{Location: Axiom
Labs in Megalopolis' Foundry district}
While out one night patrolling the city on one of
his first times out, Lester, now garbed as The Skink, returned to the lab to
find it ablaze and vandalized, and his beloved father and mentor murdered.
“Look, who is that dragging Dr Harris from Axiom
Labs” cried news reporter Jessica Anderson.
“I don’t know but I will have to take him in for
questioning” said Detective Brokyo of the Megalopolis Police Department. “He
looks like a murder suspect. I bet he is one of those new Crushers we have been
trying to track down these past few months.”
“Are you sure he isn’t a licensed hero, Brokyo?”
said Sergeant Investigator Carlton of the MPD. “Why don’t we ask for the ID
first? If he doesn’t have it then we can cuff him and book him for Vigilantism.
Then while he is cooling his heels we can see what else sticks.”
The Skink shouted as he sprang into action!
"You got the wrong guy, man!" The small super said, his voice
cracking with emotion... "I found this guy like this, and this place
wrecked! I don’t want no trouble, man!"
The Skink moved defensively up walls and
ceilings getting to the opposite side from the cops, using cover, and finally getting
to the shadows, where...
Out of the shadows appeared a figure. He was
wearing unusual glasses and a modern style jacket but the material wasn’t
anything Lester had seen before.
Hello The Skunk, I have been reading up on you …
no wait, you aren’t dressed like a mammal. Oh, your theme is reptilian so that
would make you The Skink. My apologies let me start over.
Hello, The Skink, I am Nomad, Earth’s Dimensional
protector. I have been reading up on you at the Interdimensional Library. I
know your beginnings are very rough but I believe we can help each other out. I
can give you a brief respite and introduce you to some heroes who can help you
with your situation when your return. And you can help me save the world!”
Nomad flashed what he was sure was his most persuasive smile.
"I dunno who you are, Nomad, but right
now a respite is what I need to keep the Skink on the move! Let's go!"
Nomad opened a portal gate for both of them. They
stepped through it onto Plains of Glass.
"I.. wha...? Yaaaahhhh! What the...?!?!?”,
The Skink stuttered.
“Oh no, they have fallen into a Xo’J trapped!” Nomad
yelled as he started to run toward a circle of darkness. “Come on Skink, we
have got to help them!”
The
Skink started running quickly passing Nomad, “Yes! Yes!
Let's Go there! I'll Help! I'll Help!"
They
moved toward the guardians as the guardians attacked the Xo’J.
[42] Adamas flew toward the third Xo’J. He
unleashed a barrage of power blasts. 9 of the 10 shots hit. The Domain Demon
staggered from the onslaught but was not defeated. It continued to stand and
fight on.
[32] Jack Frost looked around desperately. He saw
Nomad in the distance. The eternal elemental flew toward the dimensional
defender, desperate to leave this foreign land.
[30] Seeing one of the
group down and the one called Crude about to go one on many against the demon
hoard, StrikeForce thought, "I can't wait to see what they will decide to
do. Time to get up close to these uglies."
Eyeing Crude' s location, the Bionic Brawler
took off in an all-out run. When he travelled enough distance to make his
landing point near the WW 2 hero, he put his staff to good use and propelled
himself towards the fight. Upon landing he said to Crude, "Hey big guy,
how about I give you a hand."
StikeForce attacked with his staff. Striking
the first Xo’J he knocked the demon back 35 feet. Though hurt, the demon
silently stood ready to continue the fight.
[30] Machinist finished his device. He aimed
at the third Xo’J. The ray of light missed its target. “Darn it!”, The
Machinist said, “I must have set the sights wrong”. He started to adjust his
device.
[24] Chris shut down his external sensors
long enough to clear his systems of the image of his friends in trouble.
Rebooting his firewalls to external affected the American Android. Red Hawk caught
the Paragon of Metropolis move forward toward one of the three demons attack
the team.
Leaving the ghost of the past behind him Red
Hawk rushed forward to assist the veteran vigilante. "On your left."
Red Hawk took up position guarding Adamas as he let loose with a devastating
blast of energy. For hours Chris had noticed his power reserve was being drain
greater with each activity. The planet must draw on all types of energy. His
diagnostics indicated a 29% decrease in energy efficiency since their arrival. Surprising
the opposite was true of self repairing functions. The planet must emanate
special energy. His diagnostics indicated a 1000% increase in repair efficiency
since their arrival.
Stealing himself like an ancient shieldman,
Red Hawk followed up on Adams energy blast, firing dual vibrational burst at
the demon before them.
Both blast struck the creature, knocking it
back 30 feet. Slowly it turned to look at its prey with its single eye. It may
have been knocked down but it wasn’t knocked out. It continued to fight.
[20] “Right behind you, StrikeForce”, Crude
said as he raised his massive fist. His gigantic punched missed the first Xo’J.
[20] The second Xo’J stared at Conquistador.
The defender of the Americas started to feel a sharp pain in his head but it
disappeared just as quickly. The Xo’J mind blast missed.
[19] The first Xo’J stared at Crude. The giant
elemental reach for his head with a grimace but then let out a sigh of relief.
“You missed Demon, I might look like a knuckle head but I ain’t. I am an
engineer and an officer.”
[18] Conquistador formed a solid light energy
lance. He launched the lance at the second Xo’J missing with the attack.
[17] Cougar ran across the plain of glass. He
pulled another bolo from his belt. He threw it at the second Xo’J. Cougar’s aim
was true. The bolo wrapped around the mind demon. When the cable stretched
taunt the bolo balls exploded. The second Xo’J staggered in pain but was still
able to fight.
[17] Night Wraith reached out his hands to
grab two crystal towers. The scourge of the underworld stretched his arms. Like
a slingshot he launched himself into the air. He glided across the plain of
glass as a low mourn was heard. The wailing continued to get louder until it
became a sonic scream.
Night Wraith hit the first Xo’J with a sonic
blast knocking it back 15 feet. The Xo’J stood up shaken and bruised but was
still able to fight.
[16] In the form of a cougar, Menagerie ran
across the fields toward the second Xo’J. Menagerie snarled and growled in
frustration as the Xo’J was too far away to reach.
[15] The third Xo’J stared at Adamas. It
tried to fry Adamas’ brain but the mind blast missed. Adamas was uninjured.
[15] Seeing that the odds were back to even
from the fog being dissipated, The Black Orchid reformed the darkness around
herself in the rough form of a giant version of the creatures, hoping to scare
them with superstition.
The three Xo’J all looked at the giant shadow
creature. Moments passed. The Mind Demons turned and ran away in awkward hoping
motions. They fled in three different directions.
{GM
Note: in the skill sections there is the Presence skill. This is intended to
simulate Batman’s causing criminals to be paralyzed with fear, even
surrendering without putting up a fight or Spiderman’s taunting the villain to
the point that the villain is so angry he fights wildly.
The
mechanic is using the Skill System Save rules. Black Orchid had a Presence
Basic Chance Value of 11. Without any modifier a roll of 11 or less is needed
on a 1d20. I gave a +2 modifier for creative use of Black Orchid’s power. The
Xo’J has an Oppose Modifier on Presence of 1. So the math is 11+2-1 for a 12
Save Value.
When
the Save is successful, it is up to the GM to decide the NPC’s reaction. I do
take how close or far the die roll is to the value to determine the reaction.
All 3 rolls were a 5 or less on 1d20. Since the Save rolls were less than half
the needed value of 12. If it had been rolls between 10 or 12 I would have
selected that the Xo’J were stunned and lost their actions for next turn.
Since
the rolls were so low I decided for the Xo’J to flee.}
Nomad and The Skink joined the Guardians. Nomad
quickly introduced The Skink. Everyone quickly introduced themselves
{To save space I am not putting in the NPCs introductions, If
you want to read them read Issue 53 or click here
Players feel free to introduce your PCs to Chuck’s The Skink.
Chuck if there is any NPC you wish to converse with please send dialogue in an
email and I will gladly respond}
Menagerie reminded Nomad of the Crystal he had
given to the Draven. “Oh, my bad. I should have given everyone a crystal.” As
he handed them to all the heroes, “As you discovered the Laws of Physics are
different here. These crystals function just like your communicators on Earth.
All you need to do is talk, even at the level of a whisper and everyone can
here you.”
Jack Frost demanded Nomad to take him back to
Earth. The Domain was no fun. As he stamped his foot in impertinence he explained
he was bound to the Earth. His job was to defend the Earth on Earth. He
couldn’t be here. He had to get back.
Nomad agreed to take Jack back. He took the
unconscious Serpent with him as well. “Time is of the essence, we can’t wait for
you to tend him. I will take care of Jack and Serpent.” Having said that, Nomad
opened a dimensional portal and the 3 heroes left the Domain.
The team traveled the remaining miles to the
Coral Forest without incident.
The Forest is a single gigantic sentient
brain-coral, comprised of billions of tiny minds. The depth of the coral
reaches 400 feet in places. It is sharp to the touch. The heroes can see the
entrance to a twisting pathway veering away from the Plasma River which runs
through it.
As the heroes decide whether to take the path,
follow the river, or not enter the Coral Forest at all they hear a voice in the
crystal ear pieces.
“This is Agent America. I was given this by a
“friend of an American”. Come in, over.”
<Replies
and Actions due Jan 5th >
Battle Conditions:
Adamas Hit Points: 47 Power
Points: 66 Invulnerability: 24
Black
Orchid Hit Points: 30 Power Points:
85 Willpower Defense active and invisible
Red
Hawk Hit Points: 74 Power
Points: 79 Invulnerability: 10; Willpower Def active
StrikeForce Hit
Points: 60 Power Points: 84 Invulnerability: 28;
The
Skink Hit Points: 30 Power Points:
75
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Seeing one of the group down and the one
called Crude about to go one on many against the demon hoard, StrikeForce
thinks,"I can't wait to see what they will decide to do. Time to get up
close to these uglies." Eyeing Crude' s location, the Bionic Brawler takes
off in an all-out run. When he has travelled enough distance to make his
landing point near the WW 2 hero, he puts his staff to good use and propelled
himself towards the fight. Upon landing he will direct his comment to Crude,
"Hey big guy, how about I give you a hand."
Jamey
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OOC: I don't know if Adamas "ethereal
vision" will allow him to see through the darkness.
IC: If he can see their attackers, he will
blast the closest one with his energy blast.
If not, he will move forward with haste until
he escapes the darkness, and then attack the closes enemy.
Jon
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Majority of the mist is gone. Thanks to
Adamas super breath and Jack Frost summoning a strong wind.
Adamas can see the three attackers who are
200 inches (games distance) away. Each in a different direction.
Thanks
Tom
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Adamas will go for an opponent no one else is
attacking. He should have sufficient
movement to easily close to firing distance.
Thanks!
Jon
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Single power blast or the 10 shots of auto
blast or a different number?
Thanks
Tom
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Let's go full throttle. :) 10 blasts...
Jon
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OOC: While I did not state it, StrikeForce
will attack the closest enemy.
Jamey
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Chris shuts down his external sensors long
enough to clear his systems of the image of his friends in trouble. Rebooting
his firewalls (Willpower Defense) to external effects the American Android
catches the Paragon of Metropolis move forward toward one of the three demons
attack the team.
Leaving the ghost of the past behind him Red
Hawk rushes forward to assist the veteran vigilante. "On your left."
Red Hawk takes up position guarding Adamas as he lets loose with a devastating
blast of energy. For hours Chris had noticed his power reserve was hardly
effected at all regardless of the activity. The planet must emanate special
energy. His diagnostics indicated a 29% increase in energy efficiency since
their arrival.
Stealing himself like an ancient shieldman,
Red Hawk follows up on Adams energy blast, firing dual vibrational burst at the
demon before them.
John
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Seeing that the odds are back to even from
the fog being dissipated, The Black Orchid reforms the darkness around herself
in the rough form of a giant version of the creatures, hoping to scare them
with superstition. If she still has any actions, she will keep an eye out to
any of her fellow heroes who look in trouble and try to soften up their foe
with a Vacuum blast. (unless she has a specific job, this is The Black Orchid's
MO, to aid those out in front by weakening opponents who are at risk of getting
the upper hand; the giant darkness creature is one of many experiments she keeps
trying to explore the effectiveness of her darkness).
Marc
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REply 1 (running for it!)
The Skink shouts as he spring into action!
"You got the wrong guy, man!" The small super said, his voice
cracking with emotion... "I found this guy like this, and this place
wrecked! I dont want no trouble, man!"
The Skink tries to defensive move, up walls
and ceilings if need be, to get to the opposite side from the cops, using
cover, and get to the shadows, where...
Reply 2
"I dunno who you are, Nomad, but right
now a respite is what i need to keep the Skink on the move! Let's go!"
(on entering the bizarre plain of glass)
"I.. wha...? Yaaaahhhh! What the...?!?!?
Yes! Yes! Let's Go there! I'll Help! I'll Help!"
Chuck
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