[Masks] San Fransapporo: After Dark

[DreadPirateH]

Hikari
Conditions: Angry
Potential: 4/5

Spoiler: Labels

Show

• Freak: +1
• Danger: +3
• Savior: -2
• Superior: +2
• Mundane: -1

Spoiler: Moves

Show

• [X] Devil or Angel on My Shoulder: When you provoke a teammate to violent action or drastic measures as your Hero Persona, roll with your Alias Label. When you discourage a teammate from going overboard or making an action they can’t take back as your Alias Persona, roll + your Hero Label.
• [X]Save the Light: When you step in to intervene, help a civilian, or stop a threat roll + your Hero label. On a miss, you’re made to look the fool. Mark a Condition and give ground. On a hit, you’ve got someone’s attention. Use it as an opportunity or provoke them to action. On a 10+ your foe must respond in kind or flee.
• [X]Captain: When you enter battle as a team, add an extra Team to the pool and carry +1 forward if you are the leader.
• [X]Been Reading the Files: You’ve learned about the superhuman world through your mentor’s resources. When you first encounter an important superpowered phenomenon (your call), roll + Superior. On a hit, tell the team one important detail you’ve learned from your studies. The GM will tell you what, if anything, seems different from what you remember. On a 10+, ask the GM a follow-up question; they will answer it honestly. On a miss, the situation is well outside your base of knowledge; the GM will tell you why.

Hikari's hands ball into fists at her side as she watches the two hobble off. She's lost? She's not the one cutting deals with the Warlords! She's the one who...

and then Tumult lands beside her. Whatever she was going to scream at the broken-winged Sparrow, it shrivels and dies in her chest. "They'd better not count on any more freebies from Yojimbo," she says, weakly.

Refusing to look at Tumult, she growls,"What are you looking at?" She meant it as more of a snarl, but it comes out as barely more than a mewl. Normally she'd have some harsh words for him about being seen together in public, but her heart just isn't in it today. Turning, she starts trudging off down a side street in the opposite direction of the former hostages.

[Captain Jak]

Ronin
Conditions: Damaged
Potential: 2/5
Gadget: 1

Spoiler: Labels

Show

• Freak: +0
• Danger: +0
• Savior: +2
• Superior: +2
• Mundane: -1

Spoiler: Moves

Show

• [X] I'll Show Them: When you defend someone who doesn’t believe in you, you can always take Influence over them, even on a miss.
• [X]All The Best Stuff: You’ve compiled access to caches of equipment and weaponry other supers have hidden in the city. When you access a cache, say whose cache it is. If it’s a hero’s, roll + Savior. If it’s a villain’s, roll + Danger. On a hit, you find a tool or intel useful to your situation; the GM will detail. On a 7-9, you leave evidence that you’ve been here. On a miss, you tripped an alarm and they’re coming; prepare to explain yourself.
• [X]White lies: When you comfort or support someone by telling them how they are your role model as a hero, roll + Savior instead of + Mundane. On any hit, if they open up to you, take Influence over them.
• [X] Always Prepared: When you have a chance to restock your supplies, hold up to 2-gadgets. When you unleash your powers by producing a brand new minor invention or gadget from your supply, spend 1-gadget and roll + Superior. When you reach 0-gadgets, mark a condition.
• [X] Damage: You get an additional condition called Damaged. While marked, take +1 to take a powerful blow. To clear the Damaged condition, you need time, external help, or special equipment or abilities.

Miho knows that, as an empath, Erika is very well how she feels in response to the other woman’s words. Mild embarrassment at the continued insistence that this is a date of the romantic nature, intermixed with mild frustration as well that she’s focused on something so unimportant rather than the thrill that such a mind is interested in work that she has done.

Of course, that's rather thoroughly overwhelmed by the surge of emotion elicited by bringing up Zero.

”I should; he shouldn't be unsupervised,” she mutters darkly, her knuckles whitening for a moment on the arms of her chair. She can only imagine what disaster that would be, though.

”No – I don't need backup, I can do this. It'll be fine.” I hope.

She looks a little skeptically at the dress that Erika clearly adores. ”A dress? I dunno,” she temporises; she usually prefers pants, not only for being more practical if she has to do some work in her shop, but a dress tends to showcase the legs she doesn't have much of.

And hair. And makeup? What has she gotten herself into now....

[Razade]

Team: 1


Hikari, Tumult: City Streets

"Not much." Tumult opines, keeping a fair distance still as he watches the former hostages make a break for it. Snarky, not stupid. "While you've been busy running around the city, my family got an interesting visit. The Constellations are out to kill your team. Your little stunt at the Island's been pinned on them, no thanks to my old lady, to save your sorry hide. A few of them came to hire her and the rest of the Clan but she refused. Maia and Virgo are already on the lookout for you, the others will probably follow suit in short order. I wanted to give you a heads up before they started gunning you down in the streets. But if I shouldn't have bothered? I have to figure out how to keep good'ol Tsunami from hero'ing himself into an early grave."

The...villain? folds his arms across his chest, glancing down either side of the street. "Their first push is going to be tonight, they've already found a way to track your team but they wouldn't share it with us since mom declined. You're all in serious danger."


Ronin, Kitsune: Tiger's Pavillion

"A dress would look nice but if you want to look a little more official I'm sure we can get you some slacks. Maybe you'd like to put your hair up with some axelgrease while you're at it?" Kitsune teases, giving your hair a playful ruffle. "I'm just looking out for my favorite girl, if you think you can do this without backup then I'm not going to argue. You know your limits better than anyone. Just be safe, HexXxen isn't too far from the Lane...and it's not the safest place on its own either. I'm sure he just wants to talk shop with another brilliant mind but I can't help but worry."

It's true that Bear Island isn't known as the safest place in the city. After Karakuri Town's fall any other major projects simply dried up, HexXxen was considered a hail mary for the dying island town. The Lane, otherwise known as Baby Bear Lane, is a frequent spot for villains given how far away it is from both the Warlord's direct control as well as a safe place from the Guardians as well. Security around HexXxen was enough to keep the riff raff out but full on villain raids aren't unheard of. Some even suspect they're staged so that HexXxen can sell to the darker elements of the city and still look like the good guys. Nothing like that's going to happen tonight though.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Clear Influence use here. She's saying you're brilliant but also taking some danger on yourself and not thinking as smartly as you ought considering the situation. If you agree, Superior down and Danger up. Roll to reject otherwise.

[The_Specialist]

Tsunami
Conditions:
Potential: 2/5
Gadget: 0
Hold: 0

Spoiler: Labels

Show

• Freak: +1
• Danger: -1
• Savior: +2
• Superior: +3
• Mundane: -2

Spoiler: Moves

Show

• [X] Fireside Chat: When you seek advice from your mentor, roll + the Label they embody. On a hit they will tell you what to do. On a 10+, mark potential if you follow their advice, and take +1 ongoing to follow through. On a 7-9, you get +1 forward to see it through if you do it their way. On a miss, they don’t have time for you because something big has gone down; mark a condition, GM’s choice.
• [X]Be Mindful of Your Surroundings: When you assess the situation before entering into a fight, you may ask one additional question, even on a miss.
• [X]Venting Frustration: When you directly engage while you are Angry, you can roll + the label your mentor denies (Mundane) and clear Angry.
• [X]Before We Get Started: When you take the time to closely observe your opposition before a battle, roll + Savior. On a 10+, hold 3. On a 7-9, hold 2. On a miss, hold 1 and mark a condition. During battle, you can spend your hold 1 for 1 to name a character you observed and...:
  
  • ...redirect their attack to another character or nowhere—into a wall or the sky.
  • ...cross a distance between them and you.
  • ...disarm them.
  • ...ignore all harm to yourself from one of their attacks.
  • ...escape any bindings or restrictions they attempt to place on you.

Max cracks a rare, if faint, smile seeing Lanuola fluster a bit with the praise. He’s not much good with taking it either, but he only gives it when it’s earnestly deserved. He’s glad to see her actually take credit for her positive actions and effects though, and not brush it off. “You’ve really been coming through extra hard lately. I appreciate all the tough work you’ve been doing.” Max confirms simply, moving to lean against the counter nearby, facing her but leaving enough space to be comfortable and still casual.

“It... went well in the end.” He wasn’t going to rag on another team mate behind their back, he’d save his grievances for a moment when they were face to face. It was true Ground Zero had put a quick stop to the chase with Hannya, but Max still wasn’t satisfied with the methods. They were lucky the hostages had only been scuffed. “GZ stopped Hannya’s van, and we had him surrounded. He said some weird things, like them trying to take down the Warlords. Honestly would have liked to know more about what they were up to, but a lengthy discussion wasn't gonna happen. We managed to talk him into giving up the hostages safely in exchange for a one on one with me. He and I have some old beef, he pretended he wanted to hash it out. Except he just tried to book it once Hikari and GZ were out of sight, but I still managed to catch him. And then the big guns magically showed up once it was over, to whisk him away to imprisonment presumably. Anyway. Whatever anyone else says, we helped a lot of people today.”

[DreadPirateH]

Hikari
Conditions: Angry
Potential: 4/5

Spoiler: Labels

Show

• Freak: +1
• Danger: +3
• Savior: -2
• Superior: +2
• Mundane: -1

Spoiler: Moves

Show

• [X] Devil or Angel on My Shoulder: When you provoke a teammate to violent action or drastic measures as your Hero Persona, roll with your Alias Label. When you discourage a teammate from going overboard or making an action they can’t take back as your Alias Persona, roll + your Hero Label.
• [X]Save the Light: When you step in to intervene, help a civilian, or stop a threat roll + your Hero label. On a miss, you’re made to look the fool. Mark a Condition and give ground. On a hit, you’ve got someone’s attention. Use it as an opportunity or provoke them to action. On a 10+ your foe must respond in kind or flee.
• [X]Captain: When you enter battle as a team, add an extra Team to the pool and carry +1 forward if you are the leader.
• [X]Been Reading the Files: You’ve learned about the superhuman world through your mentor’s resources. When you first encounter an important superpowered phenomenon (your call), roll + Superior. On a hit, tell the team one important detail you’ve learned from your studies. The GM will tell you what, if anything, seems different from what you remember. On a 10+, ask the GM a follow-up question; they will answer it honestly. On a miss, the situation is well outside your base of knowledge; the GM will tell you why.

This day just keeps getting better and better. Hikari's in no mood to listen to Tumult chew her out for doing her job, much less be hunted for it. "To save my hide? I wouldn't have to pull little stunts if she didn't keep putting me in direct opposition with my own team! I know she does it on purpose, just like she probably set the Constellations - wait." The panel cuts from her ranting to her glaring at Tumult suspiciously. "Why do you care about Tsunami?"

[Captain Jak]

Ronin
Conditions: Damaged
Potential: 2/5
Gadget: 1

Spoiler: Labels

Show

• Freak: +0
• Danger: +1
• Savior: +2
• Superior: +1
• Mundane: -1

Spoiler: Moves

Show

• [X] I'll Show Them: When you defend someone who doesn’t believe in you, you can always take Influence over them, even on a miss.
• [X]All The Best Stuff: You’ve compiled access to caches of equipment and weaponry other supers have hidden in the city. When you access a cache, say whose cache it is. If it’s a hero’s, roll + Savior. If it’s a villain’s, roll + Danger. On a hit, you find a tool or intel useful to your situation; the GM will detail. On a 7-9, you leave evidence that you’ve been here. On a miss, you tripped an alarm and they’re coming; prepare to explain yourself.
• [X]White lies: When you comfort or support someone by telling them how they are your role model as a hero, roll + Savior instead of + Mundane. On any hit, if they open up to you, take Influence over them.
• [X] Always Prepared: When you have a chance to restock your supplies, hold up to 2-gadgets. When you unleash your powers by producing a brand new minor invention or gadget from your supply, spend 1-gadget and roll + Superior. When you reach 0-gadgets, mark a condition.
• [X] Damage: You get an additional condition called Damaged. While marked, take +1 to take a powerful blow. To clear the Damaged condition, you need time, external help, or special equipment or abilities.

Erika's words tug at Miho, and not just because she doesn't like worrying her friend. Being the smart one who does the smart thing is a concept rather integral to her sense of self; the thought that she's deliberately taking the more dangerous route feels...foreign.

But. The good opinion of someone as phenomenal as Sidis is extremely important to her, and bringing along someone uninvited who doesn't have the right investment?

Frankly, going in alone seems the lesser risk. Not to mention that she won't actually be alone, thanks to Chisei, and she isn't precisely as helpless as she appears to be.

After all, she's sitting on a small fortune's worth of custom hardware, is she not?

No, in this case, the not so smart play is the smart play, and if danger comes looking for her, it'll find out that she can be dangerous herself.

”Ha ha, very funny,” Miho replies dryly, wrinkling her nose. ”Of course I want to look good, but I also want to look like me. And that does not require grease!” Although she knows very well the incident in question that has prompted that needling, embarrassing as that memory is.

”But...I'm not good at this,” she laments. ”That's why I called you for help; you know how all this is supposed to work.” So why is she questioning her expert consultant?

She sighs. ”If you say a dress, then I'm not going to second-guess you,” she concedes with a smile. ”If I can manage to look thirty percent as good as you always do, you'll have pulled off a miracle. What's next?” she inquires, putting herself into her friend's hands. She trusts her.

Spoiler: CRUNCH

Show

Sometimes you have to take chances and do the risky thing rather than the smart thing to get what you want. Not contesting, shifting Danger up and Superior down.

[Razade]

Pool: 1


Hikari, Tumult: City Streets

"Yeah well welcome to being involved with literal ninja, what did you expect? A California Roll, some origami shuriken and a hearty pat on the back for your troubles?" Tumult snaps, folding his arms across his chest just as angrily. "She's got her talons in you and she's not going to let go, out of love of course." the last bit is a sneer beyond simple sarcasm. "So of course she's putting you against them. She doesn't see them as your team, she sees them as obstacles in your way. She thinks she's helping you." he continues, an arm breaking from his stubborn self hug to flail angrily. That is until you catch him. All that anger is quick to smolder down to embers.

"We traveled here from Halcyon together. We'd had some brush ups over there, a few times. My boss wasn't really for it at first but the guy needed a friend. We got close....I thought we got close." he mutters, turning away slowly though never really exposing himself to you fully, always careful. Wary. "I wasn't going to stick around but he needed help here too, at first and then my mom found out I was back in town and she put her talons in me too. Same as you. Then your little team came along and replaced me. I tried to get Tsunami to leave with me that night, at Monkey Island. It was the only reason I went with you. Didn't pan out. I'm not going to be asking this time. You have a team to go alert and I have to find out how to get involved without getting involved. I warned you as a courtesy, as fellow prisoners of the Dragon. Use the time wisely you nightmare and if you tell Tsunami you saw me, you'll see that I am truly the son of that Dragon."

With a whistle, a shadow falls over the both of you and in the next moment Tumult is whisked away into the sky under massive falcony wings.

You have a team to alert. Ronin seems the only one active and out and about, Tsumami and the others appear to be back at the base. At least their safe, that really only leaves the one out exposed. What do you do?


Ronin, Kitsune: Shopping!!

"You laugh but maybe he's into that. I don't know anything about the guy. After The Hive crashed down on our beaches a year ago HexXen's been pretty quiet finding out a way to keep them from dropping more drones on us." She is of course meaning a rather pointed attack by a seemingly extraterrestrial death machine that had reduced one of the more idillic beaches in San Fransapporo into a glass pane. Rumors abound that one of the few survivors of that incident somehow took the old Finch's place when The Weather Report climbed out of the rubble of The Storm King's assault. HexXen was eager to work with any tech from outside the planet as they could. This wouldn't be unknown to you either.

"That's very sweet of you to say but I don't look like this because I'm blessed, I put a lot of effort into it because my fans expect it at this stage. I envy you really. You're you no matter how you look and people accept you for that. I don't want to sound shallow or conceited...or to just ignore a compliment but I'm serious. There's more to looking good than toners and facial scrubs and hair salons that cost as much as your clanky metal suit." She offers a sigh, giving a shrug. "You're perfect the way you are, and the you that likes me for me is the only you I want. Now let's get to plucking those eyebrows." she says with a devilish grin.

We get a montage then of Kitsune leading you though several more boutiques and salons until you come out the other side glowing. Give us a rundown on what all was done to you, the horrors, and where Kitsune leaves you as she dashes off to leave you to get ready for your big night.

[DreadPirateH]

Hikari
Conditions: Angry
Potential: 4/5

Spoiler: Labels

Show

• Freak: +1
• Danger: +3
• Savior: -2
• Superior: +2
• Mundane: -1

Spoiler: Moves

Show

• [X] Devil or Angel on My Shoulder: When you provoke a teammate to violent action or drastic measures as your Hero Persona, roll with your Alias Label. When you discourage a teammate from going overboard or making an action they can’t take back as your Alias Persona, roll + your Hero Label.
• [X]Save the Light: When you step in to intervene, help a civilian, or stop a threat roll + your Hero label. On a miss, you’re made to look the fool. Mark a Condition and give ground. On a hit, you’ve got someone’s attention. Use it as an opportunity or provoke them to action. On a 10+ your foe must respond in kind or flee.
• [X]Captain: When you enter battle as a team, add an extra Team to the pool and carry +1 forward if you are the leader.
• [X]Been Reading the Files: You’ve learned about the superhuman world through your mentor’s resources. When you first encounter an important superpowered phenomenon (your call), roll + Superior. On a hit, tell the team one important detail you’ve learned from your studies. The GM will tell you what, if anything, seems different from what you remember. On a 10+, ask the GM a follow-up question; they will answer it honestly. On a miss, the situation is well outside your base of knowledge; the GM will tell you why.

The last panel on the page shows Hikari watching as Tumult recedes into the distance of the concrete canyons, one hand balled into a fist, a breeze gently blowing her hair to one side.

That was more than Tumult had ever said about his personal life, and it reminds Hikari why she had a "don't ask, don't tell" policy when it came to her darker half's cohorts. Despite herself, she couldn't help but feel a little bit sorry for him. It's not hard to imagine how terrible of a mother Koto-sensei probably is. Catching even just a glimpse of the truth of it is something else entirely. Fellow prisoner of the Dragon...

But the moment passes, and the ugly reality reasserts itself. She has a team to warn. Racing back to where she left Sakura, she records a group voice message as she runs, marked URGENT.

"All points bulletin! I just got word that the Rogue's Constellations are gunning for us, and they're not looking to take prisoners. They're making their move tonight. Tsunami, put the base on lockdown stat. Supposedly they can track us. I'm on my way to secure Ronin. Nobody leaves unless attacked, and no cowboy s**t!"

Hikari is breathing heavy as she arrives back at where she left Sakura, her motorcycle is nowhere to be found. Tsunami must have taken her back to the base like the good boy he is. Swearing under her breath some more, she reaches under her shirt, revealing the red scarf tied around her waist. For a moment, she hesitates. "No time to waste," she mutters. Steeling herself, she steps into an alley shadow and vanishes.

[Comissar]

Sunburst
Conditions:
Potential: 2/5

Spoiler: Labels

Show

• Danger: -1
• Freak: +2
• Savior: +2
• Superior: +1
• Mundane: -1

Spoiler: Burn and Flares

Show

Held Burn

2

Shielding

You call up a fast protective field to stop a danger. Spend 1 burn to defend someone else from an immediate threat, rolling +Freak instead of +Saviour.

Moat

Spend 1 burn to create a barrier that will hold back threats as long as you keep your attention on it. The GM may call for you to spend another burn if the barrier is threatened by particularly powerful enemies.

Reality Storm

You channel a destructive burst with your powers. Spend 1 burn to directly engage a threat using your powers, rolling +Freak instead of +Danger. If you do, you will cause unwanted collateral damage unless you spend another burn.

Snatch

Spend 1 burn to use your powers to seize any one object up to the size of a person from someone within view.

Moves

Wish I could be - When you comfort or support someone, if you tell them what you most envy about them, you can roll +Freak instead of +Mundane.

Unstoppable - When you smash your way through scenery to get to or get away from something, roll +Danger. On a hit, the world breaks before you, and you get what you want. On a 7-9, choose one: mark a condition, leave something behind, or take something with you. On a miss, you smash through, but leave devestation in your wake or wind up somewhere worse, GM's choice.

Lanuola's blush deepens as Max continues to lay praise on her, and she finds herself uncertain as to what to say, settling for just giving an embarrassed smile and rubbing behind her neck. Fortunately, she's saved from working out what to say as Max continues on and begins to talk about how his half of the morning's mission had gone. She relaxes, breaking into a smile by the end of Max's explanation, "I'm, uh, I'm glad it all worked out well. I was worried for a bit that, uh, that getting Sparrow away from them would be, uh, would be really difficult."

Further conversation is forestalled as she hears both her own, and Max's, phones ringing out with a voice alert. Assuming it to be a team message, she takes her phone out and lets it play. Her face falls as the message plays to the otherwise quiet room. Looking over to her teammate, Lanuola asks, "Wh-what should we do? A-are we safe here..?"

[The_Specialist]

Tsunami
Conditions:
Potential: 2/5
Gadget: 0
Hold: 0

Spoiler: Labels

Show

• Freak: +1
• Danger: -1
• Savior: +2
• Superior: +3
• Mundane: -2

Spoiler: Moves

Show

• [X] Fireside Chat: When you seek advice from your mentor, roll + the Label they embody. On a hit they will tell you what to do. On a 10+, mark potential if you follow their advice, and take +1 ongoing to follow through. On a 7-9, you get +1 forward to see it through if you do it their way. On a miss, they don’t have time for you because something big has gone down; mark a condition, GM’s choice.
• [X]Be Mindful of Your Surroundings: When you assess the situation before entering into a fight, you may ask one additional question, even on a miss.
• [X]Venting Frustration: When you directly engage while you are Angry, you can roll + the label your mentor denies (Mundane) and clear Angry.
• [X]Before We Get Started: When you take the time to closely observe your opposition before a battle, roll + Savior. On a 10+, hold 3. On a 7-9, hold 2. On a miss, hold 1 and mark a condition. During battle, you can spend your hold 1 for 1 to name a character you observed and...:
  
  • ...redirect their attack to another character or nowhere—into a wall or the sky.
  • ...cross a distance between them and you.
  • ...disarm them.
  • ...ignore all harm to yourself from one of their attacks.
  • ...escape any bindings or restrictions they attempt to place on you.

“Honestly, so was I...” Max starts to comment idly, before his thigh pocket vibrates urgently, just as Lanuola’s phone rings out simultaneously. He immediately jumps to the same conclusion, that this is team business, fishing out his phone even as Lan begins to play the alert, his expression going from serious to severe as Hikari’s voice lays out the warning.

Max doesn’t answer immediately, already moving as Lan questions him, walking up to a wall and pulling open a panel. A button press has a double set of blast doors closing off the portal corridor in rapid succession, each closing with a weighty ca-thunk. Similar though more muted percussive sounds can faintly be heard above them as well, suggesting the above ground ‘shop’ is being locked down as well. Lan’s question is an important one though. The base’s defenses have never been fully tested, for lack of any coordinated effort against Yojimbo.

“Safer than we would be anywhere else,” He’s able to answer with confidence all the same, though his tone is more grave than bragging. “After Monkey Island, I upgraded the security here,” He continues to explain, moving to the computer station and bringing up video feeds on several of the screens, each feed monitoring a teleportal.

“We stay here, stay calm, and do our best to coordinate with the others until they get here. Can you make sure GZ is on his way? And then keep an eye on these screens with me.” He requests, hoping that giving Lan tasks to do will help steady her nerves and keep her focused. Quickly he records a voice message to send in response to Hikari.

“Base is locked down. Lan is here with me. Keeping an eye on the portals. Get here soon.”

[Captain Jak]

Ronin
Conditions: Damaged
Potential: 2/5
Gadget: 1

Spoiler: Labels

Show

• Freak: +0
• Danger: +1
• Savior: +2
• Superior: +1
• Mundane: -1

Spoiler: Moves

Show

• [X] I'll Show Them: When you defend someone who doesn’t believe in you, you can always take Influence over them, even on a miss.
• [X]All The Best Stuff: You’ve compiled access to caches of equipment and weaponry other supers have hidden in the city. When you access a cache, say whose cache it is. If it’s a hero’s, roll + Savior. If it’s a villain’s, roll + Danger. On a hit, you find a tool or intel useful to your situation; the GM will detail. On a 7-9, you leave evidence that you’ve been here. On a miss, you tripped an alarm and they’re coming; prepare to explain yourself.
• [X]White lies: When you comfort or support someone by telling them how they are your role model as a hero, roll + Savior instead of + Mundane. On any hit, if they open up to you, take Influence over them.
• [X] Always Prepared: When you have a chance to restock your supplies, hold up to 2-gadgets. When you unleash your powers by producing a brand new minor invention or gadget from your supply, spend 1-gadget and roll + Superior. When you reach 0-gadgets, mark a condition.
• [X] Damage: You get an additional condition called Damaged. While marked, take +1 to take a powerful blow. To clear the Damaged condition, you need time, external help, or special equipment or abilities.

The afternoon had absolutely flown by in a haze of preparatory regimens that, frankly, Miho hadn’t even known existed for the most part. A montage of slightly overlapping panels show the highlights; she had been plucked. She had been sugared. She had had a mani-pedi that had the little Korean ladies chattering disapprovingly over the state of her hands and sympathetically over the nature of her feet. She had been fitted, lifted, draped, and cinched. Her hair had an artful little wave that was in no way natural but looked like it could have been, and subtle makeup did odd things to the size of her eyes and the angles of her face.

The process of Looking Good seems to be as complicated as that of calculating torsion stress factors in hermetic alloys. More, truthfully; those calculations she can do. The afternoon had been a blur to her, for the most part. Frankly, she can't imagine what it would be like to maintain such a routine all the time, and her already estimable respect for her friend increases. Erika had been the Field Marshal of this day's campaign, and even Miho has to admit she appears to have emerged victorious.

Garbed in the dress that had caught Erika's attention, some tasteful jewelry, simple but well done hair and makeup, and what even she has to admit are a cute pair of flats, she had been bid adieu by her friend at the nearest station for the Blue Dragon Way. The tram would get her across the Bay to the Island in more than enough time for her meeting with Dr. Sidis – she certainly isn't about to crush all that hard preparatory work by armouring up if she doesn't have to!

Boarding the tram, she maneuvers her chair into one of the handicap spaces, a fellow passenger helpfully assisting in folding the seating up to make room for her chair. Giving the woman a grateful smile, she locks the wheels against the train's movement and takes a moment to glance at the tablet currently clamped to the arm of her chair. While she would like to have worn the HUD glasses she typically dons when not in armoured mode, in order to allow Chisei to communicate with her, she's fairly certain that Dr. Sidis will be keen on speaking with him as well, so she will rely on the tablet and had allowed herself to be talked into leaving the glasses off.

The tram pulls away from the station, smoothly picking up speed, and she isn't quite certain if she's ready to relax or start fretting about the upcoming evening. Fortunately, she's saved of that dilemma by the arrival of Hikari's urgent-flagged message, which only takes a few moments to listen to.

The fortunately-censored panel that follows has several people staring her way, including the helpful woman of moments ago. Sometimes, only blunt profanity will do to express one's self.

[Comissar]

Sunburst
Conditions:
Potential: 2/5

Spoiler: Labels

Show

• Danger: -1
• Freak: +2
• Savior: +2
• Superior: +1
• Mundane: -1

Spoiler: Burn and Flares

Show

Held Burn

2

Shielding

You call up a fast protective field to stop a danger. Spend 1 burn to defend someone else from an immediate threat, rolling +Freak instead of +Saviour.

Moat

Spend 1 burn to create a barrier that will hold back threats as long as you keep your attention on it. The GM may call for you to spend another burn if the barrier is threatened by particularly powerful enemies.

Reality Storm

You channel a destructive burst with your powers. Spend 1 burn to directly engage a threat using your powers, rolling +Freak instead of +Danger. If you do, you will cause unwanted collateral damage unless you spend another burn.

Snatch

Spend 1 burn to use your powers to seize any one object up to the size of a person from someone within view.

Moves

Wish I could be - When you comfort or support someone, if you tell them what you most envy about them, you can roll +Freak instead of +Mundane.

Unstoppable - When you smash your way through scenery to get to or get away from something, roll +Danger. On a hit, the world breaks before you, and you get what you want. On a 7-9, choose one: mark a condition, leave something behind, or take something with you. On a miss, you smash through, but leave devestation in your wake or wind up somewhere worse, GM's choice.

Lanuola gives a hurried nod at Max's instructions, pulling up her contact list and calling Kai as quickly as she could manage. As soon as the dial tone finishes, she blurts out "Kai! Y-you've gotta get to the base, fast! The, uh, the Constellations are planning an attack! Tonight! They, uh, they can track us!"

Message given, Lanuola only waits long enough for a confirmation before hurrying over to join Tsunami at the screens. Looking over them, she tried to figure out what she was looking at, "U-umm, what now..?"

[Razade]

Pool: 1


Ronin, Hikari, Sidis: HexXxen

The trip is rather uneventful even with the odd stares, a young lady dolled up saying some naughty words the forums would filter isn't too odd a sight on public transport. You arrive as evening falls and you can spot HexXen's looming presence immediately. The building is the tallest thing on Bear Island, man made at least, with smooth glass and steel forming an almost tower like structure with a large diamond perched at it's peak. A sprawling court of manicured grass and trees surround the lone tower and some workers still mill about even as the evening sky starts to darken with storm clouds. Storms have become more common in San Fransapporo, especially on Bear Island, in the last year and often without warning from the Weather Report or even the normal weather stations.

Lucky for you, you'll be inside for the evening. Several guards stand outside the tower once you reach it, the eyes of the remaining workers taking their dinners in the pre-storm air giving you some looks as you roll through. They're gruff as you'd imagine, being guards to a highly sensitive location like HexXen but once you clear who you are they're all but ready to let you in. That is until one looks up, giving a confused look. "Excuse me miss, stop right there." they declare, a quick look behind you reveals your teammate. Hikari.


You're on the next tram Hikari. After some panels showing you zipping through the slowly descending blanket of night, and some one might imagine anxious waiting on a slow moving box going over water or what we in the business like to call a Death Trap, you arrive only panels away from Ronin as she is met at the gates of HexXen's sprawling outdoor court with its pine trees and cherry blossoms side by side. The skies above ripple with lightning as a storm flows from offshore and the wind is bustling by the time you close the distance. Teleportation is a useful tool. Speaking of teleportation, it's well known that The Smith's teleportal network does not extend to Bear Island meaning the only way back to the mainland is the Blue Dragon Way. The ferries have long since shut down for the evening and due to the coming storm, a prevision the Ways seem unconcerned with.

You come to the guards, one flagging you down as you reach Ronin just before she's beyond your grasp. What do you do? What do both of you do?

Tsunami, Sunburst: The Base


The teleportals seem fine as evening takes hold of the city, no real activity there. There's no return comment from Ground Zero, not even a display of him on the overall city map with his locator. Probably a bad sign. Hikari and Ronin are however on the map. The former is en route to the shore by now and the former is well and fully on Bear Island. It leaves you both with two very difficult choices.

One. Stay put. You're safe in the base and the Teleportals, while not full proof in stopping people not keyed to them from using them, are at least a good stop gap method on top of all the additional security. You're at no real risk of a direct attack or at least not one you won't be prepared for. Considering you've got Sunburst, the heavy hitter, and the guy who set the base up in the first place at home with his gadgets, the Constellations would be on enemy territory and a severe place of weakness. On the flip side however your teammates are not and their position is nowhere near as secure. There's no telling what happened to Ground Zero and on top of Lion simply disappearing earlier in the day...it's probably not too much of a stretch to conclude they've been taken out by your enemies already. Two very strong fighters taken out with so much as a blip on the radar.

Two. Go to Bear Island. Yes you'll be exposed, you'll be out from the protection offered by the base but if you move fast enough you might just get to Bear Island in time to meet up with the others and then you'll at least be together when the attack comes. There aren't too many other positives here. Ronin's already on Bear Island, alone, and Hikari is already in the ocean when you look back. So a ferry or the Blue Dragon Way. You'll only have the two of you to keep track of one another on the way.

The choice is yours and both of them are rough. You don't have a lot of time to make that choice either, whichever it is.

[DreadPirateH]

Hikari
Conditions: Angry
Potential: 4/5

Spoiler: Labels

Show

• Freak: +1
• Danger: +3
• Savior: -2
• Superior: +2
• Mundane: -1

Spoiler: Moves

Show

• [X] Devil or Angel on My Shoulder: When you provoke a teammate to violent action or drastic measures as your Hero Persona, roll with your Alias Label. When you discourage a teammate from going overboard or making an action they can’t take back as your Alias Persona, roll + your Hero Label.
• [X]Save the Light: When you step in to intervene, help a civilian, or stop a threat roll + your Hero label. On a miss, you’re made to look the fool. Mark a Condition and give ground. On a hit, you’ve got someone’s attention. Use it as an opportunity or provoke them to action. On a 10+ your foe must respond in kind or flee.
• [X]Captain: When you enter battle as a team, add an extra Team to the pool and carry +1 forward if you are the leader.
• [X]Been Reading the Files: You’ve learned about the superhuman world through your mentor’s resources. When you first encounter an important superpowered phenomenon (your call), roll + Superior. On a hit, tell the team one important detail you’ve learned from your studies. The GM will tell you what, if anything, seems different from what you remember. On a 10+, ask the GM a follow-up question; they will answer it honestly. On a miss, the situation is well outside your base of knowledge; the GM will tell you why.

The page is a pulled back view of San Fransapporo at sunset, with Hikari's departure shadow in the foreground extending all the way out to the Blue Dragon Way departure point by the water. The page is partially covered with various panels that show Hikari emerging from one shadow only to disappear into another. The last of the panels shows her reaching the water as the Blue Dragon Way car starts to disappear in the distance. Hikari looks at her phone, and Miho's locator shows that she is indeed on the trolley, out of reach.

On the next page we see Hikari on a trolley, furiously typing on her phone. The other people in the trolley are indistinct, almost as featureless as the ghosts in the bowels of Karakuri Town.

Ronin not answering her phone

No word from Ground Zero

I said no cowboy s**t!

Anybody heard from Mosi? No locator on him

When she finally makes it to Bear Island, she runs off at a tear after Miho's location signal, finally catching up with the other girl just outside the gates of HexXen Industries. A panel shows Hikari coming up on Ronin fast from behind, her arm outstretched. "Ronin! Miho!"

"Why isn't your phone on?!?" Hikari is doubled over with her hands on her knees, uncharacteristically out of breath. "We have to get to safety! The Rogue's Consteallations are hunting us right now!"

[Captain Jak]

Ronin
Conditions: Angry, Damaged
Potential: 2/5
Gadget: 1

Spoiler: Labels

Show

• Freak: +0
• Danger: +1
• Savior: +2
• Superior: +1
• Mundane: -1

Spoiler: Moves

Show

• [X] I'll Show Them: When you defend someone who doesn’t believe in you, you can always take Influence over them, even on a miss.
• [X]All The Best Stuff: You’ve compiled access to caches of equipment and weaponry other supers have hidden in the city. When you access a cache, say whose cache it is. If it’s a hero’s, roll + Savior. If it’s a villain’s, roll + Danger. On a hit, you find a tool or intel useful to your situation; the GM will detail. On a 7-9, you leave evidence that you’ve been here. On a miss, you tripped an alarm and they’re coming; prepare to explain yourself.
• [X]White lies: When you comfort or support someone by telling them how they are your role model as a hero, roll + Savior instead of + Mundane. On any hit, if they open up to you, take Influence over them.
• [X] Always Prepared: When you have a chance to restock your supplies, hold up to 2-gadgets. When you unleash your powers by producing a brand new minor invention or gadget from your supply, spend 1-gadget and roll + Superior. When you reach 0-gadgets, mark a condition.
• [X] Damage: You get an additional condition called Damaged. While marked, take +1 to take a powerful blow. To clear the Damaged condition, you need time, external help, or special equipment or abilities.

Miho sighs, the panel showing Hikari imploringly in the background while Miho closes her eyes and composes herself for a moment before swivelling her chair to face her teammate. She hasn't, point of fact, spoken directly to the other girl in days, not since the debacle in the Archives.

Not that she's sure it hasn't gone unnoticed, truth be told.

”I am aware,” she replies evenly. ”I got your message, and I appreciate the warning. But this,” she takes in the complex with a sweep of one hand. ”This is important to me. I'm not going to blow it off because we know someone is gunning for us, rather than it just being likely.” They'd annoyed all sorts of people on all sides of the equation; Miho rarely assumed she could totally let her guard down.

”You're worried about me, and I...really appreciate that you're coming in here, ready to save the day. But you don't know everything about what's going on; I can take care of myself,” she says with confidence. The Constellations have a way of tracking them, do they?

Not glancing at the guards, she lowers her voice a little. ”Chisei is running point on ECM; he's interdicting any sort of signals from being emitted from me or my gear, and what recording devices he can't outright hack and remove our presence from, he's dirtying the recordings to make it hard to identify me. Unless they can somehow hack our heavily encrypted locators – something that would require at a bare minimum having one of our personal units in hand – they're not likely to find me by any conventional means of tracking,” she concludes with a slight smile.

”I would have given my left leg for this meeting,” she goes on, and it's entirely possible she's not speaking in hyperbole. ”If it will make you feel better about things I'll see if I can get you in with me, but I am going.” Her voice contains as much firm finality as she can cram into it.

Spoiler: CRUNCH

Show

Telling Hikari who she is. Unleash to hide from electronic surveillance: 8
Marking Angry to keep it from being unstable.

[DreadPirateH]

Hikari
Conditions: Angry
Potential: 4/5

Spoiler: Labels

Show

• Freak: +1
• Danger: +3
• Savior: -2
• Superior: +2
• Mundane: -1

Spoiler: Moves

Show

• [X] Devil or Angel on My Shoulder: When you provoke a teammate to violent action or drastic measures as your Hero Persona, roll with your Alias Label. When you discourage a teammate from going overboard or making an action they can’t take back as your Alias Persona, roll + your Hero Label.
• [X]Save the Light: When you step in to intervene, help a civilian, or stop a threat roll + your Hero label. On a miss, you’re made to look the fool. Mark a Condition and give ground. On a hit, you’ve got someone’s attention. Use it as an opportunity or provoke them to action. On a 10+ your foe must respond in kind or flee.
• [X]Captain: When you enter battle as a team, add an extra Team to the pool and carry +1 forward if you are the leader.
• [X]Been Reading the Files: You’ve learned about the superhuman world through your mentor’s resources. When you first encounter an important superpowered phenomenon (your call), roll + Superior. On a hit, tell the team one important detail you’ve learned from your studies. The GM will tell you what, if anything, seems different from what you remember. On a 10+, ask the GM a follow-up question; they will answer it honestly. On a miss, the situation is well outside your base of knowledge; the GM will tell you why.

As Miho responds, Hikari straighens back to standing and rests a hand on one sword hilt while and her face begins to redden. The flush starts in her cheeks and slowly works outward both up to her ears and down her neck. By the time Miho finishes, incidentally placing images of Miho undergoing an agonizing amputation in Hikari's mind, her fist is clenched tightly around the hilt and the vein in her forehead is visibly pulsing. Looking down on Miho, she locks eyes with the other girl. Hikari says nothing, and the silent moment stretches into several as everything wrong with the situation works its way through her brain, like a long fuse on a pile of dynamite. And when it finally gets there, she explodes.

"Are. You. Kidding? You've got everything under control? And you couldn't be bothered to say something to the rest of us?! I hauled a** halfway across the city and out here to Bear Island for no reason?! I could have been back at the base, trying to protect somebody who needs it! The team is on lockdown and you're here sitting pretty because you have a date! We haven't heard from Mosi in hours and his locator has gone offline. He could be captured, or worse! Not to mention Kai! This wasn't just a monumentally stupid stunt you pulled, it's selfish and it's insubordination! I'd consider us lucky if your left leg is the only thing this costs!"

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Rolled a 7 to reject Ronin's Influence. I'm canceling their Influence and taking +1 forward against them. I'm also spending my Influence over Ronin to inflict the Guilty condition.

[Captain Jak]

Ronin
Conditions: Angry, Damaged, Guilty
Potential: 2/5
Gadget: 1

Spoiler: Labels

Show

• Freak: +0
• Danger: +1
• Savior: +2
• Superior: +1
• Mundane: -1

Spoiler: Moves

Show

• [X] I'll Show Them: When you defend someone who doesn’t believe in you, you can always take Influence over them, even on a miss.
• [X]All The Best Stuff: You’ve compiled access to caches of equipment and weaponry other supers have hidden in the city. When you access a cache, say whose cache it is. If it’s a hero’s, roll + Savior. If it’s a villain’s, roll + Danger. On a hit, you find a tool or intel useful to your situation; the GM will detail. On a 7-9, you leave evidence that you’ve been here. On a miss, you tripped an alarm and they’re coming; prepare to explain yourself.
• [X]White lies: When you comfort or support someone by telling them how they are your role model as a hero, roll + Savior instead of + Mundane. On any hit, if they open up to you, take Influence over them.
• [X] Always Prepared: When you have a chance to restock your supplies, hold up to 2-gadgets. When you unleash your powers by producing a brand new minor invention or gadget from your supply, spend 1-gadget and roll + Superior. When you reach 0-gadgets, mark a condition.
• [X] Damage: You get an additional condition called Damaged. While marked, take +1 to take a powerful blow. To clear the Damaged condition, you need time, external help, or special equipment or abilities.

Despite herself, Miho feels a pang of guilt tug at her; she'd had her reasons, which seemed sound at the time. She hadn't anticipated anyone actually taking off in hot pursuit of her like she's some sort of child that needs taking care of, however.

Not to mention her blood is boiling from another point.

”I wish,” she says through gritted teeth, ”that people would stop referring to it as a date.” They really had no idea of what was important to her, did they? And how could they? None of them have the same dark spectre of a past hanging over them that she does, how could they understand the need to try to exorcise it?

Taking a breath, she lets it out explosively through her nose. ”I knew you would try to talk me out of this,” she goes on evenly, justifying her decisions. ”And I didn't want to hear it. This is my life, and I need to live it! I don't live it for my frandfather, I don't live it for my father, and I certainly don't live it for you. Insubordination?” she repeats, a distinct lack of credulity in her tone. ”Are you under the mistaken impression that I'm your subordinate?,” Text is scrolling across the face of the tablet clipped to the arm of her chair, but she's too intent to pay any heed to Chisei at the moment.

She wheels forward until she's almost atop Hikari's feet, the chair raising her until she's in a near-standing position so she can look her teammate in the eye.

”We are all friends,” she says with a twist to her lips. ”Teammates. At most, you are our leader – if you were any sort of leader. If you were ever there when we needed you,” the words came boiling out, hot and bitter, from where she'd been keeping them from being loosed by the simple tactic of not speaking to the other girl. ”Have you somehow lost Mosi and Kai? Or did they just get sick of dealing with you too?” she asks coldly.

She's quite possibly going too far here, but these feelings have been simmering in her gut for days now, and she's helpless to keep them contained once they've been provoked to the surface. Someone needs to call Hikari on her behaviour, and it seems like it's going to be here and now.

[The_Specialist]

Tsunami
Conditions:
Potential: 2/5
Gadget: 0
Hold: 0

Spoiler: Labels

Show

• Freak: +1
• Danger: -1
• Savior: +2
• Superior: +3
• Mundane: -2

Spoiler: Moves

Show

• [X] Fireside Chat: When you seek advice from your mentor, roll + the Label they embody. On a hit they will tell you what to do. On a 10+, mark potential if you follow their advice, and take +1 ongoing to follow through. On a 7-9, you get +1 forward to see it through if you do it their way. On a miss, they don’t have time for you because something big has gone down; mark a condition, GM’s choice.
• [X]Be Mindful of Your Surroundings: When you assess the situation before entering into a fight, you may ask one additional question, even on a miss.
• [X]Venting Frustration: When you directly engage while you are Angry, you can roll + the label your mentor denies (Mundane) and clear Angry.
• [X]Before We Get Started: When you take the time to closely observe your opposition before a battle, roll + Savior. On a 10+, hold 3. On a 7-9, hold 2. On a miss, hold 1 and mark a condition. During battle, you can spend your hold 1 for 1 to name a character you observed and...:
  
  • ...redirect their attack to another character or nowhere—into a wall or the sky.
  • ...cross a distance between them and you.
  • ...disarm them.
  • ...ignore all harm to yourself from one of their attacks.
  • ...escape any bindings or restrictions they attempt to place on you.

“Look for any activity, anyone approaching the portals, or watching them...” Max trails off. Fortunately or perhaps unfortunately given that the team isn’t all inside the safety of the base, there doesn’t seem to be anything noteworthy to spy on the screens. Max tries to appear calm, but his attention is split impatiently between the screens and his phone. Hikari is getting further away, and neither she nor Ronin appear to be returning to the base. No word and no sign of Kai and Mosi has his anxiety spiking to critical levels. He doesn’t like breaking orders (of those he respects, at least), but he’s no good at sitting idle either. Hikari’s insistence on ‘no cowboy sh*t’ only makes the conflicted feeling worse, but doesn't change his ultimate conclusion.

Finally he places his hands flat on the desk in front of him, leaning heavily against it and letting out a tense sigh.

“This is bullsh*t. There’s no good play here. But I’d rather get my a** kicked by Hikari and the Constellations than sit and wait and watch Hikari and Ronin drop off the map too. I’m going to go after them, I have to. I won’t make you come. But it’s probably better if we do stick together. I’ll take full responsibility for whatever happens if you want to join, and if Hikari asks, you can say I ordered you. I’m suiting up, so you’ve got a few minutes to decide.” He explains, pushing himself back up abruptly and moving towards the lockers to grab his gear.

[Comissar]

Sunburst
Conditions:
Potential: 2/5

Spoiler: Labels

Show

• Danger: -1
• Freak: +2
• Savior: +2
• Superior: +1
• Mundane: -1

Spoiler: Burn and Flares

Show

Held Burn

2

Shielding

You call up a fast protective field to stop a danger. Spend 1 burn to defend someone else from an immediate threat, rolling +Freak instead of +Saviour.

Moat

Spend 1 burn to create a barrier that will hold back threats as long as you keep your attention on it. The GM may call for you to spend another burn if the barrier is threatened by particularly powerful enemies.

Reality Storm

You channel a destructive burst with your powers. Spend 1 burn to directly engage a threat using your powers, rolling +Freak instead of +Danger. If you do, you will cause unwanted collateral damage unless you spend another burn.

Snatch

Spend 1 burn to use your powers to seize any one object up to the size of a person from someone within view.

Moves

Wish I could be - When you comfort or support someone, if you tell them what you most envy about them, you can roll +Freak instead of +Mundane.

Unstoppable - When you smash your way through scenery to get to or get away from something, roll +Danger. On a hit, the world breaks before you, and you get what you want. On a 7-9, choose one: mark a condition, leave something behind, or take something with you. On a miss, you smash through, but leave devestation in your wake or wind up somewhere worse, GM's choice.

Lanuola nods, trying her best to stay focused on the task at hand. A small part of her was worried that they might try and go for Cindy as well, but she hoped her sister had been away from the team long enough that she wasn't going to be considered a target. She's focused enough on her prescribed task and her train of thought that she only notices Tsunami's growing frustration when he breaks the tense silence.

Flinching briefly at his outburst, she shakes her head, "N-no, I'm coming with you. I-I, uh, I don't want to risk losing anyone, uh, anyone else. I-If we're together, we've got our best shot."

[DreadPirateH]

Hikari
Conditions: Angry
Potential: 4/5

Spoiler: Labels

Show

• Freak: +1
• Danger: +3
• Savior: -2
• Superior: +2
• Mundane: -1

Spoiler: Moves

Show

• [X] Devil or Angel on My Shoulder: When you provoke a teammate to violent action or drastic measures as your Hero Persona, roll with your Alias Label. When you discourage a teammate from going overboard or making an action they can’t take back as your Alias Persona, roll + your Hero Label.
• [X]Save the Light: When you step in to intervene, help a civilian, or stop a threat roll + your Hero label. On a miss, you’re made to look the fool. Mark a Condition and give ground. On a hit, you’ve got someone’s attention. Use it as an opportunity or provoke them to action. On a 10+ your foe must respond in kind or flee.
• [X]Captain: When you enter battle as a team, add an extra Team to the pool and carry +1 forward if you are the leader.
• [X]Been Reading the Files: You’ve learned about the superhuman world through your mentor’s resources. When you first encounter an important superpowered phenomenon (your call), roll + Superior. On a hit, tell the team one important detail you’ve learned from your studies. The GM will tell you what, if anything, seems different from what you remember. On a 10+, ask the GM a follow-up question; they will answer it honestly. On a miss, the situation is well outside your base of knowledge; the GM will tell you why.

"Is this about Monkey Island? Look, I'm sorry you got your butts handed to you but this is not the time! It was supposed to be an easy trip and I have other stuff going on. I can't just drop everything with one day's notice for every little thing that comes up! That's what I have all of you for in the first place. You really think I wouldn't do everything myself if I thought I could?"

This was getting out of hand. Miho has a lot of feelings, most of them some flavor of angry. There's a lot to unpack there, but they'd already been out in the open too long as it was. Miho might be impressed with herself, but the Constellations were not to be taken lightly. It's high time to shove all those emotions deep down in a bottle and focus on not dying.

Raising her hand to her forehead, Hikari massages a throbbing temple with her thumb. Gritting her teeth, she says, "We don't have time for this right now. We need to get inside, it's our safest option. I'm not leaving you exposed and alone over here."

[Razade]

Pool: 1


Hikari, Ronin, William Sidis: HexXxen

There's a few panels of silence between the two of you as the words settle in, a few ticking moments as the rain starts to fall in earnest. As if it were holding off for just this moment before a new speech bubble appears. "While I'm not sure what's going on here, I must concur with your angry friend." You recognize the ever so slightly London accent of William Sidis as the panels shift to show him framed in the wide doors of the HexXxen Building, the security already moving to form a parameter. "I was waiting in the lobby, you must excuse me for stepping into what seems a rather spirited discussion. I wasn't intended on a second guest but if I'm correct, it seems there might be trouble on the way? More trouble than a rain storm? There's nowhere safer than HexXxen this side of the Island, so if your friend would like to wait while we have our meeting?"

It's certainly phrased as a question but it's not left as one as the security forms up around the both of you to usher you into the building alongside Sidis. HexXxen's lobby, like the rest of the building, is function over comfort. While The Monsoon and even Monkey Island, as far as new building projects to the city go, have emphasized a blending of nature and modern architecture with its smooth edges and wood paneling to help accent hanging terrace gardens and indoor manicured forests, HexXxen has taken what can only be described as the ultra-modern "Sterile White" approach. Everything looks clean, scrubbed to white, hard edges and lines, not a place to be relaxed. A place where business is done. Sidis opts to one of the many elevators, offering Ronin a chance to settle in while holding the door and then Hikari before he and a security guard follow. "Now, while we ride up. If my company is to expect more visitors. Would one, or the both of you, care to tell me what's going on and what my security detail can expect?"


Tsunami, Sunburst, Lyra: The Blue Dragon Way

With the goal in mind, and the destination plotted it's only a few quick teleports out of the base to the eventual bottleneck. Crossing the ocean. The Blue Dragon Way is the only...way. It's not hard to get a ticket though with a storm approaching the island warnings are everywhere that the passage might be bumpy and if the trip isn't pressing and you have sea sickness issues or fears related to water to wait until the storm passes. Your trip is pressing, so regardless of how you might feel cooped up on a metal box on floating railway lines on a pitching sea you've got little choice but to travel.

You, and the few going across the strip of ocean, are loaded onto a single car at the front when a familiar voice comes from behind. "Oh! I know you! Such a small world!" The panels shift to show Lyra Sareef, the young lady Sunburst met during the hostage situation. She eagerly sits between Tsunami and Sunburst, all smiles in some fashionable attire of bright pastel pinks. "I was going to call you tonight about dinner but you're here, it must be fate!" She offers a girlish giggle, giving Sunburst a bump. "Whose your scary friend?" She gives a side eye to Tsunami before offering a hand out, nails glossy and pink with rings and bangles. "I'm Lyra! You must be friends with Lan! She must have told you about me, she saved me from some really scary villains! I was all tied up and she just came in like pew pew pew and freed me! I promised to take her to dinner, maybe now? I have to go pick daddy up from work on the Island, but I'm sure he'd be happy to pay." She's all smiles as she kicks her legs about. "Are you a hero too, or...are you her boooyfriend? Getting up to some parties in Bear City? Ooooh. My. Gawd, Lan. We should go on a double date! I met this really cute guy, just got out of the hospital. Fell from a building, can you beliiiieve it?"

[The_Specialist]

Tsunami
Conditions:
Potential: 2/5
Gadget: 0
Hold: 0

Spoiler: Labels

Show

• Freak: +1
• Danger: -1
• Savior: +2
• Superior: +3
• Mundane: -2

Spoiler: Moves

Show

• [X] Fireside Chat: When you seek advice from your mentor, roll + the Label they embody. On a hit they will tell you what to do. On a 10+, mark potential if you follow their advice, and take +1 ongoing to follow through. On a 7-9, you get +1 forward to see it through if you do it their way. On a miss, they don’t have time for you because something big has gone down; mark a condition, GM’s choice.
• [X]Be Mindful of Your Surroundings: When you assess the situation before entering into a fight, you may ask one additional question, even on a miss.
• [X]Venting Frustration: When you directly engage while you are Angry, you can roll + the label your mentor denies (Mundane) and clear Angry.
• [X]Before We Get Started: When you take the time to closely observe your opposition before a battle, roll + Savior. On a 10+, hold 3. On a 7-9, hold 2. On a miss, hold 1 and mark a condition. During battle, you can spend your hold 1 for 1 to name a character you observed and...:
  
  • ...redirect their attack to another character or nowhere—into a wall or the sky.
  • ...cross a distance between them and you.
  • ...disarm them.
  • ...ignore all harm to yourself from one of their attacks.
  • ...escape any bindings or restrictions they attempt to place on you.

“Look for any activity, anyone approaching the portals, or watching them...”

Max only just barely notices the flinch, but he does still catch a hint of it out of the corner of his eye. No time to apologize, though it does stick in the back of his mind. Is he being overly aggressive with his team mates? Or maybe just in general? He always sort of has been, but he feels a bit guilty at the idea he might be keeping his team mates at more of a distance than is normal even for him.

“Good. Thank you.” He states simply. Once suited up and armed, he nods and beckons Lan with him through the teleportal, though eventually they’re forced to make the rest of the trip by more mundane means. Maybe he’ll have to ask The Smith about a flying vehicle someday. When their home isn’t actively in critical danger, and there’s time for more lengthy projects.

Once on the railway, Max remains quiet and alert, his attention swapping periodically from the windows to his phone for any updates. He is immediately tense when a stranger calls out to them and abruptly inserts herself between him and his only team mate, and he watches her and Lan with laser focus, the sort that suggests if Lan were to hint to him that she doesn’t in fact know this person, he’s likely to go so far as to eject the stranger from the tram.

Tsunami hesitates as the hand is offered to him, but finally he deigns to give her a brief but solid, single handshake. His gaze does not leave her, and his other hand does not leave his weapon.

“Tsunami. We’re friends.” He insists a little gruffly, seeming unwilling to engage further in the conversation. The abundance of energy and deluge of questions do not sit well with him. A distraction? Or just a genuinely annoying individual, he can’t be sure. They are a naturally occurring thing after all. Still, he divides his attention after a moment, glancing around quickly again for any sign of anyone else watching them or moving suspiciously.

[DreadPirateH]

Hikari
Conditions: Angry
Potential: 4/5

Spoiler: Labels

Show

• Freak: +1
• Danger: +3
• Savior: -2
• Superior: +2
• Mundane: -1

Spoiler: Moves

Show

• [X] Devil or Angel on My Shoulder: When you provoke a teammate to violent action or drastic measures as your Hero Persona, roll with your Alias Label. When you discourage a teammate from going overboard or making an action they can’t take back as your Alias Persona, roll + your Hero Label.
• [X]Save the Light: When you step in to intervene, help a civilian, or stop a threat roll + your Hero label. On a miss, you’re made to look the fool. Mark a Condition and give ground. On a hit, you’ve got someone’s attention. Use it as an opportunity or provoke them to action. On a 10+ your foe must respond in kind or flee.
• [X]Captain: When you enter battle as a team, add an extra Team to the pool and carry +1 forward if you are the leader.
• [X]Been Reading the Files: You’ve learned about the superhuman world through your mentor’s resources. When you first encounter an important superpowered phenomenon (your call), roll + Superior. On a hit, tell the team one important detail you’ve learned from your studies. The GM will tell you what, if anything, seems different from what you remember. On a 10+, ask the GM a follow-up question; they will answer it honestly. On a miss, the situation is well outside your base of knowledge; the GM will tell you why.

Seeing her opening, Hikari pounces with military efficiency. Any port in a storm.

"Considerably more trouble. The Rogue's Constellations are after us, and they're not interested in taking prisoners. I'm here to guard Miho, you might want a few more of your own. Let's continue this inside?"

There was nothing for it now. Hopefully Miho was right and her efforts would keep them safe. If they were lucky, the others would do as they're told and stay at the base. And if they were really lucky, Ground Zero and The Lion would be far enough gone not to have gotten caught up in this.

[Comissar]

Sunburst
Conditions:
Potential: 2/5

Spoiler: Labels

Show

• Danger: -1
• Freak: +2
• Savior: +2
• Superior: +1
• Mundane: -1

Spoiler: Burn and Flares

Show

Held Burn

2

Shielding

You call up a fast protective field to stop a danger. Spend 1 burn to defend someone else from an immediate threat, rolling +Freak instead of +Saviour.

Moat

Spend 1 burn to create a barrier that will hold back threats as long as you keep your attention on it. The GM may call for you to spend another burn if the barrier is threatened by particularly powerful enemies.

Reality Storm

You channel a destructive burst with your powers. Spend 1 burn to directly engage a threat using your powers, rolling +Freak instead of +Danger. If you do, you will cause unwanted collateral damage unless you spend another burn.

Snatch

Spend 1 burn to use your powers to seize any one object up to the size of a person from someone within view.

Moves

Wish I could be - When you comfort or support someone, if you tell them what you most envy about them, you can roll +Freak instead of +Mundane.

Unstoppable - When you smash your way through scenery to get to or get away from something, roll +Danger. On a hit, the world breaks before you, and you get what you want. On a 7-9, choose one: mark a condition, leave something behind, or take something with you. On a miss, you smash through, but leave devestation in your wake or wind up somewhere worse, GM's choice.

The panels follow Sunburst and Tsunami as they leave the base, blending together to a seamless mix of streets and alleys as they step through the portal network, before abruptly stopping as they queue for access to the railway. The panels then compress again, a wide angle series of stills of Lanuola sat beside Tsunami with slowly moving scenery shown behind the pair through the windows to indicate movement, above and below are a pair of panoramic panels, showing the view of the surroundings of the Blue Dragon Way from a distance. The sky is overcast above, and the waters choppy below, the island looking small and distant.

On the next page, the focus is once again pulled entirely back within the train as Lyra inserts herself between Lanuola and Tsunami. Lanuola finds herself more bewildered than anything at the near constant stream of talking, though she does find her cheeks lighting up in embarrassment as Lyra intimates that she's dating Tsunami.

Though profoundly grateful that Tsunami steps in to confirm that they were friends, she still feels the need to speak, "A-ah, no ,we, uh, we're friends. N-not, uh, n-not dating." She then shakes her head, "A-and, uh, sorry... I, uh, I can't now, we've got to, uh, to meet up with some friends." She finally catches Tsunami's tension, giving him a little shake of her head to confirm that she does, in fact, know Lyra.

Abruptly, she blinks as she catches up with the other girl's words, "W-wait, uh, someone who fell from a building..?"

[Captain Jak]

Ronin
Conditions: Angry, Damaged, Guilty
Potential: 2/5
Gadget: 1

Spoiler: Labels

Show

• Freak: +0
• Danger: +1
• Savior: +2
• Superior: +1
• Mundane: -1

Spoiler: Moves

Show

• [X] I'll Show Them: When you defend someone who doesn’t believe in you, you can always take Influence over them, even on a miss.
• [X]All The Best Stuff: You’ve compiled access to caches of equipment and weaponry other supers have hidden in the city. When you access a cache, say whose cache it is. If it’s a hero’s, roll + Savior. If it’s a villain’s, roll + Danger. On a hit, you find a tool or intel useful to your situation; the GM will detail. On a 7-9, you leave evidence that you’ve been here. On a miss, you tripped an alarm and they’re coming; prepare to explain yourself.
• [X]White lies: When you comfort or support someone by telling them how they are your role model as a hero, roll + Savior instead of + Mundane. On any hit, if they open up to you, take Influence over them.
• [X] Always Prepared: When you have a chance to restock your supplies, hold up to 2-gadgets. When you unleash your powers by producing a brand new minor invention or gadget from your supply, spend 1-gadget and roll + Superior. When you reach 0-gadgets, mark a condition.
• [X] Damage: You get an additional condition called Damaged. While marked, take +1 to take a powerful blow. To clear the Damaged condition, you need time, external help, or special equipment or abilities.

A transparent turntable and appropriate sound effect overlay Miho's wide-eyed face in the panel where she realises just the scene that is being put on before her freaking idol. Her carefully prepared outfit, hair and makeup are slowly unravelling under the effects of the steadily increasing rain, and she's in the midst of having a...a cat fight with a colleague.

Utterly mortified, she returns her chair to its more stable sitting configuration and scurries inside on the heels of her host.
”Dr. Sidis, this is Hikari. Hikari, Dr. William Sidis.” she does the introductions at an almost adequately audible level, swiping furtively at her dampened hair. ”I've taken some precautions against them being able to track me here, but I can't guarantee their efficacy.” Especially in the wake of one of their other targets leading them right to me.

She takes a breath, then seems to deflate a little.

”I'm...sorry we brought this to your door. I shouldn't have come,” she apologizes to him.

[Razade]

Pool: 1


Hikari, Ronin, William Sidis: HexXxen Top Floor

Sidis isn't one to argue as the elevator comes to a stop, its doors swinging open to a large well furnished waiting room with a great view of the island and the ocean beyond. Little lines of lightning dance between clouds as the storm settles over the island, rumbles of thunder through the glass adding to the cozy ambiance. Sidis motions for you to sit before stepping into one of the many rooms beyond though returns quickly enough.

"I've put the building on alert, security will be heightened at all entrances and if anything suspicious happens we'll go into lockdown. I won't hear such doom and gloom however, Ms Tohya. This is San Fransapporo. It wouldn't be a meeting with an up and coming hero without some complications. If your friend would be willing to wait? I don't think we can give you a full tour today considering, but I'm certain we can still have our meeting."

He gives another bow to Hikari, motioning to the elevator. "If you'd like, I'm sure my security forces would appreciate your help Miss Hikari. You seem to know what's going on, any help you can provide would be ideal. If you don't mind leaving your friend for some time. She's in safe hands, and I'm sure Miss Tohya will feel safer knowing her friend is helping out after coming all this way to protect her." He flashes another smile though the words seem fairly plainly aimed at the spat only a short time ago.


Tsunami, Sunburst, Lyra: Bear Island

The ride is slow, given the rising pitch of the waves, and not quiet considering the rising pitch of Lyra's excited and almost non-stop chatter. Being turned down for dinner, or a double date, doesn't seem to deter her much in her excited garble of inane commentary ranging from Sunburst and Tsunami's outfits to the waves just outside the windows to anything else that seems to spring to her mind unbidden and rarely flowing from the context of a previous thought. The few other passengers have fled to the safety of earphones. The question of her boyfriend falling from a building is barely reflected on in the stream of consciousness chatter, like so much else merely a thrown away comment to a wider inane barrage of conversation.

You're not saved from it when you hit land either, Lyra making a bee-line for the northern entrance to the tram station before she pauses. She's quick to recalibrate your two's location, moving to keep up with you. "You're going to accompany me to my father's work at least? Since you're skipping out on dinner with me again Lan." she asks bright eyed and hopeful as she tries to discreetly weave an arm in with Sunburst's. "He's so busy working at the office today. HexXxen has him working on some crazy project. I really don't get it, it's all just math and motors to me."

[Comissar]

Sunburst
Conditions:
Potential: 2/5

Spoiler: Labels

Show

• Danger: -1
• Freak: +2
• Savior: +2
• Superior: +1
• Mundane: -1

Spoiler: Burn and Flares

Show

Held Burn

2

Shielding

You call up a fast protective field to stop a danger. Spend 1 burn to defend someone else from an immediate threat, rolling +Freak instead of +Saviour.

Moat

Spend 1 burn to create a barrier that will hold back threats as long as you keep your attention on it. The GM may call for you to spend another burn if the barrier is threatened by particularly powerful enemies.

Reality Storm

You channel a destructive burst with your powers. Spend 1 burn to directly engage a threat using your powers, rolling +Freak instead of +Danger. If you do, you will cause unwanted collateral damage unless you spend another burn.

Snatch

Spend 1 burn to use your powers to seize any one object up to the size of a person from someone within view.

Moves

Wish I could be - When you comfort or support someone, if you tell them what you most envy about them, you can roll +Freak instead of +Mundane.

Unstoppable - When you smash your way through scenery to get to or get away from something, roll +Danger. On a hit, the world breaks before you, and you get what you want. On a 7-9, choose one: mark a condition, leave something behind, or take something with you. On a miss, you smash through, but leave devestation in your wake or wind up somewhere worse, GM's choice.

Lanuola doesn't try and raise the question of the defenestrated boyfriend again during the conversation, in large part, because she doesn't really get an opening to do so. She does her best to maintain interest, though, nodding and reacting where she felt it would be appropriate to do so. Mercifully, her focus on the, admittedly very one-sided, conversation keeps her from paying too much attention to how the deluge of talking is causing her and Tsunami to become isolated from the rest of the carriage. When they do finally come to a stop and dismount the train, she has to take a moment or two to get her bearings. She'd never really had much cause to come out to Bear Island, so the place felt very much like a novelty to her. Once she's managed to orient herself, she starts heading toward HexXxen and... Gets intercepted by Lyra again.

Not knowing quite what to do, she ends up allowing Lyra to take her arm. "O-oh! We, uh, we were actually just headed there anyway," She glances to Tsunami, "I guess, uh, I guess it wouldn't hurt to go there with her..?"

[Captain Jak]

Ronin
Conditions: Angry, Damaged, Guilty
Potential: 2/5
Gadget: 1

Spoiler: Labels

Show

• Freak: +0
• Danger: +1
• Savior: +2
• Superior: +1
• Mundane: -1

Spoiler: Moves

Show

• [X] I'll Show Them: When you defend someone who doesn’t believe in you, you can always take Influence over them, even on a miss.
• [X]All The Best Stuff: You’ve compiled access to caches of equipment and weaponry other supers have hidden in the city. When you access a cache, say whose cache it is. If it’s a hero’s, roll + Savior. If it’s a villain’s, roll + Danger. On a hit, you find a tool or intel useful to your situation; the GM will detail. On a 7-9, you leave evidence that you’ve been here. On a miss, you tripped an alarm and they’re coming; prepare to explain yourself.
• [X]White lies: When you comfort or support someone by telling them how they are your role model as a hero, roll + Savior instead of + Mundane. On any hit, if they open up to you, take Influence over them.
• [X] Always Prepared: When you have a chance to restock your supplies, hold up to 2-gadgets. When you unleash your powers by producing a brand new minor invention or gadget from your supply, spend 1-gadget and roll + Superior. When you reach 0-gadgets, mark a condition.
• [X] Damage: You get an additional condition called Damaged. While marked, take +1 to take a powerful blow. To clear the Damaged condition, you need time, external help, or special equipment or abilities.

Miho wants to be pointed, ask Hikari if this was such a bad setup, the entire freakin’ HeXXan facility, defenses, and security personnel on alert to the rumour of this threat...but she doesn’t, for despite Sidis’ words to the contrary she does feel guilty about bringing a threat to his door.

And…well, for other reasons, she has to admit if she’s being candid. To herself anyhow.

”I’m...sure you’d rather liase with security, all things considered?” she asks Hikari, her tone halfway apologetic even if the words themselves aren’t. She’s not fully convinced there’s an entire hit squad of supers coming for them right now anyhow, but that doesn’t mean she has to be a bitch about it.

[DreadPirateH]

Hikari
Conditions: Angry
Potential: 4/5

Spoiler: Labels

Show

• Freak: +1
• Danger: +3
• Savior: -2
• Superior: +2
• Mundane: -1

Spoiler: Moves

Show

• [X] Devil or Angel on My Shoulder: When you provoke a teammate to violent action or drastic measures as your Hero Persona, roll with your Alias Label. When you discourage a teammate from going overboard or making an action they can’t take back as your Alias Persona, roll + your Hero Label.
• [X]Save the Light: When you step in to intervene, help a civilian, or stop a threat roll + your Hero label. On a miss, you’re made to look the fool. Mark a Condition and give ground. On a hit, you’ve got someone’s attention. Use it as an opportunity or provoke them to action. On a 10+ your foe must respond in kind or flee.
• [X]Captain: When you enter battle as a team, add an extra Team to the pool and carry +1 forward if you are the leader.
• [X]Been Reading the Files: You’ve learned about the superhuman world through your mentor’s resources. When you first encounter an important superpowered phenomenon (your call), roll + Superior. On a hit, tell the team one important detail you’ve learned from your studies. The GM will tell you what, if anything, seems different from what you remember. On a 10+, ask the GM a follow-up question; they will answer it honestly. On a miss, the situation is well outside your base of knowledge; the GM will tell you why.

Hikari knows when she's been dismissed. She gives Sidis a curt nod and flashes Miho a look. "If you die in here, I will kill you." There's almost no point in being here at all if she's being kept out of the room. What if they came through a window? Burrowed from below, or blew their way in from above? Supervillains weren't known for entering through doors. Miho's just lucky it isn't Silk coming for her. As if this isn't Silk's fault to begin with?

Turning on her heel, Hikari vacates the room so Ronin can have her precious meeting, her twin katanas swinging at her hips. She has a security team to brief.

[The_Specialist]

Tsunami
Conditions:
Potential: 2/5
Gadget: 0
Hold: 0

Spoiler: Labels

Show

• Freak: +1
• Danger: -1
• Savior: +2
• Superior: +3
• Mundane: -2

Spoiler: Moves

Show

• [X] Fireside Chat: When you seek advice from your mentor, roll + the Label they embody. On a hit they will tell you what to do. On a 10+, mark potential if you follow their advice, and take +1 ongoing to follow through. On a 7-9, you get +1 forward to see it through if you do it their way. On a miss, they don’t have time for you because something big has gone down; mark a condition, GM’s choice.
• [X]Be Mindful of Your Surroundings: When you assess the situation before entering into a fight, you may ask one additional question, even on a miss.
• [X]Venting Frustration: When you directly engage while you are Angry, you can roll + the label your mentor denies (Mundane) and clear Angry.
• [X]Before We Get Started: When you take the time to closely observe your opposition before a battle, roll + Savior. On a 10+, hold 3. On a 7-9, hold 2. On a miss, hold 1 and mark a condition. During battle, you can spend your hold 1 for 1 to name a character you observed and...:
  
  • ...redirect their attack to another character or nowhere—into a wall or the sky.
  • ...cross a distance between them and you.
  • ...disarm them.
  • ...ignore all harm to yourself from one of their attacks.
  • ...escape any bindings or restrictions they attempt to place on you.

It takes all of Tsunami’s patience not to lose his cool with Lyra’s inane chattering. He’s never been good with that kind of rambling anyway, but the current situation means he can’t just shut off his brain for a while. Unfortunately for him, Lan confirms with a subtle gesture that she knows this person, so Lyra gets to stay seated rather than being upgraded to air.

While he’s not going to give her the complete benefit of the doubt that she is a civilian, pretending for the moment that she is means that he has to be concerned with her safety as well as theirs. He'd rather not have any potential hostages or collateral damage following them. He almost wishes she’d draw a weapon rather than torturing his ears to death though.

Once the tram has paused, he’s eager to get moving again, quick to his feet and lifting his weapon as he moves to exit the vehicle. His teeth grit as Lyra reappears almost immediately and moves to intercept. While he generally tries not to be an outright a**hole without reason, they don’t have time to worry about Lyra’s feelings.

Tsunami does a quick circle behind and moves forward with the intention of physically forcing himself between the two girls before Lyra can get too good a grip on Lan’s arm. “No. We’re extremely busy and you do not want to be anywhere near us right now, for your own sake. I’m sorry we’re going in the same direction. Stay here a few and get a coffee or something. Do not follow us.” While he doesn’t raise his voice, his tone is sharp and willing to suffer no argument from either of them.