Megalopolis: 17 June 2012

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Crusade: Small Packages! - Issue 21

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 fourth time!

The lights were on in the entire building.

On the fourth floor of the Crusader Citadel, eyeing the Micro Mind Manipulator, Starbolt thought to himself, “I have to take her out before she gets her mental claws into any of us." "Black Orchid" he said, "let's triangulate our attacks, she will have to choose one or the other of us to attack, allowing the other a shot from behind."

"Wait!" The Black Orchid whispered, "I'm not ready to compromise my invisibility yet! Attack with Tomahawk unless you think she's really that dangerous. The code word is Nemesis. If I don't hear you say that when I see you again, then I know something's up. I'm off to find any others." The Black Orchid starts to leave but waits a moment to hear any protests/suggestions from Starbolt.

"Please radio for assistance before you engage any of the villains if at all possible," Starbolt said. "I prefer that we keep the numbers advantage if we can." he added before Black Orchid leaves.

"Roger SB. ML, you still there?" The Black Orchid said into her intercom while continuing downstairs. "I'm here. I've found the Crusaders... and the malfunctioning malware that calls himself Mocker. Better hurry if you dudes want a piece of him."

Tomahawk signaled he would attack Marionette at the same time as Starbolt but he would attack from the front. "May the wolf and crow guide your shot Starbolt, as they will guide my hand. Wraith are you attacking with us?"

The Wraith, as almost always, stayed silent and, apparently, unmoving.

Taking flight The Star-powered Sentinel moved to get an altitude advantage over the Mind Maiden of Malevolence. Starbolt planned to let loose with a blast attempting to take out his adversary as soon as possible. "Hang on Manta-Lad", he thought to himself "we'll be there as quick as we can.”

His next thought was not his own.

“Land”

And Starbolt did. He landed in the room in front of Marionette.

“Stand Still”

With his arms by his side, his body passively stood still but his mind violently struggled to be free.

Then Marionette’s arms moved to her sides. Here entire body strained against an unseen force. Unknown to her or Starbolt, The Wraith had successfully grabbed her with his telekinesis.

Starbolt’s mind fought harder against Marionette hoping that forcing her fight control against two adversaries would overwhelm her.

WHAM!

The Micro Mind Manipulator jerked her head forwards and then back. Her eyes rolled upwards into her head. Her head slumped forward. Her head then raised at a slight angle and one eyelid opened but her eye did not look anywhere.

“She’s out cold. Wraith, you can release her.” Tomahawk said as he turned visible.

The Star-powered Sentinel felt his body return to his control and he watched Marionette fall to the floor. Several thoughts and appreciations were never said because through the stairway door flew their next adversary, Centurion.

“I don’t know how you defeated Marionette and Hornet, Starboy and Tonto, but you will never defeat me!” He screamed

{GM Note: Teamwork played a huge part in this turn. If The Wraith hadn’t been holding Marionette she would have been able to roll with the punch when Tomahawk hit her. That was the difference between her losing all her Hit Points versus having 1 HP remaining and able to fight next turn.}

** Earlier before Starbolt left the stairway **

She came to the third floor. When she looked through the doorway she heard someone coming up the stairway. The Crusher wasn’t walking or running up the stairs, he was flying. Black Orchid ducked through the doorway as the roar of rocket boots filled the stairway. In a flash Centurion flew up the stairs heading toward the fourth floor.

Black Orchid looked into the third floor from where she was standing. She could see into the communications room. In the northwest section is a short wave radio as well as a mini-tracking station. Near the north-east corner is a small television broadcasting station. On the west wall is a viewscreen for two-way communications. In the center of the room is the Emergency Communications Console, which, if activated, sends out an alarm to the authorities and many other local superheroes and friends of the Crusaders.

The south-east corner of the room holds the security monitor for the Citadel with a video display of every room except for private quarters. Sitting in the Security Monitor Console is Raijin. He is apparently meditating. There were streams of electricity flowing from him to the Console and back to him.

On one screen she saw the lobby where Detective Broyko and the SWAT team laid unconscious.

On a different screen was Starbolt and Tomahawk standing over an unconscious Marionette.

On a third screen she saw Manta Lad taunting Mocker as lightning flew from his hands. Instead of striking the electricity appeared to grab two panels next to two of the tubes holding the Crusaders.

On a fourth screen she saw Black Orchid watching Raijin watching the monitors.

** Earlier before Starbolt left the stairway on the First Floor**

This was it. Everything that the kid detective had been working towards. He was finally in a room with Manta Man and Mocker.

Manta Lad stepped over the unconscious form of Mace, looked straight at Mocker without fear and said into his wrist communicator in his best tough-guy bravado: "I'm here. I've found the Crusaders... and the malfunctioning malware that calls himself Mocker. Better hurry if you dudes want a piece of him."

He stopped talking but left the channel open! "You don't mind if I invite some extra friends to crash the party, do
you, Pumpkin head?"

Then the human monkey-wrench tried to take control of Manta Man's prison and release him! He successfully gained control of both Manta Man’s and Enforcer’s medical controls. He set the controls on awake and the gases were removed from their tubes. The tubes opened and out tumbled the Teen Techie’s Benevolent Benefactor and Gun-toting Enforcer of Good.

Manta Lad positioned himself between Mocker and Manta Man, facing Mocker, to buy his beloved mentor some time to find his bearings. "Lemme guess. You still got an 8 bit processor up there, right? Tell me the truth; you still back up your memory with floppy disks, don't you?" he chuckled derisively. "Come on, you lame, old-school loser, I hear you sonic scream just like a little girl."

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Mocker screamed in rage at Manta Lad. Blasting him with his sonic powers, Manta Lad’s life support attempted in vain to withstand the assault.

{GM Note: Even with the use of a Luck Point, Mocker was still able to hit Manta Lad. He did 18 points of damage. Manta Lad rolled with 5 points and took -10 to Hit Points}.

As Manta Lad fell to the ground he looked toward Manta Man and Enforcer. Both were on the feet and ready to carry on the fight. As he lost consciousness Manta Lad smiled to himself as knew he had achieved his goal. He had rescued Manta Man.

<Due Date: May 12^th, Actions? Replies?>

{GM Note: Black Orchid and Tomahawk failed their Endurance save so the Stealth Chemical is no longer in effect.}

Current Conditions:

Black Orchid Hit Points: 30 Power Points: 84 Willpower Defense active

Manta Lad Hit Points: 0 Power Points: 47 Luck Points Pool: 0 ** Unconscious **

Starbolt Hit Points: 34 Power Points: 72

The Wraith Hit Points: 10 Power Points: 51 Invisibility: +2/-2

Tomahawk Hit Points: 69 Power Points: 84

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Eyeing the Micro Mind Manipulator, Starbolt thought to himself, " I have to take her out before she gets her mental claws into any of us." "Black Orchid" he says, "let's triangulate our attacks, she will have to choose one or the other of us to attack, allowing the other a shot from behind." Taking flight The Star-powered Sentinel moved to get an altitude advantage over the Mind Maiden of Malevolence. Starbolt lets loose a blast attempting to take to his adversary as soon as possible. "Hang on Manta-Lad", he thinks to himself "we'll be there as quick as we can.

Jamey

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Marc

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"Please radio for assistance before you engage any of the villains if at all possible," Starbolt says. "I prefer that we keep the numbers advantage if we can." he adds before Black Orchid leaves.

Jamey

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OOC: Awesome issue. Thanks Tom.

Well, this is it for Manta Lad!

Two questions:
a) What exactly does Manta Lad know about Mocker? The whole dossier, please.

b) Can Manta Lad use his Lightning Control powers to control or power
the machines that hold the Crusaders, in order to release them? I'd
happily expend a luck point to dramatically open up all the tubes in
front of Mocker! :)

Thanks,
Jeff

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Manta Lad knows that Mocker views himself as the Leader of the Crushers but it usually takes a combination of threats and trickery for any of the Crushers to follow his commands. Mocker is an Android that speaks with an accent that sounds like a cross between a British Aristocrat and Butler. He has built in protection which limits damage. This protection has prevented Manta Man from using his Electrical abilities to take control of Mocker. The Android body has limited self-repair capability as well.

Mocker's main power is the ability to control sound. He can project a sonic blast, manipulate it for speech and perform ventriloquism of all kinds of sounds.

It has been 3 years since Mocker last battled the Crusaders.

Best

Tom

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"Roger SB. ML, you still there?" The Black Orchid says into her intercom while continuing downstairs.

Marc

--------------------------------------------------------------

He stopped talking but left the channel open! "You don't mind if I invite some extra friends to crash the party, do
you, Pumpkin head?"

Then the human monkey-wrench tried to take control of Manta Man's prison and release him! If he could understand the technology, and such a thing was possible, he'd also instruct the tubes to awaken Manta Man (eg: with an adrenalin shot or the equivalent)! Manta Lad would position himself between Mocker and Manta Man, facing Mocker, to buy his beloved mentor some time to find his bearings. "Lemme guess. You still got an 8 bit processor up there, right? Tell me the truth; you still back up your memory with floppy disks, don't you?" he chuckled derisively. "Come on, you lame, old-school loser, I hear you sonic scream just like a little girl."

OOC:
ML is mocking Mocker like only a teenager can in order to get him to attack ML over MM. Also to rile him up.

Not sure if the attempt to open multiple capsules was a Dual Attack, a Multiple Attack or two Separate Attacks.
If it's a Multiple Attack, as per the rules, then Manta Lad will target one tube: Manta Man's. If it's some other kind of attack (where blowing one attempt doesn't make all of them fail) then he would also attempt to open Enforcer's capsule. Either way, he'll devote a Luck Point to succeed in this task, if necessary.

He'll also burn a Luck Point to increase the chance of Mocker's next attack missing (ie: Mocker has to roll twice to hit and use the worse of the two attack rolls).

Thanks,
Jeff

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(ie: Mocker has to roll twice to hit and use the worse of the two attack rolls).

Interesting use of the Luck Point. When players use a Luck Point to improving the chance to hit I give a +4 to hit. So I would plan on giving Mocker a -4 to hit. Would you still want to use a Luck Point for that method.

Question: In your actions you did not activate Manta Lad's Lightning Defense, it that on purpose or did you forget it wasn't active because of the Stealth Chemical (which failed at the end of last turn).

Thanks

Tom

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Yes please! I think I might adopt that -4 rule for my game.

If he can activate his lightning defense as movement, then he will
activate it. Thanks!

Jeff

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Best

Tom

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The Wraith, as almost always, stays silent and, apparently, unmoving.

In actuality he will be using his telekinesis to try to "grasp" the Miniscule Malevolent Mistress of the Mind, and hold her perfectly still so that Tomahawk and Starbolt have a better chance to hit.

Patrolling the Crusade (Wraith is a little confused about where his place in life is at this moment),

Greg

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The Wraith: Small Packages! - Issue 24

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 fourth time!

The lights were on in the entire building.

"Please radio for assistance before you engage any of the villains if at all possible," Starbolt said. "I prefer that we keep the numbers advantage if we can." he added before Black Orchid leaves.

The Wraith, as almost always, stayed silent and, apparently, unmoving.

His next thought was not his own.

“Land”

And Starbolt did. He landed in the room in front of Marionette.

“Stand Still”

With his arms by his side, his body passively stood still but his mind violently struggled to be free.

Then Marionette’s arms moved to her sides. Here entire body strained against an unseen force. Unknown to her or Starbolt, The Wraith had successfully grabbed her with his telekinesis.

Starbolt’s mind fought harder against Marionette hoping that forcing her fight control against two adversaries would overwhelm her.

WHAM!

“She’s out cold. Wraith, you can release her.” Tomahawk said as he turned visible.

“I don’t know how you defeated Marionette and Hornet, Starboy and Tonto, but you will never defeat me!” He screamed

** Earlier before Starbolt left the stairway **

On one screen she saw the lobby where Detective Broyko and the SWAT team laid unconscious.

On a different screen was Starbolt and Tomahawk standing over an unconscious Marionette.

On a third screen she saw Manta Lad taunting Mocker as lightning flew from his hands. Instead of striking the electricity appeared to grab two panels next to two of the tubes holding the Crusaders.

On a fourth screen she saw Black Orchid watching Raijin watching the monitors.

** Earlier before Starbolt left the stairway on the First Floor**

He stopped talking but left the channel open! "You don't mind if I invite some extra friends to crash the party, do
you, Pumpkin head?"

Then the human monkey-wrench tried to take control of Manta Man's prison and release him! He successfully gained control of both Manta Man’s and Enforcer’s medical controls. He set the controls on awake and the gases were removed from their tubes. The tubes opened and out tumbled the Teen Techie’s Benevolent Benefactor and Gun-toting Enforcer of Good.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Mocker screamed in rage at Manta Lad. Blasting him with his sonic powers, Manta Lad’s life support attempted in vain to withstand the assault.

{GM Note: Even with the use of a Luck Point, Mocker was still able to hit Manta Lad. He did 18 points of damage. Manta Lad rolled with 5 points and took -10 to Hit Points}.

<Due Date: May 12^th, Actions? Replies?>

{GM Note: Black Orchid and Tomahawk failed their Endurance save so the Stealth Chemical is no longer in effect.}

Current Conditions:

Black Orchid Hit Points: 30 Power Points: 84 Willpower Defense active

Manta Lad Hit Points: 0 Power Points: 47 Luck Points Pool: 0 ** Unconscious **

Starbolt Hit Points: 34 Power Points: 72

The Wraith Hit Points: 10 Power Points: 51 Invisibility: +2/-2

Tomahawk Hit Points: 69 Power Points: 84

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Jamey

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marc

--------------------------------------------------------------

"Please radio for assistance before you engage any of the villains if at all possible," Starbolt says. "I prefer that we keep the numbers advantage if we can." he adds before Black Orchid leaves.

Jamey

-------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------

Mocker's main power is the ability to control sound. He can project a sonic blast, manipulate it for speech and perform ventriloquism of all kinds of sounds.

It has been 3 years since Mocker last battled the Crusaders.

Best

Tom

--------------------------------------------------------------------

"Roger SB. ML, you still there?" The Black Orchid says into her intercom while continuing downstairs.

Marc

--------------------------------------------------------------

He stopped talking but left the channel open! "You don't mind if I invite some extra friends to crash the party, do
you, Pumpkin head?"

Then the human monkey-wrench tried to take control of Manta Man's prison and release him! If he could understand the technology, and such a thing was possible, he'd also instruct the tubes to awaken Manta Man (eg: with an adrenalin shot or the equivalent)! Manta Lad would position himself between Mocker and Manta Man, facing Mocker, to buy his beloved mentor some time to find his bearings. "Lemme guess. You still got an 8 bit processor up there, right? Tell me the truth; you still back up your memory with floppy disks, don't you?" he chuckled derisively. "Come on, you lame, old-school loser, I hear you sonic scream just like a little girl."

OOC:
ML is mocking Mocker like only a teenager can in order to get him to attack ML over MM. Also to rile him up.

Not sure if the attempt to open multiple capsules was a Dual Attack, a Multiple Attack or two Separate Attacks.
If it's a Multiple Attack, as per the rules, then Manta Lad will target one tube: Manta Man's. If it's some other kind of attack (where blowing one attempt doesn't make all of them fail) then he would also attempt to open Enforcer's capsule. Either way, he'll devote a Luck Point to succeed in this task, if necessary.

He'll also burn a Luck Point to increase the chance of Mocker's next attack missing (ie: Mocker has to roll twice to hit and use the worse of the two attack rolls).

Thanks,
Jeff

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Thanks

Tom

------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes please! I think I might adopt that -4 rule for my game.

If he can activate his lightning defense as movement, then he will
activate it. Thanks!

Jeff

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Best

Tom

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Codename: Red Hawk: Its a Trap! - Issue 5

Location: Memorial Park in Our Fair City

“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.

** Earlier on the other side of the park **

Knowing you can do something spectacular, and finally getting a chance to do it can be worlds apart. For the first time as Chris Eagle, Red Hawk knew what it meant to fly. The wind rushed through his hair as he raced Shatterman, soaring around the park. A smile on his face he looked to his purple clad companion. Dennis has the edge, but it’s so close we’d have to fly a few miles for anyone to notices the difference. The two were reveling in unadulterated speed, when Chris noticed Brian waving the two of them over toward the park’s memorial statues.

As Condor led them toward the police officers, Red Hawk’s advanced optical sensors and auditory processors picked up the officer’s stress as he called in the bomb threat. “A bomb?” As the three costumed fliers land near the officers to get a clear understanding of the threat, Red Hawk realized he has no practical knowledge to help with the handling of a bomb. Looking around for some way to help, he noticed Officer Barrett moving people toward an exit gate, but try as he might, the officer could not open the portal.

Tapping Dennis on the shoulder he pointed to the exit gate. Moving quickly through the throng of scared people, Red Hawk flashed Officer Barrett his shiny new DSA card, “May I help?” Examining the gate carefully Chris decided simply breaking the latching mechanism might be the easiest, least violent way to get the gate open. After informing the officer of his intentions, his hand started to blur as he tried to tightly focus his Vibratory Powers. “You might want to have everyone step back a bit.”

Careful inspection did not reveal anything unique in the latch. Confident it was safe to make the attempt his hand vibrated faster. To Red Hawk’s surprise the gate started to blur as well. It rippled from his hand and spread outward across the whole gate. He searched his memory for any other times that metal had behaved this way. The only memory he could retrieve was the motion that water would make when a rock was dropped in it. Red Hawk turned his head and gave a quizzical look to Officer Barrett.

The Officer peered into the waves of metal. “Don’t stop, Red Hawk. I can see something beyond the gate. It is the REAL gate! This is just an illusion!”

“Don’t stop making the waves Red Hawk; we can use it to see our way through”. Quickly Officer Barrett moved the citizens in single file through the waves. They were able to see the difference between the illusion and reality because of the vibrations causing waves in the illusion. Soon all the people and Officer Barrett evacuated the park.

Red Hawk returned to join his friends. From the distance he can see Condor hard at work on bomb. Suddenly a yellow mist cloud ejected from it. Condor and Shatterman were coughing and wheezing but do not appear injured. The two heroes quickly look toward each other. Red Hawk can tell they are thinking, “Is that all this was? It must be a trap”.

Shatterman surveyed the area around him quickly. He spotted a large 24 foot oak tree moving toward them. He raised his hand and blasted.

BLAZZT!

The power ray struck the large tree. It didn’t fall. There was no shattering of bark or splintering of wood. The tree swung an extra long limb at Shatterman!

BAM!

The limb smashed into Shatterman. He was struck hard. He flew backwards 35 feet landing in the tennis courts. He landed hard in the netting. Shatterman sat up and rubbed his head.

Condor yelled, “Red Hawk watch out for yourself! That tree must be trying to get us away from the bomb. There has to be more to it. I must make sure it is truly disabled and figure out who created it.” Condor ripped off two side panels.

From the other direction of the moving oak tree flew a giant insect. Red Hawk realized it as a man in an insect costume. It had been a bush a few moments before. The insect man flew toward Condor from behind him. Raising a hand, insect man pointed his index finger at Condor.

TWIPT! TWIPT! TWIPT! TWIPT!

Small darts hit the bomb and the ground but missed Condor. Condor turned around. “SWARMaster! What is B.A.D. doing here? This isn’t your M.O. Did someone hire you to protect it?”

As Red Hawk flew closer toward Condor, he noticed he didn’t feel the sun shining on him anymore. Before he would have dismissed it as clouds but with an illusionist in the area he didn’t. He turned in time to see a man in a hawk suit diving down at him. Red Hawk quickly started vibrating his body, hoping that hawk guy would just pass through him.

Unfortunately for the young hero, his opponent didn’t intend to slam into him.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

The sonic scream from the hawk guy ripped through his defenses. To his shock it didn’t damage him but started to shut down his systems. {GM Note: It was a sonic attack but it caused paralysis not damage}

Red Hawk fought to stay awake and to land safely. As he fell to the ground he saw a bush blast Condor. The energy ray struck his armor so Condor was uninjured.

Landing on the ground, Red Hawk fell to his knees. He fought to stay awake. His vision blurred as he saw the oak tree image disappear to be replaced by a giant man in a deep sea diving suit. Giant diver was carrying a giant sword.

Red Hawk’s systems came back online. His vision cleared. While he was on his knees he was wide awake.

{GM Note: Red Hawk rolled a “1” on his wake up roll at the end of the turn so it was played out as his never losing consciousness.}

<Due Date: May 12^th, Actions? Replies?>

Current Conditions:

Red Hawk Hit Points: 49 Power Points: 78 Vibration Defense: On

I am not providing a map because on the number of Flyers in this combat. The PC and the majority of the NPCs can travel the entire length on the park multiple times. If you have any questions about landscape let me know.

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Red Hawk: reaction revision 4.1

Knowing you can do something spectacular, and finally getting a chance to do it can be worlds apart. For the first time as Chris Eagle, Red Hawk knows what it means to fly. The wind rushes through his hair as he races Shatterman, soaring around the park. A smile on his face he looks to his purple clad companion. Dennis has the edge, but it’s so close we’d have to fly a few miles for anyone to notices the difference. The two are reveling in unadulterated speed, when Chris notices Brian waving the two of them over toward the park’s memorial statues.

As Condor leads them toward the police officers, Red Hawk’s advanced optical sensors and auditory processors pick up the officer’s stress as he calls in the bomb threat. “A bomb?” As the three costumed fliers land near the officers to get a clear understanding of the threat, Red Hawk realizes he has no practical knowledge to help with the handling of a bomb. Looking around for some way to help, he notices Officer Barrett moving people toward an exit gate, but try as he might, the officer could not open the portal.

Tapping Dennis on the shoulder he points to the exit gate. Moving quickly through the throng of scared people, Red Hawk flashes Officer Barrett his shiny new DSA card, “May I help?” Examining the gate carefully Chris decides simply breaking the latching mechanism might be the easiest, least violent way to get the gate open. After informing the officer of his intentions, his hand starts to blur as he tries to tightly focus his Vibratory Powers. “You might want to have everyone step back a bit.”

<Red Hawk IC: Actions> He will carefully examine the gate using his Detect Hidden to understand why it won’t open. Something just feels strange about the gate exit not being able to open just as a bomb is found in the area. If He doesn’t find anything and his Detect Danger doesn’t warn him of any traps, Red Hawk will try to shatter the gate’s latch by using as carrier attack on the locking mechanism. If he does detect a boobie trap, then he’ll notify the officer and his mentors and ask for ideas of what to do next.

OOC: Okay the truth is out DS isn’t the paranoid one, his player is. Maybe I had an abusive DM as a kid, or maybe too many action adventure shows where one trap is just the set up for a worse one as the crowd runs to a choke point. LOL Regardless there we have it. Red Hawk’s first official superhero reaction.

Phantom Man Beast: In Search of Nicotine - Issue 4

Location: Rooftop.

The sound of Detective Hill’s badly beaten form falling on to the fire escape below went completely unnoticed by the Phantom. The scream of police sirens wailing in the distance were barely audible to him as he stepped away from the edge of the building and began to get swept away in a memory he thought he had long since forgotten.

The warm summer breeze moved gently across a field of tall green grass, the afternoon sun set high above on its heavenly perch, and a man watched as his wife and two daughters danced whimsically about in a small circle. As they frolicked, the sunlight filtered through their hair and made it all look like threads of finely spun gold. They laughed as they spun quicker and quicker, and laughed even hard as the circle broke and they all fell carelessly to the ground. As his wife leaned forward to tickle their children she looked over to him with the kind of love in her eyes that most men go a lifetime without knowing. As his heart reached out towards its one true love . . . the memory of the moment began to fade.

The illusion of happiness that was playing out before him began to slowly collapse as the escalating level of chaos unfolding around him in the preset began to drag him back into the world he was truly living in.

Loneliness quickly swept across the voids created by the fickle finger of fate, and emptiness mercilessly filled the ruins that littered the tattered landscape of his soul.

Once again he felt the sense of vengeance that for far too long had been his only companion in this world.

He promised that he would always protect them and keep them safe

He promised her that he would love her forever . . .
The massive Man-Beast observed the Phantom's interrogation of the crooked cop with renewed appreciation of the white widowmaker's ruthlessness... until the end. Then it snarled, "You made one mistake, little man. You let him live. If we're gonna work together, you've got to stop being so damn soft. They won't return the favor."

The “Angel of Death’s” eyes squinted unconsciously as he glanced over at the supernatural beast and in a noticeably confused and surprised tone asked, “. . . work together?”

The creature chuckled gutturally. "That's right. I aim to prey on the underworld of this city... to tear out its heart and devour it while it's still beating. Before I'm done, they'll know what fear is. I sense you've got the same goal. If we don't work together, we'll just get in each other's way. I trust you'll be able to keep up with me?"

The veteran solider simply shook his head slightly, released a gentle sigh, and in a tone filled with a small measure of disgust and disbelief responded to the creature,” . . . anyone ever tell you that you talk too much?”

As he spoke, the Man-Beast absently padded over to Detective Hill's lost finger. It bent over, picked up the bloody remnant, sniffed it to get Hill's scent and then tossed it into its slavering jaws. Crunch. Nom.

It swallowed, smiled and turned its yellow cat eyes back at the Phantom. Its pupils shrank to vertical slits and it growled with merry hate: "Now... Trickshot, the Moonlighters, Buzzard... Who do we kill first?!"

Phantom turned his head, looked at the Man-Beast and calmly responded in distinctively aggressive and throaty tone, “. . . Trickshot”

They parted their separate ways. Phantom went to one of his secret arsenal locations. He changed out his gear for more assault oriented arsenal.

He went to the location he had for the Nicotines holdout. They were all there. A guard was at the front door. He was watchful as if he expected trouble. The gangs’ motorbikes were in back with the pickup truck he had seen Trickshot driving. They were placed strategically where they were easily watched from the windows in the house.

When Phantom arrived at the rendezvous place Man Beast wasn’t there but the reporter he had seen earlier. Sam Jones explained the Man Beast had undergone a change in his life which prevented him from making the meet. Sam went on to explain that he would square it with the cops so any kidnapping charges would be dropped before he left town. As he turned to leave he hesitated.

“Any chance of an interview?”

... To Be Continued ...

<Due Date: May 12^th, Actions? Replies?>

Current Conditions:

Phantom Hit Points: 23 Power Points: 50 Invulnerability: 5

Two, FN Five-Seven Pistols: 3 to hit, 1d8 damage, 20 rounds per magazine
Four, extra Pistol Magazines: 20 rounds per magazine
One, FN P90 Submachine Gun: +5 to hit, 1d8 damage, 50 rounds per magazine
Two, extra P90 Magazines: 50 rounds per magazine
Two, M67 Fragmentation Grenades: +2 to hit, 1d10 damage, 2” blast radius
Two, MK3A2 Concussion Grenades: +2 to hit, 1d2 damage, 1” blasé radius, Paralysis Ray attack
Gerber Mark II Combat Knife: +2 to hit, HTH+1d3

Man-Beast Hit Points: 34 Power Points: 67

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All of the following is OOC –

Tom, GREAT issue! I must admit that I’m dying to know if Detective Hill is going to be investigated by the police department in the upcoming issues or will he just be seen as an innocent of victim of vigilante violence. No need to answer that – just thinking out loud ;)

Jeff, we’re probably going to have to write-up some ‘back and forth’ conversation in order to explain how Phantom and Man-Beast come to agree on a partnership – should be interesting to say the least.

Some Idea’s and Future Goal’s:

- Hook up with Father Lonnigan
- Clear Phantom of kidnapping ‘the reporter’
- Wipeout Trickshot and his new friends
- Stake out the hospital where Detective Hill is being treated to see who comes to visit him. I’m guessing we’ll see some of the Moonlighters that Hill named and maybe the Buzzrd himself ( in his secret identity ). I’m guessing they might also try to kill him or at the very least shake him up a bit to see if he ratted them out to Phantom & Man-Beast or not.

TOM WROTE:

After a brief cry 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.

- Is the Nicotine’s Safe-house in the Foundry? I’m assuming that it is, but I just want to make sure.

TOM WROTE:

. . . Hill said, “We own the Foundry precincts and are without number. No names only badges.”

- How many precinct houses are there in the Foundry? If you don’t have a particular number in mind that’s fine – the reason ask is because I was just wondering how spread out these guys are, or are they more consolidated. For example if there’s only one or two houses it might make finding out who the Buzzard is a little easier, if there’s four or five it might make it a little more difficult.

TOM WROTE:

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, . . .

- Am I correct in assuming that in addition to the names of the eight officers that Hill gives their ranks, precinct house numbers, etc.?

- Are you going to allow Phantom to be able to just remember all this info or should I have him write it down somewhere?

Talk to the both of you soon,

- Kev

------------------------------------

- Is the Nicotine’s Safe-house in the Foundry? I’m assuming that it is, but I just want to make sure.

Yes it is.

- How many precinct houses are there in the Foundry?

- Am I correct in assuming that in addition to the names of the eight officers that Hill gives their ranks, precinct house numbers, etc.?

You have their names and ranks but not precinct house numbers. You know the breakdown is 2, 3, and 3. Detective Hill was in the same precinct as the 2 he names.

- Are you going to allow Phantom to be able to just remember all this info or should I have him write it down somewhere?

Yes, I am going to allow it to be a part of his knowledge. He doesn't have a weakness which would cause him to have a chance to forget it. I won't make you remember it as a player.

Best

Tom

-----------------------------------

Man Beast

OOC

Great issues, no foolin. Haha. See what I did there?

Sorry I didn't answer Phantom's questions last ish. Great job replying for me, Tom. Thanks. Will pay better attention from now on.

I'm traveling this week, so I'll be a little quiet til after Easter.

The creature will want to go after Trickshot or the Moonlighters,tonight, before Hill tips them off. He doesn't want to see Lonnigan.But I'm completely open to whatever you want to do Kev.

Best,
Jeff

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The massive Man-Beast observed the Phantom's interrogation of the crooked cop with renewed appreciation of the white widowmaker's ruthlessness... until the end. Then it snarled, "You made one mistake, little man. You let him live. If we're gonna work together, you've got to stop being so damn soft. They won't return the favor."

The angel of death looked skeptical at the creature's phrase "work together." [OOC: Kevin, feel free to alter this any way you deem fit. I just needed a narrative device.]

The creature chuckled gutturally. "That's right. I aim to prey on the underworld of this city... to tear out its heart and devour it while it's still beating. Before I'm done, they'll know what fear is. I sense you've got the same goal. If we don't work together, we'll just get in each other's way. I trust you'll be able to keep up with me?"

As it spoke, it absently padded over to Detective Hill's lost finger. It bent over, picked up the bloody remnant, sniffed it to get Hill's scent and then tossed it into its slavering jaws. Crunch. Nom.

It swallowed, smiled and turned its yellow cat eyes back at the Phantom. Its pupils shrank to vertical slits and it growled with merryhate: "Now... Trickshot, the Moonlighters, Buzzard... Who do we kill first?!"

Jeff

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> PHANTOM’S IC RESPONSE <

The sound of Detective Hill’s badly beaten form falling on to the fire escape below went completely unnoticed by the Phantom. The scream of police sirens wailing in the distance were barely audible to him as he stepped away from the edge of the building and began to get swept away in a memory he thought he had long since forgotten.

The warm summer breeze moved gently across a field of tall green grass, the afternoon sun sat high above on its heavenly perch, and a man watched as his wife and two daughters danced whimsically about in a small circle. As they frolicked, the sunlight filtered through their hair and made it all look like threads of finely spun gold. They laughed as they spun quicker and quicker, and laughed even hard as the circle broke and they all fell carelessly to the ground. As his wife leaned forward to tickle their children she looked over to him with the kind of love in her eyes that most men go a lifetime without knowing. As his heart reached out towards its one true love . . . the memory of the moment began to fade.

The illusion of happiness that was playing out before him began to slowly collapse as the escalating level of chaos unfolding around him in the preset began to drag him back into the world he was truly living in.

Loneliness quickly swept across the voids created by the fickle finger of fate, and emptiness mercilessly filled the ruins that littered the tattered landscape of his soul.

Once again he felt the sense of vengeance that for far too long had been his only companion in this world.

He promised that he would always protect them and keep them safe

He promised her that he would love her forever . . .
The massive Man-Beast observed the Phantom's interrogation of the crooked cop with renewed appreciation of the white widowmaker's ruthlessness... until the end. Then it snarled, "You made one mistake, little man. You let him live. If we're gonna work together, you've got to stop being so damn soft. They won't return the favor."

The “Angel of Death’s” eyes squinted unconsciously as he glanced over at the supernatural beast and in a noticeably confused and surprised tone asked, “. . . work together?”
The creature chuckled gutturally. "That's right. I aim to prey on the underworld of this city... to tear out its heart and devour it while it's still beating. Before I'm done, they'll know what fear is. I sense you've got the same goal. If we don't work together, we'll just get in each other's way. I trust you'll be able to keep up with me?"
The veteran solider simply shook his head slightly, released a gentle sigh, and in a tone filled with a small measure of disgust and disbelief responded to the creature,”. . . anyone ever tell you that you talk too much?”
As he spoke, the Man-Beast absently padded over to Detective Hill's lost finger. It bent over, picked up the bloody remnant, sniffed it to get Hill's scent and then tossed it into its slavering jaws. Crunch. Nom.

It swallowed, smiled and turned its yellow cat eyes back at the Phantom. Its pupils shrank to vertical slits and it growled with merry hate: "Now... Trickshot, the Moonlighters, Buzzard... Who do we kill first?!"

Phantom turned his head, looked at the Man-Beast and calmly responded in distinctively aggressive and throaty tone, “ . . . Trickshot”

> PHANTOM’S GOAL(S) <

Phantom has two goals at the moment:

1. Find Trickshot and wipe him and the Nicotines out. Trickshot because it would mean the definitive end of the Sons of James gang, and the Nicotines for try to protect Trickshot.

2. Phantom wants to see what his new partner is made of – nothing like a ‘live fire exercise’ to find out.

> PHANTOM’S OOC RESPONSE <

My sincere apologies once more for the lateness guys.

Tom, I’m assuming that Phantom will be allowed to change weapons at this point. If you’re going to allow him to do so, then this is what he’s going to grab.

- His standard miscellaneous equipment ( i.e. Zippo, Hinged Handcuffs, tactical LED flashlight, etc. )
- Two, FN Five-Seven Pistols
- Four, extra Pistol Magazines
- One, FN P90 Submachine Gun
- Two, extra P90 Magazines
- Two, M67 Fragmentation Grenades
- Two, MK3A2 Concussion Grenades
- One, Ka-Bar Combat Knife

FN Five-Seven Pistol: +3 to hit, 1d8 damage, Ax6 range, 20 rounds per magazine, capable of automatic fire. Phantom equips his with an under-barrel tactical flashlight.

FN P90 Submachine Gun: +5 to hit, 1d8 damage, Ax7 range, 50 rounds per magazine, capable of automatic fire. This weapon is equipped with a tactical flashlight on its right rail. The P90 fires 5.7x28mm rounds from a standard 50 round magazine ( same magazine used by the AR-57 ).

M67 Fragmentation Grenade: +2 to hit, 1d10 damage, weight = 1lb., 2” blast radius.

MK3A2 Concussion Grenade: +2 to hit, 1d2 damage, weight = 1lb., 1” blast radius. Anyone successfully hit by the blast will also suffer the effects of a Paralysis Ray attack.

Combat Knife: +2 to hit, HTH+1d3 damage, A” Range. Phantom uses either the USMC Ka-Bar or the Gerber Mark II combat knife.

Talk to you guys soon,

- Kev

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Yes you will have time to change weapons. In fact, I am going to use this change to level Phantom up. For Street Patrol I am using standard improvement from V&V 2.1. This means Phantom can increase one of his Stats by +1 or he can improve as secondary stat like Accuracy Modifier with a +1.

Please let me know what improvement you would like.

Thanks

Tom

--------------------------------------------------------------

Cool! For some reason I didn't think we were going to level-up the Street Patrol guys - no idea why I thought that.

To be honest I'm pretty happy with Phantom in relations to where he stands as compared to the other villains he's been facing. I mean if I was one of those Min/Max type players I would automatically just say - Agility or Endurance, but I want something 'more' for Phantom, and the 'Man-Beast & Phantom' storyline - you guys have any idea's or suggestions?

I was thinking maybe something team oriented like 'Team Tactics' or 'Deadly Duo' - a +1 to Accuracy, or Damage, or whatever - to both Phantom AND Man-Beast whenever they're within close proximity to each other or something ( must be within ?" of each other to gain bonus ).

I don't know - what do you guys think? Any ideas/suggestions?

-Kev

------------------------------------------------------------

Since Jeff had to drop, we will work together on a new idea of his leveling up before next issue.

Tom