Dr Archeville

The mantis-man had been looking down on Archeville, turning its head 90 degrees left and right to study him. At Eramas’ jab, it spoke, “ “” The mantis-man shudder-nodded, “” “” he replied slowly, shaking off the strong desire to simply slump down and fall unconscious, “” “” the mantis-man repeated. “” “” Eramas exclaimed, drawing another grunt form a half-giant guard. He slapped both Archeville and T’Kkyl hard on the backs, “” “” Reasonably certain Eramas was not going to shank him, or T’Kkyl chomp on him, Archeville curled up in the dirt and was soon unconscious.

No sooner had Archeville found an empty spot to rest (not a sheltered spot, as those had already been claimed, just an empty patch of ground out of kicking distance from anyone else), the strange man who had been trying to lag down Archeville since he arrived approached, accompanied by a mantis-man. Archeville saw, based on the patterning and arrangement of spines on its shell, it was the same one from the slop line. The man was smiling, and greeted Archeville with a friendly hug; the mantis-man looked about nervously, though perhaps the twitchiness was typical for it. “” the man roared. A grunt from one of the half-giant guards, and a weary glance from Archeville, made him lower his tone. “” He reached into the folds of his loincloth and brought out a small flask. “” Archeville did detect a sweet, alcoholic smell, but knew it would do little for his dehydration. He also knew next to nothing of this strange man. “” he whispered, “” “” the man cheerfully replied. “” he slapped Archeville on his (very sunburned) back. AHHHHHHH!!! Would he still think that if he knew what had transpired these past few months? “” he said through clenched teeth, “” “” he waved a hand aside, “” he jabbed the mantis-man in the thorax with one elbow.

Canadian? Ha! Wherever I go, there's always someone from further up north comin' down! "Some of 'em is," Dead Head chuckled. "Some go all out with the fancy clothes an' whatnot," he nodded towards Nick and 'Nox. "An' some jes' wear..." he shrugged and smiled, and tugged a the noose-tie around his neck, "well, whatever!" Gal don't seem to like fire none. Must be tied to how she died. No scars on her, though... carbon monoxide poisoning? He spread his arms and spun around, "pretty quiet tonight. 'Specially compared to this time last year!" He stopped and turned back to Ghost Girl, "Whoo, you shoulda been here for that! Heck, maybe ya were -- ghosts an' ghoulies got called down from ev'ry which way!"

Downton Freedom City, USA. Today Panicked women ran through the streets, tossing their packages aside in their mad dash to safety, while police officers fired at the looming threat. It was a giant mechanical man, fifty feet tall, made of riveted steel and hissing steam as it moved. Emblazoned on its chest was a great eagle, clutching that darkest of symbols: the swastika. "It's not use, Chief!,” one of the cops cried out, "our guns have no effect!" The metal titan’s hands flipped and retracted into its arms, revealing strange weapons! The right arm was like a howitzer, blasting a hole into a nearby bank, but the left had revealed an odd two-pronged cannon, which spat out a sphere of destructive energy at a nearby car, disintegrating it! "Then call them in!," the heavily jowled Chief yelled back “Call in... the Freedom League of America!" "Ja, call sem in, sweinhund!" a voice boomed. The top of the giant’s head sank down into its chest, then the top of the head opened to reveal a clear dome-covered pilot’s area, operated by Doktor Archeville! "Call to sem, so sey vill face de full power of mein Panzermensch!" He cackled madly, as three snake like forms slithered out and up from the giant’s back: more energy weapons, raining a deadly barrage upon the city! A bronze figure streaked through the air on jets of flame: Daedalus, the Greek Gearhead! "Hold, Archeville! What madness has seized you? You once fought by our side! You had rejected your grandfather’s ways! What happened?" I've got to keep him talking -- there's now way I can beat him without Captain Thunder or Lady Liberty's help! Archeville cackled madly, and swung all his terrible weaponry on the armored hero. "Foolish Daedalus! It vas a ruse all along -- I vas never von of you! I played de 'good German' until I was able to take vhat I needed for dis, de Reich's greatest veapon!" Germany, Years Prior Dark storm clouds rolled overhead, threatening to burst at any moment, but he did not seek shelter. The young boy, barely into his teens, stood atop a hill overlooking a quaint German village. He wore the traditional garb of his homeland: spiked shoes for climbing the frigid alpines, knee-high socks that almost met the bottom edge of his lederhosen, a white shirt with forest green vest, and a gray alpine hat with a red feather in it. In his tiny hands he clutched a crumpled mass of white linens: a lab coat. Behind him, a gravemarker stood, marked with the Archeville family name, and an eagle carrying a terrible symbol. "Ja, grandfazher. I shall become... a Doktor!" At that dire pronouncement, a bolt of lightning split the skies open. "You see,” Archeville sneered, "it vas I who took de Qvantum Gemerald!" Daedalus flew back a bit, “the Quantum Gemerald? But... but that was a gift from the Colombians, for when we had stopped the terrible violence there! We thought Larceny, Inc. had taken it, but... you fiend!” Daedalus charged towards the metal giant, but was met with a fusillade of fire from a wheel-like gun atop the giant’s howitzer-arm! “Ungh!” Daedalus fell to the ground, denting the pavement, and was in prime position to be stepped on! "Muah hah hah hah hah! Now, your bronze braggart, meet your fate! De fate of all who oppose de Reich!” He continued to cackle, slowly bringing the mighty spike-soled metal foot down... but suddenly stopped! "Vas?!" Captain Thunder and Lady Liberty were on the scene! Captain Thunder grabbed the metal giant's howitzer-arm and pulled it back, bending it like it was tin foil, while Lady Liberty grabbed the end of the three snake-like blasters and tied them up, neat as apron strings! All that was left was the robot's let energy cannon, which was obliterated by a well-placed blast from Daedalus' gauntlets! "Good work, team!," Thunder’s voice boomed as he flew down to Daedalas and offered him a hand up. "I-" "Fools!" Archeville screamed, flecking the inside of his control dome with spittle. The robot flailed about without arms, but soon steadied, and a new weapon emerged, a great cannon set in the robot's chest -- aimed straight at City Hall! "Dose veapons I used before vere but toys compared to dis, de Ragnarok Cannon! Vatch, now, as I unleash de full power of de Qvantum Gemerald und Reich Science, to destroy your center of government! Muah hah hah hah hah hah!" Sickly green energy quickly built up, threatening to level City Hall! "Not today, poin-deutsch-ter!," Thunder's voice boomed. "That's right!," Daedalus added. "With America's help, the Greeks kicked your kind out of our country, and now I'm going to help return the favor! Lead on, Thunder!" Captain Thunder, Daedalus, and Lady Liberty all leaped up, meeting Archeville's cannon with their fists. The combined might broke through and smashed not just the cannon, but through the robot’s chest and out the back! What remained of the robot toppled back and fell, sprawling out over the street. "Nein! Nein, nein, nein, nein, nein!" The heroic trio swung around and popped the dome off the pilot's area, and Thunder let Daedalus hoist Archeville out. "Curses!," Archeville spat as he shook his fists at the heroes. "Aww," Lady Liberty pouted, "there's no need to be such a sour Kraut!" The trio laughed, and Archeville folded his arms, harumph-ing as the newspaper photographer took his pic.

A minor addendum to the "Musical Episode" one above: you could also do one set now (well, around Christmas/Boxing Day/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Winter Solstice), and the Maestro has found one of the magic-capturing crystals, which he's using to recreate his "make people sing the truth" spell he & Medea worked some time ago.

Archived at player request.

"You have also used your cape as a weapon, yes?" Protectron asked, still studying the material. "Charged it with your quantum energies, surrounding you with a field of damaging transdimensional energy that can harm corporeal and incorporeal targets alike, yes? What are the energy storage and conductivity properties of this material? Are those properties superior to the Morphic Molecules created by Professor Atom?" The strange robot released Supercape's cape, and looked him in the eye. "I had an idea for fabricating a cape for myself. So I could better fit the 'Heroic Ideal' image. One that can act as a power source supplement, or that could distort my outline enough to decrease an attacker's probability of landing a hit on me. Would you be interested in aiding me in this endeavor?"

"Well, my Momma always said I never had a good head on my shoulders, so!," he drawled, then laughed. He reached out to shake her hand, proving to be just as solid to her as Mutt was. "Yeah, I'm Dead Head, and Mutt, well, I'm as much his as he is mine, I s'pose. It's so nice to meet new folks!" She's 'ere with Nick, I wonder if she's someone 'e found wand'rin' about. Certainly a good night fer it. Mutt trotted back to Dead Head's side, and sat at attention, looking up at Ghost Girl. His tail thump-thump-thumped the cemetery ground, all thought of chasing Hayley temporarily gone from his mind. Dead head released her hand, "so, where ya from?"

Quick & Dirty Stats Eramas, Human Gladiator (PL 3/4) Kanla, Human Gladiator (PL 5) T'Kkyl, Thri-Kreen Gladiator (PL 4) Vaerhirmana, Half-Elf Fighter/Mage (PL 4) Dok's initiative (1d20+7=22) Eramas's initiative (1d20+1=16) Kanla's initiative (1d20+4=12) T'Kkyl's initiative (1d20+4=22) Vaerhirmana's initiative (1d20+3=6) Initiative 22(a) -- Dok -- Unharmed, -2 Con, Fatigued (cannot move all out or charge, -2 Str and Dex, -1 Attack and Defense) -- 6 HP 22( -- T'Kkyl -- Unharmed 16 -- Eramas -- Unharmed 12 -- Kanla -- Unharmed 6 -- Vaerhirmana -- Unharmed No Mooks here, they're all named! Surprise Round After many feints and parries, Kanla knocks Vaerhirmana down, loops her bola around her neck, and begins to choke her. Round 1 Dok Sees something he can stop, and does so! Or tries to, at least. Move Action: Switch to Melee Mode (melee attack +13, Grapple +12 due to Fatigue) Standard Action: Atempts to break Kanla's grapple Dok's melee vs. Kanla (Defense 12) (1d20+13=25) Dok's grapple check (1d20+12=26) Kanla's grapple check (1d20+10=15) Dok beats, so he breaks the Grapple T'Kkyl Standard Action: Bite/Paralyze the slop-carrier (Mook, PL 2, Defense 12) T'Kkyl Takes 10 on attacking the Mook, he hits. Slop-Carrier's Toughness save (DC 17), Fort save (DC 14) (1d20+2=22, 1d20+2=22) :shock: He is IMMORTAL! Eramas Moves to interpose himself between T'Kkyl and the tasty slop-carrier Kanla Temporarily redirects her rage into attacking the person who tried to stop her from killing Vaerhirmana: Dok Move Action: Kanla Intimidate check to Startle, w/ -5 penalty for doing so as Move action (1d20=12) Dok's opposed Sense Motive check (1d20+9=26) Success, Dok remains un-Startled Standard Action: Punching! Kanla vs. Dok (Defense 17); Al-Out Attack (+2 Attk/-2 Def), Power Attack (-2 Attak/+2 Dmg); DC 21 Toughness save if she hits (1d20+8=13) misses Vaerhirmana Move Action: Stands up Move Action: Backs away from Kanla Slop-Carrying Bystander Beats feet and dashes away Round 2 Dok Attempts a sleeper hold (grapple, damage) on Kanla Move Action: Attempt to Bluff/Feint, -5 for doing so as a Move action (1d20-6=14) Kanla's Sense Motive (1d20-1=19) :shock: two Nat20s! Also, she sees through it. Standard Action: Attack to grapple Dok's attack vs. Kanla (Defense 16); Power Attack (-5 Attk/+5 Dmg) (1d20+8=20) Dok's Grapple check (1d20+12=21) Kanla's opposed Grapple check (1d20+10=13) Dok wins, by 5+, so she's Bound/Helpless Free Action: Extra Effort to SURGE; will be Exhausted at start of next round. Standard Action: Dok applies damage. No attack roll needed. DC 15 -1 (Str) +5 (Power Attack) +5 (Sneak Attack) = DC 24 Kanla's Toughness save, DC 24 (1d20+4=16) Fails by 8, she's Bruised + Dazed T'Kkyl watches Dok Eramas checks on Vaerhirmana Kanla Reaction: GM fiat to clear Dazed; Dok gets an HP (7 now). Move Action: attempts to escape Dok's pin Kanla's Grapple (1d20+10=20) Dok's Grapple (1d20+12=29) She's going nowhere Move Action: Tries again to escape Kanla's Grapple (1d20+10=24) Dok's Grapple (1d20+12=22) Kanla beats by 2, I'll say the frees her from being Bound/Helpless, now she's merely Pinned Vaerhirmana Full Action: refocuses her initiative; she'll go on 23 (before Dok) Round 3 Vaerhirmana Standard Action: Assuming the strange pale man is going to continue trying to grapple/subdue Kanla, she uses her TK to aid him in his Grapple checks Vaerhirmana Aid Grapple check (DC 10) (1d20+2=6) Close, but no Reaction for Dok: Notice check to notice Vaerhirmana's Subtle TK (DC 20) (1d20+9=11) Dok does not notice Move Action: Moves to keep someone between her & Kanla Dok Reaction: Use that newly-earned HP to nix the fatigue from the Extra Effort last round, so he's still just Fatigued, not Exhausted. (6 HP now) Standard Action: Tries to re-establish Bind on Kanla Dok's Grapple check (1d20+12=22) Kanla's Grapple check (1d20+10=28) She's wise to his ways! Move Action: Nothing T'Kkyl continues to watch Dok Eramas stands between Vaerhirmana and Kanla Kanla Move Action: Tries to escape again Kanla's Grapple check (1d20+10=13) Dok's Grapple check (1d20+12=32) ugh, waste of a Nat20 Move Action: Tries escape again Kanla's Grapple check (1d20+10=12) Dok's Grapple check (1d20+12=17) She fails and is still Pinned Round 4 Vaerhirmana Standard Action: Tries to use her TK again to Aid Dok in his grappling Vaerhirmana Aid Grapple check (DC 10) (1d20+2=20) Reaction for Dok: Notice check to notice Vaerhirmana's Subtle TK (DC 20) (1d20+9=24) He notices that time Dok Standard Action: Tries to re-bind Kanla Dok's grapple check, w/ +2 from Vaerhirmana's Aid (1d20+14=22) Kanla's grapple check (1d20+10=29) Free Action: Extra Effort to surge for another Standard Acton; will be Exhausted at start of next round Standard Action: Inflict Damage on the Pinned Kanla. No Attack Roll needed, since she's Pinned she's effectively flat-footed, so Sneak Attack Damage comes into effect (so DC 19 Toughness). Kanla's Toughness save (DC 19), w/ -1 from 1 Bruise (1d20+3=21) Move Action: Nothing T'Kkyl & Eramas keep doing their thing. Kanla Move Action: Tries to escape again Kanla's grapple check (1d20+10=25) Dok's grapple check (1d20+12=15) She's free! Standard Action: Kicks Dok in the face Kanla's Attack vs. Dok (Defense 17); All-Out Attack (+5 Attk/-5 Def), Power Attack (-5 Attk/+5 Dmg); DC 19 Toughness (1d20+6=13) misses Round 5 Vaerhirmana Standard Action: Tries to use her TK again to Aid Dok in his grappling Vaerhirmana Aid Grapple check (DC 10) (1d20+2=22) Too bad Nat20s don't have any extra effect here! Dok Reaction: Spend an HP to nix fatigue from last round's Extra Effort, so he's stil just Fatigued, not Exhausted. 5 HP now. Standard Action: Tries to grapple Kanla again Dok's grapple check, w/ +2 from Vaerhirmana's Aid (1d20+14=33) yes! Kanla's grapple check (1d20+10=22) fails by 5+, so she's Bound/Helpless Free Action: Extra Effort to SURGE for another Standard Action. Full Action: Coup de Grace Kanla Kanla's Toughness save (DC 24), w/ -1 from 1 Bruise (1d20+3=7) Fails by 17, she's KO'd Dok's down to 5 HP, and will be Exhausted (move 1/2 normal speed, -6 Str and Dex, -3 Attack and Defense) at the start of the next round. Good thing it's late at night and he'll be getting some sleep, right? Riiight....

Kanla, showing precisely why you should pin someone from behind, spat in Archeville’s face as she forced herself back up, hurling curses at him all the while. The two continued their deadly dance for some time, for a time his applied knowledge and intellect seeming a match for her training and superior strength. At one point she wrenched herself completely free from his grasp, and spun to land a double-fisted haymaker against him, but he leaned to the side enough to clear her swing, then darted around behind her and put her in a sleeper hold. Superior position. Should fare better n- odd, she is of-balance due to pulling to one side more than she should. Pulled by... telekinesis! I am being aided, but by... ah, by Vaerhirmana. Perhaps that is why she was paired with Tachandral. “” he hissed (still in German) in her ear. “” “Vaerhirmana! I'll... get...” she screamed, near-incoherent with rage, but the combination of his joint lock the the telekinetic aid kept her bound fast. “I’m... better... than... that-” Her rant was cut off once Archeville had found the proper pressure points on her to knock her out. Several people in the crowd cheered, several booed and cursed. So much... for regaining... my strength... The crowd dispersed as guards whipped things back into order; one hefted Kanla over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and carted her off. Archeville was left to stand alone, perhaps as a prize from the guards, leaving him to find some spot in which to fall unconscious. But he was not alone for long.

Meanwhile, the mantis-man, having wiped gruel off its compound eyes, turned towards the slave who had carried the large bucket of slop. A few drops of drool -- actually venom -- trickled down its mouth, and it darted in to bite him; he frantically darted back to get away, at one point hopping backwards as he kicked away. This brought his foot to the mantis-man's reach; when it bit down, it appeared to chomp down on his big toe, but merely grazed it. The slop-carrier screeched, sure his toe had been bitten off, but the strange man who had been trying to see Archeville dashed in and interposed between him and the mantis-man, facing the bug-man. “Oh, you don’t want to do that, my friend! Hardly any meat on him!” He turned and nodded to the slave, who was already hopping away. “Come, come, let us get you cleaned up,” he said, though his attention -- and the mantis-man’s -- had turned back to Archeville. Vaerhirmana backed away from Kanla and Archeville, rolling up to a standing crouch, and moved behind the two onlookers. She looked on them both, and called up a power deep within her, focusing it on her attacker to aid the strange man. They did not remain the only audience for long: a crowd quickly formed around them, of slaves and the giant guards. “Five to one she brains him,” one grumbled to another.

No! I am through seeing such barbarism play out around me! I can intervene here, and I shall! Talk of fighting, and access to weapons could mean they are gladiators. Movements indicate training or long practice. Easiest to separate combatants, subdue antagonizer if necessary. Archeville quickly scraped the slop off his face and hands, then moved in to Kanla’s right. He grabbed her arm, twisting up to ease her stranglehold, then down so she released her prey. Kanla spun around and snapped at him, then brought her other arm around for a let cross, but he ducked down (releasing her arm in the process) enough to evade the hit. “Stay out of this, or I’ll kill you, too!” “” he grunted in his native German as he sprung back up, slipping both arms under hers and bringing his hands back up to her throat, under her chin. He pushed, making her bend backwards at a disadvantageous angle. Pressure point should be near here, assuming anatomy comparable to Earth-Prime humans.

The two women wore the same simple garments the other slaves did, but in their hands were weapons. The more aggressive one, a tanned brunette, lashed at her foe with a set of bolas, using them more as bludgeons than restraints. The other, a tall redhead with the elongated features and slightly pointed ears of a half-elf, used a simple quarterstaff to hold her attacker at bay. “I’m stronger, faster, and tougher than you!” the brunette screamed, “I should be the one fighting at Tachandral’s side!” “Kanla, please, stop!” the redhead shouted back, trying to push her attacker away with her staff. “I don’t want to fight at his side, I told the pitmaster that; you are the better-” “Damned right I am!,” she spat, punctuating her words with a right cross to her target’s jaw. In a flash she was on the dazed woman, wrapping her bolas around her neck and began strangling her. “And after I kill you, Vaerhirmana, everyone will see I’m a better match for him than you!”

:science: :approved:

Protectron was quiet for some time as it examined the cube, first moving itself to examine the cube, then reaching out and manipulating it to view it from different angles. "This is a fascinating material. How long will it exist, barring exterior interference? Must you devote some concentration to it to maintain its existence?" It turned back to look at Supercape's cape, "the same substance developed by the Atoms, for use in superpowered organic costumes? That is also a fascinating material; I have studied many samples of such textiles in Friend-Gossamer's laboratory."

Clock, eh? Now that bears investigatin'. Possessed, maybe? Former owner was a necromancer, put his spirit into the timepiece due to the resonance with time and mortality? Or maybe somethin' simpler, a trasmitter in it broadcastin' the voice -- and instructions -- of some still-livin' necromancer. Nah, that's crazy; probably a possessed clock. Ah, if only I knew where he lived! Dead Head waited, hoping that Gorsky would make another call to someone that would give more clues, if not just leave the motel and head back to his home. It would take some time, but he could spare it. Ain't like I'm gettin' any older. An' this'll be worth it if it means one less necromancer out there an' one less necromancer teachin' others his nasty ways. Oh, I can try a mental call to Mutt, too. He may've found Gorsky's house, or at least his workspace. Now, lemme see, how'd Nick say to do it? Get a good picture of Mutt in mind...

As soon as they passed through the cemetery's gates, the fight atop the hill waved at the trio. "Hey, heads up, I'll be right down!" The eerie silhouetted figure stretched his arms up high, then brought them back down to the sides of his head. With a sickening POP that could be heard even from the bottom of the hill, he tore off his own head, and held it up high with both hands, the green flames in his eyes flaring as he did so. He tossed his head back and forth between his hands a moment, and around his body a few times -- nowhere near as graceful as a Harlem Globetrotter, but he had been practicing -- before rolling it down the hill towards the trio like a bowling ball (which caused Mutt to leap off Kimber and run towards, then around, the rolling head)... ... only to appear, suddenly and silently (thanks to the teleportation trick he had worked out, with help from Nick & Phantom) behind them, just in time to stop his errant cranium with one foot. As he bent down to pick it up, Equinox and Nick saw he was wearing a new outfit: faded brown-orange loafers, brown slacks, and a green sweater vest over a black dress shirt, all very dirty and threadbare. Around his neck -- which was in the process of reconnecting with his head -- was a length of hemp rope, tied into a noose. "Didn't know y'all were coming over," he said to the two mages as he brushed his wild hair out of his face, "else I would've cha- oh, hey!" He met Ghost Girl with open arms, "I thought I sensed someone new!"

The Science of Santa

Change in plans: Nede (an expy of Athas) isn't in the Terminus, it's in a separate pocket dimension (which Dok fell into from the Terminus). I changed this because the things that make Athas Athas -- an oppressive sun and fantastic races -- can't exist in the Terminus. I've changed posts accordingly, as well as the description of the setting in my Laboratory thread. While speaking with Herminard (or anyone else), Dok uses his Enhance CHA, but while working quietly, he switches to Enhanced WIS (to help the notice checks, and make himself seem less conspicuous). By the M&M RAW, working under extremely hot conditions calls for a Fort saving throw, DC 10 + 1 per previous check, or suffer 1 temporary point of CON damage. If you lose 1 point of CON, you're also Fatigued (cannot move all out or charge, -2 Str and Dex, -1 Attack and Defense), and if you've lost half or more of your CON in this manner, you're also Exhausted (move 1/2 normal speed, -6 Str and Dex, -3 Attack and Defense). Lost CON returns at the rate of 1 point per day. How often the save is made depends on how hot it is: once an hour for "uncomfortable heat" (a hot summer day), once per 10 minutes for "intense heat" (a blazing desert), once a minute for "extreme heat" (edge of a volcano). The Survival skill can help: a DC 15 check gives you a +2 on the Fort save if moving at half speed, of +4 if stationary. Dehydration follows similar rules, but it's a day between saves, so that (probably) won't be an issue. Dok's nanites give him half immunity to "effects that later his traits," which I am going to say includes excessive environmental heat. Half immunity, in this case, means he makes the saves half as often: so, if in "intense heat," a DC 10 save after 20 minutes of exposure, then every 20 minutes thereafter (with a cumulative +1 to the DC). Survival check, DC 15 (1d20+4=24) Dok'll get a +4 to his Fort saves. Technically, he has been working under Intense Heat conditions, so that'd be a save every 20 minutes. But after a full day's work -- a full 12 hour slave's day -- that's 36 saves. Heat check, DC 10 + 1 per additional save (1d20+8=13, 1d20+8=9, 1d20+8=13, 1d20+8=13, 1d20+8=14, 1d20+8=12, 1d20+8=18, 1d20+8=17, 1d20+8=14, 1d20+8=24, 1d20+8=28, 1d20+8=14, 1d20+8=13, 1d20+8=24, 1d20+8=16, 1d20+8=21, 1d20+8=9, 1d20+8=24, 1d20+8=12, 1d20+8=28, 1d20+8=11, 1d20+8=20, 1d20+8=12, 1d20+8=17, 1d20+8=19, 1d20+8=24, 1d20+8=14, 1d20+8=16, 1d20+8=15, 1d20+8=22, 1d20+8=13, 1d20+8=26, 1d20+8=27, 1d20+8=28, 1d20+8=27, 1d20+8=19) Loses his first point of CON (and becomes Fatigued) after two increments (40 minutes in), loses half his CON (5 points/failed saves) and becomes Exhausted after 13 increments (260 minutes, or 4 hrs 20 mins), and loses all his CON (10 points/failed saves) and becomes Dying after 20 increments (400 minutes, or 6 hrs 40 mins). That seems too harsh even for Dark Sun, so in the interest of letting Dok survive to the night, I'm going to treat it as "uncomfortable heat," one save per hour (per two hours due to his Immunity; 6 saves total). Heat check, DC 10 + 1 per additional save (1d20+8=13, 1d20+8=10, 1d20+8=10, 1d20+8=21, 1d20+8=15, 1d20+8=18) Two failed saves, so -2 CON (and -1 Toughness and Fort), and he's Fatigued (cannot move all out or charge, -2 Str and Dex, -1 Attack and Defense). Coming up: Dok meets more colorful characters! Also, catfights!

At last the great crimson sun did set, and the overseers inspected their crews’ work. Some who had met their assignments were given additional work, since they could obviously handle the load; others, who fell behind in their assignments, were mercilessly beaten. Those who fell in the middle ground -- which Archeville had been sure to stay in, knowing that staying unobtrusive would allow him the most freedom -- were shoved towards the meal tent, where they were given a small bowl of worm-infested, muddy-looking gruel and another ration of water. “” he asked, trying to bring some cheery small talk to his workmate. When he turned to see who it was, it was not Herminar'ds eyes that met his, but a pair of compound eyes: it was one of the mantis-men, the kind he’d seen used in hauling multiple loads with their four arms up the ziggurat. The mantis-man cocked its head to the left, then the right, then stared straight at him. Further down the line, he saw a figure waving at him -- the strange man who had tried to meet him earlier that day. Herminard was nowhere to be seen. Archeville soon got his bowl, and barely made it out of the tent before devouring it, extreme hunger overriding any reservation over the safety of the meal. He became aware that the mantis-man had followed him; it had a bowl of the same gruel, but was seemingly too focused on him to eat it. Archeville moved to say something, but before he could, a passing slave carrying a vat of gruel was knocked off-balance by two brawling women, blanketing slop on both Archeville and the mantis-man!

Archeville continued to work and listen to Herminard’s tales, keeping an eye and ear on his surroundings. Atrocity after atrocity passed before his eyes: slaves whipped and beaten to unconsciousness by cruel overseers, overseers stripped of ranks and thrown into the slave pits with their former charges when quotas were not met, slaves fighting one another for a few precious drops of water. All was overseen by the giant guards and the black cossacked templars, who wielded dark and terrible magic granted by Kalak the Terrible in the course of their duties. Some slaves did try to make a break for it, making mad scrambles for the city walls, or out the slave pen entrance to the merchant’s districts, but they were always caught, and either killed or thrown into the latrine pits. And all of which he had to let go on, as he saw he had no way to immediately help, not that he was in much condition to do so. Stripped of his gear, parched from the incredible heat, the only liquid he had all day was some watery mud from Herminard’s trough, though even that lead to a few lashes from the overseer’s whip across his badly sunburned back. Just need to make it to tonight. Should get much cooler then, and there will be food. Not much, from what Herminard says, but better than nothing. Then I will have the time to think and plan. Perhaps talk to some others, get more than one bard’s view on things.

Herminard filled Archeville in on much about the city and world beyond, speaking of savage deserts, wastelands of majestic desolation, and city-states of cruel splendor ruled by god-like Sorcerer-Kings. (And that their guards were merely half-giants.) But in speaking of the world, the bard spoke much of himself as well. “” he sighed exaggeratedly, and gestured back to the ziggurat, “” Archeville grunted as he laid a final brick onto the pallet for the kiln, then wiped his brow as he looked up to the bloated red orb hanging overhead. “ “” Archeville made a sound, half a grunt, half a sigh. Luckily for me my nanites will help stave off the effects of dehydration and malnutrition, but for the thousands of others out there... “” He shook his head as calculations were made in a flash, “” “” Herminard finished, in a very matter-of-fact tone. “” he shrugged and shook his head, “”

“ the man stirring mud asked. He was more tanned than Archeville, but considerably less so than most of the others he’d seen, and his long nails indicated that he was a recent conscript not accustomed to harsh manual labor. Same language as the others, though the accent and sentence structure are slightly different. Archeville shook his head, “” Given how often he’d heard the word screamed, whimpered and moaned, it was the first one he’d learned. “” “” he said, tone shifting. “” he gave a slight bow, though not enough to disrupt his mud-mixing. “” Sentence structure seems closer to Latin. I wonder if this is some common trade tongue he is using, with slight variations based on home region? “” Archeville said as he fished out globs of mud and began forming bricks. “” Who is in charge, how they exert power, how hard it would be to overthrow the ones keeping these people enslaved and institute different policies. Surely there must be a way... right? I cannot just leave these people here in this condition! I will not! “” Herminard’s eyes widened, then he tried desperately to stifle a laugh. “” “” he said solemnly. “” Herminard sniffed, “”

“” He spat at the Doktor’s feet, “” He snorted again, “” The taskmaster jerked his head to one side, and one of the giants nearby lumbered over and roughly steered Archeville towards the brickyards. Okay, forming bricks, this works well: I'll be in one spot, easier to think and plan and plot my way out. The first duty of any prisoner or slave is escape, so I- “” a voice called out. Archeville thought nothing of it -- what friends did he have left, especially here? -- but the sounds of approaching disorder, as the speaker shoved aside slave and overseers alike out of his way, lead the Doktor to the inescapable conclusion the words were directed at him. He saw it was the man from the crash site, who had attacked the giants who teamed up on him. “” he called out again, arms wide as if to embrace Archeville. The embrace never came, for guards from along the walls rushed down to restore order, knocking the man down (not before he took down three of theirs) and carrying him off to some unknown punishment. Archeville was also prodded along, towards the brickyard. He was brought to a work station, where a trough of mud mixed by one worker provided the material he was to use, and a pallet to place the formed bricks on, which he would haul to the kiln to fire. "" the giant growled before heading back to the taskmaster, "" he added with a lopsided grin.

"So it was a personal choice for you, done out of expediency," it replied flatly. "What about the other parts of your costume? I understand the mask is also to conceal your identity, but why did you pick those colors? Those patterns? That material?" Its optics whirred again as they moved from section to section of Supercape's accouterments, focusing longest on the physicist's namesake item. "The cape you wear now is not made of standard materials, but of the 'Quantum Matter' you create, yes? Is the rest of your costume made from the same material? What are its properties?"