Sunday, May 27, 2012

Crusade: Attack from Above! - Issue 20

Location: Crusader Citadel

A heavy storm raged around the Citadel. Inside the Harmon Building Lobby trapped Megalopolis SWAT team hid in cover as best as possible.

ZZABBBOOOOMMM!

A lightning bolt struck the lobby for a third time!

The lights were out in the entire building.

In the stairway at the top of the Crusader Citadel, 4 heroes moved cautiously downward. Tomahawk whispered to the others as they reached the fourth floor. “I see a Crusher exiting the Elevator across the room. He can fly and has extra large eyes on his helmet. He is flying toward us. I don’t think he can see us but must know about someone using the stairs to gain entrance. Do we continue down to the next floor or stop this Crusher first?”

"Wraith, that's Hornet," The Black Orchid whispered, "We really need to find Manta Lad, but do you think you can take Hornet and then catch up?"

The Black orchid turned back to Tomahawk, "We should keep going. Starbolt, do you concur?"

Starbolt replied, “I would prefer to take them out as we encounter them. No sense passing this villain up and allowing him an attack from behind. But, I wouldn't mind us getting a shot at him from his six. Wraith, can you teleport Tomahawk and yourself to the rear of ol' bug eyes and put him out?" Starbolt checked his communicator to see if there is any more information from V2.

The Wraith agreed. He and Tomahawk decided on the strategy on teleporting behind and dropping Tomahawk from above Hornet. Tomahawk felt a hand grab his shoulder and then he wasn’t in the stairway anymore. He was in the air and below him he could see the Hornet. Tomahawk silently dropped as he readied to strike with his tomahawk.

As he neared his target he saw Hornet twist and look behind him in Tomahawk’s direction {GM Note: Hornet’s detect danger check was successful}. While sensing impending danger Hornet was not able to spot his attacker.

WHAM!

Tomahawk stuck Hornet and dropped to the floor. While hurt, Hornet was still active. He loops up into the air in an attempt to come behind his attacker. Hornet wasn’t able to see who attacked him and wildly blasted his vibratory device.

VRRM!

The vibe blast missed Tomahawk. The Wraith dropped to the ground and moved to find cover from any future errant blasts. From the stairway Black Orchid and Starbolt listened for any sign that Tomahawk had been hit and didn’t find any.

ZWALT!

Starbolt blasted Hornet into unconsciousness.

The lights in the Citadel came on.

Both Starbolt and Tomahawk scanned the area of the 4th floor. They at the same time spotted a small figure dressed in white. Tomahawk swore a silent curse to his gods when he recognized who it was.

Marionette

At the same time on the 1st floor of the Crusader Citadel

Manta Lad drew strength from the presence of his mentor, regardless of his incapacitated state. Just knowing he was there, watching over him, gave the youth confidence and renewed purpose.

Mace had held the Crusaders captive for days. Given his predilections, he probably hurt them, maybe even tortured them. The teen daredevil wanted to end this now and move on Mocker; cut the head off the Crushers and bring this whole thing to an end.

He showed Mace no mercy. Before his invisibility wore off, Manta Lad fired two jagged electrical arcs of lightning at Mace’s back!

SHAKOW! SHAKOW!

Mace fell to the floor incapacitated.

Manta Lad started to move toward the doorway but he spotted a figure standing there. Manta Lad heard the backup generator start up and the lights came on. Manta Lad quickly verified that the Stealth Chemical had evaporated due to the use of his electrical discharges.

Mocker stood in the doorway.

“So my dreaded nemesis has not escaped as I had surmised. The tell-tale SHAKOW! of his lightning blast came not from his esteemed personage but from his youthful trainee; Lad of the Manta isn’t it?”

“Please stand down one’s hostility and surrender one’s personage to myself, else I shall smite you.”

<Due Date: April 14th, Actions? Replies?>

{GM Note: Black Orchid and Tomahawk passed their Endurance save so the Stealth Chemical is in effect next turn. The Wraith failed his save so his Invisibility is reset to his super power. Starbolt and Manta Lad failed their saves}

Current Conditions:
Black Orchid                 Hit Points: 30    Power Points: 85 Invisibility: +3/-3 Willpower Defense active
Manta Lad                     Hit Points: 10    Power Points: 60                           Luck Points Pool: 1, Lightning Def inactive
Starbolt                                    Hit Points: 34    Power Points: 73
The Wraith                     Hit Points: 10    Power Points: 51 Invisibility: +1/-1
Tomahawk                    Hit Points: 69    Power Points: 84 Invisibility: +3/-3

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Black Orchid

I think I missed the original e-mail with this line:

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Tomahawk whispered to the others as they reached the fourth floor. “I see a Crusher exiting the Elevator across the room. He can fly and has extra large eyes on his helmet. He is flying toward us. I don’t think he can see us but must know about someone using the stairs to gain entrance. Do we continue down to the next floor or stop this Crusher first?”
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"Wraith, that's Hornet," The Black Orchid whispered, "We really need to find Manta Lad, but do you think you can take Hornet and then catch up?"
The Black orchid turns back to Tomahawk, "We should keep going. Starbolt, do you concur?"
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GM

It was not an email. It was part of the Issue. It was said as the team reached the 4th floor during the turn.  All emails before the issue were with knowledge of 5th floor and the stairway entrance but not the 4th floor since it hadn't been reached yet.

Regards
Tom
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Black Orchid

Thanks!

A couple of weeks of business travel really wreaks havoc with maintaining these things.

- Marc
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Manta Lad

Manta Lad drew strength from the presence of his mentor, regardless of his incapacitated state. Just knowing he was there, watching over him, gave the youth confidence and renewed purpose.

Mace had held the Crusaders captive for days. Given his predilections, he probably hurt them, maybe even tortured them. The teen daredevil wanted to end this now and move on Mocker; cut the head off the Crushers and bring this whole thing to an end.

He showed Mace no mercy.

SHAKOW! SHAKOW! Before his invisibility wore off, Manta Lad fired two jagged electrical arcs of lightning at Mace’s back! (OOC: Multiple attack. Will spend a Luck Point if necessary to hit)

If Mace fell, the adolescent adventurer would swiftly and silently leave the infirmary and creep back to the door to the Computer Lab, and Mocker, to listen!

OOC:
Thanks Tom.
Best,
Jeff
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Starbolt

Starbolt replied, " I would prefer to take them out as we encounter them. No since passing this villain up and allowing him an attack from behind. But, I wouldn't mind us getting a shot at him from his six. Wraith, can you teleport Tomahawk and yourself to the rear of ol' bug eyes and put him out?" Starbolt checks his communicator to see if there is any more information from V2. If things go south for M-L, Starbolt will go to where he is at to help him, otherwise he will stay with the team and attempt to systematically take out all threats. If Wraith and Tomahawk don't take out their target immediately, Starbolt will attempt to blast him into submission.
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GM

Are you going to be able to submit a turn this time or do I need to handle him as a NPC?  All I would do would be to have him teleport Tomahawk behind Hornet.

Thanks
Tom
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The Wraith

Let's just do that, sorry I'm late, RL has been swamping me. But I'm really enjoying the game!

Thanks,

Greg
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