GranspearZX

Aiming for Serpent Person 1 and Warrior 2, with a +2/+2 damage split again: Attack roll (Split attack vs 2 targets): (1d20+9=23, 1d20+9=13)

He grunted; he knew they were trying to make him feel better... he wasn't so sure he deserved to feel like he'd actually accomplished something. It was the Beast Rune that kept him from losing himself completely. He supposed there was something to be said for that in the end... Despite his pacifism, it did feel good to slug Vigourie at least once. Damn mind controlling... Still, he couldn't help but feel a little bit guilty when Stone looked at him. He stood back up, shaking his head. He refused to feel sorry for himself. He was far too tired for that, and it didn't seem very heroic at all to sit there and mope about everything he'd done wrong. He actually managed a genuine, albeit weak, smile at Gabriel, a silent thank-you before joining Nick and Agent Stone. "Um... I'm glad that little lovetap didn't hurt you too much. And... thanks." Marcus definitely wasn't used to being the one needing rescuing... He only hoped he'd never have to get used to the idea.

"...huh? Yeah..." The Beast Rune wasn't comfortable in this place. As a result, it was making HIM uncomfortable, and he found himself distracted just trying to keep it under wraps. He nodded silently to Crow and led the way to the door, staff tapping absently at the ground as he headed inside. He wasn't much to look at really; a white Freedom City Heroes jersey, khaki cargo pants, and white sneakers. All in all, he looked pretty average, save the knapsack, spellbook, and staff he was carrying. He joined Etain just as she was introducing herself, nodding and waving. "...er... hey. Arcturus." He decided it best to use his codename; he wasn't wearing any sort of costume, but then again, once he transformed, names really didn't matter much where he was concerned... He looked around as Nick spoke, nodding slowly. "...definitely an interesting choice, but... eh. We're here now. These two rode with me, but... is it just us?" He knew at least one other mystic, Equinox, but he hadn't seen her since the incident in Pennsylvania. He wasn't entirely sure what her opinion of him was after what had happened... or Nick's for that matter. He cleared his throat, stuffing his free hand into his pocket.

The drive up to Lantern Hill was peaceful enough. Marcus had never been there, but he knew how to get there, at least, without needing a GPS device. He was in decent company, at least; he was giving Etain and Morgan a ride to the same place, though he didn't have a clear idea on what it was about. Just the fact that he was in a car with those two meant that it had something to do with their mystical abilities; all three of them shared that particular aspect. He slowed down as he approached the abandoned hotel, frowning as he looked up at it. "Wow, Eric wasn't kidding when he said this place was... how did he put it... 'Tales From The Crypt creepy'. It wasn't so much fear that he was feeling, but anxiety; the Beast Rune was on edge the moment he laid eyes on the place. "...well. Here we are. Parkhurst House..." He parked and got out, popping his trunk open and pulling his knapsack and staff out. There really was no sense in going in there without them...

Attack roll: (1d20+9=27) Grapple Check: (1d20+18=23)

"OW!" Arcturus hopped back on one foot, scowling as he kicked the knight's shield instead. The other words that came out of Arc's fanged muzzle certainly weren't fit for any 16-year old. He lunged at the knight, trying to grab him--mostly to keep that sword from poking him. There was also the impression that he might rip the armor right off the guy; that wasn't entirely out of the question yet.

Disarm Check: (1d20+9=12) The dice don't like me this afternoon. o.o

"Not so righteous now, huh?!" Arc charged forward, too enraged to think all that clearly. He was more in control than his growling and glowing eyes might have suggested, though, and rather than pounce on top of the knight, he tried to swing his leg outward to kick the sword out of the knight's hand.

"Did you just call me evil?!" The question came AFTER he leapt out of the tree, magic swirling around his form as he shifted in mid-air. If there was ever a way to push his buttons, that was certainly it, reminding him of exactly why he never mentioned his father in his explanation to Rene about what the Beast Rune was capable of doing to someone who was 'out of balance', as he put it. He dove right on top of the knight, aiming to swat him with a backhand in the face.

Initiative: (1d20+5=23) Attack: (1d20+9=12) ...and: Attack (Hero Point Reroll): (1d20+9=21)

There was way too much firepower being brandished around for Marcus to feel comfortable. Rather than continuing to lob snowballs the conventional way, he ducked and crawled his way through the snow, ending up somewhere in the vicinity of Etain and Glowstar. "Okay, this is just getting silly." He shook snow off his clothes and jacket as he stood up, trying to stay out of the current firefight. "When did this turn into a 'quien es mas macho' shootout?" He made sure he was behind Etain as he said it, not wanting to draw any more fire for the moment.

HP it is, while he tried NOT to let the Beast Rune get the better of him. *nods*

...okay, now that's just uncalled for. Marcus narrowed his eyes a bit. Sure it was just an illusion, but the repeated stabbing didn't exactly make the knight any more endearing. See? Just jump down there and dropkick this idiot into next week! His right eye twitched a little bit but he remained exactly where he was, trying to will the Beast Rune into shutting up long enough to let him think. What's there to think about? We can't just go around beating people up. And why the hell not? Marcus bit his bottom lip, gripping his staff more and more tightly in his right hand. He was just a few seconds away from just skull-bashing the knight before any explanation could be had. At least he hadn't touched Rene, but that wasn't certain to last... especially not with the Beast Rune goading him.

...are you kidding?! There were no words for the amount of ridiculousness Marcus was seeing. Then again, he was a practiced and proven cynic; everything was weird in some manner or another. This was an entirely new level of strange, and it definitely caught the young mystic off guard. He might've laughed if the knight hadn't just skewered his illusory double. Of course, that raised even more questions. Why is he after me anyway? I didn't do anything! Not yet anyway. He paused for a minute in thought, grimacing at the possibility that this misguided knight was after the Beast Rune's current incarnation. That... would be a problem. I guess you'll just have to kick his butt, now won't you? The Beast Rune buzzed in the back of his mind, its opinion on the matter echoing faintly in his ear. It wasn't exactly an unusual occurrence, especially not lately. Unfortunately, the fact that he and the magic of the rune were so synchronized forced him to admit that it might have a valid point... Still, he wasn't going to blow his cover. If he was lucky, the knight would just go away...

Split Attack vs Serpent Warrior 2 and Serpent Person 1: 29 and 27 respectively, and with Improved Critical 2 (Blast 2)... Going for an even +2/+2 damage split on each.

For someone who had no actual metahuman powers of his own, Crusader was always a bit curious to see others' in action. The teleporting girl and the other odd teenager were definitely unusual, and even his mask couldn't hide the look of mild surprise on his face at just how effective they were. Not to be outdone, he moved forward and sent his shield sailing again, watching it curve in a lazy, impossible arc before it smashed into the two leading snakemen again, one of the ones from before and his more decorative superior. "Surrender's still on the table, y'know!"

"Well, it's not REQUIRED, but it helps..." He traced a circle on the table with his finger. "A circle, for instance, can help focus a spell. It's a lot like any form of energy like that... You have to understand how it flows before you can actually do anything with it. From there, you can use a lot of different techniques; different geometric shapes and formulas can alter the flow and change the properties of... er..." Marcus realized he was babbling, and quickly brought himself back under control. It was strange how spouting magical theory took his mind off of everything else. "...at any rate. The problem I have is that I can't really use any of the 'active' stuff, not without understanding some of the vocabulary... Figured it might be important."

Blast 1 (Accurate, Mighty) (2 targets): (1d20+9=14, 1d20+9=10) Rawr.

#!@$%. The Crusader's eyes widened a little bit as Sharl boldly made himself known to the snake men. "Draw their fire, huh?" All he could really do was roll with it, and that was exactly what he did, moving forward without a hint of hesitation or doubt. He draw his arm back and let his shield fly at the two leading snakemen, though his aim was something less than stellar...

Climb: (1d20+5=14) And taking 10 for the Stealth roll for a cool 20. (10 + 5 skill + 5 circumstance).

Marcus climbed the tree nearest Rene, more concerned with keeping an eye on him than whatever seemed to be coming their way. He still had his glasses on, but they weren't quite as effective while he was perched on the thick tree branch, ready to jump down at any given moment. In the back of his mind, he couldn't help but wonder just what sort of beast was infecting people... It could have just been a freakish coincidence--there were, after all at least three different types of werewolves that he'd heard of. All he could do for now was watch and wait.

I think this time around, I'm gonna use a HP to use Seize Initiative. :)

For what seemed like a long time, Marcus didn't say anything, pulling his jacket over the slowly fading rune marking his shoulder. He looked visibly shaken; trying to hold it in was stunting his magic and preventing him from transforming fully. "...I guess this is what I get for running off without a plan, huh?" He looked back at the building, his eyes rather bloodshot from... dust. There was a lot of dust. He'd certainly never admit to anything else. "I could tell what I was doing, but... I couldn't stop. And I knew... I knew something was wrong, but I... dammit..." He paused again, rubbing at his eyes. The dust was unbearable. "...I hope I didn't hurt Agent Stone too badly."

My first GM thread. Let the WTFery begin! *mad cackle* Location: [North End] Freedom Memorial Hospital Details: A student at Claremont Academy is sick. Normally, that might not be cause for alarm, but she's been asleep for two days straight--not a great condition to be in when your power is to travel in and out of the Howling Dream, and see past and future events in her own dreams... Add to that her often cryptic, seemingly random sleep talking, and it becomes clear that she might not be awakening any time soon... not without help, anyway. So far, it looks like: Etain, Rene, Evander, and Wisp. Room for one more if anyone wants in!

"Better than I could manage..." He couldn't actually SEE the illusions until he took off his hastily put together glasses. There really was no telling when that enchantment would fail, but he at least had it if he needed it. He nodded, clearly impressed, but he still kept his voice down. "...we should move." He glanced in the direction the sound had come from, picking up his staff to move in the opposite direction for somewhere to hide. The thought crossed his mind to climb a tree in his bear form, but he wasn't about to leave Rene by himself...