Raveled

Glowstar had stayed out of the interrogation so far. He spent so much time trying to put others at their ease despite his nature, that when it came to being scary he didn't really know where to start. He did snatch the tumbling injector out of the air with a ball of spitting red energy, bringing it back to his hand and setting it to tumble in the air. "Start with who put you up to it," he said. "Or do you usually rifle through patients' rooms and take anything that looks vaguely valuable?"

GM Baxter's new friend stayed quiet for a minute, watching the young man write in his notebook. "You don't seem to be very enthusiastic to be here," he observed. He turned and leaned against the display, studying Baxter openly. "I'm not sure why you would bother to stay here, if you're not having fun." He grinned suddenly, teeth very white against his dusky complexion. "I suppose not very many people truly enjoy a museum, but usually when people are being held against their will their jailer is at least there with them."

Liz frowned. "It was an amazing culture," she said, "but it was founded on evil roots. Those little figures down there carrying the palanquins -- they weren't paid to do that. They were slaves." It was an odd sensation that the alien-turned-human was feeling. On the one hand, she was the champion of liberty, of personal freedom. Slavery, especially an empire build on slavery, went against literally everything she existed for. On the other hand she felt an inexplicable attraction to the aesthetics of the era, at the very least. It was a odd situation for her to find herself in, and she fell silent as she pondered the apparent disconnect.

Tona was not entirely ignorant; she had gotten a crash course on computers and other high technology used by this world, or rather this iteration of her home world. She understood that computers were very nearly magical creations that could store and display an almost infinite amount of data, a truly staggering amount of information. She was still suspicious of something so powerful that she didn't understand, though. Tona shrugged. "Sure. Might as well take a look at the library. Gotta see it some time, I guess."

Power Level: 10 (150 PP) Trade-Offs: +5 Att/-5 DC unarmed, +1 Def/-1 Tou Abilities: 6 + 8 + 14 + 2 + 0 + 4 = 34PP Strength: 16 (+3) Dexterity: 18 (+4) Constitution: 24 (+7) Intelligence: 12 (+1) Wisdom: 10 (+0) Charisma: 14 (+2) Combat: 10 + 12 = 22PP Initiative: +8 Attack: +5 melee, +5 ranged, +15 unarmed Grapple: +10 Defense: +11 (+6 Base, +5 Dodge Focus), +3 Flat-Footed Knockback: -4 Saving Throws: 2 + 5 + 9 = 16PP Toughness: +9 (+7 Con, +2 Dodge Roll) Fortitude: +9 (+7 Con, +2) Reflex: +9 (+4 Dex, +5) Will: +9 (+0 Wis, +9) Skills: 100R = 25PP Acrobatics 15 (+19)Skill Mastery Bluff 15 (+17)Skill Mastery Climb 12 (+15) Intimidate 15 (+17)Skill Mastery Knowledge (Streetwise) 9 (+10) Notice 11 (+11) Sense Motive 11 (+11) Stealth 12 (+16)Skill Mastery Feats: 30PP Acrobatic Bluff All-Out Attack Attack Specialization (Unarmed) 5 Challenge (Fast Climb) Defensive Attack Defensive Roll Dodge Focus 5 Equipment 2 Evasion Improved Critical (Unarmed) Improved Initiative Luck 2 Move By Action Power Attack Skill Mastery (Acrobatics, Bluff, Intimidate, Stealth) Sneak Attack Startle Takedown Attack Taunt Uncanny Dodge (Auditory) City Dojo PL 10 HQ Size: Medium [1EP] Toughness: 10 [1EP] Features [8EP] [*:1sahl8s3]Combat Simulator [*:1sahl8s3]Cover Facility [Dojo] [*:1sahl8s3]Fire Prevention System [*:1sahl8s3]Infirmary [*:1sahl8s3]Living Space [*:1sahl8s3]Parade Ground [*:1sahl8s3]Security System 2 [DC 25] Powers: 4 + 4 + 8 + 7 = 23pp Communicate 2 (Mental, Extra: Two-Way) [4PP] (Telepathy) Concealment 4 (All Visual, Flaw: Limited [Miss chance only) [4PP] (One in the Crowd Style) Enhanced Feat 8 (Challenge 6 [Accelerated Stealth, Fast Acrobatic Bluff, Fast Feint, Fast Startle, Fast Taunt, Fighting Climb], Evasion [stacks for 2], Hide In Plain Sight) [7PP] (Illusory Fighting) Super-Senses 7 (Accurate [Normal Mental], Acute [Normal Mental], Radius [Normal Mental], Ranged [Mental], Extended 1 [100 ft increments], Uncanny Dodge [Mental]) [7PP] (Expand Your Mind!) Abilities (34) + Combat (22) + Saving Throws (16) + Skills (25) + Feats (31) + Powers (22) - Disadvantages (0) = 150/150 PP Here's a neat little trick, building an illusionist without using the Illusion powers. A lot of newbies don't realize that Mutants & Masterminds is an effects based system; what that means is that sometimes the most effective way to build the character you want means using powers that don't actually use the name of what you want to do. The most obvious example of this is the oft-bemoaned Deflect power, but here we have a slightly different take on things. This is a lady who can beat you silly with her bare hands, but when the situation escalates she busts out mind powers to create illusions to distract and disorient her foes. She's perfectly serviceable without them, but with them she becomes utterly unstoppable! A question is how the lady came about her powers. Psychics and street fighting don't often mix, but perhaps she unlocked her inner chakras through long training and meditation, and the insight she gained allowed her to alter the perceptions of her enemies in combat. Or this could be an ancient art preserved by a line of psychics down the generations, or maybe the lady is an immigrant from Shambala Vale -- goodness knows they have weirder martial arts than this! Of course, while this build is psychic, you could easily rebuild it as a martial artist who knows a little magic (or a mage who knows a little bit about fighting!).

Ironclad rocketed through the hallways, making last-minute turns and simply crashing through the last set of doors between her and the demented doctor. "Step back, Geckoman," she said, aiming her wrist blasters at Wilkins. "This guy's sick and demented, and he needs to be taken down." She fired a capsule, about the size of a D-cell battery; it flew through the air like a rifle, and exploded just centimeters from Wilkins' body. The chemical inside the capsule expanded and became solid, falling on the psychologist like a sticky web.

Ironclad will swoop in and Snare Wilkins all up! Ironclad's range attack check, vs. Wilkins' Def. DC 22 Ref. (1d20+12=17)

The building shifted, signalling its imminent collapse, and Blue Jay fell to a crouch as the ground under her shivered and wavered. Behind her the children in her ward cred out in fear at the sudden motion of their home, and the heroine was reminded of her charge. She stood and grabbed the hand of the oldest one again, then though about the situation for a second. She collapsed her bow and stowed it on her back, then doubled-back to pick up the five-year-old. He was heavy, but laden this way they were still able to make much better time than before. The stairwell was gone, and even if Blue Jay had thought to check the elevator it wouldn't have been safe in the inferno. As they kept moving, Blue Jay's mind flashed to the fire escape again, but of course that was a ruined, smoking mess... ... Which was probably piled as high as the second story windows. It seemed the only option. She diverted through an empty apartment and found an open window, checking the state of the debris. Yes, the tangle of ironwork was high enough to crawl out on, but it was also hot to the touch. Blue Jay ducked back inside just long enough to retrieve an extra pair of gloves from her belt. These she handed to the older boy. "Put them on," she said, "and get them as tight as you can." She only had the two pair, so she pulled off one of her own and handed it to the little girl. "Hold the baby on your other side," she instructed, "and don't let him or your bare hand touch the metal." She looked at the smaller boy, her face mere inches from his. "I'm going to need you to hold on really tight, okay?" She didn't wait for a confirmation from any of them, there wasn't time. She crawled out of the window and onto the pile of metal; it shifted under her feet but seemed stable enough. Part of her wanted to run, to sprint across the rubble and get away from the fire as quickly as possible, but she forced herself to survey the route ahead. There would be two more people coming behind her, after all, and one was burdened with a baby while the other probably wasn't an experienced climber. Not to mention Blue Jay's own passenger, pulling her off-balance. The route had to be perfect, and while it cost her precious seconds of fleeing time she did figure it out. Her boots gave her purchase on the metalwork and she walked almost backwards, glancing back with every step to make sure that the kids behind her didn't get too far behind. "Step where I step," she said, checking her strides so the little ones could make it. "Don't take it too fast. Stop and get your balance after each step." It was slow, agonizingly slow, and with every shiver of the metal or the building she imagined one of them pitching over and being impaled on the broken metal, or a chunk of masonry coming down and crushing them all. Still, they advanced inch by inch, foot by foot, until Blue Jay felt cooler air on her blistered face. She was standing at the opening of the alleyway, and the ironwork ended in a dangerous spill that the archer didn't even want to imagine navigating. So instead she took a flying leap and landed in a three-point-stance, knee and palm slapping the concrete road surface hard while she made sure to hold the child aloft. Almost immediately she was surrounded by emergency workers, men in blue jackets with caduceuses on their arms, and other folks in heavy yellow jackets with some sort of clear mask on their faces. She handed the child off to the medical workers; even on her planet, that symbol only had a single meaning. The firefighters tried to keep her back, but she broke free and ran back to the iron spoil, where the little girl was perched at the top of the mangle of metal. "I can't jump," she called down, clutching the baby tightly. "Sure you can," Blue Jay said, trying to stand steady and smiling up at the girl. "I'll be here to catch you, don't worry!" The girl's lip trembled and she shifted back from the edge. "I'm too scared," she insisted. Blue Jay thought for a moment and then adopted an exaggerated pose, hands on her hips and head to one side. "All you've done today, in just a few hours? Keeping your entire family safe, following a strange woman through a burning building, through your burning home, and climbing over all that metal with just one hand free? And you're afraid of a little jump? That's not the girl I saved!" The little girl got control of herself and stepped back to the brink. She nodded at Blue Jay and flung herself into the air; the heroine had to back up a few inches, but she managed to get both children slamming into her chest. The heroine handed both of them off to the emergency workers. Then there was the last little boy; he managed to climb down a few spars before jumping, and was quickly on the ground himself. Blue Jay allowed herself to be led over to an ambulance, where some cooling salve was rubbed on her burns and an oxygen mask was fitted over her face.

At the mention of a library and books, Tona looked off to the side, already visibly bored. "I've read books before," she said, a touch defensively, "but it's it better to get out there and do stuff rather than just read about it? My dad always favored practical knowledge, over stuff you read in a book." That wasn't exactly true -- Robert Baudin had striven to give his daughter as normal and well-rounded an education as possible, but when fleeing from the forces of Omega saving books was secondary to saving people and weapons. Most of Tona's education had been more in the manner of an apprenticeship, learning skills from people who used them everyday. She wasn't used to getting information out of books. "I mean," she added after a moment, "I'm sure the place is fine, but I don't really see the point of having that many books. But," she asked, "can you tell me what 'digitized' is?"

Starlight swept her gaze over the ship's controls. She really didn't know much about flying starships; her powers provided for her when she needed to travel from star system to star system. The captain's remark tore her attention away from the consoles, however, and she quickly stepped up to the view screen. There was only one stellar power that Starlight was worried about. "Captain," she said, "you need to scan for Grue ships."

Tona hit the dirt a body length ahead of Cerys. Her breathing was a tad quicker and her eyes were bright, but otherwise she didn't seem put out by the impromptu climb. She grinned at the other woman. "Why don't we wait a little bit? I still haven't seen the entire campus. And I wouldn't want you to end up like the water bottle." She turned to Mali and Subito, rocking back and forth on her heels. "Well, I like the place so far! What's next?"

Starlight's magical, but if the items are on Earth it really isn't her balliwick. Of course, if the spell worked properly for one artifact...

:facepalm: I've been trying to avoid calling her BJ...

Starlight and Synth had explored the starship together as well as they were able to, but eventually the alien had suggested that the pair split up to avoid further suspicion. Now the shapeshifter was checking out the emergency exits, formulating back up plans in her head. If they put the ship into a flat spin, most of the exits would be useless because they would be covered by the sublight drive's tail. But if the ship was going end-over-end... Her planning was interrupted by the announcement over the comms. It took her a moment to orient herself, but soon enough she was striding onto the bridge.

Tona went over to her luggage and dug into her duffel, coming up with a pair of yellow-and-gold gloves with patterned grips on the palms. She tugged them on, double-checked that her bow and arrows weren't going anywhere, and climbed up onto the windowsill. She glanced outside and saw Mali and Subito down by the steps. Each window had a wide stone sill on the outside, and between each was a simple geometric shape picked out in the same pale stone. Between the floors, though, was only bare brick. She stepped outside the room and climbed onto one of the stone spacers. Her boots dug in to the brick below her and her fingers kept her body close to the stone. She grinned at her new roommate. "Last one down is target practice," she said, and began to descend rapidly.

Liz looked up and noticed a few other people in the exhibit. A large, gaunt man in a hooded sweatshirt was going from display to display, studying the pieces intently and reading the accompanying plaques several times. Another woman in a large, frumpy sweater and large glasses was making the rounds with a clipboard, probably a museum employee. And a young black woman in casual clothes, who seemed genuinely interested in the displays. The pair of them arrived at one of the centerpieces of the exhibit, a scale model replica of the ancient city of Luxor, with tiny scale-model figures moving through the streets. There was a detachment of soldiers in armor and sporting spears, a religious procession carrying a falcon-headed idol through the temple district, and a marketplace with brightly colored awnings. "It's interesting," Liz said after a moment, "that we think of the ancient city as being a sterile, dead place. When there was of course so much life there." Baxter Bowles slowly became aware of the young man standing next to him. He was tall and thin, with dusky skin and sharp features, and was dressed in a windbreaker and track pants. He read the plaque aloud, his tone suggesting the whole thing was a joke. "The Cenozonic period was following a time of increased global temperatures, as the planetary cycle swung back towards an ice age. It is known for a great proliferation of vertebrate and mammalian life." He glanced at Baxter and raised an eyebrow. "Bad timing on their part, huhn?"

Terminus monsters are more on the side of killing everything they see, as soon as they see it. Besides, isn't Jubatus moving too fast to be seen?

Blue Jay paused in the burning building and let her shoulders slump for a moment. The problem seemed impossible, insurmountable -- the entire building was going to come down in a few minutes, there was no way only a dozen human beings were going to get every last soul out. Then her shoulders went back with a snap and she was moving again. She was used to hopeless situations, they were the bread and butter of a resistance fighter in the Terminus. Was she not used to was being helpless, and here she wasn't -- she was better armed than she had ever been in her life, in fact! She might still be working when the building came down, but if so it would be pushing someone else closer to the exit. Her feet hit the stairs and the first one cracked, putting her off her stride. The next one was solid, but the third was simply gone. Blue Jay fired one of the grapple arrows into the flame-weakened wood above her head and winched up it to the second floor, banging open doors and calling out as she went. The second floor was no better than the first and she skirted a large hole in the floor, when she heard the shriek. She broke into a sprint, the air burning in her lungs, and slammed into the door. The open door, she found out, as she sprawled across the floor of the apartment. The heroine climbed to her feet, only to be confronted with four scared faces; children, ranging from fourteen years old to a babe still in diapers, crying lustily at the heat and smoke. Blue Jay froze. "Wh... where are your parents?" The fourteen-year-old, a girl, stepped forward, trying to hold and feed the baby, but the littlest wasn't having any of it. "Mom's at work. Mrs. Nesbitt usually watched us after school, but she went to the store." She glanced at the other two, a pair of boys maybe ten and five. All of the children were covered in smoke and flinched whenever the fire crackled particularly loudly. "When we heard the firemen, I tried to get us out but I couldn't leave Joshua behind!" She indicated the baby with a nod. "By the time I got him ready, the door was too hot to open." Blue Jay sucked in a breath with her teeth and nodded. "Okay. Follow me, and stick close." She took the girl's hand, and the older boy grabbed a belt loop on the girl's jeans while the youngest grabbed the older boy's hand. The train of youngsters went out into the hall and Blue Jay glanced both ways, trying to figure out where to go. She couldn't go back to the stairwell, the kids would never be able to negotiate the gap, not with the baby. So reluctantly, Blue Jay headed deeper into the building, traveling as quickly as the children could.

I'm going to be away Monday and Tuesday. Out of town, don't expect an Internet connection.

Well if he's not hiding the TK, then sure. Build the array around Move Object and go wild.

The thing I have to point out is, M&M is an effects-based system. It's often useful to consider what you want a character to do, mechanically, rather than the name of the power. In this case I'd build this character as a straight-up Paragon or Powerhouse, lots of Enhanced Strength and Super-Strength. Don't even give him Move Object if he's not going to use it, save it for a stunt.

Characters Name: Ironclad II Power Level: 13 (196/196PP) Trade-Offs: +5 Toughness/-5 Defense Unspent PP: 0 Description: Jessica Parker is a tall, slim girl, her body build of straight lines and long, lean limbs. She usually keeps her wavy, strawberry-blonde hair in a short crop or pixie cut, though lately she's taken to dying it a darker color. Her pale blue eyes shine with intelligence, and her thin lips curl readily into a smile. What most people don't see is her tattoo; a ring of lightning bolts centered on her belly button in the style of an old movie reel radio tower The Ironclad suit is a solid piece of green and gold metal, albeit segmented to allow full freedom of movement. While the suit generally follows Jessica’s body structure, it’s bulkier and beefier almost everywhere. It’s a necessary trade-off to fit all the sensors and machinery in a man-sized package. Jessica doesn’t wear makeup or jewelry as a rule, but she’s rarely without at least one specific piece. It's a slim titanium wristband that at first glance just seems to be a digital watch. In fact it’s the ‘anchor’ or ‘beacon’ that summons the Ironclad armor from its extradmensional storage space. Power Descriptions: Jessica has an almost intuitive understanding of technology and machinery, allowing her to make fantastic designs generations ahead of her time. Complications: City Girl: Jessica likes technology and the urban sprawl. She can get uncomfortable if forced to spend long periods in natural settings. HUD: The Ironclad armor receives all its data through sensors; if these sensors are blinded, the operator can't see anything that's happening. Limited Use: When the Ironclad armor is 'collapsed,' the user can only access the Quick Change, Time Sense, and Direction Sense abilities. No Plans, No Prototype: Jessica has a habit of putting prototype designs in her suit; between that and her constant tweaks, there's a chance that any given system could fail. Obsession: Jessica can't help herself from examining high-tech machines, and especially super-tech. Responsibility: Jessica feels that she has to protect Dawes Tech and the Lab. Attacking either is a sure way to get her to show up. Abilities: 0 + 6 + 2 + 10 + 2 + 4 = 24PP Strength: 34/10 (+12/+0) Dexterity: 16 (+3) Constitution: 12 (+1) Intelligence: 20 (+5) Wisdom: 12 (+1) Charisma: 14 (+2) Combat: 8 + 8 = 16PP Initiative: +3 Attack: +4, +12 Battlesuit Weapons Array Grapple: +4, +23 Battlesuit Servos, +27 at full Super-Strength Defense: +7 (+4 Base, +3 Dodge Focus), +2 Flat-Footed Knockback: -8/-0 Saving Throws: 6 + 4 + 8 = 18PP Toughness: +17/+1 (+1 Con, +16 Protection) Fortitude: +7 (+1 Con, +6) Reflex: +7 (+3 Dex, +4) Will: +9 (+1 Wis, +8) Skills: 120R = 30PP Computers 10 (+15)Skill Mastery Concentrate 9 (+10) Craft (Chemical) 10 (+15) Craft (Electronic) 15 (+20) Craft (Mechanical) 15 (+20)Skill Mastery Disable Device 10 (+15)Skill Mastery Knowledge (Biological Sciences) 10 (+15) Knowledge (Physical Sciences) 10 (+15) Knowledge (Technology) 15 (+20) Languages 4 (English [Native], French, German, Japanese, Russian) Notice 6 (+7)Skill Mastery Sense Motive 6 (+7) Feats: 11PP Benefit (Wealth 2) Dodge Focus 3 Eidetic Memory Equipment 0 (+3 Bronze Reward) Inventor Interpose Luck 2 Skill Mastery (Computers, Craft [Mechanical], Disable Device, Notice) Equipment: 3PP = 15EP 5 + 10 = 15 The Lab (HQ) [5EP] Midtown Apartment (PL12 HQ) [12EP] Size: Medium [1EP] Toughness: +10 [1EP] Features: [8EP] Computers Defense System: Snare 12 Laboratory Library Living Space Security System 2 (DC25) Workshop Powers: 78 + 4 + 15 = 97PP Device 19 (95PP Container, Flaws: Hard-To-Lose, Feats: Restricted [Mental Quickness 6+], Subtle) [78PP] (Battlesuit [Technology]) All effects have the Technology descriptor. Enhanced Feats 7 (Accurate Attack, All-Out Attack, Defensive Attack, Improvised Tools, Power Attack, Precise Shot, Quick Change) [7PP] Features 3 (Computer, Hologram Projector, Library) [3PP] Flight 1 (10 MPH/100 ft per round, stacks for Flight 5 250 MPH/2 500 ft per round) [2PP] Immunity 11 (Critical Hits, Life Support) [11PP] (Armor) Power Reserve 4 (8PP, Flight, Super Strength) [10PP] Protection 16 [16PP] (Armor) Super-Senses 6 (Infravision, Analytical [All visual], Radius [All visual], Extended 1 [100 ft increments]) Super-Senses 2 (Radio) Super-Senses 6 (Ultrahearing, Accurate [All auditory], Extended 1 [100 ft increments]) Super-Senses 3 (Direction Sense, Distance Sense, Time Sense) [3PP] Vulnerability (Electricity, Frequency: Common, Intensity: Moderate [+50%]) [-3PP] Weapons Array 13 (26PP Array, Feats: Accurate 4, Alternate Power 3) [25PP] Base Power: Blast 12 (Feats: Improved Range 2 [2 500ft Increments / 1,000ft Max Range]) [22PP] (Wrist Blasters) Alternate Power: Enhanced Strength 24 + Super-Strength 1 [22PP] (Servos) Alternate Power: Snare 12 (Feat: Reversible) [21PP] (Glue Capsules) Alternate Power: Blast 12 (Extra: Area/Targeted [shapeable], Flaw: Action/Full) [20PP] (Cluster Munitions) Quickness 6 (x100, Flaws: Limited [Mental Tasks], Feats: Innate) [4PP] Immunity 30 (Fortitude Effects, Flaw: Limited [Half Effect]) [15PP] Drawbacks: -0PP None DC Block: ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC15 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Wrist Blaster Ranged DC 27 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Energy) Servos Touch DC 27 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Glue Capsule Ranged DC 22 Reflex (Staged) Entangled (Physical) Cluster Munitions Ranged/Area DC 27 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Abilities (24) + Combat (16) + Saving Throws (18) + Skills (30) + Feats (11) + Powers (97) - Drawbacks (0) = 196/196 Power Points

OOC for this thread, where the Silver Spider, Bee-Keeper III, and Starlight certainly will not encounter nefarious villains. No sir, no how.

April 1st, 2012 10:34 AM Hunter Museum of Natural History, Freedom City Liz Moya walked through the halls of the Hunter Museum of Natural History, notebook in hand. Langston Albright, the previous holder of the mystic Light that empowered her, was always pushing her to get out and see the world, to learn more about the planet she was living on and to get involved with more than school and superbattles. Liz frankly didn't see the point -- she had never lived in a single place as long as she had on Earth, it was true, but she had never considered settling here. There was just so much of the world to see, after all, that staying in one place her whole life struck her as foolish. But her schoolwork did require her to do a little research that she couldn't do at the university library or online, so she found herself here. The towering tyrannosaurus at the entrance had raised her eyebrows, but she soon gravitated to the Egypt exhibit. It was extensive, showing off sarcophagi and murals, and even a recreation of the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids in all their glory. The young woman -- or rather, the alien walking around in the guise of a young woman -- examined the exhibits closely. She felt some odd connection to the austere simplicity of the monuments, something she couldn't explain but left her feeling... at peace. Of course, in Freedom City moments of peace never lasted long.

I think a thread for the new kids on the block will be good. Starlight, Bee-keeper, and Silver Spider thwart a museum heist! Just have to figure out some details first.