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11:17, 7th May 2024 (GMT+0)

Girls in the City.

Posted by PlaytesterFor group 0
Playtester
GM, 3518 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 1 Aug 2006
at 04:07
  • msg #1

Girls in the City

Misty and Alexis:

You both flail out at the red and purple balloons surrounding you in an effort to escape the planet-sized clown that is trying to catch up to you, and grab you.

It succeeds, and tosses you down, down, through millions of baloons to land inside one its smelly shoes.

The reek is like garbage...

And you realize the smell is real.

A hand is on your arm Alexis, and you both hear a soft male voice.  It sounds rough, and broken, hoarse and sad.

"Don't move, maybe he won't see us."

You can smell garbage, and feel plastic bags and brick wall against your skin and your back.  Hot asphalt and the honk of cars as well.

A sound of scuffling, and a grunt as if of some effort comes from in front of you.

PT
Alexis
player, 431 posts
Tue 1 Aug 2006
at 12:16
  • msg #2

Re: Girls in the City

I open my eyes and my first reaction is to want to groan. But hearing a strange voice I stifle that reaction.  Obviously the escape pod idea didn't work.  My last vision of that world being the look of horror on Misty's face makes me appreciate, for the moment, being a verser.  I hope she's ok.

I try to feel all my body parts hoping I don't feel anything that would indicate serious injury.  As soon as I determine that I'm in one piece I take note of my surroundings...the buildings, the sounds and the man with his hand on my arm.  I'm delibirately avoiding smells and breathing too deep for now.

I want to talk to this guy but decide silence is a better option until I know what's going on.  Hearing what sounds like a struggle I attempt to look in that direction to see what's happening.
Misty
player, 844 posts
Misty, Guns, lots of guns
...And no camo bikinis.
Tue 1 Aug 2006
at 13:41
  • msg #3

Re: Girls in the City

I awoke to the sounds of traffic and the stench of garbage.  *That went... well.*  At least this was some sort of civilization.  I was doing a touch check to make sure that my primary gear was still with me when I heard the voice.  The male voice sounded old and tired.  Maybe he had a broken soul, somehow shattered during a life lived harshly.

I couldn't help but wonder if Alexis made the verse with me.  I did a quick scan for her.  *YESSS!*  She was close by, probably in the same alley.  There were at least two other beings close by.  The first one would own the voice warning us.  The others would be responsible for the scuffling noises.

I knew that the smartest thing I could do is to wait out the situation about which our unseen guardian was warning us.  I also knew that I couldn't just sit there while someone was getting pummled, or worse, when I had the chance to do something about it.  I began to creep toward the noise.  I drew the PDW for self defensive and checked to insure that the selector was set to single shot.
Playtester
GM, 3523 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 1 Aug 2006
at 16:39
  • msg #4

Re: Girls in the City

Alexis, your body seems intact, even if draped over some garbage sacks, and leaning up against a wall.  You're in an alley with the brick wall facing you two stories high, and decorated with graffitti.  The pile of garbage extends along your wall to your right and left about twenty bags total.

The man next to you, to your right,  looks at you with bloodshot eyes, and yellowed teeth at angles.  He's obviously human, but not in good shape.  He's buried up to his neck in garbage.

Misty, you scan and find at least a half-dozen scriff sources.  You crawl forward gun in hand, with the homeless guy to your left and ...

Both of you see a tall, almost skinny man in a red-streaked white spandex suit.  The streaks on it are very artistic.

He's holding by his left hand the neck of a red-headed woman dressed in a business suit and skirt who is missing one high heeled shoe, and the other is broken.  She looks desperate, and is trying to pry his fingers from her neck.

In his right hand is a knife shaped like a crescent.

"Ah, an audience." He smiles at you Misty, not seeing Alexis yet. Then he spins the blade around his hand fast enough for it to blur and hum. "Please don't rush me. One can only dip one's paintbrush into the viridian flow once for the maximum in aesthetic effects.  I am no crude hacker. So patience, a master is at work."

PT
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:40, Tue 01 Aug 2006.
Alexis
player, 432 posts
Wed 2 Aug 2006
at 01:51
  • msg #5

Re: Girls in the City

I swallow hard at the sight in front of me.  If the guy didn't have that blade in his hand it would be all I could do not to laugh.  But that knife looked wicked and he sounds like he's done this before and is no amateur.  He commented on an audience but doesn't seem to have seen me yet.  There must be someone else here.  I follow his gaze and to my surprise see Misty on her hands and knees her gun in her hand.  I try to indicate to her to keep his attention. At the same time I reach down and locate my PDW.  I raise it and aim for whatever part of his body I can safely hit without hitting his victim and doubletap the trigger.
Misty
player, 845 posts
Misty, Guns, lots of guns
...And no camo bikinis.
Wed 2 Aug 2006
at 02:21
  • msg #6

Re: Girls in the City

I had no idea of who or what this spandex covered flake is supposed to be, but I did know that he was about to kill the woman in the business suit.  I had to make the bet that a hypervelocity, armor-piercing bullet would be fast enough to do enough of something to get his attention.

Are you someone famous?  Am I supposed to have heard of you?  I lined up on him quickly and double tapped the trigger.
Playtester
GM, 3530 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Wed 2 Aug 2006
at 19:34
  • msg #7

Re: Girls in the City

"Goodness me, a philistine.  I am Bloodstrea....kkkkk"  He sidesteps faster than you can blink Misty, and your first bullet catches him in the left shoulder instead of the chest as you hoped.  Your second hits six inches to his left.  He is flung against the wall by the first, and bounces off, and is heading down the alley away from the street with the sound of a rattle of drums as his feet paddle the asphalt.

Alexis, you pull out your gun, and go for a shot, but he's bouncing off the wall, and heading down the alley at forty miles per hour before you get your first shot off.

He's around the corner of the alley before your second also misses.

The redhead gasps, clutching her throat, and sags to the ground, trying to breathe.

PT
Misty
player, 846 posts
Misty, Guns, lots of guns
...And no camo bikinis.
Thu 3 Aug 2006
at 00:23
  • msg #8

Re: Girls in the City

*Wow...  that guy can run.*  He moved like he was adreno-boosted.  I had heard two shots which sounded a lot like my PDW.  *Lexi!*  Lexi, where are you?  Can you cover me in case Bloodstreak comes back?  I need to go and help the woman. 

I flipped the selector switch on the PDW to full and swapped the twenty stick for a forty stick.  With the PDW still in hand, I went over to see if I could help the woman.  Reassuring her might be a good start.  Ma'am, I think he is gone.  We're on your side.  The police should be here in a few minutes.  Someone should have heard the gunfire and called them.  My friend and I will be here to protect you until they get here.  I used my smoothest, kindest voice as I checked her for any wounds.  I had to get through to her that she was safe and more help was going to be here soon.

As I talked to her, I couldn't help but wonder about the psycho calling himself Bloodstreak.  I had a lot of questions.  I wondered when I'd get some answers.
Alexis
player, 433 posts
Thu 3 Aug 2006
at 01:53
  • msg #9

Re: Girls in the City

I look up from sliding the forty round clip into my PDW and grin.    "Hi Misty!" I slip the clip I just removed from my weapon into a pouch to be reloaded later.  I stand up and get into a better position to see all directions. "Yeah I've got yur back."  I look down the alley in the direction Bloodstreak had gone.

As I keep an eye out for anymore trouble I try to talk to the man lying amongst the garbage bags.  "Are you ok? We're on your side.  Do you know that guy or this woman?   Any information you can give us could be helpful."
Playtester
GM, 3537 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Mon 7 Aug 2006
at 21:14
  • msg #10

Re: Girls in the City

She coughs and wipes her mouth.  With a raspy voice, she mutters as she tries to grasp your arm to pull herself to her feet.

"What...the police going to do? Just try to hole him up, and call in one of you."

Standing, she rubs her throat.

"Whats your name, anyways, and do you have a pen, I lost mine?"

Alexis, you turn to the guy in the garbage.

"Wow. Um, the lady, no, the guy, some maniac named Bloodstreak.  Likes to carve people up, and use their blood to make pictures.  Masterpieces. K-razy time."

And then you see a person step out of the shadow near the homeless guy.  One minute empty space, next second a form, and next a thin man in a flat western hat with a vaquero blanket over his shoulders and a Colt filling his right hand.

"Time to pay the piper."  The apparition says with chilling relish.

PT
Alexis
player, 434 posts
Tue 8 Aug 2006
at 01:20
  • msg #11

Re: Girls in the City

I raise my brow and smile at the man.  It can't be....but he looks so much like I remember him in the movies.  I didn't know if he was who I thought he was but I knew one thing.  I wasn't going to push my luck and try to take him in a gunfight if I didn't have to.  I raise my weapon so it is aimed at him and he is sure to notice it, not that I expect it to make him back down.  "If you're looking for your buddy Bloodstreak he just took off around the corner with a bullet in his shoulder."
Misty
player, 849 posts
Misty, Guns, lots of guns
...And no camo bikinis.
Tue 8 Aug 2006
at 10:39
  • msg #12

Re: Girls in the City

*Call one of you?*  I couldn't help but wonder what the woman meant, so I asked.  Ummm...  call one of you what?

She wanted my name and a pen.  Can you say reporter?  I knew you could.  What we didn't need was to have anyone knowing about us.  I didn't think there would be any backlash from our saving someone about to get slashed by a nutjob in red and white long underwear, but why risk it.  Sorry, no pen.  Who are you?

I could hear Lexi still talking to the homeless guy.  I hoped that she was doing better than I was at finding out what was going on around here.
Playtester
GM, 3543 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 8 Aug 2006
at 15:17
  • msg #13

Re: Girls in the City

The man raises his head so you can see his face clearly.  Despite the dress, its not who you expected which might not be good.

"Cute." The person steps forward, and grabs you about the neck and hoists you above his head so that your feet scrabble on the ground.  The hand is unrelenting, like an iron slave collar crushing you, and you can feel the vertebrae in your back popping.

"Do I look stupid? Which way did Bloodstreak really go, and how much is he paying you?"

The light baritone voice rasps out in a killing fury that is made worse by it being delivered in a whisper.

The redhead looks at you Misty, and says softly...

"Why superheroes, of course.  I'm Alicia Foster, clerk at First National Bank, this is my second time to be held hostage. Sunstar rescued me last time.  He's handsome in a kind of goofy way...I'm trying to collect autographs for my collection..."  She opens a purse, and pulls out a book which flops open to reveal a number of names, and then she looks up...

"Oooh Twilight, I haven't got his name, but he seems busy right now."

You look and see this short man in a vaquero blanket holding Lexi up by the neck, and aiming a Colt at you.  The eyes are black with hatred.

PT
Misty
player, 850 posts
Misty, Guns, lots of guns
...And no camo bikinis.
Tue 8 Aug 2006
at 15:48
  • msg #14

Re: Girls in the City

This isn't good on so many levels.  Twilight, or whoever he is, thinks we're bad guys.  Miz Foster, while not a reporter after all, thinks we're superheros.  At least we're not getting shot at, yet.

There was a time when I would have thought that this is getting a little wierd.  That would have been a time before I got nanotech bioimplants.  That would have been a time before I began to store a phaser in my pack and carry a blaster on my hip.  That would have been a very long time ago.

There was only one way to try to resolve this situation without us getting versed to somewhere else.  As much as I really hated the idea, I slid my PDW into its holster.  A moment later, I was even able to will myself to release the pistol grip and remove my hand.

Look, Twilight, is it?  You don't need that hawgleg.  Bloodstreak ran off.  I have the woman Bloodstreak was attempted to kill right here.  My partner was talking to that witness when you arrived.
Alexis
player, 435 posts
Tue 8 Aug 2006
at 23:12
  • msg #15

Re: Girls in the City

I instinctively grab the guys arm with my free hand. This is bad!  Come on Misty lay this guy out.  I will myself not to struggle as that only makes the pressure on my neck worse.

Suddenly I hear Misty talking to the guy.  What! Misty being friendly?! Misty might have felt the need to sweet talk this guy but it was my neck he had his hand around.  I obviously couldn't talk so I had to get his attention some other way.  I moved my foot just a bit touching his leg to judge about where my legs are in comparison to his.  Then while Misty has him distracted I bring my knee or foot, whichever is my best option, up and hopefully connect where it will hurt him most.  At the same time I bring my gun up and press it to his neck at the juggler.
Playtester
GM, 3554 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Thu 10 Aug 2006
at 05:03
  • msg #16

Re: Girls in the City

Misty, you see him look at you, and his eyes go solid black as he studies you.  Suddenly, Alexis tries to kick him where it will do the most good, but instead you connect with the outside of his thigh.

Its like kicking a wooden door.

But he staggers a bit off-balance, enough for you to regain solid footing, and you plant your gun into his neck.

He turns and looks at you too, Alexis, a look that makes you think of words like 'soul-devouring', and you feel the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

Then he spins the Colt in his hand, and slips it into a holster on his hip.

He lets go, and you feel a line of cuts on the back of your neck Alexis from fingernails.

"You both have very unusual shadows. We'll talk later. May I go now?"  He rasps out.

PT
Misty
player, 853 posts
Misty, Guns, lots of guns
...And no camo bikinis.
Thu 10 Aug 2006
at 12:15
  • msg #17

Re: Girls in the City

*Well, we're still here.*  Ummm... Lexi, I think you can release him now.

I looked at Twilight.  Before you go, I have a couple of things.  I don't know how well you play with others, but could you let the authorities know to be on the lookout for a wounded Bloodstreak?  He does have a bullet in his left shoulder.  Also, do you guys have a clubhouse or something?  It would make you easier to find for thst talk later.

Once Twilight left, I motioned for Lexi to join me as I turned my attention back to our bank clerk.  We're from out of town.  Way out of town, but that is something she doesn't need to know.  Is there a place where superheros go to hang out?  You know of some type of clubhouse where super friends go to sip mocha lattes?
Alexis
player, 436 posts
Thu 10 Aug 2006
at 19:32
  • msg #18

Re: Girls in the City

I rubbed my neck feeling the sting of the nail marks he had left there.  I stared at him for a heartbeat or two my eyes letting him know I didn't trust him.  Hearing Misty trying to keep the situation calm I force myself to relax the hand holding my gun.  I let the pressure off his juggler and then taking a deep breath I stepped back and lowered my gun.  I didn't holster it though.  I still didn't trust anyone in the vicinity except Misty.

Once Twilight left I left Misty to do the talking and I concentrated on locating the stuff the was in our room in the previous world.  Concidering I was sleeping in the same room with it I am hoping it's all here somewhere.
Misty
player, 854 posts
Misty, Guns, lots of guns
...And no camo bikinis.
Fri 11 Aug 2006
at 01:08
  • msg #19

Re: Girls in the City

While I'm waiting for our bank clerk to tell us what is going on, I cast about looking for my belongings.
Playtester
GM, 3561 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 11 Aug 2006
at 03:41
  • msg #20

Re: Girls in the City

"I'm not generally accepted by the police, or the heroes.  Haven't you heard, I'm a dangerous vigilante?"  There's some definite bitterness in the light voice.

He steps back, and Alexis, you note something odd about his throat, something not there that you expect...its..you're not sure...frustrated you think some more even as he steps back into the shadow, and keeps on stepping backward further and further into deeper darkness until he's not there anymore.  All this in a very mild bit of shadow about two feet deep...

And looking about Alexis, you see all your stuff just a few feet away from you.

Alicia looks, and nods.

"Well, not really, but the Daedalus Foundation, a giant A-frame building at the edge of town is known for having visitors from the superhero community pretty often.  I've heard they have a really splendid Sunday afternoon tea in the gardens out back.  I've been there, and wow, the garden is just wow.  Especially the Alien Botany building."

PT
Alexis
player, 437 posts
Fri 11 Aug 2006
at 11:18
  • msg #21

Re: Girls in the City

I watch Twilight disappear trying to figure out what it is about his neck that is bothering me.  There's something not right about it....   I sigh and begin picking up my equipment.  Locating the takedown rifle, ammo and food supplies Misty had requested I pick them up and take them over to hand them to her.  Then I carefully pick up the box containing my special purchase.  I walk over to Misty smile and say for her ears only. "Our friend from who I bought the rifle from also had something else I thought might come in handy."  I lift the lid so that only she can see what's inside.

After I locate everything and get my gear back in order I'm ready to get out off this alley.  I walk over to stand with Misty "Are you ready to get out of here? I've had enough of this alley and.."  I sniff my shoulder  "..I could really use a shower right now"
Misty
player, 855 posts
Misty, Guns, lots of guns
...And no camo bikinis.
Fri 11 Aug 2006
at 16:18
  • msg #22

Re: Girls in the City

I thanked Alicia Foster for her help and watched her go.  My pack was close by, so it wasn't difficult to get my worldly goods back under control.  I happily accepted the new rifle and accessories from Lexi, as well as the supplies.    This is just what I needed.  Thank you.  I checked the Sauer to find that the 202 rifle was in .30-06 caliber, not .308, but the balistics were close enough to not make a dime's worth of difference in performance.

When she showed me the objects in the box, I couldn't help but smile.  Wow, you did really great.  We need to go shopping together very soon.  The reminded me of something.  I reached into my pack and offered Lexi a half dozen gems and one of the two bags of gold coins I had gotten from the two versers in 1938.  Consider this as some long overdue operational expense funds from one partner to another.

I looked around.  I had to agree with Lexi.  A shower would be wonderful right about now.  There was something to do first, though.  First, we need to get some local funds, then a shower.
Alexis
player, 438 posts
Fri 11 Aug 2006
at 23:15
  • msg #23

Re: Girls in the City

I looked at the gems sparkling in my hand and then quickly put them in my pocket.  "Thank you. "  I open the and hold it out.  "Do you want to put a couple of these in your pack?"  When she indiscates I should keep them in my pack I put the lid back on and put the whole box in my pack.  I get the rest of my stuff organized and then turn toward whatever lay beyond the alley.  "Ok I'm ready.  Lets go see about those funds and a shower."
Playtester
GM, 3571 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Mon 14 Aug 2006
at 04:25
  • msg #24

Re: Girls in the City

Alexis, you begin to pick up on what was bothering you.  The nails cutting your neck were well-manicured, which might mean nothing.  But when you jabbed your gun barrel into Twilight's throat, you didn't see an Adam's apple...and Twilight, despite the intensity in "his" voice has more of a light baritone...

Once you both have everything gathered, the pair of you exit the alley and walk out onto a major metropolitan street.  The cars seem to be internal combustion engine driven, although with odd names.  The street is five lanes, and while all about you are relatively low three to ten story buildings, you see about a quarter of a mile ahed of you that there are some true giants.

And in the direction of what must be a river or a harbor because of the plenitude of masts is a black skyscraper taller still, one with a giant golden "Z" on the side at the crown of something that must be at least a hundred forty stories.

Overhanging the street is an electronic sign displaying a current message: "4th Street Bridge Temp. Closed: Icarus vs. Noir; Use 7th Street Bridge for Downtown instead."

And down the street you see an obvious pawn shop.

PT
Alexis
player, 439 posts
Mon 14 Aug 2006
at 12:00
  • msg #25

Re: Girls in the City

As we walk towards the pawn shop it suddenly hits me what it was that was bothering me about Twilight.  "That's it!"  I stop and grab Misty's arm before she can enter the shop.  "Let me throw something at you and see if you come to the same conclusion I have."    I rub the nail marks on my neck.  Those nails that dug into my neck felt like they were well-manicured.  When I put my gun to Twilight's throat there was no adams apple.  Did you notice that Twilights voice a light baritone?"

As I wait for Misty's answer I take another look around.  Looking at things not noticed at first glance....signs in windows, graffiti on the walls or papers littering the ground, newspaper and magazine headlines,  how people are dressed and are they armed.  Things that give a better view of what's below the surface.
Misty
player, 859 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Mon 14 Aug 2006
at 14:07
  • msg #26

Re: Girls in the City

As we approach the pawn shop, I look about to get a feel for when and where we are this time.  I'm looking at vehicle body styles, clothing of those around us, anything to get a feel for our neighborhood.

I'm a little surprised when Lexi grabs my arm.  I listen and then smile.  *Nice work.*  ...Or maybe an alto?  Lexi, you keep this kind of thing up and we'll have to open up our own investigative agency on some world.  Maybe something like "Gunsmith Cats".  I'll be Rally Vincent and you can be Minnie May.  I could have done a lot worse than having Lexi as a partner.  She is smart and has good instincts...  and grenades.
Oak
GM, 810 posts
Tue 3 Oct 2006
at 06:18
  • msg #27

Re: Girls in the City

Oak:
In your current world, you suddenly see what looks like a faint, barely discernable, transparent black circle on the ground nearby, approximately one meter in diameter.

As you watch, it grows less transparent, until the circle is a dull jet black in color.  Light doesn't seem to reflect from it at all.

It is surrounded by a dull gray rim, with the single word "ACE" appearing thereon.

Interestingly enough, any non-versers in your present company (if any) do not appear to notice what you are looking at...

Alexis:
As I glance around I notice a newspaper vending machine on the corner across the street.  "I'll be right back.  There's a newspaper vending machine over there.  I'm going to see what the headlines are and check out the city name and date on it."  I step off the curb and proceed across the street.  I vaguely notice a dark circle on the ground about 3 feet from the curb. But assuming its a manhole cover I really don't pay it much attention.

My mind focused on the information that can be gleened from a newspaper I manage to put my foot on the edge of it.  Suddenly I realize it's not a manhole cover at all.  I let out a little yelp and try to catch my balance but something seems to be drawing me into it.  I look over at Misty my face a mixture of surprise and concern.  I feel a tug on my pack frame and then all I see is darkness as I drop into who knows where.

Misty:
We're about to enter the pawnshop when Lexi announces that she wants to use the power of the press to find out when and where we are.  She takes off and after a few moments of consideration, I head that way as well.  I'm just a bit concerned with what has already happened with Bloodstreak.  I don't know him all that well with us only speaking a few words for a few moments, but somehow, he just seems like the vengefull type.  I also don't want to stand around looking like a potential smash and grab artist in front of a pawnshop window.

Lexi's already crossing the street, so saying something like "Hey, wait up." would be both unwise and ill timed.  I'm a few steps behind her when I see her stumble.  I push it a little into overdrive and get a hand on her pack frame to try to steady her, but she keeps on sinking into the pavement.  And, whatever is drawing Lexi down is gonna have to take me along for the ride, too.  As the darkness closes around me, I can't help but wonder...

Oak:
When you both make contact (directly or indirectly) with the black circle, you feel disoriented for several moments.


... but in the blink of an eye (at least, to an external observer), you reappear where you were.

The dark circle changes color slightly as you watch, turning slightly darker.  It now looks like a piece of cloth that can be picked up...

OOC: We now resume your regularly scheduled PT world... :D
Alexis
player, 495 posts
Wed 4 Oct 2006
at 03:50
  • msg #28

Re: Girls in the City

I realize that the cartoonist or whatever he was said we'd be back to where we were but I still had to blink when suddenly I'm standing in the middle of the street looking at buildings and surroundings I had seen what semms now like a lifetime ago.

I don't know if it's out of some sort of natural instinct or just plain reassurance but I find myself studying my hands and arms just to make sure they aren't fur covered.  Then I check over my gear and weapons. Thinking about what came out of them last time I fired them I have this sudden urge to clean them.

When everything seems right with me and my stuff I then take the opportunity to look around once again.  As I turn around a grin spreads across my face when I see Misty standing not too far from me looking as dazed as I feel.  She looks great.  No pink nose, fur or fuzzy tail.  Maybe I dreamed it all...."Um..This is going to sound odd but do you remember being a bunny?"
Misty
player, 923 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Wed 4 Oct 2006
at 11:47
  • msg #29

Re: Girls in the City

I blinked and looked around.  We were back in the city.  Lexi and I were back in our bodies, our pink, unfurry human bodies.  While that wasn't a verse, it was still a strange world.  I checked the mag in the PDW.  It didn't have any slugs, just small, gleaming cartridges.  That was a relief.  I would miss those powerful legs, though not enough to want to keep the rabbit legs with my current form.  If I thought that I hated the bother of shaving my legs now...

I heard Alexis ask me a question.  Being a bunny isn't something I'm going to forget.  Although it didn't seem to happen, we both know that it did.  Oh and by the way, you did great back there.  I'm so glad that we met.  I looked down at the circle on the ground.  I picked it up and folded it into a small square, then tucked it into my otherwise empty back left pocket of my jeans.  Who knows... it might come in handy someday to have a hole on our pockets.
Playtester
GM, 3599 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Thu 5 Oct 2006
at 02:11
  • msg #30

Re: Girls in the City

The hole feels kind of like felt, and kind of like nothing you've ever felt before.

But it folds and goes into your back pocket.

You do have a bit of an urge for celery and a nice salad, but with the somewhat rank odor of garbage from your arrival in this world drifting off your bodies, you're pretty sure a good restauraunt isn't going to want you as customers.

Down the street is the pawn shop.

People seem busy, and watchful.  And unlike most watchful people, these ones occasionally scan the sky as well.

As for weapons, you don't see any being carried openly.  Some people do give you two a glance, but then before they can act shocked, they obviously place you in a mental category.

Super.

And just walk on.

You do sense a number of scriff sources as well.
Alexis
player, 498 posts
Thu 5 Oct 2006
at 02:57
  • msg #31

Re: Girls in the City

I turn to head over to the newpaper machine but come to a halt as a thought hits me.  I turn back to Misty sheepishly  "Uh maybe we better hit that pawn shop and see what kind of currency they use around here.  I really don't want get arrested for vandelism over a newspaper.  And I think without money that's the only way I'd get a paper out of that thing." I wrinkle my nose as I get a whiff of myself.  "A shower and change of clothes might not be a bad idea either."

Just then another person gave that look again and then suddenly peered up at the sky.  I couldn't help but to peer up as well.  "What do you think they're looking at or for?"
Misty
player, 926 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Thu 5 Oct 2006
at 03:20
  • msg #32

Re: Girls in the City

I'm not exactly sure, but I have an idea.  Whatever it is, can interact with the people on the ground.  If it couldn't, they wouldn't care.  Given how carefully they look around, whatever they are looking for can be dangerous.  We've already met a couple of this place's versions of cops and robbers.  They seemed very dangerous.  I'll bet first dibs on a shower and dinner that these people are looking for flying superbeings.

I already knew about our dire need for soap, water, and clean clothing.  My nose had been reminding me of that ever since our encounter in the alley.  I take my canteen and dribble some water over my hands in an attempt to wash them, then splash water on my face to try to make myself a little more presentable.  I next offer the canteen to Lexi.  Your turn?  You'll feel better and it might help us at the pawnshop.
Alexis
player, 499 posts
Thu 5 Oct 2006
at 11:25
  • msg #33

Re: Girls in the City

Flying superheros....now why didn't I think of that.  I take the canteen from Misty and proceed to wash my hands and face.  I hand the canteen back to Misty and follow her towards the Pawn shop.

Suddenly a grin spreads accross my face "Hey anything is possible in these verser worlds. Maybe we'll run into Bruce Wayne or Clark Kent.   Superman is so cute and Batman has really cool toys.  Some of his toys could come in very handy."
Misty
player, 927 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Thu 5 Oct 2006
at 15:40
  • msg #34

Re: Girls in the City

I thought about that as we walked toward the pawnshop.  Those would be cool, but toys break.  I think we both could use some type of "super soldier serum" to make us faster, stronger and tougher.
Alexis
player, 500 posts
Fri 6 Oct 2006
at 00:34
  • msg #35

Re: Girls in the City

I pulled open the door to the pawnshop and stood back to let Misty enter.  I let out a laugh "Are you kidding Batmans toys never break! But your right some super serum would good too."  I follow Misty to the counter taking the opportunity to glance around the shop as we go.  Hoping to find some clues abnout their technology or anything else.
Playtester
GM, 3602 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 6 Oct 2006
at 03:40
  • msg #36

Re: Girls in the City

You step in and let your eyes adjust to the relative dimness of the sixty watt equivalent fluorescents arranged in tract lighting across the large room.

Behind the glass jewelry case you see a man, a huge man, perhaps five hundred pounds which goes to create his near ball like structure.

"Welcome, welcome." He says heartily, and slaps his own chest hard.

"I'm Tortoise, the owner of the Turtle Shell Pawn Emporium, and you I just know it, are my next lucky customers."

He rattles off his cheerful patter with smooth skill.

The walls are covered with wanted posters, and unfamiliar people on movie posters.
Misty
player, 928 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Fri 6 Oct 2006
at 12:59
  • msg #37

Re: Girls in the City

Several thoughts came crashing together in what's left of my mind.  This guy was probably a superbeing.  We hadn't worked up a cover story ahead of time, but in this place, we could probably get away with telling the truth, the actual truth, and having them believe us for once.

This is kind of complicated.  We just got in town.  We were in a nearby alley when we stumbled across one of your local nutjobs, some guy in red and white long underwear calling himself Bloodstreak.  He was about to slice and dice a bank teller named Alice... no, Alicia Foster from the First National Bank.  We fired at him and he ran off with a bullet in his left shoulder.  Who do you call to report that kind of thing?

I looked at Lexi.  We really could use a little help here.  How far do you think we can trust him?
Playtester
GM, 3607 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 6 Oct 2006
at 21:12
  • msg #38

Re: Girls in the City

"Call? No one really.  I mean you're supers right?"  He raises an eyebrow at your question in mild perplexity.

"I have to say good for you.  Bloodstreak is a maniac.  Even most of the supervillains don't like him.  After all, one can understand robbing a bank, or trying to take over the world, but slicing up people so their blood spray will make art?  Brrr. Freaky."

PT
Alexis
player, 501 posts
Sat 7 Oct 2006
at 01:59
  • msg #39

Re: Girls in the City

I notice the guy doesn't seem overly concerned about our obvious supply of weapons.  So I look around the shop for a weapons case.  As I do I look at other things in the shop.  Looking for anything that would give me any clues to what this world is like.  I look up from my study of the place when Misty speaks to me.   Can we trust him?  I study the man closer.  "Like you said what choice do we have?"
Misty
player, 929 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sat 7 Oct 2006
at 02:41
  • msg #40

Re: Girls in the City

I looked at the pawnshop owner and smiled.  Actually, we're not supers... at least not yet.  We just arrived here.  We need to convert what we use for currency to what you use for currency.  I fished out a couple of gems, a blue-white one and a red one, which I placed on the counter between us.  I looked Tortoise right in the eye as I spoke.  Gems are much easier to use as currency when travelling among dimensions.
Playtester
GM, 3616 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 10 Oct 2006
at 02:20
  • msg #41

Re: Girls in the City

He smiles.

"Nice gems. I'd never considered that aspect of dimension-travelling.  I mean obviously you can't take your cash from here to somewhere else, but.."

He pulls out a jeweler's loupe from behind his eyeball, and rearranges it in front of his left eye as he picks up the red gem from the counter.

"Very nice stone.  I'm not going to be able to give you what they're worth, but I can give you quick cash, no questions asked.  And you seem to be honest ladies so I won't charge my typical 30% 'might be hot' fee.  Now, if you want to barter, item for item, I can afford to be more generous, but I typically would...."

He quotes a figure that is about twenty percent of what you figure they're worth.  You're able to guess this by examining some of the stuff in the shop, and the price stickers on them.  You're able to talk him up to 30%, but at that point he gets very 'take it or leave it.' although with a smile.

While you're thinking about it, he hands you a pamphlet which quotes prices for "Tortoise Custom Protection Devices"--aka cyberwear.  As the pamphlet says "I'm not only the president, but a customer.  My three inches of polycerametal alloy stomach armour has stopped three armed robbery attempts in their tracks.  Bullets, even .44 magnum bullets just bounce off."

PT

PT
Misty
player, 931 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Tue 10 Oct 2006
at 20:40
  • msg #42

Re: Girls in the City

Your armor sounds very effective, but a little bulky for our needs.  What we're looking for are items which don't stand out quite so much.  It's that dimension-hopping thing, you know.  We need things which look harmless.  As an example, something like sunglasses with adjustable multiple spectrum lenses would be perfect for us.

I looked around at his shop.  He had some nice stuff. I didn't know what some of it was, but it looked nice.  Lexi, what do you think we need most...  other than weapons and concealable body armor?
Alexis
player, 502 posts
Tue 10 Oct 2006
at 21:50
  • msg #43

Re: Girls in the City

I thought about Misty's question for a few minutes while I looked around the shop.  Then I shook my head and said with a laugh "Uh no...What else is there?"
Playtester
GM, 3627 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Wed 11 Oct 2006
at 02:26
  • msg #44

Re: Girls in the City

"I've got contact lenses that can go infrared. Other pairs that do starlight, and can be used as a tricky and slow computer interface.  You just look at what you want on the screen projected on your eyeball, and click your tongue inside your mouth.  Throat mikes, implanted or removable.  We can amp your hearing, but that can leave you vulnerable to a sonic attack.  If you're up for removing an eyeball, I have a great line of subtle advances that I can pack in there."

He leans back against a stool.

"Subdermal armor. Wire your bones if you like.  We can do that to a few by just shoving the wire in, or a whole body wiring, but thats major surgery.  If you are really into major stuff, we can add organs like an extra heart, or turbo the one you got--of course then we have to upgrade your arteries and such."

He hums to himself a bit.

"Lee Press-On makes a line of cybernails.  Pop out fingernails of titanium.  We can do things like enable you to turn off your pain nerve net at will."

You look around the shop.

Most of it appears to be relatively ordinary pawn store stuff.  There is more guns than you expect, and less sports related stuff, but other than that its a prosperous looking pawn shop.  He evidently doesn't sell his cyberwear here.

However, he does have a nice array of guns....including a 40 Kilowatt laser.

PT
Alexis
player, 503 posts
Wed 11 Oct 2006
at 18:51
  • msg #45

Re: Girls in the City

I stop to look in the weapons case.  Seeing some interesting peices in there I'm thinking I might ask about a couple of them.  Suddenly I start feeling really itchy and I am reminded again of my state of hygene at the moment.  I walk over catching the conversation between Misty and the clerk.  I raise a brow impressed.  But suddenly I want to get to a shower really quick.  Rubbing my arm where yet another itch erupts I look at Misty "This stuff looks great and maybe we can come back and talk about getting some after we get settled and cleaner.  I can't really concentrate with this smell coming of off me.  What do you say we get a room and get cleaned up then we can come back and see what he has to offer?."
Misty
player, 932 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Thu 12 Oct 2006
at 01:25
  • msg #46

Re: Girls in the City

I looked at the items on display.  They looked good, but I've always liked to comparison shop.  Besides, I already knew just how unpleasent I smelled.  Lexi was right.  I looked at the pawnshop owner.  I'm really interested in the titanium claws and the contact lenses.  I'm even more interested in a shower, some clean clothing, and something filling to eat.  We'll take the money for the gems now.  Also, I see that you have some weapons for sale.  Maybe we can do a deal there, too.  Also, do you know of a reasonable place to stay that is close by?

I collected the money and gave half of it to Lexi before we left the store.  We would need to find a way to get some more gems soon.  Maybe I should have held out for an even million in gems to assassinate Lily.  Oh well...

Lexi, if that place isn't a flophouse, a roach motel, or somewhere that they rent their rooms by the hour, let's stay there.  I really want to get cleaned up.
Alexis
player, 504 posts
Thu 12 Oct 2006
at 01:34
  • msg #47

Re: Girls in the City

I take the money hesitantly.  "You know I have my own gems.  Next world we use my gems ok?"  I follow Misty outside and look over at the place she is talking about.  It looked like it was a decent enough place.  "OK lets go check it out.  I don't need the Hilton I just want someplace to shower and get something to eat."
Misty
player, 933 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Thu 12 Oct 2006
at 13:11
  • msg #48

Re: Girls in the City

Well, it definirely wasn't the local Hilton.  It wasn't even a Motel 6.  It was, however, clean and local with a maid who brought us some extra towels.  I let Lexi go first to the shower.

I wasn't too thrilled however for having to part with a sizable room damage deposit.  I tried to point out that we weren't rock 'n roll stars and didn't plan on bashing down the walls in a wild party with a bunch of groupies.  The clerk, probably the manager or owner, didn't seem to have much of a sense of humor.  Standing there, smelling of days old garbage, I didn't either.

The clerk looked at us saying something about him already knowing what we were and that he needed the damage deposit up front.  I asked for a receipt.  When the clerk explained that the damage deposit wasn't refundable, I took it charastically well.  I just pointed out to Lexi that we would have to break more than enough things before we left to use up the deposit.  The clerk decided that he could make a special case for us.  I thought that was very nice of him to reconsider his position.  For a few bucks more, we probably could have bought the place.
Playtester
GM, 3639 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 13 Oct 2006
at 00:28
  • msg #49

Re: Girls in the City

The shower pipes rattle and hum as you take your shower Alexis.  Misty, the water turns cold halfway through your shower.

About an hour after check-in, you both are dressed and presentable.  The towels are thin, and the beds are hard, and the tv has a persistent minor snow--not enough to really block your vision, but definitely not Liquid Crystal Clarity either which is what the sign outside the motel promised.

There is a safe in the corner of the room, and a coffeemaker.

The feel of the place is of something that might have been decent twenty years ago, and hasn't been updated since.

Looking out on the parking lot, you see a couple young guys with tattoos and tans and pants without shirts sitting on the back of their car chugging from a glass bottle.  There's another guy, overweight, too tight white button up shirt who is getting luggage from his car while yawning and moving very slowly in the way that the desperately tired have.  A couple eight year old girls in swimsuits run past with their mother trying to corral them as they head to the swimming pool.  And in the sky, someone in a purple and black costume with a dark purple cape flies by.

PT
Alexis
player, 505 posts
Fri 13 Oct 2006
at 01:24
  • msg #50

Re: Girls in the City

I sat on the bed flipping through the TV channels looking for some news or something that might yeild us with some more information about the world we have found ourselves in. I pause in my channel surfing and grimmace when I hear a muffled shriek come from the bathroom.  A short while later Misty comes out looking a little blue.  "Uh ..Sorry about the hot water.  But the shower felt so good I had to force myself out.  Guess I should have forced myself a little quicker."

I finally settle on what looks to be a local news program and toss the remote down on the bed.  "Well now that we both smell and look a whole lot better where do you want to go eat?  I grabbed a couple of brochures out of the lobby on the way up or we can look in the phone book."  I lay them all on the tiny little combo table/desk so we can look them over together. "By the way did the clerk happen to mention if there was a internet hook-up in the room? I have my computer we can do a little surfing to increase our knowledge if they have computer technology in this world."
Misty
player, 935 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Fri 13 Oct 2006
at 03:34
  • msg #51

Re: Girls in the City

In this room?  We're lucky to have electricity.  Speaking about electricity, you might not want to plug anything in that we brought with us until we determine what kind of power they use here.  It might be 110 volts, it might not.  It could be that this place uses fifty cycle power, or sixty, or even something else.  We just don't know yet.

Food did sound like a wonderful concept.  I looked at the brochures on the little desk thingie which must have designed for third graders.  I don't think we're quite ready for The Majestic Room.  And the other place...  I looked for the name of the joint...  ...The Hero's Guild Restaurant sounds like a local version of one of those "knights jousting while diners pretend that the swordfights are real" kind of tourist traps, only with pretend superbeings.

I took a look at the television screen and shook my head.  From what I could make out, it was some kind of a news program.  If I watched it long enough, I might get used to the snow.  I might also drop the TV out into the scenic parking lot.   Let's just get some basic take out or eat somewhere close by.  We'll score some magazines and newspapers to get the feel of the place and figure out what passes for current events around here.  Tomorrow, once we know what's happening, we'll see what this town has to offer.  What do you think, Lexi?
Alexis
player, 506 posts
Fri 13 Oct 2006
at 11:19
  • msg #52

Re: Girls in the City

I looked at the brochures and had to admit she was right.  We weren't ready financially or fashionably for The Majestic Room "Guess I should have looked at more than just the word restaurant huh?"   My stomach growled loadly.  With a grin I walk over and fasten on my harness and shrug on my pack.  "Well my stomach agrees with that idea.  I'm ready when you are."

I wrinkle my nose at odor still coming from the clothes we had just removed.  "Maybe we can find somewhere to get our clothes washed too. I seriously doubt this place has laundry service and I really don't want to have to enjoy that aroma all night long."
Misty
player, 936 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Fri 13 Oct 2006
at 12:45
  • msg #53

Re: Girls in the City

I'll be ready to go in a minute.  I topped off the PDW mag replacing the rounds used in driving off that nutjob slasher guy.  There's no reason to get sloppy with gear that keeps you alive.  Lexi, you did good with the brochures.  We now know of a place where we could make contact with the shakers and movers of the city.  We also know of a place where people go to have fun.  Knowing what these people consider to be fun is an important thing.  It could even be vital to our...

I was interrupted by a loud rumbling sound.  It was my stomach.  I shrugged into  my shoulder holster and weapon harness.  I checked myself out in the cracked mirror over the dresser and tried to visualize myself in some type of super outfit.  Alexis, did you ever read comic books?  There was this character, Natasha Romanoff or something, who was called the Black Widow.  She used to hang out with SHIELD, the Avengers, and Daredevil.  And maybe I should shut up now, but she had a very cool black catsuit costume.  How do you think we would look in dark blue or black skintight kevlar/nomex/spandex composite catsuits?  I thought about a scene from "The Incredibles" movie.  ...And no capes.

As I grabbed my blue denim jacket to cover my shoulder holster, I noticed the safe in the corner.  I noticed that there were two ways to open the safe, a set-your-own combination lock and a key entry lock.  I called the front desk using the black rotary dial telephone to find out who had the keys to the safe, but nobody answered.  Go figure.

Let's lock up our gemstones, take our gold coins with us, and stop by the front desk to see who has keys to the room safes.  I caught a whiff of our arrival outfits.  And maybe get some new outfits and laundry soap.
Alexis
player, 507 posts
Sat 14 Oct 2006
at 00:53
  • msg #54

Re: Girls in the City

I smile as I watch Misty check her weapon loads and follow her lead.  I slip my weapon back into it's holster.  "Of course I read comic books.  And I'd love the to have one of those catsuits.  They make you look so sexy."

I walk accross the room and dig my gems out of my pack and pockets and put them in the safe.   Then I step aside so Misty can put hers in and lock it up.  "Ok lets go. I'm starved."
Misty
player, 937 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sat 14 Oct 2006
at 15:12
  • msg #55

Re: Girls in the City

I dropped in most of my gems, keeping a couple out for spot purchases.  When you get a chance, Lexi, you need to tell me what set for the safe combination.  Also, if I forget, remind me to ask the desk clerk if this place has any washers and dryers for guest use.
Alexis
player, 508 posts
Sat 14 Oct 2006
at 22:30
  • msg #56

Re: Girls in the City

I was readjusting my harness a bit while a waited for Misty and looked up at her comment.  "What?  I didn't set the combination for the safe.  You mean you didn't either?"
Playtester
GM, 3644 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Sun 15 Oct 2006
at 02:33
  • msg #57

Re: Girls in the City

There is no mention of an internet connection.

The TV news has a large segment devoted to crime, and to the actions of the superheroes.  There is almost nothing about sports or celebrities (aka people famous for being famous).

You catch names:

Sunstar
Daedalus
Dreamweaver

And other names spoken with visible disaproval:
Noir
Toller
Gulag
Forcemerchant
Guncrazy

And odd words

Interdimensional barrier is stable according to scientists at the A Lab.
First National bank robbery
Another dead body in the Tangle last night, same MO as previous victims.
Ambassador Oakmaster of the British Crosstime Confederation opened the ceremony dedicating the new Museum of Art...

PT
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:50, Fri 26 Jan 2007.
Misty
player, 938 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sun 15 Oct 2006
at 21:21
  • msg #58

Re: Girls in the City

After I secured the door, I looked at Alexis and started for the front desk. I noticed that the default combination was 10-20-30.  Since the staff probably resets the lock after each guest leaves...  I stopped, listening to what I was saying to Lexi.  These people barely changed the sheets and swept the floors.  And here I was, giving them credit for resetting safe combos?  Ummm...  Think we should go back to the safe and make sure that the combination is set to 10-20-30?
Alexis
player, 509 posts
Mon 16 Oct 2006
at 01:34
  • msg #59

Re: Girls in the City

My stomach growled again in anticipation of food as we headed out of the room.  I stopped in my tracks at Misty's words and turned back the way we'd come with a sigh.  "Yeah we'd better.  We need those gems and I don't trust anyone here at this point."
Playtester
GM, 3652 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 17 Oct 2006
at 04:16
  • msg #60

Re: Girls in the City

You go back, get the gems from the safe after turning it to 10-20-30 and head on out of the hotel.

While the hotel does not have laundry service, and seems miffed that you asked, the clerk does venture that there is a laundry just up the street.

When no more details are forthcoming, Misty glares at him, but he just stares back at her baffled as to what is bothering her.  Certain subtleties of human interaction evidently pass over his head, although he does pay attention to money issues.

Two blocks later, you two find a laundry.

As you walk up you see a convertible BMW zip up and around you close enough that you could reach out and touch the door, and screech to a halt in front of the doors.  A model stylish black woman, near six feet tall, and perhaps a hundred fourty pounds, leaps out of the car.

Her sparkling new luxury car looks dreadfully out of place next to the thin strip of dented mini-station wagons, and family sedans with their film of dust along with old bikes and one children's red wagon parked out front of the wide glass window panes of the Big Bucket of Suds Laundromat.

PT
Alexis
player, 510 posts
Wed 18 Oct 2006
at 01:37
  • msg #61

Re: Girls in the City

I was not impressed at all with the desk clerks attitude. As soon as we got outside I spoke to Misty about it.  This place will do for the moment.  It's better than the street.  But I hope we can find some better accomodations if we're going to be here long."

As we walk down the street to go recon the laudromat.  I check out the various shops and businesses making a note of any that we might want to visit later.  I also keep an eye out for restaurants and hope to see one that looks fairly descent.  I hungry and hope we can get something to eat soon.

As we approach the area of laundromat I notice the shiny BMW pull up.  "Now that's an odd sight..."
Misty
player, 939 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Wed 18 Oct 2006
at 03:12
  • msg #62

Re: Girls in the City

Yeah, and I don't like odd sights.  Last time something felt this wrong, a Marxist hit squad had me on a bullseye.  I looked at the Beemer and the woman.  Too bad there weren't any restaurants close by.  We could have been easing hunger pangs instead of this.  Keep your eyes open, Lexi.  This could go very badly, very quickly.
Playtester
GM, 3654 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Wed 18 Oct 2006
at 03:42
  • msg #63

Re: Girls in the City

The woman takes three big strides, reaches out, grabs the glass door of the laundry, and rips it open, and off its hinges.  She then tosses the door to the asphalt with the accompaniment of shattering glass jangling loudly through the air.

You see a couple people out of the corner of your eyes stare to gawk, and a few more make quick u-turns heading away from the laundromat at all due speed.

"Ooopsie! I guess you haven't been paying for your insurance."  She calls out loudly, and then wheels about, and heads back to her car as she pulls out a cel phone.

"Hello girlfriend, meet me at the Majestic in thirty, k?  I just have to smash up a few more hardheads, and I'll be over there, pq, k, say hi to sweetlips for me?  No, I am so not trying to steal him from you, get over it, it was just a kiss..."

She stares at you two.

"What?" She asks in a cold manner.

PT
Alexis
player, 511 posts
Thu 19 Oct 2006
at 02:42
  • msg #64

Re: Girls in the City

I stand frozen in place watching the woman rip the door off.  The more people I meat in this world the more I'm not liking it.  My first instinct is to pull my gun and stop her from "smashing up a few more hardheads".  But after thinking about it I realize that she is just the muscle.  We need to find out who the big boss is.

I look at her keeping my hands in plain sight and meeting her stare. I hope Misty catches on and follows my lead.  "We want to talk to your boss about a job."
Misty
player, 941 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Thu 19 Oct 2006
at 04:38
  • msg #65

Re: Girls in the City

*Huh?*  My first thought was to put a mag of PDW's into her Beemer and then comment about her insurance lapsing.  I picked up on what Lexi was doing after a moment.  (Low blood sugar is no one's friend.)  Infiltrate and identify the enemy structure.  I like it.  Who knows...  maybe they have a supercrook creation program.

Yeah, we're new in town and we need work.  What's your name, Muscles?  I made a mental note of her license plate number and the car's color, make, and model.  I could always shoot her car up later.
Playtester
GM, 3669 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Thu 19 Oct 2006
at 22:45
  • msg #66

Re: Girls in the City

She scratches under her eye with a finger, and snarls.

"You're not taking my job from me.  Fact is, if I see you two fashion rejects around the dock, I'll have to show you how Noir takes out the garbage."

She stares at you waiting.

PT
OOC: Sorry, bad GE roll.  "23".  Evidently there's not enough jobs to go around as 'extortionist thug, six months experience preferred.'
Playtester
GM, 3670 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Thu 19 Oct 2006
at 22:46
  • msg #67

Re: Girls in the City

OOC: I like the plan, tho', Alexis.

PT
Misty
player, 942 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sun 22 Oct 2006
at 11:52
  • msg #68

Re: Girls in the City

*Lexi got this going.  Maybe I can keep it going.*  Look, Noir, we don't want your job.  We're not cheap street muscle like you, assigned to beat up doors.  We're shooters.  You know...  Bang, bang.  Boom.  Zap.  I let my jacket fall open to display the full weapon harness.

We want to talk to someone who has more than a just couple of brain cells floating around in an otherwise empty head, like you.  We want to talk about suitable employment with your Boss, someone who can make a command decision, which is again not you.  Think just how cranky your Boss will be when he learns that you've caused him to miss out on chance to hire Null and Void.
Alexis
player, 512 posts
Mon 23 Oct 2006
at 02:22
  • msg #69

Re: Girls in the City

My head whips around to stare at Misty and I'm only just able to manage keeping my mouth shut and the look of surprise off my face as I listen to what she is saying.  Before she gets to the end of her tirade I am smiling and nodding my agreement with her.  Null and Void?  I like it.   At the same time I'm showing my support for Misty I carefully release the safety strap on my PDW.

As she finishes her speech I turn to see what response is forthcoming from the doorbeater.  I keep my hand poised and ready to go for my PDW if necessary.
Playtester
GM, 3677 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 24 Oct 2006
at 15:25
  • msg #70

Re: Girls in the City

"Cheap street muscle? Does this Fabrici original..." She waves at her blouse "Look cheap?  I'm just filling in since I don't have any better jobs for now."

Then she drops her hand, and you see her fingers lengthen,  her eyes turn solid black, and shadows drift down the street as the sunlight pales.  hose people who haven't already left have now decided too.

"I was on Supercity mags List of the Ten Most Dangerous Women on the planet two years ago.  I've never heard of Null and Void."

PT
Alexis
player, 513 posts
Wed 25 Oct 2006
at 16:26
  • msg #71

Re: Girls in the City

Supercity Mag?  I'll have to look up one of those.  I look around as it seems to get darker then turn back to stare at her for a minute.  She's obviously a superbeing.  Two things come to mind 1) We don't know her powers  and  2) She doesn't know ours either..or lack of them.  With that in mind I'm thinking that what she don't know is our advantage.  I grin  "Why thank you for the compliment.  We must do our job very well."    My smile disappears  "You thinks it's not intentional that you've never heard of us? On the contrary, that's why we're so good at our job."
Misty
player, 944 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Wed 25 Oct 2006
at 17:05
  • msg #72

Re: Girls in the City

Noir was impressive looking.  That and a dollar could get you a bottle of water at a gas station.  About the blouse?  It does look cheap when you wear it, but that's not important.  I must appologise to you.  It was wrong of us to expect one of the Ten Most Dangerous Women on the Planet according to Buildings Magazine to be high enough on the food chain to be able to introduce a top covert assasination team to anyone of importance.

This was going to get messy.  If you want a minor sample of our local work, I can help you out.  There was some clown running around in red and white longjohns calling himself Bloodstreak and nattering about blood splatters as an art form.  We were casing an area where we were going to be working.  He showed up and was going to ruin the site, so we put a round into his left shoulder to get him to go away.  If she twitched in our direction, I was ready to adrenoboost.
Playtester
GM, 3685 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Thu 26 Oct 2006
at 03:39
  • msg #73

Re: Girls in the City

She perks up when she hears the name Bloodstreak, and nods.  With a false smile, but a pretty good one, she lets the black leach out of her eyes and the street returns to normal.

You find your breathing restarting.

"Good enough. Hop in. Be careful, the seat is Corinthian leather."

Assuming you do so, she tears out of the parking lot, and roars across town toward the harbor and in the same direction as a giant black skyscraper.

PT
Alexis
player, 514 posts
Fri 27 Oct 2006
at 02:11
  • msg #74

Re: Girls in the City

I opted for the back seat and let Misty have the front.  I didn't want to be any closer to Noir than nessecary.  I had to admit it was a very nice vehicle.  The seats were butter soft and there were all kinds of buttons and pop open things back here, but I restrained myself and didn't touch anything.

As we drove along I kept my eyes focused out the windows noting landmarks in case we had to make our way back unaided.  I also took note of some of the stores, shops, restaurants,  bars etc along the way in case something stood out that we might want to check out later.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:13, Fri 27 Oct 2006.
Misty
player, 947 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Fri 27 Oct 2006
at 02:55
  • msg #75

Re: Girls in the City

I spend the trip studying both my surroundings and Noir.  This trip should prove to be very interesting.  Whether it would be a good interesting or a bad one still remained to be seen.
Playtester
GM, 3694 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 27 Oct 2006
at 15:18
  • msg #76

Re: Girls in the City

You drive down to the harbor, and see a huge skyscraper, solid black except for a gold 'z' on its top, resting on an island in the midst of the busy harbour.  An enormous breakwater is behind the island, and further out is a quarter mile long bridge, and then the swells of the ocean waves.

All about this huge harbor are buildings.  You're clearly in a metropolis with millions of residents.

Noir turns left, and her hair sways, and then falls perfectly back into position like she had just combed it.  She's a very aggressive driver with little concern for other drivers.

You head into some sort of Chinatown, and she pulls up in front of a pagoda decorated restauraunt.  A tall, and muscular Asian man with a very sad face walks slowly out.

"Are you finished? The chairman wishes to know."

"NOOOOOOOO.  I picked up a few recruits, spotted them and asked them to join us.  I think your boss will be pleased.  Null and Void, meet Strong Tiger.  He's a drip. Now get out of my car, I'm busy, wasted enough time with you two."

PT
Alexis
player, 515 posts
Sat 28 Oct 2006
at 01:59
  • msg #77

Re: Girls in the City

I look at Misty and shrug.  Then I step out of the car.  I nod to Strong Tiger "Hello ."  Then I step away from the car and onto the sidwalk.  Knowing Noir she'd run over my foot just for spite.  I take a look around to see if there's anyone else around and what kind of response they give to Noir and her car and/or Strong Tiger.  Looking at signs and things I suddenly wish I could read Chinese.
Misty
player, 949 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sat 28 Oct 2006
at 02:53
  • msg #78

Re: Girls in the City

I looked at Noir.  If this is how you recruit new people to the organization, I'm surprised that there aren't padlocks on the doors and an "Out of Business" sign in the window.  I smiled as I got out of the car, but didn't yet close the door.  It must be so difficult for you, being that underqualified for your job.  Have a nice day.  I had a feeling that Noir's car was not going to be insurable for much longer.

I left the car door open as I moved toward Strong Tiger.  Hello.  Is Noir a representative example of the members of your Chairman's organization?
Playtester
GM, 3708 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Wed 1 Nov 2006
at 22:39
  • msg #79

Re: Girls in the City

Noir gives Misty the finger, and whips her car out into traffic and spins it about so that the door slams on its own.  The people around her are giving her what they probably think of as an inscrutable look, but its clearly readable as suppressed anger.

However, they wait until she is well away before one older Chinese lady begins to cuss her out.

Strong Tiger bows.

"My apologies.  The Blue Silk Tong was in an unfortunate position when she applied for a job."

There is a lack of emotional resonance from him as he says this.

He bows again, and motions for you two to follow him.

You enter a deserted restauraunt, and find one older man sitting at the very back of the room.

"The Chairman." Strong Tiger says flatly.

"My humblest apologies on the behavior of the Noir person.  She is dishonorable.  Please have a seat."  The Chairman motions with his tiny stick-thin and white-haired hand to two chairs across from him, and closes up his laptop computer.  "Cook!"  He calls out "Two plates..." He pauses, assesses you both "#11 and #4 I think, unless you have preferences."

PT
Alexis
player, 517 posts
Thu 2 Nov 2006
at 02:52
  • msg #80

Re: Girls in the City

Blue Silk Tong? I file away the name as I follow him into what looks like a deserted restaurant.  I look around as we enter noting the layout of the room, windows doors etc..  My attention is drawn to the very thin man of indeterminate age sitting at a table at the back of the room.  I nod to him respectfully and take the seat he indicates.

I barely hold back a smile when he yells for food.  At least we get to eat.  I sit and wait patiently for him to start the business talk.
Misty
player, 952 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Thu 2 Nov 2006
at 03:44
  • msg #81

Re: Girls in the City

When Strong Tiger, the bouncer or doorman or whatever, mentioned a tong, I racked what was left of my brain to recall what I knew about them.  Unfortunately, it wasn't much and probably didn't translate well to this world, anyway.  This tong looked more like a corporation than like a gang.

As we sat down, I wondered what menu choices eleven and four consisted of, then realized that I was so hungry that I didn't care.  I wanted to say something zen-like and profound.  Not having anything come readily to mind, I thought about telling my Zen Pizza joke.  Finially, I just decided to shut up... for the most part.

Thank you for seeing us on such short notice.  Your selections for us are fine.  I wondered if they were poisoned.
Playtester
GM, 3717 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 3 Nov 2006
at 03:30
  • msg #82

Re: Girls in the City

He nods.

"We are the Blue Silk Benevolence and Protection Association.  My ancestors in Hong Kong had difficulty with the authority oppressing them, cheating them.  Particularly so, because we were different blood than theirs, and we worked harder, made more money.  So we form Association.  Help hide things, move stuff about without authority notice.  Now modern day, many threats to my people.  Some people don't want my protection or so they say, but they live in my area, and I must protect them or lose face.  Losing face is very dangerous.  Like blood in shark water."

He shakes his finger in rebuking caution.

"Seen sharks kill unfortunate fisherman who fell overboard. Very bad. We shoot many sharks. No good."

The food arrives.  Misty's is more spicy with a main course of pepper steak with diced up jalopeno, and Alexis has General Tso's chicken.  Both have egg rolls, fried rice, and egg drop soup.

He apologizes, claims hunger, and takes a spoonful of the rice from each plate for himself to eat.

"So we hire Noir, to keep freeloaders who I protect paying taxes.  But worse, we have real enemies.  Very bad men. Organitskaya.  Move in on my territory, they strangle one of my soldiers just last week."

He looks coldly at you two.

"I wonder if you could express my displeasure with this action to them in a manner that such coarse beasts can understand?"

PT
Misty
player, 954 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Fri 3 Nov 2006
at 08:17
  • msg #83

Re: Girls in the City

*Organitskaya...  that sounds...  Russian?*  A Chinese Tong wants us to make a hit out on the Russian Mob.  That sounds like a good way to make an introduction.  Of course, we won't do it for free.

We are new to your city.  We do not know this Organitskaya of which you speak, but we do understand the value of not letting your people down.  We would ask for something from you in return.  There are beings in this city with wonderous abilities.  We seek to gain some of those wonderous abilities for ourselves.  Perhaps we can work together so that each of our wishs can be realized.

I looked at Lexi.  We would still be taking out bad guys, we just wouldn't be doing it for the good guys this time.  Does that about cover it, Partner?
Alexis
player, 518 posts
Fri 3 Nov 2006
at 16:02
  • msg #84

Re: Girls in the City

I inhale deeply of the food aroma as it set in front of me. My stomach grumbles at the delay of filling it but I ignore it as I listen to him talk.  I start to pick up my utensils to eat but hesitate as I don't want to offend him if they have a prayer or ritual they offer before eating.

I nod at what Misty suggests    "Yes that about covers it." I look back at the man accross the table.  "Also, if you don't have access to the technology we seek, we have been known to take payment in gems as well."
Misty
player, 956 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Fri 3 Nov 2006
at 16:24
  • msg #85

Re: Girls in the City

As Lexi spoke, my nose caught yet another whiff of the meals set before us.  I was starving, but I didn't want to offend this Chairman guy.  We are not familiar with your culture.  Are there any mealtime customs we need to be aware of before we dig in to what smells so wonderful?
Playtester
GM, 3722 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 3 Nov 2006
at 16:53
  • msg #86

Re: Girls in the City

He waves at the food.

"Eat, eat. My people do not pray before our meals as the Christians in this land do.  The best honor you could do me would be to finish your plate."

He leans back and calls for some green tea for himself.

"Gems, uncut we can certainly do. Very hard to trace.  I have an excellent source of pearls if you like.  As to superpowers, I do know some people, and in fact I have one in my employ who might be able to help you, but its a chancy thing, and expensive, and..."  He runs his tongue over his teeth.

"I think I would prefer a sample of your work before going to that much difficulty."

PT
OOC: Again my knowledge of Oriental customs is kind of vague.  1)Prayer?? Not sure if they do this before the meal or not.  Or perhaps a bit of meditation to get the mind in the proper attitude to enjoy the sensation ahead.  2)In some cultures you don't eat the last bit of food because that symbolizes that you're still hungry.  Americans are an intensely practical people and don't go for that usually. 3)I've heard of pouring out a little sake on the ground--but thats Japanese.

In any case, he's thoroughly integrated in his way (which way for him includes being a racist about Russians), and if he has a religion he practises it in private.

This is one of those things that I am slowing adding bits of knowledge too without any great rush on my part.
Misty
player, 957 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sat 4 Nov 2006
at 00:51
  • msg #87

Re: Girls in the City

The food was good, really spicy and good.  I thumbed a round out of a PDW magazine and placed it before the Chairman.  We ran into a psychopath in red and white pajamas calling himself Bloodstreak.  He was about to turn a bank teller into one of his masterpieces.  That might have created a problem for us.  If you can find the guy who digs the bullet out of Bloodstreak's left shoulder, you will see that it matches this one.

I took a few more bites of this fantastic meal.  Or was there some other test you had in mind?
Alexis
player, 520 posts
Sat 4 Nov 2006
at 03:45
  • msg #88

Re: Girls in the City

When he says eat I pick up my fork and dive in.  It's some of the best food I've ever had.  I don't know who his cook is but he doesn't pay him enough.  After a few bites I slow down and pay attention to what Misty is saying.  As I watch her show him the bullet.  I take a drink of my tea and sit back to await the Chairman's response.
Playtester
GM, 3731 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Mon 6 Nov 2006
at 21:39
  • msg #89

Re: Girls in the City

He nods, takes the bullet up gravely, and then calls out in rapid-fire Chinese two different sets of commands.  In seconds, a tall, ascetic looking man with sunken eyes swoops in.

He's wearing a pair of blue jeans, and a white shirt, but hanging over it is a green and gold robe with kanji script written in  panels up and down it.  He takes the bullet, and makes several mystic passes while muttering some phrases.

Then he hands the bullet back to you, Misty.

"The spirit of your bullet is happy with you."  He then nods at the Chairman in a gesture freighted with meaning that comes from long association.

The Chairman then hands you a picture of a man who is dressed in a long black leather trenchcoat.  In his right hand is a Skorpion auto-pistol, a cigarette in his lips, and a his head is shaved except for a short Mohawk.  His eyes are without compassion.

"Feroci Boehner is ex-Stasi.  He's an independent contractor to the Organitskaya.  He claims, on his website, specializations in close-quarters combat, sniping, and interrogation.  If you were to see that he was delivered to the police tied up in a bow, or to the morgue I believe that would make an excellent down payment on the development of superpowers.  My magi has some ideas already for your consideration should you agree."

PT
Alexis
player, 521 posts
Tue 7 Nov 2006
at 16:39
  • msg #90

Re: Girls in the City

Content with letting Misty take control over the conversational part of the business I pull a small notebook and a pen out of my pocket.  I look accross the table. "Do you mind if I take a few notes?  I always like to research and know my targets strengths and weaknesses."

If he has no problem with it in between bites of food I start writing some notes IE: The mans name, and the info being provided for us by the Chairman.  If Misty doesn't request it I will ask about the website address.

We may decide not to take this assignment but a little info never hurts when you have just found yourself in a new world.
Misty
player, 958 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Tue 7 Nov 2006
at 17:00
  • msg #91

Re: Girls in the City

*I have happy ammo.  Great.  I really needed to know that factoid.*  I thought about The Chairman's proposal.  This is the type of job that I would do for free.  Removing a really bad guy from play is a good thing, no matter who wants it done.  I hoped Lexi felt the same way.

You want us to remove a former East German Secret Police officer who is now contracting his services to the Russian Mob and advertises those services as a sniper on the Web?  I think we can work something out.  Do you have a background package on the target?  This food was really good.
Playtester
GM, 3740 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Thu 9 Nov 2006
at 02:51
  • msg #92

Re: Girls in the City

They give you what information they have.  Its not as professional as a background package.  However, they are able to tell you his two favourite restauraunts, roughly where he lives, the car he drives, his website information, his Interpol arrest record, and several pictures from a variety of angles.

The Interpol arrest record supports their story.  He's wanted in Britain and Taiwan for murder, and he's on a list created by Germany entitled "Dangerous Subversives."

The website includes purported gun camera pictures of targets moments before they were 'expeditiously and non-traceably dealt with'.

PT
Alexis
player, 522 posts
Fri 10 Nov 2006
at 02:06
  • msg #93

Re: Girls in the City

I finshed off the last of my food and picked up my glass for a swallow to wash it down.  With a sigh I sat the glass back down and turned my attention to the papers on the table.  They were pretty thorough with their information but I still intended on doing a little reseach myself.  I look over at Misty "Well partner what do you think?  Sounds like it shouldn't be to hard to find this guy."
Misty
player, 959 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Fri 10 Nov 2006
at 04:00
  • msg #94

Re: Girls in the City

I had to agree, but there was still one question bothering me.  This packet gives us a reasonable starting place.  I do still have a question or two, though.  I took a sip of my tea.  It was almost cold, but I needed the moment.  First, with so many people after this guy, why is he still walking around?  Two, does this guy have any special things going for him?  I hate setting up for a standard bit of work only to find out while in the middle of things that the target has some metahuman or bioengineered improvements.
Playtester
GM, 3750 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 10 Nov 2006
at 16:16
  • msg #95

Re: Girls in the City

The Chairman smiles.

"He is not Heat Death who just last month tried to destroy the..." He pauses and looks at his magician.

"Heat Death worships Entropy, and so he tried to destroy all the Luck in the Universe thus causing the reality matrix to disintegrate.  An extraordinarily complex and powerful spell that I can with my decade of study barely comprehend the major points of, let alone deflect." The magician says gravely.  "I was able to do some very small part in stopping this when the Dreamweaver, the Mistress Magica, called upon the magic of the city to aid her, and glad of it for the destruction of Luck offends me, and I like this city and world."

"In the grand scheme of things, the Blue Silk and Feroci are small fish." The Chairman says.  "I rule over a ten square block area of Northgate City,  and have some contacts overseas.  Besides, the immigration service in this city is notoriously pitiful.  If I smuggled in a thousand people, I might lose one to the police."

They don't think he has superpowers, but they're not certain of it.

PT
Misty
player, 960 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sat 11 Nov 2006
at 18:09
  • msg #96

Re: Girls in the City

I had no idea what The Chairman meant by that "Heat Death worships Entropy" thing. I did understand that we needed more research on out target.  There was too much that we didn't know.  It was probably time to go.  I certainly didn't want to overstay our welcome.   Is there a time frame for this job?
Alexis
player, 523 posts
Sun 12 Nov 2006
at 05:27
  • msg #97

Re: Girls in the City

I put away my notebook and pen thinking it's about time to get out of here.  I'm hoping Misty has the same idea.  I pick up the file on our target and wait for an answer to Misty's question.
Playtester
GM, 3759 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Mon 13 Nov 2006
at 15:34
  • msg #98

Re: Girls in the City

The Chairman tells you a week,and after a bit of pleasantries you two depart out the front door of the restauraunt.  You notice Strong Tiger's bow is a bit deeper, and the people out in the street give you knowing glances as they accept your presence now that you have a role in their community.

Walking along the streets of Chinatown, you see English and Mandarin newspapers side by side, Northgate Economic Prospect next to the South China Seas Times, but far more glossy are the others such as...Supermagazine, Combat Doings, Superset, World of Villainy, and Ubermenschen.

There is plenty of food smell in the air, but you're full so its only pleasant.  Although, you do see an ice cream vendor who calls out to you both.

"Pretty ladies, pretty ladies? Chocolate yes?"

And overhead, someone with a really prominent hairdo swings from a nearby skyscraper to another skyscraper on an invisible wire.

There are also a number of young guys standing around on street corners, but the sight of your abundant weaponry gives them cause to exercise their discretion.

PT
Alexis
player, 524 posts
Tue 14 Nov 2006
at 03:09
  • msg #99

Re: Girls in the City

As we walk I study the area.  Stopping at a newstand to pick up a copy of the local english paper as well as several magazines particualrly those pertaining to Superheros.  I smile at the Ice Cream vendor.  Ice cream sounds good but I really couldn't eat another bite so I shake my head and walk on.  I look over at Misty   " So so you want to go back and see the guy at the pawn shop?  Or maybe we should take a look through these.  Who knows maybe we can find other prospects."

I study the covers of the magazines.  Soem of the costumes these people wear are just ridiculous.  "Oh and I'd really like to find another hotel.  Preferably one with internet access or what they have that passes for that here."
Misty
player, 961 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Tue 14 Nov 2006
at 06:31
  • msg #100

Re: Girls in the City

I thought about Lexi's suggestions.  We need to get set up in a new place.  I like your idea about getting these magazines.  It seems like a good way to do a bit of research.  In addition to the stories about the supers, there should be related ads, too.

I lookd wistfully at the ice cream vendor.  A couple of scoops of chocolate ice cream sounded delicious, but if I ate another bite, I'd probably explode.  Let's get to work.
Playtester
GM, 3775 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Wed 15 Nov 2006
at 00:01
  • msg #101

Re: Girls in the City

You both go hunting for hotels in the downtown area near Chinatown.  Your first three prospects are as follows:  1)The Lady Halston Towers which was in the 1950's THE Hotel.  Its been upgraded since then a number of times, but it could use another upgrade.  It has Internet, bellmen, grand lobby with reproductions of classical art...  and $150 a night.  2) Hotel Escheria which is very confusing to find your way around, and it has an indoor Olympic swimming pool/waterpark, small ferris wheel, garden at the bottom of the atrium, five floors of shopping near the ground, and the cheapest suite goes for $300 a night.  Penthouse is 2,000 a night.  3)Green Hall Hotel tries to disguise it, but its a very large 'room in a box' no personality, no style, but brand-new hotel.  Rooms start at $80 a night.

You have the major supers mags.  WoVillainy deals with supervillains.  Its lead article is "Is Dr. Z on the side of the Dark?"  which is an inquiry into the morally complex life of the 'world's greatest genius (tm)'.  Ubermenschen discusses whether Mentum, Master of Mentalism or Sunstar the power-armoured flinger of plasma is stronger in its lead article.  Supermagazine has advice on how to meet your favorite superbeing.  Some of the advice sounds downright hazardous. Combat Doings seems to attempt to cover all known and suspected superfights in the last month, and give blow by blow accounts of them.  It also has lists of "Most Dangerous" and advertisements along the lines of "Visionary inventor seeks bold partner for a science experiment."  Superset seems devoted to gossip, the more improbable the better about various superbeings.

PT
Alexis
player, 525 posts
Thu 16 Nov 2006
at 05:01
  • msg #102

Re: Girls in the City

As we leave the last hotel I look towards Misty.  "My vote so far goes to the first hotel we saw.  I like that it has internet access.  Hopfully my laptop will be compatible and we can get some more info. "

When we stop on a corner I leaf through one of the magazines looking at the ads for anything about enhancements etc.  Do you want to go back to that pawn shop pr look and see if we can find other options first?"
Misty
player, 962 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Thu 16 Nov 2006
at 05:47
  • msg #103

Re: Girls in the City

I weighed our options before I answered Lexi.  I like the first hotel, too.  Before we head back to the pawnshop though, let's see what this place has for a local version of Yellow Pages.

I thought about the display of hardware we were wearing and those guy's reactions to our appearance.  And maybe we could tone down our hardware display.  That might make us blend in a little better.
Playtester
GM, 3789 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 17 Nov 2006
at 03:38
  • msg #104

Re: Girls in the City

After checking in to the Lady Halston Towers, and getting a suite on the third floor, you find the Green Pages which has what you're looking for.  Its almost intimidating seeing the hundreds of pawn shops listed in the Green Pages.

Although Tortoise has a nice large display add.

There is a safe in the room to store your valuables in.  The suite has internet access, and once you hook up, you find your laptop doesn't like the local protocols.  It keeps returning "Page Not Found" or bizarre errors like when you look for "Pawn Shop" it returns with "Shrimp Boats for sale".  You also receive various bits of advice like "If you wish to access this site, you need to download Speedzi 4.1".

The TV is a nice LCD screen, 42 ", and there is a radio, and a fridge, microwave, coffee maker, two queen sized beds, couch, table, AC/Heater, bunch of lamps, Gideon Bible in the nightstand, a small rack of pamphlets advertising various sites in the City, a cheap map, and another small bar filled with small bottles of very expensive wine and liquor.

The TV show currently playing has a list of superfights in the City.  The major one seems to have been between Magma and Dreamweaver.  They show a clip of it, with what looks to you a very uncertain young girl walking out waving a paintbrush, and causing huge chunks of ice to form around a guy covered in flame.  There's also an interview with Twilight.

"Did you catch him?" Reporter.
"No. Go away." Twilight looking grim as she steps back into shadow.
"Did anyone help you?" Reporter.
"Yes, two new superheroes. One almost killed the creep.  My kind of person."
"Don't you think your violence just creates more violence?" New reporter.
"Oh, do shut up." Twilight then dissappears.

PT
Alexis
player, 526 posts
Fri 17 Nov 2006
at 12:12
  • msg #105

Re: Girls in the City

I keep fiddling with my computer while we talk about our options.  I try to get to the site to download Speedz4.1 and see what the requirements are for it.  I also try a few other keywords like augmetations, superpowers, as well as anything that might get me any local information like the name of the city etc..

I look up at the TV screen periodically.  "Are those green pages yeilding anything helpful?"
Playtester
GM, 3794 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 17 Nov 2006
at 20:01
  • msg #106

Re: Girls in the City

The Speedzi download works.  This enables you to find a few more sites.  Then you get a request to download another file.

Portjump 2.4.

You do find the name of the City.

"Northgate City".  Looking at the map, it looks to be roughly in the same location at NYC, but its larger, and Northgate has a better harbor.  Also, there is no Boston, although Brothertown does exist on the same coast.

PT
Misty
player, 963 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Fri 17 Nov 2006
at 23:27
  • msg #107

Re: Girls in the City

Lexi, there are a lot of pawnshops listed in the Green Pages.  Our first contact here has a good ad.  I'll look under Organizations, Superheroic and Laboratories, Research to see if there is anything we can use.  We're going to need some kind of wheels, too.  I wonder how difficult it is to get a license.

I thought about meeting my other self in the 1930's jump.  I also reflected on how I had to create another identity to avoid calling attention to my other, other self in Brasilia.

Lexi, if you can get that magic box working with the local net, try these searches.  Misty Reynolds, Null, Void, and your name.  I've met myself in other worlds.  It would be good to know where we stand in this one.
Alexis
player, 527 posts
Sat 18 Nov 2006
at 00:40
  • msg #108

Re: Girls in the City

At the city site I look at things like shopping, dining, local events etc.  To get a feel for the city and the society of this world.  I also punch up shopping and click on a few sites to see what is prominate on the front pages.  Get an idea of what this society deems important.

"Good idea Misty."  I look up the information Misty suggested and then looked at the website for that  Portjump 2.4. file to see what exactly it is.
Playtester
GM, 3800 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Sat 18 Nov 2006
at 03:29
  • msg #109

Re: Girls in the City

Shopping possibilities are endless ranging from street vendors to several markets to underground clothing stores to sales at the end of the dock to  expensive and class department stores to tiny little boutiques where 'vistors are not welcome without an appointment.

There is almost no college level or higher sports.

Two days from now they are having a Hawaiaan luau in the main public park of the city.

The City likes ambition and driven efforts to achieve goals.  ON the other hand, it has super heros who tend to be altruistic.

Misty you find the Daedalus Corporation, and also something known as the John Q. Verser Foundation.

On the Net you find no Misty Reynolds, but you do find a Misty Lancer with teh other key words.  There is an Alexus, and a Mr. Null, but no Void.

PT
Misty
player, 964 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sat 18 Nov 2006
at 16:33
  • msg #110

Re: Girls in the City

I don't know how long I stared at the printed entry in the directory.  I can't even tell you if I was breathing.  I probably was, but I can't prove it.  Uhhh...  Lexi, there is a group listed calling themselves the John Q. Verser Foundation.  I looked at her.  Verser, Lexi, maybe as in people like us.  Do they have a website?
Alexis
player, 528 posts
Sat 18 Nov 2006
at 22:39
  • msg #111

Re: Girls in the City

My fingers stop typing and I just stare at Misty sort of stunned.  "You're kidding!"  But at the look om her face I could see she wasn't.  Suddenly I snap out of it and look back to my computer.  I type the name in the keyword box and hit enter.  I stare at the screen hardly breathing  while I wait for the results to come up.
Playtester
GM, 3803 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Mon 20 Nov 2006
at 19:08
  • msg #112

Re: Girls in the City

Its a quick search.

You're still getting odd spats of uncooperativeness from the local Net, but this site comes up smoothly.

Its first comment in a pop-up add is "May we reccomend the Varitech 1.4 download?  It smooths over many issues with incompatible OS  structures which we detect in your computational system, and other issues.  Its available for 999.99$ or for free for Fellows of the Foundation."

Then you get to the site proper.

==============================================================================

The John Q. Verser Foundation was funded by philanthropist Michael D. Vars in an attempt to provide solace for his 'kindred'.  We encourage anyone who understands the meaning of "Naga World, Umak Tek, Robocafe's on Skyhooks, Menlo Park University of the Versing Arts, ^*)_)%$, Scriff, The Mountain of Ice, The Wall at the End of Time," or other relevant issues to apply in person at 10 Multidimensional Way between the hours of nine and six Monday through Friday.

In the midst of the words is some script you're not familiar with.

The foundation also offers grants in the study of transcultural issues, and the design of survival gear, and multidimensional physics.

There is a picture of a man.  He's blonde, with pale blue eyes, and frankly he looks on the edge of violence.  He looks like someone you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley unless he was on your side.  He's photographed sitting next to a large wolf with the both of them on top of a Humvee-type vehicle.

"Michael Di Vars passed untimely from this world in 2004. We miss his guiding presence. However, we continue his mission."--The Board of Directors.

There's also a "Translate" button, and curious you press it.  Up comes a list of over seventy languages.  Some such "Russe" and "Hindi" sound interesting; some such as "Karvechian" and "Cantonese One" and "Cantonese Four" sound odd; and "Kanji script Latin", "Low Tongue of the Lekostian Star Empire", and "High Elven" sound bizarre.

PT
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:16, Mon 20 Nov 2006.
Alexis
player, 529 posts
Tue 21 Nov 2006
at 00:50
  • msg #113

Re: Girls in the City

I stare at the screen reading everything quickly.  My eyes widen at the words I'm seeing.  "Uh..Misty I think you may want to read this yourself."  I turn the computer so she can see the screen. After giving her a few mintues to look at the site I blurt out "Well what do yout think?"
Misty
player, 965 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Tue 21 Nov 2006
at 01:10
  • msg #114

Re: Girls in the City

I read the screen.  Then I read it again. And then I read it a third time.  It kept saying the same thing.  According to this screen, Michael D. Vars, whoever he is, has evidently set up a foundation for versers.  Either this is some kind of very impractical joke or...  maybe a trap.  I don't know for sure, Lexi.  There are two ways to look at it.  One, this is on the level.  Two, this is a trap.  Either way, we need to go and find out.
Alexis
player, 530 posts
Tue 21 Nov 2006
at 01:23
  • msg #115

Re: Girls in the City

I turn the screen and read the screen again.  Then I print out the inportant information..address, phone number etc. save the site and close down my computer.  Then I put it back in my pack.  "Yes we do.  Shall we go now?  It may not be open right now but we can at least check the place out."
Misty
player, 967 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Tue 21 Nov 2006
at 02:11
  • msg #116

Re: Girls in the City

Maybe we should wait until business hours.  This Vars character may have been a verser, but the Board of Directors aren't.  They don't know that we aren't good at keeping banker's hours.

I thought about how long it had been since we had some down time.  I thought about weapons which needed cleaning.  I thought about laundry which needed to be done.  I thought about a takedown rifle which I needed to learn inside and out.  I wasn't ready to meet anyone else just yet.

Why don't we wait until morning?  Tonight, we can take care of some little things which we've let slide like weapon maintenance and laundry.  Tomorrow, we can get a good breakfast and be there when the place opens.  Maybe we can even call ahead so they will be expecting us.
Playtester
GM, 3816 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 21 Nov 2006
at 14:59
  • msg #117

Re: Girls in the City

The hotel sends up an energetic, young guy with a bright smile who promises to have your clothes cleaned and pressed, and either waiting on a rack outside your door, or to have them waiting in the laundry for when you call in the morning.

The weird thing for Alexis is that she remembers him from the community college classes she was taking in London.  And he does have a faint British accent.

After he leaves, you take out the newspaper on top of the TV, and spread it out on the beds and the floor.  On top, go the guns, and so while you too watch tv, and talk of your plans, you spend a couple hours cleaning.

The next morning is breakfast in the hotel buffet of sliced up fruit of eleven kinds, and made to order omelletes produced by a lady who alternately sucks on her coffee, yawns discreetly, and flips an omellette, and then repeats the cycle.

An hour later, you are walking into a small office on the bottom floor of a ten-story building on the north side of downtown.  You had to take an alternate route because last night a chunk of the freeway got torn up in a superfight.

The receptionist, an older woman, perhaps sixty dressed in a fuschia business suit, looks up at you with a look that is severe at base, but she has a restrained smile.

"This is the John Q. Verser Foundation.  How may I help you?"

PT
Alexis
player, 531 posts
Wed 22 Nov 2006
at 04:54
  • msg #118

Re: Girls in the City

With the knowledge that my weapons are clean and well lubed and having a good breakfast under my belt I walk out to the cab in a pretty good mood.  By the time I walk into the tiny office though I need to take a minute to gather my thoughts.  I have never seen that kind of distruction outside of the movies before.

As we passed the tore up freeway I looked over at Misty and I think we both silently agreed that we definately need some type of upgrades ASAP.

I smile at the woman behind the desk and after swallowing the lump in my throat I speak to her. "Hello.  We'd like to talk to someone in charge."
Misty
player, 968 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Wed 22 Nov 2006
at 13:20
  • msg #119

Re: Girls in the City

I felt better than I had in a while.  Everything I owned was clean and ready for use.  I even had the time to get familiar with my new takedown rifle.  I had eaten a good breakfast.  Life is good.  Since nobody seemed to mind around here, I had decided to wear the full weapon loadout, both the shoulder rig and weapons belt.

I made a mental note to try to find some kevlar/nomex/spandex composite jumpsuits.  If any world would have them, this one would.  Body armor would go a long way to increase our survivability.  It wouldn't make a dime's worth of difference against something which could rip up chunks of freeway, but it could make a difference when going up against more mundane opponents.

The building was nice.  The reception area was small.  The battleaxe receptionist looked well... good at her job.  That all made sense.  How many nutjobs a day would drop in and claim to be travellers among dimensions.  You wouldn't want them visiting your main building.  You would want to meet them initially at a small neutral area, then take them to see your operation after the new guys check out.  You would want a "strong-willed" person at the front desk to separate the wheat from the chaff.  I'm really not sure what chaff is, but I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't want it in my wheat, if I had any wheat.

Yes, we would like to learn a bit more about your Foundation, Ma'am.  We looked at your web site and we are interested in what you do.
Playtester
GM, 3818 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Wed 22 Nov 2006
at 16:46
  • msg #120

Re: Girls in the City

"I'm in charge of handling the initial interviews, helping explain and receive grant proposals, and charity requests. My name is Mrs. Joanne Walters."  She gestures for you two to take some seats. "We have a library, a very good one on a number of esoteric topics, for accepted researchers and for Fellows as they are called, even if female, or other, of the Foundation.  You'll pardon me, I hope, but you two don't look like academics.  We also offer Life Grants for certified 'versers', 'gatesmen', or 'worldwalkers'.  If you wish to apply for a grant for study on a topic, here's Form A; for access to the library Form B; for charity Form C although I warn you, the only charities we currently support is the Policemen's Benevolent Association, and the Temple of the Way of the Sword."  Her mouth purses slightly in some disaproval. "Or Form D which is for application as 'Fellows requesting a Life Grant' to the Foundation."

She holds up each of the forms, and waits for your decision.

"Each form will not be seen by me, but will be run into the local computer system, and graded according to criteria which I am not privy too."

Looking over the Forms from A-D with E being an Other Request Form (basically a blank sheet of paper) you see a standard job application for the first for an academic; for the second a listing of papers written, and a space for explaining why you need the particular topics (outdoor survival, transcultural, etc....) this library is known for; the next bluntly states that Michael Di Vars is a worshipper of the Norse gods, and so most requests for charity will be rejected automatically although generosity is a requirement of his religion; and the last gets into some very odd questions.

Most of them rather vague or strange like

What does orange grass mean to you?
If you ate in a robocafe' what could you order?
What is a 'sawtooth snap'?
Can you find your own quarter no matter where it is hidden?
 *^__%^&$)_++^&%$^^ Means what?
Are you dreaming?
What were the last five presidents of your country? Were they presidents, or premiers? What was your country's name?
Did the South win the Civil War?
If I were to connect a Positronic Delay Field to the Temporal Distorter on a Stutter Drive, what would be the result?
What happens when you suffer a terminal wound?
Have you ever been killed?  More than once?

PT
Misty
player, 969 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Thu 23 Nov 2006
at 04:28
  • msg #121

Re: Girls in the City

I looked at the form D.  This looked as complicated as Chinese Algebra.  I decided to try something else.  Don't you have a little scanning gizmo to detect scriff in our bloodstreams?  After all, you can tell a Jedi's power level with a blood test.  All these test answers can prove is that some people can be creative liars.  Why don't you just do a test?

Then, I had an idea.  I took a few deep breaths to center myself.  I decided to try to read the woman's surface thoughts.  If there was a test available, maybe she would be thinking about it and maybe I could pick those thoughts up.
Playtester
GM, 3834 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Thu 23 Nov 2006
at 04:42
  • msg #122

Re: Girls in the City

You reach out with your mind barely making contact.

*scriff scanners...Doctor Morris is working a hundred kay grant to develop those.  Too bad, it would make my job easier.*

"No such devices." She says.  "As I understand it, some of these answer require specifics, and others are more in the 'how do you answer it' rather than a specific answer.  However, if you are unable to answer these in some fashion, then I'm afraid there is not much I can do for you."

*Ha, just another pair of frauds. And here I thought they were the real thing.  Shows my instincts are getting rusty.*

PT
Misty
player, 970 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Thu 23 Nov 2006
at 05:25
  • msg #123

Re: Girls in the City

Scriff scanners would make your job easier, I agree.  I'm sure that the good Doctor Morris will use his hundred kay wisely while developing a prototype device.

I smiled.  We are versers, not frauds.  We will fill out the forms, since the scanner isn't ready just yet.  I sat down to go to work on the form.

What does orange grass mean to you?  If you are in the Bethany System, that the grass was probably edible.
If you ate in a robocafe' what could you order?  Whatever the other organics were eating.
What is a 'sawtooth snap'?  I have no idea, but it sounds painful.
Can you find your own quarter no matter where it is hidden?  Always.
 *^__%^&$)_++^&%$^^ Means what?  I don't know that language.
Are you dreaming?  Not this time around.
What were the last five presidents of your country?  Were they presidents, or premiers?  G.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, G.H.W. Bush, Ronnie Reagan, and Jimmy Peanut...  err... Carter were all Presidents.  What was your country's name?  The United States of America.
Did the South win the Civil War?  Not in my original timeline.
If I were to connect a Positronic Delay Field to the Temporal Distorter on a Stutter Drive, what would be the result?  I have no idea.  All I got to work on was maintenance robots.
What happens when you suffer a terminal wound?  It usually hurts a lot and I wake up somewhere else.
Have you ever been killed?  Yes, I have.  More than once?  Oh, yeah.
Playtester
GM, 3840 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Thu 23 Nov 2006
at 20:46
  • msg #124

Re: Girls in the City

The secretary feeds the sheet into a slot on the wall, and then she starts to say "We Wai...".

Suddenly a door on the right opens, and beyond that you see a small lobby, and an elevator door open.

"Welcome to the Foundation, Fellows.  If I can be of assistance in the future, please just use the intercom on Line One."  Mrs. Walters says with a greater degree of respect, and a small nod of the head.

"You won't need keys as the building will recognize you."

PT
Playtester
GM, 3844 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Thu 23 Nov 2006
at 21:13
  • msg #125

Re: Girls in the City

OOC: Of course, I'd love to see Alexis' responses to these questions as well.

PT
Alexis
player, 532 posts
Fri 24 Nov 2006
at 02:16
  • msg #126

Re: Girls in the City

I sit down next to Misty and fill out my form as well.


What does orange grass mean to you? Hmm....My idea on the last world must not have worked.
If you ate in a robocafe' what could you order? Something full of every kind of vitamins and minerals needed for survival but has no flavor just like everything else there.
What is a 'sawtooth snap'?  Fortunately I haven't found out yet.  With any luck I won't.
Can you find your own quarter no matter where it is hidden? Of course...always
 *^__%^&$)_++^&%$^^ Means what? Don't know...I haven't learned that lauguage yet.
Are you dreaming? Not this time.
What were the last five presidents of your country? Were they presidents, or premiers? G.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, G.H.W. Bush, Ronnie Reagan, and Jimmy Carter were all Presidents.   What was your country's name?  U.S.A.
Did the South win the Civil War?  In which timeline?
If I were to connect a Positronic Delay Field to the Temporal Distorter on a Stutter Drive, what would be the result?  Man there's a lot of stuff I haven't experienced yet....Wonder if that's good or bad?
What happens when you suffer a terminal wound?  I open my eyes and pray that this world is a lot nicer to me.
Have you ever been killed?  Yes  More than once?  Yes

I watch her slide our papers through the slot and prepare to wait.  I stare in surprise as the door open suddenly to reval a lobby and open elevator. I look at Misty and then walk through the door.  Pausing breifly I glance around the small lobby and give the building time to recognize me then I procede to the elevator and step inside.  I turn to face the door hoping Misty is with me.

If she's not there yet I look for and put my finger on the door open button to hold them open for Misty.  If there is no button I will lay my hand against the door to keep it open.

If she is with me I will step to the side so we can both see the control panel. (Given there is one).
Misty
player, 971 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Fri 24 Nov 2006
at 02:50
  • msg #127

Re: Girls in the City

The "Welcome, Fellows" speech took me by surprise.  I was just about to ask if there was a coffee shop nearby where we could wait for the results.  Lexi was ahead of me, since I had slipped my pop quiz through the slot, then stepped back to give her access to the paper portal.

I wondered if they had a PSI-detector running and that is what got us past the receptionist.  There certainly wasn't enough time to evaluate our responses.  Maybe there was a high level telepath reading our surface thoughts as we filled out the forms, just as I had touched Mrs. Walters after asking her about a blood testing device to see what she was thinking.  Maybe they didn't need to see the forms because they already knew that the questions were answered truthfully.  Maybe I'll never know the real answer.  Maybe I need to switch to decaf.

I thanked Mrs. Walters for her help and followed Lexi into the elevator.   We're in, Lexi.  I wonder if this place offers an orientation tour for new Fellows.
Playtester
GM, 3849 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 24 Nov 2006
at 22:21
  • msg #128

Re: Girls in the City

The knee-bending express elevator shoots you to the top of the ten floor building, and the doors open onto a pleasant suite which is decorated with a definite masculine color scheme and swords and axes arrayed on the walls.

In the midst is a translucent man who looks  similar to the picture of Michael Di Vars.

"I'm the orientation program, test evaluator, and janitor. Welcome to the Foundation, versers.  My name is Varsai, as in Artificial Intelligence based on my namesake's personality, at least in part.  However, I'm considerably more patient and respectful than Di Vars.  For one thing, I don't shoot people for asking dumb questions."

He bows.

"How may I assist you?"

PT
Misty
player, 972 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sat 25 Nov 2006
at 03:55
  • msg #129

Re: Girls in the City

*Note to self: Be nice to real Michael Di Vars.*

I looked at Lexi.  There are so many things we could use, ultra-tech items, new skills, a free roof over our heads...  The problem is that we don't know what this place even does.  We did have a way to find out, though.

Lexi, are you interested in taking the deluxe orientation tour?
Alexis
player, 533 posts
Sat 25 Nov 2006
at 12:22
  • msg #130

Re: Girls in the City

I wasn't sure what was running through Misty's head, but I'm pretty sure we were thinking about the same things...contacts, better equipment, etc.  I'm pretty impressed with the place so far.  But I learned a world or two back never to take anything at face value.

I'm looking around the room taking mental notes and trying to gather my thoughts when Misty speaks up.  I nod my agreement "Sounds like a great idea." I turn my attention to the transparent Michael Di Vars.  "Do you have one of those?"
Playtester
GM, 3856 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Sat 25 Nov 2006
at 16:20
  • msg #131

Re: Girls in the City

"Of course. This is the main living room. Over here, and here are secret buttons which pop out a sawed off shotgun and a hydraulic punch knife."

The colors are dark green, black leather, and several shades of brown relieved by the glint of steel from the axes on the walls.

"To your right is the door to the master bedroom with a king-size bed, and a bathroom with jacuzzi."

You step in, ooh and ahh a bit, and he points out the hidden weapons as well.

Going counterclockwise in the living room, he points to the guest bedroom which has a queen bed, and a bath as well, but no jacuzzi.

Further along, at twelve o'clock is a large balcony which gives you a very good look at downtown.

At ten o'clock is the doorway to the islanded kitchen with the stove, grilltop, and vented chimney so that you can cook with charcoal if you like.  It also has a laser bbq device that according to Varsia can make drop off the bone ribs in eight minutes.  There are no hidden weapons in here since di Vars felt the assortment of twenty knives was enough.

At eight o'clock from the entrance to the living room is the office which has computer, net link, desk, and a dart board with darts.

And then he 'walks' over to the lamp in the center of the room, and pulls on a third cord.  A trapdoor drops open, and stairs extend themselves downward.

On the ninth floor, below is a small gym with parallel bars, a 'horse', rings, uneven bars, a swimming pool deep enough to dive into from a three meter board, punching bags of various sorts including one that looks like its at least five hundred pounds, and a set of free weights which extends up into the two thousand pound range.

"That was Di Vars personal punching bag." Varsai says.  "We have three suites which are virtually identical.  The other two are not in use at this time.  Its up to you  if you wish to share one or not.  Please leave out a list of groceries you'd like me to have delivered, and also make a list of any personal rules you'd like me to observe.  If they do not conflict with my directives, I will attempt to follow them.  Some people are uncomfortable with my presence, and simply ask me to stay out all the time, others do differently.  Note, that while legally I am not a person in Northgate City, any attempt to violate my code or physical computing structure will be met with extreme force.  My designer was a strong believer in the right of self-defence."

PT
Alexis
player, 534 posts
Sun 26 Nov 2006
at 04:37
  • msg #132

Re: Girls in the City

I follow him around checking everything out.  My jaw dropping a little more with each room we enter.  The thought runs through my head that this is just to good too be true.  They surely ask more out us than that we are versers for all this stuff.

I look over at our guide. "Now I know you're not expecting any complaints.   I mean what is there to complain about.  But I do have a couple of questions.  First just what exactly are you guys expecting to get from us in return for all of this? And second it seems I need something called the Varitech 1.4 on my computer to help with my incompatible OS structures.  The ad I saw for it said it was free to Fellows of the Foundation. Are you the person I need to see to get it?  Uh given we accept your offer that is."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:55, Sun 26 Nov 2006.
Playtester
GM, 3857 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Sun 26 Nov 2006
at 05:37
  • msg #133

Re: Girls in the City

Varsia pauses, and you see his body freeze in place.  And then flicker in and out of view as the hologram deteriorates.  Then he snaps back into his regular mode of operation.

"I'm sorry.  You caused me to utilize a rather heavy processing cycle use program in which I attempted to figure out how Di Vars would respond to that."

He clears his throat, and then writes in the air.  Glowing letters appear in the air.

1. You are a verser. You are not getting the right perspective. Consider, you are immortal, and will over the next thousands of years very possibly rule solar systems, be worshipped as goddesses, and so forth.  Money is a very minor game that is of concern mostly to the immature, and inexperienced.  Once you've made your first billion, or passed two hundred years, you won't concern yourself with it very much.

Varsai winces a bit.  "Di Vars is blunt."

2. If you still feel in debt then you might help out another verser on the way.  For me, this is one way, I help out my kindred.  In a number of worlds, I've left a place where a verser can find solace.  Of course, in a near infinite multiverse, most worlds haven't ever seen me, let alone had me put a Watering Hole in them.

3. If you truly wish to repay me, then at the End of Time, at Ragnarok when the Twilight War is fought, and Odin with all the gods fight against the giants and the forces of Chaos, you can stand at my side, and fight the Last Battle.  Of course, the good guys lose, but you can't have everything.

PT
Misty
player, 974 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sun 26 Nov 2006
at 13:41
  • msg #134

Re: Girls in the City

Lexi asked the question which I was going to ask.  I didn't like part of the answer.  I didn't think that being concerned over whether you could cover the price of your next meal and a roof over your head was immature, but then I didn't have that many worlds behind me, either.  Lexi, I think we have our place to stay while in Northgate City.

I looked at Varsai.  What other services can you offer besides free room and board?  We need to replace supplies and upgrade our equipment.  If possible, we could also use some biomechanical augmentation.  We've been ending up in a lot of heavy combat situations lately and having an edge for a change would be a good thing.
Playtester
GM, 3863 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Sun 26 Nov 2006
at 19:25
  • msg #135

Re: Girls in the City

Varsai blinks, and again goes into heavy processor use.

"We don't supply other than room, board, and the library to most versers. Other supplies such as survival gear or bionics and so forth are the responsibility of the verser, although we do have some good advisers who may offer counsel if asked. However to some, who who are foung worthy, after passing a secret test, the Foundation offers a suit of light powered armor.  Unfortunately, it was not considered that two versers so worthy might appear at the same time, and so the Foundation only has one.  An oversight on the part of the founder."

He turns, and points.

A section of the floor raises to head-high, and hanging in the midst of four supporting metal columns is a suit of partial body armor.

"I will leave it up to you two which receives this one.  After six weeks, we will have another finished being prepared by the techs at Daedalus Corporation.  If you wish me to decide, I can."

He also mentions that Varitech is a OS add-on designed to make assimilating to alternate OS and Net protocols easier.  It will slow down your computer since its an intensive use of memory program, but its been tested in over a dozen different universes with positive results.  However, even it has limits.  It is for example unable to interface with Dar Koni computer systems.

PT
OOC: When I designed this world, this Foundation only had one armor.  Now I have to go look up the world setting to see what this armor did.
Alexis
player, 535 posts
Mon 27 Nov 2006
at 01:11
  • msg #136

Re: Girls in the City

I walk over and look over the suit. It's fantastic.  At least it's some of the best tech stuff I've seen in a while.  I look up at Misty. "Your the combat specialist of us two you should wear it."
Misty
player, 975 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Mon 27 Nov 2006
at 01:54
  • msg #137

Re: Girls in the City

I followed Lexi over to see the suit.  The armor was very nice.  I don't have any experience at this kind of thing, but it did look well crafted.  I heard Lexi say that I should wear the suit.  I don't think so.

Lexi, I agree that I am a bit more familiar with combat than you are, but you are catching up very quickly.  That is why you should wear this suit.  I can always kick in my nanos for a bit of an edge.  You need this edge.  If you had been wearing this suit when the spaceship fell out of the sky, you could have gotten away from it in time.  If you had been wearing this suit when we were rabbits, we could have kicked the Vulture Squadron's tails.
Alexis
player, 536 posts
Mon 27 Nov 2006
at 02:31
  • msg #138

Re: Girls in the City

I lokk at the suit again and then back to Misty.  I don't know...I don't feel right taking it and leaving you without."  I thought about what she said.  It sure would have made the difference many times in my versing experiences.  I sigh in acceptance amd give Misty a smile.  I guess this means we are accepting their great offer huh?"  I glance around the place again.  It sure beats our present accomodations doesn't it?"
Misty
player, 976 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Mon 27 Nov 2006
at 10:50
  • msg #139

Re: Girls in the City

You are not leaving me without a suit.  You are just getting the one that is here.  I will be getting the one that is to be delivered later.  I smiled at Lexi.  Besides, I'm still going to try get us some kevlar/nomex/spandex composite body armor catsuits, which would go great with our armors.

Then I remembered that we were being watched and probably recorded by our host.  Varsai, we have some interesting journeys.  Do you request that travellers like us record entries of our visits for other versers to this library?  Also, since you have some connections to this high-tech Daedalus Corporation, could you get us an appointment?  I've got an electrical pain regulator they might be interested in purchasing for reverse engineering and production.
Playtester
GM, 3875 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 28 Nov 2006
at 03:37
  • msg #140

Re: Girls in the City

Alexis, the suit fits on you with a bit of extra weight.  At first its clunky, and then it adjusts itself to fit.  Still its heavy...and then you hear a faint hum.  Suddenly you feel light, almost buoyant.

Varsai smiles and directs you to lift the couch by one end with your weaker arm.

Skeptical, but hopeful, you bend over, and tilt the couch up at a forty-five degree angle.

"Your right arm is about 420 pounds, and your left is about 405 pounds benchpress, I would estimate, unless you have an inhuman physiology, with the suit on."

"We do have a Library which contains among other items of interest some logbooks by various versers.  We welcome, but do not require you to add to this collection via means of audiotapes, video recordings, e-files or books."

He pauses. "Its best if you contact the secretary for the appointment, or make it yourself. I'm sure they would be willing to talk to you.  I don't choose to make electronic contact with the Daedalus Corporation. They are rather curious about what makes me tick, and I've had to remove a couple infestations of spyware they sent me.  It was not malicious, but I value my privacy."

PT
Alexis
player, 538 posts
Tue 28 Nov 2006
at 12:18
  • msg #141

Re: Girls in the City

I stand there holding up the couch grinning. "Very nice.  You're gonna like yours when you get it Misty." I heft the couch up and down a few times just for the heck of it and then I put it down.  I walk around getting used to the feel of it.  I start looking aver all the buttons and mechanisms.  "Is there manual for it?  You know something that will tell me things like how to recharge it, how to use and reload the weapons and maybe how to make repairs or general maintenance."
Misty
player, 978 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Tue 28 Nov 2006
at 13:43
  • msg #142

Re: Girls in the City

I'm sure that I will.  I watched Lexi play with the suit for a minute or two.  She looked as if she was getting the hang of the suit.  I smiled as she asked for the suit's documentation.  Lexi is always thinking.  That is one of the reasons why she is such a good partner.

I picked up the phone and dialed one on the intercom to get the receptionist.  Once she answered, I asked her to make an appointment for us as soon as possible at the Daedalus Corporation to offer them a piece of advanced medical equipment.
Playtester
GM, 3885 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 28 Nov 2006
at 15:34
  • msg #143

Re: Girls in the City

Varsai points to two buttons.  One is on your forearm, and activates a holographic screen which then reads off the manual.  The other is a small black button on your right thigh.  It disconnects a bit of plating, and that allows you to retrieve a tightly rolled up forty page instruction manual.  Its on onion-skin paper.

The secretary asks a few clarifying and redundant questions, and then says she'll get right on it.

About an hour later, you receive a phone call from Daedalus.

"Hello, this is Doctor Peter Virzinskiy of the Medlab in Section C at the A-building.  I would be happy to entertain visitors today or tommorrow.  Just show up at the guard station at the front. I'm going to a scientific conference the day after that. Held in Bermuda. What I sacrifice for my work."  You can hear the laughter in his warm voice. "Also, um, yes, thank you for reminding me Stu, I understand that the owner, Mr. Daedalus would like to meet with you as well."

PT
Misty
player, 979 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Wed 29 Nov 2006
at 01:21
  • msg #144

Re: Girls in the City

I terminated the call and found that I had more questions than answers, not that that is so unusual these days.  Varsai, we need a heads-up on the Daedalus Corporation and its owner.  They want to talk with us and we need to know what we are getting into.  For example, what is The Foundation's relationship to them?  What is it that they do there?  What do they know about versing and other versers?  Have other versers gone there and what happened to them?  How do they feel about visitors being armed?

I turned to my partner.  Lexi, they want to take a look at a piece of excess gear I've been lugging around.  It could be worth enough to get both of us our upgrades.  Are you in?
Alexis
player, 539 posts
Wed 29 Nov 2006
at 03:44
  • msg #145

Re: Girls in the City

I look at the manual tightly rolled an stuff in it's little slot and opt for the holograph.  I'm not sure if once I unroll the Manual I would be able to get it back in there.  I push the button on my arm and stand there watching and listening to the instruction manual while Misty makes the call.

When she is finished with her call I turn off the hologram.  I can watch it again later and maybe Misty will want to view it too.  My brows furrow in concern when Misty starts firing off questions.  "Sure I'm in.  But the way you were firing off questions it sounds lik you have a question of whether or not to trust them."
Misty
player, 980 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Wed 29 Nov 2006
at 13:40
  • msg #146

Re: Girls in the City

I looked at my versing partner and best friend.  Lexi, in the entire Multi-Verse, there is only one person that I trust to have my backside covered, no matter what happens.
Playtester
GM, 3887 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Wed 29 Nov 2006
at 14:35
  • msg #147

Re: Girls in the City

"There is no particular relationship with them other than we have subcontracted out a few studies on survival gear to them.  Daedalus Corporation is one of the most advanced research and development companies in the world.  They have designed battle suits, genetic engineering templates, and examined alien devices for the government among other things.  As to the owner, what is publically known is that he is a Soviet defector, and it seems obvious to me that he was of significant rank."

He pauses.

"I am uncertan what they know about versers.  They have a very effective security and information control system with a private Spetsnaz level strike team.  Other versers have visited them, and indeed several years back, one verser got a job with them for some time."  He coughs, and rubs his immaterial chin. "I think they would not mind your carrying weapons.  But I would be uncertain of your ability to fight your way out if it came to that."

PT
Alexis
player, 540 posts
Thu 30 Nov 2006
at 12:30
  • msg #148

Re: Girls in the City

I smile at Varsai "Well I certianly have no plans on doing anything to make them want to shoot at us." I look down at my battle suit and back up. "I had thought about asking them about accessories and whatnot to go with my new suit.  Unless...Do suggest I don't?"

I look at Misty "When did they want to see us?"

"Oh Varsai, I think I'd like to download that Varitech add-on. Is there someone here who could take a look at my machine and make sure it's compatible. Who knows maybe they can suggest a better OS than the one I have."
Misty
player, 981 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Thu 30 Nov 2006
at 13:02
  • msg #149

Re: Girls in the City

They want to see us today or tomorrow.  After that, the guy we need to see will be out of town.  The owner also wants to meet us.  I smiled at Lexi.  Are you ready to meet the guy or do you want to do a bit of shopping first?

I had a thought.  In case anyone asked who we were, I doubted that anyone would accept any my papers.  Alexis was probably in the same shape.  Varsai, can the Foundation help us get some local id's?  Also, we would like to get one of the apartments you have.  We don't mind sharing.
Playtester
GM, 3901 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Thu 30 Nov 2006
at 17:08
  • msg #150

Re: Girls in the City

Varsai smiles at you, Alexis.

"I am an AI.  I'll be glad to poke around inside your machine, and make the upgrade. We might be able to sugggest other improvements to it as well."  He pauses, thinks, and then looks back at you. "I don't know enough to give you advice on whether to ask for help from Daedalus or not."

"Misty, ordinarily what we do for papers is go talk to Ambassador John Oakmaster.  If you wish false papers, I don't have the contacts with the criminal underworld to achieve this, but I am assured that it is quite possible, and the rates are quite reasonable.  I don't believe the Foundation would like to print you out a set of false papers, although we have the technical capacity, it would expose us to legal repercussions."

The apartment is yours for as long as you stay in this universe, or on this planet.

PT
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:50, Fri 26 Jan 2007.
Alexis
player, 541 posts
Fri 1 Dec 2006
at 04:50
  • msg #151

Re: Girls in the City

I think about what Misty asked for a minute.  Then with a shrug I answer.  "Either way is fine with me."

I walk over to a table and shrug my pack off my back.  Sitting it on the table I open it up and pull my computer out of it's compartment.  I open it and turn it on.  "Where should I hook this up so you can look it over for me?"
Misty
player, 983 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Fri 1 Dec 2006
at 06:40
  • msg #152

Re: Girls in the City

Lexi, let's get some type of plan going.  What do you say to setting up in the offered Foundation apartment, shopping for some business oriented clothing and maybe a little black dress and some matching slingbacks, then visiting the guys who made your armor to see if they are interested in buying stuff?  Is that a plan?

I called down to the receptionist to ask if she would try to set us up with an appointment to see Ambassador John Oakmaster in the next day or so to get some walking around papers.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:51, Fri 26 Jan 2007.
Playtester
GM, 3907 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 1 Dec 2006
at 17:14
  • msg #153

Re: Girls in the City

Varsai points out a small hatch on the wall that blends in well, and it pops open to reveal a baker's dozen of electrical and data relay outlets.  Its the matter of a minute to get your laptop plugged in, and humming.

"Great scott, but this is a terrible OS.  Kludge held together by rubber bands." You hear Varsai mutter as you walk away.

The Lady Halston Towers is amenable for a reasonable fee to sending your stuff over to the Foundation.  They offer this as a standard service.

A pair of little black dresses, slingback shoes, some purses, a new wallet, a bottle of "Super" perfume with the tag line "What all the superheroines wear in their secret identities", and a few other things complete your shopping trip at Mason's which is a high-end department store.

After that its a taxi ride to the south end of town where a huge A-frame building rises over a park with what looks like a small zoo and botanical gardens included.  The taxi parks about a quarter of a mile away at a guard shack.

"Twenty-five." He says sullenly, and you feel like you've been way overcharged.

The guard in the cute Swiss style shack takes your name, and gives you both arm bands.

"Feel free to wander in one of our golf carts until nightfall, or speak to the armband for direction for your appointment.  As long as the armband is green, you're fine.  If it turns yellow, turn around.  If for some reason, it turns red,"  He gives you both a serious look.  "I'd strongly advise putting my hands on my head, and remaining very still. Welcome to Daedalus."

PT
Alexis
player, 542 posts
Sat 2 Dec 2006
at 02:28
  • msg #154

Re: Girls in the City

I'm a little nervous about that little black dress.  Normally I like something that shows a little less leg.  But Misty said I look great in it so...  Well it was at the apartment now so there's no backing out of wearing when the time comes.

I'm snapped out of my thoughts when I hear the words $25.  I grimace at Misty. It seems awful high But what choice do we really have. So we pay the man and get out.  I stare at the armband the the guard gave us feeling more than a little uncomfortable being monitored.  But somehow I'm not surprised. I look back up at the guard. Um...do you have a map of the place?  Or something to show what areas are ok for us to look around in? I really don't want to see this thing turn red""
Misty
player, 984 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sat 2 Dec 2006
at 05:01
  • msg #155

Re: Girls in the City

As we got out of the cab I noticed the large A-frame building.  I thought that the Doctor was telling me to go to a building marked "A", not a building shaped like an "A".  Oh well.  At least we're here.

I dressed light for the occasion, at least light for me, jeans, t-shirt, jacket, crosstrainers.  I went with just the Glock and two spare mags in a shoulder rig.  It felt strange not having my weapon harness and equipment belt with me.  I did keep the Yankee's first aid kit with me clipped on my belt.  Most of the items were already used up, like the coagulator spray and the nanobot injector when I tried to help Lily.  There was still the pain killing unit, a small bottle of spray bandage, and a couple of other things, but as a functional whole, the kit was a goner.

I heard Lexi ask for a map of the place.  Nice touch.  I waited for the guards reply.  I just wanted to get a cart and get this show on the road.
Playtester
GM, 3912 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 5 Dec 2006
at 01:15
  • msg #156

Re: Girls in the City

The guard stares at you for a second, and then shakes his head with a mildly condescending smile.

"Lady, that is so TwenCen, so Twentieth Century, we're about building the future here.  All the stuff that the federal government won't release because they're too frightend of their own shadows is here now.  This is the future.  We manufacture it here."

He pauses, seeing your skepticism.

"Look, you can't get into a red area without passing through a yellow area first."  And then he pauses, and smirks.  "We hardly ever disintegrate visitors."  And then after ten seconds, he guffaws at his own joke.

PT
Alexis
player, 543 posts
Tue 5 Dec 2006
at 03:31
  • msg #157

Re: Girls in the City

I glared at the guard.  He has definately gotten on my bad side.  But after a few seconds I decide he's not worth the effort.  I turn away from the guard ready to head to a cart when Misty is. "Come on Misty let's go.  No use talking to him.  It's obvious why he was stuck out here."
Misty
player, 985 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Tue 5 Dec 2006
at 05:25
  • msg #158

Re: Girls in the City

I looked at Lexi.  Why was she getting so bent out of shape?  The rent-a-cop was just doing his job.  No matter how badly he was doing it, he was still trying to do the best that he could.  It wasn't his fault that the personality transplant didn't take.

Let's just go see this Doctor Peter Vir-zin-skee and get the meeting going.  We don't need to see the public relations displays, do we Lexi?  We need to see about getting enough do-ra-mi to get us the gear to which we'd like to become accustomed.  Right?
Alexis
player, 544 posts
Tue 5 Dec 2006
at 12:13
  • msg #159

Re: Girls in the City

I climbed into the passenger side of the cart and let Misty have the drivers seat. "You're right.  The public displays won't tell us what we want to know.  We might as well go right to the top."
Playtester
GM, 3919 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 5 Dec 2006
at 16:27
  • msg #160

Re: Girls in the City

You take the quickest path that you can find to the A-frame building.  You see a cotton candy vendor, and a screaming kid tugging at his stressed mother's arm amidst the small crowds.

"Cotton Candy! Cotton Candy! Cotton Candy!"

The main brick pathway, yellow, leads you past a fenced in area where some odd birds are walking about.

"Re-engineered Dodos." The white metal sign bolted to the high wire fence says.

And then its across a circle with a fountain in the center, and a giant steel statue of a man and a woman boldly stepping forward into one supposes the future with each carrying a rifle.  On one side of the fountain wall is inscribed the words "The right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed upon." and the section next says "Sic Semper Tyrannis."

And then you're at the front door where a doddering white haired old man, a guard, listens to your request a couple times until he gets it right.

Misty, you notice that the pair of gardeners that are clipping the bushes along the front of the building seem awfully fit, and are rather slow about clipping.  Instead, they seem to be spending more time looking about, and enjoying the pretty day.

But they do have very large gym bags at their feet.

A shadow passes overhead, and you see in the mirrored window of the door, a winged human, all black dropping toward you both.

PT
Misty
player, 986 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Tue 5 Dec 2006
at 17:08
  • msg #161

Re: Girls in the City

*Sic Semper Tyrannis...  Thus Always to Tyrants?*  What would the Virginia state motto from my home timeline be doing here?  Maybe it has something to do with their corporate philosophy in making weaponry.  As a potential customer, I hope so.

Those sec types couldn't be more obvious if the wore clown suits with blinking red noses.  The security chief must have been having a really bad day to come up with that one.  There were a lot of better ways to post security than that old play.

I saw the winged black shadow dropping in behind us.  *Crap!*  I kicked my adrino-booster into operation.  I dove to the side and fisted my Glock, shouting, Lexi!  Behind you!
Alexis
player, 545 posts
Wed 6 Dec 2006
at 01:02
  • msg #162

Re: Girls in the City

Sic Semper Tyrannis... Thus Always to Tyrants?  Why would they quote what John Wilkes Booth said?  Maybe I'll ask them inside.

I heard Misty yell just as I spotted him in the mirrored door.  I catch a glance of Misty diving to the side her hand going for her weapon as I am also diving to the side.  No time like the present to try out this suit.  I trigger the sonics.
Playtester
GM, 3926 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Wed 6 Dec 2006
at 17:20
  • msg #163

Re: Girls in the City

Alexis, your sonics hit him in the chest near the effective edge of their range, and he staggers in the air a bit.  But then he raises a black gauntletted hand, and Misty you are surprised when the trigger clicks as you fire a double-tap to his chest.

He falls out of the sky, but manages a staccato light blast into Misty's face.

Suddenly, you find your thoughts filled with ...

Peas Porridge Hot/ Peas Porridge Cold/ Peas Porridge in the Pot Nine Days Old  It then loops, and loops, and you can't remember your name, what you're doing, that you have a gun in your hand...

Alexis, you see the winged man in the black armor hit the ground heavy, but start moving slowly.  You look over at Misty, she's slumped awkwardly, sitting up, but canted off to the right, her gun dangling at the tip of a finger, and drool running down the side of her mouth while her eyes are unfocused.

PT
Misty
player, 987 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Wed 6 Dec 2006
at 20:51
  • msg #164

Re: Girls in the City

(No post.  Misty has temporarily left the building.)
Alexis
player, 546 posts
Thu 7 Dec 2006
at 03:26
  • msg #165

Re: Girls in the City

I keep my finger on the sonic trigger aiming at the man in black armor. "Unless you want to feel that sonic attack again at closer range you better stop where you are. We are here peaceably.  I have no wish to hurt anyone."
Playtester
GM, 3937 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 8 Dec 2006
at 15:27
  • msg #166

Re: Girls in the City

You hear a young man's voice, in some pain...

"Well, then why did you attack me?"

It takes a couple minutes, but you establish that this is Icarus, the son of the corporation president, Daedalus.  He was landing in the circle to walk into the building, and from his view got jumped.

After you explain your view, he nods.

"Okay, I see.  Its just, everyone here knows me.  I didn't even think someone wouldn't know me."

Misty, your 'loop' is starting to wear off about this time, and so you hear...

"So, I'm not sure who should apologize, and offer to buy some coffee for the other, but howz'about some coffee?"

He pulls off his helmet, and you see a guy with thick black hair, bright blue eyes, and a cute smile.  He smiles at you with a twinge of pain, but also confidence, as if he's used to girls saying 'yes'.  Of course, being young, rich, athletic, and handsome does wonders for the self-confidence...

"That offers goes to both of you.  Sorry about the nursery rhyme, but I figure its better than a laser blast to the chest."

PT
Misty
player, 990 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Fri 8 Dec 2006
at 15:52
  • msg #167

Re: Girls in the City

I leathered the Glock.  It only took me two tries.  I unsteadily got to my feet.  I don't know what this guy hit me with, but I wanted one.

He wasn't hard to look at with the armor off.  I've never been one for the preppy types, but I can see how some women go ga-ga over them.  I like them with some of the polish rubbed off.  Maybe the fact that he shot me had something to do with my lack of appreciation of his physical attributes.  Still, maybe we could get some information about this place we could use.  He had to have some connection to this place to be allowed to run around like that.  I could use a cup of coffee.  What about you, Alexis?

I looked at the guy in the armor.  Looks like you're buying.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:54, Fri 08 Dec 2006.
Alexis
player, 547 posts
Sat 9 Dec 2006
at 02:20
  • msg #168

Re: Girls in the City

I relax a little when the guy calms down.  As my senses settle and I can think beyond survival I realize who this is.  When he removes his helmit I can't help but be drawn to those eyes.  The brightest blue eyes I've ever seen.  He is a handsome man.

I move over to help Misty to her feet keeping an eye on the guy at the same time. I nod in agreement to their conversation. "Coffee sounds good."
Playtester
GM, 3951 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Mon 11 Dec 2006
at 15:12
  • msg #169

Re: Girls in the City

He takes you in to the executive coffee lounge where a white-suited waiter comes, takes your orders, and leaves.

"RHIP.  My father says a classless society can't exist, and trying to create one only ends up making a monster like Stalin.  He should know.  He says wealth and rank gives others something to strive for, and that its better to have it out in the open instead of hidden, although personally I prefer the regular coffee lounge, so I'm not sure how his theory applies to me.  Its more noisy, and more alive in there.  But I figure you all want a chance to catch your breath."

The room is dark wood, heavy furniture space with large glossy wood tables, and leather chairs.  It is a quarter-filled with quiet,  yet intense discussion about 'fusion nodules', 'appariatic modelling of semi-lucid...', and an arguement about who would win in a fight--Soliton or Dr. Z.  There is several 'suits', but most of the people look to fall under the category of 'uber-geek'.

His double chocolate whipped cream with a cherry and cinammon and four spoons of sugar comes back.  Your orders come back as well.

"The Icarus suit draws its energy from me, so as long as I fly a bit each day, I can eat a whole large pizza for dinner, and never gain a pound.  And I love to fly.  Have either of you ever been flying?"

PT
Misty
player, 993 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Tue 12 Dec 2006
at 02:43
  • msg #170

Re: Girls in the City

I take a sip of my selection, the closest brew that they had to one hundred percent Columbian coffee served black.  I couldn't help but wince when I heard his order.  He might have a nice set of flying armor, but I wouldn't walk across the street for him even if he was selling ten dollar bills for a dime.

I liked his justification for the unclassless society.  It must be really easy to justify the necessity for having a food chain when you are already at the top of that food chain.

Pretty Boy asked a question.  This coffee was good enough to pay for an answer.  I've been flying, but only by aircraft and starship.  By the way, I don't think I caught your name.
Playtester
GM, 3960 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 12 Dec 2006
at 03:27
  • msg #171

Re: Girls in the City

They have one hundred percent Columbian.  Its very smooth, and strong, and the fragrance is superb.

The waiter approves of your choice.

Your host makes a face.

"Way too bitter for me."

He takes a sip of his, and licks some cream off his lips.

"Mmm, now that's go juice.  Pure sugar with a caffeine kick."  When you don't seem amused, he shrugs.

"My name is Sergei Valentenin Radicheev.  I usually go by Icarus as the Russian names bring back bad memories, and besides its more fun, and frankly Sergei just doesn't have much class.  What was Mom thinking about when she named me?  Anyways, Icarus, its great, I mean, who wouldn't want to be a superhero?  Besides, its a great life I have, and its a way of making myself useful to show my gratitude, as Dad or Daedalus puts it."  He chuckles, his mood shifting like quicksilver from reflective back to playboy. "Besides, most ladies have a much more positive reaction than you two when I drop out of the sky."

And then he catches what you said..

"Starship...whoah. I'd love to do that.  There's one in orbit, but the Guardian doesn't hand out tickets.  Maybe if I saved his life...Nah, never happen. He's tougher than me, I have to admit. Do you have access to a starship?"

He talks very fast, and with plentiful smiles while somehow managing to slurp down his drink, and get a second one coming before you've made a serious dent in your coffee.

PT
Alexis
player, 548 posts
Tue 12 Dec 2006
at 03:44
  • msg #172

Re: Girls in the City

I make a mental note of the names he is throwing out.  Might be a good idea to do some research on them later.  I take a swallow of my coffee.  I dittoed Misty's order.  Unfortunately I don't have a suit to eat up my extra calories.  So I have to go with the low sugar stuff or weigh 200 pounds.  I look over at his question with a slight smile."Sorry last spaceship I was on blew up."
Playtester
GM, 3965 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 12 Dec 2006
at 03:54
  • msg #173

Re: Girls in the City

"Well that stinks. How did you get off? I know we have a Starship Project.  Problem is the Hyperdrive Equations are too..ah, how did Ben Jacobs put it..too fifth-dimensional for a four-dimensional creature like us to readily grasp.  But if you knew how to get a shortcut to it...I know the Corporation would be most grateful.  And I would be too since I've been promised a seat as a scout pilot on the first interstellar voyage, if it ever works, that is."  His bright smile collapses, and he pours out some sugar on the table to stir it around with a finger.

Then a sudden grin, and you hear a whirring engine, small, and the sugar is sucked up his finger's gauntlet through a small hole.

"You ever wonder how superheroes are always so stylish after a superfight?" He smiles.  "Now you know the deepest, darkest secret of Icarus, and I am at your mercy."

PT
Alexis
player, 549 posts
Tue 12 Dec 2006
at 12:13
  • msg #174

Re: Girls in the City

I take another swallow of my coffee.  "Sorry I can't help you.  I was just a passenger.  I got lucky. An escape pod became available at the last minute."  I lean back in my chair and try to relax despite the fact that he's almost bouncing off the walls.  "So since as you already know we a fairly new around here, what can you tell us about this place?  What is your job title here?"
Misty
player, 994 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Tue 12 Dec 2006
at 14:57
  • msg #175

Re: Girls in the City

I signaled the waiter for warmup's for Lexi and myself as I watched Icarus suck down another one of those whatever-they-ares.  I could understand why he would have been offered the pilot seat on a ship leaving the planet.  I'd rather that he was anywhere but here myself, and I've just met him.  I didn't want to imagine how well this "him-bo" got along with the real working people in the complex.

I hoped that Lexi's questions got some valid answers.  If not, we could always excuse ourselves to go to the meeting with the scientist guy.  I took another sip of this wonderful coffee.
Playtester
GM, 3968 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 12 Dec 2006
at 23:27
  • msg #176

Re: Girls in the City

"Oh, well, I'm the corporate superhero, and one of the test 'pilots' for some of the flying gear, and I teach at a little dojo in my spare time, and generally play fetch and carry for anyone who needs my help this week. Sometimes do corporate ambassador stuff. My Dad wants me to know how everyone does their job, so I end up working for pretty much everyone on the campus for a week at a time.  Most of the time, its fun, like preparing slides in the Virology Lab, but last month, I got a little smartmouthed, and suddenly found that he included learning how the janitorial staff did their job to be part of my education too.  So I got to scrub toilets, and reprogram the mopbots.  Too bad, the toiletbot program was buggy that week, and no one could figure out how to fix it." He frowns. "Course they got it fixed the day after I left to work with the Longevity Bunny Project. Imagine that."

He laughs easily. "Made me mad for a bit, but he had a point."

"Now about this place. You're in the A building. Its the main labs.  Three hundred thousand feet on the first, and largest floor. Seven floors in all.  Lots of neato labs.  Xenodoc Lab, the Unknown Items Vault, Biolevel Five, the Cryo Lab, and my favorite the Manned Personal Flight Project.  B Building is the basement forty feet down through solid granite.  C building is made of glass, and its out back in the midsts of the English garden.  Its where we replicate other science experiments, and see if the claims are valid.  That believe me has made us a few enemies.  D building is being built, but its our robot factory.  And E building is not supposed to exist, although some say it does and its the Extreme Inventions Vault.  I couldn't say.  However, I will point out that Daedalus is former KGB, and he would be willing to say there was no such thing knowing no one would believe him, and that the threat of secret weapons would keep supervillains from attacking."

PT
Misty
player, 995 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Wed 13 Dec 2006
at 13:10
  • msg #177

Re: Girls in the City

I couldn't help but smile.  Unless those same superbaddies are in search of those same secret superweapons to upgrade their capabilities.  This guy was a moron.  OK, he's a moron with a high-tech battle suit, but he's still a moron.  From what I've seen so far, your security is...  let's just say... not all that impressive.  But, if it has worked for you, so far, that's nice.

I did have a few questions for Icarus.  We're looking to do a bit of business with you guys.  We're looking for bio-mechanical upgrades.  You know, cyberwear and bionics?  Do you do that sort of thing here?
Playtester
GM, 3971 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Wed 13 Dec 2006
at 15:26
  • msg #178

Re: Girls in the City

"Well, that would be a problem for them. I'd say most of the supervillains, I could handle myself.  Just like I dealt with you, except I was being nice to you despite your using a lethal weapon on me. Then there's the Special Teams, and the inbuilt defenses, and the fact that most of our workers have personal weapons and a lot of them are in the Five Hundred Round Club, not to mention, Dear ol' Dad, the former KGB assassin, and we have strong friendships with a number of supers in town.  By the time anyone major burnt through those defenses we'd probably have several supers here to help us. I'm pretty sure Daedalus has a favor on call from Soliton, and I don't think anyone on the planet could stop him.  And thats not even counting the Extreme Vault itself, if it exists."

He smiles, but its not a friendly smile.

"You think you're bad to the bone, and maybe you are.  But keep in mind that we run a research lab here. Not a military installation, and that we have kids running around in our small zoo, and a botanical garden, and English garden for the public. And we have a fair number of absent-minded geniuses too. We utilize a shell approach. Defenses get harder as you get inward....and I could have spoken one word, and you two would have been dead.  Look around you, most of the people in this room regularly hit the ten-ring, and at least ten of them are carrying right now.  Doctor Barnes over there is carrying his typical plasma torch, and a needler pistol, and whatever else he's got secreted on his person.  And he's not a Special Teams guy.  However, he is the South Florida pistol champion for three years running. If I said the word, you would never get to the front door...and thats not even counting the special weapons. Now, if you're trying to apply for the job of security chief, then tell me what we are doing wrong."

He blows out a gust of air, and leans back.

"I'd rather be friendly and goof-off than play the hardnose. So lets start again. Lets be friends, have a good time. We do have cyberware and such programs, genetic engineering, and even a prototype crystal program, but we'd have to be sure you meet the qualifications for entering them. As to other things, we also allow a Lendout of alien devices which we're not sure how they work.  YOu figure them out, and you can perhaps earn the device.  But its tricky because most of them don't come with instruction manuals, rather like a lot of hypothetical Extreme devices.  Even if they do break in after finding it, the hypothetical superbaddy stupid enough to tangle with Daedalus Corp still just has a chunk of metal that does something unknown.  And they have to figure it out before we track them down, and deal with them."

PT
OOC: "Himbo" yah--he enjoys being such.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:28, Wed 13 Dec 2006.
Misty
player, 996 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Wed 13 Dec 2006
at 17:04
  • msg #179

Re: Girls in the City

I returned his smile with one of my own, which radiated at or just above absolute zero.  As long as we're being friends here, I would like to remind you that you dropped in on us unannounced.  We've been hanging out in unfriendly places as of late.  We automatically went onto a defensive position.  Lexi triggered her non-lethal sonics while I covered her with my pistol.  I did not attack you with a lethal weapon.  I backed my partner as she used the minimum force required for the situation.  If you can't figure that out on your own, well, thanks for the coffee.  We have other appointments.

I took a sip of coffee.  I imagine that you are very proud of your combative skills.  After all, taking out an unarmored female armed with a hand weapon while protected by your state-of-the-art battlesuit must be quite an accomplishment for you.
Alexis
player, 550 posts
Wed 13 Dec 2006
at 17:45
  • msg #180

Re: Girls in the City

I look into my cup to see it's empty. I had apparently drank it all down while listening to Misty and Icarus.  True he is a egotistic jerk but he seems to have rubbed Misty wrong a lot more than me.  Then the comment was made "Just like I dealt with you" ...Who's he kidding.  I gave Misty a "Is he kidding" look and started to say something but she spoke first and cover things very well.  So I shut my mouth and waited for his reply.
Playtester
GM, 3975 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Wed 13 Dec 2006
at 18:31
  • msg #181

Re: Girls in the City

He starts nodding his head a bit grudgingly as you talk, and then you get in the final shot, and his hand slams down on the table with a crack.

"Okay, Princess, you want another shot at me? Let's just take this down to the dojo in the gym. No weapons, no powersuit. Mano a mano, or should I say, mano a loud mouth." He breathes in harshly, and his face is tinted red. "Harp will be there to adjuticate to keep you from getting hurt too badly."

Suddenly you notice a couple others from the coffee lounge, two guys and a woman moving in to stand a few feet away.

"Problem, Ic?" The middle-aged librarian type says with her hand in her purse.

"Just some personal tutoring in Remedial Manners 090, Doctor Jordan." Icarus says, standing there, flexing his hands, and breathing heavily.

"Ah." And everyone relaxes.

PT
Misty
player, 997 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Thu 14 Dec 2006
at 01:00
  • msg #182

Re: Girls in the City

I set my coffee cup on the table and smiled.  I never took my first shot at you, Icky.  I do remember one thing from mythology class.  That Icarus didn't listen to Daddy's advice and flew too close to the sun.  You look like you're about ready to have a meltdown yourself.  While we do our appointments, why don't you run along and ask Daddy if it's a good idea to challenge Fellows of the John Q. Verser Foundation.  If he lets you, I'll meet you in the gym.  Go ahead and invite your friends to watch.  You seem to need to play to an audience and I wouldn't want to disappoint you.
Alexis
player, 551 posts
Thu 14 Dec 2006
at 03:13
  • msg #183

Re: Girls in the City

I stare at Misty my jaw dropping.  What is she doing?! Is she crazy?! We don't even know what this guy is capable of. I look around the room.  Everyones attention is on us.  Not to mention what his friends...correction what his daddy's friends can do. I snap my mouth shut and swallow hard.  Well, whatever it is there's no backing out now.
Playtester
GM, 3979 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Thu 14 Dec 2006
at 14:22
  • msg #184

Re: Girls in the City

Icarus opens his mouth, closes it with a clack, and opens it again.  And then as evenly as he can manage, he says. "Yeah, you got me pegged. I like an audience. Nothing better than saving some guy from a tenth floor burning room with wicked updrafts and gusts of flame.  Its a thrill.  And then to hear the crowd cheer, and to have a beautiful girl, I don't know come up and kiss me for it right in front of everyone, oh yeah, I like that a lot.  I'd still do it without that because that guy has a wife and kids, but it wouldn't be as much fun.  And where's the harm in that?"

And then he leans closer, and speaks softly.

"If you're scared of taking me on, I understand. You can walk away. I won't make you look bad by telling tales. I've got better things to do. Heh, I'd be scared to take me on too."

Then he gives you a bit of a compassionate smile mixed with a hearty dose of condescension.

PT
Misty
player, 998 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Thu 14 Dec 2006
at 16:35
  • msg #185

Re: Girls in the City

I smiled as sweetly as possible, going with my patented soothing-little-kids-and-angry-dogs voice.   I so understand how you feel.  Someone you've never met before challenges your manhood and you suddenly realize that you've let your mouth write a check that the rest of your body may not be able to cash.  I'll make you an offer.  If you're scared of taking me on, I understand.  You can just walk away.  I won't make you look bad by telling tales. I've got better things to do.  And with or without your battlesuit, I'd be scared to take me on too.

I noticed that our cups were empty, so I called over to the waiter.  Could we get a refill here, please?
Playtester
GM, 3985 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 15 Dec 2006
at 14:28
  • msg #186

Re: Girls in the City

He stares at you in shock.

"O-o-kay then. If, which I doubt, I can't take you, then fine. I learn something. Its not the first time I've been beaten.  Last time was six weeks ago when FallingHawk ambushed me, but thats okay cause I caught her later, and now she's in jail.  Cause I learned how to deal with someone who can nosedive at four hundred miles per hour."

He pauses.

"Now I suppose I need to learn how to deal with someone who is scared of a fight, but wants to blame me for being scared. Now I'd rather do this in the gym with a judge, but if you really want to, I can wipe the table with you right now."

He picks up his helmet preparatory to putting it on.

The waiter obviously wants to come over to help you, but just as obviously he's scared to get in the line of fire.

And then Dr. Jordan steps over, and looks like she wants to say something.  And then she decides, and bends down to Alexis, and whispers in her ear.

"I am not sure whats going on here. Ic's a good kid.  He's gone from wanting a sparring match to madder than snot to right now, he's getting cold which is like his father right before bodies start piling up.  Right now, I'm afraid, Icarus would be justified in laser bolting your friend in the chest, and calling the ambulance for her.  At least thats how we do things here.  I know you two don't seem to be from around here. A challenge to a duel has been offered and accepted, and then followed with I don't know what, but more insult, and a potential threat to use weapons, so, if your friend is just playing around, she needs to get out of here. If not, well are you willing to stand as second?  Because right now, you're about a minute away from someone going to the hospital."

PT
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:37, Fri 15 Dec 2006.
Playtester
GM, 3992 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 15 Dec 2006
at 17:11
  • msg #187

Re: Girls in the City

OOC: Since this is a superhero world, I can do things like this to make it more fun for all.

IC: The ceiling ruptures, and chunks of metal and concrete rain down from a ten yard wide hole in the roof.  A man? with a green mohawk plummets down out of the sky, and crashes smoldering to the floor.  He's carrying a longbow, and his face and body look heavily muscled, but in an odd way.  He doesn't look dead which he should be from a fall like that.

"Guardian?" Icarus says in surprise as he flexes his thirty foot wide wings. And then a humming noise is heard from above.

You see a man in a white and gold armour surrounded by a field of glowing light.

"Sunstar. Whats going on?"

A bolt of hot plasma slams into Icarus, knocking him to the floor, and setting the table on fire.  A cold voice then speaks.

"Sunstar is not in the pilot's seat right now.  I, Master Mayhem control his horizontal and his vertical, just as I control you all."

Guns are being produced all over the room.


PT
Alexis
player, 552 posts
Fri 15 Dec 2006
at 23:40
  • msg #188

Re: Girls in the City

I stare at the Dr. with a raised brow.  It's my opinion the Icarus was the first to start with the insults.  But I was getting tired of his all talk no action attitude and we had appointments we needed to get to.  I just started to suggest to Misty that we get on our way to our appointments when the roof suddenly started crumbling.

Call it paranoia or whatever but my first instinct these days is to duck first talk later.  So when I see the roof crumbling above me I tip my chair and hit the floor behind the closest table.  Just as I get to a position where I can see what's happening a bolt of plasma hits Icarus.  I dont even think about it.  I trigger my sonics in hopes if incapacitating this guy long enough to get out of there.  I aim for the plasma throwing dude first as he seems to be the most leathal and the most cranky at the moment.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:18, Sat 16 Dec 2006.
Playtester
GM, 3998 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Sat 16 Dec 2006
at 03:30
  • msg #189

Re: Girls in the City

The nearest table would be the one you all were sitting or standing if you were Icarus around, and the right half of its on fire.

You're crouched underneath, and you reach up, unleash a sonic blast.

Its on target, but out of the effective range or Sunstar has better protection than Icarus.  Your coffee mugs shatter on the table, and you see Sunstar move a little bit.

"Sonic weaponry unless focused with a diat...nevermind. You need to be at least ten feet closer before you can do anything with those." Dr. Jordan says as she aims with her pistol.

You hear bullet shots going off, and several people yell variations on 'aim for his legs, we don't want to kill Sunstar, he's a good guy.'

"Sunstar" or Master Mayhem laughs as he hammers another person.  "A light plasma pistol, and a bunch of hardball. Pathetic.  This scientist has a formidable battlesuit to match his weakling mind.  And I would love it if you do succeed in killing him."

PT
Misty
player, 999 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sat 16 Dec 2006
at 04:45
  • msg #190

Re: Girls in the City

*Mist, this wasn't the day to leave most of your toys home.*  I didn't have anything much better than spitballs to shoot at this new guy, so I decided that even if discression wasn't the better part of valor, it was enough for me.  I ducked behind a table to get out of the way.

If this Master Blaster guy was controlling the Sun-guy, maybe I could help cut the control wires. I took some what I hoped were calming breaths.  I tried to center my essence and erect an anti-psi bubble around the room.
Alexis
player, 553 posts
Sun 17 Dec 2006
at 01:16
  • msg #191

Re: Girls in the City

While everyone else was keeping them busy with their guns and assorted other weapons I attempt to move in closer by ducking under tables.  I keep low to the floor let those who are standing block the veiw of my actions.  If I can get the required ten feet closer to him I will again trigger my sonics.
Playtester
GM, 4006 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Mon 18 Dec 2006
at 19:33
  • msg #192

Re: Girls in the City

OOC: 95 botches for Misty, and 18 GE on that botch makes it non-lethal, but substantial.  Mayhem doesn't beat Alexis' sneak roll--I gave him a heavy deficit because after all, he's riding in someone else's body.  However, her 76 is not a botch, but not a hit either.  A general GE roll of 17 means the general combat is somewhat on the bad side.  Botch, botch, what would be a good botch...ah, ha...

IC:

Misty, you focus, and push out the bubble, and feel as you do its taking you out as well.  You look down, and see your body slump under the table.  A silver cord connects you to your body, but its all tangled up around your body, and you're floating high above the tables, but below the roof.

Looking at Sunstar, you can see a ghostly impression of another man laid over him.

Alexis, you slip like a shadow through several tables, and just short of the front doors.  Unless you climb up on a table or on the wall, this is as close as you're going to get.

You aim, and then at the last second, Sunstar lunges to plasma blast someone and moves out of your target zone.  Its a clean miss.

Meanwhile, you can see he's taken out one more person, which leaves plenty to go.  He's clearly not accustomed to using these weapons, and seems awkward in the body.

So far, he's in the position of a man swatting a dozen flies in his kitchen while being half-drunk.

PT
Misty
player, 1000 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Tue 19 Dec 2006
at 04:08
  • msg #193

Re: Girls in the City

*This is sooo not good.*  I try to untangle the silver cord to get back into my body.
Alexis
player, 554 posts
Tue 19 Dec 2006
at 16:40
  • msg #194

Re: Girls in the City

Missed!  This is not good!  I quickly duck behind the table in case he fires back at me.  When It seems to be safe to survey the situation I will try and take a look to see where he is.  If he is still in range and I can get another shot at him I'll trigger my sonics again.
Playtester
GM, 4021 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Wed 20 Dec 2006
at 03:19
  • msg #195

Re: Girls in the City

OOC: This would be an extremely bad time for Misty to botch.  But a '17' is a modest success (MV rules are that the closer you are to a miss, the better the success--on a dice roll.  And only really bad misses are botches. So '01' is a minimum success.)

'62' for Alexis, so she clocks him, doing max damage.

IC:

Misty, you grasp the cord between your fingers.  Its slippery, and it moves, and worse it vibrates to a rhythmn you recognize as your heartbeat.  You try to shove it through a tangle, and somehow you yank on something.

A stab of pain spikes your temple.  For a second, its black spots and white stars time.

Warned that this is your very life you're holding, you cautiously thread it through one loop, and another.  You've gained some space, but have much to go.  Another few loops, and you've come to a block.  You can't get further without sticking your head through and wiggling through the mass.

Alexis, you slip back a half-step, aim, breathe out, and fire.

The hum and shudder comes as a surprise as it should, and you hit him smack on the bottom of his soles.  He spins end for end, and crashes into the ceiling, but not doing appreciable damage to the ceiling.

He smiles down at you, and flings out an arm.   A claw of plasma fire extends down, and grasps about the table ripping it up from the floor.

You can see it was a miss since he seemed to be aiming at you.

PT
Alexis
player, 555 posts
Wed 20 Dec 2006
at 16:23
  • msg #196

Re: Girls in the City

I breath a sigh of relief that he missed. Ouch! That would have hurt!  I quickly fire another shot immediately going in to a tuck and roll to the next closet form of protection I can see.  Where is Misty!  I hope she's ok.

If I make it to some sort of protection I will attempt to get a look around the room.  I look for Misty to see if she's ok.  I also look around to see what everyone else is doing.  With all these people here it shouldn't be taking this long to get two guys down.  I'm wondering if there was more than two of them.
Misty
player, 1004 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Wed 20 Dec 2006
at 17:05
  • msg #197

Re: Girls in the City

*I can do this...  I have to do this...*  If I can just...  I'll loop this back around there...  Then I can...  ARRRGGGGGHHHHH...  (groans)  That didn't work...

I've got to be more careful.  I'm not sure that I can take any more snags.  I've taken my own pulse before when exercising.  Feeling my heartbeat in a slipperly silver lifeline is nothing like that.  If I had time to actually think about this, I'd probably be scared out of my wits.

It looks like I have to wriggle my way through a loop or two to untangle my way back home.  I have to be very careful, though.  Maybe I can use a bit of slack to make the loops bigger and easier to get through.  I'm glad that my weapon harness is back at the Foundation.  I'd have to worry about snagging my lifeline on an exposed hilt, handle, or pouch.  I wonder how Lexi is doing in her new armor.

Well, here we go...
Playtester
GM, 4031 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Wed 20 Dec 2006
at 21:01
  • msg #198

Re: Girls in the City

Alexis, you roll under another table.  Meanwhile, the others keep firing at him.  Many of the shots hit, but although they seem to sting, its clear that they are bouncing off the glowing field of energy around him.

He really is like a half-drunk man swatting a dozen flies.  No matter how hard the flies bite, eventually they are going to lose.

You fire again, but he's up near the ceiling, and out of effective range.  Your sonic beam has all the force of a good shove until he gets back into range.

Unfortunately for you, his plasma claw with table doesn't have that limit.

He throws the table at you, knocking you and your protective table head over heels to come crashing into a wall ten feet away.  You're dazed for a second, and then realize your feet are above your head, and a broken in half table rests on your right shoulder.  Nausea is hitting your stomach, and the world seems to be a bit farther away that it usually does.

About this time, you see Misty under another table.  She's laying there like she's sleeping.

Misty, you wiggle and squirm through the slightly bigger loop you were able to make, and suddenly its easier.  A bit more of quicker work as you dive through wider hoops, and continue untangling and now you've added several dozen feet to your lifeline, and then you look down to your body.  There's one more knot between you and your body.

It looks like a basketball made of a four inch wide and flat thread, all tied very tightly together.

Looking up, you see Alexis upside down against a wall with two tables covering her.

PT
OOC: Its one guy, Sunstar, a hero, being mind controlled by another guy, Master Mayhem, a villain, who is not physically present.  Unfortunately, Sunstar has a rather powerful forcefield that shields him from almost all the damage by a pistol round.  He also has some very powerful attacks.  He's not in the top rank of superbeings here like Doctor Zhorbhakian or Dreamweaver or Soliton, but he is in the second rank.  Or to put it in other terms, he'd have a good chance of beating Spiderman, but Superman could clock him.

PT
Alexis
player, 556 posts
Thu 21 Dec 2006
at 03:16
  • msg #199

Re: Girls in the City

I lay there trying to figure out which way was up.  I finally figured out I was upside down with what felt like several pieces of furniture on top of me. I start to try and turn myself right side up when I see Misty under a table not looking so good.  I silently curse this idiot and continue to push the pile of stuff off of me.

I get my feet down to the floor and sit upright.  Oh god..I don't feel so good."  I slump back against whatever is behind me as everything starts to get weird.  I close my eyes and swallow my nausea.  I sit there for a few minutes waiting for this feeling to pass.

As I sit there I try to recall what I had read in the owners manual for this suit.  Particularly what other nonlethal options I have with this suit.   This guy needs to be stopped.  But as someone else is controling him it needs to be done without injuring him too badly if possible.
Misty
player, 1005 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Thu 21 Dec 2006
at 04:13
  • msg #200

Re: Girls in the City

*Crap.*  There's only one way to do this, slowly and carefully.  I get started.  It's not like I have all that many other options.
Playtester
GM, 4036 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 22 Dec 2006
at 01:20
  • msg #201

Re: Girls in the City

After a bit, Sunstar crashes through a wall.  Then Icarus staggers to his feet, looks about, and spreads his wings, and flies after Sunstar.  Guardian then gets up.

He? leaps to his feet, and steps over to one person, waves an arrow in their face, and then does the same to Alexis.  You smell a pungent odor that whips the fogs from your brain like a cat fleeing a dog.

Meanwhile, Misty, you've unwrapped about half the ball, and suffered the equivalent of a major migraine in the process.

He then steps over to Misty, and touches her between the eyes, and on the bottom of your smallest right toe.  The ball unwinds the rest of the way, and a touch on your left temple with a brush on the tip of your nose makes the headache go away.

He then runs into the next room from which there have been several major flashes of light.

PT
Alexis
player, 557 posts
Fri 22 Dec 2006
at 12:16
  • msg #202

Re: Girls in the City

I blink at the sudden move from daxed to being totally clearheaded.  I look over to see the guy Archer guy doing something to Misty. Then I jump up and hurry over to see what he's doing to her.  But he's gone before I can get there and Misty seems to have had the same transformation.  I difinately would like to meet that guy again!

I look towards the room everyone had dissappeared into as I wait for Misty to pull herself together. "Do you want to go see what's going on in the other room or just get out of here?"
Misty
player, 1006 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Fri 22 Dec 2006
at 14:50
  • msg #203

Re: Girls in the City

*I have got to learn how to do that.*  With the ball of my lifeline finially untangled and my headache suddenly gone, I feel a lot better about my situation.  I attempt to slide back into my body.  There are powerful things going on here and I need to get functional really quickly.
Playtester
GM, 4044 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 22 Dec 2006
at 17:35
  • msg #204

Re: Girls in the City

Alexis, you see Misty's eyes pop open, and she leaps to her feet.

There is the sound of a huge explosion in the next room, and the walls shake.

One of the coffee-drinkers points out the front doors to the lobby.  You see a woman with very long hair, reaching past her heels, which hair is waving about.  She's wearing black, which is torn and ripped like she's a refugee from Versace, and she has a white face mask on with a black stylized tear under one eye.

Around her, you see the 'gardener's and several others in heavy armor falling down to the ground, shaking.

As she walks toward you, you begin to feel despair, a desire to fall down and weep at the hopelessness of life.

"Mistress Miserie is here, children.  Where my foolish husband, Master Mayhem comes, so must I go.  Its the lot of a loyal wife, to suffer for her husband, now do you have any gifts to make me feel better?  Gold, jewels, high-tech laser blasters, secret bank accounts, hi-tech battlesuits?"


Suddenly you realize that the voice is in your head.  Her lips are not moving, and around you you see several of the coffee drinkers, especially the ones closest to her collapsing, taking off watches, pulling out wallets....

PT
OOC: Speaking of hi-tech battlesuits...primary attack modes are the sonic blasters and the six hundred pound bench press strength (you have less strength for a punch or other lifting...I use bench press as a marker.  In other words, you have as much strength at punching as a weightlifter who can bench press six hundred pounds.)  The suit does increase your energy levels, and provide some protection but in truth its a LIGHT battle suit.  Compared to Sunstar's battlesuit or even Icarus' its not that much.
Misty
player, 1007 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sat 23 Dec 2006
at 00:26
  • msg #205

Re: Girls in the City

I drop to my knees and prepare to offer Her my most prized posession.  I reach for my Glock.  It feels so natural in my hand.  I extend my arm to offer it to her.
Playtester
GM, 4050 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Sat 23 Dec 2006
at 05:27
  • msg #206

Re: Girls in the City

With your Glock in hand, you find yourself remembering all the times that it was the only thing between you and sudden death.  Even more, you remember the reassuring weight that allowed you the freedom to walk the city at night without worry of criminals because none of them wanted to meet Mr. JHP up close and personal.

Fact is, a demon tried to rip your mind open.  No way some mime-faced wannabe is going to use you as a tool..instead...your rage fills you, and with sharp focus you open your mind, and let it fly.

You see a spear of light, whether physical or mental, you're not sure.  It lances out from you, and slams into Mistress Miserie.

She jolts, hangs in the air a second, and hits the ground.

Then her hair lifts her to her feet, and with her eyes flaming with light, her hair reaches out and rips the doors open.

"I'm going to strangle you for that!"  You feel rage pour through the ether like a strong wind battering at you.  To your dismay, you see blood trickling down your hands, and you feel something drop off your nose, and plop on the ground.

However, the respite, the switchover helps Alexis a bit, and then afterwards, its not as hard as the despair.  You'r enot sure why.  Perhaps she's just better with sadness, hence the name, or perhaps she's focusing on Misty, and the rest of you are getting the sidebands.

PT
Alexis
player, 558 posts
Sat 23 Dec 2006
at 05:30
  • msg #207

Re: Girls in the City

As soon as I see people dropping and handing over possesions I know I don't want to be anywhere near this woman.  I start to back away from her trying to keep a distance from her.  Then I notice Misty is already feeling the affects.  I run up and grab her around the waist and then kick in my flight hoping to go up and out the opening in the ceiling created earlier by the other two crashing through it.
Playtester
GM, 4052 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Sat 23 Dec 2006
at 05:45
  • msg #208

Re: Girls in the City

Its like wading against heavy surf to advance toward Misty, but you do, and once you grab her, the both of you shoot upwards toward the hole in the roof.

Miserie comes out into the coffee lounge below you, and sends her hair skyward until they almost grab your ankles, but they fall short by four feet, and then you're up and out above the roof.

In the clear air, you can see one team of heavily armed guys shooting energy weapons down through another hole in the roof.  You can see scared people being herded by company people out in the zoo area to places of safety while the zoo animals are standing on small platforms which are being lowered into the ground, and you can see two more teams running up separate pathways toward the building.  They will be here in about forty-five seconds...however a lot can happen in forty-five seconds.

PT
Misty
player, 1011 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Fri 29 Dec 2006
at 20:49
  • msg #209

Re: Girls in the City

*That was soooo not good.*  I don't know what Madam Miserable did, but my brain feels like a BB bouncing around in a fifty-five gallon drum.  I hurt in places that never hurt before and being a verser, that is saying something.  The trick is, I don't know if she did it to me or I did it to myself.

As Lexi was vertically getting us out of Dodge, I triggered a few nine mikes downward at the hair.  I probably didn't hurt it any, but it felt really good to be doing something destructive.
Alexis
player, 559 posts
Sat 30 Dec 2006
at 03:56
  • msg #210

Re: Girls in the City

Wow! It worked!  I sort of hover for a minute while I look around for a clear and safe place to set down.  As soon as I see a suitable spot I will try and see if I can land as well as I flew up.

I look down at Misty and my arms.  She looks a more than a little out of it.  I need to get on solid ground and check her over.
Playtester
GM, 4059 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 2 Jan 2007
at 02:41
  • msg #211

Re: Girls in the City

Your first shot misses, your second clips a strand of hair cutting it, and she moans in either pain or offended vanity.

"My hair!"  The third shot misses.

Alexis, you're flying her back a bit, and then suddenly a dark shadow races over you, and a rush of air, and you're flipping end for end in the air, trying to hold onto Misty.

You both hear a massive Thump from below.

Misty flies free of your arms, and just barely grabs a leg by the ankle as you stop spinning.

Shivering from reaction, and from the close call since this is a slanted roof with a three story fall on the outer edge, you both land on top of a miniature roof of a fan housing in the roof.

PT
Misty
player, 1012 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Tue 2 Jan 2007
at 11:16
  • msg #212

Re: Girls in the City

I replaced my good friend Mister Glock in his shoulder holster.  My brain, no... my whole body feels as if something really big has been stomping it like a grape in a wine vat.  I could really use a few handfulls of ibuprofin right about now, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen any time soon.  Lexi did some good flying to get us to this air duct housing.

I looked over at my partner and smiled.  We won, right?
Alexis
player, 560 posts
Tue 2 Jan 2007
at 23:53
  • msg #213

Re: Girls in the City

I look down a Misty clinging to my leg and smile slightly. "I hope so.  I don't think my body can take much more right now.  Can you hang on long enough for me to try and get us on the ground?"     I try to take inventory of my suit to see if it's still in one piece.  If it is I will attempt to get us down to the ground.
Playtester
GM, 4061 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Wed 3 Jan 2007
at 02:12
  • msg #214

Re: Girls in the City

You lift off again, and float down to the ground which is welcomed eagerly by your four legs.

A bunch of black-suited figures runs by you, one of them, points a gun at you two, and a clear alto voice snaps over her shoulder.

"Saunders, good guys! Your data link is loose again."

They enter the building pitching grenades which fizz and pop, as much in your head as in your ears.  After that, you can barely hear yourself think.

You two collapse to the ground, and in the time it takes to catch your breath, you see shadows dropping toward you.

One is Guardian, who's quiver is nearly empty, and his mohawk is almost seared off.  Icarus is 'carrying' him.  Its more of a controlled crash as the two glide to the ground.

Next to them in the air, and landing is a Native American girl with two long ponytails, and dressed in a hodgepodge of yellow and green spandex pants, and a native tunic with an amulet about her neck of a hawk which strikes you with its clever design and beauty, unlike the rest of her ill-matched ensemble.

"I'm FallingHawk, one of the good guys nowadays. Sorry about blindsiding you. Ic, why didn't the auto defenses kick in?"

"Don't know, Hawkie. I kept yelling the active codes for sure. Guardian, I don't want to be a baby..."

"Shhhh, young human, you are in great pain."  Guardian taps him between the eyes, and Icarus sighs in relief.

PT
Misty
player, 1013 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Wed 3 Jan 2007
at 16:12
  • msg #215

Re: Girls in the City

I laid there for a few more moments, taking in this touching scene, before I got back on my feet.  I wasn't a member of their little club and I really didn't want to join.  I turned my attention to what was more important than a bunch of spandex clad wierdos.

Lexi, are you all right and do I look as bad as I feel?
Playtester
GM, 4071 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Wed 3 Jan 2007
at 17:02
  • msg #216

Re: Girls in the City

Guardian staggers over to the two of you, and applies his galactic brand of armoatherapy and accupressure to relive most of your pain, and restore your energy.  However, the bruises still remain, and you can tell its a thin skin of ice over a chasm of needing a couple days of rest.

FallingHawk looks toward the zoo, and whispers as trees wilt like fast-forward photography.

"Chaos, entropy, death, wolf spirits..."

Suddenly a man in a cheap black hooded jacket with a dagger in his right hand rises from out of the ground, and plants the dagger in her back. She falls.

"You got that right, sweetheart.  The Day of the Hero is done. Villainy rules, heroes drool, and oh yeah, Fallingwhatever, ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for you, stupe."

The slight wind which brings a scent of decay from the zoo ripples the bell attached to the assassin's dagger as FallingHawk gasps in agony.

He waves his next dagger at all of you.

"I'm Toller, run and scream, superwimps."

PT
Misty
player, 1014 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Thu 4 Jan 2007
at 04:12
  • msg #217

Re: Girls in the City

I do feel better after the techniques that Guardian used, but it's like putting a bandaid over a gunshot wound.  It's not going to do a lot of good or last for long.  I also know that Lexi and I are seriously outclassed in this particular dustup.  We are talented normals, sort of, who stumbled into a superpowered brawl.  This is soooo not a good thing.

Uhhh.... Lexi?  Think that maybe we should try to come back tomorrow?
This message was last edited by the player at 12:52, Thu 04 Jan 2007.
Alexis
player, 561 posts
Thu 4 Jan 2007
at 12:33
  • msg #218

Re: Girls in the City

I sat up with a groan.  Well at least we're on the ground.  My attention is turned toward guardian and the others as they land next to us. Man these guys are like bad pennies.  You just can't get rid of them.  Although as Guardian does his thing I'm kind of glad he's here.

I was just feeling like I could move when the next superidiot showed up. Nothing I hate more than superpowers and too much testosterone.  I was just thinking about seeing what one of these missles would do to him when Misty spoke up.  I frown for a minute wondering if Misty and I are switching personalities.  But I'm also smart enoiugh to know that we are way outgunned this time.  "Sounds like a great idea, but do you really think Mr Toller over there is going to just let us walk away?"
Misty
player, 1016 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Thu 4 Jan 2007
at 13:46
  • msg #219

Re: Girls in the City

I looked at Lexi and smiled.  Let's just not ask Mr. Toller for permission.  You've got sonics and missiles.  I've got almost fifty rounds of nine mill left.  With all the supers and superagent types running around, I don't think anyone would miss two visitors fading into the background.  I'm not that thrilled about meeting any more members of this world's version of the Injustice League.
Playtester
GM, 4086 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 5 Jan 2007
at 03:26
  • msg #220

Re: Girls in the City

You both back up, and Toller laughs mockingly.  But soon enough, the Guardian has his attention engaged.  However, as Icarus carries FallingHawk off to the hospital, you see its a stalemate.  Toller is genuinely clumsy with his knife, and Guardian is a trained martial artist of at least black belt quality.  But Toller is ethereal, and none of Guardian's strikes or arrows do any damage.

Slipping onward, you see the last row of trees in the zoo die as you reach the fence.  A guy in black with shades and a too cool to be here among these pathetic mortals expression is striding across the place waving his hand and things are dying.  Next to him is a girl in a black miniskirt and haltertop of red who smiles, and catches energy bolts from the SWAT guys with her bare hands.  With them is a truly ugly something, a humanoid shaped blob that squishes along.  Still something about it seems familiar to you both.

Zipping around at about fifty to seventy miles per hour is your old friend in red and white spandex.

You get to the fence, and it parts for you both.

A computerized and glitchy voice says. "Please evacuate, Daedalus Corporation is under attack. Please evacuate.."

Once out on the street, you see horrified people taking camera pics, and others with smiles on their faces as they take pics, and taxi cabs coming up dropping off spectators and picking up evacuees.

PT
Alexis
player, 562 posts
Fri 5 Jan 2007
at 12:12
  • msg #221

Re: Girls in the City

As soon as we clear the fence I get to my feet.  I make sure Misty is able to get to hers and then I head over to where the taxi cabs are.  I stop and hold out my hand toward one waiting for pick-up and smile at Misty.  "Shall we?"
Misty
player, 1017 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Fri 5 Jan 2007
at 13:48
  • msg #222

Re: Girls in the City

I took a last look around us.  If we could lay our hands on a tiny fraction of the goodies that these guys had, it would be a lot easier to stay alive during our travels.  Standing up to these super sleezeballs as we're set up now would be just another version of suicide.  Even though I've done it once, I still can't recommend suicide as a battle tactic.

I turned back to Alexis.  By all means, yes.  Let's head back to the Fellowship.  I feel very underdressed for this party.
Playtester
GM, 4087 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 5 Jan 2007
at 16:12
  • msg #223

Re: Girls in the City

Twenty seconds later you two are clambering into a taxi.

"Where too, two?"

When you tell him Multiversal Way and the Foundation, he nods and begins to tell you both a long-winded story about how he took Baron Coranado and She Who is Gold ("And I mean, her skin really did look gold, well, not gold-gold, not like my wedding band, but still, y'know....") there ('was it three, no four, hmm, probably three years, and oh, two months, yeah thats it...it was on a Tuesday, yeah, in the afternoon cause the sun was bouncing in my eyes, I hate it when it does that, and it bounced right off She Who is Gold, whatta name right?....)

With your ears feeling like they are about to fall off, you get out at the Foundation.

Inside, the battleaxe secretary takes one look at you both, and gets up to help you both to the elevator.

"I can have Doctor Hiram Lansing or Doctor Emily Esteban over here in five minutes.  They're both associated with the the Foundation, and have General MD's as well as other specialties."

PT
Misty
player, 1018 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Fri 5 Jan 2007
at 21:05
  • msg #224

Re: Girls in the City

I accepted the help gratefully.  Guardian's magic finger tricks were wearing off.  Lexi and I will need to find a quieter place for our next coffee fix.  I'd make sure to order no cream, no sugar, and no supervillians.

I felt like fifty miles of bad road compressed into a quarter mile stretch.  If I boosted just a bit, maybe I'd feel better.  Then again, boosting even a bit might be enough of a system shock to send us both on our way.

I had enough of a brain left to ask the Gatekeeper a question.  Do either of the Doctors have any experience in psionics injuries?  I ran into someone calling herself Mistress Misery and my brain feels a little crispy around the edges.
Alexis
player, 563 posts
Sat 6 Jan 2007
at 00:29
  • msg #225

Re: Girls in the City

I let my head fall back against the seat and zone out a bit on the way home.  I try and am mostly able to block the ramblings coming from the front seat.  When finally arrive back home,  at least what we're calling home for now, I breath a sigh of relief and crawl out of the taxi.

I follow Misty inside and gratefully accept the secratary's aid. I look at misty as she asks for a Psionics doctor.  She does look a little frazzled.  But I knew given a little time, a good hot shower and some rest we'd be back on our feet.  So I just entered the elevator and waited while it whisked us to our rooms.
Playtester
GM, 4094 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Sat 6 Jan 2007
at 04:09
  • msg #226

Re: Girls in the City

"No, Lansing specializes in Rehab, and Esteban is also a Virologist with a double in Superhuman Physiology."  She pauses. "Di Vars didn't trust him, of course, he didn't trust almost anyone, but Mentum, Master Mentalist has a very good rep as a hero.  I could leave a message for him, and he might get back to you some time tonight.  Its generally known in the hero community that leaving a note atop St. Claire of the Seven Seas Cathedral will get you a meet with Mentum."

Then she thinks a bit more.

"I know a couple psi researchers with doctorates, but I don't know how reliable they are.  We, the Foundation haven't investigated their backgrounds."

You both get in the elevator, and seconds later, you're on the top floor.

You step out, and began taking care of your wounds.  Hot showers, pain pills, bandaids....
Misty
player, 1019 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sat 6 Jan 2007
at 13:38
  • msg #227

Re: Girls in the City

I thought about my options for some psionic aid.  They didn't look all that good... except for one possibility.  I would like you to get a message to this Mentum, Master Mentalist guy.  Something happened to me when Mistress Misery attacked us.  Not only do I need to know what it was, but I'd like to find a way to control it.

Once in the bathroom, I managed to sneak up on the mirror and learned that, yes indeed, I did look as bad as I felt.  Once I moved my matted hair, I found that I had crusts of blood at my ears.  I guess that was all right.  At least it matched the blood caked around my nose and eyesockets.  The areas around my temples and eye sockets were also bruised black.  I was going to need a ton of makeup or some really good sunglasses just to be able to show my face in public.

The shower was w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l.  I turned the adjustable showerhead to massage and let the hot pulsating jets of water knead the soreness out of my muscles.  It took a lot of willpower to not melt away and just flow down the drain.

Once our bandages and medicication were doing their duties, I held up my weapons belt and turned to Alexis.  I have a favor to ask of you, Lexi.  The next time I tell you that I'm leaving my weapons belt behind for any reason, I want you to hit me really hard.
Playtester
GM, 4097 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Sat 6 Jan 2007
at 17:27
  • msg #228

Re: Girls in the City

Five hours later, you both hear a knock-knock out in the living room.  You bolt out there with guns in hand, and see a man floating in the air outside one of your windows.

He waves and gives you both a flashing grin.

He is wearing a dark purple and black in geometric angles costume with a black cape.  He's Asian although not Han or Nipponese.  You're getting used to meeting really handsome guys and extraordinarily lovely ladies in the superset, but even still, this guy looks like physical perfection incarnate with his bulging muscles and perhaps 1% body fat, and his almost beautiful face.

*My name is Mentum. May I come in?* You both hear in your minds.

PT
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:28, Sat 06 Jan 2007.
Alexis
player, 564 posts
Sun 7 Jan 2007
at 04:05
  • msg #229

Re: Girls in the City

Feeling much better after a nice hot shower some TLC for my wounds, I sit down to look over my new body armor for any damage.  I grin at Misty's request  "You bet I will.  I was wishing you'd had your weapons with you today as well."

I was so involved in looking over my suit that I nearly jumped out of my skin when the loud knocking boomed through the apartment.  I hurried along with Misty into the other room.  At the sight of the Man in the window I turn to look at Misty "You were expecting him right?"
Misty
player, 1020 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sun 7 Jan 2007
at 05:05
  • msg #230

Re: Girls in the City

I looked at the flying being, then back at Alexis.  I was expecting someone.  I could not have dreamed it to be someone like him.

I turned to the window and opened it.  Please come in.  We have need of your talents, abilities and experience.  I'm not sure what the note said, so would you please tell us what you already know of our request?
Playtester
GM, 4103 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Sun 7 Jan 2007
at 05:26
  • msg #231

Re: Girls in the City

He hands it to you. It was tucked into the palm of his hand.

"Mentum. Di Vars did you a favor, and the Foundation is calling it in. One of our 'Fellows', Misty, was at the DC today when it was attacked.  She got brainblasted by Miserie. Can you help directly, or recommend someone else?"

"I'm very interested in what happened at Daedalus. There's a forcefield around the place now, and I'd heard reports of bad guys attacking.  I don't want to go in blind."  He pauses. "And, hmmmh..." He looks at you Misty as if he's looking through you.  "Traumautic release of innate potential, quite high. Nicely done.  A projected pain spear, but you've tied the attack to your lifeforce. Using your life to power it. That makes it stronger, quicker. And then Miserie tried to emotionally batter you.  I've never known her to be able to do physical damage with a psi attack before. You must have really angered her."

All the time he's been standing there, you've both been feeling better and better until with a shock you realize your pain and stiffness is gone.

"Mind over matter.  You can will yourself dead, and you can do as much the other way.  If you know how."

Looking at him, you can see a deep kindness, but underneath it, revealed in small ways, a devious mind or personality.  You can tell he wants something from you both, but he's hoping to get you two too volunteer it rather than ask himself.

PT
Alexis
player, 565 posts
Sun 7 Jan 2007
at 12:26
  • msg #232

Re: Girls in the City

I stood back and let Misty talk to him as he was there at her request.  Innate potential?  That got my attention.  "Can you help her learn how to use and control this ability?  Also is there any way to know if I might have it or any others as well?"

I turn to lay my body armor on a nearby chair and realize suddenly that I can move without pain.  In fact I don't feel any pain at all anymore.  "I'm interested in learning this Mind over Matter technique as well.  If that's possible."
Misty
player, 1021 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sun 7 Jan 2007
at 16:33
  • msg #233

Re: Girls in the City

I looked at Lexi and smiled.  Yes, we would be very interested in learning whatever you wanted to teach us.  It would help us in our journeys. 

This guy was soooo not hard to look at.  I tried to focus on what we were supposed to be doing.  And if we could help you in some way to repay you, all you need to do is ask and we will do what we can.  For example, some of the guys who hit Daedalus were Master Mayhem, his nutjob wife Mistress...  I went on to describe the guy with the shades who caused plantlife to wither, Toller, the blob guy, the energy bolt catching girl in a red halter and black miniskirt, and our greeter from the Unwelcome Wagon in the alley when we first arrived, Bloodstreak.  ... There could have been more, but those were the only ones we saw.  We left while the party was still going on.
Playtester
GM, 4111 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Sun 7 Jan 2007
at 18:09
  • msg #234

Re: Girls in the City

OOC: Alexis, sorry about missing that. Anyways, the dice like you. The suit had no damage that a brushing with a towel wouldn't take care of.

IC:

He interjects in a low voice as you name off the people.

"Mistress Miserie and Master Mayhem. Whining nagging and bullying domineering. I'm a Catholic so I don't support divorce, but for those two, I'd make an exception.  Their angers power their psi."

"Heat Death, a priest of Entropy. Pure evil.  And the Last Lady, energy controlling mutant, and dumber than a brick. No, I'm sorry, she's got a brain. She just doesn't use it."

"Toller. He Is dumber than a brick, but we don't know how to stop him. Except with psi."

Mentum looks puzzled when you mention the blob guy.

"Bloodstreak. Pschyopath. Low functioning, but smart enough to fake it for a bit.  He honestly doesn't see what wrong with slaughtering people.  Trust me, you don't want to get in his head."

He thinks, but quickly.

"I need help to take these guys on.  Its too many for me with so many of the heroes out. Both of you have potential.  Most humans do, but I can see that some experiences have 'opened your mind' to new possibilities. Thing is, I can teach you a few things, help you, but its going to have to be Q&D teaching, and then I'm going to need you to try to recruit some help."

He points at you Misty. "I think maybe, better control of your pain spear, and mental shielding. Alexis, for you, I'd teach you how to hold stable a Mind over Matter form."

PT
Misty
player, 1022 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sun 7 Jan 2007
at 20:29
  • msg #235

Re: Girls in the City

I just stood there a moment.  *I'm going to need you to try to recruit some help?*  At least he wasn't asking us to go back in there... Yet, if the good guys are so undermanned, there weren't a lot of other options.

We'll help you all that we can, right Lexi?  Since we're going back to Daedalus with you, we could use a couple of additional things, like maybe spandex/spectra/nomex composite body suits and some upgraded weaponry.  Lexi's armor is light and her sonics are almost useless from what we've seen.  I don't have armor.  Our primary weapons tend to be slugthrowers.

As I talked, I shrugged out of the Glock shoulder rig, swapping it for the Assault Phaser and dual energy cell rig.  I placed a power pack in the phaser, made sure that it was charged, then snugged it back under my arm for safekeeping.  I next strapped on my weapons belt, automatically checking each item to insure that everything was ready for use.

I looked up at Mentum and smiled.  Last time, I wasn't fully dressed for the party.  That won't happen again, will it Lexi?
Playtester
GM, 4120 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Sun 7 Jan 2007
at 21:27
  • msg #236

Re: Girls in the City

"Okay, we could get some from the superprison, but the fastest way is to talk to the Tortoise.  Less red tape."

He turns to you Misty, and smiles apologetically. "This is not going to be fun."

You feel fury rising up within you, bouncing about, shifting form, going from cold lethal hate to blood madness to screaming frenzy, and all focused on Mentum.  And suddenly you find the switch, and a lance of white fire leaps....and stops.

Its frozen, a part of your mind is frozen, and the alien emotions drain out of you.  But you can still see the pain spear starting to form, but locked in stillness inside your mind.

"Look inside your head.  See what anger, see what thoughts you had, see how you turned them into a weapon.  See the pattern.  Know what you are, know what you did, and you'll be able to replicate this pain spear at your command, and not at its whim."

And then another image appears in your head.

"This is a Type One mental shield.  A basic walling out.  Study it too, and you should be able to replicate it."

PT
Alexis
player, 566 posts
Mon 8 Jan 2007
at 01:36
  • msg #237

Re: Girls in the City

As Misty starts donning her rig I turn and pick my armor back up and take it over to the Kitchenette area to get a towel and wipe it down.  It seem to be ok just a little dirty.

I walk back over to where Misty and our new friend are talking wiping my armor down as I go.  I want to have it ready to go just in case we don't get anything better offered to us.

I stop and stare at the myriad of emotions flashing through Misty's eyes flinching at the intense pain in them.  I swallow suddenly not sure I can do this mental stuff.
Playtester
GM, 4126 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Mon 8 Jan 2007
at 02:01
  • msg #238

Re: Girls in the City

He turns to you.

"Your path is different.  It starts in the kitchen."  With a relaxed grin, he follows you into the kitchen, and scoops out supplies.  Some meat, five pounds of hamburger which he tosses in the microwave, and a bottle of multi-vitamins of which he pulls out about a hundred pills.  Several cans of veggies, and a loaf of bread.

He smears a bread piece thick with butter, and grape jam.

"Start eating. And while you eat, hold this vision in your mind. Hold it steady."  Suddenly you see a vision of yourself in your mind.  But different than the girl you know in the mirror.

Alexis the Amazon Warrior as Supermodel.

"This is Mind over Matter. I'll be doing the basic work, but you have to hold the image, or it will collapse back.  Later, I'll teach you how to build yourself into this, but for now, the basic hold what is given you will do.  You won't be superhuman, or even close to your full potential, but a lot closer you will be.  Now eat up."

Then suddenly you see another image.  A young guy with glasses, and forty pounds of fat on his stomach, and some acne.

*That was me before I discovered how to control my matter with my mind.*

PT
Misty
player, 1023 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Mon 8 Jan 2007
at 04:39
  • msg #239

Re: Girls in the City

*That was... unpleasent.*  I studied both the pain spear and the blocking wall.  I needed to get both techniques absolutely right, since I was soon going to be taking them into a serious brawl with actual supervillians.  I wondered how Lexi was doing with her psionic combat training.
Playtester
GM, 4138 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Mon 8 Jan 2007
at 05:24
  • msg #240

Re: Girls in the City

You study the pain spear, and outrage at indecent behaviour from someone who is acting contemptibly seems to be the key emotion that drives it.  Studying further, you can see how to up the damage, but it is directly tied to your life force.

In ways, its the psionic equivalent of smacking the bad guy in the face with your own forehead.  Do it hard enough, and you won't have any problems in this universe again.

It does tire you a bit as its an expenditure of emotional energy, but not much more really than getting mad at someone and yelling at them.

Still, you seemed to have instinctively chosen a powerful, but safe level of attack.  And it did flatten Miserie for a second, at least.

The wall is simple, a mental image of a castle with infinitely high walls in which you sit not able to be affected by outside attacks--if things go right.  But, it does require you to open up a mental image of a door or window to attack mentally.  Its also highly dependent on your faith in yourself.  Believe the walls will hold, and they're a lot more likely to do so.

Feeling confident that you have these down, you open your eyes, and are surprised faintly to feel your legs have gotten stiff while you sat exploring your mind.

PT
Alexis
player, 567 posts
Mon 8 Jan 2007
at 22:47
  • msg #241

Re: Girls in the City

I take the slice of bread from him and bite of a corner of it.  As I chew I concentrate on the amazon model image of myself.  The more I eat the more uncomfortably full I get and the harder it gets to focus on that image.  But I increase my concentration and continue to try and keep the image in my mind.
Misty
player, 1024 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Mon 8 Jan 2007
at 23:59
  • msg #242

Re: Girls in the City

I worked on my new techniques long enough to get hungry.  As I walked in to the kitchen, I smelled something cooking in the microwave.  *Nice, lunch is served.*  Then I saw Alexis... well she looked mostly like Alexis.  Maybe Alexis after a few trips to the gym and a great session at a makeup studio, but still Alexis.

I snagged a couple of foodbars and a bottle of water, then sat down to watch the ongoing process.
Playtester
GM, 4143 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 9 Jan 2007
at 02:04
  • msg #243

Re: Girls in the City

Alexis, your stomach fills  and them empties a bit, and fills again, and empties and suddenly you feel like laughing, you feel so great.

"Need to ease up on the blood sugar there."  And you find yourself calming down from that great feeling.

Misty, you see Mentum give you a rueful glance, and continue on.

Within the space of five minutes, you see Alexis transformed, and most of the food consumed along with ninety of the hundred vitamins laid out, and some extra food that Mentum yelled for you with a bit of panic in his voice to get about minute three.  Her muscles bulge in their finely cut condition, and she looks like she's gained two inches of height, and thirty pounds of muscle, and her face glows with health.

Mentum uses the refrigerator to slide back against the fridge to the ground, and pant, sweat dripping off the end of his nose.

Alexis, you have found the best way to keep the image in your head. You associate it with one of those songs that one can never get out of their head, and this keeps the image firmly in mind as long as you don't mind the distraction.  As long as you hold that image in your head, you'll stay as you are, but lose it, and lose your low level professional athlete all around physical attributes.  And it feels great...you could see this process being very addictive.

"Ok, I need to sleep for an hour. Alexis-get Soliton. Misty--Twilight, Remote." Yawnnnnn...snore. Mentum is asleep on your kitchen floor, and he definitely snores although you're pretty sure he's the kind of guy who denies it.
Misty
player, 1026 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Tue 9 Jan 2007
at 13:48
  • msg #244

Re: Girls in the City

*Wow!*  Lexi, you look great!  You look fantastic!  Lexi did look fantastic.  This mind over matter thing really was some serious mojo.  I've got an idea of how to begin to find the backups that Mentum needs us to recruit.  If our friendly pawnshop owner is as wired into the supers community as Mentum thinks, maybe he can point us in the right directions.  Maybe we can do a little shopping while we are there, as well.  If you have any other ideas, I am way open to suggestions.
Alexis
player, 568 posts
Tue 9 Jan 2007
at 14:16
  • msg #245

Re: Girls in the City

I grinned at Misty.  Except for that stupid song playing nonstop in my head I felt great!  I walked over to take a look at myself in the mirror.  Wow! Olivia Newton-John can sing "Let's Get Physical" in my head all she wants if this is the result.

I slip into my armor and other gear.   Fortunately the armor is made to adapt to all sizes.  Agreeing that the pawnshop is our best option at finding these guys I follow Misty down to catch a cab.

I smile at Turtle as we walk into the pawnshop.   "Hi!  We're back!  We need to find some people and Mentum us tells you are the man to see for connections and supplies."
Playtester
GM, 4151 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 9 Jan 2007
at 16:30
  • msg #246

Re: Girls in the City

He tries to look sour as he takes in your list of supplies and your requests for information, but Misty you get the definite feeling that 1)Mentum has something on him 2)Like any guy, he can't help but be cheered up by two ladies talking to him, even though he wants to whine about the expens and trouble.

"Yeah, the Heat Death guy, bad for business.  Soliton, well everyone, okay maybe not you guys. Seventeenth Street, and the block between Morton Salt Road and Halladay Memorial Boulevard is 12c. Remote, well, rumor is you can walk about in the Gordian Knot, bad area, but I suppose you're not frightened, and with a sign pointed skyward. Rumor is, Remote has eyes in the sky during the day so that he can decide who to kill at night.  He's es muy loco. Twilight..."

He hands you a card.  Its got a hotline number on it. "If you see injustice, call Twilight."

He pulls out a set of Nomex body armor for the both of you, and tsks as he examines the sonics on the battlesuit.

"For want of a simple focusing gem. Really trivial work. Double your range. Still not as good as this..." He pats his own hogleg. With a few adjustments, he adds two small industrial diamonds to your suit, one to each arm, and a device to spin them.

"Just crank them to within ten yards of the range you want, and let fly. Good out to say seventy feet.  Nice crowd control weapon."

He looks at you Misty.

"You've got ample energy weapons, and slugthrowers.  I'd say a glue gun, four shots only, but turns a thug into a tied up thug waiting for the paddy wagon. But....?" He spreads his beefy right hand in a whattya I know expression.

PT
Misty
player, 1029 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Wed 10 Jan 2007
at 02:42
  • msg #247

Re: Girls in the City

I looked at the shop owner and gave him my best worried smile.  I have to tell you that we're so over our heads in this, it isn't funny.  We've only been in town a couple of days and we're getting involved in a major supers battle.  At the minimum, we'll be facing...  I ran through the list of baddies we saw at Deadalus.  And of the ones on that list, Mistress Miserie wouldn't mind separating us into component atoms after our last encounter.  Also, I doubt that Bloodstreak has forgiven us yet for putting a bullet into his shoulder just as he was about to get artistic on a bank worker.

I took a deep breath and continued.  Here's the funny part.  We're not superheros.  We're very good at what we do, but we are nowhere close to being in the same league as Sunstar, Guardian, or even Icarus.  But, some very bad people have gathered to do some very bad things and we are going to do what needs to be done and go in after them.  We need whatever help you can provide.

A chill ran down my back.  Now, back to business.  Is this armor a nomex/kevlar composite...
Alexis
player, 569 posts
Wed 10 Jan 2007
at 03:32
  • msg #248

Re: Girls in the City

As I listen to Misty talking to Turtle I examined the inprovemwnts he had made to my Sonics.  Very nice.  I feel a little more comfortable with them now.  I take my suit and look it over as I wait for his reply to Misty's question.

I'm very glad Misty is handling this as she is.  I am very afraid we have gotten in over our heads here.  Now knowing that we will just move on to a new world I'm not really worried about dying.  But I was really hoping to learn a lot more here as well as pick up a few more toys before we had to verse out.  Then there's always the concideration that the next world could be 10 times worse than this one. I kind of like the evil we know verses the one that we don't.
Playtester
GM, 4157 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Wed 10 Jan 2007
at 04:35
  • msg #249

Re: Girls in the City

He looks torn.

"I don't have time to seriously upgrade you both cybernetically.  You'd need surgery time, recovery time, and getting to know how to 'talk' to the bionics time--two weeks, minimum, probably a lot more."

He walks, no thumps back and forth from his great weight.  He rubs his balding head from the sweat, and looks torn.  You can tell he really doesn't want to do this, but at the same time, he feels he has too.

He steps back into the back area, and comes back out after a couple minutes with you both casting 'whats up' faces at each other.  In his hand, he has a pale gold katana.

"This fell to Earth a thousand years ago, roughly. Put a fifty foot deep crater in the hills of Southern France. Its made of lattice matrix neutronium that is gravitionally attenuated.  The dial on the bottom of the hilt controls the attenuation, and its effectively unbreakable, and sharp enough to shave with, if you have a very steady hand. Its an honor sword, but from a Nipponese clan that doesn't exist yet.  There is supposed to be a number of weird stories about it which I'm not familiar with since the fellow selling it to me was...in a hurry."

PT
Alexis
player, 570 posts
Wed 10 Jan 2007
at 16:18
  • msg #250

Re: Girls in the City

My attention immediately drawn to the weapon Turtle is holding.  How could one not be drawn to all that beautiful shiny gold.  I move closer to get a better look at it.  Wow! That way outclasses the sword I just happened to pick up.

I look over at Misty.  "You take it.  I already have a sword.  And I really don't have any training with one."
Misty
player, 1030 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Wed 10 Jan 2007
at 22:16
  • msg #251

Re: Girls in the City

I stood there, in awe of this exotic blade.  It was sooo beautiful.  I have absolutely no idea what a gravitionally attenuated, lattice matrix neutronium sword does, other than cut things that aren't normally able to be cut.  Even though I used to do some SCA stuff as a form of physical fitness, I will be the first one to admit that I'm no swordswoman.  Besides, I'm a lot better with ranged weapons.

Your blade is incredible.  It is beyond any possible description I can make.  Any warrior would be honored to carry that blade into battle.  I shook my head sadly.  I've fought with padded longswords and other practice melee weapons a few times, but I'm still basically a rookie with anything much longer than a pocket knife.  So, unless this thing comes with a demo disk, I'm afraid that your wonderful blade would be placed in the wrong hands if it were to be placed in mine.
Playtester
GM, 4169 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Thu 11 Jan 2007
at 04:55
  • msg #252

Re: Girls in the City

He nods.

"All right then."  And he puts the blade back up.  "Best of luck against the crazies, okay? And drop back in, and get some cyber when you have more time, eh?"

PT
Misty
player, 1032 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Thu 11 Jan 2007
at 12:44
  • msg #253

Re: Girls in the City

I pick up the armor and the four shot glue gun.  Thank you for all your help.  When we win this one, it will be because of you.  I thought about our mission of contacting heros to help.  Ummm... could I borrow your phone?
Playtester
GM, 4174 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Thu 11 Jan 2007
at 23:12
  • msg #254

Re: Girls in the City

He pulls out a couple pawned cel phones from under a counter, and adds a hundred minute cards to each.  Then with fat fingers flashing, he enters in the phone numbers of both in to the other so that you have each other in your address books.

"Merry Christmas. Now go save the city."  You can see that his social endurance is wearing thin, and he's getting tired.  "I have a date with a microwave fettucine."

PT
Alexis
player, 571 posts
Fri 12 Jan 2007
at 01:58
  • msg #255

Re: Girls in the City

I took the cellphone he offered and looked it over.  "Thank you....For everything."    I smiled at Turtle and then turned to Misty.  "Shall we go finish our business and let him go get his dinner?"
Misty
player, 1033 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Fri 12 Jan 2007
at 12:48
  • msg #256

Re: Girls in the City

I looked at our very put upon benefactor.  We both owe you big time and we will find a way to repay you for this.

I turned to Lexi and smiled.  Let's get out of here.  We've bothered this kind gentleman enough and we do have other tasks, like finding a place to change.  I'd like to put this suit on under my clothes, I doubt that a phone booth will work very well.
Playtester
GM, 4181 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 12 Jan 2007
at 15:40
  • msg #257

Re: Girls in the City

Alexis, Turtle looks a bit dazed after you smile at him like you hit him in the face with a shovel.

You both slip out and walk down the street with your glue gun pistol, and the armor.  Misty, you spot a $5-$7 clothing store, and hopefully walk in.

The clerk takes one look at you both with your arms full of armour, and says.

"Superheroes, the changing room is in the back."

Its a plain, straightforward store with a bit more dust than you'd like, and the dresses are not that attractive, but then when you're selling dresses for 7.99, it comes with the territory.

You pass through the piles of fabric, and see one dedicated fabric shopper, and her little daughter sitting next to her on a stool looking desperately bored.  The little girl waits until after you have both changed, and then darts up to you with a "Superhero Signature Collection Book." with a pink pen attached to it by a string.  She holds it out and says nothing.

You both are dressed in exterior armor which is black with what looks like a red for one, and dark blue for the other paint dye swirled into a paint base, but not completely blended look.  The face masks are full pull over the head, and tuck the neck covering into the neckhole face masks.


PT
Alexis
player, 572 posts
Sat 13 Jan 2007
at 01:41
  • msg #258

Re: Girls in the City

I look at the little girl staring so earnestly at us.  I give her a smile. "Can you give us just a minute?" I pull Misty aside and look at her slightly paniced.  I whisper to her. "She wants our superhero signatures!  We don't have a superhero name.  Maybe we better come up with something.  Do you have any ideas?"
Misty
player, 1035 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sat 13 Jan 2007
at 05:02
  • msg #259

Re: Girls in the City

I've faced a Vulture Squad, a horde of zombies, and hosts of other baddies, yet I was about as scared by a silent little girl with an autograph book as I've ever been.  I don't know Lexi.  We had better think of something.  Hmmm...  some supers are named according to what they do, like The Flash, Green Arrow, and The Human Torch.  Others are named for what they are, like Superman, Spiderman, and Wonder Woman.

My brain was racing, but it must have been in neutral gear, because I wasn't getting anywhere.  Think.  THINK!  Let's start with what are we...  and what do we do.  We shoot bad people and they usually fall down.  I don't know...  Gun Girl...  Blaster Babe...  Bullet Bimbo...  give me a minute.  We have automatic weapons...  The Salvo Sisters...  Volley Girls...

Arrrgh!  I cold imagine smoke curling out of my ears as I tried to kick-start dormant brain cells into action.  This naming thing wasn't working.  Think...  shooting...  firing...   Lexi, help me out here.  Do you know any words, old or new, which refer to shooting?
Alexis
player, 573 posts
Sat 13 Jan 2007
at 12:36
  • msg #260

Re: Girls in the City

I stare at Misty my brain freezing up on me for a second.  "I...uuh.."  I give my self a mental shake and try to focus on what she's asking me.   Shooting?  Umm...  Shooting?  OK well lets see....blast, fire, storm, volley, fusillade, battery, shell.    I continue to fire off words as quickly as they come to me.  "Gunfire, discharge, crossfire, salvo, burst....I don't know I'm running out of ideas."
Misty
player, 1036 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sat 13 Jan 2007
at 13:38
  • msg #261

Re: Girls in the City

I knew there was a reason I kept travelling with Alexis.  When it's crunch time, she always comes through... just like now.  I thought about what was working out to be our standard combat tactics.  I would usually fire a burst of shots while Lexi would go to the side and attempt to get an angle of fire on our opponents.

Lexi, I think you have something there.  Fusillade means to fire a bunch of shots at once.  I do that.  Crossfire is to put ammo on a target from a second position.  You do that.  I looked at Lexi and smiled.  Well, partner?  What do you think?
Playtester
GM, 4192 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Sat 13 Jan 2007
at 14:57
  • msg #262

Re: Girls in the City

The little girl's eyes dart from Alexis to Misty, and back again.  She's beginning to smile.

Her fabric-checking mother has looked up from a roll of denim toward you three with an inquisitive glance.

PT
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:58, Sat 13 Jan 2007.
Alexis
player, 574 posts
Sat 13 Jan 2007
at 23:51
  • msg #263

Re: Girls in the City

I stared at Misty and then suddenly smiled.  "Sure! I like it.  Fusillade and Crossfire..."  I let the names roll off my tongue liking to sound of them.   I grin. "OK I think we have our names."

I walk over to the little girl and take her book.  I sigh my first official autogragh as Crossfire.  With a smile I hand her book back to her.  "There Ya go."
Misty
player, 1039 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sun 14 Jan 2007
at 00:36
  • msg #264

Re: Girls in the City

I looked at the little girl.  May I sign your book, too?  My name is Fusillade.  What is yours?  When I finially coaxed it out of her, with Mom's permission, I found that she had a name that was as cute as she was.  I had to ask how it was spelled, though, since there are several ways of spelling it.

When I had the proper spelling down, I autographed the book with her name, the words "Our Biggest Fan, From", and my new name, Fusillade.  I wasn't telling an untruth.  She was our biggest fan.  In fact, she was our only fan.

After I handed the kid back her autograph book, I turned to Lexi Crossfire.  Want to split up to cover ground more quickly or go together to watch each other's backs?  Personally, I like the covering each other option, but we are running out of time.
Alexis
player, 575 posts
Sun 14 Jan 2007
at 01:22
  • msg #265

Re: Girls in the City

I smile Misty has a way of smoothing the way with people.  "Oh umm...You're right.  We are short on time.  But I have to be honest I like having my back covered as well.  So if I have to choose I say lets go together."
Misty
player, 1040 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sun 14 Jan 2007
at 04:55
  • msg #266

Re: Girls in the City

I couldn't help but smile at what Crossfire said.  This black and red fancy long underwear made me feel like a target.  Together it is.  Before we head out, I've got to make a call.

I punched in the hotline number from the card.  It was picked up after a couple of rings.  Hello, Twilight?  We met in an alley a few days ago and now, we really need your help...
Playtester
GM, 4204 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Sun 14 Jan 2007
at 05:59
  • msg #267

Re: Girls in the City

A dead flat, yet intimidating voice speaks.

"This is Twilight's Hotline.  State your name, your problem, and any other information you feel is relevant.  I will consider your problem and make a decision as to what course suits Justice.  If you are in immediate danger, press one now.  If you are not in immediate danger, and you press one, then you will be in immediate danger.  If you're one of my enemies calling to taunt me, I wouldn't. Instead, I'd enjoy the free breath I'm taking now since you probably don't have many of them left."

Sighing, you realize its a Superhero Answering Machine.

That leaves Remote, and Soliton to go and recruit.  Although it does occur to you that you felt a number of scriff sources when you arrived in this universe.

PT
Misty
player, 1041 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sun 14 Jan 2007
at 15:43
  • msg #268

Re: Girls in the City

I sighed.  I've never liked talking to a machine.  This is Fusillade.  You met my partner, Crossfire, and I in an alley a few days ago.  Mistress Miserie, Master Mayhem, Heat Death, Last Lady, Toller, Bloodstreak, some blob guy, and probably a few others that we didn't see hit Daedalus several hours ago.  We're assembling a team to go get them.  We need your help.  My number is 254-555-1999.  I ended the call.

I turned to Crossfire.  We have some options.  We could look for the two heros that Mentum suggested or see if we can recruit some versers to help us.  If they're like us, they've probably been powering and gearing up during their stay.
Alexis
player, 576 posts
Mon 15 Jan 2007
at 02:04
  • msg #269

Re: Girls in the City

I glimpse myself in the mirror one more time before we exit the store.  I smile inwardly.  I do have to admit I look pretty good.  The new clothes are great and look great on me.

"Hmm...yeah I have been sensing quite a few scriff sources. "  I follow Misty out onto the sidewalk.  "How about we head down to that block where Turtle said we could find Soliton.  Maybe if we concentrate we can locate some other verses on our way over."
Playtester
GM, 4214 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Mon 15 Jan 2007
at 02:13
  • msg #270

Re: Girls in the City

You walk and decide separately that you sense six other scriff sources, of which one of them is your partner.  This double-check confirms the accuracy.

One seems by your changing vector to be quite nearby, and so you find yourself walking into a "Superflash Stop" convenience store, and it points up to a slim, brown-haired girl with glasses and a very quiet manner who is running the cash register.

Getting a bit closer to her, you can see her name tag says "Elspeth".

PT
Misty
player, 1042 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Mon 15 Jan 2007
at 04:13
  • msg #271

Re: Girls in the City

My mouth started watering as soon as I entered the shop.  It wasn't the girl behind the counter, but the selection of food and snacks.  The food bars I ate earlier weren't lasting very long today.  I grabbed a large microwaveable beef and bean burrito and popped it in the nuker to zap it for the time listed on the wrapper.

While my food was cooking, I got one of those big-enough-for-swimming drink cups with the local version of a super powered sports drink.  I took a sip.  It tasted something like a sugar-frosted blueberry.  What a horrible thing to do to an innocent blueberry.

When the microwave beeped, I used a few paper napkins as insulation to carry the burrito and my drink to the counter.  I waited until I was sure that Lexi has gotten all that she was going to get.  I fished several bills out of a pouch on my equipment belt, since I had discovered earlier that this suit wasn't big on pockets.  I looked at the girl as she rang up the purchases.  She didn't look like much, but since she was a verser, she probably had more going for her than it looked on the outside.

In my most calm and conversational voice, I asked, So, Elspeth, how long have you been travelling among worlds?
Playtester
GM, 4219 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Mon 15 Jan 2007
at 05:17
  • msg #272

Re: Girls in the City

She put down her thick book she was reading below the counter as you came up to her, and began to rang up your purchase in a professional, but almost mechanical and quite distant manner.

When you ask her the question, she looks up at you, blinks, and then frowns in concentration, and finally makes a decision.

"I'm sorry, you must be talking about someone else?  I don't....think I know you.  Do I know you?"  She says very softly, and then bites her lip.  "I'm not a world traveller. Only moved once to the City."

PT
Alexis
player, 578 posts
Tue 16 Jan 2007
at 03:11
  • msg #273

Re: Girls in the City

Surprisingly enough I was still starving.  I grabbed one of those burritos Misty was having.  It smelled really good as she was heating it. Then I grabbed bag of tortilla chips along with a couple of chocolate chip granola bars and a bottle of water. I looked at my selection of foods on the counter and grimaced.  I really hoped I was burning all this off with my mind over matter techniques.  Otherwise if I ever lost control of my mind I might just look like a 200 pound blimp.

I smiled at the girl "Ah yeah.  That first move is the scariest. With scriff you never know where you're going to end up. So have you found anything interesting in the city?"
Misty
player, 1042 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Tue 16 Jan 2007
at 03:32
  • msg #274

Re: Girls in the City

OOC:  This is really Misty.

We didn't really have time to play games with little miss innocent.  That didn't mean that we wouldn't, just that we didn't have the time to waste.  Look, we're versers, just like you.  We can sense the scriff in your body, just as you can sense the scriff floating around in ours.  Close your eyes and reach out with your mind.  You will see us.  That scriff is how we found you and know who you are.  Don't worry, we're friendly despite what our choice of fashion accessories says about us.
This message was last updated by the GM at 03:32, Tue 16 Jan 2007.
Playtester
GM, 4233 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 16 Jan 2007
at 03:46
  • msg #275

Re: Girls in the City

"Scriff? The City, well its nice, I guess. I spend most of my time at home."  Then she listens to what Misty has to say, and backs up a step.  "I-I don't want any trouble.  Look I have no idea what you're talking about, and I don't really want to join your religion okay?"  Her voice trembles at the end, and you can see she is frightened, but some spark in her eyes betrays some guilty knowledge as well.

PT
Alexis
player, 581 posts
Tue 16 Jan 2007
at 14:37
  • msg #276

Re: Girls in the City

I give Misty a glare and then turn to smile at the girl again.  "Look I know my friend here comes off a bit forceful at times but we aren't here to hurt you.  Quite the opposite in fact.  We know you are a verser we can sense the scriff in your blood.  If this is in fact your first world then let us help you out.  We aren't new at this and believe me this world is quite tame compared to a lot of the others.  You will need supplies and training. If you're smart you will take advantage of our help."

I pause to take a sip of water and give her a minute to take in what I had already said.  "We need your help and are willing to trade our knowledge from past experiences for it.  What do you say?  Will you help us?"
Playtester
GM, 4243 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 16 Jan 2007
at 15:39
  • msg #277

Re: Girls in the City

"Sure, let me go on break. I'll tell Luisa to come up and run the cash register." She steps through the door into the back, and Luisa, a hard-faced Puerto Rican girl comes out and glares not at you, but into the air past your faces.

A minute passes...and a quick check on your scriff sense says that Lil Miss Clueless is off and running out the back door.

PT
Misty
player, 1042 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Tue 16 Jan 2007
at 20:22
  • msg #278

Re: Girls in the City

OOC:  It's still Misty borrowing a computer.

I looked at Crossfire and smiled.  I think it's a safe bet that our shy little salesclerk won't be much help on this run.  I took a bite of my burrito.  If we needed to find her again, it wasn't like she could actually hide from us.  The burrito tasted better than it looked.  Let's pay for these and get out of here.
This message was last updated by the GM at 20:22, Tue 16 Jan 2007.
Alexis
player, 584 posts
Tue 16 Jan 2007
at 22:33
  • msg #279

Re: Girls in the City

I sighed as I too sensed our little verser was gone.  With a nod I threw some money on the counter and picked up my food.  I shoved the granola bars in my belt pouch.  then I picked up my burrito and took a big bite.  It tasted wonderful. I gathered up my chips and drink and went to push the door open.  Holding it for Misty to pass through

I paused as we stepped outside and tried to sense if we could get lucky enough to find another verser close by.
Playtester
GM, 4251 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Wed 17 Jan 2007
at 16:10
  • msg #280

Re: Girls in the City

There is another one reasonably close by, perhaps not as close as Soliton, but you hike down one city street, dodge a Chinese parade on another, and then wander along the edge of a small park which is the grounds for a small college or academy.  Turning a left onto a sidewalk, it takes you out the open main entrance of the Bristlecone Academy and College, and directly across the street to the bar named Spring Break.

Inside, you see a bunch of college students studying, throwing darts (badly and laughing about it), bunches of superhero posters, and pizza with beer being drank.

Across the room, you see a guy?? with a golden skin that ripples a bit who is talking loudly to two girls who are giggling a bit.  The guy is your verser, and you're pretty sure he's aware of you two already since his stance has changed slightly to something more combat ready.

PT
Alexis
player, 586 posts
Thu 18 Jan 2007
at 02:42
  • msg #281

Re: Girls in the City

Well no beating about the bush he obviously knows what if not who we are. I walk across the room and give him my best smile. "Hi! Can I buy you a beer while we talk for a minute?"
Playtester
GM, 4254 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Thu 18 Jan 2007
at 03:00
  • msg #282

Re: Girls in the City

He grins even wider, and holds up one finger for 'one minute'.  He then fishes out of a hip pack two business cards.

"Do call me, Kimberly and Tonya.  I promise, guys from other dimensions are much cooler than the losers around here."  They giggle again, and take the cards, although you estimate this guy has maybe a thirty percent chance of getting one of them to call him.

He then turns to you, and bestows his best smile on you.  After meeting, the variety of Northgate super guys that run from the merely handsome like Sunstar to the young prince about town Icarus to the almost perfect Mentum, its a bit odd to meet a guy who is merely normal.  Except for the slightly translucent skin, and the way his jaw, and other body parts jiggle in the way creatures with bones are not supposed to.

"Only, lovely lady, if you tell me your name.  Mine is Whisp.  And please, tell your friend to join us. There's enough Whisp to go around." And for a second, he thins, and there are two identical "Whisps" only connected by a thin strand of gold at the hands. And then he folds himself back into one more rotund body as he picks up the beer you bought him.

PT
Misty
player, 1044 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Thu 18 Jan 2007
at 13:17
  • msg #283

Re: Girls in the City

I decided that this guy would be more attracted to Crossfire than me.  I usually do all right in the looks department, but since Lexi did that Jedi-mind-trick thing, I attracted a lot less attention than I used to get.  I can live with that.

*Whisp?  Whatever...*  The duplication power was nice.  Maybe he could help us, other than talking the bad guys into submission with cheesy pick-up lines.
Alexis
player, 587 posts
Fri 19 Jan 2007
at 00:06
  • msg #284

Re: Girls in the City

My smile wavers a little when bestowed upon with his more than lacking charm and his way too big ego. I wished I could turn around and walk away.  But we need this guys help.  He has some talent it seems which might provide useful.

I turn and walk over to a empty table and take a seat hoping he takes the hint and follows me.  As soon as the waitress comes and gets our order and then leaves again I get down to business.  We are after all on a time constraint.  "Ok I'm not going to waste any time here.  We don't really have any to spare.  I know you are a verser.  I also know that you know we are too.  We have a situation in which we could use your help."  I give him the whole story about the superbeings and Daedalus.

I sit back as the waitress walks up and sets our drinks down.  I give her some money to pay for them and then pick mine up take a sip. After she leaves I gaze at him as he thinks about what I have just told him.
Playtester
GM, 4264 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 19 Jan 2007
at 00:29
  • msg #285

Re: Girls in the City

"Oh, you're a verser, um, yeah, I knew that."  He pauses to impatiently listen to your story.  "Ok-ok, I got it. Bad guys need a beating. Count me in.  Too bad they're not any vampires.  I like killing vampires." He slurps down the rest of his beer.  "Pop their heads like a grape."  And he demonstrates by breathing out, and squeezing the metal stein into a small crumpled ball of metal.

You both recognize it as some form of martial arts that uses a trance focus to achieve superhuman strength.  You also recognize that he's trying to come up with some way to work the conversation back around to asking one or both of you out to go to the movies.

He's still talking to you both, and occasionally checking out the other females in the bar, at a mile a minute, when you see a young girl, perhaps ten, with a backpack and a cel phone head toward your table.

"Dad, its okay. Really.  Please chill."  She pauses, and looks at you three, although with some doubt at Whisp.  "Really Dad, they look, uh, perfectly fine. No, don't DO anything. NO. I've gottagobyenowloveyou."  She closes her cel phone, and rolls her eyes.
PT
OOC: This character, Whisp, is from the back of the book, and was the inspiration so I hear for the Cafe Express t-shirt (don't know if they have them now or not) that said "The verse is a great place to pick up girls.".  There was later added one that said 'boys', but that was only to be evenhanded, I guess.
Misty
player, 1044 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Fri 19 Jan 2007
at 06:49
  • msg #286

Re: Girls in the City

I listen to what Alexis had to say to Whisp.  When she finished talking and Whisp displayed just why he was feared by beer mugs around the world, I decided to chip into the conversation with our identities.  I'm Fusillade.  She's Crossfire.  We hate to break up your version of 'The Dating Game', but we are under time constraints here.

I watched the girl walk over and check us out.  There wasn't any guideline that I knew of where versers had to be over the age of eighteen.  Just to be sure, I checked to see if she was scriffed.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:49, Fri 19 Jan 2007.
Playtester
GM, 4271 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 19 Jan 2007
at 05:28
  • msg #287

Re: Girls in the City

"Hey the verse is a great place to pick up girls.  I mean, I've dated princesses, and barbarians, and this vampire girl, until I realized she was a vamp, and...."  You see that he is more than willing to go on about his exploits for a while, so you clear your throat.  He stops.

The girl steps up to your table.  She gives a nervous little wave.

"Hi, I'm like Jennifer Drake."  A giggle more like a snort.  Your check reveals she is a verser.  Whisp starts to say something sarcastic but a glare shuts him up.  "Um, wow, this is really awkward.  Anyways, I'm a verser, and my dad, well, he saw you were going around looking up versers, and he figured I should get out of the way, but he's like uber-paranoid and all, and so I thought I'd check up on you, and you seem like nice people so please don't tote me out into an alley and kill me, okay?"

"Your dad would be mad at you if you got killed, right?"  Whisp interjects with some sarcasm.

Jennifer Drake nods her head vigorously, and raises her eyebrows until they almost hit her hairline.  "You wouldn't believe how strict he is.  I mean, even if when he grew up wasn't in the Twenty-first century, he should get with the times."

PT
OOC: This conversation reminds me of one comment Kelly Tessena made---"So far in versing, I haven't been hurt badly, except for that atomic bomb".
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:03, Fri 19 Jan 2007.
Alexis
player, 588 posts
Fri 19 Jan 2007
at 12:06
  • msg #288

Re: Girls in the City

I look at the girl a little hesitant.  Sure she was a verser but I was having trouble getting past the ingrained sense of protecting the young my society had instilled in me.

I glance at Misty and take another swallow of my drink to give myself time to think.  Finally deciding that we need all the help we can get.  Besides in versing age is not necessarily an indicator of experience.  "Ok..Exactly how long have you been versing?  What experience do you have that would benefit us?"  I sigh "Look I'm not trying to be rude but we have some really nasty bad guys to take down.  We need to know you can handle it."
Playtester
GM, 4277 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 19 Jan 2007
at 16:50
  • msg #289

Re: Girls in the City

Her face falls.

"Oh, I thought you were like trying to meet everyone in the 'hood, as it were."  Her trying to use ghetto slang doesn't really work since she looks clean-cut and restrained with a tightly drawn-back brunnette ponytail; although with a bit of mischief in her eyes.

"Um, I'm  a Mild, that is a Mildly Powered Superbeing." She grimaces. Her eyes glow and sparks of electricity jump from the tips of her fingertips.  "Thats it.  I can give someone a good static electricity shot.  I've only been to one other world, and that was when I was a baby so I don't remember it.  I grew up here in Northgate City. I've got a green belt in Aikido, and Dad is teaching me how to use a sword, but he says I'm a better violin player than a swordhand. Um, maybe you want to talk to my Dad.  Course, he likes to mind his own business, and he's probably pretty mad at me right now. I think I messed up because its like he has these moods, and sometimes he gets really angry."

PT
Misty
player, 1045 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Fri 19 Jan 2007
at 17:24
  • msg #290

Re: Girls in the City

So this kid really was a kid.  I can work with that.  And, her Dad was protective of her.  I can see that, too, especially in a place like Northgate City.  There is one thing about a PI that can get us in trouble.  OK, maybe more than one thing gets a PI on trouble, but being curious in way up there on the list.  That curiosity was getting the better of me at the moment.

Sorry, Miss Drake.  We're recruiting what we hope is some high powered talent to help us capture some serious bad guys.  Your Father wouldn't want you involved in this.  By the way, just who is your Father?
Playtester
GM, 4281 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 19 Jan 2007
at 17:33
  • msg #291

Re: Girls in the City

"Oh, okay." She pauses.  "Dad is a web designer, and occasionally he does consultant work for Hollywood.  He's got an eye for color and design.  I like going there, and all the people are real nice to me."  She pauses again like she's not sure she should say this, and then grins like a little pixie.  "Morton Green, the action adventure guy in Big Gun, Bigger Man, and Death From Above 1-4 was rude to me once, and so Daddy broke both his arms.  He lets people think he's connected to the Mafia even though he's not.  Course, you can't tell people this because the story is MG got his arms broke in a car crash.  And anyways, maybe thats why all the actors are nice to me, but I dunno, most seemed pretty nice anyways."  She scratches her head, trying to figure out adult behaviour.

"Thats why I don't tell Daddy everything bad that happens to me. Sometimes he gets a little too excited."

PT
Alexis
player, 589 posts
Fri 19 Jan 2007
at 23:52
  • msg #292

Re: Girls in the City

I smile at the little girl.  "Misty's right.  Your father wouldn't want you involved in what we have to do.  However we would like to meet your father. What did you say his name is?"

I look over at Misty"We need to get moving.  What do you think?  Should we have them meet us somewhere?" 
Misty
player, 1046 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sat 20 Jan 2007
at 00:32
  • msg #293

Re: Girls in the City

Alexis was right.  We did need to get moving.  I only knew of one place which we could use for a meeting.  I hated to inflict Whisp on our benefactors, but the guy is a verser and technically is allowed to use the Foundation facilities.  The fact that I didn't want him living down the hall from me wasn't important at this moment.  We needed him.  Whisp, this is your lucky day.  I'm going to give you an address where we're going to link up to go to Daedalus.  All you have to tell them is that you're a verser.  Oh, and there will be a written entrance exam, but you don't have to study for it.

I turned to Crossfire and whispered, Let's do the rock, scissors, paper game.  Loser has to give Whisp her cell phone number.
Playtester
GM, 4283 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Sat 20 Jan 2007
at 00:53
  • msg #294

Re: Girls in the City



"Cool."  Whisp pauses as you play your game at the side of the table.  Alexis loses by putting scissors to Misty's rock.  "Hey, what are you doing?"

Alexis, you smile tightly, and write out your cel phone number on a napkin.  You're tempted to 'accidentally' drop it in your drink, but then you'd just have to do it again.

Once Whisp has the address, he pauses to see if a kiss is forthcoming, and when it isn't he shapeshifts to a large golden raven, and flies out of the bar.

"Whatta dweeb." Jennifer Drake says.  "My Dad, he ....always...signs his checks 'Kyle Drake'. Although everyone always calls him Mister Drake."

PT
Alexis
player, 590 posts
Sat 20 Jan 2007
at 04:28
  • msg #295

Re: Girls in the City

I hand Whisp the paper with the phone number on it.  Dropping it in the water wasn't an option but I had another idea.  One could forgive me for a small mistake.  After all Misty's number is only one digit of from mine.  I just seem to get them confused.

I sit back and breath a sigh of relief when he finally leaves and say a prayer that he won't use that number.  Misty will be so mad.  But then we're going into battle maybe a little anger to work off isn't a bad thing.

I finish my drink and stand up in preparation of leaving.  I make a mental note of the girls fathers name.  I look at Misty.  "Are you ready to go find the rest of our group?"
Misty
player, 1048 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sat 20 Jan 2007
at 05:08
  • msg #296

Re: Girls in the City

I watched Lexi as she gave Whisp her cell number.  From the way that she moved, it looked like she was giving away a winning Powerball ticket.  I kept a straight face, though.  We did need his help and it's not nice to laugh at people, no matter how funny the situation happens to be.

*Kyle Drake?  That name could be worth remembering.*  I had no idea who Kyle Drake was, but once we had some extra time, that might be worth checking out.  Miss Drake, would you please tell your Father that we would like to meet with him at his earliest convenience?  And would you also excuse us?  We do have to be going.

I turned to Crossfire.  Let's go.  The clock is ticking.  Who knows how long the slimeballs will be at Deadalus.  We don't want to miss that party.
Playtester
GM, 4293 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Sat 20 Jan 2007
at 18:09
  • msg #297

Re: Girls in the City

I'm a bit confused about what your plans are other than your leaving the bar.  Are you heading to Daedalus? The Foundation? Soliton? Other choices?

PT
Misty
player, 1049 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sat 20 Jan 2007
at 20:26
  • msg #298

Re: Girls in the City

As we leave the bar, I realize that Lexi hasn't said where she wants to go.  Crossfire, where do you want to go next?  We could go looking for those real heros, or keep trying to enlist versers to help.  Personally, I think we could use some people with proven track records.  What do you think?
Alexis
player, 591 posts
Sat 20 Jan 2007
at 22:39
  • msg #299

Re: Girls in the City

I look at shops and businesses as we walk down the street.  I pause at Misty's question. "Oh uh..I though we'd already decided to get moving to find our other superhero.   Yes I agree we need to find the other superheros.  What was that place we were told we could find Soliton?  It was this way right?"
Playtester
GM, 4298 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Sun 21 Jan 2007
at 00:50
  • msg #300

Re: Girls in the City

You head down one block, and then cut right onto Seventeenth Street.  At first, it seems a pleasant commercial district, but it rapidly goes downhill.  Soon, you're see guys with really big coats to hide their guns standing on street corners, and hassling people who walk by.

One says to you both.

"Hey, there, don't run away.  I got the thing to send you both to heaven.  Plus it can give you superpowers.  Only fifty bucks."

And then suddenly it stops after you cross a street.  You see a toddler driving a tricycle about, and relaxed if poor apartment owners getting out of the car, and leaving their car doors unlocked, and an antique store with the kind of ancient owner that could not survive in this neighbour hood, and he's out sweeping the sidewalk.

You walk past a skinny guy in an old high school athlete jacket with lanky, dirty blonde hair who is toting a six pack of Pepsi, and a pizza.  You turn up and climb the stairs to 12c, and begin to knock as the guy follows you, but at a distance since he is in no rush at all.

"Go on in. Its unlocked."  He says wearily as he climbs the steps.  He looks thorougly unimpressive, with his rounded shoulders and tacky shirt, but you note that he's not in the least out of breath as he climbs.  Its more as if the act of doing something is wearying than the actual effort.  And most people you've met have given at least a small glance at your abundant guns with a little fear, even if its only a tiny reminder to themselves that you both are armed and dangerous.

Soliton has the most fearless eyes you've ever seen.

PT
Misty
player, 1050 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sun 21 Jan 2007
at 05:43
  • msg #301

Re: Girls in the City

*This is Soliton?*  Well, after looking at at the street where he lives, this guy must have something going for him.  As I looked at him, I didn't know what it was, except for maybe the eyes.  I took a deep breath.  This was going to get interesting very quickly.

Mentum says that you might help us.  A team of some very bad people attacked Daedalus several hours ago.  We were there on personal business when they attacked.  We barely got away.  Now we're trying to put together a team of people to go in and retake the compound.  We're really not superheros, but we're going to do what we can.
Playtester
GM, 4304 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Sun 21 Jan 2007
at 17:17
  • msg #302

Re: Girls in the City

"Be glad you're not superheroes." He steps through you expecting you both to move in or out of the way or get crashed into.  He walks inside, and you see an old couch, a table that once was splendid but that was before the dozens of water rings marred its surface.

A dingy carpet is dotted with pizza boxes, and the only other things in the white-walled room is a bigscreen TV and a game machine.  He looks at the TV and it clicks on to a football game.  He collapses into his sofa, and drops the pizza next to him.

The door is still open.

"Ham and Pineapple.  Have a slice."  He says carelessly as he pops open a Pepsi can by sticking his finger into the top with a casual gesture.  He seems to be focused on his game, and on the limp slice of pizza in his other hand.

PT
Alexis
player, 592 posts
Mon 22 Jan 2007
at 01:46
  • msg #303

Re: Girls in the City

I follow him into the room and look around.  I stop a short distance from him. and after taking in the atmosphere I opt to stand and touch as little as possible in this room.  Soliton may be a well respected superhero but but his living quarters and manner are a bit lacking.   "Look as much as we'd like to discuss the pros and cons of being a superhero we are on a time constraint here.  Although it may be in your opinion a good thing we are not superheros we are fighting super bad guys.  We need your help.  So will you help us or not?"
Playtester
GM, 4308 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Mon 22 Jan 2007
at 03:11
  • msg #304

Re: Girls in the City

"No." He barely raises his head.  "Close the door on the way out."

PT
Misty
player, 1054 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Mon 22 Jan 2007
at 03:50
  • msg #305

Re: Girls in the City

I looked at this little man living in his own crud.  If this was the mighty Soliton, something terrible must have had happen to him.  His imitation of a universal remote was useful, but I didn't see a lot of combat potential in it.  I couldn't just leave.  I wanted to know why.  I needed to know why.  It's that dangerous curiosity thing again.

We'll leave, Soliton, but before we go, I would like to know what happened to you.  Did you lose someone very close to you?  Did your powers all but fade away?  Or was it just your courage?
Playtester
GM, 4314 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Mon 22 Jan 2007
at 16:26
  • msg #306

Re: Girls in the City

His face tightens, and for a half-second you hear a sound rocks going through a crushing mill that reverbrates through the room, and shakes the TV lightly.

"Fine." He snaps, and then he looks dead at you.  "Courage is a fool's game.  Besides, I am Soliton, I have no need of courage."

He gets up, and walks into the next room.  When he returns he has two picture frames turned upside down in his hand.

He hands you one.  Its a picture of laughing young man working on filling a pool with water.

"My best friend.  Until then, I had enjoyed it.  Me an 'eyeglass tech' now the most powerful superbeing on the planet.  And then the bomb which...I pulled the wrong wire."  He pauses. Hands shaking. "But I told myself that Johnny would have wanted me to continue.  That I had merely been arrogant, and I needed more training. Next time, it would be okay. Granted my girlfriend had been kidnapped several times, but I always rescued her.  Until the day there was a bomb and another bomb.  I tried to shield her with my body, but, I'm rather skinny.  And so the fire boiled around me, not harming me, as she evaporated in my arms. I'd been playing Russian Roullette with her life, and in my arrogance I thought that was okay."

He flips the second picture, and suddenly your're glad that you and Lexi are wearing face masks.  Its  a picture of a girl in a dojo, smiling proudly as she receives some tassels to add to her black belt.  The tassels and the belt are the same colors as Alexis's suit.  The girl doesn't look quite like the Alexis pre-Mind over Matter, and not quite like she looks now, but very, very close....and then you look up and see Alexis starting to take off her mask as if she were not thinking about what she was doing.

Alexis, you're feeling hot, and hey, why not take off the mask.  You're also feeling a little spaced out, dreamy....Soliton said something about Alexis, and that pricked your attention...

Meanwhile, Soliton is going on about some other horror in his life, but you can't hear him for the pounding of the blood in your ears...
Alexis
player, 593 posts
Tue 23 Jan 2007
at 04:56
  • msg #307

Re: Girls in the City

Alexis....?  Wow it's warm in here!  Suddenly I can't breath.  It's hard to think, or focus or....   I need to get some air.  This mask has got go.  I reach up and grab my mask feeling like I'm suffocating.  I push it off and gulp in the cool air hitting my face.  Then I realize I'm sweating and.... What's happening I can't think...
Misty
player, 1055 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Tue 23 Jan 2007
at 11:39
  • msg #308

Re: Girls in the City

I look at Soliton.  This could have gone badly enough to get us versed.  It still could.

Look, I know that you've had it rough.  What had happened to you is more than most people could possibly bear.  But look at yourself.  As Soliton, you are not most people.  You are the hero... the one person who can make the difference.  The one people look up to when there is no one else to turn to for help.  When I was a kid, my parents dragged me to church.  I remember a verse which talked about people like you.  It goes something like... 'unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required'...  or something like that.  A modern day mythologist of my world said it like this. 'And a lean, silent figure slowly fades into the gathering darkness, aware at last that in this world, with great power there must also come — great responsibility!'

I thought for a moment about how crazy I must be to lecture Soliton about being a hero, then I went on.  Look, hero, if you're calling it quits because you've taken your turn in the spotlight and now it's time for the new crop of supers to carry on the fight, that is cool.  The world owes you a ticker tape parade and a gold watch.  But of you're just going to lay there because the world has kicked you in the head once again and you don't want to get up, then you're not Soliton any more, and maybe you never really were.

I tool a look at Lexi for moral support, but she was looking strange.  The second picture did look a lot like her, but still...  Crossfire, are you all right?  What?  She just took off her mask!
Playtester
GM, 4322 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 23 Jan 2007
at 14:18
  • msg #309

Re: Girls in the City

"I used to believe. Even after Lexi died in my arms, I still believed, although the heart had died in me, y'know."  By his speech, you can tell that while he's not dumb, he's also very much of an average intelligence. "So when my bud, Doc Z asked me to recce a spot in space where his robot probe had gone off-line, I was happy to leave Earth.  I found an alien race of bots.  They attacked me furiously, and I realized they were heading to Earth in a mobile planet."  He sucks in a breath like its a knife cutting his throat, and looks for a second into you eyes, Misty like a drowning man.

Around the room, sparkling lights appear.  Each one a different color, and the room heats up while you both feel a fizz in your bones.

"So I checked them out. And they just attacked and attacked. Finally, I reached a conclusion.  After I looked into their main programming core.  They were irredeemably evil, violent, and although they hadn't hurt me, I couldn't stop them, unless I got really violent.  So I hit their planet at one-quarter c, and no more problem.  When I got back, Z heard my story, and told me how I had misinterpreted the data.  I didn't have to kill them all if I'd been smart."

He looks down  on the floor, and staggers a bit.  You can feel the building shudder.

"With great power comes the opportunity to really make a mess of things. Thats why you ought to be glad you're not a superhero."  He crumples to the floor, and starts to cry.  "Oh, Lexi..."

PT
Alexis
player, 594 posts
Tue 23 Jan 2007
at 16:22
  • msg #310

Re: Girls in the City

I wipe the sweat off my face and shake my head as the fog finally clears up and I am able to focus again.   I look around and see Soilton on the floor sobbing. He says my name again and I frown as I don't know what is going on.

Even though my disorientation is gone I still don't feel quite right.  It's still very hot and my bones feel funny.  I look over to see how Misty is doing.  She's looking like she's being affected too.  "Fusillade..?  I think we need to be going."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:32, Tue 23 Jan 2007.
Playtester
GM, 4327 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 23 Jan 2007
at 16:58
  • msg #311

Re: Girls in the City

PM
Misty
player, 1057 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Tue 23 Jan 2007
at 17:48
  • msg #312

Re: Girls in the City

This was sooooo not good.  The disco light show, the room heating up, the shaking building, and especially the tingling in my bones was letting me know that this guy was undergoing a serious meltdown.  I didn't want to be here when he fell completely off the edge of sanity mountain.   We're going now.  Just remember this.  Anything you do can be wrong, including doing nothing.  You can't second guess yourself forever.

I looked at Crossfire.  Let's go.  We still need to find a real superhero.
Playtester
GM, 4332 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Wed 24 Jan 2007
at 14:39
  • msg #313

Re: Girls in the City

You two walk out, and onto the street.  Several people stare at you wondering what you did to get the building shake.

Its a short walk to the Gordian Knot to try to find Remote.  The close-in alleys of this low ground near the harbour wind, and turn at unpredictable angles.

Most of the people you see make you glad you're heavily armed.  Most of the rest look like they're heading downhill as bad or worse than Soliton with men and women with vacant eyes staring at the middle of the wall, or through it as you pass.

Garbage bags litter the corners of some streets, and you can see that most of the streetlights look to have been shot out.  Gang graffitti is very common,  as are dead-eyed males with over-large coats.

However, your armor and your guns discourage them.  Perhaps worse is the sign you're holding over your head.  The piece of cardboard that says "Remote Help." on it.  When the gangbangers read that, they fade away like ice tossed into a fire.

And then a gleaming, metallic football drifts down out of the air in front of your faces.  Out of one end, a needle from which a sharp, minty smell arises, clicks in and out.

It hovers in front of you.

"What do you want?" The voice is electronically distorted, hoarse, and harsh.

PT
Misty
player, 1060 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Wed 24 Jan 2007
at 20:28
  • msg #314

Re: Girls in the City

As we leave the building, I suggest to Lexi that putting her mask back on might be a good idea.

Walking in the Gordian Knot isn't on my list of things to do on a summer evening.  Let me put this another way, if I were going to give Northgate City an enema, I know where I'd stick the nozzle.  My right hand never strayed far from my PDW during the walk.

I didn't have a preconceived notion of what to expect.  (Having preconceived notions is not generally a survivable habit for versers.)  But still, a floating metal football did catch me off guard for a moment.  Maybe I shouldn't have expected a person when he goes by the name of Remote.

I looked at the floating football.  We're looking for Remote.  We need your help.  Some very bad guys took over Daedalus.  I give the football device the Reader's Digest version of what happened.  We're trying to put together a team to go in and retake the Daedalus complex.
Alexis
player, 595 posts
Thu 25 Jan 2007
at 01:47
  • msg #315

Re: Girls in the City

I heed Misty's advice and slip my mask back on.  Now that we were outside I wasn't feeling so suffocatingly hot.

The Gordian Knot is not a place I want to hang in for much longer.  I unconsciously position my hand within quick reach of my weapon.   I glanced at Misty and notice she is doing the same.  I knew there was a reason I liked her for a partner.

The metal football dropping out of the sky was somewhat unexpected.  I stare at the floating football while Misty speaks to it.  When she's done I realize she failed to identify us.  "Partner, you didn't tell him who we are.  She is Fusillade and I am Crossfire."
Playtester
GM, 4341 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Thu 25 Jan 2007
at 02:27
  • msg #316

Re: Girls in the City

"Interesting names.  I prefer to get up close to my targets.  Less chance of an accident hitting an innocent. Three points. One. If you're of the school of 'spray and pray', then watch your back because I will be very annoyed if you hit anyone guiltless. I will be the judge of if they deserved it in that case, and I will deal what punishment suits me."

He pauses to laugh.  It sounds....off. It suddenly stops.

"Two. I find it amusing that the mighty and snow-white heroes of Northgate turn to me, a 'low-down murderous vigilante' for help.  Three. If, I am forced to by circumstances, are either of you going to have a difficulty if some despicable lower lifeform ends up tragically dead by my hand, as it were?"

There's an eagerness in his voice that comes through the electronic distortion, and then he starts to chuckle, and then to bellow. And then it stops, cold, and he speaks in what passes for a normal voice.

"Are my terms acceptable, Crossfire and Fusillade? If they are, I will be 'honored' to provide assistance without stint."
Misty
player, 1061 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Thu 25 Jan 2007
at 11:27
  • msg #317

Re: Girls in the City

At least he was ready and willing to help.  As to his conditions, though...  We thank you for your offer to help.  I think we need to address your three points.  First, we don't randomly spray bullets.  We are concerned about hurting innocents.  We even have stun capable weapons if innocents are around.  OK, so I don't usually use them, but I could.

Second, we are sooo not superheros.  I'm an ex-cop turned private investigator.  My friend and partner used to work for one of those alphabet soup agencies.  We were visiting Daedalus when it was hit.  We barely escaped the untender mercies of Toller, Mistress Miserie, and Master Mayhem.  We picked up these spandex tights at a pawnshop and made up a couple of names for a little girl with an autograph book.  We're going back to Daedalus because someone needs to and the regular heros weren't doing too well when we left to go for help.

I'm lecturing a superhero.  When they were passing out brains, I thought they said trains and I must have told them that I'd catch one later.  And about that "killing a lowlife" thing you mentioned?  You did notice that we are carrying more than a couple of weapons.  Let me assure that they are not decorative.  The question is, do you still want to work with us?  Oh, and I like the voice modulation thing you do.
Alexis
player, 596 posts
Thu 25 Jan 2007
at 12:14
  • msg #318

Re: Girls in the City

As I listen to this guy talk I can't help be be annoyed by his egotist god attitude.  He seems almost not in control that scares me a bit.  I don't want to get hooked up with someone I may end having to fight against instead of with.  But at least he doesn't like innocents getting hurt.  That goes in his favor.

And then Misty speaks.  It's all I can do to not break out in a grin as she throws his words back in his face.  I feel like I should say something so I don't just stand there like a post.  But Misty covered it all so well I decide it may be better to keep my silence until we hear his response.
Playtester
GM, 4347 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Thu 25 Jan 2007
at 13:56
  • msg #319

Re: Girls in the City

"When do you want me to arrive at Daedalus?" He speaks in a clinical tone that reminds Alexis of some of the spies she dealt with, pauses, and the voice assumes some normality, an actual small smile in the voice. "The voice mod is a really simple tech hack.  I could do one for you if we survive this.  You toss in some subsonics when you speak, and it scares the daylights out of...." And his mood shifts again to black fury.  "The wicked."  He giggles suddenly and the hairs on the back of your necks stand up.  It goes on just a little bit, but he controls it.  "I will be glad to assist, and the fact that the superheroes need an ex-cop, a spy, and a 'bloodthirsty madman' just makes it more delicious."

After you clarify a few details, his bot floats back up into the sky.

PT
Misty
player, 1064 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Thu 25 Jan 2007
at 23:29
  • msg #320

Re: Girls in the City

*That went well...*  I looked at Crossfire.  It's your call.  Do you want to look for another verser or see if we can get some more superpowered help.  I just had an idea of someone that we overlooked who might help.  Here's a hint.  He's very well connected in the super community and we're wearing his armor.  What do you think?
Playtester
GM, 4351 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Thu 25 Jan 2007
at 23:44
  • msg #321

Re: Girls in the City

You walk around the next corner, trying to find your way out of the Knot when you notice a flickering light up ahead.  Your weapons are half-drawn when you see a ten foot tall man with an ebony black quarterstaff about nine feet long and six inches thick who is wearing a cloak of white that drips white fire off it, and onto the ground.

He has rounded the corner, and spots you both.  He goes to one knee, and says in a soft, gentle voice that reverbrates belooooooowwww contra-bass.

"Twilight told me you were looking for help with the Daedalus Situation.  I'm Ambassador Oakmaster, on detached duty for HRM Kevin the Second.  I wonder if I might be of some small assistance."

PT
OOC: Can't recall if you met the Amb. yet, if yes, um....retcon!
Alexis
player, 597 posts
Fri 26 Jan 2007
at 02:15
  • msg #322

Re: Girls in the City

I look up at the man Thankful that he did go to one knee.  If I had to look up at him while he was standing I think I might sprain my neck.  I'm fascinated by his cloak.  It's beautiful yet scary at the same time.  I smile. Well we really aren't in any position to turn him down.  "Yes we could use your help.  Thank you.  Just one thing though,   What is that you do?"
Oak
GM, 1043 posts
Fri 26 Jan 2007
at 03:02
  • msg #323

Re: Girls in the City

He smiles back kindly at you.

"That is a very deep question, and has many levels.  In what sense do you wish me to address it?"
Misty
player, 1065 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Fri 26 Jan 2007
at 06:34
  • msg #324

Re: Girls in the City

I look at the Ambassador.  He was definitely an attention getter.  I wondered if he would tell me where he got that fabulous cape, if asked.  Ambassador, I think my partner was wondering as to your primary offensive and defensive capabilities.  For example, I shoot people with different kinds of weapons, depending on the situation, and try to duck when the people shoot back.  Knowing your abilities would help us plan a method of attack.  By the way, I'm Fusillade.  This is my partner, Crossfire.

I couldn't help but wonder what Twilight told him about us.  Well, whatever it was, this guy still wanted to help.
Oak
GM, 1044 posts
Fri 26 Jan 2007
at 06:59
  • msg #325

Re: Girls in the City

"It is a pleasure to meet you both."

He tips his head gracefully.  In addition to being very deep, his voice sounds... somewhat refined or cultured.  Perhaps it is a slight British accent.

He considers your question.

"Well, some might say that I have been blessed with slightly more than the average height and strength and martial arts prowess... and it is true that evildoers are not overly fond of this 'rod of correction' being thusly applied to them."

"And others might say that I have been blessed with slightly more than the average cloak... and it is true that evildoers are not overly fond of attacking me in whatever form, for the cloak temporarily removes a great part of that attack ability from them, and the degree to which their attacks afflict me is significantly reduced."
Alexis
player, 598 posts
Sat 27 Jan 2007
at 01:15
  • msg #326

Re: Girls in the City

I smile "It's a pleasure to meet you as well.  And we can definitely use someone of your abilities. "  I turn to continue our walk.  "Do you mind if we talk and walk at the same time?  We have someone else to meet. By the way did Twilight mention whether or not he'd be able to help us out as well?"
Playtester
GM, 4362 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Sat 27 Jan 2007
at 01:53
  • msg #327

Re: Girls in the City

I believe you two were planning on going back to the pawn shop to try to convince Tortoise to join you.

You get to the edge of the Knot, cut across the tail of Chinatown, and up one road to the pawn shoppe.

You've become aware that someone is following you on the rooftops.

PT
Oak
GM, 1046 posts
Sat 27 Jan 2007
at 04:04
  • msg #328

Re: Girls in the City

"I wouldn't mind walking and talking at all."

He gravely stands up, and walks slowly beside you both.  He gracefully manages to keep his steps small and slow enough that you don't have to trot to keep up with him.

"Twilight said that he was not able to help since there was a difficulty with 'another situation' that he needed to get involved in.  He apologized, and asked me to cover for him instead."

After walking for a time, he murmurs very softly to you both without breaking stride.

"I do believe that someone is following us on the rooftops..."
Misty
player, 1066 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sat 27 Jan 2007
at 12:31
  • msg #329

Re: Girls in the City

I smiled.  At least this guy was paying attention.  I liked that.  Yeah, I know.  I made him a couple of blocks back.  We could wait to see if he wants to introduce himself or we could go introduce ourselves.

We didn't have a good information base for this world, but I would give better than even money that the Ambassador did.  We're not from around here, so we don't know a lot of people, Ambassador.  Do you know this rooftop guy?
Playtester
GM, 4369 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Sat 27 Jan 2007
at 20:52
  • msg #330

Re: Girls in the City

After the Ambassador explains himself, the girl leaps down off the top of a two story building.  She flips in the air, grabs a lamppost to slow herself, and slides to the ground.

She's doing this in high heels, btw.

"Hi! I'm Vixen. I hear you're recruiting for a party-party-party.  I like to have fun.  Heat Death is cute, but he didn't return my phone calls.  So I'm interested in raining on his parade.  So do you need a storm cloud with a silver lining, or what?  Or should I just go off and rob the Museum of Modern Art?  I hear they have a very nice gold face mask in the Aztec Wing.  Do you think gold would look good on me?  Silly me, gold always looks good on a girl."

Misty and Alexis both recognize her, although not her manner.  Its the store clerk who had been very shy.

PT
Alexis
player, 599 posts
Sun 28 Jan 2007
at 01:40
  • msg #331

Re: Girls in the City

I watch the girls acrobatics a little impressed.  That turns into much impressed when I notice the high heels she's wearing.  I can barely walk in the things much less do acrobatics.  Well one thing is obvious, she is definitely not new at this.
"Hi.  I'm Crossfire, this is my partner Fusillade and this is Ambassador Oakmaster. We are looking for people to help us out yes.  Mind if I ask what your talents are?"
Oak
GM, 1048 posts
Sun 28 Jan 2007
at 04:37
  • msg #332

Re: Girls in the City

Misty:
I smiled.  At least this guy was paying attention.  I liked that.  Yeah, I know.  I made him a couple of blocks back.  We could wait to see if he wants to introduce himself or we could go introduce ourselves.

We didn't have a good information base for this world, but I would give better than even money that the Ambassador did.  We're not from around here, so we don't know a lot of people, Ambassador.  Do you know this rooftop guy?

OOC: The Ambassador replies before the rooftop person appears.

"It looks like Vixen from the green and red, and all the leaping.  She's a notorious jewel thief with a flair for the dramatic."
Playtester
GM, 4377 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Sun 28 Jan 2007
at 05:18
  • msg #333

Re: Girls in the City

She stares at you as if she's thinking of the most insulting thing she could find to say.

Finally, she responds.

"I'm cute."

She pauses.

"Look, I don't play well with others, but you came and asked for help, and little miss snotnose wasn't going to help you, so out I came.  I'd say try not to shoot me in the back as I go beat on your enemeis, but you probably couldn't hit me anyways, so thats a moot point."

She then grins.

"Hey Ambassador baby, is it okay if I borrow your cloak sometime, like when you're sleeping?  You wouldn't need it then."

PT
Misty
player, 1068 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sun 28 Jan 2007
at 21:51
  • msg #334

Re: Girls in the City

As I watch our transformed little clerk, the phrase "Beggars can't be choosers." comes to mind.  At the very least, she could draw attention away from the rest of us.  Her skills at breaking and entering could also be useful.  Who knows?

Vixen, we are glad to have you with us.  Since you're not really a joiner, perhaps you would prefer to get to Daedalus ahead of the main group?  Someone with your skills and abilities would be great at doing a preliminary intelligence gathering probe, then letting us know exactly what we will be up against.  And if she does mess things up and gets killed, at least she won't be dead for long as a verser.
Playtester
GM, 4391 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Mon 29 Jan 2007
at 01:38
  • msg #335

Re: Girls in the City

She shrugs in agreement.

"After this, you have gotta tell me what being a verser means.  All that weird stuffy you were spouting before."

And then she cartwheels away before you can begin to answer, and then leaps for a fire escape, and clambers up toward the roof.

After a bit of consultation, the trio of you steps into Tortoise's pawn shoppe.  The Ambassador is well aware that there are at least a dozen different weapons trained on you three right now.  The Tortoise has turned his pawn shoppe into a miniature fortress which might intimidate a supervillain.

The Tortoise is behind the counter, nervously rubbing black dirt off his thick hands.
Alexis
player, 600 posts
Tue 30 Jan 2007
at 13:50
  • msg #336

Re: Girls in the City

We walk into the shop and I look around noting the that the shop looks different somehow.  Definitely a lot more secure.  As my agent training kicks I notice several weapons pointed our way.  Hoping Misty sees them too I keep my hands away from my weapon in a nonthreatening manner.  But I do keep them in such a way that I can still draw my weapon quickly if need be.

I give Tortoise a beaming smile as I walk up to the counter where he is standing.  "Hello Tortoise.  We came back because it came to our attention that we did you a great disservice earlier.  A person as knowledgeable as you are about superbeings and their powers would be a great asset to us.  Would please join us in our mission?"
Playtester
GM, 4412 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 30 Jan 2007
at 15:58
  • msg #337

Re: Girls in the City

His mouth opens.  Then it closes.  Then it opens again.

"I'm, I'm a pawn shoppe owner.  Surely you can't be serious."  He complains and whines, but you get the feeling he is secretly pleased.  He looks down at his hands like they have betrayed him, and then he looks at you with a frown.  "Well, I see Mentum means to collect still."

He frowns, trying to act put-out, but its easy to see he is secretly delighted.

"Okay. If I must, I must."  He looks about.  "Shoppe. Close down. I'm exiting.  Wait thirty seconds afterwards to go to Program Hardshell.  Set all automated defenses on...Level Three."

"Sure thing, boss."  A female voice comes back.  "I pity da' fool who messes with me."

Tortoise blushes, and makes himself busy to finish up and leave.  He also changes his stained shirt for a new clean terry cloth pullover.

"Lead on."

PT
Misty
player, 1071 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Tue 30 Jan 2007
at 16:44
  • msg #338

Re: Girls in the City

I smiled as I watched Tortoise set up to leave.  There was a question which I had to ask.  Tortoise, are you going to bring that blade which you showed us along with you?  I was just wondering, since in my culture, Turtle-like guys with melee weapons are not only accepted, but are cultural icons.  He doesn't have to know that they're cartoon characters named after Renaissance artists.
Oak
GM, 1059 posts
Tue 30 Jan 2007
at 19:50
  • msg #339

Re: Girls in the City

The Ambassador gives a gentle yet penetrating glance at Tortoise during the discussion, but keeps silence.

When the Tortoise joins them, the Ambassador nods quietly, with a gentle smile.

"Indeed, duty calls.  It is good to have you with us."
Playtester
GM, 4418 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 30 Jan 2007
at 22:13
  • msg #341

Re: Girls in the City

He scampers back, and slings the blade awkwardly over his shoulder.  Then he leaves, and you see metal shutters snap shut over windows and doors.  A hum comes from inside.

And a sign pops up on the door.

--Yes, we're closed. Go away.  There are less painful ways to get in the hospital than break in here.--

"I find that aggressively letting criminals know that I am ready for them to be the best deterrent."  Tortoise says with a shrug.

The four of you make your way via taxi to the Foundation.  Once there, you find Whisp, who is impersonating a Golden Retriever; a floating football; and Mentum who is using your kitchen to cook or wok up some shrimp stir fry with rice, water chestnuts, and a host of other ingredients.  He seems vaguely disapointed about something when he sees you four, but it passes quickly.

There is also FallingHawk, but she has a leg in a cast, and she's laying on the couch.

PT
Playtester
GM, 4419 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 30 Jan 2007
at 22:13
  • msg #341

Re: Girls in the City

He scampers back, and slings the blade awkwardly over his shoulder.  Then he leaves, and you see metal shutters snap shut over windows and doors.  A hum comes from inside.

And a sign pops up on the door.

--Yes, we're closed. Go away.  There are less painful ways to get in the hospital than break in here.--

"I find that aggressively letting criminals know that I am ready for them to be the best deterrent."  Tortoise says with a shrug.

The four of you make your way via taxi to the Foundation.  Once there, you find Whisp, who is impersonating a Golden Retriever; a floating football; and Mentum who is using your kitchen to cook or wok up some shrimp stir fry with rice, water chestnuts, and a host of other ingredients.  He seems vaguely disapointed about something when he sees you four, but it passes quickly.

There is also FallingHawk, but she has a leg in a cast, and she's laying on the couch.

PT
Playtester
GM, 4420 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 30 Jan 2007
at 22:13
  • msg #341

Re: Girls in the City

He scampers back, and slings the blade awkwardly over his shoulder.  Then he leaves, and you see metal shutters snap shut over windows and doors.  A hum comes from inside.

And a sign pops up on the door.

--Yes, we're closed. Go away.  There are less painful ways to get in the hospital than break in here.--

"I find that aggressively letting criminals know that I am ready for them to be the best deterrent."  Tortoise says with a shrug.

The four of you make your way via taxi to the Foundation.  Once there, you find Whisp, who is impersonating a Golden Retriever; a floating football; and Mentum who is using your kitchen to cook or wok up some shrimp stir fry with rice, water chestnuts, and a host of other ingredients.  He seems vaguely disapointed about something when he sees you four, but it passes quickly.

There is also FallingHawk, but she has a leg in a cast, and she's laying on the couch.

PT
Playtester
GM, 4421 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 30 Jan 2007
at 22:14
  • msg #341

Re: Girls in the City

He scampers back, and slings the blade awkwardly over his shoulder.  Then he leaves, and you see metal shutters snap shut over windows and doors.  A hum comes from inside.

And a sign pops up on the door.

--Yes, we're closed. Go away.  There are less painful ways to get in the hospital than break in here.--

"I find that aggressively letting criminals know that I am ready for them to be the best deterrent."  Tortoise says with a shrug.

The four of you make your way via taxi to the Foundation.  Once there, you find Whisp, who is impersonating a Golden Retriever; a floating football; and Mentum who is using your kitchen to cook or wok up some shrimp stir fry with rice, water chestnuts, and a host of other ingredients.  He seems vaguely disapointed about something when he sees you four, but it passes quickly.

There is also FallingHawk, but she has a leg in a cast, and she's laying on the couch.

PT
Alexis
player, 601 posts
Wed 31 Jan 2007
at 04:25
  • msg #342

Re: Girls in the City

I stand and watch the store lock itself up thinking to myself There is definitely advanced technology in this world.  After we take care of our current situation I need to see what useful things I can find in this world before we verse out.  I smile a Tortoise as he walks over  "Nice setup."

I walk into the apartment and just stop.  If the place didn't belong to me I'd laugh.  It's like a scene out of one of those comedy superhero movies I watched as a kid.  With a sigh I continue on into the apartment and find a place to sit.  I look at Misty with a shrug.  What can we do?  "So what's the plan?"  I ask to noone in particular hoping someone has an idea.
Misty
player, 1072 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Wed 31 Jan 2007
at 14:11
  • msg #343

Re: Girls in the City

*This is soooo weird.*  Our apartment has become the poor man's version of the Watchtower.  The stir fry smelled good, though.  I hoped Mentum made enough for all of us.

Alexis is asking about a plan.  A plan would be a really nice thing to have at the moment.  It would show that we really knew what we were doing.  It's too bad that we don't have a plan, but that's never stopped us before.  I cleared my throat.   Crossfire mentioned something about wanting a plan.  I've already got a covert entry type, Vixen, going to Daedalus to do a recon.  As I see it, each of us should try to target a bad guy who is most vulnerable to our individual abilities.  We're going up against some very nasty people and we can't afford anything going wrong.

I looked at the group.  "Some of you have fought some of them before.  If you would like to share what you've learned in your fights, the rest of us would benefit from from what you've learned."

I took a deep breath.  It was truth telling time.  Before we start, you all need to know something.  Crossfire and I aren't really superheros.  I'm a private investigator.  My partner is a counter-intelligence operative.  We're also not from Northgate City.  In fact, this is our first day on the job as superheros.  We do, however have some tricks up our sleeves which have worked for us before.  We wanted you to know this up front.  We need all of your help, but if you don't want to go with us because of our relative inexperience, I understand.  We're still going to Daedalus because it needs to be done, even if we have to go alone.

I waited for people to leave.
Playtester
GM, 4434 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Wed 31 Jan 2007
at 15:38
  • msg #344

Re: Girls in the City

They answer the last question first.

FallingHawk raises a hand.  "I'm out of the fighting until this heals, but I havew message for you two in private."

"Hey, I'm a verser, getting killed doesn't bother me." The Golden Retriever says.  "Besides...."  He walks up and curls himself up on Alexis's feet.

"Dieing doesn't bother me.  It would be a relief." The flying football says.

"Well, it would bother me.  A lot." Mentum says from the kitchen as he dishes out plates.  "Fact is, if I didn't have mental control over my body, I'd be puking out my guts." He pauses and gives everyone a real serious look like he's practised it in the mirror.  "But I don't see running away as making things better."

He grins, more himself.

"Besides...yea, though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil."

"For I am the scariest thing in the valley." Remote finishes and Mentum protests.

"Thats not my version."

"It is mine."

After that, everyone sits down to the stir fry with a side dish of egg rolls and cups of unsweetened ice tea (its seems Mentum is quite a cook), and strategy gets discussed.  Remote thinks the blob man is a sewer dweller, a hero of sorts, known as the Unknown.

"I can't take him.  My poisons and electricity won't do much to him since he's not even faintly human.  He's closer to our golden friend here."

They discuss the lady who catches energy.  She is superhumanly tough and strong, and she can absorb energy.  Remote suggests the Ambassador take her on, possibly.

They all agree that Heat Death is the most dangerous by far.

"He's a black magician priest with a lot of mojo.  He can curse you.  Fry you.  Or just raise the dead.  He's tried to pull the moon out of orbit, but me and Vixen stole the Staff of Ending he was using, and the magic backlash put him in a coma for six months." FallingHawk offers.

PT
Alexis
player, 602 posts
Thu 1 Feb 2007
at 04:30
  • msg #345

Re: Girls in the City

I give the dog a "back off" look and push him off my feet.  Then I try to concentrate on the conversation as I dig into my food.  For some reason my apatite has grown a bit.  Mentum is a very good cook.  The food tastes wonderful.  Conversation fades around me as the food takes over my senses.  But then I pull in my focus and pick up on the conversation again.

I hear a lot of discussion but no real volunteering.  I chew and swallow wiping my mouth at the same time.  I lay my napkin on the table and look around.  "So are any of you volunteering to take on anyone in particular or is it going to be catch as catch can?"
Misty
player, 1074 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Thu 1 Feb 2007
at 12:57
  • msg #346

Re: Girls in the City

Lexi had a point.  We did need to move from the general to the specific.  I decided to go first.  Vixen mentioned something about raining on Heat Death's parade.  Crossfire and I saved a woman from being one of Bloodstreak's artistic projects.  I think we could get him with sonics and wide beam stunners.  I think we could also take out Toller and maybe Mistress Miserie.  We went up against her once already and mostly survived.
Playtester
GM, 4448 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Thu 1 Feb 2007
at 18:30
  • msg #347

Re: Girls in the City

Whisp sulks a bit, and then joins in the eating.

They talk and strategies emerge, as do problems.

Problems:
1. It might not be a straight up fight.  They might try to divide us, or trap us individually.  Also, who knows how Heat Death would arrange his forces?  He might leave Bloodstreak in reserve to ambush us from behind.
2. Its made clear that although there is a bit of tactics used in superfights, the local supers really are not that much into tactics.  They usually do 'catch as catch can'.  And then some people like Remote are prototypical loners.
3. They might have the resources of Daedalus Corp to send stuff at us.  Or Heat Death might have prepared some magics for us.  At this point FallingHawk reveals how she broke her leg--There's a forcefield dome over the whole of the campus, and she crashed into it, and it bounced back at her with way more force than she used.  Remote identifies this as a Percussive Multiplicative Forcescreen.  He says it will return four times the damage up to the point where you overwhelm the screen.
4. Heat Death is powerful, but what he really likes to do is get his hands on some major device to cause mass havoc such as the Staff of Ending which is going to be held by one of the Angels of the Apocalypse at the end of the world.  One other time, he got his hands on an Entropy Bomb left by a race of evil aliens, and another time, he got the Crown of the Netherworld and was going to summon all the Netherworlders to come and have an all you can eat buffet. Thus is has to be assumed that Daedalus Corp had something he wanted.

Strategies:
1. Ambassador takes the Lady on.
2. Whisp takes on Unknown.
3. Fusillade and Crossfire take on Miserie and Toller.
4. Tortoise takes on Bloodstreak--"He can't hurt me,a nd eventually, I'll get my hands on him.  Then, I'll be the surgeon."  He pops off his left hand and a whizzing saw blade emerges.
5. Mentum and Remote and Vixen will start on Heat Death, and on Mayhem, and once anyone is finished with their guy, go help them pile on Heat Death.
Alexis
player, 603 posts
Fri 2 Feb 2007
at 01:53
  • msg #348

Re: Girls in the City

I pick up my dishes and carry them into the kitchen area.  Then I start double checking my equipment and getting ready to go.  As I'm doing this I try to psyche myself up for the wild ride ahead of us.

Having gotten everything ready I take a deep breath.   Well I guess I'm as ready as I'm gonna get.  I look over at the others.  "Ok we have a strategy so are we ready to go get this over with?"
Misty
player, 1076 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Fri 2 Feb 2007
at 16:02
  • msg #349

Re: Girls in the City

I carried my plates to the kitchen as I followed Lexi's lead.  I checked out my gear, swapping it around to get the right configuration for this run.  The black blaster went into the shoulder holster with two reloads on the other side.  I kitbashed a crossdraw holster for the glue pistol.  The PDW, stunwand, and snapstick all stayed in their usual locations.  I left my Glock behind this time.  This world just wasn't a good place to carry a nine mill.  Besides, I was running out of places to carry a piece comfortably.

The assault phaser went on the left hip, with several recharge packs placed into belt pouches.  Worf mentioned in the training session that the power packs were good for ten shots at setting sixteen, more at the lower settings.  If I needed ten shots of Extreme Explosive/Disruption, we were all in trouble.

I looked around.  I didn't care if the others were staring at us.  It wasn't as if we were peeling off our costumes twisting and swaying on stage to the song "Touch Me".  This was business.  OK.  I'm dressed for the ball.  Let's get this party started.
Playtester
GM, 4451 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 2 Feb 2007
at 16:22
  • msg #350

Re: Girls in the City

Whisp is definitely staring.  Mentum and the Ambassador are being gentlemen.  Its hard to tell what  with the flying football.  Tortoise is trying real hard to be gentleman, but not quite succeeding.

There is a little getting ready from them, with Mentum being a little fussy about getting the dishes cleaned and put in the dishwasher before you all set off.  He hurries it up after Remote offers to break all the plates in that voice that never bluffs.

FallingHawk goes to the window, and leaves to go recuperate at her own apartment as she says.

Once outside in the street, you are joined after two blocks by a young black man with a face etched by pain in an armoured hoverwheelchair.  The flying football joins the rest of its nine other kindred buzzing about him in what you both recognize as a defensive reconnoiter formation.  He doesn't say anything, just swings up alongside everyone.

Another mile, and Vixen drops out of the sky in front of you.

"I have news.  I got in. Of course. Forcefield over the campus. Um. Its weakest point is at the apex if you want to do the bash your way in.  Other way, well, there's a sewer tunnel, and a door that leads to the Twilight Tunnel which goes under Daedalus, and we can come out in the subbasement of the zoo complex.  Your choice."

PT
Misty
player, 1077 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sat 3 Feb 2007
at 14:46
  • msg #351

Re: Girls in the City

Vixen came through.  I was as relieved as I was surprised.  Good job, Vixen.  Will all of us be able to fit through those tunnels you found?  I hated the idea of splitting my forces.

I was a little out of my comfort zone.  All right, I was way out of my comfort zone.  These people are all professional supers, both the good guys and bad.  We didn't know the city, the opposition, or the capabilities of our recruits.  Still, they were looking to us for leadership.  Going to different worlds did give us a different perspective.  I hoped it would be enough.
Playtester
GM, 4464 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Sun 4 Feb 2007
at 16:52
  • msg #352

Re: Girls in the City

"Yeah, well, I'm not sure about the Ambassador.  Maybe he can, maybe he can't."

She takes you down to a street on the far side of some buildings which sit between you and the glowing dome of light that covers Daedalus.  She reaches down to struggle with the manhole cover, and the Ambassador picks it up easily like he's lifting a modestly laden dinner plate.

The holes definitely too small for the Ambassador.  Vixen drops in.  Remote sends a bot in further.

"It gets wider past the entrance."

"You want me to rip up the street?" Mentum asks.

PT
Alexis
player, 604 posts
Mon 5 Feb 2007
at 03:53
  • msg #353

Re: Girls in the City

I look down the hole and wrinkled my nose at the smell.  I was not looking forward to this.  But it was our only option.  I take a step towards the opening with the intention of going down.  But I pause and look over at Mentum as he speaks.  "Can you do it without letting anyone inside know what going on?"  I step back again.  It's probably not a good idea to be inside if he's going to be tearing up the street.
Playtester
GM, 4477 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Mon 5 Feb 2007
at 21:27
  • msg #354

Re: Girls in the City

"I'll do it slow." Mentum says and waves everyone back as first the asphalt peels itself back from the edges of the manhole, and folds itself neatly in five piles.  Then the gravel is scooped out, and then the concrete blocks are pulled out of the ground, that is the ones that circle the tunnel, and positioned to block the road.  Finally a metal tube ten feet tall and two feet across is lifted out of the manhole, and placed over on the concrete blocks which had already been placed like a cradle to hold the tube on its side.

Ten minutes have passed, and Mentum is sweating freely. He buys a coke from a street vendor, and your team descends into darkness.  Of course, the Ambassador's cloak makes a half-decent flashlight as you begin to slog through water in which things float, and bump, and rats chitter at invaders in their domain...

PT
Oak
GM, 1073 posts
Mon 5 Feb 2007
at 22:32
  • msg #355

Re: Girls in the City

I nod at Mentum appreciatively for his labors on my behalf.

"Much obliged, sir."

I gracefully leap down into the hole, lighting the way for my companions to see where they land.

"Not the most pleasant environment for a stroll, but we'll just have to make do..."
Alexis
player, 605 posts
Tue 6 Feb 2007
at 00:55
  • msg #356

Re: Girls in the City

I follow OakMaster into the the tunnel.  My hand is at my weapon ready for anything that might come our way.  As we travel deeper into the tunnel the stench gets worse.  I look down as yet again something bumps my leg.  A chill runs up my back and I'm not sure I want to know what it was.  It wasn't biting me so I figured it was something harmless.  Disgusting maybe but harmless.  I continue on with the rest keeping my senses alert and hoping we don't have too far to go.
Misty
player, 1078 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Tue 6 Feb 2007
at 04:22
  • msg #357

Re: Girls in the City

Before I entered the hole, I threaded the suppressor onto the end of the PDW.  I made sure that it was tightened down securely, then swapped the "social encounter" twenty round mag for the "serious negotiation" forty round version.  Although I already knew that there was a round chambered, I checked again anyway.  I slipped the PDW back into its holster, snapped the restraining strap in place, and dropped into what was not going to turn out to be a walk in the park.

I tried to focus on the job ahead.  Then, I realized that if I didn't pay very careful attention to where I was putting my feet, I might slip and fall into this smelly black stream of filth.  Then, realizing that I would be covered in something much worse than powdered Cheetos, I would just have to shoot myself.

*I wondered if this uniform is dryclean only.*  I made a mental note to ask Tortoise when we got out of here.
Playtester
GM, 4487 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Wed 7 Feb 2007
at 03:00
  • msg #358

Re: Girls in the City

Vixen is muttering something about how noisy everyone is, when Alexis you notice that rats are streaming past you on both sides.  This seems odd as rats should be fleeing your group.

And then everyone hears a voice ahead in the dark.  Its a voice formed out of chitters and hisses, many of them.

"We are Rat. You are Men. We hates you."

PT
Alexis
player, 606 posts
Wed 7 Feb 2007
at 19:57
  • msg #359

Re: Girls in the City

I look down as something else rubs my leg in passing. I almost jump when I see a rat swim right by me.  But I manage to keep my composure.  I frown watching more rats swim by me.  They are showing no fear at all of our group.  I just open my mouth to mention it to the others when the voice can be heard.

I swallow and slowly reach over to turn on my sonics.  Then I reach down and check my other weapons.  I make no move other than that waiting to see what my fellow superheros do.
Misty
player, 1080 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Wed 7 Feb 2007
at 23:16
  • msg #360

Re: Girls in the City

I tried to suppress the shiver running down my spine.  I was between investigation jobs, one of many times, when I caught a double feature of Willard and Ben on some movie channel.  That was a movie franchise that I was really glad didn't have another sequel.  *Rats?  Crap!  Superrat Leader?  Megacrap!*  I also didn't want to star in the live-action version on this world.

The only problem with being last in line is that you're also first in line, from behind.  I left the PDW holstered.  There was no way I had enough ammo for this.  I smiled to myself in the foul-smelling darkness.  After all, I did have something which might work.  I drew the assault phaser, set it to fire a wide, heavy stun beam, and let fly at anything and everything that was following us.
Playtester
GM, 4509 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Thu 8 Feb 2007
at 22:31
  • msg #361

Re: Girls in the City

Misty, you twirl about and begin stunning.  The glaring light reveals a mound of rats that was growing into the shape of a man.  It erodes under the punishing light, and desperate flankers race toward you only to be flung back by the phaser.

Meanwhile, Mentum is shouting something about "I've got its mind. Such hatred...."  He's floating in the air with a purple light glowing about him from which rats fall off as if it were glass.

The Ambassador is carefully slapping rats with his stick, but his cloak is doing the most good.  Rats touch it, and fall panting for breath and shaking with white fire outlining their shrivelled forms.

Vixen is laughing while hanging from upside down from a ceiling pipe and chunking little darts that strike rats on the nose.  Remote is laughing as well, but its a far scarier sound, and his footballs are delicately and precisely stabbing rats with something that smells of mint.

But Alexis's weapon seems to do the most good as its a broader area weapon, and her sonics send the rats tumbling right and left.

"Most hated children of Adam, you slay, and so I will slay you.  I will slay you, and find other bodies."

As you press forward, step by step, pushing back the tide, you see a form of a man dissipate into hundreds of rats.  But instead of attacking you, they began to attack the walls.  They first pull out small stones....

PT
Alexis
player, 607 posts
Fri 9 Feb 2007
at 05:13
  • msg #362

Re: Girls in the City

I keep firing my sonics trying to keep the rats off the walls and away from us and continue trudging ahead as I do.  I take a second to glance ahead every few minutes hoping to see some daylight up ahead.  Rats are really not my favorite creatures when they are harmless.  I definitely don't like the evil chanting kind.

I wish I could see how Misty is doing but as she is behind me and my focus is on the walls and path ahead soI can't really do that.  I take comfort in the sound of her blaster.  As long as I can hear that I know she is still awake and moving.
Misty
player, 1082 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Fri 9 Feb 2007
at 16:14
  • msg #363

Re: Girls in the City

I kept firing at the rats.  People in front, blast us a way forward out of here!  The rats are trying to pull the tunnel down around us!  Move it right now or we're going to get buried!
Playtester
GM, 4523 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 9 Feb 2007
at 17:32
  • msg #364

Re: Girls in the City

The whole team surges forward at Misty's yell, and you both feel things dropping on you, biting your armour, trying to crawl inside your sleeves.  For about five seconds, Alexis, you're charging through what seems a sea of rats with hundreds of them about your legs.

You'd be afraid, but somehow you're not.  A distant analytical part of your brain realizes that you're not one hundred percent in the driver's seat of your body as Mentum is doing something to your brain.  And then you're through it and clear.

Misty, you're dazed for a second as a block of concrete klonks the side of your skull, and you fall to your knees so that you are chest high in rats.  Chunks are falling in front of you which is to the back of everyone else.  You try to clamber to your feet, but the rats, moving under the influence of a Mind filled with hate that you can feel directs the rats to move as one and push your legs so that you slip and fall.

Mere seconds have passed since Misty's yell....


PT
Misty
player, 1083 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sun 11 Feb 2007
at 12:46
  • msg #365

Re: Girls in the City

I feel the hot, pulsating, swarm of sewer dwelling vermin flow over me as I fall.  I trigger the phaser to try to find some relief, but there seems to be no effect as the chittering, squeaking rats continue to swarm over me.  I curl up in a ball to protect my face and fingers as the rage and desperation and fear and anger build up inside my head, growing, pounding, ever louder and stronger.  I can't take this any longer...  My mind explodes outwardly as I scream a wordless, angry shriek of pain and anger.
Alexis
player, 608 posts
Mon 12 Feb 2007
at 12:13
  • msg #366

Re: Girls in the City

I almost stumble forward as I finally clear the sea of rats.  I immediately turn and continue blasting the rats with my sonics.  While everyone else is surging free.

Suddenly I realized Misty isn't there pushing her way forward behind the group.  " Fusillade is down! "  I whisper loudly as I start back in her direction blasting the rats as I go.
Playtester
GM, 4530 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Mon 12 Feb 2007
at 16:40
  • msg #367

Re: Girls in the City

Suddenly you both see the swarm of rats explode off Misty, and pulp themselves against the walls of the tunnel in a flare of black light.  Or what seems to be black light...you can see through it, and your brain insists on interpreting it as 'black'.  The pressure wave hits the rest of you but with hardly more force than a mild shove.

The tunnel rumbles, and suddenly Misty is flying horizontally, surrounded by purple flames.  The tunnel collapses behind her, and Mentum sets Misty down.

Her eyes are rolled up in her head.

"I think she killed a god, well, a very minor, minor one.  Lord Rat wasn't much even back in the day, but still..." Vixen says with a bit of awe.  Her voice sounds...strange.

"Alexis..." You hear Mentum's voice. "She trusts you. Go rescue her."

And suddenly, Alexis, you're standing inside a little girl's bedroom, and you can hear someone under the bed.

OOC: And we'll call that 1@2 TK Explosion Centered on Self, max effective range, five feet.

PT
Alexis
player, 609 posts
Tue 13 Feb 2007
at 03:05
  • msg #368

Re: Girls in the City

I look around slightly..no a lot disoriented  I was in a tunnel with a bunch of rats how did I get here?  It's a little girls room.  I walk over and look  under the bed. "Hey it's ok you're safe you can come out now."  I try to coax whoever is under the bed out.  I really hope whoever is under there is as harmless as they sound.
Playtester
GM, 4537 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 13 Feb 2007
at 23:40
  • msg #369

Re: Girls in the City

PM
Misty
player, 1084 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Wed 14 Feb 2007
at 14:02
  • msg #370

Re: Girls in the City

*There is somebody out there.*  I don't want to go out there.  It's really really scary out there.  It's dark and it's spooky and there's things that want to eat me and I don't want to go and you can't make me and I won't do it and I can't go out there and don't make me go out there.  whimper...  sob...
Alexis
player, 610 posts
Thu 15 Feb 2007
at 02:08
  • msg #371

Re: Girls in the City

I move closer to the bed listening intently to the sounds coming from underneath it.  It sounds like a child.  I glance around the room again trying to make some sense of this.  It's a childs room.  A little girls room if the stuffed animals and the doll on the chair are any indication.  I looks towards the bed again.  "Hello?  You can trust me I won't hurt you.  Is this your doll?   She very pretty.  What's her name?  What your name? My name is Alexis."
Misty
player, 1085 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Thu 15 Feb 2007
at 22:27
  • msg #372

Re: Girls in the City

There is another quiet little sob from under the bed.  I'm scared.  Monsters are out there.
Alexis
player, 611 posts
Fri 16 Feb 2007
at 01:30
  • msg #373

Re: Girls in the City

I look around the room again just in case she is peeking out at me.  "Nope no monsters out here.  They must have all ran away. Come on out so we can talk.  I'll protect you from the monsters if they return."
Misty
player, 1086 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Fri 16 Feb 2007
at 04:49
  • msg #374

Re: Girls in the City

The tiny little voice from under the bed sobbed again.  Monsters are there.  Monsters are always there.  You can't see 'em, 'cause they hide when you look right at 'em.  They are hiding all wriggly and jiggly and slimy and I'm afraid.  I'm safe here.  The monsters can't get me here.
Playtester
GM, 4554 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 16 Feb 2007
at 18:14
  • msg #375

Re: Girls in the City

You both hear a howling, chittering voice from outside the closed door of the bedroom.

"My curse upon the one who killed me.  That person shall never really live.  They shall be lost to life even as their shell lives on."

PT
Alexis
player, 612 posts
Fri 16 Feb 2007
at 23:13
  • msg #376

Re: Girls in the City

I look towards the door swallowing hard.  It was all I could do not to crawl under the bed with the child.  The voice sounded a lot like those rats we were fighting.    I move closer to the bed something telling me I needed to get the child out from under it.  "Honey I need you to to come out here and talk to me.  I promise no harm will come to you."
Misty
player, 1087 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sat 17 Feb 2007
at 16:07
  • msg #377

Re: Girls in the City

A small face framed by short blond hair peeks out from under the bed.  Y-you p-promise?
Playtester
GM, 4560 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Sat 17 Feb 2007
at 17:53
  • msg #378

Re: Girls in the City

And suddenly the both of you are back in the sewer which is a sizable step down from Misty's childhood bedroom, but you're both in your right minds.  The curse has been broken.

"Well, I don't think we need to worry about rats anymore.  Not with the Doom of Rats here."  Vixen, with an odd tone in her voice, points at Misty who is being helped to her feet by the Ambassador.

"While you were catatonic, we realized Whisp was no where to be seen." The Ambassador rumbles.

*Well done, Alexis.  A death curse is no light thing to break.* Flashes through Alexis' mind, accompanied by a collegial nod of Mentum's head.  Evidently, he's decided you are a member of the 'brotherhood' of healing espers.

PT
Misty
player, 1088 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sun 18 Feb 2007
at 12:22
  • msg #379

Re: Girls in the City

I accept the Ambassador's help in getting back on my feet.  It's not as if I had any choice in the matter.  I felt as weak as a kitten.  I took a few moments to reorient myself and try to get myself back together.  *Alexis?  Check...  Superhero costume?  Check...  Sewer?  Check...*

I looked around.  Does anyone have any idea of what just happened?
Alexis
player, 613 posts
Mon 19 Feb 2007
at 04:34
  • msg #380

Re: Girls in the City

I shake my head and look around trying to get myself oriented again.  Whoa! What just happened?  Ok we're back in the sewer tunnel again.  I check myself and my equipment over quickly.  Then I look around for Misty wanting to make sure she is ok.  "Fusillade Are you ok?"

Whisp?  I concentrate my verser senses to try and locate him.  But my concentration is broken by voice flashing through my head.  I look at him and smile.  I'm not really sure what he is talking about but I go along with it anyway.
Playtester
GM, 4562 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Mon 19 Feb 2007
at 21:43
  • msg #381

Re: Girls in the City

Everyone looks at each other, and then Mentum nods along with Vixen.  They glance at each other, and then on some invisible signal Mentum speaks.

"What you did was telekinesis, a form of it.  And each form is different.  Think of it like, you know how to do a oh, karate chop, and other forms are like, judo throws, and ...."

Remote loudly clears his throat.

"Er yes, an explosive, short-range telekinetic bubble.  You're making mistakes with how you do it, but thats for later. I think..."

"What my perhaps too learned colleague is trying to say is your mind flung those rats splat against the wall, very hard. Ten feet away we felt almost nothing but a slap of wind.  Thing is, Lord Rat had his spirit invested in those rats, and when they died with no warning, so did he.  Good riddance, I say, and it will take him ten thousand years in the Abyss to pull himself together again.  But Lord Rat, like some other Beings of Power, has a death curse on whomever kills him."

"And so I put Alexis into your mind, hoping she could free you without getting trapped herself."  Mentum finishes up.  "I could have pulled you out, but I would have had to yank you out, and damaged your mind a bit in the process."

PT
Misty
player, 1089 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Tue 20 Feb 2007
at 21:10
  • msg #382

Re: Girls in the City

Whatever it was, I didn't want to go through it again anytime in the near future.  I checked the phaser still in my hand.  Somehow I had used about half of the charge.  I swapped the used power cell for a fresh one.  I didn't need to run out if... no... when things got nasty again.

I took a quick look at myself in the dim light of the glowing cloak.  I didn't want to try to recognize the varied substances smearing the suit.  I did a quick check of my weapons to make sure that my being taken down by the rat guy hadn't done them any harm.

I could have used a hot shower, another hot shower, a double cheeseburger with the works, and a good night's sleep.  I sighed.  What I had was a sewer tunnel leading to a confrontation with who knows many superpowered bad guys.  What I also seemed to have were some good people watching my back.  I hoped that would be enough.  I looked around.  It felt like everyone was staring at me.

What? Are we going to spend all day down here?  Let's get going.  It's hero time and I could really use a shower.
Playtester
GM, 4573 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Wed 21 Feb 2007
at 00:57
  • msg #383

Re: Girls in the City

It takes the team another ten minutes to get to an up ladder which leads into a set of sub-basements.  All around you is the faint smell of animal.  Whisp is above you.

Your team slinks through the dark, passing tiger and elephant cages, and monkey cages.  All are asleep,  and you feel a faint desire to go to sleep as well.  Its less in the middle of the walkway between the cages.

Three floors up, and you see a golden ooze dropping from the ceiling to land in front of the team.  It reforms into Whisp.

"Been scouting.  I just saw this blob-like thing surrounded by a bunch of fifty-five gallon drums about seventy feet off toward the front doors of some A-frame building.  Oh yeah, there's a bunch of skinny robots running around too.  No one saw me, cause I'm cool."

PT
Alexis
player, 614 posts
Thu 22 Feb 2007
at 01:56
  • msg #384

Re: Girls in the City

I take a minute to enjoy the fresh air as the other climb up and out of the sewer.  The air smelled of animals but it was still way better than what we just came out of.

I walk along with everyone else as we make or way to our destination.  Seeing something coming down from above I come to attention lifting my arm in preparation of using my sonics if necessary. I release the breath I was unconsciously holding.   Whisp better be careful or he might be going to his next world sooner than he had planned.

I listen quietly to his report and then look around at the others waiting to see what if any additional information they might have about these characters.
Playtester
GM, 4586 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Thu 22 Feb 2007
at 03:08
  • msg #385

Re: Girls in the City

Remote speaks.

"Its most likely the Unknown.  The problem I have with him being here is that he always seemed to me to be a hero.  He was unpopular with most of the few who knew him, but I thought that prejudice because well, he doesn't look at all human.  But he actually saved a couple gangbangers from my vengeance one time.  I wasn't sure because he can't hardly talk, but he seemed to be telling me as he locked them in a dumpster that the police could have them, and not me."

The others are unfamiliar with him.

Whisp describes a four hundred pound black oozing jelly like humanooid creature just sitting there surrounded by a bunch of barrels.

PT
Misty
player, 1090 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Sun 4 Mar 2007
at 01:13
  • msg #386

Re: Girls in the City

I looked at the others.  Nobody seemed to be volunteering.  My brain still felt less than fully unfuzzy after that Rat King thing.  So, do you want to treat this Unknown guy as if he were a hero?  Do we pass him by, but keep an eye on him?
Playtester
GM, 4652 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Sun 4 Mar 2007
at 06:36
  • msg #387

Re: Girls in the City

They like the idea, and you realize looking at their uncertain faces, they're just as not sure what to do next as you are.

Your team heads up, and you see over a hundred robots on the once beatiful grounds of the Daedalus Corp, and over it a solid brilliant dome of light.

The Unknown roars, and then the robots attack.  Its a banzai wave style assault, and your team is immediately pressed hard.  Vixen is forced to retreat into a tree, and Remote is having to take his footballs off attack with him jolting the bots with electicity on contact, and on defense.  Mentum has no minds to attack, and he uses a bot as a telekinetic club to fling about and smash not all that effectively at other bots.  Whisp is doing better--he reaches out, 'grabs sand' and crunches a bot's head, but it takes too long, and he's being overwhelmed.

You have bots in both your faces, and more coming, and it feels like you're fighting in heavy syrup...

The only person who seems to be fine is the Ambassador who's madly smashing bots with his staff.  His cloak is glowing white with eye-hurting fury.

"We're being attacked.  I'm not sure how, but you all are fighting like you're drunk."  He hollers at you.

PT
Alexis
player, 615 posts
Tue 6 Mar 2007
at 12:41
  • msg #388

Re: Girls in the City

Robots!  Sonics probably won't affect them.  I pull my phaser check the power setting. Putting it at about seven I begin blasting the robots.

 I shake my head yet again trying to clear it.  I don't know what's messing with our heads but something is.  It's making nearly impossible for us to put up an affective fight.   "Mentum can you get a fix on who or what is messing with our heads? "
Playtester
GM, 4663 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 6 Mar 2007
at 14:00
  • msg #389

Re: Girls in the City

"Protect me." He shouts amidst the clangor of battle, and he sinks into trance.  After a second, he mutters.  "Physical contact with me, or someone who's touching me."

Vixen lands lightly on his shoulders, and suddenly her eyes glow purple.

"Bad medicine. Very bad. 'Steal their wit, bit by bit, let them end in a hopeless snit, let them fall in a fit, so it is writ. Let my spell in the air sit, let it sit.' And then he calls on a number of daemon princes and sundry dark gods and wicked ghosts to empower his spell.  This whole Zoo is filled with black smoke on which are written these letters, in reverse, and hanging upside down, of course, and spiralling against the sun."

You touch Mentum's arm, and your brain suddenly clears, and your blasting gets much more effective instead of random blasts of light, you're suddenly targetting your attacks.  And then Remote grabs your bicep with a death grip.

"Wireless control links don't like sonics."  he grits out.  "This is going to hurt."

PT
Misty
player, 1091 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Tue 13 Mar 2007
at 15:13
  • msg #390

Re: Girls in the City

As I blast at the 'bots with an adjusted phaser set to disruptor, my brain feels as if it is turning into oatmeal.  I hear the words of some kind of incantation and see the black smoke lettering swirl around us.  I drop back a step and reach back to put my free hand on Mentum.  I have no idea of what this is, but I'm very glad that it seems to be working.  My head clears and I reach out to touch yet another RoboBozo with a beam designed to dissolve the atomic bonds of the target.
Playtester
GM, 4692 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 13 Mar 2007
at 15:30
  • msg #391

Re: Girls in the City

Misty, you feel clarity surge through you as as borrowed strength and detailed knowledge  of proper brain functions drives out the incantation like a floodlight drives out darkness.  Your shots suddenly become quicker and more accurate as does Lexi's.  Heads and chests suddenly start dissappearing in a rush of light.

But, your power cell is getting drained, and the robobozo's keep coming.  And while Mentum's aid is necessary, it also means you can't move as much as you'd like to.

And then you hear Lexi say "Oh!" as a thought occurs to her.

Lexi, you holster your phaser in a rush, and unleash the sonics.

Suddenly all the robots in the air twitch, jerk, and then fall down.

This includes Remote's bots, but he punches a button on his chair, and his bots reboot themselves.

"I build better bots."  He grits out.

You feel a 'pop' in the air, and the smoke is now just smoke.  Vixen smirks.

"As my boyfriend, Gentleman Jack always said, there's always a hole in any security system."

The humanoid blob in the center of the barrels bestirs itself, and waits.

PT
Alexis
player, 617 posts
Fri 16 Mar 2007
at 01:02
  • msg #392

Re: Girls in the City

As soon as the bots all fall idle I pull my phaser and switch out battery packs.  As I slip the fresh pack in I hear the blob in the barrels move slightly.  I turn to look at him and casually point my phaser in his general direction.

"Are those your bots lying in a pile over there?"
Playtester
GM, 4702 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 16 Mar 2007
at 02:39
  • msg #393

Re: Girls in the City

"In a chess game, one sacrifices pawns without fear."

There is a click, a spark, and boom.  The barrels distend for a fraction of a second, and the burst with goo flying outward, and inward.  And then you see The Unknown growing as it absorbs the goop, and like a black hole, this black mass of toxic wastes which reeks in the air with acrid odors and petroleum reeks and putrifying flesh begins to attract the wasted goo which had spread out from it like a tablecloth across the ground.

Its already forty feet tall, and growing still.

"I definitely don't remember him doing this." Remote says.

PT
Misty
player, 1093 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Fri 16 Mar 2007
at 09:55
  • msg #394

Re: Girls in the City

I took a moment of the lull to swap out power cells in the phaser.  These things were supposed to be good for ten shots at the maximum setting.  I don't know how long these power cells were supposed to last on lower settings, but I had hoped for longer lasting use times.  I wondered momentarily if the Bunny Battery people would have these in stock.

I heard Alexis ask her question of BlobGuy.  I had already pretty much already figured that the tin men were under his control.  Still, it was nice to know which side of the fence this thing had selected.  I heard the comment about pawns.  I don't play chess, but I figured that pawns aren't worth very much.  His robots  weren't.

When the barrels exploded, I admit that I was stunned for a moment just watching this guy absorb the crappy chemical stuff into himself and grow to a huge size.  I looked at my phaser.  Lexi and I could probably pour enough enough energy into  this guy to eventually boil him down to a gummy paste on the ground, but the toxic cloud created could injure hundreds, if not thousands.  And there was that time thing.  I doubted that he would just let us blast him without doing something about it.

This is soooo not good.  Scatter!
Playtester
GM, 4706 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 16 Mar 2007
at 15:41
  • msg #395

Re: Girls in the City

Everyone dodges right and left.  Mentum and the Ambassador are the slowest, and both get nailed by car-sized blobs of goo the being throws at them.  Mentum goes down, but he not out, and he starts to use his TK to push the incredibly stretchy goo off himself.  The Ambassador just waits and the goo evaporates off him.

Remote is yelling.  "What should I do? I can't do anything to that!"

Whisp is flying about the head of the Unknown trying to distract it with his golden hawk form.

PT
Alexis
player, 618 posts
Mon 19 Mar 2007
at 11:25
  • msg #396

Re: Girls in the City

I immediately get serious with my phaser as I head for cover. Time to see what these missiles can do!  As soon as I get to cover I attempt get a shot at him with a missile.  If it does anything to him but doesn't stop him I'll attempt to hit him with another one.
Misty
player, 1094 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Mon 19 Mar 2007
at 13:18
  • msg #397

Re: Girls in the City

Remote, drop back and watch for others!  I didn't have time to worry about Remote.  He is a professional superhero.  He would do his job.  The others were all professionals, too.  I wouldn't want to be Whisp.  He was taking a big risk trying to distract the Big Blob.  Lexi was providing cover fire.  She might not be a real superhero, but I'd put her fighting spirit up against anyone here on either side.

Whisp and Lexi are providing distractions.  Let's not waste it.  Mentum, we do trick you taught me, on three.  Everyone else, cover us.  Move it, people!

I really hope this works.  One...  Two...
Playtester
GM, 4713 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Mon 19 Mar 2007
at 22:14
  • msg #398

Re: Girls in the City

Alexis, you fire your phase and vaporize a ton of it, but since its probably a thousand tonnes... you thenlaunch your missiles.  They hit, and explode ripping a chunk out of it which starts healing.  Then the other lands, and the creature pauses stock still.

It then ignores Whisp and focuses directly on you.

It moves forward at perhaps two miles per hour, and raises an arm...

Misty, you and Mentum do a coordinated pain spear.

It slams into the Unknown.

You feel a violent temper, and feel him try to struggle.

*I am Master Mayhem, you cannot...*

And then the rage is gone, replaced by a soft, quiet puzzlement in a totally different half-lost voice.

*Who, what are you?*

Alexis, you see the Unknown start to shrink.  His extra mass is spilling out his mouth in a continous stream.

PT
Alexis
player, 619 posts
Tue 20 Mar 2007
at 03:17
  • msg #399

Re: Girls in the City

I grin watching chunks of the guy blown away by my missiles. Whoa! I like this suit!  But then my smile disappears as I realize he was still functional.  Cripes this guy is tough.

I hear Misty yelling and then the next thing I know the guy's standing there with all this gunk pouring out of his mouth.  I keep my weapons at the ready just in case things turn bad again.  Then I stand silently listening.  If I have learned one thing working with Misty it's that she is the more diplomatic of us two.  So I tend to let her do the talking.
Misty
player, 1095 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Tue 20 Mar 2007
at 15:31
  • msg #400

Re: Girls in the City

*Wow... It worked.*  I recalled how Master Mayhem used another super to fight for him when they took over this place.  Since Unknown was supposed to be a good guy, I figured that either Mayhem or Misery had a mind lock on the guy and was using him to fight for them.  I hoped that a double pain blast might dislodge any mental intruder.  OK, maybe I just got lucky on that call.  Maybe I'm getting the hang of this supers thing.  Either way, this is a long way from being done.

Keep a sharp eye out.  Our element of surprise is gone, so we can expect more company really soon.

I walked up to the Unknown, avoiding as much of the toxic whatever as I could.  Using my best soothing voice I spoke.   I'm Fusillade.  I'm a friend. Your mind was taken over by some very bad people.  We helped you drive them out.  We could use your help freeing the complex from the bad guys who took it over.
Playtester
GM, 4721 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Tue 20 Mar 2007
at 16:21
  • msg #401

Re: Girls in the City

It takes a long look at you Misty, and then speaks like an out of tune trumpet played very softly.

"You friend." It points one dripping arm at the Daedalus A Buidling.

"Bad people. I stop."

It begins to trudge toward the closed front doors.  Its quite slow.

You suddenly feel something dreadful, and Vixen near collapses.

"Heat Death is casting another spell.  He's, he's summoning a Netherworlder.  I don't understand. Dreamweaver shouldn't be allowing this.  We have a few minutes before he's finished, but..."

Suddenly the building sprouts cannons, turrets, and sundry means of harming people.

"This is whats supposed to happen when bad guys attack Daedalus.  I wonder why it didn't happen before." The Ambassador says studing the interlocked fields of weapons which are powering up.

PT
Alexis
player, 620 posts
Thu 22 Mar 2007
at 11:20
  • msg #402

Re: Girls in the City

I watch the Unknown trudge slowly towards the front door of Daedalus A building my gaze traveling from it to the building which seems to be transforming in front of me.

I turn to the Ambassador  "The unknown thought we were the bad guys. And it looks like so do they"  I wave my hand towards the building with all it's guns and turrets. "Question is who convinced them of this and how?"

"Mentum can you sense or feel any mind control going on here?"

I study the area "I wonder if there's any way we can cut power to the place.  That should at least slow them down some."
Playtester
GM, 4730 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Fri 23 Mar 2007
at 16:03
  • msg #403

Re: Girls in the City

"As I understand it, the Daedalus building has substantial in-built robotic defenses.  I would guess that these weapons are the automatic defense system which means someone has access to the controlling mechanism, code, or person.  I do not believe this means widespread mind control, although it is possible."  The Ambassador rumbles out as he strides forward to catch up with the Unknown.

Mentum shakes his head in negation.

"It could be below the surface.  The floors of the Daedalus building are psi-shielded.  I could break through, but it would be hard.  Shall I?"

"They've got a fusion plant five stories below ground.  And a back up room temperature capacitor below the gazebo out back thats three stories down."  Remote says.

PT
Misty
player, 1096 posts
Misty the Private Eye
Guns and no camo bikinis.
Fri 6 Apr 2007
at 11:07
  • msg #404

Re: Girls in the City

This just kept getting better and better.  Remote, you are our most computer-savvy individual.  Tortoise, you are our gadgets go-to guy.  See what the two of you can do to get us off of this bullseye.  Everyone else, split up into pairs and let's get dangerous.  I've got Crossfire.  Ambassador seems to have the Unknown.  Move it!
Playtester
GM, 4754 posts
novelist game designer
long-time gm
Thu 24 May 2007
at 23:24
  • msg #405

Re: Girls in the City

Tortoise takes some blasts and shrugs them off as he guards Remote to the door and its computer interfaces.  The Ambassador starts taking hits, and the whole power net flickers as his cloak negates the effectiveness of the next attack by reprogramming the Universe.

So its not hard for Remote to open the door.  He gets it open, and spins about with a pleased grin.

The Ambassador is down, and gravely injured.

Mentum is trying to help him with his healing powers, but the Ambassador's cloak is blocking the help.

PT
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