“I cannot know, but our best efforts at stealth clearly failed.” Wonder Woman clutched the Tome and floated a few inches above the street. “The time for subterfuge is past. By Hera, I say we face them head on and force our way through their gauntlet, if need be.”

“Rider. You will draw their attention on the street, while I fly the Book to the College.” Diana glanced at the Manhunter. “Cloak yourself in shadow or invisibility and flank any attackers who beset us. The three of us possess the strength, cunning, and ferocity to overcome any enemy! Let us fulfill the mission the Batman charged us with.

For the Glory of Gaea!”

OOC:

Inspire The Team!

11:43, Today: Wonder Woman rolled 11 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 6,4.  Charming: Inspire the team.

1. Nobody was distracted or forgot their parts.
2. Everyone gets +1 moving forward.


 
This message was last edited by the player at 16:48, Mon 30 Nov 2020.

As the trio moves Southward, they see, in the distance, here and there, members of the Avengers-- usually in ones and twos-- fighting other villains. Occasionally even a member of the Justice League can be sighted doing the same thing. Some of the battles appear challenging, but in none of them do the heroes appear to be losing.

No one, however, interferes further with the movements of Diana, The Manhunter, and The Rider.

They move to and through Southside, and soon the large Southside campus of the Invisible College-- a very large, flat, bare piece of entirely undeveloped real estate--  can be seen.

Then they reach its nearest gate, and guards hurriedly urge them to go on in...

Once past the gate, the grounds and buildings of the college can be seen.

The trio makes for the library...

There are a few anxious black-robed professors and other faculty mages standing outside it, waiting...

(Pausing for reaction posts)

The Rider watched as he travelled along on his mount. The urge to attack some of those who had shed innocent blood was there. However, the book's presence and Blaze's inner urging managed to keep the burning skeleton on track.

For now, anyways.

Wonder Woman flew through the last borough with a Speed of Hermès that also graced Manhunter & The Rider! The Batman apparently aligned resistance from the local heroes against the evil mercenaries. Even  Black Canary could be seen  brawling with Typhoid Mary at the end of Hell’s Kitchen. They met no further interference, though, and passed through the Invisible School’s gate safely!

Diana gently touched down by the library bearing the valued Book which caused so much strife. “Hola! I bear the Tome you await, O’ Blessed of Athena!” She held the Book for them to see, but paused before handing it over. The Amazon exchanged a cautious look with The Manhunter. Then, Diana looked into the small assembly of sages & wizards, seeking out their rendezvous arranged by Bruce.

Hanging to the rear, Manhunter said nothing. He was still looking for one last attack, and was reasonably sure they'd get one. So far nothing they'd done had gone to plan, so why start now?

(Sure enough...

Everyone roll Insightful.

Manhunter, you get an extra +1 bonus (which stacks).)

ooc-17:59, Today: The Rider rolled 9 using 2d6 with rolls of 4,5.  Insightful.

The Manhunter rolled 7 using 2d6+3 ((1,3)).

Diana sensed the Manhunter’s palpable wariness, and trusted his instincts. She kept a watchful eye on the assembled faculty...

OOC:

19:33, Today: Wonder Woman rolled 7 using 2d6 with rolls of 6,1.  Insightful .

 

All three heroes are thrown clear from the spot where they were standing as an explosion happens-- something like a lightning bolt and a fiery explosion at the same time, at the same spot-- right near where you are.

Diana does keep hold of the book, though (so far).

In the seconds afterward, when everyone looks around to see what the heck that was, new individuals are seen approaching:

Diana (and probably The Manhunter, in all likelihood) recognizes Metallo, the self-titled Weather Wizard, and a villain known in Metropolis as Black Adam.

The Rider recognizes, from a wanted poster, a villain the X-Men usually fight named Pyro (hence the fiery part of the lightning strike).

"Hey losers," jeers Pyro. "We've come t' check out a library book."

This could get ugly...

(Each hero takes 1 dam (ignoring armor) from the lightning-strike-explosion.)

In reply to The GM (msg # 442):

While the fire does nothing to the Rider, the lighting bursts a hole in his burning skull, and causes him to collapse.

Within seconds, he rises and adjusts his head as if he had a stiff neck. The obvious damage begins to repair itself even as the burning orbs that pass as eyeballs focus on Pyro, and then at each of the other foes.

"Touch the book, and you will be the one who burns..." The Rider snarled at all the villians in his crackling growl of a voice.

ooc-15:39, Today: The Rider rolled 13 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 6,6.  Intimdating all villians(-1 for charming, +2 for intimidating).

Rider heals 1 hp at start of his turn.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:00, Wed 02 Dec 2020.

Wonder Woman stood and patted down the small flames on herself as though they were a mere inconvenience. “The goddess Hestia  granted me ‘Sisterhood with Fire’, and I have resisted the thunderbolts of Zeus himself!” Her jaw clenched as she glared defiantly at the newest villains. ”This is but a mere trifle in an incessant series of such!”

The Amazing Amazon hefted up a four foot marble statuette with one hand. She grinned wickedly as she hurled the stony, improvised mission at the Weather Wizard! “Will you so easily shrug off THIS?”

OOC:

15:40, Today: Wonder Woman rolled 9 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 3,3.  It’s Clobbering Time: Forceful to hurl statuette at villains.

It’s Clobbering Time!

I’ll hit and impose one Stress on Pyro!

15:49, Today: Wonder Woman rolled 5 using 3d3 with rolls of 3,1,1.  Damage .


This message was last edited by the player at 20:49, Wed 02 Dec 2020.

Of course. Of course there was another attack. These villains had known every step of the way where Manhunter and his compatriots would be, so why wouldn't there be another attack?

With a long, rattling sigh, Manhunter attacked the one called Metallo.

The Manhunter rolled 6 using 2d6+3 ((2,1)).

But that didn't go very well....

Pyro is already on the edge of panic. He shouts something that can't be heard over the roar of the fire he directs toward Wonder Woman.

(GM rolls dice...

Diana takes 5 dam (adjusted for her natural toughness).)

---

Metallo grins... and punches.

POW.

(GM rolls dice...

The Manhunter takes 6 dam (adjusted for his natural toughness).)

---

The other villains studiously ignore The Rider, and focus on going for the book Diana's holding...

(Diana, roll Forceful if you try to just hang onto the book-- Agile if you focus more on just avoiding Black Adam... (Don't worry about the Weather Wizard yet...))
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:07, Fri 04 Dec 2020.

In reply to The GM (msg # 446):

Metallo strikes the Manhunter, and the Rider lashes out almost by instinct with his burning chain. The metal skull turns white from the heat, and clangs with the impact of the blow.

ooc-16:23, Today: The Rider rolled 5,1 using 1d6+2,1d4 with rolls of 3,1.  Damage .

16:23, Today: The Rider rolled 8 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 1,4.  Its clobbering time on Metallo.

This message was last edited by the player at 21:27, Thu 03 Dec 2020.

Wonder Woman saw Black Adam hurtling toward her, the fallen Champion of Shazam intent on seizing the coveted Book. Diana soared nimbly like a falcon, evading the Egyptian powerhouse. She saw Metallo hit the Manhunter, as The Rider made a desperate stand against their newest threat. The Amazon felt an urgent need to leap into battle alongside her companions.

However, the mission mattered the most. These villains desired the Book for nefarious ends, and Wonder Woman was the last protector standing between them and unleashing Hell on Earth. Against her Amazonian instincts, Diana chose flight instead of fight. The Book was what mattered.

Wonder Woman soared over the campus toward a powerful wizard who looked like the Head of the Academy. “If you’ve any magicks powerful enough to protect the Book, invoke them now! We need a magical barrier against these brigands!”

OOC:

17:17, Today: Wonder Woman rolled 11 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 6,4.  Avoid Black Adam.

I’m invoking the Run Away move to take the Book to safety.

On an 11, I should be able to successfully retreat to safety without losing anything, taking further hits, or even looking foolish.

Metallo runs at The Rider, and punches him...

(GM rolls dice...

The Rider takes 5 damage.)

POW

(However, Metallo has left himself open for a counter-attack... if you wish, you may make a "free" attack against him first, and then post another move as well.)

---

The faculty member whom Diana addresses, a fellow with blank-white eyes and white hair wearing a large gold medallion, merely says "I shall do what I can..." He gestures arcanely, and a sort of blue-gray bubble of energy appears around Black Adam, holding him in the air for the moment, hammer at it though the villain might. (The white-haired man grits his teeth, apparently maintaining the spell through sheer willpower...)

However, Diana comes under a new assault... a very strong and sudden gust of wind from straight overhead that attempts to smash her to the ground.

A very quick glance shows that sure enough the Weather Wizard is pointing his wand at her...

(Roll Agile again, please, Diana...)

[OOC: sorry for the delay.]

Manhunter was rocked by the strength of Metallo's blow, and had needed a second to get his head on straight. Fortunately for him, the metallic villain had moved on to a different target, and was now accosting the Rider instead. And while he might prove extremely dangerous to the flame-headed hero, Manhunter knew that he needed to leave the two of them to it, because the book was still the objective. Diana had that, and the Weather Wizard had her.

But not for long.

Setting his jaw, Manhunter returned to the attack, striking at the Weather Wizard with all his strength.

The Manhunter rolled 11 using 2d6+3 ((3,5)).
--Hit Hard
--Avoid retaliation

The Manhunter rolled 7 using 3d3,d4 ((2,1,1,3)).

(Note ONE-- Hey, no need for an apology, we all show up when we can. Also, it's 2020.

Note TWO-- these actions do not change Diana's need for an Agile roll, which will happen chronologically before this post.)

The Weather Wizard is incredibly powerful when left to his own devices//device... but he's just a man. And he's hurt, badly. (All right, not life-threateningly, but he's certainly not used to taking such hard punches. (A LOT of FAST punches? Yes. Punches as hard as The Manhunter can dish out? No.))

He raises his wand, and thunder rolls, in a sort of tempo-- 1-2, 1-2-3... doing no damage to anything...

...because it's a signal.

From the southwest, a horde of green-and-gray men in full armor come marching...

...Except that the color scheme indicates to everyone that they aren't really men. They're Von Doom's enchanted armors, some kind of magical automata under Von Doom's control.

Of course. Of course all this was a plot by Von Doom of Latveria. There are few who could make so many other villains jump when he calls for action (let alone the likes of Metallo and Black Adam), but Von Doom fits the bill perfectly...

In reply to The GM (msg # 449):

Metallo charges forth with a massive blow with his metal fists. Effectively crushing the Rider's skull between them. The metal man laughs, and turns to his friends, gesturing with his thumb over his shoulder at the body about to fall.

Pyro points over Metallo's shoulder as he goes pale. Metallo's half flesh half steel face manages a look of shock. Even as he turns about and sees.

The Rider's body does not fall. Instead, a glowing orb of flame in a black hood is all that is left due to Metallo's blow. Except within seconds, the skull reforms from the powder it had been reduced to.

Metallo is in such shock that he fails to notice the burning chain wrapping around his throat for a moment. He does notice when the chain burns white hot, and the rider pulls ether end of said  metal links in different directions...

Ooc:

Rider regens 1 hp. Hits Metallo with free attack for 9 damage and standard attack for 7 damage. Rider takes 2 less damage next time he is hit.

15:12, Today: The Rider rolled 6,3 using 1d6+2,1d4 with rolls of 4,3.  Damage from free attack on metallo.

15:11, Today: The Rider rolled 7 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 3,1.  Free attack on metallo.

15:12, Today: The Rider rolled 6,1 using 1d6+2,1d4 with rolls of 4,1.  Damage from standard attack on metallo .

15:12, Today: The Rider rolled 10 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 2,5.  Standard attack on metallo .

15:14, Today: The Rider rolled 2 using 1d4 with rolls of 2.  Damage reduction for next attack on rider .



This message was last edited by the player at 04:37, Sat 05 Dec 2020.

The powerful gust from above battered at Wonder Woman, but she was accustomed to flying through the worst of Zeus’ rages. The Amazing Amazon kept her balance and her hold on the Book. She addressed this (Phantom) Stranger capable of holding Black Adam in a sphere of Force. “Thank you for your aid, Stranger. Von Doom sends his warforged against us. Do you or your studied peers have anyplace safe we can store the Book?”

OOC:


22:21, Today: Wonder Woman rolled 10 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 5,4.  Agile Save.

 

"Safe from thieves? Yes. Safe from this?" The stranger gestured at everything. "No-- or not for very long, anyway... Truly, Amazon, I feel it is more safe with you than in any building right now..." He kept his eyes on the bubble of energy, and winced slightly with every blow that Black Adam struck against it...


Though Metallo fell, no longer a threat, the armored automata marched closer...

"The three of us are mighty," Manhunter said, as he casually backhanded Weather Wizard into unconsciousness, "but we cannot face down an entire army."

The Manhunter rolled 13 using 2d6+3 ((6,4)).
--Avoid retaliation
--Avoid collateral damage.

The Manhunter rolled 7 using 3d3 ((1,3,3)).

"You cannot," agrees a strange voice. The Manhunter looks over to see one armored-- no, this one... stands differently. It reaches its hand out. "Give me the book."

It's Von Doom himself.

"That will not happen," Manhunter replied. Doom had possibly made a tactical error here. While they could not face down his entire army, the three of them together could certainly face down Doom himself. The only problem was that Doom had arrived in an instant without them even noticing, and thus could probably remove himself from the field of battle if he chose.

Thus, the heroes needed to strike quickly.

The Manhunter rolled 15 using 2d6+3 ((6,6)).
--Hit Hard
--Avoid Retaliation

The Manhunter rolled 10 using 3d3,d4 ((2,1,3,4)).