Earth’s greatest heroes had seven days to secure nine
artifacts of power, else all would be lost.
The Mystic,
Archimedes and Oracle would blind-gate Vanguard to each of the artifacts.
Once there, they would have up to an hour to secure the artifact before the
gate could be re-opened to return them.
The first artifact lay hidden somewhere within the Lost
Laboratory of Dr. Swastika, behind the Iron Curtain!
The Soviet Super
Soldiers arrived at the same time as Vanguard, apparently on the same
quest! Clone was with them, now calling himself the Collective!
The Soviet Super
Soldiers ignored Vanguard’s plea to stand down, instead conferring further
in terse Russian barks. Then they divided their forces with practiced precision
and leapt into action!
Sickle raced out
of the room, headed north, with incredible speed and agility.
Polar Bear fell
to all fours and bounded after her.
Revolution glowed
with white light and flew after them.
The Collective
exploded outward, impossibly forming 22 selves! The one man search party joined
Sickle, Revolution and Polar Bear in
the race north, through the nearest fire door, into the lab complex!
Menagerie suddenly
transformed into a large Siberian tiger! “ROAR!” He bared his teeth with
ferocity and waited for the remaining members of the SSS to charge!
Slate used his
disintegration powers on the wall beside him, away from the door, to get around
any mechanical traps Dr. Swastika might have set to. ZARK! He left the rest of Vanguard delaying
the SSS, and tried to find the artifact so they can get back home.
Avatar spied
Slate’s action and knew this was the better path. He joined Slate and manifested the power of
the sun god, Apollo, illuminating their way through the darkness! The hunt began!
Avatar and Slate had
no supernatural senses to locate the artifact, and so tried to continue north
as best they could; following their last instructions from Menagerie and
Sentinel.
The competing search parties found ancient machinery,
bunkers, offices, storage facilities, war rooms, all abandoned and frozen in
time beneath a layer of grey dust. Neither team had found the artifact yet!
Sentinel, Slingshot
and Symbiote, joined Menagerie and
faced off against Mother Russia, Hammer,
Proletariat and Siberian, waiting for an attack!
Mother Russia
spat defiantly: “Dr. Swastika has ever been the enemy of the Soviet Union!
In 1945, after we defeated the Nazis at great loss to our
people, America rescued Nazi scientists from justice and recruited them by the
hundreds to gain a scientific advantage in the coming Cold War!”
Sentinel, one of
Vanguard’s two resident historians, knew this to be true. It was called
Operation Paperclip.
(OOC: It’s true in our world too!)
Mother Russia
continued, “How can we trust those, who have allied themselves with Nazi
scientists, to stop Dr. Swastika? And how can we trust your corrupt,
compromised government? Your politicians are bought and paid for by
capitalists. We have seen it with our own eyes! If a billionaire wanted to own
the artifact we seek here today, your craven politicians would turn it over.
There is nothing that money can’t buy in America! Your culture is infected with
the sickness of greed. And that greed overrules all other considerations, even mankind’s
survival! The world lies in the balance! There is too much at stake! This is OUR
task! Stand down, Vanguard!”
Sentinel didn’t miss a
beat. “Tatiana, I can’t truthfully deny that there are those with money in the
United States that have used it to further their personal agendas any more than
you could truthfully deny that in your country there aren’t those that have
worked their way through your political system to further their own ends at the
expense of the working class. What I can
tell you is that this isn’t a United States mission, this is a Vanguard
mission. Our government didn’t bring the
facts to us, we brought it to them.
“Also, you know where I choose to
spend my personal time and efforts. It’s
in furthering the REACH program. And the
REACH program is about people, not governments, and it knows no borders.
“And no one has more contempt for
that filth Swastika than I do.” Kirk
realized that she had just identified Swastika as being currently behind this
threat.
“The only people I trust are my
team. And right now one of them stands
at your side. What I know about you
firsthand is you’re stubborn once your mind is set; I admire that. But I also bet you hate being played as much
as I do.”
Slingshot nodded as he
listened to Sentinel. "Vanguard tries to be true. We have bested greed
recently. Silas Caine thought his money was able to let him do anything, but
that is not the case anymore.
"Last time, we were at odds,
it had to do with the Entity. You were present there yourself! Did we not do
the right thing? We are looking for the artifacts to keep them away from the
opposition that would want to raise this ancient demon and lead us to world
destruction. Let's work together to find the items.
"We have access to ways of
hiding and protecting the artifacts. What is your plan?"
When Mother Russia didn’t immediately reply, Slingshot murmured into his Vanguard communicator and asked Oracle,
“The SSS are here. Any chance that their introduction is something new and
changes the future? Or are they part of the vision and they simply failed at
this hunting?”
Oracle replied: “Their
involvement was not foreseen. I cannot tell yet what it means. They seem to
have knowledge of the future as well, which makes predictions concerning them
difficult.”
"He's right, Tatania," Symbiote said, keeping his hands to his
sides and speaking in a neutral tone.
"I won't try to debate history, economics or politics with you here
today, if for no other reason that none of us have the time. Cthulhu's coming.
"But if you don't trust our
government--and believe me, sometimes I don't either--can you at least trust
US?" he asked, earnestly. "I
think Vanguard was more than fair to your team during the Lost Lands incident,
and afterwards, when some of you defected--or at least seemed to. And I think you've had some positive
experiences with both Talon and Me. Do
we really seem like the kind of people who want to turn the power of Cthulhu
over to government--any government?
We're working with some mystic powers who hold no allegiance to any
earthly government. Please trust
us. It'd be a great waste of resources
if our teams fought while the house burned down.”
Menagerie, in the form
of a large Siberian tiger, snarled
and growled to warn the SSS that their views of America did not apply to
Vanguard. He then raced off after the artifact to secure it!
Mother Russia absorbed
Vanguard’s words for a moment. Then she conferred with her comrades in Russian.
Meanwhile, deeper inside the
complex…
Slate followed
Avatar's lead and stayed to the center of the hall ways, peering into musty
rooms and chambers, still utilizing his comprehension skills to try and figure
out what each of the rooms was for, and if anything looked out of place, or if
he saw anything that might indicate a hidden room or trap.
At the same time he kept reviewing
the illustration from the journal, and the hieroglyphs. What could they mean? Could
the illustration have been from when Vanguard was catapulted through time, or
was it something else? Knowing Avatar's
background, and more than a little nervous, Slate asked, "Avatar, back in
the forgotten lands at the Temple of Terror, did you ever get a look at the
Hieroglyphs?" He figures Avatar's
had a lot more experience translating texts that he has. With time and access to the web, he's
confident he could do it, but maybe Avatar can get the gist of the
illustration.
Avatar’s reply is a
bit hesitant. "I didn't. Not
really. Look, Slate, we need to find this artifact now. I'm going to go ahead and run through this
place fast and see if I can find it.
Hopefully it's obvious and I'm not going to run headlong into any traps,
but we have to make this fast."
Suddenly, a tiger was alongside them!
It mind spoke to them, identifying itself as Menagerie! He had tracked their
scent through the dark catacomb to find them (and was out of movement for now).
Menagerie explained “I will continue the mind speech, in an effort to guide you
in the direction of the artifact.”
Avatar manifested the
godly speed of Hermes and hurtled through the complex looking to find the
artifact!
As Slate watched Avatar's form, and his source of light, vanishing
like a torch dropped down a hole, he stared into the darkness, contemplating
his next move... "This was a mistake," he thought to himself. He turned, and using his photographic memory
of the path that led him here, moved back to the hallway, and the rest of the
team, and his father, in the dark.
Avatar hurtled into a
large open chamber. He held forth his divine hand and from it a beam of white
light was cast, with which he scanned the area.
The avenging archeologist couldn’t
believe what he saw. In a locked, large glass case with a thick steel frame,
was the first artifact of power, mounted into a golden swastika housing.
Avatar recognized it immediately.
It was the Spear of Destiny. Also known as the Holy Spear, Holy Lance, Lance of
Longinus, or Spear of Longinus, John knew that it was said to be the blade that
pierced the side of Jesus as he hung on the cross, according to the Gospel of
John.
For over 2000 years, mystical
powers have been attributed to it, myths surrounded it, and occultists hunted
it.
On October 13, 1938, not long
after the German annexation of Austria, Hitler ordered the S.S. to seize the
Spear of Destiny and other artifacts from Vienna. They were taken to Nuremberg
and stored in St. Katherine’s Church until 1944, when Nuremberg was captured by
the army of US General George S. Patton.
Two hours after the Spear of
Destiny was captured by Allied Forces, Hitler committed suicide in his underground
bunker in Berlin.
In 1946, the Spear of Destiny and
the rest of the Imperial Regalia were returned to Austria, and returned to public
display at the Hofsburg museum.
So how is the Spear here now?!
There have been unconfirmed rumors claiming the spear on display in Vienna is another
in a long line of fakes, and that the real Spear had been secreted to
Antarctica along with other Nazi treasures.
John remembered the Nazi aircraft wreckage
that Vanguard discovered in the Transantarctic Mountain chain that harbored the
Lost Lands (back in Issue 91!).
(OOC: John needs an action to break
open the case, and he had expended this Issue’s action on manifesting the power
of Hermes.)
Meanwhile, back in the
laboratory of Dr. Swastika…
Slate rejoined Sentinel, Slingshot and Symbiote.
Mother Russia had
finished conferring with her team, and they advanced on Vanguard slowly,
perhaps to fight, perhaps to continue parlaying at a more reasonable distance.
One of the Collective had returned
to join them.
Suddenly Sentinel, Slate, Slingshot and Symbiote noticed Polar Bear and several of the Collective in the fire door on
their left. They had been flanked. The Collective held their battle staves in a
defensive posture.
Mother Russia, Proletariat, Hammer, Siberian and one Collective
were still advancing in front of them.
Vanguard were ready
for a fight, but held their actions so as not to deliver the first blow.
Sentinel used his
energy sense on the nearest Collective duplicate and discovered that he had the
same energy aura as Alex. Sentinel could detect no “influence” on him or any of
the SSS, but wasn’t certain that such a thing was even possible.
Sentinel looked at the Collective
and said to Mother Russia, “Alex knows I will use every means to my disposal to
uncover the truth and will do the right thing to protect innocents, just like I
know that is exactly what Alex would do.”
Then Sentinel triggered a telepathic
mind scan of the Collective in hopes of learning what was going on here.
Sentinel said, “Tatiana I suspect
you have some doubts about things here too, otherwise you wouldn’t have held
your team back just now. So how about
it? Alex is the bridge between both of
our teams so let us hear what he has to say.
Alex, why did you leave us so suddenly without even talking to any of
us? And if you feel your mission here is
right, and ours off, talk to me.
Convince us. You know we’ll do
what is right.”
The Collective did not
reply. But his surface thoughts reacted to Kirk’s questions, and spoke louder
than words.
Sentinel “read” that
Alex was really an extranormal code-named "the Collective," who was
always a loyal member of the USSR, and was chosen years ago for a top secret
undercover mission: he was going to pretend to defect to the USA.
Doctor X and the Puppet (whom
Vanguard met when they last battled Homicide for Hire) hypnotized him, implanting
a new personality: the foolish, harmless laughingstock called Clone. Beneath
this ridiculous exterior, he was really a deadly sleeper agent, designed to
lull the American government into finding him completely harmless. He would
then infiltrate the extranormal program called Vanguard and report back
everything he learned to the Homeland.
Doctor X had command words that
could trigger responses from “the Clone” without his knowledge, to facilitate
regular reports. These reports went on for years. Then, before he “defected”
back to the USSR, Clone had bugged Vanguard Vault. This is how the SSS knew
Vanguard’s plans to come to the Lost Lab of Dr. Swastika, and how they arrived
here when Vanguard did.
Alex’s “family” were other sleeper
agents. Their “escape” from East Berlin was an elaborate show to cement America’s
trust of “the Clone.” Alex’s real family
died years ago. The Soviet Super Soldiers are his only family now.
He, Mother Russia, and Polar Bear
had just been recalled from deep cover via a trigger word, and their original
personalities restored, because there is a grave threat to the People. A
monstrous, psychic creature from another dimension threatens to invade the
world. The Soviet Super Soldiers stand ready to stop it!
Sentinel’s attention returned to
the real world and saw the SSS had almost closed the distance with Vanguard!
Meanwhile, before the
Spear of Destiny…
Avatar saw Revolution, Sickle and several of the Collective suddenly race into the
chamber of the Spear of Destiny! (see map)
Sickle, Revolution
and the Collective conferred briefly in Russian and then Sickle nodded at
Revolution. Limned in white energy, Revolution flew directly at the case and
smashed it open, setting off a deadly booby trap! A bomb detonated with enough
power to kill everyone in the chamber, and perhaps destroy the Spear of Destiny
itself! Except that it didn’t. Avatar watched as Revolution somehow absorbed
the energy of the bomb blast into his body. There was no explosion and
Revolution’s white energy glowed brighter.
Sickle congratulated him in Russian, walked up to the case and
pulled out the Spear of Destiny. She freed it from its swastika mounting, threw
the swastika emblem on the floor and crushed it under her heel.
She held up the first artifact of power triumphantly and
spoke Russian into her communicator. “I have the Spear of Destiny, comrade
leader.”
With the distraction provided by
Sickle, a dark figure suddenly leapt
out of the shadowy alcove in the southeast corner of the chamber and grabbed
one of the Collective. Avatar watched as all the Collective reeled as one, as
this dark figure physically melded into the Collective duplicate he had
grappled!
On the other side of the complex, Sentinel
simultaneously felt an invasion occurring within the Collective’s hive mind!
Their personalities and memories were being altered instantly, right before
Sentinel’s mind’s eye! This mysterious figure that had just merged into the
Collective was an independent Clone that had been created by Alex to escape the
USSR, long before Vanguard had ever met Alex!
This Rogue Clone successfully
escaped The Program and sent its duplicates around the world and back over the
years to learn everything he could. The Rogue Clone used his extranormal powers
of duplication and coordination towards surveillance of, and espionage against,
the Soviet Super Soldiers and Doctor X, without them ever knowing it!
But when Alex was recalled to the
SSS, due to the Cthulhu Cataclysm, the Rogue Clone’s hand was forced.
He wanted to save Alex from
enslavement within the USSR. So he monitored the SSS’s movements, deduced that
eventually they would come to the Lost Lab, and waited here nearly 24 hours for
them to arrive. The Spear would still need to serve as bait for the SSS, so he
left it in place, with the trap around it still active.
The Rogue Clone merged with the
Collective to overcome the Collective Identity that the Puppet had planted into
Alex’s mind years ago, when Alex was in the Program, on behalf of Doctor X.
The new hive mind was now a
convergence of the experienced, world weary Rogue Clone, and Alex. The Puppet’s
false construct of the Collective personality and memories (that Sentinel had “read”
moments ago, on page 6 of this issue) was smashed by the shock of the invasion
of the Rogue Clone’s personality and memories.
(OOC: Clone loses his
Psychological Weakness and gains these new Skills from the Rogue Clone’s world-trotting
experiences: History, Stealth, Computers, Lockpicking, in place of his next
Level Advancement. Kev, please email me with questions you have, or that Alex
has for the Rogue Clone, whose memories he can now access.)
As one, every Clone duplicate quickly
and quietly removed a small transponder from their inner wrist and dropped them
on the floor.
At that moment, in the Lab, Mother
Russia touched her earbud and whispered into her communicator in Russian:
“Shatter. Now.”
Vanguard had encountered Shatter
in the Lost Lands and knew that he had the power to disassemble molecules at
ranges over a mile. He had disintegrated their Manta Craft in midair.
Via the surface thoughts of Clone,
who heard Mother Russia’s whisper, Sentinel “read” that Shatter had since
learned to reassemble molecules as well, in effect teleporting them!
Before Sentinel could grab the
nearest member of the SSS to join their imminent teleportation, the Soviet
Super Soldiers suddenly teleported out, with the Spear of Destiny!
Separated from their transponders,
none of the Clones went with them.
Vanguard and Alex were reunited!
Thirty minutes later, the three mages
were ready to gate Vanguard back to Vanguard Vault!
“The Soviet Super Soldiers: 1,
Vanguard: 0,” said Sgt. Stone when he heard the whole story.
To be continued!
OOC:
Actions please for 30 minutes in
the Lost Lab of Dr. Swastika, and then back home. It’ll be eight hours before
Vanguard is ready to blind-gate to the second artifact of power!
Dialogue, reunions, plans,
recriminations, actions, questions?
For the purposes of your replies,
please assume you all shared what you learned here (save perhaps Slate’s
discovery of his father’s likeness in the journal of Dr. Swastika)
Thanks!
Viva Vanguard,
Jeff
Current Conditions at Issue’s End:
Avatar: Hit Points: 38, Power Points: 48, Manifestation:
Apollo, Hermes
The Collective: Bodies: 22, Hit Points: 1, Power Points: 35,
Hit Point Pool: 22
Menagerie: Hit Points: 21, Power Points: 59, Form: Tiger
Sentinel: Hit Points: 29, Power Points: 59, Creation Points:
118, Shields: 100
Slate: Hit Points: 35, Power Points: 70
Slingshot: Hit Points: 50, Power Points: 92,
Invulnerability: 8
Symbiote: Hit Points: 55, Power Points: 91, Charges: 13,
Copied: Zero G
--------------------------------------------------
Avatar:
OOC: that sucks
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
OOC: Cloning process still needs to be perfected!
--------------------------------------------------
Slate:
IC: As Menagerie turned and ran after Avatar, Slate changed his mind, and followed as best he could, entering the chamber just in time to see the Soviet Super Soldiers basically breaking apart at the molecular level, and was amazed. It was very similar to what Slate did every time he digitized something...
Slate moved to one of the Clones/Collective, "Alex, is it you?"
Slate held onto Swastika's book until they returned home, and he was able to get Slingshot alone. "Dad, I found this in the lab. It looks like you," he said tentatively, "What do you think it means, and how could it have been there so long ago?"
Slate returned to their apartment to check on his mother, and begin a search engine to compare the hieroglyphs in the book with every known language or symbol found in the cultures of Earth. Trying to pull together an amalgam to understand what the symbols mean. He tethered his computer to his communicator so that when something was found it would alert him.
Slate found a quite spot near the Magi to prepare for their next mission, watching his team mates for reactions.
Jon
--------------------------------------------------
Symbiote:
IC: Hal controlled himself, but barely. Furious for being taken in by Mother Russia and Clone. Furious for trying to play the diplomat with some members of the SSS had grabbed The Spear while others had distracted him. Furious that he had left the Lost Lab without smashing that stupid picture of Dr. Swastika.
He wheeled on Clone. "Talk," he said, coldly. "And make it good."
(Assuming that at this point we
get the truth about the two clone variants).
"So who's in charge now? Clone the Independent, or Clone the
Brainwashed Soviet Puppet? How can we be
sure?'
(Assuming a dialogue ensues from
this but ultimately it changes nothing--we still have to go get the next
artifact).
"Well, at least we now know
what we're up against. Somewhat,"
Symbiote muttered. "Menagerie, can
you do that anti-teleportation spell in case we run into Shatter again? Wish Lightning Strike were still with the
team, I expect an EMP burst might mess with him a little. I guess I could go in with his power set, but
I have something else in mind," he says, heading for the aircraft
bay.
And with that (assuming Jeff
allows it), he uses the intervening eight hours to make a quick trip to CHESS
Castle (plugging in the Harper Harness along the way, to recover a
charge). He wants to meet with
Accelerator. He'll say it's part of a
research project involving the nature of his powers. He'll ask the Velocity Villain some
questions, yes, but he'll definitely be sure to be friendly about it--patting
him on the shoulder or shaking his hand at least once.
If the next mission involves a
race to find the artifact, Hal intents to be the fastest man in the room.
Viva Vanguard,
Greg
--------------------------------------------------
Clone:
OOC:
Great reply, Greg - changing mine
around a bit to mesh with yours a little better.
While I'm working on that, I wanted to throw an idea by you, Jeff. What do you think of Clone getting the following Weakness / Power added to his character? I think it's fitting given everything he's been through thus far, but I might be looking at it a little too closely - what do you think?
Shattered Psyche: Clone's conscious and unconscious mind have been the subject of so many attacks and alterations that not even he's entirely sure who the true Alexander Oleksienko is anymore. Unfortunately for Clone; these repeated psychic assaults have severely damaged and fractured his psyche and have left him extremely vulnerable to mental intrusion and manipulation. Emotion and Mind Control attacks are +2 to hit against him, and psychic attacks that specifically target a characters personality / identity are +4 to hit ( GM's opinion ). Telepaths attempting to Mind Probe him will have a difficult time navigating the various synaptic chasms that now litter the broken landscape of Clone's multifaceted mind. If Clone consents to the probe, the telepath's total of ( Current Power x 2 ) + C must exceed Clone's Current Power + C. If the telepath's score exceeds that of Clone's, he may proceed in the Probe attempt, which attacks as Mind Control ( +2 to hit ). If the Mind Probe isn't consensual, the telepath;s Current Power + C must exceed Clone's total of ( Current Power x 2 ) + C . If the telepath's score exceeds that of Clone's, he may proceed in the Probe attempt, which attacks as Mind Control ( +2 to hit ). In either case, a failure to successfully probe Clone for any reason will result in the telepath becoming so overwhelmed by the vastness of Clone's fractured psyche that he immediately passes into a trace-like state ( unconsciousness ), normal wake-up rules apply.
While I'm working on that, I wanted to throw an idea by you, Jeff. What do you think of Clone getting the following Weakness / Power added to his character? I think it's fitting given everything he's been through thus far, but I might be looking at it a little too closely - what do you think?
Shattered Psyche: Clone's conscious and unconscious mind have been the subject of so many attacks and alterations that not even he's entirely sure who the true Alexander Oleksienko is anymore. Unfortunately for Clone; these repeated psychic assaults have severely damaged and fractured his psyche and have left him extremely vulnerable to mental intrusion and manipulation. Emotion and Mind Control attacks are +2 to hit against him, and psychic attacks that specifically target a characters personality / identity are +4 to hit ( GM's opinion ). Telepaths attempting to Mind Probe him will have a difficult time navigating the various synaptic chasms that now litter the broken landscape of Clone's multifaceted mind. If Clone consents to the probe, the telepath's total of ( Current Power x 2 ) + C must exceed Clone's Current Power + C. If the telepath's score exceeds that of Clone's, he may proceed in the Probe attempt, which attacks as Mind Control ( +2 to hit ). If the Mind Probe isn't consensual, the telepath;s Current Power + C must exceed Clone's total of ( Current Power x 2 ) + C . If the telepath's score exceeds that of Clone's, he may proceed in the Probe attempt, which attacks as Mind Control ( +2 to hit ). In either case, a failure to successfully probe Clone for any reason will result in the telepath becoming so overwhelmed by the vastness of Clone's fractured psyche that he immediately passes into a trace-like state ( unconsciousness ), normal wake-up rules apply.
--------------------------------------------------
Menagerie:
IC: Menagerie was confused and
frustrated. "We lost the artifact to the Soviets!" He couldn't
believe that Dr. Swastika had and then abandoned the Spear of Destiny. The
Soviet Super Soldiers arrived at the same time as they did and retrieved it for
Dr X. Very frustrating indeed.
Menagerie informed the proper
CHESS authorities of the security breach to Vanguard and CHESS data and daily
activities.
He consults with Dr. Mystic and
Archimedes on the severity of the loss of the Spear of Destiny. Part of him
doesn't care if the Soviets plan of defending the Earth too. He will consult
with Oracle to see if Vanguard has to retrieve teh Spear from the Soviets or if
they ignore it and focus only on the other artifacts.
Menagerie replied to Symbiote.,
"Unfortunately no. That spell needed ample time to prepare and I had to
enchant the land itself to create the barrier. It prevented all teleportation
which in this case would prevent our own as well. Since I don't know where we
are going next I don't know if I will have a strong enough connection to the
land. I will discuss with Archimedes and Dr. Mystic to see if there is similar
spell we could use to prevent Shatter from gaining upper hand again.
(OOC: Will use luck point and even
level advancement/add weakness for the spell)
Menagerie will thoroughly grill
Snowball to make sure the goat isn't a Soviet sleeper agent as well.
Viva Vanguard
Tom
--------------------------------------------------
Sentinel:
Kirk Part I Swastika’s Lair:
Clone:
“I want you to know that I didn’t
believe the information about the Collective’s memory about you for a
second. We were going to get you back,
Alex, no matter what it took.”
“Alex, are you all right now? Between the implanted control and memory of
the Collective and your new personality reintegration, are things straight up
there?” Kirk said pointing at his head.
(OOC: Even as I read it, I
rejected it)
Kirk shared his experience
regarding the mental contact with Clone and what he ‘witnessed’ happening.
“Let’s convey the locations about
the monitoring devices you planted now so that our headquarters can be
cleared.”
As Alex conveys the information
back to HQ Kirk sends an encoded message to Doc and Shelly to use the
information about the retrieved devices to see if there are any others planted
in the building. If found do NOT
retrieve them. Instead make Grey or
Drake aware to determine if possibly they can be used to give misinformation at
a critical time. (With the SSS having
been in our headquarters as well as Clone’s family it is entirely possible
devices not know the Alex have been planted too).
“What can you tell us regarding
the information the SSS has about the artifacts and why Mother Russia mentioned
Swastika as behind this? How did they
become aware of the threat? Are they
after all the artifacts? What was their
plan for keeping them safe? What can you
tell us about the new members of the SSS and their abilities? Who is giving them knowledge of the future
(OOC: per Oracle’s comment)?”
Afterward:
“Since we have some time before
retrieval let’s use it to gather useful information on Swastika, perhaps if
we’re really fortunate we’ll find something regarding the current
situation. Although this was a secret
base of his, there could be a secret room within it with even more critical
information or items hidden. Kirk turned
to Scott, “perhaps you could use your architectural skill to check through the
rooms for something that looks out of place, like it may be concealing a hidden
area, unless you think your time better spent looking through what is here?”
Jeff:
To aid in the search for a secret
part of the lair Kirk entered the different rooms and uses his powers to expand
his energy bubble to the parameters of the room. He then has his construct change to a liquid
or gaseous type form to flow outward further to see if there are any openings
that his construct enters indicating a secret passage or concealed area.
Kirk Part II Vanguard Vault:
“The Soviet Super Soldiers: 1,
Vanguard: 0,” said Sgt. Stone when he heard the whole story.
Kirk seeing the spirit of his
teammates replied. “Let’s not get over
anxious over the exhibition game with the main event in front of us. We came into this last second with little
information. Nine artifacts in seven
days would have been a long shot with no opposition at all… and we knew we’d
have opposition. At this point we’re
still learning the players in the game.
And frankly in my eyes the Soviet Super Soldiers are only pawns.”
“Unless we get more players as we
go for further artifacts than we know they are being used. If we believe them, they want to keep those
artifacts from misuse themselves. If it’s
just them and us, then all we need to do is keep on track and be sure between
our groups the artifacts are all gathered and along the way, determine where
they are keeping their artifacts. We
know where our artifacts will be so once they are gathered enemy forces will
try to secure them from one of the two locations or the SSS are actually being
manipulated into gathering them for the enemy unknowingly.”
“Given they have thrown Swastika’s
name out there and his secret lair had one of the artifacts it wouldn’t
surprise me if they are his secret pawns.
It fits. It follows his M.O. here
in the States. He loved manipulating
Myles to work his ends. He could be
doing the same with the SSS just as they proclaim their hatred of him. We stopped him from his infiltration of the
US government… maybe he was successful in an infiltration of the Soviet
government.”
“It’s just a working theory for
now, and it may not be right, but like I said we came into this last second
with few facts. It’s not just about the
artifacts, it’s about who wants to use them.
We have to move beyond simply reacting here and figure out the big
picture as we work to gather the remaining artifacts… “
Seth
--------------------------------------------------
Avatar:
OOC: No actions from Avatar.
He's just wondering how effective he'll be at this pace. He needs
rest to be effective. Might be best to let the other side get some
artifacts and then hit them at their home base with us rested and them spent.
--------------------------------------------------
GM:
OOC:
Hey, if Avatar's not acting, how
about 7-8 hours of sleep, for which he'll get a healing?
Best,
Jeff
--------------------------------------------------
Avatar:
YES!
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
OOC:
I'll make this point form since
I'm late and I don't want to make this any later.
1) Assuming that Clone talks about
the transponders, what can Slingshot come up with to block the transponders?
Something that might block the signal for one person that's within range (say
when I touch them)? I assume that he'll need to use a Luck point for this. I
didn't keep track of how many he's got left. If I have 2 or less, I won't use
them here. but if I have 3, I will. Assuming I get this, I would like to have
access to the item for the duration of the story line (or is that too
much to ask?)
2) If no (whether is because clone
doesn't talk about it, no luck pts or not enough time available), then Scott'll
work with the magi to think through the implication of the SSS getting in on
this subject.
3) if I get told that I need to
get out of the way from the Magi, I'll question Clone on why he came back to
the SSS and what was the deal? Is it mind control? is it conscious decision? If
so, why? etc.. Scott is suspicious that
he'll turn on the next fight.
He'll make sure he gets 4 hours of
sleep unless option 1 is a go, then he'll use whatever time he needs to get the
disruptor.
--------------------------------------------------
Clone:
OOC: I hope nobody minds, but I
incorporated Sentinel's and Symbiote's responses into mine - it just seemed to
work out better that way.
Symbiote
Hal controlled himself, but
barely. Furious for being taken in by
Mother Russia and Clone. Furious for
trying to play the diplomat with some members of the SSS had grabbed The Spear
while others had distracted him. Furious
that he had left the Lost Lab without smashing that stupid picture of Dr.
Swastika.
He wheeled on Clone. "Talk," he said, coldly. "And make it good."
Clone
As Symbiote snaps at Clone, the
rest of Vanguard can see the duplicates slowly forming in behind Clone.
Marching in slowly the duplicates look physically exhausted and stare at Clone
more like a punitive destination rather then a member of their collective.
Clone winces painfully as each replica is adsorbed and begins to look drained
by the entire experience. With the last of his duplicates absorbed, Clone
slowly settles to the floor and takes a seat. With Symbiote still glaring at
him waiting for a response to his questions, Clone wipes his hand over his face
and then says in an uncharacteristic and unexpected American accent, "This
might take a few minutes to explain." Clone then begins to tell Vanguard
all about the escaped Clone and how he came to be here - see Issue 173: The
Clone Identity.
Sentinel
Kirk shared his experience
regarding the mental contact with Clone and what he ‘witnessed’ happening.
Symbiote
"So who's in charge now? Clone the Independent, or Clone the
Brainwashed Soviet Puppet? How can we be
sure?'
Clone
Clone's facial expression matches his
tone as he says regrettably, " . . . I don't know . . ." After a
moment Clone shakes his head and calmly continues with a questioning look on
his face, " To be honest with you . . . I'm not even sure who I am
anymore."
Sentinel
“I want you to know that I didn’t
believe the information about the Collective’s memory about you for a
second. We were going to get you back,
Alex, no matter what it took.”
Clone
Clone slowly turns to look at
Sentinel with a sarcastic look of disbelief in his eyes and then suddenly
starts to experience stomach convulsions. Before the rest of the group can
react, Clone leans to the side and starts to vomit all over the floor.
Thankfully the vomiting ends quickly and Clone stares up at sentinel once
again.
Sentinel
“Alex, are you all right now? Between the implanted control and memory of
the Collective and your new personality reintegration, are things straight up
there?” Kirk said pointing at his head.
Clone
Wiping his mouth with his sleeve,
Alex says to Sentinel in a almost menacing tone, "You need to stay out of
my head . . . "
Sentinel
“Let’s convey the locations about
the monitoring devices you planted now so that our headquarters can be
cleared.”
Clone
Clone begins to nod his head over
and over again slowly, but doesn't respond to sentinels question.
Sentinel
“What can you tell us regarding
the information the SSS has about the artifacts and why Mother Russia mentioned
Swastika as behind this? How did they
become aware of the threat? Are they
after all the artifacts? What was their
plan for keeping them safe? What can you
tell us about the new members of the SSS and their abilities? Who is giving them knowledge of the future
(OOC: per Oracle’s comment)?”
Clone
Clone's head finally stops
nodding, and the 'Duplicating Dynamo' slowly opens his mouth to speak, "I
think . . ." He then nods his head a few more times before he continues,
" . . . I think . . . I think I'm going to be sick again."
OOC: Clone will keep on being sick
until its time to teleport back to The Vault. I'm attributing his vomiting to
all the mental stress he's been under / a mental breakdown.
OOC: Right before Vanguard
teleports back to The Vault, Clone is going to grab at least one ( more if
possible ) of the transponders he smashed right before the SSS teleported out.
He's not going to try and hide this activity, but he's not going to advertise
it either. If someone does see him grabbing it / them, he'll simply say,
"I think we might be able to make a weapon out of these."
OOC:
How Clone will spend the next
eight hours:
- He'll help Vanguard identify the locations
of all the devices he may have placed in The Vault and make them aware of any
sabatage he may have performed while under the control of of Dr. X.
- Go through any debriefing process the
government or Vanguard may want to put him through.
- He'll show the smashed transponder(s) to the
other members of Vanguard and explain that they might be able to repair one,
outfit it with a GPS tracking device, and try to attach it to one of the SSS
during their next encounters with them. Hopefully the SSS will teleport back to
their secret base with it and Vanguard will have their location.
- Get some rest . . . he's been through a lot.
Tom Wrote:
Menagerie will thoroughly grill
Snowball to make sure the goat isn't a Soviet sleeper agent as well.
My Response:
Oh-oh!
Also, I'm working on a new Clone
Background - I'll get it out as soon as I can.
Talk to you all soon,
-Kev
--------------------------------------------------
Sentinel:
OOC:
Hey Kev.
Nice dramatic stuff.
I don't have a problem with your
integrating Kirk's stuff. However I'd
sent all the questions for the whole turn.
Kirk would likely have prodded the info about the devices implanted at
HQ but I don't think he would have continued grilling him for the other info at
that moment all at once and particularly after seeing the shape Alex was in at
the time. He'd likely have held up until
back at HQ when he had time to get a grip.
Perhaps we can have him ask the
question about the monitoring devices and his activities there again after
getting no reply and then see there was no point in asking further given his
condition.
I think it would be a bit out of
character for him to 'pummel' Alex for the info seeing his mental state at that
point especially since it wasn't pertinent to their situation at that moment.
What do you think?
Seth
--------------------------------------------------
Slate:
OOC: I loved it... Dramatic effect, pent up frustration, great writing on both parts!
--------------------------------------------------
Clone:
OOC:
You're absolutely right, Seth -
sorry about that. I agree, it would totally be out of character - Kirk is one
of those 'old school' superheroes; sought of like Captain America, who has
always shown more understanding and compassion then that - especially towards
Clone. When I started writing all that stuff all I was thinking was,
"Gotta get this done, gotta get this done, gotta get this done . . ."
I just took what was in front of me and just started responding to everything -
sorry about that.
How about if we did it like this?
I think this works out a little better, has a some what comical touch, and at
the same time makes Kirk appear entirely sympathetic to Clone's situation. If
you think it still comes off a little rough, I have no issue with you reworking
the response - sorry again for the mix up, Seth.
Symbiote
Hal controlled himself, but
barely. Furious for being taken in by
Mother Russia and Clone. Furious for
trying to play the diplomat with some members of the SSS had grabbed The Spear
while others had distracted him. Furious
that he had left the Lost Lab without smashing that stupid picture of Dr.
Swastika.
He wheeled on Clone. "Talk," he said, coldly. "And make it good."
Clone
As Symbiote snaps at Clone, the
rest of Vanguard can see the duplicates slowly forming in behind Clone.
Marching in slowly the duplicates look physically exhausted and stare at Clone
more like a punitive destination rather then a member of their collective.
Clone winces painfully as each replica is adsorbed and begins to look drained
by the entire experience. With the last of his duplicates absorbed, Clone
slowly settles to the floor and takes a seat. With Symbiote still glaring at
him waiting for a response to his questions, Clone wipes his hand over his face
and then says in an uncharacteristic and unexpected American accent, "This
might take a few minutes to explain." Clone then begins to tell Vanguard
all about the escaped Clone and how he came to be here - see Issue 173: The
Clone Identity.
Sentinel
Kirk shared his experience
regarding the mental contact with Clone and what he ‘witnessed’ happening.
Symbiote
"So who's in charge now? Clone the Independent, or Clone the
Brainwashed Soviet Puppet? How can we be
sure?'
Clone
Clone's facial expression matches
his tone as he says regrettably, " . . . I don't know . . ." After a
moment Clone shakes his head and calmly continues with a questioning look on
his face, " To be honest with you . . . I'm not even sure who I am
anymore."
Sentinel
“I want you to know that I didn’t
believe the information about the Collective’s memory about you for a
second. We were going to get you back,
Alex, no matter what it took.”
Clone
Clone slowly turns to look at
Sentinel with a sarcastic look of disbelief in his eyes and then suddenly
starts to experience stomach convulsions. Before the rest of the group can
react, Clone leans to the side and starts to vomit all over the floor.
Thankfully the vomiting ends quickly and Clone stares up at sentinel once
again.
Sentinel
“Alex, are you all right now? Between the implanted control and memory of
the Collective and your new personality reintegration, are things straight up
there?” Kirk said pointing at his head.
Clone
Wiping his mouth with his sleeve,
Alex says to Sentinel in a almost menacing tone, "You need to stay out of
my head . . . " Clone then begins to nod his head over and over again
slowly as if to say something important, but hesitates as if he's collecting
his thoughts. Clone's head finally stops nodding, and the 'Duplicating Dynamo'
slowly opens his mouth to speak, "I think . . ." He then nods his
head a few more times before he continues, " . . . I think . . . I think
I'm going to be sick again."
OOC: Clone will keep on being sick
until its time to teleport back to The Vault. I'm attributing his vomiting to
all the mental stress he's been under / a mental breakdown.
OOC: Right before Vanguard
teleports back to The Vault, Clone is going to grab at least one ( more if
possible ) of the transponders he smashed right before the SSS teleported out.
He's not going to try and hide this activity, but he's not going to advertise
it either. If someone does see him grabbing it / them, he'll simply say,
"I think we might be able to make a weapon out of these."
. . . Meanwhile, back at the Hall
of Justice ( sorry, couldn't help myself )
Sentinel
“Let’s convey the locations about
the monitoring devices you planted now so that our headquarters can be
cleared.”
Clone
Clone shakes his head quickly in
total agreement and says, "Not a problem." After providing Sentinel
with the location of all the SSS monitoring devices, Clone then shows the
smashed transponder(s) he grabbed before leaving Dr. Swastika's Lab to the other
members of Vanguard and says with a sly tone in his voice, "If we can
repair one of these, outfit it with a GPS tracking device, and then somehow
attach it to one of the SSS during our next encounter with them . . . I'm
thinking that we might be able to pin-point the location of their secret base
once they teleport away again."
Sentinel
“What can you tell us regarding
the information the SSS has about the artifacts and why Mother Russia mentioned
Swastika as behind this? How did they
become aware of the threat? Are they
after all the artifacts? What was their
plan for keeping them safe? What can you
tell us about the new members of the SSS and their abilities? Who is giving them knowledge of the future
(OOC: per Oracle’s comment)?”
OOC: Jeff, this is where I'll
leave it in your capable hands. Clone will provide all the information he can
recall from 'The Collectives' memories to Sentinel and the other members of
Vanguard.
OOC: Jeff, this 'new version' of
Clone will have a better command of 'American-style' English, so feel free to
drop all the 'Comrades' and stuff. This is going to be a ton of fun working up
an entirely new personality for Clone - I can't wait to start messing around
with it!
-Kev
--------------------------------------------------
Sentinel:
OOC:
I'm absolutely fine with what you
have below from a Kirk perspective, but
it does take an edge off of the moment off Clone that you wanted to portray
originally and I don't want you to lose that unless think it appropriate. Up until that point, although Kirk
'witnessed' the reintegration he didn't know how badly it messed Alex up.
The only part I was concerned
about was here:
_________
Sentinel
“Let’s convey the locations about
the monitoring devices you planted now so that our headquarters can be
cleared.”
Clone
Clone begins to nod his head over
and over again slowly, but doesn't respond to sentinels question.
Sentinel
“What can you tell us regarding
the information the SSS has about the artifacts and why Mother Russia mentioned
Swastika as behind this? How did they
become aware of the threat? Are they
after all the artifacts? What was their
plan for keeping them safe? What can you
tell us about the new members of the SSS and their abilities? Who is giving them knowledge of the future (OOC:
per Oracle’s comment)?”
Clone
Clone's head finally stops
nodding, and the 'Duplicating Dynamo' slowly opens his mouth to speak, "I
think . . ." He then nods his head a few more times before he continues,
" . . . I think . . . I think I'm going to be sick again."
________
We could change that second reply
highlighted above to something along the lines...
"Alex, your nodding in
agreement but nothing is coming out of your mouth. Can you give us the locations of the
monitoring devices so we can secure the Vault?"
_________
Again, I'm fine either way. I just
felt bad because the first time around the way you laid it our Alex's actions
raised the hair on my neck. It was
stunning. Even uncharacteristic of the Clone we knew before. In your revision it doesn't produce quite
the same effect and I don't want you to lose that effect based on one set of
Kirk's lines unless you want it that way.
Again, whatever you want here with
Clone is cool but I do appreciate the revision on the one set of lines and think
that appropriate to Kirk's character. I
don't want you to lose anything intended for Clone.
Seth
--------------------------------------------------
Clone:
OOC:
So I was just trying to take an
inventory of all the personalities swimming around inside of Clone and I was
only able to come up with these:
- Omega Clone
- The Collective
- The 'Fake' Clone
- The 'Rogue' Clone
I feel like I'm missing some -
didn't he try to absorb a Skin Deep 'Clone'? Am I remembering that wrong? Am I
missing any?
-Kev
--------------------------------------------------
GM:
OOC: Hi Kev,
Here's my list:
1- Omega Clone: his personality
has the inverse Charisma/Will of his real-world equivalent (as did all the Vanguard
Omega members) and therefore was easily overcome and suppressed into Alex's
subconscious, way back in the Omega-verse saga.
2- The Collective: a fake
personality and history programmed into Alex's mind long ago by the Puppet for
Dr. X as a control mechanism for his rebellious pupil, Alex. This was just destroyed
last issue when the Rogue Clone merged with the Collective.
3- The Clone: Alex. The sweet,
funny, moral Ukrainian farmer who is the real personality and history, as per
all the backstory you've ever created. Alex's family, and their defection, is
real.
4- The Rogue Clone: the unique,
separate, special Clone that Kev had Alex "invent" when he was with
the Program, as part of an escape attempt. (This escape attempt was later
discovered by Dr. X, which is why he hired the Puppet to help him create the Collective
personality) The Rogue Clone (an NPC at the time) had been free for years
since, performing investigations into, and espionage against, the USSR and Dr.
X.
There. Simple as pie. ;)
The current personality ( I
assume) is a blend of 3 and 4.
2 has been exposed to be a sham. 1
was handled long ago and hasn't returned.
But, as with all things PC, that's
up to you.
Best,
Jeff
--------------------------------------------------
Menagerie:
OOC:
There was American Sleeper Agent
Clone - The one that CHESS mentally conditioned to be given the Soviets in
exchange for Clone's Family (or is that Sleeper Family now?)
I checked the Issue it appears
that Skin Deep made herself look like Clone but she didn't create any clones of
herself. So there wasn't any to absorb except Skin Deep herself which wasn't
done.
Jeff correct me as I might has
misread it.
Best
Tom
--------------------------------------------------
GM:
OOC:
Hi
The "American Sleeper
Agent" Clone was just Alex with a post-hypnotic suggestion. It didn't form
a new personality. But it was probably another brick in the wall toward his
current mental state.
Skin Deep's mind never merged with
Alex's.
And, for extra credit, the Rogue
Clone (while he was an NPC) had sent a duplicate to join Vanguard years ago.
That duplicate (an NPC), who had a Russian accent but was "less
funny" than Alex, was seemingly killed (along with the Ghost) in the
labyrinthine underground beneath Lonely Town in the now famous Gang War Saga
against Morgue, the Five Bosses of Big City, and the Gang of the Living Dead.
But like Skin Deep, that
personality never merged with Alex's.
Best,
Jeff
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
OOC: I was going to mention this
one, but I wasn't sure if it was Rogue Clone.
--------------------------------------------------
GM:
OOC:
I was waiting for someone to bring it up!
And really, Rogue Clone started off with Alex's personality.
He's a duplicate of Alex.
He's just had a very different experience than Alex has for
the last few years. Maybe Alex with more wisdom?
--------------------------------------------------
Clone:
OOC:
Ok, you guys are start'n to
confuse me now . . . I can't even begin to imagine how poor Clone is handling
all of this.
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
OOC: Have you read comics? if so,
this should be easy peasy!
--------------------------------------------------
Menagerie:
OOC: True, the question is Clone a
DC character or Wolverine?
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
OOC: Weren't you paying attention?
Both! ;)
--------------------------------------------------
GM:
OOC: Wait a minute. I thought the
Question was a DC character who, personality-wise, was a clone of Steve Ditko.
--------------------------------------------------
Clone:
OOC: Love comics! Since the
beginning, I've kind'a been running with the whole Jamie Madrox thing in my
head as I try to figure out where I want to take Clone.
Jeff, I'll leave it up to you regarding
which of the revised "Clone Reply's" we go with; mine or Seth's, I'm
good either way - whichever you think works best for the story.
My apologies again Seth - I wasn't
thinking when I put out that first IC Response.
-Kev
--------------------------------------------------
Sentinel:
OOC: No need to apologize. It's our individual drive for our characters
moving forward that make it all interesting... and fun to be a part of the
game... and Jeff's willingness to extend us freedom to the degree he does
within each scenario. I very much
appreciated your willingness to adjust for how I saw Kirk's reaction to things.
On the big change, I will say some
of my favorite posts of yours have been the ones of humorous slant and you are
taking away some of your 'best' aspects for material with this change... so I'm
looking forward to seeing how you bring out the humor from a new angle. I think its part of your style and will flow from your writing... it will be
interesting to see how it manifests in the future. You are talented at writing humor which is
something that doesn't come to me at all when I'm writing.
Seth
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
OOC: I have to admit that the
whole merge scenario has some serious curveball potential.
--------------------------------------------------
Clone:
Definitely, and I want to keep
that ball rolling too from time to time -
I feel like it keeps folks guess'n. Along those lines - I was thinking
that it might be fun to have some of "Rogue Clone's" old memories
resurface from time to time. Perhaps Jeff could do it sought of like he did it
in this passed issue - instead of me picking his 'Level Up' stuff, maybe Jeff
could assign Skills or Powers that 'Rogue Clone' may have forgotten about throughout
the course of the storyline. For example, if we were adventuring in China
perhaps Clone would suddenly realize he speaks Chinese or if we were stuck in a
plane that was crashing because the pilot was unconscious, maybe Clone could
just start flying the plane without even realizing that he's doing it. If we do
go with that; which I think has a lot of 'fun potential', I would definitely
want it to be a surprise to Clone - "Wait a sec, how do I know what this
Chinese soldier is saying? I speak Chinese? Oh yeah . . . I guess I do speak
Chinese! Ni hao dude!"
-Kev
--------------------------------------------------
GM:
OOC:
Hi Kev,
Seth/Sentinel once modified his
powers/weaknesses outside of a Level Advancement, due to in-story events. I
charged him a Luck Point to get his Advancement early.
We can do the same thing with
Clone.
The "Fractured Psyche"
power you've described is really a power and a weakness, so no net gain there,
and no charge. I've reviewed it and approve it.
Beyond that, I see at least three
possibilities around your early Advancement:
1) Alex's Weakness of having been
in the Program (resulting in the programmed personality of the Collective and
other problems) could be eliminated at this point, with your early Level
Advancement if you chose. Game-wise, it would mean the Collective personality
is shattered, and no other mental programming from Dr. X or the Puppet remains.
Alex is free.
If you don't eliminate it with
your early Advancement, it means your loving GM can continue to use this
Weakness as a way to throw bad things at you. Up to you.
2) If you'd rather buy a power
that lets you access skills, as you describe above (say, a % chance of having a
skill in any given situation), then that could be your early Level Advancement.
3) Also, Clone has another
weakness that says he must rush to the aid of the defenseless, even if he knows
it's a trap. If the Rogue Clone's personality is a wise, world weary, cynical
one, then that Weakness could be bought off. Up to you.
But you can't do all three...
unless you replace them with other, new, and equally powerful Weaknesses.
Or, you can also opt to lose
existing Powers to buy new Powers.
Example: Clone could gain one or
more new powers by losing one or more of the following powers:
-His
Empathic Link to other Clones; a side effect of his Fractured Psyche and the
conflicting personalities roiling within him
-His Sexy Telepathy with other Clones, for the same reason
-His Heightened Endurance, as this whole ordeal has left him in a
weakened state
Up to you. Have a think and let me
know.
Level Advancement rules, and
Clone's character sheet, are on the site, as always:
http://vanguardhq.blogspot.com/
Best,
Jeff
--------------------------------------------------
Clone:
OOC:
I thinking that given the nature
of Clone's current condition, the direction the story seems to be taking him,
and my desire for fresh challenges - we should probably drop the following
Powers and Weaknesses:
Powers
- Heightened Senses: Empathic Link
- Limited Telepathy
Weaknesses
- Low Self-Control
- Psychological Limitation
What do you guys think?
--------------------------------------------------
GM:
OOC: How about a power about new
skills?
I haven't been following the new
Madrox stuff so I'm not sure what your idea is for Alex.
If he's no longer a hive mind (as
the loss of the empathic/telepathic link suggests) it would be interesting if
the duplicates were facets of all the personalities that have formed the
amalgam. One duplicate is sweet, funny Alex, one has an American accent, one is
like Clone Omega (but working for the good guys now), etc. Just a thought.
Best,
Jeff
--------------------------------------------------
Slate:
OOC: If this keeps going, you are eventually going to get a clone that doesn't want to go back...
Jon
--------------------------------------------------
Sentinel:
OOC:
With Madrox currently the
duplicates do have distinct personalities and there has been at least one Clone
who didn't return. I don' recall them
playing up the individual personalities much in recent times. The one that
didn't return became a priest, got married, etc
He actually returned as a supporting character a few months back in a
story line for at least the second time that I can recall.
X-Factor is currently the only
Marvel title I follow since I've been picking it up since Peter David picked up
writing it.
For Clone I definitely think
dropping the psychological limitation is warranted given his reintegrating the
rogue Clone. It would seem the street-wise dup had already overcome that
weakness. The rest of the changes
depend on where you want to go with the character moving forward.
From a Vanguard 'team' perspective
the link loss is big since it gave us contact between groups of us separated...
surely a change to have our GM smile since he can get away with more stuff now
:) ... but I say go with any changes that you do feel is developing from the
story line and from where you want Clone to progress as a character.
Seth
--------------------------------------------------
GM:
OOC:
That's funny. Didn't know about
Madrox. Haven't read an X title since Claremont and Paul Smith. And even then I
was just chasing the afterglow of Claremont, Byrne and Austin.
In a Batman the Animated Series
episode, Clayface makes an autonomous creation from his clay, who runs away
from him.
Also, there was a bad sci fi movie
recently with Ewan MacGregor where the wealthy grow clones (who have no rights)
to keep in a coma and harvest organs from, if ever they are needed. Until the
clones rise up and try to assume their masters' identities.
A recent Doctor Who episode called
"The Rebel Flesh" had a similar story.
Bring on the new Clone! ;)))
Best
Jeff
--------------------------------------------------
