horngeek

Happy birthday, Morrison!

<"Mmmmm. You don't need to conceal your powers here, though. The school doesn't advertise to the outside world, but it would be… hard to conceal it from all the students."> Haruko smiled. <"As for myself… I have various light-based abilities. Possibly of a spiritual origin, I don't actually know. I'm also studying some magic to try and find out. Your inventions seem quite useful, though."> She held up the package she held, some lengths of white and red… cloth. <"I was just coming back from purchasing some materials to make my costume, but it is a little late to start on that anyway. If you like, we could go to a common room, talk for a while.">

<"While I'm fair at English, I am more comfortable in my native tongue, yes."> Haruko's smile lit up the room- metaphorically, at least, she had gotten the hang of not making that literal- as she returned the bow. <"Miyamoto Haruko. I'm fairly new as well- I only just started this school year, you see... my parents moved into Freedom City recently, and I started to going to Claremont after..."> She paused for a moment, before bringing up a slightly glowing hand. <"Well, in my case it isn't a particularly large secret anyway. And no, I'm not busy.">

Haruko hummed as she walked in the front gate- she'd been out shopping for various supplies. Well, mainly some good quality cloth. She had a costume to make, and considering the mystical path she seemed to be going on... well, maybe she could go for a different inspiration, but this one seemed... right. In a way that the Claremont standard uniform didn't. Although she probably would have to wear that one on occasion anyway. As she walked in, she noticed a girl in what looked like... a sailor outfit? Must have an interesting taste in clothes... not that she was much better. She still hadn't tried that dress out that her friends from back in Japan had given her the idea for... still. Haruko walked up to the other, pink-haired girl, and paused for a moment, considering, before deciding to speak up in Japanese-accented English. "Um, hello. Are you new to Claremont?"

Tagging! And this should be interesting. Do you want me to do any other members of the family, or do you want to do that?

Indeed! Anyway, as soon as EP and Souffle have posted, I'll advance us to the Waterfront.

1. Where is your hero from? "I was born in Kyoto in Japan." 2. How would your hero physically describe him/herself? Is this different from how others would? "Fairly typical Japanese girl? I am average height, although we think I may have finished growing." {{To answer the second part of the question, most people would definitely describe Haruko as beautiful.}} 3. Does your hero have distinguishing speech characteristics or recurring mannerisms? "I do not use contractions much- I am fluent in English, but I tend to think over what I am saying as I say it, so I don't speak... um, what is the word... colloquially, unless I'm trying to. And yes, I did do so just then deliberately." 4. What is your hero's motivation? "I have gained these powers for a reason, and I would like to know why. Along the way... I want to use them responsibly." 5. What are your hero's greatest strengths and weaknesses? "I am very good with people. I always have been. I am... not so good with athletics. It is fortunate that my powers do not really require that I be." 6. What does your hero love? What does your hero hate? "I hate those who are... unkind. Who dismiss those of value, and I view everyone as having value. As for what I love... life. All the beauty of this world." 7. How would you describe your character's mental and emotional state? "I try to be confident." {{Overall, pretty healthy.}} 8. What does your hero fear the most? "That whatever gave me these powers did so for reasons that are... not good. I have seen one granting of power used to control someone already, and I do not want it to happen to me." 9. What is your character's greatest ambition? "Live a life I can be proud of at the end of it." 10. How does your hero feel about the state of the world and his/her place in it? "I would say this world is going fairly well. Some things could be better, many more could be worse. My own place... I am still figuring that out." 11. Does your hero have any prejudices? How does he/she get along with others? "I do not think I have any prejudices? I do tend to get along fairly well with others." 12. Where do your heroes loyalties lie? In what order? "In order... my friends and family, and my people." 13. Does your hero have a lover or partner? How do they feel about the hero now? "I... ah, do not. I would like to, though." 14. Does your hero have a family? What is the relationship there like? "I do. My parents and I get along very well. My extended family... things are a bit awkward there, thanks to recent... events." 15. How would the people closest to your hero describe him or her? Polite, but with an iron will and strong beliefs. 16. Is your hero a role model? "I would like to think I would be a good one. I do not think I am right now, though." 17. How spiritual is your hero? Does your hero follow a relgious tradition? "That... is a complicated question to answer, especially in the context of my powers. I am a believer in the Shinto traditions, but that does not, necessarily, preclude the possibility of something else." 18. Is your hero part of a team, or would he/she like to be? Why? "I am not, but I would like to be. I believe that working with others, I can do more good than just working on my own." 19. How does your hero feel about the place of metahumans and aliens on Earth? "If your intentions are good, I would gladly offer a place here." 20. If you could give one piece of advice to your hero, what would it be? Never lose your optimism.

Well, Memorial's initiative roll is... 7. Well, that's rubbish.

Memorial rolls initiative of 20.

Well, I brought it up last night in chat... I'd want some more discussion of this, but apart from anything else, I'd prefer the two teams structure- if nothing else, because how else will there be rivalry? And on another level, this is probably going to form more spontaneously than Next-Gen has, at least on an IC level if we do so- four of the 'members' are already going to be in a thread together. So, it fits that they'd be different from Next-Gen.

Here's the News thread for Shiranui!

Okay, idea! We've got four, soon to be five, new characters coming into Claremont, and one untaken hero team... So, possibility of having Shiranui, Miracle Girl, Endeavor, Samaritan and Trailblazer form the new Young Freedom team. Thoughts?

Memorial winced as she looked at the group of pirate vessels through a viewscreen. "I don't think just disabling one ship's engine will do the job, Galvanic. That frigate's too large, and once you disable one ship, they'll be on guard for the same trick again." She frowned. "This all depends on how they operate, I think? If they're nasty enough, they might hold the merchant hostage, threaten to blow them up if we interfere. Or they'll just do it out of spite." The cyborg thought for a moment, before looking up at Galvanic. "Corona's probably the best one here with tactics, but you'd need to disable the entire ship at once- and it'd need to be the big one. I can probably take out the smaller ships... maybe. Depends on whether I can keep up with them or not. And Emily, you might have to help with boarders." Kyla translated her words into English for Mechanized as well, before pausing.

Stronghold let out a grunt of pain as the plane began rocking. That... couldn't be good on any number of levels. She could figure what was going on in the plane, of course. Ember'd gotten out of whatever restraints they had her in. "We... don't... have... time for this!" The Orange Ring gleamed again as she formed another construct- no subtlety this time. She didn't have the time, or the spare focus to get an elaborate arrow up or anything like that, she just... needed to hit him with a rock. Construct-rock. Whatever. She launched the construct... just as another rocking of the plane shifted her again, causing yet another spike of pain and causing the construct to dissolve. "Argh!"

Stronghold's focusing on keeping the shield up. Not sure what else she could really do in a primarily mental fight.

Well, not punch, since she's kinda rubbish at it! She is, however, going to launch another piece of glowing stuff at him! With a result of 12. That's kinda rubbish. She still has a Hero Point left, unless I've lost my count completely. So let's use it. Geepers, the dice have really turned against me- fortunately, because it's a Hero Point re-roll, that works out to a result of 24 instead of 14.

TOWER OF BABEL by Thevshi Memorial Translator software now working, add the following: Comprehend Languages 1 (Can speak any one language at a time, Descriptor; Translator Software) [2PP]

ITS MAGIC! by Thevshi Shiranui Spending her two pp on four ranks of Knowledge (Arcane Lore) and the Ritualist feat.

Well, here's Stronghold's Reflex roll- not sure if it applies to her, but... 17!

Catherine gave Queenie a flat look as the doors opened. "She took his name because he was her mentor and gave her his powers before he died." As she wheeled herself out of the lift... the only way to describe the room was a tech geek's heaven. Several screens lined the walls, all muted and on various news channels- ABC News 24, CNN, Sky News Australia... and in the center of the room, a desk with a bunch of computer monitors- and no chair. A walker stood next to the desk, and sitting and looking at one of the screens was a young-looking woman with dark skin and sandy-blond hair. "As far as powers... Sandra, you ever spotted any?" The young woman turned. "Not really, no. He's done some pretty extreme physical stunts, but that could well be the suit. He's good at sneaking around, whatever his powers are... as far as his gang goes, it's one of the big ones- he's got operations in every city on the East Coast. And..." Sandra sighed. "Interrogating any of the gang members- super or otherwise- doesn't get you far. They're... too loyal. Heck, I don't think Redback Gang was his idea, best info we've got is that it was thought up by one of his lieutenants- as a sign of respect." She almost spat out the last word. Catherine nodded. "Yeah. He looks out for his people, even if that's the only compliment you can give him. Anyway, significant members of the gang... he's got a couple more Super-Powered people working for him. One spellcaster- real name unknown, code name Linewalker. Female, very, very good with teleport spells from what we've seen and just as good at... poking the right spot. Not sure how to describe this, but she's more than once poked a mystically active spot and caused a side-effect that we've had to deal with, which gives them time to get away when they have to. Heck, she's all about keeping people off-balance, physically and psychologically." "Finally, there's Monument. Real name, again, unknown." Catherine reduced the image of Redback, and brought up another figure... about twice the size of Redback. He seemed to be made of metal, and... sometimes, the term 'built like a tank' seemed inappropriate. Not today. "Thanks. Um. Utter powerhouse, but smart. This guy, we have the least idea about, but what little we know indicates that the suit was built by him." The pair waited for any questions.

After continuing the translation, Memorial spoke up as she wound her scarf around her neck. "I'm happy to translate either way. You might want to pick up on Lor, Emily. Or if you built a translator, perhaps? You're smart enough to do it, and you could probably download some language files from the ship." She shrugged. "Anyway, I've been… heavily enhanced. My systems are pretty damaged- mainly a lack of power- but I can still handle most of the rest of the heavy lifting. And any blasting that needs doing." She looked at the cockpit door again. "Emily, as far as the Black goes, I think the ship has spacesuits and breathing gear you might be able to modify. It'll hinder your movements a bit, but from what I remember hearing of ship combat, you'd want something at least. If you want, I can help you get it on. Again, I'd… suggest making your suit proof against the Black. This fight won't be a quick one, so you should have some opportunity to do so."

Mikala looked at Terrifica. "We did have a go-over of the apartment- it's not going anywhere. I brought it up in case you had tools we don't- if the Waterfront turns out to not be where Haruko's being kept, there might be clues there. But if she is there- and more importantly, her kidnapper- then you don't want to split up. From your description, this seems like exactly the sort of person who might be dangerous in combat despite their inexperience." He paused. "Or because of it. Fear the person who doesn't know what they're doing, because they can pull off something foolish that catches you off-guard."

Well, I was posting partially in view of some stuff said in chat/in Three if By Space- basically, Miss Americana would have sent an email to Memorial, and I was going as if she'd gotten it just before they left.