Location: Above Center City in a Megalopolis PD Helicopter near midnight
Broyko continued the briefing. “The only patrol car we have heard from is the one that Dr. Morrow is in. It had not been a target of the first part of the ambush so it split off from the other two cars. It was ambushed later by Crushers. The identified attackers are Hauntress, Manstar, Shortstop, Crater, and Centurion. The patrol car was disabled. Fortunately Dr. Morrow was able to prevent their taking him by inventing a gadget on the spot. They are currently protected by it. Our ETA is less than half a minute to their location. Most of you can get their faster on your own. How to you want to do this?”
At that time the scanner on the Helicopter picked up a transmission which was heard throughout the Helicopter. “Sam, this is Centurion. Dr. Morrow has created a force field within the patrol car. We can’t get him out. Collect your trash ASAP. We will need to bring the whole freakin car back to the Citadel using your truck.”
Det. Broyko looked out the front of the helicopter. “It would be faster if you flew there from here. All your flight speeds are faster than the helicopter is when it is carrying this much weight.”
Manta Lad wanted to get a plan going before the heroes leave the copter. "Wait! What do we know about these creeps? And, um... can any of you, like, lift a car?"
"Sorry," The Black Orchid shakes her head, "I don't really know anything more than any of you do about these villains, and lifting cars is a bit out of my league. If one you fliers want to carry me, however, I'll bet we can get to the crime scene quicker than a helicopter as Det. Broyko suggested.”
Starbolt said "I'm strong, but nowhere near that strong. I can provide a lift to someone who needs it." He paused for a second before continuing on, "I think that we can agree that our first priority must be to get the Dr. to safety as quickly as possible before engaging the villains. Who do we feel has the best chance to get the Doctor to safety the fastest? We should come up with a plan as quickly as possible so that we can get going."
Manta Lad said, "Maybe Dragon could fly the car out of there?"
Emerald Dragon leaned forward from his position in the helicopter. He said with a wide grin, which looked vaguely unsettling on his face; "Of course I can fly a car out of there. I can also fly something in there if need be or at the least carry someone. If it is a fight when we get there who does everyone think I should focus on?"
Emerald Dragon leaned forward from his position in the helicopter. He said with a wide grin, which looked vaguely unsettling on his face; "Of course I can fly a car out of there. I can also fly something in there if need be or at the least carry someone. If it is a fight when we get there who does everyone think I should focus on?"
"I could obscure the car in darkness, making the occupants less likely to be the target of a sniper. I will still need to let Emerald Dragon see to fly, however, so I couldn't make it too big." The Black Orchid looked around. "OK, who needs to be carried? Me and Phade here. Starbolt, I'll go with you so that you can get me there quickly so I can set up a field of darkness and hopefully get in the car. Then Emerald Dragon can swoop down and pick it up. What do you guys think?" The Black Orchid looked at them eagerly.
Phade told the team that he could open a portal in darkness. He just had to know it was safe on the other side. If Starbolt and Black Orchid flew close enough to enclose the patrol car in darkness, he could open a portal. Emerald Dragon could travel through the portal pick up the patrol car and carry it back. That would prevent his being spotted getting there.
"Cool! If we don't fight these Crushers, but instead, like, fake'em out and make em think we're only here to save the police car, we could leave with the car and sneak back and follow the Crushers to the Crusaders!" Manta Lad said all in one breath.
Det. Broyko finished pulling up the data on the villains. “Hauntress was the Shrew before she died. She is back now as Hauntress. She can control darkness, move through floors and walls. It is rumored she is able to scare a person to death. This is the original Shrew not the one you fought at the warehouse. That is Shrew II.”
“Manstar has the power to control flames. He can raise the temperature to melt items on the spot. He can fly as well.
“Centurion is another one using stolen power armor. They all have Armor, Flight, and Power Blast right?
“Crater can fly and has a blast of some type
“Shortstop is a baseball player kicked out of MLB for taking MHGH (Meta Human Growth Hormones). He is short and very fast.
“Sam the trucker we don’t know. The other cars were hit by an Ice Cream Truck and a Garbage Truck. I would guess that Sam is the driver of one of those vehicles.”
The helicopter land about 500 feet away from the ambush location. The Heroes exited the Helicopter except for Manta Lad who was going to monitor the Crusher’s communications as they executed the plan.
Phade and Emerald Dragon set themselves up in their location signaling to Starbolt and Black Orchid they were ready. Starbolt picked up Black Orchid. They streaked into the sky disappearing into the darkness sooner than was normal. Phade signaled to Black Orchid, Starbolt, and Manta Lad he could sense Black Orchid’s darkness from the natural darkness of this time of night.
Seconds felt like minutes as they past. Phade focused his mind. A portal opened in front of him. Manta Lad called that he wasn’t picking up any sign that the Crushers had spotted the Black Orchid’s darkness sphere. Emerald Dragon stepped into the portal. It felt like he was walking through a waterfall but instead of being wet. He felt tingly.
Emerald Dragon started to feel for the patrol car when he noticed a light. Starbolt was two feet ahead. He had a one finger glowing. It was producing enough light for them to see by but not strong enough to escape the darkness sphere. The reptilian powerhouse stepped to the patrol car and picked it up.
“Uggh!” Black Orchid groaned. She bent over grabbing her head. Sweat appeared on her brow.
They heard a voice from outside the sphere. A voice from the grave. A voice that fear and death followed. “Someone dares to control darkness in my presence? You dare steal from me?”
The darkness sphere dispersed in a gust of wind and fury.
Before them was the Hauntress.
{GM Note: Both Hauntress and Black Orchid control darkness. The Crushers were prepared for a Superhero attack. Because of her power she could sense the presence of the darkness sphere. She attacked the sphere to disperse it. I used the “Mind Control – Charisma vs” to hit on the combat chart to determine her chances. She succeeded}
Back at the helicopter, Manta Lad heard. “Centurion, this is Vibron. You were correct in stationing look-outs in all directions. There was a hero following us from the other ambush sight. I am engaging”.
“Roger, that Vibron, we have 3 more here. Happy Hunting.”
{GM Notes: Characters are not exactly to scale so do use to compare sizes to each other. Emerald Dragon has the patrol car lifted up. The blue circle is the force field that is protecting Dr. Morrow and the officers. The redish circle is Phade’s portal. It doesn’t always look this way, the dispersal of the darkness affected its coloring but otherwise it is unharmed.}
<Due Date: August 31th, Actions? Replies?>
Current Conditions:
Black Orchid Hit Points: 30 Power Points: 87 Willpower Defense active
Emerald Dragon Hit Points: 81 Power Points: 98 Acid Breath: 27 Doses
Manta Lad Hit Points: 20 Power Points: 69 Luck Points Pool: 2
Phade Hit Points: 17 Power Points: 58 Invulnerability: 8
Starbolt Hit Points: 34 Power Points: 75
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Black Orchid
Great job Tom! They're sounding more seamless than ever.
- Marc
- Marc
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Manta Lad
Manta Lad wants to get a plan going before the heroes leave the copter.
"Wait! What do we know about these creeps?"
He'll share whatever he knows about Sam the trucker, Hauntress, Manstar, Shortstop, Crater and Centurion.
He'll ask Broyko and the heroes if they know anything.
The techy teen will use his smartphone to Google more info about the villains.
"And, um.. can any of you, like, lift a car?"
Best,
Jeff
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Black Orchid
"Sorry," The Black Orchid shakes her head, "I don't really know anything more than any of you do about these villains, and lifting cars is a bit out of my league. If one you fliers want to carry me, however, I'll bet we can get to the crime scene quicker than a car as Det. Broyko suggested.
- Marc
- Marc
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GM
Det. Broyko replied to Manta Lad.
“Hauntress was the Shrew before she died. She is back now as Hauntress. She can control darkness, move through floors and walls. It is rumored she is able to scare a person to death.
“Manstar has the power to control flames. He can raise the temperature to melt items on the spot. He can fly as well.
“Centurion is another one using stolen power armor. They all have Armor, Flight, and Power Blast right?
“Crater can fly and has a blast of some type
“Shortstop is a baseball player kicked out of MLB for taking MHGH (Meta Human Growth Hormones). He is short and very fast.
“Sam the trucker we don’t know. The other cars were hit by an Ice Cream Truck and a Garbage Truck. I would guess that Sam is the driver of one of those vehicles.”
Regards,
Tom
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Starbolt
Starbolt says "I'm strong, but nowhere near that strong. I can provide a lift to someone who needs it." Pausing for a second before continuing on, "I think that we can agree that our first priority must be to get the Dr. to safety as quickly as possible before engaging the villains. Who do we feel has the best chance to get the Doctor to safety the fastest?" "We should come up with a plan as quickly as possible so that we can get going."
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Manta Lad
Manta Lad said, "Maybe Dragon could fly the car out of there?"
The winged wonder will fly there with the other heroes if it's faster than the copter.
The winged wonder will fly there with the other heroes if it's faster than the copter.
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GM
Yes, it faster than the Copter. If Black Orchid and Phade stay in the copter, it will arrive on Phase 5 on the next issue, if combat is initiated.
Best,
Tom
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Manta Lad
OOC
The same Shrew that ML fought?
The same Shrew that ML fought?
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GM Reply
No, the Shrew at Manning Enterprises was Shrew II.
Hauntress was Shrew I aka the original Shrew.
The first Shrew was an ex-boxer and the second Shrew is an ex-wrestler.
I did use the same artwork for Shrew II which was for the original Shrew.
Best,
Tom
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Emerald Dragon
IC: Emerald Dragon steps up after listening to all the info shared by Manta Lad. If there is any additional info he may know he will share it. He says with a wide grin, which looks vaguely unsettling on his face; "Of course I can fly a car out of there. I can also fly something in there if need be or at the least carry someone. If it is a fight when we get there who does everyone think I should focus on?"
Emerald Dragon also looks for something he could use as an efficient bludgeon; a sledgehammer, a piece of rebar, whatever.
OOC: Sorry, am up in the mountains on vacation and internet has been spotty. Also had the fun of breaking my thumb yesterday.....wheee. But anyhow here it is. :-)
Jan
Emerald Dragon also looks for something he could use as an efficient bludgeon; a sledgehammer, a piece of rebar, whatever.
OOC: Sorry, am up in the mountains on vacation and internet has been spotty. Also had the fun of breaking my thumb yesterday.....wheee. But anyhow here it is. :-)
Jan
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Black Orchid
"Also, I could obscure the car in darkness, making the occupants less likely to be the target of a sniper. I will still need to let Emerald Dragon see to fly, however, so I couldn't make it too big." The Black Orchid looks around. "OK, who needs to be carried? Me, is Phade here? Meltdown is still gone, right? Starbolt, I'll go with you so that you can get me there quickly so I can set up a field of darkness and hopefully get in the car. Then Emerald Dragon can swoop down and pick it up. What do you guys think?" The Black Orchid looks at them eagerly.
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Manta Lad
"Cool! If we don't fight these Crushers, but instead, like, fake'em out and make em think we're only here to save the police car, we could leave with the car and sneak back and follow the Crushers to the Crusaders!" Manta Lad said all in one breath.
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