{Location: Everglades Florida}
The New Crusaders were following a lead on the
theft of chemicals from the U.S. Military. It led them to a small island within
the Swamp. There they were attacked by Swamp Rat and Sludge. The New Crusaders defeated
the Swamp Fiends.
“No! I can’t go back! ARRGH! The dimensional
being that inhabited the mud creature was forcefully sent back to its home
dimension in a crescendo of pain and anguish.
Manta Man flew over and joined the others as
Black Orchid dissipated her darkness silhouettes. He said “Wow I am glad that
is over. As far as traps go that was a doozy.”
“StrikeForce, we don’t have time for me to
fully recover so I want you to maintain tactical command.”
Manta Man looked the rest of the New
Crusaders. “We must be on the right track because the villains set a trap for
us. What do you think our next steps should be?”
Looking around at his teammates StrikeForce
asked, "So after we turn in the swamp rat, where do you want to proceed
next? I'm thinking Tank Gunner should be next on our next target."
Manta Man of the New Crusaders contacted the
military base he found out that Tank Gunner had not reported back to the base
and was consider AWOL.
"You ok, MM?" The Skink asked,
Manta-Man replied, "I am banged up but
will survive."
The Skink had asked in between speed
inspecting the swamp boat, and looking close at the pieces of sludge with his
thermo vision. "What's next?"
Manta-Man looked at the other New Crusaders,
"That is a very good question. Any ideas?"
When Skink inspected the swamp boat, there
were scrapes on the bottom on the boat that suggested that this was the boat
used in the theft at the military base. He couldn't be sure without a thorough
study with scientific equipment but he knew his senses were right.
Examining the pieces of sludge revealed as
mud from this region; there were bits of bone and flies in the mud. Skink
remembered one of his lessons from Dr Harris, his "Dad". This was a coffin fly, Coricera tibialis was
its scientific name. This mud had come from a grave site.
"Give me a minute", Adamas said having
launched himself into the air.
Adamas used the height, and his vision powers
to search for the bird they followed to the hut... “No way to track a boat, but it's not a long
range vehicle”, he thought. The Alien
Powerhouse looked around for anything unusual nearby, reporting what he saw
back to the group.
From his height Adamas could easily see the
surrounding area. He couldn't find the bird. He wasn't sure if it’s because he
couldn’t tell it apart from similar looking birds or if the bird wasn't flying
or sat on any of the branches.
Adamas saw there were Indians coming and going
from the village to ancient Indian burial grounds. It appeared they were
working. He looked to see if the archaeologist Karen Morgan was leading them
but he didn't see her. Adamas did spot an Indian boy in the trees and bushes
watching the Indians work {GM Note:
successful perception roll}.
Adamas saw the Old Coot's cabin. The Swamp
goat was outside his cabin fishing.
Adamas didn't see Tank Gunner anywhere.
The Black Orchid breathed a sigh of relief
that Manta Man and the rest of the team were OK. Musing on the Skink’s comment
she said “A grave site? Did we see a grave site in the village when we were
there?”
Adamas heard Black Orchids question as he
landed nearby.
"The burial ground is nearby, I saw some
Indians working there. There was a boy watching
them."
Black Orchid said “I don’t know what other
information we have on Tank Gunner right now. Is there a way for us to
interrogate this joker before we turn him in?”
StrikeForce checked on Swamp Rat. He found
that the Swamp Rat was incapacitated. The New Crusaders would have to attempt
to wake him up first before they could question him. StrikeForce didn’t believe
the villain was in any physical condition to be questioned today.
“Should we drop him off with Lt. Nash, and
check out the burial mounds?” The Bionic Brawler said.
"I agree. It's not worth it to wait for
him to wake up. The graveyard looks to be our most immediate lead, especially
if that thing was 'summoned' and the people who did so are still there."
Black Orchid replied.
Manta Man asked “How do you approach the
graveyard, the Indian workers, and/or the Indian boy?”
Adamas said, “The boy.”
“I say the boy as well. Adamas are you going
to fly in while the rest of us walk up?” StrikeForce asked.
Adamas replied “It looked like he was hiding,
maybe Orchid should go in first... he might be less likely to bolt from her.”
"I'd be willing to try to talk to the
boy, especially if you think I might be less startling to him." Black
Orchid said.
“Sounds good to me” said StrikeForce.
"How does this look?"
The Black Orchid took off her mask and gloves
and created a fairly form-fitting darkness to look as much like street clothes
as possible - a turtleneck and black jeans. "As long as I stay in the
shade, it shouldn't look too out of place."
"It looks pretty weird, I don’t know if
some kid is going to fall for that." The Skink said.
Manta Man said, “I think Black Orchid’s goal
is to appear none threatening not to trick the boy in some way.”
“Excuse me, I know you’ve seen superheroes
running around and swamp creatures, but here I’m this swamp beatnik!"
Manta Man laughed.
"No, we should just ask these folks
straight out. They know we're here. These other creeps have been here for who
knows how long, causing all kinds of what. They'll welcome the help getting rid
of bums like Tank Gunner, or that dirtbag Spyder if he's involved."
Manta Man said, “I know you think everyone
wants them gone but you will be surprised how many don’t. Somehow they gain
allies that will protect them. I think that is why Tank Gunner was always the
first to volunteer to bring the relief supplies to the Indians.”
“It appears the Inhuman League have not
disclosed themselves. It was StrikeForce who discovered Tank Gunner on the
military base. The Army had no clue he was there.”
“The Department of Defense called us here
because unknown thieves had robbed their base, not because the Inhuman League
has attacked them. If that had happened, they would have called all of the
Super Forces to deal with it and not us. While the Super Forces can handle
super powered squad level combat, they can’t investigate within a civilian
population like we can.”
“Who should open the dialogue with them?”
StrikeForce asked, “Adamas has the highest public profile being with the Super
Forces, then Guardians, and now with us, but who gives us the best chance of
success?”
“I thought she would have a better chance of
going unnoticed than a group would.
Maybe she could get some information about what's been going on
here. I'm pretty sure that "Swamp
Thing" came from that burial ground, so maybe the kid knows something.”
“It'd be nice to not get blown up again.”
Adamas said.
“I'm not a fan of getting blown up either.”
StrikeForce agreed.
Everyone agreed that Black Orchid’s plan was
the best plan suggested.
The New Crusaders took Swamp Rat to Detective
Nash. Detective Nash thanked them and provided information of where and when
they could interview Swamp Rat tomorrow, if they wanted.
The New Crusaders went to the path of the
Burial Mound. There Black Orchid removed her mask and gloves and covered
herself in the “darkness clothes” as she had before.
When she approached the boy, realized she
knew him. It was John Croaker, the Indian boy she had talked to at the village.
The boy that the doctor has falsely claimed had been attacked by a panther. John
had claimed ardently that he had been attacked.
Since she had already met him, Black Orchid
put back on her mask and gloves, dropping the “darkness clothes”.
“John,” Black Orchid said, “what are you
doing hiding out here in the trees?”
Looking intently at her, he said, “I think I
dimly remember you. The last few days or weeks are only a clouded memory to me,
but when my ‘sight’ was clear again, I knew that something was not right at the
reservation. You see, this black panther tale, I think, is not a real memory. I
think somehow it was put in my mind.”
“I have been trying to figure out why. I
think it is something the Shaman has been doing at night at the Burial Grounds.
That is why I am here. I am trying to figure out what it is they are taking
from the Burial Grounds to the Burial Mounds. … shh, they are coming …
Black
Orchid and the New Crusaders from where they were located could all see the
path into the woods back towards the village. The Shaman and 8 other Indians
emerged from the woods and walk towards the middle of the Burial Grounds. The 8
Indians carry four boxes, 2 per box. The boxes could vaguely be made out to
appear to be coffins. They sat the boxes down at the command of the Shaman. The
Indians began to dig.
“Strange”, John Croaker said, “They do not
bury here anymore.”
{GM
Note: From this point on the New Crusaders can interrupt the action at any time
they please. Please let me know where that is when it occurs. If you don’t
interrupt, keep reading to the end.}
After several long minutes, the Indians cease
digging and the Shaman looked up and gazed searchingly around the area, as if
he was making sure that they were unobserved. Appearing satisfied, he commanded
the Indians again.
Form the holes dug, four bodies were lifted
out and put into the coffins. Shaman led the Indians to the Burial Mound.
John Croaker stood up from where he was
hiding. His bodied stiffened and he appeared to not see Black Orchid anymore. A
few tense seconds later, his body relaxed. He pushed the bushes aside stepping
onto the path. John walked up the path to the Burial Mound.
{GM
Note: if you are still waiting then the New Crusaders can follow John and will see/know
everything written next.}
John walked down into the Burial Mound
entrance, into a large chamber. He passed a pair of large wooden statues. These
are both old and had no hidden meaning beyond their obvious archeological
interest.
John walked along one side of the chamber
until he reached the entrance to a smaller chamber. It had been hidden from
view before. John entered into the smaller chamber.
In the chamber the Shaman was performing an
ancient incantation. There were the eerie sounds of drums as if from beyond
this world. Storm Clouds were appearing and growing at the top of the small
chamber. Below the clouds was the source of the drumming, an Indian spirit was
beating its tom-tom. There were 3 other spirits with it.
<Turns
and Actions due February 19th>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
IC: Looking around at his teammates StrikeForce
asks, "So after we turn in the swamp rat, where do you want to proceed
next? I'm thinking Tank Gunner should be next on our next target."
OOC: I just want to start spitballing some
ideas.
Jamey
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"You ok, MM?" The skink asked, in
between speed inspecting the swamp boat, and looking close at the pieces of
sludge with his thermo vision. "What's next?"
Chuck
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Reminder, turns are due today.
So far StrikeForce has suggested hunting down
Tank Gunner. There hasn't been any other suggestions or agreement with
StrikeForce's idea. When the New Crusaders contact the military base they will
find out that Tank Gunner has not reported back to the base and is consider
AWOL.
Reminder, so far:
The New Crusaders were told that Tank Gunner
was in the Village but no one saw or meet him there.
They meet several people in the village. The
Shaman suggested they talk with the old Coot in the swamp
The Swamp Goat suggested they follow a bird.
The bird led the New Crusaders to an island
which appeared the thieves used.
The Island Hut was booby trapped, set by
Swamp Rat and Sludge.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Tom
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Manta-Man replied, "I am banged up but
will survive."
"What's next?"
Manta-Man looked at the other New Crusaders,
"That is a very good question. Any ideas?"
When Skink inspected the swamp boat, there
were scrapes on the bottom on the boat that suggested that this was the boat
used in the theft at the military base. He couldn't be sure without a thorough
study with scientific equipment but he knew his senses were right.
Examining the pieces of sludge revealed as
mud from this region; there were bits of bone and flies in the mud. Skink
remembered one of his lessons from Dr Harris, his "Dad". This was a coffin fly, Coricera tibialis was
its scientific name. This mud had come from a grave site.
Thanks
Tom
---------------------------------------------------------------------
"Give me a minute", Adamas says
launching himself into the air.
Adamas will use height, and his vision powers
to search for the bird they followed to the hut... no way to track a boat, but it's not a long
range vehicle. He'll look around for
anything unusual nearby, and report back to the group.
Jon
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
From his height Adamas could easily see the
surrounding area. He couldn't find the bird. He wasn't sure if its because he
can't tell it apart from similar looking birds or if the bird isn't flying or
sitting on any branches.
Adamas saw there are Indians coming and going
from the village to ancient Indian burial grounds. It appeared they are
working. He looked to see if the archaeologist Karen Morgan was leading them
but he didn't see her. Adamas did spot an Indian boy in the trees and bushes
watching the Indians work (successful perception roll).
Adamas saw the Old Coot's cabin. The Swamp
goat was outside his cabin fishing.
Adamas didn't see Tank Gunner anywhere.
Tom
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Black Orchid breathes a sigh of relief
that Manta Man and the rest of the team are OK. Musing on the Skink’s comment
she says “A grave site? Did we see a grave site in the village when we were
there?”
“I don’t know what other information we have
on Tank Gunner right now. Is there a way for us to interrogate this joker
before we turn him in?”
Marc
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Adamas hears Black Orchids question as he
lands nearby.
"The burial ground is nearby, I saw some
Indians working there. There was a boy
watching them."
Jon
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Swamp Rat is incapacitated. You will have to
attempt to wake him up first before you can question him.
If you drop him off with Lt. Nash, Swamp Rat
can be questioned tomorrow (because he needs 1 night to recover 1 healing rate
of Hit Points)
Thanks
Tom
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Should we drop him off with Lt. Nash, and
check out the burial mounds?
Jamey
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"I agree. It's not worth it to wait for
him to wake up. The graveyard looks to be our most immediate lead, especially
if that thing was 'summoned' and the people who did so are still there."
Marc
----------------------------------------------------------------------
How do you approach the graveyard, the Indian
workers, and/or the Indian boy?
Thanks
Tom
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I say the boy...
Jon
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I will say the boy as well. Is Adamas going
to fly in while the rest of us walk up?
Jamey
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
It looked like he was hiding, maybe Orchid
should go in first... he might be less likely to bolt from her.
Jon
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"I'd be willing to try to talk to the
boy, especially if you think I might be less startling to him."
Marc
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sounds good to me.
Jamey
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"How does this look?"
The Black Orchid takes off her mask and
gloves and creates a fairly form-fitting darkness to look as much like street
clothes as possible - a turtleneck and black jeans.
"As long as I stay in the shade, it
shouldn't look too out of place."
Marc
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"It looks pretty weird, I don’t know if
some kid is going to fall for that."
“Excuse
me, I know you’ve seen superheroes running around and swamp creatures, but here
I’m this swamp beatnik!" "No, we should just ask these folks straight
out. They know we're here. These other creeps have been here for who knows how
long, causing all kinds of what. They'll welcome the help getting rid of bums
like Tank Gunner, or that dirtbag Spyder if he's involved."
Chuck
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
OOC: Who should open the dialogue with them?
Adamas has the highest charisma, but who gives us the best chance of success?
Jamey
---------------------------------------------------------------------
I thought she would have a better chance of
going unnoticed that a group would.
Maybe she could get some information about what's been going on
here. I'm pretty sure that "Swamp
Thing" came from that burial ground, so maybe the kid knows something.
It'd be nice to not get blown up again.
Jon
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm not a fan of getting blown up either.
Jamey
----------------------------------------------------------------------
