Dr Archeville

Since you can Take 20 on the skill check for the Design phase of these, Quickness/Mental Quickness can apply (though Taking 20 increases the time required by x20). You can also halve the time by taking -5 on the check, or quarter it by taking -10 on the check. You cannot Take 20 on the skills check for the Construction phase (though you can Take 10), so Quickness does not apply there. But you can halve or quarter the time required by taking a -5 or -10 penalty on the check, as in the Design phase. You cannot Take 20 or Take 10 when Jury Rigging, nor reduce the time by taking a penalty to the skill check. If I'm understanding the Challenge system & feats (from Masterminds Manual) correctly, then Challenge (Fast Task [Craft {something}]) means you can halve the time it takes to craft something using that skill without having to take the -5 skill penalty. That would also mean you could quarter the time it takes to craft something using that skill by only taking -5 to the skill, rather than taking -10... yes? And if you took the Challenge (Fast Task) feat twice for the same Craft skill, you can quarter the time without suffering any penalty? And that could apply to the use of Craft skills during the Construction phase of Inventing & Artificing? (Ritualist doesn't require any Craft skills, just Knowledge (Arcane Lore) for both "Design" and "Construction," though Masterminds Manual has some alternative ideas.)

Davyd was not bored with the trip, but he also wasn't really paying attention to the guide. Like most citizen of Freedom, he knew of the Next Gen, and was enjoying the new information and insights this trip was offering. But he was also a teenager, and his attention could be a bit difficult to focus on any one particular thing for very long, a character flaw exacerbated by his recently-acquired metamorphic powers which let him be almost anything he could imagine. So his focus had shifted away from Jhett's words as he was carefully studying the holographic images of the (in)famous teen heroes. And so, as when she first met him, Lulu [and Corinne?] saw Davyd's form smoothly shift as he took on the appearance of first Megastar, then Bolt, Sonic, Nereid, and finally Seven. I think I'm finally getting the hang of this!

Davyd jumped a bit at Lulu's telepathic message. -Oh, wow! This is... wow!- He smiled at her and gave a giddy laugh, -I can't believe all the stuff I'm seeing today! I mean, yeah, I grew up in Freedom, I'm used to seeing people with powers, but to actually interact with them, know I'll be attending classes with them, learning with them... wow!- He looked around for Monica, the one superhero he knew in the group He hadn't expected to be this overwhelmed, and he was looking for her, a known element, as an anchor or touchstone. Which is probably a bit unfair to her, but it's just until I get my bearings. He grew a bit agitated when he lost sight of her, but waved excitedly when he saw her entering with a half-eaten sandwich. "Oh, is that Hitchcock?," Davyd asked when he saw Nicole's monitor. "He was an artful director, but a lousy- wait, what?" He was a bit blindsided by her, or rather by her incomplete comments about him. "My genetic structure? What do you know of that?" He lowered his voice a bit, partly because he was in a library and partly because he wanted to try to keep some cats in the bag. "How did you hear about what happened to me at FCU? My name was kept out of the papers... do you know someone at the Albright Institute, or Freedom Medical?"

To be clear, this is only for living immortal beings, not undead/unliivng ones? No vampires or revenants allowed? What about non-living immortals, like some robots?

@Tarrakhash, do you have a preference?

Doktor Archeville Power Level: 15 (built/operating as PL 12) Power Points: 250 / 250 Unspent Power Points: 0 Trade-Offs: -4 Attack/+4 Damage, or +2 Att/-2 Dmg w/ "Combat Mind"; -2 Defense / +2 Toughness Doktor Archeville is, as written, operating as a PL 12 character. However, a combination of his Nanotech-Enhanced Brain APs, Shapeshift, and Inventions could bump him up to PL 15 for Combat, though this will only be done if and when the GM explicitly allows it. ABILITIES: 0 + 0 + -2 + 14 + 6 + -2 = 16PP Strength: 10 (+0) Dexterity: 10 (+0) Constitution: 24/8 (+7/-1) Intelligence: 34/24 (+12/+7) Wisdom: 32/16 (+11/+3) Charisma: 24/8 (+7/-1) COMBAT: 16 + 12 = 28PP Initiative: +12/+7 Attack: +8 (Base), +14 w/ “Enhanced Coordination & Kinesthetics” Grapple: +8, +14 w/ “Enhanced Coordination & Kinesthetics” Defense: +10/+8 (+6 Base, +2 Dodge Focus, +2 Shield), +3 Flat-Footed Knockback: -13/-7, -12/-6 flat-footed ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC 15 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) SAVING THROWS: 0 + 5 + 3 = 8PP Toughness: +14 (Impervious 12/0) (+7 Con, +2 Defensive Roll, +5 Protection; Imp 12 w/ “deflector shield”), +12 flat-footed (Imp 12/0) Fortitude: +7 (+7 Con, +0), Immune (Half Effect) Reflex: +10/+5 (+0 Dex, +5 & +5 more from Flight), Evasion (when flying) Will: +14/+6 (+11/+3 Wis, +3) SKILLS: 136R = 34PP Bluff 0 (-1, +3 w/ Attractive; +7/+11 w/ Enhanced Cha) Computers 11 (+18, +20 w/ Masterwork tools; +23/+25 w/ Enhanced Int) SM Craft (Chemical) 11 (+18, +20 w/ MW tools; +23/+25 w/ Enhanced Int) SM UE Craft (Electronic) 11 (+18, +20 w/ MW tools; +23/+25 w/ Enhanced Int) SM UE Craft (Mechanical) 11 (+18, +20 w/ MW tools; +23/+25 w/ Enhanced Int) SM UE Craft (Structural) 6 (+13, +15 w/ MW tools; +18/+20 w/ Enhanced Int) Craft (Other) 0 (+7, +9 w/ MW tools; +12/+14 w/ Enhanced Int) Diplomacy 0 (-1, +3 w/ Attractive; +7/+11 w/ Enhanced Cha) Disable Device 11 (+18, +20 w/ MW tools; +23/+25 w/ Enhanced Int) SM Disguise 0 (-1, +19 w/ Morph; +7/+27 w/ Enhanced Cha) Investigate 6 (+13, +15 w/ MW tools; +18/+20 w/ Enhanced Int) SM Knowledge (Behavioral Sciences) 6 (+13, +15 w/ MW tools; +18/+20 w/ Enhanced Int) Knowledge (Earth Sciences) 6 (+13, +15 w/ MW tools; +18/+20 w/ Enhanced Int) Knowledge (Life Sciences) 11 (+17, +20 w/ MW tools; +23/+25 w/ Enhanced Int) Knowledge (Physical Sciences) 11 (+18, +20 w/ MW tools; +23/+25 w/ Enhanced Int) Knowledge (Technology) 11 (+18, +20 w/ MW tools; +23/+25 w/ Enhanced Int) SM Knowledge (Any Other) 0 (+7, +9 w/ MW tools; +12/+14 w/ Enhanced Int) Languages 6 (Arabic, English, French, German [Native], Mandarin, Russian, Spanish) Medicine 6 (+9, +11 w/ MW tools; +17/+19 w/ Enhanced Wis) SM Perform (Oratory) 8 (+7; +15 w/ Enhanced Cha) Sense Motive 4 (+7; +15 w/ Enhanced Wis) Stealth 0 (+0; +16 w/ “Electromagnetic Cloak”) FEATS: 24PP Attractive Beginner's Luck Benefit 2 (Wealth [Rich]) Dodge Focus 2 Eidetic Memory Improvised Tools Inventor Jack-of-All-Trades Luck 4 Master Plan Online Research Quick Draw Skill Mastery 2 (Computers, Craft [Chemical, Electronic, Mechanical], Disable Device, Investigate, Knowledge [Technology], Medicine) Speed of Thought Ultimate Effort 3 (Craft [Chemical, Electronic, Mechanical] checks) Well-Informed Enhanced Feats Accurate Attack (from “Enhanced Coordination & Kinesthetics”) All-Out Attack (from “Enhanced Coordination & Kinesthetics”) Challenge 3 (Fast Work for Craft [Chemical, Electronic, Mechanical]) (from "Enhanced Intellect") Defensive Attack (from “Enhanced Coordination & Kinesthetics”) Defensive Roll (from Flight) Evasion (from Flight) Hide in Plain Sight (from “Electromagnetic Cloak”) Instant Up (from Flight) Move-By Action (from Flight/Teleport) Power Attack (from “Enhanced Coordination & Kinesthetics”) Veteran Awards Equipment 41 (205 EP) Utility Belt/Coat Vehicle/Mobile HQ: Weltraumwohnmobil POWERS: 5 + 8 + 15 + 17 + 19 + 2 + 37 + 37 = 140PP His Comprehend & Mental Quickness have the Training descriptor, everything else has the Super-Science and Technology (and specifically Nanotechnology) descriptor. His Gravitic Defense and Gravitic Movement systems obviously also have the Gravity descriptor. Comprehend 3 (languages 3 [read all, speak any one at a time, understand all]; Drawback: Power Loss [requires time -- GM’s discretion -- to process and assimilate entirely new languages]) [5PP] Cyberkinetic Container 1.6 (8 points) [8PP] Comprehend 2 (electronic 2 [speak to, understand]) [4PP] Datalink 2 (100 feet, radio; PF: Machine Control) [3PP] Super-Senses 1 (radio) [1PP] Gravitic Defensive Systems 7 (14 points; PF: Alternate Power) [15PP] BP: Impervious Toughness 12 (“deflector shield”; note: Sustained Active effect) {12pp} + Shield 2 {2pp} {12+2=14/14PP} [Toughness is +14 (Imp 12), Defense +10 (+3 flat-footed), Knockback -11. Defensive PL 12] AP: Concealment 6 (“electromagnetic cloak”; All Radio & Visual; Flaw: Blending; PFs: Close Range, Hide in Plain Sight, Selective) {9pp} + Enhanced Skills 16 (Stealth 16 [+16]) {4pp} {9+4=13/14PP} [Toughness is +14, Defense +8 (+3 flat-footed), Knockback -7. Defensive PL 11] Gravitic Movement Array 7.5 (15 points; PFs: Alternate Power, Move-By Action/Turnabout) [17PP] BP: Enhanced Reflex Save 5 (to +10) {5} plus Flight 3 (“contragravity”; 50 mph / 500ft per Move Action; PFs: Defensive Roll, Evasion, Instant Up, Subtle) {10} {5+10=15/15PP} (Toughness +14 (+12 flat-footed), Reflex +10) AP: Teleport 6 (“wormhole”; 600 ft. per Move Action, 20 miles per Full Action; PFs: Change Direction, Change Velocity, Easy) {15/15PP} Nanotech Enhanced Brain Array 8 (16PP Array; PFs: Alternate Power 4; Drawback: Action [Move] to change configuration) [19PP] BP: Enhanced Feats 3 (Challenge 3 [Fast Work for Craft {Chemical, Electronic, Mechanical}]) {3} plus Enhanced Intelligence 10 (“enhanced intellect”; to 34 [+12]) {10PP} plus Enhanced Quickness 6 (“thinks very fast”; to Quickness 10 [x2,500]; Flaw: Limited [Mental Tasks]) {3PP} {3+10+3=16/16PP} AP: Enhanced Attack 6 (“enhanced coordination & kinesthetics”; to +14) {12} and Enhanced Feats 4 (Accurate Attack, All-Out Attack, Defensive Attack, Power Attack) {4} {12+4=16/16} AP: Enhanced Charisma 16 (“enhanced presence”; to 24 [+7]) {14PP} {16/16PP} AP: Enhanced Datalink 0 (“ghost in the machine”; adds to Datalink 2; Extra: Area 2; Flaw: Distracting 2; PFs: Rapid 3 [x1,000], Selective, Subtle) {5pp} + Linked ESP 2 (all senses, 100 feet; Extras: Action [Free], Duration [Sustained]; Flaw: Medium [technological sensors]) {10pp} {5+10=15/16pp} [Linked powers all share Power Feats, so the ESP shares the Rapid and Subtle from the Datalink. The Rapid from this combines with Dok's Mental Quickness 4 to get Quickness 14 (x25,000); can do an extended search of a 100 ft. radius [200 ft. diameter] area in 0.48 seconds (or Take 20 and do it in 0.96 seconds).] AP: Enhanced Wisdom 16 (“enhanced awareness”; to 34 [+12]) {16/16PP} Quickness 4 (“thinks fast”; x25; Flaw: Limited [Mental Tasks]) [2PP] Shapeshift 4 (“Internalized Electromagnetic Screwdriver & Technorganic Form”; 20PP Variable Power, Any Power, Multiple Powers At Once [8pp/rank]; Extra: Action [Move]; PF: Subtle) [37PP] Sample Settings: Default Setting Enhanced Skills 16 (“masterwork tools”; +2 to Computers, Craft [Chemical, Electrical, and Mechanic], Disable Device, Investigate, Knowledge [Technology], and Medicine) {4} Feature 1 (“voice modulator”; Voice Mimicry) {1} Super-Senses 13 (“electromagnetic senses”; Accurate for Radio [2], Analytical for Radio, Analytical for all Vision [2], Extended on Vision, Penetrates Concealment on Vision [4], communication link [w/ Weltraumwohnmobil; radio], infravision, ultravision) {13} {4+1+13=18/20} Technorganic Form 7.4 (37 point Container, Permanent Duration) [37PP] Enhanced Constitution 16 (to 24/+7) [16PP] Immunity 30 (Fortitude effects; Flaw: Limited [1/2 effect]) [15PP] Protection 5 (technorganic flesh) [5PP] Regeneration 1 (disabled 1 [5 hours]) [1PP] DRAWBACKS: -0PP TOTALS Abilities (16) + Combat (28) + Saving Throws (8) + Skills (34) + Feats (24) + Powers (140) - Drawbacks (0) = 250/250 Power Points ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- With his mind set to Enhanced CHA or WIS (the default when he's out & about), and without using his home labs/tools or "Screwdriver," he's at +18 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), equal on Computers (+18), slightly behind on Crafts (+20), and noticeably behind on DisDev, Know/Phy Sci, and Know/Tech (+22). His home lab/tools bump his Computers, Crafts, and DisDev up to +20, which is better, but still lagging behind in some areas. Mental Quickness is at 4 (x25) With his Enhanced INT active & using his home labs/tools, Dok is at +25 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 10 (x2,500) Quickness/Mental Quickness applies to the Design phase of Inventing, but not the Construction phase. But the Challenge (Fast Task) feats for his Craft skills would (should?) help with the Construction phase.

So, Dok has Teleport 6 (600 ft. per Move Action, 20 miles per Full Action; PFs: Change Direction, Change Velocity, Easy) , so he could theoretically get to the Lost World portal all on his own. And one of his established "shapeshift" settings is Enhanced Teleport 0 (mass transit more; Extra: Accurate and Portal on the Teleport 6 he already has; PF: Progression 2 [25-ft. diameter portal]) , so he could open a wormhole big enough for everyone to walk through to the Lost World portal. But I don't know if you'd be okay with that. Did you have plans for jungle encounters? Chatting while hacking through the trees? Brief encounters with mutated carnivorous plants? I.e., is the trip through the jungle a part of this story, or merely an obstacle that we can easily circumvent to get to the real challenges?

Horrorshow in the 1980s, before the time of Chernobyl Disaster? Thinking he can get a phone call out to his young parents-to-be, to someone in charge, and avert it, but continually being prevented from doing so, until he's snapped back to the present? That sounds like some tasty drama!

"Ohhhhh," he replied to Corrine, "so you can do to others what I do to myself? Wow!" He flashed her a matching smile, "did you get your powers in a lab accident, too?" He gave Leroy a quizzical look, "your powers are not your own? What do you mean? Oh, and please, call me Davyd. Or Dayv." His further comments draw more odd looks, "Earth-2? Oh, you are from another Earth, from another dimension! Wow! Oh, but, uh, to answer your question," his tone shifted from excited to withdrawn, "people here tend not to like -- or trust," he gave Ashley a sideways glance, "shapeshifters, what with all the problems we've had with Grue invaders. And people tend to get... uneasy if they see someone who looks exactly like them." His eyes went wide and his jaw slack -- slightly moreso than a human's should -- when they entered the David Sloan Library. He tried to steer the group towards the audio-visual section, while still listening to everyone. "Forbidden room, eh? Have any of you tried entering?" Once at the A-V center, he was disappointed (though not surprised) to see most of the DVDs were of documentaries, but he did find a few narrative features that were "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" enough to have been included on both the American Film Institute's "100 Best" and on the National Film Registry. "I look forward to meeting your dragon! I wonder if I can mimic him..."

"I am... improving," he managed to say after a few moments of deep breaths and centering exercises. "This is not at all what I'd expected when I came here today. But, as I said earlier, I understand why you all did it. Well, why Comrade Frost did it." He took a mug of coffee-cocoa, held it in his hands a moment, felt the warmth radiate through his hybrid flesh. "I shall have much to discuss with my therapists when I see them later this week." He sighed, took a sip of the drink, stared off into the distance a bit as he collected his thoughts. At last her turned to face Vale, "I am interested in reading about what you've learned from her, about the Deep Ones and Aquaria herself. I need to know just how anomalous she is, and how standard the Other's ones were. Not now, though. If you could email it to me?" Another slow sip, "and about that armor, in case those Spectrum Knights are a potential threat to Earth. Though I suspect I should need to talk with someone else about that." He engaged in some idle chit-chat with Professor Vale as his mind settled. Once he felt steady enough, he thanked her for the beverage and retreat, made his goodbyes, and walked out of Freedom Hall, enjoying the simple stroll for a bit. I collapsed, but I did not break. A minor setback, one I can recover from, learn from. I remain myself. I am... Viktor.

"20 miles as a straight shot," Archeville reminded, "which we cannot make, due to the aforementioned impassably thick -- and possibly mutated -- jungle flora. Going around will take less time than going through," he gestured to one of the monitors, showing an overhead map of the area, and a winding path appeared in red, which added about 5 more miles. He then looked back to the crew, "unless one of you has some as-yet-unrevealed botanokinetic powers? No? Hrm. Well, worth a shot." He took a tranq gun and WEST Scanner from Cortez, flashing her another (weak) smile. They're not bad tech, by any means, and if nothing else I can use them as spare parts to kit-bash something else. At Henry's comment, he checked the plane's sensors again, as well as his own internal systems. "I'm not sure my belt's wormhole systems will function over long distances here, due to the presence of the portal and its exotic particles. I might be able to manage some short-range portals for us, but again, I'll need to get closer to the disturbance to get better readings, so I can properly calibrate my systems. Ah, my belt's systems." I know Doctor North knows the 'Gravimetric Belt' I'm wearing is a fake, but I don't know if the rest do. And I'd prefer to keep it that way, for now.

There is one change 3E made to Inventor/Artificer: it specifically mentions that you do not calculate in the discount from the Removable flaw -- in 2E, it being an Easy- or Hard-to-Lose Device -- when figuring out the power point cost (and thus the DCs for design & construction checks), because it "does not apply to inventions, as they are temporary by nature." Ex.: Doktor Archeville (early in his career, before becoming a cyborg) has been stripped of his gear. Fortunately, he's in a Circuit City, and so has access to lot of electronics. He kit-bashes a laser rifle (Blast 7, AP: Dazzle Visual 7, in an Easy to Lose Device 3). The pp cost -- and thus the DCs for the skills checks -- is 15 (the cost for Blast 7 with one AP), not 9 (the cost for an Easy to Lose Device 3). Whether or not that's adopted here, I do think a similar thing should be used with the Unreliable (5 uses) -- and our House Rule'd Unreliable 2 (1 use) -- flaws, due to the "temporary by nature" aspect. Though Unreliable (50/50 chance of working) might be allowed?

Archeville rose from his crouched position and smiled weakly at Aquaria. Glad to see things had ended on a non-bloody note. And then those inhuman notes issued forth from her throat, and his face froze, then his smile twisted into a grimace. His breaths came quick & shallow, his blood pressure climbed as his heart raced, his vision dimmed, his limbs felt like rubber. Just when he thought he'd gotten a handle on things, on being in the presence of a Deep One, the sight and the smell, her singing -- which reminded him so much of the ululations of the Deep Ones who had rallied under him, chanted war songs in his name, sang praises to the new age R'K'Vll would bring -- brought on another panic attack. Fortunately, Vale had placed a hand on his shoulder just as the worst hit, and the song was brief, so he didn't collapse completely. He stood hunched over, hands on his knees, taking slow, deep breaths. "I... I would be... interested... in seeing those... workups," he struggled, trying to remain calm and clinical.

Davyd took half a step back as Corrine advanced, but her soothing tone convinced him it was okay. His body tingled as her energies washed over him, restoring -- forcing -- him to his original form. He was as shocked as everyone else appeared to be at his powers, "Wow! So I guess I know what your thing is -- you help others, yes? Some sort of empath, a healer?" He looked to the rest, "What about the rest of you? I sort-of know what Lady Liberty can do." He looked sheepishly at Ashley, "ah, sorry. I will remember to give you all warning next time." He turned to Judy and nodded enthusiastically, "I think so, yes! I can do more -- do you want to see?," he asked, eying a basket of fruit on a counter several dozen feet away. He turned back to Ashley -- or, rather, his head did a 180 to face Ashley while his body remained still. "See, I asked this ti- uh oh..." He turned his head back around, and turned his eyes down, "sorry."

"Oh yeah, I heard 'bout them dolphins," he replied to Aquaria, nodding solemnly. "Helped a few divers an' marine biologists along the East coast, they told me stories." An' some of those stories involved critters what looked like you, Miss Froggy. A Mutt approached Aquaria, looked back to Dead Head one more time, then back to her, and allowed her to pet him. Dead Head shrugged, but kept an eye on her for a bit. It took a moment for Revenant's words to register, and to see the bullethole-shaped scar she was showing. "Pardon? Ooh, wow, that's a keeper! Least you can hide it, if'n yer so inclined." He nodded, "an' that's a damn fine mindset! Yes, focus on the present, an' the future!" He walked up to Aquaria, keeping one eye on her, and patted his dog -- which appeared to be mix of Mastiff, Newfoundland, and Saint Bernard -- on the rump, "A Mutt's here one'a Legba's Hounds. Ain't sure what breed he is, 'xactly, or if'n that even applies to 'im. 'E ain't a ghost, if'n yer wonderin', since 'e was never alive, never flesh an' blood like we was -- 'e's always been a spirit."

Archeville took a step back, eyes wide in near-panic. Steady, steady, stay calm, she's not going to attack you... probably. Not the reaction I was expecting. Looks like I touched a nerve, there -- I'll keep that in mind. He re-composed himself, and crouched a bit, holding up his hands defensively, in supplication. "I am sorry, Aquaria, truly. Clearly my question has upset you, and that was not my intent. I should not have asked such personal questions so soon after meeting you, and that question, I see now that I should not have asked at all. I had only asked because," he shook his head, "no, no, it does not matter why. All that matters is that I offended you, and again, I apologize. If there is anything I can do to make up for this, please, let me know, and I shall try my best to make amends." What a strange, strange day this has been.

Archeville nodded along, not expecting to learn that much about Deep One young, but fascinated nonetheless. Makes sense for a predatory species. But sharks eat their young -- do they do the same? What are the survival rates? And their rate or, and susceptibility to, mutations? Could Aquaria herself be a mutant, with a brain and neurochemistry just slightly different enough to get her to think differently from her fellows? Ah, no, that can be dangerous, thinking revolutionaries are mutants who were born different. And yet, if the Deep Ones do have a quasi-hive mind, then a mutation to one's brain might be necessary for her to hav- And then her question threw him. "Well, I... that is, I have not attempted to since my change into this form. Before my change, I had, many times. Well, performed the act, that is, with women and men and other, but never produced any offspring." He sensed a moment to examine another aspect of Deep One society. "Have you and Singularity, or you and Jessie...?," he asked, while raising one hand and crossing his index & middle fingers over each other.

"Fascinating," he replied, both in response to the armor's origin and Aquaria's society. I was not expecting to learn so much about spacefaring organizations today, especially not from what - er, who I'm talking with! "Have any of these Spectrum Knights made it to Earth? And your friend, Bliss, does she come here, or is she only ever in space?" He wanted to talk more, learn more, about these topics, in part because of his future plans, and in part to get away from discussing Deep One society. And yet, he knew he must face those issues. After all, isn't learning the best way to dispel fear? "So... Dagon and Hydra teach that the weak must make themselves strong. That only the strong are fit to survive? That the strong do not help the weak? How are your children raised? Do they just fend for themselves, or does someone watch over them?"

Davyd's blinked at Leroy's words. "Your dragon? Your dragon? Your dragon? Your dragon?!" He had expected to see some wonders today, but first Lady Liberty and now this?! "Where is he? Can I see him? Is he invisible? Or really tiny, hiding in your pocket?" Another question snatched his attention. "My thing? Oh, you mean my powers!" His features and form wavered a bit, and suddenly he was Lulu's twin sister. "I'm a shapeshifter!," Lulu's double said, in her voice. "There's still a lot I'm learning about it," Lulu said as she transitioned into a copy of Leroy, "but I think my work in theatrical makeup and costuming has helped me some." Leroy shifted and became Judy, "the doctor who helped me when my powers first manifested said I could theoretically turn into anyone, or anything," Corrine said, "which is really cool, because I loooove science fiction and horror movies, so I could imagine turning into something from those," Monica said, "could be a big help in scaring criminals!" Monica shifted again, but not back to any one form -- now it had Leroy's legs, Monica's torso, Judy's arms, Corrine's face, and Lulu's hair. "Uh... sometimes I get a bit mixed up, though..."

Archeville gave a satisfied "hrm" as he looked over the sensors -- given all the bureaucratic difficulties he knew WEST faced, he'd not expected them to have tech quite this good! They must be getting more help than most realize... but from whom? After a few moments of checking and re-checking the readings, he turned to the team. "So the good news is, the portal's a bit closer than Dr. North indicated: 31.3 kilometres, as the raven flies. The bad news is, the terrain's rougher than Dr. North indicated: there are monstrously, impassably thick patches of jungle scattered about, possibly the result of Darwin X mutating some of the local flora. Maybe the result of an accidental leak, an incidental side effect, or maybe something intentionally put up by whoever's behind this, as added security. And, of course," he turned slightly and tapped on one of the monitors, "the portal is in the middle of one of the larger patches. Speaking of, the odd news: these scans shows some anomalies with the portal -- exotic particles coming off, and behaving in ways odd even for exotic particles -- but I cannot make out what these anomalies indicate. It could be that the portal's unstable, and is going to wink out... or jump to some other part of the jungle... or that the other end is going to move, sending whoever goes through to an entirely different part of the Lost World." He frowned and shook his head, "once we get closer, I should be able to get clearer readings and could tell more."

1d20+18: 29 [1d20=11] Not much better than if I'd Taken 10!

Archeville smiled at Agent Cortez. It was not the rakish smile he had flashed at so many women (and quite a few men) over the years, but a calm and reassuring one. "I am sure this will go fine. And if anything does happen to this craft," he jerked his head towards Delta, "I am sure that, between him and I, we can get us out." Which reminds me, I need to try something before we land. He buckled his own seatbelt and leaned back, calmly taking in the scene about him. He noted the gear everyone was using, and used his technopathic abilities to reach out to every bit of electronic gear so he could get a 'feel' for them, to familiarize himself with all the equipment, and note the radio frequencies the comms used so he could link up to them if need be. When his eyes fell on Delta, he sent a radio message to the Omegadrone's systems, having it flash up as text on his HUD. "Hello, Archeville here. Just wanted to see if we could communicate this way, in case something happens to our WEST-issued gear."

"Oh, I had not even considered that!" he exclaimed at Corrine's words. "Oof, yes, I imagine our life would be difficult to plan around. But that does not mean we should not try, right?" "There is a chapel on campus?," he aid, spinning to face Judy as they entered the cafeteria. "Is it open to all faiths? My family has their fingers in several religion's pies, so I couldn't go with just one faith's place of worship. Not that there's anything wrong with a place being dedicated to one particular faith!," he quickly added, not wanting to alienate anyone. And then his attention was on the food, a greater variety than he'd ever encountered before. His eyes grew wide -- literally, a bit -- at the sight and smell of it all, but the greeting from the pale redhead cut through. "Oh, hello!," he extended a hand, "I am Davyd! I'm delighted to meet you!"

An interesting tale. But if the Atlanteans were rich and well-fed, what were they jealous of? No, best not to question that now. Perhaps I can chat with Siren about it later. "Superheroes do not necessarily have great power," he replied, slipping into a professorial tone, "as there have been many who were little different from their fellows, at least in terms of abilities. But one thing all have in common is a desire to combat evil, oppose criminals. To protect those who cannot protest themselves." He paused in thought a moment, remembering what Vale had said about Deep Ones being semi-hive minded. "You've seen humans, surface worlds, who act out against other humans, yes? Criminals, who steal or attack other humans, yes? Are there criminals amongst the Deep Ones? Do any Deep Ones steal or attack other Deep Ones, purely for personal gain, acting against the agreed-upon norms of your society?" He did a double take at her armor, "I have seen star Knight armor before, but that looks like nothing I've ever seen before. Which enemy was it? The modifications they made seem quite extensive."

Archeville nodded solemnly, "I do remember that. That's one of the reasons I decided to come to you first, thinking -- hoping -- that you might have an open mind on such things." He sighed again, and took another long sip from his drink. "How are you going about that? Setting up charities to help victims of supervillains? Or victims of more standard, non-super criminals? I know the victims of crimes get little long-term attention -- especially if they've been attacked by someone without flashy powers or gear -- and I can see you working with such groups. If that is something you'd like to do, and need some help setting up the paperwork on that, I know some folks who might can help," he said as he finished the last dregs from his cup. And then his mouth twisted into a smirk. "Preyed on wealthy men, eh? So that's why you joined my team..." He laughed a bit, and it felt good.