Avenger Assembled

Okay, let's have Notice and/or Survival checks! The DC is 20, so Watchdog passes hers automatically.

Watchdog counted to ten in her head - but was glad the teens hadn't just snuck away to smoke weed and make out, which part of her had been expecting and had really _not_ been looking forward to dealing with. "No thanks, Dogshow. Digging for trash isn't really my thing." While it wasn't the most flattering term, it was said with more patient affection than anything else. She turned her head to look at Soliton and added firmly, "I better not see you doing that around Judy." She didn't actually give a crap if the teleporter lit up a bong out here, but she'd be damned if she had to answer for stuff pulled by teenagers. "They'll bust your ass for that if they catch you. Dumb-ass reason to go to juvie." She looked straight up suddenly and muttered a swear word.

Daystar Jaycee Cahill was born in 2002 in Guymon, Oklahoma. She's the middle of three girls, all of them named after their father J.T. (who she still calls 'Daddy', especially when she wants something from him). Her family has deep roots in rural Texas County; her late grandfather's savvy business sense made him a millionaire (and the richest man in Texas County, at least for a while) when he sold his failing cattle lands to invest in the natural gas boom of the 1930s. Her daddy met her momma Rachel twenty years ago, when he was fresh out of Harvard and a graduate student at the University of Oklahoma and she was just finishing up her BA in nursing. Rachel left her family in Muskogee behind to settle in her husband's hometown and work as a school nurse; Jaycee looks a lot like her mom, with her mother's skin tone, petite build and dark hair. Jaycee knows there was a time when her daddy wasn't a politician, but she can't really remember it. She wasn't yet in elementary school when her daddy ran for the Oklahoma State Legislature, a position he held for only a few years before deciding legislative service wasn't for him. The former political science professor at OPSU wasn't a man for legislative negotiations and dickering - he wanted to be the man in charge. Friendly to the oil industry, married to a Comanche woman, projecting a folksy-but-informed manner that let him speak cordially to both Tulsa suburbanites and farmers in the Panhandle, JT Cahill ran first as an outsider in the Republican primary, then was elected Governor of Oklahoma in 2010. Jaycee found that she liked being a governor's daughter. She was one of the most popular kids in her tony private schools in Oklahoma City, getting her attention she'd hardly ever won as a middle child back home, and living in Oklahoma City was a lot better than living in Guymon. It meant changes at home - she saw a lot less of her daddy and her momma, but she was reaching an age where that wasn't so bad. She got to travel too; out to DC and down to Austin, getting to know the children of other politicians and rich friends of her daddy's, and even got to visit. She wasn't old enough to be interested in boys the way her older sister Jaybee was, but she was sure that when she did, she'd have her pick of the best ones. She had a lot of plans. Jaycee was old enough to have some idea of what they were getting into when her daddy and momma sat her and her two sisters down in December of 2014 to tell them something very serious. Her daddy had thought hard, he'd prayed hard, and he'd talked to their mom and his friends - and Governor Cahill was going to run for President in the next election. Freshly 13, Jaycee rolled her eyes but didn't actually backsass her daddy - her daddy had just been re-elected Governor earlier that year and she figured the campaign for President couldn't be _that_ different from the campaign for Governor. And besides, it probably wasn't going to amount to anything. She had to admit she loved her dad (privately, anyway), but the country wasn't going to elect her dad, with his corny jokes and his Sooner ties and cheerful belly, President, right? The headaches started around the time of Jaycee's fourteenth birthday, just a short time after her father had been elected President of the United States. They were small at first and she got aspirin for them, then stronger stuff - stuff the White House doctors had to prescribe, then hospital visits to get her on a new type of painkillers. Her daddy's people kept it out of the media, which made her feel a little better - running for President was _not_ like running for Governor at all, and the campaign had turned her life completely upside-down. She knew how important this job was to her family, to her sisters, to America; she decided not to tell anyone when the headaches came back after a few months of treatment - or when she started hearing whispers in empty rooms in the White House, and then seeing things she knew weren't there - strange colors and patterns that she blocked out by sheer force of will. She wasn't going to ruin everything for her family by being a freak! And then came D-Day. A year later, Claremont has taught her things about the world. The worldly things she grew up fearing aren't so threatening, but there are demons in the world - monsters who would drag everything down into darkness, and righteous heroes determined to fight them. She's transforming, turning into something other than human - but as horrifying as that is, maybe she can use what's happened to her to make things better for other people. And even if life means she has to lie about who she is and what she is, if she has to keep being Judy Smith the Grue refugee to protect her family name - that just means she has to shine her light all the brighter. At least she has a sister to stand by her side. When not empowered, she wears modest A-line dresses and occasionally jeans - when empowered, she glows with a bright inner light that obscures her facial features. Judith 13:20 "May God make this redound to your everlasting honor, rewarding you with blessings, because you risked your life when our people were being oppressed, and you averted our disaster, walking in the straight path before our God.” And all the people answered, “Amen! Amen!”" Abilities: 0 + 0 + 12 + 0 + 4 + 8 = 24PP STR 10 (+0) DEX 10 (+0) CON 22 (+6) INT 10 (+0) WIS 14 (+2) CHA 18 (+4) Combat: 8 + 8 = 16PP Init: +0 ATK: +4 [+9 Ranged] DEF: +10 (+6 Dodge Focus, +4 Base, +2 Flat-Footed) Grapple: +4 Knockback: -4/-3 Saves: 1 + 7 + 5 = 13PP TOU +8/+6 (+6 Con, +2 Defensive Roll) FORT +7 (+6 Con, +1) REF +7 (+0 Dex, +7) WILL +7 (+2 Wis, +5) Skills: 76R=19PP Bluff 11 (+15, SM) Diplomacy 6 (+10, SM) Knowledge (Civics) 5 (+5) Knowledge (Physical Sciences) 5 (+5) Knowledge (Pop Culture) 5 (+5) Knowledge (Theology and Philosophy) 10 (+10) Handle Animal 1 (+5) Medicine 6 (+8) Perform (Vocals) 6 (+10) Ride 5 (+5) Notice 8 (+10, SM) Sense Motive 8 (+10, SM) Feats: 18PP Attack Focus (Ranged) 5 Defensive Roll 1 Dodge Focus 6 Improved Defense 2 Precise Shot Quick Change Skill Mastery (Bluff, Diplomacy, Notice, Sense Motive) Uncanny Dodge (radio) Powers: 1 + 4 + 7 + 30 + 3 = 45PP Datalink 1 (10 ft, radio, alien) [1PP] Light Control 1 (Stellarian might, 10 ft, Extras: Action 3 [Reaction]], Flaw: Range [Touch], alien) [4PP] Immunity 7 (disease, environmental cold, environmental heat, environmental radiation, poison, sleep, starvation and thirst, alien) [7PP] Radio Control Array 14 (28PP, PFs: Alternate Powers 2, alien) [30PP] BE: Damage 9 (microwaves, Extra: Area [Burst]) {18} + Dazzle 9 (radio) (Extra: Area [Burst], Flaw: Range [Touch]) {18+9=28/28} AP: Damage 7 (infrared, Extra: Aura [+3], PF: Subtle) {28/28} AP: Disintegration 9 (microwaves 2.0, Flaw: Action 2 [Full], PF: Indirect) {28/28} Super-Senses 3 ( Infravision, Radio, Ultravision, alien) [3PP] DC Table Unarmed DC 15 Bruised/Injured Blast DC 24 Bruised/Injured Damage DC22 Bruised/Injured Damage DC 24 Bruised/Injured costs Abilities (24) + Combat (16) + Saves (13) + Skills (19) + Feats (18) + Powers (45) = 135/135

Oh, sure, I thought linking to the old sheet was fine.

That does hit! http://orokos.com/roll/767376 =12 Nice! Let's keep that (since he's been taking hits already): he's now dazed, staggered, and bruised. I'll go as soon as you make the IC post, @angrydurf

"It's not your fault," said Judy, earning a surprised, but not displeased, glance her way from Ashley. "What...a bad person," she muttered, glaring after the rapidly retreating boy. "Ah can't believe somebody like that would come to a Christian concert." "That's one word for it," commented Ashley. "Good work," she said, giving Corinne an approving nod. "Didn't even need to fry his ass." Judy stepped up to Corinne and gave her a quick, very warm hug. "Let's shake the dust of that guy off our feet and enjoy the concert."

Early November 2019 The Smith sisters didn't talk much about what had happened to them over Halloween. Judy had shown up for class on Friday looking a little the worse for wear; and Ashley hadn't appeared again until that Monday, sporting a smile, a few bruises, and bright pink bubblegum hair. But now it was November and it was time for some fun - and some important conversations. As usual, Ashley entered Leroy's room first, looking around to make sure Kam was out before gesturing for Judy to follow her in. "Hi honey!" she said cheerfully, standing on her toes to kiss Leroy on the cheek. "You already for our date in Mia and Danica's room?" Judy had certainly dressed up for the occasion, wearing a maxi-skirt and snug blouse whose dark colors went well with the bright cross around her neck and tan skin.

Round 2! Infinity: 15 (staggered and dazed, unless you want to spend an HP? Like not getting beaten up in front of your friend? =D ) Daystar: 15 Watchdog: 11 Baddie 2: 7 Baddie 1: 7

A little while ago "C'mon, Ashley, they could get in real trouble out there. What if there really is an invader or - or one of those prehistoric monsters everybody was talking about?" "All right," said Ashley, pinching the bridge of her nose. "But I am _not_ taking you out into the dark, in the middle of the woods in another dimension. I need you to stay right here in this tent with Danica, do you understand? That is probably the safest spot in this whole damn dimension..." Judy pouted a little at that, but she hadn't really wanted to go out into the woods that badly. Ashley stood up, pulling on her helmet, and slapped a magazine into one of her twin sidearms. "Okay, Rebound, let's go down there and make sure they aren't about to get eaten by a damn megalodon..." Startled from dreams of birds for a moment or two, Vox realized he was alone - except for the loudly-snoring Mr. Jorgensen. Peering out his tent window, he could make out a faint glow inside the girl's tent, and watch as a helmeted Watchdog and Rebound stepped out of it before heading off into the woods together. Surely this wasn't allowed! Watchdog didn't seem to be bothering with a flashlight, but she was carefully picking her way as she went. A second or two ago Horrowshow couldn't pick up any fresh scents - but he was able to find another beer can, and what looked like a crushed Twinkie wrapper. They all seemed pretty old, as if they'd been there as long as the original can, and smelled rather unpleasant, as if they'd been somewhere that a large number of animals had chosen to settle for an extended period of time. But his canine senses told him something was in the air, a strange, electric disturbance like a coming storm... Now Not really bothering with stealth, Watchdog picked her way down the beach to where Mia and Davyd were - "What are you doing?" Her voice was muffled behind her helmet, but no less recognizable for that even in the dark. This was shaping up to be a long, long night.

"Over there! Run!" Watchdog and Daystar, the latter still glowing like a Roman candle, ran like Hell for a red nearby groundcar. Yelling wordless defiance (or maybe just "Aaaah!"), Daystar turned halfway through and pointed her hands at the floating man in iron. A beam of energy erupted from her outstretched palm and blasted at the floating villain, visibly lighting up a portion of his armor but not actually hurting him. "No, Daystar, in the car!" yelled Watchdog, pulling something from her belt and throwing it at the would-be assassin! The sticky bomb hit and detonated, even making the man in the air visibly wobble, but didn't seem to have done him any serious damage. She hit another button on her belt, and the car doors flew open. It looked like escape was inevitable, until - "Is that #(#ing gamma rays? Well screw all of you, I didn't sign up for this!" Black Armor raised his arm and fired what turned out to be a swarm of hissing chemical-powered rockets, each the size of a human hand but all of them moving with great speed. Watchdog ducked as the missile aimed at her went caroming off to smash through one of the windows of the house, then grabbed Daystar and hurled her behind the bulk of the Dawg. The strike that was intended for Judy hit the ground next to Watchdog, the force of the impact making her forehead slam against the inside of her helmet hard enough that she was sure she was bleeding. The last of the missiles caught the usually space-bound Infinity and exploded, blasting her against the brick wall behind her with bone-cracking force!

"Hey, aren't we gonna intercept that if we keep moving north?" said Ashley, actually talking respectfully to an adult expert in a field she didn't share. She really had not done well in her field survival classes, and even that had been several years earlier. Delighted to have a singing companion for once, Judy kept at it. "Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side, keep on the sunny side of life-"

"People have already died." It was one of Woodsman's longer full sentences. He tapped the map, nodding to Persephone, and said, "Know the place. Esso's. Biker bar. Five PM Saturday, if interested. Goes for all of you." And by the time Betsy had finished speaking, Woodsman had disappeared.

Targeted, yeah - guy rolled a 29 though! Luckily no Improved Crit.

"That sounds nice," commented Ashley reflectively. "Ah'm sorry," Judy whispered again. "...that must have been hard." Judy closed her eyes for just a moment, thinking of words said without thought, or worse, said with thought - because it was what everyone around her had told her it was true. Shifting uncomfortably in her seat, she said, "Ah never really thought about that stuff growing up, because it wasn't anywhere Ah could see happening. My parents wanted to protect me from the world so much, they didn't teach me about everything about it. And now Ah'm here." She began rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand, the closest she could get to crying. "Are we still on for movie night?" she whispered.

"Ah'm sorry too," murmured Judy - she looked like she wanted to say something else, but she didn't push it. The two teens traded some innocous questions about their favorite fashion choices, still dancing around their little collision. Finally, it was more than Ashley could take. "...what was it like?" she asked Mia. "Growing up in an LGBT-positive household?"

"...you have something from a demon?" Judy's voice went up so loud that several people turned to stare - at least until a hard glare from Ashley made them go back to what they'd been doing. Surely this group activity couldn't last forever. "Mia, things like this are evil!" She held up the picture. "That thing could come out of here at night and whisper lies to you, or try and suck your brain and climb inside you. People need to take this kind of thing more seriously! Even a little thing can let a demon get inside you." "...excuse me?" Ashley had noticed the instructor step out to the bathroom - and the boy at the other table getting up to glare at them. Ashley and Judy didn't hang out with Owen much; his ruddy skin and faintly visible horns offering a clue to his powers. "What did you say about demons?" Ashley's face was flat and implacable as she considered what to do, even as a mortified Judy stared at the demon boy. "Ah'm sorry, Owen," she said after a moment, "Ah should have said evil demons, not-" "They're all the same to you, aren't they?" hissed the boy. "You fu-" "Sit down." Ashley wasn't getting up, but she was glaring at the tiefling teen with a laser-like intensity. "Sit down now." The two had a standoff of the eyes for a moment; and then, about the time the teacher stepped back into the room and told them five more minutes, he sat back down again.

That is a miss. Daystar: Full Action: Blast the bad guy! 23 That hits! Fort save vs. 19 http://orokos.com/roll/766597 = 21 He makes the save, alas! Since he has Impervious 10, he doesn't need to save vs. the Blast. Surge Move Action: run for the car! Watchdog: Standard Action: Switch to her grenades and throw another bomb at him! (She has Reverse Progression, so she can do it without any collateral damage) Reflex vs 20 = 13 Tou vs 25: 30 Move: Run for car Well, at least the dice are being friendly with the nat-20s! Armor: Since his laser isn't doing the trick, he'll go ahead and switch to his rocket's red glare Attack vs Area: 29 Well balls, okay Watchdog: 11 let's spend an HP to reroll that: 28, so she is unhurt Daystar: Ashley is going to Interpose (23) Gimmie a Tou save, @angrydurf Badguy 2 starts making his way through the house! I'll make that post as soon as I know it goes for you, durf

"The Freedom League watches it, but that's for things like big dimensional incursions, not for little pinpricks like this. Those are a lot harder to detect, especially if you're not watching..." Ashley stirred the fire with a stick, then caught a look from the others. "Hey, when I am taking my baby sister on her first trip out of this dimension, you better believe I do my damn homework." She frowned. "A planet's big, not to mention a solar system..." She cast a reflective eye at the stars, wondering if there was an alternate version of Infinity up there. "Who knows what could be here beside us." Judy did indeed have quite a few pictures to share with Danica, having turned out to be quite good at sitting still for long periods of time given the way her powers worked. She'd kept up her luck with the Carolina parakeets, having found the nesting site for a whole flock, but had also made other interesting discoveries like a family of heath hens settling down in a sheltered space against the cold winter, and a gorgeous beachside shot of a fat and sassy pelican in the middle of gulping down a large fish. She took a few pictures of Davyd (and Danica too, for that matter) having overcome her unease about his powers, and was obviously enjoying herself and her new camera thoroughly on their little expedition. Looking closely, Vox was struck by the uncomfortable reality that he wasn't terribly familiar with what beer cans looked like! He was able to find an expiration date on the can that suggested it was only about a year old, and no obvious signs that it hadn't come from his home dimension. So it _could_ be from a previous school's mission, or maybe not - there was really no way to know without more information. Over supper, Mr. Jorgensen made promises of a trip across the river the next morning - and bunked down with the boys early. - Later that night, Judy stuck her head in the girls tent. "Psst! Ashley, Danica!" she whispered. "Ah just saw Mia teleport away with Davyd." It was amazing what you could see if you sat by the edge of the fire without anybody looking for you. "Ah think they're going back to the beach!" "Judy," said Ashley patiently, "if they want to sneak off and screw around, that's not really any of our business." She was sitting up still awake, having looked out a crack in the tent and actually seen the pair vanish herself. They tried to keep their voices down for Danica's benefit, but it wasn't a very big tent. "Aaashley," said Judy impatiently, "that is not what they are doing. Ah think they're looking to see if there are any more clues down there. Like the beer can."

Rolling for Danica: 17!

Daystar: has 20 on her Notice with Skill Mastery, she spots Watchdog: has 20 on her Notice with Skill Mastery, she spots!

"I do not know how your brains work," croaked Aquaria. "I know that sometimes they do not. I did not have a school when I was young." She scratched the back of her head, with her back leg. "I only know what I have seen, and read sometimes. I learned to read from your books," she offered. "There was a book for boats, that did not melt in the water. It had fish, and their names."

Okay, it'll be a DC 18 Notice for anybody to spot Mia teleporting away during the night.

Okay: @Dariusprime, give me Notice @Shofet and Dok, roll Stealth or come up with a cool power if you want to sneak away tonight...

For her part, Judy seemed to be in fine fettle as they went. "Hey everybody!" she said cheerfully, "Ah know what would be fun, let's sing a marchin' song!" And sure enough she did, only pausing occasionally for breath as they went: "She'll be coming round the mountain She'll be coming around the mountain when she comes! She'll be coming around the mountain coming around the mountain coming around the mountain when she comes!" She had quite the singing voice, and was willing to put her back into the song. For her part, Ashley sighed and pulled out a set of binoculars as they went. "You spotting anything up there?"

As the explosion rang out, Watchdog kicked open the back door and ran for the spare car; only to find the charge she'd used hadn't been enough! Floating above the scorched spot where the stun grenade had landed, an armored figure in jet black faced them down. "Eyes on the principal," he declared in a mechanical voice before raising his hand. Much later, Watchdog would appreciate the mercenary's refreshing directness. He didn't try to bargain with them or make threats, he simply opened fire with a beam of blistering orange light that erupted from the palm of his hand like the wrath of an angry god. Acutely aware she was the beam's target, Watchdog was conscious of the flare of power a moment before it came. Automatically she brought up her tonfas over her face and felt the beam catch at the center of the crossed metal, their slight magnetic charge catching and absorbing the beam - even though it was still quite hot! She grunted in exertion as she felt the heat radiate through her gloves and the sleeves of her jacket, pushing forward to avoid being knocked off her feet entirely. She snarled fiercely, but didn't take the time to even swear.