Dr Archeville

Please don't mention "3-way" when talking about Vivian. This is an interesting idea, and the Refs will mull it over. It won't be the next Vignette (the next one, to be done in Sep or Oct, is already being planned out), but it could be the one after that (in Dec or Jan).

Anything indicating where the 'bots had been (if not where they were built)? Like, video footage in their memory about where they'd been, or of their surroundings when they were first brought online? Or are their minds too simple to have even that? Also, could any sufficiently large transmitting antenna (like, say, the one at the Globe Broadcasting Network tower in Parkside) do for Havok's Evil!Plans, or would it need to be a specially purpose-built antenna?

"An' of tha two of us," the Revoltin' Revenant replied rather matter-of-factly, "who d'ya think already has an 'in' with all tha city's coroners an' morticians an' crematoriums? An' I mention crematoriums 'cuz, more likely'n not, Lewis' remains was cremated an' put in a potter's field." "Look, I wanna catch the folks behind this as bad as you do. Mebe moreso. An- oh, hold on!" Dead Head twisted (moreso than any living person should) to face where Spirit!Lewis had last been, and let out a sharp whistle. "Hey, Lewis! Ya got any next'a kin you want us ta contact? Any messages ta' pass on?"

So it looks like a powerful necromancer is swooping in to cow the escaping prisoners with his army of zombies and specters? Cool :twisted:

"Assisted?," Archeville asked as he led Rift out of the firing range, but the his light bulb went off as he voiced the question, "ah, your guitar aids your abilities. Ja, ja, some tests on your own inherent capabilities first, den of vhat you can do mit your instrument." Moments later, they were just outside the ArcheTech building. "Alright, Herr Rift, let us start out slowly." He adjusted his techno-wand again, "a few laps around de building, at a casual pace to start."

Actually, I think one of the proposed improvements (the Nullify Insubstantial field) is being debated in the RefCave. Some folks had issue with it. I'll poke the discussion along.

psst... you're up!

Archeville does have Skill Mastery for Knowledge/Technology, so using his full braininess (i.e. switching from the Enhanced Wis he had coming in to his Enhanced Int) and his Electromagnetic Screwdriver as an assortment of scanners and probes & to access his databases at home (i.e., using Gadgets to get Enhanced Knowledge [Technology] 6), he can Take 10 and get a 44. Or, using his Mental Quickness, and his Gadgets to provide a CommLink so he can access the Library at his home, he can Take 20 in (1 hour / 100) = 36 seconds, and get a 54. Yes, I think I'll go with that. :science:

"Do not forget de Battlesuits, too, Doctor de Havilland," Archeville replied, smiling and winking at the attractive chemist. "I haff been following mein own investigation; is dis de von who vas here?" He had withdrawn his techno-wand and projected a life-sized holographic image of the armored man he'd spotted earlier, though the quality was far from the best. Though both Havok's armor and his robots were similarly designed, Havok was bulkier, presumably because there was a person inside the suit, and the robots were autonomous units. The image Archeville's gadget projected was closer to the robots, not Havok himself. "Components from a recently downed alien spacecraft at Star Island vere de first to be taken," the Doktor explained as he began sifting through robot wreckage, "or, razher, de first to come to mein attention. De components may haff been part of de varp drive, or of some sort of emergency teleport system, but de scientists dere had not been able to ascertain vhat it vas exactly before de theft. Additionally, confiscated gear from a secured evidence locker -- samples of Fear Master's gases und of Luna Moth's pheromones -- had been taken, seemingly by von of de District Attorneys... vhile he vas simultaneously in court! Mein investigation lead me to a fence in Greenbank who vas renting out space to a third party; stashed dere vas a crate of stolen microprocessors, as vell as surveillance photos from Claremont, some student schedules, und forged notes alerting de students of a cancellation in deir field trip. Dis field trip." He'd picked up one of the robot's arms, looked it over, then tossed it aside. "Presumably dis Havok fellow vould make certain students believe deir trip vas canceled, den replace dem mit his robots, who are eqviped mit sophisticated holographic disguise capabilities. Und you say his target here vas some antennae und an 'encoding control module'? Hrrmm..." The Doktor picked up one of the more intact robot heads, and clicked off the hologram as he used his techno-wand to examine it-- with a very nasty-looking interface spike. "Alright, little robot: tell me vhat you know...."

Viktor Archeville did not awake that morning, for to wake he would have needed to go to sleep the night before. He'd pulled another all-nighter, working on some improvements to the translators for ArcheStern, when one of his numerous automated systems alerted him of the release of the day's newsfeeds. "" Dozens of holographic displays appeared in the air before him, which he moved about and tossed into the voice of his computer system as he read through them. "" "" The Doktor did a double-take. "" ""

I had thought all this had happened before Grim's b-day (which also seems to be what you want), say, at the very beginning of the month. I leave it up to y'all; once you decide, I'll edit the Timeline accordingly.

The second half of this thread happens after Bananaphone, The Sweet Science of Stabpunching, and Working The Bugs Out. Avenger and I are still working out a few details on how the second part's going to go. For ow, you're all free to post your chars preparing for the Second Coming of the Avengerpocalypse.

Doktor Archaevox Power Level: PL 10 (150/150 pp) Trade-Offs: -2 Defense for +2 Toughness. [floatr][/floatr] Appearance: Doktor Pandemonium keeps his silky, golden blonde hair cut short, and there are dark circles under his sunken Rhine blue (slit-pupiled) eyes. He usually wears rumpled clothes under a doctor's jacket. The lower part of his face has been replaced with obvious bionics covered in thin synthetic scaled flesh, and four wires run from the sides of the artificial jaw; two terminate at his forehead, plugged into each temple, and the other two run inside his ears and wind their way through the ear canals to the auditory part of his brain. The jaw can split in the middle, like a serpent, and behind the row of sharp steel fangs are two forked tongues made from segmented rings of metal; it's these that allow him to shape the inhuman syllables of die Meistersprache. Background/History: Like Der Mathemagician and Der Alchimist, this version of Archeville latched onto a narrower field of study rather than being an omnidisciplinary scientist. Following reports of a battle where Fear-Master (II) and the Maestro had teamed up, Archeville devoted his research to both acoustics and psychiatry, and the effects of sound on physiological and emotional states. As Archeville delved deeper and deeper into his research, though, he found more than just the subliminal sonic frequencies that Melvin Blume used to stimulate the fear centers of the brain, or even the harmonics Basil Fatherton used to affect the human brain. His research lead him to uncover Projekt: Meisterstimme (Project: Master's Voice), a series of the Third Reich's experiments into the aural manipulation of humans, spearheaded by his grandfather. His grandfather had hypothesized that the "mongrel races" were once servants of the Aryan race, and members of these races possesses inborn traits that forced them to serve Aryans, but these traits had atrophied due to disuse. However, what they discovered was that all of mankind possessed these traits -- that all men were born in servitude, and their masters weren't Aryans. (Of course, this isn't what they reported to their superiors.) After the Third Reich fell, the Stasi, East Germany's secret police, had further refined the techniques, developing a theoretical ultra-complex language that could be used to communicate a wide range of commands, or inflict certain physiological conditions. Herr Doktor Viktor Archeville made this theoretical language real... but not without paying a price. After five more years of research (and expansion of his scientific and technical skills), Archeville made his breakthrough: der Kehlkopf (the Voice Box), a device that would replace his own inadequate jaws, tongue and larynx so he could speak the impossible syllables of die Meistersprache, the Master's Tongue. Hours of painful surgery later, he began to speak, and for the first time in eons die Meisterpsrache was heard in the world. Then the genetic memories came flooding back. Just glimpses into an ages-old past long forgotten by mankind, but enough to break his sanity. Archeville knew not only of the experimentations the Deep Ones had done on his thirteen generations remove ancestor, he knew that even further back, his ancient antecedent had betrayed his own kind to serve as an overseer for the masters, the Serpent People. In that instant Archeville knew more than any human could know and still hold on to their sanity. He knew what man was not meant to know. He was a changed man, and fittingly, took a new name: Doktor Archaevox, Master of the Voice of the Old Ones. Personality/Motivation: Like all other Doktor Archevilles in all other realities, a need to know drives Pandemonium, though this one is especially interested in knowledge not meant for mankind, and he will go to any lengths to uncover such forbidden fruits. He gladly works with other Serpent People, Lemurians, the Brotherhood of the Yellow Sign, and other servants to the Unspeakable One and other alien gods; driven insane by the memories of his long-dead ancestor who was a willing servant of inhuman evil, he's not just a willing subject of them, he feels he's carrying on the family tradition. Quote: "To see a wolf at night, even in this day of civilization where man has left dark forests behind, to see its eyes glowing yellow in the pitch dark blackness, to hear it growl or howl -- it makes a man, even a strong man, weak in the knees, nicht war? A primitive urge, a genetic memory of times of danger, but there are older things than wolves and mankind is one of them... and mankind's ancient masters are another, so bow now to the voice of those masters!" Powers/Tactics: Herr Doktor Pandemonium's powers stem from his discovery of die Meistersprache, plus der Kehlkopf that allows him to pronounce the language's stomach-churning syllables. The words awaken racial memories in the target and compel him to obey the speaker; genetic memories of a time when mankind lived in servitude, slaves and playthings to the unspeakably evil Serpent People, bubble up from the collective subconscious. So strong is the power of the Master's Tongue that it can induce physiological changes in a target; prolonged exposure can result in a character developing some new abilities, complications or drawbacks. For example, if a character's ancestor was a rebel in those antediluvian times, maybe the character gains some ranks in the Rage feat and the Temper complication. Perhaps the character's ancestor wasn't wholly human, and he begins to develop an unsettling and unconcealable ophidian appearance. Archeville himself isn't immune to these effects. In fact, just the opposite: prolonged exposure to the Master's Tongue has not only driven him insane, but his body has grown degenerate as well. His physical infirmity has grown so bad he developed an exoskeleton to hold himself together; it is bolted to his own skeleton, with wire running under the skin and connecting to his nervous system, and the exoskeleton's hump-like power supply makes Archeville appear to have a slight hunchback. Like der Kehlkopf, this isn't a Device; removing it would require surgery and likely result in the Doktor's death. Abilities: [0+2+0+14+10+0 = 26pp] Str 10/+0 Dex 12/+1 Con 10/+0 Int 24/+7 Wis 20/+5 Cha 10/+0 Combat: [12 on Attack, 16 on Defense = 28pp] Attack +6 Grapple +6 Damage +0 Defense +8 (+4 flat-footed) Knockback -6 Initiative +1 Saves: [4+5+4 = 13pp] Toughness +12 Fort +4 (+0 Con, +4) Ref +6 (+1 Dex, +5) Will +9, +14 w/ Mind Shield (+5 Wis, +4; +5 Mind Shield) Skills: [76 ranks = 19pp] Computers 3 (+10) Craft (chemical) 3 (+10) Craft (electronics) 8 (+15) Craft (mechanical) 8 (+15) Knowledge (behavioral sciences) 13 (+20) Knowledge (history) 3 (+10) Knowledge (life sciences) 8 (+15) Knowledge (physical sciences) 3 (+10) Knowledge (technology) 8 (+15) Languages 4 (English, French, Mandarin Chinese, Russian; German is native) Medicine 5 (+10) Notice 5 (+10) Sense Motive 5 (+10) Feats: [5 feats] Eidetic Memory Improvised Tools Inventor Luck Master Plan Powers: [35+5+12+2+3+2 = 59pp] Der Kehlkopf 15 (30pp; PFs: 6 Alternate Powers; Drawback: Only works on Humans) [15x2 +6 -1 = 35pp] BE: Mind Control 10 (Die Meistersprache; Extras: Conscious, Effortless; Flaw: Sense Dependent [Hearing]) AP: Blast 10 (Words of Death; Extras: Alternate Save [Will], Range [Perception]; Flaw: Sense Dependent [Hearing]) AP: Dazzle Visual 10 (Words of Blindness; Extras: Alternate Save [Will for both], Range [Perception]) AP: Drain Ability Score 6 (any one ability score at a time; Words of Weakness/Clumsiness/Stupidity; Extras: Alternate Save [Will], Range 2/Perception; Flaw: Sense Dependent [Hearing]; PFs: Reversible, Slow Fade 1 [1pp per minute]) AP: Paralyze 10 (Words of Paralysis; Extras: Range 2 [Perception]; Flaw: Sense Dependent [Hearing]) AP: Stun 10 (Words of Stunning; Extras: Alternate Save [Will], Range 2 [Perception]; Flaw: Sense Dependent [Hearing]) AP: Stun 10 (Words of Dazing; Extras: Alternate Save [Will], 50-ft. Burst Area, Range 2 [Perception]; Flaw: Daze, Sense Dependent [Hearing]) Mind Shield 5 (tainted mind) [5x1 = 5] Protection 12 (exoskeleton) [12x1 = 12] Quickness 4 (x25; Flaw: Mental only) [4x0.5 = 2] Strike 3 (Serpent Bite) [3x1 = 3pp] Super-Senses 2 (darkvision) [2x1 = 2pp] Drawbacks: [0pp] Abilities 26 + Combat 28 + Saves 13 + Skills 19 (76 ranks) + Feats 5 + Powers 59 – Drawbacks 0 = 150/150 :arrow: I had planned to make this version of Doc another hero, like the others, but the basic/core concept (mind control via ) kept taking me to dark places. So I said "screw it," and made him yet another Evil Psychiatrist.

"Mein Gott!," Estelle and Mike heard a familiar voice exclaim. Trevor probably recognized it, too, from a few television and online interviews he'd done. "Is everyvon alright?" Archeville zipped over to de Havilland, checking her injuries. "Hrm... laser fire, but it does not appear any vent too deep; mostly grazings. Good ding you had your armor dis time, ja?" He grinned, then something off in the corner caught the Doktor's eye, "ooh, robots!"

Hovering in a cross-legged seated position a few inches above the Brownstone's roof, Archeville brought his phenomenal intellect and ultra-advanced tools to bear on the evidence he'd gathered. The Doktor closed up his techno-wand, and steeled his mind for the coming events; he knew he'd need both clarity of senses (to discern the impostor) and strength of mind (to resist any mind control, in case the Maestro was nearby).* Once that was set, his fingers flew over the controls of his Gravimetric Belt, and a wormhole flashed open next to him, carrying him to the lobby of ASTRO Labs. "Hello!," he greeted the nearest receptionist or other staff member. "Dere is a field trip from Claremont here today, ja? Haff dey arrived yet? I... am a surprise guest lecturer."

Using his full braininess (i.e., switching to Enhanced Int) and the Screwdriver's commlink to access useful cutting-edge software (video and image filters, patter-matching algorithms, criminal databases, etc.) (i.e., the fluff for the +6 bonus on Investigate his HQ gives, or, to be more accurate, the fluff for switching his Gadget to give him +6 on Investigate), he's got +25. He can't use his Mental Quickness, since you can't Take 20 on Investigate checks. Unless there's something on the roof interrupting him, I'll Take 10, and get a 35.

Dead Head waved goodbye to Fleur. "Yeah, guess it was too much ta hope she might wanna hang out with me, even fer a bit," he muttered as he tunred towards the west. "Couldn't wait ta get away from tha Dead. But, 'least she offered ta help; that's a durned sight better'n most." He walked on, towards another graveyard. [groove]21724670[/groove] ~fin~

Dead Head has 5 putrid power points to spend. Change PL/pp listing to 14 (212/212) Change Unspent PP line at the top to 0. Remove his Vulnerability Drawback; it's never come up. That eats up 3pp. 2pp to increase his Regeneration/Resurrection by 2 ranks, to 4/hourly. [b]Regeneration 22[/b] (recovery +14 [+9 total], injured 2/5 minutes, disabled 2/1 hour, true resurrection 4/hourly; [i]Power Feats[/i]: Persistent, Regrowth) [22x1 +2 = 24pp] And the totals line at the bottom to Abilities 12 + Combat 28 + Saves 10 + Skills 14 (56 ranks) + Feats 15 + Powers 134 - Drawbacks 1 = 212/212pp Done by Sandman XI

Archeville's eyes narrowed at the sight of Erik Espadas. "You haff been qvite helpful, Herr Finn," the Doktor said after a moment's thought. He drew forth his techno-wand and passed it a few times over his computer, "vhich is vhy I shall keep de copies I haff just made of all your computer's files to meinself, und not share dem mit de police. Now, you are qvite sure dere is nutzing else, ja? If not, I shall be on mein vay." After the Finn says his piece (or he indicates he has nothing more), Archeville walks out of the shoppe, and -- seeing the cab is long gone -- teleports to the roof of the Interceptor's Brownstone.

"Ya.. ya would?" The zombie seemed genuinely surprised at that. "Dang, Stesha, you are a nice one! I may jes' take you up on that offer... but, uh, not right now. Gimme some time ta think it over, 'kay?" Do I really want to? She does have a point, it ain't really entirely my decision, an' they certainly deserve some true closure. Dead Head looked over the family plot once more, and nodded. He turned back to Fleur, "well, looks like yer all done here, an' I'm guessin' ya got some hot plans with yer tall, dark an' star-y fella. So... guess I'll see ya 'round?"

Dead Head began to chuckle, then the chuckle became a knee-slapping belly laugh. And then, to Stesha's discomfort (but not so much her surprise), he actually fell to pieces from laughing so hard. [bg=#000000]"Hoooo, girl!"[/bg] was the first coherent thing she could make out. Oddly, when he was in pieces like this, his voice had an eerie hollow reverb effect. He slowly began to pull himself together (both literally and figuratively), [bg=#000000]"I'm laughin' s-so ha-hard because I'm usually tha one actin' as tha intermediary fer others! An', really, who would? Only one I can think of who might is Taylor, but she's got her hands more'n full with all tha stuff in her life."[/bg] His body was mostly back together now, only his head remained separate, and that he held slowly lifted up and put back on. [bg=#000000]"Not sure I'd really want her doin' it, any[/bg]way, on account'a who -- what -- her husband is. I... understand his condition, but that don't mean I condone it, or want him anywhere near my kin."

30, eh? Doc can Take 10 on any Knowledge and get that, when using all his resources and braininess (but he actually has ranks in Knowledge/Civics, so he can hit 35 by Taking 10). And since Goss'd mentioned she's "legally not allowed to divulge" why she has an interest in the Grue last August, he'd have sufficient (for him) reason to investigate.

"Don't really see a way I can; do you? I mean, if I'd contacted 'em shortly after, then maybe, but..." The zombie got a far-off look in its eyes for a moment, then snapped back, "I was a very different person when I first resurrected. Well, technically, the second time I resurrected; after the first time I was pretty much like ya see me now. But, fer a long time, I was... not someone they'd want ta meet." "I'm in a better place now, but, well, how would I go about it? After ten years'a thinking their first-born son, their big brother, has been dead an' gone fer so long? Ain't exactly the kind'a thinkg ya can sugar-coat. Nah, it's.. it's fer tha best they continue thinkin' I'm gone."

Since you haven't done a Reputation thread for Gossamer, I have to ask here: how difficult would it be for someone (like Doc) to know that her accident/powers come from her work with Grue biomatter?

If I might interject a (somewhat) non-subjective observation: JoAB's reaction to Taylor's brother being tortured in Hell for a week -- or, rather, his complete lack of reaction to that, and shrugging it off b/c he didn't die -- comes across as rather odd, given A] JoAB's own dealings with Hell/hellfire and B] that I've been under the impression that JoAB is, like Spider-Man, a very empathetic and caring person, and uses the constant Spider-Man-esque humor as a coping/defense mechanism (but even so, a revelation like that should've elicited some response from him).