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Dr Archeville

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Freedom City PBP: A How-To Guide

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  1. Dr Archeville
    Dok's Comprehend (Electronics) can -- at the GM's discretion -- let him make a Computers check in place of Diplomacy checks when dealing with machines (and Disable Device in place of Bluff). Currently his Computers & Disable Device are at +20, and he's got Skill Mastery for both, for a result of 30. Checking the Interaction and Attitude charts under the Diplomacy skill, 30 is enough to turn an Indifferent being Helpful. (Or an Unfriendly one into a Friendly one, or a Hostile one to an Indifferent one.) That may be useful to know when he's dealing with the AEDDs, or any other machines in the Atchpa structure.
  2. Dr Archeville
    Artificer Heroditus gave a slight bow to Leroy as soon as he saw him. "My understanding, Prince Ransome-Conte, is that this combat training session was to focus on grapples and other close-in maneuvers. And special emphasis was made to me that this would not be 'in the Greco-Roman style' -- the Surfacer style most like the Atlantean forms with which I am familiar -- and so clothing," he patted his duffel bag, "would not be optional." He glanced over at Àjàṣorò and made a few click-pops in Atlantean, "ah, I suppose that would be most prudent, in such mixed company." Rebound had learned after their first night sharing a room that Atlanteans often slept naked, and -- since cold did not bother them, and their environment had few major shifts -- had less taboos against nudity than Surfacers. Out of respect for Surfacer customs (and Freedom City's indecency laws), he had agreed to wear more than he was accustomed to, and had placed a modesty screen over the pressurized water-filled tube he slept in. "As for underwater combat training," he glanced over at Benny, then back to Leroy, "I have requested such, on numerous occasions, but have yet to find any who seem both able and willing to engage in such drills. Perhaps you and I might devise something?"
  3. Dr Archeville
    Artificer "Oh, is this to be another mixed session?," a bright voice called out. Heroditus had just rounded the corner, with a small duffel bag slung across one shoulder. He extended a hand to Àjàṣorò, "hello, I do not believe we have met. I am Heroditus Fabricus Stylianos, of Atlantis." He wore gladiator-style sandals laced up to mid-calf, red knee-length breeches, and a blue short-sleeved tunic, plus his usual belt and bandolier of pouches filled with components. He turned and called out to the one already in the combat simulator, "Roommate Ben! I thought this was going to be a boys-only sparring session!" He turned back to Àjàṣorò and quickly added, "uh, not that I mind practicing with girls, that is. I have seen some very skilled girl fighters!"
  4. Dr Archeville
    So Davyd Took 10 when crafting his "Stefan Martyn" disguise, which, combined with his Morph, gets him a Disguise total of 50. So he definitely looks (and sounds & smells) like a mid-20s white human male that you'd see on a CW show. Whether or not he can act like one, though, is going to be up to his Bluff skill... which is only +10!
  5. Dr Archeville
    Horrorshow Crap crap this wasn't how it was supposed to go! I was going to observe for a bit first, then make an approach to others. Not have them come to me! And this guy isn't a lawyer, the background I worked up is- Okay, okay, keep cool. The handsome man smiled nervously at the woman who now sat across from him, who looked to be the same age as him but was really almost a decade older. "Nice to meet you, Mali," he offered his hand to her, "my names Stefan. Stefan Martyn. It's Russian." Go with it, or steer things back a bit? My improv skills still need work, so I won't fall to that just yet. Let's see... "I, uh, should come clean and say I'm not an Attorney." He placed both hands flat on the table, "I do work in a law firm, yes, but," he drummed his fingers, "in their IT department. So, ah, what do you do? What are you taking a break from?"
  6. Dr Archeville
    Doktor Archeville "I must say, there's nothing like the vacuum of space for preserving a handsome corpse," Archeville remarked, a bit of awe and wonder in his voice. "But did they die from that exposure, or something else? I may be able to tell more, after an autopsy. And those markings, there, and there," he gestured towards the escape pods. "A final message, scrawled in their own blood? A plea to their gods? A curse against their enemies? Or a warning to any who came in after them? Dr. Ea'Po, do you know their language?" He turned to the ram-man, "once again I find myself in agreement with you, my azure associate. If our investigations prove fruitful, perhaps we can write a dirge worthy of these beings."
  7. Dr Archeville
    Horrorshow Davyd presented his ID confidently to Jada, "of course, yes, here it is, my driver's license." It was a fake, though a well-made one, given to him by his uncle Sasha a week or so before Halloween ("so you can get into the good parties, yes?") This was the first time actually using it, though, so while he wasn't certain it would pass -- especially under the eye of someone who'd been doing this for a while -- he was confident that uncle Sasha's work would pull through. Keep cool, Dayv, you've got this. At the jacket-clad woman's comment, he laughed; he'd tried for "nonchalant chuckle" but it came out a bit more nervous than he'd wanted. "Oh, I get that all the time. At the law firm. Where I work."
  8. Dr Archeville
    Davyd had remained close to Mia, flashing her a reassuring smile whenever she looked in his general direction. "So, uh," he asked softly, trying to think of some way to distract her from her nervousness, "just how big of a thing can you make? Do you think you could recreate this spaceship?" "Wait, what?," he blurted out after catching the tail end of Seresk's words. "This ship is over two thousand years old?! You- wait, no, the Delaztri... who came before the Lor," he nodded to Eira, "have had spaceflight for over two millennia?! That... that's...," he looked to Eira, to Seresk, Eira again, then back to the group, "Miss Grue told me there were older, more advanced races out there, but... what?!"
  9. Dr Archeville
    I'd like to say Heroditus is doing lethal damage with that (he is out for blood!), but as the GM for this thread it's your call.
  10. Dr Archeville
    "<Merciful Poseidon,>" Heroditus whispered, relieved that his treatment had at least partially worked. "<All shall be well, sister,>" he assured her as he reached for her through the arms of the statue that still held her fast. "<Your mind is back, your soul. The body will- !>" And then, the eldritch bellow. Theodora and the statue around her were knocked back to the floor of the temple, and it was hard to tell if it was the sonic shriek or the sudden contact of head and stone that sent her unconscious. Heroditus, meanwhile, was largely unaffected -- perhaps his recent encounter with subsonic fear effects had caused him to build up a tolerance, perhaps it was his growing fury at what had happened to his sister and father. And now he was ready to direct that fury. A quick check told him his sister still breathed. He drew more components from his pouches -- one set of the metallic hand wraps, as well as an iron ring with a single onyx set into it. He slid the wraps and ring over his left hand, then began etching runes of dark power upon them. "<Tisiphone, guide my hand...>" He turned and raised his device-covered hand at Harbinger, and sent a pulse of arcane energy into it. A dark purple ray lanced out, towards the abomination, and struck the grisly trophy about his neck: the severed hand of Xyles Stylianos. "<Avenge yourself, father.>" It twitched as Heroditus' arcane energies, his rage, and need for vengeance filled it, and suddenly it spring up and latched around Harbinger's throat, sinking necromantically-charged talons into his neck as it sought to crush the life from him!
  11. Dr Archeville
    Starting Conditions: Undamaged, 2 HP, fatigued (-2 Str, -2 Dex, -1 attack, -1 defense) Free Action: Extra Effort to power stunt a Cursed Clutching Claw effect off his Magic: Drain Constitution 9 ("cursed clawing hand", Extras: Linked [Damage], Range [Ranged]; Flaw: Action [Full]) {9pp} + Damage 9 ("cursed clawing hand"; Extras: Alternate Save [Fortitude], Linked [Drain], Range [Ranged]; Flaws: Action [Full], Distracting) {9pp} {9+9=18/18pp} Full Action: Fire Cursed Clutching Claw Ray at Harbinger! 1d20+6: 11 [1d20=5] Nope. Reaction: Spend HP to re-roll that. 1d20+6: 12 [1d20=6] but the die roll was <11, so +10 to it; 6 becomes 16, so that's a total of 22 to hit. Assuming that hits, Harbinger needs to make a DC 19 Fort save vs. the Drain Constitution effect, then a DC 24 Fort save vs. the Damage effect. Ending Conditions: Undamaged, 1 HP, fatigued, will be exhausted at start of next round.
  12. Dr Archeville
    "Oh, uh, yes, good evening barkeep... stress," the (obviously off-guard) young man replied. His voice was pleasant enough, but he was obviously nervous. He searched around his pockets for a moment, "yes, I would like to purchase some alcohol, please," then pulled out a (fake) driver's license. "As you can see from my license that I am 26. So I would like..." What was it Uncle Sasha always drinks when out in public? Oh, yes, it's... "... a strawberry vodka," he said, with a smug and self-satisfied grin.
  13. Dr Archeville
    Okay, okay, tensions are a bit high, but no one's attacking. Not yet, at least. Still need to be on my toes, though. Archeville nodded towards the ram-man, then turned to face Starlok and gave a deep bow. "Your associate has it correctly, Countess," he continued in GalStandard. "I did not speak falsely: when we first met, I was still in the process of learning this language, and could neither understand what was being said nor express my own thoughts in it. It was only recently -- very shortly before my reply to him," he made the bares of gestures towards Dirge, "that I attained fluency. And, in the interest of full disclosure, I inform you that I possess a near-perfect recall, have already reviewed what was said earlier, and have also worked out what you all said then." "So," he glanced back to Dr. Ea'Po, gave her a wink, then back to Starlok while gesturing at the monitor screen, "now that we can all communicate more easily, may I suggest we continue on with investigating the Atchpa structure?"
  14. Dr Archeville
    So Artificer's got 2 HP now, and is fatigued. Which means, among other things, a -2 to Dex = -1 to Reflex save. Reflex save -- 1d20+2: 8 [1d20=6] I'd need a Nat 20 to make that DC 22 Reflex save, so I'm not going to bother re-rolling that. Will save -- 1d20+6: 24 [1d20=18] Huzzah! So no effect from Harbinger's Stun, 2 HP, fatigued, undamaged.
  15. Dr Archeville
    Ah, of course: if his species evolved from something like the sheep on Earth, then they evolved from herd animals. Such mentality may still be part of their psychological makeup, so he'd be inclined to work with others. Oh, and the booming voice could be tied to that -- to scare away predators, to communicate over long distances. Ah, but be careful, Victor: assuming psychological traits based solely on anatomical and physiological structures can be a gateway to racist pseudoscience. And besides, initial observations rarely tell the whole story. "<An escape vessel?,>" he repeated to Dr. Ea'Po, still in English. "<Given its size, I would wager it is much more than an escape pod, and more along the likes of an archive: something to preserve not just individual lives, but cultural records and artifacts. Has anyone found any other structures like this?>" He looked to the image on the screen, then back to Ea'Po, "<if they were trying to flee from something, the smart move would be to send out multiple copies of their records, in several directions. But that would presume they had ample warning, and the resources to do so. If it was sudden, then they may have only had time to build this one structure.>" Ah, if I was younger and unattached, I'd probably try some line about being 'eager to study your tongue.' Though that might make the Countess jealous, and I'm not sure I'd want her attentions. And if she's upset, then her friend might- oh, hold on a sec... oh-ho. He held up one hand to Ea'Po, and flashed a smile at her, "<please, Doctor, I must ask you to excuse me for a moment.>" He bowed slightly to her, with a little flourish. He turned to face the ram-man, locked eyes with him, and slowly replied to his insults -- all of which he now understood -- in the same language they'd been made in. "The louder the dog barks... the less a lion feels... threatened... and you... have been... barking... very loudly."
  16. Dr Archeville
    Horrorshow Davyd had seen numerous declarations of love at Claremont over the course of the week, and as many today as the previous four put together. He'd had no one to share such things with, nor -- as far as he knew -- anyone who wished to do likewise with him, but that was fine. He'd been too preoccupied with school, and practicing with his powers, and a recent trip into space, to really think about that sort of thing. Sure, he'd had a crush on Lulu almost as soon as he saw her, but that had cooled, and now they were good friends. Besides, there were other ways he could have fun. This is good practice for me, he thought as he walked down a street in West End, psyching himself up. Infiltrate, recon, exit, return to base, all without anyone suspecting. Yup, a perfect exercise for someone of my talents. (He may have also been practicing what he'd say to Headmistress Summers if she ever caught ind of what he was doing.) And so into Chester's Club walked a handsome man, mid-20s, tall (nearly six and a half feet!), with long brown hair, blue-green eyes, broad shoulders & muscular chest, a drab green jackets over a green and white plaid shirt, blue jeans, and black boots. He strode past the bar, smiling and nodding at whoever looked his way, and took a seat near the pool tables.
  17. Dr Archeville
    Heroditus' cobbled-together device was throwing off sparks, and the tuning forks were all going a bit wonky as they spun out of alignment and then fell out of the metal cone. "I CAN FIX THIS!" he shouted, though whether he was trying more to reassure his comrades or himself was up for debate. He worked frantically at his device, scratching in new sigils, trying new tuning forks, and popping in a few gemstone slivers. He took only a few glimpses up from his work, to see his squadmates fighting the escaped animals -- "THIS SHOULD CALM THEM DOWN, TOO!" -- and the still-panicking throngs of people. He sent another charge of mystical energies into the device, and it sprang to life again, tuning forks rotating, cone humming, absorbing the fear-inducing subsonic waves and emitting a calmative counterpulse. Now that his machine was running again, he spared a moment to look up and around at the surroundings. There must be some transmitters, concealed somewhere near here. Up in the trees? The light poles?
  18. Dr Archeville
    Starting Conditions: Undamaged, 2 HP, will be fatigued at start of next round. Will save for NuFear effect (with +4 bonus) 1d20+10: 21 [1d20=11] w00t Reaction: Spend HP to nix fatigue. Standard Action: Set off Emotion Control/Calm again. Countering check? If so, 1d20+8: 23 [1d20=15] w00t Move Action: Attempt Notice check to try finding source of the fear effect. 1d20+5: 23 [1d20=18] Wowza! Ending Conditions: Undamaged, 1 HP.
  19. Dr Archeville
    Archeville could not help but chuckle a bit at Ea'Po, "your pro-nun-see-AY-shun is very good, Doctor. Better than mine was when I was first learning English!" Though the reason for that was partly an 'obfuscating stupidity' thing. I don't sense that that's happening here, though. Then again... "So these Atchpa," he continued as they made their way to the bridge, "disappeared twelve centuries ago? So they just... vanished? Or were they attacked? Did they have enemies? Will the structure have defenses, traps that we will have to deal with?" On the bridge, he half-listened to the exchange between Starlok and the man-ram (lots of bass in his voice, more than simply his size would indicate - bravado? Yet he seems to obey her every utterance. 'Friend' or 'colleague' may not quite be accurate, but what? Does he owe her something?) as he looked over the bridge. He made a big show of being impressed by the layout, as any "simple backwoods Terran" might. "Very impressive, Countess! A most elegant layout, as one would expect from a being of your refinement and grace." No other staff, centralized command station, so it can be operated by just one pilot despite its size. Must be a good deal of behind-the-panel automation.
  20. Dr Archeville
    "And thankful we are for your actions that day!" he replied with a smile. "I shudder to think what may have happened had you three not been there." At her next reveal, his smile fell. "Ah," he replied, trying to keep his tone neutral but she could sense some disappointment. "I was hoping- well, more wondering... hrm." He was quiet a moment, thinking carefully on how to word this next bit. "I presume that you are familiar with," he spoke a few untranslated words of Atlantean, "or, as the Surfacers know it, the Bermuda Triangle? There are - were - several Atlantean outposts, around and within the area, where we could study the dimensional faults and nexuses that make the area so hazardous." He sighed, took a sip from his waterskin, "most have been destroyed over the millennia, by attacks or accidents, or simple abandonment and neglect. But I had often hoped of finding one, intact, or of even restoring one, so that such research could continue." A spark came back to his eyes, "and, if harnessed properly, could provide a means of rapid transportation, throughout the oceans of this world, and perhaps the oceans of other worlds!"
  21. Dr Archeville
    "<Theodora!>" Heroditus frantically swiped away at the foul cloud, trying to clear it away, and totally ignoring what was going on with Dalekos, Harbinger, and Sea Devil. "<Theodora, are you alright? Please, please be alright!>" What if it did not work what if I made things worse I am way out of my depth here in the shallows of my knowledge please be alright Theodora why did you have to go after them in the first place I should have been here to help defend you defend the family defend Atlantis Theodora please... At last enough had cleared that he could just make out her form, hanging limp in the arms of the transmuted statue which had bound her. He could not yet make out details, could not see if he had succeeded in reversing the transformation. But at least he could see her. "<Theodora? Are you...?>" He reached out a hand to her.
  22. Dr Archeville
    Heroditus (who is now fatigued) is staying put until he can figure out if what he tried on his sister worked.
  23. Dr Archeville
    Archeville continued smiling at the man-goat as Starlok conveyed his message to her companion, then looked over to the newcomer. "Dr. Ea'Po - she is Lor?" he asked Starlok. "Terra has had some dealings with them, though I myself have not had much contact." Then to the archaeologist, "hello!" He held out a hand to her, "I am Doktor Archeville, from Terra. I look forward to working with you." He spoke a bit slower and enunciated a bit more clearly with her than he had with Starlok. "So, the structure outside, it is not of your culture? Or of hers?," he gestured towards Starlok, then to the man-goat, "or of his? I thought that it might have been of hers," he gestured to Starlok again, then switched to addressing both of them, "there are some ancient cultures on Terra that built structures similar to that one, and who associate a certain native animal -- a bat, a flying mammal which bears a resemblance to this starship -- with night and death and sacrifice. So I thought you might be here to reclaim a lost part of your past. But if it is as alien to you as, well," he chuckled, "as I am, then we should all be in for some excitement!" He had not been ignoring the man-ram during all this. An impressive level of control, implying a great deal of practice. A natural ability? Born with it? And that's a... potent aroma he's got. Likely a highly developed olfactory sense, too.
  24. Dr Archeville
    Certainly! 1d20+8: 11 [1d20=3] D'oh! Well, at least he fixed his squadmates!
  25. Dr Archeville
    He does have Eidetic Memory and a decent INT bonus (even without using nanites to cheat enhance his brain), so he could well remember what was said when he didn't understand it, and apply his translation to it later!
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