Ari

That I am.

Alright. Stormbreaker hears the sound of gasses pouring into the room, Voltage does not.

All-Out Power Attacking (+-2 on both) with Strike: 22! DC28 TOU save for Mr. Blessed!

Politely declining the sweeteners, Marceau savored the brew. He wasn't in the least a regular coffee-drinker(and considered the idea unhealthy), but he knew better than to say "No thanks" to something warm as night approached. Swishing the liquid around his teeth for a few seconds before swallowing with a gulp, he nodded at the woman's observation, and brightened at her chosen name. "'Catalyst', you say? Well Catalyst, you are entirely correct. Though I ought to mention I rarely attack people unprovoked regardless of their probably being criminal. To my mind it is hardly sane to pre-emptively attack someone just because you think they might attack you in the future" he smiled broadly before turning to scan the area below for a moment, just in case he caught the thieves beginning to make their way to some point closer to the chemical lab. Seeing nothing he replaced the binoculars and took another sip, continuing "I have no connections in the case, I merely heard recently about this spree and decided I should try to help" he shrugged "going by the reports I(and I am sure you) have read this sounds at least slightly beyond me, but I would be a greater fool not to try." He took another, slightly longer sip "Delicious" he stated as he put the thermos down close to hand, wiping a few stray drops from his lips. After careful consideration of the starless sky above them he said "I think we would be wise to work in tandem. Did you already have a plan of how to apprehend the thieves? I was going to set a few triplines, knockout-gas canisters behind the exits, that sort of thing. Then I was going to sneak in and drive them into the traps." This wasn't technically true. He had been working over the best way to capture whoever was causing so much trouble, but only then had the concepts crystalized.

GM The glowing orb was lifted with surprising ease out of the pedestal's claws, its surface rippling for a moment before subsiding into a glassy smoothness once more. A quiet mutter from their fallen enemy drew their eyes briefly to him. To the surprise of both the heroes, the narrow stab wound in the Amber Curse's leg, once rid of the sword, closed almost instantly. Not a trace of the injury was left. Then with a thunderous crash, thick stone shutters slammed down over the windows. At the same time, the portal winked out of existence, revealing a bare metal wall lined with heavy-duty pipes. The mural shimmered before a concealed projector activated, showing the head and shoulders of a visage familiar to Thomas, the face of Dr. Green; who who had nearly caused a catastrophic explosion in Greenbank trying to give a discontented and rich young man superpowers and validate his theories of a universal power origin. With a crisp smile at the two heroes he said, his voice echoing around the barren chamber "Ah, good. I was afraid this clumsy oaf wouldn't play his part convincingly enough. Remarkable what threatening somebody's loved ones can do..." Pushing back his glasses with a finger he said grandly, with a cheerless smile "...but I forget my manners. Permit me to introduce myself, Dr. Green, geneticist and chemist extraordinaire! And soon," he added proudly "I will have in my possession not only understanding of how powers come about, but powers of my own! For that I require your services and those of one or two others of note. Your abilities, Voltage," he said to the electric genius "will enable me to process the new information I will need to complete my theory, and you captain Silvia" turning his head to Stormbreaker "will grant me access to the so-called 'mystical' branches of superpowers, an avenue otherwise closed to me. Please, do not be alarmed, the processes you two will undergo have been rigorously tested to ensure there is only a minimal risk of your dying by them. As a gesture of good faith," he concluded with a glint in his projected eyes "I will give you two a few minutes before you are transported to your new residency. I hope you make the most of it. Oh, and by the way" he added casually, raising a small controller and tapping a button that caused the jewel held by Silvia to stop glowing "That's not the Eye of Argon." With a blur, the hologram vanished, and the projector dropped out of the ceiling, which closed over the hole with a sharp thud.

DC15 Notice checks for both Voltage and Stormbreaker, please.

This place matches the description of the Atleantean chamber where the Eye of Argon was first found after it was removed from Amanda McKittrick in the 50's, bearing a clear warning about the blood shed in pursuit of its power. Currently, the sapient artifact should be 'recharging' itself, gathering its power to call for a wielder once again.

For his part, Marceau had found the search for the Cult of the Dripping Pox quite informative and engrossing, though he was also glad when he found the brief, well-hidden name that would serve as their lead. That, and he was almost giddy at the opportunity to ride a spaceship that looked like an ancient sailing vessel, dashing about during their (to his mind far too brief) trip to the office building in the alwaays busy Theatre District, looking at everything and forcing himself not to touch any of it, just in case it exploded for some reason. He was still in high spirits when they arrived with a grand banking motion, and the gangplank was let down for their departure on their errand of mercy. Walking a polite distance behind the majestic Stormbreaker, he ran over what they had learned Alright, this Mr. Stills is involved with a secretive cult that is quite cache about their business, members and operation. Outright challenging him will most likely be unproductive, unless we could shock him with our knowledge he followed the caped captain down the gangplank, their capes flairing about the two Ah, we're going through the window. So, perhaps it would be best if we introduced ourselves just as investigating the-wait, the window?! he stopped short in surprise as Silvia briskly cut through the window and went in without hesitation. "Er.." he began, raising a declarative finger before shrugging and leaping into the office after her. Straightening up as he landed next to Stormbreaker, the King of Suits glanced at her with a vague look of concern, turning a much more pleasant smile towards their lead. In his deep, resonant voice he said "I am the King of Suits, and this is Stormbreaker, the gallant captain of the ship presently moored outside. We believe you can assist us in discovering a probable cause for the outbreak of this sickness plaguing our fair city, which we have been charged with investigating" he stood at ease, relaxed and entirely bereft of any outward signs of suspicion.

GM "Some of them were pretty roughly treated on the march here" Janice explained, changing a bandage(that had once been a strip of a cotton shirt) over a teenagers cut leg "Hold still, take my hand" she added to the boy, who was trembling slightly with pain, the injury looking ominously deep. "Those thing with the red caps, they didn't seem to care much about what happened to us, if you tripped they gave you a jab with a pike to make you step more carefully, some of these people will probably need to be treated for infection, those things never clean their weapons for some reason" she said, vitriol underlying every syllable "They seemed in a real hurry to get to this clearing, but when we reached it they just..lost all drive. They set up this camp quickly enough, but they've been just lazing around ever since, never even giving us a second thought" she shrugged "I have no idea what the hell they want, but this whole thing seems fishy to me" Jnaice glanced at Rene "How did they miss you? When we came out here, they sprang on us immediately, so fast they must have been lying in wait"

El Heraldo's confident grin vanished in an instant as he saw their Avian foe smash his mighty hammer against Blodeuwedd, leaving his schoolmate visibly jangled and briefly disabled. Darting forwards he sent a vicious jab into the side of the bulky man, striking under the ribs and just abiove the hip , his hand blazing with a burning golden light. That done, his booted feet rasped and thudded on the dancefloor as he all but danced around the heavier man, settling into a boxing stance between the Avian and Blodeuwedd, standing just to her left so she could attack with ease when she recovered. "Take just one step towards her" he snarled "and you'll wish you had let her reason with you!"

Bedanged... I'll make a regular Accurate Attack(+-3) roll, using the Strike power: 24! DC23 TOU save for Blessed, make a Move Action to get between her and Blessed, and set a reaction to Interpose should the Avian attempt to attack her anyhow.

DC15 Sense Motive check for the King of Suits: 9, nope!

GM Rene, after carrying his aged frame through the copper doorway(which upon closer proximity he saw was etched with neat glyphs and runes), found himself in a large, open single space. The cage apparently had one sole room for all the prisoners, who seemed to number around a dozen or so, in which the huddled masses clustered into small groups, looking up almost in unison as the ancient Frenchman entered the enclosure. The door shut with a violent slam just after his heel crossed the frame, and just as quickly one of the prisoners, a tall raw-boned white woman with a deeply unfashionable appearance and close-set dark eyes that matched her scowl. "Do you need any medical attention?" she asked brusquely "Name's Janice, I'm a nurse at the FMC, been there ten years" she added by way of assurance, her hard voice softening a touch as she noted the new arrival's advanced age. A slight glint flashed in the eye of the Redcap Marceau was talking to. The strange Fey said with faint cheer "Why, brother, we stand with many thousands of fellows, all ready to strike against tyranny. We are the might of the princes, and they will discover that soon enough" his sharpened teeth flashed in a savage grin, and he clapped his hands. A much more ornate pike than usual was brought from a nearby arms stand, and he said blithely "Now, for the loyalty test and to rescind your oath of fealty", taking the weapon at the ready and signalling for the presumed rebel to be seated.

"Thank you for your honesty, Mr. Smith" EL Heraldo said earnestly to the man "that helps us more than you know" Lightening up with a cheerful smile he went on "We are glad to assist in this matter, and indeed we would be quite wrong to ignore it, these people are our responsibility too after we rescued them! " his smile faltered when Tyrone mentioned that some of the prisoners were having difficulties that went beyond the flesh. "I'm sorry we couldn't have gotten them out quicker. Can they be cured?" he asked anxiously. Upon the answer he nodded quietly, saying "Thank you, Mr. Smith. If you will pardon us, we'll go ask them some questions about their departure" he bowed slightly to the officer and made his way back to the rooms where the two had contacted the refugees from the terror of El Sierpe. When they had reached the door he called out to the people inside in Spanish "<We've returned, you won't be leaving any time soon! Listen, this is important: what can we expect from El Sierpe if he tries to capture you all again?>"

Leading the way along the gravel path to the library, Subito nodded sagely at Blodeuwedd's words "I know what you mean, Cerys. Pitting yourself against somethin' natural feels way better than being judged by a machine. I still think you should try and box with Morgan, that'd be a sight!" he said with a laugh as he strode forth. To Tona he said "I don't doubt it. We won't be there longer than you want, just long enough to show you where to find the things you're likely to need and stuff" Walking briskly up the steps on his short legs, he began to whistle the slow tune of 'Ala una yo naci' as he shouldered open the stout wooden doors, gesturing vaguely to urge the three others in first before closing it, narrowly dodging around a small squad of boy students busy talking, who surged around and nearly through him in a babble that he only vaguely could make out. "Naw, Rae's gotta be an alien, she's got that-" "It's obvious Halja's from the past, look at how she talks! And what about-" in a moment they had swept past, and he took a second to shake his head and clear the jangling from it. Ugh, I've got to work on toning down noises when they get close grinning ruefully at the three girls he said quickly "Anyway, this here is the checkout counter, this is where you take the books you want to leave the place with, so people know who's got" he explained, gesturing to the crisp, dark wood panels and neat registers spaced evenly along its length, several older students assisting the rotund and grave-looking older gentleman with a vicious goatee frowning at the world through his slim glasses "..and that guy is Mr. Kuzin, he's not usually here" he added with a nervous glance at Tona "He's head of the theater, regular lady must be sick or somethin'" he added, mostly to himself. Quickly remembering where he was, he removed his hat and led the quartet deeper into the maze of mahogany shelves stacked with heavy loads of texts, leading them by a more or less direct path to the various large study tables dotting the first two floors, each bearing numerous small compartments to ensure students would have less to distract them. Along the way he explained in a whisper the universal library code of quiet "Y'know, so we don't end up makin' people get less outta their time here, especially from Mr. Skyler's classes" a vague look of terror passed over his face, and he shuddered as his feet thudded softly on the thick carpet. He made sure to mention, as they passed the short banks of computers with busily engrossed students clustered around them, "Learning to use those is super-easy. Even I can do it!" he added with a grin. The sound-proofed rooms were relatively late in the tour, just after the stocky boy gave a cursory explanation of what the Dewey Decimal System was and how it was used. "These," he said waving a hand at the narrow doors and slim-windowed rooms they were passing near the back of the first floor(having just shouldered through a gaggle of students desperately reading up on Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs used in the time of Thutmose "are for if you really, and I mean really need to be alone with just yourself and a book and some notes. I'd have to make sure on this, but I don't think two people can even use the same room" he shook his head "They're mostly used by the real hardcores, like Rae" After a short journey up the worn and slightly faded staircase, he demonstrated the microfilm and 'fiche rooms, enlisting the aid of a handsome African-American teen named Terrance (who wore more than the usual amount of jewelry) to tell Tona about what microfilm was and what it was used for, a subject that clearly passed clear over Subito's head. They bade each other farewell after a brisk and friendly chat that carried the group to the landing of the staircase leading to the first floor "Thanks man!" he said with relief as the talkative youth sauntered downstairs with a thick pile of chemistry books under one arm. Turning back to the three girls he said to Tona "Alright, that's about the basics of this place, there are some other nooks and crannies that are pretty darn useful in my opinion, but I bet you're already suffocating in this much dust" he grinned broadly before he started, snapping his fingers "Oh yeah, almost forgot! You see those stairs?" he asked rhetorically, pointing at a much cleaner and less trodden staircase behind them, winding up into an unlit darkness "That one leads to the third floor, we're not allowed up there, Mr. Summers says it's off limits, and I dunno about you" he added candidly, lowering his voice and leaning in closer "I'd not try my luck with that" he stood back at his normal ramrod posture, smiling at her "So..what d'you think?" he asked, waving around the quiet building with a look of curiosity.

Still in awe of the horrific monster of darkness he had just seen swim into the portal/altar, Marceau took a second to realize he had been spoken to, replying abruptly "..Wh-? Oh, yes. Alternate routes." He frowned in the dimness, the flickering lights of the temple below casting bizarre shadows across his face. After giving the problem due consideration he began dubiously "Well..those doors we came in through were blocked by whatever it was that sealed shut the ones used by the cultists, but this ventilation tunnel has to lead somewhere, I'll try and see if it leads anywhere useful, if not; there is bound to be a back door somewhere, and I dare say it will be quite easy to find. If they were invaded beyond hope they would need a way to escape capture, after all. I will be right back" he added in a whisper as he began scuttling off deeper into the tunnel "Don't cross us, Guan" he said tersely to Jane. I don't know about Silhouette, but I do not trust her in the least He struck out for a branch of the tunnel leading upward, as sooner or later the vent would HAVE to reach the surface in order to get air into the place. The logistics of underground facilities always baffled him, and it was times like this that he wondered if they were really worth the added secrecy if they were so hard to maintain. The drag of his cape on the ground was stilled to silence, and he stepped as carefully as he could to keep quiet.

Marceau frowned slightly at his armored comrade as he introduced himself. He hadn't suffered from the rampage of the last to bear the name, but he did know many who had. It would be quite fruitless if he was doing this for some ulterior motive, and he put his life in danger as well, suspicion would be churlish. "The..Bee-Keeper? I never thought I would meet someone who would call themselves that name, after what that mad inventor's made of it..." he admitted aloud, face darkening. Suddenly he gave a short laugh, grinning as he shook the boy's hand he concluded "...and I am now quite glad I have!" straightening up he added curiously "No relation of the poor man who preceded you? Ah, I hope you manage to make the name of the 'Bee-Keeper' one that is spoken with pride!" turning to Jubatus and Blue Jay he said courteously "Sir, madmoiselle, I thank you both again for your assistance. I must excuse myself," he said gravely, drawing the grapple gun from his belt and firing it at the roof of the nearby store with a soft *poom* "there is always work to be done around here in the Fens!" With a rush of air and a flapping noise as his cape swirled around him he soared into the air, landed on the roof, waved to the other three, and disappeared from view at a run. "Now, to look into that rash of kidnappings at the chemical lab. A stake-out seems like a good plan" he said to himself as he made his way towards the low dull white of the Monkey Towers apartment complex, long legs eating up the rooftops that separated him from his goal...

Aha! A cunning ploy, Harrier! thought Wave-Eye gleefully as he charged towards the exit, the slapping noises of his feet dulled slightly as the water rushed over them and cushioned his steps somewhat, teeth slightly bared as he focused on getting to the stairs and reaching their only hope's staff as quickly as possible. He was almost at the threshold of the door when the very familiar voice of Skull-Face, the decapitated victim of his savage past who had recently begun trying to bring about his end, rang out over the loudspeaker. As the furious words boomed into his ears, the shock of both hearing that hated voice again and realization at what was going on struck him like a hammer-blow. He stopped dead, staring into space as surprise and anger turned in an instant to bitter guilt. He usually put little stock in what the crazed skull said, but this time he had managed to go for weeks without wondering even once if his bloody days would be a hindrance to serving humans, and that lack of remembrance was soon changed into a failure on his part to remember the fallen. He had stopped just in front of the doorway with his arms loose and head bowed, and after a few seconds mumbled almost inaudibly "My hands are clean...I have killed none for centuries."

Using Will(it and his Intimidate have the same bonus anyhow): 20! So...he fails by 17. That makes him distracted for sure! So he's now Dazed. :argh:

I'd say continuing on is for the best, myself.

GM Jane Guan blinked in surprise when the high priest announced her demise to the congregation. "But..he knows the heroes that live here aren't supposed to kill" she muttered in bafflement. Turning hopefully at her captors she said softly "Hey..if you let me down there, I could get a few of those folks on your side; they'll be surprised enough to listen at least a little if they see me, the Listener isn't known to lie" she glanced back at the altar "Maybe I could even convince them to let those prisoners of yours free" Down below, the followers of Apep were beginning break off into smaller groups, with calls of "We'll take the second hall, you guys sweep the north passages" suggesting they wouldn't be very lackadaisical about looking for the two.

"'Pay for that'?" laughed El Heraldo "I dare say I will, but that will have to wait until we return to the future. You, in the meanwhile, are paying for your crimes right now" he leaned on the Banner, looking down at Lorenzo. "Yield. You are beaten, you have been thrown down by us time and again, we can easily catch you if you try to run. You cannot best us, traitor, so save yourself from our vengeance and surrender." Shouldering the Banner, he added grimly "I doubt the courts will have any laws about 'selling out humanity to the Serpent People in the past', but I'm sure your kidnapping of the librarian won't go unpunished."

Hi Dan! Glad to have you with us! Happy to hear you like what you've read, and that you're receptive to feedback. The latter is something folks around here love to give. :D

GM The portal voyage turned out to be more prolonged and winding than most were, and they could see themselves passing through some kind of orange tunnel streaked with grey, filled with twists and turns before they abruptly collided with a blazing white circle. Exiting with the same velocity that they had entered with, Voltage was sent sprawling across the ground for a few seconds, while Stormbreaker arrived with considerably more dignity. Their destination turned out to be a vast room with a low ceiling, with narrow windows dotting the walls letting in a bluish light. The Amber Curse lay at the far end of the room from the dais the portal had taken them onto, unconscious before a spartan altar that held the eye with a clawed stone hand, pulsating faintly and bathing half the place in a reddish gleam. The room was made of what looked and felt very much like granite, with pillars of a dark volcanic rock supporting the ominous roof, which was decorated with a vivid mural depicting the eye being fought over by vast marine-themed armies, while holding them all at bay simultaneously. Several large rounded metal doors lay behind them. Their foe was visibly breathing, but painfully due to the sword still lodged in his leg. The weapon didn't look like it was damaged in the least by the passage.

Affirming KoS's placement.