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: E icaiouera aststrate ol ioshe ndncan]!"
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%.