Vanguard Roll Call!

Vanguard Roll Call!

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Issue 96: Clash with the Communists!


The Lost Lands, Antarctica! Morning.

The humming temple seemed like something out of time and space. Ages ago, hands that were not human built it in this hidden valley where now Antarctic cold was kept at bay by volcanic warmth!
In this valley, within a swamp, before the temple, Vanguard battled the Soviet Super Soldiers!

Clone shouted for the combat to cease even before he could begin to divide!
The first Clone shouted: “For us we must to be stopping fighting!”
The second looked to his leader and said in Russian: “Comrade Siberian you must stop this fighting now – our people are getting badly injured! This fight is pointless! It serves no purpose!”
The third yelled: “Please to be stopping fighting!”

Talon ignored it! He let out a guttural growl as he struggled to free himself from the Cosmonaut’s space-age net. As he tumbled and clawed, his uncontrollable rage boiled within him. In frustration, he screamed at the Cosmonaut, "Let me out of this net now or the Russians will have to find another chimp to wear that suit!"
He struggled to right himself and set his claws to rip at the net, and with a final burst of strength, he tried to tear himself free....."Rrraaaggrrrr!"
The net sliced open from his claws and Talon flew free and directly at Cosmonaut! SKRESH! The bestial bird man savagely tore into the Soviet with a savagery unexpected! His armor took the worst of it but Talon could smell his fear!

Symbiote, Talon’s twin, was encased in Siberian’s ice, unable to move or even attack the ice! (He had taken another 13 points of damage between turns from the cold! Can only roll with 4. Takes 9 from hits!)

Avatar, Soldier and Lightning Strike heard Clone’s pleas and delayed their actions until they could assess if hostilities were truly over! They eyed the Soviet Super Soldiers warily, ready for treachery.

Clone divided into a total of nine peacekeepers! They deployed across the conflict, placing themselves between combatants as they continued pleading for the fighting to cease! “Please to be stopping fighting!” Two Clones freed Symbiote from his prison of ice! And one snapped Talon out of his rage!

Siberian barked in Russian to Clone: “’True Warrior of Russia’?! Silence, you coward! You traitor to the Motherland!” Seething, the frozen fiend attacked one Clone and Lightning Strike who had also given voice to a cessation of hostilities!
ZHWOOOSH! Frozen white ice exploded from his hands! (10 points of damage to Strike! 5 from Power and 5 from Hits! 14 points of damage to Clone 8! 13 from Power! 1 from Hit Points!)
Strike had ice on him, but could still move. Clone 8, however, was encased alive in a block of ice! He would continue to take damage from the frigid cold! His life hung by a thread!
“Comrades, attack!” Siberian roared, so furious that he did not think to regenerate his ice armor!
Lightning Strike knocked off the ice that still clung to him and returned fire on Siberian! KRAKOOM! The bolt of searing electricity struck the commissar of cold!

Symbiote stretched out his large black wings, shaking off the few remnants of ice, and hurtled at Siberian’s turned back! ZKASH! The duplicating defender’s new claws tore into the craven communist of cryonics and felled him. Siberian was unconscious!

Suddenly everything stopped!

Avatar evaded and watched!
Polar Bear stepped back from the Hellenic hero, and held a paw to his bleeding wound.
Shelley and Manetti lowered their pistols.
Shatter lowered Soldier to the ground, releasing him from his magnetic powers!
Soldier evaded and watched.
Mother Russia and Cosmonaut were motionless, and then raced toward the Clone that was trapped in life-sapping ice. They began to carefully free their comrades. “Help us,” Mother Russia said in English.

(OOC: Responses/actions, if any. You are out of ‘combat’ and may act freely)

The Clone was eventually freed, his life saved.
Lightning Strike said, "We need to be working together on finding what brought us all here. If we don't stop this fight now, we may never get to the bottom of this mystery. The answer lies in this temple."

Vanguard and the Soviet Super Soldiers paused.
Would combat continue? Before that question could be answered, noise suddenly came from the Temple!

(to be continued below!)

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Meanwhile, far away, near a volcanic-heated lake in the Lost Lands…

Accelerator moaned from within Slingshot. “Rescue mission, huh? Open up and let’s talk this over.”

Slingshot sensed vibrations in the ground. The extranormal of elastic ebony epidermi contorted his face around the surface of the rubber ball that was his body and saw looming over him a Tyrannosaurus Rex! 30 feet tall. Teeth like broadswords. The elongated skull of the Terrordactyls. It cracked its whip-fast tail and roared! VROOOOOOAAARRRRR!!!! It could see Slingshot clearly even though Scott was not moving!

Slingshot murmured to the speedster, "We have a problem. Let's deal with it together, then we can talk." With that, he opened up, facing Accelerator towards the menacing T-Rex. "We need to stop this before it decides we are lunch."

Accelerator said, “Thanks...” He looked up at the deadly lizard king. “…sucker.” ZOOOOOM! The villain of velocity was gone!

Slingshot looked at the Tyrannosaurus Maximus and watched his trouble multiply. Two more of the dome-skulled terrors revealed themselves from nearby foliage, flanking the malleable man of might! The intelligent pack-hunting predators roared to each other in a chilling form of communication.
Slingshot got outta there! (Evasion and movement)

(to be continued below!)

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Meanwhile, moments ago, inside the Temple of Terror!

Sentinel had found the source of the silent signal. It was Nemesis, entwined in ancient roots deep within the inhuman temple. Then the heir of heroism heard a rustling from the earthen hallways beyond this chamber, from the only door that led out from here. And then he suddenly felt something sharp slowly severing his energy lifeline!

Sentinel kept focused on the lost Freedom Forcer! Nemesis was inert, a synthetic equivalence of unconsciousness. The beacon of liberty detected that Nemesis was not fueled by electricity. Nor was he a being of circuitry and wires. His energy would not work to help the artificial man. But Sentinel remembered that Nemesis once had a Regeneration Tank that could heal him.

Then something came into the chamber.

The only thing that was remotely human about the intruder was the color of its flesh. Within the shadows, Sentinel saw a seven foot tall writhing mass of tentacles, eyes and slavering mouths. (See picture!)

The thing’s very presence created dread and horror within Sentinel; the same dread Vanguard felt when they entered the Lost Valley, amplified a thousand fold.
(The Terror in the Temple forces Cool Rolls and Sentinel doesn’t make it this time. He has a -5 to all die rolls while in the loathsome monstrosity’s range!)



Forester suddenly appeared in the chamber, far from the door. The Zen archer had camouflaged himself in the shadows and was standing guard. He said, with alarm, “Gather Nemesis and take him with us. We have to get out of here!”

Then something happened that Sentinel would not soon forget. The ghastly, tentacled horror screamed: “WE hAve TO gET OUt Of HERE!!” in a mockery of a human woman’s voice.
The voice was frightened and in pain.
The sound was so loud it hurt Sentinel and Forester, but far less than did the dark realization that came with it: This undulating, misshapen thing had once been the Soviet superheroine, Echo!
Was this the result of the mental attack that Sentinel had resisted upon entering this hellish place?!

Kirk couldn’t resist the urge to flee. He freed Nemesis from his web of roots and took him within his strengthened energy shields. Forester lit a Flare Arrow to guide them, and they fled for their lives with the shambling horror slowly stalking behind them!

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Outside the temple:

The Clones were freed from their icy prisons.
Vanguard and the Soviet Super Soldiers paused. Would combat continue?
Before that question could be answered, noise suddenly came from the Temple of Terror!

Sentinel and Forester burst from the Temple’s non-Euclidean maw! Sentinel was cradling a lifeless figure: Nemesis! Sentinel and Forester saw that the fight had stopped… for now.

Those extranormals with magnified senses could tell that Nemesis was the source of the silent signal!

Accelerator suddenly zoomed into the area and stopped. “Huh?” he said at all the non-combatants.

Slingshot landed right after him, having slungshot himself back to the group.
Slingshot said grimly, “Everyone, a pack of intelligent, modified T-Rexes are headed this way, having tracked Accelerator’s scent. I slungshot ahead of the pack but they’ll be here soon!”

Accelerator looked sullenly at all the accusing eyes. “Don’t look at me. It’s not my fault!”

To be continued!

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OOC: Actions everyone?!
Intelligent Tyrannosaurs are coming! Something from the Temple of Terror may be coming! Siberian is still unconscious! And there was a razor-thin détente between the two powerful super teams.

What does everyone do?!?!

Current Conditions:

Avatar: Hit Points: 40, Power Points: 51, Manifestation: Hestia: Shield, -4 to be hit, Evading

Forester: Hit Points: 23, Power Points: 56, Arrows Used: Parachute, Scent, Sonic, Acid, Flare, Evading

Lightning Strike: Hit Points: 25, Power Points: 48

Sentinel: Hit Points: 18, Power Points: 43, Creation Points: 86, Shields: 86%

Slingshot: Hit Points: 50, Power Points: 69, Invulnerability: 8, Evading

Soldier: Hit Points: 43, Power Points: 71, Invulnerability: 8

Symbiote: Hit Points: 51, Power Points: 75, Charges: 11, Copied Talon: S:20 E:27 A:24 I:25 C:13

Talon: Hit Points: 28, Power Points: 66, no longer enraged

Clone: Hit Points: 1 each, Power Points: 28 each, Total Bodies: 9. (Clone 8 has: HP: 0, PP: 15)

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Avatar:
Just to throw this out to the group: Maybe we can work to lure the T-rex's in to fight the thing from the temple? Still working out how this could happen, but it's something to consider.

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Symbiote:
IC: Symbiote looked at his claws, "borrowed" from Talon, and he looked at the ice-encased from of one of the Clones. He wanted to free his friend but he knew that he had other teammates that could exert more shattering power against the block of ice. Hal, on the other hand, had a plan that just might work against the oncoming Tyrannosaurs.

He turned and shouted to his teammates. "Guys! Help them free Clone! I've got a plan for the dinosaurs!" And then he bent over Siberian's immobile form, sticking a hand out...

OOC: Hal's plan is to absorb Siberian's powers (if possible) and then head in the direction of the T-Rexs, making an Iceman-type slide for travel if possible. Once he sights the roaring dinosaurs he'll hit with a wide dispersal cold blast, as much as he can lay on them. Hal is hoping that, like Vanguard's erstwhile teammate Viper, the cold-blooded creatures will be vulnerable to extreme frigid temperatures and either drop into hybernation, run away from it or at least be considerably slowed.

If this doesn't work or is only partially succesful (i.e., the T-Rexs are slowed but still coming at us), Hal's next trick will be to coat the ground in front of them with a layer of ice. These beings evolved entirely in a tropical setting, presumably neither they nor their ancestors have ever even seen ice, never mind having any idea about how to navigate on it. This along with the fact that they're large and ungainly to begin with will hopefully effectively immobolize them, they'll be too busy slipping and falling to make any progress towards the teams.

If Siberian's power type is one Hal can't absorb:

IC: Hal curses and then turns to Talon. "Well, Flyboy, you feel like exercising your testosterone?" Symbiote asks the Pinioned Powerhouse, gesturing in the direction of the oncoming T-Rexs. "Those things are at the top of the food chain, they're not used to anything fighting back, much less anything fighting back from overhead. We hit them with wolf pack tactics--hit and run from above--we can probably keep them busy, maybe even lure them away."

Symbiote will then launch himself into the air, hoping Talon (and perhaps Sentinel, Cosmonaut and Shatter) will follow.

Viva Vanguard (and happy Labor Day, Comrades!)
Greg

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Lightning Strike:
As the battle seemed to be winding down, Strike refocused his attention on the temple. When Forester and Sentinel emerged from the temple with Nemesis he rushed over to see what was going on. "What is Nemesis doing here and what is wrong with him? He hasn't been seen in years." Strike consulted with Sentinel to see if there are any energy readings whatsoever coming from Nemesis.

Strike spoke to the assembled heroes. "We have two main concerns here, what lies in the temple and these tyranosaurs. Obviously both are lethal but that monstrosity seems to be the greater threat to humanity in general. Between both groups we should be able to hold off the dinosaurs but we need answers. I think those answers lie within Nemesis. I propose that I enter him and probe the memory circuits and see if there is any residue left in them of what happened to him."

He will solicit suggestions from the rest of the group on strategy.

OOC: That's all for now. I am leaving for vacation today and will not have internet access until next Saturday so please act accordingly. Jeff can have Strike respond if necessary.

Take care all,
Tony

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Sentinel:
Kirk's head told him that he didn't want to flee from the temple, but despite all his training and his normally taking such situations in stride, he felt almost overwhelmed by the dread he was feeling. Then he heard the urgings of Forester and thought perhaps it was in their best interests to regroup outside of the influence of the temple creature ... at least that was what he told himself.

Kirk's exit was quicker and more pronounced then he'd intended. He found himself outside the temple and his body still moving further away from the temple (and the deformed creature within) than his mind intended.

At that point, his mind kicked back into control and he quickly surveyed the situation. He could sense that although there was a calm between the teams, things could still go right back into conflict.

Looking around he said, "Detente. Couldn't come at a better time." He addressed both teams. "There is a unearthly force inhabiting the temple. Upon entrance into the temple, it tries to exert control over you. And it seems that if it succeeds it manifests its control in a physical transformation of that being. Echo has succumbed to that influence. This is a threat that goes beyond national borders. We need to put aside our differences and pool our knowledge and our power," and looking at the hesitation in many of the faces before him he added, "at least for now."

Kirk protected the form of Nemesis and said to Strike, "From my analysis, his physiology is not electrical or mechanical, so I don't know if your idea will work." If Strike still feels he can do some good regarding Nemesis or wants to try, he would let him in within his shields. Otherwrise, Kirk will protect the inert body of Nemesis from any danger at this time (he isn't 'giving him up' to anyone).

When Kirk becomes aware of the dinosaur threat he would suggest leaving the area for now over a battle. There is nothing to gain from damaging these creatures that are apparently acting on their basic instincts and their prior actions have shown they can easily get clear of them as a team if necessary.

If we go back into combat his actions would likely include protecting Shelly and Manetti and combat with direct threats to them or himself or evading if no direct threat.

When he gets a moment to think and concentrate he wants to try to filter the perceptions and knowledge he has acquired to assimilate things and try to filter the unearthly energies better so his energy perceptions can understand and 'read' things better. Given the carvings and his contact with the physic force as well as continued exposure, he should be able to begin to sort through things and interpret these new energy readings in a more reliable way (this has been the way this power has worked in the past). Naturally Jeff may determine that this requires more time and actions, but at least lets say that Kirk will be activiely working on it.

Also, hopefully with him moving further away from the temple, his energy readings will help him 'chart' the presence and attack formations of the dinosaurs if they don't leave the area quickly enough and he would convey this information to the others.
 
Hope everyone enjoys the day off!

Best,
Seth

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Forester:
Forester grimly concurred with Sentinel.
"There are Things within that place that Man Was Not Meant To Know. This foe is beyond all of us. And we have what we've come for. The signal source is in our possession. I propose we choose the better part of valour."

After Strike and Sentinel conspired on next steps, the resourceful ranger whispered to Sentinel: "If Strike cannot read Nemesis's memory banks... perhaps you can, friend."

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Clone:
Now that the hostilities has ceased two of the Clones will tend to Polar Bear’s bloody wound. If need be they will use parts of their costumes as bandages. If they can stop the bleeding the next thing that they will make sure of is that Polar Bear is ambulatory. I'm hoping that their knowledge of Animal Husbandry and life on the farm might help the Clones with Polar Bears wounds - assuming he has a somewhat animal physiology.

Three of them will try to restrain Siberian, with one of them asking Mother Russia in Russian "So what should we do with him?"

Three of the others will attempt to aid any of the other injured - American or Russian - who ever seems to need more help ( triage conditions ). Realizing that we ( we = the Americans and the Russians ) might be leaving the area relatively soon; any first aid that any of the Clones will give will focus primarily on stopping bleeding and making sure all the injured are ambulatory. If need be they will use parts of their costumes as bandages.

The injured Clone ( the one that was encased in ice ) will be re-absorbed into the collective.

OOC:
Sorry my actions aren't overly heroic or dramatic, but given his personality and background I figured they were fitting.

Hope everyone had a great Labor Day Weekend!

Talk To You All Soon,
-Kev

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Slingshot:
Accelerator looked sullenly at all the accusing eyes. “Don't look at me. It's not my fault!”

With a look of disdain towards Accelerator, Scott made a mental note to "deal with him" at the most opportune time. Slingshot, unknowingly ignoring Sentinel's and Forester's imminent danger, focused on the threat at hand. Without a look back, he launched two massive hands towards a T-Rex in an attempt to brain it. "VANGUARD!", he yells as the flush of battle is coming over the group's Pliable Powerhouse.

[OOC: Simple attack towards a Close T-Rex]

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Avatar:
Avatar will drop Hestia's shield and manifest Zeus's Weather powers. Since it takes an action, I guess that's all Avatar will do, but he'll throw some lightning at the same t-rex that Slingshot attacks if he gets a chance.

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Talon:
Hey Guys,
After we have made the decision that we are preparing to leave, Talon will follow Symbiote in the direction of the Tyrannosaurs. He will follow Symbiote's plan to make sure it doesn't backfire and get him into trouble.

If he is forced to attack the dinosaurs, he will stay in the air to serve as a distraction, so Symbiote can have a better chance of escaping.

My intention is to try and slow the dinosaurs(I assume that's Greg's intent as well), so the group can make good their escape. If the dinosaurs make it to the temple and confront the group, Talon will attack the same Tyrannosaur that Slingshot does to try and take one down.

That's it for this issue. I hope everyone had a good vacation.

Viva Vanguard,
Denny

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Soldier:
Soldier's, IC response to Forrester's comments:" As much as I hate to tuck tail and run, I agree that until we know what we're dealing with, it's probably a good idea to back off and regroup."OOC: Upon hearing of the T-Rex's I'll assist in carrying anyone who can't move. If Polar Bear is unable to walk unde his own power, I'll try to lift him. Am I strong enough to carry him? If he's being carried by someone else, I'll look for something large to use as weapon against the dino's. And try to slow down there pursuit.

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Stephane:
I must have missed all the retreat talk. Obviously, if people are retreating, Slingshot will protect the retreat (as he usually does). This would include smacking the T-Rexes. If by the time he moves, he's the only one on the field, he'll retreat as well, otherwise, protect the retreat.

Slow-Pokes Stephane

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Avatar:
I guess that I missed that part, too. In this case, no dropping of the shield. I'll keep it up and run interference.

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Friday, August 14, 2009

Vanguard: Issue 95: At the Temple of Terror!

The Lost Lands, Antarctica! Morning.

The stone temple seemed like something out of time and space. Ages ago, hands that were not human built it in this hidden valley where now Antarctic cold is kept at bay by volcanic warmth! An entire ecological system from prehistoric days survives.
In this valley, within a swamp, before the temple, Vanguard battled the Soviet Super Soldiers!

Accelerator touched Slingshot again and transferred more velocity into the pliable powerhouse! ZoooOM! The two encountered less obstacles this time and crossed a great distance, rocketing across an open meadow before hitting a tree! KPOW!! (11 points damage, Slingy rolls with 7 and takes 4 from hits)
“I can keep this up all day, rubber-fer-brains!” the newly communist criminal said.

Talon felt something shift. The bloodlust, the battle frenzy consumed him once more! (Low Self Control weakness was triggered! See your sheet for details!) The bestial birdman cut through the sky at Mother Russia and clawed at her with his bare hands! The attack might have severed a normal man’s jugular but this woman’s skin was like steel. She was hardly affected as Talon readied for another strafing run!

Soldier confirmed that Forester was unharmed and then flanked the Soviet Super Soldiers! Looking to help a friend, he leapt at Polar Bear and grabbed the creature’s right arm with both hands, executed a hold on it and ended up immobilizing it!

Avatar saw his opening. Standing within the shadow of the savage Polar Bear, he thrust his spear out from behind his mystical, summoned shield! GSHTK! A direct hit and deep! Crimson blood stained the white fur of the human ursine! Polar Bear growled at his two assailants! “You’ll pay for that, Americans!”

Forester saw Sentinel enter the mysterious temple and ran after him through the unnatural portal!

Echo brought aid to her comrade! She opened her mouth and said, “You’ll pay for that, Americans!” at a decibel level that would shatter eardrums! The sonic energy was focused into a barely visible beam that struck Avatar from behind! Unaware of the attack, he could not use his shield against it!
(or his Heightened Defense! 10 points of damage! All off hit points! Avatar does not lose consciousness!)

Polar Bear snarled in Russian, “Leave them to me, child!” at the sonic Soviet.

Echo nodded, rebuked, and flew silently after Forester, into the antediluvian ruins!

Lightning Strike helped Talon against Mother Russia! KRAZK-KOW! Electricity flew from his fingers and struck the anti-American amazon! She felt that! (Talon softened up her Invulnerability)
Then the scientific superhero addressed the group: "A prolonged battle serves no purpose here. We are both investigating the same things. We should be working together, not beating each other up. There are other forces at work here with powers greater than ours. They are the real enemy."

Mother Russia threw a big punch at Strike even as she asked defiantly, “Who are the real enemy?!”
ZAKT! Strike’s electrical defense fouled the attack, but the breeze flew Strike’s cape!
Mother Russia had her hand up, ready to ward off another attack from Talon!

Polar Bear roared at Avatar and Soldier! “You puny Americans! I will crush you!” He slashed at Avatar in close quartered combat, dragging Soldier with him. But his immobilized arm and Avatar’s magic shield proved too much this time. Hampered by the patriotic powerhouse, the massive mutant’s heavy claws raked across the Shield of Hestia! The Bear prepared to get Soldier off his arm.

Symbiote and Clone, in a spinning tangle of limbs, wings and words, fell from the sky at nearly freefall speed and crashed on top of an unexpecting Siberian! And Symbiote got in a gratuitous slash with his new claws! KRASH! SLASH! (Each takes 6 points falling damage!)

Siberian’s ice armor took the brunt, but not all, of the impact. “Idiot!” he yelled in Russian to Clone. Then he turned to Symbiote, in English and with icy intelligence: “I understand you are a scientist. When I have brought you back to the Kremlin, we will pry from your mind the secrets of that wondrous device you have.”
SHWOOOSH! Frozen white ice exploded from the hands of the frozen fiend! (21 points of damage! 8 from Power Points! 13 from Hit Points!) Now Symbiote was encased alive in a block of ice! It was heavier than his carrying capacity! Immobilized by its weight, he would continue to take damage from the frigid cold!
The cryogenic communist laughed cruelly!

Cosmonaut his armor still slowly dissolving from Forester’s acid-tipped arrow, fired up his jet pack and rocketed toward Mother Russia. “Help is coming comrade. If this one insists on behaving like an animal, we’ve no choice but to cage him.” He pointed his hand at the savage talon and a concussion fired from his forearm! A cable net, propelled on its edges by tiny projectiles, deployed and tangled up the fierce black bird man! The confinement made Talon even angrier!

Mother Russia gratefully said, “Thanks comrade,” in Russian.

Meanwhile, inside the Temple of Terror…


Sentinel descended into darkness that was almost absolute, with a tether-tendril of energy behind him as his lifeline. Stairs ended with a hallway where pictoglyphs (at Map point 1) told of religious rituals practiced upon this unholy ground. Things that were not human, things that predated humanity, worshipped here and they worshipped beings that came from the void. Things too terrible to imagine. (Sentinel saves against Charisma/Will and makes a Cool Roll to continue unaffected!) Stone calendars indicated this place was created thousands of years ago. He tracked the silent signal deeper in!

Stone architecture gave way to earthen warrens, claustrophobic, dank and unnatural. (Map point 2) The walls widened into a chamber (Map point 3) where mighty roots of trees were exposed, thick with age and twisted by the energy of this place. Among the roots there was a body!

The beacon of liberty illuminated the space and saw the body had lay here, entwined by thousand year roots, perhaps imprisoned, perhaps worshipped by the inhuman masons of the alien temple. It had not decomposed.
Sentinel recognized it among its tattered garments. It was Nemesis! One of the missing superheroes of the Freedom Force!

…And Nemesis was the source of the silent signal!

(to be continued!)

Meanwhile, outside the temple:

Shelley and Manetti, from their place of cover, opened fire with CHESS energy pistols at Cosmonaut!
VEET! VEET! The beams reflected off the space age armor of the technological titan!

Shatter’s senses noticed Soldier. The disembodied intelligence hovered toward the star spangled superhero and regarded him as one would a butterfly pinned to a specimen board. “You are a cyborg,” the magnetic monster mused absently. “That makes you especially vulnerable to me.” Shatter pointed an intangible hand of orbiting shards at the patriotic powerhouse. FWOOM! A blast of magnetic force crashed into Soldier and grabbed him! The invisible force pried him off Polar Bear and lifted him up into the air, 20 feet!
“I’ve never disassembled a man before,” Shatter said with cool fascination at the gruesome prospect.
“Promise you’ll tell me everything that you are about to experience.”

Meanwhile, away from the central battle…
Slingshot’s laugh rumbled. A shallow voice emanating next to Accelerator head's says, "It might be for you, but not for me. The results are going to be the same nonetheless." Scott started to tighten his grip on the speedster, "I'm here on a rescue mission and you're not going to be in my way. I'm ready for more, big boy, are you?" The malleable man of might crushed his prey!

Accelerator was injured! But he caromed Slingshot out again, absorbing velocity as they went! The ball of rubber and flesh ricocheted across the prehistoric forest and came to rest gently at the edge of a lake fed from hot springs. (no damage, thanks to ball shape being able to roll)
“Rescue mission, huh?” moaned the speedy slacker. “Open up and let’s talk this over.”

Then Slingshot heard something. He sensed vibrations in the ground. The extranormal of elastic ebony epidermis contorted his face around the surface of the rubber ball that was his body and saw looming over him a Tyrannosaurus Rex!
30 feet tall. Teeth like broadswords. The elongated skull of the Terrordactyls. It cracked its whip-fast tail and roared! VROOOOOOAAARRRRR!!!! It could see Slingshot clearly even though Scott was not moving!

Meanwhile inside the temple…

Sentinel was awestruck. His mind raced. Nemesis was an android, a synthetic man of unknown origin, and a great hero. He and the Freedom Force had been missing for almost two years now, ever since they freed the Earth from an invasion led by Eon the Eternal, a black celestial time traveler.
It was Nemesis that transmitted the powerful signal they had tracked to Antarctica. The one that matched the signal emanating from Nanite and every computer on earth. …The energy that now overwhelmed his senses.

Then Sentinel heard a rustling from the earthen hallways beyond this chamber, from the only door that led out from here. And then he suddenly felt something sharp slowly severing his energy lifeline!

To be continued!

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OOC: Actions everyone?!

Talon does not make his Int saving throw between turns. His Weakness is still active!

Current Conditions:

Avatar: Hit Points: 40, Power Points: 54, Manifestation: Hestia: Shield, -4 to be hit

Forester: Hit Points: 31, Power Points: 65, Arrows Used: Parachute, Scent, Sonic, Acid

Lightn’g Strike: Hit Points: 30, Power Points: 58

Sentinel : Hit Points: 28, Power Points: 55, Creation Points: 110, Shields: 67%, Evading til Issue 96

Slingshot: Hit Points: 50, Power Points: 72, Invulnerability: 0 until Issue 96.

Soldier: Hit Points: 43, Power Points: 71, Invulnerability: 0 until Issue 96.

Symbiote: Hit Points: 65, Power Points: 80, Charges: 11, As Talon: S:20 E:27 A:24 I:25 C:13

Talon: Hit Points: 28, Power Points: 67

Clone: Hit Points: 3 each, Power Points: 41 each, Total Bodies: 3
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Avatar:
Simply attack Polar Bear again, this time trying to stay aware of what is going on around me.

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Symbiote:
My action is to attempt to break out of the ice. If successful and that counts as my "move," my "attack" will be to strike Siberian again. If the Bolshevik of Brrrrr has already been taken down by the time I break free, I'd go for Shatter, with the intention of copying his powers (all this assuming I break free and that Siberian is down).

Viva Vanguard,

Greg

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Sentinel:
What do we know about Eon's abilities and the final confrontation between the Freedom Force and Eon?

On the severing of the energy lifeline - do I think I can reinforce it without investigating at first? Do I know what sort of energy or force is severing it (ie physical, mental, type, etc) from sensing the attack?

Nemesis has enough energy to be sending this signal - at this range (knowing my powers have been messed up right now) does it appear that he has enough energy to be reactivated?

I'd like to find out more about Nemesis' situation before leaving him to encounter whatever is severing the lifeline but don't know if I have enough time to do that ...

and so far no more mental attacks like when Kirk first entered either?

Best,
Seth

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Clone:
Clone’s next course of action would rest completely in how many duplicates of himself that he could make. Jeff if you could give me that number ( not sure how you want to work the math ), I could give you my actions almost immediately. If I can make enough copies I think I may be able to squish this brawl that we're all locked into . . . I think . . . err . . . maybe . . . I hope? :-\

Talk to ya soon,
-Kev

P.S. Sorry about the deep freeze Greg - thats not exactly what I had
hoped would happen lol :-(

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GM Replies:

Thanks everyone.

Greg / Symbiote, Thanks!

Kevin / Clone, You can make 9 bodies total at this point. And
everyone, check out the site Kevin created for the game. Pretty cool.
Thanks, Kevin.

Seth / Sentinel, the final confrontation between the Freedom Force
and Eon is an unknown event. The FF set out to face Eon the Eternal
(imagine a cross between Darkseid, Galactus and Kang the Conqueror).
They never returned, but Eon was never seen since and his
space-faring fleet withdrew from Earth's detection.

Your energy lifeline seems to be severed by a physical thing. You may
strengthen it from your position without further investigation.

Sentinel doesn't know if Nemesis has enough energy to reactivate. His
proximity to the silent signal is fouling his energy sense.

No further mental attacks like when Kirk first entered.

Best,
Jeff

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Sentinel:
"Answers!" thought Kirk to himself as he saw the figure of Nemesis before him. With a member of the missing Freedom Force before him, he couldn't not investigate further. "Answers."

Kirk will reinforce his link without investigating the cause as of yet. Should an attack come this round he will take appropriate action against the threat. If there is no attack, he will spend his 'attack' reinforcing his shields.

His action will spent in getting closer to Nemesis to investigate his condition and learning anything he can about what has happened to him. Hopefully his energy sense can be more focused and assist and Kirk will attempt a 'reboot' if that seems possible (his energy sense and computer skills and perhaps even hero subculture knowledge about Nemesis may assist in the attempt).

Kirk realizes that Nemesis may be rebooted as a possible threat being reprogrammed or controlled, but hopes that isn't the case and will be prepared. If he is awakened, Kirk will say something along the lines of "Nemesis, I'm a friend and a current member of what the Freedom Force has become today. You've been missing for some time. How can I assist you?" ... if things go smoothly he would add that "the team is investigating a new crisis at this moment which caused their discovery of him".

If Kirk's senses pick up a threat coming, he would add a warning to him before they are attacked. Kirk will try not to get overly distracted knowing he isn't sensing things as he normally would, etc.

A good weekend to all.

Best,
Seth

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Clone:
This might be spreading myself a bit thin, but Clone will divide into 9 separate entities. Here are the actions for all 9:

Clone 4 and 6 will each grab a good sized stone and start to feverously chip away at the ice that’s holding Symbiote captive. They will try to uncover his face/ head first if it is covered in ice so that he can breathe and not suffocate. Should they be successful in uncovering his face ( or if his face is already uncovered ) they will start to work on uncovering the rest of him and say to him as they work:

Clone 4: For us we must to be stopping fighting!

Clone 6: Are you feeling good comrade?!

Clones 3 and 8 will each try to grab Siberian’s arms ( and secure his weapon if possible ) and say to him in Russian:

Clone 3: Comrade Siberian you must stop this fighting now – our people are getting badly injured! This fight is pointless! It serves no purpose!

Clone 8: You desire to be our leader, but unlike a true warrior of Russia you put your desires before that of the people! Help me end this madness while we still can!

Clone 7: Will run with his arms in the air ( as if surrendering and waving them off ) towards Shelley and Manetti and say in English:

Clone 7: Please not to be shooting!

Clones 1, 2, 5 and 9 will run over to the Avatar and Polar Bear fight and try to assist Soldier in breaking up the fight. Hopefully Cosmonaut won’t fire on an ally. These Clones will say the following things:

Clone 1: ( to Polar Bear in Russian ) Please comrade – stop this – this fight solves nothing!

Clone 2: ( to Avatar in English ) Please to be letting me help my comrade – please to be stopping!

Clone 5: ( to Avatar in English ) Please to be stopping fighting!

Clone 9: ( to Polar Bear in Russian ) Please comrade – stop this – you’re injured – stop so I can help you!

If nothing else hopefully the Clones will at least confuse everyone for half a second, making them pause and think to themselves – “What the hell is this crazy Russian guy babbling about? Can anyone understand a freak’n word that he’s saying?”

What ever it takes, Clone wants to stop the fighting. For a lot of reasons he doesn’t want to see it continue. If necessary he understands that he may have to let one of the Clones get seriously injured or ( worst case scenario ) even be killed to show everyone the folly of this fight. He’s entirely prepared to be a martyr – although he would for really real like to live . . . if that’s at all possible lol

Talk to you all soon,
-Kev

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Soldier:
Soldier looks at the rather hairy Russian foe dead in the eyes, and states "Well Comrade, what's it going to be?" Soldier will keep his guard up, but as long as he's not being attacked, he'll back off.

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Avatar:
Avatar will allow the Clone clones to put themselves (himself?) between him and Polar Bear, if possible, while listening to what he/they have to say. He will use both h. defense and evasion for the present, not attacking at this time.

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Talon:
Hello Everyone,
Talon let out a gutteral growl as he struggled to free himself from the Cosmonauts net. As he tumbled and clawed within the net, his uncontrollable rage boiled within him. In frustration, he screamed at the Cosmonaut, "Let me out of this net, now, or the russian's will have to find another chimp to wear that suit!". He struggled to right himself and set his claws to rip at the net, and with a final burst of strength, he tried to tear himself free....."Rrraaaggrrrr!".

If I get free of the net and have control of my actions, I will have to give Clone's actions my consideration. But I will have to get my hands on Cosmonaut first! :)

Viva Vanguard,
Denny

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Symbiote:
Symbiote probably doesn't hear most of Clone's plea for a stop to the fighting (what with the being encased in ice and all), but once he is free if everybody else (particularly the SSS) stands down, he will as well.

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Slingshot:
Accelerator was injured! But he caromed Slingshot out again, absorbing velocity as they went! The ball of rubber and flesh ricocheted across the prehistoric forest and came to rest gently at the edge of a lake fed from hot springs. (no damage, thanks to ball shape being able to roll)
“Rescue mission, huh?” moaned the speedy slacker. “Open up and let's talk this over.”

Accelerator was done for, thought Scott grimly. It was just a matter of time. His attempts at distraction weren't going to help him at all. I haven't gone this far, worked this hard, to be stopped by a bunch of criminals.

The T-Rex snapped Scott out of his reverie. Seeing the situation, he speaks to the speedster. "We have a problem. Let's deal with it together, then we can talk." With that, he opens up Accelerator towards the menacing T-Rex. "We need to stop this before it decides we are lunch."

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Lightning Strike:
Lightning Strike listens to Clone's words and slowly eases up on the attacks. "We need to be working together on finding what brought us all here. If we don't stop this fight now, we may never get to the bottom of this mystery. The answer lies in this temple."

Strike will then simply hold his action and will only attack when he is attacked. If the hostilities cease, he will head into the temple where Forester and Sentinel went.

That's all for now,
Tony

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