During the five
days after the assault on Aztechnology, this had transpired:
Avatar was
disillusioned after his battle with Jim Harrik.
Sgt. Stone got him
into the ring and proceeded to show him no mercy. WHAM! It was soon clear this
was no sparring session. BOOM! The twin titans slugged it out or 5 minutes. 10
minutes. 20, without stopping. POW! Sarge poured it on like never before, and
withstood the preternatural power of Avatar. SLAM! 25 minutes and both men
still stood against the mutual onslaught.
Sarge grunted as he gasped for
air, “Why ya holding back?” He looked John in the eye with his baby blues. “Kid, there’s only one of us in this ring that
doesn’t have to be a brick if he don’t wanna be.”
Avatar's activated powers were about to
fade. He cocked his head at the old pile of stone in front of him and and
queried, "What do you mean?"
Sarge gasped, “I mean
yer still thinking like Kairos. Or like Sir friggin Lancelot. You can shoot
lightning bolts outta yer ass. Laser beams outta yer eyes. Blizzards like a
regular nor’easter. So why you wanna fight me with yer bare hands? Or goddamn
Jim Harrik in-close with an antique weapon?
You think mebbe it’s unfair to use
all yer powers? Well is it unfair that my hide is made outta friggin rocks?!
Fight me, damn you. You think Harrik was fightin’ you fair ‘n’ square?!”
Sarge made with his Sunday punch.
POW!
Avatar saw stars and
fell to his knees. His activated powers of godly Strength and Endurance were
fading…
Once they were gone, Avatar would
fall unconscious!
With seconds remaining, the
demigod of destiny manifested the powers of Zeus, God of the Sky and the Storm!
Stone followed up his
Sunday punch with a right cross! KRANG! He missed, bending the iron post in the
ring’s corner with a stony fist instead. “Come on,” he rasped. “Time’s up,”
Avatar threw
bolts of arcing, white-hot lightning at the granite grunt! KRAKA-KOOM!!
Sgt. Stone
collapsed to the mat like a pile of bricks.
Avatar’s strength
and vitality suddenly left him and he fell unconscious not far from Sarge.
The last thing he heard as he blacked out was Stone’s weary voice,
“…Nice job, kid… uuhn… class dismissed…”
Five days after the assault on Aztechnology:
Menagerie and
Archimedes were alone in the shamanic superhero’s quarters.
The great old owl stared into a distance that Menagerie
could not perceive. “Hmmm. Something’s changed. The path of the future has been
altered. The threat from that mechanical world is over, lad. And so is the
threat from the digital child. This is Vanguard’s doing?” he said with genuine
surprise.
Archimedes looked away again. “But what’s this? In the
clearing away of that false future, something has been revealed… Something is
coming.” His feathers expanding, seemingly increasing his mass. Then he
whispered, “Come with me.”
Menagerie replied, “Teacher, I am to meet with Vanguard now.
Soldier had suddenly requested-”
“I said, come with me.” The two magical creatures flew from
their aerie atop the Empire State Building, beneath the night sky, high above
the concrete castles of the city, and down into Central Park. To The Lake.
There, nothing stirred. The Lady did not arise. Her animal
court did not give them audience.
Menagerie’s Nature Sense detected nothing.
Archimedes said, “Shite.”
“Teacher, what is-?”
“Be off with ye, lad. Go meet with Vanguard. We’ll be
needing them soon. I have work here, that I can only do alone.”
“No teacher, I want to stay here with you. Help you. I can-”
“I said, go. We’ll meet at dawn at the Tower. I’ll tell ye
everything then. Now go!”
Hours Later:
Vanguard was assembled outside the Soviet Consulate!
No extrasensory power detected any danger on the
street. The consulate that stood before them apparently had some form of
defense that thwarted Sentinel’s energy scan and Symbiote’s borrowed electrical
senses.
Thunder rolled across the heavens
and rain fell.
Symbiote relayed to
Vanguard everything he had witnessed.
Sentinel
telepathically scanned the Russian consulate and could detect 13 conscious
minds within the building. They were scattered among the basement, first floor,
second floor and third floor. He had no way of identifying Clone without a
thought scan. He chose a mind close to the front door, attempted a mind scan
and found he couldn’t read the subject’s thoughts! Kirk also couldn’t identify
the cause of this failure, whether it was the same cause of his failed energy
scan, or if it’s the subject’s ability to resist a mind scan!
The young telepath scanned two
more minds inside the consulate at random and got the same results!
Kirk turned to the rest of
Vanguard and said, "If there are no objections, I'm going to try
knocking..."
Symbiote thought
Sentinel’s idea was beautiful in its simplicity.
Sentinel went to the
door’s intercom and tried to see if he could speak with someone inside.
Ahead of him, a millimeter-wide, translucent strand of his
energy flowed at ground level towards the structure. It was stopped by the
stone exterior of the building. Sentinel’s energy sense could not be
“transmitted” through his construct (OOC: although, that could be a level
advancement possibility).
Sentinel buzzed the door’s intercom.
After some time, a man’s voice with a Russian accent said, “It
is after hours. Please come back tomorrow.”
"This is Sentinel of Vanguard. We know that one of our
members, Clone, was apparently invited into and has entered your embassy. We're
concerned about him and would like to know if it is possible to speak with
him."
“Da. Da. Please wait,” came the
reply.
A few moments passed and, “I’m
sorry. He does not wish to speak with anyone right now. He said to tell you he
will contact you later. Good night.”
Sentinel used his communicator to have Ajay get some” eyes
in the sky” and see what the satellites can pick up. The storm clouds blocked
visuals. Thermal scan would take time to get in position.
Slate said, "Why
don't we all defect? That would at least keep the team together? I'm not saying
go all the way with it, but at least get inside the consulate to talk to them
or Clone."
Menagerie stared
at the Russian Consulates door in shock and dismay. He tried desperately to use
his heightened senses to find out if Clone was being controlled magically. He
called out to the predators in the area to find out if Clone was being held
against his will.
There was no response.
From everything he could tell, Clone walked in of his own
free will into the traitorous arms of Mother Russia. He couldn’t believe it
either. He had heard she had changed to the point of adopting the moniker of
Knockout.
The memory of Lightning Strike appearing and speaking to
Clone flashed in Menagerie’s mind’s eye. He could not believe it then when the
rat had shown him and he can’t believe it now.
Menagerie slowly walked around the perimeter of the
building. He made sure he stayed on U.S. soil at all times. He wasn’t going to
create an international incident over this. It was Clone’s free right to enter.
He was a Russian citizen still as far as Frank new. Beside no one had to defect
to leave the U.S.A. It was a free country where leaving the country for another
is allow as long as proper documents were filed. Menagerie reminded himself
Clone wasn’t American; he was Russian so all he had to do is exactly what he
did.
Clone had the freedom to leave Vanguard just like the others
had before including Lightning Strike. There was not wrong to right here, only
a personal choice to be made.
So why did Menagerie feel so bad. Was it because Clone had
left with saying good-bye to either Snowball or him?
Menagerie stopped walking. He had found what he was looking
for. A place to roost that would provide visibility to the most used exits.
Menagerie turned into an owl. He flew up to the roosting
spot.
He reached out to the smallest predators he could find. He
offered them food in the winter and a chance to serve ‘Our Lady’. He needed
eyes to watch least used exits. Any obstructed or secret exists that they knew
about he asked them to watch as well.
Unsure of what to do for Clone, if anything at all;
Menagerie did the only thing he could do for his friend.
He watched.
Slate said,
"I can setup monitoring sub-routines that will keep the consulate under
surveillance 24/7 and alert us to any movements, but as we've all seen
recently, movement doesn't always require walking through the front door. I can
also tap into the communication grid to see if there is any traffic regarding
Clone or Mother Russia coming into our out of the consulate. Doubtful they'd
let something like that slip, people have been monitoring those communications
for quite some time..."
Slingshot said, "It
sounds like he's doing this voluntarily. Something must have happened that both
Clone and Mother Russia, both defectors, would be willing to go back for."
He paced for a moment. "Whatever it is, we know they are good people and we know they would go back for what was right." He slammed a meaty right fist into his left palm. He turned on his PDA and calls out for HQ, hoping for either Grey or Drake. "I want a report of the whereabouts of Polar Bear and Shatter. Do we know where they are and if they have also gone back to Russian territory?"
He paced for a moment. "Whatever it is, we know they are good people and we know they would go back for what was right." He slammed a meaty right fist into his left palm. He turned on his PDA and calls out for HQ, hoping for either Grey or Drake. "I want a report of the whereabouts of Polar Bear and Shatter. Do we know where they are and if they have also gone back to Russian territory?"
Symbiote was willing
to electrically transmit his form to Polar Bear and Shatter if they can be
located.
CHESS Agent Drake responded, “On it. Please stand by.”
CHESS Agent Drake responded, “On it. Please stand by.”
Slingshot said, “If
they have both re-defected, then that would leave us with one last person to
reach - it's a long shot, if he's still alive, I mean Cosmonaut. We could
likely ask the Entity to help with the search.”
Slate would
follow the team on this one; they've known Clone longer and know him better
than Slate, so he's not stepping out by himself. When Slingshot mentioned
Cosmonaut and contacting the Entity, Slate got very excited, and volunteered to
help set something up, as he's been studying everything digital since he
returned from his trip into the Zone.
Back at Vanguard
Vault:
Sentinel said that
although it is possible that Clone took these actions freely, there is another
possibility. “He could have taken these actions under the influence of
another... it might not even have been total control. He might have just gotten
an extra push towards something he was already considering... he had withdrawn
from us, which was unlike him, and he left without a word. Even if taking this
action, why not tell us? This could even have been some sort of Russian mental
'programming' which was triggered.”
Agent Drake was
on duty and met the team when they arrived. “It’s possible. But he wasn’t the
only member of Vanguard to quit today, Sentinel. CHESS satellite is in
position. There’s a heating element of some kind in or on the roof of the
consulate that seems designed to prevent thermal scans from orbit.”
Slingshot said,
“I’m no spy, but couldn't we be able to "compromise" some of the
help? I'm not quite in favor of giving money, but we might be able to get some
cleaner to divulge information they might know about?”
Agent Drake said,
“Maybe. For now, we need to assume Vanguard, and CHESS, had been infiltrated by
a Soviet mole. As a defector, his security clearance was such that he was kept
from sensitive material. Mother Russia was never given security clearance. Fyi,
Polar Bear and Shatter have not been reached yet. I need to report this to Grey
and initiate all proper protocols.”
Symbiote went to
his lab and began trying to figure out a way to track down Lightning Strike. “Strike
knows something he's not telling us.” While this normally doesn't bother Hal,
it does if it's endangering Clone (and possibly Mother Knockout, as he would
think of her for now).
Slate initiated
his monitoring sub-routines to watch the consulate, from the Computer Lab. Then
he and Slingshot tried to reach Cosmonaut in the Digital Zone by setting up a
repeating message sequence in cyberspace specifically for him.
Eventually, Vanguard
got a few hours’ sleep. (OOC: and a day’s Healing)
CHESS rooks were
beginning to search Alex’s quarters and review internal surveillance tapes.
In the morning:
Slate’s subroutine
had not recorded anyone leaving or entering the Soviet consulate.
But his cyber message to Cosmonaut received a reply! On his
computer screen, it read:
“Dr. X is recalling all extranormal operatives. Something on
an unprecedented scale is occurring, although I cannot detect what it is.”
There was nothing else.
Vanguard knew
that Dr. X was the mysterious creator of the Soviet Super Soldiers, and the
head of the Program, the USSR’s extranormal detection and training division. No
image of him existed in CHESS files.
At dawn, having detected nothing at the consulate Menagerie went to his master, Archimedes, and found
two others waiting for him as well.
Soon after that, Menagerie
requested Vanguard convene immediately, so that they could hear
everything he had just learned.
The remaining six
members of Vanguard gathered in their meeting room at 8:30am. No CHESS
liaisons were present, as they were busy dealing with the repercussions of the
defecting double agent, Clone.
Three magical beings had come before Vanguard, seeking an audience with Earth’s greatest
heroes:
Archimedes,
the great, ancient owl who was known by Vanguard to be the spirit guide of
Menagerie.
The Mystic,
an enigmatic sorcerer who had been the sometime ally of the WWII super team,
the Liberty League. Vanguard had last seen him in the City of the Dead Gods,
when he had infiltrated the Crimson Coven under the assumed alias of
Okmenhotep.
Oracle, a
visionary prophet who had served with AEGIS before that team was murdered by
one of their own, the Primate. Vanguard last saw her at the escape attempt of
the Primate from CHESS Castle.
All three were quiet
as Menagerie made introductions. Their mien was grave, as if they were in
mourning.
The Mystic and
Oracle treated Archimedes with obvious deference. The owl signaled that they
should begin.
Then the Mystic said:
“Gentlemen, I am honored to formally meet you. I had been fortunate enough to
work with Earth’s champions before, the last time an occult power attempted to
alter the destiny of humankind (OOC: That would be WWII.)… Which brings us to
why we are here.”
Oracle said: “A dire
situation has been revealed to us. This world is in need of its greatest heroes
again.”
The Mystic said, “We
speak of nothing less than the end of the world. Judgment Day.”
“Ragnarok,” said
Archimedes.
“Armageddon,” said
Oracle. “As prophesized by the Mayan calendar, we have begun the End Days. Its
arrival was clouded to our eyes by another threat from a future that that has
just recently been averted.
(OOC: The threat of
The Entity and the Digital Zone triggering an Omega Universe here; averted last
story arc.)
Avatar, who
was a trained archaeologist, had seen the actual calendar stone, and saw it now
in his mind.
The Mystic
explained, “The Mayans, and the Aztecs after them, worshipped a pantheon of
gods unlike any other in history. The Norse Myths, the Greek, the Egyptian, the
Native American, they all spoke of gods that appeared and acted with human
motives and personalities. But the otherworldy Mayan Gods came from the stars
and were completely alien to any culture on earth. But the Mayans could only
comprehend a fraction of the truth. Their insane gods came not from the stars,
but from another dimension entirely.
“Only one man has
come closest to understanding these gods, and their motives. The madman, H.P.
Lovecraft.
“That’s right. Cthulhu
is coming.
“The stars will be
right this winter solstice. December 21, 2012. We have just seven days to avert
the destruction of the world.”
Oracle projected a
psionic vision of what would transpire in one week into the minds of Vanguard,
who understood it to be a prophecy of a future certain.
They saw Cthulhu come to Earth. The giant
monstrosity strode the earth as a storm blanketed the world and the sun was
eclipsed forever. Behind him followed Azathoth, Ithaqua, Hastur, Shub-Niggurath
and all the rest. Then followed Chaos, Madness and Pandemonium.
Archimedes said, “Cthulhu and his forsaken
pantheon are the antithesis of Nature… Of Life itself. They are not evil, like
the Dark Avatar, but Destroyers, Pestilence, Disease, Decay, Madness and Death.
They are An Inevitable, cosmic force, like Time or Gravity.”
The Mystic said, “Against them, there can be
no victory. They will eventually devour the souls of every living being on
Earth and leave it a dead husk, like every world they have visited before.”
Vanguard now witnessed what became of people
whose souls were devoured. They appeared dead and mindless, and yet were
overcome with an unholy urge to devour the living.
Vanguard beheld a planet of the walking dead.
It was Earth, a mere seven days from now.
They saw Nanite and themselves barricaded in
this very room.
While Doc Rocket, Shelley, Agent Grey, Sgt.
Stone, Detective Archer, Ajay, Nathan Lamb and more, now soulless, cannibalistic
zombies, were breaking through the doors to kill Vanguard!
the bloody zombie horde smashed their way in
and reached Vanguard, And the vision of the future dissipated and Vanguard was back in the present.
Oracle was visibly
shaken. A moment passed as comprehension set in.
The Mystic broke the
silence. “When the dimensions are aligned this winter solstice, a summoning
ritual will still be needed to bring Cthulhu’s Pantheon to Earth. There are
many mad enough to attempt this, but the ritual requires incredible power.
Therein lies our only hope. And our plan of attack.”
Oracle indicated
Mystic and Archimedes, “We three have divined that there exist only nine
objects on Earth powerful enough to rend asunder of our reality. Any one of
them, if they fell into the wrong hands, could be used to bring Cthulhu here on
winter solstice.”
The Mystic said, “We
need to secure all nine of these artifacts of power in the next seven days, or
risk them falling into the hands of agents of the Cthulhu Mythos, who would bring
about an Armageddon final and complete. We three can guide you, expending our
energies locating each artifact. And transporting Vanguard to each one, in the
interest of time. But that cost will be terrible. Our power exhausted in the effort
of location and travel, we’ll be too weak to secure the artifacts ourselves
with surety.
“So it must be Vanguard’s
quest to secure these nine artifacts of power. We can imagine none more suited.”
Archimedes spoke. “As
we here act on Earth, the Lady of the Lake, the Spirit of Nature itself, has
left this world to prepare to confront the Enemy as best she might. I fear she’ll
not survive.”
The Mystic faced
Vanguard directly. “We need to begin immediately. Your world is in need of
champions this day. Who among you will answer this call, before Earth falls
into eternal madness and shadow?”
OOC: Replies, questions, discussion, actions?
Current Conditions:
Avatar: Hit Points: 31, Power
Points: 85, Manifestation: None
Clone: Bodies: 1, Hit Points: 22,
Power Points: 64, Hit Point Pool: 22
Lightning Strike: Hit Points: 25,
Power Points: 85
Menagerie: Hit Points: 15, Power
Points: 66, Form: Man
Sentinel: Hit Points: 29, Power
Points: 70, Creation Points: 140, Shields: 0
Slate: Hit Points: 35, Power
Points: 73
Slingshot: Hit Points: 43, Power
Points: 92, Invulnerability: 8
Symbiote: Hit Points: 38, Power
Points: 83, Charges: 14, Copied: None
Viva Vanguard!
Best,
Jeff
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
"Well, I don't know about
you, but I'm not planning on getting eaten by zombies. I'm in." Scott
looks at the three, "Something like this, prophesied as it is.. wouldn't
you have some sort of riddle regarding some sort of guardian of these powerful
artifacts? The fact that you need us to "retrieve" these things,
you're expecting trouble. What can we expect?"
"We need to break up the team
in pair to accompany each of the three. We need to know how we want to team up.
Two of us are highly magical, two of us are highly technical, two of us are
powered. I'm thinking that of pairing magic and tech together and us powered be
on our own, but a review of any information before running to the items might
change my opinion."
Scott asks the three, "These artifacts can we destroy
them? because gathering them will only set us up for an attack."
Contemplating the situation at hand, Slingshot realizes what
this could be. He looks at the members of the team, "We're going against
Dr X, aren't we?". He sighs deeply. "Let's get all the information we
can get on the Soviet Super Soldiers, powers, weaknesses, etc.. Similarly for
Dr X."
--------------------------------------------------
Avatar:
OOC: Wow, Jeff. Cthulhu for
Christmas? Zombies? NINE artifacts to recover in SEVEN days? And I'm not at
full hit points!!!!
Should be interesting, though.
Sheesh.
IC:
Avatar chuckles. "Sounds like a season for heroes! I'm in."
--------------------------------------------------
Sentinel:
All three were quiet as Menagerie made introductions. Their
mien was grave, as if they were in mourning.
Kirk’s eyes
inconspicuously looked them up and down as if measuring them; because that was
exactly what he was doing. He had taken to examining the unique energy
signature and friends and foes. It seemed in this age of shape shifters and
mental domination he did well to be able to recognize everyone on another
level. In fact he was waiting for the opportunity to compare the unique energy
signature of a known entity with that of that same influenced or possessed
known entity to see if he could sense it. Kirk’s experience with this sort of
energy… magical had been somewhat limited so he took special note.
He gave a knowing
glance and smile towards Oracle. He had tried to keep the lines of
communication open with Oracle since their mission with her and his feeling her
sadness and seeing her isolation. But it seemed beings of tied into what we
called magic tended to traveled with their own… despite outreach. Was there
something about that particular power that drove them that way? And would their
teammate Menagerie succumb to that same influence as he grew stronger in its
ways? He was determined that wouldn’t happen to Frank.
(OOC Anything
interesting on the energy scene. How does Archimedes, clearly on a different
level, compare to Oracle and Mystic?)
Scott asks the three, "These artifacts can we destroy
them? Because gathering them will only set us up for an attack."
Kirk added, “Scott
is right. We don’t want to do their dirty work for them. If we can’t destroy
them doesn’t gathering them together create a greater threat having all that
power in one place?”
Contemplating the situation at hand, Slingshot realizes what
this could be. He looks at the members of the team, "We're going against
Dr X, aren't we?". He sighs deeply. "Let's get all the information we
can get on the Soviet Super Soldiers, powers, weaknesses, etc.. Similarly for
Dr X."
Sentinel had already
been thinking the same thing. He had concluded that there were no coincidences.
Especially with the message Slate had retrieved from the Digital Zone. He added,
“We have files on the Soviet Super Soldiers, but our working knowledge of Dr X
is extremely limited. More about what he was known to have done than anything
about him himself. But at this point we should have access to more… and he
glanced to Mystic… adding, “an honor sir. Wish you’d dropped in under better
circumstances, and he smiled while stating that thinking about Lancaster’s
recollections of his time with the ‘man’, but what can you tell us about that
last time an occult power attempted to alter the destiny of humankind during
World War II? Who and what was involved and does it relate in any way to this
time? And what do you know about Dr X and all of his activities? At the very
least you were active during the time when he was last most overt in what he
did… but I’d suspect you know more.”
To Oracle at an
appropriate point:
“Last time you
showed us the progression of events so that we could see our wrong path and
prevent it. This time you just showed us the sad outcome. Do you have any
insights to assist us to avoid the wrong course of action?”
Slingshot said: "We need to break up the team in pair
to accompany each of the three. We need to work out how we want to team up. Two
of us are highly magical, two of us are highly technical, two of us are powered.
I'm thinking that of pairing magic and tech together and us powered be on our
own, but a review of any information before running to the items might change
my opinion."
“My gut says not to
fracture our power base unless totally necessary. Would be possible to do this
as a team with perhaps several members taking the lead on each artifact, those
more suited to the location and threat involved but not dividing us. It seems
we should put the call out to our ‘reserves’ and those that have recently left
us, at the very least perhaps they can reinforce us in some of the latter
retrievals.”
Kirk then glanced
towards Hal, “and let’s not just fall into the whole ‘this is magic and we need
to confront it that way mindset”. Hal perhaps you can get Shelly and Doc on the
path towards a scientific response to preventing this as a fall back before we
depart to work on securing the items. What can be done scientifically to
prevent the dimensions from aligning?"
And Kirk had been
thinking about heroic lore and just how all of this will go down and he looked
towards the three magical beings, “And let’s face facts… this many objects in
that a short time, this ends with all of us at a summoning at the last moment
and our trying to prevent it. Not being a pessimist here, but that’s how these
things always go. How does a ‘summoning’ ceremony work and what how can we
prepare in practical way to disrupt one? That might be something our scientific
dream team can be working on… and surely there are areas of power… places of alignment
that would be best suited to the ceremony. Do we have a means to locate those
to prevent access or is there some means to taint them for usage? We have a
week… let’s hit this thing from all possible sides…”
Viva Vanguard
Seth
OOC:
I'd add that Stephane's idea of
pairing the teams is excellent strategy and Kirk will certainly be for it but
felt that he'd want to keep the team together for strength and safety and to
preserve power if at all possible (however unlikely)
Seth
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
OOC:
Yours is a valid point too.
I was going with the impression that it will likely take
lots of time/energy to find and transport to the right place and recuperating
will be difficult.This means 3 trips per magician. assuming 1 day of
recuperation between each trip... you're at 6, maybe 7 days depending how it
starts.
IC:
Scott follows Kirk's thoughts about being disruptive. He
looked to the three mages again. "Would Dr X have his own mystics? How
would he have gathered the information on their locations otherwise? Is there
any chance we can send them a mystical disruption something or another to block
their capabilities? A fog or something? If they can't find/get to the items,
they won't be able to do squat."
"We also need to be able to mask the location of these
items once we have gathered them. I'm not sure we want to leave them here.
Maybe another location? Would putting up magical barriers be best or
technological ones work better? A mix?"
--------------------------------------------------
GM:
OOC: Hi guys.
I’ll answer some IC questions at this point, to help your
planning. (Game rules terminology are in parenthesis for those that want’s ‘em)
IC:
Sentinel’s energy sense confirmed the same readings he detected
when last he encountered Oracle, Archimedes and the Mystic.
The three harbingers of doom were relieved and grateful that
Vanguard accepted this deadly quest.
In the face of their questions and suggestions, Mystic said,
“My friends, I’m afraid our situation is more dire than you understand. We only
learned of this threat mere hours ago, and have no preparations ready.
Furthermore, we three are neither omniscient nor omnipotent.
Our powers are finite. It might be best to explain those powers to you, at
least those powers that can aid us here. It is the least we can do for you who
would risk so much.
“Right now, we have not identified any of the artifacts of
power. Nor do we know their locations. Archimedes has divined that there exist
nine sources of power great enough to permit a ritual on winter solstice to
pierce the veil of this world.”
(OOC: Archimedes has Cosmic Awareness as per the rules. He
asks yes or no questions at a cost of dozens of Power Points per question, to
protect his mind from going mad.
Example: He needed to ask, Is there a power source on Earth
great enough to open the dimensions to summon Cthulhu on winter solstice of
this year? Are there more than one source? Are there more than three? Etc, etc.
until landing at the truth. He is currently Fatigued, as per the rules.
For him to divine the exact location of the nine artifacts
would go similarly: Is there an artifact in Europe? Yes. Is there an artifact
in France? No. Italy? No. Etc., etc. Each question costing dozens of Power Points.
Healing Power Points back takes time, and you’ve only a week
to locate nine things.)
The Mystic said, “I know a magic spell to open a Gate to
anywhere else in this world.”
(OOC: This is the power Teleportation, as per the rules. The
“range” he can teleport is a factor of his Current Power Points. If he is
Fatigued, or even reduced in Power, he cannot “reach” everywhere on Earth.
Also, teleporting itself costs Power Points.)
The Mystic said, “My plan is that we will forge a new spell
(OOC: ie: Invent a new spell that combines his Teleportation Spell with
Archimedes Cosmic Awareness power, at a Power Point cost to both of them and
one Luck Point to boot!) to create Gate directly to one of the “artifacts of
power.” If it succeeds, we need not lose time and energy (Power Points)
identifying each artifact, and its location. This places a greater challenge
upon the Questors, for they would be teleporting to an unknown region on Earth.
But it is more expedient. And time is of the essence. If this works, we will
need to do it nine times (OOC: Costing them nine Luck Points total).
“I do not believe I have sufficient power (Power Points) to
teleport separate teams of you simultaneously, as that will require multiple
portals both leaving, and returning. As it is, it will take time to teleport
you back from each quest, as I regain my strength (OOC: i.e.: heal back Power
Points, because Teleportation range is a factor of Current Power Points).”
Archimedes said, “I am bound to Menagerie, and he to me.
(OOC: similar to the link between Clones, or the link between a Wizard and his
Familiar) I will know when you have recovered an artifact, and I’ll tell Mystic
to Gate you back here.”
The Mystic said, “Once one artifact is retrieved, I shall
open a portal to another dimension and store these artifacts safely there.”
(OOC: This is Dimensional Travel, as per the rules. This
costs anywhere from 40 to 80 points of Power each time! Again, Power takes time
to heal, so he won’t be doing this multiple times a day. So you need to start
asap, to hope to have the Power Points to do all these things, nine times in
seven days.)
The Mystic answered: “We have no knowledge of Dr. X’s
involvement, or that these artifacts have guardians to overcome. But it is very
likely that these items have owners, and that these artifacts cannot be
destroyed by any power we here possess.
"And as I said, we know that interested parties will be
searching for them to bring about the end of the world. So this task is not
without danger. Or urgency. We three will be spent from our efforts (OOC: ie:
out of Power Points), therefore it makes sense that others, you Questors, be
sent to secure the items of power.”
Oracle said, “I will watch future events as we begin (at a
great cost to Power Points). Already, our involvement, and your undertaking of
this Quest, has altered the future, making prophecy uncertain. With the future
in motion, it will take time to see what, if any, affect we all have on the
final resolution of these matters."
Her face grew sadder. "I have shared knowledge of the
future before, directly causing the death of my closest friends and team mates.
Understanding the stakes we now face, I will do my best to safely share
knowledge of the future again."
(OOC:
So, here is what they are proposing:
Oracle monitors the cascading turmoil of the future.
Archimedes and the Mystic invent a spell that combines
Teleportation, Cosmic Awareness and Luck to gate the Questors (Vanguard) to an
artifact of power.
The three harbingers will remain behind.
Once the Questors leave Vanguard Vault, the Mystic begins
healing Power Points so that he can teleport the team back! This will take up
to an hour. So no matter where Vanguard goes on any Quest, they may be there
for an hour.
Vanguard secures the artifact.
Archimedes, through his bond with Menagerie will know that
this has been accomplished, and where Menagerie is on Earth. (fyi, some of this
info could be received via Vanguard Communicators as well)
Mystic opens a Teleportation Gate to bring Vanguard back to
Vanguard Vault.
The Mystic places the artifact in another Dimension for safe
keeping. (Dimensional Travel)
Mystic, Archimedes and Oracle begin healing power points so
this can all start again with the next artifact, and the next and the next.
Repeat.
With all this healing of Power Points, this process is long,
hence the desire to begin immediately, and not wait to identify the names of
the artifacts and their locations.
If Vanguard prefers, the harbingers could spend a few days
in the effort of intelligence gathering, but then Vanguard will need to collect
the nine artifacts with only three or four days to do it.
It may not even be possible, given the healing of Power
Points required.
It also gives the opposition, the agents of the Cthulhu Mythos,
a head start.)
The Mystic said, “We hope this helps your understanding. If
you see a better path for us, we would happily hear it.”
--------------------------------------------------
Sentinel:
Kirk grimaced upon hearing the additional revelations.
"It is more dire than we thought. I think we need to
leave on the first retrieval as soon as you can be ready for us to do so."
"How safe are these objects in the dimensional space?
Could someone else retrieve them from there? What are the plans for the objects
once the threat has past? If we have legitimate non-threatening owners could we
promise a return? This might facilitate retrieving some of them."
"What about my question about geographic places of
power where the summoning ceremony would take place - might there be a means to
identify these or could it be done anywhere? My guess would be one of those
Mayan temples would be ideal since they were purposefully set up in the past by
their worshipers... If so, perhaps CHESS can secure them while we work on the
artifacts."
I've another thought, Kirk said turning to Symbiote and
Slingshot, and then to the three mystical figures. I have an additional sense.
I can see the world around me differently by the means of an energy perception.
Magical energy is limited in comparison to other patterns out there, quite
unique. I've got to think that these artifacts should be registering high in
energy levels to be of the power needed for the summoning. However my sense is
very limited in scope to the distance around me. Might it be possible either by
scientific or magical means to temporarily amplify that power to the world wide
level so we could discern the locations en masse? Perhaps after securing an
artifact or two I might be able to identify a unique energy pattern to them to
help hone that sort of search further? Is something like that possible and
might it make the toll on Archimedes less burdensome?
OOC: Cerebro! If Professor X can locate mutants mentally
could Kirk's power be amplified temporarily to locate these objects either by a
one-time quick invention (Shelly and Doc can work on it while we begin the
artifact retrieval) or by magical spell?
On the transport: If we have no idea where we are going to
materialize until after we are there, might it be possible to transport with
everyone within Kirk's shields in case we materialize under water or something
like that? Then once we've determined the environment isn't directly
threatening Kirk would immediately let everyone 'out' - although if we
transport right into immediate combat with Kirk's slowness it would limit
everyone's reactions until his 'turn'.
Seth
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
Scott speaks up. "I will talk to Nanite. She has the
ability to help people recover health. It might be useful to help Mystic's
recuperation. Which reminds me that we will likely have to gather some material
for my own recuperation. I foresee pain in the future."
[ooc: Re: Cerebro: ]
"That's an interesting idea. I'm not sure we know what
we need to amplify, we could start looking into it," Scott mused.
"While we are thinking up ways to help. I would like to
minimize opposition. I'm assuming that Dr X is somehow controlling SSS. How we
could look at something to block his control over them?"
[ooc: some sort of helmet?]
--------------------------------------------------
IC:
Sentinel asked
Mystic: “What can you tell us about that last time an occult power attempted to
alter the destiny of humankind during World War II?”
The Mystic
replied:“The last time an occult power attempted to alter the destiny of
humankind WAS World War II. That occult power was Hitler and the Nazis.”
Sentinel said to
Oracle: “Last time you showed us the progression of events so that we could see
our wrong path and prevent it. This time you just showed us the sad outcome. Do
you have any insights to assist us to avoid the wrong course of action?”
Oracle said: “Yes, the path that the Mystic has defined.”
Slingshot said, "Would Dr. X have his own mystics?”
The Mystic said, “The Soviet Union has long researched
psychic phenomena (OOC: in the real world too), approaching it from their
religion of science, rather than the mysticism of the Nazis. I would not be
surprised if Dr. X had a battery of psychics at his disposal. As the architect
of The Program, all extranormals in the empire fall under his authority.”
Sentinel asked the Mystic: "How safe are these objects
in the dimensional space? Could someone else retrieve them from there? What are
the plans for the objects once the threat has past? If we have legitimate
non-threatening owners could we promise a return? This might facilitate
retrieving some of them."
The Mystic ignored the first two questions, and the
unintentional insult they represented. “Patience,” he thought as he said, “We
have not considered what to do with these artifacts should we all survive. I
see no objection to returning them to their rightful owners if they pose no
threat.”
Sentinel asked: “How
does a ‘summoning’ ceremony work and what how can we prepare in practical way
to disrupt one?... Do we have a means to locate those to prevent access or is
there some means to taint them for usage?”
The Mystic
said,“That is our intent. The summoning ceremony will require one of these nine
artifacts of power. Deprived of them, the Enemy will be powerless to bring
about the end of the world.”
Archimedes
said,“Cthulhu perhaps could taint a site like Stonehenge or the Pyramids, lad.
But lettle else in this world could do et. And thank god for thet.”
Seth wrote: OOC: Cerebro! If Professor X can locate mutants
mentally could Kirk's power be amplified temporarily to locate these objects
either by a one-time quick invention (Shelly and Doc can work on it while we
begin the artifact retrieval) or by magical spell?
GM: OOC: Re: Inventing a Magic Spell for this: The three
harbingers are about to spend 9 Luck Points, lots of time and power points
under the existing plan. Not sure they can take this on too, all in one week.
So, maybe an invention. You’ll need to spend a Luck Point as
Doc and Shelley are clean out. But they have the skills to do it. Hal too.
Such an invention will take time, and Sentinel will have to
be present for much of the time as the device will need to be attuned to his
unique powers after all.
So it’s a trade off. Sentinel misses retrieval(s) in
exchange for the information such a device could provide.
Sentinel said: “If we have no idea where we are going to
materialize until after we are there, might it be possible to transport with
everyone within Kirk's shields in case we materialize under water or something
like that?”
The Mystic smiled kindly, “You may pass through the Gate in
whatever configuration you desire. If I open a Gate to the bottom of the ocean,
we’ll soon know. Water will pass through, until I close the portal.”
(OOC: That’s a cool use of that power though. Maybe a
character called Geyser?)
Slingshot speaks up. "I will talk to Nanite. She has
the ability to help people recover health. It might be useful to help Mystic's
recuperation. “
GM: OOC: Nanite heals hit points, not power points. 1d10 hit
points per target. At a cost of 1d10 power points. But she could be part of the
support team that can heal/help Vanguard between retrievals. She should
probably heal Avatar now, before the first quest.
Slingshot said, "While we are thinking up ways to help.
I would like to minimize opposition. I'm assuming that Dr. X is somehow
controlling SSS. How we could look at something to block his control over
them?"
[ooc: some sort of helmet?]
GM Reply: OOC: This is an Invention. You’ll need someone
with the appropriate skills to spend time and a Luck Point to invent it. Having
Dr. X, or one of the SSS, to study would help too.
Thanks everyone.
Best,
Jeff
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
OOC:
I'm aware of that... but technically if you use up your PP,
you can dip in your HP.. which is where Nanite would help. :)
In other words... let's work them to the bone!
<sound of whip cracking in the air>
<sound of whip cracking in the air>
--------------------------------------------------
Menagerie:
IC: Menagerie watched in quiet deference as the mighty
mystics explained the dire situation to Vanguard. He was glad to see his
friends would join him in the Quest. He was prepared to do this alone but they
would have a better chance as a team.
He smiled as suggestions were
made to the mystics on how best to accomplish the Quest. He had the same
reaction when he had been told. He was confident they would succeed. Vanguard
had eliminated the technology threat they will defeat this one as well.
“It is time to figure out how
we will act once we enter the portal. Do we go through as explorers or as
warriors?”
“The hardiest should go first
with the range attackers behind. I will follow the range attackers. We will
have one hour to retrieve the artifact and keep it. Do we need extra gear?”
“Sentinel, whether we face Dr.
X or a different enemy is it worth losing much needed time to figure it out
here. If needed we could teleport near the artifact using half of the hour to
scout the situation before acquiring it. That way we can know the keeper and
any other seekers without having to guess at it. What do you think?”
"Archimdes, do we have
time for you to consult with Nature to find out if Dr. X calling his forces
involves the artificats?"
OOC: I am trying to express
that Menagerie is more concerned about the time being lost instead of trying to
determine who is at the other end. He believes every teleport is a surprise. He
also doesn't believe Dr. X is connected with this but is willing for the
question to be asked using cosmic awareness to settle the issue.
Thanks
Tom
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
OOC:
Happy New Year everyone.
I'm sort of stumped on how to proceed, beyond the smash and
grab of the original plan. I'm not seeing anything that's a clear advantage to
pursue as a side thing to help with the overall picture.
Stephane
Stephane
--------------------------------------------------
Slate:
Slate was in shock after receiving the response from
Cosmonaut. Cosmonaut, or some part of him was still in the Digital Dimension,
the repercussions of that were staggering... everything that Slate sent there,
was it still there? What of the Luddite, was he still out there? Slate had
considered him destroyed... but what if... This would have to be investigated.
As he continued to ponder the implications of Cosmonaut's response, the Harbingers arrived.
After hearing the details of their plan, and listening to the discussions of his elders, Slate looked between Archimedes, Oracle, and Mystic, "I will answer the call."
Jon
As he continued to ponder the implications of Cosmonaut's response, the Harbingers arrived.
After hearing the details of their plan, and listening to the discussions of his elders, Slate looked between Archimedes, Oracle, and Mystic, "I will answer the call."
Jon
--------------------------------------------------
Sentinel:
OOC: Hey Jeff.
Nothing further to add and
naturally Kirk is 'in'.
He'll be keeping an eye on Mystic
given Lancaster's impressions of him and his quick reveal and exit the only
time he'd Vanguard previously. Kirk will let Mystic's 'patience' in allowing
his concerns about the safety of the objects to pass since they have no better
solution for the storage... but yes, concerned he is. If Mystic can gain access
likely someone else can also --- and if Mystic is going to be at his weakest
many hours a time over the next week, then any defenses normally set up
regarding the area could also be compromised.
Didn't understand that we were
walking through a gate, I was thinking more of teleportation (ie Nightcrawler,
not sure where we'd pop up) so it seems like the shields around the team are
unnecessary.
I'm assuming Kirk's idea of a
power booster (Cerebro) from the scientific standpoint were fielded by Doc
& Shelly and about the only thing he would do is see if they have any
further insight into how science can factor into the equation here... not that
he is expecting anything at this point but Vanguard is going to be busy
retrieving objects and they are our best eyes on things happening 'back home'
and if anyone here can come up with something as a backup strategy it would be
them.
Seth
--------------------------------------------------
Symbiote:
IC: Cthulhu's real, Symbiote
thought to himself, facepalming for a few seconds and rubbing his tired
temples. Cthulhu's real, and we're going to mix it up with him. Y'know, Hal,
you could've set your sites lower. You could have made yourself into a street
level superhero and spent your time beating up muggers and purse snatchers.
Instead, you're going up against Cthulhu.
Hal raised his head, re-engaged. "Y'know guys, some
time real soon I'm going to invent an alternate reality viewer, and I won't
rest until I find a possible future for us that doesn't suck," he says.
"In the meantime, let's saddle up. Give me a few minutes with my computer,
I want to download and start off with Zero G's power template. Since we don't
know what we're walking into I suppose one is as good as another, and I've been
dying to try his out. Hopefully I won't literally die from it," he
finishes, with a grin filled with gallows humor.
With that, Hal stands ready to save the world again.
Ia Shub Niggurath,
Greg
With that, Hal stands ready to save the world again.
Ia Shub Niggurath,
Greg
--------------------------------------------------
