Supercape

GM Armitage sat down, slowly, and carefully. And thumped his head against the desk. "Of all the curses!" he mumbled, before straightening up and adjusting his bow tie. "Do not fear. I can contain my apoplexy if need be. Humour him, however, is not within the capabilities of Hercules" he said, quite serious. "The situation is considerably more difficult than I had first anticipated. And it calls for a considerably more difficult solution" he explained. "Namely, it requires sorcery. Or, more precisely, the utilisation of some of the strange and Eldritch devices I have here. With them, I propose we steal away that mask from the police station. And do so without anybody being any the wiser. And that includes Mr. Guyst and his new protege...."

GM "History?" smiled Armitage, savouring the word as a historian would. "Yes, you could say that. He tried to film me down in RiO, as I was setting off to investigate some Mayan ruins. "He was, quite frankly, an ass" "I have never met a man so quite full of himself, so brimming with ill deserved confidence. I would quite happily strangle the man to death. It would surely not be considered murder by any sane man, for I would be doing a sacred duty to man" he said, gravel and grim, striking a most indignant pose. "Why....you aren't saying...." he continued, his brow darkening. "It's not actually him outside, is it?" he asked, his face red.

GM "Oh dear. That makes things most complicated" grumbled Armitage, tapping his fingers on his desk. "I would have wanted everything undercover, invisible. The less that is known about such matters, the better. The fact that the police have such a dangerous item only doubles the need. And now, you tell me that a camera crew is here" He started getting agitated, pulling at his hair. "How fortune micturates on my endeavours" he said, most vexed. "Perhaps we can dispense with this man quickly? As long as he does not have footage of the mask, that will not be difficult. Perhaps he would be paid off? As long as he is not one of those artists whose only currency is their own image, like that reprehensible idiot Zyte Guyst...."

GM "This is true. I would not have wanted it to fall into the hands of some gang. In fact, I would have preferred it stayed in my hands. I have been studying many objects and antiquities as I sailed to Freedom City. I soon determined that the mask should not be sold..." He pressed his fingers to his temples, and rubbed. "But I have not the luxury of lamentations. It is gone, and whilst not in the hands of a gang, it is hardly safe. Hardly safe at all. Whilst a street thug would be more quick to use it, it is unlikely they would be able to direct its power. The risk is now less in probability, but greater in impact. Which is of little or no comfort" he said, pressing his fingers together and concentrating his thoughts. "What is your interest in this matter? Not merely a side effect of your smoke like power I would presume. I confess that I cannot help but be most interested in your condition. And, frankly, that ties in with another matter of great import. Namely, can I trust you?"

GM Armitage again paused - not one for quick response. He stewed and considered every word carefully. "That is...unfortunate. It would have been much more preferable had your brought the mask here. It is dangerous, you see, something that inspired lust. In a police station. Well, it could be worse. But it could certainly be a lot better..." He sat down again, head in hands. "The world is much more thin that you could imagine. It is not safe, nor predictable. It is by fortune and the will of men that its not cast into chaos. Before man, older, colder civilizations walked the earth, and that mask is from those times. My dealing with these antiquities is most dangerous, you see, but necessary" He looked up. "Do you believe me? It is hard to swallow, is it not? Yet it is true, all the same...."

GM The car - and the truck, were a complete right off - although there seemed to be no immediate danger of explosions, there was a risk of fire. As for the two bodies... Well they were alive. She could tell that much. For now. One of them was merely smashed to pieces, with broken bones and wheezing lungs, still conscious, trying to crawl, inch by inch, away from the wreckage. He was in no shape to fight, that was for sure. He was hardly in shape to crawl. It would take him an hour to cover a dozen feet, the rate he was going - if he even made it that far without passing out. The other one - who had been in the back. He wasn't right at all. His breathing was shallow, he was bleeding profusely from a compound fracture of the femur, and was out cold. It looked like he was about to expire...

Actually enough for diagnosis! And all doctors are ass hats anyway.

Rev "Yeah I understand all of that" said Rev to Paradigm, unplugging the fuel lines from her neck and feeling most refreshed. "But its...like a gnawing fear, now. In the back of my mind. Something out their that can eat up the universe...at any time. And there isn't anything we can do about it. That's pretty tough to know. Like you have swallowed a bomb or something. Honestly? I wish I didn't know...." She pulled at her hair a bit, disconcerted. Disconcerted to the max. "I guess I just got to get on with my life. Try not to think about it" she said, firmly, to herself. "But right now, I better catch up with Zhu. She is very naughty, and without my sensible and well behaved head around, she is sure to get up to major mischief!" she lied, happily.

GM "Bonfire is it?" nodded Armitage, pondering the matter. "The Mask? Yes...yes...." he continued, closing his book and standing up. He began pacing, juggling around thoughts and speculations inside his head - before coming to firm conclusion. "I imagine this is a skull mask? Like a giant serpent? Fits neatly over the face and grants furious strength. Or just fury?" he said, before taking a pen and paper and sketching a pretty good likeness of the skull mask. "I found it in Egypt. An Eldritch thing, of ancient history. Pre-history, more precisely. May I ask where it is now? And what you observed of it?"

Lord Steam "The Terminus!" muttered Lord Steam. "This is bad! Well, not all bad. At least you are breathing. And sort of back to your spiffy self" he added. He pondered the words he had heard. They didn't really make any sense - not that they were nonsensical, but rather he was looking at a jigsaw with only a few pieces here and there. It was impossible to make sense of it. But the Terminus - that was bad. "This? Oh its some kind of fancy wand. Does some fancy stuff, like telekenesis. Possibly a key, as well. Quite how I got it is something of a mystery, I am afraid. Some fellow gave it to me, then he vanished in a puff of light. Or something like that" he explained. Admittedly, not very well, but then it was not something that made particular sense right now. "Right now there is no pattern to these events, I am afraid. Its still just falling into place....But more importantly, how are you feeling? Can't solve a mystery with a head full of dust...."

Rev Rev didn't think they would stay back. Everyone loved a good free show. Even if they didn't love it, they would be drawn to it - some kind of hypnotic magnetic force would make them. Like watching a car crash on the other side of the street. Hopefully they wouldn't get too close. "Lets go get this done, Bear-head" she sighed, giving her neck a crack from side to side. "No busting heads until they start to bust ours, remember!" She walked up to the Shed and put her ear to the wall, to see if she could hear anything inside...

Basically its the core rules! Construct the power, like Damage 2 (Extras: Permanent Aura [+3), Flaws: Limites to TIny things [-2]) Total Cost 4 PP Then two parts: Design Check First, the inventor must design the invention. This is a Knowledge (technology) skill check. The DC is 10 + the invention’s power point cost. It requires an hour’s work per power point of the invention’s cost. The character can take 10 or 20 on the check. In the latter case, the design process takes 20 times longer (20 hours per power point). You can halve the design time by taking a –5 on the Knowledge check. Design Check = DC 10 + invention’s point cost Once the design is in-hand, the character can construct the invention. This requires four hours work per power point of the invention’s cost, so an invention costing 10 points takes 40 hours (about a week’s work normally, or working two days straight without rest) to construct. When the construction time is complete, make a Craft skill check, using the Craft specialty appropriate to the invention (generally chemical, electronic, or mechanical). The DC is 10 + the invention’s power point cost. You can’t take 20 on this check, but you can take 10. You can halve the construction time by taking a –5 on the Craft check. Construction Check = DC 10 + invention’s point cost Success means the invention is complete and functional. Failure means the invention doesn’t work. Failure by 10 or more may result in a mishap, at the GM’s discretion. You do have plenty of time to make your invention is this thread of course (and inventions do take a long time!) but skill checks still needed! The invention is good for "one encounter" (or spend an HP to extend it for another).

Do you want a scene cut back to Mr. Brick - well, I presume you do eventually. When / Time scale? post any inventions or data gathering stuff here!

GM "City Park? Well, why not. I do love flowers!" said Imprint. "Flowers?" mumbled Block Head, still spinning. "FLOWERS!" shouted Imprinted, vexed but determined. She took Block Head by the hand - not unkindly, but still firmly - and gazed at him with much concentration. "Flowers! I like flowers!" said Block Head after a moments contemplation. And with that, the two of them stepped through the portal quite content. Or, in Imprint's case, full of glee about her victory.

OK cool - lets go with Imprint and Block Head getting away - for now. And back to Mr Brick to turn the flavour slightly more investigative social scientific. Ish!

GM As the alligator slithered away, the tunnel was once empty bar the gentle sloshing of water and the breathing of Arcturus and Lobisomem. There was coolness, too, beyond what one might expect. Like the heat was being eaten from the air. Moving closer, Lobisomem and Arcturus could at least feel fairly confident they had the drop on the doctor. For there he was. He had constructed a makeshift laboratory. It was not exactly hygienic - far from it, but it was functional. Power cables living parasitically of the city network, lights set up over the small chamber. Computers, radios, cages, and glass ware of all types and sizes. A board on which a thousand scribbles fought for attention. There we also preserved dishes of failed experiments. It simply would not do to stare at the horrors pickled inside for long. In the centre, carefully placed, was a fridge with hazard sign inside. Darwin-X was stored inside. The Doctor himself was a large man - over six feet tall and stacked full of muscle. He was in his forties, one would guess, with straggled hair and straggle beard both jet black over a tanned face. One might guess he was middle eastern or Mediterranean from his heritage. His eyes however were a deep blue, and almost bulging, set below a furrowed brow as he studied a set of computer read outs. He was half eating a bowl of noodles and lost in concentration.

Rev Rev, meanwhile, was enjoying a refuel with Paradigm. This is good stuff! Hardly needs any refining! which was pleasant, as refining fuel made her emit methane. It was not social, nor was it pleasant. With a tube stuck in either side of the neck she waited a minute for her reserves to fill. "Thanks Paradigm. I mean, for everything. The fuel, saving our asses, and yeah, the footwear..." she sighed. Sure, it was footwear. But man it was square.... She took the time to respray on Zhu's gelskin over her arms and legs. Bar a few singed clothes she looked kind of human again. "Whats your deal, anyway?" she asked Paradigm. "Not that I am complaining!" she added hastily. "But doesn't this whole collapse thing effect, like, everyone? I mean, sounds like the whole universe should be concerned..."

Flux I am delaying. I know I am delaying.... I can't face Earth. Not just yet. Quill was not facing up to the terror of having two years of your life - if it was two years from his perspective - lost. Gone. Oblivion. He didn't know what to call it, other than deeply unsettling. For now, a spot of what he did best would be a reasonable tonic. He was at least aware of his failing. And besides, this was interesting. And he might be of help. "I think that would be prudent. I do not wish to be alarmist, but one cannot be too careful when it comes to time space anomalies" he said, explaining his reasoning. "I would hate for something to happen here, however unlikely, and I did not spend at least a moment looking. Up close, if possible..."

GM The truck turned into the highway, accompanied by the sound of furious horns and fearful screams. Cars roared past and the pick up truck skidded, burning rubber. "FASTER FOR GODS SAKE GO FASTER!!!!" screamed the man at the back, now scared out of his mind. The driver seemed to pick up on some of that horror, and put his foot on the gas. The highway was straight - or straight enough - that it could make full speed. It could make full speed on a straight road. But there were other cars on it. And not a hundred yards into the acceleration, the pick up truck hard to swerve left. Then right. Then left again, losing its control with every violent heave. Then, it turned, then it tumbled, going to a full roll. Four...five...six...times. And hit the back of a lorry carrying a shipment of Cherribomb! Lollipops. It was a bittersweet moment, then. As the truck up and the pick up stop and the whole highway screamed to a close. The pick up was a mess, crumpled and battered and flipped, with steam coming out of the radiator, petrol on the tarmac, and coated with a sprinkling of cheap sugary treats that had spilled out of the back of a truck. In all fairness, whilst Cherribomb Lollipops were cheap and unhealthy, they were rather tasty...

Cool, post away in PC! We are now on the highway - so the truck can outrun but of course taking a horrible risk doing so! Opposed rolls again please, except this time if the car wins, it makes headway. (by 5 or more, huge headway, by 10 or more, it escapes) Raising DC for car - not Arrowhawk to avoid injury! Drive: 1d20+5 6 Never mind! Collision / Tumble terror! Toughness 25 Rolls for the crash. Crash: 2#1d20+2 16 8 one is dying, one is disabled!

Chase scene! Jazzy Spazzy rules: DC 5 to not crash and burn / trip. DC 15 to not pick up a bruise Roll DEX / Acrobatics for Arrowhawk (who is at +2 for being human rather than vehicle). Drive for vehicle: Race!: 1d20+5 18 for car, which makes it! Use the opposed roll: If vehicle wins, it gets onto the highway (which does not mean it has escaped, just it has reached the highway with you behind it) If Arrowhawk wins, she catches up. Varying degrees of success: Draw or more: You keep pace and within 5 feet of the vehicle 5 or more you get an arm / hand on the vehicle and can skid along with it. 10 or more you elegantly jump onto the vehicle 15 or more you elegantly back flip onto the vehicle whilst juggling and singing a sea shanty of your choice in Icelandic (or whatever cool effect you want).

GM The pick up truck had more raw speed than Arrowhawk, but it was far less agile. It was just about making headway, but had to turn, and lost speed. "Faster, faster!" yelled the man on the back, losing what shredded remains of his nerves he had left. He fired off a crossbow bolt which was wildly off aim, clanging helplessly and impotently against masonry. He was hardly an expert marksman, and even an expert marksman would struggle to even be vaguely on target under these circumstances. The Pick Up Truck had turned into a side street full of debris and was trying to pick up speed. Ahead, the main highway - where at least it could potentially out pace Arrowhawk, even if at perilous risk...

Before Proceeding, can I have your thoughts on where we are and where you would like to go? On the face of it, this seems to be a situation where the "villain" has "won" (major parenthesis on both reductionistic clumsy statements). Your perspectives would be great. I think the odd bitter moment without abject blowing up of cities is good - its like a thorn in the skin of heroes which they need rather than endlessly recycling "I win", but this is something I would like your perspectives on. In particular, where to take this thread and should there be a follow up.

GM The pulse was there, although weak. Regular, too. On examination, he was breathing. That was always a good sign, although there was a slight gurgle to his breath. There was blood, from a broken leg with a splendid piece of bone sticking out. And one arm looked like it was bent in a very unusual way. But aside from broken bones and unconsciousness, there did not look like there was anything critical. He would need hospital treatment, and need it soon, but there was no immediate call for CPR. The pick up truck, meanwhile, was speeding away - and fast. It was cutting its losses - for now...

Starshot Shell-shocked...mind gone....bah! Starshot threw up his hands in exasperation at the withdrawn Alien. A spiteful ironical wish hit him; that they would all die and it would be Phalen's fault. He allowed himself the spiteful thought, but tore it up in his head before it lingered. "A distraction, yes. This was my thinking. And fire is as good a distraction as anything" he agreed with Soreen. "It may work, it may not, but there is nothing to be lost by the attempt" he said, thinking it through. "And we need every chance we can get" "We could possibly even try to trap the area, pits, snares. Enough to slow them down" he suggested. "We have time on our side, at least. Let us not squander that one advantage. Every preparation we can make, we should make..." He sat back, turning the problem over and over in his head. But as far as he could see, they had a plan. And it was time to execute it - slowly, carefully, and with every preparation and cunning they could muster....