Reading the morning edition you see:

CRIME ON THE RISE!

Snake Men to Blame!?

(insert badly drawn artist's rendition of a snake man)

Cats reported missing in record numbers, Local Man claims this means an earthquake is imminent.

The Mystery Times always gives you more - Exclusive Stories Inside!

Having finished his shift at the Stark medical lab, one of the free labs set up by Pepper Potts as part of the Stark charities to assist the people of New York, Travis was sitting at a table outside of the Schawarma King sipping a cup of strong coffee and enjoying some of the delicious baba ghanoush as he read the day's Mystery Times.

Hmmm, these seem incredibly unlikely..especially as dogs are traditionally those beasts bothered by earthquakes.  Besides, New York sits upon a massive basalt and granite dome, even should there be an earthquake, little will happen...unless, it was not to be a natural quake.

A young black man sat on a bench in Central Park, leaning back with one foot on the bench. He was wearing a burnt orange hoodie and basketball shorts, his low top sneakers had seen better days. He was sipping from a large soda cup from Schawarma King and watching the world go by.

"I'm just asking if you have ever seen a snake man?"
"No, I haven't. Maybe they're hiding in the sewers and abandoned subway tunnels, with the alligators."
"I can tell you're being sarcastic."
"Heh. What's the obsession with snake men anyway? It's just a stupid tabloid."
"They could be aliens."
"Sure they could. Oh. Did you know any?"
"Not really, but there are are aliens you know."
"Now you're the one being sarcastic."
"Heehee."

He took a long slurp of the straw, staring in the direction of a couple walking along the path, staring at a map and looking around.

"Tourists? I wonder of it's their honeymoon."
"Too old. Maybe they just came to the city after dropping their kid off at Columbia."
"Aww, that's sweet."
"But it's not them. It's the guy checking them out."
"You mean, besides us?"
"You are really catching on to this sarcasm thing."
"Heehee."
"Look."
"I see him. Yeah, he is giving them the look. I wonder what he's thinking..."

Jason Samuels frowns at the headlines. Dumb kid left the neighbor's paper at his door again. Rising crime, sensational stories... Snake Men? Amused, he decides to keep the paper. After a quick shower and shave, Jason scoops up an apple and hits the street, trusty costume bundled in a slung pack. He skims the article itself for more clues about these 'Snake Men.'

A man in his late teens or early twenties looks out over the terrace of his penthouse apartment at the sprawling vista of Central Park below him.  Dad bought it a few years ago because mom loved Billy Joel, it was going to be a surprise but they...  The coffee he was holding explodes and the liquid spins off in multiple directions but not a drop actually touches him.

For a while the young man stares at his hand, around which a vortex of dark purple energy swirls.  Then he concentrates and the energy fades away.  "Dammit Nate, keep yourself together." he mutters to himself.  Wiping some coffee off the Mystery Times he looks over the headlines of snake men, earth quakes, missing cats and the like.

Promising himself to do some more practice patrols tonight, he turns away from the view and takes takes the elevator down to street level.  With is coffee ruined and not really feeling like ordering in, he will head over to Schawarma King across the park and get some food.

A bit of a walk later he passes a young black man in an orange hoodie that seemed to have the same idea as him.  Moments later he finds himself sitting down at a table with his order.

Possibly Nate's apartment https://www.manhattanscout.com...looking-central-park
This message was last edited by the player at 22:14, Fri 12 June 2015.

A young (looking) woman sat on the couch in her boyfriend's apartment idly flicking through the morning paper while using her tail to flick the cat away from the half full pizza box containing breakfast. Six hundred years of being a demon had left her with suprisingly few domestic skills and with Bryan away on a stakeout cold pizza it had to be.

She'd actually been looking for the classifieds, seeking employment opportunities now that she was mortal(ish) but one red hand paused before turning the page. The words 'snake men', 'earthquake' and even cats caught her eyes. With her free hand she took a drag of her cigarette as she studied the picture.

"Awesome. Wonder if my old co-workers are involved or if these are freelances?" Devilgirl's voice was excited and, for reasons unknown even to her, had a slight Irish accent.

She exhaled the cigarette smoke (from her ears) and eagerly read on...

Looking further into the news:

SNAKEMEN!

Multiple witnesses claim to have seen a half-snake half man slither into a storm drain near 31st and Cressent outside Kelly's Bar and Grill at 2am.  Local man says "It was wearing a white lab coat, and it just squeezed through the grate.  It was disgusting and scary."  It was described as very large and scary with shiny green scales.  Kell, the owner of the bar & grill is concerned the snakeman will drive away customers and has called for hunting it down.  Is there more than one snakeman?  What are their intentions?  Are they behind the disappearance of cats?  Will they be entering our homes through the toilets?

We talked to Herpetologist (snake scientist) Dr. Eve Slitherins.  Dr. Slitherins says it was probably a normal python, someone's illegal pet that was released when it got too big, and happened to have a lab coat, just like the giant python found in central park last year.  She says it could be large enough to eat cats, but snakes generally only eat somewhere between one meal a week to one a year, and couldn't account for more than very small percentage of cats.  She also says not to worry, it poses no threat to adult humans, and it will most likely die off in the winter if not captured.

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

LOCAL MAN SAYS MISSING CATS INDICATE IMMINENT EARTHQUAKE!


The cat population has been diminishing, an animal control employee from Scarsdale called anonymously after he noticed a marked increase in calls by owners trying to find their missing cats, and a sharp drop in the number of captures of feral cats, he called us to warn everyone that missing animals often proceed an earthquake and that he for one would be taking a leave of absence for a week.

We confirmed with our own classifieds that numbers of missing cat return rewards have skyrocketed within the last week.  We spoke with Dr. Harrold Elementus doctor of seismology at Buffalo University that reports of missing animals do usually proceed an earthquake, but usually not just cats however there are faults in the area, and an earthquake is likely to occur in the near future.  He also warns of the Yellowstone Caldera, a supervolcano that will likely wipe out all human life and shroud the earth in darkness for a thousand years has shown signs of activity.

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

CRIME ON THE RISE!

Representative Reynolds has the crime report, and it's up!  In the last month alone crime has doubled!  Reynolds is calling for tougher laws, and a crackdown on crime!  He says Current Mayor Barco must be impeached immediately and replaced, and has offered his name up as replacement. We at the Mystery times will not stand for this failure of our current Mayor and Police Commissioner and fully back Representative Reynold's call for impeachment of Barco and Reynold's bid for Mayor.  Join at the steps of the Office of the Mayor Tomorrow morning at 10 am for a protest and rally!

(OOC: Is anyone in costume at this point (Devilgirl is pretty obvious, but others?))
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:07, Fri 12 June 2015.

Jason's eyebrows raise - he had heard rumblings, but hadn't realized the protest was today. People with problems against the Commissioner meant unsolved crimes, and unsolved crimes meant work. If I hurry, Jason calculates I might just make it in time to rub elbows with the crowd. He begins a brisk jog towards the rally point.

OOC: Currently not in costume, though it is bundled in a backpack from my first post. Picture casual attire... jeans, jacket and sneakers.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:24, Fri 12 June 2015.

Devilgirl read the news with mounting excitement. Well this seemed like a much better deal than waitressing or working as an office temp. A chance to do good and maybe earn some brownie points upstairs!

The demoness stood up and brushed down her black minidress which had withstood the heat of Tartarus well enough but got weirdly crumpled after a morning lying on a mortal couch. She slipped her feet into her black high heels and moved to the bathroom to check her reflection.

Okay, lets see, horns: sharp and polished, hair: perfect, breath- she held a hand over her mouth and nose and exhaled. Her nostrils filled with a smell of brimstone and she smiled in relief. Breath perfect, earrings: fine, ears-

Devilgirl frowned and stuck her index finger into her left ear, waggling it a little experimentally. Yep definite waxy buildup. She concentrated, there was a whooshing noise and a plume of smoke and a few flickers of fire came out of her right ear. She pulled her finger out of her left ear and blew away a few lingering whisps of smoke. Who needs q-tips?

She stood back and admired herself. She was as ready as she'd ever be. Walking out of the bathroom she opened the window and stepped, manifesting her aura as she did so. Firey wings spread Devilgirl flew towards the Mayor's Office.

DARIEN

The man watching the old couple sways and looks nervously around, somehow his eyes pass over you as if you aren't there.  He approaches the old couple, he suddenly grabs the woman like a he would a buddy, and she screams weakly!  "Help!" The old man shouts at him "Get your hands off my wife, you hooligan!"

Nate finishes reading the paper and ponders a moment.  No idea what do about the snakes, cats, and earthquake.  Crime I can help with and there is a chance something could go wrong at that rally.

Putting the paper down for the next person to take advantage of, he checks his phone for someplace near the mayors office and goes out to the street and hails a cab. "Woolworth Building".

From there I can see the rally and change if I need to.

OOC Gyre has his morphic fabric suit on under his street clothes and might be able to do a spin change ... at the very least he is hard to recognize as a spinning blur surrounded in a purple vortex :)
This message was last edited by the player at 00:22, Sat 13 June 2015.

"Damn!" Darian whispered (the first vocalization he made in the past hour) as the man he had noticed moved on the couple. It happened much faster than he had expected. He stood up from the park bench, one hand in the pocket of his hoodie, the other wrapped around the oversized drink cup. He walked in the direction of the couple while reaching out to touch him mentally. What was he thinking?

17:11, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 77 using 1d100. Ranked Feat of Telepathy (WC).
Silver result.

As described earlier, Darien is just in shorts, a hoodie (t-shirt underneath), and sneakers.

This message was last edited by the player at 00:12, Sat 13 June 2015.

PROTEST OUTSIDE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE!


A couple score of septuagenarians hold signs walking in front of the Mayor's office "Stop Crime!" "Just say No!"  "Pharmacuticals are your right!" "Support Reynolds for Mayor!"  "Impeach Barco!" a handful of younger people pause in their walks to see what's up.  Two cops look bored standing near the steps.  A news van stands by.  You recognize R. Race Rasumsen, editor of Mystery Times, an ancient frail man, as he shuffles toward a  mic.  He fumbles with the mic and mutters "Newfangled contraption." as feedback that continues far too long sends most of the younger people on theirr way until someone yells several times at him to turn his hearing aid down, it's causing feedback.

DARIEN

The man's mind is weird, it feels slippery, yet Darien reads his thoughts "These chumpss have to have ssomething worth ssomthing, need money for Doctor Cobra."  He says "Hey, friendss, make a donation to worthy cause! What's you got in here?"  Grabbing the old lady's purse, while keeping his arm around her shoulder.

The old lady protests "You're hurting me!  Give him what he wants Frank!"

"Hey! Dude. Let let her go. Leave them alone!" Darien said aloud to the mugger as he approached.

"Who is Doctor Cobra?"
"I don't know. Maybe your Snake Men aren't aliens after all."
"He knows. We should ask him."
"Later. Right now, I don't want the old folks to get hurt."

Darien repeated his command, his voice more forceful than before. He backed it up with a powerful mental message as well.


10:05, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 96 using 1d100. Mental Blast: Feat of Psyche.
Gold result

DARIEN

The man accosting the elderly couple brought his hands hands to his head and sank to his knees while grunting loudly "ARGH!"  The old lady, turned to Darien and said "Thank you young man! It's not often we get to meet a sweet young man who'll help an old lady."

The old man said "Come on, Gladys, we must to find the police and report this man."

The old lady rummaged in her purse a moment and pulled out a quarter "Please take this as a reward and get yourself an ice cream."

"Aww how sweet!"

Darien just stared at the quarter. "Uh, sure. No problem." He looked down at the man on the ground and back to the man. "Yeah, get a cop."

"And hopefully he won't arrest me.", he thought.
"Why would he?"
"You haven't been watching the news for the past... hell, hundred years."

"Let's see where this Doctor Cobra character is," he said after the couple shuffled off.

17:50, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 98 using 1d100. Mind Proble: Who/where is Dr. Cobra?
Gold result.

Shaking his head, Jason ambles over to the crowd. He moves casually, scanning faces until one of the protesters meets his eye. Maybe they could shed some light on the specifics of what was going on.

"Rasmusen really has a presence," he hollers over the feedback with a jerk of his thumb "And I can't wait to see him stick it to the mayor - so what's Barco done to you?"

"CRIME ON THE RISE!"

"Eh? What's that young man? Barco?  He's got no sense!  Cut budgets to police and funded those 'free clinics!'  Put law abiding citizens in danger I tell you!  Why just look at these youngsters in their Hemp clothing!" pointing to a 20 something in grungy baggy clothes walking by.

Just then a black mustang squeals to a stop nearby, and an older man with a thick mustache wearing a suit and a stetson hops out, a couple of hulking brutes in black suits take their time squeezing out after him.  He approaches the Mic.

Rasmusen says "Ah there's our esteemed Mr. Reynolds, everyone welcome him to New York!"

A weak smattering of applause awaits him.  Mr. Reynolds come up smiling and shakes Rasmusen's hand and whispers something to him (for super hearing etc:

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
"Is this all you could get, you promised me a big crowd."

---

)  He takes the stands and starts to speak "I've come here to straiten this city out.  Just look around at what it's become under Barco."  He pauses for a effect and starts to speak, but just then there's a fire in sky shooting down.  "Holy <Censored>, what's that!?"

One of the old people shouts "It's the Devil!  End of Days! Repent!"

(Devilgirl enters)
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:08, Mon 15 June 2015.

Once he arrived Gyre got in the elevator and pressed a random upper floor.  Closing his eyes he reached out and felt the spinning forces of the universe and looked for floor that didn't have many people moving round and then pressed the button for that floor.
"Sorry got the wrong floor before." he says with a smile at the woman who looks over at him.

When the elevator arrives on that floor he walks confidently down the hall and into a restroom.  From there he can easily "see" the rally a couple blocks away.  He also sees a demonic form flying toward the rally.  Quickly he pulls a mask out of his collar and over his face as the rest of the suit flows over his hands to completely cover his skin.  Then he begins taking off his clothing and stuffing his wallet into his suits "utility belt".

The clothing is stuffed in a mesh bag before he struggles with the window.  Vowing to donate some money to the historical society that watches over the building he blurs into a vortex of purple energy with streaks of red, black, and yellow and launches himself through the window.

A whirling ball of purple energy launches from the Woolworth Building and lands in Central Park (tossing the bag of clothing into the top of a tree) then makes a few bounces toward the mayor's building and the rally.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 22:16, Mon 15 June 2015.

Devilgirl landed deceptively lightly in the street, her high heels hitting the pavement with little more than clack. There was sort an inverted whoosing sound and the aura of flame than surrounded her vanished, revealing a beautiful young woman who but for the meter long tail, red skin and horns might have looked like any fashionable New York gal.

The demoness had flicked out her compact to check her hair had survived the flight intact when she became aware people were looking at her. And not in a good way.

"Woah! I know what you're thinking people but I swear I'm not evil anyomore!"

DARIEN

Darien sees in the criminal's mind, Dr. Cobra is just what he calls himself he doesn't know much about him.  The criminal has inoperable brain cancer, Dr. Cobra somehow found him, calling him, never meeting in person and leaving drugs on his doorstep that promised to cure his cancer in exchange for money.  The cure started working, but he'd given the Dr. all his money, he was desperate to get more, lest his cancer return.

"Oh, that hits a little close to home," Darien thought to himself--and only himself. As he absorbed the information, he glanced around for signs of cops or anyone coming to the man's aid. He felt bad the guy, but picking on tourists was not a viable option. He pressed for more answers. Who are you? What's your name? Where do live? How were you supposed to give Dr. Cobra the money?

DARIEN

Johnny Brunsman, he was CPR instructor, but lost his job when his tumor started affecting his moods and ability to work.  He was an orphan raised in a Catholic orphanage.  He's been staying at St. Patrick's church since he lost his job and apartment. He was supposed to leave $1000 outside his old appartment under the welcome mat, but hasn't been able to raise it for more than a week, and isn't sure Dr. Cobra will even come.

"Arg, my head!  It must be getting worse again." he sobs.  No one else seems to be paying any attention to him or Darien, just walking quickly through the park.

"Oh, what is this now," Jason mutters. Looks like the fact-finding will have to wait. Ducking past the elderly he shoves his way through the crowd, counting on the stranger to keep their attention for a few seconds. While moving his body steadily fades, becoming more and more transparent until he disappears completely. Once out of sight Jason whips his bag around and begins to fumble with the clothes inside "In broad daylight, of all things." he gripes while getting into costume as quickly as possible.

Of course with all the commotion his clothes were putting up more of a fight than usual. Jason finds himself hopping on one foot, struggling with his pants.

CRIME ON THE RISE!

A middle aged man in a suit with dark sunglasses who was walking by trying to appear non interested mutters, clutching something at his chest.

"Te nunc K'yshria invoco diabuli, te in mea potestate defixi, nunc et in aeternum."

Suddenly Devilgirl goes stiff.

He says more clearly "Demon, I, Temere, command you! Gyre approaches." pointing to a purple blur in the sky "DESTROY HIM!"

Devilgirl blinked, her eyes momentarily glowing. The demonic beauty's apologetic smile slipped away replaced by the smirk of evil business. She turned on her high heels and glanced at the purple blur. "Whoever you are, this isn't personal."

With a snap of her fingers her firey arua flowed around her body. Pointing her right finger at the blur she hurled a fireball that crackled and spit through the air as it flew towards its target!

---

OOC: 00:58, Today: Devilgirl rolled 53 using 1d100. Aura (Alternate Power) - Blast (World Class).

Gyre is bouncing toward the hot devil girl when her fiery blast hits the spinning purple energy.  The fire whirls around Gyre a few times before coming straight back and hitting the devil girl.  From the vortex comes a slightly distorted voice like someone talking through a fan.

"I don't know who you are.  But if you want a fight, I'm willing to give it a whirl!"

The vortex suddenly spins a different direction and the ball hits the ground and bounces off in another direction as Gyre tries to lead the devil away from the crowd.  A ball of swirling purple energy spins off of the greater mass toward the devil chasing him.

---

18:55, Today: Gyre rolled 98 using 1d100. Reflection (Great). => Gold Result: attacker effected by own attack
18:58, Today: Gyre rolled 75 using 1d100. Blast (Great). => Bronze Result: Hit

"What the-?" an astonished Devilgirl has time to say bfore being hit by her own returned fireball and an additional blast for good measure. The redskinned young (looking) woman shakes off the attack, dazed, then spreads her wings and flies after the purple vortex.

"I dunno what type of demon you are but I'll pull your horns off when I catch you!"

She flies straight at Gyre, intending to headbutt him - those horns of her's aren't for decoration!

Unfortunately she misjudges her aim and her skull impacts a nearby wall with a impressively loud hollow sound. Dazed the demoness draws back, shaking bits of brick out of her hair.

---

OOC: 01:14, Today: Devilgirl rolled 18 using 1d100. Fighting (Fantastic).

A White result - a miss!

Wow, she is stronger and faster than me... guess I've just got to irritate and wear her down.

After the devil girl chips off some of the wall "Woah there, you might chip a horn or something." <chuckle> "I'm no more a demon that you are." The spinning slows enough to see the man in the red suit at some odd angle within the whirling vortex of purple energy before speeding up again.

On the off chance there is a chance he can hurt her, he will try another blast which spins off wildly into the sky.

21:36, Today: Gyre rolled 11 using 1d100. Agility to hit with Blast (World Class/Great).

Devilgirl fumes (literally - whisps of smoke come out of her ears and nostrils). "Okay," she says, trying to regain her poise and dignity. "Let's try that again."

If Gyre is close enough he might see her eyes glaze over and expression grow vacant as she robotically intones: "I must destroy you."

Then she is flying after him again, head lowered, horns gleaming in the firelight, looking a little strange as they peak out of her otherwise fashionable hairdo.

---

OOC: 09:49, Today: Devilgirl rolled 59 using 1d100. Fighting (Fantastic). - A Bronze Hit. She has World Class Strength and projects a World Class Aura.

"Well, come on," Darien said as he extended a hand to Johnny to help him up. "Whatever this doctor is doing to you, it's bad medicine. You got dealt a really bad hand, but use your time left to make the world better. Let me take you home."

As they walked, Darien talked to him, not using telepathy. Darien knew lots of "cancer kids" and lost many friends as he was growing up. He knew what it was like to walk beside death. He had been in many discussion groups and was keenly aware of all the stages of grief.

When they reached the church, he said, "Go talk to the priest. It will help. You are not in this alone."

"CRIME ON THE RISE!"

Temere laughs maniacally while holding his hand up in the classic villain pose.  "Mwhahahah!  It's working! All these years and I finally did it!  I will end the Vindicators before they've begun!  Before they can stop me!"

Reynolds says amplified by the mic "Hey you!  Is that demon yours?  Y'know the Yanks ended slavery?  That's against the law here!  Citizens arrest! Get him boys!"

Temere glances at them then up at Reynolds "You don't know my power!  Be warned, touch me and your end commeth."

The devil girl talking in a robot voice unlike her own makes him wonder...

With a great deal of amusement the spinning vortex speaks "Wait now, are you mind controlled?  Big bad demon letting someone tell her what to do."  Hope she she shakes it off before she kicks my butt.

Devil girl hits the vortex of energy and it veers her off course as Gyre pin balls off in another direction.

22:33, Today: Gyre rolled 43 using 1d100. Reflection (Great) Attack. ==> Bronze You are able to deflect the attack harmlessly, and it does not affect you.
22:34, Today: Gyre rolled 9 using 1d100. Reflection (Great) Aura if needed. ==> White

Finally done changing, the Spook marvels at how quickly thing had gone completely out of control. The two lunatics fighting were dangerous, but they were keeping each other busy and hadn't hurt anyone so far - with any luck it would stay that way. He instead focuses on the maniac shouting nonsense at everyone. Temere, eh? he mentally notes the name Things were going fine until you showed up. Let's see if we can't get to the bottom of this.

Doing his best to avoid bystanders and errant flames he quickly closes the gap between himself and his target. When the suited man starts laughing, complete with hands in the air, the Spook makes a decision. Oh that just does it. Time to shut you up, you nut. With a fluid motion the Spook whips out a strange looking silver gun. He holds his breath an squeezes the trigger. An ear-shattering roar cracks through the air as the gun sends an invisible beam of pure sound racing towards Temere.

OOC: The Spook rolled 97 using 1d100. Sonic Blast.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:09, Mon 22 June 2015.

"CRIME ON THE RISE!"

Gyre redirected Devilgirl's attack harmlessly, and blew the flames away from him!

A loud sound erupts in the middle of the crowd, and Temere screams in pain holding his hands over his ears as they begin to bleed.  He struggles out the words "Enter.. Quatuor... Dimensionum!!"

His form twists in place through weird contortions for a moment then he stands with strange coloring as though looking at an old red & blue 3d movie without the glasses.  He looks at an empty space (except to The Spook & Gyre, he's looking at the invisible Spook)"- "Ah, The Spook! I was not expecting you!"  His voice echoing strangely.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:14, Fri 26 June 2015.

Devilgirl's eyes and expression remained vacant and she mindlessly repeated "You must be destroyed."

She again flew towards Gyre, allowing her aura to do the dirty work.

---

OOC: Devilgirl is moving at World Class speed.

The Spook blinks behind his mask. This was bad. A shot this close would have put any man in diapers, his mind races Not only is this guy conscious, but he's standing, apparently aware of my presence and still talking. He honestly didn't know which was worse.

"We're both just full of surprises," he responds, dropping his invisibility. There didn't seem to be much point in remaining concealed. "Like your coloring act - neat trick. But why summon a demon to go mindlessly charging after some superhuman? What did he ever do to you?" The Spook jerks a thumb at Temere, hoping the purple speeder would catch the hint.

In reply to The Spook (msg # 38):

Temere says "It isn't what he's done, it is what all of you will do. Ha! You won't get me to fall into the classic trap of explaining all my plans!  Though I am no villain!"

(edited post where Gyre gets burned to not being burned)
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:34, Tue 23 June 2015.

"Then prove it - call off your attack!" the Spook gestures at the chaotic rally, making one final attempt to reason with the madman "Or haven't you noticed the panic you've caused?"

He shifts his feet, readying himself to engage once again if need be.

"Run run fast as you can, can't catch me I'm the Gyre, man." 'Yeah I that was terrible'

Gyre moves toward Tremere in his erratic bouncing and spinning fashion.  And then bounces around him while nattering on.

"You controlling the hot devil girl guy named after a vampire clan?"  He slows enough so the invisible Spook can see him wave at him before he makes the matrix come hither and fight motion to DevilGirl.

"Bet you can't hit me... nahy nayh."

12:06, Today: Gyre rolled 27 using 1d100. Trick Reflect + Ensure Success.
- Trying to trick Devilgirl into hitting Tremere by being as annoying as possible.  Maybe he will stop controlling her if she is attacking him.
- And apparently spending all my karma to try to ensure a success
This message was last edited by the player at 18:09, Thu 25 June 2015.

DARIEN

As Darien walks to the church with Johnny, a store with TV's facing the street shows some supernatural show with a red devil girl, wait no, that's the channel 3 news! scrolling allong the bottom in closed captioning: "Outside the mayor's office mere moments ago!  This is what our channel 3 news team saw before our feed was cut!"

"Looks like there are other problems in the city today."
"One problem at a time."
"I know what you're doing... and I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry?"
"Because you feel guilty."
"I know what survivor's guilt is."
"But it never went away. You see this man--someone who is suffering a fate not unlike your own--and yet you live while he will die."
"Just wish there was something I could do."
"I know. And that's why I'm sorry."
"Because you're still weakened from healing me..."
"Yes. Eventually, though, I will be strong enough."
"How long?"
"I don't know."
"Oh."

Darien continued his internal monologue. Johnny was not being talkative, either, so that was just as well, he supposed.

"Let's drop him off and then deal with this new problem. I need to get some stuff to set a trap for Doctor Viper."
"Cobra."
"Oh, right."

Once Darien left Johnny the church, he leaded off to the mayor's office.

Gyre swoops down next to Temere, Devilgirl hot on his tail, and bounces her off of him at Tremere who gets body slammed by Devilgirl, both hurting him physically and burning him with her infernal flames, His suit smoldering and yelling out in pain "Arg! Foiled!  If you fools would just leave me alone, I wouldn't have to do this.  Back to the Future!"

He quickly shifts completely blue then violet then disappears to those seeing in visible light (to those with extraordinary sight he keeps shifting through ultraviolet all the way up through gamma rays then disappears.)

The light fades from Devilgirl's eyes, she feels better, though she still feels a faint compulsion, she's able to easily resist it.

The two large men in suits sent by Reynolds arrive at the burnt sidewalk just as Temere disappeared, looking confused and one looks back and says "What now boss?"

He gestures them back and continues his speach "See this lawlessness?  Mayor Barco's incompetence has lead to demons walking about in broad daylight!  Where're the cops?  Taking bribes no doubt!"

Devilgirl blinked in dazed fashion and dismissed her aura. As the flames surrounding her vanished she looked much more normal (or would have but for the fact that her tail was nervously twitching around behind her.)

"I uh... okay I know this looks bad but I swear I'm not a bad girl! I was being controlled!" Devilgirl babbled nervously at onlookers, wondering how on Earth she'd get out of this one - talk about a bad first impression!

The Spook's brow furrows under his mask. He had assumed the demon would disappear once Temere's concentration broke - but instead he had vanished and the demon was still here. And she spoke. Being controlled? What was all that about the future? The more he heard, the less sense it all made.

One thing was certain, this went beyond the ambitions of a local politician. What he needed was to get more information, and the Devilgirl seemed as good a place to start as any.

The Spook slips over to address the red woman "We need to talk," he states bluntly before turning his attention to the man in red as well. "All of us."

"Demons... come on.  Its obvious a disguise to protect her secret id."  Gyre takes a moment to actually look through her and... "Yeah disguise.  Lets go with that."


Nodding to the demonic woman "Yeah, I thought you might be and ranting man seemed the likely suspect.... or the invisible man but he seemed much saner."



Nodding to Spook he turns to the nearest camera "Ok supehero things to discuss... my name is Gyre.  That is G. Y. R. E. Gyre." There is no way I'm letting people pick a random name for me based on my powers.... nope... not happening.

Then back to The Spook "Can you fly?  Cause if you can't she will need to carry you somewhere if you want a private conversation.  Once the shock wears off... expect a media frenzy."  Given how Gyre spins when he moves, its unlikely anyone would want him to carry them.

"CRIME ON THE RISE"

The fireworks have started to draw a much larger crowd, camera flashes are going off, you also notice the channel 3 news crew running over, the field reporter yelling "Excuse me!" from the distance.

A young man nearby asks "Hey, what movie is this for?  It looks awesome!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:41, Mon 29 June 2015.

Devilgirl looked anxiously at Spook, then at the oncoming crowd, then back at Spook and whispered: "Talking sounds good but away from here. Gotta a cigarette? I could murder a smoke... um... not literally purple guy."

She looked apologetically at Gyre as he came up to her. "Sorry. I hardly ever try to kill strangers anymore."

As the media circus arrived she looks noticably more alarmed; after all she doesn't exactly look innocent...

"DARIEN"

Johnny talks a bit on the way to St. Patricks, apologizing for what he's done, and promising to lead a better life, what's left of it for him, and happy to have someone to talk to who knows more where he's coming from.

After dropping Johnny off, on his way to the nearest metro station from St. Patrick's Darien hears a distant alarm and some commotion a couple blocks down.

"Fly?" the Spook pauses "...no." Turning to the lady, he adds "No smokes, but I'll bring some - once we meet somewhere less... crowded." He takes a moment to slowly turn his head and watch the growing media presence. Snapping his attention back to the two, he throws out a suggestion "Midnight. Central Park. Just look for the Spook."

Without another word the Spook fades from view. Once vanished, he scrambles to retrieve the discarded backpack containing his clothes.

OOC: The Spook rolled 25 using 1d100. Searching for my stuff. It appears I may have been robbed.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:46, Wed 01 July 2015.

"Okay... that is pretty cool," Devilgirl admitted as the spook vanished. She turned to Gyre and offered him an apologetic smile. "Sorry about the attack dude, I wasn't myself. You might want to stand back for this though."

She summoned her aura and with it two firey bat wings. Lifting herself into the sky she flew off, looking for a convienient alleyway near her apartment block to land in and sneak up.

Gyre nods at The Spook's suggestion... then realizes nobody can see him that clearly "I'll be there."

Nodding to Devilgirl "Yeah, invisibility would be nice." then he shrugs "No problem, mind control equals a free pass."  After she flys off he will slow enough that the press can see him wave and say "Don't worry there will be press conferences later." the spinning vortex bounces up then comes back down "Go ahead and hold out your cards and I'll take them... you all deserve consideration for covering issues like this."

After snatching the cards, Gyre bounces off erratically.  One of the bounces takes him over the tree he left his street clothing in and then he is off in the direction of central park.... 'Should be enough place to hide and change there.'

"Is that the same crisis or something else?"
"Dunno. We'd better check it out."

Darien walked briskly in the direction of the commotion. Running would draw too much attention to himself and he'd feel really dumb if it ended up being nothing.

"BANK ROBBERY IN PROGRESS"

Darien finds it's an alarm coming from Chaze Bank. There's a number of people running away from it in both directions.  Darien notices there's no police in the vicinity, in fact he still hasn't seen any all day.

"Oh my."
"Yeah. I wonder what's up."

As he moved forward, Darien scanned the thoughts of the people running away to find out what they were running from.

"Police are probably tangled in whatever it was that was going down at City Hall."

Once he got close to the front doors, he put up his hood and strolled on in, as if oblivious to the commotion.

Darien gets a clear picture of a giant snake wearing a lab coat and several armed thugs from the minds of those running away.

As he enters the bank, he sees 3 thugs in black, wearing some kind of snake masks and sunglasses armed with various guns.  There are no standing people, everyone else seems to be unconcious.

One of the thugs sees Darien and shouts "Hey bossss, we got another one."  After his forked tongue flicks out you realize they aren't wearing masks at all.

Out of an office a hissing spitting voice says "Nnott nnow. Bussssssssy."

The thug then says to Darien "Get down on the floor, handssss behind your head."

Another one says "What kinda idjit goesss in a bank when the alarm'ssss sssoundin'?"

"Oh...shhhiiii..."
"That must be Doctor Cobra!"
"You think?"

Darien put his hands up, pointed to his ears, and made some frantic gestures as we went to his knees.

"Too many people with guns to take a risk."
"Maybe those guys were recruited like Johnny was."
"That stinks. If they're robbing banks, there's no talking them down."
"And evolving snake heads."
"That too."

OOC: Would it be a stunt to expand Mental Blast to all 3 thugs?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:51, Thu 02 July 2015.

"CRIME ON THE RISE"

As the three heroes discuss what to do the channel 3 reporter approaches shoving a mic at Devilgirl
the sound man behind her says "Feed's still down."

She says nastily at him "Well take notes or something, this could make us!"

Then to Devilgirl "Nina Garza channel 3 news, are you in fact a supernatural creature, is the apocalypse comming, or is this a publicity stunt?  What are your intentions?"

Most of the people are paying attention to Devilgirl at this point, ignoring the rantings of Reynolds who's amplified speech almost drowns out everyone else "The real story's right here!  If you elect me, I'll put a stop to all this hootenanny!"

In reply to Darien Hooker (msg # 58):

(OOC: Yes an area attack could be done as a stunt)

"We can't just sit here like a dork..."
"What else can we do? If it goes badly, the innocent people could get hurt."
"Then we'll just have to make sure it doesn't go badly...."

Darien closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and said, "Leave... them... alone," The thought, however, was what counted as a wave of psychic energy went out to the snake-men.

OOC: 100 Karma to perform a stunt on Mental Blast to get all the thugs.
Also spending Karma to guarantee a Silver result.

13:37, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 16 using 1d100. Stunt Roll. --> That's another 55 Karma.

Spending more Karma to guarantee a Bronze result on the actual Mental Blast attack.
13:40, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 2 using 1d100. Mental Blast: Feat of Psyche. --> That's another 14 Karma...

The die roller turned on me.

Devilgirl had been about to take flight when the newswoman waved a mike in front of her nose. It took the red skinned beauty a moment to regain her bearings.

"Um... hi Nina, I'm a huge fan of yours. Love the hair by the way, you have to tell me where you get it done. I'm Devilgirl and no this is not a publicity stunt or the apocalypse... I think anyway, I'm sort of out of the loop with that kind of thing since I turned good."

She looked at the camera nervously. "Just to make it clear I am good now and I'm trying to hell... sorry help people to make up for all those years when I was, well, less good. Uh, Nina you don't have a cigarette on you do you?"

At the bank, the 3 'men' hissed and fell to the floor writhing, dropping their guns, but start recovering moments later.  The second one says "What was that?  Was that you kid?"

At the political rally Gyre interrupts before Nina can ask more questions, while she's fumbling for her card, Devilgirl takes the opportunity to fly off followed by Nina yelling after "Wait!" then Gyre bounces off while Nina is distracted, and no one even noticed when The Spook disappeared.

On their way back each notices an alarm of coming from the vicinity of Chaze Bank and people running from it.

"We will get back to you Nina."  He bounces off muttering "Nobody says hootenanny anymore."

When he hears the Chaze Bank alarm going off he begins to head in that direction 'Already on TV once, might as well start the superheroing' Looking through the bank walls he can see some 'snake men... aw come on they are real' on the floor scrambling for guns, one person standing looking like they are about to get shot when the snake men recover.

Gyre will angle toward the fastest path to get inside and place himself between the snake men and the young man.  If that is through a window or glass door, so be it.

"Oh, that didn't last long."

Darien sighed angrily and glowered at the gunman.

"At least they dropped their guns."

And then he hit the second gunman with another mental blast.

11:46, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 68 using 1d100. Mental Blast: Feat of Psyche. -- Silver result.

So that's over with, the Spook thinks while silently creeping away from the spectacle at the mayor's office What was really going on at that rally? Could that lunatic really have been from the future? He hadn't gone far before the bank alarm cuts through his thoughts.

Deciding to poke in for a quick investigation, he immediately spots the fallen people and moves to action. For whatever reason the masked gunmen had dropped their weapons - and the Spook aimed to keep it that way. He vaults the bank goers in an effort to slide/snatch the guns from their hands. It isn't until he gets much closer that the Spook realizes they are not wearing masks...

OOC: The Spook rolled 30 using 1d100. I believe this would be an Agility check - going to spend 1 karma for a bronze result.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:47, Tue 07 July 2015.

A purple blur interposes itself between Darien and the rightmost robber, while the middle one hisses and collapses to his knees, his gun sliding across the floor (The Spook kicking it away.)

The rightmost one who had not yet spoken says "Forget thisss!" and fires his shotgun at the blur (bronze - 20 damage unless reflected).

The leftmost says "It'sss that boy, get him!"  and fires his pistol at the boy but shoots the wall behind him in his haste (white result).

The voice from the office spits "I told you not to ssssho..." trailing off as a horrific visage of what barely looks like a man, he towers at least 8 feet tall, a giant hooded cobra head replacing that of a man, who's arms and legs hang withered and almost useless from his sides, a gigantic tail supporting him, all covered in colorful scales and a white lab coat.  He quickly surveys the room with his forked tongue flicking out of his slit of a mouth. The Spook getting a chill as it's dead eyes stare at him for a moment, but he moves his gaze to Gyre who feels himself drawn into it's eyes, and starts slowing and closing his eyes but snaps himself awake with a quick slap to his own face (failed psychic attack)


This message was last edited by the GM at 21:12, Mon 31 Aug 2015.

Devilgirl dropped out of the sky into the street in front of the bank and tried to enter without getting too close to a fleeing civilian and barbecuing them (or stepping on their feet - she was wearing stilleto heels after all.)

As she entered she looked at the 'robbers' in surprise. "Whoah... guess I'm not the weirdest looking one in the room for once!"

After a moment of hesitation she advanced on the giant cobra, her aura flickering around her.

Darien flinched when the gun fired, but he was distracted by the giant snake man. "Doctor Cobra!" Darien said. "Sad thing is, robbing banks is the least despicable thing you've done. Give up now! Use your science to actually heal people, not exploit and extort them."

He backed up his declaration with a mental blast.

22:38, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 99 using 1d100. Mental Blast: Feat of Psyche. --> Gold result.
And the dice have returned to me.

The Spook suddenly blips back into sight. It was his first monster, and he lost concentration out of sheer revulsion.

Not good. the Spook realizes he is in the midst of all three gunmen. Quickly regaining his composure he drops to a crouch and snatches the rightmost robber's leg and squeezes, willing his lanky fingers to pass through the man's flesh, into the nervous system.

OOC: The Spook rolled 22 using 1d100. Stun Power: Agility Feat. 10 karma used to achieve Bronze result.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:45, Thu 09 July 2015.

"That is one giant ugly snake."

Gyre's whirlwind doesn't manage to reflect the shot, but its robbed of all energy and does him no harm.  Figuring Devilgirl can take out the giant cobra, Gyre will focus on one of the gunmen and a small purple vortex is fired from the main swirling mass to strike him.

09:47, Today: Gyre rolled 6 using 1d100. Reflection (Great). => White Result
- He has a Great Force Field (basically what Force Control gives) so it reduces the 20 points of damage down to 0.
09:51, Today: Gyre rolled 60 using 1d100. Agility Feat for Attack (World Class). => Bronze Result
- 20 points of damage

"BANK ROBBERY FOILED!"

Doctor Cobra looks at Darien and laughs "Hsss! Hsss! Hss!  I'm not jussssst healing humansssss, I'm improving them!  They woulnd't fund me anymore, Sssso I'm taking the fundsssss.  Join me and I can give you all thissss too!"

As Devilgirl advances on him he turns to her and sizzles in pain with the heat
(rolled touch for Devilgirl gold result)

Distracted, Darien has no trouble blasting his now simpler snake mind to bits, he falls over immediately unconcious.  (resist stun - white result, 0hp & unconcious)

Similarly The Spook must have found a nerve as the gunman collapses grunting, while Gyre hits him with a vortex to the face. (resist slam, white result 0 hp fall over & must spend next action recovering).

The middle gunman recovers, but his gun isn't in sight, runs out the door fleeing.  The one left standing decides to join him, but fires a parting shot at Darien and says "Thiss iss getting too weird even for me!" (Gold result 20 dam to Darien)
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:43, Thu 09 July 2015.

"Gah!" Darien cried out in pain and stumbled a few steps with his hand pressed against the wound. "Sonova..." he cut back on the curse and sucked in air between his teeth.

"She's very unusual."
"What, you've never seen a... demon?... before?"
"..."

"Hey," Darien said to the flame-shrouded woman. "Thanks for the assist."

Devilgirl's aura shimmered away and she walked over to Darien. Other than than the red skin, the horns and the three foot long tail twitching nervously behind her she now looked like any normal beautiful woman in a black minidress and heels. She looked confused but friendly and offered a slender hand - if Darien shakes it he finds her very slightly warmer than a normal human.

"Thanks dude, those weren't like any demons I know... uh are you alright?" She said, eyes widening as she notices his wound.

"I got shot. It hurts." Darien did his best to shake her hand, being mindful not to use the bloody one. He avoided looking at the woman and instead focused his gaze on the snake-people. "This ass... jerk... is Doctor Cobra." Darien lightly kicked the unconscious snake body. "I'll know more details when he wakes up, but he's some kind of scientist. You saw these guys..." he indicated the gunmen, "He's turning them into snake-people. I assume he already did it to himself... unless he's something different." He looked at her briefly and then past her. "Who's your friend?"

Seeing that the young man is at least partially looked after he will go bouncing after the escaping gunman but says something in his talking through a fan voice "I'm Gyre... going after the escapee." as he heads out the door he shouts "Someone call an ambulance."

If he catches sight of the fleeing snake mutant with a gun he will fire off another vortex of energy.

18:10, Today: Gyre rolled 56 using 1d100. Agility Feat for Attack (World Class). => Bronze Result
- 20 Damage
This message was last edited by the player at 00:13, Fri 10 July 2015.

The Spook briefly glances at the others before taking the opportunity to investigate the scene. He silently rummages through the coat pockets of this... "Doctor Cobra." He had questions for the other three, but they didn't seem to be leaving any time soon and he may as well use the lull to search for clues. After all, there were still a number of hapless people scattered across the floor - perhaps drugged and in need of an antidote.

OOC: the Spook is still visible from the last post :P

The spook finds an iphone 6+ in the pocket of the labcoat, an unused syringe and a couple of vials of clear liquid marked x65 and x68

Grye bounces out and finds the snake-men lifting a man-hole cover with a crow-bar.  The one who still has a pistol drops the cover ans says "Jussst let uss go man... thing, this wasssn't our idea." and fires at Gyre.  (Bronze result 20 dam absorbed by Gyre's bubble if not reflected)

The other one drops the manhole cover as well and squeezes through the gap left trying to get away.

Behind Gyre something appears, but his quick movements allow him to see everything, it'd be invisible to the human eye, but his senses being far better, something sharp coming at him, he only sees it as a line in the air. Whatever it is, doesn't even come close to hitting him (Attack white result)

Devilgirl feels a pull, it's weak but someone who has spoke her true-name is somewhere nearby... outside the door... she looks and sees Temere outside trying to karate chop Gyre poorly.  Something's different about him, he looks significantly younger, and healed from her last encounter with him, his clothes aren't quite as fancy either, though he still wears a dress-suit.

Karen gripped tightly on the side of the car door as her partner, Gary, drove madly towards the bank. They'd been out to get a bite to eat when they heard the alarm and the call. They were the closest unit and so they responded to the bank robbery.

As they came up on the bank, they slowed and quickly got out to assess the situation.

That's no antidote, the Spook thinks as he carefully pockets the contents of Cobra's lab coat Better keep this safe out of hand. With the mayoral debacle fresh in his thoughts the Spook was not inclined to trust the police or any political figure with this potentially deadly evidence.

He slowly picks his way to the two talking inside the bank "Sirens," he announces without introduction "We should move. You too," he points a bony finger at the freshly shot young man "We have things to discuss."

Without further delay he drifts towards the street, slowly fading back to the comforting realm of invisibility.

OOC:The Spook rolled 47 using 1d100. Super Senses, Intuition feat: Bronze result. Police car detection.

Darien was still trying to talk to the demon-lady, not really worrying about the man picking through Doctor Cobra's pockets. The important things were locked up in his mind. "Uh, sure," he said, confused, as the man made his pronouncement and disappeared.

"If he paused for a moment, we could have the discussion he wanted."
"I know. It's the city. Makes people rude. Still, I don't like the idea of being here when the cops arrive."
"But you're injured."
"There is that. I'm not going to a mob vet."
"The ambulance should be here shortly."
"What I am I going to tell Gram?"

"Did you know him?" He asked the very distracting, red woman.

Devilgirl seemed distracted, looking outside the door at someone. Gyre seemed to be dealing with it. She blinked uncertainly and looked back at Darien.

"The disappearing guy? Uh we met briefly...," she looked at Darien's wound and hesistated, clearly concerned about him. "Can you move or do you want to?" She offered a graceful red shoulder for him to lean on. "I can't fly without bursting into flames but I can run in high heels. Oh, I'm Devilgirl by the way."

"Oh, I can walk. Rather not go too far, though." Darien smiled. "Nice to meet you, uh, Devilgirl. I'm... well... I'm not so keen on giving out my name..." He glanced away, embarrassed.


"Ooo! You think they have code names?"
"Do you really think she's a devil?"
"She's certainly a girl."

Darien blushed.

"I... I don't want to leave until this guy is taken care of. I don't want him hurting anyone if he wakes up before the cops get here."

Gyre yells to the closing manhole cover "Quit shooting people and robbing banks and maybe I'll believe you." He could go chasing snake people through the sewers... but then someone tries to attack him from behind.

"You are really getting on my nerves Tremere and letting snake people escape." With that he lets loose another purple vortex blast at Tremere.

09:42, Today: Gyre rolled 75 using 1d100. Agility Feat for Attack (World Class). => Bronze result
- 20 damage

Gyre's vortex splits off and splashes against the line, he hears "I'm injured!  I'll figure out some way to defeat you! Perhaps I can go around your shield!  Enter quatuor dimensionum!"  His appearance changes from a line in the air to Gyre to again with the strange classic red & blue 3d shifting of colors.

The snake man with a gun sees Gyre's engaged and yells over the alarm "Good idea, I'm outa here, good luck!" and squeezes down the partially open manhole.

Karen can scarcely believe her eyes, a purple vortex fighting some guy from a 50's 3d movie, someone coming out of the bank who just disappeared into thin air, and snake men - maybe those guys are just wearing masks, but somehow she doubts it.  Her partner stares, mouth agape uncomprehending.

The Spook sees the whole scene as well when he steps out.  Devil Girl catches Temere's act from the corner of her eye.

With an apologetic look at Darien Devilgirl ran out to confront the guy who had messed with her mind.

"Hey you!"

Darien watched the flaming hot woman run off and sighed. "Was it something I said?" he asked to no one in particular. He glanced over to the unconscious Doctor Cobra and checked his mind. Was it even conscious enough to process thought? How many snake-men had he created? Where is his home base?

13:54, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 21 using 1d100. Mind Probe.

Nothing.

Unbelievable. Here he was trying to think of ways to pick up Temere's trail, and now the wacko had come to him, shifting red and blue just like before. The Spook draws his sonic pistol - it seemed to do the trick earlier, and maybe this time he would actually be able to catch the slippery weasel.



"Wait," he calls out over the sound of her clacking heels "Remember what happened last time!" Cursing under his breath, the Spook sprints towards Temere, hoping to intercept the 3-D man before he can cause the same problems.

Gyre sees Devilgirl coming out of the bank and thinks 'not again'

"I don't know why you keep stalking us, but I'm shutting you down before things get worse." After bouncing up into the air, he will fire off another vortex of purple energy... and the parking meter will never threaten anyone again.

22:08, Today: Gyre rolled 4 using 1d100. Agility Feat for Attack (World Class). => White

Karen reacted faster than her partner did, which wasn't hard since he was just sitting just outside the car gaping.

She took note of everything she could see.

She pulled her sidearm out of its holster in case something crazy attacked her.

"This is the police! Stop everything, immediately!" she yelled at the top of her lungs...and was interrupted by a parking meter feeling the wrath of some purple energy.

Damn it. This wasn't good. The Devil-like girl, matched the description of a violent being that was just involved in a public super-battle. And there were snake men. And a bank robbery in progress.

So...lots of investigation to be done. After getting the situation under control.

"Again, stop everything! Now!"

Temere glances at Devilgirl no recognition of her upon his face "Not now demon, can't you see I'm busy?" (though Devil girl oddly feels no compulsion to follow his instruction) He also glances at the police then his right hand disappears, then appears behind Gyre, but it doesn't even come close to him (white result). "You were supposed to be distracted by the snakes!  Why does this never go my way?"

He gets a crooked smile upon his face then says toward the police "Arrest these miscreants!  I saw them trying to escape the bank and was attempting to stop them."

Karen's partner whispers "How are we supposed to stop a purple blur, an invisible man, and the devil... herself?"  He manages to fumble his gun out though, somewhat regaining his senses, and fires a warning shot off.  "Drop your... um... FREEZE, POLICE!"

"Everyone, Freeze!"

She nodded towards the man she didn't know was Temere.

"Including you, sir."

Because, really, she had ears. She heard what what the man said to the purple man. So, not going to be tricked by a crooked smile.

Devilgirl hesitated, then raised her arms. She was in a lot of trouble anyway.

"Lady you've got the wrong idea - we're good guys. Boy does it feel weird to hear myself say that. There's some kid back in there with a bullet in his shoulder who might need some help!"

After the cop fires the warning shot "Woah there tex, I've already been shot twice and lit on fire today and all you are doing is endangering civilians."

The purple vortex bounces closer to Devilgirl then Briefly the purple vortex slows enough to show a man wearing a fully body red suit spinning inside with his hands up but it only lasts a moment before the spin increases again to blur him out.

"I'm not dropping my super powers while a crazy time traveling wizard tries to do... whatever it is he is trying to do to me.  Mind controlled the hot devil woman to attack me at the Mayors conference and just now attacked for no reason allowing the bank robbing snake people to escape. Harassing us all day, I should get a restraining order."  The talking through a fan voice seems to sound serious and sincere despite the outlandish things he is saying.

When Devilgirl mentions the kid who was shot "Yeah, the snake people shot some kid ... not sure if anyone called an ambulance yet.  Plus we captured the giant snake boss... not sure how you are going to hold it."

Tilting closer to Devilgirl "So how do you want to play this?  Fly away or come clean and get lawyers and PR agents?"

The Spook ignores the officer's commands, counting on his invisibility and the general confusion to distract everyone long enough for him to reach Temere. Gritting his teeth, he continues sprinting and lunges to tackle the man before he could escape again. The Spook wanted answers, and he wanted them now.

OOC: The Spook rolled 41 using 1d100. Charge Attack: Endurance feat. Bronze result.

The Spook hits Temere with his full force knocking the wind out of him, he lands on the sidewalk across the street (resist slam - white result).  He shakes his head for a moment, says "I am the one who needs a restraining order!"  then shifts entirely blue while melting into the sidewalk, then is gone.

Gary is once again mouth agape this time you could swear there's smoke leaking from his ears.

"So do you think Tremere hates us because the first time he meets us is next year and by then he has pissed us off so much we attack on sight?  To him he was just out on a date and some crazy superheroes kick his butt in front of the girl he hoped to marry.... now he has to travel back in time to make sure they don't ruin his perfect date."

"I'm not buying it," the Spook pops back into visible sight and slowly stands up with his hands raised. His voice is resigned but steady "As far as I can tell, he's been focusing on you. Attacking at the rally, swiping at you just now... there's too much going on with him that we don't know, and getting a hold of him is the only way we'll find out."

"Good point about focusing on me.  But he was younger than he was earlier and didn't know our lovely devil acquaintance, so I'm sticking with the time travel bit."

Slowing enough for a moment so the police officers pointing guns at them can see he is looking his way "Sorry, not ignoring you officers.  But time traveling wizards and giant snake people worry me a bit more than guns right now.  Since I have a teleporting stalker there is no way the police could protect me from, I'm not inclined to reveal my real name.  How about letting us off with a stern warning?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:25, Thu 16 July 2015.

Devilgirl looked at Gyre and Spook in bemusement. If she blushed when called 'lovely' it was impossible to tell.

"I think you might be on to something Speed Guy. I'd damn well like to know how he knew my real name." The redskinned demoness shot an apologethic smile at the cops. "You gotta admit he has a point."

Karen didn't point her weapon at anyone- that would have been too aggressive. But, she didn't holster it, either.

"You are all being detained for investigation. But, first- you said someone was show. We're all going to walk to where this person was shot."

She looked at her partner.

"Gary, you got the ambulance?

Gary rushes back into the car almost fumbling his gun, and starts calling for an ambulance.

With an almost imperceptible shrug the Spook follows the officer's orders and heads back into the bank, hands still raised. No harm in complying, he thinks while carefully picking his way over the unconscious citizens It would be a good idea to build some trust with the local PD - definitely don't want to be branded a criminal. Not that they could actually detain me... his thoughts trail off once he spies the young man.

"Over here," he points a long, bony finger "He's the one."

Darien looked over in the direction of the voice. Having someone leading a cop and saying, "He's the one," did not give Darien the greatest confidence in what was happening next. He gave a quick glance around and down the still-unconscious Doctor Cobra before returning his gaze to the police officer.

"I didn't do anything. I accidentally wandered in the middle of this mess. And got shot." He nodded toward his injury.

"Yeah, and he didn't seem to know you this time."


"Happy to comply officer, up to the point where I believe my safety is threatened."

Gyre bounces back into the bank with the others.  While it seems he can hover easily enough, his movement consists of bounces and jerky redirections of motion... its hard driving a spinning superball.

When they get to Darien "You ok?  Sorry I couldn't block that bullet... need more practice."

Karen looked at the injury quickly, but kept her guard up. These people seemed reasonable, but the powers that they showed. The violence that they were reported to have used at a different time.

It was worrying.

"We have an ambulance on the way," she told the victim.

"Uh, thanks." Darien said, a little disarmed by her brevity. He was certain that she would be questioning and accusative.

"See? She isn't so bad. What are you worried about?"
"Why hasn't she asked about the knocked out snake dude?"
"That is curious."

The sound of stiletto heels heralded the arrival of Devilgirl, who'd decided bursting into flames and flying might freak out the cops too much. She was wearing a thoughtful expressiion, weighing Gyre's words but as she reached Darien she turned her attention to the wounded kid and gave him a worried, sympathetic smile.

"How are you holding up kid?"

The scene that greets Karen after looking at the kid's wound, which looks pretty superficial to her eye, is as inexplicable as the people around her.  A half dozen patrons, and all of the staff and the security guard at the bank are lying on the floor, no blood is evident other than a few drops near the kid.  Then there's the monster lying there in a lab coat, a snake man, though far more horrific than the one that fled down the man-hole.

Darien shrugged in reply. "Been better. Been worse." He glanced around. "Everything okay outside? You rushed off..."

"The snake minions got away because a crazy time traveling wizard attacked... you know the usual."  Gyre laughs "Sorry, its really hard to say that with a straight face.   Props to grandpa for the stories about nazi mole men."

The whirling purple vortex keeps hovering with occasional flashes of a man dressed in red being subjected to some gyroscope from hell.

"So officer?  What sort of statement do you need?"

The Spook approaches the officer with a few smooth strides and interrupts before she can address the spinning man. "He's called Cobra - fancies himself a doctor. He had this," the Spook produces one of the vials he found earlier. "May we have access to your lab?
This message was last edited by the player at 15:38, Tue 21 July 2015.

Karen took in the area around her. It was...not what she'd expect. Insane, really, if she hadn't read prior reports.

When the purple vortex came to speak to her, Karen was about to answer.

Then she was asked by the masked man.

"Forensics can help with that. Right now, though..."

She pulled out her handcuffs to handcuff the fallen serpentine doctor.

Karen tries to handcuff the Dr. Cobra, but finds his 'hands' resemble something a lizard would have, they're shrunken and scaly with long hard claws, her handcuffs just fall off.

Gary pops his head in and says "Ambulance is on it's way, ETA 15 minutes." looking over all the people on the floor "Whoa, what happened here?  Looks like I should've called for FEMA or CDC or something."

"I think you'll need full-on Hannibal Lecter restraints," Darien said as he watched the lady-cop struggle with the cuffs on Doctor Cobra. There wasn't much else for him to do except wait for the ambulance and occasionally scan the scaly doctor for signs of consciousness. "So... crazy day."

The Spook looks about the room. There were a lot of bodies indeed. "We still have no idea what was done to these people... but the others - the ones that escaped in the sewer - they might have answers and we may yet be able to track them," the Spook suggests to the room "Escorted of course by you, officer, while your partner tends to the fallen. There's little time to waste and we can provide significant support."

Karen looked at the masked individual and shook her head. She wasn't going into a dark, contained space with unknown potentially powered individuals- no matter how cooperative they might seem. Plus, she couldn't just leave a bunch of unconscious civilians alone.

"Officers will canvas the area- including the sewers- once back-up arrives. Until then, we're securing the scene and make sure that no other civilians are endangered."

Seeing as her handcuffs wouldn't work, Karen took out some zip-tie restraints and worked on restraining the reptilian doctor. She'd have to use multiples- the lizard might have super-strength and though these were ostensibly super-zips, it paid to be cautious.

With Dr. Cobra tied up, the ambulance arrives.  One of the paramedics sees the scene and says "Holy #$%^!"  ignores Darien and goes for the first body on the floor, "She's alive! Pulse is strong"  Looking up at everyone he says "Don't just stand there, check these people out!"  He then tries to wake her.  The unconcious woman comes too then screams as she sees Dr. Cobra.

Gyre had glanced at/through everyone when he saw them down.
"None of them have any serious injuries and are stable they are just unconscious for some strange reason. The kid is shot though.  You might not want them to..."

After the woman screams "... see the mutated human cobra."

"Unconscious people have priorty. The fact that I can say that is evidence of the fact. I'm stable and not bleeding," Darien said. "And I'm not exactly a kid. I'm nineteen. Old man," Darien added with a smirk.

"Well, you do look young."
"Not my fault."
"No, it's my fault."
"True. No biggie. I'm just giving him a hard time."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:22, Tue 28 July 2015.

"Don't feel bad," Devilgirl whispered to Darien. "I'm six hundred and two, which in mortal terms would be..." She creased her brow in thought, then blushed, turning an even darker red.

"Uh... actually about nineteen."

Darien fidgeted a little, still his eyes not quite being able to make direct contact with the red woman. "Whoa. So... you're... um... really... that's something."

Gyre laughs "Sorry... I should call you by name.  Mine is Gyre when I'm on spin cycle."

"But really they have no broken bones, their hearts and organs look fine.  Well a couple of them had their appendix out... think that is the appendix.  Shot and bleeding seemed more important to me."

"Wow, six hundred... How long have you been on earth?"

Devilgirl started counting on her fingers. "Uh... let's see... about eleven months and seven days. Non consecutively." She looked up and smiled sheepishly. "To tell you the truth I wasn't the most senior gal Down Below."

"Why do you keep thinking about your grandmother?"
"Because she'd kill me if she knew I was hanging out with a..."
"I'm sure she'd have a few choice words the devil girl as well."
"Oh, there'd be some olde timey religion going down for sure."

Darien almost chuckled. "Now that we have all gathered here... What now?"

The paramedic says to the screaming woman "Now, just calm down, the alligator is sedated.  Look at me." that seems to calm her down.  He shines a light in her eyes. "No unusual reaction, doesn't seem to be drugs, we'll have to take them in to be sure."

The other paramedic checks a few others, "This one's snoring, I think they're just asleep, but how?" looking at the odd collection of heroes. Then looking at Dr. Cobra responding to Gyre "Yeah, I'll get a blanket." which he proceeds to do and tosses it over Dr. Cobra.

The woman says "I don't remember what happened, I was standing in line to get some change for the bake sale, then you woke me up." Glancing at the now covered Dr. Cobra and cringing.

The other paramedic says to the police "Do you have forensics on the way?"

Gary says "Uh... no, just called you and for backup, where are they? I'll call this in too" proceeding to do so. in the background you overhear him talking 'Where's our backup?

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
(They're out sick)

---

Blue flu? *#$%! What a day for that!  Why wasn't I told?

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
(Don't ask me, ask your union rep, this isn't an information booth)

---

How about forensics, we've got a whole bunch of unconscious people the paramedics don't know what's happened to them? 

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
(They went to the mayor's office)

---

  Why'd they go there?

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
(The mayor wanted someone to look at the evidence left behind.  Get to the point, we're understaffed here too)

---

*#$*# what're we supposed to do here we've got some giant snake man...

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
(Snake?  I'll call animal control)

---

Animal control?  #&*%, why not.  How about the National Guard or DHS or the FBI they deal with the weird X-files @^*% right?

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
(Why do you need the FBI for a giant snake?)

---

*#*#% #$%(^ $*#$ D#*$% I give up!'

Karen sighed to herself.

"If the police don't have enough people, call the Sherriff's. And warn them that we're going to need a special cell- the perp may have some crazy powers.

As to what we're going to do. I'm going to get statements from everyone, contact info, and then I'm going to look at the bank's security system. If it shows all you guys are not involved beyond trying to be goof samartians, you'll be free to go. Except for the Gyre and the seventeen year old.

I just need to get statements as to why you two were having a super-battle in our city."

Darien did a double-take. "You talkin' about me? Sure, flaming red devil woman--no offense--gets a pass but not the black kid with a bullet wound."

Gary gets back on with dispatch... after some time the gist is the Sheriff won't touch anything in the city with the Blue Flu going on.  He says "I'm tempted to call the FBI from the land line here.  What do you think?"

The Parmadics get everyone else awake and none seems terribly worse for wear though one guy has a nasty bump on his head.  One looks at Darien (He's recovered completely by the time they get to him, full health) "Just a scratch, it's not even bleeding anymore" and put some antibacterial spray and a band-aid on it.

The manager turns the alarm off, and gets the security video, it shows the four snake men walking in slowly and calmly as each person turns to look at them they stare at them for a few seconds making no sound, and slowly just slump over.   As well as the subsequent fight, snake men hissing and screaming at Darien, falling over, then getting back up and the final bit where the rest come in and one shooting Darien.

Animal Control arrives during the watching, the guy squats, uncovers Dr. Cobra and stares him for a bit scratching his chin. "The patterning looks kinda like a king cobra, never heard of one this large, or with arms and legs.  Maybe the Zoo will want it.  We'll need the big cage for this one. Someone help me with it, it's really heavy?"  He tries to lift the Doctor but has no luck, even trying to drag him.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:51, Thu 30 July 2015.

As people struggle with Dr Cobra "I really don't think that a zoo is going to be able to contain an intelligent cobra man who can knock people out with his hypnotic eyes.  Plus he probably still has hench-snakes."

Turning to Karen Wong "As for a statement on the super battle.  Well I was keeping an eye on the conference and saw what looks like a devil girl with fiery wings flying in.  So I bounced on over to make sure nothing bad happened.  Looks like Tremere, the time traveling wizard that seems to have it in for me, mind controlled her to attack me.  We fought... well mostly she fought and I tried to get out of the way.  Eventually I got close to Tremere  and redirected her attack into him breaking his hold on her mind.  Tremere ranted and then vanished."

Gyre is still hovering and spinning but takes a short break in which you can hear a sigh.

"Honestly I had no idea that there were other people around with powers but welcome to a whole new world of comic book action I guess.  I've been practicing and looking for an opportunity to help and now with supervillians around you are going to need all the help you can get officer."

The Spook observes from the corner until something Gary says piques his interest."Blue Flu?" He sinks over to the man and tilts his head questioning "What do you mean, Blue Flu?"

"Thanks," Darien said to the paramedic. He knew it wasn't really that bad, but it gave him a good pretense to stick around and keep an eye on Doctor Cobra.

Overhearing the conversation about what to do with him, he said "Look, he ain't an animal. Just one dangerous and weird-looking dude. Putting him in a zoo will just let him escape again. You're gonna have to find a place to put him, Silence of the Lambs style."

He tried once again to peer into the reptilian's mind and got a shooting pain through his eyeballs for his trouble. He let out a small cry of pain and pressed the heel of his hand against his eye.

23:30, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 1 using 1d100. Mind Probe on Dr. Cobra.

Gary frowns at the Spook and says disapprovingly "It's just an expression. They're out sick"

One of the paramedics comes over to check Darien after his outcry, shines his pen light in his eye. "Something..." looking around "I'd swear there's something shining out of your eyes.  We better get you in and have a doctor look at you.

The other paramedic says "If it's just hypnosis that had these people out, there's not really any reason to take them all in."

Gary looks over at Gyre "Mass hypnosis, yeah, I must have been hypnotized, I didn't really see all this, and there's not snake people on the security tape." Sounds like he's trying to convince himself or wishing that were true.

Darien batted away the paramedic's hand and turned away. "I'm fine. Just a headache from being hypnotized," he lied. He glanced down to Doctor Cobra and shook his head.

"I'm never getting in there."
"His mind does seem rather strong... must be to hypnotize all these people."
"He may not even be human anymore."
"If he ever was."
"True dat."

"The Feds seem like a good idea. And call the sherriff's- seems like we'll need the best isolation cell they have. If the reptilian Doctor's mass is any indication, we're talking about a lot of strength."

Karen paused as she took in the scene.

"It seems like you know this Tremere if you're able to talk about time-traveling and mind-control. Not too sure about the time traveling, but it does seem that there are beings in this world who can at least affect a person's mind.

So, can you fill me in a bit?"

"I read a bunch of comics as a kid... so I'm throwing stuff out there that fits the evidence."

The hovering vortex with a man spinning inside pauses a moment to see if the officers or EMTs would like to comment on "the evidence".

"I bet you can find plenty of videos on youtube or national news by now of the fight near the mayors office.  Tremere was there and I pulled in into the fight at the end.  Take a close look at the video from then and compare it to when you saw him outside.  He was older before and this time didn't know who the devil girl was.  Hence 'time traveling wizard' ... just my running theory."

"Other than that I can't tell you much I didn't already.  I developed the ability to create spinning vortexes of energy a little while back.  Then today I meet some super villain who has it in for me, a pretty woman who I'm inclined to believe is a reformed devil, and a guy who can turn invisible... oh and lets not forget the snake people."

"Who were probably turned that way by the person calling himself Doctor Cobra--he's the cobra-looking dude over there," Darien pointed. "Based on some other dude I talked to, they might have had terminal illnesses--like cancer--and he gave them a cure... that turned them into reptiles." He remained stone-faced as he said this. "And he funds his research by robbing banks, apparently."

Gary borrows a desk phone and calls a number apparently the FBI, who'll be here shortly.  With the alarm off, people start trying to come in the bank, Gary holds them off, and asks someone to watch the door while he gets the police tape.

Most of the victims want to leave, and the Manager wants to get the bank reopened.

The paramedics and animal control stick around at Gary's request waiting for the FBI.

Eventually a pair from the FBI arrive, a pair that looks near retirement age, a redhead woman and a stooped man.  They get statements from Gary & the Paramedics, and ask for further statements from everyone else regarding the events.  They ask Animal Control to load up the Snake-Man and deliver him to a federal secure facility, give out cards and ask for contact information for everyone befoe leaving with the Snake-Man, and asking everyone to return to their business.

With the immediate situation settled, the Spook turns his attention to the group. With a nod of his head he addresses Devilgirl and Gyre, the spinning man "We seem to have the same priorities... the same goals. You can count on my aid in the future."

Then he turns the young man he hadnt met"And you - You seem to know more than you are letting on. How are you connected to all of this? How do you know so much about Cobra?"

"I ran into one of his victims in the park. We had a good long chat," Darien said. He did not like advertising that he could read minds--it made people nervous and suspicious of him. "But I don't have the full story. Not without spending some one-on-one time with the doctor."

"Does Dr Cobra snatch them off the street or what?"

Gyre keeps an "eye" on the feds to see how they react to people with superpowers... maybe there are more out there.

After giving burner numbers, and explanations, the supers decide to meet up at the Schwarma King to grab some grub and discuss things in a quieter situation.

(OOC: You can talk in the Schwrma King thread now to each other any time to discuss things in character)

On the morrow the Mystery Times reflects what's happened:

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

"HELL ON EARTH AT BARCO PROTEST!"

By R. Race Rasmusen

Reynold's call for impeachment of Barco was interrupted by the Devil Herself, all hell broke loose, with the cops nowhere to be seen, A Purple Devil Man, a Succubus, and a Magician fought in the skies in broad daylight!  Cops nowhere to be seen.  Reynold posited that Barco himself is behind the summoning of evil spirits to disrupt his speech, and plans on causing the apocalypse!  He calls not only for his impeachment, but for his immediate arrest.  Local Church says this proves the second seal has been broken and the apocalypse is imminent, repent now!  I for one am getting to my church at once, and urge you to do so too.

FBI CAPTURE SNAKE-MEN AT BANK ROBERY, TWO ESCAPE!

By R. Race Rasmusen

Chaze bank was robbed, The Devil Herself and her inhuman companions were again seen fighting at the scene of the crime.  Though she was not captured, Animal Control verifies a large mutant snake with vestigial arms and legs was captured, surveillance photos show this horrifying picture (see above) of the beast.  Two Snake-Men were reported to have escaped into the sewers, with over one thousand dollars!  The FBI is currently investigating, and has declined comment.

RITUAL SACRIFICE BRINGS APOCALYPSE!

A large number of dead cats were found eviscerated, and placed in a bloody circle around an unmarked grave in prospect park.  As already seen in other stories from yesterday, this must have been the ritual that has started the end of the world. Animal Control is investigating, police and the mayor were unavailable for comment.

WOMAN BEDEVILS DOWNTOWN!

By Fasionista Jessie Beknight

A New fasion sensation calling herself "Devil Girl" took fire on the streets yesterday, upshowing Reynold's call for impeachment of the Mayor.  Wow, girl, who are you wearing and where do I find it!  Will we be seeing more of you?  Fashion designer Connor Bottles promises new line based on her.  Also seen was a bold statement in purple by a man calling himself Gyre!  Exclusive pictures of the bewitching Devil Girl follow!


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

Over the next several days, each of the supers has easily stopped several petty crimes.

LAWLESSNESS AT ALL TIME HIGH, MAYOR TO BLAME!

By R. Race Rasmusen

Crime has risen exponentially with news the New York City Police are striking for higher pay and more benefits, while claiming a flu has taken them out of commision.  Lawlessness and Crime are going unpunished!  Mayor Barco is in negotiations and has asked Police to return to duty. Union leaders up the pressure by continuing Blue Flu.  The Sheriff Department has been unavailable for comment.  Reynolds continues to call for impeachment of Barco, will be speaking to the governor tomorrow, calls for National Guard.  This editor worries riots may be next if something is done immediately.

APOCALYPSE SCMOCKALYPSE

Counter opinion by Ted Sanchez

Large groups have been proclaiming the end of the world and gathering in front of local churches.  Where is it I ask?  Just like every other proclaimed End of the World since the beginning of history that hasn't panned out, this one is another hoax designed to get people into churches and part with their hard earned money.  One local family I talked to had sold their house, given all their money to the church, quit their jobs and are now living on the lawn in front of the same church.  If anything, this behavior will lead to the crumbling of society and hell on earth more than any so called Apocalypse.  One publicity stunt with some girl wearing red makeup and trickey by a washed up magician who does shows at kid's parties doesn't make for the end of the world.

BREAKING NEWS!

"Nina Garza reporting in Watts! Locals are calling this a riot!"  (police sirens in background, screams)  I'm at a police barricade, they're firing live rounds at people wearing snake masks.  Police have asked that you stay inside to remain safe."

Cut away to anchor-man.

"Mayor Barco has called for martial law, and the national guard.  It's unsure if they'll arrive in time to quell the riot.  Nina, have you been able to speak to anyone about why they're rioting?"

Nina "No George, the mask wearing rioters have been shot at and are staying away from the barricade, Police won't let us through to talk to them."

SNAKES ON THE LOOSE!

The Supers arrive on the scene, Karen & Gary already there having set up a blockade, Gary fires a warning shot as Some snake-men approach, to which they've slither off.  There's alarms going off and a car overturned and on fire down the street.  A window is heard breaking.  It sounds like there's action both to the left and right.

Gary says "Thank heavens you're here!  I think I've counted over 20 different snake-men so far.  We've just been hoping for backup before we try to clean this mess up and keep them contained here."

Just then 4 snake-men and a snake-woman are approaching.  One of the snake-men is much larger than the ones you dealt with at the bank, though not as large as Dr Cobra.  All but the large one flinch at Gary's warning shot, but continue on.

The large one yells "We've come to make demandsssssss!"

Gary whispers out the side of his mouth not taking his eyes off the snake-people "Plan of action?"

(OOC: What's everyone doing when they get to the police barricade and hear the last post?)

Darien stood off to the side, well behind the barricade but close enough to see and hear what was going down.

"There sure are a lot of them."
"Lots of desperate people."
"You wouldn't have done that."
"I'm not so sure. Never given the option."
"But if you knew?"
"Oh, hell no."
"I knew that."

Darien probed the mind of the one making demands. Was he a victim like Johnny or was his condition brought on differently?

23:30, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 64 using 1d100. Mind Probe.
 

Darien digs around in the large snake-man's mind, he find that he was originally a victim like Johnny, but now, wait - this is one of the two who escaped the Bank!  It's hard to believe the difference, you didn't recognize him at all!  With the Doctor gone, they've synthesized a large amount of the doctor's last recipe and have been distributing it as if it were a recreational drug and taking as much of it as they can!  He and his partner have altered an untold number of people!

The Spook arrives on the scene, acknowledging the others with a curt nod. "They say they have demands," he tells the officer "So let's hear them. Keep them talking, focused on the barricade. I'll see what I can do." He slowly fades from sight and slips past the barricade and into the mayhem.

Devilgirl lands near Darien, her stiletto heels clicking as she sets down lightly on the pavement and banishes her aura. "What do they look like Darien?" she asks the mind reader next to her.

Devilgirl's powers don't tend towards the gentle and its best to check first before she fries an unfortunate victim.

"He's one of the bank robbers," Darien said with a nod toward the "leader." "Without their boss, they've gone full gangland, using the lizard serum--or whatever it is--like PCP or something. Bad news."

"SNAKES ON A ROAD!"

Gary lowers his gun and yells out "Approach, just you, no false moves.  What're your demands?"

The large Snake-Man approaches halfway hisses out "Releasssse Doctor Cobra!  Our fatther mussst be free to guide ussss!  We have many hossstagessss, we will exxxxxchange them for him." He hisses down the road to the right, another group of three approach and stop close enough to see that they each have a hostage struggling. "If he issss not bought to ussss before ssunrisssse, we will join the humansss to our ranksssssss and burn the ccccity down!"

The others hiss and raise hands to the air in a motion resembling a snake.

As he talks the Spook tries to slip past the Snake-Man, but the snake-man looks around flicking his tongue.
(OOC: 4 on intuition = white to discover the spook) he isn't noticed.  The Spook is approaching the 3 with hostages.

Nina approaches Devil Girl with a Mic and camera-man in tow "What are your plans Devil Girl?  Is there anything you can tell us about yourself, our viewers want to know!"

Gary looks over his shoulder and yells at Nina "Jeee-hosaphat!  Get back!  Can't you see the giant snakes!"

Devil Girl smiles at Nina. "Hello Nina, thank you for asking. Um, right now we are going to defeat the bad guys-"

She pointed an elegantly manicured finger at the snake men.

"Then, like I'd be happy to give you an interview. You know I'm a big fan of yours right?

(OOC = Spook, there's 3 each with a hostage, 4 armed ones approximately between the large snake man and the ones with hostages)

Nina says "Oh, thanks! There's many fans of yours out there too. How do you plan to defeat them?"

"Uh... I'm afraid I don't yet Nina but I'll get back you, promise!" She blew a kiss at the camera then took a few steps back to make sure she didn't singe Nina or her cameraman. Devil Girl ignited her aura and took flight.

Time to get an aerial view on things...

13:45, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 93 using 1d100.  Feat of Telepathy.

Darien focused on the hostage who looked most afraid or panicked. He spoke to them across a psychic connection, sharing his thoughts with them and vice-versa. "I am a friend. We are here to help. Everything will be fine, but I need you to be strong."

It will take 2 more actions to link up with the other hostages.

A couple of the hostages looked somewhat less frightened, one though had gone into full out screaming. "Oh, god, NOOOOoooo!"

Guy yells at Nina "I said get back!"

Then yells out at the Snake-Man "The FBI have him, I'll try to get hold of them, but it could take awhile!"  He holsters his gun, and steps into the squad car leaving the so far silent Karen to cover them.

The Snake-Man sees Devil Girl fly up on fire and yells at Karen "Tell that $$$$ to get back here or the Humanssss get it!"

Karen stumbles over her words "I, I, I don't have a way to reach her! Please just wait, my partner's just started to get hold of the FBI, give us some time!"

The Snake-man hissess back at the others...

After Devil girl flies up she can see several cars overturned, one on fire, storefront glass broken, and at least 5 more groups of snake men of 3 to 5 each, some dragging people out of buildings.  For some reason they seem to be restricting themselves to only this street.

Things were escalating quickly - it was time to take action. The Spook approach the group of snake men from the back. Gotta take them out quietly, he thinks to himself Nice and easy... just one at a time. Sweating bullets, he holds his breath and reaches out to the  nearest snake man. He presses his palm against the spine, willing it to shut down the snake's motor function. Let's hope Gary's keeping their attention. Wouldn't want anyone looking back now...

OOC: The Spook rolled 36 using 1d100. Stun Power: Agility Feat. Squeaked in a Bronze result.

Darien reached out to the screaming hostage. "I know you are scared, but I need you to stay calm. We won't let them hurt you, but I need you to take a few deep breaths and get ready to run when they let you go. Can you do that for me?"

"SNAKES ON A ROAD!"

The Spook muste've hit a nerve, the snake-man just slumps over like it was going to sleep, releasing it's screaming hostage.  Unfortunately the hostage it had is screaming "It's in in my HEAD! Oh god NOOOOOOOOO!" who slumps to the ground with it, holding her head.  It's not entirely obvious what's going on and the other snakes look on with confusion.

The large snake-man has recognition dawn on him as he looks at Darien, "You, the kkid from the bankk!"  He hisses at the other snakes.  The two still with hostages inject the formula into them and drop them as they start to writhe.  The other snake-men and the large one start toward the barricade.

As the large one gets to the Baricade carelessly tossing it aside with a inhuman strength, Karen fires at the large one, just barely managing to wing him, but he seems almost unfazed, the bullet leaving only a tear in his shirt and a welt on his scales.

"That was... not the reacting I was expecting."
"Yeah, tell me about it. No time for subtlety now."

Darien gave up trying to communicate with the hostages. "Yeah, it's me. Remember the headache I gave you last time?" he called out to the leader who had identified him. "And I'm not a kid." He followed it up with a wave of mental energy.


19:58, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 34 using 1d100.  Mental Blast: Feat of Psyche.
A Bronze result

Times were tough, and to make it worse now there was this snakeskin fad taking off. Max never liked snakeskin, and a full body covering was right out! If that wasn't bad enough, he was going to have to walk three blocks out of his way because of the police barrier in his path. Even as he considered the distance he would have to walk if the snakemen holding the hostages stretched more than a block back from the barrier, some other part of his mind was already working on what he would need to do. It took no more than a second for his skin to become smooth and shiny, and as he leapt towards the barrier he called, "Have no fear! Manmirror is here!"
As the words left his mouth, he didn't think of them as cliched, or silly. He wasn't worrying about how he would be quoted in the papers on the following morning. All he could think about was the fact that he had about as much chance of cowing the snakemen as, well, a cow.

Gotta stick to the plan. In the midst of the confusion, the Spook takes the opportunity to try pummeling the downed snake man, bashing his grotesque snout with a gloved fist. Hopefully this'll take him out for good, he thinks Otherwise this could get messy.

OOC:The Spook rolled 8 using 1d100. Melee Attack: Fighting Feat. Yeah... that's a white result.

Devilgirl pouts in frustration. The trouble is most of her abilities are... well kind of deadly. She could risk a fireball here and even her aura risked burning a hostage. She'd have to make do with punches, kicks and (her specialty) headbutts.

Flying over she dropped down in front of the other advancing snakeman, trusting Darien to do his mental mojo on the large one.

"Hey you, no one picks on mortals while around! Wait... uh... not mortals. What's that word? Oh right, innocents."

OOC: 22:37, Today: Devilgirl rolled 52 using 1d100.  Feat of Fighting.

"SNAKE SLEEPY-TIME!"

The Spook punches the downed snake-man on the nose, though he's not sure he did anything beyond hurt his own hand, the snake-man doesn't react at all, it's out cold.

Devilgirl's taunts at least attracted the attention of all snake-men that were still advancing, four pile on her, two manage to pummel her.

(2x 20 health - unless aura is on, I wasn't sure from her description, there's no hostages near any of the snake men now, except the one The Spook stunned)

Two undulate hypnotically, and she feels her eyes closing.

(Devil girl need sot make two feats of psyche - 1 bronze and one silver or fall asleep)

Gary scrambles out of the squad car fumbling with his gun, muttering profanities.

Karen fires again at the large nake-man, but he shrugs aside at the right moment and avoids it.

Darien's mental scream causes the large snake-man's eyes to roll up in his head and slump over unconscious just as he reaches Manmiror.

Nina seeing the large snake man turns white, and decides maybe backing up is the best idea.

(OOC: The rng seems to hate the villains)

Meanwhile the one screaming hostage at least reduces her hysterics to wailing uncontrollably.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:50, Fri 28 Aug 2015.

In reply to R. Race Rasmusen (msg # 165):

Devilgirl, still wincing at the blows she'd taken and about to turn on her aura to fry these snakes suddenly realised what they were trying do.

"Seriously, hypnotism?? How weak minded do you think I-"

The devilish beauty never finished the sentence, promptly falling over, eyes closed. After a second she started snoring.

---

OOC:
17:12, Today: Devilgirl rolled 64 using 1d100.  Feat of Psyche (World Class) x2.
17:11, Today: Devilgirl rolled 36 using 1d100.  Feat of Psyche (World Class) x1.

"That's wat up!" Darien said as the snakeman hit the ground. That was then followed by Devilgirl doing the same. "Oh, hell," he mumbled and resisted the urge to do a face palm.

"Nice pun."

Darien then chuckled to himself.

He walked toward the two undulating snake people. "You want to try that weak-ass sh-- on me?" He then lashed out psychically at one of the pair.

09:46, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 38 using 1d100.  Mental Blast: Feat of Psyche.
Another Bronze

Manmirror decides he needs to be more involved, and advances towards the undulating snakes, telling them, "I understand reptiles have small brains, that means you're not very bright. Here, let me help you." As he does so, his skin starts to sparkle as if faceted. The sparkling pulses, building to a sudden bright flash in the direction of one of the undulating snakemen. Unfortunately, it's just in the direction and does little more than flash off the second story windows behind the snakemen.

23:10, Today: Manmirror rolled 15 using 1d100.  Dazzle: Feat of Agility, white result, missed

Looks like it's now or never - I won't get a better distraction than this, the Spook thinks to himself as the snakes leave one-by-one. Time for a little hide and seek.

The Spook draws his sonic gun and whips around, pointing it at the next snake man. He pulls the trigger. A thunderous shriek erupts from the guns silver muzzle, blasting his target with concentrated sound.

OOC: The Spook rolled 57 using 1d100. Sonic Blast. Bronze result.

"SNAKE SLEEPY-TIME!"

The Spook hits one of the undulating snake-men with his sonic-ray, it staggers for a moment, but turns flicking it's long forked tounge out, looking for the source of the sound.  It zeros in on The spook and leaps at him burrying fangs his arm.  Poison courses though his system weakening him (Str dropped 10 to decent, and takes 10 damage).

Darien drops the other like a sack of potatoes.

The remaining four leave Devilgirl to her nap, taking after Manmirror and pummeling him relentlessly (3 bronze results 3x20=60 hp, not sure if Manmirror had transformed, but it sounds like it, if so they flail uselessly at him)

A distorted voice dripping with sarcasm familiar to The Spook comes from behind the barrier accompanied by clapping "Ah! the so called heroes, saving the day again!  Perhaps I can turn the tables this time, it looks like I'm not too late!"  A middle aged man with a long mustache dressed in an expensive white silk suit with gold pinstripes and a vile looking silver medallion resting on his breast.  He looks bulkier than the last time you saw Temere, but his form is shifted into blue and red once again.  He yells "Wake up sweetie!" and claps with the medallion between his hands.  Suddenly Devilgirl wakes as if slapped hard!

Manmirror stands in the center of the pounding snakes, apparently not trying to avoid their blows. As the first snakeman pummels his gut, he grunts and flinches. The second snakeman swings overhand and finds his fists bouncing off Manmirror's shoulders as if he was hitting a steel panel with a rubber hammer. The third snake man swings backhand at Manmirror and as his fist strikes Manmirror's chest it rebounds with sufficient force to slam back into the snakeman!

OOC: not having transformed, Manmirror is still relying on his reflection. Thus the rolls:
23:15, Today: Manmirror rolled 176 using 3d100 with rolls of 16,62,98.  three feats of reflection.

16	White	You are hit and affected by the attack as normal
62	Bronze	You are able to deflect the attack harmlessly, and it does not affect you.
98	Gold	You are able to reflect the attack directly back at your attacker, who is then affected by their own attack.

Therefore, Manmirror takes 20, the second attack does nothing, and the third snakeman punches itself for 20.

"AGH!" The Spook immediately reappears, nearly dropping his gun from shock and pain. He smacks the snake man, attempting futilely to dislodge the gripping jaws. The venom made it hard to concentrate on using his powers, and the Spook's hand connects harmlessly.

The Spook rolled 6 using 1d100. Stun Power: Feat of Agility.

'What the?' Devilgirl exclaimed as she staggers to her feet. The demoness' eyes narrow as she spots Temere. 'You! So this is all your work is it?'

"Didn't think so," Darien scoffed. When The Spook cried out, he turned his attention that direction. "I know you are in pain," he said to the snake-men, "But there is a better way."

"In the meantime... Stand. Down." However, his statement lacked the mental force to actually force the snake-man to stand down (or fall over).

10:53, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 14 using 1d100.  Mental Blast: Feat of Psyche.

(OOC: Do Manmirror & Devilgirl want to do anything this turn, or just soliloquy?)

Noting the poor, bitten Spook, Manmirror says, "you need to surrender, now."
Almost immediately thereafter, his skin loses it's mirror-like finish as the pavement at his feet began to crack.

OOC: yes, now he's going full power

"STRIKING SNAKES!"

The snake-man biting The Spook lets go, but only to strike again!  The Spook rolls out of the way just in time clutching his swelling arm!

One snake attacking Manmirror punches itself in the mouth is staggered and starts bleeding.  but he recovers and the lot of them continue to wail at Manmirror, Three of them landing strikes that would've felled a normal man, but his hardened form is no more impacted than hitting the ground (3x20 hp, but resistance reduces that to 0)

Temere commands Devilgirl "Now, my pet destroy this young man, for he isn't what he seems!" Pointing to Darien.  (Though she feels a slight twinge of compulsion, there's no power behind it and she continues to act under her own will)

Temere laughs at Darien "I have the power of eternity on my side, you think you can hide from me? Ha! Ha! Ha!"

"Dude! Do I know you?" Darien called out to the strange multi-colored man.

"Do you know him?"
"I... I don't know."
"What does that mean?"


"Look, we got snake-men to deal with here. Either pitch in a hand or shut up," he added, disgusted.

"You! I said stand down," he said, pointing to the snake-man he had previously said it to.

00:13, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 11 using 1d100.  Mental Blast: Feat of Psyche.

"A little help here?"

With a disgusted look on his face, Manmirror strides to the nearest empty car, and grabs it with his right hand. Lifting the vehicle into the air like it's some sort of club, he shouts at the top of his lungs, "WHO WANTS TO KEEP THEIR TEETH?"

OOC: Not sure what sort of action, etcetera, this entails, so I just posted what I want him to look like and left the rest to the GM.

(OOC - was waiting for Devilgirl & the Spook, as I'm just now back I'll give it another day.

Manmirror - I think you can lift and throw something as one action.  You can lift a small car (around 1.5 tons) with your strength normally, or up to about a bulldoser (about 50 tons) when you've increased your density.)

The Spook hops backwards, letting the Snake-Man have another blast from his sonic gun. The creature had his full attention, and he fires on full power to end things quickly. Teeth rattling with the force of his gun, the Spook barely registers the arrival of Temere.

OOC: The Spook rolled 92 using 1d100. Sonic Blast.

Manmirror isn't planning to throw the car at the snake men, he's going to walk over and club them with it. I hope it's a volvo, they have a nice clubby shape.

"SNAKES!"

The Spook's sonic gun has it's intended effect, the snake-man who bit him reels hissing and collapses unconscious.

Darien finds the snake-men particularly hard to get a grasp on, and struggles without effect.

(OOC: I took the liberty of rolling for Devilgirl and Manmirror
16:04, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, on behalf of Manmirror, rolled 15 using 1d100.  Beat snake-man with Volvo.
16:03, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, on behalf of Devilgirl, rolled 47 using 1d100.  Blast Temere.)

Devilgirl throws a ball of fire at Temere hitting him square in the chest, he cries out in pain, and his clothes have a black singe, but seem to be highly resistant.

Temere yells back unsure "Perhaps I need to remind you who your master is!"

"Te nunc K'yshria invoco diabuli, te in mea potestate defixi, nunc et in aeternum."

(SILVER RESULT 16:11, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Temere, rolled 84 using 1d100.  spell to control (equal color result on psyche to resist).)

Meanwhile Manmirror swings at one of the snake men with an old Volvo, but the snake-man dodges it with snake-like speed.  The renaming snake-men again beat at him hurting him no more than a baby's swat would.

Devilgirl's expression turns blank as Temere's words enter her mind.

Turning she dips her head in acknowledgement. 'I hear and obey Master.'

OOC: 15:05, Today: Devilgirl rolled 8 using 1d100.  Psyche (World Class) - need Silver to resist.

"Say what now?" Darien turned his head when he heard the devil girl's proclamation. "Snap out of it, girl!" he said.

"Don't listen to that fool. Remember who you are," he projected into her mind, but it lacked any psychic force behind it.

14:03, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 35 using 1d100.  Stunt Telepathy.
Well, that was a waste of 100 karma.

The Spook exhales, glad to see the snake man stay down. No time to he thinks, deliberately ignoring the venom coursing through his arm More snakes are bound to - Temere?! He finally looks up at the surrounding commotion, immediately recognizing the madman, demon and young man from before.

With a fresh surge of adrenaline the Spook raises his sonic pistol and fires at Temere without hesitation. He's not getting away this time.

OOC: The Spook rolled 26 using 1d100. Sonic Blast. This is an important target for the Spook, so I plan on using 50 karma to ensure a solid hit. That totals 76, Silver result.

"MORE SNAKES ON A ROAD!"

15:49, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, on behalf of Manmirror, rolled 96 using 1d100 ((96))

Manmirror hits a home run though a small Asian market with one of the Snake-Men surrounding him.  The two-remaining snake-men reconsider their assault, and step back.

One pulls out a molitov from the pocket of his ill-fitting jeans, lighting it, then throws it at Manmiror! He fumbles it leaving a puddle of flaming gasoline on the ground between them.

The other dodges past Manmirror going for the police barricade, the police firing at him, but missing it's quick strike, it tears at her bullet-proof vest with it's fangs, but doesn't penetrate.

Devilgirl not been given any instructions yet 'after' controll has been re-established stands there awaiting orders.

The Spook takes careful aim and causes Temere to scream in agony as his ears bleed from the sonic vibrations of his pistol.

Temere yells "I must needs to remember ear protection!"  Looking at Devilgirl for a moment, he then says "What are you waiting for, destroy them! I mean, that one! Destroy The Spook!  The one with the sonic gun!  Arg! Devils, always needing precise instructions. Must I do everything myself?"  "Enter.. Duo... Dimensionum!!"

He suddenly shifts from being a distorted 3d movie image to being very flat, he then steps-sideways disappearing to Darien though the others can still see a thin bit of him from different angles.

The two hostages that were injected incredibly have changed completely, now looking half-snake half human, though not quite as far gone as the other ones here, rise up next to The Spook not looking friendly at all. One says "Tassty morssel." flicking his now long forked tongue at The Spook.

Cursing under his breath, the Spook tries to asses the situation. Snakes in front of me, his mind races and the Devil herself ahead. The Spook focuses on the immediate threat, wanting to avoid a double dose of snake venom. With a thrust of his hand, he wills the color to bleed from the snake man's eyes, wanting to drain them from black to a milky white.

OOC: The Spook rolled 61 using 1d100. Color Control Dazzle! Bronze result.

Devilgirl blinks vacantly. "Destroy The Spook... yes master, I obey"

Turning she fires a blast of firey energy straight at the mysterious hero!

---

OOC: 23:39, Today: Devilgirl rolled 56 using 1d100.  Aura (Alternate Power) - Blast (World Class).

Having seen the poor guy get 'snakebit', Manmirror decides it's not appropriate to fry him at the same time. Dropping the vehicles he was holding, he leaps towards the firey blast of the devil woman (get a blue dress and call me Mitch).
Unfortunately, he stumbles over the debris in the street and does not get to the blast.

OOC: got to use the 'interpose' feat for the first time, failed (rolled a 4)
This message was lightly edited by the player at 02:58, Mon 21 Sept 2015.

"Where'd he go?" Darien mumbled to himself as the technocolor villain disappeared from his sight. He thought briefly about searching for his thoughts, but there was little time for that. "Sorry about this," he said to Devilgirl before sending a mental blast her way.

19:00, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 95 using 1d100.  Mental Blast: Feat of Psyche.
Gold result.
World Class (30) damage and possible stun.

"SNAKES, MAGICIANS & DEVILGIRLS, OH MY!"

(OOC: I'm hearing the title in the voice of George Takei in my mind.)

09:00, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, on behalf of Devilgirl, rolled 82 using 1d100.  resist stun.

Devilgirl seems not to be at home in her head, Darien's mental attack just passes her by like it would a lamppost as she focuses on The Spook.

The snake man's eyes turn white, unfortunately for The Spook his tongue flicks out seeing in scents for him, and he seems little affected by the loss of sight, though enough to prevent him from hitting The Spook, the other punches him with a scaly fist (OOC: 10 blunt)  OOF!.  Devilgirl blasts him with fire (OOC: 30 points fire damage).

The Snake-man who'd thrown the molitov hisses at Manmirror dodges around the puddle of flaming gasoline, and tries to grab him, but stumbles on the same bit of debris he did, and lands next to him.

Temere shouts "Hi-Yah!" Though Darien can't see it, Manmirror & The Spook see from the corner of their eyes a terribly thin Temere karate chopping Darien's shoulder.Darien feels a sharp pain, like that of a large knife slicing though his shoulder!  (OOC: 20 damage)

The Cop Karen puts her gun away, and roundhouses the Snake-man that missed her, knocking him for a loop, but he bites her leg as it connects.

The Copy Gary pops out of the car drawing his pistol again and shouts desperately "FBI is on the way! Everyone surrender now, you've got no chance to escape!"

Manmirror looks at the snake thing that attempted to catch him, raises his eyebrows at it, and says, "Really?"
Then he points out the error of the reptile-man's ways by slamming his fist into the pavement between them.

OOC: don't know if this will damage the snake-person, but maybe when Manmirror smacks a hole in the pavement the scaly one will back off. Fighting is Great, rolled 47 for BRONZE result, normal affect, asphalt is wondrous strength, and Manmirror has phenomenal strength, so I broke the road

The Spook blinks past tears and tries to focus. There were too many attackers - he needed a plan. Spotting Temere, the Spook hastily puts his idea in motion. It was a long shot, but it was all he had. "Still had one more trick up my sleeve..." he mutters before making a mad dash for the thin man, racing as if to tackle Temere.

Sprinting, he taunts the possessed devil and snake man "Gotta do better than that!" and takes a gulp of air. Holding his breath, he bounds - not into Temere, but through him!

OOC: Not sure if running/holding breath require a roll of any kind - just let me know if they do. Using Phasing power at default rank.

Darien did not have time to admire Devilgirl's mental fortitude before he cried out in pain and clutched his shoulder. "What the hell?" he asked, spinning around but not seeing his attacker. He knew it wasn't the devil girl or the snake men, so it must be that weird technicolor guy, but then he saw the spooky guy rushing towards... something?
"He's got that. Can't take out her. Help the cop," was the process of elimination in his head. He followed that with a mental blast at the snake man attacking the lady cop.


22:33, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 15 using 1d100.  Mental Blast: Feat of Psyche.

"SNAKES, MAGICIANS & DEVILGIRLS, OH MY!"

(Ooc: I'll call Manmirror breaking the road a trick attack vs. Psyche)


09:26, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Snake-man, rolled 86 using 1d100.  psyche to resist Manmirror's impressiveness.


The Snake-Man's cold unblinking eyes reveal no emotion to Manmirror's impressive display of force. Unable to physically injure him, the snake-man spits at him, but the loogie sails by landing behind him.

10:57, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Snake-Man, rolled 5 using 1d100.  Spit in Manmirror's face!

The Spook passes though Temere, finding him to be about as two-dimensional as a piece of paper.

Temere starts to Kara-te chop Darien again "HI-yargg - what?" as he's passed through, and misses Darien completely "What are you trying to do?  Scare me?  Ha!"

However The Spook is now on the other side of Temere - which Devil girl hasn't seemed to take note of when she tries to blast him, Temere just barely side steps the blast and yells "What are you doing?  You're supposed to be destroying him, not me!"

As well the two new snake man follow The Spook, but seem unsure what to do when he passes through Temere.  They hiss at the one near the cops, he hisses back at them, and turn toward the cops.

Though Darien can't seem to get a hold on the Snake-man's mind, it doesn't seem to matter as Karen the cop pistol-whips the snake-man hard, who double bounces off the pavement, while Gary misses his shot at one of the two new ones approaching, trying to make sure he doesn't hit Karen. She says "Surrender NOW!" looking at the new snake-men.

The two new snake men take one of the cops each, one clobbering Karen, but she takes it like a trooper, throwing her broken sun glasses down and says "You hit like a baby."

The Spook fights to keep from laughing. Time to show Temere that some helpers are more trouble than they're worth, he thinks fiercely We'll see who burns first. He sticks to the thin man like glue, gesturing wildly at the young man to step away. The last thing he wanted was collateral damage.

"There are too many of them," Darien said as he focused on the snake man who spit on reflectodude.

22:20, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 73 using 1d100.  Mental Blast: Feat of Psyche.
SILVER

Manmirror shakes his head as the snake spits at him, and says, "Now you ticked me off."
Without getting up, he grabs a chunk of the broken road and hurls it at the snake man trying to bite the cop.

OOC: 00:01, Today: Manmirror rolled 52 using 1d100.  throw road at snake guy.
Bronze result, blunt thrown hits and does normal damage. I don't know what normal damage is for throwing a piece of road.

"SNAKES, MAGICIANS & DEVILGIRLS, OH MY!"

10:46, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Snake-man, rolled 41 using 1d100.  resist stun. - white result

Darien at last gets a grip on on a Snake-man's mind, it hisses one last time and drops to the pavement no longer moving.

Manmirror's assault with asphault knocks the snake-man back bouncing off the police car, leaving a large dent.  The snake man tries for a moment to get up, then falls completely flat, no longer moving either, leaving no snake-men in the vicinity, though there are others far down the street causing havoc.

However Temere still stands.  He says "What do you think you're doing?" to The Spook, bending this way and that, trying to get out of the way.

Devilgirl says "Destroy him, not you.  Yes Master."   Her flames die down, she walks calmly over, and manouvers trying to get a clear shot at The Spook, but finding it unlikely doesn't take a shot.

Temere says "My distractions seem to have left.  I will remove your menace yet!  Back to the Future!"  He quickly inflates to three dimensions, then turns again to 3D red & blue, then stretches out fading away to nothing.

"Whoa," Darien said as the snake-man fell. He was thankful for the breather, but then realized there were still more. "C'mon!" He said to the guy tearing up the street. "More this way!" Darien then jogged down the street toward the remaining snake-men, lashing out at the nearest one as he approached.

07:10, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 73 using 1d100.  Mental Blast: Feat of Psyche.
Exact same roll as before. Silver.

It had been a relatively normal day, just catching up on some TV in between dozing off, when the "Breaking News" flashed on the screen.  He was still new to this hero thing, and his powers for that matter, but a swarm of snake-men sounded like something he should probably help with.

So, he'd quickly changed into costume, simple dark blue spandex and a black domino mask, and quickly made his way to the scene.  Upon arrival, he couldn't help but notice the other costumed crusaders already there.  Not wanting to interfere (was there some protocol for this sort of thing) he came to a hover over them and yelled down, "Need some help here?"

The Spook exhales, solidifying. "Should have expected that," he mutters to no one. Wasting no time he moves to grab Devilgirl by the shoulders, shaking her urgently. "Come on, snap out of it! He's gone!" It was a risk, but her extra 'firepower' would be invaluable in stopping the riot. So long as she doesn't actually want to destroy me, the Spook hopes to himself.

OOC: Just let me know if this needs any kind of roll to succeed and I'll be happy to make one.

Pushing himself upright, Manmirror looks down the road towards the snake riot then looks back at the divot he's left in the road.
"I don't think I can afford to pay for that," says the shiny man before flexing his legs and leaping a couple stories to a nearby roof. Running across the roofs and leaping between the buildings (perhaps breaking a chimney or two, maybe some concrete) Manmirror moves to the melee made up of men and men morphed to snaky forms.
As he heads for the riot, he shouts at the top of his lungs, "I'm coming to chew bubblegum and kick snaky tails, and I'm all out of bubblegum!"

The female cop, Karen says "Another one?! Listen all you vigilantes need to lay down your arms, or whatever and surrender!"

The male cop, Gary yells at her "You're #*#$% off your meds!  They're helping, and we need all the help we can get!  *#$# I'll *#*$%@! deputize them if I have to!" To all the superheroes he says "You're all *#$%*# deputized!" Back to Karen "There, happy?  They aren't vigilantes any more!"

To Titan the cop says "Go capture any of these snake men you can!  Or put them out of commission! We'll hold down the barricade here until the FBI gets here!"

Karen says quietly, unsure "I don't think you can deputize them." but lowers her gun.

As the Spook shakes Devilgirl the light fades from her eyes, and she returns to her normal self.

13:55, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Snake-man, rolled 43 using 1d100 ((43)) -bronze unable to act for 1 round.

Darien runs over to where the most of the rest of the snake men are, surprising speed for an otherwise apparently normal young man.  They seem to be holding a number of people hostage inside Mooncake Foods Restaurant with 3 stories of apartments above  Two snake-men armed with assault-rifles were standing guard outside.  One of the snakes drops to his knees hissing holding his head, but doesn't fall unconscious.  The other one looks around ready for action, but doesn't seem to get that Darien is the source of his brother's pain.

14:11, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Snake-man, rolled 36 using 1d100 ((36)). - white, complete miss.

However Manmirror's shouting grabs the snake-man's attention, he hisses and fires his assault riffle at him inexpertly, only riddling the building with new holes.

Up the street further, two more snake-men are dragging civilians toward the restaurant, past burning overturned cars.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:17, Mon 12 Oct 2015.

Manmirror looks at the snakemen with the hostages, and figures it's a party that should be broken up. He leaps from the rooftop to cut off the snakemen's path to the restaurant. After a pavement buckling landing, he strides towards the snakemen, picking a likely car to use as a club on his way. There aren't any nearby volvos, so he grabs an empty pinto figuring if it hasn't exploded, yet, there's not much gas to burn.
He casually asks the advancing reptile things, "You guys ever seen what happens to snakes that don't get out of the road when the cars are coming?"

Satisfied, the Spook turns his attention back to the situation at hand. He jogs over to the officer and masked man wearing blue. "I don't know if you know what you are signing up for," he addresses Titan "But I can definitely use the assist."

The others seemed to be holding their own at the moment, so the Spook weaves past the burning cars in pursuit of the snakes moving towards the restaraunt. He was determined to spare at least one of the hostages, if it was the last thing he did.

On his knees wasn't as good as unconscious, but holding his head was better than holding a gun. Darien directed the next mental assault on the other gunman.

15:53, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 58 using 1d100.  Mental Blast: Feat of Psyche.
Silver result

'What, who?' Devilgirl begins to say, then flushes a darker red as she realises she has been mind controlled yet again. Quickly she activates her aura and takes wing, following Spook to provide back up - and not incidentally leave the scene of her latest fiasco.

Titan nods, "I'll do what I can," he says as he takes off flying quickly towards the snakes moving towards the restaurant and punches the first one he gets close to squarely in the face.


14:24, Today: Titan rolled 97 using 1d100.  Punch snakeman.

Phenomenal [100] damage and possible slam & stun

For return attacks, Titan has Aerial Combat

One of those snake-men with the hostages pauses at Manmirror holding a pinto up, and says "Thiss iss too much for me!" drops the screaming hostage and runs toward the corner, the hostage gets up and runs off the other direction.

The other sees the approaching Spook & Devilgirl joining Manmirror and stops too, but holds tighter to the hostage saying "Back away or sssshe getsss it!" placing his fangs dripping venom at he neck.

The other gun-toting snake-man in front of the restaurant has a similar reaction to Darien's mental shout as the first, dropping his gun, and sagging to his knees holding his head and hissing.

13:25, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Assault-Snake man, rolled 69 using 1d100.  resist mental blast. Bronze misses action for round.

The first one starts to recover though, fumbling for his gun, as he does Titan lands a flying punch to the jaw that sends the snake man flying through the window of the restaurant.  From inside the restaurant you hear plates breaking and someone shouts "I didn't order snake tartar!"

A deeper rumble from inside says "Sssshut up, hhhu-maan."  A brief glimpse of a horrific looking giant snake-man covered in lumpy growths through the broken window as he grabs the man who spoke and throws him back through the window, just missing Titan, but skidding along the road to bump his head hard against the curb, no longer moving.

13:44, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Lumpy, rolled 50 using 1d100 ((50)). Bronze - but misses due to aerial combat.

Then a smaller one pokes the end of his riffle through the door looking for targets - seeing Titan right outside he lets loose on him, then hisses "Got the fly, bosssss!"

13:38, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Assau, rolled 76 using 1d100.  vs. Titan. - silver (still hit adjusted for aerial combat) 30 lethal damage.

The deep voice says in a strained hissing voice "Go away, unlesssss you want more broken men." The pain in the voice is almost palpable to Darien.

"You are the one who's broken," Darien said. His voice had an undertone of sadness and sympathy. "I don't know what you went through or what brought you to Doctor Cobra, but what you are doing now is wrong and cannot be condoned." He frowned and added, "Stand down."

14:31, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 12 using 1d100.  Mental Blast: Feat of Psyche
Well, that didn't work.

The Spook stops short and curses. He raises his hands and addresses the snake man as clearly and calmly as possible.

"Look, I'm backing off. Let's work something out. Let her go, and take me instead - I can help you," the Spook slowly reaches into his pocket and produces one of the small vials he picked up off Dr. Cobra earlier "I have what you need." it was all a complete lie of course, but the snake man didn't need to know that.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:45, Fri 16 Oct 2015.

Titan winces as the bullets tear into his body; what he wouldn't give for some invulnerability right about now.

"Give me that," he says as he swoops down and snatches the gun from the snake-man's hands, "Snakes are supposed to slither and bite, not stand and snipe," he adds as he breaks the gun in half.


06:37, Today: Titan rolled 59 using 1d100.  Snatch Gun. Silver Result.

Phenomenal strength should easily break the gun in half

Manmirror watches one hostage freed from the snake run off, and sees the second one threaten the hostage. He tosses the pinto over his shoulder, shrugs, and says, "Fine. I'll just let you discuss it with this nice masked man and head over to that restaurant for a bite."
Turning, he walks towards the restaurant. As he approaches the door, he says, "You mind if I come in and get some coffee, or something? I'm a little parched."

Titan takes the assault rifle like candy from a baby, breaking it like a saltine.  The snake-man almost bites his hand but his strike just misses as Titan adjusts his hovering.

13:47, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Snake-man, rolled 54 using 1d100 ((54)).  Bronze, reduced to white.


Titan sees inside the restaurant a from his new vantage next to the broken window & covering.  He sees 2 more armed snake-men inside along with their misshapen leader, with more than a score of people hunkered down with hands above their heads.

The two other snake-men don't fire not wanting to hit their brother, but the leader spits at Titan, who easily maneuvers out of the way.

13:56, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Lumpy, rolled 41 using 1d100 ((41)). Bronze, reduced to white.

The snake-man in the street with a hostage hisses at The Spook "Give me that! I let human go!"

The leader hisses deeply after Darien's mental feint "I feel you again boy, you won't essscape thissss time!"

Devilgirl drops to a landing a little way away from the Spook, hoping he knows what he is doing. Given her powers are so destructive she's not going to try and blast the hostage taker just yet - too risky.

"So... what exactly? I'm standing right here." Darien said as he spread his arms out, palms facing the snake-man. "C'mon. Take your best shot, lizard breath."

00:23, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 1 using 1d100.  Test of Psyche as a taunt.
And that's what the universe thinks of that idea....

Manmirror continues his expressed course, heading right through the front door of the restaurant. "You have made coffee, right?"
He ignores the snake men and looks for a coffee pot.

The Spook smiled, this seemed promising. "Good! Let her go, send her to me and I will toss you the vial. Same time, yes? Yo understand?"

The snake-man says shaking his hostage "Vial firssst! Bring it now!"

The Spook's blood boils "Stop it!" he clenches his fist around the vial and gives it one more try "I'm trying to help you, but we can't pull this off if you don't let her go! I'm coming over there - and if you are still holding her in three steps... well." The Spook raises the vial above the pavement with just his thumb and index finger. He wobbles it tantalizingly "You will be sorry."

The Spook then begins to walk towards the snake and his hostage with long, confident strides. He counts the steps in his head One.... Two...

"Hold this!" Titan yells as he throws one half of the gun at the leader, but misses high.

Darien stretched his neck and adjusted his hood, pulling it down so that he could just barely see out from under it.

"I really don't understand these guys."
"Their actions do seem... confused. Chaotic and disorganized."
"I wish I could help them, but they aren't giving me anything to work with."
"Maybe a change of tactics is called for."
"Sure. What the heck."

Darien scoffed and reached out with his thoughts to the snake-man before him.

22:30, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 89 using 1d100.  Telepathy (WC).
Silver. Should be good enough.

"Dude, I am in your head now. You want to tell me what your deal is? Or do you want me to pull it out by force? Let me help you."

The snake-man with a hostage re-emphasizes his position by squeezing his captive's neck, and Hisses even more emphatically "Vial FIRSsssssst!"

The two assault rifle holding snake-men inside the restaurant fire, once at each of their  targets. "Rattatatatat"  Blowing holes in additional windows. While the unarmed one near Titan tries ineffectually to bite him again.

14:10, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC assault vs. Titan, rolled 38 using 1d100 ((38)) white - miss
14:12, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC assault, rolled 26 using 1d100.  vs. Manmirror. white - miss
14:14, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Snake-man, rolled 21 using 1d100 ((21)). Whit - miss

Meanwhile their leader stands concentrating, if he could sweat, he'd be sweating bullets.


14:15, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Lumpy, rolled 29 using 1d100 ((29)).
14:17, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Lumpy, rolled 22 using 1d100.  Hypnotize Darien. - white no effect

"Yeah. Not so much," Darien said. He pushed back mentally.

15:58, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 19 using 1d100.  Mental Blast: Feat of Psyche.
WHITE. Ugh.

Well. I tried. Here goes nothing... the Spook thinks to himself as he approaches the Snake Man. He stops directly in front of the villain and holds out the vial in his open palm. "Here."

The Spook focuses on his outreached hand, channeling his powers. He plans to snatch the Snake man's wrist when he grabs for the vial. With any luck, he would be able to hold the monster long enough for the hostage to escape.

OOC: This is important, so I'm using Karma to get at least a silver result.

10:26, Today: The Spook rolled 30 using 1d100. Stun Power: Feat of Agility. 40 Karma spent to get Silver.

"Okay, now I'm getting annoyed," Titan ays as he dodges the bullets fired his way.  He takes a look at the other half of the gun in his hand, then drops it and flies headfirst at full speed slamming into the leader.

Okay, so I don't know if a 1 is an automatic fail or not.  If not, using karma to raise the Charge to a bronze result (40 karma).

12:18, Today: Titan rolled 1 using 1d100.  Charge Leader+Karma for Bronze.

Devilgirl stood by waiting, unwilling to intervene at this most delicate moment, given how poorly she had done so far. As soon as the spook did his mojo, she'd get aggressive...

Manmirror walks into the restaurant, ignores the bullets flying, and marches right up to one of the gun toting snakemen while saying, "hold on there, we can't start until  me and snakey get the rules straightened out."
Once he reaches the snakeman, he puts a finger in the end of the assault rifle and asks if "anyone here knows the mark is of queen berry rules for gun fighting?"

OOC: I just spelled it out in the way Manmirror pronounces it, blame him, not me.

13:22, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Snake-man w. hostage, rolled 72 using 1d100 ((72)) Bronze. - Stunned loses 1 round

The Snake-Man with hostage reaches for vial The Spook holds out, dropping the hostage as he does so. Then the Snake-Man hisses in pain as The Spook grabs his scaly hand, then drops to his knees eyes closing.  The Hostage gets up says "Thank you masked man!" and runs off away from the madness.


<Red>(OOC no automatic fails on a 1)

13:36, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Lumpy vs. Titan, rolled 94 using 1d100 ((94)). Silver - lethal, possible stun - need to make a feat of endurance check.  30 damage, and lose 30 points of strength from poison.
</Red>

Darien's mental scream barely registers as a tongue flick from the giant Snake-Man.

However it gave Titan a moment to recover after careening past as he dodged a bullet, and hit the Snake-Man in the back of the head "CRACK!" Unfortunately not a soft spot on the snake, who recovers and strikes back, biting him right in a major artery on the leg, pumping venom into him!

13:55, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Assault-rifle, rolled 81,76 using d100,d100, unique dice ((81,76)). Bronze result on both each Manmirror & Snake-Man take 30 damage.


Manmirror's action takes the gun toting Snake-Man utterly by surprise, for a moment he stares at Manmirror, then fires his rifle anyway, causing it to blow up in their faces.

13:57, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Snake-Man, rolled 93,45 using d100,d100, unique dice with rolls of 93,45.  vs. Titan.  #1 Silver downgraded to Bronze - 30 lethal damage, white on the other.

The last gun toting Snake-man fires at Titan riddling him with bullets, while the one now weaponsless launches himself at Titan, but finds him too difficult to get hold of.

"Batting a thousand, here," Darien grumbled. "How about you?" he turned to face the snake-man with a gun. "You want to Sit Down!?"

18:54, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 85 using 1d100.  Mental Blast: Feat of Psyche.
SILVER result

The Spook deftly snatches the vial out of the air after releasing the Snake Man. He quickly pockets it again.

Lucky. Stupid, but lucky. the Spook thinks to himself with a savage grin as the Snake goes down. As soon as the hostage runs, he jumps backwards himself, as if the Snake Man were on fire. At least he would be soon.

"Clear!" he shouts to Devil Girl "Now, all clear!"

14:31, Today: The Spook rolled 90 using 1d100. Agility Check. Silver result.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:41, Thu 05 Nov 2015.

Manmirror tells the snake man, "Well, that wasn't very smart, was it?" before backhanding the snakey dude.

OOC:23:54, Today: Manmirror rolled 75 using 1d100.  backhand snake man, bronze result
I think that's 50 damage

"Ow, that huuuurrrr..." Titan slurs as he falls to ground, unconscious.


16:04, Today: Titan rolled 25 using 1d100.  Feat of Endurance. - White, knocked unconscious.

Devil girl grins and summoning her aura sends a fireball from her palms straight towards Spook's snakeman.

OOC: 22:05, Today: Devilgirl rolled 41 using 1d100.  Aura (Alternate Power) - Blast (World Class).

14:47, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Assault-Snake man, rolled 20 using 1d100 ((20)). White - out for good.

Amazingly Darien's command to sit down sends the gun-toting Snake-Man into a cataleptic state, sitting on the floor where he stood.

The Snake-Man outside recovers from The Spook's effect, screaming "No! I need the vial!" Just as he starts to leap at The Spook he's hit by Devilgirl's blast of fire, It's not enough to stop him as he grabs The Spook and wrestles him down trying to get in his pockets with an insane frenetic grip it seems impossible to resist.

14:38, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Snake-man, rolled 98 using 1d100 ((98)) - Gold result - full hold, silver feat of fighting or strength to escape

Manmirror's casual backhand sends the blackened Snake-Man flying across the counter to land in a display of pies, he slithers slowly to the floor, face covered in whipped cream, a marked improvement, and doesn't move.


15:01, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC snake-man, vs. Manmirror rolled 15 using 1d100 ((15)). - White result - miss

The smaller disarmed Snake-Man hisses at Manmirror and throws himself at him, but only succeeds in landing in a mess of broken glass, pies, and Snake-man.


15:16, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Lumpy, rolled 90 using 1d100.  vs. Darien. Silver, 30 damage, -30 strength, must resist stun.

The larger Snake-Man ignores Manmirror and bulls through the tables, chairs and wall below the broken window, saying "Run home to momma boy!" suddenly leaping at him arms folded to his side, almost flying like a flying snake fangs barred, and sinks into his belly almost all the way through, and pumps poison into him.

Manmirror sees Lumpy run away, says, "shoot", and whips his head back and forth looking for something. Finally he decides on an appropriate projectile, grabs whichever downed snakeman he can and flings it at the biggest snake in the place.

OOC: not sure what the result is, but I rolled
20:55, Today: Manmirror rolled 66,67 using 1d100,1d100.  grab snakey, throw snakey at snakey.

19:00, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 38 using 1d100.  Feat of Endurance.
WC --> Bronze (barely!)
But his Strength is now below zero.

Darien recoiled from the strike and cried out in pain. His knees buckled and his mind reeled from the pain and the poison.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:05, Wed 11 Nov 2015.

Try as he might, the Spook finds himself unable to break free of the maniacal Snake Man's grasp. He continues to struggle for all he's worth.

13:01, Today: The Spook rolled 20 using 1d100. Escaping Hold. White result.

Calling Devilgirl!

Edit: (oops, meant to put that in OOC)
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:21, Thu 19 Nov 2015.

Devilgirl moves in, trying to land a blow to the preoccupied snakeman, without accidently hitting her comrade. Unable to risk her aura (which could broil Spook) she relies on her fists, sending one deceptively elegant looking knuckle sandwich to the rear of the snake man's head.

---

11:48, Today: Devilgirl rolled 78 using 1d100.  Punch Snakeman (Feat of Fighting). Bronze!

11:06, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC snake-man, rolled 37 using 1d100.  resist grapple. - white

tManmirror grabbing the snake-man on top of the pile of pies and snake-men, the snake man is struggling, but doesn't resist getting thrown, and flies somewhat more aerodynamically than one might expect of a thrown snake-man, hitting the large one in the back, though it seems to do very little than get his attention.

With Darien out, and being hit by his fellows, the large one starts to turn toward Manmirror, but gets a glimpse of The Spook and another snake-man struggling just as Devilgirl punches him.  The snake's head bounces a bit, but he continues frisking The Spook, and pulls out the vial from his pocket holding it high with a victorious hiss.


11:12, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Lumpy, rolled 3 using 1d100.  vs. Devilgirl. white

The large snake-man rumbles "Give it to me." and rushes over trying to swat Devilgirl out of the way, but she blocks his arm with a professional block casually like he's a baby.

The thrown Snake-man gets up, he looks at Manmirror and hisses, he hesitates though, unsure how to tackle Manmirror, then runs away toward the police barricade up the street.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:25, Thu 19 Nov 2015.

Manmirror notes the disabled Darien and insensate Titan and decides they need to be protected from the further ravages of the snakey kind. Charging to where the snake people are near Darien, he says four words as he windmills his fists in the area somewhat near the snake men. "My gloves are off."

OOC: Manmirror failed to come up with either a passable battle phrase or a worthy attack.
rolled a 1

"No!" the Spook gasps. Who knows what trouble will be caused with that vial? Making a snap decision, he whips his had down and draws his sonic gun. Squeezing the trigger this close was risky, but he didn't have much choice. With a deafening crack the Spook fires on the snake man directly on top of him.

OOC: The Spook rolled 60 using 1d100.  Sonic Blast. Bronze result.

Devilgirl rolls with the blow away from Spook so she can safely ignite her aura. Surrounded by a glowing nimbus of hellfire she advances on the giant snakeman.

---

OOC: Okay trying a more passive form of 'attack' her to drive him away to wear Devilgirl can get more violent without risking those nearby.

The smaller snake man tosses the vial into his mouth just as The Spook's sonic gun hits him and the vial breaking it he wavers with blood and clear liquid dripping from his mouth.

The larger snake man ignoring Devilgirl and Manmirror, grabs the smaller one's neck, hissing at him "It wassss mine! you worthlessssss worm!" throws him at Manmirror casually, and starts licking up the blood and liquid from the ground.


14:39, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Lumpy, rolled 58 using 1d100.  vs. Manmirror. - Bronze result, 50 blunt thrown damage (I think 20 after resistance).

The smaller snake-man no longer moves after mostly bouncing off of Manmirror.

Taken aback Devilgirl raised her hands, palm outwards and sent a ball of hellfire the giant snakeman's way.

---

OOC: 23:31, Today: Devilgirl rolled 3 using 1d100.  Aura (Alternate Power) - Blast (World Class).

OOC: No one's posted anything in 2 years, so I'm going to delete this game in a month or so. edit adding OOC
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:58, Fri 29 Sept 2017.

In reply to R. Race Rasmusen (msg # 249):

Dang, for a moment there I was hoping this was restarting. :(

OOC: Wow, I didn't think anyone was still here after 2 years!  I suppose I could figure out something for one-on-one, although I was having trouble figuring out where to go from where we were, and how to get out of that mess, since everyone else had stopped responding.

OOC: <bad word>, I confess I thought I was waiting for other posts. If this were to continue I would be more diligent.

I think that might have been kind of mutual Manmirror!

In reply to Devilgirl (msg # 253):

OOC Some RL stuff just came up, but i'll keep this open, I might be able to restart it in a couple months, but might be longer depending how things work out. Edit added OOC
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:59, Fri 29 Sept 2017.

Manmirror wipes a hand through the smeared snake-stuff on him, eloquently expresses himself by yelling "HEY" and simultaneously leaps onto the snake person at the serum pool, with both feet.

OOC: Wow. Finally get it into my head to do this and the dice-roller recognizes it.
Manmirror rolled 93 using 1d100.  charge Lumpy (Fighting 20).
Charge with a silver result means normal damage (50) and slammed... I think.

Devil Girl tosses her fire not quite in the right place, just burning off some of the blood and melting a bit of the asphalt next to Lumpy.

Then Manmirror lands with both feet on the back of the Snake-man hard.  So hard they both go through the pavement ending up in an underground section of the subway.  Lumpy struggles up weaving his head in disorientation.  (OOC: that's all Lumpy can do this round as he was SLAMMED)

The Spook turns invisible leaving Devil Girl the only conscious being visible at street level.

Manmirror steps over to the big snake person and grabs it. With a terse "not here", Manmirror tosses Lumpy back towards the street.

OOC: 20:46, Today: Manmirror rolled 38 using 1d100.  throw Lumpy back up to the street.
20:36, Today: Manmirror rolled 96 using 1d100.  grab Lumpy (grapple, feat of fighting - 20).

Manmirror crushes the snake-man into a resemblence of a ball and throws it out of the hole, it lands next to a confused Devilgirl, slithers to a stand, looks down and spits at Manmirror. Manmirror's not sure the snake-man can even see him down there in the subway as the spittle comes nowhere near him.

A train's light is seen coming down the tracks.


OOC 16:27, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Lumpy, rolled 8 using 1d100.  Spit at Manmirror.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:30, Tue 10 Oct 2017.

Manmirror looks around to be sure there's as little debris left on the track as possible, gathers himself, and leaps out of the hole intending to land somewhere past where he threw Lumpy.

OOC: In his transformed state, he has Phenomenal Strength. With his specialty in athletics, he leaps as if he has Single Shift Strength.

Devilgirl shoots off another fire blast at the snake man taging him, but he hardly takes notice, his thick and lumpy scales deflecting the heat.

(OOC 08:22, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, on behalf of Devilgirl, rolled 48 using 1d100 ((48)).)


Manmirror clears what rubble he can from the tracks and leaps into the air as the train gets close, landing next to the large snake ma

The large snake man continues to ignore devil girl, but lets out a deep rumble of a hiss.  Some of the distant lesser snake men turn toward him and start slithering the way of the commotion, but they are too distant to get anywhere near yet.

The beast then launches a sudden bite at Manmirror catching him, but can't get through his now very dense skin

(OOC: 08:29, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Lumpy, rolled 94 using 1d100 ((94)) - silver, but only 20 damage, absorbed by WC density)

Manmirror nods to Devilgirl, and says, "Could you be a dear and gather the little snake people? I've got an idea involving balloon animals I want to try with our friend here."
So saying, Manmirror grabs Lumpy and says, "you're going to want to call all your little friends, and probably beg for mercy, because I don't think I like you."

OOC: finally, the dice roller likes me
23:31, Today: Manmirror rolled 84 using 1d100.  grapple Lumpy.
Fighting is 20, so this is Silver, no damage but in a full hold

Devil girl nods, lights herself on fire and flies off toward the other snake men coming this way.

(OOC Yea! now she can be 'off screen' and I don't have to roll stuff unless she shows again)

Manmirror manhandles the snake-man again.  The snake-man hisses back at him and muscles strain as he twists and turns, but Manmirror and the snake-man are evenly matched and remain locked in battle.

(OOC 09:25, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Lumpy, rolled 21 using 1d100 ((21)) - white result)
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:28, Thu 12 Oct 2017.

With his arms wrapped around the snakeman, Manmirror locks one of his legs between Lumpy's and pulls back as he says to his scaly opponent, "you will give up, the only question is when"

OOC: got a full hold, doing strength damage (Astounding)

The snake-man's struggle weakens, but in a last ditch effort he spits in Manmirror's eyes!

(OOC 09:12, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Lumpy, rolled 69 using 1d100.  Spit at Manmirror -2 RS for being in a hold. Bronze. -30 to strength and treated as highest RS new number is ower, unless has something to resist poison/or energy drain will start to recover 1 RS per round after 4.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:39, Fri 13 Oct 2017.

_Darien

Wake up

Darien

Darien!



What? Darien opened his eyes. The world was blurry and yet spinning.  "Guh," he groaned as he rolled over onto his back.

"I thought we were lost," the familiar voice in his head said.

"Where? What happened?" He had no sooner asked that than his memory began coming back. But the chunks of recollection were jumbled and truncated. "Crap," he said.

"You have to get up. It's still not safe. The snake-men are still fighting."

Darien rolled onto his belly and pushed himself up slowly to all fours. On shaky legs and with a stomach not entirely sure which way was up, he stood upright. He stumbled back a half-step, nearly losing his balance. He surveyed the scene and just tried to understand what he had missed.

Devil Girl is letting loose with fire down the street at the lesser snake-men, and Manmirror seems to have Lumpy in hand for the moment.

Manmirror yells and whips sideways, attempting to bring Lumpy to the pavement and rest his weight on the snakeman.

OOC: again, the dice roller was kind, I'm assuming this is just another grapple used to put the opponent underneath Manmirror on the ground, Manmirror figures if he's going to weigh as much as a grand piano, he should use that.
23:52, Today: Manmirror rolled 96 using 1d100.  belly-to-belly suplex Lumpy.
Even with his reduced strength, that's a gold result.
Manmirror is sitting on Lumpy and hoping to shake off the results of the venom, if there's a way to spend some karma for that, let me know.

Manmirror crushes the snake-man, but the once human is incredibly tough, Manmirror can feel him waning ever so slightly.  It tries to break out again, using his now superior strength, but Manmirror has him pinned with his astounding weight.

(OOC: 11:23, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Lumpy, rolled 29 using 1d100 ((29)). to break out - Bronze, need silver for a full hold.)

Darien's muscles are slowly waking up, pins and needles all over, but he feels like a normal person again.

(OOC: Back to average str (6) now)
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:05, Wed 18 Oct 2017.

"Can we end this now?" Darien asked as he regained his strength and his sass.

Directing his attention at the snake-man Manmirror was sitting on top of, he unleashed a jumble of thoughts to overload the once-man's neurons.

22:23, Today: Darien Hooker rolled 75 using 1d100. Mental Blast: Feat of Psyche.
Silver Result

Manmirror just tries to maintain his hold on the big snake guy, and expresses his frustration with his inimitable style. "I can't believe you spit in my face! You know, just because I avoid its use doesn't mean I don't know how to use my knee."

The Snake-Man hisses deflating then goes limp in Manmirror's arms, Darien's fury finally overcoming him.

(OOC: 16:15, Today: R. Race Rasmusen, for the NPC Lumpy, rolled 27 using 1d100 ((27)) - White Result - down to 0 HP.)

The rest of the snake-men down the street fighting Devilgirl that haven't yet succumbed to her hellfire look around as if broken out of a spell and flee in every direction.

Manmirror wearily climbs to his feet, and bemoans "he spit on me."

Darien offered a hand to Manmirror but the older hero didn't need it. "Sorry man. At least you didn't go lights out like I did. I still want to know what those dude's deal was."

"We'd better keep an eye on him," he said, nodding to the newly unconscious snake-man. "Don't want him slithering away before he can be taken away."

Four black SUVs with a blue emergency light pulls up to the barricade in the distance where the cops are.

Detective Wong escorts a number of black-suited people to your position.

Darien recognizes two of them, a red-headed woman and a man who must be nearing retirement from the bank, the FBI agents who took doctor Cobra away.

Karen says  "Darien, you might think you're being a hero to run in to this nest of snakes without any superpowers like this fellow's" indicating Manmirror.  "But it's dangerous, you should really stay out of this." with concern on her face for the young man.  "I know it can be tough, but don't throw your life away."

The FBI man raises a sideways eyebrow at her indication of Darien's lack of superpowers then starts giving orders to the other suits there on securing the various Snake-People.  Then says to Karen "I think it's safe to bring in the paramedics for those who are just hurt."
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:26, Tue 24 Oct 2017.

"You're exactly right, ma'am," Darien said with a smirk.

"Don't say it."
"Say what?"
"I don't have superpowers like him."
"Too on the nose?"
"Something like that."

"I'll be more careful next time," he said after a long pause.

"I can agree with that."

"And thanks for your help with the cobra squad here."

Manmirror spares a glance at the newcomers, but otherwise continues to stare at Lumpy. Petulantly, he explains, "wouldja believe this lizard guy spit in my face? No one ever spit in my face, before. I feel so violated."

Detective Wong looks at Manmirror incredulously "You ought to hear my stories, if that's the worst you get, you should reconsider this... superhero business."
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:42, Fri 27 Oct 2017.

The male FBI agent hands Manmirror a card, it just has a number on it.  He says "Call me if you find anything else.  We need to find out where all these snake-people are coming from.  We'll be lucky if this doesn't make international news."

Manmirror nods. "There was some sort of liquid, they fought over it. Other than that, I doubt I could tell you much. There was another guy, he's gone, now. He was probably better at the whole 'deduce the plan from the sand on the villain's shoe' thing."
Looking around, Manmirror sighs and stops being as reflective. His steps a little lighter, he nods to Darien. "I'm sorry the big one bit you, I shoulda been there. You need anything, you let me know, ok?"

The FBI agent says "Is there some way we can contact you, should something come up that might require your particular set of skills?"

You see Nina running up with camera man in tow, Devilgirl was returning to you, but sees her and decides to jet.