It's a week later. For whatever reason of your own, you are at, or very near to, Manhattan's Columbus Circle, right at the southwest corner of Central Park.

What are you doing there (or very near there)? (Making a withdrawal at the First Manhattan Bank, perhaps, or accompanying someone who is?)

And what time of day is it?
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:52, Sun 12 Aug 2018.

It is just after dawn and Mochizuki is unwinding after a hard nights crime fighting by throwing crumbs to the pidgeons. Her gear is stashed in a hold all at her feet and most of her nighttime garb is obscured by a garish poncho that reaches just past her waIst.

Saul had already changed into his heroic form, he thought that a creature of magic might be hiding out in Central Park, it offered a wide enough area to hide away if it were smart and only human to horse sized at the largest. But he had no luck, so he was being either paranoid or ineffective.
Worst of all, while he was able to excuse it as "night bird watching", it was only excused if he was able to be at the First Manhattan Bank later on today. His father, Joe Samson had said that he needed to learn about banking and the basics as a man of the house someday. Saul was not looking forward to forcing himself to be awake after such a failure this night had been.

Today might just be a bad day indeed he thought to himself as he felt the dawning sun rise a little higher into a sky partially obscured by gray skyscrapers, wondering how much coffee he would need and hope he didn't have eye bags in his human form.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:43, Sun 12 Aug 2018.

Jim rides a bicycle through Columbus Circle, loaded with parcels. This was out of his usual area, but he had volunteered to cover an early morning shift and could use the extra money. Besides, he smiles to himself The boss doesn't ask questions. He couldn't care less HOW I always get these routes done - just that I always come through.

Jim turned after a block towards his next stop: the First Manhattan.

Frankie was coming out of the bank with her Auntie Jessica, she had just set up an account for her and they were on their way towards the park for a stroll.

The young lass had been positively gushing ever since the incident with the van, she was finally a proper hero!  Despite how many times she heard it her Auntie was always happy to entertain the kid's enthusiasm.

Time flew by as Mochizuki fed the birds. After a few hours a street vendor set up shop by her bench. Mochizuki lent across and ordered herself something far too greasy to call itself breakfast.

You notice a young man with glasses, maybe 17 or 18, walking up to the front doors of the bank. He seems pleased about something... he might be quietly humming a happy little tune.

What's noticeable about him are two things-- which are probably related--

1. He's dressed like he's walked out of a Jules Verne science-fiction novel-- Victorian clothes, with little gears stuck to them here and there...

2. He's got some sort of machine that he's carrying in front of him... it looks like it weighs 30 or 40 pounds, so it's held up mostly by a strap around his neck... It looks like a really complicated and expensive radio that someone's taken the outer case off of. It's got some really intricate electronics involved... and they're just exposed like that, it's weird...

Jim slows his bike as he pulls up behind the strange fellow. He eyes him for a moment before backtracking into a secluded alley. In his experience, fancy-looking technology usually meant he was about to get shot at - especially when it was near a bank. He quickly stashes his bicycle and work gear behind a dumpster and leans against a wall, watching. He wanted to be ready to change as soon as possible, but nothing had warranted action yet. After all, it was innocent until proven guilty...

"Come on, kid. Go show them your fancy gizmo, secure a business loan. You're just eccentric, is all." he quietly roots for his instincts to be wrong.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:12, Fri 17 Aug 2018.

Mochizuki watched with interest as the strange man walked into the bank. She shook her head in between bites of her greasy burrito.

"American gaijin are weird," she thought to herself.

Seeing the scene of an odd man with odder tech walking into a bank was concerning for Saul, but for a very different reason.  If you had pride in selling your tech, wouldn't you protect it from prying eyes? Company secrets were a thing, like his father explained before.

Something else was afoot, but in his sleepiness, Scorch Scale realised he needed a coffee, and that was something Saul could do better.
So the reptilian found a bush to hide in on the edge of the park. He transformed into his mild-mannered form, though it took a while to tidy up the hair and remove the twigs to only look tired and not disheveled. In there he found his messenger bag in its spot, grabbed it and proceeded to get a coffee from a nearby vender.

When he was away from others he straightened out his thought pattern. "No one should pay me any mind. I'll stay in the reception or tail him from far away. He will probably be too absorbed in himself to notice me." He monologued in a whisper to himself while waiting to cross the road. He had to keep his distance to find a spot to transform into his heroic identity.

Upon seeing the odd man Frankie couldn't help but become intrigued, you didn't tend to see people like that wandering around and NOT have them cause or encounter trouble... at least that's how it was in her comic books.

Watching him out of the corner of her eye, Frankie slowed down, drawing a querying look from her Auntie, but at least for the moment she wouldn't have to answer any questions.

Inside the bank, the strange young man walks up to a teller... As he walks, he says "Excuse me... pardon me... heavy equipment coming through... excuse me..." but you notice that people don't seem to have much choice but to get out of his way, as if something pushes them out of his way before you get there.

He walks up to a bank teller. "Hello, yes, my name is The Cogster? I am a criminal, and I would like 40,000 dollars in 20s, please." He removes a large, folded duffel bag from one of his pockets, and pushes it toward her. "Please put the money in there. If I don't get the money in seven and a half minutes, I will begin destroying this building." He adjusts something on his machine. There is a subsonic rumble, and the whole building begins to rumble in sympathy, like there's a very low-level earthquake. He adjusts it again, and the vibrations cease. "Not the whole building, of course, since I'm in here too. I was thinking I'd start with that area back behind you."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:48, Mon 20 Aug 2018.

To endanger so many people through the ruinous power of artificial earth quakes, how reckless could someone be? The greed to demand so much money for himself was just the icing on the cake in Saul's mind.
Witnessing the gizmos in action while insignificant, while unseen, Saul knew that this Cogster would be a danger to everyone in the building. The technology looked experimental, the danger, was very real.

Saul gently put down his bag and moved around, looking for a space to use. The restrooms were too in line of sight, the reception table is too centre stage and going outside merely trades people inside the bank seeing him transform for people outside the bank seeing the same.
Luckily he found someone's opaque glass office nearby, but right now he had the opportunity to understand more of the situation before he dived in, to gather intelligence that might tip the balance his way. Quite different to the Blue Dragon encounter just a week prior.

Look before you leap!
21:38, Today: Scorch Scale rolled 6 using 2d6+1 ((3,2)).
Ironic that thinking things through might make things worse for him. Whelp, more exp to spend later.

(Yeah, keep on keeping careful track of that XP...)

Scorch Scale, unfortunately, knocked over a coatrack near the door of the office, and the loud noise attracted The Cogster's attention.

Figuring things out:
15:50, Today: The Cogster rolled 4 using 2d6+1 ((2,1)).
...Fail.

The Cogster misinterpreted Scorch Scale's intimidating appearance.

"What in the wo-- Oh dear, you must be another empowered criminal here to steal money. What are the odds that we'd choose to strike at the same moment? Oh well. It simply can't be allowed... until I've completed my transaction, of course."

The Cogster adjusts his machine...

15:51, Today: The Cogster rolled 8 using 2d6 ((6,2)).

Scorch Scale takes 1 stress.

There's a high-pitched whine, and the glass wall next to Scorch Scale shatters. Fortunately, the glass vibrated in a way that Scorch Scale detected in time to start dodging, so he only took a little damage.

Jim continues to wait after the young man enters the building. He runs a hand through his hair and shakes his head, smiling at himself. "I must be losing my mind," he sighs "Starting to see bogey men everywhere." With a chuckle he gathers his things back together to complete the delivery as scheduled.

Then he feels the rumble. It was just a moment, but even from a distance Jim could see the building shake, then still just as suddenly. "Well that ain't right." Jim straightens up. Looks like it might be time for business after all. In a flash he changes into his trusty costume and zips towards the bank.

The Silver Streak takes advantage of the freshly shattered glass to make a flashy entrance - better to have the trouble focused on him than an innocent teller. "Everyone, keep calm," vaulting through the broken wall, he addresses those in the bank as reassuringly as he can. "You'll get back to your day in no time."

OOC : 21:31, Today: Silver Streak rolled 8 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 2,5.  Play to the Crowd.

You are buoyed by their cheers and take +1 Ongoing until they are seriously threatened or the scene ends

The rumble got Mochizuki's attention and the shattering glass assured her that something was wrong. Throwing her burrito to the birds she sprang into action. Darting across the circle and speeding up through fire escape Mochizuki took up position on the roof of the bank. She changed into her Usagi outfit and stowed her bag out of sight.

Twirling her sai in hand she steeled herself for the coming fracas and phased through the roof of the bank looking to take purchase on the ceiling below.

OOC: This is probably going to take me a round to complete. Once I do phase through the ceiling I want to stay attached to the roof if at all possible.

The menacing rumble, the flash of what could only be The Silver Streak, Frankie knew it was game time!

It took a moment to pry herself from her Auntie's concerned grasp, all the while making promises of her own safety, before she was able to rush back towards the bank.  As she entered the door she realised that there wasn't exactly a good level of cover to 'change' into her costume, so for now she had to watch and wait as a mere bystander.

"Oh dear, the Silver Streak. Let's see... Ah... I wonder if I can... Hm... Let me try to convince you to take my capabilities seriously..."

13:35, Today: The Cogster rolled 10 using 2d6 ((6,4)).

The Cogster adjusts his machine, and a vibration starts that heads toward Silver Streak... he can see it, because it cracks the linoleum tiles on the floor as it progresses...

Well it's no match for Silver Streak--

--Oops. Then Silver Streak notices that it's headed straight for a security guard, who's too shocked to get himself out of the way...

Mochizuki instantly recognises the powered people from the other day. This time however it is much more obvious who is a cape and who is a fear. She decides to put an end to the Jules-Verne looking fool before someone gets hurt. Leaping from her vantage point with her sai aimed at the theatrical villain she moves in for the kill.

OOC: 06:45, Today: Ultima-Usagi rolled 9 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 5,3.  It's clobberin time. I'll go for +1 stun as well as +1 stun from swords

Ultima-Usagi attacks The Cogster-- but bounces off... something. It feels like some sort of wall of... wind, but still... an emanation of force. It tingles, a little...

It also makes Ultima-Usagi very irritated. (Ultima-Usagi takes +1 toward her next move.)

"Ah, you've encountered my defenses... I believe you'll find that nothing harmful to me can pass through it... My, there certainly are a lot of you. ...Are you... a team...?"

Mochizuki is sent spiralling through the air but manages to take control at the apex of her fall. She lands gracefully on both feet and one hand.

"What the hell was that?" she thinks to herself. Pausing for a moment she scans the arrogant machinist, looking for a way to land her blade.OOC: 16:22, Today: Ultima-Usagi rolled 12 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 4,6.  Look before you Leap.

-What should I be on the lookout for? Specifically to breach his defenses.
--What is the biggest threat here? With regard to his capabilities.
--Where is something I can use to help? Get through his defenses.

It seems that, for all intents and purposes, he's surrounded by a solid wall... thinks Mochizuki...




It's that machine in front of him... maybe the problem isn't damaging the man, but damaging the machine...? she thinks...



Maybe the answer lies more in what I'm capable of... she muses...

In reply to The Cogster (msg # 18):

"Watch out!" the Streak moves to pull the guard away from the blast - or at the very least, to use his body as a shield.

OOC: 11:55, Today: Silver Streak rolled 6 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 3,2.  Romantic Idiot.

Dammit!  The others were having fun fighting and she was stood around like a useless fanny!  Frankie looked around for somewhere she could change without doing it in front of everyone.  She didn't need her secret identity ruining before she even had a chance to start her career as a hero!

(Mark 1 XP, you Idealistic Idiot...)

Silver Streak gets hit instead of the guard, saving the guard, but feeling like a swarm of bees stung him all over (well, all over his back, anyway...)

(Silver Streak saves the guard, but takes 2 stress...)
This message was last updated by the GM at 15:04, Fri 24 Aug 2018.

All right, trying to hit an innocent person with something harmful like that for money? That does it. This guy was going down, he needed to be put in his place by one of the strongest beings in the world, a dragon.
"Team or not, I'm sure they will work with me to send you to prison. Shame on your time keeping that it will only take about 4 minutes and 30 seconds to kick your gear-end."

He turned his head to the known hero and the sneaky masked woman from the other day with the van. He knew that there was a kid (or fairly short woman) not present right now, but Scorch Scale hoped he could have all the superpower backing him up against these odd inventions. But to make the most of this situation, he had to go with initiative, which meant making the plan instead of just reacting.
"Right, I'm gonna light a fire under his butt. Silver Streak, if you can keep people away from the fire or even the building, that would be nice." He turns to the lady, "If you have any way of harming him, tell me when you intend to dive in and I'll make an opening. Everyone got it? Good."

Inspire the Team
21:02, Today: Scorch Scale rolled 4 using 2d6 ((3,1)).

He proceeded ahead by stepping forth and channeling flames into his throat from the furnace within. He was not paying any mind to if his plan was understood or not, as he had too much tunnel vision on making himself dominant over this buffoon who called him a mere criminal. The nerves of people these days, back in the heyday of Drocan, one could be expected to be worshiped, or at least respected for such obvious status of power.
He would just have to be made an example of, Scorch Scale concluded.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:19, Sat 25 Aug 2018.

(Scorch Scale, failing to inspire the team, marks 1 new XP...)

The Cogster is not impressed. "Heat and flames are not bad, but they will take time you don't have... And I mean you, specifically, dragon person, because you are disrupting my financial withdrawal!" (Indeed, the teller that The Cogster had initially ordered to fill up his bag with money has simply fled toward the back of the bank, overwhelmed by all these dangerous shenanigans...)

The Cogster adjusts his machine...

(15:24, Today: The Cogster rolled 11 using 2d6 ((5,6)).)

A blast of force ripples the air itself, starting from The Cogster's immediate area, and hitting Scorch Scale, knocking him back against the wall behind him...

(Scorch Scale takes 2 stress.)

Mochizuki sheathed her sai and began a blisteringly fast series of hand gestures as she sprinted directly back towards the well dressed robber. As she closed in she suddenly transformed into a cloud of black smoke that launched into the air.

If she timed this right she would reappear behind his wall of force and stick her boot straight through his precious little machine.

OOC: Using insubstantial as I approach his wall then 22:47, Today: Ultima-Usagi rolled 7 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 4,1.  It's clobberin time. +1 damage to his box and an additional +1 fromantic swords.

As Mochizuki approached The Cogster, he raised an eyebrow in barely-suppressed unimpressedness.

When she became insubstantial, however, he started screeching very quickly: "No! You-- what-- it can't-- the vibrations-- if you-- it won't--NO--!"

There was a sort of pulse of force and energy... glass cracked... Mochizuki was held, for a moment, aloft, by the energy... people screamed... The Cogster's machine went POP--

(The Cogster takes 2 stress.)

And then, someone else shrieked "--NO--!"

But it wasn't The Cogster.

And it wasn't Mochizuki.

It was a woman, standing in front of The Cogster. She had white hair and white clothes... "Blast!" she said. "Where... I'm... Wait, this is the bank... Who are you people?"

The Cogster, blackened and singed, started working on his machine. "I-- I can fix it... I... Um..."

There had been enough chaos in the past few seconds to keep any and all eyes away from her, so quickly she closed her eyes and strained.
Black threads exploded outwards and at once came back to wrap around her, they looked much neater this time, she had been spending all week practising after all!  No longer would she look like a mummy, instead it looked like a proper outfit, leaving just her arms and head (other than her eyes) bare.

The Silver Streak blinked and shook his head free of the cobwebs. This situation was quickly getting out of hand. There was that mysterious woman in black again - and now one in white? He gets to his feet and looks back and forth between the them "So now there's two. We'll get to the bottom of this in a moment, but first..." With a blur he zips over to clock the Cogster and hopefully have one less thing to worry about.

OOC : 22:04, Today: Silver Streak rolled 5 using 2d6-1 with rolls of 1,5.  It’s Clobberin’ Time. FAIL.

"Maybe if I recalibrate the--" says The Cogster.

BZORCH-- --A blast of force erupts from his machine and to his right... hitting Silver Streak, who's tossed backward. (Silver Streak takes 1 stress.)

"No, that's not it..." mutters The Cogster.

The woman in white looks around. "Okay, so here's The Gearmaster, but wearing grey instead of brown... and The Crimson Comet, but in silver... And there's The Black Mummy over there, except you've learned to make your wrappings into a little costume and mask, cute... and Green Dragon, except he looks red now instead of Green... She's done it. The Magus' spell and Gearmaster's machine exploding at the same time somehow sent me to another timeline or dimension or something. But... I don't see any version of The Magus here... Maybe this is good! An alternative timeline or whatever with no Magus means no one can stop me... right? Sure...!" she says, trying to convince herself...

"Ouch, I hope you're quite all right Silver Streak."" Scorch Scale called out to the remarked hero.

But fist there was this lady to talk to. "Green Dragon? He wasn't some poor Irish Drake was he? Bah! You're talking to the real deal here lady, it's Scorch Scale by the by." He introduced through bravado, bravado covering his mind trying to come up with the situation at hand.

So, hisenberg uncertainty principle is true - or at least on the right lines. There are other worlds or times where this lady came from and so far we don't have a version of this "Magus" character that is stopping her somehow in the other version of earth.
That seemed suspect, but Saul would not live down harming an innocent so violently. He had to find out first her innocence or guilt.

"So why did this "The Magus" character stop you? What did you intend to do that he opposed, Miss...?" He hoped to get a name he could work with, though it might be different in his own world compared to hers.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:50, Tue 28 Aug 2018.

"Sure, whatever..." said the woman.



"The name's Echo. And I was trying to rob this bank, just like you and ol' Gearmaster here."

"It's The Cogster actually..." muttered The Cogster.

"Whatever," Echo repeated. "The Magus is a she... and I'm delighted to find she apparently doesn't exist in this world? Her magic was about all that could stop me, in mine... Speaking of which, I guess I can get back to what I was doing..."

The woman called Echo walks right through the teller's counter (she does look just a little see-through, when the light's behind her...) and then starts taking twenty-dollar bills out of a drawer...

Damn, not one villain but two, and while the Cogster seemed like a pain, Frankie got a reeeeeal bad feeling about this Echo lass.

Wanting to take advantage of the distraction, Frankie ran into the fray and aimed a heavy kick at the Cogster's box.

00:44, Today: Patch-Work Powerhouse rolled 6 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 2,1. Hold Them Off.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:15, Thu 30 Aug 2018.

Just as Patch-Work Powerhouse ran and aimed a flying kick at The Cogster's machine, The Cogster apparently saw her coming out of the corner of his eye, because he simply moved the machine out the way, and Patch-Work Powerhouse flew past him into a pillar. (Patch-Work Powerhouse takes 1 stress... and 1 xp.)

"If I reverse the polarity then... no, it bypasses the main tube, but it's not enough to actually stabilize the transistor capacitor..." The Cogster mumbled...

So, this situation could be worse, but the margin between current and worst was getting smaller by the second. So this was definately two villains, and his companions are finding themselves compromised by their attempts at the Cogster.

This group that was being forged couldn't handle both problems if they had full reign to run amok. So Scorch Scale had to try stopping both of them. Separate Cogster from his equipment, and possibly use the flame to at least break this "Echo" lady. But with the people still about, some in terror and some in a curious fascination, Scorch Scale had his work cut out containing the flame as to not harm them or damage the structures that much.

"All that so called power, and you choose to take bills? How very small minded of you. But what can I expect from criminal mammals?" He sent with his remark a curtain of flames to try and keep the situation contained long enough that something could be devised.

Hold Them Off
21:05, Today: Scorch Scale rolled 13 using 2d6+2 ((5,6)).

--They can’t act as effectively (-1 Stun ongoing until your actions are countered)
--You take away useful items from them

So no stun for me and thanks to the Area of Effect Power - I can try doing this to both of them without collateral damage to allies.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:00, Fri 31 Aug 2018.

So... the "take useful items away from them" is to stop The Cogster from messing with his machine...? Or...?

Echo paused. "...What's your deal, Scorned Scaly Guy? What, you want me to clean out the safety deposit boxes instead? A nice idea, but then I'd have to find a fence, and I only just got to this universe or whatever it is, and don't really know my way around..." But she has a look on her face like she's finally starting to suspect that there's something off about Scorch Scale that she hasn't factored in...

Scorch Scale's flames, on the other hand, hit the front of The Cogster's machine, and there are two rapid small pops and a sizzling sound. "The transistors! No! Ugh this is pointless!" The Cogster takes the strap for his machine off from around his neck...

09:28, Today: The Cogster rolled 12 using 2d6 ((6,6)).

And throws it at Scorch Scale.

It hits Scorch Scale in the chest. (Scorch Scale takes 1 stress.)

It doesn't do much damage, but it does surprise Scorch Scale to the point that a path through the flames opens up... The Cogster runs for the exit...

"Whoah there, buddy," the Silver Streak snaps to attention when the Cogster makes a break for it. He may not know what the heck was going on with this new player, but he at least knew not to let the would-be robber get away.

With superhuman speed he races in front of the Cogster, cutting off his escape route. He pauses for a split second with arms crossed, letting the villain glimpse at his imposing frame (bad guys hate that) before grappling the Cogster, pinning the young man's arms behind his back. "Where do you think you're going?"

11:03, Today: Silver Streak rolled 10 using 2d6-1 with rolls of 6,5.  Hold them off. Choose 2:

--They can’t act as effectively (-1 Stun ongoing until your actions are countered)

--Give them a choice between backing off or be stunned

The Cogster struggles... but in vain. "...Well, you've got me, Mr. Streak," he says when he stops struggling. "But won't your friends need you to stop the strange lady robbing the place...?"

"Don't play that game with him Cogster. I got this!" Like I always do, he thought to himself.

Looking at the situation again, Scorch Scale remembered the moment where Echo looked peculiar in the light, that translucent quality she had... There was something to that, was that her or the accident that just occurred between both worlds?

It brought an idea into his head, so following his instincts, Scorch Scale quickly walked around to look at the money distracted Echo with a light source (this one a table lamp) behind her. He was hoping maybe he could see something else through her. Maybe Echo was still connected and he could see this other world through Echo? Learn who this Magus might be?
He had to try this before he fell onto Plan B.

Yes, Scorch Scale's tests prove to him that Echo is slightly translucent, like she's not all there, not exactly solid... whatever that may mean...

Great, the woman could move through objects?!  An idea began to form in Frankie's mind, if she wasn't going to be able to duff up the lass, then maybe she could at least make her attempts at robbery harder.

Charging towards the teller's counter Frankie jumped and scrambled over, then as she descended she slammed the drawer shut and laid a punch on it to seal it shut.

21:16, Today: Patch-Work Powerhouse rolled 9 using 2d6 with rolls of 6,3. Hold them off!

I take away a useful item (the cash drawer)

The Streak was impressed by the quick thinking of his allies, but something seemed off. This situation didn't feel right. He wasn't about to lose the Cogster, but maybe he could get through to the woman in white. Keeping the man pinned, he calls out to her. "Listen," he hesitates, searching for a name "Echo! It's clear you aren't from around here - why steal the money? What could you possibly need it for? Tell us and perhaps we can help you! It's not too late to turn this around!"

OOC : 22:24, Today: Silver Streak rolled 10 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 4,5.  Talk things out.

(Partial success...)

Echo sighs, and starts to just reach right through the countertop, not bothering to open the drawer at all! She really is intangible-- but only as much as she wants to be!






Silver Streak's words, though, give Echo pause.

"I... you... I... I get what you're saying... and I was about to say... because I'm, like, a villainess... I want money, and the ability to push back against the world... but... I guess I do get to start over, here, if I wanted to, don't I...? You people have nothing on me... Not yet... It's... an interesting idea... I still want money, and I'll never let anyone push me around again, but... maybe I could do things a little differently this time..."

(Echo takes 2 stress-- emotional stress!)

Scorch Scale realised a change in circumstances when he saw it, so he didn't want to be rash and make the first move to give her the excuse of being malicious.

The selective capacity of her intangibility was more worrying to him. For it meant timing might not be enough, there would have to be a weakness to exploit somewhere.

Using the lack of attention, he looked around for a light source with a long enough wire, or better yet portable. He needed to shine a really bright light onto her, that had to mean something. It might be her weakness thought the draconic hero.

Either way, he might need to engage in plan B sooner then he cared to.

Make an Insightful roll, Scorch Scale...

Insight
19:47, Today: Scorch Scale rolled 4 using 2d6+1 ((2,1)).

Nope

Scorch Scale is unable to find what he's looking for... (but he does mark 1 new xp...)

Echo looks down at her hand, that has picked up several 20-dollar bills. "I don't know... Dragon Guy, what do you th..." She pauses. "Say, I get that the so-called 'heroes' are holding Gearmaster or Cogmaster or whoever hostage over there, but... why aren't you robbing the bank, too, Mr. Dragon? Are you just letting ladies go first, or what?"

Scorch Scale considered the opportunity at this time. He could pretend to be criminal and maybe get to her base if she had one, know more about her? If what she said was true, nothing Scorch Scale brought to bare could do anything against her, no one could.

But Saul knew that nearby, his father would be there - if not the crowd then on his way to this bank. Saul couldn't bring himself to do that, could he? Damage his scarcely built reputation?

"You question if I could have any manners? That green Drake must have given us lizards a bad image huh?"
The draconic hero turned his back to Echo and spoke up so that his direction didn't dissipate what he said.
"Grab what you are getting and we'll get out here before the goody gang tries to stop us. Us magical sorts have to give a hand in such a magic-ignorant world, right?"

Would his companions see through the deception and play along? In fact, would it be better if they were genuinely deceived by him? The scaled hero would have to hope he could make this work.

The Streak wasn't sure what Scorch Scale was playing at, but with the Cogster still keeping his hands tied options were limited. It was time to end that. "Stop!" he calls out one final time before clocking the younger villain in the head. Hopefully with Cogster out cold the Silver Streak could focus fully on more pressing matters.

OOC : 13:09, Today: Silver Streak rolled 10 using 2d6-1 with rolls of 6,5. It's Clobberin' Time.

You hit hard (+1 Stun)
There isn’t much collateral damage and no bystanders are left in danger

The Cogster is completely unconscious. He should probably get checked out by a doctor before going to jail.

"Y're turnin' against us?!" Frankie said with wide eyed disbelief, she wasn't savvy enough to see through the deception, "The lass is thinkin' of being good an' yer encouragin' her ta steal?!"

Her face twisted in anger as she looked at Scorch, "I'll nay forgive ye!"

Charming - Deceiving an Echo
17:50, Today: Scorch Scale rolled 4 using 2d6-1 ((3,2)).
As expected.

(Scorch Scale, mark 1 new xp...)


Echo frowns. "...I don't know what to think. I guess I'll do my thinking elsewhere, in safety and fancy comfort..." She removes a few thousand dollars from a drawer, then moves to the next drawer...

Silver Streak had had enough. He may not be able to nab this woman, but he could still stop her from getting the money. Spinning his arms at fantastic speeds, he creates twin cyclones of air and sends them spinning towards the drawers. He was going to tear the money from her hand and send it flying - there would be a heck of a mess, but no one was going to be grabbing the bills any time soon. And hey, he grins to himself fiercely If this does knock some sense into her, then all the better.

OOC: 20:34, Today: Silver Streak rolled 7 using 2d6-1 with rolls of 6,2.  Hold Them Off.

--Give them a choice between backing off or be stunned

Echo had actually started to open the next drawer, so she could see what she was grabbing, but when the wind starts up, and bills start flying out, she slams it shut again. She glares at Silver Streak. "...Y'know what? Fine." She runs, immaterial, up to Scorch Scale. "Let's just get out of here, Dragon Dude, before anything else happens. I want to hole up somewhere nice and just think things out for a while... This money'll last me for a week or so..."

The Streak charges at her, intent on snatching he money from her before she can react. He may not be able to touch her, but just maybe he could stop her from taking the money.

09:46, Today: Silver Streak rolled 3 using 2d6-1 with rolls of 2,2.  Hold them off.

(Silver Streak takes 1 new xp.)

Echo rolls her eyes as Silver Streak runs right through her ineffectively. "Oh, give it up, speedster. In the other world, it took magic to hurt me, and I don't think you've got what it takes..."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:01, Tue 25 Sept 2018.

The wind had blown past him, then his ally. All while Scorch Scale was trying to suss in his mind if this would be the way to make things work. To take the hit to his slowly sculpted reputation.

Then her words met his mind. "It took magic". Fire generated light, and light seems to do something odd when seen through Echo. Maybe if he could just figure out how to make his fire "brighter" rather than hotter...

Insight
16:23, Today: Scorch Scale rolled 8 using 2d6+1 ((4,3)).

Or for that matter, he thought, she seems to be able to ignore solids, and Silver Streak's whirlwinds... so that probably lets out liquids too... but what about energy? ...Well, maybe some energy... but if not magical energy... then what about magical heat, magical fire... I surrounded her and The Cogster with fire earlier... but I didn't actually try to use it on her...

With his understanding of how energy works, then it makes sense that it still interacts with echo on a basic level, she could see light for example. Magic or no, energy still had an effect on her...

In the end, even if it might be smarter to go with Echo and learn more about her, he couldn't bring himself to do it, both because Scorch Scale had built so hard to make a good reputation and because Echo said it in a way that seemed to order him around. Who thinks they can just order a dragon around like a chump? Someone moronic who needed reminding, that's who.
The fire had been rumbling for a while within his body, the flames risking to exit before he could do what he wanted to it. But he was motivated with annoyance by now.
"For the last time, you Goofy Ghost, it's Scorch Scale and I'm getting Fired Up!" He roared a full blast right at Echo.

It's Clobberin Time
22:39, Today: Scorch Scale rolled 12 using 2d6+2 ((4,6)).
--You hit hard (+1 Stun)
--There isn’t much collateral damage and no bystanders are left in danger

In trying to focus the flame and build it up, Scorch Scale put himself in a place where he couldn't dodge her retaliation. But his close range also gave him the benefit of efficiently applying as much heat as possible.

"Oh-- ohhh! Noooo...!" Echo holds up her arms to protect herself from the fire...

It is too much for her. She falls to the ground, overwhelmed... and solid.

She seems unconscious, even though there's not a mark on her-- well, her clothes do seem a little blackened and singed...

The Silver Streak exhales. "Nice work, Scorch," he approaches the younger hero "Things could have gone much worse - that was some quick thinking, getting close to her like that. You even had me going."  He looks about for the pint-sized powerhouse "And by the sounds of it, I wasn't the only one fooled."

He proceeds to gather the villains, raising a palm reassuringly to any remaining bystanders. It seemed the immediate crisis had passed.

Suddenly, outside, you hear multiple police cars pull up, sirens blazing. Someone must have pushed a silent alarm at some point or something...

Great, the police were going to have an interesting take on this whole exchange. Thankfully it wasn't a worse case scenario, but his looks might make them hesitate to think he was acting on good intentions.
He wondered what the crowd would think, as he surveyed the situation, he saw thst Saul's father - his father - was within the crowd. Which reminded him of an obligation he had.

"I better bolt. There is a lot to take away from this morning. See you, and sorry for the scare." As he said this, he had looked to both of the present heroes. Hopefully the young one was all right and not going to throw a punch his way.

He needed to bail right now into a deeper part of the bank. Find a place with another exit that Scorch Scale could leave from and excuse the appearance of Saul Sampson.

"Wait," the Silver Streak places his hand on a scaly shoulder "You did good work here, and people should know it."

Personally, he had no intention of leaving the scene until he saw the two criminals in custody.

Scorch Scale looks from the hand on his shoulder to the hero besides him. "Look, I get it. Credit where credit is due, But it won't work out how you think. I don't exactly, look the part, you know? You do, so it isn't as hard a stretch to believe your intentions."

Looking back to the crowd, and to the restrained bad guys, he let out a sigh and a shrug of his shoulders. "OK, I'll give it a chance. Let's not get too hopeful though. The place did get wrecked." At this moment, some of the shattered glass was crunched under foot when the public felt like they might be free to move about.

The policemen run in, shout "FREEZE!" and start pointing their guns at everyone-- especially Scorch Scale.

Then they relax. "You caught the bad guys already? Good job, Silver Streak." Silver Streak realizes they think he's caught the weird bank-robbers-- The Cogster, Echo... AND Scorch Scale.

But one policeman realizes the same thing. "Hey, no, I remember that dragon guy. He came to our station-- he helped Silver Streak with that gun-running business..."

"Yeah," says the security guard whom Silver Streak saved, "Silver Streak and this dragon guy stopped them... The dragon guy pretended to be on their side, and then he ambushed that gal with powers when she let her guard down." He looks at Scorch Scale. "You... were just pretending, right...?"

The draconic hero addressed the security guard with the question. "You saw the situation, almost nothing we threw got to her. We got lucky I figured out a weakness in her abilities. If not, I would be playing the long game to get her in. Undercover, I believe that is what this modern civilization calls it..." It made him sound a little odd, but he had to keep up the charade of being only a draconic bring. The best disguise is no one realising the hero had one.

"Look, I'm glad it's all safe now, but I have dragon business to handle. So, I'll see you gentlemen around." Letting himself get excused, Scorch Scale went strolling towards the nearest thing akin to a restroom in the bank, hoping for a window to explain away any post-scene observers.
This should allow a chance to revert back to his teenage self and plant himself into the scene so no one connects the dots.

The Silver Streak allows himself to relax. The threat was over, the money was saved and his scaly ally was finally getting some recognition. He does what he can to assist the police "Watch out for that one," he points at the woman She's a ghost when she wants to be. Solids go right through her." That could be a problem.

Once done he zips theough the bank, picking up glass and fixing what he can before taking off with a wave. After all, he had pavkages to deliver.