Supercape

GM "She sure does...and some mighty sting in the tail!" chuckled Mr. Sting, greedily, licking his lip. "Now then, how about you ah..produce...some of that their poison you were talkin' about?" he said, salivating at the prospect. "I bet that..." A gust of wind, cool and strange, blew out from the tunnel ahead. The giant scorpion, locked in its wooden cage, got skittish - some animal, nay insectiod, instinct telling it that something weird and eldritch was ahead! And lo, the insect was correct, for from the tunnel came two forms - a man made of smoke, and a devil made of dust!!!

GM There was the sound of faint, half-crazed laughter as smoke and sand raced through the Mesa once more. This time, however, the Dust Devil was both faster and prepared. The trip through cracks was even more torturous and dizzying than last time. The Dust Devil could feel strange dimensions at his sandy finger-tips; the insane asylum spellhold, on lapping green oceans, the deadmoonlit world of faceless grief, playing his endless laments to hiw wife on his violin, the grey entropy of the murk, where a bowler hatted blind Neanderthal watched, somewhat shocked, as they brushed dimensions. And then, they were in a tunnel, with cool wind blowing around them... And voices up ahead... Continued In...Sting in the Tail!

GM "The path to enlightenment is not easy, for if it was, everyone would take it!" replied Adbul, as some twittering dog sized dinosaurs skipped around his form, wondering what on earth was going on. "The risks they took, well, I am sure they considered them worthwhile! You only see the tears, not the joy! But I see there is nothing that can bend your path, not one fraction. It seems indeed that the Mesa requires a fool to protect it, and that was why you were chosen! Come then....let me show you the depths of the Mesa....if you dare follow?" he laughed, mocking the Devil. And with that, his smoky body seeped back into the Mesa's cracks and caverns....

Echohead The young man caught up in this dimensional web of terror - Fascimile? - was in a state of panic, or confusion - or quite probably both (how often they went together), and thatm given he was clearly possessed of formidable suitablepowers, was dangerous for everyone! Echohead was not best fond of mind wiping persons, but right now, it seemed the only safe thing to do. Or, to be more precise, it was the least dangerous thing to do...for there was no getting away from it...they where in deep trouble, the lot of them! So, he reached inside Fascimiles mind and started pulling away at the memories of the last minute. See if that helped!

Echohead can try and do that Ari - but his psionic power is limited to removing thoughts / memories / feelings, not creating them. I would imagine a mind-wipe of recent events would serve the purpose, though! (can at least try!)

GM That's bad! The thought was fleeting, but pressing. She had never been subject to being crushed by a slab of masonry before, and, whilst always open to new experiences in principle, it really wasn't on her things to do list today. Or any day. With snakeblood reflexes, she dived out of the way, towards the mystery bearded man. Whom, she noted, was either showing humanity by rescuing the girl, or following her commands. Or, she added to herself, doing both! "Lets get out of here before we get crushed!" she said, giving a little cough from masonry dust. And now, it really was time to run! Save skin first, ask questions later!

Reflex save! Reflex Save: 1d20+10 26

GM Abdul actually stopped to think about what the Dust Devil said, but had a response that was measured. "A dealer? No...no, I don't think so. I give. There is no deal. I do not ask for money, or favours, or even adulation - although I confess our little group at Freedom City University does somewhat elevate me" he replied. "And I am no so foolish to realise I desire such adulation, and not so unwise to think I do not, in some measure, deserve it" he said, cold now. "But there is no demand. There is no deal, as you put it. You may twist my actions to suit your own ego, but it but twisting of facts. I make offer without asking or demanding anything in return!"

GM There was some suspicion, of course. They were - underneath the courage - frightened. Memories and minds blanked out, and now under investigation for terrible crimes. There treatment had been fair, all things considered, but still, this was a difficult and stressful situation even for the resilient. Speaking in Russian did apply a little oil on the wheels. And whilst Anglo-Russian relationships were strained, the English did not have quite so worrisome a stereotype in comparison to the States. Fifty years of cold war was not quickly disregarded. "<How?>" was the question, which was straight to the point. "<We don't remember anything>", said with heavy tongue - a refrain they had clearly been saying over and over again which was at best half-believed.

GM Rev caught the crash out of the corner of her red-eye. She didn't get why it happened, but she knew enough about what happened. It was a crash, and a bad one. She felt the racing urge, to step on the gas and win whatever. She gripped the wheel slightly tighter, and felt her foot twich, wanting to press her buggy harder. "Grrr....damn it" she said through gritted teeth. She slammed on the brakes and the car slid around. "Sorry, Facs, gotta help him. I hope you can mimic a first aid kit!" she said, her course now committed to helping the man, although irritated the race was lost.

GM "You probably will" conceded Abdul. "Much to the misfortune of man. Ah, it is terrible that someone like you, whom can navigate the bountiful dimensions of the mesa is so constricted. Perhaps, then, this is why you were chosen. Only the narrow-minded and blind would serve and protect so blindly, I suppose. At the end of the day, are you not just a tool?" "What if I showed you the Great Race of a million years in the future? Or the burning world of ideas, with islands floating on the northern lights? Would it make difference if you could see the lake of souls? Or wander the inside and outside of the puzzle box?" he asked, each temptation dropped with genuine eagerness.

Sorry missed this! Will Save: 1d20+8 16

Snakebite "Everyone has to get out of here" said Cassie, refining the philosophy. She pulled back her wrist - not that she didn't agree with the man's sentiment in trying to get her out - but rather, she needed to act independently. And she was a lot stronger than she looked. The east side looked collapsed beyond hope; it would most probably take too long to shift, even with concerted effort. There really was no way to pick another exit other than, as the man said, the nearest one. "Lets get going. And pick up any stragglers!" she concluded, making the way to the exit, but mindful to try and pull up anyone who was knocked down...

GM Adbul looked genuinely dissapointed. "Really? I show you beauty beyond time, I show you the ancient history of our world, and still your eyes are full of mist!" he said, both sad and a little angry. "Ah! If you are so small, then I wonder why the Mesa gave you such power?" he mused, irritated with the questions - and answers - he posed himself. "But I must ask now - and you must answer truthfully - what is your intent when you find the Snake? For I suspect you are ill disposed, at best. You wish to impose your will on others, and do so with the impunity that power brings!"

So you do have some time on route to do some knowledge / research checks, although as noted in previous thread there is nothing on Red Dawn or Mother board, other than the fact that there are no internet references linking either of those two terms with Darwin - X, suggesting an extremely powerful deletion. You do have the medical and physical data on the Russians as new information. Enough for Synapse to make a knowledge (Beh Sciences) taking 10: if made, she can

GM And so... Another flight in the WEST jet. This time, back to the states! The flight was another six hours, even with the souped up engines of the jet. And the travelling was bumpy. No science could control the weather- at least yet! North tried to catch a few hours sleep - for unlike Replica he was made of flesh and blood and caffeine only took you so far. But it was a light and unrefreshing sleep. The plane set down in Freedom City without incident, and the three of them went to the FBI holding facility just out of town. Security was pretty tight, as might be expected, but North got them through - although they were "escorted" by four armed guards at all times. The three captured Russians were in solitary, but well looked after. They were watching TV, exercising, or playing cards. Fed and watered, and given some basic luxuries. Nobody, yet, could work them out. All psychological and physical data had already been sent to North, and nothing outstanding was evident...

Snakebite Collapsing ceilings were not the best way to start the day! Through the dust and confusion she spied the bearded man. And what, she thought somewhat oddly, a magnificent beard it was! Like a viking warrior! Like a Rus trader! She could only assume he was without malign intent. After all, he seemed to be at ground level. If anyone was with violence machination right now, presumably they would have not have placed themselves under a collapsing ceiling. What was it anyway? A bomb? Bad architecture? Someone moving a really heavy piano? Well she, hand't seen a piano, so presumably it wasn't that. "Over here!" she called out.

Cool

GM "Such glorious toxins! can it be true?" slobbered Mr. Sting, enratured by the thought of possessing such a toxin. "For myself, I never really understood chemistry and science. Home schooled, you might say. I have always been fascinated with insects, and most particularly, scorpions. I have studied them, and their venom, for as long as I can remember! I can distill a toxin so deadly that it will kill a man in ten seconds!" he said, proudly. One wondered if he had actually studied the time. A grisly experiment! "But here, look!" As they went deeper into the poorly lit cave, Venomax could hear a scuttling sound. And soon, he understood why. For Mr Sting had created a pen, or cage, of sort. And in it was simply the biggest scorpion he had ever seen! It must have been four feet in length, and that was without the stinger tail!

GM At the sound of Venomax proclaiming to be the most poisonous thing on earth (and quite likely, a correct proclamation!) Mr. Sting's eyes widened in rapture, although he had a spot on skepticm. Surely it could not be that wonderful!?!? "Well you came to the right place for poisons. The scorpions here...well, they grow em large round these parts! Eh, these part's are queer, though. You seen the magic mesa yet? It comes, it goes. But it's always here, in some way or another" "Now, as you let Big Mama go, all polite and courteous, I'll do you the same courtesy. Only fair. Let me show you one of my scorpions. If you can step inside...?" he asked, offering Venomax an entrance to his cave / hut. "And then you have to show me some of your poisons!" he requested, dribbling at the thought.

GM Abdul, still smoke, turned to the Dust Devil. "I'm glad you followed me!" he said, keenly. It was not really malice, or gloating, in his voice. Rather, he seemed gripped by a furious fever to show the Dust Devil infinity. And beyond, of course. "This is the past. This is the land of the snake. Tell me, do you know the true ancient history of the world? Do you know of Lemuria? Of the civilisation that predated man? Of Atlantis? Here, all these things are now!"

GM Down, down, down into the caverns and tunnels and cracks of the Magic Mesa the Dust Devil seeped. Down, down. And north, west, east, south, and up. And other directions too! for this was the Magic Mesa. Anyone else would surely have got hopelessly lost, for this was the Magic Mesa, and Abdul was taking the most torturous path, through the heaviest distortions. But the Dust Devil knew this place better than Abdul, and probably better than anyone. And more importantly, whilst Abdul had got a head start, he was slower than the Dust Devil. And then, they seeped, together, through a crack in the mesa, and landed in a magnificent, hyperfertile, hyperalive, jungle. Millions of years ago! "Awesome!" said Abdul. "I saw this in my visions. But to actually be here!" A pair of many-toothed dinosaurs, a dozen feet high, whipped their heads to the two gaseous forms, wondering if a new meal had arrived!

Starshot Interesting. And vile. Fifty armed pirates, combat robots, and artillery. That was an herculean feat for their motley crew, even with the best strategy in the world. Not impossible, but the odds were so very very long. But they had information now. The Jaas were the key which, if eliminated, would potentially allow the Edestrekai to be emancipated. He left the pirates to stew and conferred with Soreen and Laark in private. "I can't see any easy road from here" he started. "But every road involves the Edestrekai. For their sake, as well as ours" he explained. "We have to free them. But this won't work with a full on assault. We need a more precise, surgical stategy - and it's not going to be quick" he concluded. "As far as I can see, we have to take the Jaas out of the picture to start with. There are only a few of them, but I can imagine it will be dirty work. Namely, assasination..." He was no fan of killing, but on the other hand their options were thin, and he would rather kill a few mind-raping pirates than leave an entire species enslaved.

GM Abdul pointed straight down, to the cracks in the Mesa, leading to the strange doorways, caverns and caves that lead to even stranger times, places...and things that were neither times nor places! "Now...I don't think you are with me on this" said Abdul, astutely enough. "I got a feeling you want to shut down the leaf. Closed mind, closed mind..." he said, softly now, even sad. Mumbling just a bit. He took one massive nostril inhalation of the leafs fumes. "See, when you really get to understand this, it doesn't just send your mind to spacedust, you become spacedust!" And with that, he faded. His body became wisps of smoke, grey and incomplete. So transformed, he oozed down through the cracks!

GM "I never said I owned this place. Its too wonderful for anyone to own" replied Abdul, getting firm in his voice. "My supplier...ah....haha....he is a snake!" he laughed. "He cultivates the leaf deep within the Mesa. I don't understand how this place works. Things get...twisted...inside. But he approached me showing me the leaf and all its wonderful mysteries. It is born from the Mesa, and like the Mesa, it is beyond time!" he said, a grin on his face, his voice full of enthusiam. "Me and my buddies, we started smoking the leaf regularly. It gives you such insight into the cosmos!" he said. "We discuss philosophy, theology, occultism, astrophysics....its wonderful!" Abdul slowly stood up. "You protect the Mesa? Then you should protect the leaf too!"