Gizmo

Trevor's head poked out of the adjoining library almost immediately, one slender eyebrow raised above his onyx and ruby metahuman eyes. He stepped out into the foyer with an open textbook balanced in one hand and a steaming mug in the other, his expression grave as swift, smooth strides carried him over to his friend. "Situation?" he demanded without preamble, snapping the book shut and setting it aside on a nearby end table. The ominous shadows the mansion cast across the lawn outside the large pane windows told him that evening was fast approaching but given Mark's recent penchant for globetrotting it could have been anything that brought him seeking aid. Knowing him, it likely was.

The smirk had left Set's lips before the bolt had been launched at him, his expression hard and humourless as the dark energies rolled off of his bare torso like rainwater over stone. "We have passed the point of idle amusement, methinks," he decided, an electric crackle of anger in his voice. With an arcane gesture that looked like it was summoning another bolt of lightning but abruptly changed midway, the godling turned his palm upward and clenched his fingertips together into a cage. As he did dust began to fall from the ceiling, as though drywall were being knocked loose by a commotion on the floor above them. Within seconds, however, it became clear that it was not dust but a growing cascade of sand that fell in impossible sheets, taking on partially solid shapes that wrapped about the predatory sorcerers, gaping maws that snapped hungrily. "Dime novel philosophies and embarrassing attempts at shadow magics are one thing," the irritated deity of the desert growled, "but I shall thank you not to lay hands on my sidekick."

"There's a race?" Janet inquired blankly, cutting into her breakfast with minute motions that seemed to cast the craftsmanship of the cutlery in the best possible light. Off of Trevor's silent, stricken expression the older woman made a faint sound that might have been the beginning of a laugh. "Good heavens, what a face. I'm joking, dear. Honestly." Turning back to Erin she elaborated, "I'll be putting in an appearance, yes, but I'm afraid I don't have the time to make a day of it. Shame; it's always good to observe the new talent." Trevor had a disconcerting feeling that his mother wasn't talking about the drivers but he was occupied with smoothing his features and regaining his momentarily misplaced composure. "Hilarious." He focused on his coffee, draining the better part of his china cup before exhaling and returning his attention to the table at large.

Set Move Action: Taunt Necromancer 1. (1d20+10=26) Standard Action: Snare vs. Necromancers. That's a DC 17 Reflex save for both of them, using the sand descriptor.

We're not in rounds just yet - and it's probably wise to remember that there's another three villains about somewhere - but feel free to get reaction posts up. Post Initiative here when you can so that it's ready to go when we need it.

The summer heat was enough to take the edge off most urgency as everyone from the common to the extraordinary went about their business at a languid pace. The lazy quality of the day was abruptly shattered by an explosion at one of the university's off-site laboratories, about a block away from the campus proper. The blast was large enough to rattle patio furniture and jostle shop shelves in a wide radius while dark smoke rose up into a growing cloud. "Dammit, Khania!" A man in a light coloured summer suit that had probably been impeccable before he'd been caught too close to the explosion staggered a few steps out of the lab building and onto the street. Shouts of alarm arose from the gathering crowd as he lowed a hand from one eye to reveal nearly a third of his tanned, chiseled features completely missing, revealing a metallic skull. "What happened to subtle?!" In response, a woman of striking and obviously alien beauty flew through the smoke to float above a nearby lamppost. "Bah! The blame cannot be placing on me, Blackfire!" she insisted in a haughty, imperious tone, brushing aside voluminous, raven hair that trailed to her ankles with an emerald hand. "The guardsman was, how do you say, taking too long!" "How the hell else would you say that?!" Blackfire groaned in palpable frustration, ripping off the tattered remains of a shirt sleeve and the skin beneath it from his arm and tossing it to the ground.

Midnight finally paused his inspection of the downed leprechaun long enough to react to Dralion's presence with a flat sound could have been a snort or a rumbling growl. The black clad hero smoothly rose to his feet without bothering to take an aggressive or defensive stance, calmly replacing a few tools into the organized confines of his belt. "Wary of unexpected allies in museums," he intoned without a hint of emotion, telepathically sharing the context of their encounter with Hades' vanguard with Renarde in a short burst of memories. "Weary of talk. Need to be stopped." In a single, contained gesture he indicated the unconscious fae and straightened his fedora. "How?"

Ghost Girl and Wraith - See Thee Rise Parliament Hill, Ottawa July 1, 2013 “Boy, these guys just aren’t very bright,†Ghost Girl noted frankly as she floated in a wide arc around a handful of Overthrow agents struggling against the rough block of ice that enveloped them up to their necks. “I’m not trying to tell you how to do your job or anything,†the translucent blue teenager continued, turning to the terrorists and placing her hands on her spectral hips, “but attacking Parliament Hill on Canada Day? You had to know True North would be here, they’re part of the show!†“It does seem unwise,†Wraith mouthlessly hummed; three large, featureless black eyes giving the frozen goons another look over as she circled opposite Ghost Girl’s arc. “I think perhaps that they were trying to make a statement, but I do not believe guaranteed failure is the statement they were trying to make. Going into the beast’s den does not make you stronger than the beast,†she added, extending her head toward an agent and sounding for all the world like she was trying to give helpful advice. “It only makes you an easy meal.†Carrying a set of ruined power armor over each massive, white fur covered shoulder while dragging their unconscious pilots along the ground with her second, smaller pair of arms, the girls’ old friend and recent junior addition to the national super team Wendy Go snorted appreciatively at the idiom, a gruff, animalistic sound. All around the Parliament Buildings dispatched terrorists intermingled with signs of the days festivities, the latter slightly the worse for wear but still standing unlike the former. The recent Claremont graduates had only arrived in Ottawa the night before, with a typically enthusiastic Kimber convincing her roommate to tag along on a long overdue visit to her home country while they deliberated on their future plans. The attack during the Canada Day celebrations had been an unwelcome distraction but the plucky poltergeist had been thrilled to fight alongside her mentor and his team and, if she were being completely honest, glad to show off the country’s greatest heroes in action in front of Indira. “Fascinating, isn’t it?†a warm, friendly baritone cut in as a figure in a stately white uniform approached astride a robotic horse. Strikingly handsome for all he was clearly not of Earth, the Cosmic Constable smoothly dismounted and stepped smartly over to the young women. “Tragically misled, but fascinating. I expect you’re right about them wanting to make a statement, miss. Hopefully they can be rehabilitated and set to work for good rather than destruction. Constable J'ou Dorah't,†he introduced himself, offering Wraith a gloved hand and a winning smile of white teeth set against bright red skin. “That was some fine work today, both of you. Glad to have you.†“Wraith,†the metal heroine replied, rising up off all fours and reforming one of her arms into a proper, bluntly-clawed hand to accept J’ou’s. “We were pleased to help, though I am certain you did not need us - Overthrow is dangerous, but rarely overwhelming. They do have good taste in metals, however.†Her head turned clear around on her shoulders to eye one of Wendy’s burdens, eyes turning up in a smile at a bit of battle damage that looked like someone had let acid eat clear through the plating. If villains were going to insist on making her place herself between civilians and harm, it was very kind of them to provide a mid-fight meal. Kimber bit her ephemeral tongue to keep a potentially embarrassing, high pitched sound of delight from escaping. Almost from the moment they’d left the plane at the airport, being back in Canada had lent an extra charge of energy to the teenage poltergeist. It was the little things like familiar businesses on the corner or overhearing a particular turn of phrase that made it feel like home in a way she hadn’t realized she’d been missing. Even amongst the maple leaf decorations and numerous flag all around them, though, there were few individuals more iconically Canadian than the Cosmic Constable, otherworldly origin and all. Wraith’s head spun around to look forward again - which, somewhat disturbingly, meant it had now made a full 360 degrees. “It is my understanding that they are not very good at being rehabilitated,†she said. “Perhaps you will have more luck here. I have heard good stories of your country from Ghost Girl.†“Well now that’s mighty fine to hear, Miss Wraith,†the Constable laughed easily, releasing her hand to whistle sharply, the sound emerging as a two note harmony from his alien throat. At the command his silvery steed whinnied briefly before moving to begin nudging the sizable chunk of ice and Overthrow agents along in the same direction the suits of armor had been headed. “If it’s not prying, you’d be from out Kinigos way yourself, am I right? Warrior caste, I’d wager?†Floating back around to join them, Ghost Girl bobbed up and down energetically, biting her lower lip slightly as she addressed J'ou. “Wraith’s only the best Kinigosi warrior around!†she insisted, giving her friend a pair of enthusiastic thumbs up. “And not just ‘cause she’s gotta stick around here where there pretty much aren’t any others.†Wraith jerked up straight like someone had run an electric current through her, casting her three-eyed gaze around the area to see if anyone had overheard the conversation. “I...thank you, very much, but it is not...it is a secret,†she admitted, deflating a little and wincing. “I am supposed to be here, but nobody is supposed to know that I am here - it is...complicated.“ “Ah, jams! No no, it’s fine! Probably,†Kimber assured her friend with a stricken expression that made it clear she’d forgotten about the need for secrecy in her eagerness to brag about the huntress’ prowess. “Remember that photo we saw at the museum, where True North visited Kinigos in the sixties? If anyone asks, we totally have an excuse!†“You are correct, however - warrior caste.†Wraith straightened back up, mollified, a little pride creeping into her voice. “I am pleased that you could tell; I am not used to being recognized. I am a very long way from a home most of you do not even know exists...it has been several years since I saw our version of your ‘Canada Day’. Though it is not so different.†She turned her head again to look at the decorations - albeit some slightly worn - and the human population - albeit some slightly arrested. “Perhaps - the word is ‘patriotism’? - perhaps patriotism is somewhat similar everywhere. I am glad Ghost Girl convinced me to come. Though this particular celebration probably means more to her than to me; I do not know much of your country, other than what she has told me.†The Constable held up both of his hands in a calming gesture, apparently more for the fretting phantom’s sake than that of the metallic shapeshifter. “That trip was before my time, I admit, but I’ve read all the briefings. If the wrong sort start asking questions, we’ll make sure you’re not bothered.†He offered the visiting heroine a broad wink that looked humourously exaggerated on his honest features. “You’re not the first immigrant in Ottawa, after all, haha!†As they spoke, J’ou’s horse reappeared and began ambling over, an oddly relaxed gait for a machine. “I’ve seen a lot of national and planetary celebrations on a lot of worlds,†the alien anthropologist confided as he rubbed his mount’s nose fondly. “Studied, you might even say. It may just be the traveler far from home in me, but I’ve got a bit of a pet theory there.†Hopping onto the steed’s back just as elegantly as he dismounted, he trotted about to face the young women. “They’re less about where you’re from and more about enough folks getting together and all agreeing they belong until it starts being true. And I figure that’s pretty special.†Taking up the reins he began to head off. “Nice meeting you, Miss Wraith. You two have fun, now!†Once he was out of earshot, Ghost Girl ran a hand over her masked face with a small sound of exasperation. “Okay, are there any average looking people in space or are you all just flying around being dreamy all the time? Because that must get exhausting.†While the phantom looked over to the reconstructed stage, Wraith felt a telekinetic arm wrap under one of her own and tug her in the same direction. “You’re right, though. I should stop just telling you about stuff and show you! C’mon, I think the bands are coming back on!â€

Set Will Save vs. DC 18. (1d20+8=24)

Set pursed his lips and made a flat raspberry sound. "That's stupid. You're stupid." With gathered energy crackling about his fingertips, the godling gave them an imperious snap and pointed at the philosophically vocal necromancer who'd attacked Temperance. In response a rumbling boom of thunder sounded from outside and a split second later one of the room's windows shattered into uncounted shards, its curtains abruptly burned away to make way for a savage column of crimson lightning. The bolt struck the spiritual cannibal squarely in the chest, knocking him off of his feet and into the far wall where he slumped to the floor, acrid smoke wasting upward from his robe. Brick red dreadlocks jostled by the strong wind coming in through the broken window, Set sniffed disdainfully. "I was vegan long before it was cool, you know," he noted casually, though he failed to completely hide his self-satisfied smirk.

Jaeger Piloting Drift Checks At the beginning of each round, each jaeger pilot must make a drift check. This is a Will Save with a difficulty equal to 10 + the difference between the pilot's Charisma scores. For example, if their Charisma scores are 12 and 17 respectively, they are each rolling against a DC 15 Will Save. If both pilots make the drift check, they are considered in alignment and all rolls made by the jaeger for the following round use the higher of each pilot's bonuses for a given score. This includes attack rolls, saving throws and skill checks. The higher bonus is used to determine Defense and any circumstance bonuses from feats such as Favoured Enemy apply. If one pilot fails the drift check, their alignment falters and all rolls made by the jaeger for the following round use the lower of each pilot's bonuses for a given score and circumstance bonuses may not be applied. If both pilots fail the drift check, they fall out of alignment and the jaeger is dazed for one round, unable to take any actions but defending normally, using the lower of the two pilot's bonuses to determine saving throw bonuses and Defense. If both pilots succeed by 5 or more, they are in perfect alignment and receive a temporary Hero Point to be spent in the following round. This HP may be spent in any of the usual manners but disappears at the beginning of the next round if unspent. Drift Compatibility Several factors can convey bonuses or penalties to drift checks. Bonuses and penalties are cumulative but each may apply only once. Immediate relatives and long term romantic partners receive +1 to drift checks with each other.Pilots who grew up together or who shared a significantly defining event receive +1 to drift checks with each other.Characters who share a Communication Link or have otherwise spent significant amounts of time telepathically linked receive +2 to drift checks with each other.One rank of Teamwork grants a pilot +1 to their own drift check. Three ranks grants a +2 bonus.Eidetic Memory imposes a -1 penalty on the other pilot's drift check.The Nightmares drawback or similar Complications apply a -1 penalty to both pilots' drift checks.Powers with the telepathy or technopathy descriptors grant a pilot +1 to their own drift check.A pilot receives a +1 bonus to drift checks with someone named in an overall positive manner in their character sheet's history or Complications, such as Friendship, Responsibility or Rivalry. This bonus does not stack with the bonus for immediate relatives and romantic partners.A pilot receives a -2 penalty to drift checks with someone named in a negative manner in their character sheet's history or Complications, such as Enemy, Grudge or Hatred.The GM should feel free to impart additional circumstance bonuses or penalties as seems appropriate.

Set will spend the HP to use Luck Control to force a reroll on that Toughness save. Sekhmet Toughness Save: Toughness Save vs. DC 23. (1d20+7=15) Ow.

Set Move Action: Taunt vs. Necromancer 3. (1d20+10=14) Standard Action: Lightning Bolt vs. Necromancer 3. (1d20+7=22) That should hit, and with Autofire it's DC 15 + 7 + (4/2) = 24.

Still a few formatting things to fix up: There's no description of what she actually looks like, in or out of the suit. That part's important! Even if she's not spending any points on Charisma, still list it as +0 in the PP tally. "6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 0 = 30PP" For the abilities she has enhanced powers for you've got the right idea but list both bonuses. "Strength: 16/24 (+3/+7)" Attack Bonus can be tidied up some. "Attack : +3 Base, +6 Melee, +7 Suit, +10 Suit Melee" I like that you've listed where everything comes from for Grapple, but flip it around so the actual total is at the front, the same way Defense works. I also don't see Grappling Defense on her sheet; I assume that got cut somewhere along the way! Since her Strength and Dexterity are the same, its moot, just list the correct ability. "Grapple: +17 (+7 Strength, +10 Attack) Make sure to list her flat-footed defense. "Defense: +10 (+3 Base, +4 Suit, +3 Shield), +3 Flat-Footed I'd tidy the saves section up some, too; your nomenclature is a little inconsistent there. For skills, like ranks and PP at the top, not each skill one by one. "Skills: 48R = 12PP" You don't have to list skills she doesn't have ranks in; in those cases she's just making an Ability check. Make a note next to the skills she has Skill Mastery in. "Acrobatics 8 (+15) SM" I only see 17 Feats but you're paying for 18. The Powers in her device should still be bold and formatted like her other powers. The Super-Senses in her suit don't appear to be finished. Visual and Auditory senses are already Acute by default. You may have meant Accurate or Analytical. See >here for a list of what each sense type includes. You still need a DC table and a total PP count at the bottom of your sheet. On the actual audit side of things, what's the thinking behind the One-Way Transformation on her suit? Why should it be so much harder to take off than put on? For a 2PP Drawback we're talking about hours and probably special equipment to remove. I'm also curious about the reasoning behind Enhanced Wisdom in the suit. Super-Senses make sense for a heads-up display and sensor suite, but as it stands it also make the wearer more strong willed, better at foraging for food in a woodland area, better at telling if someone is lying and so on. As an aside, she's got nominally 16 in all of her ability scores and +10 in all of her exotic saves. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that but it is pretty nondescript. Just within saves, for example, a higher Fortitude than Will might be a ballroom brawler who shrugs off pain but falls for dirty tricks while a higher Reflex than Fortitude describes a fighter who relies on escaping explosions by the skin of their teeth. It's an opportunity to represent your character's flavour mechanically. Just putting everything a character says in bold text can be a little annoying on the page, but that's getting into the most minor nitpicking! On the whole a really solid first draft. It might be useful to give it a little more time in Character Building if you're still tinkering.

"So it was a real ghost," Wail surmised, flicking his wrist to remove some of the ectoplasmic residue still dissipating from his fingers, "but it was a fake real ghost." Turning his hand over and grimacing at it even once the phantom goo had disappeared, LaMarr turned to Cimitiere and let out a slow, audible breath through his nose. "This does not put me in a chuckling mood, son. What can you tell me about..." He gestured in the general area the ghost had inhabited. "...this?"

"Oh my," Set tutted, placing a crooked finger to his chin and shaking his head in the moment that Sekhmet was struck mute by inarticulate rage. "What a singularly poor choice of words." Before he could elaborate the goddess let lose a leonine roar of righteous fury and leapt straight for the throat of the most offensive opponent. "Defilers! Honourless carrion feeders!" she snarled, baring pronounced canines as her arm shot forward and inhumanly strong fingers clenched around the female necromancer's throat. "Thou shall learn respect, mortal cur, and to fear thine betters!" Lifting the practitioner enough that her toes were only barely touching the room's floor, Sekhmet followed up with a backhanded blow that was almost too quick to follow, equal parts decisive attack and punishing reprimand. "Truly, you cannot claim this was without warning," Set added, making a show of casually preparing for battle while still looking about the room with detached interest, ruby tinged lightning beginning to gather about his fingertips. "She Who Mauls is quite publicly open about her approach to conflict resolution."

Janet watched Erin's face carefully as the younger woman made her best attempt at diplomacy. When she had finished the socialite's expression didn't soften exactly but displayed a certain understanding. "I can appreciate the conviction if nothing else, dear," she assured Erin with a shallow nod and faint smile. "At the risk of embarrassing him, it's nice to see someone a bit more assertive looking out for Trevor's interests." "Have to somehow overcome mortification," Trevor spoke up flatly, although their was a trace of amusement undercutting his voice, the suggestion of a private joke.

Sekhmet Move Action: Demoralize Necromancer 2. (1d20+5=22) Standard Action: Charge Necromancer 2. (1d20+9=26)

"Heh, no, not 'now now'. Just thinking," Ellie agreed with Mara as her brother and Min reentered the clearing in particularly good spirits. "Oh, subtle." With a snort she stood and walked over to meet them, handing Eden back over to her mother. "So," she chided Erik teasingly, placing a hand on her hip once her arms were free, "when you said you wanted to ask her something, you meant you wanted to know if she'd--" "Marry me, yeah," Erik interrupted, finishing the sentence and keeping his expression mild for a beat and then another while his sister blinked and took a moment to process the conversation abrupt shift in direction. Finally raising a hand to the side of his mouth conspiratorially, he added in a stage whisper that carried far enough for Mara to hear, "She said yes." Eyes wide, Ellie covered her mouth with one hand then almost immediately used the other to slug her brother in the shoulder. "You dork!" Leaving him rubbing his shoulder with a broad grin, the younger sibling turned to hug Min tightly, mindful of the infant, who seemed quite amused by the sudden flurry of movement. "Congratulations."

'?do=embed' frameborder='0' data-embedContent>> '?do=embed' frameborder='0' data-embedContent>>

We'll be using this soon enough! In the meantime, post as you will to establish your character going about their business in the North End near FCU.

Between Freedom City University and various technology companies, the North End was well populated with coffee shops, cafes and bistros suited for relaxing between projects or last minute crunch time before a deadline. Few of them were strangers to eccentric clientele or outlandish fashions but the pair who had commandeered a table on the patio of the Hasbean Cafe surely pushed the limits. "How long dost thou intend to sit here?" Sekhmet sighed, eyelids barely open as she stretched under the summer sun with one toned arm resting behind her asymmetrical haircut. Wariness of her companion only just outweighed the goddess' urge to doze off, a feline instinct made more insistent in a form that actually required sleep. The smaller figure across from her was in no danger of sleep as he drummed the fingers of one hand rapidly along the table with tapping away at his smartphone with the other. "Why would we leave!" Set exclaimed, bouncing enough in his seat to tip his stylish sunglasses upward briefly and jostle his brick red dreadlocks. "Such delightful establishments are the very home of coolness, Sekhmet! We must soak up its trendy essence!" He punctuated the claim with an animated gesture at the rest of the patrons on the patio, most of whom were studiously focusing their attention on laptops and coffee cups. "Do you realize their wireless internets are entirely complementary?! Such an era of prosperous excess! And these charmingly tiny espresso beverages! Magnificent! You must try one, I've had three!"

Set: Initiative. (1d20+3=4) Sekhmet: Initiative. (1d20+5=18)

Wail made a resonant harrumphing sound and he shifted the weight of the carts he was dragging and continued to march toward the gate. "It's damned unsettling, but he's not wrong," he noted to the remaining heroes, although he didn't sound particularly pleased about it. "No use picking a fight with a mess of worn and weary in tow. Don't love leaving the job half done but we found what we came for. Let's get these folks back to their families."

Trevor quietly placed a placating hand on Erin's knee under the table. He appreciated the passionate defense, slight exaggerations and all but he wasn't surprised or particularly hurt by his mother's attitude. For her part, Janet just gave Erin a thoughtful look. "I don't need to be convinced, dear. I know he's gifted and very nearly as focused as his father. I'm hardly going to feign surprise when he succeeds." The waiter returned with their drinks much more quickly than the service had been the previous afternoon, practically tripping over his own feet in spite of himself. "Praise is cheap enough as it is." "And they say my father is the economist," Trevor commented dryly, leaning back slightly in his seat as he took a sip of his coffee. His mother her wine glass slightly in a sort of salute before turning her attention to the menu in front of her.