Emerald City Knights {IC}

[BarbieTheRPG]

10:25 a.m., Saturday morning, sunny and warm.

Emerald City is located in the Pacific Northwest of the United States near the Atlas Mountain range, a quiet, humble neighbor of Seattle, Tacoma, and Portland. Founded on Malory Bay, it’s been best-known to fishermen (by trade and by hobby) and lumberjacks through most of its history. The anglers and all others who venture there find a cosmopolitan place, befitting a gateway to the Far East, including a large, old, and influential Asian population who sought refuge from other, increasingly exclusionary, areas of the Pacific Northwest during the late 1800s. A century later, Emerald City is still graced by a large Eastern District and a “Jadetown” area sizable enough to rival San Francisco’s Chinatown. Today, first-time visitors are greeted by twin giants: one a monument of God’s creation, and the other of man’s. The dormant volcanic peak of Mount Stanley has framed the city skyline from the start, and in 1968 was joined by the Emerald Tower, looming impressively towards the heavens.

Its founders dubbed Emerald City “the City of Destiny,” because for them it was the last stop on the continent’s edge. With nothing but the deep blue sea beyond, a man had no choice but to meet his fate there—whatever it was. Even in the present age of supersonic jets and a shrinking globe, Emerald City remains the last stop for most who journey there, both for reasons joyous and tragic. Now, it’s the heroes’ turn to come face to face with their destiny.

In the last two decades, Emerald City has grown almost exponentially, becoming a true boomtown. The city proper is quite large, surrounded by a number of expanding suburbs and bedroom communities. Driving this growth was the establishment of MarsTech, Inc. (MSTI on the New York Stock Exchange) by the flamboyant plutocrat and techno-wizard Maximilian Mars. As MarsTech and other high-tech companies flourished, so did Emerald City, transforming the once-sleepy burgh into a leading center for the computer industry and other high-technology businesses.

Nothing marks Emerald City newcomers more than making a Munchkin joke in public. They think it’s clever, but to longtime residents (and in truth) they’re just being punch-ably obvious and annoying. It’s all an understandable offshoot of the city’s 70-year-long love/hate relationship with The Wizard of Oz. There are many businesses and organizations that work overtime to avoid any association with the classic stories and legendary film, while others embrace the eponymous association wholeheartedly. Those who revel in the city’s L. Frank Baum connection with the enthusiasm of flying monkeys successfully lobbied to have the open-air walking mall in the downtown shopping district dubbed the Yellow Brick Row. There, the street is indeed bricked just as advertised, duly painted yellow every year on the official birthday of the city, August 27th.

For years, things in Emerald City were stable, dependable. Sure, times were tough when the lumber and paper industries took a hit, and again when fishing and farming suffered, but they got better when the tech boom arrived, and companies like MarsTech, USNet, and Brande Management brought new jobs and new opportunities. Rapid development brought its own growing pains but, still, Emerald City didn’t have alien armadas filling the sky, or mad gods trying to turn it into a Hell on Earth. Unlike Freedom City, Emerald has never had more than a few scattered costumed champions over the years, and none that stuck around long enough to make much of an impact. To most local residents, it’s just one of those things–-like how the city’s never been able to attract an NBA franchise. When it comes to capes, however, the truth is far more sinister than David Stern considering Emerald “too small market.” Emerald’s skies were free of flying figures, but also of aerial battles. There were a few costumed types now and again, but not so you would really notice.

There’s enough sunshine to make most anyone glad to be alive, and seemingly all of Emerald City has ventured outside to take advantage of it. Every downtown street is lined with people out roller-blading, walking their dogs, peoplewatching at sidewalk cafes, or doing a little shopping. Bargain-hunters are preeminently drawn to Yellow Brick Row, and most local merchants have sidewalk sales set up to greet them. Food and beverage carts aren’t hard to find, and city newcomers are bound to notice the Row’s restauranteurs offer cuisine with an Asian flair. There are plenty of burgers and fries to be had, but just as many good spots to grab some pad Thai, teriyaki, and other Eastern delicacies.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g254/PinkSpray/The%20Row_zpsyiugtzbo.jpg



Look over the map. There's lots of vehicles and crowds on the Row. There is also that dude in a bathrobe outside Starbase Coffee drinking from a cup he brought from home. He looks "high" :smalltongue: You can post here for your characters letting everyone know if you are on Yellow Brick Row or somewhere else. Pick a color for your character's words and thoughts. Please put OOC stuff in a tag like this. If you want to make a roll ask in a tag. If you want to joke around or protest something do it in a tag please.

[Eldest]

Anna is taking a break from preforming while munching down some pad Thai in a street cafe. She's got a backpack full of her gear, a colored scarf and a few juggling balls visible through the open pack. She's got headphones in and is nodding to a quick beat that leaks out from her ears.



https://static1.squarespace.com/static/514e3e26e4b023ca28fd5cc8/565382efe4b0f162197af717/565382f8e4b0d7c60b0af5b2/1448313693721/billy-kidd-magician.jpg?format=500w


Power level: 10
Real Name: Anna DeWitt
Occupation: Adventurer
Appearance: Tall, slender young woman with green eyes and purple hair
Headquarters: Emerald City
Training: Spells
History: WIP



Motivation: Acceptance (?)
Accident: Magical mishaps
Identity: Public
Power Loss: Cannot cast many of her spells if restrained or gagged.
Relationship: Girlfriend
Relationship: Thamaturge
Rivalry: Evil sorcerers.



Fighting 0
Agility 4
Dexterity 4
Strength 0
Stamina 2
Intellect 2
Awareness 8
Presence 0



The Occult Arts array (Magic descriptor);

ESP: Senses 12, mental, accurate, acute, analytical, magic awareness, extended, penetrates concealment, radius, tracking • 12
Mystic Binding: Affliction 8, vs. Dodge, increased range: ranged, resisted by Strength, Dazed+Vulnerable+Hindered - Stunned+Defenseless, extra condition 2, limited degree, concentration, alternate resistance (STR) • 40
Mystic Blast: Damage 8, ranged, affects insubstantial 2, alternate effect • 1
Probability Control: Luck Control 4, increased action: free, Luck 5, alternate effect • 1
Telepathy: Mind Reading 8, cumulative, sensory link, subtle (DC20 Magic Detection) + Senses 12, mental, accurate, acute, detect thoughts 2, counters illusion, danger sense, extended, radius, tracking, communication link (Sara), increased action: free, alternate effect • 1
Phantasm: Illusion 8, visual, auditory, olfactory, alternate effect • 1
Clairvoyance: Remote Sensing 8, vision and hearing, subtle (DC20 Detect Magic), increased action: standard action, alternate effect • 1
Without A Trace: Teleport 8, accurate, increased mass 2, alternate effect • 1
Dispel Magic: Nullify 8, increased duration: sustained, area: cone (effect follows target), broad: magical, subtle (Detect Magic needed), reduced range: close, alternate effect • 1




If mundane equipment becomes magical the cost will increase based on any new capabilities.



Artificer, Beginner's Luck, Ritualist, Fascinate (Deception), Defensive Roll 6, Trance, Uncanny Dodge, Equipment, Luck, Attractive 2, Improved Initiative



Expertise: Magic 8 (+10), Expertise: Stage Magic 4 (+6), Deception 10 (+10/+15), Sleight of Hand 11 (+15), Insight 2 (+10), Perception 2 (+10), Investigation 3 (+5), Ranged Combat: Magic 8 (+12)



Hero Points: 0
Initiative +8
Close Attack +0 DC15, DC10 Grab
Throw +4
Magic Blast +12 DC23 Toughness check, 200', -2 @ 400', -5 @ 800'
Mystic Binding +12 DC18 Strength check, 200', -2 @ 400', -5 @ 800'
Phantasm DC18 Insight check (if disbelieved)
Dispel Magic 60' cone, opposed check vs. magic rank
Telepathy Perception check, opposed check vs. Will



Dodge 8
Parry 8
Toughness 8
Fortitude 8
Will 12


Anna DeWitt* was born to a loving couple in the suburbs of Emerald City. She lived a normal, sheltered life until she was 9, when car accident killed both parents. She was sent to an orphanage, lacking nearby family to claim her (her parent's will had specified her staying in the city, without saying why). She was miserable in state care, occasionally being fostered. She practiced stage magic in her free time, one of the last gifts her parents had given her a "How to be a magician" book. Once she'd mastered everything in the book, she started to invent her own. As soon as they'd let her, she started busking, preforming impromptu magic shows in subways, and city squares. Shortly after, she got a small apartment with Sarah, her roommate. Shortly after, Sara turned out to be in lesbians with Anna, and after a small amount of drinking and self-discovery it turned out Anna returned the feelings.

Life was fairly steady after that until she came home from a show to find Sara in the middle of a shouting match with a man she'd never met. After shoving the man out of the threshold and locking the door behind her, she found out from Sarah that her (Sara's) Aunt had sent a heavy, leatherbound book, a grimoire. As the Aunt had explained in an attached letter, Sara's family was magically active, and Sara was the latest step in a breeding experiment to create the perfect mage. The problem was, Sara was a lesbian, and quite happy with it, thank you very much. She wanted none of the magic eugenics.
Thankfully for the story, Anna was more adventurous about the grimoire.
Anna tried the grimoire one night, drunk. She almost fell over in shock when a stream of sparkles came from her fingertip. Here was magic, real magic, that she could use. She was ecstatic, and started to practice with Sarah's grudging blessing. After all, nothing was mentioned about her girlfriend being useful in the eugenics project. Anna started to incorporate the easy spells into her shows, drawing more attention and money.
As time passed, she grew bolder with using the magic. Helping out where she could, it came to a head during the Storm...

[prufock]

Xstatic

After parking in front of Starbase Coffee and getting himself a nice, rich, dark cup with cream, Varish retrieves his tool belt from his truck and crosses the street south to the median. He retrieves his little special key to open up the electrical control panel and sets to work testing the junction. His crew - Alex and Tom, both in their early 20s - are running late, as usual. Varish checks his phone for any messages. Nothing. He shakes his head and starts about his work alone, resting his coffee on the sidewalk.

[CandyLaser]

Amy Archer, freelance journalist. It looked good on a business card, but when it came to paying the bills, it left a little to be desired. Amy was on one of her rare shopping trips out to Yellow Brick Row. She absolutely needed new shoes and new spring and summer clothes, among other things. Like most journalists, she was a die-hard caffeine addict. so as she walked down Yellow Brick Row, enjoying the morning sun, she decided to stop into Starbase Coffee for a cup. She was dressed down, in a green t-shirt and jeans, with a canvas messenger bag slung across her torso containing a few essentials - her phone, for instance, and her wallet, and (in its own compartment) a handful of small stones in every color of the rainbow. Those stones almost never left her side; they what were made her more than just a writer and reporter.


Viridian

http://i.imgur.com/fcBEH0d.png

Name: Amy Archer
Code Name: Viridian
Gender: Female
Age: 28
Height: 5'5"
Weight: 135 lbs
Eyes: Green (usually; varies based on power use)
Hair: Black
Viridian's powers all come from her mastery of the Viridian Crown, a powerful artifact of the Serpent People. The Crown consists in seven viridian crystals, each the size of the thumb, in the seven colors of the spectrum. Individually, each grants superhuman power, but when they're all gathered together and used by the same subject their powers increase. As she possesses the full crown, her powers include:

-- Heat Ray [heat]: The red stone lets her unleash a powerful beam of heat, capable of burning through steel plate.
-- Orange Ray [kinetic, force]: A beam of orange light from the stone of the same color lets her lift, manipulate, and carry up to 400 tons.
-- Blinding Ray [light]: Emitted by the yellow stone, these rays of light can dazzle sight or blind targets completely.
-- Green Constructs [force]: The light of the green stone creates obdurate constructs of force.
-- Holograms [light, illusion]: Rather than emit a ray, the blue stone can manipulate light itself, creating holographic illusions of astonishing fidelity.
-- Portals [teleportation, spatial]: The indigo stone creates short-lived portals, allowing Viridian to teleport to familiar locations.
-- Violet Crystal[mental, psychic]: The violet stone's light lets Viridian see the thoughts of others, prying into their memories when needed.
-- Flight [gravity]: Each of the stones of the Viridian Crown grants flight; with all seven, she can fly at ultrasonic speeds.
-- Force Field [kinetic, force]: The stones emit a protective field that resists incoming attacks. With the combined crown, it takes artillery fire or its equivalent to harm her.

In addition, she uses the crown's ability to project illusions to hide her identity, creating an illusory costume and distorting her features.

Abilities
Strength 0, Stamina 0, Agility 0, Dexterity 0, Fighting 0, Intellect 3, Awareness 2, Presence 1

Powers
Viridian Crown:
Red Ray: Blast 14 [Heat; Accurate 3] (31 pp)
...Alt: Orange Ray: Move Object 14 [Max lift 400 T; Accurate 3] (1 pp)
...Alt: Yellow Ray: Dazzle 14 [Light, Visual; Accurate 3] (1 pp)
...Alt: Green Constructs: Create 14 [Force, 15000 cu ft (25' x 25' x 25' cube or 15' radius sphere); Stationary; Accurate 3] (1 pp)
...Alt: Blue Holograms: Illusion 14 [Visual, 15000 cu ft] (1 pp)
...Alt: Indigo Portals: Teleport 14 [60 mi; Change Direction, Increased Mass 2 (200 lbs)] (1 pp)
...Alt: Violet Ray: Mind Reading 10 [Cumulative; Subtle 1 (mental awareness required)] (1 pp)
Viridian Flight: Flight 14 [60 mi/rd; 32000 mph] (28 pp)
Viridian Force Field: Protection 14 (28 pp)
Bonded: Feature 2 [Only usable by Viridian] (2 pp)
Illusory Disguise: Morph 1 [Costumed w/ different features] (5 pp)
...Alt: Illusory Cloak: Concealment 4 [All visual senses; Passive] (1 pp)
Removable (crown) (-20 points)

Standard Equipment
Smartphone (2 ep), Audio recorder (1 ep), Laptop (1 ep), Camera (1 ep)

Advantages
Accurate Attack, Agile Feint, All-out Attack, Connected, Contacts, Equipment 1, Fearless, Improved Aim, Interpose, Move-by Action, Power Attack, Well-Informed

Skills
Athletics 0 (+0), Deception 0 (+1), Expertise: Current Events 7 (+10), Expertise: Journalism 7 (+10), Insight 6 (+8), Intimidation 0 (+1), Investigation 14 (+17), Perception 10 (+12), Persuasion 14 (+15), Stealth 0 (+0), Technology 2 (+5)

Offense
Initiative +0
Unarmed: +0 close, Damage 0
Red Ray: +6 ranged, Damage 14
Yellow Ray: +6 ranged, Dazzle 14 vs. vision
Orange Ray: +6 ranged, Move Object 14

Defense
Dodge 6, Parry 6
Toughness 14 (Impervious), Fortitude 7, Will 13

Power Points
Abilities 12 + Powers 81 + Advantages 12 + Skills 15 + Defenses 30 = Total 150
Motivation: Amy Archer started work as a journalist because she wanted to serve the cause of justice as best she could. As Viridian she carries forward that quest in another way.
Secret: Only her boyfriend knows knows that Amy Archer is also Viridian, crusading champion of justice.
Enemy: Viridian is marked for death by Koschei the Deathless and the Malakov Mafiya.
Responsibility: Amy is a freelance reporter, working mainly for the Courier-Express and various online news sources.
Accident: Viridian has tremendous amounts of raw power, but she's new to using it. Sometimes it gets away from her.
Relationship: Amy's boyfriend, Grant Morris, knows her costumed identity. He approves, but he isn't very good at keeping secrets and has almost revealed her identity twice already.

Amy was a competent, but not particularly notable, journalist. She wanted to be another example of the crusading journalist type, but in the modern world that's not easy. She worked as a freelancer for the [I]Courier-Express, for a few local publications like the Emerald City Paper, and for online news agencies, but never really caught her big break. Amy did get the chance to work with Eddie Pollard, a personal hero, more than once, but that wasn't enough. She wanted to be the one to break a big story, expose some scandal, bring down a corrupt politician or a criminal mastermind.

In her investigations, she came across some rumors about Koschei the Deathless and the Malakov Mafiya - tantalizing hints about Koschei's true identity. Following those leads led her to the Emerald City waterfront one quiet August night. That's where she saw Koschei himself, at the docks with a bunch of his thugs. He was taking delivery on... something... from Trawler. Amy, excited, moved to get pictures. But in her excitement she forgot to turn off the flash. The bright flare of light caught everyone's attention. Amy ran, dodging and ducking between the shipping containers and crates stacked at the waterfront, trying desperately to lose her pursuers. But it didn't work; they hunted her, cutting off her escape, herding her back toward the meeting site. She burst into that open area at a sprint, driven by mad panic. Somehow she avoided the thugs who'd been awaiting her. Amy darted out toward the only open space she could see - the open area where Koschei and Trawler had been conducting business. Her panicked charge ended when she collided with a crate that had been used as a staging point.

Resting on the crate: a velvet bag. It fell on impact and its contents spilled out. It turned out to contain several thumb-size gems, in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Her hand found one of them as she tried to push herself to her feet, and much to her surprise the gem rose up off the ground with her. It began to glow and orbit her head in a circular path. Then another one joined it, and another, and another, until all seven floated around her head, dancing in a dizzying crown of rainbow-colored light. The thugs, directed by Koschei, opened fire. Amy cringed, expecting to be riddled with bullets, but much to her surprise the shots simply ricocheted off an obdurate barrier of force. Trawler attacked next, and with slightly more success. Acting on reflex, Amy flung out a hand toward Trawler, and a beam of orange light catapulted the armored smuggler out into the sea. Another blast, this time of blindng yellow light, left Koschei's men dazzled. She fled in the confusion.

Unfortunately, her camera was destroyed in the chase, and so she didn't have the story she wanted. But she did have something better - the Viridian Crown. Some research, and some careful experimentation outside of town, revealed its powers. Unfortunately her possession of the Crown meant that Koschei considered her a thief and had her marked for death. That threat meant that she didn't feel she could give up the Crown or its power. Given that she was keeping it, her commitment to justice compelled her to use its powers for good.
Out of costume, Amy is a tall woman with the body you'd expect of a normal person who engages in regular exercise. She has dark hair, and since claiming the Viridian Crown her eyes have changed color. Before using the crown, her eyes were dark brown. Now, though, their color corresponds to the most recent power she's used. If that was the heat ray granted by the red viridian stone, then her eyes are a brilliant red; if it was the mind reading power of the violet stone, her eyes are a deep purple. Typically, she keeps her eyes green by using that stone's power, so that things seem normal.

[Objection]

Oculus
HP: 1 | Condition: Investigating

Elaine sits at a table with a cup of coffee in her hand and scans the room for anything suspect. Saturday mornings at Yellow Brick Row are usually busy and Starbase Coffee is no exception. It's the perfect time for a hacker worth his salt to strike; even if his target finds out where in Emerald City the hack originated from, they would still have dozens of Wi-Fi users to sort through. Elaine knew this because, on a similar morning just a few weeks ago, someone got their hands on some valuable data belonging to her employer. This time, she has been sent out to Yellow Brick Row to see if anyone is going to try to repeat this feat and stop them if they are.

Elaine's observations are of course aided by her cybernetic replacement eyes, which whirr faintly any time she switches between different modes of vision. Normal sight doesn't pick out much out of the ordinary - a man wearing nothing but a bathrobe just outside the café and another man beyond him doing some work on a junction box, but neither of them seems ready to do anything untoward. Elaine can see a few people using laptops and, whenever the screens are visible to her, she zooms in on them to see what's going on.

Oculus (PL 10)
http://i.imgur.com/7MLBMj2.png
Hero Name: Oculus
Civilian Name: Elaine Hart
Age: 28
Gender: Female
Occupation: Security officer at Morgenstern Labs, former cop
Height: 5' 8"
Weight: 145 lbs

"I always liked the idea of being a superhero when I was a kid. I'd pretend I had superpowers and brought bad guys to justice. Of course, since I didn't have superpowers, I couldn't really be a superhero, but joining the police was the next best thing.

"Things went pretty much how you'd expect. Got through high school, got through police academy, became a fully fledged officer, helped put some very bad people behind bars and had to deal with a lot of paperwork. That lasted for a good few years.

"Then there was the time we were called out because of some desperate bozo trying to steal from a Morgenstern Labs research facility. I would've thought a company like that would have some pretty good private security, but they weren't enough. So we go into the building to apprehend the culprit. I open one little door and then there's a blinding flash and I'm thrown against the wall! I think I saw bits of door flying around but I didn't get much time to look. I've been told that the officer who found me found me unconscious.

"I don't know how long I was out for, but when I regained consciousness, I thought I was in an operating theatre! Soon it looked more like a laboratory. And would you believe it? There by the door was the top dog himself, Jonathan Grant! There was a little ... misunderstanding at first, but I think I got the idea. He had given me cybernetic eyes and hands after my normal ones were damaged beyond repair, as well as this chip in my brain that let me interface with computers.

"I had no idea I was worth that much trouble. Turns out Morgenstern was doing a lot of research into cybernetics and Grant thought I might appreciate having my vision and my hands back. The company was also being targeted more and more in the last few months and Grant remarked that his own security could do with some improvement. Yeah, I could tell what he was hinting at, and considering what this man had done for me, I had to accept.

"As for why I'm here at Yellow Brick Row? Well, I have good reason to suspect that someone in one of the Starbase Coffees is trying to gain remote access to areas they shouldn't be accessing. So I'm here to find them and put a stop to ...

"...

"DISTURBANCE SPOTTED AT 300 FEET!"

Complications
Motivation (Doing Good): Oculus' desire to do good remains strong even after leaving the police force.
Motivation (Responsibility): Oculus' cybernetic enhancements were granted to her by Morgenstern Labs and she feels a responsibility to protect them from harm.
Disability: Oculus' eyes have been replaced with cybernetic implants. Should something cause them to fail such as an EMP overloading them, she would be rendered blind.
Quirk: Sometimes Oculus' speech will sound like something a robot or computer would say. This is more likely to happen when she is employing one or more features of her enhanced eyesight.
Weakness: Due to her cybernetic replacements, Oculus is more susceptible to electric attacks than normal and can be affected by hacking or computer viruses or other things that normally only affect computers.
Abilities
Strength: 5 (10pp)
Stamina: 8 (16pp)
Agility: 10 (20pp)
Dexterity: 6 (12pp)
Fighting: 10 (20pp)
Intellect: 1 (2pp)
Awareness: 8 (16pp)
Presence: 1 (2pp)
Total PP: 98

Defences
Dodge: 12 (10 AGI + 2pp)
Parry: 12 (10 FGT + 2pp)
Toughness 8 (8 STA + 0pp)
Fortitude: 12 (8 STA + 4pp)
Will: 8 (8 AWE + 0pp)
Total PP: 8

Skills
Acrobatics: 2 (+12 total; 0.5pp)
Athletics: 4 (+9 total; 1pp)
Expertise (Law Enforcement): 4 (+5 total; 1pp)
Intimidation: 4 (+5 total; 1pp)
Perception: 2 (+10 total; 0.5pp)
Technology: 12 (+13 total; 3pp)
Total PP: 7

Advantages
Agile Feint
Benefit (Cipher)
Equipment (Smartphone; 2ep)
Evasion
Improved Aim
Improved Critical (Finger Blades)
Power Attack
Precise Attack (Close, Concealment)
Takedown
Total PP: 9

Powers
Cyber Eyes: Senses 8 (Analytical Vision, Darkvision, Distance Sense, Extended Vision 1: x10, Infravision, Low-light Vision, Microscopic Vision 1: dust-size; 8pp)
Cyber Hands (array):
Stun Gun: Affliction 10 (Dazed, Stunned, Incapacitated; Fortitude Resistance; 10pp main)
Finger Dart: Ranged Affliction 10 (Impaired, Disabled, Incapacitated; Fortitude Resistance; Resistible (Toughness); 1pp alt)
Finger Blades: Strength-based Damage 5 (1pp alt)
Wireless Interface: Radio Communication 1 (100 feet; 4pp) + Comprehend 2 (Machines and electronics; 4pp)
Total PP: 28

Offence
Initiative: +10
Finger Blades: +10 to hit; DC 25; crit on 19-20
Finger Dart: +6 to hit; DC 20 Fortitude
Stun Gun: +10 to hit; DC 20 Fortitude
Grab, +10 to hit; DC 16
Throw, +6 to hit; DC 20
Unarmed, +10 to hit; DC 20

Power Point Tally
Abilities: 98
Powers: 28
Skills: 7
Advantages: 9
Defences: 8
Total: 150/150
I wish to have Oculus make a Perception check to see if anyone's laptop screens are showing signs of the computers being used for hacking.

[Moro Asahina]

As nice as the weather was, it seemed like a good day for Meryl to try out a new route for her morning run. There wasn't really anything wrong with her usual routes, but she didn't have one going through this section of town and she'd always heard that it was important to add variety to one's exercise routine so she'd been scouting out a couple of possibilities. It certainly didn't hurt that the route she was trying at the moment led through one of the more popular shopping areas in the city and she still needed to pick something up for she and her girlfriend's upcoming anniversary. Truth be told she didn't see the point in having a six month anniversary, but Rodrigo had told her it didn't really matter if it made sense as long as it made your girl happy so she'd go along with it.

All the same, her stomach growled softly as she passed several of the various food carts that dotted the sidewalks, so it seemed like a good time to stop for an early lunch. A quick look around revealed an apparent love of space themes among the restaurants and coffee shops nearby, but only the one place that looked like it served real food so she headed for Goldman's diner. Once she'd claimed a seat at the counter she flags down the waitress and places a delightfully unhealthy order. After all, she'd gone a bit further into the district than she'd originally planned and she'd need her energy for the, ugh, shopping to come. The things a girl does fer love.


Just so I've got it somewhere in this thread as well. At least in the beginning of the scene she is still quite human, I'll find a suitable pic for that if you'd like.

Sometimes I think

Sometimes I speak


Name: Meryl Gardner
Alias: Luna (Until she or someone else comes up with something better)
Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Irish (American Born)
Height: ~5'8"
Weight: ~135lb
Hair Color: Black, currently has blue highlights dyed in
Eye Color: Green
Fighting Style: Muay Thai
Powers: Enhanced Physiology (Hard to put down, unusually strong, exceptional senses), Regeneration, Martial Arts Training (Muay Thai)
Headquarters/Home: O'Leery's Pub



Thanks to the effects of the Silver Storm, Meryl very much resembles a humanoid wolf. Though the shape is unfamiliar, there is a certain softness to her facial features that compliments her feminine figure, leaving no question as to her gender. Not that there would be much given that her preferred outfits tend to consist of a pair of cargo pants, a sports bra, and a light jacket worn open. Given how tough her hide is these days, she doesn't bother wearing shoes. But then again, that is probably a good thing as the unusual shape of her feet makes normal shoes uncomfortable. She claims it's because clothing is just uncomfortable when you have fur, but Rodrigo is pretty sure she's just an exhibitionist.

A quick once-over makes it readily apparent that she takes exceedingly good care of her fur as it has a nice sheen to it and is almost silken soft to the touch. She is, however, very annoyed that its fluffy nature hides the muscle tone that she has worked so hard to build up. Though perhaps the most irritating bit about her new features is the way her lupine ears and tail all but broadcast her mood to those who bother learning to read her.




http://i.imgur.com/VtqXq6Vm.jpg

O'Leery's Pub, the day after the Silver Storm

"You wanna hear my story huh? Alright, but the next round is on you." The wolfess tilts her head back and finishes the last of her whiskey before slamming the glass back to the bar with a dull thunk. "Lesse, where to start. Never really knew my dad, but from what mom told me that's probably a good thing. A real chancer ya know? Mom though, she worked hard to make sure I had everything I needed. I didn't have the latest name brand whatever, but there was always food on the table."

"She got sick my first year of high school, and by the end of it she was only getting worse, so I dropped out ta try and earn enough ta cover her treatment. Did a lot of things I'm not proud of ta make ends meet. Didn't ever kill nobody, I never sank that low, but I did take a lot of things from a lot of people." She lifted a hand to attract the waitress' attention and gestured towards her drink, nodding her thanks when another glass was placed before her. "Thanks darlin. Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah. Ended up falling in with a rough crowd and eventually made my way into the underground fighting scene." She gave a soft snort as she looked down at her glass, giving her equivalent of a rueful smile as her flatten back. "Yeah, ma woulda been real proud of her little girl fer that one."

"Probly a good thing she didn't live to see that. Woulda killed her ya know?" She chuckled softly at her own joke before continuing. "Last thing she said to me was that I was a good girl, and I should just keep tryin ta make somethin of myself. That I shouldn't worry about her so much." She sighed softly and ran a hand through her hair. "I kinda wonder if she knew she was goin soon, but either way that was the kick in the pants I needed ta get out of that life. Wasn't easy mind. Had to kick a lot of arse and got mine kicked pretty bad, but I did it." A soft, more genuine smile finds its way to her muzzle as she continues. "Went back and got my GED like ma always said I should, got myself a part time job and eventually decided ta use what I'd learned to get into the Emerald City Mixed Martial Arts League. After all, that pack a plunkers've never had ta fight fer their lives before so how tough could they be, ya know?"

She takes a sip of her drink and chuckles once more, "Got my arse kicked good and proper that first match, let me tell ya. But I learned my lesson. Well, ya know, eventually. I was fightin mad by the time I ended up in this very bar and picked a fight with an old codger cause his cigar was stinkin up the room." Her eyes grow distant for a moment as she thinks back on the day, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Heh, that was the day I met Rodrigo over there. Second time in the night I'd been put on the floor, and do ya know what he did after? Crazy old man bought me a pint of plain and wanted me to talk bout what was going on in my head. Course I was young and knew everything there was to know so I blew him off when he came back at me with some of that philosophical crap he likes ta spout bout how everything happens fer a reason, and how I shouldn't let anything keep me down. Somethin knocks ya down, he says, ya get right back up on yer feet and keep goin."

"I liked ta pretend I didn't believe any of it, but I kept comin back ta see him." The old man in question calls out to her about this time, almost as though he knows she was talking about him, to which she responds with a smirk and a rude gesture; causing him to hold his hand over his heart and give her a look of mock hurt. "I swear, three times my age and he still acts like a big kid. Ya'd never know he was as smart as he is ta look at him." With an amused snort and a shake of her head she continued. "Anyway, wasn't too long at all before I started winnin matches. Started makin a name for myself, got myself a nice girlfriend just the way Consuelo, the big lump's wife, wanted me to. Well...she'd've probably preferred I got myself a boyfriend so she could have a few more pups running around, but beggars can't be choosers."

"Never did get us a house with a white picket fence or any of that crap, but I did get a dog, so that kinda counts, right? Figured I had the world by the short and curlies. But I s'pose I shoulda known it wouldn last." She gives a little shrug as she gestures to herself. "Can't say I expected whatever tha was earlier ta do this ta me, but I guess it could be worse. Heard theres a guy runnin round tha looks like he's got no skin an all, so a bit of fur an a muzzle s'not so bad by comparison. Guess I'll just have ta keep on tryin an see where life takes me from here, cause the League isn too big on letting meta humans er whatever in, and my manager wouldn say one way er tha other bout my chances of stayin on as a fighter."

She gives a little growl before throwing her head back and finishing her drink, then lifts her hand to signal the waitress for another. "Anyway, tha's bout all there is ta tell just now. I don feel like talkin bout what happened yesterday anymore, so why don't ya go bug someone else fer a bit so I can get back ta tryin ta crawl inta this bottle yeah?"




Meryl Gardner, Luna
PL: 10 150/150 PP Spent


Ability Scores:
PP SPent: 44

STR: 4 (8PP)
AGI: 2 (4PP)
FGT: 0
AWE: 6 (12 PP)
STA: 10 (20 PP)
DEX: 0
INT: 0
PRE: 0


Defenses
PP Spent: 16

Dodge: +7 (5 PP)
Parry: +7 (7 PP)
Impervious Toughness: +13
Fortitude: +10
Will: +10 (4 PP)


Offense

Initiative: +2

-Muay Thai: +8, Toughness DC 27, Fortitude DC 22, Strength Based Damage 8, Affliction12. 1st Degree: Dazed, 2nd Degree: Stunned. Descriptors: Bludgeoning, Martial, Training


Skills
PP Spent: 17 PP (68 Ranks)

Acrobatics: +10 (8 ranks)
Athletics: +16 (12 ranks)
Close Combat - Muay Thai: +8 (8 ranks)
Deception: +0
Insight: +10 (4 Ranks)
Intimidation: +12 (12 Ranks)
Investigation: +15 (15 Ranks)
Perception: +15 (9 ranks)
Persuasion: +0
Ranged Combat: +0
Stealth: +2


Advantages
PP Spent: 15

All out Attack
Contacts
Diehard
Evasion 2
Improved Critical 1 (Muay Thai)
Improved Smash
Interpose
Power Attack
Precise Attack: Close, Concealment
Takedown Rank 2
Well-Informed
Equipment Rank 2


Powers
PP Spent: 58

Descriptors for anything with "Wolf" in the name: Lunar, Primal.

Wolf's Vitality
-Persistant Regeneration Rank 5 (10 PP)
-Immunity Rank 3: Aging, Poison, Diseae (3 PP)

Wolf's Hide
-Protection Rank 3 (3 PP)
-Impervious Toughness Rank 13 (13 PP)
--Quirk: Weapons made of silver bypass the impervious quality of her toughness.
-Feature: Insulating Fur (1 PP)

Wolf's Speed
-Speed Rank 3 (3 PP)

Wolf's Senses
-Senses Rank 6 (6 PP)
--Scent: Extended, Accute, Danger Sense, Tracking
--Sight: Low-light vision
--Hearing: Ultra-hearing

Muay Thai
20 PP
-Base Effects: Linked Strength Based Damage 8 (12 with str), Affliction 12
-DC's: Toughness: 27, Fortitude: 22
-Extras: Cumulative (Affliction)
-Flaws: Limited Degree (Affliction, two degrees)
-Affiction Effects: 1st Degree: Dazed, 2nd Degree: Stunned



Equipment
10/10 PP Spent

-Cell Phone (1 ep)

-Headquarters: O'Leery's Pub (9 EP)
-Toughness: 6
-Size: Medium (1 EP)
-Features: Fire Prevention System, Gym, Infirmary, Living Space, Personel (Bar Employees), Secret 3



-Temper - What can I say? I'm livin proof that stereotypes exist for a reason. Ma always said I got my temper from my grandda, but ta be honest, having yer instincts screamin at ya not ta back down from anyone doesn't help either.

-Prejudice - "Yeah, I've been in a coupla tussles with those Human Supremacy whankers. Can't even pull their head out long enough ta realize that I'm not that different, but oh well. I know full well they're just afraid cause I can do things they can't." She gives a little shrug, though her ears flatten back and a hint of a growl slips into her tone, "But if they try and shoot me one more ruttin time I might just give them good reason ta be afraid. Doesn't actually hurt or nothin, it's just annoying and the principle of the thing."

-Motivation: Acceptance - "Tha world aint exactly kind ta folks that're don fit tha mold, an even before this," She said, gesturing towards herself, "I wasn exactly a normal kinda girl. Still, Rodrigo says that anythin worth doin is worth workin fer, an if I keep at it maybe folks will look past tha fangs an all ta see me fer me."

---Possible Complications, should the GM wish to implement them---
-Enemy: Given her uncanny resemblance to the werewolves of lore, it should come as little surprise that one of the groups dedicated to removing such "supernatural menaces" has targeted her whether she knows it or not.

---Personality Quirks that may or may not count---
-Full Moon Rising - During the three nights of the full moon Meryl is full of energy and cannot sleep; Often causing her to be a bit more irritable than usual during this time if she can't get some sleep during the day. Because of this, and the fact that she transformed into her current form during a full moon, she is pretty sure the moon plays some part in her powers.

[BarbieTheRPG]

[roll0]


Cyborg gets a great look at the area. Her multi-optics reveal no hackers at the time.

[Insolitus]

Anima

Amelia walks around the stands in Yellow Brick Gifts, browsing their selection of merchandise. Her brother's birthday is coming up, and despite having the ability to read people's emotions, finding a present for Mark is no easier. She had already bought him the latest video game, but she wanted to get him something else as well, something more personal. He was the only one who had truly stuck by her, actually cared for her, and had done so much for her lately, that she wanted to get him something that showed her appreciation. She passed another rack of Wizard of Oz merchandise when she saw it. It wasn't much, just a little rocket build kit, but it was exactly like the one they built and launched as kids, when he told her he was going to work for NASA one day. Mark was always smarter than me, he will definitely make it one day thinks Amelia as she picks up the kit and joins the line to the only cash register. As she stands there waiting she can feel the waves of frustration and anger coming off the man in front of her. She looks down and notices he is holding some kind of broken toy. Oh boy, this looks like its going to be a long wait.


http://i.imgur.com/EUiOzKp.png

Amelia "Anima" Hall - PL 10

Strength 1, Stamina 1, Agility 2, Dexterity 0, Fighting 5, Intellect 2, Awareness 6, Presence 0

Advantages
Attractive, Defensive Attack, Defensive Roll 3, Equipment 6, Improved Initiative, Uncanny Dodge

Skills
Acrobatics 6 (+8), Athletics 3 (+4), Deception 8 (+8), Expertise: Art 3 (+5), Insight 10 (+16), Intimidation 4 (+4), Investigation 6 (+8), Perception 4 (+10), Persuasion 10 (+10), Ranged Combat: Heavy Pistol 8 (+8), Stealth 4 (+6), Vehicles 6 (+6)

Powers
Emotion Control: Cumulative Affliction 10 (1st degree: Impaired, 2nd degree: Disabled, 3rd degree: Incapacitated, Resisted by: Will, DC 20; Cumulative, Increased Range 2: perception, Subtle: subtle, Variable Descriptor: close group - emotions)
. . Area Emotion Control: Cumulative Burst Area Affliction 10 (Alternate; 1st degree: Impaired, 2nd degree: Disabled, 3rd degree: Incapacitated, Resisted by: Will, DC 20; Burst Area: 30 feet radius sphere, DC 20, Cumulative, Selective, Subtle: subtle, Variable Descriptor: close group - Emotions)
. . Bliss: Cumulative Affliction 10 (Alternate; 1st degree: Vulnerable, 2nd degree: Defenseless, 3rd degree: Incapacitated, Resisted by: Will, DC 20; Cumulative, Increased Range 2: perception, Subtle: subtle, Variable Descriptor: close group - Emotion)
. . Inspire: Enhanced Trait 7 (Alternate; Advantages: Inspire 5, Leadership, Teamwork; Subtle: subtle, Variable Descriptor: close group - Emotion)
. . Love, Hate and Fear: Cumulative Affliction 10 (Alternate; 1st degree: Entranced, 2nd degree: Compelled, 3rd degree: Controlled, Resisted by: Will, DC 20; Cumulative, Increased Range 2: perception, Subtle: subtle, Variable Descriptor: close group - Emotions)
. . Pain: Cumulative Affliction 10 (Alternate; 1st degree: Dazed, 2nd degree: Stunned, 3rd degree: Incapacitated, Resisted by: Will, DC 20; Cumulative, Increased Range 2: perception, Subtle: subtle, Variable Descriptor: close group - Emotions)
Empathy: Senses 8 (Accurate: Detect Emotion, Acute: Detect Emotion, Analytical: Detect Emotion, Detect: Mental sense 2: ranged, Extended: Detect emotion 1: x10, Radius: Detect Emotion)

Equipment
Bulletproof Vest, Cell Phone (Smartphone), Club, Gas Mask, Heavy Pistol, Laser Sight, Motorcycle, Pepper Spray, Restraints

Offense
Initiative +6
Area Emotion Control: Cumulative Burst Area Affliction 10 (DC Will 20)
Bliss: Cumulative Affliction 10 (DC Will 20)
Club, +5 (DC 18)
Emotion Control: Cumulative Affliction 10 (DC Will 20)
Grab, +5 (DC Spec 11)
Heavy Pistol with laser sight, +10 (DC 19)
Love, Hate and Fear: Cumulative Affliction 10 (DC Will 20)
Pain: Cumulative Affliction 10 (DC Will 20)
Pepper Spray, +5 (DC Dog/Fort 14)
Throw, +0 (DC 16)
Unarmed, +5 (DC 16)

Complications
Emotional Feedback: Because she feels the emotions of others, she can sometimes get swept up when there are many people feeling an emotion strongly.
Likewise, when she is feeling a particular emotion strongly she may sometimes project it onto those around her, causing them to feel it as well.
On the rare occasion, the two effects may happen together creating a feedback loop resulting in a very dangerous situation.
Motivation: Justice: Amelia literally feels the emotions of those around her. Thus she is driven to ease the suffering of others and preserve happiness.
Relationship: Brother: Her brother, Mark, was the only person in her life that truly loves her. She would do anything to protect him and keep him safe.

Languages
English

Defense
Dodge 12, Parry 12, Fortitude 10, Toughness 8/1, Will 10

Power Points
Abilities 34 + Powers 55 + Advantages 13 + Skills 18 (72 ranks) + Defenses 30 = 150


Amelia Hall aka “Anima”

“They always said I had too much empathy, but this is just ridiculous”

When Amelia left high school, she had the whole world in front of her. She had good grades, she was part of the “popular” group in high school (one of the few actually well-liked by others) and her parents were wealthy and well-connected. Amelia had her pick of universities.

But everything changed when Dreadnought set off a bomb in downtown Freedom City. She was on a trip to celebrate her graduation with her boyfriend and her best friend, and had gotten separated. She was looking for them when the bomb exploded. She herself was barely injured, but the pain and panic of those around her triggered something deep inside. It was like the world revealed itself to her for the first time. She no longer needed to imagine what others must be feeling, she could really feel it, as if she was the other person. All around her swirled a complex mess of emotions; love… hate… fear… pain… even joy, all at once. She couldn’t think, couldn’t escape, she had to try and stem the tide of hurt around her. She couldn’t feel that anguish and do nothing. She felt the relief of those few she helped wash over her, but it was but a drop in the ocean. The city hurt and she hurt.

Amelia’s new found powers caused her to withdraw from those around her, finally understanding their true selves. Her boyfriend, who had confessed his love for her a thousand times, felt nothing for her beyond what was in her pants and was ****ing her best friend behind her back. Her best friend hid her envy and jealousy behind a fake smile. When her parents visited her in the hospital, Amelia discovered they loved their work more than each other or their own children. Only her younger brother, Mark, truly seemed to care for her.

Amelia, feeling only the betrayal of her loved ones and the tremendous pain and suffering of Freedom City as a whole, ran from the hospital. Eventually she found herself standing on the edge of a bridge. She considered ending her life, ending all her pain with but a step. But then she felt something else. She felt a man walking home after a terrible day, opening his door and feeling all the stress melt away as soon as he saw his kids. She felt a little girl get excited seeing a dog, and the dog getting excited seeing the little girl. She felt the exact moment two people fell in love. The floodgates were open and she realised that although there was great pain in the world, there was also great joy and love.

She knew what she needed to do. Back in Emerald City, she cancelled her university applications, moved out of home and got a job working in a café. With the help of her brother, she assembled her gear. She could feel that although most in Emerald City felt safe and relatively contented, not everyone was so lucky. That first night she felt the relief and gratitude of a half dozen people, felt their joy in in making it back to their loved ones in one piece. She knew what she must do. In order to reduce the suffering of Emerald City and preserve the joy and happiness of its people, she would become its protector, she would become… Anima.


Appearance
While in high school, Amelia did her best to fit in. She dyed her hair blonde, bought new clothes to fit the ever changing fashions and did her best to look stylish but not so stylish that she would overshadow her friends. Now, having realised that none of that truly mattered and her so-called friends never really liked her regardless of how she looked, she now dresses to suit her own tastes. She dyed her hair back to black and cut it short, bought clothes emblazoned with her favourite bands and nerdy tv shows and got a couple of tattoos she always wanted. For the first time in many years she is beginning to feel like herself.

While patrolling as Anima she generally wears bicycle leathers and a hoodie. To mask her identity she wears a modified gas mask she inherited from her grandfather. Her grandfather was a spy and war hero during WWII who saved the lives of many of the Nazi’s potential victims. Amelia’s parents often left her with her grandfather while they went to work, so she grew close to him and fondly recalls his stories of Golden Age heroes and villains. She was devastated by his death a couple of years ago. She wears the gas mask in honour of his memory and to remind herself of his example in opposing injustice.

[BarbieTheRPG]

"The Yellow Brick Row: The loud, heart-stopping sounds of an explosion and shattering glass along with the accompanying shock strike you all without warning! Within moments, a strange cloud of silvery mist blankets the surrounding area! Just as panic and flight are about to take hold, the cloud begins to swirl without any evident prompting from the wind! It whips itself into a cyclonic mass, discharging what appear to be bolts of bluish lightning both within itself and outward around its immediate vicinity! Both blast and bolts subside and begin to dissipate before anyone (yourselves included) can adjust to the scene, leaving the dead and injured as the most immediate concern. The fleeing, panicked crowds and hopelessly jammed roads make you all the only first-responders available for the critically injured now!"


http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g254/PinkSpray/SS_zps2c9guazh.jpg


Disaster has struck the city! People need help!

Fires are burning on the block!
Many people downed and injured near the middle of the street!
People are trapped in vehicles!
Bystanders are panicked not sure to run or help!
Suddenly there is a giant fifteen-foot tall PURPLE man in ragged clothing standing in the street! He looks confused!
A woman in burnt clothing rises into the air while looking at her hands and clothes!
Loud shouts come from down the street as a man in ripped clothing is experiencing seizures and large octopus-like tentacles begin sprouting from his torso!
Outside the burning Yellow Brick Gifts, a crowd of shocked people are terrorized by what looks like humanoid tiger-creature growling at them!

[Moro Asahina]

Would I be correct in assuming that this is when Meryl would change as well since she is meant to be a stormer herself?

[BarbieTheRPG]

Any characters who gained their powers from the Silver Storm have been transformed now. I'll leave the exact transformation and reaction to the players.

[Eldest]

Anna's jaw just about hits the floor, and she recovers in time for the lightning to stop. She snaps out Yax! and making a sweeping gesture at the tentacled man. She could do it quietly, but she figured nobody was paying attention.

dispel magic! Metagame wise I know it won't work, but hey.
[roll0]

[BarbieTheRPG]

Drana: [roll0]
Oculus: [roll1]
Xstatic: [roll2]
Viridian: [roll3]
Luna: [roll4]
Anima: [roll5]
Warp: [roll6]
Bathrobe: [roll7]
Octoman: [roll8]
Mongoose: [roll9]
Karizma: [roll10]
Lord Everdark: [roll11]
Ogre: [roll12]

Don't worry about initiative unless you confront an NPC Stormer.

[CandyLaser]

As chaos erupted, Amy's second thought was I have to help these people! Her first thought, somewhat shamefully, was What a story! As the silver cloud engulfed the street, she slipped down under a table, her hand darting into her bag toward the Viridian Crown. At her mental command, the stones swirled out from the bag, spiralling up her arm in a lovely display of color and leaving trails of rainbow light behind them as they settled into an orbit around her head like a multicolored halo. Amy concentrated and called upon the Viridian Crown's power. Her features subtly altered, and her clothes shimmered and faded into her chosen costume.

Amy's heart was racing as she stood back up, now dressed in a dark green costume. Her messenger bag was hidden, transformed by an illusion into a crimson half-cape - that hadn't been part of the original costume design, but it fit well in the moment. This was her first time appearing in public in this identity. She'd practiced using the Crown since bonding with it, and she'd planned to adopt a heroic identity - but not here, and not today. She took a deep breath to calm herself and brought up her shields. A shimmering iridescent aura rose up around her, and she darted out of the coffee shop, taking flight when she made it outside.

Despite her panic, she tried her best to think of what to do: Try to solve the biggest problem first, right? That meant figuring out what the biggest problem was. The giant purple man in front of her seemed like a potential candidate, but she wasn't going to make assumptions. Instead, she looked around for anyone in immediate danger. Her eyes shifted color to a brilliant, verdant green as she activated the green stone of the Viridian Crown, making ready to put a protective bubble around anyone who needed assistance.

I'd like a Perception roll to spot the biggest problem, with people who are in danger - from an oncoming car, a fire, an attacker, falling rubble, etc - being the first priority. The plan is to use Create to put a protective bubble around them, probably, but the exact action would depend on the situation. For instance, it might make more sense to use Move Object to pull someone out of a dangerous situation.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Are Drana and Viridian inside buildings or have they moved out onto the sidewalk or street? Range plays a factor. There's people running around, fires, smoke, small secondary explosions, screams. The usual chaos after a big explosion in a city. Once I know where characters are I can give rolls and information. Please consult the map (I spent too much time making) :smalltongue:

[CandyLaser]

Viridian's outside, as mentioned, and in the air - not too high, though. She'd be in reach of the giant, for instance. Her force field is up as well.

[prufock]

Xstatic
Condition: Statically Charged

Varish wakes. He's lying on his back on the concrete....What happened? He sits up, and is hit by a dizzy spell. Feeling the back of his head, there's a little blood and a golf ball-sized lump. His work clothes are singed and torn.

I remember a spark, a flash of light, and a deafening BOOM. As his eyes regain focus, they widen at the scene of chaos that surrounds him. Smoke, fire, glass, MONSTERS! My god! What happened?!

He climbs to his feet quickly, trying to ignore the pounding in his head and not draw the attention of that big purple thing. He sees a group of gawkers standing on the sidewalk, frozen in shock. Get inside! Lock the doors! Call 911! he shouts at them.

He moves to duck behind the control junction. As he gets near, he feels different. He senses a tingling coming from the box. Then he sees the sparks. Not from the box, but from his body! The sparks continue to fire off, and he falls to instinct and tries smothering them with his hand. This only seems to make it worse, as arcs of blue electricity extend from his body. AAUUGGHH!

Uh oh, hope that doesn't get the attention of the big purple guy! Wink, wink. With my initiative of ONE, it only seems fair that he get the first move.

[BarbieTheRPG]

With her wide field of vision Viridian can see the entire block. There's a big truck on fire and all around it for about thirty feet are the bodies of injured and deceased victims of the blast. There are fires at nearly every corner. Then there's the stormers. Can you see the map? If not let me know.

[Moro Asahina]

Meryl had just taken the first bite of her order when the first explosion rocked the diner, a muttered, "The hell...?" was all she had time to say as she turned towards the windows just in time to catch what looked to be some sort of lightning bolt in the chest and her world was consumed by pain. It was a few moments before she started coming around. Had she blacked out? She didn't know for sure, but that seemed a pretty likely reaction to getting struck by lightning or whatever that was.

As her senses finally began to recover, she winced at how loud everything was and her nose wrinkled as she was assaulted by a hundred different scents all clamoring for attention. She barely noticed as the people who had been sitting around her in the diner, the ones who hadn't been thrown around by the blast, joined the scrum to get away. Though as she levered herself up to a kneeling position, wincing every time a particularly loud noise sounded nearby, she saw that more than a few of the fleeing people were shooting her fearful looks. Tha hell's their problem? She wondered as she finally took a moment to look down at herself, expecting to see a circle of charred flesh or something. What she hadn't been expecting was fur. Through the fist sized hole in her top and sports bra, right around heart level, what should have been pale irish skin was covered in incredibly soft looking white fur. "Ah, lovely...brain damage er somethin..." Is what she'd meant to say, but her mouth felt...weird, and although her words were fairly understandable her voice had a slight growl to it that it hadn't before.

She shook her head vigorously to try and clear it enough that things would go back to normal. Her first thought of some sort of head injury causing hallucinations was quickly thrown out as she felt pretty good aside from the swiftly fading headache from all the noise. Of course, about that time she finally noticed the other sources of the crowd's panic through the diner windows. O-k...theres a purple giant outside the window...an stuffs on fire.


Unless something is obviously threatening her or someone around her, odds are she spends the first round getting her bearings. Though if someone is attacked within her interpose range (250 ft before taking into account difficult terrain or the like), especially if it's a kid, she'll use it to take the hit. If someone triggers it I'll add a post for it later.

Feel free to roll a perception for her, and don't forget that she's every bit as confused as everyone else in the vicinity as to what's going on so it's entirely possible she could misinterpret something as an attack if it tickles your fancy.

[CandyLaser]

Amy - now in costume as Viridian - finished her brief survey of the chaotic scene. It didn't look like anyone was an immediate threat, which meant she instead focused on helping alleviate the destruction. Unfortunately, she couldn't really do anything about the people who were already dead or injured. She could move people, but some dimly-remembered bit of first aid training told her that might be a bad idea. Something about spinal injuries and making things worse, she thought. On the other hand, the fires - those she could help with. The fire triangle: heat, fuel, and oxygen. She couldn't do anything about the first two, but the third? For that, she had some ideas.

Viridian flung out her hand, and the green gem descended from its orbit around her head, corkscrewing down her arm until it came to rest in her palm. It flared, casting emerald-green light out in a beam toward the burning truck and encasing it in a smothering mass of vibrant force. It encased the whole vehicle in an absolutely airtight sheath - the effect, if it worked like she imagined, being similar to smothering a fire under a blanket, but much more effective. Her construct was stronger than any blanket, not porous, and - best of all - not particularly flammable.

Using Create to conjure up a solid mass of force to smother the flames in the burning truck.

[Insolitus]

Anima felt it before she heard or saw it. A sudden change in the emotional state of everyone in the area a fraction of a second before the explosion hit. Amelia hit the ground, the shock and pain of the Yellow Brick Road overwhelming her. Her mind flashbacked to the day of the explosion in Freedom City all those months ago, but this served to allow her to centre herself, distancing herself from the emotions happening in the here and now.
She looks down to the rocket kit in her hands, further reason to get a hold of herself and help out. She sighs, setting it aside on the floor as she stands up. Feeling out with her senses she locates the greatest pockets of panic, settling on the one right outside Yellow Brick Gifts.
Anima emerges from the door to the scene of chaos, fire and destruction, fleeing bystanders and humans changed by something strange. All around her swirled a myriad of negative emotions, pain, fear, panic, confusion, all cascading, spreading out from their location on the Yellow Brick Road. Anima forces herself to the scene right in front of her though. A panicked crowd, terrorised by a person transformed into a snarling cat person.
She decides to focus on the cat-person first, reaching out with her senses, feeling what it's feeling. Then she exerts her power, attempting to calm the beast inside.

What emotions does Anima sense in the cat-person? Is it more like a wild animal? Is the person in there as well?
Anima will use Emotion Control on the cat person to try and calm it down. Hopefully, incapacitate it.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Round One:

When Anima tries to scan the werecat she senses extreme pleasure and bestial wildness! The werecat notices Anima and streaks at her very fast, stops within five feet, then lunges at Anima clawing the emathic woman across the chest!


Agile Feint: [roll0]
Anima's Insight: [roll1]
Claw Attack: [roll2]
Anima's Toughness: [roll3]


Before Drana can complete her spell, the octopoid-man sees her and strikes with two of his twisting tentacles but Drana is able to sidestep the mutated man's attack!


Tentacle strike: [roll4]
Tentacle strike: [roll5]
Drana's Toughness: [roll6]
possible Fast Grab(s) next


While focused on extinguishing the blazing truck, Viridian is caught by surprise when a coiling tangle of pure darkness strikes her threatening to completely ensnare the heroine, but Viridian is able to spin around in mid-flight escaping the shadow-web as it fades away!


Shadoweb: [roll7]
Viridian DC18 Dodge check: [roll8]


As Luna catches her breath like everyone on the Row, a massive shadow falls across the diner as the fifteen-foot purple giant raises his monstrous fists high over his head preparing to smash a black SUV stopped next to him! The woman inside screams silently as Luna springs from the diner through the blasted out windowpane and dives between the giant and the targeted vehicle! When the blow strikes Luna she is crushed into the SUV and its entire side is smashed in but incredibly Luna survived the attack laying prone beneath the unearthly man-monster!


Luna's DC30 Toughness check: [roll9]

[BarbieTheRPG]

Anima failed her Toughness check and is Dazed unless you decide to burn one of your two Hero points to reroll the check.


As people scream and point at the super-battle, fires begin to spread across the already burning buildings! From inside the structures people shout for help! In the streets, bomb victims are too injured to move and the remaining bystanders are too afraid of the attackers to get close! The flying woman hovers thirty feet above the street watching everything like a ghost while the man in the bathrobe continues to watch the disaster as if he doesn't have a care in the world!


It's your turn.


http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g254/PinkSpray/map_zpspgtmoctt.jpg

[Insolitus]

Just quickly, I'll have a full post tomorrow. Isn't it a standard action to Feint, so the werecat wouldn't have been able to attack in the same round?

[Objection]

Oculus
HP: 1 | Condition: On the scene

Elaine's surface level observations don't reveal any hackers. Perhaps there aren't any today. Her eye is caught, however, by something else. Something strange and unusual. Before she can process it, though, there is an explosion in the middle of the street. Elaine knows that this will mean a lot of wounded civilians, so she instinctively jumps out of her seat and runs towards the door, barely noticing the woman in a dark green superhero costume.

Once outside, Elaine sees that the explosion isn't the only problem. Civilians are being terrorised by mutants and superpowered beings. Other mutants and superpowered beings appear to be fighting amongst each other. Unable to discern friend from foe, Elaine instead looks for any innocents who need saving.

Would like to roll Perception to see if there are any trapped civilians who aren't currently being assisted.

[CandyLaser]

Do I know where the shadow attack came from? If not, can I make a roll to figure it out?

[BarbieTheRPG]

Agile Feint is using Acrobatics or Movement speed rank to Feint instead of Deception. Using Acrobatics is either a Free or Move action. Using Acrobatics for a Feint is a Free action (literally a "head shake" like how boxers feint each other). Since it seems you're new to M&M feel free to ask me about any of the rules.



Read posts #9, #15 and #23.



Looking to Viririan's left (the right side of the maps) she sees an odd fellow with long black hair, pale white skin, black lipstick, black boiler suit and black work boots. People are staring and pointing at him but he just stares at Viridian.

[Eldest]

Anna ducks the tentacles, cursing whatever weirdness this was, and throwing out a hand towards the oncoming tentacled man, palm up. She curls her fingers inward, making the sign of a cage, while growling Halbut! Spectral blue chains appear around the man, grabbing at him.

[roll0] Mystic Binding vs. Dodge.
Strength DC 18 to break.

[BarbieTheRPG]

That's a miss and remember I'm doing all the rolls. You just narrate what you want to do.

[Eldest]

My apologies! I forgot. Please do reroll it so it's nice and proper. :smalltongue:

[BarbieTheRPG]

If you had hit I wouldn't force a reroll so you can keep that miss. Optionally, since Drana has the 'Accident" complication, the miss can accidentally hit a bystander and you get another Hero point? Your decision (plain miss or accident). Right now you have 1 HP.

[Eldest]

Sure! One case of friendly fire is a go.

[CandyLaser]

On one hand, there were people in need. On the other, someone was trying to trap her in a shadow web, and who knew what that would do. Viridian scanned the scene, flitting from place to place to avoid staying still and drawing additional fire, until she saw a pale man, dressed in all black, who seemed to her to be the source of the attack. She maintained her sheath of force around the burning truck, still aiming to smother the flames, but she also conjured up a second construct. This one was a simple bubble around the pale man in black - if he was the one attacking her, this would hopefully keep him bottled up, and if not he'd be safer there, in the lambent green half-dome, than he we standing in the open in the street.

Maintaining the first construct - PinkSpray, please let me know if it's having an effect. Also using Create again to create a new construct, entrapping the man in black. Her constructs are opaque, so if he's trapped, it should block line-of-sight and require him to break through a Toughness 14 construct before he can affect anyone else.

[Moro Asahina]

As Luna catches her breath like everyone on the Row, a massive shadow falls across the diner as the fifteen-foot purple giant raises his monstrous fists high over his head preparing to smash a black SUV stopped next to him! The woman inside screams silently as Luna springs from the diner through the blasted out windowpane and dives between the giant and the targeted vehicle! When the blow strikes Luna she is crushed into the SUV and its entire side is smashed in but incredibly Luna survived the attack laying prone beneath the unearthly man-monster!


Her eyes widened as she saw what the big purple man was about to do and her body was moving before she realized it. She only just managed to get between the car and the creep and throw up a quick block, but without having her feet set she was thrown back and fell to the ground. Strangely, while the blow had hurt, she didn't feel much more than the same lingering soreness she always did when she'd taken a good hit. Which didn't make sense given the size of the "dent" she'd left in the car. Things ta worry bout later. Fer now...

Anger welled up within her and a soft growl was soon emanating from her throat as she quickly rolled to her feet and assumed her stance in preparation to show this purple prick how it's done. She did, however steal a quick glance back and growl out "Yer gonna wanna get outa here darlin, things er bout ta get fun." before she whipped her leg forward towards the jerk in question.


She'll attempt to stand as a free action using acrobatics, though failing that she'll stand as a move action.

For her standard, she'll be applying a -3 penalty using both Power Attack and All out Attack, effectively just increasing the DCs of the Damage and Affliction effects by 3 and lowering her active defenses by the same, and attacking using Muay Thai. So Toughness DC 30 for the damage and Fortitude DC 25 (1st Degree Dazed, 2nd Degree Stunned) for Affliction at her usual +8 AB.

As before, should the Purple People Beater decide he doesn't wanna attack her on his turn, she'll use interpose and eat the hit.

[prufock]

Xstatic
Condition: Freaked out!

Things go from bad to worse! Seemingly, from out of nowhere, monsters and maniacs are fighting in the street, swinging oversized fists and bolts of energy. It's like one of those superhero/supervillain battles he's seen on TV. But who are the villains and who are the heroes? It's impossible to tell! And which am I?!

Varish is panicked, especially with the sparks still flying from his body. Still, there are people hurt all over the street. Should he help or is he more of a danger to them right now? I can't just stand here and do nothing! Summoning his courage, he moves to check on one of the injured.

Movement: Varish moves south to the front of Goldman's Diner, giving the purple guy a wide berth. He checks on the nearest of the two downed civilians by the exploded truck (Treatment +5). If he feels it's safe to move him, he'll carry him south, away from the truck on fire.

[Insolitus]

Oh, I have a decent amount of experience with M&M, even ran a couple of games. Which is why I found it odd for Agile Feint to essentially allow one to attempt to apply the vulnerable condition using a skill check for free every round, seems hella op for a 1-pp advantage. Admittedly I'm not all that familiar with the feint advantage, so I did some research.
Seems the general consensus in the community, as detailed here (http://www.atomicthinktank.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=43488), is that feinting (no matter what skill is used) is normally a standard action, but can be done as a move action at a -5 penalty.
Here (http://www.atomicthinktank.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=19119) is the response by the creator of the game, Steve Kenson, about what action requirement the second edition version of Agile Feint (Acrobatic Bluff, which is essentially the same) has, considering the Acrobatics skill is normally a move or free action. He said that the action requirement is a standard action or a move action with a -5 penalty.
Now as the GM, you can obviously do what you want, but making Agile Feint a free action would in fact be a houserule (here (http://www.atomicthinktank.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=219901) is a similar houserule that would fit what the werecat did). Keep in mind, such a houserule would make Acrobatics and Agile Feint incredibly powerful by essentially circumventing PL limits for free. A PC with even middling Acrobatics could take the advantage and make a feint each turn, often succeeding without really losing anything.
Now obviously it's too late to retcon this, but I thought you may like to know for future reference. I certainly learnt something new and interesting about the system so I'm glad it happened.


Anima reels back in pain, surprised that the werebeast singled her out of the crowd, but glad it isn't attacking a civilian instead. The pain of claw strike almost overwhelms her, but this is nothing compared to the suffering of those around her, and she takes comfort that she is giving the crowd time to escape. Fighting through the agony, she focuses her powers on the wild being. "Please...you've gotta...calm down". She reaches forward with her powers and attempts to decrease its general aggression and up its affection and fear towards her. If she feels it taking hold: "Sit" she commands and points to the ground.

Anima will use her action to use the power labelled Love, hate and fear on the werecat. It's perception range so no attack roll, the werecat just needs to make a DC 20 Will saving throw.

Also did Anima have time to put on her costume in the store? I kind of forgot about doing that. Although it probably wouldn't matter too much since her powers are subtle and its extremely chaotic, but it would make sense as to why the werecat singled her out. Maybe she had her mask in a bag or something?

Also, how far is each square on the map?

[Objection]

Oculus
HP: 1 | Condition: Dammit PinkSpray, I'm a former cop, not a former firefighter!

Looking around, Elaine can't see many people she can help. Her memories of first aid are too hazy and those injured by the explosion appear to be beyond her ability to help. Most of the burning buildings are across the street from her and that means having to get by the superpowered individuals and their fighting. One of them is erratically discharging electricity, which Elaine knows can seriously mess with her technological implants (especially her eyes). Her best bet, she figures, is to see if the people in and around Starbase Coffee need help.

At this moment, Elaine notices a huge fire at the corner of the café nearest to the intersection. Wasting no energy on words just yet, she runs back into the building, grabs the nearest fire extinguisher and attempts to put out the fire.

Oculus grabs the first fire extinguisher she can inside Starbase Coffee and then tries to douse the fire there.

[BarbieTheRPG]

The Yellow Brick Row .....

Drana's mystic attack misses the dodging octopoid-man but strikes a nearby pedestrian binding him in swirling bands of magical force! "YAAAHHH!" he shouts in anguish! The man-squid again tries to grab the young sorceress with twin tentacles and again Drana successfully avoids the attack!


bystander save:[roll0]
stormer attack 1:[roll1]
stormer attack 2[roll2]
disregard[roll3]
disregard[roll4]
You get a HP (2 total) but the bystander is Stunned (held in place?) by Drana's spell. Octo-man is Exhausted by multiple attacks.


Still airborne and focused on smothering the blazing truck's flames Viridian sees her energy sphere is indeed causing the fire to diminish until there's nothing but smoking metal! Simultaneously the heroine lashes out with another energy beam looking to contain her new attacker but the gothic-looking thug dives clear of Viridian's blast! "Haha! You'll have to do better than that, girl!" he shouts,


Create power:[roll5]
Fire rank:[roll6]
Viridian's attack:[roll7]
Disregard[roll8]
Viridian is switching target's so she isn't Dazed or anything since she targeted the truck last round. It's his turn now.


Luna springs from her crouched position and summoning her martial expertise delivers a devastating snap-kick with her foot connecting perfectly with the giant's mid-section! The purple ogre's eyes bulge as he coughs out a choking exhale, grabs his mid-section, falls straight back on the ground and curls into the fetal position! Luna can hear the monster-man groaning in pain! Behind her in the crushed SUV, Luna can hear the woman she saved cheering for her!


Luna's attack:[roll9]
giant's DC23 TGH check:[roll10]
giant's DC27 FRT check:[roll11]
disregard[roll12]
disregard[roll13]
Wow. He's -1 TGH checks, Dazed and Stunned! Luna knows she hurt him bad but he's still conscious.


Xstatic rushes over to a man with burned skin and he's breathing very raspy! After a few seconds looking the victim over, the hero realizes the man has 2nd-degree burns on most of his body and probably has a collapsed lung! Xstatic uses shreds of clean cloth torn from the man's clothing to dress the burned areas and calms the man. Then Xstatic carries the victim out of the street to safety where other bystanders can help.


Treatmen/Diagnose:[roll14]
Treatment/Stabilize:[roll15]
Way to go. Hero point for you (2 total)!


Fighting back the pain and terror, Anima refocuses her power at the werecat trying to pacify the raging mutate! The lycanthropic woman pauses then goes into wild seizures as if fighting some unknown force! Seconds later the werecat lets out a wild shriek and bounds away from the sidewalk, leaping over a hundred feet from Anima! It seems the heroine scared the stormer off!


Werecat's DC20 Will check:[roll16]
She resisted but didn't like the sensation of mental attack and bolted.


Oculus snatches the fire-extinguisher from its holder on the wall and begins spraying the flames as they crackle across the building! Within seconds, the fire has been neutralized and the stunned patrons inside the cafe' begin clapping and cheering for their savior, Oculus!


Fire rank:[roll17]
Fire extinguisher:[roll18]

[Moro Asahina]

The DCs for her attack are the other way around. Toughness DC 27 (currently 30 with her power attack and all out attack), and fortitude DC 22 (currently 25 with power attack and all out attack). Thanks to all out attack, her active defenses will be 3 lower til her next turn should it come up.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Power Attack is +5 effect, -5 attack. All-Out Attack is +5 attack, -5 defense. I went with that. You can't modify them. Be glad you took Power Attack. It dropped Ogre.

[Moro Asahina]

According to the SRD they're all variable whether you have the advantage or not, the difference between the normal maneuver and having the advantage is how large a penalty/bonus you can choose to take. Both entries say you can take a penalty of up to either -2 if you don't have the advantage, or up to -5 if you do.

Mind you, in this instance it doesn't make too big a difference, but yeah, definitely glad he rolled poorly given how hard the guys hits >.>

[BarbieTheRPG]

Give me the link to where the SRD reads Advantages are variable. The main book makes no such indication and I've been running games online, to include on the AtomicThinkTank/RoninArmy sites for years.




Oh, I have a decent amount of experience with M&M, even ran a couple of games. Which is why I found it odd for Agile Feint to essentially allow one to attempt to apply the vulnerable condition using a skill check for free every round, seems hella op for a 1-pp advantage.
OP for a 1-pt. Advantage is Move-by Action with Speedsters or Takedown as they make stopping superheroes nigh-impossible


Admittedly I'm not all that familiar with the feint advantage, so I did some research.
Seems the general consensus in the community, as detailed here (http://www.atomicthinktank.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=43488), is that feinting (no matter what skill is used) is normally a standard action, but can be done as a move action at a -5 penalty.
Here (http://www.atomicthinktank.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=19119) is the response by the creator of the game, Steve Kenson, about what action requirement the second edition version of Agile Feint (Acrobatic Bluff, which is essentially the same) has, considering the Acrobatics skill is normally a move or free action. He said that the action requirement is a standard action or a move action with a -5 penalty.
Those were comments on M&M 2nd a different game.
Right. 2nd edition. Kenson has been conspicuously quiet with his comments on 3rd ed, largely because he knows the product was rushed to get the Marvel RPG. MWP got Marvel so GR settled for DC. You post you aren't familiar with Feinting. It shows but we'll work it out.


Now as the GM, you can obviously do what you want, but making Agile Feint a free action would in fact be a houserule (here (http://www.atomicthinktank.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=219901) is a similar houserule that would fit what the werecat did). Keep in mind, such a houserule would make Acrobatics and Agile Feint incredibly powerful by essentially circumventing PL limits for free. A PC with even middling Acrobatics could take the advantage and make a feint each turn, often succeeding without really losing anything.
Sure you can call it a house-rule but page 256 of the M&M 3E Anniversary edition (Gamemastering) tells GMs they are the final word in what is and isn't in their game. So if I wanted a House-Rule, yes. But this isn't a rule revision. You post it circumvents PL but you're incorrect. The Feint is +11 which is within the cap. Please review the rules better.


Now obviously it's too late to retcon this, but I thought you may like to know for future reference. I certainly learnt something new and interesting about the system so I'm glad it happened.
Free action Feints make perfect sense with what M&M tries to simulate comic books as described on page 5 of M&M 3rd Anniversary edition ("In the case of
Mutants & Masterminds it is superheroes in adventures like those in the comic books."). In comic books, movies and real life trained combatants can feint with a simple "head shake" as seen in many boxing or mixed-martial arts matches. The feint takes less than a second. I am trained in MCMAP and boxing so I know how fast combat occurs between trained foes. With 'Agile Feint' it would not take the full six-second round to perform the maneuver. You might think it does but I provided video. At frame '1:46-1:47' Bane executes the kind of 'head fake' familiar to real and comic book combat used by great fighters:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDuetklFtDQ

How long did that take? A split-second. I acknowledge your concern, but Agile Feint has no real effect unless it operates just as demonstrated. I appreciate player input and while you've been familiar with M&M for '2 years' I started with 2E and have been running games since 3E was released (over a decade). If you have any more questions, let me know :smallwink:

The squares on the map are meaningless. Provided maps are for position, nothing else. If you need distance ratings, just ask.

[Objection]

When you make a power attack (see Maneuvers, page
250) you can take a penalty of up to –5 on your attack
bonus and add the same number (up to +5) to the effect
bonus of your attack.
d20heroSRD says the same. (http://www.d20herosrd.com/5-advantages/) Can't get a direct link to the advantage for some reason.

When you make an attack you can take a penalty of up to
–2 on your attack bonus and add the same number (up to
+2) to the effect bonus of your attack. Your attack bonus
cannot be reduced below +0 and the effect bonus cannot
more than double. The changes to attack and effect
are decided before you make your attack check and last
until the start of your next turn. This maneuver does not
apply to effects requiring no attack check or allowing no
resistance check.
d20heroSRD says the same. (http://www.d20herosrd.com/9-gamemastering/8-action-adventure/#TOC-POWER-ATTACK)

In my experience most players only ever use the maximum trade-off possible, but the option was always there in 3rd ed to do less than the maximum trade-off.

[Moro Asahina]

Looks like Objection handled the links, but he's got the right of it with how most people tend to use the advantage/maneuvers. I just opted for the lesser penalty to test the waters, so to speak, since there are quite a number of supers fighting in the area.

That said, I'm good with taking the full penalty this time as she is pretty pissed at the big guy just now (Being punched into a car will do that after all).

[Insolitus]

Ok, just a disclaimer first, I would like to continue discussing this as I still disagree with your interpretation of the RAW/RAI. However, I definitely understand that it's your game, your rules, so I will obviously abide by your decisions. If you don't want to discuss things further, that's fine too, just let me know and I'll shut up :smallwink:. It would be nice to know of any other houserules or particular interpretations of controversial rules your using if you are aware of them though.




OP for a 1-pt. Advantage is Move-by Action with Speedsters or Takedown as they make stopping superheroes nigh-impossible


Yeah, you're right, there are indeed some quite powerful advantages. Although Move-by-Action can be partially countered by readying attacks or just asking the Speedster to stick to genre conventions and stay in the area. Minions don't matter too much anyway so Takedown doesn't change too much. But in essence you are correct, it's just when you compare it to something similar (Affliction imposing vulnerable) like I did below, Agile Feint as a free action is vastly cheaper and often more effective.



Right. 2nd edition. Kenson has been conspicuously quiet with his comments on 3rd ed, largely because he knows the product was rushed to get the Marvel RPG. MWP got Marvel so GR settled for DC. You post you aren't familiar with Feinting. It shows but we'll work it out.


Yep, it's 2nd edition. But it's relevant because Acrobatic Bluff and Agile Feint are worded almost exactly the same (Agile Feint just allows the use of speed rank as well) and the Feint manoeuvre works essentially the same (the 3e Feint removes the ability to feint as a move action with a -5 penalty, but the Deception skill description allows uses that are normally a standard action, to be done as a move action with a -5 penalty. In my last post I linked here (http://www.atomicthinktank.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=43488) (discussing 3e Feint), which explains that the general consensus in the community is that this "move action at -5 penalty" should be applied to any use of feint, no matter what skill is used, for balance reasons.)
I use Steve Kenson's response because it shows the intentions of the original designer regarding Acrobatic Bluff/Agile Feint. In the absence of a ruling on the 3e version, we need to look to his ruling on the 2e version. Such a ruling is certainly still applicable given that the Acrobatics skill, Acrobatic Bluff/Agile Feint and the Feint manoeuvre essentially all work the same. It is clear that the design intent is that the specific rule about the action requirement of the Feint manoeuvre supersedes the general rule about the action requirements of the Acrobatics skill.
Your point about the product being rushed makes sense, as it would explain why the "move action at a -5 penalty" was moved to the Deception skill making without qualifying in the advantages that replace the skill used in the Feint manoeuvre with something else that this rule still applies. The affect of this change upsets the balance of the RAW and made the action requirements of the Feint manoeuvre far more confusing than they need to be.



Sure you can call it a house-rule but page 256 of the M&M 3E Anniversary edition (Gamemastering) tells GMs they are the final word in what is and isn't in their game. So if I wanted a House-Rule, yes. But this isn't a rule revision. You post it circumvents PL but you're incorrect. The Feint is +11 which is within the cap. Please review the rules better.


It breaks PL in two ways:
1) The first can be seen by comparing it to an Affliction that imposes the vulnerable condition. A non-Perception ranged, non-area Affliction requires an attack roll, while a Agile Feint does not. If the Affliction does not require an attack roll (Perception ranged, area, etc.) the max effect rank is equal to the PL, while the effective effect rank of Feint is PL+10. So at PL 10, an Affliction with an attack roll could have a max DC of 25 (but at reduced accuracy), an Affliction with no attack roll could have a max DC of 20, while Feinting can have a max average DC of 30.
Now obviously the defense against the Feint can also be bought up to PL+10 but that's exceedingly rare given that one doesn't ordinarily consider skills to be one's defenses. Plus even if the defender does max out their skill, it is still a 50% chance of success. So with your interpretation that Agile Feint can be done with a free action, that's a 50% chance of imposing the vulnerable condition every round (potentially multiple times each round).
Compare with Affliction. To do the same thing you would have to buy Reaction on the Affliction and set a trigger as something like "making an attack" (far less flexible than Feinting). In which case, the DC is still lower, the defenses more likely to be maxed and an attack roll for the Affliction may need to be made.
Now Affliction has the chance of imposing greater conditions and lasting more than one round, plus it applies to more than just your own attack, but it is also far more expensive, especially when you start adding things like Reaction or Perception ranged/Area. Agile Feint is only 1 point, and, in your game, Acrobatics costs 1/3rd a power-point and is useful for other things.

2) The second way it breaks PL can be seen with an example. In the fight we were having, the Werecat (+11 to acrobatics) made an Agile Feint on Anima (+16 Insight). Even though Anima's skill is higher, that is still a 30% chance of inflicting Vulnerable condition for the next attack, halving their active defenses. That means, 1 out of every 3 attacks the Werecat makes, they get an effective +6 to their attack roll (Anima's defenses are +12), with no penalty for failure and not limited by PL. That might not seem like much, but consider if the skills were on parity, that's a 50% chance of getting a +6 bonus, with no downside. Now Anima has unusually high insight, most characters, hero or villain, don't buy their skills that high. So a PC could easily max out their Acrobatics to +20 and almost constantly be getting a bonus of anywhere between +2 and +7, and again, unlike Power Attack or All-out Attack, with no drawbacks.




Free action Feints make perfect sense with what M&M tries to simulate comic books as described on page 5 of M&M 3rd Anniversary edition ("In the case of
Mutants & Masterminds it is superheroes in adventures like those in the comic books."). In comic books, movies and real life trained combatants can feint with a simple "head shake" as seen in many boxing or mixed-martial arts matches. The feint takes less than a second. I am trained in MCMAP and boxing so I know how fast combat occurs between trained foes. With 'Agile Feint' it would not take the full six-second round to perform the maneuver. You might think it does but I provided video. At frame '1:46-1:47' Bane executes the kind of 'head fake' familiar to real and comic book combat used by great fighters:


Yeah, I understand feinting in real life is super quick. I practice SCA style sword fighting, so I'm definitely aware of how fast combat is between trained foes.
Of course, one can easily make several attacks in 6-seconds IRL, but M&M allows only one attack per a round without buying Multiattack.
One way I've heard that may be a good way to think about M&M rounds is that it represents several panels in a comic book, not strictly 6 seconds of real time. Another possible way of thinking about it is that M&M combat is an abstraction, you are not really making only one attack, but the one attack is an abstraction of the give and take of combat.
Also if it helps, I believe the kind of feinting you are talking about is really just the standard feint manoeuvre using Deception. That's what feinting is, deceiving your opponent into thinking you are going to attack one way when you attack a different way. The Steve Kenson response I linked earlier seems to indicate that Agile Feint/Acrobatic Bluff involves doing flips and jumps to confuse your opponent and attack at odd angles. I've certainly seen some similar things in SCA fighting with some really agile fighters (well maybe not flips per se, but jumps and odd angles definitely), it is really quite different from what you describe. Of course that's just my interpretation with just a little bit of vague support by Steve Kenson. Really, players and GMs can describe the actions in any way they choose as long as it mostly fits the rules, so small movements work just as well for Agile Feint/Acrobatic Bluff I reckon.



How long did that take? A split-second. I acknowledge your concern, but Agile Feint has no real effect unless it operates just as demonstrated. I appreciate player input and while you've been familiar with M&M for '2 years' I started with 2E and have been running games since 3E was released (over a decade). If you have any more questions, let me know :smallwink:


Agile Feint still has an effect if you use RAW/RAI, you can use it as a move action with a -5 penalty. As explained by the various pieces I linked, even that is still quite powerful, but at least you have to occasionally make some choices as to what combination of moving, feinting and attacking you are going to do rather than all three at once with no penalty. Bringing back a 2e edition rule where you get a -1 penalty to feinting the person every time you use it against them would also help.
I don't know where you've gotten '2 years' from, I've been playing both 2e and 3e for at least 5 years now. But honestly the number of years doesn't really matter. It is super easy to pick up misconceptions and houserules from the people you are playing with without realising that they aren't actually supported by the rules. For example, as Objection explained, you had a misconception about how Power Attack and All-out Attack work. It's fine, it happens to everyone, including me.

As I said up top, I'm happy to go along with whatever you decide. It's just that a) it would be nice to know any houserules before I make a character so I take advantage of certain options or avoid them if necessary, b) you should be aware of how feinting as a free action increases the power of your NPCs and Villains and act accordingly (there is some thought about 'Virtual PL', here (http://www.atomicthinktank.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=31064) is a (mostly 2e) thread about it which might be helpful).


Anima breathes a sigh of relief as the werecat bounds away. "That may be a problem later on..." She shakes her head to clear it of the remaining cloudyness and surveys the scene. She sees superhumans battling it out whilst trapped and hurting civilians are crying out for help! With no skill at treating the wounded, Anima instead focuses on helping those who can still get out of the area. She extends her powers to ease their pain and panic and directs them to escape in an orderly fashion.


Anima will search for people who can still walk. She will then direct them out there, using her powers to calm them down and ease their pain.
If there is no one who is not currently trapped, she will attempt to free the largest group of people.

Also any word on whether Anima is wearing her costume, or at least her mask? If not she will put her mask on.

[CandyLaser]

Turns out hitting a moving target was fairly difficult. In practice, Viridian had mainly attempted to hit stationary things, like trees and rock outcroppings. Her boyfriend had spent a few hours pitching baseballs into the air as a sort of makeshift skeet shooting range, but that was the limit of her practice with moving targets. It was just too dangerous to aim for living things. Now, though, that lack of experience was working against her.

With the fire out, Viridian was free to use a different approach to deal with the aggressor. She wasn't willing to unleash a full heat beam on him - that would just add to the chaos, especially if she missed. But a blinding flash of light? That would do nicely. The green stone flitted back to her halo, and the yellow one took its place. As its glow grew, her eyes shifted color as well, to a lambent gold. The gem flashed, emitting a thin brilliant beam at her target.

Attacking using the yellow gem's blinding beam. It's a rank 14 Affliction vs. Fortitude, inflicting the Impaired/Disabled/Unaware status conditions, limited to sight only. I'd also like to All-Out Attack for the full 5, which will bring her attack roll up to +11.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Better to just drop it as your points are a little off-base (your confusing a skill with a power, for one). Call it a house-rule and let's move on.



Do you guys want to play this or would you prefer to rules-lawyer me to death? :smalltongue: Page 255 in "Gamemastering" suggest the GM focus on the spirit of M&M (having fun) rather than bogging the game down with rules discussion. In over a decade of playing and running it's either +2/-2 or +5/-5 depending on whether it's a maneuver or advantage (regarding PA, AOA or AA mainly). Ease of play people. Again, I like player input but ..... we can't keep debating everything or I'm going to lose interest honestly.



We can move forward once we get posts from everyone.

[prufock]

Better to just drop it as your points are a little off-base (your confusing a skill with a power, for one). Call it a house-rule and let's move on.



Do you guys want to play this or would you prefer to rules-lawyer me to death? :smalltongue: Page 255 in "Gamemastering" suggest the GM focus on the spirit of M&M (having fun) rather than bogging the game down with rules discussion. In over a decade of playing and running it's either +2/-2 or +5/-5 depending on whether it's a maneuver or advantage (regarding PA, AOA or AA mainly). Ease of play people. Again, I like player input but ..... we can't keep debating everything or I'm going to lose interest honestly.


For my part, I'm fine with whatever house rules you decide on, but is there some place we can list them? We don't have a dedicated OOC thread, which is where rules discussion would normally go, but maybe you could edit the first post in this thread with a House Rules spoiler tag for Agile Feint, Trade-off Advantages/Maneuvers, etc that might come up? It's good to have some reference for these available at hand for when/if we want to use them.

Xstatic
Condition: Flustered
HP: 2!

Having pulled the injured man to (relative) safety, Varish looks around at the uninjured bystanders. Is anybody here a doctor?! Looking around, he could see at least half a dozen other injured or dead bodies laying about on the pavement. He pulled out his phone as he moved to the next injured person. Someone may have already called 911, but he had other channels.

Boss, it's Varish. Yeah, I'm on Yellow Brick, listen! I was working on that junction for the order you put in, but something happened. There was an explosion, not at the junction, but it's a mess down here right now. Call the crew and tell them to keep away. I hope someone has called 911 by now. There's some sort of superpowered people fighting in the streets. We need ambulances, fire trucks, and cops!

Not sure there's much Varish's boss can do, other than make sure emergency services are on the way. If he can offer anything that falls under the Contacts advantage, I need a Persuasion check at +0.

Hanging up, Varish kneels down to the next injured man. Keep calm, Varish, you did it once, you can do it again.

Varish will use a Treatment check (+5) to assess and help the downed civilian as before. Keep in mind, doing so without tools is a -5, so that would balance out to +0, I didn't mention it before (not that it would have mattered with 2 nat 20s in a row!). If I really botch the roll to the point where it would make the patient worse, use one HP to reroll.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Good idea on the rules banner. I'll post something on the OP. In regard to Treatment, dude, double crits. You are the doctor :smallbiggrin: I'm giving you a situational +2 Treatment bonus based on your character watching too many episodes of "Grey's Anatomy' or something. So you're +7 Treatment checks for the scene. Also you don't have 'Contacts' you have 'Connected', and 911 has been called several times, but your call to your boss helps.


Two people emerge from the crowd; a man says "I'm a paramedic!" and a woman says "I'm a doctor!" They turn to the injured man addressing his injured condition. With the fluster of new people Xstatic fails to track the condition of the man he may have saved.


[roll0]


In the distance, the sound of sirens is evident! Help is on the way!

[Objection]

Oculus
HP: 1 | Condition: Taking stock

Elaine had saved lives before but this is the first time her heroism has been recognised by anything beyond a stoic "Good job" from her superiors. She blushes at the reaction of the café's occupants for a moment before turning her attention back to what's happening outside. The fight is still raging, although Elaine notices that one of the mutants has disappeared, another appears to be seeing stars and the electric man is helping the wounded get medical attention.

Lastly, the cavalry seems to be arriving so Elaine does a quick look around to see who or what is the biggest threat to the civilians.

Is there anyone still focused on terrorising civilians?

[Moro Asahina]

That...had been way more satisfying than it probably aught to have been, but the purple prick was down and didn't look to be in any hurry to get back up. All the same, she gave a low, fierce growl, though she doesn't seem to realize it. She kept her guard up, ready to give him another as she spoke. "Yer gonna wanna stay down lad. Give me any more trouble an I'll bust yer dial here an now." One of her lupine ears twitched to face the direction the sirens seemed to be coming from, which she considered a good thing for a change. Now she thought about it, it was kind of nice not being the one the cops had been called about. Well, she was pretty sure she wasn't since the only person she'd attacked was the purple prick, and that only happened because he'd been about to smash the car behind her. Heres hopin I'm right about that. Really don' feel like spendin the day in the drunk tank fer fightin again.



I imagine that would fall under the Coercing use for Intimidate. Dunno what sort of action that is (it is listed as "interaction" though demoralizing is a standard actions so I'm not sure), but if it isn't a standard action she'll ready an action to give him another full power punch in the face (All Out Attack/Power Attack) with Muay Thai if he tries to get up and continue the fight.

If she can't hear the sirens from where she's at let me know and I'll edit it out, I figured it was just a general "you all hear this" since you didn't look to be making any perception rolls.

"I'll Bust your dial" - I'll smash your face in.

[BarbieTheRPG]

The Yellow Brick Row ....

Oculus:

The heroine sees an octopoid person striking at another female who avoids his snatching tentacles that seem to spring from his body! Next to the cafe' an odd fellow sips from his white cup while watching the action saying quietly, "Far out, man ..." High above but centered on the street, a woman circled by a trail of debris watches the Row like a hawk!

Fires blazed across the street at either corner, people trapped within crying for help! Plus there were people laying in the street needing medical attention .........

[Objection]

Oculus
HP: 1 | Condition: Ready ... aim ...

Elaine's attention is grabbed by a tentacled man attacking a young woman. Though the woman appears quite able to bob and weave and dodge the tentacle attacks, there is no way she can keep it up forever. Elaine takes cover behind an overturned sedan and points a finger at the octopus man.

"TARGET LOCKED!"

Oculus is going to move up to an immobile vehicle (intact or otherwise) and then use Improved Aim to aim at the octopus man with a Power Attack Finger Dart, effectively increasing Finger Dart's DC by 5 with no penalty to the attack check, just delaying the actual attack until her next turn.

[Eldest]

Anna ducks one tentacle and jumps the other, rolling upright: she'd had enough practice with improvised acrobatics to be able to stick most landings. She slings another spell at the tentacle-man. Hopefully this time it sticks, she thinks, as she notices another person paying attention to the fight. She's not sure she can fight two people at once.

[BarbieTheRPG]

The Yellow Brick Row ....

Viridian prepares to attack her gothic foe but he strikes first as beams of jet-black energy blast from his eyes at her! Fortunately Viridian has exceptional reflexes dodging the assault then she counters with her own dazzling-light attack which tags the villain in the chest! "AAAARRRGHHH!" the man yells in anguish then stumbles around as if partially-blinded!


Gothic-man shadow attack:[roll0]
disregard[roll1]
Viridian's Dazzle:[roll2]
Gothic-man's DC24 FRT check:[roll3]
He's visually-disabled (-5 Perception). I'm going to give Viridian the next move because he is very disoriented.


Anima's telempathic powers have an almost immediate effect of calming the crowd that was terrified just seconds ago. With her guidance the people begin to quickly exit the area walking down the street.


I think you said she put on her gas mask?



Despite Luna's threat, the purple giant still laying on the ground doesn't move because he's still trying to recover from Luna's Muy Thai attack!


Luna's Intimidate to Coerce:[roll4]
Ogre's Will check:[roll5]
Ogre's DC22 FRT check vs. Stunned:[roll6]
I gave Luna a +2 bonus because she injured Ogre. He's still Stunned and can' respond.



What spell?



Aimed attack next round!

[Eldest]

Whoops! She's throwing another binding at him.

[CandyLaser]

Viridan stopped dodged, hovering in midair with her rainbow aura shimmering around her. Having her foe blinking was good; having him blinded for a few minutes would be better. She took the time to line up her next shot and then unleashed another brilliant beam from her outstretched hand.

Extra Effort to surge and get an extra action. The first action will be to Aim; since Viridian has Improved Aim that gives her a +5 to hit. Then she'll use the second action to attack, and I'll go ahead and all-out attack for 5 again. That gives her a total of +10 to her attack. If it hits, he'll need to make a DC 20 Fortitude check, and as Dazzle is cumulative any failure will bump him up to blinded.

[BarbieTheRPG]

The Yellow Brick Row ...

Drana summons the mystical mana projecting another binding blast at the squid-man! The arcane energy connects freezing the octo-man in a swirling matrix of magic!!


civilian DC18 Stunned resistance:[roll0]
Mystic binding at Squidly:[roll1]
Squid-man's resistance:[roll2]
disregard:[roll3]
He's Stunned.


As Oculus prepares to shoot at the squid-man, the overturned sedan she's using for cover shudders, squeals and flies straight up into the air stopping twenty feet directly above Oculus where it hovers in place!

There's a big explosion at one of the burning buildings and loud screams come from inside the structure! Then, the roof caves in causing another blast as people on the block seek cover!

[Insolitus]

Watching in despair as the burning building start to collapse, but feeling powerless to do something about it herself. Anima scans the battlefield. Her eyes settling on the woman surrounded by glowing stones, she recalls how she was able to put out one of the fires with a force field. Maybe she would be able to punch through and save those people?
Anima runs towards her and the octopus man, yelling and pointing towards the burning building she says, "HEY YOU WITH THE STONES, WE'LL HANDLE THE SUPERS, GO AND SAVE THOSE PEOPLE." She extends her power to lend her and the other woman fighting the tentacle person courage.

Anima will move as far as she can toward Viridian. As she does so she will use the power labelled Inspire and spend a hero point to grant Viridian and Drana a +5 bonus to all checks until the start of my next round.

Ok yep, she has her mask on, just was confirming.

Also sorry for being too much of a rules lawyer, clearly I went a bit far. I was trying to help and found the implications of the ruling rather interesting, but when you're running the game you obviously don't want to get bogged down in rules discussions. So once again, my apologies.

[Moro Asahina]

While the purple prick didn't really say anything to indicate his agreement, other than maybe a wheeze or a groan from his place on the ground, he hadn't moved so she assumed he'd decided it wise to do as she said. "Good choice." She'd been about to say more when yet another explosion rocked the square, perhaps not quite as big as the one earlier, but coming close if it wasn't. Either way she lifted an arm to shield herself from the shockwave, lowering it just in time to see the roof collapse. Her brows furrowed as she heard the screams coming from within. Right then...I'm pretty sure whatever tha was earlier gave me powers. She gave a quick glance back to the man on the ground as that thought crossed her mind. I'm strong, but I didn think I was that strong. Doesn much matter I guess, cause I'm pretty sure I'm not fireproof or strong enough ta lift all that...

Before she could dwell on that, someone was calling for someone else to go save them, and she quickly scanned the surrounding area to see what else she hadn't noticed. In retrospect, she probably should have noticed the woman with the stones floating around her a bit sooner since she and...was that some kind of octopus man? More things for later. Regardless, they looked to have been fighting not far away, and because things weren't weird enough a car started floating and drifted up over the head of yet another person. Fortunately, the person under the car seemed to have the presence of mind to move out from under it. Unfortunately, this wasn't a game of shirts and skins so she wasn't entirely sure who was on what team, so for now she would have to wait and see if she couldn't limit how much damage they did to one another while they were waiting on the cops to arrive.

For whenever her turn comes up.

Since she doesn't really know who is on her side and who isn't, she'll most or less just wait to use Interpose if it looks like anyone over there is going to get seriously injured. I'm not sure how interpose would work in a situation like having a car dropped on you (if it can be used there since it may be classed as an area attack should the person just drop it), but if she can use it and ends up interposing for Occulus I'll happily spend a hero point if it'll let me give them a shove out of the way. I'd say I'd ready an action to do so for the person she interposes with, but I'm also not sure whether readying an action/interpose would work. Seems like it could be a little OP depending on the action is all.

[Eldest]

Anna feels a rush at the spell connecting, letting out a small whoop. She slams power into her next spell, it's normally azure hue shifting into violet, gathering between her hands, before she throws it towards the man in a gesture she'd freely admit she stole shamelessly from Dragonball Z. Hodo! She then springs towards the nearest cover, away from the hovering car. So far, the woman with the crystals and the punk-looking woman (Anna could respect a good leather jacket) looked to be friendly.

Attacking with the -2 to to hit for +2 to damage DC trade, if I could?

[prufock]

Xstatic
Condition: Caught off-guard
HP: 2

The explosion distracts Varish from tending to his patient. His eyes wide, he stares at the burning building. Oh god, what now? The fire had grown, consuming the building. There were people in there! Still, he couldn't help everyone at once. Better to focus on the task at hand. His first aid training wasn't much, but still he could help.

All right, let's spend that extra HP to reroll that Treatment check (+7) on this guy. If it's safe to move him back to where the doctor and paramedic are, I'll use my second action to do so.

[CandyLaser]

I'm not clear where we are in terms of who's free to act, or about the effectiveness of Viridian's last attempt to blind the Goth dude. PinkSpray, mind clarifying? I do plan to have Viridian go help with the burning building once I know she's able to act again.

[Objection]

Oculus
HP: 1 | Condition: Oh H-e-doublehockeysticks no!

Elaine is about to fire a dart at the octopus man when the car she is using for cover suddenly rises into the air and floats right over her head! Clearly someone here doesn't like her, but who? Of course, the more important thing is to get to safety, so Elaine runs away from the flying car and back towards Starbase Coffee.

Once she is no longer standing under a floating vehicle, Elaine looks at the superpowered beings in the street for the one who took control of the car. The obvious choice appears to be a woman hovering in mid-air with all sorts of detritus orbiting her. Fearing she may not have time to get a lock on her new target, Elaine fires off a dart from her finger towards the floating woman and hopes that it hits.

Seeing the car she was using as cover suddenly start flying is enough to distract Oculus from her original course of action, so disregard the aimed attack. She is now making a regular Finger Dart attack against the woman with the floating debris.

[BarbieTheRPG]

**** it, let's do the thang. I like your play style. Just do your thing. We'll sort it out. +5 Everyone! Get up!!



What man and what spell? C'mon. You gotta do better.



It wont cost a HP. Just a new standard action. But what Treatment action?



She was Aiming. She can break from that and help people if you want. You are free to act so chose the target or the people in the burning building.


After shifting position, Oculus targets the flying woman! _


Dart attack vs. Flying woman: [roll0]
-5 total concealment from the car
disregard Flying woman DC20 FRT save: [roll1]
Car smash vs. Oculus TGH: [roll2]
HP to the attack?

[Eldest]

Attacking, so I'm using the basic blasting spell, and if the octopus man I used mystic binding on isn't out of the fight I'm hitting them.

[Objection]

Nah, not gonna spend the HP just yet.

[CandyLaser]

I aimed, and then used Extra Effort to surge and attack on the same round. I don't know yet if the attack worked, which will determine if I break off next round.

[prufock]

It wont cost a HP. Just a new standard action. But what Treatment action?


Fair, I'll save the HP. I'm just attempting to Diagnose to ascertain whether it's safe to move the injured person; if so, I'll move him back to the same space I brought the last one, where the doctor and paramedic are.

[BarbieTheRPG]

The Yellow Brick Row ...

Sirens wail in the distance as the situation seems to worsen!

Several injured people in the street struggle to move and bystanders are still afraid to help them!

Drana channels the mana delivering a blast of mystic force at the immobilized octopoid-mutation! The blast connects and the freak lets out a horrid scream, "AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!" Further down the street the pedestrian bound by Drana's magics howls for help, "HHEEEEEELLLLLP!"


pedestrian DC18 Stunned check:[roll0]
Mystic Blast:[roll1]
Octo's DC28 TGH check:[roll2]
Octo is now Stunned and Staggered!



Xstatic continues to help the man he saved with assistance from bystanders. The man who said he was a paramedic says, "We got him! You probably saved his life - but there's more people out there! See if you can get them over here while we try to establish a makeshift triage! I know it's rough out there but people will die if you don't!"


Don't forget the Aid action, which can help the responders with their Treatment rolls and don't forget there are 5-6 more people laying in the street.




Kind of overkill but okay-


After taking careful aim at her disabled gothic attacker, Viridian unleashses another blast of dazzling energy at him! She tags the goth again and he folds his arms across his chest as he stumbles backwards nearly falling! "NNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"


Gothic's DC15 Perception check:[roll3]
Viridian's DC13 attack:[roll4](only misses on a 1)
Gothic's FRT check:[roll5](already visually-disabled)
Viridian is now Vulnerable until the end of her next turn. She is also Fatigued until she can rest a minute (-1 Movement; using a HP eliminates this)
He's Blinded (visually-unaware)!




After researching how the flying woman's power works, I need to revise what happened: Oculus misses. She throws the car at her. Oculus is allowed a Dodge check to avoid it. Failure means a damage check vs. half the rank (she gets caught by a fender).
Oculus Dodge:[roll6]
Oculus' DC20 TGH check:[roll7]
The heroine manages to leap out the flying car's path!


The wrecked and airborne vehicle sails at Oculus who avoids getting smashed at the last second! The car careens into a building causing a huge hole and the impact is heard across the city!


The characters can perform only free actions as the stormers now have actions.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Anima really helped the heroes and she should remind them at some point because they owe her.

[CandyLaser]

Why is Viridian Vulnerable?

[BarbieTheRPG]

My mistake. She's Fatigued and -5 Dodge, -5 Parry.

[BarbieTheRPG]

The Yellow Brick Row as sirens grow closer ..........

Two large fires continue to blaze at street corners! One has caved-in! There are still six injured pedestrians in the street struggling to move! Squid-man, frozen in place by Drana's magic, struggles against the mystic energy holding him! With a loud shout Octopus-man's four large tentacles expand outward - he's free! The freakish thug then drops to his knees as he now looks drained from the effort!


Squid-man's DC18 STR check:[roll0]
He's now -1 TGH checks and Staggered.


The purple giant groans again in pain! The monstrous man seems like he's trying to move, but he's just too injured!


Ogre's DC22 FRT check:[roll1]
Still Stunned.



About a hundred feet from the intersection, the clearly blinded gothic man staggers slowly through the street until he bumps into a parked vehicle! He frantically pats his hands on the car walking his way slowly towards the curb! A few concerned bystanders start to move his way ---


Twenty feet above the intersection the flying woman looks over the area and frowns, "Another time!" She turns mid-air and streaks off into the sky with unbelievable speed!



The heroes can take normal actions now.

[CandyLaser]

With her adversary dealt with, Viridian turned to deal with the burning buildings. Smothering the flames for the whole building seemed like a bit more than she could handle. That didn't mean she was useless. She called on the power of the orange stone. Her eyes and her aura shifted color, and the rubble that had fallen was limned by orange radiance. The fallen rocks rose into the air and shifted aside, hopefully clearing a path for those trapped inside to escape.

[Moro Asahina]

While Luna had been content so far to allow everyone else to continue duking it out, figuring that as long as they kept their attention on eachother the bystanders would have time to get away, her priorities had quickly changed when she saw one of the others moving off to set to work rescuing the people likely buried in the rubble. Might be I can't do much bout the fires and such, but they can... She gave a little nod before muttering "Right then, new plan..." She paused just long enough to see if the woman whose car she'd been punched into was still inside it, if she was, Luna would growl out "Things're bout ta get interestin lass, so yer gonna wanna get somewhere safe." before rushing the squid man and quickly throwing her foot up just in front of him before bringing it down hard in an axe heel kick. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she noted the altered shape of her foot, and the short claws, but that was yet another question for later.

"I was gonna let you lot sort this out yerselves, but theres people that need help an the longer the fightin keeps up, the longer it is til they can get it."


Since I think he's the only one nearby that is still up and potentially causing trouble (Except maybe for the Gothy Guy), Luna will move over to give the Squid man a kick, as before using both All Out and Power Attacks with Muay Thai as she's trying to end things quickly so the others with more versatile powers can refocus their efforts on helping the civvies.

While she's largely focused her attention on Squid Boy just now, if a Civvy in her range (Whatever is left of her move speed) is attacked she'll use Interpose to eat the hit as per usual.

[Eldest]

Drana watches, momentarily stunned, as somebody rushes out of nowhere and axe-kicks the squid thing in the face. She reaches for ambient mana to throw another spell, before hesitating. She missed last go around, and still needed to get that man out of the chains... but also she should help. Twisting her hands in a new pattern, she mutters a few words, blessing Luna with good fortune if it's needed, moving over to the trapped civilian. I'm gonna get you out of her, just give me a second.

[prufock]

Xstatic
Condition: Hurried
HP: 2

Head down, Varish bolts across the downtown battlefield toward the next civilian. This route takes him a little closer to the giant purple man than he would like, but the wolf-creature seemed to have put it down for the count. Gritting his teeth, he tries to ignore the danger about him. If he was to help these people, he wasn't going to be able to avoid getting into the action. He just hopes these sparks flying from him didn't hurt anyone.

Checking on the victim, he can see he is too late. Taking a quick moment to close the man's eyes, he moves on to the next one.

Varish moves to the next injured and uses Treatment to diagnose whether it's safe to move him, then moves him back to the same place as the previous two. This may take more than one round of actions (move, diagnose, move), in which case it will be part of his actions for the next round.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Not sure what Anima and Oculus are doing.

[Insolitus]

Anima breathes a sigh of relief as the one of the flying women leaves the area and the other moves to help those trapped in burning buildings. The werewolf woman appearing to be on their side is also a nice surprise. Still, her side continuing to sting from where the other apparent lycanthrope clawed her, it would be best to be wary.
Surveying the battlefield, she notices some concerned bystanders starting to move towards the blinded gothic man. Anima springs in to action, running towards them shouting, "GET BACK, HE'S DANGEROUS. GET OUTTA HERE". She sends a jolt of fear through the bystanders, enough to hopefully send them packing but not enough to send them into a panic.

Move near gothic man and bystanders, use power to try and get the bystanders to keep away from him and (if they're not emergency personnel) hopefully leave the area.

Also if it doesn't take an action, I'd like to have some idea of what the weird bathrobe guy is feeling through all this.

[BarbieTheRPG]

The Yellow Brick Row, 10:31 a.m.:

Black smoke from the Yellow Brick Row fires fill the sky over the area! There's a loud buzzing noise then a helicopter emerges from the billowing smoke above the buildings! It's news channel KOAY and the aircraft begins circling the area from 100 feet above the street!

Moving towards the kneeling, staggered squid-man Luna has to pass through a group of injured civilians bleeding out in the street! Ignoring the plight of desperate citizens, the wolf-woman kicks at the injured squid-man, knocking his prone and seemingly unconscious!


Luna's attack:[roll0]
Squidly's DC32 TGH check:[roll1]
Squidly's DC27 FRT check:[roll2]
Luna is -5 Dodge & Parry until the end of her next turn. Squid-man is Incapacitated.




I assume you're using Luck Control but how? The effect has four uses.



Xstatic reaches another victim who is bleeding a lot into the street and is not conscious .......


Treatment:[roll3]
Sadly, Xstatic can immediately tell this person has succumbed to their injuries. He can move the corpse from the street or edit your post and move to another victim next turn.



The people look at Anima, "But he's injured! He can't see and he might get hurt further!" Her power terrorizes the people and they move away from the area too afraid to provide assistance to the blinded gothic-looking man!

Another explosion as a nearby fire grows larger spreading across a building! The KOAY news-copter veers away from the pillar of smoke and flame trailing skywards! In the street, many of the blast victims have stopped moving!



How is Viridian moving rocks without making a check of some kind? This isn't freeform.

[Eldest]

Giving a reroll if needed was the thought, from my luck reserve. And would it be extra effort to do a power stunt to add some form of telekinesis to try to catch the helicopter?

[BarbieTheRPG]

Ogre's DC22 FRT check:[roll0]
Forgot this guy. He shakes the birds out of his head finally.

The fifteen-foot purple giant finally struggles to his feet while holding his abdomen. He looks around, grunts and leaps to a nearby rooftop exiting the 'Row!


Why is she trying to catch the helicopter? It isn't falling.

[CandyLaser]

The rocks are inanimate objects, so she can automatically hit them as a routine check with her Move Object power. She can lift up to 400 tons, so unless the rubble weighs more than two copies of the Statue of Liberty she's got no problems there.

[Eldest]

Misunderstood the helicopter. In that case... dispelling the bindings on the civvie?

[prufock]

Xstatic
Condition: Startled
HP: 2

Varish freezes for a moment as the purple giant rises to his feet, uncomfortably nearby. He lets out a long, relieved breath when the monster leaps away from the street.

Checking on the next victim, Varish mutters to himself Please don't be dead, please don't be dead...

Another treatment check to diagnose here.

[Objection]

Oculus
HP: 1 | Condition: What's all this then?

Now that the fighting seems to be wrapping up, Elaine takes a look around and starts to wish her replacement eyes could see through smoke. She does, however, spot a possible threat, although she isn't sure who it is. A man in gothic attire is stumbling around as if he is blind and several people are trying to help him but one person is adamant that the gothic man is dangerous. Figuring that it would be best to resolve this quickly before things escalate, she makes her way over to them.

"Can someone explain what's going on here?" Elaine asks those nearby.

Oculus moves towards wherever Anima and Gothy McGothface are and tries to get some information on what transpired in that part of Yellow Brick Row.

[Insolitus]

Anima approaches the gothic man, pulling out her plastic restraints and saying, "Sir, I'm placing you under arrest. I'm going to tie your hands behind your back and set you down somewhere safe. Do not move from this spot, I'll know if you do. We'll get your sight restored after all of this settles down." As she speaks, she pulls his arms behind his back and ties them together with her plastic restraints. Assuming that he doesn't resist, she pulls him aside and sets him down somewhere that appears safe.

As Oculus approaches, Anima says "This guy attacked the woman with the stones as she was trying to put out fires. I'm restraining him so he can't hurt anyone else or interfere with the rescue efforts."

"Now, if you want to help and can safely do so, there are actually innocent people in danger. Otherwise, get the **** out of here."

Rolling Persuasion to convince Gothy McGothface to surrender (implying that his best chance of getting his sight back quickly is to surrender). Then restraining his arms using Restraints equipment and moving him somewhere safe.
Also what is he feeling right now? (shouldn't take an action, automatic)

[BarbieTheRPG]

Thank you everyone for posting and great stuff so far. I'll update later and provide a map if players want it. You'll be getting some new friends soon as this campaign is designed for a big group.

[BarbieTheRPG]

The Yellow Brick Row:

Drana moves to the pedestrian circled in bands of eldritch energy and waves the mystic mana away. The man exhales and cries, "I was so afraid! Thank you! THANK YOU!!" He hugs Drana, crying on her shoulder!


Luck drops to 4. I reworked the Binding spell on my sheet to allow the Reversible modifier which grants Drana the ability to cancel the effects immediately. BUT, using the power now requires a Move action, so she can't move and cast Binding. Make your adjustment, please.



Leaving the corpse, Xstatic checks another victim laying inert in the street! The woman gasps and looks at Xstatic wildly!

Treatment:[roll0]
Dude/Dudette, you are ROCKING these rolls. He should've been a doctor! This victim has 2nd degree burns on most of her skin and mild seizures triggered by visual trauma. You can move her but you need to make a DC15 Persuasion check to keep her calm (she's panicked).




I love your posting style, Objection. Keep it up. If you need anything from me let me know.



Anima confronts the man and he either doesn't hear or ignores her. She tries to grab him but he snatches his arm away from her! His eyes are closed and he's staggering around waving his hands in front of him, but he's about to walk into a bench!


DC15 Persuasion check:[roll1]
He's not friendly indifferent and he's experiencing intense anger! The reroll was 29. Please don't assume outcomes. You want to perform a grab that requires a roll.




Drana has given all of you a free reroll for any failed rolls.

[Moro Asahina]

Assuming she's in range for the luck reroll, perhaps Anima should go ahead and be the one to use it? Assuming we don't each have one that is. Can't say I've ever actually tinkered with Luck Control so I'm not entirely clear on how it operates.

[BarbieTheRPG]

[roll0]
I'll revise the post to reflect this roll. Gothic-guy is Hostile. The roll shifts him to Indifferent.



Some of you are really struggling with this so I'm going to allow players to roll their own dice from here on. It should help.



I'm adding another house rule that allows players to mix and match Accurate Attack, All-out Attack, Defensive Attack, and Power Attack. At least one player is already doing it but according to the rules you can't combine them because using one means the character is performing a particular action.

[prufock]

Xstatic
Condition: Worried
HP: 2

Judging by the fright in her eyes, the woman's mental state is worse than her physical state. She has burns, but nothing fatal, though she appears to be in shock. Varish pulls off his jacket quickly and, wrapping it around her, speaks as warmly as his nerves will allow. Miss, my name is Varish. You're going to be all right, I'm just going to help you away from the danger here, okay? Can you tell me your name? Varish helps her to her feet, and puts his arm around her to ensure she doesn't fall.

[roll0]
If I need it, I'll use that Luck reroll: [roll1] (+10 if below 11)

[CandyLaser]

Do I need to make any die rolls for the use of Move Object, or is my earlier explanation of why I didn't roll anything adequate?

[BarbieTheRPG]

The Yellow Brick Row disaster ...


Xstatic manages to calm the woman as she seems to focus on him rather than her injuries!


She's safe to move now. Xstatic can address her wounds or just move her to the sidewalk triage.




Please let me know when you're using a Routine check in the future. The heroine lifts the burning blocks away but there are charred corpses of civilians inside the shop!



There does not seem to be any more superhuman threats. But there are two fires going on two corners and three injured people are still in the street laying inert!


The sirens close on the 'Row as the heroes can see fire trucks and police cars coming from several blocks away! Above the madness, a news media helicopter circles the area!


http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g254/PinkSpray/YBR_zpstmx560ky.jpg

[Eldest]

Drana goes to an injured man, laying her hands on his side where blood is seeping out. Don't worry, I'm helping. Abar! The healing spell wasn't one of the regular ones she'd practiced, but she still made sure she knew the theory behind it, in case of... in case.

Power stunting for a heal spell! Heal 5 with the resurrection and restorative extra, if you're okay with it, but I figure I would check first.

[Moro Asahina]

Luna gave a soft snort as the octopus man went down. She'd been hit with a kick like that before so she really didn't envy him when he woke up, but she didn't feel too badly about being the one to give it to...him?... all things considered. She was much more annoyed when she saw the purple prick leaping away on the roofs. I get the feelin I'm gonna see that prick again. Ah well, he got his warnin shot so if he doesn' listen I'll just have ta hit him harder next time. With a little shake of her head she sauntered over to where a man appeared to be trying to treat some of the people that were laying in the street. Though despite the casual air she seemed to be trying to project, her eyes were darting to and fro in search of any further threats thanks to the adrenaline still coursing through her. "A'right there doc? Looks like everyone's done bein stupid so I guess I'm yer Igor. How can I help?"


She's moving over to where Xstatic is treating the lady, and will use the rest of her actions to help him get the lady moved to the triage area or whatever he feels she can do to help out.

[Objection]

Since it seems Anima has given up on trying to apprehend Gothman, if Oculus decides to try instead, would Expertise (Law Enforcement) be an appropriate skill for the situation?

[Insolitus]

"Come on sir. Help me, help you. If you cooperate, not only will you get your sight restored sooner, but I can put in a good word for you, perhaps get your charges reduced. I'm asking you this because there are lots of people that are still in danger. I don't want to waste time forcibly cuffing you, but I will if I have to. Now what's it going to be, the easy way, or the hard way?"

"By the way, there is a bench in front of you."

Persuasion: [roll0]
If he cooperates, cuff his hands and move him to a safer spot.
If he is still doesn't cooperate, then Anima will use the power labelled Bliss on him, reducing his levels of aggression. If the Persuasion check is a standard action, then the use of her power will be next turn.

Completely forgot that Persuasion just changes attitude. I (and pretty much everyone I've played with) always run a houserule (in both M&M and D&D) where you could use a persuasion check to get a person to do a particular action if you have something they may want in return (kind of like how the Coercing function of Intimidation works in this, but with something they desire rather than with something they fear, and without becoming hostile after). The shifting attitudes type thing never really made much sense to me. But it's a perfectly valid way to play. Probably should of used intimidate instead, huh?

[CandyLaser]

Viridian winced at the sight of the corpses beneath the rubble she'd moved. Too late... she thought. Gently, she set the rubble down on clear parts of the street. These people... there wasn't much to be done, but there were more fires burning. Smothering seemed to work, better than lifting, so she went over to the closest fire and once more unleashed the power of the Viridian Crown. Its energy surged through her, an exultant burst of pure excitement, as reality bent to her will.

Another smothering green blanket of obdurate force enfolded the burning building, starting at the points that were burning that she could see from the street. She was careful not to exert pressure with her constructs - no sense risking bringing the building down. Rather, the glowing green energy just spread out over the flames. Hopefully, it would work as well here as it did on the burning car.

Attack roll is routine. I believe that last time, PinkSpray rolled an opposed check of the power's effect rank vs. the fire's rank, so I'm going to roll the first of those: [roll0]

[prufock]

Xstatic
Condition: Startled
HP: 2

Varish takes a step back as his eyes go wide and his heart skips a beat -- or a few beats. I'm... I... don't... who...? Where did this monster come from? Still, under that part-growl it was almost... polite?

The patients might be, uhh, a little startled by your, um, appearance he manages to get out. His voice hadn't cracked this much since puberty! He clears his throat and tries to sound more authoritative. AHEM -- but maybe you could move some of these vehicles out of the way so emergency services can get through?

Varish turns and grimaces as he helps the injured woman to the triage site. Did he just talk to a werewolf?!

[Moro Asahina]

Luna arches a brow at Varish's behavior, which looks a little odd on a wolf's face but still recognizable. She'd more or less forgotten about her altered appearance, what little she'd seen of it so far, in the excitement and agitation of the fight. All the same, she, and more importantly the injured folk around them, didn't have time to muck about so she simply nodded when he finally got himself together enough to make his request. She closed her eyes for a moment and listened, her ears twitching to face this way and that as she tried to pinpoint which direction the sirens were coming from. A couple of moments later, once she'd decided on a direction, the wolf woman gave another nod and turned to start heading off in the direction she'd decided on. "Sure, I can do that. Keep an ear out though, cause I'll call out if I find anyone else that needs a hand. An be careful of Squidward over there. Pretty sure I broke his beak er whatever, but I'm not sure how long he'll be out. So sing out if ya need a hand." Giving a lazy gesture towards the squid man's prone form nearby.

With her piece said, she trots off to see about clearing out some space. With the explosions, a lot of the window are probably already broken out, but if she comes across one thats in the way whose driver's side window isn't busted and the door is locked she isn't above busting it out to move the steering wheel in the direction she needs to. Should she come across any survivors in the cars, she'll do a quick check to see if they're still breathing, and if they are call out to let Varish or anyone else nearby that seems to be working on rescue efforts know.


Looks like the rest of her actions will be taken up by moving cars. So she'll be making a perception check to see if she can figure out the general direction that the sirens seem to be coming from, and she'll be trying to clear at least one lane of traffic coming from that direction first. How she'll go about it will depend on the car in question. Any that are still running or have the keys still inside she'll just back them up onto the sidewalk. Any that don't she'll see if she can't put them in neutral to make it easier to push then out of the way. Once in place she'll throw on the E-brake rather than putting them in park just in case the actual rescue workers want to move them again once they get here.

As I mentioned in the post itself, she'll be checking to see if the doors are unlocked first before resorting to busting out windows to get at the steering wheel/change gears. Should she find someone in one of the cars that is still breathing she'll call them out and move on to the next car just in case they shouldn't be moved.


---ROLLS---
Perception
[roll0]

I assume a strength check will be needed if she has to actually push any cars she gets to.
[roll1]

[BarbieTheRPG]

The Yellow Brick Row:

As the superhumans focus on the fires and injured, Emerald City Fire and Rescue arrives! Several police cruisers and two ambulances also streak onto the row! Emergency personnel rush across the area to either quench the fires with hoses or assist the injured with med-kits. Police turn to getting the crowds and traffic moving from the area but the cops also rush at the supers pulling their weapons out! "GET DOWN ON YOUR KNEES NOW!" It seems the police may open fire even before the supers can react but people from the crowds shout at the cops, "NO! They're not the bad guys! They saved a lot of people! That vampire-looking guy over there and the freak with tentacles are the crooks!"

The cops are skeptical at first but after confronting gothic-guy and collecting squid-man from the street, both are taken into police custody. Some officers approach the supers, "If what we hear is right, you did a very heroic thing here today. The city of Emerald can't thank you enough. We'll probably need a statement from you. What can you tell us about everything that happened?"

As the supers consider their reactions, they notice traffic has started to flow through the 'Row again slowly. Many people are rubber-necking to look at the scene which is making it hard for the emergency personnel to get the wounded to hospitals!


Everyone make a Perception check. One fire is still going but supers can help ECFD fight it. Supers can help move the many wounded to ambulances or paramedics. Supers can make a statement to the police about what happened. Supers can help the cops get traffic moving again. Supers can leave. Supers can meet each other.



Make a Healing check. Drana is now Fatigued (-1 rank movement) from extra effort.



Make an Aid check (use her Strength rank) to help ECPD clear vehicles out of the street unless you want to do something else.



If you're trying to detain him, that's a Grab or Trip attack. Since the cops are already arresting Gothy, Oculus can assist with an Aid action (Attack check) or do something else.



Your roll was too high for the fire's 5 ranks to challenge and it's smothered in seconds! As firefighters arrive, Viridian can help them check buildings for survivors and dose remaining flames or something else.



Make a Treatment check with the same +2 bonus if he's continuing to help EMS.

[Eldest]

[roll0]

I'll need to know if it works before I write the fluff.

[BarbieTheRPG]

The victim has shifted from Dying to Incapacitated. She knows she just saved a life!

[CandyLaser]

Viridian wasn't entirely happy with this level of public scrutiny. It was inevitable, and she knew it, but nevertheless now that it was actually happening it left her feeling uncomfortably exposed. There was no going back, however. She'd made her debut, and there was no way that the Malakov Mafiya wouldn't figure out where she got her powers. She could only hope that her illusory disguise would be sufficient to prevent anyone from connecting this new costumed hero with Amy Archer.

When the first responders arrived, Viridian made herself available to them. She flew to whoever seemed to be in charge. "I'm here to help. What should I do?" Smothering fires seemed to be easy for her, so unless she received other directions, that was what she did. Her next priority was helping clear paths - getting burned cars out of the road, getting rubble out of buildings, and the like. She couldn't do much to help the injured directly, but she did everything she could to help the EMTs and fire departments do their work quickly, efficiently, and safely.

[Moro Asahina]

Luna looked up from the car she'd been moving and gave a soft huff, muttering, "Bout time they got here..." Though her relief quickly turned to annoyance when they hopping out of the cars and pointed their guns at her and the others who were helping people. Thankfully, before she could do or say anything to potentially exacerbate the situation some of the people they'd been helping spoke up and set them straight.

It didn't take long for some of the officers to start working to clear the streets of the wrecks, and once she gave them a quick onceover to try and get an idea on what the plan was she moved to help the nearest officer with moving the cars. "Budge over a bit and I'll give ya a hand." Giving the officer a light nudge with her elbow to get him to make room. Assuming he does, she'd put her back into clearing the street enough for the first responders to get through a bit easier, and after them for traffic to start flowing once again.


One perception check as requested.
[roll0]

And a strength based aid check
[roll1]

[Insolitus]

Anima, still feeling the hurt and the wounded around her, helps direct emergency services to trapped individuals. Her abilities allowing her to find them where ordinary senses would fail. After she does what she can, she slips away into the crowds, eschewing fame and glory, her mask once again returned to her bag.

I messaged PinkSpray about this already, but I figured I should mention it here as well. Unfortunately things have changed and I'm finding myself with far less free time than I thought I would have. As such, I will have to withdraw from the game. Sorry for any inconvenience. I wish you all the best and hope the game goes great.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Was waiting for Objection to post. Two more players will be joining since we lost one or two people. They should be posting soon. Just because we're online doesn't mean players can't discuss options with each other OOC. I'm fine with open discussion. Sorry to see Anima go but it happens. I will make mistakes despite my experience. If you catch it, let me know and I'll toss you a hero point. That's being a great player in my book. I'll have a post later.

[Eldest]

Drana goes around to all the victims she can find, trying to revive them, doggedly ignoring cops and reporters alike. She's almost swaying on her feet after a few tries, before long she's done all that she can. She grins in relief and joins the others, quietly slipping into the group.

[Objection]

Oculus
HP: 1 | Condition: Nostalgic

After the police arrive, Elaine figures that they can handle the now-weakened troublemakers, but with traffic moving slowly, she decides to put her old cop skills to use by getting those vehicles that can still move out of the ambulances' and fire engines' ways as quickly as possible - a task that reminds her of one of the first duties she had when she was on the force.

Sorry about my low posting frequency. I've got quite a few things going on but I think I can still keep going with this game.

Expertise (Law Enforcement) check to either start directing traffic or help the cops who are directing traffic: [roll0]

[Eldest]

Health is universal, everyone has the same amount. It's tied in with fatigue.

[Objection]

If you mean health as in hit points WhovianBeast, they don't really exist in M&M.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Using Extra Effort for Healing repeatedly will knock her out. A burst-area extra effect is better. It leaves Drana exhausted (-2 checks and -1 movement). Otherwise, she would only be able to use EE two more times before passing out. Say Healing 10, burst area, persistent, resurrection, stabilize, distracting. That would save a lot of people at a cost of Exhausted to Drana before she uses a HP to reduce the effects on her.




ECPD gains a plus from you.




The setting info doesn't provide that. I'll say around five miles. 'Speed Velocity' allows you to increase your speed before or after teleports equal to your rank. He can wield the sword one-handed with the off-hand being -5 to hit. As it is 'subtle 2' the teleport is undetected BUT attack actions after the teleport requires a Stealth check for any sort of surprise. Your health is 'normal', only shifted by failed Toughness, Fortitude or Will checks.

[Eldest]

Aoe heal it is!

[Moro Asahina]

Just as she and the officer, whom she'd decided looked like a "Tom" since they hadn't had the chance to introduce themselves just yet, were getting started on making a path in the street she felt someone tap her on the shoulder. She hadn't heard anyone coming up behind her, but then it was still pretty noisy what with the sirens and people yelling about this or that so she wasn't too surprised she'd missed him. She did, at least, have the presence of mind to glance behind her before mouthing off to make sure it wasn't a cop or someone similarly official before heaving a sigh of long suffering and turning to face the man. Though she does take a step to the side to put herself between the cop and the nutter with the butter knife. "An I'm givin you ta the count a 3 ta shut up, put that toy away fore ya hurt yerself, shut up again, an stay outa the way if yer not gonna help clean up this mess." As she spoke she held a finger up, pointed at his sword, held up a second finger, then pointed off to the side and out of the way as she finished her little rant.

While normally she might have been a bit calmer about it all and let the officer handle it, she still had some of the adrenaline from the fight racing through her and had been alternating between annoyed and not a little confused since the whole thing had started. After all, she'd been punched into a car not five minutes prior and been able to not only get up as though nothing had happened but kick a giant purple man who had to have been at least three times her size hard enough to put him on the ground til just before the cops arrived. And all that before knocking out some sort of squid man. This's been a weird kinda day...wonder if I can get the cops ta buy me a pint fer helpin out.


Dunno how far they got into moving the cars or if you wanted to reply before we continued the scene, but figured I'd go ahead and roll with Whovian's post. I can always copy/pasta this post to put it after yours if you did wanna post the results of her strength check and/or the cop's reaction to being nudged and such first.

[Eldest]

Drana feels the magic as the blade's properties change, and walks over to look at the newcomer with scorn. She's been more help than you, so far! She folds her arms across her chest, trying to quiet the little voice in her head worrying at her that she might guess wrong about one of the two strangers.

Assuming that the angel dude who I can't recall the name of uses magic! She can sense it.

[prufock]

Xstatic
Condition: Still sparking
HP: 2

Varish makes room for the EMTs to take over with the woman he had been helping. There are two more injured over there. There's a doctor and paramedic on site already, but I think they're off duty. He points to the triage area. As he does, a series of blue-white sparks cascades down his arm and snaps with a shock between his fingers. I believe I may need to be examined as well after we take care of some of the more urgent injuries. That's been happening since the explosion. I was standing next to that control junction over there - a wave of his hand emits another series of sparks - and I seem to be carrying a charge. I'm grounded, and it hasn't hurt me, so I don't think it's dangerous, but I'd like to know why.

[BarbieTheRPG]

The Yellow Brick Row, 10:59 a.m.:

With the aid of Viridian, the firefighters put out all the fires but many of them are shaken by the resultant devastation! They are also amazed at Viridian's energy manipulation powers asking her her name and where she's from. Drana, Xstatic and the cluster of emergency medical responders manage to get the injured into the fleet of ambulances pouring into and out of the 'Row! Many of the civilians and paramedics shake the heroes hands as they are impressed with the supers' compassionate action. Assisting ECPD with traffic control, Luna and Oculus are a noticeable key to the effort of restoring order to the embattled tourist district. The cops try to joke with Luna due to her gregarious nature, while a few cops ask Oculus if she's been in law enforcement before based on the super's experience handling the scene!

When Azraphael arrives then confronts Luna, a group of police officers take a stance around her telling the divine champion that he should relax because Luna's proven herself one of the good guys. The cops ask if Azraphael has a license for his sword. They could be joking or serious, it's hard to tell. The Fire department's HAZMAT team shows up but the EC Police Chief Tolliver appears yelling at them to stand-down since a proper investigation needs to be done. The tall African-American man in his 50's eyes the supers curiously as cops flow around him following his commands. Many of the remaining bystanders are now being questioned by policemen.

Despite the semi-chaotic scene and the sudden appearance of a sword-wielding gentleman, everyone notices a black, luxury-model limousine cruising slowly through the area. The windows are darkly-tinted so seeing inside with normal vision is impossible. The vehicle moves much slower than any other as if whoever is inside is observing the 'Row closely. The car almost comes to a stop when passing any of the supers. Another rubbernecker. The cops move towards the limo and wave it off signaling the driver to get going. The vehicle picks up speed and begins to exit the 'Row.

The news helicopter still hovering overhead is soon joined by two more helicopters circling slowly over the Yellow Brick Row! Then several local news-vans streak into the area with reporters rushing from their vehicles with microphones and cameramen in tow! The cops' attitudes shift towards frustration as they move towards the oncoming crowd of reporters but the journalists run past them and crowd around the supers!! Even the airborne Viridian is waved at repeatedly by reporters as they try to get her to land! The reporters assault the supers with questions: "Who are they? Where did they come from? What happened? How were they able to do the amazing feats they do? Who were the other people they were fighting? Are they a new team of superheroes like the Freedom League? What's their agenda in Emerald City?" LOTS of questions with microphones, recorders and cameras pushed in the supers' faces!!

As the cops try to break-up the onslaught of reporters, a middle-aged Asian-American female wearing glasses approaches the supers asking for statements regarding what happened. She identifies herself as Detective Maggie Buckner. Firefighters have begun investigating demolished vehicles in the street and nearby buildings trying to determine the source of the explosion.



Firefighters:[roll0]
+5 bonus from Viridian (we'll call her Aid check Routine using her powers)



Cops' row:[roll1]
+5 from the Aid checks of Luna and Oculus



Paramedics check:[roll2]
+5 from the efforts of Drana and Xstatic



She would be Exhausted from the effort due to using extra effort more than once. You can spend your 2 HP to return to normal. Drana can sense a unique energy emanating from Azraphael but it isn't quite magic. It's like magic but not. Make a DC15 Expertise: Magic check to identify the energy.



I used a Routine Perception check for those who didn't make the requested roll. You guys rock in that department :smalltongue:



She would suddenly recall that while scanning the cafe' for hackers, Oculus spotted the now-demolished truck a split-second before it exploded! It was the source of all this! Make a DC15 Will check to remember the name on the side of the truck since there's no way of telling now.



1. Talking to reporters
2. Talking with Det. Buckner
3. Talking with Chief Tolliver
4. Talking to each other
5. Help investigate the scene
6. Something else?

[Objection]

Will check:[roll0]

Will put up an IC post either later today or tomorrow.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Okay. Remember that talk we had about 'heroes vs. anti-heroes'? You're already crossing lines I meant players not to cross:
1. Showing an attitude to cops.
2. Threatening teammates after that super is identified as a hero.

I do not want people feeling uncomfortable playing with you or you can't game with us. While I realize "good isn't always nice" I did specifically request a certain kind of character for this. That has not changed. On accurate Teleport: your character's teleporting into a vehicle with passengers inside that you can't see. As we discussed earlier, teleporting into a space occupied by another object or person can be very bad. Are you sure you want to do that?

[CandyLaser]

This had been the first time Amy had really taken the Viridian Crown out for a spin, and truth be told, it felt good. There was something intoxicating about being able to reach out and put out a burning building, or lift a half-ton of rubble without breaking a sweat. Not for the first time, she was pleased that she'd managed to keep it out of the Malakov Mafiya's hands. She wasn't immune to the temptations of power; far from it. But giving something with this much power to a criminal? It was a recipe for disaster.

At first, Amy did her best to keep her face out of pictures, by turning away from journalists, using her protective field to obscure her, or just by flying away when one got too close. But as the day wore on and the crowds of reporters and first responders remained, she decided that her attempts to stay out of pictures were fruitless. Better just lean into it, she thought. If they think I have nothing to hide, they may not dig at all.

That went for the police too - and they had subpoena powers. So once she was no longer needed to deal with the destruction, she flew over to Chief Tolliver, landing a respectful distance away from him and approaching slowly. "Chief Tolliver," she said - of course she knew him by sight from her years as a freelance reporter - "I'd like to introduce myself. You can call me Viridian, and I'm here to help."

[BarbieTheRPG]

1. The cop asked him if he had a license, clearly he didn't, so he showed the cop the closest thing, the mark of the angel that chose him to be this way.
Not always respectful: See also, Iron man, Hawkeye, Spiderman.
2. Threat? I intended that he was just saying he'd sort out what was going on later when there weren't dozens of reporters around and they could actually talk. Not that he'd execute or attack her. He's acting cold because most tales of werewolves are, y'know, monsters. Is it too much to ask for the man-who-hasn't-worked-with-a-decent-person-in-years to be able to hold new 'friends' at arm's length, especially when walking in on massive destruction where they are the only supers present? I can drop the whole 'mistrusting' thing if you really wish though.
3. My impression is that you were asking for a good-aligned hero who doesn't kill people. I gave you a near-paladin who doesn't kill and you're unhappy because he doesn't happen to be social? I thought these were meant to be superheroes, not Care Bears. He just doesn't trust people quickly, especially not when they are a stereotypical monster.
Again, I can drop the 'cold shoulder' thing if you wish or if you require it to continue play.
4. I think I'll pass on the 'impalement by teleport'. I will try to port onto the trunk lid however (as a move action), and trade my standard action for a move action to teleport myself and the rear window glass an inch forward. This SHOULD have the effect of having the glass fall inside the car so I can see.


I missed the cops supporting Luna. I've edited the reaction on #125 to reflect this. I'll read more carefully in the future.

As I posted on the OP, I need OOC comments like the above in a spoiler tag. Same for rolls. Please edit your post and re-read the OP if necessary. I'm thinking we misunderstood each other during recruitment. I'm looking for sane, law-abiding characters who can get along with other people. On your points:
1. I'm not talking about those superheroes. I'm talking about superheroes in this particular campaign and what I expect. Teamwork, respect for authority, at least a measure of friendliness.
2. Yes. Drop the whole 'mistrusting thing'. Your character was told by police that the others are heroes. That should do.
3. I never asked for Care Bears. If that's how you feel, please don't play. I don't want players who feel I'm asking them to do anything that isn't fun. It's just a game after all :smallsmile:
4. That would also have the effect of dropping the glass onto the driver while the vehicle is moving down a crowded city street. Are you sure you want to do that?

[Zen Gypsy]

Quicksilver
Hero Points: 1 of 1 | Luck: 2 of 2
Condition: Normal

Cameron and his partner Javier had been on shift since 7am, it was a typical Saturday in Emerald City, and as such they had only responded to a single call. A late 40's gentleman who had forgotten to pack his heart medication while visiting his daughter who was attending Emerald City University, Javier monitored while allowing Cameron to take the lead with the casualty and his distraught wife. The ECG read like a mild heart attack, and the man was distressed, claiming difficulty breathing, as such Cameron was able to get him loaded onto the gurney, and affixed him with an O2 mask, once in the ambulance he was able to administer GTN. Javier reminded him to send the results of the ECG to the Cardio unit at the Blessed Shroud so they could prep a team and pull the casualty's file.

After handing their patient off to the Cardio unit it was time for paperwork and coffee, and a discussion of the morning's events with his superior. Javier had a good eye for the situation, and was able to provide Cameron with both an honest evaluation and appraisal and feedback to ensure that he didn't repeat what few mistakes had been made. It was 10:17 when they received their second call of the day, dispatch had it pegged as a diabetic seizure, certainly not life threatening, but they would want to check blood sugar and insulin levels when they got on site. Unfortunately, as the duo quickly discovered, the incident was taking place on the 2nd level of the Atlas Mall, right in the center of the Yellow Brick Row, on a Saturday morning at 10am!

Traffic was snarled by 10:25, and for some reason the guy in the damn Red Shift Energies van would NOT move out of their way, despite their lights & siren. Luckily the Atlas Mall was in sight, and less than a block away. "F%^k this guy Almieda! Mall's less than a block, lets move on foot, we're snarled. This is b%!!$^!*!!!. Javier shrugged,

"Alright kid, I got you. You'll be first on scene, this @$$^0^# won't move!" He gave the Redshift truck a very undignified hand gesture, "But this lady seems like she's getting the hint and moving her god damn station wagon outta the way. I should be clear in five or so. Grab the bag and meet you there."

Cameron slid to the back, grabbed the paramedic's bag and slinging it over his shoulder, he grabbed his kit in his left hand and opened the doors at the back, sliding past the gurney. He started running past the cube van that had been blocking them, absently looking in the cab. Seconds later that's when it happened.



"The Yellow Brick Row: The loud, heart-stopping sounds of an explosion and shattering glass along with the accompanying shock strike you all without warning! Within moments, a strange cloud of silvery mist blankets the surrounding area! Just as panic and flight are about to take hold, the cloud begins to swirl without any evident prompting from the wind! It whips itself into a cyclonic mass, discharging what appear to be bolts of bluish lightning both within itself and outward around its immediate vicinity! Both blast and bolts subside and begin to dissipate before anyone (yourselves included) can adjust to the scene, leaving the dead and injured as the most immediate concern. The fleeing, panicked crowds and hopelessly jammed roads make you all the only first-responders available for the critically injured now!"

He felt the shock wave before he heard it, it slammed his body, HARD, against a car, and then he was running trying to avoid debris that the explosion had flung with tremendous force. For seconds that seemed to stretch like eternity, he felt his entire nervous was on fire, like hooks had dug into every nerve ending within his body and began to pull in a myriad of different directions. He screamed, the silver particulate and electrical flashes rolling over his body, drowning out his screams, his pain. His throat was raw, abraded, he was coughing, choking, surrounded by this silver tinged cloud, arcs of blue lightning flashing along voluminous, billowing perimeter. He watched as the cloud slowly enveloped everything, roiling over cars, buildings, people, the lightning arcing from structure to structure, person to person. It was almost as if it illuminated those from within. There was the sound of rushing air as the cloud rolled over him, the arcs singing him, burning him, he ducked, he ran for cover ...

Boo-ooooOo--oooom!!!!

Everything was a blur, cars, streets, houses, buildings, greenery. Those between the Downtown Core and Oceanside would remember a streak, largely thought to be an after shock of what the media would later dub the SIlver Storm, shooting across the Red River throwing a rooster tail hundreds of feet into the air.

He awoke minutes later, "The Hell ...", he sat up, looked down at his shredded uniform with a quizzical look. He remembered the area, Oceanside, he'd brought Tish here for a weekend on the coast a few years ago. He looked around again, moments ago he had been in Riverside, outside the Atlas Mall. He walked in a daze towards an ever present Starbase Coffee, he knew the trendy hi-tech cafe would have wireless and he'd be able to ...

He stared at the screen incredulously, aerial shots of a super hero brawl in the middle of the devastated area outside of the Atlas Mall. All sorts of conjecture as to what had happened, terrorists, bombing, alien attack, other dimensional attack, even carefully worded allusions to the Terminus Event which occurred in Freedom City in the early '90's.

He walked out of the cafe as quickly as he had walked in, mumbling an apology to a couple whom he had bumped into.

"Javier?" He said to himself softly, his departure from the Oceanside Starbase Coffee was accompanied by a low key sonic boom ... and suddenly he found himself amid the chaos of the Yellow Brick Row and it's aftermath.

He virtually ignored the super heroes and the police, after all he hadn't been on scene during the incident, his primary focus was finding his partner Javier. He began to move through the wreckage, looking for the ambulance, all he could remember is that it had been behind a company cube van, and beside a station wagon. He shook his head for a moment, his concern for his partner nearly clouding his responsibility to provide for the injured. He wandered towards the triage area, speaking quietly, looking the part of a shell shocked EMT, his uniform ripped and shredded.

"Cameron Chase, junior EMT, Blessed Shroud Hospital. My ambulance is somewhere over there," he waved his hand vaguely towards Atlas Mall, "where do you need me?"

It appeared that one of the super heroes had made his way to Triage as well,
I believe I may need to be examined as well after we take care of some of the more urgent injuries. That's been happening since the explosion. I was standing next to that control junction over there - a wave of his hand emits another series of sparks - and I seem to be carrying a charge. I'm grounded, and it hasn't hurt me, so I don't think it's dangerous, but I'd like to know why.

Cameron approached him, "You," he paused, "you think you were altered by the event?" He paused, approached the man but was careful about touching him due to the random sparks that were crackling along the surface of his skin. "My names Cameron Chase, I'm a junior EMT with the Blessed Shroud. Have a seat over here, away from the equipment, as a," he paused again, nervously, "a precaution. Now can you tell me what you experienced during the initial explosion, what do you recall?"

[Eldest]

Derp. Ignore.

[Moro Asahina]

Meryl couldn't quite help the low growl that rumbled in her chest as she was first called a "thing" and then a "beast" by the tetchy berk with the sword. She was more than a little surprised when he teleported onto the car they'd just been moving though she didn't really understand why he'd done it. Having the high ground in a fight was all well and good but it didn't mean a lot when it was relatively unstable ground. Though she supposed it didn't much matter in the end since it gave her a potential advantage should this come to a fight.

When the officers and that cute lass with the pretty purple hair, who she was pretty sure she'd seen throwing around some kind of weirdness during the fight, rallied around her she really hoped she wasn't blushing. Thankfully, while she was, her new coat of fur prevented it from being visible. All the same the show of support allowed her to relax enough to let the others diffuse the situation. I really need ta find a mirror and see what all the fuss is about. While most didn't seem to be reacting too badly to her presence, this was the second time someone reacted strangely to her appearance. She knew that her arms had fur and, now that she looked down at herself she saw the white fur peeking out of the fist sized hole in both her top and sports bra that she'd noticed earlier. So she was pretty sure she was covered in the stuff. Add to that, her feet felt rather uncomfortable in the trainers she'd been wearing for her run so there had to be more to it than that. The rate todays goin, I'm gonna need more than just a pint.

She arched her brow and cocked her head a bit as the guy showed them some sort of tattoo as his "license" then immediately moved on to his not quite apology and teleported off again. Apparently either bragging or to terrorize the limo that had just passed by a minute ago. She wasn't sure which, but she'd already turned her attention to the officers around her and offered what looked to be a lupine grin if her amused and slightly bewildered tone was anything to go by. "Thanks fer that. Not sure what he was on about, but todays been a weird kind a day already so I guess I shouldn be surprised. Gonna need a coupla pints a plain fore the days out if this keeps up though." Unnoticed behind her, her tail began wagging lightly as her mood lightened. Even the slight growl that had permeated her voice had receded a bit, letting more of her usual irish lilt slip through.

Unfortunately, being near the outskirts of the scene meant that she was one of the first ones caught up in the reporters' frenzy, though she quickly ducks behind the officers to escape. "Ehhh, right then, I'll just leave you lads to it. Probly fer the best if I go give my statement and let you lot deal with the vultures." She gave them a cheeky wink , though she paused when she noticed that Drana seemed to be pretty knackered and she leaned over to give the girl a light nudge to get her attention, lowering her voice as much as she could with the reporters yelling nearby when she spoke. "Ya alright there? If yer not feelin too good ya should probly sit fer a minute, an I'm sure we can find ya some water ta drink. Comin down from a fight can be a bit rough the first coupla times." Apparently, she assumed that whatever signs of fatigue Drana was showing were due to the adrenaline crash that was fairly common among fighters. Meryl was actually a little surprised that she wasn't feeling much of it herself just now, but she dismissed it fairly quickly since her fights hadn't actually lasted all that long. For now though, she'd just wait for her turn to give her statement now that traffic seemed to be flowing at least reasonably well trough the row.


Bit of a long one, but there was a bit to catch up on >.>

I'm assuming that Drana has purple hair since thats what her character sheet said. If not let me know and I'll go back and edit it.

Meryl's Translation Corner - It's an easy one this go around, but figured I'd include it anyway
A Pint of Plain - A pint of (usually) Guinness.

[Eldest]

Drana carefully ignores the reporters, relying on standing next to the werewolf to deflect questions, but gives a statement to the detective that boils down what she saw. When she gets advice from the werewolf, she nods along. I haven't done a spell that big in a while... by the way. Anna. She sticks out a hand to shake. You, ah. You look interesting. Was the change intentional? It wasn't magic, I can tell that much. Only the sword man had some sort of magic, though I can't put my finger on something strange about it... hopefully he doesn't come back!

Naturally, she'll warm up to him shortly.
[roll0] Expertise Magic DC 15 to figure out what's "off" about Azraphael. I figure I'm going to let her stay exhausted unless another fight breaks out, it seems a more interesting narrative than having a sudden second wind.

[Moro Asahina]

Meryl nodded politely when Detective Buckner introduced herself and asked for their statements. When it was her turn, she reached up and scratched her head for a moment, blinking in surprise as she finally noticed her new ears. Though she shrugged it off quickly enough and decided to start from the beginning. "Well, I was havin a bit o breakfast in the diner over there when it all started." She gave a soft growl of annoyance before continuing. "I'd just gotten my food too when I hear somethin really loud behind me. Like an explosion or somethin ya know? Well, I turned around ta see what was goin on and got hit by some sorta energy er something right here." Tapping the hole in her clothing as she said this.

"Dunno what it was, but it hurt like hell I'll tell ya that. Guess I musta passed out er somethin cause when I came to the place was in a shambles already. Course thats when I noticed the plum colored prick just outside the diner. He had ta be a good three times as big as me an all muscle ta boot. I was still kinda confused an all, but I saw he was bout ta hit this lass that was sittin in her car. Guess she musta been stuck er something." She gave a little shrug as she really wasn't sure why the woman had been in the car still, but then there'd just been an explosion and stuff had been on fire so she couldn't blame her for it. "Well, I was movin fore I realized it and took the hit for er. Still left a pretty good dent in her car though." Turning to gesture back towards where the car in question had been, though it had probably been moved by now. "Needless ta say, I didn't much appreciate it so I hopped up an belted him one right in the gut. The pansy went down like a bag a bricks an stayed that way til I got a little antsy an went ta put down Squidward over there. Guess he's got a glass...eh, beak, er whate'er a squid has cause he went down an stayed down til you lot got here. Far as I know, wasn much else that happened after that."

Afterwards, Meryl returned her attention to Anna and blinked a bit in surprise as she mentioned casting spells, but she doesn't bother thinking too hard on that for now and takes the offered hand. Her grip is firm, and now that you have the opportunity to actually feel it, her fur is almost silken soft to the touch. "Nice ta meetcha, I'm Meryl." She chuckles lightly at her questions and gives a little shrug. "Do I? Can't say I've had a chance to have a look in the mirror just yet so I dunno what ta tell ya. I'm not the one that did it though. Like I told the Detective, last I remember I was just enjoyin a bit a breakfast when I get hit by somethin. Dunno what it was, but it hurt like hell an I just sorta woke up like this." At the mention of Azraphael, she gave a rather unladylike snort. "Yeah, seemed a bit off in the head that one. Thanks fer that by the way. Ya gave me a chance ta cool off a bit rather'en just knock his pan in like I'd been about ta fer waving that butter knife a his round at everyone."


Only reason I didn't bother including Berk in the translation corner was cause it sees more widespread use than a pint of plain does. Figured most people would know the more common quasi expletives like berk, prick, idjit, etc. as they tend to be show up in just about any movie involving someone who is even vaguely from the region.

[Eldest]

Anna nods along. 'Bout that mirror... one second. She takes her hat off her head, waving her hand over it. Hocus pokus, mmm? She grins at her own theatricality, and produces an illusionary rabbit from the hat, which (with a puff of smoke) turns into a small hand mirror. She hands it over. You, uh. Please don't freak out?

Sleight of Hand to palm a mirror and cover it with the illusions. [roll0]

[prufock]

Xstatic
Condition: Still sparking
HP: 2

After helping the paramedics move a few injured people to safer locations, Varish sits down with an EMT identifying himself as Cameron Chase. Altered? Well, uh, yeah, I guess you could call it that. I'm not sure if this is a known medical condition or not, but it's kind of freaking me out. I'm with the city, I work on electrical systems, and I had just opened that box over there to do some maintenance when I was knocked down. I thought I had gotten a shock, at first... Varish goes into his version of events as best he can recall, stumbling his way through as new information occurs to him.

...and then you guys showed up. So, do you think it's serious? he asks, snapping his fingers and producing yet another shower of bluish sparks.

[BarbieTheRPG]

The Yellow Brick Row, 11:04 a.m.

While Viridian greets Chief Tolliver, a few reporters rush over to film the meeting. A few cops manage to get between the Tolliver and the press keeping them a few yards distance. The Police Chief looks Viridian over cautiously.


Make a DC15 Persuasion check. Does she wear any kind of mask? I'm trying to see if she might be recognized by other reporters.



Azraphael appears on the trunk of the moving limo! Bystanders point and shout seeing him from the sidewalks!


Make a DC15 Acrobatics check to remain standing on the moving car. Teleporting the glass requires Extra Effort since he doesn't have that power (he can teleport objects and people he can actively hold but the window is fixed). At a cost of Fatigue (-1 Movement until he can rest unless you spend a HP to eliminate Fatigue) he can teleport the glass away with a standard action attack.



Cameron and Varish meet for the first time just as one of them hears a familiar voice call out, "CAM!" Javier appears from the passing crowds ! He has a bandage on his head but his expression displays relief.

Just beyond the riot of reporters, Luna and Drana get to meet.



Players can continue doing what you like here.

[CandyLaser]

I can't fail the Persuasion check, but I'll roll just to see how many degrees of success I get: [roll0]. Viridian doesn't wear a mask; she looks just like her picture. However, she does use the Crown to project a false face (her Illusory Disguise power), which is a Morph effect, giving her a +20 to Deception checks to conceal her identity. According to the book, you're supposed to roll Deception secretly in these cases; her modifier is +21, if you decide a roll is necessary.

Basically, -1 move covers your normal Speed rank, and possibly your teleports and other movement powers as well. It effectively halves your speed, more-or-less. Basically, all movement powers have an effect rank, which is usually equal to the power rank (burrowing, leaping, and swimming are different). When you move, you can travel a distance equal to your effect rank on the Ranks and Measures table (http://www.d20herosrd.com/home/ranks-and-measures/). Each rank is roughly twice as much as the previous rank. So if you have Speed 10, you can move 4 miles in a single move action. If you're fatigued, you get -1 to your speed, and instead you can move 2 miles (rank 9 on the table).

[Zen Gypsy]

Yes, you are Fatigued; as per the D20 Heroes SRD;



Fatigued: Fatigued characters are hindered. Characters recover from a fatigued condition after an hour of rest.

Hindered: A hindered character moves at half normal speed (–1 speed rank). Immobile supersedes hindered.

If you suffer a 2nd Fatigued condition, you are Exhausted.

Exhausted: Exhausted characters are near collapse. They are Impaired and Hindered. Characters recover from an exhausted condition after an hour of rest in comfortable surroundings.

Impaired: An impaired character is at a –2 circumstance penalty on checks. If the impairment applies to specific checks, they are added to the name of the condition, such as Attack Impaired, Fighting Impaired, Perception Impaired, and so forth. If it applies to the same trait(s), disabled supersedes impaired.
Hindered: A hindered character moves at half normal speed (–1 speed rank). Immobile supersedes hindered.

Your Speed rank for Teleport is 2, so if you are Fatigued it would be reduced to 1, and yes that would affect the Portal as well.

The Penalties for Fatigued are not that punishing, as such it isn't a huge detriment to NOT spend the HP's, though if you catch an opponent who can impose the Fatigued condition it could end up sucking pretty quick.

[Objection]

Oculus
HP: 1 | Condition: Remember me?

While Elaine assists the cops in their mission to get traffic moving again, she notices tensions rising between the wolf person who had been involved in the earlier brawl and a man with a sword who she didn't recognise. Fortunately the authorities quell this fight before it really gets going.

Speaking of authorities, Elaine spots her old boss about to talk with one of the other heroes. She decides to join the other hero in chatting with the chief, partly as a general catch-up, partly to put him at ease regarding Viridian and partly because she believes she has some information he might want to know about.

"Hey chief!" Elaine calls out to Chief Tolliver, waving her hand in the air as she approaches. She is clearly relying on him recognising her.

[Moro Asahina]

Meryl watched the little magic show curiously. She'd seen the woman doing what she now assumed was actual magic before, so she had no real reason to doubt that she was doing it again just now. She chuckled softly and gave Anna a lupine grin. "Neat trick that." Though when she asked her not to freak out she cocked her head a bit while one wolven ear stood straight up and the other drooped to the side, giving her an almost comically confused look. "Huh? Whaddya mean don-oh." Though she didn't panic when she looked in the mirror, her brows did raise in surprise. "I, ah, I see what ya mean. Still better than I'd thought. I'd been afraid I looked like the wolf man from those old movies." Something seems to occur to her and she quickly pulls her shirt out so she can look down it, then slips a hand up to feel along her stomach before sighing with relief. "Oh thank the gods fer that. Still got just the one pair a tits. I was a bit worried for a sec there."

[Zen Gypsy]

Quicksilver
Hero Points: 1 of 1 | Luck: 2 of 2
Condition: Normal



http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j419/Zen_Gypsy/Max20Velocity20Blue_zpsn4xv7gsm.jpg (http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/Zen_Gypsy/media/Max20Velocity20Blue_zpsn4xv7gsm.jpg.html)

Typical Flash lightning would replaced by Silver Storm-esque blue & white flashes; Costume itself would be Black & Silver/Chrome


Quicksilver - PL 10

Strength 2, Stamina 2, Agility 4, Dexterity 0, Fighting 6/4, Intellect 0, Awareness 2, Presence 2

Advantages
Agile Feint, Defensive Roll 2, Evasion 2, Extraordinary Effort, Improved Critical 2: Lightning Fast Punches: Strength-based Damage 6, Improved Initiative 4, Instant Up, Luck 2, Move-by Action, Skill Mastery: Treatment, Well-informed

Skills
Athletics 4 (+6), Expertise: Medicine & Life Sciences 8 (+8), Expertise: Politics & Current Events 8 (+8), Insight 8 (+10), Perception 8 (+10), Persuasion 8 (+10), Treatment 10 (+10)

Powers
Max Velocity Body Suit (Removable)
. . Bio-monitor & Cardio Boost: Enhanced Trait 4 (Traits: Fortitude +4 (+10))
. . Hyper Speed Modifications & Design: Immunity 3 (Custom: Friction Heat & Pressure 2, Suffocation: High Speed)
. . Kinetic Dampeners: Protection 2 (+2 Toughness)
Enhanced Speed & Reflexes
. . Quickness: Quickness 4 (Perform routine tasks in -4 time ranks)
. . Speed: Speed 4 (Speed: 30 miles/hour, 500 feet/round)
Lightning Fast Punches: Strength-based Damage 6 (DC 23, Advantages: Improved Critical 2; Accurate 3: +6, Multiattack [2 extra ranks])
. . Close Proximity Sonic Boom: Cumulative Affliction 8 (Alternate; 1st degree: Dazed, Vulnerable, 2nd degree: Stunned, Defenseless, Resisted by: Will, DC 18; Accurate 3: +6, Cumulative, Extra Condition; Limited Degree)
. . Everything is in Slow Motion ...: Burst Area Deflect 14 (Alternate; Burst Area: 30 feet radius sphere, DC 24, Precise, Subtle 2: undetectable; Reduced Range: close)
So Fast it's Awesome ...: Enhanced Trait 31 (Traits: Dodge +8 (+14), Parry +8 (+14), Fighting +2 (+6), Advantages: Agile Feint, Defensive Roll 2, Evasion 2, Improved Initiative 4, Instant Up, Move-by Action)
Super Human Speed: Speed 12 ([0 active, 0/12 PP, 1/r], Speed: 8000 miles/hour, 16 miles/round; Stacks with: Speed: Speed 4)
. . Super Human Reflexes: Quickness 12 (Alternate; [0 active, 0/12 PP, 1/r], Perform routine tasks in -12 time ranks; Stacks with: Quickness: Quickness 4)
Super Speed Stunts: Movement 3 (Wall-crawling 2: full speed, Water Walking 1: you sink if you are prone; Limited: Speed Rank 8+)

Offense
Initiative +20
Close Proximity Sonic Boom: Cumulative Affliction 8, +12 (DC Will 18)
Grab, +6 (DC Spec 12)
Lightning Fast Punches: Strength-based Damage 6, +12 (DC 23)
Throw, +0 (DC 17)
Unarmed, +6 (DC 17)

Languages
English (Native)

Defense
Dodge 14/6, Parry 14/6, Fortitude 10/6, Toughness 6/4, Will 10

Power Points
Abilities 32 + Powers 85 + Advantages 5 + Skills 14 (54 ranks) + Defenses 14 = 150


Fast enough to be Everywhere ... Motivation: Responsibility

Cameron Chase was an Emergency Medical Technician prior to the event known as the Silver Storm, the event that imbued him with speed and reflexes far exceeding his fellow man. Maintain the health and well being of the innocent, and treating the public with respect and sensitivity. He applies that same code of ethics to both his professional life, and his heroic identity.
Turbo Charged Metabolism ... Power Loss

Cameron's superhuman speed & reflexes has a tremendous metabolic need; some of the energy required to move at his hyper speed seems to defy physics. However he needs to consume a massive number of calories to fuel his speed and reflexes; if he is unable to consume the amount of calories required to maintain his metabolism he must make a Fortitude check, DC 25 vs Powers Impaired, Powers Disabled, Transformed (Powers Nullified).

The Ties that Bind ... Relationship

Cameron has a very close relationship with his fiance, Tisha Cole. The pair met during their graduate studies in ECU, Tisha was studying to enter the nursing profession, whereas Cameron was attending the EMT program. After graduation, Tisha found employment at the underfunded St Helen's Hospital. Cameron stayed in touch with Tisha after their academic years, and eventually the two began dating. They have recently discovered that Tisha is pregnant, Cameron proposed to her, and the wedding is currently in it's planning stage.

Cameron's partner, and senior EMT, Javier Almieda, is a close friend of both Tisha and Cameron. However he works with Cameron on a day to day basis, and was in fact present in the ambulance when he was affected by the Silver Storm. As such Javier is aware of his abilities, and it will not take him long to connect the dots, and determine that Cameron Chase is, in fact, Emerald City's newest speedster, Quicksilver.

Cameron has an estranged relationship with his father, Michael MacIntyre, a retired cardio surgeon, and administer at the ECU Medical Center. His obsession with his job meant he pushed himself to his limits, and when they came crashing down on him, he chose a bottle over his family. Cameron and his mother, Christine Chase, moved to the Riverfront, where Christine earned a position with the Courier Express, Emerald City's last source of daily printed news. She worked her way through the bullpen, to where she is today, as Senior Editor.

Can't be in Two places at Once ... Responsibility

Cameron struggles under his burden of responsibility. He loves his fiance Tisha, but the pressure of becoming both a father and a husband scares him, as he still has unresolved issues over his own father's failure to keep the family together. He also has a highly demanding job, and knows that as Tisha moves further along in her pregnancy his will be the sole income supporting the family during that time, and has tried to convince her that she cannot return to the hectic schedule of a nurse at Blessed Shroud due to the needs of their as yet, unborn, child.

His father, Michael, continues to pressure Cameron to return to ECU to obtain the education required to become a surgeon, citing that the increase in pay would allow him to support his new family. However Cameron sees this as a threat, because he knows what the long hours and on call status of a surgeon did to his own family before his father began drinking.

And finally, now, after the Silver Storm, Cameron must now deal with the added responsibility of his superhuman gifts, and wield them in a responsible manner, all the while keeping his heroic identity a secret from those he most loves and respects, his fiance and his mother.

Captain, she canna take much more o' dis ... Weakness

Cameron's hyper velocity speed & reflexes came with none of the typically immunities or physiological changes that typically occur in other speedsters. As such, his body is unable to sustain speeds in excess of Speed Rank 10, without undue stress and damage. Any time he exceeds Rank 10 Speed or Quickness, he must make a Fortitude check to resist Damage at a rank equal to his current speed. Once he has made the check, he need not make another there is a significant change in his velocity.

The damage applies to his carried equipment as well, so clothing, cellphones, will experience significant damage quickly if he attempts to hit his top speed without access to his High Velocity suit.



Cameron MacIntyre was born in Emerald City, his father Michael, was a dedicated and talented cardiac surgeon, whereas his mother, Christina, worked for the marketing department of a haute couture fashion magazine. However, all was not well within the MacIntyre family, Michael, due to the stresses of his position, and his desire for success, began to work longer and longer hours, and as such his relationship with both his wife and son suffered. He turned to alcohol, soon the estranged family split completely, his wife assumed her maiden name, and moved away taking his son with her.

Cameron grew up in Riverside, his mother found a new job working for the Courier-Express, the cities most well respected newspaper. When Cameron was 13 years old, his mother collapsed in their kitchen, the young boy called 9-1-1, and given his exposure to his father's dinner conversations was able to provide medical information in a clear and concise manner which allowed the paramedics, once on scene, to treat his mother quickly and save her life.

The paramedics identified it as a minor stroke, however they allowed Cameron to ride in the ambulance with his mother, and, in an effort to calm the young man, explained the techniques they were using as well as the equipment to him. It was at that point that he knew he wanted to become a Paramedic, to work in the field, not in an operating theatre, and help those who most desperately needed it.

He ended up enrolling at ECU for their EMT program, which shared some core curriculum with the Nursing Program, however to avoid any perceived preferential treatment from his instructors he used his mother's maiden name, Chase. During his first year he met Tisha and the two became best of friends, that friendship saw bad relationships on both sides, but remained strong through out, until their graduating year the two of them began dating one another.

Shortly thereafter they moved in together, as Tisha began to work at the Blessed Shroud, and Cameron began work as an EMT-I with Emerald City Emergency Services. Now, having been together almost four years, and the two have discovered that Tisha is pregnant with their child.

Several weeks thereafter, the cataclysmic event, dubbed by the Media as the Silver Storm, nearly ripped Emerald City apart. The effects of that day on both Cameron and his life are yet to be fully determined.


...and then you guys showed up. So, do you think it's serious? he asks, snapping his fingers and producing yet another shower of bluish sparks.

"Well, I am certainly not a Doctor, or a specialist in the field of emergent meta-human abilities, however your vitals appear normal, an elevated, but steady pulse, blood pressure is good, no respiratory issues." Cameron shrugged, "I mean, if you didn't possess the ability to generate electricity before, and now you do, there is obviously *something* that has occurred on a physiological level, however it has yet to adversely affect your health."

He looked around the scene, the reporters were hounding the spandex clad heroine, two other figures were closing in with her, one appearing as though a tall bipedal wolf of some sort. "Now you said that you and the others engaged some other empowered assailants? Is it possible that they too were changed by the incident, or do you believe they were responsible for the initial blast?"


"CAM!" Javier appears from the passing crowds ! He has a bandage on his head but his expression displays relief.

Cameron's head snapped from his patient to the familiar voice, "Javier?! You bastard! I thought with the ambulance stuck behind that company truck when the explosion hit ... %^$# man!" He turned back to Varish, "I'm sorry sir, I never caught your name?"

[prufock]

Xstatic
Condition: Under care
HP: 2


"I'm sorry sir, I never caught your name?"

It's Varish, Varish Ashni. And yeah, it's possible the others were affected too. Though, I guess I'm glad it's this and not tentacles or purple skin or something. Though it doesn't seem all that useful. Not like being able to fly. You think it's permanent? He looks at his hands in wonder.

[Eldest]

Drana raises an eyebrow at the wulfen's reaction. You seem really calm about this.. I'm impressed. I freaked out the first time I threw sparks...

[Moro Asahina]

She chuckled lightly at that, letting her shirt drop back down into place. "Oh thats as much cause I'm half expectin ta wake up in the hospital with another concussion as it is I'm pretty lucky compared to Octopansy over there or the Grimace. Least I'm oddly colored by choice." Reaching up to give the dyed tips of her hair a light tug as she said this. Her ears flattened back and her tail tucks a bit as she continues. "Though mostly, I'm hopin it'll either wear off er I'll figure out how ta turn it off. My girlfriends a dog person, but I think she might draw the line with this one, ya know?"

[Eldest]

I am very much a fan of NOT going down that rabbit hole. That way lies "I teleport into the enemy with my sword!" shenanigans. Just. Try not to teleport into things. Please.

[Zen Gypsy]

M&M is a game of descriptors, so I think essentially you have to ask yourself what you *want* to happen? Do you want to 'muck' with the engine? Then attack it using the Sword's effect value, the descriptor being the narrative the reader sees when reading the comic being you teleport the blade into the engine.

Secondly, should you want to risk fatigue, you could power stunt an effect off of the Teleport, such as Weaken Toughness, and link that to your sword damage.

Also, can we get an OOC thread perhaps? These OOC posts kind of spoil (ha! ha! No pun intended!) the narrative of the story :/

[BarbieTheRPG]

Tolliver says to Viridian and Oculus, "This is an unprecedented moment for our city. We've never had 'superheroes' but then we've never needed them like we have today. I thank God that all of you emerged and I'm sure most of Emerald feels as I do. Right now I have a meeting but if you really want to help us, give a full statement of what you saw today to Detective Buckner there. This will be an ongoing investigation and we could use your assistance." Tolliver is escorted away by cops to meet with the Fire Chief and some others in suits. Detective Buckner steps forward adjusting her glasses and asks, "So what can you tell me about this disaster?"

Despite what the new heroes are doing on the 'Row, they all notice the FBI arriving in cars and vans! People in suits and shades exit their vehicles and meet with Tolliver's group of city officials. Several other feds walk the 'Row looking over the area. Still a few other agents walk up to the supers and identify themselves as FBI. They want to know who the supers are, where they are from and why they were on the Yellow Brick Row today. The FBI is not very friendly to the supers.

Javier looks shocked and says to Cam, "What? One minute you're by my side, the next you vanished when that explosion happened! I didn't know what to think. What happened to you?"



One thread makes it easier for me to follow instead of bouncing between two.



You're trying to do too much. To the point that I have no idea what you're doing. You mention one thing, then another, then ask a question, then more. It's confusing. Please settle down to one action then relax until I can post a response for everyone's actions. My main question here is why is he literally attacking some random car? It isn't the only vehicle on the street and isn't the only one driving slowly. Is he still teleporting in front of the vehicle to wave it down or is he attacking the vehicle in full view of about thirty police officers and three news helicopters?

[BarbieTheRPG]

Further down the Yellow Brick Row:

With Azraphael suddenly appearing in the street and signaling the limo to stop, the vehicle slows then swerves around the super, continuing down the street as it picks up cruising speed again! The sound of the limo tires cornering on the street is heard across the 'Row and a few police officers look to see Azraphael standing in the middle of the street! Traffic starts to back up again as officers start racing towards the incident yelling, "HEY YOU! SWORD GUY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?"



Once the players earn Power points you can purchase new effects. For now I prefer the character as we discussed in recruitment. Keep in mind there are other 'plot hooks' happening right now (detectives, feds, reporters, teammates). He can also continue after the limo if you like.



If having a proper OOC thread is what most players want, I can do that. Some prefer two threads. I'll leave it up to a player vote.

[Objection]

It's a bit late for me to get an IC post up right now but I will vote for a separate OOC thread.

I do have one question though. If we do end up having a separate OOC thread, will our dice rolls be done in there or would they still go in the IC posts?

[Eldest]

Drana nods. Hopefully you can change back and forth, yeah. She watches idly as the man with the sword teleports in front of a limo. Ahhhh. Should we get involved over there? I'm really winded.

I also vote for separate IC/OOC threads.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Here's the new OOC thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?514028-Emerald-City-Knights-OOC&p=21667211#post21667211) link. No more spoiler tags on this thread going forward. All rolls go on the OOC thread.

[Moro Asahina]

Meryl lifts a hand to ruffle her hair a bit, giving a soft, pleased sounding little growl as she inadvertently finds out why dogs enjoy having their ears scratched. Though she tries to cover it with a cough before looking over to see Azraphel trying to play speedbump and/or terrorizing the drivers. "Well, the cops'er here this go around, so I'd say we sit this one out 'les they ask us ta help. Doesn hurt ta let them know it's an option though." She waves at the nearest officer who isn't dealing with an incipient reporter riot before calling out. "Oi, Officer!" She points in the general direction of Azraphel, who is, by then, jogging alongside one of the officers who had just been running towards him. "If yer buddies need a hand with Bad Hair Day over there, gimme a shout, yeah?"

She looks to Drana and chuckles. "I've got this one if they call. You can help sort out the next nutter." A thought occurs to her, and Meryl turns to looks back towards the diner she'd been in earlier. "Wonder if any a the cooks'er still in there, cause I'm starvin. Didn't get ta finish my breakfast 'fore the day went all pear shaped an I got zapped by whate'er that was."

[Eldest]

You can check if your breakfast is still there and edible? She shrugs. Mine was in that one, so... no luck, I think. She points to a charred building, a small frown creasing her face briefly.

[BarbieTheRPG]

The Yellow Brick Row, 11:16 a.m.:

A man in a gray suit walks up to Luna and Drana saying, "This was terrible. The loss of life and property damage are unimaginable in this city. Were the people you were fighting responsible for this?"


The cops surround the Az saying, "You look familiar, pal. Yeah, you're that guy from Bedlam City slashing people with a sword! What brings you to Emerald City, swordsman?"

[Eldest]

She looks up in alarm at the newcomer, and then relaxes once she sees he's not purple with tentacles. I guess, though I don't know if it's their fault. They were transformed or summoned or something, but it came off as... messy. Uncontrolled.

[Moro Asahina]

Meryl waved dismissively a the suggestion of her food still being there. "Nah, s'probly got glass er somethin in it thank ta whate'er that was earlier." One of Meryl's ears twitched slightly and she looked to the suit as he came walking over. She gave a little shrug in response to his words, looking around a bit to take in the damage to the shopping district. "Woulda been a lot worse fer people gettin hurt if it weren't for Sparkles an Doc over there puttin out the fires an tendin to the wounded. Huh...now I think about it, I think I'm bout the only one that was already here that wasn' able ta help with much more'n the fightin an cleanin up the road a bit." Gesturing in the vague direction of first Viridian, then Xstatic as she said this, though her ears droop slightly as she mentions the last bit. "Can't say the plum colored prick I was fightin had time ta do much more'n use me ta put a nice big dent in the car over there 'fore I let him know I didn't care for him doin that. Dunno bout the rest of'em though."

She did pause to think about the early bits of the encounter, quick though it had been, and sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair again. "I'm thinkin she's right though." Nodding to Drana as she said this. "When I woke up after whate'er that was, I wasn' thinkin too clearly."

[CandyLaser]

Viridian turned to Detective Buckner, and to the other woman who'd just come up, and introduced herself again. "Hello - I'm Viridian, and I'm here to help. I'm afraid I can't tell you much about the disaster. I was in the neighborhood when it happened, but all I saw was a sudden blast and a silver cloud. THen came the fires, the screaming, the mutants attacking people. After that, it was all too chaotic for me to get much of a sense of what was going on. I tried to put out the fires and protect people, until the first responders could make it to the scene. I was a bit a preoccupied, and I'm afraid I didn't have time to make any careful observations. Is there anything specific you wanted to know about?"

[Zen Gypsy]

Quicksilver (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?514028-Emerald-City-Knights-OOC&p=21668816#post21668816)
Hero Points: 1 of 1 | Luck: 2 of 2
Condition: Normal


It's Varish, Varish Ashni. And yeah, it's possible the others were affected too. Though, I guess I'm glad it's this and not tentacles or purple skin or something. Though it doesn't seem all that useful. Not like being able to fly. You think it's permanent? He looks at his hands in wonder.

Cameron turned his attention to Javier quickly, and gave a hand motion that Javier himself had taught him, to cut off conversation that may be inappropriate in front of a patient. Cam was just piecing together that this guy, Varish, had been changed on a physiological level, now possessing the ability to manipulate, or channel electricity. Cameron had been outside the Ambulance when the explosion happened, he had been exposed to that inexplicable silver cloud, he had tried to run, tried to find cover, and when he woke up he was in Oceanside ... miles from the explosions point of origin. Had he himself been changed?

He needed Javier to stop those lines of questions, especially when the press were interspersed throughout the crowds, and anything he said could become a matter of public record. "Found cover under one of the cars on the Row, got lucky. Though the explosion shredded the $^!& out of my uniform."

He turned back to Varish, "Hey man, listen, physically you check out fine, some bumps and bruises, but nothing with long term effects. That though," he gestured towards the sparks that raced along his patients skin, "I'm not qualified to give an opinion. Hell, most hospitals don't have any staff qualified to give you a medical answer. I'll do some research for you though, try to find someone who has a background in meta-human studies, genetics, reach out to Freedom City sources."

He paused, looked over to where Viridian was talking to the press, "She seems like she was prepared for this, spandex and all. Haven't heard of a super in Emerald City since the '40's." He smiled at Varish, "You think those guys you took down were affected, same as you? Did the city just have a $^#!*& origin story?"

[Objection]

Oculus
HP: 1 | Condition: Hopefully helpful

As Elaine listens to the chief's praise, she gets the feeling that he doesn't remember her. Or maybe he does and is just too busy to show it. There is still a lot to do here after all, and one of the things she needs to do is help the hero Viridian and the detective Ms. Buckner.

"I think I know where the explosion came from," Elaine says to the two of them before pointing at the charred remains of a truck. "Sadly I didn't catch what was on the side of that truck, so you'll need to get that from someone else."

Then another thought crosses Elaine's mind. The hero had introduced herself with the code name Viridian. Elaine doesn't really have a code name to speak of outside of the designated alias given to her by her employer: Agent Oculus. While that might be fine for someone in her current profession, it wouldn't work for the superhero that, if the events of today are any indicator, she will have to become. She tries to think of a suitable alias quickly but the only thing she can think of is dropping the 'agent' part of her employer's code name for her.

"By the way, you can call me Oculus."

[prufock]

Xstatic
HP: 2


"You think those guys you took down were affected, same as you?

Oh, I didn't take down anyone. But none of these, uh, mutants? were there before the explosion. Least not as far as I noticed.

When the officer approaches Varish, he gives a full account of what occurred, from his point of view, piecing together the memories in an unstructured form, answering all questions honestly. This takes some time. When the officer finally ceases his questioning and moves on, Varish pulls out his cell phone and a business card, handing the latter to the EMT.

Thanks for your help, Cameron. Here's my business line if you think of anything that may help. He turns away, pulling up an internet query site on his cell phone and starts searching for "meta-human studies," "superpower genetics," and so forth in Emerald City.

[Zen Gypsy]

Quicksilver (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?514028-Emerald-City-Knights-OOC&p=21668816#post21668816)
Hero Points: 1 of 1 | Luck: 2 of 2
Condition: Normal

As Varish began to idly tap at his phone Cameron noted the super heroine, Viridian, speaking with one of the detectives. He overheard the same phrase that his patient had used, 'mutant', and felt compelled to intercede.

He cautiously approached the costumed hero, "If I may Ms.," he paused, "Viridian. After speaking with one of the casualties, he noted that he had been fundamentally changed by his exposure to the blast. More specifically he seemed to be able to manipulate electrical energy on a subconscious level." He paused preparing himself for incredulous looks, until he remembered that he was speaking with someone who could create domes of visible light that were able to snuff out fires in fairly short order.

He looked from the detective to the hero, "If you remember, in the wake of the Terminus event in Freedom City, a generation of children were born with meta-human abilities. If I remember correctly the press, and certain organizations referred to them as Terminus babies." He paused again, trying to judge his audience's reactions, "Now what if the folks that Viridian and her team apprehended are not, as you say mutants, but people who have been affected, on a physiological level, by the event that we just witnessed?"

He looked now to the Detective, "With your permission, I would like to examine the casualties you have apprehended to attempt to determine if their behaviour was triggered by external stimuli."

[Eldest]

Drana nods along with Meryl. I wasn't affected, thankfully, I could do this nonsense before. Drana the magician, at your service. She does a little half-bow in the suit's direction, followed by a giggle. I will admit most of my preformances are more focused on fun than fighting...

[BarbieTheRPG]

The suited man looks Drana over and says, "So what brought you and your friend here today?"


The cops fidget and look Az over as if they expect something dangerous. One of them says, "There was an event. Maybe terrorist. Are you here to help Luna and the others? She looks creepy but she's okay. How's that sword work anyway? We don't go for ..... slashing people up here."


A reporter moves up and says to Luna, "Was this some terrorist attack? How are you responding? We have unconfirmed reports you battled supervillain forces on the scene! What about that?" Two people in suits, one male and one female, arrive and gesture off the media, "This is an ongoing investigation, folks. Please mind the police cordon. Thank you." The female turns to Luna saying, "We can protect you from unwanted scrutiny. I'm AEGIS detective Marian Weathers. What was your name again?"


Buckner rubs her mouth and blinks, catching her breath and says to Viridian, "Terrible. I caught a piece of footage of you helping with the fires. Thank you, if no one else says so. Who was that man that attacked you? Do you know him? So you didn't catch what caused the initial blast? Can you help us investigate this? You seem ........ pretty amazing, for lack of a better word. We could use your help."


Javier frowns and looks around saying, "Yeah well I'm helping with the EMS effort. You coming? Who's this guy?"


Buckner looks at Oculus saying, "The truck remains ..... that was ground-zero? Did you see any unusual or suspect people around the area prior to the explosion, officer?" The detective gives Oculus a look and that's all it takes to jog the superhero's memory!



Buckner and Elaine worked together twice before and built a strong relationship. She tipped Elaine off to the op that led to Oculus' initial injury. The heroine hasn't heard from her detective friend since. Until now. Buckner takes care of her daughter and grandmother along with being a cop. Plus she's a brilliant officer who spreads herself maybe too thin handling her personal and professional lives. She tried to mentor Elaine but the heroine was very headstrong. Buckner is all about police procedure, teamwork and personal sacrifice. She should be considered a close friend to Oculus who recognizes who she really is!



Buckner nods at Cam saying, "However you can help avenge this horror, Emerald City PD is behind you. What were you thinking?"

[CandyLaser]

Viridian winced a little at the reminder of her brief battle with her unknown assailant. "Oh, I hope that guy is all right. He attacked me, but I just tried to temporarily blind him. I've never seen him before in my life. I suppose he might have been trying to help, but it seemed more like he wanted to hurt me. I have no idea why. As for investigating, I'll definitely look into it, and share whatever I find, but I'm not comfortable helping in an official capacity just yet." Once things calmed down here, she planned to start digging in and investigating; she was going to reach out to her contacts and put together the story. But she was going to do it as a journalist, not a cop, and ideally without giving up any of her secrets. "My powers don't really lend themselves to investigation, in any case." She turned to Oculus. "What about you? With a name like 'Oculus' I'd guess you see quite a bit."

[Eldest]

She points towards her backpack, smiling. Like I said, 'm a magician. Of the smoke and mirrors, saw somebody in half type, as well as some real tricks. I was buskin'. All legal, got my liscence in my backpack. She pulls it out and shows the officer if asked. When the reporter shows, she stays next to Luna, but doesn't talk.

[CandyLaser]

Viridan jumped a bit at Azraephel's sudden appearance. Because she could fly, she didn't actually come back down for a moment, until she saw that the man was no threat. "Sorry about that. It's been an odd day, and everyone's kind of jumpy. Glad you're here to help, but can I offer some advice? You might want to make sure you move so that people can see you, before someone thinks that another attack is coming."

Inwardly, she congratulated herself for being calm, but part of her was screaming - Where the hell are all these superpowered types coming from? I thought I was the only one in Emerald City. The obvious conjecture was that it had something to do with the silver clouds that had billowed out over Yellow Brick Row. She raised the subject with the Bruckner, Oculus, and the others. "Speaking of other attacks, I don't imagine any of you have any idea where all these people with powers have come from, do you?"

[Zen Gypsy]

Quicksilver (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?514028-Emerald-City-Knights-OOC&p=21668816#post21668816)
Hero Points: 1 of 1 | Luck: 2 of 2
Condition: Normal


"Speaking of other attacks, I don't imagine any of you have any idea where all these people with powers have come from, do you?"

The EMT, Cameron, looked at Viridian incredulously, "I guess you didn't hear me when I mentioned the fact that a casualty's physiology had been altered by the silver particulate in the explosion, and he developed the ability to manipulate electrical current subconsciously?" He paused, pointed to the apprehended casualties, "Which is why I asked the Detective there for permission to examine them, I mean." He shuffled awkwardly, hell his dad would have a field day with this, "I'm not a geneticist but I have a medical background, and it would be a start."

As he was speaking to Viridian he noted the large man with the broadsword, not just appear, but step through something, like a shimmer in the air, at least to his accelerated perceptions, to the others Azraephel seemed to appear out of nowhere. Judging by his odd blade, and his general demeanor he hadn't been recently empowered.

He turned to the police detective, "Now I am not exactly up to snuff on my civil rights, however I am assuming we can't take blood samples without their consent. I could however, check them over to ensure that they aren't injured and get some baseline information there correct?"

[Moro Asahina]

"Fer my part, I was here gettin a bit a breakfast 'fore I went ta see if I could find somethin shiny fer my girlfriend. Not sure why we need a six month anniversary, but there ya have it." She chuckled softly and gave a little shrug as she looks around. "Should probably give 'er a call soon now I think about it. Let her know I'm ok...well, more er less." Her ears flattened back a bit as she wondered just how she was gonna explain being turned into some sort of crazy wolf woman; Though she supposed she did at least have a good excuse for coming home empty handed.

When the reporter approaches, Luna gives him as best an apologetic look as she can and shrugs. " 'Fraid if ya wanna know the who, what, an why you'll need ta ask the cops once they're done havin a look around. I just sorta got caught up in it all since I was havin breakfast over there," Turning to point in the vague direction of the diner as she said this. "When it all started up. After that, there was folk bein attacked an I guess I'm too nosy fer my own good. Got me punched into a car an all." The wolf woman chuckled lightly at that and gave them a lupine grin.

Thankfully, she was saved from any further questions by the arrival of a pair of suits who ran off the particularly bold reporters. She couldn't help but chuckle once more and lifted a hand to rub lightly at the back of her neck. "Dunno how much you'll be able ta do if I can't change back, but I appreciate the offer all the same." When the Detective introduces herself, Luna offers her hand as she tries to remember just where she'd heard the name AEGIS before. "Nice ta meetcha, ya can call me Luna." Meryl wasn't entirely sure how long she'd be able to keep her identity a secret if she couldn't turn back to normal, but with the reporters around she didn't want to help them figure it out any quicker.

[CandyLaser]

The EMT, Cameron, looked at Viridian incredulously, "I guess you didn't hear me when I mentioned the fact that a casualty's physiology had been altered by the silver particulate in the explosion, and he developed the ability to manipulate electrical current subconsciously?"

"Sorry, I missed that," she replied, somewhat sheepishly. "I was busy... well, putting out fires and trying to figure things out. Anyway, that's not where my powers come from, but..." She paused, berating herself internally. Good job, Amy. Why not tell everyone you accidentally stole the Viridian Crown from the Mafiya? She realized, a bit too late, that it would have been good to use the Crown's illusion powers to conceal its presence. Having it vanish now would just draw attention to it - not that a halo of glowing stones orbiting one's head was nondescript.

"Anyway, unless that silver cloud was handing out swords, I suspect this guy also had powers before the blast. It's worth finding out if any other people like us were around before things got crazy."

[Objection]

Oculus
HP: 1 | Condition: Joyful reunion

Being asked about what she saw reminds Elaine of what she had come to Yellow Brick Row to do in the first place. If there was a hacker in the area though, they would either have been caught in the chaos of what just happened and their mission jeopardised, or they would have done what they needed to and gotten the heck outta dodge by now.

"Sorry, I ..." Elaine begins to answer both Buckner and Viridian when she gets a proper look at the detective's face and something clicks in her memory. "... Maggie?" Her demeanour becomes much more cheerful upon recognising her old colleague and friend. "Man, it's been a while. How's grandma doing?"

After a quick catch-up, Elaine gets back to business. "Yeah, I do see a lot," she says in response to Viridian's remark, "but I was mainly focusing on what was going on inside Starbase Coffee. Which, as it turned out, wasn't much. But yeah, the truck is definitely where it all started. If only I could remember what it said on the side ..."

[BarbieTheRPG]

Detective Buckner finishes catching-up with Oculus then hands her ECPD card to all the supers telling them she would like to remain in contact, if that's okay. Police officers have taped-off the intersection of the 'Row preventing any further traffic to flow through. Pedestrians including the press are being cleared from the area by police officers also. Finishing his "live coverage" broadcast, a reporter mentions the appearance of "a heroic group of knights" who saved the day! The Feds remain and after brief conversations with the supers, they begin working with police to investigate the area.

Buckner says "Based on collected eyewitness testimony, the decimated remains of a large Redshift Energies truck near the center of the intersection mark ground-zero. The truck exploded, killing the driver instantly, then there was some kind of secondary blast that triggered the 'silver storm'. We have additional reports coming in from around the district that more mutated people with superpowers have been spotted." ECPD Forensics officers were just starting the comb the truck and surrounding area for clues as Buckner walks to join them.

[prufock]

Xstatic
HP: 1

Varish looks up from his furious thumb-typing on his cell phone to take the detective's card. Thank you, ma'am. He hesitates for a second. I've been looking online, but... do you know, is there any place for people like... us? He gestures to the entire group of "supers" with his hand, sending a harmless shower of sparks across the ground. You know, some special doctor or scientist or government agency or something? I mean, what if these new abilities are dangerous?

[Moro Asahina]

Meryl looked the Aegis detectives over a bit. Oh sure they weren't being especially friendly, but they weren't being unfriendly either unlike the other Feds who'd been making the rounds. She'd had to resist the urge to roll her eyes at their attitudes when it was her turn to be interviewed. Maybe it was just her, but she didn't see how annoying the local meta-human population was particularly helpful when there were other, much less friendly, metas running around the area. But then she supposed it was just the government getting all pissy about things they couldn't control; though she supposed it could also be that there was apparently a pretty decent meta-human population just sort of going about their business in Emerald City and nobody had apparently noticed. Perhaps it was a little petty of her, but the thought that her very presence could annoy them back gave her the warm fuzzies.

When the Detective made her rounds with her cards, Meryl traded her one for O'leery's Pub. "If you lot track down the Grimace and need a hand, give O'Leery's a call. The barman can get hold a me." She looked to the others as a thought occurred to her. "Speakin of, I'll put in a good word for you lot with'em. Probly get ya a free pint at least after all this. Fair warnin though: Stay away from any a Devin's homebrew crap less yer not plannin ta go anywhere fer a while." When the Detective mentioned the truck at the center of it all being from Redshift, Meryl had to wonder if there was a connection there. Big company like Redshift had to have made some enemies over the years, especially since they'd done a bit of work on those nifty little hybrid cars. But that, she supposed, was something for the police to figure out.

[Objection]

Oculus
HP: 1 | Condition: Networking

After a pleasant chat with Detective Buckner, exchanging business cards with her (ECPD for Morgenstern Labs) and answering any questions the Feds fire her way, Elaine decides it's best to let the various law enforcement organisations do their business.

"It'd have to be water for me," Elaine says to Luna. "Alcohol doesn't really agree with me." Or at least the scientists who had given her her cybernetic implants told her it wouldn't agree with them, but in a more casual setting she prefers that way of phrasing it.

[CandyLaser]

Buckner says "Based on collected eyewitness testimony, the decimated remains of a large Redshift Energies truck near the center of the intersection mark ground-zero. The truck exploded, killing the driver instantly, then there was some kind of secondary blast that triggered the 'silver storm'. We have additional reports coming in from around the district that more mutated people with superpowers have been spotted."

Viridian took the offered card, then asked Detective Buckner, "Are any of the other mutants violent or dangerous? Do you need assistance in controlling the situation?"


Varish looks up from his furious thumb-typing on his cell phone to take the detective's card. Thank you, ma'am. He hesitates for a second. I've been looking online, but... do you know, is there any place for people like... us? He gestures to the entire group of "supers" with his hand, sending a harmless shower of sparks across the ground. You know, some special doctor or scientist or government agency or something? I mean, what if these new abilities are dangerous?

"I don't know if there is such an organization, but I bet there will be one soon. Until then, I sometimes practice up in the mountains. You're welcome to join me, if you want help learning what you can do." It was a bit odd, putting herself in a sort of mentor position - but hey, she'd had the Crown for months now. That made her a comparative old-timer, it seemed. And she did know what it was like to suddenly have more raw power at your disposal than you knew what to do with. "That offer goes for everyone, by the way - it's a lot safer to practice somewhere empty, just in case things go wrong."


When the Detective made her rounds with her cards, Meryl traded her one for O'leery's Pub. "If you lot track down the Grimace and need a hand, give O'Leery's a call. The barman can get hold a me." She looked to the others as a thought occurred to her. "Speakin of, I'll put in a good word for you lot with'em. Probly get ya a free pint at least after all this. Fair warnin though: Stay away from any a Devin's homebrew crap less yer not plannin ta go anywhere fer a while."

"Uh... thanks, I guess, but I don't drink much." Not entirely true, but it was much more polite than saying something like, I'm not going to go to a bar dressed in a leotaard with a bunch of glowing rocks around my head, and I'm CERTAINLY not going to let a bunch of people I just met see my real face or learn my name.

[Eldest]

Drana nods. 'm about tuckered out for magic, but I think regrouping someplace else or going over the area together. If anybody who knows more about tech could look at the truck wreak, it's probably better than not. The rest of us might want to try to find security cameras and try to trace the tapes back. All I got I'd that the blast had no magic in it. At the mention of everyone's particular location of choice, she nods again, and responds to the mountain one. It might not be a bad idea for us to practice there. I just use an old park near my place.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Detective Buckner looks over the area watching the other officers work the scene, "At this point unless you can offer any additional insights into why this happened I guess we're playing the waiting game until the evidence is collected and analyzed. We're still gathering information on the other sightings around the city but thankfully there haven't been more incidents. Yet. My gut tells me this is just the beginning."

[prufock]

Xstatic
HP: 1


"I don't know if there is such an organization, but I bet there will be one soon. Until then, I sometimes practice up in the mountains. You're welcome to join me, if you want help learning what you can do."

"Practice"? Practice for what? Varish gives a halfhearted smile. As long as I don't hurt anyone. I'm not sure if practice will help me or not. It doesn't seem too dangerous, it just sort of... tingles. He pulls a pencil out of his tool belt and hastily scratches some numbers on the back of a half-full coffee stamp card. Here's my number. When do you practice? He passes the pencil to the guy with the sword.

My god, what a mess. I should really check the circuits here. Everything seems to be working fine, but I'd better make sure. He walks quickly over to the electrical box, avoiding emergency personnel and reporters as best he can. The door to the box still stands open, and he sets to work.

[Objection]

Oculus
HP: 1 | Condition: Investigating


If anybody who knows more about tech could look at the truck wreak, it's probably better than not.

"Leave it to me," Elaine says in response to Drana's suggestion before getting closer to the truck. Then various faint bleeps and whirring noises come from her as she switches between the various modes of vision her cyber eyes give her. At first she doesn't notice anything unusual, but then she spots some small amounts of silver dust on some of the debris, presumably residue from the explosion.

"UNIDENTIFIED SUBSTANCE DETECTED."

Since the dust isn't natural and Drana had remarked that the dust isn't magical in nature, Elaine deduces that it has to be technological. She tries to think of what such a substance could be, and then she remembers a case from her time as a police officer. It was one that a colleague of hers had been working on and she and said colleague talked about it over coffee some time after the case was closed. Apparently the culprit had been using really tiny robots called nanites to try and get rid of the evidence but the robots propagated enough that they were visible as a layer of dust not unlike what Elaine is looking at now. When Elaine zooms in on the dust on the truck, the particles even start to look a little bit like tiny creatures of some sort.

"SUBSTANCE IDENTIFIED AS NANITE SWARM. NANITES ARE MINIATURE ROBOTS SUITABLE FOR TASKS REQUIRING UTMOST PRECISION."

Sensing that her speech pattern is not quite human, Elaine switches back to normal vision and rejoins the group of heroes. Some of them, particularly those who had only just gotten their powers a little while ago, appear to be discussing opportunities for practising using their powers. Elaine doesn't find herself worrying about that - her employer already ensures that she gets enough practice with her cyber body parts.

[CandyLaser]

"Practice"? Practice for what? Varish gives a halfhearted smile. As long as I don't hurt anyone. I'm not sure if practice will help me or not. It doesn't seem too dangerous, it just sort of... tingles. He pulls a pencil out of his tool belt and hastily scratches some numbers on the back of a half-full coffee stamp card. Here's my number. When do you practice?

"It never hurts to find out what you can do. I don't have a set time for practicing, so how about we get together at Mount Stanley tomorrow at two in the afternoon? If that works, I'll see you all there." She didn't add her number to the list - but she did make a note of the need to get a burner phone.

After that, Viridian left - but not by flying away. That was too visible. Instead, she simply vanished in a burst of indigo light. Back at her apartment, she abruptly appeared, dressed in costume. Luckily, her boyfriend was out. She did have a half-dozen texts and messages from him, starting with - "What's going on? Are you okay?" and going to "Guess that secret's out, huh, V?" After taking a minute to reply and reassure him that all was well, she changed and headed back to Yellow Brick Row, this time as mild-mannered journalist Amy Archer.

[Eldest]

Anna tilts her head, confusion written across her face. So... we have a bunch of small robots that... what, changed people? How'd that work? I never really paid attention in science... She looks a bit ashamed. Though in my defense, up until now, with the whole magic thing, I thought I was fine not knowing science.

[Moro Asahina]

Huh, wonder if theres some sorta connection between havin powers and not bein able ta drink. Scary thought that. A slight shudder went racing along her spine at the very thought of it. Meryl wasn't an alcoholic by any means, she'd seen too many lives ruined by that sort of thing to allow her control to slip that much, but there weren't many better ways to relax than having a few beers with the boys. Especially after a tough fight. In the end, she simply shrugged. "Well, the offers open if ya want it." When mention was made of meeting up at some mountain to practice, though she wasn't entirely clear on what they were going to practice aside from the obvious, she paused for a few moments to give it some thought. She didn't have a match for at least another week, assuming she'd be allowed to keep fighting at all; Which was a downright depressing thought. If she were going to keep it up though, she'd need to get a better feel for just how strong she actually was, and this could be just what she needed. Oh sure she could do it on her own in her home gym, but where was the fun in that? Hell, the company was half the reason she usually went out to work out rather than stay home. "I...suppose I'll try an make it. Gotta talk ta a few folks first though. Need ta make sure I've still got a job an all what with, well, this. Ya know?" Gesturing to herself as she said this.

As the others move to help with the investigation, Meryl opted to duck back into the diner she'd been eating in before all this went down. Unfortunately, she'd been right about her breakfast being ruined thanks to the explosion. Since that was a bust, she reclaimed her seat at the bar and pushed the plate to the side as she called out. "I don' s'pose any a the cooks're still round are ya? Deckin squid men is hungry work, an I was hopin fer a spot a breakfast fore I head home."

[BarbieTheRPG]

The diner ...

An older, balding man in casual attire comes out from the back holding a cellphone and stares at Luna, "Half the block blew up, my diner's in shambles and you want to eat?!? We're closed, wolf-man!" He turns angrily and goes back to his phone conversation as he walks into the back again.



on the street ...

Detective Buckner walks up to Oculus and the others, "Nanites? Those exist? I'd heard of them before but thought it was just theory. Why would someone release nanites in a blast like this? Unless it was sabotage. We need to figure this out before it happens again. The FBI already has agents at Redshift Energies but I want to follow-up another angle. Would any of you be willing to accompany me to MarsTech? I've already made contact with them and the person I want to see is currently available. If my hunch is correct, I might need your help and if I'm wrong at least you'll get a chance to meet one of the richest people on the planet." Buckner adjusts her glasses again while smiling at the supers.

[Eldest]

Drana crooks an eyebrow at that. I sincerely hope you don't follow the "suffer not a witch to live" line too. Turning to the officer, she smiles again. I'd be happy to go with you, though I won't be the best at the technical side of it. Just let me call my girlfriend first, I'll be over there when you're ready to leave. She steps away towards Luna, stopping outside of the restaurant to call Sarah and let her know she was okay before going inside to chat with her.

[Moro Asahina]

Meryl looked around a bit before giving a snort of derision, and spoke, not really caring if the guy was even listening to her anymore. "Yeah, wantin ta be fed after a ****ty day is usually why people come inta a dive like this." As she turns to leave, she cannot help but mutter. "An its wolf-woman, ya prick." She growled softly in annoyance took out her cell phone to give her manager a call since she wasn't gonna be able to have her breakfast.

"Heya Mick. Soooo, remind me again what the league's stance on meta-humans is again? Cause I kinda got caught up in that business earlier." Out of habit, she nods a couple times as she mutters, "uh huh, yeah" before eventually holding out the phone and giving it a funny look before putting it back to her ear. "Ya want a picture? Whyyy? An I swear if this is somethin pervy again er I'll kick yer balls up inta yer hat." After a few moments listening she rolls her eyes. "A'right, fine." Hanging up on him after saying that and holding out her phone to take a selfie, all the while desperately hoping that she still has a job and doesn't look like an idiot while taking the selfie. Once she has the pic, she shoots it to Mick in a text, then makes a second, much shorter, call to her girlfriend to find out what time she'll be getting home so they can talk. Of course, her phrasing leads to a minute or two of reassuring her that it's nothing bad.

Once she finally gets off the phone she heaves a sigh of annoyance, she loved the woman but damn if she wasn't insecure, and looks to the Detective. "If ya need a hand, I don't mind taggin along. Though ya mind if we make a quick stop ta grab a bite ta go?" She jerks her thumb back in the direction of the diner. "The windows blowin out got glass in my breakfast an apparently the diners closed." Should anyone give her a funny look at that, she shrugs. "What? It's been a weird kinda mornin an a girl's gotta eat. 'Specially if the days only just started."

[Objection]

Oculus
HP: 1 | Condition: Needs to make a call

"Oculus," Elaine says to Azraephel as a way of introducing herself to him, "and it's a long story." She then turns to Drana. "And I'm not sure how the nanites work, I just know that's what was in the blast. I think we need help from someone more technologically gifted." When Detective Buckner asks for the heroes' assistance at MarsTech, Elaine is happy to help. "Anything for an old friend," she says with a warm smile on her face. "I just need to call my boss quickly." With that, she walks away from the group towards a quieter part of the street and calls her employer.

[prufock]

Xstatic
HP: 1

Varish is testing out the junction box when he overhears someone mention MarsTech. The name is familiar to everyone who lives in Emerald City. Big company, lots of fingers in lots of pies. They have extensive dealings with the City through submission for contracts, tenders, and permits. A big company like that... well, they might know something about what happened to him and how to "fix" it, or at least control it. He finishes with the junction and closes up the box, hurrying across the street.

Excuse me, Detective! I would like to accompany you, if you do not mind. If you believe they might know something, well - he waves his hands in a shower of sparks - I'd like to find out.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Detective Buckner says to the supers, "Great. Meet me at MarsTech in an hour. I need to finish the job here first. If you get there before me, just tell security or the receptionist that you are with Detective Buckner of Emerald City Police Department and you have an appointment. We should be in and out of there in no time. Sorry for being so short, but I need to go now. See you later and thanks." Buckner turns her attention back to the scene-investigation.

[prufock]

Xstatic
HP: 1

Well, Varish says to the group, pointing toward a black pickup, if anyone needs a ride, my truck is parked across the street. I need to make a few calls, but it should not take more than 20 minutes.

With that, Varish excuses himself and calls his boss, explaining that the junction is fine, but the street is a mess from the explosion, and that he'll be taking the rest of the day off. Then he pops onto the internet to look up MarsTech, get directions, and read a little about the company.

[Eldest]

Drana smiles gratefully. I think I need a bit of a sit down, thank you. She clamors into the truck and rests her eyes. At least, you're pretty sure that's what she's doing till she lets out a small snore.

Resting for an hour to get rid of exhausted.

[Objection]

Oculus
HP: 1 | Condition: Busy

Once Elaine gets through to her boss, she fills him in on what's going on.

"I didn't find any hackers in the area, but I did find something more interesting."

"Yes, that is precisely what I am referring to."

"Well someone had to do something! The place was on fire!"

"Well I still put those eyes you gave me to good use. The truck that exploded at the intersection? Turns out there was a whole load of nanites inside."

"Yes I did. So if there's anything you know about such technology-"

"Funnily enough, one of the detectives on the scene got the same idea, only she reckons it's MarsTech."

"It'd probably be better if I went to MarsTech since I'll have a police detective to vouch for me."

"Fine. Agent Oculus out."

Once the phone call is over, Elaine heads for the nearest Starbase Coffee that hasn't just been damaged by an explosion, sits at a spare computer and starts writing a report about the incident. Due to Detective Buckner's deadline, however, she is unable to complete it before she has to leave, so she uploads what she has written so far onto her place of work's file server and takes a seat in Varish's truck.

[Moro Asahina]

Meryl nods to the Detective. "A'right. But first, I'm off ta find myself somewhere thats still servin food. The diner was a bust an I'm feelin hungry like the wolf bout now." Giving the others a lupine grin as she makes her joke before turning and sniffing the air and jogging off in the direction she was pretty sure she'd seen a burger joint on the way in.

Determined not to let her current appearance bother her, figuring she'd worry about it later, she slowly picks up speed as she goes to test her new body. She knew she could take a punch a lot better than usual, but what else had changed? It didn't take long at all for her to reach her destination, coincidentally revealing that she was much faster than before too, though whether it was the burger joint she'd intended to go to was anyone's guess. She'd actually had to hop into the road's bicycle lane to avoid running anyone over. The downside, she was quick to discover, was that apparently her feet had changed enough that her shoes weren't nearly as comfortable as they had been previously.

On the way she hadn't really noticed the people staring and pointing, but it was much more obvious when she finally found her quarry. People hurried to get out of her way, earning them a raised eyebrow from her. With a shrug, she moves to join the line, only to have the few who had remained there quickly duck out to put some distance between them and her. She chuckled and shook her head as she got up to the counter, manned by a particularly brave teen. "Ya'd think they'd never seen a woman with blue hair before." She knew full well why they were acting that way, but was determined to worry about that later. To his credit, the boy took her order with minimal fuss, though he did hand it over in a hurry when it was ready and she quickly made her way back to the explosion site with her prize: enough food for at least two people and a drink. Clearly, she hadn't been kidding about being hungry.

[CandyLaser]

Viridian, in her civilian guise as Amy Archer, had filtered back in to the crowds around Yellow Brick Row and started practicing her real trade. Already, she'd gotten a few eyewitness accounts and quotes, snapped a few picture (she was no photojournalist, but you had to be ready), and supplemented her notes with her own, first-person recollections. They'd have to be sourced to anonymous eyewitnesses, and she was going to have to be careful to keep what she'd seen as Viridian out of the story.

As Amy, she steadily wended her way closer to the other superhumans who had helped control the chaos. She wanted to keep an ear out, and see what they were doing next. She ended up approaching Varish; he seemed to be the most friendly of the new-minted metahumans. Smiling brightly, the young, black-haired woman rapped gently on the driver's side window of his truck. "Excuse me," she said (assuming he rolled down the window). "My name is Amy Archer, and I'm a journalist reporting on this incident and aiming to uncover what happened here. I was hoping I could have a few minutes of your time to talk about what's happened here and what you're doing next."

[BarbieTheRPG]

The restaurant:

Making her order, Luna gets a variety of looks and muffled remarks like "freak", "monster" and "weirdo". Some people just laugh but while waiting for her food the overall mood in the eatery gets tenser and tenser. At least one person calls 911 to report Luna as a criminal!


The 'Row:

Two uniformed policemen confront Amy, "I'm sorry ma'am, but this entire block is now a crime scene. The public and press should stay clear of the area until further notice from city officials. You need to go."

[Moro Asahina]

Meryl did her best to ignore the muttering while she was waiting on her food, though with her hearing much sharper than it had been before it was more or less a lost cause. Thankfully she'd gotten pretty used to scathing remarks over the years what with being pretty open about her preference for women, but even so she couldn't help but turn her head just enough to give a mild, one-eyed glare in the vague direction she'd heard the "freak" comment come from. But that was as far as it went unless someone was ballsy enough to actually attack her, and she would simply pay for her food once it was ready so she could return to the site and enjoy her spoils. She figured it didn't much matter if she'd been reported as the only illegal thing she'd probably done was running over whatever speed limit the bike lane might have. Hell, if the cops did show she might be able to hitch a ride back to the site or maybe straight to MarsTech once they'd confirmed she was gonna be going with the Detective.

[CandyLaser]

Two uniformed policemen confront Amy, "I'm sorry ma'am, but this entire block is now a crime scene. The public and press should stay clear of the area until further notice from city officials. You need to go."

Finding herself stymied, she nodded at the officers and left...

But not for long. Amy didn't exactly WANT to call on the powers of the Crown again, but she wasn't sad about it, either. She found a quiet place, free from prying eyes - an empty bathroom did nicely, though she had to walk several blocks before she found one. There, she brought out the Crown and once again activated it, giving herself a glowing prismatic halo. But she didn't use its power to disguise herself, as she had done before. Rather, she used a small measure of the blue stone's power to cloak herself from sight completely. Her outline shimmered and vanished, concealed behind an illusory veil.

Thus hidden, she once again used the indigo stone to return to the scene of the day's events. She appeared in the air, some five hundred feet above, and used her flight to descend swiftly. There, she spotted the truck she'd tried to approach before. The plan now was simple: follow it when it leaves, and when it got wherever it was going, drop her cloak and assist, in either her heroic guise or her more mundane reporting role.

[prufock]

Xstatic
HP: 1

Varish is checking the address for MarsTech on his phone when he is startled by a knock on the window. A reporter? He begins to roll down the window when police officers approach and escort her away. He'd never spoken to a reporter before. PR was not his thing, the city had employees for that. Still, it would be kind of nice to get on the news, even if just so his daughter could see daddy on TV.

A snort from the woman on the seat beside him breaks his reverie. He hadn't been paying much attention to the fight, mainly trying to steer clear of it while he helped the injured, but he was sure he saw her summon some sort of energy to attack the octopus man. She seemed to be one of the "good guys," so at least he might be safe from whatever powers she had.

Then again, who am I to talk he thinks, blue sparks jumping from his hands to the window crank as he rolled it up. He started teh engine and pulled away from the curb, the "superhero" snoozing on the seat beside him. It had been a weird day.

[BarbieTheRPG]

After Amy leaves, the superhumans set out for MarsTech chatting among themselves during the ride. An unusual amount of street traffic slows their journey as police units dot many intersections along the way directing traffic. At one point the truck is pulled over by authorities and the group is questioned vigorously until a call from officers at the Yellow Brick Row clears the supers to continue on.

Finally arriving at the facility, many of the group see MarsTech up close for the first time: MarsTech’s campus itself is a sprawling facility. A majority of the buildings are only three stories tall, though some buildings feature underground labs and parking structures. There is an open area that includes a small park (about 150 feet on a side) with heavy stone benches (Toughness 8) and a small pond (about 10 feet on a side and 4 feet deep). A long concrete walkway leads from the parking area up to the main entrance.

Entering the building, the group is met by two uniformed security guards armed with TASER-like handguns who move towards them, "Uhm, how can we help you?" The guards' hands drift to rest on their holstered weapons. Detective Buckner is nowhere in sight and a young female receptionist is seated at a podium center staring at the group roughly twenty feet in front of the doorway.

[Eldest]

Drana yawns, still waking up from her catnap. We're here to meet with a detective and... somebody from your company, I don't remember who... She pretends not to notice the wariness pf the guards. She was high strung too, the yawn was forced, but it wouldn't help to panic in their faces.

[Objection]

Oculus
HP: 1 | Condition: Wary

Elaine notices sparks occasionally flying from the hands of her current chauffeur and keeps as much distance from him as the confines of the vehicle and her seatbelt allow. As her positioning isn't exactly subtle, she makes a brief comment about electricity and her powers not going together well before anyone takes offence.

On arrival at their destination, Elaine sees the weapons the guards are equipped with and takes a step back just before Drana addresses them. "The detective is Maggie Buckner," she adds, clearly on edge in stark contrast to Drana's apparent drowsiness.

[BarbieTheRPG]

The guards almost relax a bit, "Detective Buckner? Oh yeah! Okay, please follow us." One of the guards, a middle-aged man with a crewcut hairstyle, gestures at the receptionist, "Christie, can you let Dr. Mars' office know his guests are here and headed up, please?" The receptionist acknowledges the guard and picks up the phone to make the call. Escorting the group to a nearby elevator, the guard pushes the 'L' button and the doors slide open, "The CEO's office is on the top floor. Once you arrive, just walk straight down the long hall and enter the double-doors. How long will Detective Buckner be until she arrives?"

The lobby is large and filled with big digital screens that display MarsTech staff and the company's various technological contributions to the world. There's a small fountain pool, large potted plants and modern-art furniture all about. A few people who look like possible employees walk through the area gazing at the supers.

[Moro Asahina]

Rather than crowd into the cab, and in the process disturb a sleeping Drana, Meryl opted to ride in the back of the truck when she found she'd managed to get back in time. She made sure to thank Varish for the ride before laying into her food, chatting all the while if anyone else was feeling talkative. Eating itself was a bit of a challenge thanks to the unfamiliar shape of her short muzzle, but she got used to it fairly quickly and had soon wolfed down the majority of the food she'd gone to so much trouble to get.

When they arrived at their destination, albeit slightly delayed, she hopped out of the truck and trotted along behind the others; Opting to let them do the talking unless asked a question directly for now. Though as the guards' hands strayed closer to their weapons a sharp eye might notice that she tensed slightly. She was pretty sure this wouldn't end in a fight, but then she'd thought the same just before getting into at least half the fights she'd been in over the years so there was no harm in keeping an eye on them.

As they are led towards the elevators Meryl kept an eye on their surroundings, feeling very much out of place in her slightly singed clothing. She cocked her head a bit when the guard asked after Detective Buckner. "She said she'd be round an hour when she asked us ta tag along. So she shouldn' be too far behind us 'less somethin at the scene's holdin her up."

[BarbieTheRPG]

The guards looks at the supers, "We saw some of the news. You guys ..." They just nod their heads and smile, "We've never had this kind of thing here. I like the name, too. The Knights." The other guard says, "Well I was thinking maybe something like the Emerald League. You know? I mean Freedom City has their league. Why can't we have ours?"" The older guard says, "Take it easy, Vernon. These people have somewhere to be." The guards continue to watch the supers as the elevator waits open.

[prufock]

Xstatic
HP: 1

The drive over had been surreal; a werewolf in the cargo pan, two super-powered heroines on the seat beside him, and him sparking all over the place. They had made some attempts at "normal" conversation, but it was all just too weird to him. It had been a relief to park and come into MarsTech's impressive offices.

Looking around the atrium, he'd swear can feel the power running through the walls. It feels good. When he sees the guards reach for their guns, though, his hair stands on end. He feels... charged. When the guards relax, though, so too does the power running through his body.

As the group piles into the confined space of the elevator, Varish shifts from foot to foot, uncomfortable with the guards' reference to them as a "league." I hope this man has some answers.

[CandyLaser]

This is a good time to make an appearance again, Amy thought. Not as Viridian, though. She needed to be able to call on her journalistic acumen openly. After the other heroes arrived at the MarsTech campus, she descended to Earth and put away the Viridian Crown. Once again, she was just Amy Archer, freelance reporter. And it was as Amy Archer that she strode confidently into the building and marched right up to the other heroes. "Excuse me, ladies, gentlemen - I'm afraid we didn't have the chance to talk earlier. I couldn't help but overhear that you're waiting for Detective Buckner. While you wait, do you mind if I ask a few questions?"

[BarbieTheRPG]

The guards stop Amy almost in her tracks, "I'm sorry, ma'am, but this is private property and you can't hold interviews here without authorization. I'll need to call the MarsTech COO to make sure you're cleared. Who are you with? What's your name? I'll need to see some I.D., please." Shifting their attention away from the supers, the security guards close-in on Amy!

[BarbieTheRPG]

While Amy deals with the guards, the Knights ride the elevator to the third floor as The Alan Parsons Project's Eye in the Sky (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNiie_zmSr8) plays softly. The doors slide open upon arrival revealing a long, wide blue-carpeted walkway. The space is 20'x100'x20'. There are more large digital screens lining the wall to the left displaying MarsTech CEO Maximillian Mars talking with local, national and world leaders. To the right are long floor-to-ceiling windows where the group can see the entire facility and several surrounding blocks of the area.

At the end of the one-hundred-foot hall, the group reaches and enters the tall double-doors, finding a small receptionist office where a young man in a suit is waiting, "Hello! I'm Kyle and Mr. Mars is waiting for you. Please?" Kyle opens the second series of double doors and ushers the group into a huge office. Immense digital screens cover the walls displaying local, national and global news, most of which is about the Knights! The volume is low but there's a cross-current of voices discussing the local disaster now called the 'Silver Storm' event! Plush carpeting and luxury furniture fill the room and behind a large silver-metallic table is the seated figure of one Maximillian Mars, founder and owner of MarsTech, billionaire industrialist, social philanthropist.

Mars is 40-ish, 6'3", around two-hundred pounds (solid with no gut), brunette with streaks of gray at the temples, sharp blue eyes, trimmed moustache and goatee, handsome, dark-blue business suit and matching patent-leather shoes. His attention shifts from the monitors to the group as they enter. He rises from his chair and begins clapping! "Bravo! Most remarkable! I commend you and admire your sacrifice. You don't see people taking those kinds of risks much anymore. This has been one of the most amazing days of my life. I am Maximillian Mars, founder and CEO of MarsTech and it is my esteemed pleasure to meet you."

Mars quickly walks from behind his desk to shake the Knights' hands while staring and smiling at them like a groupie!

[Moro Asahina]

Meryl cocked an eyebrow at the particularly bold reporter who'd apparently followed them into the building. Her scent was vaguely familiar, but there'd been quite a few reporters at the site of the explosion, so she supposed that was where she'd picked it up before. Regardless, the lass had guts just walking on in like she owned the place and asking for an interview so Meryl was honestly considering it when the guards took over the show. "Maybe later. Fer now it looks like the high muckity mucks wanna say hello a bit early so we've gotta be goin." She felt Mick would be proud of her for that one. He didn't much care for her talking to the press without coaching her on what to say because it was all too easy for her to slip into her usual, somewhat less than child friendly, speech patterns when she got annoyed; An all too common occurrence when it came to the media and their need to know everything about a girl.

Seeing as the guards had it all well in hand, she joined the others in the elevator. Her ears perked up as the song began playing, a soft chuckle sounding from her. "Better than the usual elevator music I suppose." Whoever had designed the place apparently had a sense of humor. Pretty decent taste in music too. Though as the elevator doors dinged open on their destination and the group made their way down the hallway she did have to question his choice of interior decoration. "Huh, ya think maybe he put this hall together purely so he doesn't have ta do his own braggin?"

Meryl gave Kyle a friendly wave as he introduced himself and led them in. She blinked a bit in surprise as the man's office was revealed with all of its TVs. Admittedly she didn't really understand the point of having them playing so many different things at once, but it was still fairly impressive, if a little showy for her tastes. At his enthusiastic greeting, the wolf woman couldn't help but chuckle. "Yeah, it's been a weird kinda day all around. Ya can call me Luna. Good ta meetcha." She offered him her hand as she said this, giving him a canine grin more out of habit than anything. Mick had spent quite a while drumming it into her head that she needed to smile when dealing with fans after all, and she was pretty sure this guy counted.

[CandyLaser]

Amy glared at the guards. "Amy Archer. I'm freelance. And you can tell your COO that the explosion on Yellow Brick Row has been linked to a MarsTech subsidiary, so he or she would be wise to let me come ask some questions. After all, I'm sure MarsTech wants to get out ahead of the story." She wasn't about to be intimidated by a set of MarsTech rent-a-cops, and she also wasn't about to hand over her ID to them. It might have been private property, but that didn't entitle these goons to get in the way of freedom of the press. "Go on and make the call. I'll wait."

[BarbieTheRPG]

In response to Amy's MarsTech claim the younger guard says, "What?! Not likely, lady." The older guard says, "Vernon, give Mrs. Carol a call and let her know we have a freelance reporter here named Amy Archer." While Vernon makes the call, the older guard stands with Amy, "This is standard procedure, Ms. Archer. We're instructed to clear any and all visitors with our chain of command here. I'm sure you understand and we appreciate your compliance." The man smiles somewhat while looking Amy over.


A minute later:

Vernon holds the company phone receiver to his ear looking at the older guard, "Mrs. Carol is out of the office, Will. Should I try her personal number?" The older officer thinks a few seconds, looks at Amy, then waves her to the elevator, "Alright, Ms. Archer. You don't seem like trouble. I'm clearing you BUT, you are not to question MarsTech employees about anything. Only the group that just went up. I'm trusting you on this so don't make me regret it. I'll call upstairs to let them know you're on the way."

[CandyLaser]

Amy's 'intrepid reporter' persona worked better than she expected. She gave the guards a friendly smile and said, "Of course. Thank you for your cooperation, and I assure you that I'll do all I can to make sure you don't face any blowback." Before the guards had a chance to reconsider, she quickly walked to the same elevator she'd seen the others use. This whole 'secret identity' thing is going to get complicated, fast, she thought. I need to get a burner phone so people can contact me as a hero - maybe get an anonymous e.mail account, too.

Those thoughts, and others like them, occupied her mind as she rode up in the elevator while the dulcet tones of The Alan Parsons Project played on. When the doors opened with a quiet 'ding,' she got out, heading down the hall for the receptionist. The sheer size of her surroundings was impressive - Amy's whole apartment could have fit in the hallway alone, with room left over for a good sized swimming pool, or perhaps a tennis court. And the length of the trip from the elevator, to the desk, sapped her determination a bit. Having to walk so far, in the full view of the receptionist, was awkward. It put her in mind of when you take your leave of a friend outside a bar or restaurant, then head out to the parking lot, only to discover that you're parked next to each other and have to share the walk despite having already said your goodbyes.

Nevertheless, she soldiered on, taking the hundred-foot journey with long, quick strides. She squared off at the desk and gave the receptionist a level look. "Amy Archer," she said. "Here to see the metahumans from Yellow Brick Row. I believe I'm expected."

[BarbieTheRPG]

The young man in a suit nods at Amy, "Yes, ma'am, right this way. This is the office of our CEO, Maximillian Mars. He's meeting with your friends I'm told by security. I'll remind you that Mr. Mars is not to be hassled with unwarranted questions, Ms. Archer. That we'll leave to Detective Buckner, okay? Mr. Mars is a very passionate and equally-powerful man. Not someone you want to get on the wrong side of I assure you." The man smiles at Amy (a hard smile) and opens the double doors revealing Mars' large office.

The Knights and MarsTech's founder are chatting but stop when Amy walks in. Mars raises his eyebrows at Kyle, who mouths 'MEDIA' to his boss. Mars nods and smiles, walking to shake Amy's hand, "Welcome to MarsTech, Incorporated. I am the founder and Chief Executive Officer, Maximillian Mars, Ms......?"

[CandyLaser]

If the young man thought that Amy would be put off by dark intimations about Mars's power, he was way off. Amy had been pretty fearless before claiming the Viridian Crown. But on the night where she bonded with the Crown, she also was shot at by the Mafiya, and since then she'd only grown more confident. Given that the direct approach had worked well so far, she steeled herself and charged ahead. Taking Mars's hand for a firm handshake, she answered him. "Archer. Amy Archer. Freelance journalist. I'm here because of reports about these people here" she nodded to the others in the room - "performing heroic acts during the explosion at Yellow Brick Row." Then her other hand slipped into her messenger bag, coming out with a digital audio recorder. "I have some questions for them, but since everyone's here, I'd rather start by asking MarsTech CEO Maximillian Mars about eyewitness reports indicating that the explosion and silver cloud originated a truck bearing the RedShift Industries logo. Mr. Mars, do you have any comment?"

As she spoke, she looked Mars right in the eye. Her eyes, unfortunately, were still a vibrant indigo, from her use of her teleportation ability earlier. Amy hadn't thought to use another power to return her eyes to a more natural-looking color.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Mars pauses eyebrows still raised as he released Amy's hand. He seemed to stare at her for a long moment, then started, "Well, I ---"

Suddenly, there is a crackling of energy all across the room as the huge monitors flicker off and on, then a brilliant burst of energy to the far left of the group near the monitors causing everyone to look away! Blinking at the room a split-second later, everyone sees four people dressed in odd outfits have appeared in the room in front of the floor-to-ceiling screens!! Three men; one wearing purple robes and a full hooded cloak, and two muscled men wearing wife-beaters and jeans! A woman adorned in what looks like black plate-mail armor and wielding a pulsating lance steps forward, "Well, well, well! Here we decide to pay a visit to an old friend and find unexpected guests! Celebrities even!"

One of the ruffians grins wickedly as his hands suddenly begin glowing with radiant energy! "Yeah! It's those clowns from the 'Row! What did the news call 'em?" The other roughneck laughs and says, "The Knights of Emerald City. How adorable. Funny, I thought they'd be taller!"
The hooded man points at the group, "You're officially trespassing, do-gooders! You have all of two seconds to depart, or, we'll make your five seconds of fame seem like an eternity in hell!!"

Mars, seemingly stunned by it all, begins to step back towards the corner very slowly!

[Eldest]

Drana blinks in surprise, and grins. Oh, let me count. One mississippi, two mississi-halbut! She reaches upward, grabbing at air, as spectral chains mirror her upward movement and grasp at the man with robes.

[Moro Asahina]

Meryl had been watching the reporter just sort of stroll in like she owned the place with some amusement when a group that looked like a couple of rednecks tagging along to give larping a try appeared in a flash of light. She chuckles lightly as they poke fun at their apparent name. To be fair, she thought it was a stupid name too, but she didn't have anything better so she wasn't gonna complain too much. "Pfft, listen at the ape callin us clowns when he an 'is girlfriend're runnin round with a guy in a dress an a girl who got confused when she wanted ta try out heavy metal." As she spoke, she gestured to each in turn, though aiming more towards the middle of the two in tank tops when she mentions them to let the pair decide who gets to be who. Her eyes narrowed as they settled on the armored woman. "Dibs on Heavy Metal by the way."

[Objection]

Oculus
HP: 1 | Condition: Calculating

Elaine is taken aback by Maximillian Mars' enthusiasm at her and her new companions' presence. When the time comes to introduce herself to the man, she can barely speak. Then it isn't long before someone else enters the room: a journalist. One who seems vaguely familiar to Elaine. Before she can consider where she might have seen her before, though, there is another interruption from a group of less-than-savoury types.

"I think you'll find we have an appointment," Elaine says coolly but defiantly to the man in the hood. Of course, she knows that, for those who believe they have the power to ride roughshod over others, words alone won't do much good, so she scans the room for suitable places to take cover when the faecal matter hits the fan.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Drana's eldritch ensnarement explodes against the far wall of monitors into a shower of flickering light as the robed hood sidesteps her attack with astounding speed! The man's cape flows about him as he points ominously at the young sorceress, Haha! You must do better, little one. Let me show you true power! The man raises a gloved hand at Drana and ray of pulsating translucent force just missed striking Drana as she dodges out of the way!

The armored woman yells, "Powerhouse, get the werewolf! Cannon, dispose of 'Sparky the Nerd' ... I'll handle the other woman." The she-knight lowers her lance, aims at Oculus and the polear, begins crackling with electrical energy!

The roughneck with glowing hands chuckles wickedly and points his open palms at Xstatic, "Goodnight, meatball!" A massive blast of brilliant force that Xstatic evades as the wall behind him is blown apart by the blast!

Powerhouse, the biggest of the group at nearly seven feet tall, charges across the office at Luna yelling like a wild man, then says, "I gotta go walk the dog!" Surprisingly, the big man loses his footing, trips and rolls across the floor right past Luna! Powerhouse skids to a stop near the large floor-to-ceiling window, still on his side, cursing at the top of his lungs!

[Moro Asahina]

The wolf woman arched a brow as Powerhouse tripped over his own feet and took a power slide into the wall. Her eyes followed his progress until he slid to a stop. "...Right then, yer name is Slapstick until ya earn the right ta a real name. But Mommy and Daddy need ta have a chat and yer in the way." With that, she rushes him just as he'd tried to do her; Hoping to catch him with her kick as he is trying to get up.

[CandyLaser]

Amy decided that the best place to stand was next to Mars. Happily, that's right where she was. "Friends of yours?" she asked him, as she watched the battle unfold. If the sudden outbreak of hostilities flustered her, she didn't show it. That didn't mean she was unaware of the danger - far from it. In fact, if anyone looked to be taking aim her way, she was tensed and ready to dive for cover.

[prufock]

Xstatic
HP: 2

Varish hadn't yet had a chance to ask the questions he needed answered when the villains attacked! Twice in one day?!

He stands still in surprise, unsure what to do. As the rough-looking man fires a blast of energy at him, Varish stumbles back out of its path, rubbing against Mars' lush couch. As he does, his arm picks up a static charge, tingling like pins and needles. He shakes his hand trying to work out the sensation, when a bolt of electricity arcs from his fingers and across the room toward the man in the hood!

[BarbieTheRPG]

Powerhouse starts to stand up, "Slapstick?! I'll show ya sl-" In mid-sentence, Luna catches the big brawler square in the head with a martial arts kick that lays Powerhouse out again, this time his head bouncing off the floor! His muscular form spasms and he gurgles something unintelligible! He looks as though he;s trying to recover but he's clearly seeing stars right now.

Xstatic's unexpected lightning arcs nearly electrocute Tempus but the villain sidesteps the attack with superhuman ease! The t-shirt wearing bruiser yells at Xstatic, "Okay, pal! You wanna play rough!? Let's play rough!!" With that the bruiser's entire body begins to glow brighter and brighter!

Never taking his eyes off the amazing battle in his office, Mars says to Amy, "My friends have better manners. This is incredible! The Knights seem to be handling them. Watch yourself, Ms. Archer. Stand behind me so you don't get hurt." While the ongoing fight has his attention, Mars still seems very composed despite the possibility of personal harm.

Dreadknight says to Oculus, "Hiding? Oh no, my dear, you can't hide from me!" A crackling lightning bolt blasts at Oculus and while the sofa explodes into a cloud of smoking ash, Oculus is unharmed, but now exposed!

Glowing like a small star, Cannon unleashes two blasts of energy at Xstatic that connect with unbelievable force sending the super flying backwards through the wall where he lands on the floor of Kyle's adjacent office!! Kyle screams and runs out into the outer hallway!

[Moro Asahina]

"Ya know, normally I don' like hittin a man while he's down, but I get the feelin yer not smart enough ta stay down." She gave a soft growl as she drove her fist down towards her fallen foe before stealing a glance around the room. While her fight was going well, it looked like a couple of the others could use a hand with their own, much more competent, opponents.

[prufock]

Xstatic
Condition: Prone, Dazed, -1
HP: 0

Varish skids to a stop on the floor of Kyle's office, rolling over an oriental rug. Owwwwwwww... He rocks back and forth, trying to soothe the ache out of his bones. I should just run, he thinks, but the carpet sends a tingling sensation through his arms, energizing him. Let's see if I can do that again. From his position on the floor, he sweeps his arm forward, this time extending with purpose toward the man in the tank top.

[Objection]

Oculus
HP: 1 | Condition: Eep!

As the battle rages in Mars' office, Elaine's attention is focused on the lance wielder. If any of the electricity from it touches her, who knows what could happen to her cybernetic implants? She instinctively backs away from her opponent as she fires darts from her finger, but in her panic her aim is terrible.

"Can someone take care of that one?" Elaine asks her allies as she points at the knight, her fear evident in her voice.

[Eldest]

I got it! Anna grins, making an "draw" motion with a finger gun and pointing it at the armored knight. Catch!

[roll0] Attack with mystic binding on full-plate electric man.
DC 23 toughness.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Just as Dreadknight flies from the floor taking aim at Oculus again, Drana's spell ensnares the armored woman in tangling energy! Dreadknight drifts back down to the floor fighting desperately against the magical web but it holds her immobile and she shouts, "Nooooooo!"

The robed villain extends his hand in Luna direction saying, "You're a fast healer, Powerhouse, so GET UP!" Still laid out on the floor, Powerhouse shudders and tries to stand but he's still reeling from Luna's attack.

Cannon dodges Xstatic's lightning attack saying, "You still breathing, buddy? I'll finish you later but right now I need to put down a dog!" The ruffian fires a pulsing blast of force at Luna but she avoids it at the last second! The window next to her is blasted open with a shower of shattered glass raining around Luna! Undeterred, Luna delivers another nasty blow to her downed opponent looking to finish Powerhouse off. Already prone, the crook suffers more damage!

[CandyLaser]

Amy didn't get behind Mars. In fact, she was every bit as unruffled as he was. It helped that she knew she had an ace in the hole if she needed it; to be sure, without the Crown the forces being hurled about the office could utterly crush her. But its power was only a moment away. Her hand strayed close to her messenger bag, but didn't yet dart inside. Instead, she simply recorded what she could on her phone while continuing to press Mars. "If you want to do something useful, Mars, why not try to buy off Dread Knight? She's just doing this for the money to protect her family. She's bound, but she might stop fighting if you could guarantee their safety. I know you've got the cash for it."

[BarbieTheRPG]

Mars glanced around at his getting-demolished office and says, "I doubt F.O.E. is here for money. Terrorists like Dreadknight only wish you to think it's that simple, but it's their relentless desire for power that drives them." Tapping the cellular device in his ear, Mars makes a call to 911!

[Eldest]

Drana matches her "draw" with her other hand, a dangerous glow on the tip of her finger-gun. Good night! And blasts the entangled foe right in his center of mass.

Using a luck point, if able. If I can, I will also use a luck point on his roll against the damage save, to take the worse of two rolls.
[roll0] mystic blast (attack)
[roll1] mystic blast (take the better of the two)
DC 23 toughness.

[Moro Asahina]

Luna reflexively flinched as the window next to her exploded from Canon's blast; What little glass there was heading her way from it merely bouncing off her hide. She risked a glance over at Mars. "Ta be fair, I've heard the same as her, and I trust my sources ta know what their talkin about." Jerking her thumb at Amy as she said this. As she rears back to drive her fist down into Slapstick's face again, shifting her stance a bit to let her put more of her weight behind the blow. "Oi ah, Occulus right? Ya mind knockin the Cheerleader's pan in? He's a healer."

[Objection]

Oculus
HP: 1 | Condition: Back in the fight

Once the electric knight is taken care of, Elaine starts to calm down and is better able to assess the situation. The news reporter and the lupine lady both appear to be proposing a non-violent means to end this battle. Elaine is less certain about negotiating with this enemy, at least as long as they are still able to fight.

When Luna points out that one of the villains has the power to heal his comrades, Elaine nods and sprints towards him. The palm of her left hand opens up and a small box with two tiny prongs emerges from the opening. The box then extends itself forwards until the prongs are an inch in front of her fingers and electricity starts to crackle between them. Elaine thrusts this built-in stun gun towards her foe's arm.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Struck by Drana's magic blast, Dreadknight screams in terror!

As Oculus approaches the robed villain, he shakes his head, "Cretins. Too stupid to know when you're beaten." Then he raises a hand, snaps his fingers and then vanishes! Something very weird happens to the Knights that can't be described in words!

The redneck energy-blaster yells at Luna, "Hold still, Lassie!" He unleashes another blast of energy that catches Luna in the side with the force of a speeding truck!

Mars gives Amy a suspicious look and says, "You show up at my office unannounced at the exact time these terrorists appear asking me to pay them off? Have you heard of certain legal terms such as 'coercion, aiding and abetting or conspiracy to commit a crime', Ms. Archer? What you're suggesting is I commit a crime to possibly prevent other crimes. That's bad logic and MarsTech will have nothing to do with it. The authorities are on the way. I suggest you get your story straight explaining your relationship to F.O.E. because it seems you have more than a passing interest in assisting them." With that Mars moves across the office quickly, taking a knee behind his desk as he continues to watch the battle!

[Moro Asahina]

Luna gives a satisfied grunt as Powerhouse finally slumps unconscious. Her preoccupation, however, costs her as she just barely manages to get her guard up to try and absorb some of Cannon's blast. Even so, the force behind it slides her back a couple of feet and definitely cracked something if the twinge she was feeling in her side was any indication. A low growl rumbles in her chest as she shakes her head to try and stop the ringing in her ears. There is a soft, almost inaudible crack as something shifts back into place beneath her hide. "Ya know, that one actually kinda hurt. Ya got another one in ya?" She wasn't sure just what Tempus had done just now, but she couldn't see him and everything at least looked normal, so she put it out of her mind for the moment. Just gotta keep this prick's attention on me. Gotta give'em one thing though, bastards not too smart but he hits like a freight train.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Oculus' Stun-Gun attack strikes into thin air as the robed Tempus disappears a split-second before contact! In the middle of the office-turned-warzone, Dreadknight continues to struggle against Drana's mystic snare! Powerhouse lays face-down unconscious besides Luna but Cannon seems to be getting more enraged by the second, "You want another one, dog-face?!?! OKAY!!" Thrusting his hands at Luna, the villain discharges another explosive blast of energy that blows the heroine backwards close to the gaping hole in the office window!

[Eldest]

Stay away from her! She makes a shoving motion, lashing out with a whip of scarlet energy at Cannon.

[CandyLaser]

Mars' poorly-evidenced accusation pissed Amy off. Ignoring the ongoing combat, she strode over to his desk, face growing flushed. "Hurling around those sorts of accusations aren't going to get you anywhere, Mr. Mars. Haven't you ever heard the phrase, 'never pick a fight with a man who buys ink by the barrel?'" She thrust a finger at him, focused entirely on the billionaire, not the villains. "I could ask YOU how F.O.E. knew we'd be here - it's not like any of us checked in on Facebook. So let's cool it with the baseless insinuations and deal with the real problem." Finally, she turned, sweeping an arm over the still-raging battle. "All I can do is take a few pictures and make sure the truth gets out." She then did just that, using her phone to capture the best images she could of the heroes and - more importantly - the members of F.O.E.

[Objection]

Oculus
HP: 1 | Condition: Focused

Elaine curses as her stun gun hand fails to strike her adversary before his sudden disappearance. Though she wonders why he would do this, she cannot think too much on it as there is still one evident threat. She pulls her stunning arm back as she runs at the blaster and thrusts it towards him when she gets close.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Pointing at Luna, Cannon yells, "Hah! Not so tough now are ya?!? You want another one!?!?" Before he can resume his attack on Luna, Cannon's caught almost by surprise by Drana's mystic blast but he just looks around at her saying, "HAHA!! That the best you got, girl?!?! I've had drinks harder than that!!" When Oculus moves to strike him, Cannon uses a quick forearm swipe to block the stun-gun saying, "Rookies! Bunch of one-shot losers here!! I've beaten the best in Freedom City! You idiots are wimps!!" The roughneck villain extends a hand at Oculus and catches the heroine with a massive blast of crushing force-energy!!

Several yards away Dreadknight lets out a defiant scream and Drana's mystic snare crackles and vanishes! Dreadknight takes to the air ten feet from the floor and raises her glowing lance, "That wasn't very nice. I meant only to teach you a lesson, but now the kid gloves are off!!"

Mars winces a bit when Oculus is struck by Cannon's blast, "Yes. Take your pictures,Ms. Archer. They could be of use later when you publish your story of what true heroism looks like. Our Knights look good, indeed. Much better than I first imagined. This could be the beginning of something incredible."

[BarbieTheRPG]

Cannon spins around just as Xstatic fires his electrical burst and the crackling energy strikes the far wall! There's a sudden sparking of electricity all around the room then the lights, computer monitors and everything electronic ceases to function! Fortunately the large hole in the office window allows sunlight from outside to illuminate the room! Cannon yells, "Nice shot, sparkplug! You should be an electrician!" Dreadknight, now hovering mid-air, shouts, "Cannon, target the girl in the hat! Tempus! Where are you?!?!"

[prufock]

Xstatic
HP: 0
Condition: Fatigued, -1 Toughness

After taking the time to line up a good shot at Cannon, and vigorously rubbing his hands on the rug, Varish's shot arcs out, but goes a mile wide. The blue shock connects with some sort of panel and spiderwebs out through the wall, causing all the electronics in the office to go out. Well, I didn't know I could do that. Really wish I had gotten some practice before now! He reassesses his situation. Okay, if I can do that to the electronics, let's see if I can take out that woman's lance.

Varish sweeps his arm toward the woman, and another blue arc flashes out from his hand in her direction! As he does so, he rolls to the side to cover himself from a counterattack.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Dreadknight comes flying in at Drana with her electrostatic lance to attack, thrusts, and Xstatic cancels her energy burst and she pulls up airborne looking at her lance! "Wha- No! I can ...! What is wrong with ---!?!?" Dreadknight circles the room shaking her lance then sputters and falls down to the floor, tumbling and rolling! She immediately starts checking over her gear! "I can work this! What is it?!?"

Mars watches intently saying, "This is insane! Stay down, Ms. Archer!" In the distance, the sound of sirens sounds.

[Eldest]

Drana starts slow. There's a beat-beat-beat-beat of a chopper, coming from the side, and slowly through the window a helicopter emerges from the left, out of sight. Boldy emblazened with FOE on the side, there's a cry of "FREEZE" from a crackling loudspeaker.

Meanwhile, Drana scoots into cover with Mars and the reporter, focusing hard on the illusion.

[BarbieTheRPG]

In the far corner of the room near the large, shattered computer monitors a robed youth appears, same outfit as the older man wore but a younger face, "Blast it all! Dreadknight, we've run out of time." Suddenly, shimmering halos of energy appear around Dreadknight, Powerhouse, and Cannon! The villains begin to fade away as Cannon shouts, "I'M NOT DONE! I'M NOT DONE WITH YOU!! YOU'LL SEE ME AG-"

And F.O.E. is gone!

Mars rises from his crouch and surveys his demolished office: smashed computer monitors, blasted-out window, crushed-in hole to the adjacent office. He sighs .... then smiles and begins clapping again! "Unbelievable! People hear tales of heroes battling crime like this but few ever actually witness it. Don't leave. Whatever you're being paid right now professionally I will multiply ten times! I have a proposition of a sort. One I'm sure you would be willing to consider."

The far double doors burst open and Detective Buckner strides in, gun out, "FREEZE! DON'T M0- what's going on here!?!?"

[Eldest]

Anna bursts into giggles, pointing between him, the area where the villains were, and the window where the helicopter had vanished into so much smoke. Between laughs, she manages out and the prize for perfect timing goes tooo before collapsing back into her laughter fit.

[CandyLaser]

Amy continued snapping pictures, capturing an image of F.O.E.'s retreat, as well as one of the applauding Maximillian Mars. Overall, she was pleased with how things turned out. Being useless for the fight hurt; she could practically feel the Crown in her bag, its power yearning to be unleashed. And she wasn't happy that the other heroes had to take more hits and be under more threat for her absence.

On the other hand, no one was seriously hurt, and now it was even less likely that anyone would link Amy Archer, intrepid reporter, to Viridian, flying gem-powered heroine. She'd have to use the Crown's illusion powers to appear in the same place at the same time, later, to really hammer home the belief that the two were separate people. Plus, she had a good story, and good pictures.

"Detective Buckner," she said, as the officer entered. "It's a good thing you're here. You missed all the fun, but just before those thugs showed up, Mars was just about to answer my question about the reports that the explosion and silver cloud originated a truck bearing the logo of MarsTech subsidiary RedShift Industries." She turned on her heel, looking Mars right in the eye with a smirk on her face. "So, Max - what's the story?"

[BarbieTheRPG]

Mars smiles and greets Det. Buckner with a double-handshake, "Your presence is welcomed as always detective. MarsTech stands prepared to assist in any way we can. I wont lie; these Knights are an impressive group. One I'm eager to engage, if they'll grant me an audience. Emerald City needs people like them. Especially in times like these. If RedShift Energies is involved in this tragic event, I'm sure ECPD and the FBI will ferret it out. I'm looking forward to whatever evidence comes to light. MarsTech has an association with RedShift, but only contractually. Let's let the investigation work itself out."

[prufock]

Xstatic
Condition: -1 Toughness, Fatigued |HP: 0

Seeing the danger has passed, Varish picks himself up off the floor and steps through the him-sized hole in the wall into Mars' office. The detective has finally arrived. Overhearing their conversation, Varish sees his opportunity to speak with the mogul. Excuse me, Mr. Mars, but we actually came seeking an audience with you. I'm glad we were able to help, but as you can see, something strange happened to some of us when that truck exploded on Yellow Brick Row. Personally, I'm quite worried. I don't know what effect, if any, this may have on my health, or those around me. I was hoping, with your extensive network, you'd be able to point me in the direction of a doctor who specializes in this sort of... abnormality. Varish scratches his head, clearly a little uncomfortable under the gaze of the technology magnate.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Mars smiled at Xstatic, "Not to worry, young man. Our biotech specialist can find the answers you need. In fact, I'll commit myself to making sure you have all the information you need regarding your electrical anomaly. Quick question: do you experience any electrical surge with your emotion shifts?"

Detective Buckner turns again to the Knights for answers, "What the hell happened here? This place is a mess! Did one of you lose it? Just tell me what happened and I'll try to manage the information. You don't have to worry about prosecution right now. I just need the facts to the best of your ability."

[Eldest]

Anna jerks back in shock at the idea of being prosecuted. They were the ones who sent off the bad guys! There were some, I guess villains? They burst in and gave us two seconds to clear out. I shot first at a second and a half. She grins cheerfully.

[Objection]

Oculus
HP: 1 | Condition: 1 wound, tries turning it off and on again

Elaine winces as the villain's energy blast hits her right in the gut and drops to her knees. Before she can get back up, her electricity-wielding ally fires an electric bolt only to hit the equipment on the wall. The electricity travels throughout the room, overloading all the electronics in the office, including Elaine's cybernetic systems. Her vision pixellates and becomes choppy before cutting out completely. Her hands freeze in place. She can hear the sounds of battle, and then they stop and are replaced by a bunch of voices, but all Elaine's focusing on is trying to get her electronic implants working again. It takes a little while for her to remember what to do, but then ...

"SURGE PROTECTION RESET! FIVE ZERO SIX DELTA SEVEN ALPHA!"

After Elaine speaks the code, her vision comes back to her immediately, as does mobility in her hands. She notices, in order, that Mars' office has taken a significant amount of damage, that there is no sign of the superpowered beings that had broken into the office, and that Detective Buckner is on the scene.

"What just happened?" Elaine asks as she gets back on her feet and retracts her stun gun.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Maximillian Mars responds, "Something amazing."

Mars begins asking the characters their names, where they're from, why they fought the villains and would they consider forming a team to protect Emerald City from a very apparent threat. Surprisingly, he's very polite but also very determined in learning about you.

[CandyLaser]

Amy knew when it was time to fade into the background.

Actually, she didn't really have any idea of when to fade into the background, but nevertheless she got the sense that this might be a good time. She kept her recorder running, of course, but didn't interrupt as Max asked his questions.

[BarbieTheRPG]

Police sirens sound from outside the building and Detective Buckner signals a "stand-down" order via her radio, then she surveys the scene further while Mars continues chatting with the Knights. After a few moments, Buckner approaches the group, "This is officially a crime scene, Mr. Mars, so our CSI units will need open access to this space. I'm sure that isn't an issue. I will need to collect statements from everyone regarding the incident, starting with our 'Knights'. Will you all accompany me down to the lobby?" Detective Buckner smiles will walking for the door.

Mars crosses his arms over his chest saying, "Of course, Detective. Whatever you need, MarsTech will comply with, within reason." He watches the Knights a few seconds before turning back to his desk.

[prufock]

Xstatic
Condition: -1 Toughness | HP: 0

At Mars' reassurance, Varish visibly relaxes. If anyone would know what to do about this static charge he had picked up, it would be one of the most powerful technology developers in the country. With a relieved smile, he tells Mars a bit about himself. My name is Varish. I work for Emerald City municipal as an electrical engineer. That's what I was doing when the explosion happened - working on a junction box on Yellow Brick Row. I got knocked out for a moment, and when I woke up these sparks were shooting off my skin. I really just want to make sure this effect isn't dangerous to others, but... - he looks to the space that the villains had previously occupied - I guess I have my answer to that. If I can't get rid of it, I need to at least control it. I wouldn't want my daughter to get hurt.

He follows the detective to the elevator, feeling winded, but a little more upbeat than he had since the incident on YBR.