Ari

Tagged.

GM The convention concluded with the showing of the cult favorite Dreams of Steel, a movie famed for its mysterious cut footage that supposedly took place on an actual starship, the owners of which objected to the potential security risks of releasing visual information about their vessel, or so the filmmakers claimed. Whatever had happened, the movie was almost good, its major failings being a truly unnatural amount of exposition offered about twenty minutes after the audience could easily figure out what was going on, aliens that looked like humans with weird pigmentation, and an over-reliance on jumpsuits as the de riguer extraterrestrial style of choice. Otherwise, the story was an enjoyable one about four humans helping a mysterious though largely beneficient alien confederacy deactivate a warlike stellar empire's doomsday weapon, saving billions of lives. Space scenes were few, but more than made up by the amazing cinematography of the alien planets the movie portrayed, which had a photorealism unsurpassed by other films of the time when it was released in 1965. When the end credits rolled, and the applause gradually depleted, the owner of the theater made an appearance, looking exactly as severe and respectable as she had sounded. She thanked the attendees, apologized for the unforeseen attack, and offered visiting students(who made up around three/fourths of the attending populace) a choice of the various movies shown copied to DVDs for no charge as an additional sign of apology. "We hope you remember this night for the enjoyment you had, and not for the reprehensible attack you have suffered" she concluded "and I would like to add as well that we are deeply indebted to those who defeated the magician and his mummy accomplice. This theater might be in ruins, or ablaze, if not for your defense" she bowed her head a little at that, and departed, the disruption having been smoothed away and the pleasant evening of watching bad movies at an end. The sarcophagus of Hed-Ra was re-interred at the city's Museum of Egyptian History, where it had been stolen quite mysteriously, security footage of the day having somehow been replaced by a looping, grainy black and white film of the Set animal drinking from a pool on some lavish estate, with a handwritten note declaring angrily My children existed then as now. The display for the collection of Set animal artifacts had been vandalized, with the plaque explaining their fictitious origins cut in half and largely melted. Small drifts of sand turned up in corners for months after the strange attack.

Subito was still slightly reeling from the endless waves of questions thrown his, Glow' and Saiph's ways by the reporters and police. He at least had been comfortable with the volume of the exchange, which had been only a little below his accustomed conversation level. On the other hand he was frustrated at how few of the questions had to do with the situation, and how many were extrapolations of the scene based on shaky evidence, if grounded at all. As a result he was shorter with Saiph than he might have otherwise been. "The power isn't mine, I ask for and receive it from the national spirit of Puerto Rico. It isn't 'magic', for it is not me exercising my will over the material or spiritual world using magical energies" he glanced irritably at the cosmic-powered teen "Besides, magic is only as mysterious as you let it be, there's like a gazillion books that tell you all about what magic does and how it works in the school library, and there is no shortage of junior witches and magically-gifted students to ask" He looked about the room "No sense hanging about, I think we should head out and get back into our normal stuff"

"That..is very much the way of things beneath the waves, to my understanding" replied Wave-Eye, shocked at how vicious the damage to the squid had been. He looked at the shell in his claw, wondering if he needed more practice in its use. He had no desire to kill someone he didn't want to by accident, just because he didn't know how much weight the water had behind it. "I did not intend to strike so hard" he admitted vocally for Skull Face's benefit "but I came to kill it and it is nearly dead" he placed the shell back at his side "Now to finish the task" he said with quiet force, approaching the squid's head. Once he was was close enough he reached out, almost cradled the massive head, and delivered a tremendous punch with his super-human strength to its fleshy skull, sending an impact through its body that killed the mighty sea creature nigh-instantaneously. He looked morosely at it for several minutes, lost in thought about how horribly familiar this mission was... Shaking his head he said gruffly in an especially watery and gurgling voice "Now, time to get this beast to shore, the humans will want to cut it open and look for their brethren inside it" catching hold of its tentacles, he began the laborious process of hauling the dead weight to shore, wondering as he went why he had never thought to ask it about its possible crimes. I wonder why I never even thought it wasn't guilty? he pondered, saying aloud to Skull Face "With any luck, this will be the minority of our missions together"

"It is an honor to hold it, Cerys" declared Subito gleefully, slipping into his El Heraldo manner for a moment as he gave the sword a wondering look, and returned it a little more slowly than he ought to "Not to mention completely behind someone nicknamed 'The Generous!'" he added. Leaning back against a thick offshoot behind him, he asked curiously "Training since you were a kid? I know a little about that, but I bet yours was a lot more intense than mine, I wasn't brought up in a family that fought Evil as a family pastime" He listened to the two other students a ways off arguing over whether the solemn teen knight Hodge or the fiery prince Golbasto would win in a fight, a variation on a weirdly(or so he thought) common topic at the school. A sudden realization occurred to him and he asked abruptly. "Oh wait, your forebear got Dyrnwyn for defeating Rhydderch? Why did he attack Gwynedd? Was the title meant ironically or did it not actually mean he was a very kindly person, just lavish in giving? Was he avenging a real or imagined slight, making a grab for territory, trying to distract the Welsh living around Gwynedd while an ally attacked somewhere else?" he sat down against the stem, resting his head in a convenient(if cold) fork.

In the quiet moments that followed the outburst from Frederick and his acquisition by Gallu, Marceau stared in horror at the now-dead amulet on the floor. He had no malice towards Frederick, and was horrified by his apparent fate, which he understood intellectually as justice. For all that he pitied the man, Frederick HAD summoned a demon that had killed at least three people and captured their souls, it was fitting that the catalyst of their misery be granted the same punishment. For all that Marceau wasn't what one would describe as vindictive, he had to admit he couldn't think of a more effective warning against the summoning of demons than by inflicting the same thing on the summoner as on the demon's other victims. He wondered glumly if Frederick had sold his soul to Gallu in order to awaken the amulet's power... All that he left unsaid, remarking only after the shock of the moment had passed <"...Someone will need to tell his family too"> he gave a weary sigh and said to Rene <"What a mess this turned out to be my friend. I'm sorry I wasn't able to do more, but at least"> he acknowledged <"the demon no longer stalks this city. I will do my best to locate the family of the abducted Mr. Klinefelter and I'll bring the body of the woman to the closest morgue for potential identification"> he shook his head as he went to unwrap the corpse, muttering <"What a mess..."> After painstakingly repairing the body to its earlier state wrapped in the tarpaulin, he looked at the two Halbediers and bowed slightly <"It has been a pleasure, gentlemen, to assist you in this. I am deeply regretful a more..positive outcome could not be reached. If ever you require aid I am sure the local House will be glad to help in battling the occult forces we are usually unaware of">

NO Thought the King of Suits with a sudden descent of red wrath over his eyes. NO, NO, NO he thought desperately as he grabbed a boomerang and threw it with perfect accuracy at Frederick's hand, barking aloud <"I will not allow it! You will NOT destroy all this time and effort in a moment of greed!"> dashing forward he snatched it from the ground and, grabbing a knife from a nearby table, nailed it to the floor. <"The power will come, Frederick, in TIME"> he snapped <"Sudden influxes and artifacts that let you bypass the real work of magic are all well and good, but they have nothing on achieving that same command by your OWN merits!"> glowering at Klinefelter he added dourly <"Besides, how long do you think you could have used it before Gallu was loosed again? You have a great deal to learn before you should use magic in any form Frederick, it would be terribly dangerous for you"> He gave the chant a few rounds, just in case

"Profusely" answered Wave-Eye with noticeable surprise in his voice. He had felt the bonds slide off the fellow sea creature, and he knew for a fact that he hadn't made it move on his own strength, so its sudden change of position bred dark suspicion in his heart. "This may be a trick" he muttered to himself(and Skull Face), but still charged forward through the dark water towards the tentacled fiend, bringing his conch to his lips once more once he was almost close enough to reach out and touch the squid. A deep groan echoed through the water, and a jet of pressurized water slammed into it, Wave-Eye making sure the creature felt the full force of the attack, hoping it would be enough to at least injure the squid so he could encourage it to go after him. He had no fear that he couldn't move faster than it, and besides could move it away if he needed. If this breaks its hide enough, I'll have weakened it enough to easily lure it to the surface

Subito charged silently through the water, ears pricked to catch the least hostile movement on board the yacht. Fortunately, sense(and threats) appeared to have prevailed on them. The storm had made it more than a little difficult to push and steer the boat, which he hadn't even considered complaining about or stopping to rest because of, considering Glow's exertions and the delicacy of her task. He guided himself using the approaching Coast Guard boats as a reference, steering himself and the cumbersome yacht towards them unceasingly. He gave a sigh of relief as they finally reached the FCCG boats, gritting his teeth at the sound of Jack Jackson(and contemplating sending a gout of water onto him...), but he kept the course, keeping the yacht as squarely between the two rescue ships as he dared in the choppy water. With infuriating care he at last pushed the yacht next to a mooring point, waiting at a suitable stretch of water so shallow he could actually see for Kristin to deposit the boat so he could bring them in. When the yacht was moored, the prisoners safely out of peril, and he had stretched his aching arms and back, he finally flew idly up next to the captain sent to help and stated "Officer, if you will allow it I will assist your men in searching the derelict freighter for evidence of Diamond's complicity with the criminals who committed the repulsive crimes the prisoners will inform you of. The man is little better than a pirate, and much worse than those who turn to that evil out of need. Please do not be gentle with him" he added earnestly. After the captain's answer he nodded and went to Glow "That was amazing, Glow!" he exclaimed with unfeigned enthusiasm "I've never seen anything like that before! How are you?" he asked, suddenly concerned "You need a rest? I can get our stuff and fly us both to wherever you wanna. Also we should probably shower" he added, glancing at his soaked, dirty costume.

Marceau winced at the sound of breaking bone and tearing remnants of sinew. He wasn't adverse to attacking corpses(the vampires he had hunted in Latveria could testify to that), he still was startled by the reminder that Gallu possessing something didn't make it far even tougher than it did. The statues had taught him about overestimating the demon's abilities, but still... With a shake of his head he quickly switched to mental subjects that didn't make his eyes well up, and continued with the chanting to the end. He placed a hand on Frederick's shoulder to lend some support, watching the corpse out of the corner of his eye until the ritual was done all the while. He didn't expect Gallu to have any more tricks up his sleeve, but the words of warning still rang in his head nonetheless. He looked at Marcel and nodded in thanks for his subduing of the dead body. "Ostium clauditur ostium clausum est, Adaperire Adaperire!" he recited faithfully, determined to ask the full meaning and origin of the phrase as soon as their work was done.

King of Suits will follow..suit. >.> Stealth check: 27. Also a Free action to don his Night-Vision Goggles.

Nevermind! I actually just screwed up with the initial attack. Trade-Offs and all. New Attack: 17. DC27 TOU save should that hit.

Looks fine to me.

Currently they are still in the hall that is being flooded with Terminus energy. It's far weaker than the normal kind but still highly corrosive, and unless they make some kind of force-field/block the outlets/do something else to stop it, they will need to pass a DC18 TOU check after each action they take. Also you could try talking with The Complex Computer. That might help. Maybe.

Got it, now for the attack proper. If necessary, moving to melee distance and using the Damage BP of the Conch to try and harm it. Attack roll: 11 NAY. using a HP to Reroll: 25 Alright! DC27 TOU save if that hits.. And I see I need to edit W-E's sheet to remove some errors that crept in somehow.

Eh, I'll live. Heraldo's not exactly as compelling as Glow, either.

Eh, plenty of other tacks to try; like asking it to turn off the security system, interrogating it about its history origin, not many topics closed at the moment. And if he could get Ironclad and Supercape there to back up his words that would most likely be rather more effective in changing the creature's mind.

Indeed she can. Initiative roll for the agents: 20. Huh. Roll for the robots: 16.

Sadly that is the case, your words do not sway the creature.

The reverberations and bulk of the thing brought it into Wave-Eye's view long before an average human could have detected it. He stared at the creature as it swam quickly(for its size) in his direction, and marveled darkly at it. "Ah, Skull-Face, I don not you are insane. The insane never seem to doubt their sanity, whereas the sane doubt that score greatly" he smiled, his sharp teeth glinting from the reflected sunlight that trickled down into the murk "And now...to the task I have been set!" he barked, a spined hand grasping the conch shell that hung at his thigh and putting it to his lips. Blowing through it with great force, he sent a wave of frothing water around the dimly-beheld squid, which dispersed into the rest of its companion liquid. With a roar through the shell that sent a soft tremor through the Centenary Bridge, the water around the squid turned almost black with a sudden profusion of bloody trails, which wound around the sea creature and tried to carry it with them on their way to the surface along with the thousands of gallons of water that happened to be near it. Turning to Skull Face Wave-Eye declared warmly "And now that it is closer the surface, how much weaker it shall be! It is a rare thing to behold a combat such as this Skull Face, add it with care to your memories" he looked back at the squid, coolly planning how he would weaken and kill it.

*coughcough* WaNder *coughcough* Great job Supercape!

Very well, Grapple attempt: 37 how does that do?

Okay, using the Move Object to lift the giant squid closer to the surface so it has less chance of escape(hubris ahoy! :oops: ) Wave-Eye can lift around 32K tons as a Heavy Load. Would that be enough to hoist the Gigantosquid and the water around it towards the surface?

I personally want him to be caught, but if Scuffles wants him to escape I'm fine with it.

I will tear you to pieces doctor! El Heraldo seethed internally as the explosion rocked the ship, he had instantly begun to rocket off in the direction of the deck so he could scan the sea for lifeboats, but Glow's call had dragged him back. He hadn't shown his dismay(a first for him) and instead attended to what needed to be done for the captives to keep them from drowning in the North Atlantic. Her plan to carry the whole ship boggled his mind, but he had seen crazier things on the Atom Family Adventures! on Saturday mornings, and went with it without a murmur. Zipping down to the holding cell, he explained quickly what was about to happen and guided the prisoners into more secure rooms well above sea level, flat-out ordering them NOT to close the doors, and raced up to the bridge so he could call the Coast Guard and tell them about what had happened. Tuning to the righr frequency was easy after seeing where Kristin had turned the dials. "Coast Guard! This is Glow's associate in heroics El Heraldo. Those responding to the recent distress call for the cargo ship thirty minutes or so from Freedom will most likely see a cargo ship flying in the air surrounded by a green glow. This is NOT a hallucination, my comrade Glow is a telekinetic who will carry the ship for as long as she can, it has been badly damaged by a deoth charge and must be brought to shore as quickly as possible, she and I will be around a yacht belonging to Steve Diamond, he is involved criminally with the captain of the vessel and a doctor of some kind" he stopped and thought this over, saying after a second's thought "I'll explain when we meet your ships, please hurry! She can't carry the ship for long!" He soared quickly back to Glow, picked her up, saying "Alright, now or never!" and flew her to Diamond's yacht. Touching down he snapped "She is going to carry the cargo boat. If any of you make the slightest move to attack her while she's doing her thing, I will come up, bat you on the head, and throw you overboard with a life jacket for company. Do not test our patience" he dove underwater at the stern of the yacht and began pushing with all his might, willing his muscles to do a smaller version of what Kristin's brain was about to and churning off in the direction of the coast. He cursed the darkness.