Sunday, May 27, 2012

Phantom Man-Beast: Cat and Mouse - Issue 3

Location: Rooftop.

“. . . scientists theorize that house cats bring dead birds and mice to their owners because they think their owners aren’t capable enough hunters to feed themselves.”

- Unknown


Phantom watched as the half-man half-beast creature dashed from the bar like a cheetah and then scaled the building across the street like some giant primate. As he watched the creature leap from a nearby fire escape to the rooftop, the ‘Ivory Vigilante’ marveled at its speed and agility but remained steadfast in his desire to get his hands on Det. Hill. Before giving chase, Phantom decided that the best thing to do was to watch the sides of the building for movement and peruse the creature from the ground. After a couple of moments had passed; and not seeing anything emerge from the building’s rooftop, Phantom had come to a puzzling conclusion – the creature had stopped on the rooftop. As he ran across the street towards the building Phantom couldn’t help but think to himself, “Why had it stopped? Could this be a trap? How could it be a trap – nobody but Ebony Angel knew I was coming here – could this be Angel’s doing? Could Angel being working against me?”

As he scaled the building like a skilled hunter navigating a dense urban jungle, ‘The White Widow-Maker’ saw a pair of pistols fall from rooftop above him as if they were thrown over the side. Finally cresting the top of the building, what Phantom saw next gave him good reason to pause. Lying on the ground before the large bestial creature that had taken him was Detective Hill . . . and he was bleeding like a dead mouse. On the far side of the roof, the Man-Beast snarled from the darkness, “So, you’re the holy terror who’s got the underworld afraid of their own shadow? You’re smaller than I thought you’d be . . . slower too.” ‘The Armored Avatar of Vengeance’ just stood there in silence and assessed the situation before him as the Man-Beast spoke once again; but this time the creature’s voice was deeper and more menacing as if he were issuing forth some kind of warning, “Heh . . . wait till they get a load of me.” Sensing that he might lose his chance to get his hands on the corrupt police officer; in a dark and inquisitive tone Phantom asked the Man-Beast, “So is that what this is all about? You try’n to make a name for yourself?”

Man-Beast replied he was only using him to find him.

As the creature responded, Phantom began to slowly maneuver himself around the rooftop searching for a solid vantage point from which to launch a counter-attack if he needed to. Concerned that ‘The Obsidian Beast’ before him might just be toying with him and whisk Detective Hill away at any moment, Phantom decided to cut to the chase, “So what are we do’n here? You gonna hand Hill over to me or are we just play’n some kind of sick game of cat and mouse?”

Man-Beast replied he didn’t play games and asked Phantom if he liked being the mouse?
 
Leaning over the prone and injured police detective, Phantom looked Hill square in the eyes and said in an ominously throaty tone, “I’ve got a few questions for you . . . depending on how you answer them will determine what I do with you.” Before he can say a word Phantom grabbed the wounded man by the lapel of his jacket, pulled him to his feet and then threw him against a nearby chimney stack. As Hill scrambled to maintain his footing Phantom asked him, “Where do I find Trickshot?”

After a brief cried of pain, Detective Hill replied, “He has taken up with the Nicotines. You should be able to find them at their safe house.” Detective Hill provided the address.

Nodding his head very gently as if he were satisfied with his answer; Phantom asked his next question, “How many other Moonlighters are there and what are their names?”

A weak smile crosses his face, Hill said, “We own the Foundry precincts and are without number. No names only badges.”

Phantom just stared at Detective Hill silently as he reached out and grabbed his hand firmly. Pulling his combat knife quickly from the confines of its sheath, the remorseless vigilante placed the edge of the cold blade along the inside of Hill’s pinky finger and issued a sincere warning with his gaze. Hill instantly understood his capturer’s intent – answer the question or lose the finger.

Detective Hill quickly gives the names of 8 Megalopolis PD officers. The Phantom had not heard any of their names before.

As the corrupt detective finished telling Phantom all he knew about the Moonlighters, Phantom turned his head slowly in Hill’s direction, squints his eyes slightly and asked him one last question, “Where do I find the Buzzard and who is he?”

Silence is the only reply heard. Phantom could see fear in Detective Hill’s eyes but there was possibly greater fear of Buzzard than there was of him.

In the blink of an eye, Phantom pulled the blade of his combat knife quickly across the knuckles of Detective Hill’s hand and removes the smallest of his finger from his hand. Blood begins to spray forth from the veteran police officers hand as he started to scream and tried to bend over in agony. Phantom quickly shoved him back up against the brick chimney and shouted out over Hill’s screams, “You only got nine left . . . do you wanna see how far we can take this or do you wanna start answering some questions?”

“If you are going to kill me do it now! Buzzard will kill me and my family so either way I am dead!”

The sound of police car sirens in the distance were beginning to grow louder – they were getting closer. Phantom knew it would only be a matter of time before the street below was filled by a sea of police cruisers and uniformed officers, but there was still one last thing he needed to do – he needed to send a message. Grabbing Hill by his neck, ‘The Ashen Death-Dealer’ dragged the detective over to the side of the building and pinned his back against the short wall that lined the perimeter of the building’s rooftop. Still holding the squirming police detective tightly, Phantom looked down at the crowd that had formed in the street below and shouted out to them, “Tell The Buzzard and his Moonlighters that they're finished . . . if I see a dirty badge, I'll kill the son of a bitch wear'n it . . . tell 'em that their time of reckoning is here . . . tell 'em that I'm come'n . . . and Hell's come'n with me!” With that Phantom pushes Detective Hill backward and over the edge of the building. Hill screamed and flailed his limbs about wildly as if grasping for some kind of ethereal rope or life-line, as the crowd below gasped in horror as they watched the man start to fall. A split second later the detective landed on something solid, stunned and confused he looked around frantically to see what could have stopped his decent. Turning his head quickly from side to side, the wrought-iron landing of a fire escape suddenly comes into full view. With his heart still beating a mile a minute, the injured detective looked back up at the edge of the rooftop and saw that his would-be killer had disappeared into the night.

After the police cars arrived, a SWAT van pulled up as well. The Megalopolis’ finest quickly retrieved Detective Hill as the SWAT team set up a defensive parameter around the Champs Sports Bar and Grill. Soon Police Chief Ravage arrived. He directed the efforts of the police investigators that were video recording the testimony of the witnesses of the ‘White Widow Makers’ and ‘Hairy Beast” which had kidnapped Detective Hill. He told the CSI squad to check the alleyways for evidence for their entryway into the sports bar.  The Police Chief made sure the SWAT Commander understood SWAT was to provide protection for the investigators. “No one is chasing after Vigilantes tonight. We still don’t know enough about either of them to start a manhunt yet.”

A plain clothed detective lead one of the victims toward Police Chief Ravage. The Chief smiled when he recognized his old friend, Father Lonnigan.  What the priest said removed the smile from his face.

There had been another kidnapping. A reporter named Jones was still missing.

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

Current Conditions:
Phantom                       Hit Points: 23    Power Points: 50           Invulnerability: 5           
                                                            Mossberg 590A1 Combat Shotgun - Flexible Baton Round: 9 Rounds
                                                            Ammo band on Shotgun: 9 Flexible Baton Rounds
Left; FN Five-Seven Pistol: 20 Rounds
Right; FN Five-Seven Pistol: 20 Rounds
4 extra magazines: 20 Rounds each
                                                            ABC-M7A2 Tear-Gas Grenade: 4
                                                            M50 Joint Service General Purpose Mask
                                                            Gerber Mark II Combat Knife

Man-Beast                    Hit Points: 34    Power Points: 67
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Red Hawk

Hey Guys

That was a great set of issues.  The intensity in Phantom has really stepped up a couple notches and if Wraith had a few more HP he'd be "player" on the New Crusaders. Keep up the good stories.

Just beginning to get a handle on Red Hawk.  Off to see Ms. Stitch I guess :)

Thanks tons Tom
John
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Phantom

I agree - absolutely great stuff all around!

As for Wraith - for some reason I thought a re-vamp/power-bump was
already in the works and that he was already headed over to Crusade, or
was that just a pigment of my imagination? =/

- Kev


P.s. Yeah . . . I know . . . I said pigment =P

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Phantom

Tom,

Seeing how fast he moved, would Phantom be under the assumption that 'the creature' that snagged Hill is long gone by now? I ask because the way it was worded . . .

"Undeterred Phantom followed the others through the shattered window. Quickly he realized his new opponent was faster than him. Since he couldn’t catch him on foot and the creature was already out of his shotgun’s range he pulled out his pistol and fired."

. . . it sounded like he knew the chase was over even before it began and that his feeble attempt to shoot 'the creature' was the last ditch effort of a desperate man. If he is assuming that they're both long gone, Phantom will be forced to get 'creative'. By 'creative' I of course mean having him march back into the bar and start breaking peoples fingers for info . . . or something equally violent along those lines ;)

- Kev
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GM

Kev,

That is one way to read it. Instead of desperate action I saw it as logical combat action of "If I can't out run him then I will shot him with the weapon I have to stop him."

If it didn't read that way, I am sorry it was what I was trying to convey.

All your instructions stated that Phantom would attack Hill or Man Beast so I played it out as best I could with Man Beast on top of the Roof of the next building and still in sight of Phantom but Phantom's movement not enough to reach him this turn.

If you want to rewrite to make the shot in more positive combat action instead of that as a desperate one, that is fine.

Phantom is welcome to enter the bar next turn and get creative.

Regards
Tom
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Phantom

Sorry for the misunderstanding, Tom - perhaps 'desperate' was the wrong word to use. I said 'desperate' because I was thinking of it from Phantom's perspective - he wanted Hill alive so he could question him ( thus all the non-lethal weaponry ) and firing on him and Man-Beast like that with his pistols could put his chances of doing that at zero if he were to accidentally hit him ( like he did lol ). Personally I would have let him go and just hunted him down later - a live lead that I can reach out to later, is better than a dead lead that I can never follow up on. Don't get me wrong though - you did the best with what I gave you - if anyone is to blame here for anything, it’s me. I wasn't able to get you what you needed in the very reasonable time frame that you had clearly specified, so the only person I have to blame is myself if something didn't go the way I envisioned it.

As for Man-Beast and Hill still being on the rooftop of a nearby building - are you sure Phantom can see them? Are they moving away or did they stop? If Man-Beast is as much of an animal as Jeff has already described him as being I would image that he would be dragging Hill off to someplace much further away - but I could be wrong on that so I figured I would ask. I ask; because if Phantom can see them and they're not moving, then Phantom is going to go after them. However if Phantom is watching them disappear into the distance then he's just gonna march his ass right back into the bar and find out who the heck that guy was that Hill was talking to and track HIM down - time to get medieval on someone's ass! >:)

How dare he steal the guy that I was rightfully trying steal first - he was mine - I saw him first! Go get your own corrupt police detective, Man-Beast!! lol ;)

Oh, and don't worry about that 'rewrite' business - I gave you a sow's ear to work with and you turned it into a silk purse - great job, Tom! =)

My thanks again for all the understanding and leeway you've both given me these last couple of weeks.

Talk to you guys later,

- Kev
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Man-Beast

OOC: Great issues this month, Tom!

Did Man Beast see/recognize Phantom as the Foundry's white widow maker?

Thanks,
Jeff
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GM

Phantom no longer sees Man Beast and Hill at the edge of the roof but his combat senses let know that Man Beast can't have left the roof yet (Game terms he is out of movement at last turn when he made the roof). While he can't see the roof top, the Phantom is in position to see the Man Beast jump to the next rooftop so he will know if Man Beast leaves it.

Best
Tom
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Man-Beast

OOC: Kevin, the Man Beast is staying on the roof!

IC:
The Man Beast sniffed the air and watched the direction from which it came as it stripped pistols off Hill’s unconscious body. It threw the pistols off the rooftop, away from the bar, and waited for the white widowmaker to come.

Scientists theorize that housecats bring dead birds and mice to their owners because they think their owners aren’t capable enough hunters to feed themselves.

As the Phantom boarded the rooftop, the unconscious, bleeding Detective laid at his feet like a dead mouse.

On the far side of the roof, the Man Beast snarled from the darkness, “So, you’re the holy terror who’s got the underworld afraid of their own shadow? You’re smaller than I thought you’d be. Slower too.

“Heh... Wait til they get a load of me.”

[Reply Phantom?]


OOC:

Man Beast’s action is to evade as he talks to the Phantom.

He’ll use his animal senses to detect the Phantom’s emotions.

Thanks.

Best,

Jeff
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Phantom

OOC:

LOL Nice Jeff - never knew you had such a sharp tongue! I've always loved seeing people take 'a shot' at someone ( i.e. Phantom in this case ) by saying one thing and meaning something ENTIRELY different lol - two points for you sir lol ;)

Based on your response I'm going to rewrite the response I had already written-up - I have a bad feeling that Man-Beast and Phantom are about to get themselves into a heap of trouble.

Bad Kitty!!!

- Kev
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Man-Beast

OOC: Thanks.
I don't get to use it that much in four-color Vanguard.

Best,
Jeff
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Phantom

Street Patrol: Phantom/Man-Beast: Issue 2: He Will Help Me!


> PHANTOM’S IC RESPONSE <


“. . . scientists theorize that house cats bring dead birds and mice to their owners because they think their owners aren’t capable enough hunters to feed themselves.”

- Unknown


Phantom watched as the half-man half-beast creature dashed from the bar like a cheetah and then scaled the building across the street like some giant primate. As he watched the creature leap from a nearby fire escape to the rooftop, the ‘Ivory Vigilante’ marveled at its speed and agility but remained steadfast in his desire to get his hands on Det. Hill. Before giving chase, Phantom decided that the best thing to do was to watch the sides of the building for movement and peruse the creature from the ground. After a couple of moments had passed; and not seeing anything emerge from the building’s rooftop, Phantom had come to a puzzling conclusion – the creature had stopped on the rooftop. As he ran across the street towards the building Phantom couldn’t help but think to himself, “Why had it stopped? Could this be a trap? How could it be a trap – nobody but Ebony Angel knew I was coming here – could this be Angel’s doing? Could Angel being working against me?”

As he scaled the building like a skilled hunter navigating a dense urban jungle, ‘The White Widow-Maker’ saw a pair of pistols fall from rooftop above him as if they were thrown over the side. Finally cresting the top of the building, what Phantom saw next gave him good reason to pause. Lying on the ground before the large bestial creature that had taken him was Detective Hill . . . and he was bleeding like a dead mouse. On the far side of the roof, the Man-Beast snarled from the darkness, “So, you’re the holy terror who’s got the underworld afraid of their own shadow? You’re smaller than I thought you’d be . . . slower too.” ‘The Armoured Avatar of Vengeance’ just stood there in silence and assessed the situation before him as the Man-Beast spoke once again; but this time the creature’s voice was deeper and more menacing as if he were issuing forth some kind of warning, “Heh . . . wait till they get a load of me.” Sensing that he might loose his chance to get his hands on the corrupt police officer; in a dark and inquisitive tone Phantom asked the Man-Beast, “So is that what this is all about? You try’n to make a name for yourself?”

[ Reply Man-Beast?]

As the creature responded, Phantom began to slowly maneuver himself around the rooftop searching for a solid vantage point from which to launch a counter-attack if he needed to. Concerned that ‘The Obsidian Beast’ before him might just be toying with him and whisk Detective Hill away at any moment, Phantom decided to cut to the chase, “So what are we do’n here? You gonna hand Hill over to me or are we just play’n some kind of sick game of cat and mouse?”

[ Reply Man-Beast?]

( OOC: If Phantom gets the opportunity to talk with Det. Hill )

Leaning over the prone and injured police detective, Phantom looks Hill square in the eyes and says in an ominously throaty tone, “I’ve got a few questions for you . . . depending on how you answer them will determine what I do with you.” Before he can say a word Phantom grabs the wounded man by the lapel of his jacket, pulls him to his feet and then throws him against a nearby chimney stack. As Hill scrambles to maintain his footing Phantom asks him, “Where do I find Trickshot?”

[ Reply Tom/Detective Hill?]

( OOC: If Det. Hill gives him a straight answer he’ll continue with his next question – see ‘Question #2’ below. If he gives him a ‘smart-mouth’ answer or refuses to answer at all – see ‘Smart-Mouth Response’ below. )


Question #2


Nodding his head very gently as if were satisfied with his answer; Phantom asks his next question, “How many other Moonlighters are there and what are their names?”

[ Reply Tom/Detective Hill?]

( OOC: If Det. Hill gives him a straight answer he’ll continue with his next question – see ‘Question #3’ below. If he gives him a ‘smart-mouth’ answer or refuses to answer at all – see ‘Smart-Mouth Response’ below. )


Question #3

As the corrupt detective finishes telling Phantom all he knows about the Moonlighters, Phantom turns his head slowly in Hill’s direction, squints his eyes slightly and asks him one last question, “Where do I find the Buzzard and who is he?”

[ Reply Tom/Detective Hill?]

( OOC: If Det. Hill gives him a straight answer see ‘One Last Thing . . .’ below. If he gives him a ‘smart-mouth’ answer or refuses to answer at all – see ‘Smart-Mouth Response’ below. )


Smart-Mouth Response

Phantom just stares at Detective Hill silently as he reaches out and grabs his hand firmly. Pulling his combat knife quickly from the confines of its sheath, the remorseless vigilante places the edge of the cold blade along the inside of Hill’s pinky finger and issues a sincere warning with his gaze. Hill instantly understands his captures intent – answer the question or lose the finger.

( OOC: If Det. Hill gives him a straight answer he’ll take the knife away from Hill’s hand and repeat the last question that he asked. If he gives him a ‘smart-mouth’ answer or still refuses to answer – see ‘Tough Guy’ below. )

Tough Guy


In the blink of an eye, Phantom pulls the blade of his combat knife quickly across the knuckles of Detective Hill’s hand and removes the smallest of his finger from his hand. Blood begins to spray forth from the veteran police officers hand as he starts to scream and tries to bend over in agony. Phantom quickly shoves him back up against the brick chimney and shouts out over Hill’s screams, “You only got nine left . . . do you wanna see how far we can take this or do you wanna start answering some questions?”

( OOC: If Det. Hill seems to be willing to talk after this, Phantom will rip the sleeve off of Hill’s shirt and wrap it around his bleeding hand as a bandage. Once he finishes bandaging his hand Phantom will repeat the last question that he asked. On the other hand - If Hill gives him another ‘smart-mouth’ answer or still refuses to answer – see ‘One Last Thing . . .’ below. )

One Last Thing . . .


The sound of police car sirens in the distance were beginning to grow louder – they were getting closer. Phantom knew it would only be a matter of time before the street below was filled by a sea of police cruisers and uniformed officers, but there was still one last thing he needed to do – he needed to send a message. Grabbing Hill by his neck, ‘The Ashen Death-Dealer’ dragged the detective over to the side of the building and pinned his back against the short wall that lined the perimeter of the buildings rooftop. Still holding the squirming police detective tightly, Phantom looked down at the crowd that had formed in the street below and shouted out to them, “Tell The Buzzard and his Moonlighters that they're finished . . . if I see a dirty badge, I'll kill the son of a bitch wear'n it . . . tell 'em that their time of reckoning is here . . . tell 'em that I'm come'n . . . and Hell's come'n with me!” With that Phantom pushes Detective Hill backward and over the edge of the building. Hill screams and flails his limbs about wildly as if grasping for some kind of ethereal rope or life-line, as the crowd below gasps in horror as they watch the man start to fall. A split second later the detective lands on something solid, stunned and confused he looks around frantically to see what could have stopped his decent. Turning his head quickly from side to side, the wrought-iron landing of a fire escape suddenly comes into full view. With his heart still beating a mile a minute, the injured detective looks back up at the edge of the rooftop and sees that his would-be killer has disappeared into the night.


> PHANTOM’S GOAL(S) <

Phantom wants to get the information that he came for. He wants to know about Trickshot, The Buzzard, and The Moonlighters.

Phantom also wants to scare the other Moonlighters with his last little 'stunt'. he figures if he can get them scared and afraid that they may try to hunt him down . . . saving him the trouble of finding them himself ;)


> PHANTOM’S OOC RESPONSE <


Since Man-Beast is still a complete ‘unknown’ to Phantom; as an experienced soldier, Phantom is fully prepared for the possibility that Man-Beast is just baiting him into an ambush. If Phantom does think that Man-Beast is going to attack him, he’ll try for torso shots using the baton rounds already loaded into his shotgun.

If Hill tries to make a run for it while Man-Beast and Phantom are talking, he will not hesitate to shoot Hill in the back with the baton rounds already loaded into his shotgun.

Hopefully I didn't miss anything - if I did let me know.

Tom, feel free to modify anything I wrote to make it fit better into the next issue - I wrote as a narrator simply to better express my/Phantom's intentions and desires.

Talk to you both soon,

- Kev
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Codename: Red Hawk: Styling - Issue 4

Location: Department of Superpower Affairs – Megalopolis Offices

The sound of jet engines roar overhead, “Chris” looks up and saw two CHESS sky-cycles zip through the city’s skyline.

Looking back down at the over-sized gym back holding the faux Freedom Eagle uniform, Chris felt a longing to be up there with the CHESS Knights. They soared through the sky every day hunting those who would prey on the innocent, the weak . . . but then what? Smiling at the playful banter between Brian and Dennis “Brian, you need to get out of that classroom more …” Chris thought about that. Brian taught, Dennis had his music, even the CHESS Knights in the sky probably had a life outside of serving the public. I have so much to learn. Not just at StarCorp. Not even just about myself. I have a whole world to learn about. I guess using my abilities to protect innocent people from villains like the Crushers can’t be a bad way to start.

Chris sat in the back of the jeep, the wind in his face as they cross the bridge leading from Central City into Soiree Heights. Central City was financially rich. Soiree Heights was a city of opulence. They even had the ability to pay heroes to protect them. “… freaking mercenaries … Chris has more … “ came Dennis’s voice from the front seat. Chris thought about Dennis’s tone of voice. Being three days old he wasn’t sure, but he suspected neither Dennis nor Brian were comfortable with him yet. I can’t blame them really. I show up claiming to be one of this world’s most beloved superheroes … returned from the grave, the same hero who passed his powers and legacy on to them. I would think they’d want to destroy me, not offer to mentor me.

Chris saw their destination just ahead and was surprised as Brian drove past the elegant store front with the marquee sign marked Stitches. Puzzled he turned back around, but before Chris could ask Dennis was twisting backwards to tell him, “We can’t just go through the front door can we? It would give away the secret identity of any of us she does special commissions for. You have to have an appointment and special password for the entrance in the parking garage. I hear she only takes one special appointment on any given day as a security measure . . . We can’t all be like the mighty Joshua Rose and just pop in anywhere anytime we want.” Chris wasn’t sure, but he thought Dennis might not like his future employer very much.

The jeep pulled up to the gate to the private parking garage. Brian leaned over and punched in the password they had given him at StarCorp for Red Hawk. Supposedly it alerted Ms. Stitch that her appointment had arrived and would be entering through the special entrance in just a few minutes. The three men piled out of the old jeep and walked across the cool concrete. Chris’s tech-heightened senses detected the numerous electronic security devices installed throughout the garage as Dennis pushed the button to open the elevator doors. He chuckled softly. “Why am I not surprised Dennis liked pushing buttons?” Both Dennis and Brian look back astonished at Chris’s laughter. At the same time both ask “What’s so funny?”

Startled by his own ability to find humor in something so small, Chris smiled sheepishly, “Just excited I guess.”

The waiting room was beautiful.

Assistants came in quietly and efficiently. They took the old costume and Chris’s measures without word or attempt at conversation.  After they left the room, Ms Stitch walked in.

“Welcome to my place. Dennis and Brian it is great to have you back again.  It is a pleasure to meet you Chris …? ”

“Eagle”

Brian and Dennis replied in unison. They quickly glanced at each other and nodded a knowing smile.

“Ah, yes, it is a pleasure to meet you Chris Eagle. Come let me show you my creations.”

Five hours later they settled on the new Red Hawk costume.

Both Brian and Dennis were pleased with Chris’s selection. Brain said, “Now let’s go see how she handles.  The perfect place is Memorial Park in Our Fair City.”

They quickly paid their respects and bill, courtesy of StarCorp, and left the premises.  In less than an hour they were all at the park and in their respective costumes as Shatterman, Condor, and Red Hawk.

They enjoyed flying in the park with Condor spotted something with was out of place. Shatterman and Red Hawk followed him. It was a new statue or was it?

As they neared they could hear the person on the bicycle next to statue.

“Yes, Hello! This is Office Nick Deans – I’m at the park”. Office Deans let go of his bicycle as he examined the bomb sitting before him. “We have a situation here at the park – in the Statuary. Someone has planted a bomb.” He wiped the sweat off his brow. His partner, Charlie Barrett, started moving bystanders away. “NO! I have not touched anything yet,” continued Dean. “The timer’s on ten minutes… there’s no way the bomb squad can make it here by then. Call the Masks! Call the Masks!” Officer Barrett moved people toward the gate, but try as he might, it would not open.

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

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Red Hawk

I thought we might share something of where we each thought this was going. I wasn't sure what you were expecting from me as far as input. With Street Patrol you had already done quite a bit of prep work. I really was trying to create something of that power level with the pistol wielding "angel" and kid speedster but was kept missing the mark I guess. Red Hawk (to me) seems at least Crusader maybe even Quest. On par with Cure and maybe even Magnus. That is a pretty cool couple of characters.

Back on topic. I assume your having to do more fly by seat of your pants for Red. Is there anything expectations of me I can improve upon? I'm reluctant to write anything for the two Icons. Like Doc, Bird, and Donnah. I feel those are your characters and always feel it best to get approval permission to put words actions to those characters.

Just spit balling during lunch
John
------------------------------------------------------------------
GM

I see this as Solo Play at the Crusader level. On Condor and Shatterman, I don’t feel strong ownership of them. If you want to play them like you have been playing Trish and Professor I am cool with it. I have been playing them to enrich your gaming experience. I will take as much ownership of them as you want me to.



On the expectations I am not really putting a lot on it. This is your open sandbox to have as much fun as you want. I will follow your lead on what kind of adventures he has. I will limit how much larger impact to Megalopolis he has. He won’t be world building like DarkStar has.



Where the closest Marvel equivalent to DarkStar is Iron Man or Mr. Fantastic for Red Hawk it is going to be Spider-man or Captain America.

Best
Tom
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Red Hawk

Hey T-man

Not in any particular order - For me I'd prefer not play with Shatterman and Condor too much really. Small things like the car ride is one thing but how they mentor him and stuff I'm not comfortable with that. It's why I asked for your input for Doc and Nigel at the card game. I'd rather not even have the temptation to "world build". That is not what Red Hawk is suppose to be about.

I do thing in his process of learning to be Chris (still needs a last name) and Red Hawk it would be fun - hopefully for both of us - to explore areas on the Megalopolis Universe that Quest, Crusade, and Street Patrol aren't designed for. Things like Freedom Eagle's lair, bringing the Spyder to justice if he hasn't been apprehended, interaction with the Super Society. I know you don't have heroes that work specifically for CHESS but maybe Red Hawk can work close with MPD or something?

Just some random thoughts going on there.

btw: I kind of like the Spider-Man comparison. Spidey' cool and all but never was a big fan of Peter Parker for some reason. Which is funny considering my psych-driven playing style. Double the irony with the fact I'm really itching to take Red out for a spin and see how he performs in a combat. Me jonesing for a combat scene - I think something just got a little chilly  (lol)

Later Tom - Thanks for Red Hawk I think he's going to be a blast
John
------------------------------------------------------------------
Red Hawk

Hey Tom

OOC: I took some of what you didn't use last time and reworked it. I went with the direction you set of taking the Freedom Eagle uniform to Ms. Stitch for "alterations".  I tried to imagine some of the precautions she might have to take as a meta-designer. If it doesn't work for you just adjust as needed. For fun I slipped you a couple of Downloads concerning Ms. Stitch's. May or may not work for you.

<Red Hawk IC: actions and responses>

The sound of jet engines roar overhead, “Chris” looks up and sees two CHESS sky-cycles zip through the city’s skyline.

Looking back down at the over-sized gym back holding the faux Freedom Eagle uniform, “Chris” feels a longing to be up there with the CHESS Knights. They soar through the sky every day hunting those who would prey on the innocent, the weak . . . but then what? Smiling at the playful banter between Brian and Dennis “Brian, you need to get out of that classroom more …” “Chris” thought about that. Brian taught, Dennis had his music, even the CHESS Knights in the sky probably had a life outside of serving the public. I have so much to learn. Not just at StarCorp. Not even just about myself. I have a whole world to learn about. I guess using my abilities to protect innocent people from villains like the Crushers can’t be a bad way to start.

“Chris” sits in the back of the jeep, the wind in his face as they cross the bridge leading from Central City into Soiree Heights. Central City was financially rich. Soiree Heights was a city of opulence. They even had the ability to pay heroes to protect them. “… freaking mercenaries … Chris has more … “ came Dennis’s voice from the front seat. “Chris” thought about Dennis’s tone of voice. Being three days old he wasn’t sure, but he suspected neither Dennis or Brian were comfortable with him yet. I can’t blame them really. I show up claiming to be one of this world’s most beloved superheroes … returned from the grave, the same hero who passed his powers and legacy on to them. I would think they’d want to destroy me, not offer to mentor me.

“Chris” sees their destination just ahead and is surprised as Brian drives past the elegant store front with the marquee sign marked Stitches. Puzzled he turns back around, but before “Chris” can ask Dennis is twisting backwards to tell him, “We can’t just go through the front door can we? It would give away the secret identity of any of us she does special commissions for. You have to have an appointment and special password for the entrance in the parking garage. I hear she only takes one special appointment on any given day as a security measure . . . We can’t all be like the mighty Joshua Rose and just pop in anywhere anytime we want.” “Chris” wasn’t sure, but he thought Dennis might not like his future employer very much.

The jeep pulled up to the gate to the private parking garage. Brian leaned over and punched in the password they had given him at StarCorp for Red Hawk. Supposedly it alerted Ms. Stitch that her appointment had arrived and would be entering through the special entrance in just a few minutes. The three men piled out of the old jeep and walked across the cool concrete. “Chris’s” tech-heightened senses detected the numerous electronic security devices installed throughout the garage as Dennis pushed the button to open the elevator doors. He chuckles softly. Why am I not surprised Dennis likes pushing buttons? Both Dennis and Brian look back astonished at “Chris” laughter. At the same time both ask “What’s so funny?”

Startled by his own ability to find humor in something so small, “Chris” smiles sheepishly, “Just excited I guess.”


OOC: Definitely a different style of RP so far

Thanks
John
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The Wraith: Attack from Above! - Issue 23

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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