CHAPTER ONE: 1943
The golden age Mystic
said sardonically, “Allow me to assume the burden of this moral dilemma for
you.”
The modern age Sentinel
replied with a small laugh, “It appears that whenever we meet we’re going to
end up rubbing each other the wrong way unintentionally. But ponder the possibility that I asked not
because of my moral dilemma but rather to be sure you knew you had one before
you.”
Agent America shook
the modern age Sentinel’s hand last. “Well it’s reassuring to know that even in
the future, there will always be a Sentinel making speeches!”
The modern age Sentinel
smiled and replied, “I hadn’t realized it was hereditary. I may use that line in my defense with my
teammates in the future.” And he
thought about recent decisions with Shel and what the future might bring for
the legacy of the Sentinel.
There was pain hidden behind that
smile knowing what would come for Agent America and the League. He supposed that there was a difference
between acting to change your own future and trying to alter that future of
someone else which had already occurred for you. And what if he somehow spared the fate to
come for Agent America and instead Swastika ended up destroying another life
for that same role?
CHAPTER TWO: VANGUARD VAULT
Vanguard had returned
home. They now had the Splinter of the
True Cross, the Sacrificial Dagger of the Maya, the Stone Idol of Cthulhu, and
the Ring of Eon. Five Artifacts remained, and Vanguard knew their locations
thanks to the Janus Chair:
- Northern
France
- The Nevada
desert
- Moscow (This
is assumed to be the Spear of Destiny, in possession of the SSS)
- Northern
California
- China
Vanguard voted that their next
target would be Northern France.
The
cities of the world were rioting. All the other superheroes on Earth were
working with CHESS and law enforcement to attempt to save lives and restore
order in the global crisis. Electromagnetic interference from the World Storm
had taken down the internet and all satellite communications. There would be no
high resolution satellite imagery of the next target site, nor thick CHESS
dossier on the location.
Vanguard
went to the Vault’s library. Beneath the
emergency generator lights, they poured through oversized atlases and tomes. Slate’s computer-like mind calculated
the coordinates received from Menagerie and Sentinel’s use of the Janus Chair.
“Paimpont Forest. In Brittany,” he said.
Avatar peered over his shoulder at the
map of northwestern France. “It’s Brocelïande,”
he gasped.
The hero
of ancient history explained. “According
to Arthurian legend, Brocelïande is a mystical forest deep in the heart of
Brittany, France. The Lady of the Lake
dwelt there. And it was the final
resting place of Merlin.”
Avatar pulled
down several more volumes, paged through them and found himself stopping at the
reproduction of a painting of questing knights entering the mysterious wood.
Menagerie wanted to go
to France directly. He didn't want to use the Ring yet. "We are not that
desperate yet. We may only get to use it once, so let’s wait until we truly
need it. Let's leave now I believe I am about to meet Merlin."
Archimedes raised
a great bushy eyebrow and harrumphed.
Menagerie transformed
into a lizard to use its power of regeneration. [Limited Regeneration: Heal
rate every 10 minutes, rather than every 15 seconds.] The shapeshifting shaman
used his mind speech spell to communicate with Vanguard.
Sentinel said, “I’m fine
with that if the balance of the team wants to not use the Ring. From what I
recall, activating the ring took all of us focusing and was a difficult
task. It would seem that with most of
the team well healed it wouldn’t be worth the toll merely to heal Menagerie and
me. But what about the pocket dimension
Mystic is using to store the artifacts?
Would it be possible for us to go into that place to heal but then have
Mystic retrieve us at this moment in time?
Mystic said, “I’m
afraid that wouldn’t work. Time in that dimension passes very slowly, if at
all. I selected it in order to keep the
Artifacts of Power as inert as possible.”
As the group discusses the
possibility of time travel; the normally quiet Clone unexpectedly made a suggestion regarding its use, “I think it
best that I wear the ring.” As the rest
of Vanguard looked towards Clone in surprise, the Replicating Russian explained.
“Since none of us have any clear idea about how the ring may affect the wearer,
perhaps I could have one of my doppelgangers use it. That way; if anything
should go wrong, none of you would get hurt and I could simply absorb the
injured duplicate . . . make sense?”
As the party of heroes pondered Clone’s offer, the
Multiplying Mutant stretched out his hand as if to ask for the ring and said,
“Next stop, Medieval France?”
Lightning Strike said,
“Nobody should hold the Ring at the moment and that the pocket dimension is the
best place for it. We should use it only
if it will save the world and nothing less than that. That includes saving the
life or lives of any member of Vanguard.
The stakes are so high at this point that only saving the world
justifies using the ring. We don't know
what would happen if we were to use it but judging from history, nothing good
can come of it. All things considered we are not in that bad shape and we are
not all that far away from getting what we need.”
Avatar said, “Are
there any questions that would help us decide?
I could manifest the wisdom of Athena to narrow down choices.”
Sentinel said, “I
hesitate because the toll on you is too great.”
Symbiote agreed with
the idea of Clone wearing the ring. He loaded the power template of Accelerator,
the slacker of speed, into the Harper Harness and activated it. [OOC: It grants following powers and
weaknesses:
1) Heightened Speed: +500”, as per the rules. +17 to
initiative.
2) Absorption: Velocity: Accelerator can absorb velocity,
store it temporarily, and transfer it to the target of his choosing, including
himself. Range=0”. Accelerator must
touch what he is absorbing velocity from, and transferring it to. PR = 1 PP per 100” of movement
absorbed/transferred. Costs movement (1/4 of total) to absorb or transfer
velocity.
Maximum
amount of velocity he can store = 1000”. Velocity beyond that is lost.
His
stored velocity dissipates at a rate of 50” per turn.
When
Accelerator absorbs velocity, the item he absorbs it from loses that amount of
velocity. If the target has more basic hits than Accelerator (for example, he’s
stealing velocity from a moving car) the target’s lost velocity is a fraction
proportionate to Accelerator’s basic hits/ the target’s basic hits. Likewise if
he transfers it to a target with more basic hits.
3) Weakness: Reduced Charisma/Will: -10 ]
Menagerie changed his
mind and agreed to Clone wearing the ring.
Avatar also reversed his
initial thought and said "no" to anyone using the Ring.
Clone, Menagerie, Symbiote voted to use the Ring of Eon.
Avatar
Lightning Strike, Sentinel, Slate, Slingshot voted against it.
It was decided.
Mystic secured
the Ring of Eon in the pocket dimension.
Sentinel had an unusual request. He wanted to witness the piercing of
the dimensions, and Mystic agreed.
Sentinel
confirmed that the Splinter of the True Cross, the Sacrificial Dagger of the
Maya, the Stone Idol of Cthulhu, and now the Ring of Eon, were there. After
piercing the dimensions, Mystic would need rest.
Slate
sought out his mother, and hugged her tightly.
His father’s words and touch had brought feelings he had not experienced
in some time... He wouldn't acknowledge it in front of the others, but with her
it was different.
Burying
his head in her shoulder he said, "I was so worried we would return and
you wouldn't be here. The thought of it
was unbearable. I don't know how we
could manage it, but maybe you should find a way to the digital realm until
things are safe here. I don't think Cthulhu
would have any desire to visit that universe, and I know Nemesis could protect
you, I know he could." He looked up
at her. "If you ask it of me, I
will stay with you. At least if
something happens to you it would happen to me too."
If
Nanite wished him to stay, he would remain behind, and try to find a way to
keep his mother safe, by attempting to get her safely away to the digital
dimension.
Nanite brought Scott
into the discussion. “Should Slate and I
evacuate to the Digital Zone for our safety?”
Slingshot was very
protective of them. He would certainly let them go and even be happy that they
would be protected by IT. He would ask if Slate could dig up some technological
goody to thwart the magical attack.
“Damn! This is exactly what
happened last time, except it was IT. Could we recruit IT to neutralize Cthulhu
somehow?”
Menagerie met
privately with his spirit guide, Archimedes, and enquired what happened in
Central Park. The great old owl looked
down and said, “They fled. But not afore the damage was done.”
Vanguard
regrouped and Mystic stood ready to gate them to Brocelïande.
It was noon in New York City. Two days and 12 hours until the End of the
World.
BOOM! Mystic opened a hole in space and Vanguard
went through it, except for Slate.
CHAPTER THREE: TO THE DIGITAL ZONE
Mystic’s gate shut. There was a brief silence as Sgt. Stone, Doc
Rocket, Shelley Harper, Mystic, Nanite and Slate looked at where the gate had
been. In that moment, to Slate, Vanguard’s extended family / support team
looked exhausted. Then they went back to
work. Mystic left to meditate and rest again. Everyone else went to the Special
Projects room to help Slate build a bridge to the Digital Zone.
Slate ran back to his
quarters first to get something he needed and on the way back heard
shouting. CHESS Agent Drake was in the
ready room. Slate could hear four other voices coming through speakers. He could only identify two of them: CHESS
Director Grey, and the President of the United States.
The President said, “Isn’t this
exactly what Vanguard is for?! The country is tearing itself apart and they’re
nowhere to be seen?! We need them now, God damn it.”
Grey said, “Mr. President, you
know that Vanguard are working to solve the root cause of the crisis.”
Drake said, “Sir, I can report that steady progress is being
made. We are halfway to achieving our
objective.”
A third voice, a woman, said, “Only halfway there? We may
run out of time. We need options.”
A fourth voice, a man, said calmly: “There are
contingencies. You’ve received our brief and our recommendations. But we need
to activate them now, while there’s still time.”
Grey said, “Mr. President, no.”
The President said, “Desperate times call for desperate measures,
Director.” He paused. Then, “So
authorized.”
The call ended and Slate raced to
meet everyone in the Special Projects Room of Vanguard Vault.
Slate knew:
The Digital Zone is what others call cyberspace, a virtual
environment of three-dimensional representations of all the information stored
in Earth’s computers. This dimension
appears black with billions of glowing chrysalis gossamers that form shapes,
landscapes, cities, constellations of data.
The gossamers connected to countless diadem screens, windows into our
world. It is unknown whether the Digital Zone also intersected with the
computer systems of other worlds, or dimensions. There appears to be no time
differential in the Digital Zone.
The Digital Zone [unlike Tron] appears to possess no indigenous sentient
population, with the following exceptions:
IT, aka, The Entity: The artificial intelligence program that
created Nemesis and Nanite, hybrid lifeforms of our universe and the Digital
Zone. It is unknown who created IT.
Vanguard team members have briefly entered the
Digital Zone twice. In doing so, they were digitized, rendered in green linear
data and translated into “programs” that were still “rejected” by the Digital
Zone, as an organic body might reject an incompatible organ, with the
exceptions of Slate, Nanite and Nemesis.
Nemesis: An android superhero, Freedom Force member,
and son of IT who first appeared in the early 1980s. When Silas Caine hired
Homicide for Hire to lock Slate and Nanite in the Digital Zone, and to infect
the Digital Zone with a virus to destroy all sentient programs, Vanguard
stopped him, and Nemesis stayed behind in the Digital Zone and somehow merged
with IT.
Cosmonaut, Siberian and the Luddite entered the Digital Zone, were translated
into programs and trapped in the Digital Zone.
Their whereabouts, and current conditions, are unknown.
There have been at least two
portals from this world into the Digital Zone: at Vanguard Vault and at Aztechnology Headquarters. The Vault portal was created by Nemesis and
Nanite when they were under the control of IT. The Aztech portal was created by
scientists in the employ of Silas Caine.
There was also a window to the Digital Zone that was created by Symbiote
and destroyed during the “Datanaut Invasion” of Vanguard Omega.
Slate used his
abilities to determine what would be the quickest way to create a new portal.
[OOC: This would be an Invention of a new Digital Zone
portal!
The skills to do this are present among those assembled. You
also have the materials you need.
You’ll need a power source; the Vault is on emergency
generators right now, the city is blacked out.
You’ll need to spend your last Luck Point like an Inventing
Point. Your chance of success is Int x 3%.
Would you like to make the inventing attempt? Doc and
Shelley are all out of Luck Points.]
Slate asked Doc
Rocket to make sure there was a kill switch, preferably hard wired, not
digital, in case something went wrong.
From his experiences with IT/Nemesis (conscious and unconscious), Slate
has no fear of them, but understands the threat they pose to this world, and he
does not want to make things worse. He
will attempt to make some type of digital communication with the digital
dimension prior to attempting anything.
[OOC: How? And what does the communication say? Thanks.]
Slate looked at the heir to the mantle of Einstein.
“Your optic rays, my boy. Objects that you blast are… ”digitized.” They are transported to the
Digital Zone. Could you transport a person, I wonder?”
[OOC: And that’s
your other choice, Jon. Rather than
Inventing, this might be an opportunity to use your saved Level Advancements to
earn the permanent ability to Dimensional Travel between Earth and the Digital
Zone, like how Adam Strange’s Zeta Beam allows him to travel between Earth and
Rann. Up to you.
Actions, replies,
Slate?]
CHAPTER FOUR: Brocelïande.
BOOM! Vanguard
exited the gate and found themselves immediately attacked by intense heat.
Brocelïande
was burning. The raging conflagration of
a full blown forest fire blazed for miles around.
Gigantic
trees fell. Black smoke filled the skies. Heat broiled like an oven. The flames greedily devoured what air there
was. The blistering inferno would render normal men unconscious.
Menagerie’s Nature Sense showed him how the forest had been, and should be.
Menagerie could hear the ancient spirits of the forest crying out
in pain. This was the second sacred
grove he had seen razed by flame.
Menagerie and Sentinel could detect the energy of the next Artifact
of Power. As always, they knew its
direction but not its distance.
Vanguard were in a clearing, and relatively safe right now. But the
direction of the Artifact would lead them into the heart of the forest fire.
[OOC: fyi, for those of you that are interested in
the rules, here’s what will happen when you enter a forest fire. If you’re not
interested in rules, just jump down past this OOC aside. Thanks!
Intense Heat:
Every character
will be subject to a Flame Powers attack every turn (i.e.: 15 seconds). Damage is 1d12 and characters that are “hit”
may roll with this damage. The number of
hit points taken is the % chance that the character will catch fire (which
serves as an automatic “hit” each turn until the flames are extinguished).
Smoke and suffocation:
Characters
without a method of breathing (Life Support, Adaptation, etc.) can hold their
breath for Endurance turns (i.e.: Endurance x 15 seconds) at a Power Point cost
of 1 per turn.
If they are
surprised at the sudden loss of their breathing method, they must save vs.
Endurance on d100, or have their breathing time reduced to Endurance phases (i.e.:
approximately Endurance seconds). Once a
character is out of air, they pass out and must save vs. Endurance on d100
every turn or die. Characters with
Willpower A may double their Endurance score for these rules only.
Smoke and visibility:
Visibility is
20”, or 100 feet. Also, fyi, it’s past
sundown in this time zone.
Super Power modifications:
Characters with
Water Breathing B will become dehydrated four times as fast.
Ice Powers do
half damage and ice creations have half their creation points.
Characters with
Flame Powers are immune to the heat damage listed above.
Magnetic Powers
have 75% of their carry capacity, due to the intense heat.
Winged
characters, due to the rising hot air, will gain 8” altitude between turns, and
double their PR cost to fly.
Some explosive
types will have a 25% chance of detonating per turn due to the intense heat.]
OOC: Actions please. What’s the plan?
CHAPTER FIVE: THE KREMLIN
The pistol flew from Clone’s hand
and landed in Doctor X’s. Doctor X had
the power of telekinesis!
“Alexi, did you really think I
would author a program to create superpowered men, and deny myself that power?”
The six masked soldiers aimed
their automatic rifles at Clone.
Movement could be heard in the hall outside.
Doctor X said, “You come at an
opportune time, my sweet Alexi. If we
are to survive this apocalypse, Russia must unite with America, as we did in
World War II.
“And to forge that alliance, I can
imagine no one better suited than you.”
Realizing he didn’t have many
options available to him, Clone thought it might be best to except Doctor X’s
offer . . . for now.
Clone turned to the Russian
mastermind and said simply, “You're making me an offer to form an alliance at
gun point? I’m sorry Doctor X, but for me to even consider your offer you would
have to make a gesture of good faith . . . please have your men lower their
weapons and leave us alone to talk.”
“Very well,” said Doctor X. He ordered the six armed soldiers to wait
outside.
Appearing somewhat satisfied with Doctor X’s decision, Clone
then asked Doctor X, “… and what happens to this ‘alliance’ once we defeat our
mutual enemy?”
The old man said, “It remains my hope that you will return
to us, Alexi.” Doctor X recited another
Russian proverb, “There are many houses, but only one home.”
Still curious, Clone asked, “…and
assuming that I’m open to the possibility of being the harbinger of this
alliance, what will you be bringing to the table? I mean you must know that
Vanguard has already secured a few of the ancient relics, how many have you
managed to obtain?”
Doctor X said, “In addition to the Spear of Destiny from the
Lost Lab of Dr. Swastika, we also hold a Mirror crafted in Ancient China. That
is not all I have to share. But before I continue, it is your turn to share. I
require a gesture of good faith as well, Alexi. Which artifacts do Vanguard
hold? For each answer you give me, I shall give one to you.”
OOC: Replies? Actions?
Thanks everyone!
Best,
Jeff
Current
Conditions:
Avatar: Hit Points: 27, Power Points: 85, Manifestation:
None
Clone: Hit Points: 16/5, Bodies: 2, Hit Point Pool: 23,
Power Points: 67/67 (Stats are France/Russia)
Lightning Strike: Hit Points: 41, Power Points: 85
Menagerie: Hit Points: 26, Power Points: 66, Form: Human
Sentinel: Hit Points: 7, Power Points: 62, Creation Points:
124, Shields: 100
Slate: Hit Points: 19, Power Points: 73
Slingshot: Hit Points: 79, Power Points: 92,
Invulnerability: 8
Symbiote: Hit Points: 28, Power Points: 83, Charges: 13,
Activated: Accelerator
--------------------------------------------------
Avatar:
Avatar will pause while (I am
assuming) the group is told of the direction of the next artifact. Upon hearing of the direction, he will
manifest first the aspect of Hephaestus to give him immunity to fire and heat
(OOC: Considering the source of the
power, would you allow this to also at least partially negate the
smoke/suffocation damage?). He will then
manifest the power of Zeus and see about making it rain in the direction of the
artifact.
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
So Slingshot looks onwards to the
fire and can feel dispair. "I can't do that. I can't go through that. I
won't make it." He paces.. Looks at the fire.. paces some more.
"Sentinel, Menagerie, How far are we from the artifact?"
[OOC]
Shite! how far are we? I need
Menagerie or Sentinel to tell us.
So of course, I'm thinking of a
million ways to avoid the fire.
1) How much water is around? I'm
thinking maybe symbiote can use Inhuman's powers to do something with water, or
maybe Avatar with weather powers?
2) Tunnelling: If you can't go
through, go underneath. Calculating how far we are and my engineering skills -
how far/fast can we burrow under the dirt to get to the artifact?
--------------------------------------------------
GM:
OOC:
Hi
Harold, when manifesting
Hephaestus, smoke will be half as effective on Avatar.
Stephane, buried deep in this
issue I mentioned that Menagerie and Sentinel could tell direction but not
distance. :-)
Slingshot doesn't immediately see
a body of water. The communicators' GPS was still down. Vanguard had no
satellite imagery. But from the atlas,
he knew there was a small lake adjacent to the southeast border of the forest,
and that several rivers ran through the forest.
Given the array of superpowers at
Vanguard's command, tunneling might be possible at a reasonable rate of
speed. But should the fire move, the
tunnel's air source could be lost.
Best,
Jeff
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
OOC: Sorry, got distracted by the
big bonfire. :)
--------------------------------------------------
Sentinel:
OOC:
Hi all.
Some stuff for Jeff:
Looking at the fire and using his
energy sense, is this normal Fire or at least partially magic in nature?
For avatar how much of a dent in
the fire could his rain control make?
Any reason Kirk couldn't fly the
team over the burning forest towards the object? He could fly high enough to avoid the heat
damage and provide environment to breathe. Problem would be when we get knocked
out of the sky from whatever threat awaits.
As an alternative he could shield
the team in a digging construct underground (like when escaping when they were
buried in the tunnels during the battle with the crime bosses and black bat.
But since we don't know the distance not sure of the speed that way.
Symbiote as Accelerator isn't fast
enough like the flash to run around the fire and deprive it or air to put it
out, is he?
Have some other notes on other
parts of the issue not pertaining to our next actions on my desk and will try
to send during the week but wanted to get these thoughts and questions out
there.
Seth
--------------------------------------------------
Menagerie:
OOC: Great ideas.
Can Menagerie sense the fire is natural
or magical?
Are there any animals around that
he can talk to. He wants to find out who or what did this and if they are still
around.
Tom
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
While the team is all together
(before Slate and others leave for the tech dimension), Slingshot interrupts
the team and says:
"This last mission has given
me much to think about. I would like to have a quick review of the situation we
are in. We are in a race for artifacts. The soviet are obviously making a run
for it as well. How many they have is still up in the air."
"We have recently averted an
incursion from the Technological dimension (IT) by making friends with it. I
don't think that's an option right now."
"We know that Tech and Magic
are different dimensions and are antithesis to each other, we inconveniently
live in between these dimensions."
"While we used to become more
technological world, now we are becoming more magical world, at least I
presume. At this point, I would assume that the magical ones of us should
become more powerful. while the technological ones of us may wane."
"What do we do in preparation
of this? Can we tap into this to boost us? Before the others do so?"
[OOC] Jeff, I would like to see
what it would mean to be able to tap into the ambient magical energies. Sort of
something that would give you more juice only when there is a lot of it around,
and a LOT of juice if there's a humongous amount of it. I'm looking at a
one-shot type of device (magical)? Something that would work only in the
current conditions.[OOC]
--------------------------------------------------
GM:
Hi guys.
OOC replies:
Sentinel:
Menagerie and Sentinel detect no
magical properties in the flames.
I don't think Sentinel's ever seen
Avatar create a rainstorm, so he doesn't know what effect it will have on the
forest fire.
Vanguard could fly over the fire,
but they would have to go very high to have any visibility due to the
smoke. And when they found the Artifact,
they may have to enter the forest fire at that point.
Sentinel's constructs could help
in tunneling.
Symbiote's never tried to
extinguish flames with Accelerator's powers before, so no one knows if it can
be done.
Menagerie:
Menagerie and Sentinel detect no
magical properties in the flames.
Menagerie sees no animals at this
moment. In life, Franklin Donovan was a
park ranger, and had seen his share of forest fires. The wildlife would have fled a fire of this
scale by now.
He could spend an action (or
actions) tracking a predator, if you want. It should be possible. Their
direction is predictable in a situation like this.
Slingshot:
This is a one-shot invention as
per the rules, except it will cost a Luck Point to attempt. Chance of success might be Int x 3%.
You guys were at Vanguard Vault
for less than two hours. Before I rule
if that's enough time to attempt this, I need to know two things.
What is it? Slingy wants to tap
into the ambient, off the scale, levels of mystical energy from the Convergence
to do what? Does "juice" means he wants more Power Points if he
succeeds in doing this? Thanks.
How? I need a magical explanation, please. Is this a spell? Is Slingy discovering an innate power of his,
as a spawn of Nyarlhotep? Is he using
his Occult skill to find a process to make it happen? Other? Thanks.
Best,
Jeff
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
OOC: No Problem. I knew I wasn't
explaining myself right. I was not looking for something that would be
Slingshot specific. I was thinking something to generally give the team a
boost.
As a power stunt, I was thinking
of something like a syphon that would tap in the ambiant magical energy to help
regenerate the powerpoints of the user. Something like granting waterbreating B
- with the condition that the ambiant Magical energy would need to be at the
level that is required to engage the power (your call, is being close to an
artifact enough? is it only something that will trigger when we are about to
lose the planet to Chtulu? I'll leave it up to you). Very powerful boost, only
under very specific conditions, likely for a very short time.
As an explanation: I would assume
that Occult skill would need to be used. I'm not sure what to use here, but
could it be an amulet with Sentinel's eye? The mechanism could be
steampunk-ish. He would leverage his engineering background and use occult knowledge to make this happen. Not sure if
that works with Sentinel's plot/side plot.
Clear as mud? Let me know if it
makes more sense.
Stephane.
--------------------------------------------------
Sentinel:
Hi Jeff.
Unless someone comes up with a
better plan I think Kirk going above the trees to a point where there is no
fear of hitting them and high enough to prevent damage from the heat would be
fine. He doesn't need to physically see
the artifact or anything else until they get close enough to grab it. He can track it with his energy sense and use
his energy sense as a radar of sorts to travel through the area - it would just
be a matter of going towards the artifact and avoiding anything in their way
(hopefully high enough for nothing - and he could make part of his construct
work as a feeler ahead in case somehow something was in front of them to
prevent a crash).
Also with his energy senses honed
in hopefully he could be aware of an incoming attack from any direction in time
before it happens to warn the team. My
concern is that I'm not naive enough to fly in thinking that the fire is 'it'
and that at some point we are all going into the fire from enemy attack...
If anyone thinks the tunneling
will work to avoid the fire I'm open to it but afraid it will take much too
long to get to the artifact that way (unless we happen to fall upon tunnels of
some sort).
Might I ask if drenching ourselves
prior to going into the forest might offer some additional protection when we
are exposed to the fire?
Does there seem any chance we can
go around the fire in front of us to perhaps get closer to the artifact before
entering the fire? (could the artifact
be behind the forest fire - yes, I know you wouldn't be that nice to us but
figured I'd ask before we all get toasted)
Again I'm very much open to
something other than Kirk flying us in overhead that will get things done in a
reasonable time frame but from what I've read it is standing out... given that we have some teammates that can
move VERY fast it might be worth trying to get an idea of just how big the fire
is at this point and if we can approach it from another direction to get to the
artifact more prudently that way. (yes
I'd bet money that after we check it all the artifact will be at the very
center of the fire but it seems to be
the prudent thing to do) - Right now
Symbiote is a speedster and both
Slingshot and Avatar can travel great distances quickly - I think Strike too
but don't think it will work for him without electronic devices around.
*** As a last thought, if we were
going to consider tunneling - perhaps we'd to better tunneling the water from
the sources into the forest to clear a way into the fire. With Slingshot's architectural skill (not to
mention Avatar's wisdom if needed) perhaps that might be a means to get us a
path to the artifact and actually help nature's current situation - got to be
easier to dig some trenches to move the water then to tunnel underground for
miles. ***
Seth
--------------------------------------------------
Slate:
OOC: Question on Menagerie's
regeneration... [Limited Regeneration: Heal rate every 10 minutes, rather than
every 15 seconds.] I thought normal heal
rate was once per day. Is this for PP or
HP?
IC: Slate looked at Doc Rocket,
tilting his head to one side, "I had not considered the possibility, but
in my experience living matter tends to react differently to my powers than
inanimate objects do." He began to
work with Doc, Shelley, Nanite, and Sgt. Stone assisting to put the portal back
together. He focused initially on the
monitoring equipment from the original portal.
As he worked, he asked his mother about how she came to this dimension,
and how she had come to initially be rescued by his father.
OOC: He wanted to communicate with
Nemesis first to ensure it would be safe for Nanite and himself to enter the
digital zone. He also wanted to know if
there would be anyway that they Nemesis/IT/Slate could assist in the coming
battle if it came to that. Slate's prime
directive is to ensure Nanite is safe, and then to return to aid Vanguard any
way he is able.
Jon
--------------------------------------------------
GM:
OOC:
Hi Everyone,
As always, any player can suggest
actions for another player's character. But only you can write the final orders
for your own character. Thanks.
Slingshot/ Stephane:
Got it. You won't have enough time to complete this
before leaving for France. Does Slingshot spend a Luck Point to begin this one
shot invention before leaving?
Sentinel/ Seth:
Drenching yourselves will halve
the chance of catching fire. What's the water source?
There's no path around this fire
that leads toward the Artifact.
A forest fire smoke plume can
exceed a mile in height. Is Sentinel flying over it, or through it? If the
latter, visibility will be zero. Your speed will need to be slow enough so that
you can safely stop should your energy sense detect energy in your path, or
should your tendril feelers detect solid objects in your path.
Slate/ Jon:
Regeneration allows a healing rate
per turn, in hit points. A turn is 15 seconds.
Menagerie can gain powers
depending on the animal form he assumes. Water Breathing B when a shark, wings
when an eagle, heightened senses when a wolf, speed bonus when a cheetah.
This Limited Regeneration power
allowed a healing rate every 10 minutes, in hit points. It is 40 times weaker
than Regeneration.
Best,
Jeff
--------------------------------------------------
Symbiote:
My suggestion is a combination of
three powers: Avatar summons as much rain as he safely can (i.e., not summoning
on inland monsoon) to douse as much of the fire as he can.
Sentinel creates a flying platform
to carry us over the (hopefully receding) flames.
Symbiote uses his speedster powers
to wave his arms in a circular motion and create miniature vortexes to clear
out the smoke in our path as we travel towards the artifact, at least partially
clearing our visibility.
Viva Vanguard and Happy New Year,
Greg/Hal/Symbiote
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
OOC: Jeff,
On the flip side, what kind of
power stunt do you have in mind for something that would be Slingshot specific?
--------------------------------------------------
GM:
OOC: A one shot invention has an Int x 3% chance of success, rolled at the moment of truth... when you're about to use it.
OOC: A one shot invention has an Int x 3% chance of success, rolled at the moment of truth... when you're about to use it.
It costs 1 Luck Point.
The invention has a single use.
(See 2nd edition rules for more on this)
I like the idea of your
engineering/physics skills combining with your occult skills in a metaphysical
way.
If you succeed, here's what
happens:
During the Convergence, when you
activate the invention, you regain all your Power Points.
Additionally, every magical character
in its area of effect (5" radius) may also regain their Power Points if
they spend a Luck Point.
Non-magical characters may also do
this, but it costs them 2 Luck Points.
If you use it within 24 hours of
the convergence, but not at that exact moment, you only restore half your
missing Power Points.
If you go through with this: what
does it look like, and what is this invention's name?
Thanks,
Jeff
--------------------------------------------------
Slingshot:
OOC: Thinking about the looks and
name. I haven't found a picture that I'm happy with yet. Give me a few days. I
think I'm ok with the concept.
This may be also a new avenue of
"powers" I've been an innate kind of guy, this could be something
that would work with my character's background without becoming all cthuhlu-esque.
Stephane
--------------------------------------------------
Menagerie:
Menagerie is angry. First Central
Park and now here. When he finds who is responsible there will be a reckoning.
Menagerie will use a luck point to
see if there is anyway his revitalization spell would put out enough of the
fire to get to the artifact. Maybe in concert with Avatar's rain. I am thinking
that sucking energy from the fire is a form of putting it out like denying it
fuel will cause it to burn out.
If that won't work then Menagerie
will take the form of an eagle. He will use his keen avian eyesight to lead
Vanguard to the artifact.
Best
Tom
--------------------------------------------------
Lightning Strike:
Not sure electrical power is of
much use in a forest or fire so Strike will attempt to scan underground for
electrical sources such as underground wires or perhaps Iron Ore that is buried
that he can conduct through to avoid the fire.
That's all for now,
Tony
--------------------------------------------------
Avatar:
OOC: Tony,
once there's a little rain on the ground or even in the air, you might be able
to take that route.
--------------------------------------------------
Lightning
Strike:
OOC: Actually
water is one of my weaknesses as it is difficult to maintain cohesion in
water. I suppose I could use an
invention point to figure out a way around it but I never have.
--------------------------------------------------
Clone:
Broceliande:
( OOC: Unfortunately Clone isn’t
much use getting the group out of the wild fire area OR putting it out –
besides, it looks like we already have a pretty solid plan in place. For now,
he’s just along for the ride. )
The Kremlin:
Still curious, Clone asked, “…and
assuming that I’m open to the possibility of being the harbinger of this
alliance, what will you be bringing to the table? I mean you must know that
Vanguard has already secured a few of the ancient relics, how many have you
managed to obtain?”
Doctor X said, “In addition to the
Spear of Destiny from the Lost Lab of Dr. Swastika, we also hold a Mirror
crafted in Ancient China. That is not all I have to share. But before I
continue, it is your turn to share. I require a gesture of good faith as well,
Alexi. Which artifacts do Vanguard hold? For each answer you give me, I shall
give one to you.”
------------
Clone took a few moments to ponder
the game of “tit for tat” that Doctor X was suggesting before he finally
responded in a trepidatious tone, “Fine . . . we can play this game if you
wish. The last time I saw the rest of my group, we had three of the artifacts;
the Splinter of the True Cross, the Sacrificial Dagger of the Maya, and the
Stone Idol of Cthulhu.” He than looked sharply at Doctor X and continued, “ . .
. and now its your turn. Are there any other teams out there looking for
artifacts; and if so, what have they found?”
( OOC: Doctor X’s Response )
( OOC: Once Doctor X has responded
. . . )
Not knowing if he could trust
anything that came out of his villainous mouth, Clone nodded at Doctor X as if
to suggest that he was satisfied with the answer he provided.
Before Doctor X had a chance to
say another word, Clone’s youth got the best of him and caution quickly turned
to courage. His demeanor became dark and a fire began to grow in his eyes as he
snapped sharply at the Super-villain, “Enough of the games, Doctor, you know
what I really want to know!” The Replicating Russian than reached for his mask;
and with one quick pull ripped it away from his head. He lunged forward and
thrust his face towards his would be creator and growled menacingly, “Why?!?”
OOC: Jeff, let me know if you need
anything else from me – I can get it out by tomorrow/Tuesday night.
Talk to you guys soon,
-Kev
--------------------------------------------------
