Vanguard Roll Call!

Vanguard Roll Call!

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Vanguard: Issue 111: Astounding Adventures Apart!


Avatar heard Otom thunder: “I, Otom the Seer, worthy, wise and deserving, do hereby challenge you before the all-seeing Pantheon for the sacred mantle of Avatar of the Twelve Olympians!”

Those words triggered a memory in John’s amnesiac mind. Those words… a ritual… an ancient pact that must be honored. Suddenly John felt those magic words change him! He lost his ability to manifest the Pantheon… until this mighty contest was decided!

Otom threw one spear hard at John, lengthwise, not to attack, but to arm a fellow soldier.
KRAKA-BOOM! roared the heavens. Panic rippled through the crowds as the giant Cyclops roared back over the wind and the rain and the thunder! “Now let us see, at long last, who is worthy to be called Avatar!”

John raced forward at the cyclops, spear in both hands. "I feel that I've a destiny to fulfill before the mantle is passed to another, Otom, though I know not what it may be. Until that time, it is MINE!"
As he closed, John feigned with the spear's point and then swung the butt of the weapon around hard, striking Otom’s single eye! WHAMM!

Otom staggered back, holding his large eye with one hand. “Well played and well struck,” he smiled. Then he slowly stood straight and removed his massive hand from his temporarily blinded eye. “You have forgotten much, old friend. You have forgotten that Otom is not called Seer for nothing.”
His one big eye started to glow with red otherworldly light!
“My mystic vision tracked you across the world. It will help me find you now!”
The giant regripped his long spear and assumed a fighting stance. He looked directly as John through the scarlet magic energy. “I can see you, AVATAR!” he thundered!

(Reply? Actions?)


Clone heard CHESS Director Grey say, “Alex, what you said about giving your life. Were you serious?”
He cleared his throat. Agent Drake and Doc Rocket looked uncomfortable.
“Through unofficial channels, the Soviets have contacted CHESS. They’ve proposed a trade. The USSR want one of your duplicates… in exchange for your family.”

Clone asked, “Is the Kremlin telling you of what they are wanting with my Clone?” “No,” said Grey without pleasure. “We figger they’ll put him back in the Program, re-indoctrinate him, and start building up the ranks of the Soviet Super Soldiers again.” “Are you trusting them comrades?” “In this instance? Maybe,” said Grey. “For their national security, they need extranormals to replace what they’ve just lost. Weighed against that, your family doesn’t matter much to them. It’s an easy call on their part.
But we’ll insist on a live, simultaneous trade in a neutral location just the same. If it’s what you want.”

Clone just stood there for some while. Then he kissed the crucifix that was around his neck, whispered something and divided in two. The three C.H.E.S.S. agents had their answer.

Grey said, “Okay. Remember I said unofficial channels? We’re the only four that know about this. Uh… five.
Doc is going to take this Clone and work with him. Make it so the Soviets can’t re-indoctrinate him, maybe. Right Doc?”

The elderly Brit nodded gravely, “I’ll certainly do everything within my powers.”

“Best case, we end up with a mole inside the USSR who defects back to you.” Grey said, not entirely convinced.

Within 24 hours it was arranged. The exchange would take place in two nights at the Berlin Wall!
(Replies, Actions, Preparations to any of the above?)


Lightning Strike reviewed the case file of his own murder in a dark alley with Detective Archer and said: “I have heard of this case. I can understand your interest in this being that it was family but what made you think that I would be interested? There are many murders in this city. I can't possibly investigate them all, God knows I would like to, but even a man of electricity can't be everywhere."

“Really?” said Lightning Strike’s uncle with the calm patience of a man who interrogated liars for a living. “You got nothing you wanna tell me?”

Strike replied, "Obviously you know more than you are telling me Detective Archer but it is safe to say that I have a very personal interest in this case. I have been conducting my own investigation but have turned up no concrete evidence although I have lots of suspicions. Some very powerful people wanted to see these people killed. I want to see them brought to justice, any way necessary.”
"If there are any leads that you are not able follow up in an official capacity, I would be willing to track them down for you. I am certain I can get information that you can't or won't track down due to departmental policy."

Detective Archer said, “It’s likely our suspicions are the same. In fact, I think I know who you really are.”

The big tired man exhaled wearily. “Or at least I thought I did.”
He indicated the case file with his bleary eyes. “You know the victims were my nephew and his wife… my only brother’s only son. Their killer was that Luddite freak, but we all know Silas Caine was pulling the strings.
I read the classified CHESS reports at the end of the Five Bosses Massacre. Says Black Bat put you in front of Caine, with the perfect out. You could have killed that bastard Caine and gotten off scott free. But you didn’t.”
(As seen in the now classic Issue 53: The Devil You Know. –Ye Ed)

“It was then I figured maybe I didn’t know who you were. Anyway, you just said yer willing to bring the guilty parties to justice. Any way necessary. Beyond any official capacity.
I’m interesting in hearing what that really means, mister. Because I know where Silas Caine is right now.”

(Reply? Actions?)


Menagerie’s mystical perception suddenly jolted back to his surroundings! Pachyderm was glaring at him! Looking him directly in the eye, perhaps in a display of dominance over the cougar. Or perhaps it was something else… because the lethal leviathan grunted in a questioning tone, as if in disbelief!

The cougar slowly retreated and then transformed into a man; Menagerie! Pachyderm roared in surprise. The colossal creature grabbed a mature maple tree by the trunk and effortlessly hauled it out of the ground for use as a weapon! KER-RIPPP!

The shaman-sorcerer said, "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you. Just checking on a few things. If it is okay with you I will leave." Menagerie transformed into an eagle and took to the night skies! “SKRAAA!” The massive maple hurtled past the eagle, missing him by a few inches!

The eagle began a search pattern. Its keen eyes noted that Pachyderm was not following him. There did not appear to be people in the immediate area, but darkness had fallen. A mile or two out, fire truck and park rangers worked to direct the lightning-borne forest fire.

Suddenly, the mysterious Menagerie walked among them! The druidic defender tried to convince the Rangers to quarantine the area to provide Pachyderm a safe place to live and not be disturbed, for its sake and theirs!

The ranger talked instead of listened. He said, “Who the hell’re you? …Pachyderm?!” Then to another ranger, “Get the police on the radio.”
When that was done he into the radio, “Who’s this? …Carla Jean, this is Llewelyn. Some big sumbitch extranormal’s been sighted out here past marker 57. Better send some folks up. Might wanna get word to the military while yer at it. That’s right darlin’.”
Then the Ranger said to Menagerie, “Now why don’t you tell us what you’re doing up here?”

(Reply? Actions?)


Sentinel saw a woman dressed as the Mask of Red Death at the top of the stairs over the costumed ball at the Odyssey Club. She was laughing unpleasantly from behind her skull mask. When she had everyone’s attention, she said, “Ladies and gentlemen. You have eaten your fill. You have eaten this country’s wealth. And its heart. But don’t fret, you well bred masters of the universe. That time is done. From now on, you shall be the prey. This nation has no need of you slave masters anymore.”

Sentinel smiled and clapped his hands applauding, "Bravo! BRAVO!" As he spoke he began to walk above the crowd of guests as a spiraling red staircase appeared seemingly from nowhere always a few steps ahead of him to accommodate his casual walk upward towards the mysterious intruder. "You certainly know how to make an entrance and how to entrance a room my dear, but you have me at a disadvantage with the mask and all, and I'm afraid I've been a bit lax in my duties as the host of this little soiree I haven't properly met or welcomed you, Ms ..."

“Don’t you recognize me?” said the Mask. “I am Death, especially for those in attendance here tonight.”

Murmurs and gasps rushed through the crowd. Doyle and O’Malley quietly urged people to exit calmly.

Kirk continued to distract her with the rouse of conversation. The scarlet steps formed a small landing which Kirk reached "I'm shocked by what you say! Even startled. Perhaps you can enlighten me further about the company I've been keeping..."

The Mask of Red Death said, “The time when we are ruled by these parasites has ended. The New World Order is finished. We are free now. If there are any survivors tonight,” she called down in mocking delight, “I encourage you to spread the word. Tell your friends. We will not rest until you are all hunted down and exterminated like the vermin you are.” Five percent of the guests had fled the ballroom.

While she spoke, Sentinel silently scanned the ballroom with his Energy Sense! The beacon of liberty found four energy signatures that seemed out of place here. Electronic devices. Each sat just behind the grate of an air vent in the four corners of the ballroom. There were no extranormals in the crowd.

The Mask of Red Death held a small electric device in her palm. Invisible energy coursed around her, of a type Sentinel did not recognize. And she was an extranormal.

(Reply? Actions?)


Slingshot asked Maria Girucci, “What do you mean, ‘I have enough?’"
Maria’s eyes returned to normal. She stood up in the coffee shop and said, “I’ll tell you outside,” again without her thick accent. She went out the side door and Slingy followed, looking for answers.

The alley was empty and the sky growing dark. Maria said, “What I meant was” WHAM!!!!
Maria, or whatever she was, hit Scott with a speed his eyes couldn’t follow. There was a blur and then blackness. Scott couldn’t see or move! He felt tightly constrained, like he was just swallowed alive! Whatever was containing him felt warm… and living!

Slingshot wasn’t sure what was happening. With some misgivings, he proceeded to put his full strength combined with his plasticity and expand to the maximum of his capacity in an attempt to break this jail or find a crack that will let him out of these confines!

The malleable man of might’s maximum stretch was over 900 feet in one direction! In three directions, like a cube, each side would be over 200 feet long! Given the size of the alley, Scott decided for the former! The pliable powerhouse pushed his shape straight upward! But his organic prison stretched with him! Not far beyond the halfway point, the fleshy bonds offered resistance! Scott paused and pushed upward with all his super strength! He heard a man groaning and then cry out in pain! The voice was Scott’s own!

Slingshot burst out of the top of his organic confinement to discover that it was… himself! Scott had been contained by the elastic epidermis of someone who looked and sounded just like him! The two entwined twins were stretching to a standing height of 50 stories high!
The other Scott said, “What I meant was, I’ve sampled enough of your speech patterns... such as they are.”

(Replies? Actions?)


Soldier, CHESS Agent Manetti and Dr. Ashe flew south to Venezuela in what appeared to be an average cargo plane. Soldier noted that Manetti’s firearms were not his usual CHESS-issue energy blasters.

Soldier reviewed the Top Secret dossier on Nicholas Armstrong, aka The Patriot. Born with nothing in Texas trailer park. Pulls himself out of there with his own two hands. West Point scholarship. Graduated top of his class. Military History degree. Then Army. Special Forces. Green Beret Colonel. Wounded in Iraq.
Selected by CHESS and Maas Biolabs for the Project.
Psych: Disciplined, serious, driven, smart. Leadership material. And can follow orders.

Since then, CHESS and the Pentagon have been using him for what some might call Black Ops. Cuba. Mogadishu. Beijing. Moscow.

Current assignment: investigating rumors of Venezuela’s Soviet-supplied nuclear weapons program. Missed scheduled contact with his handler in Caracas.
His subcutaneous transponder currently places him in a remote jungle over 100 miles south of Caracas. Venezuela was hostile country for Americans, given its leader Hugo Chavez.

They were two hours out of Venezuelan airspace. Soldier’s assets were passports, ID, clothes, weapons, food, gear, the plane, Manetti and Ashe, both of whom could fly the plane.

It was 5pm local time when Soldier closed the dossier.
Manetti looked at the star spangled superhero and said, “Well. What’s the plan?”

(Reply? Actions?)


Symbiote had found Gadget Girl in the Vanguard Vault Electronics Lab! And she was wearing the Harper Harness! Hal grasped a tool that would help him quickly deactivate the Harper Harness. (It’ll take a special attack.) Symbiote charged her with the tool and missed!

“Not so fast,” Gadget Girl laughed. She was enjoying this. Then the lights came on.

“Hal, what was so damn important that you’re yelling for me on the intercom?” asked a perturbed Shelley who was standing in the doorway with her hand on the light switch. “Um... Uh oh.”

Gadget Girl looked at Shelley and smiled. With Gadget Girl momentarily distracted, Hal made another attempt with the tool! "Read a little of your criminal file," he said, attempting to keep her from getting a firm grasp on him as he twists around towards her back.
"You're a great tinkerer and modifier, I'm impressed with some of the things you've been able to put together. But I think you forgot one principle of engineering...."

Hal raises his arm high overhead, the tool in hand. "...always know your blueprints from top to bottom. Always!" And he slams the tool into an almost imperceptible slot in the back of the Harness.

VMMMmmmmm sputter-sput-spt-spaaaa. The Harper Harness shut down!

“Damn!” said Gadget Girl as she cleanly unholstered a Tesla-esque futuristic pistol and fired in one motion! ZARK! Hal was struck by an electric beam that ran through him and grounded out into the floor!
(OOC: 14 points of damage! 7 from Power, 7 from Hits!)

“Looks like I’ll have to take this back to the shop,” Gadget Girl smiled as her rocket pack fired up and she hurtled for the door! Shelley tried to grab her and missed and Gadget Girl flew into the Bio-Chem Lab!

ZARK! She blew open the door into the eastern hall (see map)!
A few more seconds and she’d reach a window!

(Reply? Actions?)


“Talon! No!” cried out the man who was ruining Talon’s date. He reached into his coat pocket and said: “I’m a CHESS agent! We’re monitoring Mother Russia!” But all Talon could see at this point was red!

The bestial birdman was ready to fly into a homicidal rage but he maintained control through sheer force of will! (No Luck Point was required. You made the save.)
Talon snarled, "What did you think would happen if I noticed you following us in disguise?”

The CHESS agented growled, “We weren’t tailing you, we were tailing her! How the hell were we supposed to know you’re sweet on the commie convict?!”

Talon said, “Who walks around in a trench coat with a hat pulled down over their eyes? You and your friend can go back to the Vault. I'll keep an eye on Mother Russia. Let us enjoy a night out and I'll forget this ever happened."

“All right,” grumbled the agent. Then he spoke into headset: “Pull out. We’re done.”

Talon soared back to the rear of the building he exited, put his harness on, and tried to compose himself.

By the time he got back to the table, Mother Russia wasn’t alone. There was a young man with her.
They were talking quietly and stopped when they saw Adam coming. Adam recognized the man.

It was Accelerator.

Out of uniform, Adam knew him from the CHESS files. The slacker speedster had first met Zhanna (Mother Russia’s real first name) when they were both behind bars at CHESS Castle. Born into poverty, Accelerator liked the sound of her communist propaganda and by the time of the jailbreak, he followed her and joined the Soviet Super Soldiers.

Accelerator had his hand on Talon’s beer as he watched him approach.

(Reply? Actions? )


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OOC: Have fun.

Viva Vanguard,
Jeff


Current Conditions:
Symbiote: Hit Points: 18 Power Points: 64

Everyone else is full or close to it.

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Avatar:
John was afraid that something like this might happen, though the blow had to be struck.

"So, "old friend", why don't you enlighten me about the things that I have forgotten?", John asks as he performs a standard attack against the cyclops.

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Menagerie:
Awesome stuff!!

[ooc] What is the general view of "capes" or superheroes in the world? Would explaining that I am a defender of nature be seen as crazy talk or only a little odd to the average person?

I know the timeline is different than that of ours, is there any unusual items or things going on the surroundings (i.e. the steampunk fire engine, zeppelin police vehicles. As mentioned in your write up on the Vanguard world)

Does it make sense to Menagerie that the Ranger said to call the Military and not CHESS?

How dark is it? Is it dusk or night now?

In the aerial flight, was Menagerie able to see/sense if any animals were in the area or was it as deserted as where he landed?

How large is the fire? Is it under control or does it look like it will take a long time to put out? Is its location an effective barrier to prevent them from getting to Pachyderm?

In the humble GM's opinion, if Menagerie left the foolish people to the error of their ways in dealing with Pachyderm, would that still be within the concept of his protecting the Animal Kingdom?

He has confirmed the Natural Order is not threatened and the animals in the area are all gone. It is not his calling to make sure that foolish Mankind heeds his dire warnings. Would you agree?

So, Menagerie is the Mysterious Mystical Avenger of the Animal Kingdom, but only a Messenger to Mankind.

Thanks
Tom

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Sentinel:
Hi all!

Jeff - great stuff! More exciting than new comics day!

On Kirk's energy read of the devices, can he tell if he is dealing with a bomb threat or the release of a poisonous gas? From the location in the air vents it would seem a gas, but she could have just used that area since they would be out of sight and give full access to all areas also. It would seem if they were incendiary devices there would be a greater energy reading. Or can he just not tell at this point?

And I see other posts already ... looking forward to reading them.

A good weekend to all ... nice weekend weather projected here.

Thanks.

Seth

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Slingshot:
Oh hoh..

I'm in trouble! It's CLOBBERING TIME!

Assuming he/she/it has the same powers and weaknesses that I do.. What is around the area that I can use that has fire? Are there anyone that are BBQing close by? Some repair guy using a blow torch?

Anything that I can use to my advantage .. against myself!

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GM:
Hi all. Thanks. Replies to OOC questions:

Seth, Sentinel can't tell if the devices are gas or explosives.

Stephane, Slingshot is about 50 stories up, so a blow torch at a high rise, steel girder construction site is fitting.

Tom, Menagerie knows the general view of superheroes in the world is mostly positive, but Menagerie is a complete unknown.

The fire engines are 1930's art deco in appearance, but up to date technologically from our POV.

A Canadian might call the military before CHESS which is a US organization technically.

It's night now and Menagerie sensed that most wild animals have fled the area from the fire. The fire is under control. It isn't a barrier between the men and Pachyderm. The fire line mostly runs east-west and the men and Pachyderm are both on the southern side of the fire line.

Since you asked, leaving the military to be slaughtered by Pachyderm, or vice versa, because of one short-sighted ranger might not be the best outcome for anyone. It's a four color game, where the PCs are the good guys. Menagerie has a high Charisma.
What are your thoughts?

Also, going forward, he'll need a reason to want to be with Vanguard and I don't know if I can include an animal or nature theme in every Vanguard adventure. Maybe his calling is widened? Or he needs something from them? Up to you.

Thanks,
Jeff

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Soldier:
As Soldier read over the dossier, he couldn't help but wonder exactly what it was he was getting himself into. How was it that this highly trained and dedicated soldier had gone missing, and what was his father's involvement in all of this? But he'd worry about that later as he had more pressing matters to attend to. IC to Manetti: "By the time we're over the target area it'll be dark. Since I don't want to have to deal with explaining what we're to the locals, you and I will make a low level parachute drop into the jungle, near the Patriot's last known location, allowing the good doctor continue on to a more secure location. Once we've established our position, we'll do a sweep of the area to see if we can determine The Patriots exact location, and what's happened to him. Once we get a chance to look around, we'll radio in to the doctor and let him know what we find. After that, we'll continue to check in with him every four hours. Doc, if we miss to consecutive radio checks, odds are pretty good that somethings gone wrong. Also, if I use the phrase, I can't wait to get home, in any of my transmissions, that's my duress code for trouble. Any questions?"

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Menagerie:
Then the Ranger said to Menagerie, “Now why don’t you tell us what you’re doing up here?”

“Protecting the people from the resource, and the resource from the people”* is Menagerie’s response.

“You have not heard of Pachyderm, so Menagerie will be meaningless to you as well. The name of Vanguard should be meaningful. While Vanguard was able to defeat Pachyderm, they were not able to capture him.

“How much of your military will it take to be stronger than Vanguard? Whose purpose will they serve? Will they protect the forests?”

“All the military will accomplish is the destruction of the resource and the people.”

After a significant enough pause for this to have effect, Menagerie will say, “All I have witness of Pachyderm is his living at peace with the land but I am unsure he is able to live at peace with man.

If this location is not a safe place for him to be alone then tell me where in the Great Wilds we can offer him seclusion. I will lead him there.”

[ooc * Hopefully this Ranger recognizes the characterization given for his profession – see Park-Ranger facebook and Wiki pages]

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Symbiote:
Damn. Can't let her leave with the Harness.

What sort of internal defenses against intruders does The Vault have? Would it have, say, something along the lines of metallic tentacles that pop out of the wall and restrain intruders, like I've seen about a million times at the Baxter Building and Avengers Mansion and LSH Headquarters? (Side note: Those tentacles always seemed to malfunction and pop out and attack a new recruit or a new ally, giving them a chance to fight and show their prowess from the start. You'd think the Acme Metallic Tentacle Company would have better quality control).

Anyway, even if there aren't such defenses in the Vault interior, I'd like to use a hero point to retro-create some (I hate burning up so many hero points against this opponent but as I say, can't let her have the Harness. Next advancement I'm definitely taking steps to keep this sort of thing from happening again).

IC (assuming Jeff allows this): Hal eyed the escaping villainess. He had only a few seconds. He barks orders out loud to the Vault household computer. "Computer! Fugitive Capture Protocol! Authorization Harper-3609!"

OOC: 3609 was Frank Gifford's career rushing yards. As previously indicated, Hal is a Giants fan.

At this point, hopefully force fields activate, tentacles come out of the wall, or whatever Jeff comes up with, entrapping Gadget Girl.

Viva Vanguard,
Greg

P.S. Sorry responses have been brief and infrequent lately, but my new job is eating my life. Training ends in two weeks, hopefully things will get better.

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Sentinel:
Now that Kirk had her attention he reeled in the swagger a bit as he began to realize just how over the top his adversary was; he figured taking it down a notch on his side might buy some more time and information.

"Now I do recognize you, Red." Kirk spoke. "We're from the same mold. We're both people with visions of change. That was what this evening was for me too. We're both people of full of passion... and we're both people of power."

Kirk continued with a tone as if he was having an intellectual exchange with rational colleague, "But if I'm to be an instrument of change, I want to get it right. What exactly is the New World Order you speak about? How long have they been in control of things? If they are as entrenched as you say, is there enough support to be sure change will come as you promise?

As Kirk had his conversation with the Mask he was never more grateful for his gift of energy sense. It allowed him to effective 'see' everything he needed to assess the threat, while to the Mask, it appeared his full attention was focused on her.

At the bottom of his red spiraling energy staircase, energy flowed clearly, almost imperceptibly from it, in a flow so thin one could be stepping on it and be none the wiser. Kirk guided the path of the energy to the four devices hidden in the air vents around the room. Upon securing entrance to the air vent the flowing energy gained mass growing in form and encircling each of the devices, securing them and insulating them from further contact with the outside world.

OOC: Jeff: At this point, rather than go for the trigger, Kirk is securing the devices. He is hoping this will prevent their usage. Once encircled, Kirk's energy should form a protective field that will prevent them from being activated (hopefully Kirk's energy will 'jam' whatever the signal is to activate the devices - Kirk won't let the sound or vibrations, etc get to the device). If this doesn't work for some reason, then his creation should be able to prevent the dispersion of the agent if a poisonous gas or something along those lines, or absorb the explosive force if they are physical bombs.

Also, if my limited understanding of games rules work, since these are an inanimate objects accomplishing this is almost a 'given' verses going for the trigger would require an attack on the Mask (and possibly be unsuccessful) and starting a battle. I'm not sure if you'll handle it that way or consider this his 'action' as opposed to 'movement', but that will be his first goal this round.

Kirk's primary goal here is to protect the civilians and is hoping to take out the major threat regarding that before it comes into play. He will continue to try to prolong the conversation as long as possible to allow more civilians time to escape.

If securing the devices is considered 'movement' and he has an action, he will try to begin a mental read on the Mask to learn more information and they speak, but he wouldn't try until he has secured the devices as he doesn't want to do anything to endanger that.

I don't know how far your planning the next round to go, but if Kirk is unsuccessful in keeping the Mask talking and she makes it apparent she is going to activate the devices, Kirk would likely choose to bring them all speedily up from around the room to encircle her so if they did go 'off', she would be at the center of the activity. Hopefully that threat would prevent her from doing so. Although I'm hoping things don't go that far yet.

If anything is unclear or you want to give me some other if...then scenarios for Kirk, let me know.

Best,
Seth

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GM:
Thanks everyone!
Greg, I'll allow the Luck Point use. Those things are common in comics. It makes sense.
And I don't think it violates anything that occurred in the past. The only fight I can think of that happened in the Vault was when the Vault was already controlled by The Entity.

Thanks,
Jeff

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Clone:
Grey said, “Okay. Remember I said unofficial channels? We’re the only four that know about this. Uh… five. Doc is going to take this Clone and work with him. Make it so the Soviets can’t re-indoctrinate him, maybe. Right Doc?” The elderly Brit nodded gravely, “I’ll certainly do everything within my powers.”

“Best case, we end up with a mole inside the USSR who defects back to you.” Grey said, not entirely convinced. Within 24 hours it was arranged. The exchange would take place in two nights at the Berlin Wall!

As he listened to Agent Grey explain what he had in mind; both Clone’s could feel that small ember of hope they held onto becoming rekindled, and they began to work on a plan. “Perhaps there’s a way to get my family out of Russia and at the same time deny the Soviet Government what they really want,” they each thought to themselves.

“Comrade Grey . . . in your words I am hearing small gears of ideas turning. You are having plan – no?” the first Clone asked the veteran C.H.E.S.S. agents with a tone of curiosity in his voice.

The second Clone then chimed in, “If there is way of having more of me during exchange at Berlin Wall . . .”

The first Clone then immediately continued the thought without a noticeable break in what was being said, “ . . . with our faces covered and in dress that is making us look different from others . . . “

The second Clone then completed the question, “. . . perhaps there is then way for more of me to be coming for exchange – yes?”

The two Clones then fell silent for a second and then quickly turned to face each other with a look of epiphany on their faces and blurted out in an excited tone, “Agents of C.H.E.S.S.!”

The two Clones would then try to work on the possibility of a plan with the three agents, of Clone splitting up into about a half dozen copies ( more if necessary ) and dressing up as base level C.H.E.S.S. agents. Wearing body armour, helmets ( to conceal their true identities ), equipment belts, weapons, etc . . . , and then accompanying Agent Grey ( and who ever else was scheduled to be at the exchange ) as their security detail. Two of the disguised Clones could even escort the Clone that was supposedly there to be exchanged, to the other side of the meeting spot.

Regardless of the exact details; Clone had no desire to go back to Russia, and he was willing to sit up all night if need be and work on a plan with the three agents. A plan where he could get his family to safety and where the Soviets would be denied what they wanted. If the agents were willing to work on such a plan with the Clone’s, they would slowly begin to feel a rush of adrenaline as they began to finally feel what it was like to be free. Free to choose what they did, how they led their life, free to think for themselves, and free to finally act out in a way of open defiance against their former oppressor.
As the night wore on, their goal would take on an added breath of life – freedom for their family, keeping Clone out of the Soviets hands, and ‘sticking it’ once and for all to the Soviet Government! Clone would of course do what ever Doc requested of him/them. If possible – he/they would also like to re-merge after he did what ever it was that he was going to do and then re-split so that all the Clones would have the benefits of Doc’s ‘anti - re-indoctrinate’ efforts. He/they would also prepare for the possibility of a ‘final split’. They would hold off on the final steps of the splitting process, and keep that as a last resort should their plan not actually go off as they hoped.

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>CLONE’S OOC RESPONSE<

Jeff we never really touched on Clone’s ability to “absorb” ( for lack of a better term ) his duplicates memories/training/experiences – did you have any idea’s about how this would work? Should we work something out together? Did you just want to role play it out and deal with it as the situation dictated itself? Etc. . . . I ask because I’ve been thinking about this recently and I see a lot of possibility in it. -

1. For starters it could definitely effect how Clone trains/’levels up’ in the future ( all the dupes learning something different and then re-merging to combine their training ). For example – they could all decide to learn a different computer language/skill and within a month or so become a computer expert. As scary as that thought might be – it might serve as a useful way to get skills and stuff out to the group in an accelerated manner – skills ( and stuff ) that would otherwise take forever ( in game time ) to actually get out to the group. It might actually be fun to see them all reading one chapter of a book and then having them all merge ( once they’ve finished their individual chapters ) back into one Clone, with that one Clone then having the complete knowledge of that book. It would sure make reading War and Peace go by much quicker lol -

2. It might serve as a cool vehicle for a future Clone sub-plot. Sought’s like the Madrox/Multiple Man story and his rogue dupes. Let me know what you think

– Talk to you all soon,
-Kev

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Sentinel:
OOC:
Jeff & Kev:
Naturally this is between you guys to figure out, but one possibility might be to work it kind of like my last character from the western campaign (that failed to take off) whereby he had a certain skillset at his immediate disposal but others would be forgotten and currently lost to him with the idea that Clone could only 'hold' so much information before it slipped away (ie kind of like a computer with limited storage space, it can only contain so much data before some must be purged to allow for new data). Perhaps you could devise a system to access past forgotten skills again or to somehow rotate them back into his current mix at the expense of losing another skill (perhaps some sort of save roll or some limited exchange like luck points (so that it is something that costs Clone and he couldn't just manifest every skill as needed)).

I don't know if Jeff worked out any rules for it in the last game because we only played a few rounds and I don't believe we ever had him access another skill set, but I figured I'd mention it because it sounds similar and if Jeff worked out something in game terms then it might help with this (and likely he's forgotten my character already, but may have the game notes sitting somewhere). My character was an indestructible immortal that 'lived' countless lives and thus learned many skills, etc and that was how we planned to handle it ... although it certainly could be that more of him was defined and figured in my head than ever made it into the game - but I do think the handling of the 'forgotten skills' was something we had actually discussed. Hope that may help a little.

Best, Seth

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Talon:
Adam looks at Accelerator's hand on his drink as he closes the distance to the table where he sits talking to Mother Russia. With blood hammering in the veins of his temples and heat flushing across the surface of his face, he struggles to think of a reason not to pick a fight with the russian speedster.....But he can't.

"Well.....if it isn't the Kremlin's favorite coward! Let me guess.....your telling her some sort of sob story for the reason you ran out on your friends in a fight, and you needed a beer to cry in.....so you just...took...mine!"

Adam doesn't look at Mother Russia. He keeps his eyes on Accelerator. Knowing the speed he possesses, he wants to act first if he thinks he will put up a fight. "Give me one reason I shouldn't thrash you so you learn a little respect? OOC: Adam will give Accelerator a second to respond. If he is disrespectful he will get attacked. I plan on beating the crap out of him then taking him back to the Vault. If Mother Russia protests.....well.....I'll do the best I can.

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Slingshot:
Slingshot will try to keep the fight away from the population if possible. He will go no hold barred against the mimic. This turn, it's going to be straight slugging it out (Since he know he hurt the mimic last turn and has an advantage), if the advantage turns, he will use anything that's fire/heat based to inflict greater damage.He will continue to try to get more info from this person and figure out who they are.

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GM:
OOC:
Thanks Stephane. I hope everything works out.

Thanks Denny.

Seth: That lost campaign, Weird West, was in a system called Age of Empire, which was fantasy 1880s, with settings from Victorian London (Sherlock Holmes, Jack the Ripper, Jekyll and Hyde, Fu Manchu, Dracula, etc.) to the American wild west to deepest darkest Africa. Your guy had a power that let him have any skill at a mid level. I think it was written as "Jack of All Trades" but was modified to explain your Dorian Grey immortal. That was a promising rpg system.

Kevin: I'll write up a way that lets you perform tasks faster in downtime (like learning skills, etc) . I don't think it would be 19 times as fast. That would mean that for months at a time (downtime) you are permanently in 19 bodies. To Seth's point, maybe it's a factor of intelligence. Maybe Clone can learn skills at (Int/4) times faster? So three times as fast with his 12 Int?

Best,
Jeff

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Lightning Strike:
Strike pauses after listening to what Detective Archer has to say. It is a calculated pause, trying to ensure Archer that he is not too eager to find Caine and bring him to justice. Finally he speaks to Detective Archer. "If you know where Caine is at the moment and you have suspicions that he is engaged in criminal activity, then I will go and see what I can find. I want to see him brought to justice but I will not be a vigilante. He will be brought before a jury of his peers and he will be exposed for the vermin that he is. If I can make that happen, then perhaps your nephew can rest in peace."

Lightning Strike will wait for Detective Archer to give him the location and then he will head there immediately. Ideally, once Strike is given the location, he could tap into the Chess mainframe and look up whatever pertinent details there are about where Caine is, including electrical wiring, etc.

Vanguard: Issue 110: Solo Stories of Startling Suspense!


Avatar said, "I can see you, too. What would you have of me?" Rain soaked the thick New York crowds.

“Everything,” was the calm reply. “I have been searching for you… for ages. Long have you been missing from the world of Men, Avatar of the Pantheon. But now you are returned. Where have you been?...”

KRAKA-BOOM! Lightning flashed to reveal the giant’s face. John saw the ugly man had but one large eye! He was a Cyclops! “…Where have you been to escape detection by Otom the Seer?”

John chuckles. Here we go, he thinks. "Searching for me for ages...? This is a mystery to me but there have been lots of strange things going on so, instead of dismissing this out of hand, I guess I need to ask one question of you before we move forward. Otom, Seer...are you my friend or are you my foe?"

“Both,” said the ancient Cyclops with sincere remorse and determination. He tore open his brown paper package to reveal two long spears, crafted with traditional materials and methods.

His voice boomed again, like thunder. “I, Otom the Seer, worthy, wise and deserving, do hereby challenge you before the all-seeing Pantheon for the sacred mantle of Avatar of the Twelve Olympians!”

Those words triggered a memory in John’s amnesiac mind. Those words… a ritual… an ancient pact that must be honored. Suddenly John felt those magic words change him! He lost his ability to manifest the Pantheon (OOC: ie: Power 4: Magic Power: Divine Manifestation) …until this mighty contest was decided!

Otom threw one spear hard at John, lengthwise, not to attack, but to arm a fellow soldier.

KRAKA-BOOM! roared the heavens. Panic rippled through the crowds as the giant Cyclops roared back over the wind and the rain and the thunder! “Now let us see, at long last, who is worthy to be called Avatar!”

(Reply? Actions?)


Clone heard CHESS Director Grey say, “Alex, what you said about giving your life. Were you serious?”
He cleared his throat. Agent Drake and Doc Rocket looked uncomfortable.
“Through unofficial channels, the Soviets have contacted CHESS. They’ve proposed a trade. The USSR want one of your duplicates… in exchange for your family.”

Putting his hand to chin, Clone turned and slowly walked away from the three agents. With his back turned towards them he stopped only a few feet away, scratching his chin as he pondered what they have just said to him. Clone’s eyes opened slowly as he turned to the three agents, “They are having my family? Of this you are certain?
“We’re certain,” said Grey flatly.
“Is the Kremlin telling you of what they are wanting with my Clone?” “No,” said Grey without pleasure. “We figger they’ll put him back in the Program, re-indoctrinate him, and start building up the ranks of the Soviet Super Soldiers again.” “Are you trusting them comrades?” “In this instance? Maybe,” said Grey. “For their national security, they need extranormals to replace what they’ve just lost. Weighed against that, your family doesn’t matter much to them. It’s an easy call on their part.
But we’ll insist on a live, simultaneous trade in a neutral location just the same. If it’s what you want.”

(Reply? Actions? And Kev, I need a list of Alex’s family members. Thanks.)


Menagerie tracked a mysterious disturbance in the Natural Order to the wilds of Canada. In the titanic forests of British Columbia, a forest fire borne of a lightning storm smoldered and flickered as the sun set. Illuminated by the dying flames as he cupped stream water to his lips was a monolithic figure. Menagerie knew from the news that his name was Pachyderm. Wanted for wholesale destruction of property, the seven foot tall man-mammoth, like his name, evoked elephant, hippo and rhino. The bestial behemoth was the source of the mystical disturbance!
Menagerie magically assumed the form of a cougar and slunk stealthily downwind to escape detection! The fire, or perhaps the grey goliath, had forced all other animals from the area.

With amber cat eyes that caught the flickering flames, the sorcerous shapeshifter silently watched Pachyderm. Using his mystical Nature Sense, Menagerie tried to divine more! The wizard of wildlife saw visions of events. Events that both transpired and did not! Pachyderm was hurtling from the sky like a comet, the catalyst in a chain of events that would result in the overthrow of mankind! A perverted vision of animal law gripped the planet, enforced by a beast with the mind of a man, the Primate! His all-too-human tyranny supplanted the Natural Order forever!

All of this happened… and none of it did. The environmental empathy realized then that his visions were of an alternate dimension, a parallel universe that lay incredibly close to his own. The disruption he detected was coming from that adjacent realm! The threat to this world had already been averted… by Vanguard, a New York based team of superheroes!

Menagerie’s mystical perception suddenly jolted back to his surroundings! Pachyderm was glaring at him! Looking him directly in the eye, perhaps in a display of dominance over the cougar. Or perhaps it was something else… because the lethal leviathan grunted in a questioning tone, as if in disbelief!

(Reply? Actions?)


Sentinel hosted an old-fashioned costumed ball fundraiser for REACH at the Odyssey Club, the stately philanthropic institution housed within a Fifth Avenue brownstone. He dressed as the Scarlet Pimpernel and spoke briefly but passionately about his goals and hopes for REACH and how it would benefit all of humanity, during which he revealed himself as Sentinel, the beacon of liberty!

The event was a swank affair and the attendees were appreciative and attentive. When he revealed the Sentinel insignia on the back of his cape, they applauded loudly.

In mingling, Kirk noticed at least two male guests wearing signet rings with the symbol of the Sentinel on them! Kirk knew its origin was in US history but it still seemed unusual. Lancaster wore such a ring but Lancaster’s friend, Edward Thistlewait, did not. Kirk recognized Senator Doyle and Sean O’Malley in attendance but no one else, however the masks made such work difficult.

Sentinel approached the ring wearers and in their casual conversation said, "I couldn't help but notice the symbol on your ring, it’s one that has always been close to my heart. Does it have any special meaning?”

The two men froze. The awkward pause kept going. Kirk noticed the silence spreading through the ballroom!

Sentinel turned to see what was the matter and noticed a woman dressed as the Mask of Red Death at the top of the stairs. She was laughing unpleasantly from behind her skull mask.

When she had everyone’s attention, she said, “Ladies and gentlemen. You have eaten your fill. You have eaten this country’s wealth. And it’s heart. But don’t fret, you well bred masters of the universe. That time is done. From now on, you shall be the prey. This nation has no need of you slave masters anymore.”

Kirk had feared that REACH’s affiliation with super heroes would cause it to become a target for extranormal criminals, but this woman wasn’t targeting REACH. She seemed to be targeting the members of Odyssey Club!

(Replies? Actions?) *


Slingshot had coffee and small talk with Spider Girucci’s sister, Maria. The check came and Maria Girucci said, “Well, I gotta thank you…. Really. I believe I have enough now.” Her accent evaporated and she smiled as her eyes glowed white, eclipsing her brown pupils entirely.

Scott steeled himself. While, he understood why Maria might have been after him.. Go through this whole charade to spend an hour in front of a coffee? - He says sighing, something between exasperation and sadness. "Thank you for the reveal. I'm assuming you're not actually Maria. I certainly don't appreciate the subterfuge. If you wanted to talk to me, you could have simply come up and asked, just as "Maria" just did… and what do you mean, ‘I have enough?’"

Maria’s eyes returned to normal. She stood up and said, “I’ll tell you outside,” again without the thick accent.
She went out the side door and Slingy followed, looking for answers.

The alley was empty and the sky growing dark. “What I meant was” WHAM!!!!
Maria, or whatever she was, hit Scott with a speed his eyes couldn’t follow. There was a blur and then blackness. Scott couldn’t see or move! He felt tightly constrained, like he was just swallowed alive! Whatever was containing him felt warm… and living!

(Reply? Actions?)


Soldier looked at the Top Secret dossier as Dr. Ashe said, “He calls himself the Patriot. He’s gone AWOL from CHESS in Venezuela. We have a lead on his location.”

General Steele said, “We’re burning daylight. Ashe can thoroughly brief you on the way down. Will you help me, son?”

Soldier replied, "I got a few questions I need answered, so that I can come up with a workable plan, and I'll need some equipment. When and where was the Patriot last seen?”

Ashe said, “Venezuela’s capital. He failed to check in 30 hours ago.”

Soldier said, “How am I infiltrating my objective, and what my cover story?”

Ashe said, “We’ve traced him to a location remote in the jungle. We’ll airdrop you in. You’ll likely not need a cover story in that wilderness. But if you want, we can arrange an identity as a Canadian missionary worker, volunteering with local indigenous peoples.” Ashe produced a passport and drivers license from a beige envelope.

“What type of support am I looking at, and will CHESS back up be available if I need it?"

General Steele said, “Almost none, and no. Venezuela is hostile country. You’ll almost be on your own.”

Matt said, "Also, I'd like to request that Agent Manetti be the CHESS Agent to accompany me on this mission.”

Steele said, “Not a problem. He’s cleared.”

Then Matt spoke directly to his father. "With your permission sir, I'd like to take care of a few personal issues, before I leave, do I have time?”

More of the throbbing vein Matt had come to know all too well. “Make it quick,” his father grumbled.

(Reply? Actions?)


Symbiote had found Gadget Girl in the Vanguard Vault Electronics Lab! The inventing ingénue, fresh from the CHESS Castle jailbreak! And she was wearing the Harper Harness! Hal could tell that it had been somehow modified in the area of the telemetry system! Gadget Girl smiled as the Harper Harness hummed to life and her form grew with muscle! She said, “After all, sweetheart, I just stole it fair and square.”

KA-POW!! Gadget Girl landed a haymaker on Symbiote’s jaw and sent him flying across the darkened Lab! (OOC: 23 points of damage! 8 from Power, 15 from hits!!) CRASH! Hal landed hard across a workbench, scattering steel tools across the cement floor! Clang! Clatter! Skash!

Gadget Girl smiled and looked at her fist. “Sweet! What else can this baby do?” she purred.

Hal grasped a tool that would help him quickly deactivate the Harper Harness. (a Luck Point is spent to retcon a quick deactivation process that will also instantly discharge the current extranormal genetic template. It’ll take a special attack to successfully deactivate it with the tool. )

Symbiote charged her with the tool and missed!

“Not so fast,” Gadget Girl laughed. She was enjoying this. Then the lights came on.

“Hal, what was so damn important that you’re yelling for me on the intercom?” asked a perturbed Shelley who was standing in the doorway with her hand on the light switch. “Um... Uh oh.”

(Reply? Actions?)


Talon was trying hard to enjoy a night out as a regular person on a date, albeit a date with Mother Russia, former leader of the Soviet Super Soldiers, but still.

The two new friends talked happily on the way to the bar. Then the hair on the back of Talon’s neck went up. The eagle-eyed hero scanned across the reflection on a window wall they were passing and saw they were being followed. One person, male. A block back. Coat and hat made him hard to make out in the night.

If Mother Russia noticed, she didn’t let on.

Adam found a small bar and sat her down near the window in the hopes that this person will leave them be if they sit for awhile. He' tried to keep up the small talk without losing his temper but his extranormal eyes detected another stalker trying not to be noticed. Adam couldn’t make this one out in the darkness either.

Suspecting a trap, Adam excused himself and went out the back door. He freed his wings from their harness, feeling his blood pressure rising. He was angry at the disturbance of his date. All the bad memories of his past came flooding back, the effort he’d made to control his anger be damned.

Talon flew up and into the alley on the opposite block where the first tail was now watching from. He descended near him, ready for a fight, his temper lost.

The man cried out, “Talon! No!” He reached into his coat pocket and said: “I’m a CHESS agent! We’re monitoring Mother Russia!” But all Talon could see at this point was red!

(Reply? Actions?
You’ve blown your first save against Low Self Control, but may attempt to regain control if you want)

---------------------------------

Have fun.
Viva Vanguard,
Jeff

Current Conditions:
Symbiote: Hit Points: 25 Power Points: 72
Everyone else is full or close to it.

*Couldn’t fool you, Seth. We’ve been gaming too long together.
Apologies to Frank Miller. More than usual I mean.

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Avatar:
John is puzzled at the utterance of the cyclops and the surfacing of the memory...but only for a moment. A battle looms nigh and that is all that he has time for at the present!

Catching the hard-thrown spear, thoughts race through his mind at break-neck speed. Without the powers of the Pantheon, he is back to the powers that he had as Kairos. He realizes that he had grown to depend on the powers of the Pantheon too much, even in the brief time that he has had them. A fight without them, once commonplace, was now a little scary!

Nevertheless, here it was. This cyclops was obviously someone who knew more than John did about his past and his response to John's question about whether he was friend or foe was revealing. More needed to be discovered.

John raced forward toward the cyclops, spear in both hands. He didn't know the abilities of the cyclops but needed to do something to make the odds favor him more. An obvious ploy sprang to mind.

As he closed with the one-eyed seer, John feints with the spear's point but then uses the butt of the weapon to try and strike Otom's eye, not to permanently blind but in an attempt to make seeing difficult for the giant for the duration of the combat. John reasoned that even a mythical giant might be vulnerable to such an attack and disrupted vision would be a boon to him in a fight with an enemy of unknown abilities.

(OOC: John tries a special attack at the eye and uses a Luck Point in an attempt to ensure a hit. I forget the rules but I'm hoping that this not only does damage but also blinds him for a time so that he is both more vulnerable to attack as well as having an even greater chance of missing me. Any further actions in the immediate future will be regular attacks with the spear unless something else comes up.)

"I feel that I've a destiny to fulfill before the mantle is passed to another, Otom, though I know not what it may be. Until that time, it is MINE!"

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Menagerie:
OOC: I wanted to get this in quickly. If I don't hear back, I will go the "If-then" route. (Unfortunately doing "if-then" and VLookups in EXCEL is a majority of my job so my response can be very long).

How does Pachyderm response to a friendly approach? I have written it down below the **** how I would respond if it is favorable. Let me know if it is unfavorable and I will provide a different response. If you are unable to get back to me 2 days before the deadline, then I will go the "If-then" approach for friendly and unfriendly.

********

IC: Menagerie is confused. Was I lead here because of a parallel dimension issue? Snap out of it! Focus on the most important thing! This Beast in front of you!

Menagerie will look into Pachyderm's eyes and softly purr. He moves to Pachy and rubs his head against an arm or leg. (OOC: like a cat when it is wanting to be petted). If successful in making contact, Menagerie will attempt to create a mindlink (OOC: spend 1 luck point and 20 PPs). If Pachy starts petting Menagerie he will go with the flow. If Pachy starts hurting Menagerie, he will use whatever means possible to run away.

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Talon:
I saw the potential for this scenario to happen but went with the action anyway. That's what I get for trying to role-play.

I will most surely try to save again.

Thanks,
Denny

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Sentinel:
Kirk didn't miss a beat. His energies focused around him clandestinely in an almost invisible glow imperceptible to all but those looking for it.

He smiled and clapped his hands applauding, "Bravo! (and louder) BRAVO!"

As he spoke he began to walk above the crowd of guests as a spiraling red staircase appeared seemingly from nowhere always a few steps ahead of him to accommodate his casual walk upward towards the mysterious intruder.

"You certainly know how to make an entrance and how to entrance a room my dear," as he said that Kirk made a wide flowing gesture about the room as he continued his ascent, but you have me at a disadvantage with the mask and all, and I'm afraid I've been a bit lax in my duties as the host of this little soiree I haven't properly met or welcomed you, Ms ..."

And Kirk motioned to her, hoping she would fill in her name.

"... although from your demeanor, I'd guess that you didn't get a proper invite, did you?"

Kirk continued walking upward until he was at eye level with her although towards the center of the grand ballroom saying, "Truth be told, although I am the host, tonight is the first time I've met most of my guests. But even I can see that tonight's portions of finger foods and cocktails, although more decadent than most, certainly don't qualify as the gorging of your accusations."

The scarlet steps formed a small landing which Kirk reached and as he did he dramatically adjusted his cape seemingly standing at full attention, "I'm shocked by what you say! Even startled. Perhaps you can enlighten me further about the company I've been keeping..."

And he waited for her reply.

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Sentinel:
Kirk is hoping to change the focus of the Mask from the guests to himself and has made himself an easy target away from them if an attack is eminent. He is also hoping that this dramatic show might abate panic on the part of the guests and perhaps allow some of them to make an exit.

As Kirk ascends he does what he should have done earlier had he not been so busy playing host and intrigued by the mystery of the signet rings, he focuses on his energy senses with two main intents.

First, to determine how many extranormals are in the room with him. Is the Mask one? And how about the two guests with the signet ring? It would seem likely that the Mask has some cohorts in the crowd so it would be good to know if these will be human henchmen or more. If an unusual number of extranormals do show up among the crowd, Kirk would try to check to see if he spots a signet ring on any of them figuring that marks them as allies. (although at this point visual scanning would be somewhat limited since he needs to focus on the Mask and have her focus on him) In fact, if he has time, do the signet rings give off any energy signature or are they just normal rings?

Second, any other unusual energy signatures that show some sort of weapons or threat present? If Mask has thugs were energy weapons, this should ferret them out.

Kirk's positioning himself above the crowd should aid in his sorting through the information more quickly and also put him in place where he can 'get to' any threats quicker and without interference if things go that way.

(I picture this part as a Daredevil-type panel when they show him viewing a scene with his radar sense as the energy signatures have some forms stand out among the others helping Kirk to 'chart' the room and what he is up against here. First panel would be a normal visual scan of the room as it appears to everyone and second would be the same view through Kirk's energy perception with most figures mundane, other than the unique energy signatures standing out according to their kind in different hues).

Kirk is NOT looking to escalate things into a battle here and would be happy if the Mask didn't either but is going to do his best to be prepared in case and to try to make sure he protects the guests from attack and injury. From his vantage point (assuming you let him get there) he should be able to use his energies throughout the room quickly and directly to accomplish this.

Also, he knows that at least a couple of his guests are well-versed in these sort of threats from their days at the side of Lancaster and assumes that they will help the guests take appropriate action to ensure their safety if the situation allows it.

Some other stuff:
(1) What is the crest of the Odyssey Club? It isn't the symbol of the Sentinel like the signet rings, right?
(2) What is the size of the brownstone? What level is the grand ballroom where the ball is being held? What is the size of the grand ballroom? What is the layout of the room and outside it? Any balcony leading outside or is this an interior room? Or has the brownstone been retrofitted to more of a modern look with huge glass panes with a view of the city in this room?

Not sure of how much clandestine super-stuff you'll allow here before things escalate further, but assuming Kirk gets the layout down and the energy scans interpreted and is prepared for any 'sneak' attacks, if Mask is happy to continue talking next step would be to turn on a mental read to find out more of who she is and what she is planning and hopefully stay a step ahead here. I'm kind of assuming Kirk wouldn't get that far but am outlining it just in case I'm wrong.

As always, if any clarification is needed let me know, and naturally, anything I've outlined is always subject to your allowing it and any changes are at your whim.

FYI for new players: I typically write Kirk's actions as I see them unfolding in my mind. This is no way implies that they will actually happen that way. When Jeff first started the play be email he encouraged me to 'write what you'd like to see happen or what you'd like Kirk to do' and I've gone with that since then, but its always subject to Jeff's discretion... and I quickly learned the more characters involved the less chance things will proceed the way I envision them.

A good weekend to all... and a separate email to follow if I get a moment on just how cool that latest issue was to read! Great stuff by everyone and special thanks to Jeff for taking the time to make it all possible.

Best,
Seth

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Symbiote:
Short and sweet on this one...with Gadget Girl hopefully distracted by the appearance of Shelly, Hal will make another attempt at jabbing her in the back with the tool.

That's all I've got. Sorry so brief, but I'm off for another fun-filled week of training in Jefferson City. Internet connectivity will probably be nil, but Harold or Denny can call if there's something I really need to know. Otherwise I'll check in again on the weekend. Have a great week!

Greg

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GM:
Hi guys.

Menagerie: I think the mind link's only purpose is as a Special Requirement in order to add another animal to your list of what you can transform into. Pachyderm is not an animal. Am I missing something? Thanks. :)

Talon: Thanks. I can handle what happens if you fail your saving throw. ;)
Can you please give me an If-Then statement of what Talon's actions and words are if he makes his saving throw? Thanks.

Avatar, Sentinel and Symbiote: Thanks. Good to go.

Best,
Jeff

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Talon:
You're enjoying this way too much, Jeff!:)

If Adam makes his save he will still be upset with the CHESS Agent.

"What did you think would happen if I noticed you following us in disguise? Who walks around in a trench coat with a hat pulled down over their eyes? You and your friend can go back to the Vault. I'll keep an eye on Mother Russia. Let us enjoy a night out and I'll forget this ever happend."

When he calms down he will quickly fly back to the rear of the building he exited, put his harness on, and try to compose himself.

When he arrives back at the table he will explain the situation and apologize for not letting her in on the secret(saying it was just a couple of new recruits trying to impress someone) and try to get on with the evening.

Thanks,
Denny

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Menagerie:
OOC: Jeff, No, you aren't missing anything. I wasn't sure if Pachyderm was an animal mutated into hybrid man form or if it was the other way around. So I was trying something, anything to figure out what to do next.

Maybe I am over analyzing this, but I am not sure if this is a diplomatic situation or a straight up hero versus villain fight. So this was a BIG reach to attempt to gather more information.

Thanks
Tom

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Slingshot:
Scott is not sure what is happening.. It seems that he's been swallowed whole, or contained inside something organic. The first thing to do here is easy, but what if this was an illusion.. Scott's powers can create a huge amount of collateral damage.. With some misgivings, he proceeds to put his full strength combined with his plasticity and expand to the maximum of his capacity in an attempt to break this jail or find a crack that will let him out of these confines.

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Menagerie:
OOC: A few questions?

How remote an area of British Columbia is? Can I tell if this is a place that would be okay just to leave Pachyderm? (To relate to as a comic example. I don't want to be the fool who disturbs the Hulk when he has found a peaceful place to calm down and stay away from man).

Does Menagerie know of any government that is currently seeking Pachyderm? Does CHESS want him brought in at all costs?

Was Menagerie able to figure out whether it is this Pachyderm that is still the threat to Natural Order or the other dimensional Pachy that is the trouble?

Can Menagerie tell what his Nature Sense is calling him to to do? Does he sense he needs to subdue this creature, move it to a safer place, teach it sign languague, or spend an evening playing Guitar Hero together?

Thanks
Tom

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Soldier:
Soldier politely excuses himself, “Permission to leave sir.”, and returns to his quarters. As he left, he couldn’t escape that nagging feeling, that something about this whole situation just didn’t feel right to him. He wasn’t sure what it was, but heard learned to listen to that little voice, as it was usually right.
Upon returning to his room, he quickly packs a small assault pack. He also adds a journal entry to his computer files, changes the message on his voice mail, to one explaining that he’ll “Be out of town for a few days, but he’ll get back to you as soon as possible”. He also leaves a note for the team explaining that he’s been called away, and that while he can’t get into details, if he isn’t heard from within three days, they should contact his father for further information. He then tries to hook up with Agent Manetti to coordinate their travel plans, check their gear, and draw his weapons from storage.

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GM:
OOC GM Replies:

Sentinel wrote: What is the crest of the Odyssey Club? It isn't the symbol of the Sentinel like the signet rings, right?

GM: Correct. It features the globe.

Sentinel: What is the size of the brownstone? What level is the grand ballroom where the ball is being held? What is the size of the grand ballroom? What is the layout of the room and outside it? Any balcony leading outside or is this an interior room? Or has the brownstone been retrofitted to more of a modern look with huge glass panes with a view of the city in this room?

GM: The brownstone is large and four stories. The ballroom is on the second story. The ballroom almost occupies the entire second floor. It is a large rectangle with a grand staircase leading to the third floor where there is a long balcony overlooking the ballroom. Large windows (the only ones in the room) and an exterior balcony overlook a private garden on the property.
Menagerie wrote: How remote an area of British Columbia? GM: Remote from civilization, and in a protected Provincial Park. So Provincial Park rangers or visitors might be near. Menagerie: Can I tell if this is a place that would be okay just to leave Pachyderm? GM: It might. One could go for months without encountering someone here. But then could come that encounter.
Menagerie: Does Menagerie know of any government that is currently seeking Pachyderm?

GM: He is wanted by the US government as the prime suspect in damage to property.

Menagerie: Does CHESS want him brought in at all costs?

GM: Menagerie doesn’t know. There have been no public statements along those lines.

Menagerie: Was Menagerie able to figure out whether it is this Pachyderm that is still the threat to Natural Order or the other dimensional Pachy that is the trouble?

GM: Neither! Pachyderm had threatened to begin a series of events that would culminate in the end of the Natural Order. But in this dimension, he was stopped. In a nearby parallel dimension, he was not stopped. Menagerie was sensing the disturbance echoes from the other, nearby dimension, through Pachyderm!

He was sensing the disturbance through the Pachyderm of this world because he was a focus, central to the splitting off of the alternate reality!

Menagerie’s dimension is safe. The Natural Order of this world is not threatened or disrupted. The disruption he detected was coming from that adjacent realm! The threat to this world had already been averted… by Vanguard, a New York based team of superheroes!

Menagerie: Can Menagerie tell what his Nature Sense is calling him to to do?

GM: His Nature Sense gives him information only. He must do with it what he feels is right.
Best,
Jeff
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Menagerie:
Okay, Thanks.

Based on the last set of replies. Here are Menagerie Actions:

Menagerie will slowly back up from Pachyderm. He will turn into his human form. Speaking to Pachyderm, "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you. Just checking on a few things. If it is okay with you I will leave." Watching for any sign of attack, Menagerie will back into any cover he can find. When there he will turn into eagle form.

Once in eagle form, he will fly into the sky and start flying in a circle moving outward in ever widing circles. Menagerie will be watching Pachyderm to match sure he is not being chased and will then scan for any people in the area.

When Menagerie have scanned enough to be certain that there is not anyone that would run across Pachyderms path, he will fly to a Ranger HQ or tower. There he wil try to convince the Rangers to quarantine the area to provide Pachy a safe place to live and not be disturbed.

If Pachyderm attacks or chases Menagerie use the following tactics to combat him.
Menagerie would attempt to harass/annoy Pachyderm around the terrain to a suitable spot to Pachyderm's disadvantage. Something like the edge of a cliff, edge of a well, or river right before a waterfalls. When Pachyderm is in the correct position, Menagerie would turn into a grizzy bear and land from above on Pachyderm . The goal would be to land on Pachyderm's head and neck (backside first choice) to throw him off balance and into the terrain trap. Menagerie would then turn into the animal which provided the best chance to get away.

I WILL spend a luck point to make the terrain trap a success.

Thanks
Tom

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Talon:
OOC: Hey Jeff,
I'll use a luck point on my save if I can.

Thanks,
Denny

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Clone:
Clone just stood there for what seemed only a fraction of a second, but in his mind his thoughts and feelings felt like they were battling for hours. “How could the American government so casually agree to the Soviets terms? Wasn’t it Agent Drake that compared the extra-normals to nuclear weapons? Why would they so easily agree to such an exchange? To them my family is nothing more then a small group of peasant farmers – what could they possibly hope to gain from this?” he thought to himself.

His thoughts then darkened as speculation slowly turned to suspicion, “Even a government as just and as caring as the one here in America; built on the idea of protecting the lives and freedoms of all its people, would be crazy to hand over something they saw as a weapon to their enemy in exchange for the lives of four poor country farmers. Why would they do such a thing?” As much as he wanted to see his family safe; Clone was afraid of what they these men were suggesting. He had no desire to return to Russia or to once again become a puppet for its twisted leaders. He was afraid that upon his return that the authorities would bury him beneath some gulag labor camp for even daring to think that he could ever be free. His heart sank even deeper into his chest as he pondered an even dark realization, “How could I stay here and enjoy my family, my life and my freedom, knowing that I condemned my duplicate to a life of fear and imprisonment? Which one would I be? Would I be them both; one foot in Heaven and one in Hell?”

His dark thoughts then took a dangerous turn as fear became desperation. “Perhaps I could trick the men at the exchange?” he thought. That idea then took a new direction as his mind looked feverishly for an exit from the situation before him, “what if I were to strap a bomb to my own chest and then set it off once my family was safely in the hands of the Americans? I could punish the soviets by killing the agents they sent to the exchange, gain my families freedom, and at the same time rid myself of my former government once and for all.” As his mind began to race down this deadly and dangerous path he quickly regained control over himself. “What are you thinking about Alexander?” he thought to himself in a scolding manner. His thoughts then turned upon themselves as he began to realize that his fear was getting the better of him,” how could I even think about suicide? I could never do such a thing, and killing those men would be wrong, they’re merely following orders, they do not deserve to die for the sins of their masters.” He then remembered a passage from the bible, ‘Ye know nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. In that instant his path had become clear, he knew what he had to do’.

Clone closed his eyes as he slowly reached down the front of his shirt and hesitantly pulled out the small wooden crucifix that he wore around his neck. As he quietly placed the tiny symbol of his faith to his forehead, the C.H.E.S.S. agents could faintly hear Clone mumbling something under his breath. A few moments passed before Clone gently lowered the crucifix to his lips and then kissed it with reverence and respect. With a soft monotone whisper he reached out with his soul and made his plea to heaven, “. . . prosti menya*.” A second Clone then emerged from the first. The three C.H.E.S.S. agents had their answer.

* TRANSLATION: Prosti Menya – Forgive Me

OOC Response: I guess Clone will have to repeat that same trick he pulled off while he was locked up inside the Moscow Military District Jeff – sever his connection with this duplicate. One Luck Point and one point of Charisma – man this is gonna hurt lol – OUCH!

I did some more thinking about that Skill stuff we had been discussing a while back Jeff – any chance Clone could have Romanian as a language instead of Ukrainian?

Clones parents had three children, with Clone being the middle child.
Father - Sergei Oleksienko
Mother – Mikayla Oleksienko
Older brother - Viktor Oleksienko
Younger sister - Katya Oleksienko

Oh and before I forget to mention it – that little exchange between Ton and Jeff had me crying with laughter when I read it.
TOM WROTE: Kev Clone's Mom quoting Corinthians to heal his pain brought tears to my eyes. Wonderful characterization and writing. This is shaping up to be a really awesome issue of Vanguard. I can't wait to see how Jeff puts this all together. Tom
JEFF WROTE: That makes two of us! ;)

Talk to you all soon, -Kev

Vanguard Creative Teams!

Sentinel:
I don't know about everyone else, but I'm picturing this issue along the lines of Wednesday Comics ... separate page for everyone by a different artist for each character uniquely suited to their character/ storyline (at least that was the feel I got from it).

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GM:
Cool! This gave me an idea. Everyone, please tell me who is the ideal writer/artist for your Vanguard character’s comic book? I think this could tell me even more about how you think of your PCs.
Thanks!

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Menagerie:
Menagerie will be written by Marv Wolfman and drawn by John Bryne. While Perez is my favorite artist, Bryne would do such a wonderful job on Pachy. I had to choose him.

Thanks
Tom

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Symbiote:
Since "The All New Atom" and Ray Palmer/Ryan Choi were sort of my inspiration for Symbiote, I'll say Gail Simone for writer.

Artist? Keith Giffen. In his early "Legion of Super Hero" days, before he stared aping Jack Kirby so blatantly.

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Sentinel:
Ok, been thinking about this one all week and I have a few moments to jot it down. I've been running it down 'through the ages' in my mind and really for Kirk, since he's a my prime hero type, my choices really would follow some of my faves over the years.

The theme is that although I really can appreciate various styles on the art, my favorite has always tended to run towards the more 'realistic' of the times. Writers were a bit harder particularly as we regress in the ages, but it helped me realize that I always tend towards those that write with a respect for what has come before and try to build on it. And very interesting to me (and a revelation of sorts) is that the JSA has always been important and close to what I liked best... even though I always focused on the JLA in my mind. Kind of funny in that Kirk's creation brought the Jarkaverse's JSA and multi-generational concept and that I missed the Jarkaverse JLA (Freedom Force) as a player (Jeff did retcon one of my old-time characters Pathos into the last incarnation of the Freedom Force, but he wasn't actually played by me as a character in this universe) but am fortunate to have been asked to be part of the Jarkaverse 'modern age' of comics.

Modern 2000-present:
Very easy : Geoff Johns. From his unsurpassed run on Justice Society to his revitalizing and bringing Hal Jordan back and to heights of glory not seen since the silver age he would be the ultimate writer. As artist I'd likely go with Evan Van Sciver for battle scenes since he is in my mind in recent years and has the realistic style. Although I'd have to say for Kirk's 'inspiring' moments, where he goes all Beacon of Light with his powers seemingly lighting the skies and everywhere at once, I'd have to go with Alex Ross paintings.

If we backtrack to the 1990's I think I'd go with James Robinson in vein of his run on Starman (much better than his recent Superman stuff in my opinion) and I think Tony Harris would be a nice choice for the current issue with Kirk hosting the Odyssey Club party - I can see him capturing the retro feel of the time period evoked from the event.

From the 80's it would be Roy Thomas (again the JSA man of the times) who virtually always displayed respect for the past aside from when corporate forced it otherwise (the wretched Last Days of the Justice Society Special when Corporate DC wanted the JSA taken out of things). I certainly wouldn't have a problem with Jerry Ordway on pencils, but would have to go with George Perez as my first choice for this time period. Backup would be John Byrne but only if it has Terry Austin inks ala X-Men in their prime. Austin could make anyone shine, but his inks on the young Byrne were the best ever and Byrne would never top that time period in my eyes. Certainly Marv Wolfman writing Kirk would be great stuff too.

Moving back into the 70's it would have to be Dick Dillin with inks by Frank McLaughlin. He defined so many DC characters visually in my mind when I first found comics with his JLA work (including the annual JLA/JSA x-overs) and we lost him much much too soon. Second choice would be the crisp pencils of a young Mike Grell. Too many writers from this time that I loved since this was my 'golden age' and since my standards at that young age were easier. But names like Steve Englehart, Gerry Conway, Cary Bates, and Paul Levitz come to mind.

If we went back to the 60's and even into the 50's and 40's (for the Liberty League and Lancaster) writer would have to be John Broome. Not only was he the GL scribe, but he wrote a relatively obscure DC character called Captain Comet who debuted in 'the Atomic Age' (between the golden and silver age) when no one was making super-heroes. Captain Comet was the first mutant hero ever. And get this, his powers were mental in nature. Given that I always seem to focus on the empathic/telepathic types and that Kirk has since grown in this direction even though I had absolutely no intention of it when we created him, it seems totally appropriate. Artist would have to be Captain Comet's Murphy Anderson. Murphy Anderson spanned from the golden agethrough the 50's and into the 60's and he handled many of the stories that included the revived Justice Society in the 60's. They were colorful and larger than life when he drew them just as those legends should be. I would probably choose the 60's revived JSA style over the original golden age versions so... Murphy Anderson would be my choice. Second choice would be a totally golden age artist and I'd cross-over to Timely with Alex Schomburg. Absolutely nobody beats his covers for the time period and any Liberty League/Golden Age Sentinel couldn't be in better hands than having a Schomburg cover. If you don't know his stuff, Google it, and pay special attention to any of the Human Torch covers ... absolutely spectacular stuff.

Anyway I know my choices almost all slant towards DC, but that's where my love really is ... and it was fun thinking about, thanks Jeff.

As an extra thought I couldn't help but thinking a young raw Joe Kubert from the 40's for Talon. I can still visualize a reprint of a golden age JSA story with Kubert pencils on Hawkman which captured his sheer savage power (unlike the 60's SF Murphy Anderson version - although that's more my style Hawkman).

Best,
Seth

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GM:
What? No Allen Milgrom??
Cool stuff, Seth!

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Lightning Strike:
Allen Milgrom ruled!!!

Anyway, I have given this a lot of thought (as opposed to my posts).

My favorite writer/artist team has to be Stan the Man and Jazzy John Romita as those were the Amazing Spider-Man comics that I bought as back issues as a kid and still love to read them. I also like the Ross Andru Spider-Mans from the 70's.

Unfortunately, I don't think Lightning Strike lends himself to the bright clean art of Romita. I used to love the colors and the fact that the lines were so clean. Now everything seems to be done in shadow and nobody looks clean. I guess that was the transition from Gold to Silver to Bronze.

Since Strike is so dark, I would go with some of the early Frank Miller/Klaus Janson work only because it fits and not because I like the artwork. I was tempted by Romita Jr. but sometimes his work is so influenced by the inkers that it is almost unrecognizable.

Given that I have about 7 or 8 years worth of the latest issues in a box, I can't comment on recent stuff.

Thanks,
Tony

PS: I actually remembered one other combo that I liked in the 80's. It was J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck who did that six issue run on the Spider-Man titles that dealt with Kraven and Vermin. It was a nice dark storyline and would work with Strike.

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GM:
Tony,I'm glad we've finally hit a topic that gets you to reply on time.
;)

I like Miller and Jansen for Strike, too.
I know Jazzy John is too clean and upbeat for Strike but how about Ditko? All the women in your book would be hideous though.

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Clone:
For artist I would have to go with Frank Cho - I really enjoy his style. As for a writer - thats a tough one - so many of them seem to run hot and cold that I rarely try to follow one over the other. Usually I'm drawn to story lines that interest me more so then who's' writing it. I enjoy the stories that catch you off guard and make you sit there and explore your own morality and soul. Take 'Civil War' for example ( Jack Flag gett'n mauled was a GREAT idea for a 'side story' in my opinion ) - it got really dragged out as far as I'm concerned, but for a while there it made you ask yourself - which side would I take? 'Dark Reign' - totally awesome in my opinion - never saw that one coming! Mind you I'm just using those two story lines as examples - there are a ton of others I could use as well, but those two just came to mind first. The 'hack & slash' type stories bore me to tears - violence in a comic ( in my opinion ) should be the result of an climactic shift in the story, or an unexpected event that sparks a story - not the meat and potatoes of the story. If you would really like me to give you one particular writer I'll need to think about it a bit more - like I said - thats a tough call for me to make.
-Kev

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Vanguard: Issue 109: And Then There Were Nine!

Vanguard Vault, atop the Empire State Building, New York City

Sentinel responded to the vote results for Vanguard’s leader (see Issue 108! –Ye Ed) and concluded with:
"Does this seem agreeable to those preferring a leader? And does it seem reasonable to those hesitant to have someone assume a coordinating role? Certainly it is up to all of you to decide.”

(OOC: Replies?)

Later…

“AVATAR!” called a booming voice, deeper than the sea! John peered through crowds of wet cars and umbrellas to see a giant of a man wearing a large dark raincoat. His eyes were obscured by his hat’s brim. His gloved hands carry a package, wrapped in brown paper and shaped like a long, thin cylinder. He shouts, “AVATAR! I can see you!”

Avatar moved toward the man, mindful of civilians and their locations and movements as he considers that combat may ensue. "I can see you, too. What would you have of me?"

“Everything,” was the calm, deep voiced reply. “I have been searching for you… for ages. Long have you been missing from the world of Men, Avatar of the Pantheon. But now you are returned. Where have you been?...”

KRAKA-BOOM! Lightning flashed to reveal the giant’s face. John saw the ugly man had but one large eye! He was a Cyclops!

“…Where have you been to escape detection by Otom the Seer?”

(Reply? Actions?)

Clone’s smooth face expressed lament and sorrow as he bowed his head for a moment and then asked, “ Please . . . can you tell me more of this Clone? I am not knowing of this before . . .”

Drake said softly, “We never got to know him well, I’m afraid. But he was brave enough.”
“…And different than you,” said Grey. “Not as funny.”

Weeks later, Grey, Doc and Drake knock at the door to Clone’s private quarters in the Vanguard Vault. Grey said quietly, “Alexander, we’re ready to get your family out. Are you prepared to do what it takes to make that happen?”

“Da, I will be giving of my life when time is coming. My new comrades are helping to come as well, no?”

“No,” said Grey unhappily. The three entered Clone’s quarters like they were arriving at a wake. “The US government is unwilling to create an international incident.”
“And Vanguard specializes in creating them,” said Agent Drake blackly.
Grey shot Drake a look and continued, “Alex, what you said about giving your life. Were you serious?”
He cleared his throat.
“Through unofficial channels, the Soviets have contacted CHESS. They’ve proposed a trade. The USSR want one of your duplicates… in exchange for your family.”

(Reply? Actions?)

Lightning Strike investigates Caine’s real estate selloff. The data detective discovers the cause. Like the Silas Caine of the alternate reality, this Caine has political aspirations. He seems to be preparing to run for office!

Strike finds that CHESS knows nothing about Chain and Hardcore.

At the meeting with Hank Archer, Strike reviewed the case file of his own murder and learned the police haven’t linked Lightning Strike to the event. The man of lightning said: “I have heard of this case. I can understand your interest in this being that it was family but what made you think that I would be interested? There are many murders in this city. I can't possibly investigate them all, God knows I would like to, but even a man of electricity can't be everywhere."

“Really?” said Lightning Strike’s uncle with the calm patience of a man who interrogated liars for a living. “You got nothing you wanna tell me?”

(Reply? Actions?)

Menagerie had been plagued by the sense that something was wrong. A disturbance in the Natural Order was everywhere… and nowhere. He felt it in the corners of his eyes, until he focused them. It lingered in every shadow, in every reflection… and was just as insubstantial. This went on for months.

Then the avenger of the animal kingdom believed he sensed the source of this ethereal haunting. The shamanic skinwalker went north, tracking that which could not be found or followed.

In the wilds of Canada, in the titanic forests of British Columbia, a forest fire borne of a lightning storm smoldered and flickered as the sun set. Illuminated by the dying flames as it cupped stream water to his lips was a monolithic figure. Menagerie knew him from the news. His name was Pachyderm. Wanted for wholesale destruction of property, the seven foot tall man-mammoth, like his name, evoked elephant, hippo and rhino.

The bestial behemoth had not detected Menagerie yet. But Menagerie knew now that Pachyderm was the source of the mysterious disturbance in the Natural Order!

(Reply? Actions?)

Sentinel spoke to his grandfather, the original Sentinel, about the challenges of leadership. “What if we're in a situation where there is no time to get a consensus from the team ... lives are at stake... what if I make the call ... and what if I make it wrong?"

Lancaster Gerard said solemnly, “Then you live with the consequences. It’s not easy and there’s no glory in it. But you go on.” Lancaster was clearly remembering choices he had made. Choices that still haunted him decades later. Then his pale blue eyes pierced his grandson’s. “When in doubt, Kirk, you do what’s right.” (OOC: Reply, if any?)

Weeks later, Lancaster organized a private black tie fundraiser for REACH at the Odyssey Club, the stately institution housed within a Fifth Avenue brownstone. It was members only, but Kirk was given permission to attend. (OOC: Does he attend as Sentinel, or in his secret identity?)

Sadly Lancaster could not attend as his Saturday evenings were spent with Miles Hudson, visiting his dear friend and helping with his recovery. The event was a swank affair; cocktails, h'or d'ouevres and live violins. In mingling, Kirk noticed at least two male guests wearing signet rings with the symbol of the Sentinel on them! Kirk knew its origin was in US history but it still seemed unusual.
Kirk recognized Senator Doyle and Sean O’Malley in attendance but no one else.

(Replies? Actions?)

Slingshot turned and saw a dark haired woman who looked familiar but unfamiliar. What was clear was that life had not been kind to this wretched creature. She shrieked, pointing at Slingshot, “Dat freak killed my brudda! Don’t remember, huh? You must kill alotta people huh? For you not ta remember my brudda, Spider Girucci !”

Scott cleared his throat. "I never laid a finger on Spider. I'm sorry that he died at the hands of The Mercenary, a hit-man working for a mob boss. He died before..", he clenches his fists, "I was able to save him. I, myself, was badly done in by the Mercenary in that fight." He pauses, relaxing his features, obviously clearing his thoughts. "Why don't you tell me a story about Spider?" He points to a nearby terrace/café. "If nothing else, we might as well have a drink in his honor. Espresso?"

The wild harpy was ready to come at him with her fingernails. She stopped and said, “Okay.” The unlikely pair went into an Italian pastry place, causing a small sensation. Kids asked Slingshot to autograph their comic books. Even jaded old men playing chess in the back stole sideways glances at the stretchable celebrity. Maria Girucci steamed. Eventually, the place settled down and they could talk.

In time, at their place in the front window, Scott won her over. The big likeable lug got the street-hardened harridan talking about Spider Girucci’s childhood, as difficult as it was for Scott to imagine such a thing. Maria asked Scott about what it was like to be a “big shot.” Small talk flowed easily enough til the check came.

“Well,” said Maria Girucci, “I gotta thank you…. Really. I believe I have enough now.” Her accent evaporated and she smiled as her eyes glowed white, eclipsing her brown pupils entirely.

(Reply? Actions?)

Soldier’s father, the retired Army general, said, “Son, I have a problem that could use your special talents. One of our defense systems has been hijacked. I’d like you to get it back. We’d like to avoid any embarrassing publicity that could harm your mother’s political career, or yours for that matter. So CHESS has agreed to keep this matter confidential, if we can return the system in 72 hours.
To keep it confidential, we can only send you in with one other CHESS agent. But you could have your choice of the field agents you’ve been working with. Have you got anyone in mind?”

Soldier respected his father, but didn’t exactly trust him, or his mother for that matter, but he’s willing to hear him out. “Well, before I can select someone, I’d need to know a few more details of the mission. Specifically what’s been hijacked, and why is so important that we keep this on the down low? “

General Steele said wasn’t used to having his questions answered with more questions. A vein bulged on his forehead but he said nothing.
Dr. Ashe quickly handed Soldier a dossier and said, “This is classified Top Secret. Ten years ago, we began development on the program that would eventually culminate in the cybernetic enhancements that are keeping you alive today, making you the ultimate soldier. The ultimate weapon.
This is why it was already completely developed at the time of your injury. Long before you, there were test subjects.”
Ashe indicated a photograph in the dossier of what looked like the passport photo of a man in his thirties. He had a hard look in his eyes; one that Matt recognized in those who had seen combat.
“He calls himself the Patriot. He’s gone AWOL from CHESS in Venezuela. We have a lead on his location.”

General Steele said, “We’re burning daylight. Ashe can thoroughly brief you on the way down. Will you help me, son?”

(Reply? Actions?)

Symbiote leans against the wall, crosses his arms and glares. "You've started cross-dressing at your age, Shelly? I suspected John was into some freaky-Greeky stuff, but you only dated for a week or two. This is unreal," he says sardonically.
Before she can retort, Hal snaps at her. "Take it off, Shel. It's not yours.”

“Oh, but I’m afraid it is,” came a smiling voice that wasn’t Shelley’s! From the darkened Electronic Lab, where the Harper Harness had been recharging, stepped a woman that wasn’t Shelley Harper at all!

In the darkness, with his mind on finding Shelley, Hal had assumed it was his sister!

It was Gadget Girl! The inventing ingénue, fresh from the CHESS Castle jailbreak! And she was wearing the Harper Harness! Symbiote saw that it had been somehow modified! In the area of the telemetry system!!

Gadget Girl smiled as the Harper Harness hummed to life and her form grew with muscle! “After all, sweetheart, I just stole it fair and square.”

(Reply? Actions?)

Talon walked along the sidewalks of New York, finding it hard to keep from smiling. Not the big, toothy smile of an average person doing something new and exciting in their life, but a smile nonetheless. He struggled to adjust the harness that holds his wings beneath his jacket, finding it hard to be comfortable, but with one glance over at the woman walking beside him, he knows it's worth it for one night.

He rubbed his jaw, thinking about the shot she gave him in Antarctica. He never thought he'd be attracted to a woman that had the potential to beat him in a fight. A woman that's a big part of soviet team Vanguard views as a threat. But he doesn't get the chance to catch a date very often, so he would deal with that later.
"I don't know about you, but I don't get out very often. Wha'dya say we forget about the superhero thing for one night, and just try and have a good time."

“It’s a deal,” smiled Mother Russia warmly. For someone who had just done 20 years at CHESS Castle, she looked like she couldn’t be 30 years old!

The two new friends talked happily on the way to the bar. Then the hair on the back of Talon’s neck went up. The eagle-eyed hero scanned across the reflection on a window wall they were passing and saw they were being followed. One person, male. A block back. Coat and hat made him hard to make out in the night.
If Mother Russia noticed, she didn’t let on.

(Reply? Actions?)

---------------------------------

OOC: Have fun.
Viva Vanguard,
Jeff

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Slingshot:
Welcome Thomas! Can't wait to see menagerie in action (interesting name!).

Happy Easter!

Questions (answers can wait until you come back..

1- I'm going to assume that she's been absorbing something from me all the while.. Do I feel weak? can I still stretch (like a finger)? Do I have still have my strength?.. you know what I'm getting at.

2- At the same time, do I know of a possible shapechanger that has absorption powers? with white eyes as a gimmick?

Stephane/Slingshot

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Symbiote:
First and foremost, welcome aboard Thomas!

Secondly: Crap. My/Hal's greatest concern: That someday somebody else would get a hold of the Harness. I've meant to either use an advancement or a luck point some day to modify it in some way to prevent just this sort of thing (keying it to my genetic code only, a remote switch that turns it off that I would always carry with me...something). Never got around to it. Guess this is what I get for procrastinating.

So, if there were ever a situation that called for the use of a luck point, this is it. I shall once again summon forth the only super power I possess in real life: The ability to recall obscure comic plot points. Remember Miller's first run on "Daredevil?" I loved the issue when Turk stole Stilt Man's armor, trying to become the Kingpin's new enforcer. The Kingpin wisely told him to get lost because he was an idiot, and then he ran into Daredevil. "Shouldn't steal from people, Turk," DD said. "Makes them mad. You stole this suit from Wilbur Day, the original Stilt Man, and it made him so mad that he told his worst enemy--that's me--about the weak spot in his armor." Daredevil then jumped on Turk's back, pulled out a little tool that disabled the autogyroscopes in the suit and Turk went crashing to the ground.

I'd like to try something similar with Gadget Girl: Pick up some tool nearby (we are in a lab, after all) grapple her (even if she is currently powered up with some super abilities) and stick the gadget somewhere in the suit, deactivating it and discharging whatever current genetic template it's holding. As I say, I'll HAPPILY expend a luck point to make this work.

IC (assuming this does work): Hal picks up a tool from a nearby workbench, charging the Inventive Ingenue and grappling her. "Read a little of your criminal file," he says, attempting to keep her from getting a firm grasp on him as he twists around towards her back. "You're a great tinkerer and modifier, I'm impressed with some of the things you've been able to put together. But I think you forgot one principle of engineering...."

Hal raises his arm high overhead, the tool in hand.

"...always know your blueprints from top to bottom. Always!"

And he slams the tool into an almost imperceptable slot in the back of the Harness.

Viva Vanguard,

Greg

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Soldier:
Welcome aboard Thomas!

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Menagerie:
Menagerie will to turn in a cougar.

He will then position himself to be down wind and hiding from Pachyderm. Menagerie will slowly stalk Pachyderm attempting to size him up.

He will attempt to communicate with any animals in the area to find out what has been happening. If there are no animals which he can coomunicate with he will use his heightened senses to attempt to unfold the events that has lead him here.

If the Pachyderm continues without causing wonton distruction, Menagerie will continue to slowly stalk to creature. If he kills to eat, then Menagerie will do nothing. It is the Cycle of Life at work. If Pachyderm starts killing in mass for pleasure, fun, or rage then Menagerie will intervene.

Menagerie would turn into the eagle. As the eagle he would attempt to harass/annoy Pachyderm around the terrain to a suitable spot to Pachyderm's disadvantage. Something like the edge of a cliff, edge of a well, or river right before a waterfalls. When Pachyderm is in the correct position, Menagerie would turn into a grizzy bear and land from above on Pachyderm . The goal would be to land on Pachyderm's head and neck (backside first choice) to throw him off balance and into the terrain trap. Menagerie would then turn into the animal which provided the best chance to get away.

I WILL spend a luck point to make the terrain trap a success.

If Pachyderm is peaceful the whole time, then I will need feedback on my communication/heightened senses attempts to determine what to do.

(OOC) I am guessing this character is a least as tough as Bull but since he has the face and build of Behemoth then that power level might not be out of line. I am not going to attempt to go toe to toe with this man-mammoth. Nice test for a first mission. If this is too long a reply, forgive my rookie mistake and let me know a more appropriate response.

Thanks
Thomas

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Sentinel:
Welcome to the good fight Thomas... glad to have you in the game!

I don't know about everyone else, but I'm picturing this issue along the lines of Wednesday Comics ... separate page for everyone by a different artist for each character uniquely suited to their character/storyline (at least that was the feel I got from it).

Anyway ...
Before replying, what can Kirk find about the Odyssey Club and its history/purpose so he understands their interest. If Lancaster organized it but isn't present who is hosting? Or is that Kirk's role? Has Lancaster ever mentioned the club before and his relationship with it and when he came involved, etc? What is the scope of the event and is their any program organized beyond cocktails, violins and h'or d'ouevres? Do Doyle and O'Malley have the signet rings also? As to how he attends (civilian/Sentinel), what is Lancaster's recommendation? From your description it would seem formal would be appropriate and costumed would be garish and perhaps in poor taste for the crowd and event, but some of the other details would help to decide this...

Favorite line from the issue:
“…And different than you,” said Grey. “Not as funny.”
Followed by:
“And Vanguard specializes in creating them,” said Agent Drake blackly.

Coolest subdued reveal:
KRAKA-BOOM! Lightning flashed to reveal the giant’s face. John saw the ugly man had but one large eye! He was a Cyclops!
... that panel was just too cool!

Biggest shocking twist:
It was Gadget Girl!
... Hal wasn't the only one shocked by this reveal
Followed by:
“Well,” said Maria Girucci, “I gotta thank you…. Really. I believe I have enough now.” Her accent evaporated and she smiled as her eyes glowed white, eclipsing her brown pupils entirely.
... and I've got a guess on who this is ...

Thanks for another great issue.

Seth (Sentinel/Kirk)

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Sentinel:
Menagerie wrote: “If this is too long a reply, forgive my rookie mistake and let me know a more appropriate response.”

Hi Thomas.
If you want examples of replies that are too long, read some of my postings
Great first post.

Menagerie wrote: "Nice test for a first mission."

Yes, Jeff is not apparently being kind to you, right into the (forest) fire you go. Your not knowing just how tough Pachyderm is, is likely among one of your greatest assets right now.

Seth

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Menagerie:

Sentinel wrote: “Great first post.”
Thanks

Sentinel wrote: “Yes, Jeff is not apparently being kind to you, right into the (forest) fire you go. Your not knowing just how tough Pachyderm is, is likely among one of your greatest assets right now.”

So the parallel comic book scene that immediately came to mind: "a forest fire borne of a lightning storm smoldered and flickered as the sun set. Illuminated by the dying flames as it cupped stream water to his lips was the Incredible Hulk" wasn't that wild of an impression.

I do have to admit, that I was smiling the whole time I was shaking my head. Jeff is a great GM! Now lets see if I can avoid making the shortest appearance in Vanguard history.

Thomas

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Avatar:
Welcome, Thomas! And congratulations on Pachyderm being your first encounter! Not sure why Jeff hates you so much, but good luck!

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Symbiote:
Fear not, Thomas. I'll get my harness off Gadget Girl, zip right up there and absorb his powers. That always works really well, and the rest of the team LOVES IT!

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GM:
OOC:
Hey,
I'm just going to quickly reply to Stephane's OOC questions now, since he's offline starting April 6th.
Stephane, maybe I can receive your actions before you go on holiday?

1) Slingshot doesn't feel any different than normal. Full strength. Full abilities.

2) Slingy had encountered a shapechanger named Skin Deep at Dr. Swastika's Body Farm. (you can search her name on the Vanguard Vault site. On the right side there's a cosmic awareness device.) She didn't have absorbing powers, or white eyes as a gimmick. Vanguard tracked Skin Deep and Morgue to Big City where Vanguard was drawn into a fatal conflict with the Five Bosses.

Thomas, great first post. Don't let them scare you about Pachyderm. He's a pussycat. ;)

I'll reply to all other OOC questions when I'm back next week.

Best,
Jeff

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Slingshot:
“Well,” said Maria Girucci, “I gotta thank you…. Really. I believe I have enough now.” Her accent evaporated and she smiled as her eyes glowed white, eclipsing her brown pupils entirely.

Scott steeled himself. While, he understood why Maria might have been after him.. Go through this whole charade to spend an hour in front of a coffee? - He says sighing, something between exasperation and sadness. "Thank you for the reveal. I'm assuming you're not actually Maria. I certainly don't appreciate the subterfuge. If you wanted to talk to me, you could have simply come up and asked, just as "Maria" just did..and what do you mean, I have enough?"

[OOC: He's going to assume that it is Skin Deep, unless they actually reveal themselves further. Scott will continue talking and asking questions. Trying to pin point who and what this person is and what they are looking for. Until now, there's been no aggression, so Slingshot will not get physical, unless provoked. Furthermore, they are in a shop and he will not start a fight there.. outside, that's another question. He will not start it, but he'll finish it.]

PS: OOC:
Thomas,
You don't want to see Greg in his "harness". I've been told that it's something that will forever be etched in your brain to your eternal chagrin.

Regarding Pachy, enjoy! he's really a softy.

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Avatar:
KRAKA-BOOM! Lightning flashed to reveal the giant’s face. John saw the ugly man had but one large eye! He was a Cyclops!

“…Where have you been to escape detection by Otom the Seer?”

John chuckles. Here we go, he thinks...

"Searching for me for ages...? This is a mystery to me but there have been lots of strange things going on so, instead of dismissing this out of hand, I guess I need to ask one question of you before we move forward. Otom, Seer...are you my friend or are you my foe?"

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GM:
Sentinel wrote: Before replying, what can Kirk find about the Odyssey Club and its history/purpose so he understands their interest.

GM Reply: Kirk has been inside the club (way back in Vanguard Issue 0! ) as a guest of Lancaster.
Founded in 1893, the Odyssey Club is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploration, to the advancement of knowledge and to philanthropy. Lancaster was a member since the War. Kirk could become a member, sponsored by Lancaster, but the average age of members is 50-something so young Kirk might not be enthused hanging around with the senior set.

Sentinel wrote: If Lancaster organized it but isn't present who is hosting? Or is that Kirk's role?

GM Reply: That’s up to Kirk. He, Doyle or O’Malley may host, or else a representative of the Club may on REACH’s behalf.

Sentinel wrote: What is the scope of the event and is there any program organized beyond cocktails, violins and h'or d'ouevres?

GM Reply: Again up to you. Could be a brief presentation from a REACH representative or it could simply be brochures or other materials left out.

Sentinel wrote: Do Doyle and O'Malley have the signet rings also?

GM Reply: I’ll assume that you can close enough to them whether or not you’re in uniform.
No. Neither does.

Sentinel wrote: As to how he attends (civilian/Sentinel), what is Lancaster's recommendation? From your description it would seem formal would be appropriate and costumed would be garish and perhaps in poor taste for the crowd and event, but some of the other details would help to decide this...

GM Reply: Because REACH has prominent ties to the extranormal community, it wouldn’t be improper to attend in uniform, but you’ll be the center of attention for good and ill.

Best,
Jeff

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Sentinel:
OOC: Jeff,
Would an old-style costumed ball be too outlandish for the Odyssey Club as opposed to the straight black tie?

I think the colorfulness of the event would serve nicely to emphasize part of what makes REACH unique. We'd add a dance floor for elegant old school ballroom type dancing.

Kirk comes dressed as the Scarlet Pimpernel as he plays host.

Kirk would play host meeting and greeting and at one point in the evening just say a brief speech thanking everyone for coming, for their charitable support over the years and hopefully for their support of REACH. He'd briefly but passionately speak about his goals and hopes for REACH and how it would benefit all of humanity.

To start the speech he gets everyone's attention and refers to the costumes and says something along the lines, "An evening of pretense such as this can be fun and entertaining but as we look around surely many of our colorful costumed choices represent parts of our personality that perhaps we sometimes don't get to share. We all wear masks at time.

But sometimes they reveal a part of us that we need to let out and share, and sometimes the outlandish reveals what is truly at heart within us." At that point Kirk removes the Scarlet Pimpernel mask to reveal the mask of the Sentinel and the costumed cape is spun around to reveal the Sentinel insignia.

"Each of us has a gift or talent that makes us special ... something unique that we can share with others. As members of the Odyssey Club you are all well aware of that having set yourselves apart as accomplished members of society and then using your gifts in the pursuit of exploration, knowledge, and philanthropy.

In recent decades the world has seen the birth of some with extraordinary gifts beyond those seen by man before. (as he says this he uses his powers to have a huge crest or symbol of the Odyssey Club (surely they have one) rise from his open outstretched hands). (OOC Surely a little pomp is in order here)

REACH will help those with such gifts to join with you and others with similar goals to the benefit of society as a whole. We appeal to you for your support in our endeavor and we are open to your suggestions. We are going to make the world a better place ... we going to make a difference! And we hope you'll all be a part of it.

Thanks for your attention and enjoy the rest of the evening."

This might not be on the lines of your thoughts for the Odyssey Club and certainly Kirk wouldn't do anything that would cause offense, but I was getting a bit of an old world feel to the thing and something 'old world society' might have a certain charm for these sort of people...

Let me know if this sounds good or not and I'll try to work on some of the other items you left open for reply too this weekend.

Best,
Seth

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Sentinel:
Lancaster Gerard said solemnly, “Then you live with the consequences. It’s not easy and there’s no glory in it. But you go on.” Lancaster was clearly remembering choices he had made. Choices that still haunted him decades later. Then his pale blue eyes pierced his grandson’s. “When in doubt, Kirk, you do what’s right.” (OOC: Reply, if any?)

It was at that moment that Kirk was hit by a sense of deja vu. He had seen that look before, the pained expression, but not in the eyes of Lancaster, rather in the eyes of Doc Rocket. The conversation however had been similar, about living with the consequences of ones actions; it was after the death of the Atomic Brain from Kirk's actions in battle with Homicide for Hire. That memory pained Kirk.

But Kirk didn't need telepathic abilities to see a distinction in the disturbing remembrances of these two men that meant to much to him. Both had ghosts from the past clawing at them, but it was clear that Doc's were more damaging. And then the reason why hit him; Kirk focused on their verbal expressions.

Doc had told him, 'you did what was necessary.' Gramps had just said, 'you do what's right.' Kirk sensed an important moral distinction here. One that would define the hero, and even moreso the man he would become. And whether he would be able to look himself in the mirror. He hoped that when his time came he would choose wisely.

Kirk did have more questions about this. Many. But he sensed that his true answers would only be found in his personal journey when he got to that path in the road. And he didn't want to be the cause of further disquieting thoughts on the part of Lancaster, so he changed his demeanor and tone and said with a smile and laugh, "So, just 'man up', eh?"

(OOC I couldn't find the actual dialogue by Doc but it seemed absolutely vivid in my memory so I hope the above is all right - I even thought he said something similar in the alternate future as we were going after Primate before we lost contact with Chess.)

___________


Sadly Lancaster could not attend as his Saturday evenings were spent with Miles Hudson, visiting his dear friend and helping with his recovery

After the event Kirk would inquire as to how things went and Miles' continued recovery and if there was anything he could do to assist.

___________

Kirk noticed at least two male guests wearing signet rings with the symbol of the Sentinel on them!

Kirk makes sure as he's playing host to greet them and to try to find out who the men are and if he notices any other such rings. In their casual conversation he'll notice the ring and comment on the symbol saying something along the lines of, "I couldn't help but notice the symbol on your ring, its one that has always been close to my heart. Does it have any special meaning to you? ... Where did you get acquire the ring? ... I've seen some other members with the same ring, does it have any significance to the Odyssey Club?"

He'll work those questions into conversation with the two men and go from question to question as part of the conversation depending on how they react. He does this with each of the men separately and out of ear shot of each other and tries to notice if after having the conversation with one of them, he makes his way to the other to discuss it, etc. He also tries to notice if there are any more of them. If he gets their names he will make a note to do some research on them afterward to look for connections in their history or family reference to the symbol. If they don't give their names, he will inquire of Doyle and O'Malley if they know them and their story.

Also, remind me if he has seen Lancaster with one of the rings too - did you tell me he had one? And please remind me if I remember right but didn't you have a passing comment about someone leaving their home having visited Lancaster when Kirk returned on one occasion and they were wearing a signet ring like this one? Again, I remember at least once you mentioning a visitor leaving as Kirk arrived and you may have said something about a ring, but I'm not sure. If so, does Kirk remember if it was either of the men he saw with the ring this evening?

When he next sees Lancaster (not sure of your plans for when that will be if we are looking at the start of another adventure from these events or if they are going to be more of a brief interlude) he'll just ask him outright about the rings, the men, and their significance as far as he knows.

You already have some of Kirk's actions for the event and he'll do his best to be a gracious host. Kirk actually has a genuine love for people and this will be evident in his interactions with everyone - they will be able to see that his interest isn't the normal facade used by those looking to get support for something.

As he plays host he does keep an eye open and coordinate with Odyssey security to make sure that the evenings events don't turn less festive by having things go sour by the intervention of someone with less than honorable motives ... part of Kirk's concerns about REACH is that it becomes a target for those against its message or outright villains and he would try to be alert that the event doesn't fall prey to that.

(OOC Yes, I figured the whole costumed ball aspect would further play into your ability to turn the event sour but couldn't resist the whole high society feel of things -it was too visually cool to pass up. But I am just waiting for the ball to go all Phantom of the Opera on Kirk.)

Kirk could become a member, sponsored by Lancaster, but the average age of members is 50-something so young Kirk might not be enthused hanging around with the senior set.

Kirk would be unfazed by the age difference having been raised by Lancaster and seen him as nothing but vital. Kirk has the personality and love of life and all sorts of people to adapt to whomever he is with seemingly without effort. Likely what would limit Kirk's exposure is simply the time factor and with Vanguard and now REACH he wouldn't have that much time to spend unless their activities intersected. If it ends up that the Odyssey Club or some of its members become strong REACH sponsors or advocates time spent would be greater and might peak his interest in becoming a member. However, for better or worse, it would be clear that he would not become involved in any sort of high society 'social' games regarding how things looked, climbing the social ladder, etc. Kirk is who he is and isn't looking to impress anyone and if that's part of things he would likely be spending his time elsewhere.

Hope everyone enjoys the day.

Best,
Seth

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Clone:
Before I get into any IC or OOC reactions, let me first express my happiness over the team getting a new member – WHOO-HOO! Welcome aboard Thomas! I’m not the ‘new guy’ anymore thanks to you!

lol Just kidd’n around – welcome aboard Thomas. Great first response – looks like Jeff is hitting you with the old ‘baptism by fire’ treatment – I’ve always loved that method ( in real life and in gaming ) when welcoming someone new to a group – always seems to bring out the best in a person.

By the way; do you prefer Thomas, Tommy or Tom?

--------------

( OOC Response ) Nice job Jeff! You completely threw me for a loop with this last issue. I so didn’t see that coming. I thought for sure it was going to be a surgical extraction type deal – nice curve ball! When I read this:

“…And different than you,” said Grey. “Not as funny.”

I was so tempted to brake out into the Goodfella’s bit ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4jz00Eelbk&feature=related ), but then I thought about it some more and realized that’s not how Clone would react. Given his background, powers and weaknesses he would see this from a completely different view point ( see IC response below ).

--------------

Clone’s smooth face expressed lament and sorrow as he bowed his head for a moment and then asked, “ Please . . . can you tell me more of this Clone? I am not knowing of this before . . .”

Drake said softly, “We never got to know him well, I’m afraid. But he was brave enough.”
“…And different than you,” said Grey. “Not as funny.”

( OOC Response ) Factoring in Clone’s background, the current situation, his powers, his weaknesses, and his lack of 100% fluency in the English language ( that I’ve worked in ); I think I’ve come up with the best possible IC Response that I could muster for him . . .

( Clone’s IC Response ) Clone stares at Grey for a moment before he speaks, but in that one moment a flood of memories began to fill his mind. He ponders all the culture shock he’s been suffering through since he’s arrived in New York, and no matter how hard he tries to fit in, he just seems to come off like a simple country rube. He remembers the first time The Soviets placed a mask over his face, he knew it wasn’t to conceal his identity – it was to hide his strange appearance. He then recalls when he was a boy, how the children in his village back home would laugh and point at him; calling him names, telling him how stupid he was and how funny he looked. He thinks back to the first time he saw a stranger visit his village and how they gasped in shock when they saw his face.

As these painful thoughts began to get the best of him, he suddenly remembered the warm caress of his mothers hand on his face the first time she saw him crying over how different he looked compared to all the other children in their village. He could still see the soft golden hues of the warm summer sun dancing whimsically in her hair, and the gentle smile that rested on her face as she looked upon her young son. His tear laden eyes quickly looking away in embarrassment; he wondered how anyone could be so happy to see such a stupid and ugly child. His mother slowly knelt down in front of him and said, “We all have to do the best with what God has given us son … and I love you. You know what love is Alexander?” He just stood there staring at ground, with tears rolling down his face and said nothing. Lifting up his face, she gently wiped the tears from his cheeks and continued, “Love is the most powerful thing in the world. Love is patient and kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.” As young Alexander hugged his mother he could feel hope return to his soul and love refilling his heart.

“Momma always had a way of explaining things so that I could understand them,” he thought to himself.

Before he says a word to Grey he reminds himself that these are the people that will help him give his family the life they deserve. They will help him bring his family to a place where they can be free from oppression and suffering; a place where they can find happiness and peace. It is for these things that he will hold his tongue and sacrifice his dignity.

Clone stares at Grey for a moment before he speaks, “Da comrade Grey. . .” An insincere smile slips across his face before he continues,” . . . I am very much funny.”

--------------

Weeks later, Grey, Doc and Drake knock at the door to Clone’s private quarters in the Vanguard Vault. Grey said quietly, “Alexander, we’re ready to get your family out. Are you prepared to do what it takes to make that happen?”

“Da, I will be giving of my life when time is coming. My new comrades are helping to come as well, no?”

“No,” said Grey unhappily. The three entered Clone’s quarters like they were arriving at a wake. “The US government is unwilling to create an international incident.”

“And Vanguard specializes in creating them,” said Agent Drake blackly.

Grey shot Drake a look and continued, “Alex, what you said about giving your life. Were you serious?”

He cleared his throat.

“Through unofficial channels, the Soviets have contacted CHESS. They’ve proposed a trade. The USSR wants one of your duplicates … in exchange for your family.”

( Clone’s IC Response ) Putting his hand to chin, he turns and slowly walks away from the three agents. With his back turned towards them he stops only a few feet away, scratching his chin as he ponders what they have just said to him.

For years he had done everything he could to escape from behind ‘The Iron Curtain’, and now that he has - it seems that he might have to go back.

His entire life was been spent beneath the heel of a repressive and controlling government. Everything he thought he knew about the world was nothing more then some Machiavellian fable manufactured by paranoid and fractured minds and then distributed by an unjust and corrupt communist regime. So how could he possibly accept what these three men said now as the complete truth? How could he be expected to simply agree to these terms without even questioning them? The American government had never given him a reason to question their motives or honesty, but something inside of him stirred and demanded more. Was it his newly found sense of freedom pulling aside the curtain of oppression that too long covered his spirit and free will, or was it the recently discovered knowledge that he had been lied to his entire life by his last government that made him hesitate in responding to these three men . . . or was it something else? Whatever it was that he was feeling he knew it couldn’t be denied. He had to know more – for once in his life he had to make a stand and question the path that lied before him. For once in his life he had to know what it felt like to be free; to speak his mind regardless of the consequences.

His pulse quickened and a sickening feeling began to swirl around inside of his stomach – he was afraid. For the first time in his life he truly had no idea what to do. He knew he would do whatever it took to safe his family, but something about all of this just didn’t feel right. He closed his eyes for a brief moment as the memory of his father began to fill his thoughts. He remembered the day he and his father were out plowing the fields and his father stop beside him and looked up from his plow and said, “Always remember Alexander . . . respect and responsibility . . . respect is not something the world will just give to you, it must be earned through hard work and maintained on a constant basis or else you will lose it. Responsibility is the thing people dread most of all, yet it is the one thing in the world that develops us and builds our character.”

His eyes opened slowly as he turned to the three agents and asked, “They are having my family? Of this you are certain?

Regardless of their response he will then ask them.

“Is the Kremlin telling you of what they are wanting with my Clone?”

Regardless of their response he will then ask them.

“Are you trusting them comrades?”

Talk to you all soon,

-Kev

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Menagerie:
OOC:
I mostly go by Tom.

Thanks for the welcome everyone.

Tom

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Sentinel:
OOC: Kev.
What a great post.

You took the line from Jeff that had me rolling during the issue and turned it around so that it became a wrenching moment ... that's good writing.

And the great backstory including showing where the character's strong religious backaround originated from (mom's quote) ... and also the buildup in questioning Grey, great thought-provoking stuff.

Another storyline I'm anxiously awaiting to see Jeff's follow-up.

I'll reserve IC type stuff since this is Clone's storyline to figure but I couldn't help but imagine how angry Kirk would be about this sort of treatment thus far if he knew about it.

Seth
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Talon:
Hello All,
Welcome to the game, Tom. I hope you enjoy playing with the group.

Adam will use the reflective surfaces of the surounding structures to try and get a glimpse of the person that is following them. He will look for a small bar that doesn't look too crowded and suggest having a drink.

He'll try to keep up the small talk without getting upset at the interuption to his night out. He wants to have a good time, and he hopes that this person will leave them be if they sit for awhile, so he will just keep his eyes open for signs of a threat(Shatter).

If he thinks this is all a trap he will do his best to get outside and remove his harness. He will be upset at the disturbance of his date. All the bad memories of his past will come flooding back, and the effort he's made to control his anger be damned.

Someone better be ready to fight.....

--------------------------------------------------

Soldier:
Soldier listened intently to Dr. Ashe, as he scanned through the folder he'd been handed, and thought to himself "The Patriot?" "He understood that certain things were need to know basis, but why had he never of this program before?" That's something he'd have to find out later though. If the situation was as urgent as they'd described, he'd have to get moving, and soon. He still needed time to put an initial plan together, pack equipment, and work out a search plan, but before he could do that, he'd need to know the Patriot's last know location, and when he'd last been seen.

Speaking to his father, and Dr. Ashe

"I got a few questions I need answered, so that I can come up with a workable plan, and I'll need some equipment. When and where was the Patriot last seen? How am I infiltrating my objective, and what my cover story? What type of support am I looking at, and will CHESS back up be available if I need it?"

While he knew his questions would irritate his father, he also knew that these were questions that needed to be asked, and answered in a timely manner. He'd seen to many operations go bad, due to poor planning. Guys going off half cocked hoping for the best, or just assuming that everything would be in place, only to have it come back and bite them.

Speaking to his father, and Dr. Ashe.

"Also, I'd like to request that Agent Manetti be the CHESS Agent to accompany me on this mission. Will that be a problem?"

Speaking directly to his father

"With your permission sir, I'd like to take care of a few personal issues, before I leave, do I have time?

OOC - I'll wait for their replies, before I post anything else. So, is this like a Soldier one shot special issue? Say something like Codename: Soldier? As I could see him supoorting his own solo book. ;)

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Slingshot:
If she goes outside, I'll follow if I'm not getting the answers I want. An acceptable option is a way to possibly hook up with "her" (whoever/whatever she is) later if I'm not getting the answers I'm seeking.

As shown by his original interactions with Spider, Scott is not opposed dealing with the bad guys if necessary.

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Clone:
OOC:
Thanks Seth! I've actually been trying to find a way to work in the 'human side' of Clone ( for lack of a better term ) into the story line for a while now. I found I was having way to much fun playing him as a culture shocked comic relief type character and figured I needed to change things up a bit by showing the pain behind the smiles. While I was writing it I started thinking to myself "Oh God - I hope I'm not jamm'n Jeff up by putting this kind of spin on things." Even though Clone only actually muttered a few lines of dialogue; I was afraid that all the character introspective stuff might paint him into some kind'a literary corner or something. So much like you I'm anxiously awaiting Jeff's GM reply to all of this ( lol sorry again Jeff ).

As for Kirk showing up during all of this - I think that would really be cool from a story telling stand point, but I have a feeling Jeff is gonna keep us solo for a bit. If Kirk showing up during this meeting was even a possibility though - I would definitely spend a Luck Point or something to see it happen. God knows Clone could use the support - he's starting to get that scared and confused feeling pretty strongly at the moment. It might even provide Sentinel with a chance to explore his newly acquired leadership role a bit. Either way though it should prove to be a really interesting storyline with lots of morale and spiritual obstacles for Clone to over come - I'm really looking forward to it.

Nice catch by the way with the whole Corinthians verse Seth - I was wondering if anyone was going to pick up on that. :-)

My thanks again Seth for the kind words of support - coming from someone who writes as well as you do it means a lot.

Talk to you soon,

-Kev

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Menagerie:
OOC:
Kev,
Clone's Mom quoting Corinthians to heal his pain brought tears to my eyes. Wonderful characterization and writing.
This is shaping up to be a really awesome issue of Vanguard. I can't wait to see how Jeff puts this all together.

Tom

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Lightning Strike:
Realizing that there was no real point in lying to Hank Archer, Strike laid his cards on the table.

"Obviously you know more than you are telling me Detective Archer but it is safe to say that I have a very personal interest in this case. I have been conducting my own investigation but have turned up no concrete evidence although I have lots of suspicions. Some very powerful people wanted to see these people killed. I want to see them brought to justice, any way necessary."

Lightning Strike carefully looks through the file to see if it gives any information that he did not know. He speaks again.

"If there are any leads that you are not able follow up in an official capacity, I would be willing to track them down for you. I am certain I can get information that you can't or won't track down due to departmental policy."

Strike leaves the ball in Archer's court to see what he wants to tell him.

Thanks all for your patience,
Tony