Iron Man's public address system booms: "Steve Rogers, you are under arrest for violation of the Superhuman Registration Act." Less... boomingly, he adds, "Please, Steve, come quietly. There doesn't need to be any more bloodshed today. We can still make this right."

Captain America refuses. "Make this right? You opened a portal to Hell to lure us into a trap. People died, Tony, and you were too busy rounding up your murderous thugs to save them. How are they supposed to make this right?"

Behind him, the Thunderbolts bristle and posture. The Rhino crouches down into a nose-tackle's stance, pointing his horn directly at The Hulk, who clearly wishes he would. Kraven skulks behind a burned-out police car, while Bullseye... sticks close to Tony, positioning himself between his boss and the unregistered heroes, whispering something.

The Scorpion doesn't look very well. He's clutching at his head in agony, and clearly having some kind of argument. His klyntar symbiote is roiling around him, and cleary trying to pull him forward. "Two delicious spiders, pull their legs off, sacrifices for the goblin... follow orders, Mac, drink your milk..."

Nobody seems to be paying Gargan any nevermind.

Everyone is now present and may speak freely. This is not yet a combat scene.

Huh. The Scorpion had a symbiote, too? Of all the oddities of this world, that was practically the weirdest one. Who would give a knucklehead like the Scorpion a symbiote? And it seemed to like milk as much as Venom, for some odd reason.

With all the chaos that seemed about to break loose, this felt like an incredibly stupid thing to fixate on. So, of course, Funnybone fixated on it.

"We have chocolate milk," Funnybone said to the Scorpion, pulling up near him on his hell-cycle.

Mac Gargan looks pleadingly at Funnybone from behind the blank white eyes of the symbiote. "Yes, give us the chocolate milk, we need it! The king says bide our time, lure the spiders into our web. Squash them when the time is right... but the queen says... the queen says... the queen..."

He reaches his hand out to Wade.

Funnybone reflects the gesture back, taking the Scorpion's hand in his.

"Hop on," he said, "and I'll take you to it."

He wasn't entirely sure what he was doing, but at the very minimum he was taking a powerful opponent off the field of battle. If he was right, though, he might be finding the solution to his own team's problem.

The Scorpion takes Wade's hand and allows himself to be led away from the field of battle.

Where is Wade taking him?
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:11, Mon 30 Aug 2021.

"You know, she just paints herself green in my world."  Gwen tells Pete and Harry when the Hulk shows up.  "For her wrestling Persona.  The only one that size was Alexei.  He needs a suit here?". She lets out a small laugh at how ridiculous Rhino looks.  Then she sees the rest of the Thunderbolts.

Gwen can feel her symbiote reacting when it sees another symbiote on Scorpion.  Maybe they haven't noticed?  There's definitely a control issue going on.

If Wade can handle this, Gwen's going to let him.

Peter makes... some sort of quip about The Rhino's armor and his history. Gwen tries to pay attention, but something is pulling her mind... or Venom's toward the crowd of onlookers. It's a feeling almost entirely unlike the feeling she got from seeing the symbiote attached to Mac Gargan, but... familiar.

Iron Man speaks again. "Trap? Nobody lured you here, Steve. There's an emergency, we were handling it, and you broke the law."
This message was last updated by the GM at 16:30, Mon 30 Aug 2021.

This message was deleted by the player at 16:53, Mon 30 Aug 2021.

"Hey!" the Rhino yells back at Spider-Man. "Why don't you come down here and say that to my face, you wall-crawling coward!?"

Iron Fist staggers a little as the trio touches down. The sensation of flight was breathtaking, to be sure, but the warrior's mind was buzzing with possible threats. Were SHIELD agents using this street to stage an ambush? Was that Bullseye crouched in the streets below, or just his imagination? And could he and his team even trust that everyone in the Anti-Registration ranks were the real deal? After all, treachery tended to rear its ugly head only once it was already too late.

Fear and doubt coiled in the pit of Danny's stomach. PTSD from years of being hunted by your former masters' personal assassins would do this to a guy. Danny missed his old self that would have simply enjoyed the ride through the sky-- his old self who Polaris increasingly reminded him of-- but that Danny Rand was dead. Any anyway, that was neither here nor there, and the mission was all that mattered.

"Seems we've been set up," he says, leaning a little on Tigro as he catches his breath. A little more loudly and bravely, he adds, "Now is that idiot in the metal suit gonna hide in the principal's office all day, or is he man enough to show himself?"

When Polaris landed, the fight with the demons was ended. Unfortunately, an even worse battle brewed, as Iron Man demanded Captain America’s surrender. Sally watched the tensions simmering between the former friends, threatening to boil over into new violence. She’d seen similar conflicts over the War back home between the “Hawks” who supported America’s intervention in Vietnam, and the “Doves” who opposed the War.

The powers and abilities of these factions held a potential for even greater volatility than the Anti-War protests. Sally stepped toward Steve, hands raised halfway in a calming gesture. “Hey, Cap. Iron Man deals in technology, not Magic, remember? Like, why would he summon demons to get your attention?”

Sally then looked at Iron Man. “Hey, Iron Man. I’m new to New York, but I’ve learned what set all this off with the Registration and opposition. Stamford was awful, NOBODY disagrees with you about that. I’m with you, like, a hundred percent that we super-types should use our gifts responsibly. I get it, man.

But is this the way? Turning America into a Super-Police State? Employing hardened criminals to beat on your friends? You’re scared of the direction the world is going in, and you have every right to be! But is this really the way? Can’t we all just calm down and talk this out?”
This message was last edited by the player at 18:08, Mon 30 Aug 2021.

"My fault Alexei, just thought you'd be taller.  Maybe you and Scorpy need to work on how to greet your allies. 'Pull their legs off?'  Really?  I've never even met that dude."

Great group Pete is working with here.   At least Wade got the guy with the poorly controlled symbiote out of the way.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 18:13, Mon 30 Aug 2021.

"I don't know his problem today. We are on same side. I do not think alien goo monster is... good look for him." Alexei pauses. "I think we are on same side. Your friends come here with Captain America... it is our job to arrest Captain America."

Iron Man addresses Polaris: "Look, there has to be a better way, there has to be, but we can't sit down and talk like responsible adults while persons of mass destruction... good people, like Steve and Jen, are using their powers to declare themselves above the law. Every path to fixing this situation starts with Steve and his followers laying down arms and turning themselves in."

"Lorna... a lot's changed since you left. If you and Alex are back on Earth, you need to touch base with Scott before you get Utopia embroiled in a war he's put a lot of effort into keeping it out of."

He looks around. "Jen, Danny... what are you even doing here? You're trying to fight this the legal way, the right way... and you're going to throw that away right now?"

“I’m not Lorna,” Polaris said, getting exhausted with people confusing her for that other Polaris. “I thought the Black hair would have been your first clue. I’m also not part of Utopia, although it sounds groovy. I’m a Neutral party in your little Superhero Civil War, one who’s just trying to talk some sense into you people!” Sally looked pointedly at both Cap & Tony.

“You keep talking about ‘The Law’. Has the Law always gotten it right? I mean, once upon a time, the Law said people who looked like you could own Black people. There was a Civil War fought over THAT law! What about Jim Crow and Segregation, or women not being allowed to vote, or the laws that made it okay to slaughter the American Indians? Does the Law always get it right?”

"We came here to help innocent people, " Danny retorts. "Or did you already forget about that little ruse of yours? And really, inter-dimensional demons? A killer robot or two would have been more your style, Tony."

"Maybe we fight demons now, argue law later?" Alexei asked nobody in particular. Talks of law made his head hurt, but demons he understood. They were big, mean, ugly, and needed to be smashed. Alexei was good at smashing. "Law not important if all are dead."

"Not Jen, HULK."  The Hulk yells at Iron Man.

Her normal voice is pretty loud.  Her yell?  It's best to have ear protection.

"SHIELD asked me to come, stop incursion.  You trying to trick me?"

Growing worried with each tense exchange, Polaris sent a message over the Tallus. They’re not listening! Everyone’s freaked out and itching for a fight. Sue, if you hear me, we need you here.

Gwen pulls at Harry's arm.  "Harry, is that the Goblin girl?"  She points to She-Hulk.  She is the only green one in the square.  "The one that did that to the Scorpion.  She's pulling in my head.

Please don't freak out, about the spiders."

The eyes on her mask blink.

"What 'goblin girl'? The only goblins I know about are me and my father and... oh." He tugs on Peter's sleeve and whispers something in his ear. If Harry even notices the spiders crawling across his ruined three-piece suit, he pays them no mind.

Peter leans uncomfortably close to Gwen to cover his intense scrutiny of the crowd. He whispers, "The X-Men fought a Goblin Queen once, a long time ago. She stole Scott and Jean's newborn son and summoned an army of demons to cover her escape. Harry and I have never dealt with her personally... but we have some enemies in common. Like the archdemon these goons belonged to. Keep your eyes peeled for an evil redhead who didn't know if she was supposed to dress up for a 'D&D dungeon' or a 'sex dungeon'."

Gwen thinks she might have spotted her-- though she's wearing a very sensible green hoodie, with the hood pulled up over her fire-engine red hair. She can feel the pull radiating from her, and her stare

So can Eddie. His symbiote is visibly disturbed, though clearly not to the same degree Mac's was.

*I'm here!* Susan told Sally through the Tallus, coming to a stop some distance off, and parking the motorcycle.

And then she was running toward the gathering.    Part of her was madly relieved there was no demon horde left to contest with.

And, another part thought this situation worse.  At least, with the demon horde, there were clear cut bad guys.   Yet maybe something could be done with that -- given that there weren't really any bad guys.

She approached the others, standing near Sally and addressing Stark.   It was time for blunt honesty:

"Listen man, and really dig this!  I'm not the Sue Richards you know.  Just like these others," she swept the group with a gesture, "are not the people you know.  We've been pulled out of disparate realities, to try and prevent a full out calamity here!   To prevent unnecessary tragedy!  Say 'hi' to Mr. Stark, Tallus!" Sue held up the Tallus, so it could do so.  "Tell him you're the Encyclopedia Britannica of the Multiverse!"

"You know Mr. Stark, where I come from, your father Howard is the president of the USA.   And a pretty darn good one, all things considered.   Do you know what he's known for, among other things?   Instituting the Forum Harmonious. Where members of the Democratic and Republican national committees are obliged to meet every month, and discuss only those things they can agree on.   And, you'd be amazed how much more effective that is, than bickering over petty differences." 

Sue added:   "You know, in my world, you're a hero called the Iron Thing. To the eye, no longer flesh and blood, no longer human. But, your heart is entirely human;  in a way it never was, while you were an egotistical, un-empathetic  jetsetter, known for never wanting to listen to anybody," she nodded. "You had to learn some things the hard way, in my world, alright.  Things you could learn much easier, right here and now -- if you'd only listen."   
This message was last edited by the player at 00:16, Wed 01 Sept 2021.

Gwen doesn't know who any of those people are.  Maybe she heard Sally mention the X-men.  But it doesn't really matter.  She whispers back.  "So, kinda like MJ in the movie we watched last night."  As Sue gives her speech, she adds "That's not Doctor Doom.  Totally different Sue Storm.

She's over there in the green hoodie.  Really need her to stop what she's doing, keeps pulling me towards her.

It soon becomes more apparent what 'don't freak out about the spiders' meant, or the fact that cloth masks don't typically blink as Gwen's costume starts shifting, with a swarm of tiny spiders crawling around for every change while her appearance slowly moves to one that Venom is most comfortable with.  Black leather with protruding spikes on the hood and the shoulders, plus a rather disturbing tongue


"I thought you'd freak out about the symbiote, sorry I didn't say anything.
She set a trap for you... you heard what Scorpion said."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:02, Wed 01 Sept 2021.

The Tallus is... less helpful than Sue had hoped, merely chirping despondently.

Iron Man takes his helmet off to address Sally and Sue personally.

"I don't want to be here anymore than you do, fighting my friends. I know Steve and Luke don't want to fight me. But if it's not here and now, it's going be soon. I have to answer to SHIELD now... to the American public who have demanded that we no longer flout the rule of law and use our powers without accountability." He pauses and confirms something with Bullseye. "There's going to be a Hell of a mess to clean up here. And if this wasn't the calamity your... Tallus is warning you about, I can tell SHIELD and I can tell the Daily Bugle that wanted fugitive Steve Rogers helped stop the literal forces of Hell from invading Manhattan and slipped away in the chaos afterwards."

He frowns.

"Once. I can tell them that once, and then the next time I see him, he either comes in quietly-- like I'm begging him to do now-- or I'm going to have to throw absolutely everything I have at him to bring him in because if I don't... next time you'll be having this conversation with Norman Osborn."


"We've got a minute. As long as nobody tries to leave, we can talk for--" he stops mid-sentence and points at Gwen, "-- hey, is your friend okay? She doesn't look okay."

In reply to Timebroker (msg # 23):


"You sure we're not already talking to him?" Danny snorts. He nods his head toward Bullseye. "Turning a psychotic killer like him into one of your lackeys... That's a move straight out of the supervillain playbook, Iron Man."

Danny didn't mean to escalate, especially with the girls doing their best to talk things out. But even a zen practitioner had his limits, and being thrust into this strange upside-down world had him as on edge as ever. He glanced over at Wade and Tigro to try and get a read on what they were thinking.

Bullseye takes the bait, ignoring Iron Man and Spider-Woman. "Hey, asshole, I might be a total psycho and a cold-blooded killer, but I am nobody's lackey. This is me going straight. I'm going to be a superhero. Hell, I'm gonna be an Avenger."

This, at least, gets Tony's attention. His helmet falls from nerveless fingers as he turns to Bullseye in horror. At the same time, you hear a metallic clatter as Captain America's shield hits the pavement.

"You're going to be a what? Over my dead body."

At least they can agree on something today.

Bullseye takes 1d6 Emotional Stress and I'm adding 1d6 to the Doom Pool.

Did you want to roll that as an attack on Stark? Promise, that won't increase the Doom Pool.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:36, Wed 01 Sept 2021.

"What did I miss?" Funnybone came roaring up on his hell-cycle, confused at what he was seeing. "Don't tell me all you've been doing is talking? What happened to all the punching and eye-gouging?"

He looked around, mostly at the crowd of onlookers.

"Goblin. Girl." He said this angrily, and the fires of hell could be heard crackling in his voice. "Why has nobody done anything about the goblin girl?"

Sure, I'll roll that as an emotional attack on Tony.

Living Weapon d8
Freedom d10
Psych Expert 2d6

06:38, Today: Iron Fist rolled 5,10,5,4 using 1d8,1d10,1d6,1d6.  Danny shaming Iron Man for recruiting Bullseye to his cause.

Total: 15
Effect: d8
Opps: 0
PP's: 1

"One big happy family, huh?" Danny says. "Sure, let's talk it out, go for a little stroll... maybe have a picnic in one of the graveyards he's filled?"

Having made his point, Danny watches Stark's reaction as he allows the weight of his words to sink in. Bullseye wasn't just any random mercenary who killed for money, he was the kind who'd talk your ear off about how much he enjoyed it. He'd hurt people Danny cared about, so for the Iron Fist, this was about as personal as it got. He might be forgiven if he was starting to forget the bigger picture of why the eXiles were here.

Edit: Added some dialogue and changed past/present tense.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:59, Wed 01 Sept 2021.

08:39, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Tony Stark, rolled 7,6 using 1d8,1d8, unique dice ((7,6)).

13/d8. Tony takes d8 Emotional Stress.

"When half the superheroes in New York swap out their regular masks for Guy Fawkes, someone has to be the adult in the room. The rest of us don't have vacation homes in Kung Fu Neverland to ride this out in; we still have work to do, and I'd rather help a killer like Bullseye pay his debt to society than feel better about myself for letting him dig it deeper."

Tony retaliates. He doesn't have much to work with here, but I figure K'un Lun Exile is a nice bleeding wound... even if he doesn't realize how much bloodier it is, compared to his Danny.

08:58, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Tony Stark, rolled 2,5,1 using 1d8,1d8,1d8, unique dice ((2,5,1)).

That's a 7/d4.

Susan glanced apprehensively at Gwen's transformation, but nodded as reassuringly as she could "Yes, she's okay.  They're friendly.  Mostly.  Depends on how you feed them, I understand."   

She didn't know Bullseye from Bullspucky, but he must be serious low life for Cap to react that way...

She spread her hands, "Please, let's put all the grievances of the past...pasts, I should say, aside, right?  All of that stuff can be reckoned later," she looked to Danny.  "And thank you, Mr. Stark.  Chaos and conflict between two sides is often manufactured.  In a way that serves a third, non-apparent party.   I'd lay my last penny someone is watching all this, feeling smug, and laughing.  So what about SHIELD?  Where I come from, organizations like that sometimes get infiltrated, and become vehicles for something else.  I spoke with the Reed Richards of your world, and he told me his wife, the Sue of this world, could probably get inside info about SHIELD if I had suspicions about their motives.   How about that?  How about if I - or someone - goes and speaks with her?"   
This message was last edited by the player at 15:45, Wed 01 Sept 2021.

"I'm fine.  Goblin Queen.  Green hoodie."

Huh, she kinda looks like a budget Dr. Doom dressed like that.  "She wants a symbiote, didn't know there were three here."

Sue was talking, and yet somehow Funnybone was the one who was invisible. Had she completely ignored his warnings? Seemed like it. It also seemed like the goblin girl was the third party she was so blindly yapping about.

"We're going to have to revisit the question of who's in charge around here," he muttered. "Because this is ridiculous, even by my standards."

Well, if the Goblin was hiding in the crowd, then the best way to flush her out would be to get rid of the crowd. Funnybone turned to face the throngs of onlookers, and unleashed a burst of hellfire. It wasn't enough to roast anyone — or even reach the crowd — but it would scare the crap out of them.


Emotional Attack on crowd

Duty d8
Spirit of Vengeance d8
Hellfire blast d10
SFX: Area Attack -- Add a d6 and keep one additional effect die for each extra target.
(I'll add additional dice if directed to by Timebroker.)
Menace Grandmaster d12

Funnybone rolled 2,1,3,4,5 using d8,d8,d10,d6,d12 ((2,1,3,4,5)).

Total: 9
Effect: d10, d8
+1 Opportunity

Man, that was a shitty roll.

Iron Fist reacts to Iron Man's emotional attack.

K'un-Lun Exile d4 (Tony hit a nerve)
Violence d4 (Remembering his bloody past)

I'll leave out Psych Expert, with Danny caught off-guard by the K'un-Lun jab.

09:26, Today: Iron Fist rolled 4,4 using 1d4,1d4.  Danny reacts to Tony's verbal jab.

Total: 8
Effect: d4 (default)
Opps: 0
PP's: 2

Anger flares up in Danny's gut. If Tony only knew what he was saying, he wouldn't have said it. But that was just it-- he didn't know what Danny, or any of them, had been through in their time. Not really. Maybe, if things calmed down-- and the murdering psychopaths left the scene-- the heroes could all get on the same page. Sue's entreaty already has Danny feeling guilty for his outburst-- damn, if that motherly shtick of hers wasn't effective at keeping them all in line.

"This is the only family-- the only home-- I've got left," replies the Fist, gesturing to his friends. "So I'll listen to what they think is best-- not you, not SHIELD, or any of these jackbooted thugs working for you."

"But I'm telling you right now," he continues. "Some people may change--" He jabs a finger at Bullseye. "Not him. This is reckless, Tony, even for you."

Funnybone, take the Plot Point for the Opportunity; I'm stepping the d8 in the DOOM POOL up to d10. I'm not going to oppose your check, so you and Gwen have "Element of Surprise" d8 for the first panel only.

Gwen goes first, because you set her up-- for the first panel, it's you, her, and Madelyne. Starting with the next panel, everyone's in the mix.

The crowd, just starting to feel safe again, scatters before Funnybone's display of hellish might, leaving Madelyne Pryor, the Goblin Queen exposed and unprepared. She barely has time to levitate and catch fire before Gwen seizes the initiative.

NEXT: Spider-Woman

ACTIONS REMAINING:
Funnybone
Goblin Queen

Gwen uses a webline to swing in and tackle the Goblin Queen as she rises into the air.  Maybe jumped a little too early, as she catches on fire while Gwen is in midair.

That makes things more complicated when Gwen crashes into her.

Home d6 (protecting Peter and her symbiote), Rushing the Beat (d4 - should have checked about the fire), swingline d8, acrobatics d12, sfx Whatever a Spider Can - add D6 when using acrobatics

14:10, Today: Spider-Woman rolled 2,3,1,12,2 using d8,d4,d8,d12,d6.  home, rushing (d4), swingline, acrobatics,sfx: WaSC.
14:49, Today: Spider-Woman rolled 4 using 1d8.  element of surprise.

Total: 16
Effect: d6,d8(spending PP from Distinction for additional effect die)
Opps: 1
PP: 3
edit: adding element of surprise d8


Next up: Funnybone

Remaining:  Funnybone, Goblin Queen
This message was last edited by the player at 19:19, Wed 01 Sept 2021.

Tires squealed on asphalt, unleashing a cloud of foul-smelling smoke as the hell-cycle leaped forward. Funnybone cackled with manic delight, and as he streaked past the floating, fiery redhead, he aimed a punch right at her midsection. It was an extremely basic sort of attack, and hardly worthy of the Spirit of Vengeance. He could chill the Goblin Queen to her very soul, or burn her to the bone... but sometimes a guy just feels like punching something.

This was one of those times.


Violence d10
Spirit of Vengeance d4 (+1PP)
Superhuman Strength d10
Superhuman Speed d10
Combat Master d10

Funnybone rolled 9,3,9,10,3 using d10,d4,d10,d10,d10 ((9,3,9,10,3)).

Total: 19
Effect: d10
Opps: 0
+1 PP (3 Total)

I also forgot to use "Element of Surprise" in my dice pool, but it literally cannot help me to roll a d8 after the roll I just had. I'll just let it go.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:38, Wed 01 Sept 2021.

18:17, Yesterday: Timebroker, for the NPC Madelyne, rolled 8,9,5,3,9,2 using 1d10,1d10,1d10,1d8,1d10,1d8, unique dice.  Solo, Hell Hath No Fury, Force Field, Combat Expert. – 8,9,5,3,9,2

18:18, Yesterday: Timebroker, for the NPC Madelyne, rolled 2,7,9,7,8,2 using 1d10,1d10,1d10,1d8,1d10,1d8, unique dice.  Solo, Hell Hath No Fury, Force Field, Combat Expert. – 2,7,9,7,8,2

The Goblin Queen deflects Spider-Woman gracefully, almost gently, to sail past her. She turns back to Funnybone...

Funnybone feels the bone-crushing impact of his hellish strength against, and then through, an omega-level mutant's telekinetic forcefield and into her soft mortal flesh. She doubles over his fist, but recovers quickly-- shoving herself backward and away from him.

"My quarrel isn't with you, Rider. My cause is righteous, and my enemies are your enemies. Would anyone have prayed for vengeance for poor, old MacDonald Gargan? Would their bitter tears have cooled the fires of Hell for even a moment? Would anyone have cursed my name for taking his Carnage far, far away from anyone who didn't deserve it? We could have been allies."

"What happens next is on your head, now."

She stretches out her hand, ringed with eldritch energy. "Sorry, Eddie. This isn't how I wanted it to go."

Eddie Brock and Venom scream in unison, and then dozens of symbiote tendrils shoot out from them, encompassing innocent bystanders... and Madelyne. Her delicate features are replaced by the toothy maw of the klyntar; her pale white flesh is replaced by the oily black sheen of Venom, and her flame-red hair lengthens and begins writhing autonomously.

TOP OF ROUND

The dozens of symbiote-puppets swarm against any and everyone they can reach:

18:28, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Symbiote Swarm, rolled 4,5,7,5,3,4,4,6,5,6, 5,3,6 using 1d8,1d8,1d8,1d8,1d8,1d8,1d6,1d6,1d6,1d6,1d6,1d6,1d6, unique dice ((4,5,7,5,3,4,4,6,5,6, 5,3,6)).

Spending 1d6 from the DOOM POOL to keep a third Effort die: 19

d8 to Spider-Man, d8 to Green Goblin, d8 to Iron Man, d8 to Captain America, d6 to Bullseye, d6 to Hulk, d6 to Iron Fist

REACTIONS NEEDED: Hulk, Iron Fist

18:34, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Iron Man, rolled 7,7,1,4 using 1d8,1d8,1d10,1d10, unique dice.  Team, Cutting Edge Tech, Reflexes, Durability. – 7,7,1,4

14/1d10. That's stepped up to d10 for low Effort, stepped back to d8 for matching the Effect. d8 Physical Stress.


Iron Man goes down under the press of the symbiote swarm. Before they cover his armor completely, he calls out: "Thunderbolts! Coordinate with Captain America's people and take her down! Remember, there are innocent civilians under those slimes. No casualties."

18:39, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Capain America, rolled 2,1,6,12,4 using 1d8,1d8,1d8,1d12,1d10, unique dice ((2,1,6,12,4)).

Effort 18, Effect d10. Captain America takes d6 Stress.

"Heavy hitters, fliers, focus on the sorceress! Everyone else, crowd control! Someone tell Kraven we need paralytic gas, wide coverage, don't worry about friendly fire!"

18:45, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Bullseye, rolled 1,4,1,5 using 1d4,1d4,1d8,1d10, unique dice.  Team, Cold-Blooded Assassin, Weapon, Combat. – 1,4,1,5

That's 9/d4. And I get my d6 back. Bullseye takes d12 Physical Stress-- he's in serious trouble. Don't everyone start weeping all at once.


Bullseye curses bitterly, but is clearly pulling his punches against the symbiote-covered-civilians, even as he is overwhelmed.

Peter and Harry fight back-to-back, as they have so many times before.

18:50, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Spider-Man, rolled 8,7,8,3 using 1d8,1d8,1d10,1d12, unique dice.  Team, Friendly Neighboorhood Spider-Man, Reflexes, Acrobatics. – 8,7,8,3 16/d12. Spider-Man takes d6 Physical. (That should read "Buddy".)

18:53, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Green Goblin, rolled 1,4,1,3,5 using 1d8,1d8,1d8,1d10,1d8, unique dice.  Buddy, Complicated Friendships, Reflexes, Durability, Combat. – 1,4,1,3,5 That's 9/d10. Green Goblin takes a d10 Stress. Harry's in trouble, too.

Green Goblin summons his Goblin Glider to him, and pulls himself and Spider-Man out of reach of the swarm, setting Spider-Man up to start laying down a heavy layer of suppressive webbing.

18:58, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Green Goblin, rolled 5,4,6,3,6 using 1d8,1d8,1d8,1d8,1d8, unique dice ((5,4,6,3,6)). 12/d8.

19:02, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC DOOM POOL, rolled 5,2,3,3,5,3 using 1d10,1d10,1d6,1d6,1d6,1d6, unique dice ((5,2,3,3,5,3)). That's 10/d10.

<orange>19:00, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Spider-Man, rolled 1,1,8,2,7,8,6 using 1d8,1d8,1d10,1d8,1d8,1d8,1d6, unique dice ((1,1,8,2,7,8,6)). 16/d8.

19:02, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC DOOM POOL, rolled 5,2,3,3,5,3 using 1d10,1d10,1d6,1d6,1d6,1d6, unique dice ((5,2,3,3,5,3)). Not even close.

Spider-Man manages to web down a number of the infected bystanders, who are neither as strong nor as cunning as the real Venom. Team 4d8.

That's Maddie's action at the bottom of the panel, she nominates the Swarm, then Peter and Harry.

ACTIONS AVAILABLE: Spider-Woman, Funnybone, Iron Fist, Polaris, Tigro; Capain America, Luke Cage, Frank Castle; Iron Man, Bullseye, Kraven, The Rhino, Moonstone; The Hulk; Madelyne Pryor.

NEXT: Any Hero.

REACTIONS NEEDED: Hulk, Iron Fist; The symbiote swarm are attacking you with 19/d8.

In reply to Timebroker (msg # 36):

Quietly Tigro whispers "Time for this slacker to pay his dues."He says to himself as he begins scampering up the nearest tall thing he can reach, aiming to launch himself at the toxic center of the web. "I really hate fighting women...but for you, I'll make an exception, can't fight on your own? Have you to use your victims instead? How downright cowardly." The last word comes out as a growl as he leaps towards her claws and teeth bared ready for a fight, but aimed to dispirit as he carefully aims to strike with elegance at the symbiote to cut their link, rather than wound her!


Mystical Legend D10
Glory: My spirit yearns for flair and finesse against the brutal beastliness D10 stepped down to d8 for a +1d6 stress
FX: Claws and Fangs: Stepdown highest  die in attack pool, to add D6 to physical stress inflicted
Superhuman Reflexes D10 to react faster than she can blink
Combat Expert D8
Extra D6 from Claws and Fangs
Results:
02:30, Today: Tigro rolled 1,9,3,3,1 using d8,d10,d10,d6, d8  9 for Effort, 1 and 3 for Effect (1d8 and 1d10)

Susan next.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:16, Fri 03 Sept 2021.

01:45, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Goblin Queen, rolled 7,5,1,6,6,7 using 1d10,1d10,1d8,1d10,1d8,1d8, unique dice ((7,5,1,6,6,7)).

14/d10. Also, an Opportunity for Tigro or anyone else who wants to take it.

"Really, now?" The Goblin Queen floats out of reach. "I'm just evening up the odds. Avengers, Thunderbolts... whoever your friends are, I haven't had this many superheroes trying to kill me since my divorce. Have you met my ex, yet? Glorious Leader of All Mutantkind? I'm sure he'd love your sense of chivalry."

"Look... I already got what I came here for, and the Son of Osborn and his Amazing Spider-Friends kept the casualties down to a minimum. Let's just all take the win, huh? The enemies of my enemies can be my friends today. Give me a few seconds to draw some circles on the sidewalk, I'll go take Utopia off the board... and both sides of your silly little 'Civil War' can deny they're grateful for it."

REACTIONS NEEDED: Hulk, Iron Fist; The symbiote swarm are attacking you with 19/d8.

Susan was sharply jarred from one perspective to another --

One moment she was having a very human dialog, with a man she knew was a hero, irregardless that he'd bought into certain ideas and precepts in his striving his to do the right thing.

And then the next they were invaded. It was an incursion in terms of what that meant in her head.    Of the sort that had decimated the place she grew up in; ended the lives of her biological parents, and many others.

Worse, it made use of innocent bystanders as the vehicle.  And that she could not abide --  she acted not in anger or outrage, ultimately, but in caring and compassion.

Her team had a number of heavy hitters, as Cap had put it -- and so she focused on the invasion part of the problem, in a way that would also protect the horde's hosts.   Invisible force sprang suddenly into existence --  curtailing, corralling, and protecting all at once --

Unseen rolled 8,7,8,8,6,3 using d12,d10,d8,d8,d6,d6.  Force field dice pool.
Force field (Godlike Endurance) + Safety + Scars of the past + Cosmic expert + Nature
Unseen rolled 1,3,2 using d6,d6,d6. for Area effect
Spending a PP to add third die to the total (8+8+8)

Total = 24; Effect dice = D10, D6, D6 ::  Attempting to force-field confine as many symbiote affected bystanders as possible.   Complication:  Trapped in force field.

1 opportunity for the DP

Polaris up next.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:36, Sun 05 Sept 2021.

Danny watches helplessly as the Goblin Queen gets her hooks into so many of the innocent bystanders. Turning them into soldiers against their will-- that was maybe the most evil thing he'd witnessed all day. Iron Man might be a jackass, and Bullseye was a scumbag, but this lady just took home the "Villain of the Week" award. They had to put her down-- quickly and decisively. But first, that meant surviving the onslaught of symbiote-ridden civilians. The Iron Fist remembers his training, weaving and dodging out of the reach of his enemies.

Living Weapon d8
Freedom d10 (I won't let them take me!)
Enhanced Reflexes d8
Acrobatic Master 2d8

13:24, Today: Iron Fist rolled 2,1,5,7,5 using 1d8,1d10,1d8,1d8,1d8.  Iron Fist uses acrobatics to avoid the attacks of the symbiote'd civilians.

Total: 17
Effect: d8
Opportunities: 1
PP's: 1

Spent 1 PP to add a 3rd die to the total. Still, Iron Fist takes d8 Physical Stress.

As several of the enemy's attacks find their mark, the voice of Lei Kung the Thunderer fills the warrior's mind, shouting at the Fist to strike back. But these are only innocent civilians, not enemies to be struck down in cold blood. Besides, those symbiotes leave him no openings to exploit, no opportunities to take advantage of. No, he has to cut off their power at the source...

I'll post Danny's action shortly. It will be a joint attack with Frank.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:19, Mon 06 Sept 2021.

"Frank! I need you to distract her," shouts Danny, spotting the Punisher nearby as he flips and maneuvers around the lashing tentacles. "I'm gonna take her out."

"Won't work," comes the vigilante's dry response, delivered as he sweeps the legs of a symbiote. "Your friend already tried punching her."

Danny gives his ally a surprised look as he shoves away an attacker. "Who said anything about punching?"

That seems to get Frank's attention. "Alright, you crazy kung-fu bastard. This better be good." He moves into their enemy's line of sight, popping off a few pistol shots that bounce harmlessly off the Queen's force-bubble.

"Trick-or-treat, you ugly @#$&%!"

If that didn't get her attention, nothing would. Hoping Frank was the subject of her focus now, Danny moved into position behind the villainess. He didn't know how that protective field of hers worked, but he was willing to chance it was strongest when hit directly from the front... and weakest when hit from a direction she wasn't concentrating on. A simple theory, and one he could easily put to the test.

Danny concentrates, summoning golden Chi into the palm of his hand. He narrows his eyes, focuses on his target... and then pulls the trigger of his handgun.

A Colt M1911, to be exact.

Living Weapon d8
Freedom d10 (Let them go, you freak)
Guns d10
Combat Master 2d8
Punisher's Weapon d8

SFX: Chi Bullets. Against a single target, step up or double a Guns die. Remove the highest rolling die and use three dice for your total, then shut down Guns. Activate an opportunity to recover the power.

14:44, Today: Iron Fist rolled 3,7,6,8,6,4 using 1d8,1d10,1d10,1d8,1d8,1d8.  Iron Fist shoots Chi bullets at the Goblin Queen.

Total: 19
Effect: d8
Opportunities: 0
PP's: 1

Glowing, Chi-enhanced bullets streak from the barrel, each one packing the concussive force of an Iron Fist punch. This ought to rattle her up a bit, Danny smirks as he slings lead.

Sally already felt anxious about her group landing in the middle of a “civil war” between Captain America and Iron Man. She’d appealed to Stark’s better nature, maybe only buying a few minutes for peaceful discussion. Then, a woman identified as the “Goblin Queen” escalated the conflict. Unless it was Wade who’d escalated it by hitting first? Sally couldn’t tell in all the chaos.

She felt relieved when Sue showed up, smiling in gratitude to see her new friend. However, the Goblin Queen turned innocent bystanders into alien tarbaby menaces. Then, the maniacal woman threatened to obliterate Utopia and all this world's mutants. Utopia? She intends to kill the Brotherhood, the X-Men…and Alex!

Suddenly, Sally felt her ears throbbing from a tumultuous mess of anxiety and rage. She clenched her fists and stepped toward Madelyne Pryor. “So, you’re, like, the ‘Goblin Queen’, huh?” Sally’s lips curled up in a mocking sneer. The peace-loving Flower Child was gone, replaced by Polaris, Mistress of Magnetism, intent on fighting for her people and her man! “Are you any relation to the Lizard King?” She shrugged. “I just thought I’d ask, what with your whole ‘No one here gets out alive’ trip!”

On the street, a Brinks armored truck lifted off the pavement. The truck hurtled toward Goblin Queen, magnetically deconstructing itself and reshaping into a fist that grasped at the madwoman who’d tried to summon Hell! “You won’t kill anyone today, you whacked out witch!” Maybe she couldn’t save her own Alex yet, but by God, she’d save the Alex of this world!

OOC:

Duty 1d10 + Loving & Kind/Cold & Aggressive 1d4 (+1 PP) + Magnetic Mastery 1d10 + Tech Expert 1d8.
I’m also using SFX: Magnetic ConstructsM adding a d6 and stepping it up to 1d8 to create a Magnetic Construct (Armored Hand) to grab Goblin Queen.

19:51, Today: Polaris rolled 5* using 1d8.  Reroll d6 (it’s a stepped up d8).
19:50, Today: Polaris rolled 2,1,3*,7 using 1d10,1d4,1d10,1d6, 1d8* Magnetically grab Maddy w/a Construct.

Total: 15 (using 1 PP for extra Die).
*Dice used for my Total.
Effect: d10 (I used the 2nd one that rolled 7 for my Total).
Opportunity: 1

 

18:35, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Goblin Queen, rolled 3,2,3,5,4 using 1d10,1d10,1d8,1d10,1d8, unique dice.  Solo 2d10, Goblin Queen, Force Field, Durability, Combat. – 3,2,3,5,4

Danny knocks a d10 off of her Solo rating.

The Goblin Queen smirks at Frank's distraction, taking a moment to appreciate the sparks as his bullets ricochet harmless off her force field. Danny's barrage of glowing magical bullets wipe the smirk off of her face, tearing through her symbiotic biomass with wet splorching sounds.

She glares at Danny with pure hatred in her eyes, but Polaris is on her before she can react.

18:43, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Goblin Queen, rolled 6,8,9,3,3 using 1d10,1d8,1d10,1d10,1d10, unique dice ((6,8,9,3,3)).

17.

With a panicked gasp, Madelyne throws up her hands in a warding gesture, tracing an arcane sigil before her. Polaris' ferromagnetic tomb closes around empty air.

The Goblin Queen shrieks in fury... and everyone feels her barbed thoughts clawing into their minds.

19:07, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Goblin Queen, rolled 4,9,2,4,2,2,4,6,4,2 using 1d8,1d10,1d10,1d10,1d6,1d6,1d6,1d6,1d6,1d6, unique dice ((4,9,2,4,2,2,4,6,4,2)).

15. Spending d6 from the Doom Pool to grab another d6 for 19. Danny, Polaris and Funnybone get d10s, Gwen gets a d8, Frank and the Rhino get d6s.

That's five Opportunities for anyone who wants them.

REACTIONS NEEDED: Danny, Polaris, and Funnybone 19/d10, Gwen 19/d8, Frank and the Rhino 19/d6.

The symbiote swarm screams in singular agony as the splinters of the Venom symbiote withdraw from their hosts and rejoin the Goblin Queen; the innocent civilians are left catatonic or comatose, but appear to be in no further danger for now.

I'm dissolving the Swarm to restore a Solo die for Madelyne. 2d10; would've been 3d10 if someone hadn't trapped the majority of the symbiotes inside forcefields. Unless I keep spamming that attack, your advantage in the action economy and her dwindling resources means you have her on the ropes.

NEXT: Tony Stark

Iron Man's armor starts making a weird humming noise-- some sort of anti-psionic gear?-- moments too late; he's bleeding from the ears and nostrils when his helmet reattachest to his armor. He doesn't take the time to switch off his PA system before shouting into his comms: "REED! THUNDERBOLT IS LIVE! GO! GO! GO!"

Moments later, the sky darkens and stormclouds start brewing over Manhattan.

REACTIONS NEEDED: The Goblin Queen's telepathic attack: Danny, Polaris, and Funnybone 19/d10, Gwen 19/d8, Frank and the Rhino 19/d6.


ACTIONS AVAILABLE: Spider-Woman, Funnybone; Capain America, Luke Cage; Bullseye, Kraven, The Rhino, Moonstone; The Hulk.

NEXT: Any PC
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:36, Tue 07 Sept 2021.

Reaction:
09:05, Today: Spider-Woman rolled <b>5,1,8,2,2,7 using d8,d8,d8,d6,d8,d8.  safety, rushing, reflexes+durability multipower, sci expert, push die.
Spend 1PP to add extra effort die for effort 20/effect d8
1 watcher opportunity

Gwen covers her hears quickly, because even though the sound is coming from inside her head, it feels right and lets her brace for it.  It's no louder than a concert if you think about it.  Wow, this bitch is really full of hate... that's not a good sign with the symbiote.  You get what you put in.

Her head hurts but she's actually used to this from the early days with the symbiote.  She'll deal.

PP: 1
This message was last edited by the player at 13:24, Tue 07 Sept 2021.

The Goblin Queen was going to use hate and rage as an attack? Against Funnybone? That was an insult which would not stand. The flaming skull head gritted its teeth and fought back, hard.

Funnybone vs. 19/d10

Violence d10
Spirit of Vengeance d8
Mystic Resistance d8
Menace Grandmaster d12

Funnybone rolled 5,8,6,1 using d10,d8,d8,d12 ((5,8,6,1)).
Using 1PP to keep a third die in total.

Total: 19
1 Opportunity

It was a tough fight, but Funnybone matched the Goblin Queen terror for terror, rage for rage.

"Guh. Get out of my head!"

The Rhino wasn't exactly known for his mental faculties, but he had a will of iron... mostly from being too dumb to take commands. Even so, would it be enough against the Goblin Queen?

Rhino vs. 19/d6

Team D8
Not the Sharpest Knife d8
Menace Expert D8

The Rhino rolled 5,2,4 using d8,d8,d8 ((5,2,4)).
Total: 9
Effect die: d8

Iron will or not, the contest wasn't even close.

Everyone else is attacking the evil witch directly and Gwen just sort of swung past her.  At least two people over there are on fire and... no thanks.  Gwen has another idea that requires surprisingly little punching.  She looks to the spot where Eddie screamed out.

He's not hard to find, there's only one completely naked dude in the square, (today) and he's curled into a ball, crying.

"Hey.  You're Eddie, right?"   The mask over her face disappears, leaving Gwen's face visible inside the "mouth" of the symbiote's preferred appearance.  This is probably more creepy looking to almost everyone, but Eddie might get it.  It at least stops her voice from echoing.
 "I know your sister, kinda.  Anyway, you're like me.  That symbiote is bonded with you, and Rumpelstiltskin over there is hurting people with it.  Fight her.  Take it back."


Shutting down Gwen's shapeshifting - the symbiote has shifted on its own when seeing its alternate self.  +1 PP from that, which I'm using for an extra effort die.
14:16, Today: Spider-Woman rolled 10,2,2,5,3 using d10,d8,d8,d8,d6.  duty,smartass,enh senses,science expert, venom(relationship)
18/d8
Ideally I'd use this as a complication to shut down one of her Venom powers but I will leave it up to TB what's appropriate on a success.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:48, Tue 07 Sept 2021.

Kraven throws a series of carefully aimeed knives at the Goblin Queen from the dropship.  He seems thrilled to be


15:00, Today: Co-GM, for the NPC Kraven, rolled 2,6,5,1,1,4 using d6,d8,d8,d8,d8,d6 with rolls of 2,6,5,1,1,4.  team,grim hunter,enh speed,weapon,menace master, hunter's knives.
effort: 11 effect: d10 (stepped up from hunter's knives)
2 opps


REACTIONS NEEDED:
Swarm attack: Hulk 19/d8
The Goblin Queen's telepathic attack: Danny and Polaris 19/d10, Frank 19/d6.
Gwen's action: Goblin Queen or Doom pool, 18/d8
Kraven's attack: Goblin Queen 11/d10

ACTIONS AVAILABLE: Funnybone; Captain America, Luke Cage; Bullseye, The Rhino, Moonstone; The Hulk.

NEXT: Any NPC
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:30, Tue 07 Sept 2021.

The Rhino wasn't like other villains. He was pure muscle, and very little mouth. He didn't make speeches, threats, or quips. He just charged.

Team: d8
Gamma Radiated Thug for Hire: d8
Superhuman Strength: 2d10
SFX: Rhino's Rage. Spend D6 from the doom pool (or 1PP, I suppose?) to double Superhuman Strength for one action
Combat Expert: d8

The Rhino rolled 7,1,4,2,1 using d8,d8,d10,d10,d8 ((7,1,4,2,1)).

Total: 11
Effect: d10
Opps: 2

The shriek reverberating in Sally’s mind felt like the psychic equivalent of dragging knives across a steel pipe! Sally screamed as she doubled over and clutched her head. None of the things she’d ever experienced felt like the punishment unleashed on her mind in that moment. Not even the worst psychedelic trip and migraine combined came close. Even worse than the excruciating pain were the sheer malevolence that she sensed behind the attack.

Sorrow. Rage. Hate.

The Goblin Queen poured all the churning emotions of her grievances against whoever hurt her into an act of hatefulness that Sally couldn’t fathom. A hatefulness that she sensed would devour Alex. If Sally fell, she knew that she, her time lost friends, and mutants like Alex would die. I can’t…I can’t let her hurt them!

Sally fought to stand upright, and to resist the psychic onslaught. She shifted from her mundane senses into the special senses that let her see the world in magnetic waves. A learning moment from her first year with Magneto showed her a way out of this crippling bombardment. Sally remembered a weekend getaway where Magnus introduced her to a woman named Emma. An icy New England blonde who’d reminded her of a severe Tippi Hedren. The mind possesses natural defenses against telepathic invasion. In their customary laziness, Humans neglect developing these defenses, but Erik requested my tutelage in helping you cultivate this skill. Psychic defense may one day prove a pivotal difference between life and death for you.

In desperation, Sally hastily retraced the steps of that lesson in her mind. Envision a barrier…that blocks her psychic attack! I’ll make…electromagnetic static…surround my mind in it. Screen out…her nasty vibes!


OOC:

01:05, Today: Polaris rolled 10,8,7,6 using 1d10,1d8,1d10,1d8.  Reaction .

I’ll use one of the Opportunities to add 1 die to my pool.

Total: 24


 

"You have issues, your ladyship, deep, deep issues. I suggest we all de-escalate this!" He says as he tries to maneuver back to her to distract her. "Why not calm down and talk about this, like adults as a start!?"  He tries to gently reason with her, "Please?" Spending a plot point to activate my Immunity to Psychic SFX and trying to continue to convince her
This message was last edited by the player at 20:44, Wed 08 Sept 2021.

If he had eyes, Funnybone would have rolled them. Tigro wanted to talk in the middle of a battle? Who was the crazy one now? The Goblin Queen needed to be taken down, then maybe Tigro could have some tea and chat with her.

In the meantime, Funnybone was going to work. A blazing chain snaked out from his hand and with a whipping motion he struck at the Goblin Queen.

Violence: d10
Spirit of Vengeance: d8
Hellfire Blast: d10
Chains of Hell: d8
Create 'Grappled' Complication
SFX: Afflict/Grapple -- Add a d6 and step up your effect die by +1 when inflicting Grappled complication on a target.
Funnybone rolled 2,6,1,7,6 using d10,d8,d10,d8,d6 ((2,6,1,7,6)).
Spending 1PP to keep 3^rd die in total

Total: 19
Effect: (stepped up to) d12
Opps: 1

PP remaining: 1

Shutting down my Guns d8 from using the Chi Bullets SFX last turn.  GM edit: this round.

Danny feels the white-hot knife of the Goblin Queen's telepathic assault enter his mind. The sudden, sharp pain is enough to leave even a Living Weapon reeling. Welling up inside him is the urge to panic... to plead... to  do whatever it takes to make the pain stop. The screaming in his mind right now is sheer agony, and in this moment, it feels like the torture will never end.

Worse, he'd emptied the gun's entire magazine, and he was in no position to reload. With the Queen well out of his reach, there was no way of landing a hit on her that would stop her assault. The Iron Fist was, above all else, trained to be a master of his physical environment. Mental combat was not his forte. Still, he was not completely defenseless.

The voice of Lei Kung the Thunderer enters his mind again:
"Used properly, the mind is a sharper weapon than any blade."

He remembers the lessons well enough. Wu Fongji, an Iron Fist of the distant past, had left behind texts on the art of mental combat. Danny had not only studied the texts, but sought out opponents who could put the skills he'd learned to the test. Like it or not, the Goblin Queen would now be his final opponent.

Iron Fist breathes deeply to steel himself, letting his panic dissolve away. He focuses, and rather than swim against the strong current assailing him, he tunes it out completely, concentrating only on his breathing. With any luck, the Queen will exhaust herself before he cracks under the pressure.

K'un-Lun Exile d8
Duty d8 (My friends need me!)
Enhanced Stamina d8
Psych Expert 2d6

SFX: Chi Focus. In a pool including a HEART OF SHOU-LAO die, replace two dice of equal steps with one die of +1 step.

10:32, Today: Iron Fist rolled 2,4,6,6 using 1d8,1d10,1d6,1d6.  Danny attempting to resist the Queen's mental attack.

Total: 16
Effect: d8
Opps: 0
PP's: 0

Spent 1 PP to add a 3rd die to the total, yet Danny takes d10 Mental Stress.

As Danny tries to focus, a booming voice cuts through the mental screaming. This is not the kind mentor from his past, but the cruel killer he later became. The living memory of Lei Kung berates the warrior:

"You dare use our secrets when you were never even one of us? You are not just a traitor, Daniel Rand, but a fool! You will fail here, just like you failed before!"

"No... NOOO!"

Danny falls to his knees, clutching the sides of his head in a vain effort to silence the pain. The combined mental and emotional pain proves more than he can bear.

I'll have Frank's reaction up next.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:50, Wed 08 Sept 2021.

Earlier:

Reaction:
The Hulk Batted against the swarms of black tentacles, trying to keep them off of her.  Each time she swatted, they changed shape.

13:03, Today: Co-GM, on behalf of She-Hulk, rolled 1,4,6,1 using d4,d8,d10,d8 ((1,4,6,1))
10/d4
2 GM opps
d10 physical stress

It takes her time to recover, and the Goblin Queen ignores her for the mental attack.  Then the Hulk throws a car at her.

13:09, Today: Co-GM, on behalf of She-Hulk, rolled 5,3,9,3 using d10,d8,d12,d8.
14/d8


REACTIONS NEEDED:
The Goblin Queen's telepathic attack: Frank 19/d6.
Gwen's action: Goblin Queen or Doom pool, 18/d8
Kraven's attack: Goblin Queen 11/d10
Hulk's attack: Goblin Queen 14/d8

ACTIONS AVAILABLE: Captain America, Luke Cage; Bullseye, Moonstone

NEXT: Any NPC
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:30, Fri 10 Sept 2021.

Oh Madelyne -- such delusions of grandeur!  When you're just somebody's failed science project, with fairly garden variety psychosis. Okay, your love life is even more f--ked up than Wanda Maximoff's.  But still...     

True to her general nature, Karla hadn't gone charging headlong into the fray.

How many times had she seen altruistic but not overly bright heroes do that, only to get 'clobbered,' in the juvenile yet faintly charming roughhouse speak of Ben Grimm?

And though the Goblin Queen was bat-turd crazy, and more artificial than Katie Price's face and rack, she yet wielded very real power.  As evidenced by the plucky but unlucky heroes grabbing their skulls in agony.  And the goopy, ebon freak-show that had erupted across the field.   Karla had an idea, but she required an opening...

Ah-ha! she thought, as emerald, powerhouse muscles proved flying cars were indeed a part of modern-day futuretopia.

Moonstone maneuvered so that she had a clear line to the Goblin Queen, but not too close. (there was a Buick hurtling through the air, after all) If SHulky's auto-onslaught flattened Madelyne, ending this, then Karla halted and laughed.    Not as though it were the funniest thing she'd seen -- because she'd seen much funnier that that.  But, a moment of mirth, nonetheless.

If Wicked Wendy was left standing, or at least conscious, then Moonstone immediately entered her intangible state and made a beeline for her.   And attempted a little maneuver she'd seen the Vision perform before:  faintly materializing a hand inside an enemy, to disrupt the crap out of them.    It depended on her being able to pass through that force field, of course...

The best laid plans of psychos and shrinks, etc.:

Moonstone rolled 1,3,3,2,3,5 using D8,D10,D8,D10,2D6 ::  Intangibility attack vs. Goblin Queen
Team + Stunt + Coldhearted Schemer + Intangibility + Combat expert
Total = 8; Effect = D10
1 PP to use opportunity for stunt die
1 Opportunity for DP

Next:  Any npc (or PC if any left)   
This message was last edited by the player at 03:55, Sat 11 Sept 2021.

"Would you just, calm down!" Tigro says as he claws at Madelyne Pryor's weird freaky amoeba suit "This thing is disgusting!"

"Well, son of a @#$&*," Frank shrugs as Danny's bullets stagger the Goblin Queen. "Karate Kid actually got her."

Then, without warning, the psychic shriek of the Queen tears through the minds of the group. As it meets resistance from the others, it also butts up against the iron walls surrounding Frank Castle's inner mind. When it came to psychic combat, the Punisher had little in the way of formal training. He had only the advantage of an iron will, military discipline, and some serious @#$&ing intestinal fortitude.

There was a famous question he'd often pondered throughout his life. He didn't recall the original context, but no doubt he'd first heard it in one of his military circles. Maybe during a lesson from one of his commanding officers-- something about projectile physics, or the chemical interactions of incendiary material. But aside from the mechanics of warfare, the question could apply to the soldiers on the battlefield just as easily:

What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? It seemed as though today, he'd finally get his answer.

"Bring it on, you @#$&ing freak!"

Reaction to Goblin Queen's psychic attack.

Former Marine d8
Team d6
Psych Expert d8

10:15, Today: Frank Castle rolled 8,2,7 using 1d8,1d6,1d8.  Frank resists the Queen's psychic attack.

Total: 15
Effect: d6
Opportunities: 0

Even a Marine-- even the Punisher-- had his limits, it seemed.

Apologies if this reaction took a while.

Sensing an opportunity to help the civilians trapped under good, Luke, Captain America, and shockingly Bullseye start prying people out from whatever they're trapped under and peeling the goo off of them while it's inert.

REACTIONS NEEDED:
Gwen's action: Goblin Queen or Doom pool, 18/d8
Kraven's attack: Goblin Queen 11/d10
Hulk's attack: Goblin Queen 14/d8
Rhino's attack: 11/d10
Funnybone's attack: 19/d12

Trying to get this round wrapped up.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:32, Mon 20 Sept 2021.

15:34, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC DOOM POOL, rolled 6,8,2,6,3,1,6 using 1d10,1d10,1d8,1d6,1d6,1d6,1d6.

Removing the d8 from the Doom Pool.


Eddie isn't strong enough to take his symbiote back or rejoin the fight, but across his bond with the alien, he exerts a calming influence that undermines some of the Goblin Queen's vile magic. The effort overwhelms him, and he passes out.

The Rhino charges into the Goblin Queen, but she knows rage and despite his strength he only knocks her slightly to the side, seemingly unharmed.

17:40, Today: Co-GM rolled 9,3,4,2,2,1 using d10,d10,d8,d10,d8,d10.  maddie vs rhino solo, GC, force field, Combat,stamina.
13/d8

She tries to fly out of the way when Funnybone's chains grab hold of both her right arm and right leg.  At that point, everyone present learns something if they didn't already know:  The Symbiote hates fire.

All traces of the symbiote retreat from the affected limbs and the black goo everywhere in the square lets out a terrible scream.  She tries to pull against the chains but is dragged down to the ground, still wrapped in the chain.

17:46, Today: Co-GM rolled 1,5,5,7,2 using d10,d10,d8,d8,d10.  solo, GC, flight,combat, strength.  Maddie vs FB.
+1 opportunity

A car sails through the air in the spot she was last in.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:10, Mon 20 Sept 2021.

Tony Stark rises unsteadily to his feet. Captain America and Luke Cage are already long gone, escorting civilians to safety... leaving only registered heroes, registered "heroes", and eXiles behind.

"So... what now?"

"So, now SHIELD gives Goblin Girl a timeout," Funnybone said, "and we leave."

"What he said.  But first she returns her newest kidnapping victim."

"I'm okay with that. But with both Pryor and Brock unconscious... I'm not sure how to arrange it. And if we can't figure something out right now, I'm not going to be able to return an alien weapon of mass destruction to a wanted fug--"

The world vanishes in a flash of light, and you are falling.

PRIMARY MISSION COMPLETE

The mission objective was to prevent Peter Parker from killing anyone. Peter Parker did not kill anyone on your watch... and you removed all of the circumstances that were going to lead to him quite possibly doing so.

Because you prevented Ragnarok from killing Harry Osborne or being bonded with the Carnage symbiote, Peter Parker is not going to defect from SHIELD in this timeline, leaving Mary-Jane Watson Parker vulnerable to attack by Peter's enemies. Likewise, because Harry survives and remains with SHIELD, Norman Osborn does not blame Parker for his son's death/disgrace and seek revenge.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES

Helping Peter and Mary-Jane (and Harry) come to terms with the loss of their timeline's Gwen Stacy, and giving them the means to help any future clones of Gwen Stacy that show up on their doorstep, strengthens their relationships and allows them to continue fighting crime, in their very public identities, for decades to come and to provide guidance for the next generation of superheroes.

After details of the Thunderbolts Program's attempted use of the Carnage symbiote in peacekeeping efforts were mysteriously linked to the Internet, the public outcry was great enough to allow Tony Stark and Peter Parker to successfully demand changes to the Superhuman Registration Act and SHIELD's Fifty State Initiative that encouraged Steve Rogers to turn himself in and work for further necessary reforms. The Superhuman Civil War, as news media dubbed it, was over in a matter of weeks and left fewer scars than its counterparts in neighboring timelines.

And while nothing could change Bullseye's selfish and violent nature, this brush with forces far greater than himself gave him pause-- and after that pause, a greater appreciation for the fragile balance between life and death. His personnel file revealed more active engagement with his mandatory therapy sessions and fewer disciplinary incidents for the remainder of his tenure with the Thunderbolts. He was eventually removed from field duty after the suspicious death of some of his former associates in SHIELD custody, but continued to serve as a SHIELD instructior until his retirement and pardon.