Vanguard Roll Call!

Vanguard Roll Call!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Issue 62A: Oh, The Inhumanity!

Vanguard’s Inhuman!

The anti-gravity beam released Inhuman and he was on a steel deck of what looked like a dim hanger. He had used his water to secretly deactivate his Vanguard communicator before entering. He could not see the walls for the darkness. Around him were Cockroach! Crab Man! Gator! Hyena! Jellyfish! Ratman! Slugg! and some others he didn’t recognize who were separate from the group:

One had the giant wings of a Monarch butterfly.

Another was a grotesque human centipede covered in hundreds of small writhing insect arms!

The third was in charge. He was older, British and spoke thickly from under his grey cowl. His eyes caught the light strangely. (OOC: Imagine Alfred Hitchcock or Tina Turner’s bald lieutenant in Barter Town in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome)

“I am the Owl,” he said around heavy jowls. “All of you owe your freedom to the Primate!”

“He did it!” chuckled Crab Man.

“Nothing gets by you, Crabby” sneered Ratman.

Jellyfish was able to stand again. She glared at Ratman but was silent.

“Well where is he, old timer?!” roared Gator as Cockroach flicked his mandibles audibly.

Hyena seemed out of the loop. He listened and shut up for once.

“The Primate is recovering but he will greet you personally in time. We have food for our brief journey and then you’ll be able to rest and recover from your… Wait. Who are you?!” the Owl demanded, pointing a feathery hand at Inhuman! “You’re not wearing a prison jumpsuit.”

The crowd moved around Inhuman, surrounding him at a range of mere feet!

“Never seen him before,” snarled Ratman from safely behind his comrades.

“Nor I” rasped the monstrous Slugg, leaving a wet silver trail in his fleshy wake.

“He’s not one of us,” spat Jellyfish.

Crab Man said: “He tried ta talk to me during the break. Tried ta get me to join his side or something. I think he’s wid Vanguard or CHESS or something.”

“What??!” Vanguard?!” yelped Ratman. Everyone was ready to kill the inexperienced superhero!

Suddenly the Owl barked with unexpected savagery: “WAIT! You there! Identify yourself and stand down! It’s ten to one! Deactivate that water shield of yours and explain yourself or we’ll tear you into chum!”

To be continued!

OOC: Replies? Actions?
Your slow Agility didn’t give you a chance to act until this moment.

Current Condition: Inhuman: Hit Points: 25 Power Points: 51

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Inhuman:
Oh the Inhumanity! Again, lost, forlorn and abandoned by those who were to be the heroes of this age*Sniff Sniff*:D

OOC: Jeff, I would like to scan the others for hydration levels during The Owls speech in addition I would like to see if I can pick up any water sources or fluids, especially those moving within the limits of my hydration range that might indicate engines or other support systems.

IC: Inhuman lowered the whirling maelstrom he defended himself with revealing changes to his costume. No longer was his black wetsuit painted with the colors of the sea the whirling water-storm had stripped those bare leaving only his I for inhuman on his chest in stark contrast to the matte black of his suit, but even that symbol was giving signs of wear and tear as if it had been ripped from jagged pieces of sailcloth and then placed there. The water was relaxed forming a stable but realistic puddle still held in Inhumans implacable mental grip.

“I am Inhuman,” lending his most scholarly tones to his speech and cadence as he fixed every character present except the Owl with a look that would leave them feeling as if they had been affixed upon a trident for being misbehaving schoolchildren “and though I have been accompanying Vanguard in their various exercises I have never truly felt accepted. Being easily seen in their eyes as some of the lowest of the low especially when compared to the lines of Sentinel and Kairos, even Slingshot has a more human demeanor than I do.” Inhuman flashed a slightly more friendly grin “as I am sure many of you are aware of having power but no respect inevitably leads to a lashing out with that power, and perhaps that is what I am trying to do here today.”

“I do not owe The Primate my freedom, however during our brief discussion Crab Man did invite me along so I accepted. If you have a disagreement with me coming along perhaps you should admonish him.” Inhuman sardonically raised his eyebrow “However since The Primate did just engineer an escape from CHESS facilities perhaps a bit of information about oh, say, the guys Agent Grey will send to hunt you guys down, he might find that useful enough to beat whoever makes getting that information more difficult.”

“And if there is question of power, keep in mind I operated quite successfully while Jellyfish had me paralyzed, managing to stop Jellyfish, convince Crab Man to do my bidding and take out Gadget Girl, Unless you would like to see me dehydrate every one of the semi-liquid forms here down to dust” as Inhuman nods to Slugg, Jellyfish, Gator and Crab Man “then use that water to drown the rest, I would recommend giving me a 5 meter berth” here he paused as if a new thought struck him “better make that 10 meters, at that range I can pop out your eyes and use the vitreous solution as jelly for my breakfast toast.” Carl gave his most shark-like grin as he spread his hands in as open and non-threatening of a manner as possible “Any questions?”

OOC:
Anyone have anything interesting on their hydration levels? (ie bionics, unusual non-flesh masses etc...) also here are some ideas for leveling up, (assuming I live) let me know what is too little, too much or on the money.

1. Song of the Sea: one way telepathic communication only through liquid mediums (from speaker to Inhuman) worldwide.

2. Guard others: share his mental defense with others as well as create whirlpools of defense for others based upon the basics allready outlined in the psionic power description.

3. Flexibility: Inhuman gains a +50% bounus to his weight calculations because of his precise control (ie if he hits someone with 400 lbs of water it counts as 600), in addition Inhuman can more easily expand the utility of his powers.

4. Pressure points: +1 to damage per 1 (or two) the to hit roll is made by.

5. Mind games: ability to induce loyalty and/or generate mental defense in all races evolved from creatures that once came from the sea (humans, monkies, dinosaurs etc...).

6. Expanded base: all liquids in any state of matter can be directly affected by the Warden of the Sea.

7. determination: Inhuman can alter the state of matter water is in, adjusting abilities as needed irregardless of outside influences.

8. generation: Inhuman can draw water from some sort of water dimension.

9. the faithful: Inhuman can summon creatures that are entirely composed of water, each creature summoned costs 8 pr and takes up an amount of his hydro capacity equal to the creatures weight as well as obeying all the hydro restrictions. They seem to be simple creatures quite happy to aid Inhuman.

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GM Reply:
As mentioned earlier, one level advancement is equal to ½ of a skill or ¼ of a superpower.
1. Song of the Sea: one way telepathic communication only through liquid mediums (from speaker to Inhuman) worldwide.

GM: Cool: This might be possible, maybe once every 48 hours. Maybe it’s not telepathic, but just carried on the water.

2. Guard others: share his mental defense with others as well as create whirlpools of defense for others based upon the basics allready outlined in the psionic power description.

GM: Kairos shares a mental defense already, so I wouldn’t want you to step on his toes.
Physical water defense can be done now, I think.

3. Flexibility: Inhuman gains a +50% bounus to his weight calculations because of his precise control (ie if he hits someone with 400 lbs of water it counts as 600), in addition Inhuman can more easily expand the utility of his powers.

GM: The damage bonus is fine.
FYI, if you instead gained +7 to Intelligence with your level advancement, your carry cap and water damage would increase, along with other things. Up to you.
I would need a definition of “expanding the utility of his powers.”

4. Pressure points: +1 to damage per 1 (or two) the to hit roll is made by.

GM: No. Too much.

5. Mind games: ability to induce loyalty and/or generate mental defense in all races evolved from creatures that once came from the sea (humans, monkies, dinosaurs etc...).

GM: No. Too much.

6. Expanded base: all liquids in any state of matter can be directly affected by the Warden of the Sea.

GM: Yes, Inhuman could manipulate ice and steam/vapor.

7. determination: Inhuman can alter the state of matter water is in, adjusting abilities as needed irregardless of outside influences.

GM: Yes, Inhuman could turn ice to water and then evaporate it.

8. generation: Inhuman can draw water from some sort of water dimension.

GM: maybe. I prefer it that he pulls it from the water in the air, like Bobby Drake.

9. the faithful: Inhuman can summon creatures that are entirely composed of water, each creature summoned costs 8 pr and takes up an amount of his hydro capacity equal to the creatures weight as well as obeying all the hydro restrictions. They seem to be simple creatures quite happy to aid Inhuman.

GM: yes. A lot of great inventive ideas, Skip!
Best,
Jeff