Dr Archeville

June 5th, 2009 (Friday) I went to the Albright Institute today to take them up on their offer for metahuman power examinations and training. It was quite enjoyable, especially the company of Dr. Rachel Brown. A highlight: I was able to do further tests on one of my powered armor projects, the biological enhancement one. Finally settled on a name for it, too: Biological Enhancement Through Transdermally-Administered Reagents. A BETTAR suit of armor! BETTAR Armor The armor component of this suit is an arrangement of blue-gray tungsten-steel alloy plates, not unlike medieval German plate armor, with an undersuit of radiation-resistant materials. The overlapping plates are especially concentrated around the vitals and striking surfaces, lending weight to a wearer's blows. Electronic sensors include infrared & ultraviolet vision modes, and a radio and GPS for communications monitoring and target tracking. Targeting arrays and warning systems wired to thee heads-up display and to enhancers in the limbs greatly enhance a wearer's reaction times, in both offensive and defensive modes, at least as long as the target isn't completely invisible. The real feature, though, are the two chemical rigs held within. Rather than enhance the wearer's strength and durability via electrical or mechanical systems, the BETTAR (Biological Enhancement Through Transdermally-Administered Reagents) armor uses biochemical injections. Upon activation (by manipulating a dial on either the chest or wrist), the first rig floods the host's bloodstream with amphetamines, corticosteroids, hormones, neurotransmitters, painkillers, and other stimulants via a system of tubes feeding into all major veins. The activation dial determines how high the wearer is amped up, but a complex monitoring system in the armor tracks the wearer's vitals and determines which chemicals to administer. The system can also administer a large selection of antibiotic, antiviral, and clotting agents, and a mini-defibrillator incorporated into the chest plate can deliver a therapeutic dose of electrical energy in the case of cardiac arrhythmia or unsafe tachycardia. Even when not actively boosting a wearer, the suit's drug harness pumps a high-nutrient, high-protein food substitute and low levels of antimicrobials, oxygenated perfluorocarbons, stimulants, temperature regulators, and radiation-chelating agents into the bloodstream. The second chemical rig, intertwined with the first, is even more exotic. It can inject mutagenic compounds (including the ASTRO Labs-developed catalyst Chimerazine) into the wearer such that the wearer temporarily gains metahuman powers of their own! Thee most basic are four types of blasts: electricity, cold, fire, and intense sonics. Another type of mutagen allows the wearer to secrete semi-viscous emotion-altering biochemical agents, which can be hurled at foes, or at allies to deaden any out of control emotions. Another bestows telekinetic abilities; it can also be set on a slow, constant 'trickle' to telekinetically enhance the wearer's ability to leap and to handle a fall. Lastly, there is a mutagen which grants the ability to generate a swarm of biting, droning insects from the wearer's own flesh, which will surround the wearer and bite and hamper anyone nearby. It does take a small amount of time to switch from one power set to another, since the existing mutagen must be flushed & its effects reversed before another can be safely added. There is still much testing to be done on the suit. Mixing so many drugs and compounds could have some serious side-effects to the metabolic and nervous system even with the monitoring systems in place, as could prolonged use of even a few of the compounds.

It's effectively an Area Damage effect, so I need Reflex saves and Toughness saves from you both. EDIT: Scratch that, you both have enough Impervious that even if you fail the Reflex save and take the full brunt of it, the fires cannot harm you (even Phantom with her vulnerability). Herding the freaked-out cats is a Handle Animal check (or straight Charisma if you lack that). DC 15 gets you one cat, every two points byond that gets you another cat (so DC 15-16 gets you one cat, 17-18 gets you two, 19-20 gets you three, etc.) Yes, it's a bit difficult: you're both very un-natural (though Avenger is moreso). :P

You clear enough away for her to get through safety. Now, it's ACE DANGER's turn.

It doesn't matter how secret you keep your Drawbacks: you took them, you got points for them, they will come up as a result. And the thing about most drawbacks is that they don't require someone to know about it and intentionally use it for it to come up. Avenger will be going into places that have holy symbols o them, and enough devotion to trigger his drawback. Grimalkin will be beaten by thugs with iron crowbars. Fleur will get her hair caught in any of the myriad ways The Incredibles showed us caps can get caught. At least, that's what I intend.

Dr. Archeville is: Had his gender switched by Doc Otaku, and now must find a way to switch back! Preparing to face several otherdimensional invaders (after having already faced one). Getting "Tested." Meeting with other brainiacs of Freedom. Having a pleasant meal with a beautiful chemist. Trying to stop a prion break (that he inadvertently helped start!) Belphegor is: Overseeing a shipment of goods (PL 7 Bel) Helping Ghost retrieve a coin (PL 7 Bel) Chatting with Ember Paw (and Ember's mother!) (PL 10 Bel) Striking a deal with Quark (PL 10 Bel) (paused)

Ah, sorry! If you want to cross the fire to get to her, you'll be subjecting yourself to an Area (Line) Damage effect. Reflex save, then a Toughness save. Putting out a section of the fire so you (or the woman) can semi-safely walk through would also be a Reflex save.

Doktor Archeville, Mad Biologist Power Level: PL 10 (150/150 pp) Trade-Offs: -2 Attack for +2 Save Difficulty. -2 Defense for +2 Toughness. [floatr]http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Wizard_of_yog_sm.jpg[/floatr] Appearance: Due to the infusion of Grue genetic material into his own body (and his own pseudonatural nature), Doktor Archeville is able to make himself look like anyone or (almost) anything he wishes. He prefers to stay in his human form -- thin nose & lips, glaring Rhine-blue eye, golden hair, pale skin -- but he does also have a few "Battle Forms" (one adds insectoid and reptilian characteristics, one turns him into metal with blade-arms) which he enjoys. Should his powers be nullified, his "true form" is like his original body, but with lumpy, mismatched skin and uneven limbs. Background/History: On a whim this version of Doktor Archeville decided to dedicate a majority of his mind to biological sciences, thinking that doing so would make him stand out amongst the other super-scientists. Most of the Battlesuit wearers and other Gadgeteers focused on electronic or mechanics, with a few chemists here and there, but few focused on the truly awesome variety of natural life present on Earth. For a while he used organic technology, but a chance encounter with some Grue led him to a radical alteration of his tactics, and of himself. Personality/Motivation: Much the same as Earth-Prime Archeville, though this one definitely enjoys his metamorphic powers. Quote: "Mein body is nearly as flexible as mein mind; you shall not escape!" Powers & Tactics: Like his Earth-Prime counterpart, this Doktor Archeville is a scientific genius, but this one focused on biological sciences and is nearly unequaled in what he can do. His ultimate example of his biotechnological genius is his own self: he infused himself with Grue genetic material*, turning him into a true physical metamorph with absolute control over her physical shape and substance. (He cannot assume energy forms or forms with many moving parts, but other than that he's unlimited.) (* This is a not entirely true. The infusion of Grue genetic material should have killed him or turned him into a screaming near-mindless mass of roiling flesh, but his own pseudonatual nature "helped" him.) Archeville typically starts combat with something powerful and impressive, to see if he can end a fight early by either overwhelming physical force or by just cowing the target with his display. If that doesn't work, he'll become more subtle, using his powers to keep his opponents off-balance and attack in the most effective way possible. If things go bad, escape is just a little Shrinking + Super-Movement (Dimensional/to the Microverse) or Insubstantial ("stretching" to ooze through small openings) away. Abilities: [0+2+0+10+10+0 = 22pp] Str 10/+0 (14/+2) Dex 12/+1 (14/+2) Con 10/+0 (14/+2) Int 20/+5 (30/+10) Wis 20/+5 Cha 10/+0 Combat: [16 on Attack, 16 on Defense = 32pp] Attack +8 Grapple +8 (+10) Damage +0 (+2) Defense +8 (+4 flat-footed) Knockback -1 (-2) Initiative +1 (+2) Saves: [4+5+3 = 12pp] Toughness +2 (+4) Fort +4 [+5] (+0 [+2] Con, +4) Ref +6 [+7] (+1 [+2] Dex, +5) Will +8 (+5 Wis, +3) Skills: [104 ranks = 26pp] Computers 8 (+13 / +18) Craft (chemical) 12 (+17 / +20) Craft (electronics) 8 (+13 / +18) Craft (mechanical) 8 (+13 / +18) Disable Device 8 (+13 / +18) Investigate 4 (+9 / +14) Knowledge (behavioral sciences) 6 (+11 / +16) Knowledge (life sciences) 12 (+17 / +22) Knowledge (physical sciences) 8 (+13 / +18) Knowledge (technology) 8 (+13 / +18) Languages 4 (English, French, Mandarin Chinese, Russian; German is native) Medicine 12 (+17) Notice 5 (+10) Sense Motive 1 (+6) Feats: [8 feats] Eidetic Memory Equipment 2 (HQ) Improvised Tools Inventor Luck Master Plan Skill Mastery (Craft [chemical], Knowledge [life sciences, technology], Medicine) Powers: [6+2+45 = 53pp] Immunity 6 (disease, need for sleep, poison, starvation & thirst, suffocation effects) Protection 2 (resilient form) [2x1 = 2] Shapeshift 5 (25 points; Extra: Duration/Continuous) [5x9 = 45] Drawbacks: [-3pp] Vulnerability (to Transforms and other attacks that involuntarily change his shape or form, x2 to DC modifier; Uncommon, Major; -3pp] Abilities 22 + Combat 32 + Saves 12 + Skills 26 (104 ranks) + Feats 8 + Powers 53 - Drawbacks 3 = 150

"Med school?" Archeville asked, perking up. "Any specific field of interest, or are you aiming to be a general practitioner?" "Limited to humanity?!?" Archeville blurted out. "Vhere on Earth did your teacher get her training? Dat is quite possibly one of de most idiotic things I haff ever heard an instructor say! 'Limited to humanity'? Bah! Does she dink de Grue und de Lor aren't sentient? Vhat about de near-human races, like de Atlanteans und Utopians? Or beings such as Talos or Doctor Simian? 'Limited to humanity'.... bah!" Archeville's agitated rant suddenly stopped as he happened to glance down and see his left hand was clenched into a fist. "Ahem... ja, vell, I vould obviously side mit you on dat argument, Miss Albright... und I vould very much like to talk mit you more at length about your psychic abilities, und run a few experiments. Dere haff been some recent papers on de effects of de Terminus energies on neonatal development, und I vould relish a chance to explore some of dose lines of research in addition to mein own vork on psionics."

Sen is up (and I still need his Fort save).

The bonus to Disguise from Morph/Shapeshift doesn't count towards PL skill caps.

"Ve need to do more dan dat, Herr Star," Archeville said, "ve need to give dem hope, someding for de people to rally behind! Someding like.... der Gladiator! He is stuck betveen dimensions now, but if ve can find him und bring him back mit us to dat other vorld...."

Part 4 -- Free Choice DC 20 Nullify 10 (any one effect of an electrical circuit descriptor [electromagnetic pulse beam]; Flaw: Action/Full round) [5pp] 1d20+10 = 28, 12, 25; got it on the first try.

The lights and sounds stopped, and Archeville removed his "crown" and returned it to its traditional wand-like configuration. "De last von is mein choice, ja?," he called out to Dr. Brown, who nodded. "In dat case, I vould like to fight a robot. A basic von, please, dough I vould prefer a flying robot." Dr. Brown smiled, and pulled out a remote from one of her lab coat pockets. She pointed it at a wall and pressed a few buttons, and part of the wall slid away, revealing several robots, of assorted shapes and functions, each about the size of a housecat. After she pressed a few more buttons, one droid -- a spherical one dotted with camera lenses and microphones -- rose up and drifted over to Archeville. "It's one of the recording units we use to monitor some our of experiments. We have dozens, so feel free to do whatever you like." "Oh, dis is perfect! But... vell, it seems to move a bit slow. Can it go any faster?" "That is precisely why I chose this one, Herr Doktor," Brown replied as she pressed a few more buttons on her remote. "Because it can go... too fast!" The camera drone suddenly zipped off, knocking things over and bouncing off walls and tables and generally causing chaos. "Ah, even better!," Archeville exclaimed with some joy as he took off after it. "Dat means I vill haff to time... dis... just... right!" As he flew after the errant droid, Archeville was adjusting his E.S., which had begun to emit a low hum. He moved to the center of the room and watched the droid as it bounced around, calculating where it would be crossing him. With split-second timing, he activated his newly-configured gadget, which sent out an intense beam of blue-white energy that slammed into the droid, which then fell to the ground and bounced a few times before coming to rest at Dr. Brown's feet. "Focused electromagnetic pulse," he said as he flew back down. "Fried de flight system. I hope dere vas nothing irreplaceable recorded on dat, because if so, de recording is probably gone, too."

Years ago, over on another board, talk was made of an X-Men RPG, one set 25 or so years in the future. Most of the characters would be the sons & daughters of existing characters. It got me to thinking about the results of various Marvel pairings. Note: Parents are listed as father + mother. Assumption is that shapeshifters like Mystique can function as either. (Mystique was originally meant to be Nightcraler's father, with Destiny as his mother.) Unlikely pairings (unlikely either to personality conflicts or physical incompatibility) can be the work of geneticists like Sinister. [*:1c3a6ppj]Apocalypse + Jean Grey = Armageddon, inheriting his father's bodily control (enhanced strength & durability, growth, regeneration) and his mother's telepathy & telekinesis. (Note: This was actually seen in an Exiles comic.) [*:1c3a6ppj]Apocalypse + Selene = Something like the main character from Prototype. [*:1c3a6ppj]Artie Maddicks + Danielle Moonstar = Veil, an ugly lil' illusionist. [*:1c3a6ppj]Avalanche + Magma = Rumble (I), a geokinetic/terrakinetic. [*:1c3a6ppj]Black King (Sebastian Shaw) + Sage = Kinetic, who can control kinetic energy [*:1c3a6ppj]Black King + White Queen (Emma Frost) = Gray Prince (or Princess). The harder s/he's hit, the denser s/he becomes, and s/he also possess some minor emotion control abilities (used primarily to get people to attack him/her and thus fuel his/her powers). [*:1c3a6ppj]Cloak + Darkstar = Void, a darkness manipulator [*:1c3a6ppj]Colossus + Mercury (Cessily Kincaid) = Metallic or Metallique, a shapeshifting brick. [*:1c3a6ppj]Colossus + Storm = Lightning Rod, whose metallic form allows him to conduct/channel electricity. [*:1c3a6ppj]Doc Samson + She-Hulk = Gamma, a brick/powerhouse. [*:1c3a6ppj]Electro + Wasp (or Yellowjacket) = Elektron, a shrinking blaster. [*:1c3a6ppj]Forge + Storm = EMP (or Calamity Jane), who constantly generates a low-level EM field which screws with electronics, and can generate more intense EM pulses to knock out devices. [*:1c3a6ppj]Graviton + Wasp (or Yellowjacket) = Singularity, who can become a black hole. [*:1c3a6ppj]Havok + Lilandra = Krystar, who can channel the energies of the M'Krann Crystal [*:1c3a6ppj]Havok + Polaris = Gauss, a ferrokinetic/magnetokinetic. [*:1c3a6ppj]Human Torch + Magma = Lava Lord, who can convert his body into lava and generate extreme heat. [*:1c3a6ppj]Iceman + Psylocke = Sub-Zero ;-) [*:1c3a6ppj]Juggernaut + Dazzler = Behemoth, who absorbs sound to gain strength & toughness. [*:1c3a6ppj]Leech + Rogue = Syphon, who can steal a person's powers at range. [*:1c3a6ppj]Magneto + Cassandra Nova = Onslaught Jr. (a) [*:1c3a6ppj]Mimic (or Gideon) + Mystique = Imposter (I), who can copy your abilities & appearance. [*:1c3a6ppj]Multiple Man + Mystique = Everyman, who can create duplicates who each look different. [*:1c3a6ppj]Multiple Man + Siryn = Choir (note: this one was actually suggested by another) [*:1c3a6ppj]Mystique + Rogue = Imposter (II), who can steal your abilities and appearance, leaving you a featureless 'blank.' [*:1c3a6ppj]Namor + Invisible Woman = Scion, a brick/powerhouse who generates his own force-armor. [*:1c3a6ppj]Presence + Red Guardian/Starlight = Chernobyl, an intensely radioactive being [*:1c3a6ppj]Quicksilver + Mercury = Hydrargyrum, a shapeshifting speedster. [*:1c3a6ppj]Rictor + Magma = Rumble (II), a geokinetic/terrakinetic. [*:1c3a6ppj]Sabretooth + X23 = She-Bitch [*:1c3a6ppj]Sunfire + Firestar = Sunstar, a flying blaster. [*:1c3a6ppj]Sunspot + Magma = Helios, who manipulates fire and earth. [*:1c3a6ppj]Sunspot + Sage = Lumen, who can control light and darkness [*:1c3a6ppj]Sunspot + Selene = Vamp, who can drain life-force of others at range, and use it to boost her strength/toughness and fuel other abilities. [*:1c3a6ppj]Vulcan + Deathbird = Raptor, a flying blaster brimming with hatred. [*:1c3a6ppj]Vulcan + Jean Grey = Omega, teh Ultimate Mutant!!!1! [*:1c3a6ppj]Wolverine + Psylocke = Frenzy, who has "psychic claws" that look like her father's but work like her mother's, and uber-l33t ninja skillz. [*:1c3a6ppj]Xavier + Mystique = Dream Girl, who knows your fantasies as soon as you do, and can embody them. [*:1c3a6ppj]Xavier + Polaris = Onslaught Jr. ( [*:1c3a6ppj]X-Man + Threnody = Dead Head, who's constantly in telepathic contact with the dead. What manner of pairings can y'all come up with?

The would-be purse-snatcher just stares, utterly awestruck, at Moira.

Yup. You were in the area, and that's enough.

Yeah, what the Blue Brain said.

"Vhoa, vhoa, vait a minute!," Archeville calls out, "ve cannot just go barging in dere! Ve need a plan!"

Part 3 -- Mental based task DC 17 Mind Shield 5 (mind-shield, based loosely on the electronic ones Daedalus once made) [5pp] 1d20+5 = 15, 17, 13; second one just makes it

The Swiss cheesed walls slid and retracted away, leaving Archeville in a wide, open area. "Umm... hello? Vas ist-" A cacophony and atonal sounds and strobing multicolored lights suddenly hit the scientist from all sides. He knelt down, keeping his eyes down and hunching so as to try and shield his ears with his shoulders and the collar of his lab coat. "Ah, a visual und aural assault designed to distract me!," he called out, though the sounds drowned him out completely. He struggled to adjust his Electromagnetic Screwdriver into something which would help him resist this assault on his senses, and remembered something he had heard Daedlaus once jury-rigged while facing Lady Lunar. What he could make in this instance would not be as good, but it would be better than nothing. Archeville soon stood, and on his head was what appeared to be a crown. A closer examination would reveal that it was his Electromagnetic Screwdriver, pulled out into five segments (Still connected by wires running through them) and formed into a circlet. The scientist had a less pained expression on his face, though it was clear the noises and lights still caused some discomfort. "I vill definitely haff to remember dis von!"

The cameras and other assorted sensors retracted, and the walls of the test area were soon an apparently seamless whole. Then, more walls began to pop up, hemming in Archeville. "Ah, dis vould be de physical part, ja?," he called out. "Not mein preferred method of physical interaction..." He pressed one of the larger buttons on his gadget, and a meter-long beam of humming greenish-purple energy sprang from one end. "... but it is not something I am a stranger to. Un, ja, ja, I know, dis is hardly original," he said as he cut Doktor-sized holes through the walls, "but a good idea is a good idea."

Part 2 -- Physical based task DC 15 Strike 5 (laser sword) [5pp] 1d20+5 = 25,20, 19; first one gets it (natural 20!)

Still need Fort saves for Arrowhawk Phantom Sen Also, it's Avenger's turn!

"I did indeed, Mister von Treissen," the being before him said. It looked like an odd cross between Adrian Eldrich and Malador: its body was bandaged, and its face was behind a golden skull mask, but the cloak and pendant it wore were those of Eldrich. Its voice was that of neither, though; its voice was that of 'The Watcher'. It hovered a few inches in the air. "Though you are not as active as certain other beings in this city," it continued, "your activities have not gone unnoticed. Your recent battle with the boy in the alien armor was what made me decide to formally contact you and make my offer." "You may call me Legend," it said with a somewhat theatrical flourish. "I am the, shall we say, majordomo of this Arena. I did not set it up, but I do look after it, and its guests. I also offer tests...." Legend made another flourish, pointing to a lone door near the main entrance to the Arena under the platform of the derelict oil rig. "To any who desire, to test whatever aspect of themselves they may wish. I can even offer surprises, to examine aspects you yourself may not have considered." "The tests are not easy, of course, but as much can be learned from failure as from success." "Are you interested?"

Bishonen Malice?