[IC] Garuda, the Ringed City: Team Two

[Malexia]

Garuda, the Ringed City

Garuda, the Ringed City. Garuda, City of Magic. The place you call home, and the place where you hope to become legends.

Garuda, where emerald seas and a rich coral reef brim with magical potential. Garuda, where the Dragon Lines pulse to the tune of an unseen heartbeat and arcane lanterns light the night.

Garuda, where heroes and villains exist in a strange harmony. There is an order to Garuda, a certain way that everything is done. The Cycle is without end here in this city of timeless time. This city that has known life and death, rise and fall, strife and peace.

Respect the past. Protect the future. And live always in the present. Those are the laws of Garuda, etched into the stone beneath the stone and into every earnest heart.

But not all within Garuda respect our laws. Not all within Garuda belong here. An outsider has come to our city. A foreigner from distant lands who seeks to disrupt our status quo of mutual benefit. This Stranger would have all we have built fall apart. He is our enemy. He is your enemy.

And when the Three Houses failed to stop him, when the Stranger made his entrance and dazzled all of Garuda with his charisma and unnatural luck, when the established heroes and villains alike let fear breed hesitation, you struck.

Chimera. Hex. Facet. Tumble. Mercury. You five are fledgling heroes, some heir to proud legacies, some standing upon your own merits alone. But all of you were, until a few nights ago, largely dismissed by the establishment of Garuda for being too young, too untested, too new.

So while that same establishment watched with caution and paranoia at the rising tide of the Stranger's movement, you hit the books, identified a threat, and acted.

Your target was Pitch, a small-time thug for the Ruby Market Authority who was one of the first to defect to the Stranger. Armed with stolen artifacts that gave her access to shadow magic - but not fine control - she was able to put on enough of a spectacle to keep the RMA from going after her, but you saw what they didn't; you saw that Pitch was still just as brutish and lack-witted as ever. And when the time came to challenge her, she went down so fast it almost seemed effortless. And appearances can matter deeply in Garuda.

The first faction to recognize your victory was the Court of Raptors, a villainous organization desiring to reform villainy for the modern age. They offered you private funding and secret sponsorships in your efforts to take down the Stranger, with only the thinnest and lightest of strings attached. Of course, the Court knows the value of patience; they gave you no strict time table to consider the offer, and you don't expect them to push until this war really starts heating up.

The first hero to take interest, on the other hand, was the Islander: one of the indigenous peoples of Garuda, predating the current civilization by centuries (possibly millenia). He's one of a small number of immortals from long ago - perhaps the first empire, perhaps not. He made you no offer, and he asked for nothing, but his interest was expressed in his classic subdued manner.

And so that brings us to the current issue at hand. To the Stranger, and those in Garuda who would see his little disruption put to rest. And to your role in all of it... for that role is far, far from over.

[Malexia]

Issue One: It's All Politics

A still night has fallen over Garuda. The arcane lanterns have clicked on to light the sleeping city, and even the sea breeze winds have gone quiet.

But you know that will change soon enough.

This morning, your team received an invitation from an altogether unexpected source: the House of Justice. After proving your worth in the public sphere, the Powers That Be have decided to test your mettle in a more private setting: a villainous lair belonging to one of the Stranger's recruits. Your team will be allowed to decide the approach, and your team will also take point when chaos breaks out. If you impress the hero assigned to watch you, there might be further opportunities waiting.

The hero in question: All-Seer, an establishment hero known for taking a support role and providing overwatch and team coordination through a combination of his telepathy and far-seeing. All-Seer will be in his usual role for this operation, coordinating between your team and the team you'll be working with.

You weren't the only heroes reached out to, after all. A squad of Lighthouse Agency heroes, only a few years older than you and relatively new to the organization, sits across from you in the cramped meeting room you're all huddled in. The squad, consisting of Lightfire, Overstorm, and Helping Hand, recently distinguished themselves in much the same way you did by exposing corruption in a mercantile organization and revealing that some of its higher ups had been cutting deals with the Stranger.

The Lighthouse heroes were expecting to be the only ones picked for this mission, just like you were expecting of yourselves, and their demeanor went cold - though still professional - when All-Seer informed them that your team would be taking point and giving the orders.

With initial introductions out of the way, All-Seer establishes why you're all here.

"We've brought your teams here because the House of Justice has been given a chance to strike at one of the Stranger's lieutenants. Your groups acted when those with more experience and power were hesitating, and that kind of initiative and courage is what all of Garuda needs right now. Together you'll be infiltrating the lair of Jackal James, a villain of moderate status who until just a few short days ago was a member of the Court of Raptors. Jackal took a few minions with him when he left, some run-of-the-mill criminals with strength-enhancing tattoos, and he holed up in an old Court lair beneath the sewers in Highgarden District, the entrance to which is just a short walk from this building."

All-Seer reveals a blueprint of the lair in question, which looks to be of standard make and model from the 80s, if you know your Garuda lair design. A central entrance with the usual contingent of mana sensors, spidercams, and poison dart traps, plus a hidden side entrance through the ventilation array that has arcanocrystal security lasers and an anti-specter ward. Inside the lair you identify the scheming room, the barracks, a few storerooms, and the grand hall (complete with antechamber).

"We don't know the exact minion layout, but you can exact the majority to be clustered around the central entrance and the rooms closest to it: the barracks and grand hall. Jackal himself is likely to be in the scheming room, and even if he's not he'll go running there once a breach is detected. The side entrance comes out near the scheming room, so my recommendation is to send one team to make a commotion up front while the other team gets in through the side entrance and ambushes Jackal without his guards."

He pauses, letting all the information soak in, and then a certain reluctance comes over him. All-Seer makes a respectable figure; he's Bronze Gen, but on the older side of it, and his costume is a fairly simple mystic's outfit with an emphasis on eye motifs. He's dark-skinned and sharp-featured, and he wears a mask that only covers the top half of his face, and appears as if it should block his vision entirely, but that's never been a problem for someone with his powers. What you can see of his face is contorted in hesitation, but he lets out a sigh and says what's been eating him.

"Unfortunately, this information came with strings. The Court of Raptors passed along data on Jackal James, and the blueprint you see before you. Jackal James was once one of them, and apparently respected by a great deal of their number. His betrayal is concerning to them, as it raises doubts about where the loyalties of other key members lie. As a result, they have requested that you attempt to negotiate with Jackal before going straight to fisticuffs. Even if you can't get him to defect back to the Court, they want to know what the Stranger offered that made him betray them."

One of the Lighthouse heroes, Overstorm, snarls and leans forward. "You really expecting us to go along with that? I thought you wanted us here to stop villains, not help them." Overstorm is a pale girl with stringy red hair and an aggressive red-and-silver costume that takes clear punk influences. She's the hothead of the group, that's for sure.

Her teammate, Lightfire, lays a hand on her shoulder and shakes his head. "Don't, Overstorm. It's not a fight worth picking." She glowers but relents.

All-Seer clears his throat and continues. "I understand that it can be difficult to work with those from across the aisle, but it is sometimes a necessity in our line of work. Without the Court's information we wouldn't have any real leads on Jackal James, so we owe it to them to comply with their request." He pauses, then with a sharper tone he adds, "But that doesn't mean you should endanger yourselves or the mission for the sake of that request. Make no mistake, our duty is to Garuda first and our alliance second."

He returns everyone's attention to the blueprint. "Now, the most important question of this mission: which team will be taking the central entrance, and which will confront Jackal James at the side entrance? I leave this decision to you. You are both welcome to discuss it, but the team taking point will have final say."

[Ramsus]

Facet Worst Scion Potential: 0/5 Labels Conditions Marked Danger: +1 Afraid (-2 to directly engage a threat) [Run from something difficult.] Freak: +1 Angry (-2 to comfort or support or pierce the mask) [Hurt someone or break something important.] Savior: +1 Guilty (-2 to provoke someone or assess the situation) [Make a sacrifice to absolve your guilt.] Superior: 0 Hopeless (-2 to unleash your powers) [Fling yourself into easy relief.] Mundane: 0 Insecure (-2 to defend someone or reject others’ influence) [Take foolhardy action without talking to your team.] Saki, helmet still off and dangling from a shoulder/neck strap because it wasn't "go time" quite yet, ignored the dramatics coming from the other team. She was still listening, in a passive sort of way, but as soon as the blueprint was revealed she began to look over it. If anyone here (among the younger members that was) was likely to glean any extra information about a villain's lair from the blueprint it was probably her. And she was eager to prove her worth to the team for a number of reasons. She hadn't been part of the planning that led to their takedown of Pitch, just a lucky accident that she had spotted Hex in a fight and recognizing them and really feeling the need to make up to them the treatment he'd received at the hands of her mother she'd jumped in. And now here she was, part of a team nobody had actually intended to invite her to join, as far as she was aware. One (unevenly matched in terms of numbers) fight certainly wasn't enough to make things right with Hex and she was sure it wasn't proof enough in anyone else's eyes of her value to the team. But here an opportunity presented itself, right at the start. Assess the Situation: (2d6)[12] • what here is the biggest threat? • how could we best end this quickly?

[Comissar]

Mercury
Conditions:
Potential: 0/5

Spoiler: Labels

Show

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

Spoiler: Moves

Show

Straight. Up. Creepin'.

When you scope out a person or place, roll +Mundane. On a 10+, ask two. On a 7-9, ask one.

- What's my best way in/out?
- What happened here recently?
- What here is worth grabbing?
- Who or what here is not what they seem?
- Whose place is this?

On a miss, find yourself in over your head. The GM will tell you why this is a bad spot.

No powers and not nearly enough training

You're always picking up new gear to keep yourself in the game. Whenever you pick up a new piece of gear, you can write it as a new ability if this line is empty (____________)

The first time you use each piece of gear to directly engage a threat, unleash your powers, or defend someone, you can roll +Mundane instead of the normal label.

Spoiler: Drives

Show

Reject someone who tells you you shouldn't be here.

Earn the respect of a hero you admire.

Makeout with a teammate

Help a teammate when they most need you

Spoiler: Current Appearance

Show

Sam was doing his best to maintain a professional facade. He really was. It was hard, though, when he found himself rubbing shoulders not only with his own team (who were several kinds of cool in their own right), not only a whole new team of up and coming heroes who he was eager to meet and greet properly when the chance arose, but he was also getting to work with a hero working for the House of Justice! Any one of those things would make for a good day, this was looking to be a great one.

He nods along through the briefing, trying not to pull a face at the mention of the information coming from the Court of Raptors. Overstorm's outburst matches some of his own misgivings, albeit louder, but he also finds that All-Seer's subsequent explanation allays those concerns.

"So... Uh..." As Sam speaks up, he feels his cheeks heat a touch as the attention turns to him, "It sounds like whoever is going to take the side entrance will have the easier time of it." He glances around, as though for confirmation of his thought processes, "If it's just one guy they have to fight, that's easier than stirring up enough noise and trouble to make him run in the first place, right..?"

He pauses, contemplatively, "... Do, uh, do we want to send the flashiest team to the central entrance..? People that can make a big light and sound show..?"

[Abbyqween]

Chimera
(can't post links atm, sorry)
Potential: 0/5
Conditions:

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

Alistair had been observing the other heroes in the room, trying to size them up. Working with people he knew nothing about, who definitely had to know who he was, wasn't something he was looking forward to. He would (hopefully) not have too much contact with them because of the split up, but he could already hear the insults they might throw at him, the remarks about the shadier aspects of his family, and they were grating on his nerves. He already had enough trouble with how Hex liked to act, he didn't need a team of heroes spitting venom at him, as well.

He was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Sam speak. Sam did have a point. Drawing the attention of everyone in the hideout would need something big and flashy, and a sneak attack would be easier to pull off with more commotion. He glanced over to Sam, to All-Seer, and then the rest of the group, contemplating what to say. He then stands up, trying to get the attention of the group.

"I'd prefer if we could split into teams based off of how flashy or noisy our abilities are, but if we have to stay in our teams, we'll need to figure which team is more suited for the task. If it's alright with everyone, I'd like for everyone to disclose what they can do, so we can make sure the decision is fair and unbiased." He takes a moment to make sure his message has come across, and continues. "I'll go first. You can call me Chimera, and I can transform into the monster of which I'm named. I can also breath and control fire in both my forms, though I prefer to use it when I'm not a large monster. It makes less of a mess. Who'd like to go next?"

[Anaglyph]

Tumble
Potential: 0/5
Conditions:

Labels

Spoiler

Show

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

Pepin's head swivels from person to person. She only had the bare minimum of context expected for who everyone in the other group was. She didn't exactly know why the one punk girl seemed so angry, but it was a bit offputting. Everything had moved a bit too fast ever since the fight against Pitch. She felt like it was all so much to take in. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath and listened to some of her teammates speak.

These were supers expecting someone with far more experience and expertise than Pep could offer, but she was not about to back down from this chance to do good. When she finally opened her eyes she felt a little calmer and rose up from her seat and waved to the other team awkwardly. "Uh...hey everyone, you can call me Tumble. I.. um throw myself around reallt hard and fast and am a pretty tough customer when I need to be. Also well, I am going to have to agree with Chimera, that some of our powers and skillsets would be best for use split up. If I had to choose though, I'd want the front entrance. Smashing in quickly with a distracting surprise, seems like something I could succeed well at." She sat back down gingerly and listened closely to see where everyone stood on the plan.

[The_Specialist]

Hex
Conditions:
Potential: 0/5
Power: 5

Spoiler: Labels

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

Spoiler: Form & Function

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Form One
Abilities: Dark Sorcery, Illusions, Elemental Control

Form Change: When you enter your Form, roll + unmarked Conditions. On a miss, your Form is sloppy or provides only a weak connection to your magical source. Hold two Power and take -1 forward. On a hit hold four. On a 10+, clear a Condition.

Crest:

• Wilds (Provides protection from harsh environmental and physical conditions, shielding you from the elements, the need for sleep, food or water. In addition, your passage cannot be impeded by natural barriers.)
• Mana (Your Crest is particularly well crafted, granting an additional Power whenever you assume your Form.)

Signs

• [ ] Mirror: Choose an NPC who you have Influence over. You may expend one Power to use a Move or Flair they possess. If you have Influence over no one you may instead pick another Sign to Mirror.
• [ ] Reflect: You may expend one Power when you’re under fire from an opponent. If you must mark a Condition from a Powerful Blow, inflict one on your opponent.
• [ ] Thief: You may expend one Power to take a possession from anyone you can see, even if you’re unable to see the item.

There were a lot of people in the room that he didn’t recognize. And some that unfortunately, he did. Saki was there, and he still hadn’t processed how he felt about her assistance in the last fight. It had been unexpected but, well... undeniably useful. He spotted Alistair as well, whom he also didn’t feel great about. He could probably be more sympathetic towards the guy, Alistair didn’t seem to revel in his status and his parents sort of seemed like douchebags, at least when it came to his musical talents. But also, Milo needed to conserve his mental and emotional energy for his own problems. That guy could probably afford a therapist anyway. And friends.

Milo immediately migrated towards Sam, once he’d realized it was him. It wasn’t a look he was super familiar with on his friend, but he’d known them long enough to pick up on the body language.
“Like the hair by the way...” He murmured quietly. Milo had always been a fan of the more wild hair colours, providing easy encouragement any time Sam might try rocking a more ‘out there’ look in any respect.

A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth when Overstorm immediately blustered and raged in response to the request from the Court of Raptors. He liked her fire, or maybe it was just the red hair that had him biased. For once he wasn’t the first person in the room to snarl!

“Woah, take it down a notch... You do realize you could always just... not do it, and say you did...? Have some discretion...” He uttered though fairly quietly, almost under his breath, unable to fully scrub the amusement from his tone. Maybe it was just because the Lighthouse heroes had been so clearly displeased to see the arrival of him and his ‘team’ that he relished any semblance of unprofessionalism on their part. He didn’t have to pretend to be professional!

The barest hint of a smile tugged the corners of his mouth when it was Sam who stepped up to speak first, and Milo adjusted his footing discreetly to stand more directly at his friend's side, intending to provide unspoken support and/or reassurance. Alistair spoke next, and he sort of hated that he agreed with him. It was possible at least that mixing and matching would provide the flashiest team possible, although it might affect the synergy. Not that he was terribly familiar with his own ‘people’ just yet, but he at least assumed the Lighthouse crew would prefer to stick together. But if Alistair’s suggestion caused them to bristle, Milo wouldn't mind at all.

He listened quietly as Pep stood up to introduce herself. She was the one he knew the least of the group, though thus far had been polite and helpful. He got the sense that these were both genuine traits, and so he'd forgiven any near-misses thus far. A small nod was offered her way in greeting.

“I’m Hex.” He piped up quickly to be next. “I can control most of the elements, and conjure up some pretty flashy illusions. I can also be in two places at once...” The golem that had been behind him, stepped out to the side. It happened to be currently disguised as, well, Hex. With its hood pulled up quite far however and head tilted down, shadow masked its eyes. Also unlike Hex, it stood much more rigidly, perfectly still and silent.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Rolled for Form Change for Milo to be in his form, and got 10. Holding 5 power. (4 for hit, +1 for Crest of Mana)

[Comissar]

Mercury
Conditions:
Potential: 0/5

Spoiler: Labels

Show

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

Spoiler: Moves and Drives

Show

Straight. Up. Creepin'.

When you scope out a person or place, roll +Mundane. On a 10+, ask two. On a 7-9, ask one.

- What's my best way in/out?
- What happened here recently?
- What here is worth grabbing?
- Who or what here is not what they seem?
- Whose place is this?

On a miss, find yourself in over your head. The GM will tell you why this is a bad spot.

No powers and not nearly enough training

You're always picking up new gear to keep yourself in the game. Whenever you pick up a new piece of gear, you can write it as a new ability if this line is empty (____________)

The first time you use each piece of gear to directly engage a threat, unleash your powers, or defend someone, you can roll +Mundane instead of the normal label.

Drives

Reject someone who tells you you shouldn't be here.

Earn the respect of a hero you admire.

Makeout with a teammate

Help a teammate when they most need you

Spoiler: Current Appearance

Show

Sam acknowledges Milo's compliment with a brief smile and a quiet "Thanks."

With the others introducing themselves one by one, he takes the opportunity to speak up again, "I'm S-, uh, Mercury. I can shapeshift into other people! And, well, some animals too. But mostly people."

[Ramsus]

Facet Worst Scion Potential: 0/5 Spoiler Show Labels Conditions Marked Danger: +1 Afraid (-2 to directly engage a threat) [Run from something difficult.] Freak: +1 Angry (-2 to comfort or support or pierce the mask) [Hurt someone or break something important.] Savior: +1 Guilty (-2 to provoke someone or assess the situation) [Make a sacrifice to absolve your guilt.] Superior: 0 Hopeless (-2 to unleash your powers) [Fling yourself into easy relief.] Mundane: 0 Insecure (-2 to defend someone or reject others’ influence) [Take foolhardy action without talking to your team.] Saki didn't even look up as the others did their introductions as she figured this was mainly for the benefit of the other team. Still looking over the blueprints she says in a kind of off-hand way, "Facet." and with a wave of her left arm makes a square of transparent multi-color magical energy/force a few feet above her head at an angle. Then with some more hand waving she shifts its position a few feet (though still in the air so it doesn't hit anyone) and shape (circle, hexagon, triangle) a few times. The last one, she has rotate a few times before waving it away, at which point it vanishes.

[Malexia]

All-Seer's Meeting Huddle, The Dark of Night

Spoiler: Facet Only

Show

You recognize the blueprint, or at least you think you do; your mother once showed you blueprints like this for all sorts of villainous lairs around Garuda, though most of them have faded beyond the patterns and broad strokes. But this one, this one in particular stands out. Nonpareil once ranted for nearly an hour straight about how she detested the way all Court lairs designed between '81 and '87 were by the same architect: Rodryck Zerrin, a foreign mad scientist who came to Garuda after being exiled from his homeland. He was a brilliant engineer and a passable architect, but he was also predictable. Nearly every Zerrin lair has the same few design elements, and one of them in particular seems relevant: his scheming rooms always have between 3-4 traps not included in the blueprint. If that's true of this lair, then fighting Jackal James in the scheming room would be a very risky proposition. As for how you can end this whole mess quickly... well, there's an obvious answer: skip the negotiating, skip the Court's whole request, and jump straight to punching this villain as hard as you can.

All-Seer watches from a respectful distance as you discuss the mission and introduce yourselves. He seems more than happy to let all of you sort out your own way of doing things.

When Mercury talks about a show of light and sound, Overstorm is already grinning and punching her palm. Electricity crackles across her fists and you can see her fingers twitch with frantic energy begging to be let loose. "Now we're talking. You want the storm, I bring the storm. I want that front entrance so I can beat the daylights out of every last goon and minion that sorry Raptor reject dragged with him. Strength tattoos or no strength tattoos, I can take them on." The confidence practically overflows from her.

The rest of you go through introductions, and as you do so you notice Helping Hand jotting down notes in a little journal. He mutters under his breath, "Chimera... fire... large monster..."

When it comes Hex's turn, no one seems to have noticed his quiet rejoinder, but Lightfire perks up at Hex's display of power. "Impressive. That's a handy set of abilities."

At the end of Mercury's (proper) introduction, Helping Hand muses, "Shapeshifting would be a good stealth power. Reason for them to take the vent?"

Overstorm frowns and shoots All-Seer a glance. "Hey, why aren't we splitting up? Flashies and sneakies, y'know?"

All-Seer steps forward and calmly explains, "The House wants to see you perform as teams, and from a tactical perspective I agree; I believe the benefits of working with teammates you know will outweigh any possible negatives of team composition. Consider it a challenge to overcome your limitations." A line like that would sound condescending from most people, but something about the way he says it makes you think All-Seer is being genuine.

Facet is last, and then the Lighthouse kids take their turns.

"I'm Lightfire, and I'm a sunlight mage." His gold-and-silver costume is incredibly functional, a clean mix of pouches, padding, and the bright logo of the Lighthouse Agency. Overstorm and Helping Hand have the logo too, but much more subtly placed. "I can manipulate sunlight to blind, distract, and burn. For missions at night, like this one, I keep a handful of magically-absorbent crystals that soak in sunlight most mornings." He gestures to one of those crystals, tied to the crisp white belt of his costume.

Overstorm jerks a thumb at him and adds, "He's team leader. He says he's not, but he is. I'm team muscle, name's Overstorm. I blast, I zap, I wreck and rend. I'm part-elemental, storm-blooded." She stretches electricity between open palms to demonstrate.

Lastly, and most nervously, "My hero name is Helping Hand. I'm an amplifier; when I touch someone with powers I can boost their abilities for between ten seconds to ten minutes, depending on how much of a boost I give them. My amplification also enhances the body's natural abilities including strength, speed, and healing factor." His description is crisp and professional, and the second it's done he's back to his journal. In contrast to Lightfire's functional style and Overstorm's aggro vibe, Helping Hand has a plain grey hood, cloak, and what looks almost like a school uniform. The only dash of color in his whole ensemble is a blue-and-yellow Lighthouse Agency pin.

When they've made their introductions, Lightfire has more to say. "I think it's clear that our teams represent different approaches. From a tactical perspective I'd say Helping Hand's amplification ability gives my team the necessary edge against Jackal James if negotiations break down. From a personal perspective... I dislike the idea of negotiating with a villain, but I also feel we must honor the bargain made with the Court. As such, I'd like to volunteer my team for the task of speaking with Jackal James."

Overstorm huffs and crosses her arms. "Bah. I want to brawl the goons."

Helping Hand adds, almost absentmindedly, "This way you can fight Jackal. I hear he's pretty dangerous for a mid-ranker; he's a really skilled tattoo mage. His body is covered in tattoos that he can activate for different effects, depending on the needs of the circumstance. Definitely a harder fight than whoever's out front."

Overstorm settles at that. "Okay, I guess I can go for that."

Lightfire nods at her, then looks to your team. "Any objections?"

[Ramsus]

Facet Worst Scion Potential: 0/5 Spoiler Show Labels Conditions Marked Danger: +1 Afraid (-2 to directly engage a threat) [Run from something difficult.] Freak: +1 Angry (-2 to comfort or support or pierce the mask) [Hurt someone or break something important.] Savior: +1 Guilty (-2 to provoke someone or assess the situation) [Make a sacrifice to absolve your guilt.] Superior: 0 Hopeless (-2 to unleash your powers) [Fling yourself into easy relief.] Mundane: 0 Insecure (-2 to defend someone or reject others’ influence) [Take foolhardy action without talking to your team.] "Yes." Facet says as she finally looks up from the blueprint. "I believe your team is better suited to the role you are naturally more comfortable with. Persuasion is less likely to work from people less inclined to be doing. Unless your team has persuasive powers you failed to mention." After a pause, but not a pause actually long enough for someone to get a word in, Facet looks to Lightfire and asks, "Do these crystals of yours work in the hands of others or only yourself? Because I believe I could make good use of them if you can spare any." There's this unspoken vibe she puts out where someone perceptive might notice it seems like she wants to say "It's a shame you and I aren't on the same team, that power combination would be useful." And while she certainly is thinking it, she's intentionally not saying it to try and be perceived less like her mother. Though she's probably not being subtle enough here to really help in that regard.

[Abbyqween]

Chimera
Potential: 0/5
Conditions:

Spoiler

Show

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

"I have to agree with Facet. Lightfire and Overstorm, you're not suited for stealth. Even if we were to distract his goo-minions, if you cause too much noise or light, they'll know that something is up and go running back to their leader. And with him," he gestures to Helping Hand, "you'll have enough to keep up with his minions and still distract them. Most of our team has less flashy abilities than yours does, and the added numbers and infamy some of us have might just get him to defect back to the court, or, at the very least, get him to give us something about why he left."

Alistair then looks around the room, and notices all eyes on him. "But if you still want to do the covert mission, I won't go against the decision."

Was everyone staring at him still? Alistair hoped they weren't, he wanted to keep a low profile in this meeting. Oh, who was he kidding, with what he just said, and his previous words, he had drawn the attention of everyone in the room. He had too much of a habit of doing that. He really didn't want to think about what would happen if he was assigned to be the leader of the team, or something like that because of this. He would be horrible at it. Not to mention that Camilla was expecting that to happen because of his status, and he didn't want her to think that she had anything to do with this team. With his team. Getting her involved would be dangerous.

[Anaglyph]

Tumble
Potential: 0/5
Conditions:

Spoiler: Labels

Show

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

Pep had been weighing both plan options in her mind and though she felt the goons were the right choice for her, the meeting as a whole didn't seemed to be heading toward a real compromise. Chimera seemed asokay with following the general consensus as she did. Facet on the other hand saw things in a more calculated way. Pepin made a decision. She stood and placed a hand on Facet's shoulder and against her initial hesitancy spoke up, beginning with a bit of folksy commentary.
"When the farmers are arguing over who should milk the cow, the sheep are jumping the fence." Pepin could almost feel the confused looks she got, and really could feel her face getting a bit flushed.
"That is... we are both capable of either of these jobs. Rather than going back and forth, let's just take one and do it the best we can. This hero thing is just about doing good right, not 'better' than the other guy?" She looks at Facet's face expectedly, hoping she could get the hint to just let the other team do the mission they wanted. It wasn't worth a debate

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Rolled to Provoke Facet to just let the other team take the job they want. Got an 8, I'll choose if she does it, we add a Team to the pool.

[Ramsus]

Facet Worst Scion Potential: 0/5 Spoiler Show Labels Conditions Marked Danger: +1 Afraid (-2 to directly engage a threat) [Run from something difficult.] Freak: +1 Angry (-2 to comfort or support or pierce the mask) [Hurt someone or break something important.] Savior: +1 Guilty (-2 to provoke someone or assess the situation) [Make a sacrifice to absolve your guilt.] Superior: 0 Hopeless (-2 to unleash your powers) [Fling yourself into easy relief.] Mundane: 0 Insecure (-2 to defend someone or reject others’ influence) [Take foolhardy action without talking to your team.] Saki jumps at the unexpected touch and reflexively takes a step away. She's not at all used to people touching her and her training involved very specific warnings about it always being better to defend yourself against even the hint of a surprise attack and be wrong than to risk letting an enemy seize upon your hesitation. The alarmed/"are you a threat?" look she gives Tumble blinks out of existence as fast as it arrived. But then Tumble, this person who is more of an outsider than even she is, begins lecturing her on what being heroic is about. In response to her, valid!, concerns the other team cared less about what was good or better than just thoughtlessly administering violence upon someone they were supposed to be talking around back to the collective shared good of the city. But of course, even this outsider knew who she was and who her mother was and leaped to judge her and assume she couldn't tell right from wrong. Under those assumptions, which she was sure now everyone else would jump to too now that someone had put the thought in their heads, anything further she said to argue the case she had previously made would be portrayed as her being the villain in this situation. So she simply said nothing and gave an exaggerated shrug, letting Tumble visibly 'win' the argument (since she really had no choice at this point), and put her helmet on to hide her expressions. Though she couldn't do so quite fast enough that there wasn't time for Tumble or the others on their team (she had thought to turn away from the other team at this) to prevent them from seeing the annoyance on her face. Spoiler Show Facet mechanically speaking agrees to let the other team choose, so we get +1 Team. But she's clearly annoyed/feels like she needs to be on the defensive with Tumble.

[Abbyqween]

Chimera
Potential: 0/5
Conditions:

Spoiler

Show

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

Alistair was taken aback by what Pep just said. This talking about who would be better for which mission was about trying to do good. Facet wanted to make sure this mission was pulled off successfully, and if they got this mission over as quickly as they could, there would be less of a chance of of getting anyone hurt. This wasn't about being better than the other team, but it seemed that she was thinking that's what it was. He wanted for the other team to see reason, not just force them into a decision. But with the way it was going, he'd have to put his foot down.

He frowns, and turns to Pep. "But this isn't about being better than the other team. This is about ensuring that the mission goes as smoothly as possible. If we're able to convince him to go back, that means there's less of a chance someone could get hurt. There's more of a chance he won't do that if we're acting hostile the moment we start talking to him. Facet wanted to make sure we were picking the best team for the mission, and you pressuring her into silence isn't going to do that. Our team is the best for making that happen, so it's only reasonable for us to be the ones to do it, don't you think?" Alistair is staring at Pep, the look in his eyes asking her to back off of Saki.

Spoiler

Show

Rolled to provoke Tumble into agreeing to let our team talk to Jackal. Got a twelve, if she does it, add a Team to the pool, and if she doesn't do it, she marks a condition.

[Comissar]

Mercury
Conditions:
Potential: 0/5

Spoiler: Labels

Show

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

Spoiler: Moves and Drives

Show

Straight. Up. Creepin'.

When you scope out a person or place, roll +Mundane. On a 10+, ask two. On a 7-9, ask one.

- What's my best way in/out?
- What happened here recently?
- What here is worth grabbing?
- Who or what here is not what they seem?
- Whose place is this?

On a miss, find yourself in over your head. The GM will tell you why this is a bad spot.

No powers and not nearly enough training

You're always picking up new gear to keep yourself in the game. Whenever you pick up a new piece of gear, you can write it as a new ability if this line is empty (____________)

The first time you use each piece of gear to directly engage a threat, unleash your powers, or defend someone, you can roll +Mundane instead of the normal label.

Drives

Reject someone who tells you you shouldn't be here.

Earn the respect of a hero you admire.

Makeout with a teammate

Help a teammate when they most need you

Spoiler: Current Appearance

Show

And just like that, it felt like the team was starting to implode a little. Giving a harried glance to Milo, Sam hurriedly speaks up before tensions could escalate further, "We'll take on Jackal." He glances to All-Seer, hoping that his teammates hadn't ruined their standing, "I don't think we're as suited to making a, uh, a big scene," He coughs with a self-conscious grin, "And if it comes to a fight, then we'll have numbers."

He rubs behind his neck, his attention shifting to the other members of his team. With luck, they'd catch his hint on saving face. "So... When do we get started..?"

[Anaglyph]

Tumble
Potential: 0/5

Spoiler: Conditions:

Show

Insecure (-2 to Defend or Reject Influence)

Spoiler: Labels

Show

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

Tumble pulls back quickly at the flinch and nearly throws her own hands up in defense at the quick movement. Tumble sinks into herself and frowns worriedly. She whispers "I'm sorry." and takes a couple more steps back before turning to Chimera. She has to take another breath to calm her anxiety, she wasn't used to being the center of attention especially when it came to superhero business. She typically was a woman of few words when it came to what little media attention she had received thus far. None the less, she had already put herself in this position and there wasn't much, but to speak her mind, politely of course. "With complete respect, I.. I think we just have to believe that THEY" She gestures to the other team "will do the right thing and be Their best. Any voice can be the right voice, a persuasive voice" She lowers her head in a look of shame "...or a hurtful voice. I should have realized how my words might make others feel." Her mood already thoroughly deflated, she is further shot down when the person she was closest to showed her she was in the wrong as well. Pepin's mind swirled with the idea that maybe she wasn't ready to be in a team with anyone. The group wouldn't want someone who was argumentative and came off as bully, who would?

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Pepin sort of doubled down and the 'we just need to let them' position. I will mark the condition Insecure. She is definitely not secure in who she is on this team or if she should even be on it.

[Ramsus]

Facet Worst Scion Potential: 1/5 Spoiler Show Labels Conditions Marked Danger: +1 Afraid (-2 to directly engage a threat) [Run from something difficult.] Freak: +1 Angry (-2 to comfort or support or pierce the mask) [Hurt someone or break something important.] Savior: +1 Guilty (-2 to provoke someone or assess the situation) [Make a sacrifice to absolve your guilt.] Superior: 0 Hopeless (-2 to unleash your powers) [Fling yourself into easy relief.] Mundane: 0 Insecure (-2 to defend someone or reject others’ influence) [Take foolhardy action without talking to your team.] Hearing Tumble apologize, both for startling her and for upsetting her, Saki realizes that maybe... probably in fact... this fellow outsider didn't mean to imply the things she took their words for. While she wasn't the one who gave the verbal reproach, it was still on behalf and at least partially the result of her actions. So she felt compelled to try and do... something. Some kind of comforting gesture or words. Some...thing? She walked over to Tumble, hoping the words would come to her as she went, and reached over and placed a hand on her shoulder like she'd tried to do to her. Then she opened her mouth and..... couldn't think of what to say here. So she just tried to give a friendly reassuring smile. Unfortunately.... Saki at this moment completely forgot she had her helmet on and what Tumble could see was just her own dark reflection in a gemstone/artifact/helmet thing looking back at her. Spoiler Show Comfort/Support failure! Hurray!

[Abbyqween]

Chimera
Potential: 1/5
Conditions:

Spoiler

Show

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

Alistair turns his head away, and starts speaking, quietly. "I... sorry for the outburst. I just... I don't want this to go badly. There's something going on and I want to get to the bottom of this..." He scowls, and adds, "...and you're getting in the way of that...", not realizing he said that last part out loud.

Why was Pep being so hard about this? If she just went along with everyone else, they would've been out of here already, stopping Jackal before he hurt any more people. Was he being too harsh when he said that? Did she misunderstand him? Or... was he in the wrong here?

Spoiler

Show

Rolled Comfort/Support and failed. Marking potential.

[The_Specialist]

Hex
Conditions:
Potential: 0/5
Power: 5

Spoiler: Labels

Show

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

Spoiler: Form & Function

Show

Form One
Abilities: Dark Sorcery, Illusions, Elemental Control

Form Change: When you enter your Form, roll + unmarked Conditions. On a miss, your Form is sloppy or provides only a weak connection to your magical source. Hold two Power and take -1 forward. On a hit hold four. On a 10+, clear a Condition.

Crest:

• Wilds (Provides protection from harsh environmental and physical conditions, shielding you from the elements, the need for sleep, food or water. In addition, your passage cannot be impeded by natural barriers.)
• Mana (Your Crest is particularly well crafted, granting an additional Power whenever you assume your Form.)

Signs

• [ ] Mirror: Choose an NPC who you have Influence over. You may expend one Power to use a Move or Flair they possess. If you have Influence over no one you may instead pick another Sign to Mirror.
• [ ] Reflect: You may expend one Power when you’re under fire from an opponent. If you must mark a Condition from a Powerful Blow, inflict one on your opponent.
• [ ] Thief: You may expend one Power to take a possession from anyone you can see, even if you’re unable to see the item.

From the previous somewhat chilled reception of their presence, Hex did notice when Lightfire complimented his powerset with seemingly genuine interest. Though to be fair, Milo was rather quick to take notice of any boy taking interest in him- well, Lightfire wasn’t exactly a ‘boy’, probably a few years older than him -but still. Not really used to positive attention, Hex only managed a small and possibly awkward smile in response to Lightfire, listening in silence as the others introduced themselves. Lightfire looked a bit too goody-goody with all the angelic colours of his costume for Milo to warrant spending too much focus on him, but he was certainly intrigued by the idea of a sunlight mage. And just like Facet, he was equally curious about the idea of magically-absorbent crystals. He kept it to himself, however. For now...

As introductions came to an end and discussions resumed on which team would be best for what, things began to take a strange, awkward turn. Milo glanced between his ‘team mates’ in mild bemusement, violet eyes returning Sam’s glance last as he offered an uncertain shrug. He was somewhat grateful when his friend cut in to try and end the spiral with a solid decision, but also a little proud; once the guitar was out of his hands, Sam’s stage presence sometimes suffered from self-consciousness. It was always nice to see him confident, in his skin, or otherwise.

“I agree. Do we have any good pictures of Jackal and his friends? Maybe Mercury could look like him, or a goon. I could make my bud here look like one too maybe, if we want to try and work a little deception...” He suggested, gesturing betwee

Unfortunately, things were still getting... weird. He felt bad for Pep, though he could understand some people having an aversion to touch, Chimera had come off a little strong in his opinion, unnecessarily so. Not like Milo ever did that. But Saki could defend herself anyway, she needed to be able to at least. Though he hadn’t felt Pep had said anything particularly aggressive either.

Glancing over, he saw Saki place a hand on Pep’s shoulder, and... stare her down? He had no idea what she was doing, with the helmet hiding her face and any expression cues. “The f*ck...?” Milo made a questioning face. Ugh, they were going to look like a bunch of kids next to the other team. “Can everyone just keep their hands to themselves for the rest of the meeting? Sit on them if you have to. We’ll go get Jackal. Lighthouse pals will make some noise. Good? Done. Let’s get this show on the road.” He tried to reiterate Sam's message, not shy about being even more assertive in his language and tone.

[Anaglyph]

Tumble
Potential: 0/5

Spoiler: Conditions:

Show

Insecure (-2 to Defend or Reject Influence)

Spoiler: Labels

Show

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

Pepin was brought suddenly out of her own thoughts to see the featureless face of Facet. What followed was a blur, she heard others speaking, Hex for instance, who hadn't said much in the meeting so far. Pep went into flight mode and tried scrambling backwards only to trip over something or someone. Much to her namesake she tumbled backwards and knocked her head on a wall. Staring up at everyone, Pep's face was bright red in deep embarrassment and confusion. If she had been less baffled, she might have even started to tear up.

[Malexia]

All-Seer's Meeting Huddle, The Dark of Night

Facet's question seems to rankle the otherwise unconcerned Lightfire, who sweeps a hand briefly across his belt, as if protecting them, before returning to an easy smile behind that plain domino mask. "Sorry, but these are too rare and valuable, and I might need every one for the coming fight."

Spoiler: Facet's Eyes Only

Show

For a moment, that look on his face almost seems to be... recognition? Maybe you're just paranoid but... you can't shake the feeling that Lightfire knows just a bit more about Nonpareil than the other teens here.

The Lighthouse trio takes Chimera's initial statement without comment, and for once not even Overstorm seems too perturbed by it, actually nodding her head at one point. Then brief confusion on the faces of Overstorm and Lightfire at Tumble's aphorism, though Helping Hand takes it in stride as if he's heard it before.

As the confrontation starts heating up, Overstorm kicks back and gives a quiet snort, seemingly enjoying the show. Lightfire chides her, and Helping Hand interjects a quick, "I agree with Chimera." Overstorm shoots him a glare - and a questioning eyebrow raise - but he doesn't clarify what he agrees with Chimera on, leaving it vague.

When Mercury makes his nervous entrance to the argument, he's not the only one to glance at All-Seer; Lightfire shoots a quick glance as well. Both of you see the same thing: a man like a statue, benevolent in expression but completely unreadable and unchanging. Perhaps this whole argument is just another part of the test, a hidden parameter set by those who organized this mission.

With Tumble's anxious addition, the Lighthouse trio has another brief inter-team spat. Helping Hand leans to Overstorm and murmurs, "You should really take a page out of her book. For someone your senior she certainly seems more mature than you."

Overstorm glowers at him and starts to hiss something, but Lightfire cuts her off. "Please, don't bicker in front of the other heroes. Save the non-immediate concerns for debriefing at the Lighthouse."

Of course, their team is saved from any embarrassment by the continuing conflict in your team. There is one benefit, however: after Hex takes the stage, All-Seer finally speaks.

"None of the minions he took with him were important enough to be profiled, but Jackal James himself had a sizable enough presence to be photographed, yes." All-Seer produces a small sheaf of photographs from seemingly thin air and places them on the central table.

Jackal James is displayed from three angles, and you get a pretty good look at him. James is tan, tall, and strong in a wiry, lean way. His costume screams Court of Raptors from the elegant three-piece suit to the ornate jackal mask (contrary to what an outsider might assume, the Court does not require bird-theming for its members but rather focuses on a general theme of predatory animals, many of which just happen to be birds of prey). His costume hides most of his tattoos, but you see a glimpse here and there of runic designs and soft light.

Everyone's attention is drawn to the image of Jackal James just as Tumble's anxiety fully gets the better of her and sends her stumbling back. While everyone else is too distracted or surprised to do anything, Helping Hand is already on his feet, calmly walking over. He approaches cautiously, then extends a hand. "If you let me, I can make that go away.

Spoiler: Tumble's Eyes Only

Show

If you let HH touch you, he'll amplify your abilities for ten seconds, which will give you a rush of power and as a side effect completely heal whatever minor damage/pain was caused by your clumsiness. You may also clear Insecure as a result of the burst of confidence.

[Anaglyph]

Tumble
Potential: 0/5

Spoiler: Conditions:

Show

.

Spoiler: Labels

Show

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

Pepin rubs the back of her aching head and considers if allowing Helping Hand to assist her will make her seem even weaker than she already feels. In the end she does reach for HH's hand. The moment they touch, a jolt of energy runs through her erasing any pain she had in her body or doubt in her mind. She belonged here, whether they thought it or not. This whole meeting was just a pretense, who were these people to decide if she could be any sort of hero she decided to be? Pep was the one who decided who she was, and she felt all at once confidence in her body and mind. With a wink, a slight glow shimmered across her form and she tumbled nigh instantly from her spot on the floor, to a position right in front of Facet. Giving her a look up and down she moved past her to stand next to Mercury. The way Tumble moved was now completely different, she strutted with sway to her hips, yet her feet barely seeming to touch the ground. She flashed Mercury an alluring smile, gave them a playful look and let out a small chuckle "You couldn't catch a girl?" She turns to listen intently to Allseer's briefing letting Mercury do with that what they will. Perhaps she was still standing in a bit too friendly of a distance to Mercury?

Spoiler: For Malexia's Eyes Only

Show

I might have played up the burst of confidence a bit much. I just thought that having that feeling of true confidence in herself (if even for a brief time) would be something that would be a wish come true for her. It's just so alien to her to have to her to have that, so she comes off a bit.. over the top, I guess?

[Abbyqween]

Chimera
Potential: 1/5
Conditions:

Spoiler

Show

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

Alistair stares at Pep, hiding any anger or jealousy he was feeling about her behind a face of calm stoicism. They way she suddenly came back from whatever state she was in, moving past what just happened between the three of them. He had let his fears and insecurities get the best of him, and she walked it off, just like that. He couldn't do that. All he could do was pretend to do that, because what else was he supposed to do? Drag this argument on? That would be silly and childish of him, and he would be able to talk to her about any issues he had with her after the mission, in a calm and rational manner. If he could, that is. He wouldn't be surprised if she refused to have that talk. She definitely thought of him differently after that. And why wouldn't she? He was supposed to be experienced, thoughtful, and understanding, and here he was, acting like a spoiled brat. No wonder people thought of him as just another member of his family. He was acting just like them.

With a quiet, shaky breath, he moved his attention back to the matter at hand. He could worry about that later. Or not at all, if he was able. He turned his attention to Sam. "The plan might be able to work, but Facet and I would most certainly get noticed immediately, and blow our cover. Our faces are too recognizable, and a disguise can only do so much. What are your thoughts on this, Mercury?" Hopefully, that deference to another person for a plan would give himself time to breath and collect his thoughts. Or draw enough attention away from himself so that they wouldn't notice whatever breakdown he was about to have if he couldn't get himself together. His thoughts were too jumbled, and he knew he needed some way to let out all of his emotions, something that he definitely wouldn't get until after the mission was over. What a horrible day this was turning out to be.

[Comissar]

Mercury
Conditions:
Potential: 0/5

Spoiler: Labels

Show

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

Spoiler: Moves and Drives

Show

Straight. Up. Creepin'.

When you scope out a person or place, roll +Mundane. On a 10+, ask two. On a 7-9, ask one.

- What's my best way in/out?
- What happened here recently?
- What here is worth grabbing?
- Who or what here is not what they seem?
- Whose place is this?

On a miss, find yourself in over your head. The GM will tell you why this is a bad spot.

No powers and not nearly enough training

You're always picking up new gear to keep yourself in the game. Whenever you pick up a new piece of gear, you can write it as a new ability if this line is empty (____________)

The first time you use each piece of gear to directly engage a threat, unleash your powers, or defend someone, you can roll +Mundane instead of the normal label.

Drives

Reject someone who tells you you shouldn't be here.

Earn the respect of a hero you admire.

Makeout with a teammate

Help a teammate when they most need you

Spoiler: Current Appearance

Show

"... Right... Umm..." No pressure then. Time to come up with the plan, process Pepin's flirty(?) comment, and do his best to save what face he could with the other team present and the adult hero. Easy.

He clears his throat, ignoring the uncertainty in his chest as he tries to focus his mind. He drums his fingers on the table once or twice, then glances up at Milo. "... He'll be looking to get out, right..?" He looks to the rest of the team, "Can any of you drive? What if we make him think we've got an escape vehicle for him? He thinks he's getting somewhere safe, we get him into custody instead." He glances to Alistair and Saki, "You two can take the front seats, you won't get recognised if all he can see is the back of your heads. Tumble takes the seat beside him, he won't recognise you."

He glances over to Milo, "Hex and I can stay behind. If any stragglers get out after we get Jackal away and try and figure out where he is, radio him or something similar, then I could take his place and Hex can be my 'bodyguards'. Once we get the all-clear that you have Jackal safe, we slip away, and job's done." He glances to the other team, "If we need to, we can also be back-up for you guys, or vice-versa if we're having trouble getting out."

He rubs at his arm, aware that he'd been holding the floor for a while now, "... Thoughts..?"

[The_Specialist]

Hex
Conditions:
Potential: 0/5
Power: 5

Spoiler: Labels

Show

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

Spoiler: Form & Function

Show

Form One
Abilities: Dark Sorcery, Illusions, Elemental Control

Form Change: When you enter your Form, roll + unmarked Conditions. On a miss, your Form is sloppy or provides only a weak connection to your magical source. Hold two Power and take -1 forward. On a hit hold four. On a 10+, clear a Condition.

Crest:

• Wilds (Provides protection from harsh environmental and physical conditions, shielding you from the elements, the need for sleep, food or water. In addition, your passage cannot be impeded by natural barriers.)
• Mana (Your Crest is particularly well crafted, granting an additional Power whenever you assume your Form.)

Signs

• [ ] Mirror: Choose an NPC who you have Influence over. You may expend one Power to use a Move or Flair they possess. If you have Influence over no one you may instead pick another Sign to Mirror.
• [ ] Reflect: You may expend one Power when you’re under fire from an opponent. If you must mark a Condition from a Powerful Blow, inflict one on your opponent.
• [ ] Thief: You may expend one Power to take a possession from anyone you can see, even if you’re unable to see the item.

Milo could feel himself growing tense as Pep stumbled and seemed to be fully panicking even before she fell. This was not going well; they hadn’t even actually started the mission and already they were fighting each other and some were obviously losing heart. Even without an audience of peers and strangers, it was embarrassing. Of course, his expression only betrayed a vague hint of annoyance, though that was omnipresent. He couldn’t let anyone think he cared too much.

That said, the puppet-Milo had turned back around to face Tumble as she tripped, though too late to save her from the fall. It revealed the intent however, and that Milo wasn’t entirely ignoring as much as he pretended. It froze after taking one step, when Helping Hand began to move quickly towards Pep. An unexpected olive branch, and one that had even further unforeseen side effects. Watching as Pepin recovered with ease and flair and then swayed to the front to stand on the other side of Mercury, Milo couldn’t help feeling... odd. He’d have to unpack that later. Confidence was good right now, and their team needed as much as they could get. He did feel a little more at ease when it seemed Alistair had calmed as well, and though Hex was a little surprised to see the other young man defer to someone else, he’d take it. Returning his attention to Mercury, Milo started to nod as Sam laid out a plan.

“It could work. All-Seer said Jackal is likely to head to the scheming room once there’s a breach up front, if he’s not already there, but it’s near the side entrance. So we might have to get in and find him first if he’s not already decided running is the best option. But if we can take out anyone guarding the side entrance quickly and quietly enough... Then you, me, and me can steal their look, go find him as ‘friends’, and convince him we’ll cover his exit." He gestured between Sam, himself, and the puppet now still facing the wall. "Even better if we reach him before he gets to the scheming room or gets much time there to access any new intel. Meanwhile Facet, Tumble, and Chimera stash his real goons out of sight and then get in position with a vehicle if we got one. Do we have time to get a hat or bandana or something, some sunglasses for Saki and Alistair?" He glanced at the pair thoughtfully with a vague gesture their way; he would rather like seeing Alistair looking like rabble. Turning back to Sam he nodded. "Well hopefully Jackal's flustered enough not to recognize our more popular friends right away if they're up front like you said. And yeah, at least we’re not too far apart if something goes south... I mean, sounds good enough to me to give it a go.”

Glancing around at the others, he waited to see if anyone had any further commentary or complaints.

[Ramsus]

Facet Worst Scion Potential: 1/5 Spoiler Show Labels Conditions Marked Danger: +1 Afraid (-2 to directly engage a threat) [Run from something difficult.] Freak: +1 Angry (-2 to comfort or support or pierce the mask) [Hurt someone or break something important.] Savior: +1 Guilty (-2 to provoke someone or assess the situation) [Make a sacrifice to absolve your guilt.] Superior: 0 Hopeless (-2 to unleash your powers) [Fling yourself into easy relief.] Mundane: 0 Insecure (-2 to defend someone or reject others’ influence) [Take foolhardy action without talking to your team.] Saki would maybe have been off-put by Tumble's abrupt change in behavior, but wild mood swings weren't out of the norm for some of the villains her mother had used for her schemes before. She considered what the others said and nodded and replied, "I know how to drive. I agree it seems a sound plan and that disguises of some kind would be ideal." She wondered if she should have said more. Hex had used a lot more words to respond. Something to think about.

[Abbyqween]

Chimera
Potential: 1/5
Conditions:

Spoiler

Show

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

Alistair was surprised with how quick the planning went. Guess he could hold himself together for a bit longer. "The plan looks sound. I have a pair of old glasses on hand that I could take the lenses out of for Facet. We might even be able to get some keys off of one of the people guarding that entrance and take their vehicle."

His breathing had gotten even, but his hands were still shaking a bit. Nobody else seemed to notice, which he was glad for. Maybe he could have a talk with Saki and Pep while they waited for the others to bring Jackal to them. That, or break down around people who wouldn't judge. He could only hope.

[Anaglyph]

Tumble
Potential: 0/5

Spoiler: Conditions:

Show

.

Spoiler: Labels

Show

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

Pep glides forward and cracks her knuckles She spoke what came to her without fear of being shortsighted. "It'll be a piece of cake. Get in, get the guy. I'm sure I can convince him that who he's working for is clearly the wrong person to be backing. We have the power of what is right and good on our side after all, yeah?" Her eyes darted to each of her teammates, waiting for them to agree. Was her confidence flagging or was she being a good teammate to care what they thought, she wasn't sure.

With the hope it was the former Pepin grasped Mercury's hand leaned in close and whispered in their ear "You'll do great on this, Sam. Wonderful plan by the way" She then giggled slightly nervously and sauntered off to take a closer look at all the information and maps they had on the mission's location. The longer she stared at the data, she couldn't help but feel that with each passing moment she wasn't the beautiful outgoing woman she hoped to be. A slight frown appeared on her face, but in response she just threw herself more into memorizing everything.

[Malexia]

All-Seer's Meeting Huddle, The Dark of Night

Among the Lighthouse heroes, Lightfire seems vaguely annoyed to see the tide turning against him, but Overstorm and Helping Hand are unbothered. When your team reaches a consensus, they offer no opposition.

All-Seer takes the documents left on the table and nods. "If that's settled, let's get moving."

He leads the eight of you out onto the street, into that too-still night air and that too-quiet calm. Once you're all assembled around the sewer entrance he opens it for you. "I won't be following you inside; I'll return to our previous location and remain there to oversee operations. If you need to relay a message to the other team, simply address me by name and I'll hear it. And remember: get the intel if you can, but prioritize eliminating threats. Good luck down there, to all of you."

You file into the sewer and split up, Lighthouse going north to the main entrance while your team heads south. It doesn't take much walking to find the spot, and a cursory examination reveals the right stone brick to tap three times. The wall grinds open, and you get your first view of the villain's lair: more stone brick (detailed in the over-the-top artsy style favored at the time), the faintly-glittering gems on the walls indicating invisible arcanocrystal lasers, and a wall of grey mist that is clearly the specter ward.

The hallway before you is long, and a sharp turn at the end blocks vision of what's beyond. If there are guards (which there absolutely will be, knowing how Court villains operate), they'll be just around that turn, a pair of bored goons with strength tattoos and bad attitudes. As you get your first glimpse of the hallway, the voice of All-Seer drifts into your minds, delivered by fine-tuned telepathy.

"Point team, your counterparts have engaged the enemy. The mission is go."

And just like that, it begins.

Spoiler: Arcanocrystal

Show

Arcanocrystal lasers are a common sight in villainous lairs, especially by the Court, who are so fond of playing by the rules. Conventional lasers that trip alarms just aren't much good against superheroes, and lasers that deal lasting physical harm could face higher oversight and restrictions, so many have turned to arcanocrystal lasers, which don't harm the body but instead attack your mana directly. You could pass through the hallway without altering your path to deal with the lasers, but it might leave you at a disadvantage in the fight to come. If you want to try disabling the lasers instead, you could try searching for a hidden control panel.