Supercape

GM Gold! Gold! Everywhere was Gold! The Cargo crate was now gleaming gold! The Golden Dead were gold! Enough Gold present to warp the minds of Midas himself. Enough Gold to distort world economics. The Golden Dead's fists struck the grinding floor. Gold was considerably softer than steel, even rusted steel. The Gold buckled and deformed under the impact of powerful fists, still threatening to fall apart and drop them all to the bottom of the ship, but for now, it looked more like puckered putty. The Golden Dead themselves seemed to slow, seem to flow, until one could no longer see where the golden crate and the flowing gold over their skin began or ended. The gold had merged into one. The undead moved at a glacial place now, as if stuck in the stickiest mud, the new gold merging with the old and flowing over their body.

Ok - so sorry I have been slow The Transform works, and has unexpected effects! (as per IC) We can temporarily drop out of combat

Captain Cosmos Ignoring (for the moment), Bear Knuckle, Captain Cosmos flew straight up, like a rocket. He could ascend faster, by transgressing normal dimensional status, but that was not something he was prepared to his mind through right now. And hopefully Bear Knuckle was going to capitulate soon. Because, quite frankly, Buddy felt his rage building. Bear Knuckle was an odious bully, and Buddy felt like smashing his brains out. But firstly, he thought that it would be hard to hit such as small target, and secondly he knew where his own rage came from. His father was a bully, and that bitter rage still lived in Buddy. He had to bite his lip. "Knuckles, if you don't let that girl I am going to drop you. Or maybe fly you into space where you can freeze and your insides turn inside out from the vaccuum. You can sure fight, but you can't fly. Maybe I'll do both. Now let that girl go and we can talk. Because otherwise it might be real hard to breathe, one way or another...."

Ok, well Captain Cosmos is going to maintain grapple as move action and move up as standard action (flight)!

GM "What? Just cos its correct doesnt mean its right? What kind of ham-fisted, dyspraxic logic is that?" gasped the Man in Orange. "How about this?" he added, still squirming against the iron grip of Golden Star. "Just because you are grappling me, doesn't mean you are holding me! Muahahaha! Hows about that then! And, therefore and thusforth, verily and forsooth, you have to release me! Ispo Facto, Logicus ad logicum, I have trapped you in your own reasoning!" He squirmed again. "Come on, I just trapped you with your own logic? So let me go, will ya! Or I will... or I will spray diamonds all over Freedom City! Diamonds as big as your fist, hows that for Merry Christmas!" A cheer went up from the crowd. "Keep holding him! We want those diamonds!" Then the chant to a slow clap. "DI-MONDZ! DI-MONDZ! DI-MONDZ....!"

Gamma Buzz "Ah.. I know hes your father and all that. Respect your parents and hail mary..." said Baz, reflexively tapping his armoured plates in the style of a crucifix. He didn't know what to believe, theologically speaking, but until he worked it out, he was going to play safe and not antagonise the man upstairs. Catholicism still ran in his veins, along with radioactive insect-blood. "...but still, sounds a bit... ah draconian?" he asked, tentatively. "How does he feel about you and your ball?" he asked. He imagined a strict, stern father ready to clip a boy around the ear. But then, Baz grew up in Mexico and clips round the ear were commonplace where he grew up. Not that where he grew up was representitive of Mexico, more like representative of the cess pit of Mexico.

GM "His contact details? Therein, as Mr. Shakespeare would say, lies the Rub..." said the Professor, stroking his trimmed beard. "He is a cautious man, as befits his... ah... skill set. He carries no communication device, no telephone, no pager, not even an arcane listening cystral. He works alone. I appreciate, even admire, his independent spirit, but when things go wrong - as they surely do - we all need a hand from time to time. Like me, now, for instance. I suppose I am a proud man, and not immune the seductions of hubris, but I do at least know when I need help." The Professor gazed at the room, and the eldritch trappings and happenings. "I would imagine this is a job for a magician... for magic!"

Gamma Buzz Baz shuddered. "Wait... this sounds dangerous. I didn't sign up to be a superhero recklessly leaping into almost certain death if it meant dying!" He hopped from foot to foot. "I'm too young to die, so it must be ok. Phew! Thats a relief!" he gabbled. "I mean I don't know about Nanotech an all that. Sounds pretty small if its got nano in it. Like... like you know how adding the word Quantum in front of something makes it sounds cool? Must be like that. Maybe its Quantum Nano Tech. That would be seriously cool. No. Wait. Would that mean that the amount of coolness is really small... hmmm?" He stroked his antenna. "In any case I am sure the youth... thats us, by the way, can handle anything! We got this!"

Gamma Buzz "My joints feel like Beelzebub has put me through his grinding machine..." complained Baz. "I mean, I know the dangerous isn't that dangerous. But being thrown about like that? DIslocates my arms and legs." He squirmed, and swung his joints around. They worked. But they were sore. "Lawrence is right. We will get better! Tactics, teamwork, and the Slowball Slam! I am sure that will be a great tactic once we perfect it. And...err.. work out what it actually is." He gave a little tapdance and twirl. Clickity click as his armoured plates scated along the floor. "We are going to kick ass!"

Diamondlight "The other... whatever's out there. Indeed..." "May I suggest you keep a perimeter?" he asked. "The Park needs to be clear, and the roads around it. Maybe even the a block around it. We have almost no idea what we are dealing with." He turned to Luke. "You, young man, are about our best shot at finding what it is, and where it is." August paused, raising an eyebrow in thought. "The real question is why it is... why here? why now? why the murders?" He shrugged. "But I guess we find that out when we find the... what did you say? the whatever's out there. About the best way to put it, I think."

that said, Blackstaff has a HQ with a (presumably arcane) library so he can take 20 on Arcane Lore and get a much higher result (by spending requisite hours)

I think its in the realms of "Heard of it / Rings a bell" but nothing specific.

Not much, no! Curses are done by Witches Witches do curses But nothing specific

Captain Cosmos "What, so you can headbutt me? Let you go so you can cut me up? I though you wanted a fight? Or do you think I am a stupid as you? Not easy to be that idiotic, you moron!" Captain Cosmos gave a mocking laugh. He didn't really want to taunt a dumb animal, it felt wrong. But Knuckles was stronger than he would have liked, and he had an animal ferocity to go with it. The fight wasn't done till he had won it. Or lost it. Yes, he could still loose it. But he pressed his advantage, crushing Knuckles with his arms from behind, exerting his full force. Hoping that would enough to defeat the villain-but far from sure.

So for next round Captain Cosmos will maintain grapple and then crush (DC 30 Toughness check)

GM The crowd was mixed, and had a mixed reaction. There was little appetite for helping the man, but many were on their phones - saying what? who could say. There was plenty of appetite for scooping up golden coins, but not all did. If one was homeless, cold and hungry it was quite the gift, and one could understand the greater good of economic stability was a weak argument against the demands of cold skin and empty stomach. And not all who collected the doubloons were in such dire straits. Some wanted to give their children a proper christmas, and, yes, some wanted it out of pure greed. There was no appetite at all to disperse quietly. What risk was there? Other than being struck by gold falling from the sky. And it was quite the spectacle, even by the high standards of the citizens of Freedom City. "See?" said the Man in Orange. "Delight always wins! Why be such as stick in the mud? Come on, join the festivities! I could turn your automobile into a platinum plated car studded with diamonds as big as your fist? What say you?"

Captain Cosmos Captain Cosmos was prepared for a head shot - the villain wanted to take him out, take him out fast and hard. He brought his hands up. The claws racked his forearms, tearing the costume and scratching his skin. There was even a spot of blood, but nothing that really damaged him. He barely felt it. Instead, he focussed on his counter attack, a solid jab that would have punched a hole through a brick wall with his strength. Instead, it connected with a glance on Knuckles, enough to knock stars to his eyes and throw him several feet away. Buddy saw the bruise light up on Knuckles forehead, then deflate again. Could he always do that, or is that some effect of his newfound youth? it was a fleeting thought, he paid it little mind. He could hardly afford to. The pertinent point was there; Kunckles could regenerate. Captain Cosmos changed his tactics. He flew over and behind Knuckles and attempted a bear hug, hoping his own (hopefully) superior strength would give him an edge.

So this time CC will use move action to get to Knuckles, then try a grapple. 27 for attack, which is good fortune Then an opposed grapple check which he is pretty good at. 46! another good roll. Feel free to roll for me on any opposed grapple checks (As otherwise it can get slow). His current bonus is +30

GM "My powers? Are they mine?" giggled the Man in Orange. "No, I just stole them! Hahahaha! Theres a puzzle for you! I stole them with my head!" He looked down to the pedestrians (and now, many cars) who had stopped to record and film and point at the spectacle above them. Even in Freedom City, you don't see a two ton diamond in the sky very often. And what about this talk of turning statues into chocholate! "People of Freedom City! I bring you tidings of joy! Merry Christmas everybody! And if anyone can get me out of the hands of this caped oppressor, I will give them their own body weight in gold! But for now, have a little goodwill on me! Hehehehehehe!" From his fingers came flashes of golden light. And then... It was raining gold! Doubloons, to be precise. Golden Doobloons such as a pirate might gloat over and bury in a treaure island consisting of one solitary palm tree marked with an "X". Because every coin had, on both sides, a crude engraving of a treasure map featuring an island with exactly one palm tree. And, yes, and "X". To add authenticity. No matter the cheap fakes, many desperate people below were collecting the coins. And some greedy people too. In fact, there was even the occasional sly glance upward from some odious civillian trying to work out if there was a way to cash in on the man's offer.

Thats fast enough

GM The Man in Orange defiantly held his breath until he could do so no more. With another golden Zam of light, the diamond reverted back to plain old air, and the Man in Orange started refilling his lungs with sweet, sweet oxygen. In between the herculean breaths, he managed to pant out a few words. "Ok.... Ok.... you got me!" he wheezed. "Cancel Christmas everybody! Big shot cape has other plans!" Below them, there were certainly lots of pointed fingers and mobile phones appreciating the view and chattering. "What you going to do now?" said the Man in Orange. "Cancel Easter to? I was going to turn the Centurion monument into chocolate. Yummy Chocolate, mmmm!"

GM The floating Musical Antibodies kept dancing around Bernadette, in time with their music. Bernadette was beginning to get the sense of them now; thanks to her own musical knowledge and feel. They bobbed around in a particular rhythmn, and at the end of every bar, Brrzzzzzzm! More sonic blasts, vibrating though the gaudy air. the Antibodies were evasive enough to avoid the multitude of punched from Bernadette, and one of the sonic blasts tickled her shoulder, sending a buzz through her clavicle. "Ah yes, getting back. Well, that's quite the little puzzle, isn't it!" replied the Duke, stroking his elegant orange moustache. "It seems that the little ritual of this place attracted twins, or something like that, as the gateway." "Each of my fingers? A twin?" said Summer, extending all ten fingers. "Why yes! Very powerful, I imagine. Especially playing music. Now, what say we play the tune in reverse? Can you remember it?" "Well enough..." said Summer, unsure. "And you, can you sing it in reverse?" the Duke ased Bernadette. "And whip us up a guitar for your friend whilst you are about it?"

Sadly that is just a miss the two last antibodies will blast back 13 and 23 meaning another DC 23 Tough Save for you

GM "Well, I'm feel just dandy! And having such fun, particularly as you gave me an idea!" the man said, inbetween gulps. "And I'm getting ready to hold my breath, just like a said. If you had any wit betwixt your cauliflower ears, you would be doing the same, because, baby, we are gonna shine!" The air started twinkling golden light around them. ZAM! And then they were both encased in the biggest diamond the world had ever seen! Two metres radius, glittering, perfect, worth untold fortunes! And also suffocating them both. Or at least the man in orange said, who had wisely held his breath. As for the amazing Golden Star, he needed no such thing as air, being powered by far more cosmic energies! "Told ya!" said the man, with puffed out chest and red face, trying to chortle without losing air.

We have a sneaky manuever! The air transmutes to solid diamond, encaptuing you and him! it will also suffocate you both, but it turns out Golden Star doesnt need to breath anyway (but he wasnt to know that!)