Dr Archeville

The rules on Extended Searches (as found under the description of the Search skill in the Mutants & Masterminds 2nd Ed. core rulebook) have always been a weird case -- they go by the diameter of the area being searched, not the, y'know, area -- I thought it might be useful to add some notes/tips to our Guidebook. (Especially if we're going to be doing more stuff in SPAAACE, and scanning planets.) Probably put this on the Skills page. Maybe something like.... Search: Remember that, when doing an Extended Search, the time is based on the approximate diameter of the area being searched. Steps Diameter Examples Time 0 5 feet 1 round 1 10 feet 1 minute 2 100 feet 5 minutes 3 1,000 feet 20 minutes 4 1 mile ~500 acres or ~200 hectares 1 hour 5 5 miles 5 hours 6 20 miles Freedom City (approx. 15 x 25 miles) 1 day 7 200 miles 1 week 8 2,000 miles Ceres (0.6k miles diameter), Eris (1.4k mi.), Pluto (1.5k mi.) 1 month 9 20,000 miles Earth (8k miles diameter), Mars (4k mi.), Moon (2.1k mi.), Venus (8k mi.) 3 months 10 200,000 miles Jupiter (87k miles), Neptune (31k mi.), Saturn (72k mi.), Uranus (32k mi.) 1 year 11 2 million miles The Sun (865k miles) 5 years 12 20 million miles 10 years 13 200 million miles [2.1 au] 50 years 14 2 billion miles 100 years 15 “Same solar system” Sol System (out to Neptune, 6.64 billion miles / 30 au) 500 years 16 “Nearby star systems” Proxima Centauri (4.2 ly from Earth) 1,000 years 17 “Distant star systems” 5,000 years 18 “Same galaxy” The Milky Way (105k ly diameter) 10,000 years 19 “Nearby galaxies” The Andromeda Galaxy (2,500,000,000 ly from Earth, and 152k ly in diameter) 50,000 years 20 “Anywhere in the universe” The observable universe is ~93,000,000,000 ly in diameter. 100,000 years Thus, performing an extended search of all of Freedom City would take 1 day (which can be reduced by Quickness or Rapid ESP/Super-Senses), while doing an extended search of the Earth would take 3 months (or about 1 hour with Quickness 10 [x2,500], or 3 seconds with Quickness 20 [x5,000,000]). ------ M&M 3E changed the Extended Search guidelines so it does go by area. Would we want to consider doing that? If so, doing an extended search of Freedom City (with an area of about 375 square miles) would take 1 month, while doing an extended search of the Earth (total surface area of ~197,000,000 square miles) would take 50 years (or about 1 week with Quickness 10 [x2,500], 2 days with Quicknes 12 [x10,000] or with Rapid 4 on ESP, or ~5 minutes with Quickness 20). A longer time, but it would add some consistency to the rules. (Not as long as the ctual rules in M&M 3E. Per those rules, doing an extended search of the Earth would take 50,000 years!)

Artificer As they headed for the Infirmary, Artificer looked to Ghost, "those gogges, they're not just to protect your eyes, are they?" He tapped the purple- and green-lensed goggles resting atop his forehead, "I made these myself. Did you make yours?" Velocity's introduction in the medbay was met with great enthusiasm on Heroditus' part. "Off-Worlder technology?!," Artificer exclaimed. "I thought this facility used only advanced Surfacer technology? Are there any pieces which I might examine?" He began looking to the various technicians, "in what ways does this 'Lore Republic' technology differ from yours? What similarities are there? Has there been much difficulty integrating their equipment into your facilities?" "My, you are a curious one!," a middle aged man replied, with a hint of Georgian drawl. He flashed Velocity a smile and wink from his baby blue eyes, then turned back to Heroditus, "I'm just an old country doctor, so I don't know much about the finer details of how all their technology works, but I do know they use a lot of crystals." At this, Heroditus perked up even more, "ah, I have some familiarity with those!" The technician had picked up a small device, looking something like a Y-shaped metal wand with numerous controls along one side, and the inside of the two arms lined with blue crystal. "This little gadget can heal minor wounds in soft tissues, cuts and abrasions and so on. Useful for all manner of everyday injuries, but also good for sealing up surgical openings, without needing stitches or staples. And this one," he indicated another small device, "can be used on hard tissues, bones and so on. Now, over here..." The two continued on for some time.

I agree, I believe this is a fine time for a SCENE TRANSITION!

Doktor Archeville "A fine ship indeed, sir!," Archeville exclaimed at the end of his tour, "all elegantly tied together. I was especially impressed by your communications suite," he nodded. "And I was not expecting such luxurious living quarters! Though I'm sure the clients who hire you to take them on safari expect the best. That's why some aspects of the ship's functions are so intuitive, while others are more concealed, away from client's prying fingers, yes?" Archeville's senses, and his own knowledge of spaceship design, revealed more than Starshot was showing, and he sincerely was impressed by the vessel. It had even given him a few ideas for improvements to his own. "But this is no pleasure cruise, we are here to work, with much at stake!" He started off towards the cargo hold, calling behind him as he went, "we should get underway, before the suns rise and the surface becomes unbearably hot."

Artificer Heroditus was still going over the final bit of the conversation he'd had with the teleporter technician down in the Hall ("So, how do these 'Heisenberg Compensators work?" "They work quite well, sir."), unsure if there had been a translation error or something else. Surfacer technology and Atlantean technologies had developed along such radically different paths over the millennia that each was little understood by the other, a gap he had been trying to bridge for some years. But the technology used in the Lighthouse, the Freedom League's satellite headquarters, was so much more advanced, surely a study of it could advance his understanding of Surfacer technology by leaps and bounds. Velocity's and Ghost's words finally reached his brain, "hrm? Oh, ah, I would like to start at the Infirmary, actually. My mother is a biomedical engineer, and I am sure she would like to hear about advanced Surfacer healing arts. And then work out way up? Yes, I think that would be most efficient."

Doktor Archeville Archeville smiled at Alpha as he took the offered champagne. "Ah, I've had similar in some of my homes, and on my ship" he replied to his host, "though most of mine had chassis based on insects. Beetles, mostly." He looked the robot over, "I may be able to help with the cooking thing, if you're interested. All the necessary hardware seems to be present, it would be more a matter of software." To Alpha, he sent a silent cyberkinetic message of thanks for the drink, a more formal introduction, and a request for the bot's designation. "Before we see to the galley, though, I think I should have a look at what sort of laboratory and workshop facilities you can provide. I may need to make some adjustments to your ship's sensors, or fabricate something from scratch." At the mention of the infirmary, he glanced back at Alpha, then back to Starshot, "ah, do they help there, too? That could make the culinary programming go quicker, if they already have files on anatomy and organic chemistry."

Doktor Archeville He jumped back a bit again as another Interceptor appeared, "Grimalkin! That... that's exceedingly kind of you to offer." He bowed his head to her in thanks. And then there was Erik. "I..." he began, eyes flicking for a microsecond to the two fingers of Jack's hand which were implying less one of his namesake weapons and more the barrel of a gun. Ah. "I do not wish to reply too quickly, for fear of being thought flippant, or that I had rehearsed this. Though, to be honest," he tilted his head very slightly, but still kept his eyes locked on Jack's, "I have run scenarios like this thousands of times, trying to figure out how best I can make amends, to whatever extent I can make amends." "Before I left," he began "I received clean bills of health from Miss Americana, Phantom, and Scarab. No lingering corruption, no dormant entities stitched to my... soul. I am the first 100% human Archeville to walk the Earth in over 600 years. Well," he glanced down at his synthoflesh-covered hand, "was 100% human." (Archeville had made sure all the Interceptors had received word of his "reformatting" as soon as he had recovered from it, though whether or not Erik had ever actually read the memo was another matter.) "My PTSD has improved. The nightmares are not as bad, nor as frequent. I cannot say if I am good, but I can say I am trying to do good."

Doktor Archeville Archeville's eyes widened at Oskar's words, and he slapped his forehead with the data pad, "oh, of course! On Terra, the level of consciousness and awareness, of sapience, of cetaceans and other non-human animals is a matter of no small debate, so why would that not also be the case with the Sarcota? Even if some skewed instinct brought them here, instinct may not be all that guides them! If we can find a way to communicate with them, and simply ask them to move..." His mind raced through possibilities, articles he'd read on animal intelligence and nonhuman communication, until he forced himself to stop and return to the more immediate tasks at hand. "Yes," he nodded to the Lor representatives, handing the data pad back to K'tr'kt, then back to Oskar, "I think it would be best if you gave me that tour now, and I shall see what I can do with the contents of your cargo bay as you fly us to the mountain." He thought briefly of his own ship, the Synthia Bower, but quickly pushed the thoughts aside. Best to focus on what is here, now.

Horrorshow Davyd sheepishly untwisted himself as those around him talked, smoothing out his appearance into something less helical. Once he was sorted, he bowed again towards the monks. "Ah!," he exlaimed at Rex's words, looking back and forth at the Dangers, "well that explains it! He can't very well ask for directions if he can't communicate with them, can he? Just finding food and a bathroom were probbly major challenges! Now," he slowly paced around Veronica and Lulu, "if only we had some way to translate foreign tongues. Some sort of... psychic, or even... mystical ability. Why, I bet even a shapeshifting infiltrator would be useful to have about now! But where, oh, where might we find one?" He stood between the two, placing one arm on each shoulder, and flashed Rex a wink.

Doktor Archeville "Ah," he replied to Oskar, smiling, "so the Xeno here is just to get you to the hunting grounds, and to locate your prey, but for the hunt itself, you use more... personal weaponry, yes?" He nodded approvingly, "this is god, ja. Sporting." Archeville had never been on a hunt (not quite), but he could appreciate some of the cultural aspects of such activities. And while he would always champion the use of technology to make one's life easier and more efficient, in some cases, it was the struggle that made an activity matter. He was about to ask more questions about Oskar's ship, when R'arth and K'tr'kt made their introductions. "I'm sure we can accomplish this with less collateral damage than the Star Navy might bring," he replied, grinning as he took the offered data pad. "Of course, the problem is that there are so many unknowns about these creatures, whose very existence was a matter of conjecture until just half a century ago. I was just telling my companion here," he nodded to the fellow Terran, "that Ferrum probably isn't near any Sarcotan mating grounds, but almost nothing is known of Sarcotan reproduction. Or of their diet, or their senses. How often do the reproduce: once a year? A decade? A century? They appear to derive sustenance from stellar and other cosmic rays, but is that all they require, or do they also need some other substance in their diet, some supplement, which they have found here? There is some evidence that they can detect wormholes and other spacetime anomalies, navigating them like oceanic currents -- is there something in the array of solar collectors, some flux of lines of force, that they are mistaking for such an anomaly?" He shook his head while scrolling through the data, "there is so much we do not know about these fantastic creatures, and this could be a golden opportunity to learn, with an entire star system's worth of them right in your back yard!" Administrator R'arth was probably not too keen on the giddiness creeping into Archeville's voice.

CONJURED UP BY THEV Artificer, 2024 Update Now PL 10! Heroditus graduated from Claremont in the summer of 2022, a year and a half ago, but I still had him at PL 9, with over 20 unspent points. Let's fix that! Increasing his Intelligence and Skills, tweaking his Feats and Devices & Force Field & Magic, and adding a new Device! A "battery" which Enhances his own Magic, and can be used as a backup power source for his Devices. An important step in making mechanomystical items wich could be used by anyone, not just those with excess mystical energies to spare! He's also added some minor "spellcasting," separate from his Devices, via orichalcum tattoos which he can channel his mystic energies through for a variety of effects. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Power Level: 11 (built as PL 10 ) Power Points: (170/171PP) [as of 2024-01-09] Unspent Power Points: 1 Trade-Offs: -2 Attack/+2 Effect with Blast, +2 Attack/-2 Effect with Move Object; -2 Defense/+2 Toughness ABILITIES: [4 + 2 + 4 + 10 + 6 + 2 = 28PP] Strength: 14 (+2); effective Lifting STR 24 Dexterity: 12 (+1) Constitution: 14 (+2) Intelligence: 20 (+5) Wisdom: 16 (+3) Charisma: 12 (+1) COMBAT: [12 + 8 = 20PP] Initiative: +1 Attack: +6 Melee, +8 Ranged, +12 w/ Move Object Grapple: +8, +20 w/ Move Object Defense: +8 (+4 Base, +2 Dodge Focus, +2 Shield), +2 Flat-Footed Knockback: -6, -3 w/out Force Field DC BLOCK ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC 17 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Bolts of Magic Ranged (1,200 ft. max) DC 27 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Any Magic) Burst of Magic 15-50 ft. DC 20 Reflex Area (Burst) Effect DC 25 or 20 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Any Magic) Created Object (Dropped) Ranged (180 ft. max) DC 19 Reflex Avoided DC 24 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Created Object (Trap) Ranged (180 ft. max) DC 19 Reflex Trapped inside Object Holograms Perception DC 20 Will Disbelieve Mage Hand Ranged (800 ft. max) Grapple vs. +20 (Staged) Pinned/Bound DC 23 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) SAVING THROWS: [2 + 2 + 3 = 7PP] Toughness: +12 (+2 Con, +6 Force Field, +4 Protection), +6 w/out Force Field Fortitude: +6/+4 (+2 Con, +4/+2) Reflex: +5/+3 (+1 Dex, +4/+2) Will: +8/+6 (+3 Wis, +5/+3) SKILLS: [104R = 26PP] Computers 5 (+10) Concentration 7 (+10) Craft (Artistic) 10 (+15) Craft (Chemical) 5 (+10) Craft (Electronic) 5 (+10) Craft (Mechanical) 10 (+15) Craft (Structural) 10 (+15) Disable Device 10 (+15) Investigate 5 (+10) Knowledge (Arcane Lore) 10 (+15) Knowledge (Physical Science) 4 (+9) Knowledge (Technology) 10 (+15) Language 2 (Atlantean [native], English, Greek) Medicine 2 (+5) Notice 2 (+5) Search 7 (+12) FEATS: [9PP] Artificer Attack Focus (Ranged) 2 Dodge Focus 2 Eidetic Memory Environmental Adaptation (Aquatic) Inventor Luck 1 POWERS: [3 + 12 + 5 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 8 + 3 + 27 + 2 + 4 + 4 = 80PP] Atlantean Legs 1 (2 points; PF: Alternate Power) [3PP] BE: Swimming 2 (5 MPH) {2/2} AP: Leaping 1 (x2 [running long jump 24 ft., standing long jump 12 ft., high/vertical jump 6 ft.]) {1} and Speed 1 (10mph) {1} {1+1=2/2} Device 3 (“Warding Bracers,” 15 points; Flaw: Hard to Lose) [12PP] Enhanced Fortitude Save 2 [2] Enhanced Reflex Save 2 [2] Enhanced Will Save 2 [2] Immunity 5 (disease, heat [environmental], poison, radiation [environmental], suffocation) [5] This + own Immunity (Suffocation) = Immunity 2 (Suffocation 2) Protection 4 [4] Device 1 (“Arcane Goggles”; 5 points; Flaw: Hard to Lose; PF: Restricted [must be able to read & understand Atlantean]) [5PP] Super-Senses 5 (adds Analytical to all Visual senses, Sonar [Ultrasonic Hearing; Default: Acute, Radius, Ranged; Enhancement: Accurate]) {5/5} Device 1 (“Emerald Torc of Power,” 5 points; Flaw: Hard to Lose) [4PP] Magic 2.5 (+5 points to Heroditus’ Magic) [5] BE: Damage 2 (“burst of mechanomystical power”; Extra: Area [General, Burst, 10-ft. Radius]; PF: Variable Descriptor [cold, electricity, fire, force, heat, sonic]) {5/5} Device 1 (“Mechano-Mystical Components,” 5 points; Flaw: Hard to Lose) [4PP] Enhanced Feats 5 (Alternate Power x5 for Device’s Magic [5 points]) {5} AP: Blast 3 (“sonic blaster”; Drawback: Reduced Range [5 30-ft. increments]) {5/5} AP: Create Object 1 (”Transmute Air to [Stuff & Things]”; up to 1 5-ft. cube, Lifting STR 5, heavy load 50 lbs.; Extra: Duration [Continuous]; Flaws: Distracting, Range [Touch]; PFs: Innate, Subtle, Variable Descriptor 2 [any matter]) {5/5} AP: Environmental Control 1 (Light 2, 5-ft. Radius; PF: Precise) {3} and Illusion 1 (“holograms;” visual) {2} {3+2=5/5} AP: Move Object 1 (“mage hand”; Str 5, heavy load 50 lbs.; Extra: Damaging; PFs: Precise, Variable Descriptor [arcane force or shaped matter]) {5/5} AP: Transform 1 (“Alchemy/Transmutation,” Any Inanimate Object Into Any Other Inanimate Object; Extras: Duration [Continuous, Lasting]; Flaw: Range [Touch]) {5/5} Device 1 (“Winged Sandals,” 5 points; Flaw: Hard to Lose) [4PP] Movement Array 2 (4 points; PF: 1 Alternate Power) {5} BE: Flight 2 (25 mph) {4/4} AP: Enhanced Swimming 4 (increases Heroditus’ Swimming to Swimming 6 [100 mph]) {4/4} Force Field 6 (“arcane shields”; Extra: Linked [Shield]) {6pp} plus Linked Shield 2 (Extra: Linked [Force Field]) {2pp} {6+2=8pp} Immunity 3 (cold [environmental], pressure, suffocation 1 [drowning]) [3pp] Magic 13 (26 points; PF: Alternate Power) [27pp] BE: Damage 8 (“burst of magical power”; Extra: Area [General, Burst, 40-ft. radius]; PFs: Affects Insubstantial, Progression [Reverse Area] 7 [5-ft. radius], Variable Descriptor 2 [any elemental]) {26/26} AP: Create Object 1 (”prestidigitation”; up to 1 5-ft. Cube, Lifting STR 5; Extra: Duration [Continuous]; PFs: Innate, Subtle, Variable Descriptor [any material]) {6}, and Environmental Control 1 (”dancing lights”; light 1, 5-ft. radius) {1}, and Illusion 1 (“illusionary sights, smells, and sounds”; all senses, 5-ft. radius) {4}, and Move Object 1 (”mage hand”, STR 5, heavy load 50 lbs.; Extra: Range [Perception]; PFs: Precise) {4}, and Obscure Auditory & Visual 1 (“darkness & silence”; 5-ft. radius) {3}, and Transform 1 (“prestidigitation,” Any Inanimate Object Into Any Other Inanimate Object; Extra: Duration [Continuous, Lasting]) {6} {6+1+4+4+3+6 = 26/26pp} Quickness 4 (“multitasker,” x25; Flaw: Limited [Mental Tasks Only]) [2PP] Super Senses 4 (Low-Light Vision, Magic Awareness [Descriptor Frequency: Very Common, Sense Type: Visual {Default: Accurate, Acute, Ranged}]) [4PP] Super-Strength 2 (effective STR 24; lt. load 233 lbs., med. load 466 lbs., hvy. load 700 lbs.) [4PP] DRAWBACKS: [0pp] None TOTALS: Abilities (28) + Combat (20) + Saving Throws (7) + Skills (26) + Feats (9) + Powers (80) - Drawbacks (0) = 170/171 Power Points [1 unspent] With Devices and Magic – PL 10 Attack +6 melee, +8 ranged; Blast 12 (PL 10) Area Damage 10 (PL 10) Defense 8, Toughness +12 (PL 10) Without Devices (but with Magic) – PL 8 Attack +6 melee, +10 ranged; Unarmed Strike +2 (PL 4) Area Damage 8 (PL 8 ) Defense +8, Toughness +8 (PL 8 ) Without Magic (but with Devices) – PL 6 Attack +6 melee, +8 ranged; Unarmed Strike +2 (PL 4), Blast 3 (PL 6) Defense +6, Toughness +6 (PL 6 ) Without Magic or Devices – PL 4 (but PL 6 skills) Attack +6 melee, +10 ranged; Unarmed Strike +2 (PL 4 melee) Defense +6, Toughness +2 (PL 4)

If you're okay with me going ahead & using the proposed rebuild for Dok... He would've wanted to read up what he could on the Sarcota. If he's got the time/environment to Take 10 on a Knowledge (Life Science) check, that'd get a 34 (though that would of course be limited to what his sources know). With Skill Mastery, he'd get a 26 on Investigate, and with his Quickness (Mental), he can Take 20 on a Notice check -- for a total of 29 -- in 0.12 seconds (a Free action?). Does that pick up on anything of interest on K'tr'kt's data pad?

Doktor Archeville His handshake certainly felt like that of a lab-bound scientist, accustomed to delicate and precise work. "Oskar Otto," he repeated, eyes narrowing then widening slightly, "that sounds like a name from my region of Earth! Swedish? Norwegian? Danish?" He chuckled, "what are the odds?!" He looked to the edge of the platform, perhaps trying to get a look at the planet below. "Solitary animals will gather in groups during mating season, but from what I've read of the Sarcota, their mating grounds probably are not anywhere near here. My hypothesis is that there is something on this planet that is drawing them, something not present before now, or possibly something present but which they could not detect until now." He turned back to Oskar, "perhaps they've developed a taste for somethng in those mountains ranges? Some industrial by-product which had been dumped there?," he said, shrugging. His gaze passed from Oskar to the Xeno, and he let out a low, appreciative whistle. "Ah, a magnificent vessel! I presume it has a full suite of life form scanners, yes? What about atmospheric and geological?"

Artificer, 2024 Update Now PL 10! Heroditus graduated from Claremont in the summer of 2022, a year and a half ago, but I still had him at PL 9, with over 20 unspent points. Let's fix that! Increasing his Intelligence and Skills, tweaking his Feats and Devices & Force Field & Magic, and adding a new Device! A "battery" which Enhances his own Magic, and can be used as a backup power source for his Devices. An important step in making mechanomystical items wich could be used by anyone, not just those with excess mystical energies to spare! He's also added some minor "spellcasting," separate from his Devices, via orichalcum tattoos which he can channel his mystic energies through for a variety of effects. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Power Level: 11 (built as PL 10 ) Power Points: (170/171PP) [as of 2024-01-09] Unspent Power Points: 1 Trade-Offs: -2 Attack/+2 Effect with Blast, +2 Attack/-2 Effect with Move Object; -2 Defense/+2 Toughness ABILITIES: [4 + 2 + 4 + 10 + 6 + 2 = 28PP] Strength: 14 (+2); effective Lifting STR 24 Dexterity: 12 (+1) Constitution: 14 (+2) Intelligence: 20 (+5) Wisdom: 16 (+3) Charisma: 12 (+1) COMBAT: [12 + 8 = 20PP] Initiative: +1 Attack: +6 Melee, +8 Ranged, +12 w/ Move Object Grapple: +8, +20 w/ Move Object Defense: +8 (+4 Base, +2 Dodge Focus, +2 Shield), +2 Flat-Footed Knockback: -6, -3 w/out Force Field DC BLOCK ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC 17 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Bolts of Magic Ranged (1,200 ft. max) DC 27 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Any Magic) Burst of Magic 15-50 ft. DC 20 Reflex Area (Burst) Effect DC 25 or 20 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Any Magic) Created Object (Dropped) Ranged (180 ft. max) DC 19 Reflex Avoided DC 24 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Created Object (Trap) Ranged (180 ft. max) DC 19 Reflex Trapped inside Object Holograms Perception DC 20 Will Disbelieve Mage Hand Ranged (800 ft. max) Grapple vs. +20 (Staged) Pinned/Bound DC 23 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) SAVING THROWS: [2 + 2 + 3 = 7PP] Toughness: +12 (+2 Con, +6 Force Field, +4 Protection), +6 w/out Force Field Fortitude: +6/+4 (+2 Con, +4/+2) Reflex: +5/+3 (+1 Dex, +4/+2) Will: +8/+6 (+3 Wis, +5/+3) SKILLS: [104R = 26PP] Computers 5 (+10) Concentration 7 (+10) Craft (Artistic) 10 (+15) Craft (Chemical) 5 (+10) Craft (Electronic) 5 (+10) Craft (Mechanical) 10 (+15) Craft (Structural) 10 (+15) Disable Device 10 (+15) Investigate 5 (+10) Knowledge (Arcane Lore) 10 (+15) Knowledge (Physical Science) 4 (+9) Knowledge (Technology) 10 (+15) Language 2 (Atlantean [native], English, Greek) Medicine 2 (+5) Notice 2 (+5) Search 7 (+12) FEATS: [9PP] Artificer Attack Focus (Ranged) 2 Dodge Focus 2 Eidetic Memory Environmental Adaptation (Aquatic) Inventor Luck 1 POWERS: [3 + 12 + 5 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 8 + 3 + 27 + 2 + 4 + 4 = 80PP] Atlantean Legs 1 (2 points; PF: Alternate Power) [3PP] BE: Swimming 2 (5 MPH) {2/2} AP: Leaping 1 (x2 [running long jump 24 ft., standing long jump 12 ft., high/vertical jump 6 ft.]) {1} and Speed 1 (10mph) {1} {1+1=2/2} Device 3 (“Warding Bracers,” 15 points; Flaw: Hard to Lose) [12PP] Enhanced Fortitude Save 2 [2] Enhanced Reflex Save 2 [2] Enhanced Will Save 2 [2] Immunity 5 (disease, heat [environmental], poison, radiation [environmental], suffocation) [5] This + own Immunity (Suffocation) = Immunity 2 (Suffocation 2) Protection 4 [4] Device 1 (“Arcane Goggles”; 5 points; Flaw: Hard to Lose; PF: Restricted [must be able to read & understand Atlantean]) [5PP] Super-Senses 5 (adds Analytical to all Visual senses, Sonar [Ultrasonic Hearing; Default: Acute, Radius, Ranged; Enhancement: Accurate]) {5/5} Device 1 (“Emerald Torc of Power,” 5 points; Flaw: Hard to Lose) [4PP] Magic 2.5 (+5 points to Heroditus’ Magic) [5] BE: Damage 2 (“burst of mechanomystical power”; Extra: Area [General, Burst, 10-ft. Radius]; PF: Variable Descriptor [cold, electricity, fire, force, heat, sonic]) {5/5} Device 1 (“Mechano-Mystical Components,” 5 points; Flaw: Hard to Lose) [4PP] Enhanced Feats 5 (Alternate Power x5 for Device’s Magic [5 points]) {5} AP: Blast 3 (“sonic blaster”; Drawback: Reduced Range [5 30-ft. increments]) {5/5} AP: Create Object 1 (”Transmute Air to [Stuff & Things]”; up to 1 5-ft. cube, Lifting STR 5, heavy load 50 lbs.; Extra: Duration [Continuous]; Flaws: Distracting, Range [Touch]; PFs: Innate, Subtle, Variable Descriptor 2 [any matter]) {5/5} AP: Environmental Control 1 (Light 2, 5-ft. Radius; PF: Precise) {3} and Illusion 1 (“holograms;” visual) {2} {3+2=5/5} AP: Move Object 1 (“mage hand”; Str 5, heavy load 50 lbs.; Extra: Damaging; PFs: Precise, Variable Descriptor [arcane force or shaped matter]) {5/5} AP: Transform 1 (“Alchemy/Transmutation,” Any Inanimate Object Into Any Other Inanimate Object; Extras: Duration [Continuous, Lasting]; Flaw: Range [Touch]) {5/5} Device 1 (“Winged Sandals,” 5 points; Flaw: Hard to Lose) [4PP] Movement Array 2 (4 points; PF: 1 Alternate Power) {5} BE: Flight 2 (25 mph) {4/4} AP: Enhanced Swimming 4 (increases Heroditus’ Swimming to Swimming 6 [100 mph]) {4/4} Force Field 6 (“arcane shields”; Extra: Linked [Shield]) {6pp} plus Linked Shield 2 (Extra: Linked [Force Field]) {2pp} {6+2=8pp} Immunity 3 (cold [environmental], pressure, suffocation 1 [drowning]) [3pp] Magic 13 (26 points; PF: Alternate Power) [27pp] BE: Damage 8 (“burst of magical power”; Extra: Area [General, Burst, 40-ft. radius]; PFs: Affects Insubstantial, Progression [Reverse Area] 7 [5-ft. radius], Variable Descriptor 2 [any elemental]) {26/26} AP: Create Object 1 (”prestidigitation”; up to 1 5-ft. Cube, Lifting STR 5; Extra: Duration [Continuous]; PFs: Innate, Subtle, Variable Descriptor [any material]) {6}, and Environmental Control 1 (”dancing lights”; light 1, 5-ft. radius) {1}, and Illusion 1 (“illusionary sights, smells, and sounds”; all senses, 5-ft. radius) {4}, and Move Object 1 (”mage hand”, STR 5, heavy load 50 lbs.; Extra: Range [Perception]; PFs: Precise) {4}, and Obscure Auditory & Visual 1 (“darkness & silence”; 5-ft. radius) {3}, and Transform 1 (“prestidigitation,” Any Inanimate Object Into Any Other Inanimate Object; Extra: Duration [Continuous, Lasting]) {6} {6+1+4+4+3+6 = 26/26pp} Quickness 4 (“multitasker,” x25; Flaw: Limited [Mental Tasks Only]) [2PP] Super Senses 4 (Low-Light Vision, Magic Awareness [Descriptor Frequency: Very Common, Sense Type: Visual {Default: Accurate, Acute, Ranged}]) [4PP] Super-Strength 2 (effective STR 24; lt. load 233 lbs., med. load 466 lbs., hvy. load 700 lbs.) [4PP] DRAWBACKS: [0pp] None TOTALS: Abilities (28) + Combat (20) + Saving Throws (7) + Skills (26) + Feats (9) + Powers (80) - Drawbacks (0) = 170/171 Power Points [1 unspent] With Devices and Magic – PL 10 Attack +6 melee, +8 ranged; Blast 12 (PL 10) Area Damage 10 (PL 10) Defense 8, Toughness +12 (PL 10) Without Devices (but with Magic) – PL 8 Attack +6 melee, +10 ranged; Unarmed Strike +2 (PL 4) Area Damage 8 (PL 8 ) Defense +8, Toughness +8 (PL 8 ) Without Magic (but with Devices) – PL 6 Attack +6 melee, +8 ranged; Unarmed Strike +2 (PL 4), Blast 3 (PL 6) Defense +6, Toughness +6 (PL 6 ) Without Magic or Devices – PL 4 (but PL 6 skills) Attack +6 melee, +10 ranged; Unarmed Strike +2 (PL 4 melee) Defense +6, Toughness +2 (PL 4)

Doktor Archeville A Lor shuttle soon docked nearby, and out of it stepped a figure still mid-cnoversation with the pilot. His appearance -- long hair, unblemsihed skin, a long white labcoat over civilian clothes -- matched that of the Terran he was supposed to meet, and the way he was looking around certainly marked him as someone from such a backwater planet. Oh, yes, this is delightful! This is what I've been wanitng -- getting out and helping others, not just on Earth but throughout the galaxy! Soon he'd locked eyes on Starshot, and approached with an extended hand. "Ah, hello!," he greeted in GalStandard, though with an oddly failiar accent. "You must be the local wildlife expert I was told would be meeting me here. I am Herr Doktor Viktor Archeville, of Terra."

Doktor Archeville, v2024 (Skill revamp, changing "Enhanced Brain" Array to an "Enhanced Brain" Container) So it's been four years since I last got to play my namesake charater (in "All Aboard the Nightmare Ship!"), which was shortly after he'd left Earth to avoid awkward social interactions explore deep space. Now he's back on Earth, attempting to make amends & reconcile with the folks he had not gotten to do so with immediately post-ArchEvil, and maybe going on more adventures, both on Earth and in SPAAACE. Which means refamiliarizing myself with his character sheet, and seeing some places where adjustments & improvements could be made. My first area to tackle is his skills. I'd always envisioned him as being an Omnidisciplinary Scientist, one who's equally good at most fields of Science!, and very good at them, but other specialists can exceed him in their particular fields. (Like how, in the Marvel Comics Universe, Reed Richards is an expert in multiple scientific fields, but even he acknowledges that Otto Octavius has superior knowledgedge of radiation [and Bruce Banner is better still with Gamma Radiation] and that Hank Pym is a better biochemist.) Having his science & tech skills be at +25 would let him be a master of those areas, yet give the folks wth +30 (which his PL 12-15 peers can readily reach) a chance to show him up. The other area I'm tackling is his "Enhanced Brain" Array. I've always been drawn to gadgeteers and other hyper-intelligent characters, and wanted to explore just what superintelligence could mean, both quantitaviely and qualitavely, and what someone with metahuman level of multiple types of intelligence -- logical/mathematical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, visual/spatial, kinesthetic, etc. -- would be like. Turns out, such a person is capable of a lot! But the way I'd modeled it -- an Array with Enhanced Intelligence in one slot, Enhanced Charisma in another, Enhanced Wisdom in a third, and Enhanced Attack/Defense/Feats in a fourth -- was both not quite what I'd had in mind (as it lead to a quasi-DID scenario) and was really cheesy (and likely only allowed for so long because of my position here). So I'm replacing that with an "Enhanced Brain" Container, with constantly active low-level Enhanced CHA/INT/WIS rather than a one-at-a-time high-level Enhanced CHA/INT/WIS. In-Game Explanation: He's been getting therapy to heal/merge his fractured psyche, though The Horrors he allowed/witnessed have left scars which still remain, and his confidence is still shaken. Other changes: Remove some feats (Quick Draw, and 1 rank of Luck, brging him fully in line with what a PL 12 char should have). Equipment: Utility Belt -- remove Paralytic Darts, use that point to add Quick Draw to the Belt ("quick-release holsters"). Remove 1 AP from Graviitc Defense array (the Concealment one -- he's trying to be more open). Reduce Graviitc Movmeent array by 1 rank (reduce Teleport by 1 rank, remove Evasion & Subtle from Flight). --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Power Level: 15 (built/operating as PL 12) Power Points: 250 / 250 Unspent Power Points: 0 Trade-Offs: -4 Attack/+4 Damage; -2 Defense / +2 Toughness Doktor Archeville is, as written, operating as a PL 12 character. However, a combination of his Variable Power and Inventions could bump him up to PL 15 for combat & skills, though this will only be done if and when the GM explicitly allows it. In Brief: German Omnidisciplinary Scientist with a gravity-manipulating Belt and an "Electromagnetic Screwdriver,"* trying to use his Science! for good, partly to undo the evils his grandfather (and he 'himself') did. * the Belt and Screwdriver are faaakes, he's really a freakish cyborg with a holographic and/or synthoflesh disguise! Age: 46 (DoB: June 1977); appears early 30s Apparent Age: early 30s Gender: Cis Male Ethnicity: German Height: 5'10" (1.78 meters) Weight: 151 lbs. (68.49 kg) Hair: Golden Blonde Eyes: Rhine Blue ABILITIES: 0 + 2 + 8 + 14 + 6 + -2 = 28pp Strength: 10 (+0) Dexterity: 12 (+1) Constitution: 28/18 (+9/+4) Intelligence: 34/24 (+12/+7) Wisdom: 20/16 (+5/+3) Charisma: 12/8 (+2/-1) COMBAT: 16 + 12 = 28pp Initiative: +12/+7 Attack: +8 (Base) Grapple: +8, +12 w/ diamagnetokinesis, +18 with magnetokinesis Defense: +10/+8 (+6 Base, +2 Dodge Focus, +2 Shield), +3 Flat-Footed Knockback: -11/-7, -10/-6 flat-footed ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC 15 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) EM Blast Ranged (600 ft. Max) DC 22 Fortitude (Staged) Drain Toughness; Objects [Electronics] Only DC 27 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Energy) EM Burst Touch DC 22 Reflex Area (Burst) Effect DC 22/16 Fortitude (Staged) Drain Toughness; Objects [Electronics] Only DC 27/21 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Energy); Objects [Electronics] Only EM Strike Touch DC 26 Fortitude (Staged) Drain Toughness; Objects [Electronics] Only DC 27 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Energy) Move Object, Diamagnetic Perception Grapple vs. +12 (Staged) Pinned / Bound Move Object, Magnetic Perception Grapple vs. +18 (Staged) Pinned / Bound (Only vs. Metal) Utility Belt/Coat: SAVING THROWS: 0 + 7 + 5 = 12PP Toughness: +14 (Impervious 12/0) (+9 Con, +2 Defensive Roll, +3 Protection; Imp 8 w/ “deflector shield”), +12 flat-footed (Imp 8/0) Fortitude: +19/+4 (+9/+4 Con, +0) Reflex: +10/+8 (+1 Dex, +7 & +2 more from Flight) Will: +10/+8 (+5/+3 Wis, +5) SKILLS: 156R = 39PP Bluff 0r (+1/-1, +5/+3 w/ Attractive) Computers 12r (+24/+19) SM Concentration 4r (+9/+7) Craft (Chemical) 12r (+24/+19) UE Craft (Electronic) 12r (+24/+19) UE Craft (Mechanical) 12r (+24/+19) UE Craft (Structural) 4r (+16/+11) Craft (Other) 0r (+12/+7) Diplomacy 4r (+5/+3, +9/+7 w/ Attractive) Disable Device 12r (+24/+19) SM Disguise 0r (+1/-1, +21/+19 w/ Morph) Drive 4r (+5) Investigate 4r (+16/+11) SM Knowledge (Behavioral Sciences) 4r (+16/+11) Knowledge (Earth Sciences) 4r (+16/+11) Knowledge (Galactic Lore) 4r (+16/+11) Knowledge (Life Sciences) 12r (+24/+19) Knowledge (Physical Sciences) 12r (+24/+19) Knowledge (Technology) 12r (+24/+19) Knowledge (Any Other) 0r (+12/+7) Languages 4 (English, French, German [Native], Mandarin, Russian) Medicine 4r (+9/+7) SM Notice 4r (+9/+7) Perform (Oratory) 4r (+5/+3) Pilot 4r (+5) Search 4r (+16/+11) Sense Motive 4r (+9/+7) Most can also have an additional +2 bonus (from “masterwork tools”) FEATS: 20PP Attractive Beginner's Luck Dodge Focus 2 Eidetic Memory Improvised Tools Inventor Jack-of-All-Trades Luck 4 Master Plan Online Research Skill Mastery (Computers, Disable Device, Investigate, Medicine) Speed of Thought Ultimate Effort 3 (Craft [Chemical, Electronic, Mechanical] checks) Well-Informed Enhanced Feats Defensive Roll (from Flight) Instant Up (from Flight) Move-By Action (from Flight/Teleport) Veteran Awards Equipment 60 (300 EP) Utility Belt/Coat [37 EP] Vehicle/Mobile HQ: Weltraumwohnwagen ("Space Mobile Home") [253 EP] 37 + 253 = 290/300 EP spent, 10 free. POWERS: 5 + 15 + 12 + 12 + 20 + 2 + 20 + 37 = 123PP Archeville's Comprehend and Mental Quickness have the Training descriptor, everything else has the Technology (and specifically Nanotechnology) descriptor. His Gravitic Defense and Gravitic Movement systems also have the Gravity descriptor. Comprehend 3 (languages 3 [read all, speak any one at a time, understand all]; Drawbacks: Power Loss [requires time -- GM’s discretion -- to process and assimilate entirely new languages]) [5pp] Assimilated Languages: Arabic, Bengali, Danish, English, French, GalStandard, German [Native], Hebrew, Hindi, Indonesian, Malay, Mandarin, Persian, Portuguese, Romani, Russian, Spanish, Urdu, Yiddish Cyberkinetic Container 3 (15 points) [15pp] Comprehend 2 (electronics 2 [speak to, understand]) [4pp] Datalink 2 (100 feet, radio; PFs: Cyberspace, Machine Control, Subtle) [5pp] Super-Senses 6 (radio [Enhancements: accurate 2, analytical], danger sense [radio], uncanny dodge [radio]) [6pp] Gravitic Defensive Systems 5.5 (11 point Array; PFs: Alternate Power) [12pp] BP: Immunity 2 (critcal hits; note: Sustained Active effet; Extras: Linked [Impervious Toughness], Linked [Shield]; Flaw: Unreliable) {1pp} + Linked Impervious Toughness 8 (“deflector shield”; note: Sustained Active effect; Extras: Linked [Immunity], Liknked [Shield]) {8pp} + Linked Shield 2 (Extra: Linked [Immunity], Linked [Impervious Toughness]) {2pp} {1+8+2=11/11pp} [Toughness is +14 (Imp 8), Defense +10 (+3 flat-footed), Knockback -11. Defensive PL 12] AP: Immunity 9 (life support; note: Active Sustained effect; Extras: Duration [Continuous], Linked [Shield]; Flaw: Limited [Half Effect]) {9pp} + Linked Shield 2 (Extras: Linked [Immunity]) {2pp} {9+2=11/11pp} [Toughness is +14, Defense +10 (+3 flat-footed), Knockback -7; Defensive PL 12. This combined with the Immunities under “Technorganic Form” grant full life support.] Gravitic Movement Systems 5.5 (11 point Array; PF: Alternate Power) [12pp] BP: Enhanced Reflex Save 2 (to +10) {2} plus Features 3 (“personal gravity field”; Environmental Adaptation 3 [high-gravity, low-gravity, zero gravity]) {3} plus Flight 1 (“contragravity”; 10 mph / 100ft per Move Action; PFs: Defensive Roll, Instant Up, Move-By Action, Subtle) {6} {2+3+6=11/11pp} Toughness is +14 (+12 flat-footed), Reflex +10 AP: Teleport 4 (“wormhole”; 400 ft. per Move Action, 1 mile per Full Action; PFs: Change Direction, Change Velocity, Turnabout) {11/11pp} Nanotech Enhanced Brain Container 4 (20 points) [20pp] Enhanced Intelligence 10 (“enhanced intellect”; to 34 [+12]) {10pp} Enhanced Charisma 4 (“enhanced presence”; to 12 [+1]) {4pp} Enhanced Quickness 4 (“thinks very fast”; to Quickness 8 [x500]; Flaw: Limited [Mental Tasks]) {2pp} Enhanced Wisdom 4 (“enhanced awareness”; to 20 [+5]) {4pp} Quickness 4 (“thinks fast”; x25; Flaw: Limited [Mental Tasks]) [2pp] Technorganic Form 4 (20 point Container, Permanent Duration) [20pp] Enhanced Constitution 10 (to 28/+9) [10pp] Immunity 12 (aging, life support, sleep, starvation & thirst; Flaw: Limited [Half Effect]) [6pp] Protection 3 (technorganic flesh) [3pp] Regeneration 1 (disabled 1 [5 hours]) [1pp] Variable 4 (“Internalized Electromagnetic Screwdriver & Technorganic Form”; 20 points Variable Power, Any Power, Multiple Powers At Once [8pp/rank]; Extra: Action [Free]; PF: Subtle) [37pp] Sample Configurations Default Setting Enhanced Skills 20 (“masterwork tools”; +2 to Computers, Craft [Chemical], Craft [Electronic], Craft [Mechanical], Disable Device, Investigate, Knowledge [Technology], Medicine, Notice, and Search) {5} Feature 1 (“voice modulator”; Voice Mimicry) {1} Super-Senses 10 (“electromagnetic senses”; Analytical for all Vision [2], Extended for Vision, Penetrates Concealment for Vision [4], communication link [w/ Weltraumwohnwagen; radio], infravision, ultravision) {10} {5+1+10=16/20} DRAWBACKS: -0PP None TOTALS Abilities (28) + Combat (28) + Saving Throws (12) + Skills (39) + Feats (21) + Powers (123) - Drawbacks (0) = 250/250 Power Points (0pp under) Without his Enhanced INT or any of his tools, Dok is at +19 on Computers, Crafts (Chem/Elec/Mech), Disable Device, and Know (Life Sci/Physical Sci/Tech). This puts him ahead of Daedalus (FC's Hank Pym/Tony Stark expy) on Know/Life Sci (+14), a bit ahead on Computers (+18), slightly behind on those Crafts (+20), and more behind on DisDev (+22) and on Know/Phy Sci & Tech (+22). Mental Quickness is at 4 (x25) Take 10 on a Computers check (for 29 total), find a file on a massive network in 24 seconds, write a program in 2.4 minutes. Take 20 on Knowledge checks in 2.4 minutes (for 1 hour's worth of research). Take 20 on a Notice check (for a 27 total) in 2.4 seconds, or a Standard Action. Can Take 20 on a Search check [total 31] of a 5x5 foot area in 2.4 seconds, or a Standard action. With his Enhanced INT active & using masterwork tools, Dok is at +26 on Computers, Crafts (Chem/Elec/Mech), Disable Device, and Know (Life Sci/Physical Sci/Tech). This puts him slightly ahead of Daedalus on Disable Device and Know (Phys Sci & Tech), and at least 5 points ahead on everything else. Mental Quickness is at 8 (x500)  Take 10 on a Computers check (for 36 total), find a file on a massive network in 1.2 seconds, write a program in 7.2 seconds. Take 20 on Knowledge checks in 7.2 seconds (for 1 hour's worth of research). Take 20 on a Notice check (for a 31 total) in 0.12 seconds (Free Action?) Can Take 20 on a Search check [total 38] of a 5x5 foot area in 0.12 seconds (a Free action), a 10x10 foot area in 1.2 seconds (a Standard action), a 100x100 foot area in 12 seconds (2 rounds). Quickness/Mental Quickness applies to the Design phase of Inventing, but not Construction. Without Enhanced INT & Enhanced Quickness, can Design a 10pp Invention in 24 minutes, a 19pp Invention in 46 minutes, and a 29pp Invention in 23.2 hours. With Enhanced INT & Enhanced Quickness & masterwork tools, can Design a 12pp Invention in 0.72 minutes, a 26pp Invention in 3.12 minutes, and a 36pp Invention in 1.44 hours. Without any of his technological powers, his stats are: Constitution 18/+4 Intelligence 24/+7 Wisdom 16/+3 Charisma 8/-1 Attack +8 Damage +0 (unarmed), +3 (weapons) Defense +8 (+3 flat-footed) Toughness +4, Fortitude +4, Reflex +8, Will +8 [PL 6 Defensively; PL 4 Offensively, 6 with weapons; PL 7 on Skills]

Doktor Archeville Archeville was about to respond to Fleur's question, when he saw Velocity return to the conference room with Jack of All Blades. He jumped at the sight of the hero, and actually pushed his chair back a few inches, but quickly calmed when he realized he was not in immediate danger of having his internal organs skewered in alphabetical order. "That is, ah," he cleared his throat as he turned his full attention to Fleur, "well, that is a fine idea, yes, as I have no more an idea of how long this... 'visit' will be lasting than you do. I suspet you may need to call in some of the League's more mystically-inclined associates to see if they can divine what my science cannot." The rancor that Viktor would have expressed when discussing supernatural matters was absent from his tone, though the unknowns of it all still clearly discomforted him. "And as it appears that my Weltraumwohnmobil was not sent back with me, I would also be in need of...," he looked down at his hands splayed on the table, inwardly cringing at what he was about to say, "... lodgings."

Horrorshow Dang! "Okay, okay," Davyd slipped between the Danger siblings, "we're all happy to be reunited, and relieved that everyone is safe, which is the important thing. Rex," he turned to face the younger sibling, "I'm sure you didn't mean to make anyone worry, and when you explain yourself," he turned more towards Veronica and Lulu, "which we will give you time to do," he turned to Rex, "we'll see that you were learning important skills here, and perhaps even teaching these fine folks," he turned to the monk and his companions, then back to Rex, "a thing or two. And surely, after seeing how worried we all were, he will do better about communications in the future. Now, ladies," he turned to face the elder sibling & Lulu, "I'm sure that, once Rex explains himself, you'll recall similar times where we all got caught up in the moment, but, thanks to the lessons we'd learned from our mentors and allies, we were able to get through with minimal fuss, and were stronger for it in the end. And that any punishments you might impose on him," he turned back to Rex and nodded solemnly, "will be tempered by these memories." He paused to look down at himself, and realized that he had not been turning back and forth as he spoke, but rather had been turning continuously clockwise, so now his torso looked like a Twizzler.

Doktor Archeville Most of those who had been watching Archeville knew that he was not entirely human. (Really, he had never been entirely human, save for a period of about twelve months after ArchEvil & his "de-squid-ification" and his near-death & "reformatting" into a technorganic state). As soon as he'd stabilized from that change, he had told Miss Americana, and left messages with the Freedom League and the Interceptors -- stubbornly keeping things compartmetalized and secret had gotten him into this mess, and he was not going to make that particular mistake again. Still, there may have been a few that found his too-flawless skin and low level electromagnetic emissions a bit surprising. "Ah, I'd wondered how long it would take Jack to get here," he replied, nodding. What was that tone to his voice? Hope? Resignation? Dread? All of the above. "It moved me in a spatial sense, yes," he replied to Geckoman, "but as for inspiring me, well, no, not so much. I had always planned to return after abount five years -- and in my spacecraft," a hint of irritation crept into his voice. He took a breath, re-centering himself, "I knew that some of you would not even allow me the chance to speak, with memories of those horrific events still so fresh and raw. My hope was that, with time, things would have cooled enough that I could at least start the attempt at making amends." "And yes, I know I may never be able to redeem myself in everyone's eyes," he nodded. "But I have to try to atone for my actions, to show that I am not who I was at my weakest, on my worst day."

Horrorshow As Davyd resumed his Normal HumanTM form, his morphic molecule clothing shifted from brown cargo pants and hiking gear to something akin to the homespun, pre-Industrial clothing worn by the fieldhands they passed. He smiled and waved at them, trying to appear friendly, or at least non-threatening. Kinda reminds me of some of the stories babusya told about the old country. He nodded to the monk Rex had been sparring with, followed by a quick bow. He then offered a hand to Rex, "good to meet you," he replied, "you're looking well! Glad to see you're safe."

Doktor Archeville "So, as most of you know," he began, "I have spent the last four years exploring deep space, similar to what Daedalus did in the 1970s. My latest visit was to a planet on the fringes of what had been the Lor Republic, still home to a small colony of Lor. When they had settled on it some decades ago, they thought there was no intelligent life, but they were mistaken. There is a species there, looking something like a cross between an elephant and a spider, that the Lor settlers believed were simple animals." He shook his head, "they are not. They're intelligent, comparable to Homo neanderthalensis, with intricate customs and ritual beliefs. The Lor eventually realized how wrong they had been, and a few years ago had begun trying to communicate and forge alliances with them. They call them the Praneobscids, though their word for themselves is," here he cupped his hands over his mouth and made a sharp trumpeting sound that faded to a squeaking hiss. "One of the Praneobscid beliefs concerned their dark, winter months, when game was scarce and crops would not grow. There, huddled together in their cavern homes, with stores of food collected the season before, they waited, and hoped. Hoped none of the larger predators still stalking the wind-swept plains would find them, or that things from deeper in the caves would burrow up to find them. Hoped they had enough food to see them through to spring. Hoped none of their own would fall ill, and spread sickness to the herd. To fan this hope, they told stories, stories of love, and generosity, and community. They shared what they had, to make sure all had enough to see them through the dark times. And sometimes, if it looked like they did not have enough -- enough food, or medicine, or weapons -- they might awake one morning to find a neat bundle laid by their fire, wrapped in silks, with just enough to get them through." "Most thought that such gifts were from nearby friendly herds, looking out for their neighbors. But others -- the younger ones, mostly -- believed in something more supernatural. A magical being, who rewarded those who had shown charity and kindness, but whom fortune had dealt a bad hand. This figure came to be known as," again he cupped his hands over his mouth and made a soft hissing-trumpeting sound, "and... well... I met her." "Some rather unpleasant fellows -- I believe they were from the Blackguard -- had come to the planet and were throwing their weight around, intentionally terrorizing Lor and incidentally slaughtering Praneobscids. I had joined in the fight, but was soon overwhelmed. Things were dire, but then... she appeared. She tossed us bundles, medical supplies and ammunition for our weapons, enough to turn the tide! But as our foe retreated, they fired one parting shot, hitting her and her sled. They fell," he smacked one fist into his palm, "and we rushed to her, fearing the worst." "When we found her, unconscious, she and her craft were... blinking, as if fading from this dimension. I'm not sure if it was due to the weapon they had used, or some part of her nature, or both, but I could tell that if we did not help her, and soon, she would be no more. I rushed to provide what aid I could, stabilizing the quantum variances enough that her wounds could be treated, and..." He let out a breath, "and she made it. We got her stabilized, and once she regained consciousness, she healed herself to good as new. She thanked us, thanked me, and asked what she could gift us in return. And I... I..." "... I said I wished I could see my friends and family, those I had not seen before leaving, and let them know how sorry I am. To make amends with those I had avoided, those who most deserve it... or, at least, be allowed a chance to attempt to do so."

Doktor Archeville "If Peshkov is Frost," he replied to Copycat, admitting that he no longer knew the Comrade's 'civilian' name, "then, yes, that is who I'm asking for. But if he's no longer here, then- ah!" He flashed another relived smile at the saffron speedster, "Velocity! Another familiar face! You're still with the Freedom League, yes? Oh, and is that," he craned his neck again to see the latest addition to the retinue, "Gaian Knight? Yes, it is! Good, good, excellent response time!" "So I suppose I can go ahead and start explai-," he began as they entered the conference room, then froze at the sight that greeted them. "Hello, V.I.N.C.E.," he replied to his creation after a moment, his voice briefly taking on a slightly echoed, mechanical edge. "You're looking... good. You look good." He cleared his throat again, "so," he announced, "before I begin explaining how I got here -- or, perhaps more accurately, attempting to explain, as I am still not entirely sure how it happened -- are there any further precautions you would like to take? A Faraday cage to block my cyberkinetic signals? An EMP on standby to short out my technological components? A telepath and technopath to verify the truth of my statements?" He looked from one hero to another, hopeful that they were at least willing to listen to him.

Horrorshow "Yeah, pretty much!," Davyd had replied to Claire, matching her enthusiastic tone. He shifted back to the red Play-Doh-y humanoid form that was close to his true self, and flashed an absurdly wide smile at her. "What would you like to see? A unicorn? A dinosaur? A dinosauricorn?!" He had just started another cavalcade of chimeras when Neko gave the signal that Things Had Gone Wrong. "Oop! Looks like Oba Neko and Lulusya want to show you all something! Shoo, children, shoo!" As he gently steered the kids towards them, slender yet powerful tentacles slithered out from his back and set to securing the doors, windows, and assorted HVAC vents. Secure entrances and exits, be prepared to form living wall around children, focus on defense and distraction.

Doktor Archeville Viktor's eyes narrowed as Stesha approached, then widened as a smile broke across his face, "Fleur de Joie! Oh, finally, a familiar face!" He did not pull back from her touch, though kept his hands up and palms splayed. "Yes, I, ah," he laughed weakly as he let her guide him & the quickly growing crowd to someplace a bit more remote, "I had not expected to be here, either, but, well," he shrugged, "Christmas is a time of miracles, ja?" "Geckoman!," he exclaimed, taking a quick hop back. "It's go-," he cleared his throat, "it's good to see you. You're looking well! Oh, hello," he nodded to Liz, gave her a quick wave, then looked back to Chris, "are the," he craned his neck a bit to get a better look at the crowd, only now realizing just how big it was, "are the others here? They are... well... I guess it could be said that they are why I'm here."

Doktor Archeville Viktor raised his hands, slowly, palms facing forward, fingers splayed out. "You are both unfamiliar to me," he replied calmly to two two who had confronted him, "which is not that surprising, given how long I have been away. But you clearly know me, or at least know of me. And if you are here, in Freedom Hall, on such a festive occasion," he glanced around at the decorations, "I must presume that you are guests and thus trusted by the city's heroes." Not immediately opening fire on me is also a positive sign. "Is there someone in charge I might speak with? Is, ah," he thought back to the last time he'd visited the Hall, "is Comrade Frost around?"