As Moon Knight takes in the sight of Bushman dangling helplessly in the elevator shaft, the temporary silence is broken by the sound of a sinister voice.

"Hello... Hello? Is this thing on?!"

Moon Knight can hear the words clear as day, coming from behind the closed door to the building's main office. Though he hasn't yet come face-to-face with the supervillain known as Carnage, it doesn't take much to guess the identity of the speaker. This must be the madman responsible for so much of the violence and terror happening across the city tonight. And to think he's begun using Moon Knight's own building as his base of operations!

"Sorry I'm late to the game, folks! Ah, I see the little heroes have arrived too...!"

A few floors down, Domino and Deadpool hear the voice too, although it's distinctly muffled. Still, the mercenaries have a good feeling that following the voice will lead them straight to their target!

"I'm going to kill you Carnage," Moon Knight called. "Vengeance will be mine."

To underscore his point, he turned and picked up Bushman's dropped gatling gun. (Spending 1PP to acquire Gatling Gun Stunt Die.) It had barely been fired, but it was already warm to the touch. Cheap army surplus. It wasn't really good for much, but for a Combat Master like Moon Knight it would work for a burst or two without overheating. And at sixty rounds per second, even one burst was plenty. Turning back to Bushman, hanging like the world's ugliest pinata, he opened fire to test the weapon and demonstrate his general thirst for vengeance.

"Like this."

Solo (d10)
Fist of Khonshu (d8)
Gatling Gun Stunt Die (d10)
Enhanced Reflexes (d8)
Combat Master (d10)

Moon Knight rolled 6,5,7,8,5 using d10,d8,d10,d8,d10 ((6,5,7,8,5)).

Total: 15
Effect: d10

Domino eye'd Deadpoop a moment, then said, "You ain't 'taking the lead', girlfriend.  But if you wanna come along and help ... AND you prove yourself helpful ..." she shrugged, still feeling a little confused about his presence (and motives) here, "sure, I'll split it with Bounty with you".
After all, she wasn't actually going to try and stop him from hunting Carnage now, was she.

Looking around, she tried to identify a way up to where the party was, now that the elevator wasn't an option.

In reply to Moon Knight (msg # 192):

Bushman stares wide-eyed as Moon Knight picks up the gatling gun and aims it right at him. He's trapped in the center of the wide elevator shaft like a polar bear on a melting patch of ice, with no way to make the jump back to safety in time-- at least not before Moon Knight pulls the trigger. For an instant, the villain appears to consider dropping from the cable and taking his chances with the fall, but it's a long way down and it's doubtful he'd survive! Instead, he tries to put on a brave face and call Moon Knight's bluff.

"I know you, Marc. You don't got what it takes. You didn't back in Sudan, and you don't got it now."

Solo d8
Violent Mercenary d4 (He's met his match in that regard)
Menace Expert 2d6

09:42, Today: Bushman rolled 4,3,2,4 using 1d8,1d4,1d6,1d6 ((4,3,2,4)). Bushman reacting to Moon Knight's attempt to shoot him with the gatling gun.

Total: 8
Effect: d6
Opportunities: 0

Moon Knight wins with an extraordinary success. His 15 total steps up his effect die to d12. Adding 2d6 to the doom pool for Bushman's use of the "Violent Mercenary" distinction at d4, and for his activation of his Limit:

Limit: Killer Grudges. On a failed reaction to Moon Knight attempting to inflict physical trauma, step up the trauma taken by +1 and add d6 to the doom pool.

Bushman takes d12 of Physical stress, which brings him to d6 Physical Trauma. The trauma steps up due to his Limit, bringing him to d8 Physical Trauma.

Doom Pool: 1d10, 3d8, 7d6

"But me?," Bushman goes on. "As soon as I get down from here, I'm gonna kill you and every last one one of your--"

*BRAAPPP BRAAPPP*

The gatling gun perforates Bushman's torso, turning it into swiss cheese. The villain cries out and drops from the cable, plummeting several stories to land with a mighty crash atop the stalled elevator. There is a long moment of silence before Moon Knight hears a low gurgle coming from the elevator shaft. If he were to look down, he might see that the villain's fall attracted the attention of the lingering unbound symbiote.

"Y-you... you're going to b-bond... with m-me..." the villain croaks to the alien. "Then... w-we can k-kill M-Moon Kni--"

Evidently having heard enough, the symbiote launches itself at the Bushman... and begins devouring his face!

Next Action: Deadpool
This message was last edited by the player at 17:24, Thu 18 June 2020.

"Elevator's busted," Wade says. "But that's OK... I've been taking steps to avoid them."

As his (terrible) joke hangs in the air, he turns and motions for Domino to follow him up a nearby flight of stairs.

"And if you're wondering how I found ya," Deadpool nods. "Seemed like a good night to stop by my favorite deli for a sandwich, but when I got there it was burned to the ground. I like my buns toasted, but it all seemed a bit overkill. Owner said some asshole named Carnage was behind it and told me about the bounty. That's when I saw you and Moon-Boy hightailing it away. Figured you could use some back-up. And as for being useful, well, when have I ever--"

Suddenly, the air is pierced by a screeching noise, and the hallway is bathed in bright red light! Deadpool looks down at a spot on the wall, where a faint red laser issuing forth has made contact with his ankle.

"Huh... garden-variety alarms. Guess I was expecting traps that fit the theme. "Phaser beams. Hot wax. Open jug of moonshine on top of the door. And here I thought Moon-Boy was my kind of crazy! I'll have to--"

Deadpool's next comment is cut short as the pair are suddenly greeted by the sight of a woman walking down the stairs: a pale, dark-haired woman with a scar over her left eye, dressed all in black. Domino hears a gasp beside her.

"It's Shriek!" Deadpool shrieks. "Carnage must be just up ahead. I'll tangle with Miss Kasady here. You go get us that bounty! Don't let him escape!"

Without waiting another moment, Deadpool clips his personal teleporting device onto Domino and slaps the big red button right in the center of it. Domino feels an odd rippling sensation from head-to-toe, and an instant later, she is beamed into the room ahead. She sees Moon Knight standing near an open elevator shaft. The office door to her right opens... and out steps none other than Carnage himself! The red-suited killer takes one look at Domino and grins.

Next Action: Carnage

"Ah, if it isn't Little Miss Mercenary. Come to reconsider my offer and join the Carnage Family, eh? Shriek and I have been looking for a daughter with your talents... And disregard for civilian casualties."

He lets out a high, piercing laugh, his voice distorted by the red symbiote covering his face. His pupil-less eyes narrow as he studies Domino.

"Come on, now... You don't really think they're going to let you walk free after all this, do you? Those 'heroes' will throw you under the bus the second they realize you haven't been playing by their little rules. So how about it?"

Carnage attempts to inflict Emotional Stress on Domino by urging her to join him (and suggesting there will be consequences if she doesn't).

Solo d10
Sneaky d8
Menace Master 2d8

14:08, Today: Carnage rolled 9,4,1,8 using 1d10,1d8,1d8,1d8 ((9,4,1,8)). Carnage trying to convince Domino to join him.

Total: 17
Effect: d8
Opportunities: 1 (Available first to Domino)

Reaction Needed: Domino
Next Action: Domino

The pair approaching the heroes in the stadium appear to be none other than Iron Fist and Luke Cage. Though they look a bit worse for wear from tonight's events, they are alive and mostly unharmed.

"Man, am I glad to see you guys," the Fist nods. "Though I wish it were under better circumstances."

Beside him, Luke stands with his arms crossed over his barrel chest. He nods coolly to the heroes but says nothing.

"Any of you guys sports fans?" Danny asks. Apparently it's a nervous attempt at humor. "That psycho Bullseye wants us to put together a baseball team, and he isn't asking nicely. And, well... they didn't have baseball in K'un-Lun. Do we have to pick a team captain or something?"
This message was last updated by the player at 20:11, Sat 20 June 2020.

The sudden, unexpected teleport left Domino disoriented, and unready for the sudden presence of the menacing Carnage.

REACTION to Carnage's Emotional Attack (total: 17)
d8   Affiliation: Solo
d8   Distinction: Hardened Mercenary
d8   Pysche Expert
- rolled 12 using 3d8 with rolls of 2,7,3.  React to Motional Stress.
Total: 10 ... for a fail

His words caught her off guard, and had her doubting a moment ... off balance.
Why was everyone suddenly turning up and challenging her mercenary ethics.

Mercenary Ethics.  That’s what she needed to focus on now.  Not words.  Domino had never been good with words: and certainly not trading them with others.  Let THEM prattle on and menace.
Domino would do what she’d always done, what she was here to do:   She was the Femme Fatale, and she would let her Guns do the talking for her.

“I’ve got a contract, dipshit, and I ain’t here to renegotiate” she said* as she strode forward, letting Symbiote Seeking bullets fly, Full auto.  She had Superhuman Reflexes, Combat experience, and Lady Luck on her side.

And Carnage was about to find out what SHE was good at.

Not only that, but with his mouthing off as he’d walked down the steps, his gait had reminded her of something she’d read in his files recently ... that in closed spaces, he had a subconscious reaction to dodge left.  It was a Combat ‘Opportunity’ she wasn’t going to ignore.  Action: shoot Carnage!
D8   Solo
D8   Femme Fatale
2D8   Guns
SFX: Full Auto. Against a single target, step up or double a Guns die. Remove the highest rolling die and use three dice for your total.
D10  Superhuman Reflexes
D10  Lady Luck on my Side
SFX: Lady Luck On My Side. Spend 1 PP to borrow the highest die in the doom pool as an asset for your next action; then step back and return the doom die.
D10  Combat Mastery
D10  Watcher rolled Opportunity: spending 1PP for Combat Stunt
D8   Scene Resource: ‘Symbiote Seeking Bullets’
{1PP previously spent, 1PP spent now}

- rolled 8,6,5,2,4,2,4,2,6,4 using d8,d8,d8,d8,d8,d10,d10,d10,d10,d8.  Action: shoot Carnage.
Spend 1PP for SFX: Second Chance. If your pool includes a Probability Manipulation power, spend 1 PP to reroll.
- rolled 6,2,8,3,4,9,5,3,2,5 using d8,d8,d8,d8,d8,d10,d10,d10,d10,d8. Reroll

Total: drop the 9; 8+6+5 = 19
Effect: d10

Return Doom Pool dice l, now d8.

Spent all my PP, so:  PP = 0

Next Action:  a Watcher NPC


tap Milestone for 1 XP when you discuss payment for a deed
This message was last edited by the player at 23:40, Sat 20 June 2020.

In reply to Domino (msg # 198):

Domino takes d10 Emotional Stress from Carnage's extraordinary success. 1d10 in the Doom Pool steps back due to Domino's SFX: Lady Luck On My Side.

Doom Pool: 4d8, 7d6

Carnage's wicked grin changes into a frown as Domino's words sink in.

"That's a real shame... I hate to see a life of such potential cut short!"

Seeing Domino raise her guns, Carnage tenses and prepares to lunge for the mercenary. The shifting, oozing symbiote ripples down his body with every movement, making it hard for her to focus her aim on any one part of him. But in his rush to avoid her bullets, the madman ducks... and, just as she called it, he dodges to the left!

Solo d10
Sneaky d4 (Apparently not as sneaky as he thinks)
Superhuman Reflexes d8 (Due to SFX)
Shapeshifting d6 (Due to SFX)
Combat Expert d8
Domino's Physical Stress d10

SFX: Multipower. Use two or more SYMBIOTE powers in your dice pool at -1 step for each additional power.

19:08, Today: Carnage rolled 2,1,1,6,1,9 using 1d10,1d4,1d8,1d6,1d8,1d10 ((2,1,1,6,1,9)). Carnage attempts to dodge Domino's hail of bullets.

Total: 15
Effect: d10
Opportunities: 3 (Available first to Domino)

Domino wins. Carnage takes d10 of Physical Stress. Stepping up 1d8 in the doom pool for Carnage's use of the "Sneaky" distinction at d4.

Doom Pool: 1d10, 3d8, 7d6

Carnage leaps aside, moving in to close the distance between him and Domino. But something isn't right. His eyes widen as the gunfire he thought he'd sidestepped in fact curves, striking him in the right side of his torso with enough force to stagger him. He lets out a cry of surprise, dropping to one knee and giving a ragged gasp of pain.

"That's some lucky aim you've got there, sister," he says with a forced grin through gritted teeth. With one hand clutched to his side, he raises the other and forms it into a crimson, dual-bladed axe.

"But as a wise man once said... Should've gone for the head!"

Next Action: The Watcher (Switching over to the stadium scene)

Carnage's hand-axe stops in mid-swing as he hears a piercing scream from the elevator shaft. As he looks over, he appears to notice Moon Knight for the first time.

"You...! What did you do to Bushwhacker?" he growls.

"I gave Bushman a taste of Vengeance," Moon Knight replied. He was still holding the gatling gun, but prepared to drop it at a moment's notice. He didn't know if it had another burst in it or not. "Just like I'm going to do to you."

Of course, he'd killed Bushman more than once before this, and it never took. So he had no reason to believe the bastard wouldn't be back again. But for now, it seemed he was dead again.

In Moon Knight's head, several voices laughed.

"MLB teams ain't had team captains in years, Danny," Luke snorts. And then, he adds, after a pause: "But I say Spidey's team captain. Carnage is behind all this, and he knows how that freak operates better than any of us."

He looks directly at Spider-Man as if challenging him to protest the decision.

"As long as he's willing to do what's necessary when we get our hands on Kasady, that is."

He looks around at the other heroes, expecting them to weigh in.

Next Action: Spider-Man

At Luke Cage's exhortation, Spider-Man takes a step forward.

"Well, I won't pretend to have been a jock in high school, but my uncle did take me to a few games when I was a kid. I mostly remember throwing up from a bad hot dog and leaving at the bottom of the sixth inning, though..."

He turns to face Daredevil.

"Of course, I won't deny that Daredevil is just as capable of leading in this situation. I wouldn't object to that. As much as Carnage has been a threat to my life, the Purple Man and Bullseye has been deadly foes to you, as well."

Spider-Man then turns back to face the Heroes for Hire.

"But all of us have something to fight for here. These guys...they've affected all of us. They've hurt us. They've hurt our loved ones. They've hurt innocent people. They're holding us hostage to play a stupid game with threats to hurt everyone in this stadium!"

Peter feels a little anger rising up in him again, his fist clenched and shaking. He squeezes it tight and lets it fall to his side. He takes a deep breath and continues.

"Danny. Luke. We could really use powerhouses like you two helping us out here. But I...I can't agree. No matter what, I won't put down Kasady. Or any of them. I can't let myself go that far."

Spider-Man clenches his fist again, this time in front of him with determination. He looks around to his fellow heroes.

"But we can stop them! Even if we have no choice to go along with their trap for now. C'mon, guys. Let's score a touchdown on these jerks and take them down!"

Attempt to create Heroes for Hire Asset
Team d6
Wisecracker d8
Psych Expert d8

01:55, Today: Spider-Man rolled 2,2,7 using d6,d8,d8.

Total: 9
Effect: d8






"Home run! I meant home run. I definitely know the rules to this game that we are playing. The game that is called baseball. Of which there are bases. And bats."

Spider-Man's head drops a little and he sighs at himself.


OOC: If this Asset is successful, anyone feel free to use it. Especially Tigra and Ghost Rider, since DD and I have some Assets right now.

0 PP remaining
Next Action: Tigra

In reply to Spider-Man (msg # 203):

09:27, Today: The Watcher rolled 3,4 using 1d6,1d6 ((3,4)). Doom pool reaction to Spidey attempting to create Heroes for Hire asset.

Total: 7
Effect: d4
Opportunities: 0

Spider-Man wins. "Heroes for Hire" d8 asset created.

Iron Fist nods to Spidey. "We're with you." And then, glancing over at the stoic Luke beside him, he adds: "Right?"

Luke shrugs. "Yeah," he says. "But we're gonna talk once we're outta this mess." He looks around at the other heroes. "We all ready to do this?"

Danny takes Spidey aside, his voice dropping to a quiet murmur. "Let me worry about him. Between the Purple Man being here, and Shriek's powers making him lose it earlier... He's pretty worked up."

He looks over Spidey's shoulder to where another new arrival is approaching them.

"By the way," he says. "Someone here was looking for you."

Striding toward the group now is another familiar face-- Felicia Hardy, the Black Cat!

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 204):

"What a night, huh?" the Cat grins. "Reminds me of old times, spider."

She walks over to stand next to Spidey, admiring his new suit. "The black looks good on you," she comments. Looking around at the odd group of heroes and misfits, she makes a face at the sight of Doppelganger.

"Well, it's a team I guess, but you're one short," she points out. "Oh, don't get the wrong idea. Sports aren't really my thing. But if you guys can keep those asshats distracted long enough, I bet I could find a way into that press box and get that hostage free. Breaking into places without getting caught... well... sort of my thing."

There is a pause, and she looks around at everyone.

"You did know there was another hostage in there, right?" she asks, her gaze flitting to each of them before falling upon the other feline heroine in their midst. "The sooner you guys find your last player for this stupid game, the sooner those idiots will let their guard down."

Next Action: Tigra

In reply to Black Cat (msg # 205):

Tigra looked around the stadium when she heard the roar of the crowd, all looking ready for battle if it came to it. With Ghost Rider free, they definitely had an advantage over anything, the question was how to make sure these people were not harmed.

"Well, Daredevil, I'm not sure I can get all of these unlucky people out at once. Maybe we ought to give that Purple Man and Bullseye that game they want, at least for a round to keep them distracted while Black Cat and someone else goes to get that hostage from there?"

Tigra's hands had a pulsing glow, "I hope I'm not running out of juice, but I think I can cast a protective spell around us in case the Purple Man gets to us. I don't think I'm strong enough to protect our audience here."

Tigra will try to cast a protective charm on the team to create a complication against the Purple Man if he tries controlling the team.

Team d10
Heroes for Hire d8
Magic is awesome! d4 (needing to recharge)
Supreme Sorcery d10, converted to 2d8
Mystic Master d10, converted to 2d8
Limit: The Extent of Sorcery. When you add Supreme Sorcery to any pool, you may only create assets and complications as your effect.

Milestones; SUMMONER SUPREME
3 XP when you include an ally in a mystical ritual.

18:23, Today: Tigra rolled 4,4,3,2,1,4,1 using d10,d8,d4,d8,d8,d8,d8 ((4,4,3,2,1,4,1)).

Total:4 + 4= 8, + 4 (using 1 pp to add a third die) = 12
Effect:d8
Opportunities:2
PP: 2-1+1 = 2
This message was last edited by the player at 02:57, Fri 26 June 2020.

The Purple Man watches in silent satisfaction from his perch in the press box as the heroes plot their next move. Then he turns and starts talking with Bullseye, not paying much attention to Tigra for the moment. Although he doesn't seem to be trying to mind-control any of the heroes presently, there is never any telling with a foe like him, and it couldn't hurt for the heroes to take precautions just in case!

Buddy d6
Hard to Miss d4 (Easy to spot the source of the problem)
No power traits/specialty as he's not mind-controlling the heroes.

18:55, Today: Purple Man rolled 2,3 using 1d6,1d4 ((2,3)). Purple Man's passive reaction to Tigra's attempt to shield the team from his pheromones.

Total: 5
Effect: d4
Opportunities: 0

Tigra wins. "Protective Charm" d8 complication is placed on Purple Man, available for heroes to use on actions/reactions against him. Adding 1d6 to the doom pool for Purple Man's use of the "Hard to Miss" distinction at d4. Adding 1d8 to the doom pool for Tigra's 2 opportunities.

Doom Pool: 1d10, 4d8, 8d6

With a few quick enchantments, Tigra places an invisible protective field over each of her companions. It isn't a perfect defense, and enough effort from the Purple Man might allow some pheromones to slip through, but it's much better than leaving things to chance. Spotting yet another familiar face approaching, Tigra includes her in the ritual as well!

Next Action: Misty Knight

"Hey Team Captain," Misty nods to Spider-Man. "Room for one more on this team?"

Without waiting for a reply, she strolls over to stand next to Tigra. "So partner, we gonna make Bullseye and his little team of punks pay for what they did to our boys?"

Seeing the surprised looks of some in the group, she shrugs.

"What? She's already a superhero and a sorceress... Is the fact she's also a cop too much to believe? Seriously Greer, how do you do it all? You got the Time Stone hidden in that robe somewhere?"

"She was an Iron Fist for a while too," Danny grins. "Too bad we don't have a few more of those right now."

Misty's eyes narrow. "Oh, I don't need a glowing fist to put the hurt on Bullseye and those other sons of bitches. Let's put on our mean faces, gang. Here they come."

Next Action: Purple Man
This message was last edited by the player at 17:58, Sat 27 June 2020.

As Carnage's remote broadcast is interrupted by the sound of gunfire from Domino and Moon Knight, Bullseye nods to the Purple Man, who hits a switch on his control panel. An instant later, the feed displayed on the stadium's Jumbotron cuts away from Moon Knight's secret headquarters and instead goes to a view of the baseball field. A group of figures begins walking from the far end of the field toward the baseball diamond, to immense cheers from their brainwashed "fans."

"Ladies and gentlemen, it looks like we have ourselves a ball game!" Killgrave calls out over the loudspeakers. "Let's give it up for Team Carnage!"

Now taking up positions around the field are a who's who of familiar villains from the heroes' pasts: in the outfield are Jack O'Lantern, Typhoid Mary and Morbius the Living Vampire. On the bases are Scorpion, Sabertooth, and Scarecrow. Carrion appears to be playing shortstop, and Bullseye himself has come down to the field to play pitcher!

Who then is the catcher? None other than the wicked Demogoblin, soaring down from the sky on his glider to take position. That just leaves Jigsaw to act as umpire, a position of power in the game which he surely intends to abuse!

Up against these odds, how are the heroes faring? Judging by his evil grin, the Purple Man seems to be hoping they crumble under the pressure!

"Tell me, visiting team, how are you feeling right now? Ready to play ball?" he smirks. It's a small, subtle command, but a command nonetheless-- and the heroes suddenly feel a compulsion to answer him!

Team d4
Abusive d8
Mind Control d10
Menace Expert d8
3d6 from Area Attack SFX
1d8 from Tigra's emotional stress.

11:51, Today: Purple Man rolled 2,3,5,1,6,1,1,5 using 1d4,1d6,1d6, 5,1d6,1d8,1d8,1d10,1d8 ((2,3,5,1,6,1,1,5)). Purple Man attempting to inflict some Emotional Stress before the game begins.

Spending 1d8 doom to add a 3rd die to the total.

Total: 16
Effect: d6
Opportunities: 3

Doom Pool: 1d10, 3d8, 8d6

Heroes can use Purple Man's "Protective Charm" d8 complication created by Tigra in their reactions. It's assumed that counterattacks will be emotional in nature (Psych/Menace).

Reactions Needed: Daredevil, Ghost Rider, Spider-Man, and Tigra

Next Action: Ghost Rider
This message was last edited by the player at 19:10, Sat 27 June 2020.

I goofed on Purple Man's roll by forgetting he needs to have effect dice for each hero. So he can't actually target everyone the way I originally had him doing. Instead, he will target only DD and Spider-Man, adding the previously-unused d4 as his effect die.

Total: 16
Effect: d4 to Spider-Man, d6 to Daredevil
Opportunities: 3

Doom Pool: 1d10, 3d8, 8d6

Also, Team Carnage has been added to the turn order as a Mob 9d6.

Ghost Rider still has the next action.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:59, Sun 28 June 2020.

Daredevil feels the pulses of the heroes around him rise, and his radar sense picks up new entrants on the field approaching slowly but too far to ascertain exactly whom. Instead of searching for identities before the fight is even joined, he concentrates on Spider-Man beside him, picking up his racing heartbeat, guided by that impressive spider-sense. With the kid at his side, along with the other heroes, he knew they'd have a fighting chance, no matter what foe came up. How many could there be, anyway?

Defending from Purple Man's Emotional attack, Total: 16, Effect: d6:
Team    d6
Blind Justice    d4
(+1 PP)
Hypersenses/Radar Sense/Superhuman Senses    d10
Menace Expert    2d6
Protective Charm Complication d8
Bead on Spider-Man Resource    d6

DD rolled Daredevil rolled 4,2,1,5,4,3,4 using d6,d4,d10,d6,d6,d8,d6 ((4,2,1,5,4,3,4)).

-1 PP to add third die to Total
Total: 13; Effect: d8
1 Opportunity
Higher defending Effect die steps down attacking Effect die, to d4

PPs: 2 (starting; from msg #162) +1 (negative Distinction) +1 (Opportunity) = 4

Daredevil has heard stories of that voice, not just from Jessica, though she got it the worst. He could hear through it even over the loudspeakers -- just a hesitation that speaks of fear, of being beaten once again -- but the blind hero cannot deny the hesitation in his own body, his hand taking a fraction of a heartbeat longer to respond in curling into a fist and shifting a foot to a defensive position. That could be where it starts. If he's aware of it, if he can track it, perhaps he can resist it or find a way around it, maybe even turn it into an advantage. Regardless, it's now or never. If he can help it, when he pulls out the strength of his convictions and his loyalty to his friends standing beside him and his obedience to justice, he knows that he can do this. He knows that he cannot allow the bad-guys to win, not now and not ever.

So, yes. He feels as ready as he could ever be. And he'd be damned to hell if he wasn't ready to "play ball".

As much as he wanted to do away with the gamesmanship and simply open up a can of hellfire on the villains, Ghost Rider took the lives of the innocents into consideration, not to mention his new teammates. With a wave of his hand, the flames of the Rider's motorcycle went out, turning it from demonic chariot to cooling stunt bike. If Purple Man wanted to play a game, then he would play. For now.

Team: d6
Avenger of the Innocent: d8
"Protective Charm" d8 complication
Spending 1 PP to add d6 to dice pool

15:37, Today: Ghost Rider rolled 4,2,5,3 using d6,d8,d8,d6

Total: 9
Effect: d8

Limit: Gear. Shutdown The Rider's Cycle and gain 1 PP

Stepping up 1d8 in the Doom Pool for Daredevil's opportunity in Msg #211. Daredevil takes d4 Emotional Stress. Ghost Rider shuts down The Rider's Cycle power set, and his "Need to Recharge" complication steps back to d8. He takes no stress since Purple Man did not have an effect die to target him with.

Doom Pool: 2d10, 2d8, 8d6

As the various villains making up Team Carnage take position around the field, Spidey, DD, Tigra, Ghost Rider and the others can sense their anticipation. With so many long-standing feuds in play, it's clear these criminals and killers are eager to put the hurt on the heroes. And not one of them seems to care that so many innocent lives hang in the balance!

Bullseye grins, swatting the dust from his mitt as he eyes the opposing team.

"So," he says. "Which one of you 'heroes' wants to step up to the plate?"

Next Action: Ghost Rider
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:05, Wed 01 July 2020.

After Black Cat and Misty Knight make their appearances, Spider-Man gives a brief reply.

"Cat. Misty. Thanks. We could use all the help we can get."

He looks to Black Cat.

"I appreciate the compliment, Cat, but don't get too attached to the new look. I'll be exchanging it for store credit as soon as I can. This thing tends to get a little too attached to me. And it's so last season, anyway."

Before Spider-Man can ask about the hostage Black Cat intends to rescue, gunfire interrupts him. It's followed soon by the Purple Man's broadcast over the loudspeaker introducing the incoming team of villains.

"Jack O'Lantern... Morbius... Sabretooth... Oh, my! They're definitely not kidding about this team thing. Pretty sure I saw Shocker selling peanuts in the stands, too."

Spider-Man straightens up and rubs his Symbiote-covered chin with his thumb and index finger.

"It goes without saying that this is definitely a trap of some kind. So ignore that I said it, and let's just stay on guard. We've got to beat them at their own..."

The Purple Man's subtle command cuts the Wall-Crawler's sentence short.

Reaction to Purple Man's command (Total: 16, Effect: d4)

0 PP

Team d6
Wisecracker d8 (Spider-Man's knocking it out of the park. Ba dum tss.)
Psych Expert d8
Protective Charm Complication d8

07:12, Today: Spider-Man rolled 1,1,5,4 using d6,d8,d8,d8.

Total: 5
Effect: d8
2 Opportunites

Spider-Man fails, but the higher effect die steps back the Emotional Stress to nothing.

+2 PP for automatic Opportunity purchases
2 PP Remaining

"R-r-ready!"

Spider-Man is a little stunned as he speaks. The word feels as if it was pulled straight out of his throat.

"That... was unsettling."

Looking back up, he slowly scans the crowded seats once more.

This is what they're all going through right now. This is what we're fighting for.

"This Purple Man is no joke," Spider-Man shuddered, turning to face the others. "Tigra, thanks for that spell. I think it's the only thing that helped me put up any resistance at all. We're going to need it. All of these guys are dangerous. But we've beaten the crap out of them too many times before to stop now. Let's play ball!"

Shocker looks up from the peanuts he is passing out to several of Carnage's followers. Seeing Spidey, he thrusts his arms to the sides, taking a defiant stance.

"What?!" he cries. "Can't a guy make a good, honest living anymore?!"

Next Action: Still Ghost Rider, I'm just goofing around here. :P