KnightDisciple

Hehehe, right then. Free Action: Switch Holy Fire Control to Giant's Strength. Relevant stats can be found on sheet. Move Action: Move next to Unferth. Free Action: All-Out Attack 5 (Defense is now +2), Power Attack 5 (Attack Still at +7, Melee DC is at 37 Toughness Save). Standard Action: Grapple Attempt. Melee Attack Roll: 16. That hits. Now, Grapple Roll: 33. Free Action: Surge for another Standard Action. Standard Action: Inflict Damage on Unferth. Auto-hit (due to Grapple). Toughness Save DC is 37. Yeah, this isn't gonna be fun for Unferth.

Right, let's see... Fortitude Save: 26. Nope, all his Toughness is still there! Harrier (26): Unconscious; 5 HP Curator Katastrof (25): Bruised x3 (3 Incurable) Miss Americana (18): Uninjured; 7 HP Dragonfly (8): Uninjured; 3 HP AA, if you're gonna try to revive Harrier, feel free.

FYI edited to fix a couple spelling mistakes.

Will almost cursed as the fake Samedi disappeared. He'd wanted to get a couple hits in. It was a chance for a family team hero fight! He sighed as he moved over to his half-trapped grandmother. He pondered the sand pile before re-configuring the psychic energy in his hands. He now held a dull-edged...well, it wasn't quite a shovel or spade, but it wasn't far off. The important part was that it had a broad, flat surface that he could dig into the sand to start moving it away from Anna Cline. It was a task that would take a normal person quite a while. But a normal person couldn't operate at the paceThoughtspeed could keep up.

Will vs Bluff: 27. Toughness Save DC 38: 18. So, uh, have an HP, E, I'll just give him another Incurable Bruise. (I don't want this to end yet!) Harrier (26): Unconscious; 5 HP Curator Katastrof (25): Bruised x3 (3 Incurable) Miss Americana (18): Uninjured; 7 HP Dragonfly (8): Uninjured; 4 HP Dragonfly is up after E posts IC.

Will had mostly kept to himself over to one side of the room, nursing a glass of water. He wasn't energetic enough to argue with Georgia about how cold it was or wasn't. Just didn't seem important to him right now. Then Chase Atom walked in...with the blasted space monkey. The one his mother had warned him about. He narrowed his eyes at the creature, and when Chase's gaze came to him, Will was standing up straight, shoulders back. He met the gaze of the scion of the Atoms without flinching. "My only question is if we need to put on a space suit or something before we go up. Well, and how long the trip will take."

(GM Post) The sheer ferocity of Caradoc's first attack, combined with the unexpected angle and the rather harsh nature of the damage left the eons-old fragment of an AI stunned for critical moments. This allowed Harrier to reposition himself while Dragonfly's bolts of spatial distortion washed over his armor plating, and Miss Americana took to disabling the centerpiece of his master plan. The blow to the side of his head shook him awake, and his terrible inhuman eyes, all three of them, snapped to focus on Caradoc even as he took a few large strides back and to the side. Perhaps worryingly, all three heroes were kept well within his obvious field of vision. "You have wounded me. Uniquely so. You shall be restrained, and your weapon studied. I shall find a way to repair this in time. But for now, you must be subdued. All of you must. You are rejecting this vision of utopia, and that cannot stand." What was perhaps most frightening was that the being seemed to really believe its plan would genuinely make the world a better place. Even as the Curator lifted both arms, taking a wide stance with its feet, each forearm bore small metal cylinders that suddenly expanded in a clacking transformation, before their interior spun up, tiny bolts of lightning spinning around inside... Miss Americana and Dragonfly see an unencrypted "text" fly across their screens. And then a total of four bolts of bright blue-white charged particles surged from the weapons on the Curator's arms, and slammed into Caradoc's midsection with all the force and fury of a thunderstorm. The energy surged throughout the mournful cyborg's entire body. "So it is for all who oppose my vision."

Looks like he's Unconscious (it's all Non-Lethal Damage), his holographic generator is up, but his armor retracts. I'm putting up an IC post now.

Right then, time for the Curator to actually, you know, act. Move Action: Gain a bit of distance from Harrier while keeping all 3 in his sights. Free Action: All-Out Attack 5 (so Defense is now +10), then Power Attack for 5 (Attack is back to +15, base Blast DC is 35). Standard Action: Blast (via the Twin PPCs) Harrier. Ranged Attack: 29. The to-hit DC is 17, per AA. I exceeded that by 12. With his Autofire, that means a +5 damage bonus. That means the total Toughness Save DC is 40.

Nevermore Power Level: 9 (139/144) [Gold Reward Slot] Trade-Offs: +2 Attack / -2 Damage; +2 Defense / -2 Toughness Unspent Power Points: 5 In Brief: The young apprentice and sidekick of the Raven, Nevermore is preparing himself to take on that legendary crime-fighting mantle one day soon. Alternate Identity: Aleksander Garen Nakani (Birth Name/legal name); Svarog (Name assigned by the Blood Dragons) Identity: Secret Birthplace: Rustavi, Georgia Occupation: Student (Claremont); Crimefighter Affiliations: Claremont Academy; Raven "family"; Blood Dragon Scoiety (former) Family: Henrik and Maral Nakani (biological parents, deceased); Loren and Melissa Barbeau (adoptive parents) Description: Age: 17 (DoB: December 12, 1997) Apparent Age: N/A Gender: Male Ethnicity: Armenian and Ossetian Height: 5'10" Weight: 160 lbs. Eyes: Grey Hair: Black Aleksander is a lean young man, clearly in the midst of his growth spurt. He avoids teenage awkwardness only due to over a decade of conditioned "training" and a few years of more natural training, and thus an instinctive sense of balance and poise. His frame is well-muscled, but he clearly favors speed and tone over sheer power. His deeply bronzed skin has no blemishes, and his face is free of scarring. His forearms, hands, lower legs, and torso bear a scattering of small, light scars, the sort one would associate with intense martial training. The long, thin scars on his back, faded for years now, are decidedly not from training. His grey eyes peer out keenly from slightly thick eyebrows, always observing. He doesn't have the furtive manner one would associate with a guilty party; instead, it's the keen observation of all those around him, and his environment. When he does focus on an item, person, or object, his gaze can be quite piercing indeed. His somewhat angular face has trouble frowning, and quite often, Aleksander's smiling or smirking about one thing or another. If he becomes angry, though, it is somewhat like a storm rolling over the plains. His dark hair has just a bit of curl to it, and while he keeps it neat, it reaches down to the bottom of his neck. Typically he just wears it combed back, but when training he'll keep it tied in a tight ponytail. His face is angular without being severe, with no features being over-prominent; the angles are smoothed out (helped by the fact he stays clean-shaven). Typically, he dresses in comfortable, non-descript clothes with low-key colors. He tends to prefer pants and long sleeves year round, though in the summer he usually opts for lighter-weight materials than in the dead of winter. His only ornamentation seems to be an antique wristwatch; when pressed, he explains it was his birth father's, and is one of the few mementos he has of him. Nevermore's costume is a finely-engineered piece of crime-fighting technology, and it looks it. It's a full-body suit that leaves only the mouth exposed, and while it's somewhat obvious that it's multiple layers, the outside is virtually seamless. The whole suit has armor plating somewhat visibly sandwiched in everywhere, but covered with a solid layer of morphic molecules on the outside to smooth over its appearance. The suit's base color is black, with the belt (holding several secure pouches of equipment), chest symbol (a stylized "N"), and a few lines on the gauntlets and greaves being a metallic silvery color. The inside of his cape is a dark grey-blue, helping blend in and break colors up a bit. When at rest, the cape's edge is a straight line, but thanks to the combination of the electroreactive "frame" inside of it, and the morphic molecules, when in "glide mode", the edges take on the appearance of a raven's wings spread in flight, or at least a stylized rendition of it. The boots/greaves and the gauntlets have extra protection and plating added on to the exterior of the suit's basic layers, though the gloves/gauntlets, boots/greaves, pants, shirt, cape, and cowl are all actually separate pieces. His head is covered by a smooth armored cowl that leaves only his mouth and chin exposed to the air (though the sides have a convenient lock point for his gas mask). His eyes are covered by special lenses that appear, from the outside, to be somewhat milky-white when inactive, but faintly glow green when night vision mode is active. Power Descriptions: Aleksander is an essentially normal human being. His time under the "care" of the Blood Dragon Society had them injecting him with various chemical mixtures meant to encourage the maximum potential growth, and he was fed a rigorous diet rich in some unique vitamins and minerals, but while he shows the potential to enter the very top tier of human performance, right now he shows no signs of mutation or any other true superhuman powers. Instead, his body is in peak condition for a boy of 16, and he possesses more skill than most would think possible for one of his age (due to his...rigorous...care with the BDS). Some might describe Aleksander as a "living weapon", and truthfully, they wouldn't be entirely wrong. His physical fitness and sheer skill make him a formidable close-combat opponent. Nevermore's costume is a masterful piece of crime-fighting engineering. The innermost layer is a thick, comfortable layer of thermal-insulated morphic molecules that help Alek survive extreme temperatures. Next is a layer of body armor, composed primary of thick, semi-rigid Kevlar plates that provide protection sufficient to deal with most regular small arms. The cowl contains lenses that can activate night vision, meaning even the darkest night is as bright as day to Nevermore. As well, an advanced communications suite is embedded under the armoring of the cowl. This system also works with some small microcomputers in his belt to give him up-to-the-picosecond accurate time, as well as precise geopositioning data and magnetic north orientation readings. The belt also holds a number of tools useful for crime scene analysis, a fold-out tablet computer useful for taking notes and such, and a simple collapsible gas mask that fits over his exposed moth and provides an environmental seal and several minutes of clean air. The cape is composed of special electro-reactive morphic molecules that conform to a rigid frame when a very low but precisely calibrated electrical charge is run through them. While he has insufficient propulsion for true independent flight, Nevermore is capable of long glides. His ability for movement around the city is aided by special high-speed, high-power grapnel lines that are housed in his gauntlets (under the extra armor plating). Finally, the whole suit is reinforced to enhance not only protection but close combat capability. The main "striking points" are still fists/forearms and feet/calves, and this is reflected in the heavier, reinforced plating present there. In addition, small, hollow reservoirs partially filled with a fine silicon mix provide an impact enhancer similar to the common dead blow hammer. Rounding out his current arsenal is The Talon, a high-performance motorcycle which is Nevermore's primary means of transportation across larger portions of Freedom City (with his grapnel/glider cape combo being used for more precise positioning in specific areas). While unarmed, it is a tough, fast vehicle that bears a solid security system to prevent bike-jacking. The overall construction is rugged, with the bike mainly sporting two seemingly oversized tires (each with an independent electric motor for power), and a central "pod" with rugged armor plates, special steering "arms", and a simple voice-activated computer that has an always-updating navigation program. It is currently capable of speeds approaching the fastest performance road cars, though Nevermore rarely pushes it to that speed. History: Aleksander Garen Nakani should have been a perfectly normal boy born in the country of Georgia. And for about 6 months of his life after birth, he was. Then, one day, he and his parents "disappeared". His father and mother were found weeks later, dead, their child missing, out well past city limits. Theories abounded. No one was ever charged, no conclusion made. Funerals were held. People mourned. Mementos were kept by parents/grandparents and other scattered family. None were the wiser that Aleksander had been taken by the Blood Dragon Society to their base in Transylvania, Romania. They are a fanatical group borne from the last members of the Order of the Dragon. Born in fire and blood, they escaped the purge that wiped out most of their brethren and went into hiding. They watched as one of their own members became one of the most feared monsters of all time, a household name half a millennium later. The Blood Dragon Society vowed all those years ago to protect Europe (and, eventually, mankind) from the "dark things". Unfortunately, their definition of what constituted a viable threat has varied over the years, and has never focused solely on supernatural threats, but instead included political or religious movements and individuals. Worse, they vowed to use any means necessary, and have taken that vow seriously. They employ methods most would never condone, and in the last couple of centuries have begun taking orphans or other "won't be missed" children to train them from a young age to be perfect "defenders". Aleksander was part of a new "trial group", selected based on genetic factors (in his case, the presence of many historically successful soldiers on his father's side, and genetics stretching back to some of the fiercest Sarmation warriors on his mother's side) that the Society believed would make them ideal warriors. These children, taken from all over the world, and being of all sorts of ethnicity, were brought in before their first birthdays. They were raised impersonally, granted single names based on mythology (Aleksander was called Svarog), and fed rigorous diets, supplemented by vitamin and chemical treatments intended to procure the maximum possible performance and growth. They were educated as soon as possible, trained from very early ages in tactics, stealth, sabotage, combat of all kinds, and more. Their minds were laced with subliminal programs to ensure obedience and efficiency. Psychics were brought in to aid all of these efforts, ensuring that the whole batch of 20 was far ahead of their peers in every way by age 10. Alkesander was 11 when the Freedom League rescued all of the children from the clutches of the Society. The Raven, with the aid of Foreshadow, had tracked down the location of the Society's facilities. The stealthier members of the League infiltrated the base and ensured that the children were there and safe, and disabled much of the security. The rest of the League then swept in and thoroughly disabled any BDS troops still up and about, including a few of their more exotic members. Raven herself was the one to open the cell holding Aleksander, who had been in solitary for a week because his young mind had shown itself to be (once more) resistant to the harsher aspects of the programming they were trying to induce on the children. It wasn't a conscious thing, simply an unusually resilient psyche that meant the next year would not be as harsh as it would for his fellows. But only a little less harsh. Thankfully, the BDS facility had included full medical and biographical files on the children there; the Society was thorough and meticulous, if nothing else. This allowed the League to track down what family remained...which was his father's father, who was by this point in no condition to take care of a child. So he would have to be adopted after his treatment. It took over a year for League psychics and psychologists to help young Aleksander reach a point where they felt he couldn't simply be "switched off" or reprogrammed with a single phrase, and that he didn't treat the entire world like one long spy or combat mission. It still was a delicate enough situation that his adoptive parents, Loren and Melissa Barbeau, had to be specially trained and prepared to help him learn to socialize more normally. As well, his state of mind, as well as his near-reflexive fighting ability, necessitated him attending the Nicholson school for 3 years. Thankfully, by 14 Aleksander was a comparatively normal, if quiet, boy. He was even attending a regular public school. What Loren and Melissa didn't know is that the mental focus that previously had been forced upon the lessons of being a weapon, was now turned to investigating the Raven more. For almost a year, he'd been slowly tracking bits and pieces of information. Not because he hated her; just the opposite, Aleksander felt only the greatest of admiration for her. He wished to thank her without having to get mugged first. But as his investigation continued, he came to an uncomfortable conclusion: Raven was growing older. Just as her predecessor had, she was starting to show small signs of aging. One day, perhaps soon, she'd have to give up the mantle. But to whom? The day he figured out who she was, was the day Alkesander Nakani decided that if the Raven wouldn't appoint a successor, maybe one needed to approach her. So he dug deeper. Eventually, he determined two facts. First, the original Raven had been Duncan Summers, who was now headmaster of Claremont Academy. Second, his daughter, Callie Summers, was the current Raven. This would explain all the various resources Raven had always had access to. But now...how to speak to either of them about it? Finally, he decided on just going to Claremont Academy and trying to speak with the Headmaster, as he wasn't sure Callie would be at the Summers home. He skipped school one day and caught the bus to Bayview. He managed to slip onto the Academy grounds with none of the students or staff noticing, and ended up right outside Headmaster Summers' office. At which point the retired hero invited him in to speak. Duncan explained that while he didn't know quite why Aleksander was there, he'd kept track of the boy, if for no other reason than to help alert other heroes if the Blood Dragon Society ever moved to try and retake him. But the boy's presence intrigued him, and he had a guess as to why he was here. So Aleksander laid out his research, the results, and his belief that Callie needed a successor. Duncan ended up calling his daughter into the meeting, and there were a couple hours of discussion (during which Loren and Melissa were called in as well). In the end, it was decided that until he was 15 & 1/2 years old, Aleksander would be undergoing rigorous "basic training" without stepping foot outside the "lair" under the Summers home. Loren and Melissa weren't thrilled, but recognized that between Aleksander's iron will and his rather unique background, they'd be unlikely to stop him. So instead they partnered with Duncan and Callie to help make sure Alek didn't do something stupid to get himself killed. By June of 2013, Alek was allowed on 2 patrols a month, to try and get him used to actually going through the motions of being a crime-fighter. He was primarily asked to watch Raven's back, but was sometimes allowed to take the fore and get some practice. Most criminals were at least smart enough to not mouth off to a kid in body armor who was working with the Raven. The ones that were were educated. Word started to spread. In the meantime, in an effort to take some of the work off of Callie, and maybe give Aleksander some independence on occasion, Nevermore (as he has dubbed himself) has transferred to Claremont, starting in the Spring 2014 semester. It is hoped that he will learn more skills related to working with other heroes, as well as broadening his own skillset for the purposes of crime fighting and prevention. Personality & Motivation: Aleksander is a fairly quiet young man, but for all that he's gone through, he's actually fairly hopeful. He doesn't go for much in the way of exterior shows of emotion, but being rescued from the clutches of the Society, in the way he was, taught him that the world has good people, and those good people can make a difference. While not anti-social, Alek prefers to ration his time with friends (which he makes slowly and carefully) and strangers. But when he is with them, his shell opens up at least a little bit; he has a tendency to be the dry wit of a group, making some quip with a completely straight face. Alek will almost fanatically stand up to bullies, especially if he sees them picking on someone notably less capable physically (or socially, if it's primarily verbal bullying). He does not initiate actual fisticuffs, but he has been sent home a couple of times for, in his words, "finishing what someone else started". He has never shown regret for those fights, either. Thankfully he abhors the idea of taking a life or producing permanent injury, and so he's always focused on restraint, or temporary discomfort, to breaking bones or the like. Alek tends not to get involved in discussions about politics or law or the like, beyond voicing a general dislike of "injustice", though with as young as he is it's still a nebulous concept (beyond "criminals running around not getting stopped"). Nevermore comes off as a gruff, no-nonsense crime fighter. He's willing to work with other heroes, though he's cautious if he does not know them, and might get slightly frustrated with those who have trouble with subtlety of any form. To criminals, he's somewhat quieter than his predecessor, but still carries an air of menace and shadows. He is relentless and fearless, and lets them know. He does have a bit of a tendency to try and put on a gravely bravado with older heroes, barring those like Midnight or Foreshadow who carry legacies similar to his own. To them he is respectful, though he's not afraid to voice an opinion. But to others he might be trying to over-compensate for his clear newness to his role, subconsciously trying to prove that he's worthy of the mantle he will be receiving. To the average citizen, he's polite, if a bit terse, but always wanting to prove helpful in a moment of need. Powers & Tactics: Nevermore will adjust his tactics depending on the number and quality of opponents. For a large number of "thugs" he tends to just dive in and start taking them down rapidly, weathering their blows with his body armor while he delivers precise, powerful strikes. Armed opponents are likely to be disarmed. Those who seem to focus on power over finesse may well end up put in one martial art hold or another while he tries to choke them just enough to knock them out. For a notably powerful opponent he is likely to attempt to remain in stealth until he can catch them unaware enough to get a couple of solid blows in. That, or try to work with someone else or call for backup. Complications: Once a Soldier, Always a Soldier: While the particular cell that was "raising" Aleksander was dismantled, the Blood Dragon Society as a whole still exists. And they aren't the sort to let resources go to waste, especially ones that display the potential Aleksander has. At some point, or several points, they may try to retrieve Aleksander, not realizing that he's also Nevermore. The River Runs Deep: Aleksander was given a thorough de-programming by more than one psychic who was affiliated with the Freedom League, and was further taken through more mundane therapies and de-programmings by psychologists and psychiatrists. However, the scars of that time still remain. It is possible, if unlikely, that one or two "trigger words" may still be buried in his mind and activated, either by someone with sufficient knowledge, or someone with enough skill (not power, but skill) in the psychic arts. This would not turn him into a mindless drone, but it might be enough to leave him slower, incapacitated, or in some other way less effective than he should be. Secret (Identity): Aleksander's identity as Nevermore is something known only to a few (though fortunately or unfortunately, at least some fellow students at Claremont know). The risk is not only to himself, but to both the Summers, to his family, and even, in a way, to Claremont itself. Some Pretty Big Shoes: Aleksander's status as heir apparent to the mantle of the Raven isn't officially known to many, and nominally speaking, his assumption of that role is a few years off. Some more experienced heroes might not take him seriously, or take offense to him attempting to "take over" the Raven's name one day. Alek himself may sometimes have issues with confidence or second-guessing himself due to doubts over his "worthiness" of the role. Abilities: 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 2 = 32PP Strength: 16 (+3) Dexterity: 16 (+3) Constitution: 16 (+3) Intelligence: 16 (+3) Wisdom: 16 (+3) Charisma: 12 (+1) Combat: 10 + 12 = 22PP Initiative: +3 Attack: +11 Melee, +5 Ranged Grapple: +14 Defense: +11 (+6 Base, +5 Dodge Focus), +3 Flat-Footed Knockback: -3 Saving Throws: 5 + 5 + 5 = 15PP Toughness: +7 (+3 Con, +4 [Protection]) Fortitude: +8 (+3 Con, +5) Reflex: +8 (+3 Dex, +5) Will: +8 (+3 Wis, +5) Skills: 76R = 19PP Acrobatics 7 (+10) Computers 8 (+11) Drive 7 (+10) Escape Artist 5 (+8) Intimidate 8 (+9) Investigate 8 (+11) Language 6 (Arabic, English, French, German, Georgian, Latin, Romanian [Native]) Notice 7 (+10) Search 8 (+11) Stealth 7 (+10) Survival 5 (+8) Feats: 30PP Accurate Attack All-Out Attack Attack Focus (Melee) 6 Beginner's Luck Chokehold Defensive Attack Dodge Focus 5 Eidetic Memory Equipment 4 [Paid for with Bronze Award] Evasion Improved Block Improved Disarm Improved Grapple Improved Trip Improvised Tools Jack of All Trades Online Research Power Attack Second Chance (Mind Control) Takedown Attack 2 Track Equipment: 4PP = 20EP Utility Belt [3EP] Gas Mask: Immunity 1 (Eye & Lung Irritants)[1EP] Investigator's Kit (+2 to Investigate Checks) [1EP] Tablet Computer [1EP] The Talon (Vehicle; Motorcycle) [17EP] Size: Medium [0EP] Strength: 25 (Medium Load: 533 lbs.) [3EP] Defense: 10 [0EP] Toughness: +10 [5EP] Features: [4EP] Alarm 2 (DC 25) Computer Navigation System Powers: [5EP] Speed 4 (100mph / 1,000ft per Move Action, Feats: Subtle) [5EP] Powers: 21PP Damage 4 (Feats: Mighty) [5PP] (Training) ("Martial Arts") Device 4 (20PP Container, Flaws: Hard-To-Lose) [16PP] (Technological; "Nevermore Costume") City Movement 1 (2PP Array; Feats: Alternate Power 1) [3DP] [array]Base Power: Flight 2 (Flaws: Gliding) [2] ("Electroreactive Glider Cape") Alternate Power: Super-Movement 1 (Swinging) [2] ("High-speed Grapnel Gun"][array]/ Communication 5 (Radio, 5 miles; Feats: Subtle) [6DP] ("In-Built Headset") Immunity 1 (Cold, Heat; Flaws: Limited [Half]) [1DP] ("Protective Thermal Under-Layer") Protection 4 [4DP] ("Armor Plating") Super-Senses 2 (Infravision;Vision Counters Obscure (Darkness) [Darkvision]) [3DP] ("Night Vision Lenses") Super Senses 3 (Direction Sense, Distance Sense, Time Sense) [3DP] ("Head's-Up Display") DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed (Normal) Touch DC18 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Unarmed (Martial Arts) Touch DC22 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Totals: Abilities (32) + Combat (22) + Saving Throws (15) + Skills (19) + Feats (30) + Powers (21) - Drawbacks (0) = 139/144 Power Points

Player Name: KnightDisciple Character Name: Nevermore Power Level: 9 (139/139) [Gold Reward Slot] Trade-Offs: +2 Attack / -2 Damage; +2 Defense / -2 Toughness Unspent Power Points: 0 Progress To Impervium Status: 19/150 (Platinum achieved with Gabriel) In Brief: The young apprentice and sidekick of the Raven, Nevermore is preparing himself to take on that legendary crime-fighting mantle one day soon. Alternate Identity: Aleksander Garen Nakani (Birth Name/legal name); Svarog (Name assigned by the Blood Dragons) Identity: Secret Birthplace: Rustavi, Georgia Occupation: Student (Claremont); Crimefighter Affiliations: Claremont Academy; Raven "family"; Blood Dragon Scoiety (former) Family: Henrik and Maral Nakani (biological parents, deceased); Loren and Melissa Barbeau (adoptive parents) Description: Age: 17 (DoB: December 12, 1997) Apparent Age: N/A Gender: Male Ethnicity: Armenian and Ossetian Height: 5'10" Weight: 160 lbs. Eyes: Grey Hair: Black Aleksander is a lean young man, clearly in the midst of his growth spurt. He avoids teenage awkwardness only due to over a decade of conditioned "training" and a few years of more natural training, and thus an instinctive sense of balance and poise. His frame is well-muscled, but he clearly favors speed and tone over sheer power. His deeply bronzed skin has no blemishes, and his face is free of scarring. His forearms, hands, lower legs, and torso bear a scattering of small, light scars, the sort one would associate with intense martial training. The long, thin scars on his back, faded for years now, are decidedly not from training. His grey eyes peer out keenly from slightly thick eyebrows, always observing. He doesn't have the furtive manner one would associate with a guilty party; instead, it's the keen observation of all those around him, and his environment. When he does focus on an item, person, or object, his gaze can be quite piercing indeed. His somewhat angular face has trouble frowning, and quite often, Aleksander's smiling or smirking about one thing or another. If he becomes angry, though, it is somewhat like a storm rolling over the plains. His dark hair has just a bit of curl to it, and while he keeps it neat, it reaches down to the bottom of his neck. Typically he just wears it combed back, but when training he'll keep it tied in a tight ponytail. His face is angular without being severe, with no features being over-prominent; the angles are smoothed out (helped by the fact he stays clean-shaven). Typically, he dresses in comfortable, non-descript clothes with low-key colors. He tends to prefer pants and long sleeves year round, though in the summer he usually opts for lighter-weight materials than in the dead of winter. His only ornamentation seems to be an antique wristwatch; when pressed, he explains it was his birth father's, and is one of the few mementos he has of him. Nevermore's costume is a finely-engineered piece of crime-fighting technology, and it looks it. It's a full-body suit that leaves only the mouth exposed, and while it's somewhat obvious that it's multiple layers, the outside is virtually seamless. The whole suit has armor plating somewhat visibly sandwiched in everywhere, but covered with a solid layer of morphic molecules on the outside to smooth over its appearance. The suit's base color is black, with the belt (holding several secure pouches of equipment), chest symbol (a stylized "N"), and a few lines on the gauntlets and greaves being a metallic silvery color. The inside of his cape is a dark grey-blue, helping blend in and break colors up a bit. When at rest, the cape's edge is a straight line, but thanks to the combination of the electroreactive "frame" inside of it, and the morphic molecules, when in "glide mode", the edges take on the appearance of a raven's wings spread in flight, or at least a stylized rendition of it. The boots/greaves and the gauntlets have extra protection and plating added on to the exterior of the suit's basic layers, though the gloves/gauntlets, boots/greaves, pants, shirt, cape, and cowl are all actually separate pieces. His head is covered by a smooth armored cowl that leaves only his mouth and chin exposed to the air (though the sides have a convenient lock point for his gas mask). His eyes are covered by special lenses that appear, from the outside, to be somewhat milky-white when inactive, but faintly glow green when night vision mode is active. Power Descriptions: Aleksander is an essentially normal human being. His time under the "care" of the Blood Dragon Society had them injecting him with various chemical mixtures meant to encourage the maximum potential growth, and he was fed a rigorous diet rich in some unique vitamins and minerals, but while he shows the potential to enter the very top tier of human performance, right now he shows no signs of mutation or any other true superhuman powers. Instead, his body is in peak condition for a boy of 16, and he possesses more skill than most would think possible for one of his age (due to his...rigorous...care with the BDS). Some might describe Aleksander as a "living weapon", and truthfully, they wouldn't be entirely wrong. His physical fitness and sheer skill make him a formidable close-combat opponent. Nevermore's costume is a masterful piece of crime-fighting engineering. The innermost layer is a thick, comfortable layer of thermal-insulated morphic molecules that help Alek survive extreme temperatures. Next is a layer of body armor, composed primary of thick, semi-rigid Kevlar plates that provide protection sufficient to deal with most regular small arms. The cowl contains lenses that can activate night vision, meaning even the darkest night is as bright as day to Nevermore. As well, an advanced communications suite is embedded under the armoring of the cowl. This system also works with some small microcomputers in his belt to give him up-to-the-picosecond accurate time, as well as precise geopositioning data and magnetic north orientation readings. The belt also holds a number of tools useful for crime scene analysis, a fold-out tablet computer useful for taking notes and such, and a simple collapsible gas mask that fits over his exposed moth and provides an environmental seal and several minutes of clean air. The cape is composed of special electro-reactive morphic molecules that conform to a rigid frame when a very low but precisely calibrated electrical charge is run through them. While he has insufficient propulsion for true independent flight, Nevermore is capable of long glides. His ability for movement around the city is aided by special high-speed, high-power grapnel lines that are housed in his gauntlets (under the extra armor plating). Finally, the whole suit is reinforced to enhance not only protection but close combat capability. The main "striking points" are still fists/forearms and feet/calves, and this is reflected in the heavier, reinforced plating present there. In addition, small, hollow reservoirs partially filled with a fine silicon mix provide an impact enhancer similar to the common dead blow hammer. Rounding out his current arsenal is The Talon, a high-performance motorcycle which is Nevermore's primary means of transportation across larger portions of Freedom City (with his grapnel/glider cape combo being used for more precise positioning in specific areas). While unarmed, it is a tough, fast vehicle that bears a solid security system to prevent bike-jacking. The overall construction is rugged, with the bike mainly sporting two seemingly oversized tires (each with an independent electric motor for power), and a central "pod" with rugged armor plates, special steering "arms", and a simple voice-activated computer that has an always-updating navigation program. It is currently capable of speeds approaching the fastest performance road cars, though Nevermore rarely pushes it to that speed. History: Aleksander Garen Nakani should have been a perfectly normal boy born in the country of Georgia. And for about 6 months of his life after birth, he was. Then, one day, he and his parents "disappeared". His father and mother were found weeks later, dead, their child missing, out well past city limits. Theories abounded. No one was ever charged, no conclusion made. Funerals were held. People mourned. Mementos were kept by parents/grandparents and other scattered family. None were the wiser that Aleksander had been taken by the Blood Dragon Society to their base in Transylvania, Romania. They are a fanatical group borne from the last members of the Order of the Dragon. Born in fire and blood, they escaped the purge that wiped out most of their brethren and went into hiding. They watched as one of their own members became one of the most feared monsters of all time, a household name half a millennium later. The Blood Dragon Society vowed all those years ago to protect Europe (and, eventually, mankind) from the "dark things". Unfortunately, their definition of what constituted a viable threat has varied over the years, and has never focused solely on supernatural threats, but instead included political or religious movements and individuals. Worse, they vowed to use any means necessary, and have taken that vow seriously. They employ methods most would never condone, and in the last couple of centuries have begun taking orphans or other "won't be missed" children to train them from a young age to be perfect "defenders". Aleksander was part of a new "trial group", selected based on genetic factors (in his case, the presence of many historically successful soldiers on his father's side, and genetics stretching back to some of the fiercest Sarmation warriors on his mother's side) that the Society believed would make them ideal warriors. These children, taken from all over the world, and being of all sorts of ethnicity, were brought in before their first birthdays. They were raised impersonally, granted single names based on mythology (Aleksander was called Svarog), and fed rigorous diets, supplemented by vitamin and chemical treatments intended to procure the maximum possible performance and growth. They were educated as soon as possible, trained from very early ages in tactics, stealth, sabotage, combat of all kinds, and more. Their minds were laced with subliminal programs to ensure obedience and efficiency. Psychics were brought in to aid all of these efforts, ensuring that the whole batch of 20 was far ahead of their peers in every way by age 10. Alkesander was 11 when the Freedom League rescued all of the children from the clutches of the Society. The Raven, with the aid of Foreshadow, had tracked down the location of the Society's facilities. The stealthier members of the League infiltrated the base and ensured that the children were there and safe, and disabled much of the security. The rest of the League then swept in and thoroughly disabled any BDS troops still up and about, including a few of their more exotic members. Raven herself was the one to open the cell holding Aleksander, who had been in solitary for a week because his young mind had shown itself to be (once more) resistant to the harsher aspects of the programming they were trying to induce on the children. It wasn't a conscious thing, simply an unusually resilient psyche that meant the next year would not be as harsh as it would for his fellows. But only a little less harsh. Thankfully, the BDS facility had included full medical and biographical files on the children there; the Society was thorough and meticulous, if nothing else. This allowed the League to track down what family remained...which was his father's father, who was by this point in no condition to take care of a child. So he would have to be adopted after his treatment. It took over a year for League psychics and psychologists to help young Aleksander reach a point where they felt he couldn't simply be "switched off" or reprogrammed with a single phrase, and that he didn't treat the entire world like one long spy or combat mission. It still was a delicate enough situation that his adoptive parents, Loren and Melissa Barbeau, had to be specially trained and prepared to help him learn to socialize more normally. As well, his state of mind, as well as his near-reflexive fighting ability, necessitated him attending the Nicholson school for 3 years. Thankfully, by 14 Aleksander was a comparatively normal, if quiet, boy. He was even attending a regular public school. What Loren and Melissa didn't know is that the mental focus that previously had been forced upon the lessons of being a weapon, was now turned to investigating the Raven more. For almost a year, he'd been slowly tracking bits and pieces of information. Not because he hated her; just the opposite, Aleksander felt only the greatest of admiration for her. He wished to thank her without having to get mugged first. But as his investigation continued, he came to an uncomfortable conclusion: Raven was growing older. Just as her predecessor had, she was starting to show small signs of aging. One day, perhaps soon, she'd have to give up the mantle. But to whom? The day he figured out who she was, was the day Alkesander Nakani decided that if the Raven wouldn't appoint a successor, maybe one needed to approach her. So he dug deeper. Eventually, he determined two facts. First, the original Raven had been Duncan Summers, who was now headmaster of Claremont Academy. Second, his daughter, Callie Summers, was the current Raven. This would explain all the various resources Raven had always had access to. But now...how to speak to either of them about it? Finally, he decided on just going to Claremont Academy and trying to speak with the Headmaster, as he wasn't sure Callie would be at the Summers home. He skipped school one day and caught the bus to Bayview. He managed to slip onto the Academy grounds with none of the students or staff noticing, and ended up right outside Headmaster Summers' office. At which point the retired hero invited him in to speak. Duncan explained that while he didn't know quite why Aleksander was there, he'd kept track of the boy, if for no other reason than to help alert other heroes if the Blood Dragon Society ever moved to try and retake him. But the boy's presence intrigued him, and he had a guess as to why he was here. So Aleksander laid out his research, the results, and his belief that Callie needed a successor. Duncan ended up calling his daughter into the meeting, and there were a couple hours of discussion (during which Loren and Melissa were called in as well). In the end, it was decided that until he was 15 & 1/2 years old, Aleksander would be undergoing rigorous "basic training" without stepping foot outside the "lair" under the Summers home. Loren and Melissa weren't thrilled, but recognized that between Aleksander's iron will and his rather unique background, they'd be unlikely to stop him. So instead they partnered with Duncan and Callie to help make sure Alek didn't do something stupid to get himself killed. By June of 2013, Alek was allowed on 2 patrols a month, to try and get him used to actually going through the motions of being a crime-fighter. He was primarily asked to watch Raven's back, but was sometimes allowed to take the fore and get some practice. Most criminals were at least smart enough to not mouth off to a kid in body armor who was working with the Raven. The ones that were were educated. Word started to spread. In the meantime, in an effort to take some of the work off of Callie, and maybe give Aleksander some independence on occasion, Nevermore (as he has dubbed himself) has transferred to Claremont, starting in the Spring 2014 semester. It is hoped that he will learn more skills related to working with other heroes, as well as broadening his own skillset for the purposes of crime fighting and prevention. Personality & Motivation: Aleksander is a fairly quiet young man, but for all that he's gone through, he's actually fairly hopeful. He doesn't go for much in the way of exterior shows of emotion, but being rescued from the clutches of the Society, in the way he was, taught him that the world has good people, and those good people can make a difference. While not anti-social, Alek prefers to ration his time with friends (which he makes slowly and carefully) and strangers. But when he is with them, his shell opens up at least a little bit; he has a tendency to be the dry wit of a group, making some quip with a completely straight face. Alek will almost fanatically stand up to bullies, especially if he sees them picking on someone notably less capable physically (or socially, if it's primarily verbal bullying). He does not initiate actual fisticuffs, but he has been sent home a couple of times for, in his words, "finishing what someone else started". He has never shown regret for those fights, either. Thankfully he abhors the idea of taking a life or producing permanent injury, and so he's always focused on restraint, or temporary discomfort, to breaking bones or the like. Alek tends not to get involved in discussions about politics or law or the like, beyond voicing a general dislike of "injustice", though with as young as he is it's still a nebulous concept (beyond "criminals running around not getting stopped"). Nevermore comes off as a gruff, no-nonsense crime fighter. He's willing to work with other heroes, though he's cautious if he does not know them, and might get slightly frustrated with those who have trouble with subtlety of any form. To criminals, he's somewhat quieter than his predecessor, but still carries an air of menace and shadows. He is relentless and fearless, and lets them know. He does have a bit of a tendency to try and put on a gravely bravado with older heroes, barring those like Midnight or Foreshadow who carry legacies similar to his own. To them he is respectful, though he's not afraid to voice an opinion. But to others he might be trying to over-compensate for his clear newness to his role, subconsciously trying to prove that he's worthy of the mantle he will be receiving. To the average citizen, he's polite, if a bit terse, but always wanting to prove helpful in a moment of need. Powers & Tactics: Nevermore will adjust his tactics depending on the number and quality of opponents. For a large number of "thugs" he tends to just dive in and start taking them down rapidly, weathering their blows with his body armor while he delivers precise, powerful strikes. Armed opponents are likely to be disarmed. Those who seem to focus on power over finesse may well end up put in one martial art hold or another while he tries to choke them just enough to knock them out. For a notably powerful opponent he is likely to attempt to remain in stealth until he can catch them unaware enough to get a couple of solid blows in. That, or try to work with someone else or call for backup. Complications: Once a Soldier, Always a Soldier: While the particular cell that was "raising" Aleksander was dismantled, the Blood Dragon Society as a whole still exists. And they aren't the sort to let resources go to waste, especially ones that display the potential Aleksander has. At some point, or several points, they may try to retrieve Aleksander, not realizing that he's also Nevermore. The River Runs Deep: Aleksander was given a thorough de-programming by more than one psychic who was affiliated with the Freedom League, and was further taken through more mundane therapies and de-programmings by psychologists and psychiatrists. However, the scars of that time still remain. It is possible, if unlikely, that one or two "trigger words" may still be buried in his mind and activated, either by someone with sufficient knowledge, or someone with enough skill (not power, but skill) in the psychic arts. This would not turn him into a mindless drone, but it might be enough to leave him slower, incapacitated, or in some other way less effective than he should be. Secret (Identity): Aleksander's identity as Nevermore is something known only to a few (though fortunately or unfortunately, at least some fellow students at Claremont know). The risk is not only to himself, but to both the Summers, to his family, and even, in a way, to Claremont itself. Some Pretty Big Shoes: Aleksander's status as heir apparent to the mantle of the Raven isn't officially known to many, and nominally speaking, his assumption of that role is a few years off. Some more experienced heroes might not take him seriously, or take offense to him attempting to "take over" the Raven's name one day. Alek himself may sometimes have issues with confidence or second-guessing himself due to doubts over his "worthiness" of the role. Abilities: 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 2 = 32PP Strength: 16 (+3) Dexterity: 16 (+3) Constitution: 16 (+3) Intelligence: 16 (+3) Wisdom: 16 (+3) Charisma: 12 (+1) Combat: 10 + 12 = 22PP Initiative: +3 Attack: +11 Melee, +5 Ranged Grapple: +14 Defense: +11 (+6 Base, +5 Dodge Focus), +3 Flat-Footed Knockback: -3 Saving Throws: 5 + 5 + 5 = 15PP Toughness: +7 (+3 Con, +4 [Protection]) Fortitude: +8 (+3 Con, +5) Reflex: +8 (+3 Dex, +5) Will: +8 (+3 Wis, +5) Skills: 76R = 19PP Acrobatics 7 (+10) Computers 8 (+11) Drive 7 (+10) Escape Artist 5 (+8) Intimidate 8 (+9) Investigate 8 (+11) Language 6 (Arabic, English, French, German, Georgian, Latin, Romanian [Native]) Notice 7 (+10) Search 8 (+11) Stealth 7 (+10) Survival 5 (+8) Feats: 30PP Accurate Attack All-Out Attack Attack Focus (Melee) 6 Beginner's Luck Chokehold Defensive Attack Dodge Focus 5 Eidetic Memory Equipment 4 [Paid for with Bronze Award] Evasion Improved Block Improved Disarm Improved Grapple Improved Trip Improvised Tools Jack of All Trades Online Research Power Attack Second Chance (Mind Control) Takedown Attack 2 Track Equipment: 4PP = 20EP Utility Belt [3EP] Gas Mask: Immunity 1 (Eye & Lung Irritants)[1EP] Investigator's Kit (+2 to Investigate Checks) [1EP] Tablet Computer [1EP] The Talon (Vehicle; Motorcycle) [17EP] Size: Medium [0EP] Strength: 25 (Medium Load: 533 lbs.) [3EP] Defense: 10 [0EP] Toughness: +10 [5EP] Features: [4EP] Alarm 2 (DC 25) Computer Navigation System Powers: [5EP] Speed 4 (100mph / 1,000ft per Move Action, Feats: Subtle) [5EP] Powers: 21PP Damage 4 (Feats: Mighty) [5PP] (Training) ("Martial Arts") Device 4 (20PP Container, Flaws: Hard-To-Lose) [16PP] (Technological; "Nevermore Costume") City Movement 1 (2PP Array; Feats: Alternate Power 1) [3DP] [array]Base Power: Flight 2 (Flaws: Gliding) [2] ("Electroreactive Glider Cape") Alternate Power: Super-Movement 1 (Swinging) [2] ("High-speed Grapnel Gun"][array]/ Communication 5 (Radio, 5 miles; Feats: Subtle) [6DP] ("In-Built Headset") Immunity 1 (Cold, Heat; Flaws: Limited [Half]) [1DP] ("Protective Thermal Under-Layer") Protection 4 [4DP] ("Armor Plating") Super-Senses 2 (Infravision;Vision Counters Obscure (Darkness) [Darkvision]) [3DP] ("Night Vision Lenses") Super Senses 3 (Direction Sense, Distance Sense, Time Sense) [3DP] ("Head's-Up Display") DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC 22 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Totals: Abilities (32) + Combat (22) + Saving Throws (15) + Skills (19) + Feats (30) + Powers (21) - Drawbacks (0) = 139/139 Power Points

Toughness Save: 22. Eeeeyyyyeeeaaaaahhhhhh...nope. Sorry AA, gonna Fiat that to just a Bruise. I'd like the good (evil?) Baron to be able to actually act this round. Harrier (26): Uninjured; 5 HP Curator Katastrof (25): Bruised x2 (2 Incurable) Miss Americana (18): Uninjured; 7 HP Dragonfly (8): Uninjured; 4 HP

Right then. Toughness Save: 28.

"Congratulations, your job as a Horsemen is hard. So is mine. And NIck's. And Wander's. She must tread the blood-soaked fields of war, viewing some of the worst cases of man's inhumanity to man. Of how we've become so utterly skillfull at taking each others' lives. Nick walks as an angel of death amongst the world. Perhaps he follows the paths you tread. I'm busy trying to make sure that dozens of revolutions don't spiral out of control. Like, say, France a few centuries back." He paused closing his eyes and rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Or Russia, for that matter. Trying to help guide these conquests to start with words and not blood. It's terribly straining, especially if I want to try and ensure they don't snap back to riots and carnage as soon as I vacate the spot. At least I'm not the Antichrist, so, you know, that's a plus." He shook off the slight glare he'd been sending toward Frost, turning to their angel guides. "I think when this is done I'm going to need to call in sick to let my brain sort itself out, but other than literally the worst headache I've ever had, I'm okay. Some hot tea and aspirin would be great, though. Or Excedrin. This is definitely an Excedrin headache."

William's hands dropped from his ears as soon as some dude stepped out of the shadows. When he realized who the guy was playing at being, his helmet was suddenly covering his face again. The young man's posture was serious but not tense; he'd been trained by the best, after all! At which point he saw "the best" make utter fools of themselves. He sighed and sent a mental message out to his family. --Don't worry, I've got this punk!-- With a slight *whoosh* of air, Thoughtspeed grasped two glowing green gladii, his favored setup for actually using two swords in combat. In a move that was a blur to...well, the non-speedsters in the room, anyways, the young hero rushed past his grandmother and the imposter Baron to end up behind him, whereupon he attempted to slam either/both blades into the shadow controller. He missed by a country mile, and was suddenly glad he was wearing a helmet to hide the blush of embarrassment.

Right then. Move Action: Move up to and just behind Samedi. Move-By Attack for the win! Standard Action: Going to use Twin Blades, Slashing Descriptor. Melee Attack Roll: 14. I feel like Benny Hill music should be playing at this point.

Well, she absolutely stalls any timer on the teleporter, and has put it into a "shut-down mode". By Round 3, it will be fully powered down. Trying to just destroy it before then may not be the best idea, though, from what she can tell. It's not "the world dies in a black hole" bad, but it would likely not be pleasant for Harrier and Dragonfly.

Toughness Save: 32. Stunned and Bruised (which is apparently Incurable). We'll roll with it for the moment... Harrier (26): Uninjured; 4 HP Curator Katastrof (25): Dazed, Bruised x1 (1 Incurable) Miss Americana (18): Uninjured; 7 HP Dragonfly (8): Uninjured; 4 HP Miss A is up.

William is wishing he stayed home.... 20.

Right then! Fun times are now commencing! First, here's Curator Katastrof's sheet. Next, Initiative Time! Thank you, Orokos. I'll edit this as Initiatives are posted. Harrier (26): Uninjured; 4 HP Curator Katastrof (25): Uninjured Miss Americana (18): Uninjured; 7 HP Dragonfly (8): Uninjured; 4 HP

(GM Post) What came out of Magnus's mouth might, if one was generous, be counted as a human scream of pain. His eyes clenched shut as his skin seemed to...ripple...for a moment. With a gasp, he reached up and, with previously unknown strength, ripped the jacket, tie, and shirt from his body, leaving him bare above the waist. As they watched (or didn't, either way), his skin shifted from the pale, totally-not-pasty tone it had been before, to a nearly-gleaming silver. Strands of yellow hair fell to the floor as his scalp and brows revealed themselves. The unnatural eyes looked first to Miss Americana. "You were right that I had compromised the one known as Baron Katastrof. He has been my creature for almost a year now. Ever since he stepped foot in the wreckage of my ship. My primary program-self, as well as my backups, are gone or corrupted. I am a tertiary backup, stored in most of the computer sub-systems of my scout-ship-self." That's....not Magnus. There is little doubt as to who it is, but the silver circle that suddenly bursts from the skin in the center of his forehead, forming a pattern not unlike a trio of eyes, confirms it. "Pitiful creatures of flesh and blood. This one walked into my domain, while the wounds were still fresh and some few consoles had flickers of life left in them. And in he strode, his body already awash with technology, technology that was almost begging for information, input, data. And at that time, what was I, but data? I hid myself. Buried my program deep within the subroutines of his "transmitter nanites", splitting myself almost as soon as he returned to that science-fortress of his. Part of me went into the computers for a time, to learn and watch and grow. And part of me stayed within him. Prodding him. Inspiring him. Giving him ideas. Pushing him to press, and then surpass, the boundaries. I saw you cursing him in the room where you watched his progress to this day. He was not my creature in...May, you call it...when he laced his brain with computronium. That made my task easier, but he was good. He removed any taint from the material, what few bits he had not synthesized himself. But such precautions did not matter. He has been mine since he first examined my ship in May, and I entered his pre-existing nanite swarm. I do so enjoy nanotechnology. But you seem worried, Dragonfly. Why else are you skulking down there by the Vacuum Flux Capacitor platform? You think I see to supplant humanity. Or destroy it. Incorrect." The Curator...Baron...Baron Curator?...smiled. He, it, was trying to be friendly. "I seek to upgrade humanity. Humanity 2.0, you might say. Their bodies shall be better. And their minds shall sing a chorus, using the improved version of this Katastrof's nanites. Oh, even now, he recoils at the idea, but it is too late. He cannot purge me. I am reborn. The Curator lives, and he is the Wolf that shall lead the Sheep." The mad AI running Magnus's body is probably crazy. "But I can see that even this is not enough to sate your fears. You shall strive to stop me. You shall fail, just as the Baron has failed. I shall not slay you, though. Simply stop you." And that was when a panel above him opened, and a rush of nanites flowed from the ceiling over the Baron. His form was obscured for a moment, until a new being stood there before them... Flexing his hands, Curator Katastrof smiled at the heroes, the force field dropping as he spoke his next words with a deep, resounding voice. "Now. Shall we begin this dance?"

(GM Post) As the heroes approached the "office booth" at the back of the room, the figure in the chair (which seemed to be human, wearing a suit or the like, as they approached) did not acknowledge their presence. Instead it, he, continued to stare at the bank of displays in front of him, one hand occasionally tapping its fingers against the armrest, the other making a gesture or two that altered the display. The displays themselves were...well, a lot of things. News reports. Documentaries. Satellite feeds. Schematics. Graphs. A torrent of information of all sorts flowing like a waterfall down the screens on the wall. Finally, the trio would encounter a clear force field that prevented further travel, but presented no harm to them. Only then did the figure react at all, as the screens suddenly blanked for a moment. "Hm. Worry. An interesting word. And a sign that I'm one of the better employers, I suppose; those in my employ showing concern for my well-being, rather than apathy. Or joy at my distress. A good sign, one might say. Worry. I have been worried, Miss Americana. Worried, about the world." A hand waves, and the Earth hangs in the void, cold and alone. "Our species, humanity. In one breath, it is brimming with greatness, kindness, imagination, creation. We've touched the sky, if only briefly. Split the atom. We are out of our infancy..." Pictures of artists and builders. Video of many great man-made structures across the world. Smiling children. Great leaders from history, such as Ghandi and Martin Luther King, Jr. The Saturn V rocket. The works of Beethoven, Bach, and Mozart. "In the next, we are overflowing with terrible, cruel intention, deviousness, destruction. We've stood on the brink of wiping ourselves and all life on this planet out." Wars. Riots. Atom bomb tests. Dictators. "Through it all, our bodies betray us. Men and women grow old and become trapped inside the walls of their mind. Quirks of genetics bring children into a world that is nothing but darkness, or full of silence. Disease takes control of our bodies away, or ravages them so thoroughly, we are left to wonder, what hope is there?" Alzheimer's patients (with side-along scans of their brains as the terrible disease progresses). Blind or deaf people. Parkinson's sufferers. Other examples of the terrible toll of disease. And then nothing but pictures of young Eira Katastrof. "Both of you ladies have my undying gratitude. You helped save Eira from oblivion. But she should never have been at that risk! Not when the technology was at my fingertips!" Magnus's right hand clenched and slammed onto the armrest, before he stood up, shoving the hanging chair back away from him, whereupon it promptly folded up into the ceiling. The brilliant young inventor took a step toward the screens, his hands clasped behind his back. "I just wanted to help people, you know. To prevent anyone else from feeling the pain of what my family had. To prevent people from watching those they love drift away into the darkness, dying an inch at a time. I'm an inventor. A brilliant one. Why not keep delving into nanotechnology? It's quite likely the largest part of the future of medicine. Our trials were promising. But more was needed. More knowledge." Diagrams appeared. Diagrams of the Curator's ship, his computer banks, his nanites, his advanced composites, and his drones. "I took what we already had laid hands on. Took it, and studied it. Poked it, carefully. So carefully. Repeated experiments under the same high-security conditions. Layer upon layer of precaution. Because yes, I understood the risk. But I had such ideas! Ground breaking ideas! I finally saw ways to truly help everyone! To help drive back disease! Blindness! To help correct congenital defects. To give each and every man, woman, teenager, and child on this planet a body and immune system that laughed in the face of previous trials. Not to give any one person an edge, but a gift! A gift to EVERYONE!" For just a moment, as the diagrams for simpler, but more numerous, nanites flowed across the screen, his voice had had an odd timbre to it. "In the last few months, I've lived, breathed, and dreamed this day. I didn't know it most of the time; the dreams were unclear. But today they became clear, and for one shining, glorious moment, I saw a world free of disease and disability. A world in which humanity could focus on things like science, and peace, and exploration..." His tone has gone from one of hope, to...sadness? "It is only now, in these final hours, that I see that what I thought was my own dream...is a nightmare. One not of my own making. I am so sorry, Miss Americana, Dragonfly, Caradoc. Things have gone too far now. Gears are in motion. I only have one request, my friends." It was then that Baron Magnus Vilhelm Katastrof turned to face them, and they saw the first sign that something wasn't right. Maybe it was the fact that the sclera of his eyes were cobalt blue, with silver irises....Or perhaps it was the tears that seemed to be made of quicksilver slowly flowing down his face as he gave them a mournful look. "One day, perhaps find it in your hearts to forgive me. And if you can, tell my family that I am sorry. So very sorry, for what is about to happen." And then he unclasped his hands...and gripped his head in sudden pain. (TO BE CONTINUED IN NEXT POST)

The ride up had been mostly quiet, very smooth, and not really awkward. William had been thankful. And at first, the room at the top was pretty nifty. It was a great view, and he could appreciate people putting in couches instead of metal office chairs. But then the robot butler or whatever talked, and he was reminded he was in Atom Territory. And Georgia was complaining about the cold. "It's not that bad, Georgia. But, uh...ALEX...um. Some water would be nice." Not scared, but definitely subdued. William moved to the far side of the room, settling into one of the single chairs for a moment, closing his eyes and seemingly slipping into a semi-meditative state, at least until the robo-butler got them their drinks.

Will preened just a bit at his grandmother's promise to spar with him, for all that this whole situation was making his brain start to hurt. Then Set was suddenly a girl. He blinked, tilted his head a bit, and raised an eyebrow...before shaking his head. "Nope, sorry. Snake thing doesn't help, but nope." 'Seriously this guy, girl, god, goddess, whichever, was JUST flirting up Gramma. Just...yeargh.' William tactfully kept such reactions to himself. He did narrow his eyes just a bit at the suggestion of "true combat" between his grandmother and Sekhmet, but relaxed when it was extremely clear no such fight would be happening. He seemed a bit relieved when his mother arrived. Though he winced a bit at the "Mother Cline" comment; William knew that tone all too well. He sighed as his grandmother ordered him about and continued to call him "Willy". But he did as she asked, even as he mentally remarked to his parents (and only them). --I really wish she wouldn't call me that in front of strangers.-- He seemed blissfully unaware of the about-to-explode argument that was sure to happen.

As Indira spoke, Corbin over-dramatically rolled his eyes and gave Alfonso a "see what I have to put up with" shrug. When the two girls came over to them, Corbin gave them both a polite smile and a tip of a hat that wasn't there. "Buenas noches, señoras. What strange creature or creatures do you mean? I've heard some rumors of odd happenings out here, but nothing about specific creatures." He raised a curious eyebrow, though he didn't so much as twitch at the mention of aliens. "And I might have an idea of what from, ma'am." He gave Ion a polite smile and nod. He tried not to give away himself noticing how...odd...Alfonso sounded as he walked and talked, but apparently wasn't fully successful. "I prefer drawing, painting, and sculpting, but I dabble in a lot. It's just a hobby, though; at most I use it to make a few presents for friends." Indira and Kimber had themselves each received such a present! "I'm studying to go into a career in history and archeology, with some business classes on the side for later on in life." He chuckled as Christina mused about the deer. "If you want to catch a deer, come to the Midwestern United States at some point. We've got white-tails coming out our ears and nose."