, at his face, still pale and weak even with the chemical flow disrupted. It...it worked in the movies. It was cheesy, but it did work.

"Screw it."

Suzanne leaned in and, just as she placed her hands over the Mimic's cheeks, she gently pushed her lips against his. And when she did, it didn't feel stupid at all.

Wake up, Chide.

Okay, this is (after a brief conversation on the Pad, for those of you who missed it) happening.

Hero Point to remove Exhaustion, Stunting for a Surge, and countering the drugs with Relationship successes.

Kiss [roll0].

Status: 2 Bruises, Fatigued, Exhausted next turn.

Zelphas

2016-04-09, 12:54 AM

Lucas sighs, turning towards the new enemy. A new challenger appears... is this a movie script or a video game? he thinks to himself, before shaking his head. Neither, Lucas. This is reality. Focus.

Emily, If you move fast, you can get half of the Heroes of Millaine up before that robot can react, he sends over the mental link, plotting out a quick course for her on the mental map. He winces slightly as he watches Suzanne's actions, and their lack of effect. Sorry, Suzanne... I'll make sure that works in the final script, he decides for himself, pushing away his growing headache.

Move Action: none.

Standard Action: Hero Point for Direct Action. Emily gets another Standard Action.

Extra Effort: Hero Point for Script Tactics. Emily gets one Luck Reroll.

Free Action: Hero Point to keep from passing out.

Status: Fatigued (Exhausted next turn).

Llyarden

2016-04-09, 08:24 AM

"Heh, we -"

Emily didn't even manage to finish her sentence before the gunshot rang out. Sean was marginally faster, half-crouching to leap between the unconscious Copycat and the all-too-familiar robot, but Suzanne was faster. Instead he sprang across to stand protectively between Emily and the robot, slashing at the tubes connected to Declan with his claws.

Emily ignored his protection, though, disappearing into a swirling mass of vines that flowed first over Declan before spiralling across to Copycat, the scent of cherry blossom once again filling the air. So Sean sprang at the robot instead, claws bared.

Sean:
Move: Pounce into J8.
Standard: Remove Declan's IVs.
Extra Effort Standard: Pounce-charge the Nanomorph with Predator's Claws and Savage Charge, accurate attacking for 2, -2 for Charge and critting on an 18+: [roll0]. On a hit, DC25 Toughness vs (penetrating) Concentration Damage. Crit. DC30 (if it is subject to crits, at least.)
End of turn: Regenerates a Bruise.

Emily:
Standard: Attempt to counter the sedative on Declan: [roll1]. If it fails, HP reroll at [roll2] Effective 34.
Move: Teleport into D9.
Standard #2: Attempt to counter the sedative on Copycat: [roll3]. If it fails, Lucas's Luck Reroll at [roll4]. Effective 22.

Status:
Sean: Fatigued next round.
Emily: Fine, +1 HP.

Hyperbolic sine

2016-04-11, 03:02 PM

Beth looked at robot in awe: it was clear that opponent was way out of league, even more than the Haptaran and the summon.

Claws sever the tubes, and the chemicals stop flowing in. Restorative nectar gives respite to the poisoned cells, and the counter-attack begins.

What was she supposed to do? Would she even be able to hit?

In a fraction of a second, diamond has completely armoured the blood vessels and starts reinforcing the rest of the body. The remaining sedative, powerless, is quickly eliminated and the man opens his eyes.

She took a deep breath. Calm down, me. I can do it. And as she prepares to lunge forward, the sound of strained and benging metal fills the room and she turns to see a diamond-clad man getting back up from a half destroyed bed (which apparently couldn't take its user's suddenly increased weight) and assessing the situation.

"Archdamn Haptarans. They can't even make friggin' beds." he laments, and looks at her. Beth smiles, and any hesitation is washed away. As if acting on a predetermined tactic, the two close in on the automaton and strike at the same time.

Beth
Move: Q8->I2
Standard: Attack the Nanomorph with Flurry of Blows at [roll0]+2 rerolled, 22, Toughness DC 23+Multiattack vs Damage

Deflected at 1d10+14.

Declan
Move: K9-H6
Standard: Charge Nanomorph with Declan Punch, Aid (-2 for charge, +5 for Teamwork) Beth at [roll1] +2

Deflected at 1d10+14 (by Beth).

Quellian-dyrae

2016-04-11, 03:52 PM

Round 2

The robot stood impassive as Luisa rained blows upon it. There was...nothing. No weakness to exploit, no flaw in its structure. Composed entirely of active crystal nanites, it had no need for joints, for organs, for nerves. Luisa's perfectly targeted attacks came to naught.

Sean assaulted the robot with overwhelming fury, hammering it with blows that caused cracks to appear in its glasslike body. But as fast as he struck, the damage healed just as quickly, cracks sealing over to become flawless crystal once again in moments.

As Beth and Declan rushed in, the robot brought both hands up, simultaneously catching both of their fists and stopping them cold.

It regarded them all with its unchanging features, before unleashing a tremendous blast of force in all directions.

AC Nanomorph:
Move: Dazed.
Standard: Energy Blast. Declan, Beth, Sean, and Luisa, give me Dodge DC 24 for half, Toughness DC 29/22 vs. Damage, and Strength or Flight DC 24/17 vs. Move Object. If you fail the Move Object save, you're thrown until you hit a wall, but you've already received Damage from this attack so you won't be damaged further. Declan, you're immune to the Damage and of course the Move Object rank is halved against you. However, if you get thrown, it's at Emily at [roll0]. If Emily gets hit, I'm assessing a +2 circumstance bonus to the damage from Declan's Density, for DC 31 Toughness vs. Damage. Hit if Declan is successfully thrown.
End of Turn: Regenerates one Bruise.

Current Status (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?472225-Heroes-of-Millaine-OOC-4-Increase-Your-Power-Level-By-1!&p=20196810#post20196810)

Map (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bVm5_opcQgf8Yv4ih4MZEaoBj7PPMbLTc8ACEJFgQXY/edit#gid=0)

All PCs are on turn.

Llyarden

2016-04-11, 04:18 PM

The blast of force threw Sean back almost onto the bed he'd just gotten up of, but he quickly flipped to 'land' on the wall, springing straight back at the robot before his feet had even touched the ground, claws lashing, without the faintest intention of giving up.

Emily, meanwhile, grinned at seeing Declan up and about and reached out to put a hand on Copycat's shoulder, an even brighter green light than before flaring from her.

Sean:
Move: Pounce back into close range of the robot.
Standard: Concentrate. DC25 Toughness vs damage.
Extra Effort Standard: Attack the robot with Rending Pounce, critting on an 18+: [roll0]. On a hit, DC27 Toughness vs Secondary Effect Damage.

Emily:
Move: None.
Standard: Extra Effort for a bonus, and then try to heal Copycat again*: [roll1], HP reroll on a failure: [roll2]
*Since it's a Counter and not an actual use of Healing, I don't think the limit of needing Extra Effort to merely try again applies. If it does, Emily will teleport over to Waterworks and heal her instead.

Status:
Sean: 1 Bruise (regenerates next round), Fatigued, Exhausted next round.
Emily: Fatigued next round.

Zelphas

2016-04-12, 12:05 AM

Lucas grimaces at the attack of the mechanical man, but it seems that the group had weathered it fairly well. He runs frantically through the readouts the visor throws at him, trying to find how he can help.

Move action: Nope.

Standard Action: Analyze the battlefield. +1 temporary Hero Point.

Status: Exhausted.

Hyperbolic sine

2016-04-12, 01:38 PM

Neither Declan nor Beth had time to be disappointed that both their attacks were parried, as just a moment after the robot's blast hit them at point blank: the former had his conspicuous weight to use at his advantage, but the ACC powerhouse was thrown back and flew against the wall.

The forcefield absorbed most of the damage, but the impact was still violent enough to disorient her for a couple of precious seconds: knowing she wouldn't be able to close in on her foe (at least without sacrificing her already poor accuracy) before he attacked again, she switched to her only ranged (sort of) mode of attack and punched the floor.

Meanwhile, the Unbreakable did the only thing he could and kept punching Glassbot - not to aiming to actually damage it, though, but just to create an opening for Luisa, who was definitely much more effective than him in hand-to-hand. The irony of fighting side by side with someone who had been taken out by a well placed Declan Cannon wasn't entirely lost on him, but it was confined in a corner of his mind as there are definitely more important things to think of in the heat of battle.

Beth
Move: Dazed.
Standard: Earthquake Blow, 60' cone hitting the Nanomorph (and the poor wall). Dodge DC 18 for half, Toughness DC 23/19 vs Damage, Prowess DC 18/14 Dazed+Vulnerable/Stunned+Defenseless, I-Never-Remember-All-The-Options DC 18 vs Trip.
(I suppose he can roll all 1s :smallbiggrin:)

Declan
(Last turn I considered his base melee attack as +9 instead of +13 because I'm stupid (also I was tired). That would have actually been enough to push the bonus to +5 and make Beth hit, but oh, well. I shouldn't have taken the turn anyway.)
Move: Dazed
Standard: Defensive attacking the Nanomorph to Aid Luisa at (+5 from Teamwork) [roll0] Uhm...+5, I guess? Should have attacked normally...

+2 Active Defenses this turn.

manwithaplan

2016-04-12, 07:47 PM

She fell away from Thomas and onto the floor, on her knees.

Suzanne grimaced, panting heavily; she looked like an idiot, she hadn't helped at all, and even now she was on the ground and sulking as Emily did her job as she was supposed to and the rest of them helped to protect him. The actor weakly got back to her feet, leaning on Copycat's bed as she looked to the conflict in the centre of the room, before he stirred. She looked over to him, making eye contact as he awoke.

"Tom..."

Standard Action: Recover from Exhausted.
Move Action: Nah.

Status: +2 Defence this turn, 2 Bruises, Fatigued.

Capt. Infinity

2016-04-13, 06:41 PM

Luisa was standing within arm's reach of the glass automaton when it fired it's concussive blast, taking the brunt of it head-on. But the robot's attempt at one-upping her previous energy wave found itself lacking in the much-needed punchline when the opposing android didn't give an inch.

It seems the trademark Mentallo stoicism has a way of rubbing off on people.

Luisa huffs dejectedly at her failure at finding a weakpoint in the active crystal robot's defences. "Very well, if you can't be shut off, and you can't be outmaneuvered, then would you at least have the decency to break?" She followed up her query with a barrage of punches and kicks, hoping that raw ferocity was, in fact, the way to go.

Move Action: Might as well attempt to Feint: [roll0]
Standard Action: Hastened Strikes, All-Out Attacking for 5, Power Attacking for 5. On a hit, DC 30 Toughness save against damage. Defended next round at -5: [roll1]

Quellian-dyrae

2016-04-13, 07:16 PM

Round 3

Sean hurled himself doggedly back upon the robot, and while it fended some of his blows, he had seized upon a weakness and exploited it ruthlessly, cracking the creature's structure, while Declan and Luisa rained down a crushing series of attacks of their own, the two of them sending chips and shards of glass flying. The robot withstood Beth's shockwave...but the poor, already-battered wall collapsed in several places.

The robot waved one palm before it, firing a spray of nanite bullets that would dissolve through whatever they touched. As Copycat was awakened, it turned its face to Emily. "You should not have done that, girl," it told her, firing a shot at her with its other hand. Then it itself dissolved, the nanites making it up swarming into a cloud and spreading out, becoming as invisible as dust in the air.

You can still smell it, and it retains its current position. However, it is insubstantial as well as invisible.

AC Nanomorph:
Move: Dazed.
Standard: Attack Sean, Luisa, Beth, and Emily with Nanoforge Bullets, All Out Attacking for 5, Power Attacking for 4, and Multiattacking for 4. On a hit, Highest Active Defense DC 34 vs. Damage.
Sean: [roll0]. Hit
Luisa: [roll1], Deflected at [roll2]. Hit
Beth: [roll3]. Hit
Emily: [roll4]. Hit
Free: Swap to Nanite Cloud.
Free: Activate Nanite Cloud.
Its Regeneration was not on for a full turn, so it doesn't regenerate a Bruise this round. However, if it reactivates Regeneration during one of its later turns, it will finish Regenerating a Bruise at the end of that turn.

Current Status (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?472225-Heroes-of-Millaine-OOC-4-Increase-Your-Power-Level-By-1!&p=20196810#post20196810)

Map (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bVm5_opcQgf8Yv4ih4MZEaoBj7PPMbLTc8ACEJFgQXY/edit#gid=0)

All PCs are on turn.

Llyarden

2016-04-14, 01:44 PM

Sean sprang away even as the robot's hand started to move, more or less tackling Emily to the ground as nanite bullets flew overhead. A number of them scored across his back as he moved, but his quick reactions had avoided the worst of the effects.

"Aw, I'm sorry," Emily said with a smirk, getting up and moving to hold her hands over...er, an arbitrary point of the puddle that was Waterworks...as she started to work on getting the next member of the Heroes up. "Did I ruin your evil plan?" Apparently she didn't seem to consider that taunting the enormously powerful killbot was a bad idea. And then it vanished. "Hey, you can't just run away!" she complained.

~It hasn't,~ Sean replied tiredly, through the link, as his wounds began to heal - far slower than he needed them to. ~It's still right there. Though I don't think just punching it's gonna do a whole lot now.~

Sean:
Move: Dazed (twice).
Standard: Concentrate, not that it does anything right now.
Free: Tell everyone the nanomorph's location.
End of Turn: Regenerates a Bruise.

Emily:
Move: Move over to Waterworks.
Standard: Generate a hero point.

Status:
Sean: 2 Bruises, Exhausted.
Emily: Fatigued, +1 HP.

Hyperbolic sine

2016-04-15, 11:15 AM

Declan dashed as soon as he saw the robot starting to raise his hand in Beth's direction, and the bullets hit diamond instead of a forcefield. The result didn't change much, as the nanites burrowed throug Declan's coating without much difficulty, but still.

"Coward!" he bellowed as the automaton dissolved and Beth asked "Where did he go?" in an alarmed tone. Then Sean's warning came, and both of them frowned while assuming a defensive position.

Beth
Move: Nah.
Standard: Defend at 1d10+14.
It occurs to me that she could have Defensive Attacked Declan wither her Flurry and get a better Deflect. :smalltongue:

Declan
Move: Dazed.
Standard: Defend at 1d10+19.

manwithaplan

2016-04-16, 09:46 PM

Copycat's eyes opened in response to Suzanne's last word, and his eyes drifted over to hers. He nodded, but said nothing as he climbed from the bed, moving past Emily and looking to the centre of the room, where his allies were. He had no idea how long he'd been asleep for, and he was still mad about being defeated, but he could see he already had something to take that frustration out on. Suzanne nodded back and went to stand, but before she could, the Mimic raised a hand to her with his fingers outstretched as a stop signal. She remained in her kneeling position as he analysed the robot, using Kathlyn Street's power to scrutinize it in detail.

Copycat and Suzanne Defend at [roll0] and [roll1]. Copycat activates Technopathy, and uses Senses to get a read on this thing.

Copycat Status: Normal.
Suzanne Status: 2 Bruises, Fatigued.

Zelphas

2016-04-17, 12:21 AM

Good to see you up, Copycat, Lucas states to the mimic, incorporating him into the mental link as soon as his eyes open. That thing isn't going to sit as a cloud forever...

Move Action: None.

Standard Action: Direct Tactics to give everyone a bonus to Defense until the end of next turn. [roll0] Just barely three degrees. +5.

Status: Exhausted.

Capt. Infinity

2016-04-17, 08:15 PM

Luisa Nym, completely lost as to what to do in the face of her opponent vaporizing in front of her. Simply enters a defensive stance, and attempts to bob and weave in the facing the location of the robot, making herself a harder target. "Affirmative, Lucas. Preparing for a counter-strike. Thank you."

Move Action: Might as well attempt to Feint the Robot: [roll0]
Standard Action: Defend Action. Rolling 1d10+ 27 this turn against all attacks.

Quellian-dyrae

2016-04-17, 08:28 PM

Round 4

As the heroes readied themselves for renewed combat, the Nanomorph floated off some, returning to its normal state more in the center of the far side of the room from the entrance. As soon as it had resumed solidity, it lashed out, another wave of pure energy exploding from it, filling that side of the room with a tremendous blast of concussive force, blowing away even more of the poor, helpless north wall.

AC Nanomorph:
Move: Into F5.
Free: Swap from Nanite Cloud to Nanite Repair. Regeneration resumes.
Standard: Energy Blast. Everybody except Wilson and Lucas, Dodge DC 24 for half, Toughness DC 29/22 vs. Damage, Mobility or Strength+Power Lifting DC [roll0] vs. Trip (reduce by 7 if Dodge succeeds). Maestro and Waterworks are still Defenseless, so they roll Dodge at +0 (but they're already Prone so no need to roll against the trip). However, they are unconscious due to an Affliction, not Damage; they receive Damage normally for this attack, it does not render them Dying.

This attack, however, is not Selective, so it destroys the medical units for Maestro and Waterworks.

End of Turn: Regenerates one Bruise.

Current Status (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?472225-Heroes-of-Millaine-OOC-4-Increase-Your-Power-Level-By-1!&p=20196810#post20196810)

Map (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bVm5_opcQgf8Yv4ih4MZEaoBj7PPMbLTc8ACEJFgQXY/edit#gid=0)

All PCs are on turn.

manwithaplan

2016-04-18, 02:21 AM

Copycat and Suzanne both instinctively threw a hand forward in response to the blast, his force field combining with her deflective shield to create a stalwart barrier against the incoming energy.

It didn't quite do it. The mimic was wounded, a sliver of power cutting through and slamming him in the chest, while the force rocking against her side of the shield knocked Suzanne off her feet. Looking around him for the first time, and seeing the sheer number of wounded allies, Copycat let the Gift of Haptarus flow through him to aid.

"REMEMBER WHY YOU FIGHT!" His blessing boomed through the room, louder than the pain his allies were feeling.

"YOU ARE FROM MILLAINE! YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FALL!"

He probably didn't mean it, but his words fell to Suzanne as well. She climbed back to her feet with new resolve and, despite his signal, threw a handful of icicles towards the killbot.

Copycat
Free Action: Switch to Lingering Voice of Haptarus. Power Mastery to put Inspiring Voice at Rank 9.
Standard Action: Inspiring Voice. Everybody except for the Nanomorph recovers one Bruise now, and one on Tom's next turn. I'm pretty sure he doesn't affect himself with this, yeah?
Move Action: Dazed.

Status: Dazed.

Suzanne
Move Action: Get up.
Standard Action: Icicle Barrage! Attack [roll0] for DC 25 Multiattack Damage. Extremely inspired. Critical Hit!

Status: Bruised, Fatigued.

Llyarden

2016-04-18, 06:06 AM

Emily and Sean didn't take the blast of energy so well. The two of them were flung backwards painfully into the south wall, Emily crashing through the medical dispenser that was feeding into Waterworks.

Still, every cloud and all that. Emily reached up and a vine slithered out from her hand, poking over the rim of the bathtub to attempt to expel the sedative from the unconscious woman.

Sean:
Move: Staggered.
Standard: Recover from exhaustion.
Free: Attempt to quick stand because why not: [roll0] Nope.

Emily:
Move: Staggered.
Standard: Attempt to revive Waterworks: [roll1]. I'll reroll in the OOC thread if needs be. 27.
Free: Attempt to quick stand as well: [roll2] Also nope.
Just to note it here, I may have her Surge a heal onto Sean, depending on what others do.

Status:
Sean: 2 Bruises (regenerates next round, heals next round), Staggered, Prone, Fatigued, +2 defences.
Emily: Staggered (regenerates next round), Fatigued, Prone, +1HP (maybe), -1 Bruise next round.

Hyperbolic sine

2016-04-18, 10:51 AM

Both Declan and Beth braced for impact: the former proved as unmovable as he had before, while the latter followed Lucas' directions and managed to withstand the energy wave without her forcefield overloading, though at the cost of losing her balance.

As Copycat's booming voice brings her newfound resolve, the ACC powerhouse quickly stands up again on her feet and charges towards the robot along wit the Unbreakable, aiming to provide an opening for Declan: just because her punches can't hurt it unless she take time to build up power, it doesn't mean she's useless!

Beth
Free: Mobility DC 20 [roll0] to stand up. Nope.
Move: Stand up.
Standard: Aid Declan with Flurry of Blows at (+5 for Teamwork, -2 for Charge) [roll1] +5 bonus.

Deflected at 1d10+14.

Declan
Move: to the Nanomorph!
Standard: Power attack (All out (3) if Aid bonus only +2) the Nanomorph with Declan Punch at [roll2], Toughness DC 29 vs Damage.

Deflected at 1d10+14.

Zelphas

2016-04-20, 03:02 PM

Lucas winces as he sees the attack hit the group, throwing many of them down. It also crashes into Waterworks' tub, cracking it and causing water to begin streaming out. And then Emilypours healing into the tub... and nothing happens.

No... Lucas nearly rushes forward, but holds himself back, knowing that there's nothing he can do. Emily, try again. Please...

Move Action: None.

Standard Action: Use a Hero Point for Direct Action. Emily gets another Standard Action.

Status: Exhausted.

Llyarden

2016-04-20, 03:26 PM

Lucas' telepathic plea broke through Emily's weariness and pain. Pulling herself up a little further, she clenched her other fist as a green light flowed down the vine that was still resting on the surface of the water in the tub.

Trying again then: [roll0]

Capt. Infinity

2016-04-20, 10:03 PM

There were many initial impressions for Luisa Nym.

To those roped into the Helping Hands incident, she was kind, caring, accommodating, and yet also insincere and scheming. To the Heroes of Millaine piecing it all together at the time, she was cold, calculating, and downright sinister. During the scene at the Reclaimer building, she once again seemed above them all. Strong, distant, and untouchable... Until a high velocity diamond-coated super-soldier saw fit to wreck her day, plans, and most of her physical structure.

Though each of these instances painted a picture of Luisa Nym, and the massive alterations to her personality in recent times have left them more or less completely moot, one thing had become absolutely certain.

Declan. Got. LUCKY.

The assassin-turned-secretary tanked the blast with nothing but a firm battle stance and, although the force did visibly injure her, she stood strong, and even stood taller as Copycat shouted his encouraging words. Maestro, for all his unconsciousness, was still luckily under the protecting ward of his telekinetic forcefield, and came out of the blast still completely out of it, but luckily only sustaining minor bruises and superficial injury.

Turning to where Beth and Declan had just assaulted it, Luisa Nym rushed at the Nanomorph, and struck with a rapid serious of blows. "Okay, now you are just literally making a mess. Could you PLEASE control yourself?"

Move Action: Get up in the Nanomorphs face and move into G5.
Standard: Hastened Strikes, Power Attacking for 5, All-Out Attacking for 5. On a hit, DC 30+multiattack against Damage. Defending at -5 this round: [roll0]

Quellian-dyrae

2016-04-20, 11:03 PM

Suzanne's icicle storm was perfect. Head shot, collarbone, two the center mass, one to the groin. Against a normal person, it almost certainly would have laid them low. But against the reinforced structure of the nanomorph, they shattered harmlessly.

The robot turned its attention to Beth's assault, fending her off easily. It required turning its focus away from Declan, of course, but that was no real matter. Without DAMOCLES, the Unbreakable lacked the combat power to so much as scratch its-

*CRUNCH!*

Declan's diamond fist did not crack, did not dent, but smashed clean through the nanomorph's body, piercing a hole clean through it! Evidently, that much physical damage was disruptive to whatever technology bound the nanites together, as weird ripples passed through the glass-like construct and random words and numbers flashed across its surface. It began emitting a clear red light.

Seeing her opening, Luisa struck out, but the nanomorph was able to block most of her attacks. One got through though, a hard punch that further cracked its head.

The nanomorph staggered back under the assault, but it did not fall. It clenched its fist, and bands of crushing force clamped down on the heroes, aiming to crush and separate them.

AC Nanomorph:
Move: Staggered.
Standard: Energy Blast once again. Everyone but Wilson and Lucas, Dodge DC 24 for half, Toughness DC 29/22 vs. Damage (Declan's Immune), Strength or Dodge DC 24/17 vs. Move Object as a Grab. Waterworks and Maestro can't resist the Grab (and it does have Affects Insubstantial). If you are successfully grabbed, it will reposition you within the Area of the Move Object effect as follows, unless you make a separate DC 24 Strength check:
Beth: B2.
Declan: F2.
Luisa: J4.
Emily: J1.
Suzanne: I7.
Sean: B7.
Copycat: Can stay where he is.
End of Turn: Regenerates one Bruise.

Current Status (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?472225-Heroes-of-Millaine-OOC-4-Increase-Your-Power-Level-By-1!&p=20196810#post20196810)

Map (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bVm5_opcQgf8Yv4ih4MZEaoBj7PPMbLTc8ACEJFgQXY/edit#gid=0)

All PCs are on turn.

Hyperbolic sine

2016-04-21, 12:04 PM

"Don't underestimate us, Glassbot!" Declan shouted as he punched through the Nanomorph. Then the automaton retaliated, but its attack proved as ineffective on the Unbreakable as it had been the previous two times.

Beth too was almost unscathed: mustering all her strength, she resisted the force pushing against her until it dissipated, leaving behind only a few sparks from the forcefield belt. "I'm used to it by now!" she says glaring defiantly at her opponent. Then both she and Declan glanced at each other, and charged their fists.

They would bring the robot down before he could incapacitate anyone else.

"HA!"

Beth
Standard: Aid with Flurry of Blows at (+5 from Teamwork) [roll0]. +5 bonus.
Move: E4->P2
Deflected at 1d10+14.

Declan
Move: N/A
Standard: Power Attack the Nanomorph with Declan Punch at (+5 from Aid) at [roll1]. If Aid's bonus only +2, PA only for 3. Toughness DC 29 vs Damage.

Quellian-dyrae

2016-04-21, 01:17 PM

The Nanomorph's assault laid both Luisa and Emily low, locked Copycat and Suzanne in place, and further battered Sean and the still-helpless Maestro and Waterworks.

But it couldn't stop Declan and Beth.

More cognizant of the threat presented by the diamond-coated Hero, the nanomorph stood ready to fend his next attack, bringing up a hand to catch the Unbreakable's fist just as it had before. Except this time, Beth's simultaneous strike shifted it just a few inches off balance.

Those few inches decided the battle.

Instead of landing in the center of its palm, Declan's fist glanced off its thumb, and continued on unslowed straight for the nanomorph's face. Diamond met reinforced active crystal nanites, and for a second time, punched clean through. The shock of the impact rolled through the robot's composite structure as if it had been made of water, the billions of nanites making up its form scattering as they lost cohesion from the force of the impact.

There was silence, broken only by some scattered sounds of gunfire outside.

Battle over! Everybody take a :smallcool: Hero Point!

And for mechanical purposes, that there's the adventure. Ya'll be old hands at this by now, you know the drill: comments, critiques, suggestions, criticisms, questions, whatever. Alter your sheets as desired. Spend any leftover Hero Points for Edit Scenes, Inspirations, or additional Downtime Actions (and take three Downtime Actions each, while we're at it). Finally everybody take 4 Power Points.

In addition, for their heroism in performing this rescue, your love interests also get 4 PP each, plus one additional PP per PL they are below 10. So:
Lucas: 8 PP.
Suzanne: 4 PP.
Luisa: 4 PP.
Beth: 6 PP. Beth reaches PL 9.
Emily: 9 PP. Emily reaches PL 6.

Those of you in other games or who saw some discussions on the Chatpad may be aware that I've been waging a bit of a war on Healing, so as part of these sheet updates I'm going to ask you to edit any Healing powers you possess to meet the following criteria. I'll be doing the same with NPCs.

All Healing powers require a Quirk that changes the order that conditions are healed in. Instead of Dying -> Incapacitated -> Staggered -> Bruises, the order is Dying -> Bruises -> Staggered -> Incapacitated. This can be noted on the sheet as Quirk (Heal Order).

A Healing power that affects a single target and is not Linked to other powers must either have a rank of 5 or lower, one of the below Limits, or Quirk 3 (Staggered costs two degrees, Incapacitated costs three degrees).

A Healing power that affects multiple targets and/or is Linked to other powers must have Limited (One Degree) or, if Linked to offensive powers, Limited (Degree capped by degree of failure on target's resistance check).

Other Flaws and Limits may also be acceptable (Tiring Healing powers I'd even allow to ignore all of the above, including the Heal Order), but these are the baseline options I've come up with. The main thing is making it so that while Healing can be a worthwhile use of an action, it's not going to completely invalidate Damage by its very existence.

And I usually try to come up with a more specific question for you here, so: in this adventure, the level of challenge got ramped up some, coming kinda from three different areas. First, the Heroes of Millaine are moving up in the world and attracting a higher class of enemies, so of course the raw power of the enemies has scaled some. Second, I've been trying to add a bit more tactical synergy to some of the enemy groups. Third, I'm becoming somewhat less hesitant to use things like Recover actions, Extra Effort, GM Fiat, Luck, and so on - where I feel they would improve the narrative (I'm not going to have like an entire group of enemies make sure they Extra Effort a Recover the first time they're Staggered or anything, that just drags out a battle, but yeah if a significant enemy gets Staggered it might Recover, if the enemies have lost some people but still have enough oomph left to keep the battle going a few more rounds I might toss them some Extra Effort to keep the pressure on, enemies that I expect to be outnumbered might have some Luck to ensure they can deal with the action economy, etc).

Now, this question isn't about if things are "too hard". I wouldn't insult you by suggesting so when the only battle the PCs really "lost" was due to pure Fiat. More, I'm interested to know what constitutes a fun challenge for you. Do you find it more fun to face fewer foes with greater strength and more "resources" than more evenly-matched groups? Would you rather the challenge come more from numbers and stats, or from tactics and synergy? Is it more annoying or interesting when an enemy rerolls a check, Recovers, heals, takes an extra action, or so on? I'm not likely to completely abandon any particular option entirely, and regardless of which options I use I'm committed to doing my best to presenting challenging encounters, but I can certainly tweak to what degree I use any particular option in building these encounters.

(Although, while you're at it, I also wouldn't mind knowing just where this recent "take a break from the main characters to play NPCs" falls on the sliding scale of "That was cool let's do it again sometime" to "Never Again" :smallamused:).

And I suppose we better start narrowing down a name for OOC 5, since we're almost there and these post-adventure bits are usually fairly OOC heavy :smallcool:.

Zelphas

2016-04-21, 06:51 PM

Lucas cries out as he sees their main healer and their most consistent combatant fall to the Nanobot's attack. He races through the visor, trying to find some way to help...

...only to nearly collapse with relief as Declan smashes the robot into dust with one well-placed punch. ~Well done, everyone!~ he calls out over the mental link, just managing to keep himself from saying cut. I really need to take a break from filming more often... he thinks to himself, refocusing on the tasks at hand. ~Copycat...~ he begins, then laughs lightly, shaking his head. ~Nevermind, you don't need me to tell the Heroes of Millaine what to do. I'm glad we could find you.~

Lucas finally steps into the room, moving immediately to Waterworks' side. Once there, he... stops, a slightly lost look on his face. There's no battle to focus on, no actions to direct; and as for Darla... he can't check to see if she was okay. He can't even hold her hand.

Hyperbolic sine

2016-04-24, 12:42 PM

"Enemy status: FUBAR." Declan announces triumphantly, staring down at the puddle of nanites at his feet with a smug, before turning to Beth. "That punch was great! You were great! Hope the Haptarans learn the ACC isn't to be messed wi-?!"

Be it because of the adrenaline, the elation for having defeated an enemy way stronger than her, the relief that they managed to resscue everyone without anyone dying, the worries and accumulated tension finally finding an outlet, or a combination of the above, she ran straight to him. She didn't speak, nor waited for Declan to finish: once close enough, she hugged him as tightly as she could, looked him straight in the eyes, and kissed him.

...

After the most clichèd of time distortions - in other words, a moment that felt like an eternity - their lips parted.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Declan Reynolds, The Unbreakable, the fearless Hero who took anti-vehicle missiles to the chest and battled giant cells in space without so much as blinking, glanced around and blushed like a kid.

"Uh. Ah. Uhm..."

Beth too blushed, realising they weren't exactly alone, but had to stifle a laugh upon seeing her partner's confused and embarassed reaction. "Don't ever make me come rescue you again. I was worried sick." she then says with a smile, leaving Declan's side to go check on Emily.

Zelphas

2016-04-24, 07:27 PM

"About time," burbles a voice from the tub, and Lucas leaps forward. Slowly, Waterworks regains her form, looking slightly wobbly but wearing a grin. "I'm disappointed in you, thoguh, Declan; I was sure you'd be..." Waterworks trails off, noticing the shredded room, the knocked-out torturer, and the medical devices all around.

"Umm... where are we? Last thing I remember, I went full Maelstrom, going after the Recruiter's goons--the Recruiter teamed up with Haptarus! And then we..." She takes in the room again. "Oh. We got captured, didn't we." Finally, her eyes land on Lucas, who is anxiously gripping the edge of her tub. "Okay, Lucas, don't take this the wrong way, but... this is obviously a pretty dangerous situation. Why are you here?"

"Storyboarding," Lucas replies, with a completely straight face. A moment later, he reaches forward and wraps Waterworks in a tight, long hug.

Llyarden

2016-04-25, 04:04 AM

Sean pulled himself to his feet wearily, relaxing slightly as Declan and Beth demolished the robot, and quickly (or at least as quickly as he could manage) moving over to Emily and sitting down besides her, holding her hand. He could tell she was more or less alright, but that didn't make him any less worried.

After a few moments, Prometheus's serum proving its worth once again, Emily opened her eyes in time to catch the interactions between the others. She giggled slightly, a genuine smile running across her face, and sat up, leaning back against Sean.

"We should probably...help," she said after a few moments. Whether she meant the still-unconscious Maestro and Wilson or the battle still going on outside wasn't quite clear. Neither of them made any move to get up, though.

Capt. Infinity

2016-04-25, 07:49 PM

Apparently some imperceptible pool of luck ran out for the cordial android, as Luisa Nym came crashing down unceremoniously in the face of the nanomorph's final blast, the robotic woman slamming hard into the ground, an unsettling metallic noise coming from within her as she went utterly limp.

As fate would have it, this was about the time that Maestro saw fit to awaken from his slumber. It was anyone's guess why it took him so long. Perhaps the Haptaran's gave him an increased dosage for fear that he could formulate an escape even on limited mental faculties, maybe his brain was wired so differently from most that it took longer to "reboot" in the face of a chemical coma, maybe he just had a weak constitution. Regardless of the reason for his delayed recovery, the very first thing to come to Maestro's attention upon awakening, the first and only thing on his mind as he assessed the situation, was Luisa's lifeless frame sprawled out across the floor.

You could barely see the psychokinetic move, his motion all but a blur and a rush of air as he was suddenly at his girlfriend's side. "Nonononono. Come on! Please be okay..." Maestro's hands were like lightning, a hard slam on the former assault droid's neck popping open the main access panel for her internal circuitry. Bits and pieces of metal and medical equipment flew across the room, twisting and reshaping into crude but efficient tools as the genius began fixing every minor piece of damage to Luisa's hardware.

"Come on. Come on..." After what felt like several minutes -but was actually maybe 15 seconds- and very much on the verge of tears, the young genius finally wrapped up his technomechanical field surgery. "Just one last wire and..." A loud click is all that signified a change as the moments-before lifeless body of Luisa Nym jerks forward, panting hard and looking about wild-eyed, as if awakening from a nightmare.

Gasping and dazed, the female android haphazardly feels about her neck, grabbing her open access panel and closing it with a resounding *slam*. Hah... Hah... I just- I mean- What on Aranth just..." Luisa's confused assessment of the area is abruptly cut off as she turns around, her eyes locking with Maestro's in a moment that, especially to the two enhanced thinkers, felt like an eternity.

No words were spoken. No questions asked. Just a motion forward, and a resounding, triumphant kiss.

Neither would have it any other way.

As the two parted their lips, both Maestro and Luisa took the moment of clarity afterwards to get a read on the room they were in.

"So. I was knocked unconscious?"

"Very much, yes. I assume you were taken out in the effort of rescuing me?"

"Correct. Though I will say that I held my own quite well."

"Naturally."

"I think I might have found some form of tactical usage of your morality software. It seems I can almost quite literally 'kill my enemies with kindness'."

"Huh. I guess there are benefits to coding the pillars of basic human decency whilst filled with a violent, raging bloodlust."

"I can't say I'm complaining."

Maestro raised an eyebrow at the scene around him, with Sean and Emily leaning into one another lovingly, Waterworks and Lucas caught in a deeply emotional embrace, and Beth and Declan blushing up a storm at one another.

"So... What'd I miss?"

Quellian-dyrae

2016-04-27, 11:46 AM

The intent, no doubt, was to come barging into the room suddenly and dramatically. But considering that not just the door, but the entire wall to one side of it, had been completely demolished in the fighting, that...that wasn't going to happen. The group could see Magnus, Mercy, Maddox, and Martin, along with Lieutenant Wilhelm and a small squad of OUT-SIDE soldiers making their way through whatever the adjoining room had been (it was tough to tell, since at this point it looked like a tornado had passed through. Or maybe taken up residence).

"Ah, you've got them. Excellent work!" Magnus said.

"Rest of the place is clear," Wilhelm reported. "I've call a crew in to take this one, at least, into custody," he added with an upnod at the unconscious pain manipulator. There was just a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Martin and Mercy, seeing that their respective children were having a moment, hung back. And while there was a tiny grin on Martin's face, Mercy looked subtly uncomfortable.

Maddox, on the other hand, immediately started moving about the room, administering healing to the group.

Hyperbolic sine

2016-04-27, 03:38 PM

The arrival of Maguns & Co made Declan snap back to reality. He forced out a couple of coughs, carefully avoided meeting eyes with his father - why was he even there? - and waived away Maddox's help with a "Nah, I'm fine. Go wake up Sleeping Beauty over there." while pointing at Wilson.

"And of course we got them, Magnus. No matter what Haptarus throws at us, it can be punched to scrap."

"I don't think the robot was from Haptarus...there were Haptaran bots on the way here, and they were nothing like this." Beth chimed in. "Also, it wanted to kill Copycat."

"...hu. Hey, Tom, loks like you really pissed off someone."

Zelphas

2016-04-29, 01:33 AM

After a moment, Waterworks gently extricates herself from both the bathtub and Lucas' embrace. "We're not done talking about this whole 'you in a dangerous situation' thing," she warns him, though she can't hold back a smile as she says so.

"So, just to take stock of the 'random enemies of the Heroes of Millaine' list: we had Gaertner, but he went down, so nevermind him. We have the Recruiter allied with Haptarus, who was bold enough to attack us on Illesian soil. And we have someone sending robots after Copycat. We also have that one thing with drugged-up people attacking me, too." She thinks for a moment. "Oh, and the Defiants, I guess. We're just really popular all around the world, aren't we."

Waterworks shakes her head, focusing back on the situation at hand. "Everything's clear, Lieutenant? Is there anything you need me to do?" A bit of what he said filters through to her, and her face grows somber. "I'm guessing the others didn't exactly lie down quietly."

Quellian-dyrae

2016-04-30, 12:29 PM

Magnus opened his mouth as if to make some retort to Declan, even raising one elucidating finger in the air, but apparently decided against it, settling back with a slightly cagey smile.

"They weren't," Wilhelm confirmed. "Or, wait, which robots? The Haptarans had some big ol' combat bots, but then we got attacked by these silver shapeshifter-type robots. They attacked the Haptarans just as much as us though. Definitely a third party."

"And yes, all hostiles neutralized. Only thing I need you all to do is quietly and unargumentatively receive medical attention. Declan."

You guys want to continue RPing this scene, or are you wanting to timeskip?

Quellian-dyrae

2016-05-03, 11:15 PM

The Heroes were checked out, and taken out of that place, much to the joy and relief of their friends and families. OUT-SIDE had held up their end of the fight well - a fair few soldiers were down, but their armor and the prompt attention of Maddox Mentallo ensured that there were no fatalities among their number.

Not so for their opponents. OUT-SIDE soldiers were not shy about their firepower. The only Haptaran survivor was the Pain Controller who had stood between the rescuers and their Heroes. The nanomorphs had likewise been destroyed in the fighting.

That wasn't to say all was entirely well. One attack on Ilessian soil led to public outcry. But a second was a more sobering occasion. In both the media and political arenas, a great debate was raging regarding whether Ilessia should focus its military might upon attacking Haptarus directly, or put more emphasis into defense of the nation's borders. That Haptarus had twice managed to get armed forces not just onto Ilessian soil, but into combat with their chosen targets, was a frightening thought for many...

Waterworks

"Just let him go, Lucas!"

"Suzanne, please."

It was supposed to be fun.

A day on the set of the Heroes of Millaine movie. Officially, you were there as a consultant - primarily to observe how the actors were portraying the Heroes in the early stages of production and offer advice and suggestions as needed. Truth was, it was an opportunity to hang out, eat donuts, and watch the movie get made. But by this point, inventing a plausible excuse to see you was just something Lucas seemed to do for personal amusement.

"Forget it, Lucas!" Jep Eldridge snapped at the director standing between him and the door (and showing a complete disregard for the fact that the man possessed telekinetic super-strength in the process. Lucas Fairbourne, ladies and gentlemen.) "I've accepted a lot for this role. The Recruiter himself attacking the studio did not deter me, and neither did the assault on the gala. I have made my opinion of Suzanne's relationship with Copycat clear, but if she wants to put herself in danger by dating a man who has at least three extremely dangerous Dreamers seeking his death, that is her prerogative."

"But now the two of you had to go out and personally attack Haptaran forces! It is insane! We are entertainers, not soldiers, and mark my words the two of you have drawn the ire of the most dangerous military on the planet squarely upon this production. So no, I do not plan to be here when the next kill squad comes sneaking through our border to obliterate this entire studio and everyone in it!"

"Well good riddance, then!"

"Suzanne, please! Jep, it is extremely unlikely that they have any idea who-"

"Step aside, Lucas," the actor interrupted, a silvery hand appearing in front of him. "Or I will move you."

Copycat

He looked normal.

Like just another guy, to all appearances. But he had to be a summon. You knew this for two reasons. First, because your predictions had indicated some link to the Recruiter would be here, at this time. Second, because you were quite certain that Lucas Fairbourne did not have an identical twin brother (and Lucas himself was at this very moment at ASM7 directing).

The man-who-was-not-Lucas was loading an unobtrusive dark blue sedan with groceries. It was the most normal thing in the world.

What do you do?

Maestro

Your lunch orders taken, the waiter walked away. Once he had left, Amelia said, "Thank you for meeting with me. I wanted to discuss a potential business arrangement that will, I think, be much to the benefit of Mentallo Industries. What have you heard about SilaVision?"

Since you are, after all, Maestro Mentallo, you've heard a fair bit. SilaVision is a small company based out of Lastelle. They mainly produce Active Crystal glasses, predominantly using Active Crystal technology to correct visual impairments, although they also offer a fairly comprehensive suite of "augmented reality" programs and applications. They're not big-name by any means, but their products are generally well-reviewed.

Continuing as if she hadn't even asked the question (probably because she already knew what your answer would be), Amelia said, "I have it on good authority that SilaVision is going to be announcing production on a new device within the month. An Active Crystal contact lens that should be commercially viable." Active Crystal and similar lenses were far from new inventions, but they weren't really ideal for mass production. They were about an order of magnitude too thin to pack in all the necessary technology for full Active Crystal functionality. At least, unless you resorted to Dreamtech. Lenses like this wouldn't be a world-changer by any means, but it definitely had potential to be a useful and profitable product.

"And we were thinking," she said, and her change from "I" to "we" was impossible not to notice, "that it would be a good idea for Mentallo Industries to acquire SilaVision before the announcement was made."

Declan

Avis' call had interrupted your training session with Beth, but the information he had for you was worth it.

A Defiant training camp. According to Avis' intel, this was a double-value target. First, the camp's commander - a nasty piece of work named Aletha Carran - was suspected of acquiring military-grade weaponry for Defiant operations (officially, there wasn't enough evidence to make an arrest, but Avis said he could confirm it. He did not elaborate on how.) Second, one of the current recruits at the camp was evidently someone who would be involved with the disastrous attack that Avis had predicted.

Of course, you knew that Avis was wrong. It wasn't a double-value target.

It was a triple-value target. He had somehow left out the bit about it being a freaking Defiant training camp.

Avis had sent a chopper to transport you to the site (he gave you coordinates for pickup a few miles outside of Millaine). It was unmanned, piloted autonomously. A recorded message indicated that this was to allow your identity to be protected. The chopper also contained a suit of powered armor - it wouldn't offer you any particular protection, but it would obscure your identity and give you access to an arsenal of weapons less...famous than DAMOCLES, if you wished to use it.

The camp was in the middle of a fairly wide expanse of woodlands (the nearest clearing sufficient for the chopper to land was a few miles to the east and a bit south). It was quite a ways from any civilization.

I'm working on the assumption that Declan would have pretty much jumped at the mission, but if not feel free to "backtrack" to whatever point he may have hedged at/wanted to ask about/whatever. That said, if he does just go along:

You hear some loud but distant thumping noises when you exit the helicopter.

As you're making your way towards the camp, you notice someone tailing you, though keeping a significant distance - they're about fifty yards away.

You're pretty sure the person is female, although she's a good bit taller than the average, with brown hair.

Oh crap. It's Beth!

Wilson

It's a quiet afternoon at home. Mary's at work, and you are just fixing up some lunch for yourself and Sarah. You being at home is a good thing. Mary had tried to keep Sarah isolated from the news about what had happened, three days ago, but having been kinda in a total panic herself, well, there was only so much she could do to that effect. Sarah'd been having some really bad nightmares since then. She'd woken up crying two or three times a night, and while she didn't want to talk about the nightmares...every time, she had frantically asked where someone was and if they were okay, and wouldn't calm down until you had called them and gotten them to confirm that they were fine (aside from having been woken up in the middle of the night, anyway).

So, spending more time with her was hopefully helpful. And regardless, it meant a fine opportunity to take advantage of a calm, peaceful day for some quality father-daughter bond-

"DADDY!?" Sarah yelled from her room.

She sounds more shocked than scared.

Oh. Right. I forgot.

Millaine.

Declan was always talking about trusting one's gut. And if Beth were honest, her gut was saying something was Very Probably Not Good after that phone call had interrupted their training session. Maybe she was just paranoid after what had happened a few days ago, but Unbreakable or not, she wasn't all that keen on Declan going into a possibly-dangerous situation alone.

'Course, Beth wasn't stupid. Oh, she was getting stronger. Her recent experiences fighting the Haptarans had shown her not only what real combat was like, but also, what she had been doing right - and what she had been doing wrong. The past few days, she had taken her training to an almost Declanian level of obsessive devotion, and it was paying off. Even so, she knew better than to be overconfident. If she was right and Declan was going into danger, then following him alone would have been a foolhardy move.

So she had gone to you.

She didn't want to alert Declan. If it was nothing, she didn't want to offend him by acting like he couldn't handle himself - and if it was serious, she didn't want to give him an opportunity to send her away. Better to ask forgiveness than permission. Neither of you were exactly masters of stealth, but between both of you and your sense of smell, following Declan from far enough back that he wouldn't notice you was doable.

Following the mysterious helicopter that he got into several miles outside of Millaine was...a bit more challenging, but between your speed and Beth's prodigious leaping ability, you managed it well enough.

The chopper landed in a clearing in a heavily wooded area. So far, Declan hasn't displayed any signs of having spotted you as you cautiously tail him from a good fifty yards back.

As with Declan, if Sean would hedge at any part of this, feel free to backtrack to there. But assuming he's down to go with Beth (or elects to do so despite any reservations because if he doesn't help she'll definitely go alone), I sped through enough so you're in synch with Declan.

manwithaplan

2016-05-03, 11:43 PM

Thomas sat atop the corner of the grocery store's (why was it always a grocery store?) main building, watching the maybe-Summon from a few hundred feet away. His location was concealed by shadow, leaving him inconspicuous as he watched over the carpark. Next to him was a Summon of his own, dressed in a flowing blue garb and covered in jewelry. Psycat's hair was shoulder-length and perfectly white, and his eyes were replaced entirely by strange purple voids with black spirals, but other than that he was identical to Thomas Chide.

"Fifth row, D block, ninth spot."

"Yes, I have seen him also."

"Got a read?"

"Patience, master."

Okay. I'm going to go ahead and Stunt out the original version of Summon Copy, so I have a Heroic non-Continuous Summon with me packing Doctor Shane's Full Powers.

And that Summon is going to use Mind Reading on this Lucas lookalike.

Mind Reading [roll0].

Status: Fatigued.
Psycat Status: Normal.

Capt. Infinity

2016-05-04, 12:15 PM

Maestro's eyes perked up at Amelia's statement. Now, the young man was no stranger to economic advice. Many businessmen had gotten the lofty idea in their head that they somehow had something worth adding to the conversation when it came to the myriad lightspeed thought patterns of the young psychokinetic genius as he made the hundreds of thousands of calculated moves that lead him to the grand business venture that is Mentallo Industries. Understandably, most of these pieces of advice had been remarkably redundant to him, what with the whole "super-genius from before he reached double digits" thing. However, the business advice made by the hyper-analyst had him remarkably intrigued.

"Oh, really?" Maestro asked with legitimate interest, avoiding the obvious question of who "they" are exactly. "And what do you all think would be best for me to do after acquiring it? I'm always for advancing modern science, but I'd like to know exactly what this acquisition would accomplish. Do you know something I don't?" For the first time in a long time, Maestro asked that question without a hint of irony in his voice. Whatever was going on, it was, at the moment, doing so high above his head.

Maestro was aiming to change that.

Zelphas

2016-05-04, 10:08 PM

Waterworks... is a little distracted, truth be told. Sure, hanging out with Lucas is always great, and seeing the movie finally start filming is awesome; she just has other things on her mind. Her powers keep on expanding on her, and she's beginning to wonder if it is the effect of the Maelstrom, or simply the natural growth of her abilities. This newest fluctuation... it's weird, but also kind of fun. She isn't sure why she hasn't told anyone about it yet; it's nice to have a secret from everybody... one that probably wouldn't threaten the coastline of Ilessia, this time around. When Jep (dramatically) announces his plans to leave and (dramatically) attempts to storm out the door, Waterworks is content to let Lucas handle things, watching from the sidelines and idly munching on a chocolate-frosted confection. Then Jep makes a not-so-subtle threat to Lucas.

"Okay now." Waterworks flows smoothly in between Jep and Lucas, facing the telekinetic squarely. "I don't expect you to praise Lucas and Suzanne for their actions; you've made your particular stance on saving my life perfectly clear thank you. I do expect you to show some measure of courtesy towards your director, however; or has Lucas not been polite at all times? Did he give you any reason, by his direction and his professional relationship with you, to threaten him, or to show hostility at all? No? Well then," she states, and her voice grows hard. "Back down, Jep. Or I will make you."

She lets her comment sink in for a moment, and then continues. "As Lucas was no doubt saying before you interrupted, it is highly unlikely that Haptarus has any idea who Lucas and Suzanne are. SIDE has kept their role in the rescue mission secret for precisely the concerns you stated. In any case, all of those various events you commented on have one thing in common; the people attacking were after the Heroes of Millaine. I'm sorry, but they don't really care about you." She forces herself to soften her voice. "If you think my presence on the movie set puts your life in jeopardy, say so, and I'll limit my time here." She glances back at Lucas, giving him and "I'm sorry" face before turning back to Jep. "I may not be the most theatrical of people, but I think you make a pretty good Maestro. I'd rather not lose your work over worrying."

Persuasion (Lucas, please aid?): [roll0]

Hyperbolic sine

2016-05-05, 12:53 PM

Declan had waited for years the day when Defiants could be stopped before there were innocent victims. After Avis' proposal, he had been looking forward to it even more.

In the end, that day had finally come. After recieving the call, he hastily ended the training session saying that something had come up and headed straight for the pickup point.

---

Once the chopper landed Declan stepped out and took a couple of minutes to get used to the power armour, before turning his attention to the sounds in the distance.

Explosions? Are they practicing suicide bombing?

He snickered.

Wish they were that stupid...well, let's go. I'm coming, f******.

Llyarden

2016-05-05, 01:19 PM

After the third nightmare, Wilson had had the forethought to phone around his friends to warn them that they might have their sleep disturbed and to apologise in advance. Luckily most of them had had saint-like levels of patience thus far, though he was glad that none of the ACC - for instance - had been out working when he'd phoned.

He was halfway up the stairs, born on a cloud of nanites, when the remainder of his thoughts caught up with him and observed that it wasn't a scream of panic. He didn't slow down that much, though - the shout was different to how Sarah sounded when she'd woken up from one of her nightmares, which meant it was something out of the ordinary. "Sarah?" He pushed the door of her room open. "What is it?"

I'm honestly unsure what to post for Sean at the moment, so I'll just...leave things as they are, I suppose.

Quellian-dyrae

2016-05-07, 12:28 AM

Copycat

Psycat got nothing from the Lucaslike...but the intrusion did not go unnoticed. It looked up sharply, swiftly scanning the area.

If you wish to remain undetected, roll Stealth against DC [roll0]. Roll once, but use the lower of Copycat or Psycat's Stealth bonuses. This Perception check includes a fairly-arbitrary -10 penalty for distance, but also a +5 circumstance bonus because of its Mental Quickness - it would be able to recognize you and to study the features of each person it sees, so you kinda have to duck into hasty cover to actually escape detection. Likewise, since you're being rushed here, you can't Routine the check. This counts as an off-turn Reaction for purposes of other actions.

If you don't want to remain undetected, well, let the good times roll. :smallbiggrin:

Maestro

"Oh, you know, the usual. Set up development, marketing, publicizing," she gave a dismissive gesture, quite cognizant that she didn't need to tell Maestro how to do his job. "It's not so much that we know something you don't, just that we are keenly aware that a product like this will almost certainly do better on the market if it is being produced by Mentallo Industries than if it is being produced by SilaVision. And that it, and SilaVision as a whole, is exactly the sort of company that Mentallo Industries should be looking to acquire. Cutting edge, independent, reputable, and with a proven record of developing products that are of benefit to the masses."

"See Maestro, the reason I wanted to start working with you is because my associates and I...we see something in your company, a vision I would hope that you share and that I believe will be of great benefit for Ilessia if you were to reach. To put it simply, we would like people to say 'Mentallo Industries' in much the same way they currently say 'IDEA'. Except, you know, without all the...baggage that the Institute had accumulated over the past century."

Waterworks

Lucas didn't visibly respond to your intervention, but you could feel a gentle sensation of gratitude radiating out from his mind to yours. When you made Jep the offer of minimizing your presence, though, he sent, ~No. This movie is as much your project as mine. I'd prefer not to lose Jep either, especially at this stage, but as far as I am concerned, you are more valuable to this production than he is.~

Outwardly, he said, "I am sure no one needs to abandon the project. Jep, please, let's just talk about this for a bit. I think we can all safely say that no Haptaran kill squad is going to descend upon us immediately, right?"

(No one was probably paying much attention, but Suzanne gave Lucas a disbelieving look as he said that out loud, and the air in the room got a touch colder as she manifested her ice armor.)

Jep, for his part, hardly seemed convinced, but he did relax his posture, and dismiss his telekinetic hand. He may have been arrogant, but he certainly wasn't about to tangle with Waterworks! "Your presence is not the problem," Jep answered you firmly...but not quite as coldly as previously. Beneath his typically haughty tone, there was a sincere note of concern. "The problem is the effect that you and your fellow Heroes are having on the people involved in this production, Lucas and Suzanne in particular. Let me see if I have the whole list right. Lucas was shot. Both of them were nearly killed by some sort of shockwave thing. Suzanne almost died a second time fighting robots with Copycat. Lucas was struck unconscious and, again, nearly killed by a Haptaran hit squad. And despite all this, both of them charged senselessly into battle against Arch only knows what to come to your rescue because, as best as I can discern, the fact that they are making a movie about you makes them think they are in a movie!"

"They are not Heroes, Miss Sanders. They are not warriors. They are entertainers. And they are going to die if they continue to pretend otherwise. However, as neither seems to recognize when their actions threaten their lives, it seems the only option is to ensure their actions threaten their movie."

He turned to face Lucas. "You want to keep me on? Convince me that this movie's director and lead actress will survive to film it!"

Declan

It only took a few minutes to reach the camp, and observe it from give-or-take a hundred feet away. There were about a score of people outside. There weren't any signs of explosives that you could see. There were six log cabins in the area, and one much larger but similarly constructed building. There might have been other hostiles within.

Looking upon the camp, you might have recalled the Defiant attack on the ACC, where the Defiant had took punishment far in excess of what they should have been able to physically endure, unless put down with lethal force. It was clear how they got it. They were...well, it was hard to call it anything other than torturing the other third of them. One trio were mercilessly physically pounding on a fourth individual. Off a ways, one recruit was scalding another with a lit torch. Two of them were exchanging cuts with knives in increasingly sensitive places.

None of them screamed, or shouted, or made any noise louder than a sharp grunt. Most of them looked to be in their early twenties, or younger.

They all had weapons at hand - one might have wondered how they managed to resist the urge to pull them out and fire them upon the recruits assaulting them. Nothing that looked even vaguely capable of harming you of course, and none of them had the weapons actually drawn. One individual in a light suit of powered armor was watching passively and occasionally calling orders. You didn't really have the technical knowledge to be sure, but the armor looked smaller and lighter than even the suit you had been furnished with.

Their chance of threatening you even slightly was virtually nil...but then, that was how it should be. You were the Unbreakable, after all, and while these Defiant-in-training may have been nothing to you, their weapons and their fanaticism and their hatred could be absolutely lethal to less powerful Dreamers...and anyone else caught in the crossfire (and/or blast radius).

Wilson

You throw open the door to your daughter's room to come face to face with a big, fierce-looking, and, oh, yes, glowing wolf. It...actually, it looked exactly like Moro, except for the glowing. Other than her eyes sometimes, Moro definitely didn't glow.

"Moro's here!" Sarah said, the shock in her voice replaced by delight as she hugged the wolf around the neck, the smile on her face every bit as bright...as the glow in her eyes.

"Moro" regarded you stoically, showing neither hostility nor affection, although she did wag her tail when Sarah hugged her.

With your tracking abilities, following Declan is relatively trivial. You and Beth can see the campsite, but it's too far away (you're give-or-take 250' from the camp, 150' from Declan) for you to really make out many details visually.

Your enhanced sense of smell, however, is keen enough to pick up some details. There's something like a score of people outside, all of them carrying guns and one of them in a suit of powered armor. Several of them are in some manner of physical distress, but it's mostly painful rather than really debilitating. There's surprisingly little emotion considering that - some piques of anger or fear, but they're largely being controlled through extensive discipline.

Beth leans in and whispers, "What's he doing? What is this place?"

Zelphas

2016-05-07, 01:56 AM

Thanks, Lucas. I'm not sure how much... professional help I am at this stage, though, She sends back, before her mental voice gains a bit of wry humor. Besides, do you really think I'd stay off the set? I haven't had a good stealth mission in months!

Waterworks looks... slightly pained when Jep calls Suzanne the movie's "lead actress". She loves Suzanne and thinks she's a fantastic actress, but she'd been fighting to keep her role fairly limited within the movie so as not to steal it from her teammates. We still need to talk about how big Waterworks is in this movie, she sends to Lucas, albeit halfheartedly. She's pretty sure she's lost that fight.

"All right, Jep. Here's why Lucas and Suzanne will be surviving this production, and many more to come. One: everything you said before? They survived all of that. They did so because they were talented and smart about what they were doing. Even in the rescue attempt..." She shoots Lucas another look, "Though I personally don't like that they put themselves into danger that way either... they did so with powerful allies, through a side area not being defended by the main forces, and while a rather large distraction was going on. They have proven that they know their limits in dangerous situations, and work within those limits.

"Two. Their 'senseless charge into battle' was an extreme circumstance. They don't seek out fights, like... well, like I do in my job as a Hero. In every circumstance except the last one, the attack came to them, not the other way around. In the last case, they were protecting people they care about. As much as I don't like Lucas putting himself into danger, I wouldn't ever criticize him for following their Heart." Unless Jep is a Deionist, he might miss the capitalization on her final word.

"Three. The Haptaran kill-squads will not be happening again. Two incursions on Illesian soil, within a week and a few miles of each other? Even if you're completely cynical towards the government, the sheer embarrassment of such blatant disregard for border control forces them to step up their efforts. IF Haptarus tries anything like this again, they'll be facing a ticked-off SIDE, whatever military detachments are in the area, and a fully-prepared Heroes of Millaine. They won't move a step towards any of you," She states with a fierce smile. Despite their capture, Waterworks' faith hasn't been shaken: the Heroes of Millaine win. End of story.

"And Four. If, against all odds, something happens to Lucas or Suzanne; if the Recruiter sends his forces, or Haptarus himself drops from the sky to take them away..." Waterworks' smile drops. The next paragraph is stated in a near monotone. Behind her, Lucas can see a few small bubbles ripple up her form, invisible to Jep. "I contact the General Director of Hero Corps. And what we do to Haptarus makes the Ragnarok Arms Ring look like a wave on the sand next to a hurricane. I promise you this, Jep Eldridge; Lucas and Suzanne will live through this filming. It will probably be uneventful. But if it isn't... I will bring Lucas back safe and sound, if I have to cAst doWn HaptaRus oN hIs thRoNe to do so." She turns away abruptly and clears her mind, taking a deep breath.

When she turns back, she's smiling. "It won't come to that, though. Everything will be fine, all right?"

You don't need to spend any more points in Persuasion this time around, I said... you barely ever use it anyways, I said...

Persuasion: [roll0]

Llyarden

2016-05-07, 03:00 AM

Wilson...kinda blinked once or twice at the giant wolf standing in his daughter's bedroom. And then at his daughter's Dreaming eyes. "Well. Hello, Moro."

This was not how he was expecting this day to go. "How did 'Moro' -" he did his best to not sound sceptical at his daughter's misapprehension "- get in here?"

He figured it was probably best to introduce Sarah slowly to the fact that she could apparently conjure a giant wolf out of thin air.

Assessment on Dream!Moro: [roll0]

"Oh, ----." Sean looked back to Beth. "This is a Defiant camp. One guess what Declan's going to do."

Sean waited for a moment to let that sink in and then, unless Beth moved to stop him, sprang forwards to catch up with the armoured Declan.

Hyperbolic sine

2016-05-07, 11:27 AM

Under the helmet, Declan grimaced in disgust. A little part of him was actually impressed by the guts their dedication, but it was that very same dedication that prompted his reaction: what sort of indoctrination were the Defiants doing to persuade all those youths to go through what basically amounted to torture? And all of that just to kill innocents?

He clenched his fist. Images flashed through his mind, as his hatred flared up: Defiants mercilessly firing on unarmed civilians; the bloodied bodies of his parents, unconscious on the floor of the mall; a wounded Beth unsteadily getting back on her feet in the center of the smoking crater.

No more would he stand idle. No more would he let them get what they wanted.

No more.

Let the fireworks begin.

The sound of a missile being fired echoed in the woods.

Rocket Launcher on the armoured person and as much other Defiants as possible. 30' burst, Dodge DC 20, Toughness DC 25/25 vs Lethal Damage.

Capt. Infinity

2016-05-07, 12:41 PM

Maestro looks at Amelia with a mix of wonder and thanks, before a massive grin spreads across his face. "Amelia, you couldn't be singing my tune better if you were shouting it from the rooftops. Consider it done. If there is anything I can do to ensure a better, brighter future for Aranth, you have me all the way. And if that future happens to have my initials stamped upon it... Well, who am I to complain?"

manwithaplan

2016-05-07, 07:12 PM

"Damn. Come on!"

Copycat sprinted for the edge of the building and jumped from the side, Psycat following suit. Only, while the master moved down the wall and came to a stop in the midst of the carpark, his servant sailed over him and flew directly into combat, aiming to nail this surely-Summon into the ground with an airborne drop kick.

"Who are you, and for what reason are you here?"

A few feet back, Thomas stood and watched, perhaps praying that this was the right guy.

Psycat
Move Action: Get adjacent to Lucaslike.
Standard Action: Unarmed Attack with All-Out Attack 5. Attack [roll0] for DC 26 Damage.

Status: -5 Defence this turn.

Copycat
Move Action: Move into the carpark, 90 feet away from this engagement.
Standard Action: Recover from Fatigued.

Status: +2 Defence this turn.

Quellian-dyrae

2016-05-08, 12:26 PM

Waterworks

~As the only female member of the primary cast, Suzanne is the leading actress by default,~ Lucas responded simply.

(That's his story and he's sticking to it.)

The drop in temperature at Jep's words was clearly discernible, but (probably fortunately), you managed to get your response out before Suzanne could make a less-than-diplomatic retort. "Darn right!" she chimed in proudly.

"That...is all well and good, but the fact remains that when dangerous situations come up - which, yes, seems to happen inordinately frequently in Millaine - they have consistently tried to involve themselves when they should be working to immediately remove themselves from danger. Yes, they've handled it so far, and that's good. But all I am asking is for them to stop playing Heroes and putting their lives at risk. I do not think that is too much to ask, and neither do I think it makes me a bad person for asking it."

"I have no intention of leaping into danger unnecessarily," Lucas said calmly. "What you must understand Jep, is that my power affords me a certain easy understanding of developing tactical situations. In certain specific cases, there is something that I am capable of doing to provide assistance. When the Recruiter attacked, yes, I delayed my own retreat so as to enter an alert into the Hero App, to ensure all of the Heroes were aware of and able to reach the situation. In that particular circumstance, I deemed the risk of a few seconds delay acceptable against the benefit of getting the message out immediately. But you may rest assured, I am fully aware that a modestly superhuman tactical mind and the 'experience' of having directed several dozen choreographed fight scenes does not make me a serious threat to powerful Dreamers and military forces."

"In other words, we're not cowards who run away as soon as things get dangerous. We see if we can help first!" Suzanne said. "I mean, like Darla said. I don't go out looking for trouble, but let's be real here. I'm basically Hero-level at this point. I could probably take any member of Tom's Gooncat Squad in a fair fight as long as they didn't have a power that specifically countered mine. If you actually give a crap about our safety...fine. Thanks for that. But don't go trying to justify your cowardice by telling us that we're the ones who are reacting wrong to dangerous situations!"

Wilson

Gahhh I haven't statted Dreamer!Sarah yet! Um, uh, let's say PL, uhhh...four. Yeah, let's go with PL 4, no tradeoffs, all stats at PL.

"She just poofed!" Sarah answered, making a little, well, "poof" gesture with her hands.

Declan and Sean

Declan looses the rocket, and it impacts with a tremendous and satisfying kaboom! The power armored Defiant is knocked back a step, its armor dented and scorched, but not damaged too badly. Three of the Defiant who were also caught in the blast can't say the same. With neither cover, armor, nor time to react, they were hit by the full force of professional-grade explosives and blown to pieces.

But the fourth Defiant in the area, well...something happened.

He looked down at his hands in shock. As the blast faded, he was completely unharmed and unmoved, had taken the blast better than even the powered armor did. There was a hard green light shining around his skin.

The new Dreamer looked up in horror, fully cognizant of what had just happened...and where he was when it did.

"SPY!" the power armored Defiant yelled in fury, firing a burst at the newly-manifested Dreamer on full auto. If that didn't bring him down, the new Dreamer would raise his hands in a stopping gesture. "No! Wait, I-" before a bolt of emerald lightning shot from his hands at the armored Defiant.

Other Defiant grabbed their weapons, firing a pretty much completely ineffectual volley of shots at you...and Sean...and Beth.

Oh, yeah, about that.

Just after you had launched the rocket, Sean had come leaping out the woods your way, with Beth following hot on his heels. The powerhouse landed with a booming thump. Her eyes swept the battlefield as people started shooting at the three of you.

One might have expected that, having just seen you casually blow away three people who hadn't been attacking you before, Beth might have been angry, or horrified, or disgusted. One might have expected her to beg you to stop, or yell at you, or maybe even physically try to stop you.

Nope.

Not Beth Cobbler.

Faced with her Hero and her coach and her boyfriend making an unprovoked attack on a bunch of Defiant, Beth pretty much immediately trusted that Declan was here for a reason and leaped unhesitatingly into the battle, coming down on the nearest Defiant with a crushing punch orders of magnitude more powerful than an unarmored, unpowered human could possibly hope to survive.

Armored Defiant:
Move: Nah.
Standard: Attack New Dreamer with Machine Guns, Power Attacking for 2, at [roll0]. On a hit, Toughness ([roll1]) DC 25+Multiattack vs. Damage. Hit with +2 for Multiattack. But this guy's power appears to be Knight 8 Emulation so he's only Bruised. For getting a second consecutive amazing Toughness roll I've just added Regeneration 5 to his made-up statblock in my head. We shall see just how powerful he ends up.

Trainees 5-20:
Move: Draw weapons.
Standard: Attack with Automatic Weapons. Eight of them attack Declan uselessly. Four each attack Beth and Sean only slightly less uselessly. (DC 19+Multiattack damage on a hit).
Sean: [roll2], [roll3], [roll4], [roll5]. So
Beth: [roll6], [roll7], [roll8], [roll9]. Useless

New Dreamer (if still up):
Move: None.
Standard: Attack Armored Defiant with Emerald Lightning at [roll10]. On a hit, Toughness ([roll11]) DC 19 vs. Damage, Fortitude ([roll12]) DC 14 vs. Vulnerable/Stunned Affliction. Miss

Beth:
Move: Leap into the battle.
Standard: Attack Trainee 5 with Staggering Strike, Power Attacking for 4, as a Routine attack for 14. Unless someone Interposes, he can't beat the DC 31 Toughness save even on a 20 and is KILLED!

Maestro

Amelia gave a slender grin. "That's pretty much exactly what I was both hoping and expecting to hear," she said.

"There is one other thing you should probably consider. Kathlyn Street. Now, don't get me wrong, I think what you did for her was extremely kind. Noble, even. And she is absolutely an incredibly valuable asset to Mentallo Industries. It's just...I'm wondering if she really needs to be in as high a position as you have her. Her skills seemed optimized for a more...hands-on role than managerial, it seems to me. And just from a PR perspective...of course, it's not that you can't deal with the scandal surrounding her, but every time she accomplishes something newsworthy you're going to have to deal with that. The talking heads will bring it up, and it will eat into your news cycle, and that's okay at the level you're operating at currently of course, but taking things to the level we're talking about it might be more...problematic. But if she's in a lower ranking position, where someone else's name is attached to her big successes, you don't have to worry about any niggling PR issues, and more of her time is spent on the technical matters that she's best at than the managerial functions that can certainly be handled just as well by someone else, once they're brought up to speed on the ins and outs of her former company."

Copycat

The Lucaslike saw Psycat coming, and stepped casually aside, the dropkick coming down hard enough to leave a small pothole in the street. He struck back with a swift move, a brief exchange of punches followed by a hard shoving strike aimed to set up Psycat for a finishing blow,

Since punching and kicking were far less collateral-damage-promising than, say, explosions and energy blasts, the civilians in the area, rather than doing their whole panicked running and screaming thing, gathered around to watch the two summons fight, pointing and cheering. Good on them for diversifying their combat tactics. Apparently, since Psycat didn't look exactly like Copycat and the Lucaslike did look like the well-known (especially in Millaine) director, they...weren't entirely certain who to cheer for. Both summons seemed to have their fans.

Champion Tactician
Move: Feint Psycat at [roll13].
Standard: Attack Psycat with Set Up, Power Attacking for 4, at [roll14]. On a hit, Toughness DC 29 vs. Damage, and Prowess DC 24 vs. Weaken All Defenses. The Weaken is Triggered, taking effect at the start of the Tactician's next turn, but after that is Instant Recovery, so it expires entirely at the end of Psycat's turn thereafter. 99% sure with AoA that hits regardless of the feint, but uh, do we have Copycat's summon template anywhere with easy access?

Llyarden

2016-05-08, 03:03 PM

Wilson

"Right. Yes. 'Poofed.'" Wilson ran a hand through his hair. "Okay." He sort of felt like this was something Mary ought to have been here for. "Tell me, Sarah...does Moro look normal to you?"

Sean

The bullets flew into where Sean had been a few seconds ago, as he spared just enough time to give the armoured Declan a glare before darting past him, shoving Beth's unfortunate target out of the way and taking the ferocious blow in his stead. The force of the punch knocked him back a pace or so, and as he gathered his wits he looked up at Beth and Declan.

And...Sean had been kinda irritated at times before. When Copycat had excessively channeled the Maelstrom was the most obvious time, but also the argument he'd started pretty much the first time he'd worked with the other Heroes.

Those occasions paled to almost nothing compared to the look of sheer venemous rage he gave Declan. "Murderer," he snarled.

His expression softened ever so slightly as he looked back to Beth. "Don't, Beth. If you hit these people you will kill them. There's no Eskiro here to bring people back. No matter who they are, or what they're responsible for...you can't undo taking a life."

Move: Dazed.
Standard: Try to talk down Beth: [roll0]. And Waterworks thinks she has it bad...
Extra Effort: Try again. Fail again.

Status: 1 Bruise (regenerates next round), Dazed this round, Fatigued next round.

Hyperbolic sine

2016-05-08, 04:28 PM

Declan watched the Defiants being torn apart by the explosion with grim enjoyement - definitely not suited to a Hero, if not villain-level outright. The little voice that was saying he should have gone non-lethal and find a way to get them imprisoned? Locked far, far away by his hatred.

The sudden appearance of Beth and Sean was bewildering in the best case, and unsettling in the worse. Conflicting feelings clashed against each other in a violent storm: pride at seeing Beth take his side unquestioningly, and fear that he had turned her into a clod-blooded killer; anger towards Sean, but also gratefulness for keeping Beth from killing; burning hatred towards the Defiants, and unwillingness to be become a murderer in the eyes of his love; and, drowning all the rest like a roaring thunder over the combative chirping of birds competing for food, the desire to prevent the massacre Avis predicted from happening - no matter the cost.

"..."

"This in none of your business. Leave." he replied, cold as death despite his inner turmoil, and raised the arm with the machinegun towards the other power armour.

"I won't stand by, this time. I won't let them do it again."

Move: Uhm...eh...I would probably be better off not rolling, but who am I to pass on the chance of more drama? :smallbiggrin: Talk Down Beth to make her leave, Intimidation @-5 [roll0]. Hey look, I actually did better than Sean.
Standard: All-out Power Attack on Armoured Defiant at [roll1], Toughness DC 30+Multiattack vs Lethal Damage.

...you know, Quellian, you might not even need mind control or possession or such to turn Declan into an enemy for a future boss fight. I was playing in your hand all along, wasn't I? :smallbiggrin::smalltongue:

Capt. Infinity

2016-05-08, 08:58 PM

Maestro pauses, considering his options. While yes, he had jumped through hoops and put forth decent effort into ensuring that Kathlyn Street had gotten the position she now has, he couldn't deny that her ill-gotten reputation, no matter how unjust, would bring problems. Mulling over the possible paths, Maestro realized that he was looking at it all from the wrong perspective. Someone like him surely wouldn't stand for having their name filed off their legacy, but someone like Kathlyn? She just wanted to live a successful life and do a job she's good at. And that was something Maestro could more than readily supply.

The Psychokinetic addresses Amelia almost immediately after she gives him the advice, the whole inner conflict he had just had taking up less than a sliver of a second (though he always took care to leave some time between question and answer. Other people often found overly quick responses weird). "Hmm... You do have a point. I'm sure I can convince Kathlyn she can do just as much good out of the limelight as in it. Heck, I wouldn't even be lying! Besides, I'm sure she won't take it personally. After all, the average person doesn't really care for leaving an enduring legacy upon history. People like us, on the other hand..." Maestro raises his cup of tea in acknowledgement of the fellow wayfarer of personal fortune. "We want to change the world."

manwithaplan

2016-05-09, 01:36 AM

Tom shook his head in confusion as his Summon disappeared in a flash of ectoplasma.

Even Herodian Trent hadn't been that incompetent.

With a pop he had zipped in to replace his defeated summon, teleporting into space in front of the Lucaslike with a leg tucked in. He struck out, aiming to thrust his foot into the most-likely-Summon's gut with enough force to wind it, giving him time to prepare properly for a brawl. After his manoeuvre, he flipped onto the ground next to his opponent, taking up his normal stance before addressing the surrounding people.

"Back up, back up, he could be dangerous!"

Free Action: Swapping to Interceptor's Teleportation. Using Power Mastery to raise Teleport Strike to Rank 11, put Accurate on it, and increase Protection by 3 (altering Cat's Defence/Toughness shift to 8/14).
Move Action: Teleport in.
Standard Action: Teleport Strike. Attack at [roll0] for DC 28+Multiattack Damage and DC 23+Multiattack Fortitude against Dazed and Vulnerable/Stunned and Defenseless.
Edit: ...Forgot to mention I was using Power Attack 2, but um, don't think it mattered.

Status: Normal.

Zelphas

2016-05-09, 02:06 AM

"There's no need for name calling, Suzanne," Waterworks admonishes gently. Even if she's completely correct... she sends to Lucas a moment later. "If Lucas and Suzanne never faced another villain in their entire life, I wouldn't complain. I think you're over-exaggerating things, though. Except for the one outlying case--which I'll say once again had a whole long list of special circumstances and shouldn't ever happen again--both Lucas and Suzanne have acted as good citizens trying to do the right thing. I'm not going to ask them to stop doing that; if more people did it, everyone's life would be a little easier. Suzanne, as a fairly powerful Dreamer with at least some combat training--you did have some basic combat training with your powers, right?--is well within her rights to pitch in against an enemy if she thinks she's needed, although she could definitely be a little more cautious about it."

Waterworks turns quickly away from Jep, hands up in a placating gesture towards Suzanne. "I'm not trying to downgrade your help, Suzanne. You've been pretty amazing when you've helped us out. The difference here I think is in how we've chosen to focus our skills. I'm a certified Hero Corps member, which means my job is first and foremost going to be a lot of fighting. Every day--well, except for my days off--is focused on making sure that I can use my abilities as best I know how for fighting the bad guys. You're an actress. In order to keep doing what you love, you can't really afford the same amount of focus that the other Heroes and I have to put in to our work. That doesn't mean your powers are any less awesome--trust me, they're awesome--but it shouldn't have to be a part of your life to use them in life or death situations all the time. If you want it to be a part of your life, then that's something you can think about and decide on.

"I'm not going to say 'leave the Heroing to the Heroes,'" Waterworks continues, rolling her eyes. "I have no problems with what you've done in the past. You've helped us a lot. Still, there's a difference between getting attacked a few times, even the attacks you've seen, and going looking for trouble. You don't need to tell me that, though." Hey Lucas? Can you tell Suzanne that this is mostly for Jep's benefit? I don't think she needs me preaching at her, really. She's a smart woman, she knows how to take care of herself.

Persuasion on Jep: [roll0]

Quellian-dyrae

2016-05-09, 12:01 PM

Wilson

"I mean, she's all glowy," Sarah said, stepping back from the conjured wolf to examine her more critically. "And her eyes are usually red, not blue. But other than that she looks normal."

"Did Uncle Maestro make Moro magic?"

For an eight year old, it was a valid question.

Ah, heck, who am I kidding. For anyone who knew Maestro Mentallo, it was a pretty darn valid question.

Declan and Sean

"Sean! What the h-" Beth shouted as Sean took her punch in the Defiant's stead, but as he warned her of the probable ramifications of her actions, she got a kinda sheepish look on her face. "Sorry," she said softly. "But...they're shooting at us," she said more firmly, as some more bullets whizzed by. "I mean, badly, but...I can't just stand here. Declan's fighting them for a reason. ...I'll be careful."

When Declan than coldly told them both that this was none of their business and to leave...Beth was taken momentarily aback. She looked at him in blank shock, but flashes of emotion were warring in her eyes. It was like she was finally seeing just where they were, just what was going on.

If Declan believed he was in the right, why wouldn't he want their help?

A dozen more trainees came pouring out of the cabins, firing wildly into the fray. From one window, a high-explosive, focused-burst rocket came streaking out, straight at Declan, a weapon powerful enough to potentially damage even the Unbreakable's...rather superfluous suit of powered armor. Not Declan himself though. Oh no. Not by a long shot.

The power armored Dreamer continued failing to be the only thing on this battlefield that might have been able to present something resembling a threat to I dunno maybe Beth at least in favor of engaging the newly-minted Dreamer, firing a bright red energy blast straight at him.

Beth forcefully quashed the question, ignored Declan's demand, and turned her attention to the people who were shooting at her. She respected Sean, liked and trusted him too. He told her she could kill these people, and while Defiant weren't exactly on her short list of people deserving of mercy...she also knew there were better ways to handle such foes. She crouched to leap...

Power Armored Defiant:
Move: Nah.
Standard: Attack New Dreamer with Energy Blast at [roll0]. On a hit, Toughness ([roll1]) DC 23 vs. Secondary Effect Damage. Bruised and Staggered.

New Dreamer:
I'll be honest, I'm waiting to see the results of this attack before I decide what he does.
End of Turn: Regenerates a Bruise.

Some Dude With A Rocket Launcher?:
Fires a rocket at Declan! To precisely zero effect!

Trainees:
Move: Various.
Standard: What have we got, like 28 active now? So figure a full dozen of them shoot at Declan and do absolutely nothing. The others will continue taking DC 19+Multiattack shots at Sean and Beth.
Sean: [roll2], [roll3], [roll4], [roll5], [roll6], [roll7], [roll8], [roll9]. Nothin'
Beth: [roll10], [roll11], [roll12], [roll13], [roll14], [roll15], [roll16], [roll17]. Hey! It actually hits! Beth actually has to- Oh, wait, her forcefield's Impervious. N-nevermind then.

EDIT: And I totally forgot Beth's action. Will do that in the OOC along with New Dreamer.

Maestro

Amelia smiled and clinked Maestro's cup with her own. "Excellent, good. I'm glad it won't be a problem," she said, taking a sip of her tea. "You know, there were a couple associates of mine who thought it would be. They said that a person your age probably wouldn't be ready to play on this level, would be too proud and attached to past achievements to think of the future. Of course, they haven't worked with you before."

Copycat

The tactician saw you coming, and once more, sidestepped deftly, leaving your foot to hit nothing but air. He took advantage of your momentum to try to grab the back of your head by the hair, redirecting the force of your movement to slam you face-first into the ground, hoping to leave you too disoriented and poorly-positioned to respond to the attack.

The crowd, seeing a Hero in play, did back up. Quite a bit, in fact. After all, those announcements (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=19853488&postcount=906) that went out every so often about making sure you weren't putting yourself in danger by getting too close to a Heroic battle had been well-received.

Champion Tactician:
Move: Feint Copycat at [roll18].
Standard: Attack Copycat with Unanswerable Strike at [roll19]. On a hit, Toughness DC 25 vs. Damage, Will DC 20 vs. Cumulative Entranced/Stunned/Incapacitated Affliction. If the Feint succeeds, he Power Attacks for 4, modifying the attack roll and DCs accordingly. Hit's either way, but roll against the Feint to determine if it Power Attacks.

Waterworks

"Tom's showed me a few things, yeah," Suzanne answered. As Waterworks continued, her face got a little...still. It was hard to say what she was actually feeling.

Then Lucas responded, ~Done.~

Suzanne's features immediately softened, and she said, "Sorry. Look, the truth is, the fighting and stuff...it can be really scary. And...painful, sometimes." She and Lucas...actually both twitched some when she said that, an eerily identical response.

(They um...they might not have actually, you know, gone into detail about some of what they had done in that rescue. Their second battle in particular.)

So, I just get defensive if people start telling me I did something wrong doing it. But trust me, Jep, I have no inclination to throw myself into danger like that unless I'm absolutely sure that it's very, very well worth the risk. I'm not a Hero. I just play one in the movies."

Llyarden

2016-05-09, 01:41 PM

Wilson

"I, uh...I don't think so." This was going to be rather difficult to explain. "See, Sarah, I don't think that's the Moro you're used to being friends with."

Sean

"Beth, stop," Sean snarled, though he wasn't so much angry as...concerned. He pretty much ignored Declan's demand, just as Beth had. "You don't know how to hold back. Whether you think you do or not." To be fair, when her main sparring partners were Declan and Sean himself, holding back against either of them was a lesser concern. "I've had to deal with killing," he said more quietly. "It's not something I'd wish on anyone."

"The Defiant attacked Millaine because they're afraid of what Dreamers might do at some point." Sean's tone made his scorn for that viewpoint quite clear. And then he nodded towards Declan. "That remind you of anyone?"

Standard: Attempt to talk down Beth, with Intimidation this time: [roll0] I think she is talked down. :smalltongue: Also is it just me or does Sean always seem to have remarkable luck just when he needs it?
End of Turn: Regenerates a Bruise.

Status: Fatigued.

Capt. Infinity

2016-05-09, 03:02 PM

Maestro chuckled at Amelia's remark. "Well, I can't blame them for guessing as such. Hell, were this about six months ago, I might have had to think about it for a few milliseconds more. Recent past events have taught me that change is an integral part of moving forward." As the psychokinetic speaks, he opens his palm and allows his powers to dabble through them, with lightning crackling between his fingers, before culminating into a red-tinged ball of wavering heat, then igniting into a little sphere of light, before being snuffed out with a clenched fist. "What matters, at the end of the day, is not that everyone comes out a winner. What matters is that everything is better for the action than it was before you began. Not everybody's going to like the way forward, but denying it is just a one way path to obsolescence. If you aren't willing to roll with the punches, and even further, make the punches roll with you, then you're going nowhere fast. And, even if some people have to be pushed aside and into place in order to clear the path ahead, I assure you, Ms. Gosselin, I fully intend to move forward."

Hyperbolic sine

2016-05-10, 12:19 PM

"You don't get it, do you? It's not a matter of if. It's a matter of when." Declan rebuked.

"I will stop them before thousands of people die at their hands."

All the while, he didn't take his eyes off of the armoured Defiant, but ended the rain of bullets to ready the armour's built-in sword. The man would play a big part in the attack Avis predicted, and as such he needed to make sure to kill him before Sean could interfere.

"Even if I have to get my hands dirty."

The jetpack suddenly coming to life, Declan dashed forward and swinged at his opponent - a second attack following shortly after if the first wasn't sufficient or, well, Sean interfered.

Move: closing in on Armoured Defiant.
Standard: All-out Power Attack him with Claymore at [roll0], Toughness DC 30 vs Lethal Damage and Fortitude DC 25 vs Cumulative Impaired/Disabled/Incapacitated.
Extra Effort Standard: do it again at [roll1]

Zelphas

2016-05-10, 08:01 PM

Waterworks winces inwardly when she sees Suzanne's initial reaction to her words. Better apologize to her personally later, just to be safe. Suzanne and Lucas' identical twitch catches her attention, but she lets it pass for now. If Lucas wants to talk about it, he'll tell me.

"There, Jep; both of them have said that they have no plans to needlessly risk themselves in the future. Is that enough?" She asks aloud, smiling.

If I'm guessing correctly, I need one more success to make Jep back down, right?

Persuasion: [roll0]

Quellian-dyrae

2016-05-11, 12:57 PM

Wilson

"She's not?" Sarah asked confusedly, looking at the conjured Moro skeptically. "Does Moro have a sister?"

Maestro

"That's a very productive attitude. I'm glad to hear it," Amelia said sincerely. She did, however, get a bit of a cagey look on her face as she added, "I'm actually a little surprised you put it in quite those words," eyeing you speculatively.

You get the sense that how you respond to that statement might be...important.

Declan and Sean

The armored Defiant dodged Declan's first swing, but the second tore through the frontal plate of its armor, dropping it to the ground, bleeding profusely. The person inside would die shortly if no one saved it.

The remaining Defiant continued shooting, for what it was worth. Perhaps it would eventually dawn on them how helpless they were.

Or perhaps not.

From inside the large building, someone apparently came up with a more practical play. Given the resiliency of the unknown power armored attacker, it was clear that heavy artillery was required. Something powerful enough to tear through even the toughest armor, a devastating weapon that no being could long withstand. The blast fired at Declan from one of the windows, its molten red hue indicative of the tremendous level of threat it presented. That's right, the Defiant had broken out the big guns, the single most powerful piece of ordinance in their entire camp, the one, the only, the PLASMA CANNON!

Sean's words gave Beth pause. She wanted to help, but...Sean knew what it was to have a power that could cause more harm than you intended. If she trusted her own beliefs over his experience, and was wrong...

She looked over the swarming Defiant, the swarming people, fighting desperately and completely unable to harm them in the least. They might have been shooting at them, but against Declan's invulnerability, her forcefield, and Sean's superhuman resilience...they might as well have been throwing snowballs. If she killed them, it would be like shooting someone who had shoved her roughly in the street.

It...wasn't right.

So why is Declan doing it?

"D-" Beth began, before halting herself. Declan wasn't wearing the powered armor for either protection or offense. The only benefit it really gave him was concealing his identity. "Wait! Stop! Let's...let's just leave! They can't hurt us!" she shouted over. She didn't want to pick sides here, but this wasn't the place to hold this sort of discussion.

I realized, Declan's sword would have qualified for a Strength-based bonus, and since he attacked at +11, he had room for +1 Damage in his PL limits. And since the armored Defiant was only one point above a four-degree failure, it should actually have been rendered DYING!

I'mma stop rolling for the mooks now. Their uselessness is well-established.

And yes, Declan is still completely immune to plasma cannons.

Waterworks

Honestly I've been kinda going with "if Persuasion beats DC 15 Jep'll react reasonably-positively, if it fails he won't, and if it fails by two or more degrees he'll react especially negatively". One of these days I should probably get some more coherent social rules together, since the default ones leave...something to be desired. And general social interaction shouldn't be anywhere near as difficult as the Talk Down rules I came up with.

Jep gave a little sigh, but apparently his anger had played itself out, and if he were honest, he didn't really want to leave the movie. Aside from all the hype surrounding it, he really loved the Maestro character. "Very well, I suppose that will suffice."

"Wonderful. Then if we could, perhaps, all get back to work?"

The Champion Tactician, unlike most summons, was smart enough to wonder if being sent grocery shopping was really the optimal use of his prodigiously enhanced intelligence and tactical fighting abilities.

He understood, however, the logic behind it. His true power, in this case, was not his cognitive enhancement, but his physical appearance. No one would question acclaimed director Lucas Fairbourne shopping for groceries. The Boss had been exceedingly cautious ever since receiving that telepathic warning that the Mimic was coming for him. He knew what powers the Mimic had access to, knew that any blatant use of his abilities would be something that the Mimic could potentially home in on, use to determine his location. Sending an Angel of Light to teleport into a supermarket, steal a bunch of supplies at Luminous Blade-point, and vanish in a flash of light leaving a store full of terrified civilians behind would have been too easy to detect. But sending a summon bearing the same appearance as the original owner of its powers, in a perfectly normal rental car, to pick up groceries like any other person on any other day? Even the precognitive powers of the Precog wouldn't be able to discern that against the background cloud of countless possible futures.

Or so the Tactician had thought, until he felt the mental intrusion as he was loading the car. Quickly blanking his mind, he swept the area with a hasted gaze, simultaneously sending to the Boss through the Bind between them, ~I have been subject to a mind-reading power. I am, ah, it is the Mimic, and I believe one of his Recruits. Orders?~

The summon felt more than heard the annoyed sigh. ~Hold him off, I suppose. Try to distract him. If you can keep him focused on you I might be able to send a teleporter to retrieve the groceries without him realizing it and pulling some sort of teleport-tracking ability out of his big toe to find me. Or getting Mentallo to build some sort of teleport-tracing radio tower in fifteen seconds, or whatever other nonsense these people manage.~

The Tactician nodded, watching as the Mimic's Recruit leaped in. It was a powerful, though heavily telegraphed attack. The Tactician had calculated the angle of approach, velocity, impact point, and other physical variables before the summon was halfway through the air. Its aerial stance suggested an immediate strike with a drop-kick, rather than landing in an advantageous position for a follow-up strike. A poor choice against an unknown opponent, the Tactician critiqued mentally. If the target was able to defend, it would leave it open to a follow-up attack.

At the last moment time optimally calculated to ensure a successful evasion while minimizing the opponent's opportunity to react to the defense, the Tactician shifted aside, pivoting on its left foot so the other Recruit struck only the ground. Immediately, he capitalized. Blow after rapid blow hammered the mind-reader. The intent was to set it up for a finishing strike, but the enemy was in such a vulnerable position that the openings basically left themselves. The Tactician calculated seven different ways it could end the battle, five of them lethal to a human, two likely lethal to a superhuman. It elected for a strike to the chin to wrench the Recruit's head around, followed by an elbow to the base of the skull to render it immediately unconscious. Unable to maintain its physical state, it collapsed into ectoplasm.

Of course, then the Mimic himself was upon him.

The Mimic vanished. To normal minds, teleportation was instantaneous. To someone who processed information as quickly as the Tactician, it was merely very fast. A teleporting attacker almost always appears directly in front of or behind its target. In either case, the appropriate defense was the same. The Tactician was already moving to the side when the Mimic appeared, allowing his kick to go sailing by harmlessly.

Well, harmlessly to him, anyway. A superpowered kick carried a lot of momentum with it, and having the reaction time to have seen his opponent appearing in kicking stance, the Tactician was already initiating his counter, slipping around to grab the Mimic by the hair and slam him face-first into the ground, with the full force of both his superhuman strength and the Mimic's own momentum behind the blow. That would hopefully stun him long enough to the Boss to send a teleporter for the groceries, and-

...

...

~The threat is neutralized.~

...

~I'm sorry. What?~

~I have defeated the Mimic's Recruit and rendered the Mimic himself unconscious. Shall I kill him?~

~Of course you should- Wait. Why wouldn't you kill him?~

~He has undoubtedly acquired additional powers since your last interaction with him. I was unsure that you wouldn't want to make physical contact first.~

~Ah...no. No, it is too risky. They almost certainly would have some way of tracking each other. It would lead them right to me.~

~He does have...some sort of electronic device on him. It's GPS enabled. I believe it is also connected wirelessly to their teleporter. This is probably the device they would use to track him.~

~I see...could you spoof the data?~

~I could, yes. However, it is probable that any technological misdirection that I employ would be detectable by the Psychic, if he knew to look. And destroying it may send up an alert. I believe the optimal solution would be to secure it elsewhere, and rig up a proximity detonator to destroy it if anyone gets too close.~

There were a few moments' pause, then, ~No. The Haptarans had captured them all, and they were rescued within hours. Leaving him alive is too great a risk.~

~There is...one other factor you may wish to consider. 'Hours' is not immediately. If they were to mount a rescue, we would have time to prepare.~

~And you believe that wise?~

~It is high risk, yet high reward. I calculate your chances of victory, with the right strategy, to be favorable. And it may be the only opportunity to force the encounter on your terms.~

~They were upon me in seconds last time. It won't work if an alert goes out. Were there any witnesses to your battle?~

~Several civilians, yes. The Luminous Blade of an Angel of Light would cauterize the injuries, minimizing the necessary cleanup.~

...

~I will send one immediately.~

Llyarden

2016-05-12, 05:20 AM

Wilson

"Um...no, I don't quite think it's her sister." Wilson tried to think of any time Sarah might have met a summoned creature. "You know my friend Tom, right?" he asked after a moment. "You know how he sometimes has someone with him who looks a bit like him, but isn't quite like him? That's someone he's used his Dreamer power to create."

"I think Moro is a bit like that."

Sean

The scent of blood caught Sean's attention and he spun round with a muttered curse, realising that in his focus on preventing Beth from killing he'd entirely neglected to keep track of what Declan was doing.

He sprang away from Beth and over to the fallen power-armour wearer, ignoring the Defiant that were milling around the three of them, using his claws to cut away at the ruined section of armour, which wasn't really helping anyway. There were a few things he still remembered about the Defiant, and one of them was that most suits of powered armour had a serum of some description that helped to slow bloodflow - useful for when you were a normal human getting beaten about by super-strength with only a few bits of metal to protect you. Working more by scent than sight, he tugged it out from its holster and - as carefully as he could in the circumstances - injected the dying soldier with it.

If it had been a Dreamtech serum, it would likely have worked straight away and saved the man's life. But, unsurprisingly enough, the Defiant tended not to use much Dreamtech.

Of course, this had the handy side effect of leaving Sean very pointedly between Declan and the power-armour wearer. He hoped that Beth's shout would get through to Declan, but he didn't truly expect it to. Declan had lost whatever trust Sean had had in him the moment he'd fired that missile.

Move: Move over to the armoured soldier.
Standard: Attempt to stabilise them with Treatment (DC15, -5 for lack of tools): If it fails, Extra Effort to try again: [roll1d20+5 13.

Status: Fatigued, Exhausted next round.

Capt. Infinity

2016-05-12, 12:46 PM

Maestro lifted his brow in mock surprise. "Oh? I assure you, it came from the heart. I mean, if it sounds at all familiar, I'm certain it's pure coincidence." He smiles. "Though, coincidence is a funny thing, isn't it? I mean, think about it. How many times throughout history have men and women toiled alone towards a goal, only to find along the way that there were others trying just as hard? It's fascinating really, such synchronicity. Without it, humanity would never get anything done. We're beasts of cooperation, after all. We only ever truly achieve our goals when many of us are working towards a single purpose, and sometimes this uniformity of choice happens for seemingly no reason other than fate." The young genius calmly sips his tea, seeming pensive. "But who are we to deny fate, hm? If the world sees fit to put a few people's hopes and dreams in line with one another, then it's our best option, no, our duty to monopolize upon it, and work together to achieve our common goal. Wouldn't you agree, Ms. Gosselin?" Maestro tipped his teacup towards the hyper analyst in a gesture of deference, patiently awaiting her response. Though, the Psychokinetic would bet his entire world that he already knew her answer.

Hyperbolic sine

2016-05-12, 03:54 PM

Completely ignoring the plasma blast, Declan gave an angered look to Sean (not that it showed, since he wore an helmet, but whatever). "W-"

-hat the hell you think you're doing?

He wasn't that wrong, though. Alive, the Defiant could be questioned about their plan. Declan made a sound halfway between a sigh and a disappointed grunt, and turned to face Beth.

"Not us. But H...someone I know has seen the future. They're going to stage an attack that will kill thousands."

He turned again to the Defiants, and raised his left arm - the one with the flamethrower.

"I have to stop them. There's no other way."

Then, after a short jump to get in the best position, he let the fiery stream loose...but the flames weren't burning as hot as they should. Declan clenched his fist in frustration, a torn expression behind his helmet: Defiants or not, being a cold-blooded murderer in front of Beth was becoming more and more difficult.

Move: to where I can get the most Defiants.
Standard: cooking 'em with Flamethrower, Dodge DC 20 for half, Toughness DC 25 vs Secondary Effect Damage.

Quellian-dyrae

2016-05-16, 02:51 PM

Wilson

"So...how did she get here?" Sarah asked. She seemed to understand the idea of summoning just fine, but she didn't appear aware that she was the one who had created the effect.

Maestro

Amelia gave a slender smile in response. You might have missed the subtle nod she returned to you if you hadn't known it was there. "Quite so. Indeed, I would say these are precisely the principles that the Assembly was founded upon. Disparate people with amazing capacities all working together in common goals."

"So, is there any other business you would care to discuss, while we wait for lunch?"

Declan and Sean

Sean did his best, but without proper supplies, trying to stabilize the armored Defiant was a losing battle. The dying man reached blearily out with a shaky hand, grasping at Sean's face. He was trying to say something. The words came out faint and halting through the blood bubbling in his lungs, but if he strained to hear it or moved his face closer, Sean could just barely make out the word:

"T-t-...traitor..."

Then his eyes rolled up in his head and he started seizing.

Boy, those Defiant really knew how to hold a grudge, didn't they?

Across the way, Beth was torn. On the one hand, she understood where Declan was coming from, she could get his motivation here. On the other hand...there had to be a better way, right?

As she hesitated, Declan sprayed flame all over a knot of Defiant. It was not as much fire as it could have been, which was to say that instead of instantly charring them to the bone, it merely set their clothes and hair and even skin on fire. The Defiant shrieked like dying animals as they collapsed, writhing, the flames continuing to sear horrible burns all over their bodies.

That...that got to her.

"Oh god stop! Please just stop!" Beth pled, throwing her arms around Declan. Whether the move was meant to be a hug or a grapple was...debatable, but there was no denying her intent to hold him back.

The newly-empowered Defiant, completely overcome, dropped to his knees, staring at his green-glowing hands as if they were covered in blood.

He didn't even see the rocket heading his way.

The other Defiant began fleeing, clearly seeing their weapons were useless here. A few of them still took the occasional pot shot, but for the most part they were running - and scattering.

Beth:
Move: Into Close range of Declan.
Standard: Attempt to Grab Declan at [roll0]. On a hit, Strength or Dodge DC 22 (16 if using Strength) vs. Grab. Hit

Some Dude With A Rocket Launcher:
Fire at New Dreamer at [roll1]. On a hit, Toughness ([roll2]) DC 27 vs. Damage. Hit. StaggeredX2 = DYING! unless Interposed.

New Dreamer:
End of Turn: Regenerates a Bruise if still conscious.

Llyarden

2016-05-16, 03:24 PM

Wilson

Well, nothing for it. "I think you called her, Sarah. Look here, see?" Wilson stepped in, still keeping a cautious eye on the conjured Moro, and picked up the mirror that hung on the wall of Sarah's room, angling it such that Sarah could see her own reflection - and her own glowing eyes - in the mirror.

Sean

Sean had just a moment to lean back and sigh in annoyance before the noise and scent of the rocket launcher caught his attention and he leapt back across the battlefield, the rocket that had been aimed at the newly-empowered Dreamer detonating against his back not quite harmlessly, but certainly not to the devastating effect its wielder had undoubtedly hoped for.

Looking down at the Dreamer-Defiant, with blood on his hands, still-unsheathed-claws, and face, he probaby presented an even more intimidating figure than he usually did. "Get up." Just because he wanted to keep the man alive...he was still a would-be Defiant. Sean might not have had exactly the same hatred of Defiants that Declan did, but he certainly wasn't fond of them. "If you wanna survive, head into the trees. And don't think about doing anything stupid, because I will be able to find you."

He looked over to Beth and Declan. He could've heard the pain in her voice even without catching it in her scent as well. That...lost Declan whatever tiny shred of respect - mostly born from gratitude for his protecting Emily - Sean had still held for him. He didn't make any move to assist Beth physically; he was alert enough to realise that that would probably make matters worse. But he did move back into Declan's field of vision, close enough that the former soldier would be able to hear him. "One in every ten of the people here would never have become Defiants. And I guess you probably don't care about you being responsible for their deaths, but the people that may die when - not if, when - the Defiant retaliate for this..."

"I'd say their deaths would be on your conscience, but I don't think you have one."

Standard: Try to convince the New Dreamer into...y'know, not being in the middle of a firefight while having his nervous breakdown. Intimidate (-2 for Exhausted): [roll0]
Move: Into close range of Declan.

Status: 1 Bruise (regenerates next round), Exhausted

Capt. Infinity

2016-05-16, 05:50 PM

"None that I can think of at the moment. For now, let's just enjoy the afternoon. Thank you for your advice, Amelia. I couldn't tell you why exactly, but I get the distinct impression that today is the beginning of something marvellous." Maestro Mentallo grins, eager and excited for all that was to come.

We are go for timeskip!

Hyperbolic sine

2016-05-17, 11:18 AM

Declan might have hesitated, but fire isn't forgiving: the Defiants were still most likely beyond saving. They would no longer threaten innocents. It was what he came to do, what for years he wanted to do. When he fired the missile, before, he enjoyed it.

So, why was he now feeling empty? Why wasn't he even trying to free himself from Beth's grip, so that he could finish what he started?

Why did her plea felt like a thousand swords piercing his heart? Why did the scorn in Sean's voice make him hesitate even more?

He leveled the machinegun at the fleeing Defiants with unsteady aim.

He knew what he had to do: he had to wipe the camp, lest what Sean was saying - Defiant retaliation - come true, and yet...he couldn't muster the will to anymore. The flames of hatred quenched, there was nothing left to fuel the killing spree. Only the hollow realisation of what he had done remained.

Was he really any better than them? Fight fire with fire, is what he repeated himself all these years, but now that he finally had the chance to was he really willing to throw away his happiness, his entire life - or what was left of it, anyway - for that?

...

He collapsed on himself and, unless Beth supported him, he would get on his knees first and end up on all fours. Tears of anger - at the world, but mostly at himself - and frustration clouded his eyes and, as he thanked the fact that the helmet was covering his face, he whispered a single phrase.

"I wish I didn't."

Quellian-dyrae

2016-05-17, 12:47 PM

Wilson

Sarah looked at her glowing eyes in the mirror for several long seconds. The shock was plain on her face, but also a gradually dawning excitement. "I...I'm a Dreamer?" she asked.

She looked at the summoned Moro, narrowing her eyes a little bit. "Sit!" she commanded, and the wolf immediately dropped to a sitting position. "Heel!" she said, and the summon moved quickly to her side.

She closed her eyes tightly, seeming to concentrate for a couple seconds. When she opened her eyes, the light in them was gone, as was the wolf.

She looked at her dad...looked at the spot Moro had been...looked back at her dad...

"THAT WAS SO COOL!"

The Assembly does offer services for new Dreamers, including some focused on children who develop powers. Analysis, testing, registration, things like that. No Dreamer is required to avail themselves of such services, but it's usually a worthwhile idea.

Declan and Sean

The new Dreamer blanched at Sean, but the words seemed to get through. He pulled himself to his feet and staggered off, moving slowly because of his injury, but going in another direction from where the now fully-routed Defiant trainees were fleeing.

Beth continued holding Declan - it was definitely a hug now - casually supporting both his weight and that of the powered armor as his legs buckled. "It's okay," she said quietly. "We'll figure out some other way to stop them. It's okay."

Her eyes were still locked on the burning, screaming Defiant. "Sean, can you call Eskiro? He...maybe he can still help them."

Waterworks and Maestro

The rest of the day on the set/lunch with Amelia went swimmingly. It happened that you were both at the base for a standard check-in when Maestro spotted something in one of his social media feeds. An apparently phone-taken video had been posted that...well, at first glance, it looked like it was some weird PR stunt for the movie. It depicted Lucas Fairbourne basically effortlessly dodging and then one-shotting first one of Copycat's summons, and then Copycat himself, before standing above the fallen mimic for a few seconds before there was a flash of light and the video abruptly cut out.

The comments section had the expected deluge of posts that could basically be summed up as "FAKE" with increasing numbers of exclamation points. And indeed, it pretty much had to be fake, right? Not just because Lucas had been with Waterworks all day, not just because the difference between Lucas' fighting power and Copycat's was frankly insurmountable, but just because...I mean, it was Copycat. This is the man who had been punted through buildings, who had been maimed by a dire wolf, who had survived crashing his starship into an APEX cell, who had been mostly-accidentally-well-probably-well-that's-what-we're-calling-it-anyway blasted by the Maelstrom on multiple occasions. This is the man who, at the absolute nadir of his personal power, had been beaten, grabbed, and thrown into a building by a giant monkey's tail and lived to tell of it. There was no possible way that simply getting his face rammed into the ground really hard could incapacitated Copycat, was there? Besides, the timestamp of the video put it at several hours ago. Surely, if a threat had manifested that was so serious that it merited not just Copycat personally stepping in, but bringing a summon into combat with him, and he had lost...someone would have put it into the Hero App immediately. There was an entire crowd of witnesses in the video!

Except for the part where Maestro could tell with about a tenth of a second of observation that the footage was not faked, doctored, edited, or modified in any way. Further, with his extensive knowledge of the competitive martial arts world (yes, really) he could determine even from the short display that the form of Copycat and his summon's attacks matched Copycat's actual MMA style.

Copycat

You awaken in a bed. It's not exactly a luxurious bed, but it's definitely a bed, not a cot. You're in a modestly-appointed bedroom. There's a closet, a dresser, a nightstand, a television on the wall, a desk with a computer on it. The Recruiter is sitting at the desk. He...seems to be checking emails.

He looks the same as he did the first time you had encountered him, his "Desmond" guise. It was unlikely, given his penchant for disguise, that this was actually his appearance, so presumably he had donned it for your benefit.

There's a summon by the door, standing guard. It's one you haven't seen before. A kinda lanky-looking guy with hammers for fists. Amand Noel's Weighted Attacks, maybe? If so...that's not a power you had when you had first met him.

Some sense seems to alert him to the fact that you're awake. He hides the windows on the computer (his desktop image is an aerial photo of the Erdas mountains and Istaline river) and turns his chair to face you. "Tom," he says, his voice sort of...warily expectant.

You are under the influence of the mind control effect, but still in general control of your actions. The way it works in Copycat's head, it's basically a rearrangement of loyalties. People that Copycat previously cared about or was loyal to he's basically apathetic towards. He feels a fanatical devotion to the Recruiter, but not any particular affection or friendship. He actively wants to follow his orders and support his goals. He is aware of his previous feelings, but they're basically just dismissed as a mistake he's outgrown, like an adult looking back on their teenaged fashion choices and being like, "Hah, I can't believe I actually thought that was cool." This compulsion is tied in to his existing personality traits; he has an unconscious expectation of great reward for the aid he provides the Recruiter. For Copycat, I assume that would tie in to his desire for greater power, but you can play it how you want. He roughly retains his previous moral outlook, but it's much fainter, eclipsed by his new loyalty. If a command from the Recruiter conflicted with Copycat's personal morals, the command would win, even if Copycat kinda didn't like it.

The good news is, this mind control is using up the Recruiter's Ritualist Advantage, so he won't have access to that for other purposes during the hopefully-inevitable confrontation.

Take a pending :smallcool: Hero Point for the Complication.

Capt. Infinity

2016-05-17, 05:30 PM

The Active Crystal cell phone slips from Maestro's hand, shattering into a rainbow of static on the ground a hundred feet below the floating Psychokinetic.

The phone didn't matter, he could more than afford a replacement.

What he could not afford, however, was wasting any time.

A massive thunderclap reverberates around the city, as Maestro Mentallo kicks his flight into as high a gear as he can muster, reaching the Hero HQ in seconds, and wasting no time as he frantically works on the computers therein to figure out what the HELL is going on. In the minds of all the Heroes of Millaine (sans Copycat, because even in this current state the man still valued safety from unforeseen circumstance above all else) a cold, booming voice resounds through their skulls like the command from the world itself.

~Copycat is Compromised.~

~Assemble.~

~NOW.~

Zelphas

2016-05-17, 07:16 PM

"Ow." Standing next to Maestro, Waterworks takes a few moments to stabilize her form, which threatens to vibrate into particles from Maestro's mental shout. "Looks like it's time to take the Recruiter down. You have a lock on him?" Looks like Marina's gonna miss her shift at the diner... Waterworks thinks wistfully to herself, making sure to keep that thought inside her own head. She fires A quick text over to Lucas as well, since there's no way he hadn't already seen the news.

Looks like Recruiter's got you picking up groceries for him. We're off to get him now. Will keep you posted on cinematic moments.

Capt. Infinity

2016-05-17, 08:58 PM

"Working on it." Maestro breathes, as he quickly finds that what he's currently doing is a dead end and a half. With a whoosh of air, Maestro is up into Mentallo Tower. His fingers blaze across an Active Crystal keyboard as he removes the filters for Copycat's APEX signature on the WATCHER satellite, and sets it to screen for said signatures until further notice. With another flash of wind, he's back at HQ. "WATCHER's looking for him in the long run, but I'm not stopping there." The young genius's hands are once again a blur as he attempts to triangulate the location of Copycat's teleport beacon.

Technology roll for the beacon: [roll0]

manwithaplan

2016-05-18, 11:05 PM

Thomas awoke groggily, slowly coming to his senses as the details of the surrounding room came into his perception. There was something wrong; he felt disoriented, probably due to getting his face dunked. He suddenly reached up to feel his cheeks, checking for damage, and as he did that he spotted Desmond.

His eyebrows went up, his body stiffened, and for just a moment the Mimic seemed as if he was trying to process something. Only, before he could finish, he relaxed.

"Hello."

Llyarden

2016-05-21, 04:05 AM

Wilson (a few hours ago)

Wilson couldn't help but grin at his daughter's enthusiasm. "Tell you what. How about tomorrow, the two of us, and Mummy, head down to the Assembly buildings to see what you can do?"

Wilson (now)

About thirty seconds passed between Maestro's mental shout and Wilson arriving on a nanite-formed hoverbike. "And I was having such a nice day..." he grumbled. "What do we know?"

Sean

Sean half had his phone out to call Colt when Maestro's message came through. "Ah, heck," he muttered quietly. ~I'll be there as soon as I can, but I'm...dealing with something.~ He at least had enough respect for Declan remaining to give him a chance to explain himself. ~May be a couple of minutes.~ As he replied to Maestro, he dialled Colt's number.

He knew, just as well as Beth did, that there was no way that Eskiro could resurrect this many people. But he also knew that both Beth and Eskiro probably wouldn't forgive him for not trying. "Hey, Colt? Something, er...happened, a bit of a ways out of Millaine. There's..." he looked around, "a lot of people dead, or dying, and I don't know how much we'd be able to do, but...if you and Eskiro could get here, we'd appreciate it." He paused for a moment to find the coordinates of where they were to give to the time-twister. "Something else you might want to know: these people are Defiants. Defiants in training, at least." He doubted it would make a difference to either of them, but they deserved to know before they came all the way out here.

As he hung up, he remembered something else. "Oh...I gotta go find that Dreamer who awakened in the fight. Damn."

Hyperbolic sine

2016-05-21, 03:12 PM

Declan remained silent for a while even after Maestro's voice boomed in his mind, though the shout shook him enough to regain the strength to stand up on his own.

The very thought of running away and let Beth deal with the aftermath of his rampage repulsed him - and yet, that was exactly what the situation required him to do. Could the day become any worse?

Damnit, Tom. Archdamnit.

...well, Colt was probably faster than the chopper, so waiting at least for him arrive was tactically sound, was it not?

~I'm...out of Millaine. Colt is coming, I'll be there ASAP.~

In the meantime, he could at least apologise to one person.

"Beth, I...I'm sorry. I didn't want you to see something like this."

Quellian-dyrae

2016-05-22, 12:39 PM

Maestro, Waterworks, and Wilson

The teleport beacons were equipped with GPS tracking for just this sort of occasion. Maestro pinged Copycat's out in the suburbs, at an address that, according to records, had been foreclosed on several months ago.

Lucas sent back to Waterworks, I'll be honest, I have no idea what to do with that. But make it look good anyway! "Make it look good" was Lucas' equivalent of "good luck" for Waterworks. Whether this was because he didn't feel she needed luck, or because he was aware that such wishes were wasted, was as yet undetermined. Probably a combination of both.

Declan and Sean

Beth...honestly didn't know what to say to that. Not least because being sorry she had seen it didn't necessarily mean he was sorry for doing it in the first place. In some ways, it would have been easier if he hadn't stopped. Then she could at least tell herself that whatever his reasoning was, it was obviously important enough to warrant his actions.

As it was... "I just...don't understand," she said. Her voice was surprisingly calm. No. Controlled. She released Declan, took a couple steps back, and looked at him squarely. "What...I mean, why would..." she honestly didn't even know what she wanted to ask, or what she would have wanted Declan to answer even if she did.

Declan, do please include a Persuasion check with any answer you might give to Beth.

"-ean, why would..." Beth's voice echoed as Colt and Eskiro appeared, a much more pronounced effect than the normal sense of deja vu. Colt sagged over some, his hands resting on his knees, evidently hit but a sudden wave of fatigue. Eskiro clapped him on the shoulder, sweeping the area and immediately rushing to the mass of burned Defiant-in-training.

And say what you will about the Defiant, but they don't go quietly. Eskiro moved into the center of them, and gathered his power. A shining aura of white light built around him, and he hurled his arms outward with a sharp, tight exhalation. White light exploded from him in an aura of curative power, and when it faded, the Defiant had stabilized...but they were still badly burned. Shaking his head, concentrating, Eskiro unleashed his healing aura a second time, wiping away the horrible injuries entirely and sparing them what would likely have been months of physical therapy and rehab, although they still lay unconscious. He physically staggered when the powerful mass healing was complete.

Rolled Eskiro's Healing off-line. His first roll came up a natural 3, which was enough to heal one Bruise after Stabilizing them. The second was a 12, which was sufficient to remove their other Bruise and their Staggered condition. They remain Incapacitated, but are physically healed. Since Healing Aura is Tiring, Eskiro is now Exhausted.

He...didn't even approach the Defiant who were already dead. He didn't have enough left to save more than one of them. And some would say, even one life restored was worth it, and they would not be wrong, but Eskiro had long known his limits. Not just limits of power, but limits of will. He would save as many lives as his power allowed, but he could not be the one who chose who was restored to life. He was not strong enough to do that. Not and stay sane.

Colt approached Sean, eyeing the unknown power armored figure warily. "What...happened? What are you guys even doing out here?" he asked.

Copycat

Your non-hostile response did not seem to ease the Recruiter's wariness overmuch. He was eyeing you as if expecting some sort of trap or trick.

He gestured at the space beside him, and a woman appeared. She had a kindly face but watchful, attentive eyes behind light spectacles. She carried a little notepad and pen - who even used paper anymore? - already poised to write in what you somehow just knew would be atrocious handwriting. She gave you a gentle little encouraging smile. Her entire demeanor couldn't have screamed therapist any louder if she had manifested alongside a couch. Her features were vaguely reminiscent of Laraine Simmons.

"It is possible that the other Heroes will be here soon. If that occurs, I would like your assistance in killing them. Are you amenable to that plan of action?"

The Psychological Champion watched you carefully.

manwithaplan

2016-05-22, 07:27 PM

He smiled and nodded.

"Oh, yes, absolutely!"

Hyperbolic sine

2016-05-24, 01:18 PM

"Because", Declan replied, "there's no other way. They are planning to kill thousands."

"That guy over there?"

He pointed at the armoured Defiant.

"He would have played a relevant role. Everyone else here was training to kill, to kill innocents. I'm sick of having my hands tied until civilians actually die."

"If I have to become a cold blood murderer, so be it. I'm just repaying them in kind."

Then he cast his gaze downwards and clenched his fist, self-loathing seeping through his voice.

"...or so I thought. Apparently, my conscience doesn't value the life of thousands of innocents that much."

Persuasion: [roll0]

Llyarden

2016-05-26, 11:45 AM

"And one of their encampments being massacred to a man is going to make them less likely to do that...how, exactly?" Sean cut himself off before giving Declan a chance to answer, mostly ignoring Colt; his question had mostly been answered by Declan's reply to Beth. "Whatever. We can deal with this later. I need to catch up with that Defiant, but it looks like we need to get back to Millaine. Something's...going on with Copycat, apparently."

Whatever 'compromised' is supposed to mean.

Without really giving anyone a chance to reply to him, Sean sprang away, following the scent of the man he'd sent into the woods.

Routine Perception 30 for tracking.

Quellian-dyrae

2016-05-26, 06:01 PM

Declan's response didn't appear to give Beth the understanding she was looking for, but it also didn't seem to make things worse. If anything, Sean's warning that there were other matters at hand brought her some relief. She just...didn't know how to react here.

Colt, on the other hand, had been staring in blank, frankly disbelieving shock from the moment he recognized Declan's voice. The look in his eyes clearly said, he couldn't believe the person in the armor was Declan, because there was no way the Declan he knew would do something like this.

"It is not our place to judge you," Eskiro said in his usual calm, patient voice, although a hint of tension in his tone and the fact that he was studiously keeping his attention on tending the injured rather than looking at Declan suggested that inside, he was doing just that. "And I know all too well how hard it is to only be able to mitigate tragedies after they occur, to wish constantly that you had the power to prevent them outright. But surely, there must be another way, a better option than...this."

Sean, meanwhile, was able to track down the new Dreamer trivially, between the fact that he was bumbling along injured through a forest and bleeding a bit with every step. When Sean came upon him, he cried out and half-blindly loosed another bolt of green lightning.

Emerald Lightning on Sean, -2 circumstance penalty on the attack roll for being, just, so panicking right now guys. [roll0]. On a hit, Toughness DC 19 vs. Damage, Fortitude DC 14 vs. Vulnerable/Stunned Affliction. ...The tree was innocent of any wrongdoing.

Llyarden

2016-05-27, 11:49 AM

Pretty good reactions. Aim needs some work, though.

Sean shook his head slightly, annoyed at his own analytical reaction, raising his hands - claws retracted now, though still blood-stained from his attempt to treat the wounded power armour wearer - in a gesture of peace. "I'm not gonna hurt you. The fight's...over. You can come back if you want that wound healed and a quick way out of here." It would be interesting to see if the newly-fledged Dreamer was willing to accept other Dreamer powers; he seemed to have gotten used to his own fairly swiftly. "Either way I'd suggest you get well away from here before the rest of the Defiants wonder what happened to their camp."

"And go to the Assembly," he added after a moment. "Get your powers scanned, registered, whatever."

I guess Persuasion? [roll0] (+2 if Attractive applies.)

And also Insight to see if he's actually formed any opinion of his own powers yet: [roll1]

EDIT: ...you know, I was considering writing something about how Sean sympathises with this guy. He obviously does.

Quellian-dyrae

2016-05-29, 02:03 PM

The Dreamer looked at Sean just...numbly. He just kinda blankly nodded and followed him. Sean could tell that he was pretty much in shock and on auto-pilot. He probably hadn't even strictly meant to fire the lightning at him. He had manifested dangerous powers in a dangerous situation. He had never wanted them, but they had saved his life. He didn't know how to control them. Right now, his entire world had been turned upside-down and he just didn't know how to process it.

Once they got back to the camp, Eskiro looked to Colt wearily. "Get them back to Millaine so they can deal with whatever the trouble is. I'll finish tending to these people. Beth, would you mind sticking around, in case some of the other Defiant come back and react impolitely to my saving the lives of their fellows?"

Beth was still looking at Declan with concern, but she distractedly turned her attention to Eskiro. "Yeah. Um, Sean said I shouldn't try to fight them though. I might...if they come back I'm leaping you out, not fighting. Okay?"

"That's fine."

Unless either Sean or Declan had any objections, Colt would teleport them to the base back in Millaine.

Figured I should move stuff along, but if there's anything else you guys want to do here, let me know and I'll retcon.

Hyperbolic sine

2016-05-29, 03:18 PM

"If there's a better option, how comes no one's doing it?" Declan replied to Eskiro, slightly raising his voice as anger resurfaced for a moment. "...nevermind. Just let me get my things." he then added with a weary sigh, heading for the chopper to exchange the power armour with his normal equipment before letting Colt transport him to Millaine.

...

"Sitrep, Maestro."

Capt. Infinity

2016-05-29, 04:00 PM

Maestro evidently did not handle stress well. Understandable, given how challenging something has to be to require that he actually have to try hard at anything, but nonetheless unhelpful when the chips were down and time was of the essence. He turned to side glance away from the computer console at the two Dreamers as they appeared behind him, his eyes hard with worry, and quickly growing cynicism.

"The strongest and most versatile Dreamer in all of Illessia has just been captured by the other strongest and most versatile Dreamer in all of Illessia, and is now either firmly under lock and key, dead, or worse. Normally I'd ask questions, like 'what took you so long' or 'Sean, why is there blood on your shirt?', but right now, I don't really care." He turns aside to point at the screen he was just viewing. "I've managed to track Copycat's beacon to this house. Now, I don't think I need to remind you what happened the last time we tracked a nemesis down to a quiet suburban homestead, so I also don't need to tell you all that this is almost assuredly a masterfully crafted trap. But right now, it's our best and only lead, and we are taking it."

Maestro pulls out his teleport beacon, with the button on the end of it blinking red. "I've already prepped the teleporter, so we are leaving now." The young genius's eyes are hard and cold, thoughts of doubt towards Copycat (why was he fighting the Summon alone?) mixing with worry over the literal thousands of nightmare scenarios that were running at near-lightspeed through his accelerated brain, as he envisioned the myriad horrifying things the Recruiter could accomplish with Copycat in his possession. "This... This is going to be hell. I can feel it. And I just want you to know that, whatever happens, however this ends, we are bringing Copycat home, and we are ending the Recruiter once and for all." Maestro Mentallo gazes at his team, down a man, but certainly not out of the game. "Are you with me?"

After a brief pause for the rest of the heroes statements, whether or not they take it, the Psychokinetic clicks his thumb onto the beacon's activator, and the Heroes of Millaine are off to face their challenge ahead.

Zelphas

2016-05-29, 06:26 PM

Waterworks spares a worried glance at Sean and Declan when they arrive, sensing the beginning of another group talk. The worry and panic in Maestro's voice distracts her, though, and she decides to drop it for now.

"Let's go save Copycat again," Waterworks responds flippantly, before meeting Maestro's eyes. "And let's knock the Recruiter down and drag him to prison," she finishes, placing slight emphasis on her final words.

Llyarden

2016-05-30, 04:16 AM

Perhaps it was his continuing anger at Declan's actions, but Sean glossed over the 'strongest Dreamer' comment which would otherwise have likely frustrated him. "Once we have Copycat back, we are going to talk about what happened," he said. After a moment his voice softened slightly. "But we're gonna get your friend back first."

Wilson, meanwhile, had just about opened his mouth to remind the group of what had happened the last time they'd investigated a surburban house when Maestro got their first. In the absence of anything else to say, he just stood up from his chair.

Hyperbolic sine

2016-05-30, 03:49 PM

Declan knew he needed to be focused, but, while that was probably going to be easy enough once engaged in actual battle, right now it was somewhat difficut: part of him wondered why the hell Sean had chosen right that day to follow him - bring Beth, to boot - and then there was also the prospect of "talking about what happened" to the rest of the team, which didn't particularly thrill him - he knew very well none of them, except maybe for Wilson, would understand.

So, instead of uttering something along the lines of "Let's show Leopold who's the boss here", he voiced his readiness to begin the assault with a slightly absentminded "Mmh", and whatever his guts were trying to tell him went unheeded.

Quellian-dyrae

2016-05-31, 02:54 AM

Copycat

The Recruiter eyes you almost skeptically for a moment, before giving a curt nod and dismissing the Psychological Champion with a wave. You note that the hammer-fisted one is gone too, evidently dismissed when the new one was summoned. He stood up and started for the room's door.

"Excellent. In that case, come. In all probability, the other Heroes will be making their way here shortly. Not that they should even have any inkling that you are missing yet, let alone what happened if they do, let alone where we are even if they knew, but since when have niggling little details like that mattered to the great Heroes of Millaine? Oh, if Mentallo contacts you telepathically, don't respond. He shouldn't be able to, with the projection blocker, but now that you've managed to arbitrarily track summons of mine to random supermarkets twice, I suppose all bets are off. And I still refuse to accept that you lot managed to find both of those clients simultaneously before they even had a chance to do anything wrong. I swear to Arch, sometimes it almost feels like you have a giant satellite hovering over Millaine with nothing better to do than look for any trace of me, personally."

Not that he's bitter, or anything.

Everyone Else

The teleporter brought the Heroes outside the house Maestro had tracked the beacon to. A nice, two-story brick house with a big yard. The big oak tree in the middle of the yard had a kinda ramshackle but still lovingly crafted treehouse in its branches and a little swing hanging down from it. There were no cars in the driveway (although the garage was closed) and no apparent lights or movement inside.

Only a few seconds after you arrive, the door to a house across the street and a door down opens up, a woman in her twenties standing in the doorway pointing you out to two excited-looking young kids.

manwithaplan

2016-05-31, 03:19 AM

"It's funny you mention that! It's all science, mostly."

A spring in his step, the Mimic gladly hopped out of bed and followed his new business partner out towards the door.

"You see, we do happen to have a giant satellite hovering over Millaine. We mostly use it for other things, but I think Maestro was bored one day? He recoded it to specifically look for a unique trackable signal that is only ever outputted by people that are in control of a Summon that was made by you."

He paused, as if he was actually critically considering the information he'd just shared for the first time. Then he shook his head, dismissing whatever had bothered him.

"That's just a hobby thing though. I mostly catch you at the supermarkets by using Magnus' powers. I use his intuitive understanding of tactics and strategies to...to figure out where you're going to stop for supplies next. And then I go to those places and I attack the Summons I find."

Again, he stopped, seeming rather confused.

"Come to think of it, I have no idea how or why any of this stuff actually works."

Capt. Infinity

2016-05-31, 05:42 PM

Maestro, after surveying the area, breaths a tired sigh. "Yeah, this is almost certainly a trap. I'm sensing one mind in the house. It's pretty much a non-entity. No personality, just fierce loyalty and what barely passes for base intelligence. It's calm right now, but it looks like it could fly into a massive rage at any moment. Actually, calm doesn't do it justice. This thing's got zero emotions. A complete mental deadzone." The occasional psychic concentrates for a moment. "I'm also getting a second mind that's directly linked to whatever's in the building. I don't know about you, but either one of those sounds like a Recruiter Summons to me." Maestro flexes his fingers as his brow hardens. "So, unless anyone has any objections, I elect that we first and foremost level this entire house beforehand. Because I don't know about you, but I do NOT plan on setting foot in that thing until I can see through it to the other side, or at the very least after we've given it a try."

Zelphas

2016-05-31, 07:02 PM

That's not quite the first thing, Maestro," Waterworks comments, one of her tentacles turning and waving at the family across the street. "I know your PR work can do miracles, but this still might be someone's house, and this isn't an empty street. If we demolish this home without any advance notice, we're going to scare people, Heroes of Millaine or not, and scared people could mean hostages for the Recruiter to use against us." She glances over at the children, then back to Maestro. "You're better at words than I am; a quick explanation of what we're doing and a caution that they should probably stay indoors wouldn't be a bad idea."

Capt. Infinity

2016-05-31, 08:09 PM

Maestro turns to look at the children staring at the assembled heroes across the street, and nods to Waterworks, a sly smile crossing his face. "No problem, Waterworks. And trust me, if this is someone's house, I'll reimburse them for everything immediately after SIDE processes them in triplicate for all of these shenanigans." The psychokinetic assures the water manipulator, spinning on his heels to face away from the house, before closing his eyes and speaking in a very practiced, but nonetheless genuine friendly tone to all the civilians in the immediate vicinity through his telepathic link (careful to omit the mind in the house).

~Hello everyone! Sorry to be a bother to you all, but we're here on business. Nothing too dangerous, but things are about to get a little loud, so I'm going to kindly ask that everyone stay in their homes and remain calm for the next minute or so. Trust me, the Heroes of Millaine have got this.~

And we find a use for the power! :smallbiggrin:

Routine 30 Persuasion check to get everyone to just calmly keep their distance, as is standard at this point

Llyarden

2016-06-01, 08:13 AM

"There've been people you couldn't sense before, Maestro," Wilson pointed out, once the young psychic was done with his speech. "What if the Recruiter has hostages hidden in there? We don't know really what he's capable of, especially since..." ~...since he - or a Summon at least - overpowered Copycat so easily.~ He just about remembered in time to transmit the last bit of that sentence over the mental link; no need to get people panicking.

Then he paused to consider what Maestro had told him of the mind within the house and what he knew of the Recruiter's abilities. Logically at this point they ought to know the vast majority of what Summons the Recruiter had access to.

If possible, Well-Informed to try to figure out who's been Summoned off to create the rage-Summon: [roll0]

Quellian-dyrae

2016-06-02, 01:27 PM

The children got delighted smiles on their faces and waved back at Waterworks, but a couple seconds later after Maestro's message went through the woman quickly ushered them inside. Although over the course of the next several seconds, all along the street, the Heroes might see curious faces appearing in windows.

Zelphas

2016-06-04, 01:14 AM

"How about I duck in and take a look?" Waterworks responds to Wilson, keeping her voice and posture casual for the curious faces around the street. "Unless the Recruiter made some major modifications or got ahold of whatever tech the Reclaimers had that kept me out of their building, I can slip through a water line easily enough. If he does have that stuff, then that tells us something right away too. Maestro, where in the building is the presence you can feel? I don't want to pop out right in front of whatever it is; the Recruiter probably expects a scouting trip from me."

Once she gets the info from Maestro, Waterworks stretches a watery appendage to the nearest fire hydrant, disappearing in a rush of liquid. Inside the house, an unattended toilet bubbles and overflows slowly, slipping into a puddle of barely-discernible water. Gross, but hopefully sneakier, Waterworks thinks to herself, looking around to make sure she hasn't been discovered.

Stealth to sneak in: [roll0]

Perception: [roll1]

Llyarden

2016-06-04, 02:17 PM

~Not sure collapsing the house will be very useful,~ Wilson projected after a moment's thought. ~Unless I miss my guess, or the Recruiter has a powerset we don't know about, I reckon it's that exploding elephant in there. And if it's the one we fought before, dropping a house on it might annoy it, but that's about all. And given that its explosions would probably smash the houses on either side, I'd rather destroy it than annoy it.~

Sean, meanwhile, closed his eyes, focusing on his sense of smell and trying to pick up Copycat's scent.

I think Tracking should work for trying to find Copycat's scent trail (or any other recognisable ones), though maybe I should pick up scent-based Postcognition when I get a chance.

Sean's Perception (Scent): [roll0]

Capt. Infinity

2016-06-04, 03:04 PM

~Back of the house, mostly centered. On the second floor.~ Maestro explains over the mental link. The Psychokinetic responds to Wilson's observations pensively. ~Fair enough. But, even assuming you're right about the Recruiter having no new powers -which is an assumption I hesitate to make- if there's gonna be an initial spray of debris, I'd rather it be on our terms. It'll make it easier to move the thing out of range.~

Quellian-dyrae

2016-06-04, 03:10 PM

Waterworks slipped out of the bathroom and into a small hallway, which led to what was presumably meant to be a living room, although there was no furniture in the foreclosed house. The elephant in the room was huge and dark gray, with occasional glowing red veins running along its body. It was very recognizable as the explosive elephant from previously. Wilson's deduction had been spot on. It had evidently been summoned inside the house, judging by the pile of rubble surrounding it that used to be a significant portion of the second story's floor and the fact that most of its top half protruded through the ceiling. It was simply standing there, completely still, and did not appear to notice Waterworks.

Waterworks would also notice Copycat's beacon on the floor in the center of the living room. There was some sort of technological device wired to it. That device was, in turn, wired to an unnecessarily large pile of plastic explosives. Waterworks noticed the setup shortly before actually moving into the living room.

Sean couldn't smell any trace of Copycat in the vicinity, although even through the closed windows, he could manage to make out the dung-and-sulfur scent of the explosive element, and the smell of a high volume of plastic explosive.

Sean doesn't have Penetrates Concealment scent, but I figure with a 37... :smallamused:

Copycat

The Recruiter just gave you a flat look as you confirmed the satellite. "And yet, I somehow still manage to find myself surprised. Infuriating."

He began working while you explained the rest, various preparative works that the rest of the team would undoubtedly find extremely helpful to be written out in detail but can rest assured are quiet diabolical! "Yes, that makes two of us," he agreed when Copycat made the comment about not knowing how it worked.

Zelphas

2016-06-04, 07:14 PM

Copycat relays everything she sees back to the group. So, it looks like Copycat isn't here, and neither is the Recruiter, she sends back, skirting around the living room entirely and moving up towards the second floor. I'll scout the second floor to make sure, but... could we just ignore this? Start evcauating the houses nearby, call in a SIDE team to deal with it later, and find the Recruiter before he gets advance warning via his explosive 'surprise'?

If I can keep Stealth and Perception rolls for the second floor, I will. Otherwise:

Stealth: [roll0]
Perception: [roll1]

Hyperbolic sine

2016-06-05, 03:39 PM

~Hmm. I suppose if SIDE can bring a battery of power nullifiers this can be dealt with without leveling the entire block.~ Declan commented through the mental link.

~But still. How do we find Leopold?~

Llyarden

2016-06-07, 12:05 PM

"I don't think Copycat was ever even here," Sean muttered. "This is a waste of time."

~I'd rather not sit around waiting for the Recruiter to get bored and tell the thing to blow up,~ Wilson remarked, despite the fact that the chances of that actually happening were reasonably slim. Then he stepped over to Maestro, nanites flowing from his hand and across the psychic, flickering all sorts of colours as they interacted with his nano-suit. "So if we are going to do this, I suggest we get it done quickly."

Maestro's Hyperkinetic Strike gains Alternate Resistance (Will), loses Variable Descriptor 2 (All types of kinetic energy) and gains Variable Descriptor 2 (All types of mental assault). This is Wilson's indefinite augment, but if Maestro doesn't want it he can just choose to not sustain it.

Capt. Infinity

2016-06-07, 06:07 PM

~Your wish is my command.~ Maestro grins as he senses his nanosuit alter his ambient psychic energies, altering his abilities to twist more to the mental than the physical. In a whoosh of displaced air, Maestro is suddenly inside the building, about 30 feet from the pyroclastic pachyderm. ~Hey, Dumbo!~ The Hero shouts mentally at the summon. ~Try THIS on for size!~ Maestro declares, before striking the elephant with a wave of pure, raw psychic force, hoping to smother what little mental presence the giant beast has.

Free Action: Put Homing 5 and Secondary Effect on the altered Hyperkinetic Strike (Hyperpsycho Blast?) because why the heck not? :smalltongue:

Move Action: Get in the house, and in range.

Standard Action: Attempt to hit the Elephant. If it would have been Vulnerable had Maestro said nothing, disregard what he said above, please. :smalleek:

Hyperpsycho Blast: [roll0]

Quellian-dyrae

2016-06-07, 11:32 PM

It was like switching off a light.

One moment there was a big ol' honkin' explosive elephant standing all mighty and terrible inside the unfurnished house, and the next moment there was a puddle of rapidly-dissolving ectoplasm on the floor.

The Heroes of Millaine, ladies and gentlemen.

Copycat

The Recruiter paused for a moment amidst his preparations, giving you a flatly annoyed look. He sucked in a breath and raised one finger as if in preparation to give a scathing tirade, but...didn't actually say anything, just let out a long, tense sigh while nodding slowly and rhythmically wagging his finger just slightly in your general direction.

After a few moments he finally said, "Okay. That happened. Accept it and move on," and went back to his preparations.

...

"The main point of the elephant was so I knew when they were alerted anyway. It accomplished that goal sufficiently. There was no expectation of it winning." He sounded like he was trying to convince himself. Nonetheless, he shook it off and went back to his preparations.

...

"It's just...you expect certain...a creature designed explicitly for physical resilience should be able to withstand more than...no, I apologize, nevermind. It's fine. I have grown accustomed to such nonsense." Nodding firmly, he went back to his preparations.

...

"And what happened to the bomb!?"

The Recruiter went back to his preparations...

...

Maestro take a :smallcool: Hero Point for one-shotting the elephant.

Capt. Infinity

2016-06-07, 11:44 PM

Maestro just sort of... Stood there. There was a brief moment of pause from the super genius, as even HE was dumbfounded for a few moments by how well that went. The young Dreamer simply looks at his hands, looks at the rapidly dissipating pile of goo, and then at his hands again. ~Well... That... That happened.~ Maestro looks around, suddenly aware of where he is. ~I suppose now we should investigate where Copycat was last rather than where he is supposed to be now.~ The Psychokinetic whizzes out of the building, and reconvenes with the group. ~Copycat was last seen at the shopping centre situated at the intersection between Carson Street and Maypole Drive. We should start there.~ He begins fiddling with his teleport beacon in preparation. "Just say when."

Zelphas

2016-06-08, 12:20 AM

Waterworks jumps out of the hydrant, forming directly in front of Maestro. She smiles for the sake of anyone who might be watching from the windows nearby. "The last time we fought that elephant, I had to hold it up a good two hundred feet above the ground before its explosions stopped destroying everything nearby," she hisses at her teammate through clenched teeth. "If you hadn't taken it out in one hit--which, I can admit, is impressive, good job--but if that hadn't gone perfectly, the neighbors at either side of this house would have had at best the nightmare of running out of their home while it collapsed around them. That's why I suggested evacuating civilians first."

She takes a deep breath and steps away, composing herself. "But it all turned out fine, so I guess I have no leg to stand on here. Let's go find Copycat and ruin the Recruiter's day some more."

Capt. Infinity

2016-06-08, 01:00 AM

Maestro looks a little surprised. "I mean... It was Wilson's idea."

Llyarden

2016-06-08, 03:09 AM

"I suspect the elephant might have noticed us trying to evacuate civilians," Wilson pointed out. "It wouldn't have been much good as a threat if it had no-one to threaten, after all. This way we had the element of surprise."

"Though," he added to Maestro, "I was expecting you to wait until we were all ready to charge in."

Capt. Infinity

2016-06-08, 10:07 AM

"I..." Maestro began formulating a thousand different justifications for his actions, before taking a brief moment of pause, then shrugging his shoulders. "Fair enough. My mistake. Won't happen again. ...Sorry, guys." The young man conceded, for once fully cognizant of when it was a good time to let things go.

Zelphas

2016-06-08, 11:27 PM

"No problem," Waterworks answers with a smile. "We all want to hurry to find Copycat. Everyone good to go?"

Hyperbolic sine

2016-06-09, 04:13 AM

"Well, I was ready." Declan commented to Wilson's remark.

"Anyway, yeah, let's go."

Capt. Infinity

2016-06-09, 09:01 AM

"And the ayes have it!" Maestro smiles, before pressing the button on his teleporter, whisking the team away to their next destination.

Quellian-dyrae

2016-06-09, 01:27 PM

The team arrived at the supermarket's parking lot. There was a kinda...uncanny valley sense to the whole scene. There were several cars in the lot, but no people walking into the store, or coming out with carts full of groceries. The lights in the store and its sign were all off, clearly indicating it was closed despite the numerous vehicles in the lot.

Maestro's still-active Mindsense revealed no minds within the supermarket.

The battle in the video had taken place near a car with an open trunk, which does not appear to be here now. The summon must have been driving for whatever reason. You feel certain that it would have come from and returned to the Recruiter's lair. There was only so much paranoia one could put into a trip for groceries, after all.

The scent trails of these cars are stale and faded. You estimate they've been here for a few hours at least.

You can make out the sickening scent of dead bodies coming from inside the supermarket.

Lots of dead bodies.

You can discern a scent trail leading to an empty space in the parking lot, but not leaving it. Evidently whatever vehicle had been there had been removed via teleportation. You won't be able to track where it went to, but you could track where it came from.

Copycat

After a few moments, the Recruiter looked back your way. "May I ask you a serious question?"

Evidently entirely aware that with you currently in thrall he didn't need your permission, he almost immediately moved on. "What is it, exactly, that your team has against me, personally? I mean, yes yes, I recognize that my services have been utilized by criminals and other dangerous individuals a statistically-overwhelming majority of the time. I'm not going to preach some delusional moral relativism to you. But...how do I explain this...?"

"You people established a grass-roots organization designed with the explicit purpose of crippling my business interests. You programmed a tracking satellite to hunt down my clientele. You saved the planet, which I am not ungrateful for by the way, but then you took the fame and goodwill from that and used it to set me up as...as one of the greatest villains of the modern age! You slotted me in with the likes of a madman like Adair Gaertner, of all people! My contacts will have nothing to do with me. One of my oldest friends and business associates rejected and betrayed me! Being arrested and imprisoned by SIDE was a setback to my operations, certainly, but nothing SIDE had done even begins to approach the...vindictive assault on my business, my reputation, and my character that I have received from the Heroes of Millaine."

"And, I mean, to a certain extent I get it. SIDE is a professional law enforcement agency. Hero Corps is a glorified PR stunt. The righteous Heroes fighting against the diabolical villain makes a good story. I'm sure it will sell a lot of tickets for your movie. But...I don't know, I suppose I feel like if that were all it is this level of aggression wouldn't be necessary. When you and I met at the studio, I had thought our exchange had been a mutually beneficial arrangement. Two of the most powerful, most versatile Dreamers in Ilessia making a trade that cost neither of us anything and provided both of us with a substantial asset. And yet, you attacked me immediately thereafter! And you all just...wouldn't back down! And when you think about it, there is a significant benefit to your team specifically by keeping me active. I provide threats of an impressive level. Someone like Kolomon Tuff or Shara Hartmann or Sergei Clay cannot provide a threat sufficient to put the Heroes of Millaine on the front page of the newspaper when they are stopped. But with my summons behind them, it's another matter entirely!"

"And I get that the fame isn't your only reason for doing it. Maybe your team really are the true believers. I don't discount it as possible. But even then, do I really deserve this level of hostility? I'm at the end of the day an arms dealer. An arms dealer with an extremely varied and powerful selection, but an arms dealer nonetheless. I don't force my clients to do what they do. If your team had come to me seeking summoned muscle for stopping that meteor, or bringing in Gaertner, or whatever, I would not have been opposed to providing it, for the right price. So, sure, if you happen to catch me, bring me in. Maybe even put some effort into looking for me. And admittedly, I can't really blame you for making me a high priority after I assisted the Emperor in targeting you all specifically, but that was after you backed me into a corner by making me one of the most reviled villains in Ilessia! Tara Ellens herself has less bad press than I do! And I cannot for the life of me understand why that was necessary! So please, Tom, tell me. Why?"

Llyarden

2016-06-09, 02:59 PM

Sean...kinda staggered as the group arrived. Not as a side-effect of the teleport, though - it was a couple of seconds after they'd arrived.

He moved a few paces towards the supermarket, stopping near one of the parked cars; not out of any particular choice, it seemed, just because it happened to be close and in approximately the corret direction. And then, with a sudden roar of fury, lashed out with his claws, ripping a hole through the trunk of the unfortunate vehicle. When he turned back to the group, he wore an expression that Declan, at least, would be very familiar with. "You know how there were a whole load of people watching the fight in the video?"

"I guess we know now why none of them reported it."

manwithaplan

2016-06-10, 06:12 AM

"Oh, yes, absolutely!" He responded to the Recruiter's first question. Copycat listened attentively to the monologue that followed, deep in thought the entire time.

"Hmm. That's an interesting question." He folded his arms, eyes pointing up into space above him as he considered the possibilities. "One moment."

Then his eyes were closed, and his whole body tensed for the slightest instant as he switched into a power. When he opened his eyes again, they were cold and harsh.

"Taking into consideration the typical behaviours of the...ugh, excuse me, still do that sometimes. I mean, the detective's seen more than most of us, and given what I know about him, I think he'd try to turn it into a matter of business. Yeah, I can picture it, he'd say that the whole vendetta was nothing personal. You were the source of a large number of attacks on Millaine, so it only made sense to take you out. They escalated their efforts, time after time, because the previous tactics were failing. Cold logic. He's right, of course - the satellite, my power, the smearing...after all of it, they never actually found you, did they? Nobody ever could."

He was back into deep thought for a second, and then straight back out.

"On the other hand, some of us have a personal stake. Like Waterworks. I suppose it could be argued that Lucas represented a similar threat to you as you do to us, perhaps significant but not immediate, and yet you shot him. If you aren't aware, there is an emotional connection between the two. She'll cover that up, mind you. Not hide it, but at least protect it with some other reasoning. Nothing to do with her, just something about safety and your unrestrained power. An arms dealer is dangerous, she'd say, and it is their job - well, she'd call it a responsibility - to eliminate such a threat. But I don't think that's quite it. I think..."

He blinked again before speaking a third time. It was doubtful that the Recruiter had a method for detecting power usage on the spot, but if he did, he'd know that the Mimic didn't use his super intelligence for this final analysis.

"...I've got it. For all of his intelligence, the psychic would give you an answer similar in word to the detective's, but opposite in tone. Ironic, isn't it? He'd glow with hatred and sizzle with anger as he spat at you about how it didn't actually matter who you were to him, and anybody who broke the laws within his jurisdiction was subject to punishment simply because they were in his jurisdiction, regardless of who they were. You'd think from the way he said it that it was something you did, but it wasn't. He's always just...angry. About something. I don't know what."

He clenched his fists.

"But it's so strong. Sometimes it makes me angry too. I...I want to kill him the most."

Tom smiled.

"But I'll give him one thing. He's right about jurisdiction. Do you know that? Does it ever bother you? You could have driven down the country, maybe a hundred miles, and started there. Never touched our city. You would never have dealt with us, and your entire situation globally would never have been marred. It could've been somewhere bigger. I don't know what's going on in...I don't know, Adaros? None of us care. And nobody in Adaros Corps would have ruined your global reputation. But the Heroes here, they're like attack dogs. You were near them and so they bit. You can't tackle them directly...but if you just go to the other side of the street, they'll forget you were ever there. They're the lackeys of the Assembly. Starring in films, making all the money they could dream of, taking down the brutally outmatched criminals of their two-foot-wide sector, all oblivious to what's happening outside of the tiny world the Assembly has put them in. Did you know that when they saved the world from that meteor, it was heading straight for Millaine? If it hadn't been...would they have just sent Stalwart and Arcanis?"

"It's nice to be free, at least. No longer blinded by the demands of a superior I hardly even like. Now I'm...making my own decisions. Following a path of my own. It feels good, you know."

Zelphas

2016-06-11, 12:55 AM

Waterworks looks around after the teleport, then focuses on Sean. "You know where they went, then?" she asks, her voice sounding mildly puzzled.

Capt. Infinity

2016-06-11, 02:25 AM

"They're dead." Maestro growls, his voice almost guttural with rage, and his hands clenched at his side. Despite all his progress, no amount of self-control could keep the pavement from splintering under his feet as the Psychokinetic hissed the next few words. "That angel summon incinerated them because that piece of s**t didn't want any witnesses."

Hyperbolic sine

2016-06-11, 03:20 PM

Declan's expresssion darkened, though, for a moment, besides anger a perceptive observer could notice a hint of something like...guilt?

"...he's going to regret this."

Zelphas

2016-06-11, 11:49 PM

At Maestro's response, Waterworks goes still. For a long moment, she simply observes the scene, not a single molecule of her form seeming to move. Finally, she takes a deep breath.

"Why aren't we already there?" she asks, her voice blank.

Llyarden

2016-06-12, 04:11 PM

"You...you should contact Wilhelm," Sean said after a few moments, still breathing heavily. "I don't think there's anything else for us here. Let him know...what he and his people are going to find."

He moved back to the centre of the car park, closing his eyes and trying to block out the horrific stench of death. "There was a car there." He turned and pointed to an empty bay. "In the video, I mean, and it never left, not physically, so it must have teleported. Came here normally though."

"So unless anyone has any other suggestions, I guess the trail of that car will be our next bet."

Sean's observations were delivered...hollowly, almost. For all that he was furious with Declan for what he'd done, Declan's actions had been done in hatred. That was more understandable than this...callousness.

Zelphas

2016-06-12, 07:26 PM

"Good." Waterworks nods, her face and voice still blank. "Tell me when you smell him."

Quellian-dyrae

2016-06-13, 02:06 PM

Copycat

The Recruiter kept on a controlled mask, but there were little cracks in it as you spoke. Little hints and twitches of disbelief, or resentment, or a cold, defiant anger not so far away from what you had felt back during the little "trial" Maestro had tried to set up after you had nearly killed Sato. He spoke at that point, interrupting to growl out, "Millaine is my home. I grew up not three miles from here!" before falling silent again to let you finish. At your final thought, he gave a little, contemptuous smile.

Everybody Else

Something should be said about Sean's nose here.

Because let's be clear, the man was tracking the hours-old scent trail of a single car, when he did not have the car itself to get a better base scent with, through the streets of a small city which, I must take pains to note, has quite a lot of cars, back to its destination.

But I mean, this was also the guy who had intimidated APEX radiation into backing down. Not just an APEX-irradiated creature. The radiation itself. So, it was kinda no big thing.

The car's scent led down several streets, a route that went a bit over a mile. It ended with a car parked in the driveway of...

Well, finally. Not some quaint suburban home or nondescript warehouse, but a small private manor, complete with a (purely decorative, at least for our purposes) gate.

The windows were curtained, and the projection blocker shielded anyone who might be within from Maestro's psychic senses.

Capt. Infinity

2016-06-13, 04:17 PM

Despite everything that had happened today, Maestro couldn't help but put on a wry, devilish smirk as the team finally came upon the manor in full.

"Well, Declan." Maestro turned his head to the Diamond Enforcer, a simple twinkle in his eye acting as all the explanation that was needed.

"Wanna help me knock?"

Zelphas

2016-06-13, 05:48 PM

Waterworks nods again once she sees the manor. Then she evaporates. I'll move from above to catch him answering, she sends across the mental link, her voice flat.

Stealth: [roll0]

Mobility to climb the manor wall (if she gets that far): [roll1]

Hyperbolic sine

2016-06-15, 07:06 AM

"Oh, absolutely." Declan replied, bracing for impact.

It could as well have been another trap, but who cared. Let anger and adrenaline drown the fact that what he'd done at the Defiant camp wasn't really that different from what the Recruiter did at the supermarket.

Capt. Infinity

2016-06-15, 05:59 PM

Maestro nodded as Declan approved of the plan, a grim and foreboding grin forming along the Psychokinetics face as the Unbreakable was lifted several feet of the ground.

"Knock knock! HEROGRAM FOR YOU, MOTHER#$*@%&!!!"

Let's call this a ranged attack against the house's front door, for that sweet, sweet crit damage. Declan Cannon: [roll0]

The attack has Homing 2, so I guess we can just assume it hits on a subsequent attack if it doesn't initially. Though we can roll those too, if you'd like.

Quellian-dyrae

2016-06-15, 06:49 PM

DYNAMIC ENTRY!

Standing in the living room of the manor, which was quite a bit more sparsely furnished than the opulent exterior would suggest, was the Recruiter, appearing just as he had back at ASM 7. Four summons were also in the room. Champion level for certain - the now-familiar Diamond Champion made that abundantly clear. Of the other three Champions, one appeared as a nondescript looking man, but there was a sort of humming vibration around him, as if the very molecules of the air were in constant motion. When Maestro felt the touch of his mind, despite the usual blankness of a summoned intellect, there was still an odd sense of familiarity. Like looking at a black and white photograph of one's own face.

The other two both appeared as stunningly attractive women. But they wore it differently. The woman was all pale hues, from her alabaster skin to her pastel clothes to her light blond hair. She was small to the point of wispiness. It would not be unreasonable to say that she looked like she was woven from a dream.

The other woman, though, was tall and athletic, with a regal posture and a confidence, a sheer strength of personality, to her stance and gaze that seemed out of place for a summoned thrall. She had deeply tanned skin and black hair, and dressed in a full suit of black armor - emblazoned on the front with four-squares-of-red-bars pattern of the Haptaran flag.

Needless to say, the presence of four such summons was rather strange, because it was well-established by this point that the Recruiter could only manifest two Champion-level summons per subject at a time. And there was nobody else present in the room or (as Maestro's mindsense could discern now that a hole had been opened in the projection-blocking wall) the rest of the manor.

Except for Copycat. Who was standing, unrestrained and fully conscious, at the Recruiter's side.

--

The Recruiter swept his gaze over the room.

He beheld the massive, gaping hole in the wall where his front door used to be. He considered the shattered-to-splinters door now lying on the ground. He looked over the shattered windows, knowing they were far from the only ones in the house. He took in the...not the pile, to say it was a pile would have suggested some cohesion, some unifying placement, but the spread of shattered debris, stone and wood and glass and plaster, now covering the living room floor. He appraised the large-screen television that had fallen from its mounting and shattered. He eyed the comfortable couch that had been crushed flat by Declan's arrival.

And he beheld the Heroes of Millaine, standing outside (or inside, in Declan's case) his home, despite everything his Tactician had done to keep them from tracking Copycat to him. He was prepared for this, of course, because he was the Recruiter and he prepared for anything, but even so.

It was the mess. He honestly hadn't expected them to make such a mess.

With a resigned sigh, he finally turned his gaze to Copycat and admitted, "I just...I hate them. I hate them so much..."

Copycat, take two :smallcool::smallcool: Hero Points for being co-opted as a boss fight. You still act on the players turn in initiative for my own sanity.

Map (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1irpVafBVSvxrp7rcaixx0ih7LkpgD7ZQiEI55KFWmY8/edit#gid=0)

Initiative:
Waterworks: [roll0].
Maestro: [roll1].
Declan: [roll2].
Wilson: [roll3].
Sean: [roll4].

Copycat: [roll5].
Recruiter and Summons: [roll6].

Well, that went horribly. Copycat is on turn, then the Recruiter and Summons, then all PCs whichever side they're on.

You discern, through faint nonverbal cues and other body language, that the Diamond Champion and the Champion of Dreams are bestowed summons upon Copycat, while the Champion of Haptarus and Hyperkinetic Champion are personal summons of the Recruiter. This is important, because the Recruiter gets that stupid broken practically-a-plot-device Continuous Summon that flaunts logical balance rulings. If the Recruiter's summons both go down first, he could swap to a less powerful summon in his array and start calling out lesser, but still powerful minions (the slots the defeated summons filled would still be used up, but extras would be available, so like if you drop his two Champions he could only call out two Elites, not four, but still. You are aware from Copycat's previous reading of his powers that he does not have the Horde Extra though, so he could only summon one at a time). If Copycat's go down first he could still swap and give Copycat the different Affects Others Summon, but that would swap him out of his array slot making his summons vanish. Long story short, drop the Recruiter first, no new summons. Drop the Diamond Champion and Champion of Dreams first, probably no new summons. Drop the Champion of Haptarus and Hyperkinetic Champion first, might be looking at new summons.

manwithaplan

2016-06-15, 08:56 PM

Copycat's reaction to the intrusion was very different to his master's. The wolfish grin that stretched across his face in response to the Unbreakable's entry was uncharacteristically sinister, and his fists clenched in response to the destroyed homestead with a certain...ferocity.

"Hello, Declan!"

He sprinted past the Diamond Champion and towards his old teammate with glee, pulling back a fist and preparing it as if he was about to swing for the face. But he didn't. He sprung off from the ground in front of the Hero, spinning around in mid-air with a butterfly twist that would take him over his target's head.

Landing cat-like behind the hulking Dreamer, he lashed out with a quick kick to the back of a knee before twirling around, aiming to land a knife-hand on the side of Declan's neck.

He was extremely tough, for sure. But 'Unbreakable' was just marketing. He had structural weak points, he had vital areas, and of course...he had a mind. In the absence of any other weakness, the mind of Tom's enemy would always betray them eventually.

Free Action: Switching to Combat Mind Reading, taking Enhanced Defence to 4 and Analytical Strike to 13.
Move Action: Feinting Declan at -5 with Deception [roll0].
Standard Action: Charge Declan with Analytical Strike. Attack [roll1] for DC 28/23 Will against Damage and Impaired, Vulnerable and Entranced/Disabled, Defenseless and Stunned. Also, DC [roll2] Will against Mind Reading. The first two affliction conditions count only against Copycat, the third only occurs if Copycat reads your next planned action and you don't follow up on it.

Status: Normal.

Quellian-dyrae

2016-06-15, 09:59 PM

Round 1

The Recruiter did not draw his weapon. He did not make a single offensive move. Though his summons charged to the defense of their master, he stood back and spoke.

"Well, congratulations, Heroes. You've found your villain," he said contemptuously.

The Hyperkinetic Champion focused its attention on the Dreamer from which it had spawned. The full force of Maestro's own power - something that for so long he had kept to himself, had held back from Copycat, a gift that he had only finally shared when the APEX meteor threatened every life on the planet - was now turned upon him by the minion of his rival, a tremendous wave of hyperkinetic power falling upon the telekinetic as the summon gestured in his direction.

"And you get your climactic battle. I'm sure you consider this a good day."

The Diamond Champion leaped over Declan and Copycat, landing before the other Heroes with a thunderous crash, and brought its huge, heavy hands together in a booming clap. Waves of concussive force rolled out before them, threatening to knock them from their feet.

"I do not expect such attack dogs as yourselves to understand reason, but on the off chance that you have not been so thoroughly deluded by your own grandeur that you can still recognize a sensible solution to a problem, know this: we do not have to fight this battle! I can call my summons off with a word!"

The Champion of Dreams wove a platform of shining power beneath her feet and swooped forward, coming in at Sean. She reached out, seemingly trying nothing more than to gently touch his arm. But if she did so, Sean would feel his powers begin to gutter and fade as they came under attack by her power suppression.

"Tom was kind enough to illuminate me as to the reasoning behind our quarrel. And I am willing to let it end. You win, Heroes of Millaine! Cease fighting, and I will leave! I will leave Millaine, I will leave the Verdanian region, I will leave Ilessia itself if that is what you require! I will take on a new identity, you can spin whatever tale you wish of the Recruiter's final stand against the Heroes the Millaine! Copycat will be released to do as he pleases, and none of you need ever hear of me again! The Recruiter will no more provide summoned muscle for unsavory sorts. Your jurisdiction will be safe! Accept my surrender and leave me alone, and I shall afford you and yours the same courtesy!"

The Champion of Haptarus gestured, summoning a black-bladed, red-glowing sword, and darted forward, hopping up and bouncing off the Diamond Champion's shoulder, backflipping up just under the top edge of the shattered front wall so that her foot struck the front of the house and with a hard kick off propelled her at Wilson, thrusting hard with her blade and shouting a flurry of orders as she landed on one hand, springing off to come facing the Heroes at a ready guard.

"But I swear to Arch, if you refuse, if you force me to fight this battle, then you had better strike me down. You wish to cast me as one of the greatest villains of the modern age? You wish me reviled by my associates, my allies, my friends? You wish the people of Ilessia to despise me, the nations of the word to castigate my name? Then so be it, Heroes! Force me into that role, and I will be the greatest villain this country has ever seen! My summons will wreak such havoc on Millaine that the name of the Recruiter will be spoken of in mortal dread for generations to come! I will kill thousands - but I will leave hundreds alive to spread the word that this is the villain that the Heroes of Millaine have made of me, and that this all could have been avoided if you had just! Seen! Reason!"

The Recruiter is dead serious and 100% sincere about his offer...and about his threat. That said, even leaving Ilessia and abandoning the identity of the Recruiter does not inherently mean that this guy wouldn't still be a danger to others in some way.

What, you were thinking that that was some sort of misdirection and by rolling higher you'd get the real story? No! The Recruiter is DEAD SERIOUS and 100% SINCERE about his offer. AND ABOUT HIS THREAT!

The Recruiter:
Move: He really was being particularly verbose right there...
Standard: Ready an action to command his summons and Copycat to cease combat if the Heroes stand down and agree to let him go.

Hyperkinetic Champion:
Move: Meh.
Standard: Attack Maestro with Hyperkinetic Strike at [roll0]. On a hit, Toughness DC 31 vs. Damage, Fortitude DC 26 vs. Cumulative Dazed/Stunned/Incapacitated Affliction. Hit

Diamond Champion:
Move: Leap into M18.
Standard: Diamond Clap. Everyone but Declan give me Dodge DC 22 for half, Toughness DC 27/21 vs. Damage, and either Strength+Power Lifting or Mobility DC [roll1] vs. a Trip. Reduce the Trip DC by 6 if Dodge succeeds.

Champion of Dreams:
Move: Into O24.
Standard: Attack Sean with Suppress the Dream at [roll2]. Will DC [roll3] or all Dreamer powers go off for as long as the Champion sustains the Nullify. You can substitute the rank of any power higher than your Will for purposes of that power staying on. Hit

Champion of Haptarus:
Move: Into L24.
Standard: Attack Wilson with Directing Strike at [roll4]. On a hit, Toughness DC 27 vs. Damage, and Strength or Dodge DC 22 vs. Fast Grab (Impale). In addition, regardless of the results of the attack, everyone give me Dodge DC 22 to negate (Perception Area), and if that fails, Will DC 22 vs. Impaired+Vulnerable/Disabled+Defenseless Affliction. The penalties of this condition only apply against one enemy per affected target, chosen by the Champion (I'll choose who gets it if anyone fails). Miss

Map (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1irpVafBVSvxrp7rcaixx0ih7LkpgD7ZQiEI55KFWmY8/edit#gid=0)

Current Status (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?485822-Heroes-of-Millaine-OOC-5-Happy-Millainiversary!&p=20697992#post20697992)

All PCs are on turn.

Llyarden

2016-06-16, 01:51 PM

Both Wilson and Sean stood strong against the sonic shockwave, paying it almost no attention as they studied the battlefield. "You'll leave?" Sean spat back, brushing away the Valerie-summon irritably. "You massacred dozens of innocent people for...what? The hope that I wouldn't be able to track you even though you almost certainly know what I'm capable of?"

"Do you really think that we're just going to let you go after that?"

Wilson's voice, broadcast across the mental link, was less overtly angry but nonetheless...clipped. ~The sword woman and the bland man are probably least important. If we get rid of them, chances are the Recruiter can create a less powerful version to replace them. Not so much with the other two. Or we could just take down the Recruiter himself, of course.~ A trail of nanites left his hand to flow over Sean's claws, creating a kind of sheath, making his claws much longer and sharper.

And Sean promptly took full advantage, springing at the hulking Diamond Champion to slash at it with nanomolecular-fine swipes.

Wilson:
Move: Er...I guess Demoralise attempt on the Champion of Dreams (-5 for move action): [roll0].
Standard: Nanite Augmentation on Sean.
- Bringing Sharp Claws' Penetrating up to 12 (2 points)
- Removing Precise and Subtle I from Sharp Claws (-2 points)
- Adding Alternate Resistance (Defence) onto Sharp Claws (12 points)
- Adding 8 ranks of Secondary Effect onto Sharp Claws (8 points).

Sean:
Free: Activate Alacrity (which technically should've already been active but I forgot to state it explicitly.)
Move: Into close range of the Diamond Champion.
Standard: Sharp Claws on the Diamond Champion. I...assume I can't all-out attack because of being Defenceless against the Hyperkinetic, so I won't. If I can, then all-out attack for 5 and power attack for 5. [roll1]. On a hit, DC27 Defence vs damage, ignoring Impervious, with DC23 next round. (+5 to DC if all-out/power attack is allowed)
End of Turn: Will to remove Affliction (DC22): [roll2]

Status:
Wilson: Fine.
Sean: Augmented, Disabled/Defenceless against Hyperkinetic (maybe), possibly -5 to active defences.

Capt. Infinity

2016-06-16, 06:09 PM

Maestro stood aghast at what was playing out before him, shrugging off the Diamond Champions blast and the Haptaran Champion's influence, and only slightly flinching in the face of his related summon's onslaught.

This was it. This was nightmare scenario alpha, contingency X, Code Red and DEFCON 0.

Copycat had gone rogue, and he was now a threat to everyone, whether it was his fault or not.

Maestro's raging emotions took on a decidedly different persona in the face of this revelation, the air around the Psychokinetic growing astonishingly still, and the surrounding area going both cold, dark, and quiet as the kinetic energy was wrested from the surroundings of the super genius.

He couldn't open his mouth, so he spoke with his mind. ~...Tom? Do you remember that conversation we had on that rooftop, after we'd beaten that duo of Recruiter clients? Do you remember the promise we both made that day?~ His eyes gave away nothing but a cold hard resolution, and his voice was as inscrutable as it was omnipresent. ~I made you promise that if I ever went rogue, you'd be sure to put me down for the benefit of everyone, and you expected me to do the same~

The young Dreamer finally found his voice as he spoke further. "Well I'll tell you this, Thomas. I'm following through on that promise. I'm not going to ask you to stop, or convince you to talk about this, or even tell you what you should and shouldn't be doing. I am going to MAKE you stop, and I am going to STOP this right here, and right now. Because I-" Maestro plants one foot into the floor, wood splintering as the ground gives way. "-Am a MAN-" Mr. Mastermind enters a battle stance, the air crackling with raw electrical force. "-OF MY WORD!" The last part of his sentence reverberates throughout the foyer, amplified subconsciously by the Psychokinetic's powers.

Rather than face Copycat, however, Maestro turns to the Recruiter, and points at him menacingly. "I AM GETTING MY FRIEND BACK! AND I AM GETTING HIM BACK THROUGH YOU! EAT SKY YOU MAGNANIMOUS PR*CK!!!" The Billionaire genius thrusts his right fist upwards, attempting to wrench the Recruiter into the stratosphere.

Because, at this point, he might as well make good on every promise he's made. And SOMEONE's gotta face that music.

Use Psychokinesis to throw the recruiter upwards, Strength or Flight DC 20 to resist. If successful, DC 31 Toughness save against damage.

Zelphas

2016-06-16, 09:50 PM

The moment the Recruiter lands, watery tentacles lash out of nowhere, seeking to bind him and crush his limbs. An instant later, the whips of water tighten, tossing the villain across the room towards the Hero of Millaine's erstwhile teammate, Copycat. As quickly as the tentacles appear, they vanish.

Standard Action: Jet Spray on the Recruiter, All-Out Attacking for 5, Power Attacking for 3: [roll0] Damage DC 28+Multiattack Damage, Strength or Dodge DC 25 vs. Fast Grab on a hit.

Free Action: Switch to Maelstrom Fling!

Extra Effort: Maelstrom Fling! on the Recruiter, All-Out Power Attacking for 5: [roll1] Damage DC 30, Strength or Flight DC 25 vs. Move Object on a hit. Aiming at Copycat for [roll2]; on a hit, both Copycat and the Recruiter need to make Damage DC 30 saves. If it misses, the Recruiter still has another Damage DC 30 save from hitting the wall.

Move Action: Shift to Q19. Hide in Plain Sight: [roll3]

Will to remove Affliction (DC 22): [roll4]

Status: -5 Active Defenses this turn, Fatigued next turn, Impaired & Vulnerable vs. some enemy (pending)

Hyperbolic sine

2016-06-17, 05:28 AM

"Tom...?!"

Startled by the supposed hostage suddenly attacking him, Declan's mental defences faltered - unfortunately for the Recruiter, though, he was already focusing to block out unnecessary thoughts, so he recovered almost immediately. Copycat's attack had only a minimal effect, and the Haptaran Champion's influence didn't affect him in the least.

"I won't fight you." he declared to his mind-controlled teammate, and locked his gaze on the real enemy: the Recruiter. With him gone, whetever was controlling Copycat - because it had to be something like that: he couldn't believe Tom had turned on them of his own will - would have gone too. Should, at least.

"TAKE THIS!" he roared on the wake of Maestro's own shout, dashing where the Recruiter landed and unleashing a point blank burst of antimatter on the man.

Move: M16 -> L11
Standard: attack the Recruiter with Point Blank Burst at [roll0], Toughness DC 26+Multiattack/21 vs Damage/Weaken Toughness.

Also, shouldn't the Recruiter be Prone?

manwithaplan

2016-06-17, 08:28 AM

Copycat stared at Declan as he darted away with a varied mix of emotions. Anger and disappointment equally, for sure. Still in a fighting stance specifically maintained to counter his teammate's attack style, he felt somewhat stood-up in the midst of the manor. The look in his eyes as he watched the Unbreakable was, more than anything, hurt. Then his neck swivelled around to stare at Maestro, standing unoccupied next to Wilson and the Haptaran. Then it was just full anger. He bolted out from the front door of the Recruiter's home with fury in his eyes, lunging towards his rival with reckless abandon.

"You think I didn't choose this?!" He leaped up and swung around, both of his legs snapping out as part of a jackknife kick as he expertly let his momentum carry him to the psychic's side. He stepped in once more with a more straightforward side kick to the gut, aiming simply to keep the man's mind occupied as he probed it. There was no glory to beating Maestro in a fistfight. Breaking into his mind and outsmarting him? That was a glorious day.

I'm going to become stronger than you! I'm going to mean something! I'm going to change the world, and that will never be a nine-to-five city-localised occupation! That will never come with a salary, and it will never get me into a movie!"

Move Action: Into L23.
Standard Action: Analytical Strike on Maestro. Attack [roll0] for DC 28/23/[roll1] Will against Damage, Affliction (Impaired, Vulnerable and Entranced/Disabled, Defenceless and Stunned), and Mind Reading. First two affliction conditions only apply against Tom, the third one only applies if Maestro doesn't perform the action next turn that he is currently planning on (if his mind is successfully read and whatnot).

Status: Normal.

You were right that combat mind reading is quite clunky in PbP, but I'm going to at least try to make it work. At the end of his turn, Copycat will switch to Declan's Toughness, using Power Mastery to up his Toughness to 14 and Impervious. I'm going to do this regardless of any other factor, but I'm hiding it for now so that Capt has to make his decision for next round before seeing what Tom is actually going to do in response to...the default decision he might make.

Quellian-dyrae

2016-06-17, 01:32 PM

Round 2

The Recruiter gave Sean mildly annoyed, somewhat uncomprehending look as he suggested that he not only knew exactly what he could do, but that his plan was intended to foil him directly. "Wha- ...Who even are you?"

So, I'm not entire sure how strong Sean's New Kid on the Block Complication is (the Temper portion, in particular), but I'm thinking that maybe after an entire adventure and change of people treating him as if he's a non-entity or, worse, a sidekick, plus the stress from what happened with Declan, plus the massacre at the supermarket, that the Recruiter himself not even having put in the effort to learn who you are and what you can do miiiiight just be the last straw.

So, I'm offering you a :smallcool: Hero Point for your New Kid on the Block Complication. If you take it, Sean must All Out Attack and/or Power Attack (either or both, but he has to do at least one of them) for the maximum any time he is able to for the duration of the encounter.

The Recruiter had learned his lessons from the last fight. Last time, the Diamond Champion had been tricked into ignoring those horrible burrowing nanite things that Wilson had unleashed upon his shield. This time, the Recruiter had given his minions explicit orders to defend both him and each other from any threat that seemed strange.

Someone making an intentional physical attack against the Diamond Champion was strange.

The Champion of Dreams glided smoothly in the way. It was a pointless gesture. Sean's augmented claws had been sharpened to an atomic level. On the microscopic scale, it frankly didn't matter how densely or stably your atoms were packed together when the very bonds between them were getting sliced through like butter. The Champion of Dreams couldn't push the massive Diamond Champion out of the way. Sean's augmented claws would slice through her and go right on to-

Thunk.

It was the strangest sensation. Sean's claws themselves passed through the Champion of Dreams as if she didn't exist, leaving only his fingertips to impact her. And those hit with only a bare fraction of his usual augmented force, honestly not much harder than a strong human might swing a fist. It was like as far as she was concerned, he barely even had Dreamer powers.

The blast of nanites that Wilson released on her did better, hitting her in the shoulder and causing her to flinch back from the hit.

The rest of the team, meanwhile, engaged the Recruiter. To little avail.

Maestro sent him flying, his forcefield crashing through the several stories of the building (making even more of a mess) and up into the sky, before dropping him straight to the ground. It had been an extremely effective tactic last time...but again, the Recruiter had learned his lessons. The moment before he hit the ground, a sort of glowing pattern of feathers appeared swirling in a globe around him, as if etched onto his invisible forcefield, and all the kinetic energy of his fall just kinda...went away. Which kinda might have begged the question:

What kind of imbecile had taught the Recruiter how to do magic!?

"Mentallo...my entire powerset is built around having the right tool for any job. Do you honestly think I wouldn't pre-UHFF!" the Recruiter's smug response was cut short as Maestro delved him a telekinetic backhand. His forcefield absorbed much of the force, but enough got through to interrupt his retort by means of jerking his head violently to the side as if he had been soundly slapped across the face. His eyes locked on Maestro with an expression that was less pain or even rage, and more simple offense. The forcefield had become vaguely visible as a sort of rippling in the air around the Recruiter due to the damage it had received...but even that display was beginning to slowly fade as the belt's energy rapidly replenished itself.

Seriously, who had taught the Recruiter flipping magic!?

Maestro could hear it in his voice. The Recruiter believed himself to have outsmarted him. This was not something to abide from anyone, least of all his rival.

Maestro, I am offering you a :smallcool: Hero Point for your Rivalry Complication. If you take it, you will be required to attack the Recruiter preferentially for as long as he remains active. Note that you can now see that his Forcefield Belt has Regeneration on it as well as Safe Fall.

Waterworks' first blast was turned aside by the Recruiter's forcefield, but left it wavering for just a moment, giving her the opportunity to strike again while his defenses were down - only for her attack to be intercepted by the Diamond Champion. She hauled on it anyway, and shockingly, the massive construct did budge under the force, maybe an inch or so. But it dug in its heels (putting two more divots in the already thoroughly wrecked and shattered floor) and kept from being hurled away.

Declan rushed in, firing point-blank, but his antimatter bullets proved less than effective against a defense composed of pure energy, the forcefield turning his assault aside entirely.

The Recruiter let out a frustrated hiss. "It must be nice," he spat. "Knowing that all your problems will go away if you just punch the right person in the face. I do not want this. I do not want to be known as the man who killed the Heroes who saved the world. I do not want to havoc and destruction on my home. And I absolutely do not want to have to deal with the next wave of self-important do-gooders who come after me looking to avenge your deaths!"

"But it is clear that this is the only way to get my peace from all of you. So be it! Just know that this all could have been avoided. You have forced my hand here!" he shouted venomously, and drew his gun!

Ya'll chose to face this very-possibly-overpowered encounter instead of taking the easy way out. Good on you!

Waterworks take a :smallcool: Hero Point for your Responsibility Motivation.
Maestro take a :smallcool: Hero Point for your Doing Good Motivation.
Declan take a :smallcool: Hero Point for your Justice Motivation.
Wilson take a :smallcool: Hero Point for your Justice Motivation.

Following the Haptaran's orders, the Hyperkinetic Champion let loose on Sean, focusing all his tremendous psychic power into a narrow point and letting loose on the predator.

The Diamond Champion leaped back into melee, crushing the floor under the force of its jump and smashing through even more of the wall to the right of the doorway (no matter who won this battle, the true loser would be the poor, helpless manor). It landed beside Wilson, swiping at the cyborg with its rending claws of sparkling diamond.

The Champion of Dreams gestured broadly, and the entire battle rearranged itself, Heroes and villains alike teleporting into new positions...or so it appeared, at least, to any Hero who couldn't see through her illusion!

The Champion of Haptarus played support, slashing hard at Wilson to distract him from the Diamond Champion, while shouting a confusing series of orders at the Heroes themselves, even while their minds were already occupied on fending off the Champion of Dreams' illusion.

The Recruiter:
Move: Dazed.
Standard: Draw his gun!
End of Turn: Regenerates one Bruise thanks to the Regeneration portion of the enchantment on his Forcefield Belt.

Hyperkinetic Champion:
Move: Doesn't care.
Standard: Hyperkinetic Drill on Sean, Power Attacking for 5, Defensive Attacking for 2, Routining the attack for 11. Thanks to defenseless that auto-hits (no crit though). Highest Base Active Defense (so your Defenseless does not apply, but Disabled does) DC 36 vs. Damage, Toughness DC 31 vs. Weaken Toughness.

Champion of Haptarus:
Move: Feint Wilson at [roll0] (penalty negated through Fast Talker Benefit). Use Set Up 3 to provide the benefit to the Champion of Dreams, the Diamond Champion, and the Hyperkinetic Champion.
Standard: Attack Wilson with Commanding Strike as an Aid action for the Diamond Champion at [roll1]. (I didn't give her Teamwork? Whu? :smallconfused:) If she hits DC 10, Diamond Champion gets +2 to its attack roll. If she hits DC 20 it's +5. Further, the Linked Perception Area Affliction applies as a Team Attack with the Champion of Dreams, automatically adding +2 to her DC. +2

Diamond Champion:
Move: Leap into N23.
Standard: Attack Wilson with Diamond Rend at [roll2]+Aid. On a hit, Toughness DC 27/22 vs. Damage Linked Weaken Toughness. The Damage has a Secondary Effect. Hit

Champion of Dreams:
Move: Feint Declan at [roll3] (penalty negated by Fast Talker Benefit). Use Set-up 3 to provide the effects to herself, the Haptaran Champion, and Copycat.
Standard: Waking Dreams. Everyone give me Dodge DC 24 (after Team Attack) to negate the Perception Area effect. If that fails, Will DC 24 vs. Vulnerable/Compelled/Controlled.

Map (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1irpVafBVSvxrp7rcaixx0ih7LkpgD7ZQiEI55KFWmY8/edit#gid=0)

Current Status (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?485822-Heroes-of-Millaine-OOC-5-Happy-Millainiversary!&p=20697992#post20697992)

All PCs are on turn.

Capt. Infinity

2016-06-17, 03:56 PM

The double aerial kick from Copycat managed to force Maestro back a few steps, but the Telekinetic quickly recovered, outright blocking Copycat's gut kick with a well-placed arm. As for the attempt at reading his mind...

Evidently "fought a giant space brain in a psychic duel, and won" actually does count for something, as the mimic would find himself hitting a stone wall of mental prowess in his attempts to probe into Maestro's subconscious.

"No, Copycat. I do not, in fact, think you actually chose this." The young Dreamer glares at the mimic, cold logic in his eyes. This expression turns to one of confusion when Copycat talks of becoming stronger. "Is... Is that what you think this is about? You think... You think I'm the one you need to prove your might to?" From Maestro's expression, the genius was legitimately surprised at this.

"Tom... You've ALWAYS been stronger than me."

Rather than continue down that train of thought, however, Maestro's attention was quickly stolen by the Recruiter's boast. "Oh you are just the WORST! I'm sick and tired of you being so full of it! Do you honestly think you deserve any better? This house of yours was built on top of blood money you psycho! Paid for in ruined lives and acts of terror! The HELL kind of world are you living in where YOU'RE the victim!?" The young man shouts, before focusing on the Recruiter's belt, attempting to exert his will to interface with the machine directly, hoping to shut it down completely.

Free Action: Add 2 Points to Variable array to "turn on" Comprehend (Machines)

Standard Action: COMBAT HACKING! Routine 30 Technology check to "hit". Unless it doesn't for some reason, DC 25 Affliction, resisted by your choice of Combat Hacking Resistance, against Impaired/Disabled/Incapacitated.

Zelphas

2016-06-18, 12:24 AM

The ropes of water lash out again, stretching into the air above the battle and punching through the ceiling. They tighten, and then the piping and spigots of the sprinkler system are physically ripped from the walls, crunched into a ball, and hurled at the Recruiter, showering everyone with a spray of rusty-smelling water.

All at once, every water droplet in the air freezes. They hover for a split second, before turning in unison and rushing towards the enemy of the Heroes of Millaine with enough speed that they split they air with shrieks of displaced molecules.

Still, Waterworks has yet to be seen fully.

Standard Action: Maelstrom Fling on the sprinkler system. [roll0] Crit! Damage DC 25 30 on a hit, Strength or Flight DC 20 25 to avoid being flung into the Recruiter.

Free Action: Switch to Water Control.

Extra Effort + Hero Point: Water Control on the Recruiter. DC 27 vs. Damage on Perception Ranged Attack.

Movve Action: Shift to S17. Hide in Plain Sight: [roll1]

Will to Remove Affliction (DC 24): [roll2] Cured.

Status: Fatigued.

manwithaplan

2016-06-18, 01:07 AM

Tom stood, watching Maestro brush him off as well.

"...what?"

He scowled with ferocity, clenching his fists once more. Thin drops of clear adhesive began to drip out from between his fingers, onto the grass below.

"Why are you...?"

He had to know. He had to know he was the weaker one. He couldn't already know. It had to...hit him.

"Fight me, you idiot!"

No more MMA. Tom dived towards Maestro, reaching for him with all his limbs in an attempt to tackle the psychic to the ground. The sticky goo would lock them together, and then he would realise the mistake he had made by focusing on the wrong target.

"Don't act like you're not afraid!"

If he got Maestro in his grip, Tom would punch him. Not with super strength. Not extremely quickly, and not with any degree of skill. Just a punch, through his telekinetic armour, on the cheek.

Free Action: Switching to Wolf Mackenna's Adhesive Skin. Taking Adhesive Strike to 13, and Adhesive Skin...also to 13.
Standard Action: Attack Maestro with All-Out Power Attack 2. Attack [roll0] for DC 19 Damage, DC 25 Strength or Dodge against Grab, and DC 25 Prowess against Impaired and Vulnerable/Immobilized, Disabled and Defenceless/Paralyzed.

Status: Normal.

Hyperbolic sine

2016-06-19, 01:23 PM

Declan didn't have much time to express disappointment in the failure of his attack against the Recruiter: he flung himself between the summon born from his own powers and Wilson - diamond clashing against diamond to no effect - and then leaped in front of Sean, shielding him from the Hyperkinetic Champion's fury - falling on one knee shortly afterwards, with a good chuck of his diamond armour missing.

"No one else dies today." he murmured, rising on his feet again with sheer willpower and tapping from his reserves to regenerate his coating. Completely disregarding the Champion of Dream's illusion - he knew none of his teammate was in front of him - he leveled DAMOCLES and swept the room with antimatter bullets.

Move: Staggered
Standard: Recover from Staggered. +2 active Defences this round.
Extra Effort Standard (:smallcool: to negate fatigue): Sweep, hitting the Champion of Dreams, Hyperkinetic Champion and the Recruiter. Dodge DC 21 for half, Toughness DC 26/20 vs Damage (Incurable, as always).

Llyarden

2016-06-20, 04:54 AM

With a brief nod to Declan as the soldier swept past him to deflect the attack with his diamond coating, Wilson stepped out of the rather sticky situation he was currently in and hurled another disc of nanites - this one aimed at the Recruiter, even as the first one arced back around to take another slice at the Valerie-Summon.

Sean took a little longer to react to the sudden string of events. "...seriously?" he asked after a moment. He seemed legitimately surprised by the Recruiter's question. "My name is Sean Hyer." He turned his back on the Recruiter and sprang after the Diamond Champion again. The Valerie-summon couldn't keep getting in the way.

Wilson:
Move: Move very marginally closer to the Recruiter.
Standard: Nanite Hunters on the Recruiter: [roll0]. DC23 Toughness on a hit, with Secondary Effect next round and Homing 1 if it misses.
End of Turn: Champion of Dreams gets a DC23 Toughness save.

Sean:
Move: Close with the Diamond Champion. Again.
Standard: Sharp Claws on the Diamond Champion, power attacking for 5: [roll1]. On a hit, DC32 Defence vs damage (or I guess DC23 if the Champion of Dreams interposes), with a DC28 Defence save next round (or DC21 for the Champion of Dreams).
End of Turn: If the Champion of Dreams didn't already get hit by the Sharp Claws attack, it gets a DC19 Defence save vs damage.
End of Turn: Will to remove Affliction (DC22): [roll2]. If that fails, I'll reroll it: [roll3]

...I hate you so much right now dice.

Status:
Wilson: Fatigued.
Sean: Disabled/Defenceless against Hyperkinetic, Augmented (4/5 rounds left).

Quellian-dyrae

2016-06-20, 02:08 PM

Round 3

Maestro technopathic war-hack didn't have any visible display as he communicated with the forcefield belt in an invisible projection of ones and zeroes. But its results were clear as the Recruiter's forcefield belt suddenly disengaged main power, its lights dimming and his barrier weakening substantially, becoming visible as a wavering in the air around him.

Waterworks tore the sprinkler systems, which was connected to the second-floor plumbing, and all running through the ceiling, down with a sudden hard yank. Water started spraying everywhere from the ruptured pipes as about a fifth of the ceiling collapsed. A toilet, a bathtub, a computer (which Wilson, with his keen powers of observation, could see had a desktop image of the Erdos Mountains and the Istaline River before the screen first went dark and then shattered on hitting the ground), and a small bed all fell into the living room along with even more of a horrible mess of rubble, shattered pipes, and even the kitchen no, sorry, bathroom sink.

As Waterworks chucked a wad of it straight at the Recruiter, the Hyperkinetic Champion leaped in the way. Even with his powerful telekinetic armor, though, the rubble smacked him hard upside the head, leaving him momentarily reeling. The released water flowed around him and slammed into the Recruiter's forcefield, hitting with enough force to jostle the Recruiter inside.

The Hyperkinetic Champion and the Recruiter rallied in time for their barriers to stave off Declan's assault, but he put some antimatter into the Champion of Dreams, and the concussive explosion of matter disintegrating sent her staggering back.

The Diamond Champion was plodding by the standards of Hero-level Dreamers, but it was still objectively swift. It didn't try to block Sean's claws directly, but instead batted his arms aside, foiling the attack. The Champion of Dreams blocked the return of Wilson's previous shot, and whirled away from his latest barrage of nanites. Although even then, they were turning about for another pass.

The Recruiter was still beholding Sean rather uncomprehendingly. "I...glad to meet you?"

The Recruiter broadcasts Waterworks' position over the Champion of Dreams' mental link.

The Recruiter was, however, quite aware that there could be only one explanation for his forcefield belt's sudden failure. He fired at Maestro, more to distract him than anything, as the Champion of Haptarus swung her blade at him. "FIGHT ON TEAM! THEY ARE NOTHING TO US!"

The Hyperkinetic Champion, since Sean was behaving predictably as the Haptaran had expected him to, hurled another blast of hyperkinetic force at him. This time, though, it was the complete opposite of the previous blast - an unstable missile of kinetic energy that, when it struck, would explode. The Champion's telekinetic mastery would protect his allies, but all of the Heroes in the area would be slammed fully by the force of the blast.

The Diamond Champion went for Wilson with an attack that, let's be honest, should have been for Copycat, but they were currently on the same side. It drew back, and let loose with a hard kick aiming to punt the cyborg clear across the city.

Then the Champion of Dreams gestured, and a protective barrier of solid stone covered the Recruiter and Hyperkinetic Champion.

Had this pretty much ready to post so just gonna post it now but Llyarden you can still do that reroll, I've accounted for the contingency.

The Recruiter:
Move: Dazed.
Standard: Attack Maestro as a Team Attack with the Champion of Haptarus at [roll0] after Teamwork. On a hit, the Champion of Haptarus gains +2 Damage. On a hit by three degrees, this becomes +5. If the Champion of Haptarus misses and he hits without the Teamwork bonus, it's simply DC 22 Damage. +5
End of Turn: Regenerates a Bruise.

Champion of Haptarus:
Move: Feint Maestro at [roll1]. If it succeeds, use Set-up 3 to pass the benefits to herself, the Recruiter, and the Hyperkinetic Champion.
Standard: Attack Maestro with Inspiring Strike at [roll2]. On a hit, Toughness DC 27+Team Attack vs. Damage and Strength or Dodge DC 22 vs. Fast Grab. In addition, this provides Persistent Healing (Bruises first) to all allies who can hear her at [roll3]. This effect's degree of success is Limited to her degrees of Damage on the attack, so if it misses or is resisted no healing applies. Hit. DC 32 thanks to Team Attack. 1 degree healing unless Maestro resists.

Hyperkinetic Champion:
Move: Dazed.
Standard: Attack Sean with Hyperkinetic Shockwave at [roll4]. On a hit, Toughness DC 36 after auto-crit (or 31 if his reroll throws off the Affliction) vs. Damage. In addition, everyone but Sean (or whoever gets hit) and Waterworks gets Dodge DC 22 for half, Toughness DC 27/21 vs. Damage. Waterworks is outside of the main Burst area, but within its lower-rank second Area, so she gets Dodge DC 18 for half, Toughness DC 23/19 vs. Damage. ...Hah, it misses even if Sean doesn't make its save. Everyone still roll against the Area effect though.

Diamond Champion:
Move: Meh.
Standard: Diamond Blow on Wilson, Accurate Attacking for 2, at [roll5]. On a hit, Toughness DC 25 vs. Damage, Fortitude DC 20 vs. Dazed/Stunned/Incapacitated, and Strength or non-Platform Flight DC 20 vs. being punted a mile away. Hit.

Champion of Dreams:
Move: Dazed.
Standard: Dream Crafting to surround the Recruiter and the Hyperkinetic Champion with a solid wall. The wall provides total concealment and blocks line of effect.

Map (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1irpVafBVSvxrp7rcaixx0ih7LkpgD7ZQiEI55KFWmY8/edit#gid=0)

Current Status (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?485822-Heroes-of-Millaine-OOC-5-Happy-Millainiversary!&p=20697992#post20697992)

All PCs are on turn.

Llyarden

2016-06-20, 04:34 PM

The blast of telekinetic force slammed into Wilson and Sean, leaving both reeling. But Sean had no intention of giving up. He charged back past the Valerie-summon, putting his nanite-sharp claws to good use ripping into the stone wall that it had just created.

Wilson was a little more cautious, taking a moment to catch his breath, though he still maintained the focus on the arcing disk that whirled towards the (hopefully now un-shielded) Recruiter.

I think your current status thingy is a little off. The Homing Nanite Hunters are going for the Recruiter, not the Champion of Dreams. That was the previous lot of Nanite Hunters. (Yes, this is super confusing.)

Sean:
Extra Effort: At long (long) last, throw off the Haptaran Affliction.
Move: Staggered.
Standard: Charge the barrier with Sharp Claws, power attacking for 5 and routining for 11 after Charge. DC32 Defence vs damage, which as an inanimate object hopefully the barrier fails automatically.

Wilson:
Move: Staggered.
Standard: Recover from Staggered.
Free: Trigger the Homing of Nanite Hunters on the Recruiter (and try to roll above a 2 this time): [roll0]

Status:
Sean: 1 Bruise (regenerates next round), Staggered, Fatigued next round.
Wilson: 1 Bruise, +2 to active defences, Fatigued.

Capt. Infinity

2016-06-20, 05:23 PM

The Hyperkinetic Champion struck Maestro hard, but it was simply background noise for the test of self he had before him.

A swift palm thrust to the sternum, releasing a blast of telekinetic force just strong enough to shove Copycat out of reach. It was all that was required.

It was all Maestro was willing to GIVE to a poor Hero gone mad, when the real enemy was right in front of him.

“Not scared? Not Scared!? Thomas, I’m terrified. From moment one, you have been the biggest, most alarming threat to my safety I’ve EVER encountered. Do you think I spent all that time hiding my powers from you because I didn’t want you stealing a good thing? No! I kept my powers away from you because the thought of what you could do with them beyond my own capacity gave me actual nightmares. Everything I’ve done in regards to you has been a game of walking on eggshells. A constant, DESPERATE effort to keep you sane, on the straight and narrow. Confronting your addiction, putting you on trial, pushing you to ask Suzanne out. ALL of it was in the hopes that it would keep you alongside us. That it would keep you from going rogue. Because I knew, I knew more than ANYONE that if you ever turned against the team, it would be exactly this! The single most dangerous and lethal fight of our careers!”

There were tears in the young man’s eyes as he almost howled the rest, his voice a mix of anguish and impotent fury. “Everything I’ve done has been trying to prevent THIS. And it was all for NOTHING. You’ve turned against us, maybe forever…” Again, Maestro’s focus turns back to the Recruiter.

“And it’s all. Your. FAULT!!!” The rage in his voice was palpable as the genius Dreamer attempts once more to fry the force field’s circuits, so blinded by his hatred that he is left open to further attacks from his Hyperkinetic facsimile.

Move Action: Dazed

Standard Action: Combat Hack the Recruiter's belt. DC 25 save against Vulnerable/Defenceless/Incapacitated Affliction.

manwithaplan

2016-06-20, 06:13 PM

The blast of force hit Copycat hard enough to send him tumbling over himself, rolling over the grass before landing soundly up on one knee. He couldn't hit him. Why couldn't he hit him?!

He watched as his friend yelled at him, yelled about things he hadn't known he believed in. Things Tom wished he wouldn't yell about because they were bringing back little memories and those memories were, for some reason, like Prometheus' fire to his neurons.

This man was a celebrity. An actor. He couldn't care about Tom, because he didn't care about anyone. That was what he'd always been like, wasn't it?

He clenched his fists once more. One of them grew in response, shifting and changing for a second before there was no longer a hand attached to his fist but a giant cinderblock. He didn't know what to say anymore.

"MAESTROOOO!"

The Mimic came back in with a wild swing of his enlarged super-fist, bringing it up and over his head like the massive hammer at a carnival game. His aim was to bring the huge weight down on Maestro's temple, hard enough to crack it open and stop him from saying those nonsensical things.

Free Action: Amand Noel's Weighted Attacks! Let's take it up to Rank 14.
Standard Action: Attack with Weighted Punch, All-Out Power Attack 2. Attack [roll0] for DC 31 Damage and DC 26 Fortitude against Cumulative Dazed/Stunned/Incapacitated.

Status: -2 Defence this turn.

Zelphas

2016-06-20, 10:47 PM

The water all around the Recruiter abruptly drops to the floor as liquid tentacles lash out, spearing for the man once more. They collapse a moment later, and Waterworks is not where the Recruiter last saw her.

Free Action: Switch to Jet Spray.

Standard Action: Jet Spray on the Recruiter, All-Out Power Attacking for 2. [roll0] Damage DC 30+Multiattack on a hit (Forgoing Fast Grab).

Move Action: Shift to S14. Hide in Plain Sight: [roll1]

Status: Fatigued, 1 Bruise (heals this turn), -5 Active Defenses this turn.

Hyperbolic sine

2016-06-21, 01:07 PM

Once again, Declan leaped in front of his teammates to shield them from harm. With steel and diamond barely scratching his coating and the hyperkinetic shockwave washing upon him harmlessly, he looked upon the summons in defiance and once again unleashed a trememdous barrage of antimatter in front of him, the projectiles uncannily flying around Sean and inside the breach he just made.

Move: Nah.
Standard: Sweep, hitting CD, HC and the Recruiter. Dodge DC 21 for half, Toughness DC 26/20 vs Incurable Damage.

Quellian-dyrae

2016-06-21, 04:25 PM

Round 4

Sean's augmented claws tore the dream barrier to shreds like it was a highly convincing painting of a stone wall on otherwise normal paper, freeing the way for Wilson's nanites to arc back in and slam the Recruiter's forcefield, knocking him off-balance momentarily.

Maestro's continual assault on the Recruiter's belt proved fruitful, its deflector field going doing entirely and leaving the summoner dangerously exposed.

Waterworks was quick to capitalize, and the Diamond Champion was equally quick to interfere, leaping in the way of the hydromorph's attack to take it to its own nearly-invulnerable hide.

But nothing could entirely in the way of the sheer number of antimatter bullets that Declan poured over the room. The Recruiter's forcefield was battered heavily by the explosions of the air around it being ended in a flash, while the Champion of Dreams fell back under the devastating assault, taking several hits. The Recruiter's belt sparked and smoked. The Hyperkinetic Champion, however, was able to direct the force away from itself, its powers working equally well on matter, antimatter, or energy.

The Recruiter started fiddling with his belt, switching it to reserve power.

The Champion of Haptarus continued her assault on Maestro, having about as much respect for Copycat's desire to duel him as, well, Maestro himself did. Or maybe it was just because he wasn't seeming to be very effective at it. "DEFEND THE BOSS! LET NOTHING THROUGH!" she extolled her allies even as she struck. "He's open! Crush him!" she then shouted at the hyperkinetic, gesturing at Wilson.

The Diamond Champion leaped at its counterpart, coming in with a massive blow to the face followed up with an attempt to grab him so he couldn't defend his allies.

The Hyperkinetic Champion also let loose at Declan, knowing that bringing down the diamond colossus was going to be necessary to break the stalemate. He let loose with full power, putting everything he had behind a crushing hyperkinetic strike.

The Champion of Dreams swooped at Sean, reaching out to touch him once again. She couldn't suppress his powers...but perhaps she could force them under her control.

The Recruiter:
Move: Staggered.
Standard: Recover from Staggered.
End of Turn: Regenerates a Bruise.

Champion of Haptarus:
Move: Feint Declan at [roll0]. If it succeeds, use Set Up 3 to pass the benefit to the other three Champions. ...I think he might be feinted.
Standard: Attack Maestro with Encouraging Strike at [roll1]. On a hit, Toughness DC 27 vs. Damage, Strength or Dodge DC 22 vs. Fast Grab. In addition, all allies are Deflected this turn at 1d10+22, -1 per point Toughness is above 12. Hit

Diamond Champion:
Move: Into Close range of Declan.
Standard: Attack Declan with Diamond Blow at [roll2]. On a hit, you're immune to the Damage, but Strength DC 16 (after Half Immunity) vs. Move Object as a Grab, and Fortitude DC 22 vs. Dazed/Stunned/Incapacitated Affliction. Hit considering Vulnerable

Hyperkinetic Champion:
Move: Meh.
Standard: Attack Declan with Hyperkinetic Strike, All Out Power Attack for 5, at [roll3]. On a hit, Toughness DC 25 (after halving) vs. Damage, Fortitude DC 31 vs. Cumulative Dazed/Stunned/Incapacitated. Note that this might Cumulate with the Diamond Champion's Affliction since they have the same conditions and this one is being used second. Hit

Champion of Dreams:
Move: Staggered.
Stanard: Charge Sean and attack with Control the Dream at [roll4]. On a hit, Fortitude DC 22 vs. Cumulative, Progressive Impaired/Stunned/Controlled Affliction, Limited to Dreamer Powers. Miss

Map (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1irpVafBVSvxrp7rcaixx0ih7LkpgD7ZQiEI55KFWmY8/edit#gid=0)

Current Status (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?485822-Heroes-of-Millaine-OOC-5-Happy-Millainiversary!&p=20697992#post20697992)

All PCs are on turn.

Capt. Infinity

2016-06-21, 05:03 PM

Maestro reaches one hand up, grabbing Copycat’s cinderblock strike in his open palm with astonishing ease, and staring down the master mimic with eyes that burn with unparalleled fire. “Thomas, you've always boasted about being the Ultimate Dreamer. Someone who always followed your own path, and damn the consequences because of it. Well, this may well be your new path. Just know that it is a path that I cannot condone, nor one that I can let you continue without putting up every ounce of fight I have to stop it. I won't claim to understand you or approve of what you've done but, for now, I will allow that it is what you truly want to do in your current state of mind.”

"But listen to me, Copycat. Help me to understand all of this. Because, from where I'm standing, seeing a Thomas Chide that has thrown away his inhibitions, unshackled himself and fully spread his wings to his utmost potential, all I can think is this: that you are the absolute weakest I have ever seen you. Bar none.”

“Be honest, Tom. To both me, and yourself.”

“Do you truly feel stronger, now?”

Even as Maestro asks this, he turns his head away from the enraged mimic, directing his attention upon the man who has been a thorn in his side for far too long, striking at the Recruiter directly with the force of his Psychokinetic mind.

Free Action: Deconstruct Thomas's current worldview

Standard Action: Psychokinetic Strike on the Recruiter. DC 25 Toughness Save against Damage.

Llyarden

2016-06-21, 05:05 PM

Sean darted back past the summons, taking advantage of their ganging up on Declan to lose the Valerie-summon in the melee, to catch the sword-wielding Summon's blade. Even still woozy from the telekinetic blow, he was still more than strong enough to prevent the sword from hitting Maestro. Stepping in between the psychic and the Summon, he let out a soft snarl, one that would hopefully leave the Summons - and the Recruiter - less confident in their ally's advice. The nanites on his claws dissolved under Wilson's direction, forming a smoke that wafted through the destroyed manor, adding to the eerie vibe, while simultaneously infusing the predatorial Dreamer with a heightened resilience.

Even while that was happening, though, the nanite disc came hurtling back for a third slice at the Recruiter.

Sean:
Move: Staggered.
Extra Effort: Power Stunt from Predator's Strike: Warning Growl - Affliction 12 (Dazed & Vulnerable / Stunned & Defenceless, Resisted & Overcome by Will), Alternate Defence (Will). Sean is no Brava, so I can't really justify a Strength-discounted effect here. :smallfrown: EDIT: Apparently I can, so I will. EDIT 2: Apparently I don't even need to do this.
Standard: Ready an action to make a Counter attempt once re-Augmented.
End of Turn: Regenerates a Bruise.

Wilson:
Move: Catch up with Sean.
Standard: Nanite Augmentation on Sean.
- 1 point to create an Alternate of Sharp Claws and customise: Warning Growl - Affliction 12 (Dazed / Stunned / Incapacitated, Resisted & Overcome by Will), Penetrating 10, Precise, Subtle 1
- -12 points removing the assorted Extras from Warning Growl.
- -8 points (hitting Variable maximum) to add Limited Degree to Warning Growl.
- 12 points to add Extra Condition to Warning Growl.
- 12 points to add Alternate Resistance to Warning Growl.
- 5 points to increase his Regeneration to 10 ranks.
- 5 points to remove Limited to Half Effect from Alacrity.
- 5 points to remove Limited to Half Effect from Resilience.
(Yes I know I have some spare points. Also I think technically I could just use this to get around the Power Stunt by creating a customised Alternate of Sharp Claws or something and removing the Extras I don't need. Which if that is allowed I will totally do instead.)
The final Warning Growl: Affliction 12 (Dazed & Vulnerable / Stunned & Defenceless), Alternate Resistance (Targets Will Defence), Extra Condition, Limited Degree.
End of Turn: Recruiter gets a DC23 Toughness save.

Sean's Readied Action: Attempt to Counter the Encouraging Strike: [roll0] (+1 to this.)

Status:
Sean: Staggered (regenerates next round), Fatigued, Augmented (5/5).
Wilson: 1 Bruise, Fatigued.

Hyperbolic sine

2016-06-21, 05:11 PM

Upon hearing the Champion of Haptarus' words, Declan prepared to leap in front of Wilson...and found himself ill-prepared to dodge when the summons actually attacked him.

That said, he was still the Unbreakable: the Diamond Champion's blow proved as useless as before, unable to move Declan or even dent his armour, and the Maestro-summon's attack, despite destroying enough of the coating to force him to divert a conscious effort into regenerating it, still achieved little for all the power put behind it.

"Let's see who lasts longer." he declared, smirking, and kept pressing on DAMOCLES' trigger.

Move: Dazed.
Standard: Sweep, hitting DC (just for the records, of course), CD, HC and the Recruiter. Dodge DC 21 for half, Toughness DC 26/20 vs Incurable Damage.
Extra Effort: same as above. :smallcool: HP to negate Fatigue.

Zelphas

2016-06-21, 05:26 PM

The water all around the room picks up in a swirling spray, raging all around the Recruiter. It hammers against him, again and again.

Free Action: Switch to Water Control.

Standard Action: Water Control on the Recruiter. Damage DC 26.

Extra Effort: Do it again. Damage DC 26.

Move Action: Shift to Q12. Hide in Plain Sight: [roll0]

Status: Fatigued (Exhausted next turn).

manwithaplan

2016-06-21, 08:46 PM

Again pushed back into the grass, Tom met Maestro's gaze with a furious one of his own. As he spoke, though, the temperature behind his eyes changed. From fury it moved to contemplation, to guilt, to sadness, and continued to mix and swap between the four as Mentallo went through yet another monologue. He was right. He seemed to be right, at least. But, for whatever reason, Copycat couldn't bring himself to agree. Staring Maestro in the eyes and hurriedly trying to think of a valid counterpoint that probably didn't even exist, he scowled.

"I...I'm defined by the people around me," he said, scanning the battlefield.

"A feedback loop. My team empowers me, and I use that power to bolster them."

He looked into the entrance of the manor, finding and counting the Summons.

"And right now, I don't have a..."

His eyes fell on the limp form of the Recruiter and he paused. Then he looked back to Maestro. The expression he donned next, while still a mixture of the emotions he was displaying, was defined most of all by a sly smile.

"Ah."

He relaxed into a sitting position on the Recruiter's front lawn, crossing his legs and closing his eyes.

Listen to me. I am not going to pretend I have control over you. However, I have been doing this for a salary for longer than the four of you have known time to pass. The Champion of Haptarus is correct; eliminating the Unbreakable will not just help us get through to his allies, but also prevent him from continuing to do unpreventable damage to us. I will do my best to hold him, and I can explain weak points as necessary. If he is eliminated, I will attempt to revive the Recruiter.

His eyes snapped open again, focused intensely on Declan as he continued to sweep the battlefield. He reached out and attempted to slow the time stream around the Unbreakable. Such a power would slow him down, cripple him, making it even harder for him to defend himself adequately.

Free Action: Switching to War Meditation and taking Set Up to 5.
Move Action: Feint Declan against Tom and all the summons with Second Chance. Deception [roll0] and Deception [roll1].
Reaction: I understand what you're trying to do, really. I like it. But I'm choosing a third option. If possible, I'm going to give the Hero Point to the Summons. If they're obedient to the Acting Recruiter, that is. :smallcool:
Free Action: Ultimate Dreamer - Switching to Time Jumper's Time Stopping.
Standard Action: Targeted Time Stop on Declan. DC 20 Will against Entranced/Stunned/Incapacitated.

Status: Normal.

Quellian-dyrae

2016-06-22, 12:02 AM

Round 5

"LET NOTHING THROUGH!" the Champion of Haptarus had yelled.

Spoiler alert?

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEVERYTHING got through!

Even after Sean's intimidating growl, the summons were ready to defend their master from all comers. It just...didn't matter. Maestro slammed his forcefield with invisible telekinetic force. Declan launched antimatter bullets that even if they were physically intercepted, only detonated with flashes of energy that washed over the shield. Waterworks delivered the coup de grace, shattering the forcefield with a deluge of water, and then smashing the Recruiter himself with a blast of hydrokinetic power so forceful that it sent him flying back into the wall to drop, completely senseless, to the floor.

There was a moment's pause among the summons.

You must defend the Recruiter at any costs! If they kill him here, the source of his summons' energy will be cut off entirely. They'll fade away swiftly.

As we had discussed previously, you still have to work against the other PCs and can't help them directly, including by revealing this particular bit of information. However, it is now possible, if you want, for Copycat to act inefficiently to give them the edge. This could mean indirectly clueing them into this fact. Just be subtle about it if you do choose to do it. Or you can keep trying to win, you've still got four berserk summons backing you up after all! :smallbiggrin:

And then, as Recruiter summons always seemed to do when their masters went down, they completely flipped out.

"KILL THEM KILL THEM KILL THEM!" the Champion of Haptarus screamed, not even swinging her sword, practically frothing at the mouth, her words slamming Wilson as powerfully as one of Maestro's psychokinetic attacks.

"RAHHHHHHHHH!" roared the Diamond Champion, lunging at Maestro with rending claws, savaging raking swings tearing wildly in an effort to rip the genius psychic to ribbons.

"You..." the Champion of Dreams hissed hatefully at Sean, leaping at him with both hands outstretched. "Your powers are mine! MINE!"

"...Die." intoned the Hyperkinetic Champion, summoning up two massive waves of hyperkinetic force and, with a clap of his hands, bringing them together in an effort to crush Declan between them.

It suddenly clicks.

The reason that the summons go berserk every time their master falls. It isn't an act of rage. It's an act of fear.

Every Dreamer power needs a power source. The reason the Recruiter is able to summon for others without counting against his personal limits is because he can tie them to the Spiritual Energy of the others. This would also explain why even now that he can draw from any power he's already mimicked, he still needs Dreamers to summon for - Sleepers don't have enough Spiritual Energy to fuel his summons. Even while unconscious, the Dreamer's energy persists, fueling the summons tied to them.

But the Recruiter's energy still matters. He still fuels the Master's Binds that link their spirits to their summons.

Kill the master, the summons will fade.

Kill the Recruiter...no more summons.

Champion of Haptarus:
Move: Nah.
Standard: Attack Wilson with Power Word. Perception Range attack. Toughness DC 27 vs. Damage.
Extra Effort - Additional Standard Action: DO IT AGAIN. Wilson take a :smallcool: Hero Point.

Diamond Champion:
Move: Into Close range of Maestro.
Standard: Attack Maestro with Diamond Rend, All Out Power Attack for 5, at [roll0]. On a hit, Toughness DC 32/27 vs. Damage Linked Weaken Toughness. Hit
Extra Effort - Additional Standard Action: DO IT AGAIN at [roll1]. Maestro take a :smallcool: Hero Point. Hit

Champion of Dreams:
Move: Staggered.
Standard: Charge Sean and attack with Control the Dream, All Out Power Attack for 5, at [roll2]. On a hit, Fortitude DC 27 vs. Cumulative, Progressive Impaired/Stunned/Controlled upon Dreamer Powers. Hit
Extra Effort - Additional Standard Action: DO IT AGAIN at [roll3]. Sean take a :smallcool: Hero Point. Hit

Hyperkinetic Champion:
Move: Dazed.
Standard: Attack Declan with Hyperkinetic Strike, All Out Power Attack for 5, at [roll4]. On a hit, Toughness DC 25 vs. Damage, Fortitude DC 31 vs. Cumulative Dazed/Stunned/Incapacitated Affliction. Miss
Extra Effort - Additional Standard Action: DO IT AGAIN at [roll5]. Declan take a :smallcool: Hero Point. Hit

Map (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1irpVafBVSvxrp7rcaixx0ih7LkpgD7ZQiEI55KFWmY8/edit#gid=0)

Current Status (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?485822-Heroes-of-Millaine-OOC-5-Happy-Millainiversary!&p=20697992#post20697992)

All PCs are on turn

Zelphas

2016-06-22, 12:18 AM

For the first time in the battle, Waterworks becomes visible, staring at the Recruiter with no expression on her face. Then the summons all go mad.

Turning, Waterworks lashes her tentacles at the Champion of Dreams in a rush of swirling, raging water. By the time it disappears, Waterworks is once again gone.

Free Action: Switch to Jet Spray.

Standard Action: Jet Spray at the Champion of Dreams, All-Out Power Attacking for 5. [roll0] Damage DC 30+Multiattack on a hit.

Extra Effort plus Hero Point: Do it again. [roll1] Damage DC 30+Multiattack on a hit.

Move Action: Shift to Q16. Hide in Plain Sight: [roll2]

Status: Exhausted.

manwithaplan

2016-06-22, 01:00 AM

No, listen, we can still...hello?

Tom looked at the battle raging before him as it broke into full swing, the most spectacular four-on-four he'd ever witnessed. And he wasn't in it. The Heroes, his team since he had started, were here to stop him. The summons, who he was trying to work with, wanted nothing to do with him. He had nothing major, positive or negative, to contribute to either side. He sat just off on the sideline, still in a rather relaxed position, calmly watching. He hadn't been attacked yet. He hadn't really...done anything. He'd hit Declan.

He looked at Declan. What was the point of hitting Declan? When did that ever result in anything significant?

Climbing to his feet, he began to walk. Through the fight he went, not having to worry about being hurt by either side. The Diamond Champion's swings went around him. The Champion of Dreams dashed past him. Nobody reached out to stop him. It was...rather surreal, he thought, as he entered through the front door of the manor.

"Darla?" His voice echoed off what was left of the walls.

"Is this where you're hiding?"

He flexed open his hands, the golden light of Eskiro seeping out as he moved past the Hyperkinetic Champion.

Then he came to a stop, now near the Recruiter, as healing power flowed from his hands into the places where the man had been hit. He was not useless on his own. He controlled reality. And he was not, under any circumstance, the opponent to ignore. If this was how he reminded the Heroes of Millaine that lesson, than so be it. He controlled life and death. Six bruises were nothing.

The golden-white super-concentrated healing energy of a full resuscitation blasted from his hands, filling his master's body and restoring him to health. As the last energy poured out from his palms, Tom's legs went weak, and he collapsed onto the tile floor.

"I'm going to fix your belt. Just stay here," he managed to mutter through heavy panting.

Move Action: Sad Parkour into N12.
Free Action: Stunt from Eskiro's Healing; Revive at Rank 10, plus Regeneration 2. Use Power Mastery to take Regeneration to 10, and buy an extra rank of Tiring Healing.
Standard Action: Revive on the Recruiter. Healing [roll0].

Status: Normal. Exhausted next turn.

Capt. Infinity

2016-06-22, 01:13 AM

To say being slashed and mauled by a man with diamond claws was "painful" would be an understatement.

Getting stabbed in the sternum by a fire lance was painful. Getting your mind assaulted by a giant space brain was painful.

This... This was agonizing.

But, despite the sight of his own blood spilling across the floor as the Diamond Champion tore into him, Maestro would not budge. After the Diamond Champion's assault, Maestro still held fast, and gave a cold sidelong glance to Copycat and his success at rousing the Recruiter from unconsciousness, even as the Telekinetic's vision began to blur from the pain.

"Congratulations Tom. You're finally admitting who's REALLY in charge."

Maestro's stance begins to falter, the weight of the fight showing all over his face. But the genius refused to fall. "Fine then, you all wanna head back to square one? Fine by me. Consider this ROUND TWO!!!" The young man shouts, before his entire form began to surge with a magnificent ethereal light. His entire form seemed to glow from within, and all around Maestro, one could see sudden random arcs of electricity and fire, excess energy lost to the world as he focused every ounce of his intellect on repairing the damage done to him, the ground caving with the intense effort of stitching the Hyperkinetic Dreamer back together on the subatomic level.

Free Action: :smallcool: Hero Point Power Stunt: Hyperkinetic Healing Surge: Healing 20 (Limited [Self Only], 5 ranks Restorative, Quirk 1 [Heal Order], Quirk 3 [Increased Effect Cost])

Standard Action: Heal Self (DC 10): [roll0] Healed of all Bruises, Toughness restored to full

Llyarden

2016-06-22, 04:21 AM

Sean continued to more-or-less ignore the Champion of Dreams' attempts to meddle with his powers, once again shrugging the Summon away before springing - this time at the Recruiter himself. Wilson, meanwhile, paused to bring another whirling disc into existence, hurling it at the Champion of Dreams - this one edged with razor-sharp blades, which left trails of energy, invisible to the naked eye, forming a forcefield around Sean.

Sean:
Move: Staggered.
Standard: Charge the Recruiter with Sharp Claws, all-out/power attacking for 5, +5 for prone target, -2 for Impaired: [roll0]. On a hit, DC32 Toughness vs damage. (DC22 for the Diamond Champion if it wants to Interpose.) Crit! Normal DC becomes 37.
Extra Effort: If the Recruiter isn't down, do it again: [roll1].
End of Turn: Regenerates from Staggered.
End of Turn: Attempt to recover from Affliction (DC27, -2 for Impaired): [roll2] (I'm assuming Dreamer Powers Impaired applies to Sean's Enhanced Stamina.) Progresses to Stunned. Hero Point to remove Stun.

Wilson:
Move: Dazed.
Standard: Nanite Augmentation on self.
- 8 points to add Alternate Resistance (Defence) to Nanite Hunters.
- 10 points to Link Deflect 10 to Nanite Hunters.
- 1 point to make the Deflect Subtle I [Detect Technology].
- 1 point to add Enhanced Advantage (Improved Critical 1)
Extra Effort: Attack the Champion of Dreams with the augmented Nanite Hunters: [roll3]. DC23 Defence vs damage on a hit, with Homing 1 and Secondary Effect. Sean is Deflected at 1d10+18.

Status:
Sean: -5 to active defences, deflected (1d10+18), Fatigued, Exhausted next round, Augmented (4/5)
Wilson: 3 Bruises, Dazed this round, Fatigued, Exhausted next round, Augmented (5/5).

Hyperbolic sine

2016-06-22, 04:40 AM

"I said I'm not fighting you". Declan said to Copycat, as the Mimic failed to alter the time flow around him, just before being hit again by the full might of the Hyperkinetic Champion's attack: this time it looked like, while not doing excessive damage, its sheer force had got the diamond man for good.

Shaking off the concussion with willpower, the Unbreakable stood true to his name, battered but unyelding.

Then, Copycat revived the Recruiter, and he grimaced.

You really want to force my hand, hu?

Teammate or not, he couldn't be allowed to go around undoing their results, and he certainly wouldn't die from a few antimatter bullets.

With that in mind, he leveled DAMOCLES at the Recruiter, and from there whent on to deliver an antimatter burst to all other enemies exept for the Diamond Champion, which he knew he couldn't hurt anyway.

The burst meant for Copycat, though, went particuarly off target, almost as if it was just a warning shot.

Move: N22 -> O17
Standard: All-out Multiattack (-5)

Toughness DC 26 vs Incurable Damage

Copycat: [roll0]
Champion of Haptarus: [roll1]
Power Attack, Toughness DC 31 vs Incurable Damage

Recruiter: Routine for 16
Champion of Dreams: [roll2]
Hyperkinetic Champion: [roll3]

(If some targets are already downed by Sean/Wilson, adjust multiattack penalty)

Quellian-dyrae

2016-06-22, 01:22 PM

Round 6

Waterworks slammed the Champion of Dreams, but found her oddly difficult to catch...solidly. It wasn't quite a forcefield, but it was like the summon was repelling her like a magnet. Didn't really stop Waterworks from smashing and grabbing her, but made it harder.

The Recruiter awoke under Tom's administrations, blinking around a moment before letting out an annoyed sigh. This crass violence against his person was just one more of the many indignities that these Heroes had offered. "I suppose if I want to make some pointed monologue this is the time for it, hm?" he asked rhetorically.

Sean and Declan made sure he didn't have the time for it. His summons leaped to his defense, taking the attacks meant for him and themselves alike, though not without damage. But once they were there, Sean darted past them, scything through the Recruiter's weakened forcefield and tearing open his chest, leaving him once again passed out on the floor.

Wilson's Nanite Hunters aimed true, and the Champion of Dreams was completely exposed. He had her number for sure, but the Haptaran leaped in, shoving her suddenly out of the way before pulling back quick as a wink to just avoid the Hunters themselves.

The Hyperkinetic Champion followed Waterworks' watery limbs back to her, finally able to reasonably target the elusive hydromorph. He took full advantage of the opportunity, lashing out at her with a hyperkinetic slam that would both smash her hard and hopefully knock her tentacles away from the Champion of Dreams.

Regardless of whether or not she was freed, the latter reached out for Maestro, calling upon her ability to suppress Dreamer powers in an effort to strip his away.

The Diamond Champion went at Sean, unaware of Wilson's barrier, clasping both hands together into a single giant diamond fist and bringing it down on his head.

The Champion of Haptarus lashed out furiously at Maestro as he healed himself. "PRESS ON! WE FIGHT TO THE LAST!"

Hyperkinetic Champion:
Move: Dazed.
Standard: Attack Waterworks with Hyperkinetic Slam, All Out Power Attack for 5, -2 for partial concealment (I figure with her Stealth it's still hard to quite judge where her invulnerable water tentacles end and she begins), at [roll0]. On a hit, Toughness DC 36 vs. Secondary Effect Damage, and the Move Object provides an Escape for the Champion of Dreams at [roll1] (against the normal DC of 24 since he's not half-immune). Miss.

Champion of Dreams:
Move: Staggered.
Standard: Suppress the Dream on Maestro, All Out Power Attack for 5, at [roll2]. On a hit, Will DC [roll3] or all Dreamer powers are Nullified. Powers with ranks higher than Will substitute those ranks. Hit

Diamond Champion:
Move: Into Close range of Sean.
Standard: Attack Sean with Diamond Blow, All Out Power Attack for 5, at [roll4] Deflected at [roll5]. On a hit, Toughness DC 32 vs. Damage, Fortitude DC 27 vs. Dazed/Stunned/Incapacitated Affliction, and Strength+Power Lifting or Mobility DC [roll6] vs. Move Object as a Trip. Hit

Champion of Haptarus:
Move: Nah.
Standard: Attack Maestro with Inspiring Strike, All Out Power Attack for 5, at [roll7]. On a hit, Toughness DC 32 vs. Damage, Strength or Dodge DC 27 vs. Fast Grab, and all allies who can hear her receive Persistent Healing at [roll8], degree capped by degree of damage. Crit. DCs become 37 and 32. One degree healing if the save fails.

Map (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1irpVafBVSvxrp7rcaixx0ih7LkpgD7ZQiEI55KFWmY8/edit?pref=2&pli=1#gid=0)

Current Status (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?485822-Heroes-of-Millaine-OOC-5-Happy-Millainiversary!&p=20697992#post20697992)

All PCs are on turn.

Llyarden

2016-06-22, 03:25 PM

Sean looked between the two 'female' Summons, pausing a moment to catch his breath, claws slick with blood for the second time that day. "Your master is defeated. Again. You might as well just give up." His fearsome growl of a voice was as much intended to draw their attention as it was to frighten them, as Wilson launched another disk at the Champion of Dreams while the old one arced back for another slice at the Champion of Haptarus.

Sean:
Standard: Recover from Exhausted.
Move: Startle the Champion of Dreams and the Champion of Haptarus (-2 for multiple non-minions, -2 for move action): [roll0]. Use Set-up 2 to give the benefit to Wilson and Declan.

EDIT: Aaand I just remembered that the Champion of Dreams is a) Vulnerable already and b) highly resistant to Sean's Intimidation because it's Dreamer-powered. Darn it. If I can change that to the Diamond Champion I will.

Wilson:
Move: Meh.
Standard: Nanite Hunters on the Champion of Dreams, power attacking for 2 (-2 for Exhausted): [roll1]. On a hit, DC25 Defence vs damage. The Deflect will be for Maestro unless he miraculously tanks the Will save in which case it'll go onto Wilson.
End of Turn: Unless it Interposed for the latest Nanite Hunters, Champion of Haptarus gets a DC23 Defence save vs damage.

Status:
Sean: Fatigued, +2 to defences, Augmented (3/5)
Wilson: 3 Bruises, Exhausted, Augmented (4/5)

manwithaplan

2016-06-22, 05:06 PM

Tom had already moved to get the deflector field back up when, nope, man was back on the floor. He looked up at Sean, trying to stare down the Summons, and frowned.

The mimic settled into a shaky version of his fighting stance. Then he...wait. They hadn't wanted to fight him before. Why would they be willing now?

He didn't reveal himself to Sean. Instead, he watched. Watched him talk through their defences. Watched Declan prepare his minigun for another sweep. And once again he reached out, attempting to temporarily put the time stream around him on pause.

Then he disappeared from the major scrap around the Recruiter, using the time around himself more benignly to teleport somewhere where he could continue to contribute with subtlety.

Free Action: Back to Time Stopping, with Rank 11 on the attack and Rank 4 on the Teleport.
Standard Action: Targeted Time Stop on Declan. Will DC 21 against Entranced/Stunned/Incapacitated.
Move Action: Time Blink into H19.

Status: Exhausted.

Hyperbolic sine

2016-06-22, 05:11 PM

"WE FIGHT TO THE LAST!" Declan yelled back at the Champion of Haptarus, shielding Maestro from its sword and then darting in front of Sean, shoving him aside a split-second before the Diamond Champion hit. The double fist sent him crashing down, but the Unbreakable simply refused to let himself be stopped by mere physical force: just the time to get back on his feet, and DAMOCLES was spewing antimatter again, its assault relentless as ever.

...from Declan's point of view, at least. For everyone else, he simply froze on the floor for a moment, losing precious seconds.

Move: Stand up.
Standard: All-out Multiattack (4)

Power Attack (1), Toughness DC 27 vs Incurable Damage

Copycat [roll0] ...another warning shot.
Power Attack (5), Toughness DC 31 vs Incurable Damage

Champion of Dreams [roll1]
Champion of Haptarus [roll2]
Hyperkinetic Champion [roll3]

Also, Bruise regenerates on Round 11.

Capt. Infinity

2016-06-22, 05:50 PM

And, just as quickly as he was powering up, the surge was gone.

It was a strange feeling to Maestro. Having his powers ripped out from under him. He felt all at once removed from everything, like someone had bound his hands, boxed his ears, and covered his eyes all in one go. In an instant, Maestro Mentallo felt more alone and exposed than he ever had in his entire life.

And he was just... sick of all of it.

The young man stared at his hands, angry at his own powers for betraying him to the Champion of Dreams, and he gritted his teeth in dismay. "No no NO! Damnit! Arch-DAMNIT!" The hero shouts, lost to the world in how utterly bad it was all going. "This is not the time! This shouldn't be happening! I just... I just want this to end!" Maestro clutches his head, his hope for the situation slowly draining away.

As he looks at the room in dismay at the current state of things, the Hero's eyes fall on Copycat, casually viewing the action from a ways away. Copycat, the reason the they came here, the reason this fight was happening, just... Just THERE. And yet, so impossibly far away.

"Tom..." Maestro, despite retaining his intellect in the nullification, seemed at a loss for words. "Thomas please. If there any of you still in there, STOP THIS. You can help. You can help us fix this. ...Please" The young genius begs of the mimic, hoping that, on some level, his words were reaching the ensnared mind of his former friend.

Standard Action: Defend. All attacks against Maestro roll against 1d10+20 to hit.

Move Action: Talk Down Copycat at a -5: [roll0]

Zelphas

2016-06-22, 06:41 PM

Waterworks simply ignores the clumsy attack by the Hyperkinetic Champion, her eyes fixed on the newly-awake form of the Recruiter. "Why couldn't you just stay down..." she whispers, her form beginning to bubble and froth.

A moment later, she explodes outwards, water boiling and shifting into the massive frame of the Maelstrom. It shifts towards the Recruiter... then stops, disgusted. Unconscious again. The Maelstrom is no scavenger, content to pick the bones of others' kills. Its streams tighten on the Champion of Dreams, seeking to drain the creature of whatever passes for blood. "DiE... jUsT dIe..."

Free Action: Switch to Storm Front.

Standard Action: Use Storm Front. The Burst Area Damage 11 only hits Declan and the Diamond Champion, as far as I can tell, so oh well.

Extra Effort + Hero Point: Use Jet Blast on the Champion of Dreams, All-Out Power Attacking for 5. [roll0] Toughness Save DC 34+Multiattack vs. Damage, Fortitude DC 29 vs. Dazed/Stunned/Incapacitated.

Status: -5 to Active Defenses, Exhausted.

Quellian-dyrae

2016-06-22, 08:19 PM

Round 7

Sean's words drew more angry glares than fear from the summons...buuuuut that was enough to slow the Champion of Haptarus down a fraction of a second. Once more she moved to defend the Champion of Dreams, but this time was unable to get out of the way herself fast enough, Wilson's nanite hunters striking her squarely and burrowing straight through. She coughed up blood that faded to ectoplasm, but did not fall.

The Maelstrom came out...and the mansion called it quits. As the tidal wave blew the entire western wall away, the building wavered, wobbled, swayed to either side, and then just all went down like a house of cards. The Diamond Champion shielded the Recruiter and Hyperkinetic Champion beneath its vast bulk, and Tom had literally lucked into being in like the only corner of the house that was still standing. Declan and Sean, though, had about half a house fall on their heads. A thunderous crash marked the end of the Recruiter's mansion. Still, it had died fighting. The mansion...had no regrets.

So...I know they're trying to have a conversation here, but I mean, come on, we've all seen how much the Maelstrom hates Copycat and now she finally has an opportunity to indulge. What kind of GM would I be if I passed that up? Waterworks! I am offering you a :smallcool: Hero Point for the Maelstrom's Leader of the Pack Complication. If you accept it, you must retain Maelstrom form and focus your attacks upon Copycat until one of you is defeated.

(That said, in deference to the "everyone else keep out of the conversation" request, I'm considering the Haptaran's usual buff-shouting to be her fluff justification for opposing the Talk Down attempts, so that the dramatic punch of the conversation remains focused on Copycat and Maestro).

Declan and Sean, both of you make a DC 22 Dodge save for half, DC 27/21 Toughness vs. Damage, DC 22/16 Strength or Dodge vs. Grab, and DC 22/16 Mobility or Strength+Power Lifting vs. Trip, from having a house fall on you. Both of you take a :smallcool: Hero Point for the Maelstrom's Unbridled Rage Complication, after this effect resolves.

The Champion of Dreams, now...she might have had a few regrets as the Maelstrom crushed her into ectoplasm.

The Diamond Champion immediately leaped to engage this latest threat, hauling back to rend the Maelstrom with both wicked claws engaged. The Hyperkinetic Champion turned its attention back on Declan, loosing all its power focused into a narrow point to try and pierce right through even his diamond armor. The Champion of Haptarus struck out at Maestro, seeking to finish the genius psychic off while his powers were down - unaware that his psychokinetic armor had sprung unconsciously back up with the Champion of Dreamers' fall. "YOU CANNOT WIN! SURRENDER OR DIE!" she shrieked over the battle.

Diamond Champion:
Move: Leap into Close range of the Maelstrom.
Standard: Attack the Maelstrom with Diamond Rend, All Out Power Attack for 5, at [roll0]. On a hit, Toughness DC 32/27 vs. Damage Linked Weaken Toughness. The Damage has a Secondary Effect. Hit

Hyperkinetic Champion:
Move: Nah.
Standard: Attack Declan with Hyperkinetic Drill, All Out Power Attack for 5, at [roll1]. On a hit, Impervious DC 36 vs. Damage, Toughness DC 20 vs. Weaken Toughness. Hit

Champion of Haptarus:
Move: Staggered.
Standard: Attack Maestro with Commanding Strike, All Out Power Attack for 5, at [roll2]. On a hit, Toughness DC 32 vs. Damage, Strength or Dodge DC 27 vs. Fast Grab. In addition, everyone give me Dodge DC 22 to negate, Will DC 22/16 vs. Entranced/Compelled/Controlled Affliction. If you are Compelled or Controlled you are forced to surrender, ceasing all actions. This is a mind control effect, not a fear effect. Forgot the Deflect, but misses anyway. Affliction still triggers.

Map (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1irpVafBVSvxrp7rcaixx0ih7LkpgD7ZQiEI55KFWmY8/edit?pref=2&pli=1#gid=0)

Current Status (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?485822-Heroes-of-Millaine-OOC-5-Happy-Millainiversary!&p=20697992#post20697992)

All PCs are on turn