Avenger Assembled

Old Tales Neko "Okay. I am telling this story in Japanese because I can't tell it in English at all. I am telling this story because I do not think anyone else knows it anymore, and I want to make sure it survives. This is a story from Neko Village in the Iya Valley of Japan. This is a story my parents told me when I was very small, just as they had heard it from their parents, and their parents, and so on. Here goes. Once there was a samurai named Umetsu Chubei, a young warrior who served as a night-guard at his lord's castle gates. One night, when he was on duty during the deepest, darkest, most magical part of the night, he had an unusual encounter with an ancestor of mine. She met him when he was climbing the hill to take up his position at the castle with a very special cargo - a baby who had been born in the village at the foot of the hill. She begged him for help, saying "Good Sir Umetsu, tonight I am in great trouble, and I have a most painful duty to perform; will you not kindly help me by holding this little baby for one moment?" So she held out the baby to him - and though he must have feared goblins or demons, he took the baby from her. Recognizing that he was indeed a brave warrior to take a burden from a mysterious stranger, even one who had hidden her true nature from him, she smiled and said "Thank you! Please hold it until I come back. I will return in a very little while!" So she turned and ran away into the darkness at the side of the road, fast on all four legs, and by the time he turned around to look, she was gone! Now she wasn't there to watch him as he held the baby, but she could feel him through the spell that bound her to it, and she knew what he must have been feeling. What he was feeling was that the baby was growing heavier and heavier! Ten pounds! Twenty! Fifty! A hundred! Oh he longed to drop the baby but a samurai does not break his word, so he held it! Two hundred! Three hundred! Four hundred pounds! When he thought his muscles would give way, he began to pray - Namu Amida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu! And when he finished the prayer, he looked down and realized - the baby was gone! Now my ancestor went looking for him after that, and she found him standing still at the side of the road, a look of bafflement on his face. She was tired after all that had happened that evening, sweating and her sleeves bound back, but she told him the truth - which is not something my people like to do if we can help it! "Kind Sir," she told him, "yI am the guardian of this place, and tonight one of the women in the village below found herself in the pains of labor, so she called to me for help! When I saw I could not do it alone, I found the strongest and bravest warrior in this castle." The child she had laid in his hands was the child that had not been born, you see! When he felt it becoming heavy, the peril to mother and baby was growing, when he thought he might drop it, both of them would have died! Only his strength, his courage, and his prayer had saved the baby and mother! So my ancestor gave him a just reward; strength to bend iron in his bare hands, and leap over a house in a single bound! He became a great warrior in his lord's service, and his children carried his gift into the future. I think this story reminds us that those who are not yet born are just as real as those who have passed into the other realm, the ghosts of those who have not yet lived. It also reminds us about trust, and loyalty, and keeping one's word above all things. That's what my parents told me, anyway... Ah. Ah, I think I'm done."

Claremont Academy Fall 2021 The members of Red Squad had been told their special weekend project was quite a doozy, and they were right - though perhaps not in the usual superpowered way. Escorting selected structural supports and architectural plans from the Centurion's Sanctum to the National Building Museum in Washington was a high honor, even if by all accounts it was just going to involve a trip in a private jet and a short car trip to the NBM. Waiting for them as they reported for their bus ride to the airport was their escort for the day; a woman none of them had met before, not to speak of, but who all of them had heard of. The Patriot, second to bear that title, was a solidly-built Asian woman who looked to be maybe thirty (though really, who could tell the ages of adults well) her face partially obscured by a dark red and blue armored helmet complete with chin guard, eyes hidden by white reflective lenses over the eyepiece. Her armored costume consisted of a blue Kevlar tactical shirt, white stain-repellent trousers, and maroon gauntlets. It's a look obviously inspired by the previous Patriot, with a few upgrades. She was waering a brown leather bomber jacket over the top of the costume with an American flag sewn on the back and white star over the heart. Her tactical boots didn't add enough to her height to make her 5'10" but she's close. Inside her helmet, Ashley was already dreading this, even as she was reminding herself to stow it. You volunteered for this job. That means keeping an eye on the kids, especially the ones Callie is keeping a special eye on. You spend a day with them, talk about working for the government and not hiding in the shadows, it's great. Her red white and blue bike was parked nearby the bus, whose driver was inside grabbing breakfast before they all hit the road. It was early morning for teenagers; Ashley had been up for hours. She stood with her arms folded over her chest and greeted the first student with "Morning. Just wait right there till everyone's here, I don't want to talk over the engine."

"Oh," said Owain thoughtfully, "after the bard! There w-are actually several enchanters in Arthur's court," he went on, stumbling just a little but continuing with a manful smile, "but Merlin was the one who was also a bard! So naturally, when tales are told of the enchanters in the service of King Arthur, they are primarily tales of Merlin." Considering a moment, he said, "If I gave offense with my words, I beg your pardon, good fellow. The language I speak is from some centuries in the past and I must admit I know little of the sciences of this day. Thank you for your time, bardic monkey." Neko hesitated another moment, shooting a yellow-eyed glance at the adults, and said in a frustrated tone, "People told me not to use the 'Internet' on computers, but I don't even know how to use a typewriter, so I don't understand what that means." She bit her lip and added, "If someone out there has the power to hurt me, I have the power to hurt them. I know men can be pigs." She stood up, gathering up the dishes from her mostly-eaten meal, and carried them to the sink, her tail twitching behind her where it poked out from her kimono.

"My lady Talya! You come in on cat's feet," Owain elbowed Neko, who stuck out her tongue at him in a way that strongly resembled a little sister and elder brother, then turned back to Merlin. You should save some, said he, his delight clear on his ruddy face as he hooted and hissed, it makes a potent - well what am I doing telling a familiar about spell components? He laughed and went on, I do not know what you eat but yon icechest is full of delights! You will live thrivingly. Nodding in satisfaction, he explained to the others, "I am so pleased to have met a live ape! Logres has many fantastic beasts but apes but dwell 'neath the Pillars of Hercules. Today grows ever better!" "I will - clean," Neko was starting to offer Talya, "when it is- She blinked when Raina spoke to her in Japanese, her ears swiveling in the girl's direction and yellow eyes focusing on her. "You speak Japanese? Or, no, that's the spell." Neko's own accent was - rustic to Raina's magically enhanced ears, there was no other word for it, as if she'd been talking to somebody from Riley's Florida swamp. "Just as these are my ears," she added firmly, and sure enough there didn't seem to be anything tucked away beneath the soft white hair on her head. She hesitated, bit her lip, and went on, "Does that spell work on other people, or just you?"

APPROVED

Let us know when you've got it ready!

"'Tis magic!" declared Owain cheerfully, fluttering up to land on the desk near James. "I _am_ one trained as a knight," he went on, seemingly fully comfortable as a bird, "but as a knight-enchanter. Arthur has several such men in his warband at Camelot, and mayhap when enow time has passed, I will take my place among them." Owain flapped his wings and went on. "To cast the spell, I find an animal in peril, save it from whatever enemy bedevils it, then ask if I might wear its shape as my boon. When I was a small boy, I found a raven caught in a farmer's snare, and by saving its life won the right to assume its shape. Magic is weaker in these times but bond between magus and animal remains. I, ah, don't make a great show of it around the other fellows, because you know, it's not really the done thing. A man should be known for his valor, not how many texts he has studied."

"A cursed weapon can be a burden as well as a blessing," said Owain sympathetically. "By my troth, none shall hear from me what burned yon ceiling," he added seriously. Considering the other boy's feelings, he decided not to press him for a demonstration of his powers - and decided perhaps he needed a demonstration of something else to take his mind off his woes. "But since you mention birds, let me show you something of my own." He folded his hands before him and closed his eyes, drawing upon the spells he'd long since committed to heart. He spoke aloud siâp y gigfran And was gone! There had been no abrupt flash of light or noise, no sudden painful shifting. It was as if his outline had reshaped itself neatly into the form of a handsome black bird. The bird looked at James, opened its big beak, and spoke in Owain's cheerful voice. "Fear not, James, it is I, Owain, in the form of a raven!"

Well you can stunt it, only one way to find out if it works! =D

Neko twitched her nose and cocked her head at Raina, trying to figure out who 'Josie' was, at least once she'd figured out who she was talking to. It's probably some sort of stupid American nickname, she opined. By way of response, she let herself be seen for the first time during the meal. First her ears seemed to rise up over her head, curling like paper as they unfolded like a cat's ears, then her tail seemed to wriggle up from behind her, white and brown to match the color of her hair. She understood the idea that some humans were sickened by cat hair but what was she supposed to do? She washed herself once every day; usually more. "Greetings, fair one," said Owain, giving Raina a wary look for a moment. "You must be - I say, is your familiar an ape!?" he asked suddenly, practically bolting upright in his chair where he'd been half-slouching. He looked at the dirty beast and suddenly began making a sound that very much resembled the squeaking of a bird, but to Merlin's ears sounded very much like the normal vocalizations of a capuchin monkey. Hello! I am honored to meet you! There is plenty of food here if you desire it!

Fall 2021 The Espadas School of Self Defence and Swordsmanship! Things were changing in the Espadas household this year between Min's twins, Raina's recent 21st birthday, and now the arrival of the two timelost teens from Burma. Owain and Neko had, in their first weekend, been consciously perfect guests - both ready to volunteer for any task around the house that was asked of them, neither of them in much mood to get into detail about their lives before they came here. (Neko had her own obstacles there, for that matter.) When they returned, they had a little more to say; or at least Owain did. "And so between the two of us, James, and Simon, it seems fele of the class is from some age other than this one!" He was gesturing with his knife as he spoke, thrusting vigorously and speaking loudly. "Who knew this would be the year of people wrested from another age to come to this one? Withal, to answer your question, sir, it goes well. Haven't seen any carrying any particularly fine weapons, but when I do, I'll see what fires their heart." For her part, Neko simply nodded, catching the buckwheat soba noodles around her chopsticks and popping them in her mouth. These were a fair approximation of the food she'd eaten back home, but not quite the same. Her ears and tail were seemingly out of view at the table, though the hair on her head was still a mixed patch of white and brown and was obviously cat hair rather than human. It was nearing the end of dinner; it was almost time for the younger children to head for bed. "It is okay," she agreed after Owain was finished speaking. "My roommate is very nice."

"Ah, well, I am sure we will make spiritual discoveries together," Gawain told James easily. "Do you wish to see something amazing?" He took out two wooden plates from his bag, one side paper the other a curved metal hook, then slowly peeled the paper off the backs of both. He then placed them against the wall over his bed, pressing hard, and stepped back to admire his work. "You see? The paper conceals a cunning glue on the back!" He pulled his sword from his bag, carefully mounted in its sheath, and placed it on the rack. "So you have armor, eh? Well-smithed, I take it, or does it give you woe?" He was careful not to touch James, having taken the poor boy's measure, but was clearly giving him all his attention. "You must have some hand with it, else you could not have fought these gator beasts so well!" he offered encouragingly.

@RocketLordnow it is you

It does not qualify as a crit but it is still impressive! Tou vs 27: 23 Another bruise!

Neko had removed her shoes when she'd first entered her bedroom, but inside Danica's shell she felt the urge to do it again, if only to be polite. She looked around and opened her arms, summoning a black and white cat that turned and ran back the way the girls had gone, then abruptly vanished around the time it would have crossed back out into the real world. "Okay! I see!" said Neko, looking around with awe frank on her face. "Your own - kingdom. You are - very powerful." It was more a statement about politics than superpowers. "Do you have servants here?" She had seen none, but Americans liked to hide things that were of great import if they found them embarrassing. She sat down on the floor, crossing her legs beneath her, and looked around the room, trying to keep confusion off her face as Danica gave the little machine a toy. Her tail thwapped on the floor nervously for a moment before she calmed herself. She had only seen pictures of rooms like this, only in her father's books - and they had looked like rooms in great palaces or the lairs of magicians, not the bedroom of an American teenager.

Angelic looked up at the gateway and, without a backwards glance, leaped upwards. So much she'd built, so much she'd lost. What was waiting for them on the other side, after all this time?

Don't forget here, @EternalPhoenix

Neko stared at the robot for an uncomprehending instant, then declared <Oh! You speak Japanese! That's wonderful!> So a little machine speaks Japanese but hardly any human beings do! Well it is better than nothing. He is very cute. She was distracted by the show Danica was putting on and watched with great interest as the turtle girl disappeared into her shell. This sort of thing had been a great surprise to many of Danica's peers over the years, but Neko looked more interested than surprised; as if she was watching a talented artist at work rather than something alien. With a nod, she climbed up onto the bed, lowered her head and raised her butt, and padded slowly into the shell behind Danica, giving Magenta a wave to follow.

Eira laughed and adjusted herself unconsciously. "No, that is the advantage of making my own," she said with a grin, "there was no actual puberty." She had had a lot of help from Miss Americana, of course, who had done her the favor of putting her in touch with the same specialists Gina had met with back in the early days. "Both hardware and software have been fully transferred, and all systems have been fully tested. A friend is working on an implantable drone for the upper torso but this is me for the future. Finally." She spread her arms and pirouetted, looking very pleased with herself. "One me, in any event." She smiled as a flexible plastic outer shell that looked like flesh rearranged itself slightly, her hair turning blue and her nose and brow piercings re-emerging from where they'd vanished. Her clothes rearranged themselves too into a jacket and jeans combo that showed her regular fashion sense hadn't changed very much. She bit her blue-painted lip. "You see? Who would think that flower would have such petals. Here, let me show you this. Go ahead and go translucent," she offered, the word having been what she'd first called Kimber's incorporeal state when she was a small child just learning English from someone who only spoke it as his own second language. When Kimber did, Eira clenched her fists and they were suddenly wreathed with lightning. "Don't worry," she offered, "I tried this with Sharl when he was projecting and he assured me it did not hurt..." She reached out and touched Kimber's arm experimentally, and sure enough there was a distinct sensation of electrical contact there for both of them. "There!" she said, her eyes lighting up. "You see what science has done!"

Well robot man so don't use Fort saves. Maybe some kind of EMP? Magnets? Electricity?

Does he have Precise Shot to avoid hitting Patriot II who's in melee with the guy? It's great if he doesn't, let me know!

"That's my boy!" said Fast-Forward, beaming with pride. He'd already changed for battle, though of course in his case that didn't involve much of a change in his wardrobe other than unzipping his jacket and running his hands through his hair. He clapped his son on his back, glanced over at the second Archer to realize he wasn't being addressed as "old man", winked at his wife, then went into action. "Hey Talos!" he called as he ran below, sketching out an arcane pattern with his feet that looked like an X and a half as big around as a small house, then gave it a long tail that ran right up to where the giant robot was hovering. "Sorry buddy but we've already got enough star power here!" He had his mystic text out and was reading from it, sketching out the symbol of the star Sirius underneath the robot's feet faster than the robot could strike back. Richard didn't usually get a chance to use the more offensive mystic powers he'd been practicing over the last few years, not when most super-battles were in the midst of crowded cities, but the big parking lot here and Talos obligingly entering so high above gave him a golden chance. Sure enough, a moment after he cast the spell a flash of searing white light came tearing out of the clear blue sky and caught Talos right in the middle of it, melting the pavement beneath it from the intense heat! Richard smirked as the dust cleared and everyone's vision returned; then stopped smirking as he caught sight of Talos, looking only slightly the worse for wear, floating there in the sky above them. Well, $(#$, he thought over the family commlink.

Everyone who got more than 25 on their Sense Motive: This seems - a little odd for Talos? Doesn't really fit his recent plans or his usual MO; but he's been around a long time and he's done a lot of different things, so maybe...?

Fast-Forward: 33 Terrifica: 28 Archer II: 25 Thoughtspeed: 24 Hologram: 19 Talos: 12 Richard does not actually get to use his Theurgy against flying opponents much! Let's go with the burning light of Sirius here. The DC to hit his target is 22; said target's Tou is 18. Attack vs: 22: 14 https://orokos.com/roll/913888: 28 with the HP. Okay, he has spent the one HP he has by default (that's speedsters for you!). That's a DC 31 Tou save for Talos. https://orokos.com/roll/913889 = 19 well, that - seems anticlimactic! ? Let's say that's a bruise for Talos, and Richard gets his HP back. @EternalPhoenix, Terrifica will be up as soon as I post IC.

But you know who is fast! 33