You are somewhere in Manhattan.

Where are you, exactly?

First person to respond gets to say where this chapter is going to take place... It's a race! Go! (after the first player responds, everyone else clam up until my next post...)

In reply to The Grandmaster (msg # 1):

NYU campus.

That'll do fine...

...Now, your identity is not particularly secret, am I remembering that right?

Not secret at all. He doesn't advertise, of course, but is completely open about it.

(Okay, Goodwill, you're outside, on the NYU campus... what are you doing? What are you wearing?)

I picture him on line for registering for classes, in jeans and a t-shirt, and maybe his high school varsity jacket.

Um... the line goes out the door...?

Almost always, in my experience. Sometimes they even set up tables outside.

Meanwhile, in another part of the city. Saul was trying to make things work out at the court. He don't know how he did it, but he got invited to the basketball court after school by some of the popular guys at school

He was stuck around an alleyway, trying to figure out if he needed to be punctual or not. He didn't want to annoy, but he also didn't want to be a brown-nose. What would get him the respect he aimed for?
Aww shoot, this would almost be easier if they were a bunch of goons. He could just become Scorch Scale, find the biggest guy, and make an example of him. The rest would crumple.

But he shook his head, no, friends should be easier than stopping crime, surely?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:14, Fri 21 Dec 2018.

(Heh heh in my part of the world it's too hot to make anyone stand outside in August and everyone's too sensitive to even a little cold to do so in January, so that never happens. But in NYC i can imagine it... So...)

Our hero (and Scraps) is (are) on line at NYU, registering for classes, when someone comes up to him...

(Is this person male or female?)

Goodwill looks up from his course catalog to see a woman approaching him at a brisk pace....

In fact, she looks vaguely familiar...

She's about the same age as him, he thinks... but then the same is true for most of the people in the line, because college.

Still...

(Insightful roll, please, to attempt to figure out where you've seen her before...)

Goodwill rolled 7 using 2d6-1 ((2,6)).

Hold One:
--Why does this person want to help me?
--Why does this person want to get in my way?
--What is at risk if the plan as I understand it goes ahead?
--What pieces of the plan am I missing?
--How can I protect other people?
--How can I protect myself
--What haven’t they taken account of?

---

The girl looked familiar, but he was not placing the face. Sometimes when a person was taken out of their usual context, his brain just didn't process their identities the same way. It was like that back home, that time he met the local Fire Chief at the movies, even after seeing him in uniform a dozen times before. He'd recovered just in time to spare himself the embarrassment that time, but it was a close thing.

If she was coming over for him, hopefully he'd figure it out before sticking his foot in his mouth. If felt like her name was on the tip of his tongue...!
This message was last edited by the player at 22:51, Fri 14 Dec 2018.

...So... which one are you picking...?

Scraps cavorted about nearby, playing with the butterflies, students and flowers each in turn.

He was a generally happy little soul, and his tongue and tail showed this.

Answer: pay attention to whatever Scraps does next.



It's, uh... well you can't quite think of her name at first, but you do remember where you've seen her before-- she went to the same high school as you!

(Please give this gal a (first and last) name...)

"Laura!" Gil managed to remember the name just as she arrived. She'd sat behind him in tenth-grade English. She'd been a couple of inches shorter and maybe twenty pounds heavier at the time, but she seemed to have carved off that persistent bit of baby-fat since the last time he'd seen (or maybe just noticed) her. It had been a large high school. "Laura Dalton? Well I'll be! I had no idea you'd be going here, too!"

Well, he had to assume that last bit, but why else would she be there, of all places and times?

"How are you?"

"Oh, I'm not, I'm just here to visit someone today..."



"Wow-- it's not really a very long story, but it's kind of intense... but if you're sure you don't mind hearing a sort of sad story, I'd love to tell it to you... Talking about it would probably make me feel better, I have to admit..."

Oh, lord...! Tales of woe. This was probably going to be the last thing he needed in his day. But how could he say No? He couldn't.

"Sure," Gil replied, flashing a sympathetic smile. "Tell me what's wrong."

It occurred to Scraps that Gil wasn’t watching him any more ... and was giving his attention to someone else.
With a “Bark”, he came barreling over to where Gil was talking, and deliberately (in that way that only dogs and children can do) began demanding Gil’s attention.

Suddenly, Scraps began to growl at Laura; placing himself between the girl and Gil, he seemed very defensive.
His tail and ears were down, and his teeth showing as he uttered his primal warning for her to stay away from Gil.

"Hey, settle down there, wonder-pup," Gil said, looking down at Scraps. The dalmatian puppy was usually pretty sharp when it came to judging people, but Laura was just some girl he knew from high school. She couldn't possibly be dangerous, could she?

He scooped Scraps up into his arms. It was partly to calm the dog, and partly to have a grip on him should he need to fly away. Because despite Scraps being just a puppy, Gil couldn't help but think that sometimes he was the smart one of their duo.

"Something you need to tell me...?" he asked again, not looking forward to the response.

GO SOUTH.

Saul twitched. Someone with a deep booming bass voice was in his head.

GO SOUTH. GO NOW. SOMETHING IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. A BATTLE. YOU WILL WANT TO TAKE PART.

Laura pretended (with only partial success) to miss Gil's tone... but she didn't like him picking up Scraps, that was obvious. "Well, since you remember who I am, you'll remember I was, ah, heavier when you knew me. But that was a few years ago... I left your high school after our sophomore year. Moved out to California. Lost weight while I was out there."

"See, everyone always hated me, but in a pitiful sort of way. What I wanted to be instead was like the mean girls, the real nightmares on wheels that everyone hated because they were afraid of them. Changing high schools was a good way to start over, and to really work on my getting a more aggressive personality. And it worked."

"And you know what? The more they hated me? The better I felt. And no one hated me more than the mean girls who already ran that school, because soon everyone was even more afraid of me than them. They hated me so much that one day when I was walking home, the richest one even tried to give me a little bump with her car. Imagine her surprise when her car took more damage from it than I did."

Laura seems a little taller suddenly--

--Oh. It's because her feet aren't touching the ground anymore. "See, I think there's something about our town, because when I saw you on TV as Goodwill, I realized you were the same as me. Except that you want to be liked. I don't. Though I have to admit, I got a little overexcited with what the papers called the Mean Girl Massacre. My original plan was to make them all look like accidents. So that's sad. And now you've picked up your puppy, so it's going to be harder for me to kill 'im. So that's sad too. Good thing I brought these henchmen along..."

At these words, a swarm of 2 dozen henchmen rushes onto the grounds, armed with knives and other simple weapons (no guns). They start robbing the students in the crowd...

Hearing a voice in his head was disconcerting. About as much as the first few times he transformed.

"You better not be who I think you are." Saul said to himself in the alleyway, thankful he wouldn't be heard. "Because you really shouldn't have enough presence of mind after all the measures I put myself through." The teenager said under the backup mask he puts on. It was there just in case he ends up depowered while on the job.

The only other thing there was to do was put his messenger bag in the bin, surrounded by car pines to keep the bin smell away. "It's about time I got Fired Up!" He says, transforming while racing south to try and see what scene the voice was intending him to find.

Scraps squirmed in Gil’s arms, and growled at Laura Dalton.

Great. The loony-tunes girl had brought an army of thugs. Gil needed to deal with them first, before anyone got hurt.

Nearby, one guy who looked as though he'd be at home on a Harley threatened a couple of students with a chain. Coming at these students from a different angle was a guy who looked as though he would be at home in a dumpster. He was slapping the end of a baseball bat into his open palm as he moved to cut off the students' escape, moving sideways and a little backwards to block the path they were on.

"Hyper puppy trip attack!" Gil snapped, and gave Scraps a boost out of his arms. Scraps had been trying to get out of Gil's arms to begin with; this would basically allow the young dog to launch himself into the path of the bad guys. Unless he had other ideas, or saw a squirrel, or one of any number of other diversions and distractions appeared, that was. Gil then turned and launched himself at the next nearest target in the opposite direction, who turned out to be another hobo-looking fella with a length of pipe.

"Call them off!" Gil shouted, grabbing for the pipe. "Laura, don't DO this!"

Scraps leapt from Gil’s arms, launched forward by Gil into a Hyper puppy trip attack! as the two had practiced so many times.   It was one of their power moves ... a synchronised effort; two bodies, one intent.

Scraps landed running, snarling.   ANY villain would be shocked and intimidated ...
          - rolled 4 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 1,1.  Hold ‘em off.
... IF Scraps’ ears hadn’t slapped him in the face at that moment.

In his confusion, Scraps twisted in a sudden panic, and his feet sort of, well, got confused also.

Run, Scraps, run.
See Scraps run.
See Scraps faceplant into the grassy knoll, and go tumbling head of tail with a yelp for help ... finally skidding to a halt at the feet of Baseball Bat Bum in a tangled, pretzel knot.

Laura dives at Gil, fists forward... "Now, why would I call them off? Why shouldn't I do this? Call me Spite, by the way. It's a name I much prefer..."

(Gill may choose to meet Spite's attack, to try to dodge it, or something else...)

(Scraps gains 1 xp...)

When Scraps sorts things out again, he's facing a very furry cat... who has a very evil look about him...

The cat attacks...

(GM rolls dice)

...But, in his initial attack, fails to do any real damage...
This message was last edited by the player at 17:46, Tue 25 Dec 2018.

"I don't know. Sprite seems more appropriate. A petty and fleeting person, too small to see the big picture." Scorch Scale revealed himself on the corner rooftop of a nearby building. "But from here, that could mean anyone." Scorch Scale wasn't just talking about the height advantage he had.

With that, he billowed a wide flame to hit a sizable section of the goons without harming the other, innocent students below.

It's Clobberin' Time!
20:17, Today: Scorch Scale rolled 10 using 2d6+2 ((6,2)).

-You hit hard
-You avoid most of their retaliation

"And how is any of this my fault?" Gil asked sharply, planting his feet as though to meet Laura's charge. Then at the last moment, he pivoted to attempt a bullfighter's dodge and let Laura crash into a nearby garbage can (which positively reeked in the August heat).

---

This feels like it ought to be Agility, but the descriptions of the various action types make it sound more like a Forceful move. Please advise.

Now, Scraps is still just a puppy.   And he tends to be overly enthusiastic, especially when he meets a new friend.

When the kitty leapt at him, Scraps through the rascally cat was wanting to play ... and Scraps immediately forgot about the nastiness around him, and barked with delight, his tail suddenly wagging.

He dodged sideways to avoid the cats playful overtures, then leapt forward to playfully chase his new friend, expecting that (like the cats he'd played with in the past) Mr Whiskers would take off for the nearest tree.
          -  rolled 7 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 1,4.  Hold 'em Off
               ... -Give them a choice between backing off or be stunned

This was A FUN GAME!

(No, I say Agility... roll Agility...)

The cat is furious... he stands his ground! Scraps was making such a show of pretending to be fierce, he accidentally bit the cat, hard!

But... the cat's bite marks just... disappeared!

The cat could bounce right back from a little damage, just like Scraps!

The cat was madder than ever about being bitten, though...!

(GM rolls more dice... Mr. Whiskers still fails to do damage, although he comes closer to doing so than last time...)

[Rolling Agility: Goodwill rolled 5 using 2d6 with rolls of 1,4.]

...but getting out of the way wasn't done quite as well as he'd hoped. In fact, not at all.

(Goodwill takes 1 stress and gets 1 xp.)

POW!

Spite plowed into Goodwill fists-first. If he'd been a normal human, he... wouldn't even be conscious right now, probably...

Even as it was, he was knocked backward more than a dozen feet, his feet digging shallow trenches through the grass.

And speaking of normal humans, Spite grabbed one and threw him at Goodwill. "Let's see, what can I do to make everyone hate me more? Everyone like... this guy! Hey, I know--" And the man-missile was hurtling through the air...

"--Aiieeee!" screamed the man.. briefly...

(There's an innocent bystander (extremely stoppable force) flying face-first at Goodwill (somewhat immovable object)! Catch 'im or something!)



Meanwhile, the timely appearance of Scorch Scale takes out most of Spite's mooks. The ones who're still conscious (lots of them) run for their lives, mostly with their clothes smoking and smoldering...

As Saul knew, it wasn't the fall, but the landing that kills someone. Even if the "falling" in question was horizontal in nature.
In that small moment of time, the best plan that came to him was to redirect the man using the concussive force his flames had.

Romantic Idiot
15:39, Today: Scorch Scale rolled 9 using 2d6+1 ((5,3)).
On a 10+ you succeed, on a 7-9 pick 2.

--You leave them somewhere precarious (if out of immediate danger)
--Someone misunderstands or blames you

As a blossom of red and orange exploded underneath the flying civilian, Scorch Scale knew his plan was successful. It stopped the civilian from colliding with Goodwill, but they instead got redirected into a banner that was hung up between two street poles. He would have to hang there for a while.
Some exclamations from the crowd and the endangered person told him he would not be liked for this move. But he saved someone, which was the important thing.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:31, Sat 29 Dec 2018.

Scraps was having fun ... right up until the people began being hurled about the place, fists were flying, and flame began erupting around them all.

That's when Scraps KNEW he had to act.  His senses snapping back from the play-fight he was having with the lovely kitty, he realised that other's needed rescuing.

And who better to rescue first, than his new best friend ...
... like a Romantic Idiot!
- rolled 9 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 4,3.  Rescue Mr Whiskers.
-- You leave them somewhere precarious (if out of immediate danger)
-- You take significant time to rescue them

Grabbing Mr Whiskers by the scruff of the neck, Scraps valiantly and nobly took off across the college grounds, to where he could toss the poor kitty into the safety of a dumpster across the way.

"What the—" Goodwill was only half ready to make the catch, but he'd thought he'd had a good chance of grabbing the civilian flying across the quad. Instead a sudden gout of flame had blasted the hapless guy into a NYU – REGISTER NOW! banner, catching him like a giant, makeshift spider web. It was momentarily disorienting, but Gil caught up to the scene quickly.

Scorch Scale. It was good to have allies, even if his arrival was more by coincidence than design.

"Oh. Hey man. This is Laura. We went to high school together. I didn't ask her to prom, so now she wants to kill me."

It wasn't entirely accurate, but it was just close enough to possibly piss her off. Spite, she wanted to call herself? Well, spite was hard to control. He needed her to be reacting more and thinking less if he was going to beat her quickly. If her power was truly like his, he had to beat her quickly, or they were going to do a lot of collateral damage. More people liked him than hated her, he hoped... but there was so much potential there. So much room for disaster.

He spoke loudly, playing to the crowd.

"You know, Laura, there are much better ways to deal with old resentments. Therapy, for one."

If she was fueled by hatred directed at her, he needed people to not hate her even more. the best way to do that was to replace that hatred with something else. Pity, maybe.

"How about we talk this out over a nice cup of chamomile tea?"

---

+1 Charming - how good you are at influencing people
--Talk things out
--Play to the crowd

Goodwill rolled 8 using 2d6+1 ((2,5)).

When you ask bystanders for help, understanding, sympathy, or to be impressed, roll +Charming.  On a 10+ pick 3, on a 7-9 pick 1
--They don’t think you are either whiny or showing off
--They think better of you as a group
--They provide assistance
--You are buoyed by their cheers and take +1 Ongoing until they are seriously threatened or the scene ends Can we make this a negative effect against her? -1 Ongoing for her?

Considering the way both your power sets work, I think it's a +1 for you and a -1 ongoing for her...




Laughter and cheers rippled through the crowd now that most of Spite's henchmen were dispersed by Scorch Scale, and the effect infuriated Spite. She charged at the bottom corner of the building that Scorch Scale was on, and busted through it.

The building makes a slow, splintering, cracking noise even after Spite's busted through it...

(--Scorch Scale is in danger of falling: he can save himself, but...
--There's also a young man and woman on the ground right near that spot who are in danger... If Scorch Scale focuses on rescuing them, he'll be in more danger himself...
--It's clear to everyone (except perhaps the young man and woman) what's about to happen, so you don't have to ask "can I tell that corner of the building's about to collapse?" because you can
--It's Scorch Scale's turn next)

Scorch Scale hears the sound and knows the danger well. He had to get off the building fast, but how? It took him using the back fire exit to get up here, but that would take too long now.
He looked for a moment and saw the lamp post, he realised if he jumped down to the post and then to the truck, it shouldn't hurt.

But saving people was part of why he became a hero. In spite of Spite, he would save them.

(Sounds like Romantic Idiot! to me, man. If you're doin' it, go ahead an' roll for it...)

Romantic Idiot!
14:30, Today: Scorch Scale rolled 10 using 2d6+1 ((5,4)).

When Scorch Scale needed to rise to the occasion, he falls with style.

Scorch Scale, with impressive agility, leaps to a nearby lamppost, caroms off it to the hood of a nearby truck, and then rebounds, his reptilian muscles flexing, off of the truck to flying-tackle the two young people.

He bruises them a little when he slams into them and knocks them to the pavement several feet away, his arms outstretched so as to be sure to nab them both... but a bruise or scrape or two is far better than being on the receiving end of the thousands of pounds of masonry that fell in the spot where they'd just been standing seconds earlier.

(Goodwill, I say it's your turn now...)

Laura — Spite — was somewhere inside that building now, and was doing god-only-knew what. He'd almost be tempted to bring the whole building down on her, if not for the fact that there were sure to be people inside. That, and the enormous property damage. He had to go to this school, and it wouldn't help to piss off the administration that badly before classes even began. No, he had to do this smart.

Scorch Scale bouncing off of a lamppost gave him an idea. Taking a literal flying leap at the metal post, he tore it out of the ground as easily as plucking a flower, mere seconds after Scorch cleared it.

"Need this," he said, turning and jumping back to the side of the damaged building. He bent the post over in half, doubling its strength as a support, while making it short enough to fit into the opening in the side of the building. He made to wedge it into place, to hold up the rest of the structure until such time as it could be appropriately repaired.

Spite came rocketing out of the hole she'd made in the building, screaming, flying straight at Goodwill: "GRAAAAHHHH--!"

Goodwill had been in fights before, although this was probably the closest match to himself that he'd ever dealt with... or ever would. But experience counted for a lot. He'd only "made to" wedge the lamppost into place. Instead, though, he was actually preparing to use the lamppost to meet Spite's inevitable counter-attack, and wrap her up in the metal.

And Spite simply did not disappoint.

[Rolling Forceful/Hold Them Off...

...Goodwill rolled 12 using 2d6+3 ((6,3)).
--They can’t act as effectively (-1 Stun ongoing until your actions are countered)
--They can’t attack anyone they weren’t already attacking]

There was a loud KWUNG!! as Goodwill pivoted and slammed the bent lamppost into Spite. She was knocked to the ground by the force of the blow, with Goodwill leaping on top of her to force both ends of the post into the ground on either side of her. In one quick move, he was pinning her in place with her arms trapped by her sides. It was as though he'd hit her with a giant stapler, and fixed her to the ground with a staple.

Hopefully she would lack the strength/leverage to break free, because Goodwill was running out of ideas that didn't involve punching a girl in the face.

(GM rolls dice...)

Mr. Whiskers was tossed into the dumpster by Scraps...

Mr. Whiskers decided that brute force against Scraps wasn't working... he'd seen his dark mistress being subdued, and it was time to use agility and speed to come to her rescue.

He leapt back out of the dumpster (although he did scrape his side against a tin can lid on the way-- ouch (Mr. Whiskers takes 1 stress), ignored the dog, and streaked toward his fell owner as fast as he could, trying to formulate a plan to help her on the way...

"Bark Bark", Scraps excitedly exclaimed.
And the game was on again ... This time, it was a game of CHASE!

Scraps loved playing chasies.   He always won, even against Gil.  Scraps was a very fast puppy, and practised his chasing and running regularly.
His new friend was fast too; but Scraps was faster.

See Scraps Run!

Scraps overtook the slow kitten in no time flat ... "Bark Bark" he shouted.
And got right in front of Mr Whiskers, herding and corralling the cat so that the kitty had to go around the excited pup ... only to find the dog darting in front of him yet again and again.



- rolled 11 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 4,5.  Hold 'em off
--You draw them away from people you choose
--Give them a choice between backing off or be stunned
The effect was that Mr Whiskers found himself continually misdirected away from where he wanted to go ... and unless he completely backed off, found himself occasionally bowled over by the perilous puppy on more than one occasion.

Blasted dog! Scraps couldn't go in that direction at all...

...Maybe that lizard-man could be of some sort of use... Mr. Whiskers tried to control his frustration (unsuccessfully) (Mr. Whiskers takes 2 more stress), and rushed off toward the lizard-man...

(I think it's Scorch Scale's turn...)

Scorch Scale was focused on other parts of the fight, so he hadn't seen the cat in action.

When he saw the furred bullet assail towards him, the mentality wasn't on damaging what might be innocent. Stopping the oddity would do.

Hold Them Off
22:39, Today: Scorch Scale rolled 13 using 2d6+2 ((6,5)).

--They can’t attack anyone they weren’t already attacking
--Give them a choice between backing off or be stunned

He let out a flame that should stop the creature from approaching him and stopped it escaping in case it was nefarious.

Scraps was about to take off after the Mr Whiskers, when the funny, fiery fellow flared a frame of flame that ensnared the kitty.
Nearby, Goodwill had restrained the recalsatrant renegade with bands of poley steel.

Scraps stopped* and looked around** to see if there was something else fun to do.
- rolled 4 using 2d6 with rolls of 1,3.  Look before you leap.


* something quite unlike the puppy
** something else quite unilke the puppy

(Scraps failed his Look Before You Leap roll, Scraps gains 1 xp and is about to be blindsided by something.)

(Also, forgot to note it earlier, Spite takes 1 stress.)

(GM rolls dice...)

Maybe it was seeing her cat surrounded by flames that did it. Maybe it was just that it took her as long as it took her:

"...HRRNNGNNGAH!" bellowed Spite (she can be quite loud when she wants to be, must be ultra-strong lungs), as, writhing, she gave one last shudder, and freed herself, and pieces of metal went flying...

Mostly big pieces, but one smaller one flew wild and happened to hit Scraps (Scraps is hit by a scrap of metal and takes 1 new stress from the sheer irony.).

There are two new civilians (in two separate spots) in danger from flying metal shards... but moving in time to save them means risking yourselves, too...

(Also, Scorch Scale has a -1 penalty to saving a civilian by using his breath on the metal, because if he doesn't do it just right he'll turn it into flying molten metal slag, which would actually be a little worse if it hit)

Is there a car that the brakes of could be released? Or a wooden telephone pole that could timber into the path of the shards?

<Orange>Not really



...Wow, that sounds tough. I'll let you try it, if you want, but with a -1 penalty...

So since Romantic Idiot! uses Agile, and since your agility is 1, for you it'd just be a straight 2d6 without your usual +1...

Either way it was going to be - 1 and thus just dice anyway.

Romantic Idiot!
20:02, Today: Scorch Scale rolled 9 using 2d6 ((6,3)).

It hurts how close this was. Could you accept one of my two options being
- You take the harm in their stead
?

(I accept, proceed)

Choose Two

-Take the harm in their stead
-You take significant time to rescue them

Scorch Scale heroically dashes forward and blocks one student from harm... with his own body.

(Scorch Scale takes 2 stress, and may be delayed taking his next turn, depending on what happens next (It may have knocked the wind out of him for a turn or so).

Goodwill, it's your turn...)

Everything going on around Scraps was just so exciting, that the puppy couldn’t really take it all in.
His little spotty head jerked about, trying to see what ... who ... where.

And so he didn’t see Spite’s Thug creeping up behind him.
In one foul, swift moment, the goon swept Scraps up by the scruff of his neck, lifting the (now) scared pup off his feet and helplessly into the air.

Scraps yelped for help.

I had meant THIS to cover that:



But sure, if you want more trouble, I will not stand in your way

Spite had broken free of the metal bands that Goodwill had hastily fashioned around her, but she hadn't really gotten anywhere yet. Indeed, she'd yet to get up off the ground. And while she'd managed to knock Goodwill back a little bit, he still had the superior, dominant position. He needed to put it to good use.

Then there was a yelp, and he knew Scraps was in trouble. He needed to act fast.

He hoped there weren't that many people who could see inside the building from the outside. Because he was about to do something very ungentlemanly. Throwing everything he had into it, Goodwill punched Spite in the face and then (assuming the roll works out for him) dove outside to find Scraps.

Forceful - Clobbering Time (With additional +1 bonus)
Goodwill rolled 12 using 2d6+3 ((3,6)).
On a 10+ choose 2:
--You hit hard (+1 Stun)
--You avoid most of their retaliation (-1 Stun)
--There isn’t much collateral damage and no bystanders are left in danger
(Thus there aren't any witnesses to his brutish action, either. Clever!)

"Scraps!!!"

Goodwill had hurt Laura, certainly... but perhaps not much, since she was just like him powerwise...

"---AHH!" As Goodwill rushed to see what was going on with Scraps, he heard someone yell-- he glanced over to see that a young man had gotten hit in the arm by a shard of metal... it was still stuck in his arm, in fact, and there was already quite a lot of blood-- the young man would need medical attention soon...

(Currently:
--Scorch Scale is struggling to shrug off the damage he took from saving one civilian
--Scraps is captured by a mook
--Goodwill is coming to Scraps' rescue
--A student needs medical attention
--Spite is free and will probably do something bad soonish but right now she's struggling with being punched hard in the face

What I'm not 100% sure about is: Is Mr. Whiskers still encircled by Scorch Scale's fire? Or would that have gone out by now? I'm leaning toward the latter...?)

He did back off to not get stunned. So it might take him a moment to get back in if the fire went out recently.

I will accept the fire being out for an Exp ;)

I jest, lead on fine GM

Scraps whined and yelped, wiggling and squirming in the mook’s grasp.
His scrabbling and high-pitched, sorrowful whines reached the attention of all those nearby ... even the mundane students and staff.
Reaching into their souls, and evoked a primal drive in those nearby to protect the baby animal. 

rolled 11 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 5,4.  Play to the Crowd.
--They think better of you as a group
--They provide assistance
--You are buoyed by their cheers and take +1 Ongoing until they are seriously threatened or the scene end
This message was last edited by the player at 21:19, Fri 11 Jan 2019.

To be specific: What sort of assistance would you like/are you expecting

Surprise me

POW!

Suddenly Scraps is violently jarred to the right as a young man-- who smells, to Scraps' nose, like a gym locker room-- tackles the mook who'd picked Scraps up. The mook drops Scraps, but before he can hit the ground, the athletic young man grabs Scraps in mid-air. "INTERCEPTION! WOOOOO!" he whoops.

Holding Scraps like a football, he rushes toward Goodwill, who's just emerged from the damaged building... "He's on the 30-- the 20-- the 10-- OH! Lateral pass to Woods!" The athlete passes Scraps off safely to Goodwill... and heads straight off the quad, out of sight behind some buildings. "...Halftime...!" he can barely be heard to say...

Awesome!


As the Jock carried Scraps, the puppy licked him affectionately.
Justifying the above ‘they think better of you as a group’   From around the quad, various small cheers went up.  The Jock had acted on behalf of the locals, and in doing so, the whole community felt more invested in the Heroic Team’s efforts; like they had, vicariously, joined in the fight against the nasty invaders who’d come onto ‘their turf’.

And Scraps himself felt buoyed by their cheers, and ready to again throw in with the locals: defending them and ‘their turf’ alongside Goodwill and Scorch.

"How the heck did he know my name?" Gil wondered aloud. Then he gave Scraps a brisk two-handed rub and asked "You okay, pup?"

When the flames died down, Mr. Whiskers was more furious than ever.

His new target had moved-- but yes, there he was, over there, sort of kneeling on the ground, winded...

...Time to die, lizard... thought Mr. Whiskers. I shall drag your body and lay it at the feet of my dark mistress and then she shall give me catnip and together we shall purr at the lamentations of the defeated--

Mr. Whiskers attacked.

Scorch Scale got a face full of angry cat.

07:47, Today: Mr. Whiskers rolled 7 using 2d6 ((5,2)).

When you action up your foes, roll + Forceful.  On a 10+ choose 2, on a 7-9 choose 1
--You hit hard (+1 Stun)

Scorch Scale takes 3 stress from an angry face-full of feline fury.

Just for flavor, as its someone else's turn.

Trying to not be attacked, Saul felt anger at the cat making him look the fool. To take the scratches, it boiled something nasty within his gut.
Saul felt more at distress trying to contain his pride-fueled rage at this simple feline then from the claws themselves. He would make this cat pay dearly for this.

Scraps gave a bellicose "Bark" and wagged his tale.
Licking Gil's face, Scraps looked around to see what he and Goodwill would do next.

Spite picked up a Volkswagen beetle, hefted it over her head. "Maybe it's your allies I should be hurtin--" she said to Goodwill, but then she glanced at Scorch Scale. "Mm, already taken care of, I see. Keep up the good work, Mr. Whiskers."

She threw it at Goodwill, instead.

(08:28, Today: Spite rolled 3 using 2d6 ((2,1)).)

Oops, she completely missed.

It's flying through the air toward an already-fleeing co-ed, instead.

Unfortunately, the co-ed isn't flying fast enough...

(BATTLE REPORT:

Scorch Scale's turn next
Then Goodwill's
Then Scraps'

--One citizen bleeding badly, going into shock next round, needs medical attention fast
--One citizen about to get crushed by a VW beetle (next round... time is moving pretty slow right now))

Saul was not going to be able to save everyone, not while he had this stupid cat trying to harm him so much.

"Would someone with first aid get here Now!"

Play to the Crowd
11:37, Today: Scorch Scale rolled 6 using 2d6-1 ((6,1)).

Clearly I didn't on this occasion.

He had his doubts that he could snap them out of their bystander syndrome, but he had to make the attempt.

(Scorch Scale gets 1 new xp.)

It turns out that with Spite starting to toss compact cars around, people are too busy running for their lives to step up...

"Holy Jeez!" Gil dropped Scraps like a hot potato as he dove to block the flying car. The puppy would probably land on his feet — he was pretty flexible — but the guy Spite had thrown the car at wasn't going to walk away from this mess unless Gil managed to save him. Now.

He wasn't going to get in front of it, he saw even as he started to move. He was going to have to bash it into a different trajectory with a flying tackle.

...and that was probably for the best, because he excelled at brute force, but had never even tried to catch a Volkswagen before. He aimed himself at the car and put on a burst of speed.


Forceful - how strong you are and able to destroy stuff.  Key for Bricks.
--Hold them it off!

Goodwill rolled 8 using 2d6+3 ((1,4)).

The car's trajectory changed. (But towards what?)

The student was safe, but the VW beetle veered off toward the glass doors and windows of the library entrance. People who'd been watching from there suddenly ran for it as the beetle crashed through the front, taking out the front doors of the library and shattering a lot of glass.

At least-- from what Goodwill could tell-- no one had gotten hurt as badly as the fellow who'd gotten cut by the shattered lamppost...

(Scraps up next...)
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:19, Thu 17 Jan 2019.

Scraps did, indeed, land on his feet ... agile little critter that he was.
He could see that the two-legs wanted to play together, and that Gil was playing with the new girl.

So Scraps decided to go back to playing with his little fluffy friend.  And one of his favourite games to play was “chase the kitty up a tree”.

Racing over to where Mr Whiskers was, Scraps landed only a foot from his feline friend, barking barkously ... which usually evoked the primal trigger of the game (namely, making the cat run for nearby safety).

- rolled 7 using 2d6+2 ((1,4)).
--You draw chase them away from the people you choose
          ... hopefully sending Mr Whiskers away from everyone

(Nope, the move says draw for a reason...)

Scraps got Mr. Whiskers' attention, all right...

(08:31, Today: Mr. Whiskers rolled 6 using 2d6 ((5,1)).)

Mr. Whiskers attacked Scraps, but everytime he did so, Scraps simply dodged or jumped in the air, merely stoking Mr. Whiskers' momentarily-impotent rage...


Meanwhile, Spite (also) came for Goodwill directly: "Yes! Yes! More! You're not looking nearly beat-up enough-- let them hate me more--!"

(08:33, Today: Spite rolled 11 using 2d6+2 ((4,5)).
--You hit hard (+1 Stress)
--You avoid most of their retaliation (-1 Stress to retaliation))

Ow, right in the face.

(Goodwill takes 2 new stress (what are you up to now?))


(BATTLE REPORT:
Scorch Scale's turn next
Then Goodwill's
Then Scraps'

--One citizen bleeding badly, now in shock, needs medical attention real fast...))
This message was last updated by the player at 14:38, Fri 18 Jan 2019.

Darn it, with the cat away from him, Scorch Scale felt free to act. He was free to try and save the guy right now.
"Would one of you get an ambulance!?" He protested in vain,knowing it would be up to him to apply the first aid so he could get real medical attention.

Confidence or Insight for a roll of trying to apply first aid?

Insight.

On one hand, I think as a non-professional, I should give you a -1 penalty.
But if you do try to carefully use your flame to cauterize, I think that balances it out. So make a normal Insight roll.

Oof, but it is comic logic, I'll try the cauterizing

Scorch Scale got to work trying to stop the worse of the blood issues without causing a new burn wound issue. He didn't have much to work with, not even time.

Cauterize
19:03, Today: Scorch Scale rolled 13 using 2d6+1 ((6,6)).

With Goodwill and his pup fighting the two bad guys (bad gal? bad gal and bad pet?) Scorch Scale manages to do an excellent job of helping the man-- it couldn't have gone better, considering the circumstances. The man is still unconscious and certainly still needs medical attention, but at least his odds of surviving this have just gone way up compared to the direction things were going several moments ago.

"They don't hate you," Goodwill said, while rubbing his now-sore nose. Now he was pissed. "They feel sorry for you. The former fat girl who didn't get asked to Homecoming. Such a shame."

Ordinarily he'd hate to taunting her with this sort of thing, but she brought it upon herself. Better still, the uncontrolled rage opened her up for a return punch.

Goodwill rolled 7 using 2d6+3 ((2,2)).
--You avoid most of their retaliation (-1 Stun)


...and, apparently, he couldn't help but pull the damned punch anyway.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:44, Sat 19 Jan 2019.

Scraps was feeling frisky.
He was beginning to realise that this cat, whom he'd thought was he friend, wasn't very nice.
And that perhaps it was actually just a mean ol' tomcat ... like that one that Scraps used to case away from the bins back home.

And the mangy moggy was getting aggressive and aggravated.   It was going ... Spiteful!
It was just a meanie, like the pet human it brought with it.


Well, Scraps knew what to do about meanies ...  you called your pack around you, and you saw the meanie off.
Yup, thats what you did.

And so Scraps stepped back, and let out a "yap-yap-ahhrrrooooo" howl; rallying his pack, and calling for each to whoop some meanie ass.



rolled 10 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 6,3.  Inspire the Team.
--No one got distracted and missed something important
--Everyone else on your team takes +1 Forward

"Kill you! Hate you! Die!" Were those... tears in the eyes of the vicious fury...?

(16:44, Today: Spite rolled 6 using 2d6+2 ((1,3)).)

...Maybe so, because Spite swung a roundhouse haymaker at Goodwill but missed (by an inch, but still a miss).


Mr. Whiskers was torn. He wanted to attack the flying man now, but doing so now might actually help people feel sorry for his dark mistress... and that could make them like her, and that would weaken her. He wanted to comfort his dark mistress, but to do so now, in public, could have the same effect he must avoid.

The only thing he could think of doing was attacking the dog again.

(16:58, Today: Mr. Whiskers rolled 12 using 2d6 ((6,6)).)

So he did so with the ferocity of a thousand exploding suns.

Pain! Perhaps the pain and lamentations of her enemies would soothe his dark mistress' wrathful heart!

(It’s Clobberin’ Time!
When you action up your foes, roll + Forceful.  On a 10+ choose 2
--You hit hard (+1 Stun)
--You avoid most of their retaliation (-1 Stun)

Scraps takes 3 new stress.)

(I don't particularly care what order y'all move in right now... I declare first-come-first-served for this round...)
This message was last edited by the player at 23:08, Tue 22 Jan 2019.

"Girl, I just don't understand you," Goodwill said, dancing back out of reach. Why was he the object of all of her frustrations in the world? He never did anything to her, never treated her badly, or anything of the sort. "Homecoming was the worst night of my life, honestly. You saw girls lining up to ask me. Isaw girls who didn't see me as a real person, but some kind of trophy.

"I didn't go to prom either. Homecoming had been bad enough."

He dropped his hands to his sides.

"Go ahead and hit me, if it'll really make you feel better."

Charming, Talk Things Out
Goodwill rolled 9 using 2d6+3 ((1,5)).
I think I have two +1 bonuses in effect right now...?

"You-- You... you'd like that, wouldn't you? Wouldn't you?! Yes, you'd feel good about that, you with your girls falling all over you and the way everything comes easily to you and everyone loves you and-- and--"

(Spite takes 1 new stress. Well, at least she's not attacking anyone again yet...)
This message was last edited by the player at 20:20, Wed 23 Jan 2019.

Scraps yelped in pain, confusion and fear when the cat's claws bit into him with such savagery.

Blind panic and survival instinct took over, and he tried to fight back ... to make the kitten back off.
          - rolled 5 using 2d6-1 with rolls of 5,1.
But fighting wasn't what this puppy was built for, and he flailed about with his paws and open mouth in a way that looked more like an epileptic fit than any kind of exotic martial training.

The panic was taking over ... and very soon, his puppy mind would flip from 'fight' to 'flight' ...

"Hey, cut it out, you two!" Scraps and the cat couldn't play nice, it seemed. And since Scraps was always nice, that meant that Fluffy McMittens (or whatever his name was) was as much Scraps' evil counterpart as Laura was Gil's. Hopefully he could convince both of them to cut it the heck out. Scolding them both equally wasn't the most fair thing he could do to Scraps, but he didn't want to play favorites in front of Laura and set her off again.

He reached down and grabbed up both of them, separating them before someone got really hurt. He scooped Scraps up in his left arm and the cat in his right.

Gil was very glad he was scratch-proof.


Agile - Romantic Idiot! (+2 in current, temporary bonuses)
When you rescue people from imminent danger, roll + Agile.  On a 10+ you succeed, on a 7-9 pick 2.

[I also have Powerful
"You are really strong or tough. When you rescue people with brute strength or endurance roll +Forceful"
Does this mean I get an additional +2, rolling the rescue against Forceful instead of Agile?

I am going to presume that's the correct interpretation and roll +4. You can smack me in the head if I need to adjust or re-roll.]

Goodwill rolled 12 using 2d6+4 ((4,4)).

[Well, even if I was wrong, I would've rolled a 10.]

Unwilling to start a problem with Spite, and with the cat problem being handled (as much as Scorch Scale wanted to get revenge), Scorch Scale focused on who needed help at this point.

He was looking around, seeing what he had to work with. One person in shock and another wrapped up in a banner.

See shoot, some wings would be useful right now...

Probably Insight roll
Look Before You Leap
Right?

EDIT

So, +1 Insight and +1 from cheerleader doggy = 2

Look before you leap
23:34, Today: Scorch Scale rolled 10 using 2d6+2 ((4,4)).

Take 1 forward when you act on the answers given.

--Where is something I can use to help?
--What should I be on the lookout for?
--Who is in danger?


Cheered on by the puppy support, Saul felt the need to really excel in gathering himself during the sudden still moment in the conflict.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:40, Thu 24 Jan 2019.

--Where is something I can use to help?

There's a flagpole in front of the library that got snapped off when the Volkswagon hit it... maybe that could be useful for swatting Spite out of the air...? She's hovering low enough that the length and weight could be about right...

--What should I be on the lookout for?

1. On one hand, there are still a surprising number of people hiding behind things cheering you on, so you might try to look for any med school students wearing scrubs who could help the guy you did first aid on...?

2. On the other hand, Spite's really emotional right now, so not only is there no telling what she might do if she pulls herself back together, but also, when that happens, there's a good chance she might scare off the last of the people cheering y'all on

--Who is in danger?

Everyone is potentially in danger, but most of all in-shock-first-aid guy.


(It's Clobbering Time: 08:27, Today: Spite rolled 6 using 2d6+2)((1,3)).

Spite pulls back to take another swing at Goodwill when he starts to pick up the cat... but when he actually does manage to pick it up, she loses her nerve and stops. "Don't... don't hurt Mr. Whiskers... he's my cat his name is Mr. Whiskers"


Mr. Whiskers, meanwhile, was appalled. His weakness in battle was causing even more trouble for his dark mistress. This could not stand.

(08:30, Today: The Grandmaster, on behalf of Mr. Whiskers, rolled 9 using 2d6+3 ((4,2)).)

Mr. Whiskers managed to wriggle out of the big man's grasp, landing easily on the ground and running a bit out of range of being easily picked up again... it wasn't easy, though.

(Mr. Whiskers takes 1 new stress.)


Spite was visibly relieved that Mr. Whiskers had freed himself... but before she could act...

(It's Scraps' turn, unless he wants to temporarily delay, in which case he'll be after Scorch Scale.)

Scraps also wriggled, whining to get free; to follow the crazy, cranky cat.

If Gil let him down*, Scraps took off after Mr Whiskers, “Bark Bark Bark”ing to draw its attention again.

And again, Scraps wanted Mr Whiskers focused wholey on him: where it could do no more damage to anyone else.


               * and I’m assuming that my fellow PC will
rolled 10 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 2,6.  Hold ‘em off.
... Their retaliation will always be limited (-1 Stun) but you don’t stun them.
-- They can’t act as effectively (-1 Stun ongoing until your actions are countered) ... and I intend to continue this action for some time until Mr Whiskers (or someone) can ‘counter’ it!
-- They can’t attack anyone they weren’t already attacking

Hold them off
When you slow down or get in the way of enemies, roll +Forceful.  On a 10+ pick 2...

...Which 2 are you picking...?


EDIT: also, did you remember you have a -1 penalty to Forceful...?
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:50, Fri 25 Jan 2019.

I use Agility to ‘Hold em off’ thanks to my ‘Powers’.

And I listed my two ‘Hold em off’ options in the post.
... Their retaliation will always be limited (-1 Stun) but you don’t stun them.
-- They can’t act as effectively (-1 Stun ongoing until your actions are countered) ... and I intend to continue this action for some time until Mr Whiskers (or someone) can ‘counter’ it!
-- They can’t attack anyone they weren’t already attacking

(Ohhhhhh yeahhhhh, that's right, thanks for reminding me)



(Ahhhhhhhh I see. The way you listed the details, I mistakenly took the first one as a choice, too. Comparing it to the original listing, I see now how the first detail was just an added detail, not one of the things you were choosing from.

Well, I don't see enough of a need to post Mr. Whiskers' reaction to that (spoiler alert, it irritates him...), so Scorch Scale, you're up
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:20, Fri 25 Jan 2019.

I am finding that Scraps is good at that ... irritating the enemy.

"Hey, yeah you, in the scrubs. Can you help me save the kid?"

Play to the Crowd
20:21, Today: Scorch Scale rolled 5 using 2d6 ((3,2)).


Whatever it was, Scorch Scale couldn't help the kid to break out of the bystander effect. Maybe it was fear of the fight,or being unprepared. "Fine, I'll do it myself then." He said in annoyance at the world.
Scorch Scale picked up the shocked student, taking care to carry him as gently as he could. He started walking towards the scrub wearing youths to snap them out of the freeze and finally help him.

The two youths wearing scrubs ran for it.

What th'...?! Scorch Scale thought. He glanced at his own reflection in a nearby window. Oh. They were afraid of him. ...Seriously? After seeing him fight the bad guys, and after seeing him keep trying to save this poor student...?

He sighed. He guessed seeing a man-dragon coming their way was just the straw that broke the camel's back, that was all...

Spite sneers. "No point in attacking the dragon-man... People'd probably start liking me." She turns to Goodwill. "Let's ground you, flyboy..."

(12:06, Today: Spite rolled 9 using 2d6+2 ((4,3)).

Instead of choosing one of the usual benefits, Spite instead does something else she wants: pounds Goodwill into the ground. He'll have to roll a Confident roll to get in the air again.

Goodwill takes 1 new stress)

Ah! Mr. Whiskers' dark mistress had brought the bird to earth, so that revenge for being grabbed could be exacted!

(12:23, Today: Mr. Whiskers rolled 7 using 2d6 ((5,2)).
--You avoid most of their retaliation (-1 Stun)

Goodwill takes 1 new stress

Goodwill, it's your turn next.)

Gil took the punch on the chin and bounced when he hit the ground. Then the stupid cat jumped on him and tried clawing him with its all-too normal cat claws. He'd said she could punch him if it would make her feel better. He couldn't hold it against her. No, on second thought, he could. The punch hurt.

The cat, on the other hand, was just pissing him off. Both, however, were pushing Gil's blood-pressure into the stratosphere. Something was going to snap soon, and he was going to do something they'd both regret.

"And do you feel better NOW?!" He pushed up off the ground and dusted himself off. He stomped towards Spite. "You got to hit the Homecoming King and rub his face in the dirt. Does that make you happy? Does that erase some sort of wrongdoing?"

Halfway to her he darted forward and snatched at her wrists, hoping to pin her arms and keep her from doing any more damage.

Forceful - Hold them off!
Goodwill rolled 9 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 4,2.
--They can’t attack anyone they weren’t already attacking

"Just cut it out," he said nearly nose-to-nose with Spite. He tried to sound more kindly than a moment earlier, giving peace one last chance before he was forced to punch her block off. He was trying kindness, but he was keeping his knees close together just in case Spite thought to try a knee. "I'm never going to hate you.

"I'm the one person who's ever really going to understand you... and vice versa."

Scorch Scale was going no where with this crowd. He couldn't expect others to help him, he could only do it himself. But he wasn't a doctor, he had some high school biology lessons, but that's it.
So he would have to do the next best thing, stop the conflict, then people could get aid.

So he put the student down. "Stay strong for me." He whispered. The dragon got up, moved to the flagpole, pulled it from its weakened foundations.
Thankfully Goodwill had her pinned, so he could do what he planned next.

"Young lady, you're Grounded" With that, he threw the flagpole like a javelin.

Its clobbering time
00:30, Today: Scorch Scale rolled 8 using 2d6+3 ((1,4)).

-You avoid collateral damage

(+2 normally, +1 from using the Look Before Leap Move when using what it told you)

(There, let's pretend that that happened right before Goodwill's move, shall we? That'd fix the "hovering-or-not" debate.

Spite takes 1 stress (she's tough, like Goodwill).

Scraps, you go next.)

As Scorch MacScaley put down the wounded student, Scraps came running.
And as the Mighty FlameDrake began spearfishing, Scraps looked at the bleeding form left lying on the ground.

Even Scraps realised the need this wounded animal needed.
He let out a whine to those nearby, as he padded over to the pitiful body ... and began licking its wounds and face.

Anyone nearby must certainly be drawn to helping Scraps to care for the harmed individual??
- rolled 6 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 3,2.  Play to the crowd.

No one comes... in fact, the area is getting pretty sparse as far as students goes.

(The ongoing bonus from the crowd cheering you on has ended.

Scraps gets 1 new XP.)

Scraps whined, and lay down companionably beside the poor, dying creature.
At the very least, maybe, the human didn’t need to die alone.

(20:14, Today: Spite rolled 12 using 2d6+2 ((5,5)).

Hold them off
When you slow down or get in the way of enemies, roll +Forceful.  On a 10+ pick 2
 Their retaliation will always be limited (-1 Stun) but you don’t stun them.

--They can’t act as effectively (-1 Stun ongoing until your actions are countered)
--You take away useful items from them
--They can’t attack anyone they weren’t already attacking
--You draw them away from people you choose
--Give them a choice between backing off or be stunned)

Spite started clawing her fingernails into Goodwill's forearms in such a way that he'd have to let her go or else start really hurting.

"You and I are about equally hurt right now, I'd say..." she spat. "Let's add to your pain score... or will you let me go...?"

(I'll post for Mr. Whiskers after we find out if Goodwill takes stress or releases Spite... don't make a new move, Goodwill, just react...)

"Why are you keeping score? Counting all your hurts?" Gil let Laura's arms go. "I never meant to cause you any pain. So how do I make this better?"

Spite backs off and hovers 9 or 10 feet off the ground. "This doesn't start and end with you," she sneers. "You're just a symbol of everything that makes me want to punch the world in the face. You're just more handy to punch, that's all..."

While his dark mistress was lecturing the fools, Mr. Whiskers tried to plan his next move...

(14:57, Today: Mr. Whiskers rolled 8 using 2d6+1 ((1,6)).)

Inspire the Team
When you inspire the team with leadership or tactics roll +Confident.  On a 10+ take both, on a 7-9 take 1.
--No one got distracted and missed something important

Mr. Whiskers ran up to Scorch Scale and hissed at him. That'd put him in his place.

His dark mistress smiled approvingly.

(Okay... I'm gonna give Scraps a turn next, because I'm working on something narratively...)

A non-turn post while awaiting Scraps. Plus I kinda observed something.

The surprise his from the cat had Scorch Scale almost jump, and almost do something that would have scared Saul.

It didn't stop him hearing this parade of spite from Spite. Scorch Scale couldn't help but think of Echo and her attitude to the world. He was sure the pair would get together like a house on fire... Which is definitely a bad idea.
He might need to see if she was all right these days.

Scraps could see that Goodwill was now talking to the angry girl, Spite.
Even his little doggy brain knew that talking was better than fighting, and that somehow his awesome human was managing to de-escalate this nasty event.

Running over to Goodwill's side (where every good sidekick ought to be), Scraps barked in a friendly way up at the hovering girl.
Maybe, just maybe, he could help them to become friends ... or at least calm down a little.

-rolled 8 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 5,2.  Inspire the Team.
Using this action to Inspire everyone towards less aggressive action.
    --Everyone else on your team who is working towards an amicable resolution takes +1 Forward

"Good boy," Gil said. Sometimes it felt like Scraps was the super-hero and he was the sidekick. Scraps came from a long line of working dogs, but this little one was playing on a whole new level.

He concentrated for a moment, intent on getting back into the air before he continued.

Confidence roll, including +1 Forward (Scraps) and +1 Ongoing (adulation of the crowd)
Goodwill rolled 7 using 2d6+3 ((3,1)).
(Yeesh)
On a 7-9 you flinch, hesitate, or stall and may be offered a hard bargain, an ugly choice, or a worse outcome.

Gil rose about a foot into the air, then thought better of it and dropped to the ground. She'd just hit him again, and that was getting old. His tactics had been less than successful thus far.

"You're right," he snapped, letting his anger slip. He felt the bitter sarcasm in his voice and completely failed to hold it back. "It's not all about me. Apparently it's all about you."

Oh, yeah. That would totally calm her down.

(14:02, Today: Spite rolled 7 using 2d6+3 ((2,2)).
--There is much collateral damage and bystanders are left in danger)

Wow.

Spite grabbed the most solid thing she could spot-- the bronze lion statue in front of the library-- and smashed it down on Goodwill.

In her fury, she didn't hit him head-on, so his natural toughness helped protect him, but the statue dug hard into the ground and--

--Oh man, smells like she hit a gas main...

And she's STILL up in the air...

Could the heroes possibly wrap this fight up fast... or at least move it to a different location...?

(Goodwill takes 1 new stress.

It would be very good to either wrap this up fast somehow or else lure Spite away from this location...

Note: Scorch Scale breathing fire anywhere near Goodwill/the half-buried lion statue would be a mistake right now.

Scorch Scale, you're up next... (Yes, Mr. Whiskers, but I'm delaying him for the moment)
This message was last edited by the player at 20:11, Mon 04 Feb 2019.

Darn it, why can't both of these goons be next to each other? This was going to be dangerous. Never mind the cat that was on his tail. Literally

Quick question, is Spite near Goodwill or admiring her work away enough to not cause a fire?

She's roughly a dozen feet up but less than 15 feet away from him horizontally-speaking. Highly risky.

At least with fire, but maybe by surprise? Is there anything to help Scorch Scale reach Spite from the ground? At least to grab a leg or something.

Hmmmm. Do an Insight check.

Look before you leap (Literally)
20:12, Today: Scorch Scale rolled 6 using 2d6+1 ((2,3)).

Fiddlesticks

While Scorch Scale is standing lost in thought examining the situation, multiple police cars pull up onto the quad. Officers jump out-- and fire at Spite.

...And at Scorch Scale. It isn't easy being scaly and inhuman-looking.

(Scorch Scale takes 1 new stress.)

Meanwhile, Spite barely seems to notice the bullets-- She stares at the police, gears turning in her head... should she try to kill them? Torture them? If so, how? Decisions, decisions...

(It's Scraps' turn again...)

Scraps was surprised to see the flashing light and the movement and the shouting.
It was all very exciting.

But, oh no, they were being nasty to their reptilian friend.

Scraps gave a ‘Bark’ and went running over to Scorch Scale and leapt into his arms.
With another friendly bark to the police, to tell them that ‘it’s ok, officers, he’s one of the good guys’.
Then licked the Scaley Scaliwag up the face.




- rolled 9 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 3,4.  Play to the crowd.
:: They think better of you as a group!  including Scorch Scale

"Hey, that's that dog that's always with Goodwill... the dragon guy must be okay..." says an officer.

(Hm, that solves that part of the problem... Goodwill, you go next)

"Oh, ouch." Goodwill said in a clearly sarcastic tone. He was done trying to talk Laura down off the ledge. Bronze statures barely weighed anything, as they were cast hollow. But the base had been half a ton of concrete covered in inch-thick marble slabs. While he wasn't hurt, he'd been pounded into the ground past his knees.

One-handed, Goodwill shoved the statue off of himself. It thudded into the ground with a hollow whung!. It was about then that he smelled the gas for the first time. It was either the worst puppy-fart on record, or—

—yep. He was standing on a broken gas main.

"Hold on a sec," he said, reaching into the hole. He hoped he could squeeze the ends of the pipe closed tightly enough to prevent any further escape of natural gas. Otherwise there was going to be an epic explosion, and a lot of people were going to get caught in the blast. "Gas main! Everyone get back!"

It was fortunate that the gas company always spray-painted arrows on their conduits, indicating the flow of gas. Gil knew which side to squeeze shut first. He grabbed that with both hands and began compacting the metal shut as tightly as possible. The gas pumped out at him in a sulfurous and his vision swam. He could hold his breath for twenty-odd minutes*, but only if he managed to get a good, deep breath to start. He hadn't managed to get that deep breath, and shouting to the crowd had wasted much of what was in his lungs. He needed air. If the gas main didn't get blocked off quickly, he was in trouble.




[I don't know what to roll for this.]


*=seems reasonable...?

<Orange>Good question. ...I'm gonna say: Confident.

Goodwill rolled 9 using 2d6+1 ((3,5)).

Goodwill closed the gas main with his bare hands.

While he was concentrating on that, though, Spite decided to blindside him.

POW

(Goodwill takes 1 new stress.)

Mr. Whiskers, meanwhile, decided to try attacking these new pawns...

(08:34, Today: Mr. Whiskers rolled 4 using 2d6 ((2,2)).)

Mr Whiskers ran to the nearest police vehicle, and dashed through an open car door to get at the last fellow to fire on his dark mistress.

At that moment, the man happened to shut the door. Mr. Whiskers managed not to knock himself out on the car door... but then the police officer he'd passed to get in the car closed his door.

Mr. Whiskers was trapped in the police car.

Oh, the ignominy...!

With Goodwill closing the pipe, Scorch Scale finally had an opening on the villainess. This was his chance, while she was focused on Goodwill with a smirk on her face.

Scorch Scale built up some flames and released them in quick succession. He didn't have the time to build up a powerful burst of flame, and he had to make sure he didn't create new issues at this stage.

It's Clobbering Time
16:58, Today: Scorch Scale rolled 8 using 2d6+2 ((5,1)).

-You don't cause collateral damage

The resulting explosion can probably be heard at least half a mile away... Fortunately, most of it blows straight up, causing a fireball that can surely be seen from Ellis Island and parts of New Jersey. It's a miracle it wasn't worse.

(Spite takes 1 new stress, and if "no collateral damage" hadn't been chosen, Goodwill would too-- probably everyone would. Fortunately, Goodwill is 1. very tough and 2. not the original target.)

It does momentarily knock Goodwill and Scorch Scale onto their hinders, though. Their clothing is also smoldering a bit in spots (Spite's clothing is even worse off, though the bikini areas have survived all right...)

It certainly causes every policeman to scatter, running for safety.

One happens to run into the unconscious man. "--Hey! Guy in shock over here! Hurt bad! Call it in, fast!"

The policeman still nearest to the police cars goes... to get to his police radio... and he's about to open one of the doors currently trapping Mr. Whiskers...

(Scraps' turn next...)

Realising the danger to the poor, innocent police officer ... and the danger in letting that dastardly cat loose ...

Scraps bounded over to where the police officer was about to open a whole can cat of whoop-ass upon himself.
And like a Romantic Idiot, rescued the officer by putting himself between said officer and the door, so that the man couldn't open the door without whacking the 'cute dog'.
And then, to demonstrate what a bad idea it would be to let the cat loose, Scraps put his paws up on the door, and barked through the window at the cat ... so that the officer could see what a feral feline frenzy was going on inside the vehicle.


- rolled 12 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 6,4.  Romantic Idiot
--You leave them  somewhere precarious (if  out of immediate danger
--You  take significant  get there just in time to rescue them
--Someone  Nobody misunderstands or blames you!

Super Sidekick action hero manoeuvre #37!

(08:49, Today: Spite rolled 11 using 2d6+3 ((5,3)).)

"--Mr. Whiskers..." says Spite, and she flies to the hood of the police car, and smashes the front window in such a way that Mr. Whiskers isn't harmed by the glass. Mr. Whiskers is free.

Spite, though, sounds... tired? a little dazed...?


(08:51, Today: Mr. Whiskers rolled 9 using 2d6+2 ((1,6)).

Inspire the Team
When you inspire the team with leadership or tactics roll +Confident. On a 7-9 take 1.
--No one got distracted and missed something important
--Everyone else on your team takes +1 Forward)

Spite will take +1 on her next roll... but she isn't paying attention to the PCs right now...)

Mr. Whiskers purrs (evilly) and lets his dark mistress pet him, soothing her jangled nerves...

He'd had enough. More than enough. Now he was literally smoldering (albeit from a flash-fire, not his rage) and he wanted to end this farce.

He didn't bother to fly. at Spite. He didn't need to, in order to clear a dozen or so feet. With his strength, Gil could jump twice that distance from a standing position. So he simply leaped at her, and swung for the bleachers with his best haymaker.



Goodwill rolled 7 using 2d6+2 ((1,4)).

Forceful: It’s Clobberin’ Time!
--You hit hard (+1 Stun)

(I agree-- coming down to the car's level definitely means that he shouldn't have to fly to reach her this round.)




(Spite takes 2 new stress.)

Good news bad news:
--Spite took the damage, partially because she covered up to protect Mr. Whiskers, since she hadn't seen Goodwill coming in time to let him run away.
--The bad news was that the glass of the police car shattered-- all the side windows and the back window. Two officers were cut by the glass--another was knocked down when the parked car slid backward about five feet...

(There are now three officers who could use checking on, at the very least... But now I'm gonna say it's Scraps' turn...)

Scraps followed his human’s lead, and in an act of natural loyalty (and unnatural savagery) Scraps leapt up onto the bonnet of the car beside Goodwill and began attacking ...
                     - rolled 5 using 2d6-1 with rolls of 2,4.  Unnatural savagery.
           ... gumming and humping Spite’s leg.

Oh yes, that’ll teach her.   Do NOT mess with Goodwill and Scraps!

Darn it, this chaos everywhere. This was going on for much too long at this point.

Scorch Scale did what he desired, but could do with improving himself on, checking the health of these officers. He was working hard enough just to stop disaster, and fire-breath couldn't stop it all.

(Scraps gets 1 new XP.)

Scorch Scale checks on the officers... They're all okay, but they appreciate him checking on them. (Scorch Scale gets +1 forward... and...)

An ambulance shows up! Someone must have alerted them to the location of the man in shock over a police radio already, because they go right to him...

Mr. Whiskers jumps down and attacks Scraps for assaulting his dark mistress...

(09:24, Today: Mr. Whiskers rolled 3 using 2d6 ((1,2)).)

He gets Scraps off Spite's leg, but otherwise manages to do no damage.

Spite rises into the air. "An ambulance... Some people don't like the police, but everyone would hate me if I destroyed an ambulance... Or, I guess, really, the people in it..."

(Agility roll: 09:27, Today: Spite rolled 7 using 2d6+1 ((3,3)).)

Spite carefully swoops down and grabs up one of the two EMTs, lifting the man she grabbed 50 feet into the air by his collar... but grabbing him accurately slowed her down... (The next roll made that involves directly interfering with rescuing the EMT (or preparing to do so) gets an additional +1 forward (stacks).)

Scorch Scale took a megaphone from one of the windowless police vehicles.

"...this this thing on? OK." Scorch Scale said, as the megaphone whined into action cleared his throat.

Right now, Scorch Scale felt like he needed to channel the Silver Streak that is in everyone. "Spite, I have just one question for you, from one super being to another. If you didn't need people's hatred, their fear, or any negative thoughts to have your super powers, what would you do with them?"

Scorch Scale gave her a small moment to ponder what he said. "If you just wanted power, you wouldn't have cared for your pet just moments before. I know you want that from others.
You won't be liked by everyone, not even Goodwill can pull that off. That's just life. But that doesn't mean you should drown yourself in their hatred."

"So please, come down gently."

All right, let's roll with no penalty. Probably not with the other +1 for saving the guy, so here goes...

Talk things out
19:24, Today: Scorch Scale rolled 11 using 2d6 ((6,5)).

Spite looks like Scorch Scale slapped her-- if she was a normal woman, and not ultra-durable like Goodwill.

The mental and emotional toll just appears to have worn her down. Today has been a rollercoaster for her, and she's already used up her second wind. She may be vaguely (literally? virtually? practically? intermittently?) bulletproof, but the adrenaline rush, and crash, and rush, and crash... has started really taking a lot out of her.

She slowly sinks downward at a speed of less than a foot per second, not dropping the man she's holding (he tries not to wriggle), staring in Scorch Scale's direction, but not really seeing him, giving that whole direction a thousand-yard stare, her mind engaged in its own unknowable clockwork.

(Spite takes 1 new stress.)

Oh.   That poor human looked so down.
It broke Scraps heart to see a human looking so sad.

As ‘man’s best friend’, the puppy couldn’t bear it.
His little doggy heart couldn’t allow the poor human to go uncomforted.

With a joyful, playful, bellicose “Bark”, and a happy wag of his tail,
Scraps leapt up into Spites arms, so he could be close enough to lick some love and happiness into her face.
Yes, that would fix the situation.    That would fix the human.


- rolled 5 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 2,1.  Hold her off ...

(Scraps gains 1 new xp.)

Spite let go of the EMT worker, who ran off to help his colleague with their patient...

She absent-mindedly tossed Scraps over her shoulder and then continued to just stand, lost in thought. Someone should probably catch him, if possible.

Mr. Whiskers, interested in this new opportunity, dashed toward where Scraps was going to land, intent on doing his enemy a harm if possible...

"Hey!" Gil dashed forward to catch Scraps. "He's just trying to be friendly!"

It wasn't going to be easy, but he'd made harder catches than this...!

0 Agile - How nimble you are and able to dodge and rescue.
--Romantic Idiot!
Goodwill rolled 7 using 2d6 ((2,5)).
--You leave them somewhere precarious (if out of immediate danger)
--You take significant time to rescue them

Gil made the catch, but bobbled the poor, beleaguered puppy, adding several uncomfortable seconds to the process. By the time he set Scraps down, he was more concerned with getting back to where he was to notice where they were. There were fires and broken glass all over the quad, and Gil might have set Scraps down in the middle of any of it for all the attention he was paying his immediate surroundings. [GM's choice for hazards] Not to mention the angry cat that Gil had basically ignored since the start of this debacle, still on its way to making more trouble.

(13:41, Today: Mr. Whiskers rolled 4 using 2d6 ((1,3)).)

Mr. Whiskers rushed straight at the dog, claws engaged, but the pup, momentarily dizzy, fell over sideways at the exact wrong second, and then Mr. Whiskers shot past him and was too busy dodging pointy/sharp debris and patches of grass that were on fire to circle back around for an immediate second try at the dog...

Spite sighed. "I have been making people hate me for some time now," she said casually, with a tired, nobody's-exactly-home non-tone to her voice, "and now I would like to go somewhere else for a while. Come, Mr. Whiskers. We shall destroy these people some other day."

She flew quickly and scooped up her cat.

"...I should give you all some last gesture to remember me by," she zombied...

(13:47, Today: Spite rolled 7 using 2d6 ((5,2)).)

"...but I can't really think of anything very good..." She flew up to the top of the library, and picked up (one-handed) the four-foot bronze statue of Athena that'd been up there for decades. "This is the best I can think of."

She threw it at Scorch Scale.

Then she began flying off...

(Scorch Scale, feel free to attempt to save yourself however you'd like. Goodwill is too busy dealing with saving Scraps to save you just yet.

Scraps, I don't know what you can do to try to help and/or save Scorch Scale, but you're free to try.

Goodwill, you're too busy YET to do anything. After the other PCs do whatever they're gonna do, I may let you attempt to stop Spite from leaving if you choose.)

Scraps thought ‘falling over’ was fun.
So fun, indeed, that he stood up with the intent of doing it again.

But the he caught a whiff from the grass, and realised with excitement that somebody had left a wee-mail here, and turned his olfactory attentions to that instead.

Oh yes, somebody had marked this spot, alright.
Maybe a few days ago?!?
Sniff.   Sniff
Huh!  She, yes she, was older.  Much older than Scraps.
And ... hmmm, not well.   Something wrong with her insides.
Sniff.  Sniff

Scraps looked around to see if he could spot her.
He felt the need to give her a lick.
But right now, there wasn’t any other dogs around.
Just glass, and fires, and screaming people.

Oh yeah.  Right.   The Nasty, Sad girl ...
And that rascally, rapscalion cat.

Scraps remembered that he was helping Gil ...

Oh wait, the girl was leaving, with the cat.
Oh good.

Better get back to ...
What was he doing?

Oh yes, falling down!
This message was last edited by the player at 23:03, Fri 15 Mar 2019.

OK, can I try to use concussive force to try and either stop the statues momentum or try to blast myself out of the path of that falling statue?
If not, let's hope gym class payed off for our reptilian hero then.

...You're a Blaster. You wanna destroy something. I say go ahead with a Forceful roll if you want. Anything else seems like me splitting hairs too much.




You are of course free to try that, too, and I certainly must say it would seem like it would break fewer laws of physics. Then again...

https://i.pinimg.com/originals...99270f97ff8d3582.jpg

"Oh no you don't!" Scorch Scale protested. Something inside Scorch Scale would not permit himself to be defeated in a contest of raw strength by a human youth. Especially one not trained by any group Drocan would consider worthy opponents.

With no love for Athena, Scorch Scale was quick to respond with a full blast of his Draconic Breath! Flame and force flew forth from his mouth, towards the bronze effigy to a long dead god.

Forceful
21:39, Today: Scorch Scale rolled 11 using 2d6+2 ((6,3)).

When the statue was seen to, Scorch Scale roared in triumph "Give a real challenge next time, maiden of malice!"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:50, Fri 15 Mar 2019.

The blast of fiery breath utterly destroyed the statue, vaporizing much of it. Several pounds of molten bronze slag fell to the ground about 8 feet in front of Scorch Scale... fortunately not on anyone nor anything important.

Laura was getting away. She'd hurt people, and was now flying away like nothing untoward had happened. Gil needed to stop her... didn't he?

Or was letting her go the fastest way to protect the public, since fighting her was just creating more and more danger?

He couldn't let this be the last word, though. Even if she was going to escape, he had to try to talk her down off the emotional ledge she'd been perched upon for god-only-knew how long.

1 Confident - How confident you are and able to keep going and lead.
--Remain undaunted

Goodwill rolled 10 using 2d6+1 ((6,3)).


His willpower restored, Gil rose effortlessly into the air and flew after 'Spite'. He kept a wide berth, so as not to appear immediately threatening, and shouted to her:

"I still say we should talk!"

It lacked the oomph of a good battle cry, but this had hardly been a good battle to begin with.

(Run Away
When you flee the scene roll +agile.  On a 10+ you get somewhere safe.  On a 7-9 pick 2.
--You don’t leave anything important behind
--You don’t run into something worse
--You don’t get made a laughing-stock

11:38, Today: Spite rolled 7 using 2d6+1 ((3,3)).)

"No! I don't-- I don't... just leave me alone...! I've got to get out of here...! I can't stand it here another second...!"

Clutching Mr. Whiskers tightly, Spite really pours on the speed. She breaks a tv aerial antenna or two, skimming fast over nearby rooftops, but soon she's out of sight.

"Wow..." says a policeman near Scorch Scale, "she's like a little kid, like my niece when she hasn't had a nap..."

"Lord, that's what did all this damage? Just some hysterical gal with powers? I don't know whether to laugh or shiver..."

And suddenly things seemed to have cleared up, and turned out alright.
With a rambunctious ‘Bark’ and a wag of his tail, Scraps came bounding over to where Scorch Scale stood near the gathered police officers.
Leaping into the Scaley One’s arms, he gave the unlikely lizard lord a lick, and playfully barked to the nearby cops ... inviting them to come pat him.

- rolled 11 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 5,4.  Play to the crowd.
-- They don’t think you are either whiny or showing off
-- They think better of you as a group
-- They provide assistance
-- You are buoyed by their cheers and take +1 Ongoing until they are seriously threatened or the scene end

I figure, as my last post wasn’t really a post that contributed, I’d throw in a productive one now ... if nobody minds. 

The policemen realize they can holster their guns, since they're convinced that Spite isn't coming back any time soon. "Okay, let's get this ambulance going! Check that building, and that one, see if there's anyone else hurt!"

Another officer comes up to Scorch Scale. "Uh, you hero guys... need anything...?"

When the officers came to see if Scorch Scale needed a hand, and get a pet with Scraps (who was like an angel to save the teen hero from his own image), the Drake answered "No thanks, just make sure the people get their aid. Oh, and laugh, to hide the fear." Reminding them that the civilians were there, students who could have had it worse.

He was looking to where the villainess left as he said this. He had helped here, but his guts and his instincts were telling him he should further prove he was better than her. His only way to remove that instinct was remember that he had took her down a peg, if she didn't have innocents to hide behind, he would have had her...

Plus, it reminded him that there would be others who need help, and others to stop.

"Wha? What're you talkin' about...?"

Another officer nudges his colleague. "He's sayin', look, the survivors are startin' to come out of hidin'," --and he points to a couple of spots where this is, indeed, happening... "--So don't act paralyzed by what just happened. Show 'em it's all okay now."

"Oh. ...Yeah, okay. That's smart. Good thinkin'."

Scorch Scale nodded, glad to hear someone got the idea.

"Thanks Scraps." He said as he put down the dog.
Looking around, it seemed like everything was sorted. As sorted as it could be until Spite happened again.

Goodwill reversed course with a grumble of disappointment and returned to the fight scene. There were more news cameras arriving every minute now, so he arc'd upwards and came down fast and hard in the three-point 'hero' landing. The newspeople loved that, especially with Goodwill so battle-ravaged as he was. His shirt was torn and burned almost completely off, his pants were singed, and he was barefoot. He looked like Doc Savage, out of those old pulp books.

"Scraps!" he called. Then he saw that Scorch had him. "Ah. Good man."

He turned to a police officer that seemed to be at least nominally in charge.

"Where can I help, sir?"

Scraps gave a bellicose ‘Bark’ and ran over to join Gil, cavorting about him with excitement that his little body couldn’t contain without bounding in several directions at once.

"Not much, now, I think," muses an officer, "maybe get that lion statue out of the way, move that rubble and debris-- oh, actually, start with that Volkswagen bug in the front of the library, if you don't mind...?"

Scraps helped Goodwill out by racing over to aforementioned Volkswagen, and ‘marked’ it for him.

There was enthusiasm, and then there was puppy-level let-me-pee-on-that enthusiasm. Fortunately the car was a large enough object that there were plenty of places to grab it that didn't have puppy juice dribbling off them.

"Thanks, boy."

Goodwill hefted the car and walked it over to an empty spot by the curb.

The picture of him carrying the car overhead was the cover of two local newspapers the following morning.

Once the heroes ‘Give {Scraps} a minute to catch {his} breath’, all his ‘Stress’ from the recent violence and excitement evaporated ... and looking at him, one wouldn’t guess that this scrappy little scrapper had just scrapped through a scrap.


He didn’t, in fact, prove much use with the ensuing clean-up, though.
But he looked cute, running around ‘trying to help’ (read as: getting in everyone’s way, and under everyone’s proverbials).