Location: Center City near midnight
A titanic battle was being raged between the forces for order and chaos. A new team of heroes were attempting to bring order to Center City which for months has not known any. The Crushers had rained chaos down on its inhabitants. They were struggling to keep their hold.
WHIZ! ZIP!
Shortstop ran in and out of the streets as he evaded attack. He decided to change targets. “We can’t let Manta Man escape. It would expose our whole plan.” Shortstop thought.
{Manta Lad pretended to be Manta Man last issue fooling everybody except his teammates – helpful GM}.
Shortstop ran away from the Emerald Dragon toward who he thought was the Leader of the Crusaders. “No fair coaching from the sidelines, time to take the field!” The diminutive Crusher yelled as he threw two spiked baseballs at Manta Lad.
WHAM! WHAM!
Both baseballs struck the deceptive Manta Lad in the chest twice. The attack penetrated the Teen Techie’s lightning defense. {GM Note: The first baseball did 7 points damage; -5 PP and -2 HP. The second baseball did 8 points damage; -5 PP and -3 HP}.
“When you find a play that works, stick with it until you’re stopped” he said as he threw two more spiked baseballs at him.
WHAM! WHAM!
One of the balls struck the Manta Lad but the other missed. It ricocheted off the wall and hit Hauntress {GM Note: Rolled a 20 on the second baseball. The Hauntress had turned solid last turn to perform her Death Touch attack}.
{GM Note: The baseball did 8 points damage; -4 PP and -4 HP}.
“Ouch! Shortstop you better not hit me again or it will be your doom!” Hauntress told her fellow Crusher. Her form wavered as she become non-corporeal. She looked to Starbolt who was out of reach of her death touch. She did not turn solid but this time her arms stretch out to touch him. She grew in size. Hauntress appeared to be about to engulf him inside her ghostly body. “Come embrace the darkness of your failure and your doom.”
Starbolt was near panic as he saw her changing. Earlier she had attempted to change her appearance into the likeness of Detective Broyko. Now she was changing her body again. He almost felt her arms as they wrapped around him. Her face was aboce his as she pulled him toward the open chasm that before had been her chest.
But almost was the key. He didn’t feel her touch. He just thought he did. Starbolt realized this was an illusion. It was a projection of the Hauntress instead of Hauntress really using those powers. He was not really being drawn to a ghostly abyss but she was trying to trick his mind into believing he was. Once he realized this, his fear was gone and he was safe.
{GM Note: Hauntress cast an illusion at Starbolt and was successful on a Mind Control attack roll. Starbolt had to make his Intelligence save roll to not truly believe it. He did and realized it was an illusion}
"Starbolt, keep her pinned down, but don't let her get too close." The Black Orchid waited for Starbolt's strike.
Starbolt replied "No problem (I hope). It looks like I have been elevated to number 1 on her hate list."
Looking around briefly with the respite Starbolt provided, she looked somewhat puzzled, "Are the new arrivals friendly or not?"
Not answering her but realizing that his attack had a real effect on The Hauntress, Starbolt stepped up his attack. Towards his adversary the stellar-powered sentinel directed his comment." Hautress, while I know you have said you don't like us. There is a look in your eyes that says hate, don't worry, let me put a smile on that face and some light into your day." Starbolt let loose a blast trying to take her out.
ZWALT!
His light bolt passed harmlessly through her body.
Manta Lad fired an electrical bolt at the diminutive baseball villain.
SHAKOW!
The lightning strike hit the Shortstop. He stumbled to his knees. Trying to stand up, he fell flat on his face. He was knocked unconscious.
{GM Note: Manta Lad did 7 points of damage to Shortstop’s hit points. There was a 7% chance of being knocked unconscious and a 3 was roll on 1d100!}
Manta Lad thought “Dang! It was all over but the shouting. The new Crusaders and these vigilantes had these tools outnumbered. Time to let one bounce so we could follow him to the real Crusaders.
Except... all of them would be hard to follow! Hauntress and Vibron could chillax inside walls. And the sports victim was too fast. Letting him wake up wasn’t an option.
This meant that loser, Centurion, should be the bunny.”
The calculating kid watched the battle unfold.
The vigilante cloaked in darkness directed a telekinetic bolt at Vibron, attempting to wear down his defenses. "Time to put you back in the bedroom dresser drawer, Vibrator!" He snarled.
The TK wave passed harmlessly through Vibron.
Vibron pointed his hand at the vigilante in white with the assault rifle. “Ridiculous Rifleman, I would like you to meet the Foolish Fletcher.” Vibron closed his fist and the commando vigilante felt his body squeeze tight by an unseen force. He felt himself lifted. Vibron threw him across the road toward the top on the building to where the mysterious bowman was fighting from. The bowman dodged the vigilante of violence. The vigilante rolled on the roof top protected by his body armor.
Always the professional, the commando vigilante, seemingly unfettered by Vibron’s attack flipped his assault rifle back into ‘Safe’ and then discarded the jammed weapon. With the speed of a trained killer, He drew his two pistols, points them square at Vibron’s chest and let loose two rounds from each of them.
BLAM BLAM - BLAM BLAM!!!
The first round from each pistol stuck Vibron with their subsequent round missing. Vibron was hurt but was still standing.
The Bowman reloaded with 2 shafts, gleaming with sharpened titanium broadheads. He fired at Vibron’s legs.
THWIP! THWIP!
The first arrow passed harmlessly through Vibron’s leg. The second struck the leg. Vibron stubbed as his leg collapsed on him. He reached out both hand to balance himself and to stay standing. The stress was too much for the wounded Crusher. Vibron passed out from the pain. He collapsed to the ground.
{GM Note: On the special attack to the leg it was a 2% change for every point of damage for the leg to be disabled. Archer did 5 points of damage to hit points. With a 10% of disabling the leg a 9 was rolled on 1d100. There was a 5% chance of being KO from the damage and a 4 was rolled on 1d100!}
Centurion whispered loud enough only for Midnight Bug to hear. "Hey, buddy. There are 200 g's in it for you if you help me get out of here. I would even put in a good word for you with Mocker if joining the Crushers if that is what you want."
Midnight Bug turned his head to look at Centurion but says nothing. At the exact same moment Manta Lad put his plan into action. He wirelessly released the hold he's got on Centurion! He instructed the armor to secretly transmit a signal to him on an uncommon frequency.
Sensing his armor was under his control again, Centurion did not move. He whispered, “Don’t know how you did it but thanks. I will wait for the right moment then break for it. Next week go to the Center City Hilton. Tell the person at the desk that your name is Ima Crusher. There will a letter for you. In it will be the codes to a swiss bank account with the money.”
Black Orchid once against unleashed on the power of the vacuum on Hauntress for no effect.
Emerald Dragon was glad the irritating and obnoxious speedster had been stopped. Noting the effectiveness of one of the newcomers, the one with the bow across the way, Emerald Dragon gestured with the car he held, trying to get his attention and pointing at Hauntress. Continuing to hold the wrecked car as a shield Emerald Dragon flew in closer, and spit acid at Hauntress. Unfortunately the acid passed harmlessly through her non corporeal body.
{GM Note: Because Hauntress will have first initiative, we will move on to the next turn}
“Once again Mocker has placed his trust in fools!” She screamed in rage as she raised her hands to the sky. Her body erupted into a swarm of bats which flew at all the heroes on the field. While most figured out quickly the bats were more illusions the bats still block their vision. When the illusions were gone so were Hauntress and Centurion.
Manta Lad verified that the signal he had activated in Centurion’s armor was still working.
Detective Broyko contacted the team to inform them the Task Force had found the incapacitated Crater. She was safely in custody.
<Due Date: November 19st, Actions? Replies?>
{GM Note: I will be on business travel Nov 7th to Nov 11th, so I will be slow in responding to email. We will be celebrating my son’s birthday that weekend and Nov 14th to 16th I will be a volunteer on his 5th grade trip to Sky Ranch Family Camp so I won’t be checking email at all then. That is why the due date is longer than normal.}
Current Conditions:
Black Orchid Hit Points: 30 Power Points: 78 Willpower Defense active
Emerald Dragon Hit Points: 76 Power Points: 67 Acid Breath: 26 Doses
Manta Lad Hit Points: 11 Power Points: 37 Luck Points Pool: 0 Lightning Defense active
Starbolt Hit Points: 34 Power Points: 72
Midnight Bug Hit Points: 34 Power Points: 75
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Manta Lad:
Dang! It was all over but the shouting. The new Crusaders (and Street Patrol!) had these tools outnumbered. Time to let one bounce so we could follow him to the real Crusaders.
Except... all of them would be hard to follow! Hauntress and Vibron could chillax inside walls. And the sports victim was too fast to tail.
This meant that loser, Centurion, should be the bunny.
The calculating kid hung back and watched the battle unfold.
OOC:
Manta Lad holds his action till the end of this turn. Unless any heroes (or bystanders) are in mortal danger, in that case, Manta Lad will immediately come to their aid.
If that doesn't happen, then...
If any villains are still conscious and fighting at the end of this turn, Manta Lad will blast them with electricity, ideally without them knowing where the attack was coming from.
BUT!
If all the villains are down at the end of this issue, Manta Lad will wirelessly release the hold he's got on Centurion! AND he'll have the armor secretly transmit a signal to an uncommon frequency.
With any luck, Centurion will flee back to Mocker, unaware that he was transmitting a signal that the techy teen could track!
Best,
Jeff
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Starbolt
Realizing that his attack had a real effect on The Hauntress, Starbolt will step up his attack. Towards his adversary the stellar-powered sentinel directs his comment." Hautress, while I know you have said you don't like us. There is a look in your eyes that says hate, don't worry, let me put a smile on that face and some light into your day." Starbolt lets loose a blast trying to take her out.
OOC: While Starbolt will concentrate on the Hauntress, he will continue to ensure that he keeps innocents safe, and assists his teammates as needed. He will keep his eyes on the newcomers as well.
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Black Orchid
"Starbolt, keep her pinned down, but don't let her get too close." The Black Orchid will wait for Starbolt's strike. If it doesn't take her down then she'll strike again as well.
Looking around briefly with the respite Starbolt provided, she looks somewhat puzzled, "Are the new arrivals friendly or not?"
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Emerald Dragon
IC: Irritated at the obnoxious speedster and knowing without some level of coordination that he will be able to avoid being struck Emerald Dragon speaks into the comm to his fellow Crusaders "Those of you who are free, coordinate and attack with me on my mark. Perhaps multiple simultaneous strikes will put our baseball-happy friend down." Noting the effectiveness of one of the newcomers, the one with the bow across the way, Emerald Dragon gestures with the car he holds, trying to get his attention and pointing at Shortstop. Continuing to hold the wrecked car as a shield Emerald Dragon will fly in closer, and spit acid at Shortstop simultaneous with any attacks launched at him.
OOC: So I am not sure how exactly to coordinate the attack but I am trying it like that. If he does get away he won't get away, I am betting Emerald Dragon can fly faster than Shortstop can run. Hopefully we can coordinate an attack on him however. It is a shame no one has Force field as that person could erect a force bubble around Shortstop. As far as prejudices are concerned given his own appearance Emerald Dragon is willing to let a person's actions speak for them rather than making a snap judgment.
Jan
OOC: So I am not sure how exactly to coordinate the attack but I am trying it like that. If he does get away he won't get away, I am betting Emerald Dragon can fly faster than Shortstop can run. Hopefully we can coordinate an attack on him however. It is a shame no one has Force field as that person could erect a force bubble around Shortstop. As far as prejudices are concerned given his own appearance Emerald Dragon is willing to let a person's actions speak for them rather than making a snap judgment.
Jan
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Archer
Noting the effectiveness of one of the newcomers, the one with the bow across the way, Emerald Dragon gestures with the car he holds, trying to get his attention and pointing at Shortstop
"effectiveness"?
Tom . . . I hereby nominate Mr. Novak for the Sportsmanship Award. Although I think we might disagree on the definition of effective, Archer will definitely have Dragon's back after this Turn had passed.
Enjoying the Crusader adventures guys
John/Archer
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Starbolt
Starbolt replies "No problem (I hope). It looks like I have been elevated to number 1 on her hate list."
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