Avenger Assembled

APPROVED

A few things: With the Sneak Attack, his Damage with the pistols is +12, so you need to limit his attack with the pistols to +8. (Unlike D&D, Sneak Attack damage and the like is assumed to apply all the time.) You'll want to get his Defense up to +11, or raise his Tou to +10, so hit PL Defensively. The Autofire extra is purchased on the Blast power, not on the Device itself. I love the background - what we'll probably do is connect him to Project Freedom, a program a couple of PCs have come through for former supervillains/criminals.

Looks good. I generally like to have Leaping distance on the sheet.

And that's a DC 27 Bluff check from Monsoon.

With the shooting done for the moment, Edge walked up to the fallen blue-haired girl, slowly picking his way along the ice. As he went, his costume rippled and changed, transforming itself into a dark suit, blue shirt, and bright gold tie. Heedless of the fact that Zara had recently been shooting at him, he raised his hands and focused right on the girl. "Hey, sorry about the brick," he said reassuringly. "I just wanted to get you guys to stop shooting at me. There are a lot of people around here who could have gotten hurt." He smiled, doing his best to keep the girl calm and reassured, unaware of how he practically glowed like a sun as he approached her. "I go by Edge, but my name is Mark. I'm here to stop anybody else from getting hurt - and to make sure everybody gets help." The girl was bleeding from the glancing blow to the side of her head that she'd gotten from the falling brick, but she looked otherwise all right as far as he could tell. "Can I help you?" - Monsoon laughed and laughed - and it didn't sound terribly nice. "Oh how delightful a picture you paint, child! Let me present you with an alternative vision of the future." She reached behind her and suddenly whipped out her scimitar, the blade digging into the girl's cheek with fantastic speed. "I will text Edge and tell him where I am going. If you try and run, I will stab you so that you cannot run. I will then dress for battle - if you try and run then, I will follow you and stab you so that you cannot run. I will then follow you to meet your Director, where he will be dealt with. You may test my patience if it pleases you but I warn you I am no mere superhero, I am Nina al-Darsah and I am MONSOON!"

Mark walks out to speak to the bluehaired girl. He attempts Diplomacy as a full-round action to try and change her attitude. http://orokos.com/roll/425781 = 46. Even with the penalties for doing it in combat, that's still...pretty good!

"It's all right, Reagent," said Celeste, circling around to flank Fred on the right. She really was warm and reassuring, no wonder she was the social butterfly of their class! "I know you're in there, and we're going to make sure nothing happens to you-" She was also blindingly fast - whipping her fae bow out of nowhere and firing a glowing green arrow at Alkahest's midsection. They'd all seen those bolts in training; the "elfshot" arrowheads could go right through an iron door if aimed properly. For his part, Woodsman worked without thinking - jerking his bolt and firing downwards, an eruption of foul-smelling smoke boiling from the weapon outward to fill the small space of the control room, blinding almost everyone. But with his team by the still open-window, they had more options than their counterparts, backed up against a still-locked security door, who had arrived by the teleportation that was still their only way out. As the smoke filled the room, he ducked down to pick up Mr. Archer over his shoulders, staying low to avoid further shots. Getting out the window carrying Archer was going to be hard - but he had friends.

Initiative for the Rescue Squad: Raptor: 10 Garuda: 22 Epiphany: 16 Prestige: 27 Prestige: 27 Woodsman: 27 Nighthawk: 22 Garuda: 22 Sparkler: 20 Alkahest: 18 Epiphany: 16 Raptor: 10 Prestige goes ahead and shoots the crazy monster, of course. She bluffs as a move action, DC 25 Bluff to avoid being flat-footed, Alkahest! After that, she fires with a +5 Power Attack! http://orokos.com/roll/425732 A comfortable hit; DC 25 Tou save for Alkahest, depending on her Impervious. Woodsman fires his Obscure into the ground at his feet. He then scoops up Archer and moved to the window, getting ready to jump out the window and get away from both Alkahest and the hostiles. Nighthawk is up.

Frost patted Pax reassuringly on the arm, giving her a fatherly smile. "That is common belief about urban crime, but in reality criminals are easier to frighten than you believe. Even in Russia, where they all have AKs or metapowers, one merely has to impress on them the deeficulties that come from criminal lifestyle. Come, point us to their leader, and I will show you how to handle men like that. With great blow - that makes great impression!" he explained, striking a fist against his hand with a crack that for the first time made it obvious that the ice controller had quite literal strength to back up his words. "I know that this is very serious situation for you and neighborhood," he went on, his tone darkening some, "but we are professionals, we will deal with this situation in way memorable enough that no one will trouble you."

"Yes, well, your people are fortunate," said Dimitri before focusing his attention on Leilani. "As am I," he admitted. "I should be in a nameless grave on the shores of Lake Ladoga. I speak of myself as dead but there are great differences between my sort of death and that. Very great indeed." He hmmed, then went on, "The question is, what do we do with our gifts? That we are alive, when so many we have known are gone? Retirement would mean...what, that all the sacrifices made for this point were for nothing?" He shrugged. "Until they put me down, I must be a man of the world. Other dimensions and planets there may be - but in the end, we have but one."

Crossbows are slower than longbows - even with a lever to cock and load one out of a magazine on the Chinese model, it's simply a matter of fact. So from his sniper's nest, Woodsman kept his shots slow, well-aimed, and rare. The big guy with the minigun (where the hell was he supposed to have gotten a minigun!) targeting Nevermore - an explosive bolt into the magazine, knocked down by the explosion as he frantically threw the weapon away. A flash bolt in the face of the woman coming up behind Nighthawk with a glowing sword, knocking her down and setting her up for a blow from Robin that knocked her out cold. Another sniper on the rooftop across the way; a standoff between bullet and bolt that ended with a _crack_ of an arrow exploding inside a sniper's scope. That guy was down - and probably had nothing worse than some cuts on his face. Could have blown off the guy's head if I didn't have a delayed fuse. But do I get any thanks for that, no sir I do not... By the time Woodsman had used his remaining bolts, the fight below looked to be largely over. He rappelled down to join the others, bow slung across his back, and jogged quickly to Nighthawk's side. "Nicely done, pretty bird," he said with a real smile. Extra violence or not, it was clear Riley was enjoying himself. "What's next?"

Fast-Forward looked, and felt, considerably less confident. He paced around, barely restraining the urge to zip around faster than the eye could see. Running from the authorities had been fun when he was a young man - but now, faced with the real possibility of the temporal authorities showing up and busting him, he really was unhappy. God, I did get old. That wasn't a happy thought either. "Gonna search the forest," he finally said, "make sure nobody saw us come this way, white or Indian. Far as I know, we're way out there - the spot with the Revolutionary War marker is way off that way," he said, pointing to the right. "Get 'em talking, get their story. I'll be right back." With that he turned and ran off into the forest, not actually vanishing at super-speed until he was already invisible among the trees. Running through a forest in the days before park rangers wasn't a fun experience - but it was just that kind of day.

Similarly, I'll roll whatever I need!

Let us know what checks you need, TA!

"Like hell," said Fast-Forward without a moment's hesitation - not that his hesitations were generally visible to the casual observer. "Come on, boy," he called to Thoughtspeed as the two speedsters began searching the room, trusting in Hologram's psionic abilities to search the rest of the building and the area all around. The thing about their family's powers was that there really was no place to hide from the Clines if you made them angry enough - and they were all very angry.

With the battle joined, Citizen decided there was no choice. If there was going to be a fight, it needed to be with the hero who could take the bullets - . He landed on the sidewalk between Emerald Spider, the startled getaway driver, and the bank crew itself. Throwing open the bank doors, he declared, "Gentlemen! Ladies! I need to open an account. Can someone help me?" He strode inside, fearlessly casting his gaze over robber and patron alike. As he spoke, the radio in the getaway car crackled to life, speaking directly to the man inside. "Surrender, idiot, or she's going to beat the crap out of you!" The words were clearly in the voice of the flying man who'd just strode into the bank building.

http://orokos.com/roll/425603 = Sea Devil goes on 22. http://orokos.com/roll/425604 = 13 Not so good on the Theology roll. Oh well - Aquaria will probably have to hear it described to recognize it!

"In Russia, best surfing is off Kamchatka Peninsula," said Dimitri with uncommon warmth, looking like the cat with the cream after their kiss. "Land is full of volcanoes and water rarely rises above fifty degrees Fahrenheit. I take you there sometime - but I prefer surfing in your waters anytime, Leilani." He smiled at her and leaned in, his arm against hers. "Water is hazardous for man of cold. If I fall in, you promise to keep me warm?" he inquired of her. It was the first time he'd really let himself flirt. "Oh, it's not that surprising," said Tarva, her voice like exceptionally dark chocolate as she wrapped her arms around Kimber, watching the thermovore and the volcanic woman with a look of great interest on her face. "He's been wanting to plunge into that water for quite some time..." Her murmur into Kimber's ear was warm and affectionate. "Boon, If you surf, I'll surf with you," she promised Kimber. "But you go first, so I can enjoy you out there." Raising her voice to Daphne, she said, "Your colors are magnificent. How dark can you be?" Aquaria croaked softly as she considered this conversation - she had just met Leilani, but she did not like being around Comrade Frost very much. She turned her upper body and croaked to the other women. "But isn't his seed cold and dead? How will they mate?" To her credit, it was Tarva who answered that one - rather seriously. "Well, water-bearer, as you know, Surfacers mate for reasons besides breeding - and there are manifold ways of mating, if you are so inclined."

Summer 2016 The third time Aquaria pressed the button, it was just to hear the water flush. Surfacer voiding places were fascinating - even if the automatic ones were startling. When she was finally done, she padded out to soak herself in the sinks. She was a few floors down from her apartment, having gone exploring in a section of the building largely unused at this late hour. As the door shut behind her, she stepped out, and suddenly sniffed the air. Her crest went up, her nostrils flared, her eyes looked in every corner of the room. She found her quarry in an instant, clinging to the ceiling between the painfully bright electric lights. It was just what she would have done, and no wonder. When the tattooed, greenskinned female dropped to the floor on all fours, her eyes bulging, crest standing up straight, Aquaria sensed what she was faster than any Surfacer with their so-limited eyes and nose could have. "I am not the Grue," croaked the other Aquaria, in a voice that was familiar but alien all at once - Aquaria had heard herself in caves often enough, but to hear her words coming from another mouth was strange indeed. "I know what you are," croaked Aquaria. On all fours herself, she was aggressive, throat bulging, advancing on the other Aquaria until she was in the corner. "I know about the other world - the Surfacers who hurt Jessie." Aquaria was now showing teeth - sharp, serrated incisors that could tear out a dolphin's heart. She had heard the stories Jessie had told. "The warriors of this pod will be here for you soon." She didn't bellow, not yet - not when confronted with a fellow Deep One. "Soon - but they will be busy long enough. I came to tell you that your pet is safe - for now. The pale one has other interests - and the Inquisitor other entertainments. The other two and their forces cannot breach our fortress." The other Aquaria cast her eyes upward - not a submissive gesture, but a diplomatic one. "I know you care for her - and fear the wolves that would devour her." Aquaria set all four of her feet and glared at her counterpart, trying to pick out where they were different. She could see very little - a few more scales, a few less tattoos, but they might have been hatched from the same egg. "You crossed between the worlds to tell me that Jessie is safe. I am not addled, void-drinking reflection. I know what your world is. Why are you here?" "We are stronger than the walls between worlds, sister," croaked the other Aquaria, tilting her head to study her counterpart in return. "And the shadow-witch who so fears entropy left a crack open in her terror to seal off the end of things. But the songs of Dagon and Hydra echo across what the Surfacers call the multiverse. You are a softer reflection - but we are not so different. You have your pet; I have mine - you have your mission, I have mine." "She is not a pet. She is my sister," croaked Aquaria, a confession she would hardly ever have made in front of Jessie, for whom that word meant something different. "How could you have a mission on that world? They are foul things - I would have died slowly in a cage had I come there." The other Aquaria did something that made Aquaria's pale belly flush crimson - she quoted a holy text. "The blood of the Surface is the way to the future. When I proved myself to them, I joined their ranks as their Sea Devil. I gather the blood they spill - and when the stars are right, it will open the doors of the Deep to them. The Inquisitor knows," said the other Aquaria, her mouth falling open in a laugh. "But she finds me...entertaining." "Those are great spells - but I am no shaman. What did you do?" croaked Aquaria suspiciously. "I prayed in the name of Dagon and Hydra. I do their work - and carry their power." It explained everything - but surely it couldn't! "You're lying!" croaked Aquaria insistently. "Dagon and Hydra would never give power in a monstrous Surfacer pawn!" "Oh water-bearer!" The other Aquaria gave a deep laugh. "You please them, you know. You keep their faith even here - even if you leave it to others to feed them. But never fear. You will learn better soon. When the stars are right-" Aquaria dived for her, then, limbs and tongue, but the other Deep One vanished in an eyeblink, her spell broken when her double approached so close. Tarva found Aquaria in the bathroom - the phantom intruders in the upper floors having been banished by her spells, and the real intrusion found below. Shaking with her own suppressed terror, she studied the Deep One for a moment before making herself visible - she'd grown to like the other female, with whom she'd spoken at length about religion, especially the crawling chaos which surrounded all existence. "Aquaria, was someone here?" she demanded. "Was it one of your people?" Aquaria looked up and rose to a bipedal position. "Yes. I need to talk to you...."

Couple of things. I think you wrote 1 where you meant to write 4 (and 2 where you meant to write eight) in his skill ranks. Defensive Roll gives +2 Toughness per rank by our House Rules. You need to meet caps - ATK+DMG/2 needs to equal 10, DEF+TOU/2, the same. Right now he's not doing that. Bold your powers in the style of our sample sheets. http://www.freedomplaybypost.com/start/sample-characters/sample-character-9-totem-r23/ Like so. I like the backstory pretty well!

"Is he from the STARS?" croaked Sea Devil, impressed by Deoxy's scientism as he analyzed the Surfacer dream-thief's technology. "I have been to the stars and they are full of strange beings and machines. One could definitely be stealing dreams here - I know some of the star-people can even hear minds!" She gave a little nervous hop at Deoxy's words, then said, "I am Aquaria Innsmouth," she said. "I live in Freedom City - and I am trying to be a model citizen of your society." Once again, it sounded like a memorized script, and not one written by the armored heroine. "I am from a..." She stopped the script, then made a sound like a hiccough inside her armor. "My people have caused trouble for your people when we didn't have any food or had bad shamans. So I wear the armor around people who don't know me, so I don't frighten your little younglings."

August 1, 2016 It was Puppet Day - and things were a mess. Despite the public service announcement by Johnny Rocket and Dr. Metropolis (the latter six inches tall and made of hovering brown and green felt) that the Freedom League was on the case, the mass transformation of close to a third of Freedom City's population (especially its superhumans) was causing chaos all over the city. There was plenty for heroes to do, large and small. - The Dakanan Consulate For all their substantial superpowers, Edge and Monsoon had been pressed into service for the moment as child-minders - an assembly of children between the ages of one and six, the dozen or so children having drawn an unlucky straw and had two parents turn into puppets. Though neither Mark or Nina had much experience with childcare, they had quickly moved into action. Mark kept bags of snacks and bottles of milk and juice full, while Nina's stories kept older children occupied. Those that weren't playing iPads, anyway. Freedom City kids were resilient. "And then, all the world was transformed into a strange medieval society! I myself became a marid, daughter of the king of the seas, wedded to a handsome prince from the jinn kingdoms! Only our friends-" "Are you and Mr. Mark married in real life?" asked one small girl with a head full of blonde curls and a curious expression on her face. "Ah, no, but-" "But he said you two live in the same house!" asked one little boy of about the same age. "Are you two brother and sister?" "No! But we will be married soon! Now, children, back to the tale..."

Oh hey, that's pretty clever! That does hit the target helpless this round. http://orokos.com/roll/424374 = 25 No Nullification! Hologram is up!

"You are magnificent," said Comrade Frost, giving Leilani a sincere compliment - and a very pleased look. "You should be proud of what you have done already - and more pride to come today, eh? We get you a better sundress, one that shows off those lovely eyes." Turning to Pax, he drove one fist into another, a cheerful smile on his face. "Well then, let us beat down these criminals and free your neighborhood of this curse, eh? Have plenty of practice with this - and American gangsters usually pettily armed compared to Russian equeevalents, with their AKs and their metahumans and their government connections." He winked, then added in a perfectly serious tone, "But if this is some scheme to have us beat your rivals in some petty gang war, I'll have my friends here set your arse on fire."

"Okay," said Fast-Forward, his voice and face steady. "Let's do this." Miras seemed to blink - and just at the edges of her own speed saw Fast-Forward move like a lightning bolt through the crowd of civilians, battering them aside like a miniature hurricane. In the space of an eyeblink, he'd taken down the entire crowd of civilians - and had shucked his stolen outfit for his costume. He pointed a finger at Miras and said in a tone of great annoyance, "If my wife has to bust me out of time-jail again, lady, you are answering to her!" Looking at the startled 'witch' and her Native companions, he extended a hand. "We are running for the damn forest, or you can stay here and be hung or shot when they wake up. Take my hand if you want to live."