Ari

Lotan as an androgynous person would be interesting. My vote goes for #2, though.

"Stir-fry? Awesome! Hope it goes well with rabbit..." the bulky teen pondered with a far-away look in his eyes. Coming back to the present he looked over at Elias, hesitating for only a moment before shrugging and walking over to help, neatly beginning to prepare the chicken alongside him. "Hey. Thanks for the, uh..words." he said, looking awkwardly sideways at the other boy "Dunno how much longer Blodeu and I would have gone on like we were, just smiling when we passed in the halls and being shy and saying little stuff to each other." he blushed suddenly and coughed, looking away. His ears caught Tona's comment to Cerys about the tent, and he raised an eyebrow with a barely-restrained smirk. "Heh, with those two and you, there's a lot of people around who are good in the outdoors." He said cheerfully "Speakin' of which, what do you think lives around here? Ghost deer? A giant, talkin' tree?"

Alright, now they just needed a way to get the Queen to let them search around for a broken cauldron at the bottom of the Llyn. "A great idea, your Majesty!" he exclaimed with a winning smile, leaning back against the chair and folding his arms behind his head, glancing at Cerys as he went on "I propose a new challenge: you and another take turns riding the Afanc deep under the lake, the one who brings the most valuable thing to the surface, wins!" He gave the Queen an almost smouldering look under his dark hair as he murmured "What do you think..mistress?"

GM The sphere of Hellstuff raged through the air, smashing into the floating spectre with a mingled roar of unholy power and a cry of surprise and pain from the enraged Lauren Hammond. Starting backwards, her ethereal dress sizzling as Kit's attack burned into the ghostly fabric, her blue eyes whipped to the line of seats where she caught a glimpse of a stray foot, just before it vanished. She lashed out a hand at where her attacker was hidden, and Kit very suddenly found herself face-to-face with the actress's wraith, glaring into her eyes with a hateful gleam. Meanwhile, the real Silver Scream suddenly began to catch fire, giving a surprisingly convincing scream of pain(one of her old specialties) as she extended her power to herself and appeared to begin withering in a cool blue flame! "Monster! Ingrate! You think you can treat me like this and get away with it? I will have this very theatre tear you asunder for this insolence!" she howled.

Long odds! 19. Huh. Alright, Going Invisible, then adding onto her current Illusion an apparition of herself right beside Kit, then Moving to the other side of her. EDIT: Actually, better idea. I actually end this in a reasonable amount of time and hopefully cease being moronic. Silver Scream makes an apparition of herself before Kit, while giving the Illusion that her actual body is being consumed in Fox Fire. She stays visible. Round eleven. Warp: Unharmed, 1HP Kit: Unharmed, 4HP Silver Scream: Bruise(x1)-GM Warp is up once more.

GM There was a furious silence that deepened as each of Kat's words rang out, that built until at the edge of hearing sounded a dull, furious shriek. "The tiger does not hide, it hunts! And need I remind you, darling" the Silver Scream growled, appearing in full view with a burst of dark, spectral power that sent chilling waves through the mortal airs, hovering in a ghostly breeze high above the floor, her skin a translucent silver and her teeth bared "That you were the one who hid first!" she glared at the theatre, eyes roving the seats "But that is immaterial. Come, face me, if you have built up enough courage!"

Wave-Eye saw the flyers off, giving a brusque flourish of one claw as the pair spiraled through the air before darting out of sight. Squinting up at the sky he grumbled "Faugh, I hope they go unnoticed..." he shrugged his massive shoulders before turning back to other, more earthly matters. He set out on Gen. Lapidern's advice in search of the Nazi's communications device, mumbling to himself as he slid ungracefully through the cold and alien military base, turning his stygian eyes into the dark and burned buildings. Nochehuatl was at first tentative and tense as he slunk among the more ruinous piles, turning over fallen roofs with a ginger touch. Soon, however, the fact that he was exploring, something he hadn't done since he was a child, took hold, and he set to work with will, even singing a nearly unpronounceable song as he walked with heavy steps through the halls.

The lean Frenchman raised both eyebrows, a futile gesture under his cowl, at their guide's declaration. "That is quite a coincidence. Pray tell, how-" and then he started back with a cry when the shift was felt. He instantly swept with a swirl of his cape between René and the strange woman bearing Beactrice's face, shoving the chair the old man was seated in several yards backwards with a sharp kick, saying quietly "My friend, please get yourself many paces away. I think I understand now what has happened." he glared at the new arrival with a suspicious look in his eyes. "You are, I presume, the restless spirit who has driven this poor soul to bring you here? Were you seeking to reunite yourself with an old friend and take some fantastic revenge?" he gripped the razor card in his sleeve, wondering anxiously if he would even be able to delay this foe...

Initiative: 23.

El Heraldo 8PP to spend. :arrow: Buying a rank of Attractive, in defiance of all nature and logic. :arrow: Buying a rank of Fortitude, bringing it up to 9. :arrow: Buying 2 Easy-to-Lose ranks of Device, making an Array of Emotion Control, Healing and Immovable. [url=http://www.freedomplaybypost.com/viewtopic.php?p=123486#p123486]Subject: Heraldo (PL 10) - Arichamus (Silver)[/url] [quote name="Arichamus"][b]Player Name:[/b] Arichamus [b]Character Name:[/b] El Heraldo ("The Herald") [b]Power Level:[/b] 10 (159/159PP) [b]Trade-Offs:[/b] -2 Defense / +2 Toughness -1 Attack/ +1 Damage [b]Unspent Power Points:[/b] 0 [b]Progress To Gold Status:[/b] 52/90 (Silver Status earned with [url=http://www.freedomplaybypost.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=6294]King of Suits[/url]) [b]In Brief:[/b] Son of recently-immigrated Peurto Ricans granted powers by the burgeoning national spirit of Puerto Rico, who uses his new-found abilities in defence of those most vulnerable to crime. A student at the Claremont Academy. [b]Alternate Identity:[/b] Subito Sondo [b]Identity:[/b] Secret [b]Birthplace:[/b] Puerto Rico, Adjuntas Municipality, Guayo Barrio [b]Occupation:[/b] Student, grocery store worker [b]Affiliations:[/b] Claremont Academy, Labor Union (Grocers) [b]Family:[/b] Pavor Sondo (Father), Broma Sondo (Mother), Galanta Sondo (Sister), Rodrigo Fuego (Cousin) [b]Description:[/b] [b]Age:[/b] 17 (July 5th, 1995) [b]Apparent Age:[/b] 19 [b]Gender:[/b] Male [b]Ethnicity:[/b] Latin American [b]Height:[/b] 5'6" [b]Weight:[/b] 184 lbs. [b]Eyes:[/b] Hazel [b]Hair:[/b] Dark Brown A stocky fellow, Subito nonetheless manages to look taller than he actually is by the practice of good posture and carriage, which he augments with thick-soled boots and a baseball cap. His hair is thick and curly, and long enough to nearly reach his ears, his eyes are spaced close together and are often shaded out of sight by the cap, and in the midst of strangers they have a narrow, suspicious look, though in the presence of friends they widen and sparkle with enthusiasm. His nose is short and broad, while his mouth is often turned slightly downward to help convey the message given by the eyes. His limbs are short, and he has rather large hands and feet for his age. he frequently wears white t-shirts and blue jeans. In his guise as the gaudy El Heraldo, he wears a brilliantly-colored and heavily-padded jacket. His pants are blue-and-red gold-checkered tights, and his feet are covered with heavy leather boots. A broad cloth bandanna around his head suffices to conceal his identity, with a sky blue feathered hat hat completing the bizarre costume. He carries in this guise a large flagpole, to which is bound the flag of Puerto Rico. [b][u]Power Descriptions:[/u][/b] El Heraldo's powers are signaled by a glow around Subito's body, which takes the rough form of an immense flag made of golden smoke. His powers are an extension of the national spirit he is the host of, which increased his physical power and hearing, as well as the power of flight and a slowly increasing range of powers related to communication. [spoiler][b][u]History:[/u][/b] [spoiler]Subito Sondo was born in the year 1995 on the island protectorate of Peurto Rico, in the municipality of Adjuntas. His parents, Pavor and Broma, were lower-middle class artisans, specifically metalworkers. His sister was a bold and and terrifying champion of the oppressed for miles around in their town, and the rest of his family were the thunderous, solid people who usually went totally unnoticed in a crowd. Throughout his young life, Subito was surrounded by noise: cars, passing celebrants, loud arguments or even deafening conversations on engrossing topics all combined to make what he can recall of his life in Puerto Rico an endless din. As a result, he grew up expecting noise to be around him at all times, and was rarely dissapointed. Noise became for him a sort of sanctuary, a comforting indicator that all was well. Silence became a warning, a mark that something horrible or disagreeable had happened. His family had a good employ for 8 of Subito's years of life, but a sudden tragedy,the attack of the supervillain Mas Severas against a visit by the Allies of Justice to the municipality, which while it resulted in no loss of life did destroy the family's business. Leaving for Freedom City in 2003, the family got themselves well-ensconced in the Lincoln district, where some relatives helped them find open positions in the Fun-Time Toys factory still active near the docks. Glad for the gainful employment, Pavor and Broma managed to slowly but steadily raise their standard of living over the years, their children proceeding smoothly through school and all things considered life was good. When Subito turned 15 life continued to be good, even after Subito lied about his age to get a job at the same factory his parents worked at (a lie aided by his unusually strong and tall build), and on his first day he tried to catch a wroker who had leaned a bit too hard against an insufficiently-secured handrail, dozens of feet above vats of a solution that worked wonders keeping paint on surfaces, but was deathly hazardous to humans. Subito's footing failed him when he grabbed the other man around the waist, and both tumbled towards a certain death, the workers who could see the scene trying futilely to do something to help. Subito and the other man were abruptly stopped in mid-air, a few yards above the poisonous vat of blue mixture. Surprised, Subito looked up to behold a golden fog about him, and looking after a minute's hesitant experimentization, found he could move himself through the air. Carrying the other man back up to the catwalk, he realized that his strenth had been enhanced (and as he later learned, his endurance), his hearing incredibly sharpened, and that because of the latter he could hear clearly the furious argument being carried out between his parents, the union leaders, and the manager of the factory. Thankfully, the only negative thing that resulted from that episode was that he was merely fired for lying about his age. His family were too surprised, the union too grateful (both for the extra bargaining room and because nobody was hurt in that instance), and the management too furious to discover that one of Toy-Boy's subtler booby-traps had escaped their notice, for any graver punishement to befall him. Also adding to his sense of giddiness as he went to sleep that night was the quiet, insistent voice that grew louder in his sleep, trying to tell him something in Spanish about a meeting. He gave it no thought until later that night, when he was awoken by a gentle tap on his head, jumping out of bed to his feet, he was greeted by a vision of a Hispanic woman wearing blue armor, bearing a vast collection of weapons on her back, and riding a ram sheep, in the vision almost totally transparent. This apparition informed Subito that his family was in possession of an old battle-standard, bearing the coat-of-arms of Puerto Rico (the original flag having been destroyed in 1511), which had been used in nearly every successful battle involved in making Puerto Rico a Spanish holding since it had been made in 1500. As a result, a spirit of victory had attached itself to the banner, lending strength of will and protection from harm to those who held it. The spirt then told Subito that it had slowly grown over the ages, until it had become the national spirit of Puerto Rico, having melded with the ruling entities of the island's Taino tribes after their destruction by the Spanish colonists in the Taino rebellion. The infusion of the memories and power of the tribal spirits was a gigantic step on the Blue Dame's path to sapience. Over the years she (used for ease of reference, 'it' wasn't considered acceptable to her) had grown in knowledge and strength, but the various forces that fought for the island divided and weakened her over and over again. It was only now, when the island nation's sense of self was at another height, that she could empower an individual with her gifts as her herald. She told Subito that she had chosen him over his sister because of his more focused personality. Galanta, to the spirit's mind, while excellent material for a herald of hers was rather too concerned with fighting as an end to itself to give much thought to what the fighting was for. But, she warned the nearly gleeful Subito, she would not stand for any slacking in what she was entrusting to him. As he followed her directions to the hidden chest containing the banner, she told him that he would, to keep his powers, have to keep from acting selfishly or with his sole betterment in mind, and any reneging would be instantly punished. The chest was easy enough to find with the Blue Dame's instruction, and with little trouble he put it back together and took it to a nearby abandoned lot, where the Blue Dame taught him how to use the banner to don the traditional costume of a Herald of Puerto Rico. After a crash course on how to use his powers, the Blue Dame retired into the banner, telling Subito to hurry home, due to the extreme lateness of the hour, and that in the morning he would find the next step on his journey waiting for him. Subito slept soundly, and it took Galanta hauling him out of bed, seating him in a chair, and giving him a light cuff on the shoulder to wake him. He found himself staring into the piercing gaze of a narrow, darkly-clothed man with graying hair at the temples, the rest brown and cut short. The Raven II, Subito learned later, had an informant in the factory the accident had occurred in, and had told Summers about the bizarre incident the same day it had happened. The interview with Duncan Summers was short and painless, except for Broma and Pavor outdoing each other in tearfully telling Subito how he must remember to do what they would wish him to do at the bizarre school Summers was offerring to train him at. Galanta kept her peace, saying as much as their parents with a cold, narrow-eyed stare. After agreeing with Summers that it would be a great idea to learn how to use his powers correctly in a more controlled environment, little was left to do but pack and prepare for the autumn quarter.[/spoiler] [b][u]Personality & Motivation:[/u][/b] As El Heraldo, Subito acts as he thinks he ought to, doing his best to be just, kind, fair and honest as he knows how. He enjoys the anonymity of the mask, as it lets him be what he likes without repercussion on how he is viewed as Subito. Out of costume, he is loud, impetuous and full of gusto for whatever he does, having been brought up to see silence as suited only for holy or sorrowful occaisions. His morals are fairly straightforward, and he gives litle thought or time to the why of his ethics. He equates thinking with doing, incomprehending how somebody could think up things they might do, and never act on any of them, and has a hard time understanding how one philosophy or belief system being true doesn't negate the others' validity. On the other hand, he is loath to bring issues like that up in conversation, seeing them as interesting challenges to be overcome on one's own, and would never dream of trying to make people more like himself. [b][u]Powers & Tactics:[/u][/b] El Heraldo has limited resources and severe limits to his gifts, meaning he must take great care with whom and how he fights. As a profoundly heated individual, however, he is unlikely to do so, instead dashing into the fray with unmitigated aplomb and vigor, no matter how outmatched he might be, using the power of his standard to evoke hope for victory in any compatriots. [b][u]Complications:[/u][/b] [b]Power Loss:[/b] Subito is granted his powers only so long as he uses them for the benefit of others. If he uses them for the sole purpose of bettering himself, they shall be revoked. [b]Responsibility:[/b] Family. He feels honor-bound to serve his family's needs above his own. [b]Secret:[/b] Identity. While he always has his powers, he knows his family is largely defenseless. [b]Underaged:[/b] Subito isn't a legal adult, with all the restrictions that come with that condition. [b]The Who-What Now?:[/b] Subito has almost no idea who's who or what's what in the complex world of jet-powered apes and time travel he's gotten himself into. Feel free to blindside him. [b]What are you wearing?!:[/b] El Heraldo's garb is..distinctive, to say the least, and it's flashiness is fertile ground for misconceptions, easy recognition by enemies, and being nearly impossible to sneak in. [b][u]Abilities:[/u][/b] 10 + 4 + 10 + 2 + 0 + 8 = 34PP Strength: 30/20 (+10/+5) Dexterity: 14 (+2) Constitution: 20 (+5) Intelligence: 12 (+1) Wisdom: 10 (+0) Charisma: 18 (+4) [b][u]Combat:[/u][/b] 10 + 8 = 18PP Initiative: +2 Attack: +5 Base, +9 Unarmed Grapple: +19/+14, +22 w/Super-STR Defense: +8 (+4 Base, +4 Dodge Focus), +2 Flat-Footed Knockback: -7/-2 [b][u]Saving Throws:[/u][/b] 2 + 3 + 10 = 16PP Toughness: +12 (+5 Con, +1 Protection (Costume), +6 Protection (Dame's Ward); [Impervious 10/0]) Fortitude: +9 (+5 Con, +4) Reflex: +5 (+2 Dex, +3) Will: +10 (+0 Wis, +10) [b][u]Skills:[/u][/b] 36R = 9PP Diplomacy 6 (+10, +14 with Attractive) Intimidate 4 (+8) Knowledge (Civics) 2 (+3) Knowledge (Current Events) 4 (+5) Knowledge (Popular Culture) 4 (+5) Knowledge (Tactics) 2 (+3) Languages 2 (English, Latin, Spanish [Native]) Notice 4 (+4) Sense Motive 8 (+8) [b][u]Feats:[/u][/b] 20PP Accurate Attack Attack Specialization (Unarmed) 2 Attractive Dodge Focus 4 Interpose Inspire 4 Leadership Luck 3 Move-by Action Power Attack Quick Change 1 [b][u]Powers:[/u][/b] 2 + 22 + 31 + 4 + 6 = 65PP [b]Comprehend 1 ([/b]Languages [understand all spoken][b])[/b] [2PP] [b]Device 7[/b] (Bandera de la Victoria [Banner of Victory]; 35PP Container; [i]Flaws[/i]: Easy-To-Lose; [i]Power Feats[/i]: Restricted 1 [Magic Users]) [22PP] [device][b]Array 10[/b](20PP Array; [i]Power Feats:[/i] Alternate Power 2)[22PP] [array]Base Power: [b]Emotion Control 10[/b][20PP] AP: [b]Healing 10[/b][20PP] AP: [b]Immovability 10[/b]([i]Extras:[/i] Affects Others)[20PP][/array] [b]Feature 1 ([/b]Repair Clothes[b])[/b] [1PP] [b]Impervious Toughness 10[/b] [10PP] [b]Protection 1[/b] [1PP] (Costume)][/device] [b]Herald's Charge 6[/b] (32PP Container [Active, Sustained], Drawback: Noticeable [Banner of Light]) [31PP] [equip][b]Enhanced Strength 10 ([/b]to 30 [+10][b])[/b] [10PP] [b]Flight 3 ([/b]50mph / 500ft per Move Action[b])[/b] [6PP] [b]Protection 6[/b] (Dame's Ward) [6PP] [b]Super-Strength 3 [/b](Effective Str 43; Light Load: 1 1/2 tons; [i]Power Feat[/i]: Super-Breath[b])[/b] [7PP] [b]Strike 1([/b][i]Power Feats[/i]: Affects Insubstantial 1, Mighty[b])[/b] [3PP][/equip] [b]Immunity 4 ([/b]Cold, Drowning, Pressure, Poison[b])[/b] [4PP] [b]Super-Senses 4 ([/b]Auditory; Accurate, Counters Concealment, Extended 2 [1,000' Notice Increments][b])[/b] [6PP] [b][u]Drawbacks:[/u][/b] -2PP [b]Vulnerability [/b](Sonic Powers, Frequency: Common, Intensity: Moderate [x1.5]) [-2PP] [b][u]DC Block:[/u][/b] [code]ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Unarmed Touch DC 24/20 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Bandera Perception DC 20 Will Emotion Changed Healing Touch DC20 Fortitude(Harmless) Healed Super-Breath Area [Cone] STR/DEX vs Opposed at +9 Trip Strike Touch DC26/22 Toughness (Staged) Damage (Physical) Totals: Abilities (34) + Combat (18) + Saving Throws (16) + Skills (9) + Feats (19) + Powers (65) - Drawbacks (2) = 159/159 Power Points

Ah. What a surprise. Editing.

Heavily revised. How does this look so far?

As an aside, how does Kit know where to shoot? Silver's still Invisible. DC19 Toughness save: 18. Bruise.

GM The clone guard halted, though the gun didn't waver from the wide-eyed nurse's throat and he didn't budge from behind the hostage. Examining the lean man in front of him, he said quietly "What do you mean? Talk fast. Those aliens could ruin my creator's plans, why should I believe you?" Looking blearily at the pictures, the Grue lifted a brick-red hand and tapped the photos showing three of the chemists, most of the security staff, and one of the janitors ~"Just...these. The others will need more time, their clones have not begun growing yet."~ it lifted its hard eyes to Catalyst's ~"The Hunter does not want to kill anyone but your Mafia. All his captives are alive. He wishes to...serve humanity, I do not think any of his agents...would even be programmed to attack your...species."~ closing its eyes for a moment it added ~"They were kept in the same...building across the street. It was the base of...his operations. In the basement."~ "You done miss?" asked the older of the two nurses "This Grue's in a bad way."

About 3 and a half minutes.

DC28 Bluff check: Don Siebert saith 18. She reveals herself to the withering scorn of all T-Babies, skilled thieves, and whatever your two characters are supposed to be. I'm guessing circus eagles? Anyway, Kit's turn.

In the lobby, the King of Suit's hands instantly went to shoulder-height when he saw the gun, and a cold sweat burst out on his skin, staring for a horrible moment at the barrel of the gun in front of him before he could drag his eyes up to those of the clone. In a gentle voice he said, making as little movements as he could "Wait. We can talk this out. We can't let you see those Grue with a gun in your hand, but you don't need to hold that carbine to a man's head to see them. Your boss is trying to do something utterly horrible, and we want to stop him, yes, but those aliens can't do any harm to him. Calm down."

"if that is rudeness, I look forward to your politeness!" Marceau laughed with a grin of pearly teeth, nodding gracefully as he slid the card back into its holster "Very well, none shall come too close to you and these poor immigrants." So saying, he gestured to the pair of would-be villains and definite vandals and animal-thieves 'How would that be prosecuted, I wonder?', calling out quietly "Follow me, please, it would make our animal handler friend's life a little difficult if people got too close to...them" he waved a vague hand at the buffalo and crowd of chimps "Wreak, you stand at that end, Archetype, take the other. I will be in the middle. Intercept anyone who tries to get within...say, this parking lot. We don't want another animal riot on our hands!" He hoped fervently that they wouldn't get bored too soon, hiding his worry behind his beaming smile.

GM To the elated and still hopeful eyes of the Silver Scream, the teary-eyed and excited Kat rushing into 'her' arms was an answered prayer, and as the illusory pair swept towards each others' arms, her blue eyes flashed, sending a jolt of power into...thin air. Jerking away as the girl rushed through her, the ghost realized with a sudden, maddening shock, that she had been betrayed. With a quiet, strained "Very well.", the ghostly illusion of Lauren Hammond vanished from the stage. Drifting high above the wooden stage the Silver Scream drifted high into the air, her maddened eyes surveying the theatre with haste and no care for peering into darker shadows.

DC23 Bluff roll: 22. That is hilarious. So using Mental Blast on the Illusion. 19. Hits, it doeth nothing! Canceling Lauren Illusion on the stage, and floating through the air into the rafters. Notice roll: 11. The horror. Round nine: Warp: Unharmed, 2HP Kit: Unharmed, 4HP Silver Scream: Unharmed-GM

October 6th, Saturday, 11.45. Lantern Hill, Parkhurst Hotel The day on Lantern Hill was laden with tenacious clouds of mist, clinging to the quiet and dark corner of Freedom City overlooking the bustling metropolis. For reasons best known to himself, Claremont student and superhero Subito Sondo had decided that a visit to the mystical hosts of Parkhurst Hotel to learn about national spirits required him to wear his Sunday best, and he tugged uneasily at his well-pressed black collar as he walked quickly up the sidewalk, stopping when he reached one of the older mailboxes to glance around at the austere and old-fashioned lines of buildings with a baffled look. So far the directions were right, but the presence of a hotel was conspicuously lacking. Turning to Morgan Crowe, the stocky Puerto Rican teen asked bluntly "So...where the heck is the place? 'Can't see it anywhere." He had decided to take up on his suggestion that he ask Morgan for a talk about spirits and how to try and access their memories, eagerly seeking out the cunning teen as soon as he could. Taking another look around the murky street, he added with a grateful smile that lit up his swarthy face "Thanks for this, by the way Morg. I hope both your pals are in! I'd love to meet Ms. Etain and Mr. Cimitiere!"

Heh. Anyway, round eight: Warp: Unharmed, 2HP Kit: Unharmed, 4HP Silver Scream: Unharmed-GM You're up Freely!

Atraxia's growl of impatience was distorted just enough that it sounded rather menacing, and not merely ridiculous, a fact the gray-suited Farsider woman was glad of as she nodded stiffly to the officer Donahue. With an electronic rumbling underlining her words she replied "Thank you for your patience, enforcement officer Donahue. Both of us will be glad to learn about what the object of these citizens contained. I will try and look for where those weapons came from, hopefully I won't have to interfere with any of your fellow officers in your search. Once you have found out what the leader of these criminals was planning, I will visit you to learn of it. Good day, officer Donahue" drawing herself up to her full imperious height, helped greatly by her large, smoke-filled and face-concealing helmet, she turned more graciously to the third Bee-Keeper. In a voice modulated in a more kindly manner she said "I thank you again for your excellent work, Bee-Keeper. Things would have been much worse if you had not been there. If you would assist in discovering what this was all about, I would welcome your aid." With a dry rustle of aging skin and the thick material of the gray-blue terrasuit, a spindly hand was offered to the squatter armored human teen. She prepared her matter/energy transfer, getting ready to propel herself into the air.

GM Kat's recounting of the fairy's description of her duties to Puck had struck right into Lauren Hammond's heart, and the bitter undead actress was filled with both a feeling of hitherto unknown desolation and regret as she recalled happier days and a sudden burst of anger as she comprehended(only for a moment and imperfectly) how she had brought about their end. One way the words really got her interest, they convinced the long-dead woman that her current strategy was at the cusp of success. 'Perhaps I can make a bargain...' As the recited words drifted through the mostly still air of the theatre, the image's face slowly changed from one of haughty melancholy to quiet sorrow, her eyes slowly dropping to the stage for a long moment. At last her much gentler voice said "I have no heard those words in...decades. I had forgotten their power, the beauty of the Bard's poetry and verse..." she looked back up with tears shining on her projection's ghostly face and she beckoned with a small and tentative gesture of her left hand at where she erroneously believed the juvenile actress lurked, calling out with a voice of one on the verge of tears "Dear heart, please come forward and speak with me. My cold heart is in a new spring, and I am sorry for my thoughtless words." it looked chagrined as it added, after a moment in which very wisely nobody said a word "I know it is hard to believe. My impetuous assault upon you, and the careless insults and threats I have flung at you would make anyone wary of such an abrupt claim, but I beseech you to trust me!" she cried, clasping both hands to her bosom in a positively hoary theatrical gesture. Stepping backwards and allowing the cheerfully dancing sprites and small fairies to surround her once again, and making sure that her projection never obscured the figure of the full-grown Katherine, the puppet of the Silver Scream went on, still the very image of remorse and desperate sincerity "Young Katherine, I admit that I have made a terrible mistake. Your friend, Jessica, has the potential to be a good, and the potentiality to become even a great actress! I have lived so long in the shadows of a vanished glory that every bright and fresh young face is like a dagger in my heart, envy consumes my every waking moment!" she gripped her ghostly head in her pallid hands, and her illusion did the same "Please, I beg of you: have mercy! Come back into sight of my weary eyes, and stand with me upon the stage. I will make amends for what I have done here, before I return to my slumber I will provide to such a promising and gay young pair as you two a backdrop and scenery such as the world has never known!" she was quite transported, driven by a vision of what her powers could be used for should Kat be so unwise as to take the cinematic erratic up on her word "You have never been to England. Let me show the audience the rolling hills, the streamers of deep mist, the nodding and gnarled oaks, the busy towns teaming with man and beast, all of which will enhance the words and actions of the players, and never once threaten to overwhelm their efforts. Your young man, what was his name, Frederick? He will be made into such a ghost as never a gasping crowd has ever seen! All I ask," and she now sank to her knees, eyes ready with more ectoplasmic tears "all I ask is that you come back, and forgive me. Though Heaven knows I do not deserve it, and by rights I cannot ask such a thing of you, poor girl!" She bowed her head as her white-skinned and black-clad form began to shake with only half-feigned sobs. Neither of the two heroines could see the cold and terrible look on her face, so sure was she that Kat would take the bait at last. 'When she lies dead, her body at last relieved of its burden, I will allow the hunters and magicians to enter, and they will know the penalty of angering the Silver Scream!'

Feeling the being of iron slacken through the thick cloth of his coat, Heraldo hoisted the man higher up into the air, making sure that he wouldn't have any way to get leverage from the pavement. Wincing at the sound of Errant's jolt of pain through is system, the patriotic paragon said "If it gets too much, don't be afraid to take a break!" he grinned a little uneasily, his powerful arms groaning a little under the strain of their foe's weight "I will keep our nano-maniac from escaping us!" he declared, sounding much more confident than he felt at the idea of actually grappling with this mysterious guy. For all he knew, the man could flood his body with nanomachines capable of dissolving both of the young heroes into goo...'Wait, no, that's a terrible plan. You'd just get beaten down by the Lab in ten seconds if you pulled a trick like that!' Tensing his arm muscles to their limit, he prayed Errant would find what they needed, and quickly.