Location:
Stonehenge, England
The
Flare Arrow struck its intended target true unleashing a blinding flash and
painful light.
"Damn!"
The Black Orchid winced in pain at the bright light and was glad that she was
both behind the generator and still had her adrenalin kicked into over-drive.
"That could have been nasty!" She shook her head, shaking away the
stars that temporarily filled her vision. A few seconds later though and
the whirring sound of the generator stopped, along with most of the other
equipment in the room. "Yes, I've done it!"
Moving
away from the generator she noticed the Three of Cups approaching. She let
loose a blast of vacuum, stunning him as she went. Looking around she noticed
the King of Cups wildly flailing and shooting, so she decided to do the same to
him as well. While not the final blow, it clearly helped as the King crumpled a
few moments later under another physical onslaught.
The
Tarot Masters were defeated. All the heroes had to do was round out the few
remaining hold outs.
As the battle wind down and the villains were
either knocked out or escaped Joshua asked Archer if he can 'borrow' his
StarCorp communicator. Vocal commands quickly reconfigure the device allowing
him access to the Alpha channel. After checking to make sure Cybil wasn't
damaged when the holo-gauntlet was destroyed he started a head count of any of
the heroes who have gone silent and may be missing from the battlefield. It had
been far too long since Magus and Cure have reported in. At the same time he
personally searched the tower for Wraith and Black Orchid. He at least had
sporadic contact with the lady agent of CHESS, but the street hero had not been
seen or heard from since the initial assault. Finding the Black Orchid was a
great relief to the cerulean naval commander. Shaking hands with the exhausted
heroine, "You're a credit to your organization lady. There was plenty of
brawn on the field but your brains saved the day shutting these things
down. If you ever decide to look for work outside the government StarCorp
would be lucky to hook up with you. Maybe when the After Action Reports have
been filed those of us still up for it should down a couple beers and see where
our futures lie."
"Thank you Dark Star, I'm glad to have been a part of this
operation. I certainly couldn't have done what I did without all of you opening
the way and fighting the bastards back. One of my greatest worries was that the
generators would get caught in the middle of the fight. Simply destroying one
of those babies would have been bad, as in crossing the streams kind of
bad." The Black Orchid let slip a little of her normally hidden
geekiness. "But I agree, after I debrief with CHESS, figuring out what I'd
like to do and what I can do with my life over a few beers sounds like a great
idea!"
Seeing
the last of the Domain troops fleeing or defeated, Adamas turned to Elwood,
walked over and sat heavily on the edge of the tower, overlooking the
battlefield. “Elwood my friend, I know it’s hard to believe,” with a
wistful smile, “but this is only the beginning. If you’ll allow me, I can
give you a ride to where the others appear to be gathering. We have
friends that need to be found.”
Using their communications equipment they
inform Command HQ of the victory, Volcanic Man and Space Racer signaled for the
heroes to either tend to the wounded or secure the Tarot Masters.
Thunderhead paused. He was still
alive, despite what Psimon intimated about the future. Had this foreknowledge
caused him to act differently... to avert his fate? Or did his doom still wait,
inevitable?
Thunderhead
quickly snapped out of it. He diminished his form to human size and would
introduce himself, to any who asked, with a friendly handshake and an
antiquated politeness that marked him as a man from another culture... or time.
He thanked Skylark for using her sonic powers to defend him from the Crawler.
And he thanked her, Adamas, Elwood, Harvey, American Woman, Dynamo and Molecule
Man for joining the final assault on the tower.
The
merciful monolith provided first aid to the injured. First the heroes, then the
villains that were securely restrained. Thunderhead was the quintessential
"good cop." Without judgment, he watched to see if any of the
villains wanted to talk, if defeat had brought remorse, if any sought
redemption for their crimes. The heroes needed information. So much was still a
mystery.
The questioning of the Tarot
Masters did not provide any useful information. They had a blind cult-like love
for the Master of the Domain and were not willing to betray him.
Eventually finding Adamas, likely helping assist those too wounded to walk; Joshua cringed at his friend’s physical condition. God, I thought I was beat up. That man is on his last leg and still has a smile on his face. The blonde haired blue swathed figure next to his friend looked vaguely familiar for some reason but Joshua can't place him, and without easy access to Cybil it’s easier to just ... "Adamas, you didn't look like this after the Destroyers. Do you want me to teleport you to Doc Arcane?" Adamas waved the suggestion off. He was still able to help others.
Reluctantly accepting the paragon of hero’s
answer Joshua just nodded and stretched his hand toward the man beside his
friend. "DarkStar or Joshua to my friends, and you are?"
"Thunderhead,”
came the reply with a handshake and a smile. "You're just as Agent
America described you."
The
gentle giant had just finished administering first aid to Adamas. With
Elwood, Adamas and DarkStar finally gathered together,
Thunderhead gave his report. "Agent America is still in the Domain,
gathering a small resistance force to overthrow its master. He needs this
world's heroes to help him. That's one of the reasons sent me here. I know
where an interdimensional gate resides, that can allow all of us to invade the
Domain unnoticed."
As
happy as Adamas was to hear that his friend still carries on Adamas shook his
head slowly. “Too long have we been away, and in my current shape, I
would be of little assistance. We must return, but we must prepare. “
The Heroes dismantled the Inter-dimensional
technology. Black Orchid, Centurion X, and DarkStar studied the equipment. They
were all amazed at how it was at least 50 years behind from theirs. There was
no functioning A.I. or interconnectivity between the systems. DarkStar shared
how this aligned with his experience in the Domain. The most basic of
electronics and computers functioned but sophisticated operating systems and
computer connectivity didn’t exist. He shared how Cybil didn’t even function in
the Domain.
As they were leaving the Ant-Matter Vacuum
Tower they noticed the Coral was slowly fading away. They proceeded to the
relief station for medical attention and some rest.
Serena met them there. She informed them that
with the halting of the Anti-Matter Vacuum Tower the Domain’s grip on Earth had
weakened. No longer were demons arriving from the Domain but the demons already
here were still capable of fighting.
Afterwards,
Thunderhead walked the perimeter of Stonehenge, using his training in
Archaeology, Ancient History, Anthropology and Mysticism to better understand
what the Domain had done here.
Nomad appeared from a dimensional portal and
contacted Thunderhead to remind him that there was still a need for heroes to
come help free those that were being held prisoner in the Domain.
He approached that enigmatic,
interdimensional wanderer. "Nomad. I'm still here to help. I'm still
willing to follow you to the gates of... the Domain, if that's what is needed.
But what of Jacco? Is he still loose in 2013?"
Nomad said, "Yes, he is.
Jacco is at the gate. He will lead the Domain's reinforcements once they come
through it. The destruction of the Anti-Matter Vacuum on Earth had bought us
time. The Domain still has two other devices in our dimension on other planets.
There are forces opposing the Domain on those planets as well but they are not
been as successful as you have.
"You need to take
control of the gate and afterward send a strike force through it to
join Agent America's strike force to take down Cr’tegorf. In the Domain it
truly is cut off the head and the body dies. It is a predator pack that will
turn on itself.
"We, Geonesians, are ready
to take the Domain down a different path but can't as long as Cr’tegorf is
leader of the pack."
Thunderhead
glanced once more at the battlefield, and the tragic ruins of Stonehenge. "It will take time to rally our
forces. Give the injured time to heal. How long dare we wait until we
strike Jacco and seize his Gate?
“The destruction of the Tower bought you 3 to
4 weeks” was his reply.
Thunderhead asked “who are 'we
Geonesians'?"
Nomad looked at Thunderhead for a second.
"Let me try explaining it
this way; Geonesians are a species of the Domain. As others have referred to
all Domain creatures as Demons, it is the same if I referred to cats, dogs,
elephants, sharks, and humans all as Earthlings."
"The biggest difference is
there isn't a dominant species in the Domain like here on Earth."
"One
more thing," Thunderhead said. "Psimon told me about my future... that
I never return to 1931. How I'm never heard from again. Why is that?"
Nomad
began explaining the catastrophic danger of time travel paradoxes, and how no
one was meant to know their future when Thunderhead interrupted him.
"It's
too late for all that. I already know I never make it back to 1931. I've come
here at your request. I'm still willing to aid you. But I need to know the
truth. I deserve that much. What happens in my future, Nomad?!"
Nomad said "We still don't
know your future. We may lose the battle in the Domain against Cr’tegorf
and you are imprisoned there for eternity.”
“Or you die in the Domain but
your death gives us victory. “
“Or we could win and when it is
time to me to open the portal you go back to 1931 but decide to live a hidden
life battling the other magical forces in Hallowed Hills. As Dr. Arcane tells
me "What happens in Hallowed Hills, stays in Hallowed Hills"
“Or when I open the dimensional
portal you ask to not go back to 1931 but to a different time.”
“Or you fall in love with a
Geonesian Princess deciding to stay in the Domain to be a great warrior for us.”
“Thunderhead your future is still
undecided; don't worry about the final scene in your little Paradox Play
when we are only at the intermission"
With a sly smile
Nomad opened a dimensional portal and after listening to any final comments
from Thunderhead stepped through it.
The accidental avatar of the Incan goddess of
the storm returned the sly smile. He said to the time traveling trickster,
"Sorry, Nomad. I overestimated your powers of prophecy. Imagine
my relief to hear that free will still exists."
Manta Man wanted to talk with Starbolt before
the Crusaders left for Megalopolis They were too hurt to continue with the
fighting they needed to recover. Manta Man especially wanted to check on how
Manta Lad was doing.
Manta Man told Starbolt he was
very proud of him. It was with sadness that he was telling Starbolt the
Crusaders will be disbanding. Manta Man needed to devote his time to Manta Lad
and to rehabbing his own injuries that he sustained from the Crushers and the
Tarot Masters.
Evergreen had already told Manta
Man that she was joining the forces in Hallow Hills to fight the Domain because
that is why she is here.
Dreamweaver wanted to go to
college
Blizzard wanted to pursue a
career as a comic book artist.
Enforcer wanted to discover his
lost past.
Laserfire wanted to go solo.
He was welcome to visit anything
at Manning Enterprises. Manta Man encouraged Starbolt to join one of the other
teams because being a hero was his destiny.
After having rested enough to safely teleport
himself, Joshua aided the others by teleporting those too wounded to move to
hospitals he was already familiar with. Eventually as the battlefield was cleared
Joshua decided to ride back home with the heroes he had fought beside instead
of teleporting back home. While his instincts drove him to be working and
preparing for what was to come next, it was more important to share this time
with those who had given everything in the defense of their planet.
Shortly military transport arrived to return
them to the airstrip they had arrived at. There at the base the Crimson Guard
informed everyone they were not returning to the Megalopolis. They were going
to stay in England. They were going to support the Crown Guard in their battle
with the Domain Demons.
Sitting beside the fiery Volcanic Man and Adamas
much of his time on the way back to Megalopolis it occurred to him as he looked
about the plane and checked the roll of the dead and missing that there were
going to be great changes in the near future. Megalopolis and its field of
heroes might never be the same, but there was still more work to be done. The
Domain had to be taught Earth would not lay back and wait. He had talked to
Samuels before and he would again after consulting with Doc. It was time a
Strike Team made sure the Domain paid the butcher's bill and paid in spades for
their invasion attempt, and DarkStar would be there shoulder to shoulder with anyone
willing to go.
CX sat quietly on the way back. His
head pounding from the lucky shot at the end of the battle that knocked him
out. He simply wanted to remove his helmet and take a couple generic pain
meds. But he looked at the gathered and beleaguered heroes and knew it
would do nothing but cause them stress and anguish. He thought back on Dark
Star's words to Black Orchid. He thought to himself,
“So
much for being the smartest one in the room, Alex. At least I finally
know why I kept getting my ass kicked by the heroes... My own arrogance.”
The Black Orchid talked to Centurion X. "I know you might
think things got a little out of control back there, but we all did the best we
could, including you, with what we knew at the time. I'm still new at this, but
I can say it doesn't help to beat yourself up too badly over decisions made in
the heat of battle..." The Black Orchid paused for a moment, reflecting on
how mad she got at being unable to stop Hauntress. "Advice I should
probably learn to take myself!" she smiled.
That's when he realizes Black Orchid was
talking to him. Her words sank in like water to a dry sponge. His
mood suddenly changed.
"Thanks, Orchid. That helps a lot.
I think my gut reaction is to do just that, beat myself up and get mad at
my opponents for putting me in that position. Don't get me wrong, the
Domain needs its corporate ass kicked, but not because of what they did to me.
They are interdimensional bullies. They try to roll over whatever world
they can and take all the lunch money they want. The only way to stop a
bully to hunt them down and knock the crap out of them. Believe me, I
know."
His voice becomes louder and more confident.
Even his back straightened a bit.
"Everyone! I know I'm the new guy.
I also know that some of you may be pretty ticked that I blew up
Stonehenge. But please listen to me. This Domain invasion isn't
over yet. They still have the resources and the will to try to come here
and take our homes and our families. Next time, it might be the Pyramids
or some other ancient site of power, but there WILL BE a next time."
He stood in the transport.
"The only way this is going to end is if
we take this fight to THIER home, their turf and KICK THIER TEETH IN!!
They are not used to losing and right now they are trying to figure out
how a chaotic, unorganized, primitive world threw them back. Before they
can adjust and come at us again, we need to strike! We invade them!
We go straight for the top and make them think long and hard before
coming back to Earth. Is there anybody with me???!!!"
In
the troop transport, Thunderhead listened to the
man who destroyed Stonehenge try to rally the troops.
An
archeologist and historian, Thunderhead felt the loss of Stonehenge acutely. He listened
to the futuristic, golden armored hero and was reminded of the Great War.
There too, young men made catastrophic mistakes that cost life and limb. He
remembered the Air Force battalion that accidentally massacred their own
troops. He remembered women and children killed by mustard gas because of
an error in forecasting the direction of the wind. He
remembered men who froze to death in trenches because a supply order for
winter uniforms got lost by a clerk. Tragic mistakes and unforeseen
consequences were the price of war in any century. This man was not to
blame.
"Who's
with me?!" asked the young soldier in the transport.
Thunderhead
rose and put his hand on Centurion X's shoulder. "I am."
CX stood in the plane and looked at the
gathered heroes. All share the scars and wounds of the battle, not so
long ago fought. He has asked the whole group if they wanted to go kick
the Domain's butt. He was impatient when receiving only a single reply.
"Come on
People! Those interdimensional jerks just tried to conquer our world and
enslave our friend, families and countries. You have all got to be
itching for some payback! I am! I know we're tired and hurting.
We've got the time for a breather, but after that, we need to move!
Orchid, you with me? Armorman Jr, I know you aren’t going to let
them get away with this. Starbolt? What about you? When have
you guys ever let someone just get away with a crime. You go after
them!"
Armorman Junior looked up, his
helmet still on. "I agree they aren't getting away with anything but we
need to allocate our resources correctly. The Indestructibles are going to
Russia after we are healed. We have to make sure the Red Guard doesn't falter.”
Centurion
X replied, "Thanks, Armorman. It’s just important to keep our minds
on the goal and not the losses. If the Indestructables are going to
Russia, then Russia's in good hands."
Armorman Junior nodded thanks, “I
would recommend you join up with the Guardians. They successfully made into the
Domain and back intact."
"They should be the strike
force that takes it to the Domain"
Armorman Junior paused looking
first at Black Orchid and then Starbolt. "In fact, I would recommend all 3
of you joining the Guardians."
Starbolt
could still hear Manta-Man's words playing over in his head. "The
Crusader's are disbanding; I'm hurt and trying to take care of Manta-Lad. The
rest of the team are pursuing personal matters."
"I
don't know which way to go now." The Stellar-Powered Sentinel thought to
himself. "I always imagined that I would eventually join The
Crusaders, but it appears that that door is now closed." Realizing that
Armor Man JR. was talking to him and Black Orchid, brought him back to the here
and now.
"Joining The Guardians was what
he said wasn't it." Starbolt thought, "No offer has been extended to
me A.M.Jr., But if my help is needed I am more than willing to give it."
“I do believe that if we are to
take the fight to the domain, that we need as many of us healed up, and a good
battle plan, and as much Intel as we can acquire about where we are
going."
"Rushing headlong into the jaws of the
beast will help us not."
"What do the rest of you think?"
Resonator
and Skylark agreed with Starbolt.
CX turned back to the rest of the group.
"I know things got heavy back there, but we WON! Every
single one of you stuck your neck out like you've done time and time again and
it made the difference! Right now they're not trying to figure out how we
won, they're trying to figure out how 'THEY' lost. That's the thing with
megalomaniacs, it's always about them. Please don't let our victory sour
in your stomachs. I'm going to shut up now. But please consider
what I've said."
He sat back down and turned to Black Orchid. He leaned over
and spoke quietly.
"Looks like my little tank maneuver didn't win me any
popularity points. I guess I've started out my hero career with a stutter
step and on the wrong foot, to boot. Oh well, I think I'd rather be the
least of the heroes..."
Adamas turned towards the young hero, “My friend, I appreciate your enthusiasm. I know of the Domain, and I have been to that world. This,” Adamas indicated the Tower, and slowly took in the entire island, “was a small taste of what we will face there. This enemy is not a villain, but a world of villains, created and bred only for destruction. Even the vegetation there can be dangerous. Where our world knows Love and Joy, they know only Hatred and Anger. We face not a force, but Nature and Horde such as this world has not seen. Dark Star can fill in those of you with technical powers on the changes you can expect in the Domain, and we will face them together.”
Sitting toward the front with Adamas, Joshua
still could hear CX's little speech to the others, the passion of the
battle seemingly still pumping adrenaline in the hero's armored form.
DeBrandt's golden boy plea reminded him of a rookie squad member he had worked
with during his MEDUSA days. The young man oozed with a need to prove himself
to the veterans around him. Let’s
just hope that enthusiasm doesn't get anyone else killed in the process.
More surprising was Armorman Jr.'s address to
the three closest to him at the time. Not sure if the others had made the
connection, Joshua had assumed the Centurion would head back west with the
battle tanks to DeBrandt's main testing grounds. As far as he knew, the other
two, Black Orchid and Starbolt had been working with the Crusaders for the past
couple years. The Crusaders were a long established group that operated
independent of the government and appeared to have been about as affected by
corporate influence as the New Super Society. Joshua had a deep respect for the
Crusaders.
Nudging his adamantine friend Joshua directed
his thoughts toward Adamas. just
"I assume you heard that? It appears the rumors of Manta Man debanding the
Crusaders could be true. I don't know how much Armorman Jr. knows about the
'Guardians' but unless Magus, Cure, and Elwood show up, it looks like there are
still at least as many active Crusaders as there are Guardians . . . I don't
know what you think but with their public trust and name recognition it almost
makes more sense for us to join them if we are going to continue this
'super-hero business' after our Quest for Dr. Arcane comes to a close."
Before
the plane landed on their way back from the battle, CX got up from his seat and
made his way forward. He approached where Dark Star was seated. He
nodded at those seated near him and waited for a break in any conversation they
may be having.
"I'm
sorry for interrupting; however, I think we need to have a chat. AM Jr is
taking the Indestructables to Russia to help there. He's suggested that
Black Orchid, Starbolt and myself join up with the Guardians for the sortie
into the Domain. I don't know what your plans are, but I know this, If we
go to another dimension, we are going to need a strong, recognizable leader
while we're there. I don't mean any offense to anyone on this plane,
they're all heroes and damned good ones, but, Dark Star, we're going to need
someone who can keep up cohesive. I think, that's you. I can guess
that all of you think I'm too impulsive and inexperienced. You're right.
This was my first fight. But if there is one thing I do know, it's
how people function. Without strong leadership, the battle before the
tower is going to happen all over again. I also think between you and the
DeBrant Corporation, we can probably put together some temporary devices to
protect everyone from that damned K'Flpta-flurg from getting into our minds.
Sorry, I don't speak alien jibberish very well."
"Cr’tegorf . . . The enemies name is Cr’tegorf."
The cerulean commander took a deep sigh. “I appreciate your support, but I only
stepped in because the enemy threw our leadership's initial plan in the crapper
and someone decided a nuke could bring down a magical force field. Don't get me
wrong I almost did the same thing on my first outing a few years ago. What that
proves though is that when fighting mystical enemies we need experienced
mystical leadership."
Still worried that Magus and Cure had not
been responding and Elwood was last been seen slipping away toward the nearest
pub, Joshua supposed experienced leadership beat none at all. "You and
Thunderhead seem to be doing well. I know of Starbolt and Black Orchid from
their time with the Crusaders, when we get back to the States I'll make sure
that the four of you, and any others who want to continue the fight, all meet
Dr. Arcane. Adamas and others he has gathered have been fighting this battle
for some time now. We can meet with him, honor the fallen, pool our knowledge
and resources ... then plan what actions we can take that will end this threat,
once and for all."
Joshua had already invited a few of the
heroes for a beer once the CHESS debriefings were over with. He would be
spending a few days himself healing from his wounds. Assuming the others would
be doing the same, Joshua sent a message via the Star-Comms that the
heroes had been issued for the mission to anyone returning to Megalopolis join
in a remembrance of the fallen and injured comrades ... and maybe discuss
how we might organize a strike force to do exactly as the Centurion had
suggested.
"Doc ... When you have a moment we need
to talk. Magus and the Cure are missing, and Elwood seems to have slipped away
after the battle. If we are going to continue the last leg of the Quest we are
going to need some more recruits. I have a few ideas but you have been our
guiding hand since day one and in matters of the occult I will always bow to
your and Donnah's knowledge and experience."
They arrived at Megalopolis without incident.
DarkStar teleported Adamas to Earth 1 Space
Station to receive medical treatment.
At CHESS HQ the New Super Society left for
Hallowed Hills. They were going to help The Chosen, The Redeemers, Elemental
Forces, and Dr. Arcane who were battling the demons there. The ancient city
provided an unknown source of power which was the reason the demons were
showing no sign of weakening.
Back
at CHESS headquarters, The Black Orchid briefed Huffington on her actions in
the battle and her resulting observations. "I believe with some work we
can analyze the machinery, figure out where these bastards used it come here
and reverse engineer it to go hit them at their home turf. I think I can work
the power aspect, but if anyone else can design the kind of comms and tracking
we'll need in another dimension, we should have a fighting chance."
The Black Orchid, clearly energized from her success dismantling the
generators, was much more confident than she has been in the past.
"Also" she said her voice speeding up in the manner she did when she
got excited, "I've discovered a new facet of my power. Probably the stress
of going out into battle brought it on. It appears I can now warp the darkness
around me in such a manner as to make myself essentially invisible. This was
crucial to not being seen while dismantling the generators. If possible, I'd
like to do some bio-energetic feedback training targeted on this new ability to
make it a bit more reliable and robust. I believe it will come in handy for
whatever assignments are next... I'm sorry," she paused for a moment,
realizing she was getting ahead of herself. "I don't know if you want me
to go back to 'Special Projects' or not, but I sure felt a real sense of
purpose working with the other heroes." She sat back, expectantly, but not
wanting to get her hopes too high.
Director Huffington explained how
Bishops have the freedom to act as needed within CHESS.
There has been one Bishop that participated on a team of Capes. Black Orchid's
actions in the field definitely qualifies her for being elevated to Bishop
level. She could continue working with the other Heroes. There was no reporting
of activities or information on the team to CHESS. Black Orchid would report
directly to Huffington. Any information Black Orchid decided to provide CHESS
would be strictly from a readiness to support the upcoming events; I.e. crowd
control, medical relief, and incarceration of captured Villains.
Black Orchid would still have all
the resources of CHESS and the ability to invoke the rights of CHESS as a
Bishop.
Upon
hearing the Director's suggestion of her promotion, The Black Orchid bowed
slightly, "I would be greatly honored to become a Bishop. Thank you for
your confidence in me. I would like to continue with the other heroes in their
attack on the Domain as I feel I can complement the others in the group with my
unique abilities. You can also count on me to keep CHESS'
best interests in mind, particularly in the area of technology." She rose
and shook Director Huffington's hand, "Thank you Director,"
and moved to the elevator. Bishop Prince was waiting for her.
After her Bishop
initiation, The Black Orchid talked to the Director. "I believe that
several of my allies were critically wounded during our previous engagement. I
know we could use their help in the upcoming incursion but it looks like it
might take a while for them to get back on their feet. While I'm no biologist,
I do know that I now heal at a remarkable rate. I know CHESS has some of the
best and brightest minds available, so I am willing to submit some of blood to
determine if there some factor that can be isolated to accelerate healing, even
over the short term. As I said, while I don't know the biology, I can certainly
help design any equipment for purification, testing etc."
Co-Director
Harrington agreed. She instructed a Rook to get Black Orchid a lab and to
solicit help from other sources.
Seeing as CX was most likely the cause of
Adamas' injuries, CX volunteered to help Black Orchid in creating the healing
device. They worked through the night. Black Orchid work with the CHESS
Biologists on creating a rapid healing serum based on her own accelerated
healing. Centurion X worked on the device which would store the serum and
inject into Adamas skin. Normally this kind of device is not too difficult but
this one had to get past his diamond hard skin.
Within 3 days everything was ready. They
contacted DarkStar for a ride.
DarkStar teleported them to Earth 1 Space
Station. Both of them focused on the task at hand even though they were tempted
to meet the alien scientists and ambassadors on board.
The device and serum worked. Adamas was
completely healed within 3 days.
CHESS attempted to duplicate the serum but
without significant genetic samples from Black Orchid it wasn’t able to create
more.
Director of DSA, Gaunt asked Centurion X to
meet with him for a briefing on the performance to the Tank and what happened
at Stonehenge. He explained to CX that he was on thin ice. His license was
provisional and he better use that genius IQ to figure out the correct
priorities. No conflict was more important that the safety and welfare of allies
and citizens shouldn’t be considered. CX needed to even consider the
environmental effect of his actions too.
After all briefing is complete, Elwood is
uncharacteristically quiet. Then a moment presents itself. "My
new and very dear friends, Harvey and I very much look forward to getting to
know you all better but now Harvey tells me that's we have very important work
to do back in Stonehenge. I have never seen Harvey look as saddened as I do now
and I'm sure you can all say the same. The destruction of Stonehenge must be
repaired and he and I going to do just that. When we are done and hopefully
when you have successfully completed you're important tasks we can all
reconvene perhaps a Charlie's. It will be great fun for us to reunite and tell
our stories to one another." Slowly and purposefully the gentle man
rose and adjusted his jacket. He took the second jacket he tends to carry and
neatly folded it over his elbow. "I will not say 'goodbye' but I
will say 'see you soon.' Let's have some fun when next we meet."
Joshua approached Elwood after the briefing
broke up. Starting with a firm handshake the Titan can't help but give the
modest man a gentle hug as he says his goodbyes. "I respect your and
Harvey's desire to make right the damage done at Stonehenge. You are going to
be missed on the last leg of the Quest by all of us. I only wish Agent America
had been here to see your brave actions at the end of this battle." . . .
"If you need anything, and I mean anything from me or StarCorp. Just
activate your Star-comm and ask for Trisha. She can handle anything not
meta-related twenty-four seven access to me unless we at in the Domain
" . . . After keeping an eye of his friend's body language and facial
indicators the past year, Joshua hope he is looking in the direction of
Elwood's companion. "Harvey I know you always do but keep a special eye on
this one. I hope to see you myself someday when you decide the time is right.
Keep safe ... both of you."
Elwood puts on his hat and smiling warmly
walked out. As he held the door open to let someone pass before him he
looked back, winked and exited. To Elwood’s surprise Harvey wanted to visit the
Foundry before leaving for Stonehenge.
Epsilon and Serena were quizzing the CHESS
Rooks on whether they were making any progress on seeing where Telecomm had
been taken to.
Director of FISH, Mr Delta and Director of
Alien Affairs on Earth for GIANT, Detective Ravage wanted to discuss with
Thunderhead about how he had arrived in the present day. Thunderhead's reply
to Delta's and Ravage's questions was courteous if brief. "Nomad brought
me here... from 1931."
Detective Broyko of the Megalopolis Police
Department wanted to question Phantom on his whereabouts the last few months.
Phantom slipped out of CHESS HQ before he could be questioned.
Director of MEDUSA, Vlasov was frantically
trying to reach Alexander Brandt, Owner of DeBrandt Industries. He was livid
that the tanks were capable of being converted into nukes. They would have to
be completely redesigned and he was demanding that DeBrandt Industries pay for
it. He also demanded that DeBrandt Industries fire Centurion X
General Samuel had CX stripped of his
security clearance.
Psimon asked Elwood and Thunderhead if they
would like to join him for a drink at a pub not far from here. Later, he'd have that
drink with Psimon and Elwood and asked what Psimon had been up to since they
last saw each other, 80 years ago. Psimon shared the key events in history
from when Thunderhead disappeared until now.
{GM
Note: See Megalopolis history on the website}
Psimon
talked about what it was like delivering his famous address before Congress,
speaking of the special needs of those who risk their lives to use their unique
gifts to help America, and the unique challenges they face which require them
to operate independently and anonymously. Then he voluntarily unmasked himself,
revealing that he is black. The impact of this speech – and Psimon’s voluntary
unmasking – during a time when racial tensions were reaching their peak was
enormous. Congress passed the “Superheroism Accommodation Act”, establishing a
licensing process by which the activities of masked crime-fighters are now
legal under the law.
Thunderhead
shared what he knows of Jacco and the Domain with Psimon and the
Guardians.
*Whoump*
"Lights on."
The darkness slowly gives way to the soft
glow of light emanating from recessed panels in the ceiling overhead. Moving
his massive cerulean frame with the same agility he had as a college athlete, Joshua
began activating the banks of super computers along one wall of his private
work space. Buried another three hundred feet below StarCorp's level three
sub-basement, Rose's personal laboratory and manufacturing facility could only
be reached via teleport, and woe the meta who did not it's exact location.
Slipping the solid ball of Diatanium from a
pouch on his work belt, Joshua smiled at the latest creation of Team
Hephaestus. They had followed his design specs perfectly and even made an
improvement he should have seen himself if he hadn't been trying to juggle so
many things at once. As always, time was short, and he did not know when next
he would be asked to serve Dr. Avery and the Quest. Until then however he would
enjoy the moments. A moment such as this one where he could help improve the
life of a friend.
"Well Cybil, I hope you enjoy your new
home."
Pressing the virtually invisible touch panel
at the rear of the globe, Joshua connected the device's USB into a nearby
outlet. Inside the cue ball sized globe a golden light flickered into life.
Re-engineering the Huntsman's floating spy-eye had been the key. Cybil's new
home was over twice as large as Huntsman's device but she was made of Diatanium
and could house his AI much in the same way the bracers had before. As more
power poured into the globe it took on a golden hue and started to float above
the table.
Seeing that his constant companion had
downloaded her control programming into the device, Joshua slipped the USB from
its plug. She would be able to do that on her own as the AI eventually
"learned" how to master all of her functions. "Take your time
Cybil. You've never had individual mobility before. It might take you a few
moments to process the anti-grav. and navigational systems." As if taking
Joshua's statement as a challenge. The golden globe hovered even higher. Wobbly
at first, but then it started to rotate and move about the lab.
<"I believe I have already processed
89.76543% of this devices functionality Joshua. I am pleased to see that you
too have regained most of your functionality from the battle. How my I now be
of assistance?"> Smiling at his friend's request, Joshua waves her to
follow him. "First we have one more thing to do before returning to our
friends above." At he back of the lab Joshua flipped the latches of a
ceramic container the size of a fifty-five gallon drum and opened the hatch.
Inside the container was a translucent yellow fluid.
"It's Saturday
night and time for a bath Cybil. We are going to use multiple coats from
this material to create a shielding for your new home. It will wear off in
time, but for the near future you will be able to accompany me when next we
enter the Domain." Not at full capacity, but I'll take ten percent of you
over a hundred Cray computers any day of the week." An hour later Cybil
has completed the process of her applying the shielding to her new housing and
it gleams with a bright sunlight like shine. She alights on her shoulder as
they prepare to leave.
"Lights out."
*Whoump*
General Samuel wanted a debriefing from
Commander Rose on the deviation from the battle plan. DarkStar teleported to
CHESS headquarters with Cybil floating inches above his right shoulder. After
having spent a few days at Sarrisa's, healing from his injuries, Joshua had
promised General Samuel an After Action Report once he had finished personal
business helping get a friend settled into her new home. The gruff old
commander of the Super Forces mumbled something about shameless womanizer
before agreeing to meet at CHESS HQ.
Commander Rose gave a straight forward report of the battle from his perspective, including the information he had learned later from others on the flight back to the States. " ... as far as where things slid sideways General, best I could tell was when DeBrandt's golden boy decided to turn his masters 100 ton tank into a makeshift nuke in an attempt to knockout the tower. A lot of heroes went down with villains in that blast. He underestimated the Domain's technology and strength of the force field surrounding the tower. Personally I can't fault his enthusiasm, and leadership on the field went to hell in a hand basket after that devil turned a number of our own against us ... maybe even before then, but the boy needs a real mentor before someone approves his Hero License." Done with his own report he asked for and had Cybil record any information the Super-Forces other hero teams around the earth and in space had to report.
Joshua has Cybil download as much of an electronic account of the battlefield events as possible along with information of the hero and villains that were either killed or missing in action. Joshua leaves the government building as convinced as ever that he could never trust the government to provide the proper leadership, Intel, or resources when it came to meta-human activities. Even though constantly feeling out of his depth, he would be glad to see Adamas and start their next mission at his next stop ... Dr. Avery's mansion. "Once more into the breach."
*Whoump*
Commander Rose gave a straight forward report of the battle from his perspective, including the information he had learned later from others on the flight back to the States. " ... as far as where things slid sideways General, best I could tell was when DeBrandt's golden boy decided to turn his masters 100 ton tank into a makeshift nuke in an attempt to knockout the tower. A lot of heroes went down with villains in that blast. He underestimated the Domain's technology and strength of the force field surrounding the tower. Personally I can't fault his enthusiasm, and leadership on the field went to hell in a hand basket after that devil turned a number of our own against us ... maybe even before then, but the boy needs a real mentor before someone approves his Hero License." Done with his own report he asked for and had Cybil record any information the Super-Forces other hero teams around the earth and in space had to report.
Joshua has Cybil download as much of an electronic account of the battlefield events as possible along with information of the hero and villains that were either killed or missing in action. Joshua leaves the government building as convinced as ever that he could never trust the government to provide the proper leadership, Intel, or resources when it came to meta-human activities. Even though constantly feeling out of his depth, he would be glad to see Adamas and start their next mission at his next stop ... Dr. Avery's mansion. "Once more into the breach."
*Whoump*
Sweat flew from his long black bands as David ducked beneath a spinning kick, and used the momentum to flip forward just as a staff attempted to smash into his shins a split second too late. Rolling over his shoulders and springing up into a defensive stance, the young student barely caught the follow up attack from his mentor with a cross block ... only to have his ankles swept out from beneath him by the beautiful woman who had used the energy from her kick to in a roll of her own. "Uhumph " Before he could move again, David found the staff's tip pressed against his throat. Carefully raising his hands in a posture of surrender he reluctantly uttered the words "I yield"
The woman's voice, a husky sexy laugh was
barely audible over the other sounds of sparring taking place around the dojo.
Grasping the offered hand of his mentor and sponsor Davis merely gave the woman
know to most the world as Kali a blush and grin. Shaking his head as he looked
back at the Foundry's long time hero, Lightning-Fist, David shrugged his
shoulders. "I still am playing checkers with those who are masters of
chess. CHESS ... the name
has been much on my mind of late.
The cargo plane had no more than set down
than Bishop Prince had again asked the Archer to join him in discussion. He had
agreed to talk to the Bishop of CHESS as soon as they returned to the States
and the CHESS agent had taken him literally. David had spent the trip privately
meditating in the aircraft's storage section. David had accidentally killed a drug
dealer when he had been operating without a DSA license. He had regretted
the accident and had promised to dedicate himself to saving others in penance.
Right or wrong he had decided not to turn
himself in. No one could bring the dead drug-dealer back to life, and his being
in jail would be of help to no one. David had spent the many hours in
meditation placing his mind and body in a place of tranquility. During the
interrogation David had focused all his willpower on maintain that tranquility
over his mind and body. Giving truth where he could and half-truths when
needed. Only the Craftsman knew the full truth. Even his DSA sponsor
Lightning-Fist did not know, though David had began to suspect Kali might.
Thanking both for working with him this evening,
David politely declined having dinner with his two friends. The Foundry had
suffered in it's own way from the Domain invasion and while the real heroes
were off fighting in an alternate dimension, the Archer was promised to do what
he could to keep Megalopolis safe until their return. The Domain had to have
many human agents to mobilize the forces they had in England. Many of those
forces had originates from Megalopolis.
Sitting in the locker room a towel around his
waist and another drying his hair, David heard the beep beep of a text coming through the
burner phone. Cycling the security code Craftsman had gave him, David
hoped the gadgeteer had news of his father. Hopes were quickly dashed and just
as quickly replaced with curiosity and concern.
To: Archer
Fm: Oracle
There is a new deck in the game. Someone is
holding cards under the table that need to be seen. The First one to the Bank
tonight Page me. Together we can take the King for all he is worth.
Even as he reads the text it slowly starts to
delete itself from the screen. David had not heard from the Oracle since he had
stopped the Nicotines from flooding Megalopolis with a new designer drug
imported by the Talons. Once again the mysterious messenger seemed to be
putting him on the trail of a great evil. The references to a deck of cards,
the emphasis on the Page and the King. It
appears the Tarot Masters and their Pentacle minions were not as
decimated at Stonehenge as all had hoped. If I interpret this right, a Page
will be at the First Bank of Megalopolis tonight . . . Maybe there I can
discover what the "cards under the table" are "that need to be
seen"?
Shatterman
and Condor were ready to return to Central City, they asked Red Hawk if he was
coming with them.
"Not yet. I need to report to StarCorp and repair some of the damage I sustained in the battle my regenerative systems cannot repair. I will call you in a couple days. You should both rest and repair yourselves. I predict ... we may still be needed, with the worse may yet be to come." Shaking hands in the manner his mentors had taught him that friends do in greeting and departure, Chris watched as Brian and Dennis drove away in the old beaten up jeep. Dressed in civilian clothes himself, the third who had chosen to try and uphold the legacy of the Freedom Eagle pulled the dark red hoodie over his head and shrugged the large gym bag containing his colorful costume over his shoulders.
CHESS security personnel individually escorted those heroes from
the military base who choose to leave in civilian ID. Keeping his face buried
in the shadows of his hoodie, Chris nodded in thanks as he walked around the
corner to a bus stop and boarded the public transport to the Refuge Islands. Maybe I should have went with Brian
and Dennis, but much has happened in the past few days and I need time to
process all that has happened. Brian has always encouraged me to find my own
path but I always feel most comfortable when I am around them. Why?
Thoughts of the battle and his relative ineffectiveness clouded his mind.
Somewhere during the battle he had separated from his friends.
First Dennis then Brian fell to the Tarot Masters and their legion of Pentacle
soldiers. Where one hero fell another seemed to fill the line and step into the
killing zone. Chris had no fear of death as he had not been born but created.
He had the capacity programmed into him, but like much of what should have been
available to him seemed to have been deleted after the New Super Society had
been able to stop him from destroying them. I
have to continue searching through my programming to find who created me and
how I can stop them from controlling my actions ever again.
Although late in the afternoon the sun was already starting to set
over the horizon. StarCorp sat out on one of the outer islands of Megalopolis,
drawing it's power from hydro-kinesis generators out in the Atlantic. It housed
not only the research and development facilities, but the headquarters and
living space for many of the high-tech transport companies employees,
including the owner ... Joshua Rose. Chris had only briefly met Rose once.
Dennis and been very suspicious of the eclectic hero/entrepreneur and rumor
suggested his paranoia might be well founded. Although having given Chris a
wide birth their were whisper the cobalt commander had single handedly almost
put NASA out of business.
Passing through the multiple security points using his StarCorp
communicator badge, Chris finally made his way to the sub-basement level where
Team Hephaestus oversaw the study and repair of his android systems. They had
tried for weeks to help him break past the techno-amnesia he had ben diagnosed
with by the psychiatrist and technicians. The Hephaestus Team had rigged him
self-diagnostic and repair equipment to not only aid in restoring his damaged
systems, but allow his to explore his programming in search of his lost
knowledge. They theorized he was likely the best capable of working through the
seemingly impenetrable firewalls his creator has erected.
So far he had only learned how the walls were created. The Head of
Hephaestus had told him that was excellent progress. That often scientist had
to be able to recreate a disease before they could figure out how to defeat it.
So far the on; thin Chris had learned was how to build an even stronger
firewall. He had decided that until he had learned to access those memories on
his own, he would never allow another access to his programming to take control
of his autonomy again. For three days Chris worked on the mystery of his lost
memories during the morning and utilized the StarCorp training facilities to
improve his battle skills. He had been serious when he told Brian and Dennis he
predicted that the danger was not over.
The night air was cool and the wind passed beneath his wings
silently as the uniforms anti-grav units propelled him through the moonlit
night. Once again Red Hawk soared the skies of Megalopolis and it filled him
with joy as he searched the city for signs of trouble. Morning was fast
approaching though and he had received a mysterious text from one called the Oracle. It was a
cryptic message but plain enough to one had been at Stonehenge. "In the early dawn, when the
Archer draws down the Hawk, one will fly and the other shall pass away." He
remembered the Archer from the battle. The marksman's arrows had given great
support to those he fought beside. Much more than his own, but still it
appeared both had been summoned.
***flash***
A
shaft of light rose from an alley in the darkness of the Foundry. It had been
close enough to illuminate Red Hawk as he passed but never a danger. Swooping a
low circle Chris's heightened sensors picked out the shadowy form hiding on the
roof top. I sense though if he were truly hiding he might no been so easy to
find. Landing softly a respectful distance, Chris gives the blue and grey clad
bowman time to exist the shadows. "Hello Archer. You too have decided to
hear what they have to say I see." The Archer merely has time to mutely
nod when both feel the disturbance in the space as a portal opens.
A
long white haired middle aged man walks through the portal. A gem glowed softly
between his brow as the portal remained open. "Dr. Arcane has a need of
your special talents. He offers his home and guidance to you in exchange. He
does not offer a salary because it is obvious you would both decline. Glory,
too is a draw to neither of you. Your actions at Stonehenge have shown you both
might be of great promise in the battles yet to come. We are pleased that you
have the courage to come and listen to what is next. If you are ready please
follow me." In the darkest part of the Foundry another light is
extinguished . . . as the three step through the portal the light of dawn starts
to rise upon Megalopolis.
Dr. Arcane appeared to Black Orchid,
Starbolt, Thunderhead and Centurion X. He invited them to join the Guardians.
He gave them the location of Dr. Avery’s mansion to meet them there.
While Thunderhead, Red Hawk, Black Orchid,
Archer, Starbolt, and Centurion X waited in the Library. Joshua, Petro, Adamas
and Hannah meet with Dr Avery in his bedroom. Dr. Avery explained that Magus
was seriously injured in the battle but the worse wounds were not physical but
mental. It would be a long time before he would be able to wield magic again.
His will to fight had been crushed.
Cure was suffering post trauma disorder
stress syndrome. She had fled from the battle. She wanted to focus on healing
others not battling the Domain. She would not be joining them tonight.
As Dr. Avery explained what had been
happening to the other Guardians he had to pause several times because of
coughing fits. It took time for him to recover his breathe. It was obvious to
all that he was sick and the strain of using so much magic was wearing him
down.
He thanked his friends for meeting him first.
Now it was time to introduce the others. He was going to explain to them that
one magical artifact remained, a scythe. It was hidden on Easter Island. They
would need to retrieve it. It would aid them in their quest into the Domain.
As the Guardians were leaving the bedroom to
join the others in the library, Dr Avery called to Joshua. He motioned for
Joshua to stay after the others.
“We are almost done, ‘cough’,’cough’, on our
glorious adventure. We will have protected the Earth when no others even saw
the threat. I have one last request from you, Joshua. When Dr Arcane is done
introducing the new members and explaining the significance of our quest,
please do now talk too badly after my astral projection disappears.”
“I just don’t have the strength to take
another trip to the mountain top with you.” He said with a wink and a smile.
Joshua joined the others in the library.
High above the others in the center of the
library Dr Arcane appeared.
“Welcome to the Quest …”
{GM Note: All PCs are fully healed and at
full power}
<Replies and Actions due Dec 14th.>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tom,
This was truly an Epic adventure, great job coordinating. I think you did an excellent job of meshing story telling with game mechanics, and I felt you’re tracking documents and maps were extremely helpful in keeping up with who was where, and what was going on. Adding the timing of who went when also helped me in tracking movement over time.
It seems to me you were inventing your system as you went, and I say Bravo! Keeping track of that many PC's and non PC's, Heroes and Villains was a Herculean undertaking,
When we began, I was worried that the different power levels of the teams would be a problem, but far from that, the writing and character development from everyone was fantastic... I know for me, it got a little mechanical toward the end, but I have to say, some of you stepped it up, maintaining the flavor you brought to every issue made this entire episode a great read every month. I can't wait to go back and read it all together on the website!
Definitely interested in staying involved as long as you can support this game, Into the fray, and back to the Domain! Great job everyone!
Jon/Adamas
This was truly an Epic adventure, great job coordinating. I think you did an excellent job of meshing story telling with game mechanics, and I felt you’re tracking documents and maps were extremely helpful in keeping up with who was where, and what was going on. Adding the timing of who went when also helped me in tracking movement over time.
It seems to me you were inventing your system as you went, and I say Bravo! Keeping track of that many PC's and non PC's, Heroes and Villains was a Herculean undertaking,
When we began, I was worried that the different power levels of the teams would be a problem, but far from that, the writing and character development from everyone was fantastic... I know for me, it got a little mechanical toward the end, but I have to say, some of you stepped it up, maintaining the flavor you brought to every issue made this entire episode a great read every month. I can't wait to go back and read it all together on the website!
Definitely interested in staying involved as long as you can support this game, Into the fray, and back to the Domain! Great job everyone!
Jon/Adamas
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The
Flare Arrow struck its intended target true unleashing a blinding flash and
painful light.
"Damn!"
The Black Orchid winced in pain at the bright light and was glad that she was
both behind the generator and still had her adrenalin kicked into over-drive.
"That could have been nasty!" She shook her head, shaking away the stars
that temporarily filled her vision. A few seconds later though and the
whirring sound of the generator stopped, along with most of the other equipment
in the room. "Yes, I've done it!"
Moving
away from the generator she noticed the Three of Cups approaching. She let
loose a blast of vacuum, stunning him as she went. Looking around she noticed
the King of Cups wildly flailing and shooting, so she decided to do the same to
him as well. While not the final blow, it clearly helped as the King crumpled a
few moments later under another physical onslaught.
...
Back
at CHESS headquarters, The Black Orchid briefs Huffington on her actions in the
battle and her resulting observations. "I believe with some work we can
analyze the machinery, figure out where these bastards used it come here and
reverse engineer it to go hit them at their home turf. I think I can work the
power aspect, but if anyone else can design the kind of comms and tracking
we'll need in another dimension, we should have a fighting chance." The
Black Orchid, clearly energized from her success dismantling the generators, is
much more confident than she has been in the past. "Also" she said
her voice speeding up in the manner she did when she got excited, "I've
discovered a new facet of my power. Probably the stress of going out into
battle brought it on. It appears I can now warp the darkness around me in such
a manner as to make myself essentially invisible. This was crucial to not being
seen while dismantling the generators. If possible, I'd like to do some
bio-energetic feedback training targeted on this new ability to make it a bit
more reliable and robust. I believe it will come in handy for whatever
assignments are next... I'm sorry," she paused for a moment, realizing she
was getting ahead of herself. "I don't know if you want me to go back to
'Special Projects' or not, but I sure felt a real sense of purpose working with
the other heroes." She sat back, expectantly, but not wanting to get her
hopes too high.
{OOC
section:}
Great
stuff Tom! "It felt like it had been more than a year ago."
{GM
Notes: Now would be the time to let me know if your situation has changed and
you will not be able continue playing with us. Just let me know it is very
understandable. I took need to cut back on efforts myself so. I am going to
only be able to support 1 team book and a few solo books but I am going to have
to limit the player to 1 PC. If you have more than 1 PC you like to keep then
let me know and we will figure out a way for both to be on the team book but
rotate then in and out as the mood (or muse) strikes you.}
I'm
in if you're fine with me sticking around!
{If
you are continuing to play wonderful! Please be thinking about the direction
you want your PC and future storylines you would like to play. Currently the
plan is to finish the Domain storyline by taking the battle to the Domain. Once
that is done we could continue with the cosmic level protecting the Earth
storylines with a new threat to face.}
The
Black Orchid is just getting started as a Super hero so for now she is willing
to go along for the ride. There are at least three mysteries in her background
that she would like to follow up on in one way or another. (To put it another
way, feel free to use those hooks in whatever manner you wish, the more
Dickensian the better!)
I
think the idea of "taking it to the bad guys' home turf" is a great
idea!
{If
that doesn’t appeal to you and you would rather rid the cities of Megalopolis
from Super Criminal threats let me know. I want to make sure you are enjoying
yourself and feel invested in the story because you are part of shaping it.}
...but
if others want to go this route, The Black Orchid still has a bone to pick with
a certain Ghost-woman!
{The
Quest was made without any players. I wanted to have something ready as I
learned to GM by email and establish a solid group of players. I think I have
reached both goals. Now I want to broaden it more with your help.}
Glad
to be a part of it!
{If
you really don’t have any ideas on what to do next that is fine too. I can
continue to modify existing V&V modules (with a few Champions modules
sprinkled in) if everyone is having fun.}
{Thanks
now for those staying here is the awarded XP from the Domain Crossover Event
and the rules for advancement follow afterwards}
{Advancement}
I'm
not fully clear on how many power points she burned through to disable the
generators. She would like to spend some to analyze the various power and field
generators to assist with the next phase of the mission if that is the
direction we're going.
The
partial invisibility worked so well, that The Black Orchid will take another
advance in it, bringing it up to a "half-power."
Updated
Power: 1/2 Invisibility (changes from 1/4 are italicized)
5%
chance of being permanent (roll every time she extends this power at a
level-up)
1
action to become invisible, but doesn't take effect until 1d2 rounds
later (normally instant)
1
PP every 30 minutes (instead of every hour)
+1
to hit/-1 to be hit first round and then every 3 rounds after that as
per description (normally every round)
Marc
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The power advancement works
great.
I will figure out how
much time you need to study the equipment tonight and get back to you.
Glad you are enjoying the game
too.
Tom
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
OOC:
Great
job Tom! Running that many characters can be a GM nightmare but you handled it
cleanly and clearly. Congrats! Great adventure!
Best
Jeff
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks
that means a lot to me
Tom
------------------------------------------------------------------------
You're
very welcome.
Now
to think about TH's advancement and next steps!
Jeff
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would like to be included as well. Since I only have one
character, I'll stick with him. For Starbolt's advancement, I would like to
increase his solid energy powers to "half power."
Jamey
-------------------------------------------------------------
Sounds good, I will write up the
power adjustment tonight.
Tom
------------------------------------------------------------
Hail
the Mighty Storyteller
Tom
this has been great fun and very much enjoyed the challenges that you set for
DarkStar during the adventure. I can’t imagine how you kept track and made so
many fly by the seat of your pants decisions with so many villains and
vigilantes scattered about the field. Archer's gadget arrows were a blast (get
it blast) and seemed a good balance of quantity and quality. I definitely want
to continue to be part of Megalopolis as long as
possible.
Now
I just need to find a way to choose between heroes. That's going to be tough.
Thanks
for the fun
John
---------------------------------------------------------
Thunderhead paused. He was still
alive, despite what Psimon intimated about the future. Had this foreknowledge
caused him to act differently... to avert his fate? Or did his doom still wait,
inevitable?
Thunderhead
quickly snapped out of it. He diminished his form to human size and would
introduce himself, to any who asked, with a friendly handshake and an
antiquated politeness that marked him as a man from another culture... or time.
He thanked Skylark for using her sonic powers to defend him from the Crawler.
And he thanked her, Adamas, Elwood, Harvey, American Woman, Dynamo and Molecule
Man for joining the final assault on the tower.
The
merciful monolith provided first aid to the injured. First the heroes, then the
villains that were securely restrained. Thunderhead was the quintessential
"good cop." Without judgment, he watched to see if any of the
villains wanted to talk, if defeat had brought remorse, if any sought
redemption for their crimes. The heroes needed information. So much was still a
mystery.
Afterwards,
he walked the perimeter of Stonehenge, using his training in Archaeology,
Ancient History, Anthropology and Mysticism to better understand what the
Domain had done here.
Thunderhead's
reply to Delta's and Ravage's questions was courteous if brief. "Nomad
brought me here... from 1931."
He
continued past them and approached that enigmatic, interdimensional wanderer.
"Nomad. I'm still here to help. I'm still willing to follow you to the
gates of... the Domain, if that's what is needed. But what of Jacco? Is he
still loose in 2013?"
[Reply
Nomad? After the subject is resolved...]
"One
more thing," Thunderhead said. "Psimon told me about my future...
that I never return to 1931. How I'm never heard from again. Why is that?"
Nomad
began explaining the catastrophic danger of time travel paradoxes, and how no
one was meant to know their future when Thunderhead interrupted him.
"It's
too late for all that. I already know I never make it back to 1931. I've come
here at your request. I'm still willing to aid you. But I need to know the
truth. I deserve that much. What happens in my future, Nomad?!"
[Reply
Nomad?]
OOC:
Originally
for my level advancement, I was going to pile up on some skills that would
prevent him from being too much of a fish out of water (computer use, tech use,
post-1931 history, etc.) but at this juncture, I don't think he has any time to
study or explore this world. It appears we're going right into the next
mission.
So
I'd like to increase his Intelligence and Agility equally, as much as he can
with one level advancement. This could be explained as the further magical
awakening of his supernatural powers, due to their recent successful use, or
his proximity to Stonehenge, or whatever you like. It would sit under his
existing "Willpower" power, which is supernatural in nature. Please
let me know if that works for you. Thanks, Tom.
Best,
Jeff
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes the level advancement works
for me. I will role-play the responses and get you the actual numbers later
this week.
Tom
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey
Tom
I
hope this message finds you and your family well. I know I have not been the
whirlwind of role-play the last few months as I was before starting chemo but
hope to be more myself as the campaign continues. Speaking of such I was hoping
of your input on the choice of characters that I will play in the future.
DarkStar
is obviously the character I am most heavily invested in but three new
characters (Black Orchid, Centurion, and Thunderhead) combined seem to cover
Rose's aspects of corporate influence, intelligence invention, and pure power.
I admit to really enjoying DarkStar's ability to affect the campaign on
multiple levels. Definitely not something Archer is set up for.
Archer
is obviously less of a shaker and baker and less powerful than quite a few of
his contemporaries but has more room for growth and can fill a niche DarkStar
is ill-suited for depending on which direction the campaign is headed. That's
where I need your help.
If
the campaign is going to stay on an "epic" level, then I think I'd
have more fun continuing with DarkStar. I can use him to fill in or double up
when and/or the need arises. Might even make a bid for the leadership role as
the teams reform into one. Given his actions in the Crossover it actually
makes some sense and as a player that is a role I'm interested in exploring
with the character.
If
on the other hand the campaign is not going to stay on an
"epic" level then Archer is probably the best way to go. He was
originally too powerful for the Street Patrol level and as currently configured
would have fit in great with the New Crusaders when they debuted a couple years
ago. Definitely not on Adamas or Thunderheads level though. As a
"specialist" he definitely needs to fit into the style of the
campaign to not come off as a third wheel. I might be underestimating him, but
that's why I'm asking your input on choosing a character to continue with.
I'm
sure I will have fun playing either character after we pick which way to go. I
just want the character to fit the campaign. I know I'd have sculpted DarkStar
different if I'd have thought about it or asked better questions about the
campaign flavor before we started the Quest but hey that's my fault for not
picking up on it from the pre-campaign Issue you had of the powers that be that
met oh so many days ago (lol - boy have I learned - I hope - how to be a better
player over the last few years).
Also I
thought for sure one of the characters had "held" their "Hero
Point" their last level up. DO you know which on or if that is just my
mis-remembering.
Lastly,
on a visceral level . . . do you have a preference to which character you are
interested seeing in the campaign in the future. You know I think or like to
use this as a form storytelling. I only tell one characters story. You tell the
story of the world. I definitely want to be using a character that you are
interested as part of that world.
Thanks
... for everything
John
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
It really is up to you about
which interest you more. It was for you that I mentioned having the ability to
switch out. So you could retire Archer to bring
back whenever you thought DarkStar needed a break and wanted to play the other
for a while.
At one time I was worried about power level and duplicate powers.
That is one reason I always like Avengers or X-Men vs JLA. The former teams
always had single representatives but the JLA has duplicates galore.
I am not so worried know. All the
players’ styles are so different I haven't had an issue with the duplicates
trying to do the same things.
From the emails so far, I am
learning that the next big arc after the Domain will be space so either
character could fit.
Here is a crazy thought that just
hit me. You wanted Joshua to spend more time on his intelligence aspect instead
of brick. What if Archer was your playable PC but DarkStar would be the
background voice and Leader from the Command Ops location.
Think of it like how I played Dr.
Arcane.
You would have two characters to
voice and write about but only 1 would have actions to perform.
Just a thought, maybe it wakes up
the Muse.
Tom
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey Tom.
Okay it looks like from the guys’ responses so far that Epic is the preferred Level of the campaign. I suppose that was to be expected considering Jon only has Adamas, Jamie is Captain Mar-Vell in nature, Dave (I need to get him in this conversation) is Iron-Luther :-) and Jeff has apparently returned to the campaign with a Storm Giant. So, at least for the follow up into the Domain I think I will stick with DarkStar and maybe write some Side Shots of Archer fighting the good fight in the streets of Megalopolis while the "big boys" go do some heavy lifting. :-)
So onto ideas about what to do with DarkStar?
Just a curious query given the passage of time. Do you still feel that DarkStar is at the upper limit you desire for damage and/or ability "to hit" in combat? With so many new players and characters I was curious. If not I have an idea, but for now I'm assuming you’re going to say he is lol.
As a special affect I was hoping to try something that we could turn into a tangible game effect. With his bracer destroyed Joshua goes to his private lab underneath StarCorp and engineers a new home for Cybil. By combining the technology for the Flying Spy Devices and the Diatanium Holo-Gauntlets to give Cybil independent mobility. A solid floating golden globe size of a cue ball in the manner of the Empress's Emerald Eye or Skeetz and Booster Gold.
In game affect would double his Detect Hidden and Detect Danger rolls. Can't imagine you roll for those things too often so not campaign game changers I would think?
Also can we have her available in the Domain next time? Say maybe Devon can't shield all technology but analysis of his scans from the first trip into the Domain enabled him to one-shot invent a shielding that is related to the creation process of Cybil's new housing. Maybe limit her flight range to a hundred feet of the Holo-Gauntlet when in the Domain?
Those are my initial thoughts.
Thanks Tom
John
Okay it looks like from the guys’ responses so far that Epic is the preferred Level of the campaign. I suppose that was to be expected considering Jon only has Adamas, Jamie is Captain Mar-Vell in nature, Dave (I need to get him in this conversation) is Iron-Luther :-) and Jeff has apparently returned to the campaign with a Storm Giant. So, at least for the follow up into the Domain I think I will stick with DarkStar and maybe write some Side Shots of Archer fighting the good fight in the streets of Megalopolis while the "big boys" go do some heavy lifting. :-)
So onto ideas about what to do with DarkStar?
Just a curious query given the passage of time. Do you still feel that DarkStar is at the upper limit you desire for damage and/or ability "to hit" in combat? With so many new players and characters I was curious. If not I have an idea, but for now I'm assuming you’re going to say he is lol.
As a special affect I was hoping to try something that we could turn into a tangible game effect. With his bracer destroyed Joshua goes to his private lab underneath StarCorp and engineers a new home for Cybil. By combining the technology for the Flying Spy Devices and the Diatanium Holo-Gauntlets to give Cybil independent mobility. A solid floating golden globe size of a cue ball in the manner of the Empress's Emerald Eye or Skeetz and Booster Gold.
In game affect would double his Detect Hidden and Detect Danger rolls. Can't imagine you roll for those things too often so not campaign game changers I would think?
Also can we have her available in the Domain next time? Say maybe Devon can't shield all technology but analysis of his scans from the first trip into the Domain enabled him to one-shot invent a shielding that is related to the creation process of Cybil's new housing. Maybe limit her flight range to a hundred feet of the Holo-Gauntlet when in the Domain?
Those are my initial thoughts.
Thanks Tom
John
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You are right DarkStar's "to
hit" is maxed out. I could allow a +1d6 to HtH but I bet that wouldn't be
worth a level advancement.
A solid floating golden globe
size of a cue ball with the in game affect that double his Detect Hidden
roll and raise his Detect Danger by 50% would be acceptable.
So DarkStar would have Detect
Hidden of 48% and 44%.
How is this for the power
description?
Companion (Pet Variant) - Cybil:
Increases DarkStar's Detect Hidden by 100% and Detect Danger by 50%. Travels by
Diatanium Floating Globe which emit holograph. Str Rating= 15, 5 HP, 20 PP,
Flight 20 MPH, PR= 1 per hr, Recharging per normal rules (solar panels revealed
while at rest).
In the Domain for an Inventing
Point she could be shielded. Her range from DarkStar would be 100 feet but
her detection range is 20ft radius around her (no satellites, surveillance
cameras, cell phones, tablet cameras, or internet to link up with).
Let me know what you think?
Tom
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Tom
Tried sending this twice now. Apparently
having connection issues.
Cliff Notes version. :-)
Would have tried for variant on Star Hammer
but if you think DarkStar is still max of what you want of a character then I'm
okay with that. Though I'd really like to not him hampered by his weight like
he was in the Domain last time - man I just remembered that. Ouch ...
Thunderhead and CX are going to have issues of their own so I guess shouldn't I
complain huh?
Okay as far as Cybil's upgrades go I think we
end up very much on the same page with only two things I might like tweaked
unless your adamant about them.
The actual in game affect of Detect Hidden
and Detect Danger I'm great with. Not double on both is fine, I am only curious
is it something that can still be improved or do they approach a campaign max
for characters like the Damage Capacity and To Hit ability discussed earlier?
I was going to suggest using the Robotic
Powers recharge rules but this is simple and simple is usually a very good thing.
Couple questions. How many PP/hour can she recharge? I "assume" Cybil
can recharge from other sources than solar? Does her shielding allow for
recharge in the Domain? Maybe DS could recharge her from a bandoleer of power
packs he brings with him? Could be Joshua shares this tech with CHESS (at a
reasonable charge) which allows heroes like CX to operate at some capacity in
the Domain?
It's not a complaint but the Cybil's movement
speed just seems really slow. I think 20mph is about 90"/Turn which in combat
is fine but out of combat seems snail like lol. Definitely more Emerald Eye
than Skeetz LOL.
I know 15 SR is pretty good but I cringe at
one good power blast hitting my girl. Could we give her a to be hit modifier of
some sort due to her small size? Maybe requires a Special Attack to hit? Would
be same as if she were a Device a character was holding and opponent wanted to
target it.
Final thought. We have been real close on a
first go-around so I thought I'd also add this idea to the mix. With the
shielding Cybil is acting about 10% of her true capacity when on Earth. Ergo
her detection range on Earth (when not hacking other sources) would be about
200 ft. Same as a good surveillance camera. In that same vein when on Earth
Cybil must be within a 1000 ft of a wireless source to tap into when operating
outside of Joshua and the holo-gauntlets. We have had her detecting heat
sources since Day One ... Is that still okay? (Thought just popped in my head)
I really like how this is looking from an RP
perspective. Thanks
John
PS: I am going to do a couple Side Shots with
Archer while the Domain is still the game focus. Street level stuff with him
hunting down human sympathizers of the Domain and throw in a Demon here of
there. Maybe you have an idea of how we might do his Level Upgrade based on
that idea? No rush obviously but if we do a less-Epic scenario I would like to
have him ready to make a guest appearance :-)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey
Guys
Great
Crossover event huh :-) Tom asked a few questions I was curious if anyone
wanted to pitch in their two pennies? :-)
{If you are continuing to play wonderful! Please be thinking about the direction you want your PC and future storylines you would like to play. Currently the plan is to finish the Domain storyline by taking the battle to the Domain. Once that is done we could continue with the cosmic level protecting the Earth storylines with a new threat to face.}
I
know we all will have personal preferences depending on our characters personas
and what just tickles out fancy and thought it might be useful to discuss those
things with each other.
{If that doesn‟t appeal to you and you would rather rid the cities of Megalopolis from Super Criminal threats let me know. I want to make sure you are enjoying yourself and feel invested in the story because you are part of shaping it.}
The
campaign flavor is definitely have an effect on the game style. Also we need to
keep in mind that Tom wants to meld all the remaining players into one team.
How do the players envision that team working together. What are the characters
motivations and goals as members of that team. What challenges and methods of
operation do the players think they will most enjoy? Is the team on par
with Justice League or the Outsiders?
{The
Quest was made without any players. I wanted to have something ready as I
learned to GM by email and establish a solid group of players. I think I have
reached both goals. Now I want to broaden it more with your help.}
Now
personally I might be misreading it but I think one thing is for sure. I think
Tom is ready to start working outside the V&V modules. That doesn't mean he
has a preference of Cosmic or Standard four-color, but I'm definitely excited
about seeing him "broadening" his storytelling as a GM tool. I also
hope as his players we are also excited enough to assist him by proving him
with ideas about what we want to do with our characters to give him the
material to torture ... errr ... create interesting scenarios to challenge us
with. :-)
Now
time for me to ponder some choices I need to make. Great game guys.
Thanks
John
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
OOC:
good points! Thanks for prompting this discussion.
My
two cents: I think we need to know who the lineup is before we can start
to agree on tone, goals, power level, etc.
For
example, if Archer, Phantom and Manta Lad are in, we might
be more Outsiders than JLA. This lineup might blow apart Doc
Arcane's team, and the "new Crusaders," as we band together to
form a brand new superteam.
On
the other hand, if most of the members are still from Doc Arcane's crew,
for example, their goal of "magical protectors of earth"
might still make sense, if everyone agrees, and if the PCs are
"cosmic" enough.
So
I think we have to talk PC lineup first. The other stuff might flow naturally
from that. Thoughts, everyone?
Fwiw,
I've enjoyed the module approach; Tom's unique spin on updating
and augmenting them, and how all those published characters work together to
form a believable universe. I wouldn't be averse to continuing
that. There are lots of cool modules left. Great counters and
maps too. :)
Best
Jeff
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
OOC:
For me it's an easy decision, Adamas is the only character I play in Tom's
game, so unless necessary, I'd prefer to stick with him. Besides, he's
the character with ties to the domain, and if we continue that story arc, it
should be pretty easy to weave some of his story line into the campaign.
I can't tell you what a blast it has been for me writing his "story",
from walking in on Donna in the shower to taking on the Destroyers single
handed... the stuff of Legend. :)
Having said that, I wouldn't mind some down time kicking some local villain tail. I enjoy some down time interaction with other players (DS sideshot type stuff), and you don't always get the chance to do that when you are in hostile territory, moving from battle to battle. And while I know the power levels have been different for the various campaigns, I think this has really shown us that the Black Orchid's and Thunderheads can both have their place in any campaign. I mean even the JLA had Wonder Woman and Black Canary... Sometimes flexibility and skills are more important than Damage potential or Hit Points.
I don't see that any of the characters involved in the last battle wouldn't have a place in Doctor Arcane's team.
As far as published campaigns go, I agree, there is a lot out there, probably more than you could use in one campaign, though they would require some amount of tweekage. Especially when Tom is pulling material from other games (Champions for example). Not a lot of "Space" stuff, but Cosmic could be Dimensional as well as Spatial. I don't see a lack of material being a problem regardless of which way we go.
two cents inserted.
Jon
Having said that, I wouldn't mind some down time kicking some local villain tail. I enjoy some down time interaction with other players (DS sideshot type stuff), and you don't always get the chance to do that when you are in hostile territory, moving from battle to battle. And while I know the power levels have been different for the various campaigns, I think this has really shown us that the Black Orchid's and Thunderheads can both have their place in any campaign. I mean even the JLA had Wonder Woman and Black Canary... Sometimes flexibility and skills are more important than Damage potential or Hit Points.
I don't see that any of the characters involved in the last battle wouldn't have a place in Doctor Arcane's team.
As far as published campaigns go, I agree, there is a lot out there, probably more than you could use in one campaign, though they would require some amount of tweekage. Especially when Tom is pulling material from other games (Champions for example). Not a lot of "Space" stuff, but Cosmic could be Dimensional as well as Spatial. I don't see a lack of material being a problem regardless of which way we go.
two cents inserted.
Jon
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I
don't have nearly as much history as the rest of you do, but I'm glad to
participate!
The Black Orchid's background is tied to CHESS right now, so if they make her a "free agent" so to speak, she will gladly join a group. I'm not sure how much others know what she did though, since it may, for all intents and purposes appear like she got in one of the tanks and never came out until all the generators were disabled!
The Black Orchid is certainly not a powerhouse like the others, but she's no shrinking violet either (pun intended!)
Tom, Have others been briefed on all aspects of how the mission evolved?
As to space adventures, I think there's a decent bit of material for V&V, at least 3 as far as I remember, not counting other dimensions like Devil's Domain, etc.
The Black Orchid's background is tied to CHESS right now, so if they make her a "free agent" so to speak, she will gladly join a group. I'm not sure how much others know what she did though, since it may, for all intents and purposes appear like she got in one of the tanks and never came out until all the generators were disabled!
The Black Orchid is certainly not a powerhouse like the others, but she's no shrinking violet either (pun intended!)
Tom, Have others been briefed on all aspects of how the mission evolved?
As to space adventures, I think there's a decent bit of material for V&V, at least 3 as far as I remember, not counting other dimensions like Devil's Domain, etc.
Marc
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, All players should
considered their PCs briefed on events of the battle. So if you read it and it
wasn't in a GM Note then it is fair game for your PC knowing it too.
Regards
Tom
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Violet...Orchid...
just got it... LOL
Jon
Jon
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have calculated how long it
will take the most hurt PC to heal to full strength. So this is how long they
need to rest and not be active
Phantom 3 days
DarkStar 4 days
CX 9
days
Archer 11 days
Adamas 23 days
The time can be cut in half if
the PC is willing to admit them into the Hospital. For DarkStar and Adamas that
would be a special Military Hospital which was created to take care of the
Super Forces and MEDUSA agents.
Please let me know what your PC
chooses to do.
Thanks
Tom
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI guys!
As the neighborhood noob, I'd like to say
that I'm up for being shifted anywhere that fits. I have run Champions
since the late eighties and I can appreciate all the work that goes into
running a game. I can't imagine the amount of work for the scope of the
massive event we just went through. I would love to have some downtime RP
with the other characters. I'm sure more than one PC wants to give him a
lecture or two. :D
CX has a lot of RP potential that I really
want to explore. I am really looking forward to some RP with whomever he
winds up teamed with.
As a side note. It may be that CX's
actions and the destruction of Stonehenge may put him in a position of no one wanting
him on their team. If that happens, I don't mind changing things up. I'm
willing to work with the GM to put together a character with ties to the
campaign's history. But we'll see how things go!
Thanks Again!
Dave
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Black Orchid talks to Centurion X after the battle. "I
know you might think things got a little out of control back there, but we all
did the best we could, including you, with what we knew at the time. I'm still
new at this, but I can say it doesn't help to beat yourself up too badly over
decisions made in the heat of battle..." The Black Orchid pauses for a
moment, reflecting on how mad she got at being unable to stop Hauntress.
"Advice I should probably learn to take myself!" she smiles.
Marc
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Howdy!
Me
again. I have re-read some of the replies here and it has gotten me
thinking. Yes, those that know me would say that can be a very dangerous
thing. However, if all of the teams were to be combined to create a grouped
very much like the Justice League from the JLU animated series, I think it
would be of great advantage to everyone, including the GM.
The JLU
was a conglomeration of superhumans ranging from street heroes to cosmic
powered pseudo-deities. But the nature of the group allowed for that.
My suggestion is to flatter the JLU by imitation. The combined
group (My suggestion is Overwatch for a name) would establish a satellite base
in geo-synch orbit over Megalopolis. Dark Star would become our 'Martian
Manhunter' in that he is a powerhouse that stands watch over our protected
world. His teleporting technology would allow him to plop the heroes
where they need to be. I mean don't Adamas, Black Orchid, and Archer seem
an awful lot like Superman, Batman and Green Arrow.
I'm
thinking this can really work. With the attempted invasion by the Domain
fresh in the minds of the public, forming a centralized meta-human defense
force is not a farfetched notion. It was the meta's that saved the world.
Without the meta's everyone would be happily slaving their lives away
saying how great G'flipt'af'lart is... It also give the PC's a chance to
RP how they want to organize themselves. I know John is having trouble
deciding on whether to stick with playing Dark Star or Archer. This way,
he could do both. Although DS becomes a central icon to the satellite, he
can still be RP'd with and when the next invasion of the "World Conquering
Wannabees" occurs, we may even let him knock the dust off and have a minute
out of the satellite. ;) (Luv ya, John!!!)
If a
player wants to sit something out, that toon doesn't go on the mission.
If a player just wants to have some RP with other players, he can sit out
of a mission and RP with others on the satellite. I think this gives us
lots of potential for the growth of our characters and the experience of the
players/GM.
Just my
$.75 worth!!!
Thanks
Again!
Dave
------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah Fish, love you to bro (ya dogface fart
lol)
DarkStar will be staying active during the
Domain part of the campaign. Batman always seemed a hit out of place to me when
on alien planets and I feel same way about Archer. I will be writing some
Side Shots of Archer hunting down human sympathizers of the Domain and
scrapping with an odd Demon or two in the dark streets and back alleys of
Megalopolis. He'll be available for guest appearances when we are doing less
Epic stuff.
Joshua has a few of his own satellites and
was going to build one as a headquarters for the team but it never was needed
and likely would have been rejected by the Dr. Arcane's Quest(ing)
'Team'. The mansion served the 'Team' purposes just find. Maybe when we
know all of the players who are continuing we could RP Brandt and StarCorp
refitting the Ares Satellite Station for a team (name? Overwatch is not bad
first suggestion and at least original) headquarters.
Oh ... If we can pry him from Alexi's claws I
strongly recommend War Wagon as the team's Operations Officer when we finish
the Domain storyline and if we do go all JLU/Avengers and stuff.
************************************************************************************************************
<DarkStar IC: Initial actions and
responses>
As the battle winds down and the villains are
either knocked out or escaped Joshua asked Archer if he can 'borrow' his
StarCorp communicator. Vocal commands quickly reconfigure the device allowing
him access to the Alpha channel. After checking to make sure Cybil wasn't
damaged when the holo-gauntlet was destroyed he starts a head count of any of
the heroes who have gone silent and may be missing from the battlefield. It has
been far too long since Magus and Cure have reported in. At the same time he
personally searches the tower for Wraith and Black Orchid. He at least had
sporadic contact with the lady agent of CHESS, but the street hero had not been
seen or heard from since the initial assault. Finding the Black Orchid is a
great relief to the cerulean naval commander. Shaking hands with the exhausted
heroine, "You're a credit to your organization lady. There was plenty of
brawn on the field but your brains saved the day shutting these things
down. If you ever decide to look for work outside the government StarCorp
would be lucky to hook p with you. Maybe when the After Action Reports have
been filed those of us still up for it should down a couple beers and see where
our futures lie."
Eventually finding Adamas, likely helping assist those too wounded to walk, Joshua cringes at his friends physical condition. God, I thought I was beat up. That man is on his last leg and still has a smile on his face. The blonde haired blue swathed figure next to his friend looked vaguely familiar for some reason but Joshua can't place him, and without easy access to Cybil its easier to just ... "Adamas, you didn't look like this after the Destroyers. Do you want me to teleport you to Doc Arcane?" (Assuming the answer is "No I'm fine or Adamas equivalent *smile*) Reluctantly accepting the paragon of heroes answer Joshua just nods and stretches his hand toward the man beside his friend. "DarkStar or Joshua to my friends, and you are?" After having rested enough to safely teleport himself. Joshua aids the others by teleporting those too wounded to move to hospitals he was already familiar with. Eventually as the battlefield is cleared Joshua decides to ride back home with the heroes he had fought beside instead of teleporting back home. While his instincts drove him to be working and preparing for what was to come next, it was more important to share this time with those who had given everything in the defense of their planet.
Sitting beside the golden Centurion and
Starbolt of the Crusaders much of his time on the way back to Megalopolis it
occurred to him a he looked about the plane and checked the roll of the dead
and missing that there were going to be great changes in the near future.
Megalopolis and it's field of heroes might never be the same, but there was
still more work to be done. The Domain had to be taught Earth would not lay
back and wait. He had talked to Samuels before and he would again after
consulting with Doc. It was time a Strike Team made sure the Domain paid the
butcher's bill and paid in spades for their invasion attempt, and DarkStar
would be there shoulder to shoulder with anyone willing to go.
OOC: I hope I have left some open spots there
with each of the other players if they wish to RP a bit with DS. I do not know
what kind or how much Downtime we have going on but after making After Action
Reports to CHESS and Doctor Arcane, Joshua will spend a couple days resting in
the sun in Thailand keeping his actions to making needed StarCorp decisions and
redesigning a new housing for Cybil based on the combination of three of his
previous inventions. Team Hephaestus will double check his design parameters
and start the pre-production process while he spends a couple days
conferring with Dr. Arcane about a Strike Force being slipped into the Domain
and offering to help recruit any Doc feels he might be best suited to invite to
come along.
That's all ... for now :)
John
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Thank you Dark Star, I'm glad to have been a part of this
operation. I certainly couldn't have done what I did without all of you opening
the way and fighting the bastards back. One of my greatest worries was that the
generators would get caught in the middle of the fight. Simply destroying one
of those babies would have been bad, as in crossing the streams kind of
bad." The Black Orchid let slip a little of her normally hidden
geekiness. "But I agree, after I debrief with CHESS, figuring out what I'd
like to do and what I can do with my life over a few beers sounds like a great
idea!" [OOC: I assume this occurs before my post on the debrief]
Marc
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Who Watches Over The Overwatch?
Jamey
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
OOC: Nice Jamey. Nice!
IC: CX sits quietly on the way back.
His head pounding from the lucky shot at the end of the battle that
knocked him out. He simply wants to remove his helent and take a couple
generic pain meds. But he looks at the gathered and beleaguered heroes
and knows it would do nothing but cause them stress and anguish. He
listens to Dark Star's words to Black Orchid. He thinks to himself,
<So much for being the smartest one in the
room, Alex. At least I finally know why I kept getting my ass kicked by
the heroes... My own arrogance.>
That's when he realizes Black Orchid is
talking to him. Her words sink in like water to a dry sponge. His
mood suddenly changes.
"Thanks, Orchid. That helps a lot.
I think my gut reaction is to do just that, beat myself up and get mad at
my opponents for putting me in that position. Don't get me wrong, the
Domain needs its corporate ass kicked, but not because of what they did to me.
They are interdimensional bullies. They try to roll over whatever
world they can and take all the lunch money they want. The only way to
stop a bully to hunt them down and knock the crap out of them. Believe
me, I know."
His voice becomes louder and more confident.
Even his back straightens a bit.
"Everyone! I know I'm the new guy.
I also know that some of you may be pretty ticked that I blew up
Stonehenge. But please listen to me. This Domain invasion isn't
over yet. They still have the resources and the will to try to come here
and take our homes and our families. Next time, it might be the Pyramids
or some other ancient site of power, but there WILL BE a next time."
He stands in the transport.
"The only way this is going to end is if
we take this fight to THIER home, thier turf and KICK THIER TEETH IN!!
They are not used to losing and right now they are trying to figure out
how a chaotic, unorganized, primative world threw them back. Before they
can adjust and come at us again, we need to strike! We invade them!
We go stright for the top and make them think long and hard before coming
back to Earth. Is there anybody with me???!!!"
Dave
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey Tom
Just a quickie. I'm going to write a Side Shot for Archers post Stonehenge actions but I'd like to toss two ideas for his Level Advancement
I want to work him into a Skill version of Teleportation. Emulate the old the hero disappears trick when no one sees him kind of thing. If I remember right we dedicated quite a few of his Skill Points into Stealth. Combine that with a Weakness: Only when out of line of sight. Ought to be a good start to that ability. Limit its range to his movement ability also makes sense
What do you think?
Thanks
John
Just a quickie. I'm going to write a Side Shot for Archers post Stonehenge actions but I'd like to toss two ideas for his Level Advancement
I want to work him into a Skill version of Teleportation. Emulate the old the hero disappears trick when no one sees him kind of thing. If I remember right we dedicated quite a few of his Skill Points into Stealth. Combine that with a Weakness: Only when out of line of sight. Ought to be a good start to that ability. Limit its range to his movement ability also makes sense
What do you think?
Thanks
John
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I know I haven't shown us playing
the skills much but I really don't think we need to turn Stealth in
Teleportation. I need to take Archers and put him in my character spreadsheet
In the last Retcon Archer was
taken from Trained to Adept. When using his Stealth skill he needs to roll 18
or less on 1d20 in Average situation. He applies a -8 modifier to anyone
attempting to find him when he is using Stealth to conceal himself. An average
INT of 10 would have to roll 2 or less on 1d20 his opposed task modifier is
applied.
DarkStar without the new level
advancement would have to roll 6 or less on 1d20.
If you want to improve his skills
you can use his level advancement to increase his skills beyond the normal
skills gained instead creating a power.
Why don't we try to put the skill
system to the test before converting to "powers" first. If it is
unsatisfactory we can always Retcon.
Tom
-------------------------------------------------------
Hi Tom
I wasn't quite sure just how good he was with those skills. By all means let's go with testing those out first. In that case I need some help though :-) I would like some help with ideas for the future for Archer. I kind of envision him as a cross between the Paul Kirk Manhunter, Nightwing, Shang-Chi and of course a couple of famous archers ;-) his Marksman-ship and hand to hand seem pretty good and the gadget arrows worked great in the Crossover. I can only think he might want to improve his defense as in Heightened Defense?
I plan on writing a few stories of him hunting down human Domain sympathizer and the occasional Demon. Maybe as an agent of Dr. Arcane or if given leads by Craftsman and/or CHESS. Given all that. What are your thoughts on a level advancement? I'd just hold it but I think I did that for one of the characters already and can remember who LOL. Maybe something will come to me in my sleep :-)
Thanks for any ideas
John
I wasn't quite sure just how good he was with those skills. By all means let's go with testing those out first. In that case I need some help though :-) I would like some help with ideas for the future for Archer. I kind of envision him as a cross between the Paul Kirk Manhunter, Nightwing, Shang-Chi and of course a couple of famous archers ;-) his Marksman-ship and hand to hand seem pretty good and the gadget arrows worked great in the Crossover. I can only think he might want to improve his defense as in Heightened Defense?
I plan on writing a few stories of him hunting down human Domain sympathizer and the occasional Demon. Maybe as an agent of Dr. Arcane or if given leads by Craftsman and/or CHESS. Given all that. What are your thoughts on a level advancement? I'd just hold it but I think I did that for one of the characters already and can remember who LOL. Maybe something will come to me in my sleep :-)
Thanks for any ideas
John
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heightened Defense sound great.
Since you only get 1/4 of a power per level. It will be Heightened Defense: -1.
Additional levels can be used to
get it up to -4.
I like the idea of leads from the
Craftsman. We already have Black Orchid affiliated with CHESS. While I see Dr.
Arcane creating a Super Team, I don't see him having a hidden cache of agents
that he sends on missions.
What you are wanting sounds most
like the Craftsman's style.
In your write-ups there are still
plenty of Tarot Master Members to chase. If you have The Pentacle Plot,
you will see that besides the Elite Trooper which made up the Minor Suite they
also have Mercs and other agents.
So there are still plenty of
lower level Tarot Masters for him to hunt down.
Best
Tom
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey Tom
I don't pretend to know how you break things down necessarily. You always seem to do better job of that than I do. But I always thought of Heightened Defense as a "Super Skill". If and repeat only if in your mind also that is the case would Archer then receive a -2 Heightened Defense that would max out at-4 with another level advancement?
RP query: The zombies the heroes had to fight at the Tower ... can I assume they were innocent victims of the Domain that Phantom was blowing away left and right? Archer would have been concerned how the authorities handled them post battle. I want to include his thoughts and concerns for them in the Side Shot I will right.
Lastly. I was curious if Oracle and Craftsman are different people (I never was straight on that for some reason) if maybe I could use Oracle as the one who contacts him with leads to follow to see if a person might be a human agent of the Domain or working for Pentacle? I thought the whole mysterious voice or email contact in the very first issue of Street Patrol was a very cool device and if Phantom has slipped away again (i.e. not playing) then that leaves Archer as her as her only agent to help those in the street. Or at least that's my thought lol. Her or Craftsman work though. It's all just story stuff. :-)
Thanks Tom
John
I don't pretend to know how you break things down necessarily. You always seem to do better job of that than I do. But I always thought of Heightened Defense as a "Super Skill". If and repeat only if in your mind also that is the case would Archer then receive a -2 Heightened Defense that would max out at-4 with another level advancement?
RP query: The zombies the heroes had to fight at the Tower ... can I assume they were innocent victims of the Domain that Phantom was blowing away left and right? Archer would have been concerned how the authorities handled them post battle. I want to include his thoughts and concerns for them in the Side Shot I will right.
Lastly. I was curious if Oracle and Craftsman are different people (I never was straight on that for some reason) if maybe I could use Oracle as the one who contacts him with leads to follow to see if a person might be a human agent of the Domain or working for Pentacle? I thought the whole mysterious voice or email contact in the very first issue of Street Patrol was a very cool device and if Phantom has slipped away again (i.e. not playing) then that leaves Archer as her as her only agent to help those in the street. Or at least that's my thought lol. Her or Craftsman work though. It's all just story stuff. :-)
Thanks Tom
John
------------------------------------------------------------------------
You are correct, Heightened
Defense -2 it is. Next level advancement can max it at -4.
The zombies were the dead raised
by The Shroud. He has been grave robbing in preparation for the invasion.
Oracle and Craftsman are two
different people. The Oracle would be the perfect person to send Archer on
missions. Don't worry about Phantom, even if Kev returns to play him solo, he
didn't really respond to Oracle so I dropped her from Phantom's storyline.
Best
Tom
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cool Tom
-2 Heightened Defense for Archer it is in ... And that is absolutely our easier level advancement lol.
Will try to keep the Oracle in the same vein you seemed to utilize her as when Street Patrol stared when I do David's aside Shot. Likely tomorrow evening.
Seems like guys remaining are enjoying post Crisis err Crossover role-play :-)
Thanks
John
-2 Heightened Defense for Archer it is in ... And that is absolutely our easier level advancement lol.
Will try to keep the Oracle in the same vein you seemed to utilize her as when Street Patrol stared when I do David's aside Shot. Likely tomorrow evening.
Seems like guys remaining are enjoying post Crisis err Crossover role-play :-)
Thanks
John
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tom,
It would help me with my
responses if I knew what Manta-Man wanted to discuss with Starbolt.
Thanks,
Jamey
P.S. I am really enjoying the
game. Thanks for all your hard work.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think the Max for Detect Hidden
and Detect Danger will be 75% for each. So there will be opportunity to improve
it again.
It is 1 PP per minute that the
Globe is idle and solar panels revealed, so 60 PP/Hour.
Currently I am thinking the Globe
has one main method to recharge. If you want to have a backup method, that is
find. The globe will have to attach to DarkStar's gauntlets (it could be a
cable extending from globe) and it recharges 6 PP/Hour.
No the shielding doesn't not
allow the globe to recharge in the Domain; I want the globe to have the same
weakness in the Domain as DarkStar.
Yes, DS could recharge her from a
bandoleer of power packs he brings with him or using his gauntlets.
Could be Joshua shares this tech
with CHESS (at a reasonable charge) which allows heroes like CX to operate at
some capacity in the Domain? We could role-play that situation out and see how
it goes.
My thoughts on the Globe is that
it is really with DarkStar as a companion. So the speed gives it mobility but
when it comes time to travel then either DarkStar takes it with him when he
teleports or that globe shuts down and a new one at base starts up.
That isn't something we talked
about. I view Cybil and the Globe as severable. Sorta like the Thunder Agent
Noman. Noman is a consciousness which can move between different Robotic bodies
as needed. I am expecting Joshua to create multiple globes. So if it is destroyed,
another becomes active. No it might be a pain if DarkStar has to teleport back
to get it but hey, I have to create inconveniences that you would want to use
future advancements to fix and it really gives the impression of developing
Tech improving over time.
Special Attack to hit
the same as if she were a Device a character was holding and opponent
wanted to target it sounds perfect. I will add that.
We have been real close on a
first go-around so I thought I'd also add this idea to the mix. With the
shielding Cybil is acting about 10% of her true capacity when on Earth. Ergo
her detection range on Earth (when not hacking other sources) would be about
200 ft. Same as a good surveillance camera. In that same vein when on Earth
Cybil must be within a 1000 ft of a wireless source to tap into when operating
outside of Joshua and the holo-gauntlets. We have had her detecting heat
sources since Day One ... Is that still okay? Yes
Best
Tom
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey T-Man
I think that's the easiest level advancement
we've ever done LOL Thanks Tom I'm very happy with it.
As far as compensation for the shielding and
what affect it has on whose tech I think that might make a neat little side
bit. I assumed you would not disadvantage CX in same way you do DarkStar in the
Domain and this can be storyline reason why. His experience and observations
from last time have to be of some help right LOL
I would personally like a Roll Call of those
staying in the campaign. I would like to know I've at least made touch RP-wise
with each Player and their character before the deadline.
Thanks - cool Advancement
John
------------------------------------------------------------
Cybil's
New Home
*Whoump*
"Lights on."
The darkness slowly gives way to the soft
glow of light emanating from recessed panels in the ceiling overhead. Moving
his massive cerulean frame with the same agility he had as a college athlete,
Joshua began activating the banks of super computers along one wall of his
private work space. Buried another three hundred feet below StarCorp's level
three sub-basement, Rose's personal laboratory and manufacturing facility could
only be reached via teleport, and woe the meta who did not it's exact location.
Slipping the solid ball of diatanium from a
pouch on his work belt, Joshua smiled at the latest creation of Team
Hephaestus. Thy had followed his design specs perfectly and even made an
improvement he should have seen himself if he hadn't been trying to juggle so
many things at once. As always, time was short, and he did not know when next
he would be asked to serve Dr. Avery and the Quest. Until then however he would
enjoy the moments. A moment such as this one where he could help improve the
life of a friend.
"Well Cybil, I hope you enjoy your new
home."
Pressing the virtually invisible touch panel
at the rear of the globe, Joshua connected the device's USB into a nearby
outlet. Inside the cue ball sized globe a golden light flickered into life.
Re-engineering the Huntsman's floating spy-eye had been the key. Cybil's new
home was over twice as large as Huntsman's device but she was made of diatanium
and could house his AI much in the same way the bracers had before. As more
power poured into the globe it took on a golden hue and started to float above
the table.
Seeing that his constant companion had
downloaded her control programming into the device, Joshua slipped the USB from
its plug. She would be able to do that on her own as the AI eventually
"learned" how to master all of her functions. "Take your time
Cybil. You've never had individual mobility before. It might take you a few
moments to process the anti-grav and navigational systems." As if taking
Joshua's statement as a challenge. The golden globe hovered even higher. Wobbly
at first, but then it started to rotate and move about the lab.
<"I believe I have already processed
89.76543% of this devices functionality Joshua. I am pleased to see that you
too have regained most of your functionality from the battle. How my I now be
of assistance?"> Smiling at his friend's request, Joshua waves her to
follow him. "First we have one more thing to do before returning to our
friends above." At he back of the lab Joshua flipped the latches of a
ceramic container the size of a fifty-five gallon drum and opened the hatch.
Inside the container was a translucent yellow fluid.
"It's Saturday
night and time for a bath Cybil. We are going to use multiple coats from
this material to create a shielding for your new home. It will wear off in
time, but for the near future you will be able to accompany me when next we
enter the Domain." Not at full capacity, but I'll take ten percent of you
over a hundred Cray computers any day of the week." An hour later Cybil
has completed the process of her applying the shielding to her new housing and
it gleams with a bright sunlight like shine. She alights on her shoulder as
they prepare to leave.
"Lights out."
*Whoump*
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Manta Man tells Starbolt he is
very proud of him. It is with sadness that he is telling Starbolt the Crusaders
will be disbanding. Manta Man needed to devote his time to Manta Lad and to
rehabbhing his own injuries that he sustained from the Crushers and the Tarot
Masters.
Evergreen had already told Manta
Man that she was joining the forces in Hallow Hills to fight the Domain because
that is why she is here.
Dreamweaver wants to go to
college
Blizzard wants to pursue a career
as a comic book artist.
Enforcer wants to discover his
lost past.
Laserfire wants to go solo.
He is welcome to visit anything
at Manning Enterprises. Manta Man encourages Starbolt to join one of the other
teams because it is his destiny.
Best
Tom
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks.
I'm
thinking I'll continue with TH over Manta Lad or AA if that's ok with
you.
Best
Jeff
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CX stands in the plane and looks at the
gathered heores. All share the scars and wounds of the battle, not so
long ago fought. He has asked th whole group if they wanted to go kick
the Domain's butt. He is imaptient for a reply.
"Come on People! Those interdimensional
jerks just tried to conquer our world and enslave our friend, families and
countries. You have all got to be itching for some payback! I am!
I know we're tired and hurting. We've got the time for a breather,
but after that, we need to move! Orchid, you with me? Armorman Jr,
I know you arn't going to let them get away with this. Starbolt?
What about you? When have you guys ever let someone just get away
with a crime. You go after them!"
He waits for a response...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thunderhead
IC:
Joshua
just nods and stretches his hand toward the man beside his friend.
"DarkStar or Joshua to my friends, and you are?"
"Thunderhead,"
came the reply with a handshake and a smile. "You're just as Agent
America described you."
The
gentle giant had just finished administering first aid to Adamas. With
Elwood, Adamas and DarkStar finally gathered together (OOC:
along with any other PCs that want to overhear this), Thunderhead gave his report.
"Agent America is still in the Domain, gathering a small resistance force
to overthrow its master. He needs this world's heroes to help him. That's one
of the reasons sent me here. I know where an interdimensional gate resides,
that can allow all of us to invade the Domain unnoticed."
OOC:
Tom,
This
happens early in my orders list, minutes after the battle, at the beginning of
giving first aid, long before the confrontation with Nomad.
I'll
hold off on replies regarding Psimon's offer on a drink with Elwood, and
interactions in the transport until I get Nomad's reply, as it will determine
much. :)
Thanks.
Best,
Jeff
-----------------------------------------------------------
Adamas
IC: Seeing the last of the Domain troops fleeing or defeated, Adamas turns to
Elwood, walks over and sits heavily on the edge of the tower, overlooking the
battlefield. “Elwood my friend, I know it’s hard to believe,” with a
wistful smile, “but this is only the beginning. If you’ll allow me, I can
give you a ride to where the others appear to be gathering. We have
friends that need to be found.”
OOC: Adamas will be scanning with his enhanced vision for their fallen/fled team mates. Magus, and The Cure to be specific.
After reaching transport, responses –
Dark Star-IC: Adamas nods as the Blue Giant approaches. “You look as tired as I feel Joshua.”
Thunderhead – IC: As happy as Adamas is to hear that his friend still carries on Adamas shakes his head slowly. “Too long have we been away, and in my current shape, I would be of little assistance. We must return, but we must prepare. “
CX-IC: Adamas walks towards the young hero, “My friend, I appreciate your enthusiasm. I know of the Domain, and I have been to that world. This,” Adamas indicates the Tower, and slowly takes in the entire island, “was a small taste of what we will face there. This enemy is not a villain, but a world of villains, created and bred only for destruction. Even the vegetation there can be dangerous. Where our world knows Love and Joy, they know only Hatred and Anger. We face not a force, but Nature and Horde such as this world has not seen. Dark Star can fill in those of you with technical powers on the changes you can expect in the Domain, and we will face them together.”
OOC: Adamas will take the ride back with the rest of the heroes. He will see Jessica to let her know he is alright, but realizing he will be needed, he will head to the space station to recover as quickly as possible. He will attempt to stay in contact, but it appears he will need the most time to recover.
Jon
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeff
Okay,
I will increase Thunderhead’s INT and AGI by 4 each.
Thanks
Tom
-------------------------------------------------------------------
On second thought, can I please get +5 to AGI
and +3 to INT?
Best,
Jeff
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes that Max him out on Agility.
Tom
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok. Thanks.
Jeff
--------------------------------------------------------------------
He continued past them and
approached that enigmatic, interdimensional wanderer. "Nomad. I'm still here
to help. I'm still willing to follow you to the gates of... the Domain, if
that's what is needed. But what of Jacco? Is he still loose in 2013?"
Nomad said, "Yes, he is.
Jacco is at the gate. He will lead the Domain's reinforcements once they come through
it. The destruction of the Anti-Matter Vacuum on Earth had bought us time. The
Domain still has two other devices in our dimension on other planets. There are
forces opposing the Domain on those planets as well but they are not been as
successful as you have.
"You need to take
control of the gate and afterward send a strike force through it to
join Agent America's strike force to take down Cr’tegorf. In the Domain it
truly is cut off the head and the body dies. It is a predator pack that will
turn on itself.
"We, Geonesians, are ready
to take the Domain down a different path but can't as long as Cr’tegorf is
leader of the pack."
Best
Tom
------------------------------------------------------------------
"One more thing," Thunderhead said. "Psimon told me about my
future... that I never return to 1931. How I'm never heard from again. Why is
that?"
Nomad began explaining the
catastrophic danger of time travel paradoxes, and how no one was meant to know
their future when Thunderhead interrupted him.
"It's too late for all that.
I already know I never make it back to 1931. I've come here at your request.
I'm still willing to aid you. But I need to know the truth. I deserve that
much. What happens in my future, Nomad?!"
Nomad said "We still don't
know your future. We may lose the battle in the Domain against Cr’tegorf
and you are imprisoned there for eternity.
Or you die in the Domain but your
death give us victory.
Or we could win and when it is
time to me to open the portal you go back to 1931 but decide to live a hidden
life battling the other magical forces in Hallowed Hills. As Dr. Arcane tells
me "What happens in Hallowed Hills, stays in Hallowed Hills"
Or when I open the dimensional
portal you ask to not go back to 1931 but to a different time.
Or you fall in love with a
Geonesian Princess deciding to stay in the Domain to be a great warrior for us.
Thunderhead your future is still
undecided, don't worry about the final scene in your little Paradox Play
when we are only at the intermission"
With a sly smile Nomad opened a
dimensional portal and after listening to any final comments from Thunderhead
stepped through it.
Best
Tom
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Thunderhead
glanced once more at the battlefield, and the tragic ruins of Stonehenge. "It will take time to rally our
forces. Give the injured time to heal. How long dare we wait until we
strike Jacco and seize his Gate? And who are 'we Geonesians'?"
Jeff
-------------------------------------------------------------------
With a sly smile Nomad opened a dimensional
portal and after listening to any final comments from Thunderhead
stepped through it.
The accidental avatar of the Incan goddess of
the storm returned the sly smile. He said to the time traveling trickster,
"Sorry, Nomad. I overestimated your powers of prophecy. Imagine
my relief to hear that free will still exists."
Jeff
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Nomad looked at Thunderhead for a second.
"Let me try explaining it
this way; Geonesians are a species of the Domain. As others have referred to
all Domain creatures as Demons, it is the same if I referred to cats, dogs,
elephants, sharks, and humans all as Earthlings."
"The biggest difference is
there isn't a dominant species in the Domain like here on Earth."
Best
Tom
---------------------------------------------------------------------
OOC
Cool analogy. Does he tell TH how long they
can wait to heal before crashing Jacco's gate?
Thanks
Jeff
-------------------------------------------------------------------
He doesn't know for sure but thinks the
destruction of the Tower bought you 3 to 4 weeks.
Tom
---------------------------------------------------------------------
OOC
Thanks. Before I complete my orders, did
TH learn anything while giving first aid to the secured villains?
If that info will come next ish, I can
finish my orders for this ish without it. Thanks
Best
Jeff
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Next
ish.
Tom
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok. Thanks.
Will get final replies out before the
deadline.
Jeff
-------------------------------------------------------------------
General Samuel wanted a debriefing from
Commander Rose on the deviation from the battle plan.
<DarkStar IC: Response> DarkStar teleports to CHESS headquarters with Cybil floating inches above his right shoulder. After having spent a few days at Sarrisa's, healing from his injuries, Joshua had promised General Samuel an After Action Report once he had finished personal business helping get a friend settled into her new home. The gruff old commander of the Super Forces mumbled something about shameless womanizer before agreeing to meet at CHESS HQ.
Commander Rose gave a straight forward report of the battle from his perspective, including the information he had learned later from others on the flight back to the States. " ... as far as where things slid sideways General, best I could tell was when DeBrandt's golden boy decided to turn his masters 100 ton tank into a makeshift nuke in an attempt to knockout the tower. A lot of heroes went down with villains in that blast. He underestimated the Domain's technology and strength of the forcefield surrounding the tower. Personally I can't fault his enthusiasm, and leadership on the field went to hell in a hand basket after that devil turned a number of our own against us ... maybe even before then, but the boy needs a real mentor before someone approves his Hero Liscense." Done with his own report he asked for and had Cybil record any information the Super-Forces other hero teams around the earth and in space had to report.
Joshua has Cybil download as much of an electronic account of the battlefield events as possible along with information of the hero and villains that were either killed or missing in action. Joshua leaves the government building as convinced as ever that he could never trust the government to provide the proper leadership, intell, or resources when it came to meta-human activities. Even though constantly feeling out of his depth, he would be glad to see Adamas and start their next mission at his next stop ... Dr. Avery's mansion. "Once more into the breech."
*Whoump*
<DarkStar IC: Response> DarkStar teleports to CHESS headquarters with Cybil floating inches above his right shoulder. After having spent a few days at Sarrisa's, healing from his injuries, Joshua had promised General Samuel an After Action Report once he had finished personal business helping get a friend settled into her new home. The gruff old commander of the Super Forces mumbled something about shameless womanizer before agreeing to meet at CHESS HQ.
Commander Rose gave a straight forward report of the battle from his perspective, including the information he had learned later from others on the flight back to the States. " ... as far as where things slid sideways General, best I could tell was when DeBrandt's golden boy decided to turn his masters 100 ton tank into a makeshift nuke in an attempt to knockout the tower. A lot of heroes went down with villains in that blast. He underestimated the Domain's technology and strength of the forcefield surrounding the tower. Personally I can't fault his enthusiasm, and leadership on the field went to hell in a hand basket after that devil turned a number of our own against us ... maybe even before then, but the boy needs a real mentor before someone approves his Hero Liscense." Done with his own report he asked for and had Cybil record any information the Super-Forces other hero teams around the earth and in space had to report.
Joshua has Cybil download as much of an electronic account of the battlefield events as possible along with information of the hero and villains that were either killed or missing in action. Joshua leaves the government building as convinced as ever that he could never trust the government to provide the proper leadership, intell, or resources when it came to meta-human activities. Even though constantly feeling out of his depth, he would be glad to see Adamas and start their next mission at his next stop ... Dr. Avery's mansion. "Once more into the breech."
*Whoump*
John
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Bishop Prince asked to speak with Archer.
Hi Tom
I know we have Archer not involved in the upcoming issues but I would like to have an ideal how this conversation would or will affect Archer when he makes an appearance. I would also like any Side Shots I write for him to accurately represent what the conversation with Bishop might have resulted in. David would have done this in a time and place away from the other heroes ... unless of course Bishop wanted his "sponsor" involved.
Thanks for any info or ideas you have in mind or if you want to role-play this part of it temporarily then that's great also.
Later Amigo
John
Hi Tom
I know we have Archer not involved in the upcoming issues but I would like to have an ideal how this conversation would or will affect Archer when he makes an appearance. I would also like any Side Shots I write for him to accurately represent what the conversation with Bishop might have resulted in. David would have done this in a time and place away from the other heroes ... unless of course Bishop wanted his "sponsor" involved.
Thanks for any info or ideas you have in mind or if you want to role-play this part of it temporarily then that's great also.
Later Amigo
John
----------------------------------------------------------
Director Huffington explained how
Bishops have the freedom to act as need within CHESS.
There has been 1 Bishop that participated on a team of Capes. Black Orchid's actions
in the field definitely qualifies her for being elevated to Bishop level. She
could continue working with the other Heroes. There is no reporting of
activities or information on the team to CHESS. Black Orchid would report
directly to Huffington. Any information Black Orchid decides to provide CHESS
would be strictly from a readiness to support the upcoming events; I.e. crowd
control, medical relief, and incarceration of captured Villains.
Black Orchid would still have all
the resources of CHESS and the ability to invoke the rights of CHESS as a
Bishop.
If Black Orchid agrees to the
promotion then she will have Bishop Prince take up to that level in CHESS HQ to
be properly promoted.
Best
Tom
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Armorman Junior looked up, his
helmet still on. "I agree they aren't getting away with anything but we
need to allocate our resources correctly. The Indestructibles are going to
Russia after we are healed. We have to make sure the Red Guard doesn't falter.
I would recommend you join up with the Guardians. They successfully made into
the Domain and back intact."
"They should be the strike
force that takes it to the Domain"
Armorman Junior paused looking
first at Black Orchid and then Starbolt. "In fact, I would recommend all 3
of you joining the Guardians."
Tom
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey guys, sorry for not responding to this
sooner but to be honest I wasn't sure how to respond - combining everyone into
one group? Phantom in a group? As much as I love gaming in groups ( group
interactions are always better then running around solo ), I really can't see
Phantom joining a group with the other available heroes. For starters, He kills
without remorse - I can definitely see that becoming an issue at some point for
some of the other heroes. Secondly; compared to some of the other characters,
he's ridiculously under-powered in my opinion. Last but not least, he has that
Wolverine / Dark Knight / Punisher brooding-loner personality going on - I have
absolutely no desire to have him being at odds non-stop with every character in
the group.
Now; with all of that said, I have no qualms with Phantom joining a group but someone would have to come up with some really good ideas on how to address the above three concerns before we moved forward with that. I mean we could always amp his powers/skills up a bit I guess and give him some bigger guns ( The AA-12 comes to mind - you GOTTA love that weapon! ), but what about the killing stuff and the dark personality? If working around all of that stuff turns out to be impossible, then I would say that we should just leave Phantom in his solo-book if you're ok with that Tom.
Let me know what you guys think - if we can work this out, then I'm all for it =)
Oh, and by the way, Tom - Great ending to an amazingly epic tale! Two points and one giant gold star for you, sir! =D
Talk to you guys soon,
-Kev
Now; with all of that said, I have no qualms with Phantom joining a group but someone would have to come up with some really good ideas on how to address the above three concerns before we moved forward with that. I mean we could always amp his powers/skills up a bit I guess and give him some bigger guns ( The AA-12 comes to mind - you GOTTA love that weapon! ), but what about the killing stuff and the dark personality? If working around all of that stuff turns out to be impossible, then I would say that we should just leave Phantom in his solo-book if you're ok with that Tom.
Let me know what you guys think - if we can work this out, then I'm all for it =)
Oh, and by the way, Tom - Great ending to an amazingly epic tale! Two points and one giant gold star for you, sir! =D
Talk to you guys soon,
-Kev
------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey Kev
Uhm what's up with Magus? That character is tailored for Epic level campaign scenarios. Flight adaption spells super senses. Dude has whole package and all ready themed up with Domain experience? Good to hear you're still out there and been enjoying your guys Vanguard as always.
Regards
John
Uhm what's up with Magus? That character is tailored for Epic level campaign scenarios. Flight adaption spells super senses. Dude has whole package and all ready themed up with Domain experience? Good to hear you're still out there and been enjoying your guys Vanguard as always.
Regards
John
----------------------------------------------------------------------
And as a follow up thought :-)
Outside of the Street Patrol campaign Tom has been using the standard damage rules making it pretty hard to even kill a normal unless Phantom went insanely out of his way to do so. I might be slightly off on that, I'm sure Tom is better qualified to confirm or deny that idea, but then it comes down to you whether you would find it enjoying playing the character if the rules make it hard for him to mow down bad guys in buckets of blood and bullets ;-)
Outside of the Street Patrol campaign Tom has been using the standard damage rules making it pretty hard to even kill a normal unless Phantom went insanely out of his way to do so. I might be slightly off on that, I'm sure Tom is better qualified to confirm or deny that idea, but then it comes down to you whether you would find it enjoying playing the character if the rules make it hard for him to mow down bad guys in buckets of blood and bullets ;-)
Regards
John
John
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I am okay with Phantom going solo in his own
book if that is best.
Tom
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Starbolt
could still here Manta-Man's words playing over in his head. "The
Crusader's are disbanding, I'm hurt and trying to take care of Manta-Lad. The
rest of the team are pursuing personal Matters." "I don't know
which way to go know ." The Stellar-Powered Sentinel thinks to himself.
"I always imagined that I would eventually join The Crusaders, but
it appears that that door is now closed." Realizing that Armor Man JR. was
Talking to him and Black Orchid , brings him back to the here and now.
" Joining The Guardians was
what he said wasn't it." Starbolt thinks, "No offer has been extended
to me A.M.Jr., But if my help is needed I am more than willing to give
it." I do believe that if we are to take the fight to the domain, that we
need as many of us healed up, and a good battle plan, and as much intel as we
can acquire about where we are going." "Rushing headlong into the
jaws of the beast will help us not." "What do the rest of you
think?"
Jamey
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Upon
hearing the Director's suggestion of her promotion, The Black Orchid bows
slightly, "I would be greatly honored to become a Bishop. Thank you for
your confidence in me. I would like to continue with the other heroes in their
attack on the Domain as I feel I can complement the others in the group with my
unique abilities. You can also count on me to keep CHESS'
best interests in mind, particularly in the area of technology." She rises
and shakes Director Huffington's hand, "Thank you
Director," and moves to the elevator.
Marc
--------------------------------------------------------------------
OOC
Hey Kev,
If you're looking for a partner, I can choose
Man Beast or another character as my one PC.
If you want to go solo, that's cool too. I
can stick with Thunderhead.
Up to you.
Best
Jeff
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sitting toward the front with Adamas, Joshua
still can ear CX's little speech to the others, the passion of the
battle seemingly still pumping adrenaline in the hero's armored form.
DeBrandt's golden boy plea reminded him of a rookie squad member he had worked
with during his MEDUSA days. The young man oozed with a need to prove himself
to the veterans around him. Lets
just hope that enthusiasm doesn't get anyone else killed in the process.
More surprising was Armorman Jr.'s address to
the three closest to him at the time. Not sure if the others had made the
connection, Joshua had assumed the Centurion would head back west with the battle
tanks to DeBrandt's main testing grounds. As far as he knew, the other two,
Black Orchid and Starbolt had been working with the Crusaders for the past
couple years. The Crusaders were a long established group that operated
independent of the government and appeared to have been about as affected by
corporate influence as the New Super Society. Joshua had a deep respect for the
Crusaders.
Nudging his adamantine friend Joshua directed
his thoughts toward Adamas. just
"I assume you heard that? It appears the rumors of Manta Man debanding the
Crusaders could be true. I don't know how much Armorman Jr. knows about the
'Guardians' but unless Magus, Cure, and Elwood show up, it looks like there are
still at least as many active Crusaders as there are Guardians . . . I don't
know what you think but with their public trust and name recognition it almost
makes more sense for us to join them if we are going to continue this
'super-hero business' after our Quest for Dr. Arcane comes to a close."
After the battle, Joshua had already invited
a few of the heroes for a beer once the CHESS debriefings were over with. He
would be spending a few days himself healing from his wounds. Assuming the
others would be doing the same, Joshua sent a message via the Star-Comms that the
heroes had been issued for the mission to anyone returning to Megalopolis join
in a remembrance of the fallen and injured comrades ... and maybe discuss
how we might organize a strikeforce to do exactly as the Centurion had
suggested.
"Doc ... When you have a moment we need
to talk. Magus and the Cure are missing, and Elwood seems to have slipped away
after the battle. If we are going to continue the last leg of the Quest we are
going to need some more recruits. I have a few ideas but you have been our
guiding hand since day one and in matters of the occult I will always bow to
your and Donnah's knowledge and experience."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sweat flew from his long black bands as
David ducked beneath a spinning kick, and used the momentum to flip forward
just as a staff attempted to smash into his shins a split second too late.
Rolling over his shoulders and springing up into a defensive stance, the young
student barely caught the follow up attack from his mentor with a cross block
... only to have his ankles swept out from beneath him by the beautiful woman
who had used the energy from her kick to in a roll of her own.
"Uhumph " Before he could move again, David found the staff's tip
pressed against his throat. Carefully raising his hands in a posture of
surrender he reluctantly uttered the words "I yield"
The woman's voice, a husky sexy laugh was
barely audible over the other sounds of sparring taking place around the dojo.
Grasping the offered hand of his mentor and sponsor Davis merely gave the woman
know to most the world as Kali a blush and grin. Shaking his head as he looked
back at the Foundry's long time hero, Lightning-Fist, David shrugged his
shoulders. "I still am playing checkers with those who are masters of
chess. CHESS ... the name
has been much on my mind of late.
The cargo plane had no more than set down
than Bishop Prince had again asked the Archer to join him in discussion. He had
agreed to talk to the Bishop of CHESS as soon as they returned to the States
and the CHESS agent had taken him literally. David had spent the trip privately
meditating in the aircraft's storage section. David had accidentally killed a
drug dealer when he had been operating without a DSA license. He had
regretted the accident and had promised to dedicate himself to saving others in
penance.
Right or wrong he had decided not to turn
himself in. No one could bring the dead drug-dealer back to life, and his being
in jail would be of help to no one. David had spent the many hours in
meditation placing his mind and body in a place of tranquility. During the
interrogation David had focused all his willpower on maintain that tranquility
over his mind and body. Giving truth where he could and half-truths when
needed. Only the Craftsman knew the full truth. Even his DSA sponsor
Lightning-Fist did not know, though David had began to suspect Kali might.
Thanking both for working with him this
evening, David politely declined having dinner with his two friends. The
Foundry had suffered in it's own way from the Domain invasion and while the
real heroes were off fighting in an alternate dimension, the Archer was
promised to do what he could to keep Megalopolis safe until their return. The
Domain had to have many human agents to mobilize the forces they had in
England. Many of those forces had originates from Megalopolis.
Sitting in the locker room a towel around his
waist and another drying his hair, David heard the beep beep of a text coming through the
burner phone. Cycling the security code Craftsman had gave him, David
hoped the gadgeteer had news of his father. Hopes were quickly dashed and just
as quickly replaced with curiosity and concern.
To: Archer
Fm: Oracle
There is a new deck in the game. Someone is
holding cards under the table that need to be seen. The First one to the Bank
tonight Page me. Together we can take the King for all he is worth.
Even as he reads the text it slowly starts to
delete itself from the screen. David had not heard from the Oracle since he had
stopped the Nicotines from flooding Megalopolis with a new designer drug
imported by the Talons. Once again the mysterious messenger seemed to be
putting him on the trail of a great evil. The references to a deck of cards,
the emphasis on the Page and the King. It
appears the Tarot Masters and their Pentacle minions were not as
decimated at Stonehenge as all had hoped. If I interpret this right, a Page
will be at the First Bank of Megalopolis tonight . . . Maybe there I can
discover what the "cards under the table" are "that need to be
seen"?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Thanks, Armorman. It’s just important to keep our minds on the goal and not the losses. If the Indestructables are going to Russia, then Russia's in good hands."
CX turns back to the rest of the group.
"I know things got heavy back there, but we WON! Every
single one of you stuck your neck out like you've done time and time again and
it made the difference! Right now they're not trying to figure out how we
won, they're trying to figure out how 'THEY' lost. That's the thing with
megalomaniacs, it's always about them. Please don't let our victory sour
in your stomachs. I'm going to shut up now. But please consider
what I've said."
He sits back down and turns to Black Orchid. He leans over
and speaks quietly.
"Looks like my little tank maneuver didn't win me any
popularity points. I guess I've started out my hero career with a stutter
step and on the wrong foot, to boot. Oh well, I think I'd rather be the
least of the heroes..."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Before the plane lands on their way back from the battle, CX gets up from his seat and makes his way forward. He approaches where Dark Star is seated. He nods at those seated near him and waits for a break in any conversation they may be having.
"I'm
sorry for interrupting, however, I think we need to have a chat. AM Jr is
taking the Indestructables to Russia to help there. He's suggested that
Black Orchid, Starbolt and myself join up with the Guradians for the sortee
into the Domain. I don't know what your plans are, but I know this, If we
go to another dimension, we are going to need a strong, recognizable leader
while we're there. I don't mean ony offense to anyone on this plane,
they're all heores and dmaned good ones, but, Dark Star, we're going to need
someon who can keep up cohesive. I think, that's you. I can guess
that all of you think I'm too impulsive and inexpereinced. You're right.
This was my first fight. But if there is one thing I do know, it's
how people function. Without strong leadership, the battle before the
tower is going to happen all over again. I also think between you and the
DeBrant Coproration, we can probably put together some temproary devices to
protect everyone from that damned K'Flpta-flurg from getting into our minds.
Sorry, I don't speak alien jibberish very well."
Dave
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------In the troop transport, Thunderhead listened to the man who destroyed Stonehenge try to rally the troops.
An
archeologist and historian, Thunderhead felt the loss of Stonehenge acutely.
He listened to the futuristic, golden armored hero and was reminded
of the Great War. There too, young men made catastrophic mistakes that cost
life and limb. He remembered the Air Force battalion that accidentally
massacred their own troops. He remembered women and children killed by
mustard gas because of an error in forecasting the direction of
the wind. He remembered men who froze to death in trenches because
a supply order for winter uniforms got lost by a clerk. Tragic
mistakes and unforeseen consequences were the price of war in any century.
This man was not to blame.
"Who's
with me?!" asked the young soldier in the transport.
Thunderhead
rose and put his hand on Centurion X's shoulder. "I am."
(OOC:
Happy Veteran's Day)
Later,
he'd have that drink with Psimon and Elwood and ask what Psimon had been up to
since they last saw each other, 80 years ago.
He'll
share what he knows of Jacco and the Domain with Psimon and the
Guardians.
If
an advance force is going to the Domain to rescue the heroes held prisoner
there, he will volunteer to join them.
Otherwise
he will be active in the world until the heroes are ready to strike at
Jacco's Gate. He will go where the fighting is thickest, Hallowed
Hills, Britian, wherever he is needed. He's not
seriously injured and doesn't need to be resting for three weeks.
In
the unlikely event he gets some quiet time, he'll head to the
largest public library he can find, and learn what's happened
to the world since he last saw it.
In
three weeks, he'll join the strike at Jacco's Gate.
Thanks,
Jeff
------------------------------------------------------------------After her Bishop initiation, The Black Orchid will again talk to the Director. "I believe that several of my allies were critically wounded during our previous engagement. I know we could use their help in the upcoming incursion but it looks like it might take a while for them to get back on their feet. While I'm no biologist, I do know that I now heal at a remarkable rate. I know CHESS has some of the best and brightest minds available, so I am willing to submit some of blood to determine if there some factor that can be isolated to accelerate healing, even over the short term. As I said, while I don't know the biology, I can certainly help design any equipment for purification, testing etc."
[OOC: The Black Orchid wants to see if she
can tap into her Regeneration to provide short-term healing to the injured
heroes, hopefully by recruiting someone else with a biology skill (she has some
medical, but not at a high enough level). She's willing to spend inventing
points to develop the equipment once the research has been done. Since it seems
like there is another way into the Domain, she probably won't research reverse
engineering the generators as I originally indicated.]
Marc
-------------------------------------------------------------------<DarkStar IC: Response> "Ct’tegort . . . The enemies name is Ct’tegort." The cerulean commander takes a deep sigh. I appreciate your support, but I only stepped in because the enemy threw our leadership's initial plan in the crapper and someone decided a nuke could bring down a magical force field. Don't get me wrong I almost did the same thing on my first outing a few years ago. What that proves though is that when fighting mystical enemies we need experienced mystical leadership."
Still worried that Magus and Cure and not
been responding and Elwood was last been seen slipping away toward the nearest
pub, Joshua supposed experienced leadership beat none at all. "You and
Thunderhead seem to be doing well. I know of Starbolt and Black Orchid from
their time with the Crusaders, when we get back to the States I'll make sure
that the four of you, and any others who want to continue the fight, all meet
Dr. Arcane. Adamas and others he has gathered have been fighting this battle
for some time now. We can meet with him, honor the fallen, pool our knowledge
and resources ... then plan what actions we can take that will end this threat,
once and for all."
See ya in next Issue all
John
--------------------------------------------------------------------Tom
Incredible job juggling all the characters
and keeping the story exciting and interesting.
I'm not sure what I want to do with Elwood
and Harvey. I think I want to take a break from the big group for now. if
you're not against the idea I would like to stay in the universe so to speak,
and continue to receive your emails so I can be up to date on how the group and
stories are progressing. I do enjoy reading all of them. As others have
suggested the JLU is a tremendously large group that focuses on different
varying members depending on the story arc at hand. Perhaps Elwood and his
invisible friend can rejoin the team at some juncture.
Harvey and Elwood will stay at (or return to)
Stonehenge for a little while in hopes of repairing the damage that has been
done.
I'll send a separate email to the group with
Elwood's response/reactions.
I'm not leaving, but just taking a
break.
Hopefully you are cool with all of this.
Respectfully,
Mike
-------------------------------------------------------------------I am cool with it all. I will continue to list you as active but know you are taking a break. I think the idea of Elwood and Harvey trying to heal Stonehenge is a cool idea too.
Let me know whenever you’re ready
to become active again.
Great Gaming with you
Tom
--------------------------------------------------------------------IC:
After all briefing is complete, Elwood
is uncharacteristically quiet. Then a moment presents itself.
"My new and very dear friends, Harvey and I very much look forward
to getting to know you all better but now Harvey tells me that's we have very
important work to do back in Stonehenge.I have never seen Harvey look as
saddened as I do now and I'm sure you can all say the same. The destruction of
Stonehenge must be repaired and he and I going to do just that. When we are
done and hopefully when you have successfully completed you're important tasks
we can all reconvene perhaps a Charlie's. It will be great fun for us to
reunite and tell our stories to one another." Slowly and
purposefully the gentle man rizes and adjusts his jacket. He takes the second
jacket he tends to carry and neatly folds it over his elbow. "I will
not say 'goodbye' but I will say 'see you soon.' Let's have some fun when next
we meet."
Elwood puts on his hat and smiling warmly
walks out. As he holds the door open to let someone pass before him he
looks back, winks and exits.
OOC:
I'm taking a brief leave gang but I'll be
reading and keeping up with your emails. This is a lot of fun so I'll be
back before you know it.
Mike
---------------------------------------------------------------------Tom
I'm
not quite sure what to do with the next level up for the boys. I'll give it
some more thought but I am certainly open to any suggestions you might have.
Mike
-------------------------------------------------------------------OOC: Well Crap :-) I can't help but do at least a small IC response. I really enjoy playing with you and your character was an element of light hearted fun that was great for the team and a blast to read. I really hope you come back soon. With Harvey and Elwood or another incarnation I'll always look forward to your return.
<DarkStar IC: Response> Joshua approaches Elwood after the briefing breaks up. Starting with a firm handshake the Titan can't help but give the modest man a gentle hug as he says his goodbyes. "I respect your and Harvey's desire to make right the damage done at Stonehenge. You are going to be missed on the last leg of the Quest by all of us. I only wish Agent America had been here to see your brave actions at the end of this battle." . . . "If you need anything, and I mean anything from me or StarCorp. Just activate your Star-comm and ask for Trisha. She can handle anything not meta-related twenty-four seven access to me unless we at in the Domain " . . . After keeping an eye of his friend's body language and facial indicators the past year, Joshua hope he is looking in the direction of Elwood's companion. "Harvey I know you always do but keep a special eye on this one. I hope to see you myself someday when you decide the time is right. Keep safe ... both of you."
Thanks for everything
John
------------------------------------------------------------------
OOC
Hurry back soon! You'll be missed.
Best
Jeff
-------------------------------------------------------------------Hi Tom
Was putting some thoughts on paper for the next issue in anticipation of the team meeting. I started thinking about throwing a twist at the group of you were okay with it? I didn't really have the energy to play all three characters in the Crossover properly but had fun with Archer and DarkStar. DarkStar is my obvious first love but if your okay with it I think I'd like to give Red Hawk a run if you think he'd be okay to run in the Domain adventure.
DarkStar will stay behind to mobilize a super force of heroes in case there is another attempt to rebuild another tower on earth. He is the best choice for this given his background and teleport powers. Red Hawk is a StarCorp employee and Joshua can prep him same way he had Cybil and will Centurion X if needed. Plus it takes his big personality out of the mix and gives other players and other characters room to step up into the multiple roles he tends to fill.
Red Hawk should be able to fill in power wise to some degree especially considering he has two (2) level advancements coming his way. Second level HAS to be an Agility Advancement. His "To Hit" ability is nowhere near reliable enough. I'd rather use the Third level for something else like Willpower: Mental Defense or Knowledge Skills but his "To Hit" is primary and the Heightened Expertise isn't going to be enough when joining the Big Boys.
If you agree to this it changes nothing for the next Issue. I will write a Side Shot for Red Hawk hinting at this possibility so I can get into character better. I think if we have Archer and Red Hawk show up with DarkStar and have Archer decline so to fight Domain on the streets and DarkStar to organize the big show with Red Hawk agreeing to step up as the legacy of Freedom Eagle will really throw the guys off and give Jon Jeff and Dave step into leadership roles. I'd love to see Marc and or Jamey do same but don't see it in their personalities. But with big blue out for a while who knows. :-)
Please say yes lol
John
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sure you can play him. I am okay you rotating the 3 PCs in and out as you see fit. It gives a Justice League feel without too many players or having to manage too many PCs. Also it will let you play which you feel like and side story the others until you want to change.
The Setup for Hgt Expertise means
that it moves from +1 to +3 with the 2 level advancements.
I increased Agility by 8 to 22
total, so now he moves from a +1 to +4 to hit.
So Red Hawk moves from +2 to +7
to hit for Vibe Blast and HtH so that is 17 and 12 before any other
modifications.
I setup the Willpower for Defense
only against Emotion and Mind Control to represent the Mental Defense.
Here is Red Hawk's character
sheet. Let me know if it is okay.
Thanks
Tom
----------------------------------------------------------------------Holy Cow Tom
That was quick? I haven't even looked close at what skills I was thinking he might pick up so I'm guessing you preferred the mental defense idea better keeping Chris skill-less for a while longer?
I'm good with it. I just wanted your input on what seems better. So his mental defense is due to his learning how to form firewalls between his programming and someone using those mental attacks against him? That's a special affect question so we think of it same way. Lol
Cool I'm going to write a side shot tomorrow that has Archer and Red Hawk showing up at the hero gathering. I'm assuming that's Dr Arcane mansion unless you tell me otherwise. Thanks I think playing Chris will be more laid back I the group will be fun and I can start having Joshua working on that satellite base Centurion is jazzed about while the team is in the Domain. Lol
Thanks Again
John
---------------------------------------------------------------------
I thought about the skills and Red Hawk's storyline. I just couldn't see him gaining skills until after the battle. For that to happen it would probably require to have some form of accelerated learning. I didn't want to open up those can of worms.
The Mind Defense could be
something he always had but didn't know about. The magic trap caused his
systems to activate it, sorta like an allergic reaction. There is no reaction
to the bee sting the first time. That is when the allergy is create it is the
second bee sting that the reaction occurs. Same for the Mind Defense.
I am good with you describing it
as forming Fire Walls between the attack and the specific programming under
attack.
You are correct about the issue
ending with the team reconvened at Dr. Arcane's Mansion. Having DarkStar work
on the Satellite while the team's away is good story advancement as well.
Best
Tom
--------------------------------------------------------------------Morning Tom
Cool then on Red Hawk. I really do like this chance to play Chris again. I think your right about the skills being too soon. Maybe I can buy off his Weakness or at least half of it and he can "remember" some of the skills that CyberDoom had programmed into him when he was being built. :-) but that's a few months down the road I'd say haha :-) Expect a Red Hawk Side Shot later this evening that ends with him and Archer at Dr Arcanes mansion. I want to RP Archer turning Joshua's offer down to join the strike force but focus in helping fight the Domain in the streets and back alleys while the quiet Red Hawk steps up and volunteers in the best Freedom Eagle tradition. :-)
Thanks Again
John R
----------------------------------------------------------------------
[OOC:] So who all is in for this upcoming round and who is going to the Domain and who is going to stay to help with other things?
The Black Orchid is agreeing to go to the
Domain.
Marc
----------------------------------------------------------------------Adamas is in.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Starbolt is volunteering to help wherever he is needed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
CX is up for the Domain Trip.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Shatterman and Condor were ready to return to Central City, they asked Red Hawk if he was coming with them.
"Not yet. I need to report to StarCorp and repair some of the
damage I sustained in the battle my regenerative systems cannot repair. I will
call you in a couple days. You should both rest and repair yourselves. I
predict ... we may still be needed, with the worse may yet be to come."
Shaking hands in the manner his mentors had taught him that friends do in
greeting and departure, Chris watched as Brian and Dennis drove away in the old
beaten up jeep. Dressed in civilian clothes himself, the third who had chosen
to try and uphold the legacy of the Freedom Eagle pulled the dark red hoodie
over his head and shrugged the large gym bag containing his colorful
costume over his shoulders.
CHESS security personnel individually escorted those heroes from
the military base who choose to leave in civilian ID. Keeping his face buried
in the shadows of his hoodie, Chris nodded in thanks as he walked around the
corner to a bus stop and boarded the public transport to the Refuge Islands. Maybe I should have went with Brian
and Dennis, but much has happened in the past few days and I need time to
process all that has happened. Brian has always encouraged me to find my own
path but I always feel most comfortable when I am around them. Why?
Thoughts of the battle and his relative ineffectiveness clouded his mind.
Somewhere during the battle he had separated from his friends.
First Dennis then Brian fell to the Tarot Masters and their legion of Pentacle
soldiers. Where one hero fell another seemed to fill the line and step into the
killing zone. Chris had no fear of death as he had not been born but created.
He had the capacity programmed into him, but like much of what should have been
available to him seemed to have been deleted after the New Super Society had
been able to stop him from destroying them. I
have to continue searching through my programming to find who created me and
how I can stop them from controlling my actions ever again.
Although late in the afternoon the sun was already starting to set
over the horizon. StarCorp sat out on one of the outer islands of Megalopolis, drawing
it's power from hydro-kinesis generators out in the Atlantic. It housed not
only the research and development facilities, but the headquarters and living
space for many of the high-tech transport companies employees, including
the owner ... Joshua Rose. Chris had only briefly met Rose once. Dennis and
been very suspicious of the eclectic hero/entrepreneur and rumor suggested his
paranoia might be well founded. Although having given Chris a wide birth their
were whisper the cobalt commander had single handedly almost put NASA out of
business.
Passing through the multiple security points using his StarCorp
communicator badge, Chris finally made his way to the sub-basement level where
Team Hephaestus oversaw the study and repair of his android systems. They had
tried for weeks to help him break past the techno-amnesia he had ben diagnosed
with by the psychiatrist and technicians. The Hephaestus Team had rigged him
self-diagnostic and repair equipment to not only aid in restoring his damaged
systems, but allow his to explore his programming in search of his lost
knowledge. They theorized he was likely the best capable of working through the
seemingly impenetrable firewalls his creator has erected.
So far he had only learned how the walls were created. The Head of
Hephaestus had told him that was excellent progress. That often scientist had
to be able to recreate a disease before they could figure out how to defeat it.
So far the on; thin Chris had learned was how to build an even stronger
firewall. He had decided that until he had learned to access those memories on
his own, he would never allow another access to his programming to take control
of his autonomy again. For three days Chris worked on the mystery of his lost
memories during the morning and utilized the StarCorp training facilities to
improve his battle skills. He had been serious when he told Brian and Dennis he
predicted that the danger was not over.
The night air was cool and the wind passed beneath his wings
silently as the uniforms anti-grav units propelled him through the moonlit
night. Once again Red Hawk soared the skies of Megalopolis and it filled him
with joy as he searched the city for signs of trouble. Morning was fast
approaching though and he had received a mysterious text from one called the Oracle. It was a
cryptic message but plain enough to one had been at Stonehenge. "In the early dawn, when the
Archer draws down the Hawk, one will fly and the other shall pass away." He
remembered the Archer from the battle. The marksman's arrows had given great
support to those he fought beside. Much more than his own, but still it
appeared both had been summoned.
***flash***
A
shaft of light rose from an alley in the darkness of the Foundry. It had been
close enough to illuminate Red Hawk as he passed but never a danger. Swooping a
low circle Chris's heightened sensors picked out the shadowy form hiding on the
roof top. I sense though if he were truly hiding he might no been so easy to
find. Landing softly a respectful distance, Chris gives the blue and grey clad
bowman time to exist the shadows. "Hello Archer. You too have decided to
hear what they have to say I see." The Archer merely has time to mutely
nod when both feel the disturbance in the space as a portal opens.
A
long white haired middle aged man walks through the portal. A gem glowed softly
between his brow as the portal remained open. "Dr. Arcane has a need of
your special talents. He offers his home and guidance to you in exchange. He
does not offer a salary because it is obvious you would both decline. Glory,
too is a draw to neither of you. Your actions at Stonehenge have shown you both
might be of great promise in the battles yet to come. We are pleased that you
have the courage to come and listen to what is next. If you are ready please
follow me." In the darkest part of the Foundry another light is
extinguished . . . as the three step through the portal the light of dawn
starts to rise upon Megalopolis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Phantom 3 days
DarkStar 4 days
CX 9 days
Archer 11 days
Adamas 23 days
Need not be character knowledge yet, but the player was curious how much time each player took to heal? DarkStar took 4 on the beach and Archer 4 under the watchful eye of a physician and hopefully using his Willpower to get an extra days healing rate each day :-)
See you at the mansion
John R
DarkStar 4 days
CX 9 days
Archer 11 days
Adamas 23 days
Need not be character knowledge yet, but the player was curious how much time each player took to heal? DarkStar took 4 on the beach and Archer 4 under the watchful eye of a physician and hopefully using his Willpower to get an extra days healing rate each day :-)
See you at the mansion
John R
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Tom, if at all possible with advancement, I'd
like to raise CX's Agility score. That is where he's really lacking right
now. Later on, I would like to discuss adding some non-combat powers to
the armor, like Life Support and possibly Adrenaline Injectors (small aid to
Power Point; not to exceed normal maximum value), and a short term nanite
injection system (small aid to HP: not to exceed normal Maximum) Both the
Injectors would have a limited number of uses and would be an emergency back up
kind of thing. I'm seeing 1 to 3 uses of each. I'm seeing them as
self only unless he takes the time to take part of his armor off and physically
removes them to use on someone else. That would be a very non-combat
action or a heroic, exposing himself to save another kind of scenario.
I'm kind of fuzzy on the Inventing points and
advancement point thing so whatever keeps the balance and tone of the game is
cool with me.
Also, his secret ID will admit himself to a
DeBrandt Corp Private Hospital set up primarily for himself and other VIP's in
the company. The doctors there are very used to the 'no questions asked'
rule...
:)
I'm not sure if there will be an issue with
CX wearing high tech powered armor in a magical dimension. Some GM's
would simply say that the tech doesn't function or what have you. I'm
cool either way. If his suit shuts down, then I'll have to do some
quickie learning of that magical tech they use and put something together...
:)
Thanks a Million!!
Dave
--------------------------------------------------------------------
OOC: Seeing as CX was most likely the
cause of Adamas' major HP loss, it only seems right that CX would spend some of
his Inventing points on a one shot healing device. Whether this be
something CX actually builds or appropriates from his resources is effectively
the same. Perhaps a Tissue Regenerator that burns out after its
use. Gives him Regen for 1 day and then done??? A suggestion and an
offer...
Dave
------------------------------------------------------------------
I was thinking that Elwood should
get a power like two characters has.
Here is Auntie Phil (aka BAD
Momma)
Persuasion: Modified form
of Mind Control. Must be able to talk to victim uninterrupted for as many
minutes as his/her intelligence score. After this period, talking acts as an
ordinary Mind Control attack.
Here is The Fool
Emotion Control: The Fool can
inspire overwhelming trust in a person. If used in a prosaic situation - such
as selling the Brooklyn Bridge to an old lady - there is a chance that the
effect will last for as long as the Fool keeps in daily contract with the
victim.
Here is what I was thinking.
Charming - Emotion Control:
Elwood can inspire the person to stop whatever they are doing and have a drink
with him. While Elwood is talking to the victim there is a chance (5 x Elwood's
Charisma) - (3 x Victim's Charisma) that victim will become completely obvious
to the current situation (including the existence of combat) and drink with
Elwood until the flask is empty.
This would be both Elwood and
Harvey's advancement but I can't think for anything for Harvey and I think this
will be really fun for you to play up with Elwood whenever you are able to
resume the game.
Thanks
Tom
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I love it!
What a great idea.
Mike
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