Life in Bay City (City on the Bay!) was much like any other prosperous tech-focused, forward-thinking city of the future. Hover platforms hummed across the lakeshore at dawn. Glass-cased vertical gardens rose from the electric-car filled streets and the solar-paneled parking lots. Citizens made their way to work via bus, or subway, or flying car. HD 3D hologram ads covered most available surfaces. Wizards called lighting from the evening skies. Mutant bats flew against the full moon. Demons rose from the nether dimensions to catch the unwary.

Life as usual.

On a sunny autumn morning, with the distant chill of winder in the air, a call came over the secure line at the offices if CRISP (Centre for the Research and Investigation of Supra-natural Phenomena). Calls to CRISP were of two varieties: short and quick (when there was trouble), or hours long yelling (when they were in trouble). This one was the former:

Finance Square. Adison and Oman. Treadwell Bank. Five perps. Code 10."

Bank robberies weren't their usual line, of course. There were cops for that. CRISP only got the call when whatever it was had the potential for something the cops couldn't manage.

In this case, for example, Code 10 mean potential tech violation.

It meant someone, somehow, was using cutting edge high-technology for nefarious purposes.

OOC: Welcome to Unlimited Heroes! In your post, let us know where you are when you get the call (we'll assume that everyone gets the same call). You don't need to live at headquarters, but anyone can if they  want. So let us know where you are, and how you go about getting down to where the robbery is happening.

Doc Roller, you're welcome to had out some orders/direction as you go.

Finance Square is right in the heart of downtown, and is towering-steel spires and busy streets and sidewalks full of people.

Let me know if you have any questions. Game on!

Doctor Ben Roller, more commonly know simply as "Doc", was running thruster checks on the Mark 3 VTOL transport when the call came in and it took only a second for him to relay a signal that sounded the general call to action alarm.

He checked the stowage straps on the M.A.C.E. and brought up the locations of the other team members on his goggles.

"Attention Gecko, recon the Treadwell Bank at Adison and Oman. Avoid contact, Level 3."

Level three meant the operative should use his own judgement to decide if engaging would save lives but otherwise should not make contact.

Doc didn't bother to warn him not to be seen. If Gecko didn't want to be seen it was damned unlikely that he would be. For all Doc knew he could be in the hangar right now.

"All other Alpha Team members rally at the Mark 3. Wheels up in one minute!"

It took only a few more seconds to go from the thruster test to actually warming up the Mark 3 for flight. He even went ahead and put his helmet on so that it's comm system could link with the  vehicle and relay messages via the CRISP network.

A hand wave signal warned the crew to clear the area around the VTOL.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:17, Sun 04 Apr 2021.

It had been a long night. Anton had been running down leads on a supposed, cursed artifact, Balrog's Eye, a large black sphere that was reportedly, a demon's eye ball. Supposedly, this thing was the size of a softball, composed of a strange black stone-like substance with a cracked surface that was perpetually cold. As it was told, anyone holding it would loose all empathy and become quite murderous. In addition they would become inhumanly strong and very, very hard to kill.

His queries had taken him to Low Town, the entertainment district down by the international docks. In Low Town, it was known you could find anything you could possibly want...for a price. So, putting on his best, bad boy thug attire, Anton had went out into Low Town, hitting the darker clubs and bars in hopes of spotting the Eye. When the night had ended, all that Anton had was a weary body and a slight buzz, yet no lead. Perhaps the rumors were wrong.

He was just walking to the front of his loft when the jarring alert blared loudly in his ear.

Finance Square. Adison and Oman. Treadwell Bank. Five perps. Code 10."

Which was quickly followed by Doc's commands...

"Attention Gecko, recon the Treadwell Bank at Adison and Oman. Avoid contact, Level 3...All other Alpha Team members rally at the Mark 3. Wheels up in one minute!"

Adrenaline pulses through Anton's body, shaking off his fatigue. Turning around, harsh, sibilant growls begin to string together in a language not meant for human tongues. Nearby shadows begin to stretch and reach for his rapidly moving body. A heartbeat, his own shadow shifting and stretching upwards, sliding around his body, changing it. Another step, his form slides through that darkness and emerges definitively inhuman, now moving at speeds greater than anyone should be able to. A deep breath, and he leaps up in an arch that has him diving into a shadow, only to emerge from another some distance away, briefly, then sliding down into another shadow...this one of a vehicle moving speedily with traffic, merging into it...

Doc's three quarters the way through his pre-flight checklist(Doc's shortened version, patent pending) when the darkest corner of the VTOL suddenly vomited up the Dark Defender, who slides into his seat at the back, buckling in. A heavy waft of club air and something slightly darker flows through the cabin, “Here Boss...”

As the alarm sounds, Hikaru carefully snips serrations around the edge of a small leaf. It is his most ambitious project to date, and coming along nicely. Almost, the willow in his head is represented in the small pot on the table. But, duty calls. Duty he would never shirk, duty that can never be complete.

What other reason would compel a man to wear his slightly bulky armor day in and day out. Hikaru grasps his katana and starts out of the room as he speaks the phrase triggering his transformation, "[Language unknown: Mathe urck sanfo olst lana icoupa]"

Shitsumon steps from the room and heads to the hangar, breaking into a trot. The maintenance personnel in the hallways dive out of his way, many still think of him as unpredictable, some think less. But they've all seen what he can do and they all dive out of his way.

Squeezing his way aboard the jet, the six and a half foot tall samurai finally levers himself into a seat. Nodding to Doc, Shitsumon merely grunts to announce his presence.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:50, Sun 04 Apr 2021.

Sam was relaxing through exorcise while code compiled on his computer when the call came up. He took a breath. He had tried to see what he could do with the tech of his time, but it was so slow - everything was slow now since the Awakening.

He began looking up the bank on his cell phone on his way to the jet, the situation as it was understood, and some of the names involved. While he had a long and involved list of data he was looking up on his way to the jet. He was not "in costume" yet. "Seeing what we know."

He was trying to recall if this fit the M.O. of any prior individual he had read about. His patron had tried to teach him to as many of the older villains as he could, and to encourage him to try to keep up with new dangers. But either he knew it, or he did not - this one was binary.

He got onboard and strapped in. Most of the people here on the jet knew his secret. He had followed his mentor's advice and basically lived here now - on the other hand, his mentor had no life beyond the job. He took a whiff of the air. "A bit early for clubbing, isn't it? Is this a party call? I'd appreciate a party call. If Code 10 means 'five guys are waiting to celebrate your hard work,' that would be a nice change of pace."

He knew that was not what it meant at all.

Of course, right now, he was "off the clock" until he knew what he was fighting, or even if it needed fighting. "Off the clock" did not mean he wasn't going to help. It simply meant he wasn't the Other Guy yet.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:41, Mon 05 Apr 2021.

One minute to the second after the alert was received the Mark 3 lifted off and exited the hangar through the roof access.

The VTOL angled toward town and accelerated slowly as he waited for Gecko's response.

Doc's voice, from inside the helmet, sounded tinny and electronic as he spoke.

"Were you able to pull up anything Sam?"

He knew the man well enough to know he would have tried to gather whatever intel was available, well enough that he hadn't bothered to check himself, instead concentrating on the pre-flight.

Simultaneously he transmitted a response to local law enforcement both verifying that CRISP was inbound and requesting further information.

The reptilian finds himself in his usual environment:  the back alleys, the squats, under the over passes and bridges, wherever the homeless, the dregs, the street gangs congregate.  This morning finds him delivering much needed foodstuffs collected by various individuals and small businesses with charitable dispositions.  Much of it has been claimed by the various shelters, but a few boxes have been left to be given to the various clusters around the fringes of the city.
Luckily, mostly because he sleeps so very little ( and handful of hours each day, primarily through catnaps), Gecko is on his last delivery, when he hears the text-to-voice message through the headphones covering the small, fleshy nubs that constitute his outer ears.  Mierda, comes the muttered response.  Then comes Doc Roller's message.  Wilco, Doc.  Five-by-five.  En route to Finance Square, Adison and Oman, Treadwell Bank.  Out.
He sprints to the nearest highway on-ramp, easily avoiding vehicular and pedestrian foot traffic and rapidly moving blur, the wind stirred up by his movement almost the only evidence of his passage.
Once on the on-ramp, he clings to the concrete barrier wall, the color-changing blur moving at close to two to three hundred miles per hour out of the way of traffic, moving from top, to side, to underneath as necessary, and spoofing the radar, and befuddling the police officer scanning with it, of every speed trap he passes.
Though not his usual hunting grounds, everyone knows how to get to the financial heart of the city, and he is soon their.  Back to dodging traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian, he zips up the side of a building opposite the bank in question.  Taking a pair of binoculars from his pack, he situates himself in a kneeling position, with his head and hands low and close to the safety wall to avoid making to much of a silhouette, even as he blends into the scenery.  He wants to see what he can before going in for a closer look.

13:03, Today: Gecko rolled 23 using 1d100.  Streetwise @ 46%.

13:02, Today: Gecko rolled 93 using 1d100.  Intelligence @ 63%.

"Nyet...not clubbing. Hunting down a lead," Anton replies, "Though where the lead took me...well, it was not boring. It was, however, fruitless." Anton looks forward, towards Doc, " Any idea on threat level?"

Although Bay City is a modern, developed, densely populated city full of skyscrapers, finance square still sticks out against the sky line like the good years in a company's revenue bar graph.

Coming down from above, the streets seem impossibly narrow and the building impossibly tall and narrow. All through the district the streets are fender-to-fender cars and the sidewalks are shoulder-to-shoulder pedestrians.

For several blocks around Treadwell Bank flashing police lights can be seen in a rough circle. And within that circle there is chaos.

Clouds of dust billow up from the ground. Car horns and alarms blare endlessly into the air. There are screams and cries of the scared and injured. The staccato tattoo of small arms fire. And even a few muffled thumps indicating small explosions.

Just outside the bank, the trail of destruction is easy enough to follow. Cars split and torn and on fire laying every which way. Empty sidewalks. Windows shattered. Stonework broken and crumbled into the streets.

Down the middle of the street is a trail of broken and split asphalt. And at the spearpoint of the trail, amid the dust can barely be seen a number of large, hulking figures, much larger than human, making their slow and ponderous way.

Bright muzzle flashes pepper the dust cloud around the figures, and then also from around them, as law enforcement attempts to take them down.

OOC: Let me know how you're approaching and/or from where, and how you engage. Roll me initiative, and if you engage with an attack, roll attack and any applicable damage as well. As much as possible, if you could summarize the rules for any special attacks or effects or spells or whatever as you use them. I'll get used to them as we go, but the less looking stuff up I have to do, the faster this all moves along.

Let's get ready to rumble!

Shitsumon looks down on the scene, and murmurs "yō kai".

Standing and floating towards the exit, he asks Doc, "have we news from Gecko?"

For reasons he has not explained, transforming into Shitsumon improves his English, but not his manners. "I can ease in behind them, unseen, and call you if I learn anything. But only if you give me leave to do so, if we fail to follow orders we are sure to be defeated. They appear organized, and assembled. As Sun Tzu has written, 'Nothing is more difficult than engaging an assembled force, directly. Hence, take the indirect route: lure others by holding out advantages.'"

"If you have another plan, I will gladly perform whatever task is required of me."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 01:06, Wed 02 June 2021.

"The threat is mechanical, more likely than not. They move with purpose. I believe conventional profit is a secondary concern. If the files have something on them, I lack data, or I haven't read them yet." Sam put the phone away, and took a breath. "Doc - do you want me to go in quiet, to support Gecko, or loud, to support Shitsumon?"

He would be surprised if he was asked to support Shadowborne. His patron didn't like that one, and had specifically asked Sam to watch him. Sam didn't really care - as far as he knew, one was defined by what they did.

The master was really intense about this, though.

Doc spoke quickly over the radio.

"Gecko can you add anything to what we can see?"

To the rest of the team.

"Loud! They are wrecking the city and we need them stopped right here."

"Altruist and Shitsumon  airdrop and go straight at them. front and rear."

"Shadowborne and Gecko close the flanks."

"I'll drop the car off at mom's and be right over."


Doc will be hovering the Mark 3 over the location of the initial battle and trying to get some readings while he is suiting up in the MACE.

I can't really ssee muchch more ththan you ffrom up here becauzze of ththe debris, dusst, and ssmoke, Gecko hisses slightly over the radio.  Iff anyone hass any demo chchargess or grenadess, I have an idea ththat might work.

"Both are loaded on the Mark 3 or I can bring them with me when I head down."

"On it. My comms are receiving and confirmation only until the fighting stops. Lots of yelling to come from me." Sam moved to a kneeling position, and focused internally. "Da'at-keter."

He arose as the Altruist, and quietly moved out the rear door. "Civilian lives are prioritized above the enemy's. For us both, Shitsumon. And please do not die yet."

He flew out to engage the enemy, aiming to draw the attention of whatever he believed was the most dangerous of them. "Fear not, Bay City!"

OOC: Let me know when rolls are needed, and I'll deliver them. He'll try to get an assessment of how hard he can hit them before he throws a punch. Mechanical life is still life to Altruist.

Shitsumon hears The Altruist out, and watches the latter exit the plane. "Amusing," says the samurai as he grips his sword and takes a ready stance before vanishing completely. Flying invisibly out the hatch behind The Altruist, Shitumon takes a different arc. Once at ground level he approaches the rear of the enemy's formation in an effort to see these oni. He must establish that they are evil, as only in conflict with evil does his full power emerge.

Cautiously approaching the trailing member of the formation till he's some ten meters away, Shitsumon opens himself to the flow of the chi. Even the metal walls of these creatures can't hide what life flows within them, if any does. Only by judging this life can Shitsumon know that these are enemies. It is true that the streets are being filled with the detritus of violence, but this is America. Shitsumon has seen Americans do much the same because their favorite sports team lost the playoffs, OR won!

OOC: his invisibility keeps him hidden from infrared, ultraviolet, heat, and motion detectors, see aura, presence sense, sense magic, sense evil, and even an animal's sense of smell. He makes no footprints and hardly any sound (prowl 84%), even  the power to see the invisible will only reveal a semi-transparent, ghost-like image of the character (which gives attackers a penalty of -2 to strike). This super-cloaking magic is broken only if the character engages in combat/attacks. At that instant, he becomes completely visible. The act of forcing open a door or window, picking a lock, tapping somebody, accidentally bumping somebody, or accidentally getting shot or hurt, is not considered an act of aggression or combat, so the invisibility is maintained.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:25, Fri 09 Apr 2021.

Anton simply nods his head and glides towards the hatch. Stopping just before it, he hisses three sharp syllables and the wispy shadows around him coalesce into a pair of vicious looking large Karambits, their blades flickering in and out of solidness(Shadesword Spell/5D6 Damage). Cocking his head to the left, he gives a cocky grin and dives out of the VTOL. Unlike the others, he does not fly. But that does not stop him...

Like an Olympic diver his body spears towards the ground...then straight on through as he dives into the shadow of the VTOL as if it was a deep, deep pool of endless black. Even as he was diving, more harsh, tones were slipping from his mouth, unheard by any but him.

In another blink, he appears behind the lead giant and slashes forward, aiming for what would be the Achilles tendon on a living being.

OOC: OK...Shadowbourne casts Shadesword at hatch, 10 Minute Duration, 5D6 Damage. If struck, -2 to strike and parry till next melee round, effects are cumulative with EACH strike landing. The Dual Blades is just a visual) dives out of VTOL, Shadow Stepping through shadow of VTOL just before impacting with ground(Shadow Step 150 ft range)...to the shadow of the lead antagonist, rise up and strike from behind. IF possible, he will use his next attack/action to plant Shadow Trap(Power, Shadow Does 4D6+10 Damage, Stuns Target, and they loose 1D4+1 Attacks/Actions...25 minute duration)...to either catch the target he attacked either falling backwards or stepping back to attack him....or if not that, then to hamper the next target in line.

19:25, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 18 using 1d20+3, rerolling max, rerolling ones ((15)).

19:35, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 20 using 1d20+11, rerolling max, rerolling ones.  Shadesword from Behind, Called Shot? Achilles Tendon

19:36, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 11 using 5d6.  Shadesword Damage.

19:38, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 21 using 4d6+10.  Shadow Trap Damage.

19:39, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 5 using 1d4+1.  Attacks/Actions Lost From Trap.

Unlessss you make a sspeccial vissit at my locattion, Gecko responds to Dr Roller.  Maybe I can usse the chchargess to even up the ffight a bit.

Doc establishes a hover over the battlefield and starts monitoring the instruments. The first thing he notices is that something down there is throwing up a PILE of interference. Everything from the radio bands to infrared and even radar is just filled with static and almost impossible for anyone to read with any accuracy.

Doc, however, is not just anyone. And with several careful adjustments, each more art than science, akin to a violin virtuoso's gentle vibrato, he manages to get a few pieces of hard data.


And then he starts suiting up.

Meanwhile, his team deploys.

Shitsumon hits the streets and approaches from the rear. His opened senses are immediately assaulted by the foulest, vilest, darkest and most horrifying negative energy he has ever experienced. Whatever these were, there was something alive in there. And it's chi was like swimming in an endless pit biting insects and feces.


Altruist approaches cautiously. The dust cloud emerging from the melee is massive and thick. But he sees very quickly these are enormous, bulky mechanical bipedal things. They are covered in thick plating and heavily armed. There are at least four of them. As he watches, one lets loose with a machine gun, and another fires a volley of mini-missiles at the roadblock up ahead.

Gecko tries to find a way into the battle.

Shadowbourne leaps from the Mark 3, travels through its shadow to the ground, lands directly behind the rearmost and cuts it across the hydraulic mechanism of the back of its knee with the shadow-forged daggers in his hands. His blades cut deep and the machine pauses and faulters. From the innards comes a thick, heavy hissing spray of a viscous black fluid...


OOC:
I'm going to put Shadowbourne first in the order, and Doc Roller last (but you can be in the MACE for that action). Everyone else please give me an initiative roll with your first combat post.

Shitsumon zips forward and applies his katana to the same cut made by Shadowbourne. As he appears, he speaks aloud, calling the target "fushizende jaakuna koto!"^*

OOC:
22:15, Today: Shitsumon rolled 19 using 1d20+11.  initiative.
22:18, Today: Shitsumon rolled 32 using 1d20+17.  hit the rearmost other leg (strike roll).
22:19, Today: Shitsumon rolled 15 using 3d6+2.  damage to leg.

These rolls reflect his karmic power, it was assumed this was the right thing to  do.

^*Unnatural, evil thing

Radioing the team Doc shares his findings,

"I count six very large mechanical, bipedal, creatures down there. Multiple heavy weapons on each. The one in the middle of their formation is venting a biological agent of some kind."

"Instruments aren't showing any pilots."

"I intercepted a transmission indicating there's an evac planned for a couple of minutes from now, at a park about three blocks south and one west."

"Contain the threat here. I'll recon the park."

Next he radios the police.

"This is Dr. Benjamin Roller of CRISP..."

He will instruct the police to fall back and concentrate on evacuating the area of conflict.

Last he will select the Doc-Mod M2A1 .50 machinegun/rifle and rocket off toward the park.

Altruist began by attempting to intercept the missiles aimed at the blockade.

OOC: 07:45, Today: Altruist rolled 18 using 1d20+10.  Dodging into attack. I think I successfully planted my face into the missiles.

"Understood, Doc." Altruist quickly planned his next moves - disabling weapons, mobility, sensory systems; in no particular order - figuring that would bring them down as quickly as possible without the need to chew through their likely prodigious armor.

Then again, if Shitsumon had no issues with these things, coming at them directly, he probably wouldn't either.

Gecko decides to hard-charge down the side of the building towards Doc Roller's transport.  He definitely thinks those charges would be a good idea.  Another thought occurs to him, as well, and he asks a question over the radio.
Hey, Doc.  Ya got a Carl Gusstavv or another recoillessss rifle in your flying armory?


18:19, Today: Gecko rolled 26 using 1d20+6.  Initiative.  Natural 20!
Moves at 1100'/Attack

Anton feels a burst of primal savagery when his blades slice across the exposed cable. Completing the slash, he spins, his hand brushing the shadow he just left, infusing the shadow with a semi-sentience, awakening its hunger. As he does, he turns his back to the arcing spray of hot viscous fluid.

OCC: He will simply ignore the prospect of the fluid hurting him. Instinctually, he would think of it as blood, not as of something dangerous. Plant the Trap, take the hit.

<quote Gecko>
Hey, Doc.  Ya got a Carl Gusstavv or another recoillessss rifle in your flying armory?

"Affirmative Gecko. M3A1 8.4mm with HE, HEAT, and Anti-Structure rounds."

He can almost hear the reptilian man smile over the radio.  Good.  I'm on my way.

ALREADY IN MOTION
Shadowbourne winces as the spray of viscous black fluid washes over him. But there is no pain, no visible reaction. It seems fine. It's just very warm and very sticky and very unpleasant.


Altruist shoves himself in the way of the volley of missiles and takes the hit. The front one explodes in his face, setting off the remainder. He is not injured, but the impact hurls him to the ground a few hundred feet away.

AND NOW
Shadowborne concentrates a moment and suddenly the shadows right in front of the mechanical beast grow darker and start to shimmer like a heat haze. The behemoth pauses as Shadowbourne strikes and its upper body starts to turn around.

And then Shitsumon comes running up from behind and strikes the same, vulnerable spot. His runesword cuts deep into the already damaged leg. Another spout of thick fluid bursts from the cut.

Its damaged leg buckles and steps forward... directly into the magic trap. Bolts of jet black energy crackle up the damaged leg, which splits at the knee and the thing tumbles into the pool of magic shadow.


MEANWHILE
Just as Doc Roller starts moving away toward the rendezvous point, Gecko charges at full speed down the side of a nearby building and lands on the flying platform and makes his way inside.

AND THEN
The Lead Mech looks up, sees Gecko enter the Mark 3, and swings its arm up, firing a burst from its chain gun even as it turns to one side and starts down a side street, easily tossing aside barricades and cars. The others adjust their course accordingly.

OOC: Doc, 135 damage coming the Mark 3's way from the machine gun, strike roll 16 to hit.

Also, the radio chatter indicates the route to the evac has changed. Shorter route, down this street, left turn, there they are. Only problem is that left turn goes straight *through* a five story walk up apartment building at the end of this side street.

The Front Guard Mech pinpoints on Altrist, its upper body pivoting as it walks past, and lets lose with a focused blast from its flamethrower. The gout of flame tears across the street, dangerously close to several tipped over cars.... and several dripping pools of gasoline...

OOC: Altruist, you are currently covered in flame. You can't see and you can't breathe.

The Anchor Mech has no chain gun and no flamethrower and no visible missle system. Instead, both of its arms end at the elbow. Each has a large rectangular tank and hose assembly of some sort attached and it is spraying out thin, powerful jets of a thick dark mist as it goes.

The Rear Guard Mech's upper body pivots all the way around, seeing Shitsumon and Shadowbourne. It raises its chain gun and strafes a line of fire right across the two of them.

OOC: Shadowbourne and Shitsumon, 50 damage coming your way, Strike Roll 12.

The Rear Mech has fallen mech and lies still. Crackles of jet-black energy course through it and its remaining three limbs twitch, but it does not rise.

Initiative Order:

99 - Shadowbourne (you've used 3 actions so far, one for the stab and two for the trap)
*20 - Gecko
19 - Shitsumon (even if you dodge the goop, you'll need to dodge the machine gun as well)
03 - Bad Guys
01 - Altruist (you didn't roll initiative, so we'll just say you got pushed clear by the missiles and come back into the action at the end of the order
00 - Doc Roller

Let me know if you have any questions.

Shitsumon spins as he hurtles through the air, avoiding the spraying goo. As the chain gun fires, he jukes towards the machine and thus avoids the robot's attack. Running forward, he launches himself into the air and swings on the chain gun, itself.

OOC:
14:20, Today: Shitsumon rolled 15 using 1d20+10.  automatic dodge (karmic power) vs goo.
14:21, Today: Shitsumon rolled 20 using 1d20+10.  automatic dodge (karmic power) vs chain gun.
Also, as part of his 'karmic power':

Heroes Unlimited Revised Second Edition pg 279:

When the cause is just, the motives good and/or selfless,
 ...
opponents get no bonuses to strike, parry or dodge the Karmic character. Straight, unmodified dice rolls only.

16:09, Today: Shitsumon rolled 34 using 1d20+17.  to hit the robot's chain gun.
16:09, Today: Shitsumon rolled 7 using 3d6+2.  damage to chain gun.

This message was last edited by the player at 21:11, Sun 18 Apr 2021.

Despite being blinded, and the sudden lack of oxygen, Altruist made out the direction of the napalm spray dousing him. He focused through the blinding rain, and quickly flew up to where he believed the machine to be.

OOC: 17:28, Today: Altruist rolled 10 using 1d100.  Advanced Mathematics test to figure out vector of fire; TN 81. Awesome - even if penalties are retroactively applied, that should get me to the bad guy.

Unfortunately, words were not going to come from him, given the lack of oxygen. So, he went with a crushing punch for what he was hoping was the flamethrower, or the arm. He wasn't sure - he knew it was an extremity attachment, and that even if the machine itself was more than a drone or a piloted machine, it could do without it.

OOC: 17:34, Today: Altruist rolled 22 using 1d20+10.  Airborne punch; penalties for blindness not included. ...this was supposed to be a Called Shot, too. Aiming to disable the weapon.
17:36, Today: Altruist rolled 68 using 2d4+61.  Potential punch damage. Not pulling; half flight speed. If that hit, that might be the destruction of the weapon in question.

Inside the armory of the vehicle, Gecko begins the search for the M3 Carl Gustav 84mm recoilless rifle, and a handful of HEAT rounds.

IN MOTION...
In response to the machinegun fire, Shadowbourne slips into a nearby shadow and vanishes from sight. Shitsumon, however, easily evades the black goo and the line of bullets, leaps onto the arm of the mech and strikes at the massive chain gun. His blade does not cut deep, but all the same he hears the grind of slipped gears inside there somewhere.

Doc Roller pauses attending to the sensors and his own armoured suit and jags the Mark 3 sideways, easily avoiding the bullets.

Just as the Mark 3 jigs and jags, Gecko arrives and suits up.

OOC: Gecko, whether it makes sense or not, you can consider yourself equipped and feel free to join the fray.

AND NOW...
Standing on top of the mech's arm, blade buried in the chain gun's housing, Shitsumon sees the other arm swing up to grab him.

Altruist does math inside his head (they always said we'd use this stuff in real life) and hurls himself, blindly and bodily, at the flamethrower. He feels the rush of air, the dizzy heady feeling of weightless flying, puts his fist out...

And then the satisfying crunch of his hand tearing through metal like carboard. He crunches the gun like a tin can. A gout of flaming jellied gasoline spurts out the rear and splashes all along the chest and faceplate of the mech. It stops moving. Something inside is struggling and squealing in what sounds like pain.

AND THEN...
The Lead Mech lets loose what looks like its final volley of missiles at the Mark 3 and makes it turn onto the narrow sidestreet. This is a tiny one-way street, more of a lane, with buildings looming up on either side. Almost no room for error here.

OOC: Doc, Gecko: volley of five mini-missiles coming your way. If they travel straight, and miss you, they will hit the skyscraper behind you. Attack roll 18.

The Front Guard Mech is stopped. Something inside is in distress.

The Anchor Mech turns all the way around and points both its hoses at Shitsumon and fires.

OOC: Shitsumon, if you get tagged by the hand, you won't able to avoid the blast. If you do, it's an Area Effect and you'll need to demonstrate clearing the area in some fashion. Let me know if that doesn't make sense.

The Rear Guard Mech is trying to grab Shitsumon.

The Rear Mech is still stuck in the magical trap.

Initiative Order:

(please don't forget to keep track of attacks/actions used)

99 - Shadowbourne (no post from player, temporarily removed from scene)
*20 - Gecko
19 - Shitsumon (can dodge the hand, the spray requires some kind of move to clear the area)
03 - Bad Guys
01 - Altruist (you can see from your vantage point that the missiles will hit the building if Doc Roller dodges them, plus there's whatever is struggling in the mech)
00 - Doc Roller (I don't think it matters yet, but going down that narrow street will trigger pilot rolls at +20%)

Let me know if you have any questions.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:20, Wed 21 Apr 2021.

Doc targets the incoming missile volley with his laser designator and rips off a burst of .50bmg ammo in an effort to knock it down. A vain effort.

Having failed that he simply maneuvers the MACE into position to take the hit and prevent the munitions from hitting civilians.

"Team they've moved up their evac. We need to stop them before they leave this street!"

Gecko had just found thw Gustav, shoved five HEAT shells into a rangebag, and is in the process of actually loading a sixth shell into the weapon when he hears the lock-on alarm from the cockpit.
Before he has finished swearing, ¡MIERDA!, he has darted out the still open loading hatch and is on the roof of the vehicle with the Gustav pointed at the approaching volley of missiles.  With his feet planted firmly on the metal surface, and knowing he doesn't have time to take careful aim, he fires at the missile in the center.


Here's hoping it hits and takes them all out.....

19:10, Today: Gecko rolled 261 using 100d4.  HEAT damage.

19:09, Today: Gecko rolled 19 using 1d20-1.  Gustav +2 proficiency, -3 small target.  Natural 20!

Sometimes, Hikaru wondered if his ancestors had faced similar creatures when they carried Dakkokki. If his experiences had taught him anything, it was that no one records the battles between men and the real monsters. These metal beasts, however, seemed monsters enough.
Using Dakkokki to pivot away from the grasping hand, Shitsumon remembered his Musashi, who had written,
Spinning around to the side of the behemoth he was fighting, he moved in close and backed against the robot, endeavoring to use one metal monster as a screen for whatever the other metal monster was spewing.

OOC:
just a quick note on what Shitsumon does best. With the Karmic Power active, the opponent gets no combat bonuses and can roll nothing higher than a natural 20. Shitsumon's parry bonus, on the other hand, is boosted to +20 so the lowest automatic parry he can roll is 21.
20:21, Today: Shitsumon rolled 23 using 1d20+20.  automatic parry versus grasping hand.

I'm saving Shitsumon's third action to whack the target he's fixated on at the moment.

This message was last edited by the player at 01:15, Sat 24 Apr 2021.

Altruist was experiencing the world in slow motion again. He hated this "form" sometimes. It was almost as detached as his mentor.

Gecko seemed to have the missiles well in hand. Altruist simply focused on tearing the mecha open to see who was inside. When he was face-to-face with the pilot, whoever or whatever it was, he was going to speak.

"Cooperate with me if you want to live." He benefited from either interpretation of his words. The area was a war zone, and being in here was likely safer than out there. But he didn't care if the pilot interpreted that as a threat, as long as they engaged in actions that stopped people from dying, themselves or others.

Shadowbourne slid silently through the shadows to a darkened ally. There was no way he was going to try and dance through that storm of full metal jackets, he had no death wish. He emerges a couple of dozen yards away, in the shadow of one of the buildings...let's see how you like things flying at you...with a spinning twirl, multiple daggers of darkness zip into a nearby shadow only to emerge from four different shadows and all flying at the Mech that fired upon him.


19:36, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 28 using 1d20+13.  Shadow Tendril Bolt 4.

19:36, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 15 using 1d20+13.  Shadow Tendril Bolt 3.

19:35, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 32 using 1d20+13.  Shadow Tendril Bolt 2.

19:35, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 22 using 1d20+13.  Shadow Tendril Bolt 1.


19:39, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 8 using 2d6.  STB Damage 4.

19:39, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 6 using 2d6.  STB Damage 3.

19:39, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 4 using 2d6.  STB Damage 2.

19:39, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 3 using 2d6.  STB Damage 1.


Shadow Tendril Bolts
Range: 50 feet (15.2 m) per level of experience; line of sight.
Duration: One melee round.
Damage: 2D6 M.D. per each of the four Tendril Bolts. The four bolts can all be directed at one, two or four targets simultaneously.
Saving Throw: Dodge at -4 as the bolts come flying out of numerous shadows, which can be scattered all around a given area.
P.P.E.: Thirty.
The spell caster fires a bolt of darkness into a nearby shadow (it cannot be fired directly at a target), and instantly up to four bolts come flying out of four nearby shadows from numerous directions either all at the same target from four different directions, or four blasts at four different targets at once. Counts as one attack for the spell caster. The bolts are difficult to dodge and come from odd angles, making avoiding them that much more difficult. Once the spell is cast, the mage can fire four Shadow Tendril Bolts up to four times in a single melee round. Each counts as one of his melee attacks.

IN MOTION...
Like a billiards expert lining up the perfect shot, Gecko aims, pauses,and fires. The HEAT round streaks out of the launcher with a blast of fire and smoke and streaks out into the air leaving a trail behind it. It impacts the lead missile and explodes, setting off a chain of explosions that completely eliminates the volley.

Unfortunately, Doc Roller, flying in his MACE suit, trying to interpose himself between the Mark 3 and the missiles, is caught in the shockwave and hurled into a nearby building.

OOC: Doc, take 23 damage from the impact.

Shitsumon deftly and effortlessly evades the grasping hand by dodging around behind the mech, which the spray of mysterious mist splashes on harmlessly. Suddenly his Zanshin awareness alerts him to a slew of new, immediate threats.


Shadowbourne leaps out and summons black blades from nearby shadows that fly toward the Rear Guard Mech (Shitsumon, hiding behind it, is treated to the sensation of black blades flying past him near enough to him to part his hair). The blades strike the giant mech in the leg, chest, arm, and chain gun.


And Altruist, hearing signs of distress, tears the mech open with his bare hands.

AND NOW...
Doc Roller lies on the floor of an office of some kind, amid a pile of rubble and glass. About a half dozen people are still in here, and they had clearly been clustered around the window to watch the battle.

Four of them (three women and one man) managed to clear the area before impact and are even now standing up and looking shell-shocked. But Doc can see two limp bodies nearby. Both men. One of them is cut quite badly in several places.

Altruist tears off the chest plate (it turns out to be a door, so it was even easier than it might have been), and inside he sees a very strange thing. The pilot's compartment is a tub of sorts, and it's very small. Nor more than three feet across. Inside the tub is a small creature with pointed ears, little claws, and what seems to be wings beneath it.

The tub is filled with that viscous, black fluid. Over a dozen cables lead to the creature ending in barbed spikes inserted into its arms, legs, chest, and head.

There don't seem to be any controls. No blinking lights or readouts or instruments of any kind. Just the flat grey sealed interior walls with this creature floating in this fluid-filled orb.

It looks up at Altruist and answers his declaration with a spitting torrent of words he does not understand.

OOC: It looks like this

AND THEN...
The Lead Mech pauses a moment, and then starts moving down the narrow lane in large, leaping steps, several times faster than its previous loping stride. It seems unconcerned about leaving its fellows behind.

The Front Guard Mech is immobilized, with Altruist having torn it open.

The Anchor Mech shifts and looks around. It sees a sizable crowd who've taken refuse in a nearby coffee shop, and it turns and makes straight toward it.

The Rear Guard Mech spots Shadowbourne and strafes his chain gun toward him. But, having been damaged twice now, a grinding, squealing sound comes from within and the gun explodes, taking half the mech's arm with it, knocking it to the ground.

The arm leaks more of that viscous fluid. The mech pauses. And then four flaps flip open, revealing a full complement of mini-missiles beneath...

Initiative Order
*Could I please have a count of actions used/actions remaining in your next post, please>

99 - Shadowbourne
*20 - Gecko (still on the Mark 3)
19 - Shitsumon
03 - Bad Guys (two immobilized now, one on the ground about to missile the place up, one running away, one heading toward a crowd of civilians)
01 - Altruist
00 - Doc Roller (inside an office with injured civilians)

Let me know if you have any questions.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:55, Sun 25 Apr 2021.

Maintaining his position atop the aerial vehicle (while ready to move at an instant's notice), Gecko uses his long tail to reload the Gustav and points it at the robot that had fired its missiles while taking aim at its main body.
Unfortunately, the shell misses and craters the ground behind the robot, through dust and debris, and chunks of concrete into the air.


21:33, Today: Gecko rolled 24 using 1d20+6.  Automatic Dodge.

O21:36, Today: Gecko rolled 266 using 100d4.  Gustav damage to whatever it hit.  Is the robot within the 50' blast radius?

21:33, Today: Gecko rolled 7 using 1d20+4.  Aimed shot with Gustav.

Shitsumon responds to the Doc's message with a single word, "hai".
His legs pump and he begins with a leap, but then defies gravity itself and zips skyward. Corkscrewing through a turn like an acrobatic plane at an air show, he turns toward and zooms to the kneepit of the left leg on the anchor mech. Once again, the shining katana almost sizzles through the air as it is applied, with force, to the robots locomotive appendage.


OOC: first action cut the other robot's leg
second action cut the chain gun
this is the third action (and the last this round)
it should be noted that Shitsumon flies (50 mph) and is in the air as he makes the strike
21:31, Today: Shitsumon rolled 30 using 1d20+17.  strike the kneepit.
21:32, Today: Shitsumon rolled 11 using 3d6+2.  damage to kneepit.

"Damn..."

Doc stood up in the MACE suit and surveyed the mess he had made.

"Team I will be out of action dealing with civilian casualties. Stop these things and then stop whoever is here to pick them up. I'll be back in the game asap."

The chest of the armor split open and Roller stepped out with his Crash Kit in hand.

He moved directly to the man that appeared to be the most injured and immediately began to treat his wounds.

While doing so he spared a second to determine if the bother man's situation was life threatening.

OOC: Top of the turn; two attacks used, three attacks remaining.

Altruist analyzed what he saw for a second before speaking. "Likely demonic. Moral attachment probably low. Possibility of exception and redemption prevents your immediate death."

He floated out. "Remain inside, and live, or return to your masters and tell them you failed."

He noted one unengaged foe fleeing the battle. Altruist was now curious. He flew after it, and hit it in one leg with a flying kick, intent on stopping its movements by destroying the knee joint. "Halt!"

OOC: 22:54, Today: Altruist rolled 30 using 1d20+10.  Sweep Knockdown.
Santa Maria, that's a probable knockdown - that's a nat 20.

IN MOTION...
Doc Roller gets the worst of the cuts bandaged and the man's head supported. He looks and sees the other man has a number of serious bruises, but no obvious cuts or breaks. He does have a bump rising on his head, but his breath is even and regular. He would wake up with a serious headache, maybe even a concussion. But he didn't look like he was going to die.

Gecko aims and fires the Gustav. The rocket streaks toward the sitting mech that's about to start firing missiles... and misses. It strikes the sidewalk just to the side. On the plus side, the mech is caught in the blast and is knocked over sideways. On the minus side, the blast also takes out most of the bottom storefront of the nearest building. Not the full coffee shop, but the four-story building next door.

The entire building shakes and shudders, cracks appear in the stone facade, the girders give out a shrieking grinding noise. Masonry starts to fall in large chunks.

Shitsumon slices the complex machinery of the anchor mech's knee, severing hydraulics and hoses and wires alike. The entire leg freezes and the mech stops moving. Another spray of fluid pours from the cut, but he evades it easily.

Altruist yells at the (possibly not understanding, probably demonic) creature in the open pilot compartment before tearing off after the feeling mech. His powerful kick to its massive ankle comes at the exact moment the leg lifts from the ground and his strength knocks it just enough off-balance to topple it.

The huge machine tips and falls face-first to the street, sliding through the pavement and asphalt for several dozen metres, carving a huge rift, before shuddering to a stop.

AND NOW...
Doc Roller, in the open air, helping the injured man, realizes that he can feel/sense/hear a low, almost subsonic whine in the air, and can feel... something... a tightness in his chest, a slight sense of vertigo... only his long years of exposure to various super and para and preter-natural anomalies made him aware of it.

Something was coming.

For Gecko, in the MARK 3, the background scream of static and interference on Doc's signal scanners pauses and quiets for just a moment. And in that moment he hears a voice say over the police frequency: all forces... stand down... vacate immediately... countermeasures... en route...

AND THEN...
The Lead Mech lies still for a moment. And then a light on the top of its pilot compartment starts to blink rapidly.

Now that it's sitting on his own face, Altruist can see a large box of some sort fitted to its back. None of the others had one. It's about four feet square. Made of heavy reinforced material. No obvious lid or access.

The Front Guard Mech lies torn open. Thick oily smoke starts to billow from the open pilot compartment. The creature inside is screaming and struggling to escape, but it cannot free itself from the cables embedded in its stranger flesh.

The Anchor Mech is immobilized. It points its arms at the coffee shop and sprays two thick torrents black mist. It coats the walls and ground outside of the building and covers the first few rows of people, who start to scream in fear and revulsion and try to either flee out the broken windows or push back into the now panicked and frightened crowd.

It's about to become a full-blown riot.

The Rear Guard Mech, over on its side, quite badly damaged, fires all of his missiles into the ground where it lies, generating a massive explosion. That all but incinerates it and destroys the street all around it.

The Rear Mech starts to move and stand.

The already damaged building groans and leans ever more precipitously. It's about to come down...

OOC: Shitsumon, Shadowbourne, you're caught in the blast. 120 damage. Roll dodge: 16 or higher for half (60), 18 or higher for one third (40).

I'm going to call this the end of the first melee round and the start of round 2. Please include and initiative roll in your next post. Anyone with actions left can take two actions in their next post (and/or do something extra cool and I'll adjudicate it heavily in your favour).

Initiative Order
20* - Bad Guys (nat 20)

This message was last edited by the GM at 03:22, Sun 02 May 2021.

Combining a spinning, mid-air somersault with a retreat from the explosion, Shitsumon manages to avoid the worst of it. His tatami armor, however, is completely shredded. "Mikai," murmurs the samurai as he rides the shockwave out.
Once he's back in control, he flies in behind the mech spewing it's gunk at the innocent bystanders and aims a brutal slash at the mech's neck.

OOC:
23:12, Today: Shitsumon rolled 19 using 1d20+12.  dodge for explosion.
40 damage eliminates his armor
23:20, Today: Shitsumon rolled 19 using 1d20+11.  initiative.
so he, obviously, goes AFTER the bad guys
his first of three actions would be to attempt to lop off a robot head
23:22, Today: Shitsumon rolled 26 using 1d20+12.  attack the robot's neck.
23:23, Today: Shitsumon rolled 12 using 3d6+2.  damage.
if he manages to get to the rear of the robot, this is a critical strike and does 24 damage

OOC: 00:42, Today: Altruist rolled 24 using 1d20+7.  Initiative.
I have a few attacks left.

Altruist's mind was racing, but it had chosen one issue looming over the rest. Threat assessment: Building. Building building building building. All other priorities save one rescinded, only due to unknown nature.

#"If one of you can find the time, two of the enemy require rescuing. If not... I understand. Be advised: one has an active hazard light and a large unidentified container of unknown quantities. I will attempt to buy time for evacuation or potential explosive disarmament should it be needed."# He flew up to the building, calculated the amount of force and location he could apply himself to best delay its collapse, and proceeded to apply himself.

OOC: Trying to hold the building back from collapse, or at least minimize the damage radius. All actions devoted to this task until further notice.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 06:17, Mon 03 May 2021.

Doc looked at the gawking people and stood.

"These men should be stable enough to be moved. You've got to evacuate this area! Can you help these men out of here? Or at least get to the police line and send back emergency services?"

While speaking he moved back to the MACE and started climbing back inside.

"Either way do it quickly. This is no place for spectators."

Working as quickly as he could he radioed the team.

#"Can any of you feel that? Something serious is coming this way!"#

#"Our priority has to be preventing civilian casualties! Stop them from escaping if you can but but not at risk of further casualties."#
This message was lightly edited by the player at 23:31, Sun 02 May 2021.

The darkness within Anton felt satisfied when his Shadowfangs bit deeply from the Mecha...up until it is unleashed a volley of its own missiles at point blank range underneath itself. Instinct taking over, the world slowed down.  Shadowbourne leaped into a tight spinning twirl, sliding between  the rain of shrapnel and debris. Those that did connect, he tried to mitigate by ricocheting off from one to the next. As the smoke cleared and the thunderous report dulled, Anton dropped down to a sliding stop, still clutching his Shadowfangs(Shadesword).

With a shake of his head, Anton intones the hellish whispers again as he spins his blades in an intricate pattern. Darkness swirls heavier and then thins out....where there had been one Shadowbourne, there were now two silhouettes, each emitting a low growl as they clutched their blades.

16:29, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 25 using 1d20+16.  Dodge Roll vs 16 or Higher.

16:30, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 23 using 1d20+8.  Roll with Damage.

If Roll with Damage is allowed, it will mitigate damage even further? Should be halved again, down to 20 according to his rolls.

16:50, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 15 using 1d20+3.  Initiative

Casting Shadow Puppet upon landing.

Shadow Puppet (Twin)
Range: Self only.
Duration: Two melee rounds (30 seconds) per level of the spell caster (double for Shadow Mages and Shadow Lords).
Saving Throw: None.
P.P.E.: Twenty-Four
The spell caster becomes enveloped by a dark haze as if he were in a shadowy cocoon. At the same time, a second, identical shadowy figure appears that looks exactly the same, also cloaked in hazy darkness. Unlike the Multiple Image spell, the twin is not an illusion, but an actual, solid, shadow manifestation. The duplicate follows every move of the spell caster. In combat, the two fight as one, both battling the same opponent or two separate foes in close proximity, making the exact same moves. The Shadow Puppet automatically strikes out at any opponent who comes within range. Ideal for close-quarters combat or to create confusion as to which is the real Shadow Mage and which is the fake because the features of both are blurred and look the same. When the spell caster speaks, so does the Shadow Puppet in the exact same words, tone and volume, as if the two are reciting or singing in a duet. If another spell is cast, it is impossible to tell which one cast it. (Only the real mage can cast the spell, as the puppet is a shadow - a copy of the original, miming his actions and words.) The Shadow puppet attacks with the same strength, abilities and bonuses as the mage it mimics. This odd double-threat gives the Shadow Mage an edge in close combat that provides him and the puppet with the following bonuses: +1 on initiative, and +1 to strike, parry and disarm. The Shadow Puppet has 10 M.D.C. per level of the spell caster and takes half damage from normal weapons, full damage from magic weapons and light attacks; double damage from silver weapons.

¡Mierda! he swears again as he sees the damage his miss has wrought.  Setting the Gustav back in the vehicle, he charges for the building, hoping to pull as many people out of it before it collapses as he can.
He caused this, he's gotta try to save people.
Also, note:  explosives, such as missiles, launched grenades, rockets, and explosive shells require a distance of at least an additional 20% past their blast radius in order to arm.  This means that they will NOT explode until they have travelled at least that amount of distance from the launcher.  This is to prevent the person firing it from being caught in the blast radius of their own weapon.  For example, launched grenades and rockets, such as from the m72 LAW, will damage a target from impact like a large bullet after travelling less than 60', but they will not explode.  Shadowbourne, the worst you would likely get from being fired upon by missiles in close quarters combat range is burns from their propellants.
This message was last updated by the player at 04:44, Wed 05 May 2021.

IN MOTION...
Both Shitsumon and Shadowbourne nibmly leap from the explosion, escaping the worst of its damage.
OOC: the second higher dodge tier was, in effect, the roll with punch. So no extra reduction.

AND NOW...
Doc Roller desperately tries to wrap up his first aid and get the civilians to distance themselves from the danger.

Gecko leaps from the Mark 3 and hurtles toward the street where he will try to aid any people left in the collapsing building.

The group in the coffee shop, being coated with the black mist, reaches a fever point and starts to panic.

Shadowbourne manages to escape the worst of the blast, but he still catches enough to knock him off his feet and send him flying into a nearby wall.

Shitsumon loses his armour, but immediately attacks the Anchor Mech.

AND THEN...
Doc Roller finishes bandaging up the second man. Two men, one just a teenager, looking terrified and bleeding quite badly from a shallow cut across his forehead, break away from the back wall and inch forward. "Yeah, we'll take them," they say, "Leave it to us, Doc." And they gently start to lift the unconscious people back toward the back wall.

Meanwhile, an older woman starts lining people up and ordering them out the door in an orderly fashion. "We got this, Doc," she calls out, "Thank you for everything you do. Get out there and give 'em hell!"

The mob in the coffee shop breaks and starts to panic. People start punching toward the doors and the whole mob bunches up and and start screaming and yelling and a couple of people start fighting and at least two are knocked down under the thundering mob. They start to push out into the street in ones and two.

The Anchor Mech continues to spray that black mist. And then Shitsumon streaks behind to cut into its leg. The cut is true and the mech shifts and slips, and the jet of mist arcs up and coats the ground outside the coffee shop with a large puddle of the black substance, just as the people inside start to come out. Shitsumon and Shadowbourne are both close enough to see the jet-black puddle undulate and ripple and the puddle starts to inch toward the building as people run out.

Three of the remaining four mechs are downed, broken or immobilized.  The Rear Mech that just cleared itself from Shadowbourne's trap starts leap-running in long heavy jumps along the street toward the narrow laneway where the Lead Mech lies in the middle of the street. It manages to make it as far as the intersection.

Meanwhile, Altruist abandons the downed Lead Mech and whatever it's holding in that lockbox and streaks through the air in a blur of wind and colour. He passes the Rear Mech as it runs toward the lane, turns onto the main street and inserts himself into the hole the explosion made in the facade. He is strong and tireless, but no real substitute for a girder, and the building becomes stable but is still wavering dangerously. And even with his preternatural strength, a building is a lot to lift, and holding it up is close to his limit.
OOC: roll me a strength check, anything aside from a nat 1 is a success.

Just then a low loud hum fills the air, rises, rises, and with a blast of sound like a massive bell being rung, there's a burst of light and a large glowing orb appears in the air above the street (below the Mark 3, about halfway between the bank and the laneway, about a hundred feet above the floor where Doc Roller is).

The the orb are five people: three men and two women, all dressed in identical flat gray suits and identical helmets and googles and all sporting identical wolf-head badges on their chests. Four of the five are visibly, exceptionally tall and muscular (one of the men left of the middle is quite short and quite skinny). As they appear, the orb fades and they remain floating in the air.

'ATTENTION" cries out the man in the middle, his voice booking out over the street, "ATTENTION. THIS SITUATION IS NOW UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE OBERRON CORPORATION AND THE GREY WOLVES. ALL CITIZENS DISPERSE. AGENTS OF CRISP, YOU ARE RELEIVED AND ORDERED TO CEASE ALL ACTIVITIES."

And he starts giving orders to the other four. Two of them drop to the ground in a controlled manner and run toward the narrow lane out of sight. A third flies under her own power to the hold in the building and lands in front of Doc Roller. "Doc! It's an honour to meet you. We'll take it from here. You should pack up anyone injured here and transport them to hospital."

The leader and the skinny one remain floating, watching.

Meanwhile, Shadowbourne quickly finds his feet and, with another arcane incantation, produces a shadowy twin of himself.

And as this is all happening, Gecko arrives at the building Altruist is holding  up. He can see three faces, all on the third floor windows, waving and crying out for help.

Initiative Order
Mechs - 20*
Altruist - 24
Shitsumon - 19*
Grey Wolves - 19
Shadowbourne - 15
Doc Roller - 1
Gecko - 1

Shitsumon flies to the ground, between the puddle of goo and the civilians. Standing there in his shredded armor, sword drawn, he contemplates the moving ooze for a moment before shouting at the figures floating in the air "[Language unknown: Re wiadof sanvirlin sshou lo ortproera]!"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:40, Tue 11 May 2021.

Altruist caught the building at a bad angle, and felt even his empowered muscles straining. It had been some time since he had felt real, legitimate pain from overexertion and carelessness. The harsh reminder of his humanity galvanized him.

Unfortunately, radio communication was difficult. "Move...quickly..."

He hoped they would notice.

Doc nodded to the civilians handling the wounded, and buttoned up his armor, before responding to newcomer.

"I appreciate that but you realize I can't just hand over an active crime scene based on your word?"

He glanced skyward...

"No matter how loud it is."

...and then back to her.

"Who are you and under whose authority are you operating?"

#"Team nothing has changed here until we get some kind of confirmation from Higher. In any case continue operations as needed to prevent injury or loss of life. I'll speak to the Oberron Corporation and find out what their deal is."#

Moving at high speed up the still-attached side of the building Altruist is trying to keep from toppling, Gecko comes to the first window.  Hop on my back and hold tight, he says to the person there.  Just not so tight I can't breathe.
As soon as he gas the person piggy-backed, he heads back the way he ran up the building and drops them off at the sidewalk, telling them to run for cover.  He will do this as many times as necessary and as he is able to before Altruist can no longer hold the building up.

Shadowbourne cocked his head at the standdown statement. A part of him, the dark part of him bristled at being told to back off. The other within him took it a step further and growled...loudly. Turning his head, he looks over at Doc...

Doc's reply suited the demonic defender's desires. The previous growl had been one of displeasure. The next sound out of his throat is duplicated by the shadowy twin as they both pivot and streak off after the runner.

IN MOTION
The woman cocks her head to the side, her smile fading slightly. Her voice, when it comes, retains the vestiges of its former cheeriness, but there's some steel there now underneath. "Doc, we're the Grey Wolves. Stand down."

Gecko works hard to get all the people out of the rapidly collapsing building.

OOC: Give me three Acrobatics (or equivalent) rolls. One each at -15%, -25%, -35%. If you fail, it means either the person you were trying to save fell, taking 4d6 damage and breaking a bone (and in which case you can continue saving the rest), or you fell, taking 5d6 damage and losing an action. Your choice. If you make all three, you rescue all three.

Altruist holds the building, even his superhuman body showing the strain of this incredible act of strength.

OOC: You choice: make another D20 check, DC 6 or higher, failure means you fall and the building collapses on top of you. Or, fight through the pain, and take 50 damage and your penalties increase to -8 s/p/d (but you don't have to roll).

Shadowbourne and his shade twin streak off after the Rear Mech, which is making for the evac point.

Shitsumon takes a moment to stand in the way of the goo and yell at the new arrivals.

OOC: the goo is heading right toward you. If you don't do something, it'll be on you in moments. If you move out of the way, most likely it will make its way toward the panicking mob of people.

AND THEN
The leader of the new arrivals again booms out "AGENTS OF CRISP, I REPEAT. STAND DOWN. ASSIST WITH CROWD CONTROL BUT CEASE ALL ENGAGEMENT."

And then he says something to the skinny one beside him, who blinks down to street level, right in front of the Anchor Mech that Altruist had torn open, inside of which the creature is still writhing and crying out.

Skinny Guy picks a small cube from inside a pouch and activates it. It glows with a sharp, harsh blue light. Instantly the creature inside freezes in place and turns into a pixelated burst of blue light that travels from the mech into the cube.

As Shadowbourne reaches the intersection, right on the heels of the fleeing Rear Mech. He can see, down the narrow laneway, two of the newcomers have alit on the downed Lead Mech and are doing something to the heavy armoured box on its back. One of them looks up, sees Shadowbourne and the Mech  arrive, and starts toward them.

OOC: You're close enough to attack it. Also, give me a track/sense supernatural roll.

Initiative Order
Mechs - 20*
Altruist - 24
Shitsumon - 19*
Grey Wolves - 19
Shadowbourne - 15
Doc Roller - 1
Gecko - 1

OOC: 19:12, Today: Altruist rolled 8 using 1d20.  Let's dice the strength. DC 6. Admittedly, that could have gone worse.

"BUSY!" Altrist screamed back to the voice demanding that he stand down. He was starting to get emotional even in this state. He forced himself to calm down, and held the building up. His muscles were already promising pain to come later in the week, in addition to the pain right now.

He heard the building groaning in protest, demanding he just allow gravity to do its work and let it die. He refused it through his actions, as long as he believed anyone in the building could be saved.

Gecko doesn't have the Acrobatics skill.  Or Gymnastics.  He has the Adhesion minor super ability, as it is included with Chameleon.

Doc's tone never changed but he did speak somewhat more quickly.

"Look, one of my people is holding up a building that still has civilians in it."

"We wouldn't "Stand Down" under those circumstances even if the order came from someone with the authority to stand us down. Which short list the "Grey Wolves" are not on."

"Now, if you can help, help."

"If you are only allowed to help if we leave then get someone in my chain of command to explain that to me. I can be reached on frequency [appropriate frequency]"

"Barring those two options then evacuate the area and take your really impressive PA system with you."

That said he rocketed back out the whole he had come in through and began wracking his brain for a way to help The Altruist slow down the collapse of the building.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:28, Wed 19 May 2021.

Gecko makes his runs to collect the three unlucky individuals in the collapsing building being held up by Altruist.  The saves actually go quickly and easily for the speedy reptilian human mutant.
He drops each a block away, warning them to run and seek cover because the debris of the buiding will be extremely dangerous when it falls.
Clear, Altruist, he calls as he speed away, recollecting the Gustav as he does so.

14:38, Today: Gecko rolled 13 using 1d100.  Adhesion @ 90%-25%=65%.

14:38, Today: Gecko rolled 37 using 1d100.  Adhesion @ 90%-15%=75%.

14:38, Today: Gecko rolled 24 using 1d100.  Adhesion @ 90%-5%=85%. 

#"F***ing well done guys!"#

After glancing back and forth between the advancing goo and the stationary gray wolves, Shitsumon shrugs and backs towards the crowd a bit before turning and calling out to the people to "evacuate this area in a smooth, but orderly fashion. If any foreign substance has landed on your clothes, leave them behind!"
Looking for either a power line or a convenient fire hydrant, Shitsumon plans to use his blade to convert the former into a ground hazard or the latter into a cleansing spray. Anything that slows the ooze may allow these people to escape.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:05, Thu 20 May 2021.

Anton grins inward at Doc's comments. His confirmation is all he needed...Though a shadowy silhouette, he couldn't help but turn towards the supposed Wolf and growl, “MINE!” With that out of the way, he and his twin begin to interweave and criss cross as they dash forward. As they do, Shadowbourne feels a slight tingle of something...something like him, Supernatural. Barely perceptible at first, once he feels it, it becomes easy to trace. Even so, his primary target had been determined, with another leap across each other, Shadowbourne and his twin leap at opposite legs, targeting the mass of of cables and hoses that make up their hydraulic legs power.

19:34, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 74 using 1d100.  Sense Supernatural 80%.
19:35, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 6 using 1d100.  Track Supernatural 45%.

OK...Shadesword should still be up. Has long duration. Shadow Twin should still be up for a few more attacks.

19:47, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 14 using 1d20+12.  Shadow Twin Attack with Additional +1.
19:47, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 29 using 1d20+12.  Shadowbourne Attack with Additional +1.

19:50, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 20 using 5d6.  Shadow Twin Slash.
19:50, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 11 using 5d6.  Shadowbourne Slash.

If Both hit, then Mech will suffer -4 to Strike and Parry(from the two shots)

Over the radio, Dr Roller hears Gecko call to him.  Hey, Doc.  Ssorry about the explossion.  Didn't know the blasst radiuss of those missssiless.  Are tthhere any wounded where you landed?

#"They are taken care of. The rest can wait until our after action meeting."#

Gecko does not even take time to think about it, as he speeds off to put away the Carl Gustav and locate the building where the armored man had crashed.

IN MOTION
Shitsumon sees a nearby fire hydrant and, in a lighting flash of steel, cuts it cleanly in two. The high pressure torrent of water cuts through the thick substance and turns the puddle to the side.

Some of the people in the café listen to him and they start making their way up the sidewalk. They're all very freaked, and only one more scare from complete panic.

Gecko nimbly and quickly scales the building, using his tail and his ability to stick to whatever he touches, and manages to take all three people out with little trouble and in no time at all.

The building is now clear.

Shadowbourne double-strikes the legs of the fleeing mech. It turns at the last moment and tries to dodge out of the way, but the slippery shadowy sorceror is too fast and in two strikes of his shadow blade one leg is severed and the whole giant metal beast careens to the ground.

Looking at the fallen Lead Mech, with the two Grey Wolves on it, Shadowbourne can feel mystic emanations coming from the lockbox.

There's an artifact of some kind in there. Something old and powerful and dark.

And that second Grey Wolf is still standing between him and the Mech, looking tense and ready for action.

AND THEN
Doc Roller sees the Wolf take two steps to the right as she talks. It's a casual move, but Doc has been around the block a time or two and knows when someone is circling to intercept. She's trying to make sure she can prevent him from leaving the building, should she need to.

"Aleph told you how you can help. Crowd control. Help those people. But he said to disengage. I have orders, Doc," she says, "You of all people must understand that."

Another circling, intercepting step. Several low red lights bloom on her gloves and up the sleeves of her suit.

"I need you to order your team away from those unfriendlies," she says, "Please don't make me ask again. Please."

Gecko arrives in the narrow laneway and sees the fallen Lead Mech, with the two men on its back. One is trying to get the heavy lockbox open and the other is scanning the street for threats. He seems to be mostly looking for street-level threats, though, as he never looks up.

The skinny Wolf, having drawn the creature from the mech into the cube device, blinks again so he's on the street near the black puddle, opposite Shitsumon.

He holds out another device, a spherical one, and the air ripples like heat haze and the black puddle freezes in place. Just stopped.

He looks up, smiling. "That'll hold that. You're good to go. It's amazing to watch you work. I'm a big fan."

Initiative Order
Mechs - 20*
Altruist - 24
Shitsumon - 19*
Grey Wolves - 19
Shadowbourne - 15
Doc Roller - 1
Gecko - 1

The Altruist let a slow breath out, as he steadily allowed the building to undergo a controlled fall. Or at least as controlled of a fall as one person can make it. He anticipated dust going everywhere, and once the building was down, he intended to get to a high point.

He needed perspective. Who were the new people, and more importantly, what were they doing right now? They seemed bent on controlling the situation.

Shitsumon gives the thin wolf a smile, and a small bow. "Sun Tzu would call this 'ground of intersecting highways' and would advise the generals to make alliances. Of course, he would also say not to enter into alliance with neighboring princes until acquainted with their designs."
"Of course, Musashi also says 'the true science of martial arts means practicing them in such a way that they will be useful at any time, and to teach them in such a way that they will be useful in all things.'"
"Please tell me why the wolves are here."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:56, Sat 22 May 2021.

Gecko does.notnhave time to worry about the Grey Wolves.  Despite Dr Roller's assurances, he knows he can do more to help those that had been injured by the Doc's crash.  A crash that had been caused by his use of the Gustav.  No, he needs to get to those who have been hurt by his actions....

The jets on the MACE fired raising a cloud of dust in the debris of the wrecked room as it made ready to take off and then just as quickly shut off as the Grey Wolf stepped in the way and began to display her powers.

"Your not paying attention young lady. I asked how you could help. I'm well aware of what my team can do."

The MACE shifted a half step to the right.

"Speaking of which, you should be careful. This will be our only encounter where I know nothing about you. Once you show me what you are capable of your chance of prevailing in a future encounter becomes essentially nil."

Setting it's feet a bit wider than shoulder width and crossing it's big armored forearms.

"In any case I begin to wonder what "The Grey Wolves" and your corporate employers have to do with this situation? Are you responsible for these armored assailants?"'

Meanwhile, a relatively short distance away on the roof, a big man dressed in semi-patriotic, semi-tactical body armor emerged and ran toward the Mark 3 hovering overhead. A cable fired from his forearm and rapidly pulled him up to the hovering VTOL.

The man quickly climbed up and stood atop the CRISP transport as it began to change position and approach the hovering commander of the Grey Wolves.

As he rode on the big jet Doc decided it was a good time to check in with the appropriate authorities. He radioed back to HQ.


Once he was close by he cranked up his helmet's external audio.

"Well hello. Aleph is it? Perhaps we should talk?"

The dark emanations that Anton could feel were seeping from the downed mech triggered a growl from the beats within him. It both hungered and coveted whatever was hidden with the mech. With a firm resolve, Anton leashed the beast...at least for now. For how long he could manage it?  Reaching up, he activated his comms and tries to subvocalize...# Doc...Mechs are operating off of a  Dark Artifact. The pooches are trying to dig it out of them. Time to teach these curs who is Alpha.#

Looking up from a crouch over the mech he downed, Anton once again growls out a string of harsh inhuman sounds, their hurtful tone resonates from both of the shadowy forms, first from one then another. As they hiss downward into an uncomfortable silence, Shadowbourne's shadow begins to shift and grow, reaching out from both his and the other silhouette. The form grows more monsterous as it reaches the Grey Wolf moving to intercept him. As the shadow reaches its targets, Anton growls, “ Step Off! These kills are not yours to claim, their spoils not yours to take!”

OOC: OK...casting Ominous Shadow

Ominous Shadow
Range: 10 feet (3 m) long, three feet (0.9 m) wide per level of the spell caster; line of sight.
Duration: One melee round (15 seconds) per level of experience. (Double for Shadow Mages and Shadow Lords.)
Saving Throw: Standard.
P.P.E.: Six
The spell caster is able to make his own shadow grow in any direction he desires, regardless of the light source, and look distorted and monstrous. This is done for dramatic effect and to inflict fear. Anyone caught in his oversized, ominous shadow must roll to save vs magic. Failure to save means they are temporarily frozen with fear for one melee round (15 seconds). Transfixed on the spell caster, watching and waiting for him to attack them and listening closely to anything he has to say (+20% for the mage to intimidate or impress).
After the first melee round (or if attacked during that first melee round), the victims are able to attack or take action. However, while still inside the Ominous Shadow, attacks leveled at the spell caster are done without benefit of the victims’ usual combat bonuses. Fighting anyone else while in the Ominous Shadow has a penalty of only -1 on all combat maneuvers to strike, parry, dodge, etc. The sense of fear and dread goes away immediately after the spell ends, or after a victim manages to step out, or is pulled outside of the Ominous Shadow. In most cases, the spell caster takes no action against his victims in favor of holding them in dread and a diminished state.

Pushing Intimidation: +20% from Spell, Making it 80% to Intimidate
15:19, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 57 using 1d100.  Intimidate 80%.

SHITSUMON AND ALTRUIST
The skinny Wolf smiles broadly at Shitsumon's speech. "Oh man, that's awesome! You sound just like your press clippings! But..." he looks confused, "We're here because it's our jobs. Why else would we... uh oh..."

He sees Altruist about to let the building tip all the way over and blinks over and hold up the device in his hand and immediately the building stops, freezes, dead, in mid collapse. The Wolf's eyes narrow and his hand grips the device very tightly.

"Hey! Altruist!..." he says, through gritted teeth. "Big... fan..."

From his vantage point, Altruist can see one of the Wolves, the leader still hanging in the air with the Mark 3 approaching. He can see one of them, the skinny one, about twenty feet away keeping the building from falling. Dimly, up and far away, he can see the female Wolf and the MACE looking like they're about to come to blows. The other two he can't see, but he knows they're up the street, around the corner, where the Lead Mech went, which is toward their evac.

And then Shadowbourne's voice comes though, and it's clear enough what they're up to.

Meanwhile, the moment the skinny Wolf leaves Shitsumon's area, the thick puddle of black substance resumes its rippling motion toward anything nearby. The water spray is still blocking it from approaching the café, but it is spreading along the street in every other direction. It's very soon going to be a very big problem.

GECKO
As far as Gecko can see, there aren't any other people in the building that somehow paused in mid-crumble. However, there are still lots of people in and around the coffee shop, some running, some staying. But the crowd is becoming quite unruly. And if the building collapses, they are in danger of being hurt.

SHADOWBOURNE
The infernalist's shadow grows large and distorted and monstrous and falls directly across the Wolf that moved to intercept him. His young face drains of smug confidence and fills with terror and his eyes widen in fear. He throws himself to the ground and starts scuttling backward (not out of any real tactical choice, just blindly fleeing).

The other Wolf, the one still working on the mech's lockbox, stops, looks over, and says something into his wrist.

DOC ROLLER
The female Wolf continues to be equal parts confused and determined. As though she'd been hoping for this meeting, but hoping for it to go very differently than it had.

At the suggestion that she (and/or her team) were responsible for this, she got angry. Angry and hurt and more angry. "How dare you?" she said, rising to the bait, her voice low and icy, "We're in the right here. You're the ones who..."

And then, from a communicator on her wrist, comes the voice of Aleph (the leader). "Halo, stop tap-dancing with Roller and get out here. Flint and Locke need support."

She looks at Doc (well, at the empty, remote controlled MACE actually, but she doesn't know that). Her face is grim. "Just remember, Doc, whatever happens now, this is all on you. We didn't want this."

And lights along her suit flare bright yellow and she leaps out of the broken window into the air.


Doc approaches the leader and speaks to him through the Mark 3's speakers.

Aleph spins in the air to face the Mark 3. "Doc Roller!" he calls out (just regular calling out, not whatever he was doing before), "This whole area is under corporate purview now! if you can help, then help! Otherwise, we need you to stay out of our way!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:15, Sat 29 May 2021.

Gecko stares at the people in disbelief for a moment.  HEY!  HE CAN'T HOLD THAT BUILDING UP FOREVER!  DON'T BE SSTUPID!  GET OUT OF HERE!
He then begins to run back and forth between them and the danger, trying to herd them away from a potentially crushing death.  As he does so, he wonders how people could be so stupid.

Shitsumon looks from the grey wolves, to the ooze, to the people milling about at the cafe, then utters, again, a single word, "mikai".
Then, he says, "As Buddha says, 'one is not called noble who harms living beings. By not harming living beings one is called noble.'"
Zipping to hover above the crowd, he begins to shout. "People! You must do two things!"
"First, use your communication devices to tell your family, your friends, your co-workers, and your lawyers that the OBERRON CORPORATION has claimed this situation as their own, and is therefore responsible for your continued safety!"
"Second, you must calmly exit this area by moving in that direction. Please try not to get eaten by the oozing material as the OBERRON CORPORATION would be forced to recompense your relatives and employers for your loss!"

Altruist flew over to the skinny one holding up the building, trying to fly in a way that did not show just how much holding that building had hurt him. "Let the building fall, but do it slowly. Tell your team to get their medical on standby for both short and long term respiratory issues for civilians."

He didn't care if they had business here or not. If they could save lives, they were saving lives. "Excuse me."

He noted the ooze advancing. Not having any appropriate tools or weaponry himself for the task at hand, he improvised. #"Any available fire hoses not extinguishing a fire, focus blasts of water on that strange ooze."# Odds were good the city's aquatic infrastructure in this area was not going to hold out for long, though - especially once that building went down.

He flew to the Lead Mech's crash site. He knew he'd be wounded and potentially facing two or more hostiles who were fresh, but he had to speak to them personally. When he saw Shadowbourne engaging with one of them, Altruist decided to interrupt the other one with merely a firm hand on the arm, preventing further work on the lock. "No. Explain why this cannot wait, quickly, or go help, quickly."

Doc stands atop the Mark 3 and face to face with Aleph. The mic in his helmet transmitting through the external speakers on the VTOL so that it can be heard above the engines.

"Believe me no one can appreciate why you would want to control the situation more than I can but we both know there is literally no such thing as "corporate purview" in this sort of situation."

"Our jurisdiction here is clear. Yours is not as clear."

"I'm willing to work with you assuming you can agree to full cooperation...and your people cease stealing evidence and threatening my team."

"Otherwise I'll have to charge all of you, except your guy that's helping hold up that building, with obstruction of justice."

"So what do you say Al?"

The feral grin that plays across Anton's face calls into question of how much of him is still human. The low rumbling growl is more like a purr and the drool that slides down his chin show a side of him that might just be darker than the darkness within the mechs...might.

Turning, he faces the last Grey Wolf...still standing over the box they were trying to pry open. Shadow still roiling, Shadowbourne pulls every bit of menace he can manage, "Little Wolf, Little Wolf, time to run along...the Big Dogs are here and you are Playing. With. My. BONE!" The last bit is said with a growling bark, as he stalks towards the Grey Wolf.

Ominous Shadow
Range: 10 feet (3 m) long, three feet (0.9 m) wide per level of the spell caster; line of sight.
Duration: One melee round (15 seconds) per level of experience. (Double for Shadow Mages and Shadow Lords.)
Saving Throw: Standard.
P.P.E.: Six
The spell caster is able to make his own shadow grow in any direction he desires, regardless of the light source, and look distorted and monstrous. This is done for dramatic effect and to inflict fear. Anyone caught in his oversized, ominous shadow must roll to save vs magic. Failure to save means they are temporarily frozen with fear for one melee round (15 seconds). Transfixed on the spell caster, watching and waiting for him to attack them and listening closely to anything he has to say (+20% for the mage to intimidate or impress).
After the first melee round (or if attacked during that first melee round), the victims are able to attack or take action. However, while still inside the Ominous Shadow, attacks leveled at the spell caster are done without benefit of the victims’ usual combat bonuses. Fighting anyone else while in the Ominous Shadow has a penalty of only -1 on all combat maneuvers to strike, parry, dodge, etc. The sense of fear and dread goes away immediately after the spell ends, or after a victim manages to step out, or is pulled outside of the Ominous Shadow. In most cases, the spell caster takes no action against his victims in favor of holding them in dread and a diminished state.

Pushing Intimidation: +20% from Spell, Making it 80% to Intimidate

19:22, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 80 using 1d100.  Intimidate 80%.

Though his eyes never leave the Wolf, a part of Anton reaches out and feels the box...slides across it, tasting it...trying to determine what it is.

OK...letting his Senses Supernatural and Demon/Magic Lore work with each other. Will roll Demon/Magic Lore to try and identify as much as possible.

19:32, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 66 using 1d100.  Demon/Magic Lore with Sense Supernatural 45%.

Between Gecko and Shitsumon, they get the crowd under control. The puddle of ooze continues to ripple and eddy toward any living thing in its vicinity, but the crowd of people starts filing down the street and away.

The skinny hero, using his device, face a stern mask of concentration, manages to shift the building such that it rests on its own weight and doesn't actually fall. Altruist is no expert, but it looks stable enough to be getting on with.

"Mom said all that Lego was a waste of time," the skinny hero said, clearly pleased with his work.

Up above, Aleph stares at Doc Roller for a full pregnant moment. Arrogant blowhard and corporate shill he might be, but he was clearly no dummy. He nods. "Halo, Rigger, render all necessary and requested aid to CRISP."


He turns to Doc. "The bean counters can sort this later, but I need you to tell your demon pokemon there to stand down and stop assaulting my guys."

---

Shadownbourne once again extends his shadow over the street. The final Wolf looks up, his eyes widen and his skin goes pale, but he doesn't freeze. Instead he finishes his work and the top pops off the lockbox and he reaches in and pulls out a large heavy-looking duffelbag. He holds it in one arm and the other quick-draws a very large handgun of some sort. It looks like an energy weapon of some kind.

Shadowbourne can hear from behind him the wavering voice of the other Wolf he frightened away and the sound of something electronic powering up. "Get your filthy magic off my brother, demon!"

---

Aleph looks at Doc. "Right now. Before it gets messy"

OOC: Attempt 2. Blaming the loss in flight speed. Also, "Exhaustion gives you -1 attack, -5 to strike, parry, dodge, half movement speed, for the rest of the melee." Assuming by "melee" you mean "as long as these clowns are threatening us."

He flew to the Lead Mech's crash site. He knew he'd be wounded and potentially facing two or more hostiles who were fresh, but he had to speak to them personally. When he saw Shadowbourne engaging with one of them, Altruist decided to interrupt the other one by flying into the path of his weapon. "No. Relocate your efforts elsewhere, or justify your continued presence specifically here."

OOC Part 2: Getting ready to dodge into an attack aimed at Shadowbourne.

Doc could piss for distance with anyone but he also knew when to take a win.

He spoke aloud so that Aleph could hear the next orders.

#"Shadowborne I need you to dial it back about 60%. Turn the Ominous Shadow off!"#

#"Repeat; Everyone Play Nice With the Wolves! They are currently assisting us and doing an excellent job of it."#

#"Contain this black ooze. Collect the fallen Mecha."#

He then radioed the local authorities.

#"Doc Roller here. I need a Tanker Fire Truck or a Fuel Truck with a pump."#

Doc activated the remote for the MACE and had it fly itself back to the Mark 3.

Shitsumon, again, says only "hai". But as he heads off towards the lead mech, he says, "if you can separate the pilot from the machine, they appear to be corrupted humans that I might be able to help."
In fact, when he arrives at the furthest mech the first thing he does is attempt to locate the pilot and attempt to remove the pilot from the machine.

Hearing Shitsumon over the radio, Gecko responds, What'ss your twenty?  I might be able to help.  Once given a location, he speeds over there.
Joining the Asian hero, he tries to look over the situation.  What do you mean by corrupted human?

"They've chi. It appears to have been human in the past. I can't be certain, but reversing the process may be possible."
Shitsumon approaches the mech, intending to open the cockpit and claim the creature inside.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:25, Sun 13 June 2021.

Shadowbourne grinned when the Wolf pulled a very large hand cannon and pointed it right at him, "Oh HO! The Little puppy has a big tooth!" An electronic whine causes him to glance back with his peripheral vision, "And the pup that wimpered away has found his big tooth!"

"Get your filthy magic off my brother, demon!"

Sliding back a step, Anton emits a low growl as the demon within him struggles to be released, two targets, twice the fun. Just as he was about to pounce, the whistle of an incoming high speed object followed by a rippling impact forces him to readjust his balance.

"Altruist..." the name is hissed through now clenched teeth, the demon now raging against the restraint. Anton's will pushed back against the monster, forcing it back into its dark corner. "Hey Buddy, coming to play? It was just two wolves...I got..."



His head snaps around and he straightens from the crouch he had been in. Roller's tone brooked no challenge.

...$##$@$%$%&^^^$!!!!$%$$..."OK, ok...." with a simple shrug, Shadowbourne's shadow shrank back down, though it was pantomiming struggling against something pulling it back. A clear indicator that their was something more to the silhouette than at first perceived. Looking over at Altruist first then to the other two, "Boss Man says play nice. So...playing nice, What do you have in that bag there?" Though the tone was lighter, there was an unmistakable note of suspicion in his voice, clearly directed at the wolves.

The Wolf with the cannon ("Locke") loses some of the tension in his stance, but is clearly ready to shoot if he needs to. The Wolf on the Mecha ("Flint") eyes Shadowbourne nervously, blinking rapidly as the shadow-magic fades. He takes a step back, stumbles a bit.

He speaks (into his communicator, but his voice is clear enough). "Got hands, boss."

---

Down at street level, the skinny hero ("Rigger") is joined by the woman from the office ("Halo"). However, she had no sooner touched down, ready to assist with the goo or the pilots, when Aleph's voice came over their communicators loud and clear. "Rigger," it said, "We have hands."

There's a moment.

And then both of them are surrounded by a bright corona of orange light.

Halo looks around, looks up, and then at Rigger, "No! What? No! Not yet! We promised to..."

---

Up above, Aleph watches as Doc Roller gives orders, nodding.

He cocks his head to the side, as though hearing voices. He says: "Rigger, we have hands."

He's suddenly surrounded by an orb of orange light.

"Doc Roller," he says, "On behalf of the Oberron Corporation, the Grey Wolves hereby cede the battlefield."

---

And there's a flash of blinding light (five flashes actually) and the Wolves are gone.

---

Leaving five broken or otherwise disabled mechs on the street (in the street, in some cases). Three of the 'pilots' remain attached to their inner workings (Rigger having removed two with one of his devices). One of the Mechs has a (now empty) heavy lockbox on its back.

The black substance is already starting to settle and break up and separate from the water around it.

"That guy is a real asshole."

I don't undersstand tthhe mysstic mumbo-jumbo, Shsheetssumon, the reptilian man says as he comes to an abrupt stop.  Though he has stopped, the air he has been moving does not, blowing past in a heavy breeze that ruffles some of the Asian hero's costume.
What?  Iss he ssome kind of mutasshhion?

Altruist nodded as they left, and didn't look at Shadowbourne. "My words were not aimed at you. You have benefit of the doubt. We'll sort out who's in the right later. Let's get these pilots out now. I have already failed one of them."

Now that the danger had passed, Altruist reminded himself that there was no privacy while on the job, and kept his invulnerable front up. The people must not know he could be hurt yet. So for now, he did his best to present.

For now, he had pilots to rescue, then he was going to try to get a sample of that black stuff in a container that could hold it. He'd have to be careful, though. Altruist was not a fool when it came to exposure to unknown potentially corruptive substances, and if he were ever compromised himself...

Well, he hoped Shadowbourne was up to the task.

OOC: So, rescue the "demonic" pilots, then find a glass container or something and store some of that liquid darkness or Phyrexian Oil or whatever the hell it is.

Examining the mech, Shitsumon utilizes Dakkokki to obtain access to the pilot's compartment. With his ability to speak and understand any language, he proceeds to ask the pilot what help is needed and how he and his comrades might save them and their comrades.

Doc will continue to try to acquire some sort of tanker to contain as much of the black liquid as possible by vacuuming it up.

He will also contact local LEOs and his superiors. He will inform them that charges of theft, interfering with an active crime scene, and obstruction of justice will be leveled against the operative of the Oberon Corporation.

#"Team, next time you see any of these guys, barring endangering civilians, you bring them in. As far as I'm concerned they are suspects. Friendly cooperation is off the table."#

Doc Roller sends messages up and down the various chains of command he has at his disposal. His complaints, and charges, are taken seriously, taken down, and noted. The Oberron Corporation is a giant in Bay City, with tendrils dug deep in tech, research, pure science, medical, and no few serious philanthropic enterprises. If the Grey Wolves did had the authority to speak on the corporation's behalf, then the legal side of this must be complicated.

Meanwhile, Altruist manages to secure a small sample of the black substance, even as it starts to separate and dissolve and discorporate into the concrete. He used the container he could find on short notice: a coffee cup. Not exactly Bill Nye approved. But at least it was clean.

Probably be a good idea to get that somewhere more secure and more sterile fast.

Shitsumon set himself down in front of one of the pilots and asks what can be done.

The creature starts speaking a language spoken nowhere on earth. It is speaking Infernal, the language of the demon realms, and only the magic of Dakkokki is allowing him to understand.

To his question ("How can we help?") the creature spits out a truly impressive slew of profanity and suggestions for helping that range from impossible sex acts to the consumption of any number of ill-advised substances. And then it recommends using the substances to perform additional sex acts, not all of which are impossible, but most of which would be difficult and/or painful.

As it speaks, Shitsumon can hear the mech around it powering down. Motors rev slower and the hum of the engines grow lower and lower. As this happens, the veins in the arms of the creature, around the inserted probes, starts to swell and turn blue. As though the machine is pumping something into the creature.

All around them, the city starts to creep back into the street now that the danger has passed. Police and firefighters and paramedics start to swarm around, herding people to and fro and cordoning off the area.

One of the lead cops sidles up to Gecko and pauses. "What the heck happened here? Is it safe for my guys to be here?"

#"I have a sample, and am returning. The container is not stable. Get another one ready, if possible."#

He flew up to Doc's vessel, and awaited boarding privileges, holding his coffee cup of doom like the world's most surreal advertisement. #"On a more casual note, but business related: are we certain we wish to fight with these Wolves? When they are actually helping to save lives, they are quite effective, and I'd rather not stop that. They are like most people - selfish, not evil. Their employer is likely the problem. The Wolves themselves seem to have an inclination to honor primarily, and being humane second. Deliberate selfishness doesn't seem to be their nature, based on my brief encounter with them."#

Gecko looks at the officer and shrugs.  An attack by alien-appearing robotss pilotted by sstrange creaturess.  No idea what tthhe motivve wass.  He looks around at the scene, and shrugs again.  It sseemss ssaffe now.  But, iff you ssee what lookss like a black oozze, cordon it off and call uss.  We don't know what it iss, but we don't want anyone to take any cchhanccess.
It is hard to tell, because the scales of his face make expressions difficult to see, but taling with a police officer conversationally strokes the reptiallian man as odd.  Before, he had been an unsanctioned vigilante and always had to look over his shoulder to avoid arrest.  Now, not so much apparently.
He looks over at the damaged building.  I hope their inssurancce iss paid up and up -to-date.

OOC Note: Doc is actually standing on top of the Mark 3 controlling it via remote. He is not inside of it yet.

#"Let's get the live pilots searched, disarmed, and into custody and the dead ones into safe storage!"#

#"Interrogation can wait until this situation is stable."#



Doc transferred the sample to one of the micronized portable lab containers attached to his body armor. Instead of responding to the Altruists statement he instead looked closely at the other man.

Opening the faceplate of his helmet he spoke directly and off the radio.

"You're hurt. How did that happen?"

Shitsumon continues to question the creature in the mech, more curious than anything else. Through his mystical translator, he tells the pilot, "that's fair enough. I'm going to assume you were conscripted to pilot this thing, but was your intent to steal whatever was in the box, or were you retrieving something stolen from you in the first place."

As he receives the pilot's reply, he radios, #[Language unknown: Eeeisi herersrom ca ththu ithherhis e o eauughwhe, u mi esusfo o tiel taous ol. Tato paous llropaun ere outameent ieai oerounichati hi stiintwas ivure ouon yinconlat t ter set ha onolteatha icelprngne outad outromrednce ur fome admaad niouni'llck. E e ec prena era mealnoun on st romichble, T astblepre hepeat re at nce she i itweseac'peho. Ouchil unsan E esofec iouticame noos-etpanila sta usriun out ven wassanratrutwas ta liess teund.]#

Altruist shrugged. "I'm healing quickly enough. I caught a building improperly. My strength has limits. As far as I know, everyone inside survived. One of the wolves assisted in holding the building up. Freed me up to convince the other two not to continue bothering Shadowbourne, although I don't think I was a factor in their exit."

"If it is all the same to you, though, I'll be in this form about five more minutes. Make sure no complications have arisen. Then I'll return to Sam. I'm curious about this company they work for."

As the wolves disappeared, the demon within Anton began to scream and howl. It's prey was vanishing right before their eyes. That was on the inside. On the outside, Shadowbourne blinked once...very slowly. Then a couple more times...with a couple of beads of sweat.

He heard some exchange, kinda noticed Altruist scooping up some of the black goo...then he heard Infernal. Without really listening, he understood the gist of what was being said. It was the name, rank and serial number Infernal style.

That was when he became aware that the mechs, while sounding like they were powering down, they were still functioning somewhat with the pilots.

With an abrupt spin, he quickly steps up to where Shitsumon and the pilot were, " Shitsumon...you might want to step back. They are still receiving something from the mechs." Even as he states that, he steps closer, trying to sense if the fluid pumping into the Infernal Pilots is mystical in nature.

19:35, Today: Shadowbourne rolled 61 using 1d100.  Sense Supernatural 80%.

Continuing to use his ability to speak any language, Shitsumon says, [Language unknown: not oured art nghe pl unnd atpe U k, ithna A enioha tha eraeau-undive eau iedi iewiolha ss outdinter aienpeof ware tr coninelarrut lesticoer of iemawa nceratbuting, te u o tio strounere olngiemi as thi. K ortallons but entoli reaateiou sa n folapr fililoec, llus O et k oerstahating.]

"Dare ka ga sore o shimasu ka?"^*

Shitsumon returns his attention to the pilot, watching carefully and looking for a way to extract the creature from the machine.

^*[Language unknown: Om eeuten to men?]

The police officer that was talking to Gecko smiled nervously and backed away. He was still a little uncomfortable in the presence of the strange pseudo-human, it seemed. He started down the street, giving orders to his officers to cordon off the street and sidwalks and anywhere they saw black ooze. But even as he goes, most of the ooze has already broken up and dissolved.

Altruist, in the Mark 3, manages the handover of the precious coffee-cargo to Doc, who seals it up. Inside is a clear fluid about the viscosity of alcohol and small specks of black. Not many, and even as they watch the specks continue to break up and break down.

On the street, Shadowbourne is certain these are Imps, lesser demons from the lower realms, weak and easily summoned and controlled by arcanists, often used to carry messages and do small tasks. Using them as mech pilots was new in his experience.

Whatever it was that was being pumped into their veins is indeed magical in nature. If he had to guess, he would say that Shitsumon is correct and the mech is powered by the ichor of the imps. However, it is clearly being altered or changed in some way within the machine at this moment, as the imp shows increasing distress.

The block ooze also seemed to be related in some way.

Similar cries of pain and anger (and long strings of curses and oaths) emerge from the other two 'manned' mechs as well.

OOC: if someone wants to try to remove an imp/the imps from the mechs, I'll need some kind of roll. This is high-tech, but there's a magic component as well. Unless, of course, if someone wants to use a more direct method...

[Language unknown: "Na ll reamenhou itriek latus preovence lo."]
Once again, Shitsumon employs Dakkokki and the whirling blade begins to sever the lines pouring poison into the demon. As he works, his face twists further and further into an expression of nausea. [Language unknown: "Ernc fo nerom houhisnot! Seione tr hises ceillo ounthaill, eve arewh k vir undsontho!"]

Dakkokki slices through the steel cables with relative ease. Certainly no mortal blade could have done it. Each slice is followed by a spray of that thick black ichor and a scream of pain and profanity from he pilot (although, they're doing so much of that, it's hard to tell why at this point).

However, after the second cable is cut, Shitsumon notices that his sword seems to have a permanent black stain along its edge. About two inches long, and half an inch wide. The blade does not feel undamaged, but the stain remains.

And there are six cables left for this pilot.

"The Oberon Corporation is my primary interest as well."

#"I'll be one the ground working the crime scene if anyone needs my assistance."#

#"Shitsumon will conventional restraints serve for the pilots?"#

Altruist powered down finally, and watched the ooze slowly break down before admitting something to Doc. "I know nothing about this kind of science. If it involves tech, I can probably figure it out, but anything outside of practical chemistry to my trade is beyond me."

He cracked his fingers, and looked around the room. "I'm going to need a mesh cage or the equivalent thereof, and some expected near immunity to being tracked if I'm going to research them here. Otherwise, I'll have to look into them elsewhere and another time. But I will discover anything worthwhile about them."

He was wondering if they hadn't fallen on his radar before, though. Something that big, and involved with stuff like this? He'd probably run into them before without realizing it.

He began setting up for computer work. "Man, though - that hurt. Not used to straining myself. I didn't even know I could do that! It hurts, but it's an awes-"

He stopped himself, realizing something, and leaned away from his computer, preparing to return to form. "Hey, is someone getting those vicious little guys out of the mechs? Because I kind of got distracted, and assumed that was being dealt with in my urge to bring things back to you. They've likely got some kind of kill switch in them that I, uh, admittedly may have failed to recognize for what it was when I first saw it, and I'm not really a demon specialist, even though I am somehow expected to fight them and their servants according to my master. I'm more of a 'evils of man' type."

Stepping back from the mech and sheathing his blade, both to indicate he is no longer cutting and to hide the small stain, Shitsumon responds, "I do not believe restraints will be necessary. The creatures will tell us nothing and are likely to be eliminated by the mechanisms they pilot."

"I doubt anything but Dakkokki would serve to release them, and doing so seems to effect my blade. I'll not have it affected."

With a polite nod to the 9fficer, Gecko understands his discomfort.  It has taken him awhile to become comfortable with his new skin as well.  And even that is not one hundred percent of the time.
His zips over to Shitsumon's location, stepping up on the robot just in time to the warrior step back after sheathing his blade.  He looks at the creature fixed into the robot body, and wonders if his powers would even work on it.
Reaching for the knife he carries, he draws it and pricks his finger.  Adhering to the robotic suit, he kneels down next to the imp as he squeezes out a sizeable bubble of blood.  He then lets it drip onto the imp, and watches for the reaction.

If his Divine Healing power works, then:
17:47, Today: Gecko rolled 17 using 4d6.  But, take SDC damage.

17:46, Today: Gecko rolled 18 using 4d6.  ...heal SDC.

17:46, Today: Gecko rolled 11 using 4d6.  Heal Imp of HP and... 

The drop of blood is absorbed into the creature's hard, scaly skin. Instantly the blue lines from the cable implants start to recede. The imp calms slightly and hurls some abuse at Gecko.

Shitsumon, who can understand them (and maybe wished he didn't) heard it clearly: "[Expletive] you and your [expletive] help you ugly [expletive] freak. I didn't [expletive] ask for it and I don't [expletive] want it and you'll get not a single [expletive] Service from me in [expletive] return!"

Behind them, they can hear the cries of the other two imps quiet and quiet and fade until there's nothing. Now there's just this one.

They can both see the cables in its arm, nearest where the blood dripped, start to push itself out of its skin, trailing dozens and dozens of thin wires.

With a nod, Shitsumon engages the creature on its own terms. Using the creature's language, he says, "did you receive appropriate payment for this service, or should someone be indebted to you for it? It appears whoever engaged you intended you to be unable to extract payment after the fact, as you're the only one of the drivers remaining. It is my duty to dispatch you back to your place of origin, as you do not belong on this plane, but if you wish to return to your employer and demand payment I would defer your dispatching and follow you to explain to your employer the pending modifications of his processes."

Gecko gives a small grin as the cables begin to extricate themselves from the demonic creature.  Sseemss like a very upsset creatture for being helped.  It'ss not like I'm requiring a favor in exxchchange.  He shakes his head slightly as he watches the vocal exchange between Shitsumon and the creature.