Two days and 23 hours until the end of the world.
Vanguard continued
their desperate Quest against the coming of Cthulhu.
The third artifact of power had been located in North Jersey
of all places.
It was a large, exurban, public storage rental facility
called “U Stor.”
Avatar and Symbiote
knew the location immediately. It was where Avatar’s collection of antiquities
had been stored by the mysterious unknown buyer who had purchased it from the
Sotheby’s auction.
Symbiote had created a GPS tracking device and hid it deep
among the books, crates and packages that were Jon’s collection. It had been at
the storage facility since the auction.
Vanguard silently infiltrated the facility, overcoming the
deathtrap spell called Soul Strangle.
Their victory was short lived.
Down the hall, ahead of them, space was rending itself
apart!
There was a small thunderclap and the familiar shape of a
teleportation gate opened before them!
Except this one was blood red.
“Ai! Ai! Fhtagn!” called a voice from within the gate!
Then: “Thief! Who dares steal the property of the Warlock!”
Clone was reminded by his slight accent that the Warlock was
an aristocratic Muscovite.
The Warlock strode through the gate like a conqueror, and
behind him were Superstition, Mirage, Demonoid, the Witch, and a black robed
man that Vanguard did not recognize. The gate remained open.
“Don’t you mean the property of the Crimson Coven, mate?!”
corrected Mirage sardonically.
“Vanguard?!?” exclaimed Demonoid, leaping forward with eager
glee as he licked his lips with a long tongue.
“Perhaps zey can be reasoned weeth,” whispered Superstition.
“Silence,” the Warlock spat. “Vanguard! Your souls will
suffer an eternity of agony for this! I swear it.”
With the speed of winged Mercury, Avatar bolted forward at maximum speed, aiming for Demonoid with
the intent of plowing into him with a shoulder and knocking him back into and
along with as many members of the Coven as he can get. He does this without regard for damage to
himself.
ZOOOM! SLAM!
Avatar knocked Demonoid back and hard! “Oi!” The hellish
horror sailed under the levitating Superstition, apparently activated her
probability field. WHAM! He cracked his head on the cement floor, leaving a
small crater. Demonoid continued through Mirage, who was revealed to be an
insubstantial illusion, and straight into the Crimson Gate, which remained
open. He was gone!
"Should've known these Coven morons would be involved
in this sort of thing," Symbiote
thought to himself. "Ah
well...let's get busy." With the lightning speed of The Accelerator,
Symbiote rushed forward, down the path Avatar had just opened up, to the rear
ranks of the Coven and struck the Witch straight in the chest, palm first,
transferring all of his inertia into her.
SMASH! The bride of Satan was hit hard and flew backwards screeching
through the Crimson Gate!
Demonoid leapt
back through the portal into the storage facility, seething with pure hatred.
He pounced forward at Avatar! “I’ll burn you alive and bathe in your ashes you
little wanker!” he snarled and fire spewed from his misshapen maw!
VWOOOOSHHH!! Avatar was engulfed in
flames!
(OOC: 12 points of damage! Avatar rolls with 6, and takes 6
from hit points. He is conscious and not on fire.)
Lightning Strike
looked at the coven with disdain. He
knew they were simply another obstacle that needed to be overcome and that they
clearly were pawns in this cosmic chess game.
He spoke to them, “You clearly know why we are here and what
we want. Hand over what we want and we
will let you keep the rest of your petty hoard.
We do not have the time to waste beating you senseless once again. You are smart enough to know that you can’t
defeat us and will end up losing more than what we are looking for now. Walk away with what little dignity you have
left.”
The Warlock spat,
“Ignorant child. You have no more comprehension of our motives than an ant does
of God’s!”
SHAKOW! Lightning
Strike charged to get in range and then loosed an electrical blast at the sinister
sorcerer! ZZZzzzZZzzZZZ kk-k-k! It
crashed against Warlock’s magical force field, causing it to flicker and spark!
The Warlock was
unharmed. He stared at Lightning Strike and bolt of blue mystic energy blasted
from his forehead at the electric avenger! VOMmmmmm… BOOM! Strike was hit and
knocked back 20 feet!
( OOC: 15 points of damage. Strike rolls with 6 and takes 9
from hits)
“Now do you understand? Leave this place Vanguard or face my
wrath!”
Menagerie said,
"I should have known the trap was your handy work Warlock. Over the top as
always. So what is so important that you have to lay this kind of trap but can't
keep it in a safer locale? Never mind, I don't care. I came to save the world
from "He who's name should not be mentioned" not put you in your
place again. You can thank us later."
Mirage chuckled,
“Yes, Warlock. Why don’t you explain your grand strategy of hiding in plain
sight? I for one would love to hear it again.” The Englishman’s words dripped
venom.
The Warlock growled,
“Silence, cur.” He turned to face Menagerie. “You. Druid. Alone among Vanguard’s
rabble, you have a prayer of understanding. Against
Cthulhu, there is no hope. The entire occult world knows there is little time
remaining. Were Cthulhu and the other natives of the higher dimensions to
intrude upon this plane of existence, it would dwarf every apocalypse ever
imagined. Your blundering interference here threatens to destroy this entire universe.”
“What are you talking about?” asked Sentinel.
“Ah,” said the Warlock. “The
‘beacon’ attempts to see. You’ve squandered what time you had, ‘hero.’ You’ve
no chance to secure every artifact in these remaining hours. No one does. We
have but one desperate gambit left. We must sate the Beast the moment he enters
our dimension. We will glut him with souls.”
“Souls? What souls?” asked Menagerie.
The Warlock addressed
his fellow sorcerer with something approaching respect. “Souls the Crimson Coven
will sacrifice to him, in order to save the rest of the world. We will feed him
millions of souls to save billions of souls.”
“But that’s impossible,” said Menagerie.
“Not for me,” said the Warlock. “Using my artifact of power,
and all the ley lines of the British
isle, we will form a web of mystic energy. We will feed him the
population of Great Britain. If we transmit that soul energy at him all at
once, it will sate him, stuff him, glut him, and he will leave this plane, appeased.
A regrettable decision. And one
not lightly made. But there is no other choice left. We are Earth’s only hope.
We will sacrifice one nation, to save an entire world.”
Sentinel said, “And to
save yourselves, you greedy, selfish…” ZOT! Sentinel flew at them and fired an energy
blast at the Warlock! It deflected off his sparking flickering mystic shields. ZZZzzzZZz
kkk-k-k!
The Warlock’s anger
returned in an instant. “Fool! You’ll destroy the world. The souls of Great
Britain will be devoured by Cthulhu one way or another. There’s no need for
everyone to die!”
“Least of all us, mate,” smiled Mirage.
The dark robed wizard
that Vanguard did not recognize turned to Avatar and spoke with an accent out
of America’s south. “You’d best slow down, son, and listen to reason.” He gestured with his hand, and Avatar felt
himself losing speed! (OOC: Heightened Speed is negated!)
“Well if that don’t beat all,” said the wizard. “Still
moving, huh?”
Clone wanted to
get the Warlock away from the Coven in the hopes that Vanguard could make the
rest of the Coven see reason - doubtful, but worth a shot in his mind.
Remembering his last encounter with the Russian sorcerer, and how he had
destroyed the Warlock’s Golem, he and his duplicates began to run back down the
corridor from which Vanguard had just come. He shouted out, "Let’s go
Warlock! This fight’s between you and me! Let’s end it!"
The Warlock said, “Ukrainian
peasant, I know not what ham fisted trap you are trying to set, but do stop
your childish prattling.”
Once out of his sight, the
Clones ran full tilt down the next corridor, toward the Coven’s rear flank!
(OOC: the Clones evade)
Symbiote looked
into the Crimson Gate and saw the Witch emerging from it. Other, indistinct
shapes were behind her!
The Witch limped
through the portal, wincing in pain. Her face was twisted in hatred as she cast
a spell in a language Symbiote did not recognize!
Suddenly, Symbiote
was struck blind! He could hear the Witch’s malevolent cackling. (With his
second action…) He reached out to grab her, but missed! “Hahaa! Heheeeheee!
HahahhaahahaahaaahaAHA!”
Slingshot turned
to Slate and said: "This will not work. We do not have the time to have a
large fight and we are not in a position to do a smash and grab. This was
supposed to be done without fight. I need you to focus on the artifact. I'll
handle these, but it won't work for long."
Slate nodded. Seeing
the Crimson Coven for the first time, he saw a battle of epic proportions
building, which he agrees they do not have the time for.
The young hero raced down the long corridor and stopped at
storage locker 3219. ZARK! Slate disintegrated the door and floor to create a
large diagonal hole down into the locker below that held the third artifact of
power!
But nothing happened! The wall and floor remained unharmed!
Slingshot stretched
closer and grabbed at the floor with fingers like crowbars, and tried to tear
up a slab of concrete! Nothing happened. The floor remained in place! Slingshot
looked at his empty hands. They felt strange… heavy.
Menagerie had been
waiting for someone to open a path to the artifact. And no one had!
He transformed his shape into that
of a cheetah and raced with all his speed to the area that Slate and Slingshot
had unsuccessfully attacked. His cheetah senses told him something was wrong.
He gathered his courage and leapt
directly at the indestructible wall and floor! There was no impact and he fell
into darkness! He landed painfully atop wooden crates. CRASH!
(OOC: 5 points damage, can’t be
rolled with)
He sensed the artifact nearby, in
the darkness, inside a crate.
Menagerie had guessed right! (with
a successful Intelligence save)
He thoughtspoke to Vanguard:
“Friends, the hole is there. It is
masked by Mirage’s illusion. I’m near the artifact!”
Then to Archimedes: “I’m near the third artifact. We need to
leave in haste.”
VOOM! The Crimson
Gate suddenly shut, dissipating from existence.
And, next to Menagerie, a bright white portal opened. The
Mystic had opened a gate to bring Vanguard home.
Menagerie mindspoke to his teammates. “Within unit 3219, the Mystic’s portal is
open.”
But the rest of Vanguard couldn’t see it. To their eyes, the
wall and floor on the second level were still there!
To be continued!
OOC: Actions please, for one round
of combat. See map below.
Fyi, As per the rules on
Teleportation portals, the Mystic’s gate will close at the end of next issue. Until
then, anyone may pass through it, hero or villain. Having been through this
gate before, all of Vanguard knows this.
Best,
Jeff
Current Conditions:
Avatar: Hit Points: 52, Power
Points: 61, Manifestation: Hermes, but Ht. Speed is negated
Clone: Bodies: 4, Hit Points: 6,
Power Points: 60, Hit Point Pool: 23, Evading
Lightning Strike: Hit Points: 39,
Power Points: 62, Lightning defense activated
Menagerie: Hit Points: 21, Power
Points: 50, Form: Cheetah
Sentinel: Hit Points: 30, Power
Points: 58, Creation Points: 116, Shields: 100
Slate: Hit Points: 35, Power
Points: 68, carrying exploration gear
Slingshot: Hit Points: 79, Power
Points: 91, Invulnerability: 8
Symbiote: Hit Points: 43, Power
Points: 80, Charges: 13, Copied: Accelerator, Blinded!
--------------------------------------------------
Menagerie:
OOC:
Awesome issue! Jeff.
Menagerie thought sent to his
teammates. "Don't trust your eyes. The opening is there, follow me through
it. If you don't then cover my exit. Your choice!"
Menagerie grabbed the artifact in
his mouth and ran through Mystic's portal. He thought sent to Archimedes.
"I am coming through but there is a chance some of the Crimson Coven are
following me through, prepare yourselves!!"
Menagerie ran through the portal
as fast as his Cheetah form would allow.
{OOC: If by some chance his
Cheetah form can't lift the artifact he will change into the fastest predator
that is able to carry it through the portal. My emphasis this turn is
initiative (hopefully the Cheetah's from raised Menagerie's some) and speed.}
Once Menagerie is back at Vanguard
Vault and the artifact is same. He will communicate with any team member that
stayed behind to get out of there as fast as they can.
Via Vanguard.
Tom
--------------------------------------------------
GM:
OOC:
Hi Tom,
Thanks.
The artifact is still in its 2' x
2' x 3' wooden crate.
Cheetah can't break open the crate
or carry it in its jaws.
It takes an action for anyone to
pry or smash open the crate, and it costs an action for you to transform.
So you could transform into a
shape that can carry the crate, and carry the unopened crate through the gate
all in one action.
Or you can wait for a team mate to
smash open the crate. If Cheetah can carry the artifact, you can carry it
through the gate and still have an action.
Or a number of other options.
Hope that's clear.
Best
Jeff
--------------------------------------------------
Menagerie:
OOC:
“So you could transform into a
shape that can carry the crate, and carry the unopened crate through the gate
all in one action.”
That is my choice. What animal
would agree with? I am thinking a gorilla or a baboon. I not sure if a gorilla
meets the predator definition but a think a baboon would work. Does either
animal work or do I need to think of different one.
Thanks
Tom
--------------------------------------------------
GM:
OOC:
Hi Tom.
Baboon will work. Both are
technically omnivorous. But unlike a gorilla, a baboon will hunt and eat fish,
birds and small mammals.
Also, your animal forms are always
large for the species. So Baboon should have the strength to carry, or at least
push, the crate through the portal. And opposable thumbs will help.
Best,
Jeff
--------------------------------------------------
Menagerie:
OOC:
Baboon it is then.
Thanks
Tom
--------------------------------------------------
Sentinel:
"Great plan Warlock, because nobody ever eats the leftovers the day after the Thanksgiving Meal, do they?"
"Great plan Warlock, because nobody ever eats the leftovers the day after the Thanksgiving Meal, do they?"
Although Kirk's eyes saw the floor
Menagerie had leapt through, his energy senses knew more was at work and he
moved towards the area projecting his energies in a soft flow like water all
through the area outlining it for his teammates, marking the way towards the
gate and their exit.
"Vanguard, follow
Menagerie. We're out of here."
As Kirk makes the exit apparent he
will do what he can to secure any teammates that need assistance
retreating. If he has enough movement to
send some energy to bring something down to block the corridor to prevent the
Coven from advancing on the team or more members from coming through the Gate
he will do so... or perhaps signal to Slingshot who has the reach to do so and
to assist in getting the team out (he can do multiple grabs if necessary -
together hopefully they can get everyone disengaged and gone before the gate
closes). Kirk will do whatever else he
can with his energy to delay the coven the free his teammates. With the close quarters perhaps he can toss
up a wall between the two teams or seal the floor area once his team is down to
the lower level to give them more time to escape.
Seth
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
Scott couldn't see the piece of
concrete in his hands, but he could feel it's weight. It was confirmed by the
others and Mirage's disappearance. He turns to his son, "Ethan, look out
for Mirage, he's a slippery one. If you see him, pinpoint him to me, I have
something handy for him. He hefts the invisible concrete floor.
[Just wondering if Slate's
"heightened sense of comprehension" would work well against
illusions]
1- Assuming no-one fingers Mirage
for me, and I'm last to move (i.e. no one is left):
Scott will put down the concrete
floor in such a way as to block the
corridorjust past where he figures the hole is from his perspective and will
make his way to the portal. (Assuming it's not an action, He'll save his action
to pummel anyone from the coven tries to cross the portal
2-By the time Scott moves, if there's
someone left behind, he'll put down the
concrete as per #1 and will reach out and grasp whomever is left, then
make his way down to the portal (without the saved action)
3- If the one that's left is
lightning strike, I'll assume he can make his way home on his own and I'll save
my action.
--------------------------------------------------
Avatar:
Avatar will move to exit the area
with Vanguard as swiftly as possible.
--------------------------------------------------
Slate:
OOC: In an attempt to avoid the
turkey headed illthid... I was wondering the same thing about the heightened
comprehension and illusions, but then again, this is magic...
IC: Slate saw Menagerie disappear,
and was shocked.... how could this be? He moved forward and put his foot
through the floor... It was an Illusion.
He'd read about this, but seeing it was quite something different. Almost as if he was stuck in some kind of
loop, he continued to stare at the floor until he heard Slingshot moving up
beside him, Slate nodded to his father and leaped to action.
Slate looked around and realized
that Clone had gone around the hallway.
Slate made another portal through the next unit (2014) and into the
hallway. Holding one end of a rope he
throws the other end through the hole he knows is there, whether he can see it
or not. He fastens the end on a nearby
unit, and drops into the unit below, holding the rope loosely, following
Menagerie's lead. He immediately pulled
out one of the high powered flashlights he brought for just such an occasion,
and light up the room..., "I know it's no Avatar," He smiled at
Menagerie, "but it'll do."
He then called up to Clone,
"follow the rope Clone."
OOC: Slate will attempt to help
Menagerie if needed, hopefully the others seeing the rope will know they can go
through the floor as he did. He will
wait near the gate to see his father come down, and move through the portal,
keeping the small spotlight pointed through the portal to light the way home.
Jon
--------------------------------------------------
Clone:
IC:
As the four Clone's came to the
intersection where they thought they would be running into an enraged Warlock,
but didn't, they all immediately stopped and looked around for a second. Once
the quartet of dynamic doppelgangers finally realized that the Russian mystic
had 'blown off' their challenge, one of them turned to the others and said,
" . . . well . . . this is awkward . . .?" Just as they were about to
take off down the hallway once again in an attempt to flank the 'Masters of
Malicious Magic', the 'Replicating Russians' suddenly saw a rope come through
the seemingly solid wall next to them and land harmlessly at their feet. Before
they could even try to figure out what was going on with this, a familiar voice
called out to them, "Follow the rope Clone" - it was Slate! Each of
the duplicates turned to face the others as if to see what each of them was
going to, when out of nowhere one of them sighed heavily and said to the
others, " . . . oh man . . . I can see it now, this is so gonna
hurt." With that the four Clones all collided into each other as they all
simultaneously lunged towards the rope ( OOC: They reformed into one Clone ).
OOC:
If he ends up getting caught in a
combat situation, Clone will once again use his action to Evade.
--------------------------------------------------
Lightning Strike:
OOC:
If there are no options, just
assume that I will go through the portal as shown. Strike would prefer to divert the Crimson
Coven to follow him so that the rest of the group can get away with the
artifact. Strike would put up the static
charge screen like in Vanguard Issue #1 behind the rest of the group and then
use the wiring of the building to get away.
Thanks,
Tony
--------------------------------------------------
