Ari

It's definitely demonic. And so powerfully charged that only the right kind of blow could possibly shatter it, but what it would take and how it's working is for the moment pretty opaque.

Yes. DC30 due to the circumstances.

Yes. It looks like a kind of semi-translucent beetle shell covering their bodies. The thickest part of the shell goes from their head to the heart, and they are attached by chains through the left hand to each other.

GM A brief shout of "Hol-!" followed by a thunderous crash as the flame-wielder was knocked clean off his feet and into the hallway several yards away filled the room, the man letting out a gasp of flame from his mouth before falling still. The shadowy man hanging from the ceiling above Asad glared at Young Britannia, snarling "As soon as I banish this brute to the Schättenwelt, you are next! The monsters in the Holy Dark will feast upon your feeble light!" he hissed, eyes gleaming with anger. The city government hastily evacuated the building under the guard of Silver Spider and into the arms of a waiting police guard, who quickly escorted the band across the street into a small huddle of vans. Captain Maddicks was present to oversee the evacuation, and nodded thankfully at the heroine, saying appreciatively "Good work Spider. Thanks for your help getting those people out, and good luck with whoever it is that's in there causing trouble. We'll make sure they don't try anything with Mr. OÇonnor or anyone else." He tipped his hat and got into his squad's van, hurtling off after the ones carrying the mayor and the other officials.

Crow and Arnold are on the roof of the church, Dis-Possessed #1 is at the doorstep of said church and in the fog, the other two hanging back in the street. Yes, quite immune to magic right now. That of course could be fixed with research of what the protection is.

Two women and one man.

All-Out(+2 Attack, -2 Defense) Power Attacking(-3 Attack, +3 Damage): 24. Excellent. So that's a DC29 Toughness save for Nanoman.

Subito looked slightly crestfallen, but only for a moment. "Oh, okay. I s'pose it's not exactly logical they would because you do...anyway, eye beams?" he asked aloud, frowning as he visibly thought the question over, watching the ebb of water and at last admitting "...Nah, I can't." Hoisting himself up by his arms and sitting up on the edge he turned to her fully, he pulled off the goggles as he explained "Y'see, my powers when I transform don't have much to do with giving me more powers, just upgrades of existing ones. Like, my hearing and strength are way, uh, stronger than they were before, and I guess flying breaks that, a bit" he commented with a dubious look, his eyes wandering back to Rick in the main pool "but stuff like shooting beams out of my eyes is something my patroness has flat-out said she won't even consider giving me. Ever." he said gravely. Glancing over at her, the dripping boy realizing belatedly that he had been wandering, he added quickly "Uh, I get my powers from this spirit woman called 'The Blue Dame', she's apparently the spirit of Puerto Rico. She talks to me in my head." he looked away "Er, yeah, it sounds crazy to me too." After a beat he dropped back into the water, adding excitedly "Oh yeah! And I can't drown now either! Check it out!" he said with a cheerful grin, sinking down to the bottom of the pool, opening his mouth and breathing out in a stream of bubbles...and breathing back in. On the bottom, he winced at the taste of the chlorinated water, shooting back up to the surface and coughing heavily, gasping out weakly "*hrach, kak!* Okay, yeah that was a bad idea." he choked, looking deeply embarrassed at Kat, scraping at his tongue to get the taste of the pool water off of it. Resisting the urge to spit, the muscular teen rubbed his face and fiddled his goggles back into position. "You want any help with swimming, Kat?" he asked, smiling cheerfully "That's somethin' I do know how to do!"

That does hit. DC23 Toughness save: 10. Failed by 18, so he's down. Round four. Asad: Unharmed, 3HP Gabriel: Unharmed, 6HP Halb-in-Shadow: Bruise(x1)-GM Starlight: Unharmed, 4HP Silver Spider: Unharmed, 2HP Young Britannia: Unharmed, 2HP Asad is up. Just need to settle if he beats the opposed Grapple check of DC27 and we're off.

GM The cannonade of scything wind went howling through the weaker airs, carrying in its passage a riot of debris. It tore into the grey creature with unrelenting force, slashing long gashes that weakened the bizarre stony body right before the core of the dragon's blast struck Kaiser in the chest with a sharp *WHUD*. She was flung clear into the forest by the mass of wind, her arms and legs flung forward as she was flung back, splintering a tree as she smashed into it. In the small pile of broken wood and leaves, the grey body began, before the heroes' eyes, to shrink. The arms slid gradually into her head, healing the long gashes and visible electrical burns. After a full minute an ordinary woman lay unconscious there, with not even a mark from the battle on her. When Kaiser was knocked out, the wall that had been erected to stop them from chasing Dr. Green crumbled and collapsed, revealing the archaic-looking platform and half-circle in which a small sphere of energy flickered over a small panel of controls. Chasing after Green using his own technology was unfortunately out of the question right then, as the controls had been melted into slag, and the circle broken enough that the sphere wavered dangerously. Leading in the other direction, towards the hospital were other passages leading to a few more rooms. Most of them places where large containers had been stored, and a well-lit examining room hung with x-rays and sketches of simply inhuman physiology.

Shrugging his broad and blue-clad shoulders at the explanation, Heraldo landed on the street where all the trouble had started only a few minutes ago. He glanced around at the pile-up of cars, winced at the sounds of confusion in the distance, and realized very suddenly that the man with metal skin was up again. Not only was he up and active, he was hurtling through the air leaving a squad of police officers in his wake! "Good to see you're up...!" he shouted, streaking through the air towards their arcing foe, bringing back a fist that began to glow with the same power as before, concluding "...and falling!" as he sent it straight into the man's armored skin with a metallic crash that echoed through the air! He was heedless of the vague and nagging whispers of Errant's mental barrage, compared to the earlier display it was like trying to hear a pebble falling into the sea during a storm. He still shivered despite himself, and remembered a broken wall and mocking laughter before he pushed the memory aside.

Moving up next to the falling guy and making a Power Attack(-2 Attack, +2 Damage). Attack roll: 9. Rerolling: 10. With the Reroll bonus, that's a 20. I don't think that hits. if it does that is a DC28 Toughness save for Nanoman.

Introduction Who are you? Sum yourself up in one sentence. "I'm Subito Sondo, a Puerto Rican boy and immigrant imbued with the might of my homeland." Do you have any nicknames, street names, titles, or nom de plume? "Uh...well, I was called 'Bito when I was a kid 'cause that's how I said my name for a while, and very unwisely let some of my friends know that. I'm sometimes called 'Sube' in Lincoln." What is your full birth name? "Subito Sondo. Um, my birth didn't come at a very good time for Mom." Where do you live? "Freedom City, best place on Earth! I used to live with my family in Lincoln, but moved to Claremont when I got my Gift and was enrolled by Mr. Summers. I live in the Rita Kord dormitory right now." How old are you? What year were you born (if applicable)? "Uh, about 17. I was born on the 5th of July." Physical Traits What is your gender? If not applicable, please explain. "I'm a boy." How would you describe your heritage? "My parents are both native-born Puerto Ricans, and their descendants-wait, not that's ancestors, sorry, their ancestors are 'pparently Taino, people who lived on the island long before the Spaniards came in the late 1400's. So, pretty dark Hispanic." How tall are you? "'Bout 5 feet and a few inches tall, I think I was 5'6" last time I checked." What is your body type? "Stocky, muscular and with only a little fat. I'm told I'm pretty fit for my age, but my peers include people who look like they'd snap if a wave hit them and can crush iron." Do you have any particular weaknesses, such as allergies or physical disabilities? "Not really. My hearing after I got my Gift can get pretty painful when I'm around a bunch of cars or near a lot of talking people, but that's about it." How do you carry yourself? Are you graceful, or heavy on your feet? Can you be stealthy, do you walk with confidence? "Strong steps, firm and loud, a straight back and my head up. I'm definitely not light on my feet, and I can't sneak to save my life." Describe your skin, eye, and hair color. "My skin is brownish, a bit darker than my Mom and Dad's, and they're supposed to look pretty dark-skinned compared to a lot of folks back in Puerto Rico. My eyes are brown with a bit of greeny-yellow, apparently that's called hazel? My hair is pretty dark brown, just a few shades lighter than black." How do you wear your hair, if applicable? Do you have facial hair? "It's real curly and getting kinda long, so I can't really do much with it but keep it out of my face. I'm not old enough to grow a beard or anythin' yet." Do you consider yourself attractive? Do others? "I...uh, well..I'm not the best person to ask about that. I mean, I don't look bad. I think Cerys likes how I look, and some of the other girls around Claremont seem to too." Do you have any scars, tattoos, piercings, or birthmarks? "I have a few scars on my hands and feet, and a few on my knees from cutting myself on rocks when I went climbing with Galanta." Do you resemble anyone famous? "A Mexican girl in Mutant History said I look kind of like Charlie Massano." Do you have a dominant hand? "Yep. I'm right handed." What kind of clothing do you wear? "A white t-shirt, blue jeans, tough running shoes and a baseball cap. I wear other stuff, mostly casual buttoned-up shirts and slacks, and suits at church, but those are what I wear most of the year." Do you wear makeup? "Nah, I like my natural beauty just fine." What is your vocal range? Is your voice distinctive in some way? "I'm a tenor, a bit deep-voiced when I get excited or mad." Do you have any distinctive habits, nervous tics, or mannerisms? Where did they come from, and what causes them? Do other people notice and remark on these habits? Do they annoy you or other people? "I rub the back of my head when I'm embarrassed, and sometimes dance a bit in place when excited. It mostly doesn't get any comments." History Where do you come from? "The island of Puerto Rico, Adjuntas principality, Guayo Barrio. Not the best of places to grow up, I guess, but I liked it. It was always busy. I still dream of the house we used to live in, before it got destroyed. My sister made a real name for herself there." Have you made any major moves, or do you live in your hometown? "Well, when I was eight this guy called Mas Severas attacked our town. He'd figured out the Allies of Justice were staying there, and smashed and burned almost ten homes before he was stopped. I don't remember much of what happened then, but it was horrible. Anyway, after that my parents figured they would do better to move somewhere else than sticking around, and took jobs at some factories in Southside. We moved by boat, which was pretty cool." Do you feel loyal to your country of citizenship? Do you consider yourself patriotic? How do you feel about the government of your country? "I'm deeply loyal and patriotic, I'd be kind of stupid not to be, since my country gives me my powers, and I want to go back and defend it when I grow up. Uh..I don't have any problem with the government of Governor Luis Fortuño, and I don't really know enough about politics to say much anyway." How do you feel about the place you come from? "I love it. The hills around my home were always great to play on, the sky was always beautiful, and the sea-breeze gave everything this sense of being in heaven." Where is your home town? What was/is it like? "The Adjuntas municipality is on the western side of the island, pretty close to the capital of San Juan." Growing up, were most of the people you knew similar to you, or were you somehow a minority? How did that affect you? "Oh yeah, where I grew up most people looked and talked a lot like me. I was always comfortable around strangers, because we had such a tight-knit culture, and always had somethin' in common to talk about. It's pretty different in the States." Is there something you've always been really good at or really bad at? How has that affected your life? "I've always been pretty good at talkin' to people, and because Galanta kept getting into fights I got to practice that a lot. It at least made my big sis look at me as a good helper and not just as her scared little kid brother." Were there any traumatic experiences in your early years (death of a family member, abandonment, orphaned at an early age)? "Well, our house got destroyed by an evil supervillain when I was eight years old. That's not nearly as bad as losing someone you love though" Briefly describe a defining moment in your childhood and how it influenced your life. "When I was seven, I remember talking down some of the other kids who wanted to hide and throw stones at Galanta when she was coming home from school one day. She had caught them doing stuff they shouldn't have and...she hit pretty hard even when she was a kid. Anyway, I don't know why they listened to me, but they did. Ever since then, I've always wanted to..do that again, get someone to stop from doing something evil just by talkin' to them." What stupid things did you do when you were younger? "Well...I did a lot of stupid stuff, still do actually. Worst was definitely when I tried to set Rodrigo up on a date with a girl from Joseph Clark, that was a total disaster. They didn't agree on anything and she left after punching him for defending someone in their class who apparently was gay. At least he's talking to me again." Where did you go to school? How much school did you have, and did you enjoy it? "I went to the local elementary school for a while, until we had to move from Puerto Rico. When we first started living in Freedom City I went to Joseph Clark High School. It wasn't too bad, pretty close to where me and my family lived, and a good enough school if you could avoid the gangs or terrify 'em into leaving you alone. Some of the teachers were pretty great too." Do you have any mementos of your childhood? What are they, and why did you keep them? If you have none, why not? "I have some rocks from back home, and a lot of pictures from when I was a kid. I keep them around because I like remembering those days, I guess." When did you decide to become a hero? Why? Did anyone influence you one way or another in the decision? "I decided to become one in July of 2011, when I first got my powers. I didn't even know what they were, how they worked or why I had 'em, but the path was clear to me. When the spirit of Puerto Rico appeared that night in a dream, it only took the Blue Dame a few minutes to talk me into it." Is the reason you give people for becoming a hero different than your real reason? If so, why? "Nope. I want to learn how to help people using what I've got, and that's all there really is to it." Do you have any deep, dark secrets in the past that may come back to haunt you? "I can't think of any. My cousin Rodrigo Fuego might, though." Do you represent yourself as being different from who you really are? Why? "Well, as the Herald I can get away with bein' a lot cheesier and more ridiculous than I could normally, I like being able to grand-stand, to be dramatic in front of people when I get to help them. I think it helps when people know they're not just another bunch of helpless bystanders to you." If you do have these secrets, what do you fear would happen if the truth became known? How far would you go to protect those secrets? "I...I don't know. I guess I'd ask whoever found out about 'em not to tell anyone, and try to convince them not to do it? I sure wouldn't kill anyone." Do you have any sort of criminal record? If so, is it public knowledge? "Uhhh...I might have broken some child labor laws a couple of times. It's not public knowledge, I look a bit older than I really am, but it's not something I'm really proud of. But hey, it let me catch that guy when he fell, maybe God wanted me to be there." Family What are your biological parents' names? "My Dad is Pavor, and my Mom is Broma. Dad's the family outsider, comes from the Fuegos, my mom is a Sondo." Were you raised by them? If not, please explain and describe who raised you. "Yeah. I've been raised by 'em all my life." What was their standing in the community? What did/do they do for a living? "They worked in a factory a few miles out of town. Grandpa called them artisans and metalworkers, but he called everyone's job something fancy. He called the farm my uncle kept 'husbandry of corn'. As for what people thought of them, they didn't look down on them, but they weren't considered too important either. Kinda in the middle somewhere." Where are your parents now? "They live in the Lincoln district of Freedom City, U.S.A.!" Did your family stay in one area or move around a lot? "We moved once, in 2003 from Adjuntas to the apartment complex in west Lincoln." How did you get along with their parents? How do you get along with them now (if applicable). "I love them! They love me too, we'd do anythin' to help each other out, that's something that's never changed." How do your parents view you now, or how would they? "They...I think they have a bit of...awe, I guess? They're really excited that their kid gets to be the new herald of Puerto Rico's national spirit! We haven't had one in a while now." Do you have any siblings? If so how many and what are their names? Describe your relationship with them. "Yeah, a big sister named Galanta. She's awesome. She taught me everything Mom and Dad didn't, like how to fight, and especially how to treat other people. She made sure I never grew up thinking first about people's looks." What was your birth order in the family? "First Galanta, then me." Where are your siblings now (if applicable)? Do they have families of their own? What do they do? "Gala' still lives in Lincoln, and I don't think she's met anyone yet. She's setting up to go to college real soon so that probably won't last for much longer. She works around northern Southside at a factory." Do you stay in touch with them or have you become estranged? "Nah, we're still friends." Do you love or hate one member of the family in particular? "Well, Rodrigo and me have never really gotten along all that well. He thinks I'm an anti-intellectual jock who hates people smarter than me, and I think he's kind of a brat who always feels sorry for himself." Is any member of the family special to you in any way (perhaps, as a confidant, mentor, or arch-rival)? "Galanta. I wouldn't be...me if she hadn't started teaching me how to do stuff." Are there any black (or white) sheep in the family (including you)? If so, please explain. "Not that I know about." Do you have a notorious or celebrated ancestor? If so, please explain, including how it has affected your life. "Nah, our family has always been kind of quiet. Apparently one of my grandparents used to be the Herald, but I've not been able to find out which one." Do you have a partner and children currently? If so, please describe them. "Uh, not yet. I'm kinda young for that kind of stuff, maybe when I'm a bit older." If you do not have a partner or children, do you want them someday? How firm are you in your opinion on this, and what might change your mind? "I'd love to start a family! Unless God or His angels tell me I can't, I'm gonna get married as soon as I meet the right lady." What type of person would be your ideal mate? "Somebody smarter than me, for sure. A sensible, practical girl who knows their way in the world, with the strength of spirit to keep me in line if I start going and doing stupid stuff. Somebody grounded and thoughtful, neither of which are things I can ever seem to be." Relationships Do you have any close friends? If so, please describe them, and how you came to be close to them. "You bet I do! A guy at Claremont named Serge Explinker, who is real smart and just crazy good with machines and computers and stuff like that! Apparently he's a mutant of some kind, and he's definitely tougher and faster than a few of the other guys around there. Then there's a girl named Kristin Jones, from Australia. She has telekinesis, and as far as I can tell she's gonna be more powerful than I'll ever be! They're great to be around! Oh, and, uh...another girl, she's called Cerys..'Pfer', did I say that right? Anyway, she's from Wales and doesn't have any powers, but she's been trained by her family since she was a kid to fight against monsters and evil fairies and stuff. She's really amazing, and cool, and really pretty too. When I'm around her, it's like sunshine on flowers in a beautiful meadow, or something." Do you have a best friend? If so, how did they become your best friend? How close are you to your best friend? "I like all my friends a lot, I couldn't go and pick favorites like that, that'd be kind of mean." If you were to go missing, who would worry about you? "Well, my family would get real worried, and my friends in the city too. I guess the Headmaster would be pretty quick to take action about it too." Have you lost any loves? If so, how did it happen, and what did you do? "...Well, not really. I've..never even had a girlfriend before." Do you have any bitter enemies? If so, please describe them and their history with you. "I don't really know anyone who hates me, personally. There might be a few people who don't like that I go fighting them, but nobody that hates me for bein' me." If you have enemies, how do you think they might attempt to work against you in the future? "I dunno." What is the worst thing someone has done to you? "Blown up my parent's home, and those of a lot of other innocent people. Mas Severas will answer for that soon." Where do your loyalties lie? In what order? "The mandates and laws of Our Father in Heaven, my family, the governments of America and Puerto Rico, Headmaster Summers, my friends and the heroes of the world, the teachers of Claremont Academy, and me." Who or what do you trust the most? Why? "Besides God, I would say Galanta. Or Cerys, she's a real trustworthy person!" Who or what do you despise? Why? "People who don't think about what they're doing, and just assume at all times that they're in the right." What qualities do you admire most in other people? Are these qualities you possess? "Wisdom an' forethought, and being strong in the face of bad times. I..don't think I have those, nah. Dunno if I ever will." What qualities do you hate most in other people? Do you have any of those qualities? "Like I said earlier, I hate it when somebody never bothers to try and figure out if they're doin' the right thing before doing somethin'. I think I'm like that." Do you have a secret identity? If so, who knows it? Do you hide it from people who are close to you? Why? "Yeah, I have a secret identity. Kind of lame, I know, but I don't have the pull or power to keep my family safe if somebody tries to go after them. I'm pretty free with telling other heroes it if they ask, and everyone at Claremont knows about it. No sense in trying to act smarter or subtler than I am." Do you work well on teams and in groups? Are you a leader or a follower? "I'm a great team player! I like to think I have what it takes to lead others, but that's just me and my big head." Are you on a super team? If so, how do you get along with your comrades? Do you trust them, or do you have secrets from them? "Nah, I don't think I have what it takes to be on one of those teams. They need people who are really good at something and I'm..not." Are you a member of any church, fraternal organization, club, committee, political party, or other group? How much time do you spend on that? "I'm a confirmed Catholic, and I never miss going to church for any reason if I can help it." Personality & Beliefs Who are your heroes? "The Heralds before me! The Blue Dame is a bit cagey about who they were, but they all sound like great champions of the oppressed. My grandparents and a lot of their generation too. They lived under stuff that I never would have been able to. The other heroes of Freedom City are amazing too, I hope " Did you ever become disillusioned with former heroes or idols? If so, why and what were the circumstances? "Never! The heroes of Freedom are of unimpeachable integrity!" Do you like being a hero? If so, what is the most rewarding part? If not, what makes you keep doing it? "I love being what I am, and doin' what I do! Helping people in trouble, fighting against those who would overthrow the world for their own pleasure, it's what every little kid wishes they could be!" Is there anything that would make you give up hero work, or even switch sides? "...What? No!" What are your short term goals (what would you like to be doing within a year)? "Learn how to better use the power of the Blue Dame. It's not bad, but I could sure be using it more effectively. Try and find a good school to go to after my education here is done, and maybe help Cerys with her family's evil-fighting business." What are your long term goals (what would you like to be doing twenty years from now)? "I want to be the great hero of Puerto Rico! I want to be a renowned protector of the weak all over the world, fighting evil wherever it is found! I also want to have started a family by then." What is your greatest fear? Why? What do you do when something triggers this fear? "Vampires, I know it's stupid, and nobody else is ever scared of those things, but the idea of some kind of monster that looks just like a regular person...it's awful. I try to stay calm, and fight them like I have never fought before." Is there anything you would give you life for? "Yep. A lot of stuff, really. My family, friends, to protect somebody I would gladly die. That's what Jesus and the saints would want me to do." How do you feel about money and material wealth? Do you desire it or disdain it? Are you miserly with what you have, or do you like to share? Is it a mark of success, or a means to an end? "It's great to have, but keeping it around can make people do crazy things, and then other people start wantin' to steal it from you. I dunno about 'success', but it means you did something." How do you generally treat others? "Like I would want others to treat me, it just makes sense." Are you a trusting person? Has your trust ever been abused? "A couple of times, but I don't wanna talk about that. I stopped them before anything happened." Are you introverted (shy and withdrawn) or extroverted (outgoing)? Do you have a lot of self-confidence? "Nope! I ain't shy around anybody, no reason bein' all shuffling and mumbly around people. I'm quite confident in myself, and act it so people know about that. Well, I guess I might sometimes be a little shy around Cerys...but that's not the point! Anyway, what's next?" How do you act around attractive, available members of your preferred sex? "Oh, darn. Um, a little more goofy than I usually do, I suppose. I know a lot of people hate that, but that's what seems safest. I get a bit mouthy too, which doesn't really do me too many favors." What are your most annoying habits? "Bein' kind of a dumbass sometimes. Fidgeting and acting awkward and embarrassed when I get nervous...or embarrassed." Do you feel contempt for any general category of people? Who are they, and why? "Hypocrites, people who get others to think they're good people and using that to take advantage of others." What is your favorite food? Do you prefer any particular type of food? Do you take the time to enjoy your food, or do you eat as fast as you can? "Tomatoes!!!!! And my table-manners are fine, nobody's ever said anything against them!" What is your favorite drink (alcoholic or otherwise)? "Red wine, especially some of the French kinds, they're great." What is your favorite treat (dessert)? "Eclairs. They are delish." Are there any specific foodstuffs that you find disgusting or refuse to eat? "Stuff that's rotten, otherwise I ain't too picky an eater." What is your favorite color? Are there any colors you dislike? "I love the color gold, blue's a close second though. I remember seeing the sea in the morning for the first time, and it was just this endless rolling blue field, with gold sunlight blazing on it. I don't like black at all. Which sucks, because of all the classmates I have that use it in their costumes, and it makes talking with some of the Goth kids a bit harder." What sort of music do you like? Is there any that you hate? "Baroque composers have a deep and special place in my heart, I eat up everything from Chopin to Handel. As for music I don't like..anything that falls under 'rock' or metal I can't stand." If you have a favorite scent, what is it? "You bet! It's...Well..I-damnit, I can't make 'the way Cerys does' sound not creepy, so I'll go with my second favorite: a forest just after a heavy rain." Do you have a favorite animal? "Aw man, have you ever seen an ocelot? Binturongs're pretty sweet too." What is your most treasured possession? Why? "Well, 'round the time I was first visited by the Blue Dame she showed me this chest of old stuff my parents salvaged from their home in Puerto Rico, in it was this old flag bearing the national colors. She told me 'As long as you wear it close to your heart, you can always call upon my power.'" Do you enjoy "roughing it", or do you prefer your creature comforts? "Roughin' it! Being in the wild teaches you stuff that living in a city never could. It's fun too!" Is there a job or a task you would absolutely refuse to do? "Well yeah. Lots of things that are pretty, uh, abhorrent t'me. Doing a job that would hurt people for instance, or bring misery." Do you consider yourself a spiritual person? If so, how do your beliefs affect your life?How important is it to you? "I'm Catholic, so yes. A big part of what my parents taught me as a kid was that you're never really alone, and that everything you do and say is seen and heard by God. It definitely made me think twice before doing some stuff I don't really feel like bringing up. It's pretty vital to me." Was your faith influenced or molded by anyone special? "My sister. She taught me that Jesus and the saints were always around, ready to give us a hand when we needed one." If you belong to a religious organization, how often do you attend? Do you have a specific place of worship, or friends within the organization? How much do you agree with the beliefs of your organization? "I attend every service the local Catholic church gives, if I can make it. Not really 'close' to any one place, no. As for agreeing with what they teach...well it's not like I could argue against them!" *derisive laugh* Could you kill? Have you killed? "No, and thank God I've never had to." What circumstances led to you forming that conviction, or taking that action? "It's like this: wouldn't you want to be given another chance if someone had you in their power, and you had done something wrong?" Are there circumstances under which you believe it is permissible to kill? What are they? "Maybe, I dunno. The Superhuman Ethics teacher is pretty clear that if aliens attack we shouldn't hold back, and that the undead would be pretty grateful for the peace of the grave, but like I said, I dunno myself if that's right. I don't think I'd be able to keep from trying t'kill a vampire, though." How would you react to watching someone kill another person? Would your reaction be different if the killer was a friend or an enemy of yours? "I'd be pretty horrified, and try to bring them to justice for it. Of course, if they're willin' to kill, I probably won't stand much of a chance there...and it doesn't matter if I don't like them or they're my best friend! It's still not right to do." How would you react if something important was stolen from you? "I'd get a bit mad, then go look for whoever took it and try to get them to give it back." How would you react to public humiliation? "Pretty badly. Me and my pride don't do well when I get beat into the mud and stuff like that." How would you react if a good friend or relative were purposely or accidentally killed? Has it happened to you? "I would find whoever did it, and make them regret it. Luckily that's not happened yet, so nobody's had to watch from Heaven as their avenger cries his eyes out." What do you consider to be the worst crime someone could commit and why? "Sending somebody to Hell. Nobody has that right except the Almighty God, and thinking you have the kind of wisdom to say "You deserve to be tormented eternally" and act on it rightfully is pretty frickin' stupid." If your life were to end in 24 hours, what five things would you do in those remaining hours? "Go home, give everything I have to other people, make up with Rodrigo, give the Banner to Galanta, and ask forgiveness for everything I've done." Career & Training Do you have any special training in your hero skills? If so, where and how did you get it? "Not really, my powers are pretty basic really. Just draw on energy and use it to do stuff, not really too complicated." Who taught you the most about your heroing abilities? What was your relationship with that person? "The Blue Dame, my patroness and mentor, she's pretty dour a lot of the time, but I think she sees something great in me!" Do you have any particularly unusual skills? How did you acquire them? "Nothing anybody would think all that weird. I can speak and read Latin pretty well, but that's it, and that was part of some teaching I got from a priest back in Puerto Rico." Do you do something besides hero work for a living? Have you ever done anything else, or do you plan to? *blank stare* "Uh, what kind of person lives off of their work as a hero? I work at grocery stores around Bayview, and I'm learning how to be a diplomat. My mom rolls her eyes a lot at that last thing, though." What is your preferred combat style? "Right now it's just 'fly up and hit stuff', but I'm trying to learn about things like staff fighting and boxing." Have you ever received any awards or honours? "Well, I've been chosen to wield the power of Puerto Rico's national spirit! That's a pretty big honor, I think." What skill areas would you like most to improve in? Is there anything you can't do that you wish desperately you could? "I want to be better at everything! Stronger, faster, better at talking to people, able to use the Banner in lots of more neat ways. I won't be able to help people if I stay the same as I am now." How do you act around people who are more skilled than you in areas you'd like to improve? Are you jealous, or do you try and learn? "Well that happens pretty much every day, so I ask them for pointers and training." Lifestyle & Hobbies What is a normal day for you? How do you feel when something interrupts this routine? "Wake up, go to class, save the world. Hahaha! Not really, though some of the guys like to talk as if that's how it goes. Most days I just wake up, do some exercises like going to the weights room or the pool, go to class until lunch, go looking for people who haven't made any friends yet and help them out, then study until evening exercises and then bed time. Hero stuff usually only happens once in a while, and I'm grateful for that!" Do you have any hobbies, or interests outside hero work? What are they, and where did you pick them up? "Are there any people who don't? Anyway, I love reading old books from like the 1800s, and games that Serge makes up are always fun. The thing that makes me happiest though, is when I get go out and run, lift weights, do the rock-climbing wall, go swimming, anything that lets me move I'll take over anything else!" What do you do for fun? "...What? Did you..I mean, I can see why you'd ask, but you just got your answer!" Do you have a costume? What does it look like? "You bet I have a costume! It's based on old herald uniforms from way back. It's a padded and decorated blue and gold coat with rams on it, red leather gloves and thick-soled leather boots, a wide-brimmed soft blue hat with a swan's feather in it, a thick brown cloth mask, and The Pants. The Pants is all red, white, blue and gold, with white lines separating it into blue, red and gold diamonds! I dunno what it's made of, but it's really soft and really warm. They're kind of tight though, 'specially 'round the back. Oh! And I've got this belt that keeps The Pants up, it's got silver shapes of rams on it, and the buckle has the star of Puerto Rico! So yeah, I pretty much have one of the best costumes ever made." How do you normally dress when not in costume? "White cotton short-sleeved t-shirt, baseball cap with one of Freedom City's kickawesome sports teams' insignias on it, blue jeans and battered running shoes. For more formal things like church and stuff I have a black and white suit, and grey dress shoes." What do you wear to bed most nights? "Well, being cold doesn't really happen anymore, so just boxers. Uh...would you mind not tellin' anyone about that?" Do you wear any special jewelry? What is it, and what does it look like? "I have a silver crucifix I wear 'round my wrist." Do you have a special place where you keep your valuables? "Not really, don't have many valuables to keep anyplace." What's your preferred means of local travel? How about long distance? "Local I just go on the bus or walk, gonna get a bike soon. For longer distances I guess flying is a pretty good bet." Miscellaneous Have you ever made a will, or tried to make arrangements for your death? What provisions did you make? "Nah, I..I haven't really thought about that stuff yet. I suppose I oughta look into that someday." If your features were to be destroyed beyond recognition, is there any other way of identifying your body? "Well, there are some scars that only my family know about, I guess they could do that job. Kinda morbid question though." What would you like to be remembered for after your death? "Doin' everything good that I was able to do. Bein' a good and loyal husband and father, as someone who did what was right instead of what was easy every time. Don't think it'll work out that way, but I'll do what I can." Do you believe you pose a threat to the public? Why or why not? "Nah. My powers aren't the subtle kind that can do a lot of damage and are hard to stop, and it's not like there aren't lots of folks who are way stronger than I am or can just switch my powers off." What do you perceive as your greatest strength? "Bein' outgoin' and outspoken, never resting while there's something t'be done." What do you perceive as your greatest weakness? "Well, I'm not all that creative, and I don't really think things through very well. That and I'm nowhere near as efficient as some of my comrades are." As a player, if you could, what advice would you give your character? Speak as if he/she were sitting right here in front of you. Use proper tone so they might heed your advice... Focus on the moment and do all the good that is possible. This will all be taken from you before you know it. Enjoy being the hero while you still can.

Initiative roll: 4. He must be pretty mad.

A stare of disbelief and a protest of "But-we..." was followed in short order by a grumble of exasperation and a snapped "Fine! Get on my back" he directed, turning on his heel and slamming the butt of his Banner on the cement boardwalk, a golden light suffusing the pair of them before Errant found his clothing had somehow become cleaned, washed and dried while he wore it, and the same treatment had been given to El Heraldo himself! His mask no longer clung to his face, and his feet were now in much drier shoes. Of course, the two young heroes were still both fairly wet. "I remember where we were, so do not fret on that score." Subito said crisply, readying himself for another speedy flight "Let's just hope that guy hasn't already woken up and scarpered on us!" he added dourly, launching into the air with all the speed he could muster without pushing himself. As they sailed back to the spot where the metal man and his nanites had landed, Heraldo called above the rushing air "What did you find out from him? What is he, what was he doing there?"

The incessant hugs had quickly worn down his patience for the Queen's excessive affection, and he had struggled not to stick his tongue out at her as he was released from the chains, satisfying himself with a discreet kick at the two lengths of sleeping metal as he was led to his seat. He smiled apologetically at Cerys as he eased into the harsh stone chair, glancing around at the ever-present mist and felt for a strange moment like no world existed beyond the lake, and no people beyond those on the water. Shaking off the feeling he focused on the small phone as the Queen slid it across the round table into his hand. Scowling at her pleasant words, he muttered "Do m'best. Highness." he added by way of deference, remembering belatedly that they were still rather in her power. Taking a deep breath he tapped the small icon on the phone screen, and the simple, familiar tune rang out over the ship. He couldn't help but glance over at Cerys with confusion, his eyes asking 'For serious?' as he tapped briskly away into the first and simplest stage. He was soon lost in the simple and maddeningly precise world of flinging small birds at fortresses of pigs, calculating the exact parabolas that needed to bring the foul parapets and barriers down with the fewest possible birds, carefully timing the exact moment when a tap could spell an early victory, and wincing as an otherwise impeccable toss sent an explosive bird sailing elegantly clear over his target to flatten on a rock. It was not helped by the strange feeling of immense pressure. 'This is..this isn't the big fight, but...I still don't want to lose! I guess I would feel the same no matter WHAT game Blodeu chose.' he realized a little sheepishly, clearing the final stage of the first level with a mere fifty points under three stars. Sighing a little he handed it across to the Queen "Good luck, your Majesty." he said crisply, making sure his fingers didn't touch hers, which he rightly guessed she would try to do. He glanced up over the lake, wondering about what besides himself and the Afanc, currently crying in a cage slung against the ship, had brought them down. He was positive that something else was afoot... In a low voice he asked the youngest of the agents very simply "Is there something else here? Something that the Fey want?"

GM The wholly unexpected answer actually made the Queen stop smiling for a shadow of a moment, and suspicion glimmered deep within her bright eyes. Then it was past and their sunny hostess smiled grandly upon her guest, saying "Certainly! A game about 'angry birds' is bound to provide much entertainment! Have I ever told you about that young witch I payed in mad harriers? It brings laughter to my heart even so many years afterwards." she sighed with a fond look, then darted to her feet, caught her deep blue cape with its writhing patterns about her shoulders, clasped it neatly, and signaled to a dark corner of the room, from which Parsley emerged with a bland smile. Whispering into his ear, the Queen appeared to give him some directions, at which he bowed mutely and departed with strides of his long legs straight through the wall behind him. Sinking onto a nearby couch, the Queen deftly flicked Subito over to her side, and began to slowly strum a small lyre, humming to herself. Nisien's right hand flickered out the words "Magic. Not normal movement. In a hurry." as he admired the magnificent and unearthly fruits on the table, especially one that looked like a massive orange with a peach's skin. Cigfa answered him shortly "Courtier. Always in a hurry." The rest of the meal passed more or less uneventfully. The attending Fey gave little notice to their captive or the guests, the Afanc whimpered quietly into its holder before the Queen suddenly grew bored and announced that the banquet had concluded, ordering her Court to assemble into boats and go to the surface at once. "Find one of the staircases, and simply go upwards until you reach the summit of my towers. A boat will await you there." she explained brightly to the agents of the Order, swishing out the door and hauling her young charge at her train. With a soft sigh of water, the Queen's delicate ship burst out into the air, sliding to a halt, the deck dry as it had been below, though the sides streamed with water from the Llyn. The Queen and the Order agents were seated in a small circle, with a table holding Blodeuwedd's phone on the table in the middle. Subito having been relinquished from two of the chains, though the one around his neck still glittered between him and the throne, he sat among the agents in a smooth stone chair. "If you would, dear boy" the Queen smiled gently at him "by all means: begin! I look forward to pitting myself against you." The guards somehow managed not to smirk too obviously.

Watching with amazement as the armored champion of Colletidae everywhere smashed into the faux-insect with punishing force, Red Moon's face winced as the metallic crash echoed throughout the close walls of the vault. And its hide stood strong against the assault. The Farsider was baffled 'I had not thought Earth metallurgy was so...potent.' she thought, looking over its largely undamaged hide as it reared, looking for some weak spot, some-there! A loose panel, close to the core where the vital systems were most likely to be stored! Dodging towards it the grey-suited woman lunged underneath the metal bee, her long arms darting up and prying off the panel with a sharp tug, tossing it out of the room carelessly as her eyes locked onto her target: the couplings deep in its innards. A sharp pull, a few disconnected tubes and wires, and their foe would fall! Spidery hands slid into the guts of the steel insect, fingers hardened by death gripping the vital tubes in a fist, and pulled once, twice, and again! To no effect. Her dried eyelids fluttered as she tried to blink, peering through her helmet at the knot of tangled wires just blocking her attempted sabotage. Time was running out, she could feel the monsters energy beginning to course through its body, meaning that in mere moments she was going to be filled with several hundred thousand volts. With a Herculean effort, she stabbed her left hand into the morass of wires, shearing the robot's main connection to its power supply with a single stroke! Rolling out from under it, she looked up at the robot looming above her, knowing that this might be their only chance!

Alright! DC20 Disable Device roll: 19. ....Let us reroll that! 0HP left: 29! Woohoo!

GM Short, sizzling arcs of electricity hissed and crackled around the towering creature, only for it to dissipate and disperse into the ground harmlessly with puffs of smoke. Rearing up with a triumphant smile, Kaiser drew back an arm and sighted down at the lightning-thrower, with a sudden lashing motion hurling a fist straight at the Voltage, her crown of arms relaxed and their hands unclasped. As the monstrously-extending arm sailed towards her heroic target, the terrakinetic shouted exultantly "Ha! You can't really hurt someone as grounded as me! My footing is impossible to shift!" slamming a foot down...and slipping on the mud, her leg almost sliding out from under her as she jerked and flailed to keep her balance, a bizarre sight as her crown lashed about trying to get her equilibrium back. Her punchy sailed wide, and drove into the hospital behind the young genius with a burst of concrete dust. In that moment she was perfectly open for an attack.

'I-this is what it's like for you all the time?' For an eon-long moment, El Heraldo was in an alien world, a vast and nearly indecipherable plane where the minds of millions drifted just on the edge of hearing, and the quiet thoughts of the two young heroes passed each other like ships on a clear night. The revelation stunned him out of his earlier panic, and it was with a nearly placid thought of <'I understand, hold still.'> that the stocky teen dove like a torpedo straight to where the constant procession of thought came from, reaching out with an exact movement to grasp the leg of his schoolmate in a powerful grip. Still quietly boggled at the bizarre sensation of feeling the thoughts of others traveling through his brain, Heraldo flew the pair out of the murk and gloom of the South River and into the shock and cold of the late afternoon in New Jersey with a mighty splash, soaring into the air above the seemingly plodding water in a halo of his gilded cloud. His costume was soaked, the feather in his sodden hat bedraggled and drooping with both the weight of water and the several weeds that had been caught on it, his gloved hand clasped around Errant's calf streaming with the river water, and his coat and pants were no better. Glancing at himself and the other boy ruefully, Heraldo wasted little time taking stock of their clothing before hastily speeding through the air onto the shore and the Boardwalk, delicately depositing the other boy onto a bench as he landed, coming to his side in an instant with that all-important question. "Errant! Are you alright? Will you need a doctor?" he glanced around desperately, eyes wide with fear "Okay, uh...I think there's a place not too far from here, I can fly you there in under a minute!" he added hurriedly.

Could she use Disable Device to weaken it?

DC25 Toughness save: 13. Failed by 12. Staggered again. Kaiser is down. Out of rounds! And that's more or less the end of the thread, just a couple wrap-up posts and we're done.

If it's a power and not quite a vehicle, say something she controls by instinct and inherent ability rather than by training, it might make sense not to have ranks in those skills.

GM With a strange sound like clashing cymbals the translucent sphere wrapped fully around the herd, the powerful antelopes shuffling and wide-eyed but kept mostly still and quiet by the gentle movements and reassuring sounds Philos made. A jolt ran through the air, for a moment Philos felt a blast of heat around himself and saw a dry forest filled with low trees, and then the antelopes were gone, and he was back in Freedom City with a pileup of cars in the street nearby, a distant wail of sirens and a woman dusting off the seat of her costume, wrinkling her nose at the smell that still lingered from the animals. Smiling at the young Farsider she said cheerfully "Thanks! Now I should really get back to Wreak, he might do something ill-advised. Don't worry, we brought only a few such servants with us, and those sable beasts were the largest of that number." she said hurriedly, not quite looking him in the eye as she waved and began to walk rapidly back to the shop. "Good day!"