Gizmo

The Ancient Egyptian exhibit was surprisingly busy for the time of day, a background of conversation and commotion audible once Trenice got close. Standing in front of a restored sarcophagus were a truly bizarre pair who looked as if they had just walked out of the the wall carvings and pictograms elsewhere in the wing. The shorter of the two was a young man not much older in appearance than the high school student herself, with thick, brick red dreadlocks hanging about a broadly ginning face of piercing grey eyes, smooth black makeup and gleaming white teeth. It was hard not to notice his distinct lack of shirt and the lean, sculpted torso that revealed or the anachronistic skirt of overlapping fabric about his waist. His sandals were simple but the golden bracelets and other jewelry about his person looked impossibly expensive. His companion was a full six feet of similarly attired statuesque muscle and predatory grace. Her asymmetrical hair left one smoldering, golden iris visible while the other was concealed behind a wave of black accented by a single tawny streak. Where the male's expression was exuberant, hers was overcast and annoyed, a disposition obviously not being helped by the sizable stack of photographs she carried in her powerful arms which the red haired youth was signing one at a time with a gold marker pen and handing out to a handful of enthusiastic children and their more bewildered parents. "Idiocy," she growled largely to herself, glaring at him. "Thou will not achieve thy stated goals of heroism standing amongst weathered trinkets and distributing these disturbingly life-like etchings on their strangely glossy papyrus." "They're called 'headshots,' Sekhemt," he corrected, holding one up next to his own face and mirroring the winning smile captured in the photo. "Tis nothing shameful in a good, grassroots campaign. They are already here to celebrate the history of our past followers; meeting genuine Heliopolians will be a tale to tell their offspring's offspring! Now, is that Susie with an 'ie' or a 'y'?" he inquired of a girl of perhaps ten or eleven. "The appeal of shooting thee in the head I can assuredly see," agreed Sekhmet with a thin smile.

"I know of no such conflict," Sekhmet told Frost, making a displeased face at the title of 'minder' but unable to refute its accuracy. "I too would know the reason for the attack." The goddess gave Set a hard look, subtly clenching one fist atop the conference table as she did. The shorter deity cleared his throat and interlaced his fingers. "Ah, well, this is merely conjecture on my part, you understand..." His qualifications were cut short by a low growl from his left. "My elder self, in all his questionably attired wisdom, may have potentially made certain promises of alliance which in my present incarnation I might find... less than tasteful. With friends like these, yes?" Stroking his chin with a sudden thought, he asked the Russian at the table, "Incidentally, how is Hel this era? She was always a bit young for my interests but now..." Sekhmet grimaced, an expression that bared her pronounced canines. "My task is made infinitely more difficult then, thanks to thee, betrayer. I do not know why I ought to be surprised." Looking to the heroes about the room she explained, "I am to both keep the liesmith whole and prevent his mischief while on the mortal plane, yes. Ra's irrefutable wisdom was that here Set might be kept out of the way and far from godly whims until he might be required." "Which brings us to how we circumvented that troublesome Pact of yours, haha!" Set chimed in, looking particularly amused now. "Go on, have a guess. Tis simplicity itself but a method so absolutely galling to any god worth the name it's little surprise it's not been done before."

"Tis less a question of why we have come to the mortal plane and more why was Isis not permitted to partially disembowel me and leave me to be perpetually torn apart by immortal vultures for all eternity," Set clarified with nonchalance undercut by the way he placed a hand over his bare stomach as though imaging that outcome. "She'd have a list of grievances to show you but she has never liked me, even when we were new to existence, I remember that quite clearly. Think prissy, overachieving class president and cool, leather jacket-wearing rebel with a motorcycle." The godling's grey eyes lit up with a spark at that thought and he turned to face the goddess on his left. "Sekhmet. Sekhmet, I need a motorcycle!" "I do not know what that is, but you may not have one," the leonine warrior growled irritably, crossing her arms over the top of her shendyt sternly. "Truly, you are a child. Return to answering their questions without these pointless digressions." "Well, we know which sister got the entire allotment of good humour," Set muttered with a petulant frown before reaching into the shadow of his chair and pulling out two globules of inky darkness which he balanced atop outstretched hands like counterweights on a scale. "Without giving a lesson in ur-cosmic mechanics, understand that creation desires, requires balance. In Heliopolis we call this ma'at, and even more than most planes Heliopolis is founded upon ma'at. Tis the core of truth, justice and law!" "As an Eye of Ra, blessed be his name, I am a divine arbiter of ma'at," Sekhmet spoke up. As she did so a halo of golden sunlight appeared behind her head, forming a glowing disk that framed her dark, asymmetrical hair. Her demeanour suggested this was less a display of power than a show of credentials, the equivalent of flashing a badge. "Regrettably, as such this falls under my responsibilities." "Ah, yes, just so," Set agreed, shading his eyes with his shadow globules until the light faded away. "More importantly and more interestingly, Set has ever been a key counterbalance of the highest order! In the beginning, when Ra, shiny be his head, was balanced by that bottom feeding tapeworm Apep, it was Set who protected the sun during his much-needed beauty sleep." The self-satisfied smirk the godling wore slipped several notches as he continued with a slight falter, "...my elder self's regrettable war with Horus the Younger was similarly key to ma'at. My reappearance in a new form while the snake and the falcon remain missing has raised rather dire concerns."

"Aha, convenient indeed!" Set agreed as the flower opened up around them, waving to the crowd with a wide smile in the moments before it swallowed them up and deposited them. "A barracks suits me better," Sekhemt told Tiamat, unruffled by the transportation. The goddess strode through the lobby with a fluid grace, back straight and shoulders squared as she fell into step beside the amazonian red-head. "It does seem unlikely I shall have much time to spare while keeping watch over this one." The expected return jibe from Set never came as the godling had paused in front of one of the lobby's many statues, looking up at the stone visage of Horus the Avenger. The youth's expression was a mixture of reverence and regret that both looked equally out of place on his features. He stood there for several long seconds before jogging off to catch up with the local heroes. Inside the conference room, however, he took on a dark scowl that looked more comfortable on his face, glowering dangerously at Frost with more heat than he'd given the Aztec aggressors earlier. "You cross a line, draugr," he responded in a tone that lacked any of his earlier jocularity. Before he could demonstrate how badly he thought the Russian had erred, a firm hand pushed him down into one of the seats circling the table, though not as forcefully as it might have. "The wise do not inquire too closely on the Ennead's family disputes," Sekhemet advised the gathered group as diplomatically as she was able, nodding her head slightly in deference to Fleur de Joie as the perceived leader of the champions. "The liesmith's return has been the cause of some... concern in Heliopolis, yes." "I can hardly help being the most interesting thing to happen in that stagnant shanty town in eons," the shorter deity sniffed, regaining his composure enough to cross his arms haughtily over his bare chest.

Ellie gave a short laugh, tilting her head as she turned back around to face Mara. "Smoothie. You can only use that 'research' excuse so many time before I start suspecting an ulterior motive, you know." Setting down her armful of branches neatly, she beckoned the engineer closer. "C'mere." Part of her worried she'd been a little clingy since returning to Earth but she'd missed Mara so, so much while she'd been stranded and being in the woods away from everything was starting to get to her a little more than she'd realized at first.

Yolanda accepted the bottle of water and gave the infant in Min's arms a serious, appraising look before nodding gravely. "I will teach her everything I know." With that she skipped off back toward the center of the clearing and presented Erik with the bottle as he finished hammering in the last tent peg of the second tent. "Thanks, kiddo," he told her with a lopsided smile, pausing his work long enough to open the bottle and take a drink. Stretching a bit as he stood up, the fencer paused in the middle of flexing an arm to one side to give Min a look with a suggestively raised eyebrow before breaking down into a broad grin and going to retrieve the next piece of tent he needed. "How're you liking camping, Yoyo?" Stopping to consider for a moment, the girl decided, "I think I need more time to tell for sure, but I like spending time as a family."

Without slowing for a moment, LaMarr waded into the ticking of the firefight, anger pulling at his features behind his sunglasses. A few bullets found him as he made his way to the center of the chaotic street fight, flattening and falling to the pavement as the collided with the hero's super-dense physique. Taking a deep breath, he brought one foot down in a street shaking stomp and shouted, "ENOUGH!" The force of the single word rippled outward as it visibly distorted air and sent gang members stumbling backward and falling to their knees. Cries of surprise and pain were drowned out by the echoing ring while guns clattered to the street and hands futilely attempted to cover ears. "Go home," Wail continued in a voice that was merely a thunderous roar. "Now."

Initiative. (1d20+6=14)

"Damn fool child...!" Wail groaned at the young woman's abrupt disappearance and step into the uncertain situation. "In my day teleporters knew a thing about looking before they damn well leaped," he muttered, stomping off toward the apartment complex's entrance himself, glowering all the way. Keeping calm was one thing, ignoring potential danger was another. "Maddicks, if your boys have that rope ready, give it here," he called as he neared the gateway. "You're not going to find a better anchor than these old bones."

Jack of all Blades (3) (3) Jill O'Cure (Sidekick) (1) (2/2=1) Midnight II (3) (3) Wail (9) (2) (5) (2) Ghost Girl (1) (1) Set (23) (23) GM (5) ?p=186895 (5) I'd like to use the rollover and GM posts to push Set past 25 and Wail past 15. The Ref Point can roll down to Set after going up to Jack.

Avro bolted after the paper rabbit the moment it sped off, leaving an exasperated Kimber to leave him to his devices and follow after Koshiro and the eagle. As the bird unfolded into a handsome youth, the phantom gave an appreciative whistle with her usual lack of artifice, blinking a few times in surprise as she reflexively accepted his proffered hand and found it effectively solid to her ghostly touch. "Oh wow. My best friend is a shapeshifter, too, y'know!" Turning to Koshiro she continued to beam, giving him a thumbs up. "See? It'll be great! All the hermits I've ever met have been great! I haunted a cabin in the woods by myself for years," she informed Phoebus with a slightly worldly air. "So... chaperone?"

Wail Move Action: Get into a good position to Interpose against gunfire. Standard Action: Fearsome Roar: Emotion Control 13 (Extras: Area [General, Burst, 60ft radius], Linked [Trip], Flaws: Limited [Fear], Range 2 [Touch]) [7PP] + Trip 13 (Extras: Area [General, Burst], Linked [Emotion Control], Flaws: Range [Touch], Feats: Improved Trip) [14PP] (Fearsome Roar) [21PP] That's a DC 23 Will Save against the Fear and the worst of Str or Dex vs. an Opposed Trip Check. (1d20+13=17)

LaMarr didn't react much to the fae women as he got his bearings; it was hardly his first encounter with the world's oldest profession and he sincerely doubted it would be his last. "Easy, son," he cautioned Gabriel in a low voice, honestly not disagreeing with the overall sentiment so much as not ready to immediately direct their considerable ire at the first people the came across. Once the coachman elaborated a bit more on the situation, however, the bald man's expression turned flatter. "They're playing dress-up. Breaking into mommy's makeup and too-big high heels because they're bored. Forget what I just said. Sounds like it's time to start turning the most glorious and acclaimed buildings we can find into dust until somebody worth beating on shows up."

Kimber was literally bouncing up and down by the time they'd finished reading the letter, not even attempting to contain her excitement. "Young adult mages, Koshiro! Like, cool wizards who wear trench coats and are super sarcastic and brood!" Clapping her hands and beaming, she turned to her less enthusiastic friend. "Koshro. Koshiro. There are going to be girls there, ones who like sarcastic, broody guys! You're practically a quarterback compared to nerds who just sit around reading Latin all day! Ohmigoodness. I'm going to be you're wing-ghost. Eehee!" Twirling her umbrella in glee, she crouched down again and beckoned her pet away from the eagle. "C'mon, Avro, you can't eat the nice mail bird. It says you can answer questions. Are you a magic, talking bird, Mr. Eagle?!" she inquired in a whisper that was still improbably loud.

Carrying an umbrella over her shoulder less due to the threat of rain and more to prevent any sunlight peeking though the cloud cover from revealing her translucent form, Kimber absently mimed the act of walking a half inch off of the ground as she listened intently to Koshiro's concerns. Perched on her shoulder, the similarly disguised Avro lazily batted his tail back and forth as he took the manticore equivalent of a catnap. "That's pretty much the pits," she commiserated, nodding along with his words. "It... well, it kinda does make sense, though. Y'know, 'cause she's so into action and when we're not almost getting blown up or whatever you're kinda stuck on brood mode. Which loads of girls totally go for!" she added hastily, giving the young man an enthusiastic thumbs up and a sunny smile. "We just need to find you one who's into soulful artist types who're good with their han-- yeep!" Startled by the abrupt interruption, the phantom jumped back a step, hanging in the air for a moment before remembering to bring her feet back down to earth. "Ohmigoodness, are you okay?!" she asked the staggering bird, crouching down to better examine the eagle. Avro hopped down from her shoulders and padded around the letter carrier in a wide circle, deciding whether or not it was food.

"Yes, I often exceed expectations!" Set agreed happily, brushing himself off fastidiously. "I would expect you to recognize a ploy to lull one's enemy into a false sense of security, old chum, haha! I believe I remember you being more ruthlessly underhanded, yes?" he continued, responding to Frost forceful slap on the back with a jocular smack to the well dressed liaison's rear. "Too many American cheeseburgers and apple pies perhaps!" Sekhmet made a reverberating sound that wasn't sure if it was a growl or a purr, dislodging some crystal flecks form the run on the back on one paw with her tongue before rippling back into human form and flicking her asymmetrical hair with her hand. "Hhn. I am not so used to relying on 'style', however your words are appreciated, daughter of Typhon." With a stiffness that betrayed unfamiliarity compared to the grace of most of her movements, the goddess gave the dragon a shallow bow. "I erred in not spotting thee as the warrior among warriors earlier," she admitted gravely, almost keeping a smile from pulling her lips back enough to reveal pronounced canines. "I would well like to take thee up on thy offer to spar." "You see? A good day! Even dour Sekhmet in making friends!" Set cheered, moving close enough to place a hand on his fellow Heliopolian's shoulder before quickly stepping away with a nervous laugh at her murderous glare. Adjusting a golden armband to cover the motion, the godling's limited attention span was captured by one of the nearby civilians who had begun edging slightly closer to the pitted site of the battle now that things had died down. With shutter shade and a waxed moustache, the twenty-something young man, like many around him was snapping pictures and rapidly texting away. Intrigued, Set darted past the ring on heroes. "Ho, mortal! What wondrous device is this?" After a beat of surprised silence, the bystander answered in a disaffected drawl, "Uh, a smartphone? I guess you've never heard of one." "A telephone, truly? Your sciences have come far since I last walked this plane!" Set exclaimed, positioning himself so that he could see the screen. A grinning photo of himself graced the high resolution display, accompanied by a long row of poorly spelled comments. "And it captures images as one of your cameras as well! Tremendous!" "Not to mention LTE," the phone's owner added smugly, scrolling upward with his thumb. "Already posted that one to my feed. I've got more than twenty thousand followers." Standing abruptly straight, Set snapped his fingers, summoning a pair of identical eyewear to his face solely for the purposes of lifting them over his eyes in a gesture on intense interest. "Did you say... followers?" Before the blogger could respond, a hand grabbed Set roughly by his brick red dreadlocks and began dragging the protesting godling back toward the Freedom Leaguers. "Do not test my patience, deceiver," Sekhmet growled in annoyance before finally releasing his hair. "If thee have a temple nearby, champions, it would give me opportunity to better explain... circumstances."

Wail's reaction to Gabriel's inference matched Caradoc's for intensity but was not so coldly controlled. The broad-shouldered teacher's grip tightened around the coachman's throat, not enough to cut off the fae's air but very deliberately applying pressure. "Slavery," he growled, his metahuman voice rattling the nearby debris from the fight as he directly named what the white clad sonic controlled was describing. "You came to my city and you took my people as slaves. Understand: you don't walk away from that." The experienced hero was well versed in alien mentalities and differing concepts of morality, he just didn't particularly care. Lifting the coachman into the air, he carried him through the portal after the armored knight, the knuckles of his free hand cracking as he clenched his fist.

Introduction Who are you? Sum yourself up in one sentence. A single sentence to encompass the lord of storm and sand, darkest night and fickle fate?! Impossible! It must suffice to know that I am Set, and Set is magnificent! Do you have any nicknames, street names, titles, or nom de plume? Many! When walking among mortals I sometimes take the name Seth to remain inconspicuous. What is your full birth name? Set. Mortals may argue over pronunciation and spelling, but tis as close as they will likely come. Where do you live? As god of foreigners I may make my home in any land! ...which is to say I am between permanent lodgings at the moment. How old are you? What year were you born (if applicable)? Age is a tricky thing for one who was present for the dawn of time itself! This new self is rather young, admittedly. Mortal eyes would judge me to be a teenager. Physical Traits What is your gender? If not applicable, please explain. I am male when it suits me and otherwise when it does not. How would you describe your heritage? I am birthed of Geb and Nut, the very earth and sky! My present manifestation takes after the mortals of what is present day Egypt. How tall are you? Not so tall as I might like. Shorter than Sekhmet, to my chagrin. If I understand the units correctly, slightly more than five and a half feet. What is your body type? Getting saucy, are we? Do you have a category for 'perfection'? Do you have any particular weaknesses, such as allergies or physical disabilities? I do my best to avoid dismemberment, though I suppose tis outright fatal for mortals so even in that I am mighty! How do you carry yourself? Are you graceful, or heavy on your feet? Can you be stealthy, do you walk with confidence? I carry myself with the regal poise befitting my station, naturally. Describe your skin, eye, and hair color. Sun-kissed bronze, piercing grey and deep, rich red, respectively. How do you wear your hair, if applicable? Do you have facial hair? I keep my hair in thick braids, both practical and suitably rakish! My current manifestation is annoyingly unable to grow a beard, tragically. Do you consider yourself attractive? Do others? I am told modesty is considered a virtue by some but truly what benefit would there be to my dissembling? All who behold me can do naught but praise Ra for the sunlight which grants them vision. Do you have any scars, tattoos, piercings, or birthmarks? Nothing of the sort! Whatever happened to me I am as though birthed new into the world. Do you resemble anyone famous? I am someone famous. What a foolish question. Do you have a dominant hand? Foes find both of my hands dominating, I am certain. What kind of clothing do you wear? Usually a shendyt trimmed in red along with sandals and a few adornments, though I can easily assume garb more common to my locale. I do not understand the modern mortal obsession with covering one's torso in restrictive clothing, however. Do you wear makeup? The markings about my eyes are both functional and aesthetically pleasing, but they are not in the strictest term 'makeup'. What is your vocal range? Is your voice distinctive in some way? Another of my many talents! As god of foreigners I may assume any range or inflection appropriate. ...I do find myself with a higher default register than my previous self was accustomed. Do you have any distinctive habits, nervous tics, or mannerisms? Where did they come from, and what causes them? Do other people notice and remark on these habits? Do they annoy you or other people? I cannot fathom anyone finding my presence anything but delightful! Snapping my fingers when I alter my appearance is something of an affectation, though, yes. History Where do you come from? I am a god of Heliopolis, the golden city! ...exile aside. Have you made any major moves, or do you live in your hometown? I have decided to make my place in the mortal Freedom City, yes! A wonderful name, that; bold and bombastic! Do you feel loyal to your country of citizenship? Do you consider yourself patriotic? How do you feel about the government of your country? One should never mix religion and politics. Haha! Tis a mortal style joke, you see. I have developed quite the sense of humour. How do you feel about the place you come from? It would be better to ask after its disposition toward me, I think. Where is your home town? What was/is it like? Heliopolis tis a shining beacon of divinity! Tis also stagnant, close-minded and judgemental. Growing up, were most of the people you knew similar to you, or were you somehow a minority? How did that affect you? A minority? Ha, as gods judge such things, I suppose so. Tis enough to say I have ever been 'different' and that gods treat the different no better than mortals. Is there something you've always been really good at or really bad at? How has that affected your life? Set's talents are effectively boundless! Once I was best known for my nightly battles with hated Apep, then later my older self was very good at being bad. Haha, more wordplay! Were there any traumatic experiences in your early years (death of a family member, abandonment, orphaned at an early age)? I... do not recall the retails perfectly but I do know my brother Horus was slain in battle against the sun eater. It should have been me on the barge... Briefly describe a defining moment in your childhood and how it influenced your life. Well, as I have apparently found a new childhood, tis something to ask me later, yes? What stupid things did you do when you were younger? That supposes Set makes errors! I merely have successes of a subtle nature. Sometimes most subtle. Where did you go to school? How much school did you have, and did you enjoy it? School is for those who learn! Set teaches by stupendous example! Do you have any mementos of your childhood? What are they, and why did you keep them? If you have none, why not? I find myself bereft of possessions. Tis troubling, given that mine is a way in which one does indeed 'take it with them'. When did you decide to become a hero? Why? Did anyone influence you one way or another in the decision? Of all my siblings, tis Horus who is still remembered fondly by the mortals, as one of their greatest heroes! I would likewise earn their hearts with feats of selfless daring! Is the reason you give people for becoming a hero different than your real reason? If so, why? What do you wish to hear? That I seek redemption for my older self? Tis a foolish question, I do not wish to entertain it further. Do you have any deep, dark secrets in the past that may come back to haunt you? Deep and dark, indeed! Secret? Well, not everything is known, true. Do you represent yourself as being different from who you really are? Why? I represent myself as befits a god! Never let them see you question yourself, yes? Do not let them see you sweat. If you do have these secrets, what do you fear would happen if the truth became known? How far would you go to protect those secrets? Protecting secrets implies shame on my part! Admittedly, there are things that would be... dangerous if they came to light. Do you have any sort of criminal record? If so, is it public knowledge? My older self was a well known and widely feared villain, of course. Some of that stigma has carried over to me, exile included. Family What are your biological parents' names? Geb, the earth and Nut, the sky, though 'biology' had little to do with it. Were you raised by them? If not, please explain and describe who raised you. Phaw, the Ennead did not require raising! Unlike the younger gods we sprang into being fully formed. What was their standing in the community? What did/do they do for a living? You might say Geb's standing was quite low and that of Nut quite high, haha! Where are your parents now? Look down, then up, mortal. Did your family stay in one area or move around a lot? I begin to suspect you are failing to grasp 'the earth and sky' on a fundamental level. How did you get along with their parents? How do you get along with them now (if applicable). We had relatively little interaction, as I recall, but I have a definite sense that I amounted to the least favourite among my siblings, madness though that may be! How do your parents view you now, or how would they? I have yet to be swallowed up by an earthquake or blown away in a hurricane, so I suppose they view me with more regard than does Ra. Do you have any siblings? If so how many and what are their names? Describe your relationship with them. Indeed. Osiris, well-loved ruler on the underworld, his wife Isis, and doleful Nepthys my ex-consort. Osiris tis quite the forgiving sort but Isis would like nothing more than to slowly roast me to oblivion, frankly. My falling out with Nepthys was... not amiable. What has become of my brother Horus, I am uncertain. What was your birth order in the family? I prefer to call it simultaneous, despite what Isis would tell you. Where are your siblings now (if applicable)? Do they have families of their own? What do they do? Ah, well. Tis a rather complicated matter, when it comes to gods. Were I to hazard, Osiris is going easier on a soul than he likely ought, Isis is whipping herself into a righteous fury and Nepthys is further refining the delicate art of crocodile tears. Do you stay in touch with them or have you become estranged? Estranged, exiled. Tomato, to-mah-to, as one says. Do you love or hate one member of the family in particular? Hate? No, not at all. I can hardly fault them their suspicions, pure though my intentions be. Is any member of the family special to you in any way (perhaps, as a confidant, mentor, or arch-rival)? I would call my brother Horus all three, were I to know the vicinity I might direct the compliment toward. Are there any black (or white) sheep in the family (including you)? If so, please explain. Well, not a black sheep precisely; I never could settle on a mundane beast. Do you have a notorious or celebrated ancestor? If so, please explain, including how it has affected your life. I suppose you might think of my older self as an ancestor! I cannot say I fully appreciate the weight of reproach his deeds have earned me. Do you have a partner and children currently? If so, please describe them. Not only am I single, diminished stature aside there is more than enough Set to go around! If you do not have a partner or children, do you want them someday? How firm are you in your opinion on this, and what might change your mind? Given how contentious my sterility became with my last consort, neither is likely. What type of person would be your ideal mate? Person? Singular? I do not believe we are on the same scroll, mortal. Relationships Do you have any close friends? If so, please describe them, and how you came to be close to them. Ha, I believe my closest friend currently may indeed be Sekhmet herself, for all she was press-ganged into accompanying me. A bit tragic, no? Ah well, I shall win her over eventually, I'm sure. Do you have a best friend? If so, how did they become your best friend? How close are you to your best friend? Set is ever Set's own best friend, I'm told. We shall see, won't we? If you were to go missing, who would worry about you? Judging by my long absence from Heliopolis, none at all. Have you lost any loves? If so, how did it happen, and what did you do? Tch, not so lost as I might like. Do you have any bitter enemies? If so, please describe them and their history with you. My word, we'll be here all day. Suffice to say I have inherited a truly impressive array of animosity. If you have enemies, how do you think they might attempt to work against you in the future? I cannot say I was expecting a giant, crystal tzitzimitl! Given the scope and power of those with a proverbial axe to grind, retribution might take any form. Tis exhilarating, no? What is the worst thing someone has done to you? Ignoring the self-inflicted? ...they ignored me. I will not be ignored. Where do your loyalties lie? In what order? Aha, you expect me to say 'Set and Set alone' yes? Not so! To be the mortal realm's greatest hero, I must be loyal to truth and justice! ...well, perhaps not truth, as such. Justice, though, I quite like. Who or what do you trust the most? Why? I trust in my own ability to prevail! Nothing is out of reach to the determined. Who or what do you despise? Why? Apep, the sun-eater, the god-killer. If Ra's fears prove well founded, I will end my battle with the serpent this time. What qualities do you admire most in other people? Are these qualities you possess? Cunning, independent thought, commitment! A litany of my virtues. What qualities do you hate most in other people? Do you have any of those qualities? Blind obedience, fear of the unknown, mediocrity. Inexcusable. Do you have a secret identity? If so, who knows it? Do you hide it from people who are close to you? Why? Why would I wish to hide who I am? I do sometimes adopt a guise or two for the sake of convenience, true. Do you work well on teams and in groups? Are you a leader or a follower? I prefer to think tis groups who fail to work well with me. Heroic collaboration seems more predisposed toward success, though, compared to the usual inevitable betrayal. Are you on a super team? If so, how do you get along with your comrades? Do you trust them, or do you have secrets from them? Not yet, though I expect many will vie for my inclusion. I shall keep my options open. Are you a member of any church, fraternal organization, club, committee, political party, or other group? How much time do you spend on that? I understand cults are somewhat passé in this age. I am intrigued by your mortal 'social networking' however. Personality & Beliefs Who are your heroes? Horus made quite the name for himself among the mortal champions. I plan to build upon his example! Did you ever become disillusioned with former heroes or idols? If so, why and what were the circumstances? 'Disillusioned' would be something of an understatement when describing my older self. Fortunately my optimism has been restored along with my youthful good looks! Do you like being a hero? If so, what is the most rewarding part? If not, what makes you keep doing it? The adulation, I expect. Ah, rather, the satisfaction of having done the right thing! Yes. Is there anything that would make you give up hero work, or even switch sides? Historically I suppose I'd have to answer yes. It would have to outweigh my desire to prove my doubters wrong, however, and that desire is brobdingnagian. What are your short term goals (what would you like to be doing within a year)? Hm. Best to stay conservative. Leading the mortal Freedom League, perhaps? What are your long term goals (what would you like to be doing twenty years from now)? Hopefully having found a way to grow facial hair again. Moustaches are very 'hip' in this era, I've heard! What is your greatest fear? Why? What do you do when something triggers this fear? I would prefer to avoid the path of my older self. One might say my entire heroic outlook is in response to that, aha! Is there anything you would give you life for? There is something attractive about a blaze of glory, but it's rather harder for an immortal to die for the cause. How do you feel about money and material wealth? Do you desire it or disdain it? Are you miserly with what you have, or do you like to share? Is it a mark of success, or a means to an end? I'm not against riches as a rule, but power has ever been the truest of currencies. How do you generally treat others? I naturally assume anyone I meet is an admirer unless proven otherwise and am therefore gracious! Are you a trusting person? Has your trust ever been abused? I don't typically fine trust to be necessary for most things so long as everyone involved remains convinced they're the one in control. Are you introverted (shy and withdrawn) or extroverted (outgoing)? Do you have a lot of self-confidence? Ahaha, I suspect I need not answer this one. How do you act around attractive, available members of your preferred sex? They're attractive and available, I'm attractive and available, why fight fate? What are your most annoying habits? I've been accused of being an 'insufferable braggart' but I honestly don't see it. Do you feel contempt for any general category of people? Who are they, and why? Phaw, only those who rely on categories and labels. What is your favorite food? Do you prefer any particular type of food? Do you take the time to enjoy your food, or do you eat as fast as you can? In the modern parlance I was 'vegan' before it was 'cool'. Tis nothing quite like a fresh salad or even just a crisp head of lettuce, I find. What is your favorite drink (alcoholic or otherwise)? A god of the desert learns to appreciate simple water, truth. What is your favorite treat (dessert)? The advances in confections surely rank among the proudest of the current age. I do not know if I could choose! Are there any specific foodstuffs that you find disgusting or refuse to eat? The idea of consuming flesh tis frankly repulsive to me. Sekhmet and I disagree rather vehemently on this point. What is your favorite color? Are there any colors you dislike? My red hair has become something of a calling card. My older self wore entirely too much green, to my recollection. What sort of music do you like? Is there any that you hate? I am much intrigued by the feverish fervour with which singers are worshiped in this age! I admit a preference for the music of your nineteen sixties and seventies, even so. If you have a favorite scent, what is it? A hot desert breeze just before a thunderhead lets loose its fury. Forces balanced on the razor's edge! Do you have a favorite animal? Do you know, I never could choose just one, so I invented my own! What is your most treasured possession? Why? I've little to my name currently. I would very much like to reclaim the Sceptre of Was. Oh, and there was a ring... Do you enjoy "roughing it", or do you prefer your creature comforts? I could do with either! Tis routine that grates upon me. Is there a job or a task you would absolutely refuse to do? Like your magnificently mustachioed enforces of law, I will not be 'chained to a desk, Chief!' Do you consider yourself a spiritual person? If so, how do your beliefs affect your life?How important is it to you? Haha, quite literally so! I suppose it is not quite the same for a god. Was your faith influenced or molded by anyone special? Tis Ra who sets the endless rules and restrictions. If you belong to a religious organization, how often do you attend? Do you have a specific place of worship, or friends within the organization? How much do you agree with the beliefs of your organization? Gods, as a rule, do not worship. Tis unseemly. Could you kill? Have you killed? Ah. A complicated question. Set, in the larger sense? Most certainly on both counts. Set myself? I think not, if it can be helped. What circumstances led to you forming that conviction, or taking that action? Dying oneself does wonders for empathy. Are there circumstances under which you believe it is permissible to kill? What are they? Hm. For survival, I suppose, or if the alternative be too terrible to risk. I would lose no sleep over ending Apep. How would you react to watching someone kill another person? Would your reaction be different if the killer was a friend or an enemy of yours? You mortals remain a bloodthirsty lot, don't you? It would depend entirely on the situation. How would you react if something important was stolen from you? I would endeavour to retrieve it or otherwise find compensation. Tis a matter of principle. How would you react to public humiliation? Hmph. Not well. Fortunately I am not easily shamed. How would you react if a good friend or relative were purposely or accidentally killed? Has it happened to you? Ah, well. Historically I have not been very good at 'measured responses'. Rather I heed passion's council over that of reason. What do you consider to be the worst crime someone could commit and why? I do not suffer harm coming to those under my protection. I suppose the end of all that ever was or will be would be the most heinous, by scale alone? If your life were to end in 24 hours, what five things would you do in those remaining hours? I was never fond of bestiality like those Olympians, oh ho! Truly, though. Immortal! I should like to avoid another unplanned reincarnation, still. Career & Training Do you have any special training in your hero skills? If so, where and how did you get it? Unfortunately, I've lost the greater part of my older self's experience. Nothing diving in cannot remedy! Who taught you the most about your heroing abilities? What was your relationship with that person? In a perverse way you might call Apep my greatest teacher. My mastery of darkness and chaos come from turning his own powers against him. Do you have any particularly unusual skills? How did you acquire them? I can summon the storm! Call forth lightning! Shape shadow like clay! Speak any language as though it were my native tongue! Twist the tides of fate! Such power is Set's right. Do you do something besides hero work for a living? Have you ever done anything else, or do you plan to? My older self was quite determined to be a world conqueror, but that didn't truly pan out. I have considered being professionally very, very attractive; surely there is a way to monetize all of this! What is your preferred combat style? Given my more... delicate state, I prefer to keep my distance when possible, commanding the battlefield with brilliant use of tactics and raw power! Have you ever received any awards or honours? Heliopolis does not do awards so much as titles. Mine are largely unflattering. What skill areas would you like most to improve in? Is there anything you can't do that you wish desperately you could? I am eager for the fruits of my 'rebranding'. I expect being recognized as the mortal realm's greatest hero will require the development of several skills! How do you act around people who are more skilled than you in areas you'd like to improve? Are you jealous, or do you try and learn? I am but a humble student! Well. Humble prodigy of unparalleled talent and potential. Lifestyle & Hobbies What is a normal day for you? How do you feel when something interrupts this routine? Yech, 'routine'. A foul word to a god of change and fickle fate. Do you have any hobbies, or interests outside hero work? What are they, and where did you pick them up? I quite enjoy travel and meeting new people! Tis ever something new to see or a story to be told, even for an immortal. What do you do for fun? Oh, I find ways to amuse myself regardless of the situation. Do you have a costume? What does it look like? Tis not truly a 'costume' but my shendyt does stand out against contemporary mortal garb. From their reaction one might suspect onlookers had never beheld a bare chest before! Not one this magnificent, true. How do you normally dress when not in costume? The brimmed caps emblazoned with the emblems of your local professional gamesmen are excellent! I am still trying to parse to concept of dressing 'ironically' but I shall master it soon enough! What do you wear to bed most nights? I take my rest in the nude, typically. Do you wear any special jewelry? What is it, and what does it look like? I do have a few orichalcum bracelets and rings, certainly. 'Bling bling', yes? Do you have a special place where you keep your valuables? I have little beyond what I wear on my person! What's your preferred means of local travel? How about long distance? Shadow walking tis an excellent means of hopping about but for longer distances I have reduced to the mortal conveyance called 'the bus'. Tis most undignified, but an exceptional way to meet new people! Miscellaneous Have you ever made a will, or tried to make arrangements for your death? What provisions did you make? I rather suspect my older self did or else I would not be here at all! The specifics are lost to me, however. If your features were to be destroyed beyond recognition, is there any other way of identifying your body? I can recover from dismemberment with some assistance, but were my form utterly destroyed I would theoretically be reborn once again. I would prefer not to test that. What would you like to be remembered for after your death? A fond enough remembrance to wash away the poor reputation of my older self is all I ask. That and perhaps a statue of some kind. Oh, a sandwich named after me! Do you believe you pose a threat to the public? Why or why not? My intentions are pure as the scouring desert! I pose a threat only to the dastardly criminal element! What do you perceive as your greatest strength? I am Set! What do you perceive as your greatest weakness? ...I am Set. As a player, if you could, what advice would you give your character? Speak as if he/she were sitting right here in front of you. Use proper tone so they might heed your advice... I'm betting any advice about humility would fall on deaf ears and annoying Sekhmet seems inevitable, so let's talk maximizing search engine analytics...

Table of Contents

"So that's what it takes to get one of these places repainted," LaMarr mused in a soft bass rumble as he looked over the footage from the complex's interior. "Bigger on the inside, trans-portal door frames, subatomic mansions, it's all been done. Nothing to lose your cool over." Cracking the knuckles of his broad hands absently, the veteran hero considered. "Hhn, doors. Anything stopping us from tying a lifeline to a belt and wading on in? Somebody's has to get in there and start checking what's behind Door Number One and friends."

Wondering briefly if his lack of hesitation at the unlikely thieves meant he was becoming jaded, Midnight made a silent, courtly gesture in Renarde's direction. --Shall we?-- The sweeping movement released a wave of light devouring mist in its wake, a cloud that quickly rolled throughout the room and over the verdant fascists. "The only surety is your end," a cold, gravelly voice echoed throughout the abrupt darkness an instant before an escrima stick collided with the jaw of the first elfin Nazi in a brutal upward blow that left him stumbling away from his partner and reeling.

The gargantuan slabs of black crystal that made up the demoness' form began to creak loudly as the ice spread into the joints and cracks widened by Fleur de Joie's weeds and expanded. Sekhmet sprinted toward the towering monster, picking up speed as her form rippled once more into her leonine proportions, transitioning smoothly from two legs to four mid-step. Razor sharp claws easily found purchase in the marred surface of the now brittle crystal, leaving deeper gouges as she climbed upward. The left knee joint crumbled to gravel in her wake, causing an avalanche of restrained limbs that left the Aztec myth in an awkward, one-legged crouch. The lioness maintained her momentum even as the crystal shifted beneath her, digging deeply into the sizable pit left by Gaian Knight's strike. As larger and larger fissures spider-webbed out from that point, the goddess made her way to the arm holding Set. "Ah, Mistress of Dread!" the red haired youth exclaimed with as much aplomb as the situation allowed. "I appreciate the assistance, but I have the situation well in hand, haha!" The goddess refused to respond beyond a long-suffering snarl as she shredded through the weakened fingers. The blackened stone fell apart in great chunks, a knuckle sliding away here and an entire finger bone there. The Heliopolians fell free on the Tamoanchanian, one slowing his decent with a powerful gust of summoned wind while the other landed easily on her feet despite the distance. As they touched down on the street, the damage to the snake demon reached a critical point and it collapsed with a disbelieving hiss of rage into shards ranging from the size of a person to that of the news vans now ringing the scene.

Sekhmet Free Action: Lioness Form. Move Action: Climb up the Obsidian Butterfly. Between Speed 3 and Wall-Crawling 1, she can easily get up to the hand holding Set as a move action, given the Butterfly's immobilization. Standard Action: Attack Obsidian Butterfly; Power Attack 5: 19 Obsidian Butterfly Toughness Save vs. DC 27: 9 Ah. Well. X - Obsidian Butterfly - Dead 18 - Sekhmet - Uninjured, Lioness Form 17 - Nick Cimitiere - Uninjured, 4 HP 15 - Fleur de Joie - Uninjured, 3 HP 15 - Tiamat - Uninjured, Dragon Form 14 - Gaian Knight - Uninjured, 3 HP 10 - Set - Pinned, 2 HP 6 - Comrade Frost - Uninjured, Fatigued, 1 HP http://rolz.org/myro...?r=FCPbP Set Up And we're out of rounds.

Thanks to its paralysis the monster automatically fails the Reflex save. 18 - Sekhmet - Uninjured 17 - Nick Cimitiere - Uninjured, 4 HP 16 - Obsidian Butterfly - Bruised x1, Demoralized, Strength 36, Dexterity 0, Distracted, -12 Toughness 15 - Fleur de Joie - Uninjured, 3 HP 15 - Tiamat - Uninjured, Dragon Form 14 - Gaian Knight - Uninjured, 3 HP 10 - Set - Pinned, 2 HP 6 - Comrade Frost - Uninjured, Fatigued, 1 HP http://rolz.org/myro...?r=FCPbP Set Up

Set struggled against the smooth crystal of the skeletal fingers holding him in vain, finding no purchase or give in the grip, even as roots and stems crept into the monster's knuckles, popping at joints audibly. Even trapped, however, he was still Set. Taking as deep a breath as the confines of the fingers would allow, he let out a mocking laugh. "You should tell your masters I am insulted, demoness!" the godling suggested conversationally, smirked upward at the massive fanged skull. "To send a beast so dull witted she could not anticipate a simple illusion from the Pharaoh of the Umbra? The true Set has been standing behind you this entire time!" The creature seemed to hesitate for a moment at the unlikely claim but between the infuriatingly smug grin and her inability to fully turn around a kernel of doubt seemed to grow in the blackened eye sockets.