The world appears in a flash of light.

Sound reaches you before sight does: the sounds of battle. Metal clashing against metal, the dying screams of men and horses.

You are standing in the middle of a battlefield, surrounded on all sides by furious warriors-- an entire army of men in gleaming bronze armor, bearing swords and spears, against a much smaller force, in flowing robes and seemingly unarmed, striking the better equipped soldiers down with their bare hands and breathing gouts of multicolored cosmic fire.

"More of the damned wizards! Archers!" shouts one of the armored men, only to be silenced-- presumably-- by a superior.

"Our king's got no love of fools, Stergios. We'll not end this day with more enemies than we started with. Fly the white flag."

Likewise, amongst their counterparts:

"They bear the Master's blessing! It is a portent!"

"It is a portent of our doom. They are servants of the starspawn sent to prevent the Master's work!"

"Let us gauge their intent, then. Call for parlay."

They are not speaking the same language, nor is either speaking any language that any of you are familiar with.

Unless someone intends to interrupt, both forces make way for their leaders and their bodyguards to advance and wait, weapons pointed at you, for you to make your intentions clear.
This message was last updated by the GM at 16:15, Wed 15 Dec 2021.

Before Sally could join the conversation with “Fritz”, the Timebroker sent them through another time warp. She glanced around the battlefield, taking note of the ancient armor and archaic weaponry. “Whooooa. Dig it. The Timebroker dropped us into a scene out of The Once & Future King!”

When the warriors approached them, she stepped closer to Sue. “Okay, Sister Sue. Just say the word and I’ll disarm them all!” Sally couldn’t resist a chuckle. “Metal. They’re coming at us decked in metal!”

"Half of them have metal... the rest have fire.  Let's not make any enemies until we figure out what's going on."

She looks at the approaching figures, and their clothes are familiar.  That's weird.

"So... I watched a shockingly relevant B-movie last night called Red Sonja.  The MJ that we just talked to has been here."

"You call that fire? I have fire." Funnybone was confused, and when Funnybone got confused, things got burned. "I can burn them all and let Hell sort them out."

Of course, this was nothing but a bluff. Funnybone, for all his propensity towards violence, would never harm an innocent.

"Lemme at 'em!"

“Fire?” Sally scoffed. “That might scare me if I were a cavewoman.”



“Like the Red Sonya from Robert E. Howard’s ‘Shadow of The Vulture’?”

If Robert E. Howard exists in Gwen's universe, she is not familiar.  Harry would know, but he's not here to ask.  "Is she a badass with a sword that wears a chainmail bikini?

Right now both sides want to talk.  We don't even know why we're here."

She detaches the hood from her costume, which turns white on both sides and unfurls into a square.  She makes a questioning look at the others about raising it.

"Yes, we are wizards," Danny blurted. "Very powerful ones, not to be trifled with. We have come to meet with your rulers, and er... mediate this conflict."

"I am Lord General Aragones of the Second Legion of Aquilonia. I am as close to my ruler as you will get unless I deem you worthy-- and trustworthy-- and trifling with very powerful wizards is my king's will. To whom do I have the honor of addressing, and what is your interest in this matter?"

A telepathic voice whispers in your minds, like silk pulled across a steel blade. "The king of Aquilonia has the power to end this warfare with the stroke of his finger-- but you'll find little more than guest-right in his court. I am Betres, a lowly acolyte of the Prophet of Change. Let me take you to him, and let him show you his plans for our world, and wizards such as yourselves would surely ally yourselves to our cause."

"A pleasure to make your acquaintances. Call me 'Ser Daniel,'" replied the Fist in his most casual-sounding voice. "These are Ladies Sally, Sue, and Gwen. The gentleman is Ser Wade, and...

Having no explanation for the unsettling Swarm, he looked at the others frantically with an expression that asked, "Help me out here!!

When Gwen asked Sally about the character, she answered with a befuddled shrug. “She’s a bad ass with a pistol. Red Sonya of Rogatino was a 16th Century warrior woman, at least in the story that I read. No chain mail bikini. Why would any chick wear that get up in a fight?

Aquilonia—THAT’S a name I’ve heard about! That was Robert Howard’s world, where heroes like Conan The Barbarian fought wizards, pirates, and elder gods.”

Danny’s attempt at negotiation got a bemused chuckle. Sally stepped up and touched Danny’s shoulder. in solidarity.“He’s Iron Fist, the Defender of K’un Lun. I’m, uh, Lady Polaris, the Mistress of Magnetism.”
This message was last edited by the player at 17:04, Wed 06 Oct 2021.

"Aragones?" Funnybone asked no one in particular. "Is this Conan the Barbarian, or Groo the Wanderer?"

Robert E. Howard --  jesus!  Johnny had gone though a phase with those Conan novels.  How was this a thing?  And, what did Gwen mean by saying her friend had been here?  Like literally?

She had not read them herself -- Ursula K. Le Guin was more her kind of thing, when it came to that genre.   She didn't recognize, or remember, the character Sally and Gwen were discussing.

Any case, Sally could disarm the bulk of them --  and force fields could easily turn fire, if that was the the worst they had.

Her first impulse was to speak plainly, keep things simple as possible -- and then she thought But why?

And though Howard wasn't her fave, she did love the genre.  And had done a little theater during college...

She moved to stand with Danny and Sally.

"And I am the Countess Susantia Dela Storm.  Mistress of the Unseen Walls -- lady of the flowers' children, protectoress of the innocent and downtrodden.   And I say unto you, my friends and I pose no threat, if you are not those who thrive on base and callous deeds!"  She turned toward Swarm.

"Have no fear of this one.  For he has the greatest heart of all of us!  So great was his love for the people, that he took upon his own flesh, a plague of insects sent by a black wizard, and brought harmony and calm to them."    She could barely stop herself from adding yea, verily! 

"We are here to support a just cause, and reduce strife and suffering as much as can be done." 

She nodded sagely, meanwhile silently replying to the telepathic emisary, if in fact he could 'hear' in return: ~We have arrived to help. Most probably we'd be willing to speak to your prophet.  What sort of change does he work for, pray tell?~ 
This message was last edited by the player at 00:13, Thu 07 Oct 2021.

In reply to Polaris (msg # 10):

Gwen shrugs at Sally's question.  "Could have been just for the movie.  But the costumes for these groups were accurate, and the stunts were as real as they get on film."

Gwen wouldn't be caught fighting in that, (for one thing she spends half her time upside-down) and had said as much.  She does understand how it might sell movie tickets.

Actually, her Spider-woman costume might not be that appropriate for this world.

Lord General Aragones stiffens at Funnybone's remark, but allows it to pass without comment.




Aragones offers a courtly bow to Susan and then Daniel, in turn. "Hail and well met, then, Countess de la Storm, Sir Daniel of the Iron Fist, sirs and ladies. I must confess that your names are unknown and unfamiliar to me, and I have not heard of the deeds upon which you base your fearsome epithets. For ourselves, we are not brigands set upon the road to line our pockets with yeoman's silver nor conquerors waging war to expand our sovereign's lands for personal glory."

"We are committed here to snuffing out a tyrant in his cradle, 'ere he overtakes our world in darkness. Our king is no lover of wizards or their otherworldly affairs, it is true, but he seeks no quarrel with any wizard who respects the laws of Man and Nature. If you count yourselves the friend of either, you should count yourself the enemies of our enemies."



With a bit of attention, you can spot the one speaking to your minds, Betres. She replies, ~~Just as He has lifted me from a life of poverty and servitude, He would uplift all of the world-- no more would soldiers enforce the cruel whims of priests and kings, no more would sorcerers prey upon the innocent on behalf of dark powers. My Master has not granted me the Gift of Tongues-- yet-- but I need not understand the Aquilonian's words to warn you of his lies. His king craves the source of my Master's power for himself, to keep for himself, to rule over mankind as an immortal sorcerer-king.~~
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:26, Thu 07 Oct 2021.

Two leaders representing bitterly opposed factions argued for their causes. After hearing them out, Sally stepped forward. She cleared her throat and spoke loudly enough to address two armies. “General Aragones. Betres. We definitely count ourselves friends and protectors of people and Nature. Sue…The Countess and I fight for the oppressed, and General, you’d better believe we fight against tyranny!

Sir Daniel uses his considerable wealth and skills to protect the innocent. Lord Wade there,” she gestured at Funnybone, “Punishes the guilty who prey on innocents. Captain Grant, the furry fighter, represents the best of his race in his own fight for Justice. Our Squire, Gwendolyn of Queens, left her trade as a Bard to protect ordinary men and women who can’t fight for themselves.”

Sally stared at Aragones and Betres. “We only fight for the most Just of causes, though. You’d both best present some stronger arguments than ‘I’m better than the Other Guy’ if you want our help! Perhaps you could start by telling us the names of your own leaders?”

Great...so once again, it was a matter of factions, each believing they were doing the right thing.  Unless one was flat out lying, of course.  Or both.  Always possible...

While Sue awaited to see how Sally would be answered, she hit up the Tallus, silently:

Hey, man!  Where are the mission parameters?  We didn't have to poke you for'em, last time.  We're engaged with locals out the gate, and we don't have any parameters!

Er, when you give them, let's have them telepathically, okay?  I don't want our new friends to learn you're sentient, just yet...

I was having fun dragging it out.

Aragones slaps his fist against his breastplate in salute; his bodyguards immediately repeat the gesture, followed by the entire Aquilonian army. "It is my duty and my honor to serve the rightful King of Aquilonia, Conan, the First of His Name, Protector of the Realm, Master of the Legion, Bearer of the Phoenix Sword, Slayer of--"

~~is he really still talking?~~

"-- of the Academies."

Betres coughs politely and addresses the parlay out loud, in Stygian, "So many excuses for doing so little. My Master's actions speak for days: He is the Prophet of Change. He is the Father of Clan Akkaba. He is En. Sabah. Nur. And he will remake this broken world."

The Tallus obliges:

“King Conan, huh?” Sally shared a thought with the group via the Tallus. So we jaunted here later in Conan’s life. He pretty much conquered a world to win his crown, kids. Just…Far out.

Aloud, she hung on the last honorific shared by Aragones. “Which Academies?” Sally stared at the General with quizzical eyes.

Sue sent back:  Yeah, even more impressive given he's a fictional character!  But honestly, I'm beginning to think we may be too!

And at least he's a character we know something about.   Which leaves this supposed prophet:

Tallus, provide any available data on En Sabah Nur.  Any relation to N'Astirh, by chance?   

The Tallus complies:

"Lady... Polaris, correct? His Majesty is known as the Sponsor of Academies because he opened all of the royal academies to any of his subjects, and many foreigners; he opened the royal treasuries, too, to maintain them. Aquilonia holds the most learned scholars in all the world because--" he casts some glorious side-eye at Wade, "-- Conan the Barbarian wills it." Aragones does not exaggerate his honor at serving his king.

"The king demands many things we do not understand, because of his youthful travels. He could rule a vast empire with less effort, or let himself grow fat and content with no effort at all-- but he's chosen to carry our kingdom on his back to Paradise."

“The King supports education for the people, huh? I can get down with that!” Sally nodded slowly in approval. Then, she looked at Betres. “What about En Sabah Nur? What kind of changes will he bring about? What does he have to offer the people of the world?”

Danny nodded as Aragones spoke of the king's deeds.

"He uses his vast resources to make the world a better place for his subjects? That sounds... agreeable."

That was the type of leader he could throw his support behind. In the past, he'd delegated most of his charity work at Rand Enterprises to trusted partners, but he knew a thing or two about philanthropy. He'd even be willing to share some tips with Conan about where his wealth might do the most good, if he had the king's ear.

"Hold on a sec," Funnybone said. His face grew back, and the flames flickered and died, leaving Wade in his place. "Much better."

In his own world, En Sabah Nur was the reason why the middle east was a smoking hole in the ground. But maybe he was great guy here, for all Wade knew. So he kept his mouth shut for the moment, and didn't bring up the A-word just yet.

Gwen first responds through the Tallus.  * For the record, the Stygians were extra evil in the movie.  But neither of those leader names are ringing a bell. *

There's a short pause before she asks * Tallus what year is En Sabur Nur supposed to be born in? *  Was it way in the future?

Finally she asks the Aquilonians a question.  "Do you know Red Sonja?  My friend travelled with her for a long time and I think she's been through here."

Sue's mouth dropped a little as the Tallus provided detail about En Sabah Nur, no one she was familiar with in her own timeline.   She consciously changed her expression, realizing she likely looked shocked.

God!  A mutant making more mutants -- and one with a bloody coup to his credit!  she sent to the others.  He doesn't need a big army, if his mutant followers have the right sorts of powers.  No wonder Aragones said that bit about defending Man and Nature.  I've heard that line of reasoning before... 

Sue was a mutant.  Naturally sympathetic to her own kind's causes and plights. However, she was also a member of a very normal, human family, with any number of non mutant friends.  And believed people with no powers had every right not to live in fear of those with them.

Jesus, I think this one's gonna be sticky!  Even more so than the last.   It's unlikely we'll get clarity from either of these employees... 
This message was last edited by the player at 16:13, Thu 07 Oct 2021.

Sue’s realization about “Defending Man & Nature” made Sally recoil. She turned away from both leaders so they couldn’t see her face. We could use a Mind-Reader right now. They’re both slimy, if you ask me.

A hue of disappointment and anger colored her thoughts. So Aragones is the Bolivar Trask of this world. Yuck! I should feel solidarity with En Sabah Nur as a fellow Mutant. I got my powers with a little push from Magneto & Mesmero, so my story is not so different from what they’re doing. Is it? But at the same time, I’m not down with world conquest, either.

What should we do, guys?

«In my world, En Sabah Nur is known as Apocalypse,» Wade replied over their group telepathic link. «He's responsible for millions of deaths. If this guy is anything like that, we've only got one option.»

Jesus Harry Christ on a bicycle. That was the focal point of Trask’s Anti-Mutant propaganda. He claimed that Mutants would overtake humanity, then destroy the world in the process. So many people feared Mutants as much as they feared the Bomb.

We’re caught between Genocide and Annihilation, huh?

The Tallus responds: "En Sabah Nur is indicated to be born in the year 3,590 BCE during what is indicated to be the predynastic period of Ancient Egyptian history. Predictive models of future history are impossible in unresolved timelines."

---

Lord General Aragones appears mildly taken aback by the question. but responds: "The Hyrkanian She-- no, I am afraid I have not made her acquaintance, Lady Gwen, though I daresay everyone has heard her legend. The king speaks of her occasionally, mostly wistfully; though from his tales it seems sometimes as if he's reminiscing about two separate women. Are you acquainted with her, m'lady? I would take your opinion, if you would give it."




~~ I was not born to Clan Akkaba, Lady Polaris. ~~ She lowers the crimson hood of her robe, revealing her gray skin and pale blue lips. ~~ I was born unto the Pharaoh's slave pits, with all that entails. Praise be unto Hathor I wasn't yet as comely as the Master has made me... but woe that I did not yet possess His other Gifts, either. Our world is ruled by metals; men of gold command these men of bronze to murder and enslave men of mere flesh. Our Master bestows His Gifts freely to any Man-- ~~ she pauses to indicate herself, ~~-- or woman who would foreswear this lifestyle. For those who would swear themselves unto His service, as I have, service is its own reward. ~~

She nods her head, and the other cultists remove their hoods. They bear different faces, different hairstyles, a couple of them bear horns, but all of them possess Betres' gray skin and blue lips. The Aquilonians have mostly seen this before, but a couple of their youngest soldiers gasp.

~~ The Master wages no wars of conquest, nor transmutes any person against their will. Every initiate of Clan Akkaba you see here, or will ever meet, bears the mark of His lineage by birth or by choice-- and the reason you will see His mark amongst the dungeons and the graveyards of His enemies is because you will not see it amongst their nobility and their soldiery. ~~

"My opinion?"

Gwen isn't really prepared for this question but she does her best to have her response match the speech patterns this guy is using.  Which shouldn't be relevant as she knows these people aren't speaking English and she is, and yet everyone can understand each other.  Thanks Tallus.

"I uh... I know much about her from the tales of my companion, but we have yet to meet."

Telepathically to the other: "Sorry, the smell of blood distracted me." his face twitches with the hunger to bring it forth but he seeks fresher air for a moment. "We need more information, it is noteworthy that one of them keeps slaves. Does the other? I would not aid a slaver's side, or would we ally with any fool who keeps others in chains?" he growls aloud.

* Didn't she say the Pharoah was the one with slaves?  Isn't that Egypt?  And these guys talk about the king with the academy?  That's a different kingdom right? *

Gwen has a sudden realization.

* Oh Fuck.  Uh... Tallus?  Betres is talking to us telepathically.  Can she hear this conversation? *
This message was last edited by the player at 02:35, Fri 08 Oct 2021.

The Tallus responds: "The Tallus cannot interact physically or psychically with non-operative occupants of normative reality. Theoretically, a telepathic sentient may be capable of 'overhearing' psionic messages directed toward the Tallus, but not communications from the Tallus to eXiles operatives."

Good for thinking of that, Gwen.  I should've thought of it, earlier. 
Welll... if anyone out there is evesdropping...know good and well we won't be easy to deceive!  You have no idea what we've seen and experienced before coming here.

Now I really, really want that joint.  It was directed mostly to Sally, but group broadcast.

This one almost seemed like it might be fun, at first.  And now I think we're in for absolute, utter f--king hell...

"The Tallus riddle may be a clue." he sends to all via the Tallus, and whispers softly. "Be careful with both" to Sally. "We need to regroup to mull on the riddle away from both sides."

When Betres and her fellow acolytes unmasked, Sally gasped along with the soldiers in Aragones’ army. Although certain individual traits remained intact, such as facial structure or exotic features like horns, they all shared the same gray skin and blue lips. Every single one. Childhood memories of the “Red Scare” came unbidden in her mind. The early 1950’s saw paranoia thrive as a new threat in the years following World War II. Instead of Nazis and the Japanese forces, Americans were told they should fear the Russians, and the ascendant threat of Communism.

Sally remembered the news reports of the HUAC Hearings that her father watched so attentively. Citizens turning on anyone they feared might be a secret agent of the Russians. Underlying the Red Scare were fears of the loss of freedom, and the loss of individual identity. They were told that Communism would strip Americans of everything that made them special, and force them to work as drones for an oppressive and dogmatic regime. Movies like The Invasion of The Body Snatchers emphasized this fear. Even the comic books she occasionally read in later elementary school featured colorful superheroes who fought alien menaces that were obvious metaphors for Communism.

Her life in San Francisco deconstructed the nationalist paranoia that still influenced millions back home. Sally had seen through the homegrown propaganda that cultivated so many fears of anyone different among her fellow Americans. She’d welcomed freeing her mind of American jingoism and discovering other belief systems, even the Socialism too misunderstood in her hometown and by her own parents. Different beliefs alone, even Communism, wasn’t necessarily a cause for fear or hatred.

Now, though, looking at Betres and her army, she understood that fear among Americans. That fear that embracing a philosophy and accompanying changes would mean a loss of Self, and a subjugation to a group mind. Sally felt ashamed for it, but she felt a little afraid, too.

Gwen looks over when Betres gives her monologue.  It's really disconcerting when someone you don't know talks in your head.  Gwen was almost getting used to it from her teammates but from a stranger it's just rude.

At a glance, the clan seems almost like something familiar.
Weird blue(ish) faces - check
Doesn't speak - check
Dressed all the same - check
Multicolored flashes of light - check

These guys have created Blue Man Group.  In the distant past.  But these ones are dangerous.  And no drums.  Really leaving a lot to be desired.

She turns back to General Aragones, who wanted her opinion.  Sally and Sue are dealing with the clan, Gwen and Wade can talk to the general.  She wonders if Swarm is sending bugs all over the countryside to get the layout.  The new teammate seemed like an alien, and the comment about eating each other was unsettling.  But that ability is going to be great for figuring out where they are.

It's really weird to be hungry right now, but that's what it's like with Venom.  The post-fight dinner is critical, and Timebroker pulled them out of there before wrapping anything up.  Or helping that other Venom.  Or even getting her bag!

She thinks about how to appropriately fancy up her response to match the General's speech patterns.  "I can only relay what the Lady Mary Jane shared with me.  Your king also sounds like two different men, doesn't he?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:32, Fri 08 Oct 2021.

Swarm had remained standing where he'd arrived, as the others had moved forward to parlay with the natives.
This left the demonic looking figure at the very rear of the group.

Truth was, after picking himself up out of that desert crater, he'd hardly had the opportunity to start processing and analysing the situation before the scene had changed yet again.
And this one seemed to  include telepathic communications all over the place, and much debate over historic elements of the world before them.

But there were names, if not faces, he recognised being thrown around.
Apocalypse, for example .... and very real 'high threat level' red flag when off inside Fritz' mind.


But these other desert-dwellers were stampeding forward, takin point on the social standing ... and Swarm was willing to allow them all (apparent ally and natives alike) their verbal back-n-forth.   Swarm simply took it all in, listening.

As was his way, he was also reaching out to sense for his imminent allies, whatever insects lived within the many miles of where he stood.   If he needed to flee this situation, he wanted to already have an idea of where he would go.  He wanted to know where, strategically,  his Safety lay, and knew that if you wanted to be safe, you had to ... do it yourself!.



Action:  Create Asset 'Lay of the Land'
d6   Safety
d8   ... do it yourself!
d8   Enhanced Senses
d8   Combat Expert

- rolled 6,2,6,7:  create asset 'Lay of the Land'.
Total: 13
Effect: d8
Opps: -

current PP: 1

Take it, Swarm.



"At least, milady. At the very least. I can only appreciate the workings of his mind in hindsight. Your friend must be a formidable woman to have made such an impression."

Okay. Decision time-- I think you have a pretty clear invitation for the whole team to visit King Conan or the Prophet En Sabah Nur. Both armies will allow you to step aside to discuss privately-- out of earshot of the Aquilonians, and hopefully out of earshot of the Stygians. If you leave with the Aquilonians, they lend you an honor guard and a navigator, but resume the attack on the Stygians... with reduced numbers. If you leave with the Stygians, the Aquilonians will have noone to attack.

Basically, whichever leader you pick first, you're going to get an advantage in dealing with him. The one you don't pick is going to be... mildly offended. If you decide to split the party again, both leaders will be seriously offended and I am going to be apocalyptically offended, like "Next Mission: Duckworld" offended.

Of course, you're free to try something else. Those were just the options that seemed most reasonable to me. I mean, you could attack one army or the other yourselves... which will give you major brownie points with the leader of the other, and not necessarily even hurt your chances with the leader of the defeated army, if you don't allow witnesses to get back.

Let's try to get everyone to weigh in on this.

"I'm partial to meet with this King Conan," Danny chimes in as the group huddles. "Based off his rep, we can trust him to do what's best for his people. It's only a matter of convincing him that war isn't the answer. That these Stygians want to come to the table and negotiate."

He looked to Sally and Sue, whose compassionate yet strong diplomacy had amazed him time and again. Backed up by the courageous Wade, Gwen, and Tigro, they'd already succeeded in stopping one calamity, and they could do it again in this universe. No doubt Swarm would find a role to play here, too.

"I know we can do this."

I don't know if *I* can do this... Sue thought privately, in response to Danny's words.

Maintaining her best poker face, while she mulled information and possible avenues, Sue was aware of a sense of stress building within her.

She was used to having a foot in two different worlds.   In a more than a single context.  A happy member of a fairly conservative, and fully human family.  Aside from herself, their sole adopted child.  Who grew up and went to Uni, put a career together, got married, and was (at one time) planning for the house with the picket fence.

And also a (mostly) full on flower-child -- a dedicated hippie and activist, playing a part in pushing for a more gentle, holistic, and healthy world.

And a mutant, who wished ardently to see the stigma removed from her kind; the prejudice reduced, if impossible to erase.     Yet also believed no less ardently that a mutant murderer was no nobler or better than any other sort.  And that there was only one way to deal with those who were powerful and wholly evil.

She took a few steps nearer Aragones and Betres. and addressed both; her gaze moving between them while she spoke:

"I cannot tell you just how much I dislike being compelled to play favorites!  With so little knowledge of this world, and no firsthand experience.   We would like to help both sides -- all the kind and good people.  Because there are surely those beneath both flags -- as well as devils.  Don't tell me it isn't so." She paused briefly, then added:

"For every piece of wholesome fruit has its worms.  It is true of every nation, every faction I've ever learned of, or dealt with. I would ask you to please sympathize with our situation, and bear in mind that we have to start somewhere."    Susan glanced down, briefly closing her eyes, and then back up at Betres.

"I am sorry.  A part of me wants so much to be introduced to your people; to learn of their culture, and hear out your prophet.  And I hope that one day I may. But, like the Lord Daniel --  I am casting my vote to meet with King Conan of Aquilonia."   
This message was last edited by the player at 20:49, Sun 10 Oct 2021.

To Wade, the decision was a simple one: which option stopped the violence? If they were to depart with the Stygians, the Aquillonians would simply have nobody left to fight... for the moment, at least.

If there was going to be fighting, Wade wanted to know which side deserved to be stabbed, chopped, and burned. He didn't know that yet, and he was not going to let random violence interfere. Targeted violence, against someone who was asking for it, was the way to go.

"I say we go hear out En Sabah Nur and his cohort," Wade said when it was apparently his turn to speak. "No offense to King Conan, but I'm calling for a time-out on the fighting, until we really know what's what."

"I've heard of Apocalypse, just his name resounding is a word of sorrow among most. En Saben Nur may not be the same man here as he was where I am from. I was born human. I've had a mutant lover who I wished to marry, but she died, because of our Apocalypse and his Horseman. I've no prejudice there and fought as willfully for mutant rights. But here I know none to trust but my you, my allies, and I hope friends." He says with clear intonation. "I do not wish to prejudge En Saban Nur, at the same time the thought of slaves in anyone's chains makes the tiger in my rage." He worries about this, hoping it's not the same man, but doubting it with every breath.

"My vote goes to Aragones and this Conan, you speak about unless we would seek peace and forge equality, even when others have yet to forge it even in the United States."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:24, Sun 10 Oct 2021.

This message was deleted by the player at 21:23, Sun 10 Oct 2021.

“Why not let them come to us … if they wish to court our aid”, the Swarm spoke* across the mental link.
“What are we doing here, anyway?”  The Swarm was still very confused about what was going on; “What is it you all wish to accomplish here?”


* in physicality, the Swarm buzzed and bummed with a million mouths, wings and …. other bits.
But over the mind link, the others present heard his true voice:  male, and either German or German decent (perhaps Afrikaner?)

"Sorry to burst your bubble, Bugsy Malone, but we don't command kings." Wade rolled his eyes. Nobody was coming to them. "We don't have that kind of street cred."

Sue registered the accent;  "Fritz" - just like the cat... - she remembered (to herself), when the Tallus had iterated what it knew of him. She wondered if he still identified with the name at all, or if it might now be a source of pain.  She answered Swarm via psi-link:

Monarchs and sovereigns, especially those at war, usually don't leave their security to meet strangers.   And, even if they are really gutsy, they've likely still got king-size egos.

What are we doing here-?  We're damage control. If it's anything like the last one, then we're here to smooth things out, prevent a calamity, as best we can.  And try to work out what the hell's going on, while we do.   
This message was last edited by the player at 23:52, Sun 10 Oct 2021.

"So ..." Fritz's voice responded in their minds, "none of you know what you are doing here?
Or, what you might do to make 'it' better ... or worse?"
"Why not just let it play out?"

"We weren't sent here to do nothing," Wade replied. "We were sent here to do something that we don't know by a guy who won't answer a question with a straight answer. How hard is that?"

Let me give you something like a Readers' Digest version:   There are many realities and divergent timelines.  In some of them, things go badly astray, or are on the verge of going there.   It's our job to step in and prevent that.  To help with it, we get a super-groovy Beatnik poem, that we have to figure out on our own.  Sue did the mental equivalent of a shrug.

Odd? Inefficient? Kinda koo-koo?  Check, check and check.  Let me ask you something, Fritz:   Do you remember dying, before joining us?  Or being about to?   Collectively, I guess, in your case?

This message was last edited by the player at 01:51, Mon 11 Oct 2021.

Gwen waits until they are able to talk amongst the group without additional ears listening.  She has Venom shift her clothing to the clothes that one of the members of the Valkyries wears onstage.  (secret identities are for your own universe)
It bears a close resemblance to the leather outfit worn by Valkyrie in the MCU, except probably sourced from a New York City secondhand store.  "Is this appropriate enough for this time?  This place was NOT covered in history class and I'm not wearing the chainmail bikini.  MJ said this place was real in her world, and some of you said that Asgard was a real place so maybe next time it's Atlantis or something else crazy."  Gwen has no awareness that she's literally wearing Asgardian fashion.

"I was thinking about what the Tallus said, about being born 5000 years early.  We probably need to send him to when he's supposed to be.  Charles Xavier would just be like 'Commander Data scan for temporal anomalies and beam him through' but I don't know anything that's not from fiction.  If none of you have any time travel ideas we could look for Sonja.  She went to MJ's time in the other world so maybe she knows a way."

Danny heard everyone out, nodding at the occasional point made by his teammates. He noted Wade's decision, and waited to hear where the other undecided cast their votes. At Gwen's mention of this "Sonja", he shrugged and said, "We could ask Conan if her whereabouts are known to any in his court."

"... If that's what we're doing, anyway. That's three for Conan, one for the mutant guy, and two undecided. Let's hear from Sally."

Edit: I originally had this as Danny looking to Polaris to give the team leader's speech on how we're going to end the conflict, but I guess that would be Sue's role and she already did a great job of that with her post. Anyway, let's hear from Sally.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:38, Mon 11 Oct 2021.

Danny and Sue argued persuasively for meeting up with King Conan. Of course, Sue didn’t surprise Sally in that regard. Sue demonstrated her eloquence from the moment they met. That’s why Sally voted for her to wear the Tallus. Perhaps a small bit of “Confirmation Bias” was at work. Of all the motley “Exiles”, Sally shared the most in common with Sue. Her fellow Flower Child was familiar, like-minded, but also levelheaded and fair. It always seemed so easy to roll with “Sister Sue” in group plans.

Except this time.

Surprisingly, Wade argued the point that spoke the most to Sally’s heart. She listened quietly, watching each person as they spoke. Sally felt torn over their best course of action. King Conan seemed like the most humane option…except for his General’s barely coded call for Mutant genocide. She didn’t trust Aragones.

However, the fanatical fervor in Betres frightened Sally. The singleminded devotion of the Mutant army reminded her of the slander too often lobbed at Magnus and their peaceful movement. That Betres served a man known as “Apocalypse” foreshadowed dire outcomes in Aquilonia, too.

Then, Danny put Sally on the spot. She sighed and  pushed her long hair back from her face. Her fingers clasped behind her head as she slowly paced. When she stopped she answered Danny, but looked at Sue. “I’m…with Wade on this one. Yeah, I know King Conan seems like the most reasonable of the two. You and Danny both made good points…but I believe in Non-Violent options first and foremost.”

Sally faced Aragones. “I’m sorry, but I just can’t trust you not to order the battle to continue if we go back with you. The soldiers you leave here will kill Betres and her people, but most likely die trying. Wade’s right. If we go with Betres, the fighting stops, at least for now. I choose the option that saves as many lives as we can this moment.”

Sue looked a little surprised, though she concealed the expression as quickly as she could.   She had been thinking this through from other perspectives --  and not at all in terms of immediate, military consequences.   Which might far too costly, as Wade and then Sally had pointed out.

She wasn't leader material -- especially not in this context -- but had asserted herself as though she might be.  She made a mental note to be more careful.

She was however, going to assert one last thing.  She addressed Aragones and Betres again, after glancing first at Sally. 

"The lady Sallyndra speaks from the depth of her considerable heart, as usual.   And indeed, make no mistake, on this point we are united."

"Either way, the fighting is over for this day. Both sides will cease and withdraw. If we must linger here to insure that it is done -- then that is what we shall do.   However long that may take.   If you wish us to meet with your king, Lord Aragones -- then this is a stipulation.  And, if you refuse to meet it --  then I at least shall recast my vote. There will be no more bloodshed this day."   

Sue was growing more intrigued by this Sonja that Gwen kept bringing up, and that Sally seemed to know too.  Another character from the novels?  She really should have read them, when Johnny had pushed them at her...

The Swarm was still ... distant.   Remaining on the periphery of the group.
It was considering the answers given to its most recent questions ... and wasn't sure that the answers made any more sense than this situation.

But he could tell that now was not the time to discuss his concerns further.
This 'team' was focused on involving themselves in this world's affairs, and for now, the Swarm would observe.
All the better to formulate his own thoughts, opinions and understandings.

"So, what is our plan ladies and gents?" Tigro asks. "You know I'd look wonderful as a swashbuckler, but this is more barbarian and knight's chic." He smiles dashingly "But I'm definitely more barbarian than anything else, can I be an exotic beastman? I definitely need a sword, maybe an axe."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:01, Wed 13 Oct 2021.

“Yes, you, Danny, & Wade would look like the proverbial Frank Frazetta painting,”<purple>, Sally said with a bawdy grin, momentarily distracted from their debate. <Purple>“Oh, and Countess Susantia?” She turned back toward Sue.

“It’s not ‘Sallyndra’. While we walk this land, all will address me as the Lady Saladane.” Her voice held a strange edge, her face somewhat more distant than the vivacious Hippie the group had come to know. Underneath her ambivalence about their mission, Sally felt another pull in this world. Was it the call that Betres spoke of or something else?

"Tigro, I think an axe is a great look for you, and we should totally find you one."

To the group, Gwen says "It doesn't really matter who we talk to first, right?  If going with Blue Man Group gets them to stop fighting that seems like a win.  As long as they don't make us convert.  That is not my color."

"Are we choosing silly names for ourselves? Because that seems like the sort of thing where I should be consulted. And by 'I', I mean 'he'." If Wade thought something was a waste of time, one could be assured that time was being wasted. "So, have we decided where we're going? Because we should probably call ahead for a reservation."

"You make a good point," Danny nodded to Wade. "If going with the Stygians stops the fighting, that's what we need to do."

The "Lord Daniel" had no doubt the team would get an audience with King Conan sooner or later, in any case.

"Us wizards gotta stick together, right?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:47, Wed 13 Oct 2021.

Sue noted the change in Sally.   It wasn't a subtle one.

Her immediate thought was that she was mad; about something beyond the matter of a name.   She was tempted to ask, telepathically, but decided this wasn't the time.  She nodded to Sally's request, but said nothing.

Lacking any assurances from Lord Aragones - and she anticipated none - she was ready to follow Betres and her people.

For reasons she was conscious of, as well as feelings she couldn't define or name, this whole situation seemed like an atom bomb waiting to go off.   It echoed others where things had gone way south.    These people, she thought she knew somewhat by now, felt more like the strangers she'd met in the beginning.

Or was it herself who was somehow different, here?   Or both?

Perhaps this was a chance to prevent another fiasco.   Supposedly, it was what they were here for.  She had to remember that.  But it was almost hard to do.

Unseen was her codename, and her schtick.  She had spoken too much.  And reckoned it had been ineffective, as well as stepped on some toes.  Observing, listening -- more mileage from those, in this altogether delicate situation...

"Well, I'm just your everyday sorcerous forged beast-man in these kind's of books, so ax it will be--are we sure about where we are going?" Tigro deeply mistrusted Apocalypse, but it wasn't the one he'd heard of, at least not yet so has to consider maybe forging a change is possible.

“Lady Saladane” sniffed disdainfully at Wade’s crack. “You always make a joke out of everything. It’s not just annoying when the Flaming Skull does it.” When “Lord Daniel” changed his vote, her face softened a little. “It’s the right choice. You’ll see.”

Gwen’s new outfit caught her eye. She stared at Gwen, looking over her Sword & Sorcery makeover with an appraising eye. “Yes.” Sally rubbed her chin, her eyebrow arched as she pondered an idea.

Then, Sally turned back toward Aragones’ men. She waved a hand, and a few swords and shields flew from the soldiers’ hands! A few silver coins sputtered out of some purses. A small vortex of metals flew around Sally, molding into new shapes and textures according to her will. A silver breastplate with a turquoise sheen encircled the top of her mini-dress. A skirt of metallic fringe flowed from a new belt around her waist. Gleaming bracers wrapped her forearms, while shin guards enclosed her boots. Shiny bands laced in three rows from the rips of her boots to mid-thigh.

The coins formed a sort of cowl that left her entire face exposed, and let her raven locks flow in a silken fall. The swords clanged together into a half-cape that resembled metallic feathers. Sally’s metallic accents looked like they should have scraped her, but they didn’t cut her at all. They moved with the flexibility of cloth, but the keen eye would note that they lost none of the metal durability.

“Yes. Much better,” Sally said with a husky purr.

"I see you have made your decision," Lord General Aragones speaks plainly. "You are making a mistake, but one that is not irreversible, and I cannot fault your motives. When I tell my king that you have deigned to meet with his enemies first... I will tell him that you have done so to accomplish our mission. We are not your enemies, and I hope I can say the same when next me meet."

He withdraws from the parlay, giving his soldiers the order to stand by.

Betres is solemnly pleased. ~You've saved lives today. Maybe we can save more. We can travel faster than horses... I will send my flyers ahead to herald our arrival, but I trust by your unusual conveyance you can keep up?~

On cue, two of Betres' men sprout enormous, angelic wings made of razor-sharp metal and take off.

~Shall we, then?~

The Swarm stood ready.

Any Apocolypse was dangerous; and so he felt himself on guard.

Sensing Sue's quiet contemplation -- and finding the idea of traveling with the "Swarm" somewhat unsettling-- Danny sidled up to the newly-armored Polaris.

"Nice threads. I don't suppose 'Lord Daniel' could hitch a ride with 'Lady Saladane'?" he asked. "Flying with you earlier was..." He trailed off, lacking the words to describe the incredible feeling.

There was a crackling, tearing sound as Wade burst once again into flame. His skin and musculature charred and fell away to ash, leaving a burning skeleton dressed in denim and leather.

"Miss me?" he asked. With a wave of his bony hand, he conjured a flaming motorcycle from thin air. Mounting the hell-cycle, he turned and patted the seat behind him. "Come on. Ride of a lifetime."

“You can always hitch a ride with me,” Sally said with a smile that seemed more like her usual self. Raising her arms halfway, Polaris floated from the battlefield. Iron Fist, Tigro, Unseen, & Spider-Woman lifted gently alongside her. Sally looked at Betres with a more sober expression. “Let us meet your Prophet.”

"You all suck," Funnybone sulked. "Just putting that out there."

Gwen looks at Funnybone.  "Kinda sorry, but I think I might get eaten if I sat on that bike on purpose.  I'd rather move on my own but... nothing to attach to."  She waves her hands at the lack of tall things in the area.

OOC:  I'm just deciding there's not enough trees so we can move on.

Betres lets out a low, appreciative whistle. ~You must be the champions of the lands you hail from.~

Even given your powers... it's a long ride, several hours at least, from the center of Argos, through the lands of Shem and Stygia itself, to En Sabah Nur's capital city of Khepri, rechristened after his rise to power. Plenty of time to ask questions.

Chemo today.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:39, Thu 14 Oct 2021.

Good Luck, friend.  And I hope it doesn't knock you around too much

When it becomes clear that they're going to be traveling for hours, Gwen is a little thankul for the ride.  Venom is already hungry from that last battle, no sense in wearing herself out right before meeting this Egyptian guy from the future.  Future past?  Whatever.

"So some of you have seen this guy in your worlds?  Didn't the Tallus say he was supposed to be in ancient Egypt?  Were there mutants that far back?  No one in my world knew about superpowers until WW2, and there's still not that many of us."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:03, Fri 15 Oct 2021.

"Not at all," answered Sue. "The nearest, maybe, was what Charles Xavier could have been.  Was on the verge of becoming.   There were suspected mutants, in ancient history -- never any proof.  It was hard for some to swallow we were just a thing of the last few decades.  Reed had an idea about it."   

"Gwen, I think we should understand more about your friend, MJ.  Like how did she travel back in time, and meet this Sonja?"   

"Wait, Charles Xavier is a mutant in your world?"  Gwen asks.  "He plays Captain Picard on Star Trek TNJ, who is exactly what we need if we want to send this guy to the time he's supposed to be.

At home Em Jay complains that she didn't get any crazy abilities like I did, even though she stopped Mysterio and Cindy just fine without them.  But the MJ in the last world told me that a Stygian sorcerer named Kulan Gath linked her mind with Sonja way in the past.  They had one body - maybe not the whole time, and sometimes they were in Stygia, and sometimes back in New York.

The General said that Sonja was like two different women" which makes me think that MJ was here too.  Or that this world and the last one are the same.  But I never heard anything about Conan.

I guess I should have payed more attention to the plot of the movie instead of finding out what happened to their Gwen."

"Jesus!  If you knew what Xavier became in my world!  He's a f--king actor, in yours?  That's scary!  And, what happened to Captain Scotty?  Engineer turned ship's captain - that was the greatest backstory!  An example that doing the best you can may really take you places!" 

Sue contemplated what Gwen said about Em Jay. "Wow...I mean, wow!   So, she knew, and dealt with one of these Stygians.  If they were sharing the same bod -- maybe Aragones just meant he could tell the difference in personality, or mannerisms?   Anyway, so why did Kulan Gath link the two of them?  What purpose did that serve?"   

"I don't know.  There was a lot going on!  I was caught up in Peter being alive and having my powers plus MJ being 20 years older and they were caught up with me not being an exploding clone and showing up with a talking rabbit."

"Yeah, believe me, I get it!  I would've been more interested in my loved ones, and what happened to the other me, too.   But that's a hell of a thread between this timeline and the last one." She thought for a moment.

"I guess the question - one question - is whether this Gath guy is a potential ally?  Or someone we need to be careful of?"   She asked the Tallus:

"Tallus, provide any known data about the Stygian sorcerer, Kulan Gath."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:20, Sun 17 Oct 2021.

Swarm travelled along with his companions.
His particulate body separated enough that a million tiny wings hummed and buzzed through the air, leaving a slight vibration and tingle in his wake.

These people ...  some of whom he had met in his lifetime, some not ... now talking about other people that he was familiar with, or not.   But all different from whom he knew.
He was realising the extent of the planar cross-contagion within their group now.    And it bothered him.

He had, as any good scientist would, a growing entourage of questions:  but still, now was the time to listen.
And he did.

The Tallus chirrups:

"Kulan Gath is a Stygian sorcerer, cannibal, and immortal. He is classified as an Extinction Level Event and in this era is known to have defeated and consumed three bearers of the title 'Sorcerer Supreme'. Kulan Gath is a known time-traveller who has presented an ELE threat to this timeline in the current era-- designated The Late Hyborian Age-- narrowly averted by the combined efforts of Conan of Cimmeria and the Red Sonja of Queens (disambiguation available); in the 7th century, averted by Iron Maiden (Ada Stark), Merlin and Victor von Doom; the late 20th century CE, averted by Spider-Man (Peter Benjamin Parker) and the Sorcerer Supreme (Stephen Strange); the early 21st century CE, averted by Spider-Man (Miles Gonzalo Morales), the Scarlet Spider (Kaine Parker), and the Ghost Spider (Gwendoline Maxine Stacey); and in the early 22nd century when he suffered a much more serious defeat at the hands of the Harbinger of Thor (Miguel O'Hara) and the Sorcerer Supreme (Sylvia Lauffeysdottir)."

"Kulan Gath is rated as one of the Top 11 Threats to Multiversal Stability."

It makes a harsh buzzing "sound" in everyone's psychic awareness: "OPERATIVE ADVISORY: Do not engage Kulan Gath. In the event that conflict is unavoidable, retreat to a minimum safe distance of-- ERROR:-- and request Priority 000 Mission Assistance. A team of Weapon X timeline operatives will be dispatched to your chrono-spatial coordinates immediately."
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:39, Tue 19 Oct 2021.

“Gwendolyn Maxine, huh?” Sally smirked at hearing that middle name. Any humorous mood evaporated when she heard the sheer menace presented by Kulan Gath. “Holy shit. A cannibalistic Wizard who’s also a One Man Extinction Level Event?” She face a low whistle and shook her head.

The Tallus dropped another name that caught Sally’s attention. “Weapon X? Who or what is ‘Weapon X’?”

"I'm Weapon X," Funnybone shouted from below. It was hard to keep up with the conversations with everyone else floating above him, but if he could get by without ears, he'd manage. "Mostly, Weapon X is black-ops mutants. Extreme wetworks."

He wasn't even trying to be funny. There was nothing funny about Weapon X.

"Operative Team Designate: 'Weapon X' refers to teams of timeline repair operatives selected for a predisposition to violence, goal-oriented motivational psychology, malleable ethical perspectives, and low projected estimates for the probability of candidate timeline repair. They are assigned to Missions where the urgency of resolving the timeline's immediate concern outweighs any potential concern for further damage."

"The legacy categorical designations 'eXiles' and 'Weapon X' were assigned by some of the earliest Operative Teams based on personal experiences from candidate timelines-- the term 'Weapon X' refers to a covert paramilitary program from a statistically nigh-universal number of timelines that a vastly disproportionate number of Weapon X operatives previously belonged to."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 18:07, Tue 19 Oct 2021.

“A Cleaning Crew,” Sally said softly, but transmitted over the Comm-link for the non-flyers. “That’s what Raven called them. Like CIA, but worse.” She looked at her friends, but particularly at Sue. “So…they’re the team that shows up if we flunk our mission…”

"So there's a lot in there."  Gwen says.
Including both Peter AND Gwen being active as Spider-people which means neither one of them made (will make?) a screwup that killed the other one.  Plus a lot of Spider-people that Gwen doesn't know.  Jesse Drew would have seemed normal but who the hell is Miles Morales? "There are four Spider-people here and you picked up on my middle name?"

"The Tallus also said Red Sonja of Queens.  Which has to be MJ.  So if we want a time-travel method that doesn't involve cannibal wizards we talk to her.  He's probably the one that brought this Nur guy here in the first place though."

"Peachy," Danny muttered at the mention of "Weapon X." He was glad the others were keeping up with all of these various intersecting and contradicting timelines. He sure as hell wasn't doing a fine job of it, but with any luck, there'd be something soon for him to hit. Even if it was "Mulan Goth" himself.

Somehow, I don't think 'I'll Make a Meal Out of You' would've been as catchy.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:38, Tue 19 Oct 2021.

Sally rolled her eyes. “We just visited a parallel universe with doppelgängers of Sue & Danny…and ‘MJ’. Why would I fixate on parallel versions of Spider-Man when that’s a given in our situation?”




“Your girlfriend isn’t from this world. What guarantee do we have that she’s even gonna still be here? Also…I know En Sabah Nur sounds scary, and he was in Grant & Wade’s worlds, but I’ve got this hunch that a power-mad despot like Kulan Gath wouldn’t groove with bringing competition into this realm.”

"That was impressive, Saladane is it?" Tigro asked with a grin as they flew. "Shame I didn't get wings, I could be a Flying Tiger!"

That joke was flat but but I'm worried dammit he mutters in his head. "Anyway beautiful and powerful ladies, and stylish mighty gentlemen, so tell me, do we have a plan if this goes FUBAR?"

 I'm simply asking because I don't think Weapon "X" sounds appealing if they come into this, does anyone here but me and Funnybone and maybe Lord Daniel over there, have any mystic backgrounds? I'd hate to run into that Kulan guy, and I'm not liking entreating with Apocalypse.

He flexes his claws in the air. Even if had taken the Avenger, the X-team, and more heroes than I can count to put En Saban Nur on permanent ice, even if he wasn't dead, being imprisoned in Limbo was close enough, and he didn't have a handy Space Knight toy to pry from Shield's clutches here.'
This message was last edited by the player at 00:07, Wed 20 Oct 2021.

"Yes", said the clear and precise human voice that was Swarm-telepathic, "What is the plan when we arrive?
What do you hope to achieve in the presence and thoughts of this ... man?"
It would be good to have a defined team-goal;  also,  who would be doing the talking, and would not.
And what might those silent team-members be doing during those conversations.

Gwen is blushing after the girlfriend comment.  "Yes, one might be a given.  When I got these powers, Peter was killed.  And when he got them, I was killed.

And weirdly I think we already passed along the message to the Conan's army.  You introduced me as 'Gwendolyn of Queens' which is the same way the Tallus talked about Conan and Sonja fighting Gath.

Tallus, can we get that disambiguation?"


"That wizard guy sounds like he has a weakness to Spider-people and he's already lost to three people that are in this time."  Conan, Sonja, and Gwen.  Sure her first mystic battle was only a couple hours ago but it went fine.  "If he didn't bring in Apop the seven of us can handle him."



"Right now, we're just trying to get information.  Sally can do the talking to En Sabur Nur.  We'll talk after that."

The Tallus chirrups:

"The Red Sonja of Hyrkania is a female human mercenary and adventurer active across Southeast Europe and North Africa in the Late Hyborian Era and the years 1984 and 1985 of the Common Era during the Second Reign of Kulan Gath. She is believed to have been invested with divine power by the goddess Scathach, whose worshipers have dwindled throughout the Hyborian Age."

"ERROR: Records on the Red Sonya of Rogatino can not be accessed at this point in the current normative timeline."

"The Red Sonja of Queens is the former nom de guerre of female American adventurer Mary Jane Watson, active in Stygia (and surrounding borderlands) during the Reign of Kulan Gath. Mary Jane Watson later used her personal experiences to fictionalize the adventures of Red Sonja in American cinema, to lukewarm critical and commercial reception."

"It seems that this Red Sonja re-emerges each time this Kulan Gath does.
It is possible that their fates and existence are tied", the Swarm muttered, to nobody in particular.

To the team at large, he said, "We have no real idea why we are here, do we?  or what we are expected to react to, or remedy".

"What you have to understand."  Gwen says "Is that the cosmic entity that brought us all here is an asshole."

"This poem seems less confusing than the other one."

Jesus, I wish the cleanup crew would come in and just take this one off our hands, already... Sue quipped back to Sally.

Then aloud:

"It sounds like maybe Red is a defense, mustered against Gath.  Yet Gwen said  he was the one who linked Em Jay's and Red's minds."  Why-?

"Tallus, the mind-link between Em Jay and Red Sonja -- what was Kulan Gath's interest in creating it, if known?  What purpose or outcomes were achieved by it? Other than some B-grade action flicks, I mean?"   

"Also, existing data on the goddess Scathach -- spheres of interest, creed, that sort of thing.  As well as a list of any other divine entities Scathach holds as either allies or enemies. If she and they aren't mere fiction."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:44, Thu 21 Oct 2021.

"I've teamed with a lot of people, some called gods, a lot depends on your point of view." He shrugs. "But those are good questions to ask. I wonder if any of those I teamed with are around now? But," he sighs "Maybe we need Conan, and En Saban Nur to take on Kulan Gath?"

I think we get “cleaned up” with the rest of the mess, though, Sally replied via mental link to Sue.

When the group discussed Conan lore, Sally admittedly felt a little left behind. “Wait. Are we talking about people who might go by other names in other worlds? Since that apparently happens a lot. Is ‘Red Sonja’ maybe another handle for Belit, the ‘Queen of The Black Coast’ in the books? Is Kulan Gath connected with Thoth-Amon in any way?”

The Tallus chirrups woefully:

"The Tallus is poorly equipped to analyze the motivations of temporal beings outside of extrapolating from the historical records of other temporal beings. The most significant outcomes of the mystical link between Sonja of Hyrkania and Mary Jane Watson appears to have been the primary cause of his defeat in his first two attempts to ascend to godhood, and a significant contributing factor to his third defeat. Also, Mary Jane Watson's influential careers as a filmmaker and costumed adventurer."



The Tal--

~Please excuse the interruption, your Eminences, but there are signs of a violent catastrophe up head-- most likely a very one-sided battle. We are obligated to respond. Can you please wait at a safe distance while we search for survivors?~ While Betres' telepathic voice is calm and collected-- on the surface-- her barely-controlled disgust and fury make your lizard-brains' itch. ~The attackers may be simple humans, in which case our business shall be mercifully brief, but if not... the enemy we are expecting are like akin to the Master's Chosen, but composed partially of living metal, and many fiendish weapons. Clan Akkaba can handle such vermin, but cannot enforce our Master's promise of safety at the same time.~ Her mouth sets into a grim line. ~My apologies, honored guests, but the Master's will is absolute: until this world is ours, Clan Akkaba protects the untransformed.~

We understand your pledge and your stance, be in no doubt, responded Sue.

But we shall do no waiting at a distance. Not when we can aid the speed of your search. And indeed, if there is a foe composed partially of metal, then Lady Saladane, in particular, should be able to end this confrontation swiftly. 

Was there some aspect of this they didn't want the group to see, was one thought that crossed her mind.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:42, Fri 22 Oct 2021.

She nods. You... maybe suspect that was the answer she wanted to hear.

Indeed, over the next rise, you see five or six large farmhouses with assorted outbuildings. On fire. There are what appear to be several normal human beings in simple clothes lying far too still around this little compound. There are other human beings caught somewhere between trying to fight the fires burning their lives and livelihoods away, and trying to keep moving for fear of themselves lying too still. They look at Clan Akkaba with a mixture of horror and relief... and the eXiles with some much more akin to pure relief.

"Don't let them kill us!" someone yells.

"Don't let them transform us!" another adds.

You didn't expect normal human bandits, and you didn't get normal human bandits. Serves you right. They look like they might have been human once, most of them, though a couple might have been horses or wolves. And while Betres' description of them as "living metal" might have seemed quaint before-- a caveman explaining astronauts to you-- now it seems like a euphemism made more appalling by the grotsequerie it concealed. These men (and animals) were once normal living things, but then cybernetic components grew within them and through them and across their surfaces, leaving patches of flesh... mortified flesh, bruised flesh, scarred flesh... sticking out obscenely between the vast stretches of weirdly organic-looking chrome. These things do not belong here.

Clan Akkaba immediately divides itself between the tasks of rescuing the mostly unwilling survivors from the burning buildings, trying to put out the fires themselves, and combating the Techno-Organic Cyborgs.

SCENE DISTINCTION: Like a House on Fire d10

ORDER OF BATTLE:
Polaris
Unseen
Spider-Woman
Tigro
The Swarm
Funnybone
Iron Fist
Heavy Cyborg Mauler
Cyborg Sniper
Cyborg Angel A
Cyborg Angel B
Cyborg Troopers 4d6

NEXT: Polaris

Whatever the fiends were, Polaris wouldn’t allow them to harm the innocents of this world. Polaris floated above the ground, her bladed cape wafting out around her. “Hi, Boys! I know we’re in a ‘Swords & Sandals’ kind of world, but you’ll all eventually learn that Violence is uncool.”

Her hands reached out as magnetic waves poured from the black-haired Mutant. “Why don’t you all…come together!” The waves grabbed at the cybernetic warriors. Sally clapped her hands together, magnetically attempting to slam the marauders together!

OOC:

Duty d10 + Mistress of Magnetism d8 + Magnetic Control d10 + Tech Expert d8

17:34, Today: Polaris rolled 6,4,6 using 1d6,1d6,1d6.  SFX: Area Attack.
23:28, Today: Polaris rolled 10,2,9,8 using 1d10,1d8,1d10,1d8.  Magnetically slam Cyborgs together.

Total: 25
Effect: D8
Opportunity: 0

NEXT: Unseen

 
This message was last edited by the player at 21:37, Fri 22 Oct 2021.

Polaris wants to remove the Cyborg Horde from the table. It is not mathematically possible for me to legally prevent that from happening, so I do not want to bother rolling for it-- except their hilarious death throes might provide you with the opportunity to collect an Opportunity.

Take a d8 on your next action with my blessing.

The larger, more dangerous-looking cyborgs seem to ignore Polaris' efforts with some marked difficulty-- and the activation of weird, internal blinkenlights-- but the massive horde of killer cyborgs has no such defenses. They are lifted into the air by unseen hands and forced together with a terrible clattering sound, and then crushed together into a column of flailing limbs that flail, and flail, and then flail no more.

ORDER OF BATTLE:
Unseen
Spider-Woman
Tigro
The Swarm
Funnybone
Iron Fist
Heavy Cyborg Mauler
Cyborg Sniper
Cyborg Angel A
Cyborg Angel B

NEXT: Unseen

Remember, if you don't have specific plans... you can leave NEXT to "any eXile", "any ally", "any enemy", or simply "any" to save time.

These cyborgs were every bit the archetype of the marauding aliens that an early life experience had disposed her to loathe.     Sally had dealt with their basic troops wholesale, leaving just the leaders.

But, the fires --  the lives at stake; in even more jeopardy for their obvious reluctance to be aided by the Akkaba.

It wouldn't be hard to smother the flames -- on at least one building. But she'd have to hold the field while the burning materials cooled, as the reintroduction of oxygen might make them explode.  And if she did, what of the risk of trapping those inside with an awful lot of smoke-?

Smoke was hot particulate, swirled up by hot air. If both were cool enough, it was only soot. Probably, it'd be okay --  and what were the likely consequences of not handling the fire?

She could do that, and protect those already outside from harming themselves...

Invisible force emanated outward -- raising up, curling around, sealing off --

Using force field to keep as many citizens away from the fire as possible, while smothering the fire of at least one structure.

Unseen rolled 11,5,8,1,5 using d12,d10,d8,d8,d8.  Force field dice pool.
Force field + Safety + Protectoress + Science expert + Stunt die
Stunt = Sue's anti-suicide, flame smothering, super-dome
1 PP for stunt die (0 pp remaining)
Total = 19; effect die = D10 :: targeting Scene Distinction

1 opportunity for the DP 

Next: Spider-Woman
This message was last edited by the player at 00:44, Mon 25 Oct 2021.

18:56, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC DOOM POOL, rolled 4,4,8,5,2 using 1d8,1d8,1d8,1d6,1d10 with rolls of 4,4,8,5,2. – 4,4,8,5,2

I can't get within five. Sue's d10 steps up to a d12. The fires are not extinguished but they are no longer an ongoing threat. For now. Mental note, next time I turn you into firefighters, represent multiple fires with multiple dice. I'm Learning!

"There's nobody in there, right?"  Gwen yells to Unseen.  She doesn't wait long enough for an answer before she's in motion.  That Cyborg Mauler is too dangerous, if it starts shooting wildly at these people there's going to be a lot of damage.

She runs towards it, tossing web-lines to both of its arms, (not checking if they stick) and then she slides through its legs holding the lines hoping to trip it up)

Wearing a mask sure does help keep hair out of my face when I do that..  The local disguise has a downside for combat.

Duty d10, rushing the beat d8, swingline d8, acrobatics d12, sfx 2d6 + step-up web complication.

12:58, Today: Spider-Woman rolled 1,2,3,5,5,3 using d10,d8,d8,d12,d6,d6.  rushing,swingline,acrobatics(sfx whatever a spider can, grapple)).

Total: 10
Effect: d10 (complication: webbed up)
Opportunities: 1

Next: Any Exile

"Looks like our sorcerors got some of this covered." Tigro smiles "but I'm going to go hunt me one of those mechanical monsters." He fades into what parts of the environment he can on all fours moving silently but quickly around to the sniper. "Can't let a sniper hit my friends, so he's going to get more than he bargained for..."
Tigro whispers in his mind as he lets more of the beast he is out, as he stalks the sniper as prey. Silently he comes up and strikes!

He sneaks using Restrained Not Tame d8, Freedom: I seek the freedom of feral calls despite my human restraint D4, Superhuman Reflexes D10 D8, Covert Expert D8 to sneak. SFX: Claws and Teeth Step down Highest die to add step up physical stress (Checking on dice, bear with me: 8, 4 ,7 d8 stepped to d10 for stress)


Total: 15
Effect: 1d10
Opportunities: 0
(I hope I did that right)
This message was last edited by the player at 23:43, Tue 26 Oct 2021.

Okay, I screwed up. I rolled a defense for the Cyborg Mauler that included a die that I shouldn't have. On its own, it succeeds but provides two Opportunities. There's no "fair" way to correct the roll...

On the other hand, I could say the Durability die was the Strength die, and that I would have been entitled to roll Weapon in the pool-- plenty of blades on this freak-- and the roll stands. I ignore the d8, "you snooze, you lose", and so 11 beats 10 but there are two Opportunities on the table.

The Mauler reacts to Spider-Woman's weblines almost as soon as they attach, weird blade-like attachments-- seemingly designed to only damage the Mauler itself-- spring to life, cutting the webbing loose.


19:48, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Cyborg Sniper, rolled 3,7,3,10 using 1d8,1d8,1d8,1d10 with rolls of 3,7,3,10. – 3,7,3,10 17/d8

Tigro's razor-sharp claws send a spray of sparks off the Cyborg Sniper's armor, but it doesn't appear to be hindered in the slightest. At least it can't concentrate on aiming at Tigro's distant teammates.

The Swarm looked upon the scene.    Humans killing humans was something he cared little about.
Humans killing nature ... that was another thing entirely.

But he couldn't help feel a pool of sickness when he looked upon the cyborguys.   Humans were, at least, natural.  These things were not.
And so, as his 'fellows' swarmed forward to confront the cyborgs, The Swarm joined in.

Insects were not above using Violence to get as the hive desired, and right now, The Swarm wanted these things to Buzz off.   Through it's  Insect Control, it dispersed itself and flew directly at one of the airborne monstrosities, with the intent of getting on and around it, in its face, into its cavities ... biting and stinging every bit of flesh it could crawl onto, or into.


Action:  Do Physical Stress to a CyberAngel
d8   Violence
d8   Buzz off ...
d10 Insect Control
d8   Combat expert

- rolled 6,5,5,8 using d8,d10,d8,d8.
Total: 14
Effect: d10
Opps: -

Current PP: 1

Next:  Funnybone
This message was last edited by the player at 02:33, Thu 28 Oct 2021.

20:09, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Cyborg Angel B, rolled 4,2,5,1 using 1d4,1d4,1d10,1d10 with rolls of 4,2,5,1. – 4,2,5,1 That's 9/d4. The Cyborg Angel B takes d12 Physical Stress.


The Swarm crawls inside the flying cyborg en masse and tears it apart from the inside. It's super effective.

NEXT: Funnybone

ORDER OF BATTLE:
Funnybone
Iron Fist
Heavy Cyborg Mauler
Cyborg Sniper
Cyborg Angel A
Cyborg Angel B

This message was last edited by the GM at 02:48, Thu 28 Oct 2021.

Cyborgs. Did they even have souls? Did they feel things like guilt and remorse? Or were they really just machines grafted to the still-living flesh of the otherwise departed?

As much as he wanted to know, Funnybone thought that maybe there were too many of the cyborgs for him to bother experimenting at the moment. They just needed to break as many of the things as possible.

Violence and Funnybone got along Like a House on Fire. Using his Superhuman Strength and Superhuman Speed, Funnybone the Vehicle Master rode his hell-cycle right past the Mauler and aimed his fist straight at whatever was left of its face.

Violence d10
Like a House on Fire d10
Superhuman Strength d10
Superhuman Speed d10
Vehicle Master d10

Funnybone rolled 1,10,2,4,6 using d10,d10,d10,d10,d10 ((1,10,2,4,6)).

Total: 16 14 <Orange>(GM edit: see reaction post)
Effect die: d10
Opportunities: 1

Next: Iron Fist</Orange>
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:14, Wed 03 Nov 2021.

Danny surveys the battlefield, taking note of his allies' positions. Between Polaris, Wade, and the others, they seemed to be making headway. Only Gwen's opponent looked to have a trick or two up their sleeve. Her attempt to web up the giant had been foiled by a quick snip of the web-lines.

Luckily, the Iron Fist had a few tricks of his own. Wasting no time, he drew his pistol and fired off a few Chi-enhanced rounds. That "Cyborg Mauler" was the biggest target in his line of sight-- with any luck, it'd be easy to hit.

Shooting Chi bullets at the Mauler.

Living Weapon d8
Duty d8
Guns 2d8
Combat Master 2d8

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.

12:50, Today: Iron Fist rolled 4,3,8,8,1,2 using 1d8,1d8,1d8,1d8,1d8,1d8.  Iron Fist shoots Chi bullets at the Cyborg Mauler.

Total: 15
Effect: d8
Opportunities: 1

Shutting down Guns d8 until I can activate an opportunity to recover it.

Next: Heavy Cyborg Mauler

Available:
Cyborg Sniper
Cyborg Angel A
Cyborg Angel B
This message was last edited by the player at 19:56, Thu 28 Oct 2021.

Reactions:

Mauler vs Funnybone
Note:  Sue got rid of "Like a House on Fire" with her action.  We considered a few options - assuming this went before that and letting the Mauler use it, reroll.  Leaving it in place felt like negating Sue's action. We decided to treat that D10 as a d8 and drop the value to an 8.

We're going to try to be clearer about game terminology and status of objects in the scene.


The Cyborg Mauler braces itself as the Hell-cycle speeds towards it.  Funnybone's fist does hit a glancing blow, leaving a mark of charred flesh with no damage to the cybernetic components.

17:09, Today: Co-GM rolled 8,8,3,8 using d8,d8,d10,d8.  mauler reaction v funnybone team,tank,durability,combat.
Total: 16
effect: d10

Mauler vs Iron Fist
17:26, Today: Co-GM rolled 4,7,8,6 using d8,d8,d10,d8.  team,tank,durability,tech.
Total: 13
Effect: d10
The mauler could tie the 15 but can't beat it so will use the d10 as an effect die to try to soak some damage.


The Mauler has some sort of countermeasure for being shot, a device pops out of its shoulder (ejecting flesh that was covering it) which appears to be used for deflection.  Whatever its effect on regular bullets, Danny's Chi enhancements bypass it (slowed only a little) and the bullets hit, dealing d6 physical stress.

+1PP each to Wade and Danny.  Adding to the Doom pool.

Attacks for the monsters tomorrow, unless TB gets to them before I do.

If Gwen was trying to grab the attention of the Cyborg mauler when she tried to web it up, she's succeeded.  The blades on its arms still spinning, the mauler brings down the deadly looking hands to where Gwen ended her tumble.

17:29, Today: Co-GM rolled 6,8,5,5,1 using d8,d8,d10,d8,d8.  mauler vs Gwen, team, tank,strength,weapon,combat.
Total: 14
Effect: d10
Opps: 1


17:38, Today: Spider-Woman rolled 1,2,4,4,3 using d8,d8,d10,d12,d8.  safety,rushing,reflex,acrobatic,push.
17:39, Today: Spider-Woman rolled 7,1,1,3,2,5 using d8,d8,d10,d12,d8,d8.  sfx: spider-sense (add Enhanced senses and reroll all dice).

Total: 12
Effect: d12
Opps: 2 (adding to doom pool)

Gwen twists to get out of the way but only manages to soften the blow.  A glancing cut with the blade shows blood for a moment until her symbiote forms a bandage.
Gwen takes D8 physical stress

The Cyborg Angel is heavily damaged from The Swarm's earlier attack.  Somehow it knows that its main weapon is useless, but its metal wings are Really Sharp and it beats them against the largest cluster of insects it can manage to.

17:52, Today: Co-GM rolled 4,2,10,8 using d6,d8,d10,d8.  angel vs swarm: team,sharp,flight,combat.
SFX: Envenomed Step back physical stress to add a second effect die for poisoned complication.
Total: 18
Effect: d6 Physical, d6 poison.

The Cyborg Sniper has a harder time in the close-quarters battle with Tigro, but still tries to swing the stock of its rifle at the Cat-man.

18:04, Today: Co-GM, for the NPC Cyborg Sniper, rolled 1,3,7,4 using d6,d8,d8,d10.  vs Tigro: team,fortified,durability,combat.
Total: 11
Effect: d8 physical stress
Opportunities: 1

The other Cyborg Angel Increases its flying height - perhaps spooked by the damage the Exiles are doing to its companions.  It points its arm at Funnybone and a bolt of white light flashes towards him.
18:10, Today: Co-GM, for the NPC Cyborg Angel, rolled 6,5,7,1,4 using d6,d8,d10,d8,d8.  vs FB: team,fast,flight,weapon,combat.
Total: 13
Effect: d8
Opportunities: 1

Reactions needed: Swarm, Tigro, Funnybone

The hell-cycle casually jigged to one side to avoid the incoming blast.

Violence d10
Spirit of Vengeance d8
Superhuman Durability d10
Superhuman Speed d10
Vehicle Master d10

Funnybone rolled 5,4,9,4,8 using d10,d8,d10,d10,d10 ((5,4,9,4,8)).

Total: 17

Tigro notices it change its position and bounds away as best he can.
"Good armor, but it won't hold up, let's see if you can move fast enough!"

Tigro waits with a smile for the last moment daring the cyborg's threat and drawing it the way he wants it for the sheer glory of the moment and so he listens and watches for the cyborg's movements and acts with his expertise at combat.


Daring Were-Cat d8
Glory: d10
Superhuman Senses d10
Combat Expert d8

{6,10,2,6]

Total: 16

We still need a reaction from Swarm from the attack, but I think we can move a little forward while that's pending.

The battle rages on, with all participants ready to strike again.

SCENE DISTINCTION: none

Available actions:
Polaris
Unseen
Spider-Woman
Tigro
The Swarm
Funnybone
Iron Fist
Heavy Cyborg Mauler
Cyborg Sniper
Cyborg Angel A
Cyborg Angel B

Next Up:  Any Exile

      Bloody hell:  good roll there.   Max on two highest dice!

Reaction to d6/d6 attack by Cyborg Angel
d8   Violence
d8   Buzz off ...
d10 Superhuman Stamina
d8   Combat  Expert

- rolled 8,8,2,5 using d8,d8,d10,d8.  Reaction to Carnage attack.
Spend 1PP to keep additional die for Total
Total: 21
Effect: d10
Opps: -

Not a bad roll for me, either, thankfully.
Current PP: -

The Heavy Cyborg Mauler shrugged off Funnybone's attack. He needed to play this one smarter. If he couldn't beat it up, maybe he could tie it up in chains.

Attempt at creating Grappled Complication
Duty d8
Spirit of Vengeance d8
Superhuman Strength d10
Chains of Hell d8
SFX: Afflict/Grapple -- Add a d6 and step up your effect die by +1 when inflicting Grappled complication on a target.
Combat Master d10
Grapple - d6

Funnybone rolled 8,8,3,8,6,4 using d8,d8,d10,d8,d10,d6 ((8,8,3,8,6,4)).

Total: 16
Effect: d12 (stepped-up d10)

The Mauler pulls against the chains, but they hold tightly around and arm and a leg, significantly affecting its range of movement.

18:28, Today: Co-GM, for the NPC Mauler, rolled 7,2,5,2 using d8,d8,d10,d8.  team,tank,strength,combat.
Mauler gains Grappled d12 condition.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:31, Sat 20 Nov 2021.

With the chains around the Mauler, Gwen is a tech expert and thinks she's figured out where its blades are.  She sends a spray of webbing to hold it down even more.  This one looks like it must have been human once, best to disable it rather than killing.

13:56, Today: Spider-Woman rolled 8,4,7,7,6,3,5 using d10,d4,d8,d8,d12,d6,d6.  duty,rushing(d4),techgrappled,stress,grapple.
Total: 15
Effect: d12
Opps:0
+1 PP (PP:1)


The mauler struggles against the weight of the chains and the webs, but this time the webbing isn't anchored on the spots that house its weapons.

14:09, Today: Mauler rolled 2,5,8,7,2 using d8,d8,d10,d8,d8 ((2,5,8,7,2)).
Total:15
effect: d8

Mauler gains another d12 complication.  While it can still act, all rolls against it can get an extra 2d12

"I think it's trapped now."  Gwen looks to Wade.  "Thanks for the help."

Next up: Sniper
This message was last edited by the player at 19:18, Wed 24 Nov 2021.

The Cyborg Sniper, having pushed Tigro back by attacking with the butt of its rifle, fires a shot at the cat-man at close range.

14:19, Today: Co-GM, for the NPC Cyborg Sniper, rolled 6,2,8,10 using d6,d8,d10,d10.  team,shot by a horse,weapon,combat.
Total: 18
Effect: d8

Reactions Needed: Tigro (total 18)

Actions available:
Polaris
Unseen
Tigro
The Swarm
Iron Fist
Heavy Cyborg Mauler
Cyborg Angel A
Cyborg Angel B
Next: Any Exile

The Swarm continued to climb and cling all over the winged cyborg; crawling into every uncomfortable nook and cranny within the fleshy part of its body, gnawing and biting and stinging its most vulnerable places.


Action:  continue to tear the Cyborg Angel apart with a million mouths and mandibles
d8   Violence
d8   Buzz off
d10 Insect Control
d8   Combat Expert
d12  Physical Stress already suffering

- rolled 2,7,7,8,11 using d8,d8,d10,d8,d12.
Total: 19
Effect: 10
Opps: -

current PP: 1

Next: another Exile

At the Swarm's attacks, the Cyborg angel's wings stop functioning, and it falls from the sky.  It lands with a crunch and is oozing fluids that are possibly blood but not entirely.

Actions available:
Polaris
Unseen
Tigro
Iron Fist
Heavy Cyborg Mauler
Cyborg Angel A
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:52, Tue 30 Nov 2021.

Sally reeled from the carnage of he battlefield. She felt a calling to pacifism, but knew enough history to understand that such a stance in this primitive world would only get her friends and herself killed. With a cry torn from her frustration, Sally reached out toward the remaining “Angel” with her hands and magnetism. Waves of powerful magnetic energy grasped at the airborne cyborg.

“ENOUGH!!!” As Polaris felt the magnetic energy touch the winged menace, she swept her closed fist in the direction of the Mauler! Unless the Angel could pull free, he would slam hard into the Mauler on the ground!

OOC:

14:58, Today: Polaris rolled 2,5,10,10,7 using 1d10,1d8,1d10,1d10,1d8.  Slam Cyborg Angel into Mauler.

Duty 1d10 + Loving & Kind/Cold & Aggressive 1d10 + Magnetic Mastery 1d10 + Magnetic Mastery 1d10 (from “Taxing” SFX) + Tech Expert 1d8

Total: 20
Effect: D8
Opportunity: 0

Taking Mental Stress for using “Taxing”, and doubling my Magnetic Mastery.

Next: Unseen

EDIT: Oops, “Loving & Kind” was supposed to be a 1d8.


This message was last edited by the player at 20:42, Tue 30 Nov 2021.

15:29, Today: GM, for the NPC Cyborg Angel, rolled 2,6,2,8 using d6,d8,d10,d8.
14/d10, higher effect die steps down to d6 - I assume that's physical stress.


The Cyborg Angel slams into the ground, leaving a mark on both the ground and itself.  It quickly repositions itself to try to take off again.

Edit: Adding description.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:40, Sun 05 Dec 2021.

Tigro is pushed back and drops ferally as he can to all fours trying to dodge under the rifle's too close shot and push it up as he goes for any organics showing with his teeth. He lets out a far louder "Roar" than most expect, louder than lions at close range, true to his tiger-ish framed body.

Reaction/Counterstrike:
Restrained not tamed d8, Violence d8, Superhuman Senses d10, Acrobatics Master d10,
{7, 8, 10, 5 }
Total Reaction: 18

(If still able, Counter)
Daring Werecat: D8 Glory: d10, Superhuman Reflexes d10, Combat Expert D10
{7, 10, 10}
Total: 20
Effect: d10
This message was last edited by the player at 00:53, Fri 03 Dec 2021.

14:21, Today: GM, for the NPC Sniper, rolled 1,8,7,10 using d6,d8,d8,d10.
1 opportunity

Tigro pushes up under the Sniper's weapon, and bites it in the shoulder.  A spurt of blood comes out of the wound when he pulls away.

Cyborg Sniper take d10 physical stress


Actions available:
Unseen
Iron Fist
Heavy Cyborg Mauler
Cyborg Angel A
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:11, Fri 03 Dec 2021.

Danny spies the Cyborg Mauler webbed and chained: a perfect target for his signature Chi-powered punch. In that instant, his combat instincts flare to life, and he runs toward it with a glowing fist raised to strike. But once he is close enough to actually hit his foe, he hesitates.

"No... Never again," he whispers, as the glow of his fist subsides.

He opts instead for a flying elbow strike, aimed square at the Mauler's jaw. Though lacking his Chi energy, it's a nasty attack regardless.

Living Weapon d4
Violence d4
Enhanced Strength d8
Combat Master 2d8
*Cyborg Mauler's Webbed d12 and Chained d12 complications

13:56, Today: Iron Fist rolled 2,2,8,8,8,7,7 using 1d4,1d4,1d8,1d8,1d8,1d12,1d12 ((2,2,8,8,8,7,7)).  Elbow the Mauler in the jaw.

Total: 16
Effect: d12
Opportunities: 0

Next: Unseen

*Going off GM's note in Msg #122

Danny hits the restrained mauler with a normal karate attack, rather than his Iron Fist.  The lights on the cybernetic components turn off, and it goes silent.

08:33, Today: GM, for the NPC Mauler, rolled 6,3,7,5 using d8,d8,d10,d8.

The remaining Angel moves to fly away from the party, and the Sniper does the same on land, dropping its weapon to run on four limbs.

OOC: Sue can still act if he wants to, but we can see where this combat is going at this point.