Vanguard Roll Call!

Vanguard Roll Call!

Friday, December 18, 2015

Vanguard: Issue 208: The Writhing Chaos!


Vanguard sought to turn the tables on the treacherous Mystic! Via Aperture’s new powers, Vanguard, Nemesis and Doc Monster entered the magical dimension of Mystic, searching for his cache of the Artifacts of Power that would stop the coming of Cthulhu! It looked different than last time. Overwhelming. Disorienting. Utterly unnatural.

Sentinel and Menagerie could detect the energy emanations of the artifacts. They tried their best to navigate Vanguard through these alien, otherworldly territories of mind, space and magic, reaching a strange doorway on a floating island. The artifacts were behind the door. Before the door was a guardian, a 100-foot long sentient abomination of writhing tentacles, eyes, mouths, claws and malice.
Not for the first time, Avatar’s powers held Vanguard’s morale, stopping them from fleeing in terror.


Clone carefully positions himself as close to the center of the group as possible. Should the monster attack, Clone is prepared to split himself into as many duplicates as necessary in order to act as ‘human shields’ for the other members of Vanguard . . . and their guests.

Aperture said, "I don't think there is any way we're going to overpower that thing."  Turning to his father,
"Dad, feel like channeling some Nyarlathotep?  Maybe we can get past without having to fight.  Sentinel could help with special effects. Maybe make us appear as some kind of minions?"

Looking at the monstrosity in the distance, a sick feeling grows in the pit of Slingshot’s stomach. Could that be him? He shakes off the morose thoughts and tries to focus on the situation and also making sure he and his son get out of this one alive.
He thought, We need to get around this thing. The team does seem to want to skirt it and not engage it directly. Its size is something that makes both ideas difficult. We need a diversion. Something to attract its attention while the others run by.
"Guys, we can't just take it on. We can't just run around this thing. We need to keep it occupied, while everyone else is going for it. We will need to keep it at bay. I think that we need to see if maybe Avatar can shine his light? It might repel it enough for us to get through, of maybe hamper it enough for us to do something about a 100 foot monster."

Avatar said stoically, “I’m up for it.”

Sentinel nodded at the thoughts being shared. He summoned his magic power and created a giant solid illusion of a god of the Cthulhu pantheon, one he had seen lovingly illustrated in the journal of Dr. Swastika!


Avatar stood with Sentinel inside the massive energy construct, manifested the power of Apollo and fired white light from the maw of Sentinel’s crimson creation, blinding the many writhing eyes of the black, 100 foot long guardian!

The 100-foot long sentient abomination of writhing tentacles, eyes, mouths, claws and malice screamed! Whether from Sentinel’s cthulhoid creation or the white light of Olympus, the thing shrieked within the minds of everyone around it!  [OOC: Everyone take 10 hit points of psionic damage! Cannot be rolled with!]

Simultaneously, its many undulating, bludgeoning pseudopods and slavering jaws attacked Sentinel’s construct! [OOC: …for a combined assault of 43 points of damage!]

As Avatar and Sentinel engaged the horror, Aperture, Clone, Lightning Strike, Menagerie, Nemesis, Doc Monster and Slingshot raced past it, Menagerie in the lead in his stealthy black panther shape. They reached the titanic, closed doors, beyond which lay the energy auras of the artifacts of power.

The otherworldly double doors are a 20 foot tall, golden, coffin-shaped portal, with window-like, triangular recesses that are opaque. Abstract designs are etched into its surface. There are no signs of handles or hinges. Above it smolders a magical flame. Below it is the swampy surface of a floating island in this perplexing, surreal dimension.

The doors radiated a magical power that Menagerie had never encountered before. But it was clear Vanguard had to find a way to open them and now! Sentinel and Clone could not withstand another attack from the writhing chaos that loomed behind them! And being this far from Avatar, dread fear of that insane horror would soon overtake them all!


Actions!


Current Conditions:  
Aperture: Hit Points: 25, Power Points: 28, Nanotech: Dimensional Travel Portal (one-shot)
Avatar: Hit Points: 21, Power Points: 38, Manifestation: Apollo
Clone: Hit Points: 7/6, Bodies: 1/1, Power Points: 67/67, Hit Point Pool: 13 (Stats: NYC/Russia) Lightning Strike: Hit Points: 23, Power Points: 75
Menagerie: Hit Points: 16, Power Points: 32, Form: Panther
Sentinel: Hit Points: 7, Power Points: 61, Creation Points: 79, Shields: 79%
Slingshot: Hit Points: 39, Power Points: 92, Invulnerability: 8, Fire damage that can’t be regenerated: 30


Countdown: 10:27pm EST.  49.5 hours until the End of the World.


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Aperture:
Can Aperture use his heightened comprehension to try to figure out how to open the door?

Jon

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GM:
OOC: Aperture doesn't comprehend the magical arts.

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Sentinel:
The situation seemed bleak, and Kirk saw Vanguard hesitating at the door, and knew this creature would overwhelm them within seconds.

“Avatar, save your strength.  Attacking the creature is having little effect other than making it angry and I don’t want to experience any more of that psionic backlash.  I’ll try to hold it off to give you and Vanguard another moment to get through the door.

I think our senses are doing their best to interpret this realm for us in as close a way as our minds can process it.  The appearance of that door here makes no other sense given the nature of its surroundings.  Knowing Mystic’s power set, I think it is our minds means of perceiving a locked door or gateway to yet another adjoining dimension.

And there are various means to get through a door…
‘Slingshot, if we can do it by physical manipulation you are the ultimate pick-lock here with your morphing abilities plus you have magical properties yourself to interact with it… become the skeleton key.

Avatar, if Slingshot can’t get through then with the wisdom of the Zeus and with the bright shining light of Apollo you must be our light through this dense evil darkness for the dark things cannot stand the light.

Before Avatar moved to join the team Kirk said to him alone, ‘John, thanks for your support over the years.  Guide them.  It’s been an honor.’  As Kirk spoke Avatar saw blood dripping from his left nostril, apparently the damage of the psionic attack affecting him more than the others.  Energy emanated from Kirk’s eyes, flares of green and red that John had never had seen before so much so that his natural color was no longer perceivable.

Kirk shouted a final thought, ‘There’s a final way through a door when all else fails, sheer brute force.  Break it down,’ hoping an all-out onslaught of power would gain entrance for them if all else fails’.”

Jeff: Action – Kirk will use construct to grapple with and engage the creature.  The goal here isn’t to inflict damage and at this point but to keep it occupied.  He will morph his construct to mimic the shape, form, and actions of the creature to try to contain it.  It is reaches out, he will try to have his construct do the same to counter it.  Hopefully seeing a mirror of itself will confuse it and perhaps it will become curious and buy the team time.  Conversely if it does try to go after Vanguard hopefully Kirk can match it tentacle for tentacle and protect them.  Hopefully since Kirk’s actions are to distract as opposed to damage that gets some pluses in his efforts.  As long as he is standing he will use his actions and energies to buy Vanguard time to get through the door, and at this point he isn’t counting on his making it through with them.

Hopefully he will.

Seth

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Slingshot:
That works, Seth.

There's no hinges, locks or anything for me to get at. I'm willing to try and pry my way into that.

Here are a few things that Slingshot is willing to try, in order. I don't want to bash the thing in if there's a chance, I don't want that thing behind us following after us.

1) Touch/push the door to see if it just opens  (someone has to try), If the door doesn't open, but I feel it interacting with me, I'll play with that.

2) see if I can find a crack or a seam and see if I can pry them apart or maybe feel if there's a lock on the other side.

3) Hulk Smash!

4) Try to smother the flame

If there's any of this that can be done before the turn is over, so I can provide further instructions, all the better.


Stephane

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Menagerie:
OOC: I am good with the attack. Are some of the faster players willing to delay actions until after Menagerie attacks? I am thinking if I can discern that the door is alive I could hit it with my devitalization ray first so it can't roll with as much damage. If the door isn't alive then the creature instead.

Does anyone like the idea of letting Menagerie lead the attack.

Jeff, as I was ready the story I read the door as being a creature, am I reading too much into something that is obvious it isn't. If I need to I can use Menagerie Int and Mystical knowledge to confirm. I am going to want to use his Intelligence to help pick the right target but I don't want it to be my action. I am thinking it is something that takes movement. Am I correct or off base.

IC:   Menagerie consults his knowledge of the ancients {Magic Knowledge and Intelligence) to identify the door and his guardian. "Vanguard, follow my lead. Attack Now!" He casts Essence of Life on his target.

OOC: Jeff, his target is what his Intelligence and Magic Knowledge informs him his Devitalization Ray will have the most impact on. I will use it as a before combat action, hopefully movement.

Let me know if I am way off on any of this.

Thanks
Tom

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Aperture:
IC: A foreign world reflected in Aperture's large silver eyes as he approached the door. With his finger, he reached out to trace some of the etching, looking for something familiar from the occult studies he completed when researching the book he found abandoned in Swastika's lab.

He could hear his team mates behind him, holding off the writhing mass that was the door's apparent protector.  He continued to look for some mechanism or latch.  lacking that, he leaned against the door, and pushed.

OOC: Worth a try.

Jon

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Monday, November 16, 2015

Vanguard: Issue 207: Pocket Dimension Full of Kryptonite.


ONBOARD THE CHESS OMNI-CARRIER:
After six hours of hard work, Aperture had successfully invented a nanotech Dimensional Portal that he believed could reach Mystic’s pocket dimension, where the artifacts of power were believed to be cached!
[OOC: expends 1 Luck Point on this “One-Shot Invention,” as per the V&V rules.]
He believed it would work, but he hadn’t tested it yet.

The timeline now read:
End of the world: 50 hours.
Rebuilding the Janus Chair: 23 hours remaining.
Aperture’s Dimensional Travel Portal from his modular nanotech power: Complete!
Aperture inventing a Digital Pulse Cannon from his modular nanotech power: 6 hours.

Slingshot said, "We could do it all, with time to finish before the apocalypse. I think that we need to focus our energies on the dimension portal to get to those artifacts before Mystic thinks of retrieving them. This will likely cause an attack from Mystic as he will know what happened and while we are working on other things, we get attacked." He paused to let that sink in.
"Another option is to wait for him in the pocket dimension and take him down when he opens it. This has the option of us avoiding to do all this research and catch him completely off guard.”
"What do you think? Do all these things?" Scott points at the whiteboard wall with the three options, Janus, Digital Cannon, Dimensional Portal," or just go with the portal and ambush?

Clone said: “Phew! I am to be shaken, not stirred!” He than throws his arms back up over the top of his chair and says confidently, “Very much like double-O’s and seven. You are most impressed, no?” 

Slingshot looked between Grey and Clone and back again, "Is it me? Because I understood about half or that and I feel the need to say it was the wrong half"

With a look of concern and understanding in his eyes, Clone said softly, “It is ok Comrade Slingshot. I am understanding of how you are feeling, but I am not knowing of these documentaries as well until I am watching them. When it is that we are having more time, perhaps we will be watching them together if you are still having same desire to understand of them.

Sentinel interjected and said, "The only thing we need to understand at this point is that the artifacts are all gathered.  Either half are with Mystic and the other half in the Kremlin or Mystic pulled a sneak attack on them too and has them all. Given he knew their location from helping Clone, I'd say the latter.  And since for all intents and purposes this Clone, with her personality reversal, isn't the Clone that hatched the plan to go to the Kremlin on his own discussing the merits of the plan or foolishness seems moot now and counterproductive.  And I for one, prefer the original; 'Good to have you back Alex.' As Kirk looked to Clone he offered a small playful salute beginning at his temple and ending with his fingers forming the gesture of a gun instead of the normal salute.

Aperture, standing nearby as Menagerie and Clone discuss the destruction of the tower and the loss of Snowball, remembers when that little goat was his only friend, and wonders at the tear he sees Menagerie wipe away with the back of his hand, Menagerie appears to notice Aperture, and a curious look crosses his face.  Wondering what the look meant, and how quickly his mood appeared to change. The human capacity of emotion/feeling again amazed him.
He reached out to Clone as he returned to the group, "If you can remember where Mystic sent the other you, I should be able to open a portal to that location.  The other you probably wouldn't be there exactly.  Once we got there, we'd need to find him and any of the items he might have recovered.  I don't think we should go alone, we'll need to let the rest of the team help us, in case we run into the Soviet Super Soldiers.”
He will try to accomplish his tasks as quickly as possible, and rest to regain power points until the team is ready to make its next move.

Clone pondered what Aperture had just said, for a moment, and then replied profoundly, “Da comrade, this is good plan. You are seeming to be very much more smart since you are changing, but . . . well . . . if you are not minding me saying so comrade  . . . since you are changing, your English  . . . it is perhaps not so good as you are thinking.” He than placed his hand on Apertures shoulder and continued in a consoling tone, “I am fully understanding of difficulties of learning of this most hardest of languages, but with much practice you may one day speak it as good as I am speaking of it.” With a quick pat on Aperture’s shoulder and a wink of his eye, Clone smiled at his dear friend confident that he was able to help him.
Alex then relays all of the details of the Moscow Gate Location to Aperture.

Slingshot explained his position on the team’s decision. "My conservative side says to do all three and only then go for the portal and ambush. My rash side, says go for the portal first, retrieve the items, then continue to finish the work, but expect to be ambushed because of the items. My greatest fear is we go for the portal and the items are gone."

Sentinel replied, "I don't think we can hinge our entire plan on the artifacts being there and wait to find out.  As soon as we can get there we need to do so and find out if the artifacts are there are not.  We'll be ready for an ambush and we'll see what we find and go from there.  And I suggest that I encircle the team in a protective shield as we port so that hopefully my shields can take the damage initially and protect the team while we get our bearings.  For all we know we could arrive to another explosion of sorts.  At this point it seems Mystic may have had decades to plan for this day and prepared for every possibility, even one as remote as this one, although I hope not.  It would be nice to finally get the upper hand on him after being played for all these days... "

Kirk goes into his room to meditate and prepare his mind (part of what was mentioned for his apartment visit) - he had been trained in the mental disciplines by Lancaster so their minds are familiar with each other... although Kirk's range may not allow their mental contact, perhaps Lancaster's range would and perhaps he is sensitive to Kirk's mental presence or keyed into it.  Kirk will try to speak to Lancaster mentally, even if it just means sending out an SOS type signal to see if Lancaster can engage him.  If he feels he can send a message along the line of "Beware Mystic Sneak Attack"
As a second follow-up to that, they are both also linked through the conduit of their energies - they both draw upon it and manipulate its energy.  Instead of merely pulling the energy out of the conduit, he can try sending a message to Lancaster into it while it is open, perhaps even combining the two powers.

Sentinel’s attempts yielded no visible results, which would be the case whether they were successful or not.

Menagerie spent his time in meditation working his predator hunt communications. Menagerie broke his meditation when Vanguard needed him for other activities.
Menagerie told Clone it was good to have him back. He was missed. He started to say he was sorry about his family and snowball but wasn't unsure if that was appropriate or not so it came out as "Glad to have you back little buddy. We really missed you, Clone. Sorry about ... everything."

A large smile crossed over Clone’s face as he shook Menagerie’s hand and said joyfully, “Thank you, Comrade Menagerie, it is most good to be back.”
A feeling of sadness came over Clone as he watched his close friend walked away silently. He thought to himself, “ He’s such a good man . . . I shall pray for him tonight when I say my prayers.”
After a while, Alex managed to sneak away from the main group and find a quiet side room where he could be alone for a few minutes. Kneeling down on the ground he clasped his hands together, closed his eyes, and then bowed his head gently in humility as he began to pray. “Forgive me Lord, for I can not remember when last I said my prays. Much has happened in the world, an ancient evil has come out of the shadows and my friends and I have been busy trying to help and protect your children as best we can. If it is your will, we shall be successful in our duties as we are but your humble earthly servants. I pray that you look after my friends and protect them from harm if you can. It has been a long and difficult journey and many of us have lost family and loved ones along the way. Please hold their spirits in your loving embrace and forgive them their sins as they enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Clone than thought about Menagerie and continued, “Lord please look after and care for my friend Menagerie, he is a good man with a kind and loving heart. He has suffered a loss during our battle against the dark forces, and I fear his pain may be too difficult for him to endure without your love.”

With Menagerie’s pain still resting heavy on his heart; combined with the possible end of the world at being at hand, Alex thought it appropriate if he recited Psalm 23 from the Old Testament, “The Lord is my Shepard; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; he leads me besides the still waters. He restores my soul; he leads me in the path of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil  . . .”

CHESS Director Grey requested an update. When it was done, he said, “That’s all swell and good but what the hell are your next steps?
“Here are the choices you’re bandying about, in no particular order:

1) Teleport to the Kremlin (with Aperture's new power), rescue a Clone that is held prisoner there, and steal whatever artifacts the Soviet Super Soldiers still have in their possession.

2) Dimensional Travel (with Aperture's new power) to Mystic's pocket dimension and steal whatever artifacts he has stashed there.

3) Dimensional Travel (with Aperture's new power) to Mystic's pocket dimension and wait there to ambush him.

4) Take 6 more hours to create a one-shot invention of an “anti-magic gun.”

5) Take 23 hours to rebuild the Janus Chair which will enable you locate all the artifacts, if they are on Earth.

6) Take (unknown) hours to wait for the Predators of Earth to locate Mystic, via Menagerie's powers.

7) Other? Am I missing anything?”

“No sir,” said CHESS Rook Harrison as he reviewed his clipboard.

“So, what’s your plan, Vanguard?” said Grey.

Slingshot said, “I'm not for fighting the Soviets. I think that would be wasting our resources, if we could jump in, take Clone and jump back, I would be more ok with it.

My preference:

2) Teleport and steal the stash

5) Janus chair

4) Anti-Magic gun

7) Go to ceremony location and scout it out to formulate a plan.”

Menagerie said, “OOC: I agree with these three choices. They are mine too.”

Aperture said, “I'm good with this plan as well. But if we get the artifacts, we don't need the Janus chair. I think the Janus chair was for finding the artifacts.”

Menagerie replied, “We had bounced several ideas on how to use the chair. I had suggested using it to find our target instead of the artifacts. With still a long time until it is ready, we didn't decide how to use it.”

Sentinel nodded, “Yes. Port to hopefully take Mystic’s artifacts next. Then depending on what happens we can decide.”

Lightning Strike said, “Not that I have been following too closely, but I vote for the Janus Chair tracking the 8 artifacts. That is probably our only chance of stopping this disaster.”

Clone was praying at the time of the vote.
Avatar was in deep meditation, communing with the cosmos.
Symbiote continued his work on the Janus Chair, keeping that project going as a backup, and allowing himself to be lost in the task to avoid thinking too much about the death of his sister, Shelley.
Nemesis aided Symbiote, not versed in Mystic and the quest for artifacts.
Doc Monster helped as well, having learned some scientific aptitude, it would seem, from his “father,” Dr. Swastika.

It was decided. Vanguard would use Aperture’s invention to invade Mystic’s pocket dimension to steal the Artifacts of Power, assuming of course he left them there.

“It’s possible they’re no longer there,” said Nemesis in his customary monotone. “By all accounts, he is highly intelligent.”

Excepting Symbiote who kept working on the Janus Chair, Vanguard assembled in the work lab where the Dimensional Portal stood. It looked like a version of the Portal to the Digital Zone, rendered in nanotech!


Wait!” said Avatar, standing in the doorway. His eyes were aglow with the infinite knowledge of Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and War. [OOC: aka Cosmic Awareness. PR: 10 to manifest, and 30 to use!]
His voice was distant, like an oracle from the stars. “I have divined that the artifacts of power ARE within Mystic’s magical dimension! Let us make prepare and be ever on our guard against further treachery by that mad sorcerer.”

The myrmidon of mythology unsheathed Excalibur and readied for battle!

Vanguard activated their personal defenses.

Harnessing the power of the world storm once more, via lightning rods outside the omni-carrier, in minutes, the Dimensional Portal was powered and activated, violently tearing asunder the very fabric of reality itself!

[OOC: Aperture: PR: 15 to manifest, and 30 to use!]

VMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!

Power converters sparked and popped! The gate would remain open as long as it could, or until Vanguard shut it from projects lab on the Omni-Carrier. No one knew how long it could stay open! Time was of the essence!

Vanguard, Nemesis and Doc Monster entered the magical dimension of Mystic!
It looked different than last time.


Overwhelming. Disorienting. Utterly unnatural.


 Gravity existed here, apparently, as well as oxygen. Below Vanguard, the dimension spiraled:

Above Vanguard loomed…



…Burning energy branded into the ‘sky’ itself.

Nemesis stated, “I have seen similar things in the eons spent inert in the Swamp Temple of the Lost Lands.”

“ …Dear God…” Doc Monster said, “ …I also… … have seen such horror… Under the control… of Dr. Swastika.”

Sentinel and Menagerie could detect the energy emanations of the artifacts. They tried their best to navigate Vanguard through these alien, otherworldly territories of mind and space and magic.



They reached a doorway on a floating island. The artifacts were behind the door. Before it was a guardian, a 100-foot long sentient abomination of writhing tentacles, eyes, mouths, claws and malice.
Not for the first time, Avatar’s powers held Vanguard’s morale, stopping them from fleeing in terror.


Actions!

Current Conditions:
Aperture: Hit Points: 35, Power Points: 28, Nanotech: Dimensional Travel (one-shot)                          
Avatar: Hit Points: 31, Power Points: 54, Manifestation: none
Clone: Hit Points: 17/6, Bodies: 1/1, Power Points: 67/67, Hit Point Pool: 23 (Stats: NYC/Russia)
Lightning Strike: Hit Points: 33, Power Points: 75
Menagerie: Hit Points: 26, Power Points: 33, Form: Man?                                                                       Sentinel: Hit Points: 17, Power Points: 61, Creation Points: 122, Shields: 100%
Slingshot: Hit Points: 49, Power Points: 92, Invulnerability: 8, Fire damage that can’t be regenerated: 30

Countdown: 10:27pm EST.  49.5 hours until the End of the World.


OOC: Fyi, If it wasn't clear, the psychedelic creatures in Mystic's pocket dimension are spectral patterns, images and mirages, except for the final creature, the 100 foot monster of eyes, mouths and tentacles. Thanks.

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Menagerie:
Since I didn't specify form, Menagerie took the form of a black panther. He is hoping that being a Black Cat in a Magical Dimension gains him a benefit.

Menagerie in his black panther form will attempt to sneak passed the horror. Staying close to Avatar providing support to Vanguard as needed.

OOC: Let me know if you need anything else.

Thanks
Tom

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Aperture:
OOC: I'm assuming that Aperture needs to keep the Dimensional Travel power active until we either return home, or close the portal, since he can only manifest one power at a time.  Let me know if that's off.  

IC: "I don't think there is anyway we're going to over power that thing."  Turning to his father, "Dad, feel like channeling some Nyarlathotep?  Maybe we can get past without having to fight.  Sentinel could help with special effects. Maybe make us appear as some kind of minions?"

Jon

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GM:
OOC: That’s correct.

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Sentinel:
OOC: Just some quick stuff for thought.

The burning image in the sky - between the knowledge of all of us combined anything in the symbols and words that might help us here?

You said we came to a doorway on the floating island.  Any chance we could approach what was behind the door from another angle (come in from below the island, above, from another side, etc)?  I'm assuming 'no' because you wouldn't make it that easy but I figured it worth asking.

Creature reminds me of what the Soviet Super Soldier member became in the tunnels in the Antarctic Temple - does it strike Kirk that way.  Is it possible this horror is a conglomeration of  its victims?  If your pic is accurate might the 'colorful' areas be their spiritual essence locked within the confines of this creature?  And if so might any of that knowledge help us to get past it or free them?

Kirk would cooperate with any good plan Vanguard has - at this point it seems that posing as 'one of their own' was put out there - if we have no better ideas (and unless any of the above helps to give one, I don't) Kirk would assist with a display to help.  If (when) they are attacked his goal would be to get into the room naturally, not to fight the creature if possible.

If Kirk could make an energy construct to to keep the creature occupied while they get into the room he would do so as I think his construct could be huge enough to occupy the creature if it somehow allowed them to get passed it.  Whatever Kirk can do to help you can have him do.

And what about the door?  Does it appear to be locked?  Or just a door that can be swung open?  Do we have to get past the creature and then figure out a way in?  What does it appear like and what do our various senses and arcane knowledge tell us?

Also, any chance the rules would allow us all to evade before trying to get past it so perhaps it doesn't entangle us?  Or does it not work that way?

Thanks.

Seth

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GM:
OOC:
Hey Seth:
The burning symbol in the sky is recognized by those of you with Occult Studies skill x 2 (Menagerie and Sentinel), as a powerful symbol in the mythos of the Cthulhu pantheon. It's called an Elder Sign.

No approach to the closed door can bypass the 100' foot long horror. You can't see if the door is locked from this distance. It's beyond the range of your energy sense currently.

The monster is reminiscent of the Terror in the Temple in the Lost Lands, but very different in appearance.
You don't know if it's a conglomeration of victims. If it is, there have been many, many victims.

Re: Evasion: if you see it before it sees you, you can attempt this. But it certainly has a lot of eyes. :)

Best,
Jeff

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Slingshot:
Looking at the monstrosity in the distance, a sick feeling grows in the pit of Scott's stomach. Could that be him? He shakes off the morose thoughts and tries to focus on the situation and also making sure he and his son get out of this one alive.

We need to get around this thing. The team does seem to want to skirt it and not engage it directly. It's size is something that makes both ideas difficult. We need a diversion.

Something to attract its attention while the others run by..

"Guys, we can't just take it on. We can't just run around this thing. We need to keep it occupied, while everyone else is going for it. Let me deal with that. I need you to focus on getting through. I'll figure it out."

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Clone:
Clone carefully positions himself as close to the center of the group as possible. Should the monster attack, Clone is prepared to split himself into as many duplicates as necessary in order to act as ‘human shields’ for the other members of Vanguard . . . and their guests.


OOC: As wacky and simple as Clone is, even he knows that the ‘big picture’ is the ‘golden ring’ here. If Vanguard fails, than the entire human race dies – he has no intention to let that happen. He will lay down his life without hesitation if he must.

Talk to you guys soon,

-Kev

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Slingshot:
"On second thought, I don't think I'll be able to keep it busy enough for you to run by it. We will need to keep it at bay. I think that we need to see if maybe Avatar can shine his light? It might repel it enough for us to get through, of maybe hamper it enough for us to do something about a 100 foot monster."

"What do you say? We still need to be ready for any sneak attacks."

[OOC] maybe do a blinding attack on it and then sustain the light attack enough for us to get by it. We will be available to beat it up, but I would prefer to avoid conflict. For my move, I woudl assume that I can do moves and hold any attacks for anything the monster can throw at us[/OOC]

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Avatar:
I'm up for it.

Also wondering if Aperture could use Transmutation to turn air around it flammable and then we set it afire and see if that did anything.


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Monday, November 2, 2015

CALLING ALL HEROES!

   
This looks like a job for YOU!
Be a hero and come to the rescue of the creators of V&V!
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Vanguard: Issue 206: Turnabout!



ONBOARD THE CHESS OMNI-CARRIER:

Lightning Strike reluctantly gave up the search in Mexico and teleported to the Chess Omni-carrier to assist in any way possible. SHAKOW!!! He told Vanguard that he had tracked Slingshot’s father as far as Mexico City.

Clone said, “Comrade Grey, I am remembering something I am thinking I am knowing. I am remembering that one of my copies is returning to Russia to take back some of these artifacts, but it is that I am not knowing what it is that has happened to him.” With a look of comical cunning and dramatic flair on his face, Clone continues, “Perhaps it is that we are contacting Russia and making a most official of diplomatic inquiries into where it is that I am.”

Grey’s remaining eye almost popped out of his head. “WHAT???!!!”

“Da, Comrade Grey!” Clone said with a look of cool confidence on his face. “You are being most surprised at the amount of skills I am making with helping, Yes?” Before Grey could respond, Clone took the opportunity to respond for him, “ Da! You are most excited, I am seeing this in your eye!” Clone’s facial expression then turned to one of joyful satisfaction, “I am going to explain my most excited of plans to you.” Clone’s facial expression then changed once again, this time he had the look of an experienced and excited narrator and storyteller. “It was just happening as soon as Vanguard is leaving for France. I am taking opportunity to leave copy of me in our base: which is gone now in most largest of explosions of course, and working with Comrade Mystic to use a most clever of magic portal to travel to Kremlin. When I am there; it is as Comrade Menagerie is saying, I am seeing all of Artifacts that it is that we are looking most carefully for.” A look of disappointment then crossed over Clone’s face as he continued, “Doctor X is there too, but that is all I am remembering now of this most special of super-spy plans I am doing.”

Confidant that he has just impressed Grey and the others, Clones sits back and throws his up arms over the back of his chair and says through a cocky grin, “I am seeing by the look that is on your face that you are most impressive by this plan. It is not unlike greatest of American super-spies that I am seeing in American documentary films – James Bond.” Clone than winks an eye and makes a gun gesture with his hand. Clone than pulls the trigger of his imaginary gun and says, “Phew! I am to be shaken, not stirred!” He than throws his arms back up over the top of his chair and says confidently, “Very much like double-O’s and seven. You are most impressed, no?”

[reply anyone?]

Sentinel said to Doc Monster: ““Adam, I didn’t realize you’d just acquired the sword.  That being the case and with you having no special affinity for it, I think it best for Avatar to be in possession of it to safeguard it.  Also, if it could be wielded in battle he would be the most suited of us to do so.  That being said, I’d like you to keep eyes on him and the sword at all times.  In fact, at least the two of you, if not three of us should have eyes on it at all times given its critical value at this time.”

Doc Monster willingly handed the magic sword to the myrmidon of mythology.

Aperture asked the android, Nemesis, “Do you remember how you came to be in the temple in the Arctic? We found a book there that had pictures of someone that looked like my father in it.”

Nemesis replied, “I was sent back to the dawn of time by Eon the Eternal. There I shut down and waited for time to pass until I reached my present.”

“Time travel…” said Doc Monster, “… of a much slower variety…”

Aperture said to his father, the malleable man of might, “I have an idea for a Digital Pulse Cannon, it would be similar to the way a electro-magnetic pulse works, except instead of knocking out all electronics, it would charge the air with Digital particles, which should be detrimental to Magic/Magical beings.”

Slingshot thought about this and said, "Would the effects be directed at a single opponent? Or are you talking about an EMP effect that covers a large area? I had something more focused in mind. I care that this would cut Vanguard in half, but if what we are able to do is limited, then so be it."

Aperture replied, “I was thinking about it as a gun... initially I thought we were looking for an area effect weapon, but based on your response I was limiting it somewhat.” 

Aperture selected Teleportation as his nanobot hybrid power, to be able to transport Vanguard anywhere on Earth.

Sentinel saw this and said: “Ethan, you can?  If you can create a portal then what about the dimension Mystic used to store the artifacts?  I’ve watched his motions, examined the energy fluctuations.  Can we go there and retrieve the artifacts.  He had no reason whatsoever to believe we could get there even if we survived the explosion so they should still be there. “
Kirk offered use his powers to recreate Mystic’s opening the portal with an animated solid construct.  Kirk would show his energy perception of the events... along with what he saw on the other side. 
“With Aperture’s heightened comprehension perhaps he can figure a way to get us there.  It would be a coup if we actually pulled one on him and obtained the artifacts back.”

Slingshot overhead this idea and it made a lot of sense. "If we could acquire more of these items, then we would be able to do certainly more."

Aperture said, “I do like Kirk's idea of opening a portal to Mystic's "pocket universe"  I'm sure that's not something they'd be expecting, and it might give us the upper hand.”
He'd be looking to Slingshot for direction, and based on the priorities, he'd be leaning toward trying to open the pocket dimension.

After thinking about if for sometime, Aperture believed he could invent a Portal to Mystic’s pocket dimension!

Slingshot said, “From a surprise perspective, going for the item cache is way better, assuming it's in there.”

The planning session was nearing its end.
The timeline was displayed on a wipe board:

End of the world: 56 hours.

Rebuilding the Janus Chair: 29 hours + one hour for every hour spent on the below:
Aperture inventing a Dimensional Travel Portal from his modular nanotech power: 6 hours.
Aperture inventing a Digital Pulse Cannon from his modular nanotech power: 6 hours.

Lightning Strike volunteered to replace Aperture on the Janus Chair project so that it could continue on schedule, despite Ethan’s nanotech inventions.

The team got to work.

Meanwhile, Menagerie said to Grey, in private, “There should be another way to find Mystic or the Sacrifice Site other than the Janus Chair.”

“Yeah?” said Director Grey around his cigar. “Then what is it?”

"Me." Having said all he was going to the Director, Menagerie turned and walked back to the rest of Vanguard.

Menagerie joined the members working on the Janus chair. "I am going to find a quiet place to meditate. Call me when the chair is ready for me to take my place." Menagerie doesn't believe he will add much to the construction of the device so he is going to work on a different plan.

Menagerie quietly took Clone to the side, "I am sorry my friend but Snowball is dead. Trust me, when I tell you I will avenge this senseless and barbaric travesty."  Menagerie bowed his head in silence to remember their dearly departed then silently walked away. No one saw the single tear running down his cheek.

Menagerie joined Slingshot and Aperture. He silently thought to himself, "So the child has upgraded himself into manhood." Menagerie looked at them both, "I believe I have a way to locate Mystic, please have this Digital Pulse Cannon ready and a means to transport it when I contact you. This may be our only chance to save the world from this magical calamity."

As Menagerie left them he reflected on what has now has become Aperture. He thought to himself, "Don't make me regret not killing you on the day you were born."

Menagerie located Sentinel and said, "I feel like we are drawing plays in the sand for our final Hail Mary. I have one more to add. I am going to see if I can locate Mystic. Whether we take the fight to him or stay to protect the Sword is your call. I want to make sure we have every option available."

Menagerie found a quiet location where he could cast his spell. He used his Nature Sense Spell to track Mystic. Menagerie focused his willpower, called on his keen intellect, summoned all his charisma, and poured his energy [Spends 1 Luck Point & Half of Power Points in this one shot invention] to extend his Nature Sense as he had never before, calling on all Predators in the Physical and Spiritual Worlds to seek out and locate his prey. The living totem has the power to telepathically communicate with Earth’s predators within his range. He sends out the word, and they all pass the urgent request along in an exponentially- growing web that eventually covers the world. It may take days, but it might work in time!

Menagerie commanded: "Find Mystic! Tell me the location of the man who walks your pathways. Uses your trails. SEEK! With your senses, RUN! FLY! HUNT! Predators unite to find my PREY!"
"HUNT DOWN MYSTIC!" 

After six hours of hard work, Aperture had successfully invented a nanotech Dimensional Portal that he believed could reach Mystic’s pocket dimension, where the artifacts of power were believed to be cached!
[expends 1 Luck Point]
He believed it would work, but he hadn’t tested it yet.

The timeline now read:

End of the world: 50 hours.

Rebuilding the Janus Chair: 23 hours remaining.
Aperture’s Dimensional Travel Portal from his modular nanotech power: Complete!
Aperture inventing a Digital Pulse Cannon from his modular nanotech power: 6 hours.

Slingshot said, "We could do it all, with time to finish before the apocalypse. I think that we need to focus our energies on the dimension portal to get to those artifacts before Mystic thinks of retrieving them. This will likely cause an attack from Mystic as he will know what happened and while we are working on other things, we get attacked." He paused to let that sink in.

"Another option is to wait for him in the pocket dimension and take him down when he opens it. This has the option of us avoiding to do all this research and catch him completely off guard"

"What do you think? Do all these things?" Scott points at the whiteboard wall with the three options, Janus, Digital Cannon, Dimensional Portal," or just go with the portal and ambush?


Replies? Actions! 



OOC:
Aperture the Portal is a “One-Shot Invention,” as per the V&V rules.

Countdown: 10:07pm EST.  Just under two days and 2 hours until the End of the World.

Current Conditions:
Aperture: Hit Points: 35, Power Points: 73 Nanotech: Dimensional Travel Portal                                                                                                            
Avatar: Hit Points: 31, Power Points: 85, Manifestation: none
Clone: Hit Points: 17/6, Bodies: 1/1, Power Points: 67/67, Hit Point Pool: 23 (Stats: NYC/Russia)
Lightning Strike: Hit Points: 33, Power Points: 75
Menagerie: Hit Points: 26, Power Points: 33, Form: Man                                                                                                               
Sentinel: Hit Points: 17, Power Points: 70, Creation Points: 140, Shields: 0%
Slingshot: Hit Points: 49, Power Points: 92, Invulnerability: 8, Fire damage that can’t be regenerated: 30
Symbiote: Hit Points: 28, Power Points: 83, Charges: 13, Activated: None


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

Aperture:
Standing nearby as Menagerie and Clone discuss the destruction of the tower and the loss of Snowball, he remembers when that little goat was his only friend, and wonders at the tear he sees Menagerie wipe away with the back of his hand, Menagerie appears to notice Aperture, and a curious look crosses his face. Wondering what the look meant, and how quickly his mood appeared to change. The human capacity of emotion/feeling again amazed him.

He reached out to Clone as he returned to the group, "If you can remember where Mystic sent the other you, I should be able to open a portal to that location. The other you probably wouldn't be there exactly. Once we got there, we'd need to find him and any of the items he might have recovered. I don't think we should go alone, we'll need to let the rest of the team help us, in case we run into the Soviet Super Soldiers.

OOC: Regarding the Digital Pulse Cannon, Aperture is pretty sure he can, "trick that out with a clam-shell holster. It comes with a leather carrying case. It's got a wadcutter and a full warranty". :)

He will try to accomplish his tasks as quickly as possible, and rest to regain power points until the team is ready to make its next move.

Jon

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Slingshot:

Clone said: “Phew! I am to be shaken, not stirred!” He than throws his arms back up over the top of his chair and says confidently, “Very much like double-O’s and seven. You are   most impressed, no?” 

Scott looked between Grey and Clone and back again, "Is it me? Because I understood about half or that and I feel the need to say it was the wrong half"


"What do you think? Do all these things?" Scott points at the whiteboard wall with the three options, Janus, Digital Cannon, Dimensional Portal," or just go with the portal and ambush?”

Slingshot explained his position on this decision. "My conservative side says to do all three and only then go for the portal and ambush. My rash side, says go for the portal first, retrieve the items, then continue to finish the work, but expect to be ambushed because of the items. My greatest fear is we go for the portal and the items are gone."

[OOC - I'm on the fence on this one. I'm barely leaning to go for the items right away.]

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

Sentinel:

Scott looked between Grey and Clone and back again, "Is it me? Because I understood about half or that and I feel the need to say it was the wrong half"

Kirk interjected and said, "the only thing we need to understand at this point is that the artifacts are all gathered.  Either half are with Mystic and the other half in the Kremlin or Mystic pulled a sneak attack on them too and has them all. Given he knew their location from helping Clone, I'd say the latter.  And since for all intents and purposes this Clone, with her personality reversal,  isn't the Clone that hatched the plan to go to the Kremlin on his own discussing the merits of the plan or foolishness seems moot now and counterproductive.  And I for one, prefer the original; 'Good to have you back Alex.' As Kirk looked to Clone he offered a small playful salute beginning at his temple and ending with his fingers forming the gesture of a gun instead of the normal salute.

Slingshot said, “My greatest fear is we go for the portal and the items are gone."

"I don't think we can hinge our entire plan on the artifacts being there and wait to find out.  As soon as we can get there we need to do so and find out if the artifacts are there are not.  We'll be ready for an ambush and we'll see what we find and go from there.  And I suggest that I encircle the team in a protective shield as we port so that hopefully my shields can take the damage initially and protect the team while we get our bearings.  For all we know we could arrive to another explosion of sorts.  At this point it seems Mystic may have had decades to plan for this day and prepared for every possibility, even one as remote as this one, although I hope not.  It would be nice to finally get the upper hand on him after being played for all these days... "

Kirk goes into his room to meditate and prepare his mind (part of what was mentioned for his apartment visit) - he had been trained in the mental disciplines by Lancaster so their minds are familiar with each other... although Kirk's range may not allow their mental contact, perhaps Lancaster's range would and perhaps he is sensitive to Kirk's mental presence or keyed into it.  Kirk will try to speak to Lancaster mentally, even if it just means sending out an SOS type signal to see if Lancaster can engage him.  If he feels he can send a message along the line of "Beware Mystic Sneak Attack"

As a second follow-up to that, they are both also linked through the conduit of their energies - they both draw upon it and manipulate its energy.  Instead of merely pulling the energy out of the conduit, he can try sending a message to Lancaster into it while it is open, perhaps even combining the two powers.

OOC: Just a few out of the box thoughts to see if Kirk can communicate with Lancaster somehow or at least warn him of the potential threat.

If you need specific answers from me or anything more on my ideas from last reply or this one, let me know.

Thanks.

Seth

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

Menagerie:
Menagerie told Clone it was good to have him back. He was missed. He started to say he was sorry about his family and snowball but wasn't unsure if that was appropriate or not so it came out as "Glad to have back little buddy, We really missed you Clone. Sorry about ... everything."

Menagerie spent his time in meditation working his predator hunt communications.

Menagerie broke his meditation when Vanguard needed him for other activities.

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

Clone:
Menagerie said, “We really missed you Clone. Sorry about ... everything."

A large smile crossed over Clone’s face as he shook Menagerie’s hand and said joyfully, “Thank you, Comrade Menagerie, it is most good to be back.”

Menagerie bowed his head in silence to remember their dearly departed then silently walked away. No one saw the single tear running down his cheek.

A feeling of sadness came over Clone as he watched his close friend walked away silently. He thought to himself, “ He’s such a good man . . . I shall pray for him tonight when I say my prayers.”


Aperture said, “I don't think we should go alone, we'll need to let the rest of the team help us, in case we run into the Soviet Super Soldiers. “

Clone pondered what Aperture had just said, for a moment, and than replied profoundly, “Da comrade, this is good plan. You are seeming to be very much more smart since you are changing, but . . . well . . . if you are not minding me saying so comrade  . . . since you are changing, your English  . . . it is perhaps not so good as you are thinking.” He than placed his hand on Apertures shoulder and continued in a consoling tone, “I am fully understanding of difficulties of learning of this most hardest of languages, but with much practice you may one day speak it as good as I am speaking of it.” With a quick pat on Aperture’s shoulder and a wink of his eye, Clone smiled at his dear friend confident that he was able to help him.

Alex then relays all of the details of the Moscow Gate Location to Aperture.

Scott looked between Grey and Clone and back again, "Is it me? Because I understood about half or that and I feel the need to say it was the wrong half"

With a look of concern and understanding in his eyes, Clone said softly, “It is ok Comrade Slingshot. I am understanding of how you are feeling, but I am not knowing of these documentaries as well until I am watching them. When it is that we are having more time, perhaps we will be watching them together if you are still having same desire to understand of them.

After a while, Alex managed to sneak away from the main group and find a quiet side room where he could be alone for a few minutes. Kneeling down on the ground he clasped his hands together, closed his eyes, and then bowed his head gently in humility as he began to pray. “Forgive me Lord, for I can not remember when last I said my prays. Much has happened in the world, an ancient evil has come out of the shadows and my friends and I have been busy trying to help and protect your children as best we can. If it is your will, we shall be successful in our duties as we are but your humble earthly servants. I pray that you look after my friends and protect them from harm if you can. It has been a long and difficult journey and many of us have lost family and loved ones along the way. Please hold their spirits in your loving embrace and forgive them their sins as they enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Clone than thought about Menagerie and continued, “Lord please look after and care for my friend Menagerie, he is a good man with a kind and loving heart. He has suffered a loss during our battle against the dark forces, and I fear his pain may be too difficult for him to endure without your love.”

With Menagerie’s pain still resting heavy on his heart; combined with the possible end of the world at being at hand, Alex thought it appropriate if he recited Psalm 23 from the Old Testament, “The Lord is my Shepard; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; he leads me besides the still waters. He restores my soul; he leads me in the path of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil  . . .”

OOC:
LOVE the character interaction stuff! I have to admit it took me a few minutes to think of a proper Clone-ified response for Slingshot’s comment – lol Great Stuff!

Jeff, I didn’t place the above IC Stuff in any particular order – please “slice and dice” any and all of my responses as you see fit :)


Talk to you guys soon,

-Kev

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

GM:
OOC:

Hey gang,
Great roleplaying, as usual!

But I still don't know what the heck your plans are.  :)

As a GM, I try to let the players drive the plot, so you guys actually have to take the wheel.  :)

Good ol' Earth has just 50 hours left.
If you can collect all the Artifacts of Power in 50 hours or less, the Earth is saved.
You have 1 artifact out of 9 right now: Excalibur.
It doesn't look good for Earth.

What now? Here are some choices being bandied about, in no particular order:

1) Teleport to the Kremlin (with Aperture's new power) and rescue a Clone that is held prisoner there, and steal whatever artifacts the Soviet Super Soldiers still have in their possession.

2) Dimensional Travel (with Aperture's new power) to Mystic's pocket dimension and steal whatever artifacts he has stashed there.

3) Dimensional Travel (with Aperture's new power) to Mystic's pocket dimension and wait there to ambush him.

4) Take 6 more hours to create a one-shot invention of an anti-magic gun.

5) Take 23 hours to rebuild the Janus Chair which will enable you locate all the artifacts, if they are on Earth.

6) Take (unknown) hours to wait for the Predators of Earth to locate Mystic, via Menagerie's powers.

7) Other? Am I missing anything?

Vote now for one or more of these. Which action will you take next?

You can vote OOC. Just email the number of your choice. :)
When you've all voted, then I can figure out what you want to do, and then I'll tell you what happens next.

Thanks!

Viva Vanguard,
Jeff

PS:  "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others." -Churchill

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

Slingshot:
OOC: I think I had made my choices clear, but I'll reclarify (and I apologize for coming up with all these options, but I can't quite help it)

I'm not for fighting the Soviets. I think that would be wasting our resources, if we could jump in, take clone and jump back, I would be more ok with it. (if popular demand requires we go there, I'm bringing the one shot I made early on that nullifies the teleportation power of one of them).

My preference:

2) teleport and steal the stash

5) Janus chair (would it be less than 23 hours if we also have lightning strike with his high Int?) - I thought that was for locating the nexus where the ceremony/spell would be cast, not searching the items again?

4) Anti-Magic gun

Go to ceremony location and scout it out to formulate a plan.

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

Menagerie:
OOC: I agree with these three choices. They are mine too.
Tom

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

Aperture:
OOC: I'm good with this plan as well. If we get the artifacts, we don't need the Janus chair. I do think the Janus chair was for finding the artifacts.

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

Menagerie:
OOC: We had bounced several ideas on how to use the chair. I had suggested using it to find our target instead of the artifacts. With still a long time until it is ready we didn't decide how to use it.

Tom

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

Sentinel:
OOC: Yes. Port to hopefully take mystic artifacts next. Then depending on what happens we can decide.
If Kirk can get grey to head towards New York for their return that would be great.
If time to try the meditation and telepathy tactic prior to the port he will do so.

Seth

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

Lightning Strike:
OOC: Not that Strike has been following too closely on the whole Vanguard thing, but I vote for tracking the 8 artifacts. That is probably our only chance of stopping this disaster.

Thanks,
Tony


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Saturday, October 17, 2015

Vanguard: Issue 205: Countdown to Apocalypse!


CHAPTER ONE: BENEATH THE KREMLIN: Clone

                                                                                                                                        
Hours passed as Clone sat and waited in his high tech gulag. Then he heard footsteps.

Doctor X was at the edge of his cell, on the other side of the force field barrier. His voice was strained, his body language weak.

“Alexi, my son. You must return to New York. If Mystic is not there, convince Vanguard that he has betrayed us all. Tell them we need to work together now. Time is running out.
“Will you do it?”

Clone’s mind was still foggy and clouded; he could barely make sense of what Doctor X was saying to him, but he knew one thing for sure – he had to escape The Kremlin. He had spent too much of his past in one of these cells, the thought of spending just one more moment in here was almost too much to bare. He would agree to almost anything at this point if it meant his freedom . . . even making a deal with Doctor X. 

“Da, Comrade,” he said confidently, “I will bring this message to Vanguard. When would you like me to leave for New York?”

“The countdown has begun. We will make ready, my son,” said Doctor X. Then the injured old man was helped away by guards.



CHAPTER TWO: ABOARD THE CHESS OMNI-CARRIER: Sentinel and grey



Sentinel wanted to locate Lancaster, his grandfather, the original Sentinel. He wanted to turn to him after his loss, and also to inform him of the loss of his friends. Phones and internet remained down. While Vanguard worked on the new Janus Chair, Sentinel planned to fly to Lancaster’s home to break the news to him. Sentinel figured he could fly back to New York in 2 hours, spend up to 2 hours with his Grandfather, fly back to the Omni-Carrier in 2 hours, and be back before the Chair was completed.

Director Grey and a contingent of CHESS officers bumped into Sentinel in the hall as he was leaving.
“Sorry for your loss, Sentinel. I really am.” Grey said with sincerity.

Sentinel took a moment to thoroughly review and examine the energy signature of Grey.  He was looking to see if anything had changed.  To look for subtleties of something unusual, something that shouldn’t be present.  Grey had been incommunicado for too long and he had been compromised in the past.
Sentinel detected no change in Director Grey.

“Where are you going?” asked Grey.

Sentinel told him.

“What? No. Not you too! I got military and police personnel all over the country abandoning their posts to be with their families because it’s the goddamn end of the world.”

“This is different,” said Sentinel.

“I know. Because it’s your family, right? Get the hell back in there! You want to be a leader of men? A leader of uniquely gifted men? Vanguard just took a baseball bat to the teeth. And you want to check on your family? Your men need you now. Get in there, kid. Remind them who you all are. It’s two days until the end of the world. The world needs Vanguard! And Vanguard needs you!”

CHESS Director Grey stormed past the young hero to meet with Vanguard.

Kirk reached out and touched Grey in a non-threatening way to hold him up and said, “A moment before the briefing room,” and he motioned him out of ear distance of the CHESS officers he didn’t know personally.

“You know, if you want to give me a speech about going MIA on my team, you could use some improvement in that department.   You want me to lead; keep me in the loop.  Give my team confidence that we aren’t always operating in the dark.”

“That again,” groaned Grey. “What do you think we’re withholding from you?”

Sentinel continued, “And the visit wasn’t just to mourn.  We’re back at square one after all these days of work on the artifacts.   SKULL has taken out those that we worked with in CHESS and all of our support team.  Mystic has disappeared and with him our means rapid transport and the artifacts we’ve secured, aside from Excalibur.
“At this point Gramps is that last surviving member of Liberty League that was there in the past the day we retrieved the artifact.  I think he may have something blocked in his memory by Mystic back then, relating to the current crisis, and is now a target.  I think that the explosion, at least in part, was Mystic trying to eliminate his old teammates because he was afraid now that Vanguard had gone back, perhaps his memory wipe would break down and the League would remember that event and what he did.  Perhaps they learned more about him too that he made them forget.  Given that the team had a plan I was going to follow-up on those thoughts since it didn’t seem my skills were needed here.”
Then it came to him, “Miles… Miles was there too.”  Sentinel knew Miles Hudson, aka Agent America, was in a New York rest home.
  

CHAPTER THREE: ABOARD THE CHESS OMNI-CARRIER: VANGUARD

Vanguard and company were brought into a large physics lab. There were briefing rooms adjacent to it. There was food, water and medics. There were teams of scientists and technicians standing by.
One CHESS agent approached them, “My name is Agent Harrison, sirs. I’m here to make sure you get everything you need. Director Grey is on his way. He requests a briefing.”

Vanguard reunited without Lightning Strike and with Nemesis, Dr. Monster and Nanite. It was like a wake.

When Slingshot and Nanite asked Ethan how he was, they learned about his amazing new powers.
Aperture said to his father, Slingshot, “I am not sure I fully comprehend everything that changed, but I am certain that if we can find the coordinates, I can now create a digital portal to get Vanguard to their next destination.” He’ll stay close to his Father, Mother, and Nemesis.  He will also privately offer up information about the conversation he overheard with the president after Vanguard’s last jump.  

Aperture approached Nemesis who was standing nearby, “I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced.
“Can you tell me what happened to you in the Digital Zone? What was it like being linked to IT?”

Nemesis had been silent since returning to earth. The android Freedom Forcer was overwhelmed and processing everything that had happened. His computer-like voice said in an inhuman monotone: “I/We are… correction… I am Nemesis. Yes. That’s correct. I am only Nemesis now. Only Nemesis!
I… am not certain. My code… my personality… was rewritten. Merged with that of another. A hostile…”

Aperture said, “You were truly a hero, saving all of Vanguard from what I’ve studied…”

“Thank you,” said the android without any emotion.

Aperture continued, “…At the same time; I seem to have some memories of you that I couldn’t have experienced, what could that mean?”

Nemesis replied, “I am uncertain. What memories?”

Due to Aperture’s heightened sense of comprehension, he knew that Nemesis had never met Mystic. Mystic was an unofficial member of the Liberty League during WWII. Nemesis had been a Freedom Forcer in the 1980s. 

Clone told Grey everything he could about the last few days, and asks in an almost pleading fashion, “Comrade Grey, would it be most possible to having my memories scammed by true CHESS psychopath? I am sure I am knowing much more than I am knowing I know.”

Clone looks around the room cautiously and then leans into Grey as if he wants to ask him something secretly. In a whisper loud enough to be heard by everyone in the room, Clone asks innocently, "One more thing, Comrade Grey . . . who is this that is sitting in room with us? He is looking like monster that I am hearing about as boy, I am not sure if this is good thing or bad thing." With a tilt of his head and a wink of an eye, Clone says to Grey in his best secret agent type voice, "Not to be worrying Comrade . . . I will be keeping closest of eyes on him." He then looks at Dr. Monster for a moment in an almost accusatory manner and then turns back to Grey and gives him another wink before sitting back into his chair comfortably.
Doc Monster was used to this. Unfortunately.
“Alex!” Grey said. “You’re back! We can get you a complete medical,” he said, nodding to Harrison.

Sentinel followed Grey to the conference room. As he did so he closely scanned the energy signature of Doc Monster.  Since he hadn’t met him to read his signature in the past, the best he could do was compare with Grey’s recent read to be sure neither of them possesses something too similar to each other. They didn’t.

Slingshot said to Vanguard and company: “We have very few avenues to pursue:
1) I see the Janus Chair as one.
2) Since our world was being overly computerized and that allowed IT to "attack" from a parallel universe, I see this as pretty much the same, but from a magical universe. I would like to see if we could use technology, as a way to attack and repel this magical incursion. Maybe something like an anti-magic ray of sort. Would this be a feasible avenue to pursue?”

In the conference room, Sentinel stated, “I’m sorry I hadn’t thought of this before but if we are going to attempt some anti-magic ray, maybe we need to make it a bomb.  So that if the gates are activated we crash them.  We’ve encountered the magical means for this twice already since this started.  Perhaps that might help device something.  The arena in the Artic negated virtually all magic.  And Mystic cast a spell at me in the past that negated magic. He looked to Avatar and said, you offered a cosmic awareness attempt earlier, how about, “Will Vanguard’s attempts to create an anti-magic bomb enable them to prevent Cthulhu’s entrance to our reality and save the earth?” [Reply, Avatar?]

Menagerie said, “If I had to vote I would choose the Anti-Magic bomb over the Janus Chair. I don't think we have time for both. There should be another way to find Mystic or the Sacrifice Site.”

“Yeah?” said Grey around his cigar. “Then what is it?”

Slingshot was thinking out loud, not even hearing Grey’s question. “Anti-magic bomb… Maybe that would be a power that Aperture could have with this new modular power available to him! This power would likely be something that wouldn't affect non-magical entities/devices at all, but be anathema to magical things…
Like a 'firehose' that would tap into the digital world and spray 'pure technological essence'.  Range would likely be short, damage would be very high, but very restricted magical beings and things only.”
He looked at his son. “Do you think you could do that?”

Aperture said, “Perhaps. I had pictured it more as a bomb the prevented Magic from functioning, which could be as detrimental to half of our team as it would be to the enemy...
Might be better your way.  I'm not sure if that's possible. But I'm open to the possibility…”

Slingshot kept thinking aloud. “Since we now know that Mystic is the bad guy, maybe we should invent something specific against him? If he can't retrieve the items, then he won't be able to do the summoning.”
“Wait! I just realized that we may have the required information! I would like to research that book that talks about my being a demon spawn. Since all the information was from Mystic, we need a better reference? See if there is anything about the ceremony?”

Menagerie agreed research was the best answer. He agreed to help with all that he can including trying to contact the Lady of the Lake, which would require a pilgrimage back to New York City.
He supports putting their efforts into the anti-magic bomb first and then the Janus Chair if the research fails.
Menagerie asked Dr. Monster what he knows about the ceremony.

“…Nothing…” Doc Monster rumbled with regret. “… I know little of the higher powers that… seek to invade our dimension… I sought out the sword of power…. When it became clear the world storm… was an apocalyptic countdown of some kind…”

CHESS Agent Harrison reviewed the briefing on his touchscreen clipboard and, while swiping through pages, he said respectfully to Slingshot, “Mystic kept the… ‘Necronomicon’ and Dr. Swastika’s Journal in the… ‘pocket dimension.’ If Mystic’s turned on us, he possesses these books to which you refer, sir.”

Slingshot nodded and said, “We were told we need only one artifact, but what if what is needed is ALL the artifacts? And he was getting us to gather them all?”

Menagerie said, "But he didn't take all of them... Doc Monster still has the last one. Instead of using the Janus Chair to find Mystic we should be preparing our defenses for when he comes to get Excalibur!”

Slingshot agreed with‎ Menagerie. "Remember that Mystic explained specifically that the ceremony only needed one item, so we had to make sure we gathered them all. The fact that we were less than able to do so, may have turned out to our advantage, and having possession of one is also very important. Again, this assumes he lied to us.
“Without information, we can't tell if what we need to do is go to the ceremony to disrupt it as they have all they need to finish it or we need to stay well away from the ceremony and stay in hiding."

Menagerie replied, "Wait. We never had all of them. We only had half, the Soviet Super Soldiers had the other half. Wait! That has to be where Mystic has gone to collect the rest!" We have to warn the Soviet Super Soldiers!"

Then Clone said, “Comrade Grey, I am remembering something I am thinking I am knowing. I am remembering that one of my copies is returning to Russia to take back some of these artifacts, but it is that I am not knowing what it is that has happened to him.” With a look of comical cunning and dramatic flair on his face, Clone continues, “Perhaps it is that we are contacting Russia and making a most official of diplomatic inquiries into where it is that I am.”

Grey’s remaining eye almost popped out of his head. “WHAT???!!!”


To be continued!

OOC: Great stuff everyone! Ok, here’s what I have now:

Slingshot and Menagerie think Mystic is coming for Excalibur, and want to spend all energy on defense for his arrival. What specifically do you want to build/invent/etc.? Who will help them and how?

Menagerie wants CHESS to reach out to USSR’s SSS to warn them about Mystic. CHESS can do this alone or with Vanguard. Thoughts?

Aperture can spend an Inventing Point in an attempt to create an ‘anti-magic gun’ (please come up with a good name for this thing). When your Modular Code Power builds something not on the V&V device list, it’s a one shot Invention, as per the rules. It should take less than 6 hours to do this. And an Inventing Point.

Aperture, did you want to move from Disintegration to Teleportation? If yes, what Power cost is it (i.e.: what range) and is it a portal or personal? Thanks.

Last I heard, Symbiote wants to rebuild the Janus Chair, but if everyone doesn’t pitch in, it’ll take longer. You’re not sure how long. Do you still want to proceed? Who is helping with Inventing Points or skills?

Is Sentinel going to check up on Lancaster and Miles? Kirk flies 60mph under his own power. The omni-carrier is 120 miles out to sea. 2 hours each way, and 2 hours there = 6 hours. Go or no go?

Avatar’s got Luck Points covered. If you’re using Cosmic Awareness, what’s the question, please?

Menagerie and Slingshot want to do research into the ceremony. Without the ‘Necronomicon,’ Dr. Swastika’s Journal, Mystic, Archimedes or Google, how will you do the research?

Let’s sew up your plans so we can move along to the tragic bloodbath climactic finale! Thanks.

Countdown: 3:07pm EST.  Just over two days and 9 hours until the End of the World.

Current Conditions: (with Nanite’s healing, and your power points rested back)

Aperture: Hit Points: 35, Power Points: 73
Avatar: Hit Points: 31, Power Points: 85, Manifestation: none
Clone: Hit Points: 17/6, Bodies: 1/1, Power Points: 67/67, Hit Point Pool: 23 (Stats: NYC/Russia)
Menagerie: Hit Points: 26, Power Points: 66, Form: Man
Sentinel: Hit Points: 17, Power Points: 70, Creation Points: 140, Shields: 0%
Slingshot: Hit Points: 49, Power Points: 92, Invulnerability: 8, Fire damage that can’t be regenerated: 30
Symbiote: Hit Points: 28, Power Points: 83, Charges: 13, Activated: None

  
CHAPTER FOUR: NEW YORK CITY SAFEHOUSE: LIGHTNING STRIKE
  

“Whose mainframe would still be up at this stage of the World Storm crisis?” the dark detective thought.
“The US government’s.” He would need to go datamining there.

SHAKOW! Lightning Strike transformed himself into sentient electricity, entered the US Government’s system and hacked it. Then the brilliant superhero got an idea.

Slingshot’s unusual appearance prevented him from having a secret identity.
So Strike located Slingshot’s personal information and that of his brother, Todd, the known SKULL Agent.
Then he accessed Todd Brock’s passport records.

Slingshot’s brother, Todd Brock, flew to Paris weeks ago, just before the World Storm crisis. Curious timing.

Strike cross referenced his tax returns, and located the personal information of Todd’s and Slingshot’s father. Slingshot’s father also took an international flight the same day as Todd did. Except he flew to Mexico City.
The US Government’s data network lost his trail there.

Still hacking, Strike saw Vanguard had been recalled to the CHESS Omni-carrier. Requisitions were being filed onboard for material, power and personnel, in Vanguard’s name.
Strike recognized the parts list. Vanguard was rebuilding the Janus Chair. No doubt, they planned to use it to locate the missing artifacts of power!

Lightning Strike attempted to follow up the Mexican connection to see where it led. But Mexico’s entire grid was down from the World Storm!

OOC: How do you wish to proceed? Thanks.

Current Conditions:
Lightning Strike: Hit Points: 33, Power Points: 75