{Location: Everglades Florida, the Base of the Chemical
Thieves}
Last
Turn
“That will be enough of that.” Psi-Prime said
as his eyes glowed. “You are powerful Adamas. Definitely the most powerful
opponent I have ever faced. Obviously my coins will have little impact of you
if you are able to rip my base apart like you just did.”
“I think I am going to have to extend my
powers beyond normal in order to stop you.” The glow around Psi-Prime’s eyes
expanded to encompass his entire head. A blast of physic energy unleashed from
the Super Scientist striking Adamas’ brain with full force. The Diamond Dynamo
resisted as best as he could but failed.
Adamas failed. He fell unconscious to the
floor.
None of the New Crusaders are on level C.
Therefore they don’t know what is happening there.
The guard moved toward the other Prime
Squaddies. He fired his pistol at StrikeForce. His shot missed.
Level A
Evergreen stepped out of the elevator. “So
this is where those who would destroy nature have chosen to hide. You cannot
hide within the very thing you seek to destroy and you cannot hide from me!”
She raised her arms and twirled them in a circular fashion. Within 5 seconds
she lowered her arms to point at guards One and Two. From outside the base the
plant life on the island grew and twisted together. Shaping themselves into
giant vines, as they stretched through the hole leading into the base; the plants
moved toward the two guards.
Across the floor the animated plant life
twitches and jerked as it reached out for the guards. They entwined and snare
the guards within the branches and trunks which comprised the summoned growing
animated plants. It had successfully grabbed the two guards in its constricting
grasp.
Viewing Level C on the Security Screens, Manta-Man
said, “We have company coming, get ready New Crusaders!”
When they switched to level D they saw a lone
figure standing and looking down at Adamas. This had to be the Psi-Prime they
had heard speaking over the intercom. He wasn’t wearing the costume of Dr. Velo
but Dr. Wildman thought the super scientist looked about the same size and
build as Dr. Velo.
Switching the cameras to level E they saw
Adamas lying unconscious in the water filled floor next to the broken Water Purifier
Unit. Manta-Man noticed a side tunnel in the wall not far from Adamas.
Dr. Wildman found which switch turned the
camera to the tunnel on Level E. He switched over to the end of the tunnel.
What they saw were two missiles in launch
bays. The missiles were inactive.
“So that is how Psi-Prime is going to deliver
the chemicals. He is going to contaminate the oceans.” Manta-Man said.
This
Turn
On Level E
[13] Adamas dreamed of large women. One woman
more than others; Maxima was her name.
{GM
Note: Adamas failed his wake up roll}
Level A
[12] Skink held his action. He waited for the
Inhuman League to arrive.
[ 9] TicToc attacked Thomas, the Prime
Squadron guard. He bit down on the torso of the guard. Thomas grunted in pain
as the giant crocodile’s teeth penetrated his armored vest.
[6] Manta-Man flew through the hole in the
floor. He went down until he arrived at Level E. He attempted to wake up
Adamas. Manta-Man decided an electric shock would be the fastest way to revive
him.
ZAP!
Adamas woke up. Manta-Man said in his comm.,
“Adamas is awake. Let’s get ‘im New Crusaders.”
Manta-Man quickly briefed Adamas on all that
the New Crusaders knew about the base and mini-sub.
Level D
[5] Psi-Prime walked away from where he stood
over Adamas and Manta-Man. He had to get his plan into action before the New
Crusaders could stop it. He went to the room where his links computers were. Psi-Prime
worked on his computer console. An alarm sounded continuously and a red light
strobe on all floors. A computer voice came over the loud speaker.
Launch sequence has commenced. Man your stations!
Man your Stations! Launch will commence in 120 seconds.
119
118
117
…
{GM
Note: Each turn is 10 seconds. The players have 12 turns to stop the 2 missiles
from launching. This is the 1st turn.}
Level A
[5] Next Dr. Wildman and Manta-Man switched
the camera to level C. “There’s the Inhuman League”, Manta-Man said. “I
recognize Spyder and Tank Gunner. I don’t know who the winged woman or the
alligator man is.”
They watched the winged woman fly into the
elevator shaft.
Dr Wildman looked away from the screen and
stole a glance around the room, rapidly assessing the situation. It took
moments but years of survival training had taught him that if you are going to
act, act decisively.
"Well it's time to deal with
this...Inhuman League then." He announced to no one in particular and then
he starts singing!
"You were working as a waitress in a
cocktail bar
When I met you
I picked you out, I shook you up
And turned you around
Turned you into someone new"
As he started this first refrain he looked at
TicToc and mystically pulsed "There is another reptile coming to dominate
your territory." He then impressed the image of the Aligator-man on
TicToc's consciousness. The 15' bull crocodile gave a throaty roar of challenge
swinging his tail from side to side.
"Now five years later on you've got the
world at your feet
Success has been so easy for you
But don't forget it's me who put you where
you are now
And I can put you back down too."
Still singing he moved towards the elevator,
breaking from song: "Excuse me ladies!" as he passed Evergreen and
walked into the elevator.
"Don't. Don't you want me?
You know I can't believe it when I hear that
you won't see me"
"Going down" With a gesture Dr
Wildman pressed the button and the doors began to close
"SIZE OF AN ELEPHANT!" was heard as
the doors close and there was a bright nimbus of green energy that shined
through the retreating crack of the elevator doors. The song continued but in a
much deeper, strangely pitched voice...almost as if sung by an elephant stuck
in a lift, were that possible!
"DON'T, DON'T YOU WANT ME?
YOU KNOW I DON'T BELIEVE YOU WHEN YOU SAY
THAT YOU DON'T NEED ME"
And the gears and mechanisms of the lift began
to creak under strain of more weight than it was designed to carry!
SNAP!
A cable holding the elevator gave way. Safety
measures designed to keep the elevator car from free falling to the bottom of
the shaft engaged. They strained and groaned from holding the extreme weight
but held they did.
{GM
Note: I decided the best way to figure out how long the elevator would hold
before free falling to the bottom was for the Elevator to have to perform a
Strength save against Dr. Wildman the Elephant Man’s Mass. This was a 2d6 vs
d6+d8 roll. The Elevator rolled 9 and Dr Wildman rolled 6. So the Elevator held
for 10 seconds. Next turn I will lower the Elevators Strength dice 1 level to
represent its weakening. Next turn the Strength save roll will be d10+1 vs
d6+d8.}
[4] Evergreen turned to face Commander
Schmidt of the Prime Squadron. The animated plants under her control lifted the
two Prime Squadron Squaddies up into the air. Oscar and Tyrone called to Thomas
and Commander Schmidt for help. The animated plants carried their two captives
with them through the opening in the ceiling. The plants had receded back to
where they came from with the prisoners in their grip.
Evergreen said, “Surrender Commander, there
is no way you will survive. Your master won’t keep his promises and we are
going to stop him anyway. Save yourself a lot of pain and just give up.”
Commander Schmidt said, “Never! Psi-Prime is
going to control the world and I have already staked my claim to my piece as
the Commander of the Prime Squadron.”
Evergreen removed a thorn from her costume.
She attacked the Commander.
Slash!
She sliced opened Schmidt’s shoulder with the
thorn. The wound ooze as the venom from the thorn entered her opponent’s body.
Commander Schmidt grimace in pain. “I
recognize that venom. I too have been to the Lost Lands. I made friends with a
Shaman there who gave me a potion which made me immune to that venom. It came
at a high price but it was worth not to ever experience the horrifying
hallucinations that venom brings.”
{GM
Note: Commander Schmidt roll a 1 on his d20 save roll, twice! I decided
critical success would be immunity to the venom.}
[3] Commander Schmidt shot his pistol at
Evergreen
BLAM!
The bullet struck Evergreen in the shoulder.
She grunted and rolled with the damage.
{GM
Note: 4 points of damage from the gunshot. Evergreen rolled with all 4, -4 PP}
[3] Above level A, outsider the base, the New
Crusaders could hear gunshots being fired. It was Prime Squadron guards Oscar
and Tyrone attempting to free themselves from Evergreen’s animated plants.
[3] Prime Squadron guard Thomas fired at the
charmed crocodile. His gunshot missed.
[2] Black Orchid was surprised to hear that
Adamas had been down. She looked for the ‘company’ that was coming but not
seeing anyone she decided to vacuum blast Commander Schmidt.
ZUMPT!
Commander Schmidt shuttered from the immense
cold of the vacuum blast as it drained energy from his body. He slumped over
greatly drained but he was still not fatigue and could fight on.
[1] Skink decided the Inhuman League was not
going to arrive soon. He attacked the nearest Prime Squad guard to him. He
struck Thomas with his claws.
Slash!
Skink’s claws ripped through the squaddies
protective armor. Thomas fell to the ground incapacitated.
On Level C
[4] Alligator prepared to leap two floors
onto level A. He miss judged the distance and he jumped all the way through the
base out to the top of the island. He landed. Alligator snarled in frustration.
He turned and started running back toward the opening in the base.
{GM
Note: Since Alligator was traveling through multiple floors by jumping I had
him made the same agility save as I have StrikeForce do when he jumped into the
base. Alligator rolled a 20 and 19 on his AGI save roll. For the fumble I
decided he jumped too hard. So he flew past his target to the level above it
which was the island outside.}
On level B
[4] White Heron flew up the elevator shaft to
level A. When she reached the half in the bottom of the elevator car she was
shocked she couldn’t open it. Something heavy was on top of it and it wouldn’t
budge. She flew from level A back down to level B. There she opened the doors.
She flew across the room to where the hole in the ceiling was.
{White
Heron used movement to get to the elevator and movement to attempt to open the
elevator hatch in the floor. She used movement to fly down to Level B. She used
movement to open the elevator doors on B. She flew across the room to the spot
next to the hole. At this point she used all her movement and was done for the
turn.}
[4] Tank Gunner reached out to the ledge of
the elevator floor on Level B. He pulled himself through the door into level B.
When he stood up he looked around. He saw StrikeForce on the end of the
hallway. He turned, fired 3 shots at the Bionic Crusader with his automatic
rifle.
Blam! Blam! Blam!
The first two rifle shots hit StrikeForce and
the other third shot missed. The two rifle shots hit but bounced off
StrikeForce’s armor without doing any damage. In frustration he lowered his
bayonet and charged.
{GM
Note: on Tank Gunner’s first shot he rolled a 1 and 8 on d20. His critical
success was a free action in addition to the one he had taken. The damage rolls
were 6 and 5. Neither was higher than StrikeForce’s Armor protection of 6.}
Tank Gunner gave his battle cry as he charged
with his bayonet. He struck StrikeForce with his attack. StrikeForce rolled
with the damage.
{GM
Note: Tank Gunner did 13 points of damage. Armor stopped 6 points. StrikeForce
rolled with the remaining 7 points for -7 PP}
[3] Frank said, “Now Steve and Eddie, let’s
do this like we drilled. On my mark, we fire. Mark!” All three Prime Squadron
guards fired at StrikeForce in unison.
Blam! Blam! Blam!
Frank’s shot hit. StrikeForce rolled with
what little got through his armor.
{GM
Note: Frank rolled 7 points of damage. StrikeForce’s armor stopped 6 and -1 PP
from rolling with remainder}
The other Squaddies’, Steve and Eddie,
gunshots missed.
StrikeForce choose to try to take out as many
as possible now. So he went after the Prime Squadron guards instead of Tank
Gunner. The Bionic Brawler ran across the room and summersaults over Squaddie
Steve to land next to all three of the guards. StrikeForce went into a multiply
escrima attack pattern attacking all three Squaddies at the same time.
Wham! Wham!
Both escrima struck Frank.
Wham! Wham!
Both escrima struck Steve.
Wham! WHIF!
One escrima struck Eddie. The other missed.
Frank flew across the room from the knockback
of the blows. He smashed through the wall into the adjacent room, slamming into
the exterior wall of the base. He was embedded in the wall incapacitated.
Steve flew across the room from the knockback
of the blows. He smashed through the wall into the adjacent hallway. He slammed
into the reinforce wall of the elevator shaft. He bounced off and slammed into
the floor incapacitated.
Eddie flew across the room from the knockback
of the blows. He smashed through the wall into the adjacent room, slamming into
the exterior wall of the base. He was embedded in the wall incapacitated.
[1] Spyder crawled up the elevator shaft. He
entered level B by the top on the elevator door on the ceiling. Seeing the
mayhem that StrikeForce had unleashed on Swamp Goat and the Prime Squadron, he
smiled. “Could this be a worthy opponent?” he thought. With a slight shrugged
of his shoulders he acknowledged there was only one way to find out.
Quickly and efficiently he moved like the
experienced fighter he is, toward the Bionic Crusader. He loved the look of
surprise on his opponents face when they see they are going to have to fight
someone who is on the ceiling. When Spyder closed on the Bionic Brawler he
attacked with a Palm Heel Strike.
BAM!
Spyder’s strike hit StrikeForce in the head.
StrikeForce rolled with the blow and switch into a defensive stance with his
escrima.
{GM
Note: Spyder rolled 10 points of damage. StrikeForce’s armor stopped 6 and -4
PP for rolling with the remainder}
<Turns
and Actions due August 20th >
Battle
Conditions (Mighty Protectors character data):
Adamas Hit
Points: 18 Power Points: 38 Attack Style: Offensive
Black Orchid Hit
Points: 24 Power Points: 86 Invisible
StrikeForce
Hit Points: 31 Power
Points: 70 Attack Style: Defensive
The Skink
Hit Points: 24 Power
Points: 78 Attack Style: Defensive
Manta-Man Hit
Points: 13 Power Points: 66 Lightning Defense: On
Dr. Wildman Hit
Points: 18 Power Points: 58 Form of: Elephant
Evergreen Hit
Points: 23 Power Points: 54 Attack Style: Offensive
TicToc Hit
Points: 22 Power Points: 68 Charmed Crocodile
Phase
of Action for next turn:
[14] Skink
[ 9] Adamas
[ 9] TicToc
[ 7] Black
Orchid
[ 5] Manta-Man
[ 4] Evergreen
[ 3] StrikeForce
[ 2] Dr.
Wildman
This
is turn 12 of the countdown. When the turn count reaches 0 the missiles will
launch.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
OOC: Now this is Superheroing! Brilliant,
grinning like a loon reading this!
Loved the Strike 'forced-entry' maneuver,
another one to add to the repertoire of New Crusader moves!
Just checking Tom, Dr Wildman is now in human
form but with his Armour spell active as per the narrative, rather than in
crocodile form?
Also, his Gate spell allows him to teleport
where he can directly sense within the range parameters of the spell. Looking
at a screen, would that count as direct or indirect sensing? Would the penalty
be slightly less than a blind gate?
Great issue!
Steve
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Great issue Tom, except for Adamas. Sorry
Jon. Hopefully Adamas will be back up soon. It sounds like we will need him.
Jamey
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve,
glad you liked the Strike 'forced-entry' maneuver. I'll admit that I was
grinning myself when I read the issue. Maybe Adamas and The Skink can pull a
'fast-ball special' ala Collossus and Wolverine.
Tom, I love the New Crusaders comic book
covers that you have been using. Two thumbs up my friend.
I was shocked to see Adamas go down that
quick. I hope that he isn't down for long.
Jamey
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes,
Dr. Woodman is in human form. I have corrected the issue, if you want a new PDF
let me know.
Yes, his armour spell has been cast and in
effect.
Between the cameras and being able to look
down the hole in the floor, Dr. Woodman can direct sense for teleporting in the
base. If he wants to teleport somewhere obscure to hide him then he needs to
make an INT Save with a +3 save modifier.
Thanks
Tom
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks,
I can't take the credit for the covers. They are based on Steve's art. I have
enough Photoshop skills to turn his art into a template I can modify.
I am glad you really like the covers. Steve
and I make a good team.
Thanks
Tom
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hero
to Zero... didn't see that coming.
Jon
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah,
Tom. You and Steve make a good team. Good job Steve.
Jamey
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks
for kind comments about the artwork stuff, and it’s a great team!
OOC: Just checking: the elevator is currently
on level A and open, with Evergreen and Orchid (invisible) within - and level B
is below level A, level C below level B etc and White Heron, Spider and Tank
Gunner are climbing up the elevator shaft from level C? Like many elevator
shafts would it be fair to assume that the elevator itself is fractionally
smaller than the shaft? How many people can fit in the elevator at once?
Steve
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Evergreen
and Black Orchid have stepped out of the elevator.
Yes on the relationship of the levels to each
other.
White Heron is flying up the shaft.
Spyder is climbing as he carries Tank Gunner.
The elevator is slightly smaller than the
shaft. The elevator car is 10ft X 10ft in size so 4 to 8 people comfortably.
Maybe more if squeezing in.
Thanks
Tom
--------------------------------------------------------------------
OOC:
Tom, would it be fair to say that they will have to exit at level B? I was
trying to guess how many people are coming to the party.
Jamey
--------------------------------------------------------------------
There
is an entrance into the elevator. So all 3 can arrive in level A next turn, if
they choose to.
Thanks
Tom
--------------------------------------------------------------------
OOC :
Thanks Tom.
Jamey
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"If
they choose to" well played Tom.
Jamey
---------------------------------------------------------------------
OOC:
Well let’s get the ball rolling then...
IC: Next Dr. Wildman and Manta-Man switched
the camera to level C. “There’s the Inhuman League”, Manta-Man said. “I recognize
Spyder and Tank Gunner. I don’t know who the winged woman or the alligator man
is.”
They watched the winged woman fly into the
elevator shaft.
Dr Wildman looked away from the screen and
stole a glance around the room, rapidly assessing the situation. It took
moments but years of survival training had taught him that if you are going to
act, act decisively.
"Well it's time to deal with
this...Inhuman League then." He announced to no one in particular and then
he starts singing!
"You were working as a waitress in a
cocktail bar
When I met you
I picked you out, I shook you up
And turned you around
Turned you into someone new"
As he started this first refrain he looked at
TicToc and mystically pulsed "There is another reptile coming to dominate
your territory." He then impressed the image of the Aligator-man on
TicToc's consciousness. The 15' bull crocodile gave a throaty roar of challenge
swinging his tail from side to side.
"Now five years later on you've got the
world at your feet
Success has been so easy for you
But don't forget it's me who put you where
you are now
And I can put you back down too."
Still singing he moves towards the elevator,
breaking from song: "Excuse me ladies!" as he passes Evergreen and
walks into the elevator.
"Don't. Don't you want me?
You know I can't believe it when I hear that
you won't see me"
"Going down" With a gesture Dr
Wildman presses the button and the doors begin to close
"SIZE OF AN ELEPHANT!" is heard as
the doors close and there is a bright nimbus of green energy that shines
through the retreating crack of the elevator doors. The song continues but in a
much deeper, strangely pitched voice...almost as if sung by an elephant stuck
in a lift, were that possible!
"DON'T, DON'T YOU WANT ME?
YOU KNOW I DON'T BELIEVE YOU WHEN YOU SAY
THAT YOU DON'T NEED ME"
And the gears and mechanisms of the lift
begin to creak under strain of more weight than it was designed to carry!
SNAP!
OOC: Tom - That's how it looks in my head,
please modify as I have made a whole heap of assumptions that may not make this
scenario work...but it made me smile
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Makes
me smile too
Tom
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I
laughed.
Jamey
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Very
creative. Loved it.
Jon
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm
thinking of calling it the 'Elephant in the Room' maneuver, to add to our growing
repertoire!
Steve
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
StrikeForce
keeps his senses active to detect if any reinforcements are coming. He
activates his comm and communicates to the team."Let's keep each other updated
on our situation. I have taken down Coot and one of the security personnel, and
I have three left." Directing his attention to the guards, StrikeForce in
a tense tone through gritted teeth says. "All right gents. I've taken out
one of you and one of The Inhuman League, and I haven't raised a sweat, and my
pulse is still slow and steady. Now normally I would say something about you
should probably surrender, but I won't waste my time, because the three of you
don't appear smart enough to accept my generosity." He moves toward them
to attack.
OOC: I don't see them surrendering. I don't
think that I would need help against them, but if more of the League comes
through, that will probable change.
Jamey
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A new
rule in Mighty Protectors is the ability to spend power points to increase your
physical effort. It is called Pushing. Here is the Push rule.
5.5 Pushing
Characters can momentarily boost their own
innate physical capabilities and super-Abilities (but not Task rolls, or
Abilities that are Gear-based) by spending 2 points of Power. Pushing can be
used to simulate berserk rage, sprinting, adrenaline, and so on.
The types of things a character may Push
include:
• Movement (x2 Acceleration, and x2 Top
Speed)
• Standard Attack Damage (+2 damage)
• Save Attack Target Number (-2 to the Target
Number)
• Save Target Number (+2 to the Target
Number)
• Snare Attack Breakpoint (+2 to the
Breakpoint)
• Strength (+2 Base HTH Damage and x2 Carrying
Capacity)
Pushing must be declared and paid for before
rolling to hit, or before rolling for the ability's effect if no roll to hit is
needed. Vehicles, Unliving robots, etc. *may* Push their own Abilities;
characters just can't Push an Ability like a gun that really isn't part of
them.
For our game I am creating the house rule
that allows pushing your initiative after the roll. For 2 Power Points you can
increase initiative by 2.
• Initiative (+2 to the Initiative roll)
Please let me know in your actions if you
want to push, especially let me know now if you want to Push your initiative
number.
Thanks
Tom
---------------------------------------------------------------------
What
would be the best thing for StrikeForce to push in this situation?
Jamey
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Damage
Tom
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Sounds
good.
Jamey
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr
Wildman will push the down button. Hopefully that won't cost too much Power
Steve
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Bwhahaha!
Adamas will push the snooze button.
Seriously, can I push a wake-up roll?
Jon
---------------------------------------------------------------------
No, That is consider a Task roll. So you
can’t but you can use Power Points to roll with the Task save. It is the same
as rolling with damage (1/10). That is what I have been doing.
Tom
---------------------------------------------------------------------
In case it wasn't stated, Adamas will try to
wake up, but is dreaming of large women.
Jon
---------------------------------------------------------------------
What would his reporter girlfriend think
about that?
Jamey
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Late to the party here, but great cover and
great issue!
Did Adamas say he was responding to The Black
orchid's request? I'm thinking not
Did the others broadcast that Adamas was
down? I think also not.
So it seems like The Black Orchid has no new
information to go on, she'll reassess the current situation and probably decide
on blasting the leader.
Marc
---------------------------------------------------------------------
