Ari

So Warp seems to be having the hardest time of it, Blod is making herself quite visible as a target, Kit is nowhere in sight and Blue Jay is shooting arrows. Also a bunch of new mutants. No shortage of things to do here! Free Action to catch the bag, get out the goggles and don them. Move Action up to Quickstep Standard Action to All-Out Power Attack her(+2 Damage, -2 Defense) Quickstep. Attack roll: 19. Reroll(3HP): 21. +10 from the reroll makes a 31. DC28 Toughness save for her. Surge for another Move action over to one of the wounded. Fatigued.

Reflex: 8. Failed! Toughness: 18. Succeeded!

Peering into Llyn Brenig's sparkling gloom, Subito took a moment to figure out just where exactly the lake creature wanted him to start digging. Once he located the surprisingly quick-moving paws of the beast, however, he gladly set to work. Drifting down from its armored back, the powerfully-built teen tugged away small rocks and the clinging, slimy mud that had settled among the ribs that soared overhead, casting long shadows over their work. His hair drifted and waved in the dark water as he worked, and bubbles streamed from his mouth at regular intervals, his power to breath water unaided meaning that the full force of the oxygen around him coursed through his arms and legs. The rocks were much easier for him to pull and struggle aside than they would have been on land, but the work was slow all the same for him. Grumbling as a stray rock left a shallow cut on his hand, he turned abruptly to the Afanc "Hey, you said they-those faeries, they used to be your friends? Yeah," he said darkly, the words distorted by the liquid around him "That Queen and her people don't seem like they stay friends with anyone for long. Hope we can get these shards up to that barge before she springs some kinda trap. Why did Her Worshipfullness do that to ya, by the way?" he had turned to look curiously into the bottomless black eyes of the lake monster, compassion fighting with the instinctive distaste and fear of something so inhuman as it. So far it all seemed pretty straight-forward: the Queen had learned about this random cauldron which could raise the dead, and discovering that an Afanc had grown fond of it enchanted the monster so it would cause havoc and make such a fuss it would get the Order's attention. But still, something was strange about the whole thing ''Sides the fact that I'm talkin' to a mythical Welsh animal while digging for pieces of a magic pot hidden in a giant skeleton, of course.' Suddenly, he missed the Blue Dame. The collar around his neck was all the more hateful.

GM The blue blast scarred and dented the plates of the helmet, warping it as if it had been struck by a giant fist! Rodrigo cried out in surprise and pain, then staggered backwards and clutched at his head, swaying in place and not moving for a few seconds, Wisp's attack having briefly stunned him. Galanta had stared frozen in horror at the shocking sight of her cousin attacking her brother, but the blue lance galvanized her into action! Hurling herself forward the muscular young woman leaped into the air before she reached the transformed Rodrigo, a powerful leg slamming with a mighty clash into the armor's side, only to simply bounce off him without leaving even a mark. Gritting her teeth Glanta tossed off the baseball cap, getting into a ready stance and calling over to Wisp "Alright! Keep 'im off his guard, Vick! I'll get him next time for that." she said it like a promise, and the iron in her gaze said she would do it. From the nearby apartment buildings, both women could make out the noises of shocked exclamations that usually followed the start of super-fights. They were at least a little more shocked this time, as very few of them started out in basketball courts.

OOC for this thread.

OOC for this thread!

GM January 5th, Saturday, 2013 South America, the gateway to the Lost World Zandar, Jungle Lord of the Lost World, had recently sent word to the Freedom league that he wished for greater understanding between his domain and theirs. He had offered a guided tour for several young people from Earth-Prime through the reaches of his kingdom, something that had led to a scramble among the Claremont Academy student body, all of whom wanted to be the one that got to see the fabled and secret land where prehistoric beasts lived beside humans! At last, Headmaster Summers had selected four teenagers to go. Blodeuwedd, El Heraldo, Myrmidon and Tsunami were to explore the strange Lost World and bring back a written report on what they had learned and discovered about the place and its people. No less than twenty pages were allowed for the final product, as Prof. Skyler had declared with no little smugness. But that seemed far away as the four teen heroes stood on the rocky and wooded plateau far above the jungle that glistened below in the sun, the teleportation quick and precise. All they had to do now was wait for their guide to show up. The South American sun beat down on them with the full weight of summer, and at the edge of sight and hearing all of them could tell animals were creeping just out of sight...

January 17th, Thursday, 2013, 12.40 PM East Bayview, Freedom City With a faint groan of its brakes and the vehicle's body coming to a halt, the bus ground to a halt by the clear metal and plastic shelter of its stop. Jumping out of the bus and landing with a thud on the sidewalk, paragon-in-training Subito Sondo threw his battered red backpack over one shoulder, turning to the mass transit and calling into it with his loud, cheerful voice "C'mon, Darren! Mrs. Sobczak is just a couple streets down!" the stocky and muscular teen settled into a brisk walk, smiling at the clear, cold sky above them, and the faint cover of snow on a few lawns. The two students had been assigned an interview project for their history class. It was meant to cover the vivid, wild days of the late 1960's and 1970's, the days when purple alien gorillas battling the Centurion for the fate of a living atom were all but commonplace. Their interview subject was a Mrs. Grace Sobczak, otherwise known as the sceptre-wielding Sekhem. She had settled down after helping fight against the Terminus Invasion of 1993, and worked on occasion with the Academy. Her house was a clean white, two-story suburban affair with a gold-plated door inscribed with benedictions for all visitors. A small garden ran around one side, and the roof was bedecked with birdhouses. The knocker was shaped like the ritual staff she had named herself after once. Looking nervously at his classmate, Subito tugged at one sleeve of his flannel shirt for a moment before tentatively raising the knocker, and beating a short tattoo on the door. As the echoes inside died away, he glanced back at Darren, doing his best not to let his eyes linger. "So...what do you think she's like?" he asked, grasping for conversation.

TheAbsurdist, Russoboo, please accept my earnest apologies for not adding you to the party. Four is enough for me, and what I have in mind (what little there is, anyway) is more or less fitted specifically to this band. Russo our thread will start today, no fear.

DC24 Toughness save: 29. Amazing.

GM The matriarch chewed her lip slowly, appearing to survey the two buffalo with care. She looked at Philotherian searchingly as she replied, her words chosen with care "If what you say is true, that conquering this world is not viable, then how is it so endangered by the myriad of thugs and inventors who constantly attempt to obtain it?" "And besides, we would merely usurp the current governments, topple the ruling institutions and whatever super-powered beings that might oppose us. We have no desire to make the lives of every person in the world miserable." added the patriarch, brushing aside a curious chimp from his leg, and leading it gently back to its tribe. Archetype and Wreak looked almost surprised to hear that, and the powerfully-built young man gave a sharp look to his father. He held his tongue on that, however, instead saying "Yeah, we're not oppressors. We learned about the abuse of power from those who exiled our ancestors. We-" "Yes Ayaguna, they know." interrupted his father wearily, adjusting his glasses with a flick of his middle finger "Please be silent. Now, friends, I have no true quarrel with you, but you must understand that we can't let this go. Whether or not they wish it, our children will recover that mask. It barely has any intrinsic value anyway. It shan't be missed." "And we cannot allow them to shirk their duties" their mother said with a cold eye on Wreak, who was by now nearly shrinking under the weight of parental disapproval. Archetype gingerly patted him on the shoulder. "You will try to dissuade us, of course, but you have no true facts on your side. There is no reason our attempt should fall to the same things that every other has. is there?" the matriarch asked challengingly.

GM "'Doom' is not how I would term it, friend guest." Hartfoul said with obvious amusement "What we want is for news of this to travel beyond our world, and for you to be the bearers of this news. For eons beyond number, and days that cannot be counted, we have sweated and bled for the red princes and their flaunting pride. We delve and die for them everywhere, and receive hardly anything in return! This will not continue." The stout Redcap walked up to René, his thin-haired head tilted back to meet the gaze of the much taller human, his eyes gleaming with bloody intent despite his earlier assurance. In a low voice he went on, while Parsinkle carefully observed the King of Suits with a much more laid-back manner "My pupil here shall become King of the Redcaps, and will gather to him slowly a great mass of 'rebels' from the many courts of red games. He will proclaim to all that they suffer most exceedingly at his hands, and are kept within the darkest dungeons. This army will, at the last, storm the highest stronghold and break the strongest pact! We shall rule this land as we have been ruled in turn!" The evil eyes of the ill-favored Fey were gleaming now. Parsinkle added calmly "It was unfortunate, but necessary that we steal some of your race for this deception. You may return to your land after the feast, and tell all you know what has happened here. My brothers will carry on my work of course, in case I am in some fashion destroyed. Such expansions as I dream of will need their boundaries eternally broadened. Your world, I hear, is in need of...stern rulership." he added with a cruel smile, beady red eyes filled with silent mocking.

DC32 24. Failed by 8, so Bruised and Dazed! Heraldo is Dazed, so no action. Galanta leaps forward and punches at him, using a PL6 version of the Martial Artist template from the Core: 21. Hits! DC21 Toughness save: 22. No damage. Round 2 Wisp: Unharmed, 3HP Rodrigo(El Caballero Azul): Bruise(x1), Dazed-GM El Heraldo: Bruise(x2), 4HP Galanta: Unharmed-GM Wisp is up!

GM Rubbing an arm across his face, Arnold smiled wearily. "Can't afford to take too much time. Dis moves quickly, and the longer it takes us to destroy the hold he has on these people, the greater the chance we will be too late to stop him ourselves. We need to defeat this menace as quickly as we can, before it gets too big." He clenched his hands together for a long moment, eyes shut tight as he concentrated and held his breath. At last, he exhaled slowly, and the green light appeared again. "If you could find some way to strengthen this, or help weaken the demon's hold on these people, I would be deeply grateful to you. If you try something, keep in mind it affects Dis just as much as the person. Even ways of...altering perception might help, if I can just get a handhold under these shells." He glanced sorrowfully at the possessed lying before him in the triangle "Any ideas? If you'd like I can start again, and if you come up with anything I'll incorporate it. My magic's not too hard to augment and alter once it's in motion."

This is fantastic. Truly. 13.

Same as what KnightDisciple said. Hope you heal well and fully Scuffles,

"Sounds like a prideful guy" Heraldo commented. Realizing how that sounded he added, the youth's masked eyes looking up at Errant "I mean, wanting to be better, for the sake of being better." With a glitter of gold his sheathed the Banner "And yeah, I get what you mean. News comes out that some crazy weapon leveled a block, people are gonna want it." Clearing his throat he crouched down next to Nano Man, gently turning him over so he lay on his back. Studying the metal man's face he asked carefully "Errant, I'm guessing this is something we...this tester guy, he's not something we could handle, right?" Subito was deeply nervous at the prospect of getting his feet even wetter in something as knotted as super-weapons dealers 'Give me a giant monster any day... Except for all those times you wish you could stop human evils, of course? ...Right.' "You know who he is, is he someone just us could beat? 'Cause if so, we need to stop him before he does more awful stuff like this." He hoisted Nano Man over his shoulder, floating into the air and offering his free arm "Let's go, get this guy into custody."

That's too bad, but at least it's impetus to buy up higher Skill ranks later.

Heraldo's smile wavered, and he nodded quietly at Blodeuwedd's assessment. The initial warm, fuzzy, fluttering feeling of being around Cerys quickly fading as cold reality set in.Taking off his hat and spinning it on one finger he said irritably and in a low voice "It's like he wants them to get mad. And no, no idea who Hammerhead and the others are, sorry," he admitted wryly, his smile turning apologetic at 'Gwen's question "but either they're lying very convincingly" he hazarded, glancing back at the growing tensions at the stage "or else at least a few people here know them. Otherwise there'd be a lot more folks accusing them of being fakes." "Every hero here is committed to the safety of this city, no matter where our powers come from" he added more loudly with a brilliant grin, for the benefit of those nearby. More quietly he went on determinedly "I'll do what I can, princess. You know Warp, it'll take a lot to make her snap, but Walsh is pushing all the buttons he can right now. I can at least get the state rep out of danger, if he gets those guys mad enough." the stocky and resplendently-dressed teen smiled warmly at the reporter lady "I'm sure you can handle at least one of them yourself. Blue Jay and Kit are here too, we can stop things if they get out of hand. See you Blodeu, I'll keep an ear out for you if you've got anything." He shook her hand strongly and began to walk over to the crowd's edge, just close enough to the stage that he could zoom into action if need be.

Knowledge(Current Events) roll to know about Hammerhead, India Rubber Whipside and Mister M. 6. He has no idea!

Notice roll using Super-Senses: 13. I'm guessing no.

The young paragon was quite used to flying, but falling, flying and floating at the same time and in every direction was pretty far out of what he knew. Flailing in the air with a cry of "Brarrrrrrg-guh!" when he hit the ground, Subito winced and rubbed absently at his shoulder as he got his bearings. The surreal world around him didn't give the stocky teen much confidence, and as he got to his feet and listened to the sounds off in the distance, he drew the Banner. Turning to Elias Heraldo said earnestly "Errant, can you detect where that's coming from? I might not be able to figure that out on my own. Whoever that is, they need our help!" With that, he flared with golden smoke, and from the way he stood ready it was clear he was waiting for the sign to go rocketing to the rescue!

Well that was a bust. Fiating that Net Fly is knocked out by Subito being flung through the air. Round 1 Wisp: Unharmed, 4HP Rodrigo(El Caballero Azul): Unharmed-GM El Heraldo: Bruise(x2), Dazed, 4HP Galanta: Unharmed-GM Wisp is up!

Congratulations Thevshi, I hope this day is filled with love and peace for you! May you return in triumph to this day!

'Praise Heaven this tall fellow has been so calm' the King of Suits thought as he considered how to answer the mother 'Or else this would be a very short discussion.' Smiling as best he could, the lean man added to Philos' words "As well as the excellent reasons just given, the fact remains that what you want is to return to a place governed by another. If you were going back to an old apartment or hotel, you would need to ask the landlord if you could stay! Now, you could simply kill the landlord, take his hotel as your own and rule it with terror, but it would cause such trouble for so many even besides yourselves that it wouldn't be worth it. So!" he clasped his hands together energetically "What all this..activity has been for is to ease your conquest of this world so you can go back to the old unopposed? Cut out the first part. Show yourselves to the son of your old enemy and forgive. Show to the Jungle Lord you are better than the people driven from his grandsire's lands; that your exile, while sorrowful and something that should never have been thought necessary, was better for everyone than mere execution, and has not been without good result. Zandar will be proud to have comrades with such dedication and drive as you!" Turning to Ayaguna he went on "Wreak. Do you want to be feared for your gifts, or admired for them? Continue on this road, and you become just another super-villain trying to impose your will on others. Such come and go with the regularity of the tides, and are remembered hardly at all. In a place like the Lost World, however, do you know what good your and Archetype's gifts could be put to? Dangerous animals are a constant threat to the people of that world, and those as strong as you would be hailed with open arms! There, not only would you be welcome, you would be needed, and enormously so!" Stepping forward he gestured to the loud and nervous animals nearby "Please. Do as he has said."