Ari

Then Osprey will attempt to sneak down and into the building from a secondary entrance. Stealth roll to avoid notice as he makes his way across the roof and along the side: 17. If the door is locked, a Disable Device roll: 17 again.Not sure that does much.

Hoorah on the 10,000 posts Supercape! Here's to ten thousand more! Thanks for all you've done to help new players find their feet, and to the design and playing philosophy you bring to the site.

Retaining the same manner of cautious interest got a lot more difficult when the national heroine Young Britannia swung down and zipped them Britain's largest city to the country's outskirts, Synapse detecting a tell-tale burst of frantic confusion as his mind adjusted to the sudden change of scenery, pressure, atmosphere and the deep chill of standing next to a cliff. His eyes widened in shock, but quickly resumed their suspicious squint behind the yellow lenses as he recovered from the teleport. His cape snapping behind him like a flag, he nodded politely to their conveyer "Thanks. Better than just shufflin' around the corner. And-" That was a nasty reminder 'Hm. That's a problem, yeah. Hopefully those mops are good at quick arrests' Aloud he said quietly "We can be back in a second. They won't escape," 'I hope' "not from us." It was nice to be able to use that word. As Jasmine spoke up, explaining what she and the rest were doing together, Alden suppressed a flicker of suspicion at how 'coincidental' it was that the Ministry had gotten all these people together. Glancing from each of the three woman to one of the others, from the shining patriotic flyer to the demure chemist to the punkish psychic, he deliberated in a whir. On the one hand, this was obviously about something else, and aimed at some ulterior motive. But on the other, what if that something else was meant to be good? If it was bad, not being in on it would be dangerous too, but this might be a chance to be part of something greater and better than he'd ever been before. He might be able to make it up to Rose... Relaxing, he nodded once. "Alright. I'm in. For you lot, not for the Ministry yet. 'Reacquire' and 'dangerous' sound like very government words." In a long stride he approached the trio and offered Dee and Young Britannia his hand after doffing a glove. That done, he turned to the shining emblem and added "Oh, and, Britannia, I'm Osprey. The real one. That other chap who attacked you's Tylluan. A wacko, not like me, 'course." "We should get back to London" He said after a second's pause "Then we do this job for the mop suits, and we get drinks. Ever had English ale Jasmine?" the cowled vigilante asked the Canadian woman casually "Not to be missed."

Gather Information roll: 26.

Notice roll: 22. Sense Motive Roll in case that gets any further context: 16.

Woohoo! A most fripporous tong to you, The Absurdist, and wally-wally walk-again freeee-o! I hope you have a splendid celebration, and have the chance to revisit this day for many years to come.

Happy birthday Vahnyu! May the wine flow, the sea rejoice, and merriment fill the air! Here's to many more returns to this time of year. :toot:

Subito beamed at the Asian teen "Happy Holidays, Giang!" he replied warmly, replacing his hat on his curly head "Great to see you too! Dunno why I didn't think you, Mal and Thaelia wouldn't be here. I knew El Sourface" he bumped Elias with his broad shoulder "would only make it if I made him, but you? Kinda surprised more of us aren't here. Think Glow's gonna show up?" he added excitedly, looking around at the far door just in time to stare at a white field of rounded, even hillocks, a small blue river traveling in a straight line through them. Blinking in surprise, his eyes traveled up the suddenly-appearing mountain, until at last, his head thrown completely back, he beheld a human face surrounded by black hair. As Maxima bent down and introduced herself, the young paragon stepped back politely to giver her some space. "Good evening, and Merry Christmas Mz...er, Maxima!" he said with a quick recovery of his bright grin, offering her his much smaller hand "I'm El Heraldo, champion of Puerto Rico! You're really huge," Subito added, eyes sparkling with new excitement "Could you make yourself even bigger, if you wanted to? Not a lotta people who can go giant in Freedom City, I gotta say. Where you from?"

GM "How was I supposed to know that would happen?" the professor grumbled. Still, she dug out a much more modern map of the area(the relevant markings copied on) and handed it over. Rising to her feet with a quick motion, she slung the backpack over her shoulder, saying "And yes, Ms. Storm, that sounds like an excellent idea. If they come looking for you, better there's nobody nearby who could become a hostage. Good night to you. I wish you well in your search!" Tia called over her shoulder, tossing her fee to the sleepy-looking bartender who caught it without even a blink, the door banging heartily as she vanished out into the city.

Corbin and Kimber just get a faint, fleeting shivery feeling, like a cold finger tracing down their spines. Indira, on the other hand, manages to make out the tell-tale signs of attempting to read her mind. The feeling vanishes almost instantly as she turns her attention to it, but it is unmistakable. EDIT: And the sensation began almost immediately after Rojas said 'Blue Ring'.

GM With a dull '*WHungggg* ' the gingerly-moved box hit the formerly invisible field with a clang like a bell, a rounded white shell crackling into place! That alone would have gotten attention, even without Graft's outstretched arm bearing the container and proclaiming his presence to all who saw him. Even before the echoes began to fade the warehouse was filled with panicked shouts, the sounds of running feet, and before Tryone could move his arm back and brace for battle, a purple orb slammed into the tentacle like a baseball into a taut rope! To make matter worse, in case that was necessary, one of the guards, a lean young black man, bald but as youthful as the rest, rounded the front of the truck, donning menacing black gauntlets with a businesslike look that turned to sheer horror when he caught sight of the alien-bonded doctor! Whipping his arms up by reflex, a pair of massive red hands reached out from thin air and clutched at Graft's mighty shell. In case that wasn't enough, the blast had knocked the crate free of Tyrone's grip, and was rocketing right at his head.

Thunder, could you give me an opposed Grapple check, and a DC20 Toughness save? Also a DC25 Reflex save to dodge the crate as it comes hurtling towards Graft. EDIT: I forgot to add this at first. Grapple roll: 26.

King of Suits Non-Canon: 2 IC posts(counts for 1) 1 IC post. El Heraldo 4 IC posts. 1 IC post. 1 IC post 3 IC posts. Osprey 5 IC posts. Red Moon No posts this month either. Wave-Eye No posts. GM Order of points-having: King of Suits, Heraldo, Wave-Eye, Red Moon. 1 GM post. 2 GM posts. 2 GM posts. 4 GM posts. 5 GM posts. 1 GM post.

Alden's manner shifted as soon as the word 'Blackpool' left Catalyst's lips. For a few seconds he visibly struggled with the idea of just leaving, glancing longingly at the nearby river before snapping his eyes back to the woman. "A colleague of his, eh? And you knew? Yeah, we'll save the mad science talk for later" 'If they bother to stick around' "Nice to meet you, Mz. Benoit, hope we can get something done. Welcome to England." "How about you?" he asked Synapse "What's your problem? New Ministry recruit? One of the hundred and ten who claim they know where Champion's team is?"

OOC thread for

GM January 25th, 11.45 AM, Saturday, 2014, A.S.T.R.O. Labs, Reception Hall The unveiling of the Nucleic Reorganization Field Emitter was a lot more enthusiastic than the name would have suggested. But then, just about any public revelation from the busy corner of super-science usually heralded something extraordinary, whether it was some miraculous way to purify polluted water, direct the growth of plant-life or just a simple fusion-powered jetpack, and a clear sign that the world was changing all around the world, starting right there in Freedom City. The reception hall of the austere modern-style building thronged with those who had asked or been asked to attend, mostly businessmen and businesswoman, entrepreneurs, news-anchors and reporters. Over the Labs' main doors a broad banner was unfurled, those in the know glancing up at its familiar sleek edging and art-deco typeface with a smile of recognition, and at the words "A Gift to Humanity...Revealed!". The stairs outside for several steps were packed as well, and those unfortunate enough to be caught out in the cold shivered in thick coats and sipped gratefully at hot drinks while several of the more news-hungry guests performed impromptu interviews. Those inside had something very different to think about. "Yes, as you can see, ladies and gentlemen" said the trim, needle-like Prof. M. Cavesson, all crisp courtesy behind his thin glasses and snowy-white bread that matched his stark white suit, his soft, rolling voice reaching the entire front hall packed with unusually patient and calm reporters, cameraman and photographers, all of whom were relieved and a little smug that they didn't have to stand out in the cold waiting for "the applications of the Emitter are as boundless as they are humanitarian. With this, we can clean up radiation leak from nuclear reactors, like the prototype used in the after-effects of the Fukushima catastrophe in 2011, making the land and, air and water safe for human life within weeks and months rather than milennia. It doesn't stop there, either," he added, real excitement straining against his professionally-level tone "we are, ladies and gentlemen, looking at a real chance of reversing the effects of zero-gravity sickness, the horrendous effects of prions in the brain, maybe even, once we've perfected the reorganization process on living material, recover flesh lost to leprosy before that disease's total eradication!" The assembled newshounds and high-profile visitors clapped with polite enthusiasm, a few whistles ringing out from the back rows, but the eager grins on nearly every face showed that the sentiment was far from false. Swelling with pride, Cavesson stepped back and swung open the doors to the main floor, re-purposed especially for the day's revelation. Hanging from the ceiling's many arching steel beams were red, blue and gold banners celebrating the names of several patrons(including Daedalus) and companies(including Grant Conglomerate and the Rhoseus Corporation). Around the room were a series of blackboards crammed with equations and artistic depictions of molecules being recombined and reconfigured, while standing beside them were around a dozen nervous-looking lab technicians, many of whom stiffened in mild panic at the sudden invasion. In contrast to the hubbub surrounding it, the Nucleic Reorganization Field Emitter was a very refined-looking instrument, a tall pedestal under the generous Main Hall skylight bearing the apparatus of three slender blue rods as long as a full-grown man attached at their summit to a curved dish like a satellite. "This, I tell you," said Prof. Cavesson with a grin "heralds a brighter tomorrow! With it, why, we might even be able to permanently cure poor souls like Adam Ward, so-called Gamma 'the Atom-Smasher', or drain the poisonous radiation from Hiroshima Shadow..." As he spoke a gaggle of students from universities a few miles away to across the Atlantic piled in, some excitedly hurrying off to interrogate a like mind in a freshly-ironed lab coat, others remaining in gaggles to commiserate over how much of a pain the trip was. There were, of course, exceptions. And a few unexpected eyes...

That's a fair cop Thunder King! Graft did not totally blunder, but his was not a cat-like tread. Feel free to take whatever action you deem best. Blue Rose, Stormbreaker will arrive in just a couple posts, sorry this has taken so long and thank you for your patience.

GM When Graft first slipped into the building, all was silent besides the faint sound of voices farther in. The driver and seeming leader of the small gang had apparently gotten started on something a little more serious than the light chat they'd been having a minute ago. Graft distinctly picked out "blockade" and "meltdown", mostly because they were spoken so emphatically. Slipping in as quietly as the hulking mass of armor allowed, Graft had a tense few seconds as his sheet size and weight shifted a few of the crates a milimeter, causing a creak of wood and steel that sounded to him like the death-knell of the universe. Thankfully, it and the rattle of a small box, seemed to quickly be lost in the cavernous warehouse. The force-field was still there, noiseless and nearly invisible, though as the various smugglers passed by it they visibly reflected something that shifted like water. This close, it soon became obvious that the one Tyrone had snagged wasn't even the youngest. Mostly they hung back from their leader, a sinewy, older man with curly blond hair and a bushy mustache who exuded authority, who was talking intently with the driver, a smaller man with a short mohawk and cavalier manner. The weak spot of the truck seemed to be less than well--guarded.

"No sure that's the right grammar. Been a while since my French forms though." Osprey admitted with a shrug "Canadian? My mistake. Accent's a big signpost for me, so's word choice, says a lot about who you are, where you're from." At that he glanced over at Synapes's eyes, and resisted the urge to smile openly when he saw the slight change in her expression. Her point about him being with the crime lords was more or less the elephant in the room. "Only way for me to keep an eye on both at once," he explained, the costumed crimefighter standing loose and relaxed, watching the others with real curiosity "neither trusted me, and Big Nelson was the power there, so gettin' him to take me and Tony in 'cuffs was the quickest way to the scene without leaving a loose end. I was following the trail of some smugglers hauling that Max stuff into the city. Things went on from there." "Tough girl" he added, glancing up when Dawn did "doubt Tylluan can hurt her. Reminds me," he crossed his arms and looked at the duo closely "You know I'm Osprey, so who are you lot?"

The eagle-themed vigilante had been absorbed in watching Catalyst restart the man's heart, claws digging into the ground in desperate hope. They relaxed, leaving short marks in the asphalt, when the unconscious thug was rescued from the very brink of death. He looked up sharply at Synapse's crisp question. 'Hm...voice sounds familiar...eh, not important right now. Look into it later' "I was with him" Osprey said, nodding at Big Nelson's van "Heard an odd story about another me, figured I should look into it. Got another crime boss in there, Bullet Tony, you and the mops might want to ask him some questions. One moment." He closed his massive yellow eyes. With a soft rustling and creaking as muscle and bone shrank and realigned, the monstrous head reformed into a more human shape, the wings withdrew from sight and the talons softened into his clawed gloves and boots. The costumed man who stood in place of the beast was well-built under the heavy outfit, but not a fraction as freakish. Rubbing a neck that didn't have white and brown feathers bristling from it, Alden drew back the goggles over his face and turned back to Jasmine with a blink-and-you-miss-it smile "Thanks for saving him. So," he stepped back from the van with a very guarded expression, "I'm guessing you're after something pretty big here, aye? Don't see Young Britannia, some rich girl and a Yank with the mop suits too often." He offered a hand "If it's a problem in the area, I'll help put a stop to it."

Subito's face fell behind the mask, though something else Alexander said made him set his jaw "Hey. One thing first." Pointing a stern finger at Starchaser, Heraldo leaned forward and said with a serious look in his eyes "There is no such thing as an 'average super'. That's the kinda crap they blather about in New Freedom, if those books the Harpers write mean anythin', and it's just about the worst way to talk about your gifts ever. 'Cause then you start quantifying something that makes you who you are. Powers don't mean anything unless they're used well. The numbers never tell the whole story." Relaxing, the muscular teen settled back into the loose stance he'd been in before "And you have a star powering you?" Heraldo looked at the heavenly son with renewed admiration "That's amazing! How does...how does that feel?" he asked before waving it away with a red-gloved hand "Nah, forget it, forget it. As for the school, well..." he glanced thoughtfully over at the familiar head of Marcus, again struck by an uncanny sense of familiarity as he caught a glimpse of the girls nearby. Was it the straight hair? it was probably the straight hair, that was all. Still... He turned back to the solar warrior and shrugged, his broad shoulders briefly standing out under the tight fabric of the shirt and jacket "...it was a school. Had some really awesome stuff, like the Doom Ro-uh, the "combat simulator", which is basically like a holodeck made wayyy better, but the point of being there was to learn. They taught us about the world our powers, skills or ideas had gotten us into, how it works and what we can do about it. Claremont's a really dedicated place, slackers don't do too well. and learning how to experiment with what you can do is really important. "The difference between knowing how to use your powers and understanding how they work, is nothing less than life and death!"" he declared, striking a mock-dramatic pose and shaking his fist at the ceiling. Dropping his arms to his sides he laughed aloud "Aw man, Mr. Kuzkin, that guy. He was so awesome. Theatre instructor," Heraldo added, catching the faint look of non-comprehension on Starchaser's face "but he helped out ironing little lessons like that into our brains. I've seen it do a lot of good for the students, some of my classmates started out a lot less powerful than me, now I'm like a fifth wheel when they're around. Bein' around a lot of people who know what you're goin' through, and are having the same problems themselves helps a lot too. You meet so many people who have had such different lives than you, too, from outer space to other-dimensional tyrannies to fantasy kingdoms. You learn somethin' new every day, and you don't even realize it until you're in some crazy situation with like a demon-possessed cyber-ape, and you just say to yourself "Oh, so that's why they taught me how to do that!"" Taking a bite out of a taco that looked bigger than his own head, he chewed blissfully, carefully balancing the plate on a nearby table so he could take a quick swig of water to wash it down. "I loved that place. Met some great people, saw some crazy things. Even got to meet the best, most badass girl in the whole world. I'm kinda sorry more supers don't get to go there." Heraldo tended to get very into whatever he was talking about, so it was only vaguely that he noticed the entrance of the other heroes. As he drank though, his sensitive ears almost pricked up at the sound of Elias's familiar voice. "Ooh! Uh, sorry man, be back in a second, gotta say hi to friend from school. It was great meeting you, Starchaser, you gotta tell me about those star powers of yours!" Heraldo shook the man's hand with tremendous vigor before dashing off into the crowd with plate held high to keep it from crashing to the ground. Sliding to a halt next to Elias, he thumped the other boy on the back, "Hey Errant! You showed! That's awe-whoa" he stopped short, staring open-mouthed in shock at Mali, Giang and Thaelia "I...wow. Ladies" the Hispanic teen looked grave, doffed his hat and made a sweeping bow "I am a churlish wretch, and never thought my schoolmates would ever appear so resplendent('cept Cerys). Forgive my blunder, you look as lovely as the rose-tinted dawn tonight." Looking up he added with grin at Arcturus "Hi there, Arky! How's it goin'?"

Red Moon is an alien(well, mutant Farsider human, but still! Extraterrestrial) who might have more than a passing interest in the show and in preventing kidnappings.

The port city of San Juan had for years been a distant, vague blur in the memory of the young man. He remembered mostly the airport, and the glittering sea and white sands backed by a general pile of buildings shining in the dawn. As Subito grew older, he of course had done his best to find out about the land he was born in, the research sharpening his mental picture of the metropolis and the people who lived in it. His hazel eyes picked out landmarks almost automatically as he swooped lower and lower in the sky, until he clearly saw the tramping squares of Atlantean soldiers, and for the first time caught sight of the submarine parked on the sand he had seen so many years ago. His breath caught in his throat at the sight. What could he, even if he did manage to get help(and how little there would be of that wasn't hard to guess, Puerto Rico was no bastion), do against such an invasion? "There's gotta be thousands of 'em, at least. And they won't just stop sending troops in. there's going to be even more...just a few hundred would be hard enough for me, but this?! I can't sneak worth a damn, their comms are probably magic, and there'll be people here too, thousands of hostages for them if I DO make a difference. If their magicians don't strip me of the Dama's power and the Atlantean gunbros just shoot me first. And...and there's too much ground to cover. I start fighting here, they're doing awesome somewhere else. I can't even begin to protect so many people at once..." It was the kind of situation where you questioned your basic utility. Of course, this was hardly the first time. That was back when he'd pushed a boat Glow was standing on while she lifted a freighter. And so many days after that. There wasn't much time for self-pity though, as the lightning started crackling past him like jabbing spears, and as he darted and dodged the roaring lances he realized abruptly: someone was trying to force him down. "The clouds, now this," El Heraldo muttered as he threw himself in a freefall hurtling head over heels towards the ground, the air catching his words, muffling them "Somebody down there knows about me, they-" straightening out and whirling to the side just in time, he felt and saw the lighting tear past him, smelt the vile taste of ozone, and felt the impact of thunder, a shrill cry of pain jerking from his mouth as one hand clutched at a too-sensitive ear. Gritting his teeth and concentrating on the pain, all but willing it to a dull throb instead of a hot dagger digging into his skull, Heraldo decided to try something really stupid, changing course towards one of the parading platoons like a gold-blue comet 'Yo, Dama! I'm gonna hit a bunch of their squads at once, get their attention so the people can get out. Unless, 'course, you deign to tell me about some badass super-plan you happen to have cooked up?' Normally Subito was nothing but respectful to his patron, but something about this was off and it was starting to grate on him.

Fair enough. My apologies, that was poorly-considered. You're up TiffanyKorta.

Citizen removed due to his being retired from active play. Cho Paige Lee, Shadowblade and Silver Magus entries added.