Gizmo

Ouch, Sorus! Roo, you want to say two pair, aces high for the tie?

Opposed Grapple check. (1d20+30=31) Geckoman escapes! Also Gecks gets an HP for Spellbound being in peril, and Miss A gets one because I'm going to let Freebooter ignore her Impervious for a bit! Security Guard Struggle helplessly! (Seriously, someone should probably try to save this guy.) Freebooter Move Action: Taunt vs. Miss Americana. (1d20+11=20) Standard Action: Cutlass Attack vs. Miss Americana. (1d20+12=29) That's DC 24 Toughness. Robots 1, 2, 3, 5 & 6 Robot 1 - Hold the security guard hostage! Some more! Robots 2 and 3 - Attack Geckoman. (1d20+6=13, 1d20+6=10) Robot 5 - Attack Miss Americana. (1d20+6=25) That's DC 25 Toughness. Robot 6 - Put the squeeze of Spellbound. That's a DC 25 Toughness save as well. Katanarchists 1 - 5, 14 - 21 Ninjas 1 to 5 - Combine Attacks vs. Geckoman. (1d20+3=6, 1d20+3=15, 1d20+3=19, 1d20+3=16, 1d20+3=9) Ninjas 14 to 21 - They go after the Grasscutter, which is now on the floor. One of them will grab it if they're still conscious on their next turn. 19 - Spellbound - Uninjured - Extra Effort 18 - Crimson Katana - Uninjured 17 - Jack of all Blades - Uninjured - 5HP 16 - Geckoman - Bruised - 2HP 16 - Security Guards - x1 10 - Freebooter - Uninjured - Feinted Against Miss A 3 - Robots x5 3 - Katanarchists - x13 3 - Miss Americana - Uninjured - 4HP

With an amused rumble, Trevor craned his neck just enough to kiss Erin's forehead lightly before settling back down. "S'my lady," he half yawned as he closed his one open eye, "woman with the plan." The young man's breathing became slower and more rhythmic under her hand as he gradually drifted to sleep, his usual wary defenses happily discarded. It felt to him not like a culmination but more a new beginning, and very, very right.

"Know what they say," Trevor deadpanned, attempting to stifle a yawn with limited success, "s'not the bed..." The young man closed his eyes for a long moment focusing happily on the feeling of Erin's hand on his chest. He too was glad they'd taken things at their own speed; though still new and a little awkward, things felt very right. "Heh, good birthday," he confirmed, opening one eye. "Best birthday. Best everything."

Jack suddenly had an extremely vivid mental image of a hive's worth of gargantuan bees drunk off their collective stingers. "Yee..." he managed through his teeth and a wince. There was just no way that could end well, and getting tipsy on fermented honey himself just seemed like a fundamentally bad plan, even by his standards. "Sorry, Curl, gonna have to take a raincheck. You and the guys have an extra round for me, huh?"

Poker Round 1. (1d20=17) Whoop. Guess we'll see if we need a tie-breaker.

Player Name: GizmoCharacter Name: WailPower Level: 15 (250/250 PP) [258]Trade-Offs: -5 Attack / +5 DamageUnspent PP: 0 Theme: The Man by Sons of SlumIn Brief: Veteran hero from the late 1970s and 80s with super-dense muscle tissue granting strength, durability and a powerful sonic wail, come out of retirement to continue the good fight.Alternate Identities: Keith LaMarrIdentity: PublicBirthplace: Freedom CityOccupation: High School Civics TeacherAffiliations: 1-800-JUSTICEFamily: None Description: Age: 60 (DoB: December, 1954) Gender: Male Ethnicity: African-American Height: 6'6" Weight: 1175 lbs (235 x 5) Eyes: Brown Hair: Black, Streaks of Grey Keith LaMarr is an imposing mountain of muscle, the weathering of the decades only enhancing the effect. His clean-shaven head is contrasted by a a beard of dense, curly hair on his square jaw, marked by two streaks of grey. He tends to favour darker, utilitarian clothing, typically with a slightly dated cut. As Wail, his outfit reflects a respect for tradition far more than any attempt to conceal his identity. Dark jeans are fasted with a broad, metal belt over a black sleeveless top adorned with a long, yellow 'W'. Each wrist is covered by a matching black and yellow bracer, while round sunglasses add to an already impassive visage. History: Born in Freedom City's Lincoln neighbourhood in the mid-1950s, Keith LaMarr was not afforded many advantages in life. The son of a factory worker, LaMarr was taught from an early age that anything in life worth having was worth working and fighting for. Run-ins with local gangs as a youth sharpened his wits and fighting skills, but he refused to join up, convinced that the promise of easy money and power was a sucker's bet. That sense of integrity would cost him dearly when, in 1972, a jilted gang carried out a drive-by shooting of LaMarr's home. His mother was killed immediately, while his father survived long enough to be rushed to hospital where, thanks to a shoddy investigation, LaMarr was arrested at his bedside on suspicion of belonging to a rival gang. Vincent LaMarr succumbed to his injuries while his son was sentenced to prison time on fabricated drug charges. LaMarr was involved in an increasing number of altercations with other inmates and guards during his imprisonment at South River State Penitentiary, developing a reputation for a short temper and willingness to attack opponents more than twice the stringy young man's size. Several months into his sentence, he joined an experiment conducted by Dr. Burton Noah, an AEGIS scientist, in exchange for early parole. An attempt to induce muscle growth through a combination of chemical treatments and precise sonic frequencies, sabotage by a vengeful guard resulted in LaMarr's skeletal and muscle structure becoming super-dense. Besides increased strength, durability and endurance, the most notable effect was phenomenally enhanced lung muscles enabling a devastating sonic wail! Escaping from South River, LaMarr almost immediately ran into an altercation between the villain Bronze and the police. The convict's timely intervention not only subdued the superpowered criminal but also save a school bus full of elementary school students. Combined with his willing surrender to the authorities, this was enough to have LaMarr's case reopened, revealing a number of irregularities which were enough to have him permanently released. Taking the moniker Wail based on a comment made by a grateful grade schooler, LaMarr initially set up shop as a metahuman bodyguard after encountering difficulty finding work despite his cleared record. It was through this that he met Yelena Vostok, a Ukrainian mercenary who had received a cybernetic arm after an early mishap with her teleportation powers, and Javed Randeep, a Indian-American polyglot who's amazing skills extended to translating human body language, making him a formidable martial artist. The trio eventually joined together to form an agency that solved unusual problems while serving any worthy cause as 1-800-JUSTICE. Upon hearing Yelena refer to her teleporting ability as 'jumping', Javed, in a fit of the playful wit that would make him the team's heart, adopted the code name Jive. The hired heroes handled everything from gang violence to mystic robots to international incidents throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s, skirting the anti-cape laws introduced by Mayor Franklin Moore. Over the years, LaMarr developed romantic feelings for Javed, though he was reluctant to admit to them. By the 1990s, 1-800-JUSTICE had all but faded into obscurity, but were among the heroes who reappeared to combat the Terminus Invasion. In the heat of battle, Yelena managed to teleport her friends out of harm's way a split second before being vaporized by a massive laser weapon. Devastated, LaMarr and Javed officially retired their heroic identities and settled down to start a new life together. Javed's talents allowed him to support the couple as a high profile translator while LaMarr earned his degree and a position teaching civics at Joseph Clark High School. They lived happily for several years, with infrequent bouts of excitement as Javed foiled an assassination attempt or one of LaMarr's rouges gallery reappeared for a final confrontation. Unfortunately, exposure to Terminus radiation had riddled Javed's body with cancer, and after a long battle he passed away at the age of 55 in 2009. Having buried the love of his life, LaMarr grappled with what to do next. Ultimately the decision was made for him when the Grue invaded Freedom City en masse. Defending his students from a massive creature released by the aliens, he found that his powers had only grown stronger over time. Freedom City still called out for justice, and weary though he was, Keith LaMarr was still the man on the other end of the line. With a new costume and a renewed commitment, Wail is back in action! Personality & Motivation: LaMarr has suffered a great many hardships in his life. These trials have forged an ironclad will stronger even then his superhuman skin, and while a lesser man may have become embittered, he has developed a keen empathy. His sense of integrity demands that he use his experience and abilities to defend those who cannot defend themselves. That isn't to say he is without his rough edges; Javed once commented that there was very little of Keith that was not rough edge. His age and profession have given him a didactic tone and his expectations for both his students and the latest generation of heroes are high indeed. The years have helped to mollify his temper but have not removed it. Dramatically aware of his own mortality, he is determined to continue to make a difference for as long as he is able. Powers & Tactics: With superhuman strength and durability, LaMarr is a powerhouse to be reckoned with, standing shoulder to shoulder with many of the modern day bruisers. His true might, however, comes from his namesake sonic wail, an extraordinary torrent of concussive force that can deafen foes as easily as it sends them flying. This is thanks to the tremendous lung strength and capacity which resulted from his enhanced physiology. Against mundane foes, Wail typically restrains himself to hand to hand combat, but is not afraid to let loose with his full fury should the situation call for it. His super-dense biology also prevents him from floating in water, and gives him a mass several times that of an average person of his already impressive stature. Complications: Age: LaMarr has sit his early sixties, although he's aged remarkably well. Destructive: LaMarr's sonic wail has the potential for massive collateral damage. Enemies: Over the decades LaMarr built up a substantial rogues gallery, some of whom now have younger successors. Lost Love: Javed's death remains a fresh wound for LaMarr. Prejudice: A gay black man born to a low income family, LaMarr is no stranger to unfair treatment. Public Identity: Although he goes by Wail in the field, LaMarr has never maintained a true secret identity. Responsibility: Joseph Clark High School. Temper: The wisdom of age aside, LaMarr does not react well when backed into a corner. Abilities: 12 + 4 + 10 + 2 + 10 + 4 = 42PP Strength: 36/22 (+13/+6) Dexterity: 14 (+2) Constitution: 20 (+5) Intelligence: 12 (+1) Wisdom: 20 (+5) Charisma: 14 (+2) Combat: 16 + 16 = 32PP Initiative: +6 Attack: +8 Grapple: +23/+12 Defense: +13 (+8 Base, +5 Dodge Focus), +4 Flat-Footed Knockback: -11/-2 Saving Throws: 9 + 5 + 10 = 24PP Toughness: +13/+5 (+5 Con, +5 Protection, +3 Density) (Impervious 6/0) Fortitude: +14 (+5 Con, +9) Reflex: +7 (+2 Dex, +5) Will: +15 (+5 Wis, +10) Skills: 112R = 28PP Gather Information 13 (+15) Intimidate 10/18 (+12/+20) Investigate 14 (+15) Knowledge (Civics) 14 (+15) Knowledge (History) 14 (+15) Knowledge (Streetwise) 14 (+15) Languages 1 (English [Native], Hindi) Medicine 2 (+7) Notice 15 (+20) Sense Motive 15 (+20) Swim 0 -/+6 Feats: 20PP Accurate Attack All-Out Attack Contacts Dodge Focus 5 Endurance Fearless Improved Grab Improved Grapple Improved Initiative Improved Pin Interpose Luck 2 Power Attack Startle Takedown Attack 2 Powers: 18 + 1 + 2 + 10 + 3 + 8 + 6 + 56 = 104PP Density 6 (x5 Mass, Extras: Duration [Continuous], Flaws: Permanent) [18PP] Enhanced Strength 12 Immovable 2 Protection 3 (Extras: Impervious) Super-Strength 2 Enhanced Feats 1 (Endurance) [1PP] Enhanced Strength 2 (Total +14 with Density, Heavy Load: ~7 tons) [2PP] Immunity 10 (Sonic Effects) [10PP] Leaping 3 (x10, Running Long Jump: 230', Standing Long Jump: 115', High Jump: 57') [3PP] Protection 5 (Extras: Impervious 3) [8PP] Regeneration 6 (Bruised 3 [No Action], Injured 3 [1 Minute]) [6PP] Sonic Control 27 (54PP Array, Feats: Alternate Power 2) [56PP] (Genetic, Sonic) Base: Damage 18 (Sonic Wail; Extras: Area [Targeted, Line, 5' x 180'], Feats: Knockback 18) [54PP] AP: Damage 13 (Sonic Scream; Extras: Area [General, Cone, 130'], Linked [Stun, +0]) + Stun 9 (Extras: Area [General, Cone], Linked [Damage, +0]) [26 + 27 = 53PP] AP: [12 + 13 + 21 + 2 = 48/54PP] Communication 6 (Sonic Shout; Auditory, 20 miles, Extras: Area) [12PP] Dazzle 13 (Sonic Bellow; Auditory Senses, Extras: Area [General, Cone, 130'], Flaws: Range [Touch]) [13PP] Emotion Control 13 (Fearsome Roar; Extras: Area [General, Burst, 65' radius], Linked [Trip, +0], Flaws: Limited [Fear], Range 2 [Touch]) + Trip 13 (Extras: Area [General, Burst], Linked [Emotion Control, +0], Flaws: Range [Touch], Feats:Improved Trip) [7 + 14 = 21PP] Enhanced Skills 8 (Intimidate 8) [2PP] DC Block: ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC28 Toughness (Staged) Damage Sonic Wail 180' Line DC33 Toughness (Staged) Damage Sonic Scream 130' Cone DC28 Toughness (Staged) Damage DC19 Fortitude (Staged) Dazed/Stunned/Unconscious Sonic Bellow 130' Cone DC23 Reflex Deafened Fearsome Roar 65' Radius Burst DC23 Will (Staged) Shaken/Frightened/Panicked Contested +13 vs worst of STR/DEX Prone

Jack considered for a moment, rubbing the stubble on his exposed chin before shrugging. "Well, hate to say I came all this way and didn't at least try the local cuisine." He looked over to where Fleur sat on Beeatriz back. "That said, it's gonna be up to my ride, buddy. It's getting late and I don't want to impose on the lady." With an easy chuckle, he placed a hand to the side of his mouth in mock secrecy. "That's not romance so much as common courtesy, but you can't really have the former without the latter."

Trevor found himself relaxed despite his acute awareness of Erin's form beside him. Taking the opportunity to arch his back until it gave a soft popping noise, he laid back down flat on his back, his head turned so that his cheek rested on the pillow to meet her eyes. "Practice and training it is, then," he agreed, idly wondering if the auburn haired young woman slept on her stomach. Shifting slightly to better accommodate her curves, he decided, "Although this is pretty nice, too."

"Hey, I'm not the one who brought a date, Goggles!" Jack called over to the teen as he and the mysterious swordsman circled each other appraisingly. "So, what's a sharp girl like you doing in a dull place like this?" "...are you some kind of idiot?" Crimson Katana asked seriously an instant before her namesake blade flashed with blinding speed, swinging around and whipping toward the swashbuckler. Meeting the Three-Flames Katana with his own fiery sword, Jack grinned broadly. "Belleza, I'm the best kind of idiot." His confidence unshaken, he snapped his rapier forward with a lightning quick thrust, only to have it turned away at the last moment by the wakizashi in her off hand. Surprised, he pulled back into a defensive stance. "I never miss. Who are you?" His opponent pushed the offensive, evidently deciding that the best way to acquire the Grasscutter was through the talkative fencer. "You'll understand if I'm not in a sharing mood."

Crimson Katana Standard Action: Attack Jack of all Blades. (1d20+12=25) Aaand she has nothing immediately useful to do with a move action. What the heck, canon builds? Move Action: Make eyes? Jack of all Blades Standard Action: Power Attack 5 Crimson Katana. (1d20+15=16) Hahaha... well sometimes even Supremacy can't save you. (Yes, he could have automatically Feinted her first and that would have still hit, but work with me here, for drama's sake.) 19 - Spellbound - Uninjured - Extra Effort 18 - Crimson Katana - Uninjured 17 - Jack of all Blades - Uninjured - 5HP 16 - Geckoman - Bruised, Stunned - 3HP 16 - Security Guards - x1 10 - Freebooter - Uninjured - Feinted Against Miss A 3 - Robots x5 3 - Katanarchists - x13 3 - Miss Americana - Uninjured - 3HP

"Well sure," Jill agreed in a light deadpan. "I mean, the cost of jet fuel and turtle wax alone." Considering her new hand for a moment, she placed the cards face down on the table and used her freed hand to brush a few unruly bangs out of her eyes. At Silhouette's assessment of the other players potential for horror, she drawled, "Lemme guess, Ninjanice, your power is super-sensitivity to other people's self-image issues. Smooth."

"C'mon, lover bee, time to go," Jack drawled as Curl-bee hesitated to leave the royal chamber. The queen was not one for extended conversation it seemed which was reasonable enough given her position. Meeting her had given the fencer a better appreciation of just how much the insects' dynamics differed from their closest human analogues. Courting a lady twice one's size was a new one on him. Maybe Dok A could given him some tips?

"Exhausted," Trevor admitted with a smile that was a little too pleased to be properly wry, "but good. Think the word is 'basking'." Looking up at the room's high ceiling, he closed his discoloured eyes and exhaled quietly before turning back to the young woman next to him and giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "I, ah, usually improve at new skills quickly, given a chance to practice," he assured her with a slight cough, a twitch at the corner of his mouth suggesting the remark was more playful than self-conscious.

Some time later, a winded but smiling Trevor lay back, the rise and fall of his chest gradually slowing as midnight mist wafted from him in lazily curling trails, rolling along the floor and dissipating as his skin regained it's usual pale hue. The new, protective application of his metahuman powers had been largely successful, and any minor aches would be a welcome bargain. Trying to sift through the heady mix of emotions floating through him, the young man turned to Erin, laying one hand palm upward in the small space between them. "So..." he began, not entirely sure how to phrase the question.

Responding to the sudden ferocity in kind, Trevor stooped slightly to facilitate the hungry kiss, evidently agreeing that for once analysis was overrated. Long, thin fingers fumbled with uncharacteristic clumsiness with the buttons of his shirt, knocking into Erin's arms briefly as he finally managed to toss the garment to the ground. With unexpected boldness, he renewed the breathless kiss and located the zipper of her borrowed coveralls by touch, pulling its tab down the length of her torso.

"Nah, man, he's a Westender," Erik dismissed Billy's concerns with a wave. "Buncha guys start causing trouble like those chuckleheads? Be offended if we hadn't thrown 'em out on their butts." The story of that tussle had grown somewhat in the frequent retelling among Mac's staff and the bar's regulars, which had grown to include a few of the better behaved collegiate athletes, suitably chastised by their earlier embarrassment. Ellie gave Lynn a wry smirk as she drew away from the hug. "Well, I get why you'd want to go shopping as me," she breezed, affecting some of her sibling's signature bravado and snapping her fingers jauntily. "I mean, I just make everything look so good." Her expression turned more genuine at the shapeshifter's reaction to the books, ducking her head between her shoulders. "M'glad you like them."

Jill quirked an eyebrow slightly as she tossed a trio of card from her hand into the discard pile with confident laissez-faire. Fusion was a odd mix of overbearing maternal disposition and ill concealed anger, but the teenager appreciated the tentacled heroine's distain for mincing words. Wisp on the other hand was trying a little too hard with a constant stream of pop culture references, but that was only natural being the most novice of the women assembled at the table. "Well, there's Victory, he's a cyborg," she offered in response to the former's mention of mechanical assets. "And they're making him a total poster boy."

Jack looked between Fleur and the Queen, his expression turning a touch concerned as he did his best to follow the conversation. It was difficult to judge just how the bees handled death, let alone the relationship between family members, and royalty in the bargain. Ultimately, the swordsman settled on his default policy of treating non-human sentient beings the same way he would anyone else. "You have our sincere condolences, Majesty," he told Beelizzima II with respectful nod, not presuming to say anything more than that.

From atop Curl-bee's broad back, Jack took a step forward and bowed deeply with a flourish of his royal blue greatcoat. "Majesty, the pleasure is truly mine," the swashbuckler insisted, raising his voice to be heard in the tremendous room, but maintaining its charmingly melodic cadence. "As indeed was whatever small part I played in your people's history," he added with surprising humility as he straightened.

In truth, it wasn't much of a challenge getting to Trevor's room. The mansion was large but the bedroom itself wasn't far from the garage. Stepping silently inside, the dark haired youth closed the door behind them with a soft click. The chamber was considerably tidier than his dorm room back at Claremont; it appeared he'd made a point of cleaning up since the last time Erin had seen it. Still holding her hand, he paused with a sudden stab of nervous hesitancy now that privacy had been assured.

"Ha, yeah well, let's just say I wouldn't mind having a super quick brain to go along with the mouth sometimes," Erik admitted with an easy laugh, turning enough of his attention back to warding off the scientist's assault to make a show of it. "The flowing blond hair doesn't exactly hurt the rep either, I'm guessing." A flick of his wrist sent the more restrained probing strikes away at deceptive angles. "Billynn? I don't always get it, but I think it's good. You'd rather have Colt defending his family here than just being a guy from another world stuck here, right?" It was a little more coldly analytical than Erik's true feelings, but it did answer Archeville's question more directly.

"Never underestimate how stealthy a Midnight can be," Trevor advised, his lopsided smile widening a touch, "when properly motivated." Taking Erin's hands from his face and into his own, the young man rose to his feet, the mist supersaturating his muscle tissue giving him the appearance of a three dimensional shadow. He nodded toward the door leading from the garage into the mansion proper, still holding both of her hands. "Follow me."

"Well, that kinda sounds like tremendous balls, Dok," Erik opined, sliding his foil along the length of his opponent's to divert the force of the swipe elsewhere. He'd never really considered the downside to a superhuman intellect, but he could imagine what it would be like if Eli were always stuck in his highest gear. "I guess I can relate. I kinda like playing to an audience, though," he admitted, going on the defensive for a moment as he considered. "That said, most people aren't really on board with the 'playful insults as a display of affection' thing. That can be awkward."

Erik smirked as he parried Archeville's thrust and responded with a sudden feint. "Ha, well, flattery will get you everywhere, but I'd hate to make Mo' jealous," the fencer drawled dryly. "Vince once told me that humour is hard enough that he has to slow down closer to human speed for it, which is good, since thinking so fast gets kinda lonely." The younger man appeared the feint again but at the last moment recommitted to his blow, following through. "He might have been joking about that, though."