Supercape

Initiative rolls please. Vesper will have a nominal initiative of 10, as will Rosa, although both will essentially be non-combatative (Vesper is only about PL 2 combat wise, and already staggered). Zombie Witch: initiative: 1d20 3 Swamp Horror: Initiative: 1d20+0 13 Also, can Kimo make a DC 10 Reflex save to avoid the grasping Zombie hands (this is a kind of fudged surprise attack, but rather than use defence, whether he can jump out of the way fast enough, or kick the hands away etc).

GM Vesper laughed contemptiously at the both of them. "Weak! Ignorant! You lack courage, you lack conviction...." she taunted. "I was born weak, feeble, a sickly child. But with will you can grasp more" she said, clutching the earth. "I found the old witch living her, learned all I could from her. And the killed her hahaha! She was a witch after all. I've seen the horror of the past, the snakes, the things that live underground, and between worlds! hahaha!" she laughed, like a steely madness. "And I have imposed myself on the earth and the bones, the fangs and the venom!" Rosa stormed outside, Flare Gun ready, whilst another mournful howl echoed across the wetlands. "And as for that old witch? Well, the Orchid dies when plucked by the hand of the living. So one has to use the hand of the dead!" she screamed, clutching at the black rich muddy earth with both hands. The skeletal hand hanging up twitched and spasmed. And from the earth, burst two withered ancient dead hands, with leathered skin and crumbling flesh, clutching at Kimo...

Synth Synth nodded appreciatively. Not much to work with, the organisation was on the surface commendable, at least by corporate standards. Sarah seemed pretty happy with her work. Synth studied her carefully. Everything seemed a bold gamble the last twenty four hours, but another throw of the dice presented itself. Copying Sarah. That would need one of those identi-kit costumes, however. But for now, she studied her carefully for other reasons. Could she use Sarah to get into H&K? Was there something Sarah was not telling her? How much time did Synth have before AEGIS came? And... "Whats with the identical uniform anyway? Feels like China" she said, gently joking. "And where can I get one? I think it would look great on me!"

Starshot "They started without us" said Starshot, almost smiling. He touched his helm to cover his head, and shouldered his rifle. He flicked the power switch. "Lets get to cover. Fast" he suggested. He spied a particularly big looking tree and ran to it, in a crouching posture. All the while, he kept his helmet scanning, the HUD display working furiously to keep up with the vast biological data and now, the signs of technology. This must be him...but alone? Something in his bones told him that Carnivore Cain was not a lone wolf. Something about him felt cowardly - he would have a perimeter of defences, be they flesh or steel, to protect him...

GM So you can read minds can you? came Vesper's thoughts, slippery as an eel and hard as steel. She was not strong of body, nor quick. But her mind was. "Hehe, my boys they will come" she said, without fear. "And it's your brother is it? The boy who came, riddled with disease. Ha! He belonged in the swamp, where a million insects buzz and fungus blooms. Hard to survive here, full of disease. But I know how, hehe, herbs, potions, well they drive you half mad in the head but cure the body. You met Duke, have you? He was a sickly child, but Vesper saved him. He may be slow in the head, but he is strong now, you will see!" "As for your brother. I cured him too. The Orchid. It can cure anything, but twists them too. He is alive now, gloriously alive, but changed. A thing of green and vines, mad and scared...." she said. "But at least he is alive, thanks to Vesper!" Rosa looked suitably horrified, and her aghast face was punctuated by an inhuman bubbling amphibious howl that moaned awfully across the wetlands...

Synth (as Bella) "Bella" answered Synth, giving a smile. Smiling almost always helps, and I could use one after the last twenty four hours... "I'm just scouting right now. Don't have anything on me but my eyes and ears" she answered. "Probably should have come more prepared, but the first step is seeing what's out there" she explained. It felt a little thin, so she pressed on. "Actually the first step is do I want to work in the job, or for an organisation. Life's too short to drag your life through a job you hate. I'd rather be poor and happy that rich and dead from a heart attack" she said, trying to keep the mood bright despite the morbid example. "What's this place like to work for? How do you find it?"

Spotted an error: Toughness should have been +6 in alt form. Corrected.

You can do very interesting things with Mind Reading. For example: Mind Reading 10 (Extras: Continuous Duration [+2], Sensory Link [+1], Flaws: Touch Range [-2], Feedback, Limited to surface thoughts or emotoins, Feats: Subtle, Insidious) 7 PP Touch someone, permantly psychic bond with them. you feel what they feel but they don't know it. Nice for handshakes. Whilst the continuous duration might normally be frowned on, the fact you have the feedback flaw can cause a serious problem. Or, you could add in something like power loss (sleep), etc to make it not truly continuous.

Ill wait for complications and backstory to comment, but as you solicited feedback at this stage: 1. Comprehend in an array always feels slightly cheesy to me as you rarely need other powers when engaging in dialogue. It seems to me that a diplomat would always have this on anyway. That said, I would remove comprehend machine/electronics from the power and have an array of Radio Communication / Datalink / Telepathy (Mind Reading + Mental communication). 2. Whilst she may be beautiful, thats not the same as attractive. As a diplomat I doubt she would be particularly skilled at manipulating one type of person. As a possibly odd suggestion you could do a different type of Attractive like Attractive (Natural in politics and beaurocracy), meaning she knows how to butter people up - or alternative Favoured Opponent (Politicians and administrators) etc. You may find this a more invigorating / novel way of doing things than the slightly worn "Hey look how sexy I am" thing. 3. As a bordeline spy, the Comprehend (Decryption) power might be worth/fun getting, for decoding all those communications she intercepts! 4. Perhaps some skills in Civics and Behavioural Sciences? 5. Second Chance (Will Save vs Mind Reading) feat again might fit? 6. Overall I would probably be inclined to eliminate the telepathy part of her (mind reading might actually work out rather dull for a diplomat - effective, but perhaps too effective and therefore cut you out of cut and thrust of social conflict). I say that with trepidation as I dont want to maul your character concept, but my experience of mind reading is that it sounds cool but isn't that much fun.

GM Vesper groaned, and vainly, feebly even, strained against the vines. "You making la big mistake!" she said, a weak laugh emitting from weak lungs. Her mind was strong, but her body had been essentially crushed. She peered at him, through those almost alien yellow eyes. Her face and hair splattered with wet mud and slime. "Me boys coming for you, boy! Me boys! hahaha! And worse! Maybe much worse...." Duke and Billybob, they coming, me snakes let them know... Where are me snakes! Come, come! Big and fanged! I love.... And maybe the swamp-boy...hahaha...he stay away, scared of me, I dunno why...he angry with me too...he think I changed him...not me...he took the orchid, it was the orchid that changed him....he took it of own free will.... Then she considered Kimo's insinuation. "No bodies! No bodies!" she denied, but her mind said differently.... Only the old witch, the greedy old witch, evil and spiteful...hahah...I take her place....she dead now...buried deep...she MUST be buried deep....Big strong Duke, he made sure it was a DEEP grave.... ....the boy...he still alive but CHANGED! Maybe he come now...if he do...we all dead!!!

Synth Synth had half read the newspaper with that in mind. "Not much to write home about. Riots in Chile. Murders in Bedlam. Something about reverse RNA transcriptase mass production" she said, pointing to various pieces. "Not much for H&K to be worried about, I guess" she added, perhaps suggestively. A thought struck her. A gamble, but then - at this stage, what wasn't? "Nothing too exciting in the Job's market either. I was hoping to scout out H&K today, see if there is any scope there. Got to try something huh?" she mentioned. "Sarah is it? You work in K&W? Any tips on how to get my foot in the door? I just need a break really. Somewhere I can put my skills to use...."

For reference, "Bella McEaly" will have attractiveness 2 feat. might help manipulate an H&K employee.

Synth (as Bella) Synth stopped outside, picking up a newspaper to casually half-read. She figured it was worth five minutes to gather her thoughts and observe who was coming in and out. What entrances were there? what was the mood of those going in and out? She sat on a public bench just outside, quietly observing. It would be rush hour soon, with plenty of bustle and activity. The ideal time to slip in and try a bold gambit. But perhaps she could even the odds by sharp eyes and sharp ears. And with a bit of visibility, a chiselled cheeked woman sitting alone outside the building might attract an early worker to K&W, who might pause to drink coffee and try his (or even her luck - Synth did have a libido but little concept of the discrete nature of either gender or orientation). She harboured few romantic aspirations normally, and the few she had were limited by the reality of her true nature. But right now, she had none. Perhaps normally she might have thought twice about the use of allure, but right now, necessity overrode vague moral concerns...

GM "There is always a cost" muttered Rosa, in agreement. The mind of Vespa was a slippery, some might say Serpentine, mind. It did not feel entirely human, as if the primitive centres belonging to pre human antiquity were more dominant, colder. She was coming round, but slowly, like a groggy drunk in a fog morning. What have they come for? My boys...they said they were coming. Said the sailor wanted his hand back... The hand? I need it...only the dead can pluck the orchid... I can't use the old witch anymore...she dead but spiteful still....still so spiteful... Fear...fear the old witch... Remember you are safe...she buried deep, deep beneath the black soil...right under you....STOMP the ground if she rises... What was that hammer that hit me? Wait...they came for the orchid?...the woman wants it?....how does she know about it? The boy wants it? Huh...last boy that wanted it, said he wanted to be cured...look how that turned out....

Starshot "Two klicks. We should make it, providing the terrain doesn't get too rough" he ventured. That was a fifty fifty bet, by his estimation. "But we might want to make the last half klick on foot anyway, if the cover holds out. I'd rather get the drop on him than he picks us up on Radar. Unless you can rig up some scanner blocker" he asked, without much hope. Whilst the Xeno was state of the art, the ATV was built more for endurance and resilience, and that meant stripping back on the electronics. "Meanwhile, strap in and enjoy the ride" he ventured, cheering up a bit as he turned the ATV around and made his way towards Cain...

Synth (as Bella) I'm sure you can't sighed Synth in her head. Vagus nerve hyperstimulation with Solar Plexus neuromuscular shock... "Sleep it off, my friend" she said with a smile. Her left hand formed a knuckled and ground into his solar plexus, the right one jabbed deep into the flesh between his neck and left arm, hitting the vagus nerve. A nice drop in blood pressure and transient hypoxia. And she caught him as he fell asleep. The booze probably had helped his journey to the land of nod. "He got smashed" she said to the elderly couple, with a wink. Despite her outburst of violence, she let the man down gently onto the seat opposite and gave him a friendly pat on the head.

Ok so with a bit of handwaving the recovery rules about rolls, lets say its just a minute until she wakes up. Toughness save vs mind reading: 1d20+12 15 will get your her surface thoughts and I will post accordingly!

Starshot "Hmmm...don't worry about it" said Starshot, half heartedly. He always had that military edge to him. Keeping things neat and ordered. But he had years of pandering to guests, acting as a reluctant valet at times. He could swallow a bit of disorder without much difficulty. To be honest with himself, he had relaxed his attitudes over the decade. He slung himself into the drivers seat and powered up the engine. He didn't want to activate the comms to let Gunmonkey know their status. Cain might be listening. "Give me the coordinates and Ill get driving. Unless its a continent away, best to try and get their by ground, I think..."

GM "This...looks like the orchid...." said Rosa, a little uncertain. "Not fresh, but...yes, it could be..." she muttered, with growing hope. "It smells like it too...not the best of smells. Like rotten fruit or something" she added, opening the jar and sniffing with wrinkled nose. "I'll take it, anyway. Run some tests on it. Best to get a fresh sample, of course. Even better..." she wondered aloud "...to ask her..." she offered, cautiously, pointing at Vesper. She was aware of the risks of doing so, and even more than that, seemed to tread carefully, mindful that Kimo had lost his temper with the yellow eyed woman, and had displayed frightening power when he did so. "I mean, she has stored this, yes? she might now where the real deal is?" She caught sight of the hand. "Eewww! What's that?" she yelped, although like Kimo, her mind lead to the same grim conclusion.

GM Amber had a good sultry voice, but every now and again, it cracked with emotion. She was good at blending this into the performance, making emotion part of the song. Making words dance with drama. Every flawed spasm of her vocal cord became a playwrights punctuation. This might have been part of her normal performance, and indeed, it was well received. She was good at her job. But it seemed to be peppering the songs a little too often. Blowfish frowned after the fifty or sixth time, and a shiver ran down Amber spine as he did. The audience still applauded and enjoyed, but there were a few quizzical looks; she was not exactly worse than normal, and still giving a great show, but perhaps different. More moving, less technical. "My name is Jane Silverfinger" explained the woman he had struck up conversation with, back at her table. She was drinking a rich red wine. "My sister was Mary Silverfinger. Most people knew her as Vanity. And she was murdered" she said. Soft, trembling with rage and fear, and mostly, grim determination.

Synth (As Bella McEally) Her nose flared in an involuntary spasm. The smell was impossible to ignore, driving up her nostrils like a sledgehammer. She was used to bad smells, but on garbage. Then again, this man was not so far from garbage. Of course, she had herself just waded through a sewer and disguised herself as a hobo. It would be improper to be too judgemental. Stale alcohol...stale sweat....schwarma? "I'm lecturing on epigentic variance in mitochondrial ATP metabolism at the University" she said, bluntly, like a tank rolling over conversation. "I would be happy to discuss it. Otherwise, lamentably, I must decline the offer of further interaction"

GM It seemed Rosa was not in the mood to discuss theology now, either. She dropped the subject but clocked the new information into a vault in her brain for further and probably uncomfortable reflection. But now was not the time to doubt ones faith. In either God or man. As Kimo searched the shrine, with Rosa helping, her focus regained, he found plenty of vegetation to use as bonds. Strange twisted vegetation, strange twisted leaves and flowers. Racks of herbs and tiny pickled horrors. A petrified hand that looked quite human. And a jar full of preserved white flower petals. Sickly, and sweet....

All good; not sure you need those rolls but we'll use them. As per standard rules, escaping from those bonds would be 20+Dex modifier (20 for you but arguably 25 if you are using Agility of Laka). However, thats unlikely to come up. The Search will reveal something else as per IC!

GM "Just wanted to say hi? to the owner? to Blowfish?" she said, surprised. "Don't let his pleasant demeanour fool you. It's calculated. He came over from Freedom City a year ago with ill gotten gains, set this place up. He does like Jazz, but he like putting people's head in a vice and slowly turning the wheel as an accompaniment" she explained. "He isn't the biggest crime lord in Bedlam, not by a long shot, but he's got his foot in the door and has the intelligence, brutality, and money to wedge himself in deeper. Most importantly, he isn't in a rush. Acts small, and doesn't overstep his boundaries. Tolerated by the crooks of the city, and he butters up the police...as you can see..." she said, indicating the audience. "And for God's sake, don't mock his tic. You know, that Hmmphhh sound. Drives him beserk" she added. "Vanity..." she swallowed, fighting that emotion again, whatever it was. Mainly rage. "...she was the top singer here. Nothing wrong with Amber. They were close, as far as I could see. Best friends forever, that kind of thing. But..." Here she did pause a moment. "Buy me a drink and I'll tell you" she said, smiling, the facade up again. She put her finger to her plumped up lips, indicating this was a topic for low voices. "L-llllaaaadies and Gentlemen...For your entertainment! The Bad Beat Band and Aaaamberrrrrr!" anounced the compere, to much applause and a splendid Jazz drum roll. As the Bad Beat Band fired up an up tempo swing song, Amber strolled on - a slender tall lady, with deep rich red hair, with an equally deep red dress low cut. It spoke of sophistication and allure, and Amber has by most men's count an equally alluring lady, with emerald eyes and high cheekbones. Perhaps she was wearing a little too much make up, and just perhaps her mascara was a little smudged.

Starshot "Got your six" replied Starshot, relieved that they hadn't blown the thing up beyond all utility. "Back to the ATV...I'd rather keep on planet right now. With the jungle and the terrain, hard to pick us up on sensors. If Cain gets wind we are on to him, we lose our advantage. And he is a slippery customer, I am guessing..." He kept his gun half pointed up, ready to come down. His helmet plotted a course back to the ATV. "Can you manage to do your thing on the drone from the ATV, or do we need to go back to the ship?" he asked.