Dr Archeville

He nodded, stroked his chin, "yes, I suppose that would get around certain-" And then he stopped, and Mona could swear she heard gears whirling and tiny crackles of electricity inside his head. "Are you," his head twitched ever so slightly, "is that a... maybe?" He reached out for her free hand with both of his, leaving Penny un-massaged, "I know you've been against the idea for some time, you've told me how some of the conversations with your mother have gone. I also know minds can change. But if you're changing just for me, Mona, please, don't: I'd respect and honor any decision you'd make."

He chuckled softly, "no need to apologize for that, many metahumans seem to only scratch the surface of what their abilities are capable of. That was one of my goals with ArcheTech... but I see the AEON Foundation's picked up that avenue of research quite handily. Good on them." Facs noted a slight downward shift in Archeville's tone when he mentioned his company, but it swung back up by the time he'd finished his sentence. He nodded, "I believe I get what you're saying. Some powers seem more heroic, more noble, while others are viewed with skepticism, fear. Being very strong, very tough, able to fly, those are all fine and good, and easily seen. But something like, say, mind control, or radiation generation, or some forms of shapeshifting, those are feared. Maybe part of it is due to fear of all the villains who have used such powers..." Myself included "... or a more general anti-intellectualism, favoring feats of physical prowess over mental acumen." He shrugged, "maybe those views will only change if people with those 'scary' abilities work at changing society's perceptions of them." He smiled, "very astute, young man! Though that's only part of it -- each link is a distinct item itself, so let us see how many 'steps' your transformations can go. Which means at one point I'd like you to do that but holding only one link, and letting the rest dangle free, not in contact with you or the floor."

1d20+2: 18 [1d20=16] Nice

He's not moving with any Stealth -- he knows they know he's there, and he expects that if there was anything they'd want to hide, they would've already done so. But if he runs into anyone unexpectedly, he will try to keep his cards close to his chest, say he's there as part of his investigation, per Dalekos' instructions, but not let on any of what he's found. Bluff 1d20+1: 15 [1d20=14] Not bad Notice 1d20+3: 16 [1d20=13] Very nice Search 1d20+3: 4 [1d20=1] Oof

"Ooh, cybernetics!" He then realized he'd squealed right into Chu's ear, and cringed, "ah, sorry, sorry. So, are they widespread? Or, like, still experimental, and rare? There are some cybernetics on Earth, but not many, and they tend to be expensive." Now he was looking into Chu's eyes, and his snout. "Though I think they're becoming cheaper and more widespread, with some developments in 3-D printing. I, uh, I don't know a whole lot about all that, though." "Oh, yeah, yeah, I've been reading up on the Grue," now he was peering in Chu's mouth, marveling at the large fangs, "trying to learn about their culture, their values. It's difficult, since so much is just what the Meta-Mind wants, so it's hard to work out what's been imposed and what's, well, natural." "Alright," he took a few steps back, "I think I'm ready for my first try." I can do this I can do this I can do this. Just focus on a few things at a time. With a thought, his body began to shift, bones extended or contracted, skin thickened and sprouted a thick fur, nails thickened into claws. In moments, he was a perfect duplicate of Lu Chu... but he was still the size of a teenage Earther. "Weeellllll," he examined himself, pleased with the job he'd done, "I think that turned out pretty- oh. Oh, right, the size difference. Still working on that bit." He looked up to Chu, hoping his smaller form wasn't perceived as an insult.

Hunh, well, there's Groundhog-Man... mob'a yuppies... roaches... an' some sorta floatin' fella, which they definitely see... but no sign'a Emily. Crud. He looked for Strix, to tell him to go after the floating blue man and get him away from the mouth of the alley -- he could reach him quicker -- but he was nowhere to be seen. Hope he's already on th' way. "I'm here t'help," Dead Head stage-whispered to the Woodchuck-Man. He crouched down as low as he could, then sprung up, with enough force to tear muscles and ligaments in his legs. He soared over the manimal and landed in a heap, then slowly rose up before the crowd. Everything slithered and snapped back into place, and he faced the crowd. "Hey there, fellas," his gravelly whisper of a voice came out as warmly as it could, "whatch'all doin'? Got some vigilante justice in mind? I'm normally all for community get-togethers, but 'fore y'all go beatin' on Murray here, y'all might wanna turn yer attention yonder," he pointed to the far end of the alley, and the strange floating person behind them.

About how long is the alley? Distance between Woodchuck-Man and Mob, and Mob and Floating Baldy? Can DH tell if Floating Bald Man is some sort of spirit? Maybe something that the others can't see?

And search them he did. The lower-ranked scientist's rooms had nothing pertinent (though many fascinating items!), but the grunt barracks revealed some damning bits of evidence. Wedged between a soldier's cot and his personal effects chest was a large crystal shard, a little over an inch long and about half an inch in diameter, with silver caps on either end. It was a thought recorder, one of the semi-common relics of Atlantis' great past that could be recreated by modern techno-mages, used as a diary, and it had quite the story to tell. So they were experimenting on Deep Ones -- children and adults -- trying to turn them back into Atlanteans! And the Deep Ones struck back, taking the researcher's children -- their 'justice' -- and likely intend to transmogrify them! Thoughts careened through his mind as he tucked the crystal into one of his pouches, then made his way to the dry cells above. There must be a Deep One creche nearby, where they captured the children. That could be another reason why they built the station out here. Is that where they would have taken the researcher's children? There may be clues in the cells where they held them, something scratched into the walls. And what about that quick armored one? Supposedly an outcast, but did the others follow him? Could he have come back, freed the others, to get them loyal to him? There's a lot going on here that I do not understand, and I do not like that, he thought as he reached the air-filled cells above.

"Ugh... man, the deadroads here's gonna take some gettin' used to. So much rougher'n Freedom's, or anywhere else back east." He looked around, noting how stark and bleak it was. There was no autopsy table, no sink, nothing for examinations or hygiene, just rows and rows of bodies. Some inside small sealed(ish) cabinets, some stacked on open racks, wrapped in body bags, with bright orange tags tied to the zipper. A gurney sat in one corner, next to a small hydraulic trolley, both ancient and barely functioning. A few clipboards hung here and there, likely indicating who was there and when they'd been dropped off... assuming the person who left them bothered to fill that out. "Well, may as well check their records while I'm down here, see if anyone's been brought in with bite marks. Of course," he said in a slightly louder voice, "if any spirits hangin' 'bout is feelin' talkative," he grabbed one ear, pulled it off, and held it up, "I'm all ears."

I'm burning a Hero Point to reroll Search. 1d20+3: 20 [1d20=17] YES!

Here's a Notice check 1d20+3: 10 [1d20=7] Ooof And Search: 1d20+3: 4 [1d20=1] Yikes Investigate can't be used untrained, but just in case you'll let me do so: 1d20+3: 5 [1d20=2] Wowza

Alchemy Examples: Diablo (Marvel), Doctor Alchemy (DC), Edward Elric and others (Fullmetal Alchemist) FC Examples: Alchemistress (I and II), Doctor Azoth “Alchemy. It is the scientific technique of understanding the structure of matter, decomposing it, and then reconstructing it. If performed skillfully, it is even possible to create gold out of lead. However, as it is a science, there are some natural principles in place. Only one thing can be created from something else of a certain mass. This is the Principle of Equivalent Exchange.” Or so the Elric brothers say. Alchemy -- or at least the European version most American audiences have been exposed to -- has had many goals. Some were exoteric and practical, such as transmuting substances (especially of “base” metals, like lead, into “noble” metals, like gold), creating universal remedies to cure any disease (including aging and death), or creating life (homunculi). Others were more esoteric and spiritual, seeking to perfect/purify the human body & soul, to concentrate and amplify the spark of the divine that is within everyone, to achieve a higher state of being -- like godhood. And some say the experiments of the former were really ciphers and metaphors, used to conceal steps for the latter. Most superhero comics that include alchemy focus on the physical aspects, so that’s what I’ll be concentrating on here. In Freedom City’s distant past, the sorcerer-scientists of Atlantis wielded unparalleled alchemical might, though much was lost during the Sinking and could not be recreated in their icy underwater environment. Why Take This Path: To control and manipulate the world around them. To get rich quick, to cure ills, to extend -- or create! -- life. Common Personality Types: Alchemists tend to be curious, sharp-minded, and deeply analytical, fascinated by taking things apart and putting them back together -- sometimes in different forms -- and more interested in how things work than profound philosophizing. Some may be morally flexible, seeing “good” and “evil” not as absolutes but as impermanent states dependent upon existing conditions, with change as the only constant. (Heroic alchemists should have more concrete morals!) Some may prefer adventure & travel (where they can find new stuff), others a settled life in large cities (where they’ll have access to established resources and fellow researchers), and some are equally comfortable in both. Powers: Transform is the core power, with tons of possible stunts. Attack effects would be in an Array, perhaps with a Power Loss drawback (to represent the components they quickly combine to create the effect), or in a bandolier (a Hard to Lose Device) of pre-made potions and pellets. Thrown flasks and pellets may call for the Reduced Range drawback. The Fades or Independent flaw may be appropriate, for effects that only last a limited amount of time. A “Philosopher’s Stone” (an Easy to Lose Device, or Hard to Lose if set into a ring or amulet) may aid an Alchemist in any number of ways: enhancing their ranks in various effects, or adding Range (Ranged) or even Range (Perception) to their attacks. Nonmagical Variants: As alchemy is a mystical “predecessor” to chemistry and pharmacy, most of the effects described below can be done with those (super-)sciences. Nuclear transmutation means that some of the effects can be pulled off by a sufficiently skilled radiation controller. BASIC POWERS Alchemical Conversion: Transmuting “base” metals into “noble” ones was the goal of many more materialistic alchemists, which can be achieved with the 4pp/rank version of Transform. The 3pp/rank version can be used for narrower effects (flesh to stone, steel to glass, contaminated water to pure water), while the 5pp/rank version lets you do broader effects, transforming any (inanimate) thing into any other (inanimate) thing. The Duration (Continuous [Lasting]) extra will be needed for permanent changes, though some apprentice alchemists may lack that level of proficiency. The Flaw Range (Touch) is often used, to represent an alchemist who must directly interact with a target, but leaving it as a Ranged effect can be used for alchemists who can throw transmutative concoctions at something. OFFENSIVE ABILITIES Alchemist’s Fire: A thrown flask of incendiary substances. Blast (fire) [cost 2pp/rank] Other versions may use different elements/energies (acid, cold, electricity) -- being able to change those on the fly would call for the Variable Descriptor power feat. Making them explosive would call for the Area (General) extra; the Explosion extra requires more bookkeeping than it’s worth. Alchemical Adhesive: Often set up as a binary compound in two sealed containers. When the two crack open and are exposed to air, they form a rapidly expanding blob of glue (or quick-hardening foam) that holds the target in place. Snare [cost 2pp/rank] Alkahest: A universal solvent was sought by some, capable of dissolving a thing into its component elemental parts, or of washing away impurities. Drain Toughness (Extras: Affects Objects, Linked [Damage]) plus Damage (Extra: Linked [Drain Toughness]) [cost 3pp/rank] Defoliant: Alchemical herbicide, used to clear weeds or put down unruly plant monsters. Damage (chemical; Extra: Area [General, Cone]; Flaw: Limited [only vs. plants]) [cost 2pp/rank] Flash Powder: A coarse gray powder that ignites and burns almost instantly if exposed to flame, significant friction, or even a simple force, such as throwing it against a floor. Dazzle Visual (Extra: Area [General, Burst]) [cost 3pp/rank] Smokestick: An alchemically treated wooden stick that creates a thick cloud of smoke when lit. Obscure Visual [cost 2pp/rank] Sunrod: A gold-tipped iron rod that glows brightly when struck, shedding normal light in a 25-ft. radius. Environmental Control 3 (bright light, 25-ft. radius) [cost 6pp] Toxic Transmutations: Transmuting normal, breathable air around a target (or even the air already inside their lungs!) into a chemical weapon -- acidic vapors, knockout gas, poison, et cetera. Blast (fast-acting poison; Extra: Alternate Save [Fortitude]) [cost 3pp/rank] Blast (acidic vapors; Extra: Secondary Effect) [cost 3pp/rank] Drain Ability Scores (poisons; Power Feat: Selective) [cost 1pp + 3pp/rank] Fatigue (knockout gas; Extra: Range [Ranged]; Power Feat: Sedation) [cost 1pp +3pp/rank] Nauseate (tear gas; Extra: Range [Ranged]) [cost 3pp/rank] Adding Area (General, Burst) would let you change a large volume of air, getting may targets simultaneously. DEFENSIVE ABILITIES Alchemical Grease: A semisolid lubricant, making whatever it’s applied to extremely slippery. Good for avoiding certain traps, and improving the function of certain mechanical devices. Immunity 5 (Entrapment [being Bound, Entangled, Grappled, or Snared]) [cost 5pp] Alchemically Treated Armor/Clothing: Clothing can be made as resilient as heavy armor with no appreciable increase in weight or loss of flexibility, and actual armor can be made even tougher and sturdier. Protection (possibly with Impervious) in a Hard to Lose Device. [cost 4pp/rank] Similar treatments can be the descriptor for high Toughness on an Alchemist’s headquarters or vehicle. Cold Cream: A pleasantly cool cream that, when applied to the body, offers protection from hot weather. More potent versions can provide protection from fire/heat attacks. Immunity 1 (environmental heat) [cost 1pp] Immunity 5 (Fire Damage) [cost 5pp] Variants that protect against environmental cold/Cold Damage are certainly possible. Ironskin Elixir/Stonyskin Salve: A potion or ointment (or injection) that can make the user’s skin as hard and resilient as stone (or bark, or metal) without affecting its flexibility or the user’s tactile senses. This might be a permanent alteration, or a temporary effect (made Continuous via the Fades flaw, and Total Fades extra). Protection (possibly with Impervious) [cost 1pp/rank] MOVEMENT ABILITIES Transmutive Tunneling: Excavation’s a breeze when you can turn dirt and stone into air! Burrowing [1pp/rank] SENSORY ABILITIES Alchemist’s Nose/Tongue: Skilled alchemists, frequently exposed to innumerable catalysts and reagents, can often identify substances by smell or taste alone. Note that this doesn’t protect them from the effects of being exposed to such substances -- don’t snort Mercury, kids! Super-Senses 4 (Chemical Awareness [Descriptor Frequency: Common; Sense Type: Olfactory {Default: Radius, Ranged}; Enhancements: Acute, Analytical]) [cost 4pp] Vision Enhancements: Alchemical eyedrops can offer a variety of enhanced sensory abilities. Super-Senses (darkvision, low-light vision, extended for normal vision, various Detect/Awareness abilities tied to vision) [cost 1pp/rank] MISCELLANEOUS ABILITIES Air Crystals: Chewing gum incorporating crystals that release air when agitated. Immunity 2 (suffocation) [cost 2pp] Homunculus: Homunculi (“little persons”) are generally miniature, fully formed humans, but the term can be applied to alchemically generated life of any size or shape. Such procedures typically takes weeks or months -- and so better represented with the Minions or Sidekick feats -- but “instant homunculi” or “quick grow” variants are possible. Summon [cost 2pp/rank] Panacea: A goal for many, curing all diseases and prolonging life indefinitely, for themself or others. Healing (possibly with Regrowth, Restoration, Resurrection, and/or Total) [2+ pp/rank] Immunity (Aging, Disease, possibly others) [1pp/rank] Regeneration (possibly with Resurrection) [1pp/rank]

"Nothin' in common," he grumbled after the fourth, "men an' women, young an' old... I just cain't..." Face it, Burt, this place is different. You've been t' hellholes before, sure, but none like this. Strix may be right, this could'a been just fer... "fun." But Strix's definitely right on one thing: we're endin' this. No place should be like this, not fer th' livin', and not fer th' dead. "Okay, then," he turned to Strix, nodded, "let's look at it from that angle. Well, a non-ritual one, at least. Maybe these is turf markers, or like scarecrows. Or maybe it is just some firebugs. I ain't clear on th' timeline," he looked around, trying to remember where each body was, "but if the one we found in the dumpster was their first, maybe they tried t'hide what they did, but they's gettin' bolder with each one. We might should ask around 'bout the 'NOWHERE MEN' tag, see if anyone-" The scream cut him off. His head snapped around in that direction, and then he was off, as fast as his tireless legs could carry him.

Davyd's smile was bright enough to light up the chamber (though not literally -- no bioluminescence this time), and he bounced and clapped for a few seconds. By the time the others had left, he'd caught himself, and slowly began circling around the sploot'd Li, carefully examining his form. This is gonna be so cool! I- oh... OH! I can ask about... and Rakesh isn't around to... yes! "Uh, so, full disclosure, it may take me a few tries to get this right. I haven't had these abilities for long, and am still learning to use them." He carefully lifted Lu's left hind paw, "I've had some great teachers, though, very skilled, and patient. Are Li with, um, nonstandard abilities common on Xix Yr?" He set Lu's paw down, continued circling, "most planets I've head of don't seem to have many -- I guess Earth is an anomaly in that regard. Oh, have you encountered many shapeshifters? Earth's had some run-ins with Grue," he was at Lu's head now, peering into his ears, "and that was scary, but I'd like to think that not all shapeshifters are like that."

Groovy. Do the burned corpses have anything in common? Like, say, were they all men?

"Okay, okay," he sighed, "I know life here's rough, an' I'm sorry. I'm workin' t' fix that. An' I'm sorry it ended so bad for ya. I'll letcha go back, now, git some rest. I hope things're better for ya Over There." Dead Head took his hand from the man's cheek and held the corpse's hands in both of his. His rictus grin momentarily slackened, and he gently blew out the blue-green flames around the corpse, releasing the spirit. He released the corpse's hands, laying them gently in their lap, then rose and tuned to face Strix. "Sorry, man, this seems t'be a... well, I don't know what, honestly. Coulda been a sacrifice, to summon up that gopher-man. Coulda been some... unrelated attack. I do know one thing, though," he jerked his thumb back behind him, "them birds seems mighty interested in what we's doin'. I'm thinkin' whatever influenced them roaches is doin' th' same with 'em."

Dead Head does have both Magic & Mental Awareness -- any traces of those in the area?

"That's no-" he started, then suddenly clammed up. That's not 'victory,' that's 'justice'. But why? What would a Deep One's concept of justice be? And surely Dalekos wouldn't mistake that mark, so why the deception? "That's... noticeably more blood than I was expecting, sir. They way they get it to stick to the walls, underwater. Must have used some sort of binding agent..." Examining the damage to the rooms, and remembering the layouts of similar workshops he'd been in before, gave him an excuse not to look Dalekos in the eye. His gaze lingered on the smashed equipment -- shards from crystalline thought-recorders, shreds of die-stamped metal foil records, cracked watertight sample containers, smashed abacuses. Most had been swept aside and stuck into nets in the corners, though a few small pieces drifted here and there. "They struck everywhere? The attack reached even to the air-filled upper chambers? Well, of course it would have," he answered his own question, "any dangerous pathogens would be stored up there, away from the water, to limit spread in case of a containment leak." He paused, cleared his throat, "my apologies, Sir, you had asked me a question. Since you already have people going to the... apparatus, which I presume is in the main laboratory, I would suggest investigating the scholar's quarters. Some of them may have kept backup copies of their notes in their personal effects, and those may have been overlooked in the attack. Retrieving them would help in restoring what was damaged." He began to swim ahead, wondering what they would find next... and what Dalekos wasn't telling them.

Burt raised an eyebrow at Strix's sudden confession, but said nothing, concentrating on the person before them. "I'm so sorry, man, so very sorry. That's a horrible way t'go, I know." Strix could tell from his tone that he did know, from first-hand experience. "I'll letcha go in a bit, I jus' need one thing from ya. Just one, then I'll letcha get back t' Sleep. Can ya remember anythin' about the ones what did this to ya? Anythin' they said, or wore... maybe a glint from a piece'a jewelry caught yer eye..." He held the corpse's hand, and stroked its cheek softly. There's gotta be a reason they did this. Was this fella sacrificed, t' summon up that thing? It cain't have jus' been fer... well, no, this is Bedlam, maybe it could'a been...

Is the facility water-filled, or does it have air pockets? Knowledge (Arcane Lore) check to determine if those graffiti sigils have any specific meanings/purpose? (If I can Take 10, that gets me a 20.) Or are they obviously just "DAGON RULEZ, POSEIDON DROOLZ" and the like?

"I got nothin'. No signs'a any bodies. Well," he nudged one rat corpse with his shovel, "none human. An' no signs'a any explosives. In fact, given the complete lack'a anythin', an' how even it all is," he walked back to the center of the warehouse, held his arms out, palms outward, and slowly spun around, "I'd be willin' t'bet our firebug's a metahuman." Prob'ly a mutant, maybe supernatural. Doubt it's tech-based, not enough resources here t' support that. Alien? His body continued slowly rotating, but his head stopped once it was facing Strix's direction, "y'all know'a any metahuman firebugs 'round these parts? I know powered folks ain't common out here, so the list cain't be that long, right?"

'Rebirth'? 'Contagion' that has 'threatened Atlantis'? Yes, I'm almost certain my hunch was right: they are looking for a way to turn Lemurians back into Atlanteans. A noble goal, certainly. But how would that work? The physical changes are one thing, but the mental compulsions. And even if their minds are restored, would they not still have the memories of whatever atrocities they'd witnessed, that they'd committed? Heroditus nodded, but kept his thoughts guarded. "Yes, I can imagine those foul creatures would want to stop any such research. Perhaps even hope they can find something that would let them spread and accelerate the... contagion. To weaken us from within." - He was not used to talking socially with others, but tried to participate, for the good of the soldiers. His focus was on the technological side, of course: what weapons & defenses they'd used, what items the barbarians had (possibly salvaged from other Atlantean outposts), any interesting things among their enemies. His father shot him a few looks -- Atlantean society tended to be conservative (almost to the point of rigidity), and such naked curiosity was unusual; his was excessive even for a teenager. Was such curiosity what doomed the researchers they were now seeking? And so, when he'd asked if his son was ready, it was as much out of wanting to temper his questing spirit as it was from concern for his safety. "I am, father," he replied, his courage redoubled. "I want to help, and I want to make you proud."

1d20+3: 12 [1d20=9] NOOOPE

Using a combo of Comprehend (Spirits) -- or Comprehend (Objects/Corpses) if the spirit's not available -- and Animate Object/Corpses, to see if he can get any info.

"Okay, so, seein' a corpse was not unexpected. A burned corpse, though, that's a twist. An' the roaches..." He cocked his head, "eh, ain't th' first time I've faced a swarm'a roaches." He knelt beside the corpse, opposite the roaches, and tried to shoo them off with one hand. He turned slightly to address Strix, "mind if we try things my way? Don't think there's much blood left here fer ya to sample." He reached out and touched the corpse's forehead with his right index and middle finger, and closed his eyes. "If'n you can hear me, I'd like t'help. Folks call me Dead Head, ya may've heard'a me since ya crossed over. C'mon back an' lemme help find who did this to ya. An' if ya got any unfinished business, I can help with that, too." Though his eyes were closed, the blue-green flames seemed even more intense, and was now stretching out, snaking down and around his right arm, across his hand, and spread over the corpse, outlining it in the same eerie power.