Heritage

Lulu's Survival roll: 1d20+9=24 Nice!

When Megan reiterated her question, Lynn paused for a second, then shook her head and began to chuckle, a mournful laugh with as much pain as humor. "You're right, you're right; I've been so focused on caregiving that I keep forgetting to take care of myself. Jewish Mother Syndrome!" Lynn raised her arms behind her head, and did a stretch and twist that would probably cripple most humans. There was a groan and a noticeable 'pop', after which the fae seemed more relaxed. "Oh yeah! I should definitely take some time off; do a day trip up the Hudson River Valley, or maybe even a long weekend. I've banked enough 'dutiful daughter' hours, and Dad can stay with Eddi and the kids for awhile." At the mention of Lawrence helping out, the bookseller frown slightly and slumped down a bit in her chair, cradling her wine with both hands. "Uh, well, I couldn't legally pay him, of course, but if he wanted to volunteer and be compensated with homemade cookies or something, I wouldn't say no." She shrugged. "Its sucks that he's probably smarter than everyone in the store combined, but too young to be part of the workforce."

Okay, extensive changes! 18PP spent 4PP = raising Communication from 6 to 10, giving Lulu's telepathy a range of 200,000 miles! 12PP = raising ESP from 5 to 7, allowing Lulu to see and hear up to 200 miles away! Added two new Enhanced Feats! 1PP = Improved Initiative 1PP = Uncanny Dodge (mental) Added various features to APs! Create Object: added Affects Insubstantial 2 and another rank of Progression Damage: Removed Full Action flaw Illusion: Removed Full Action flaw, added 2 ranks of Progression Mind Control: added Sensory Link and a second rank of Subtle Move Object: added Damaging Stun: removed Full Action flaw Transform: added Affects Insubstantial Mind Reading: added a second rank of Subtle

Working on spending 18PP on Lulu's build.

s Name: Crystal-Gazer Power Level: 13 (built as PL 10; 202/202PP) Tradeoffs: None Unspent PP: 0PP In Brief: Psionic teen trying to escape her criminal family. Alternate Identity: Louise 'Lulu' Beaumont Identity: Secret Birthplace: Columbia, AL Occupation: Student Affiliations: Claremont Academy Family: Charlene Beaumont (mother), Darryl Beaumont (father), Kyle Beaumont (older brother), Caleb Beaumont (older brother), Bobby Beaumont (older brother), Megan Howell-Harrow and Robert Harrow (foster parents), Lawrence Harrow (foster brother) Description: DOB: February 23, 2002 Gender: Female Height: 5' 6" Weight: 125 lbs. Eyes: Brown Hair: Red Lulu is a pretty girl from Alabama with pale skin, long red hair and dark brown eyes. She wears a lot of denim, mostly cutoffs in her favorite colors (pink and black), and she favors denim purses trimmed with studs or sequins. In terms of shoes, she has a large collection of pink sneakers and gym shoes, and she often wears girly baseball caps. She doesn't wear a lot of makeup, mostly just enhancing her lips and eyes. Since moving in with the Harrows, her style has become a bit more sophisticated, especially at formal events. She hasn't figured out a costume yet, but is leaning towards a mixture of black, pink and rhinestones. History: The Beaumont family has a somewhat checkered past back in Columbia, Alabama, with a history full of moonshine stills, reckless driving, and the occasional assault or petty theft. But those exploits are largely associated with the men of the family; the Beaumont women are known for something entirely different. Some call it ‘the gift’ and others ‘the sight’, but the red-headed women of this family all seem to have an eeriness to them. Harriet Beaumont predicted the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane, and Imogene Beaumont before her saw the Blocton Mine cave-in of 1895 clear as day. The fact of the matter is, very few of the Beaumonts have demonstrated the ‘true gift’, but that hasn't kept them from running a lucrative fortune-telling business for over forty years out of a rundown house just outside of town. On the night Lulu was born, a bolt of lightning struck a tree in their backyard, splitting it right down the middle, though there hadn't been a storm. Her father Darryl, an assistant manager at the local Piggly Wiggly who’d recently been fired for stealing steaks, declared nothing good would ever come of the girl, and seemed determined to prove his point. Darryl hounded her incessantly throughout her childhood, while showering undeserved praise on his delinquent sons Kyle and Caleb, both of whom were notorious in the Columbia area for drunken fights and making their own explosives. Only the Beaumont’s youngest son Bobby ever showed her any kindness, and they had always been close. However, once she began to show signs of the true sight at age ten, everything changed; suddenly Lulu was 'daddy's little girl’ as Darryl finally saw a way to use her to make money. With Lulu's unseen help, the fortune-telling business became very profitable, but her daddy didn't stop there. He forced his young daughter to extract credit card and banking information from their clients’ minds, threatening her or Bobby with physical harm if she didn't comply. They even pulled her out of school when she turned thirteen, supposedly to ‘homeschool’ her, but really it was to have her around the house so she could do more 'sneakin’ and peekin'’, and her studies suffered. One day when she was a fifteen, it finally came to a head; Darryl wanted her to enter the thoughts of woman who'd just lost her husband, and was looking to talk to his ‘spirit’, a scam they'd pulled before. But the woman had three children to feed, and her daddy wanted to rob her blind. When Lulu refused to steal her thoughts, Darryl moved to strike her, but then he suddenly stopped; Lulu had just discovered her mind control ability. To her father's horror, she forced him to drive them both to the local police station to confess to his crimes. However she couldn't maintain control forever, and a confession under coercion is not legally admissible. The revelations were enough for DCFS to step in, and when word of her story reached the headmaster of Claremont Academy, an offer was made to place her with a foster family in Freedom and enroll her in the academy, where she could obtain a proper education and learn to use her powers for good. She chose the heroic name 'Crystal-Gazer’ after the derogatory term her dad used to describe the family fortune-telling business. Personality & Motivation: Lulu is friendly and outgoing, though prone to long, thoughtful gazes, which usually means she's using one of her powers. She loves to find out other people's stories, but is fairly reluctant to share her own, as she is deeply ashamed of her family. Though she learned a lot of tricks and scams from her brothers, she detests swindlers of any kind, and will only use these skills for harmless pranks or to punish wrongdoing. Lulu is very powerful psionic, the sort that only comes around once or twice a generation, and she feels awful about how her family used her powers for criminal gain. She is particularly interested in exposing con artists and loan sharks, and any who would harm mothers or children. Powers & Tactics: Lulu can read minds, project her senses miles away, send thoughts to others and create impressive psychic illusions, including the ability to make herself invisible, though this does not fool devices like cameras or other surveillance equipment. She can also control minds, though she finds this power a little unsettling. Lulu recently discovered an aptitude for telekinesis, which she's still learning to master. Up until recently, she mostly relied on her illusions to confuse or frighten bad guys, and her ESP is excellent for recon. If things get really desperate, she will take over a thug's body, and shift the balance of power that way. She's still figuring out the best ways to use her telekinesis, mostly using it to grapple foes for now. Complications: "Ah’m sorry, ah didn't mean to pry.” Sometimes it's hard for Lulu to resist the urge to poke around other people's heads, even though she knows it's wrong. “Ah can't let them find me!” Lulu lives in terror of her family tracking her down in Freedom and trying to take her back home. “There's too many voices in mah head!” As a small town psychic in a big city, sometimes Lulu can get overwhelmed by all the telepathic ‘noise’ in the area. “Oh, ah didn't mean nothin’ by it!” Sometimes Lulu likes to play pranks on her friends with her powers; it isn't always well-received. “Ah dunno; it just gets really hard sometimes.” Lulu's been through a lot and is a long way from home, and misses her brother Bobby. Sometimes this can lead to depression and loneliness. ABILITIES: 0 + 2 + 4 + 4 + 10 + 10 = 30PP Strength: 10 (+0) Dexterity: 12 (+1) Constitution: 14 (+2) Intelligence: 14 (+2) Wisdom: 20 (+5) Charisma: 20 (+5) COMBAT: 8 + 10 = 18PP Initiative: +5 Attack: +4, +8 Throwing with Telekinesis Defense: +10 (+5 Base, +5 Dodge Focus), +3 Flat-Footed Grapple: +4, +20 w/ Telekinesis Knockback: -7, -5 flat-footed w/ Force Field; -3, -1 flat-footed w/out Force Field SAVES: 4 + 5 + 5 = 14PP Toughness: +10 (+2 Con, +4 Defensive Roll, +4 Force Field [Imp 4]), +6 flat-footed; +6 w/out FF, +2 flat-footed Fortitude: +6 (+2 Con, +4) Reflex: +6, (+1 Dex, +5) Will: +10 (+5 Wis, +5), Ultimate Save SKILLS: 92R=23PP Bluff 15 (+20) Concentration 15 (+20) Second Chance Diplomacy 15 (+20) Disable Device 3 (+5) Drive 4 (+5) Gather Information 5 (+10) Intimidate 5 (+10) Knowledge (Arcane Lore) 3 (+5) Knowledge (Streetwise) 3 (+5) Notice 10 (+15) Sense Motive 10 (+15) Survival 4 (+9) FEATS: 5PP Luck Second Chance (Concentration) Trance Taunt Ultimate Save (Will) Enhanced Feats Beginner's Luck Defensive Roll 2 Dodge Focus 5 Improved Initiative Uncanny Dodge (Mental) POWERS: 10 + 8 + 9 + 53 + 10 + 22 = 112PP (Descriptors: all psionic) Enhanced Feats 10 (Beginner's Luck, Defensive Roll 2, Dodge Focus 5, Improved Initiative, Uncanny Dodge) [10PP] (Telepathic) Flight 3 (50 mph / 500 feet per round; Feats: Subtle 2) [8PP] (Telekinetic) Force Field 4 (Extras: Impervious 4; PF: Subtle) [9PP] (Telekinetic) Psionics 23 (46PP Array, Feats: Alternate Power 7) [53PP] Base Power: [46PP] ESP 7 (Sense Types: Auditory + Visual, Range: 200 miles, Extras: Action [Free], Duration [Sustained], Simultaneous, Feats: Rapid 3 [x1,000, 18 seconds / 3 rounds to Search a 5 mile diameter area, 6 minutes if Taking 20], Subtle [DC25 Notice]) {46/46} (Telepathic) Alternate Power: [37PP] Create Object 10 (10 25-ft. cubes, STR 50; Extras: Impervious 10; Feats: Affects Insubstantial 2, Progression [Size] 2 [25-ft cubes], Selective, Subtle 2) {37/46} (Telekinetic) Alternate Power: [40PP] Damage 10 (Extras: Alternate Save [Will], Range 2 [Perception]) {40/46} (Telepathic) Alternate Power: [46PP] Illusion 10 (Sense Types: All; Extras: Selective; Flaws: Phantasm; Feats: Progression [Size] 6 [500ft radius]) {46/46} (Telepathic) Alternate Power: [43PP] Mind Control 10 (Extras: Conscious, Duration [Sustained, Lasting], Instant Command [Mental], Sensory Link; Flaws: Action [Full], Feedback; Feats: Mental Link, Subtle 2) {43/46} (Telepathic) Alternate Power: [44PP] Move Object 10 (Lifting Strength: 50, Heavy Load: 12 tons; Extras: Damaging, Range [Perception]; Feats: Accurate 2 [+4 Attack], Precise, Subtle) {44/46} (Telekinetic) Alternate Power: [44PP] Stun 10 (Extras: Alternate Save [Will], Mental, Range 2 [Perception]; Feats: Reversible, Sedation, Subtle, Variable Descriptor [Pain or Sleep]) {44/46} (Telepathic) Alternate Power: [32PP] Transform 10 (Memory Alteration; Extras: Alternate Save [Will], Duration [Continuous, Lasting], Mental, Range [Perception]; Flaws: Action [Full]; Feats: Affects Insubstantial, Subtle) {32/46} (Telepathic) Super-Senses 14 (Danger Sense [Mental], Postcognition [Flaw: Uncontrolled], Precognition [Flaw: Uncontrolled], Psionic Awareness [Descriptor Frequency: Common, Sense Type: Mental {Default Extras: None}; Extras: Radius, Ranged], Uncanny Dodge [Mental]) [10PP] (Telepathic) Telepathy 10 (20PP Array; Feats: Alternate Power 2) [22PP] (Telepathic) Base Power: [20PP] Communication 10 (Mental, 200,000 miles; Extra: Linked [Comprehend]; Feats: Rapid 3 [x1000], Subtle) [14PP] + Comprehend 3 (Speak and Understand Any Language; Extra: Linked [Communication]) [6PP] (Telepathic) {20/20} Alternate Power: [11PP] Concealment 10 (All Senses, Flaw: Phantasm, Feat: Selective) (Telepathic) {11/20} Alternate Power: [12PP] Mind Reading 10 (Extras: Effortless, Mental; Flaw: Duration [Instant/Lasting]; Feat: Subtle 2) (Telepathic) {12/20} DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC 16 Toughness Damage [Physical] Illusion Perception Check vs. Will Deceived Mental Blast Perception DC 20 Will Save Damage [Mental] Mental Transform Perception DC 20 Will Save Transformed Mind Control Perception DC 20 Will Save Controlled Mind Reading Perception DC 20 Will Save Read (Not an attack) Move Object. Perception DC 25 Toughness Damage [Physical] Stun Perception DC 20 Will Save Dazed/Stunned or Asleep TOTALS: Abilities (30) + Combat (18) + Saving Throws (14) + Skills (23) + Feats (10) + Powers (112) - Drawbacks (0) = 202/202 Power Points

Lynn took a long breath and let it out slowly. "Well, I feel like I'm finally coming up to breathe. Jews take death very seriously; in the Conservative tradition, it's customary to mourn the loss of a parent for twelve months from the date of their death, a period called the shneim asar chodesh." She poured herself another glass and shrugged. "It's not as bad as it sounds; you're not a prisoner in your home or forbidden to be happy, but you aren't supposed to go to lively public events with lots of music either. And you're supposed to be there for your family." She took a swip of wine, then began to absentmindedly swirl it around in her glass as she stared into its depths. "It was really hard for Dad; it wasn't a perfect marriage, and they used to fight all the time, but they've been together forever. It was hard for him to imagine life without Mom." The changeling rubbed her face with her hand, and suddenly she looked completely exhausted. "He was...a wreck. Wouldn't get out of bed, wouldn't eat, wouldn't take care of himself. Finally I said, let's get him out of the house full of memories; I've got a spare room, I'll look after him." Lynn indicated the ceiling above with a nod and a wave of her glass. "He's up there right now; still sleeps a lot, but I think he's getting better."

Okay, I think I have Grim's sheet where I want it right now. Any feedback would be appreciated.

The main change to Grim's build is eliminating her Duplication AP, swapping it out for Insubstantial. I was going to give her Insubstantial 4, bur considering that her former partner and lover has the same level, I'm considering switching to Insubstantial 2 and just have her assume a gaseous form. Also made a few minor edits to her fluff, including listing her mother as deceased. WIP

Player Name: Heritage Character Name: Grimalkin Power Level: 10/15 (250/250PP) [288] Tradeoffs: +2 Defense/-2 Toughness, +2 Attack/-2 Damage Unspent PP: 0 In Brief: Shapeshifting faerie with a human soul Alternate Identity: Lynn Epstein Identity: Secret Birthplace: Atlantic City, NJ Occupation: Bookstore owner Affiliations: Former member of the Knights of Freedom and the Interceptors, currently freelance. Former partner of the Shrike. Family: Elaine Epstein (mother, deceased), Harold 'Butch' Epstein (father), Benjamin Epstein (brother), Edna Epstein (sister). William 'Colt' Reynolds (husband, deceased), Zachary Reynolds (son), Ruth Reynolds (daughter), Jonathon Reynolds (son) Description: DOB: June 17, 1988 Apparent Age: As Lynn, early thirties; as Grim, late teens Actual Age: Over 100 Gender: Female Ethnicity: Caucasian Height: 5'3" Weight: 122 lbs. Eyes: Brown Hair: Brown; shoulder-length and curly as Lynn, short and spiky as Grimalkin Lynn is a lovely young woman who typically wears comfortable jeans, T-shirts, hiking boots and a denim or suede jacket by day, but is wrapped in skintight leather of black and midnight blue, complete with domino mask, when she prowls the dirty streets at night. Her ears are (normally) pointed and tapered; as Grimalkin, they are clearly visible, but 'Lynn' keeps the tips discretely hidden under her hair, though she can always alter them in a pinch. History: A young runaway from Atlantic City, Lynn Epstein turned to a life of panhandling and petty crime to survive; one day it became too much, and she crawled into a dark alley on a chill winter night to die, but instead awoke the next day transformed! For many months she used her powers selfishly, living the high life and swindling 'suckers', until one night she saw a young streetwalker attacked; the FCPD's profound indifference to the crime appalled her, and she swore that night to use her powers to help those the Powers That Be would not help. For several years, she was a member of the West End-based superhero team known as the Interceptors, along with Dynamo, Fulcrum, Jack of All Blades and William 'Colt' Reynolds. She eventually married Reynolds in 2011, and retired from active crime-fighting, and had not been seen in Freedom City since. Upon her return in 2014, Lynn reopened Silberman's Books, the store she inherited from her grandfather on her twenty-second birthday; the building had been shuttered since she and Colt where married in it 2011. Lynn currently occupies the apartment above the shop. She revealed to her friends that time moved differently on Colt's world, where she'd been for the last three years, and she's now over one hundred, having raised a family with her husband, who has since died at age 99 back in his home dimension. Lynn recently ended her relationship with Gretchen McDaniels, her former sidekick the Shrike, who relocated to the Emerald Cities, though she hopes one day they can try again to make it work. In addition, due to a traumatic event in the summer of 2018, she lost access to some of her previous powers, which will take some getting used to after all these years. Her mother died of ovarian cancer in September 2020, and her father is currently living with her. Personality & Motivation: Being that she's a shapeshifter, it's perhaps not surprising that Lynn is rather hard to pin down; she lives very much in the 'now', making few great plans and doing her best not to dwell on the past, even though she still misses Colt terribly. Her emotions are intensely felt, and she can switch from playful to angry to sad almost in the same sentence. Lynn also finds comfort in the little things, everyday wonders like bike rides in the park and lazy afternoons spent lying in the grass; she never seems to have enough of the simple pleasures, which makes her cherish them all the more. Since becoming a mother and having to leave her family behind on another world, she has taken a very motherly attitude towards her friends and coworkers. As a crimefighter, Grim is driven by many things: the desire to see a wasted life blossom once more, an end to cruelty, injustice and indifference, and a strong personal desire to constantly improve her technique. She likes teaming up with other heroes to see how she measures up and maybe pinch a trick or two, but she is frequently very self-critical of her own performance, to the point of downplaying her many successes. Like a trickster goddess with a vengeful streak, her personal brand of justice might seem somewhat capricious, but she would never willfully take a human life in the pursuit of the law. Powers & Tactics: Grimalkin's powers come from her faerie nature; some of them are innate, such as her keen senses and high tolerance to cold, but many of them come from her ability to manipulate glamour, the very essence of the fey. Seeing as her body is now wholly composed of glamour, she can alter it in a number of ways, such as completely changing her appearance, making herself nearly undetectable, or eluding capture. She can also create various objects seemingly out of thin air (actually her own glamour), which she uses as props, furniture or just her own amusement. In combat, Grim prefers to use stealth to take better advantage of her claws; when forced into a 'fair fight', she uses her wits and charm to befuddle her foes to level the playing field. She has also learned how to use glamoured objects to capture or obstruct her opponents. She has also recently discovered how to adjust the density of her glamour to pass through small cracks, avoid certain types of damage and even fly, albeit slowly. Complications: Enmity of the Fey: As a fey with a human soul, and thus the capacity for genuine creativity, Grim is resented by most faerie creatures, and sometimes even considered an abomination. Momma Bear: Grim is very protective of those she cares about, especially friends, family and the staff of her bookstore. Prejudice (The Rich): Due to her lower middle class upbringing, Grim frequently has a hard time sympathizing with the well-to-do. Secret Identity: Though she doesn't go to the lengths some heroes go to protect it, Grim does try to keep the two sides of her life from intersecting. Sometimes it even works. Yente: Grim is in fact a Jewish grandmother, and sometimes cannot help herself from meddling in people's lives, i.e. trying to patch up relationships, acting as matchmaker, etc. Abilities: 4 + 16 + 8 + 4 + 4 + 16 = 52PP Strength: 14 (+2) (Heavy Load: 175 lbs.) Dexterity: 26 (+8) Constitution: 18 (+4) Intelligence: 14 (+2) Wisdom: 14 (+2) Charisma: 26 (+8) Combat: 24 + 8 = 32PP Initiative: +12 Attack: +12 Ranged, +12 Melee Grapple: +20 Defense: +12 (+4 Base, +8 Dodge Focus), +2 Flat-Footed Knockback: -4 Saving Throws: 6 + 8 + 4 = 18PP Toughness: +8 (+4 Con, +4 Defensive Roll) Fortitude +10 (+4 Con, +6) Reflex +12 (+8 Dex, +4) Will +10 (+2 Wis, +8) Skills: 160R = 40PP Acrobatics 12 (+20) Bluff 12 (+20) Craft (Artistic) 8 (+10) Craft (Structural) 8 (+10) Diplomacy 7 (+15) Disguise 2 (+10, +40 Morph) Drive 2 (+10) Gather Information 7 (+15) Handle Animal 2 (+10) Intimidate 2 (+10) Knowledge (Arcane Lore) 8 (+10) Knowledge (Behavioral Sciences) 3 (+5) Knowledge (Civics) 3 (+5) Knowledge (Pop Culture) 3 (+5) Knowledge (Streetwise) 8 (+10) Knowledge (Tactics) 3 (+5) Knowledge (Theology and Philosophy) 3 (+5) Language 1 (Hebrew) Medicine 3 (+5) Notice 13 (+15) Perform (Dance) 2 (+10) Perform (Singing) 2 (+10) Pilot 2 (+10) Ride 2 (+10) Search 13 (+15) Sense Motive 3 (+5) Sleight of Hand 7 (+15) Stealth 12 (+20) Survival 3 (+5) Swim 4 (+5) Feats: 33PP Acrobatic Bluff Ambidexterity Benefit: Wealthy Defensive Attack Defensive Roll 3 (+6 Toughness) Distract (Bluff) Dodge Focus 8 Elusive Target Equipment 4 (20EP) Evasion 2 Fascinate (Bluff) Grapple Finesse Improved Initiative Move-By Action Power Attack Setup Takedown Attack 2 Taunt Uncanny Dodge (Auditory) Equipment: 4PP = 15EP Silberman's Books (PL10 HQ) [15EP] Size: Small [0EP] Toughness: +5 [0EP] Features: [15EP] Communications Computer Cover Facility (Bookstore) Fire Prevention System Gym Library Living Space Powers 5 (150PP, see below) Security System 2 (DC 25) Workshop Rusty's Ranch (PL10 Training Area) [5EP] Size: Medium [1EP] Toughness: +10 [1EP] Features: [3EP] Combat Simulator Gym Security System 1 (DC 20) Powers: 4 + 17 + 3 + 19 + 7 + 11 + 10 + 12 = 83PP All powers carry the Magic, Dark Fae Lineage descriptors Comprehend 2 (Languages 2 [speak Any, One At A Time, Understand All]) [4PP] (Dark Faerie Tongue) Glamour Conjuration 8 (16PP Array, Feats: Alternate Power 1) [17PP] Base Power: Create Object 6 (6 cubes, Toughness +6, Lifting Strength 30 [Heavy Load: 1,600 lbs.], Extras: Duration [Continuous], Feats: Innate, Precise, Progression 2 [25ft cubes], Selective, Subtle, Drawbacks: Limited [Cannot Create Metal], Power Loss [Contact with Iron], Flaws: Feedback) [16PP] Alternate Power: Insubstantial 2 (Gaseous Form, Extra: Linked [Flight], Feats: Selective, Subtle 2) [13PP]+ Flight 1 (10 mph; Extra: Linked [Insubstantial], Feats: Subtle 1) [3PP] (Dark Faerie Glamour) {16/16} Dimensional Pocket 3 (Flaw: Limited [Storage only], 500 lbs.) [3PP] (Dark Faerie Vault) Glamour Body 9 (18PP Array, Feats: Alternate Power 1) [19PP] Base Power: Morph 6 (Any Form, +30 Disguise, Extras: Continuous, Flaws: Limited [Cannot Mimic Metal]) [18PP] Alternate Power: Concealment 10 (All Non-Tactile Senses, Flaws: Passive, Feats: Close Range, Selective) [12PP] (Dark Faerie Body) Immunity 7 (Aging, Cold, Disease, Heat, Starvation and Thirst, All Suffocation) [7PP] (Dark Faerie Endurance) Strike 6 (Extras: Penetrating [2] [DMG 8], Feats: Improved Critical 2 [18-20], Incurable, Mighty) [12PP] (Dark Faerie Claws) Super-Movement 5 (Slow Fall, Sure-Footed 1, Trackless, Wall-Crawling 2) [10PP] (Dark Faerie Nimbleness) Super-Senses 11 (Accurate Extended [100ft Notice Increments] Hearing, Accurate Acute Extended [100ft Notice Increments] Tracking [1/2 Speed] Smell, Darkvision, Danger Sense [Auditory]) [11PP] (Dark Faerie Senses) Drawbacks: (-2) + (-6) = -8PP Vulnerability (Iron, Frequency: Uncommon, Intensity: Moderate [+50% DC]) [-2PP] Weakness (Iron, Frequency: Uncommon, Intensity: Moderate, -1 CON per minute [10 rounds]) [-6PP] Abilities 52 + Combat 32 + Saving Throws 18 + Skills 40 + Feats 33 + Powers 83 - Drawbacks 8 = 250/250 Power Points DC Block: ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC17 Toughness Damage (Physical) Claws Touch DC23 Toughness Damage (Physical) Create Object Ranged DC16 Reflex Trapped

"Ohhhh, this can't be good," muttered Grim as the color began to bleed out of herself and the world. "I hate getting sucked into stories!" Noting the angry villagers on their way, she first waved a hand to dismiss the bandages from around the Ghost. Then she quickly assumed her costumed identity (great, another teenage super!) before fading from view. Her voice came softly out of the air itself. "I'm still here, guys! I'm going to try and misdirect them, you go help the kids!" The fae heroine then snuck towards the mob to get a better idea of their motives and fears.

"Well I've made us Mediterrainian pan-roasted salmon, fettuccine in garlic and olive oil, and steamed asparagus, so I picked up a good kosher Chardonnay." Selecting the appropriate bottle, Lynn extended a talon to strip off the seal, and deftly applied a corkscrew. "Y'know when I was a kid, I thought all kosher wine tasted like cough syrup; thankfully, I have since been proven wrong." She poured them both a glass then took a seat before raising her wine in a toast. "To a friendship that has against all odds lasted over ten years. L'chaim!" The wine was pleasantly dry for a white, with hints of vanilla, tropical fruits, citrus and apple.

Lynn came to the door and smiled; as usual, she looked very put together, curly brown hair loose, wearing gray slacks and a maroon cardigan over a Power Puff Girls T-shirt. But what was interesting was the fact that she looked a little tired; as a shapeshifter, Lynn could present herself in any way that she wished. That she allowed herself to show signs of fatigue suggested the conscious lowering of a mask. "Hey there, stranger!" She expertly threaded her arms around Megan's burdens to give her a warm hug of surprising strength and length; clearly Lynn had missed her friend over the last two years. "Here, let me take those; ooh, ice cream! Let me put these in the fridge real quick. Take a seat, I'll be right back." As the fae scampered to the back room with her treasures, Megan was free the take in the rest of the store. It looked much the same as always, the two original narrow stores linked by the partially removed wall with a ramp linking the lower one to the slightly higher. Halloween decorations were very much in evidence, not surprising given the owner's clearly stated love for the season. The one significant difference from the usual setup was the white tablecloth spread over one of the circular store tables, and the two dinner settings laid out there. Also the store lights had been dimmed and several pleasant-smelling candles were lit throughout the space, including along the length of the coffee bar. Lastly one of Lynn's favorite playlists was playing just below the volume of normal conversation over the store's sound system, a mixture of classic punk, new wave, grunge and early 2000s pop. The overall feel was comfortable and relaxed, a girls' night in. "Okay, here I come; what's your poison? I've got wine and a few things stronger." Lynn returned pushing what appeared to be an old fashioned serving cart carrying glasses, several bottles and a small ice bucket.

Crystal-Gazer () Dakar Rally () Eurotrip: The Rhythm Of The Rails () Grimalkin () During Your Lifetime And During Your Days () More Than One Way-To To Skin A Cat () Silver Screen Dreams ()

Silberman's Books. Sunday, October 10th, 2021. 7:00 pm It had been a while since Megan Harrow had heard from her friend Lynn Epstein; true, they didn't talk every day, but they usually reached out to each other on a fairly regular basis, just checking in. But starting near the end of 2019, her texts became both shorter and less frequent. She didn't go into details, but apparently her mother was sick; very sick, in fact. Lynn asked Megan to keep her family in her prayers, surely a very bad sign. And then quiet. Not complete silence; the occasional funny meme came from the fae bookseller, or the odd emoji. But by 21st Century standards, it was practically radio silence. And then out of the blue in early October, an actual handwritten letter arrived at the Harrow home. Lynn's handwriting was beautiful. Hey Megan, Sorry to disappear off the face of the Earth for so long, but the extended Epstein family has been going through a really rough time, and when we do that, we tend to circle the wagons. You may remember that I mentioned my mom was sick. Well, now I can go into more detail, because she didn't want me to tell many people about it, as she is...was a very private person. We lost Mom to ovarian cancer last September; I would have invited you to the services, but Mom's request was that we keep it very small and very Jewish. She was a brilliant, complicated and difficult woman, but I miss her every day. If at all possible, would you be able to get together sometime soon? Sunday evenings are usually best for me, after the store closes at 6; maybe around 7? I figure we could have a bite to eat, share some wine and just talk. I need to be around someone who's other than my immediate family right now. Much love, Lynn

"Are you kiddin'? Ah love mah mountain of a man!" The redheaded telepath stood on tiptoe to accept his kiss. When Judy joined them in Adam's cabin, Lulu grinned. "Hey there, stranger! Welcome aboard!" As more of her friends began to appear, it occured to her that the accessible room, with it's extra space, would naturally become a gathering place for the group. However there was only the double bed to sit upon. Then an idea popped in her head. "Be right back, y'all!" Slipping out into the hallway, she scampered back to her cabin, returning shortly with a folded travel blanket. "Don't mind me, y'all, just doin' a lil' magic trick." Lulu unfolded the blanket, showing both sides of it for dramatic effect before snapping it up into the air. "Abracadabra!" She then allowed it to float slowly downwards until it draped over an entirely invisible sofa in the middle of the room, created out of one of her telekinetic forcefields. "There we go, have a seat! If anyone asks, just say it's inflatable; they have 'em, ah looked it up."

"Ah, so no supernatural in your super powers? Yeah, your name probably threw them off." Grim frowned and looked Ghost critically up and down. "Well, I suppose I could at least help you out with the costume part, Cinderella." A long thin silver wand appeared in her free hand, and she made a sort swirling gesture with it. "Bippity-boppity-boo!" Streamers of grey mist coiled around the startled superhero, solidifying into moldy, decrepit bandages wrapped over his costume, snug but still comfortable and a bit elastic, transforming Ghost into a classic mummy! Despite his ghastly appearance, the fae heroine made the seemingly rotten wrappings smell slightly of a pine forest out of consideration to all those present. Grim dismissed her magic wand with a wave of her hand and nodded in satisfaction. "There we go, now you're the belle of the ball!" Noticing Davyd's arrival, the shapeshifter smiled warmly in happy surprise. "Davyd! You look amazing!" She leaned in and gave him a firm hug; she was much taller than usual in this costume, due to either shapeshifting, serious platform shoes under her white shroud or both. Finally releasing him, she beamed with pride and spoke in perfect Ukrainian. <"Congratulations on escaping from high school! You did it!"> She raised her glass, now mysteriously refilled with champagne, in a toast. "Mazel tov!" In response to the recent graduate's question, the Bride sighed and switched back to English as she watched the bubbles rise up in her glass. "Better, now. I, uh...had to take some time off from hero work the last two years; health crisis in the family." Then she took a deep breath, downed her champagne in a gulp and smiled, though her eyes twinkled with barely-suppressed tears. "But now I'm jumping back in with both feet, and looking forward to getting into some trouble. How about you? Any college plans?"

As soon a the Mini came to a stop, Lulu flung open the passenger door and made a beeline for the Porta-Potties. "'Scuse me, 'scuse me, scuse me!" After taking care of the pressing need, she soon reappeared, and sought out any new atmospheric data; she was worried about any possible wind issues that might make the journey more perilous. Once satisfied, she grabbed a bottled water and went to make herself useful with the maintenance crew. "Hey y'all! How's everyone holdin' up?"

Room Assignments Cabin 1: Adam Lancaster Cabin 2: Judy Cahill and Lulu Beaumont Cabin 3: Davyd Palahniuk and Micah Roebuck Cabin 4: Eira Katastroff Natt och Dog and Pan Barrie Accessible Double Room (Adam) Classic Room (Judy and Lulu, Davyd and Micah) Double Room (Eira and Pan) Corridor Lounge Car

The Caledonian Sleeper, Just Outside London. Monday, June 6th, 2021. 9:25 pm Cabin 2: Judy and Lulu The overnight train to Inverness had left Euston at precisely 21:15, right on time. Everyone was getting settled in for the eleven hour journey, and Lulu was stuffing her carry-on bag under the lower berth. She'd handled all the arrangements for this part of the Claremont graduates' trip, including booking two Classic cabins with a connecting door for herself and Judy, with Davyd and Micah next door in Cabin 3. Up until this point, she'd been both excited and anxious about the trip by train across nearly the whole of the UK; this included a lot of worrying about tickets, luggage and getting the whole group to the station on time. Now that they were safely on board and the train was under way, she could finally relax a bit. "Okay, that's everythin' squared away for now!" She turned around to take in the rest of the cabin. "Huh. Boy, these rooms are a lot smaller than the ones on Amtrak. Ah suppose it makes sense, on account of how small the UK is; no one has to spend two nights in this little thing." She put her hands on her hips and sighed. "Ah'm gonna go check on Adam, see how he's settlin' in." She went out into the corridor and knocked on the open door of the first cabin. "Hey, hon. You decent in there?" The redhead grinned as she poked her head into the room. Tonight she was very casually wearing an oversized Harry Potter t-shirt, khaki shorts and a pair of light hiking boots. She'd packed a jacket and some pants in case of cooler weather up north.