Ari

GM A look of suspicion crossed the image of Lauren's face, but it was quickly supplanted by anger. "What sort of a plan is this? Offering yourself as bait is one thing, I assume your recent invasions of my higher mind were meant to encourage me to take it," the word 'higher' was accompanied by a subtle shift in posture that somehow made the Silver Scream look even taller than her stately five feet and six inches "but now you sink to merely standing and daring me to strike you down? You have outdone yourself. Take my hand!" with a sudden movement, Lauren Hammond's illusory arm shot forward, a pale fist piercing straight through the heart of Katherine's shade! The air rippled around the pair of false images, as the ghost did her worst to try and wrest control of the cheat in front of her proxy, seeking to turn it from a spectre of her newest target's friend into a picture of the self-same girl collapsing dead onto the stage, blood flowing from a wholly imaginary wound. "Try and deceive the Silver Scream with a talky picture?" she laughed thinly, her fake self turning from the stage to address the theatre at large "You are years away from such things, girl. Do not imagine you will be able to take one step out of this place. I will prove to you that your presumed 'talent'(faugh!) compared to my abilities is as Bianca next to Katharina!" the form on the wooden platform spoke like the crack of doom, with eyes burning blue like evil fire.

Oh yeah, and Galanta and Subito's rolls. Gala: 8. 'Bito: 16. So so far: Wisp Rodrigo Subito Galanta I will wait another week for Vahnyu, then begin stuff.

DC23 Bluff check: 15. Heh. Anyway, she falls for it. Attempt to Counter Kit's Illusion: 27.

Stepping into the open grove with a wince as one of the guards jabbed him in the butt with the butt of their spear, Subito yelped and glared accusingly at the misshapen man before turning to face their new enemy. He doffed his hat slowly and with a cold hazel eye on the Maiden, glancing with a shudder at the unhealthy scene around him and Agnes, fighting the impulse to grab the Englishwoman's hand for comfort. He made himself as strong and quiet as he could manage at the moment. 'She rules a bunch of people in a swamp. Why? Is there something that gives them an advantage he-' he almost smacked himself, which manifested as a sudden jerk of his left arm 'Of course. People can't get in here after them, DUH. Excellent, you are learning.' As their rather undressed hostess spoke, Subito frowned at the language that rang through the air, glancing at Ms. Stone with a quiet deference. Aloud he said softly "Let me know if you want me to fix her Sexiness' clothes for her. I think that might do some good." he looked back at the Maiden "Anyway, do your thing Why-Bee."

After talking it over with Freely Seek, they suggested that Kit alert Warp to what she's about to try and pull, possibly via the friendly cartoon fox-person? Personally, I am in favor of that plan. It uses illusions in an interesting way and gives a good platform for either a good talking-down or sneak-attack.

Kids of dragons are all amazing! Anyway, I am in favor of Lotan, mainly because more sea people is always nice. I would strongly advise avoiding the 'traditional grandparent teaches their grandchild the ancient ways of their people' thing. How about a Hispanic who adopts Taoist philosophy of their own volition to find peace after a face-to-face meeting with monstrous evil, and by its practice learns the secrets of alchemy? Or something. Anyway, I think that idea you've sketched out could definitely work.

For obvious reasons, Subito had never thought for an instant that going along with the crime boss on his way to a holding cell would be a good idea. Mostly because thinking was something he only occasionally did. Heraldo nodded "Makes sense to my mind. Let's go!" he barked, slinging Mr. Cloak over one shoulder and securing him with a super-powerful arm around the waist before flying out the window, heading unerringly straight for the closest police station that he knew of just a few blocks down the road. On the way there he called conversationally over to Glow "What do you suppose he has for an escort? Another helicopter? Maybe a few guys with enough guns to run off a police squad? A giant mind-controlling snake? Ooh!" his eyes lit up "Maybe those Serpent People are involved somehow!" he suggested eagerly as they touched down in front of their destination, looking rather more excited at the prospect than was sensible. He let the lawyer get his legs under him before clapping a powerful hand on his shoulder, and directing him through the doors. Approaching the front desk with a brilliant smile he said to the officer behind it "Excuse me! We're both superheroes dealing with a Mexican crime boss, El Sierpe, who was recently captured and then escaped. Could you tell us where it happened and how, please?" he asked with an eager grin, patting the shoulder of the man beside him and adding "Also, this man here is a witness for the crime boss's misdeeds, and these" he produced the papers with a flourish "are the proof of his most pertinent crimes! Would you keep them both safe until they are needed?"

GM With various howls, shrieks and groans the MAX-infused Crusaders were subject to the electrical whims of Crow's rune magic, one of those hunting the King of Suits on the roof crumpling to the ground in a spasmodic heap, pitiable whimpers jolting from his mouth. Two of those just below the demigod were also struck down by the sudden lightning, staggering and smoking for a perilous moment before falling to the wet and dirty asphalt with meaty thuds. The one who had decided to make a run for it took one look at the small cloud behind him, and took even more to his heels, feet pounding the ground and carrying him out of sight. Not all of his opponents were so intimidated, however. One man among them managed to fling his bulky self to the relative safety of a drier patch of ground, the writhing arcs that lashed him provoking a cry of pain, but otherwise not harming him nearly as much as his fellows. Getting slowly and with obvious difficulty to his feet, his neurons fighting to keep their body moving after the attack, he fixed one beady brown eye on where he was sure he had seen the first flash of light before the storm. Grabbing a handy dumpster in a mighty hand that bent and warped the thin metal and plastic, he stepped forward and flung it with incredible power at his target, gambling that its size meant he would hit something. "Got any more tricks, boy?" he shouted furiously into the fog, tensing himself for the next move... Above the pair, and next to the recently retreated King of Suits, a shadow heralded the crash of another of the MAXed-out gang members, who stared contemptuously down at the lean Frenchman before grinding as he pulled back a fist "Thought you could run, n*****?" the racist epithet delivered with a grunt as he swung forward, aiming to dash the man against the cement!

So, Initiative time! Rodrigo: 22.

Quickly looking over at the new guards, Heraldo suppressed a hiss of anger. Rushing through the air with a trail of gold he slammed his fist straight into the stomach of the hairy flyer, yelling angrily "Your ship is about to go down in flames! Cease this foolish attempt to impede us, and save yourselves!" as he darted away from the man, hurtling down the hallway, his senses telling him when every rivet burst or bulkhead began to grind and crush! "You two, I am very seriously considering just picking you both up and getting us all out this impending inferno!" he shouted back to Blodeuwedd and Lord Steam "We have to catch that wretched woman!" he added, snarling Madame Vapeur's name under his breath.

Scooting neatly back into the pool and making room as Cerys swam up to him and Kat, Subito rolled his hazel eyes and with a sharp chop sent a splash of water into her hair, laughing "C'mon, Blodeu, you're a great teacher! I never knew I was movin' my legs all wrong until you showed me!" He looked over at Kat "Besides, it's not simply a thing of strength, you just need t'get used to swimming again. It'll be easy!" he smiled encouragingly at the slighter girl, though he was a little surprised at the slightly bitter note of her comment. Floating onto his back and folding his powerful arms under his head he shrugged "We're all here to learn how to fight evil in the world Kat, you gotta get used to all the different kinds of people you might end up fighting beside. I don't remember hearing anyone making many smart remarks about Mali!" he added with a slightly more earnest look. He glanced over at Cerys, careful not to stare "So, you wanna give Kat here any pointers? I'll go in the next lane over if you want." he offered good-naturedly, guessing that the two girls might want to hammer things out on their own.

'Wait, that was an entirely different species?!' Atraxia thought in bafflement, glancing over to the armored apiarist as she felt a surge of irritation at the myriad forms of life on Earth. 'At least in Farside City, we had little other life to distract us.' she thought angrily, glad for the helmet and stiffened face muscles. "Whatever it was could be a valuable clue to why they decided to grab advanced weaponry and a robot." she challenged "The more we know about what lies inside, the more we can use to keep this from occurring again!" she leaned slightly back, folding her arms "The matter of their weapons is also suspect. I trust such guns aren't used just by every petty thug?"

Move Action up to the nearest Avian Guard, Accurate Attacking(+3 Attack -3 Damage): 21. DC23 Toughness save! Move-by-Action down the hall.

GM The sudden explosion of Terminus energies in the rafters above went wholly unnoticed by the shimmering spectre, so intent was she on the sauntering girl on the stage. "Not even a cutting jibe at how one failure clearly signals my defeat?" she muttered to herself, peering down at the flood-lit boards before her blue eyes went wide with sudden realization. With a furious snarl of rage that passed with disquieting speed across her invisible face, she decided that she might as well play along. With a short and savage hiss that went unheard in the drafty theatre, she lifted one gowned arm and caused an exact copy of herself to appear directly in front of the cheat, silver and black hair waving in an otherworldly breeze and bearing a mocking grin. With a voice like a tomb sliding into place, the apparition said "Are you feeling a rush of excitement, Katherine Shade? Are you thinking to yourself 'I can take this ghost! it can't even hurt me!'" it stepped closer, it's voice carrying throughout the auditorium "Splendid! Confidence is vtial in show business. But perhaps you should realize that so far nothing that you have done has hurt me." Lauren's projection grinned, the pallid skin stretching far beyond what anyone could manage without injury and revealing pearly teeth set in blackened gums "But by all means, I encourage you to try and try again. If you're lucky, you might actually damage somebody coming to try and help! I am sure the local mages would be quite happy to know that you have this situation so well in hand." it spread its arms "Take a free shot. Go on! You won't miss because of me."

Maintaining the Grapple.

I'm sure Lauren will appreciate an intelligent conversationalist.

Sense Motive roll, DC23: 27. Huh. DC16 Will save to realize its illusive nature: 13. Reroll(+1HP to both Warp and Kit) : 23. she realizes that it is, in fact, an illusory image. Moving down to the central aisle, and making an image of herself on the stage in front of the illusion of Kat, saying hateful things. Round 5 Warp: Unharmed, 2HP Kit: Unharmed, 3HP Silver Scream: Unharmed-GM Warp's up!

+1 Hero Point to Crow for that daring maneuver! 2HP remaining. The Super-MAX Crusaders(x4) make their moves. #1 tries to escape, Attacks the Snare: 24. Manages to get a hit in. DC23 Toughness save for it: 9. Broken asunder! #3 leaps after King of Suits, and makes an Attack against him: 17. Miss! #7 throws a dumpster at Crow: 23. Hits. DC23 Toughness save, if you please. EDIT: anti-Concealment roll: 18. Success. #8 runs off further away. Round 4. King of Suits: Unharmed, 3HP Crow: Unharmed, 2HP Super-MAX Crusaders(x4): 3 Unharmed, 1 Bruised(x1) A New Challenger begins to Approach: 17.

"I would strongly urge you not to, miss" 'Cardman' said with a slight note of irritation, looking at Archetype out of the corner of his right eye. "If you simply drop a group of animals and a portion of a truck out in the middle of Africa, I would imagine that might not help with making your actions less noticeable. Besides," he added, stepping a little forward to squint into the darkness at what was inside the last truck, raising his eyebrows at the sight of the massive buffalo crouching in front of Philos. "Excuse me, monsieur! King of Suits at your service." he called in softly in a carrying voice "Do you require any assistance?" a King of Hearts card twirled between the fingers of his left hand in a dizzying flash of red and white. 'He seems quite competent enough, but you never can be too careful.'

Exactly. Show Kat how Sam learned all through her life there, and it will all come together.

Then perhaps Kit can arrange a vacation to Dis, and procure a time-machine. Silver Scream's Notice roll: 2. Spot check failed.

GM The ghostly grandstander failed to see the tell-tale flash of red and black as Warp sped out of view and landed in the dressing room behind the curtain, her glaring eyes seeing instead that slim form and ridiculously ostentatious dress quivering in fright among the shadows just behind the heavy red cloth. "You are not nearly as good at running as that Jael girl!" she exclaimed haughtily as a cold light flashed through the air, a wave of unearthly power that could turn strong bodies to agonized wrecks smashing into the illusory girl! The Silver Scream smiled triumphantly...until she realized something odd. The girl wasn't reacting quite as she had expected her to after the last mental assault. Could she be toughening so quickly? With a snarl of frustrated vengeance the ghost of Lauren Hammond drifted up into the rafters, preparing for the next dart to her soul. This time, it would lay her low!

GM The three people, now relieved of both their inhuman forms and their powers in their unconscious state, not to mention the crew left behind by Dr. Green in his escape, were easily rounded up and secured on the Ages Lost after Voltage transported them both back to Freedom City, arriving just after most of the crowd had already dispersed from the area after the portal collapse, the few stalwarts gathered in chatting knots turning and letting out a lusty cheer and chorus of applause as the two heroes jolted into view. The collection of the base's more exotic gear, materials and research was almost trivially easy, though as Stormbreaker feared none of it was unusual, powerful or rare enough to do much more than offset the damage done to the star galleon by the faux Eye-wielder. There was, however, one thing of great value: Dr. Green had left behind a computer in one of the storage rooms for whatever it was he had been using to transform his test subjects, on which was a list of locations throughout the world, with a brief, enigmatic cipher beside each small red dot. A terse '3 Sucs subs.' was scribbled next to the dot showing their location. Theirs was also easily the one with the smallest number next to it. Evidently, the doctor had been quite busy lately. Luckily, he was unlikely to be in business much longer... END.

'Oh, this is how it might.' For a moment, Subito looked and felt utterly horrified, and then he realized the joke. Barely restraining himself from laughing both in relief and amusement 'Oh good, they've already met!', he began "Well-" That was an unexpected question, and after an obvious few seconds of thought the stocky boy realized he didn't really have a good answer for it, offering a sheepish "Oh! Sorry Kath-Kat, call me 'Bito, didn't know that's what your powers came from, I just...uh...a friend of mine, another student, a tall blond guy named Serge Explinker, he's a mutant and he's not too bad in the strength thing. Sorry, shouldn't have assumed like that." he admitted shamefacedly, his broad shoulders looming slightly above his head. At her awkward question about how to proceed Subito said quickly "Nonono, stick around! We'll both help you recapture the glory of swimming!" he suggested, looking sunnily up at Cerys with an imploring smile and dancing eyes "I've seen ya around here a lot of times, Blodeu, I bet you could teach both of us a few things!"

Silver Scream has no such Super-Senses, and thus perceives the illusion as reality. She attacks it with the full force of her Mental Blast! 19. Let us say that it hits the immobile illusion. She is still maintaining her Invisibility, and moves yet further from the stage, 20ft. up into the rafters while still watching the supposed Katherine. Round 4: Warp: Unharmed, 1HP Kit: Unharmed, 2HP Silver Scream: Unharmed-GM