Thunder King

Attack roll. -2 damage, +2 attack. 21 on the roll That's a DC22 save if it hits. Which it probably does?

"I might get involved. Honestly, I should. I never really learned to trust other people or make friends, and I'm starting to get better with it. Maybe I will try to join the music club." He shrugged. "Sounds fun." "It's weird. My dream is to, you know, be a famous musician, but I've rarely played for other people. I need to get past that."

Tagging

Specimen A very tall, buff young man walked into the room. He had a mop of shaggy black hair and a handsome, if bland face. He wore a t-shirt and jeans over huge muscles. HIs arms were covered in faded scars. He had a pale Caucasian complexion, save for a slight graying of the skin. "Hello, sorry I'm late. I can't believe I scored a gig like this and I'm already late." He took a breath and looked over the group. "I'm Adam. Or, Specimen, as it were. You may note my unusual appearance." He smiled, took a deep breath, and steadied himself. "I call myself Specimen not because of my strength or musculature, but because I am, in essence, a science experiment myself." He pulled the sleeve of his t-shirt up over his bicep to reveal the scarred skin that lie underneath. "I am the accumulation of various hero and villain genetics. My creator attempted to make a body for himself that would have superhuman strength and durability. He actually failed, which is why I have so many scars. According to the data they found, my body was missing several major organs, as well as major muscle groups. So he just cloned the parts I was missing, and stitched me together. And yet it worked, because I do indeed have extraordinary strength and durability. I've actually had a few skin surgeries to reduce the scarring, mostly on my face. I have a ways to go, still, but it's not as bad as it once was. My creator died before he could, well, occupy me. His plan was to contact a telepath, possibly one of the Psions, to transfer his entire consciousness to me. The truth is I shouldn't even exist. By all logic, my body should have been inert. And yet I woke up once they pulled me out of suspended animation. My dad is a psychologist, my mother a biologist. They decided to adopt me, and now here I am." He chuckled. "Sorry, that was rather long winded of me. If we're all going to work together, I thought I'd satisfy your curiosity now, rather than later."

Sever HellQ Introduction Who are you? Sum yourself up in one sentence. A kid from Jersey who lucked into a magic sword. Do you have any nicknames, street names, titles, or nom de plume? Everybody calls me Ryan. It’s not short for nothin’ What is your full birth name? Ryan Alexander Jacobs. Hardly anybody knows about ‘Alexander’ Where do you live? Freedom City Home for Children How old are you? What year were you born (if applicable)? 16. I assume I was born in Freedom City, ‘cause nobody’s ever told me otherwise. Physical Traits What is your gender? If not applicable, please explain. I’m a man. How would you describe your heritage? Uhh…white? I mean I could be half-Grue for all I know. How tall are you? Six foot two, and maybe not done growin’. What is your body type? Fit. Not super buff, but not scrawny. I got muscles. Do you have any particular weaknesses, such as allergies or physical disabilities? Nope, I am fit as a fiddle. I don’t get sick often either. How do you carry yourself? Are you graceful, or heavy on your feet? Can you be stealthy, do you walk with confidence? I keep my head high. I’ve always been pretty light on my feet, too. Describe your skin, eye, and hair color. Pale, I don’t get much sun. My hair is dark brown, but I dye it all the time, so I usually got a streak of somethin’ in there. Sometimes I go black, too. Eyes? Kind of a steel gray How do you wear your hair, if applicable? Do you have facial hair? Messy, usually. Though I’ll style it in like, little spikes sometimes. I like to stay clean shaven. Do you consider yourself attractive? Do others? I mean on the one hand, I’ve been told I’m handsome. On the other hand, I’ve never had a girl really show interest in me, so, like, maybe? Do you have any scars, tattoos, piercings, or birthmarks? I got a scar on my left leg from when I got scratched pretty bad by something I dropped. One day I might get my ears pierced. I am gettin’ a tattoo as soon as I turn 18. Uncle Charlie’s guitar. The one he left me Do you resemble anyone famous? I kinda look like absolutely nobody. Do you have a dominant hand? I’m right handed. What kind of clothing do you wear? Band shirts, jeans, an old jacket, and military boots. Most of the time. Do you wear makeup? No, but I do know how to put on eyeliner. What is your vocal range? Is your voice distinctive in some way? I gots me a Jersey accent, they say. My voice is kinda…medium, I guess. A tenor. I can drop pretty low and go fairly high, but there’s a reason I play guitar, not sing. 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 find myself strumming even when I don’t have a guitar. Just kind of practicing on the air. Especially when I’m listening to a song I like History Where do you come from? Freedom City, an orphanage. Before that, I dunno Have you made any major moves, or do you live in your hometown? Most major move I ever did was going to Claremont. Other than that, yeah, I probably live no more than 30 miles from where I was born. Do you feel loyal to your country of citizenship? Do you consider yourself patriotic? How do you feel about the government of your country? The US ain’t better than anywhere else on Earth, no matter what they say. If it was, I wouldn’t have grown up the way I did. Not that they didn’t take care of me, they just didn’t have a big budget. So excuse me for not bein’ the most patriotic man around. How do you feel about the place you come from? They do the best they can with what they got, but I’ll be glad to be gone. Where is your home town? What was/is it like? Freedom CIty is a pretty cool place. I wanna see more of it. Growing up, were most of the people you knew similar to you, or were you somehow a minority? How did that affect you? I grew up with all kinds. One thing orphans all have in common; somebody didn’t want ‘em, or couldn’t keep ‘em. And that goes beyond race and creed. Is there something you've always been really good at or really bad at? How has that affected your life? Music is my life. I play guitar constantly. Mostly for myself. It saved me. Given me a reason to get up every mornin’. Given me somethin’ to do when I ain’t got nothin better to do. It’s ‘enriching’ Were there any traumatic experiences in your early years (death of a family member, abandonment, orphaned at an early age)? Uncle Charlie’s death. Every week for years, he’d come around and play guitar for the kids. When I asked him to teach me his face lit up. He had a wife and his own kids, so I never knew exactly why he came around, but he did. And it changed my life. Then one day his wife came over instead of him, and told us that he’d died. Then she gave me one of his guitars. I cried for a week straight it feels like. It still hurts. He was the closest thing to a dad I think I’ll ever have. Briefly describe a defining moment in your childhood and how it influenced your life. I remember when I first realized that nobody really gave a %$# about me. I was meetin’ some potential adopters…and they didn’t like the look of me. Would not give me the time of day. They just sort of…looked at me. Dunno what was wrong with me, but I knew at that moment that nobody was gonna want me for me, so I might as well make my own way. What stupid things did you do when you were younger? I had a time where I’d talk back to absolutely everybody. Did not matter who. I couldn’t be taught anything, I couldn’t be corrected, I was the smartest man on Earth. I didn’t have a chip on my shoulder, I had a whole damn boulder. I got past that, though. Where did you go to school? How much school did you have, and did you enjoy it? They sent me to a public school. Everybody knew we were orphans. Nobody seemed to much care, there. None of the other kids were rich, either. Some of the other kids didn’t like their own parents, and kinda wished they were orphans. They wouldn’t have meant if if they knew what it’d mean though. Do you have any mementos of your childhood? What are they, and why did you keep them? If you have none, why not? I got one of Uncle Charlie’s guitars. Only thing I’ve got that I’d care to keep beyond its usefulness. His wife gave it to me after he died. It’s a beautiful guitar, worth more than I could hope to afford for years workin’ fast food or whatnot. Not exactly a top of the line guitar, but one you could see on stage at a concert. When did you decide to become a hero? Why? Did anyone influence you one way or another in the decision? That sword would not leave me, and I didn’t want to let it go. When I realized it gave me powers, I figured why not help? Is the reason you give people for becoming a hero different than your real reason? If so, why? Never lied to anyone about it, no point. I’m not special. Do you have any deep, dark secrets in the past that may come back to haunt you? No, not really. Do you represent yourself as being different from who you really are? Why? I don’t think I could lie about me if I tried. Even my costume’s barely a costume. 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? Nobody really cares about my past. Do you have any sort of criminal record? If so, is it public knowledge? I’ve never actually broken the law, but I have bruised it some. I got into some fights in school and with the other orphans. Family What are your biological parents' names? They could be aliens for all I know. Were you raised by them? If not, please explain and describe who raised you. The orphanage had a number of workers over the years. Nobody in particular ‘raised’ me. What was their standing in the community? What did/do they do for a living? They took care of kids like me for a living. Where are your parents now? If I were to guess, dead. At least I hope. Is that bad of me? I’d rather them be dead and have no choice but to leave me, than to leave me on purpose. Did your family stay in one area or move around a lot? I’ve lived at the same orphanage my whole life. How did you get along with their parents? How do you get along with them now (if applicable). I have no idea. How do your parents view you now, or how would they? I hope they find out about me, if they’re alive. I hope they have as many sleepless nights thinkin’ about me as I do thinkin’ about them. Do you have any siblings? If so how many and what are their names? Describe your relationship with them. What was your birth order in the family? Where are your siblings now (if applicable)? Do they have families of their own? What do they do? I don’t have any family. Do you stay in touch with them or have you become estranged? See above Do you love or hate one member of the family in particular? See above Is any member of the family special to you in any way (perhaps, as a confidant, mentor, or arch-rival)? No Are there any black (or white) sheep in the family (including you)? If so, please explain. If anyone I’m related to is alive, I’d be the black sheep by default. Do you have a notorious or celebrated ancestor? If so, please explain, including how it has affected your life. I could be a direct descendant of Abraham Lincoln for all I know. It’d explain my height. Do you have a partner and children currently? If so, please describe them. no 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 think about that a lot. I mean I’m a teenage boy, girls are half of what I think about, and the other half is music. But yeah, I think I’d like one sometime What type of person would be your ideal mate? Gotta like music. I don’t care if she’s tall or short, thin or big, but she’s gotta like music. Doesn’t even have to be what I like. That passion is essential. Relationships Do you have any close friends? If so, please describe them, and how you came to be close to them. NO, but the school is fun. Do you have a best friend? If so, how did they become your best friend? How close are you to your best friend? Never really had any friends, let alone close friends. If you were to go missing, who would worry about you? Mostly the people in charge of me. Have you lost any loves? If so, how did it happen, and what did you do? I’d have to find some first. Do you have any bitter enemies? If so, please describe them and their history with you. Nobody really cares enough about me to hate me If you have enemies, how do you think they might attempt to work against you in the future? I ain’t got nothin, really, to go against. What is the worst thing someone has done to you? Abandoned me Where do your loyalties lie? In what order? Loyalty? Pfft. Not really a concern of mine. Who or what do you trust the most? Why? What the hell is ‘trust’? Who or what do you despise? Why? I despise snobs. That’s the list. What qualities do you admire most in other people? Are these qualities you possess? I like talent and drive. I got respect for anybody who wants to be better than they are now. What qualities do you hate most in other people? Do you have any of those qualities? Arrogance that’s unearned, same with pride. If you’re proud because you’re strong or because you’re smart, that’s fine. But if you’re proud because your mommy or daddy gave you a car….screw off. Do you have a secret identity? If so, who knows it? Do you hide it from people who are close to you? Why? Everybody I know at the school knows it. Do you work well on teams and in groups? Are you a leader or a follower? Neither. I follow suggestions when I agree with them. I’ve been told what to do for too long. 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? I mean…slightly? Team is pushin’ it. I get along fine though. Are you a member of any church, fraternal organization, club, committee, political party, or other group? How much time do you spend on that? nope Personality & Beliefs Who are your heroes? Uncle Chalie, and he’s dead. Did you ever become disillusioned with former heroes or idols? If so, why and what were the circumstances? No Do you like being a hero? If so, what is the most rewarding part? If not, what makes you keep doing it? I do. I’m helping. And it can be fun fighting bad guys and kicking ass. Is there anything that would make you give up hero work, or even switch sides? Switch sides? Never. Quit? IF I got hurt bad enough What are your short term goals (what would you like to be doing within a year)? Good grades, better at my guitar, normal stuff. What are your long term goals (what would you like to be doing twenty years from now)? A famous hero or a famous rock star. What is your greatest fear? Why? What do you do when something triggers this fear? Failure. Just, total failure. Turning out the loser everybody assumes orphans are supposed to be. Is there anything you would give you life for? To save lives. My life ain’t special. 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 mark of success, or a means to an end? I am very careful on how I spend what little I get. I’ve never wanted to be rich. That ain’t why I wanna be a rock star. I wanna be…more than I am. How do you generally treat others? Mutual respect and basic kindness. Politeness doesn’t cost a thing. Are you a trusting person? Has your trust ever been abused? I don’t hardly trust anyone, but nobody’s ever really hurt me. Are you introverted (shy and withdrawn) or extroverted (outgoing)? Do you have a lot of self-confidence? I have confidence in some things, but not others. How do you act around attractive, available members of your preferred sex? Terribly, I can NOT talk to girls What are your most annoying habits? Probably my obsession with music Do you feel contempt for any general category of people? Who are they, and why? Snobby people, and anybody who thinks they’re better than anyone else. Especially if it’s got nothin’ to do with anything they did 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? I’ve learned to slow down. I love good pizza. Gimme a slice with some pepperoni and olives and it’ll be gone in seconds. What is your favorite drink (alcoholic or otherwise)? I like soda. Cola, mostly. What is your favorite treat (dessert)? A nice warm cookie. Are there any specific foodstuffs that you find disgusting or refuse to eat? Not really. I’m a growin’ boy, and I am curious. There’s all sorts of things I ain’t tried yet. What is your favorite color? Are there any colors you dislike? Black What sort of music do you like? Is there any that you hate? Metal, and not really? Sometimes I say pop, but I’ll be honest. Anybody who has talent in music, whether with an instrument, their voice, or mixing software, has my respect. If you have a favorite scent, what is it? I do like the smell of leather. I want a nice leather jacket sometime. Do you have a favorite animal? Not really What is your most treasured possession? Why? Uncle Charlie’s guitar Do you enjoy "roughing it", or do you prefer your creature comforts? I grew up in an orphanage in the city. I prefer the city. Is there a job or a task you would absolutely refuse to do? You won’t get me to kill Do you consider yourself a spiritual person? If so, how do your beliefs affect your life?How important is it to you? Maybe there’s a God, maybe there isn’t. Maybe he sent me this sword to help me along. Don’t know. Was your faith influenced or molded by anyone special? What faith? 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? No Could you kill? Have you killed? Only bugs, and no. What circumstances led to you forming that conviction, or taking that action? I understand loss, and I’m not doin that to anybody else. Are there circumstances under which you believe it is permissible to kill? What are they? If I’ve got no other choice, maybe. 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? People don’t tend to deserve to be killed. I wouldn’t react well How would you react if something important was stolen from you? Fight like hell to get it back How would you react to public humiliation? Run away. How would you react if a good friend or relative were purposely or accidentally killed? Has it happened to you? I understand loss, but nobody ever died in front of me. What do you consider to be the worst crime someone could commit and why? Murder. Life’s got so much potential, and to snuff it out is just…cruel. Well that and other things I ain’t comfortable with discussin If your life were to end in 24 hours, what five things would you do in those remaining hours? Play the guitar, find a girl to kiss…somebody would kiss me if I was gonna die soon…eat a good meal, talk with friends…I don’t like this question Career & Training Do you have any special training in your hero skills? If so, where and how did you get it? Nope. I just got a magic sword. I think it’s magic. Who taught you the most about your heroing abilities? What was your relationship with that person? Nobody really taught me. Do you have any particularly unusual skills? How did you acquire them? Guitar Do you do something besides hero work for a living? Have you ever done anything else, or do you plan to? I wanna be a rock star, but other than that, I ain’t proud. What is your preferred combat style? I’m pretty tough and fast, so I mostly like bouncing in and out, cutting up bad guys with light attacks. Nothing that’ll kill ‘em, just draw cuts Have you ever received any awards or honours? Nope What skill areas would you like most to improve in? Is there anything you can't do that you wish desperately you could? I wouldn’t mind learning another instrument 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? I just like learning. I love music, so whenever I see somebody good at it, I enjoy it. Lifestyle & Hobbies What is a normal day for you? How do you feel when something interrupts this routine? Life at the orphanage was all about routine, so I’m used to it. Up early in the mornin’, eat breakfast, do chores, go to school…play guitar when I can. So I do it, even if I’m not super keen on it. Do you have any hobbies, or interests outside hero work? What are they, and where did you pick them up? Learned how to play music from Uncle Charlie What do you do for fun? Play music, play video games Do you have a costume? What does it look like? I just throw a mask on How do you normally dress when not in costume? Lots of jeans and t-shirts. What do you wear to bed most nights? Pajama pants. Privacy is a luxury at an orphanage. Do you wear any special jewelry? What is it, and what does it look like? Nothin’ special, no. Do you have a special place where you keep your valuables? What's your preferred means of local travel? How about long distance? Nowadays I run everywhere when I can, but before it was always the bus Miscellaneous Have you ever made a will, or tried to make arrangements for your death? What provisions did you make? Got nothin’ to leave and nobody to leave it to. If your features were to be destroyed beyond recognition, is there any other way of identifying your body? Not really, no. What would you like to be remembered for after your death? As a good kid. Do you believe you pose a threat to the public? Why or why not? I could, if I wanted to, but I don’t, so I’m not. What do you perceive as your greatest strength? My drive. I’m good at doing what I set my mind to. What do you perceive as your greatest weakness? I need to learn to slow down. 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… You’re smart, you’re talented, you’re good looking. Relax, take your time, enjoy your youth. Good things will come.

Severing the Ties of Fate It was the last day before spring break, and Ryan hated it here. The foster family that had taken him in were kind enough, he supposed, but the other kids were not. Everyone knew he was a foster kid, and while that didn’t totally kill his reputation with the other students, it did mean that the rich kids picked on him. Which was, to him, very weird. He was taller than most of them, quite athletic, and a musician. But he was a poor foster kid, so none of that mattered. His foster dad was named Bob. Bob was much less interested in having a foster kid than the foster mom, Sarah. Bob wasn’t unkind, he was just distant. Sarah, though. Ryan sat back. Sarah was a mom. She had three kids of her own, and wanted to foster because she genuinely loved the idea of helping kids. She was sincere and kind in ways he had rarely seen. All of Sarah’s kids were older than he was, and all but one had moved out. His foster brother was decent enough, but there was a lot of distance there. Ryan placed his guitar case on the table in front of him, and unlatched it. He pulled his guitar out, a cheap acoustic guitar, and began to play. He closed his eyes as his hands worked the frets and strings. Music was his big thing. He could play his guitar for hours, until his hands hurt. He had considered trying to join the school band, but he knew he wouldn’t be at thes school long enough to make a difference. He was, after all, a foster kid. He’d be moved on to a new school eventually, so why did it matter. He took a deep breath, and tried an especially difficult piece of music. He had only gotten it right a handful of times, and he wanted to master it eventually. Then, he opened his eyes, and he realized he wasn’t alone. It was a girl from the school. One he had never met before, but had seen walking around. She had just stopped in front of him. “Hello?” He said. “Hi, um, wow, you’re really good.” “I’m really not.” He said, looking down at his hands. “I’m trying, though.” “Better than I am.” She said. “Better than most people.” “I guess that’s true. I mean I can play a few songs pretty well, and I’m not bad at improvising pieces. What do you want?” He visibly winced. That had come out harsher than he had intended. “Nothing, sorry. I was just listening. I didn’t mean to bother you.” He looked at her, really looked at her. She had a big, bright smile, and kind eyes. He chuckled. “You’re no bother.” He said. “You can sit down if you want. It’s a free country.” She did sit down, first placing her backpack on the ground. “I’m Emily.” “Ryan.” He said. “Nice to meet you.” “You’re the foster kid.” She blurted out, before covering her mouth. “I’m sorry, I’m…” “You didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know.” Ryan said. “I am a foster kid. You’re nicer than most about it.” “I know, I just…people suck, you know?” “More than most.” “I’m not doing a good job of making small talk.” “Who does? I have no idea who my parents are, or were, or even if they’re alive. All I know is I’ve been in the system my whole life.” “Oh, um, I don’t know what…” “That’s okay. You don’t have to do that.” “I’m not trying to be a jerk about it, I just…” “You’re fine. Take a deep breath.” “You don’t deserve the things people say about you.” “Most people don’t. I’m not special.” “...I mean that’s true, but still. You’re not a bad guy. You’re not mean. I’ve put my foot in my mouth so much I’m practically chewing on it…” “Look, I can tell you’re trying to be nice. There’s a difference, you know? Like, sometimes somebody says something that sounds like it’s supposed to be nice, but you know it’s not. And sometimes somebody says the wrong thing when they meant to be nice, but it didn’t come out right. You grow up in the foster system, you can tell the difference.” “...fair. I wasn’t even like, trying to talk to you. I just wanted to listen, i can be quiet…” Ryan actually smiled. “I’ve got tons of time to play guitar. This is the first conversation I’ve had with another student where they weren’t being a jerk. Chill. Besides, you’re cute. Easy to talk to.” She blushed. She actually blushed, then she grinned. “Oh, um, thanks. You, um, you too. You’re tall, and…um, sorry, I am not good at this.” “I think we’re supposed to get better at it as we get older, but I don’t think some people do.” “Get better at what?” “Flirting.” Her blush deepend, and he couldn’t help but chuckle. She really was cute. “OH, crap, um, that’s, that’s my ride. My mom’s here.” “Oh…” Ryan was disappointed. “No problem.” “I’ll definitely talk to you again.” She said with a smile. She leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Now it was his turn to blush. She waved and walked toward a waiting car. He could hear her talking to her mom as she climbed into the front seat. Ryan took a deep breath. Maybe things would get better at school, he thought. He began to play again.

Sever; Down on the Farm 1 post Clef Notes 3 posts The Sword, the Gold, the Arrow 2 posts Never Was 3 posts Mundality Vignette; Severing the Ties of Fate HellQ; HellQ Tattered Man; Animal Whip 2 posts

So sorry for being late; Sever; Tropical Getaway 1 Post Never Was 5 Posts The Sword, the Gold, the Arrow 3 posts Student Squared 2 posts False Flag Operation 2 posts Tropical Getaway, A blanket of stars 2 posts 20Q; 20Q Tattered Man; Animal Whip 6 posts

Ryan took the button. "Thanks." Michael was...intense. A good guy, and one that Ryan enjoyed the company of, but he was a lot. Not in a bad way, but Ryan sometimes worried about him. Worried if he was doing too much, being too much. Still, he took the button and put it on the light jacket he wore. He was not dressed for a farm. Plain t-shirt, light jacket, jeans. He did have on his pair of boots, though, they weren't farming boots. They were a pair of military boots someone had donated to the orphanage last year. At the time, nobody had big enough feet to wear them, but Ryan grew into them. They had been brand new at the time, but were growing worn. Luckily, Ryan knew he had enough money to buy a new pair when he needed them. He was actually eager to visit the farm. He liked the idea of visiting a farm, seeing how things were done. He was as much a city boy as anyone else, but he was quite curious. Plus, he did think animals were cool.

Tagging

"Not, really, no. Mostly just play it on my own. I practice a lot, but I've never done a show or anything. Or played with a band...I'm not sure I'd want to join a music department or anything." He chuckled. "I mean I'm not bad, probably better than most. Definitely better than any newbie. I'm definitely not as good as Uncle Charlie. Now he could play." He took a deep breath. He should not look this nervous. He probably looked really nervous, too. He calmed himself down. She wasn't going to tear his head off. "Music has always been a, a me thing, if that makes sense. Where I grew up, it was one way I could express myself, one way I could get on without worrying about dealing with other people. I really want to be successful with it, mind, I just...like jamming by myself."

"I usually am." He shrugged. "Back home I'm usually expected to be up early. I rarely sleep late." He said 'back home' like he actually had one. He was only a couple years away from getting out of it, but Bernadette didn't need to know his troubles. "I had a good time at your show, by the way. Your band pretty good." "I play guitar." he added...and winced. She might know that, and if she did, it was pointless to remind her. If she didn't know, it made no sense to tell her. He hoped she didn't see him wince. He hated how bad he was at this.

Ryan had more or less always been a morning person. The orphanage seldom gave him time to sleep in on weekdays, and Claremont did nothing to change his habits. Usually, he found himself practicing his guitar somewhere, but this morning he fancied a walk. The morning air was cool, but that suited him just fine. He wore a light jacket over a band t-shirt, and jeans. He was glad that he got a stipend from the school. He owned new clothes for the first time in years, and he was comfortable. They actually fit him like they should. He spotted Bernadette and her duplicates, and considered talking to her. She was very kind, he knew, but also very cute. He was pretty sure she had a boyfriend, which was actually perfect. He could talk to her and not have any expectations at all. "Good morning." He said, hopefully not sounding like an idiot.

As soon as the music started, Ryan tuned everything else out. He was sitting there vibing with the music, tuning the conversation out and enjoying the performance. Ryan, as a musician himself, just listened to each instrument and how well they played together. Bernadette was not only very pretty, but also extremely talented. He didn't really care too much who the strangers were, he didn't pay much attention to the people around him. He just enjoyed the music. There was something special about live music that made it more enjoyable than any streaming service or radio broadcast. Something much more tangible, more real.

10 I don't want to burn another HP this fast, but that's not gonna work for me; 26 THAT I'll take. thank goodness.

Sever felt a cannon blast whistle past his head as he shifted to a crouch. He shifted to the left, then the right, then the left, but the woman didn't fall for it. Unfortunately, she didn't fall for it. However, he did manage to do another draw cut along her arm this time. He grinned. "Stings like a B%*%#, don't it?" He said. She was tough, but he was quick, and he hoped he could put her down before she hurt him.

"I'm not interested in what you have to offer. And, yes, Bedlam is a brutal place. I do what I can, but random gorilla people does not help with that." He turned to leave. The right people knew, an agency that might actually help. Maybe, he thought, he should find the chemical and dispose of some of it somehow. Or not. He wasn't exactly trained for that. He headed out of the trailer.

Sever There was in over his head, and then there was this. Sever, who came through the portal last, just stood in silence as he listened to them talk about an alien invasion. He clutched the hilt of his sword in a near panic, and just stood there staring. He was aware, dimly, how superheroing worked. You fought bad guys, you got hurt, you might even die. But you fought, and you knew who you were fighting and understood the threat. This was all advanced physics and alien civilizations and idea well beyond and above his pay grade. Only he wasn't getting paid. He took a deep breath, and calmed his nerves. His grip relaxed on his sword. If he was stuck here, he was going to fight and help. That was how it was going to be. He never expected to grow old anyway.

Same trick as last time, Fast Acrobatic Bluff and a sword attack, BUT I'm going to 18 Gonna hopefully wait for the results on that before deciding how much attack bonus to use. EDIT: Reflex save; 16 Passed Tougness save; 9 Gotta burn an HP For that one; 22 Tanked a cannon. Amusingly enough. Attack roll, +2 attack -2 damage; 18 Hope that works. DC 22 toughness save if it hits.

Sever growled in pain. These things hurt. If they got a second shot, he was screwed. He slashed to his right and cut straight through that drone, before thrusting his sword clear through the chest of the other one, pulling it out, but dragging downward as he did so. That was gonna hurt for quite a while, he thought. "I don't know what the %#@& these things are, but they %$#%& HURT!" He growled, looking around for new targets.

Gonna use accurate attack by 2 an attack of 17, for a DC 22 toughness save to one. If that one goes down, repeat for the second with Takedown Attack

Gonna burn a 2nd HP to shake off the daze so he can act.

8 This is why HP were invented; 27 From one extreme to the other! 27 for the first save; 14 and there. Dazed.

Sever hopped back away from the woman with the red mohawk. She was dangerous, and he was glad that his newfound toughness gave him the durability to endure that. He hopped to the right briefly and watched as her head whipped around to follow him. As soon as she looked to the right, Sever bounced fast back to the left, hopping to her left and performing a vicious draw cut against her abdomen. Draw cut, he thought. A shallow cut not meant to do serious harm, drawn across the target's body. He knew he drew blood, he knew it would sting, a lot. A papercut right above the bellybutton would sting. He hopped back away from her again. Man he was fast, now.

"I am who I am." He said. "And you've caused a lot of chaos in the city tonight." He narrowed his eyes and growled. "Where did you get that chemical." In the dark, he looked bigger than he actually was. If anyone actually got a good look at him, he was a relatively short man in good shape instead of a towering menace. The coat certainly helped, with the way the ragged bottom of it fluttered in the wind. Half of doing what he did was theatrics. The rest was brute force.