Supercape

Round 6 16 - Lob - Unharmed - Bruised , Dazed -2 HP 14 - Giant Ant - Prone - Bruised x3 At this point the licking flames will cause a Damage 3 effect on the Giant Ant Tough vs Flames: 1d20+6 15 making it bruised and dazed! We will thus skip straight to Round 7. However, the Truck will clearly explode soon! Round 6 16 - Lob - Unharmed - Bruised , Dazed -2 HP 14 - Giant Ant - Prone - Bruised x4 Lob is up and have editted the last post

That would be dazed and bruised (again) Technically your Tough save would have been +9 rather than +10 as you had a bruise but that makes no odds! Do you want to post a reaction to that? You will be dazed next round so unable to act (unless of course you wish to spend an HP rerolling although there would be a small chance of a worse result!)

GM And meanwhile.. directly above.... Lobisomem could actually hear the rumblings under his feet. The grumbling and onimous sounds seem to come from the open manhole cover, which lead down to the sewers of Freedom City, and possibly all sorts of subterran architecture. But he had far more pressing concerns, as the Giant ant lurched forward and seized him with its mandibles, raking the across his chest in a bloodthirsty frenzy. Whatever strength the Ant had was no magnified and multiplied with blood lust..and it was strong to begin with. It seemed to click its legs together in happy joy at its ferocity. And now, the truck was fully alight...would it be much longer before it exploded? In any case, the flames, growing hire, caressed the ant which gave a huge high pitched squeal, thrashing around in the fire and twitching. One could almost smell the cooking ant-flesh...

GM And so Marcus stole forward, the smell of damp mushrooms becoming stronger. He passed several wounded and shocked people, but the threat was further on. Three carriages down, picking through the dim lights and the crushed metal, he found the source of the problem. A young man in his twenties was unconscious, lying on the floor, dressed in what looked like a sewer workers overalls judging by his uniform. Around him, and with gloopy tendrils all around him, was a purple grey fungus, about ten feet across in every direction and growing by the second. Tendrils leeched on to the metal of the carriage, slowly dissolving it. As Marcus watched, a stringy new tendril shot across the carriage, ten feet long, and attached itself to the ceiling. The carriage lurched again. It was now at least twenty degrees tilt...

Snappy Snap snap: 1d20+4 24 An unfortunate crit by the ant! Thats a DC 30 Toughness Save!

GM ...So below.... The punks parted, too shaken to either protest or aide Marcus. The door was somewhat jammed, but a good tug on the handle and it opened easily enough. The welted man stumbled forward looking quite ill. And shaken, so very very shaken. The smell of damp mushrooms was much more powerful now. "Somethings...back there!" he gulped, leaning on Marcus. It looked like has having an anaphylactic shock, his face turning a beetroot colour that looked most ominous in this light. There was another grinding metal sound, and the carriage tilted a foot or two. It felt like the carriage was sinking. Or the rail collapsing. "Oh gods what was that!" gasped the welted man, clinging onto Marcus tightly. His knuckles seemed immune to the redness on his skin, for they were quite, quite, white. "There was some kind of...I don't know...like a fungus. It was eating the metal! How can that even be? Nothing eats metal!" he gibbered.

Sorry Rose! Geography and PbP are not an easy match. In my head...which is not something we need to follow, but is in my head: Wayward and the team left the top floor via the emergency door which lead to some stairs. These stairs are at the side of the building, and next to to the windows showing the high up view. The drones have been buzzing outside the window and have now shot out the glass. Asuming you dont a) jump out the broken windows or b) reverse, go back up the stairs onto the roof, there are two obvious directions 1. Open the door to the top floor (i.e. below the roof) of the building. On the basis Wayward and group have managed to descend one floor level on the stairs. 2. Continue down the stairs to the level below, albeit with the drones flying around outside. Of course if you have any ideas (like throwing a drum cymbal like a discus into one of the drones), I'm good with that!

Starshot Starshot woke slowly, dreaming of forests, mountains, and clear lakes. His childhood. It was a pleasant memory, spoiled quickly by the memory of events that followed in Germany. He found himself betwixt the two memories as he moved through his gear. He was a prudent man, a military man, despite it all. He had found that checking equipment and supplies was wise, and the ritual of it gave him some space in his head. Thus, he said little whilst in the ritual. Once completed he found himself refreshed and focused. "Onwards then, as magnificent as this grass is, I would rather be out of the field. Onto more pleasant lands, I hope!" he said, full of hope in his voice and little in his heart. He was enjoying the sights, but there would be more blood spilled before the end of this journey, he wagered...

Rev "Huh...well, I guess I could always put on sun factor six billion" answered Rev, feeling a little lame. She wasn't sensitive about much, but her appearance could get to her. She didn't enjoy feeling sorry for herself, not considering she could fly. And she was thankful she still had a face rather than a cyborg frankenstein look. But it was an issue...one that she couldn't quite shake. So, on that note, she shook her head at Jack's offer. "No picture for me. Not right now. I'm sorry, I mean, I appreciate it and all. And it would probably be therapeutic or something like that. But I'm just not ready for that yet" she said, a little irritated at herself. "Give me a ten hour make over, maybe!" she said, trying to infuse the issue with a little light.

GM Up Above.... The seatbelt had that annoying fibrous quality with annoying resilience (as, in fairness, was required of a seatbelt), but it was torn easily enough by sharp claws. "Mmmwh...what? mmmm...lizard.....aaaahhhh!" screeched the half conscious driver, blood now all over his face. It was not that he had a serious injury, but that scalps bleed profusely even with minor injuries. Said blood seem to invigorate the giant ant, that jumped to its five remaining feet and, without any apparent loss of speed, scuttled with hideous speed onto the crumpled bonnet of the truck, slobber dripping off its jaws. "mmmmaaah! ANT!....GIANT ANT!" screamed the shocked driver, the terror of the situation cutting through the concussion with a shot of adrenaline. And more fear was on the cards, for the engine of the truck started to smoke profusely, with dangerous wisps of flame curling around the fuel tank...

GM Up Above.... Hero Point to Lob for rescuing a civvie. GIant and will stand up as a move action, and moving towards Lob and driver as a move action Round 5 16 - Lob - Unharmed - Prone -2 HP 14 - Giant Ant - Prone - Dazed - Bruised x3

GM From the wrecked carriage in front of the one Marcus in, he could see man slam himself against the door between the carriages. "Help! Help!" he cried, muffled through the cracked glass. "Somethings back there! An infection! Or something! Argh! Let me through!" he screamed, trying to pull the jammed doors open. His face was blotched, full of angry red welts, and his voice gurgled a little bit. He was no zombie, as far as one could tell, just a frightened man who looked like he had had some kind of allergic reaction. "Hey man, don't let him in! it could be contagious" mumbled one of the punks, pressing himself against the carriage door to prevent any movement between carriages. "Are you crazy? Let him through, you idiot!" replied the newly fixed commuter; whilst fixed, he was still getting his bearings. But from Marcus' perspective he seemed to be the passenger with this head screwed on the tightest right now. Not that it was stiff competition - everyone was scared or terrified. Possibly both.

Id be interested to see what you do!

Lament (a.k.a. "The Duke of Despair" a.k.a. "The Sultan of Sorrow") Power Level: 10 (229/239 PP) Unspent Power Points: 10 Trade-Offs: +2 Tough / -2 Defence In Brief: Voodoo Showman housing Psychic Horror Alternate Identity: Luther Earl LeGrasse Birthplace: New Orleans Residence: On tour. Has large home in centre of New Orleans Occupation: Magician, Entertainer, Musician Affiliations: Various shows and entertainments. Family: Ella Lagrasse (Older sister, New Orleans Politician), Violet Lagrasse (Younger Sister, Jass Singer), Vincent Lagrasse (Father, retired whiskey distiller), Margreet Lagrasse (Mother, Cook) Age: 26 Apparent Age: 26 Gender: Male Ethnicity: Mixed Height: 5'8" Weight: 60 Kgs Eyes: Brown Hair: Bald Luther is a thin man of sleight build, although execrises enough to compensate and be of average strength. He lost his hair in his early twenties, and is clean shaven. When he appears as the great Voodoo magician "Zombo!" he dressed up in some deliberately torn dinner jacket and with white eye make up. His super hero identity, Lament, is just a bold and magnified version of his stage costume. He wears a ridiculously tall purple top hat, make up, ragged purple jacket and coat tails, and a false white goatee stuck to his face. To complete his image, he keeps a machete by his side coated with stage-blood. However, he is an expert on disguise, so if undercover can often look like pretty much anyone! His mixed ethnicity and mastery of make up means he can change his apparent skin tone from almost jet black to pallid white. History: Luther grew up on the streets of New Orleans in a fairly warm, loving family who were neither rich nor poor, but had a certain artistic flair to them. He remembers well the laughter, music, and smell of his mothers cooking. A small kid, Luther was inclined to be bullied, but soon found he had a knack for entertainment and grew in confidence and charm. As a teenager he did street magic, and became progressively more skilled and famous, until, as a young man, he took up a career as a stage magician, progressing further and further under the stage name "Zombo! Voodoo Master of the undead!", until he was a national figure, doing shows in Las Vegas and even around the world. And doing a trimuphant return to New Orleans show, he attracted a horrifically powerful, near mindless, psychic creature who bonded with him, attracted by the delight he caused in his shows. The void. The void feeds on hope and laughter. Not in a malign way, no more than bacteria on a wound. It is virtually mindless, just a hunger. It loves being happy, and the way it gets happy is to feed off happiness. For Luther, this was awful. His shows became a feeding ground for the Void, and his reviews were awful. However, he did find that the Void gave him super powers. And he devised a way to feed the void in a more useful way, as the superhero, Lament, aiming the hunger of the creature to the cruel and sadistic. Personality & Motivation: Luther loves enteraining people, and all forms of entertainment. Which is why the Void chose him. He is a fairly kind and generous man in any case, but the motivation for becoming a superhero is, to a large part, necessity: if he doesn't keep the void fed, his career will be in ruins, and ultimately the void will feed on his own happiness. So he has struck a balance; direct the Void to feeding off the cruel and villainous, and do something good in the bargain. Powers & Tactics: The void normally resides purely psychologically, gnawing at Luther for "food". Luther can bring forth the Void progressively; firstly into his body (the Void can feed Lament's organs), then extending it to the boundary of his body and the world (making him hard to see due to distrortions), and finally extending the Void from hisbody out into the real world, where its black oily tendrils will thrash about. The Void has some psychic powers that it gives to Lament; the ability to sense emotions, project unpleasant images, or feed on happiness and hope (causing despair). Lament will tend to start with these, as he needs to feed the Void. The symbiosis also allows Lament to focus the void onto parts of his body as a black oily parastic force, for instance: it can manifest as oily smoke or blades from his hand, sapping strength, or make his eyes go black (blinding those that meet his gaze), or breathing out oily smoke, suffocating those around him. In any case, his body is now very resistant to all damage. Aside from the powers of the Void, Luther is a skilled showman, highly charismatic, and well versed in many social and performance skills. He is has a world class ability with magic and cards, and is even able to throw playing cards (or other objects) with great effectiveness as weapons. Lament has a certain dramatic tactical style. He prefers a touch of stealth, then an explosion of presence. Ideally, to keep the Void best fed, he would catch villains laughing and revelling, enjoying themselves, and strike them with a despair emotion (i.e sucking all their happiness out). Power Descriptions: If the void manifests, it has an oily velvet-dark quality, but does not obscure light. In its most dramatic form, when Lament pushes the force out of his skin (albeit still symbiotically connected and living within him), the Void has thick tentacles and tendrils that whilst not particularly strong are very dramatic! Complications: Empty Void: Put simply, the Void must feed. Its preferred meal is positive emotions such as happiness. If it cannot feed on others, it will feed on Luther himself, causing a deep depression. If even that food source dies, it will feed on physical vitality, causing fatigue and somnolence (ideally in others, but then Luther). Full Void: Feeding on happiness will make the Void happy in its own mindless way. That said, it can only stomach so much before being bloated. Too much happiness, and it will refuse to feed further. Possessed: Manifesting the Void in the real world is progressively dangerous as it may take over Lament. From midly gnawing ("Void Inside"), to a bleak and broody streak ("Void 'Betwixt") to the possibility of complete possession and temporarily losing his will ("Void Unleashed). The Void is not malign itself, but it is hungry and virtually mindless. Showman: Luther is a natural showman, and cannot help wanting to be adored and admired. He will prefer tactics and activities that are dramatic and impressive, and feed his own sense of self importance (whist internally of course he frets about his skills and worth). Doop de doo doo: Luther loves music, particularly jazz. He is often tapping his foot or humming a tune, actvities that could give him away or make noise. This is virtually irrsistable when there is music playing. He would sing a long to a tune even if it would reveal himself; it is practically an unconscious tic. Abilities: 0 + 4 + 4 + 2 + 8 + 15 = 33 Strength: 10 (+0) Dexterity: 14 (+2) Constitution: 14 (+2) Intelligence: 12 (+1) Wisdom: 18 (+4) Charisma: 25 (+7) Combat: 20 + 18 = 36 Initiative: +6 Attack: +10 Defense: +8, +4 Flat Footed Grapple: +10 Knockback: -6 Saving Throws: 6 + 8 + 11 = 25 Toughness: +12 (+2 Con, +10 Protection) Fortitude: +8 (+2 Con, +6) Reflex: +10 (+2 Con, +8) Will: +15 (+4 Wis, +11) Skills: 160 R = 40 PP Bluff 12 (+19)Concentration 15 (+19)Diplomacy 4 (+11)Disguise 13 (+20) Skill MasteryEscape Artist 10 (+12) Skill Mastery [Additional +3 if using elongated limbs]Handle Animal 4 (+11) Skill MasteryIntimidate 12 (+19)Knowledge [Arcane] 4 (+5)Knowledge [Art] 4 (+5)Knowledge [Pop Culture] 4 (+5)Knowledge [Theology & Philosophy] 4 (+5)Language 2 (English [Native], French, Spanish)Notice 8 (+12)Perform (Acting) 13 (+20) Skill MasteryPerform (Dance) 4 (+11) Skill MasteryPerform (Percussion) 8 (+15) Skill MasteryPerform (Wind Instruments) 4 (+15)Sense Motive 8 (+12)Sleight of Hand 15 (+17) Skill MasteryStealth 12 (+14) Skill Mastery Feats: 21 PP Benefit 2 (Wealth) Blind-Fight Distract (Intimidate) Fascinate (Perform) Favored Environment [The Stage] Improved Initiative 1 Jack of All Trades Precise Shot 2 Quick Change 2 Set-Up Skill Mastery 2 (Disguise, Escape Artist, Handle Animal, Perform [Acting], Perform [Dance], Perform [Percussion], ) Throwing Mastery 5 Equipment: 1PP = 5EP Stage Machete (Strike 2, Feats: Blunted, Improved Critical 1, Mighty) [5 EP] [NB: Blunted indicates the stage weapon can cause non-lethal damage] Standard Disguise Kit [0 EP] Pack of Playing Cards [0 EP] Powers: 12 + 10 + 14 + 22 = 58 PP Powers all have the psychic descriptor Alternate Form 2 (10 PP Container, Feats: 2 Additional Alt Forms) [12 EP] "Void symbiote" [Psychic] Alt Form: "Void Inside" Immunity 10 (Cold and Hot Environment, Fatigue Effects, Sleep, Suffocation[All]) [10 PP] Alt Form: "Void Betwixt" Concealment 10 (All but Tactile, Flaws: Partial, Permanent [+0]) [10 PP] Alt Form: "Void Unleashed" Additional Limbs 3 (Extras: Impervious, 5 Tendrils, Feats: Ambidexterity, Instant Up) [8 PP] Elongation 3 (25', Range Incr 30', Flaws: Permament [+0], Drawbacks: Additional Limbs only) [2 PP] Protection 10 [10 PP] Psychic Array (11 PP Array, Feats: Alt Power 3) [14 PP] BP: Emotion Control 10 (Feats: Subtle, Flaws: Limited to Despair) [11 PP] AP: Emotion Control 5 (Extras: Burst Area, Feats: Subtle, Flaws: Limited to Despair) [11 PP] AP: Illusion 5 (Auditory and Visual, Extras: Duration [Sustained], Feats: Progression 1 [10' radius], Flaws: Limited to disturbing or unpleasant images, Phantams) [11 PP] AP: Mind Reading 10 (Extras: Duration [Sustained], Feats: Subtle, Flaws: Limited to reading emotions) [11/11 PP] Void Array (20 PP Array, Feats: Alt Power 2) [40 PP] BP: Fatigue 10 (Extras: Sustained Aura, 6 ranks only [+3]) [38 PP] "Void Skin" AP: Dazzle 6 (Extras: Action [+3, Reaction: Looking at Lament], Range [Perception]) [36 PP] "Void Eyes" AP: Suffocate 5 (10-40' radius cloud, Extras: Area [Cloud], Duration [Sustained - Status], Feats: Decrease Area 6) [20 PP] "Void Breath" Drawbacks: Vulnerability (Psychic; Frequency: Common; Intensity: Moderate) [-2PP] DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC 15 Toughness Damage Stage Machete Touch DC 17 Toughness Damage Emotion Control or Perception DC 20 Will Despair Emotion Control Perc/Area DC 15 Will Despair Mind Reading Perception DC 20 Read Void Touch Touch DC 20 Fort Fatigue Void Eyes Perception DC 13 Reflex / Fort Vis Daz Void Breath Touch/Area DC 15 Fort Suff. Throwing Stuff Ranged DC 20 Toughness Damage Totals: Abilities 33 + Combat 36 + Saving Throws 25 + Skills 40 + Feats 21 + Powers 76 - Drawbacks -2 = 229/239 Power Points

GM And at the same time, above ground... Lobisomem caught her foot on the incoming truck, and she proceeded to spin through the air from the impact. She landed flat on her front, but for all the violent cartwheeling of the impact, she was fundamentally unhurt. The truck and the ant collided, sending the Ant flying and onto its back, five legs twitching uncontrollably. A sixth legs looked bent, and then decided to fall off, leaving more unpleasant ichor (my! what a nauseating smell it was!) The truck has skidded to a stop and only just avoided jack knifing. The driver had his seatbelt on, but he had knocked his head on the steering wheel, cut it open, and given him self a dazed concussed look - alongside a stream of blood that looked a lot worse than it was. The front of the truck was caved in, the radiator grill bust, and steam flowing freely. There was the wisp of smoke that Lobisomem's acute nostrils could pick up....the trucks engine was on fire...

MEanwhile, Lob takes a tumble and is prone. The Giant Ant may well get squished! Its a damage 10 effect to get run over (narrative licence and all), and it has two bruises already: Tough vs Truck: 1d20+8 21 except I made a mistake, its tough is actually +9, and thats a 20 result vs a DC 25 Save. It takes ANOTHER bruise and is dazed. Round 4 16 - Lob - Unharmed - Prone -1 HP 14 - Giant Ant - Prone - Dazed - Bruised x3 Lob is up again!

GM "What the sweet I never holy my God!" babbled the man beside the injured. Or, more accurately, ex-injured. It was hard to see in the light, but something most unnatural had happened. Unnatural, but most welcome! A screeching metal sound came from the front of the crashed subway, prompting gasps of fear. "What did you do? What happened?" asked the man with the ex-broken arm. Now, Marcus could see it was the man who had sat opposite him, tsking at the papers. "God, you don't think the ants are...real?" he gasped, cold sweat on his forehead. There was another screech of metal, and the smell of damp mushrooms hit the nose. It was not a precisely unpleasant smell, but it did have a languid kind of aftertaste...

That both costs a hero point, and gains one. Ill give Arc an injury and bruise from that. You are also free to have a temporary complication: Broken Arm! for the rest of the thread! Arcturus: Bruised, Injured, 3 HP

Yes please, Gran! Standard Medicine rolls, but at -2 due to very poor light. DC 10: Compound Fracture of Right Arm, Arterial bleed! Yoikes! You can also apply a torniquet to temporarily stop the bleeding (partially). Should keep him stable for half an hour or so. DC 15: Expertly stop the bleeding to stabilise him. DC 20: Surgical master, stop the bleeding set, the bone!

And thus, a DC 20 Tough Save from the impact!

GM And meanwhile...deeper underground... How dark it was. And how the dark quelled screens. For whilst panic ruled the heaets of those in the carriage, panic focussed the senses. Bereft of light, one could only strain the ears, and screaming would not help matters. A few lights pinged on. Mobile phones. Dim and limited, but light all the same. "Help on my god help...." came one panicked voice. This guys arm... it shouldn't look like that..had bleeding out! Does anyone know first aid?"

Can you throw me a DEX roll DC 10 to do so? (Acrobatics skill would work, but you don't have it!)

Starshot "Very well then, you make a fair argument" conceded Starshot, starting to unsling his blaster rifle, and unclip his belt. "Let us hope that we are safe tonight. This planet is full of hostile life, why, even the grass!" he said, with a smile on his mouth as he took off his helmet. He started to chop down the grass for fire, judging that its benefits in scaring off animals would be greater than its risk of attracting them. It was a simple enough job to gather the fuel, and quickly activate a thermal pellet to light the fire. "We should take watch then, keep an eye open for our alien friend Phalen as well as snakes in the grass" he said, organising a rota between them. With that, he settled down to sleep, although he fancied it would not come so easy tonight, for he was uneasy in this landscape. Normally he slept well and was quite comfortable under open sky. But this planet was strange and dangerous, and they were surrounded by grass that grew like swords....

GM Another gouge of flesh and chitin, and the Ant rattled its head like a giant tin full of lots of smaller tins. It took a few skittish steps back but rallied. It was mindless, intinctive. Now, it wanted to eat the larger meal in front of it. Or at least attack its attacker. It snapped its jaws with great abandon, but was slower. Or, perhaps, Lobisomem was faster. Beep Beep....BEEEEEP!!!! Was it the sound of da police? No, it was not. It was the mighty horn of a large truck, with Crazy Charlies Crazy Cream on the side. Crazy Charlie did a mean goop that was not quite ice cream but full of artificial colours and sweeteners that had zero nutritional value. Or, some said, less than zero. The huge truck was probably speeding - after all, one could not deprive the public of Crazy cream, could one? - but had spotted the brawling insects in front of it. Would it swerve? Would it break? Could, in fact, it do either? The driver looked shocked and panicked, and that made his intentions and, even more so, his actions, unpredictable.