Moments Ago...

"Here we are, grand sewage central..." states Max before pinching his nose while adding, "Smells like it, too..."

"There is something alive down there." the old man peered inquisitively.

"Yeah, but it ain't active...can't sense any seismic activity." states Maxwell before gesturing to the other side of the massive underground silo. "We're halfway there, but need ta get ta th' other side...watch yer step, ya really don't wanna fall down this pit."

"Oh ye of little faith..." states the Arch-Druid disdainfully as he began floating across the massive underground silo.

This was almost too good to be true, Max was worried he'd have to do something drastic...all he needed to do now was wait for just the right moment!

"Aww, man...I'm REAL sorry 'bout this, Archie..." Max stated as he got himelf into position.

"Praytell, what do you mean? ANOTHER detour?" sighed the old man in exasperation as he paused in air, hovering almost dead center of the massive silo.

"Something like that, ya murderous fuck..." Max mutters under his breath - it was either now or never.

"Ah, the Cliff Notes?...short version?...what I'm tryin' ta say is YER FUCKED!" exclaims Max as he drives his fists into the retaining wall with all is might, delivering an impact equivalent to the force of a compact SUV, sending a crack racing upwards. The Arch-Druid raises hands too late as large sections of the silo's ceiling come crashing down upon him...and as he plummets down into the depths of the silo below, Max could hear the old man shout, "MAAAxxxwwweeelllllllll!!!..."

"Hey...HEY ARCHIE! Don't GO anywhere, I'll be right back!" Max shouts over the edge as a monstrous roar could be heard echoing from below.


UV doesn't understand what all the fuss is about, during her time as Corona...she never ran across this 'Mole' character. Then again, she never found herself skulking about the sewers in Kings Row either. If anything...he was small-time, street-level vigilante with some ridiculous animal motiff. Still, he was an escaped convict from Zigursky Penitentiary...and UV knew something about escaped convicts, like Morose. If The Mole was anything like Morose, he needed to be put down hard and fast!

All of a sudden, UV's thoughts are rudely interrupted by a thunderous boom as pipes blow their pressure valves in the wake of a subdued tremor. Whatever that was, it was close! Shortly thereafter, she hears the transmission...

"All units, -ALL- Units, converge on U-Sector! I repeat! All Units! Converge on the Abandoned Sewer Hazzard Gate! Go! GO! -GO!-"

UV is first to arrive on the scene, and she can't help but feel impressed! Whoever destroyed the hazzard zone security gate was punching around her level - it would probably have taken UV a few moments blasting at full strength to do what had been done. When did The Mole become such a heavy-hitter? She considers waiting, but hears a more subtle boom deep within the Abandoned Sewer Network...

The Abandoned Sewer Entryway was clear, PPD was closing in...and it seems quite obvious which way The Mole went. Might as well scout ahead, UV could single-handedly apprehend The Mole! If that didn't get her recognition for being a hero, what would? With that in mind, UV flies ahead into the depths of the Abandoned Sewer Network.


Max had to go...-NOW-! As fast as he could muster towards the very group of people he sensed in pursuit, the exact kind of people an escaped convict would be better off avoiding. While Max's seismic sense was still ringing slightly from the Arch-Druid's thunderous display of force, the impact of so many jack boots racing towards his direction could only mean one thing...the PPD.

So it comes to a great deal of surprise to Maxwell, as he races laboriously through the sludge, not even close to the demolished abandoned sewer security gateway...when a luminous woamn streaks through the air towards his direction.

"Shit!" Max swears under his breath, a freakin' flyer...couldn't sense her approach cause she wasn't even touching the ground! Was she from Hero Corps? Was she with the PPD? Then Max's eyes widen as she spies him in return, feeling deflated as if he were stuck between a rock and a hard place, Max grumbles, "FUCK me...it's Corona..."


Scene: Entrance To The Pit, Abandoned Sewer Network
Scenic Distinction: One Massive Pipe, River Of Waste

Name: The Mole
ID: Maxwell Tillerman (Public)
Origin: Mutant
Affiliations: Solo: D8 Buddy: D6 Team: D4

Distinctions (D8/D4+1PP)
1) Soft Spot For The Needy
2) Crass, Brash & Full Of Sass
3) Former Streetwise Vigilante/Escaped Convict

MUTANT PHYSIOLOGY
1) Enhanced Strength: D8
2) Enhanced Stamina: D8
3) Burrowing: D6
4) Seismic Sense: D8
5) Shrinking: D6
SFX) Collateral Damage - Add a D6 to the Doom Pool in order to create a Mutant Physiology Stunt (D8).
SFX) Shrug It Off - Spend a die from the Doom Pool in order to ignore up to D8 Physical stress, or spend a die from the Doom Pool in order to step back existing Physical stress or trauma by -1 step unless caused by Psychic or Mystic sources.
SFX) "Claw Through Anything" - Can Burrow through D8 material at D6 speed. Can remove a single Durability trait die from an opposing reaction dice pool up to D8 value at no cost; remove a single Durability trait up to D10 value by spending a Doom Die.
SFX) Seismic Awareness - Can use Seismic Sense as a targeting sense though D8 material at D8 distance/radius.
LIM) Mutant: Add a D6 to the Doom Pool when affected by mutant-specific complications and tech.
LIM) Seismic Overload: Add a D6 to the Doom Pool and Shutdown Seismic Sense during Earthquake or other strong vibrational conditions, recover when said conditions subside or during a Transition Scene.
LIM) Short: Add a D6 to the Doom Pool when your size becomes a complication for you. Size cannot be consciously altered and is considered 'always on'.

Specialities (D8/2D6 or D10/2D8/3D6)
1) Combat Expert: D8
2) Covert Expert: D8
3) Menace Expert: D8
4) Psych Expert: D8
5) Science Expert (Geology): D8

Max doesn't know anything about UV, but he certainly heard stories about Corona, so as far as he knows...he just ran into a super-terrorist...
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:56, Sat 06 Nov 2021.

UV nearly gave herself whiplash as she stopped mid-flight. She gave the Mole a once over. He looked like he could handle himself at the very least. If he couldn’t then they wouldn’t have put him in the Zig. She hovered just above the sludge and pressed the beacon on her smartwatch, letting the device send a signal to the PPD. She toned down the aura just a bit so that her glow was not as harsh.

“In a hurry? Can you hear that radio chatter? PPD is on the way and I have time to kill. Why don’t we wait for them? Swap some campfire stories? After all, we both are bound to have interesting tales to tell. You know, to get more familiar with each other in case you’re not sure who I am,” she quipped with an evil smirk that returned easily to her face. The familiarity of the tone she took reminded her of the days she spent frighting off security guards at oil refineries and government supply depots. It felt strange the other way around. She made sure that the comms of the PPD were playing loud enough for the Mole to hear.

Spend 1PP to create the stunt “Backup Inbound!” D8(Menace Expert)

1) INTENT: Inflict Mental Stress
2) AFFILIATION: Solo D10
3) DISTINCTION: Reformed Villain D8
4) TRAITS: Superhuman Speed(Flight) D10
5) SPECIALTIES: Menace Expert D8
6) ASSETS: None available
7) PUSH/STUNT or RESOURCE: Backup Inbound! D8
8) TARGET STRESS:
9) TARGET COMPLICATION:
10) SFX:
11) LIM:
12) DICE POOL: 4d8 + 2d10
13) RESULT: 17, Effect D10
14) OPPS:0
15) PP: 0

18:50, Today: UV rolled 31 using 4d8+2d10 with rolls of 7,2,3,7,2,10.  Stress the Mole! –

1 XP) When current events make you recount the path that led to you adopting an unlikely career as a super hero, and wonder if it's really who you are.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:34, Sun 07 Nov 2021.

Well, the Mole's Solo...which is when he operates best: D8

He's an escaped convict, so the stakes are really high for him: D8

He's no stranger to mind games, Menace Expert: D8

Well, I did say he was a 'street-level vigilante'...can't think of anything else that would apply so it's 3D8.

Today: Mender Phantasm rolled 10 using 3d8 ((1,4,5)
Total: 9
Effect: Default D6
Opps: 1

What the hell? SHE"S working with the PPD? She's a goddamn SUPER-TERRORIST! Yeah, an you're an escaped convict. She's a killer! So are you. I was framed! And she wasn't? BULLSHIT! There was a woman, trying to protect her child...she roasted her ALIVE! You're prints were found all over the crime scene. Goddamnit Maxxie, when are you gonna get it through your head, you've been over this ever since you got thrown in The Zig! Someone planted your prints, and who else has access those prints other than the PPD...someone in the PPD wants you out the picture! Why else do you think they're working with a super-terrorist? They're not here to take you in - they're here to take you out! For crying out loud, she can blast through solid rock! Face it, Maxxie...you ain't digging your way outta this one.

"Campfire, eh? Good one, Corona. Yeh, I know you...some of the boys back in The Zig got cheeky pictures posted like yer some goddamn Sports Illustrated Villainess Of The Month. What's the matter, run outta defenseless citizens to fry? Can't say I'd be much more than kindling compared to that woman you roasted..." growls The Mole as he backs away slowly, then halts abruptly and looks back as a subtle roar echoes from entryway into The Pit, appearing indecisive as to what his next move should be.

UV scores an exceptional success, stepping her effect die up +1 causing The Mole a whopping D12 Mental Stress - he looks positively confounded and vexed.

***

Turning back to UV, he looks cross as if trying to find the words, "Look, I ain't got no love for the PPD...they've alway considered me some lawless vigilante anyways, so if yer here to take me out then let's get to it. Otherwise, I got places I gotta be...an' Bubbles ain't gonna keep Archie preoccupied forever..."

***

The Mole doesn't want to fight, but he doesn't want to get arrested either, so he's preparing for the worst case scenario and attempts to put himself in an 'ideal position', creating an Asset with his Combat Expert Specialty in order to be used to either defend himself more adequately, or launch a suprise attack if need be. It won't be persistent, but if he isn't prevented, he'll keep stepping up the Asset until it reaches D12. Since he's an NPC...can't roll against the Doom Pool, so I use The Mole's Combat Expert Specialty to create the Asset - D8 Ideal Position (Combat Asset).

***

The Mole slowly paces his way around UV seeking an ideal posiion when UV's signal becomes distorted with bursts of stactic, "*static*...in route!...*static*...focus-fire on...*static* *gun shots* *static*"

"Sounds like yer backup needs backup..." The Mole sneers.

***

Since this is an action scene, the one who acts last gets to nominate who goes first next round. The Mole chooses himself to go first, repeating his same action as last time, stepping up his Ideal Postion Combat Asset to D10.

UV's Action

UV knew the look of a desperate man when he saw one, the nervous glance, the look of one who feels they've run out of options. Like a wild animal caught in a corner, The Mole appeared long passed reasoning with.

She didn't know what The Mole was running from, but he wasn't wrong about her backup needing backup as the sound of conflict continued via distorted transmission. Considering that when the hazzard gate got destroyed, the reverberations that resonated throughout the depths of the Paragon Sewer Network, it didn't exactly surprise UV that someone else might come to investigate...and apparently they weren't friendly.

Still, she wasn't about to let The Mole go free...and since he didn't want to have a seat to have a nice chat, she could forego the chat for the time being...

"No fireside chat for you, then?. Alright, Bucko - Have a seat anyways!...and don't move until I get back!" UV exclaims, her corona aura flaring, as she emitted a solar blast searing through the portion of the massive pipe directly above The Mole causing a significant amount of real estate to come crashing down upon him.

OOC: UV is going to cause The Mole a Physical Complication - Pinned To The Ground, certain that The Mole's own Mental Stress will be make it difficult for him to avoid, ensuring near complete (if not total immobilization) with a D12 effect die. With the likelihood that UV will accomplish an exceptional success, if she scores over a D12 effect, she'll opt to use the additional effect die generated to be in the form of Mental Stress, representing a mild concussion. This would cause The Mole to not only be 'Complicated Out Of Scene', he'll also be 'Mentally Stressed Out Of Scene' due to already having D12 Mental Stress. If he becomes Mentally Stressed Out Of Scene due to attaining an Exceptional Success...The Mole will experience D6 Mental Trauma. He's The Mole...he can 'shrug it off', right? She'll even use her SFX 'Burnout' to step up her Solar Blast die +1 step to D12, increasing the probability of netting a higher total. The Mole may not be going anywhere for a looong time. 'Cheeky pictures', indeed...

Solo: D10
Massive Pipe: D8
Solar Blast: D12 (SFX - Burnout)
The Mole's Mental Stress: D12
Combat Expert: D8

Today: Mender Phantasm, on behalf of UV, rolled 21,6,11 using 2d12,d10,2d8 ((9,12,6,6,5)).
Total: 21
Effect: D10
Opps:0

Mole's Reaction

The Mole's Solo: D8
He'll use his Combat Asset defensively, Ideal Position: D10. Unfortunately, it's the only time he'll be able to use it as he loses said Asset once it's utilized (i.e. - non-persistent).
His Seismic Sense will help alert him of his impending burial: D8
It's Combat so Combat Expert: D8

Today: Mender Phantasm rolled 6,17 using d10,3d8 ((6,7,7,3)).
Total: 14
Effect: D10
Opps: 0

Scoring an Exceptional Success, the Mole suffers a D12 Physical Complication - Pinned To The Ground! With his Mental Stress also being D12, the likelihood of the Mole even having a clue which way is up seems implausible. Until a Transition Scene occurs, The Mole is stuck like chuck and isn't going anywhere for quite sometime...

The Mole is almost totally blindsided by her action, barely having the time to mutter, "Hey, that's what I was gonna..." before trying to cover himself desperately as the top portion of the pipe above him comes crashing down around him with a thunderous boom!.

As the dust settles, not a pebble moves from the pile of rubble that was once where the Mole stood. Nary a soul can hear the long string of profanities uttered from within, "Fuck ME!"

In order for the Mole to even think of moving anywhere, he first has to have some kind or sort of idea where he is. That means he's got to get his Mental Stress under control first...which is D12. Since I can't roll against the Doom Pool, the Mole can only step his Mental Stress down one step for this scene. After that, he'll have to overcome the Physical Complication he's suffering from - D12 Pinned To The Ground. Unlike his Mental Stress, he can gradually work down the Physical Complication, struggling to free himself enough from the rubble he's buried under in order to have the capacity to Burrow. This will require full four action rounds. After five full action rounds, The Mole will have managed to free himself from his untimely burial and (hopefully) burrow his way to freedom with D10 Mental Stress...

Whether or not he actually manages to do so remains to be seen as UV surveys her work with a nod before racing back towards the Abandoned Sewer Entryway certain The Mole won't be going anywhere...
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:44, Sat 13 Nov 2021.

As UV flies off, a young black woman with large raven wings emerges from a shadowy recess amongst the many feeder pipes that routes effluence of waste down into the Abandoned Sewer Netowrk main pipeline to The Pit beyond.

Glancing nervously in the direction UV went, she rushes to the pile of rubble where The Mole formerly stood and exclaims under her breath, "Oh my God, Max!" as she begins to hastily remove the debris.

Black Raven grunts as she struggles to remove the debris, "Come on, Maxxie...work with me, will ya?" At first, there was no reply...then a sudden burst of activity as if the debris was alive!

"That's it!" Black Raven calls out in rejoice as she hastens her attempts to unbury the Mole, "Keep going, Maxxie...you're almost through!"

Finally, a broad knobby fist punches it's way through the exterior of the debris...and shortly thereafter, with Black Raven's assistance, a sputtering Mole emerges...

Looking bewildered, he coughs and spits out some dirt before inquiring, "Tonya? Raven, what're ya doin' here girl?"

"What's it look like, Maxxie? Rescuin' you!" she exclaims with a look of convern as she finishes helping him out of the pile of debris.

A muffled roar emits from the Pit's entryway jarring the Mole's senses. "No, no, no..." the Mole groans, "I gotta get you outta here!"

"Uh uh, Maxxie - you an' me gonna have words first." replies Black-Raven sternly with crossed arms.

"Not NOW, Tonya!" the Mole replies urgently before asking sincerely, "Look, do you trust me?"

"...you know I do, Maxxie." she responds quietly as her expression softens.

"Come on, then..." the Mole states while ripping a grate off of one of the feeder pipes to the main, "Got yer comms on ya? Need ta contact Hero Corps...MAGI...freakin' Freedom Phalanx for all that matters..."

"Comms? No, I turned mine in when I quit the Corps." replies Black Raven hesitantly as she eyes the narrow confines of the pipe before following the Mole inside.

"Wha?...what'd ya quit H-C for?" the Mole inquires over his shoulder as they forge an upward path.

"You were arrested, Maxxie...didn't feel right." Raven replies as she clinches her wings tightly against her back...she wasn't going to be flying anywhere any time soon.

"Really needed that comms..." the Mole mutters as he continues pressing forward.

"A 'Thank You' would be nice!" Raven calls out in irritation.

"For not bringin' a comms?" the Mole inquires incredulously.

"For rescuin' you!" Raven replies in exasperation.

As of a sudden, an implausibly ancient voice echoes throughout the area as if the very stones were speaking...

"Foul Abomination
Spawn Of Man
Witness Aberration
Thy Judgement At Hand!

Ever Grow And Ever Blight
Consume Everything Within Sight
Devour The Womb That Spawned Thee
Til Gaia's Embrace Doth Claim Thee!"

"Wh...who was that?" Raven stammers as she halts momentarily.

"The guy I'm tryin' ta rescue ya from...Archie." replies the Mole as he reaches out and takes Raven by the hand leading her further.

"Who's Archie?" Raven replies bewildered.

"Someone I thought I knew..." the Mole replies under his breath tinged with bitter regret, but he didn't have time to explain. Something was coming their way from the depths of the Pit...something colossal...

***

"MAXXIE!!!" Raven screamed in horror as tentacles shot up into the pipe the two were using as an escape route, entwining around her leg and dragging her backwards.

The Mole snarled and lunged forward, shrugging off a series of tentacles that try to ensnare him as he severs the tentacles trying to drag Raven off. Raven lets out a cry as ichor splashes her pants and begins to smolder. As she struggled to remove the acid worn jeans, more tentacles surged forward encouraging the Mole to stand protectively in front of Raven...

...this was his fault, she didn't have to pay the price...

"Max, Duck An' Cover!" Raven exclaims from behind.

The Mole knew what that meant. No sense in arguing, she was committed so the best thing to do was to drop to the ground, cover your ears and pray you didn't experience permanent hearing loss...

Even a near miss was enough to cause the Mole's skin to crawl as his clenched teeth threatened to shatter. The sonic waves tore through the encroaching tentacles like a blender set on frappe.

The Mole hisses in annoyance as he slings the ichor off him, "That shit BURNS!"

"More comin', Maxxie!" Raven exlaims.

"...an' we're goin'! Go! GO! -GO!-" the Mole shouts as he gooses her forward up the pipe...

Whether the Mole and the Raven escape will ultimately depend on how well the heroes at the Abandoned Sewer Entryway deal with...the Colossal Hydraxian Cell (Dun! Dun! Duuunnn!)
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:58, Tue 14 Dec 2021.