Supercape

GM Hazard stumbled back at the last moment, whipping her hand away. "Fast...fast..." she wheezed through the gas mask. But Hazard was fast too, and smart. You didn't employ stupid people to work in secret chemical weapon laboratories. She brought her revolver too bare on Dancia. "But are you fast enough, dear? You shouldn't come between a woman and her revenge! I wish you hadn't stumbled in here. But you have..." A click of the revolver, and a shell fired out, whizzing past Dancia's face, hitting the lift controls behind her. The shell exploded into a corrosive chemical mix, causing an acrid smell and fizzing sparks from the shot lift. Getting out of here would be an interesting challenge, now...

Just misses, I am afraid (I made her flat footed) So, Hazard responds by backing off down the corridor to the Zap machine (Move Action) And firing at you! (Standard Action) 1d20+12=20 A miss! Post away!

As you may have already gathered from chat and hints dropped here and there, September 1st is time for some major new fun in FCPbM. We are making a few changes and events are upcoming. We are also going to take this opportunity to remind you of a few recently made changes which are already "live" 1. GM Post Counting. GM posts now count for double! Thats right, you read it correctly. From September the 1st, not only are GM posts allowed to count for any PC (and you can split them how you like), every GM post you make now counts for two character posts. We are doing this to encourage GMIng, something that is highly valued and necessary for threads. We hope this additional reward will encourage more players to take the leap and GM. Remember that the site will do its best to support and encourage GMing at all times. Go on folks, take the plunge! 2. New "PL 10 Slot" is live. As we have mentioned, every player in FCPbM now has an extra PL 10 Slot. Effectively this means that when you join the site you have two PL 10 Characters, and one PL 7 Character. Of course, this applies retrospectively, so all existing players also gain a PL 10 / 150 PP "Slot". What to use that on, well.... 3. Freedom City Launches into Space! Nothing specific is happening right now, but be aware that the site is planning to move into Outer Space, and indeed other dimensions and other parts of the world. There will be upcoming site reorganisation to help facilitate this, but for now, be aware of the expansion. In particular, there will be upcoming major site events that will involve the Galaxy as a whole. That PL 10 Slot we announced? You may well want it for a space character (unless you have one already!). And on the subject of other dimensions... 4. Guest Star / Special Edition! A reminder that at the end of every month, when counting up posts, you can nominate one thread starring a retired PC as "Guest Starring", or one thread set in a non-canon adventure (such as an alternative dimension) called a "Special Edition". This thread counts for full, rather than the 1/2 post count normally associated with non PCs or "what if"/ non-canon threads. And finally a reminder and clarification on an existing rule. 5. Post Length is... 500 characters as a rough rule of thumb. But this is only a guideline for average post length. Whilst we will of course still not accept one line posts, or a series of short posts which look suspiciously redundant, there is no problem with posting less than this, for instance, in conversations. We would rather a good quality post than one needlessly padded out to reach the magic "500" mark. The 500 mark is merely a broad average length we would like. Sometimes you will want to post more, sometimes less. On that note, "post splitting" - that is, deliberately splitting up a post into 500 character "chunks" is not desirable, unless it follows naturally (for instance, for huge posts splitting them so they can be read without your eyeballs falling out, of for cuts in scene)

"But I like Foreplay" gasped Noemi, hand to chest and with another wink at Amir. "Look mister, I am all for your lady Bunns here tagging along. Two's company. Three is more company. And all that" she said, her eye going into wink overload. "But, you see, my...special load..." she winked. Might as well go all out, she reasoned. "Is in a place I would rather keep secret, you know...secret like all those Superheroes with their masks and secret Identity" she said, winking again. Sheesh, if she winked any more they would call for an opthamologist. "I really need your help" she said, finally, and honestly, her shoulders sagging a bit. "Radioactive materials aren't my thing, you see. To be honest, they are absolutely the furthest thing from my thing that a thing could be" she finished, feeling slightly sick at the thought of all the mutations it would cause.

Stun or Fatigue with Sleep Extra? (i.e. Which one) You could do a rank 8 effect stunting of mind reading if its touch range and full action.

"At least a hundred bucks? Mister, I'll drive you the Fens for a hundred bucks!" smiled Neomi. Although she hoped the suspension would hold out. To be fair, Big Easy, the loudmouthed owner of EZ Cabs, tried to make sure his cabs where in pretty good condition. For his profits rather than the feelings of drivers or passengers. The cab chugged off, happily enough although leaning slightly. Noemi tuned the radio to a classical station. One thing about the Soviet Union, they did knock out top class classical music. "Hope you don't Opera" she said breezily as some vaguely oppressive German number came on. "What's in North Bay at this time of night?" she asked, wondering what the guy was made of. Looked like he had been on some high class steroids, by her eye. She recalled some of the and stomped her paranoid worries back down.

I will second what Thevshi says. To be blunt, you must understand that this site is not a "gamist" site. Our characters do not die without player permission. We are here to have exciting stories. And the dreamer will not have exciting stories. Doing anything is not an exciting story. But to hone down on some specific issues: A continuous duration transform (anything to anything) will not fly. Not ever. We are, overall, pretty suspicious of any transform effect affecting NPCs or PCs (as any failed save means win). Continuous or even sustatined duration anything to anything will never fly. By all means, create a "Transmuter" character who can transform inorganic to inorganic as continuous duration. A secondary effect extra in an array is potentially cheesy allready. Linking it with contagious and a dazzle effect to all senses, makes it frankly difficult to swallow. I know this sounds hard to hear, but it looks like a min/max nightmare, and the reason we are concerned is because your rebuild does nothing to address the suggestions. We would like you to stay in the site, we would like you to enjoy it, but we are not sure that "Do anything reality warper" is appropriate in the first place. You may be best placed just to drop that and go for something conventional (but still fun, exciting, and powerful). Apologies if this sounds harsh or authoritarian. I can empathise with the initial reaction you may have to this. The fault is with us not sufficiently redirecting you on this character and not explaining the (Admittedly broad) feel of the site. If you do wish to persevere with this character I would strongly suggest reworking that array into something more limited, and ensuring the character has a theme to his powers (Which does not mean "I dream it, it is so", but rather there is a theme in terms of what effects he can produce, and most importantly, a goodly number of things he cannot). A final point to consider: Even if a PC is "Legitimate" and approved, you will want to play it. As it stands, I don't think character will be popular with GMs or other players for the reasons above.

"Sure thing lady" said Noemi, who was never going to turn down some extra cash. And was never going to leave this story untold. She parked her care around the block, and pulled up the passenger seat to reveal her crumpled Red Rat costume. A red leather jacket complete with logo, and bullet gray spandex. And a trusty silenced pistol. "Gah, getting changed here is hell!" she cursed, as one foot nearly went through a window. Contortions finished, and fully dressed, she crept out of the Car and like a panther, moved to follow the mysterious woman, keeping out of sight and silent.

Axel sighed. "What, these flowers not good enough?" Bullying hospital staff was bad form. Real bad. But on the other hand, Carmen had sounded serious. Even scared, which was something he had hardly ever seen. Of course, that meant he should be scared too. But right now, it was better to get this thing done, ugly as it might be. "Look Honey, you seem a real nice gal. Real nice. Kinda nice girl who shouldn't get in my way when I am in a bad mood. And baby, I am in a real bad mood right now. So I am going to see my friend. And you are going to tell me the way. Either with my boot up your backside, or without my boot. One way or another, thats the way its gotta be" he said, almost apologetically and with total sincerity.

Sunset stopped and paused.She knew better than to judge a book by its cover. Deception upon deception. Trust no-one. The Radical was reminding her, powerfully of his drug -fuelled paranoia in the sixties. Best not go there. "Nobody here but you and me now, sir" she said politely. Hand on hip and trying to ignore the bitter cold. The Sunset suit was extremely powerful, but not insulated. "It would be good manners to show your face. But I am guessing your face is something you want hidden. And not just because you stole something" she suggested. The thief was not...quite...human? "And if you really want to be open with me, I could always read your mind..." she added, as both a suggestion and an edge.

One more then.I could do with a good bottle of vodka at the Safehouse... She wasn't exactly short of money. She had a roof over her head. Two roofs, if one counted the Safehouse. She didn't go hungry. But on the other hand, there wasn't a lot of change for clothes and luxuries. Working at EZ Cabs paid the bills but that was about it. A few extra rides, a few extra shifts. Paid for the better things in life. And, to be honest, after Communism, a few better things in life were damn good. "Get in, mister" she smiled at the man, pushing open the door before she had even pulled up. In Freedom City world of taxis, best to edge in before another wolf pounded in. "Where to?" she asked. "Anywhere nice?"

Tagged

Player Name: Supercape Character Name: Star Shot Power Level: 8/12 (150/177PP) Trade-Offs: +2 Attack/-2 Damage, +2 Defence/-2 Toughness Unspent Power Points: 27 Progress To Bronze Status: 27/30 In Brief: Genetically altered Space Hunter, with some dumb-ass devices. Residence: Space Base of Operations: The Starship Xeno Alternate Identity: Oskar Otto Birthplace: Berlin Occupation: Big Game Hunter (In Space) Affiliations: None Family: Distant Relatives only Description: Age: 99 Apparent Age: 25 Gender: Male Ethnicity: Caucasian Height: 6’ Weight: 95 Kgs Eyes: Blue Hair: Blonde Oskar looks like a very handsome man with deep rich blue eyes. His body is in exceptional condition, tanned, muscular and broad, like a snake on steroids. He has a deep scar down his left temple, and on the left side of his chest. He normally wears an old army coat from his military days, now very faded and repaired a thousand times. His left hand is artificial, a grey black metal with green lights. He has a “fold away†helmet that is full of equipment and also green lights. It can cover his entire head, or fold back to a removable helmet. His gun looks like a slightly antiquated but still effective rifle, which he slings over his back. The rifle has a few glowing green lights too. Overall, Star Shot looks like a big lithe, lean muscular man with a mixture of high tech and antiquated devices. Power Descriptions: Star Shots powers are limited to his genetic alterations, which allow him to survive in hostile environments and give him peak human physical capabilities. His left hand is clearly artificial, and can detach from him, leaving a cybernetic stump. History: As a young man, Oskar Otto was a capable man with handsome looks who got caught up in world war II in Germany. He was pressed into the Nazi Army, and promoted to Captain for his “Superior geneticsâ€. His resistance to the more reprehensible activities of the army lead to him being assigned a number of “defective†soldiers, with a file sheet of stupidity, cowardliness, and insubordination. The squad of no hopers were sent to the Swiss Alps on some bogus mission. There, they got involved in a firefight with a British squad. The battle was short and cold. And ended by a UFO. Zaul Zeno was a bloated cyborg of unknown (and probably mixed) alien heritage. He dealt in the capture and sale of life forms, both sentient and non-sentient. He was a good salesman, but bad hunter. Zaul was determined to capture some primitive humans, some warriors, and opened fire clumsily. The entire squad was dead or dying. Zaul had not counted on the primitive fleshy vulnerability of humans. Oskar was captured, and this one, Zaul saved. Surprised that Oskar was not a simple monkey-ape, Zaul decided that Oskar would be his slave, doing his hunting for him, whilst Zaul could concentrate on the smuggling of live animals business. Oskar pleaded that his dying squad be saved. Zaul did, after a fashion. The cyborg could not save their bodies, but he downloaded their minds into a gun, a helm, and a hand, that would serve Oskar. It was a cruel joke, typical of Zaul. For fifty years Zaul and his soldiers (as pale imitations of themselves) hunted for Zaul, who was not so much sadistic as uncaring and callous. Then, Zaul disappeared. Oskar kept up the business, sort of, hunting non sentient big game for collectors, or acting as pest control for Lor colonies, or even chaperoning rich galactic elite on “the experience of a lifetimeâ€. Personality & Motivation: Oskar is a complex man, full of difficult feelings about his role as a German Army Officer and as Zaus' servant. He enjoys a hunt, a drink, a laugh, and a job well done, and the thrill of adventure. He is no stranger to alien affection of the female type, either. He considers anyone in his ship as under his protection. Starshot has a particular skill set he now wishes to use for good, although he also needs to make a living. He will hunt criminals now. He still keeps a side line of helping out capturing or even killing dangerous animals. Thomas Turek was the Squads machine gunner, who loves big artillery and shooting, and shouting. He is now embedded (in an echo) as "Trigger". Trigger likes to scream and shout when firing, and gets very excited at the chance to shoot things. Fritz "Fingers" Fick was a short, small, petty thief who got drafted into the Squad and loved helping himself to others belongings and pilfering from the dead. He is now embedded into "Hand". Hand loves to acquire things, and gets a kick from thrills. He has a sarcastic, snide attitude, making crude and lewd derogatory comments, and a love of taking risks and gambling. Helmut Hoffman was an anxious cowardly man who lead from the rear as the squads driver. He was always paranoid and never took his helmet off as a precaution. Embedded in "Mask", he continues to be nervous, seeing danger around every corner, and frank paranoia. He can accuse others of carrying weapons or plotting. Powers & Tactics: Starshot is a man in peak human condition due to genetic enhancements. He is also an expert marksman and able in all forms of combat. Tactically, he fights as a marksman and a hunter, sneaking up on prey for a perfect shot. "Trigger" his Rifle,is a highly advanced plasma weapon. A particular trick is to fire "Phased Plasma", which is incorporeal and only becomes active at a certain distance. This allows Starshot to fire "Through" barriers or cover. The weapon can also "Ignite" the plasma as it leaves the barrel, giving a flamethrower like effect. The weapon also houses some cartridges of nanofibre - when ejected these are also powered with plasma and form a glowing "Net" around the target. The Nanofibre net will "power" or flare, causing (non lethal) damage whenever the trapped creature moves, effectively subduing it quickly. Complications: Don’t Mention the War: Even after all these years, WW II horrors still haunt Oskar. Strong reminders of the events, such as Nazi memorabilia will make him shake with fear and be paralysed. Dummy Bullets: His German squad mates were not the smartest to begin with, and now downloaded into his devices, they are even more stupid. They can tend to blurt out stupid things, offensive things, or loud things. Which may become a problem. Of course, Starshot can deactivate this grotesque comedies, but that leaves him without there device abilities (and in the Case of his hand, an effectively prosthetic immobile hand). Enemy (Zaul Zeno):His former master is a callous man, but master of all forms of genetic engineering and cybernetics. Zaul could deactivate all of Starshots devices, or even paralyse him via secret implants, or take over the Safari Ship. Hostile Takeover: Apart from Zaul, Hand, Helm and Gun could be potentially taken over, disabled, or even turned against Starshot by virtue of their sentient AI. Ich Speaked the good England: Starshot was pretty fluent in English and German ninety years ago. Since then, he has had his mind filled with Zauls madness and the Lor Language. His English and German are functional but with an odd accent which could be occasionally misinterpreted, and at least recognised. (Bad) Man of the Galaxy: Starshot has spent decades as the unwilling lackey of Zaul Zeno, and, whilst is now a free man, some of the Galaxies more shady customers might consider him less than favourably due to dealings in the Galactic Underworld. Medical Alert: Zaul's genetic manipulation may have raised Oskar to the peak of human potential, but they might also cause some problems. Conventional human medicine might be difficult or dangerous. Oskar is allergic to penicillin and several other antibiotics. Never leave a Man Behind: Starshot never abandons anyone under his protection. This even extends to helm, hand, and gun. They may just be primitive AI, but they do contain at least a hint of the Soldiers under his command. Abilities: 10 + 10 + 10 + 4 + 4 + 2 = 40PP Strength: 20 (+5) Dexterity: 20 (+5) Constitution: 20 (+5) Intelligence: 14 (+2) Wisdom: 14 (+2) Charisma: 12 (+1) Combat: 20 + 20 = 40PP Initiative: +5 Attack: +10 Grapple: +15 Defense: +10, +5 Flat-Footed Knockback: -3 (-2 without Jacket) Saving Throws: 1 + 3 + 4 = 8PP Toughness: +6 (+5 Con, +1 Jacket) Fortitude: +6 (+5 Con, +1) Reflex: +8 (+5 Dex, +3) Will: +6 (+2 Wis, +4) Skills: 72R = 18PP Bluff 4 (+5) Climb 2 (+7) Handle Animal 4 (+5) Intimidate 8 (+9) Knowledge (Earth Sciences) 2 (+4) Knowledge (Galactic) 4 (+6) Knowledge (Life Sciences) 4 (+6) Knowledge (Tactics) 4 (+6) Languages 3 (English, Galactic Standard, German [Native], Lor) (See complications) Medicine 3 (+5) Notice 8 (+10) Pilot 4 (+9) Stealth 12 (+17) Survival 8 (+10) Swim 2 (+7) Feats: 11PP Ambidexterity Attractive Equipment 3 (+ 6 Free from Platinum Reward) Improved Aim Jack of All Trades Power Attack Precise Shot 2 Track Equipment 9PP = 45EP Old Military Jacket (Protection 1) [1 EP] Vehicle “Safari Ship Xeno†Size: Awesome [5 EP], Toughness +16 [1 EP], Defence -12, Str 70 [2 EP], Features: Infirmary, Masterwork Living Quarters, Safari Cells 3 (Act as reinforced holding cells but can also simulate any environment to transport living species) [5 EP], Powers: Communication 16 (Radio, Nearby Star Systems, Feats: Subtle 1 [Encoded], Flaws: One Way), Space Travel 3, Flight 7 [1000mph], Super Senses 1 [Radio]) = 5 + 1 + 0 + 2 + 6 + 9 + 6 + 14 + 1 = 44 EP Powers: 8 + 9 + 12 + 6 = 35PP Cybernetic Hand Container (8 PP) [8PP] Anatomic Separation 1 [2 PP]Strike 1 (Feats: Mighty, Improved Critical 2, Variable Descriptor [Any technological]) [6 PP] Device 3 (15 PP Device, Easy to Lose) [9PP] “Trigger†Firearm Array (13 PP Array, Feats: Alternative Power 2) [15 DP] Base Power: Blast 6 (Feats: indirect) “Phased Plasma†[13/13PP]Alternate Power: Snare 6 (Feats: Reversible) “Plasma Web†[13/13 PP] Alternate Power: Damage 6 (Extras: Area [Line], Feats: Increase Area 1 [150'-300’ Line]) "Plasma Ignition†[13/13 PP] Device 3 (15 PP Device) [12 PP] “Mask†Immunity 4 (Suffocation [All], Visual Dazzle Effects) [4 PP]Super Senses 12 (Direction Sense, Distance Sense, Extended 1 [All visual Senses x10], Infravision, Microscopic Vision 2, Ultravision, X Ray Vision [Penetrates concealment], Drawbacks: Power Loss [Lead etc for X Ray Vision]) [11 PP] Immunity 6 (Aging, Disease, Poison, Heat, Cold, Radiation Environments) [6 PP] "Genetic, Cybernetic Enhancements" Drawbacks Vulnerability (Electricity, +1 DC) “Residual Cybernetics†[2 PP] DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC20 Toughness Damage (Physical) Phased Plasma Ranged DC21 Toughness Damage (Energy) Plasa Web Ranged DC21 Reflex Snared Plasma Ignition Touch/Line DC21 Toughness Damage (Energy) Strike Touch DC21 Toughness Damage (Varies) Totals: Abilities (40) + Combat (40) + Saving Throws (8) + Skills (18) + Feats (11) + Powers (35) - Drawbacks (2) = 150/177 Power Points

GM The manservants stumbled back in fear. "Please! Please! Don't hurt us! We are just doing our job! The Duke, you see...he pays us. We don't know anything! All these experiments he does down here...." One stumbled back over a powerline, fell over and electrocuted himself unconscious, thrown off the floor in a shower of sparks. "He says...he is slowing down. But he seems to be everywhere, at once! Moves from place to place, city to city, in a blink of an eye! We don't know how he does it" "He must be using this place to experiment on himself, make him faster! Although we don't know why, or how!"

Rene [maxed] Lord Steam Pitch [maxed] Bloody Mess The Red Rat Guest Star: Sunset (Post go to Red Rat) GM Misc Ref point to the Red Rat Rollover posts and GM Posts: Push Red Rat as far as possible please. Left overs go to Steam and Mess in that priority

"I am the Sleeper" grinned the Pilot, whose name tag said Andrew Fields. "I am everywhere, unseen, unknown. My mind is in thousands of seeds. Ready to sprout at any time. This man is just one of my little seeds. Useful but expendable" he grinned. "You have ripped my asset from my grasp. Ground Zero, we called him. The most valuable of my little seeds. A walking time bomb. I won't forget your involvement in this, little girl. I have room in my schemes for Vendetta. At any time, at any moment, my seeds will sprout, and you will hurt. You understand? Hurt I have been playing this game for decades and I know how to hurt people. I know how to bend them. And I know how to break them...." With a sickening turn, the Plane started to freefall. And the Pilot gave a manic laugh. Cord spun around the plane, crashing into the pilots chair. "Say, do you know how to fly planes?" he shouted at Blue Jay.

GM The crowd rustled. Confused for a moment. The moment hung in the air, like an axe about to fall this way or that. The drumroll, to heighten the anticipation in such moments, was replaced by odd shouts, odd screams, odd cheers. Some where positive, some where negative. Some, and most, where perplexed. Then, the axe fell, tipped by a final shouted comment. "This is ROOOOCK!" Cheers went up, raucous and joyous. Between the ad libbing of Rachel, and the powerful, unearthly performance of Valerie's guitar solo, which must have unsettled Apollo and been the envy of Hendrix, the Crowd became united once more in their love for the star. "VAL-ER-REE...VAL-ER-REE...VAL-ER-REE!" Whatever happened now, even if nothing, the crowd would have the story of a lifetime to tell their kids, and their grandkids. That is, if they where ever believed! Fifty years from now... "Oh come on grandma? There where only four hundred people at that Gig. You know how many people claimed to be at Valerie's gig of 2014? Fourty thousand! Everyone wants to say they where there, that night, and how awesome it was..." The old woman smiled. "Go on...laugh...but let me show you something I have kept treasured for all those years..." A box was opened, and in it, a crumpled ticket, faded but legible...Valerie Cain, 2014...(Supporting act Aw3s0me3) The childs eyes widened and hair stood on end... Back in the Present... "Valerie" stormed off, throwing assistants and producers from her side. "Away with ye! I have work to do! Must time has been lost through the centuries....ah....through this day, I mean! I must work! Oui! A genius must work!" she commanded, stomping out to the back entrance of the opera house. Followed, incongruously, by Joe "Megastar" frome Aw3s0me!

Rene smiled. If he was totally honest with himself, and two centuries of wise reflection had made him very honest with himself, he could not help but feel satisfied with a light salting of smug. This is how to fight despair. With hope! "Madame, you could not make me happier. By which I mean ze passion you have makes me happy, rather than you are unable to make me so" he explained, bowing slightly. A councillor? an artist who gives hope? And not like I, vainglorous and removed...no, she is on the knifes edge of despair, how much more potent is she? To give hope in blackness! He studied the painting carefully. "It is not ze mastery of hand, or ze mastery of oils, that infuse art. non! It is ze liberty of ze soul! What you make is wondrous to behold!" he said, full of genuine admiration and genuine encouragement. "This will be the gateway to ze road of victory!"

1d20+2=5 yah... So I guess move onto intimidation - more risky - but there you go! 1d20+10=25

Hey folks... Do you have a hero who operates in the Fens? or knew the King of Suits well? As you may know, the King of Suits in a night when the Fens errupted into violence, its residents, lead by the Kings, throwing King Cole out of the Fens. It was dubbed "The Night of Two Kings". The Fens will honor its own hero in a rememberance service. If you are interested, we can have a short memorial service and social thread to recall him, and pay respects, and just a little hanging out? You may even wish your Fens street hero to have been involved in the Night of Two Kings (in which case let me know and we can add a post from you into the Lucky Shot thread). Anybody interested?

Go for i! Its hardly a tricky one, but throw me an intimidate roll to see how many beans are spilled!

She would need help on this one. Tazel could hide, flicker into invisibility. But he couldn't exactly ask at the hospital information about admissions. She knew somebody who might... One phone call and a few minutes later...at Hospital Reception... Axel "Grease" Robinson did not look good. He didn't exactly smell good either, unless you where partial to engine oil and petrol. His body was big, intimidating, and covered in tattoos. Some of which would make the fairer sex blush. "Hey man..." he started, at the Reception. "...I'm Looking for Johnny Perdition. Got busted up real bad. He is a...friend of mine" he explained, doing his best. "Came in with Carmen Cantos? I'm a friend of hers too" he said, looking left and right and cracking his knuckles. "Tell me where they, are, I got flowers..." The flowers where the cheapest he could find, snatched from the Gas station on the way. They looked half dead. Still, they were better than bringing his gun in.

at the moment, not very. I mean, you are gripped but its not a grapple.

GM The cellars, as it happened, where half cellar, half dungeon, half mad scientist laboratory. It had a faint and faintly unpleasant damp smell. The lighting was haphazard, with dangerous looking thick electric cables running underfoot and overhead. It took considerable effort from the servants and Rutte to avoid anyone getting electrocuted. Lines of computers, potions, glassware and electronics filled the shelves on the walls and antique tables. There were several beds, with leather straps, and in the centre of the room, what looked like a giant sarcophagus, power cables penetrating it from a variety of seemingly random angles. "The devils work. But he pays well" sniffed Rutte. "Haul them all onto the beds, and strap them down well. The sedative was strong, but no harm in a few extra precautions" Saying that, he exited the cellars, going back up to the main castle. He was no liar either. Rutte bolted the door. THe eight manservants and the heroes were locked in! And now, being dragged onto the beds with the ominous looking leather straps...

Good, Tazel survived.... What am I saying? Her relationship with the demon was complex, to say the least. She tried very hard to think of him as a useful tool...and he was useful. But it was liking playing with fire. Literally, in this case. "Very well then" she said, loosening the chains just so slightly. Not enough to let him talk. "For now, just answer yes or no" she said. The issue of course was whether the demon would tell the truth. If she had the Cantos Cane...she could force it out of him. But...she needed the Cane. "Do you have the Cane?" she asked. "Is it here?" "Is it in the city?" That would start.